English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For May 15/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother
Mark 03/31-35//04/01-09: "Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’ Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’"

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 14-15/2025
Passing of Mrs. Nihad El-Chami: The Lord Gave, and the Lord Has Taken Away—Blessed Be His Name/Elias Bejjani/May 14/2025
Etienne Sakr – Abou Arz: The Municipal and Mayoral Elections – An Unnecessary Necessity
UN peacekeepers say Israel hit Lebanon base with ‘direct fire’
Israel army says killed Hezbollah militant in south Lebanon strike
Trump says Lebanon has chance for future 'free from Hezbollah grip'
KSA voices support for Lebanon's efforts to monopolize arms
With Syria hopping on the 'train of opportunities,' can Lebanon secure its place in a changing Middle East?
Baabda says Qassem's latest stances 'realistic'
Fadlallah denies Hezbollah tried to smuggle gold through airport
As Lebanese flags wave, pope vows every effort to work for peace
EU announces €8 million for post-conflict stability in Lebanon
President Aoun chairs Cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace, holds series of political and security consultations
Noth Lebanon's Governor Relieved of Duties Amid Election Count Clarifications
Lebanon names Mohammad Qabbani as new head of Council for Development and Reconstruction
Interior Minister Hajjar says Tripoli vote count nearing completion, denies fraud
In Tripoli, a Municipal Council Without Christian Representation
Why Was Lebanon Absent from Riyadh's Summit with Trump?

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 14-15/2025
Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must cease support of proxy groups as part of any nuclear deal
Qatar, US sign key agreements during Trump’s visit to Doha
Trump meets new Syria leader after lifting sanctions
UAE welcomes Trump’s announcement to lift sanctions on Syria
What would lifting US sanctions on Syria mean to the war-torn country?
Leaders of Israel’s Druze say the state owes it to them to defend Syrian kin
Iran says to hold nuclear talks with Europeans this week
Air raid sirens sound in Palestinian cities to commemorate 77th anniversary of Nakba
Gaza rescuers say 80 killed in Israeli strikes amid hostage release talks
Israel warns Yemenis to avoid ports after intercepting missile
Jordanian King discusses Gaza with UK national security adviser
UK and 4 other European nations urge Israel to lift Gaza aid blockade, warn against annexation
Italy’s Meloni urges Israel's Netanyahu to respect international law in Gaza
German Chancellor Merz says Israel should bring hostages back alive
New campaign against Israel-linked brands gains ground in India
Putin not listed in Kremlin delegation for Istanbul talks: statement
Turkiye eyes legal steps after Kurdish militant group PKK disbands
Divisions emerge among House Republicans over how much to cut taxes and Medicaid in Trump’s bill
Gabbard fires 2 top intelligence officials and will shift office that preps Trump’s daily brief
Neo-Nazis plotted terrorist attacks on UK mosques and synagogues
Saudi crown prince hopes India-Pakistan ceasefire restores ‘calm’ between neighbors
Pope Leo says he will make ‘every effort’ for world peace

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sourceson on May 14-15/2025
Genocide in Syria: Jihadists Massacre Druze, Christians, 'Infidels'/Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/May 14, 202
Syria’s Druze Stand Alone ...As the U.S. lifts sanctions and embraces the country’s rulers, minorities are bracing for what comes next./Rabeh Ghadban/Diwan/May 14, 2025
Nakba Day: Confronting the truth is the first step to justice/Daoud Kuttab/Arab News/May 14, 2025
Decoding Trump’s historic Riyadh speech/Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/May 14, 2025
Trump’s Saudi visit reinforces strategic importance of US-Saudi partnership/Dr. Abdulaziz Sager/Arab News/May 14, 2025
Trump summit in Riyadh indicates a fresh start for GCC-US partnership/Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab News/May 14, 2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 13-14/2025
Passing of Mrs. Nihad El-Chami: The Lord Gave, and the Lord Has Taken Away—Blessed Be His Name
Elias Bejjani/May 14/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143294/
With deep reverence and steadfast faith in the promise of eternal life, it was announced this morning that Mrs. Nihad El-Chami has passed away. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ may grant rest to her soul in His eternal peace, and may her memory be everlasting and blessed.
With her passing today, a radiant chapter of divine grace and unwavering faith in Lebanon comes to a close. Chosen by the Lord to be a living testimony of His power and miracles, Mrs. El-Chami received a miraculous healing through the intercession of Saint Charbel, Lebanon’s beloved saint. Now, she has departed to enjoy eternal rest alongside her heavenly intercessor, the saints, and the righteous in the holy dwellings of paradise.
Mrs. Nihad El-Chami was a symbol of unshakable faith and absolute trust in God’s might. Her miraculous healing stands as living proof of the power of prayer and the nearness of God to those who call upon Him with sincere hearts. Her story, marked by divine intervention through the intercession of Saint Charbel, stirred hearts and rekindled faith in many, bearing witness to the greatness and mercy of our Lord.
Her departure in the flesh is not the end of her story, but a passage into a greater, holier realm. Her memory will remain alive in the hearts of all who knew her or heard her story. It will continue to be told to generations as a testament to the power of faith and the efficacy of the saints’ intercession. Saint Charbel, the great Lebanese saint, awaits her, joined by the angels and the righteous, ready to welcome her into the heavenly kingdom where there is no sorrow, no pain, and no mourning—only everlasting joy and light.
Let us hold firmly to our belief that God is capable of all things and hears the heartfelt prayers of His faithful. In a moment of weakness and hope, Mrs. El-Chami sought the intercession of Saint Charbel, and the Lord, in His mercy, granted her a miraculous healing. This truth remains a beacon that lights our path, reminding us that heaven is open to our prayers, and that God’s mercy knows no bounds.
May the Lord have mercy on the soul of Mrs. Nihad El-Chami. May heaven receive her with open arms. And may Saint Charbel be her intercessor and companion on this sacred journey. Her memory will endure forever, a living witness to the greatness of God and the holiness of His saints.

Etienne Sakr – Abou Arz: The Municipal and Mayoral Elections – An Unnecessary Necessity
May 14, 2025
(Free translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143326/
The following statement was issued by Etienne Sakr, Head of the Guardians of the Cedars Party – the Lebanese Nationalist Movement:
Amid the media fanfare and public excitement surrounding Lebanon’s ongoing municipal and mayoral elections, many perceive them as a hopeful step toward restoring democratic life and upholding constitutional timelines. Yet, the reality tells a different story: these elections are nothing more than a political indulgence at the wrong time. They serve two primary purposes—one internal, the other external—both aimed at evading responsibility and masking the state’s failure to implement international resolutions, particularly Resolution 1559, which represents the cornerstone of any real solution to Lebanon’s crisis.
Internally, the ruling authority seeks to use the elections as a distraction—a convenient way to divert the Lebanese people's attention from their true suffering: the daily struggle to secure food, electricity, water, healthcare, education, and a dignified old age. This is nothing more than a policy of national anesthesia—buying time through illusion.
Externally, the state is attempting to project a misleading image to the international community, feigning democratic progress and reform. Meanwhile, it deliberately sidesteps the root causes of Lebanon’s collapse—first and foremost, the illegal weapons of Lebanese and Palestinian militias, and the deep-rooted corruption protected by the very same figures who continue to control the levers of power.
We in the Guardians of the Cedars are not, by nature, advocates of despair. But we firmly believe there is no hope for Lebanon as long as the ruling class insists on treating symptoms while ignoring the disease. The crisis is one of sovereignty, identity, and decision-making. It will not be resolved without comprehensive reform—reform that starts at the top, rebuilds the state on firm national foundations, and uproots the entrenched evils of illegitimate arms, foreign allegiance, and systemic corruption.
We are convinced that the current government under Nawaf Salam is incapable of resolving Lebanon’s foundational problems. These elections, in truth, are nothing more than an "unnecessary necessity."
The only salvation lies in a government composed of true statesmen—men and women of courage, wisdom, and moral integrity. Without such leadership, the opportunists and impostors will continue to toil in vain.
Long Live Lebanon.

UN peacekeepers say Israel hit Lebanon base with ‘direct fire’
AFP/May 14, 2025
BEIRUT: The UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon protested on Wednesday at “direct fire” by the Israeli military at one of its positions, the first since a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. UNIFIL sits on the international committee created to supervise the ceasefire agreement that kicked in on November 27 and ended more than two months of all-out war between Israel and the pro-Iranian militant group. In a statement, UNIFIL said it was “concerned by the recent aggressive posture of the Israel Defense Forces involving UNIFIL personnel and assets.”That included an “incident in which a direct fire hit the perimeter of a UNIFIL position south of the village of Kfar Shouba,” which it said took place on Tuesday. The force said it “observed two shots fired from south of the Blue Line,” in reference to the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. It was the first time since November 27 that Israel has directly hit a UNIFIL position, it said. At the height of the fighting last October, the peacekeeping force accused Israel of having hit its positions or peacekeepers at least 20 times. As well as the “direct hit” on Tuesday, UNIFIL said there were “at least four other incidents involving IDF fire near its positions” and “other aggressive behavior by the IDF toward peacekeepers performing their operational activities.”It said that on Tuesday that peacekeepers patrolling alongside the Lebanese army “reported being targeted by a laser from a nearby IDF position.” “UNIFIL protests all such and we continue to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property and to respect the inviolability of UN assets and premises at all times,” the statement read. According to the terms of the ceasefire, the Israeli military is required to withdraw completely from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah must dismantle its military assets in the region and withdraw north of the Litani river. Israel has largely completed its withdrawal, though it insisted on keeping its forces at five points inside Lebanon that it considers strategic and has repeatedly launched strikes inside the country. The ceasefire is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which requires that UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army be the only armed bodies in southern Lebanon.

Israel army says killed Hezbollah militant in south Lebanon strike
AFP/May 14, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said it killed a Hezbollah militant in a strike on south Lebanon on Wednesday, the latest attack despite a ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group. “Earlier today (Wednesday), the IDF (military) struck in the area of Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr in southern Lebanon, eliminating a Hezbollah terrorist who held the position of the commander of the Qabrikha area within the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” a military statement said. Lebanon’s health ministry reported one person killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a car. Israel has continued to launch strikes on its neighbor 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.”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.

Trump says Lebanon has chance for future 'free from Hezbollah grip'
Naharnet/May 14, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh that there is in Lebanon a new chance for peace and for a future "free from the grip of Hezbollah". "In Lebanon there is a new chance for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists if the new president and PM can rebuild an effective Lebanese state," Trump said. "This is a once in a generation opportunity to forge a Lebanon that is prosperous and at peace with its neighbors," he added. Trump also told Gulf leaders that he urgently wants "to make a deal" with Iran to wind down its nuclear program but that Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region -- Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen-- as part of any potential agreement. (Iran) "must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons," Trump said. The U.S. and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month focused on Iran's nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said that he believes brokering a deal is possible, but that the window is closing. Trump remarks came after he met with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on the sidelines of the gathering, a day after announcing he was lifting sanctions on the war-battered country. Hezbollah is severely weakened after its war last year with Israel in which much of its top leadership was killed, and after losing a key ally with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a conduit for Iran to send arms.

KSA voices support for Lebanon's efforts to monopolize arms
Naharnet/May 14, 2025
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Wednesday expressed the kingdom’s support for the efforts “led by the Lebanese president and Lebanese government to reform institutions, monopolize arms in the hands of the state and preserve Lebanon’s sovereignty and safety.”The crown prince voiced his remarks at a summit in Riyadh between the leaders of the Gulf countries and U.S. President Donald Trump. 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. Hezbollah, long a dominant force in Lebanon, was heavily weakened in its latest war with Israel. Under a ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was to withdraw its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and Israel was to pull all its forces from south Lebanon, however it has kept troops in five areas it deems "strategic".The Lebanese Army has been deploying in the area as Israeli forces have withdrawn and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure there. Israel's military still carries out regular strikes in Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure. The ceasefire deal was based on a U.N. Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon, and that calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.

With Syria hopping on the 'train of opportunities,' can Lebanon secure its place in a changing Middle East?
LBCI/May 14/2025
The region is entering a new phase shaped by shifting power dynamics, with Syria already moving ahead on the path of change, while Lebanon remains stuck at the starting line. The United States is leading this shift, laying out clear conditions.Syria, long under sanctions and international isolation, accepted these conditions and pledged to implement them. As a result, sanctions were lifted, and the country was placed back on the "map of opportunities."Lebanon, by contrast, is still watching these developments from afar, seemingly unaware that the door is closing quickly. The question now is no longer: What is Lebanon waiting for? But rather, is there any time left for Lebanon?
So what does the U.S. want?
Washington’s vision for Lebanon was outlined in a policy paper Donald Trump presented to the Lebanese American community during his presidential campaign. In it, he affirmed that he would restore peace in Lebanon and do so in the right way to prevent crises from recurring every five or ten years. He also pledged to end Lebanon’s suffering and destruction, preserve equal power-sharing among all Lebanese sects, and work toward a future where Lebanese people live in peace with their neighbors. But that vision comes with clear expectations. The United States wants Lebanon to remain fully neutral in regional conflicts, especially avoiding entanglement in axis-driven politics. It also expects the disarmament of non-state actors and the full restoration of military decision-making to the Lebanese state. In addition, it calls for comprehensive reform of the financial and administrative systems and a genuine fight against corruption. Judicial reform is also key, with an emphasis on ensuring an independent judiciary free from sectarian influence and political interference. Structural reform of Lebanon’s sectarian-based political system is seen as essential to building a true civil state. These political changes are expected to be accompanied by a series of financial reform laws, particularly in the banking sector. Lebanon has made some attempts, but progress has been slow. So far, only limited steps have been taken on financial reforms. The amended banking secrecy law was passed to align with International Monetary Fund (IMF) demands. The government also approved a banking sector restructuring law and submitted it to Parliament, where it remains stalled, like many previous efforts. As for the crucial financial gap law, which determines the size of losses and how depositors will be repaid, it has not yet been approved by the Cabinet.Judicial reform has also seen more talk than action, and the most complex issue remains: restoring the state’s monopoly on arms. Officials continue to insist that no negotiations—direct or indirect—with Israel will begin until it withdraws from the five disputed hills, as previously committed. Regardless of the reasons or justifications, the result is the same: Lebanon remains off the table. And unless the state acts quickly, it may find itself left behind as the region moves forward. Meanwhile, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, the Gulf, and even Palestine are reshaping their futures, while Lebanon remains on the sidelines—opportunities like this don’t come around often.

Baabda says Qassem's latest stances 'realistic'
Naharnet/May 14/2025
The latest stances of Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem were “realistic,” Lebanese Presidency sources said. “Every now and then some Hezbollah officials issue some stances that do not reflect this pragmatism, but what’s certain is that the more they show cooperation, the more things become easier to implement,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper. “The president had repeatedly talked about Hezbollah’s cooperation as to the withdrawal of arms south of the Litani River and Qassem’s remarks reflect a reassuring atmosphere in terms of the implementation of Resolution 1701 and what stemmed from it in the agreement reached in November 2024 on which Hezbollah agreed,” the sources added. As for Qassem’s warnings that some want to isolate Hezbollah, the sources said: “No one wants to isolate them and ignoring them is out of the question. Hezbollah is represented in parliament and government and talking about isolation is not logical.”

Fadlallah denies Hezbollah tried to smuggle gold through airport
Naharnet/May 14/2025
MP Hassan Fadlallah on Wednesday categorically denied that Hezbollah was behind an attempt to smuggle gold through the Rafik Hariri International Airport, urging authorities to reveal to public opinion all the details related to the allegations. “I stress our keenness on the airport’s security and on enforcing laws on everyone and providing a safe environment for this vital facility, and we have greatly contributed to assisting official security authorities to accomplish this mission,” Fadlallah added. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Lebanon had recently foiled an alleged attempt to smuggle more than 50 pounds (around 23 kilograms) of gold to Hezbollah through the airport.“Hezbollah is the party that works according to the constitution and laws and its competency, integrity and fight against corruption were acknowledged at a time the U.S. administration was protecting corrupts in Lebanon,” Fadlallah went on to say.
Apparently hitting back at U.S. President Donald Trump, Fadlallah said “what caused the tragedies of the Lebanese people is the Israeli entity, especially in its latest aggression against Lebanon.”Fadlallah also called on the Lebanese state to “put the file of reconstruction on the agenda of the Arab Summit.”

As Lebanese flags wave, pope vows every effort to work for peace
Naharnet/May 14/2025
Pope Leo XIV vowed to take "every effort" Wednesday to work for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine and to actively promote the spirituality and traditions of the eastern rite churches, those Catholic communities with origins in the Mideast and eastern Europe that have been decimated by years of conflict and persecution."The church needs you!" Leo told a Holy Year audience of eastern rite pilgrims. Eastern-rite Catholics accept the authority of the pope but have many of their own rituals and liturgy. They include the Coptic, Chaldean, Maronite and Eritrean Catholic churches, as well as the Syro-Malabar church in India and Greek Catholic communities that are found across Eastern Europe and the Americas. Unlike Orthodox Christians, these Catholic churches fully recognize papal authority. In his remarks, Leo acknowledged that many eastern rite Catholics have been forced to flee their homelands because of "war and persecution, instability and poverty." It was a reference to the exodus of Christians from the Middle East, Iraq and Syria especially, where entire communities have been displaced by years of Islamist extremist violence. Many of these communities in northern Iraq were some of the oldest of the faith, where the dialects of Aramaic — the language of Jesus — are still spoken. Leo vowed "every effort" to work for peace in those regions, citing in particular the Middle East and Ukraine, and said the Holy See was ready to "help bring enemies together, face to face.""Who better than you can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?" he said. "From the Holy Land to Ukraine, from Lebanon to Syria, from the Middle East to Tigray and the Caucasus, how much violence do we see!" He praised those Christians who are working at reconciliation even in regions where they are persecuted minorities, and urged them to continue."I thank God for those Christians — Eastern and Latin alike — who, above all in the Middle East, persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them," Leo said. "Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence."The audience featured a mix of faithful from around the world, with Lebanese and Ukrainian flags and ululating pilgrims.

EU announces €8 million for post-conflict stability in Lebanon
Naharnet/May 14/2025
The European Union has announced 8 million Euro to support stability, security and peace in Lebanon, following 13 months of conflict. The project will be implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). "The devastating conflict has led to too many civilian casualties. It has caused massive destruction and displacement. It has put a strain on already fragile public institutions, limiting their ability to deliver essential services to the people. Security institutions continue to face many challenges in maintaining stability amid ongoing tensions," the EU Delegation to Lebanon said in a statement. The European Union, in partnership with UNDP and UNODC, is assisting communities affected by conflict and facilitating their return to safe and stable areas. The project will strengthen local initiatives for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. It will enhance the capacity of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in their delivery of security services. Additionally, the project will support the Lebanon Mine Action Center (LMAC) in managing unexploded ordnance in conflict-affected areas. The contract was signed at the Internal Security Forces headquarters in Beirut, in the presence of ISF Director General Major General Raed Abdallah, Peter Wagner, Director of the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, Sandra De Waele, Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon, and Blerta Aliko, UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon.
Director of the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, Peter Wagner, said: "The ISF plays a critical role in maintaining public order and safeguarding communities. The European Union’s crisis response is aimed at bolstering the Internal Security Forces’ capacity at a critical time. At the same time, the work of the Lebanon Mine Action Center to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war remains vital, not only to protect lives, but to enable recovery, development and safe return of displaced families."
EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, said: "The European Union is proud to continue supporting the vital and essential work of the Internal Security Forces and Lebanon Mine Action Center. This new program reflects our ongoing commitment to Lebanon and its security institutions in promoting peace and stability across the country, at this critical time."UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon, Blerta Aliko, said, "Lebanon stands at a pivotal moment of recovery. As families return home and communities rebuild, this initiative provides a vital opportunity to strengthen stability and security. By investing in conflict prevention, security services, and explosive ordnance clearance, we are not just addressing immediate risks—we are laying the groundwork for long-term peace and development."The UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa said: "UNODC remains committed to supporting Lebanon’s efforts to enhance prison conditions and promote the dignity and well-being of all prisoners. Drawing on over two decades of collaboration with national authorities and our expertise in criminal justice and prison reform, this project will contribute to reducing tensions, while enhancing rehabilitation and social reintegration, at a time when it is most critically needed."

President Aoun chairs Cabinet meeting at Baabda Palace, holds series of political and security consultations
LBCI/May 14/2025
President Joseph Aoun is presiding over a Cabinet session at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Baabda Presidential Palace. The agenda includes 28 items covering agreements, draft laws, decrees, appointments, and administrative matters. Earlier in the day, the president held a series of meetings at the palace focused on political, security, administrative, and cultural issues. Among the visitors was Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who updated President Aoun on the outcomes of his recent meetings in Qatar and France. The two also discussed government affairs and the work of several ministerial committees chaired by Mitri, including those focused on refugees, public sector reform, digital transformation, and international humanitarian law. Mitri noted that a report prepared by the International Humanitarian Law Committee addresses Israeli violations of international law. The discussions also covered regional and international developments. President Aoun also chaired a security and administrative meeting attended by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Director General of the Presidency Antoine Choucair, State Security chief Hassan Choucair, Internal Security Forces chief Raed Abdullah, the Presidency’s Director General of Legal Affairs Judge Yahya Karkatli, and the president’s military and security advisor Antoine Mansour. The meeting focused on the Interior Ministry’s work, including preparations for the second phase of the municipal and local elections recently held in the North and Akkar governorates. Culture Minister Ghassan Salame met with President Aoun to discuss cultural and national issues, the ministry’s agenda, and future plans.

Noth Lebanon's Governor Relieved of Duties Amid Election Count Clarifications
This is Beirut/May 14/2025
The Cabinet has relieved the Governor of North Lebanon, Ramzi Nohra, of his duties. Nohra has been placed at the disposal of the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Information, Paul Morcos, confirmed following the government meeting. Earlier, Interior Minister Ahmed Hajjar announced that the vote-counting process for the recent Tripoli elections is nearing completion. Addressing concerns over delays and potential irregularities, Hajjar assured the public that all ballots are accounted for.“Nothing evaporated,” Hajjar stated emphatically during remarks made ahead of Wednesday’s Cabinet session. “In some ballot boxes, a complete recount was necessary, but there is no evidence of fraud,” he continued. Hajjar acknowledged procedural issues during the count, attributing them to the inexperience of certain staff members involved in the electoral process. “Due to the non-enrollment of some employees, we had to summon others, some of whom lacked sufficient experience, which led to flaws in the counting. This is a fact we do not deny,” he added. However, he emphasized that the process occurred in full view of delegates and the media, ensuring transparency. He also commended the work of the primary registration committees, led by judges, for conducting recounts wherever irregularities were observed. “The committees made a great effort,” Hajjar noted, explaining that the extended timeline was essential to ensure accurate and transparent results.

Lebanon names Mohammad Qabbani as new head of Council for Development and Reconstruction
LBCI/May 14/2025
Lebanon has appointed Mohammad Qabbani as the new president of the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), a key state body responsible for planning and implementing infrastructure and development projects.

Interior Minister Hajjar says Tripoli vote count nearing completion, denies fraud
LBCI/May 14/2025
Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar announced that the vote count for the Tripoli municipal elections is nearing completion. Speaking ahead of the Cabinet session, Hajjar assured that "all ballots are accounted for—nothing has disappeared." He explained that a full recount was necessary in some polling stations but stressed that there was no tampering or fraud. "Due to the absence of some election staff, we had to rely on others who lacked experience in the electoral process, which led to some irregularities during the count," he said. "This is a fact we do not deny. However, the process occurred in the presence of candidate representatives and media outlets, so there was no room for falsification."He noted that the preliminary counting committees, which are presided over by judges, ordered recounts wherever they found discrepancies. "These committees made an enormous effort, and the recount took a long time, but it was essential to ensure transparent and accurate results," he added. When asked whether a partial re-run of the elections might occur, Hajjar responded: "The Interior Ministry is not authorized to call for new elections. Those who wish to contest the results can do so before the State Council once the final results are announced."

In Tripoli, a Municipal Council Without Christian Representation
This is Beirut/May 14/2025
The results of the municipal elections in Tripoli were finally announced on Wednesday evening, following a three-day vote count. According to information obtained by This is Beirut, the “Vision Tripoli” list—backed by a coalition of political figures and parties, including Faysal Karameh, Ashraf Rifi, MP Karim Kabbara, and the Al-Ahbash group—secured 12 seats on the new municipal council, which notably lacks any Christian representation. The “Naseej” list, supported by civil society groups, won 11 seats, while the “Guardians of the City” list claimed just one. The newly elected council is composed of 23 Sunnis and a single Alawite, the latter elected on the coalition list. The results are yet to be confirmed by the Ministry of Interior.

Why Was Lebanon Absent from Riyadh's Summit with Trump?
This is Beirut/May 14/2025
Lebanon’s absence from the recent MBS’ Riyadh summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump should not go unnoticed — or unchallenged. It is not merely a missed diplomatic engagement; it is a glaring symptom of our national paralysis.
We must raise this question loud and clear: why was Lebanon not invited? The answer lies, yet again, in the unresolved contradiction at the heart of our State — the continued presence of Hezbollah’s arms, operating outside the control of the Lebanese State. This duality undermines our sovereignty, weakens our institutions, and alienates us from the international and Arab consensus on the future of the region. As a country, we are squandering precious opportunities. Syria’s Sharaa got an invite because he took strong positions and made clear statements. This summit was not just about optics. It was a gathering signaling the shaping of a new Middle East — one driven by economic integration, political realignment, and shared visions for peace and prosperity. While others are building their place in the future, we are standing still, watching from the sidelines — irrelevant, voiceless, and increasingly isolated.When Trump mentioned Lebanon, it was only to highlight what we could become — if we choose to act like a serious State. He directly pointed to the disasters Hezbollah has inflicted on Lebanon: the economic collapse, the plundering of national wealth, the international isolation, and the hijacking of our institutions.
Durable peace is the foundation of sustainable prosperity. The prerequisite is national clarity: do we want to be a serious sovereign State that reclaims its decision-making and partners with the world in a shared vision of stability and growth, or do we want to remain trapped in a cycle of crisis — a crisis rooted in disastrous decisions made around 1969 and perpetuated ever since — choosing stagnation over sovereignty, appeasement over Constitution, silence over statehood? Lebanon’s future hinges on this choice. If we do not act, others will shape the region without us. And we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 14-15/2025
Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must cease support of proxy groups as part of any nuclear deal
Associated Press/May 14, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump told Gulf leaders on Wednesday that he urgently wants "to make a deal" with Iran to wind down its nuclear program but that Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region as part of any potential agreement. Iran "must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons," Trump said in remarks at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital. "They cannot have a nuclear weapon."The U.S. and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month focused on Iran's nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said he believes brokering a deal is possible, but that the window is closing. The president's strongly worded push on Iran to cease support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen come as its proxy network has faced significant setbacks in the 19 months since Hamas launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump's remarks "deceitful" but did not directly address the U.S. leader's call on Iran to cease support of proxy groups. "What he stated about willing of the regional nations for a progressive, flourishing path, is the same path that people of Iran decided through their revolution, indeed, for having a fully independent, democratic, free, wealthy and advanced country," Aragachi said. Trump added that he believed the moment was ripe "for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists." Hezbollah is severely weakened after its war last year with Israel in which much of its top leadership was killed, and after losing a key ally with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a conduit for Iran to send arms.
Lifting sanctions on Syria
Trump's comments on Iran came after he met Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a face-to-face engagement with the onetime insurgent leader who spent years imprisoned by U.S. forces after being captured in Iraq. Trump agreed to "say hello" to al-Sharaa before the U.S. leader wraps up his stay in Saudi Arabia and heads to Qatar, where Trump is to be honored with a state visit. His Mideast tour also will take him to the United Arab Emirates. Al-Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by insurgent groups led by al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, stormed Damascus and ended the 54-year rule of the Assad family. Trump said he decided to meet with al-Sharaa after being encouraged to do so by Prince Mohammed and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The president also pledged to lift yearslong sanctions on Syria.
"The sanctions were really crippling and very powerful," Trump said. "It's not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good, strong chance" to rebuild the country, he added. Prince Mohammed joined Trump and al-Sharaa for the meeting, which lasted about 33 minutes. Erdogan also took part in the talks via video conference. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion. He still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. The U.S. once offered $10 million for information about his whereabouts because of his links to al-Qaida. Al-Sharaa came back to his home country of Syria after the conflict began in 2011 and led al-Qaida's branch that used to be known as the Nusra Front. He later changed the name of his group to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and cut links with al-Qaida. The sanctions go back to the rule of Bashar Assad, who was ousted in December, and were intended to inflict major pain on his economy. Both the Biden and Trump administrations left the sanctions in place after Assad's fall as they sought to take the measure of al-Sharaa.
State visit to Qatar
After his meeting with members of the GCC — which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — Trump will head to Qatar, the second stop in his Mideast tour. Qatar, like the other Gulf Arab states, is an autocratic nation where political parties are banned and speech is tightly controlled. It is overseen by its ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Sheikh Tamim, 44, took power in June 2013 when his father stepped down. Qatar has also played a central role in pay-to-play-style scandals around the globe. In Israel, authorities are investigating allegations that Qatar hired close advisers to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch PR campaigns to improve the Gulf nation's image among Israelis. Two European Union lawmakers were accused of taking money from Doha in a scandal dubbed "Qatar-gate." U.S. prosecutors in 2020 accused Qatar of bribing FIFA executive committee members to secure the tournament in the country in 2022. In 2024, RTX Corporation, the defense contractor formerly known as Raytheon, agreed to pay more than $950 million to resolve allegations that it defrauded the U.S. government and paid bribes to secure business with Qatar. Doha always has denied wrongdoing and sponsors an annual anti-corruption prize. Qatar follows an ultraconservative form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism born out of Saudi Arabia. However, Qatar struck a different tack in the Arab Spring by backing Islamists, including Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, as well as those who rose up against Assad. Its support of Islamists, in part, led to a yearslong boycott of the country by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. That boycott only ended as then-President Joe Biden prepared to enter the White House in 2021.Qatar also has served as a key mediator, particularly with the militant group Hamas as the international community pursues a ceasefire for the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Qatar also served as host of the negotiations between the United States and the Taliban that led to America's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Qatar is home to Al-Udeid Air Base, a sprawling facility that hosts the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command. The oil-rich country is also in the center of a controversy over its offer to provide Trump with the gift of a luxury Boeing 747-8 that the U.S. could use as Air Force One while new versions of the plane are under construction by Boeing. The Qatari government has said a final decision hasn't been made. But Trump has defended the idea even as critics argue it would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government. Trump has indicated he would refurbish the aircraft and it would later be donated to his post-White House presidential library. He says he would not use the plane once he leaves office. The president said in a social media post that the plane "is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years."
"Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done," Trump added. "This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country."

Qatar, US sign key agreements during Trump’s visit to Doha
Arab News/May 14, 2025
DOHA: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and US President Donald Trump oversaw the signing of several major agreements and memorandums of understanding on Wednesday during a state visit to Doha, Qatar News Agency reported. The leaders witnessed the signing of a joint declaration of cooperation between the two governments, as well as agreements including a Boeing aircraft purchase, a statement of intent on defense cooperation, and letters of offer and acceptance for MQ-9B drones and the FS-LIDS anti-drone system, QNA added. During official talks, the emir praised the historic nature of the visit and the two leaders discussed strengthening ties in defense, investment, energy, education and cybersecurity. They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional peace and security. Sheikh Tamim and Trump also touched on preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Olympics, which will be hosted in the US. President Trump thanked the emir for Qatar’s warm hospitality and described Sheikh Tamim as a longtime friend and trusted partner. He voiced optimism about expanding cooperation and achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. Senior Qatari ministers and US cabinet officials, including the secretaries of state, defense, treasury, commerce and energy, also attended the talks and signing ceremony.

Trump meets new Syria leader after lifting sanctions
AFP/May 14, 2025
RIYADH: Donald Trump became the first US president in 25 years to meet a Syrian leader on Wednesday after he offered sanctions relief in hopes of offering a new path to the war-battered country. Trump, in Riyadh on the first state visit of his second term, met with Ahmed Al-Sharaa, an erstwhile Islamist guerrilla turned interim president after the December of longtime strongman Bashar Assad. The two held brief talks ahead of a larger gathering of Gulf leaders in Saudi Arabia during Trump’s tour of the region, a White House official said. No US president has met a Syrian leader since Bill Clinton saw Hafez Assad, Bashar’s father, in Geneva in 2000 in a failed effort to persuade him to make peace with Israel. Trump announced on Tuesday that he was lifting “brutal and crippling” Assad-era sanctions on Syria in response to demands from Sharaa’s allies in Turkiye and Saudi Arabia — in his latest step out of tune with US ally Israel. Trump said it was Syrians’ “time to shine” and that easing sanctions would “give them a chance at greatness.”Syrians celebrated the news, with dozens of men, women and children gathering in Damascus’s Umayyad Square. “My joy is great. This decision will definitely affect the entire country positively. Construction will return, the displaced will return, and prices will go down,” said Huda Qassar, a 33-year-old English-language teacher.The Syrian foreign ministry called Trump’s decision a “pivotal turning point” that would help bring stability.

UAE welcomes Trump’s announcement to lift sanctions on Syria
Arab News/May 14, 2025
LONDON: The UAE has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement to lift sanctions on Syria, viewing it as a significant step toward supporting Syria’s prosperity. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its strong support for the aspirations of the Syrian people and praised the efforts made by Saudi Arabia in this regard, according to a statement. The UAE hopes the US announcement will support economic recovery, promote development, and bring stability to Syria. The ministry reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to helping all efforts to achieve Syria’s security and growth. Trump announced during a speech at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday that he was lifting Assad-era sanctions on Syria in response to demands from Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, Trump met with Syrian interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Riyadh. Trump said he agreed to meet with Al-Sharaa after being encouraged by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

What would lifting US sanctions on Syria mean to the war-torn country?
AP/May 14, 2025
BEIRUT: President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US will ease sanctions on Syria could eventually facilitate the country’s recovery from years of civil war and transform the lives of everyday Syrians. But experts say it will take time, and the process for lifting the sanctions — some of which were first introduced 47 years ago — is unclear. “I think people view sanctions as a switch that you turn on and off,” said Karam Shaar, a Syrian economist who runs the consultancy firm Karam Shaar Advisory Limited. “Far from it.”Still, the move could bring much-needed investment to the country, which is emerging from decades of autocratic rule by the Assad family as well as the war. It needs tens of billions of dollars to restore its battered infrastructure and pull an estimated 90 percent of population out of poverty.
And Trump’s pledge has already had an effect: Syrians celebrated in streets across the country, and Arab leaders in neighboring nations that host millions of refugees who fled Syria’s war praised the announcement.
What are the US sanctions on Syria? Washington has imposed three sanctions programs on Syria. In 1979, the country was designated a “state sponsor of terrorism” because its military was involved in neighboring Lebanon’s civil war and had backed armed groups there, and eventually developed strong ties with the powerful militant Hezbollah group. In 2003, then-President George W. Bush signed the Syria Accountability Act into law, as his administration faced off with Iran and Tehran-backed governments and groups in the Mideast. The legislation focused heavily on Syria’s support of designated terror groups, its military presence in Lebanon, its alleged development of weapons of mass destruction, as well as oil smuggling and the backing of armed groups in Iraq after the US-led invasion. In 2019, during Trump’s first term, he signed the Caesar Act, sanctioning Syrian troops and others responsible for atrocities committed during the civil war.Caesar is the code name for a Syrian photographer who took thousands of photographs of victims of torture and other abuses and smuggled them out of the country. The images, taken between 2011 and 2013, were turned over to human rights advocates, exposing the scale of the Syrian government’s brutal crackdown on political opponents and dissidents during countrywide protests. What has been the impact of US sanctions on Syria? The sanctions — along with similar measures by other countries — have touched every part of the Syrian economy and everyday life in the country.
They have led to shortages of goods from fuel to medicine, and made it difficult for humanitarian agencies responding to receive funding and operate fully. Companies around the world struggle to export to Syria, and Syrians struggle to import goods of any kind because nearly all financial transactions with the country are banned. That has led to a blossoming black market of smuggled goods. Simple tasks like updating smartphones are difficult, if not impossible, and many people resort to virtual private networks, or VPNs, which mask online activity, to access the Internet because many websites block users with Syrian IP addresses. The impact was especially stark after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkiye and northern Syria in February 2023, compounding the destruction and misery that the war had already brought. Though the US Treasury issued a six-month exemption on all financial transactions related to disaster relief, the measures had limited effect since banks and companies were nervous to take the risk, a phenomenon known as over-compliance. Interim Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa — who led the insurgency that ousted President Bashar Assad — has argued the sanctions have outlived their purpose and are now only harming the Syrian people and ultimately preventing the country from any prospect of recovery. Trump and Al-Sharaa met Wednesday. Washington eased some restrictions temporarily in January but did not lift the sanctions. Britain and the European Union have eased some of their measures.
What could lifting the sanctions mean for Syria?
After Trump’s announcement, Syria’s currency gained 60 percent on Tuesday night — a signal of how transformational the removal of sanctions could be. Still, it will take time to see any tangible impact on Syria’s economy, experts say, but removing all three sanctions regimes could bring major changes to the lives of Syrians, given how all-encompassing the measures are. It could mean banks could return to the international financial system or car repair shops could import spare parts from abroad. If the economy improves and reconstruction projects take off, many Syrian refugees who live in crowded tented encampments relying on aid to survive could decide to return home. “If the situation stabilized and there were reforms, we will then see Syrians returning to their country if they were given opportunities as we expect,” says Lebanese economist Mounis Younes. The easing of sanctions also has an important symbolic weight because it would signal that Syria is no longer a pariah, said Shaar. Mathieu Rouquette, Mercy Corps’ country director for Syria, said the move “marks a potentially transformative moment for millions of Syrians who have endured more than 13 years of economic hardship, conflict, and displacement.”But it all depends on how Washington goes about it. “Unless enough layers of sanctions are peeled off, you cannot expect the positive impacts on Syria to start to appear,” said Shaar. “Even if you remove some of the top ones, the impact economically would still be nonexistent.”

Leaders of Israel’s Druze say the state owes it to them to defend Syrian kin
Reuters/May 14, 2025
HURFEISH, Israel: Pained and angered by deadly clashes between Islamist and Druze gunmen in Syria in recent weeks, leaders of Israel’s own Druze minority say the Israeli military was right to intervene to defend the Druze and should do so again if violence restarts. Close ties between the Israeli state and its 120,000 Druze citizens, strengthened by the fact that Druze men serve in the Israel Defense Forces, are one of the reasons for Israel’s deepening involvement in Syria. “The Druze in Israel have forged a bond with the country and with the Jewish people. We are fighting alongside them on all fronts,” said Anwer Amer, a former police officer who is now the mayor of Hurfeish, a Druze town in the Galilee, northern Israel. “I expect my state and the Jewish people to reciprocate for everything we’ve done for it and defend our brothers in Syria,” he told Reuters at his office. An Arab minority straddling Lebanon, Syria and Israel, the Druze practice a secret religion that is an offshoot of Islam. Loyal to their culture and to each other, they also seek good relations with the countries where they live. Druze solidarity is not Israel’s only concern in Syria, which has been run by an Islamist group that was once an Al-Qaeda affiliate since Bashar Assad was ousted in December. Israel sees the Islamists as a threat and has sought to keep their armed forces out of regions close to its border, such as Sweida province where the majority are Druze. Regional geopolitics are shifting. Israel frequently bombed Syria during Assad’s rule to counter his backer, Iran, but now worries about Türkiye, a close ally of the Islamists, becoming stronger in Syria and gaining a foothold near Israel’s border. In a major policy change, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States would lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, setting aside deep Israeli suspicion of the new administration there. In this transformed landscape, defending the Syrian Druze is in Israel’s interest because they help keep the Islamists at bay, said Sarit Zehavi, founder of the Alma Center, a security research and teaching organization in the Galilee. “Building relationships with the Druze of Syria that are living a few tens of kilometers from the border could help ensure the Islamist monster is not growing next to our border,” she said, adding that this was a lesson learned from the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. She said Israel was also duty bound to help the Druze because of its “special relationship” with its own Druze. That relationship was strained in 2018, when tens of thousands of Druze protested against a new law stating that only Jews have the right of self-determination in the country. Yet in the Galilee’s Druze villages, perched on steep slopes lush with oak and olive trees, Israeli flags and Druze flags — a green triangle with red, yellow, blue and white stripes — are equally ubiquitous on flagpoles and public buildings. In March, a delegation of Syrian Druze religious elders was allowed into Israel to visit a holy shrine for the first time in 50 years, sparking huge celebrations among Israeli Druze.
’NO OTHER CHOICES’
The fighting in Druze areas of Syria started on April 29 and left more than 100 Druze dead, mostly gunmen, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which also reported 32 Islamist deaths. Coming after hundreds of Alawites, another Syrian minority, were slaughtered by pro-government fighters in March, the violence was viewed as an existential threat by many Druze. “It’s not easy to see the pictures and to hear them turning to us to help,” said Anan Wahabi, a Druze former IDF officer, now a university lecturer in political science. The spiritual leader of the Israeli Druze, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to press for military action. Some Druze soldiers signed a letter volunteering to go and fight in Syria. Druze protesters blocked roads to pressure the government into intervening. Israel responded with air strikes, including one near the presidential palace in Damascus which it called a warning to the Syrian government not to deploy forces south of the capital or threaten the Druze. It also said it had sent ground troops to protect Druze villages and had evacuated some casualties.“The IDF continues to monitor developments and remains at peak readiness for defense andvarious scenarios,” it said last week. Syria accused Israel of a dangerous escalation and rejected any foreign intervention. The government has made concessions to ease tensions with the Druze, such as hiring security forces locally rather than bringing them in from elsewhere. Some Druze say Israel should keep quieter about its actions to shield the Syrian Druze from being seen as Israeli proxies. “We expect a country that we die for to protect our brothers, but it’s better if they tone it down,” Salim Barik, a political scientist, was quoted as saying by Israeli newspaper Calcalist. But Wahabi said the Syrian Druze needed Israel’s support regardless of optics. “In this chaos in Syria the Druze have no other choices,” he said. In the Galilee village of Yanuh-Jat, local religious elder Sheikh Kamal Hatib, speaking at the shrine of a Druze saint, said Israeli Druze would keep pushing for their government to protect their Syrian brethren. “If something happens, we’re going to be there,” he said.

Iran says to hold nuclear talks with Europeans this week
AFP/May 14, 2025
TEHRAN: Iran will hold a fresh round of nuclear talks with European powers in Turkiye later this week, its Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. The talks with Britain, France and Germany would be held in Istanbul on Friday, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, quoted by state news agency IRNA.
French diplomatic sources gave the same information, but there was still no word from Berlin or London on the meeting which was originally slated for earlier this month but postponed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the talks would be held “at the level of deputy foreign ministers.”The European nations — known as the E3 — were among the world powers that negotiated the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal along with China, Russia and the United States. Donald Trump, in his first term as president, effectively torpedoed the accord in 2018 by unilaterally withdrawing the US. Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran, backing nuclear diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails. Iran has held several discreet meetings on the nuclear agenda with the E3 since late last year — most recently in February in Geneva — ahead of indirect negotiations with Washington that began on April 12. “While we continue the dialogue with the United States, we are also ready to talk with the Europeans,” Araghchi said. “Unfortunately, the Europeans themselves have become somewhat isolated in these negotiations with their own policies,” he added, without elaborating.
“We do not want such a situation and that’s why we have continued our negotiations” with them, he said. Friday’s meeting will follow the latest round of Oman-mediated Iran-US talks on Sunday, which Tehran described as “difficult but useful” while a US official said Washington was “encouraged.” Iran and the United States have so far held four rounds of talks, the highest-level contact in years between the long-time foes, since the US abandoned the 2015 nuclear accord. Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire atomic weapons, while Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. European governments are currently weighing whether to trigger the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 deal, which would reinstate UN sanctions in response to Iranian non-compliance — an option that expires in October. On Tuesday, Trump criticized Iran’s leadership, regional role, alleged mismanagement, and threatened to slash its oil exports if nuclear talks fail. “Iran’s leaders have focused on stealing their people’s wealth to fund terror and bloodshed abroad,” said Trump at a Saudi investment forum. He reiterated his willingness to “make a deal with Iran” but threatened to impose “massive maximum pressure,” including driving Iranian oil exports to zero if talks failed. Araghchi dismissed the remarks as a “very deceptive view” of Iran and blamed US sanctions, pressure and both military and non-military threats for hindering the country’s progress.

Air raid sirens sound in Palestinian cities to commemorate 77th anniversary of Nakba
Arab News/May 14, 2025
LONDON: Palestinians in the Occupied Territories on Wednesday commemorated the 77th anniversary of the national catastrophe in 1948 known as the Nakba. Air raid sirens sounded for 77 seconds in various Palestinian cities in the West Bank, marking the anniversary of the Nakba. The commemoration took place amid ongoing Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, leading to forced displacements and accusations of genocide, with more than 52,000 Palestinians killed since late 2023, according to the Wafa news agency. Israeli actions in the West Bank have resulted in the displacement of 40,000 people from the Jenin and Tulkarm refugee camps, an increase in settler attacks, home raids, and the banning of UNRWA, the agency responsible for providing relief to Palestinian refugees. Wafa reported that thousands of Palestinians participated in a rally in Ramallah on Wednesday, carrying Palestinian flags, black banners, and door keys, symbols of the right of return. Mahmoud Al-Aloul, deputy chairman of the Fatah Movement, said Palestinians mark the Nakba “under difficult circumstances.”He said: “There is a more severe and painful catastrophe currently being experienced by our people in the Gaza Strip, where the occupation is claiming the lives of children and women, and is carrying out massacres, siege, and starvation. “The massacres are extending to the West Bank governorates, and settlers are wreaking terror against citizens, their land, and Islamic and Christian holy sites, under the protection of the occupation forces,” he added. “This is in addition to the abuse of prisoners, which has resulted in the martyrdom of dozens of them in occupation prisons.” During the Nakba in 1948 Jewish militias drove about 750,000 Palestinians from towns and villages, events that led to the establishment of modern-day Israel. Palestinian refugees were settled in UN-established camps in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. The majority of the families’ towns and villages are in Israeli territory.

Gaza rescuers say 80 killed in Israeli strikes amid hostage release talks
AFP/May 14, 2025
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Gaza rescuers said at least 80 people were killed in Israeli bombardment across the Palestinian territory on Wednesday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to US envoy Steve Witkoff about the release of hostages. Negotiations for the release of the captives held in Gaza have been ongoing, with the latest talks taking place in the Qatari capital Doha, where US President Donald Trump was visiting on Wednesday. Netanyahu’s office said the premier had discussed with Witkoff and his negotiating team “the issue of the hostages and the missing.”
Witkoff later said Trump had “a really productive conversation” with the Qatari emir about a Gaza deal, adding that “we are moving along and we have a good plan together.”Fighting meanwhile raged in Gaza, where civil defense official Mohammed Al-Mughayyir told AFP 80 people had been killed by Israeli bombardment since dawn, including 59 in the north. AFP footage from the aftermath of a strike in Jabalia, northern Gaza, showed mounds of rubble and twisted metal from collapsed buildings. Palestinians, including young children, picked through the debris in search of belongings. Footage of mourners in northern Gaza showed women in tears as they kneeled next to bodies wrapped in bloodstained white shrouds. “It’s a nine-month-old baby. What did he do?” one of them cried out. Hasan Moqbel, a Palestinian who lost relatives, told AFP: “There are no homes fit for living. I have no shelter, no food, no water. Those who don’t die from air strikes die from hunger, and those who don’t die from hunger die from lack of medicine.”Israel’s military on Wednesday urged residents in part of a Gaza City neighborhood to evacuate, warning that its forces would “attack the area with intense force.” From the occupied West Bank, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Wednesday he favored a “ceasefire at any price” in Gaza, accusing Netanyahu of wanting to continue the war “for his own reasons.”
Mohammad Awad, an emergency doctor in northern Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital, told AFP that supply shortages meant his department could not properly handle the flow of wounded from the Jabalia strike. “There are not enough beds, no medicine, and no means for surgical or medical treatment, which leaves doctors unable to save many of the injured who are dying due to lack of care,” he said. Awad added that “the bodies of the martyrs are lying on the ground in the hospital corridors after the morgue reached full capacity. The situation is catastrophic in every sense of the word.”Israel imposed an aid blockade on the Gaza Strip on March 2 after talks to prolong a January 19 ceasefire broke down. The resulting shortages of food and medicine have aggravated an already dire situation in the Palestinian territory, although Israel has dismissed UN warnings that a potential famine looms.UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, unimpeded humanitarian access and an immediate cessation of hostilities,” in Gaza. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “ever more dramatic and unjustifiable.”A US-led initiative for aid distribution under Israeli military security drew international criticism as it appears to sideline the United Nations and existing aid organizations, and would overhaul current humanitarian structures in Gaza. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said the plan would make “aid conditional on forced displacement” and vetting of the population. It added in a statement that Israel was creating “conditions for the eradication of Palestinian lives in Gaza.”Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18, with officials later talking of retaining a long-term presence in the Palestinian territory.
Following a short pause in air strikes during the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. on Monday, Israel resumed its pounding of Gaza. Netanyahu said on Monday that the military would enter Gaza “with full force” in the coming days. He added that his government was working to find countries willing to take in Gaza’s population. The Israeli government approved plans to expand the offensive earlier this month, and spoke of the “conquest” of Gaza. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,928 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.

Israel warns Yemenis to avoid ports after intercepting missile
AFP/May 14, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s army on Wednesday urged Yemenis to stay away from Houthi-held ports, in a likely warning of retaliation after it intercepted a missile fired by the Iran-backed militia. The Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, have repeatedly targeted Israel and shipping in the Red Sea since the October 2023 start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted,” said the Israeli military. AFP correspondents in Jerusalem heard explosions, likely from the interception of the missile.The Houthis, who control large swathes of the Arabian Peninsula country, claimed responsibility for launching the missile in what they said was their third attack on Israel in less than 24 hours. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said they targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel’s main gateway near Tel Aviv, using what they called “a hypersonic ballistic missile.”The Israeli military later warned Yemenis to stay away from three Houthi-held sea ports. “Due to the use of sea ports by the terrorist Houthi regime... we urge all people present in these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your safety until further notice,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X, mentioning the Yemeni ports of Hodeida, Ras Issa and Salif. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, said the missile threat from Yemen was disrupting daily life. “While we handle this press conference, there are sirens in Jerusalem and the center of Israel after missiles from the Houthis in Yemen,” he said. “Millions of Israelis are now running for shelter, and it happens during the time that all the children go to schools or to kindergartens, and this is daily life under these attacks.”On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it intercepted another missile with which the Houthis claimed they targeted Ben Gurion. Last month, a missile fired by the Iran-backed group struck the grounds of the airport, gouging a hole near its main terminal building and wounding several people, in a rare penetration of Israel’s air defenses. Israel retaliated against the Houthis by striking the airport in Yemen’s rebel-controlled capital Sanaa and three nearby power stations.The Israeli military had issued a warning on Sunday for Yemenis to leave three Houthi-controlled ports, but no strikes have been reported since. The Houthis paused their attacks during a recent two-month ceasefire in the Gaza war, but in March threatened to renew them over Israel’s aid blockade on Gaza. US President Donald Trump, currently in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a tour of the Gulf, last week announced the Houthis had agreed to halt attacks on shipping. The United States began carrying out strikes against the Houthis in early 2024 under president Joe Biden, and Trump’s administration launched renewed attacks on the militia in March. The Pentagon said on April 30 that US strikes had hit more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since mid-March in an operation dubbed “Rough Rider.”

Jordanian King discusses Gaza with UK national security adviser
Arab News/May 14, 2025
LONDON: King Abdullah II of Jordan met UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell at Al-Husseiniya Palace to discuss regional developments on Wednesday. King Abdullah highlighted the significance of the relationship between Amman and London and the cooperation in various sectors, including defense, during the meeting that Crown Prince Hussein also attended. He emphasized the urgent need to reinstate the ceasefire in Gaza, resume the flow of humanitarian aid and rebuild the Palestinian coastal enclave without displacing its residents, the Petra news agency reported. They discussed the current events in the occupied West Bank and new developments in Syria. King Abdullah commended the UK’s role in promoting stability in the region, Petra added. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, the director of the King’s office, Alaa Batayneh, Ambassador to the UK Manar Dabbas, Director of the General Intelligence Department Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni, and British Ambassador to Jordan Philip Hall.

UK and 4 other European nations urge Israel to lift Gaza aid blockade, warn against annexation
Arab News/May 14, 2025
NEW YORK CITY: The UK and four other European countries on Tuesday called on Israeli authorities to immediately lift their blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza. They said the continuing restrictions are placing millions of Palestinian civilians at risk of starvation, and undermining prospects for peace. In a joint statement delivered at the UN, Britain, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia said the Israeli government’s ongoing obstruction of aid deliveries, now entering its third month, was “unacceptable” and risked compounding what UN agencies have warned is a looming famine. “Blocking aid as a ‘pressure lever’ is unacceptable,” the nations said. “Palestinian civilians, including children, face starvation … Without an urgent lifting of the aid block, more Palestinians are at risk of dying; deaths that could easily be avoided.”The nations, which had called an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation in Gaza, also warned that any Israeli move to seize parts of the territory would breach international law and increase instability in the region.“Any attempt by Israel to annex land in Gaza would be unacceptable and violate international law,” they said. “Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.”The intervention followed the recent approval by the Israeli Security Cabinet of plans to expand military operations in Gaza, a move the European countries said would only add to Palestinian suffering while doing little to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas. “We strongly oppose both these actions,” they added, referring to the blockade and the expansion of military activity. “They do nothing to serve the long-term interests of peace and security in the region, nor to secure the safe return of the hostages.”The governments of the five countries welcomed the release on Monday of Edan Alexander, an Israeli American hostage held by Hamas since the attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but reiterated their demands for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining captives. “Their suffering must end,” they said. “Hamas must have no future role in Gaza or be in a position to threaten Israel.”The five nations also expressed concern about Israeli proposals for a new aid-delivery mechanism in Gaza that the UN warns would fail to meet established humanitarian principles. “Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or military tactic,” the countries warned. “Any model for distributing humanitarian aid must be independent, impartial and neutral, and in line with international law.”They said international humanitarian law places an obligation on Israel to allow “safe, rapid and unimpeded” access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, adding: “Gaza is not an exception.”The nations also condemned recent attacks on humanitarian workers, including the killing of representatives of the Palestinian Red Crescent and a military strike on a UN compound on March 19, which they described as “outrageous.”“At least 418 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began,” they said. “That is at least 418 too many.”The countries urged Israel authorities to complete their investigation into the incident at the UN compound, publish the findings and “take concrete action to ensure this can never happen again.”They repeated previous calls for an immediate ceasefire agreement, the release of all hostages, and renewed efforts to achieve a two-state solution to the wider conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. They backed plans by France and Saudi Arabia to host an international conference on this issue in New York next month. “This is the only way to achieve long-term peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis,” the countries said.

Italy’s Meloni urges Israel's Netanyahu to respect international law in Gaza
Reuters/May 14, 2025
ROME: Israel must respect international law in its military operation in Gaza, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave increasingly “dramatic and unjustifiable.”Israel invaded Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, and has recently announced plans for an expanded offensive to defeat militant group Hamas. “Over the past months I have spoken with Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu on several occasions, and the conversations have often been difficult,” Meloni told a question time session in the Italian lower house of parliament. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities. The military campaign has left Gaza on the brink of famine, aid groups and international agencies say. “I have always recalled the urgency of finding a way to end the hostilities and respect international law and international humanitarian law. A request that I renew today,” Meloni said. Israeli strikes intensified this week, killing dozens in northern Gaza, locals have said. French President Emmanuel Macron this week also criticized Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza, calling it shameful. The Israeli leader struck back accusing Macron of siding with Hamas.Meloni’s government has been one of Israel’s most vocal supporters within Europe, but there has been growing unease within parts of her coalition over Israel’s relentless and long-running military campaign.

German Chancellor Merz says Israel should bring hostages back alive
Reuters/May 14, 2025
BERLIN: Germany wants to see the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including Germans, brought back alive and Israel should consider this in its military actions in the strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday. Asked whether Germany would implement an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Merz said that in principle it should be possible for an Israeli prime minister to visit Germany. How this could happen would be clarified when necessary, he said at the joint press conference with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Berlin, adding that no bilateral visits by him or Netanyahu were currently planned. Merz said future financial support for UNRWA, the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees, was conditional on the organization being reformed.

New campaign against Israel-linked brands gains ground in India
Sanjay Kumar/Arab News/May 14, 2025
New Delhi: There were only a handful of students at the first BDS India rally last month, but the movement is now gaining ground across the country as more people are willing to join efforts to boycott products and companies linked to Israel.
While many grassroots groups have been organizing in India to protest Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza that began in October 2023, it is only recently that the efforts began to focus on advancing the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. The first such protest took place in Hyderabad on April 5 and similar rallies and public awareness meetings have since been held in 10 other Indian cities. “For the last two months, we have been actively promoting the BDS movement in India ... we have been going to different neighborhoods, campuses, working-class areas and we are seeing that the common masses are very receptive,” Sreeja Dontireddy, BDS India coordinator, told Arab News on Wednesday. “We began with maybe five to 10 people in each city or team. Now that number has definitely grown to much more than that, to around 20-25. And different people come to different campaigns. The teams are constantly growing because more and more people are volunteering to be part of the campaign.” The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is a global campaign launched in 2005 to pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect Palestinian rights. It calls for the boycott of Israeli goods and institutions, divestment from companies complicit in violations of Palestinian rights, as well as sanctions against the Israeli state. BDS is inspired by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and its goal is to end the occupation of Palestinian land and uphold the right of return for Palestinian refugees to their homeland. Support for Palestine has always been an important part of India’s foreign policy even before Indian independence from British colonial rule in 1947.
Many years before the establishment of Israel, Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India’s freedom movement, had opposed a Jewish nation-state in Palestine, deeming it inhumane and wrong. But a change in the Indian government’s stance has been visible over the past few years. During Israel’s deadly campaign in Gaza, India has even supplied it with weapons. “Our country’s government might directly or indirectly support Israel, but that doesn’t mean that the people of India also must do so ... when we explain to them that this is a liberation struggle and Palestine is fighting for its independence, they are very receptive,” Dontireddy said. “The people of Palestine are relentlessly fighting with whatever means they have. And this is a source of inspiration and awe for all of us. And it is our duty to stand by them. And BDS offers something operative to do in that instance, and it allows us also to create a tangible effect that will affect and injure the sort of hegemony that Israel enjoys.”BDS India activists have been raising awareness about companies and products that have links to Israel. They approach people individually, in local neighborhoods, share their product lists with shopkeepers and have some of them place boycott-related stickers and materials on their displays. They also organize rallies in front of international outlets featured on global boycott lists. “People are clearly angry about what is happening in Palestine. They really want to do something,” said Swapnaja Limkar, a member of the BDS India movement in Pune. “Initially, there were like 10 people. After a month or so, we have about 200 people in every protest. We have organized some boycott protests outside Starbucks, outside Domino’s Pizza, and are campaigning every day. We have gathered around 200 people who are in support of Palestine in Pune right now.”
The most recent BDS India protests took place on May 10 in front of Domino’s outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Patna and Vijayawada. “Not only physically, but also on social media, people have shown presence as well as support in larger numbers,” said Akriti Chaudhary from BDS India in Delhi. “The movement has been growing steadily, and more and more people are joining the campaign ... we have suffered 200 years of colonialism. No one can understand better than us what it means. That’s why the Palestinian issue resonates with us, and we need to stand with the people of Palestine in this hour of crisis, as they face an existential threat from Zionist Israel.”

Putin not listed in Kremlin delegation for Istanbul talks: statement
AFP/May 14, 2025
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin was not on a list of negotiators the Kremlin published for talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Thursday, despite Kyiv insisting he attend and some allies calling on him to attend. The Kremlin late Wednesday named four negotiators — including a hawkish former culture minister — and four experts for the talks, set to take place on Thursday in Istanbul.

Turkiye eyes legal steps after Kurdish militant group PKK disbands
AFP/May 14, 2025
ANKARA: After the decision by the Kurdish militant group PKK to disband, Turkiye was eyeing Wednesday a raft of legal and technical measures to ensure its full implementation and finally end a four-decade insurgency. Monday’s announcement sought to draw a line under a bloody chapter that began in 1984 when the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) took up arms, triggering a conflict that cost more than 40,000 lives. “What matters most is the implementation,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, pledging to “meticulously monitor whether the promises are kept.”The pro-Kurdish DEM party, a key player that facilitated contact between jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan and the political establishment, urged Ankara on Tuesday to take “confidence-building steps” such as freeing political prisoners. So far, Turkish officials have said little but the government is working on a proposal that could ease prison sentences in general. The text, which should be submitted to parliament by June at the latest, provides for the conditional release of all those in pre-trial detention for offenses committed before July 31, 2023. There are also plans to release to house arrest those who are sick, or women with children, if they are serving sentences of less than five years. There are nearly 10,000 political prisoners in this country. If a peace process is ever to get under way, they must be released as soon as possible
DEM co-chair Tulay Hatimogullari
The moves could affect more than 60,000 people, Turkish media reports say. But the authorities are reportedly being careful not to frame it as an “amnesty.”“Sick prisoners should not die in prison... These measures should not be interpreted as a general amnesty, which is not on the agenda,” Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said. But DEM co-chair Tulay Hatimogullari said a move to free prisoners was essential. “There are nearly 10,000 political prisoners in this country... If a peace process is ever to get under way, they must be released as soon as possible,” she said Monday. For DEM, that must include prisoners like Selahattin Demirtas, the charismatic former leader of a former pro-Kurdish party who has been jailed since 2016. “With the complete elimination of terror and violence, the door to a new era will open,” Erdogan said Monday. Some prisoners, such as Demirtas or the philanthropist Osman Kavala, who is serving life on charges of “trying to overthrow the government,” could in theory be quickly freed if Turkiye heeded rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, which has repeatedly demanded their release.
PKK’s fighters and weapons
But before that, Ankara is awaiting concrete proof that the PKK has actually laid down its weapons, Abdulkadir Selvi, a columnist close to the government, wrote in the Hurriyet newspaper.“The democratic changes will start after the head of the MIT (intelligence services) has submitted his report to President Erdogan,” he wrote. According to Turkish media reports, the MIT will supervise the weapons handover at locations in Turkiye, Syria and Iraq. It will register the weapons handed in and the identity of the fighters in coordination with the Syrian and Iraqi authorities. “Our intelligence service will follow the process meticulously to ensure the promises are kept,” Erdogan said Wednesday. Most of the PKK’s fighters have spent the past decade in the mountains of northern Iraq.Those who have committed no crime in Turkiye will be allowed to return without fear of prosecution. But the PKK’s leaders will be forced into exile in third-party states such as Norway or South Africa, media reports suggest. Duran Kalkan, a member of the PKK’s executive committee, said Tuesday that renouncing armed struggle “can only be implemented under (Ocalan’s) leadership” and when he is guaranteed “free living and working conditions.”Experts say prison conditions for Ocalan, 76, will be “eased” but he is unlikely to leave the Imrali prison island where he has been held since 1999, largely because his life would be threatened. “Naming trustees (to replace deposed mayors) will become an exceptional measure... after the terrorist organization is dissolved,” Erdogan said, suggesting that Kurdish mayors removed from office over alleged ties to the PKK would be reinstated. In total, 16 opposition mayors from the DEM and the main opposition CHP have been removed since local elections in March 2024.

Divisions emerge among House Republicans over how much to cut taxes and Medicaid in Trump’s bill
AP/May 14, 2025
WASHINGTON: Cheers broke out early Wednesday as Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee signed off on the GOP tax breaks bill after a grueling round-the-clock session that pushed President Donald Trump’s package past overwhelming Democratic opposition.
But there’s still more work to do. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, also worked past midnight trying to resolve issues with Trump’s plan. Opposition is mounting from various corners of the GOP majority as he tries to muscle the party’s signature package to passage without any votes from Democrats.
On the one hand, the conservative leader of the Freedom Caucus derides the new Medicaid work requirements as a “joke” that do not go far enough at cost-cutting. Meanwhile, a handful of GOP lawmakers from New York and other high-tax states are refusing to support the measure unless changes are made to give deeper state and local tax deductions, called SALT, for their constituents back home.“To say we have a gulf is an understatement,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a leader of the conservative wing. Roy said there is “a significant number of us who could not bless this product” in its current form. Nevertheless, momentum is building toward an end-of-the-week inflection point to stitch together the sprawling package. That means combining hundreds of pages of bill text covering $5 trillion in tax breaks and at least $1.5 trillion in spending reductions on Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs to deliver Trump’s second-term legislative priority. Democrats decry the package as a give away to the wealthy at the expense of safety net programs that millions of Americans rely on. But Johnson insists the Republican majority is on track to pass the package by Memorial Day, May 26, sending it to the Senate where Republicans are crafting their own version. With his slim majority, he can only afford a few defections from his ranks.
“We’re still on target,” Johnson said at the Capitol. “The American people are counting on us.”Democrats also stayed up all night forcing marathon public hearings. One at the House Energy and Commerce Committee was still going more than 26 hours later before finishing Wednesday afternoon. All told, Democrats proposed hundreds of amendments trying to change the package, with dozens of votes that largely failed. “It is a cruel, mean, rotten bill,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., as the House Agriculture Committee debated changes to the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, known as SNAP.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said at least 7.6 million fewer people would have health insurance with the changes to Medicaid, and possibly more with additional changes to the Affordable Care Act. The CBO also gave lawmakers a preliminary analysis showing that 3 million fewer people each month would participate in the SNAP food program under the changes proposed. More than 70 million Americans rely on Medicaid for health care, and about 40 million use SNAP. The Republicans are targeting Medicaid and SNAP for a combined $1 trillion in cuts as a way to offset the costs of the tax package, but also to achieve GOP goals of reining in the social safety net programs. Most of the cost-savings would come from imposing stiffer work requirements for those receiving the health care and food assistance, meaning fewer people would qualify for the aid. The legislation would raise from 54 to 64 the age of able-bodied adults without dependents who would have to work to qualify for SNAP. It also would also require some parents of children older than 7 — it’s now 18 — to work to qualify for the benefits. Under current law, those recipients must work or participate in a work program for 80 hours a month.
The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, insists the changes would “strengthen and sustain” Medicaid for the future, and are the kind of “common sense” policies Trump promised voters.
But Democrats told repeated stories of their constituents struggling to access health care. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., revealed his own diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes at the House Ways and Means Committee hearing and the sticker shock of health costs. Democrats had proposals to revive subsidies to help people buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Most of the amendments were failing.
One of the most difficult issues for Johnson, has been the more localized debate over state and local taxes as he works to come up with a compromise for New York, California and New Jersey lawmakers. They have rejected an offer to triple the deduction cap, now at $10,000, to $30,000 for married couples.
The speaker met for more than an hour with lawmakers in his office and later into the night. Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., said the talks were cordial, but there was no deal. “More sizzle than steak in that meeting,” he said late Tuesday.
“The reality is you need 218 votes to pass a bill and the way this bill is currently constructed, it will not have that because it does not adequately the issue of SALT,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. The lawmakers believe they have leverage in the talks because without a deal, the $10,000 limit established under the 2017 tax bill expires at the end of the year and reverts to no cap at all. “These things are in negotiation,” LaLota said, adding that his constituents “shouldn’t be asked to pay for the large amount of the bill like the were asked to pay for it eight years ago.”But as Johnson and the lawmakers edge closer to a SALT deal, the conservatives are balking that their priorities must also be met. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Missouri, said he’s a no for now, but would be working to improve the bill so that he could support it. The conservatives argue that the tax breaks without deeper spending cuts will pile onto the deficit, and they worry that the Medicaid reductions do not go far enough in rolling back federal funds to expand the Affordable Care Act. They also want the work requirements, which don’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2029, to start sooner. “Basically Republicans are enforcing Obamacare, which is a surreal situation to me,” Burlison said. Republicans are racing to extend Trump’s tax breaks, which are set to expire later this year, while adding the new ones he campaigned on in 2024, including no taxes on tips, Social Security benefits and others. A new analysis from the Joint Committee on Taxation shows that most tax filers would see a lower tax rates under the proposal, except those at the lowest rates, who earn less than $15,000 a year. Their average tax rate would go up.

Gabbard fires 2 top intelligence officials and will shift office that preps Trump’s daily brief
AP/May 15, 2025
WASHINGTON: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired two veteran intelligence officials because they oppose President Donald Trump, her office said, coming a week after the release of a declassified memo written by their agency that contradicted statements the Trump administration has used to justify deporting Venezuelan immigrants. Mike Collins was serving as acting chair of the National Intelligence Council before he was dismissed alongside his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof. They each had more than 25 years of intelligence experience. The two were fired because of their opposition to Trump, Gabbard’s office said in an email, without offering examples. “The director is working alongside President Trump to end the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,” the office said. The firings, which were first reported by Fox News Digital, follow the release of a declassified memo from the National Intelligence Council that found no coordination between Venezuela’s government and the Tren de Aragua gang. The Trump administration had given that as reasoning for invoking the Alien Enemies Act and deporting Venezuelan immigrants. The intelligence assessment was released in response to an open records request. While it’s not uncommon for new administrations to replace senior officials with their own picks, the firings of two respected intelligence officials who had served presidents of both parties prompted concern from Democrats. US Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he’s seen no details to explain the dismissals. “Absent evidence to justify the firings, the workforce can only conclude that their jobs are contingent on producing analysis that is aligned with the President’s political agenda, rather than truthful and apolitical,” Himes said in a statement.
Though it’s not widely known to the public, the National Intelligence Council plays a key role in the nation’s spy services, helping combine intelligence gathered from different agencies into comprehensive assessments used by the White House and senior national security officials.
Collins was considered one of the intelligence service’s top authorities on East Asia. Langan-Riekhof has served as a senior analyst and director of the CIA’s Strategic Insight Department and is an expert on the Middle East.
Attempts to reach both were unsuccessful Wednesday. The CIA declined to comment publicly, citing personnel matters. Gabbard also is consolidating some of the intelligence community’s key operations, moving some offices now located at the CIA to ODNI buildings, her office said. They include the National Intelligence Council as well as the staff who prepare the President’s Daily Brief, the report to the president that contains the most important intelligence and national security information. The move will give Gabbard more direct control over the brief. While the brief is already ODNI’s responsibility, the CIA has long played a significant role in its preparation, providing physical infrastructure and staffing that will have to be moved to ODNI or re-created. Gabbard oversees and coordinates the work of 18 federal intelligence agencies. She has worked to reshape the intelligence community — eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs under Trump’s orders and creating a task force to examine ways to cut costs and consider whether to declassify material relating to COVID-19 and other topics. Gabbard also has vowed to investigate intelligence leaks and end what she said was the misuse of intelligence for political aims.

Neo-Nazis plotted terrorist attacks on UK mosques and synagogues
Arab News/May 14, 2025
LONDON: Three far-right extremists were convicted in a UK court on Wednesday of planning terrorist attacks against mosques and synagogues. The men were part of an online neo-Nazi group that had stockpiled more than 200 weapons and were close to finishing a 3-D printed semi-automatic gun. Brogan Stewart, 25, Marco Pitzettu, 25, and Christopher Ringrose, 34, were found guilty of multiple terrorism and firearms offenses, following a nine-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court. They will be sentenced in July. The group were arrested in February last year after an investigation by counter terrorism police found that the men were intent on carrying out a violent attack. “These extremists were plotting violent acts of terrorism against synagogues, mosques and Islamic education centers,” said Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division. “By their own admission, they were inspired by SS (Nazi) tactics and supremacist ideology.” Counter terrorism police said that the men belonged to an online group that provided an echo chamber of extreme right-wing views. They shared horrific racial slurs, glorified mass murderers and encouraged violence. The group, which idolized the Nazi Germany regime, prepared for what they claimed would be a “race war” by sourcing body armor and weapons including machetes, hunting knives, swords and crossbows. “They were a group that espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to support their extreme right-wing mindset,” said Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East. “All three took real-world steps to plan and prepare for carrying out an attack on innocent citizens.”

Saudi crown prince hopes India-Pakistan ceasefire restores ‘calm’ between neighbors
Shahjahan Khurram/Arab News/May 14, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday hoped the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan would contain escalation and “restore calm” between the two neighbors, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Pakistan has credited Saudi Arabia and several other nations for playing a constructive role in defusing its tensions with India last week after fighting erupted between the two. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Washington had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, calming fears of an all-out war between the nuclear-armed states.
The Saudi crown prince welcomed the ceasefire during his opening address at the GCC-USA summit in Riyadh on Wednesday, which was held in Trump’s presence. “We welcome the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India and hope that it will contain escalation and restore calm between the two countries,” the crown prince said as per the SPA. The Saudi crown prince said the Kingdom aimed to work with Trump and GCC countries to de-escalate tensions in the region, end the war in Gaza and seek a “lasting and comprehensive solution” to the Palestinian cause. “Our objective is to ensure security and peace for the peoples of the region,” he said. “We reiterate our support for all endeavors aimed at resolving crises and halting conflicts through peaceful means.” The fragile ceasefire has temporarily halted hostilities with India and Pakistan trading blame for the conflict.

Pope Leo says he will make ‘every effort’ for world peace
Reuters/May 14, 2025
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV, the first American to head the global Catholic Church, pledged on Wednesday to make “every effort” for peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts, saying war was “never inevitable.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke to the Pope soon after his election, welcomed the Pontiff’s offer and repeated that Kyiv backed all efforts to end his country’s war with Russia. Leo, elected last week to succeed the late Pope Francis, has already made repeated calls for peace. His first words to crowds in St. Peter’s Square were “Peace be with all of you.”He returned to the issue while addressing members of the Eastern Catholic Churches, some of which are based in conflict-ridden places such as Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and often face persecution as religious minorities. “The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face-to-face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,” Leo said. “War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them. Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seeds of suffering,” he added. Pope Leo warned against the rise of simplistic narratives that divide the world into good and evil. “Our neighbors are not first our enemies, but fellow human beings,” he said. On Sunday, the pontiff called for an “authentic and lasting peace” in Ukraine; a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages held by militant group Hamas; and he also welcomed the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Zelensky, writing in English on the X social media platform, said he was grateful to Pope Leo “for his wise words about the Holy See’s willingness to play a mediatory role in restoring global peace.”“We appreciate the Pontiff’s insightful statement and reiterate our commitment to advancing meaningful peace efforts, including a full ceasefire and a personal highest-level meeting with Russia.”Later, in his nightly video address, Zelensky said: “The Vatican can help diplomacy. There is support for a direct meeting from leaders of the Global South. And this voice is being heard.”
First leader to speak to new pope
Leo spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday in his first known conversation with a foreign leader as pope. He offered to facilitate peace talks as world leaders come to his inauguration mass, the Ukrainian leader said.
Zelensky hopes to be present for the event in St. Peter’s Square on May 18 and is ready to hold meetings on the sidelines, the Ukrainian leader’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 14-15/2025
Genocide in Syria: Jihadists Massacre Druze, Christians, 'Infidels'
Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/May 14, 2025
Ever since the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) conquered the Syrian capital Damascus with Turkey's help in December of 2024, HTS fighters and their affiliated militias -- often offshoots of ISIS and al-Qaeda -- have been massacring religious minorities throughout the country. The internet has been flooded with images... of Alawite men, women and children being barbarically shot at close range.
Most recently, after slaughtering Alawites, HTS and Syria's new Islamic regime, under the self-proclaimed "presidency" of former jihadist commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, are massacring other religious minorities in the country, including Christians and Druze.
HTS is still designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, EU, US and UK.
Qatar and Turkey are apparently the powers behind the new regime in Damascus.
Sunnis in Inkhil, Daraa, were filmed running buses for those who want to go after the Druze. HTS supporters in Idlib waved ISIS flags and incited against the Druze and Jews.
Endless footage from Syria signals that HTS and its supporters have a genocidal intent towards all religious minorities in the region.
"The targeted areas were the places of Alawites and Christians. Many innocent Christian victims were also killed. Residents of some of those places were forced to leave their homes. Then they were shot and killed. Then their houses, property, and cars were stolen." — John X, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, March 9, 2025.
The fate of these communities should not be left to al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorists in Syria. Moreover, Syria should not be left to the savagery of al-Sharaa and his HTS offshoots of ISIS and al-Qaeda, or to Turkey's terrorist mastermind, Erdogan.
For years, Erdogan has repeatedly vowed to "liberate Jerusalem," as he seems to be attempting to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and install himself as Sultan. Now, with HTS and his other proxy militias in Syria, Erdogan finally has the unimpeded path he has been waiting for to do it.
The fate of Syria's Druze, Alawite and Christian communities should not be left to al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorists. Moreover, Syria should not be left to the savagery of its President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his HTS offshoots of ISIS and al-Qaeda, or to terrorist mastermind Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ever since the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) conquered the Syrian capital Damascus with Turkey's help in December of 2024, HTS fighters and their affiliated militias -- often offshoots of ISIS and al-Qaeda -- have been massacring religious minorities throughout the country. The internet has been flooded with images -- some discredited as old or manipulated, but many not -- of Alawite men, women and children being barbarically shot at close range.
Most recently, after slaughtering Alawites, HTS and Syria's new Islamic regime, under the self-proclaimed "presidency" of former jihadist commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, are massacring other religious minorities in the country, including Christians and Druze.
HTS is still designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, EU, US and UK.
The ongoing massacres against religious minorities in Syria should not surprise anyone given that the country is currently ruled by al-Sharaa, a former member of al-Qaeda and the al-Nusra Front. He joined offshoots of al-Qaeda in 2003, fought for the terror group in Iraq for several years, and was imprisoned by the Americans between 2006 and 2011.
As journalist Adi Nirman notes:
"Al-Sharaa, who until recently was known by his alias 'al-Julani,' is a longtime jihadist who was part of the ranks of organizations associated with al-Qaida and ISIS, and even orchestrated an attack against Israel – milestones that led to his designation as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist' by the US, with a reward of approximately $10 million for information leading to his capture."
In 2011, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi -- then the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI), previously known as al-Qaeda in Iraq -- sent al-Sharaa to spearhead his group's entry into Syria.
The U.S. State Department designated al-Sharaa as a terrorist in 2013. Its "Rewards for Justice" program offered $10 million for information leading to him, and noted that "he remains the leader of [the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra], which is at the core of HTS."
President Joe Biden rescinded that bounty in December 2024, presumably in the hope that al-Sharaa would turn out to be another Konrad Adenauer, who healed Germany after the Second World War.
The UN Security Council nevertheless designates HTS as a terrorist group due to its links with al-Qaeda and ISIS. The designation has been transposed to EU law and -- theoretically -- is to be followed by all 27 EU member states.
Qatar and Turkey are apparently the powers behind the new regime in Damascus. Turkey's involvement in the rise of HTS appears to be extensive. Both Turkey and HTS both been have been occupying and exploiting parts of northwest Syria since at least 2017. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan evidently provided arms and assistance to the HTS during its December advance to Damascus and allowed the terror group to run a key border crossing in northwest Syria.
Since HTS took over Syria, jihadists have committed massacres against the members of the Alawite minority, and the persecution of Syrian Christians has skyrocketed.
Starting in April, rampant violence has been committed against the Druze by Syria's new government. Al-Sharaa seems to be hoping that dapper Western tailoring will fool the West into assuming that his thoughts align with his wardrobe. The Sunni Muslims of HTS have caused the deaths of countless Druze civilians. Videos posted on social media show HTS forces executing Druze civilians in the town of Sahnaya. Other HTS footage shows Druze civilians abducted and humiliated.
The Druze are just one of the many religious and ethnic groups in the Middle East. Separated by national borders drawn after the breakup of the Ottoman Empire in the early 1923, more than a million now live scattered among Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
A leader of Syria's Druze minority, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, has condemned the jihadist violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya, towns near Damascus, as a "genocidal campaign" against Syrian Druze. Hijri urged immediate intervention by "international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes".
Syria's new regime announced that to ensure security, it would deploy forces in Sahnaya, and accused "outlaw groups" of instigating the clashes.
Hijri said he no longer trusts "an entity pretending to be a government... because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias... and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres". "The government [should] protect its people," he added.
The attacks against the Druze came after a "deepfake" video was circulated on social media that showed a Syrian Druze Sheikh, Marwan Kiwan, appearing to denounce Islam's prophet Mohammed, angering Muslims. According to a report in the Abu-Dhabi-based news website The National:
"Druze spiritual leaders and Muslims across the country warned that the video was an attempt to ignite sectarian strife. The Syrian Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that the voice in the video was not Sheikh Kiwan's and that it was working to determine who altered the video and would mete out 'strict punishment'.
"Ahmad Al Zuaiter, a prominent resident of Jaramana, said militants from nearby areas of Ghouta fired mortar rounds into the district overnight and tried to enter through a checkpoint known as Al Nassem that is manned by Druze members of the newly established police.
"The dead included six Druze, mostly members of the police force, while the rest were attackers, Mr Al Zuaiter said.
"Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri, the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze, said the attack was carried out by 'takfiri, terrorist gangs', meaning militants who justify the killings of members of other sects because they are non-Muslims."
The fake video, and the historic Islamic animosity towards the Druze and other non-Muslims, appear to be the driving motives of the ongoing violence against religious minorities in Syria. There are no reliable figures for the exact number of casualties, but sources on the ground said hundreds of Druze are estimated to have been executed by Islamists.
A Syrian Christian, on condition of anonymity, told Gatestone:
"The city of Suwayda is where the largest number of Druze reside.
"In the city of Jaramana, the Druze live in large numbers. Sahnaya and Ashrafiyet Sahnaya are small cities, where the Druze live and HTS terrorists attacked those cities recently. The Druze lost control of those two cities to the HTS. They are being subject to massacres and ethnic cleansing right now.
"Suwayda is under attack. The Druze issued general mobilization there and are in self-defense. The Druze outside the city of Suwayda are essentially besieged.
"There is a major media blackout in those towns right now, and the Druze at the moment are mainly focused on defense."
According to the Israeli news website Ynet:
"Jaramana, a mixed Druze-Christian city near Damascus, is in a vulnerable position. Unlike the Druze stronghold of Suwayda in southern Syria—where the community is more independent and armed—the Druze of Jaramana lack the ability to defend themselves. Israel has closely monitored the situation, concerned that Syria's new leadership could test the Druze population's standing, making it a red line for Jerusalem."
Meanwhile, radical Sunni Muslims have taken to the streets in Syria, calling for jihadist violence against the Druze and other religious minorities. Sunnis in the city of Homs marched against the Druze and Jews, declaring jihad against both communities. They shouted slogans such as:
"Khaybar Khaybar, O Jew - the army of Mohammed has returned (in reference to Islam's prophet Mohammed's massacre against Jews in Khaybar, Arabia in 629.)
"Listen, listen O Druze!"
"Listen, O enemy of Islam: war and fire – no peace!"
"At your service, O messenger of Allah!"
In another video, protestors in the city of Hama are heard screaming:
"This is Sunni Hama! We want to exterminate the Druze! In the path of Allah, we march! We seek to raise the banner high! So that the religion may regain its glory or our blood will be spilled."
Sunni jihadists also took to Hama's central al-Assi square and chanted slogans, including:
"Khaybar, Khaybar, O Jews, the army of Muhammad will return"
"There is no God but Allah, & the Druze are the enemies of Allah, & the kafir (infidel) is the enemy of Allah"
"Allahu akbar!"
Sunni students at Homs University have been filmed shouting slogans inciting violence against the Druze: "For the attention of [HTS] General Security: Any Druze we see in the dorms, we're slaughtering! Inform those who are absent!"
The students also announced that they will "pour fire and bullets" on anyone who defends the Druze or "defends Sultan al-Atrash" (leader of the 1925 Great Syrian Revolt). Incitement by Sunni students against minorities at other Syrian universities has also led to Druze students being evacuated.
On April 30, in Damascus, mosques in Eastern Ghouta were heard calling for mass Sunni mobilization:
"To all young men carrying weapons: proceed and gather at the municipal building. General mobilization! All armed young men must head to the municipal building immediately."
Sunnis in Inkhil, Daraa, were filmed running buses for those who want to go after the Druze. HTS supporters in Idlib waved ISIS flags and incited against the Druze and Jews.
Endless footage from Syria signals that HTS and its supporters have a genocidal intent towards all religious minorities in the region.
In another video, sword-wielding HTS terrorists threaten to wage jihad against the Druze. One of them is heard saying, in part:
"We say to you, O enemy of Allah, O accursed Druze, you have nothing from us, but the severing sword.... Allahu akbar!"
On May 2 and 3, Israel reportedly launched its heaviest airstrikes so far this year on Syria. It included bombing a building near the presidential palace in Damascus. The Israel Defense Forces Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said "warplanes attacked... the area near Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa's palace in Damascus."
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a "clear message" to Syria's new rulers.
"We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," they said. The Israel's military later added that its forces deployed in southern Syria were ready to protect the Druze minority.
Hours later, Israel carried out more than 20 strikes on military targets across Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Syrian reports also indicate that the Israeli military facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Druze village of Khadr in Syria's Quneitra province. The aid, organized by Israel's Druze religious council, was designated for villages near the Israeli border, with additional shipments planned for other areas.
At the same time, threats against Syrian Christians keep escalating. In the "Valley of the Christians," armed jihadists and Sunni students from Hwash University, chanting jihadist slogans and holding public prayers in a show of force, stormed the Christian village of al-Mzayneh.
Nikolas Farantouris, a Member of European Parliament from Greece, visited Syria on March 8-9, and spoke with the representatives of the Syrian Christian community, including Syria's Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X. In a letter Farantouris submitted to the president of the European Parliament, he wrote, "Reliable data indicate 7,000 massacres of Christians and Alawites and unprecedented atrocities against civilians."
Patriarch John X said during a sermon on March 9:
"The bloody events taking place on the Syrian coast left many dead and wounded.... In many cities, towns, and villages, their houses were burnt, and their properties have been stolen. The targeted areas were the places of Alawites and Christians. Many innocent Christian victims were also killed. Residents of some of those places were forced to leave their homes. Then they were shot and killed. Then their houses, property, and cars were stolen."
The mass killings of hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority in the western coastal region last month and the ongoing massacres against the Druze community have also heightened fears among other minority communities -- including the Christians, Yazidis and Kurds -- and sparked calls for international protection.
The fate of these communities should not be left to al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorists in Syria. Moreover, Syria should not be left to the savagery of al-Sharaa and his HTS offshoots of ISIS and al-Qaeda, or to Turkey's terrorist mastermind, Erdogan.
For years, Erdogan has repeatedly vowed to "liberate Jerusalem," as he seems to be attempting to rebuild the Ottoman Empire and install himself as Sultan. Now, with HTS and his other proxy militias in Syria, Erdogan finally has the unimpeded path he has been waiting for to do it.
*Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21614/syria-jihadists-massacre-druze

Syria’s Druze Stand Alone ...As the U.S. lifts sanctions and embraces the country’s rulers, minorities are bracing for what comes next.
Rabeh Ghadban/Diwan/May 14, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143320/
In the desert night outside Suwayda, an elderly man leans on a cane, wrapped in a fleece over traditional robes, his pockets lined with ammunition. “We’ll work with anyone who treats us fairly,” he says. But if they don’t, “even a sick man throws his stick and takes up arms.”
The man is Sheikh Yahya Hajjar, leader of Rijal al-Karameh (Men of Dignity), the most prominent Druze militia in Syria. During a recent trip to Suwayda and surrounding regions, I spoke with fighters, religious leaders, and residents who described their reality in stark terms, explaining how the Druze were isolated, felt threatened, and had been left to fend for themselves.
In recent weeks, more than 100 Druze were reportedly killed after a doctored video circulated online, falsely portraying a Druze man mocking the Prophet Muhammed. Violence quickly spread through Suwayda and Druze communities around Damascus. The government disavowed responsibility, blaming “outlaws,” but the footage of tanks, shootings, and the public humiliation of Druze flooded social media.
In one clip, gunmen compel an older man to bleat like a sheep. “Are you really asking me to do this?” he says, before being slapped repeatedly. In another, young Druze men have their mustaches forcibly shaved—an act meant to degrade them, targeting a deeply-rooted cultural symbol. Humiliation, long a hallmark of Syria’s authoritarian tactics, has returned in force. In response, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a spiritual leader of the Druze in Syria, issues an urgent appeal for international protection, calling the attacks an “act of extermination.”
Anti-Druze sentiment spread elsewhere too. In Hama, protesters chanted that the “Druze are enemies of God.” At a university in Homs, another protest suggested that members of the community should be slaughtered, leading to an exodus of students back to Druze-majority areas. “We have a target on our back,” one resident told me.
This isn’t the first time. In 2015, fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra, a predecessor of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which is led by Syria’s president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, killed at least 20 Druze villagers in Qalb Lozeh in Idlib Governorate. Others were coerced into converting to Sunni Islam, while Druze shrines were desecrated and graves defaced. In 2018, the Islamic State group carried out coordinated bombings and raids in Suwayda, killing over 250 people in the Druze-majority city and abducting dozens of women and children.
For many Druze, Sharaa, who fought in Iraq alongside the Islamic State before founding Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, is seen as a continuation of extremist ideologies. They do not view today’s violence as isolated incidents, but as part of ongoing campaigns of terror that revive centuries-old Druze fears of being branded heretics and outcasts.
The pain of being abandoned by Syria’s new government is especially acute given the Druze role in the Syrian uprising. In Suwayda, protests that began in August 2023 over rising fuel prices quickly morphed into broader demands for regime change. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Suwayda’s Sahat al-Karama (Dignity Square) every Friday. The timing, coinciding with Assad’s cautious rehabilitation by parts of the international community, unsettled many. Having seen this before, I cautioned that, if given the opportunity, Assad would respond to Suwayda just as he had to other defiant Syrian cities—with bombings, forced displacement, and mass arrests. Still, as Assad’s grip weakened, Rijal al-Karameh joined opposition groups from Daraa and advanced toward the capital.
“We were in the operations room with other factions,” Sheikh Hajjar told me. “We got to Damascus hours before Hay’at [Tahrir al-Sham],” he added, letting out a quiet laugh. It had been a bold gamble. When the regime finally collapsed, the Druze expected recognition as partners in the uprising.
Instead, they were met with a cold shoulder. Sharaa sidelined Druze leaders from the country’s transitional process. Sheikh Hijri was excluded from the National Dialogue and the drafting process for the temporary constitution agreed in March. In our meeting, he described receiving only vague assurances from low-level envoys, his frustration shared by Hajjar. Without clear guarantees that post-war Syria would be a place “for all colors, not just one,” Hijri warned, the entry of government-affiliated forces “would be seen as an occupation.”
In Hader, a mixed border town near the occupied Golan Heights, tensions were palpable. A Druze sheikh had recently been shot in what many believe was a hate crime. Days later, graffiti defaced a shrine: “Shrine for the Druze and klab [dogs],” was scrawled on the structure. With no real government protection, the Druze have taken security into their own hands. Local militias patrol streets, resolve disputes, and repel incursions.
Israel has stepped into this vacuum, portraying itself as the guardian of the Druze. Days after the recent violence, Israeli warplanes launched their broadest strikes in Syria, including near the presidential palace.
Alongside its military actions, Israel has also deployed a more symbolic force: its Druze citizens. Many Druze acknowledge that religious and cultural expression is more openly safeguarded in Israel than in Lebanon or Syria, the two other countries where this million-strong community also resides. “They at least have their rights there,” Sheikh Hijri told me in our interview, “but we are still waiting.” In a carefully staged moment, Israel facilitated a pilgrimage for Syrian Druze to a holy site in northern Israel, transporting religious figures on military buses through recently occupied Syrian territory under police escort.
But while Druze loyalty is publicly praised in Israel and their flag flies freely, a right of expression not granted to Palestinians citizens of the country, most saw through the performance. Druze in Israel are the only Arabs required to serve in the military. They are deployed in Gaza, man West Bank checkpoints, and oversee detention centers holding Palestinians, many without trial. Their towns remain economically marginalized and plagued by neglect and crime. The 2018 Nation State Law codified their second-class status. The Druze have been severed from their historical and cultural roots, and Israel increasingly treats them not as part of a broader Arab or Muslim population, but as a conveniently distinct ethnoreligious group.
During my trip, residents in Hader said Israeli officials had visited them the day before, offering aid and reassurances. “They take our water already,” one man told me, gesturing toward Mount Hermon, whose snow-fed rivers cross Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. “We know nothing good will come.” A resident in Suwayda said it more bluntly: “Where were they when we were being slaughtered by [the Islamic State]?” she asked, referencing the massacre in 2018. Pointing to Israel’s seizure of 400 square kilometers of Syrian territory after the fall of the Assad regime—a move the Israelis have said would last indefinitely—she added: “This isn’t about protection. It’s about expansion.”
Last week, Israel’s intentions were laid bare. When Druze in Israel attempted to cross the border and join the fight in Syria, they were stopped by the Israeli authorities, prompting road-blocking protests in the north. Even Israeli Druze scholars and politicians have raised concerns. One former Knesset member warned that the community was being used as “a tool serving Israel’s long-term policies.”
Amid these unfolding events, questions have resurfaced among diplomats and analysts: What’s happening with the Druze? Does Hijri trust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? Would a deal with the Syrian government resolve this? The subtext is unmistakable: placing blame on the community itself rather than on the Syrian state that has failed to protect it.
What’s missing from many of these reactions is a basic understanding of what it means to live as a minority shaped by a long history of persecution and generational trauma. “Women and kids are terrified and aren’t leaving their homes,” one resident told me. That fear reverberates across Syria’s marginalized communities, especially after hundreds if not over 1,000 Alawites were killed last March in attacks by armed groups and government-affiliated forces following acts of violence by remnants of the Assad regime targeting them. Amnesty International has urged that the killings should be investigated as possible war crimes.
Equally troubling is the growing tendency from the European Union and now the United States to excuse the failures of a government, which is neither accountable nor inclusive. Under pressure to show progress toward normalization and improve access to Damascus, too many foreign and domestic actors have turned a blind eye to the records of unelected, deeply compromised leaders who are now part of Syria’s new interim government. In an apparent rush to secure business deals, President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia this week and announced a lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, before meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa the next day in Riyadh. All this took place despite the fact that the Syrian government has failed to offer protections for minorities.
What’s happening to the Druze is not complicated. In resisting disarmament, they challenged the government’s narrative of a seamless post-conflict transition. The violent backlash that followed was no accident—it was a message. Speculation that Sheikh Hijri or the Druze have aligned with Israel misses a deeper reality. This is not a story of disloyalty; it is one of survival.
Caught between a fractured but still repressive government, emboldened extremist groups, and Israel’s regional maneuvers, Syria’s Druze are left once again to rely on the only constant they’ve ever known: themselves. “We will protect our land, dignity, and brethren,” Sheikh Hajjar told me. “Above all else.”
https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2025/05/syrias-druze-stand-alone?lang=en&center=middle-east

Nakba Day: Confronting the truth is the first step to justice
Daoud Kuttab/Arab News/May 14, 2025
As our news feeds overflow with reports of the latest Israeli airstrike or diplomatic maneuver, it is easy to lose sight of the foundational injustice at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Palestinians, Nakba Day — marked each year on May 15 — serves as a somber reminder of that original sin: the mass dispossession and displacement of more than 750,000 Palestinians in 1948.
This was not a tragic accident of war. It was a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing that gave birth to a state by erasing a people. Entire communities were displaced at gunpoint. Villages were razed. Families fled with little more than the clothes on their backs — never allowed to return.
Today, Gaza is experiencing what many call a second Nakba. Yet few in the international community acknowledge that the majority of Gazans are themselves refugees or descendants of refugees from towns and villages in southern Palestine. What we see unfolding in real time is not separate from the Nakba — it is its continuation. Now, nearly eight decades later, the world must confront not just the consequences of that displacement, but its truth. This requires more than statements of sympathy. It requires a reckoning with the facts of what was taken — and from whom. What we see unfolding in real time is not separate from the Nakba — it is its continuation
On Thursday, at the National Press Club in Washington, one Palestinian family is stepping forward to tell that story with irrefutable documentation. Adel Bseiso, a Palestinian American, is unveiling a trove of meticulously preserved records collected by his grandfather, Mahrous Mustafa Bseiso. These include original land deeds, tax records, sales contracts and correspondence — legal documents that trace the family’s extensive landholdings in and around Beersheba, in the Negev region of southern Palestine.
Mahrous, like many Palestinians, believed in building a life through honest labor and land stewardship. He turned desert tracts into productive farmland, orchards and businesses. That legacy, however, was violently interrupted in 1948, when Israeli forces occupied Beersheba and expelled its Palestinian population. The Bseiso family, along with tens of thousands of others, lost everything.
Adel was born in the West Bank town of Al-Bireh and later emigrated to the US. He grew up with his father, Jawdat Mahrous Bseiso — a once-promising young heir to the family’s legacy who was forever haunted by the events of the Nakba. Jawdat never recovered. “He was often in a trance,” Adel recalls. “He kept asking ‘what happened to us? How could everything be taken and no one be held accountable?’”
Answering these questions became Adel’s life mission. His search led him to create the Bseiso Family Archive, which is now considered to be the largest known collection of original land ownership documents from a single Palestinian family displaced in 1948. In 2025, after years of digitization and collaboration, the archive was officially published online in partnership with Columbia University’s Edward Said Modern Arab Studies Program.
This initiative is not about revenge. It is about recognition. For Adel and thousands like him, justice begins with truth. The Bseisos are not demanding the impossible. They are demanding the same as any dispossessed people: acknowledgment, accountability and dignity.
Palestinians continue to call for a comprehensive and just solution, grounded in international law and basic human rights
Palestinians continue to call for a comprehensive and just solution, grounded in international law and basic human rights. The right of return, enshrined in UN General Assembly Resolution 194, remains a cornerstone of that vision. Whether through actual return or compensation and resettlement, the principle that no one should profit from ethnic cleansing must be upheld.
But Israel has not only refused to acknowledge the Nakba — it has actively sought to erase its consequences by denying the very existence of Palestinian refugees. One of the clearest examples of this campaign is its effort to delegitimize UNRWA, the sole UN body dedicated to Palestinian refugees.
For generations, UNRWA has provided education, healthcare and essential services. But it is also a symbol of international recognition and hope for millions uprooted by war and occupation. By seeking to dismantle this agency, Israel aims to erase both the humanitarian lifeline it offers and the legal status of Palestinian refugees. It believes that if UNRWA ceases to exist, so too will the right of return. This is not just bureaucratic maneuvering — it is an attack on identity, history and justice.
Despite everything that has happened since 1948 — through the war of 1967, the intifadas and the devastation since Oct. 7, 2023 — Palestinians have not abandoned the call for a just and comprehensive resolution. They are not asking for special treatment. They are asking that the world live up to its promises. They are asking that international law be more than just words on paper.
The question of responsibility cannot be indefinitely postponed. Without addressing the root cause of Palestinian dispossession, no two-state solution, no ceasefire and no negotiation will ever be complete. Any meaningful peace must begin by recognizing who was displaced, how and by whom.
On this Nakba Day, as Palestinians mark 77 years of loss and resilience, the world must confront an uncomfortable truth: the suffering did not begin on Oct. 7, 2023, or even in 1967. It began in 1948, when a nation was built by uprooting another.
The Bseiso archive is more than a collection of yellowing papers. It is a living challenge to a historical erasure that has gone on far too long. And it is a testament to the enduring Palestinian demand — not just for justice, but for truth.
**Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist and former Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is the author of “State of Palestine NOW: Practical and logical arguments for the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.”
X: @daoudkuttab

Decoding Trump’s historic Riyadh speech
Faisal J. Abbas/Arab News/May 14, 2025
The words “historic” and “groundbreaking” are probably used far too often by pundits. Sometimes, they are awfully misplaced, such as when used in contexts like that of former US President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech of 2009.
However, there is no doubt that President Donald Trump’s Riyadh speech of May 13, 2025, will go down in the history books as a turning point — not just for Saudi-US relations, but for the whole region as well. In fact, Trump’s Riyadh address brought so much energy that one could almost say he got a rockstar reception. His words resonated deeply, marking a significant juncture in US-Arab relations. There were three main points that made the speech historic: Trump’s statesman’s overture; his acknowledgment of previous US mistakes; and his celebration of regional triumphs, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Firstly, Trump extended an olive branch to Iran, signaling a potential shift in the region’s dynamics. He addressed the Syrian crisis by lifting US sanctions on Damascus and expressed a commitment to improving conditions for Palestinians. Furthermore, he pledged support for rebuilding Lebanon, showcasing a comprehensive approach to regional stability. He also thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts in mediating between Russia and Ukraine.
Secondly, in a candid acknowledgment, Trump addressed the missteps of past US foreign policy. He criticized the interventionist strategies of both neoconservatives such as George W. Bush and liberal administrations such as Obama’s for burdening the region with added challenges.
From Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq, which Saudi Arabia strongly warned against, to the disastrous results of the so-called Arab Spring, which was passionately encouraged by Obama’s “mis-adviser” Ben Rhodes and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he correctly identified the errors made by America in its policy toward the region this century. In the run-up to the US invasion of Iraq, we recall how Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal had raised serious concerns. “What’s going to happen to them (Iraqi soldiers and officials), especially since the army was disbanded and the government fired? And who’s going to rule Iraq if you have that?” he asked. “Saddam Hussein had perhaps 2 million people controlling Iraq. The US and its allies have close to 150,000. How do you make that work?”
Trump’s address will go down in the history books as a turning point — not just for Saudi-US relations, but for the whole region as well.
The debate at the time was not over whether or not Saddam’s regime was evil, but whether or not the US had a plan for the day after — as it turned out, it didn’t, yet the invasion went ahead anyway. “In the end, the so-called nation-builders wrecked far more nations than they built and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves. They told you how to do it, but they had no idea how to do it themselves,” Trump said.
“Peace, prosperity and progress ultimately came not from a radical rejection of your heritage, but rather from embracing your national traditions and embracing that same heritage that you love so dearly.”Trump went on to set the stage for a profitable new era working alongside the forward-looking countries of the Middle East. “Before our eyes,” he said, “a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos. Where it exports technology, not terrorism. Where people of different nations, religions and creeds are building cities together, not bombing each other out of existence.
“And it is crucial for the wider world to note this great transformation has not come from Western interventionists, flying people in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs. No. The gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation-builders, neocons or liberal nonprofits, like those who spent trillions and trillions of dollars failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad, so many other cities.”
Thirdly, Trump lauded the achievements of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. He reaffirmed American support for these states’ ongoing transformations. The Kingdom, in particular, has undergone a dramatic transition in the nine years since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled the Vision 2030 plan that is revolutionizing all aspects of the Saudi economy and society. “The birth of a modern Middle East has been brought by the people of the region themselves; the people that are right here, the people that have lived here all their lives, developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions and charting your own destinies, in your own way,” Trump said. “It is really incredible what you have done.”
Additionally, he renewed the 80-year US commitment to defending Saudi Arabia. However, he clearly indicated that the relationship goes far beyond security and that the US is a firm believer in the Kingdom’s leadership.
“The transformation that has occurred under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed has been truly extraordinary,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything at that scale happen before.”
Of the crown prince, he added, “I really believe we like each other a lot,” telling him: “You achieved a modern miracle the Arabian way.”
**Faisal J. Abbas is the editor-in-chief of Arab News.

Trump’s Saudi visit reinforces strategic importance of US-Saudi partnership
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager/Arab News/May 14, 2025
The visit of US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia on May 13-14, 2025, was a timely reminder of the enduring strength and strategic depth of the Saudi-American relationship. The political significance of the visit, along with its underlying messages, reaffirmed a dynamic that continues to shape bilateral ties: the importance of personal leadership, including trust between the leaders, underpinned by a continued convergence on regional security, defense cooperation, and economic integration. At the heart of this relationship lies the close and strategic bond between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Trump. This personal relationship has functioned as a valuable political asset, grounded in mutual recognition of each other’s leadership style, strategic clarity, and willingness to make decisive moves. The crown prince’s reception of the president reflected the continued strength of this high-level channel of engagement. In a region where personal diplomacy often complements formal processes, such relationships are instrumental in fostering progress in the diplomatic agenda. What makes this dynamic particularly impactful is that it goes beyond gestures and protocol. It creates an environment of trust that reinforces broader institutional cooperation. Trump’s visit — and his public commendation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — signaled that the dialogue between Riyadh and Washington remains robust, trusted, and strategically consequential. Beyond personal diplomacy, the visit also spotlighted important developments at the state-to-state level. Talks reportedly covered the expansion of economic ties, defense procurement, and regional policy coordination. Of particular significance was Saudi Arabia’s announcement of a $600 billion investment commitment to the US, with initial agreements spanning sectors such as energy, defense, technology, and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals. This reaffirms the Kingdom’s centrality as a major economic partner and global investor with increasing influence in shaping international value chains.
Defense cooperation continues to serve as a cornerstone of bilateral relations and strategic partnerships. The US agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package valued at nearly $142 billion, described as “the largest defense cooperation agreement” ever concluded by Washington. This deal underscores both countries’ shared commitments to regional stability and further solidifies Saudi Arabia’s role as a central pillar of Middle Eastern security.
In the realm of regional diplomacy, the visit highlighted a growing alignment of perspectives, particularly on the challenges posed by Iran and broader regional hot spots such as Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq.
While tactical differences persist, the overarching strategic outlook between both parties appears increasingly aligned. Notably, Trump reiterated his support for Saudi Arabia’s potential normalization with Israel, calling it his “dream” for the Kingdom to join the Abraham Accords.
However, he respectfully emphasized that such a step would be taken “in your own time,” a nuanced position in contrast to earlier pressure-driven approaches. This tone was well received in Riyadh, where decisions of such magnitude are made with discretion and shaped by national interest, religious considerations, and concern for regional stability. Although President Trump’s visit to the Kingdom was primarily bilateral in focus, it inevitably touches upon the broader Gulf Cooperation Council framework. One topic notably absent from the agenda was the Saudi-US civil nuclear cooperation file. The Kingdom has long expressed its ambition to establish a peaceful nuclear program as part of Vision 2030, but the issue remains in abeyance — deliberately so. Riyadh has made it clear that any forward movement must be predicated on strategic parity in the region. If Iran is permitted enrichment rights under a future agreement with Washington, Saudi Arabia and its regional partners will rightfully expect reciprocal terms.
For now, the nuclear file remains on hold — pending the outcome of US-Iran nuclear negotiations — highlighting the Kingdom’s prudent approach to preserving regional balance, its sovereign rights, and its long-term strategic interests.
Although Trump’s visit to the Kingdom was primarily bilateral in focus, it inevitably touches upon the broader Gulf Cooperation Council framework. Under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia has worked to elevate the GCC’s collective role as a proactive and influential regional bloc.
Many of the topics discussed — particularly those concerning Iran, regional issues, defense coordination, and economic diversification — have broader implications for Gulf security and integration. In this context, the GCC-US strategic partnership continues to evolve, and Saudi Arabia remains central to its direction. As demonstrated during the recent GCC-US Summit held in Riyadh on the second day of the president’s visit, bilateral ties with the US naturally feed into and reinforce the broader Gulf-American relationship.
Whether on energy policy, regional conflict management, or global trade, a united Gulf voice ensures that the region is shaping global developments rather than simply responding to them.
Trump’s visit was far more than a symbolic engagement or an exercise in nostalgia. It was a reaffirmation that personal trust, strategic alignment, and mutual interests remain the foundational pillars of the Saudi-US partnership. As global power dynamics shift and new challenges emerge, the Saudi-US relationship — rooted in mutual respect, shared strategic objectives, and sovereign decision-making — remains essential. The president’s visit reaffirmed that this partnership is not only enduring but also central to the future of regional and global stability.
• Dr. Abdulaziz Sager is chairman of the Gulf Research Center.

Trump summit in Riyadh indicates a fresh start for GCC-US partnership
Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab News/May 14, 2025
Riyadh hosted on Wednesday a summit of the GCC-US Strategic Partnership. This was the first international summit Donald Trump has attended during his second term as US president and the first trip he has taken abroad since assuming office in January — if you do not count his participation at the pope’s funeral last month. It is hard to overstate the significance of this gathering or the degree of camaraderie and genuine friendship Trump expressed toward Gulf Cooperation Council leaders. He did not hide his admiration for his hosts, especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, contrasting the GCC model — based on the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity — with other models that thrive on conflict and war.
He said that he was a man of peace, committed to ending conflicts and preventing wars — something GCC leaders applauded. His criticism of his Democratic predecessors was lengthy and scathing, citing their mishandling of this region with negligence and disrespect while indulging Iran and providing it with the means to continue its malign activities, according to the president. The summit focused on rebuilding this strategic partnership after that period of neglect and estrangement. It addressed economic and security cooperation in equal measure. All seven leaders committed to the promotion of GCC-US economic integration and the removal of barriers. The high tariffs the Trump administration imposed on GCC exports during his first term, and again earlier this year, were not mentioned specifically but were on the minds of many, especially since those one-sided tariffs were not justified as the US has not had a trade deficit with GCC states in recent years. Trade deficits were the reason cited for imposing the new tariffs.
Judging by the atmosphere at the summit, however, both sides appeared ready to take the necessary steps to increase trade in goods, which now stands at more than $120 billion, and significantly scale up investment and trade in services to several trillion dollars over the next decade.
Security discussions were paramount, considering the many regional crises on the table and the fact that the US is the GCC’s main security partner. The leaders affirmed their shared commitment to peace and regional stability, giving priority to diplomatic efforts and deescalation, while deepening their defense and intelligence cooperation. The summit addressed economic and security cooperation in equal measure. All 7 leaders committed to the promotion of GCC-US economic integration and the removal of barriers.
Trump stressed the pivotal role of this partnership in maintaining peace in the region and said that the US stands ready to work with GCC states collectively to deter and confront all external threats to their security or to the vital international waterways of Bab Al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz.
Based on the deliberations during the summit, ministers and joint working groups are expected to convene urgently to agree on how to proceed collectively with efforts to confront maritime threats and the proliferation of missiles and drones, especially among non-state actors, and to improve the deterrence and defense capabilities of GCC forces, including through early-warning systems and information exchanges.
The GCC welcomed the launch of negotiations between the US and Iran, facilitated by Oman. While they shared the US commitment to ensuring the region is free of all weapons of mass destruction, they stressed the central role of diplomacy. They also affirmed the need for future talks to include the proliferation of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, and regional activities.
While GCC leaders urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the resumption of aid deliveries, Trump was silent on this subject, perhaps in deference to ongoing talks led by his envoy, Steve Witkoff. They also raised the issue of Palestine, and Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Global Coalition for the Implementation of the two-state Solution, and expressed support for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, in accordance with internationally recognized parameters and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
Although differences of views remain on some important issues, the positive atmosphere of the summit will make it easier to address those disagreements and find ways to work together, as can be seen in the joint negotiations to end the war in Gaza. Regarding Syria, Trump informed the GCC leaders of his decision to lift the sanctions on the country and to meet with its new president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa. In the event, the two leaders met on Wednesday in Riyadh. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also expected to meet Syria’s foreign minister.
It was clear that both the US and the GCC states were pleased with the new Syrian government’s commitments to peace with its neighbors, the fight against terrorism, the disbanding of all armed groups, the adoption of an inclusive approach toward the country’s minorities, and rebuilding the nation’s economy. There was a genuine desire to give Syrians a “fresh start,” as Trump put it, and enable the nation’s new government to achieve these goals. Lifting the sanctions received the most praise.
On the issue of the war between Ukraine and Russia, the two sides appeared well aligned. Trump praised Saudi Arabia for offering its good offices and mediation services and said he was personally engaged in efforts to end the conflict. GCC leaders expressed their readiness to help resolve the political impasse and address the humanitarian collateral damage of the conflict, including family reunions and the release of prisoners. At the conclusion of the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their shared determination to work together in equal measures on security, economic integration, and the promotion of regional stability and cooperation. This was the fifth summit of GCC and US heads of state since May 2015, and it is expected that they will continue at the same pace: every two years. In addition, more frequent ministerial and technical meetings focus on specific subjects such as maritime security, cyber threats, air defense, arms purchases, counterterrorism and nuclear cooperation, as well as trade and investment, and political dialogue on regional issues.
*Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC. X: @abuhamad1