English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For February 04/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the
saints and also members of the household of God
Letter to the Ephesians o2/17-22: “Jesus came and proclaimed
peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him
both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of
the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is
joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are
built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February 03-04/2025
The Nasserist, Arabist, and Leftist Will Only Form a Government in His Own
Image/Elias Bejjani/February 03/ 2025
The Fool, Buffoon, and Terrorist Naim Qassem Must Be Arrested and Banned from
Media Appearances/Elias Bejjani/February 02/2025
Elias Bejjani/Text & Video: Nawaf Salam... Submission in the Face of the Iranian
Occupation/Elias Bejjani/February 02/2025
Five New Tweets by Elias Bejjani Addresses the cowardice Of Nawaf Salam & His
Humiliating submission To Corrupted Berri
Israeli Army Eliminates Hezbollah Operatives and Conducts Maneuvers, Warns
Lebanese Civilians
Retrieval of More Bodies in Khiam as Residents Return Despite Devastation
Qatari Prime Minister in Beirut Today – What's on His Agenda?
Israeli Army: We Destroyed Hezbollah Infrastructure in Southern Lebanon
Israeli army maneuvers on Lebanese border amid claims of dismantling Hezbollah
military structures
What is the latest govt. line-up that has emerged?
Will the government be formed in the coming hours?
Lokman Slim's family accuses judge of halting probe
Iran guards chief says Hezbollah defied 'heavy blows'
Iran denies sending cash to Hezbollah through airport
Australian Government Imposes Sanctions on Hezbollah's Chief
USAID at Risk of Shutdown: Impact on Lebanon/Sana Richa Choucair/This Is
Beirut/February 03/2025
Lebanon and Israel Should Start Talking About Peace/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This
Is Beirut/February 03/2025
Israel Army Says It Killed and Detained Suspected Hezbollah Operatives
Hezbollah and the Upcoming Phase/Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/February
03/2025
Ahmad Hariri Paves Way for Saad Hariri’s Return on February 14
The Battle for the 'Time' Factor/Michel Touma/This is Beirut/February 03/2025
What does Nawaf Salam want?/Charles Elias Chartouni/This Is Beirut/February
03/2025
Mitigated or Stifled Transitions?/Charles Elias Chartouni/This is
Beirut/February 03/2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 03-04/2025
Trump has a 'good talk' with Trudeau —
then calls again for Canada to become 51st state
Syrian president says elections could take up to five years
Syria's newly appointed president for a transitional phase Ahmed al-Sharaa
visits Saudi Data and AI Authority, in Riyadh
Syrian leader in Turkey on Tuesday on second international trip
Trump says ‘no guarantees’ Gaza truce will hold ahead of Netanyahu visit
Hamas officials say ‘ready’ for negotiations on phase two of Gaza truce
Palestinians accuse Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’ as 70 killed in West Bank
After Gaza hostage release, Israeli family demand ‘answers’ on wife, sons
Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh
US military flight deporting migrants to India, official says
Pakistan threatens to deport Afghans in resettlement programs if cases are not
swiftly processed
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on February 03-04/2025
Trump Must Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization,
Scale Down US Ties to Qatar/Con Coughlin/ Gatestone Institute/February 02/2025
A History of ‘Crusade and Jihad’ (with Zero Jihad)/Raymond Ibrahim/The
Stream/February 02/2025
Will Egypt’s President Become Trump’s Least Favorite Dictator?/Jonathan Schanzer
& Mariam Wahba/Newsweek/February 03/2025
Syria gets a new autocrat as Sharaa styles himself ‘president’/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/Asia
Times/February 03/2025
Why The Palestinian Authority Will Not Be Able to Control Gaza/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/February 03/2025
Al-Sharaa and the Saudi date/Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 03, 2025
Europe needs a Trump strategy/Chris Doyle/Arab News/February 03, 2025
What Has the Palestinian Authority Done to Solve the Refugee Crisis Since Camp
David?/Colonel Charbel Barakat/February 04/2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on February 03-04/2025
The Nasserist, Arabist, and Leftist Will Only Form a Government
in His Own Image
Elias Bejjani/February 03/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139798/
How can a government controlled by the Iranian-occupational obstructionist duo
implement Resolution 1701, uphold the ceasefire agreement, disarm Hezbollah, and
confiscate its vast military stockpiles?
Will this diabolical duo, led by the corrupt and vengeful Nabih Berri, agree to
fill 700 vacant state positions without imposing its dominance and further
paralyzing governance?
With a government dictated by Berri, Mohammad Raad, Naim Qassem, and Wafiq Safa,
can Lebanon expect aid from Gulf and Western nations?
And with a government of mullahs and their proxies, will Israel withdraw from
the South?
Nawaf Salam should have formed a de facto government within 24 hours of his
appointment—without consultations, without seeking confidence, just as the
current caretaker government operates.
Had he done so, he would have secured parliamentary confidence through the same
international pressure that installed Joseph Aoun as president and appointed him
as prime minister-designate.
Unfortunately, Salam has already failed, and if external pressure—especially
from Saudi Arabia and the U.S. under Trump—is not exerted soon, the entire
Joseph Aoun tenure may collapse with him.
The Bottom Line
For 70 years, no leftist, Nasserist, jihadist Arab nationalist waving the
banners of false and delusional "liberation and resistance" has ever brought
anything to the Arab world and the Middle East but disaster, defeat, and
catastrophe.
If Salam is not forced to step down, he will be no different.
The Fool, Buffoon, and Terrorist Naim Qassem Must Be Arrested and
Banned from Media Appearances
Elias Bejjani/February 02/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139774/
Naim Qassem must be silenced and arrested. He & his terrorist Hezbollah are
criminals, fools, delusional who has brought nothing but devastation to Lebanon
and its people. Meanwhile, the neutered Nasserist Nawaf Salam insists on
rewarding Hezbollah and the corrupt Berri by handing them control over the
government. Curse and disgrace upon Salam and Aoun if they kneel and surrender,
betraying all expectations.
Elias
Bejjani/Text & Video: Nawaf Salam... Submission in the Face of the Iranian
Occupation
Elias Bejjani/February 02/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139758/
Instead of taking a decisive national stance against the Iranian terrorist and
jihadist gang Hezbollah, which dragged Lebanon into a devastating war against
Israel and plunged the country into destruction and ruin, Nawaf Salam, tasked
with forming the new government, continues to adopt a policy of appeasement and
surrender to this militia. He also kneels before Nabih Berri, the Speaker of
Parliament, who has imposed his rule by force, backed by occupying powers, for
the past 30 years.
So far, Salam has wasted valuable time in cowardly negotiations with Berri and
Hezbollah, allowing them to dictate their conditions. Their primary demand:
control over the Finance Ministry—a key tool for obstructing and sabotaging the
government. The new government is supposed to oversee the implementation of the
ceasefire agreement with Israel and enforce international resolutions that
mandate Hezbollah’s military dismantling, its complete disarmament across all
Lebanese territories, and the removal of its affiliated militias. Additionally,
and more importantly it will be tasked for appointing over 600 senior state
officials, including the Army Commander, the Central Bank Governor, the Director
of the General Security Directorate, and heads of various security agencies.
Yet instead of fulfilling his duty to reclaim the state, Salam—well-known for
his leftist, Arab nationalist background, a remnant of Nasserist-era ideology,
and his deep-rooted hostility toward Israel—is bending over backward to appease
Hezbollah and Berri. His actions prove he is politically impotent, weak-willed,
and incapable of making sovereign decisions. He has allowed Hezbollah and Berri
to humiliate him, with Berri outright dismissing him by declaring: “Don’t ask me
for names for the Finance Ministry—I want Yassine Jaber, and I will accept no
one else, period.”
Meanwhile, in a desperate attempt to intimidate President Joseph Aoun and Nawaf
Salam, Hezbollah launched barbaric, mob-like invasions into Beirut, deploying
hundreds of armed militants on motorcycles, waving sectarian banners and
chanting inflammatory slogans. Yet Salam remained a mere spectator, too afraid
to confront this terrorist provocation.
The truth is clear: Hezbollah and Amal Movement have suffered a humiliating
defeat. Their era of unchecked dominance is over. They do not represent the
entire Shiite community, and they have no legitimate right to monopolize Shiite
representation in the government. Moreover, the appointment of Joseph Aoun as
president and Nawaf Salam as designated prime minister was not a Lebanese
decision—it was imposed by the United States, Arab states, and Western powers to
break the corrupt political establishment’s submission to Berri and Hezbollah.
The Defeated Must Not Be Rewarded with a Place in Government! If Nawaf Salam is
incapable of forming a sovereign government free from Hezbollah and Berri’s
grip, then he must resign immediately and disappear from Lebanon’s political
scene. This critical phase in the country’s history requires strong, decisive
leaders—not weak bureaucrats who bow to terrorists and criminals.
As long as Hezbollah maintains its stranglehold on Lebanon’s deep state, the
country will inevitably be dragged back into war. Israel will not hesitate to
finish what it started—to completely annihilate the Iranian terrorist Hezbollah
and eradicate its existence once and for all.
Five New Tweets by Elias Bejjani Addresses the cowardice Of Nawaf Salam & His
Humiliating submission To Corrupted Berri
Nawaf Salam Is
Forming a Government for Berri, Hezbollah, and Iran’s Mullahs
Nawaf Salam’s cowardly surrender to Nabih Berri by conceding the
Ministry of Finance proves that he is powerless, a failure, and utterly detached
from sovereignty and national dignity. His betrayal guarantees the survival of
crime, terrorism, and the Iranian occupation of Lebanon. With such a government,
Hezbollah’s grip remains unchallenged, and Lebanon’s sovereignty is buried under
Iranian boots.
Including Sectarian Mafias in
Government Is a Crime
Lebanon has no real political
parties by democratic standards—only Iranian proxies like Hezbollah, Baathist
remnants, jihadist factions like the Islamic Group, and corrupt family-run
businesses masquerading as political entities. Including these factions in
government is an act of treason, stupidity, and a blatant betrayal of Lebanon’s
future.
Don’t Squander the Prestige
of Lebanon’s New Government
The credibility and strength of the
new government will be determined in the first ten days. If it falters,
Hezbollah and Berri’s corruption will extend Lebanon’s suffering for another six
years. Let Lebanon not remain hostage to Iran’s occupation, lawlessness, and
systemic corruption.
Salam Must Stand Firm or Step
Aside—No Submission to Hezbollah and Berri’s Terrorism
Yassin Jaber is Berri’s loyal
puppet, and placing Lebanon’s finances in his hands cements Iran’s control over
the country. If Nawaf Salam lacks the courage to resist Hezbollah’s and Berri’s
dictates, he must step aside and refuse to legitimize a government that serves
Iran’s interests. A true national government must abide by the oath of office,
not bow to the Axis of Evil. Any government that includes Hezbollah and its
allies is doomed to failure and international isolation.
Lebanon’s Rulers Must Enforce
International Resolutions—Netanyahu Must Finish the Job
As long as Hezbollah continues to
deny its defeat, live in delusion, and send drones into Israel, Netanyahu must
persist in dismantling this terrorist menace. Lebanon’s rulers must uphold
international resolutions, end their cowardice, and cease appeasing Iran’s
murderous proxies. Enough hypocrisy—Lebanon must be liberated from Hezbollah’s
tyranny, and the Iranian cancer must be eradicated once and for all.
Israeli
Army Eliminates Hezbollah Operatives and Conducts Maneuvers, Warns Lebanese
Civilians
Al-Markazia/February 4, 2025
The Israeli army set fire to a large number of homes between the southern
Lebanese towns of Adaisseh and Roub Thalatheen today. Additionally, in the
evening, a massive explosion was carried out in the town of Yaroun in the Bint
Jbeil district, the sound of which echoed across various areas in the south.
Shortly after, another explosion targeted homes in the town. The Israeli army
issued a statement saying, "The IDF continues its defensive operations in
southern Lebanon in accordance with understandings between Israel and Lebanon,
aiming to maintain operational achievements in the region." The statement
further explained that in recent days, IDF forces have conducted clearance
operations to remove threats and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure.
"During one of these operations, the 769th Brigade discovered several weapons
storage facilities containing mortars, rockets, explosives, firearms, and a
large quantity of military equipment, all of which were confiscated and
dismantled," the statement read. The statement also confirmed that "in another
operation, Israeli soldiers eliminated a number of Hezbollah operatives in the
area, while detaining and expelling other individuals who posed a threat to
Israeli forces." It concluded by emphasizing that "the Israeli army is committed
to continuing its actions under the agreed understandings between Israel and
Lebanon and will work to eliminate any threats to Israel and its
citizens."Separately, the IDF announced it would conduct a military exercise
throughout the day in the Upper Galilee, an area still partially in a state of
war following months of clashes with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The army warned
civilians against entering the area, which is expected to witness increased
military activity, and stated, according to The Times of Israel, that "there is
no concern about the security situation."This announcement comes a day after
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz visited Israeli military sites in southern
Lebanon slated for dismantling under the November ceasefire agreement. Katz
warned that Israel could take harsh measures if cross-border drone attacks do
not cease.
Retrieval of More Bodies in Khiam as Residents Return Despite Devastation
Hussein Saad/Janoubia/February 4, 2025
Residents of newly liberated southern border towns continue their return
journeys, searching through the rubble of their destroyed homes for any
remaining personal belongings spared from the devastation. From the coastal town
of Naqoura to Kfarchouba and Aytaroun—most of which have been freed except for
areas near the Palestinian border—villages are beginning to breathe an air of
freedom and hope for rebuilding their homes and roads. Despite the widespread
destruction, some families have already begun spending nights among the ruins,
bringing small electricity generators. Others have reopened surviving shops, as
seen in Khiam. The return of residents, along with visitors from outside the
area wanting to witness the scale of destruction, coincides with the ongoing
deployment of the Lebanese Army, which is clearing debris from roads to
facilitate movement. With all eyes on February 18—the deadline for the Israeli
army’s withdrawal following a 22-day extension—Israeli forces continue their
systematic destruction, setting fires, demolishing homes, and bulldozing land in
towns such as Kfar Kila, Adaisseh, Roub Thalatheen, and Yaroun. In Yaroun,
dozens of residents attempted to enter the town center yesterday but were
prevented by Israeli forces firing live ammunition and tear gas. Meanwhile,
rescue efforts in Khiam remain at the forefront, with more than 60 bodies
retrieved since the Lebanese army entered and Israeli forces withdrew. Civil
Defense teams, in full coordination with the Lebanese Army, recovered the
remains of four additional victims in Khiam, which were transported to Marjayoun
Governmental Hospital for medical and forensic examination, including DNA
testing, to confirm their identities under the supervision of relevant
authorities.
Additionally, the municipality of Taybeh in the Marjayoun district announced
that it had been informed by the Lebanese Army command that full military
deployment in the town would be completed by Tuesday, declaring the area secure
and free of Israeli forces. The municipality urged residents to cooperate with
army personnel in clearing the remnants of the aggression.
Qatari Prime Minister in Beirut Today – What's on His Agenda?
News Agencies | February 4, 2025
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, is
set to arrive in Lebanon this afternoon to congratulate President Joseph Aoun on
his election. He will also meet with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri.
On Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM, the Qatari Prime Minister will visit Prime
Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at his residence in Qoraytem. Additionally, he
will meet with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at his Beirut residence.
Israeli Army: We Destroyed Hezbollah Infrastructure in Southern Lebanon
Al-Arabiya.net | February 4, 2025
The Israeli military set fire to multiple homes between the towns of Adaisseh
and Roub Thalatheen in southern Lebanon on Monday afternoon. According to
Lebanon’s official National News Agency, the Israeli army carried out widespread
arson in the Marjayoun district. A military statement read: "The 769th and 7th
Brigades continue their operations in southern Lebanon in accordance with
understandings between Israel and Lebanon to maintain operational achievements
in the region." "Over the past few days, forces have conducted clearing
operations to neutralize threats and destroy Hezbollah infrastructure," the
statement continued. "During one such operation, Israeli forces discovered
several weapons depots containing mortars, rockets, explosive charges, firearms,
and military equipment."The IDF added that "all seized weapons have been
confiscated, and the storage facilities have been demolished." The statement
also acknowledged that "in another operation, Israeli forces eliminated several
Hezbollah operatives and expelled or arrested others deemed a threat."The army
did not specify which villages these actions took place in. It is worth noting
that a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel was announced on November
26, with the ceasefire officially taking effect the following morning. The
Lebanese government has agreed to uphold the ceasefire arrangements until
February 18.
Israeli
army maneuvers on Lebanese border amid claims of dismantling Hezbollah military
structures
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/February 03, 2025
BEIRUT: Security authorities at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport
effectively fulfill their responsibilities, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam
Mawlawi said on Monday. Mawlawi’s assurance followed his meeting with the
Central Security Council. In response to Israeli claims that Hezbollah was
receiving cash through the airport, Mawlawi emphasized that the council had set
up new checkpoints to inspect all items entering through the airport. He
stressed that the Lebanese army was fulfilling its duties to control the
Lebanese border with the Syrian Arab Republic “despite the challenges” and urged
increased cooperation from Syrian authorities. Syria’s Ministry of Interior
announced on Sunday that it had seized shipments of weapons intended for
smuggling into Lebanon through land routes in the Talkalakh area of Homs. On
Jan. 26, Syrian security forces reportedly discovered a missile depot at a
former regime site in Homs. They also seized a weapon shipment that was
“intended for Hezbollah.”There are six official border crossings between the
Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon and numerous illegal crossings along a 375-km
border.
On Monday, the Israeli army said that it was continuing its “defensive
operations” in southern Lebanon, under agreements with Lebanon, to maintain the
operational gains in the region. Recently, the Israeli army said it conducted
extensive operations to eliminate threats in the region, “dismantle Hezbollah’s
infrastructure, and prevent any potential dangers to Israel and its
citizens.”The announcement came a day after Defense Minister Israel Katz toured
Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to
violate the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah was extended at Israel’s
request through US mediation until Feb. 18. Israel is exerting pressure on
Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and eliminate its military presence south of the
Litani line. Israeli threats to disarm Hezbollah extend beyond this region to
areas north of the Litani and even to the Lebanese border with Syria. Since the
ceasefire began, Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted vehicles
transporting weapons and ammunition, as well as storage facilities for
stockpiling arms. In its statement, the Israeli army clarified that during a
survey operation in the border area, troops from the 769th Brigade discovered
weapons storage facilities. These facilities contained mortar shells, rockets,
explosives, firearms, and a significant amount of military equipment. All the
weapons were confiscated, and the storage sites were dismantled. The statement
indicated that Israeli soldiers “eliminated several Hezbollah members in the
area and apprehended suspects who posed a threat to Israeli forces.” The Israeli
army announced it was conducting a military exercise on Monday in the Upper
Galilee region, which has remained in a state of tension following months of
military operations against Hezbollah.
The Israeli army issued a warning against civilian entry into areas expected to
see “increased military activity.” Israeli media reports indicate that residents
of northern settlements in Israel have begun repairing their homes after damage
caused by “fire from Hezbollah.” The Israeli military has withdrawn from the
western region of southern Lebanon and from certain villages in the central area
while still maintaining its presence in other towns. At the same time, it is
engaged in bulldozing and demolition activities in the eastern sector, where it
has not retreated from any villages. It seems likely that the military will
continue to occupy strategic positions in southern Lebanon. Former MP Mustafa
Alloush stated that Israel’s release of information about the significance of
maintaining control over strategic heights and five key points overlooking the
southern territories, as well as a substantial portion of occupied Palestine,
was quite plausible. He stated that Hezbollah was giving Israel reasons to
justify its actions, evident both in the deployment of drones and in the group’s
insistence on maintaining resistance without disarming.
Additionally, remarks from Hezbollah’s leadership, including statements made by
its secretary-general, ministers, and MPs, emphasized that the resistance was
regaining its strength and readiness. Alloush claimed that Israel was leveraging
this situation to conduct its daily airstrikes, which have targeted areas from
Nabatieh and the Bekaa to northern Lebanon. The Israeli army still holds El-Hamames
Hill, located at the southwestern entrance to the town of Khiam. This strategic
hill overlooks the entire town of Khiam and the Hasbaya region, all the way to
Ebel Al-Saqi.
It also holds the strategic Awida Hill, between Adaisseh and Taybeh, in the
Marjeyoun district. It overlooks the entire western sector up to Tyre and the
whole central sector up to the Litani River and the western Bekaa from the
direction of Jezzine. The Israeli army also holds the hill of Khallet Wardeh, a
strategic point located southwest of the town of Aita Al-Shaab in the Bint Jbeil
district and overlooking the southern coast from Tyre to Naqoura and the western
sector up to Tayr Harfa and Al-Jbein. Israeli forces are still penetrating the
strategic Shebaa and Kfar Shuba hills, which overlook the entire Arqoub region
and the western Bekaa to the north, Hasbaya and Marjeyoun to the west, and Mount
Hermon and Syrian lands to the west.
What is the latest govt. line-up that has emerged?
Naharnet/February 03/2025
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement will get four ministers in the new government
and are supposed to agree with President Joseph Aoun and Prime
Minister-designate Nawaf Salam on the fifth minister, the Nidaa al-Watan
newspaper reported on Monday. According to the daily, the Shiite duo have named
Yassine Jaber for finance, Nassif Siqlawi for industry, Tamara al-Zein for
environment and Rakan Nassereddine for health. Aoun and Salam have meanwhile
agreed on the nomination of Lamia Moubayed for the fifth Shiite seat, although
Hezbollah and Amal are insisting that they have a say in the pick. The Druze
share will meanwhile go to two candidates who are close to the Progressive
Socialist Party -- Nizar al-Hani for agriculture and Fayez Rasamni for public
works. As for the Sunni seats, Rima Karami has been picked for education, Hanine
al-Sayyed for social affairs, Ahmad al-Hajjar for interior and Amer al-Bsat for
economy. Nidaa al-Watan noted that the Sunni share might be adjusted after MP
Ahmad al-Kheir visits Baabda today. Aoun will meanwhile name Naji Abi Assi for
foreign affairs and a retired brigadier general for defense, while the Lebanese
Forces will get energy (Joe Saddi), tourism (Tony al-Rami) and telecom (Kamal
Shehadeh). The LF might also get a fourth, Greek Catholic seat, according to
Nidaa al-Watan. Other names include Tarek Mitri (Deputy PM), Ghassan Salameh
(culture), Adel Nassar (Justice/Kataeb Party/Maronite), Ziad Ramez al-Khazen
(Information/Marada Movement/Maronite), Maral Toutelian (Youth and Sport/Tashnag
Party/Armenian).
Will the
government be formed in the coming hours?
Naharnet/February 03/2025
The cabinet line-up has reached the final stages and Prime Minister-designate
Nawaf Salam is “working on resolving two points ahead of presenting the final
draft to the president in the coming hours,” LBCI TV reported on Monday.
MP Fadi Karam of the Lebanese Forces meanwhile told the Elnashra news portal
that “all the talk about an expected formation of the government in the coming
hours falls under the inaccurate scenarios, and is perhaps aimed at pressing to
wrap up things in a de facto manner.”“We still have questions or several main
points, topped by opposing that the Shiite Duo seize control of the finance
ministry, seeing as this practice prevents reforms and allows for blackmail and
the splitting of quotas,” Karam added. Al-Joumhouria newspaper had earlier
reported, citing informed sources, that "the cabinet line-up has been 90%
finalized" and that it will be announced "today or tomorrow at the
latest."Al-Hurra television also quoted MP Marwan Hamadeh as saying Sunday that
the government will be formed "within 48 hours."
Lokman Slim's family accuses judge of halting probe
Agence France Presse/February 03/2025
The widow of slain Lebanese intellectual Lokman Slim, a critic of Hezbollah, has
denounced a judge investigating his murder four years ago for allegedly closing
the probe. A secular activist from a Shiite Muslim family, 58-year-old Slim was
found shot dead in his car on February 4, 2021, a day after his family reported
him missing. His family has said Hezbollah had threatened Slim several times,
most notably in December 2019. "It's already the fourth commemoration and
justice has not been done -- on the contrary," his German widow Monika Borgmann
said during a ceremony to remember him. She accused the investigating judge
handling the case after his predecessor had retired of being "very close to
Hezbollah.""We filed two requests to remove him from the case," Borgmann said,
adding: "As soon as he knew about these requests he issued his order to suspend
the investigation indefinitely."A judicial official told AFP that the
investigating judge had tried to do everything he could in the case, but
concluded the investigation without identifying his killers. The case could
still be reopened if new information arises, he said, requesting anonymity to
discuss a sensitive matter. Lebanon is gripped by political and economic
dysfunction to the point that even investigations into the devastating 2020
Beirut port explosion which killed more than 200 people and ravaged entire
neighborhoods have yet to identify a single suspect.
Iran guards chief says Hezbollah defied 'heavy blows'
Naharnet/February 03/2025
Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami on Monday said that Hezbollah
“remained resilient despite the heavy blows it received” during the latest war
with Israel. “Its men demonstrated the greatest scenes,” Salami added. He also
said that some factors “made the enemies achieve some results” in Syria but
stressed that “the situation will not remain as it is.”
Iran
denies sending cash to Hezbollah through airport
Naharnet/February 03/2025
The Iranian foreign ministry on Monday said the media reports claiming that
Tehran is sending money to Hezbollah through Beirut airport are “an Israeli
media campaign aimed at obstructing reconstruction” in Lebanon. The Wall Street
Journal had reported Friday that Israel had complained to the U.S.-led ceasefire
committee that "Iranian diplomats and others are delivering tens of millions of
dollars in cash to Hezbollah to fund the group’s revival."The American newspaper
said it had learned from a U.S. defense official and other sources that Israel
had threatened to strike Beirut’s international airport if Iran kept using it to
allegedly smuggle aid to Hezbollah. According to the daily's sources, Israel
claimed that Iranian envoys had been flying from Tehran to Beirut’s airport with
suitcases stuffed with U.S. dollars and that Turkish citizens had also been
smuggling money from Istanbul to Beirut.
The report said a Lebanese security official assured that Beirut's airport is
under tight control to prevent smuggling cash to Hezbollah but that valuable
items like gemstones and diamonds could pass undetected.
Australian Government Imposes Sanctions on Hezbollah's
Chief
This Is Beirut/February 03/2025
The Australian Government imposed new sanctions on Monday targeting Hezbollah’s
leadership, including its Secretary-General Naim Qassem. The Australian
Government imposed sanctions on Monday targeting Hezbollah’s Secretary-General
Naim Qassem. Naim Qassem is part of a group of entities sanctioned by Australia
in its “the fight against terrorist financing and ongoing work to combat
anti-Semitism and ensure the safety of Australians,” reads a statement published
by the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website. “Hezbollah, which
has been responsible for the deaths of countless civilians in Lebanon, Israel,
and across the Middle East, remains a focal point of Australia’s
counter-terrorism strategy,” adds the statement. In addition to the measures
against Qassem, one individual and four entities have been re-listed under
counter-terrorism financing sanctions.
A consolidated list of these sanctions is available on the Department of Foreign
Affairs website, ensuring transparency and providing detailed information on the
actions taken.
USAID at Risk of Shutdown: Impact on Lebanon
Sana Richa Choucair/This Is Beirut/February 03/2025
Elon Musk stated on Monday that President Donald Trump confirmed his intention
to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “I
discussed USAID in detail with (the president), and he agreed that we should
shut it down,” Musk said during a conversation on X Spaces early on Monday
morning. The announcement comes after several days of speculation about the
agency’s future, following a funding freeze and the dismissal of dozens of
employees. Donald Trump had already imposed a 90-day suspension on nearly all US
foreign aid, pending a review by his administration. “No U.S. foreign assistance
shall be distributed in any manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign
policy of the President of the United States,” states the executive order signed
by Trump on January 20, the day of his inauguration. According to media reports,
the Trump administration is seeking to strip USAID of its independence as a
government agency and place it under the authority of the State Department.
Since Saturday, the agency’s official website has displayed the message, “The
server's IP address could not be found.” The website’s inaccessibility follows
the removal of signs bearing the agency’s official seal on Friday, according to
Reuters— an indication that the merger with the State Department is underway.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, before the conversation on X Spaces,
Trump said that USAID “has been run by a bunch of lunatic radicals. We're
getting rid of them, and then we'll decide its future.”USAID distributes
billions of dollars annually in humanitarian aid and development funding
worldwide. Its current budget stands at $42.8 billion. In Lebanon, more than
$1.3 billion has been disbursed to fund broad aid programs covering sectors such
as education, agriculture and water.
What is the situation in Lebanon following the presidential decree suspending
foreign aid?
A Sudden Halt to All Programs
According to a source close to USAID, speaking to This is Beirut, “all
development programs, across all sectors, have been put on hold since January
24.” This abrupt suspension of services has had an immediate impact on thousands
of beneficiaries, including students whose scholarships were suddenly
suspended.Today, the responsibility lies with the universities, which must
determine the fate of students supported by USAID. “No directives have been
issued regarding the operation of the institution or the programs it funds. For
now, beneficiaries have been informed of the suspension of aid until further
notice, pending additional details,” according to the same source. Since 2000,
USAID has awarded approximately 10,000 scholarships, and to date, around 87,000
students have benefited from school renovations under its basic education
programs. At the higher education level, more than 1,300 university students
have received funding from the US agency since 2010. This information comes from
the official website of the US Embassy in Beirut, as the agency's website is
currently out of service. “USAID plays an important role in promoting good
governance and economic opportunities for low-income Lebanese citizens,” reads
the US Embassy's website. On October 1, 2024, USAID launched a five-year $10
million project aimed at strengthening and reviving local agriculture. Over the
past decade, USAID has invested more than $80 million in Lebanon's agricultural
sector. This support has helped increase the incomes of over 40,000 rural
households, mobilize more than $40 million in private sector investments,
generate over $170 million in sales at the business and farm level, provide
business development services to more than 35,000 businesses and agricultural
households, and benefit over 19,000 households through food security programs.
“Even previously placed orders for equipment can no longer be paid for or
received,” according to the source. “USAID employees are no longer authorized to
take any action. They have been asked to stay home.” Trump has set a deadline of
90 days to decide the agency's future, with a final decision expected by April
20. Awaiting the final verdict...
Lebanon and Israel Should Start Talking About Peace
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/February 03/2025
I spent the last decade away from Lebanon in self-imposed exile. I became an
intellectual and political pariah for demanding immediate and unconditional
peace between Lebanon and Israel. I was told not to show off my Hebrew and to
conceal my friendships with Israelis. I was told that I was going too far and
that the Lebanese were not there yet. And then, bam! Israel crushed Hezbollah,
and now peace is suddenly on the table. I’m not the outcast anymore. This piece
is not about me. It’s about all the voices for peace with Israel now rising in
Lebanon. Voices do not mean Lebanon is there yet but are an excellent start. The
Iran-backed militia is weakened, but not dead. It is planning a comeback, even
if it does not yet know how. Hezbollah will do what it can to derail peace with
Israel, but without its arms or ability to deploy violence, its opposition will
be mute and ineffective.
While Lebanon is not debating peace yet, signs are encouraging. For a starter,
you are reading these lines in a Lebanese media outlet, which would have been
unthinkable six months ago. Former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale wrote,
on this same site, an article with the title “It Is Time for Israeli-Lebanese
Peace”.
In the past, the article would have caused a stir. Hezbollah media would have
attacked This Is Beirut and accused its editors of treason. This time, instead,
Hale’s piece was widely circulated. There was little attention given to what
Hezbollah thought of Lebanese normalization with Israel, just like speeches
delivered by the militia’s new chief Naim Kassem were mostly noticed, unlike the
explosive ones by his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in
September. In Lebanon, voices — including among the Shia whose majority
traditionally supported Hezbollah — can now be heard.
In a column in Arabic, academic Bashar Haidar encouraged the Lebanese to call a
spade a spade: Getting rid of Hezbollah, which obstructed change and reform,
would have been impossible without Israeli power. To be sure, Haidar argued,
Israel did not do it for charity or because it has the Lebanese interests at
heart, but did it for its interests. Regardless of Israel’s intentions, its war
that took out Hezbollah gave the Lebanese a chance that Haidar urged his
compatriots not to waste.
A year ago, Haidar was the target of a vilification campaign that Hezbollah
partisans launched against him. Haidar had invited a fellow ethicist, a
Jewish-American professor in New Jersey, to give a Zoom lecture on the ethics of
the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The American professor was singled out for calling
himself Zionist, and Haidar had to cancel the lecture and suffer defame.
Haidar is not the only voice. Marwan Al-Amin, a known Shia opponent of Hezbollah
from south Lebanon, took on the militia for its insistence on speaking on behalf
of all the Shia, tyrannizing its opponents and pretending that it is being left
out of the state if Prime Minister-Designate Nawaf Salam does not give the
militia what it wants. “No one agrees to Hezbollah’s continued armament and the
undermining of state sovereignty, the Taef Accord, and international
resolutions,” Al-Amin wrote. The anti-Hezbollah movement in Lebanon is not
massive yet, but it is certainly trying to find its footing, and with it, more
Lebanese voices for peace — Shia and non-Shia alike — can be heard now. The
Arabic proverb says “rain starts with a drop.” Now that a new U.S. president has
vowed to make peace his legacy, and that Israel has the initiative and is
dictating Hezbollah’s disarmament, it is high time that the word peace be heard
louder, from American, Israeli, and — hopefully soon — Lebanese officials.
**Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at The Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD) in Washington, DC.
Israel
Army Says It Killed and Detained Suspected Hezbollah Operatives
This is Beirut/February 03/2025
The Israeli army said Monday it has set ablaze many homes between the towns of
Odaisseh and Rab El Thalathine, eliminated several Hezbollah operatives, and
arrested others, during ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon.
In an official statement, the Israeli army confirmed that “its defensive
activities continue in southern Lebanon in accordance with understandings
between Israel and Lebanon, aiming to maintain operational achievements in the
region.”
The army revealed that in recent days, its forces carried out sweeps to
eliminate threats and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. During one
such operation, the 769th Brigade discovered several weapon storage facilities
containing mortars, rockets, explosives, firearms, and large quantities of
military equipment. All weapons were confiscated, and the storage sites were
dismantled. In another operation, Israeli soldiers killed several Hezbollah
members and detained suspects deemed threats to Israeli forces, the Israeli army
statement said, adding, the army is committed to continue operations “to remove
any threat to Israel and its citizens while adhering to the understanding with
Lebanon.”Israeli drones were spotted flying continuously over Beirut and its
southern suburbs on Monday, as the Israeli Army announced it would conduct an
all-day military exercise in the Upper Galilee, an area still experiencing
intermittent clashes following months of conflict with the pro-Iranian
Hezbollah. In a statement reported by the Times of
Israel, the Israeli military warned civilians about heightened military activity
in the area, but reassured that “there is no concern about the security
situation.”The announcement came just a day after Israeli Defense Minister
Yisrael Katz toured military positions along the Lebanese border on Sunday,
warning that Israel “could take drastic measures,” if Hezbollah drone attacks do
not cease.
Hezbollah and the Upcoming Phase
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/February 03/2025
Hezbollah’s participation in the government, whether directly or indirectly,
raises many questions about its political role in the coming period and whether
it will contribute to Lebanon’s openness, reform, economic recovery and
reconstruction.
Some argue that the group’s position after the war with Israel has rendered its
presence in the government virtually meaningless. It has lost all its allies
except for Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and can no longer secure a blocking
third. Moreover, reports indicate that by allowing President Joseph Aoun and
Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam to name the fifth Shiite minister, the
pro-Iranian group has effectively forfeited the constitutional leverage it once
held.
Furthermore, any attempt to use the Ministry of Finance as a tool for
obstruction would face strong resistance from other government factions. In such
a scenario, the PM could call for the minister’s resignation, and if he refuses,
the cabinet could dismiss him through a decree issued by the president with the
prime minister’s approval and a two-thirds majority. Parliament could also
withdraw confidence from an obstructive finance minister, effectively leaving
him with no choice but to step down. In addition to all of the above, Hezbollah
cannot oppose the new foreign policies, especially the move toward the Americans
and Saudis, nor can it object to the exclusivity of arms being held by the state
and the dismantling of its military infrastructure. Accepting these terms is key
to reconstruction and securing funding for this process from both the Arab and
international communities. Hezbollah does not want to appear as playing an
obstructionist role, particularly given that the communities devastated by the
war have, increasingly, begun to hold it accountable for the human and material
losses they suffered.
This potential change in Hezbollah’s situation raises a crucial question: Will
the group become an integral part of the Lebanese political fabric, and will it
gain acceptance from both the Arab and international communities? The answer to
this question, so far, is no. According to Western diplomatic sources, the first
step required is for Hezbollah to announce the severing of its political,
military and financial ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, ensuring it is
not, in any form, a tool for exporting the Iranian revolution. The pro-Iranian
faction must also reconcile and engage in open dialogue with the Lebanese
political forces affected by assassinations and other practices for which
Hezbollah is accused. Furthermore, Hezbollah must abandon the practice of
treating its political opponents as enemies and traitors, and ensure that the
areas under its control do not become isolated enclaves outside the state's
authority, with their own institutions, headquarters and investigators. Finally,
it must put an end to all forms of what is known as the parallel economy.
Sources stated that Hezbollah’s adherence to these steps is
in the best interest of its popular base and supporters, who would no longer
endure the hardships of war, destruction and death. It would also help them
emerge from their current isolation, both within Lebanon and in the broader Arab
and international communities. Furthermore, areas where Hezbollah’s popular base
is mostly concentrated could be among those that attract investment, creating
job opportunities for those currently struggling to find employment.
Ahmad Hariri Paves Way for Saad Hariri’s Return on February
14
This is Beirut/February 03/2025
With just two weeks away from the 20th anniversary of the assassination of
former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, preparations are gaining momentum for the
anticipated return of his son, ex-PM Saad Hariri, to Beirut. Ahmad Hariri,
Secretary General of the Future Movement, has been actively laying the
groundwork for his leader’s political re-emergence, stepping up visits to the
party’s popular bases across Lebanon. The Future Movement had suspended all
political activities in January 2022, following Saad Hariri’s decision to
withdraw from Lebanese politics. However, signs now point to a major comeback,
driven by looming electoral deadlines, the municipal elections of May 2025 and
the parliamentary elections of 2026, as well as the changing regional landscape.
During a visit to Ersal on Saturday, Ahmad Hariri declared that “Bashar is gone,
we’re coming back,” congratulating the Syrian people on Ahmad al-Sharaa’s
accession to power. His remarks underscore the Future Movement’s shifting
strategy, particularly in light of the fall of the Bashar al-Assad’s regime and
the weakening of Hezbollah.
In the Shouf area, which he visited as well, Hariri further asserted, “with Saad
Hariri, we will return to political life with strength.”He also linked justice
for Rafic Hariri’s assassination to these regional developments, referencing the
Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s ruling that Hezbollah members were responsible
for the assassination, allegedly ordered by Syria under Assad.
Ahmad Hariri emphasized the importance of Hezbollah surrendering its weapons to
the state, calling for the implementation of constitutional reforms to rebuild
Lebanon’s institutions. He also welcomed the election of President Joseph Aoun,
stating that it marks the beginning of a new political era for the country. In
addition, Hariri called for the formation of a new government capable of
addressing Lebanon’s economic crisis and ensuring the smooth organization of
upcoming elections. On Sunday, during a visit to the central Bekaa region, Ahmad
Hariri hinted at the key themes of Saad Hariri’s anticipated speech on February
14, which will outline his vision for Lebanon and the region. According to Ahmad
Hariri, the Future Movement remains committed to moderation, balance, and
national unity, with Saad Hariri’s political stance firmly rooted in the
protection of citizens, civil peace, and Lebanon’s Arab identity. “We will do
our utmost to realize Rafic Hariri’s national project, which embodies trust,
national and Arab values, and the spirit of moderation,” he added. Turning to a
particularly sensitive issue, Ahmad Hariri called on President Joseph Aoun to
seriously address the fate of Islamist detainees of Majdel Anjar, Saadnayel,
Ersal, and other Lebanese regions. He also called for a reassessment of the role
of Lebanon’s military tribunal, stressing that the issue remains “one of
incomplete justice.”
The Battle for the 'Time' Factor
Michel Touma/This is Beirut/February 03/2025
The (highly relative) calm preceding the storm? A worrying question is likely on
everyone’s lips — especially on the eve of the crucial meeting between President
Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, set for Tuesday,
February 4, in Washington.
The course of events in the coming months will largely hinge on the outcome of
this high-stakes consultation, which is expected to span two working sessions.
The future of the Middle East is undoubtedly being defined in this very moment.
While the region has undeniably embarked on a new geopolitical path over the
past year, it remains precariously balanced, with volatile dynamics.
The stakes are both security-related and macroeconomic, and
their magnitude is enormous. They require swift and decisive action, bold
decisions to break free from the darkness, allowing populations to move beyond
delusions and embrace a life of basic normalcy, or even attain the long-overdue
well-being after enduring decades of servitude and oppression.
In this context — taking just one example of a significant macroeconomic issue —
the ambitious “India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor” (IMEC), officially
launched in September 2023 in New Delhi with active US involvement, presents
promising opportunities for prosperity and development. However, it undeniably
requires a strong and lasting climate of stability, something wholly
incompatible with the obstructionist and, above all, obscurantist actions from a
bygone era.
Yet, several obstacles threaten to hinder this promising new avenue of
multilateral cooperation. Chief among them is the Iranian factor… According to
reliable sources, the Islamic Republic is nearing the final stages of its
nuclear weapons pursuit. Can the international community, amidst shifting
regional dynamics, afford to risk allowing such a strategic arsenal to fall into
the hands of Tehran’s most radical, destabilizing and uncompromising military
wing? This question has become ever more urgent as significant maneuvers
continue to unfold in the region.
The Iranian obstacle is primarily evident in the continuous belligerent rhetoric
from Tehran’s leadership, despite the recent setbacks suffered by the radical
wing of the mullah’s regime. This obstacle is further manifested by Hezbollah’s
relentless obstructionist tactics, as the primary regional proxy of the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or Pasdaran. From
the presidential election to the negotiations for forming the new government,
including the parliamentary consultations initiated by the new president to
designate the prime minister, not to mention the manipulation of residents in
border villages and the reprehensible, sectarian-charged motorbike parades in
sensitive neighborhoods, the pro-Iranian party seizes every opportunity to
perpetuate instability and tension on the local scene, while evading its
obligations to implement international resolutions and the terms of the November
27 ceasefire agreement, with the clear intent to sabotage President Joseph
Aoun’s mandate from the very beginning.
Clearly, neither Hezbollah nor its Iranian mentor has moved past the stage of
denial in the face of the new order taking shape in the Middle East. At present,
all indications suggest that the mullah’s camp, Hezbollah included, remains
fully committed to the strategy of destabilization and discord, relying on the
concept of “strategic patience,” as coined by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei. This approach aims to recover from the substantial strategic losses
endured over the past year and orchestrate a swift comeback, both locally and
regionally.
A senior Hezbollah official recently told journalists that his party is fully
prepared to play the “time” card, willing to wait “several years” for an
unfavorable situation to pass and for the storm to eventually subside, clearing
the way for a fresh start. A clear corollary emerges: the sovereigntist camp,
along with proponents of multilateral regional cooperation, cannot afford to
delay, miss historic opportunities or undermine the current momentum for peace.
They must display political courage and avoid half-hearted solutions or
compromises that the Iranian camp would exploit to sow discord, create confusion
and bewilder the adversary — ultimately winning the battle over the “time”
factor!
What does Nawaf Salam want?
Charles Elias Chartouni/This Is Beirut/February
03/2025
The prime minister-appointed revolt has us puzzled about his view on things, if
he has one. The virtues of Thaumaturga attributed to him reflect the prolixity
of the Lebanese political imaginary and the fatigue that Lebanese people feel
towards the oligarchs who plundered this country. After 35 years of operation
without common measure, they found it difficult to believe in the possibility of
any change in a country where oligarchic lockdowns have taken over parts of all
political, economic and social sectors.
This is a true colonization of the public space and the political imagination
reduced to the conditions of a depraved and unscrupulous political class. Acts
of rebellion have never brought into question the rules of public life and the
anomical state that is consistent with it. These jumps are as ephemeral as the
alternative political culture, which should serve as a substitute for this state
of moral degradation that made even the idea of a rule of law impossible.
This political momentum has nothing to do with the political merits of the
character. His undoubtedly prolonged route to the United Nations and the
International Court of Justice has not been distinguished by extraordinary
diplomatic and legal acts, while his ideological stance on the Palestinian
question lined up with the disastrous balance of political formations that he
has The chances of a negotiated and final settlement to this perennial conflict
have not advanced from an iota, as if it were a fatality that had to be
accommodated.
His reappearance on the Lebanese political scene was not distinguished by his
ideological habits and political calculations that are placed in the
interstitions of his ideological positions, the priority search for
accommodation with Shiite fascism and the intentional marginalization of the
dominant camp by political movements in the Christian community. The criteria
for discrimination were outstanding and nuanced. How can one move away from the
norms of political civility and civil concord by adopting a resolutely
conflicting and unconcerned policy of equity without producing perverse effects?
His approach has been structured at the intersection of ideological choices
induced by his "Palestinianism" (Edward Said) and his political retranscripts,
and in disregard of the systemic balances that should underpin democratic
governance. It goes over the destructive balance of Shiite domination policy,
cycles of open conflicts it has established, its devastating effects all azimut
and the spraying of the rule of law. Apart from the lack of courage against the
murderous militia, ideological considerations were stepping on sovereignist
imperatives constantly wavering from Edward Said's "Palestinianism"
dictatorship. The unending struggle against Israel inevitably devalues state
sovereignty and swallows the extraterritorialities that have shaken from it to
settle in the heart of the tormented political landscape and its murderous
drifts.
The tortoise approach and its inuations are explained by the hierarchization of
political priorities and the actors who rely on the strategic woman who made the
virtual political shift possible in Lebanon. The Israeli counter-offensive alone
explains the destruction of the operational platform of Iranian imperial
politics, the elimination of its mandates and the change of the political game
in countries once colonized by Iranian power. The policy of arbitration imposed
by the international community and its mandates stipulated by the international
resolutions (1701, 1680, 1559) are mandatory passes if we want to restore peace
and get Lebanon out of the conflict dynamics generated by the Iranian power
policy and its instrumentalizations.
The current political approach operates in a closed vase and is impeding the
issues of disarmamenting Hezbollah and its followers, the monopoly of state
violence and the end of political and military extraterritorialities. The policy
of obliteration is both an ideological and strategic choice that the process of
national reconstruction cannot accommodate. Otherwise, the repetitive lessons of
murderous dynamics spanning six decades impose major reversals that must be
structured around the Abrahamic peace project and its Lebanese modulations. No
longer a matter of interim truce and variable geometric demarcation lines,
concluding a peace deal with Israel is now an indispensable political goal.
The reformist chapter is structurally linked to the geopolitical stability that
Lebanon has long been foreseen. The scheme of "continuous conflicts" devised by
Hezbollah and its cronies is a continuum of Islamic radicalization, organized
crime and terrorism. It is impossible to work towards the resolution of economic
and social dysfunctions without understanding the interdependence that causes
the crime that defines its deployment records. The reform comes through the
normalization of the country and through the international regime of pacifying
and reconstruction of state parameters, civil rules and social contracts. But
the current political scheme does not seem to fit these expectations.
Mitigated or Stifled Transitions?
Charles Elias Chartouni/This is Beirut/February
03/2025
The transitions in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza are still controversial, and their
actors are undecided about their outcomes. Observers ask whether the various
actors are genuinely interested in the transformative courses and to what
extent. The newly set dynamics that have taken place throughout the Near East
have not yet been relayed by steadier, pacifying and reformist courses within
the respective political entities. A cursory review of the enumerated cases
unveils the nature of the political obstacles that are preventing the new
dynamics from taking hold. The transformative military and political dynamics
initiated by Israel and their unintended consequences are major variables to
reckon with while searching for sustainable solutions in these different
environments. Multiple accounts help us make sense of the rising obstacles and
the way we should go about dealing with them. The common pattern between the
three cases is their pliability to Iranian power politics and their nemeses.
Iranian power politics are by definition subversive, imperial-prone regionally
and repressive inside Iran. The transformation process lies at the crossroads
between normalization and democratization at both ends. These two indicators are
to be monitored and gauged all along the unfolding events.
Lebanon’s latest political evolutions were quite portentous after the
presidential election and the nomination of the prime minister, who is supposed
to form the new cabinet and engage in a breakaway course that puts an end to the
shackles that have hindered stabilization and the urgently needed reformist
courses. The political obstructionism displayed by Shiite fascism betrays
political irredentism, unwillingness to renounce domination politics and
re-engagement in the civic and political conversations that prepare the country
for alternative political courses.
The political demeanor and its violent intonations are ominous and extremely
hazardous at both the domestic and regional levels. Its psychotic blinders and
unrealistic political and military projections illustrate dramatically the
inability of this communal group to reckon with the hard facts of a sounding
military defeat, the end of an era of political, social and economic
delinquency, and disinclination towards negotiated political and security
solutions. The sabotaging tactics and the moral depravity displayed through the
politics of human shields, intentional victimization and irrelevant political
extremism bode ill for the immediate future. The reluctance of the incoming
executive to diligently engage the new dynamic is unlikely to set a steady and
cumulative course that cements the sense of national community bound by common
values and determined to oversee a working transition. The politics of Shiite
fascism are inimical to democratization and definitely geared towards regional
destabilization and a deliberate invitation to civil war. The prospects of civil
peace and reforms mandate a different narrative if we were to embark on a real
transition.
The appointment of Ahmad al-Sharaa as the temporary president of the Syrian
Republic by the federated Islamist formations is somewhat puzzling since
nomination cannot equate with election, and representativeness is still
controversial as long as the Syrian national community is not consulted.
Nonetheless, the downfall of the Assad regime, the smooth transition that
occurred despite its lapses and their degree of gravity, the declaration of
intentions, the flaunted international openness, the incremental liberalization
(cultural, religious, political and economic), the readiness to engage in
multilateral reforms and the distancing from the conventional anti-Israeli
script are quite reassuring regarding the future political orientations. It is
paradoxically laying the groundwork for Islamic deradicalization, undermining
the credentials of the Islamist worldviews and challenging the scope of Islamic
imperialism. The practical achievements of the new regime are going to be tested
and submitted to scrutiny if the regime were to be rehabilitated and join back
the international community. The stated objectives related to constitutional
governance, inclusiveness, economic and social reforms, the return of Syrian
refugees, the demilitarization of the military formations and the normalization
of the international stature away from radical Islam. Otherwise, the tackling of
minority issues and its ancillary institutional architecture is paramount while
reconstructing Syrian statehood.
The truce in Gaza, aside from its operational intricacies, puts at stake not
only the future of the district but also the prospects of peacemaking and the
likelihood of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The
Palestinian Authority is summoned to reestablish its credentials and reposition
itself as the federating interlocutor entrusted with the future negotiations
with Israel. Hamas is sabotaging the chances of a negotiated solution and the
challenging of the open-ended cycles of violence. Hamas should not be given the
chance to maintain its mortgages and pursue its sabotaging role for the sake of
the faltering Iranian regime and its ideological whims. The federating
leadership of the Palestinian authority is the unique path to end the war in
Gaza and reengage Israel on the basis of a rich legacy of international accords
and arbitrations that were set aside after the extremists on both sides took
over and dictated their political agendas. Realpolitik at this current stage is
morally defensible and politically instrumental if the conflicting parties were
to overcome the cumulative logjams of repeated failures and unrealistic
expectations.
The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on February 03-04/2025
Trump has a 'good talk' with Trudeau — then calls again for Canada to become
51st state
CBC/Mon, February 3, 2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump early Monday
morning about the forthcoming trade war that has the potential to inflict
economic pain on workers and businesses on both sides of the border — and they
are expected to speak again later today. The Prime Minister's Office and the
White House did not immediately release a readout of what was said on the call,
but a spokesperson for Trudeau told CBC News they "spoke about trade and the
border" and confirmed they will connect again this afternoon before tariffs are
set to take effect on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after
the first call, Trump said he had a "good talk" with the prime minister. He said
Canada is "very tough" and "we're not treated well by Canada and we have to be
treated well." He claimed Canada "doesn't take our agricultural products, for
the most part." It's an outlandish statement because the U.S. is Canada's
largest agricultural trading partner, according to data from Trump's own
government, representing some 57 per cent of Canadian food imports.
Trump said he asked Trudeau "a couple of questions" and the prime minister will
report back in the afternoon. The president has said for weeks he would like
Canada to join the United States as the 51st state. It's a line he repeated
again today, saying he would "love to see" Canada join the union. But he seemed
to acknowledge it "would be a long shot," saying some unnamed people "don't have
a threshold for pain." Trump came to a deal with Mexican President Claudia
Sheinbaum earlier Monday.Sheinbaum said in a social media post she had a "good
conversation" with the president after she agreed to deploy 10,000 Mexican
national guard troops to the U.S. border. She said the "tariffs are paused for
one month from now," as a result of that commitment. A White House spokesperson
confirmed to The Associated Press that Trump has agreed to "pause" his promised
25 per cent tariff on Mexican goods. Sheinbaum also said she would hold off on
her threatened retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The Mexican pause added to the
trade drama because Trump's tariffs against Canada and China are still slated to
go into effect. After the news of Sheinbaum's deal broke, some Conservative
politicians in Canada called for the federal government to deploy the military
to the Canada-U.S. border, which was almost entirely demilitarized after the War
of 1812 more than 200 years ago.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked Trudeau to "send Canadian Forces
troops, helicopters and surveillance to the border now" to try and save the
Canada-U.S. trade relationship and address Trump's concerns about drugs and
migrants.
He also called for the hiring of "at least" 2,000 more Canada Border Services
Agency (CBSA) agents to bolster the law-enforcement agency that's responsible
for border control. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also asked the federal
government to put the CBSA under military command to "address concerns President
Trump has raised." The $2.6 billion Ottawa spends every year on CBSA could then
be reclassified as military spending, helping the country chip away at its NATO
commitment to spend two per cent of its GDP on defence, Moe said. Trump has
repeatedly criticized Canada's low defence spending.
The federal government already announced a bulked up $1.3 billion border plan in
December to deploy more personnel and technology to better police the boundary.
The government has also launched a fentanyl crackdown.
In a social media post after his call with Trudeau wrapped, Trump also chastised
Canada for not allowing U.S. banks to "open or do business there."
New focus: banking
Until this point, Trump has framed the tariffs as a way to hit back at Canada
for the ongoing trade deficit and supposed inaction on drugs and migrants
crossing the northern border into the U.S. — his stated concerns about banking
fairness are a new development. A number of American banks do business in Canada
with large lending and commercial and investment banking operations, among other
functions, on this side of the 49th parallel. There are 16 U.S.-based bank
subsidiaries and branches in Canada holding about $113 billion in assets,
according to the Canadian Bankers Association. Personal banking in Canada is
largely the domain of Canadian-based banks, due to stringent federal regulations
designed to protect against bank failures. According to government figures,
Canada's large banks hold more than 93 per cent of all domestic banking assets.
Canadian banks are routinely ranked among the safest in the world. Last night,
Trump also raised the Canadian banking system with reporters after landing back
in D.C. after a weekend at his Florida estate. "Canada's been very abusive of
the United States for many years. They don't allow our banks. Did you know that?
Canada does not allow banks to go in. If you think about it, that's pretty
amazing," he said. In his Monday social media post, Trump said the trade
standoff is "also a DRUG WAR, and hundreds of thousands of people have died in
the U.S. from drugs pouring through the Borders of Mexico and Canada."
American government data that shows comparatively little amounts of fentanyl —
the drug Trump has said he's most concerned about — has been seized at the
northern border in recent years. Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) show the agency seized 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl at the northern border
last year, compared to 9,570 kilograms at the southwestern one.
Despite the apparent standoff over these issues, Trump said he will speak to
Trudeau again at 3 p.m.
Trudeau is set to meet with the Council on Canada-U.S. Relations later today to
discuss the pending trade war and the tariffs that are set to take effect
Tuesday. Trump launched the first salvo in this trade dispute when he announced
Saturday he would slap a 25 per cent tariff on virtually all Canadian goods with
a lower rate — 10 per cent — for the country's energy products. Trump said he
was delivering on a campaign promise to seek retribution from countries he
claims are "ripping off" the U.S. Trump is fixated on the Canada-U.S. trade
deficit, which is largely driven by American demand for cheaper Canadian oil.
When oil exports are excluded, the Americans actually have a trade surplus with
Canada, according to Canadian government data. Trudeau has vowed to hit back and
the federal government released a list of $155 billion worth of American goods
that will face 25 per cent tariffs if Trump doesn't back off. Speaking to
Canadians late Saturday night after Trump made the tariffs official, Trudeau
said, after more than a century of friendship and collaboration through world
wars and natural disasters and a whole host of shared challenges, Canada doesn't
want conflict with the U.S. "We don't want to be here, we didn't ask for this,
but we will not back down," he said. "We will not back down in standing up both
for Canadians and for the incredible, successful relationship and partnership
between Canada and the United States."
Syrian
president says elections could take up to five years
AFP/February 03, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syrian Arab Republic President Ahmed Al-Sharaa said Monday that
organizing elections could take up to five years, the week after he was
appointed interim president and less than two months after ousting Bashar Assad.
“My estimate is that the period of time will be approximately between four and
five years until the elections,” Sharaa said in a pre-recorded interview
broadcast on a private Syrian television channel. In late December, he told Al
Arabiya TV the election process could take four years. The infrastructure for
the vote “needs to be re-established, and this takes time,” Sharaa added on
Monday. He also promised “a law regulating political parties,” adding that Syria
would be “a republic with a parliament and an executive government.”Military
commanders last Wednesday appointed Sharaa interim president, after opposition
factions toppled Assad on December 8, ending more than five decades of the
family’s iron-fisted rule. Sharaa’s appointment has been welcomed by key
regional players Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. Sharaa was also tasked
with forming an interim legislature, and the Assad-era parliament was dissolved,
along with the Baath party, which ruled Syria for decades. Syria’s constitution
was also repealed, and the Assad-era army and security forces were dissolved, as
were armed groups, including Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. A transitional
government has been installed to steer Syria until March 1.
Syria leader
says Saudis want to help rebuild war-torn country
Agence France Presse/February
03/2025
Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said Saudi Arabia had a "genuine
desire" to support his war-torn country, after meeting on Sunday with the
oil-rich Gulf state's crown prince. Accompanied by his foreign minister, Asaad
al-Shaibani, Sharaa was greeted by Saudi officials on arrival in Riyadh, images
from state television outlet Al-Ekhbariya showed. Sharaa was later received by
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the official Saudi news agency reported. "We
held a long meeting during which we felt and heard a genuine desire to support
Syria in building its future," Sharaa was quoted as saying in a statement on
Telegram. The official Saudi Press Agency, meanwhile, said that Prince Mohammed
and Sharaa discussed "ways to support the security and stability of sisterly
Syria", as well as "ways to strengthen bilateral relations."Sharaa, whose
Islamist group led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December, was named
Syria's interim president on Wednesday. A Syrian diplomat did not respond to AFP
when asked how long Sharaa's visit would last. Saudi King Salman and his son
Prince Mohammed were among the first to congratulate him on his official
appointment. The Syrian authorities are counting on wealthy Gulf countries to
finance the reconstruction of their war-ravaged nation and revive its economy.
In late December, Sharaa said in an interview with the Saudi channel Al-Arabiya
that the kingdom would "certainly play an important role" in Syria's future,
highlighting a "great opportunity for investment". He told the channel he was
born in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked, and that he had spent the first
seven years of his life in the oil-rich Gulf state.
'Strategic service'
Rabha Seif Allam, a regional expert at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and
Strategic Studies in Cairo, said Riyadh was "playing a key role in reintegrating
the new Syria into the Arab world and onto the international stage". She said
that Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's largest economy, would "directly benefit"
from the stabilization of Syria. "Iran is now excluded from the Syrian
landscape, weakening its regional influence, and drug trafficking from Syria to
the Gulf countries, which had been a destabilizing factor, is now a thing of the
past."Distancing Damascus from Tehran was a "strategic service" to Riyadh, she
added. Though Saudi Arabia and Iran ended a seven-year diplomatic freeze in
2023, the regional heavyweights remain at odds over multiple geopolitical
issues, including the civil war in Syria, where they backed opposing sides.
Syria is also pressing for the lifting of international sanctions that have
dragged down its economy. The sanctions date back to 1979, when the United
States labelled Syria a "state sponsor of terrorism", but they were ramped up
significantly by Washington and other Western powers when Assad cracked down on
anti-government protests in 2011 and sparked the civil war. Saudi Arabia's
foreign minister visited Damascus last month and promised to help secure an end
to the restrictions. Prince Faisal bin Farhan said during his visit that Riyadh
was engaged in "active dialogue with all relevant countries, whether the United
States or the European Union, and we are hearing positive messages." The new
Syrian authorities have received a steady stream of diplomatic visitors since
Assad was toppled. On Thursday in Damascus, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Al-Thani "stressed the urgent need to form a government representing all
spectrums" of Syrian society in order "to consolidate stability and move forward
with reconstruction, development and prosperity projects."
Syria's newly appointed president for a transitional phase Ahmed
al-Sharaa visits Saudi Data and AI Authority, in Riyadh
BEIRUT (Reuters)/February 03/2025
Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Monday it would take between four and five years
to hold presidential elections, the first time he has laid out a timeline for
the vote since he was named transitional president last week.
Sharaa, who headed the Islamist rebel group that led a lightning offensive that
toppled autocratic President Bashar al-Assad in early December, was declared
transitional president on Jan. 30. "I estimate that the period will be between
four to five years until elections because there is a need for a vast
infrastructure, and this infrastructure needs to be re-established and
establishing it needs time," Sharaa told Syria TV in an interview aired on
Monday. He said Syrian authorities would need to consolidate data on the
country's population to update its electoral data, adding: "Without this matter,
any elections held will be doubted." Sharaa said Syria would apply international
norms on transitional periods, including how they apply to a president during
that time. Based on those norms, he said, Syria would "ultimately go to an
elected presidency and an elected authority." He did not specify which
international norms he had reviewed to determine the timeline he set out. When
Sharaa was declared transitional president, he was also empowered to form a
temporary legislative council for a transitional period and the Syrian
constitution was suspended. He has pledged to embark on a political transition
including a national conference to produce an inclusive government. Sharaa said
that a preparatory committee would be formed to hold consultations across Syria.
"Then, it will invite those we think represent the Syrian people in general," he
said. The conference will discuss "all the important problems in Syria" and
produce a final statement that would form the basis of a "constitutional
declaration," he said. Sharaa had said in December that drafting a new
constitution could take up to three years.
Syrian leader
in Turkey on Tuesday on second international trip
Agence France Presse/February
03/2025
Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Turkey on Tuesday on his
second international visit since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in December,
the Turkish presidency said. He went to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. War-ravaged
Syria is looking to wealthy Gulf countries to finance reconstruction and revive
its economy. Sharaa "will pay a visit to Ankara on Tuesday at the invitation of
our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan," Fahrettin Altun, head of communications at
the presidency, said on X on Monday. Turkey, which has had close ties with
Sharaa, reopened its diplomatic mission in Syria and sent its spy chief and
foreign minister for talks with the new leader soon after Assad was toppled by
the Islamist-rooted HTS group. Talks between Erdogan and Sharaa at the
presidential palace in the capital Ankara will focus on "joint steps to be taken
for economic recovery, sustainable stability and security" in Syria, Altun said.
"We believe that the Turkey-Syria relations, which were re-established after
Syria regained its freedom, will be strengthened and gain dimension," he added.
Trump says ‘no
guarantees’ Gaza truce will hold ahead of Netanyahu visit
AFP/February 03, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday there were “no guarantees”
that a fragile ceasefire in Gaza will hold, as he prepares to discuss its future
with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu was in Washington for
talks with the new Trump administration on a second phase of the truce with
Hamas, which has not yet been finalized. Just over two weeks after the ceasefire
took hold, two Hamas officials said the group was ready to begin talks on the
details of a second phase, which could help secure a lasting cessation of
violence. Before leaving Israel, Netanyahu told reporters he would discuss
“victory over Hamas,” countering Iran and freeing all hostages when he meets
Trump on Tuesday. It will be Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since
returning to the White House in January, a prioritization Netanyahu said showed
“the strength of the Israeli-American alliance.”
With fragile ceasefires holding in both Gaza and Lebanon — where an Israeli
campaign badly weakened Iran-backed Hezbollah — Israel has turned its focus to
the occupied West Bank and an operation that it says is aimed at rooting out
extremism that has killed dozens.
Trump, who has claimed credit for sealing the ceasefire deal after 15 months of
war, said Sunday negotiations with Israel and other countries in the Middle East
were “progressing.” The president later told reporters that he has “no
guarantees that the peace is going to hold.”Netanyahu’s office said he would
begin discussions with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday over
terms for the second phase of the Gaza truce. Witkoff said he was “certainly
hopeful” that the truce will hold. The next stage is expected to cover the
release of the remaining captives and could lead to a more permanent end to the
war.
One Hamas official, speaking to AFP on condition on anonymity because of the
sensitivity of the talks, said the Palestinian group “has informed the
mediators... that we are ready to start the negotiations for the second phase.”
A second official said Hamas was “waiting for the mediators to initiate the next
round.”
Under the Gaza ceasefire’s first, 42-day phase, Hamas is to free 33 hostages in
staggered releases in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli
jails. Four hostage-prisoner exchanges have already taken place, and the truce
has led to a surge of food, fuel, medical and other aid into rubble-strewn Gaza.
It has also allowed displaced Gazans to return to the territory’s north, which
Israel had blocked before. According to UN humanitarian office OCHA, more than
545,000 people have reached the north since the truce began. During Hamas’s
October 7, 2023 attack, militants took 251 hostages, 91 of whom remain in Gaza,
including 34 the Israeli military has confirmed are dead. The attack resulted in
the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on
official Israeli figures. Israel’s retaliatory response has killed at least
47,498 people in Gaza, a majority civilians, according to the Hamas-run
territory’s health ministry, figures which the UN considers reliable. While
Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden sustained Washington’s military and diplomatic
backing of Israel, he also criticized the mounting death toll and aid
restrictions. Back in office, Trump moved quickly to lift sanctions on Israeli
settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and
reportedly approved a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that the Biden
administration had blocked. Trump has also repeatedly touted a plan to “clean
out” Gaza, calling for Palestinians to move to neighboring countries such as
Egypt or Jordan.
Qatar, which jointly mediated the ceasefire along with the United States and
Egypt, underscored the importance of allowing Palestinians to “return to their
homes and land.” In the West Bank — which is separated from the Gaza Strip by
Israeli territory — Israel said it had killed at least 50 militants and detained
more than 100 “wanted individuals” in an operation that began on January 21.
Israel’s military says the offensive is aimed at rooting out Palestinian armed
groups from the Jenin area, where militants have long operated. On Sunday,
Palestinian official news agency WAFA said Israeli forces “simultaneously
detonated about 20 buildings” in the Jenin refugee camp. On Monday, the
Palestinian presidency denounced the operation in the territory, which Israel
has occupied since 1967 and where violence has surged since the Gaza war began.
In a statement, spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Palestinian presidency
“condemned the occupation authorities’ expansion of their comprehensive war on
our Palestinian people in the West Bank to implement their plans aimed at
displacing citizens and ethnic cleansing.”
Hamas officials say ‘ready’ for negotiations on phase two
of Gaza truce
AFP/February 03, 2025
CAIRO: Hamas is ready to begin talks on the details of a second phase of the
ongoing truce in Gaza, two officials from the Palestinian militant group told
AFP on Monday. “Hamas has informed the mediators, during ongoing communications
and meetings held with Egyptian mediators last week in Cairo, that we are ready
to start the negotiations for the second phase,” one official said on condition
of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. “We call on the mediators
to ensure that the occupation adheres to the agreement and does not stall,” they
added.
A second official said the group was “waiting for the mediators to initiate the
next round.” Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel
— the first phase of which came into effect on January 19 — indirect talks to
hammer out the details of phase two were due to start Monday.
The 42-day phase one revolves around the release of 33 Israeli hostages in
exchange for around 1,900 prisoners, most of them Palestinian, being held in
Israeli jails. The second phase is expected to cover the release of the
remaining hostages and include discussions on a more permanent end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said he will begin
discussions about the second phase with US President Donald Trump’s Middle East
envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday. The Israeli premier is currently in Washington,
and is due to meet Trump on Tuesday.
Palestinians accuse Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’ as 70
killed in West Bank
AFP/February 03, 2025
RAMALLAH: The office of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas denounced an Israeli
operation in the occupied West Bank as “ethnic cleansing” on Monday, with the
health ministry saying Israeli forces killed 70 people in the territory this
year. In a statement, spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Palestinian
presidency “condemned the occupation authorities’ expansion of their
comprehensive war on our Palestinian people in the West Bank to implement their
plans aimed at displacing citizens and ethnic cleansing.”Later the Palestinian
health ministry in Ramallah said there had been “70 martyrs in the West Bank
since the beginning of this year,” with 10 children, one woman and two elderly
people among the dead. The ministry confirmed to AFP they were “killed by the
Israeli occupation.”The figures showed 38 people killed in Jenin and 15 in Tubas
in the north of the West Bank. One was killed in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem,
it added. The Israeli military launched a major offensive in the West Bank on
January 21 aimed at rooting out Palestinian armed groups from the Jenin area,
which has long been a hotbed of militancy. “We demand the intervention of the US
administration before it is too late, to stop the ongoing Israeli aggression
against our people and our land,” Rudeineh told the Palestinian official news
agency WAFA in a statement coinciding with a visit by Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington. On Sunday, the army said it had killed more
than 50 “terrorists” during the operation that began on January 21 and in air
strikes the preceding week. Netanyahu is visiting Washington, where he is
expected to begin talks on a second phase of Israel’s truce with Hamas in Gaza
on Monday. The next stage is expected to cover the release of the remaining
captives and include discussions on a more permanent end to the war.
After Gaza hostage release, Israeli family demand ‘answers’
on wife, sons
AFP/February 03, 2025
RAMAT GAN, Israel: Relatives of an Israeli hostage freed in the latest Gaza
ceasefire swap made an emotional plea Monday for answers from Israeli
authorities on the fate of his wife and sons. Yarden Bibas, 35, was released by
Gaza militants on Saturday, after being held captive in the Palestinian
territory for more than 15 months. Together with his wife Shiri and their two
sons Ariel and Kfir, they were all seized by militants during Hamas’s October 7,
2023 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war. Hamas has previously
declared that Shiri Bibas and the two children had been killed in an Israeli air
strike in November 2023, but Israel has not confirmed their deaths. “We will no
longer accept uncertainty. We demand answers. We demand them back,” Shiri
Bibas’s sister, Dana Silberman-Sitton, told reporters at the Sheba hospital in
central Israel. “The state failed to protect them. The state has been failing
for almost 16 months to bring them home.”“It’s the responsibility of the
government and the state to Shiri, Ariel and Kfir, to Yarden, to me and our
entire family, and to all the citizens of Israel,” she added, her voice
breaking. Gal Hirsch, the government’s hostage coordinator, said on Saturday
that “we have been searching for them for a long time” and demanding
“information about their condition from the mediators.”Footage filmed by Hamas
militants during their attack showed Shiri Bibas clutching her two red-haired
boys outside their home near the Gaza border. The boys — Kfir, the youngest
hostage whose second birthday fell in January, and his five-year-old brother
Ariel — have become symbols of the hostages’ ordeal. During the Hamas attack,
militants took 251 hostages, 76 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli
military has confirmed are dead. Shiri Bibas’ parents, Yossi and Margit
Silberman, died in a fire in their home in Nir Oz kibbutz, in southern Israel,
when it came under attack on October 7, 2023. Since the first, 42-day phase of
Gaza ceasefire began on January 19, militants have so far freed 18 hostages, in
four hostage-prisoner swaps. During the current phase a total of 33 hostages are
to be freed in return for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh
Arab News/February 03, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Germany’s
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday. The
two leaders held an official session of talks after the crown prince hosted a
reception ceremony in honor of the president. Prince Mohammed and Steinmeier
discussed relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance
them, Saudi Press Agency reported. Regional and international developments and
efforts made with regard to them were also discussed. Steinmeier arrived in the
Kingdom on Sunday evening.
US military flight deporting migrants to India, official
says
Reuters/February 03, 2025
WASHINGTON: A US military plane is deporting migrants to India, a US official
said on Monday, the farthest destination of the Trump administration’s military
transport flights for migrants. President Donald Trump has increasingly turned
to the military to help carry out his immigration agenda, including sending
additional troops to the US-Mexico border, using military aircraft to deport
migrants and opening military bases to house them. The official, speaking on the
condition of anonymity, said the C-17 aircraft had departed for India with
migrants aboard but would not arrive for at least 24 hours. The Pentagon has
also started providing flights to deport more than 5,000 immigrants held by US
authorities in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. So far, military
aircraft have flown migrants to Guatemala, Peru and Honduras. The military
flights are a costly way to transport migrants. Reuters reported that a military
deportation flight to Guatemala last week likely cost at least $4,675 per
migrant.
Pakistan threatens to deport Afghans in resettlement programs if cases are not
swiftly processed
AP/February 04, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan threatened to deport Afghan refugees awaiting relocation
unless their cases are swiftly processed by host governments, officials said
Monday. Tens of thousands of Afghans fled to neighboring Pakistan after the
Taliban took over in 2021 and were approved for resettlement in the US through a
program that helps people at risk because of their work with the American
government, media, aid agencies and rights groups. However, after US President
Donald Trump paused US refugee programs last month, around 20,000 Afghans are
now in limbo in Pakistan. The Trump administration also announced the US Refugee
Admissions Program would be suspended from Jan. 27 for at least three months,
fueling concerns amid Pakistani authorities. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif decided last week that the refugees would be deported back to Afghanistan
unless their cases were processed quickly, according to two security officials.
They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to the
media on the record. The two also said March 31 has been set as a deadline to
expel Afghan refugees from the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby city of
Rawalpindi in preparation for their deportation if they are not relocated to
their host countries. There was no immediate response from Pakistan’s ministry
of foreign affairs. News about forced deportations has panicked many Afghan
nationals who fear for their lives if sent back home. Ahmad Shah, a member of
the Afghan US Refugee Admission Program advocacy group, told The Associated
Press that the latest decision by Pakistan comes at a very critical time as
Afghan refugees in general and those seeking resettlement are already under
emotional stress and trauma. He asked Pakistan to seek answers from the United
States and other countries “if and when they will begin completing the process”
for their relocation. “We appeal to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif not
to be deported like this,” said Khalid Khan who has been waiting for relocation
to the United States since 2023. Khan said some Afghans prepared to leave
Islamabad and move to other cities to avoid arrest. He also urged the host
countries to expedite their cases. Another Afghan refugee who lives in Islamabad
with his family, and who refused to be identified because he is worried about
the Taliban reprisals and arrest by Pakistan, urged Trump to revive the refugee
program “in the name of humanity.”Besides those living in Pakistan and the
thousands awaiting travel to host countries, there are around 1.45 million
Afghan nationals registered with UNHCR as refugees. Their stay has been extended
until June. Pakistan started a crackdown on foreigners who are in the country
without proper documentation in November 2023. An estimated 800,000 Afghans have
either gone back voluntarily or been deported since despite criticism from UN
agencies, rights groups and the Taliban. The two officials said the crackdown
will continue in the coming months. Last month, Amnesty International expressed
its concern over “reports of arbitrary detention and harassment of Afghan
refugees and asylum-seekers by law enforcement agencies in Islamabad.”
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on February 03-04/2025
Trump Must Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign
Terrorist Organization, Scale Down US Ties to Qatar
Con Coughlin/ Gatestone Institute/February 02/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139792/
For Trump to make genuine progress in bringing peace and stability to the region
in his second term, though, his administration must first focus on the root
cause of much of the unrest blighting the region.
In response to the Muslim Brotherhood's violent ideology, a number of
pro-Western Arab regimes, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab
Emirates, have designated the organisation as a terrorist entity.
The need for the world's major Western democracies to take firm action against
the Muslim Brotherhood has become even more urgent following the October 7
attacks, with militant groups inspired by the Brotherhood's ideology said to be
responsible for provoking anti-Jewish riots on American university campuses and
staging weekly hate marches in many European capitals, such as London.
[Ed] Husain, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, is among a
number of Middle East experts arguing in favour of the incoming Trump
administration designating the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation. He
argues that such a move would "force Europe to reconsider the financial, media
and mosque networks used by Iran and the Brotherhood in their own countries to
project power back into the Middle East."
At the same time Trump should confront the Gulf state of Qatar over its blatant
double standards in supporting terror groups such as Hamas, whose leaders have
drawn heavily on the Muslim Brotherhood's dogma, while at the same time
pretending to be an ally of the West.
[Qatar's state-owned media] described the worst terrorist attack in Israel's
history as a "heroic operation," a "miracle" and a "historic turning point" that
restored the honour of the Muslim nation, while placing the Palestinian cause
back on the world's agenda.
Qatar played a similar role during the Afghan conflict, when its willingness to
provide Taliban negotiators with a base in Doha ultimately resulted in the
Taliban regaining power in Kabul, re-establishing its uncompromising Islamist
rule over the Afghan people.
While the Qataris maintain that their mediation efforts on the Gaza conflict are
aimed at ending the bloodshed, their real motive is to ensure that Hamas, the
group whose terrorist infrastructure they have helped to finance, survives the
conflict, enabling it to maintain its threatening presence on Israel's southern
border. This mission of Qatar's is a goal about which President Trump's envoy,
Steve Witkoff, and even President Trump himself, might not be aware.
Given Qatar's overt sympathy for the Hamas cause, at the very least the Trump
administration should undertake a serious review of its dealings with Doha, and
consider relocating the US military's Al Udeid Air Base from Qatar to a more
friendly location in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates.
If US President Donald Trump is really serious about making a positive impact on
the Middle East, a good place for him to start would be to designate the
Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement as a terrorist organisation and scale down
Washington's ties with the Gulf state of Qatar.
Since he won re-election, there has been much speculation that Trump, architect
of the ground-breaking Abraham Accords, intends to use his second term in office
to negotiate a wide-ranging peace deal aimed at bringing lasting stability to
the Middle East.
Before he had even taken office, Trump was credited with helping to finalise the
Gaza ceasefire deal, after he threatened that "all hell will break out" if Hamas
did not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in captivity.
More recently, he has called on Egypt and Jordan to accommodate displaced
Palestinians in Gaza in order to "clean out" the enclave after significant areas
of the territory have been reduced to rubble following 15 months of intense
fighting between Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists and Israel.
For Trump to make genuine progress in bringing peace and stability to the region
in his second term, though, his administration must first focus on the root
cause of much of the unrest blighting the region.
In this context, the US should target the Muslim Brotherhood, widely regarded as
inspiring a range of Islamist terrorist groups from Hamas to al-Qaeda, and the
Gulf state of Qatar, which has a long history of sponsoring Islamist causes.
Founded in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna in
1928, the Muslim Brotherhood has been accused of supporting acts of violence to
achieve its political objectives.
According to Sir John Jenkins, a retired British diplomat and respected expert
on the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Banna supported the political utility of violence,
and the Brotherhood conducted attacks, including assassinations and attacks
against Egyptian state targets and both Western and Jewish interests during his
lifetime.
More recently, the Muslim Brotherhood's disastrous spell in power in Egypt
during the Arab Spring is remembered for the mass attacks that were carried out
against the country's Coptic Christian community, as well as the close ties that
Egypt, ruled by President Mohamed Morsi (a Muslim Brotherhood member)
established with Iran. The organisation's violent Islamist ideology has also
played a role in the formation of numerous terrorist groups in the Middle East,
such as the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist group responsible for carrying out
the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel, in which around 1,200 Israelis were
murdered and another 250 taken hostage.
In response to the Muslim Brotherhood's violent ideology, a number of
pro-Western Arab regimes, such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab
Emirates, have designated the organisation as a terrorist entity.
Now, as Trump commences his second term in the White House, he should follow
suit and designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a
move that many believe could help to improve the prospects for peace in the
Middle East.
The need for the major Western democracies to take firm action against the
Muslim Brotherhood has become even more urgent following the October 7 attacks,
with militant groups inspired by the Brotherhood's ideology said to be
responsible for provoking anti-Jewish riots on American university campuses and
staging weekly hate marches in many European capitals, such as London.
Ed Husain, a respected expert on the Muslim Brotherhood's violent ideology,
recently described the organisation as "a destabilising, anti-American,
anti-Israeli poison" that was "polluting the air of the Middle East and the
wider Muslim world".
Husain, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, is among a number
of Middle East experts arguing in favour of the incoming Trump administration
designating the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation. He argues that such a
move would "force Europe to reconsider the financial, media and mosque networks
used by Iran and the Brotherhood in their own countries to project power back
into the Middle East."
Trump previously considered designating the organisation as a terrorist entity
during his first term of office following talks with Egyptian President
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a fierce critic of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Following his triumphant return to the White House, Trump should revisit the
whole problematic issue of the Muslim Brotherhood, and subject it to the same
classification and sanctions regime that has been imposed against other such
organisations.
At the same time, Trump should confront the Gulf state of Qatar over its blatant
double standards in supporting terror groups such as Hamas, whose leaders have
drawn heavily on the Muslim Brotherhood's dogma, while at the same time
pretending to be an ally of the West.
Qatar, whose funding of Hamas enabled the group to construct the terrorist
infrastructure behind the October 7 attacks, has recently hosted negotiations
aimed at ending hostilities in Gaza.
Qatar played a similar role during the Afghanistan conflict, when its
willingness to provide Taliban negotiators with a base in Doha ultimately
resulted in the Taliban regaining power in Kabul, re-establishing its
uncompromising Islamist rule over the Afghan people.
Apart from actively supporting terror groups such as Hamas and the Taliban,
Qatar is also responsible for creating and funding the Al-Jazeera television
network, which has been accused of acting as the propaganda mouthpiece for
terrorist organisations such as Hamas.
While the Qataris maintain that their mediation efforts on the Gaza conflict are
aimed at ending the bloodshed, their real motive is to ensure that Hamas, the
group whose terrorist infrastructure they have helped to finance, survives the
conflict, enabling it to maintain its threatening presence on Israel's border.
This goal of Qatar's is something about which Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and
even Trump himself, might not be aware.
A telling insight into the Qataris' thinking was provided on the first
anniversary of the October 7 attacks last year, when its state-owned media
published a series of articles glorifying the Hamas atrocity.
The articles described the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history as a
"heroic operation," a "miracle" and a "historic turning point" that restored the
honour of the Muslim nation, while placing the Palestinian cause back on the
world's agenda.
Given Qatar's overt sympathy for the Hamas cause, at the very least the Trump
administration should undertake a serious review of its dealings with Doha, and
consider relocating the US military from Al Udeid Air Base from Qatar to a more
friendly location in the region, such as the United Arab Emirates.
If Trump is really serious about bringing lasting peace to the Middle East
during his second term, he must first neutralise the malign influence of
Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and their financial backers in
Qatar.
*Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence and Foreign Affairs Editor and a
Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21369/trump-muslim-brotherhood-terrorists
A History of ‘Crusade and Jihad’ (with Zero Jihad)
Raymond Ibrahim/The Stream/February 02/2025
In my ongoing quest to expose the academics and other so-called experts who
specialize in the field of Muslim/Christian history and interaction such as John
Esposito and Karen Armstrong, let’s take a quick look at the 2018 book Crusade
and Jihad: The Thousand-Year War between the Muslim World and the Global North
by William R. Polk.
As we shall see, it encapsulates all the misrepresentations and errors of
history that have caused the West to become utterly clueless concerning the
roots of its conflict with the Islam — which in turn has left it utterly
handicapped in formulating a response to current Islamic threats.
For starters, the book’s title and ambitious subtitle present it as a
comprehensive history. The jacket cover claims that “Crusade and Jihad is the
first book to encompass, in one volume, the entire history of the catastrophic
encounter between the Global North … and Muslim societies.” It reportedly
“explains the deep hostilities between the Muslim world and the Global North and
shows how they grew over the centuries” (emphasis added).
Rather bizarrely, however, the first thousand years of history are allotted a
paltry 30 pages — even though the book is 550 pages long. In other words, a mere
5% of it deals with the 10 pivotal centuries of conflict between the eighth and
eighteenth centuries.
What could possibly explain this lopsided approach? After all, that initial
millennium contains all the seeds of conflict. As historian Franco Cardini wrote
in his 1999 book, Europe and Islam,
If we … ask ourselves how and when the modern notion of Europe and the European
identity was born, we realize the extent to which Islam was a factor (albeit a
negative one) in its creation. Repeated Muslim aggression against Europe between
the seventh to eighth centuries, then between the fourteenth and the eighteenth
centuries … was a ‘violent midwife’ to Europe.
A Missing Millennium
While these “violent midwives” are known today as Saracens, Moors, Turks, and
Tatars, their invasions and subsequent atrocities were all conducted under the
same jihadist logic used by contemporary groups such as the Islamic State: as
“infidels” (or kuffar), Christian Europeans were free game for rape,
enslavement, or slaughter.
Or as Bernard Lewis writes in his 1993 book Islam and the West:
We tend nowadays to forget that for approximately a thousand years, from the
advent of Islam in the seventh century until the second siege of Vienna in 1683,
Christian Europe was under constant threat from Islam, the double threat of
conquest and conversion. Most of the new Muslim domains were wrested from
Christendom. Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa were all Christian
countries, no less, indeed rather more, than Spain and Sicily. All this left a
deep sense of loss and a deep fear.
Not only does Polk ignore these formative centuries, but what he does present is
often distorted to Islam’s favor. Again, as the book’s succinct description
explains, “Polk shows how Islam arose and spread across [that’s a euphemism for
violently conquered] North Africa into Europe, climaxed in the vibrant and
sophisticated caliphate of al-Andalus in Medieval Spain, and was the bright
light in a European Dark Age.”
After effusively praising Islamic Spain, Polk writes (rather disdainfully) that
the “ contrast to the rest of Europe was stunning. Few in Europe could read, and
those few were holed up in monasteries…. It is hard to find evidence of more
than a few men or women of culture or even of a degree of social refinement. In
al-Andalus, in contrast, the arts flourished, new forms of poetry were invented,
and musical tastes” advanced.
The Crux of the Matter
The problem here is not that these descriptions are false, but that they are
presented in a vacuum. Yes, Islamic Spain was very prosperous, but, as with all
premodern Islamic states, its prosperity was built almost entirely by plundering
its non-Muslim neighbors of their wealth and bodies (Córdoba was a slave
emporium of European flesh for centuries). In The History of Spain (1952), Louis
Bertrand, a more honest historian, summarized what “advanced and prosperous” al-Andalus
was doing to the Christians of the north as follows:
To keep the Christians [of northern Spain] in their place it did not suffice to
surround them with a zone of famine and destruction. It was necessary also to go
and sow terror and massacre among them. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, an
army sallied forth from Córdoba to go and raid the Christians, destroy their
villages, their fortified posts, their monasteries and their churches…. If one
bears in mind that this brigandage was almost continual, and that this fury of
destruction and extermination was regarded as a work of piety — it was a holy
war [jihad] against infidels — it is not surprising that whole regions of Spain
should have been made irremediably sterile. This was one of the capital causes
of the deforestation from which the Peninsula still suffers. With what savage
satisfaction and in what pious accents do the Arab chroniclers tell us of those
… raids. A typical phrase for praising the devotion of a Caliph is this: “He
penetrated into Christian territory, where he wrought devastation, devoted
himself to pillage, and took prisoners.”… The prolonged presence of the Muslims,
therefore, was a calamity for this unhappy country of Spain. By their system of
continual raids they kept her for centuries in a condition of brigandage and
devastation.
Likewise, Polk fails to mention that the “stunning” illiteracy of Europeans was
itself a byproduct of the jihad. After the Muslim conquest of Egypt (641),
papyrus ceased to be imported into Europe, causing literacy rates to drop back
to pre-Roman levels. Indeed, Christian Europe’s “Dark Ages” came about largely
“because Islam had destroyed the ancient unity of the Mediterranean,” as eminent
medievalist Henri Pirenne demonstrated in his 1937 book Mohammed and
Charlemagne.
Incidentally, the other 95% of Polk’s book also reflects Fake History, but in
reverse. I’ll explain in another article.
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the
Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith
Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
Will Egypt’s President Become Trump’s Least Favorite
Dictator?
Jonathan Schanzer & Mariam Wahba/Newsweek/February 03/2025
Hours after President Donald Trump revealed plans to ask Egypt to enable
Palestinian refugees looking to escape the war to enter the Sinai Peninsula from
Gaza, Cairo’s Foreign Ministry issued a firm rejection of the proposal. Cairo
called any attempt to displace Palestinians an “infringement on inalienable
rights” and warned such actions would threaten “regional stability, risk further
conflict escalation, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence among the
region’s peoples.”
The rejection of Trump’s trial balloon is telling. In May 2024, Cairo joined
South Africa in its spurious legal case at the International Court of Justice,
accusing Israel of war crimes—without any evidence. Now, with Egypt’s rejection
of Trump’s plan for the temporary relocation of Gazans, Cairo must explain
itself. If it believes that there are war crimes occurring in Gaza, then it’s
refusal to accept refugees means that it is a party to war crimes. If it doesn’t
believe that there are war crimes occurring, then it must retract the
accusation.
It’s unclear whether Egypt ever officially filed, as the foreign ministry never
specified what its intervention would entail. Nevertheless, the prevailing
perception across the Middle East is that Cairo had joined the lawfare campaign.
Apart from the legal conundrum Egypt now finds itself, there is now a dose of
international intrigue. Trump’s first term marked a golden era for the
U.S.-Egypt relationship. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was one of the
first world leaders to congratulate President Trump on his 2016 victory, saying
he looked forward to “boosting friendship and strategic relations” with
Washington. Trump’s effusive praise of Sisi as a “fantastic guy” after their
first meeting and his later declaration of Sisi as his “favorite dictator”
reflected a unique personal bond. This relationship translated into financial
support, with Cairo continuing to receive its substantial aid package while the
White House refrained from addressing Sisi’s human rights abuses or
authoritarian practices.
Trump viewed Sisi’s strongman leadership as an asset in counterterrorism
efforts, particularly against ISIS in Sinai. Sisi’s Egypt was also seen as a
bulwark against Islamism, as the Egyptian leader had ousted and imprisoned the
Muslim Brotherhood. For Sisi, Trump’s support provided diplomatic legitimacy and
financial aid, bolstering his domestic grip and enabling him to expand Egypt’s
regional influence.
There is now ample reason to doubt Egypt’s counterterrorism commitment,
particularly as it relates to Hamas. It is clear that Egypt looked the other way
on Hamas smuggling to the Gaza Strip by way of the Sinai Peninsula. The tunnel
and over-land smuggling that took place in the years leading up to 2023 clearly
helped Hamas prepare for the Oct. 7 slaughter. The Biden administration largely
shielded Egypt from criticism on this front. Israel did, too, for fear of
destabilizing its oldest peace agreement in the Middle East. Trump’s call for
Egypt to take in refugees may signal a change in strategy on the part of the
United States. Israel’s position is still unclear. Meanwhile, Trump recently
doubled down on his call for Egypt (and Jordan) to step up.
But the issues plaguing Egypt may run deeper. In 2023, leaked intelligence
revealed Egypt’s secret plans to supply rockets to Russia in flagrant defiance
of U.S. policy. In October 2024, at the height of Gaza ceasefire negotiations,
Sisi skipped a key meeting with then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken to attend
the BRICS summit in Russia, further testing Washington’s resolve. Meanwhile,
Egypt has deepened ties with China, acquiring Chinese fighter jets and allowing
anti-American, pro-Chinese Communist Party propaganda to seep into state
institutions. Trump, who values loyalty, may see Cairo’s obvious hedging as a
betrayal.
A deepening economic crisis further complicates matters. Since Sisi came to
power, he has presided over soaring inflation, crippling debt, and skyrocketing
unemployment. Domestic dissatisfaction is high, and social unrest looms. On the
one hand, this might open the door for American aid to buy renewed Egyptian
loyalty. However, Cairo may not be open to that. Egypt has already rejected
money from Gulf States to help solve the Gaza refugee crisis and to isolate
Hamas.
Instead, to deflect domestic frustrations, Cairo has resorted to vitriolic
anti-American and anti-Israeli rhetoric, casting Sisi as a defender of Arab
interests and the Palestinian cause. This is classic Arab nationalist rhetoric,
but at times embraces Islamist talking points that appeal to that sector of
Egypt’s burgeoning population. This may be Sisi’s strategy to appeal to the
restive Egyptian street and prevent any further damage to his carefully
cultivated domestic persona. However, this is not likely to play well with the
incoming Trump administration.
It is entirely unclear whether this previously cozy relationship will become
transactional—or frosty. The U.S.-Egypt relationship is undeniably important.
But what happens in Gaza will decidedly not stay in Gaza. Cairo’s unhelpful
position may ultimately prompt a reassessment of its value.
**Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at Foundation for
Defense of Democracies, where Mariam Wahba is a Research Analyst.
https://www.newsweek.com/will-egypts-president-become-trumps-least-favorite-dictator-opinion-2024328
Syria gets a new autocrat as Sharaa styles himself
‘president’
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/Asia Times/February 03/2025
If the economy tanks, it’s likely Sharaa will return to his Islamic roots and
produce a state similar to ISIS
Forget the risk of Syria turning into an Islamist emirate. The country’s de
facto ruler and former al-Qaeda operative Ahmad Sharaa on Wednesday proclaimed
himself “transitional president,” with his X account simply dropping the word
“transitional” and referring to him as “president of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
But who died and made Sharaa king? The answer is no one. In a region where
“might is right,” the guy with the gun becomes “president,” and, before we know
it, Sharaa will be president, forever.
But not all Syrians are on board. Taha Bali, a Syrian-American Sunni from
Damascus and a supporter of the Syrian revolution since its outbreak in 2011,
has been vocal in calling out Syria’s new autocrat and his autocratic
tendencies.
Two months after moving into the People’s Palace, once Bashar Assad’s seat of
power, Sharaa had “received foreign ministers, intelligence chiefs, celebrities,
[International Criminal Court] prosecutor, foreign media and Syrian diaspora,”
Bali wrote on X.
But, Sharaa had yet to receive families of Syrians whom Assad had killed or
imprisoned, those injured and maimed in 14 years of civil war, local
non-governmental organizations, unions or local media. Bali concluded that
Sharaa’s intentions were clear. He was only interested in connecting with “the
strong,” whether domestic or foreign, while not addressing the Syrians directly
or visiting places outside the presidential palace, such as the notorious
Saydnaya prison.
To be fair, Sharaa did leave the presidential palace, but only to receive Emir
of Qatar Tamim Bin Hamad, whose plane landed at the Damascus airport on Thursday
on the first visit by a head of state.
In another post, Bali welcomed the merger of all armed factions into a
centralized army but added that the event was exploited to cover for Sharaa
taking the reins of power.
Another Syrian revolutionary, Mazen Ezzi, a French-Syrian Druze from Sweida in
the south, also objected to what looked like Sharaa’s usurpation of power. The
fact that Sharaa relied “on armed factions, rather than political and civil
forces,” made it look like a coup rather than political transition, Ezzi argued.
Factions that pledged allegiance to Sharaa, when he proclaimed himself
president, were all Sunni, according to Ezzi. “Any political process that
excludes Kurds, Alawites, Christians, Druze, Murshidis, Assyrians and others is
not a truly national one,” he concluded.
Ezzi was right. Vast swaths of the country remain outside the control of
“President Sharaa.” In the southeast, the Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces (SDF)
maintain an autonomous government and military. Sharaa called on the Kurds to
surrender their arms, but they insisted on agreeing on the process first.
“We told Sharaa that we are willing to join our military capabilities to create
a national Syrian army – an institution with agreed on rules and chain of
command,” according to SDF chief Mazloum Abdi. “Sharaa does not want to treat us
as peers but [wants us] to surrender to him, and that’s something we are not
willing to do.” For the Kurds, it helps that their military capabilities, and
global connections, are superior to Sharaa’s. But with time, the balance of
power might change against them.
Prior to his accession to power, Sharaa said all the right things, claiming that
he was not seeking power or fame and that his only goal was to build a diverse
and prosperous Syria worthy of its citizens. But since then, Sharaa’s behavior
has shown that he only denounced his past to win global recognition that he
needs to consolidate power, and – likely – never relinquish it.
For the time being, Sharaa continues to ride on the popular euphoria of ejecting
the Assad dynasty, over half a century since the Assads took power.
But soon enough, when Sharaa becomes the undisputed master, he will have to
govern. Should the economy tank, Sharaa will need to deploy tactics similar to
those of other Middle Eastern dictators: a combination of brutal repression of
opponents and deflection of responsibility unto foreign parties – mainly the
West and Israel.
Another tactic, perhaps closer to the hearts of Sharaa’s base, would be to
revert to Islamism. In 1991, after a global coalition ejected Saddam and crushed
Iraq and its economy, the reeling Iraqi dictator launched the “belief campaign”
and added the Islamic phrase “God is Great” to the flag. It is likely that, when
rubber hits the road and Syria finds itself struggling with unemployment and
poverty, Sharaa will revive his Islamist past and engage in Islamization that,
in combination with brutal repression, produces an Islamic state in Syria,
similar to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, aka ISIS.
Toppling bloody tyrants is great, but no guarantee that whatever comes next will
be any different from what preceded it.
**Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow with the Foundation for the Defense
of Democracies (FDD).
https://asiatimes.com/2025/01/syria-gets-a-new-autocrat-as-sharaa-styles-himself-president/
Why The Palestinian Authority Will Not Be Able to Control Gaza
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/February 03/2025
The US Must Cut Ties with Qatar, Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign
Terrorist Organization
The failure of the Palestinian Authority's security operation against the Jenin
gunmen shows why the PA cannot be trusted to assume control over the Gaza Strip,
where thousands of Hamas and PIJ terrorists continue to operate, especially
after the recent US-brokered ceasefire-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
Like Abbas, no Arab country will invest in or get involved in the Gaza Strip as
long as Iran's Islamist proxies continue to dominate it. Given the recent return
of hundreds of convicted terrorists released from Israeli prisons to the streets
in exchange for hostages -- many of whom are dead -- the possibility of another
October 7-style atrocity against Israelis is still all too real.
President Donald J. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, may have the best of
intentions, but unfortunately appears to have placed his trust in his real
estate business associate, Qatar, which is a major funder of Hamas.
Witkoff, who regrettably took a terrible, ready-to-wear deal from the Biden
administration... is proving an unfortunate embarrassment to Trump.
From the beginning, the deal should have been, as then-President-elect Trump put
it, that all the hostages must be released before his inauguration or "all hell
will break out." Such a warning presupposes that all the hostages, dead and
alive, are placed at the border, on a certain date at a certain time. No
negotiations, no release of hundreds of terrorists, nothing... It would be
interesting to know how Trump's strong, original vision got so badly derailed.
"Qatar is at the top of funding terrorism worldwide, even more than Iran." —
Ehud Levi, retired head of the Mossad's unit for economic warfare against
terrorist organizations, Ynet, April 18, 2024.
Qatar's plan undoubtedly is to see that Hamas, one of its preeminent clients,
remains in power. As the mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas through
its vast television empire, Al Jazeera, Qatar does not want to see Israel in the
region any more than Hamas does.
There is only one viable way to address the Gaza Strip's problems: discard Qatar
as a supposedly honest broker (it is not), designate the Muslim Brotherhood a
Foreign Terrorist Organization (it is), disarm all the terrorist groups, and
oust Hamas completely from power.
The failure of the Palestinian Authority's security operation against the Jenin
gunmen shows why the PA cannot be trusted to assume control over the Gaza Strip,
where thousands of Hamas and PIJ terrorists continue to operate, especially
after the recent US-brokered ceasefire-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
Qatar and Egypt are now spearheading efforts to bring the Palestinian Authority
(PA) back to the Gaza Strip. The two countries are apparently trying to persuade
the US administration to back the idea.
If the PA has been unable, or perhaps unwilling, to rein in dozens of gunmen in
the West Bank, how can anyone expect it to take control of the Gaza Strip, where
thousands of terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continue
to operate? PA President Mahmoud Abbas is not foolish enough to send his men to
the Gaza Strip, where they are likely to be slaughtered again, as they were in
2007.
In the eyes of Hamas and many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Abbas and the PA
are traitors, mainly because they conduct security coordination with Israel in
the West Bank. Abbas is aware that if and when he dares to enter the Gaza Strip,
he will meet the same fate as Palestinians suspected of "collaboration" with
Israel: he will be murdered. Since the US-brokered ceasefire-for-hostages
agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect last month, Hamas has
executed several Palestinians and shot others in the legs after accusing them of
"collaboration" with Israel. The executions are aimed at sending a message to
Abbas as to what awaits him and his men should they set foot in the Gaza Strip.
A few weeks ago, the Palestinian Authority launched a major security operation
against Iran-backed armed groups in Jenin Refugee Camp in the northern West
Bank, which were threatening Abbas's rule.
After besieging the camp for 40 days and killing and arresting several
Palestinians, the PA and the gunmen, most of whom belong to Palestinian Islamic
Jihad and Hamas, reached an agreement to end the PA operation. According to the
agreement, the PA security forces would stop pursuing the gunmen in the camp and
release detainees. In return, PA forces would be allowed to remain in the camp.
The agreement, however, did not end the "presence of armed groups" in the camp,
thereby signaling the failure of the PA's security operation. It is estimated
that dozens of gunmen continue to operate inside the camp, as well as in several
nearby Palestinian towns.
The failure of the Palestinian Authority's security operation against the Jenin
gunmen shows why the PA cannot be trusted to assume control over the Gaza Strip,
where thousands of Hamas and PIJ terrorists continue to operate, especially
after the recent US-brokered ceasefire-hostages deal between Israel and Hamas.
Immediately after the ceasefire-hostages agreement was announced, thousands of
armed Hamas and PIJ terrorists reappeared on the streets of the Gaza Strip. The
vast majority of the terrorists had been hiding in tunnels, hospitals and
humanitarian zones during the 15-month Israel-Hamas war, which started after the
Hamas-led invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 1,200 Israelis were
murdered and thousands wounded during the attack. Another 250 Israelis,
including children, women and the elderly, were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists
and "ordinary" Palestinians.
As Abbas's security operation was underway in Jenin Refugee Camp, Hamas
denounced the Palestinian Authority for its "catastrophic [security]
coordination" with Israel. Hamas also held the PA responsible for the
Palestinian "bloodletting" and accused it of committing a crime against the
Palestinian people. Hamas, in other words, is saying that Abbas is a traitor who
has Palestinian blood on his hands.
It is wrong to assume that Hamas or any other terrorist organization would
consent to the PA regaining security control of the Gaza Strip. At most, Hamas
will permit the PA to renter the Gaza Strip as a civilian body tasked with
funding reconstruction efforts and paying salaries.
For now, Abbas feels safer living under Israeli security control in the West
Bank than being with the masked terrorists of Hamas and PIJ in the Gaza Strip.
Like Abbas, no Arab country will invest in or get involved in the Gaza Strip as
long as Iran's Islamist proxies continue to dominate it. Given the recent return
of hundreds of convicted terrorists released from Israeli prisons to the streets
in exchange for hostages -- many of whom are dead -- the possibility of another
October 7-style atrocity against Israelis is still all too real.
President Donald J. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, may have the best of
intentions, but unfortunately appears to have placed his trust in his real
estate business associate, Qatar, which is a major funder of Hamas. Witkoff
recently sold to Qatar the Park Lane Hotel in New York City, "once called the
world's greatest site for development."
Witkoff, who regrettably took a terrible, ready-to-wear deal from the Biden
administration -- a deal ensuring that Hamas will remain in power in the Gaza
Strip -- is proving an unfortunate embarrassment to Trump.
From the beginning, the deal should have been, as then-President-elect Trump put
it, that all the hostages must be released before his inauguration or "all hell
will break out." Such a warning presupposes that all the hostages, dead and
alive, are placed at the border, on a certain date at a certain time. No
negotiations, no release of hundreds of terrorists, nothing -- just like the
release of American hostages from Iran under President Ronald Reagan in 1981. It
would be interesting to know how Trump's strong, original vision got so badly
derailed.
Qatar is a major funder of Hamas, with donations of more than $1 billion
annually.
Qatar has also for decades been a state sponsor of Islamist terrorism in general
(see here, here, here, here, here, here and here).
According to Ehud Levi, retired head of the Mossad's unit for economic warfare
against terrorist organizations, "Qatar is at the top of funding terrorism
worldwide, even more than Iran."
Qatar's plan undoubtedly is to see that Hamas, one of its preeminent clients,
remains in power. As the mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas through
its vast television empire, Al Jazeera, Qatar does not want to see Israel in the
region any more than Hamas does.
Qatar has "spent nearly $6 billion since 2007 lobbying the American government
and funneling cash to the United States' top universities," according to the
investigative journalist Adam Kredo of the Free Beacon.
"In 2023, the country spent $5 million lobbying the American government. Another
$11 million was spent on nongovernment lobbying expenses, according to public
records. From 2020 to 2022, Doha spent more than $130 million on government and
nongovernment lobbying efforts.
"Qatar also has invested heavily in America, spending more than $30 billion as
of 2019 through its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority,
according to the State Department."
There is only one viable way to address the Gaza Strip's problems: discard Qatar
as a supposedly honest broker (it is not), designate the Muslim Brotherhood a
Foreign Terrorist Organization (it is), disarm all the terrorist groups, and
oust Hamas completely from power.
**Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
**Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21371/palestinian-authority-gaza-hamas-qatar
Al-Sharaa and the Saudi date
Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat/February 03, 2025
Interim Syrian Arab Republic President Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s choice of Saudi Arabia
as the destination for his first foreign visit aimed to deliver blunt messages
inside his country and beyond. This is not only about Saudi Arabia being an
economic and political heavyweight on the Arab, Islamic and international
levels, but also about the new Saudi Arabia, which in a handful of years has
become more open and witnessed rapid reforms and advances. From the moment he
succeeded in ousting the Assad regime, Al-Sharaa has shown that he is fully
aware of the new balances of power in the region and of the actual interests of
the new Syrian Arab Republic he is hoping to form. It only took a handful of
weeks to change the Syrian Arab Republic’s image. It is no longer a country that
chases away its people and the keys to its fate no longer lie with the supreme
leader in Iran or the czar in Russia.
These glimmers of hope reminded me of Syrians I had met years ago and who had
lost all hope that their country could be saved. In September 2015, I was in
Berlin and I witnessed the waves of Syrian refugees arriving in the country. I
met a man who had taken a chance by riding one of the “boats of death” to flee
the country. He told me: “Germany allowed me to feel my human dignity for the
very first time.” One of his companions said: “I am excellent. I am eating three
meals a day and I can sleep without fear of the Baathists or Daesh.” It pained
me to see Syrians living in refuge in Germany rejoicing at eating regular meals
and being away from Daesh and the Sednaya prison regime. I recalled another day
when I entered the office of a young man called Bashar Assad, who was in the
early years of his time in office. He spoke to me of the difficult economic
situation, of the aging regime and laziness of the Baath Party. He also told me
that the might of nations is not measured by their armies, but the strength of
their economy.
Early on, Bashar’s regime was afraid of showing any openness and the fragile
thread that could have connected the president to the people and the people with
each other was severed. “Mr. President’s” isolation grew. He did not grasp the
meaning of an American tank toppling a statue of Saddam Hussein. He did not
pause at how he was forced to withdraw his forces from Lebanon in the wake of
the Lebanese people’s rage over Rafik Hariri’s assassination. He was afraid of
making the necessary painful decisions and instead turned over the keys to his
country to the so-called resistance axis.
Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani persuaded the master of the Kremlin of the benefits
of saving the Assad regime. Tehran ignored the will of the majority of the
Syrian people and Moscow committed the same mistake. The radicalism of the
Syrian opposition alarmed several countries and, so, the ouster of the Assad
regime was delayed. The regime itself was deluded into believing that it would
remain in power forever.
During those days, a young man called Ahmad Al-Sharaa endured years in jail, on
the battlefield and in radicalism. In recent years, Al-Sharaa lived in the Idlib
“statelet” alongside the various factions and got to know the people. It never
occurred to anyone that he would one day make it to the Umayyad Mosque in
Damascus to declare the end of more than half a century of Assad rule.
Al-Sharaa’s arrival on the scene surprised the region and the world. His
statements only fueled the desire to learn more about him and how he thinks. In
just a few weeks, he shed the image of Abu Mohammed Al Golani and was once again
known as Ahmad Al-Sharaa. He said he wants to establish a Syrian Arab Republic
that belongs to all of its people without exception. He wants a unified state,
not a country that is composed of factions. He does not want to drag his country
into endless wars and battles. He wants to involve all Syrians — inside the
country and abroad — and to ensure the return of millions of refugees whom the
former regime had forced to live in tents in neighboring states or to beg for
residency in far-flung countries.
Al-Sharaa’s appearance in Damascus was monumental and many feared that reprisals
would ensue. But nothing happened. Al-Sharaa played a decisive role in averting
disaster.
Recent weeks have led many to believe that Al-Sharaa spent his long time in
Idlib preparing a detailed program for the Syrian Arab Republic that would ease
internal and foreign concerns. He has surprised his visitors. They have seen in
him a man moving forward with pragmatism, fully aware that any misstep could
land the country in new isolation or internal strife that would discourage the
world from helping it.
His visitors have said that he has the ability to listen and persuade. That he
can be both firm and flexible. That he has the ability to accept the other and
avoid insisting on imposing one unilateral vision in such an ethnically and
religiously diverse country.
They realized that Al-Sharaa knows the region and the world well. They noted
that he did not fall into the trap of delivering a hasty response to Israel’s
assault on his country, knowing that the Iranians had already left it by then.
They noted that he dealt the axis of resistance a deadly blow, but refrained
from celebrating the feat. He diminished Russia’s military presence in the
country without following this with acts of reprisal. From the moment he ousted
the Assad regime, Al-Sharaa has shown that he is fully aware of the new balances
of power in the region.
Al-Sharaa chose Saudi Arabia as the destination of his first trip abroad to
underscore his realization of the constant importance the Kingdom places on the
Syrian Arab Republic remaining an effective member of the Arab world, as well as
respecting the will of its people and supporting its sovereignty, territorial
integrity and dream for stability and prosperity. Al-Sharaa’s meeting with the
torchbearer of Saudi Arabia’s rise, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was an
extraordinary event that will certainly leave its mark on the new Syrian Arab
Republic, its position in the Arab family and its international relations.
Al-Sharaa knows Saudi Arabia well. He was born in Riyadh and spent his childhood
there. He also knows the current Saudi Arabia, which is a source of stability
and a hub of investment partnerships and prosperity. He is aware of the
Kingdom’s role in persuading Western countries to ease the sanctions on the
Syrian Arab Republic ahead of lifting them completely. He is aware of the aid it
can provide to his country in a world that is living on Donald Trump’s time. He
is also aware of the rapid regional developments and expectations. As he was in
Saudi Arabia, Benjamin Netanyahu was heading to the White House, which has again
chosen to live under the rule of the man of surprises and initiatives.
Al-Sharaa’s Saudi date is important for Damascus and Riyadh, as well as the
Syrian Arab Republic and the Middle East’s stability.
Europe needs a Trump strategy
Chris Doyle/Arab News/February 03, 2025
Rarely since the end of the Second World War have relations between European
powers and the US faced such uncertainty. The 47th president has injected this
fear into many relationships around the world, with Donald Trump shaking up some
of the pillars of the international system. This comes at a time when many key
European powers, including France and Germany, are facing their own internal
challenges. The relationship between the US and
Western Europe has been at the heart of the primary economic and security
alliance in that system. They form the bedrock of the world’s most powerful
military alliance, NATO. The US and European powers have joined together in many
military interventions, such as against Daesh or in Kuwait in 1991. Since 2022,
they have acted in concert to back Ukraine.
Take none of this for granted now. Trump sees Europe as having sponged off the
US and become overly reliant on American military cover without being willing to
pay for it. He is not the only American president to make this point, but he is
prepared to do something about it.
This is one of the least complex issues for European powers to resolve. They at
least know what they must do: boost defense spending to as much as 5 percent of
their national incomes. Some, like Poland and Estonia, are pushing ahead with
this, motivated by fears of Russian aggression on the back of its invasion of
Ukraine. It will be painful economically, but the path is clear.
But even if European powers do invest more, will Trump have their back?
What happens if a NATO member is attacked and triggers Article 5, which requires
its allies to assist? He has not confirmed that the US will honor this
obligation.
Meanwhile, Greenland looms as the iceberg that could sink this titanic
relationship. Trump wants Greenland to be part of the US. He told reporters on
Air Force One: “I think we're going to have it.” Yet the world’s biggest island
is sovereign Danish territory. Denmark is meant to be a US ally. Greenland is
strategically important, halfway across the Atlantic and with significant
mineral wealth. Denmark insists that Greenlanders have the right to determine
their future.
This is no minor territorial squabble. Denmark is a founding member of NATO and
a member of the EU. Trump has not ruled out using force or economic coercion. It
could compel many European powers to make a choice. The French Foreign Ministry
has acknowledged that sending European troops to Greenland had been discussed,
but Denmark does not want to pursue this option for now.
Copenhagen will have to work hard with its European allies to ensure a unified
and robust position to limit US ambitions. A compromise may be possible.
Many think this might be another Trump opening gambit. Is he pushing for
greater access to Greenland for military bases and mineral rights? Quite
possibly but, if so, what will he do on other issues? Already, the trade wars
have started. Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, with both
countries promising to retaliate in kind. The EU is on the president’s list of
targets, not least because the bloc exports far more to the US than it imports.
The president believes tariffs will energize the US economy, though critics say
they will just boost inflation. The EU does not seek a tit-for-tat tariff war
but looks like it may have little choice.
Creative diplomacy may be required to limit the fallout. Trump will want to
deliver on his protectionist promises, but can he be persuaded to minimize the
tariffs? As for broader geopolitical issues, European
powers have concerns over how the US will handle Russia and Ukraine. Trump wants
to end the war, something his predecessor made little progress on. Yet Ukraine
and many Eastern European and Baltic states fear peace could come at their
expense and undermine their security. The EU is on the
president’s list of targets, not least because the bloc exports far more to the
US than it imports.
In the Middle East, Trump has already shaken things up. His firm position with
Israel got the ceasefire deal over the line, but will he ensure that phases two
and three get implemented? Only he can ensure Israel abides by its commitments.
Europe needs this and other conflicts not just to calm down but to be resolved.
Instability on its borders is far from being in its interest, as it is a driver
of migration and extremism. Iran was another divisive issue with Europe in
Trump’s first term. Much will depend on what the president’s strategy will turn
out to be. The EU will not be unhappy if Trump does as he has hinted and engage
with Iran for a deal. European powers should encourage him down this path,
trying along the way to help by making constructive suggestions as to the
contours of what might be possible.
All this highlights why Europe needs a Trump strategy. The American president is
making all the running and setting the agenda on his terms. That is his
prerogative. But if core European interests are to be protected, the continent
is going to have to pull together and find ways to engage the White House
collectively. Acting unilaterally is unlikely to make much impact.
Chris Doyle is director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London.
X: @Doylech
What Has the Palestinian Authority Done to Solve the
Refugee Crisis Since Camp David?
Colonel Charbel Barakat/February 04/2025
(Free translated from Arabic and summarizing introduction by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/02/139809/
Introduction
For decades, the Palestinian refugee crisis has been deliberately prolonged by
Arab regimes and Palestinian leadership, not for humanitarian reasons but as a
political weapon. While Israel successfully integrated Jewish refugees from Arab
countries, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and Arab states have refused to do
the same for Palestinians, leaving them in dire conditions to serve an agenda of
perpetual conflict. This piece examines the failure of Palestinian leadership to
absorb refugees despite massive international aid, the demographic manipulations
imposed by Iran and Syria, and the missed opportunities—such as Trump’s Greater
Gaza plan—that could have provided real solutions. As the region faces new
realities, will Arab leaders finally accept pragmatic solutions, or will they
once again reject progress until it’s too late?
Many so-called “intellectuals,” especially among the leftist elites inside and
outside Lebanon, claim that the Lebanese state has not done enough to absorb
Palestinian refugees or solve their problems. They argue that, at the very
least, Palestinians have the right to organize security inside their camps and
maintain their weapons. But while we know that Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, and
Gaza host far more Palestinian refugee camps than Lebanon, do Palestinian
refugees in these regions have the same “right” to armed autonomy? The answer is
a resounding no.
According to UNRWA data, Palestinian refugee numbers in neighboring countries
are as follows:
Syria: 450,000 across 11 camps (before the Syrian war)
Jordan: 450,000 across 13 camps (before Black September)
Lebanon: 180,000 across 15 camps (before the 1975 war)
West Bank: 800,000 across 24 camps
Gaza Strip: 400,000 across 8 camps
The real refugee crisis is not in Lebanon but in Syria, Jordan, and even within
the Palestinian territories themselves, where approximately 1.2 million refugees
live under the Palestinian Authority’s jurisdiction. Meanwhile, history shows
how other refugee populations were integrated: after Israel’s establishment,
900,000 Jews fled Arab countries, with 600,000 absorbed into Israel and the rest
settling in France, the United States, and elsewhere.
Yet while the Assad regime in Syria forcibly naturalized half a million
people—none of whom were Palestinians—it simultaneously facilitated Iran’s
demographic engineering, allowing the mass settlement of five million Iranians,
Afghans, and Pakistanis in Syria to shift the country’s sectarian balance.
Palestinian refugees in Syria’s camps, on the other hand, faced persecution.
Now, under pressure from Iran and its Lebanese proxies, Lebanon may be forced to
absorb these five million settlers temporarily, only for them to remain
permanently as a ticking time bomb within Lebanese society.
The Palestinian Authority’s Failure
In light of Gaza’s recent destruction and its population crisis, we must ask:
what have Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas done to alleviate the
suffering of Palestinian refugees since 1948? The original Palestinian
displacement was the result of Arab rejection of UN Resolution 181, which
proposed a peaceful partition of the land. Instead of cooperation, they chose
war, leading to decades of suffering.
Arafat had ten years between the Oslo Accords (1993) and his death in 2004,
during which Israel withdrew from 13 settlements inside Gaza and placed the
entire Gaza Strip and much of the West Bank under Palestinian Authority control.
Foreign aid poured in, yet did the Palestinian Authority relocate or integrate
even a fraction of the refugees? Did Abbas, who has ruled the West Bank for
nearly two decades, do any better? Did Hamas, after seizing control of Gaza, use
its resources to build homes, or did it dig terror tunnels and amass rockets
instead?
By contrast, Jews who fled Arab countries after 1948 spent only a short time in
refugee camps before integrating into cities and towns, often funded by state or
community initiatives. There is no such thing as a Jewish refugee camp today. If
Palestinians were truly seeking progress, why hasn’t the Palestinian Authority
used Arab and international funding to build housing projects on Palestinian
land?
The reality is that keeping Palestinians in camps serves a political agenda—one
that ensures generations of resentment, providing a continuous supply of
recruits for violence against Israel and the West. If the Palestinian leadership
had genuinely prioritized refugee resettlement, the entire issue could have been
resolved decades ago.
Missed Opportunities and the Road Ahead
Jared Kushner’s Greater Gaza proposal under Trump’s first term envisioned a
massive commercial port in northern Sinai, linked to the Gulf of Aqaba via Saudi
Arabia, creating a major trade corridor to Europe. This plan would have
generated thousands of jobs and provided economic relief not only to Gazans but
also to West Bank Palestinians and even Egyptians. Yet, true to form, both
Palestinian and Egyptian leadership rejected the idea.
Now, after the destruction of Gaza by Hamas’s reckless war and the Red Sea’s
closure by Houthi terrorists, which crippled the Suez Canal trade route, will
Egypt and the Palestinians finally acknowledge the need for pragmatic solutions?
Or will they, as always, dismiss opportunities until it’s too late?
The Arab world has a long history of rejecting solutions only to demand them
later when circumstances become unbearable. Will they understand, in Trump’s
second term, the importance of real solutions after what happened in Gaza and
Lebanon? Or will they continue down the same path of self-destruction?
Colonel Charbel Barakat
***Colonel Charbel Barakat, a retired Lebanese Army officer, historian,
terrorism expert, and author of numerous works on Lebanon, the Iranian regime’s
schemes, and jihadist movements, has testified multiple times before the U.S.
Congress on critical issues, including Iranian and Syrian terrorism, the Syrian
occupation of Lebanon, jihadist threats, and the pursuit of Middle East peace.