English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 02/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
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
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
16/13-20/:'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
November 01-02/2025
Elias Bejjani/October 21/2025/ My X Account
Indeed, Lebanon is a failed state, just as Tom Barrack described its illness.
The only solution is placing it under international mandate pursuant to Chapter
VI/Elias Bejjani/November 01, 2025
Faith Reflections on the Feast of All Saints/Elias Bejjani/November 01/2025
Halloween in Canada: Concepts, Religious Background, and the Role of Native
Canadian Traditions/Elias Bejjani/October 31/2025
Video Link From DRM News/FULL REMARKS Delivered By Tom Barrack at Manama
Dialogue ... Unveils Bold Middle East Strategy/Comments by Elias Bejjani
Katz Threatens to Bomb Beirut
Brrak Warns Lebanon... A Final American Message?
Adraee: Yesterday We Eliminated a Member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force in the
Nabatieh Region
US envoy calls Lebanon a ‘failed state’ as Syria expected to join anti-IS
coalition
Tom Barrack calls Lebanon a ‘failed state,’ urges faster action on Hezbollah’s
weapons
Barrack Warns of Israeli Action to Disarm Hezbollah
US Envoy Urges Direct Lebanon-Israel Negotiations
Israeli Drone Targets Car in Nabatieh, South Lebanon
Israel Kills Member of Hezbollah’s ‘Radwan Force’ in Southern Lebanon
Reports: 3 Killed in Israeli Shelling in South Lebanon
Four Martyrs in a Southern Raid and Katz Threatens to Target Beirut
Saar: Hezbollah's Rearmament Efforts Will Have Serious Repercussions
This is What Ortagus Conveyed... And a Tripartite Committee?
US Ambassador Michel Cisse to Arrive in Lebanon Next Week
Cairo Intervenes to Contain Tension Between Lebanon and Israel... And the Army
Accelerates Efforts Before Year's End!
Lebanese Army Bolsters Positions in South to Confront Israeli Incursions
Us and Our History/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
The Deeper Goal is to Impose New Realities: Is the Political Hezbollah Also
Forbidden?/Mounir Rabih Al-Modon/November 01, 202
When Ortagus Conveys Netanyahu's Message: No Peace Without the Shiites/Ghada
Hallawi/Al-Modon/November 02, 202
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on
November 01-02/2025
Classified US Report Documents Israeli Violations in Gaza
Jordan, Germany Say International Force in Gaza Needs UN Mandate
Israel Says the Latest Remains Returned from Gaza Are Not Bodies of Hostages
International force in Gaza needs UN mandate – top envoys
Fatah Says It Won’t Block Any Candidate for Gaza Committee
Trump Envoy Says Wants Iraq Free of Iran’s ‘Malign’ Interference
Over Half a Million Syrians Have Returned Home from Türkiye
Syria, Russia Defense Ministers Discuss Exchanging Expertise
Syrian President Sharaa Expected to Visit Washington, US Envoy Says
New Hurdles Threaten Israel-Egypt Gas Export Deal
Yemen Busts Shipment of Advanced Chemicals Bound to Houthis
Top diplomats from Germany, Jordan and the UK call for immediate ceasefire in
Sudan
New Satellite Images Suggest Mass Killings Persist in Sudan's El-Fasher
Grand Egyptian Museum opens its doors to the world, global dignitaries attend
inauguration
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources on
November 01-02/2025
Iranian Regime Drops Mask: Open March Toward
Nuclear Bomb/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 01/2025
The Gulf and the Desired Economic Growth/Mohammed al-Rumaihi/Asharq Al Awsat/November
01/2025
Schengen visa system must be reformed to aid human rights activists:
Amnesty/Luke Coffey/Arab News/October 31, 2025
Why hard power politics is driving Turkiye’s foreign relations/Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab
News/October 31, 2025
Cairo talks on Gaza fail to forge Palestinian unity/Daoud Kuttab/Arab
News/October 31, 2025
World Bank’s heavy focus on climate finance diverts
critical resources from core end-poverty mission/Bjorn Lomborg/Arab News/October
31, 2025
Selected X Tweets For November 01/2025
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 01-02/2025
Elias Bejjani/October 21/2025/ My X Account
Please be informed that my account on the X
platform has been suspended for reasons unknown to me. This is the fourth
account in five years to be arbitrarily suspended.
Elias Bejjani/Indeed, Lebanon is a failed state, just as
Tom Barrack described its illness. The only solution is placing it under
international mandate pursuant to Chapter VI
Elias Bejjani/November 01, 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/148785/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTs1P5jTGyU
Ambassador Tom Barrack has correctly diagnosed the problems plaguing Lebanon,
which reflect the grave and undeniable status quo. However, his proposed plan
for salvation is unrealistic.
The salvation of Lebanon cannot come from within the current Lebanese regime,
its corrupt politicians, or the politically subservient (“dhimmitude”) parties.
This is due to the undeniable fact that Lebanon, since the 1970s, has been
systematically stripped of its sovereignty and was and remains completely under
the control of successive external and internal forces:
First, the Arafat gangs.
Then, the Syrian occupation.
And, since 2005, and continuing to this day, under the full hegemony of
Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist-jihadist proxy.
The Only Viable Solution: UN Intervention and Full International Guardianship
The solution must therefore materialize through external and decisive action by
the international community.
The only realistic path to salvation is for Lebanon to be declared a failed
state and, accordingly, designated a rogue state, and placed under full
international guardianship. The international community must then enable the
United Nations (UN) to take over and place the country under Chapter VII of the
UN Charter for a transitional period.
This UN Chapter VII mandate would be essential to:
Implement all relevant international resolutions (1559, 1701, 1680), the
Lebanese Constitution, and the latest ceasefire agreement.
Reconstruct the state institutions free from corruption and external control.
Rehabilitate the Lebanese people to empower them to govern themselves
effectively and independently again.
Faith Reflections on the Feast of All Saints
Elias Bejjani/November 01/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/148768/
The Catholic Church celebrates All Saints’ Day every year on November 1st, a
solemn feast also observed by the Eastern Churches in communion with her,
including the Maronite Church of Lebanon.
What follows explains the historical background, spiritual meaning, and faith
significance of this feast that unites heaven and earth, reminding all believers
that holiness is not a distant dream but a path of life to which Christ calls
each person by name.
1. The Date and the Pope Who Established It
All Saints’ Day was officially instituted in the Catholic Church during the
papacy of Pope Gregory III (731–741 AD), who dedicated November 1st as a day to
honor all saints, both known and unknown. Later, Pope Gregory IV (827–844 AD)
extended the celebration to the entire universal Church, establishing it as a
solemn feast throughout the Catholic world.
2. The Background and the Reason for Its Establishment
This feast arose from the Church’s desire to honor all the saints who lived
faithful and holy lives but were never formally canonized. In the early
centuries, Christians commemorated the martyrs on the anniversaries of their
deaths, but as persecutions increased, the number of martyrs became too great
for each to have a separate day of remembrance. Therefore, the Church
established one universal day to celebrate all those who have completed their
journey of faith and now share in eternal glory.
3. The Spiritual Meaning and Concepts of the Feast
At its heart, All Saints’ Day proclaims the universal call to holiness. It
reminds us that sainthood is not reserved for priests or religious alone but is
a vocation for every baptized person, in every walk of life. It is a feast of
spiritual joy that binds heaven and earth together, calling each believer to
reflect on eternal life and to follow the saints’ example in humility, love,
repentance, and service. This celebration reminds us that the saints are not
distant historical figures, but living witnesses whose prayers and intercessions
continue to accompany us. Holiness begins in the ordinary — in the family, in
daily work, and in love that perseveres.
4. The Celebrations in the Lebanese Maronite Church
The Lebanese Maronite Church celebrates this day with a solemn mass in every
parish.
During the liturgy, the Hymn of the Saints is sung, and special prayers are
offered for both the living and the departed. The Gospel of the Beatitudes
(Matthew 5:1–12) is read, emphasizing the virtues that lead to true holiness.
Churches are beautifully adorned with flowers and candles, and many believers
visit cemeteries to pray for their loved ones, expressing the unity between the
Church on earth and the Church in heaven. Priests remind the faithful that
holiness begins in family life, daily work, and acts of love and fidelity, in
carrying the cross with faith and trust in God.
5. The Prayers Recited on This Day
The prayers offered on All Saints’ Day express the profound communion between
the faithful and the saints. Among them are:
A prayer of thanksgiving to God, who has completed His work of grace in the
saints.
A prayer of intercession, asking the saints to protect the Church and all
believers.
The reading of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12), describing the true path of
holiness through humility, mercy, purity, and peace.
The Prayer of the Faithful, lifting intentions for peace, mercy, salvation, and
growth in love throughout the world.
6. Faith and the Role of Saints in Catholic Teaching
In Catholic belief, the saints are faithful witnesses of Christ who lived the
Gospel heroically and now share eternal glory. The Church does not worship the
saints—worship belongs to God alone—but rather asks for their intercession,
meaning their loving prayers to God on our behalf. Intercession, in Christian
understanding, is a spiritual act of love and communion that expresses the unity
of the Body of Christ between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven. All
Saints’ Day is therefore a reminder that holiness is possible, and that every
believer, no matter his or her circumstances, is called to walk toward God in
faith, hope, and love.
7. A Special Prayer for All Saints’ Day
Lord of Holiness and Source of All Grace,
You crown with eternal glory all those who have loved and served You faithfully.
On this blessed day, enlighten our hearts with the grace of Your Holy Spirit,
that we may bear witness to You as Your saints did before us.
Strengthen our faith, fill us with love, and help us to walk the paths of
holiness,
carrying Your light to everyone we meet.
Through the intercession of all Your saints,
grant that we may one day share in their everlasting joy in heaven.
Amen.
8. A Final Reflection
All Saints’ Day is not only a celebration of those who have already reached
heaven, but also a call to each of us to begin the same journey toward sanctity.
Every act of kindness, every word of truth, every silent prayer becomes a step
along the road to holiness.
The saints remind us that perfection is not achieved by greatness, but by
faithfulness — by loving God and others in the simplicity of daily life.
Let this feast renew in our hearts the desire to live as children of light,
trusting that God’s grace can make saints even from the weakest among us.
Through their example and prayers, may we one day join them in the eternal joy
of God’s kingdom.
Halloween in Canada: Concepts, Religious Background, and
the Role of Native Canadian Traditions
Elias Bejjani/October 31/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148754/
Definition and General Concept
Halloween, celebrated every year on October 31, is one of the most popular and
colorful events in Canada. Known for costumes, pumpkin decorations, haunted
houses, and children roaming neighborhoods shouting “Trick or Treat!”, it is a
blend of ancient pagan rituals, Christian traditions, and modern secular
customs. Although today Halloween is mainly associated with fun, candy, and
costumes, its origins are deeply rooted in ancient religious beliefs and
cultural practices that date back thousands of years.
Historical and Religious Background
The origins of Halloween go back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain
(pronounced Sow-in), celebrated in what is now Ireland, Scotland, and parts of
France. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31, the boundary between
the world of the living and the dead became blurred. They lit bonfires and wore
costumes to ward off wandering spirits.
When Christianity spread through Europe, the Church sought to replace or
Christianize these pagan celebrations. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III
designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day (All Hallows’ Day) — a day to honor
saints and martyrs. The evening before it, October 31, became known as All
Hallows’ Eve, which later evolved linguistically into “Halloween.”Thus,
Halloween as we know it today is a mix of pagan and Christian influences — a
fusion of the Celtic belief in spirits and the Christian remembrance of the
dead.
The Role of Native Canadian Indians
Before European settlers arrived, Indigenous peoples across North America had
their own autumn festivals to mark the end of harvest and to honor the spirits
of ancestors. While these Indigenous traditions were not directly related to the
Celtic Samhain, they shared a spiritual connection with nature, life, and death.
When European immigrants — especially from Ireland and Scotland — brought
Halloween to Canada in the 1800s, the celebration gradually mixed with Native
Canadian storytelling, seasonal harvest ceremonies, and community gatherings.
Over time, Halloween in Canada became a cultural event reflecting both European
folklore and Indigenous respect for the spirit world and nature’s cycles.
The Origin and Meaning of the Pumpkin Tradition
The pumpkin has become the most recognizable symbol of Halloween. The tradition
of carving faces into pumpkins, known as “jack-o’-lanterns,” began with an old
Irish legend about a man named Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil and was
condemned to wander the earth carrying a lantern made from a carved-out turnip.
When Irish immigrants came to North America, they discovered that pumpkins were
larger and easier to carve than turnips, and thus they replaced the original
vegetable. Lighting a candle inside the carved pumpkin came to symbolize
guidance for lost spirits and protection from evil ones, turning the pumpkin
into both a symbol of creativity and a charm against darkness.
Halloween and Christianity: Connections and Controversies
While Halloween’s roots touch Christian traditions such as All Saints’ Day
(November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2), its modern expression has become
largely secular and commercial. Many Christians — especially Catholics and
Anglicans — observe All Saints’ Day as a holy day of obligation, remembering the
faithful who have passed away. For them, the evening before (Halloween) can be
seen as a time of reflection rather than superstition.
However, certain Christian denominations, particularly Evangelical and
conservative Protestant groups, view Halloween negatively. They argue that its
focus on ghosts, witches, and demons glorifies evil or the devil, rather than
goodness and holiness.This belief has led some families and churches to avoid
Halloween celebrations or to organize “Harvest Festivals” or “Holy Nights” as
wholesome alternatives. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, does not
officially condemn Halloween, but it encourages believers to avoid practices
that promote superstition, occultism, or satanic imagery. Many Catholic
educators emphasize that Halloween’s original intent was to honor the saints and
pray for the dead, not to celebrate evil.
Is Halloween a Celebration of the Devil?
Despite widespread claims, Halloween is not a “devil’s day.”
Historically, it was a time to confront fear and darkness with courage and
faith, not to worship evil. The imagery of ghosts, skeletons, and demons
represented the human confrontation with death and the unknown — central themes
in both pagan and Christian worldviews. In modern culture, Halloween’s
connection to the supernatural is largely symbolic and playful. Most people who
celebrate it today do so for entertainment, creativity, and community fun,
rather than for any religious or anti-religious reason.
Modern Celebrations in Canada
In Canada, Halloween has become a nationally recognized cultural celebration.
Communities, schools, and families decorate homes with pumpkins, lights, and
spooky figures. Children dress up as superheroes, ghosts, or fairy-tale
characters and go from door to door saying “Trick or Treat!” — a phrase dating
back to medieval times when poor people begged for “soul cakes” in return for
prayers for the dead. Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and
Halifax host Halloween parades, haunted house events, and pumpkin festivals.
Safety campaigns are also widespread, emphasizing reflective clothing, adult
supervision, and careful candy checks. For children, Halloween is primarily
about joy, imagination, and sharing. For adults, it can also be a chance to
reflect on the mystery of life, death, and the spiritual world — echoing its
ancient roots.
Conclusion
Halloween in Canada today stands as a fusion of ancient Celtic rituals,
Christian remembrance, and modern social fun. While some view it as a harmless
cultural festival, others see it as a reminder to avoid glorifying darkness. The
truth lies somewhere in between: Halloween’s true meaning depends on how it is
celebrated. If approached with understanding, creativity, and moral awareness,
Halloween can be a positive occasion — a night that connects the living with
their past, strengthens community bonds, and celebrates the victory of light
over darkness.
Video Link From DRM News/FULL REMARKS Delivered By Tom Barrack at Manama
Dialogue ... Unveils Bold Middle East Strategy/Comments by Elias Bejjani
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/148773/
DRM News
U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas J. Barrack,
delivered a bold vision for the Middle East at the Manama Dialogue 2025.
Speaking on behalf of President Donald Trump, Barrack outlined Washington’s new
regional approach — prioritizing sovereignty, prosperity, and “bold action over
endless diplomacy.” His remarks redefined U.S. strategy in Syria, Lebanon, and
beyond.
TRUMP’S ENVOY THOMAS BARRACK UNVEILS NEW MIDEAST STRATEGY | MANAMA DIALOGUE 2025
Trump’s Envoy Thomas Barrack Unveils Bold Middle East Strategy at Manama
Dialogue
“Don’t Confuse Effort with Results” — Barrack Defines Trump’s New Vision for the
Region
U.S. Ambassador Thomas Barrack: Time for Bold Action, Not Endless Diplomacy
Thomas Barrack, Donald Trump, U.S. Middle East Policy, Manama Dialogue 2025,
Bahrain Conference, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Special Envoy for Syria,
U.S.-Turkey Relations, Syria Policy, Lebanon, Hezbollah, Gaza, Abraham Accords,
Trump Doctrine, Middle East Peace, U.S. Diplomacy, Regional Security, Israel
Border Talks, Bold Action, DRM News
Senior U.S., European, and Arab officials gathered in Bahrain for the Manama
Dialogue, discussing global security, Gulf stability, and U.S. policy in the
Middle East. The forum highlighted growing regional cooperation and energy
strategy. For more details, watch our story and subscribe to our channel, DRM
News.
Katz Threatens to Bomb Beirut
Brrak Warns Lebanon... A Final American Message?
Nidaa Al-Watan/November 02/2025 (Translated
freely from Arabic by the LCCC editor)
"Lebanon is a failed state suffering from deep political and economic crises..."
It was with this firm and shocking tone that US Envoy Tom Brrak described
Lebanon during his participation in one of the sessions of the "Manama Dialogue
Forum 2025," urging it to accelerate the process of confining weaponry, as time
is running out. In front of representatives from various countries around the
world, he launched a series of sharp criticisms against Lebanon and its leaders,
stating that the Lebanese Army suffers from a severe shortage of financial and
human resources and that "Hezbollah makes more money than the army's budget,
which reflects an imbalance." Brrak affirmed that Israel bombs southern Lebanon
daily because thousands of rockets are still deployed in the south and pose a
threat to it. He also expressed Tel Aviv's readiness to reach a border agreement
with Lebanon, deeming it unacceptable that there is no direct dialogue between
the two sides.
These statements, which were met with complete official silence, divided social
media users. Some called for an end to Brrak's continuous criticisms, while
others believed that Lebanon's leaders deserved them due to the constant
stalling and procrastination they adopt in the face of Western and Arab
pressure. Meanwhile, a political source following up with "Nidaa Al-Watan"
confirmed that Brrak's statements are not surprising because his confrontational
and sharp style is well-known and customary. The source urged not to dwell on
the form and style alone, but to read what might be the final American message
that Washington intended to convey through Brrak.
According to the same source, Washington's patience with Lebanon and its
politicians truly seems to be running out. They have not yet grasped the extent
of the changes in the region that they must join, to spare the country the
repercussions it might face if it does not quickly resolve the issue of
confining weapons to the legitimate authority and imposing the control of the
army and security forces over all Lebanese territory. The source warned that
these repercussions might not be limited to sanctions, but could escalate to a
major security explosion through Israel's expansion of its continuous
aggressions against Lebanon, and the matter could be worse than the last war.
Katz Vows to Strike Beirut
Concurrently with Brrak's statements, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said
that he informed Deputy US Envoy Morgan Ortagus and Tom Brrak that Israel will
bomb the Lebanese capital Beirut "if Hezbollah attempts to shoot at any
settlement in the north." He added that the Israeli army "will not stop the
attacks in Lebanon and will not leave the security zone after achieving a calm
in the Galilee not seen for 20 years."
Amidst the threats, Israeli strikes continued in the south, where an Israeli
drone targeted an SUV on the Douha Kafar Riman road on Saturday evening with a
guided missile, resulting in 4 deaths. The Israeli army stated that the target
was a leader in "Hezbollah's Radwan Force."
Salam: We Are Proceeding with Confining Weaponry
From Egypt, where he participated in the opening of the "Grand Museum" in Giza,
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, during his meeting with German President
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, affirmed that "Lebanon is striving to benefit from the
post-Gaza ceasefire and the Sharm El Sheikh summit to implement a cessation of
hostilities and establish stability," pointing out that "the government is
proceeding with the implementation of the weapon confinement plan." Steinmeier,
for his part, stressed that "Lebanon is called upon today to benefit from the
new regional climate formed after the Gaza ceasefire, in order to establish
stability and rebuild trust internally and externally."
Hajjar: Pressure Israel
In Bahrain, Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmad Hajjar met with Jordanian
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, on the sidelines of his participation in the
"Manama Dialogue" forum, calling on the international community to pressure
Israel to implement its commitments to cease hostilities and provide support to
Lebanon in the field of humanitarian aid and reconstruction."
Geagea: This is the Core Decision
Amidst this atmosphere, Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea said: "There
has been much talk in the last two days about an agreement between the
Presidents of the Republic and the Government that stipulates the joining of
Lebanese civilians to the 'Mechanism' committee," considering that "the issue is
not whether Lebanon will be represented by military or civilian personnel within
the framework of the Mechanism or outside it, but in the core decision that the
state must take, which is the dissolution of illegal military and security
organizations on all Lebanese soil. If you take this decision, we will have
taken the path to a solution." In a previous post on the "X" platform, Geagea
responded to Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, who said that
"America is not an honest mediator, but the main sponsor of the aggression."
Geagea addressed Qassem, saying: "Sheikh Naim, find us an honest mediator who
can force Israel to stop its aggressions against Lebanon and withdraw its army
from it, and we will be grateful to you."
Adraee: Yesterday We Eliminated a Member of Hezbollah's
Radwan Force in the Nabatieh Region
Here is Lebanon/October 1, 2025 (Translated freely from Arabic by the LCCC
editor)
The spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, announced that "the
Israel Defense Forces attacked in the Nabatieh area yesterday and eliminated a
member of Hezbollah's Radwan force who was promoting several terrorist plans
toward the State of Israel, in addition to carrying out work to rebuild
Hezbollah's military infrastructure."He added, "The terrorist's activities
constituted a threat to Israel and its citizens and a violation of the
understandings between Israel and Lebanon." He concluded, "The Israel Defense
Forces will continue to work to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel."
US envoy calls Lebanon a ‘failed state’ as Syria expected
to join anti-IS coalition
AP/November 01, 2025
BEIRUT: The US’s special envoy for Syria on Saturday called Lebanon “a failed
state” in remarks underscoring Washington’s frustration with Beirut’s “paralyzed
government,” even as Syria inches toward closer ties with the US. Speaking at
the Manama Dialogue summit in Bahrain during a panel on “US Policy in the
Levant,” Thomas Barrack hailed developments in Syria following the downfall of
Bashar Assad in December. He confirmed that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa is
expected to visit Washington on Nov. 10 — the first such visit by a Syrian
president since the country’s independence in 1946. Barrack also said that Syria
is expected to join the US-led anti–Daesh group coalition, describing it as “a
big step” and “remarkable.” The coalition includes some 80 countries working to
prevent a resurgence of IS.As for Lebanon, Barrack pointedly said it was the
only state in the region “not jumping in line” with the new Middle East
realignments. “The state is Hezbollah,” he said, noting that the Iran-backed
group provides for its supporters and fighters in ways the Lebanese state cannot
— in a country where basic services like electricity and water are chronically
unreliable. “It is really up to the Lebanese. America is not going to get deeper
involved in the situation with a foreign terrorist organization and a failed
state dictating the pace and asking for more resources and more money and more
help,” he said. Barrack added that the US would not intervene in regional
disputes but would support its ally “if Israel becomes more aggressive toward
Lebanon.”Israel recently intensified its strikes on southern Lebanon. Both sides
have accused each other of violating a ceasefire, which nominally ended the
latest Israel-Hezbollah war last November. The conflict started after the Oct.
7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza.
Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel in support of Hamas and the
Palestinians, prompting Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in return. The
low-level exchanges escalated into full-scale war in September 2024.
Since the ceasefire, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes across
southern Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah militants, weapons depots and
command centers. Israeli forces have also maintained positions on several
strategic points inside Lebanese territory. Lebanese officials have accused
Israel of striking civilian areas and destroying infrastructure unrelated to
Hezbollah, calling on Israeli forces to withdraw and respect Lebanon’s
sovereignty. Barrack said that Israel is still bombing southern Lebanon because
“thousands of rockets and missiles” remain there, threatening it. But he
acknowledged that “it is not reasonable for us to tell Lebanon to forcibly
disarm one of its political parties — everybody is scared to death to go into a
civil war.”“The path is very clear — that it needs to be to Jerusalem or Tel
Aviv for a conversation along with Syria. Syria is showing the way,” Barrack
said, adding that Syria and Israel are expected to hold a fifth set of
de-escalation discussions. The United States is leading a diplomatic push
involving Syria and Israel, who are engaged in direct negotiations to
de-escalate tensions and restore a 1974 ceasefire agreement. That deal
established a demilitarized separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces
and stationed a UN peacekeeping force to maintain calm. Tensions have soared
between the two neighbors following the overthrow of Assad in December in a
lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgents. Shortly after Assad’s
overthrow, Israeli forces seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in
Syria set up under the 1974 agreement and carried out airstrikes on military
sites in what officials said was aimed at creating a demilitarized zone south of
Damascus. Israel has said it will not allow hostile forces to establish
themselves along the frontier, as Iranian-backed groups did during Assad’s rule.
It distrusts Syria’s new government, which is led by former Islamist insurgents.
Tom Barrack calls Lebanon a ‘failed state,’ urges faster action on Hezbollah’s
weapons
LBCI/November 01/2025
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said Saturday that Lebanon is a “failed state” and urged
its leadership to move more quickly in addressing Hezbollah’s weapons issue.
Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Manama
Dialogue 2025, Barrack noted that while Lebanon’s leadership “remains
steadfast,” it has not made sufficient progress in curbing Hezbollah’s military
influence. He also said that Israel is ready to reach a border agreement with
Lebanon, adding that it is unreasonable for there to be no dialogue between the
two countries. The U.S. envoy also stated that Israel may respond in Lebanon
depending on developments.
Barrack Warns of Israeli Action to Disarm Hezbollah
Beirut: Nazir Rida Asharq Al-Awsat/November 01/2025 (Translated
freely from Arabic by the LCCC editor)
The US Envoy to Lebanon and Syria, Thomas Barrack, warned yesterday of a
potential Israeli move to disarm Hezbollah, stating that "Lebanon is running out
of time and must quickly confine the weapons." He clarified: "Israel may respond
in Lebanon according to developments." Barrack added: "It is unreasonable for
there to be no dialogue between the two countries." Lebanese ministerial sources
told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon had not yet been notified of Israel's
agreement to negotiate. They added that Lebanon offered an incentive when it
agreed to add civilian technical experts to the negotiating military delegation,
"should they be needed," but stressed Beirut's rejection of civilian members
being 'diplomats or politicians.' They affirmed Lebanon's insistence on
'indirect negotiations.'
US Envoy Urges Direct Lebanon-Israel Negotiations
Asharq Al-Awsat/November 01/2025
A senior US official urged Lebanon to seek direct talks with Israel on Saturday,
as worries mounted over intensified Israeli attacks on Hezbollah strongholds
nearly a year into a truce agreement. Despite a November 2024 ceasefire with the
Lebanese group Hezbollah, Israel maintains troops in five areas in southern
Lebanon and has kept up regular air strikes. On Friday, Lebanese President
Joseph Aoun accused Israel of responding to its offer to negotiate by
intensifying its air strikes. Lebanese authorities have held indirect talks with
Israel, but envoy Tom Barrack said the key to easing tensions could be direct
negotiations. "The conversation needs to be with Israel. It just needs to be
with Israel. Israel is ready," Barrack told reporters on the sidelines of the
IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. "March to that door, to Israel, and have a
conversation, it can't hurt," he added.But he told AFP that Lebanese leaders
were "rightly nervous" about such talks. Hezbollah, which opposes Israel, has
been heavily weakened by the war but remains financially resilient and armed.
"They're rightly hesitant because it's a dangerous environment," he told AFP.
But "if you want to do that, we'll help. We'll put pressure on Israel to be
reasonable" he said. The United States has been pushing for Lebanon to follow in
the footsteps of neighboring Syria, which is seeking a security agreement with
Israel. "The path is very clear that it needs to be to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv for
a conversation along with Syria. Syria is showing the way," Barrack said during
a panel in Manama.
Israeli Drone Targets Car in Nabatieh, South Lebanon
Beirut/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 01/2025 (Translated freely
from Arabic by the LCCC editor)
An Israeli drone carried out an airstrike with a guided missile today
(Saturday), targeting a car in the town of Kafr Sir in the Nabatieh district,
South Lebanon, according to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA). This
follows the Israeli Army's announcement that a prominent Hezbollah member was
killed in a second Israeli drone strike in South Lebanon yesterday (Friday). The
Army stated: "The strike, which took place in the Nabatieh region, resulted in
the killing of a member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force, who had participated in
many terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and was working to restore
Hezbollah's military infrastructure," according to The Times of Israel. The
Israeli Army added: "The terrorist's activities posed a threat to the State of
Israel and its civilians, and constituted a violation of the understandings
between Israel and Lebanon." The Israeli Army had announced yesterday (Friday)
the killing of a 'Hezbollah maintenance officer' in a raid on the town of Konin
in South Lebanon. Despite the cessation of hostilities agreement between Israel
and Lebanon, which began implementation on November 27th last year, Israeli
forces are still carrying out excavation and detonation operations, and
launching near-daily raids in South Lebanon.
Israel Kills Member of Hezbollah’s ‘Radwan Force’ in
Southern Lebanon
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
The Israeli army said in a statement on Saturday that it had killed a member of
Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in an airstrike on the southern Lebanese city of
Nabatieh on Friday. According to the army statement, the target had been
involved in planning several attacks against Israel and in rebuilding
Hezbollah’s infrastructure sites. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that two
people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, bringing
the number of people killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon so far this month to at
least 26. On Friday, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said that Israel has
responded to Lebanon’s calls for negotiations with more “aggressions,” amid
intensified Israeli strikes over the past week targeting what it says are
Hezbollah members and facilities. As the ceasefire that ended last year’s
Israel-Hezbollah war nears its one-year mark, Israel continues airstrikes in
southern Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah infrastructure and fighters
rebuilding the group’s capabilities. Israeli troops also remain at five border
positions that Lebanon demands they withdraw from.
Reports: 3 Killed in Israeli Shelling in South Lebanon
Beirut/Asharq Al-Awsat/November 01/2025 (Translated freely from
Arabic by the LCCC editor)
Lebanese media outlets reported on Saturday evening that at least three people
were killed and others injured in shelling in South Lebanon. The official
Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) stated that an Israeli drone targeted an SUV
with a guided missile on the Douha Kafr Rûmmân road on the eastern outskirts of
the town of Kafr Rûmmân in South Lebanon. A ceasefire agreement has been in
effect in Lebanon since November, following a conflict that lasted over a year
between Israel and Hezbollah and escalated into an open confrontation starting
in September. Despite this, the Hebrew state constantly launches raids in
several Lebanese areas, especially in the South, often claiming to target
members or sites belonging to the party. The ceasefire stipulated Hezbollah's
withdrawal from the area south of the Litani River (about 30 kilometers from the
border with Israel in South Lebanon) and the dismantling of its military
structures there, in exchange for the reinforced deployment of the Lebanese Army
and the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL). It also stipulated the withdrawal of
Israeli forces from areas they advanced into during the war, but Israel
maintained its presence on several strategic heights from which Lebanon demands
its withdrawal.🇮🇱 Israel: Hezbollah's Rearmament Efforts Will Have 'Serious
Repercussions'... Lebanese Group Warns Against 'Undermining Sovereignty'
Tel Aviv: Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated today (Saturday) that Hezbollah's
efforts to rearm itself in Lebanon will have serious repercussions for Israel's
security and Lebanon's future, according to The Times of Israel. Saar said he
hosted his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, today for talks on the Gaza
Strip, Lebanon, and "other regional hotspots." He wrote on his "X" platform: "I
stressed that Hezbollah's rearmament in Lebanon will have serious repercussions
for Israel's security and Lebanon's future... Terrorism has taken root in Gaza,
Lebanon, and Yemen over the past few decades... and its uprooting is necessary
for the stability and security of the region." He added that he would continue
to seek "to strengthen relations with Germany." Earlier today, the head of
Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, warned against the incitement of
"some voices domestically" to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, asserting that any
concession to Israel or expression of understanding or acceptance of its
proposals will not stop its blackmail. In his statements, he added that "the
Lebanese resistance remains committed to the ceasefire agreement, despite the
attacks Israel is launching against the country," warning that some want to
"weaken the resistance's representation" in Parliament. Raad reaffirmed the need
to compel Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and withdraw from the
positions it occupies in the South of the country. A truce between Israel and
Hezbollah was reached in November last year through US mediation, following more
than a year of mutual shelling. However, Israel still controls positions in
South Lebanon despite the truce agreement and continues to launch attacks on the
East and South of the country.
Four Martyrs in a Southern Raid and Katz Threatens to
Target Beirut
Al-Modon/November 1, 202 (translated freely from Arabic by the LCCC
editor)
Israel committed a massacre this evening, after a raid on the town of Douha Kafr
Rûmmân resulted in the martyrdom of four people. In detail, an Israeli drone
carried out an airstrike with a guided missile at approximately 10:20 PM this
evening, targeting an SUV on the Douha Kafr Rûmmân road on the eastern outskirts
of the town of Kafr Rûmmân. This led to the martyrdom of four citizens,
according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Health. Israeli Army
Radio reported that "a commander in the Radwan unit was the target of the
vehicle targeting in Kafr Rûmmân in southern Lebanon."This comes amid a
high-pitched Israeli threat made by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who
threatened to target the capital, Beirut, stating: "If Hezbollah attempts to
fire at a settlement in the north, we will attack Beirut as well," noting that
he conveyed this message to US envoys Morgan Ortagus and Tom Barrack. In an
interview with Israel's Channel 14, Katz clarified that Israel "is working
against any threat," indicating that the Americans "say that the government of
Lebanon will take charge of disarming Hezbollah," adding: "We are preparing the
ground to give them a chance to do so, but we are not stopping the offensive,
and we have given the Galilee a calm it has not known for nearly twenty years."
Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that "Hezbollah's
rearmament in Lebanon will have serious repercussions for Israel's security and
Lebanon's future... Terrorism has taken root in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen over
the past few decades... and its uprooting is necessary for the stability and
security of the region." In this context, Israeli sources revealed to Channel 14
that "the military level will recommend that the Israeli political level approve
the implementation of a military strike against Hezbollah to weaken it after it
rebuilt itself," while Israeli media reported that "the security establishment
wants to launch an operation to prevent Hezbollah from rehabilitating itself."
Saar: Hezbollah's Rearmament Efforts Will Have Serious
Repercussions
Al-Modon/November 1, 202 (translated freely from Arabic by the LCCC
editor)
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated this evening that Hezbollah's
efforts to rearm itself in Lebanon will have serious repercussions for Israel's
security and Lebanon's future, according to The Times of Israel.
Saar said he hosted his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, for talks on
the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and "other regional hotspots," and wrote on his "X"
platform that he "stressed that Hezbollah's rearmament in Lebanon will have
serious repercussions for Israel's security and Lebanon's future... Terrorism
has taken root in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen over the past few decades... and its
uprooting is necessary for the stability and security of the region."Regarding
Israeli violations, an Israeli drone carried out an airstrike with a guided
missile this afternoon, targeting a car in the town of Kafr Sîr in the Nabatieh
district, which resulted in one injury, according to a statement from the
Ministry of Public Health. This comes as Israeli
attacks continue in the South amid an escalation that involves direct threats of
expanding the scope of targeting. In the same context, an Israeli drone fired
several bursts of gunfire towards a number of young men in the Randa
neighborhood in the town of Aïta al-Sha'b, without causing injuries. An Israeli
drone also dropped a sound bomb on the coast of Ras Naqoura. Simultaneously, the
unmanned aerial military presence has not ceased flying over the eastern
mountain range of the northern Bekaa and Hermel villages.Earlier today, Israeli
military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that "the Israeli army attacked
in the Nabatieh region yesterday and eliminated a member of Hezbollah's Radwan
force who was promoting several terrorist plans toward the State of Israel, in
addition to carrying out work to rebuild Hezbollah's military infrastructure."He
added: "The terrorist's activities constituted a threat to Israel and its
citizens and a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon." He
concluded: "The Israel Defense Forces will continue to work to eliminate any
threat to the State of Israel."
This is What Ortagus Conveyed... And a Tripartite
Committee?
Al-Liwaa/October 1, 2025 (translated freely from Arabic by the LCCC
editor)
According to high-level political sources, the goal is to reduce tension and
halt the attacks. More than that, the sources revealed, for the first time, the
outlines of a new initiative that includes downsizing the current Quintet
Committee to a Tripartite Committee, comprising only Lebanon, the United States,
and the Israeli enemy if Ortagus succeeds in de-escalating the situation and
calming things down, in parallel with the role played by the Lebanese Army south
of the Litani River. Furthermore, this committee could then be augmented with
civilians. What was not stated explicitly, but can be clearly inferred, is that
Israel is no longer enthusiastic about the role of the French and UNIFIL, and
sees that the decisive role in the next phase must be in the hands of the
Americans
US Ambassador Michel Cisse to Arrive in Lebanon Next
Week
Here is Lebanon Site/October 1, 2025 (Translated freely from Arabic
by the LCCC editor)
The "Here is Lebanon" website learned from informed sources that the new US
Ambassador, Michel Cisse, will arrive in Lebanon next week on November 9 and
will present his credentials to the President of the Republic on November 11 to
assume his duties at the US Embassy in Awkar. The sources indicated that
Ambassador Cisse, who is of Lebanese descent, will work on the Lebanese file in
a different manner than his predecessors, especially since he stated in his
recent speech that this is not merely a professional mission but a personal
journey, and that Lebanon has never left his heart, considering it a historic
opportunity to serve both Lebanon and the United States.
Cairo Intervenes to Contain Tension Between Lebanon and
Israel... And the Army Accelerates Efforts Before Year's End!
Here is Lebanon Site/October 1, 2025 (Translated freely from Arabic
by the LCCC editor)
Amid escalating tension on the Lebanese-Israeli border, Cairo has launched
intensive diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the situation from sliding into
an all-out confrontation, through an approach that balances security, politics,
and regional factors. This Egyptian initiative comes in parallel with the
Lebanese Army's efforts to detonate Hezbollah's weapons caches in the South, a
step to implement the ceasefire provisions and accelerate the process of
military control on the ground. In detail, the Israeli Public Broadcasting
Corporation reported today (Saturday) that "Cairo has launched intensive
diplomatic efforts at a moment of escalating tension on the Lebanese-Israeli
front, with the aim of proposing a new approach that prevents the region from
sliding into a comprehensive confrontation," one based on a balance between
"security, politics, and the region." The corporation quoted Arab diplomatic
sources as saying that "the Egyptian plan aims to consolidate the ceasefire and
the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the five points still under their control,
in exchange for Hezbollah's commitment to freeze its military activities south
of the Litani River." The plan includes "establishing a negotiation mechanism
under Arab-Turkish sponsorship that will follow up on the implementation of the
agreement and prevent any breach, ensuring a partial Arab-Islamic field
supervision that substitutes for the traditional UN role."It was also clarified
that the Egyptian plan carries a "regional dimension based on the necessity of
coordination between Tehran and Riyadh to neutralize Lebanon from regional
polarization," while preserving Hezbollah's weapons within what Cairo describes
as "strategic dormancy," meaning without their use or development.
Lebanese Army Detonates Hezbollah Weapon Caches
Haaretz newspaper also published an article stating that "in an attempt to abide
by the terms of the ceasefire with Israel, the Lebanese Army is working
intensively to detonate weapons caches, particularly in South Lebanon. After
running out of explosives, soldiers began to seal off exposed caches, while in
other areas of the country, the Army is exercising caution and awaiting a clear
decision regarding Hezbollah's disarmament." The newspaper also reported that
"in an effort to expedite the disarmament process of Hezbollah, the Lebanese
Army has already detonated such a large number of the party's weapon caches that
it has run out of explosives, according to two Reuters sources." According to
the two sources, per Haaretz, "the Army is accelerating its efforts to achieve
the goal set for the end of the year, in accordance with the terms of the
ceasefire agreement agreed upon with Israel."
Lebanese Army Bolsters Positions in South to Confront
Israeli Incursions
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
The Lebanese army established on Friday a military position in the southern
border town of Blida after Israeli forces killed a municipal worker there during
an incursion. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had this week tasked the army with
confronting Israeli incursions in the South. The military has since stepped up
its field measures, with army vehicles seen in the Ghasouniye area east of
Blida. It has also brought in more reinforcements to the outskirts of the towns
of Aitaroun and al-Khiam. A local security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the
majority of the army’s latest military measures in the South are part of its
efforts to control the situation on the ground. They are part of its regular
duties, it said. However, establishing the position in Blida was a new
development aimed at countering Israel’s incursion. Undeterred, Israel kept up
its violations of the November 2024 ceasefire, carrying out on Friday a strike
on the town of Kounin in the Bint Jbeil district killing one person. Another
strike targeted a house in al-Nabatieh. No casualties were reported. The Israeli
army said the Kounin strike targeted Ibrahim Mohammed Raslan, a Hezbollah
maintenance operator who was trying to rebuild the Iran-backed party’s
“terrorist infrastructure” in the South. Since 2006, the situation in the South
was bound to a balance between the army and Hezbollah. The military would be
deployed in the area, while the party alone would have the final say on field
action. The latest war between Israel and Hezbollah and the ensuing ceasefire
altered the equation, with the government earlier this year demanding that the
state have monopoly over arms, effectively calling on Hezbollah to lay down its
weapons. The party has refused and Israel has kept up its strikes against its
members.
The strikes have grown in intensity in recent days, raising fears that a new war
is imminent. Former MP Fares Soaid told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s tasking of
the military to confront any Israeli violation was a political step aimed at
saying that the state is responsible of protecting Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Moreover, the move counters Hezbollah’s claim that it has the right to defend
Lebanon because the state has allegedly abandoned its sovereignty. By tasking
the army to defend the country, Aoun is refuting Hezbollah’s allegation, Soaid
said. At any rate, Aoun’s announcement is so far just a political move and
hasn’t really been translated into actual work on the ground even though the
military has boosted its deployment in the South, he remarked. The problem
doesn’t lie in how to respond to the Israeli violations, but in the lack of
political decision to hold negotiations, he stressed. “If the Lebanese state
itself does not step in and negotiate with Israel over pending files, then
Hezbollah will fill the void and try to score political points at a time when it
can no longer achieve military victories,” he explained. “The president and
government need to take the reins and initiative in negotiating through the
current international mechanisms, including the ceasefire committee [mechanism],
to prevent Hezbollah from taking over the file that it may exploit against the
state,” he urged. On whether the Lebanese army is at risk of becoming embroiled
in a clash with Israel, Soaid said a “dramatic escalation is unlikely”. “The
army has the right to defend Lebanese territory and the state has the right to
negotiate in Lebanon’s name,” he added. Furthermore, the state has the exclusive
right over decisions of war and peace. The president needs to forge ahead with
negotiations to prevent any party from replacing the state, he said.
Us and Our History...
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
Since the early-mid nineteenth century, with the reforms of Egypt’s Ibrahim
Pasha and the Ottomans’ Tanzimat, two broad historical narratives have been
wrestling over history and, by extension, reality. However, these two grand
narratives have branched off into many sub-narratives, with new branches
emerging to this day. The reforms in Egypt and the Tanzimat- attempts to
transfer some of the European experience’s lessons to the region and incorporate
some aspects of European modernity into the region- triggered a flood of acrid
controversy and even more bloodshed in Syrian and Lebanese cities and towns.
With the 1908 coup d'etat that reinstated the constitution Sultan Abdul Hamid
had suspended, the great divide manifested itself once again, with a sharp class
dimension becoming an additional layer to these alignments that had been formed
along religious, sectarian, and ethnic lines. However, Kemal Atatürk's abolition
of the Caliphate in 1924 was the event that shook and mobilized the Islamic
world from end to end. In this earthquake, some saw adaptation to the
post-imperial world of nation-states ushered in by the First World War. Far
greater numbers of people, however, saw it as the end of imperial glory and
opposed the idea of removing religion from the public arena. The men who fielded
themselves to be the next caliph were neither few nor unimportant. Among them
were King Fuad I of Egypt and Sharif Hussein ibn Ali, and an "Islamic Congress
for the {defunct} Caliphate” was also held in Egypt in mid 1926. Having shown
that it cannot be rekindled or retrieved, the caliphate became the subject of
extensive and drawn out political debate. For example, Hajj Amin al-Husseini
pushed a narrative that his rival, Fawzi al-Qawuqji, who would subsequently
command the ‘’Arab Salvation Army,’’ had been a British agent. The latter hit
back with claims that Husseini had been colluding with the Germans to revive the
caliphate. A rumor spread that, having been defeated at El Alamein and Russia,
the Nazis were seeking to compensate for these setbacks by winning over Muslims
in British India. According to this narrative, Husseini was to be the new
caliph, with Sultan Abdulmejid II, the last surviving (in Paris) sultan at the
time, abdicating to him.
We continue to hear echoes of reviving the caliphate and sultanate to this day.
In the literature of extremist Islamic movements, the abolition of the caliphate
is the root cause of our world’s damnation, while history will not correct
course until it is restored. Meanwhile, national identification, which is
supposed to bring people together and unify them, failed to survive the bitter
divisions. Egyptian national identity, which fits the paradigm better than any
of its Arab equivalents, rests on two antithetical referential conceptions to
this day. Pioneered by Mustafa Kamil and Muhammad Farid in the late nineteenth
century, the first emphasizes Egypt's Islamic identity, rejecting secession from
the Ottoman Empire at the time and advocating for a privileged position for
Egypt within it. The other emerged in the early twentieth century; pioneered by
Ahmad Lutfi al-Sayyid and Saad Zaghloul, it emphasizes secularism and conceives
of the country as a fully-fledged national entity.
In Lebanon and Iraq, national identity was developed in line with the Egyptian
model, with each "patriot" accusing the other “patriots” of treason and selling
out the homeland, whose definition and nature were contested, to colonialism, a
similarly contested notion.
Whenever political disputes became over-statured with vitriol, cultural disputes
made room. In this way, we found some among us drawing on the Abbasid era the
notion of "Shoubiyya" to attack their "brothers in the homeland," while others
split their "brothers" into "the constant" (them) and "the changing" (us).
As to when it seemed that this spalling fragmentation could not be explained
through Israel alone, "Orientalism" was rushed in to save us and safeguard a
pristine image of our conditions. With phenomena and labels like "Umayyadism"
resurfacing and the discovery that May 6 1916 is not fit to be a holiday, and as
a minorities conference is held in Israel, the scale of this schism, which
cannot be mended through condemnation of Orientalists nor condemnation of Israel
(though the latter certainly deserves condemnation), is currently being
reaffirmed. As for (the much-appreciated) solidarity "with us," as soon as it
leaves New York and London to get a little closer, it finds itself confronted
with a question: Should solidarity be given to our Umayyads or to our Abbasids?
To the constant or the changing? The renowned French historian Fernand Braudel
distinguishes between three forms of history based on the time-span covered. The
history of an "eventement" covers one to eight years, making it suitable for
studying wars, revolutions, election campaigns, and individual biographies. The
history of a "conjuncture" covers twenty to fifty years; it is particularly
useful for understanding economic and technological developments, scientific
revolutions, and artistic movements. As for “longue durée’’ history, it is
measured in centuries and revolves around the slow, gradual transformations in
nature, and the geographic history of countries. This is the deepest among
histories: if the history of an "eventement" resembles the surface of water and
the history of a "conjuncture" is like a powerful current of water, then
‘’longue durée’’ history is the tide- the deepest and most fundamental force
channeling the water. Since our conflicts tend to take after natural and
biological events, they- and generations of us with them- risk becoming longue
durée history, with one crucial difference in the final outcome.
The Deeper Goal is to Impose New Realities: Is the
Political Hezbollah Also Forbidden?
Mounir Rabih Al-Modon/November 01, 202 (Translated freely from Arabic by
the LCCC editor)
Lebanon is considering its options for dealing with all the pressures it faces
to avoid Israeli military escalation. Communications are open between presidents
and officials to find a formula that allows them to avert confrontation.
However, Israeli conditions are endless. Every time Lebanon agrees to a point or
advances a step, new conditions emerge, or Israel raises its demands further.
The communications are focused on how to enter direct negotiations, and the
possibility of raising the level of representation or including civilians in the
mechanism committee to participate in the negotiation. Officials have reached a
preliminary agreement on this point, but the most crucial aspect is that it must
be accompanied by serious US pressure on Israel to push it to halt the
escalation.
More Hardline International Parties
In light of this reality, several parties are entering the negotiation line or
seeking a role. Following Egypt, the visit of the German Foreign Minister stands
out; he is also willing to participate in negotiations and help de-escalate, but
on the condition that there is a Lebanese conviction of the necessity to address
the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons and the party’s transition to political action.
The idea of the party shifting to political action, dissolving all its military
and security wings, and surrendering its weapons is evolving into a broad
international condition. This idea was raised previously but has recently
returned to the forefront. While some international parties are seeking to
convince Hezbollah of this, and to push it into internal political negotiations
about its position, role, and share in the structure of the system, other
international parties are seeking to restrict the party further and attempt to
suffocate it.
Hezbollah's Condition for Standing Behind the State
Amid all these developments, the position of the President of the Republic, who
asked the army to confront any Israeli incursion, raised many questions.
Information suggests that the President informed those concerned, both
domestically and internationally, of the reality of his position, which is
divided into two parts: The first is that, based on the Constitution and his
inaugural address, the army is the sole entity authorized to defend Lebanon, and
efforts must be made to give it all the necessary support to do so. This was
supported by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah. Therefore, these
positions must be viewed positively in the longer term, especially since
Hezbollah officials say that the state is responsible for defending Lebanon, its
people, and its land. This prompted the party's Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim
Qassem, to call on the government to support the army in defending the land, and
to speak about the necessity of implementing the Taif Agreement. This talk
signals the party's readiness to stand behind the state, but in return for being
a core and effective partner in its administration.
Threat to Withdraw from the Mechanism
The second part is that the President of the Republic was clear with all
diplomatic parties that Israel had crossed all red lines. Every time Lebanon
showed a willingness to advance, Israel proceeded to practice more escalation,
targeting wide areas deep inside Lebanon, civilian installations, and a
government building. Lebanon cannot remain silent about this, and Aoun clearly
asked the Americans to put pressure on Israel to prevent it from continuing
these operations. Even if the Israelis suspect a certain location, they can ask
the mechanism and the army to inspect it. According to informed political
sources, Lebanon threatened months ago, during the mechanism committee meetings,
to withdraw if the Israeli aggressions against the Lebanese army continued. As a
result of this threat, the Americans responded, and Tel Aviv stopped targeting
the army. Consequently, this new escalation may lead the Americans to act
seriously and compel Israel to stop the escalation and strikes.
Negotiations Under Fire
Practically, Israel had offered the matter of direct negotiation months ago, but
Lebanon rejected it. Today, the negotiation offer returns against the backdrop
of a warning of major Israeli military operations that Lebanon wants to avoid,
and is therefore inclined to accept. However, Israel does not seem satisfied or
willing to stop there; rather, it wants to continue negotiating under fire
because it wants to negotiate the withdrawal of Hezbollah's weapons and impose
new political realities. Israel wants these political realities to be similar to
what it is proposing in Gaza, especially as it wants to create a fully
demilitarized buffer zone there. This is what it also wants in southern Lebanon.
Attempting to Financially Suffocate the Party
The new international approach, based on continuing pressure, is divided into
two different directions: the first wants Hezbollah to relinquish its entire
security and military structure and become a purely political party. The second,
more extreme, is represented by Israel and parties in the United States that
believe Hezbollah must relinquish playing any political role or influencing
political life in Lebanon. These parties seek to exert all kinds of pressure on
the party, not only by withdrawing its weapons, but also by tightening the noose
around all its civilian, social, health, educational, and other institutions.
This means attempting to financially suffocate it, intensifying the blockade,
preventing the entry of funds, and putting pressure on the Lebanese state to
take further measures that would encircle any financial movement that could
serve it politically, popularly, or militarily.
The Minister of Justice’s Circular and Ortagus’ Questions
Such measures began with the Minister of Justice’s circular to notaries, barring
them from carrying out any transactions for those subject to US sanctions. This
means that these individuals cannot sell or buy any real estate or property.
Similar circulars may be issued by other administrations or ministries, amid
information suggesting that real estate departments have been instructed to
place liens on properties belonging to sanctioned individuals, which means they
cannot be disposed of. Most notably, the recent visit of US envoy Morgan Ortagus
to the Minister of Social Affairs, Hanin Al-Sayyed, focused on the ministry’s
aid in Lebanon and whether Hezbollah or its affiliated associations benefit from
this ministry.
Restricted Influence in Institutions
All of this may develop later, stemming from a path that began years ago,
particularly in 2017, when all Lebanese officials were informed that Hezbollah
would be prevented from controlling or influencing the selection processes for
the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Prime
Minister, in addition to being prevented from influencing the political
direction of Lebanon. This path was completed with pressures that reached the
point of demanding that the party be prevented from holding specific ministries.
Under this heading, the upcoming parliamentary elections are intended to be
fought in order to withdraw the blocking third from the party and its allies.
When Ortagus Conveys Netanyahu's Message: No Peace Without
the Shiites
Ghada Hallawi/Al-Modon/November 02, 202 (translated freely from Arabic by the
LCCC editor)
It can now be confirmed that the path of indirect negotiations between Lebanon
and Israel has begun. The idea is being solidified among the three Presidents
and between Lebanon and the US envoy, Morgan Ortagus. Whatever the formal shape
of the formula, it is a mere detail, simply because Lebanon, and implicitly
Hezbollah, stands on the principle of indirect negotiations. At this point, the
name is no longer important; the negotiation will take place in one room, if
Israel agrees, with an American presence, along with some countries represented
in the "Mechanism," and Lebanese representatives from outside the military.
Ortagus herself had previously carried a proposal to launch negotiations via
military experts from both countries, which Lebanon rejected. However, she did
not object to the negotiations being part of the Mechanism, provided that
Lebanon's representatives would be augmented to suit the nature of the talks.
However, the main obstacle in these negotiations, from America's perspective,
lies in Lebanon's condition to halt the Israeli aggression on its territories,
both by land and air, as a prerequisite for any talks. Ortagus understood this
condition but could not give a commitment on Israel's behalf. In her meetings,
she focused on Lebanon needing to start the negotiations, viewing them as the
only solution to end the aggression.
Lebanon is Not a Trump Priority
Morgan Ortagus frankly told officials that Lebanon is no longer at the top of US
President Donald Trump's priorities, as he seeks peace agreements extending from
Gaza to Kosovo, and reaching different parts of the world. She wished Lebanon
stability and expressed her concern that Gulf states are earmarking their
budgets for the reconstruction of Gaza and Syria, while Lebanon remains outside
their circle of interest. During her visit, Ortagus did not carry an explicit
threat of an imminent war on Lebanon, but she said something more difficult. She
explained how Israel today is different from its past, and how Netanyahu has
changed since October 7th: he is preoccupied with the imperative of securing the
safety of the residents of the North and ensuring that Israel remains safe from
Hezbollah's strikes. She said he has become quick to anger and is prepared to
protect Israel at any cost and from any perceived close danger. Netanyahu
himself is concerned about the situation in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's
control. During her presence in Israel, the Prime Minister presented the US
envoy with a report indicating that Hezbollah is regaining its strength and has
obtained quantities of anti-tank weapons through Syria. More dangerously, he
told her that the same reports contain information that Hezbollah continues to
store weapons inside civilian homes north and south of the Litani River. He also
asked her about reconstruction in southern Lebanon, the parties assisting, and
where the Lebanese Army obtains aid.
The Security of Israel's Residents is Paramount
Netanyahu told Ortagus that there could be no peace in Lebanon without the
Shiites. When she asked him about the message he wanted her to convey to
Lebanon, he stated that his primary concern was the security of Israel's
residents. Ortagus briefed the Presidents on what she heard from the Israeli
Prime Minister, and said she would do her utmost upon returning to Washington to
help Lebanon and secure the holding of a conference to support the Army. She
added that the Lebanon file would be a focus of her attention, along with
Ambassador Michel Issa, who has begun holding meetings concerning the situation
in Lebanon, and Tom Barrack.
Negotiations Through the Mechanism
Regarding the Mechanism's operational procedure, Ortagus discussed Lebanon's
vision for developing its work. Aoun and Berri agreed that the committee
includes representatives from all parties and can serve the purpose of
negotiations. Ortagus accepted Lebanon's position that the start must be a
cessation of aggression, as a prelude to commencing negotiations. She was
officially and explicitly informed that Lebanon does not object to the principle
of indirect negotiation, but not before the cessation of aggression. She seemed
understanding but did not confirm that Netanyahu would commit to halting the
aggression on Lebanon or that he might not commit a new act of aggression. She
spoke of a difference in outlook between Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister:
while Trump is interested in achieving peace, garnering more agreements, and
stopping the war, Netanyahu does not want to stop it, as he is tense and ready
to do anything. She praised the Army's work regarding Hezbollah's weapons but
requested further steps. She also requested the closure of Hezbollah's funding
channels and said that a US envoy would visit Lebanon to discuss this matter.
Ortagus promised that she would present the proposal for a cessation of
aggression to Netanyahu to commence indirect negotiations, stressing that her
country will not agree with Netanyahu on launching an attack on Lebanon.
Consequently, it is not yet certain whether Netanyahu intends to launch a new
strike on Lebanon to achieve his goal of pressuring it and forcing it into
negotiations by force.
No Aggression Before the Pope's Visit
The summary of what officials understood from Ortagus's visit is that options
are open with Netanyahu, and Washington may not be able to restrain him. The
requirement is to enter into negotiations, and the condition of a halt to
aggression is subject to discussion with Netanyahu. However, until she returns
with a response, the requirements also include: the Army continuing to
confiscate Hezbollah's weapons, drying up its funding sources, and addressing
arms smuggling via Syria. Israel, despite being convinced by the steps the Army
is taking, still finds more than one pretext for aggression, under the
justification of Hezbollah's continued capacity building.
The Latest English
LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on
November 01-02/2025
Classified US Report Documents Israeli Violations in Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
A classified report by a US government watchdog has found that the Israeli
military committed “many hundreds” of potential violations of US human rights
law in the Gaza Strip that would take the US State Department “multiple years”
to review, two US officials told The Washington Post on Thursday. “The findings
by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General mark the first time a US
government report has acknowledged the scale of Israeli actions in Gaza that
fall under the purview of Leahy Laws, the landmark legislation that bars US
security assistance to foreign military units credibly accused of gross human
rights abuses,” said the Post.The US officials discussed the details of the
report on the condition of anonymity because the contents were classified. They
said the watchdog findings “raised doubts about the prospects for accountability
for Israel’s actions given the large backlog of incidents and the nature of the
review process, which is deferential” to the Israeli army. “What worries me is
that accountability will be forgotten now that the noise of the conflict is
dying down,” said Charles Blaha, a former State Department official in charge of
the office that implements the Leahy Laws, who was told about the report.
The office of the inspector general declined to comment for the Post article but
acknowledged the report’s existence on its website. “This report contains
information that is Classified and is not available for public viewing,” the
webpage says.
“The report was completed just days before Israel and Hamas entered into a
ceasefire agreement that saw the release of the remaining living Israeli
hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a partial withdrawal of Israeli
forces and the resumption of some humanitarian aid into war-ravaged Gaza,”
continued the Post. Though the ceasefire technically remains in effect, Tuesday
marked the deadliest day since the accord was struck, with Israeli airstrikes
killing at least 104 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, after
Israel accused fighters of killing an Israeli soldier.
“The Leahy Laws are named after former senator Patrick J. Leahy, who sponsored
legislation to impose consequences on foreign military units that receive
funding from the United States and commit extrajudicial killings, torture and
other atrocities,” explained the Post.Israel’s two-year military campaign in
Gaza, which has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023,
surprise attack on southern Israel, has tested the Leahy Laws’
effectiveness.High-profile incidents in Gaza pending a determination are
numerous, including the killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers by Israel
in April 2024 and the killing of more than 100 Palestinians and wounding of 760
others gathered around aid trucks near Gaza City in February 2024, according to
local health authorities.
The Biden administration flagged both incidents in a report to Congress last
year, saying the United States had not yet reached “definitive conclusions” on
whether US weapons were used in the killings. The US provides at least $3.8
billion in aid to Israel every year, and in recent years tens of billions of
dollars more, making the country the largest cumulative recipient of US aid in
the world, reported the Post. “The classified report explains the protocol for
reviewing human rights violations by foreign militaries that receive US
assistance, said the two US officials. In the case of Israel, it spells out how
a bespoke bureaucratic process put in place by successive Republican and
Democratic administrations advantages Israel over other countries facing similar
allegations of human rights violations.” “The protocol, known as the Israel
Leahy Vetting Forum, involves higher-level US officials and a lengthier process
than reviews for other countries, the report says.”Under normal vetting, a
single objection from an official is sufficient to withhold assistance from a
military unit, said Josh Paul, a former State Department official and critic of
US policy in the Middle East. For Israel, a US working group must “come to a
consensus on whether a gross violation of human rights has occurred,” Paul said.
That working group includes representatives of the US Embassy in Jerusalem and
the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, two entities that often advocate for Israel
within the US system. The Israeli government is then consulted on the incident
and asked if it has taken any actions to address the matter. If the group finds
that a unit has committed a gross violation of human rights, it can recommend
that unit be found “ineligible” for US assistance. The secretary of state then
must approve the finding of ineligibility, said the Post. That byzantine system
has created predictable results, Paul said. “To date the US has not withheld any
assistance to any Israeli unit despite clear evidence,” he added, according to
the Post. The Biden administration came under criticism for refusing to halt aid
to Israeli units accused of gross violations of human rights, including one
implicated in the killing of American Omar Assad, a 78-year-old former grocery
store owner from Milwaukee who had been detained at a West Bank checkpoint in
2022. The Trump administration has pursued a similar hands-off approach to the
Israeli army, but without reciting the previous administration’s bromides about
putting “human rights at the center of US foreign policy.”
Jordan, Germany Say International Force in Gaza Needs UN Mandate
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
Jordan and Germany said on Saturday that an international force expected to
support a future Palestinian police in Gaza under US President Donald Trump's
post-war governance plan should have a UN mandate. Under the US-brokered
ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a coalition of mainly Arab and Muslim
nations is expected to deploy forces in the Palestinian territory, which has
been devastated by the war that broke out on October 7, 2023 with Hamas's attack
on Israel. The so-called international stabilization force is supposed to train
and support vetted Palestinian police in the Strip, with backing from Egypt and
Jordan, as well as secure border areas and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.
"We all agree that in order for that stabilization force to be able to be
effective in getting the job done, it has to have a Security Council mandate,"
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Jordan, however, will not be
sending its own forces to the Strip. "We're too close to the issue and we cannot
deploy troops in Gaza," Safadi said, adding his country was nonetheless ready to
cooperate with the international force. Safadi was speaking at the IISS Manama
Dialogue conference in Bahrain alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul,
who also supported a UN mandate for the force, saying it would "need a clear
basis in international law". "We understand that this is of utmost importance to
those countries who might be willing to send troops to Gaza and for the
Palestinians. Germany would also want to see a clear mandate for this mission,"
Wadephul said. The idea of the stabilization force has drawn some criticism,
with UN experts last month warning it would "replace Israeli occupation with a
US-led occupation, contrary to Palestinian self-determination". The UN has
mandated international peacekeeping forces in the region for decades, including
UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, which is currently working with the Lebanese army to
enforce a November 2024 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
Israel Says the Latest Remains Returned from Gaza Are Not Bodies of Hostages
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
The remains of three people Hamas handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza do not
belong to any hostages, Israel said Saturday, in the latest setback to the
US-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. The handover followed Israel’s
return on Friday of the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, which completed an
exchange after militants turned over remains of two hostages earlier in the
week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Saturday confirmed
that the remains of the three people did not belong to any hostages. It was
unclear who the remains belonged to. Hamas' armed wing said it had offered to
hand over samples on Friday of unidentified bodies but Israel refused and asked
for the remains for examination. "We handed the bodies over to stop the claims
of Israel," the statement said. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to
identify bodies without access to DNA kits.
Ceasefire under strain
Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released
the remains of 17 hostages. Eleven remain in Gaza. Militants have released one
or two bodies every few days. Israel has urged faster progress. Hamas has said
the work is complicated by widespread devastation and Israeli military presence
in some areas. Israel has been releasing the unidentified remains of 15
Palestinians for the remains of each Israeli hostage. The number of Palestinian
bodies returned by Israel since the ceasefire began now stands at 225. Only 75
have been identified by families, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
It is unclear if those returned were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led Oct.
7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that sparked the war, died in Israeli custody
as detainees or were recovered from Gaza by troops during the war. The fragile
truce faced its biggest challenge earlier this week when Israel carried out
strikes across Gaza that killed more than 100 people, following the killing of
an Israeli soldier in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city.
Questions around security
Jordan’s foreign minister warned Saturday that Israel maintaining a military
presence in Gaza puts the ceasefire at risk. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue
security summit, Ayman Safadi added it was "imperative" to have a Palestinian
police force maintaining security, supported by an international stabilization
force with a UN Security Council mandate. "With Israel staying in Gaza, I
think security is going to be a challenge," Safadi said. "Israel cannot stay in
53% of Gaza and then expect security to be achieved." The 20-point US peace plan
includes the formation and deployment of a temporary international stabilization
force of Arab and other partners that would work with Egypt and Jordan on
securing Gaza's borders and ensure the ceasefire is respected. The US has ruled
out American soldiers in Gaza. The visiting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, met with Israeli officials on Saturday. Multiple nations
have shown interest in taking part in a peacekeeping force but called for a
clear UN mandate before committing troops. Other difficult questions include
Hamas' disarmament and the governance of a postwar Gaza, as well as when and how
humanitarian aid will be increased. Indonesia could be part of peacekeeping
force Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has offered thousands
of troops for Gaza. "But details, or the term of reference for that matter,
remain unclear," Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, who like many Indonesians
uses a single name, said earlier in the week. "There has to be a mandate from
the UNSC, which we hope will be issued. There has been no discussions so far,
and we’re far from settling any details," he added. Indonesian officials also
have called for an independent Palestinian state but underscored the need to
"recognize and guarantee the safety and security of Israel."
War's toll
The deadliest and most destructive war ever fought between Israel and Hamas
began with the Hamas-led 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 251
others hostage. Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 68,600
Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t
distinguish between civilians and combatants. The ministry, part of the
Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed
records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts. Israel, which has
denied accusations by a UN commission of inquiry and others of committing
genocide in Gaza, has disputed the ministry's figures without providing a
contradicting toll.
International force in Gaza needs UN mandate – top envoys
AFP/November 01, 2025
MANAMA: Jordan and Germany said on Saturday that an international force expected
to support a future Palestinian police in Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s
post-war governance plan should have a UN mandate. Under the US-brokered
ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a coalition of mainly Arab and Muslim
nations is expected to deploy forces in the Palestinian territory, which has
been devastated by the war that broke out on October 7, 2023 with Hamas’s attack
on Israel. The so-called international stabilization force is supposed to train
and support vetted Palestinian police in the Strip, with backing from Egypt and
Jordan, as well as secure border areas and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.
“We all agree that in order for that stabilization force to be able to be
effective in getting the job done, it has to have a Security Council mandate,”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Jordan, however, will not be
sending its own forces to the Strip. “We’re too close to the issue and we cannot
deploy troops in Gaza,” Safadi said, adding his country was nonetheless ready to
cooperate with the international force. Safadi was speaking at the IISS Manama
Dialogue conference in Bahrain alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul,
who also supported a UN mandate for the force, saying it would “need a clear
basis in international law.” “We understand that this is of utmost importance to
those countries who might be willing to send troops to Gaza and for the
Palestinians. Germany would also want to see a clear mandate for this mission,”
Wadephul said. The idea of the stabilization force has drawn some criticism,
with UN experts last month warning it would “replace Israeli occupation with a
US-led occupation, contrary to Palestinian self-determination.”The UN has
mandated international peacekeeping forces in the region for decades, including
UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, which is currently working with the Lebanese army to
enforce a November 2024 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
Fatah Says It Won’t Block Any Candidate for Gaza Committee
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
Fatah spokesman Abdel Fattah Dawla told Asharq Al-Awsat that his movement “will
not stand in the way of any proposed name for the [Gaza Administration
Committee], which will be composed of professional figures from the
Strip.”Palestinian factions, excluding Fatah, agreed during an October 24
meeting in Cairo to “support and continue implementing the ceasefire measures
and hand over the administration of Gaza to a temporary Palestinian committee
formed from independent figures from the enclave.”They also agreed to “establish
an international committee to oversee the funding and implementation of Gaza’s
reconstruction, while reaffirming the unity of the Palestinian political system
and the independence of the national decision.”The factions called for “an
urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national
strategy.”Following the meeting, disputes surfaced over who would head the
committee expected to govern Gaza after Israeli media reports claimed the
factions had agreed to appoint Amjad al-Shawa as chairman of the committee.
Dawla said that “Fatah stresses that the framework for the administrative
committee managing Gaza was agreed upon a year ago with all factions, including
Hamas, which recently reaffirmed its approval before the Cairo meeting. The
understanding stipulated that the committee would operate under the legitimate
framework of the Palestinian government, chaired by one of its ministers, in a
manner that ensures the unity of the administrative and institutional system of
the Palestinian state.”He added: “The statement issued by the group of factions
in Cairo recently contradicted what had been agreed upon, which calls for
clarification and correction to preserve the spirit of understanding that
underpinned the latest meetings.”Commenting on statements made by senior Hamas
official Taher al-Nounou, Dawla said: “We hope his remarks reflect Hamas’s
official and unified stance in support of forming a committee of professionals
chaired by a minister in the legitimate government, rather than being a mere
media statement that is soon followed by a contradictory one.”
The Fatah spokesman said that if Hamas officially adopts the position presented
by al-Nounou, “it would mark an important step toward strengthening Palestinian
unity, advancing the early recovery and reconstruction plan, and managing the
Gaza Strip under a unified national vision that safeguards our people’s
interests, national unity, and the legitimacy represented by the Palestine
Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.”“In Fatah, we are not
concerned about names as much as we are about the essence of the understanding
and the integrity of the political and administrative reference for the
committee,” Dawla said, adding: “We respect that the committee will consist of
professional figures from Gaza, and we will not oppose any proposed name.”“There
are many qualified and capable individuals among our people in the Gaza Strip
who can serve responsibly and professionally, away from factional
considerations, and who will enjoy national consensus.”Dawla declined to give
details about potential nominees, but a senior Fatah official told Asharq Al-Awsat
that “Palestinian Health Minister Dr. Maged Abu Ramadan remains among the names
proposed to head the Gaza Administrative Committee.”“As a minister in the
Palestinian government, a native of Gaza, and a respected national figure with
strong credentials and field experience, he is well qualified to assume this
responsibility.”In a televised interview from Doha on Wednesday, al-Nounou
confirmed that Hamas had proposed 45 names of independent technocrats to join
the administration committee, saying the candidates have no political
affiliations and were approved by all Palestinian factions during the October 24
meeting. Al-Nounou added that Hamas had agreed to Fatah’s proposal that the head
of the committee be a minister in the Palestinian Authority.
He said the names were discussed with Egyptian officials, and that Cairo would
select the committee members, who would immediately begin administering all
aspects of Gaza, including security, without interference from Hamas or any
other party.
Trump Envoy Says Wants Iraq Free of Iran’s ‘Malign’ Interference
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
US President Donald Trump’s new envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya has outlined the
nature of his mission, stirring controversy and debate in the country as it
gears up to hold parliamentary elections on November 11. In a statement on the X
platform, he underscored the need for Iraq to rid itself of armed factions that
operate outside the state. “The United States Government has made it clear that
there is no place for armed groups operating outside the authority of the state.
Iraq’s stability and prosperity depend on having unified security forces under
the command of a single government and the Commander in Chief of the Armed
Forces, united under one flag that represents all Iraqis. Without this unity,
Iraq’s sovereignty and progress will remain at risk,” he warned. “The interests
of the Iraqi people and of the wider region depend on a fully sovereign Iraq,
free from malign external interference, including from Iran and its proxies, and
committed to serving its citizens and living in peace with its neighbors,” he
added. “In this context, unity and cooperation between Iraq’s federal and
regional authorities are essential to ensuring lasting security, economic
growth, and national cohesion,” he went on to say. “Iraq is a pivotal country in
the region and must play its natural role in promoting regional peace, security,
and stability. Iraq must not return to the past or adopt approaches that hinder
progress and unity,” Savaya said. “Over the past three years, Iraq’s leadership
has taken important steps to guide the country in the right direction, both
politically and economically. Iraq has begun to reemerge as a sovereign state,
working to reduce external influences, bring all weapons under the control of
the legitimate government, and open its markets to international companies to
help rebuild and develop the country’s fragile infrastructure. However, the work
is not yet complete, and Iraq still requires continued support to remain on this
path,” he stated. “It is my mission, on behalf of President Trump, to engage
with Iraq and support its continued pursuit of stability, sovereignty, and
prosperity,” stressed the envoy. “Iraq remains of great importance to both the
region and the United States. It will continue to stand as one of America’s
strongest and most valued partners, and I am committed to further strengthening
this relationship as I assume this honorable role as Envoy.”Savaya’s statement
has only fueled tensions in Iraq as it braces for parliamentary elections that
observers have described as the most critical since 2005 even though little has
changed in the country in the past 20 years in terms of its political, sectarian
and ethnic divisions. An independent Iraqi politician told Asharq Al-Awsat that
the envoy’s appointment has “reshuffled he cards in Iraq, especially among the
Shiites that are severely divided over their stance towards Washington.”“The
Shiite division reflects the ruling class’s failure in determining the nature of
the state after five parliamentary elections. We are headed towards the sixth
and most complex poll,” he added. The Sadrist movement of influential cleric
Moqtada al-Sadr did not comment on Savaya’s statement. The cleric is boycotting
the elections. The ruling pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Council appears to be at
a loss in how to deal with the new American policy towards Iraq. The Kurdish and
Sunni components, however, were more welcoming of Savaya’s statement and new
American stances.The Kurds believe that Washington is a main backer when it
comes to oil and investment issues in Iraq, while the Sunnis believe that the US
administration’s hard line against Iran and its allied factions in Iraq falls in
their political favor.
Over Half a Million Syrians Have Returned Home from Türkiye
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
Some 550,000 Syrian refugees in Türkiye have returned home following the fall of
Bashar al-Assad last December, Türkiye’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on
Saturday. Almost 2.4 million Syrian refugees remain in Türkiye, he said, from
the high of more than 3.5 million Syrians who had sheltered there at one point.
The UN refugee agency on Friday said that 1.16 million Syrians had returned to
the country after Assad's regime fell on December 8, 2024, and some 1.9 million
internally displaced people had been able to return to their homes. According to
the UN, more than seven million Syrians continue to be internally displaced, and
some 4.5 million refugees remain abroad.
Syria, Russia Defense Ministers Discuss Exchanging Expertise
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra concluded on Friday a three-day visit
to Moscow. The Syrian Defense Ministry said his visit included official talks
with his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov. They discussed means to bolster
bilateral ties and exchange expertise in training and several other domains,
reported Syria’s state news agency SANA. Abu Qasra held talks with Russian
officials on several military issues of common interest. He made the trip
following a visit by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Moscow on October 15
where he met with President Vladimir Putin. Sharaa said at the time that
Damascus respects all the agreements signed between Syria and Russia. Damascus
is trying to “redefine” the relationship with Moscow, he added.
Syrian President Sharaa Expected to Visit Washington, US
Envoy Says
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
United States Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said on Saturday that Syrian
interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa was expected to visit Washington. During the
visit, Syria would "hopefully" join the US-led coalition to defeat ISIS, Barrack
told reporters on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, an annual
global security and geopolitical conference. It would mark Sharaa's second visit
to the United States, following his address to the UN General Assembly in New
York in September. Since seizing power from Bashar al-Assad last December,
Sharaa has made a series of foreign trips as his transitional government seeks
to re-establish Syria's ties with world powers that had shunned Damascus during
Assad's rule. Syria is not a member of a US-led coalition formed in 2014 to
defeat the ISIS group. At its peak between 2014 and 2017, ISIS held sway over
roughly a third of Syria and Iraq, where it imposed its extreme interpretation
of religious law and gained a reputation for shocking brutality. The US-led
coalition and its local partners drove the extremists from their last stronghold
in 2019. The group has been attempting to exploit the fall of the Assad regime
to stage a comeback in Syria and neighboring Iraq, sources told Reuters in June.
New Hurdles Threaten Israel-Egypt Gas Export Deal
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
Israel’s plan to export natural gas to Egypt is facing fresh obstacles, with
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen refusing to approve the deal ahead of
implementation, even as the United States pushes for its ratification.
Hebrew-language media, including Yedioth Ahronoth, reported that US Energy
Secretary Chris Wright canceled a planned visit to Israel after the latter
declined to approve the $35 billion gas export agreement. The Israeli Energy
Ministry said “outstanding issues related to domestic pricing and national
interests” remain unresolved, adding that “Israel will not proceed until a fair
price for the domestic market is secured and its energy needs are fully met.” In
August, NewMed Energy, a partner in Israel’s Leviathan gas field, extended a
supply agreement with Egypt through 2040. The Israeli ministry noted that the
Trump administration had “exerted significant pressure on Cohen and Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ratify the deal.” Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat
that the gas agreement is “threatened by obstacles set by the Netanyahu
government, which is attempting to leverage the deal for political gains.”They
said Egypt has alternatives and is willing to honor the deal without responding
to Israeli maneuvers. Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry has secured gas supplies to
guard against potential interruptions from Israel. Ahmed Kandil, head of the
Energy Studies Unit at Cairo’s Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic
Studies, said tensions between the US and Israel are rising due to Netanyahu’s
push to suspend the deal, while the US opposes politicizing the gas file. Israel
Hayom reported that US energy giant Chevron, which operates the field, is also
pressing Israel to approve the agreement. Kandil added that American firms have
extensive operations in Egypt and Jordan, and Netanyahu’s political interference
undermines their expansion goals. He noted Egypt is prepared to diversify its
gas sources through agreements with other regional suppliers, including Qatar,
Algeria, and Cyprus. The deal has coincided with rising tensions after Netanyahu
announced Israel would not extend the gas agreement, prompting Egyptian
officials to warn of “consequences” if canceled. Ahmed Fouad Anwar, member of
the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said Israel “is using economic
relations with Egypt to gain political leverage, but Egypt’s firm stance
prioritizes national security over economic gains.”He said Israel risks its
relationship with Egypt by seeking concessions to advance its Gaza policy, which
will not serve Netanyahu’s government, which lacks broad popular support. Israel
has occasionally cited Hezbollah threats and maintenance issues to delay
deliveries, but Egypt has room to negotiate, especially as summer passed without
gas shortages or load-shedding. In June, Israeli Mediterranean gas production
was halted for security reasons amid regional tensions, briefly cutting exports
to Egypt before resuming two weeks later. Egypt is investing $5.7 billion to
drill 480 wells across the Western Desert, Suez Gulf, Mediterranean, and Nile
Delta to strengthen energy stability and regional influence, and support
Europe’s growing gas needs, according to the Petroleum Ministry. Hossam Arafat,
petroleum and mining professor at Cairo University, said the deal “remains
threatened. Netanyahu is exploiting the preliminary nature of the agreement to
pressure Egypt politically over Gaza. Ultimately, Israel risks losing, as export
routes are limited and domestic consumption provides a buffer.” He added that
political factors, not economics, are driving Israel’s delays, despite
benefiting from Egypt’s infrastructure that allows Israeli gas exports to
Europe. Kandil said the current threat to the deal is prompting Cairo to
reassess economic cooperation with Israel, noting that Netanyahu’s government
“sold the agreement without considering its legal obligations to Egypt.”
Yemen Busts Shipment of Advanced Chemicals Bound to Houthis
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
The busted shipment included protective gear needed for work in chemical
factories. (Government media)
Yemeni national resistance forces announced this week the bust of a smuggling of
advanced chemicals to the Houthi militias, dealing another blow to the Iranian
Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) smuggling networks. The operation was busted
by the resistance forces, navy, general intelligence and coastguard in the Bab
al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most vital waterways. A statement from the
military media, said a joint coastguard and navy patrol in the Red Sea received
accurate intelligence information about a wooden vessel suspected of being part
of an IRGC smuggling network. The patrol intercepted the vessel after it passed
through the Mandeb Strait, towing it to a safe location and uncovering its
illicit cargo. The vessel was smuggling 24 barrels of “phenol + formaldehyde”,
an advanced chemical used in manufacturing rockets and drones. The chemical is
also used in reducing the radar footprint of aircraft and warships, indicating
the extent of the technical and military support Iran is trying to supply the
Houthis with, added the statement.The busted shipment also included protective
gear needed for work in chemical factories, backing suspicions that the Houthis
are running factories or military workshops in areas under their control in
Yemen. Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said the bust was the
latest blow to Iran’s agenda in Yemen and more evidence of the IRGC’s direct
involvement in smuggling military material to the Houthis. In a statement, he
stressed that Tehran was “trying to compensate for its losses and waning
influence in Syria and Lebanon by trying to transform Yemen into a platform that
threatens regional security and international waterways.”The bust of material
used in the manufacturing of rockets and drones reveals Iran’s efforts to
“nationalize its military industry in Yemen and transform it into an alternative
base for its militias after its smuggling networks were dealt blows in the Arab
Mashriq,” he remarked. He called on the international community to adopt a
tougher stance on Iran, stressing the need to bolster the capabilities of the
Yemeni government forces and coastguard in protecting the coast and
international waterways.
Top diplomats from Germany, Jordan and the UK call for immediate ceasefire in
Sudan
AP/November 01, 2025
DUBAI: The foreign ministers of Germany, Jordan and the United Kingdom jointly
called on Saturday for an immediate ceasefire in the war in Sudan, describing
the situation there in stark, apocalyptic terms after a paramilitary force
seized the last major city in the East African nation’s Darfur region. United
Nations officials have warned that fighters with the paramilitary Rapid Support
Forces have rampaged through the Darfur city of El-Fasher, reportedly killing
more than 450 people in a hospital and carrying out ethnically targeted killings
of civilians and sexual assaults. While the RSF have denied killing people at
the hospital, those who have escaped El-Fasher, satellite images and videos
circulating social media provide glimpses of what appears to be mass slaughter
taking place in the city. At the Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain,
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Saturday spoke in grim words about
events in El-Fasher, where a paramilitary force known as the Rapid Support
Forces has seized the city. “Just as a combination of leadership and
international cooperation has made progress in Gaza, it is currently badly
failing to deal with the humanitarian crisis and the devastating conflict in
Sudan, because the reports from Darfur in recent days have truly horrifying
atrocities,” Cooper said. “Mass executions, starvation and the devastating use
of rape as a weapon of war, with women and children bearing the brunt of the
largest humanitarian crisis in the 21st century. For too long, this terrible
conflict has been neglected, while suffering has simply increased.”She added
that “no amount of aid can resolve a crisis of this magnitude until the guns
fall silent.”German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul echoed Cooper’s concern,
directly calling out the RSF for its violence in El-Fasher. “Sudan is in
absolutely an apocalyptic situation,” Wadephul said. Jordan’s Foreign Minister
Ayman Safadi said Sudan has not received “the attention it deserves. A
humanitarian crisis of inhumane proportions has taken place there.” “We’ve got
to stop that,” he added. Bahrain’s government late on Wednesday rescinded an
accreditation for The Associated Press to cover the summit, after a
“post-approval review” of that permission. The government did not elaborate on
why the visa was revoked. Earlier that day, the AP published a story on
long-detained activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja beginning an “open-ended” hunger
strike in Bahrain over his internationally criticized imprisonment. Al-Khawaja
halted his hunger strike late on Friday after receiving letters from the
European Union and Denmark regarding his case, his daughter Maryam Al-Khawaja
said.
New Satellite Images Suggest Mass Killings Persist in Sudan's El-Fasher
Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
New satellite imagery suggests that mass killings are likely continuing in and
around the Sudanese city of El-Fasher, Yale researchers said, days after it fell
to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. At war with the regular army since
April 2023, the RSF seized El-Fasher on Sunday, pushing the army out its last
stronghold in the western Darfur region after a grinding 18-month siege. Since
the city's fall, reports have emerged of summary executions, sexual violence,
attacks on aid workers, looting and abductions, while communications remain
largely cut off, according to AFP. A report by Yale University's Humanitarian
Research Lab on Friday said fresh images gave them reason to believe much of the
population may be "dead, captured, or in hiding".The lab identified at least 31
clusters of objects consistent with human bodies between Monday and Friday,
across neighborhoods, university grounds and military sites.
"Indicators that mass killing is continuing are clearly visible," the lab said.
Survivors from El-Fasher who reached the nearby town of Tawila have told AFP of
mass killings, children shot before their parents, and civilians beaten and
robbed as they fled. Hayat, a mother of five who fled El-Fasher, said that
"young men travelling with us were stopped" along the way by paramilitaries and
"we don't know what happened to them".The UN said more than 65,000 people have
fled El-Fasher but tens of thousands remain trapped. Around 260,000 people were
in the city before the RSF's final assault. The RSF claimed to have arrested
several fighters accused of abuses on Thursday, but UN humanitarian chief Tom
Fletcher questioned the RSF's commitment to investigate violations. Both the RSF
and the army have faced war crimes accusations over the course of the conflict.
El-Fasher's capture gives the RSF full control over all five state capitals in
Darfur, effectively splitting Sudan along an east-west axis, with the army
controlling the north, east and center.
Grand Egyptian Museum opens its doors to the world, global dignitaries attend
inauguration
Fady Francis/Arab News/November 01, 2025
CAIRO: The Grand Egyptian Museum — the largest archaeological museum in the
world dedicated to a single civilization — has officially opened its doors. The
launch event was attended by international dignitaries including German
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, King Philippe of Belgium and Greek Prime
Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. High-ranking Arab officials in attendance were led
by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah, who was joined
by Crown Prince Theyazin of Oman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened the museum, a long-awaited,
billion-dollar showcase for pharaonic treasures, saying that its inauguration
opened “a new chapter in history” for the country. “Today, as we celebrate
together the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, we are writing a new chapter
in the history of the present and the future, in the cause of this ancient
homeland,” El-Sisi told a gathering of princes, queens, heads of state and other
dignitaries at a ceremony in the museum’s square.Saturday’s lavish spectacle saw
shafts of light illuminating both the pyramids and the museum’s colossal facade,
huge musical set-pieces and joint performances betwee Cairo and Tokyo, Paris and
New York City. The site, around 2 kilometers from the Giza Pyramids, covers a
total of 490,000 sq. meters. The design is a blend of modernity and history,
thanks to Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects. The museum is the brainchild of
former Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosny, who first proposed the idea in
1992. The museum’s construction began in 2005, but work stopped for three years
during the political turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising.
However, the desire to highlight Egypt’s ancient heritage on an unprecedented
scale came with challenges; the process has been mired by political upheaval and
the global pandemic, which saw the museum’s grand opening delayed four times.
“To say that the Grand Egyptian Museum is Egypt’s gift to the world is not an
exaggeration, as the legacy of ancient Egyptian civilization represents a global
heritage,” the country’s prime minister, Mostafa Madbouly, said. That heritage
and history will be shown across 40,000 sq. meters of exhibition space, with a
whopping 7,500 sq. meters dedicated to the treasures of King Tutankhamun, all of
which were discovered in his tomb on Luxor’s West Bank in 1922 by British
archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter. The museum houses more than 57,000
artifacts across the Tutankhamun Galleries, Main Galleries, Grand Hall, Grand
Staircase and Khufu’s Boat Museum. The 4,600-year-old solar boat of King Khufu,
the pharaoh who is credited with building the Great Pyramid of Giza is a
particular draw. The 43-meter-long (140-foot) wooden boat, discovered in the
1950s, was buried next to the Great Pyramid for Khufu — or Cheops as he is also
known — to use in the afterlife.
But “what truly distinguishes the Grand Egyptian Museum is its remarkable
display of the complete collection of the King Tutankhamun — more than 5,000
artifacts showcased together for the first time. The items have been gathered
from various storages — the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the Luxor Museum,”
GEM’s former director, Dr. Tarek Tawfik, told Arab News. Saturday’s grand
opening included the inauguration of two halls dedicated to the 5,000 artifacts
from the collection of King Tutankhamun. “Visitors will be amazed by the
museum’s modern presentation techniques, which narrate the story of the king
through a fresh curatorial philosophy that differs from traditional exhibition
styles,” Tawfik added. Some sections of the museum have been open to the public
since 2024, with new galleries and exhibition spaces due to open on Nov. 4 which
it is hoped will attract both local visitors and international tourists. On
entering, the journey begins with the hanging obelisk of King Ramses II in the
museum’s courtyard. Visitors will also be able to view a large-scale statue of
the pharaoh in the entrance hall before ascending the Grand Staircase — the
3,200-year-old, 11-meter-tall (36-foot-tall) statue was moved to the museum
after decades of standing in the center of a traffic-clogged roundabout in front
of Cairo’s main train station. The Main Galleries cover three central topics —
beliefs, society and kingship — spanning different periods of ancient Egypt,
from the prehistoric era and old, middle and new kingdoms through to the
Greco-Roman period. (Supplied). The Main Galleries cover three central topics —
beliefs, society and kingship — spanning different periods of ancient Egypt,
from the prehistoric era and old, middle and new kingdoms through to the
Greco-Roman period.
Of note is the museum’s vast restoration center, which at 32,000 sq. meters is
the largest restoration hub in the Middle East and features 16 specialized
laboratories for artifact examination and restoration. In a move that sets the
museum apart from its international counterparts, the restoration center will be
open to the public. Billed as a bridge between Egypt’s ancient legacy and its
modern vision, the Grand Egyptian Museum will offer invaluable insight into one
of the world’s most talked about ancient civilizations.
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November 01-02/2025
Iranian Regime Drops Mask: Open March Toward
Nuclear Bomb
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/November 01/2025
Iran's regime has officially declared that it will not abide by any nuclear
limits. It is finally admitting out in the open that its ultimate objective has
always been to become a nuclear-armed state.
Its announcement... represents the formal end of Iran's long-standing campaign
of deception, in which it pretended to cooperate with international nuclear
agreements while secretly expanding its program.
When Iran claims now that the JCPOA is "dead," it is simply acknowledging that
it never had any intention of honoring it in the first place. While the regime
publicly claimed to respect the deal, in reality, it was quietly expanding its
capabilities, building advanced centrifuges, and enriching uranium far beyond
the levels needed for peaceful nuclear energy.
The idea that Iran can be persuaded through diplomacy or economic incentives to
change its behavior has failed time and again.
The first and most crucial step is to reestablish deterrence.
In addition to deterrence, the West needs immediately to reimpose and expand
sanctions and secondary sanctions -– announcing that countries that do business
with Iran may no longer do business with the United States. Unfortunately,
Europe remains far behind.
Appeasement and indecision will only embolden Tehran further. The Iranian regime
is going full nuclear, and the West needs to act — swiftly, decisively, and with
unity — before removing Iran's nuclear program becomes difficult.
Iran's announcement to the world that it will no longer respect any laws,
treaties, or limits on its nuclear program is, in essence, a declaration of war.
The regime has always wanted nuclear weapons. The West must tighten sanctions,
monitor every step of Iran's program, and maintain credible military options.
Iran's regime has officially declared that it will not abide by any nuclear
limits. It is finally admitting out in the open that its ultimate objective has
always been to become a nuclear-armed state.
Its announcement is not merely a change of rhetoric; it represents the formal
end of Iran's long-standing campaign of deception, in which it pretended to
cooperate with international nuclear agreements while secretly expanding its
program.
Since the Islamic Republic of Iran's establishment in 1979, its leadership has
viewed nuclear weapons as a guarantee of regime survival and a means of
projecting power across the Middle East and further. For decades, Iran has
cloaked its ambitions under the banner of "peaceful nuclear energy." Now, it has
stepped out from behind the curtain. It is no longer pretending to follow the
rules of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or any agreement that limits its
activities. Iran is signaling to the world that it intends to move forward,
unrestricted and unapologetic, toward the finish line — acquiring nuclear
weapons.
This is not the first time the Iranian regime has defied international
agreements and nuclear limits. Iran has been in violation of its commitments for
years, including under the Obama administration's Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the "Iran nuclear deal." The JCPOA, which was
presented by its architects as a tool to constrain Iran, in practice provided
the regime with international legitimacy, economic relief, and sufficient time
and resources to strengthen its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. When
Iran claims now that the JCPOA is "dead," it is simply acknowledging that it
never had any intention of honoring it in the first place. While the regime
publicly claimed to respect the deal, in reality, it was quietly expanding its
capabilities, building advanced centrifuges, and enriching uranium far beyond
the levels needed for peaceful nuclear energy. Even as Iran's officials posed as
partners in diplomacy, their scientists were working tirelessly to bring the
country closer to a nuclear weapons threshold.
The Obama-era nuclear deal, hailed by some as a diplomatic breakthrough, was, in
reality, a gift from US President Barack Obama to the Iranian regime. The deal
gave Iran access to billions of dollars in frozen assets, lifted crippling
sanctions, and restored its access to the global financial system.
Before the deal, Iran was on its knees economically, largely due to the firm
sanctions imposed by the Bush administration. These sanctions had weakened the
regime's economy, restricted its oil exports, and reduced its ability to fund
its regional proxies. The JCPOA reversed that process. Once sanctions were
lifted, Iran began exporting oil again, receiving foreign investments, and
trading with Asia and Europe.
This influx of money not only revived the regime but emboldened it. Instead of
using its newfound wealth to improve the lives of Iranians, the leadership
poured those billions into its military, its nuclear weapons program and the
ballistic missiles to deliver them, and its network of Middle East terrorist
groups, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas.
Years later, the consequences of that deal became tragically clear. Iran's
funding and support for its proxy militias directly contributed to instability,
bloodshed, and the terrorism of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. The Iranian
regime, enriched and emboldened by the West's concessions, was able to
accelerate its nuclear advancements while simultaneously fueling violent
movements across the region. Hamas's October 7, 2023 massacre of Israelis was
just one of the many outcomes of Tehran's empowerment after the nuclear deal.
By the time international inspectors raised alarms, Iran was already only a few
weeks away from acquiring the material necessary for a nuclear weapon — and this
happened under the very deal that was supposed to stop it. This pattern should
serve as a powerful lesson for policymakers everywhere: appeasing tyrannical
regimes does not bring peace; it induces greater danger. Making deals with the
Iranian regime is no different from negotiating with Nazi Germany under Adolf
Hitler. It is a fatal illusion to believe that a totalitarian system built on
deceit, violence and religious extremism can overnight become a trustworthy
partner. Now Iran has made it official — it will not respect international
rules, it will not follow any limits, and it will pursue its nuclear weapons
ambitions with complete disregard for the global order. Iran has openly stated
that it will not honor its obligations, meaning it is preparing to use
everything it has — its uranium stockpiles, advanced centrifuges, and technical
expertise — to build nuclear weapons. It will not do so alone. Iran has devoted
friends in what can only be described as the "dictators' club": China, Russia,
and North Korea. These regimes have increasingly been cooperating closely,
sharing military technology, intelligence, and political support. Russia has
already declared that it will not recognize the reimposition of United Nations
sanctions — the so-called "snapback" mechanism — against Iran. In other words,
the world's authoritarian powers are closing ranks, ignoring international law,
and giving Iran the green light to cross the nuclear threshold.
Faced with this reality, the West needs finally to wake up to the danger of an
Iran with nuclear weapons. The idea that Iran can be persuaded through diplomacy
or economic incentives to change its behavior has failed time and again. The
West cannot afford a nuclear-armed Iran, which would not only endanger Israel
and other Middle East states but destabilize the entire global order. A
nuclear-armed theocracy that sponsors terrorism would trigger a regional arms
race, push Saudi Arabia and Turkey toward developing their own nuclear weapons,
and place the world on the edge of catastrophe.
The first and most crucial step is to reestablish deterrence. The United States
and its allies must make it clear that the military option is on the table. Any
evidence that Iran is advancing its nuclear weapons program should be met with
decisive action, including targeted strikes on nuclear facilities if necessary.
The regime must understand that the world will not tolerate its nuclear
blackmail.
In addition to deterrence, the West needs immediately to reimpose and expand
sanctions and secondary sanctions -– announcing that countries that do business
with Iran may no longer do business with the United States. Unfortunately,
Europe remains far behind. The European Union needs to stop providing diplomatic
cover for Tehran and instead adopt a unified strategy of maximum pressure. This
means expelling Iranian diplomats, closing down Iranian cultural centers and
embassies that serve as fronts for intelligence operations, cutting off trade,
and freezing all assets connected to the regime. The message must be clear:
there will be no business, no legitimacy, and no cooperation with a government
that defies international law and threatens global peace.
At the same time, the West would do well to increase its support for the Iranian
people, who continue to resist their dictatorship through protests and civil
disobedience. Moral and political support for the Iranian population, even in
words, can send a strong signal that the world stands with them, not with their
oppressors. Iran's announcement to the world that it will no longer respect any
laws, treaties, or limits on its nuclear program is, in essence, a declaration
of war. The regime has always wanted nuclear weapons. The West must tighten
sanctions, monitor every step of Iran's program, and maintain credible military
options. Appeasement and indecision will only embolden Tehran further. The
Iranian regime is going full nuclear, and the West needs to act — swiftly,
decisively, and with unity — before removing Iran's nuclear program becomes
difficult.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a political scientist, Harvard-educated analyst, and
board member of Harvard International Review. He has authored several books on
the US foreign policy. He can be reached at dr.rafizadeh@post.harvard.edu
*Follow Majid Rafizadeh on X (formerly Twitter)
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22021/iran-march-toward-nuclear-bomb
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.
The Gulf and the Desired Economic Growth
Mohammed al-Rumaihi/Asharq Al Awsat/November 01/2025
About 45 years ago, or slightly more, several Gulf activists came together with
the idea of creating a forum they called The Gulf Development Forum. Every year,
this forum composed of volunteers convenes to address a developmental theme.
In the past two years, for instance, the forum met in Riyadh to discuss “Culture
and Development in the Gulf,” and then in Muscat, where the focus was “Climate
Change and Development in the Gulf.” The next session is scheduled to take place
this coming February in Manama: “Digital Transformation: Artificial Intelligence
and Development in the Gulf: Opportunities and Challenges.”So far, this forum
has published around 35 books on education, women, water resources, the future
of the Gulf Cooperation Council, security threats in the Gulf, and other
questions. Every volume compiles the discussions and research papers presented
during these annual volunteer meetings, and they are available online free of
charge. Approaching the issue of development in the Gulf is not easy. It
requires vision for the future and the changes in the engines of development.
Yet it must be said that several Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates, have clear economic plans for the future forward. These
plans revolve around one guiding principle: diversifying sources of revenue,
reflecting a vision for the economy of tomorrow.
Oil prices, which are shaped by politics, rise and fall with major geopolitical
decisions around the world. Moreover, as a source of energy, oil may eventually
be replaced by what are now known as alternative sources of energy, or new oil
reserves might be discovered in other countries and regions, potentially
reducing its strategic value. Studies have highlighted the crucial role of
innovation and technological innovation in generating economic growth. Some
theorists speak of “creative destruction,” a notion inspired by the ideas of
Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter. It refers to the process by which new
innovations replace old economic systems, shattering obsolete industries in
favor of more efficient and productive alternatives. Human development and the
quality of education are at the heart of this cycle of destruction and creation.
Both are essential for the success of the transition from old models and the
development of enhancements. Growth is not achieved merely through quantitative
expansion; it requires profound systemic change in public administration that
fosters new forms of production and employment.
The clearest example available to us is Indonesia. Indonesia had until recently
been an oil-producing country. However, it has become a net importer due to the
depletion of its reserves after having once been a key member of OPEC. Oil once
accounted for 70% of Indonesia’s GDP, creating a rentier economy, with the
subsequent decline forcing the country to rethink its economic model, leading to
what became known as “The Great Transformation” between the mid-1980s and
mid-1990s.
During this period, Indonesia promoted light and medium industries, attracted
foreign investment through reforms, developed its agricultural sector, expanded
its services and tourism industries, and introduced reforms to its financial
system and tax policy, as well as enhancing legal transparency.
Since the start of the century, Indonesia has ceased to rely on oil and instead
focused on developing the technology sector in its major cities, supporting
start-ups, particularly in artificial intelligence and e-commerce, and moving
toward what is now known as a “green economy.”This major shift, which was
accompanied by improvements in the quality of education and a sharp rise in
university enrollment rates, allowed for the emergence of an urban middle class
and a decline in unemployment. Citizens became richer, and this middle class
stimulated the domestic market, while corruption gradually receded as the
anti-corruption commission gained strength. Perhaps the key lesson the Gulf
states can draw from this experience is the principle of “economies of scale.”
Small countries naturally have limited markets, which makes the idea of a
unified Gulf market a crucial step that must be made alongside a fundamental
shift in the Gulf’s education model to focus on quality rather than quantity.
It must also be noted that there are ongoing and sincere efforts to develop
education in the Gulf states. However, these efforts remain concentrated in
certain countries and have yet to be fully integrated between them.
Similarly, food and water security can only be achieved through cooperation
among the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. One Gulf
Development Forum study that addressed water resources has shown that 40 percent
of available water is consumed by the agriculture sector, which only made a
contribution to total GDP. Progress cannot be taken for granted. Societies must
constantly generate and sustain growth, monitoring crucial indicators, chief
among them scientific innovation and openness to change. The successive waves of
global technological innovation are reshaping the labor market. Today, for
instance, technological advances have led to rising levels of unemployment in
India. Economic and technological development, if not approached holistically,
can have negative consequences for societies. The volunteer-based Gulf
Development Forum has made a valuable contribution to Arab policy, enriching it
with a body of studies that help decision-makers ensure sustainable development.
Schengen visa system must be reformed to aid human
rights activists: Amnesty
Luke Coffey/Arab News/October 31, 2025
This week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid an important visit to
Turkiye to meet with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
For the UK, Turkiye has long been a vital partner — not only in Europe, but also
on the global stage. At the height of the Cold War, this importance was made
clear in a since-declassified 1979 memo prepared for Margaret Thatcher on her
second day as prime minister. The document laid out Turkiye’s central role in
Europe’s defense: “If Turkiye abandoned her Western orientation, a number of
strongly adverse military consequences would follow for the West, even if she
did not align with the Soviet Union… The military position would be the more
serious if the Soviet Union were herself able to exploit Turkish airspace or,
worse, given use of Turkiye’s airfields. In that event, the Eastern
Mediterranean might become untenable by NATO in time of tension or war.”
In this sense, little has changed regarding Turkiye’s important role in European
security. Here, Starmer was building on the progress first made by one of his
predecessors, David Cameron, who 15 years ago set out to deepen relations
between the UK and Turkiye. But engagement has gone back centuries.
England first established ties with the Ottoman Empire in 1580. As with all
relations in international affairs, the relationship between the two peoples has
had its ups and downs. One notable high point came in the 1850s when Britain
allied with the Ottoman Empire and France to defeat Russia during the Crimean
War.A more recent low occurred on the eve of the First World War when the First
Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill requisitioned two British-built warships
that the Ottomans had already paid for — a move that infuriated Istanbul and
helped push the Ottoman Empire toward the Central Powers. During the early years
of the Cold War, the UK and Turkiye became important partners and allies in
NATO. In more recent years, there is no denying that the foundation of
Anglo-Turkish relations has been built on a shared understanding of major
geopolitical issues. So it is unsurprising that the main announcement from
Starmer’s recent visit was the sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft by the UK
to Turkiye. This deal, worth around $10.5 billion, marks a new high point in
Anglo-Turkish relations.
It is a win-win arrangement for both sides. With the US reluctant to reintegrate
Turkiye into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, Ankara needed to fill a
crucial gap in its air capabilities. Meanwhile, the deal is expected to support
thousands of jobs across the UK defense supply chain. With the government under
pressure and the British economy facing headwinds, the announcement of thousands
of well-paid, high-tech jobs will be welcomed by Starmer’s supporters.
In addition to the major Eurofighter sale, several other important outcomes from
Starmer’s visit received less attention. For example, both the UK and Turkiye
have committed to relaunch the Tatli Dil Forum, an initiative originally
launched in 2011 by Cameron and his Turkish counterpart to strengthen
cooperation across trade, culture, education, and security. The annual meetings
alternated between London and Istanbul, and brought together senior government
officials and business leaders. However, the pandemic and shifting priorities in
both capitals caused the forum to lose momentum. The decision to revive it sends
a positive signal about the renewed depth of the partnership. With the NATO
summit set to be hosted in Ankara in 2026, transatlantic security was also
likely high on the agenda. In this regard, both the UK and Turkiye face a
similar predicament. As the EU has slowly awakened to the need for greater
defense investment, some members have been hesitant to include non-EU partners
in these initiatives. It would be short-sighted for the EU to exclude either the
UK or Turkiye from its emerging defense frameworks. Turkiye now boasts one of
Europe’s most dynamic and innovative defense industries, especially in the
unmanned systems sector, while the UK remains both a top global defense exporter
and one of NATO’s most capable militaries. One topic likely discussed, but in
private, was Cyprus. In 1960, Cyprus gained independence from British rule,
prompting the need for a Treaty of Guarantee between Greece, the UK, and Turkiye
to ensure the island’s independence and constitutional order. Under that
arrangement, all three became guarantor powers for the island’s security, and
the UK retained sovereign base areas for its forward military operations in the
Middle East and beyond. In July 1974, a coup in Cyprus — backed by the Greek
junta at the time — brought to power a Greek nationalist leader calling for the
island’s unification with Greece. Turkiye then intervened under the authority of
the 1960 treaty to protect the island’s ethnic Turkish population, leading to
the de facto partitioning of the island today. In the decades since, little
progress has been made toward resolving one of Europe’s longest-standing
geopolitical disputes. In sum, Starmer’s visit could not have come at a better
time. The UK and Turkiye play a crucial role in Europe’s defense. As two capable
military powers, both benefit from cooperation and can serve as a stabilizing
force in the region through their joint membership of NATO. The sale of
Eurofighters to Turkiye can only enhance Europe’s security. With NATO preparing
for its summit in Ankara in 2026, Starmer’s visit and the agreements between the
two leaders offer a solid starting point for renewed strategic partnership.
*Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. X: @LukeDCoffey
Why hard power politics is driving Turkiye’s foreign
relations
Dr. Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/October 31, 2025
In the past decade, Turkiye has increasingly integrated military and defense
elements into its foreign policy through expanded mandates, the sale of defense
industry products, and the signing of defense and military agreements. Hard
power politics has become a steadier foundation for its relations with other
nations, making defense a central component of its foreign policy. Ankara’s need
for a more militarily assertive approach has extended beyond its borders, driven
by perceptions of immediate threats to its national security and the growing
instability in its neighborhood. One of the key elements of this hard power
strategy include the deployment of troops externally, in addition to the Turkish
Armed Forces’ conventional role in UN and NATO missions. This week, the Turkish
Parliament approved extensions for military operations in neighboring countries
to keep troops in Iraq and Syria for three more years and maintain peacekeepers
in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon for an additional two years. Since 2014, the
parliament has regularly renewed the cross-border mandates, typically on a
yearly basis. However, the current mandate for Syria represents the longest
extension since Turkiye launched its first cross-border intervention there in
2016. In Iraq, Turkish military operations date back to the 1980s when it began
efforts to dismantle the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, designated as a terrorist
group by Turkiye, the US, and the EU.
The mandates for Syria and Iraq have caused divisions within the parliament. The
ruling Justice and Development Party and the Nationalist Movement Party
supported the motion, while the Republican People’s Party and the People’s
Equality and Democracy Party opposed it. However, Turkiye’s deployment to the UN
peacekeeping force received broader backing. Despite maintaining good relations
with the new administration in Damascus and the government in Baghdad, Turkiye
remains concerned about potential instability arising from the activities of
terrorist groups, particularly the PKK and Daesh militants. The motion for Syria
stated that PKK and its offshoots “refuse to take steps toward integration with
the Syrian central administration due to their separatist and divisive agenda.”
The extension of the mandate indicates that Syria’s new government requires
international support to strengthen its counterterrorism capacity. At the same
time, it reflects Turkiye’s long-term hard power strategy in Syria.
Turkiye’s hard power political approach has also coincided with instabilities
ranging from the Caucasus to Africa. Today, Turkiye has its troops deployed in
at least nine countries, from Syria to Iraq, Libya to Azerbaijan, and Qatar to
Somalia. Since 2017, Ankara has also begun exporting Bayraktar TB2 drones,
Turkiye’s first domestically developed armed uncrewed aerial vehicle. The
Bayraktar TB2 played a critical role in several conflict zones, including Libya,
Karabakh, and Ukraine, where it gained international recognition for its
effectiveness.
Drone diplomacy has provided Ankara with a network of allies
Turkiye has sold TB2 to at least 34 countries, including its allies and partners
in Europe, Central and South Asia, Africa, the Levant, and the Gulf. This drone
diplomacy has provided Ankara with a strong network of allies across Eurasia,
Africa, and the Middle East. According to the head of Turkiye’s Defense Industry
Agency, Haluk Gorgun, Turkiye’s defense industry exports surpassed $7.1 billion
last year, marking a milestone. Gorgun also accompanies President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on key foreign visits, the most recent being a Gulf tour that included
three stops: Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman.
The hard power politics in Turkiye’s foreign policy is also a deliberate attempt
to put strategic autonomy at the center. The push for autonomy has been
motivated by the restrictions Turkiye has faced when it comes to buying arms
from its Western allies. This week, the UK secured a deal worth up to £8 billion
to supply Turkiye with 20 Typhoon fighter jets. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
said Turkiye will receive the first of the batch of 20 Typhoons in 2030. The
Eurofighter jets are jointly produced by Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain, and
the deal was subject to approval from the other members of the consortium.
Erdogan hailed the agreement as “a new symbol of the strategic relations” with
Britain.
The deal was signed during Starmer’s visit to Ankara and is the largest fighter
jet export agreement in almost two decades. It comes as Turkiye seeks to take
advantage of the advanced warplanes to make up ground with regional rivals such
as Israel. Separately, Turkiye plans to buy more Typhoons from Oman and Qatar.
Last week, it was also reported that Turkiye was nearing a deal to secure 12
Typhoons from Oman and Qatar to meet its immediate needs, with more new jets
coming from Britain in future years.
There is also a growing tendency among Western and regional states to pursue
closer defense cooperation with Turkiye. The frequent contacts between defense
ministers have led to the signing of numerous defense industry agreements and
memoranda of understanding in defense industry technologies and military
inventory. Turkish defense products are also increasingly attractive because
they come with fewer political conditions and are less influenced by the
shifting agendas of some Western governments.
Thus, Turkiye’s hard power politics — encompassing defense and military
cooperation — has become a critical pillar of its cooperative security agenda,
which has emerged as a key instrument of its foreign policy. This approach
serves multiple objectives: bringing security to the neighborhood, enhancing
strategic partnerships, modernizing defense capabilities, gaining global
recognition and responsibility, and countering both traditional and
non-traditional threats. In an era defined by transnational security challenges,
this policy has evolved from a matter of choice to a strategic necessity.
• Dr. Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkiye’s
relations with the Middle East. X: @SinemCngz
Cairo talks on Gaza fail to forge Palestinian unity
Daoud Kuttab/Arab News/October 31, 2025
Egypt’s efforts to craft a workable post-war plan for Gaza continue to face
multiple obstacles. Beyond Israel’s repeated and unreasonable veto of any direct
role for the Ramallah-based Palestinian government, even the more modest goal of
achieving Palestinian consensus has proven elusive.
When Egypt’s intelligence minister invited select Palestinian faction leaders
while excluding others, the Ramallah leadership, particularly the dominant Fatah
movement, objected. The invitation extended to Samir Masharawi, a senior member
of the Fatah Reformist Movement founded by Mohammed Dahlan, angered officials in
Ramallah. Equally upsetting was the exclusion of Ahmad Majdalani, a member of
the PLO Executive Committee and leader of the Palestinian Popular Struggle
Front, a minor faction with little grassroots following.
Despite the absence of unanimity, those who did attend the Cairo talks agreed
with their Egyptian hosts on certain criteria for a proposed technocratic
governing body in Gaza. According to an Oct. 24 statement issued after the
meetings, the plan envisions a “temporary Palestinian committee composed of
independent technocrats from the Gaza Strip to manage essential services and
daily life in cooperation with Arab partners and international organizations,
based on principles of transparency and national accountability.”
However, the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has expressed deep
reservations about this process, which appears to follow the so-called “20-point
Trump plan.” Palestinian officials argue that it disregards key international
agreements, including the 1993 Declaration of Principles signed at the White
House. This recognized Gaza and the West Bank as a single political entity under
Palestinian law as legislated by the Palestinian Legislative Council.
As a compromise, the Palestinian government has offered to cede direct control,
while insisting that the proposed committee be chaired by a member of the
Palestinian Cabinet. But this idea seems to have been vetoed by Israel and is
not supported by Cairo.
Another proposal gaining traction would place Amjad Shawa, the respected
coordinator of Palestinian NGOs in Gaza, at the head of the committee. Hamas
reportedly finds this acceptable. Yet critics on social media have voiced strong
opposition, claiming that many of the NGOs involved lack transparency and
accountability. Progress on any political arrangement has also been delayed by
continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and its refusal to move
into the second phase of the truce plan. Israel insists that the next phase can
begin only after all the bodies of its dead soldiers are returned from Gaza.
Eleven bodies remain unrecovered, and the locations of at least five are unknown
— a fact acknowledged by both Israel and the US. Nevertheless, Israel continues
to condition the formal end of the war on the return of all remains.
Egypt’s efforts continue to face multiple obstacles
A degree of Palestinian national unity would undoubtedly help address the
governance vacuum facing Arab and international mediators. But Israel’s
continued refusal to release several leading Palestinian prisoners has
perpetuated the political stalemate.
That impasse may shift, however, following a surprising comment by US President
Donald Trump suggesting that he might support the release of the most popular
Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barghouti. The statement has raised hopes among
Barghouti’s family, supporters, and much of the Palestinian public.
Reactions to Trump’s remarks have varied. Jordanian columnist Oraib Rantawi,
director of the Al-Quds Center for Political Studies, wrote a column titled
“From Solitary Prison to Al-Muqata’a via Gaza,” arguing that the US leader’s
statement may have been an attempt to ensure that Barghouti’s release would be
credited to him and not to Hamas.
Meanwhile, Barghouti’s wife, lawyer Fadwa Barghouti, reportedly sent a letter to
Trump, the contents of which remain undisclosed. Her action has stirred concern
within the Palestinian leadership about what assurances she may have given on
her husband’s behalf. The matter appears to have prompted an unusual and
unexplained presidential decree in Ramallah addressing the issue of political
succession.
According to a brief published on the official WAFA website on Oct. 26:
“President Mahmoud Abbas issued a constitutional declaration stipulating that,
in the event of a vacancy in the office of the President of the Palestinian
Authority, and in the absence of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Vice
President of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization —
also the Vice President of the State of Palestine — will temporarily assume the
duties of the president for a period not exceeding 90 days.”
The decree adds that elections must be held within this period, though it allows
for a 90-day extension in cases of force majeure. Observers believe this clause
could be invoked to delay elections — even if Barghouti is released and Abbas
steps down — thereby preventing an immediate vote that the popular Barghouti
would likely win. The attempts to force an agreement without respecting
international law or the consensus of the main Palestinian factions appear to be
an exercise in futility. The Cairo Arab summit common, not to mention common
political sense, dictates the inclusion of the Palestinian leadership in all
aspects of governing and policing. The sooner the Trump administration
understands this and stops adhering to the unreasonable Israeli vetoes, the
sooner we will be on the right track to end this ugly war on the people of Gaza.
• Daoud Kuttab is an award-winning Palestinian journalist and former Ferris
Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is the author of “State of
Palestine Now: Practical and Logical Arguments for the Best Way to Bring Peace
to the Middle East.” X: @daoudkuttab
World Bank’s heavy focus on climate finance diverts
critical resources from core end-poverty mission
Bjorn Lomborg/Arab News/October 31, 2025
The US just told the World Bank to stop obsessing about climate and get back to
its core business of ending poverty. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called
on the institution to remove the 45 percent of financing it devotes to climate
projects and instead invest to “increase access to affordable and reliable
energy, reduce poverty and boost growth.”
Saudi Arabia is reportedly aligned with the US in opposing high climate
spending. There is plenty of evidence to support that decision. The World Bank
was created at the end of the Second World War to rebuild Europe, and then took
on the mission of lifting poor people out of poverty. But as with the UN and
many other international organizations, the bank set out on its climate path
after the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, committing billions to climate and
vowing to lead on green financing. Last year it poured $42.6 billion into
climate projects. That is money that could not be used to address the world’s
most desperate needs. Research repeatedly shows that, dollar for dollar, core
development investments — such as improving maternal health, advancing
e-learning or enhancing agricultural yields — deliver much greater and faster
benefits than climate spending.
In contrast, supporting efforts by poor countries to make aggressive cuts in
emissions would yield negligible results on development or climate metrics.
Adaptation measures such as flood defenses are somewhat better, but still pale
in comparison with proven development strategies. The president of the World
Bank, Ajay Banga, has staunchly defended its climate targets. He said that
poverty and climate should be tackled jointly. Such a glib claim just does not
pass a logic test. Tackling poverty through nutrition, health and education can
quickly help hundreds of millions of people live better lives at low cost.
Tackling poverty through climate action will do nothing by 2030, and even by the
end of the century it will help only minimally. Tackling poverty through climate
action will do nothing by 2030, and even by the end of the century it will help
only minimally
Yet climate policy costs easily run into the trillions, while harming the
world’s poor by driving up costs of fertilizers and energy. As Bessent
highlighted, right now developing nations need cheap, reliable energy to
industrialize, create jobs and thrive, just as rich countries did a century ago
and China did over more recent decades.
Most of Africa remains quite poor, with little access to energy beyond wood and
hydro power. The average poor African only gets to use as much fossil fuel in a
year as an American uses in less than nine days. The World Bank aims to connect
300 million additional Africans to electricity supplies by 2030 through its
Mission 300 initiative. This is a worthy goal that is at risk of sabotage by an
ever-present fixation on renewables. The bank’s Mission 300 partner, the
Rockefeller Foundation, touts renewables as the “most cost-effective and rapid
route to prosperity.” This is fantasy. While solar and wind can be cheaper than
fossil fuels when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing, it is infinitely
costly with no sun or wind. Reliable power requires extensive backup that drives
up costs, and across the world, high solar and wind societies experience much
higher electricity costs. This is why rich countries, despite their green
rhetoric, still get more than three-quarters of their energy from fossil fuels.
The World Bank’s own client surveys show that people in poorer nations rank
climate low on their list of concerns. While African leaders will politely speak
about green issues with the Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank, their
actions speak more loudly. Last year, Africa added 5 kilowatt-hours of
electricity for each person from solar and wind. But it added almost five times
more from fossil fuels, because they are cheaper and more reliable. Across all
energy, not just electricity, Africa increased its solar and wind consumption a
bit, but increased its fossil fuel consumption by a 22-times-greater amount.
Climate change demands action, but not at the expense of efforts to tackle
poverty. Rich governments should invest in long-overdue research and development
for breakthrough green technologies: affordable, reliable alternatives that
everyone, rich and poor alike, will adopt. That is how we can solve climate
challenges without sacrificing the vulnerable.More countries need to get on
board with the mission to return the World Bank to a focus on poverty. Raiding
development funds for climate initiatives is not just misguided, it is an
affront to human suffering.
• Bjorn Lomborg is president of the Copenhagen Consensus, a visiting fellow at
Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, and author of “False Alarm” and “Best
Things First.”
Selected X Tweets For November 01/2025
Hiba Nasr
https://x.com/i/status/1984645473429238245
Tom Barrack questions Lebanon system that preserves the presidency for
Christians noting demographic shifts & claiming most residents are Palestinians
& Syrians.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
@USAMBTurkiye
https://x.com/i/status/1984663100252119502
off #Lebanon portfolio has become an urgent matter for the national interest of
the United States. Watch this clip and see how he’s parroting #Hezbollah’s
talking points, lock, stock and barrel. 1. He says #Lebanon doesn’t belong to
Christians anymore but to “Shia (Hezbollah), Palestinians (Hamas) and Syrians
(Islamists at large).”
This is false. Shia of Lebanon are emigrating at rates similar to Christians and
others. Shia of Lebanon do sit in Paris and Washington too.
2. He ignores Cessation of Hostilities signed by Lebanon and Israel on Nov 2024,
in which Lebanon pledged to disarm Hezbollah. Parroting Berri and Aoun, Barrack
is now saying Lebanon should only make sure that Hezbollah arms “are not used”
against Israel.
This is one of Barrack’s worst statements on Lebanon, right behind his “paper”
that Lebanon cabinet endorsed and he quietly walked back later.
Secretary Marco Rubio
The ongoing slaughter of thousands of Christians in Nigeria by radical Islamists
and Fulani ethnic militias is both tragic and unacceptable. As
@POTUS
said, the United States stands ready, willing, and able to act.
The White House
"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in
Nigeria, and numerous other Countries. We stand ready, willing, and able to save
our Great Christian population around the World!" - PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
Ambassador Tom Barrack
As Syria emerges from 14 years of atrocities by the Assad regime,
@POTUS
said let’s give the new Syria a chance. #IISSMD25
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
There is no shared history whatsoever. The border was drawn between Sunnis in
Palestine and Maronite and Shia in Lebanon. In Ottoman times, the Sunni Wali of
Akka often raided Shia lands to the north, burnt their fields and arrested
clerics. One of them was Sadriddine Sharafiddine who escaped Akko’s prison to
Iraq. One of his sons moved to Iran. This is how we got the Sadr dynasty of
clerics.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain
There is no shared history whatsoever. The border was drawn between Sunnis in
Palestine and Maronite and Shia in Lebanon. In Ottoman times, the Sunni Wali of
Akka often raided Shia lands to the north, burnt their fields and arrested
clerics. One of them was Sadriddine Sharafiddine who escaped Akko’s prison to
Iraq. One of his sons moved to Iran. This is how we got the Sadr dynasty of
clerics.