English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For November 18/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
For those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there
will be wrath and fury
Letter to the Romans 02/01-08/:"You have no excuse, whoever you are, when you
judge others; for in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because
you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, ‘We know that God’s
judgement on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.’ Do you
imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet
do them yourself, you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you despise the
riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that
God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and
impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when
God’s righteous judgement will be revealed. For he will repay according to each
one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honour and
immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and
who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury."
Titles For The
Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 17-18/2025
A Biography of Saint Matthew the Evangelist,
Apostle, on the Anniversary of his Annual Feast Day/Elias Bejjani/November 16/
2025
Hell, its Fire, and Worms Await All Who Have Killed Their Conscience and Lost
Their Shame/Elias Bejjani/November 14/2025
Video Link – Interview from “Transparency” on YouTube with Director and Writer
Yousef Y. El-Khoury
Video link to a very important video commentary by the distinguished writer and
journalist, Ibrahim Eissa, on “Alhurra” channel.
Link to a podcast interview with Dr. Saleh Al-Mashnouq from the “Ben Media”
website
Heikal to the United States
Bin Farhan and Saudi Delegation in Beirut... Salam: Lebanon Will Not Be Used to
Destabilize the Security of its Brethren
An Alternative Path to Pressure "The Party": Surrender or Submit
Indictment Issued in Cocaine and Captagon Smuggling Case to Saudi Arabia
Hezbollah Supporters Gather Outside Opponent's Home... Opponent Says "My Life is
in Danger"
Conditional Saudi Return: Between Lifting the 'Ban' and the 'Sovereignty'
Condition
"The Party's" Outcry is Proof of the Correctness of Anti-Money Laundering
Efforts
The Audacity of "Tehran Times"/Imad Moussa/Nidaa al-Watan/November 18, 2025
A Series of Attacks on its Officials... "Towards Salvation" Breaches Hezbollah's
Legitimacy Core/Samer Zreiq/Nidaa al-Watan/November 18/2025
Israel Warns Lebanon of an Imminent Strike on Aitaroun
Michel Issa Presents His Credentials in Baabda
Disarmament and the End of the Militia’s Whims/Michel Touma/This is
Beirut/November 17/2025
Syrians in Lebanon: Returns Rise, But New Arrivals Continue/Samar El-Kadi/This
is Beirut/November 17/2025
Naim Kassem Criticizes the State and “American Financial Tutelage”
Saudi Arabia-Lebanon: A Major Trade Thaw Begins/Liliane Mokbel/This is
Beirut/November 17/2025
Hezbollah leader’s message shows the terror group is under pressure/Yossi
Mansharof/Jerusalem Post/November 17/202
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous
Reports And News published
on
November 17-18/2025
Inside the US draft Gaza resolution:
International force, path to Palestinian statehood
Netanyahu slams ‘extremist’ Israeli West Bank settlers
Crew of tanker seized by Iran make contact, are safe, vessel manager says
Jordan parliament passes law reinstating conscription
Saudi Crown Prince Departs for the United States
Trump Says US Will Sell F-35 Stealth Jets to Saudi Arabia
IMF sees signs of recovery in Syria, plans intensive engagement
Iraqi PM-led coalition tops Iraq election with 46 seats, commission says
Saudi oil tanker carrying 90,000 tons of crude oil arrives at Syria port
France Makes 'Historic' Accord to Sell Ukraine 100 Warplanes
Germany to Lift Curbs on Arms Exports to Israel
Kurdish PKK Militants Say Have Left Key Area in North Iraq
Nigeria Discussing Security with US after Trump Threats
Bangladesh Ex-PM Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against Humanity
Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources on
November 17-18/2025
Exposed: Qatar’s Circle of Terrorist
Friends/Natalie Ecanow/Townhall/November 17/2025
When Allah sits at the negotiation table: How to negotiate with Hamas/Yossi
Mansharof/Jerusalem Post/November 17/202
Israel’s road to peace with Saudi Arabia: A deal is imminent, but only after
elections/Elda Israeli/Jerusalem Post/November 17/2025
The Druze stood with Israel, now we must champion a state for them/Michan Avni/Jerusalem
Post/November 17/2025
What to expect during the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to the White House/Joseph
Haboush/Al Arabiya English/November 17/2025
A New Epicenter Emerges in the Near East/Charles Chartouni/This is
Beirut/November 17/2025
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
November 17-18/2025
A Biography of Saint Matthew the Evangelist, Apostle, on the Anniversary
of his Annual Feast Day
Elias Bejjani/November 16/ 2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149224/
The Feast Days of Saint Matthew in the Eastern and Western Churches
The Western Church (the Vatican) celebrates the Feast of Saint Matthew on
September 21 of every year, while the Eastern Churches — including the Maronite
Church according to the Synaxarium and the Antiochian tradition — commemorate
him on November 16.
Name and Identity
Saint Matthew is one of the Twelve Apostles and one of the four Holy
Evangelists. His original name was Levi, son of Alphaeus, but he became known as
Matthew, meaning “Gift of the Lord” or “God’s gracious gift.” He likely received
this name after joining the disciples of Christ, as a sign of the grace of
repentance and salvation granted to him.
From Tax Collector to Disciple: A Call of Radical Transformation
Before his calling, Matthew was a tax collector, working in Capernaum on the Sea
of Galilee—an occupation despised and rejected in Jewish society.
The Divine Call and the Immediate Change
The Gospel recounts how Jesus passed by Matthew as he sat at the tax booth
(Matthew 09:09) and said to him, “Follow Me.”Matthew rose at once, leaving
behind everything—wealth, power, and a secure profession—to follow Christ. This
immediate response, without hesitation or negotiation, makes him the perfect
model of true repentance and total devotion.
Author of the First Gospel: The Gospel of the Kingdom
Ancient Church tradition holds that Saint Matthew composed his Gospel first,
around 50–60 A.D., writing originally in Aramaic (or Hebrew) for his own Jewish
people in Israel. It was later translated into Greek.
The Core Themes of His Gospel
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Matthew’s chief purpose is to proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth is the
long-awaited Messiah.
The Bridge Between the Old and the New Covenants: He cites the Old Testament
more than any other Evangelist, often using the phrase: “that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets.”
The Teachings of Jesus: Matthew arranged the Lord’s teachings into five major
discourses, most notably:
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 05–07): the charter of the New Kingdom.
The Parables (Matthew 13): revealing the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
His Apostolic Ministry
After the Ascension of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, Saint Matthew
carried the Gospel far and wide. Among the regions he evangelized:
Israel and Judea
He began among his own people, explaining how the prophecies were fulfilled in
Jesus.
Syria and the Antiochian Regions
From here, his Gospel spread widely—reaching Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Near East.
Mesopotamia
According to Syriac tradition, he preached in Edessa, Nisibis, and Basra.
Persia (modern-day Iran)
He proclaimed the Word of God in territories under the Persian Empire.
Ethiopia
Tradition holds that he was martyred there, after the king Eglion accepted the
faith through Matthew’s miracles and teaching.
Saint Matthew’s Relationship to Lebanon
Though no direct evidence confirms that Saint Matthew visited Lebanon
personally, his connection to the country is deep and spiritually significant:
1. His Gospel Reached Lebanon Early Through the Church of Antioch
The Antiochian Church—mother of the Lebanese Christians—was the gateway through
which the Gospel of Matthew spread to the Lebanese coast and mountains,
especially to the early monks of the Holy Valley (Wadi Qadisha).
2. Influence on the Monastic Life of Lebanon
The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount formed the backbone of early monastic
teachings.
Thus, Matthew’s Gospel became a primary source for liturgical readings, prayers,
and the spiritual life in ancient hermitages of Qannoubine.
3. Numerous Lebanese Churches Honor His Name
This reflects the deep veneration of the Lebanese faithful for the Apostle and
his teachings. Among the churches dedicated to him:
Saint Matthew Church — Maronite, Wadi el-Sitt (Chouf)
Saint Matthew Church — Maronite, Kfarnabrakh (Chouf)
Saint Matthew Church — Maronite, Bsharri (Bsharri District)
Saint Matthew Church — Greek Orthodox, Deddeh (Koura)
His Martyrdom and His Ecclesiastical Symbol
Tradition agrees that Saint Matthew sealed his life with a glorious martyrdom in
Ethiopia or Persia, where he was pierced by a spear (or sword) while standing at
the holy altar, refusing to offer sacrifice to pagan idols and steadfastly
confessing Christ.
His Symbol
In Christian iconography, Saint Matthew is represented by a man or an angel with
a human face—a symbol drawn from the vision of Ezekiel. He is represented by the
man because his Gospel begins with the genealogy of Christ, the Son of Man,
emphasizing the humanity of the Savior and His entrance into history.
Spiritual Conclusion: The Apostle of the Kingdom Whose Voice Still Speaks
The Feast of Saint Matthew calls us to reflect upon:
True repentance that transforms every life, no matter the past.
The primacy of the Kingdom, reminding us to place the love of Christ above all
earthly riches.
The fidelity of the Gospel, which Matthew wrote with divine inspiration as a
guide to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The deep bond between the Lebanese Church and the apostolic, evangelical
heritage upon which the early monks built their life of prayer and holiness.
He is the Apostle whose voice still resounds through his Gospel, reminding all
believers that the Kingdom begins in the heart, and that the divine call has the
power to transform everything.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website:
https://eliasbejjaninews.com
Hell, its Fire, and Worms Await All Who Have Killed Their Conscience and
Lost Their Shame
Elias Bejjani/November 14/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/11623/
Many people do not fear God; they forget that there is a Day of Judgment in the
afterlife, and that there is a hell. They forget that on the Day of Judgment,
there will be a line to the left and a line to the right. The line to the left
is a stampede straight to hell, and the line to the right leads to God’s
heavenly abodes. They forget that hell has a fire that never extinguishes, worms
that never rest, and torment that never ceases.
Is it possible that a person, for the sake of money, palaces, power, and
authority would numb their conscience, act foolishly, deny God, and walk
willingly into the stampede for hell? Yes, of course. When people fall into the
temptations of Satan and descend into his pit, all they see is the dust of the
earth, its wealth, powers, authority, palaces, hatred, resentment, and revenge.
They become slaves to their animalistic instincts.
They kill their conscience, which is the voice of God within them, and they lose
all shame. Their tongues—which are also a gift from God—ceases to bear witness
to the truth and is transformed into diabolical tongues.
The certainty—the absolute certainty—is that none of us, no matter how great our
status, can escape the accounting of the Lord. Those who manage to escape the
judiciary of the earth, will never be able to escape the court and Judgment of
Heaven.
On the Last Day of Judgment, the torment of those who were given much, the
keepers of vows, the straying scribes and Pharisees, and the Iscariots will be
the harshest and most severe.
Let us pray that the merciful, loving Lord, would save all those who are caught
in temptation, straying, arrogant, shameless, tyrannical, and who killed their
conscience. Let us pray that the Almighty will help all those who are preys of
Satan’s temptations see his light, repent, perform penance, and return
remorsefully, seeking forgiveness, and humbleness.
Video Link – Interview from “Transparency” on YouTube
with Director and Writer Yousef Y. El-Khoury
In this interview, he focuses on his work as a director, the successes,
challenges, and professional setbacks he faced, as well as the circumstances and
goals behind his transformation into a political activist strongly advocating
for sovereignty, independence, freedoms, and the restoration of the state from
the grip of occupying forces and the ruling cartel.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149299/
Yousef El-Khoury: “Even if I’m dying of hunger, I will never again surrender my
intellectual rights!”
November 17, 2025 – Transparency (YouTube)
In a fiery and unprecedentedly candid conversation on My Story with Samantha
Martin, director, writer, and political activist Yousef El-Khoury turns the
pages of his professional and political life, revealing the coincidences that
made him “a top director” and the shocks that transformed him into one of the
fiercest critics of the Lebanese system.
El-Khoury’s journey is one of transformation—from creating drama series (Rafka,
Aquilina) and major Arab programs (Eish Safari on MBC) to becoming a sovereignty
activist publicly confronting political and financial corruption. He openly
recounts the coincidences that pushed him into directing, the early humiliation
that forced him to master the craft, and his costly personal experience founding
Al-Arz Studio and his company “Cedar of Arabia.”
In this exclusive interview, Yousef El-Khoury reveals:
The truth behind the intellectual theft he faced in his global program Eish
Safari, and how protecting his creative rights became a non-negotiable red line.
The case that shook Lebanon: how, in 2016, he discovered the involvement of
Lebanese banks in stealing people’s money, and how Riad Salameh was leading the
country toward collapse long before the downfall.
His shocking position during the July 2006 War, and why he was the first person
to take an openly direct stance against Hezbollah—and the consequences he paid
in his professional and political life, including being detained on charges of
“sectarian incitement.”
A blistering attack on the Lebanese system, which he describes as a “crumpled
constitution of a state” and a “three-headed constitution.”
Highly anticipated details about his upcoming film Bashir, marking a powerful
comeback within his series titled Unleash The Truth.
Don’t miss Yousef El-Khoury’s revelations—between a rich artistic past and a
turbulent political present.
Interview Timeline:
00:34 — The coincidence that turned a presenter into a major director: How was
Yousef El-Khoury forced into directing?
06:47 — Artistic theft: the full story behind the film Rafka, Apostle of the Pen
34:07 — The Riad Salameh scandal: When did El-Khoury uncover the “bank thieves”?
36:58 — Bashir: Unleash the Truth — the secret behind his comeback after 3 years
41:07 — “If we don’t give you money, you can’t make it”: the moment of arrogance
and the stolen “idea rights” at MBC
46:57 — Does he regret leaving art for politics? The “Lebanese Cenac” group and
confronting the system
51:04 — A direct assault: “I was the first person to take a stand against
Hezbollah”
52:37 — “My country’s borders”: his startling definition of Lebanese sovereignty
54:50 — What would he call Lebanon today? His shocking one-word answer
Video link to a very important video commentary by the
distinguished writer and journalist, Ibrahim Eissa, on “Alhurra” channel.
He addresses the stance of Islamists on the civil state, asserting with facts
and proofs that it is impossible for Islamists to become democrats, as they
reject both the concept of the state and citizenship. Their coexistence with
democracy is like oil and water—they simply do not mix
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149257/
November 16/2025
Link to a podcast interview with Dr. Saleh Al-Mashnouq
from the “Ben Media” website: Yes to disarmament by force, Naim Qassem doesn't
frighten anyone, and the Lebanese should be jealous of Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149296/
November 17/2025/The Pen Cast
Many of you loved our episode with Dr. Saleh Machnouk in Season 1, so we made
sure to film a Part 2! This time, we build on more than a year of developments
in Lebanon and the Middle East — a region undergoing rapid and dramatic change.
In this episode, you’re in for a ride. Saleh Machnouk returns with his signature
eloquence, candor, intensity and humor. He discusses the performance of the
current Lebanese government, the intellectual bankruptcy of resistance movements
in the region, and the steps required to capitalize on their recent military
setbacks, among many other topics
Heikal to the United States
Electronic Sites/November 18, 2025 (Translated
from Arabic)
Lebanese electronic sites reported that Army Commander General Rudolph Heikal is
scheduled to leave Beirut in the coming hours, heading to the United States to
meet with a number of officials and follow up on files related to the military
establishment and its support program. It was also mentioned that there will be
no official reception for Heikal due to his positions opposing international
resolutions and aligning with Hezbollah.
Bin Farhan and Saudi Delegation in Beirut... Salam: Lebanon
Will Not Be Used to Destabilize the Security of its Brethren
Al-Markaziya/ November 17, 2025 (Translated from
Arabic)
Saudi envoy Yazeed bin Farhan arrived at noon at the General Civil Aviation
Building at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, leading a delegation.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said via X: "Today, I received the visiting Saudi
delegation to Lebanon to discuss measures for the resumption of Lebanese exports
to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I have asked all concerned parties to work
quickly to remove any obstacles for the return of this important tributary to
Lebanon's economy. This move came in response to what took place during the
meeting between His Excellency President Jouzef Aoun and my meeting with His
Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. His Highness's and the Kingdom's positions in support of Lebanon
and its stability are witnessed by all. We extend to them all our appreciation,
thanks, and lasting affection. On this occasion, I reiterated to the esteemed
delegation our commitment that Lebanon will not be used as a platform to
destabilize the security of its Arab brethren or as a corridor for drug
smuggling or any other prohibited materials. I also welcomed the Saudi
delegation participating in the Beirut 1 Conference, whose presence in Beirut
provides a major impetus for Lebanon's economic recovery."
An Alternative Path to Pressure "The Party": Surrender or
Submit
Al-Markaziya /November 17, 2025 (Translated from
Arabic)
Information from "Al-Jadeed" today, Monday, indicated that the "Mechanism
Committee" is at variance with the Lebanese Army regarding how to deal with the
exclusivity of weapons, specifically entering private property, as it requested
searching homes under the pretext of hidden weapons. The information states that
the Lebanese Army refused the request because it affects the "sanctity of
homes," which specifically stands in the way of searching them. However, the
Mechanism seems unconvinced by what it considers the Lebanese Army's "excuse."
Regarding its role in the currently frozen negotiation file, political sources
told Al-Jadeed that Lebanon is stuck in a cycle without any clear exits. Talk of
a role for the Mechanism is impractical, as its duties will remain confined to
the military, supervisory, and field works. It is impossible to transform it
into a platform for technical and political negotiation, and it will not exceed
its defined role in South Lebanon. The daily field realities, which have
rendered the cessation of hostilities agreement outdated, reinforce the
expansion of this cycle. Therefore, while awaiting clear exits and solutions,
the international community has begun adopting a parallel path based on
financial constriction. Political sources told Al-Jadeed that if the
circumstances are not ripe for striking Hezbollah, and if the Lebanese state is
unable to fulfill its commitments regarding the exclusivity of weapons and being
the sole decision-maker on peace and war, then another path must be started to
pressure Hezbollah financially and rely on time until it surrenders or submits.
Indictment Issued in Cocaine and Captagon Smuggling Case to
Saudi Arabia
Al-Markaziya/November 17, 2025
(Translated from Arabic)
The First Investigative Judge in the North, Judge Naji Al-Dahdah, issued his
indictment in the case of smuggling a large shipment of cocaine from the port of
Tripoli to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The indictment states that on August 6,
2025, the Central Anti-Narcotics Bureau received a letter of information from
the Saudi liaison officer, via the Saudi Embassy in Beirut, reporting the
presence of a quantity of drugs in a container at the port of Tripoli. Upon
raiding the container, it was found to contain 480 gallons of vegetable fats,
and 10 of them were seized, containing 126 kg of cocaine prepared for export to
Saudi Arabia. As a result of the investigations, the identities of the owners of
the goods were revealed. Judge Al-Dahdah conducted his investigations based on
the Central Anti-Narcotics Bureau's findings and concluded with indicting
"Mohammad R.," "Madeline Z.," "Ahmad K.," and others with the felony of drug
trafficking and smuggling, referring them to the Criminal Court in the North for
trial.
Judge Al-Dahdah also issued his indictment in the case of the attempted
smuggling of 1,405 kg of Captagon pills, which were seized in the town of
Bakhoun in Al-Danniyeh, after a similar quantity was seized at the port of
Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, in coordination with the Kingdom's security agencies.
This material was prepared to be transported to the port of Tripoli and then
shipped to the Saudi port of Jeddah.
Al-Dahdah accused the defendants "Ahmad S.," "Bassem Sh.," "Mazen J.," "Hassan
J.," "Ahmad J.," and "Samir Kh.," of the felony of drug trafficking, promotion,
and forming a gang active in drug smuggling to and around Lebanon, and their
import and export, referring them to the Criminal Court for trial.
Hezbollah Supporters Gather Outside Opponent's Home... Opponent Says "My Life is
in Danger"
Al-Markaziya/November 17, 2025
A number of Hezbollah supporters are currently gathering outside the home of the
anti-Hezbollah activist Mahmoud Shoaib. According to the call issued yesterday
to the people of the town of Toul, Shoaib is "inciting against the Resistance
environment and tarnishing its reputation," emphasizing that "there is no place
among us for the Zionist-Americanized traitors." Yesterday, Shoaib published a
video in which he confirmed that his life is in danger, stressing that the
security agencies are not performing their duties to protect citizens and that
the Nabatieh police station is not responding to him. He said: "The gang of
Mohammed Aref Fahs, a gang of villains, attacked my house. Its mission is to
silence and suppress opponents of Hezbollah's policy."
Conditional Saudi Return: Between Lifting the 'Ban' and
the 'Sovereignty' Condition
"The Party's" Outcry is Proof of the Correctness of Anti-Money Laundering
Efforts
Al-Nidaa al-Watan/November 18, 2025
(Translated from Arabic)
In a scene where signals of international and Arab encouragement intersect with
messages of resolve and accountability, Lebanon officially received the
credentials of the new US Ambassador, Michael Issa. This coincided with the
initial signs of a Saudi economic return through the gateway of the "Beirut 1"
conference, carrying a dose of support conditional on the seriousness of reforms
and the extension of state sovereignty. Conversely,
the two issues of disarming illegal weapons and guaranteeing the expatriates'
right to vote remain held hostage by the "recalcitrant duo" between the Southern
Suburb and Ain al-Tineh. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim
Qassem launched his financial war against the Governorship of the Central Bank
of Lebanon, completing the recent Iranian campaign as a measure of "support" for
the "Al-Qard al-Hasan" (Good Loan) institution. Instead of admitting that the
"Party's" policy has financially, politically, and sovereignly strangled
Lebanon, Qassem resorted to intimidation, holding the government responsible for
"thinking and setting programs so that we can face the aggression." Qassem's
statements contained a lot of deception, as he presents himself as an "advisor"
to the government and the central bank governor, while he is the one preventing
any serious reform or economic revival due to his adherence to his weapons and
offering pretexts for Israel. As for his saying that
"the measures restrict all Lebanese," he ignores that "Hezbollah" was the first
to run a parallel economy outside the banking system through institutions like
"Al-Qard al-Hasan." His accusation that America is behind the financial collapse
is a clear evasion of the "Party's" responsibility for Lebanon's Arab and
international isolation, through its intervention in regional conflicts.
Correctness of the Central Bank's Decisions
A follow-up financial source indicated that the reactions to the measures taken
by the Central Bank of Lebanon, which started from Iran through what the Tehran
Times published, passing through the positions announced by deputies in the
"Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc, and culminating in Sheikh Naim Qassem's
statement yesterday, confirm that these measures strike a fatal blow to
"Hezbollah's" financial system. "Otherwise, how do we
explain Iran's involvement and its engagement in criticizing organizational
steps taken by the Central Bank to regulate and control the financial sector?"
he added. He notes that "the increase in shouting from the Iran-aligned group
indicates the correctness of these procedures, which aim to combat money
laundering for terror financing, help Lebanon exit the grey list, and improve
the country's external reputation."The source considered that the "Party" and
Tehran behind it believe that by merely accusing the Central Bank of succumbing
to American dictates, they can embarrass the Central Bank and its governor,
while the Central Bank has been cooperating with Washington for years and does
not hide this close collaboration. More than that, Central Bank Governor Karim
Said is not alone in taking anti-money laundering decisions; the entire Central
Council approved these measures. Tehran and Sheikh
Naim both know that the members of the Central Council are from all sects,
including two Shiite members counted on the "duo." Therefore, focusing the
targeting exclusively on the Central Governor is biased and shows bad faith,
allowing more than one question mark to be raised.
Active Diplomatic Movement
Returning to US Ambassador Michael Issa, Al-Nidaa al-Watan learned that his
visit to Baabda Palace was limited to the protocolary aspect, without addressing
sensitive files. The Ambassador is expected to request a later meeting with the
President of the Republic, which is likely to be held soon, to discuss key
developments, from the border demarcation file, to the negotiation process, to
the confinement of weapons, and finally, the American paper. During the
presentation of his credentials to the President, Issa expressed his happiness
at his appointment in Lebanon, conveying the greetings of the US President, and
confirming work to enhance and develop Lebanese-American relations in all
fields. His protocolary tour included visits to the Speakers of Parliament and
the Government, Nabih Berri and Nawaf Salam, and Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji,
where the meetings addressed bilateral relations and the general situation.
In the context of diplomatic movement, Saudi envoy Yazeed bin Farhan landed in
Beirut yesterday at the head of a delegation. The specialized Saudi technical
committee for the file of lifting the ban on Lebanese exports met with Prime
Minister Nawaf Salam in the Serail and is scheduled to participate today in the
"Beirut 1" conference.
A Matter of Time
The Israeli newspaper Maariv quoted an Israeli military source as saying that
there is "concern in Israel about the Lebanese Army's inability to fulfill its
obligations and disarm Hezbollah." It added that "Tel Aviv has decided not to
allow Hezbollah or any organization in the region to militarily strengthen
itself in a way that poses a threat to Israel," considering that "the Israeli
army links what is happening in Lebanon to Iran's efforts to rebuild its
strength after the recent confrontation with Israel." It concluded: "A new round
of fighting with 'Hezbollah' is only a matter of time."
The Audacity of "Tehran Times"
Imad Moussa/Nidaa al-Watan/November 18, 2025
(Translated from Arabic)
Anyone who believes that the "Tehran Times" is the sister of the British The
Times, born in the 18th century, or God forbid, a cousin of The New York Times
or New Zealand Times, is mistaken. At best, it is the daughter of Ba'ath Times,
the sister of The Pyongyang Times, and the cousin of Iraq Daily during Saddam
Hussein's era. If this is "at best," then let's forget about "at worst." The
"Tehran Times" was founded in May 1979, coinciding with the dawn of freedom
under Imam Khomeini. The Iranian newspaper defines itself as the "Voice of the
Oppressed in the World" in Iran and across the globe. From this humanitarian
standpoint—and not from the desire to poke its nose where it doesn't belong—the
illustrious newspaper launched a campaign against the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL),
which "handed Washington the master key and volunteered to monitor its citizens
on behalf of US Treasury envoys who spent only a few hours in Beirut before
issuing the latest set of financial commandments." Regardless of the
writer/megaphone/puppet's fabrications, some of the BDL's measures come in the
context of preventing Lebanon from being financially isolated, just like Iran,
which suffers from an inflation rate exceeding 45 percent and where 45 million
Iranians are living in poverty. Regarding the currency in the Mullahs' Republic,
a decision was made to drop four zeros after the Guardian Council approved it,
as the decision does not conflict with Sharia standards and the Iranian
Constitution.
The newspaper's house is made of glass; spit on it, and it will shatter. In the
same article, the supposedly liberal-leaning writer for the "Tehran Times"
concluded that "every money changer (Lebanese) has been transformed by the BDL's
circulars into a mini-intelligence bureau," describing the demands—namely
declaring any transfer exceeding a thousand dollars—as "intrusive and
arbitrary." We were all a watchman for every citizen; now, we are an informant
for every money changer. The newspaper concludes, "Ultimately, it is not about a
thousand dollars; it is about control, dependence, and the quiet normalization
of foreign intervention hidden behind a veil of compliance."From a collegial
standpoint, I ask the insightful writer, with a heart beating with gratitude:
Who authorized Iran to interfere, through you, in a sovereign matter concerning
a Lebanese administration that has a law governing its work? And in what
capacity does Iran support institutions that operate in contradiction to the
license granted to them? Should BDL Governor Dr. Karim Said have consulted the
Guardian Council before issuing his circulars? Finally, if the "canned" writer
and the editor-in-chief, Ali Akbar Janabzadeh, dare to answer these questions,
Iran's ranking on the Press Freedom Index might improve. It currently languishes
at 177th place out of 180. The improvement means advancing to 176th
place—nothing more!
A Series of Attacks on its Officials... "Towards
Salvation" Breaches Hezbollah's Legitimacy Core
Samer Zreiq/Nidaa al-Watan/November 18/2025
(Translated from Arabic)
Over the past years, Hezbollah has grown accustomed to cracking down on any
Shiite voice that opposes its dominance by subjecting it to immense critical
pressure, often faked as "popular" through thousands of fake accounts on social
media. This manufactured pressure does not represent a serious popular base.
What is new is the unprecedented attack on the "Towards Salvation" (Nahwa al-Inqath)
initiative, which differs from its predecessors and appears to be harsher and
more widespread. It is clear that the founders of this promising initiative have
managed to touch a sensitive nerve in the "Party's" mind, related to its
totemistic throne and the image of masses solidly aligned behind its decisions
and policies.
The Unfair Comparison: $50 Billion
The issue here is not measured by votes or representative size, where a
comparison would be "flimsy" between a newly established political initiative
and a party that has spent over $50 billion over four decades and has more than
100,000 salaries on its "Payroll," which equates to half a million votes if each
salary supports a family of three. This is a party that has introduced thousands
of employees into state institutions and has unchallengeable influence in the
judiciary and security agencies. This allows it to be “the quarrel, the
adversary, and the judge.”
This is a party that daily markets the idea that its opponents are a "minority."
The opponents have never claimed otherwise. But their logic has grown stronger
and "triumphed" when it became clear that "weapons do not protect," and that the
"Party" and the "Amal Movement" failed to "protect" Shiite and non-Shiite
deposits in banks. The "duo" has failed to protect the South, secure the
displaced, and is incapable of reconstruction and restoration.
The Importance of "Towards Salvation" Amidst the Opposition
What causes the "Party" the most anxiety is that "Towards Salvation" adopts a
narrative that articulates suffering and has become a "bridge" linking the
Shiite community and the state. Through this platform, they are attempting to
free themselves from ideological phobia and integrate with the state project.
This is evident starting with the name of their new media platform: "The State,"
and its connotations, and moving to their keenness to highlight the symbols and
legitimacy of national identity, foremost among them the flag and the army. This
was demonstrated by our colleague Mohammed Barakat during his visit to his
hometown, "Rab Thalateen," which is a few hundred meters from the border. It
also extends to the visit of the "Towards Salvation" delegation to Baabda Palace
to convey the suffering of the people of the South to the President of the
Republic, the "symbol of the country's unity," far from the "Karbala-esque"
narratives that use them as human shields.
The Persecution of "Towards Salvation" Members
"Towards Salvation" has allowed this segment of public opinion the ability to
express itself and, at the very least, register its objection. This has
contributed to a spike in daily communication between the initiative's founders
and individuals and segments belonging to its immediate constituency.
Consequently, the "Party's" reaction has been extremely angry and emotional,
tainted with much fabrication and misinformation aimed at sowing terror and
attempting to cut off nascent ties with the constituency in the confrontation
zones.
Just in the last few hours, elements of the "Party" attacked the house of
"Towards Salvation" leader Mahmoud Shuaib in Nabatieh. Before that, they
harassed activist Mirna Bishara in the same town, forcing her to leave the city.
They did the same to activist Firas Hamieh, who withdrew from the front lines
due to threats in his village of Tarya in the Baalbek-Hermel district. "Party"
members also pursued individuals from Mohammed Barakat's family in Beirut's
Southern Suburb. They harassed activist Ra'ea al-Dayekh, a native of Jouaiya in
Tyre. They fired shells at the house of Dr. Hadi Murad. They have not left any
openly active member without pursuit and threats to make them withdraw from the
"picture." Add to this the attempt to drag President Nabih Berri into the
affair, involving the "Amal Movement" base in the campaign by promoting the idea
that this collective initiative is the Achilles' heel of a grand conspiracy to
steal the Parliament Speaker's chair—at a time when Berri has not even decided
to run, and no member of the initiative has declared candidacy for elections
that may be postponed for a year or two or more.
Chances of Electoral Breakthrough... and Support
"Towards Salvation" remains a political embryo that needs care and nurturing:
Support from sovereign and national forces.
Arab and international support.
Support from "The State" that is trying to restore its sovereignty in Shiite
areas.
Protection from the security services and the judiciary.
Most of its activists are either plaintiffs or defendants in courtrooms for
various reasons, from death threats to defamation.
The possibilities for a Shiite electoral breakthrough are contingent on this
support—its magnitude, type, and source. No one is paying attention to these
young men and women yet. The most significant breakthrough is one that can
happen in "Shiite" districts like Baalbek-Hermel or South III. It is not where
the Christian vote is dominant, as in Baabda or Jbeil. The Shiite "legitimacy,"
the legitimacy of blood, the legitimacy of the borders, the legitimacy of the
South, and the legitimacy of 500,000 Shiite voters are centered in the "South
III" district, where Mohammed Barakat might run. This is why the campaign
against him is the fiercest and most dangerous.
Israel Warns Lebanon of an Imminent Strike on Aitaroun
This is Beirut/November 17/2025
In a first since the cease-fire agreement of November 27, 2024, Israel on Monday
reportedly warned the Lebanese Army – through the established monitoring
mechanism – of a potential strike on Aitaroun, in the Bint Jbeil district, as
tensions continue to escalate along the country’s southern border. The Lebanese
military promptly informed the village municipality of the possible threat. The
municipal building was evacuated, and precautionary measures were implemented.
Meanwhile, according to an Israeli military source quoted by Maariv, “a new
escalation in fighting with Hezbollah is only a matter of time.” The source said
the Israeli Army is concerned about “the Lebanese Army’s inability to disarm”
the Iran-backed group, while accusing Tehran of “seeking to strengthen itself
after its latest confrontation with Israel.” In parallel, Yedioth Ahronoth
reported that Iran and Hezbollah are “rebuilding a transnational smuggling
network” relying on maritime routes, the use of cryptocurrencies, weapons
trafficking, and financial flows estimated at several hundred million dollars.
UNIFIL Condemns Israeli Strikes
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed “deep concern”
over recent Israeli strikes targeting peacekeeping forces in south Lebanon. The
mission, however, affirmed that such incidents would not weaken the
peacekeepers’ determination to carry out their UN mandate. “We will continue to
perform our duties with the resources available, as we did last year despite
multiple attacks, and we will never give up,” UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel
said. Asked about the reduction in troop numbers, Ardiel explained that it was
primarily due to the financial crisis affecting the United Nations. She insisted
that the decrease in peacekeepers would not affect the mission’s commitment or
its security measures. She emphasized that operations on the ground remain
dangerous and that UNIFIL applies strict security protocols to protect its
personnel. She also reiterated that the ultimate responsibility for the safety
of peacekeepers lies with the states concerned by Resolution 1701. She added
that UNIFIL’s mission remains unchanged: monitoring the Blue Line, reporting
violations of Resolution 1701, and providing operational support to the Lebanese
Armed Forces. Her statements came after an Israeli operation carried out Sunday
in Khiam, during which a Merkava tank fired toward a UNIFIL patrol. While the
Israeli Army acknowledged the incident and claimed it had “not intentionally”
targeted the peacekeepers, Ardiel stressed the need to “remind the Israeli Army
of its obligations” regarding the protection of UN personnel. For its part, the
Lebanese Army condemned a “dangerous escalation,” accusing Israel of “persisting
in its violations of Lebanese sovereignty,” while stressing that it was working
with “friendly countries,” including France and the United States, to halt the
strikes.
Hezbollah Member Killed
Beyond the Khiam strike, the Israeli Army targeted a Hezbollah member on Sunday
at 11 p.m. in the Mansouri area, near Tyre. On Monday morning, in a post on X,
Israeli Army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that Israeli
soldiers had “neutralized a Hezbollah operative who served as a local
representative in Mansouri.” He specified that the drone strike had targeted the
vehicle of Mohammad Ali Choueikh, who was also the director of the village
school, killing the man who was “responsible for managing relations between the
organization and local residents on military and economic matters. He also
facilitated the seizure of private property for terrorist purposes,” Adraee
wrote.
Rising Tensions in the Eastern Sector
In the same vein, Israel has sharply increased its artillery fire, machine-gun
bursts, and drone activity in recent days over Shebaa, Kfarchouba, and the Khiam
plain. Although no injuries have been reported, local authorities describe a
“serious threat” to civilians and lament that their calls for enhanced security
– addressed to UNIFIL, the Lebanese Army, and the cease-fire monitoring
committee – have gone unanswered. On Monday morning, Israeli drones were spotted
over Naqoura, while another aircraft dropped a bomb on the village of Odaisseh.
Michel Issa Presents His Credentials in Baabda
This is Beirut/November 17/2025
https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1329574/michel-issa-presents-his-credentials-in-baabda
Ambassador Michel Issa has officially begun his diplomatic mission in Lebanon,
presenting his credentials to President Joseph Aoun and meeting with the
country’s senior officials.
Disarmament and the End of the Militia’s Whims
Michel Touma/This is Beirut/November 17/2025
In a moment of deep existential crisis, there is no space for hesitation, for
diluted choices or for timid calculations. When a nation’s future is pulled
apart by forces bent on destabilization and backed blindly by regional powers
with sweeping ambitions, the responsibility is clear. One must choose a side and
do so without wavering. The current government, which once inspired a wave of
hope among the population, now faces mafia-like intimidation, brazen public
threats, and sordid attempts at sedition. In the face of this aggressive
rhetoric, the executive has no choice but to assert its national priorities with
unwavering resolve. When the state begins to “negotiate” the restoration of its
authority with subversive forces, it instantly puts itself in a position of
weakness, on the defensive, and the outcome is effectively lost. The state does
not need to ask that its authority be respected. It must command it. It sets the
overarching direction, and local factions must adapt to that line. Some might
argue, given the current context, that it is difficult to ignore the undeniable
fact that Hezbollah—the source of the present existential crisis—is
ideologically and unconditionally tied to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic
Republic of Iran and, by extension, to the Revolutionary Guards. Undoubtedly so.
But it is precisely the regime in Tehran and Hezbollah that must align with
Lebanon’s national interest. In this regard, the central authority must act with
firmness and determination. In this context, the issue is not simply a struggle
for influence or a contest for power. What is at stake today, more than ever, is
the identity and socio-political character of Lebanon. The stakes extend beyond
the country itself. They carry, to a large extent, a distinctly regional
dimension, shaping the future of the Levant and the Middle East more broadly. At
its core, the challenge is macroeconomic in nature, with implications across a
vast geographic area that could, by extension, reach as far as Europe. This
macroeconomic dimension requires lasting stability and enduring peace, a
necessary condition for fostering extensive business exchanges and transnational
trade, supported by advanced infrastructure. It is at this precise level that
Lebanon’s unique situation comes into focus. The Middle East peace advocated
persistently by President Donald Trump, even during his presidential campaign,
cannot tolerate the presence of a militia—whether in Lebanon or elsewhere in the
region—that perpetually fosters an atmosphere of war and chronic hostility to no
productive end. But beyond these macroeconomic considerations, the well-being of
the local population matters above all. For more than half a century, the
Lebanese have endured the fallout of conflicts that have proved endless and
without foreseeable conclusion. It is therefore entirely legitimate for them to
take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. From this perspective, it is
high time for the state to act with firmness and assert its authority without
concession, putting an end to the destructive wars in every respect. The moment
has come for the government to show genuine determination to put an end to the
whims of the militia that, in recent years, has plunged the country into an
unprecedented existential, political, economic, financial, and social crisis,
for which it bears full responsibility.
Syrians in Lebanon: Returns Rise, But New Arrivals Continue
Samar El-Kadi/This is Beirut/November 17/2025
Nearly a year after the fall of Bashar Assad’s government in December, the
debate over the future of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has reignited. As
conditions inside Syria evolve, Lebanon and international organizations – namely
the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration
(IOM) – are coordinating “voluntary return” operations while navigating complex
legal, political, and humanitarian challenges surrounding the repatriation of
more than 1.5 million Syrians who have lived in Lebanon for over a decade.
“War-Displaced Status No Longer Applies”
Lawyer Mark Habka, a specialist in criminal and international affairs, argues
that Syrian refugees in Lebanon can no longer be considered displaced in the
legal sense. “To be recognized as refugees or war-displaced, they must be
fleeing war or an oppressive regime that endangers their lives. Today, neither
condition applies. Syria is no longer a war zone nor an internationally
sanctioned or isolated state. It is reestablishing ties with the global
community,” Habka told This is Beirut. According to him, Syrians who were once
classified as displaced have now lost that status, and the majority remain in
Lebanon illegally. He insists that the Lebanese state has both “the right and
the obligation” to initiate their return. “If the Lebanese state does not
request their repatriation, it is neglecting its duty and must be held
accountable.”Habka says the solution is straightforward: the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs should formally raise the issue with the United Nations and UNHCR and
request a clear timetable for repatriation.
UNHCR: Hundreds of Thousands Already Returning
According to UNHCR spokesperson Lisa Abu Khaled, returns have accelerated in
2025. “More than 335,000 Syrians have returned to Syria since the beginning of
the year, and their refugee files have been deactivated. We expect some 400,000
returns by year’s end,” Abu Khaled told This is Beirut. The agency’s funding
crisis has forced significant cuts to assistance programs in Lebanon. Coverage
of primary healthcare has stopped, and the hospitalization program will end
soon. Cash assistance remains available only for “the most vulnerable.”UN
agencies continue to coordinate transportation and provide legal support,
psychosocial services, and livelihood programs for returnees. The package
includes $100 per person upon departure and $600 per family upon arrival in
Syria. Lebanon’s General Directorate of General Security has also facilitated
returns by waiving exit fees, overstay fines, and reentry bans for Syrians and
Palestinian refugees from Syria. Since December 2024, UNHCR estimates that more
than 843,994 Syrians have returned from neighboring countries, including Turkey,
Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon.
“Syrian Illegal Presence Must End”
Maroun Khawli, general coordinator of the National Campaign for the Repatriation
of Displaced Syrians, describes the situation bluntly:
“We have an illegal presence of displaced Syrians. They are considered illegal
foreign residents,” he said, adding that despite the growing number of returns,
smuggling networks remain active. Syrians continue to re-enter Lebanon through
illegal crossings along porous borders, often smuggling goods and merchandise.
Despite improved stability in many Syrian regions, the flow of Syrians into
Lebanon has not stopped. Since Assad’s fall, the UN estimates that 69,000
Syrians—mostly Alawites fleeing retaliatory violence—have entered Lebanon. The
real number may be much higher due to smuggling, with some sources placing it
closer to 150,000.
Many Syrians who attempted to return found their homes destroyed or livelihoods
impossible, prompting them to come back to Lebanon—where they should be labeled
as illegal economic migrants, according to Khawli. He criticizes the absence of
a unified Lebanese political decision on the issue. “Syrian displacement should
end because its reasons no longer exist. But there is still no official decision
to repatriate them.”
From the Syrian side, Khawli sees similar reluctance. The new authorities in
Damascus, he says, rely heavily on cash remittances sent by Syrians in Lebanon –
one of the country’s few remaining sources of foreign currency. Damascus also
uses the refugee file as a pressure card in negotiations and argues that Lebanon
bears responsibility for the losses of Syrian depositors in Lebanese banks.
“There are no negotiations between the two countries – not even a committee to
address repatriation. The regime is only concerned with the return of loyalist
Syrian prisoners in Lebanon,” Khawli added.
Lebanon at a Crossroads
Lebanon, once hosting more than 1.5 million Syrians – nearly a quarter of its
population – remains heavily burdened by economic collapse, political paralysis,
and strained infrastructure. While Lebanese voices calling for a full-scale end
to displacement are growing louder – echoing similar debates in Europe – the
path forward is fraught with legal, political, economic, and humanitarian
complications. Without coordinated policies between Beirut, Damascus, and
international agencies, Lebanon risks entering a new phase of uncertainty over
one of the most pressing challenges in its modern history.
Naim Kassem Criticizes the State and “American Financial Tutelage”
This is Beirut/November 17/2025
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Kassem continued his comments on the Lebanese
government, urging it to adopt a firmer stance toward Israel. During the first
commemoration of the assassination of Mohammad Afif and his companions, he once
again took it upon himself to remind the Lebanese state of its “responsibility”
to put in place a “plan to confront” Israeli attacks. Referring to recent
financial measures affecting institutions close to Hezbollah, notably Qard
el-Hassan, Kassem accused the Bank of Lebanon of implementing restrictions under
“American tutelage.” According to him, Qard el-Hassan is “a social institution
that benefits everyone.” He called on financial officials to “reverse decisions
that hinder good and solidarity” and to resist American pressure, which he
considers “very dangerous for Lebanon.”
Saudi Arabia-Lebanon: A Major Trade Thaw Begins
Liliane Mokbel/This is Beirut/November 17/2025
Signs of warning relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are becoming
increasingly evident. Many see it as long overdue for Lebanon to reclaim its
place within its natural sphere: the Arab world. On Monday, Prince Zayed bin
Farhan, advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister, visited Beirut with a technical
delegation. The visit aimed to explore ways to remove the barriers that have
stalled trade between the two countries since April 2021. If successful, this
thaw could revitalize both bilateral relations and trade between Lebanon and the
wider Gulf region.
Security As a Key Condition
The visit follows Lebanon’s recent success in combating drug trafficking bound
for Saudi Arabia. A Saudi official, quoted by Reuters, said, “Riyadh is
preparing to take imminent steps to strengthen commercial ties with Lebanon.”It
is important to recall the triggering incident: in April 2021, Saudi Arabia
banned the entry and transit of Lebanese fruits and vegetables after 2.4 million
amphetamine pills were found hidden in a shipment of pomegranates. Since then,
several Lebanese sectors have suffered significant losses. Despite these
restrictions, Lebanon continued importing Saudi products, signaling goodwill,
cooperation, and respect for the historical ties between the two countries.
A Steep Decline in Lebanese Exports
Lebanese customs data show that exports to Saudi Arabia exceeded $200 million
annually between 2016 and 2020. After the ban, they sharply fell to $124 million
in 2021 and nearly collapsed to zero between 2022 and 2025. In 2020, exports
totaled $220 million, including $92 million in agricultural products, $97
million in industrial goods, and $10 million in pharmaceuticals. Tourism, a key
pillar of the Lebanese economy long supported by Gulf visitors, was also hit
hard. In 2015, Gulf tourists were advised to avoid Lebanon for security reasons,
leading to a steep decline. At that time, Saudi tourists alone accounted for 16%
of total tourist spending in the country.
The Saudi Market: A Lifeline for Lebanese Agriculture
For Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani, reopening the Saudi market would provide “a
stabilizing factor” for Lebanese agriculture, which remains heavily dependent on
Gulf markets. Before 2020, 45% of Lebanese agricultural exports went to Gulf
countries, including 13% to Saudi Arabia, 12.5% to Kuwait, 7.6% to Qatar, 7.5%
to the United Arab Emirates, 3% to Oman, and 1.5% to Bahrain. Ibrahim Tarchichi,
president of the Lebanese Farmers’ Federation, is calling for the rapid adoption
of a clear timetable to resume exports to Riyadh.
Which Products Could Return First?
Citrus fruits, including lemons, clementines and other varieties, are expected
to lead the way. Grapes, highly sought after in Saudi Arabia, also have strong
export potential. A gradual revival of these sectors would send a powerful
signal for the Lebanese economy as a whole.
Hezbollah leader’s message shows the terror group is
under pressure
Yossi Mansharof/Jerusalem Post/November 17/202
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149275/
However, action must also extend to the social and ideological arenas, not just
the military (prevention efforts) and economic (sanctions) fronts.
In his speech marking “Martyrs’ Day” held last week, Hezbollah Secretary-General
Naim Qassem, declared: “The continuation of aggression in this manner, of
killings and harassment, cannot go on. Everything has its limits, and I will say
no more than that. Relevant parties should take heed of the situation because it
cannot continue in this way.”
This warning comes after Hezbollah, in an open letter published on November 6 to
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, emphasized its
right to resist Israeli aggression. However, given the terror group’s complex
position, it is doubtful whether its ongoing restraint has reached its limit.
Hezbollah appears unable to afford renewed confrontation, or even reciprocal
strikes, with Israel. In a scenario of renewed conflict, even if limited, the
organization could risk losing the gains it has achieved to date.
Its difficult political situation is reflected in another part of its open
letter, where it expressed opposition to negotiations with Israel. This was in
response to growing calls from senior Lebanese government officials, including
President Joseph Aoun, parliament members, and media circles opposing Hezbollah,
who argue that peace with Israel is existentially necessary for Lebanon.
Hezbollah is rearming
Hezbollah is in the midst of a process of rebuilding and strengthening itself,
with the assistance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s Quds Force and
through its own production capabilities. Daily Israeli strikes indicate the
intensive pace at which the terror group is managing this reconstruction
process.
Israel attempts to match this pace, but data provided by the IDF to the Israeli
media in recent days clearly point to Israel’s challenging position vis-à-vis
Hezbollah. In recent weeks, the organization has successfully smuggled hundreds
of rockets, including from Syria, repaired and returned damaged rockets and
launchers to service, and recruited thousands of new operatives.
Thus, Qassem’s declaration seems intended to appease elements within the
organization dissatisfied with the containment policy led by Hezbollah’s Jihad
Council (its central command) under his leadership. As reported in early
November, there was simmering frustration among field ranks due to the lack of
response to Israeli attacks.
Furthermore, Qassem’s implied threat appears directed at the leadership of the
Lebanese state, adding another layer of pressure on them to act against Israel
to halt attacks. This aligns with multiple parts of his speech, intended for
their attention and aimed at conveying the “seriousness of the threat” from
Israel and thereby the importance of Hezbollah’s weaponry.
Israel at a crossroads
Israel currently faces a crossroads. The Lebanese army’s pattern of activity
against Hezbollah is insufficient. On the whole, the army projects weakness
against the terror group and cannot stand against it. Meanwhile, Hezbollah
threatens to sever the hand of anyone attempting to touch its weapons, as
declared by its political council’s deputy chief, Mahmoud Komati, in April. As
Qassem emphasized in his speech, Hezbollah’s weapons remain its source of
strength, alongside its faith and determination.
Iran, on the other hand, supports Hezbollah’s activities in order to maintain
its grip and status among Lebanon’s Shi’ite population. In late October, the
Office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in cooperation with Hezbollah,
released the Arabic edition of the Iranian leader’s scholarly book, Poetry and
Music: Research on the Religious Law of Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei.
At the Beirut ceremony, Naim Qassem praised Khamenei’s scholarly skills,
reminding Lebanon’s Shi’ite community of the religious sponsorship Iran provides
Hezbollah. This sponsorship complements economic sponsorship, with Tehran
transferring $1 billion to the organization since January, as recently revealed
by the Trump administration. Religious patronage aims to strengthen the
connection between Lebanese Shi’ites and Iran under Khamenei and give them
additional reasons to remain loyal to Hezbollah.
Khamenei’s office also signals its full personal support for Qassem, despite,
and largely because of, the ridicule he faces on Lebanese social media. The
office published a portrait of Qassem alongside previous Hezbollah leaders Abbas
al-Musawi, Hassan Nasrallah, and Hashem Safieddine, accompanied by Khamenei’s
statement: “Nasrallah has passed away, but the wealth he created remains.
Hezbollah’s story in Lebanon is ongoing. It is an asset for Lebanon and beyond.”
Iran and Hezbollah
These statements reflect the strategic importance Iran attributes to Hezbollah
and its crucial role in Iran’s national security. Following naval and missile
operations during the Israel-Hamas War, the Houthis’ position in the resistance
axis rose significantly, increasing their importance in Tehran’s eyes. However,
the Houthis cannot fulfill Hezbollah’s role as Iran’s strategic proxy.
Hezbollah’s role has historically included attacks abroad against Israeli
targets in cooperation with Iran, such as the 1994 bombing of the Jewish
community building in Buenos Aires, supporting the establishment of Shi’ite
militias in Iraq in 2003, leading combat against Syrian rebels and ISIS in
Syria, and developing its operational expertise vis-à-vis Israel. Hezbollah also
maintains a deeper religious connection with Iran and holds a significant
geopolitical advantage over the Houthis due to its shared border with Israel.
At this time, Israel holds a clear advantage over Hezbollah. The terror
organization’s political weakness, its sensitive situation vis-à-vis its social
base, and the Trump administration’s support for Israel provide fertile ground
for Jerusalem to continue its attacks. However, action must also extend to the
social and ideological arenas, not just the military (prevention efforts) and
economic (sanctions) fronts.
The May 2026 Lebanese parliamentary elections are expected to serve as an
important test of Hezbollah’s social base. Israel and the US should undermine
this base through a long-term strategic project, focusing on establishing a
network rivaling Hezbollah’s extensive Dawah system of welfare, health, social,
and financial services.
Efforts to cut Iran’s financial support for Hezbollah, as declared by John
Harley, undersecretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence,
who is responsible for sanctions, are a step in the right direction. Yet, Israel
and the US should aim to sever the Shi’ites’ economic dependence on Hezbollah
while offering alternatives that help them develop an independent Lebanese
identity. This includes providing a variety of services as alternatives to those
offered by Hezbollah.
In the indoctrination sphere, initiatives should be launched against Hezbollah’s
Imam al-Mahdi Scouts. It’s where Shi’ites absorb admiration and loyalty to
Khamenei from ages 9-10. The countering initiatives would highlight the
importance of loyalty to Lebanon and stress that Lebanon and the Shi’ites could
achieve prosperity by abandoning resistance to Israel.
**The writer is a researcher on Iran and Hezbollah at the Misgav Institute for
National Security and Zionist Strategy.
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November 17-18/2025
Inside the US draft Gaza resolution:
International force, path to Palestinian statehood
Al Arabiya English/17 November/2025
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote Monday evening on a
US-drafted resolution on Gaza, as disagreements between Washington and Tel Aviv
persist.
Here are the key details of the draft, as reported by Al Arabiya:
International Stabilization Force
The United States submitted a text authorizing an “international stabilization
force” (ISF) in the Gaza Strip, drawn from a wider plan linked to US President
Donald Trump’s 20-point strategy. The draft says the ISF would replace Israeli
military forces upon deployment. It also calls for the creation of a
transitional governing body – referred to as a “Board of Peace” – to administer
Gaza until late 2027. Al Arabiya reported that the text additionally grants a
transitional “peace committee,” reportedly to be headed by Trump, a mandate to
administer Gaza until the end of December 2027. The draft further calls for
strengthening the cease-fire, with the opening paragraph urging all signatory
states to adhere to its terms.
A path to a Palestinian state
Another clause includes an amendment stating that, once reforms within the
Palestinian Authority are completed and reconstruction in Gaza advances,
conditions may be created for a credible process toward Palestinian
self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state. It says
Washington would establish a dialogue track between Israel and the Palestinians
to agree on a political horizon that supports peaceful and prosperous
coexistence. The clause also clarifies that the Peace Council would function as
a transitional administration, not a transitional government. According to Al
Arabiya, the word “transitional” was added to describe the supervising
authority. Under the revised text, operational entities working in Gaza would
operate under the authority and oversight of the Transitional Peace Council,
funded through voluntary donor contributions, Peace Council mechanisms and
government support.
Israeli withdrawal
One clause addresses Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. According to Al Arabiya’s
report on the draft, the clause was amended to state that the withdrawal would
begin once the international force has established control and stability.
“Israeli forces will withdraw according to standards, phases, and timetables
linked to the disarmament process, to be agreed upon between the Israeli army,
the international force, the guarantors, and the United States, while
maintaining a surrounding security presence until the elimination of any renewed
terrorist threat is confirmed,” the original draft stated. Al Arabiya said this
is the third round of amendments made to the American draft resolution as of
last Thursday.
Israeli response
Israeli political sources described the revised proposal as including clauses
“unfavorable to Israel”, such as references to a path to a Palestinian state and
language preventing Israel from objecting to countries contributing to the
peacekeeping force, according to Israeli media cited by Al Arabiya. An Israeli
security official said, “We will not withdraw from Gaza until we are certain
that not a single gun can be pointed at Israel again.”
Security Council vote
To pass, the draft resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no veto
from any of the Security Council’s five permanent members: the United States,
Russia, China, France and Britain. If adopted, the resolution would mark a
transition to the second phase of the US-backed agreement reached last October,
which resulted in a cease-fire after two years of war.
Netanyahu slams ‘extremist’ Israeli West Bank settlers
AFP/17 November/2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed he would deal with the violent
“handful of extremists” among Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank,
following clashes and another attack on Monday. Homes and vehicles in a
Palestinian village were torched and vandalized on Monday evening, hours after
members of the so-called Hilltop Youth movement clashed with security forces
dismantling an illegal settler outpost.Violence in the West Bank has soared
since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023. In
recent weeks, attacks attributed to Israeli settlers, notably those living in
outposts, have multiplied in the West Bank, targeting Palestinians and sometimes
Israeli soldiers. “I view with great severity the violent riots and the attempt
by a handful of extremists to take the law into their own hands,” Netanyahu
said, calling the perpetrators “a group that does not represent” Israeli
settlers in the Palestinian territory. “I call on the law enforcement
authorities to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law,” he said
in a statement. “I intend to deal with this personally, and convene the relevant
ministers as soon as possible to address this serious phenomenon.”Netanyahu said
the Israeli military and security forces would continue to act firmly to
maintain order. Israeli security forces were deployed in their hundreds on
Monday morning to evacuate and demolish the illegal Israeli settler outpost of
Tzur Misgavi in the Gush Etzion area, near the Palestinian town of Sair. They
fired tear gas and stun grenades as they clashed with extremist settler
activists, whose goal is to evict Palestinian residents and establish
settlements in the West Bank without government approval. Hours later, the
Israeli military said it had been dispatched alongside police to the nearby
Palestinian village of Jab’a following reports of “dozens of Israeli civilians
who set fire to and vandalized homes and vehicles.” Israeli opposition leader
Yair Lapid said: “The riot of the Hilltop Youth in the village of Jab’a is
another stage in the escalating violence.” The United Nations said October had
been the worst month for West Bank settler violence since it began recording
incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.
Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli
authorities.
Crew of tanker seized by Iran make contact, are safe,
vessel manager says
Reuters/17 November/2025
The crew of an oil products tanker are safe and the vessel is anchored off
Iran’s Bandar Abbas port, its manager said on Monday, after Tehran said it
seized the ship in open Gulf waters last week. Iran confirmed on Saturday that
its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had seized the Talara, a Marshall
Islands-flagged tanker, over alleged cargo violations, Iranian state media
reported. It was the first seizure of a tanker by Tehran since Israeli-US
strikes on Iran in June and has raised concerns for the safety of ships sailing
through those critical waters with energy cargoes for world markets. The
tanker’s captain made contact with the vessel’s technical manager at 1730 GMT on
November 16, Columbia Shipmanagement said in a statement on Monday. “All crew
members are reported to be safe and accounted for. The vessel is now safely
anchored off the coast of Bandar Abbas,” Columbia Shipmanagement said, adding
that the crew numbered 21 seafarers. Contact with the vessel was cut off on
November 14 while it was sailing in international waters via Sharjah, in the
United Arab Emirates, to Singapore with a cargo of high sulphur gasoil, the
company said. A US official and maritime security sources had said on Friday
that Iranian forces intercepted the tanker and diverted it into Iranian
territorial waters. “Columbia Shipmanagement is working with regional partners
to urgently resolve the situation and secure the release of our crew,” the
manager said. Iran’s IRGC has periodically seized commercial vessels in Gulf
waters in recent years, often citing maritime violations such as alleged
smuggling, technical infractions or legal disputes. Talara last reported its
position on November 14, public ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform
showed on Monday.
Jordan parliament passes law reinstating conscription
AFP/17 November/2025
Jordan’s parliament on Monday voted in favor of a law reinstating conscription
for men from early next year, decades after compulsory military service ended,
state media reported. Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II in August announced
the reinstatement of conscription – repealed in 1991 – to “prepare young men to
be ready to serve the country and defend it.”The government then referred the
low to parliament for a vote. Following approval, it is now set to be ratified
by the Senate and then sent to the king for approval. The official Petra news
agency reported that the House of Representatives overwhelmingly “approved an
amended law for national and reserve service” during its session on Monday. The
session was attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, who was quoted as saying
that the law “will be among the government’s priorities in the upcoming period,
in preparation for its implementation at the beginning of February next
year.”Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani had previously said the
conscription program targeted the recruitment of 6,000 men who would have
completed 18 years of age by next February. He added that the penalty for
failing to report for military service would be between three months and one
year in prison. The government ultimately aims to conscript 10,000 men annually.
Jordan ended conscription in 1991, just three years before it signed a peace
treaty with Israel in 1994. Al-Momani denied that the conscription law was
related to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August in
which he appeared to voice support for the idea of a “Greater Israel.” The term
Greater Israel refers to a biblical interpretation of the nation’s territory
during the time of King Solomon, encompassing not only the present-day
Palestinian territories of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, but also parts of
other countries including Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Saudi Crown Prince Departs for the United States
This is Beirut/November 17/2025
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departed for the United States on Monday,
the state news agency said, where the kingdom's de facto leader is likely to
press for security guarantees and advanced weaponry. The visit marks the de
facto leader's first visit to Washington since the 2018 murder of Washington
Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents prompted worldwide outrage and
briefly upended ties with the kingdom's longtime ally. "This official working
visit will include a meeting with President Donald Trump to discuss bilateral
relations and ways to strengthen them in various fields, as well as to address
issues of mutual interest," read a post by the Saudi Press Agency on X. Prince
Mohammed has fostered close ties with Trump and his family over the years, a
relationship that was burnished by a lavish welcome and $600 billion in
investment pledges when the president visited Saudi Arabia in May. In the
lead-up to the prince's trip, Trump has boasted of efforts to convince the
kingdom to join the Abraham Accords and cement ties with Israel, a long-sought
policy goal of his administration. Saudi Arabia, however, is unlikely to agree
to normalization at this stage, according to experts, with Prince Mohammed's
priority set for firmer US security guarantees after Israeli strikes in
September on Qatar, an iron-clad US ally, unnerved the wealthy Gulf region. The
40-year-old heir to the throne will meet Trump on Tuesday, a source close to the
government had told AFP. A US-Saudi investment forum spotlighting energy and
artificial intelligence will take place in the US capital during the prince's
three-day visit, the event's website says.
Trump Says US Will Sell F-35 Stealth Jets to Saudi Arabia
This is Beirut/November 17/2025
President Donald Trump said Monday the United States would sell F-35 stealth
fighters to Saudi Arabia, a day before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
visits the White House for talks. "We will be doing that. We will be selling
F-35s," Trump told reporters when asked if Washington would agree to sell Riyadh
the jets at Tuesday's meeting. "They've been a great ally," he added. AFP
IMF sees signs of recovery in Syria, plans intensive engagement
Reuters/17 November/2025
The International Monetary Fund said on Monday it planned an “intensive program
of engagement” with Syria to help it rebuild its economy, but a statement issued
at the end of an IMF staff visit to Damascus did not mention any discussions of
financial assistance for the country. Nearly a year after Syrian opposition
forces ousted longtime leader Bashar al-Assad, Syria is pursuing a strategic
realignment away from Iran and towards the US under its new leader, President
Ahmed al-Sharaa, and has embarked on an effort to rebuild infrastructure
destroyed by a 14-year civil war. “Syria’s economy is showing signs of recovery
and improving prospects, reflecting the improvement in consumer and investor
sentiment under Syria’s new regime, Syria’s gradual re-integration with the
regional and global economy as sanctions are being lifted, and the return of
more than one million refugees,” IMF Syria Mission Chief Ron van Rooden said in
a statement. Van Rooden said discussions during the November 10-13 staff visit
focused on the formulation of Syria’s 2026 government budget, which aims to
increase spending on essential needs while ensuring ambitious but realistic
revenue and financing assumptions. The IMF said its staff will provide technical
assistance to help improve revenue administration, finalize new tax legislation
and develop a strategy to address Syria’s debts. The Fund also will provide
technical assistance on financial sector regulation, the rehabilitation of
payment and banking systems and rebuilding the central bank’s capacity to
effectively implement monetary policy for low and stable inflation and
supervision of the banking system. The IMF said reliable economic data remained
scarce, but technical support is underway to improve Syria’s national accounts
data, including on prices, balance of payments, government finance and financial
statistics. It said this would pave the way for the resumption of annual
economic policy reviews with Syria that are required under IMF membership. The
last such consultation was concluded in 2009. The statement did not mention any
plans for IMF financial assistance for Syria, but the IMF said the discussions
included “detailed reform roadmaps” for Syria’s fiscal and financial sectors.
“The mission reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to support the authorities in their
efforts to rehabilitate Syria’s economy and key economic institutions,” van
Rooden added.
Iraqi PM-led coalition tops Iraq election with 46 seats,
commission says
Reuters/18 November/2025
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s political bloc won the most seats in
Iraq’s election, final election results showed on Monday, but a new government
could still be months away due to wrangling to build a majority. The next
government will need to navigate the delicate balance between US and Iranian
influence. It must manage dozens of armed groups that are closer to Iran and
answerable more to their own leaders than to the state, all while facing growing
pressure from Washington to dismantle those militias. Al-Sudani’s list came in
first with 46 seats in the 329-member parliament, the election commission
said.The Taqaddum Party, which draws support from Iraq’s mainly Sunni west and
north, won 27 seats. Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law group
won 29 seats, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) secured 26 seats,
according to the results issued by the commission. The final total turnout in
Iraq’s parliamentary election reached 56.11 percent, according to the
commission. Parties in Iraq’s Shia ruling alliance said after the results were
announced that they consider themselves the largest bloc in parliament. In a
statement issued after a meeting attended by al-Sudani, the alliance said it
would move ahead with nominating a prime minister for the next phase. Al-Sudani
had been seeking a second term in last week’s election, but many disillusioned
young voters saw the vote simply as a vehicle for established parties to divide
Iraq’s oil wealth. However, he has tried to cast himself as a leader who could
make Iraq a success after years of instability, arguing he had moved against
established parties that brought him to power.
Saudi oil tanker carrying 90,000 tons of crude oil arrives
at Syria port
Reuters/18 November/2025
A Saudi oil tanker carrying 90,000 tons of crude oil has arrived at Syria’s
Baniyas port as part of a Saudi grant to support local needs, the Syrian state
news agency said on Monday. The port received the first batch of 650,000 barrels
of the Saudi grant on Monday, while a second batch of 1 million barrels will
arrive on November 23, the state news agency quoted the head of the Syrian
Petroleum Company as saying. In September, the Saudi Fund for Development said
it would grant Syria 1.65 million barrels of crude oil. Saudi Arabia and other
regional powers have been renewing ties with Syria after the ousting of former
president Bashar al-Assad, ramping up financial aid and reconstruction support
as part of broader regional normalization efforts.
France Makes 'Historic' Accord to Sell Ukraine 100
Warplanes
This is Beirut/November 17/2025
France's President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr
Zelensky on Monday signed an accord for Kyiv to acquire up to 100 fighter jets
and other hardware, including drones, in a boost for Ukraine as it fights
Russia's invasion. Delivery of the Rafale fighter jets, the crown jewel of
French combat aviation, is only foreseen under the letter of intent over a
10-year horizon, although the production of drones and interceptors would start
by the end of this year, Macron said. The announcement, made as Zelensky visited
Paris, came with the Ukrainian leader in need of support after setbacks over the
last week due to a corruption scandal at home, Russian forces closing in on the
Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, and continued aerial attacks by Moscow. Macron
acknowledged that this was currently a "difficult moment" in the conflict, which
was sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
"Russia alone is making the choice to continue this war and to intensify it," he
told reporters alongside Zelensky, accusing Russia of having an "addiction for
war." But the French leader said he hoped "peace will be obtained before 2027,"
when his own mandate expires, adding that there needed to be then a
"regeneration" of the Ukrainian army so that it is "capable of dissuading any
new incursion" by Russia. The letter of intent inked by the two leaders at
France's Villacoublay air base sets out possible future contracts for Ukraine to
acquire 100 Rafale fighter jets "with their associated weapons," the French
presidency said. It also lays out deals for the new generation SAMP-T air
defense systems, which are under development, radar systems, and the drones. "It
is a historic agreement," Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president has already
signed a letter of intent to acquire 100 to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets.
France has delivered Mirage fighter jets to Kyiv, but this is the first time
Rafale planes have been promised. Financial details were not disclosed, but
France intends to dip into its own budget contribution and use joint EU
borrowing mechanisms, despite the risk of potential German resistance, to help
Kyiv finance the deal.
Ukraine on Backfoot
The visit by Zelensky to France was his ninth since Russia launched its
full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It comes ahead of what analysts predict will be
a tough winter for Kyiv as Moscow presses on the battlefield. Overnight, Russian
strikes killed three people in a city in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, its
military administration chief said. Seven people were killed after Russia struck
apartment blocks across the capital, Kyiv, on Friday. The Russian army seized
three more villages across eastern Ukraine, the defence ministry in Moscow said
Monday, the latest in its grinding advance. Efforts by US President Donald Trump
to force a peace deal have stalled as Moscow has rejected calls for a ceasefire
and refused to drop hardline territorial demands. With the delivery of the
Rafale jets only expected after the war, Macron said, "There will be no robust,
lasting peace if there is not a strong Ukrainian army."
'Efforts' Against Corruption
Zelensky at the weekend announced an overhaul of state-owned energy companies
after a corruption scandal, ordering two ministers to resign and sanctioning a
former business partner who was named as its mastermind. Macron said Ukraine's
path to join the European Union required "demanding and deep efforts and
reforms, notably on governance and the fight against corruption," adding he had
"confidence" in Ukrainians and Zelensky to do this. Pressed during the news
conference over whether enough had been done to fight against corruption,
Zelensky said, "It is not enough. We will continue the appropriate actions."
Macron and Zelensky also visited the headquarters of a Ukrainian multinational
force that France and Britain are preparing in the event an international force
is deployed in Ukraine after any ceasefire. The headquarters, at Mont Valerien,
west of Paris, is where countries from the "coalition of the willing" organized
by France and Britain have sent officers to prepare the force. France says that
34 countries and Ukraine have already offered to take part.
Germany to Lift Curbs on Arms Exports to Israel
This is Beirut/AFP/November 17/2025
Germany is to remove restrictions it placed in August on arms exports to Israel
which could be used in the Gaza Strip, the government announced Monday."The
restrictions on arms exports to Israel... will be lifted," government spokesman
Sebastian Hille told reporters, adding that the decision "will take effect on 24
November".Chancellor Friedrich Merz justified the original decision to restrict
exports in August as a reaction to plans announced by the Israeli government at
the time for an escalation in its Gaza City offensive."We have always stated
that we would review this practice in light of developments on the ground,"
Hille said on Monday. "Since 10 October, there has been a ceasefire in Gaza,
which has also fundamentally stabilized," he went on, saying that "this forms
the basis for this decision" to lift the restrictions."We expect everyone to
adhere to the agreements that have been made," Hille said, including
"maintaining the ceasefire, providing large-scale humanitarian aid".
Kurdish PKK Militants Say Have Left Key Area in North Iraq
This is Beirut/AFP/November 17/2025
The Kurdish militant group PKK said Monday its forces had withdrawn from a key
border area in northern Iraq in a move aimed at shoring up the peace process
with Turkey.The pullout comes six months after the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkey, drawing a line under four
decades of violence that had claimed some 50,000 lives. "As of the evening of
November 16, our forces.. in the Zap region have been withdrawn," the group said
in a statement, describing it as a "significant practical contribution" to
ongoing efforts to reset ties with Ankara.
"We believe this new step will serve the resolution of the Kurdish issue and
will help with the peace and democratization of Turkey," said the statement,
which was published by Firat news agency. The PKK has long had bases in the Zap
region of northern Iraq, which was targeted by Turkish troops in a ground
operation in 2008 and has often been hit by air strikes. The region has symbolic
importance for the PKK as the place where its headquarters was initially located
before moving further east to the Qandil Mountains.
Nigeria Discussing Security with US after Trump Threats
This is Beirut/AFP/November 17/2025
Nigeria is in talks with the United States following President Donald Trump's
threats of military intervention over the killing of Christians by jihadists in
the country, Nigeria's foreign minister told AFP on Monday. Trump said late last
month he was naming Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a State
Department designation for religious freedom violations, over the killing of
Christians by "radical Islamists" before he issued a threat to strike. "What we
are discussing is how we can collaborate to tackle security challenges that are
in the interest of the entire planet," Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said in an
interview in the capital, Abuja. Trump at the start of November said he had
asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack in Africa's most
populous nation because radical Islamists are "killing the Christians and
killing them in very large numbers."Asked whether he thought Washington would
send the military to strike, Tuggar said, "No, I do not think so.""Because we
continue to talk, and as I said, the discussion has progressed. It's moved on
from that."Trump had said that Christianity was "facing an existential threat"
in the West African nation. The US leader warned that if Nigeria does not stem
the killings, the United States will attack, and "it will be fast, vicious, and
sweet."Nigeria, home to 230 million inhabitants, is divided roughly equally
between a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim-majority north.It is the
scene of numerous conflicts, including jihadist insurgencies, which kill both
Christians and Muslims, often indiscriminately.
'False Narratives'
"We accept, we admit, we have security challenges due to factors, many of them
beyond our control," Tuggar said. But the foreign minister also argued that the
narrative about Christian killings in Nigeria was fed by "false
narratives.""People have been misinformed. There's a drive towards creating
these false narratives in order to, I suppose, debilitate Nigeria," he said. The
US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa will hold an open hearing on
Thursday to examine Trump's recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of
Particular Concern. "Our hope is that Nigeria will get a fair hearing when
they're having their public hearings, instead of just listening to one side,"
said Tuggar. He said Abuja had worked to tackle multiple security crises,
including criminal gangs known locally as bandits. "What exists is a government
that has been fighting insurgency, that has been fighting terrorism in our
region," he added.
"Sometimes with a lot of success, sometimes we have setbacks due to exogenous
factors, not due to something that we're doing wrong."Tuggar said if the US or
any other country wants to partner with Nigeria to help with the security
issues, "we more than welcome it.""But Nigeria and Nigerian security and
Nigerian troops and the Nigerian military have to be the ones to take the lead,"
he added. He said the diplomatic row with the US was "a slight bump in what has
been a very long and illustrious relationship.""We continue to work closely on
several fronts. And it will continue to do so. We need each other now more than
ever," he said, speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a joint Nigeria-UNDP
project aimed at strengthening democratic governance across West Africa. When
Trump suddenly brought up the fate of Christians in Nigeria, the country did not
have an ambassador posted to the United States, as President Bola Tinubu had
recalled nearly all the country's ambassadors in 2023 as part of an "efficiency"
review and has yet to replace most of them. But Tuggar said, "We have competent
hands, regardless of whether we have accredited ambassadors or not." Nigeria has
faced a jihadist conflict in the northeast that has killed more than 40,000
people and displaced around two million since it broke out in 2009. The violence
has spilled over into neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting the
creation of a regional military force to fight the jihadists.
Bangladesh Ex-PM Sentenced to Death for Crimes Against
Humanity
This is Beirut/AFP/November 17/2025
A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to be
hanged for crimes against humanity, with cheers breaking out in the packed court
as the judge read out the verdict. Hasina, 78, defied court orders that she
return from India to attend her trial about whether she ordered a deadly
crackdown against a student-led uprising last year that eventually ousted her.
The highly anticipated ruling, which was broadcast live on national television,
comes less than three months ahead of the first polls since her overthrow in
August 2024. "All the... elements constituting crimes against humanity have been
fulfilled," judge Golam Mortuza Mozumder read to the packed court in Dhaka. The
former leader had been found guilty on three counts: incitement, order to kill,
and inaction to prevent the atrocities, the judge said. "We have decided to
inflict her with only one sentence -- that is, a sentence of death." On the
streets of Dhaka, crowds waved the national flag and celebrated. Former interior
minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death in absentia after
being found guilty on four counts of crimes against humanity. Ex-police chief
Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was in court and had pleaded guilty, was
sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
'Pays the dues'
Hasina, who was assigned a state-appointed lawyer for the trial, called the
verdict "biased and politically motivated" in a statement issued from hiding in
India. "Its guilty verdict against me was a foregone conclusion," Hasina said.
Her defense lawyer Md Amir Hossain, whom she did not recognize, said Hasina
could only appeal if she "surrenders... or is arrested."Shamsi Ara Zaman, whose
photojournalist son Tahir Zaman Priyo was killed during last year's protests,
said she was "satisfied" with the death sentences but "dismayed" that the
ex-police chief was handed only five years in jail. Bangladesh has been in
political turmoil since the end of Hasina's autocratic rule, and violence has
marred campaigning for elections expected in February 2026. The United Nations
says up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns as Hasina tried to cling to
power, deaths that were central to her trial.
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman praised the trial. "The verdict pays the dues to
the martyrs, to the country, to all citizens, to democracy, to the constitution,
to the rule of law, and to our obligation towards the next generation," he told
reporters. The trial heard months of testimony detailing how Hasina had ordered
mass killings.
Deepening crisis
Security forces surrounded the court for the verdict, with armored vehicles
manning checkpoints and thousands of police officers posted across the capital.
Crude bombs have been set off across Dhaka this month, mainly petrol bombs
hurled at everything from buildings linked to interim leader Muhammad Yunus's
government to buses and Christian sites. Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned
India's envoy to Dhaka this month, demanding that New Delhi block the "notorious
fugitive" Hasina from talking to journalists and "granting her a platform to
spew hatred." The International Crisis Group said the "political repercussions
of this verdict are significant.""The process has not been without critics," ICG
analyst Thomas Kean said. "In absentia trials are often a source of contention,
and in this case the speed with which the hearings were conducted and the
apparent lack of resources for the defense also raise questions of fairness...
But they should not be used to downplay or deflect from Sheikh Hasina's
actions." Kean added: "The prospect of Sheikh Hasina mounting a political
comeback in Bangladesh now appears very slim."But Hasina remains defiant. She
said in October she "mourned all the lives lost during the terrible days" when
students were gunned down in the streets. Her comments enraged many, who said
she had made a ruthless bid to maintain power at all costs. Hasina also warned
that the ban on her former ruling party, the Awami League, by the interim
government was deepening the political crisis in the country of 170 million
people before the elections.
The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources on
November 17-18/2025
Exposed: Qatar’s Circle of Terrorist Friends
Natalie Ecanow/Townhall/November 17/2025
In recent comments to CNN, Qatar’s prime minister reflected on his country’s
unique ability to “convene between conflicted parties and understand the
grievances.”
Of course, Qatar’s ability to perform that job rests on a hefty rolodex of
international contacts, including some of the world’s most notorious terrorist
groups. At first glance, this wouldn’t strike the average reader as much of a
problem. The United States doesn’t negotiate with terrorist groups, which means
it must employ someone else to mediate. Why shouldn’t that someone be Qatar, a
Major Non-NATO Ally in good standing with Washington?
The only problem is that Qatar has spent decades harboring, financing, or
promoting many of the terrorist groups it engages. At best, the Qataris come to
the negotiating table with biases. At worst, they’re doing the terrorists’
bidding.
Much ink has been spilled since October 7, 2023, about Qatar’s longstanding
relationship with Hamas. The story, in a nutshell, begins in 1999 when Hamas was
shopping for new headquarters after Jordan expelled the group from its
territory. Qatar offered Hamas leaders sanctuary, but Hamas picked Syria
instead. Still, Hamas maintained contact with Qatar throughout the first decade
of the 21st century before eventually opening a political office in Doha in
2012.
The same year, Qatar solidified its financial relationship with Hamas when the
former emir — the first foreign head of state to visit Gaza under Hamas rule —
pledged $400 million to the impoverished enclave. By October 2023, that sum had
soared to approximately $1.8 billion, plus millions more that Qatari leaders
allegedly sent to Hamas via a “discreet” funding channel. American and Israeli
intelligence officials past and present agree that Qatari cash enabled Hamas’s
October 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 people in Israel.
Through it all, Qatar sheltered many of Hamas’s senior leaders — all of them
amassing multi-billion-dollar fortunes from their havens in Doha, where they
remained throughout the current war. Hamas’s late political chief, Ismail
Haniyeh, received an honorable burial outside of Doha after his killing in July
2024. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani mourned alongside Hamas chief
Khalil al-Hayya and Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad Nakhalah at Haniyeh’s funeral,
according to photographs in the press.
The sad truth is that Qatar isn’t only buddy-buddy with Hamas. American readers
may be equally, if not more, concerned to learn that Qatar has history with Al
Qaeda and the Taliban — groups responsible for the deaths of thousands of U.S.
civilians and servicemen.
In the early 1990s, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), whom the 9/11 Commission
Report identified as “the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks,” moved to
Qatar at the invitation of Qatar’s former minister of Islamic affairs. In Qatar,
KSM took a job at the Qatari Ministry of Electricity and Water. While in his
government post, KSM allegedly made a modest financial contribution to the 1993
World Trade Center bombing and conspired to blow up a dozen airliners over the
Pacific Ocean. In 1996, KSM evaded U.S. authorities and escaped to Pakistan
thanks to the intervention of Qatari officials, who reportedly alerted KSM of
his impending arrest.
Qatar’s relationship with Al Qaeda extends beyond the group’s core operatives.
As early as 2012, Qatar began welcoming leaders of the Nusra Front — Al Qaeda’s
branch in Syria — for meetings in Doha “with senior Qatari military officials
and financiers.” Qatar went on to fill Nusra’s coffers with multi-million-dollar
ransom payments to free foreign hostages held in Syria.
In 2016, Nusra split from Al Qaeda and became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The
move was little more than a nominal rebrand, reportedly undertaken in accordance
with Qatari advice. Qatar-owned Al Jazeera broadcast two interviews with HTS
leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani — known today as Ahmad al-Sharaa, president of
Syria — during which al-Jolani gave a hat tip to Osama bin Laden.
As for the Taliban, the group established a foreign headquarters in Doha in
2013. Then-Secretary of State John Kerry thanked Qatar for its “willingness to
host the Taliban office,” which he noted was intended “to facilitate
negotiations between the Afghan High Peace Council and the authorized
representatives of the Taliban.” That much may be true, but the office also
allegedly functioned as a fundraising platform for the Taliban.
Throughout the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, the Doha office provided
a conduit for the negotiations that ultimately led to the U.S. withdrawal from
Afghanistan in August 2021. In the interim, Qatar leveraged its relationship
with the Taliban to negotiate prisoner swaps, including the infamous 2014 deal
that saw the U.S. release the “Taliban Five,” a group of senior Taliban
prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, in exchange for U.S. deserter Sgt. Bowe
Bergdahl. The Taliban Five resettled in Qatar, where at least three of them
reportedly “tried to plug back into their old terror networks.”
Private terror finance is another challenge. Qatar has long served as an oasis
for private funders of terror, and despite pledging in 2017 to crack down,
little has changed. Less than two weeks after Hamas’s October 7 massacre, the
U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a Qatar-based financier who “was involved in
the transfer of tens of millions of dollars to Hamas.” The Financial Action Task
Force, an international money-laundering and terror finance watchdog, concluded
in 2023 — the last year that it evaluated Qatar — that Doha was not “effectively
identifying, investigating, or prosecuting terror finance cases.”
During his first term, President Donald Trump was clear-eyed about Qatar. In
2017, after a group of Gulf states imposed a blockade on Qatar over its support
for terrorism, Trump noted that the Saudis had “said they would take a hard line
on funding extremism, and all reference was pointing Qatar.” Trump has taken a
decidedly different tone during his second term, basking on more than one
occasion in Qatar’s friendship. When it comes to Qatar, it’s time to drop the
blinders and get back to Trump 1.0.
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/natalie-ecanow/2025/11/13/qatars-circle-of-terrorist-friends-n2666422
**Natalie Ecanow is a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies (FDD). Follow Natalie on X @NatalieEcanow and FDD @FDD.
When Allah sits at the negotiation table: How to
negotiate with Hamas - opinion'
Yossi Mansharof/Jerusalem Post/November 17/202
When Allah sits at the negotiation table, the cards matter, but interpretation
matters more. In faith shaped talks, Western negotiators cannot ignore the
religious logic guiding the other side.
When sitting at the negotiation table with Hamas or Syria, the Western
negotiator is in an inferior position. The Arab-Islamic negotiator is well aware
of the Western mindset, but most of us in Israel, the US and Europe, know little
about how the other side thinks and feels.
Negotiation is not just an art, it is a discipline rooted in understanding
people. It demands tactical skill, certainly, but equally a grasp of the other
side’s inner world: their values, beliefs, fears, memories, and hopes.
To come to the table without recognizing the other side’s frame of reference is
to hold a conversation between parallel worlds - many words, very little
understanding.
How One Carjacking Sparked a War in Syria’s Forgotten Province | Tracking the
Timeline
In the Western mindset, we assume that people act "rationally" - weighing
alternatives and costs, seeking outcomes in which "everyone wins". But in the
Middle East - especially when facing religious-political actors like Hamas -
this assumption is, at best, incomplete and at worst, fundamentally mistaken.
Because the person across from you is not simply an individual with interests.
Often, he is an individual shaped by theology and religious interpretation of
reality. In other words, there is another actor sitting at the negotiation
table: Allah.
Negotiation: Interests vs. Faith
Western negotiation theory rests on a familiar conceptual toolkit: Win-Win
(reciprocal benefit); Interests (focus on needs, not positions); Mutual Trust
(building credibility and relationship); BATNA - Best Alternative to a
Negotiated Agreement (your fallback if talks fail); ZOPA - Zone of Possible
Agreement (the overlap where an agreement is possible).
All of these assume that actors are rational, seek benefit, and bargain based on
interests.
Fisher and Ury’s Getting to Yes became a global symbol of interest-based
negotiation: set aside rigid positions, identify underlying interests, and
generate options for mutual gain. Their model relies on the premise that parties
are capable of rational problem solving - an assumption characteristic of
Western negotiation thought.
But when you leave the negotiation halls of Harvard and sit at a table in Doha
or Cairo, you encounter a different paradigm: there is rationality - but it is
rooted not only in material gain, but in faith.
Here, the guiding question is not "what benefits us?" but rather: "what serves
the will of Allah?" Political interests become secondary to religious legitimacy
- and the entire logic of negotiation is reorganized accordingly.
Why ZOPA collapses against a faith-driven actor
In Western thinking, ZOPA - the Zone of Possible Agreement - is foundational: if
there is overlap between interests, a deal is achievable; if there is no
overlap, there will be no deal. But with Hamas, ZOPA acquires another layer:
Sharia - Islamic law and its interpretation. Meaning: even when there is a
political ZOPA, there may be no religious ZOPA. And when the two collide, the
religious dimension prevails.
The closest Islamic conceptual parallel is the framework of Maslaha-Mafsada -
religious benefit vs. religious harm. Thus, ZOPA with Hamas is not only narrower
- it is fluid, shifting constantly, because it depends on religious-spiritual
interpretation rather than fixed strategic interests.
A proposal acceptable yesterday may become forbidden today. To a Western
negotiator, this appears inconsistent; to Hamas, it reflects fidelity to the
divine.
From BATNA to Maslaha
In Western practice, BATNA is the anchor: if the offer on the table is worse
than your alternative, you walk away. For Hamas, this entire calculus is
subordinated to Maslaha-Mafsadah - religious benefit vs. religious harm. The
question becomes: does this action serve the will of Allah?
A central Islamic legal principle states: "Preventing harm takes precedence over
attaining benefit". Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328), one of Sunni Islam’s most
influential jurists, summarized it: "When faced with two evils that cannot both
be avoided, one must choose the lesser to prevent the greater". In negotiation
language: one must preserve faith capital, even at a significant political cost.
For example, after the 2014 "Tzuk Eitan" operation, Hamas agreed to a ceasefire
brokered by Egypt - but framed it not as compromise, but as Hudna: a temporary,
religiously permitted pause for rest and reorganization, not an abandonment of
jihad.
In other words: not a political concession, but a legally sanctioned religious
maneuver within the Maslaha framework.
"There is no solution except Jihad"
Article 13 of Hamas’s 1988 Charter states: "There is no solution to the
Palestinian problem except through jihad. International initiatives, proposals,
and conferences are all a waste of time." This is not a slogan. It is a
theological anchor that predetermines the boundaries of negotiation.
Thus, when Western negotiators speak of "compromise", the religious discourse
may interpret it as an impermissible surrender of a divine obligation.
Success, therefore, is not measured first in material or political gains, but in
alignment with divine will - with worldly benefit evaluated afterward and only
if it fits religious command.
Negotiation, from this perspective, is not an exchange of interests but a test
of spiritual fidelity. Often, therefore, the negotiation is not about solutions
but about purity of intention (Niyya).
Messaging or doctrine? - 2017 as case study
In 2017, Hamas issued an updated policy document. Abroad, many interpreted it as
evidence of ideological moderation - less religious, more national. In reality,
it was a shift in messaging and framing, not in foundational doctrine.
The vocabulary expanded, but the ideological spine - particularly commitment to
jihad - remained intact. In negotiation psychology, framing may influence
perception without altering substance. That is precisely what happened here.
Spiritual loyalty - not just practical trust
Western negotiation is built on mutual trust - credibility, consistency,
transparency, and interpersonal reliability. If a party keeps its word, trust
increases. It is behavior based: you did what you said - you are trustworthy.
But for Hamas, the prerequisite for negotiation is not practical trust, but
spiritual loyalty: adherence to religious authority and divine will. The core
question is not "is this proposal beneficial?" but "is it faithful to Allah?"
Thus, what seems "reasonable" or "efficient" may be rejected not because it
lacks utility, but because it lacks religious legitimacy.
This also explains why positions acceptable yesterday may be rejected today: not
because interests changed - but because religious interpretation changed. To
Western eyes this appears inconsistent; to a believer, it reflects unwavering
devotion to a higher principle.
To understand is not to justify
In the Middle East, negotiation is not merely a technique - it is a dialogue
between worldviews. The West speaks the language of utility; religious actors
speak the language of loyalty. Thus, aiming for Win-Win is insufficient.
Sometimes, the only viable agreement is "Win-Iman" - one that satisfies
religious legitimacy before political practicality.
This is not identification or endorsement. It is intellectual empathy: the
ability to understand the logic behind the other side’s behavior even without
accepting it.
When Allah sits at the negotiation table, the cards matter - but interpretation
matters more. In a landscape where faith shapes the rules of the game, the
Western negotiator cannot afford to ignore the religious logic underlying it.
To negotiate effectively, it is not enough to analyze the cards - one must
understand the hand that lays them. Whoever understands this is not abandoning
his principles; he is simply choosing to engage reality rather than imagination.
And only there - in that space of clarity - does genuine influence become
possible.
*Yosef Mahfoud Levi is a negotiation and interpersonal communication specialist
in the Arab-Islamic culture. He lectures on Arabic language, culture & Islam at
Reichman University and in the Department of Arabic at Bar-Ilan University.
Israel’s road to peace with Saudi Arabia: A deal is
imminent, but only after elections -
Elda Israeli/Jerusalem Post/November 17/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149280/
The peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is more or less written, and
the only remaining question is timing.
The ceasefire in Gaza, marking an end to a multi-front, two-year war in the
Middle East, looks promising. While we’ve seen a somewhat shaky start, this is
to be expected in the aftermath of long and intense fighting. I would not go as
far as branding this the long-sought “peace in the Middle East” (in all caps) as
President Donald Trump has. Nevertheless, this is a major step in the right
direction for the region.
As the guns go silent, Israel must now work quickly to pivot back towards
peacemaking It is not always that stars are aligned in Israel, in the wider
Middle East, and particularly in Washington in a way that favors peacemaking.
However, this is such a moment, and Israel must do all it can to seize it.
Prioritizing calm and stability on all fronts for a substantial period of time
is a first and crucial step. However, in the eyes of Israel’s most coveted
potential peace partner, it is not enough.Saudi Arabia is a major player in the
Muslim world that is seen as the “crown jewel” for Israeli peace enthusiasts.
The countries were already moving in the direction of normalization prior to the
breakout of the recent war. In July 2022, Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to
Israeli civilian flights, a long-awaited move that transformed travel to the Far
East for millions of Israelis. In September 2023, just two weeks prior to
October 7, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated, in a rare interview
with American media, that the two countries “get closer every day” to
normalization.
Saudi-Israel normalization: timing is everything
The peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is more or less written, and
the only remaining question is timing. With the war all but over, the Saudis now
look to Israel’s political calendar and would like to see Israel face its
internal reckoning over the events of the last two years. They are
interested in seeing a new government formed in Israel, even if it still
includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel’s next election is currently
on schedule for October 27, 2026, but may be pushed up, as elections in Israel
usually are. Netanyahu’s publicly stated intention is to allow his government to
serve its full term. To that end, he’s working to push through controversial
legislation surrounding the mandatory conscription, or lack thereof, of
ultra-Orthodox males, and to pass a national budget by the March 2026 deadline.
Netanyahu's bet is that stabilizing Israeli politics, at least for one year,
will convince the Saudis that now is the time for normalization. However, his
chances of winning this bet are slim at best. First, the Saudis see a soft
resetting of Israel’s political system as a necessity for peace, from a private
viewpoint as well as a public one.
The same government that has led Israel through a two-year, seven-front war is
not the one to which they would extend an olive branch. The sharp rhetoric
coming from officials in Israel’s current government, including the comments
made by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich a few weeks back, makes that even
clearer. Publicly, the optics of signing a peace treaty before the Israeli
political system has had the chance to change dramatically, make this an
undesirable move for the royal family. Another key reason the Saudis insist on
seeing a new Israeli government prior to normalization is that they expect it to
make more concessions on the Palestinian front. These concessions will provide
the Saudi royal family with something to claim credit for in exchange for
normalized ties. Reports that the Saudis will insist on a fully implemented
two-state solution before normalization are misleading, as they recognize that
the Palestinians lack the necessary leadership to build and run a country of
their own and will need to face their own political reckoning. Finally, the
Saudi leadership’s desire to delay peace until after Israel’s next election is
rooted in its reluctance to play a role in Netanyahu’s political campaign.
The prime minister’s re-election bid in 2019 boasted posters, signs, and
billboards of his photo-ops with the likes of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and
Narendra Modi, with a text underneath proclaiming, “Netanyahu – a different
league!” The last thing the crown prince would like to see is himself portrayed
in the same way. For these reasons, normalization with Saudi Arabia will only
happen after Israel goes through its next election cycle. In Washington,
conditions that are friendly toward facilitating this historic deal exist but
aren’t guaranteed to last.
Israel, which is now entering an election year, would be wise to face its
political reckoning sooner rather than later. After all, the stars can only
remain aligned for so long.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-874006
**The writer is director of legislative affairs at the Endowment for Middle East
Truth (EMET) in Washington.
The Druze stood with Israel, now we must champion a state for them - opinion
Michan Avni/Jerusalem Post/November 17/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149270/
The Druze stood with us when it mattered. Now we must stand for them and place
this initiative firmly on Israel’s diplomatic agenda today. As the Middle East
undergoes its most dramatic realignment in generations, Israel must place a
bold, overdue idea squarely on the table: the establishment of an independent
Druze state in southern Syria and parts of Lebanon. This is not only strategic;
it is a moral obligation.
For decades, the Druze have stood by Israel with unwavering loyalty. They have
fought alongside us, guarded our borders, buried their fallen next to ours, and
shared our fate as partners, not bystanders. They are a proud, indigenous people
with a distinct identity, much like our own, and, like the Jewish people, they
have suffered brutally whenever the world turned away. With over a million Druze
across Syria and Lebanon, their survival as a people is now a test of regional
conscience. Today, their situation in Syria is catastrophic. In Sweida and other
Druze regions, entire villages have been besieged and cut off from essential
supplies. Families have been dragged from their homes. Elders have been tortured
for spurning jihadist ultimatums. For years, Abu Mohammed al-Julani and the
networks he has commanded have been implicated in suicide bombings, sectarian
massacres, forced conversions, and the targeting of Christians, Alawites,
Shi’ites, and Druze. Extremists thrive in the power vacuums carved by war, and
minorities like the Druze pay the price.
Jihadist in the White House
Yet, recently, the world watched with disbelief as this jihadist commander, now
cleaned up as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, arrived in Washington for a
grotesque whitewash tour: smiling basketball photos with US officers, staged PR
reels, and, grotesquely, the cologne-spraying photo-op in the Oval Office – an
attempt to perfume over a butcher’s ledger. Israel must present another vision:
one where Druze leaders, not rebranded extremists, stand in the Oval Office as
partners, protected with the same moral clarity that guided the administration
in defending Israeli hostages. No other nation in the region has earned the
Druze community’s trust the way Israel has; no other nation can champion their
sovereignty with both credibility and strength.
The Sykes-Picot states were never organic. The Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916,
the San Remo Conference of 1920, and the French Mandate for Syria and the
Lebanon (1923) carved the Middle East into artificial states drawn by colonial
cartographers in London and Paris who neither knew nor cared about the
identities of the peoples whose lives they were redrawing. The Druze were
scattered across borders designed for the convenience of empires and left
without sovereignty or protection.
A century later, those lines are collapsing. Lebanon is imploding –
demographically, fiscally, and governmentally. Syria is fragmented into
militias, proxies, and warlords. The region’s map is being rewritten by reality,
not diplomacy.
Strategic benefits
In this new environment, a Druze state is not only moral; it is strategic.
A Druze homeland would form a moderate, stabilizing buffer north of Israel. It
would significantly disrupt the land bridge Iran exploits to move militias,
weapons, and cash from Iraq to Lebanon.
It would offer the United States and its allies a rare chance for a genuine
humanitarian achievement in a region scarred by decades of failed interventions.
It would also extend the logic of the Abraham Accords, which proved that new,
constructive regional partnerships are possible when moderates unite against
extremism.
For Israel, championing a Druze state would deepen our emerging role as a
stabilizing regional superpower, not through coercion, but through principle.
Our strength today comes not only from military might or technological
superiority but from moral clarity. As Isaiah proclaimed:
“I will make you a light unto the nations, that My salvation may reach the ends
of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)
To be a light is to act when others hesitate. To protect the vulnerable. To
stand for justice even when it is inconvenient.
Standing with the Druze
An independent Druze state would:
Shield an endangered, loyal minority from mass persecution; erect a moderate
buffer astride Israel, Syria, and Lebanon; disrupt Iran’s Golan corridor;
fortify the moderate axis born of the Abraham Accords; deliver the West a
genuine humanitarian triumph; crown Israel the moral architect of a safer
Levant.
Druze soldiers have stood on our front lines with courage and honor. Gratitude
is not enough; we owe them sovereignty.
A century ago, colonial pens fractured the Levant. Today, let Israel’s pen
restore one nation. The Druze stood with us when it mattered. Now we must stand
for them and place this initiative firmly on Israel’s diplomatic agenda today.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-874019
**The writer is an Israeli businessman, thought leader, and founder of the
Israel Tomorrow initiative.
What to expect during the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to the
White House
Joseph Haboush/Al Arabiya English/November 17/2025
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to meet with US President
Donald Trump next week as the bilateral ties between Washington and Riyadh
deepen further. Among the big-ticket items expected to be discussed are defense
and energy agreements. But many more topics will be negotiated, particularly as
it pertains to mining, rare earths, artificial intelligence (AI), and a civil
nuclear program. Both sides will showcase the deep level of commitment to their
partnership with a business forum set to be held the day after MBS meets Trump.
Saudi Arabia will have around 1,000 people, including nearly every minister,
accompanying the Crown Prince, sources familiar with the plans say.
Defense agreements
While reports have suggested a massive deal for Saudi Arabia to acquire American
fighter jets, specifically Lockheed Martin’s stealth F-35 aircraft, such an
agreement is anything but final. US officials have said there are ongoing
discussions about potentially selling close to 50 F-35s to the Kingdom. An
administration official told Bloomberg News on Friday that the US president was
expected to reach an agreement with MBS on the sale. Bernard Haykel, a professor
of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, said Saudi Arabia may no longer
be interested in such a deal. “I don’t think the Saudis are going to buy F-35
and I think the reason they’re not going to buy [them] is because there are
American conditions,” Haykal said in a recent webinar with the Arab Gulf States
Institute. Haykel cited the “kill switch” on the US-made jets in addition to
Riyadh needing permission to move the plane from one base to another within
Saudi Arabia. “So, these are violations of kind of notions of sovereignty. If
you pay for the machine, you kind of get to use it however you want, and so
unless the Americans give up on those conditions, I don’t think the Saudis will
buy it,” Haykel added. He also highlighted the expensive cost to maintain the
jets in addition to the multi-billion dollars needed to purchase them. Trump is
widely expected to provide MBS with a defense agreement of sorts that would
guarantee US protection in the event of an attack on Saudi Arabia. Following the
Israeli attack on Doha this year, Trump issued an executive order, pledging to
respond to any attack on Qatar. The Article V-like commitment falls short of a
defense treaty, which would need Senate ratification. Saudi Arabia will likely
get a similar commitment but with more concrete guarantees in a bilateral
defense agreement that would ensure a future US president cannot revoke it as
they would be able to do with an executive order. Former US ambassador to Saudi
Arabia Michael Ratney said this would essentially cement US-Saudi military
cooperation. “The executive order that I think what the Saudis are going to want
is something that is more permanent, something that endures after this
administration, because they’re going to want the sort of assurances and the
quality of the relationship with the United States to go well past and not be
dependent on any one administration,” Ratney said in a podcast with the Center
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Civil nuclear cooperation
Saudi Arabia has recently sought to develop a civilian nuclear energy program.
Under the previous US administration, Washington and Riyadh came close to
finalizing a package deal that included civil nuclear cooperation, former
officials said. But the talks were tied to normalization with Israel, and the
Trump administration appears to have separated those issues. Riyadh has
maintained its position that normalization requires a credible, irreversible
pathway to a Palestinian state, an option repeatedly rejected by the government
of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Knesset. Haykel suggested Saudi
Arabia may temporarily forgo uranium enrichment and processing but will seek a
US “nuclear umbrella,” potentially involving the deployment of US nuclear
systems on Saudi soil. Saudi Arabia aims to reduce carbon emissions under Vision
2030 economic plan. A deal could put US industry in a prime spot to win
contracts to build Saudi nuclear power plants as well as providing insight into
the Kingdom’s program that could alleviate any US worries over weapons
proliferation. Under Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the US may
negotiate agreements to engage in significant civil nuclear cooperation with
other nations. It specifies nine nonproliferation criteria those states must
meet to keep them from using the technology to develop nuclear arms or transfer
sensitive materials to others.
Artificial intelligence
AI and semiconductor technology will be central to the White House discussions.
Earlier this month, Saudi Ambassador to Washington Princess Reema bint Bandar
spoke of the advantages the Kingdom can provide in this space. Saudi Arabia
offers investors cheap land, easy access to energy, and manpower. Saudi Arabia
has made clear its ambition to become a global AI powerhouse. The CEO of HUMAIN,
its flagship AI company, said the Kingdom aims to become the world’s
third-largest AI provider, behind the US and China. Rare earth minerals, an area
dominated by China, will also feature prominently in the talks. Officials and
analysts say Riyadh is seeking a genuine long-term partnership with Washington
on AI, including joint innovation, data infrastructure, and capacity building.
Saudi Arabia wants US support in developing its indigenous AI ecosystem, not
just hosting data centers. HUMAIN has already announced a new operating system
designed to replace Windows and macOS, allowing users to interact with their
computers using conversational AI. “The Saudis have huge ambitions and waiting
investment from big US companies to develop data centers. They want to develop
their own artificial intelligence industry, including the intellectual capital
that goes into developing it, not just hosting the data centers,” Ratney, the
former US envoy, said. “But I think they’re going to want some kind of solid
assurances that the US is going to be there as a partner as they develop and
invest in their AI program.”
A New Epicenter Emerges in the Near East
Charles Chartouni/This is Beirut/November 17/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/11/149291/
The new political dynamic initiated by the U.S. cannot condone Iranian power
politics.
The situation in the Near East is still groping its way towards a new
equilibrium. So far, it seems that the destruction of the proxy networks mounted
by Iran’s Islamic regime has not yet eclipsed pursuit of political revanche all
along the geopolitical spectrum extending through Iraq, Syria, the Palestinian
Territories, Gaza, and their strategic extensions. The Iranian regime is
determined to activate civil unrest and promote chaos in a region that has
failed all attempts at stabilization based on negotiated conflict resolution and
democratization. The imploded inter-Arab political system has not yet been
replaced by a viable, institutionalized platform to adjudicate the political
differences among states that have never achieved a modicum of political
stability, within or without their borders. The invitation of the new president
of Syria to the White House is a major political feat that crowns a patient and
well-engineered political transition crafted by U.S. intelligence and the
operational diplomacy of the United States. Retrospectively, we have come to
terms with the abrupt rise to power of Ahmad al-Sharaa and the corollary
political dynamics it conveys. The rising political power in Damascus refers to
the larger political picture: the formation of the new epicenter around the
geopolitical fiction at the crossroads between Syria, Israel, and Lebanon, as
well as the strategic coordinates set by the U.S. Sharaa has readily become a
partner in this monumental undertaking, which aims at ending the endemic
instability elicited by jihadist dynamics and the strategic coordinates of
Iran’s imperial policy.
The challenges of this major turnaround are not minor; they question the very
predicates of political culture, strategic positioning, and the political
dynamics that have governed this tormented region for a hundred years. These
tectonic shifts were made possible by the Israeli counteroffensive that
destroyed the pillars of Iranian power politics, the defeat of the Islamic State
at an earlier stage, and the implosion of the Arab state system and the
questioning of its ideological premises and political records as well as the
ultimate discrediting of its governance. The crisis of legitimacy, far from
being accidental, is the outcome of a failed modernity and its systemic
reverberations. The erstwhile pillars of politics and strategy have broken down,
and the geopolitical scene is open to major revisions. The Syrian regime has to
redefine its parameters and reform its governance away from autocratic statism,
patrimonialism, Islamic political and societal strictures, and discriminatory
practices. The rehabilitation of pluralism, religious liberty, and
constitutional statehood are prerequisites if Syrian geopolitics are to
stabilize and the regional dynamics are to extract themselves from the
conflict-prone ideological and strategic variables. There is no possibility for
normalization aside from reforming the political process on both its external
and internal ends and at the crossroads between the two.
The Syrian blueprint attempted by the U.S.-engineered dynamic is a novelty that
impugns the monolithic templates of Islamic totalitarianism and Arabism's
aversion to cultural pluralism and their attending politics. It is a typical
illustration of Hegel’s “cunning of reason” (List der Vernunft), whereby the
levers of systemic change overcome the well-entrenched ideological and strategic
factors that account for lingering political immobility and its embedded
conflictuality. We have to follow up closely on the ensuing evolutions and their
impact on the nuts and bolts of political and social life.
Lebanon’s case typifies the inability of the unique liberal polity in the Arab
region to turn around the obstacles set by the successive tides of imperial
politics, Islamic power politics, and its permeability to destructive
interventionism at the intersection between regional and domestic politics of
domination. Iranian imperial policy is adamant about safeguarding its upper hand
in Lebanon’s politics and preparing for a takeover. Political instability is
intentionally cultivated since the Iranian regime views Lebanon as an
operational platform to resuscitate the politics of subversion and radiate them
back throughout the region. The new political dynamic initiated by the Trump
administration cannot, by any means, condone Iranian power politics and find an
accommodation on its very premises. Diplomatic intermediation cannot outlast its
time frame and the minimal consensus set for the success of this undertaking.
Iranians must either be willing to join the new political dynamic, or war is
inevitable. As long as Lebanon is kept hostage to Iranian power politics, and
Shiite millenarism sways over the imaginary of the Shiite community, and as the
politics of organized criminality and terrorism serve as a lever, the chances of
political accommodation and overall conflict resolution are remote and unlikely
to inspire the necessary political and strategic inflections. It will be a long
time before we can witness political change in this part of the world. War is
inevitable if we are to witness the epochal changes that are earnestly sought
but unlikely to be achieved without major political and strategic
transformations.
Selected Face Book & X tweets for November 17/2025
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