English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For March 24/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Second Letter to the Corinthians/09/1a.05-15./Now it is not necessary for me to write to you about the ministry to the saints, So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion. The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.’He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 23-24/2025
What Do Temptation & the Lost Son Parable Teach Us?/Elias Bejjani/March 23/2025
Text & Video: To Aoun and Salam: Citizens Can Condemn, But Leaders Must Act/Elias Bejjani/March 22/2025
Lebanese delegation to visit Syria on Wednesday
Amid the bloody aggression, Ortagus: We stand with Israel
Lebanon says one dead as Israel resumes strike on south
Israel strikes Hezbollah in response to rocket fire in most significant flare-up of tensions since ceasefire
1 killed in Israeli drone strike on car in Aita al-Shaab
Report: Aoun's talks with US manage to rein in Israel's strikes
France condemns attack on Israel from Lebanon, urges restraint
Speaker Nabih Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Israel is seeking talks leading to normalization
Military buildup follows rocket attack: Will Israel widen its operations in Lebanon?
Lebanon's toughest job: Challenges await Lebanon's next BDL governor
Iran condemns Israel's 'extensive military aggression' in Lebanon
Hoda Chedid's final journey: A farewell filled with love and honor
Rai Advocates for Open Dialogue and Reconciliation
Audi: State and Army Are Citizens’ Protectors

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 23-24/2025
Israel military says it intercepted missile from Yemen
Israel opposition urges general strike over security chief ouster
Palestinian death toll in Gaza’s war passes 50,000 as Israel expands new airstrikes
Israel presses ground offensive in Gaza
15 million voted in Turkey's opposition primary: Istanbul City Hall
Ukraine, US teams begin talks in Saudi Arabia
Frankly Speaking: An American view on Middle East conflicts

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 23-24/2025
China Has Set Up Iran's Next War in the Middle East/Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/March 23, 2025
Region making progress on ending violence against women/Sara Al-Mulla/Arab News/March 23, 2025
Brick by brick, Palestine’s future is being stolen/Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/March 23, 2025
Gaza war compels China to review its Middle East policy/Talmiz Ahmad/Arab News/March 23, 2025
Paying for Roads in the Age of EVs: Rethinking Jordan’s EV Tax Model/Jessica Obeid/Asharq Al Awsat/March 23/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on March 23-24/2025
What Do Temptation & the Lost Son Parable Teach Us?
Elias Bejjani/March 23/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/73276/
On the Fourth Sunday of Lent, the Maronite Catholic Church reflects on the Parable of the Lost Son, also known as the Prodigal Son. This powerful parable illustrates the dangers of temptation, the consequences of sin, and the boundless mercy of God.
The younger son, driven by selfishness and impulsive desires, fell into the trap of temptation. He demanded his share of his father’s inheritance and abandoned his home, seeking pleasure and indulgence in a distant land. However, his reckless lifestyle led to ruin. He squandered everything and soon found himself penniless, starving, humiliated, and utterly alone.
In the depths of his suffering, he experienced a moment of clarity—he recognized his folly and longed for his father’s house. With humility and determination, he resolved to return, confess his sins, and ask for forgiveness. To his astonishment, his loving father welcomed him with open arms, rejoicing at his repentance and restoring him to his rightful place as a son.
This parable serves as a guiding light for repentance and divine forgiveness. It teaches us that no matter how far we stray, God’s mercy is always within reach. Our Heavenly Father never abandons us; He patiently waits for our return, ready to forgive and embrace us with infinite love. The Holy Bible urges us to turn to God in times of doubt, weakness, hardship, and injustice:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
All we need to do is approach Him with faith, humility, and confidence—He will answer our prayers.
“Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22)
Even when we disobey His teachings and stray from His path, God remains a loving and compassionate Father. Despite our sins, defiance, and ingratitude, He never gives up on our salvation. His love for us is so profound that He sacrificed His only begotten Son, who endured suffering and crucifixion to redeem us. God carries our burdens and strengthens us against the temptations of evil:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
God is waiting for our repentance. Let us return to Him with sincere hearts and seek His forgiveness—before it is too late.
Reading in the Lost Son Parable
The Parable of the Lost Son illustrates sin as a departure from God and the communion with Him, represented by the Church. It is a detachment from the Giver in pursuit of His gifts. The younger son exemplifies this by squandering his share of his father’s wealth in a distant land, forsaking both sonship and familial bonds.
This parable highlights the devastating consequences of sin—losing the dignity of sonship and descending into spiritual, moral, and social decay. The son’s destitution symbolizes this degradation. Repentance begins with self-reflection, acknowledging one’s wretched state before God, feeling remorse for straying, and making a firm decision to return. It involves confessing sins, striving to avoid their causes, and making amends through acts of goodness and mercy—just as the lost son returned to his father.
At its heart, the parable conveys the boundless mercy of the Heavenly Father, who eagerly awaits sinners’ return. The father’s joyous reception of his son echoes the Gospel’s recurring theme: God rejoices over a repentant heart.
The symbols in the parable underscore the blessings of reconciliation:
The lavish robe represents the grace granted at baptism—tarnished by sin but restored through repentance.
The ring signifies restored sonship, affirming divine faithfulness despite human failings and sealing the bond of honesty.
The new shoes symbolize the path of righteousness opened to those who return in repentance.
The feast with the fattened calf reflects the Eucharistic banquet, a symbol of partaking in the divine sacrifice and communion with the Lord.
The elder son, who resents his brother’s reconciliation, represents those who fail to grasp its transformative power. One who has not experienced God’s forgiveness cannot extend it to others. Thus, the Church plays a vital role in guiding individuals toward reconciliation with God, thereby fostering reconciliation among people.

Text & Video: To Aoun and Salam: Citizens Can Condemn, But Leaders Must Act
Elias Bejjani/March 22/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/03/141473/
It is natural for ordinary citizens to condemn illegal acts and threats to their safety, livelihood, and security. But what about those in power? Leaders and officials are not there to simply issue statements of condemnation—if that’s all they do, then how are they any different from the people they govern? A state is not run by words but by laws, enforcement, and accountability. As officials at all levels, your duty is to uphold the law and hold violators accountable, no matter who they are.
You know very well that the Iranian-backed jihadist terrorist group Hezbollah does not recognize laws, nor does it respect the state, international resolutions, or even the ceasefire agreement that it, along with Nabih Berri and their Iranian masters, signed in bad faith.
Hezbollah is nothing more than an Iranian proxy, executing Tehran’s agenda at Lebanon’s expense.
The rockets fired today from southern Lebanon at Israel caused no damage—not even to a chicken coop—but their real message was directed at you: the authorities, the government, the legal system, and every free Lebanese citizen who believes in the rule of law.
Hezbollah has no regard for the Lebanese state and continues to trample on its sovereignty to serve Iran’s interests.
Your duty is clear: enforce the law, arrest those responsible for launching the rockets, and prosecute them. They are not unknown—they publicly brag about their crimes!
These farcical performances no longer fool anyone. The real instigators—whether through direct rocket fire or political cover—are Nabih Berri, the provocateur Mufti Qabalan, the disgraceful ministers Tarek Mitri and Lara Al-Zein, Hezbollah’s pawn Wafic Safa, Al-Qamati, and Hezbollah’s chief Naim Qassem, who hides in his bunker. Every single one of them, along with their enablers, is complicit.
Hezbollah’s useless fireworks were not aimed at Israel—they were fired at Baabda Palace, the Grand Serail, the Quintet Committee, UN resolutions, and the Lebanese people themselves!
What is needed is not empty rhetoric, rehearsed speeches, and hollow condemnations. What is required is decisive action: officially designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, arresting those responsible for the rocket attacks, and fully committing to the implementation of UN resolutions.
If you have the will and the courage, step up and do your duty. If you don’t—if you lack the resolve—then resign and admit your failure before the entire country collapses under the weight of your complicity and silence.
Appeasement and political maneuvering are a losing game. Their only outcome is chaos, collapse, the continued occupation and dominance of Hezbollah, and the complete lack of funding for reconstruction. The ones who continue to suffer the most are the Shiites whom Hezbollah has taken hostage, using them as pawns and sacrificing them in Iran’s wars, and the Mullahs’ expansionist evil schemes.

Lebanese delegation to visit Syria on Wednesday
Al-Modon, March 24, 2025
Sources following the meeting revealed to Al-Modon that, as a result of coordination between President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, a Lebanese delegation will visit Syria, headed by Defense Minister Michel Menassa and a number of military and security officials. The delegation will meet with Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra next Wednesday to discuss ending the clashes, controlling the border, and increasing coordination to prevent any attacks between the two countries.

Amid the bloody aggression, Ortagus: We stand with Israel
Janubiya/March 23, 2025
At a time when Israel continues its killing in Gaza and its bloody attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire, Deputy US Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus told Fox News that the United States will always stand with its ally Israel, whether in efforts to destroy movements like Hamas, Hezbollah, or even the Houthis. Regarding US policy in the region, Ortagus said, "We are clearly stating that we will not punish our friends, and we will not reward our enemies," noting the United States' unwavering commitment to its position of supporting Israel in the face of ongoing threats from these groups.

Lebanon says one dead as Israel resumes strike on south
AFP/March 23, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s health ministry said one person was killed Sunday in an Israeli drone strike, a day after the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah. “The Israeli enemy raid with a drone on a car in Aita Al-Shaab led to the death of one citizen,” the health ministry said, after the official National News Agency (NNA) had reported the strike on the southern village. The NNA also reported separate Israeli strikes on Sunday on Naqurah, Shihin and Labbouneh in the south, near the Israeli border. Saturday saw the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire halted the war between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The Lebanese health ministry said seven people were killed on Saturday, including in an attack on Tyre which a security source told AFP targeted a Hezbollah official. Israel said the strikes were “a response to rocket fire toward Israel and a continuation of the first series of strikes carried out” in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah denied any involvement in the rocket attack, and called Israel’s accusations “pretexts for its continued attacks on Lebanon.”The November ceasefire brought relative calm after a year of hostilities, including two months of open war, between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel has continued to strike Lebanon after the ceasefire, targeting what it said were Hezbollah military sites that violated the agreement. Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah is supposed to pull its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. Israel is supposed to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions it deems “strategic.”

Israel strikes Hezbollah in response to rocket fire in most significant flare-up of tensions since ceasefire
Eugenia Yosef, Vasco Cotovio, Charbel Mallo, Eyad Kourdi and Lucas Lilieholm, CNN/March 23, 2025
Israel’s military carried out multiple waves of deadly airstrikes across Lebanon targeting suspected Hezbollah sites on Saturday, as tensions flare again in the region. At least seven people have been killed, including a child, and 40 others injured in Saturday’s strikes, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a “second wave” of attacks on southern and eastern Lebanon on Saturday evening local time in response to Hezbollah rocket fire toward Israel and “in continuation of the first wave of attacks this morning,” according to a statement released by the prime minister’s office. “The Lebanese government is responsible for everything that happens on its territory,” the statement added. The day’s barrages mark the most significant eruption of violence between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah since a ceasefire brought uneasy calm to the border. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its latest strikes targeted “Hezbollah command centers, infrastructure sites, terrorists, rocket launchers, and a weapons storage facility.” It said it was responding to at least five projectiles fired from within Lebanon toward Israel; three were intercepted by the Israeli air force and two did not cross the border. “We promised security to the Galilee communities - and that is exactly what will happen,” Katz said in a statement Saturday, referring to inhabitants of northern Israel. Hezbollah has denied any involvement, saying it was committed to the truce, and accused Israel of using the rocket fire as a “pretext” to attack Lebanon. The Lebanese military, which is investigating the incident, said it had found and dismantled “three primitive rocket launchers in the area north of the Litani River.”Lebanon’s presidency has condemned “attempts to drag once again into a cycle of violence,” saying President Joseph Aoun had instructed the army to protect the country’s citizens, as well as probing the rocket attacks.
A shaky truce
Before the truce, Israel and Hezbollah exchanged cross-border attacks for 13 months in the wake of the Gaza conflict. Israel launched an intense ground and aerial campaign in September last year, decimating the militant group’s leadership. Israel continues to maintain a military presence at five locations in the south of Lebanon, despite agreeing to withdraw as part of a ceasefire deal, struck in November last year. The deal brought a significant reduction in more than a year of cross-border strikes and put an end to months of a full-scale war. The last time Israel accused the Lebanese armed group of firing projectiles across the border was in early December. The latest escalation comes after Israel restarted military operations in Gaza earlier in the week, putting an end to a fragile truce in the Palestinian enclave that had largely held since January. Israeli fire has killed at least 634 people and injured more than 1,170 others in Gaza since the fighting resumed, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. On Sunday, Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardawil was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his tent in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, alongside his wife, the group said. The UN’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said it was “alarmed” by the Saturday-morning escalation in cross-border violence, calling on all sides to “uphold their commitments.”“We strongly urge all parties to avoid jeopardizing the progress made, especially when civilian lives and the fragile stability observed in recent months are at risk,” it said in a statement. “Any further escalation of this volatile situation could have serious consequences for the region.” CNN’s Lauren Izso and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to the report.

1 killed in Israeli drone strike on car in Aita al-Shaab
Agence France Presse
An Israeli drone targeted a car in a southern Lebanese town on Sunday, state media reported, a day after the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire.
"An Israeli drone carried out an airstrike this morning, launching a guided missile targeting a car in the town of Aita al-Shaab" near the border with Israel, Lebanon's official National News Agency said. Media reports said one person was killed in the strike, likely a Hezbollah member.

Report: Aoun's talks with US manage to rein in Israel's strikes
Naharnet/March 23, 2025
President Joseph Aoun held a series of phone talks with the Americans over the past hours, following the most dangerous cross-border conflagaration with Israel since the last war, a media report said. Aoun's efforts "met responsiveness and resulted in keeping the capital Beirut and the Lebanese regions outside the scope of (Israel's) strikes," sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper in remarks published Sunday. The Israelis however told the Americans that they will "keep targeting any Hezbollah activity in any region while sparing civilians and state institutions," the sources added.
Israel's major escalation against Lebanon on Saturday, which killed seven people and wounded 31 others, came after it intercepted three rockets fired from Lebanon at the northern Israeli settlement of Metula near Lebanon's border.

France condemns attack on Israel from Lebanon, urges restraint
Agence France Presse/March 23, 2025
France has condemned the rocket fire from Lebanese territory into Israel, but called on Israel to display "restraint" as it launched strikes in response. "France calls on all parties to respect the commitments made under the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024, to avoid an escalation that could have serious consequences for the security of Lebanon, Israel, and the entire region," said a foreign ministry statement.

Speaker Nabih Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Israel is seeking talks leading to normalization
LBCI/March 23, 2025
Speaker Nabih Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Israel is seeking talks leading to normalization Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of attempting to drag Lebanon into political negotiations that could eventually lead to normalization between the two countries. "We are not considering this option," Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat. He emphasized that Lebanon adheres to an agreement backed by international and Arab support, as well as by the United Nations, adding that "Israel is the one obstructing its implementation and trying to circumvent it."
Berri pointed out that the Lebanese Army is prepared to complete its deployment south of the Litani River, but Israel's refusal to withdraw from several occupied positions has prevented this from happening with the support of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
He also stated that Hezbollah has been abiding by the agreement, has withdrawn from south of the Litani, and has not fired a single shot in six months despite repeated Israeli violations, including attacks on southern Lebanese towns, the Bekaa region, and the Lebanese-Syrian border. Berri stressed that Hezbollah has refrained from responding to Israeli ceasefire violations and has been exercising restraint, standing behind the Lebanese state in implementing the agreement. The agreement, which the United States pledged to oversee, stipulates Israel's withdrawal, the deployment of the Lebanese army, and the release of Lebanese detainees held by Israel. "However, Israel refuses to withdraw and continues its aggression, the latest being the incidents in recent hours, using the pretext of rockets fired at the Metula settlement," he said. Regarding a proposal suggesting that the Lebanese delegation for negotiations should include both military and civilian diplomats to discuss the release of Lebanese detainees, Israel's withdrawal from occupied points, and the demarcation of borders based on the 1949 Armistice Agreement, Berri rejected the idea. He argued that even considering such a proposal would effectively nullify the ceasefire agreement, which must be implemented under UNIFIL's supervision and the oversight of the five-nation committee. Meanwhile, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Envoy of the U.S. President for the Middle East, is set to arrive in Tel Aviv in the coming hours for meetings with Israeli leadership. Her agenda reportedly includes preparing a roadmap for implementing the three key issues previously discussed: the release of Lebanese detainees, Israel's withdrawal, and the formal delineation of the international border between Lebanon and Israel.

Military buildup follows rocket attack: Will Israel widen its operations in Lebanon?
LBCI/March 23, 2025
As of late Saturday night, Israel's security cabinet had yet to reach a final decision on how to respond to the rocket fire launched toward Metula from Lebanon. The discussion saw government ministers pushing for a heavy bombardment campaign aimed at destroying Lebanon's infrastructure and enforcing what they called the "Beirut-Metula equation" by striking deep into the Lebanese capital. Officials in the meeting asserted that the Lebanese state bears full responsibility for the escalation. Energy Minister Eli Cohen threatened further military action, declaring that Israel would not withdraw from Lebanon and insisting that the security of Israeli citizens remains solely in the hands of the Israeli army. While some Israeli officials advocated for coordination with the United States before taking further steps, sources close to the government argued that the rocket fire represented a blatant violation of previous agreements. They called for Israel to abandon its commitments, deploy additional military units into Lebanon, and resume both aerial and ground operations in the south, extending up to the Litani River. Although Israel has temporarily frozen plans to expand its strikes into Beirut following Lebanese diplomatic outreach to Washington, the Israeli army has heightened its state of alert. Military reinforcements have been deployed to border towns, and officials are working to prevent residents—many of whom had only returned home after a year and a half of displacement—from leaving again. Reports suggest that tensions on this front may escalate further despite over two months having passed since the ceasefire decision.

Lebanon's toughest job: Challenges await Lebanon's next BDL governor
LBCI/March 23, 2025
With the Lebanese Cabinet's approval of a new appointment mechanism, all eyes are now on the next Banque du Liban (BDL) governor—an appointment widely regarded as one of the most difficult positions in the country. Leading the BDL is far from a "dream job" at this stage, as the incoming governor will inherit a financial system in crisis, burdened with immense responsibilities. Two pressing issues will demand immediate attention upon taking office. The first is restructuring the banking sector, including the BDL itself. Nevertheless, each time a draft law on bank restructuring reaches the Cabinet, it is met with objections and questions that ultimately stall its progress. This reform is directly linked to the fate of depositors' funds, which remain frozen in the financial system. A key point of contention is determining how much these deposits can be guaranteed and returned. The second major challenge is securing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is widely seen as a critical step toward restoring confidence in Lebanon's economy and banking sector. Governmental sources confirmed to LBCI that transparency with depositors will make the new governor's job even more difficult, as returning deposits in full is unlikely. If funds are reimbursed, it will likely be through long-term installments, further eroding their value over time. A Reuters report published on March 16 revealed that Washington has been engaging with potential candidates for the governor position, with a primary focus on dismantling Hezbollah's financial network and cracking down on money laundering. This highlights the geopolitical weight of the appointment, making it unlike any other government position. The decision will be influenced by both domestic and international considerations, shaping Lebanon's future financial direction. Beyond political and economic calculations, the next BDL governor will face the monumental task of restoring trust in Lebanon's financial system.
Who is capable of taking on such a challenge?

Iran condemns Israel's 'extensive military aggression' in Lebanon
LBCI/AFP/March 23, 2025
Iran condemned on Sunday the latest wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon that came in response to a rocket attack from across the border. In a statement, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described the Israeli strikes as "extensive military aggression" and slammed the country as "a real threat to international peace and security."

Hoda Chedid's final journey: A farewell filled with love and honor
LBCI/March 23, 2025
Exceptional in life and exceptional in her passing, Lebanese journalist Hoda Chedid was bid farewell on Sunday in an emotional gathering before her final journey to her hometown. At the hall of St. George Maronite Cathedral, her loved ones gathered—her father, siblings, and her extended family at LBCI, led by chairman Pierre Daher. Political figures from different backgrounds, media colleagues from various outlets, and friends came together, all united by their love and respect for Chedid.  At the entrance, a large portrait of her smiling warmly seemed to welcome those who came to say goodbye. As in life, so in her passing, Chedid brought together people from all walks of life—politicians of opposing views, journalists from different media institutions, and a broad spectrum of admirers. Around her casket, adorned with wreaths of love, mourners stood in silent tribute. She had chosen the season of Lent for her final departure, and prayers filled the room as her brother Tony, and Pierre Daher attempted to put into words the depth of love and admiration she had inspired. Carried on the shoulders of those who cherished her, her casket left the cathedral to the sound of ringing bells and heartfelt applause. She was accompanied on her final journey to rest beside her mother, who passed away two years ago, and her late husband, Ziad Saadeh, who had left years before.
As Lebanon mourns her loss, she leaves behind a legacy of journalistic integrity and deep human connection.

Rai Advocates for Open Dialogue and Reconciliation
This is Beirut/March 23, 2025
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stated that “it is time to begin to purify the memory together through a sincere and frank dialogue, aiming at reconciliation and strengthening balanced participation in governance and administration, in order to save Lebanon and rebuild it as a message-bearing country.” He affirmed during his Sunday sermon that “it is essential to work together on fundamental issues, as purifying the memory is necessary for all and is the only path to national unity, as well as psychological, security and social stability.”In this context, he referred to the speech of President of the Republic Joseph Aoun during the Iftar held on Thursday at the presidential palace in Baabda. President Aoun had stated that “the legitimacy of any authority in Lebanon rests on unity and conviviality.” According to the patriarch, this idea stems from the introduction of the Lebanese Constitution, which states that “the legitimacy of any authority within the state resides in the fact that we are together, that we rejoice together, that we resist together, and that we are all under the aegis of the national pact.” For Patriarch Rai, the president's speech “constitutes a call to purify the memory of painful and wounding scars from the past,” a necessary condition to “rebuild society.”

Audi: State and Army Are Citizens’ Protectors
This is Beirut/March 23, 2025
The Metropolitan of Beirut, Elias Audi, stressed that after decades of conflict, only the state and the military have the legitimacy to protect and defend all citizens. During his sermon on Sunday, he urged Lebanese citizens to recognize the destructive consequences of neglecting state authority. He warned that the lack of loyalty to the state and its institutions threatens the nation’s stability and pushes it closer to ruin. “The weakening of the state weakens everyone,” he stated, calling on all parties, groups and individuals to open their eyes to the current atrocities. He emphasized that compromising Lebanon’s sovereignty endangers the future of its people, particularly their children.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 23-24/2025
Israel military says it intercepted missile from Yemen
Agence France Presse/March 23, 2025
Israel's military said early on Sunday it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen after air raid sirens sounded in several areas across the country. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (Israeli Air Force) prior to crossing into Israeli territory," the military said in a statement. The latest interception is part of an escalation between Israel and the Houthis after the Iran-backed group claimed a series of missile launches this week. The Houthis had threatened to escalate attacks in support of Palestinians following Israel's renewal of attacks against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which began on Tuesday. The Israeli military also said late on Friday it had intercepted another missile launched from Yemen. The Houthis said early on Saturday they had "targeted Ben Gurion airport" with a ballistic missile, calling it the third launch in two days. Israeli airspace would remain unsafe "until the aggression against Gaza stops", the group said in the statement. The United States began launching heavy strikes against Yemen's Houthis last week. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the Huthis "will be completely annihilated" and warned Tehran against continuing aid for the group.

Israel opposition urges general strike over security chief ouster
Agence France Presse/March 23, 2025
Israel's opposition leader has called for a general strike if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to obey a Supreme Court decision freezing the government's dismissal of the internal security chief. If the government "decides to disobey the Court's decision it will become a government outside of the law," Yair Lapid told thousands of demonstrators in central Tel Aviv. "If that happens, the entire country should stop," he said. "The only system that must not stop is the security system."The unprecedented move to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has deepened divisions in the country as Israel resumes its military operations in the Gaza Strip. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said on Friday that Netanyahu could not name a replacement for Bar, following the Supreme Court decision. Netanyahu insisted, in a post on X, that it was up to the government to decide who headed the domestic security agency. "There will be no civil war! The State of Israel is a state of law, and according to the law, the government of Israel decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet," the prime minister said. He reiterated that view in a video message Saturday as the Tel Aviv protest was under way. "Ronen Bar will not stay as head of Shin Bet," he said. "There will not be civil war, and Israel will remain a democratic state."
'Flagrant conflict of interest' -
Demonstrators have spoken of Netanyahu's policies, including the firing of Bar, as a threat to Israel's democracy. Lapid spoke at an anti-government rally where demonstrators held signs protesting the war in the Gaza Strip and calling for hostages held there to be freed. Signs read "No more bloodshed" and "Stop the war, Now!" to ensure the return of the 58 hostages captured on October 7, 2023 and still held in Gaza. In front of the defense ministry headquarters, Menahem Begin Street was packed from Kaplan Street to King Saul Street, an AFP photographer observed, suggesting a crowd of several tens of thousands of people, a very significant mobilization on a national scale. Lapid's party Yesh Atid, which appealed Bar's firing to the Supreme Court, denounced the government move to sack Bar as "a decision based on flagrant conflict of interest". The government is to meet on Sunday to begin dismissal proceedings against the attorney general, a vocal Netanyahu critic, citing "prolonged disagreements". A demonstration against her removal is scheduled for Sunday outside parliament, and near Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence.

Israel opposition urges general strike over security chief ouster
Agence France Presse/March 23, 2025
Israel's opposition leader has called for a general strike if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to obey a Supreme Court decision freezing the government's dismissal of the internal security chief. If the government "decides to disobey the Court's decision it will become a government outside of the law," Yair Lapid told thousands of demonstrators in central Tel Aviv. "If that happens, the entire country should stop," he said. "The only system that must not stop is the security system."The unprecedented move to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has deepened divisions in the country as Israel resumes its military operations in the Gaza Strip. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said on Friday that Netanyahu could not name a replacement for Bar, following the Supreme Court decision. Netanyahu insisted, in a post on X, that it was up to the government to decide who headed the domestic security agency. "There will be no civil war! The State of Israel is a state of law, and according to the law, the government of Israel decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet," the prime minister said. He reiterated that view in a video message Saturday as the Tel Aviv protest was under way."Ronen Bar will not stay as head of Shin Bet," he said. "There will not be civil war, and Israel will remain a democratic state."
'Flagrant conflict of interest'
Demonstrators have spoken of Netanyahu's policies, including the firing of Bar, as a threat to Israel's democracy. Lapid spoke at an anti-government rally where demonstrators held signs protesting the war in the Gaza Strip and calling for hostages held there to be freed. Signs read "No more bloodshed" and "Stop the war, Now!" to ensure the return of the 58 hostages captured on October 7, 2023 and still held in Gaza. In front of the defense ministry headquarters, Menahem Begin Street was packed from Kaplan Street to King Saul Street, an AFP photographer observed, suggesting a crowd of several tens of thousands of people, a very significant mobilization on a national scale. Lapid's party Yesh Atid, which appealed Bar's firing to the Supreme Court, denounced the government move to sack Bar as "a decision based on flagrant conflict of interest". The government is to meet on Sunday to begin dismissal proceedings against the attorney general, a vocal Netanyahu critic, citing "prolonged disagreements". A demonstration against her removal is scheduled for Sunday outside parliament, and near Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza’s war passes 50,000 as Israel expands new airstrikes
AP/March 23, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: More than 50,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the territory’s Health Ministry said Sunday, as new Israeli airstrikes killed at least 26 Palestinians overnight, including a Hamas political leader and several women and children. Israel’s military also sent ground troops into part of the southern city of Rafah as thousands of Palestinians fled after new evacuation orders. Israel ended the latest ceasefire last week with a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds, and it has launched ground incursions in northern Gaza. The military claimed to have “eliminated” dozens of militants in recent days. Israel’s Cabinet late Saturday approved a proposal to set up a new directorate for advancing the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians in line with US President Donald Trump’s proposal to depopulate Gaza and rebuild it for others. Palestinians say they do not want to leave their homeland, and rights groups say the plan could amount to expulsion in violation of international law.
‘Displacement under fire’
The military ordered people to leave Rafah’s already heavily destroyed Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood on foot along a single route to Muwasi, a sprawling area of squalid tent camps. The war has forced most of Gaza’s population of over 2 million to flee within the territory, often multiple times. “It’s displacement under fire,” said Mustafa Gaber, a journalist who left with his family. He said tank and drone fire echoed nearby. “The shells are falling among us and the bullets are (flying) above us,” said Amal Nassar, also displaced from Rafah. “The elderly have been thrown into the streets. An old woman was telling her son, ‘Go and leave me to die.’ Where will we go?”“Enough is enough. We are exhausted,” said a fleeing Ayda Abu Shaer, as black smoke rose in the distance. An explosion in Gaza City hit next to a tent camp where people had been told to evacuate. “My husband is blind and started running barefoot, and my children were running,” said Nidaa Hassuna, one of the displaced. The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service said it lost contact with a team of medics responding to the strikes in Rafah. Spokesperson Nebal Farsakh said some were wounded. There was no immediate comment from Israel’s military, which says it only targets militants. Israel blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it operates in densely populated areas.
Strikes kill Hamas leader, women and children
Hamas said Salah Bardawil, a well-known member of its political bureau, was killed in a strike in Muwasi that also killed his wife. Israel’s military confirmed that. Hospitals in southern Gaza said they received a further 24 bodies from strikes overnight, including several women and children. Gaza’s Health Ministry said 50,021 Palestinians have been killed in the war and over 113,000 have been wounded. That includes 673 people killed since Israel’s bombardment on Tuesday shattered the ceasefire. Dr. Munir Al-Boursh, the ministry’s general director, said the dead include 15,613 children, with 872 of them under 1 year old. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up over half the dead. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
Ceasefire in tatters
The ceasefire that took hold in January paused more than a year of fighting ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostage. Most captives have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. In the latest ceasefire’s first phase, 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others were released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces pulled back, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to return to what remains of their homes. There was a surge in humanitarian aid until Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza earlier this month to pressure Hamas to change the ceasefire agreement. The sides were supposed to begin negotiations in early February on the ceasefire’s next phase, in which Hamas was to release the remaining 59 hostages — 35 of them believed to be dead — in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Those talks never began. Hundreds of Israelis gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem on Sunday to protest his handling of the war and his attempt to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet internal security service. “I’m worried for the future of this country. And I think it has to stop. We have to change direction,” said one protester, Avital Halperin.
New settlements in the West Bank
Israel’s Cabinet passed a measure Sunday creating 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank by rezoning existing ones, according to Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right finance minister, who is in charge of settlement construction. This brings the number of settlements, considered illegal by the majority of the international community, to 140, said anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now. They will now receive independent budgets from Israel and can elect their own local governments, the group said.
Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen keep up attacks
In a separate development, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are allied with Hamas, launched another missile at Israel overnight. The Israeli military said it was intercepted, and there were no reports of casualties or damage. The Houthis resumed attacks on Israel after it ended the Gaza ceasefire, portraying them as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians. Trump ordered the renewal of US strikes on the rebels last week over its previous attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. Most of the ships the rebels have targeted have no connection to the conflict.

Israel presses ground offensive in Gaza
Agence France Presse/March 23, 2025
Israel's military pressed ground operations across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, urging Palestinians to flee an offensive in Rafah city nearly a week into a renewed assault on the Hamas-ruled territory. The latest evacuation warning follows a deadly flare-up in Lebanon and missiles fired from Yemen, as Israeli troops again deploy to parts of Gaza despite calls to revive a January truce. In a statement on X, military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the army "launched an offensive to strike the terrorist organizations" in a district of the southern city of Rafah, already the target of a major Israeli offensive about a year ago. In a message that AFP correspondent said also appeared on leaflets dropped over the area by drone, Adraee called on Palestinians there to leave the "dangerous combat zone" in Tal al-Sultan district and move further north. At a charity kitchen in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city just north of Rafah, 19-year-old Iman al-Bardawil said many displaced Palestinians like her struggle to "afford food and drink". "We are in the month of Ramadan, which is a blessed month, and people... find themselves obliged to come here," Bardawil told AFP, lamenting "the suffering" she saw around her. "I'm here to get rice for the children, but it's gone," said Saed Abu al-Jidyan, who like Bardawil has fled his home in northern Gaza."The crossings are closed, and my salary has been suspended since the beginning of the war... there is no food in Gaza."
Top Hamas official killed -
Before its renewed assault, Israel in early March blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into war-ravaged Gaza and cut electricity supply, in a bid to force Hamas to accept the Israeli terms for an extension of the ceasefire and release the 58 hostages still held by Palestinian militants since the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war. The electricity supplied by Israel had fed Gaza's main water desalination plant, and the decision to cut power has aggravated already dire conditions for Gaza's 2.4 million people. Part of its renewed operations, the Israeli military said "troops began operating in the area of Beit Hanun in northern Gaza", targeting Hamas militants and seeking "to expand the security zone in northern Gaza". On Friday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the army to "seize more territory in Gaza", warning Israel could annex it if Hamas failed to heed Israel's demands for the next steps in the Gaza ceasefire. Hamas has accused Israel of sacrificing the hostages with the resumed bombardments, while many of the families of the captives have called for a renewed ceasefire, noting that most of those released alive did so during truce periods. In northern Gaza, a military statement on Sunday said that adding to ground operations, "fighter jets struck several Hamas targets and terror infrastructure sites". An Israeli air strike Saturday on a displacement camp in the Khan Yunis area killed senior Hamas political official Salah al-Bardawil and his wife, the group said. "At 1:30 or 2:00 am, we heard a very loud explosion," said Murad al-Najjar, a resident of the area. "Our tents were destroyed... And we saw that a man and his wife were martyred." Bardawil is the third member of Hamas's political bureau killed in Israeli strikes since last week.
'No more bloodshed' -
The escalation in Gaza coincided with a wave of Israeli air strikes on Lebanon on Saturday in response to rocket fire, which militant group Hezbollah -- an ally of Hamas -- denied responsibility for. In the most intense escalation since a November ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, the Lebanese health ministry said seven people were killed on Saturday, including in an attack on Tyre which a security source told AFP targeted a Hezbollah official. Saturday's strike on Tyre, a major coastal city, left cars and buildings badly damaged, with holes blown into the facade of a building. On Sunday Lebanon's official National News Agency said an Israeli drone targeted a car in a southern town, reporting an unspecified number of casualties. Since intense fighting resumed in Gaza on Tuesday, Hamas has fired rockets and Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched several missile at Israel. Early Sunday Israel said it intercepted a missile from Yemen, part of an escalation with the Iran-backed Houthis who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. In Israel, crowds took to the streets on Saturday to protest moves by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for an end to the war. Signs read "No more bloodshed" and "Stop the war, Now!" to ensure the return of the hostages still in Gaza. Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Nearly 50,000 people in Gaza have been killed in the war, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

15 million voted in Turkey's opposition primary: Istanbul City Hall
LBCI/AFP/March 23, 2025
Fifteen million people voted in Sunday's primary to choose a presidential candidate for Turkey's opposition CHP party, said the vote's organizers, Istanbul City Hall. "Out of 15 million votes, 13,211,000 expressed their solidarity" with Ekrem Imamogu, the imprisoned opposition figure now suspended as Istanbul's mayor. He was due to be named Sunday as the CHP's presidential candidate in the 2028 elections, they said.

Ukraine, US teams begin talks in Saudi Arabia
Reuters/March 23, 2025
RIYADH: Ukrainian and US officials began talks on Sunday on proposals to safeguard energy facilities and critical infrastructure, Ukraine’s defense minister said, part of a diplomatic push by US President Donald Trump to end three years of war. The meeting in Saudi Arabia, which precedes talks on Monday between the US and Russian delegations, came as US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the chances for ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. “I feel that (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wants peace,” Witkoff told Fox News on Sunday. “I think that you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that, you’ll naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting ceasefire.”Separately, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday the United States was talking through a range of confidence-building measures aimed at ending the war, including on the future of Ukrainian children taken into Russia. Announcing the start of the Riyadh talks, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who is heading his country’s delegation, said on Facebook: “We are implementing the President of Ukraine’s directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security.”Putin agreed last week to Trump’s proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days, but that narrowly defined ceasefire was soon cast into doubt, with both sides reporting continued strikes. A large-scale Russian drone attack on Kyiv overnight killed at least three people, including a 5-year-old child, causing fires in high-rise apartment buildings and damage throughout the capital, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday. Meanwhile Russian authorities said on Sunday that their air defenses had destroyed 59 Ukrainian drones targeting the country’s southwestern regions, adding that the strikes had killed one person in Rostov. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, facing continued advances by Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, has backed Trump’s call for a blanket 30-day ceasefire.
‘SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL’
Trump said on Saturday that efforts to stop further escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war were “somewhat under control.” The US hopes to reach a broad ceasefire within weeks, targeting a truce agreement by April 20, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the planning. Asked on Sunday about the goals for the broader negotiations, US National Security Adviser Waltz said that after a Black Sea ceasefire was agreed, “we’ll talk the line of control, which is the actual front lines.” “And that gets into the details of verification mechanisms, peacekeeping, freezing the lines where they are,” Waltz said. “And then of course, the broader and permanent peace.”Britain and France are leading European efforts to beef up military and logistical support for Ukraine, and a number of countries have announced plans to increase defense spending as they try to reduce their reliance on the United States. However, Witkoff on Sunday played down concerns among Washington’s European NATO allies that Putin might be emboldened by any peace deal in Ukraine to invade other neighbors. “I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe. This is a much different situation than it was in World War Two,” Witkoff said.

Frankly Speaking: An American view on Middle East conflicts
Arab News/March 23, 2025
RIYADH: Norman Roule, a former senior US intelligence official and Middle East expert, says pundits ought to take the “glass-half-full” view of President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve regional conflicts since taking office in January. Appearing on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” he spoke on a wide range of issues, including what Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they may impact the changes underway in the Middle East, whether Washington can be convinced to back the Arab world’s plan to rebuild Gaza, and whether a Trump-Putin summit in Saudi Arabia is on the horizon. Acknowledging both the Trump administration’s achievements so far and the challenges ahead, Roule said: “We have a president of the United States in the earliest days of his administration who is showing that he is interested in the Middle East, interested in the Palestinian issue, and has devoted his senior most advisers to working that issue. I’m going to take that as a good start. “The second issue is, he is consulting routinely with regional partners to include Saudi Arabia, and that’s always a wise move. He is also speaking with the Jordanians, the Egyptians, and that’s also a smart step.”
Reinforcing the “glass-half-full” argument, Roule said: “We have multiple Arab countries who are showing wise and consistent leadership and are focusing resources and political attention on the political and humanitarian future of the Palestinian people. That should be applauded and it should be endorsed and it deserves international applause and resources.”Earlier this month, the Trump administration broke with longstanding US policy by engaging Hamas, designated a terrorist organization since 1997, to secure the release of American hostages in Gaza. The US president issued stern warnings to Hamas, demanding immediate hostage release and return of bodies. He threatened severe consequences, stating he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”
Roule lauded Trump’s willingness to engage with the various parties in the Israel-Hamas conflict to reach a solution. “I think that it’s a sign that there is a consistency to the Trump administration’s statements,” he told Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Speaking.”“The administration stated as follows: We will speak with anybody for a diplomatic arrangement. We won’t speak endlessly. We will look for alternatives such as moving people to other countries, offering an extension of a ceasefire, doing what’s necessary. We want hostages back. We want peace. We will see where this leads, but we’re not going to tolerate endless, endless violence and endless militancy.”
On March 18, Israel broke the fragile ceasefire, which had been in effect since Jan. 19, and launched a bombardment of the Palestinian enclave, killing at least 400 people within hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of repeatedly refusing to release the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — taken on Oct. 7, 2023, during a deadly attack in southern Israel that prompted Israel's widescale bombing campaign in Gaza. Hamas denied rejecting a proposal from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and accused Netanyahu of resuming attacks on Gaza to sabotage a ceasefire agreement. “The challenges that the president and Steve Witkoff have looked at the scale of the devastation in Gaza, and it is extraordinary,” Roule said. “And truth be told, there has never been a reconstruction in the history of the world where 1.5 million people, which include thousands of militant armed gunmen, have stayed in place while reconstruction has occurred. “It’s just never happened. And their position is these people need to be moved to a place where they can have normal lives while that reconstruction takes place.”When asked if Netanyahu would dare defy the US president the way he did when Joe Biden and Barack Obama were in office, Roule pointed out that over more than four decades, Israeli politics and Israeli relations with the US “have been complicated.” “We’ve had periods where Israeli leaders who have had very close relations with Washington have had very difficult relations and periods of defiance with Washington,” he said. “And we’ve also had periods where American presidents who have vowed the strongest support of Israel have cut off financial support and weapons support for Israel out of anger over Israeli actions. … There is turbulence almost inevitably as part of our US-Israeli relationship.”
Turning to Yemen, Roule described the Red Sea crisis as a global concern that requires international cooperation. He argued that the US is effectively waging a war on behalf of the world to protect maritime security and ensure the stability of vital trade routes. Beginning March 15, the US launched a series of large-scale air and naval attacks against Houthi militant targets in Yemen, marking the most significant American military action in the Middle East since Trump began his second term. Trump cited the Houthis’ “relentless campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism” in the Red Sea as the rationale for the strikes, which are part of a broader strategy to restore security in the region and pressure Iran, the Houthis’ main backer. Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, claiming they were aimed at supporting Palestinians in Gaza. Targets have included commercial vessels, warships, and Israel-linked ships. “There are now more than 14 Iranian missile systems being operated in Yemen and more than a dozen, approximately a dozen, drone systems operating from Yemen as well,” Roule said. He added: “Now that logistics system has been cut because of the naval presence in the area, but Iran can restore this at any time and interdict global trade and indeed provide capabilities that extend that introduction into the Indian Ocean and have greater impact on the world's economy. “The US is saying that is over. And that means that Iranian Quds Force personnel in Yemen … are now at risk if they are standing near Houthi ballistic missiles, explosive boats or offensive drone systems.”Roule said that the economic toll of instability in Yemen extends beyond its borders, affecting Sudanese workers, Palestinian laborers in Jordan, and Egypt’s Suez Canal operations. “We have some significant regional impact,” he said. “Egypt has lost $7 billion in 2024. Palestinian workers in Jordan who take care of thousands of containers of shipping have been unemployed. Sudanese humanitarian aid has been severely diminished because of Red Sea activity.”
When asked about the cost-effectiveness of using advanced fighter jets flying from Qatar and Bahrain against primitive weapons deployed by Yemeni forces, Roule emphasized the need to balance financial considerations with strategic objectives. “This is a serious freedom of navigation issue that does have economic and political consequences and the US playing its role in part because we’re the only world actor with naval capabilities that can do this,” he said. “Europe doesn’t have the same level of ships with anti-missile capabilities as the United States. We’ve got to do what we are capable of doing.”Offering his cost-benefit analysis of the decision to counter Houthi attacks, Roule said: “Sometimes people say it’s a $4 million missile bringing down a $100,000 drone, that’s true. But the actual way of looking at that is, it’s a $4 million missile preventing a $100,000 drone from hitting a $1 billion ship.”Roule also suggested that Arab powers should take on greater responsibility in resolving Yemen’s conflict. “There is very little likelihood there will be negotiations with the Houthis. The Trump administration will, and should, leave the Yemen issue to regional partners to work,” he said, stressing that it is “a regional issue, not an American issue.”Moving on to Syria, Roule noted with satisfaction the new government’s “strong actions against Iranian proxies” and the fact that “Hezbollah’s relationship with Syria has indeed been cut.” “Likewise, we’ve got Syria not allowing massive Russian bases in the region. And this isn’t a world where we should have massive Russian bases in that part of the world from the American standpoint,” he said.
“We have seen some very promising developments between the Syrian Democratic Forces, how Kurds are handled between the new Syrian government and the Kurds. And in some ways, this is again where Saudi diplomats, where Arab diplomats, where Syrian diplomats, need to push this case with Congress, with the American media. … The challenge remains.”Does Roule think that the sanctions, which were imposed essentially on the Bashar Assad regime, should be lifted?
“The answer is yes, but at the same time, the new regime, which is led by people with dark backgrounds, needs to prove itself,” he said. “It is attempting to do so. It is not a monolith in terms of its organization or its structure.”Asked how a local solution, even if it is from Arab governments, can be found if US sanctions remain in place, he said: “Sanctions waivers should be provided, should be watched carefully across the board. “Syrians should be encouraged to come home and provide it with financial relief so that they can return with resources to start businesses, to enable their families to thrive and build communities. And the West can be part of that. And your show and other voices should be encouraging that.”Roule reiterated his point that regional actors ought to play a more prominent role in Syria’s conflict resolution. “This is an Arab issue,” he said. “This is an example where we’ve watched Saudi Arabia and others, but Saudi Arabia, since we’re speaking about the Kingdom, play an important and profound role in shaping regional events.”
He emphasized that the US and the West “need not to lead what happens with Syria, but to partner and to follow behind the leadership of the Kingdom so that we are enabling the region to, in essence, build itself.”“Now, we can help, the United States can help in making sure Israel doesn't complicate things,” he said. “We can help and make sure that Western banks help Syria as needed.”Despite widespread instability in the region, Roule expressed optimism about Lebanon’s future, describing the country as a potential “bright spot” for 2025. According to him, President Joseph Aoun has been saying and doing “all of the right things,” including how his government has been handling security, pushing back on Hezbollah, and “preventing Iran from bringing in cash.”
“It’s all positive,” he said. “I think Lebanon is going to be one of the bright spots of 2025.”Roule praised Morgan Ortagus, the deputy US special envoy to the Middle East, for her contribution, describing her as “a very smart, capable, sober person” who has been achieving “considerable progress.”Ortagus’ involvement in Lebanon has centered on addressing the aftermath of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict — which started on Oct. 8, 2023, and escalated since September 2024 — and on fostering regional stability. “She’s tireless in her focus on bringing Lebanon to the attention of policymakers and making sure that they get what they need from Congress and elsewhere,” he said. Appearing on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,”
Roule also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a mediator in international diplomacy. The Kingdom has successfully brokered deals between Russia and Ukraine and facilitated prisoner exchanges — roles traditionally played by Switzerland or European nations. This shift has earned Saudi Arabia significant respect on the global stage. According to him, Saudi Arabia’s stature in the international community “has dramatically changed in recent years.”“It is impossible not to recognize that Saudi Arabia is a meeting place for every globally important issue,” Roule said. “Caribbean leaders, Central Asian leaders, meetings that at one time would take place in Geneva, Paris, Berlin, Washington, now take place in Riyadh or Jeddah.”He pointed to the upcoming March 24 meeting between Ukrainian and Russian technical teams in Jeddah as an example of this transformation. “That’s the sort of thing you used to see in Europe,” he remarked, emphasizing how Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a mediator in high-stakes international conflicts.
Roule said Saudi Arabia’s “global stature is significantly greater” owing to the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Once viewed, both regionally and globally, primarily through the lens of Islam or energy, Saudi Arabia now plays a bigger role in shaping international events, he said.
Turning to broader geopolitical dynamics, Roule addressed speculation about an imminent Trump-Putin summit. Differing views on ceasefire terms among the US, Ukraine and Russia highlight the complexities of reaching a lasting resolution. Led by top officials from the US, Russia and Ukraine, negotiations to end the conflict in Europe reflect broader efforts to de-escalate tensions. Despite recent agreements, including Russia’s temporary halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, challenges remain. While acknowledging the momentum toward such a meeting, Roule cautioned that unresolved issues must be addressed first. “I think President Trump and President Putin will each want some sort of broader agreement, some sort of progress to take place,” he said, referring to recent discussions aimed at halting energy-related attacks between Russia and Ukraine. He explained that while initial agreements have led to some steps — such as Russia halting attacks on Ukrainian energy sites — implementation remains uneven. Pointing to reports of Russian drone strikes during negotiations, he noted that Russia claimed to have recalled or intercepted its own drones to prevent further escalation. Lauding the mediation of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he said: “We’re watching again the region play a bigger role in bringing together not only Ukraine and Russia but also freeing prisoners between the countries. Saudi Arabia has brought home prisoners to the US from Russia, but also Ukrainian and Russian prisoners. “Riyadh has done a number of remarkable things. We need we need a broader set of agreements to take place. Steve Witkoff and a number of Russian advisers, I believe, are in quiet communications behind the scenes. This is going to need to percolate for a while.”Alluding to Ukraine-Russia talks set for the week of March 24 in Saudi Arabia, expected to focus on securing safe shipping in the Black Sea and a potential interim ceasefire, Roule said: “We’ll see where this goes. I’d watch the technical discussions that take place in Jeddah. There is a momentum that’s building here. That is clear.”

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on March 23-24/2025
China Has Set Up Iran's Next War in the Middle East
Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/March 23, 2025
Iran, in short, has a nuclear weapons program because of China. For a long time, the international community looked the other way as the "atomic ayatollahs," in violation of their treaty obligations, worked on building these fearsome devices. President Donald Trump, to his credit, is taking the issue head on.
Tehran almost certainly has [a nuclear bomb] by now. The Iranians themselves have made that clear. There is only a "one-week gap from the issuance of the order to the first test" of a nuclear bomb, according to an April 2024 public statement of a senior Iran lawmaker.
Diplomats from Russia, Iran, and China met in Beijing this month to support Iran's nuclear weapons program. Tehran, bolstered by Beijing and Moscow, publicly said it had no desire to talk to Trump.
There are in fact conversations behind the scenes, but Iran nonetheless would not be as brazen if Beijing were not fully supporting it.
If Waltz is as good as his word -- that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon -- then China, by arming the ayatollahs with nukes, has made sure that the world's next confrontation will be historic.
Diplomats from Russia, Iran and China met in Beijing this month to support Iran's nuclear weapons program. Iran has a nuclear weapons program because of China. China helped Iran possess both missiles and uranium enrichment capability.
"Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told ABC News's Martha Raddatz on March 16th.
Waltz's demand was in fact more comprehensive. He said that Iran must also hand over, among other things, missiles and uranium enrichment capability.
China helped Iran possess both. Beijing has set the stage for the next war in the Middle East.
On missiles, there is no doubt where Tehran got its delivery systems. "Most of Iran's liquid-fueled ballistic missiles, including all its longest-range ones, are North Korean missiles with new paint," Bruce Bechtol, author of North Korean Military Proliferation in the Middle East and Africa: Enabling Violence and Instability, told Gatestone.
"The missiles are probably why Trump is now dealing with Iran's nukes."
And where did North Korea get the technology that it sold to Iran? Some came from China. "The North's submarine-launched KN-11 looks awfully like China's Jl-1," said Bechtol.
Pyongyang could not have sold missiles to Iran — and certainly could not transport them through Chinese airspace — without Beijing's approval.
On enrichment, China proliferated directly and indirectly.
Indirectly, it proliferated through the nuclear black market ring headed by Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. China, sometime around 1974, started helping Pakistan build a nuclear device. As proliferation analysts note, China's help was crucial, substantial and continuous.
Then, the infamous Khan, known as the father of the Pakistani bomb, merchandised China's technology, including China's blueprints for at least one warhead, to various countries across the Middle East and North Africa. Iran was one of Khan's customers, especially for parts for centrifuges, the machines that purify uranium to bomb-grade. Khan used Chinese military installations to facilitate transfers to Iran.
Apart from transfers through the Khan ring, China directly dealt with the Iranian regime. For instance, a Chinese enterprise, Zheijiang Ouhai Trade Corp., arranged the surreptitious transfer of "critical valves and vacuum gauges" to Iran for use in its uranium enrichment program. Before that, another Chinese entity was involved in the sale to Iran of 108 pressure transducers, instruments that monitor gas centrifuges.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran, the dissident group that in 2002 disclosed the secret nuclear facilities in Arak and Natanz, charged in September 2005 that the covert Chinese trade in centrifuges continued into that year.
China also aided Iran in areas beyond enrichment. In June 2002, for instance, the US State Department publicly noted that China had violated pledges it made in October 1997 to the United States to stop aiding specific Iranian nuclear projects.
In November 2003, the Associated Press reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) staff had identified China as one of the probable sources of equipment used in Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons program. Chinese specialists were working in that program at least as late as fall 2003 according to Michael Ledeen, writing in the Wall Street Journal.
In September 2005, the National Council of Resistance of Iran charged that China had secretly sent Iran beryllium the previous year. This metal, subject to international export controls, is used in neutron initiators to trigger nuclear weapons. The allegation is consistent with other reports about Iran's covert attempts to source beryllium at that time.
Iran, in short, has a nuclear weapons program because of China. For a long time, the international community looked the other way as the "atomic ayatollahs," in violation of their treaty obligations, worked on building these fearsome devices. President Donald Trump, to his credit, is taking the issue head on.
Now, the U.S. does not have a choice. As the Heritage Foundation pointed out in an October 2024 report about Iran, "The United States is at a critical juncture."
"Recently, the U.S. government disclosed that it believes Iran has activated its nuclear weapons program that it previously believed had been discontinued in 2003," Anthony Celso, a professor of security studies at Angelo State University, told Gatestone.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence in February of last year issued its Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The document included this sentence: "Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities necessary to produce a testable nuclear device."
Fast-forward to July 23, 2024, when ODNI released another report on the topic. The latter report did not include that assessment. From this and other indications, including comments of Senator Lindsey Graham after he received a classified briefing that month, it is clear that the U.S. intelligence community now believes Iran is racing toward the bomb.
Tehran almost certainly has one by now. The Iranians themselves have made that clear. There is only a "one-week gap from the issuance of the order to the first test" of a nuclear bomb, according to an April 2024 public statement of a senior Iran lawmaker.
That boast appears accurate. In the following July, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken essentially corroborated the statement by announcing that "instead of being at least a year away from having the breakout capacity of producing fissile material for a nuclear weapon," Iran was "probably one or two weeks away from doing that."
In short, Iran then was a bomb-in-the-basement state, just a "couple turns of the screw" from having an actual weapon.
The IAEA in January 2023 discovered that Iran possessed uranium enriched to 83.7% in the underground Fordo facility. There are no peaceful uses for uranium enriched to that purity.
Since then, there have been additional disturbing indications. Last month, for instance, the agency revealed that Iran possessed enough 60%-enriched uranium to make six weapons if that uranium were enriched to 90% purity, which would not be that difficult.
Diplomats from Russia, Iran and China met in Beijing this month to support Iran's nuclear weapons program. Tehran, bolstered by Beijing and Moscow, publicly said it had no desire to talk to Trump.
There are in fact conversations behind the scenes, but Iran nonetheless would not be as brazen if Beijing were not fully supporting it.
If Waltz is as good as his word -- that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon -- then China, by arming the ayatollahs with nukes, has made sure that the world's next confrontation will be historic.
**Gordon G. Chang is the author of Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America, a Gatestone Institute distinguished senior fellow, and a member of its Advisory Board.
**Follow Gordon G. Chang on X (formerly Twitter)
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21488/china-iran-middle-east-war

Region making progress on ending violence against women
Sara Al-Mulla/Arab News/March 23, 2025
A beacon of light is emerging across the Middle East and North Africa region, signaling a new era in the fight against violence targeting women. It is led by a series of robust legal reforms, shifting cultural attitudes and policy-driven interventions. Governments, communities and advocacy groups are coming together to ensure that women in the region can live a dignified life, free from violence and all forms of abuse. In doing so, they are crafting a future where women’s safety, rights and empowerment are at the heart of societal progress.
Long deemed to be an entrenched issue in the region, violence against women has been a persistent and pervasive challenge, with an alarming 2024 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report claiming that nearly one in three married women in the MENA region have experienced physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime. And a report published by the Social Institutions and Gender Index in 2023 revealed that fewer than half of MENA countries had laws protecting women from forms of violence beyond physical abuse, such as psychological and economic abuse.
However, this challenge is being rapidly dismantled through interventions led by MENA governments. From landmark legislation criminalizing all forms of violence and domestic abuse against women to national strategies advancing women’s rights, progress is becoming more tangible. Furthermore, widespread awareness campaigns and educational programs are rewriting cultural norms to ensure women’s rights prevail.
Violence against women is a complex and multifaceted matter that includes a broad spectrum of interlinked forms, including intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence, exploitation, harassment, stalking, technology-facilitated violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honor-based killings, human trafficking and workplace violence. As such, policies, programs and legislative reforms must take a more human-centric approach, considering the full journey that women face, from prevention to post-abuse recovery.
Perhaps the recalibration of this issue should begin with capturing important datasets that shed light on incidence and prevalence, demographic details, reported cases, the number of legal cases and the utilization rates of support services. Additionally, data on the healthcare impacts of abuse and violence, societal attitudes and the effects on children and families can help design targeted interventions and mass communication campaigns.
Violence against women is predominantly perpetrated by men and boys across all countries, largely triggered by toxic social norms and notions of masculinity, making it essential for a comprehensive strategy that focuses on changing male attitudes as part of prevention and management efforts. MENA countries have launched groundbreaking initiatives to shift men’s and boys' attitudes toward violence and abuse against women, both nationally and regionally.
Awareness campaigns and educational programs are rewriting cultural norms to ensure women’s rights prevail.
One compelling example is the “Because I am a Man” campaign, a collaboration between the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, alongside UN Women. This campaign focused on preventing violence against women and fostering positive masculinity by engaging men, particularly through fatherhood, to challenge gender-based discrimination. The campaign included many grassroots activities, reaching 480,000 men and an online audience of 17 million.
On the other hand, once violence occurs, it is critical that policymakers put in place responsive and empathetic support systems, including access to helplines, shelters, legal assistance, financial assistance and counseling. A noteworthy example comes from the Egyptian government, which established a Collective Unit for the Protection of Women from Violence in 2021 and a reception center that integrates support services from various ministries and governmental authorities. This center offers an initial examination of victims and survivors, facilitates reporting of the case and the filing of legal complaints, provides temporary accommodation during investigations and refers women to a network of legal aid, health, psychological and social services.
Another example is the Jordanian National Commission for Women, which has mapped out a comprehensive list of all services available to survivors in the country and published a directory of hotlines linked to the Family Protection Unit and various nongovernmental organizations. Meanwhile, many MENA countries — such as Bahrain, Morocco and the UAE — offer victims and survivors temporary shelters.
At the same time, legal frameworks should hold perpetrators accountable. For instance, the UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. (13) of 2024 on the Protection Against Domestic Violence establishes comprehensive legal measures to prevent, address and penalize domestic violence, thereby protecting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable for their dreadful actions.
Beyond the stages of legal and social support, recovery should also focus on restoring the victim’s sense of dignity and empowerment. Therefore, programs could be designed with a long-term recovery perspective, such as providing psychological counseling, vocational training and economic empowerment through workforce participation or entrepreneurship.
To assist with its complex suite of interventions, Egypt has drafted a series of practical guides for various service providers who work with victims and survivors, including medical professionals, judiciary members, police officers, hotline operators, social workers and NGO staff. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s National Family Strategy, developed in alignment with Vision 2030, includes programs to open new economic pathways for women, empower them to make informed life choices, protect them from abuse, and facilitate access to all kinds of government services.
Ultimately, victims and survivors should be given all the necessary tools to rebuild their lives.
As we look to the future, MENA governments have an opportunity to transform challenges into progress by implementing stronger policies, advancing legal protections and fostering a culture of zero tolerance for violence against women — empowering women to thrive in this new, brighter landscape.
*Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.

Brick by brick, Palestine’s future is being stolen
Hani Hazaimeh/Arab News/March 23, 2025
Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank is not only a violation of international law but a direct assault on the daily lives, dignity and future of the Palestinian people. With every new illegal settlement, Palestinian families are forced from their homes, their land stolen and their communities fragmented. The consequences are devastating — entire generations are growing up under the constant threat of displacement, their livelihoods systematically eroded by a state policy designed to make life unbearable. The world must confront this injustice, not as an abstract political issue but as a relentless campaign of forced displacement that is destroying Palestinian society. Across the West Bank, Palestinian families are being driven from their homes by a combination of military orders, settler violence and economic strangulation. The village of Khan Al-Ahmar, for instance, has become a symbol of this injustice. Despite international condemnation, Israel has repeatedly attempted to demolish the community, forcing its residents — many of whom are Bedouins who have already been displaced multiple times — to live in constant uncertainty.
Similarly, in Masafer Yatta, more than 1,000 Palestinians face imminent expulsion after an Israeli court ruled that their land could be turned into a military training zone. These are not isolated incidents; they are part of a calculated strategy to push Palestinians out of their ancestral lands, making way for Israeli settlers who move in with full state support and military protection.
The impact of illegal settlements extends beyond the immediate destruction of Palestinian homes. Entire communities are being cut off from their agricultural land, their water sources and even basic infrastructure like roads and schools. Israeli settlers, emboldened by government policies, routinely attack Palestinian farmers, uproot olive trees and block access to essential resources. Israel is systematically engineering a reality in which Palestinians are left with no land, no rights and no future.
The economic toll is immense. Palestinian families who have farmed their land for generations are being pushed into poverty, unable to sustain their way of life. In the cities, businesses suffer under movement restrictions, while home demolitions and residency revocations continue to strip Palestinians of their rights. The goal is clear: to make Palestinian existence in the West Bank untenable, forcing more families into displacement.
The repercussions of this forced displacement are not confined to Palestine alone. If settlements continue to expand unchecked, the entire region will feel the consequences, with Jordan being the most directly affected. Jordan has already absorbed multiple waves of Palestinian refugees and another mass displacement would strain its economy, infrastructure and demographic balance. Israel’s policies are making the “alternative homeland” theory — a dangerous notion that suggests Jordan should permanently absorb displaced Palestinians — seem more plausible. This is not only unacceptable but a direct threat to Jordan’s sovereignty and stability. As the world watches in silence, Israel is systematically engineering a reality in which Palestinians are left with no land, no rights and no future. This is not a conflict between two equal sides — it is the displacement of an entire people by a state that enjoys impunity. The international community must act decisively to halt settlement expansion, enforce accountability for settler violence and uphold the basic rights of Palestinians to live in their own land. Anything less is complicity in a policy of slow but deliberate ethnic cleansing.
**Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh

Gaza war compels China to review its Middle East policy
Talmiz Ahmad/Arab News/March 23, 2025
For nearly two decades, China’s approach to the Middle East has been characterized by what Sun Degang and other Chinese scholars have described as “a trade-off between maximum economic benefits and minimum political risks.” The carnage in Gaza and the attendant changes in the power equations across the Middle East now demand that Beijing take a fresh look at its diplomacy in the region. This has already been reflected in the measured remarks of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who, speaking at UN headquarters last month, categorically stated that the Palestinian question “remains at the core of the Middle East issue” and, until it is resolved through the two-state solution, “the peace and security of all countries will be threatened.”
China has thus signaled that its earlier “hedging strategy” — the policy of “offending no one” — is no longer feasible. This approach had enabled China to build very substantial energy, economic and, through the Belt and Road Initiative, terrestrial and maritime connectivity links with the countries of the Gulf. Again, China’s recent engagements in the area of technology through the Digital Silk Road have coincided with the Gulf countries’ interest in developing their own digital economies, as set out in their ambitious “Vision” documents.
A decade ago, China’s hedging strategy approach had moved from passive to proactive. In 2017, Chinese scholars articulated their country’s “quasi-mediation diplomacy,” under which it would expand its role in the political and security arenas. At the heart of this approach was the “zero-enemy policy.” This involved the finalization of substantial strategic partnership agreements and the increasing engagement of major regional states in multilateral platforms supported by China. Building on the earlier bilateral agreements and setting-up of dialogue platforms with Arab states, this approach has included China’s 25-year cooperation agreement with Iran signed in March 2021, the Saudi-Iran reconciliation agreement of March 2023, the July 2024 Beijing Accord between 14 Palestinian factions, and the extension of membership of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to major Middle Eastern countries.
The changes in the regional scenario as a result of the Gaza war and attendant confrontations with Iran and its allies call for a new diplomatic approach by China.
The principal changes in the regional scenario are: first, the emergence of a militarily triumphant Israel and its aggressive territorial claims in the Occupied Territories and Syria. Second, the significant weakening of Iran and its so-called axis of resistance. Third, the total support being extended by the US to Israel with regard to its maximalist regional agenda. And, finally, the severe setback to Palestinian aspirations for a sovereign state. China now needs to assume a responsible role in the region’s security dynamics in order to confront the US-Israeli plans for long-term hegemony in the Middle East and to safeguard its own interests. US President Donald Trump has complicated the picture with harsh rhetoric against Palestinian interests and Iran, affirming that a US-Israel alliance will dominate Middle East affairs. Trump has also made it clear that his “America First” approach includes challenging China’s political, economic and technological influence in the region.
While Chinese scholars such as Sun wrote in October 2024 that the US and China “share compatible and complementary interests” in terms of regional security and conflict de-escalation, this now has little relation with reality. In its engagements with Middle East states, China has always been conscious that the US views it as a rival and sees its expanding influence in zero-sum terms. Both the US and Israel, for instance, view China’s political and economic support for Iran negatively, as well as China’s silence on Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.
In the coming months, Trump may be expected to revive the “maximum pressure” approach toward Iran, while insisting that Gulf Cooperation Council states pursue the normalization of ties with Israel and increase their purchases of American weaponry. This, in short, requires them to abandon their affiliation with strategic autonomy that is at the heart of the GCC’s “Vision for Regional Security,” announced in March 2024. This will also inevitably require the dilution of their ties with China.
This will threaten Beijing’s crucial energy, economic and long-term strategic interests. The changed security scenario in the Middle East and the emerging challenges from the US require that China move beyond its hedging strategy and shape a new approach that effectively safeguards its interests. This should have the following attributes: One, support the Gulf states’ commitment to strategic autonomy by making itself an indispensable energy, economic and security presence, with a robust pursuit of partnerships in diverse economic and political areas.
Two, expand energy, infrastructure and technological ties with Saudi Arabia, while promoting close ties between the GCC and Iran.
Three, extend full and overt support to Palestinian aspirations through involvement with reconstruction in Gaza and the West Bank and defend Palestinian interests at the UN and other international fora.
This approach calls for a fundamental review of China’s generally hands-off approach that has, over the years, yielded great benefits to it. Earlier, China took great umbrage when outgoing President Barack Obama described it as a “free rider” in the Middle East, i.e., obtaining advantages for itself while the US provided the security umbrella.
China now needs to assume a responsible role in the region’s security dynamics in order to confront the US-Israeli plans for long-term hegemony in the Middle East and to safeguard its own interests. This is also crucial for the future of the multipolar world order.
**Talmiz Ahmad is a former Indian diplomat.

Paying for Roads in the Age of EVs: Rethinking Jordan’s EV Tax Model
Jessica Obeid/Asharq Al Awsat/March 23/2025
As the adoption of electric vehicles accelerates, governments face a growing fiscal challenge: how to fund roads without fuel taxes while maintaining momentum towards cleaner transport. Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future of sustainable road transport; yet they also pose a fiscal conundrum: how to fund roads and transport infrastructure when fuel tax revenues decline? Jordan – an early EV adopter in the Middle East – has responded by imposing new taxes on EVs. However, this move risks slowing the transition to clean transport and raises an important question: Are there more effective ways to balance revenue needs with decarbonisation goals? Alternative revenue models – such as road usage fees, congestion pricing, and weight-based vehicle charges – could provide sustainable infrastructure funding without undermining EV adoption. Examining Jordan’s approach within a global context offers lessons to the MENA governments navigating this transition.
The Tax Revenue Shortfall
EV adoption is rising worldwide. In 2023, the International Energy Agency estimated that EV sales accounted for 18% of all global car sales, up from 14% in 2022. This trend is also evident in MENA: the region’s EV market was valued at some $2.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $9.4 billion by 2029. With climate targets, declining battery costs, the expansion of charging infrastructure, and government incentives to encourage adoption driving growth, EVs are set to dominate road transport. Yet, this shift presents a fiscal challenge. Historically, fuel taxes have been a key source of revenue for governments, funding transport infrastructure, road maintenance, as well as other public expenditures. As EVs replace combustion-engine vehicles, these revenues are shrinking. While the impact is currently limited in most countries, it will intensify as EV adoption rises.
Jordan, one of the region’s frontrunners in EVs, is already feeling the strain. With some of the region’s highest fuel taxes, the country has traditionally relied on fuel-related revenues to fund a range of budgetary needs, from infrastructure maintenance to debt servicing. Recent government figures are unavailable; however, media reports indicate that in 2017, fuel derivate taxes – particularly on unleaded gasoline – accounted for 13% of total government revenues. By 2020, fuel tax revenues had fallen to $998 million (JOD 708 million) from $1.2 billion (JOD 854 million) in 2017 due to the pandemic. The IMF has since noted a decline in government revenue due to weaker domestic demand, which suggests that while fuel tax income remains significant it has yet to make a full recovery. In response, Jordan has introduced an EV tax – though this has lacked consistency. Initially introduced in 2024, the tax was later reduced before being revised again, with a phased increase planned from 2025 to 2027. This unpredictability risks undermining consumer confidence in the EV market. The challenge Jordan faces is not unique. Governments worldwide are grappling with how to offset declining fuel tax revenues. In the UK, fuel taxes are expected to raise approximately $30 billion (£24.3 billion) in the 2024–25 fiscal year, down from $35 billion (£27.6 billion) in 2019, when EVs constituted just 1.5% of new car sales. Similarly, in the US, fuel taxes fund around 80% of federal highway spending.
Alternative Solutions for Sustainable Transport Funding
The transition to EVs is necessary for climate goals; yet it should not come at the cost of underfunded infrastructure or policies that penalize adoption. Jordan’s EV tax, while an understandable short-term response, risks slowing the transition that Jordan aims to champion. More equitable and sustainable alternatives exist.
Road Usage Charges
One increasingly popular model is the road usage charge (RUC), which ties revenue to mileage rather than fuel consumption. An advantage of this model is that it ensures all vehicle types contribute equally to infrastructure costs. The US state of Oregon piloted an RUC in 2015, and by 2021 a total of 13 states had adopted it. Oregon's system charges drivers $1.9 cents per mile, tracked via GPS or odometer readings, with rebates to prevent double taxation for those still paying fuel taxes. Countries with rugged terrain and extensive rural road networks – such as those in MENA – could benefit from a mileage-based approach, though provisions would need to be made for rural communities.
Congestion Pricing
Another viable strategy is congestion pricing, which charges drivers for using roads in high-traffic areas or during peak hours. This model not only generates revenue; it also reduces congestion and encourages the use of public transport.
After the UK’s capital London introduced a congestion charge in 2003, city-centre traffic fell by 26% in just four years and saved the economy between $2.5 million (£2 million) and $5 million (£4 million) in congestion-related losses per week. Most MENA capitals, including the Jordanian capital Amman, face severe gridlock, making this pricing model a potentially effective policy tool.
Vehicle Registration Fees
A third approach is to adjust vehicle registration fees based on weight and road impact. The rationale is that larger and heavier vehicles such as SUVs and trucks contribute more to road deterioration over time, and should be taxed accordingly. Norway, a global EV leader, employs a weight-based tax system that includes a carbon dioxide emissions tax, and a nitrogen oxides emissions tax, to ensure a fairer distribution of infrastructure costs.
The Road Ahead
No single policy is a perfect fit, and each option carries trade-offs. A socio-economic assessment should precede any policy shift to ensure fairness and maximise effectiveness.
Jordan’s experience serves as a valuable case study in the electrification of the transport sector. There are alternative, long-term, models that will enable governments to collect revenues without hindering EV deployment, such as road usage charges, congestion pricing, and vehicle registration fees. Balanced approaches that integrate fiscal responsibility with social and environmental sustainability are key to navigating this transition.