English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For May 22/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and
Sadducees!’Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast
of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16/11-20: “How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about
bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!’Then they understood
that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching
of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now when Jesus came into the district of
Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of
Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still
others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’He said to them, ‘But who do you say
that I am?’Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
God.’And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and
blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you
are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will
not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven.’Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to
tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 21-22/2025
Condemnation and Disbelief at the Lebanese Presidential Statement Regarding
President Joseph Aoun’s Handshake with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif in the
Vatican"ظElias Bejjani/May 18/2025
Video Link: Interview with Engineer Tom Harb on "Al-Badeel" Platform
Some of the key headlines from Tom Harb’s interview with Al-Badeel channel
Druze Founders’ Platform in Lebanon Condemns Reckless and Politicized Statement
Issued Following President Aoun’s Handshake with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif at the
Vatican
Video link to an Interview with U.S. Deputy Envoy to the Middle East Morgan
Ortagus (in English), from Bloomberg, during her participation in the Qatar
Economic Forum.
Lebanon says Israel strikes in south kill two
Aoun, Abbas agree Lebanon will not be used as launchpad for strikes against
Israel
Abbas, Aoun back arms under Lebanese state control
Lebanese and Palestinians leaders agree that Lebanon won't be used as a
launchpad to strike Israel
Lebanon Should Take a Cue from al-Sharaa – and Talk to Israel/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This
Is Beirut/May 21/2025
FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Security Agencies: Are you aware that a
Lebanese-American citizen Nadine Barakat claims to have uncovered a terrorist
network and saved lives in the United States?
Virginia-Based CODEplus HR Manager Nadine Barakat Claims to Know Sensitive
Information about Terrorist Groups & Money Laundry that Threaten National
Security
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on May 21-22/2025
Omani Foreign Minister: Nuclear talks to resume in Rome on Friday
Sources: Syrian government found Eli Cohen dossier in state security building,
offered it indirectly to Israel to ease tensions
US intel suggests Israel preparing strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, CNN
reports
Iran executes man responsible for Azerbaijan embassy attack
Saudi-Iranian advisors and health ministers meet
How dried-out wetlands on the Iran-Iraq border threaten the region
Fifth round of US-Iran nuclear talks to take place this week: Oman
Iran parliament approves strategic partnership with Russia
Gaza still waiting for aid as pressure mounts on Israel
Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first
general audience
Trump ‘frustrated’ by Gaza war expansion: Report
Rubio says some ‘optimism’ Gaza war could end ‘pretty quickly’
Netanyahu says ready for Gaza ‘temporary ceasefire’
82 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza as desperately needed aid fails to reach
Palestinians
Israeli ‘warning’ fire at diplomats in West Bank sparks outcry
Israel supreme court rules security chief sacking ‘unlawful’, Netanyahu barred
from naming new one
Germany defends EU-Israel deal as ‘important forum’ for talks
EU to review trade and cooperation with Israel over Gaza offensive
UK pledges over $5 million in aid to Gaza
UK FM facing calls to recognize Palestine statehood
‘A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’: Israeli Committee Backs Bill to Label Qatar a
‘Terror-Supporting State’
Israel to Build Security Barrier Along Border With Jordan
Two of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza are encircled by Israeli
forces, staff say
Oil Climbs on Report That Israel Is Preparing to Strike Iran
Europe tightens sanctions on Russia as pressure builds on Washington
US and China are already feuding again after unexpected trade truce
US to appoint Turkey ambassador Thomas Barrack as special envoy for Syria,
sources say
Titles For
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sourceson
on May 21-22/2025
Report: World's supply of critical minerals for clean energy is concentrated in
fewer countries/David Mchugh And Alexa St. John/The Associated Press/May 21,
2025
In Syria, a Shiite shrine and community navigate a changed landscape/Mariam Fam/The
Associated Press/May 21, 2025
Trump Tells Syria to Expel Foreign Fighters, But Sharaa Gives Them Army
Divisions/Ahmad Sharawi/FDD/May 21/2025
5 Ways South Africa Undermines U.S. Interests — and What Must Change/Max
Meizlish, David May and Melissa Sacks/FDD/May 21/2025
Iran Isn't Building a Civilian Nuclear Program/Daniel Greenfield/Gatestone
Institute/May 21, 2025
Why President Trump Will Destroy Every Member of His Cabinet/The Daily Beast
Podcast, Erkki Forster/May 21, 2025
Trump’s narrow window for Middle East peace/Taufiq Rahim/Arab News/May 21, 2025
The implications of EU’s decision to review relations with Israel/Dr. Abdel Aziz
Aluwaisheg/Arab News/May 21, 2025
The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 20-21/2025
Condemnation and Disbelief at the Lebanese Presidential
Statement Regarding President Joseph Aoun’s Handshake with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif
in the Vatican"
Elias Bejjani/May 18/2025
It is, indeed, a matter of pride and dignity that the President of the Republic
of Lebanon, General Joseph Aoun, met with a respected religious figure
representing the honorable Druze community in the State of Israel—Sheikh Mowafaq
Tarif—at the Vatican, the very heart of peace, love, and spiritual and human
openness. The casual meeting and handshake, which took place during the historic
mass marking the inauguration of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, were not political
acts nor diplomatic declarations. Rather, they were a vivid expression of the
values of spiritual and human brotherhood—values that rise far above narrow
calculations and populist rhetoric.
Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif is not a politician, but a respected man of religion, who
came to the Vatican by official invitation as the representative of his
community—the Druze of Israel—who are universally recognized for their
commitment, patriotism, and pivotal role in promoting peace and serving
humanity.
Has it come to this—that a handshake with a religious leader in the house of God
is now grounds for condemnation or betrayal?
And yet, despite the spiritual significance of this moment, the Media Office of
the Lebanese Presidency issued the following statement:
“The Media Office at the Presidency of the Republic clarifies that earlier
today, as President Joseph Aoun made his way to his seat at the inaugural mass
of Pope Leo XIV, he was approached by one of the Druze clerics attending the
ceremony who shook his hand. The President does not know this individual and had
never met him before. It later became clear that the man was Sheikh Mowafaq
Tarif, representative of the Druze community in Israel. The Israeli Broadcasting
Corporation deliberately circulated the photo along with a false caption. The
Media Office noted that such suspicious practices are typical of Israeli media
during similar international gatherings, but they do not change Lebanon’s
official position in general, nor President Aoun’s stance in particular.
Therefore, there is no need to promote such lies or serve the interests of the
Israeli enemy. This clarification was necessary.”
Frankly, this statement is unacceptable. It is disconnected from reality,
unnecessary, and reflects confusion, insecurity, and an embarrassing sense of
self-doubt. Instead of highlighting a moment of respect and interfaith harmony,
the Media Office absurdly rushes to distance the President from a gesture of
decency and human contact.
Let us be absolutely clear: The handshake with Sheikh Tarif does not constitute
a political stance on Israel. The only troubling element here is the issuance of
this panicked, misguided statement. Such clarifications only serve the
propaganda of the Iranian terrorist proxy Hezbollah and those obsessed with
distortion and fear mongering.
A member of the Druze community responded sharply on X platform to the
presidency’s post: “Regarding the statement published by the Presidency’s X
page: we stand firm in our position, because we are certain that the X page—like
many other state institutions—is under occupation. We do not care what it
publishes, as it does not reflect the truth. Yes, President Joseph Aoun met with
Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif and they shook hands.”
We now ask President Joseph Aoun directly: Did you personally instruct your
media office to publish this shameful and misleading statement, or did your
advisors take it upon themselves to act in your name without your knowledge?
According to informed Lebanese sources, your advisors have repeatedly led the
presidency into unnecessary entanglements, misrepresenting your actions and
distorting your positions. Some go further, suggesting that your team may
include individuals who are aligned with, or influenced by, the terrorist
Hezbollah and its anti-normalization-peace agenda. If that is the case, it is
time to make a change. Replace them—immediately. There is no shame in shaking
hands with a man of faith in God’s house. On the contrary, it is a badge of
honor.
President Aoun is urged to clarify his position publicly and to reject the
harmful and absurd statement issued by his media office. He is also strongly
advise to reconsider the team around him—because Lebanon deserves a presidency
that reflects strength, openness, and national dignity—not fear and submission
to ideological intimidation. A strong, unambiguous stance from President Aoun is
now necessary—one that restores truth, honors Lebanon’s diversity, and makes
clear that spiritual gestures of peace are never crimes to be denied.
Video Link: Interview with
Engineer Tom Harb on "Al-Badeel" Platform/A patriotic, sovereign, and legal
reading of the grave mistake and danger posed by the hesitation of Lebanon’s
rulers to implement international resolutions, their squandering of the
opportunity to liberate Lebanon, and their failure—along with the parliament
members—to take any initiative that sets a clear timeline for disarming
Hezbollah/A direct accusation against the Ministry of Defense, and the
Presidents of the Republic, the Government, and the Judiciary for appeasing the
party, executing its wishes, and remaining under its control.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143541/
May 21, 2025
Below are some of the key headlines from Tom Harb’s interview with Al-Badeel
channel
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143541/
Transcript, text, and free formulationin both languages by Elias Bejjani – May
21, 2025
*Question: How can we expect President Aoun to engage in the peace process when
he does not even control the Media Office at the Presidential Palace and avoids
taking clear stances? Two disappointing examples come to mind: the statement
issued after Morgan Ortagus’ first visit to the palace and the disavowal of her
positions, and the bizarre and puzzling statement issued last Sunday justifying
the President’s handshake with the representative of the Druze community in
Israel at the Vatican Shiek Mufak Taref, who was officially invited by the
Vatican to attend the Mass and the Pope’s enthronement ceremony.
*The Military Court is still under the control of Hezbollah, as is most of the
judiciary.
*A reaffirmation that there is no sovereignty, freedom, or independence without
a functioning judiciary and security. With Hezbollah’s occupation and weapons,
there can be no reconstruction or international aid.
*A reminder that the U.S. has a draft resolution to give the Lebanese Army a
fixed period to disarm Hezbollah—or face a halt in military aid.
*American readiness to provide the army with all the weapons it needs to carry
out the mission of disarming Hezbollah, should the party refuse to surrender its
weapons peacefully.
*A reference to the fact that the games played by Lebanese leaders—Aoun, Salam,
and Berri—toward the Americans will not succeed. They are pathetic and obvious.
*Question: Why doesn’t the army disarm Hezbollah in Beirut, the Mountain,
Keserwan, Chouf, and the Bekaa? Why doesn’t the government issue the order to do
so?
*A firm warning that the Americans know Hezbollah controls the Lebanese Ministry
of Defense... and that Joseph Aoun is not taking initiative.
*There is no benefit, wisdom, or logic in waiting for the results of the
Iranian-American nuclear negotiations. It is a national sin to give Hezbollah
time to rebuild its military position.
*A reading of the situation in Syria and what the Sharia (religious authority)
must do to support governance there—chiefly peace with Israel, ensuring minority
security, and eliminating foreign-rooted extremist militias. Saudi Arabia and
the Gulf states are working to guide Sharia toward Islamic moderation, away from
extremism and away from Turkish influence.
Druze Founders’ Platform in
Lebanon Condemns Reckless and Politicized Statement Issued Following President
Aoun’s Handshake with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif at the Vatican
Date: May 21, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143555/
(Free Translation from Arabic by: Elias Bejjani)
The Druze Founders’ Platform convened via Zoom to discuss recent developments,
particularly the controversial response to President Joseph Aoun’s handshake
with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif. The platform condemned the statement issued by the
President’s advisors—individuals who, it said, clearly lack a true commitment to
national partnership—and criticized what it called a “presidential blunder.” The
platform emphasized that such a gesture would not have been met with the same
reaction had it involved a Muslim cleric, calling the incident an affront to
Druze communities in Lebanon and around the world.
Following its deliberations, the Platform issued the following statement:
It is now evident that the Presidential Press Office at Baabda Palace functions
more like a disconnected faction of outdated traditionalists, oblivious to
regional and international developments. Its biased and politicized
statement—issued in the name of President Joseph Aoun to justify his handshake
with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in
Israel—is, in truth, a condemnation of the President himself. Claiming that the
President did not know who his guest was only deepens the embarrassment for the
presidency and the Lebanese nation.
First, this justification reveals a President out of touch with the regional and
global landscape. Sheikh Tarif is a widely recognized spiritual leader who has
engaged repeatedly with prominent world figures, championing the Druze cause in
major international and Middle Eastern capitals. His meetings have been widely
covered by the international media.
Second, the President’s response displays a disregard for diplomatic norms and
basic protocol. As host, one is expected to treat all guests with courtesy and
respect. If a guest offers a handshake, one must reciprocate. If the President
was unwilling to do so, he should have declined the invitation altogether.
Hospitality and protocol are not tools for political, sectarian, or ideological
manipulation.
Third, the statement reflects clear disrespect toward the Druze community both
in Lebanon and globally—many of whom hold Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif in high esteem.
It also disregards the views of numerous Christians in Lebanon and the region
who consider Sheikh Tarif a voice of moderation, pluralism, and democratic
partnership.
Finally, the Baabda Palace Press Office’s reaction reveals a hostile stance
toward the rational, independent Druze voice. Had the handshake been with a
Muslim cleric, there would have been no such outcry or shameful denial. This
response not only discredits the President but insults the dignity of the Druze
in Lebanon and across the world.
Video link to an Interview
with U.S. Deputy Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus (in English), from
Bloomberg, during her participation in the Qatar Economic Forum.
She expresses clear and direct positions on:
The need to fully disarm Hezbollah across all of Lebanon
The actions of those in power in Lebanon and what is expected from them
Promoting peace among all countries in the region
What is required from the Syrian regime
President Trump’s visit to the Gulf
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143528/
May 20, 2025
Qatar Economic Forum
672 views May 20, 2025
Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Presidential Envoy, United States
Moderator: Joumanna Bercetche, Anchor, Bloomberg Television
Lebanon says Israel strikes in south kill two
AFP/Published: 21 May/2025
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed two people in the south on
Wednesday, the latest attacks despite a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed
militant group Hezbollah. An “Israeli enemy drone” struck a car in the town of
Ain Baal in the coastal district of Tyre, the ministry said. The Israeli army
said its forces struck a Hezbollah operative in the Tyre area, saying he was
“responsible for establishing the necessary infrastructure for the production of
precise surface-to-surface missiles in the area.”The health ministry later said
an Israeli strike on the southern town of Yater “killed one person and wounded
another.”An official from Yater said the strike killed a man who was using a
bulldozer to remove debris from his home which was damaged during the conflict
between Israel and Hezbollah, the state-run National News Agency reported.
It was the third consecutive day of Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Israel
said it killed two Hezbollah members over the previous two days. Israel has kept
up strikes on its northern neighbor despite a November truce that sought to halt
more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah including two months of
full-blown war.Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah was to pull back its fighters
north of Lebanon’s Litani River 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.”The Lebanese army has been deploying in the south as Israeli forces
have withdrawn and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure there.
The truce was based on a United Nations Security Council resolution that
says Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only people to bear arms
in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups. Lebanon
has called on the international community to pressure Israel to end its attacks
and withdraw its remaining troops. US deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus
said on Tuesday that Lebanon still has “more” to do in disarming Hezbollah
following the war.
Aoun, Abbas agree Lebanon
will not be used as launchpad for strikes against Israel
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 21, 2025
BEIRUT: The Lebanese and Palestinian presidents have agreed that Palestinian
factions will not use Lebanon as a launchpad for any attacks against Israel.
The two sides also agreed on Wednesday to remove weapons that are not under the
authority of the Lebanese state.
The announcement came at the start of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’
three-day visit to Lebanon. Abbas and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed
their “commitment to the principle of exclusive possession of weapons by the
Lebanese state and to ending any manifestations that fall outside the framework
of the Lebanese state.”In a joint statement they highlighted “the importance of
respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and
their belief that the era of weapons outside the authority of the Lebanese state
has ended — especially since the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples have for many
decades borne heavy losses and made great sacrifices.”They said also that the
Palestinian side “affirmed its commitment not to use Lebanese territory as a
launchpad for any military operations and to respect Lebanon’s declared policy
of non-interference in the affairs of other countries and avoiding regional
conflicts.”Both sides agreed the need to reach “a just and lasting peace in the
region that would allow the Palestinian people to establish their independent
state following relevant international legitimacy resolutions, while also
ensuring that all countries and peoples in the region obtain their rightful and
legitimate rights.”The statement condemned the “ongoing Israeli aggression on
the Gaza Strip and the resulting severe human losses and unprecedented
humanitarian catastrophe” and called on the international community “to take
immediate and serious action to stop it and to provide full protection for
Palestinian civilians.”Abbas arrived at Beirut airport at about 1 p.m. and
immediately headed to the presidential headquarters. A presidential source said
the talks focused on the issue of “Palestinian weapons in the Palestinian
refugee camps in Lebanon, the extension of full Lebanese state authority over
these camps and the implementation framework for the plan.”Aoun and Abbas
underscored “the urgent need to strengthen the role of the UN and its
institutions in safeguarding the Palestinian people, upholding international law
and ensuring the enforcement of the resolutions of international legitimacy.”
They condemned the “repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon” and called on “the
international community, particularly the US and France, to pressure Israel to
follow the agreement reached under their auspices in November 2024. The
agreement stresses a cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal from
Israeli-occupied hills and the release of Lebanese prisoners.”Implementing such
measures was “essential for allowing the Lebanese army to complete its
deployment to the internationally recognized borders, following Resolution 1701,
to which Lebanon remains fully committed,” they said.
The two sides highlighted the need to “enhance coordination between official
Lebanese and Palestinian authorities to maintain stability within and around the
Palestinian camps” and their commitment to “strengthening cooperation in the
fight against terrorism and extremism and to ensuring that the camps do not
serve as safe havens for extremist groups.”On the issue of Palestinian refugees
in Lebanon, they stressed the importance of “continued support for UN agency
UNRWA, the continuation of its services to refugees and increasing its financial
resources to enable it to fulfill its obligations.”
They also agreed to form a joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee to monitor the
situation in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon and work to improve the living
conditions of refugees, “while respecting Lebanese sovereignty and adhering to
Lebanese laws.”
During his visit, Abbas is scheduled to hold meetings with parliament speaker
Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and other senior officials and
representatives of Palestinian factions from the refugee camps.
Also, the Hani Fahas Academy for Dialogue and Peace will honor Abbas with
the 2025 Peacemakers Award at a ceremony on Thursday in Beirut, “in recognition
of his efforts to promote Lebanese-Palestinian reconciliation.”This is not the
first time the issue of weapons in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon has been
raised. The matter was included as a clause in the 2006 Doha Agreement and was
discussed during the Lebanese National Dialogue in 2008, chaired by former
President Michel Suleiman. The discussion focused on the need to disarm
Palestinian factions in refugee camps and in politically protected Palestinian
communities. The clause was not enforced however,
leading to clashes in the Nahr Al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp between the
Lebanese army and Palestinian factions supported by the former Syrian regime.
The issue was tackled again during Abbas’ visit to Lebanon in 2013. In a meeting
with Suleiman he said Palestinians were “guests in Lebanon and are subject to
the law.” “The Palestinian presence in Lebanon is temporary and the Lebanese
territory’s unity and sovereignty are a sacred matter for us. We count on the
Lebanese government to protect the safety of Palestinian refugees and ensure
their well-being,” he said. Ain Al-Helweh — the biggest and most populated
Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon — witnessed armed clashes in 2013 between
the Jund Al-Sham and Fath Al-Islam factions, resulting in the death of 16
Lebanese soldiers. Abbas also visited Lebanon in 2017
and held talks with former President Michel Aoun. The following year, bloody
clashes erupted within Ain Al-Helweh between the Fatah Movement and armed
extremists, resulting in rifts between Palestinian factions there.
Further clashes took place in 2023 between members of Fatah and individuals
affiliated with extremist groups close to Hamas.
According to a 2017 census by the Central Administration of Statistics in
Lebanon and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 174,422 Palestinian
refugees were living in camps and other pockets across Lebanon.
There were also Palestinian military centers affiliated with Palestinian
factions loyal to the Syrian regime located outside the Palestinian camps,
specifically in Bekaa, which were handed over to the Lebanese army following the
fall of Bashar Assad’s regime. The Palestinian arms
crisis reached its peak following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement
between Israel and Hezbollah in November last year, when members of Hamas
repeatedly launched rockets toward the Israeli side from southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese army pursued and apprehended several suspects but four
evaded capture and went into hiding in Palestinian refugee camps in Tyre. Three
were later surrendered by Hamas following pressure from the Lebanese government
on its leadership, while the fourth, reportedly a religious figure, remains at
large.Haitham Zaiter, a member of the Palestinian National and Central Council,
said in a statement that Abbas’ visit carried “a message of support for
Lebanon.”“During the meetings, it will be emphasized that Palestinians are
guests on Lebanese territory, respect sovereignty and abide by Lebanese laws
until their return to their homeland. This is a right that cannot be waived and
does not expire with time,” he said. “Discussions will
also address issues related to the living, social and civil rights of refugees,
as well as the right to work and own property in Lebanon, which require amending
some laws. It will also be emphasized that Palestinians in Lebanese territory
are subject to the law.”
Abbas, Aoun back arms under Lebanese state control
AFP/May 21, 2025
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas met
in Beirut on Wednesday and backed placing all weapons under Lebanese state
control, as they discussed efforts to disarm armed groups in Palestinian refugee
camps. A joint statement from the Lebanese presidency
said the two leaders shared the “belief that the era of weapons outside Lebanese
state control has ended” and backed the principle that arms should be held
exclusively by the state. Abbas’s three-day trip is
his first to Lebanon since 2017. The country hosts about 222,000 Palestinian
refugees, according to the United Nations agency UNRWA, many living in
overcrowded camps beyond state control. A Lebanese government source said
Abbas’s visit aimed to set up a mechanism to remove weapons from the camps. The
source requested anonymity as they were not allowed to brief the media.
The statement said the two sides agreed “to form a joint Lebanese-Palestinian
committee to follow up on the situation of Palestinian camps in Lebanon and work
on improving the living conditions of refugees, while respecting Lebanese
sovereignty and committing to Lebanese laws.”By longstanding convention, the
Lebanese army stays out of the Palestinian camps, where Abbas’s Fatah, its rival
Hamas and other armed groups handle security. Hamas claimed attacks on Israel
from Lebanon during more than a year of hostilities involving its Lebanese ally
Hezbollah. The clashes, sparked by the Gaza war, largely subsided after a truce
in November. “The monopoly of weapons should be in the hands of the state,” Aoun
said in an interview with Egyptian channel ON TV on Sunday.
The army, he added, had dismantled six Palestinian military training
camps — three in Bekaa, one south of Beirut and two in the north — and seized
weapons. Under the November ceasefire agreement, the
army has also been dismantling militant group Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the
country’s south. Ahmad Majdalani, a senior Palestine
Liberation Organization official accompanying Abbas, said the visit came as
Lebanon entered “a new era” in which it is receiving “Arab and American
support.”“What matters to us in this new regional context is that we do not
become part of Lebanon’s internal conflicts,” he said, “and that the Palestinian
cause is not exploited to serve any party.”Ali Barakeh, a senior Hamas official
in Lebanon, said he hoped Abbas’s talks would take a broader approach than just
weapons and security. “We affirm our respect for
Lebanon’s sovereignty, security and stability, and at the same time we demand
the provision of civil and human rights for our Palestinian people in Lebanon,”
he said. Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are mostly descendants of those who
fled or were expelled from their land during the creation of Israel in 1948.
They face a variety of legal restrictions including on employment.
Lebanese and Palestinians leaders agree that Lebanon won't
be used as a launchpad to strike Israel
Bassem Mroue/The Associated Press/May 21, 2025
BEIRUT — The Lebanese and Palestinian presidents agreed Wednesday that
Palestinian factions won't use Lebanon as a launchpad for any attacks against
Israel, and to remove weapons that aren't under the authority of the Lebanese
state.
The announcement was made during a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived earlier in the day beginning a
three-day visit to Lebanon, his first in seven years.
Lebanon's government is seeking to establish authority throughout the country,
mainly in the south near the border with Israel after the 14-month
Israel-Hezbollah war that ended in late November with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.
The 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon aren't under the control of the
Lebanese state, and Palestinian factions in the camps have different types of
weapons. Rival groups have clashed inside the camps in recent years, inflicting
casualties and affecting nearby areas. It wasn't immediately clear how the
weapons would be removed from the camps, which are home to tens of thousands of
Palestinians, many of them descendants of families that fled to Lebanon after
Israel was created in 1948.
Abbas' Fatah movement and the militant Hamas group are the main factions in the
camps. Smaller groups, including some jihadi factions, also have a presence in
the camps — mainly in Ein el-Hilweh, which is Lebanon's largest Palestinian
refugee camp and located near the southern port city of Sidon.
A joint statement read by the Lebanese presidency's spokeswoman, Najat
Sharafeddine, said that both sides have agreed that weapons should only be with
the Lebanese state, and the existence of “weapons outside the control of the
Lebanese state has ended.”The statement said that both sides have agreed that
Palestinian camps in Lebanon aren't “safe havens for extremist groups.” It added
that “the Palestinian side confirms its commitment of not using Lebanese
territories to launch any military operations.”In late March, Israel intensified
its airstrikes on Lebanon in response to Hamas allegedly firing rockets at
northern Israel from southern Lebanon. Shortly after
the wave of airstrikes, the Lebanese government for the first time called out
the Palestinian group and arrested nearly 10 suspects involved in the operation.
Hamas was pressured by the military to turn in three of their militants from
different refugee camps. The nearly 400,000 Palestinians in Lebanon are
prohibited from working in many professional jobs, have few legal protections
and can't own property.
**Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press
Lebanon Should Take a Cue from al-Sharaa – and Talk to Israel
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This Is Beirut/May 21/2025
A joke has it that Syria’s self-proclaimed president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, offered
to build a Trump Tower in Damascus to make up for the two New York towers that
Al-Qaeda, al-Sharaa former organization, destroyed on 9/11, killing 2,753
Americans. Times are changing. Since October 7, Iran has been begging America
for a nuclear deal that would mothball its nuclear program until better
conditions allow Tehran to revive its ambition for nuclear weapons. Qatar, the
world’s biggest sponsor of Islamist rhetoric and organizations, is now planning
to build a Trump golf course for $5.5 billion. A significant portion of this
investment will be spent on the Trump trademark franchise.
Despite the change in the policy and rhetoric of Islamist Iran and Syria
– becoming friendlier toward America and Israel, respectively – and despite
Qatar’s two-faced policy of sponsoring terrorist Islamist organizations while
befriending the US, Lebanon continues to toe a self-defeating line, calling
Israel “the enemy” and putting Palestinian interests ahead of its own.
It is high time Lebanon abandoned its outdated policy on Israel. The
first step should be to decriminalize dialogue with Israelis, detach itself from
the deadlocked Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and engage in a frank conversation
with the Jewish state regarding land border demarcation—laying the groundwork
for eventual peace.
But make no mistake: Israel is not eager to normalize relations with Lebanon at
any price. Until Hezbollah is fully disarmed, until the rhetoric of “resistance”
is stripped from Lebanon’s political lexicon, and until the country stops
pretending that a long-term truce is a sufficient substitute for real peace –
when it clearly is not – peace with Israel will remain elusive. Syria’s
al-Sharaa seems to have a plan, the same plan that drove the United Arab
Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Morocco to sign the Abraham Accords and normalize
ties with Israel. This is the same plan – the one that elevates trade and
commercial interests over useless land disputes and old vendettas – that has
kept Islamist Turkey from severing ties with Israel, despite Ankara’s populist
bombastic rhetoric. The same motive that has driven Arab countries to normalize
ties with Israel – and persuaded Turkey to preserve diplomatic relations with
the Jewish state – is now prompting Syria’s al-Sharaa to reach out to the
Israelis.
No one knows whether al-Sharaa is sincere in his overtures to Israel or not. No
one knows whether al-Sharaa’s lieutenants talking to Israelis is a tactical move
– aimed at bolstering his image and winning recognition – or a strategic one
that sees in peace a net gain for Syria.
Whatever al-Sharaa’s true intentions are, he has opted for a pragmatic approach
toward Syria’s relations with Israel, thus going against Islamist populist
rhetoric.
That Islamist al-Sharaa has become pragmatic on Israel while Lebanon religiously
maintains its animosity toward the Jewish state is the biggest irony. Beirut
should wake up and smell the coffee. Lebanon should be jealous of Syria and
pursue peace with Israel.
A Lebanese-Israeli peace agreement would bring Lebanon a windfall of diplomatic
and economic benefits. Imagine President Trump – or future US presidents –
making a stop in Beirut as part of their Middle East tours. Imagine the Beirut
International Airport earning the trust needed to establish direct flights to
the United States, tapping into a lucrative air travel corridor connecting North
America and Europe to India. Direct diaspora flights to and from Lebanon would
further boost the country’s aviation sector – and that’s just one example.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has proven to be a disappointment – a bookish
intellectual with little charm, charisma, or grasp of realpolitik. He continues
to cling to the outdated notion of neither waging war on Israel nor pursuing
peace with it, passively waiting for the ever-divided and paralyzed Palestinian
leadership to strike a deal so Lebanon can follow suit.
By contrast, President Joseph Aoun has thus far been a breath of fresh
air, cutting through layers of ossified Lebanese rhetoric about “no peace” with
Israel and the perpetual delay while awaiting the Palestinian Godot of peace.
Aoun has shown resolve in leading Lebanon toward normalcy. When he ran into
Druze Israeli spiritual chief Mouafac Tarif in the Vatican, during Pope
Francis’s funeral, Aoun did not shy away from a handshake. His move stirred a
storm of accusations of treason among the few Lebanese who continue to behave as
if Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, who once tyrannized Lebanon through his
televised speeches, is still alive. Times are
changing. The region is changing. The world is changing, and so should Lebanon.
Just as Iran and Syria have begun charting paths that serve their national
interests – be it through closer ties with the United States or with Israel –
Lebanon must also pursue a policy grounded in self-interest, one that includes
strategic alignment with both the United States and Israel.
**Hussain Abdul-Hussain is a research fellow at FDD. He focuses on the Gulf
region and Yemen, including on Gulf relations with Iran and Gulf peace with
Israel.
FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Security Agencies: Are you
aware that a Lebanese-American citizen Nadine Barakat claims to have uncovered a
terrorist network and saved lives in the United States?
Inside Telecom Staff - May 19, 2025
https://insidetelecom.com/nadine-barakat-claims-to-have-uncovered-a-terrorist-network/
Recent claims made by Nadine Barakat, a Lebanese-American citizen residing in
Fairfax, Virginia, have raised significant concerns regarding national security.
“Nadine sent an email to the lawyers representing the party that filed a lawsuit
against her, and she also slandered all of them. Additionally, she claims to
have handed documents to the FBI in a documented video on her YouTube Channel.
These assertions have sparked serious questions about the authenticity of her
statements and their potential impact on public safety.
She said to the lawyers : “You helped me uncover a big network and this will
save lives” – see full email here
You can find the video in which she made these claims translated below:
Watch the full video here.
The false statements from her video and their implications
In her video, she claims to have handed over sensitive documents “hand-to-hand”
to the “U.S. administration,” which is misleading and inaccurate. There is no
single entity called the “U.S. administration” that accepts such files in this
manner. Sensitive documents are typically handled by specific federal agencies,
such as the FBI, which provide a receipt or official acknowledgment upon
submission. Therefore, this claim lacks credibility and appears to be an attempt
to mislead the audience.
In her video, she claims that the FBI prevented an individual from entering the
U.S. However, U.S. immigration and border control are handled by Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not the
FBI. This discrepancy suggests either a misunderstanding of agency
responsibilities or a potentially misleading claim, casting doubt on the
accuracy of her story.
If she is alleging that this individual is involved in money laundering,
affiliated with Hezbollah, connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, engaged
in terrorism, drug trafficking, or weapons smuggling—then why haven’t U.S.
authorities or the FBI (as she claims) arrested him at the airport? If any of
these accusations were true, he would be in federal prison by now—not freely
returning to his home country even without any investigations. This fact alone
discredits her claims as false and defamatory.
Moreover, under 18 U.S. Code § 1001, knowingly making false statements to
federal authorities is a serious crime. She has made such statements both on
video and in writing, making her legally accountable and potentially subject to
criminal prosecution, including imprisonment.
It is the responsibility of the authorities to thoroughly investigate any
serious allegations involving terrorism and money laundering, especially when
the accuser claims to possess documented evidence. Such assertions cannot be
taken lightly, as they may impact national security and public safety. Given
that she explicitly stated she holds such documents, it is essential for the
authorities to verify their existence and assess the truthfulness of her claims.
Ignoring or dismissing these allegations without proper investigation could
undermine public trust and compromise safety.
Check her account on X to see the highly sensitive information she shares about
terrorist groups and money laundering. As a fugitive from Lebanon with numerous
legal actions against her, the question remains: where is she getting these
sources, and why is she making them public? This situation raises significant
concerns for the Fairfax, Virginia, community
Fugitive from Her Own Country
Moreover, Barakat faces multiple legal issues in Lebanon and is considered a
fugitive with several court orders against her with rulings including 1 year of
imprisonment, you can find the court document with the rule here. This
background raises additional questions about her access to sensitive information
and the potential implications for national security.
Given her proximity to government buildings and her role at a company involved
in defense-related projects, the possibility of sensitive information being
compromised by her cannot be ignored. The urgency for a thorough investigation
by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies is needed to find out the truth
and ensure that public safety and national security are not at risk.
Discrepancies in Nadine Barakat’s Claims
Since Nadine Barakat Aboushakra claims she handed documents to the FBI, there
should be a record or receipt of that handover. If no such documentation exists,
it casts doubt on the legitimacy of her claim and could have serious legal
implications if proven false. Under 18 U.S. Code § 1001, this could lead to
fines or imprisonment of up to five years. The credibility of her claims and the
potential impact on national security make it imperative for these statements to
be verified thoroughly by the relevant authorities.
If Ms. Barakat is truthful, it implies she has uncovered a major network and
potentially saved lives, requiring an immediate investigation by U.S. law
enforcement, including the FBI, CIA, and local police. This raises questions
about the security apparatus and why the FBI may not have uncovered such a
network. If her claims are false, they must be addressed immediately, with legal
consequences for spreading misinformation that threatens national security.
Fear and Concern in Fairfax, Virginia, Over Nadine Barakat’s Claims
After Inside Telecom’s previous article, numerous calls were received. One call
from someone close to Barakat alleged that she obtained her U.S. citizenship
through illegitimate means, which raises even more questions since she is a
fugitive in her home country.
Another caller from Fairfax, Virginia, expressed that the community is deeply
worried about Barakat’s alleged ties and communications with terrorist groups.
It is not easy to find out that your neighbor is affiliated with a terrorist
network and is uncovering it from across the street as this network can target
the whole bloc…
While Inside Telecom does not endorse these claims, it is reporting what was
conveyed discussed with callers, highlighting the significant concerns within
the community.
Why Is Her Employer Staying Silent on the Growing Controversy?
Nadine Barakat holds a position as an HR Manager at a Virginia-based IT services
and consulting firm known for its work in software development, cybersecurity,
and systems integration for various U.S. government agencies, including
sensitive defense projects. Despite the gravity of the claims and the potential
implications for national security, the company has not issued any public
statements regarding Barakat’s status or affiliation. This silence leaves a
significant gap in public understanding and accountability, raising questions
about the firm’s internal actions and oversight regarding an employee with such
serious allegations. Given its critical role in national security and its
connections to government agencies, the company must take responsibility and
address these allegations promptly.
How does a firm entrusted with sensitive government contracts, defense projects,
and cybersecurity operations employ someone in a managerial HR role who has made
such significant and controversial claims? What measures were taken in assessing
and overseeing such an employee, especially given the critical nature of the
company’s clientele and responsibilities? It is unusual and concerning that no
public announcement or clarification has been made regarding her status, leaving
the public and stakeholders in the dark.
Right of Reply: Inside Telecom is ready to publish any official announcement or
response from the company regarding Barakat, including whether she remains
employed there or not.
Call for Trusted Press and Law Enforcement Collaboration
For over a year, Nadine Barakat has claimed to have sensitive information from
unknown sources, possibly linked to a terrorist group or the U.S. government.
The troubling aspect is that she may not only be receiving but also sharing
sensitive details with these groups, raising serious concerns about national
security and the potential flow of information in both directions.
Stay tuned as Inside Telecom will continue its investigation into these serious
claims, regardless of any actions taken by Ms. Barakat to remove her posts or
videos. We are committed to documenting everything thoroughly and ensuring that
the facts are presented clearly and accurately. Our responsibility as a media
outlet is to keep the public informed, and we will pursue the truth with
professionalism and objectivity, while remaining impartial in our coverage.
If any trusted press outlet or U.S. law enforcement agency in the U.S. wishes to
communicate, review, share or receive documented evidence for further
investigation related to this case, please contact us at
press@insidetelecom.com. We are committed to ensuring that the information is
handled with the utmost integrity and transparency.
Virginia-Based CODEplus HR Manager Nadine Barakat Claims to Know Sensitive
Information about Terrorist Groups & Money Laundry that Threaten National
Security
Inside Telecom Staff - May 15, 2025
https://insidetelecom.com/virginia-based-codeplus-hr-manager-claims-to-know-sensitive-information/
Nadine Barakat wearing what looks like the Keffiyeh of Palestian Group Hamas.
Nadine Barakat, Lebanese-American employee at CODEplus in Virginia, has recently
attracted significant attention due to a series of alarming claims made on her
social media accounts. These claims, which were posted on X (formerly Twitter),
suggest that she possesses sensitive and well-documented information about
multiple people and companies affiliated with terrorist groups, money laundering
activities, and potential national security threats. The very nature of these
allegations raises profound questions about the sources of her information and
the security of sensitive data in her possession.
Alarming Claims and Their Impact on National Security
What is most concerning about Nadine’s statements is the lack of clarity
surrounding the origins of the information she shares. There are serious
implications regarding whether her information comes from a potentially
compromised informant, either within the terrorist groups or possibly from
someone inside the U.S. government. Given that CODEplus, the company where
Nadine works, is a well-established and reputable organization specializing in
cybersecurity and data analytics, the stakes are even higher. CODEplus holds
contracts with several U.S. government agencies, placing the security of
sensitive data at significant risk if such claims were true.
A Media Entity’s Duty to Scrutinize
While Inside Telecom, the media entity that has brought attention to these
claims, is not aiming to defame CODEplus, its role is to perform its
journalistic duty by raising critical questions in light of the situation. When
a high-ranking employee in a company specializing in cybersecurity, especially
one with close ties to U.S. government agencies, makes public disclosures about
sensitive or potentially classified information, it warrants thorough scrutiny.
The questions posed are straightforward, but crucial:
Where is Nadine obtaining such sensitive and potentially classified details?
Why is CODEplus, a company with such deep government connections, allowing a
senior employee to disclose such information publicly?
Contradictory Claims and Rising Concerns
Although CODEplus has stated that Nadine is no longer employed by the company,
after we reach out to them, phone conversations have contradicted this claim,
confirming that she is still employed there. This contradiction raises further
concerns: Why does she continue to have access to sensitive data? and Why is
CODEplus lying about her employment?
The below video shows one of our journalists calling CODEplus asking about
Nadine Barakat, while the employee told us she is busy. We also have lots of
documented incidents which will be disclosed when the time is right.
The seriousness of Nadine’s allegations imply she is sharing classified or
sensitive information without proper channels, such as reporting it to the
relevant authorities, this is not just a question of ethical concern, but
potentially a violation of federal laws designed to protect national security.
In fact, under U.S. law, there are strict mandates requiring individuals to
report sensitive threats and classified information, particularly when it
pertains to national security risks.
In the U.S., if someone knows information about a terrorist group and fails to
inform law enforcement, they could face serious legal consequences. Under
federal law, specifically 18 U.S. Code § 4 or other terrorism-related statutes,
a person who knowingly conceals or fails to report such information can be
prosecuted. Penalties can include fines and imprisonment, depending on the
severity of the situation and the extent of their knowledge.
Below is Nadine’s X (Formerly Twitter) account for everyone to view her posting
about mafias and terrorist groups that cause a serious threat to national
security. Is she above the law? Shouldn’t she be questioned regarding the
allegations she’s making? And why is CODEplus covering for her?
https://twitter.com/nadinebarakatlb?s=11&t=7JRh02GT_BcvyjwH-5uN2w
Nadine’s Allegations: The Impact on Individuals and Organizations
The results of Nadine’s claims extend beyond the damage they may cause to
CODEplus and the security of sensitive data. The accusations also implicate
individuals, who finds themselves unfairly targeted in the wake of her
defamation campaign. Upon further investigation, Inside Telecom reached out to
one of the victims of this smearing campaign, and learned that their laywers are
preparing a letter to inform the FBI about these claims.
Stay tuned as we will be sharing documented information about Nadine Barakat’s
sensitive claims and the people behind them. Meanwhile, CODEplus has the right
to reply to our questions, and we remain open to sharing their answers on our
platforms, reiterating that Inside Telecom is only raising these questions based
on the serious allegations made by Nadine Barakat and documented on her X and
Youtube account, and it is our right as journalists to investigate and question
her claims.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all
aspects of the Tech industry. Keep an eye on our Press Releases section to stay
informed and updated with our daily articles.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News
published
on May 21-22/2025
Omani Foreign Minister: Nuclear talks to resume in Rome on
Friday
Badr Al-Busaidi on X platform: Fifth round of talks between Iran and the United
States will be held in Rome on Friday, May 23
Al Arabiya.net/May 21, 2025
The next round of talks between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran's
nuclear program will be held on Friday in Rome, according to the Foreign
Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, which is mediating between Tehran and
Washington. Badr Al-Busaidi wrote on X platform that "the fifth round of talks
between Iran and the United States will be held in Rome on Friday, May 23." The
fourth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States was held
last week in the Omani capital, Muscat. The dispute between the two countries
centers on the issue of Iran's uranium enrichment, which US officials oppose.
Tehran, for its part, emphasizes its right to enrich uranium for peaceful
purposes, denying that its program has military purposes. In this context,
Iranian parliamentarians stressed on Wednesday that "the level of enrichment
will not be restricted to less than 20 percent," adding that this "will be done
in accordance with the daily needs of the Iranian people and for peaceful
purposes." The Iranian news agency ISNA reported that Iranian parliamentarians
affirmed in a statement that "the Iranian people have never sought to possess a
nuclear weapon and will never seek one," adding: "We, the parliamentarians,
explicitly affirm that we will never give up our nuclear rights." The fourth
round was preceded by three rounds that American and Iranian officials and
observers considered "largely successful," amid hopes that a military option in
dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue would be ruled out.
Sources: Syrian government found Eli Cohen dossier in state security
building, offered it indirectly to Israel to ease tensions
Reuters/Times Of Israel//20
May 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/143522/
AMMAN/DAMASCUS, Jordan/Syria — Syria’s leadership approved the handover of
the belongings of long-dead spy Eli Cohen to Israel in a bid to ease Israeli
hostility and show goodwill to US President Donald Trump, three sources tell
Reuters. Israel announced its recovery of the trove of documents, photographs
and personal possessions relating to Cohen on Sunday, saying its spy agency
Mossad had worked with an unnamed foreign intelligence agency to secure the
material. However, a Syrian security source, an adviser to Syrian President
Ahmed al-Sharaa, and a person familiar with backchannel talks between the
countries say the archive of material was found by the rebels in a state
security building, and offered to Israel as an indirect gesture by Sharaa as he
seeks to cool tensions and build Trump’s confidence.
Promoted: Identity/Crisis with Abe Foxman
Keep Watching
Cohen, who was hanged in 1965 in a downtown Damascus square after infiltrating
Syria’s political elite, is still regarded as a hero in Israel and Mossad’s most
celebrated spy for uncovering military secrets that aided its lightning victory
in the 1967 Six Day War.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Cohen on
Sunday as a legend and “the greatest intelligence agent in the annals of the
state.”hile Israel has long sought to recover his body for reburial at home, the
return of his archive held for 60 years by Syrian intelligence was hailed by
Mossad as “an achievement of the highest moral order.”Israel has not publicly
revealed how the archive came into its possession, saying only that it was the
result of “a covert and complex Mossad operation, in cooperation with an allied
foreign intelligence service.”After rebels led by Sharaa suddenly ousted
President Bashar al-Assad in December, ending his family’s 54-year-long rule,
they found the Cohen dossier in a state security building, according to the
Syrian security source. Sharaa and his foreign advisers quickly decided to use
the material as leverage, the source added. The Syrian security source said
Sharaa had realised that the Cohen archive was important to the Israelis and
that its return could amount to a significant diplomatic gesture. Netanyahu’s
office, Syrian officials, and the White House do not immediately respond to
requests for comment on Syria’s role in Israel’s recovery of the Cohen archive.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/sources-syrian-government-gave-ok-for-handover-of-eli-cohens-belongings-to-israel-to-ease-tensions/
***Attached image: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu handing over Eli Cohen's
personal archive to his wife, Nadia Cohen.
US intel suggests Israel preparing strike
on Iran's nuclear facilities, CNN reports
Reuters/May 20, 2025
(Reuters) -New intelligence obtained by the United States suggests that Israel
is making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, CNN reported on
Tuesday, citing multiple U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence. It was
not clear whether Israeli leaders have made a final decision and there was
disagreement within the U.S. government about whether they would ultimately
decide to carry out strikes, CNN added, citing the officials. Reuters could not
immediately confirm the report. The National Security Council did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond, nor did the
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which was contacted after hours. One source
familiar with the intelligence told CNN the likelihood of an Israeli strike on
an Iranian nuclear facility "has gone up significantly in recent months." The
person added that the chance of a strike would be more likely if the U.S.
reached a deal with Iran that did not remove all of the country's uranium, CNN
added. President Donald Trump's administration has been conducting negotiations
with Iran aimed at achieving a diplomatic deal over its nuclear program. The new
intelligence was based on the public and private communications from senior
Israeli officials as well as intercepted Israeli communications and observations
of Israeli military movements that could suggest an imminent strike, CNN
reported.
CNN cited two sources saying that among the military preparations the U.S. had
observed were the movement of air munitions and the completion of an air
exercise. Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said U.S. demands that Tehran stop enriching uranium are
"excessive and outrageous," state media reported, voicing doubts over whether
talks on a new nuclear deal will succeed.
Iran executes man responsible for Azerbaijan embassy attack
Reuters/May 21, 2025
DUBAI -A man charged over a fatal shooting at Azerbaijan's embassy in the
Iranian capital, Tehran, was executed on Wednesday, Iran's judiciary news outlet
Mizan said. The shooting, which took place in January 2023 and led to the
killing of the Azeri embassy security chief, brought relations between Tehran
and Baku to a new low, with the latter branding the shooting as an "act of
terrorism".Judicial authorities ruled the attack was for "personal reasons,"
Mizan reported. "I thought my wife was at Azerbaijan's
embassy in Tehran and was not willing to meet with me. I decided to go there
with a Kalashnikov rifle," the defendant said during his trial, according to
Mizan. The two neighbouring countries have had tense relations, with Baku
accusing Tehran of discriminating against its large ethnic Azeri minority and
Iran voicing concerns regarding Azerbaijan's ties with its arch-rival Israel, as
well as potential border changes following a military conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian
travelled to Baku last month, where he said Tehran hoped to resolve all issues
jointly and to strengthen bilateral relations.
Saudi-Iranian advisors and health ministers meet
Arab News/May 21, 2025
Mohammed Al-Yahya, adviser to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin
Farhan, recently met with Ali Larijani, adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. During the meeting, the officials discussed
issues of mutual interest.
This comes after Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s
visit to the Iranian capital recently and the renewed diplomatic engagement
between the two countries. Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel
met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammed Reza Zafarghandi at the 78th session
of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
How dried-out wetlands on the Iran-Iraq border threaten the region
Reuters/May 21, 2025
LONDON: The dust storms that have choked Iranians and Iraqis for weeks and
hospitalized thousands, are the canary in the coalmine for a complex
environmental disaster unfolding in wetlands straddling the two countries’
border.
The Hoor Al-Hawizeh wetlands, north of the southern Iraqi city of Basra, are
drying out and experts warn that continued decline, including in the connected
Hoor Al-Azim marshes in Iran, could drive water shortages, migration and even
conflict.
“These marshes once acted as natural barriers, trapping fine sediments and
maintaining soil moisture,” said Hossein Hashemi, an associate professor of
water resource engineering at Lund University in Sweden. “But their shrinkage,
caused by upstream dam construction, wartime destruction, and climate change,
has exposed vast stretches of loose, dry sediment,” he said. “As winds sweep
across these barren areas, they lift large quantities of fine dust, leading to
more frequent and intense storms.”
The degradation of the wetlands, part of the Mesopotamian Marshes, also
threatens unique wildlife, including softshell turtles, birds, fish and water
plants.
Hoor Al-Hawizeh is recognized by UNESCO for its biodiversity and cultural
heritage, and Iraqi sections are designated wetlands of international importance
on the Ramsar List, the world’s largest list of protected areas. On the Iran
side, Hoor Al-Azim is a crucial source of food, water, jobs and tourism to
millions of people in the southwestern Khuzestan province. But now it is under
threat. “This brings with it the issue of forced migration, displacement,
conflict, poverty, unemployment, hunger and more,” said Kaveh Madani, director
of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and a former
deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment.
Data from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran shows that since the early 1970s,
Hoor Al-Azim has declined from some 124,000 hectares to 60,650 hectares.
That means nearly half of its original area, including water and reed beds, has
disappeared, mainly, scientists say, because of oil exploration, farming, dam
building and climate change. “The degradation has contributed to the
displacement of local communities, increased poverty, and reduced agricultural
productivity,” said Ali Torabi Haghighi, associate professor of water resource
management at the University of Oulu in Finland. “It has led to severe
biodiversity loss, particularly among migratory bird species, native fish
populations, and other aquatic and semi-aquatic life,” he added.
In July 2021, one of the largest waves of nationwide protests began in Khuzestan
over drought and water shortages. Security forces killed dozens and thousands
were arrested, according to the human rights group, Amnesty International.
Those same stresses persist today with temperatures exceeding 55 degrees Celsius
in the summer months and drought again stalking the land.
In May, around a thousand people were hospitalized in Khuzestan each day with
heart and respiratory illnesses from sand and dust storms.
Madani said urgent action was needed, not least to prevent political tensions
flaring with countries accusing each other of not releasing enough water into
the wetlands.
Wildfires exacerbate the pollution. In early May, thousands of hectares of Hoor
Al-Azim caught fire, local media said. Earlier this year, smoke and pollution
from fires on the Iraqi side of the wetlands engulfed villages in Khuzestan,
forcing schools and offices to shut for days. As well as climate effects, human
activities are degrading the marshes. Around 80 percent of Iran’s oil production
is in Khuzestan and a 2021 study found that since the early 2000s, oil
exploration projects have caused “significant damage.”
Hamidreza Khodabakhshi, a water planning expert and environmental activist in
Khuzestan, said oil exploration had caused parts of the wetlands to dry up.
“Road construction and pipeline installation have not only damaged the
ecosystem, but also blocked the natural flow of water,” he said.
In February, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad told a meeting in Ahvaz, the main city
in Khuzestan, that the government took responsibility.
“We are the ones who dried up the wetland, and we are the ones who hurt the
people of Khuzestan — now we need to prioritize the employment needs of locals,”
he said.
The Hoor Al-Hawizeh marshes are fed by water from the Tigris River in Iraq and
the Karkheh River in southwest Iran — sources that have sometimes become a point
of conflict. Iran, Iraq and Turkiye have constructed dams upstream that
scientists say have significantly harmed Hoor Al-Hawizeh.
Since 2009, the marsh has also been effectively divided by a 65-km dyke built
along the border by Iran to keep water inside its territory. Haghighi said
tensions also flared over water allocation. “In many cases, maintaining
ecological water flows is given lower priority compared to agricultural,
hydropower and municipal uses, resulting in severe consequences for wetland
health,” he said. Scientists hope to raise the case of Hoor Al-Azim at the next
meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Zimbabwe in July.
“Sand and dust storms and wildfires are examples of the complex problems that
are going to require complex solutions through diplomacy and cooperation,”
Madani said.
Fifth round of US-Iran nuclear talks to take place this week:
Oman
Al Arabiya English/21 May ,2025
The next round of negotiations on a nuclear deal between the US and Iran will
take place this week, Oman’s top diplomat said on Wednesday. “The 5th round of
Iran US talks will take place in Rome this Friday 23rd May,” Badr Albusaidi said
in a post on X.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement that
Tehran had agreed “to a proposal put forward by (mediator) Oman... to organize
another round of Iran-US talks” in the Italian capital on Friday. Washington and
Tehran have been engaged in direct and indirect talks for several weeks now
after President Donald Trump announced that he wanted to reach a new deal to
stave off potential military action against Iran’s nuclear program. Despite
setting a two-month deadline, Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, said this week
that reaching a deal will not be easy. Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee that the administration was offering an “off-ramp” for Iran to pursue
prosperity and peace. “It will not be easy, but that’s the process we’re engaged
in now,” Rubio said.
Iran parliament approves strategic partnership with Russia
Reuters, Dubai/21 May/2025
Iran’s parliament approved a 20-year strategic partnership on Wednesday between
Moscow and Tehran, state media reported. The agreement represents a deepening of
bilateral ties including closer defense cooperation. Russian President Vladimir
Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian signed the strategic
partnership document on January 17. The Russian legislative branch approved the
pact in April. While the agreement does not include a mutual defense clause, it
says both countries will work together against common military threats, develop
their military-technical cooperation, and take part in joint exercises. Since
the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, Iran and Russia have deepened military
ties, with Western countries accusing Iran of providing missiles and drones for
Russian attacks on Ukraine. Tehran denies providing weapons for Russian use in
Ukraine. The strategic pact also includes several clauses aimed at boosting
economic partnership, notably by strengthening direct interbank cooperation and
promoting their national financial products. A free trade deal between Iran and
the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union went into effect last week, cutting down
tariffs to boost trade between the two economies, which are both under heavy
Western sanctions.
Gaza still waiting for aid as pressure mounts on Israel
Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie/Reuters/May 21, 2025
CAIRO/JERUSALEM -Palestinians in Gaza were left waiting for the promised arrival
of food on Wednesday despite mounting international and domestic pressure on the
Israeli government to allow more aid to reach a population on the brink of
famine after an 11-week blockade.
Fewer than 100 aid trucks have entered Gaza, according to Israeli military
figures, since Monday, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government
agreed to lift the blockade that has forced Gazans into a desperate struggle to
survive. With air strikes and tank fire continuing to
pound the enclave, killing dozens of people on Wednesday, local bakers and
transport operators said they had yet to see fresh supplies of flour and other
essentials. Abdel-Nasser Al-Ajramy, the head of the bakery owners' society, said
at least 25 bakeries that were told they would receive flour from the World Food
Programme had seen nothing and there was no relief from the hunger for people
waiting for food. "There is no flour, no food, no water," said Sabah Warsh Agha,
a 67-year-old woman from the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya sheltering in a
cluster of tents near to the beach in Gaza City. "We used to get water from the
pump, now the pump has stopped working. There is no diesel or gas."The
resumption of the assault on Gaza since March, following a two-month ceasefire,
has drawn condemnation from countries that have long been cautious about
expressing open criticism of Israel. Even the United States, the country's most
important ally, has shown signs of losing patience with Netanyahu. Britain has
suspended talks with Israel on a free trade deal, and the European Union said it
will review a pact on political and economic ties over the "catastrophic
situation" in Gaza. Britain, France and Canada have threatened "concrete
actions" if Israel continues its offensive.
'PARIAH STATE'
Within Israel, left-wing opposition leader Yair Golan drew a furious response
from the government and its supporters this week when he declared that "A sane
country doesn't kill babies as a hobby" and said Israel risked becoming a
"pariah state among the nations."Golan, a former deputy commander of the Israeli
military who went single-handedly to rescue victims of the Hamas attack on
Israel on Oct 7, 2023, leads a party with little electoral clout. But his words,
and similar comments by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview with
the BBC, underscored the deepening unease in Israel at the continuation of the
war while 58 hostages remain in Gaza. Netanyahu dismissed the criticism. "I
heard Olmert and Yair Golan - and it's shocking," he said in a videoed
statement. "While IDF soldiers are fighting Hamas, there are those who are
strengthening the false propaganda against the State of Israel."Opinion polls
show widespread support for a ceasefire that would include the return of all the
hostages, with a survey from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem this week
showing 70% in favour of a deal. But hardliners in the cabinet, some of whom
argue for the complete expulsion of all Palestinians from Gaza, have insisted on
continuing the war until "final victory", which would include disarming Hamas as
well as the return of the hostages. Netanyahu, trailing in the opinion polls and
facing trial at home on corruption charges which he denies as well as an arrest
warrant from the International Criminal Court has so far sided with the
hardliners. Air strikes and tank fire killed at least 34 people across the Gaza
Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian health authorities said. The Israeli military
said air strikes hit 115 targets, which it said included rocket launchers,
tunnels and unspecified military infrastructure. As some trucks left Kerem
Shalom, the sprawling customs and logistics hub at the south-eastern corner of
the Gaza Strip, a small group of Israeli protestors angry that any supplies were
being let into Gaza while hostages were still held there tried to block them.
Israel imposed the blockade at the beginning of March, saying Hamas was seizing
supplies meant for civilians, a charge denied by the militant group. A new
U.S.-backed system, using private contractors, is due to begin aid distribution
in the near future but the plan has been criticized by aid groups and many key
details remain unclear. Israel launched its campaign
in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack on Oct 7, which killed some 1,200 people
by Israeli tallies and saw 251 hostages abducted into Gaza.
The campaign has killed more than 53,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza
health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip, where aid groups say signs
of severe malnutrition are widespread.
Pope Leo XIV calls for aid to reach Gaza and an end to hostilities in his first
general audience
AP/May 21, 2025
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV called Wednesday for humanitarian aid to reach the
Gaza Strip and for an end to the “heartbreaking” toll on its people, as he
presided over his first general audience in St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican said
that around 40,000 people were on hand for the audience, which came just days
after an estimated 200,000 people attended the inaugural Mass on Sunday for
history’s first American pope. Leo, the former
Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, began the audience with a tour through the
piazza in the popemobile and stopped to bless several babies. In addressing
specific greetings to different groups of pilgrims, Leo spoke in his native
English, his fluent Spanish as well as the traditional Italian of the papacy. “I
renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to
Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being
paid by children, the elderly and sick people,” he said. Leo didn’t mention the
plight of hostages taken by Hamas during the assault on southern Israel on Oct.
7, 2023, as Pope Francis normally would. The general audience on Wednesdays is a
weekly appointment that popes have kept for decades to allow ordinary faithful
to have a face-to-face encounter with the pontiff. It features the pope
delivering a brief reflection on a theme or Scripture passage, with summaries
provided by others in different languages and the pope directing specific
messages to particular faith groups. The encounter, which lasts more than an
hour, usually ends with a brief topical appeal by the pope about a current issue
or upcoming event. Leo began it with his now-frequent mantra “Peace be with
you.”
To that end, Leo on Tuesday reaffirmed the Vatican’s willingness to host the
next round of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine during a phone call
with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, the Italian leader’s office said. Meloni
made the call after speaking with US President Donald Trump and other European
leaders, who asked her to verify the Holy See’s offer. “Finding in the Holy
Father the confirmation of the willingness to welcome the next talks between the
parties, the premier expressed profound gratitude for Pope Leo XIV’s willingness
and his incessant commitment in favor of peace,” Meloni’s office said in a
statement late Tuesday. Trump had referred to the Vatican’s longstanding offer
to host talks in reporting on his phone call Monday with Russian President
Vladimir Putin. While low-level talks could take place in Rome, Italy would be
hard-pressed to allow Putin to fly into Rome for any higher-level negotiation.
Putin is subject to an international arrest warrant against him from the
International Criminal Court, of which Italy is a founding member and therefore
obliged to execute its warrants.
Trump ‘frustrated’ by Gaza war expansion: Report
Arab News/May 21, 2025
London: US President Donald Trump is “frustrated” by Israel’s expansion of the
Gaza war and is “upset” at images of suffering Palestinian children, White House
officials have reportedly said. Two administration officials told Axios that
Trump has relayed messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu via
aides that he wants the war to be “wrapped up.”One official told Axios: “The
president is frustrated about what is happening in Gaza. He wants the war to
end, he wants the hostages to come home, he wants aid to go in and he wants to
start rebuilding Gaza.”
Trump is said to be personally annoyed at Netanyahu, who “he doesn’t even like,”
The Times was told. It follows Trump’s high-profile tour of the Middle East,
comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, which is mediating ceasefire talks
between Israel and Hamas. During the trip, which notably lacked a stop in
Israel, Trump “appeared genuinely concerned by the suffering of Gazans,” sources
told The Times. However, the White House is reluctant
to openly criticize Tel Aviv’s actions, and officials from both countries deny
that Trump is prepared to “abandon” support for Israel.
Trump last week said he wanted to help the “starving” people in Gaza.
During talks with Arab leaders, he pledged to facilitate the entry of more aid
to the Palestinian enclave. His Middle East envoy,
Steve Witkoff, has presented plans for a ceasefire deal that would lead to the
release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. But
Netanyahu’s decision to expand the Gaza war has frustrated hopes of a deal,
despite his office saying he had agreed to a plan based on Witkoff’s proposals.
One Israeli official told Axios: “If the president wants a hostage and
ceasefire deal in Gaza he needs to put much more pressure on both sides.”A White
House official told Axios that Trump believes the Gaza war is preventing him
from enacting his plans for the region. “The president sees a real chance for
peace and prosperity in the region, but the war in Gaza is the last hot spot and
he wants it to end,” the official said.
Rubio says some ‘optimism’ Gaza war could end ‘pretty
quickly’
AFP/May 21, 2025
“We may have breakthrough achievements,” Rubio told a congressional hearing
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced guarded optimism Wednesday
for a solution “pretty quickly” to end the Gaza war.
“I have some level of optimism that we may have breakthrough achievements here
quickly, hopefully on an end to this and the release of all the hostages,” Rubio
told a congressional hearing.
Netanyahu says ready for Gaza ‘temporary ceasefire’
AFP/May 21, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he was open
to a “temporary ceasefire” in Gaza, as international pressure intensified over
Israel’s renewed offensive and aid blockade in the war-ravaged Palestinian
territory. “If there is an option for a temporary
ceasefire to free hostages, we’ll be ready,” Netanyahu said, noting that at
least 20 hostages were confirmed alive. But he added
the Israeli military aimed to bring all of Gaza under its control by the end of
its current operation.“We must avoid a humanitarian crisis in order to preserve
our freedom of operational action,” he said. His remarks came hours after
Israeli troops fired what the army called “warning shots” near a delegation of
foreign diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank, triggering global
condemnation and fresh diplomatic tension. The
Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israeli forces of “deliberately targeting
by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation” near the flashpoint city of
Jenin. A European diplomat said the group had traveled
to the area to witness the destruction caused by months of Israeli military
raids.
The Israeli army said “the delegation deviated from the approved route” and
entered a restricted zone. Troops opened fire to steer the group away, it said,
adding no injuries were reported and expressing regret for the “inconvenience
caused.”Gazans are not receiving aid. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja
Kallas called on Israel to investigate the shooting and to hold those
responsible “accountable.”The incident came as anger mounted over the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are scrambling for basic
supplies after weeks of near-total isolation.
Palestinian rescue teams said overnight Israeli strikes had killed at least 19
people, including a week-old baby. No one is distributing anything to us.
Everyone is waiting for aid, but we haven’t received anything
Umm Talal Al-Masri, displaced Palestinian in Gaza City
A two-month total blockade was only partially eased this week, with aid allowed
into the territory for the first time since March 2, a move leading to critical
food and medicine shortages. Israel said 100 trucks with aid entered Gaza on
Wednesday, following 93 the day before which the United Nations has said had
been held up. Humanitarian groups have said that
the amount falls far short of what is required to ease the crisis.Umm Talal
Al-Masri, 53, a displaced Palestinian in Gaza City, described the situation as
“unbearable.”“No one is distributing anything to us. Everyone is waiting for
aid, but we haven’t received anything,” she said. “We’re grinding lentils and
pasta to make some loaves of bread, and we barely manage to prepare one meal a
day.”The army stepped up its offensive at the weekend, vowing to defeat Gaza’s
Hamas rulers, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war. Israel
has faced massive pressure, including from traditional allies, to halt its
expanded offensive and allow aid into Gaza. Kallas said “a strong majority” of
EU foreign ministers backed the move to review its trade cooperation with
Israel.
EU pressure on Israel
Sweden said it would press the 27-nation bloc to impose sanctions on Israeli
ministers, while Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and
summoned the Israeli ambassador.Pope Leo XIV described the situation in Gaza as
“worrying and painful” and called for “the entry of sufficient humanitarian
aid.” Israel’s foreign ministry has said the EU action “reflects a total
misunderstanding of the complex reality Israel is facing.”Germany defended a key
EU-Israel cooperation deal as “an important forum that we must use in order to
discuss critical questions” over the situation in Gaza.In Gaza, Israel resumed
its operations across the territory on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel,
mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza including 34 the
military says are dead. Gaza’s health ministry said Tuesday at least 3,509
people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the
war’s overall toll to 53,655.
82 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza as desperately needed
aid fails to reach Palestinians
AP/May 21, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza: Israeli strikes continued to pound the Gaza Strip
Wednesday, despite a surge in international anger at Israel’s widening
offensive, killing at least 82 people, including several women and a week-old
infant, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and area hospitals. Israel began
allowing dozens of humanitarian trucks into Gaza on Tuesday, but the aid has not
yet reached Palestinians in desperate need.
Jens Laerke, the spokesperson for the UN’s humanitarian agency, said no trucks
were picked up from the Gaza side of Kerem Shalom, the Israeli border crossing
with southern Gaza. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Tuesday evening that
although the aid had entered Gaza, aid workers were not able to bring it to
distribution points, after the Israeli military forced them to reload the
supplies onto separate trucks and workers ran out of time. The Israeli defense
body that oversees humanitarian aid to Gaza said trucks were entering Gaza on
Wednesday morning, but it was unclear if that aid would be able to continue
deeper into Gaza for distribution. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees,
UNRWA, said its staff had waited several hours to collect aid from the border
crossing in order to begin distribution but were unable to do so on Tuesday.
A few dozen Israeli activists opposed to Israel’s decision to allow aid into
Gaza while Hamas still holds Israeli hostages attempted to block the trucks
carrying the aid on Wednesday morning, but were kept back by Israeli police.
Diplomats come under fire in Jenin
A group of diplomats came under fire while visiting Jenin, a city in the
Israel-occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Authority. The diplomats
were on official mission to observe the humanitarian situation in Jenin when
shots rang out.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the shooting.
An aid worker, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal, said a
delegation of about 20 diplomats was being briefed about the situation in Jenin
by the Palestinian Authority. The group of regional, European and Western
diplomats were standing near the entrance of the Jenin refugee camp when they
heard gunshots just before 2 p.m., though it was unclear where the shots came
from, she said. No one was injured, she added. Footage shows a number of
diplomats giving media interviews as rapid shots ring out close to the group,
forcing them to run for cover.Jenin has been the site of Israel’s widespread
crackdown against West Bank militants since earlier this year.
just two days after its ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza — Israeli
forces descended on Jenin as they have dozens of times since Hamas’ Oct. 7,
2023, attack on Israel. The fighting displaced tens of thousands of
Palestinians, one of the largest West Bank displacements in years.
International pressure increases against Israel
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom. suspended free trade talks with Israel over its
intensifying assault, a step that came a day after the UK, Canada and France
promised concrete steps to prompt Israel to halt the war. Separately, European
Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was reviewing an EU pact
governing trade ties with Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza. Israel
says it is prepared to stop the war once all the hostages taken by Hamas return
home and Hamas is defeated, or is exiled and disarmed. Hamas says it is prepared
to release the hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from the
territory and an end to the war. It rejects demands for exile and disarmament.
Negotiations stalled as Israeli operation widens.
Israel called back its senior negotiating team from ceasefire talks in the
Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday, saying it would leave lower-level officials
in place instead. Qatari leaders, who are mediating negotiations, said there was
a large gap between the two sides that they had been unable to bridge.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued across Gaza. In the southern city of Khan
Younis, where Israel recently ordered new evacuations pending an expected
expanded offensive, 24 people were killed, 14 of them from the same family. A
week-old infant was killed in central Gaza. The Israeli military did not
immediately comment on the strikes, but has said it is targeting Hamas
infrastructure and accused Hamas militants of operating from civilian areas.
Israeli ‘warning’ fire at diplomats in West Bank sparks
outcry
AFP/May 21, 2025
RAMALLAH: Israeli troops fired “warning shots” during a visit by foreign
diplomats to the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the military said, drawing
condemnation. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas
urged Israel to hold to account those responsible for the shooting near Jenin.
The Palestinian foreign ministry accused Israel of having “deliberately targeted
by live fire an accredited diplomatic delegation.” A European diplomat said the
group had gone to the area “to see the destruction” caused by months of Israeli
operations. The Israeli military said “the delegation deviated from the approved
route,” prompting troops to fire “warning shots” to keep them away from “an area
where they were not authorized to be.”It said it “regrets the inconvenience
caused” by the shooting, which resulted in no injuries.The incident came as
international pressure intensified over the war in Gaza, where Palestinians were
desperate for supplies after a two-month aid blockade was eased. After the
warning shots were fired at diplomats, Belgium demanded a “convincing
explanation” from Israel, while Spain said it was “in contact with other
affected countries to jointly coordinate a response to what happened, which we
strongly condemn.”Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Israeli
ambassador to Rome and said that “threats against diplomats are
unacceptable.”France also said it would summon Israel’s ambassador, and Germany
said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul would also raise the “unprovoked shooting”
with his Israeli counterpart. Egypt said the incident “violates all diplomatic
norms," while Turkiye stated that an employee from its consulate in Jerusalem
was among the diplomats, demanding an immediate investigation and holding
"perpetrators... accountable."Ahmad Al-Deek, political adviser for the
Palestinian foreign ministry who accompanied the delegation, condemned “this
reckless act by the Israeli army.”“It had given the diplomatic delegation an
impression of the life the Palestinian people are living,” he said. Palestinian
news agency Wafa reported the delegation included diplomats from more than 20
countries including Britain, China, Egypt, France, Jordan, Turkiye and Russia.
The Palestinian Authority released a video of two soldiers aiming rifles at a
group of people, condemning the attack. It said “the heinous crime committed by
the Israeli occupation forces, which deliberately targeted by live fire an
accredited diplomatic delegation to the State of Palestine during a field visit
to Jenin Governorate.”
A diplomat present during the visit confirmed to AFP he had heard “repeated
shots” coming from inside Jenin refugee camp.
Israel supreme court rules security chief sacking
‘unlawful’, Netanyahu barred from naming new one
AFP/May 21, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s supreme court on Wednesday ruled as “unlawful” the
government’s decision to fire domestic security chief Ronen Bar in March, a move
which had triggered mass protests in the country. “The Supreme Court ruled that
the government’s decision to terminate the head of the Shin Bet’s tenure was
made through an improper and unlawful process,” the court ruling said. The
ruling is the latest twist in a judiciary and political affair that shook Israel
since the government’s decision to sack Bar in March, which the supreme court
froze. Israel’s government said in late April it had canceled its decision to
fire Bar, a day after he announced he would stand down following weeks of
tension with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Wednesday’s ruling noted
“irregularities” in the process that led to Bar’s sacking, as well as “a
disregard for fundamental principles regarding internal security.”Israel's
attorney general on Wednesday barred Netanyahu from appointing the next head of
the domestic intelligence agency after the court decision.
“The court ruled that the prime minister acted in a situation of conflict
of interest,” Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said, adding that “as a
result, he must refrain from any action related to the appointment of a new head
of the Shin Bet until legal guidelines are established to ensure the integrity
of the process.”However, Netanyahu said his government would appoint a new chief
for the Shin Bet agency despite the attorney general's announcement. The move to
sack Bar sparked large protests across Israel led by the opposition, which saw
it as a sign Netanyahu’s government’s was slipping toward autocracy. Netanyahu
had argued that the government was allowed to sack Bar, whom he blames for the
security failure that allowed Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023, attack to unfold.
Noting Bar’s decision to quit the job, the supreme court ruling said that “this
announcement puts an end to the (legal) procedure.”
Germany defends EU-Israel deal as ‘important forum’ for
talks
AFP/May 21, 2025
BERLIN: Germany on Wednesday defended an EU-Israel cooperation deal, a day after
the bloc had ordered a review of it in a bid to pressure Israel over the Gaza
war. Without explicitly confirming media reports that
Berlin had opposed the review, foreign ministry spokesman Christian Wagner said
that “the EU-Israel Association Agreement is an important forum that we must use
in order to discuss critical questions” over the situation in Gaza. The review
announced on Tuesday comes as some European nations take a tougher line with
Israel over the devastating impact of its offensive in Gaza and the humanitarian
crisis unfolding in the territory. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said “a
strong majority” of the 27 member states had backed the review. Diplomats said
17 EU states pressed for the review under an article of the agreement that calls
for a respect for human rights, with the Netherlands spearheading the latest
push. On Monday the leaders of Britain, France and Canada condemned Israel’s
“egregious actions” in Gaza and warned of joint action if it did not halt its
heightened military offensive there. On Wednesday
Stefan Kornelius, spokesman for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reiterated Germany’s
“great concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza” but stopped short of
mentioning any possible further action. Wagner also confirmed that on Tuesday
nine German nationals had been evacuated from Gaza “in close co-ordination with
the Israeli government,” together with three of their immediate family members.
EU to review trade and cooperation with
Israel over Gaza offensive
Mared Gwyn Jones/Euronews/May 21, 2025
The European Union will review its wide-ranging trade and cooperation agreement
with Israel over its widened offensive in Gaza and its failure to fully lift a
two-month aid blockade. The decision came on Tuesday after 17 of the bloc's 27
foreign ministers backed the move, tabled earlier this month by the Dutch
foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp. It means the EU executive will now launch a
review to establish whether Israel has violated its human rights obligations
under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a broad-ranging pact
that defines the trading and diplomatic relations between both sides.
"It is clear from today's discussions that there is a strong majority in
favour of a review of article 2 of our Association Agreement with Israel," the
EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, told reporters in
Brussels.
"We will launch this review and in the meantime, it is up to Israel to release
more humanitarian aid."Article 2 states that relations "shall be based on
respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal
and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this
agreement."The EU is Israel’s biggest trade partner, with the trading
relationship valued at more than €45 billion a year. Ireland and Spain first
tabled the prospect of re-opening the Association Agreement in a yet-unanswered
letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 15 months ago, but
failed to secure the firm backing of any other EU country. But the move gained
new momentum in recent weeks when the Netherlands, considered a firm ally of
Israel, said that Israel's “humanitarian blockade” on Gaza, where a limited
quantity of critical supplies entered for the first time in more than eleven
weeks on Monday, is in "violation of international humanitarian law" and
therefore of Article 2. Nine member states — Belgium,
Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden — had
publicly backed the Netherlands' proposal ahead of Tuesday's gathering of
foreign ministers. Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Poland,
Romania and Slovakia also backed the review on Tuesday, according to diplomatic
sources. Austria, a staunch supporter of Israel, did not take the floor to voice
any opposition, another diplomat said. In an interview
Tuesday with the Austrian TV channel Ö1, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger
said Austria had supported the review, but opposed "suspending this agreement
entirely," stressing the important of dialogue.
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy
and Lithuania were said to be against, while Latvia was "neutral", the sources
also said. Another proposal to ramp up pressure on
Israel by introducing further sanctions on Israeli settlers responsible for
violence in the West Bank was backed by 26 of the 27 member states but vetoed by
Hungary. The Swedish foreign minister, Maria Malmer
Stenergard, had suggested that she would go further and “push for EU sanctions
against individual Israeli ministers.”Earlier on Tuesday, the UK suspended trade
talks and summoned the Israeli ambassador over what it described as the
“intolerable” offensive in Gaza. It came after the leaders of the UK, France,
and Canada threatened “concrete actions” if Israel did not halt its campaign and
aid lift restrictions. The EU’s position on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza,
triggered by Hamas’ attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, has always been deeply
divided. Former EU High Representative Josep Borrell personally tabled the
prospect of suspending ties with Israel back in November, which ultimately led
to the convening of a closed-door meeting between the Israeli foreign minister
and his EU counterparts. In that meeting, chaired by Borrell’s successor Kaja
Kallas, calls for reviewing Article 2 were completely muted as a ceasefire was
in force in Gaza. The eleven-week blockade on the
entry of aid seems to have triggered a shift in thinking among the 27. Top
diplomat Kaja Kallas said that while Israel's decision to allow a limited number
of trucks to enter the enclave was "welcome", it was a "drop in the ocean"."Aid
must flow immediately and at scale," Kallas said.
UK pledges over $5 million in aid to Gaza
Reuters/May 21, 2025
LONDON: Britain pledged $5.4 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza, the government
said on Wednesday, as its Minister for Development Jenny Chapman visited Israel
and the occupied Palestinian territories. “The Israeli government’s failure to
allow full humanitarian access to aid workers is abhorrent. Far too few trucks
are crossing into Gaza,” Chapman said. “The UK is clear — Israel will not
achieve security through prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
Britain on Tuesday paused free trade talks with Israel over its new offensive in
Gaza, with foreign minister David Lammy calling for an end to the blockade of
aid. The British Red Cross will receive the new aid package and deliver it
through the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Britain said.
UK FM facing calls to recognize Palestine statehood
Arab News/May 21, 2025
LONDON: The governing Labour Party chair of the foreign affairs committee is
pushing for UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to recognize Palestine as a state,
the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday. MP Emily Thornberry said the move
would be a “first step” if Lammy announced British recognition next month at a
high-level conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. It follows Lammy’s
halting of trade talks with Israel and the summoning of the country’s ambassador
in response to Tel Aviv’s renewed Gaza offensive. Labour’s manifesto at the last
general election said the party was “committed” to recognizing Palestine within
the context of a two-state solution. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long vowed to prevent the establishment of a
Palestinian state. Thornberry told the Telegraph: “I think Britain and France
should recognize Palestine at the New York conference chaired by Saudi Arabia in
June. “The two signatories of the 1916 Sykes-Picot
agreement, which created the borders of the Middle East as we see today, would
be very powerful.
“It would be a first step in working multilaterally to update Oslo, build on the
Arab Deal and create a new peace deal proposal.”The conference in the US will be
held from June 17-20, and aims to galvanize support for the two-state solution.
French diplomats have said the event will likely lead to more countries
recognizing Palestine as a state. David Cameron, who served as foreign secretary
in the previous Conservative government, said last year that Britain was
weighing whether to recognize Palestine.
In the UN, 139 of 193 member states recognize Palestine, while Israel is
recognized by 165. In 2021, the UK abstained in a UN General Assembly vote that
granted Palestine “non-member observer” status. Labour MP Rachael Maskell said:
“With the imminent catastrophic loss of life through starvation and military
operations, the government must hesitate no longer in fully recognizing the
state of Palestine. “The reprehensible actions of the Israeli government must be
held to account, so full sanctions and ceasing all arms sales must also take
place immediately.” Lammy, speaking in the House of Commons this week, condemned
Israel’s expansion of the Gaza war as an “affront to the values of British
people.” He added: “History will judge them.”Lammy outlined a series of
sanctions against Israeli settlers who are targeting Palestinian communities in
the occupied West Bank. “Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the
concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop,”
he said. Some MPs say the government should take further action over the Gaza
war, such as a complete arms embargo on Israel and sanctions on senior members
of its government, including Netanyahu.
‘A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’: Israeli Committee Backs Bill
to Label Qatar a ‘Terror-Supporting State’
FDD/May 21/2025
Latest Developments
Committee Advances Legislation to Label Qatar a ‘Terror-Supporting State’:
Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill on May 18 to
designate Qatar a “terror-supporting state.” The bill states that Qatar is
“acting as a wolf in sheep’s clothing” as evidenced by “its direct support for
terror organizations.” If passed, the legislation will add Qatar to a newly
created list of “terror-supporting states,” subjecting the emirate to certain
trade and diplomatic restrictions. Legislation May Not
Impact Gaza Talks: The proposed legislation bars terror-supporting states from
providing Israel with mediation services. However, the bill specifies that “the
Ministerial Committee for National Security Affairs may determine that a
specific terror-supporting state shall be exempt from this restriction,” meaning
that Qatar will not necessarily be sidelined from the ongoing Gaza ceasefire and
hostage talks if the bill passes. Bill Proceeds as
‘Qatargate’ Scandal Shakes Israeli Government: Multiple aides to Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are suspected of accepting Qatari funds to improve
Doha’s image in Israel. An Israeli police investigator told the court in April
that one of the suspects “relayed messages to the media” that he received from
“an entity that maintains ties to and is funded by the state of Qatar” but
“presented” the messages as if they came “from a political or security source.”
FDD Expert Response
“Qatar may soon be simultaneously designated as a ‘terror-supporting state’ by
Israel and a as a ‘Major Non-NATO Ally’ by the United States. That will be a
stunning feat for Qatar’s PR machine.” — Natalie Ecanow, Senior Research Analyst
“For many years, Iran has been the dominant state sponsor of Hamas, providing
military, financial, and ideological support. However, the October 7 massacre
marked a turning point, elevating Qatar’s role as a key state sponsor of Hamas.
If Hamas emerges from the war and continues to govern Gaza, its partnership with
Qatar will intensify. While Israel’s decision to approve a bill that designates
Qatar as a terror-supporting state is a necessary policy shift, it must be part
of a broader campaign aimed at isolating Hamas’s external support network and
exposing Qatar’s malign foreign policy in the region.” — Joe Truzman, Senior
Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal
Israel to Build Security Barrier Along Border With Jordan
FDD/May 21/2025
Latest Developments
Cabinet Greenlights Barrier Plan: Israel’s security cabinet has approved an
initiative proposed by Defense Minister Israel Katz to construct a high-tech
barrier along the country’s eastern border with Jordan. The barrier will involve
sensors and mobile military units, including command infrastructure, and will
stretch approximately 264 miles from Hamat Gader in the north to the Samar Sands
in the south. The project is expected to take three years to complete at a cost
of approximately $1.5 billion. Barrier Follows
Formation of Jordan Valley Division: The announcement of the barrier follows the
IDF’s formation last October of a new Eastern Division in the Jordan Valley to
address growing security threats, including arms smuggling and terrorist
infiltrations from Jordan. The IDF subsequently introduced five new brigades
primarily composed of volunteer reservists organized according to their
geographical residence. The brigades’ primary mission is to enhance Israel’s
defensive posture along its borders and ensure a rapid response to emerging
threats. Recent Threats From Jordan: Israeli
authorities have been increasingly challenged by infiltrations and weapons
smuggling along the porous border with Jordan. On May 16, residents of Kibbutz
Sha’ar HaGolan detained a migrant worker from Jordan who had infiltrated Israeli
territory near the community. Meanwhile, the IDF and border police thwarted an
attempt to smuggle arms into Israel from Jordan on May 4.
FDD Expert Response
“The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre served as a pivotal moment for Israeli
defense policy, underscoring the critical importance of reliable border
security. In response, the Israeli government has prioritized fortifying its
border with Jordan, recognizing that threats are evolving. This shift reflects a
broader strategic change aimed at closing security gaps, enhancing early warning
systems, and ensuring rapid response capabilities across Israel’s border with
Jordan and other fronts.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at
FDD’s Long War Journal
“Jordan and Israel’s diplomatic ties have been strained since October 7, but
their security cooperation remains strong. Iran still seeks to open an eastern
front through Jordan to pressure Israel, making continued coordination
essential. Jordan must intensify its crackdown on any potential terrorist
activity and maintain intelligence sharing with the Israelis to prevent the
transfer of weapons into the West Bank.” — Ahmad Sharawi, FDD Research Analyst
Two of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza are
encircled by Israeli forces, staff say
Sarah El Deeb/The Associated Press/May 21, 2025
Two of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospitals have been encircled by Israeli
troops, preventing anyone from leaving or entering the facilities, hospital
staff and aid groups said this week, as Israel pursued its renewed offensive
into the devastated Palestinian territory. The Indonesian hospital and al-Awda
hospital are among the region’s only surviving medical centers. Both have come
under fire this week, including shelling at al-Awda that happened Wednesday as
The Associated Press spoke to its director on the phone. A third hospital, Kamal
Adwan, is out of service, its director said, citing Israeli troops and drones in
its vicinity. Israeli authorities issued evacuation orders Friday for large
parts of northern Gaza ahead of attacks intended to pressure the Hamas militant
group to release more hostages. New evacuation orders followed Tuesday.
All three hospitals and three primary health care centers are within the
evacuation zone. Israel has not ordered the evacuation of the facilities
themselves. Another two hospitals and four primary care centers are within 1,000
meters (yards) of the zone, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director
general of the World Health Organization. Israeli
military operations and evacuation orders “are stretching the health system
beyond the breaking point,” he said.
Hundreds of attacks on health facilities
Only 20 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially functioning, serving the
territory’s more than 2 million people, amid continued bombing, rising
malnutrition rates, and dwindling medical supplies.
The WHO said hospitals in northern Gaza are “at a serious risk of shutting down
completely.” The United Nations agency has documented nearly 700 attacks on
health care facilities in Gaza since the start of Israel’s 19-month war against
the Hamas militant group. The Israeli military has raided or laid siege to
hospitals throughout the war, accusing Hamas of using them as command centers
and to hide fighters, though it has only provided evidence for some of its
claims. Hamas security men have been seen in hospitals during the war,
controlling access to certain areas, and in recent weeks Israel has targeted
alleged militants inside health facilities.
Palestinians say the latest attacks on hospitals in the north are part of a
larger plan to displace the population to the south and eventually drive them
from Gaza. Israel has vowed to facilitate what it
refers to as the voluntary migration of much of Gaza's population to other
countries, which many Palestinians and others view as a plan for forcible
expulsion. Israel wants to “ensure the forced displacement of people from the
area” by putting hospitals out of service, said Rami Shurafi, a board member of
al-Awda hospital.
The Indonesian hospital comes under attack
The Indonesian hospital, once the largest in northern Gaza, has been surrounded
by Israeli troops, who were positioned about 500 meters (545 yards) away. Drones
have hovered above, monitoring any movement, since Sunday, an aid group that
supports the hospital said. The Israeli military said its forces were operating
around the hospital and targeting Hamas infrastructure but that troops had not
entered the facility and ambulances were allowed to move.Israeli bulldozers
demolished a perimeter wall of the hospital, according to the aid group
MERC-Indonesia and a hospital staff member who had since evacuated. The staffer
spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the
media. On Tuesday, airstrikes targeted the hospital’s
generators, sparking a fire and damaging its main power supply. The strikes also
caused damage to the hospital's water supply, according to a video posted by
MERC-Indonesia. Large flames were seen rising from the area before daybreak. A
speaker in the video said the fire was close to the hospital fuel supply, but
firefighters controlled the flames. At least one staff
member was killed, according to WHO, which said those who remained in the
hospital were in urgent need of water and food. The U.N. said it was working to
transfer remaining patients to other facilities.
Military activity around the hospital also damaged ceilings, the hospital roof
and some equipment. At least 20 doctors and staff members decided to stay in the
building, said MERC-Indonesia, and most patients evacuated themselves after
fighting intensified in the area starting Thursday. Doctors and staffers at the
hospital were not immediately reachable for comment. A video posted by
MERC-Indonesia that was shot from the hospital windows showed an Israeli tank a
few meters (several feet) away from the hospital.
Israeli strikes isolate al-Awda hospital
Nearly a kilometer (about half a mile) away, Israeli drones fired Monday into
the al-Awda hospital courtyard, preventing movement, Shurafi said. On Wednesday,
the hospital was shelled while its director was on the phone with The Associated
Press. A large boom could be heard on the call. “They are bombing the hospital,”
said Dr. Mohammed Salha, the facility's director. He later said one security
guard was wounded. Patients were not near to the area hit, he said.A video
shared with AP showed damage to the roof and debris in the corridors, with dust
still rising from the area. On Tuesday, Israeli drones fired at two ambulances
that transferred three patients to Gaza City as the crews tried to return to the
hospital, spokesperson Khaled Alhelo said.
Alhelo himself was unable to return to the hospital Tuesday because of military
activity. There are currently no ambulances or internet lines at al-Awda
hospital, according to Shurafi and Alhelo. Israeli troops are about 900 meters
(about half a mile) away from the hospital, Alhelo said. But the real risk, he
said, is from Israeli drones flying over the hospital and preventing any
movement in or out. “Anyone moving in the hospital is
fired at. They are all keeping low inside the hospital,” he said. The Israeli
military had no comment when asked on the situation at al-Awda and did not
immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday’s shelling.
About 47 patients, including nearly 20 children and several pregnant
women, and some 140 doctors and medical staff members are still at the hospital,
hospital board member Shurafi said. He said the hospital board decided not to
evacuate the hospital and called for supplies and the return of ambulances
because there are still bombings and wounded people in the area. “In light of
the war, and conflict, it should remain functioning,” Shurafi said. He said the
hospital has been besieged and raided several times since the war began in
October 2023, but he called the current phase the “most critical.”
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel,
killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. The
militants are still holding 58 captives, around a third of whom are believed to
be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other
deals. Israel’s retaliatory offensive, which has
destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly
women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t
differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.
Oil Climbs on Report That Israel Is Preparing to Strike Iran
Alex Longley and Yongchang Chin/Bloomberg/ May 21, 2025
Oil rallied on a CNN report that Israel is preparing to potentially strike
Iranian nuclear facilities. West Texas Intermediate
jumped as much as 3.5% earlier, briefly surpassing $64 a barrel, before paring
gains. It wasn’t clear whether a final decision on any attack had been made, CNN
said, citing US intelligence and unidentified American officials.
Oil has been volatile since last week on mixed headlines about the fate
of Iran-US nuclear talks, which could pave the way for more barrels to return to
a market that’s expected to be oversupplied later in the year. An attack by
Israel would hinder any progress in those negotiations and add to unrest in the
Middle East, which supplies about a third of the world’s crude.
“Either the impact on the oil market in case of an attack is assumed to
be low, or the probability for an attack is assumed to be low,” said Bjarne
Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB AB. Wednesday’s gain “is not much
when we are talking bombs in the Middle East major oil producing
region.”Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other
Podcast Platforms. The CNN report also briefly pushed traditional currency
havens including the Swiss franc and Japanese yen higher.
Israel has long weighed targeting Iran’s nuclear program. A big question,
however, is just how many of the atomic sites are insulated against anything but
the most extreme attack.Geopolitical concerns have for now overshadowed
expectations of looser balances heading into the second half of the year, as
OPEC and its allies bring back barrels to the market. US shale oil output hasn’t
peaked and can still expand, but not if prices are near $50 a barrel,
ConocoPhillips’ chief executive officer said Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said he didn’t think the
latest effort to negotiate with the US would lead to a result. WTI crude could
tumble to as low as $40 a barrel if sanctions on the Islamic Republic’s oil
exports are lifted, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Iran has been able to
keep exporting crude in spite of increasing sanctions by the US and allies
including the UK and Europe. Tehran has even managed to boost supply recently,
according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
“Iran has increased its supply by about a million barrels a day over the last
couple of years,” Samantha Dart, Goldman’s co-head of global commodities
research, said on Bloomberg Television. “If you remove a million barrels a day
from Iran, this could represent an upside of about $8 a barrel to the crude oil
price.”
--With assistance from Cormac Mullen, Stephen Stapczynski and Nick Wadhams.
Europe tightens sanctions on Russia as pressure builds on Washington
RFI/May 21, 2025
European powers have forged ahead with fresh sanctions on Russia, intensifying
pressure on Moscow – and on Washington – to act decisively for a credible peace
agreement in Ukraine.France has joined Britain and the European Union in
unveiling a fresh round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the Kremlin’s
efforts to dodge existing restrictions through shadowy oil shipments and
financial networks. The new measures, announced on
Tuesday, come as European leaders ramp up pressure on the United States to
follow suit after a recent call between US President Donald Trump and Russian
President Vladimir Putin failed to produce any breakthrough on a ceasefire in
Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot struck a defiant tone, urging
collective resolve: “Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist
fantasy”. France has been at the forefront of diplomatic efforts, with President
Emmanuel Macron and his counterparts from Britain, Germany, and Poland recently
visiting Kyiv, underlining Europe’s united stance.
'Sanctions matter'
The new sanctions are focused on curbing Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet" of
oil tankers, which has helped Moscow circumvent a $60-a-barrel price cap imposed
by the G7. Brussels and London announced plans to tighten enforcement and lower
the cap further in light of declining global oil prices.
US and China are already feuding again after unexpected trade truce
Nectar Gan, CNN/May 21, 2025
Just days after the United States and China declared a temporary truce over
tariffs, tempers are already flaring: this time over the future of Beijing’s
most advanced homegrown semiconductors. Over the past week, Beijing has
repeatedly lashed out at Washington for warning companies against using AI chips
made by national tech champion Huawei. It has even accused the Trump
administration of “undermining” a consensus reached at recent trade talks in
Geneva, where both sides agreed to temporarily roll back tariffs and use a
90-day window to hash out a broader deal. The conflict
over Huawei’s most advanced chips serves as a reality check that despite the
positive words shared by US and Chinese negotiators last week, there are still
sharp differences between the two sides on a variety of subjects that may be
difficult to bridge.
On Wednesday, China’s Commerce Ministry fired its latest broadside, accusing the
US of “abusing export controls to suppress and contain China” and engaging in
what it called “typical acts of unilateral bullying and protectionism.”China was
responding to the Trump administration’s announcement last week rescinding a set
of Biden-era curbs meant to keep AI chips out of the hands of foreign
adversaries. As part of that announcement, the US
Commerce Department issued guidance on May 12 warning companies that “using
Huawei Ascend chips anywhere in the world would violate US export controls.” The
department has since changed its wording to remove the reference of “anywhere in
the world” in an updated version of the statement. The
Ascend chips are Huawei’s most powerful AI processors, which are used to train
AI models and aim to challenge Nvidia’s dominance in designing high-end chips.
Huawei’s efforts are central to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s plans to build up
China’s own capacity to develop cutting-edge chips as it vies for AI supremacy
with the US. At a top political meeting last month, Xi
called for “self-reliance” to develop AI in China, saying his country would
leverage its “new whole national system” to target bottlenecks such as advanced
chips.
CNN has reached out to Huawei for comment.
Beijing’s ire
On Monday, Beijing signaled the US Commerce Department’s wording change in the
updated statement on Huawei wasn’t enough to end the feud. In a statement,
China’s Commerce Ministry said that despite the “adjustment” in wording, the
“discriminatory measures and market-distorting nature” of the guidance itself
remained unchanged. “China has engaged in negotiations
and communications with the US at various levels through the China-US economic
and trade consultation mechanism, pointing out that the US actions seriously
undermined the consensus reached during the high-level talks in Geneva,” the
ministry said, urging the US to “correct its mistake.”
The ministry’s latest statement on Wednesday came with an extra warning from
Beijing to global businesses, threatening legal action against anyone who helps
what it calls a US attempt to “globally ban the use of advanced Chinese chips.”
“Any organization or individual that implements or assists in
implementing these US measures may be in violation of China’s Anti-Foreign
Sanctions Law and other relevant laws and regulations, and must bear
corresponding legal responsibilities,” the statement said. “China will closely
monitor the implementation of the US measures and will take resolute steps to
safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” it added.
There has been no announcement of further trade talks between the US and
China. But last Friday, US trade representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese trade
envoy Li Chenggang met on the sidelines of a gathering of APEC trade ministers
in South Korea, Reuters reported.
Nvidia chief bemoans controls
As Huawei accelerates efforts to develop its own high-performance chips, US chip
giant Nvidia is increasingly concerned about losing access to the Chinese
market, after the Trump administration restricted the export of its H20 AI chips
to China. Speaking at Taiwan’s annual Computex trade
show on Wednesday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the ban had forced the company
to write off “multiple billion dollars” of inventory. “The cost to us is very
high,” he added. Huang estimated that the China market
could be worth $50 billion next year. “It would be a shame not to be able to
enjoy that opportunity, bring home tax revenues to the United States, create
jobs, sustain the industry,” he said. “I believe the US government should allow
American technology to serve and participate and compete in the China
market.”Huang also used the occasion to criticize US export controls to China,
saying they gave Chinese AI companies “the spirit, the energy and the government
support” to accelerate their own development. “I think, all in all, export
control was a failure,” he added. But Huang did hail Trump’s rescinding of
Biden-era curbs “a great reversal of a wrong policy,” handing Nvidia a big win
in the Middle East.“The fundamental assumptions that led to the AI Diffusion
rule in the first place has been proven to be fundamentally flawed … and that
fundamental assumption is that the United States is the only provider of AI, and
it’s not obvious enough to me,” he said. “If the
United States wants to stay in the lead, and the United States would like the
rest of the world to build on American technology, we need to maximize AI
diffusion, maximize the speed. And that’s where we are today.”Last week, Nvidia
scored a major deal in Saudi Arabia by announcing a strategic partnership with
startup Humain to build “AI factories” in the country with a projected capacity
of up to 500 megawatts during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf. To
power those facilities, Nvidia will sell several hundred thousand of its most
advanced graphic processing units there over the next five years, beginning with
18,000 of its top-of-the-line GB300 Grace Blackwell chips. Analysts said the
Gulf deals, which also involved AMD and Qualcomm, were possible because the
Trump administration was able to “sidestep” the Biden-era curbs, which were
rescinded before they could take effect.
US to appoint
Turkey ambassador Thomas Barrack as special envoy for Syria, sources say
Timour Azhari and Jonathan Spicer/Reuters/Wed, May 21, 2025
DAMASCUS/ISTANBUL -The United States will appoint President Donald Trump's
longtime advisor and current U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, as a
special envoy for Syria, a person with direct knowledge of the matter and a
diplomat in Turkey said. The decision follows Trump's landmark announcement last
week that U.S. sanctions on Syria would be lifted. It also suggests U.S.
acknowledgement that Turkey has emerged with key regional influence on Damascus
since Bashar al-Assad's ouster by rebels in December, which ended 14 years of
civil war.
Trump met with Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on May
14 and urged him to normalise ties with longtime foe Israel following his
surprise sanctions announcement. "There is no announcement at this time," a U.S.
State Department spokesperson said when asked for comment about Barrack's Syria
role. Barrack, a private equity executive who has long
advised Trump and chaired his inaugural presidential committee in 2016, is
expected to continue as U.S. envoy to Turkey, the sources said.
Speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was allowing Turkish embassy staff,
including Barrack, to work with local officials in Syria to understand what aid
they need. "We want to help that government succeed,
because the alternative is full-scale civil war and chaos, which would, of
course, destabilise the entire region," Rubio said. A
U.S.-Turkish meeting focused on Syria was also held in Washington on Tuesday,
which Barrack attended according to Turkey's foreign ministry, where sanctions
relief and efforts to counter terrorism were discussed.
Removing U.S. sanctions would clear the way for greater engagement by
humanitarian organisations working in Syria, and ease foreign investment and
trade as the country tries to rebuild. Barrack has been busy since his arrival
in Ankara earlier this month, dining with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
on his second evening in the capital, according to people familiar with the
event. He joined Rubio for several high-profile meetings last week, including
one with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani in Antalya hosted by Fidan. He
and Rubio also met with Turkish and Ukrainian government ministers ahead of the
latter's talks with Russian officials, the first direct ceasefire discussions in
three years between the warring sides.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources
on May 21-22/2025
Report: World's supply of critical minerals for
clean energy is concentrated in fewer countries
David Mchugh And Alexa St. John/The Associated Press/May 21, 2025
FRANKFURT, Germany — The world's sources of critical minerals are increasingly
concentrated in just a few countries, most notably China, leaving the global
economy vulnerable to supply cutoffs that could disrupt industry and hit
consumers with higher prices, a report said Wednesday.
The Paris-based International Energy Agency's report looked at the availability
of minerals and metals that may be small in quantity — but large in impact when
it comes to shifting the economy away from fossil fuels toward electricity and
renewable energy.
It found that for copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements, the
average market share of the three top producing countries rose to 86% in 2024
from 82% in 2020. China is the leading refiner for 19 out of 20 strategic
minerals studied in the report, and has an average share of around 75%.
Indonesia showed strong growth in nickel, a key component in making steel and
batteries for electric vehicles.
The current trend toward export restrictions and trade disputes increases
concerns, the IEA said. “Critical mineral supply chains can be highly vulnerable
to supply shocks, be they from extreme weather, a technical failure or trade
disruptions,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. ”The impact of a supply
shock can be far-reaching, bringing higher prices for consumers and reducing
industrial competitiveness.”
Birol cited the energy crisis in Europe after Russia cut off natural gas
supplies over the invasion of Ukraine. Another cautionary tale is the global
shortage of silicon-based computer chips during and after the pandemic, which
disrupted auto production.
“The golden rule of energy security is diversification,” Birol told The
Associated Press in an interview. “And it goes beyond energy security, it is
also economic security."
Market forces are important in developing new sources but won't be enough.
“There is a need for well-designed government policies” in the form of financing
and other measures, he said. China is a massive global source of critical
minerals required for a wide range of goods that includes computer chips,
robots, electric autos, batteries, drones, and military equipment. It also
dominates the refining and processing of many of these critical minerals,
including lithium, cobalt, graphite and more.
China has placed export limits of many of these key products and tightened
controls on others as President Donald Trump’s trade negotiations escalate,
stifling U.S. industry and the nation’s ability to find quick alternatives.
Without access to China’s significant reserves, U.S. manufacturers have a harder
time competing amid mounting global supply tensions. Trump has made reducing
U.S. dependence on foreign critical minerals a core tenet of his first 100 days
back in office as part of a national security and economic resilience agenda.
This goes beyond China; the Trump administration finalized a rocky deal with
Ukraine granting American access to the nation’s vast mineral resources earlier
this month.
Trump is also looking to expedite deep-sea mining in international waters, much
to the chagrin of environmental groups. He called for a boost in the domestic
copper industry in a February executive order alongside other calls for the
federal government to fast-track new mine permits; has reviewed a minerals
proposal from Congo, a conflict-riddled nation also rich with mineral reserves;
and attempted to strong-arm Greenland into providing more of its minerals to the
U.S. The IEA report said that global markets were well supplied at the moment
and that prices in general have fallen. It warned however that planned
production of copper, which is essential for electric wiring and power grids,
would not keep pace with demand and predicted a 30% shortfall by 2030.
In Syria, a Shiite shrine and community navigate a changed
landscape
Mariam Fam/The Associated Press/May 21, 2025
SAYYIDA ZEINAB, Syria — At the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, rituals of faith unfold:
worshippers kneel in prayer, visitors raise their palms skyward or fervently
murmur invocations as they press their faces against an ornate structure
enclosing where they believe the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad is entombed.
But it’s more than just religious devotion that the golden-domed shrine
became known for during Syria’s prolonged civil war.
At the time, the shrine's protection from Sunni extremists became a rallying cry
for some Shiite fighters and Iran-backed groups from beyond Syria’s borders who
backed the former government of Bashar Assad. The shrine and the surrounding
area, which bears the same name, has emerged as one symbol of how the religious
and political increasingly intertwined during the conflict.
An altered landscape after Assad's ouster
With such a legacy, local Shiite community leaders and members are now
navigating a dramatically altered political landscape around Sayyida Zeinab and
beyond, after Assad’s December ouster by armed insurgents led by the Sunni
Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The complex transition that is
underway has left some in Syria’s small Shiite minority feeling vulnerable.
“For Shiites around the world, there’s huge sensitivity surrounding the
Sayyida Zeinab Shrine,” said Hussein al-Khatib. “It carries a lot of
symbolism.”After Assad’s ouster, al-Khatib joined other Syrian Shiite community
members to protect the shrine from the inside. The new security forces guard it
from the outside. “We don’t want any sedition among
Muslims,” he said. “This is the most important message, especially in this
period that Syria is going through.”
Zeinab is a daughter of the first Shiite imam, Ali, cousin and son-in-law of
Prophet Muhammad; she's especially revered among Shiites as a symbol of
steadfastness, patience and courage. She has several titles, such as the “mother
of misfortunes” for enduring tragedies, including the 7th-century killing of her
brother, Hussein. His death exacerbated the schism between Islam’s two main
sects, Sunni and Shiite, and is mourned annually by Shiites. Zeinab's burial
place is disputed; some Muslims believe it’s elsewhere. The Syria shrine has
drawn pilgrims, including from Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. Since Assad’s ouster,
however, fewer foreign visitors have come, an economic blow to those catering to
them in the area.
The shrine's locale has faced many attacks
Over the years, the Sayyida Zeinab area has suffered deadly attacks by
militants.
In January, state media reported that intelligence officials in Syria’s
post-Assad government thwarted a plan by the Islamic State group to set off a
bomb at the shrine. The announcement appeared to be an attempt by Syria’s new
leaders to reassure religious minorities, including those seen as having
supported Assad’s former government. Al-Khatib, who moved his family from Aleppo
province to the Sayyida Zeinab area shortly before Assad’s fall, said Assad had
branded himself as a protector of minorities. “When killings, mobilization ...
and sectarian polarization began," the narrative "of the regime and its allies
was that ‘you, as a Shiite, you as a minority member, will be killed if I
fall.’”The involvement of Sunni jihadis and some hardline foreign Shiite
fighters fanned sectarian flames, he said. The Syria conflict began as one of
several uprisings against Arab dictators before Assad brutally crushed what
started as largely peaceful protests and a civil war erupted. It became
increasingly fought along sectarian lines, drew in foreign fighters and became a
proxy battlefield for regional and international powers on different sides.
Post-Assad, new tensions center on the shrine
Recently, a red flag reading “Oh, Zeinab" that had fluttered from its dome was
removed after some disparaged it as a sectarian symbol.
Sheikh Adham al-Khatib, a representative of followers of the Twelver
branch of Shiism in Syria, said such flags “are not directed against anyone,”
but that it was agreed to remove it for now to keep the peace.
“We don’t want a clash to happen. We see that ... there’s sectarian
incitement, here and there," he said. Earlier, Shiite leaders had wrangled with
some endowments ministry officials over whether the running of the shrine would
stay with the Shiite endowment trustee as it’s been, he said, adding “we've
rejected" changing the status quo. No response was received before publication
to questions sent to a Ministry of Endowments media official. Adham al-Khatib
and other Shiite leaders recently met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
“We’ve talked transparently about some of the transgressions,” he said. “He
promised that such matters would be handled but that they require some patience
because of the negative feelings that many harbor for Shiites as a result of the
war.”
Many, the sheikh said, “are holding the Shiites responsible for prolonging the
regime’s life.” This “is blamed on Iran, on Hezbollah and on Shiites
domestically," he said, adding that he believes the conflict was political
rather than religious.
Early in the conflict, he said, “our internal Shiite decision was to be neutral
for long months.” But, he said, there was sectarian incitement against Shiites
by some and argued that “when weapons, kidnappings and killing of civilians
started, Shiites were forced to defend themselves.”
Regionally, Assad was backed by Iran and the Shiite militant Lebanese group
Hezbollah, whose intervention helped prop up his rule. Most rebels against him
were Sunni, as were their patrons in the region. Besides the shrine's protection
argument, geopolitical interests and alliances were at play as Syria was a key
part of Iran’s network of deterrence against Israel. Emotions can run high; for
some, fears persist
Today, rumors and some social media posts can threaten to inflame emotions.
Shrine director Jaaffar Kassem said he received a false video purporting
to show the shrine on fire and was flooded with calls about it.
At the shrine, Zaher Hamza said he prays “for safety and security” and the
rebuilding of “a modern Syria, where there’s harmony among all and there are no
grudges or injustice.”Is he worried about the shrine? “We’re the ones who are in
the protection of Sayyida Zeinab — not the ones who will protect the Sayyida
Zeinab," he replied.
While some Shiites have fled Syria after Assad’s fall, Hamza said he wouldn’t.
“Syria is my country,” he said. “If I went to Lebanon, Iraq or to European
countries, I’d be displaced. I’ll die in my country.”
Some are less at ease.Small groups of women gathered recently at the Sayyida
Zeinab courtyard, chatting among themselves in what appeared to be a quiet
atmosphere. Among them was Kamla Mohamed. Early in the war, Mohamed said, her
son was kidnapped more than a decade ago by anti-government rebels for serving
in the military. The last time she saw him, she added, was on a video where he
appeared with a bruised face.
When Assad fell, Mohamed feared for her family. Those fears were fueled by the
later eruption of violence in Syria’s coastal region, where a counteroffensive
killed many Alawite civilians — members of the minority sect from which Assad
hails and drew support as he ruled over a Sunni majority. Human rights groups
reported revenge killings against Alawites; the new authorities said they were
investigating. “We were scared that people would come to us and kill us,”
Mohamed said, clutching a prayer bead. “Our life has become full of fear.”
Another Syrian Shiite shrine visitor said she's been feeling on edge. She spoke
on condition she only be identified as Umm Ahmed, or mother of Ahmed, as is
traditional, for fear of reprisals against her or her family.
She said, speaking shortly after the coastal violence in March, that she’s
thought of leaving the country, but added that there isn’t enough money and she
worries that her home would be stolen if she did. Still, “one’s life is the most
precious,” she said.
She hopes it won’t come to that. “Our hope in God is big,” she said. “God is the
one protecting this area, protecting the shrine and protecting us.”
Trump Tells Syria to Expel Foreign Fighters, But Sharaa
Gives Them Army Divisions
Ahmad Sharawi/FDD/May 21/2025
“Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria,” President Donald Trump told
interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14 — just after lifting all U.S.
sanctions on Syria. Yet on May 18, Syria’s Defense Ministry welcomed the
Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al-Qaeda-linked Uyghur jihadist group active
in Afghanistan and Syria, into Sharaa’s new army. The development suggests that
Syria’s new leader remains unwilling to align his policy with U.S. interests and
values. The United States previously made the removal
of foreign fighters a top condition for sanctions relief following the fall of
the Assad regime in December 2024. In March 2025, Washington sent a formal
letter to the new government in Damascus demanding the expulsion of these
fighters. Syria’s response was to stall, arguing that “non-Syrian rebels who
helped oust Assad should be treated well.” During a joint conference with French
President Emmanuel Macron, Sharaa defended their presence, saying, “foreign
fighters came to Syria individually, not in groups, to support the Syrian people
during the revolution.” He has also indicated plans to naturalize them.
Al-Qaeda-Linked Fighters From TIP Join Syria’s New Army
The incorporation of TIP into the Syrian military followed Syrian Defense
Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra’s announcement that “all major armed factions had now
been integrated into the defense ministry.” The military’s 84th Division, where
TIP now resides, will consist primarily of Uyghurs and other foreign fighters.
The identity of its leadership and area of operations remain unclear.TIP has a
long-standing alliance with al-Qaeda, fighting alongside it in Afghanistan since
before 2001. Its current emir, Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, sits on al-Qaeda’s
central Shura Council. In 2015, TIP desecrated churches in Jisr al-Shughur in
Idlib, according to multiple reports. Yet TIP’s commander in Syria, Abdulaziz
Dawud Hudaberdi, also known as Zahid, was one of six foreign fighters promoted
by Sharaa to the rank of brigadier general in December 2024.
U.S.-Sanctioned, Pro-Turkish Commanders Lead Syrian Army Units
In an effort to unify all factions under a central command, Sharaa has also
integrated elements of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) into the
new Syrian military. These units include figures sanctioned by the United States
for atrocities against the Kurds — yet Sharaa appointed them to senior posts.
Mohammad al-Jasem, leader of the SNA’s Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, now
commands the Syrian military’s Hama Division. Sayf Abu Bakr, a former ISIS
fighter and head of the SNA’s Hamza Division, was named commander of the 76th
Division. Ahmad al-Hayes — known as Abu Hatem Shaqra, whom Washington sanctioned
for ISIS ties and human rights abuses against the Kurds — now leads the 86th
Division in Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, and Raqqa. Sharaa
also failed to act against SNA units during their March attacks against Alawite
communities on the Syrian coast. Multiple sources confirmed that fighters from
al-Jasem’s Suleiman Shah Brigade and Abu Bakr’s Hamza Division took part in the
massacres. While there is no evidence that Sharaa ordered the attacks, his
failure to prevent or punish them showcases his lack of control over these
factions.
U.S. Should Reimpose Sanctions if Syria Fails to Act
Although President Trump lifted all sanctions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio
subsequently said that waivers will be “renewed every 180 days.” The United
States must monitor Syria’s military integration closely and take swift action
if Sharaa continues down his current path. Washington should either pause the
waivers if Sharaa ignores U.S. demands or include a snapback mechanism with the
waivers that automatically reimposes sanctions if foreign fighters are not
expelled. **Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where he focuses on Middle East
affairs, specifically the Levant, Iraq, and Iranian intervention in Arab
affairs, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward the region. For more analysis
from Ahmad and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Ahmad on X @AhmadA_Sharawi.
Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research
institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
5 Ways South Africa Undermines U.S. Interests — and What
Must Change
Max Meizlish, David May and Melissa Sacks/FDD/May 21/2025
The United States must increase pressure on South Africa to reverse five of its
harmful policies. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s arrival in Washington this week to
meet with President Donald Trump offers the administration an opportunity to
take stock of a bilateral relationship that is increasingly out of line with
American interests and values. South Africa may be a
democracy with strategic geography and abundant resources, but under the
leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), the government has chosen to
align itself with terrorist organizations, authoritarian regimes, and
anti-Western blocs. These policies undermine U.S. national security, embolden
malign actors, and erode the foundations of a cooperative relationship.
If South Africa seeks to repair and restore its partnership with the
United States, Trump should demand the reversal of the following key policies.
1. South Africa has strengthened its strategic alignment with China.
South Africa has deepened its strategic relationship with the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP). To this day, the CCP provides political party training to
ANC officials, supports ANC-linked state-owned enterprises, and partners with
ANC-led institutions in support of the anti-Western BRICS framework, which
includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Moreover, at Beijing’s behest, South Africa has pressured Taiwan since at
least October 2024 to relocate its de facto embassy from Pretoria to
Johannesburg and downgrade it to a trade office. Meanwhile, South African
schools such as Stellenbosch University openly advertise the progress they have
made in quantum communications in partnership with Chinese universities and
researchers affiliated with the Chinese military.
What Must Change
South Africa must cease its diplomatic pressure campaign targeting Taiwan,
refrain from further action on behalf of China’s coercive foreign policy, and
eliminate strategic research partnerships involving Chinese military-linked
researchers and universities.
2. South Africa has deepened its diplomatic and military ties with Russia.
Even after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, South Africa
has moved closer to Moscow. It has hosted joint naval exercises with Russia and
China, welcomed U.S.-sanctioned Russian warships, and, according to President
Ramaphosa, “continue[s] to see Russia as a valued ally.” South Africa’s minerals
and petroleum resources minister, Gwede Mantashe, has gone so far as to suggest
his country should be open to nuclear cooperation with Russia and Iran.
What Must Change
South Africa must publicly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, suspend all
military cooperation with Moscow, align with global efforts to support Ukrainian
sovereignty, and impose economic, diplomatic, and military consequences on
Putin’s regime.
3. South Africa has bolstered its commercial and strategic ties to Iran.
South Africa’s economic entanglements with the regime in Iran —
particularly its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington has
designated as a foreign terrorist organization — raise serious national security
concerns.
From 2002 to 2013, Ramaphosa served as the board chair of MTN Group, Iran’s
second-largest telecom provider which owns nearly half of Irancell, a joint
venture linked to the IRGC. The Islamic Republic’s telecommunications sector is
a key tool for the regime’s domestic surveillance, censorship, and potential
sanctions evasion. According to U.S. court documents
advanced on behalf of American armed services members murdered by IRGC-linked
groups in Iraq and Afghanistan, MTN entered Iran in 2005 by bribing Iran’s
deputy foreign minister in a secretive backchannel effort that MTN called
Project Snooker. Meanwhile, Ramaphosa’s special envoy to the United States,
Mcebisi Jonas, currently serves as MTN’s chairman.
What Must Change
South Africa must divest MTN’s stake in Irancell, conduct an independent
investigation into Project Snooker, and ensure no South African firms are
enabling the IRGC’s sanctions evasion or intelligence operations.
4. South Africa has sought to delegitimize Israel at the International Court of
Justice. South Africa has transformed itself into
Hamas’s lawyer on the international stage. Pretoria launched its opening lawfare
salvo against the Jewish state at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in
December 2023, falsely accusing Israel of committing genocide against
Palestinians in Gaza. Pretoria’s case, which then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony
Blinken described as “meritless,” relies on distortions and decontextualized
quotes from Israeli leaders. Likewise, South Africa’s allegation ignores the
great lengths to which Israel has gone to avoid civilian casualties.Meanwhile,
ANC officials — including Ramaphosa — have repeatedly reaffirmed their support
for what they call “accountability for Israel’s crimes” without demonstrating
equal concern for Hamas’s atrocities.
What Must Change
South Africa must withdraw its ICJ case, condemn Hamas’s October 7, 2023,
massacre, and end its campaign of political warfare against Israel.
5. South Africa has provided political support to Hamas and Hezbollah.
South Africa has become a hub of legitimization and coordination for
Hamas and Hezbollah. The country hosted Hamas delegations in2015, when senior
Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal and Mousa Abu Marzouk met with ANC leaders and
signed a letter of intent aimed at, according to the ANC secretary-general at
the time, “building a long-lasting relationship” between the ANC and Hamas.
During the same visit, Mashaal spoke at a conference organized by the ANC and
promised Hamas would continue its wave of “Jerusalem intifada” attacks against
Israel. In 2018, Hamas leaders signed another memorandum of understanding with
ANC officials in Johannesburg focused on advancing the international Boycott,
Divestment, and Sanctions campaign against Israel.
Days after the October 7 massacre, then-South African Foreign Minister Naledi
Pandor personally called the late Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to discuss
providing support to Gaza. In November 2023, Pandor and Ramaphosa met with the
leaders of Qatar, Hamas’s top financial and political backers. In 2024, South
Africa hosted a delegation of senior Hamas officials at the Global
Anti-Apartheid Conference on Palestine. South African
officials have also met with Hezbollah representatives in Lebanon, including the
group’s head of Arab and international relations, Ammar al-Moussawi. Meanwhile,
South Africa’s state-owned State Diamond Trader has counted a Hezbollah-linked
diamond trading company as one of its top 10 buyers. In April 2023, the U.S.
Treasury Department sanctioned State Diamond Trader.
What Must Change
South Africa must immediately sever all political and diplomatic ties with Hamas
and Hezbollah, ban future visits by their officials, and publicly disavow past
memoranda and bilateral engagements.
**Max Meizlish is a senior research analyst for the Center on Economic and
Financial Power (CEFP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where
David May is a research manager and senior research analyst, and Melissa Sacks
is director of network analysis. For more analysis from Max, David, Melissa, and
FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Max and David on X @maxmeizlish and
@DavidSamuelMay. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based,
nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.
Iran Isn't Building a Civilian Nuclear Program
Daniel Greenfield/Gatestone Institute/May 21, 2025
[T]he Obama administration and some figures in the current administration insist
on pretending that a deal can be made to keep Iran's nuclear program peaceful.
Defenders of rebooting Obama's 2015 JCPOA Iran nuclear deal have taken to
calling critics "globalists," and claim that bringing back Obama's old policy is
somehow "America First." They insist that being realistic about Iran's nuclear
program is a plot by the military-industrial complex and the CIA.
But it was the CIA and the 'intelligence community' that bailed out Iran during
the George W. Bush administration, by falsely declaring in the 2007 National
Intelligence Estimate that "we judge with high confidence that in fall 2003,
Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program."
The Trump administration can... maintain sanctions, it can take out the program,
or it can do absolutely nothing. But it should be clear-eyed about what Iran's
nuclear program is and what it's for. Deals with terrorists and terror states
are worthless. Any agreement with Iran can only end one way, and that's with a
terror state whose motto is "Death to America" gaining the ability to carry out
that threat against us.
Iran's civilian nuclear program is as much of a front as a mob chain of pizza
parlors. Negotiating with Islamic terrorists is a waste of America's power and
credibility. And it seduces those who negotiate with terrorists into believing
that a deal is possible no matter how high the red flags fly.
Iran has some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. A country where
electricity is vastly cheaper than America isn't looking to lower power costs.
Iran is not interested in peaceful applications of nuclear energy, but in
nuclear weapons. That's why it's been willing to lose $1 trillion and go to war
to protect its nuclear program.
Iran has some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. The average cost
of electricity in the United States per kilowatt-hour is $0.181.
In Iran it's $0.004/kWh.
A country where electricity is vastly cheaper than America isn't looking to
lower power costs.
Iran joins Libya, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and other oil-rich countries as
having some of the cheapest electricity prices in the world. Countries with vast
energy reserves and production don't need nuclear energy the way that Germany or
France, which depend on imports, do.
Saudi Arabia, with $0.053/kWh electricity, did not begin pursuing a nuclear
program because it needed to lower its energy costs. Neither did the UAE. The
Saudis and Emiratis became interested in developing a "civilian" nuclear program
only as Iran's nuclear program took off.
If Iran were developing a nuclear program to lower energy costs, it would have
long ago dropped the program after sanctions cost its economy an estimated $1
trillion. Losing $1 trillion to shave a few more fractions of a cent off the
average cost of a kilowatt-hour makes no sense.
Iran is not interested in peaceful applications of nuclear energy, but in
nuclear weapons. That's why it's been willing to lose $1 trillion and go to war
to protect its nuclear program.
Despite these obvious commonsense facts, the Obama administration and some
figures in the current administration insist on pretending that a deal can be
made to keep Iran's nuclear program peaceful. The idea is just as false in 2025
as it was in 2015 when President Barack Obama pushed his Iran deal premised on
the idea that an Islamic terror state with oil coming out of the ground has lost
$1 trillion and gone to the brink of war to lower electricity costs from $0.004
to $0.003/kWh.
Consider Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. Under construction since the 1990s,
its 1,000-megawatt electricity generation capacity is a drop in the bucket
compared to the billions of dollars spent on constructing it. (Iran has
variously claimed to have spent either $1.7 billion or $4 billion on the plant.)
One of the world's largest energy producers would not be going to war to add
1,000 megawatts of electricity generation.
Despite Bushehr and the rest of Iran's extensive and growing nuclear
infrastructure, Iran gets only 1% of its electricity from nuclear power. Iran
gets most of its electricity (86%) from natural gas, and its natural gas cost is
$0.001/kWh for residential customers (vs $0.081 on average in the world).
With 1,183 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, one of the biggest in
the world, Iran has all the energy it needs under its feet. Even without adding
the $1 trillion cost of sanctions, the numbers for using nuclear power plants to
generate electricity for homes and businesses make no economic sense.
Over 95% of Iranian households depend on gas. And Iran generates so much power
that it exports electricity to neighboring Iraq. Despite putting on a facade of
power- and gas-shortages to justify its nuclear program, that's not because Iran
doesn't have enough gas, but because it prioritizes exports over its domestic
market, and uses the revenues for international terrorism.
Iran is the world's third-largest natural gas producer, after America and
Russia. Where does that money go? It certainly doesn't go to the Iranian
population, which gets little to no say in it.
Iran's trillions of cubic feet of natural gas produced each year also help
finance its extremely expensive and devastating nuclear program. Is Iran
planning to spend another $20 billion building nuclear power plants (in an
economy with a GDP of only $404 billion) because it wants to make sure that its
civilian population and businesses have everything that they need?
If Iran really cared about the welfare and prosperity of its civilian
population, it would have stopped its nuclear program and ended the
international sanctions imposed on it, which have hit its consumer goods, and
business exports and imports hardest, while doing less to stop its core energy
exports and construction businesses that the regime derives much of its wealth
from.
When President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear
program, ballistic missiles and terrorism, its GDP growth fell from as high as
8.8% after the 2015 Obama nuclear deal, to 2.4%.
Was adding some megawatts to the electric grid in a country powered by its gas
reserves worth that?
Iran is not pursuing a nuclear program because (1) it needs the electric power,
(2) because it makes any economic sense, or (3) because it cares about its
civilian population.
No one in the Middle East is building nuclear power plants because they want a
civilian nuclear industry. And certainly not countries that can get all the
energy they want just by drilling.
Those who oppose any crackdown on Iran's nuclear program should be honest and
say so, rather than promoting Obama's fiction that one of the world's largest
energy producers with dirt-cheap electricity lost $1 trillion to be able to
slightly boost its electric generation capacity.
Iran is not building its deep underground Natanz uranium enrichment complex so
far in the earth that it's supposed to be unreachable by U.S. strikes because it
wants a civilian nuclear program. And that much is obvious to everyone. But
there are those who still insist on an imaginary separation between Bushehr and
Natanz, between Iran's supposedly civilian and military nuclear program, and use
that as the basis for a deal limiting Iran's nuclear capacity to civilian uses.
But all of that is premised on the idea that Iran wants a civilian nuclear
program and would therefore accept and honor an arrangement that would limit it
to a civilian program with no possibility of weapons development. That premise,
which Obama accepted and sold to congressional Democrats, quickly fell apart
only for Witkoff and other Trump administration players to try and revive it.
Iran isn't looking to trade a nuclear weapons program for a civilian program.
It's doing what it has done from the very beginning, which is disguising its
military program as a civilian program. Obama, like a number of figures in
political office and the intelligence community, knew that and chose to pretend
otherwise. They are the reason why Iran has become a bigger threat over the
years.
Defenders of rebooting Obama's 2015 JCPOA Iran nuclear deal have taken to
calling critics "globalists," and claim that bringing back Obama's old policy is
somehow "America First." They insist that being realistic about Iran's nuclear
program is a plot by the military-industrial complex and the CIA.
But it was the CIA and the 'intelligence community' that bailed out Iran during
the George W. Bush administration, by falsely declaring in the 2007 National
Intelligence Estimate that "we judge with high confidence that in fall 2003,
Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program."
The Trump administration can do what it chooses about Iran's nuclear program. It
can maintain sanctions, it can take out the program, or it can do absolutely
nothing. But it should be clear-eyed about what Iran's nuclear program is and
what it's for. Deals with terrorists and terror states are worthless. Any
agreement with Iran can only end one way, and that's with a terror state whose
motto is "Death to America" gaining the ability to carry out that threat against
us.
Iran's civilian nuclear program is as much of a front as a mob chain of pizza
parlors. Negotiating with Islamic terrorists is a waste of America's power and
credibility. And it seduces those who negotiate with terrorists into believing
that a deal is possible no matter how high the red flags fly.
The United States can choose to ignore Iran, but it should stop humiliating
itself by negotiating with a terror state that has tortured and murdered
Americans, and now treats us like suckers.
**Daniel Greenfield is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz
Freedom Center. Reprinted by kind permission of the Center's Front Page
Magazine.
**Follow Daniel Greenfield on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21637/iran-nuclear-program
Why President Trump Will Destroy Every Member of His
Cabinet
The Daily Beast Podcast, Erkki Forster/May 21, 2025
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs a House
Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump is set to “disgrace” everyone in his orbit—from
Vice President J.D. Vance to Secretary of State Marco Rubio—until there’s no one
left to succeed him, former White House Communications Director Anthony
Scaramucci predicts. “Nobody in Trump’s cabinet is
going to be Trump’s successor,” Scaramucci declared on The Daily Beast Podcast.
“He’s going to put them all in the wood chipper. He’s going to disgrace every
one of them.”
Case in point: Vance, who was publicly humiliated in February when Trump flatly
refused to name him as a potential successor. “Vance
is walking around without any feet because (Trump) chopped up his feet,” said
Scaramucci, who served just eleven days in the first Trump administration in
2017.
“He’s like the boss from hell, isn’t he?” host Joanna Coles proposed.
“Everything you say, he undermines you publicly.”
Scaramucci argued that everyone in Trump Cabinet is marching toward irrelevance
by selling themselves out in service to a president who demands nothing less
than blind loyalty: “They go and do everything that they’re told to do like a
good little doggy,” he said. During his first term in the White House,
Scaramucci argued there was enough internal pushback—from within the
administration, as well as from “establishment Republicans” in Congress and the
Republican National Committee—to keep Trump in check. But now, “He’s like Orange
Moses with the unholy tariff tablet.”One of Trump’s most dependable lackeys is
Rubio, who has taken on the added role of National Security Advisor after Mike
Waltz became the sole Cabinet-level casualty of the Signalgate scandal. Once a
fiery Trump critic who made fun of the size of Trump’s hands, Rubio has pulled
off an impressive political transformation—but at what cost?
“He’s lost the plot, he has no principles, and he’s completely
disingenuous,” Scaramucci said of Rubio. So who outside of Trump’s circle will
take the baton from Trump in 2028—assuming he agrees to pass it on?
Perhaps the Trump name will continue to dominate the GOP: Scaramucci
observed that Donald Trump Jr. is “very popular with MAGA,” and “could get the
nomination.”
“But I don’t think down deep he really wants to do it,” he added.
New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Tuesday,
Thursday and Sunday. Follow our new feed on your favorite podcast platform at
beast.pub/dailybeastpod and subscribe on YouTube to watch full episodes.
Trump’s narrow window for Middle East peace
Taufiq Rahim/Arab News/May 21, 2025
Amid the gathering of business leaders in Riyadh last week, President Donald
Trump delivered a blistering critique of US foreign policy over the last three
decades. “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,” he said.
The president took the rhetorical shift a step further, announcing he would seek
an end to sanctions on Syria, which prompted a sustained standing ovation in the
ballroom. This administration appears willing to redefine the rules of the game
across the whole of the Middle East, not just in Syria.
Before the trip, details emerged of active negotiations between the US and
Hamas, facilitated through a backchannel, Palestinian businessman Bishara
Bahbah. Concerning Yemen, the administration this month reached a swift detente
with the Houthis after a rapid escalation. However, it is the not-so-quiet
negotiations with Iran on denuclearization that reflect the full scope of the
approach. Trump went so far as to share online an interview in which former
Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani discussed the
scope of nuclear enrichment in a potential deal.
Is the administration on the cusp of a geopolitical step change in the Middle
East? As Trump and his team settle back into Washington’s day-to-day routine,
they have left behind a sense of tepid optimism in the region that
transformation through peace, not war, could be possible. Trump left behind a
sense of tepid optimism in the region that transformation through peace, not
war, could be possible
Trump has been vocal about resolving global conflicts and the White House has
codified this in the “peace through strength” policy doctrine. Beyond his
current stance, the president has warned about the dangers of nuclear war for
four decades. During his first term, despite the bellicose rhetoric, he
prioritized engagement with nuclear powers, including long-time foes like North
Korea.
Clearly, the president prefers grand bargains — and all the optics they bring.
While he was able to usher in the Abraham Accords during his first term and a
framework agreement with China (on tariffs), broader deals with Iran, Russia and
other geopolitical flashpoints eluded him. The Middle East itself was in a very
different place in 2017. Turkiye was still recovering from the dynamics of a
coup. Daesh was on the march (initially). Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen were
full-fledged quagmires. Several Gulf countries and Iran were almost in open
conflict.
Fast forward to 2025 and the Gulf, Turkiye and Iran have partially resolved
their differences. Meanwhile, countries that were previously in strife have
stabilized, albeit under the auspices of unorthodox forces in some, such as
Syria and Yemen. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has become a peacemaker,
leading the outreach to Iran. The stars would appear to be aligning around a new
dynamic in the Middle East — almost. The Gaza crisis casts an apocalyptic shadow
over the region. Perhaps the region’s changing dynamic fed into Hamas’
geostrategic calculus in carrying out the Oct. 7 attacks. Today, however, Israel
may be the biggest obstacle to the region’s march forward. Its rejection of a
ceasefire thwarts regional integration and a focus on reconciliation. The stars
would appear to be aligning — almost. The Gaza crisis casts an apocalyptic
shadow over the region
Trump avoided a stop in Israel on his trip, a glaring act of omission. He called
out the humanitarian situation, saying, “the people in Gaza are starving.” Many
of Trump’s political allies are loath to encourage an end to the Gaza crisis in
any way that limits Israel’s ambitions. However, the current stance of the
Israeli government is not only holding back the region but also Trump’s
ambitious agenda. And it could very much undermine his legacy. Partisans across
the aisle have responded to the trip to the Gulf with equal parts derision and
ridicule. This reaction misses the point, even if legitimate criticisms are at
play.
Acknowledging this window of opportunity for change in the Middle East is not
about giving Trump the benefit of the doubt. Simply put, the window will not be
open for long and taking advantage is to everyone’s benefit. Deeper concerns
related to the Iranian regime’s commitments, Hamas’ staying power and the
fragility of the Syrian government could undermine progress. The challenges
ahead are still significant.
This moment in the Middle East requires entrenched interests and partisans
across the aisle to work together in the common interest. That also means
setting aside misgivings about the president. A new Middle East is possible if
that happens.
**Taufiq Rahim is the author of “Trump 2.5: A Primer” and a senior fellow at New
America.
The implications of EU’s decision to review relations with Israel
Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg/Arab News/May 21, 2025
There was a breakthrough in the EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday. A
majority of the 27 member states prevailed in supporting the Netherlands’
proposal to launch a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to
possible breaches of human rights in Gaza. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat,
said after the meeting that “a strong majority” of member states backed the
move, adding that “countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable and
what we want is to really help the people and unblock the humanitarian aid so
that it will reach the people.”According to reports, 17 countries supported the
Dutch proposal, while nine opposed it and one abstained. Leading up to the
meeting, EU officials were skeptical about the possibility of getting even a
simple majority due to opposition from countries such as Germany, which carries
a lot of weight in the EU voting system. German officials were quite confident
they could block the move, despite being abandoned by the Netherlands, their
traditional ally on issues related to support for Israel. Hungary and other
smaller EU states have been loud in their support for Israel’s actions.
Budapest, for instance, last month welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu despite a warrant being issued by the International Criminal Court for
his arrest on genocide charges. More recently, it blocked imposing more
sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The vote will help the EU push
for a diplomatic solution to both the Gaza war and the underlying conflict
However, Germany has been the most effective in shielding Israel from criticism
at home and within the EU. In 2016, Berlin spearheaded a move to widen the
definition of antisemitism to include criticism of the Israeli government. This
has since been adopted by at least 25 EU member states, plus the US. In 2021,
the European Commission published a handbook “for the practical use” of this new
definition, which is being used in the current campaign to silence critics of
Israel.
In 2018, Germany created the Office of the Federal Government Commissioner for
Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight Against Antisemitism, a vast bureaucracy
that includes commissioners at the state and local levels, some of whom work out
of prosecutors’ offices or police stations. There are dozens of “antisemitism
commissioners” throughout Germany, whose task is to monitor incidents or
individuals falling afoul of the new definition of antisemitism. Their targets
have included the German-Israeli sociologist Moshe Zuckermann, who was targeted
for supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, Jewish South
African photographer Adam Broomberg and many others questioning Israeli
policies.
In 2019, the German parliament passed a resolution condemning BDS as
“antisemitic,” which has had a chilling effect on German debates on Israel and
led to the cancellation or disruption of many events considered to be
sympathetic to BDS or critical of Israel.
Since the war in Gaza started in October 2023, German authorities have acted
with more vengeance, even violence at times, to suppress criticism of Israeli
actions. They have canceled or disrupted dozens of events, withdrawn previously
awarded grants, fired academics, deported foreign visitors or denied them entry,
and publicly shamed those who have defied the ban on pro-Palestinian discourse.
Germany has also continued to supply Israel with weapons, some of which are
being used in the war against Gaza, leading to accusations of complicity in the
Gaza genocide, which is the basis for Nicaragua’s case against Germany before
the International Court of Justice. Within the EU and the UN and before the
world court, Berlin has been among the fiercest defenders of Israel.
The German position has become quite evident in recent meetings in Riyadh,
Brussels and elsewhere. While circumspect in official statements, they lobbied
participants behind the scenes to drop their opposition to Israeli actions. They
dismiss diplomatic efforts, such as the move to review the EU-Israel Association
Agreement, as useless because Germany can block any action based on that review.
They also dismiss cases before the International Court of Justice and the
International Criminal Court and any attempts to censure Israel internationally
as counterproductive. The only way to influence Israel, they believe, is for
Arabs to “normalize” relations with Israel without conditions. Without
presenting evidence, they believe that only normalization has the promise of
changing Israel’s conduct in the region.
The strong majority will give EU diplomacy more credibility and relevance in the
Middle East and beyond
While it is admirable for Berlin to document and remember crimes committed by
the Nazis and try to prevent them from recurring in Germany, it is inexplicable
how it is using their memory and the inherent guilt associated with them to
justify inflicting similar crimes by Israel against the Palestinians.
Tuesday’s EU move was possibly influenced by the statement issued a day earlier
by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. They threatened “concrete actions” if
Israel continued to block aid to Gaza. The UK has also halted negotiations with
Israel on a free trade agreement. And France announced that it is planning to
recognize the state of Palestine, which Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot linked
to Israel’s actions in Gaza. “We cannot leave the children of Gaza a legacy of
violence and hatred. So all this must stop, and that’s why we are determined to
recognize a Palestinian state,” he said.
Following the EU vote, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said he had “no
doubt” about the extent of Israeli violations in Gaza and that the review could
lead to the suspension of the association agreement, indicating the extent of
the frustration most European governments feel with their inability to moderate
Israeli actions in Gaza. However, a suspension of the deal will be very
difficult to achieve given the EU’s complicated voting system, which means a
small number of countries could block such action.While the review of the
EU-Israel Association Agreement is a welcome move, it is doubtful that it will
lead to concrete collective action by the EU on trade with Israel. However, it
adds one more piece to the EU’s diplomatic toolkit. Despite opposition by some
of its member states, the EU has taken significant steps to push for a
diplomatic solution to both the Gaza war and the underlying Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. For example, it supports Saudi Arabia and Norway’s efforts to make the
two-state solution a viable option. It has also supported the post-conflict Arab
plan for Gaza. The EU is among the largest providers of humanitarian assistance
to the Palestinians and strongest supporters of the Palestinian Authority.
The strong majority in Tuesday’s meeting is likely to grow in future votes,
adding pressure within the EU on Israel’s supporters and giving EU diplomacy
more credibility and relevance in the Middle East and beyond.
*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