English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For May09/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed meto bring good news to the poor
Luke 04/14-21: “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed meto bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 08-09/2025
May 07, 2008 – The Barbaric Invasion of Beirut and Mount Lebanon/Elias Bejjani/May 07/2025
The Sacred Duty of Praying for Others/Elias Bejjani/May 06/2025
US Court Orders Iran and Hezbollah to Pay Compensation to the Family of Amer Fakhoury/Tony Karam/ Nidaa Al-Watan/ May 8, 2025
Etienne Sakr – Abu Arz: The Events in Suwayda and the Obligation of containment
At least 1 killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon
Israel Conducts 14 Strikes in South Lebanon
Report: Hezbollah members killed in 'bunker buster' raid on 'huge' facilities
20 Israeli airstrikes hit 'Hezbollah military complex' in Nabatieh region
Lebanon Receives Archival Maps from France on its Borders with Syria
Aoun follows up on situation in South as Salam urges end to Israeli strikes
Salam inspects northern Bekaa region and border with Syria
Israel fires at South, drops leaflets as US military team tours valleys
After 40 Hamas members killed, Lebanon weighs disarming refugee camps: Here's what we know
Aoun Calls on Central Bank to Restore Confidence in the Banking System
Lebanese-Syrian Border and UNIFIL Renewal: Two Critical Challenges Ahead
Banking Sector: The BDL Takes Back the Helm

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 08-09/2025
Cardinal Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, First US Pontiff
Before he was elected pope, Leo XIV was critical of Trump, Vance on social media
Israel issues strongest threat yet against Iran after Houthi missile attack
The EU will hold talks later this month on reviewing ties with Israel as concern mounts over Gaza
Hamas says it is engaged in 'fierce fighting' in Gaza's Rafah
Dozens of Gaza Communal Kitchens Shut as Supply Runs Out, Worsening Hunger
Report: US, Israel Discuss Possible US-led Administration for Gaza
Israel’s peace movement offers a ray of hope amid the pain of Gaza conflict
Israel's Defense Minister Warns Yemen's Houthis of Heavy Retaliation
Seafarers stranded off Yemen port eye exit after US-Houthi ceasefire deal
Under Trump, Saudi civil nuclear talks delinked from Israel recognition, sources say
Why does Saudi Arabia want a civil nuclear deal with the US?
Egypt, Greece Agree to Boost Ties, Back Gaza Reconstruction Plan
India says 13 civilians killed, 59 wounded by Pakistan fire since Wednesday
France's Macron Wants EU to End Syrian Sanctions

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sourceson on May 08-09/2025
Why Hamas Wants To Control Gaza's Humanitarian Aid/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/May 8, 2025
Egypt: Where Churches Burn (One Way or the Other)/Raymond Ibrahim/Coptic Solidarity/May 8, 2025
The US should be worried about Canada’s foreign policy/Casey Babb, opinion contributor/The Hill/May 8, 2025
The Iran nuclear deal President Trump wants...It’s not a warmed-over version of Obama’s fatally flawed JCPOA/Clifford D. May/The Washington Times/May 08/2025
The Baghdad Summit: A Step Toward a New Arab Course/Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani/The Prime Minister of Iraq/Asharq Al-Awsat/May 08/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 08-09/2025
May 07, 2008 – The Barbaric Invasion of Beirut and Mount Lebanon
Elias Bejjani/May 07/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/118016/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WOToQkmfMU&t=72s
May 7, 2008, is forever etched in Lebanon’s collective memory as a criminal day of shame—when murderers, invaders, and mercenary militias serving the Iranian regime launched a barbaric coup against the Lebanese state, its people, and its sovereignty.
Hezbollah, in collaboration with Amal Movement, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), and other armed groups loyal to the Syrian-Iranian axis of evil, invaded the capital Beirut and parts of Mount Lebanon. In this coordinated and premeditated assault, these militias violated the sanctity of the capital, terrorized its peaceful civilians, displaced families, looted properties, tortured innocents, and murdered the defenseless—all under the pretext of resisting “government decisions” that challenged Hezbollah’s illegal military communications network.
This day, now known infamously as the "Black 7th of May," marked a turning point in Lebanon’s modern history—a moment when the mask of so-called "resistance" fell and exposed the true face of Hezbollah: a terrorist militia acting on behalf of Tehran to subdue Lebanon through force and intimidation.
Michel Aoun, the political Iscariot of modern Lebanon, opportunistically justified and later benefited from this criminal invasion. His alliance with Hezbollah paved his path to the presidency in 2016. During his tenure, Aoun dismantled the state from within, surrendered its institutions to Hezbollah’s authority, and contributed to Lebanon’s total collapse—politically, economically, and morally.
The May 7 invasion was not just a military operation. It was an Iranian-led coup attempt against the legitimate Lebanese state. It desecrated Beirut’s freedom, targeted Sunni neighborhoods, occupied media outlets, and left dozens dead. Its goal: to prove that no Lebanese authority—civil or military—could ever stand against Hezbollah without paying a deadly price.
To this day, the invasion’s consequences remain: Hezbollah continues to act as an armed state within a state. Palestinian and Syrian armed elements still operate freely in their camps. The sovereignty of Lebanon remains hostage to Tehran's regional ambitions.
Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied
This criminal and barbaric invasion must not be forgotten. The perpetrators—local and foreign—must one day be brought to justice. The Lebanese people, especially those in the diaspora, must continue to demand accountability, justice, and full implementation of international resolutions that uphold Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty.
As the Prophet Isaiah (33:1) warned:
“Woe to you, O destroyer, you who have not been destroyed! Woe to you, O traitor, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you cease betraying, you will be betrayed.”
What Must Be Done
To ensure May 7 is never repeated, the following urgent measures must be taken:
Full disarmament of Hezbollah and all other Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian militias operating illegally within Lebanon.
Reclaiming all territories currently run as militia-controlled “mini-states,” including Hezbollah’s southern stronghold and armed Palestinian camps.
Immediate implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions—particularly:
Resolution 1559 (2004): Calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias.
Resolution 1701 (2006): Demands the cessation of hostilities and prohibits the presence of any armed forces in South Lebanon other than the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL.
Resolution 1680 (2006): Urges Lebanon and Syria to delineate their border and establish full diplomatic relations.
The 1949 Armistice Agreement with Israel: Must be revived and fully enforced to restore border stability and end militia cross-border provocations.
Declare Lebanon a failed state under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, enabling international intervention to restore state authority and protect civilians.
Empower UNIFIL with an expanded mandate to enforce disarmament and administrative restoration across all Lebanese territories—not only the South.
A Call to Action
All free and patriotic Lebanese—at home and abroad—must unite to rescue their homeland from occupation, collapse, and sectarian tyranny. We must raise our voices at the United Nations, in international forums, and in the global media to demand an end to Hezbollah’s armed rule and the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty.
May Almighty God protect Lebanon and its people, and may justice prevail.

The Sacred Duty of Praying for Others
Elias Bejjani/May 06/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143054/
The duty of praying for others—regardless of who they are, especially those in need of help, support, and compassion, whether family, relatives, strangers, or even enemies—is a deeply spiritual and emotional act. It reflects the mercy, tenderness, and love of the Almighty Creator who is capable of all things. This sacred practice is a genuine expression of the strength, depth, and resilience of the believer’s faith and hope. It demonstrates a steadfast belief that God is the loving Father of all, merciful and forgiving, who listens and responds to those who call upon Him and seek His mercy.
The Miracle of the Paralytic’s Healing
In the Gospel of Saint Mark (2:1–12), we read:
“When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic—’I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’ Then he went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them.”
This miracle, in its theological core, affirms without doubt that intercessory prayer and supplications on behalf of others are not only acceptable to God, but are heard and answered by Him. As recounted in the Gospel, the paralytic did not seek healing himself. He did not ask for mercy, nor did he seek forgiveness for his sins—even though, as many theologians suggest, Jesus frequently visited Capernaum, where the paralytic lived.
What’s even more striking is that it was the paralytic’s friends, relatives, or perhaps even some of Jesus’ disciples, who had such strong faith that they believed Jesus could heal the man simply by touching him. Their unwavering faith drove them to carry the man, push through the crowd, climb the roof, break it open, and lower him down to Jesus. Because of their faith and certainty in the Lord’s mercy and power, Jesus responded to their plea and healed the paralytic, acknowledging the strength of their belief.
Since sin is a form of eternal suffering and death in the fires of Hell—and because sin’s temptations, traps, and allurements paralyze a person morally, spiritually, and emotionally—Jesus first forgave the man’s sins, then healed his physical paralysis, saying: “Stand up, take your mat, and go.”
God never turns away those who seek Him with true faith and trust. With fatherly love and attentiveness, He hears our prayers and answers them. As the Lord Himself said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door 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)
From this, we understand that intercessory prayer—for both the living and the dead, for friends and enemies alike—is a holy obligation and is accepted by God, who is love, compassion, and mercy. He does not turn away those who ask sincerely, nor does He ignore the needs of the suffering.
In the Gospel of Matthew (18:19–20), Jesus confirms the power of collective prayer: “Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
And Saint James says in his letter (5:16): “Pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” He also adds (5:15): “The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.”
Praying for those in need is a sacred duty for every true believer—especially for those caught in the snares of sin and temptation, and for those mentally or emotionally unable to comprehend or resist sin’s consequences, such as the mentally ill, the psychologically distressed, and the physically or verbally impaired.
The miracle of the paralytic is not the only example in the Bible where Jesus or the apostles performed a miracle in response to someone else’s plea. For instance, Jesus healed the servant of the Roman centurion in Capernaum at the centurion’s request (Matthew 8:5–13). He also raised Lazarus from the dead in response to the plea of his sisters, Mary and Martha (John 11:1–44).
This rich spiritual understanding forms the foundation for asking the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the blessings of the saints in our prayers.
Let us pray for the healing of every person weakened by illness—whether physical, spiritual, or moral. God, who is love, never turns away those who come to Him in faith. Let us pray and ask the Lord Jesus to free us from the temptations of this perishable world and to guide us toward spiritual, moral, and cultural growth. Let us pray for our consciences to be cleansed and our hearts to be purified, that we may be freed from selfishness and base desires. May God grant us the grace of humility, that we may be messengers of love, freedom, and justice—true advocates of peace and harmony.
O Lord, grant us strength and patience to endure the shame of this passing world. We ask You in repentance and hope that we may not be disgraced on the Day of Judgment. God sees us, hears us, and is always with us—by our side and in our midst. Let us trust in Him, and fear Him in all our actions, words, and thoughts.
 

US Court Orders Iran and Hezbollah to Pay Compensation to the Family of Amer Fakhoury
Tony Karam/ Nidaa Al-Watan/ May 8, 2025 (translated by the LCCC editor from Arabic)
In a significant step adding to a series of cases challenging Iranian and Hezbollah influence in Lebanon, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a landmark ruling that detailed the harm inflicted upon the family of Amer Fakhoury, a Lebanese-American citizen, due to his hostage-taking in Lebanon "at the behest of Hezbollah," as stated verbatim in the ruling memorandum issued by Judge John D. Bates in the case of Estate of Fakhoury v. Islamic Republic of Iran, dated May 1, 2025.
The ruling, which included substantial compensation for the heirs and family members, highlighted the malicious role played by Iran and Hezbollah in managing judicial affairs in Lebanon, and placed Lebanese courts, particularly the Military Court, under scrutiny.
Exposing Iranian Interference and Compensation
The case of Amer Fakhoury dates back to September 2019, when he and his family were lured to return from the United States to Lebanon after receiving prior reassurances. He was then detained by the de facto authority acting under the orders of Hezbollah and the directives of Iran from September 12 until mid-December 2019, before being prevented from leaving Lebanon until March 2020. According to the court's decision, Fakhoury's detention led to a "significant deterioration in his health, and his family's life was turned upside down, with his wife, Micheline Elias, and their four children living in constant anxiety."
Amer Fakhoury passed away in August 2020 in the United States after undergoing treatment for cancer. Following his death, his family initiated legal action directly against the Islamic Republic of Iran due to its material support for Hezbollah, accusing it of being behind what he endured in Lebanon and considering it primarily responsible for the harm inflicted upon them. This was done through a lawsuit filed in U.S. courts based on the "Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA)," which allows for the prosecution of states involved in supporting terrorism. The lawsuit also included Hezbollah as a responsible party.
Regarding the case, the U.S. court concluded that "Fakhoury was held hostage in Lebanon by Hezbollah with the support of Iran." It considered "the emotional distress suffered by the family due to his being held hostage sufficient to warrant compensation."
The court decided to award:
$2,113,500 to the heirs of Amer Fakhoury.
$1,409,000 to his wife, Micheline Elias.
$4,277,000 to Fakhoury's four children.
Total: $7,799,500
These amounts include compensation for the psychological and emotional damages suffered by the family as a result of Fakhoury's hostage-taking, in addition to punitive damages aimed at deterring similar practices in the future. Pre-judgment interest was also calculated for the plaintiffs' case since 2019, bringing the total amount to over $13.4 million, payable by Iran and Hezbollah as punitive damages.
Legal sources revealed to "Nidaa Al-Watan" that "the issued ruling is not merely a redress for the Fakhoury family, but represents a clear declaration of the involvement of the Lebanese judiciary, especially the Military Court, in implementing the political and security agendas of Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran." The source pointed out that "American investigations documented that the Lebanese General Security Directorate, during the tenure of Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and the Military Court coordinated with Hezbollah, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, in this case."
The ruling places the Lebanese judiciary, specifically the Military Court, in a position of legal and moral accountability. The implementation of judgments and arrests based on the directives of an internationally prohibited armed group is a blatant violation of the principle of the separation of powers and threatens the legitimacy of the judicial institution in Lebanon at the international level.
Legal experts believe that this ruling may open the door for those harmed by the rulings of the Lebanese Military Court, including sensitive cases such as those forcibly displaced to Israel or supporters of the Syrian revolution, to challenge those rulings before international forums.
While Lebanese officials are focused on restoring order to the work of the judicial authority in Lebanon, observers considered that "the American ruling may constitute a real starting point towards comprehensive judicial reform, limiting political influence over the judiciary and the destructive impact that Iran and Hezbollah exert on Lebanon's judicial and social stability, thereby restoring some of the local and international community's trust in this vital authority."

Etienne Sakr – Abu Arz: The Events in Suwayda and the Obligation of containment
May 08, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143130/
The following statement was issued by Etienne Saqr, Head of the Guardians of the Cedars Party, the Lebanese Nationalist Movement:
We have followed with deep concern and profound regret the recent bloody sectarian clashes in the Suwayda Governorate of Syria. These events have resulted in a significant number of casualties and inflicted deep emotional wounds. This situation is reminiscent of the events that unfolded weeks ago on the Syrian coast, indicating a disturbing pattern of escalating civil unrest that could spread and jeopardize stability in both Syria and the wider region.
These disturbances cannot be viewed in isolation from their geographical context, particularly Lebanon, which shares intricate geographical and political ties with Syria. Consequently, the Lebanese people feel a heightened sense of apprehension for several reasons, including the following two primary concerns:
01-Developments along our northeastern border will inevitably have repercussions within Lebanon, as reflected in the popular saying, "If your neighbor is well, you are well too." This is especially pertinent as Lebanon currently faces critical circumstances due to the ongoing Israeli-Iranian conflict on its soil.
02-Having long endured the devastation and painful consequences of war, the Lebanese view with suspicion the potential for these events to spill over into Lebanon. This could tragically lead to waves of chaos and strife with severe consequences, particularly given the numerous existing flashpoints within our society that could ignite at any moment.
The resurgence of sectarian unrest in various parts of Syria undermines the image of the newly established regime and jeopardizes the prospects for renewed Arab engagement. It also hinders efforts to lift Western sanctions and reintegrate Syria into the regional and international systems.
We express these concerns out of a sincere desire for the success of this regime, alongside which we stood during the darkest hours of its conflict with the former "Assad" regime. We urge the current leadership to exert every effort, with wisdom and prudence, to contain this discord, manage the crisis, and restore security and peace to the nation and its people.
Long Live Lebanon
(Free Translation from Arabic by Elias Bejjani)

At least 1 killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon
Kareem Chehayeb/The Associated Press/May 8, 2025
BEIRUT — A series of Israeli airstrikes Thursday in southern Lebanon killed at one person and wounded eight others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it bombed infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah militant group that included weapons and tunnel shafts as part of an underground network. Israel accused Hezbollah of regrouping and maintaining its infrastructure in violation of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement in November that ended its war with Hezbollah. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the strikes near the southern city of Nabatieh, which came as calls mounted for the Lebanese state to disarm the powerful group. Hezbollah says it will not lay down its weapons as long as Israel controls part of south Lebanon and continues striking deep inside the country. Israel still has control of five hilltop points on Lebanese territory following its ground invasion last year.
“The government has not and will not spare any effort to expedite the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory,” Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told reporters after meeting with officials in the northeastern city of Baalbek, which was battered by the war that killed 4,000 people. Hezbollah says its has largely disarmed south of the Litani River, while Israel says the militants are trying to regroup. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said public institutions in the area were closed after the attacks. Families rushed to schools to take their children home. Since the ceasefire went into effect in November, Israeli strikes have continued. Israel has struck southern Beirut three times After two rocket attacks from southern Lebanon hit northern Israel, allegedly fired by the Palestinian Hamas group in March. After their previous war in 2006, Israel and Hezbollah were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon below the Litani River and leave it under the sole control of the Lebanese military alongside U.N. peacekeepers. That would eventually extend to the rest of the country, with the aim disarm all non-state groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and end Israeli military presence.

Israel Conducts 14 Strikes in South Lebanon
Asharq Al-Awsat/May 08/2025
Israel conducted 14 strikes in the Nabatieh area in south Lebanon on Thursday, two Lebanese security sources told Reuters, one of Israel's most intense bombardments since a ceasefire brokered by the US in November. In April, Israel struck a southern Beirut building that it said it was being used to store precision missiles belonging to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Lebanon and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire in November which halted the fighting and mandated that southern Lebanon be free of Hezbollah fighters and weapons.

Report: Hezbollah members killed in 'bunker buster' raid on 'huge' facilities
Naharnet/May 8, 2025
Thursday’s Israeli airstrikes on the heights of the Nabatieh region killed an unspecified number of Hezbollah members, a Lebanese security source told Sky News Arabia, after the Health Ministry said the raid killed one person and wounded eight others. “Israel used bunker buster missiles in its strikes on Hezbollah’s facilities,” the source said. “Huge Hezbollah facilities were destroyed by the Israeli strikes,” the source added. The Israeli army said the raid targeted a "strategic" Hezbollah underground project that allegedly contained militants, weapons and wells. Israel has continued to launch regular strikes in Lebanon despite the November 27 truce which sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah including two months of full-blown war.Lebanon says it has respected its ceasefire commitments and has called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its attacks and withdraw all its troops.

20 Israeli airstrikes hit 'Hezbollah military complex' in Nabatieh region
Agence France Presse/May 8, 2025
Around 20 violent Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeted a mountainous area in the Nabatieh district without prior warning. The Israeli army said the strikes targeted a "strategic" Hezbollah underground project that allegedly contained militants, weapons and wells. It added that the site was rendered inoperable due to the strikes. Lebanon's Health Ministry said the strikes killed one person and wounded eight others. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said "Israeli warplanes carried out a wide-scale aerial aggression on the Nabatieh region, launching a series of heavy raids in two waves" targeting hills and valleys in the area, located around 12 kilometers (seven miles) from the border. It said "huge explosions... echoed in most areas of Nabatieh and the South," causing "terror and panic" among residents, who rushed to pick up their children from school, as ambulances headed to the targeted areas.
"We heard a loud strike, about 10 consecutive blows," Jamal Sabbagh, a 29-year-old doctor who was giving schoolchildren health checks near the city of Nabatieh, told AFP. "Some of the children were scared and there was panic, the teachers were also frightened," he said. The raids come a day after an Israeli strike killed a commander from Palestinian militant group Hamas in the southern city of Sidon. Israel has continued to launch regular strikes in Lebanon despite the November 27 truce which sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah including two months of full-blown war. Under the deal, Hezbollah was to pull back its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure to its south. Israel was to withdraw all its forces from Lebanon, but it has kept troops in five areas that it deems "strategic".
Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanon, was weakened in its latest war with its arch-foe, which also saw an Israeli ground incursion and a slew of the group's senior commanders killed, including longtime leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Lebanon says it has respected its ceasefire commitments and has called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its attacks and withdraw all its troops. Lebanese authorities have vowed to implement a state monopoly on bearing arms, though President Joseph Aoun has said disarming Hezbollah is a "delicate" matter that requires dialogue. The November truce was based on a U.N. Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.

Lebanon Receives Archival Maps from France on its Borders with Syria
Asharq Al Awsat/May 08/2025
Lebanon received on Thursday a set of copies of archival documents and maps from France related to its border lines with Syria, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The maps, delivered at the official request of Lebanon, were handed to Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji. In a post on its X page, the Foreign Ministry said that Rajji received French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, who delivered a set of historical documents and maps from the French archives related to the Lebanese-Syrian border. The papers are expected to assist Lebanon in the demarcation process of its land borders with neighboring Syria. Lebanon shares a 330-kilometer (205-mile) border with Syria with no official demarcation at several points.

Aoun follows up on situation in South as Salam urges end to Israeli strikes
Naharnet/May 8, 2025
President Joseph Aoun on Thursday followed up on the security developments in south Lebanon after violent Israeli strikes targeted the Nabatieh region.The president received reports from Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal about the places targeted by the Israeli strikes and about the raid’s outcome. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, on a visit to Baalbek, meanwhile stressed the need to “put an end to the Israeli violations as soon as possible.”He added that “the government has spared no diplomatic effort in order to halt these actions and secure Israel’s withdrawal.”Lebanon's Health Ministry said the strikes killed one person and wounded eight others. The Israeli army said the raid targeted a "strategic" Hezbollah underground project that allegedly contained militants, weapons and wells. Israel has continued to launch regular strikes in Lebanon despite the November 27 truce which sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah including two months of full-blown war. Lebanon says it has respected its ceasefire commitments and has called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its attacks and withdraw all its troops.

Salam inspects northern Bekaa region and border with Syria
Naharnet/May 08/2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Thursday inspected the northern Bekaa region and the border with Syria. Salam started his tour at a security post in Baalbek’s outskirts before moving to the Bou Fares border crossing with Syria, where he inspected the military and security measures taken to control and protect the border and prevent smuggling. Salam also presided over a meeting for the Bekaa security council that discussed the security situations in the Baalbek-Hermel region. During the meeting, the prime minister stressed the need for “taking the necessary security measures to control security and stability and guarantee the organization of the municipal and mayoral elections with full success and according to the standards of transparency and integrity.”Salam also inspected the key al-Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, noting that “official border crossings are the mirror of Lebanese sovereignty” and that “proper security and logistic operations at them represent domestic stability’s first line of defense.”“Work is ongoing to install advanced scanners as soon as possible to facilitate the passage of goods, enhance transparency and activate the exportation of Lebanese products by land in a legal and organized manner,” the premier added. “This border crossing must be turned from a point of weakness into a symbol of the state’s vitality and the credibility of its administration,” Salam went on to say.

Israel fires at South, drops leaflets as US military team tours valleys
Naharnet/May 08/2025 
A woman and her daughter narrowly escaped unharmed Thursday after Israeli forces opened fire at their car on the Kfar Kila road in Lebanon’s southern border region, the state-run National News Agency said. Israeli artillery meanwhile fired two shells at the Bustra farm and the outskirts of the southern town of Shebaa. Israeli aircraft meanwhile dropped fake currency carrying anti-Hezbollah propaganda over the Naqoura Municipality building and other areas of the south. “Hezbollah’s dollar is haram (forbidden in Islam) and will not benefit you after it destroyed your house and displaced your family,” says one of the Arabic-language warnings written on the fake currency. “Do no miscalculate things, do not accept the yellow dollar,” says another warning. A U.S. military team accompanied by a Lebanese Army force meanwhile toured valleys in the southern areas of al-Qusayr, Deir Seryan and al-Taybeh, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported. The developments come on a day that Israel carried out a wave of violent airstrikes in the Nabatieh region, allegedly targeting a Hezbollah military complex.

After 40 Hamas members killed, Lebanon weighs disarming refugee camps: Here's what we know
LBCI/May 08/2025 
More than 40 Hamas members have been killed by Israel in Lebanon since the start of the Gaza war, the most recent being Khaled Ahmad al-Ahmad, who died in an Israeli airstrike early Wednesday near Sidon. These targeted killings have provided Hamas with a pretext to retain its weapons under the banner of resistance against Israel, even though, according to Palestinian sources, the group has not used and does not intend to use these weapons inside Lebanon. On the Lebanese side, however, security sources say the time has come to disarm the refugee camps. Political sources say the process is advancing gradually, with three main priorities: halting Hamas operations to eliminate any Israeli pretext for attacking Lebanon; disabling the use of weapons; and addressing the broader issue of arms within the camps. Coordination is underway between army intelligence, General Security, and Hamas to hand over the last remaining wanted individuals, most notably, suspects involved in launching rockets at Israel in March, a case that may still reveal key unresolved details. Attention is now focused on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ scheduled visit to Beirut on May 21, and what it might bring regarding the weapons issue in the camps. Alongside that dialogue, Lebanese security sources are hopeful that Lebanese-Palestinian security cooperation can be strengthened to resolve the arms issue, similar to the army intelligence-led negotiations that led to the dismantling of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command’s camps. This security effort appears likely to serve as the foundation for the next phase, especially as Palestinian sources stress that Abbas represents the Palestinian Authority but not the entire Palestinian population. They emphasize that any discussion of weapons must take place through the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee, which must also account for Palestinian civil rights and the right of return. Those same sources note that the issue of weapons in the camps—geographically, chronologically, and in terms of type—has not yet been formally placed on the agenda of the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue table.

Aoun Calls on Central Bank to Restore Confidence in the Banking System
This is Beirut/May 08/2025
During a visit to the Central Bank (BDL) on Thursday morning, President Joseph Aoun called on Central Bank Governor Karim Souhaid and the bank’s deputy governors to fully shoulder their responsibilities in reviving Lebanon’s struggling financial sector.
“You bear the heavy responsibility of restoring the confidence of the Lebanese people and international partners in the country’s banking system,” President Aoun stated. He also emphasized the urgent need to protect the national currency and ensure transparent management free from political interference.“We are committed to preserving the independence and integrity of the Central Bank and protecting it from any form of interference”, declared Karim Souhaid. He also added that he would “act accordingly to the law to defend Lebanon's interests”.

Lebanese-Syrian Border and UNIFIL Renewal: Two Critical Challenges Ahead

Bassam Abou Zeid/This Is Beirut/May 08/2025
France has stepped in decisively to take a leading role in the border demarcation process between Lebanon and Syria—an initiative announced by President Emmanuel Macron during the visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to France. According to French sources, Macron expressed his country’s readiness to provide both the Lebanese and Syrian sides with historical documents dating back to before and after the Sykes-Picot Agreement to support the demarcation process. Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Paris highlighted a shift in international priorities, with the Syrian file now taking precedence over Lebanon on the global agenda. However, diplomatic sources stress that Lebanon has not fallen off the international radar. In fact, the countries involved in the Lebanese dossier are offering Beirut a limited window to address key issues independently—chief among them, reforms and Hezbollah’s arsenal—within a non-open-ended timeframe. These countries—France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar, which form the Quintet Committee—continue to closely monitor developments. Their ambassadors in Beirut are expected to meet soon to assess progress on both the reform front and Lebanon’s efforts to restore its sovereignty and decision-making authority. Reports have highlighted a key issue Lebanon will face in August, which has already begun to draw attention: the renewal of the international forces stationed south of the Litani River under UN Security Council Resolution 1701. These reports suggest that discussions in the Security Council will take a different direction this time, with an Israeli-American initiative reportedly agreed upon to amend the mission of these forces—granting them expanded powers of movement and the ability to carry out raids. This shift is said to have the backing of other Security Council members as well. If approved, these changes could prompt the US administration to reconsider its position on funding international forces in southern Lebanon. Furthermore, reports suggest that the increased focus on UNIFIL and its mandate stems from Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah’s commitment to uphold UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire terms. However, many key international players remain uneasy about Hezbollah’s interactions with the international forces, particularly its use of the so-called "unity of the people" to obstruct UNIFIL operations. They expect the Lebanese state to address the issue directly and without delay.

Banking Sector: The BDL Takes Back the Helm
Marc Saikali/This Is Beirut/May 08/2025
Those were the words of the President of the Republic during his visit this Wednesday to the headquarters of the Central Bank. The days when another President Aoun launched heavy-handed attacks on the institution—deepening the crisis Lebanon was already plunged into—now feel distant. Joseph Aoun’s visit sends a clear message: renewed confidence in the pivotal role of the BDL, and support for its governor, Karim Souhaid, who seems determined to lead rather than remain a passive observer at this historic juncture for Lebanon’s financial future. At a time when Parliament is preparing to legislate a framework law on banking sector restructuring, alongside a law on debt distribution, the new governor is stepping forward—ready to play the role of a capable decision-maker. On Tuesday, he addressed the Parliament’s Finance Committee, arriving with a 33-page document. His message was unambiguous: hands off the independence of the BDL and its internal bodies. Why such a strong stance? Because, had the governor been part of the legislative process, the banking secrecy law would likely have been more coherent—rather than riddled with flaws and risks. Instead, the law passed is retroactive over ten years: a legal time bomb that opens the door to political score-settling, targeted witch hunts, accelerated capital flight… and quite possibly an unprecedented move globally—retroactively criminalizing financial practices that, until now, were tolerated or even standard. Since his unprecedented appointment via Cabinet vote, the new governor has been well aware of the resistance ahead—but he has chosen to take the helm nonetheless. The President’s support arrives at a critical time—and is almost certainly no accident. Those working behind the scenes to undermine the BDL may need to rethink their strategy. Souhaid, for his part, is asking hard questions, proposing real solutions, and demanding accountability. Exactly what some might attempt to portray as insubordination. In an institutional landscape as battered as Lebanon’s, he stands as a rare symbol of coherence, responsibility, and firmness. That alone justifies the President’s support—or at the very least, the need to let him do his job.Let him work. And keep a closer eye on those who fear what might happen if he succeeds.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 08-09/2025
Cardinal Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, First US Pontiff
Asharq Al-Awsat/May 08/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143127/
Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, taking the name Leo XIV, becoming the first US pontiff. Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica around 70 minutes after white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signifying the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. "Peace be with you all," the new pope told the cheering crowd. The choice of Prevost was announced by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti with the Latin words "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope) to tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear the news. Aged 69 and originally from Chicago, Prevost has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal only in 2023. He has given few media interviews and rarely speaks in public. Leo becomes the 267th Catholic pope after the death last month of Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American pope and had led the Church for 12 years and widely sought to open the staid institution up to the modern world. Francis enacted a range of reforms and allowed debate on divisive issues such as women's ordination. Ahead of the conclave, some cardinals called for continuity with Francis' vision of greater openness and reform, while others said they wanted to turn back the clock and embrace old traditions. Prevost has attracted interest from his peers because of his quiet style and support for Francis, especially his commitment to social justice issues. Prevost served as a bishop in Chiclayo, in northwestern Peru, from 2015 to 2023. Francis brought him to Rome that year to head the Vatican office in charge of choosing which priests should serve as Catholic bishops across the globe, meaning he has had a hand in selecting many of the world's bishops. Prevost said during a 2023 Vatican press conference: "Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church."

Before he was elected pope, Leo XIV was critical of Trump, Vance on social media
Sarah D. Wire and Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY/May 8, 2025
WASHINGTON — Before being elected on May 8 as the leader of the Catholic church, Pope Leo XIV shared social media posts criticizing President Donald Trump's and Vice President JD Vance's stances on immigration. In three posts, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was critical of Vance's take on religion, shared an article critiquing Vance's statements on deportation of migrants and retweeted criticism of Trump and President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele's response to the deportation of El Salvadorian national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland. One post from Feb. 3, 2025, pointed to an article in the National Catholic Reporter titled "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others." Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, had cited medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the United States' new immigration policy under Trump Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, rebutted the theological concept that Vance used to defend the crackdown in an open letter to the U.S. Catholic bishops about the Trump administration in February. The new pontiff largely avoided posting to his X account in 2024, but he did post hundreds of times overall since 2011 - in English and Spanish
In 2015, Prevost posted a link to a Washington Post opinion piece titled "Cardinal Dolan: Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic." Francis clashed repeatedly with Trump and Vance, particularly over the administration's immigration policies. He was critical of their plans to deport millions of migrants from the U.S., as well as widespread cuts to foreign aid and domestic welfare programs. Vance was one of the last officials to see Francis before his death. A day before passing away at age 88, the pope hosted the U.S. vice president at the Vatican. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Leo's past criticism of the president and vice president. Trump in a post on Truth Social had earlier celebrated the first-ever election of an American as pontiff. Asked for comment on the new pope and ex-cardinal's previous tweets about the vice president, Vance's office pointed to his own X post: "Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!"

Israel issues strongest threat yet against Iran after Houthi missile attack
Agence France Presse/May 8, 2025
Israel issued its strongest threat yet against Iran on Thursday, warning it would do to it what it has done to Hamas in Gaza after an attack on Ben Gurion airport by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Along with Hezbollah and Hamas, Yemen's Houthi rebels are part of Iran's "axis of resistance" against Israel and its ally the United States. They say their repeated attacks on Israel and on shipping in the Red Sea are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas sparked a war in October 2023 by launching an unprecedented attack on Israel. Israel hit back against the Houthis' attack on its main airport on Sunday by striking the airport in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, as well as three power stations in the impoverished country. "I warn... Iranian leaders who finance, arm and exploit the Houthi terrorist organization: the proxy system is terminated and the axis of evil has collapsed," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. "You are directly responsible. What we have done to Hezbollah in Beirut, to Hamas in Gaza, to (now ousted Syrian president Bashar) Assad in Damascus, we will do to you in Tehran too." Warning that Israel would not allow "any entity to harm Israel", Katz added: "Israel should be able to defend itself... against any threat and against any enemy. This has been the case with several challenges in the past, and it will continue to be the case in future."Anyone who attacks us will be severely struck."
Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen
In Syria, an Islamist-led rebel alliance toppled Assad in December, effectively cutting off the supply route from Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Lebanon's Hezbollah, like the Houthis, also began cross-border attacks on Israel following the 2023 attack by Hamas. In a year of hostilities across the Lebanese-Israeli border that ended with a November truce, the Israeli army all but crushed Hezbollah. Hamas' leadership has been decimated in the Gaza war and much of the territory that the movement rules has been destroyed. Iran has denied supporting the Houthis in their attack on Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Israel hit back against the Houthis with strikes on the airport in the rebel-held capital Sanaa as well as on power stations in and around the capital. The United States and the Houthis reached a ceasefire agreement, mediator Oman announced on Tuesday, saying the deal would ensure "freedom of navigation" in the Red Sea where the rebels have attacked shipping. The Houthis have vowed to continue targeting Israel and Israeli ships in the Red Sea despite the deal that ended weeks of intense US strikes on Yemen. Longtime foes Iran and Israel have attacked each other directly for the first time since the October 2023 attack. Hamas's attack left Israel feeling vulnerable, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed two days later to "change the Middle East" to protect the country from any repetition. Hamas's attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Of the 251 people abducted from Israel that day, 58 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli army says are dead. Hamas is also holding the body of an Israeli soldier killed during a previous war in Gaza, in 2014. The Israeli offensive launched in retaliation for the Hamas attack has killed at least 52,653 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which are considered reliable by the United Nations.

The EU will hold talks later this month on reviewing ties with Israel as concern mounts over Gaza
Lorne Cook/The Associated Press/May 8, 2025
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign ministers will hold formal discussions later this month on a demand to review an EU pact governing trade ties with Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza, the bloc’s top diplomat said Thursday. Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian assistance for Gaza forced a leading aid group to shut its community soup kitchens Thursday as it faced empty warehouses and no replenishment of supplies in the war-battered enclave. At the same time, the war in Gaza is about to enter a new phase, where Israel plans to “expand and intensify our operations,” according to the armed forces chief of staff. “The frustration among the (EU) member states, that we can’t stop this, is tremendous,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters after chairing informal talks between the bloc’s foreign ministers in Poland. Ties between the EU and Israel — which are major trading partners — are governed by a so-called Association Agreement. It stipulates that their ties “shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles.”
The Dutch government has said that it intends to block the agreement pending an EU review into whether the Israel government is complying with the pact, which entered force in 2000. Kallas said the ministers would discuss this on May 20. “It is very important to signal at this moment that we are greatly concerned by the continuous blockade for access of humanitarian aid and the Israeli decision to intensify the war effort,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said. He said that Dutch concerns are “very broadly shared among European countries.” Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon was among those backers. “The world has clearly failed on the test of humanity,” she said. “We have to act more seriously because we are really facing a clear violation of the international law and humanitarian law.” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that “it’s more important than ever that the voice of Europe raises against what is happening right now in Gaza.” He said the EU “will never accept the displacement of people” from Gaza. But the EU is deeply divided over how to respond to the conflict, and it holds little leverage over Israel. Austria, Germany and Hungary have backed the Israeli government, while Ireland, Spain and Slovenia have been vocal in their support for the Palestinians. Last year, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia also tried to press their EU partners to examine whether Israel has broken the rules, without success, and Kallas did not appear optimistic about success on May 20. “You know very well that on certain issues we have very divergent views,” she said.

Hamas says it is engaged in 'fierce fighting' in Gaza's Rafah
Reuters/May 8, 2025
CAIRO -Hamas militants were engaged in "fierce fighting" with Israeli soldiers on Thursday in the south of the Gaza Strip near Rafah, the Palestinian militant group said.
The statement, issued on Telegram, suggests that Hamas is still active in areas where the Israeli military has expanded its control, more than 19 months after the start of Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza. In a later statement, it said fighters ambushed an Israeli 12-man force inside a house in the Tanur neighborhood in the eastern Rafah area with two anti-personnel and anti-armour rockets, killing and wounding several soldiers. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Hamas claim. The group has rarely reported fighting around Rafah in recent months, with most clashes reported in the eastern area of the nearby city of Khan Younis and northern parts of the coastal territory. Israel said earlier this month it would further extend its offensive in Gaza. Israel resumed its offensive in March after the collapse of a fragile, U.S.-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for six weeks.

Dozens of Gaza Communal Kitchens Shut as Supply Runs Out, Worsening Hunger
Asharq Al Awsat/May 08/2025
Dozens of community kitchens in Gaza shut their doors on Thursday due to a lack of supplies, closing off a lifeline used by hundreds of thousands of people in a further blow to efforts to combat growing hunger in the enclave.  The move followed hours after the US-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity announced that it had run out of the ingredients necessary to provide much-needed free meals and had been prevented by Israel from bringing in aid. Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) in Gaza, told Reuters that most of the enclave's 170 community kitchens had shut down after running out of stock due to Israel's continued blockade on Gaza. Shawa said the decision by the WCK, announced late on Wednesday, and the closure of community kitchens on Thursday would cause a drop of between 400,000 to 500,000 free meals per day for the 2.3 million population. "Everyone in Gaza today is hungry. The world must act now to save the people here," said Shawa, speaking to Reuters by phone from Gaza. "The remaining kitchens will be closing soon. The hunger catastrophe is beyond words. People are losing their lone source of food," Shawa added. Those Gazans trying to cook independently meanwhile complain that flour still available on the market is contaminated. "The flour is full of mites and sand ... We sieve it three, four times, instead of once, so we can bake it," said Mohammad Abu Ayesh, a displaced father of nine from northern Gaza.
'WE ARE HELPLESS'
"We don't want to eat from it, but we feed the children, for the children. You can't tolerate its smell, cattle and animals would not eat it, we are forced to eat it against our will, we are helpless," he told Reuters. Israel has faced growing international pressure to lift an aid blockade that it imposed in March after the collapse of a US-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months. Israel has accused agencies, including the United Nations, of allowing large quantities of aid to fall into the hands of Hamas fighters, who it accuses of seizing supplies intended for civilians and using them for their own forces. Hamas denies the allegation and accuses Israel of using starvation as a weapon against the population, most of whom have been displaced at least once during the 19-month-old conflict. Two weeks ago, most of the population relied on one and a half meals per day, but in the past few days that has dropped to one meal a day, and even that will lack meat, vegetables or the necessary healthy components, said Shawa.  "The free meals are usually rice or lentils, that is now also at risk of being suspended within the next week. I am afraid that we may begin to witness deaths among elderly, vulnerable children, pregnant women, and the ill," said Shawa. Growing looting of community kitchens, stores of local merchants, and UN headquarters have prompted Hamas security forces to crack down on local gangs. Hamas executed at least six gang members last week, according to sources close to the group. UN humanitarian agency OCHA has said more than 2 million people - most of Gaza's population - face severe food shortages. Food has dried up in Gaza markets, and prices have risen beyond the means of the vast majority, especially those for flour, which has become scarce and sells at around $500 for a 25 kg (55 lb) sack, compared with $7 in the past.


Report: US, Israel Discuss Possible US-led Administration for Gaza
London: Asharq Al Awsat/May 08/2025
The United States and Israel have discussed the possibility of Washington leading a temporary post-war administration of Gaza, five people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. The “high-level” consultations have centered around a transitional government headed by a US official that would oversee Gaza until it had been demilitarized and stabilized, and a viable Palestinian administration had emerged, the sources said. According to the discussions, which remain preliminary, there would be no fixed timeline for how long such a US-led administration would last, which would depend on the situation on the ground, the five sources said. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly, compared the proposal to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq that Washington established in 2003, shortly after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. The authority was perceived by many Iraqis as an occupying force and it transferred power to an interim Iraqi government in 2004 after failing to contain a growing insurgency. Other countries would be invited to take part in the US-led authority in Gaza, the sources said, without identifying which ones. They said the administration would draw on Palestinian technocrats but would exclude the Hamas movement and the Palestinian Authority, which holds limited authority in the occupied West Bank. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, sparked the current war when its fighters stormed into southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing another 251. The sources said it remained unclear whether any agreement could be reached. Discussions had not progressed to the point of considering who might take on core roles, they said. The sources did not specify which side had put forward the proposal nor provide further details of the talks. In response to Reuters questions, a State Department spokesperson did not comment directly on whether there had been discussions with Israel about a US-led provisional authority in Gaza, saying they could not speak to ongoing negotiations. “We want peace, and the immediate release of the hostages,” the spokesperson said, adding that: “The pillars of our approach remain resolute: stand with Israel, stand for peace.”The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment.According to Reuters, a US-led provisional authority in Gaza would draw Washington deeper into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mark its biggest Middle East intervention since the Iraq invasion. Such a move would carry significant risks of a backlash from both allies and adversaries in the Middle East, if Washington were perceived as an occupying power in Gaza, two of the sources said.
Israel's leadership, including Netanyahu, firmly rejects any role in Gaza for the Palestinian Authority, which it accuses of being anti-Israeli. Netanyahu also opposes Palestinian sovereignty. Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would expand its attacks in Gaza and that more Gazans would be moved “for their own safety.” Israel is still seeking to recover 59 hostages being held in the enclave. Its offensive has so far killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health ministry data. Some members of Netanyahu's right-coalition have called publicly for what they describe as the “voluntary” mass migration of Palestinians from Gaza and for the reconstruction of Jewish settlements inside the coastal enclave. But behind closed doors, some Israeli officials have also been weighing proposals over the future of Gaza that sources say assumes that there won't be a mass exodus of Palestinians from Gaza, such as the US-led provisional administration.Among those include restricting reconstruction to designated security zones, dividing the territory and establishing permanent military bases, said four sources, who include foreign diplomats and former Israeli officials briefed on the proposals.
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Israel’s peace movement offers a ray of hope amid the pain of Gaza conflict

Yuval Katz, Lecturer in Communication and Media, Loughborough University/The Conversation/May 8, 2025
The first thing I do when going back to Israel for a visit is go for a run. After more than two years abroad, it is a good opportunity to refamiliarise myself with the home I left to pursue my academic career more than eight years ago. I knew things would not feel the same. On October 7 2023, Hamas militants breached the fence surrounding the Gaza Strip, killing over 1,000 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostage. It was the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and a resounding blow against the founding idea of the state of Israel, which was established as a safe haven for the Jewish people, who have been persecuted for millennia. But in the 18 months that have passed since this catastrophic day, I have grown increasingly critical of the path Israel has taken. It has become a path of revenge, in which Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians through ruthless air strikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. Now, as many government officials openly declare that there are “no innocent people in Gaza”, plans are in the making to cleanse Gaza of Palestinians through “voluntary immigration”. Although it has not been recognised as such by international law (charges of genocide are currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice), the Netanyahu government has been accused of premeditated genocide, carried out by Jews only 80 years after the Holocaust ended. UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations. In the meantime, Israelis are frustrated and exhausted. Their security has not improved, and 59 hostages remain in Gaza (only 24 of whom are thought to be alive). Those who returned from captivity alive report that military operations kill rather than save them – many of them urge the government to stop the war. During my run, I was amazed by the mesmerising advocacy campaign to release the hostages. Faces of the hostage and their stories are omnipresent across the public sphere – in posters hung on walls and fences, on flags, bumper stickers and slogans sprayed in graffiti on highways. One cannot escape the simultaneous presence (absence) of the hostages. When driving across the country, I listened to radio hosts mentioning those left behind in the Gaza tunnels at the beginning of every hour. Lest we forget. Yet, with all the yearning to bring them home comes a devastating helplessness. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, whose intelligence failures were responsible for October 7 and the endless war, is still in power – and many ordinary people feel there is little they can do to change this reality. Perhaps it was my indefatigable search for hope that led me to an organisation that embodies the alternative to endless cycles of conflict. My academic work focuses on how media forms – whether that be popular television shows, digital activism, or mainstream journalism – generate spaces where Palestinians and Jews meet each other. Where they can process their traumas together creatively through art and storytelling in ways that offer new possibilities for a life worth living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. But I completed collecting the data for my book project before October 7. Now, returning, I felt an urgency to discover whether a vision for peace was still possible amid this unbearable despair.
Standing together
The movement, Standing Together, was founded in late 2015 in the wake of a series of violent incidents. Witnessing the incompetence of left-wing parties and human rights organisations to protect Palestinian citizens of the state from growing racism, a few dozen activists decided to organise a joint demonstration for Palestinians and Jews, so they set up a Facebook page to invite people to join. The movement has expanded significantly since then; from a group of roughly 20 activists, it now consists of over 6,000 registered members, operating in 14 local centres across the country and is a leading organiser of political activities on Israeli campuses. I visited its headquarters in Tel Aviv – where the movement has expanded from a couple of rooms to a whole floor of an office building, with paid staff managing its data, media content, finances, and student relations. I conducted several interviews with Standing Together’s managers in which they indicated that membership and donations have grown exponentially since the war started. They told me many Palestinians and Israelis are looking for a political home to advance a vision of peace, equality and solidarity. The activities of Standing Together include operating information booths which also collect humanitarian aid for Gaza and send it across the border. They screen events and movies for members that reflect the harsh reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while offering an alternative to perpetual violence.
A series of national screenings was dedicated to the Oscar-winning documentary, No Other Land, which depicts the dispossession of the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank.
The movie had been banned from commercial screening in Israel, but the filmmakers, peace activists for whom changing the political reality in Masafer Yatta is more important than anything else, have made it free to screen – they want all Israelis to see it. It also screened the joint Memorial Day service, a ceremony that has been staged for years now to allow bereaved families from both sides to meet and grieve together and call for a political change in which no more people join this community of pain. People who attended a screening of the Israeli-Palestinian memorial day ceremony at a synagogue in the city of Ra’anana at the end of April were attacked by right-wing activists. There was no response or condemnation from government officials. As darkness threatens to consume the people of Israel and Palestine with little regard for human life, movements like Standing Together spread light and bring hope.

Israel's Defense Minister Warns Yemen's Houthis of Heavy Retaliation
Asharq Al Awsat/May 08/2025
Israel's defense minister on Thursday warned Yemen's Houthis will suffer heavy blows if they continue to fire at Israel and that its defense forces are prepared for any mission. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the US would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking US ships. A ceasefire deal between Yemen's Houthis and the US does not include sparing Israel, the Houthis said on Wednesday, later saying they targeted Israel with drones. "Israel must be able to defend itself on its own against any threat and any enemy," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on X. "The Houthis will suffer heavy blows from Israel if they continue to fire at us”, he said, adding that the Israeli army is prepared for any mission. Katz also cautioned the Iranian leadership, which he accused of financing and arming the Houthi organization, declaring that the proxy system is over and "the axis of evil has collapsed." He stated that Iran bears direct responsibility and warned that actions similar to those taken against Hezbollah in Beirut, Hamas in Gaza, Assad in Damascus, and the Houthis in Yemen could be carried out in Tehran.

Seafarers stranded off Yemen port eye exit after US-Houthi ceasefire deal
Jonathan Saul and Mohammed Ghobari/Reuters/May 8, 2025
ADEN - Some 200 seafarers aboard more than 15 ships stuck for weeks off Yemen's port of Ras Isa are preparing to offload cargoes and leave thanks to a ceasefire deal between Houthi militia and the U.S., maritime and labour union sources said on Thursday. Still, threat levels for shipping remained high given the Houthis' confirmation that Israeli-related assets remained open to attack and the attendant risks to broader shipping, maritime officials said. Ships with no connection to Israel had been targeted in the past with no certainty of safe passage. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S. would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen as they had agreed to stop targeting U.S. ships in Red Sea waters off the Arabian Peninsula country. However, the deal does not cover close U.S. ally Israel, the Houthis stated on Wednesday, suggesting its attacks on shipping in professed solidarity with Palestinian militants fighting Israel in Gaza might not come to a complete halt. A nearly two-month-long U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen dealt heavy damage to the Houthis, with a spillover impact on shipping in the Ras Isa region on the Red Sea, a critical artery for world trade. Several crew members on ships in the vicinity of U.S. air strikes were injured, and two vessels prevented from sailing away by Houthis, according to the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the biggest seafarers' union. A Houthi official told Reuters that following the agreement with Washington, ships should now be able to enter Ras Isa, discharge cargoes and depart without issues. At least one of the vessels - mainly tankers carrying fuel supplies including liquefied petroleum gas - was moving into the port to begin discharging cargo on Thursday, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.
NO GUARANTEE OF SAFE PASSAGE
While the risk of collateral damage from airstrikes has abated, seafarers remained concerned about Israeli attacks on Houthi targets in the region. In response to Houthi drones launched at Israel over the past week, Israeli warplanes hit the major Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah, causing some damage, shipping sources said. Some of the vessels stuck have been waiting for weeks to discharge in Ras Isa and were urgently seeking to leave the area, the captain of one of the vessels, who declined to be identified due to the sensitive situation, told Reuters.
"The ITF is working urgently to support these crews, but they need more than words; they need safe passage home," ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said. The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships plying the Red Sea since November 2023, saying they were acting in support of Palestinians in Israeli-besieged Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized one and killed at least four seafarers. There have been no known attacks since January this year. Many shipping companies have halted voyages through the Red Sea amid uncertainty over whether the ceasefire deal will stick. "We do not send ships in until we are sure that the people on board are safe," Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO with shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen, told Reuters on Thursday. "We have no information at this time to suggest that."

Under Trump, Saudi civil nuclear talks delinked from Israel recognition, sources say
Pesha Magid/Reuters/May 8, 2025
RIYADH - The United States is no longer demanding Saudi Arabia normalise ties with Israel as a condition for progress on civil nuclear cooperation talks, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit next week. Dropping the demand that Saudi Arabia establish diplomatic relations with Israel would be a major concession by Washington. Under former President Joe Biden, nuclear talks were an element of a wider U.S.-Saudi deal tied to normalisation and to Riyadh's goal of a defence treaty with Washington. The kingdom has repeatedly said it would not recognise Israel without a Palestinian state, frustrating Biden administration attempts to expand the Abraham Accords signed during Trump's first term. Under those accords the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco normalised relations with Israel. Progress towards Saudi recognition of Israel has been halted by fury in Arab countries over the war raging in Gaza. The nuclear talks had also stumbled over Washington's non-proliferation concerns. In a possible sign of a new approach, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that Saudi Arabia and the United States were on a "pathway" to a civil nuclear agreement when he visited the kingdom in April. "When we have something to announce, you will hear it from the President. Any reports on this are speculative,” U.S. National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt told Reuters in response to a request for comment. Saudi Arabia's government media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Even without the normalisation requirement for civil nuclear talks to progress, and despite unpacking the issue from a wider defence treaty, a deal is not yet in close reach, one of the sources said. One sticking point is Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act that allows cooperation with other countries developing civil nuclear capabilities but specifies nonproliferation criteria including limiting uranium enrichment. Saudi Arabia's energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has said that the kingdom would seek to enrich uranium and sell the product. One of the sources said the kingdom was still not willing to sign a so-called 123 agreement, which would prevent enrichment or reprocessing of plutonium made in reactors - two routes that have the potential to culminate in nuclear weapons. Secretary Wright previously told Reuters a 123 agreement would be a prerequisite to any deal. However, there are several ways to structure a deal to achieve both countries' objectives, Wright has said. One solution being discussed is a "black box" arrangement where only U.S. personnel would have access to a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi soil, the same source said.
SELL MORE OIL
Riyadh wants to build nuclear generation capacity as it seeks to diversify its economy away from oil. Nuclear power could also help free up more crude barrels for export. Arms control advocates have previously expressed concern about a Saudi nuclear programme because de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said the kingdom would seek to quickly develop nuclear weapons should its regional rival Iran do so. The U.S. and Iran are currently holding talks over Tehran's nuclear programme, which Washington and Western allies say is geared towards producing weapons. Iran insists it is purely for civil purposes. U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday described the talks with Iran as "so far, so good" and said there was a deal to be made that would reintegrate Iran into the global economy while preventing it from getting a nuclear weapon. Saudi Arabia and the United States are set to discuss a number of blockbuster economic deals during Trump's visit next week, with the U.S. poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, sources have told Reuters. Trump has said Riyadh should "round up" a planned investment package in the U.S. to $1 trillion from an initial $600 billion. The trip is Trump's second visit abroad, after a short trip to Rome for the pope's funeral, since he returned to office in January. In his first term a lavish trip to Saudi Arabia marked his first overseas stop. Trump fostered close ties with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia during his first term. The country invested $2 billion in a firm formed by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and former aide, after Trump left office, and there are plans to build two Trump towers in Jeddah and Riyadh.

Why does Saudi Arabia want a civil nuclear deal with the US?
Yousef Saba/Reuters/May 8, 2025
DUBAI - Saudi Arabia and the United States are discussing a deal to cooperate on the kingdom's ambitions to develop a civil nuclear industry, talks that have long been complicated by regional politics and concerns over weapons proliferation.
Here are some of the main issues at play:
WHY DOES SAUDI ARABIA WANT A NUCLEAR PROGRAMME?
As the world's largest oil exporter Saudi Arabia may not seem an obvious candidate for nuclear power, but it aims to reduce carbon emissions and free up crude for export under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 economic plan. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said last year that 68% of Saudi electricity was generated by burning gas and 32% by burning oil, with 1.4 million barrels a day of crude being used for power generation during the peak month of June. Atomic power could displace some of that, including for energy-intensive water desalination and air conditioning, allowing the kingdom to make more money from oil sales. However, Saudi Arabia has also said that if old foe Iran develops a nuclear weapon it would have to follow suit - a declaration apparently aimed at ramping up pressure on Tehran, but which has also fuelled concern about its own ambitions. In January it said it would enrich uranium - a process that can also be used as part of a military programme - to create 'yellowcake' fuel for nuclear power generation that it could sell. Any deal with Washington would likely address safeguards to assuage worries about military ambitions, on top of Saudi Arabia's existing commitment not to pursue a bomb under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
WHAT'S IN IT FOR THE UNITED STATES?
There could be strategic and commercial gains.
Civil nuclear cooperation was an important inducement along with security guarantees in an effort by Trump's predecessor Joe Biden to broker a deal for Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize relations. However, those two issues are now uncoupled, Reuters has reported, though a nuclear deal could be a sweetener in U.S. diplomatic efforts with the kingdom. Riyadh has ruled out normalizing ties with Israel without Palestinian statehood. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright met Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman in April and said the two countries were on "a pathway" to a civil nuclear agreement. He made no mention of a wider deal over other issues such as normalisation. A deal would put U.S. industry in a prime spot to win contracts to build Saudi nuclear power plants as well as providing insight into the kingdom's atomic programme that could alleviate any U.S. worries over weapons proliferation. Under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the U.S. may negotiate agreements to engage in significant civil nuclear cooperation with other nations.
It specifies nine nonproliferation criteria those states must meet to keep them from using the technology to develop nuclear arms or transfer sensitive materials to others.
U.S. law stipulates congressional review of such pacts.
SAUDI ARABIA HAS OPTIONS
Should the U.S.-Saudi talks fail, several countries with established nuclear industries have expressed interest or are seen as potential partners for Saudi Arabia's nuclear programme. State-owned China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) reportedly submitted a bid in 2023 to construct a nuclear plant. Russia's state nuclear firm Rosatom, which built a nuclear plant in Egypt, has also signed preliminary cooperation agreements with Riyadh. Other potential contenders include South Korea, which built reactors in the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, and France. The choice of partner will likely depend on technological offerings, financing, and geopolitical alignment, including conditions related to nuclear fuel handling.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT
A key issue is whether Washington might agree to build a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi territory, when it might do so, and whether Saudi personnel might have access to it or it would be run solely by U.S. staff in a "black box" arrangement. Without rigorous safeguards built into an agreement, Saudi Arabia, which has uranium ore reserves on its territory, could theoretically use an enrichment facility to produce highly enriched uranium, which, if purified enough, can yield fissile material for bombs. Another issue is whether Riyadh would agree to make a Saudi investment in a U.S.-based and U.S.-owned uranium enrichment plant and to hire U.S. companies to build Saudi nuclear reactors. There are diplomatic issues too: Washington's top regional ally Israel has repeatedly voiced opposition to the idea of a Saudi civil nuclear programme.
(Reporting by Yousef Saba; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)

Egypt, Greece Agree to Boost Ties, Back Gaza Reconstruction Plan
News Agencies/May 8, 2025
Greece and Egypt signed a "strategic partnership" deal on Wednesday as they seek to step up political coordination to help safeguard stability in the Eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing war in Gaza. "Our bilateral cooperation is based on political, economic, and cultural ties, which are deeply rooted in history and defined by our strong commitment to the values of peace and the full respect of international law," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a joint statement. The two officials met during the first meeting of the Supreme Cooperation Council, a body they agreed to set up more than a year ago to improve ties. The two leaders reaffirmed their joint stance over the need to respect international law to promote peace in Gaza. "The first priority is for hostilities to stop and restore the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians," Mitsotakis said in joint statements with Sisi. He said Greece supported an Arab-backed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza once a ceasefire was achieved. Migration also topped the agenda of bilateral talks as European governments have long been worried about the risk of instability in Egypt, a country of 106 million people where economic adversity has pushed increasing numbers to migrate. Egypt largely shut off irregular migration from its north coast in 2016, but the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos have seen a steep rise in migrant arrivals, mostly from Afghanistan and Egypt. The European Union last year announced a 7.4 billion euro ($8.40 billion) funding package and an upgraded relationship with Egypt, in part of a push to stem migrant flows from Egypt to Europe. Last month, the EU's executive arm included Egypt on a list of "safe countries" where failed asylum seekers could be returned.

India says 13 civilians killed, 59 wounded by Pakistan fire since Wednesday
Agence France Presse/May 8, 2025
India's government said Thursday that 13 civilians had been killed by Pakistani fire in "ceasefire violations" along their de facto border since Wednesday, after violence escalated into artillery shelling following Indian strikes. India's foreign ministry said that all those killed were in the town of Poonch, with 59 others injured, the majority also in the town. India's army also said that a soldier had also been killed in Poonch on Wednesday "during Pakistan Army shelling", taking the total confirmed deaths on the Indian side to 14. Meanwhile, the death toll from Indian air strikes and border firing on Pakistan rose to 31 on Wednesday. "The death toll has climbed to 31 and 57 others have been wounded," the country's military said in a televised address.

France's Macron Wants EU to End Syrian Sanctions
Asharq Al Awsat/May 08/2025
France's president said on Wednesday he would urge the EU to end sanctions on Syria when they come up for renewal in June and lobby the US to follow suit as well as keep its troops there to ensure Syria's stability. Speaking alongside Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was in Paris for his first trip to Europe since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, Emmanuel Macron said it was the international community's duty to ease Syria's economic plight. "I told the president that if he continues on his path, we would do the same. Namely by first progressively lifting European sanctions, and then we would also lobby our American partners to follow suit on this matter," Macron said. He later added that he would propose EU sanctions be allowed to expire on June 1. With the World Bank estimating Syria's reconstruction costs at more than $250 billion, Sharaa wants sanctions relief to kickstart an economy battered by 14 years of civil war. During that period, the US, European Union and Britain imposed tough sanctions on the Assad government. The EU has lifted some sanctions, while some others that target individuals and entities are due to expire next month. Renewing those would require consensus among the 27 member states, although the bloc could opt for a limited renewal or exempt the Central Bank or other entities critical to economic recovery. "Sanctions are an obstacle we discussed at length. I explained all the consequences and impact and said the sanctions were imposed on previous regime and nothing justifies the sanctions being maintained,” Sharaa said. Sharaa received a UN exemption to travel to Paris as he remains on a terrorism sanctions list for his previous leadership of the armed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, a former al-Qaeda affiliate. The two leaders discussed how to ensure Syria's sovereignty and security, treatment of minorities after recent attacks on Alawites and Druze, efforts against ISIS militants and coordination of aid and economic support, French officials said.
Indirect talks with Israel
Sharaa said that his country is holding indirect talks with Israel to prevent recent hostilities from getting out of control. Israel carried out a series of airstrikes on parts of Syria last week, saying it aims to protect the country’s Druze minority from coming under attack by pro-government gunmen. Speaking to reporters in Paris, al-Sharaa said, ″Regarding negotiations with Israel, there are indirect talks through mediators to calm down the situation so that they don’t get out of control.” He did not say who the mediators are. There was no immediate public comment from Israel. Israel has its own Druze community and officials have said they would protect the Druze of Syria and warned ISIS groups from entering predominantly Druze areas. The visit marked a diplomatic boost for Sharaa from a Western power at a time when the United States has said it does not recognize any entity as the government of Syria. Reuters reported in April that Syria had responded to a US list of conditions for potential partial sanctions relief after Washington in January issued a six-month exemption for some sanctions to encourage aid to Syria. In exchange for fulfilling all US demands, Washington would extend the suspension for two years and possibly issue another exemption, sources told Reuters in March. Over the past months, France acted as an intermediary between Sharaa and the Kurds as sources said the US would reduce its 2,000 troops in Syria by half over the coming months. Paris has been holding talks with the US on how to handle Washington's withdrawal and how France could play a bigger role. Macron said he was trying to convince the US to lift sanctions and delay withdrawing troops as that could destabilize Syria in this transitional period. France welcomed Assad's fall and has increasingly fostered ties with Sharaa's transitional authorities. France last month appointed a charge d'affaires in Damascus with a small team of diplomats as a step towards fully reopening its embassy.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 08-09/2025
Why Hamas Wants To Control Gaza's Humanitarian Aid

Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/May 8, 2025
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21598/hamas-gaza-humanitarian-aid
Palestinians... say that if anyone is stealing the humanitarian aid and food, it is Hamas.
Videos posted on social media have shown Hamas thugs brutally beating Palestinians suspected of stealing food for their families.
A day earlier, Hamas announced that three Gazans will soon be slaughtered with knives for allegedly "collaborating" with Israel. Others will have their limbs hacked off with blades for supposed "theft" of food.
"Since October 7, I've said it without hesitation: Hamas is ISIS – only with better PR. And that PR machine runs on Qatari money, through media outlets that spin terrorism into heroism and wash blood with propaganda." — Hamza Howidy, Gaza-born peace and human rights advocate, X, May 4, 2025.
"There is no government, no law, no order – just fear. And as Palestinians dare to speak out, Hamas hunts them down, kidnaps them, threatens their families and silences them by force... They offer no protection, no aid, no leadership – only guns, terror, and slogans." — Hamza Howidy, X, May 3, 2025.
"Hamas relied on criminal elements to create pandemonium that generated mass looting events which provided some cover for the terror group to commit the organized theft of what remains of food supplies in Gaza." — Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza native and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, X, May 2, 2025.
This criminality is precisely why the international community needs to back Israel's effort to prevent Hamas from monopolizing and embezzling humanitarian supplies sent into the Gaza Strip.
The international community should support any initiative aimed at ending Hamas's rule over the Gaza Strip and destroying its military capabilities. Both Israel and the Palestinian people, who are paying a heavy price as a result of Hamas's decision to commit the biggest massacre against Jews since the Holocaust, will only gain from this.
Palestinians say that if anyone is stealing the humanitarian aid and food in Gaza, it is Hamas. This criminality is precisely why the international community needs to back Israel's effort to prevent Hamas from monopolizing and embezzling humanitarian supplies sent into the Gaza Strip. Pictured: Hamas terrorists on a pickup truck "escort" trucks carrying humanitarian aid that they intend to loot, near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on December 10, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images)
The Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has reconstituted its "Executive Force" as part of an effort to control humanitarian aid and "impose law and order" in the Gaza Strip.
The 5,000-strong force, originally established in 2006, has been entrusted with preventing the "theft" of food and "deterring thieves and thugs responsible for anarchy and lawlessness."
Members of the "Executive Force" have been deployed throughout the Gaza Strip and given orders to "take all necessary measures, including the use of excessive force," to restore security and stability to the coastal strip, according to Palestinian sources.
In 2007, the "Executive Force" played a central role in the Hamas coup against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and was responsible for killing hundreds of Palestinians and wounding thousands. After the coup, PA President Mahmoud Abbas declared the force criminal and illegal.
Palestinians, however, say that if anyone is stealing the humanitarian aid and food, it is Hamas. They also point out that Hamas gangs are responsible for the anarchy and lawlessness and the intimidation of the local residents.
Recently, Hamas terrorists have been storming warehouses and stealing food in different parts of Gaza. The move comes in the wake of reports that Israel is trying to persuade international organizations to take responsibility for the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, a move strongly opposed by Hamas. The terror group claims that the Israeli attempt to distribute humanitarian aid through international organizations is "political blackmail" and a "violation of international law."
Videos posted on social media have shown Hamas thugs brutally beating Palestinians suspected of stealing food for their families. According to other reports, Hamas recently executed a number of Palestinians for allegedly stealing food from warehouses. Hamas claims that the alleged thieves were "collaborators" with Israel.
On May 5, Hamas terrorists murdered Ziad Abu Shalouf, the head of the Abu Shalouf clan, in the Mawassi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. His "crime:" publicly speaking out against Hamas.
A day earlier, Hamas announced that three Gazans will soon be slaughtered with knives for allegedly "collaborating" with Israel. Others will have their limbs hacked off with blades for supposed "theft" of food.
"This isn't law, it's barbarism – the rule of knives and fear," commented Hamza Howidy, a Gaza-born peace and human rights advocate.
"Since October 7, I've said it without hesitation: Hamas is ISIS – only with better PR. And that PR machine runs on Qatari money, through media outlets that spin terrorism into heroism and wash blood with propaganda."
In another post on X, Howidy wrote:
"What's happening in Gaza isn't just destruction – it's a full-scale societal collapse. Armed gangs and Hamas militias are storming homes, shops, and storage units, stealing everything in sights. People are being shot over bread. Beaten for trying to protect their families. There is no government, no law, no order – just fear. And as Palestinians dare to speak out, Hamas hunts them down, kidnaps them, threatens their families and silences them by force. This isn't war. This is a terrorist regime dragging a broken society into suicide. They offer no protection, no aid, no leadership – only guns, terror, and slogans."
Hamas's latest crackdown shows that the terrorist group is determined to keep the humanitarian aid in its hands to maintain its control over the residents of the Gaza Strip and deter them from revolting against it.
Earlier this month, Hamas terrorists were seen roaming the streets of the Gaza Strip with loudspeakers, screaming that "whoever says Hamas is finished, his blood is ours and shall be wasted."
Hamas is aware that the humanitarian aid is crucial for maintaining leverage over the Palestinians, who have been facing death and destruction since October 7, 2023, when the terrorist group and thousands of "ordinary" Palestinians invaded southern Israel, murdering more than 1,200 Israelis and injuring thousands. Another 251 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly, were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, where 59 – dead and alive – are still held captive by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups.
Hamas is doing its utmost to preserve its regime in the Gaza Strip, even if that means depriving the Palestinians there of food.
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza native and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, wrote on May 2:
"The coordinated looting of food storage facilities in northern Gaza that belong to the UN and other NGOs in an organized fashion at the same time can only mean one thing: an act by a cohesive entity that could mobilize the strike elements and knew exactly what areas to hit. This can only be Hamas, which is said to be facing immense logistical and financial challenges due to the complete blockade by the Israeli military against the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, Hamas relied on criminal elements to create pandemonium that generated mass looting events which provided some cover for the terror group to commit the organized theft of what remains of food supplies in Gaza."
This criminality is precisely why the international community needs to back Israel's effort to prevent Hamas from monopolizing and embezzling humanitarian supplies sent into the Gaza Strip.
The international community should support any initiative aimed at ending Hamas's rule over the Gaza Strip and destroying its military capabilities. Both Israel and the Palestinian people, who are paying a heavy price as a result of Hamas's decision to commit the biggest massacre against Jews since the Holocaust, will only gain from this.
**Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
**Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Egypt: Where Churches Burn (One Way or the Other)
Raymond Ibrahim/Coptic Solidarity/May 8, 2025
Imagine for a moment if there was a non-Christian nation with a long and well documented history of anti-Christian activity; and in this nation, the few churches that do exist, are regularly attacked, often by angry mobs, with almost a dozen torched every year.
Such hostility goes on year after year, until suddenly, one year, all of the attacks on churches cease. But then, just as suddenly, roughly the same amount of churches continue to burn—not, you are then told, due to any of that usual anti-Christian hostility, but rather due to random accidents—chief among them being that those silly Christians keep forgetting to put out their votary candles.
Would you believe it or would you think something nefarious is afoot?
As it happens, this situation is not hypothetical but rather very real; and the nation where this exact scenario has been unfolding in for some years now is Muslim majority Egypt, which holds a 12-15 percent Christian minority, the Copts.
Over the previous few decades, attacks on churches, from both terrorists, but mostly mobs, have been a common feature of Egypt. In the words of researcher Magdi Khalil, “close to one thousand churches have been attacked or torched by mobs in the last five decades [since the 1970s] in Egypt.” (This is to say nothing of the tens of thousands of churches that went up in flames from the seventh century Muslim conquest of Coptic Egypt, up until the twentieth century. Indeed, if the Muslim historian al-Maqrizi is to be believed, in just one year alone, 1009, thirty-thousand churches were torched in Egypt and Greater Syria.)
Since around 2021, however, attacks on churches in Egypt came to a sudden, and most welcome, stop. But then, almost immediately they picked up again—though now they are always presented as products of accidents, “faulty wires,” lit candles, and so on. Worse, it appears that more churches are “catching fire” nowadays compared to former years, when they were openly being fire bombed.
The most recent episode occurred a few days ago, on Friday, May 2, 2025: A massive fire “broke out” at the St. George Church in Qift, Qena governorate. The entire church and its contents were engulfed by the inferno. Although no casualties were reported, according to the report, St. George’s “is an ancient church with a historical character and deep religious symbolism for the people of Qena Governorate. It holds a special place in everyone’s hearts as a spiritual and cultural landmark that hosts numerous religious and social events annually.”
Two days later, on May 4, Egyptian officials announced that “the fire started when an incense burner with a lit candle inside was left in the prayer hall inside the church, after religious rituals had been completed and the church was closed.” Not only is such a thing unheard of—Coptic churches never place candles in incense holders—but one would think that the Christians would, at this point, be wary of leaving “lit candles” in their churches, seeing how many have burned in recent months and years from this supposed reason (or rather pretext).
Also left unsaid is the fact that the burning of St. George Church in Qift occurred on the same week when Muslim fanatics hysterically demonstrated and rioted on the (fake and absurd) accusation that an 80-year-old Christian man molested a Muslim 6-year-old child. Coincidence?
At any rate, a few weeks earlier, on March 17, 2025, another fire “broke out” in another Coptic church, St. Athanasius the Apostolic Church in the Qalyub al-Mahta district. Once again, authorities pointed to “natural causes,” ruling out arson.
A few weeks before that, on February 5, 2025, another fire broke out inside the Church of the Archangel Michael, in another village of Qena. Authorities again pointed to a supposed “lit candle” as the culprit.
There are many such examples; a few more follow:
Aug. 31, 2024: A massive fire “broke out” in the Coptic Diocese of Beni Suef in Egypt, consuming all of the five-story Christian building’s contents.
Mar. 24, 2024: A fire broke out in the Church of St. George in Akhmim, Sohag governorate.
Feb. 20, 2023: A fire broke out on Sunday in the Church of the Virgin in the village of Asker, Al-Saff District, Giza Governorate, and devoured the contents of the church.
One can go on and on. In one month alone, August 2022, when this phenomenon of churches accidentally “catching fire” first began in earnest, a full 11 churches were torched. In one of these fires, 41 Christian worshippers, including many children, were burned alive in the inferno.
In every one of these cases, the authorities ruled out—sometimes rather quickly, before the flames had died out—arson.
So many “accidental” fires suggest one of two things: either the “radicals” have—possibly with insider help, including from sympathizers within state security—become more sophisticated and clandestine in their attacks on churches (in one instance, a surveillance camera caught a votary candle suddenly and randomly exploding and creating a fire); or else Coptic Christians, for some inexplicable reason, have become the most careless and fire-prone people in the entire world: more Coptic churches than any other kind seem to keep “catching fire.”
Considering that the Copts are much more careful with their churches than most Christians—precisely because their churches are so few and widely suppressed and under attack in Egypt—it would seem that the former explanation, that the radicals and their state abettors are the ones behind these constant “accidental” fires, is more logical.
Moreover, if it is true that lit candles, faulty wires, and other electrical problems are behind this upsurge in church fires, why are “accidental” fires in mosques and Muslim prayer halls—which outnumber churches in Egypt by a ratio of 60 to 1—completely unheard of?
Surely the candles, wires, and electrical circuits of Egypt are also not “radical” and biased against churches?
The bottom line is this: up until a few years ago, it was very common to hear of several Coptic churches being torched every year by rioting Muslims in Egypt; in the last few years, however, there have been virtually no such open attacks on churches—even as the same amount of if not more churches continue to burn every year. Is this sheer “coincidence” or business as usual—though under a new cover?

The US should be worried about Canada’s foreign policy
Casey Babb, opinion contributor/The Hill/May 8, 2025
Over the last several years, Ottawa has failed to articulate any meaningful strategy in response to major global events, while at the same time jeopardizing some of Canada’s most important diplomatic relations. This should set alarm bells off in Washington. If Canadian and U.S. foreign policy remain this misaligned, the consequences for America could be serious. Consider, for instance, how Canada and the U.S. have approached India and Israel. Both New Delhi and Jerusalem are critical pillars of the global democratic architecture. Both face relentless threats from nonstate actors and revisionist regimes. Both are central to the future of democratic cooperation. India is a key partner in pushing back against China’s Indo-Pacific dominance, while Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
The U.S. has, for the most part, treated both Israel and India with consistency and clarity. After the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, America affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense while engaging actively on humanitarian concerns. Likewise, when hitmen allegedly linked to the Indian government assassinated in British Columbia Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a leader in the Sikh separatist movement, Washington remained cautious and disciplined, allowing its intelligence agencies to manage the matter discreetly while protecting its strategic partnership with India.
Canada, by contrast, flinched under domestic pressure in both cases, allowing diaspora politics and electoral calculations to distort its diplomatic posture, souring relations with two of its most important allies. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public accusation of Indian state involvement in Nijjar’s killing derailed already fragile ties, leading Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to harshly criticize Canada and shun Trudeau at the 2023 G20 summit.
A similar drift is evident in Canada’s response to Israel’s war with Hamas. Ottawa initially condemned the terrorist attacks. But in the face of rising domestic protest and activist pressure, the government’s stance became incoherent — a muddled blend of contradictory U.N. votes, hedged statements and an inability to affirm basic principles such as Israel’s right to self-defense. Canada’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, has even echoed the charge that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Beyond weakening key strategic alliances, Canada has not communicated a clear vision about the world’s most pressing conflict zones. For instance, Ottawa has repeatedly capitulated to demands from the Chinese government, while remaining shockingly noncommittal when it comes to defending Taiwan from a possible Chinese invasion. Waffling like a feather in the wind, Canada was also the last member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to ban Chinese government-connected companies Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks. And while Beijing continues to carry out everything from widespread foreign interference operations to espionage to executing Canadian citizens on Chinese soil, Canadian officials seem fine focusing on “positive developments” between the two countries.
On Ukraine, statements of support are clear, but material and financial assistance is lacking, and Canada has, once again, avoided any clear long-term strategy for the region. And despite a storied history of peacekeeping, demilitarizing war zones and brokering peace agreements, Ottawa’s approach to Israel’s multifront war in the Middle East is virtually nonexistent. Going forward, Canadian leaders must rediscover that trust and reliability mean treating allies and issues not as political footballs, but as long-term partners and problems in a dangerous multipolar world. If they do not, America might have to make some tough decisions. For instance, if Canada cannot be trusted to fully back Israel in its greatest time of need, can America count on Canada as a credible security partner? Further, if Canada fails to muster up the courage to more forcefully confront China, Washington will have no choice but to reevaluate everything from economic ties to defense cooperation with Ottawa. Canada also continues to spend a pittance not just on its own military, but on support for key allies such as Ukraine and alliances like NATO. In time, this could increase pressure for the U.S. to make up for Canada’s shortcomings — something it should not be expected to do.
All told, while the U.S. under President Trump has made a number of shocking blunders when it comes to allyship and global engagement, that does not excuse the strategic dysfunction of countries like Canada. In fact, it probably requires allies such as Canada to step up and play an outsized role to preserve the order we’ve long taken for granted under U.S. leadership. At a time when the U.S. faces serious global challenges and the stakes are this high, a confused and reactive Canada is one liability America cannot afford. Dr. Casey Babb is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute’s Center for North American Prosperity and Security and a fellow with the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.


The Iran nuclear deal President Trump wants...It’s not a warmed-over version of Obama’s fatally flawed JCPOA
Clifford D. May/The Washington Times/May 08/2025
A fourth round of talks between Tehran’s envoys and Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s lead negotiator, did not take place in Rome over the weekend as had been expected.
Neither Tehran’s spokesmen nor the State Department gave a clear explanation for why, but I’ll venture a guess: Iran’s rulers want concessions in exchange for continuing to talk.They think President Trump needs negotiations more than they do. Their assessment is based on years of palaver with Presidents Obama and Biden. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei hopes that, concession by concession, he can convince Mr. Trump to embrace a warmed-over version of President Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, the fatally flawed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which Mr. Trump called “a horrible one-sided deal that should never, ever have been made.”
Sunday on Meet the Press, President Trump reiterated what he wants: “Total dismantlement [of Tehran’s nuclear weapons program]. That’s all I would accept.”
That means no uranium enrichment or reprocessing, and a halt to the regime’s development of missiles that can deliver nuclear warheads to American cities.
Mr. Witkoff is not a career diplomat. That may prove advantageous.
Too often, career diplomats are overly eager to conclude deals because doing so brings them professional plaudits.
If those deals turn out to be bummers, so what? By then, the diplomats will have been promoted or awarded a professorship at an elite university where they can hold forth on The Art of Diplomacy.
That’s how North Korea became nuclear-armed after decades of negotiations and agreements.
That’s how Syria retained a stock of chemical weapons after the Obama administration claimed a Russian-mediated dialogue had brought about the destruction of the Assad regime’s CW arsenal.
The 2015 JCPOA is an especially egregious example. As Sen. Tom Cotton observed: “The deal didn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb; it paved the path.”
President Obama argued that no one could have achieved a better deal than he had – an unfalsifiable argument. He also said that the only alternative to his deal was war – another unfalsifiable argument.
A policy of “peace through strength” – which was not Mr. Obama’s policy but is Mr. Trump’s – implies that your adversaries are more fearful of you than you are of them because they recognize your superior might and don’t doubt your willingness to act if push comes to shove. To be fair, ten years ago, Tehran had what was believed to be a first-rate missile-defense system supplied by Russia, and it commanded powerful terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East and beyond.
You know what happened next: In 2017, Mr. Trump became president. The next year, he withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA and began to impose serious strains on Iran’s economy. On Jan. 3, 2020, Mr. Trump terminated with extreme prejudice Qasem Soleimani, the skillful commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, responsible for killing hundreds of Americans and determined to kill hundreds more.
No war resulted and, by the end of that year, Tehran had just $4 billion in accessible foreign exchange reserves, limiting the support it could provide to Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, its Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. These effective policies came to a halt when President Trump moved out of the White House and President Biden moved in.
Hoping to seduce Iran’s rulers back into some version of the JCPOA, Mr. Biden gave them sanctions relief, pouring tens of billions of dollars into their coffers. He lifted the terrorist designation from the Houthi rebels.
Iran’s rulers smelled weakness which did not mitigate their hostility toward “the Great Satan,” their determination to exterminate “the Little Satan,” and their grand ambition to become the most powerful Islamic empire since the fall of the Ottomans.
Deploying thousands of advanced centrifuges, they expanded their nuclear weapons program, producing highly enriched uranium, and began the computer modeling necessary to make a nuclear warhead. They sold oil to Beijing and drones to Russia for use in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Scores of attacks by Iran’s terrorist proxies in Iraq and Syrian against American troops went unanswered by the Biden administration.On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas, bolstered by Iranian funds, weapons, and training, invaded Israel and staged the worst massacre of Jews – and anyone who happened to be Jew-adjacent – since the Holocaust. Since then, Israel has fought on multiple fronts. Hezbollah has been decimated. Tehran’s proxy in Syria has been overthrown. Following two missile and drone attacks on Israel directly from Iranian soil in 2024, the Israeli Air Force destroyed most of Iran’s missile defense systems and severely degraded the regime’s ballistic missile production capability. Iran’s rulers are now weaker and more vulnerable than they’ve been since the end of its war with Iraq in the 1980s.
President Trump has stated clearly: “We will not allow a regime that chants ‘Death to America!’ access to the most deadly weapons on earth.”Others who support “dismantlement” include presidential advisors Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Mike Waltz, and the Senate Republican Conference, along with evangelical leaders.So, too, does Mr. Witkoff. He has President Trump’s ear and trust. If his Iranian interlocutors remain intransigent, there’s no reason for him not to report that to the president. No deal is better than a bad deal.
George Shultz, one of the most skillful American diplomats of the 20th century, left us this insight: “Negotiations are a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table.”
Mr. Shultz had the experience and wisdom to recognize how the real world works. He understood that “peace through strength” is not just a catchy phrase. It’s a policy that must be implemented with confidence, courage, and determination.
**Clifford D. May is founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a columnist for the Washington Times, and host of the “Foreign Podicy” podcast.

The Baghdad Summit: A Step Toward a New Arab Course

Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani/The Prime Minister of Iraq/Asharq Al-Awsat/May 08/2025
Baghdad will host the Arab Summit at an exceptional moment for the region. Amid the major shifts, open-ended conflicts, and complex challenges facing our region, Baghdad hosts a Summit in which leaders will not simply be running through the motions. Rather than a procedural event, Iraq sees this summit as a pivotal juncture and a historic opportunity to reinvigorate joint Arab action, seize the initiative, and position the Arab world as an active player in regional affairs instead of merely being the object of rivalries.
My government has steered the country through a complicated period that has presented immense challenges to the region. The Gaza war has given rise to multifaceted challenges for Arab states, both political and diplomatic. Broad popular solidarity has reshaped security equations, and ambitious developmental policies have replaced our frailty with resilience.
The Arab Summit in Baghdad is a watershed moment; Iraq’s national aspirations intersect with the broader Arab pursuit of overcoming divisions and embarking on a path toward a framework for effective and comprehensive Arab cooperation. Today, we need responsible Arab discourse that is grounded in political realism and the conviction that solidarity does not imply uniformity, but rather mutual respect, tolerance of difference, and the pursuit of shared objectives and a common destiny.
Iraq believes that reinforcing joint Arab efforts begins with reinforcing relations among Arab capitals from the Gulf to the Atlantic, on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in others’ domestic affairs, frank and constructive dialogue, and common positions on international issues. With its strategic geographic location, its vast resources, its ambitious youth, and its heritage, the Arab world has tremendous potential. Indeed, there is no reason that it cannot become an independent and balanced power on the international stage.
The challenges we face (from repeated Israeli aggression against Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, to the communal divisions of some Arab states and regional and international interventions) undermine not only the security of their populations but also our capacity to take collective actions as a nation. Thus, we believe that it is now time to launch a unified Arab initiative that goes beyond humanitarian questions to address how to build constitutional nation-states that safeguard our peoples’ dignity and diversity.
At a moment when we are seeing no meaningful international engagement on behalf of the region’s peoples, the need to present a comprehensive Arab developmental strategy is particularly pressing. For this reason, Iraq advocates the adoption of an integrated economic approach that addresses regional developmental disparities and reinforces our collective capacity to address nutritional, energy, and supply chain crises. In this context, we stress that Iraq’s Development Road project, which is nearing completion, offers a practical model for taking this course that could serve as a basis for genuine Arab partnership.
Iraq does not see itself as a lone actor. We believe that Iraq’s role is to bring its brothers together again, restore confidence in the institutions through which Arab states organize joint actions, and lay the foundations for a new era of political and economic partnership. Arab national security is a collective objective that cannot be achieved without genuine cooperation, balanced policy, and strong institutions that safeguard the supreme interests of the Arab nation.
Today, we are not merely rebuilding Iraq; we are redrawing the contours of the Middle East through a balanced foreign policy, conscious leadership, developmental projects, and strategic partnerships. From Baghdad, we say to all Arab capitals: the time has come for a fresh start, new foundations, a new methodology, and determination. Baghdad, the capital of Arab thought and shared Arab history, welcomes the Arab Summit with open arms. The Iraqi people are confident that what unites us is greater than what divides us, and that we have a precious opportunity to shape a future before us- a cohesive future that ensures dignified lives for our people.