English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For March 10/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
The Healing Of The Leper Sunday
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 01/35-45/In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 09-10/2025
 Statement of Condemnation for the Massacres Committed by Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s Jihadi Regime in Alawite Areas/Elias Bejjani/March 09/2025
Text & Video: To Hezbollah’s Cymbals and Berri’s Mouthpieces from the Culture of Shoes—Enough Nonsense!/Elias Bejjani/March 07/2025
Video Link to political Commentary by Journalist Ali Hamadeh
3 thoughts on the events in Syria/Elie Abouaoun/Face Book/March 09/2025
Drone strike kills one as Israel says targeted Hezbollah militant in South
Army contains tensions in Tripoli after reports of Syrian being stabbed
UN Special Coordinator visits Israel to discuss security along Blue Line
Hezbollah’s Qassem Admits Security Failures, Promises Accountability
Massad Boulos: Peace Is 'Close'
Lebanon’s First Lady Attends UN CSW69 in New York
Israeli Airstrikes: A Renewed Message to Hezbollah/Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/March 09/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 09-10/2025
In landslide win, Liberal Party chooses Mark Carney as new leader and next PM
Syria’s neighboring foreign ministers call for lifting sanctions, reconciliation
France condemns Syria violence targeting 'civilians'
Syria church leaders condemn 'massacres targeting innocent civilians'
Syria’s Sharaa pleas for communal peace as clashes continue
Syria’s neighboring foreign ministers call for lifting sanctions, reconciliation
Rubio: US condemns "radical Islamic terrorists" who killed people in western Syria in recent days
Syrian Ministry of Defense: The second phase of the military operation in the countryside and mountains begins
Berlin expresses "shock" over reports of mass killings in Syria
Damascus forms committee to investigate incidents on Syrian coast
Jordan’s King Abdullah backs Syria’s stability at regional meeting in Amman
Israel to send team to Doha as Hamas pushes for phase two of Gaza truce
US envoy says Gaza hostage deal possible ‘within weeks’
Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza
Israeli air strike in Gaza ahead of new talks on truce with Hamas
Israel military appoints new top spokesman
Qatar demands IAEA oversight of Israel’s nuclear facilities
Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza
US envoy says Gaza hostage deal possible ‘within weeks’
Frankly Speaking: Assessing the Arab League plan for Gaza
US Secret Service shoots armed man near White House: spokesman

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 09-10/2025
Europe’s sharp turn to the far right/Mustapha Tossa/Arab News/March 09, 2025
MENA’s electricity demand crunch and the path to sustainability/Jessica Obeid/Arab News/March 09, 2025
Will key Ramadan dates be trouble-free at Al-Aqsa?/Daoud Kuttab/Arab News/March 09, 2025
Cairo plan a good start, but not a final destination/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/March 08, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 09-10/2025
Statement of Condemnation for the Massacres Committed by Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s Jihadi Regime in Alawite Areas
Elias Bejjani/March 09/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141021/
We strongly condemn the horrific massacres committed by Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s jihadi regime in Alawite areas along the Syrian coast. Hundreds of civilians were brutally executed with no respect for human dignity or basic rights. These crimes add another dark chapter to Syria’s suffering after the fall of the criminal Assad regime.
Our firm opposition to Assad’s oppressive rule does not mean accepting the barbaric and extremist alternative represented by Ahmad Al-Sharaa. He took power through a violent coup and brought even more suffering to the Syrian people. The horrifying executions of Alawite civilians by bearded jihadi fighters, carried out for sectarian reasons, are a dangerous development that cannot be ignored.
Syria is a diverse country with many ethnic and religious communities and cannot be ruled by an Islamist extremist regime that seeks to erase others. Ahmad Al-Sharaa and his jihadi movement, with their long history of terrorism, cannot succeed in imposing their rule on Syria. They are not a legitimate alternative to Assad’s brutal dictatorship.
We strongly denounce these massacres and urge Arab countries and the international community not to support Al-Sharaa’s regime. Iran’s mullahs are directly responsible for this destruction, as they have armed and incited extremist groups, just as they once backed Assad. Their terrorist proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, is sheltering former Assad officials and military officers while continuing Iran’s agenda of chaos and violence.
What happened in northern Syria is a direct result of Iran’s aggressive policies. Its leaders, including Supreme Leader Khamenei, have repeatedly threatened to spread chaos in Syria. The world must take firm action to hold those responsible accountable and prevent further bloodshed. Syria’s stability and the safety of its people must be protected from the forces of terrorism and destruction.

Text & Video: To Hezbollah’s Cymbals and Berri’s Mouthpieces from the Culture of Shoes—Enough Nonsense!
Elias Bejjani/March 07/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/140983/
All we see on social media from the hired mouthpieces, thugs, and degenerates of the Axis of Evil is mindless braying and gutter language like: "What brings you to the master's shoe, slipper, and sandal?"
You miserable souls—when will you learn? Have you not grasped from your endless defeats, destruction, and casualties that this absurd "culture of shoes and sandals" has brought you nothing but disasters, losses, displacement, humiliation, and utter disgrace?
Look at where your blind idol worship—"For the sake of your sandals, O Sayyed!"—has led you.
The Sayyed is gone, along with 171 Hezbollah commanders. The south is gone, as well as the southern suburbs and half of the Bekaa. Your weapons, tunnels, and stockpiles are gone. You surrendered to Israel and were forced to sign a ceasefire agreement—whether you liked it or not. And yet, the only thing that remains… is the sandal.
Calm down, retreat, and stop your pathetic threats, barking, and empty bravado.
In the end, the only cure for you and the cancerous Mullah regime that has infested you is the cure of justice—through trials and accountability for every disaster you have inflicted upon yourselves, Lebanon, and the Lebanese people.

Video Link to political Commentary by Journalist Ali Hamadeh
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141036/
A detailed analysis of the latest developments in Syria and the role of Hezbollah—specifically Wafiq Safa—in fueling and participating in the chaos under direct Iranian orders. The commentary highlights how the Lebanese state remains hesitant to confront Hezbollah, allowing it to reorganize its ranks, operate weapons factories, and funnel Iranian funds without restriction. The state continues to stand by as a mere spectator. What is Wafiq Safa’s role? Damascus has confirmed Hezbollah's involvement in the "counter-revolution" against Al-Charaa’s rule in the Alawite stronghold along the Syrian coast.
09 March 2025

3 thoughts on the events in Syria:
Elie Abouaoun/Face Book/March 09/2025
3 thoughts on the events in Syria:
1. It is unfortunate that Iran is exploiting the grievances of some Syrians to tamper with security and provide malicious support to some hot-headed figures from the dissolved Syrian army. 2. Regardless of which side started the events, and no matter how subversive the act is, it is unacceptable for the new Syrian authorities to resort to a genocidal retaliation. The "uncontrolled foreign groups" argument is tenuous and does not absolve those in power of their responsibilities 3. Nothing less than an international commission of inquiry to determine responsibilities in the recent events should be accepted, in order to pave the way for holding accountable all those who attacked civilians in the last few days.

Drone strike kills one as Israel says targeted Hezbollah militant in South
Agence France Presse/March 09/2025
The Israeli military said it targeted a Hezbollah militant with an air strike in southern Lebanon on Saturday, as Lebanese media reported one killed and another wounded in an Israeli drone strike on a car. "A short while ago, the IAF (air force) struck a Hezbollah terrorist who was engaged in re-establishing terrorist infrastructure and directing Hezbollah terror activities in southern Lebanon," the Israeli military said in a statement. "The IDF (Israeli army) will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel and will prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to rebuild itself," the Israeli army added. Lebanon's official National News Agency reported one killed and one wounded in an "Israeli drone strike" on a car in the southern village of Kherbet Selm, citing the health ministry. On Friday, the Israeli military said it had conducted "intelligence-based strikes" on Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon, "in which weapons and rocket launchers belonging to Hezbollah were identified." It said the weapons "posed a threat to the State of Israel and constituted a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon." A November 27 truce largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of full-blown war in which Israel sent in ground troops.
Israel has continued to carry out periodic strikes on Lebanese territory since the agreement took effect. Israel had been due to withdraw from Lebanon by February 18 after missing a January deadline, but it has kept troops at five locations it deems "strategic". The ceasefire also required Hezbollah to pull back north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and to dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Army contains tensions in Tripoli after reports of Syrian being stabbed
Naharnet/March 09/2025
Reports that a Syrian minor was stabbed by a Jabal Mohsen resident sparked tensions and gunfire in Tripoli overnight, prompting the army to deploy heavily, the National News Agency said. The minor later turned out to be a “Bedouin,” NNA added.
“Gunfire was heard in the al-Qobbeh and Jabal Mohsen areas, which prompted army units to deploy heavily in the tension areas, especially the al-Baqqar and Jabal Mohsen neighborhoods and Syria Street, which separates between Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen,” the agency said, noting that the army managed to restore calm. The Islamic Alawite Council meanwhile issued a statement stressing that “civil peace and security stability are a red line.”“In compliance with a request from security agencies to hand over the young man Ahmad al-Bitar, we communicated with the young man who responded positively to the request, and we are fully confident that security agencies will perform their duties with full transparency to unveil the incident’s circumstances,” the Council said. “Tripoli has always been a model for national cohesion and a firm bulwark in the face of strife. May God protect Lebanon and the army and may Tripoli remain safe and stable,” the Council added. The tensions come amid sectarian bloodshed in neighboring Syria, where more than 1,000 have been killed in Syria’s coastal Alawite heartland. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor has reported that 745 Alawite civilians were killed in Latakia and Tartus provinces. The Britain-based Observatory said they were killed in "executions" carried out by security personnel or pro-government fighters, accompanied by the "looting of homes and properties." The fighting has also killed 125 members of the security forces and 148 pro-Assad fighters, according to the Observatory, taking the overall death toll to 1,018.

UN Special Coordinator visits Israel to discuss security along Blue Line
LBCI/March 09/2025
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, is in Israel and scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials. Discussions will focus on implementing the ceasefire agreement reached on November 26, 2024, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. Emphasizing the importance of maintaining security and stability for residents on both sides of the Blue Line, Hennis-Plasschaert reiterated her call for all parties to avoid creating new realities on the ground. She stressed the need to advance the solutions outlined in Resolution 1701 to prevent further escalation in the region.

Hezbollah’s Qassem Admits Security Failures, Promises Accountability
This is Beirut/March 09/2025
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, acknowledged security lapses within the group while claiming again its continued strength despite the heavy blows it suffered in its recent war with Israel, during an interview on Sunday with al-Manar TV, affiliated with the pro-Iran formation. Qassem stated that an internal investigation is currently underway to assess security shortcomings and ensure accountability. “We had a security exposure and some shortcomings, and we are conducting an investigation to learn lessons and hold people accountable,” he said.
Ceasefire and Ongoing Threats
Qassem stated that Hezbollah has adhered to the ceasefire agreement, emphasizing that there are no undisclosed clauses or secret deals. “The ceasefire agreement is the one announced and distributed; there is no secret agreement or clauses under the table,” he stated. Despite the truce, Qassem warned that Hezbollah remains wary of Israeli activities in southern Lebanon, particularly regarding the incursion of Israeli orthodox Jewish groups at the Abbad site. “The entry of settlers into the Abbad site in southern Lebanon is evidence that we are facing a large Israeli project from the ocean to the Gulf,” he said. Additionally, Qassem acknowledged the toll of recent conflicts. “The resistance is fine and continuing, but it was wounded and hurt and made great sacrifices,” he admitted. He also issued a warning to Israel regarding its military presence in the region, regardless of the current weak position of its formation. “I tell the Israelis, if you remain at these points, this resistance will not let you continue there,” he declared.

Massad Boulos: Peace Is 'Close'
This is Beirut/March 09/2025
US President Donald Trump's Middle East advisor, Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos, said that peace between Lebanon and Israel was “close,” during a meeting with Israeli politician Yossi Dagan in Washington. “We are looking forward to peace, and we are aiming for peace, and by the grace of God, this will be achieved, hopefully soon,” said the man who is also the father-in-law of Tiffany Trump, the president's daughter. “I believe, and I know, God sent us to walk together for the future of the Middle East and the future of the world,” Dagan answered.

Lebanon’s First Lady Attends UN CSW69 in New York
This is Beirut/March 09/2025
The First Lady of Lebanon and President of the National Commission for Lebanese Women, Neemat Aoun, arrived this Sunday in New York to take part in the work of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), which is being held at the UN headquarters from March 10 to 21, 2025. The session, chaired by Saudi Arabia, includes a series of debates and meetings bringing together delegations from UN member states, international and regional organizations, as well as civil society players and women's rights experts.
President Joseph Aoun’s wife will deliver a national address and hold several bilateral meetings with international leaders. These discussions will focus on strengthening women's empowerment programs and promoting gender equality in line with the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The 69th session coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, which led to the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

Israeli Airstrikes: A Renewed Message to Hezbollah
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/March 09/2025
The recent wave of Israeli airstrikes, carried out between Friday night and Saturday across various areas of southern Lebanon, spanning both the southern and northern banks of the Litani River, has garnered significant attention and raised many questions. It is worth noting that these strikes, as well as targeted eliminations, have continued unabated since Israel and Hezbollah announced a ceasefire agreement on November 27. According to some reports, the airstrikes were prompted by Hezbollah’s attempt to move weapon caches, which they were supposed to report to the Lebanese Army but did not. Israel, maintaining its surveillance, detected these movements and targeted the weapons depots. Other sources suggest that this large-scale attack was driven by intelligence indicating that a Hezbollah group was preparing to launch rockets toward Israel. This group was allegedly acting under direct orders from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), despite opposition from some Hezbollah political figures, including its Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem. However, sources closely following the situation in southern Lebanon cast doubt on the theory that the strikes were tied to preparations for a rocket launch by a Hezbollah group. They note that the strikes targeted a relatively large geographical area, and no Hezbollah faction has the capacity to launch rockets from multiple locations. Furthermore, such an action would almost certainly have triggered a large-scale war with Israel, especially given that Israeli threats were relayed to Lebanon through American representatives in the monitoring commission. Additionally, the consequences of a renewed outbreak of war would be catastrophic for Hezbollah’s base, which is still reeling from the repercussions of the previous conflict. Finally, it seems that access to the sites targeted by the strikes is difficult for both the Lebanese Army and international forces, making it impossible to verify Israel’s justifications for these attacks. However, the message Israel seeks to convey is clear: Hezbollah’s weapons and its military infrastructure are treated the same way, whether in the south or the north of the Litani River.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 09-10/2025
In landslide win, Liberal Party chooses Mark Carney as new leader and next PM
CBC/Sun, March 9, 2025
In a blowout win, Liberal Party members have chosen former central bank governor Mark Carney as their new leader and the next prime minister of Canada.
Carney, who does not hold a seat in the House of Commons and has never been elected, secured more than 85 per cent of the points — handily winning on the first count. He also dominated in all 343 ridings, showing he has Liberal support across the country. While Carney was long perceived as the front-runner, even his camp was surprised by the resounding results Sunday evening. Former finance minister and current MP Chrystia Freeland finished in a distant second, with eight per cent of the points. The result elicited gasps in the room.
Former House leader and current MP Karina Gould came third with 3.2 per cent of the points and Montreal business leader and former MP Frank Baylis finished slightly behind in fourth.
'I felt we needed big changes'
Carney told a crowd of cheering supporters that "everything in my life has prepared me for this moment." "Two months ago, I put my hand up to run for leader because I felt we needed big changes, guided by strong Canadian values," the new Liberal leader said.
"My parents were teachers, and they stressed the importance of hard work, of community and of tolerance," he said. "My coaches were dedicated volunteers who taught me the importance of teamwork, ambition — and because it's Canada — humility." The former Bank of Canada governor's win not only represents a new chapter for the Liberals but could signal an imminent federal election. Carney and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embrace Sunday in Ottawa after Carney was announced as the winner. Carney will succeed Trudeau as Canada's next prime minister. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Carney would become prime minister after being sworn in by the Governor General. Earlier this week, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects the transition to happen "in the coming days or week."
Carney, 59, pitched himself as an outsider seeking the top job, happily telling supporters he'd meet throughout the campaign that he is proudly not a politician.
That changes as of now.
His first few days in office are bound to be defined by chaos. Carney takes over during ongoing negotiations with the United States to lift tariffs on goods. U.S. President Donald Trump has cast uncertainty over the Canadian economy as he enacts, then walks back, steep tariffs on some Canadian goods.
In his acceptance speech, Carney promised his government will keep Canada's tariffs on "until the Americans show us respect." All proceeds raised through tariffs will be used to help workers, he said. "We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves," he said. "So Americans should make no mistake. In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win."Central to Carney's pitch to Liberal voters was his time leading not one but two central banks in the G7 during economic uncertainty. He was appointed as Bank of Canada governor in 2008 by former Conservative leader Stephen Harper's government at the onset of the financial crisis. During the global economic calamity, Carney aggressively dropped interest rates, took steps to ensure Canadian banks had enough liquidity to operate and called for widespread reforms to the world's financial system. Those actions won him international acclaim for playing a key role in helping Canada weather the crisis, although Harper — as part of a recent Conservative fundraising push — suggested Carney has taken too much credit.
Carney went on to lead the Bank of England and stayed on during a tumultuous time for the U.K. as it navigated Brexit and the resulting economic fallout. Carney was the first non-Briton to hold the position since the United Kingdom's central bank was established in 1694. Born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., and raised in Edmonton, Harvard-educated Carney had a 13-year career with Goldman Sachs in its London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto offices before joining the federal public service. More recently he served as a United Nations special envoy on climate action and worked for the investment firm Brookfield Asset Management.
Carney says Poilievre 'would let our planet burn'
Leaning on that background, Carney dedicated a chunk of his speech to attacking the man he will soon face off against in a general election campaign: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. "He's that type of lifelong politician — and I have seen them around the world — who worships at the altar of the free market, despite never having made a payroll," Carney said, as he set the stage for future attacks against his political rival. "Pierre Poilievre would let our planet burn. That's not leadership, it's ideology," he said. "Poilievre's plan will leave us divided and ready to be conquered. Because a person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him."Poilievre hosted his own rally earlier Sunday, and use the opportunity to throw a few punches. "Carney made the United States richer and stronger," he said of his business background. "Make no mistake: Donald Trump will have a big smile on his face as he exploits all of Carney's many conflicts to attack Canadian workers and Canadian jobs."
Front-runner from the start
Even before he put his name in the running, Carney was seen as the one to beat. Throughout the campaign, he secured the most caucus support, raised the most money and was the clear target of attack from the Conservative opposition. Once a proponent of carbon pricing, Carney has since campaigned on scrapping the consumer carbon tax, Trudeau's marquee environmental policy. The relatively short leadership race was triggered when Trudeau announced in early January his intention to step down. The decision came following a growing caucus revolt and the resignation of Freeland from cabinet. At the time, the party was in a deep polling slump, trailing Poilievre's Conservatives by more than 20 points. Recent polling suggests the Liberals are bouncing back. Carney will be under pressure to sustain that trend.
Speeches from Trudeau, Chretien
That momentum had the Liberal convention buzzing Sunday, well before Carney was announced the winner. In one of his final speeches as prime minister, Trudeau told the crowd he is "damn proud" of what the party has accomplished over the last decade. As the Liberals enter a new era, "this is a nation-defining moment," Trudeau told the cheering crowd."Your country needs you now more than ever," he told the crowd. "Liberals will meet this moment." Trudeau's teenage daughter Ella-Grace, introduced her father, telling the crowd she's looking forward his retirement from politics and seeing him more at home — and less on her social media. Outgoing Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau speaks during the Liberal leadership race at Rogers Centre in Ottawa on March 9, 2025. (Evan Mitsui/CBC). Trudeau was followed by Liberal statesman and former prime minister Jean Chrétien, who took the crowd back to 1776, when Benjamin Franklin travelled to Montreal to try and try and drum up support for the American Revolution. "He was told by the francophone, 'non merci,'" said Chrétien. Chrétien, 91, said his Liberal Party gave Canada the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the two official languages, tough gun control and gay marriage. "It is the Liberal Party that gave us the red maple leaf flag, 60 years ago which flew so proudly in homes across our country," he said.
What happens now?
Because Carney does not have a seat in the House of Commons, there's speculation he will trigger an early election to see if he can secure a mandate from the Canadian public. Speaking to reporters on the floor of the convention, Freeland said Carney, who is her son's godfather, has her support and the new Liberal leader "has a very clear mandate" to helm the party. Freeland told reporters in French that she will run in the next federal election. Asked about a potential future in Carney's cabinet, Freeland said it's up to him to decide on his cabinet. Though her run was unsuccessful, Freeland told reporters she had expected an uphill battle and that "it's been an opportunity for me to really talk about and lay out plans on the issues that are most important."Gould, who has also committed to running again, called for the party to come together now that the race is over.

Syria’s neighboring foreign ministers call for lifting sanctions, reconciliation
AP/March 09, 2025
AMMAN: Syria’s top diplomat and his counterparts from neighboring countries Sunday called for the lifting of Western-led sanctions on Syria and post-war reconciliation. The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon made their remarks alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani following a meeting in the Jordanian capital Amman. It comes following days of clashes between Syrian security forces and insurgents of the minority Alawite community loyal to the deposed Bashar Assad government in Syria’s coastal province. Some rights groups say the fighting has killed hundreds. The Associated Press could not independently verify those numbers. The United States and Europe have been hesitant to lift sanctions on Syria before there is a clear political transition that is democratic and inclusive of Syria’s minorities and civil society. At the same time, the country desperately needs money to rebuild after years of war and pull millions out of poverty. The United Nations estimates that some 90 percent of Syria’s population lives in poverty. “We are protecting all components of the Syrian people, and we do not discriminate between them. We will not allow the repetition of the tragedies of the Syrian people,” said Al-Shibani. Syria’s new authorities under President Ahmad Al-Sharaa have struggled to convince the United States and Europe to lift sanctions to start rebuilding the country after 13 years of war and reconcile with the Kurds in the northeast and Druze in the south to exert state authority across the country. Syria’s neighbors fear that the country’s pulverized economy and internal tensions could impact their own stability. “Stability in Syria requires dialogue with the country’s various components,” said Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein at a joint news conference. The foreign ministers were critical of what they said was foreign intervention in the region after Israeli troops conducted military operations in southern Syria and seized a UN buffer zone that divides Syria from the Golan Heights, which Israel seized and annexed in 1967. On Sunday, the Israeli commanding officers visited and assessed the buffer zone.Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan welcomed the “historic” meeting and called for cooperation to decrease tension in Syria, and said he alongside others will work against sleeper cells belonging to the extremist Daesh group and affiliates of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Syria and Iraq. “This is a regional problem. Regardless of our ideals we should all combat IS as well as the PKK, they are both terrorist entities,” he added. Iraq’s foreign minister warned that Daesh sleeper cells are growing in numbers. “We need to take the initiative first in exchanging views and information about (the Daesh group’s) latest operations and especially their expansion not only on the Syrian borders with Iraq and Jordan but also their expansion in the Syrian land,” said Hussein.

France condemns Syria violence targeting 'civilians'
Agence France Presse/March 09, 2025
France has condemned violence in Syria targeting "civilians because of their faith, and prisoners", as a war monitor said more than 500 Alawites have been killed in recent days. A French foreign ministry statement called on Syria's new authorities "to ensure that independent investigations can shed light on these crimes, and that the perpetrators are sentenced". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Saturday reported that 532 Alawite civilians were killed in Syria "by security forces and allied groups".
The Alawites are a religious minority to which toppled president Bashar al-Assad belongs. The wave of violence targeting them follows a rebel coalition led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seizing power in December. After its victory, HTS had vowed to protect Syria's religious and ethnic minorities.

Syria church leaders condemn 'massacres targeting innocent civilians'
Agence France Presse
The leaders of Syria's three main Christian churches have issued a joint statement condemning "massacres targeting innocent civilians", following reports of mass killings of Alawite civilians by the security forces. Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said "532 Alawite civilians were killed in the coastal regions of Syria and the Latakia mountains by security forces and allied groups". "In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children," the joint statement said. It was signed by the patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox and Melkite Greek Catholic Churches. The reported killings on the Mediterranean coast -- the heartland of the Alawite religious minority -- was gripped by fighting between the country's new security forces and gunmen loyal to toppled president Bashar al-Assad. Though the majority of Syria's Christians fled during the civil war that erupted in 2011, the city of Latakia, which has been hard hit by the latest violence, is home to a small Christian community. "The Christian churches, while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values," the statement said.
"The churches also call for the swift creation of conditions conducive to achieving national reconciliation among the Syrian people." They urged a "transition to a state that... lays the foundation for a society based on equal citizenship and genuine partnership, free from the logic of vengeance and exclusion".The spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, also called for an end to the violence. "The flames that burn under sectarian slogans will burn all of Syria and its people," he said in a statement. Assad, himself an Alawite who sought to present himself as a protector of Syria's minorities, was ousted on December 8 in a lightning offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The group's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has since been appointed Syria's interim president. The new authorities have repeatedly promised an inclusive transition that protects the rights of religious minorities. The Alawite heartland has nonetheless been gripped by fear of reprisals for the Assad family's brutal rule.

Syria’s Sharaa pleas for communal peace as clashes continue
Reuters/March 09, 2025
CAIRO: Syrian leader Ahmed Sharaa called for peace on Sunday after hundreds were killed in coastal areas in the worst communal violence since the fall of Bashar al Assad. “We have to preserve national unity and domestic peace, we can live together,” Sharaa, the interim president, said as clashes continued between forces linked to the new Islamist rulers and fighters from Assad’s Alawite sect. “Rest assured about Syria, this country has the characteristics for survival,” Sharaa said in a circulated video, speaking at a mosque in his childhood neighborhood of Mazzah in Damascus. “What is currently happening in Syria is within the expected challenges.” Syrian security sources said at least two hundred of their members were killed in the clashes with former army personnel owing allegiance to Assad after coordinated attacks and ambushes on their forces that were waged on Thursday. The attacks spiralled into revenge killings when thousands of armed supporters of Syria’s new leaders from across the country descended to the coastal areas to support beleaguered forces of the new administration. The authorities blamed summary executions of dozens of youths and deadly raids on homes in villages and towns inhabited by Syria’s once ruling minority on unruly armed militias who came to help the security forces and have long blamed Assad’s supporters for past crimes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said on Saturday the two days of fighting in the Mediterranean coastal region amounted to some of the worst violence for years in a 13-year-old civil conflict. Clashes continued overnight in several towns where armed groups fired on security forces and ambushed cars on highways leading to main towns in the coastal area, a Syrian security source told Reuters on Sunday.

Syria’s neighboring foreign ministers call for lifting sanctions, reconciliation
AP/March 09, 2025
AMMAN: Syria’s top diplomat and his counterparts from neighboring countries Sunday called for the lifting of Western-led sanctions on Syria and post-war reconciliation. The foreign ministers of Turkiye, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon made their remarks alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani following a meeting in the Jordanian capital Amman. It comes following days of clashes between Syrian security forces and insurgents of the minority Alawite community loyal to the deposed Bashar Assad government in Syria’s coastal province. Some rights groups say the fighting has killed hundreds. The Associated Press could not independently verify those numbers. The United States and Europe have been hesitant to lift sanctions on Syria before there is a clear political transition that is democratic and inclusive of Syria’s minorities and civil society. At the same time, the country desperately needs money to rebuild after years of war and pull millions out of poverty. The United Nations estimates that some 90 percent of Syria’s population lives in poverty. “We are protecting all components of the Syrian people, and we do not discriminate between them. We will not allow the repetition of the tragedies of the Syrian people,” said Al-Shibani. Syria’s new authorities under President Ahmad Al-Sharaa have struggled to convince the United States and Europe to lift sanctions to start rebuilding the country after 13 years of war and reconcile with the Kurds in the northeast and Druze in the south to exert state authority across the country. Syria’s neighbors fear that the country’s pulverized economy and internal tensions could impact their own stability. “Stability in Syria requires dialogue with the country’s various components,” said Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein at a joint news conference. The foreign ministers were critical of what they said was foreign intervention in the region after Israeli troops conducted military operations in southern Syria and seized a UN buffer zone that divides Syria from the Golan Heights, which Israel seized and annexed in 1967. On Sunday, the Israeli commanding officers visited and assessed the buffer zone. Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan welcomed the “historic” meeting and called for cooperation to decrease tension in Syria, and said he alongside others will work against sleeper cells belonging to the extremist Daesh group and affiliates of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party in Syria and Iraq. “This is a regional problem. Regardless of our ideals we should all combat IS as well as the PKK, they are both terrorist entities,” he added. Iraq’s foreign minister warned that Daesh sleeper cells are growing in numbers. “We need to take the initiative first in exchanging views and information about (the Daesh group’s) latest operations and especially their expansion not only on the Syrian borders with Iraq and Jordan but also their expansion in the Syrian land,” said Hussein.

Rubio: US condemns "radical Islamic terrorists" who killed people in western Syria in recent days
NNA/March 09, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the United States condemns "radical Islamic terrorists, including foreign jihadists, who have killed people in western Syria in recent days," according to Sky News Arabia. Rubio continued in a statement: "The United States stands with religious and ethnic minorities in Syria, including Christian, Druze, Alawite and Kurdish communities, and offers its condolences to the victims and their families." He added: "The interim authorities in Syria must hold accountable the perpetrators of these massacres against minorities in Syria." Germany has also expressed its shock at reports of mass killings on the Syrian coast. The German Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the transitional government in Syria has a responsibility to prevent further attacks, investigate the incidents and hold those responsible accountable, and in its statement strongly urged all parties to end the violence. France also denounced "with the utmost firmness the violations that targeted civilians on sectarian grounds and prisoners" in Syria. The French Foreign Ministry called, in a statement, "on the Syrian transitional authorities to ensure that independent investigations are conducted to uncover the full (circumstances) of these crimes and to convict their perpetrators." According to the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, the number of Alawite civilians killed on sectarian grounds reached 745 people, stressing that they were not involved in the fighting or affiliated with the regime.

Syrian Ministry of Defense: The second phase of the military operation in the countryside and mountains begins
NNA/09 March/2025
The Syrian News Agency "SANA" quoted the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, as announcing that "after restoring security and stability in the coastal cities, our military forces and security services have begun implementing the second phase of the military operation that aims to pursue groups of the former regime in the countryside and mountains."

Berlin expresses "shock" over reports of mass killings in Syria
NNA/09 March/2025
Germany described today reports of the killing of more than a thousand people on the Syrian coast as "shocking", referring to the most violent clashes in Syria since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. The German Foreign Ministry said in a statement reported by "France Presse": "The transitional government has a responsibility to prevent further attacks, investigate incidents and hold those responsible to account," and continued: "We strongly urge all parties to end the violence."

Damascus forms committee to investigate incidents on Syrian coast
Damascus/Asharq Al Awsat/March 9, 2025
The Syrian presidency said on Sunday that Syria had formed an independent committee to investigate clashes that took place on the coast. The clashes, which a monitoring group said had already killed 1,000 people, most of them civilians, continued for a fourth day in the coastal stronghold of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Jordan’s King Abdullah backs Syria’s stability at regional meeting in Amman
Arab News/March 09, 2025
AMMAN: King Abdullah II on Sunday received representatives of Syria, Turkiye, Iraq and Lebanon participating in a high-level meeting of Syria’s neighboring countries, hosted by Jordan. During the meeting, at Al-Husseiniya Palace in Amman, the king reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to supporting Syria’s security, stability and territorial integrity, as well as safeguarding the rights of its citizens. Discussions focused on the importance of coordinated efforts among Syria and its neighboring countries to address regional security challenges, particularly countering terrorism, maintaining border security, and curbing drug and arms smuggling. The king also stressed the need to facilitate the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees, enabling them to take part in the country’s reconstruction efforts. Earlier in the day, a broader regional meeting began at the King Hussein Club in Amman, bringing together foreign and defense ministers, chiefs of staff and intelligence agency directors from Jordan, Turkiye, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. The meeting followed days of clashes between Syrian security forces and insurgents of the minority Alawite community loyal to the deposed Bashar Assad government in Syria’s coastal province. Participants discussed strategies for eliminating terrorism, ensuring border stability and supporting the Syrian people in rebuilding their country on a foundation that guaranteed its unity and sovereignty.
“Stability in Syria requires dialogue with the country’s various components,” said Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein at a joint news conference afterward. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the “historic” meeting and called for cooperation to decrease tension in Syria.

Israel to send team to Doha as Hamas pushes for phase two of Gaza truce
Agence France Presse/March 09, 2025
Israel on Sunday prepared to send a delegation to Doha for further talks on the Gaza truce, as Hamas called for an immediate start to negotiations on the ceasefire's second phase, which it hopes will lead to a permanent end to the war. Representatives of the Palestinian militant group, which waged a deadly war with Israel before a truce took effect on January 19, met with mediators in Cairo over the weekend, stressing the urgent need for humanitarian aid to re-enter the besieged territory "without restrictions or conditions", according to a Hamas statement. "Hamas stresses the urgency of forcing the occupation to immediately begin second-phase negotiations under the agreed parameters," senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi told AFP, adding that this would pave the way for a permanent end to the war. Hamas's key demands for the second phase include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the Israeli blockade, the reconstruction of the Palestinian territory and financial support, Mardawi said. Following talks with mediators, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said indicators were so far "positive".Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it would send delegates to Doha on Monday, while the Israeli media reported that the government's security cabinet would discuss the matter later on Sunday.
Israel says that it wants an extension of the truce's first phase until mid-April.
That initial period ended on March 1 after six weeks of relative calm that included the exchange of 25 living hostages and eight bodies for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The truce largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, where virtually the entire population was displaced by Israel's relentless military campaign in response to Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack. It also enabled the flow of vital food, shelter and medical assistance into Gaza. After Israel cut off that flow again, U.N. rights experts accused the government of "weaponizing starvation". Displaced Palestinian widow Haneen al-Dura told AFP she and her children spent weeks living on the street "among dogs and rats" before receiving a tent. "As the family's provider, it was distressing and I couldn't sleep at all during the night," she said.
'Last warning' -
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages were not released, issuing what he called a "last warning" to Hamas leaders. He also warned of repercussions for all Gazans, telling them: "A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!"Hamas said Trump's threats would only encourage Israel to ignore the terms of their truce. The Trump administration has also confirmed the start of unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, which Washington had previously refused contact with since designating it a terrorist organization in 1997. Of the 251 hostages taken by the Palestinian militants, 58 remain in Gaza, including five Americans. Four American captives have been confirmed dead, while one, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive. The U.S. president previously floated a widely condemned plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza, prompting Arab leaders to offer an alternative. Their proposal would see Gaza's reconstruction financed through a trust fund, with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority returning to govern the territory. "We need more discussion about it, but it's a good-faith first step," Steve Witkoff, Trump's Middle East envoy, told reporters in Washington in response to the plan.Witkoff will be returning to the region this week as he travels to Saudi Arabia for talks on the war in Ukraine. At their regular weekend rally in Tel Aviv, families of Israeli hostages demanded the government fully implement the ceasefire. "The war could resume in a week -- they have even picked a name for the operation," Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker, told the candle and poster-wielding crowd. "The war won't bring the hostages back home, it will kill them." Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,453 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The U.N. considers these figures reliable.

US envoy says Gaza hostage deal possible ‘within weeks’
AFP/March 09, 2025
WASHINGTON: The US hostage envoy who held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas said Sunday he was confident a deal could be reached “within weeks” to free all civilians still held by the Palestinian militants. Speaking to CNN, Adam Boehler — a Jewish American — acknowledged it had been “odd” sitting face-to-face with leaders of a group that the United States has listed as a “terrorist” organization since 1997. The talks took place in recent weeks. Boehler said he understood Israel’s “consternation” that the US had held talks at all with the group, but said he had been seeking to jump-start the “fragile” negotiations. “In the end, I think it was a very helpful meeting,” he said, adding: “I think something could come together within weeks... I think there is a deal where they can get all of the prisoners out, not just the Americans.”
Boehler suggested there was a chance of further talks with the militants, telling CNN: “You never know. You know sometimes you’re in the area and you drop by.” Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, taking 251 hostages — including a number of Americans. An estimated 58 hostages remain in Gaza. Israel invaded Gaza in response, waging a relentless war for more than 15 months and displacing much of the population. The first phase of a truce revolving around the release of some hostages ended earlier this month, and both sides are disputing when to move into the second phase, which aims at a more permanent peace. Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages were not released, issuing what he called a “last warning” to Hamas leaders. “I understand the consternation and the concern” on Israel’s part at the talks, Boehler said, adding: “We’re the United States. We’re not an agent of Israel.” He described his feelings on sitting across from the militants. “I think when you walk and you sit in front of somebody, and you know what they’ve done, it’s hard not to think of it,” he said. He said it was important to identify with their humanity, but admitted, “It definitely feels a little odd knowing what they really are.” Hamas’s attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to official figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,458 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The UN considers these figures reliable.

Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza
AP/March 09, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza. The full effects of that are not immediately clear, but the territory’s desalination plants receive power for producing drinking water.Sunday’s announcement comes a week after Israel cut off all supplies of goods to the territory to over 2 million people. It has sought to press Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire. That phase ended last weekend.Hamas has pressed to start negotiations on the ceasefire’s more difficult second phase instead. Gaza has been largely devastated by the war, and generators and solar panels are used for some of the power supply.

Israeli air strike in Gaza ahead of new talks on truce with Hamas
AFP/March 09, 2025
GAZA CITY: Israel carried out an air strike on militants in northern Gaza on Sunday, rattling an already fragile ceasefire as it prepared for fresh talks in Doha on the future of its truce with Hamas. The Palestinian militant group has repeatedly called for an immediate start to negotiations on the ceasefire’s second phase, which it hopes will lead to a permanent end to the war. However, Israel says it prefers an extension of phase one until mid-April. The disagreement over how to proceed came as the deal’s first phase ended at the start this month, with Israel cutting off aid to the territory over the impasse. Hamas representatives met mediators in Cairo over the weekend, emphasising the urgent need to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the besieged territory “without restrictions or conditions,” a Hamas statement said. “Hamas stresses the urgency of forcing the occupation to immediately begin second-phase negotiations under the agreed parameters,” senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi told AFP, adding this would pave the way for a permanent end to the fighting. Hamas’s key demands for the second phase include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the Israeli blockade, the reconstruction of the Palestinian territory and financial support, Mardawi said. Following talks with mediators, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said indicators were so far “positive.”
A Hamas source said Sunday its delegation had now left Cairo for Doha. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it would send delegates to the Qatari capital on Monday, and Israeli media reported the security cabinet would discuss the matter later on Sunday.
Despite the end of the truce’s initial phase, both sides have refrained from returning to all-out war, though there have been sporadic episodes of violence. Israel’s military said its air strike Sunday targeted militants who “were identified operating in proximity to IDF troops and attempting to plant an explosive device in the ground in northern Gaza.”The truce largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, where virtually the entire population was displaced by Israel’s relentless military campaign in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.
The six-week first phase revolved around the exchange of 25 living Israeli hostages and eight bodies for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. It also allowed much-needed food, shelter and medical assistance to re-enter Gaza.
After Israel again cut off the aid flow over the disagreement on the truce extension, UN rights experts accused the government of “weaponizing starvation.”“To date, only 10 percent of the required medical supplies have been allowed in, exacerbating the crisis,” Gaza health ministry spokesman Khalil Al-Dakran said, adding that the “continued closure of the crossings threatens the lives of patients in Gaza.”Displaced Palestinian widow Haneen Al-Dura told AFP she and her children spent weeks living on the street “among dogs and rats” before receiving a tent.
“As the family’s provider, it was distressing and I couldn’t sleep at all during the night,” she said. Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages were not released, issuing what he called a “last warning” to Hamas leaders. He also alluded to repercussions for all Gazans, telling them: “A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!“
Hamas said Trump’s threats would only encourage Israel to ignore the terms of the truce. The Trump administration has also confirmed the start of unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, which Washington had previously refused contact with since designating it a terrorist organization in 1997. Of the 251 hostages taken by the Palestinian militants during the October 7 attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including five Americans. Four American captives have been confirmed dead, while one, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive. Trump had previously floated a widely condemned plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza, prompting Arab leaders to offer an alternative. Their proposal would see Gaza’s reconstruction financed through a trust fund, with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority returning to govern the territory. “We need more discussion about it, but it’s a good-faith first step,” Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, told reporters in Washington in response to the Arab plan. Witkoff will be returning to the region this week as he travels to Saudi Arabia for talks on the war in Ukraine. At a weekend rally in Tel Aviv, family members of Israeli hostages demanded the government fully implement the ceasefire. “The war could resume in a week,” Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker, told the crowd. “The war won’t bring the hostages back home, it will kill them.”Hamas’s attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to official figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,458 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The UN considers these figures reliable.

Israel military appoints new top spokesman
Arab News/March 09, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military on Sunday announced the appointment of a new spokesman to replace Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, who became the face of the country’s war effort and is due to step down. A military statement said that the newly sworn-in chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, “has appointed (Brig. General) Effie Defrin as the IDF spokesperson.” As a tank battalion commander, Defrin “fought and was wounded in the Second Lebanon War” in 2006, the statement said, adding that he went on to serve in “key roles,” most recently as head of the International Cooperation Division. Defrin’s predecessor, Hagari, became a household name after the war with Hamas erupted in October 2023, briefing the media and the general public almost daily — and sometimes several times a day. The army announced on Friday that Hagari would be stepping down at the end of his term in March. According to the Israeli media, he had decided to leave the army because the new chief of staff refused him a promotion. Some statements Hagari made during the war triggered criticism from the government. In December, Hagari apologized for publicly criticizing a bill that would protect soldiers who disclose classified information to the prime minister. He also prompted a knee-jerk reaction from the government in June when he said that Hamas cannot be eliminated. “To say that we are going to make Hamas disappear is to throw sand in people’s eyes,” Hagari told Israel’s Channel 13 broadcaster, adding: “Hamas is an ideology, we cannot eliminate an ideology.”His comments were quickly rebuffed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Qatar demands IAEA oversight of Israel’s nuclear facilities
Arab News/March 09, 2025
DUBAI: Qatar on Saturday called for international efforts to bring all Israel’s nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The foreign ministry of Qatar, in a statement, called on Israel “to subject all its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards” and for Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The statement followed a meeting of IAEA governors in Vienna attended by Jassim Yacoub Al-Hammadi, Qatar’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna. The meeting addressed “the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel’s nuclear capabilities.”Al-Hammadi noted during the meeting that “some of these resolutions explicitly urged Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state.”He also pointed out that “all Middle Eastern countries, except Israel, are parties to the NPT and have effective safeguard agreements with the agency.”He further noted that Israel continues its aggressive policies, such as calls for a forced displacement of the Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, and its intensifying military operations in the West Bank, as well as the “obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza and continued restrictions on UNRWA’s operations.” Qatar is a mediator for Gaza ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza
AP/March 09, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza. The full effects of that are not immediately clear, but the territory’s desalination plants receive power for producing drinking water. Sunday’s announcement comes a week after Israel cut off all supplies of goods to the territory to over 2 million people. It has sought to press Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire. That phase ended last weekend.Hamas has pressed to start negotiations on the ceasefire’s more difficult second phase instead. Gaza has been largely devastated by the war, and generators and solar panels are used for some of the power supply.

US envoy says Gaza hostage deal possible ‘within weeks’
AFP/March 09, 2025
WASHINGTON: The US hostage envoy who held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas said Sunday he was confident a deal could be reached “within weeks” to free all civilians still held by the Palestinian militants. Speaking to CNN, Adam Boehler — a Jewish American — acknowledged it had been “odd” sitting face-to-face with leaders of a group that the United States has listed as a “terrorist” organization since 1997. The talks took place in recent weeks. Boehler said he understood Israel’s “consternation” that the US had held talks at all with the group, but said he had been seeking to jump-start the “fragile” negotiations. “In the end, I think it was a very helpful meeting,” he said, adding: “I think something could come together within weeks... I think there is a deal where they can get all of the prisoners out, not just the Americans.”
Boehler suggested there was a chance of further talks with the militants, telling CNN: “You never know. You know sometimes you’re in the area and you drop by.” Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, taking 251 hostages — including a number of Americans. An estimated 58 hostages remain in Gaza. Israel invaded Gaza in response, waging a relentless war for more than 15 months and displacing much of the population. The first phase of a truce revolving around the release of some hostages ended earlier this month, and both sides are disputing when to move into the second phase, which aims at a more permanent peace. Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages were not released, issuing what he called a “last warning” to Hamas leaders. “I understand the consternation and the concern” on Israel’s part at the talks, Boehler said, adding: “We’re the United States. We’re not an agent of Israel.” He described his feelings on sitting across from the militants. “I think when you walk and you sit in front of somebody, and you know what they’ve done, it’s hard not to think of it,” he said. He said it was important to identify with their humanity, but admitted, “It definitely feels a little odd knowing what they really are.” Hamas’s attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to official figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,458 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The UN considers these figures reliable.

Frankly Speaking: Assessing the Arab League plan for Gaza
Arab News/Arab News/March 09, 2025
RIYADH: Although the Arab League’s plan for Gaza, announced at the Cairo summit on March 4, has faced outright rejection by the US and Israel, it still plays a crucial role in keeping negotiations alive, according to renowned Saudi columnist and political analyst Abdulrahman Al-Rashed.
Appearing on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Al-Rashed provided a candid assessment of the Arab League’s plan for postwar Gaza, how it stacks up against rival proposals, and the evolving political landscape in Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. The Arab League’s extraordinary summit took place last week in response to US President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion that the US could take over Gaza, displace its Palestinian population to Egypt and Jordan, and redevelop the land as a leisure resort. By contrast, the Arab League plan, which has won the backing of European leaders, calls for Gaza to be governed temporarily by a committee of independent experts and for international peacekeepers to be deployed to the territory. The committee would be responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid and temporarily managing Gaza’s affairs under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority. The territory would be rebuilt at a cost of $53 billion without the need to displace the population. “I think this leaves us with three plans now,” Al-Rashed told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen. Abdulrahman Al-Rashed provided a candid assessment of the Arab League’s plan for postwar Gaza, how it stacks up against rival proposals, and the changing political landscape in Lebanon and Syria. “One is the Arab League plan, which says people stay in Gaza and reconstruction should be done in five years. And the Israeli plan, which is basically occupation and probably continuation of military activities. “And, of course, we have the Trump plan, which is ‘the riviera,’ two million people should leave, and reconstruction of the whole area to make it livable. I don’t know whether the two million will come back or not. But the three plans are now on the table.
“I am not really sure if the Cairo summit has succeeded in convincing the White House, but at least we have a plan. This is the point here — to negotiate.” Despite concerns that the Israeli and Trump-backed proposals could amount to ethnic cleansing, Al-Rashed argued that the Cairo plan is essential in providing a framework for continued diplomatic engagement. “This is really just a way to negotiate, to keep the momentum, so it’s not just Trump saying, ‘let’s have the two million people out’ and we have chaos in Egypt, Jordan, and the Middle East,” he said.
Al-Rashed admitted he was slightly cynical about the plan when he recently tweeted that Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit should present the proposals to Trump himself at the White House — even if it meant risking a public spat similar to that which erupted between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. “Mr. Aboul Gheit, in my opinion, should take the plan and take it directly to the Americans and talk to the Americans,” Al-Rashed said.
“We will have two possibilities. One, either they will negotiate and probably will reach an agreement, or probably Trump will do exactly what he did with Zelensky and say no, he will not accept it, he will push the Arab League to change the plan and come up with something more practical. So this is what I meant, actually.”
One of the primary objections to the Arab League’s plan stems from the role Hamas might play in Gaza’s future governance, particularly as Israel, the US, and many Western countries consider it a terrorist group, not least for its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
Asked if he believes that Hamas’s endorsement of the Cairo plan makes it harder to sell, Al-Rashed said the group has already shown willingness to step aside.
“Actually, Hamas made a statement almost close enough to say they accept the plan and they almost said that they are willing to accept whatever all Palestinian parties will agree to run Gaza, to manage Gaza,” he said. “So, I believe Hamas is getting closer to saying yes.” However, he noted that while Hamas might agree to relinquish political control, the group has yet to commit to full disarmament. Abdulrahman Al-Rashed provided a candid assessment of the Arab League’s plan for postwar Gaza, how it stacks up against rival proposals, and the changing political landscape in Lebanon and Syria. Recent reports that the Trump administration has been in direct talks with Hamas came as a surprise to many observers. The US has issued an ultimatum, demanding the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a lasting ceasefire.
While Al-Rashed sees this as a positive development, he criticized Hamas, which has been reticent about such a deal, for appearing to prioritize its public image over the well-being of Gaza’s population.
“I think we are right now on the edge of the second phase of the war,” he said. “So we will see, probably, more Israeli tanks roll into Gaza. And probably the warning might work like magic — probably Hamas will release most of the hostages or the remaining hostages in the coming weeks.”He added: “I think the issue right now for Hamas is some sort of face-saving plan, something that will make Hamas look victorious, but they will not be in Gaza. I’m not really sure how it’s going to happen, but this is what is missing right now. It’s the Hamas image rather than, really, the lives of the two million Gazans or the remaining hostages.”One positive, however, is that Egypt and Qatar have influence over Hamas, which could ease the process. “We have a window, a real window of solution this time, much more than before, after the conference,” Al-Rashed said. “And I think the Egyptians and the Qataris have the leverage now. They can really pressure Hamas. And Hamas, if they accept the idea, will release all the rest of the hostages, they will have a safe passage from Gaza and they will live somewhere else, maybe Algeria or somewhere else. And the Palestinians, mainly the PA, rules Gaza. “If this scenario happens — and I bet my money on it more likely — yes, we will have an end to hostility. I think Israelis will have some sort of supervision of Gaza. We will have the Palestinians finally at peace and we will have a new chapter start in the Middle East.”However, Al-Rashed also criticized Israel’s refusal to consider a role for the Palestinian Authority or even the UN Relief and Works Agency in the governance of postwar Gaza. “Right now, nothing will work unless we have a practical solution,” he said. “Trying to push two million people out is not a practical solution. It’s not going to happen. If it happens, it’s just, everybody will lose, including the Israelis.”Al-Rashed insisted that the Palestinian Authority remains the most legitimate governing body for Gaza, despite its unpopularity in the West Bank.
“I think in terms of legitimacy, it is not Hamas, it is the PA,” he said. “The PA, the Palestinian Authority, is the one who has the legitimacy and is being recognized by everybody, including Western countries.”Although events are hard to predict, Al-Rashed said he supports the view of Arab News columnist Hassan Yassin, who suggested in a recent op-ed that Trump’s unconventional style could help pave the way for a lasting peace in the region. “I think we need to give President Trump the space and the chance because, look, Trump is not (Joe) Biden, and I think Trump is unique among all American presidents,” he said. “He does definitely move mountains. And I think there is a great chance for the Middle East ... not only to sort out Gaza, but we can go beyond that to the two-state solution.”He added: “Trump can convince anyone, to be honest, his own way; he has his own style. I’m sure (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu will not dare to treat Trump as he did Biden or (Barack) Obama before.
“Trump can make history and he can win the Nobel Prize. Definitely.”
Al-Rashed dismissed any notion that Egypt and Jordan might fight Israel over the displacement of Palestinians after Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister, said such a move would amount to an act of war. “I don’t think Jordan nor Egypt will go that far. I think these were the two best countries and governments in the region who know how to handle the crisis,” Al-Rashed said. “They are concerned about the issue of Gaza. It’s just things going really too far in terms of devastation. We have more than 50,000 people killed there. We have Israeli hostages remaining there as well. So we are stuck. “The issue here is how to get the Israeli hostages out, how to get Hamas out of Gaza, how to have peace in Gaza, and finally how to activate the peace plan. I don’t think what we heard about Egyptian and Jordanian readiness; I don’t take that seriously, honestly.”Turning to Lebanon, Al-Rashed expressed optimism about the country’s future following the election of former army chief Joseph Aoun as president and former International Court of Justice judge Nawaf Salam as prime minister in January.
Having been trapped in the vortex of a major financial crisis since 2019 and more than two years without a formally recognized government, the country is now on track to make a recovery, not least from the recent conflict on its territory between Israel and Hezbollah. Al-Rashed said President Aoun’s recent visit to Riyadh was indicative of the reset underway in relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, but warned that Hezbollah — although significantly weakened by the conflict — remains a potentially destabilizing force. “To a certain degree, the worst is behind us, but we still have problems,” Al-Rashed said. “Even with kitchen knives, Hezbollah could be a problem.”
He added: “Hezbollah, of course, are really facing a lot of problems right now. They have thousands of people who are running out of cash. They have houses destroyed. They have to be rebuilt. They have no routes to Iran anymore. They are disconnected from Iran.”Discussing the downfall of the Bashar Assad regime in December and the rise of Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s transitional government in Syria, Al-Rashed said it was a significant shift for the region. “I cannot really speak on behalf of Riyadh, but from my understanding, everyone — almost everyone — is extremely happy about the departure of the Assad regime,” he said. “It has been there for half a century. It was a contributor to chaos.”Clashes between government security forces and suspected pro-Assad factions in the Alawite community escalated last week. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has come out in full support of Al-Sharaa. “Everyone extended their support to President Al-Sharaa, including Saudis,” Al-Rashed said. “He visited Riyadh. He made his first visit. And Saudis, they made sure to welcome him. So no excuse whatsoever that the new regime should be welcomed; of course, it is welcomed as long as it behaves like a normal one in the region.
“Saudi can contribute a lot to the development of Syria, but we need first, of course, to see the sanctions lifted. And this has to do with Washington more than with Riyadh. But yes, this is what we see right now — history in the making, definitely.”
He also warned against Israeli involvement with the Druze community in Syria, suggesting that moves toward creating a breakaway region led by the ethno-religious minority could create further instability.
“Israelis, whatever the objective is, they’re trying, of course, to create a buffer zone by encouraging bordering areas like the Druze area to be protected by them.”
Turning to Saudi Arabia, Al-Rashed reflected on the sweeping reforms implemented under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda, which have positioned the Kingdom as a leading force for change in the region. “We are seeing Saudi Arabia not only being developed and Saudi Arabia being moderate also in terms of Islam, but we are seeing a leadership that is trying to spread the word in the region and all over the Islamic world,” he said. “Saudis will change the Islamic world, not just Saudi Arabia, as is already happening right now.” Referring to the crown prince’s leadership, Al-Rashed said: “People, individuals make big changes in history. You have the leaders who make a big difference for their own countries. And I think the crown prince has shown his ideas and of course resilience from the beginning.” Elaborating on the point, he said: “If you have listened to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the past 10 years, when he speaks to local or regional media, he talks about the economy, he talks about the welfare of the people, he talks about the future. These are three subjects which make a big difference. “Unfortunately, politicians in the region spend 90 percent of their conversation about politics. And I think this is why Saudis have something called 2030, a vision for the future. And that is what everybody’s busy with.”

US Secret Service shoots armed man near White House: spokesman
AFP/March 09, 2025
WASHINGTON: US Secret Service agents shot an armed man near the White House during the night, an agency spokesman said early Sunday, while President Donald Trump was spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The man had been hospitalized and his condition was “unknown,” the spokesman said in a statement that did not specify whether the White House or Trump may have been the intended target. No injuries to Secret Service agents were reported, according to the statement posted by spokesman Anthony Guglielmi on social media platform X. The agents had been warned by local police of a “suicidal” man traveling to Washington from Indiana and around midnight found his parked vehicle near 17th and F Streets, the statement said — very near the White House. They then spotted an individual nearby who matched the description they had been given, the statement said. “As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel,” the statement said. “The suspect was transported to an area hospital and his condition is unknown,” it said, adding that Washington police were investigating.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 09-10/2025
Europe’s sharp turn to the far right
Mustapha Tossa/Arab News/March 09, 2025
A striking political transformation is sweeping across Europe. The old continent appears poised for what many are calling a “far-right spring,” with nationalist movements in various countries building unprecedented momentum. This revival largely stems from the political earthquake in America that returned Donald Trump to the White House. Europe’s far-right movements have gained fresh energy following Trump’s victory, prompting a pivotal question: If such a political shift was possible in America, why not in Europe? This sentiment is particularly potent as both continents grapple with similar challenges around immigration, security concerns, demands for economic protectionism and questions of cultural identity.
It appears more than coincidental that figures with pronounced right-wing credentials have found favor with the new American administration. These include Hungary’s Viktor Orban, the standard-bearer of European identity politics; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who exemplifies the far right in government; and Alternative for Germany leader Alice Weidel, who has received positive attention from Elon Musk, now a powerful figure in Washington. Meanwhile, French far-right figures Eric Zemmour and Member of the European Parliament Sarah Knafo were among the few French nationals invited to Trump’s inauguration. Washington’s new leadership has strategic interests in seeing ideologically aligned forces take control in major European capitals.
For these movements, the political planets seem to be aligning favorably. Vice President J.D. Vance’s controversial Munich Security Conference speech, in which he criticized Europe for abandoning shared values like press freedom, was widely interpreted as confirming America’s split with traditional European allies, while offering ideological support to the far-right forces approaching power across Europe.
The emerging pattern suggests Washington’s new leadership has strategic interests in seeing ideologically aligned forces take control in major European capitals, potentially accelerating a harmonization of views and strategic objectives. The Russia-Ukraine conflict provides a telling example.
European far-right parties have historically supported Russia’s actions against Ukraine and opposed international sanctions on Moscow, often expressing admiration for President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian leadership style. As Trump pursues a potential deal with Russia to end the conflict, he finds natural allies in these European far-right movements whose rise to power would seemingly benefit American interests.
This budding relationship between Trump and Europe’s far right has triggered significant alarm. Critics accuse the American administration of employing social media campaigns, including disinformation, to support these parties. The administration also faces allegations of cultivating special relationships with far-right networks specifically to help them gain political power — accusations previously leveled at the Kremlin for attempting to influence European elections to install Russia-friendly officials in key positions.
The far right is gaining unprecedented momentum, with its ideologues confident their time has arrived. They benefit from a remarkable convergence of interests between Moscow and Washington — two powers that, through an unusual alignment of political circumstances, share a common interest in seeing Europe’s far right gain greater influence. Mustapha Tossa is a Franco-Moroccan journalist. In addition to having participated in the launch of Radio France Internationale’s Arabic service, he has notably worked for Monte Carlo Doualiya, TV5 Monde and France 24. He also maintains two blogs in French and Arabic, in which he discusses French and international politics with a focus on Arab and Maghrebi issues. X: @tossamus

MENA’s electricity demand crunch and the path to sustainability
Jessica Obeid/Arab News/March 09, 2025
Governments around the Middle East and North Africa region are investing billions of dollars in power generation, yet supply is struggling to keep up with soaring demand.
MENA’s total installed generation capacity increased by 15 percent in the four years to 2023 to exceed 462 gigawatts. Saudi Arabia is the regional leader in installed capacity, with 83.5 GW as of 2022. The Kingdom accounted for 22 percent of all planned power projects in MENA last year — an equivalent spend of $51 billion. Meanwhile, the UAE has invested $25 billion in the Barakah nuclear plant, which generates 40 terawatt hours, covering a quarter of the country’s electricity demand. Egypt, where power outages are frequent, has built several new gas-fired power plants.
Despite these large-scale projects, supply is slow to catch up with demand in most countries. Total capacity will need to increase by 40 percent by 2030 compared to a decade earlier, according to the latest estimates. However, increasing power generation alone will not address MENA’s electricity crunch; the root issue is not insufficient infrastructure but rather inefficient consumption — particularly in the residential and commercial sectors.
The most viable solution is demand-side management, leveraging smart pricing, digital technologies and behavioral incentives to optimize energy use and curb waste. Unless this is made a policy priority, the region risks grid instability, fiscal strain and an unsustainable energy future.
Despite major expansions in power generation capacity, consumption patterns remain fundamentally inefficient, which makes it challenging to keep pace with demand.
The residential sector is the primary driver of electricity demand across the MENA region, accounting for 40 percent of total consumption, according to independent calculations of data sourced from the International Energy Agency database. This figure rises to 47 percent in Qatar and 49 percent in Kuwait.
The commercial and public services sectors are second to residential, demonstrating that buildings are the biggest drain on electricity across the region. In fact, air conditioning is the single largest category of electricity use, accounting for 70 percent of peak consumption in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. That the bulk of generated electricity is consumed by households and commercial buildings, rather than industrial production, highlights a fundamental inefficiency in the power sector — one that is straining grids without necessarily driving economic productivity.
As a result, MENA’s energy demand growth rate is higher than the global average — at 5 percent compared to 2.5 to 4 percent, according to the International Energy Agency. In Jordan, demand grew by about 4 percent per year between 2017 and 2022 and, in Qatar, it rose 4.5 percent. In Kuwait, peak demand reached a record high of approximately 17 GW in August 2023, marking a 5 percent year-on-year increase. Kuwait, despite holding 6 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves and playing a key role in global energy markets, continues to struggle with power shortages. Even Egypt, despite major expansions in power generation capacity, continues to face outages due to surging residential demand.
Moreover, electricity demand growth is uneven. For example, in Qatar in 2022, peak demand doubled compared to the previous year. The UAE’s growth rate has averaged 3 percent in the last five years but spiked to 6 percent in 2020 due to increased residential consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fluctuating demand further increases costs, as additional reserve capacity is required to manage unpredictable surges.
The MENA region will remain vulnerable to blackouts, fiscal strain and environmental pressures if inefficient consumption continues.
The rapid adoption of advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, is further intensifying the region’s already high electricity demand.
Data centers, which are the backbone of AI, are highly energy-intensive and are currently being built across the region. Saudi Arabia, for example, is in discussions to develop a 1 GW data center in NEOM, valued at $18 billion, to position itself as a digital infrastructure hub. The electrification of sectors is another pressure point. The shift to electric vehicles is raising demand forecasts, adding new challenges for power supply and grid stability.
In fact, per capita electricity consumption in some MENA countries ranks among the highest globally. According to the International Energy Agency, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE consumed more than 19,000, 18,000 and 16,000 kilowatt-hours per person, respectively, in 2022, placing them among the world’s top-five consumers. Meanwhile, the MENA region accounts for nearly half of the world’s total energy consumption subsidies, placing a substantial financial burden on public budgets. Subsidies primarily cover fossil fuels but also extend to electricity, creating a double subsidy effect: first, through direct electricity subsidies, and second, through subsidies for fossil fuels used for power generation. In fact, fossil-fueled power plants generate more than 90 percent of the region’s electricity. As a result, these subsidies not only increase the strain on public budgets but also drive artificially high electricity consumption levels.
The solution to MENA’s electricity crunch is not to keep adding power generation capacity indefinitely. Instead, it is to address the root cause: inefficient consumption. Adopting a demand-side management strategy can alleviate pressure on power infrastructure and free up resources for economic diversification and social development.
A demand-side management strategy seeks to optimize electricity consumption and curb excessive use by focusing on three key areas: electricity pricing reform, behavioral incentives and smart technologies.
Pricing is one of the most pressing issues. Introducing a dynamic pricing model, such as time-of-use tariffs, where rates change based on peak and off-peak hours, can help reduce grid stress and flatten demand curves. Smart technologies and digital solutions are also effective means to reduce electricity consumption without compromising economic growth.
Deploying smart meters and AI-based demand response systems enables utilities and consumers to optimize electricity use in real time by shifting the energy consumption of nonessential appliances and systems, such as water heaters and washing machines, away from peak demand hours. Moreover, adopting smart automation systems in buildings, particularly those that optimize air-conditioning efficiency, can significantly lower energy waste.
Consumer behavior change is also a critical element of demand-side management. Public awareness campaigns, efficiency labeling and incentives for energy-saving appliances can help shift consumption habits. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have introduced mandatory efficiency standards for appliances, but broader adoption across the region is needed.
Ultimately, the MENA region will remain vulnerable to blackouts, fiscal strain and environmental pressures if inefficient consumption continues. The most viable solution is not just generating more power — it is encouraging smarter use. Elevating demand-side management to a policy priority is key to ensuring a secure and sustainable energy future.
**Jessica Obeid is the Head of Energy Transitions at SRMG Think, where she leads research on energy security, clean technology and sustainable supply chains. She has extensive experience in engineering and policy, advising governments and private sector stakeholders on energy technologies, policy and market trends.

Will key Ramadan dates be trouble-free at Al-Aqsa?
Daoud Kuttab/Arab News/March 09, 2025
The month of Ramadan has a special flavor in Jerusalem, especially in the courtyards and mosques that make up Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque. Whenever the term Al-Aqsa is used, most people fail to realize that the reference is to an entire area, clearly demarcated with gates, containing various institutions and places of worship.
This area’s most important place of worship is Masjid Al-Qibli, the silver-domed mosque at the northern end. Second in importance is the gold-covered Dome of the Rock. Because of its size and the number of worshippers, Masjid Al-Qibli is dedicated to male worshippers, whereas the Dome of the Rock is partly or entirely (depending on attendance) set aside for female worshippers. In addition, there is the Islamic Museum, other institutions and places of learning, plus the Bab Al-Rahmeh prayer halls.
In addition to buildings, the 144-dunam compound also contains large open spaces, which allow for the overflow of worshippers. This can fit as many as half a million worshippers. Friday prayers, especially during Ramadan, witness an ever-growing number of worshippers, often in the hundreds of thousands.
The Israeli occupation often tries to restrict attendance to Al-Aqsa, but on Fridays during Ramadan its security personnel cannot keep up with the huge crowds. The restrictions are therefore transferred to checkpoints at the various entrances to the holy city, from the north, east and south. Also, Israel at times tries to restrict entry to the Old City itself, forcing worshippers to pray at the nearest location to Al-Aqsa, meaning they are not able to listen to the Friday sermons.
Before the most recent Israeli elections in 2022, which brought far-right and racist leaders into government, Israel would keep all non-Muslims away from the holy mosque, even outside of praying hours. But following the ascension of Itamar Ben-Gvir to the post of national security minister, the insistence that Jews could visit the mosque grew, much to the anger and rejection of the Jordanian Waqf that administers the site. This year, with Ben-Gvir no longer a minister, the new police order is to restrict “visits” to smaller groups and only once a day.
The motivation for preventing worship is not security-related, but is rather revenge punishment against former prisoners.
But while making some concessions, the Israeli government has also increased the number of Palestinians denied entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli police force has recommended and the courts have rubber-stamped orders denying tens of Palestinians the right to worship in their mosque for six months on undocumented allegations relating to security considerations. However, a closer look at those affected reveals that they include all Palestinian prisoners from Jerusalem that were recently released as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The absurdity of automatically considering every released Palestinian to be a security threat was exposed when the ban on worshipping in Al-Aqsa Mosque was extended to Khaled El-Halabi. El-Halabi, who served 20 years of a 28-year prison term, is a Palestinian Christian who would not normally participate in prayers at the Islamic shrine, thus proving that the motivation for preventing worship is not security-related, but is rather a revenge punishment against Palestinian former prisoners.
Despite these restrictions, which are a violation of the right to worship, it is expected that tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, will worship during Ramadan. Of special interest, however, is what happens in the last 10 days of the holy month, when Muslims stay up all night at the mosque because it was on one of those days that the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Among those last 10 days, the 27th day of Ramadan is given special status. It is called Laylat Al-Qadr (the night of power), which is when the Holy Qur'an was revealed.
In previous years, Israeli security forces have physically tried to prevent worshippers from staying overnight on those days. It is unclear what will happen this Ramadan, however, as the region continues to suffer from a state of instability, which has kept people concerned about trouble being caused for the simplest of excuses to fulfill the wishes of radical politicians.
**Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist. X: @daoudkuttab

Cairo plan a good start, but not a final destination
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/March 08, 2025
International analysts would be well advised to keep a close eye on what happens in Saudi Arabia over the next few weeks, as it seems some of today’s most pressing global problems might be resolved in the Kingdom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to arrive in the Kingdom on Monday for meetings with the Saudi leadership, hopefully to officially kick-start a series of talks that might put an end to the devastating Russian-Ukrainian war.
This is no coincidence but rather the direct result of years of trust-building and back-channeling, at which Saudi Arabia has excelled. While Riyadh condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine at the UN, it maintained, and despite criticisms, close and solid diplomatic relations with Moscow, not just to support the OPEC+ agreement, which guarantees oil market stability at a time of grave inflation, but because it knew that at some point the international community was going to need an adult in the room.
Shortly afterward, the Saudi approach resulted in two prisoner swaps, with both the Russians and Ukrainians thanking Riyadh for its successful efforts.
To succeed, the Cairo plan will need further refining, ironing out wrinkles and, most of all, lots of glitter sprinkled over it.
Now, building on the trust and strong relationship it built with President Donald Trump during his first term, Saudi Arabia is yet again the trusted and impartial facilitator between Russia, Ukraine, and the US.
When it comes to an issue closer to home — Gaza — and given the rejection (albeit expected) by both Israel and the US of the Arab League proposal, the world might have to again turn to the Kingdom for a diplomatic solution.
Just to be clear, the Arab League plan has been endorsed by all the attending leaders, or their representatives, in Cairo. It has also garnered the support of the UN secretary-general and a number of European countries.
However, if the atrocities in the war on Gaza have taught us anything, it is that we should not forget to secure the buy-in of the elephant outside the room: the US. Trump has clearly signaled that he sees no place for Hamas, and says he still believes the Palestinians need to be moved out during reconstruction.
Meanwhile, Israel, being the unreasonable player that it is, has predictably rejected any role for Hamas, as well as any involvement by the Palestinian Authority or the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Now, with those conditions, it is futile trying to convince Israel. Its Prime Minister, or should I say, Occupier-in-Chief Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition of lunatics clearly want the status quo to continue till every last Gazan is either displaced or killed by weapons, malnutrition or illness. At the same time, Israel will continue its intimidation in the West Bank, which could result in the region reaching a boiling point, even during the holy month of Ramadan.
People can ridicule Trump as much as they like, but the bottom line is that he is a businessman and, for him, it is all about the product, the pitch, and the profit.
Trump, however, is a different political animal and — as unpopular as this sounds — a lot more straightforward to deal with. For instance, the US administration has already said it was open to ideas after the controversial Middle East Riviera plan was floated. The Americans also clarified that they are not putting boots on the ground, and have also made public that they are having direct talks with Hamas and are willing to talk to the Iranians.
With a bit of logic, Washington can be convinced that Gazans who want to stay in their land while it is being rebuilt can do so, and if provided with a face-saving exit, Hamas could hopefully opt to do what is best for Palestinians, not for themselves (this will also require serious talks with Hamas, perhaps by Qatar and Egypt). Meanwhile, as part of the rehabilitation of the Palestinian Police that Jordan and Egypt has proposed to do, perhaps the Arab League could also help the Palestinian Authority rebuild its capabilities given that President Mahmoud Abbas has already signaled that an election can happen within a year.
We should also remember a few things. First, whether the Arab street likes him or not, Trump effectively has absolute power for at least the next two years, until the midterm elections. Second, that he can only serve four years in office, as US presidents cannot run for a third term. Third, Trump has kept the door open for further discussions to bring peace and prosperity to the region. This could include possible talks about a two-state solution, a longstanding condition placed by Saudi Arabia for normalization with Israel.
All of this means two things: Netanyahu can no longer claim that he calls the shots in Washington or bypass the president and address Congress directly. It also means that Trump is in a race against time to build a lasting legacy, and Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab world are in a good place to help when it comes to Gaza compared with Netanyahu, who most likely will let him down — no matter what Washington offers him.
In that sense, I believe Egypt and the Arab League deserve a round of applause, and that the Cairo proposal should be seen as a good starting point rather than a final destination. To succeed, it will need further refining, ironing out wrinkles and, most of all, lots of glitter sprinkled over it.
People can ridicule Trump as much as they like, but the bottom line is that he is a businessman and, for him, it is all about the product, the pitch, and the profit.
With help provided by Riyadh when it comes to Russia and Ukraine, the continuing stabilization of oil markets, billions of dollars in trade deals and an ability to help Trump walk out of the White House as the man who achieved what no other president has done — a lasting peace in the Middle East — we do have a lot to offer in terms of the profit. However, we need to act quickly in terms of the pitch and realize it will not be achieved by wishful thinking, but with political pragmatism, determined diplomacy and skillful salesmanship.
As for the product, if Trump wants to call it the Riviera of the Middle East, then so be it. I believe it is wrong to argue about packaging when it is the substance that matters. If this $53 billion Arab Riviera is being built by Palestinians for Palestinians and as part of an agreed Palestinian state, then the only thing left to do is to ensure Israel does not destroy it again in a few years.
* Faisal J. Abbas is the editor-in-chief of Arab News. X: @FaisalJAbbas