English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 15/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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Bible Quotations For today
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you
will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint
John 16/20-24/:”Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world
will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman
is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is
born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a
human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and
your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day
you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the
Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for
anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be
complete.”
Titles For The Latest English
LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October
14-15/2025
Honoring the Martyrs of October 13, 1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their
Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to the Illusions of Power and Wealth/Elias
Bejjani/October 13/2025
Thanksgiving Day: Obligations, Prayers & Gratitude/Elias Bejjani/October 13,
2025
Israel is answering your debauchery, bragging and macho posturing/Elias
Bejjani/October 11/2025
Two wounded in Israeli drone strike on Tebnine-Hariss
Two Lebanese Youths Freed After Kidnapping Between Al-Qasr and Housh El-Sayyed
Ali in Hermel
Drone Strike Targets Car in Yanouh in the South
Report: US to seek solution in Lebanon after Gaza agreement
Macron says Paris determined to organize Lebanon aid conferences
Aoun Maps Out a Roadmap and Resolves Disputed Issues with Israel Through
Indirect Negotiation
Syria to Hand Over Data on Political Assassinations in Lebanon
Syrian justice minister meets Lebanese counterpart over prisoners file
Hezbollah MP says sovereignty advocates in Lebanon 'fell silent' after Msayleh
strike
Report: US, EU mulling having troops in Lebanon, US ambassador to play key role
After Gaza ceasefire, Salam urges world to pressure Israel to stop violations in
Lebanon
HRW urges justice 2 years after deadly Israeli attack on journalists in Lebanon
UK reaffirms support for Lebanese army amid talks on post-UNIFIL strategy
Lebanese, Egyptian FMs discuss Gaza ceasefire and bilateral cooperation
Lebanon and Syria discuss legal cooperation amid ongoing talks on detainee cases
Economic Bodies urge Health Minister to suspend decision on Tannourine water
Tannourine says water sample not properly collected
Minister of Agriculture on "Tannourine Water" Issue: It Taught Me a Big
Lesson... "LARI": Results within 48 Hours
From Spring to Shelf: How Lebanon’s Bottled Water Failed
Lebanon Still Charms, but Tourism Numbers Fall/Christiane Tager/This is
Beirut/October 14, 2025
Lebanon on the Sidelines: Restoring State Authority Is Critical/Bassam Abou
Zeid/This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
Israel to Lebanon: Disarm Hezbollah, or Never Recover/Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This
is Beirut/October 14, 2025
Gaza Deal: A Funeral for a Bygone Era/Nadim Koteich/Asas Media/October 14/2025
Joseph Aoun: Dialogue with Israel Is Possible/Marc Saikali/This is
Beirut/October 14, 2025
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October
14-15/2025
Clans, armed groups are challenging Hamas in Gaza Strip
UN says states willing to fund Gaza’s $70 billion rebuild
Trump Says ‘Will Decide’ on Solution to Middle East Conflict
Trump Convinced Netanyahu to Take a Deal. Can He Keep Him Onboard?
Israel Says It Opens Fire on Suspects in Gaza, Local Authorities Report Six
Killed
Gaza Ceasefire Outlook Darkens as Israel Delays Aid and Hamas Tightens Grip
Truce does not mean impunity for Gaza ‘genocide’
Britain Pushes Northern Ireland as Model for Disarming Gaza
Syria’s Sharaa to Visit Moscow on Wednesday
Lavrov skeptical of Trump peace plan, calls for Palestine recognition
Kremlin Says It Welcomes Trump’s Desire to Focus on Search for Peace in Ukraine
After Gaza Ceasefire
Erdogan says Syrian Kurds’ quick integration to help Syria
Erdogan Opposed Netanyahu’s Attendance at Summit, Turkish Official Confirms
Israel tells UN will only allow half agreed number of aid trucks into Gaza
Arafat’s nephew returns to West Bank with plan for post-war Gaza
Iran Sentences 2 French Citizens to a Combined 63 Years over Espionage Charges
Iran Says Trump’s Call for Peace ‘At Odds’ with US Actions
Syrian president to head to Moscow on Wednesday: officials
5 suspects arrested following large captagon seizure in Syria’s Aleppo
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
on October
14-15/2025
Are Iran nuclear negotiations back on the table?/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab
News/October 14, 2025
Trump has his day but elephant in the room remains/Osama Al-Sharif/Arab
News/October 14, 2025
Spain's Prime Minister on the Wrong Side of History/Robert Williams/Gatestone
InstituteOctober 14, 2025
Jordan’s economy is on the brink of collapse — here’s how the US can help/Dan
Swift/The Hill/October 14/2025
We’re Done with the Nobel Prize… But What About Palestine and the Region?/Eyad
Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Questions of the Post-Gaza War Levant/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/October
14/2025
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and the Ideology Trap/Nadim Koteich/Asharq
Al-Awsat/October 14, 2025
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For 14 October/2025
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October
14-15/2025
Honoring the Martyrs of October 13,
1990: Michel Aoun’s Betrayal of Their Sacrifice and Lebanon, as He Succumbs to
the Illusions of Power and Wealth
Elias Bejjani/October 13/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/112651/
For our fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves at
the altar of Lebanon on October 13, 1990, we offer our prayers and renew our
pledge to live with our heads held high, so that Lebanon remains a homeland of
dignity and pride, a beacon of truth, the cradle of civility, and a melting pot
of culture and civilizations.
From our deeply rooted history, we know without a shred of doubt that patriotic
and faithful Lebanese, with God on their side, wielding truth as their weapon
and faith as their fortress, shall never be defeated.
On October 13, 1990, the barbaric Syrian Army, along with treacherous local
mercenaries, launched a savage attack, occupying the Lebanese presidential
palace and invading the last remaining free regions of Lebanon. Hundreds of
Lebanese soldiers and innocent civilians were brutally murdered, their bodies
mutilated. Tens of soldiers, officers, clergymen, politicians, and citizens were
kidnapped, while a puppet regime, fully controlled by Syria’s intelligence
headquarters in Damascus, was installed.
Though the Syrian Army was forced to withdraw in 2005 following UNSC Resolution
1559, Lebanon has since been occupied by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah. This
terrorist militia has crippled Lebanon, turning it into an Iranian battleground
and impeding the Lebanese people from reclaiming their independence, freedom,
and sovereignty. Hezbollah’s crimes, wars, and terror have dismantled Lebanon’s
institutions, public and private alike, while entrenching the country in poverty
and chaos.
We must never forget that on October 13, 1990, the Lebanese presidential palace
in Baabda and the free regions were desecrated by Syrian Baathist gangs, mafias,
militias, and mercenaries. Our valiant army soldiers were tortured and butchered
in Bsous, Aley, Kahale, and other bastions of resistance. Lebanon’s most
precious possession, its freedom, was raped in broad daylight while the world,
including the Arab nations, watched in silence.
Thanksgiving Day: Obligations,
Prayers & Gratitude
Elias Bejjani/October 13, 2025
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/67920/
Every year, on the second Monday of October, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving Day
— a blessed and joyful occasion deeply rooted in faith, gratitude, and humility.
It is a day when families and friends gather to thank Almighty God for the
countless blessings He has poured upon them — the gift of life, the fruits of
the earth, and the comfort of home and community.
Thanksgiving in Canada dates back hundreds of years, when early settlers and
Indigenous peoples celebrated the harvest season by offering gratitude to the
Creator for the abundance of food and the safety of their communities. Through
time, this practice became a national celebration of thankfulness, generosity,
and hope.
Let us never forget that we have a holy obligation to continuously and joyfully
thank Almighty God for His love, His mercy, and His everlasting grace. Gratitude
is not a passing emotion; it is a spiritual discipline that purifies the soul
and draws us closer to God. A thankful heart is a humble heart, one that
recognizes every blessing as a divine gift, not a personal achievement.
On this day, while we celebrate with family and friends, let us look around and
remember the millions of people across the world who live in deprivation and
hardship — those who are hungry, displaced, persecuted, or alone. To truly
appreciate what we have, we must first recognize how many are without.
Let us therefore pray with sincerity and reverence, thanking God for His
generosity, and let us combine faith with good deeds, prayer with compassion,
and gratitude with action. A true believer’s weapons against adversity are
faith, honesty, righteousness, prayer, and trust in the Lord.
Let us pray for ongoing peace and prosperity in our beloved Canada — the land
that welcomed us with open arms and provided us a home when we most needed it.
Let us also pray for peace, freedom, and justice in our original homeland,
Lebanon — the Land of the Holy Cedars — and for its persecuted and impoverished
people who continue to suffer and hope.
Let us pray for the souls of Lebanon’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives
defending their country’s dignity and independence. May their memory remain
eternal.
Let us pray that Jesus Christ may bless Lebanon with faithful clergy and brave,
righteous political leaders who fear God and act in accordance with His will.
Let us pray that all families may reunite in love, heal their wounds, and honor
their parents with respect and gratitude.
As we lift our prayers today, let us trust that Almighty God always listens and
responds — not always as we expect, but always in ways that fulfill His divine
purpose.
May this Thanksgiving renew in each of us a spirit of humility, compassion, and
generosity.
For when we thank God with sincere hearts, His blessings are renewed,
multiplied, and everlasting.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”(2 Timothy 3:1-2)
Those who live without gratitude fall into spiritual darkness, but those who
give thanks live in light. Gratitude keeps our hearts alive, our faith strong,
and our lives filled with peace.
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all!
May the Lord bless Canada and Lebanon, and may He fill every heart with
thankfulness, peace, and love.
Selected Biblical Verses on Gratitude
“As long as you live and have breath, give thanks to the Lord and praise His
mercy.” (Sirach 17:27)
“We give God great thanks for saving us from great dangers.” (2 Maccabees 1:11)
“If you and your children are well and everything you wish is as you desire, I
give great thanks to God; my hope is in Heaven.” (2 Maccabees 9:20)
“Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the
Lord.” (Psalm 118:19)
“Before the angels I will sing your praise; I will bow down toward your holy
temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your
faithfulness.” (Psalm 138:1–2)
“Be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)
“We thank God without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
“I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience.” (2
Timothy 1:3)
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance
of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:12)
“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being
reported all over the world.” (Romans 1:8)
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1
Corinthians 15:57)
“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests
through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Corinthians
2:14)
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for
you.” (Colossians 1:3)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:2)
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3)
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so,
because your faith is growing more and more.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me
trustworthy, appointing me to His service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that
we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy
2:1–2)
“Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be
to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)
“We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because You have
taken Your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17)
This Is What Many Canadians Do On Thanksgiving Day?
Many people have a day off work on the second Monday of October. They often use
the three-day Thanksgiving weekend to visit family or friends who live far away,
or to receive them in their own homes. Many people also prepare a special meal
to eat at some point during the long weekend. Traditionally, this included roast
turkey and seasonal produce, such as pumpkin, corn ears and pecan nuts. Now, the
meal may consist of other foods, particularly if the family is of non-European
descent. The Thanksgiving weekend is also a popular
time to take a short autumn vacation. This may be the last chance in a while for
some people to use cottages or holiday homes before winter sets in. Other
popular activities include outdoor breaks to admire the spectacular colors of
the Canadian autumn, hiking, and fishing. Fans of the teams in the Canadian
Football League may spend part of the weekend watching the Thanksgiving Day
Classic matches.
Background
The native peoples held ceremonies and festivals to celebrate the completion and
bounty of the harvest long before European explorers and settlers arrived in
what is now Canada. Early European thanksgivings were held to give thanks for
some special fortune. An early example is the ceremony the explorer Martin
Frobisher held in 1578 after he had survived the long journey in his quest to
find a northern passage from Europe to Asia. Many thanksgivings were held
following noteworthy events during the 18th century. Refugees fleeing the civil
war in the United States brought the custom of an annual thanksgiving festival
to Canada. From 1879, Thanksgiving Day was held every year but the date varied
and there was a special theme each year. The theme was the “Blessings of an
abundant harvest” for many years. However, Queen Victoria’s golden and diamond
jubilees and King Edward VII’s coronation formed the theme in later years.
From the end of the First World War until 1930, both Armistice Day and
Thanksgiving Day were celebrated on the Monday closest to November 11, the
anniversary of the official end of hostilities in World War I. In 1931,
Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving Day was moved to a
Monday in October. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has always been held on the
second Monday in October.
Israel is answering your debauchery,
bragging and macho posturing
Elias Bejjani/October 11/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148125/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXKbS6-ruv0
Nabih Berri’s weeping and lamentations;
Hezbollah’s and Jumblatt’s hollow condemnations; the demagogic narratives from
the brigade of advisers in the presidential Baabda Palace; and the
opportunistic, vomitous rhetoric of the merchants and liars who call themselves
the “resistance” and “liberation” — the cowards, charlatans and political flock
who preach anti-Israel hatred — have done nothing to slow or stop Israel’s
self-defense.
Wake up. Stop calling for drowning Israel in the sea, killing Jews, praying in
Jerusalem, or erecting a mullah-run republic in Lebanon. Your reckless,
preaching rhetoric will not save you — it will bury you. Accept the consequences
of your words and deeds, or be consumed by them.
Pack up your tin weapons, hand them over to the state, make peace with the State
of Israel, and apologize to the Lebanese people for your crimes, your
obscenities and your terrorism.
Two wounded in Israeli drone strike on Tebnine-Hariss
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
An Israeli drone targeted Tuesday a region between Tebnine and Hariss in south
Lebanon, wounding two people, the national News Agency said. Despite a ceasefire
reached in late November, Israel has kept up its strikes, usually saying it is
targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. It is also still occupying five hills
in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic."On Monday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam
called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on
Lebanon, as he welcomed a ceasefire in Gaza. On
Saturday, President Joseph Aoun condemned overnight strikes on civilian
facilities in south Lebanon as a heinous Israeli aggression that has no
justification.
Two Lebanese Youths Freed After Kidnapping Between
Al-Qasr and Housh El-Sayyed Ali in Hermel
Janoubia/October 14/ 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
Two Lebanese youths were subjected to a kidnapping operation in the eastern
border area by individuals of Syrian nationality. The incident took place in the
Al-Arid locality, situated between the towns of Housh El-Sayyed Ali and Al-Qasr
in the Hermel district. The two kidnapped youths are Hussein Youssef Kataya
(born 2010) and Mujtaba Ali Zaayter (born 2009). On Tuesday evening, the
Lebanese Army received the two youths from the Syrian side following
negotiations, and they appeared at the Joussiah crossing as they were being
handed over to intelligence (officials). Media outlets reported that the
kidnappers took the two boys to an unknown location, believed to be inside
Syrian territory. Following this, Lebanese security agencies and the Directorate
of Intelligence began intensive investigations to identify the kidnappers and
the location where the youths were being held, in coordination with the
concerned parties to ensure their safe return. The families of the two youths
and the local residents mobilized and affirmed their demand that the Lebanese
state exert maximum efforts to resolve the incident. The "National News Agency"
had reported the mobilization of clan members in the border area of Al-Qasr town
– Hermel district, following the kidnapping operation.
Drone Strike Targets Car in Yanouh in the South
Janoubia/October 14/2025 (Translated from Arabic)
Al-Jadeed correspondent reported that a car was targeted by a drone strike in
the town of Yanouh, South Lebanon. Media outlets reported that a citizen was
injured as a result of the targeting of the car in Wadi Al-Hadaya, between Wadi
Jilo and Yanouh. There is also a continuous presence of Israeli warplanes flying
at medium altitude over the southern regions and intense, low-level drone
activity over the towns of Bazouriyeh, Jouaiya, Baflieh, Selaa, Al-Mjaidel, and
Srifa.
Report: US to seek solution in Lebanon after Gaza
agreement
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
The Lebanese file will be activated in the near future and will be the next file
after Gaza, Western diplomatic sources said. The sources added, in remarks to
al-Binaa newspaper, that “the military, security and political repercussions of
the Gaza agreement will not only affect Lebanon but rather the entire
region.”“U.S. diplomacy will work on speeding up the solution in Lebanon through
intensive visits by U.S. envoys,” the sources said, adding that “U.S. envoy
Morgan Ortagus might visit Lebanon after the new U.S. ambassador to Lebanon,
Michel Issa, assumes his diplomatic mission.” “Washington will seek to
reactivate the Mechanism’s work and to press all parties to control the border
and implement the November 27 ceasefire agreement,” the sources added.
Macron says Paris determined to organize Lebanon aid
conferences
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
French President Emmanuel Macron lauded Tuesday President Joseph Aoun's "brave
decisions to achieve arms monopoly," adding that Paris is determined to organize
two conferences for supporting Lebanon. One of the conferences is to drum up
financial aid for the reconstruction of war-hit regions in Lebanon. The second
will be to support the Lebanese Army which was tasked with implementing a plan
to disarm Hezbollah, but lacks funds and equipment and has said that the Israeli
occupation and strikes on south Lebanon are obstructing its deployment there.
The army has also suffered from the repercussions of the country's economic
meltdown six years ago. Western and Arab countries have offered support,
including the Trump administration that approved $230 million to Lebanon’s army.
Aoun Maps Out a Roadmap and Resolves Disputed Issues
with Israel Through Indirect Negotiation
Nidaa Al-Watan/October 15, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The positive resonance of the President of the Republic's stance regarding the
negotiation issue continued. In this context, Nidaa Al-Watan learned that the
President's recent positions were met with broad Western diplomatic
satisfaction, especially among Europeans and Americans. The President mapped out
a roadmap for the next phase and affirmed that there is no backing down from
confining arms (to the state), liberating the land, and resolving disputed
issues with Israel through indirect negotiation.
Information indicates that Ortacous's absence from today's Mechanism meeting
does not mean a lack of American presence, as the committee's head is American
and in constant coordination with Ortacous. Therefore, Washington is following
the smallest details, and the Lebanese state is fulfilling its duties to restore
its sovereignty over all its territories, as there is no turning back on this
file.
Judicially, the judicial file between Lebanon and Syria has seen movement, and
it is not a minor detail that the Syrian Minister of Justice visited Lebanon for
the second time within a week. The first time was with the Syrian Foreign
Minister, and yesterday his visit can be considered as a follow-up to what was
discussed in the first meeting.
Based on the statements issued, it can be said that there is a Lebanese-Syrian
urgency to finalize and close this file. The meeting was characterized by a
positive and fruitful atmosphere, with excellent progress on all issues
discussed. The Syrian Minister of Justice, Al-Waisi, gave Minister Nassar an
official promise of close follow-up on his demands, and the following was agreed
upon:
a- Providing full support for the work of the follow-up committee for the
forcibly disappeared persons' file.
b- Handing over all information available to the Syrian side regarding the
security operations that occurred in Lebanon during the Syrian regime's era,
especially political assassinations.
c- Searching for those who have fled justice in Lebanon to Syria and handing
them over to the Lebanese authorities.
According to Nidaa Al-Watan's information, the agreement will include a judicial
mechanism for handing over a number of detainees who were previously arrested in
Lebanon on charges related to their affiliation with the Syrian Revolution, with
the possibility of accelerating their trials to release them being studied.
According to Nidaa Al-Watan's information, the Syrian side will present the
draft agreement to Syrian officials before the two parties announce their
commencement of steps to put it into effect. In parallel with the political
meetings, the Syrian delegation, after obtaining the approval of the
Discriminatory Public Prosecution, visited Roumieh Prison and met with a number
of Syrian prisoners, conveying the two countries' endeavor to achieve justice
and preserve the dignity of the detainees in a manner that ensures respect for
the sovereignty of both states.
Minister of Interior and the Prisoners' Issue
During a tour in Tripoli, Minister of Interior Ahmad Al-Hajjar revealed that
"specialized meetings will be held to discuss the conditions of all prisoners,
and there is coordination with the Syrian state regarding the convicted and
detained Syrians, within agreements that are being worked on to activate."
Regarding the parliamentary elections file, Minister Al-Hajjar said: "People
want the parliamentary elections to be held on their due date in May 2026,"
noting that "the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities is working diligently
to fully implement the existing law and adhere to all legal deadlines, with the
aim of holding the elections in the best conditions and with complete
transparency." He said: "This matter enjoys national consensus, and has been
affirmed by His Excellency the President of the Republic, His Excellency the
Prime Minister, and His Excellency the Speaker of the Parliament, because it is
the people's demand and our duty to fulfill it."
Two Conferences in France to Support Lebanon
In a message to the President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, French
President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his determination to "organize two
conferences to support Lebanon before the end of the current year. The first is
to support the Lebanese Army and the armed forces, which are the cornerstone of
achieving national sovereignty, and the second conference is for Lebanon's
recovery and reconstruction." President Macron stressed in his message "the
friendship between the two friendly countries," affirming "France's continued
support for Lebanon in all fields," and expressing his happiness "for the
decision taken by the Security Council to renew the mandate of the international
forces operating in Lebanon (UNIFIL)." He said: "I commend the courageous
decisions you have taken to achieve the exclusivity of arms in the hands of the
legitimate Lebanese forces."
Tension on the Lebanese-Syrian Border
Tension prevailed late at night on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the Hermel
area, between the towns of Al-Qasr and Housh El-Sayyed Ali, following the
disappearance of two young men, Hussein Kataya and Mujtaba Zaayter, after they
were arrested by elements of the new Syrian administration and transferred deep
into Syrian territory for questioning. The abduction came after the two young
men were riding a motorcycle near the border, which had previously witnessed
clashes between Syrian administration elements and members of the clans and the
area. This area is considered forbidden to approach. While the Syrian
administration places the abduction within purely security frameworks to find
out the reasons for the young men's travel, the families of the two young men
are living in a state of anxiety and tension because they belong to the Shiite
community, and the possible consequences should any harm come to them. The
Lebanese Army and local figures have begun communicating with the Syrian
administration to understand the implications of the abduction and resolve the
issue as quickly as possible before matters escalate.
Syria to Hand Over Data on Political Assassinations in
Lebanon
This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
During a two-hour meeting in Beirut, Lebanon and Syria reached an agreement for
Syria to provide all available information related to security incidents that
occurred in Lebanon during the period of Syrian control, particularly concerning
political assassinations. The meeting was held on Tuesday between a Lebanese
delegation headed by Minister of Justice Adel Nassar and a Syrian delegation led
by Syrian Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Wais. The talks also resulted in
agreements to fully support the committee monitoring the issue of forcibly
disappeared persons and to cooperate on locating and handing over individuals
who fled justice in Lebanon and are currently residing in Syria.
Minister Nassar described the discussions as “positive and productive,”
noting “excellent progress across all issues discussed,” while Minister al-Wais
pledged to closely follow up on the points raised by the Lebanese side. This
progress follows a series of meetings and preliminary agreement outlines
initiated by the Lebanese Ministry of Justice last month, with further steps and
discussions planned to strengthen bilateral relations. Both delegations
reaffirmed their commitment to respecting the sovereignty of each state.
Speaking to Al-Hadath television after the talks, Nassar said the
discussions were “constructive and positive,” highlighting that the Syrian
delegation showed “understanding and cooperation regarding the political
assassinations that occurred in Lebanon during Assad’s rule and the issue of
Lebanese citizens forcibly disappeared in Syria.”
Syrian justice minister meets Lebanese counterpart over prisoners file
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
Syria’s justice minister Mazhar al-Wais visited Tuesday Beirut to discuss with
his Lebanese counterpart the file of the Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon. Among
the prisoners are Syrians who were involved in battles against the Lebanese
Army. These will not be freed or transferred to Syria and are not part of the
discussions, Lebanese Minister of Justice Adel Nassar said. The two also
discussed a series of assassinations that took place in Lebanon during the reign
of Assad. The two sides said that the discussions were positive and that a
significant progress was made. "We are discussing judicial cooperation with
Lebanon on all levels, not only the issue of Syrian detainees," al-Wais said.
"We haven't reached a final agreement but our viewpoints are close and the will
to cooperate is mutual," he said in a joint press conference after the meeting.
The Syrian delegation is scheduled to visit some prisoners in Lebanon, later in
the day.
Hezbollah MP says sovereignty advocates in Lebanon 'fell silent' after Msayleh
strike
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
Hezbollah MP Hassan Ezzeddine condemned Tuesday Israel's weekend strikes on
construction machinery in south Lebanon, describing the attack as "a crime
against civilians, the economy and national sovereignty". Ezzeddine criticized
Hezbollah's opponents who call for sovereignty (through Hezbollah's disarmament
in order for the state to extend its authority over all Lebanese territory and
take the war and peace decisions) and then "fall silent" when Israel violates
Lebanon's sovereignty "with such impudence." The
strike on Msayleh in the Saida district had targeted several bulldozer and
excavator showrooms, resulting in the death and wounding of several civilians
and grave material damage. Ezzeddine called on the Lebanese state to take a
"unified, courageous, and decisive" official stance, adding that unity and
agreement between the Lebanese is a strength point to Lebanon, alongside the
resistance and the army.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, a staunch opponent of Hezbollah, had
reiterated Monday his stance regarding the November ceasefire, violated by
near-daily Israeli strikes and the occupation of five hills in south Lebanon.
Geagea said in order to liberate the occupied territories and stop the Israeli
attacks, Lebanon must first disarm Hezbollah.
Report: US, EU mulling having troops in Lebanon, US ambassador to play key role
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
Washington has started thinking of the “day after” in south Lebanon, as has
happened in the Gaza Strip, and there are scenarios that are being milled,
including the handover of the South to an international force, especially after
UNIFIL’s departure, informed sources quoted U.S. officials as saying. “These
forces could be American until solutions are reached for the pending files,
especially the issue of the land border demarcation,” the sources told al-Akhbar
newspaper in remarks published Tuesday. Influential
European figures meanwhile said, according to al-Akhbar, that “there are ongoing
contacts among the EU countries about the best format to guarantee keeping their
UNIFIL forces in Lebanon after the end of the force’s mission at the end of next
year.”The daily added that “all of this remains pending until the arrival of the
new U.S. ambassador, Michel Issa,” quoting informed sources as saying that “the
new ambassador will have a major role, contrary to his predecessors, who were
marginalized due to the visits of international envoys.”“Issa will have an
extraordinary activity in the coming period regarding the situation between
Lebanon and Israel,” al-Akhbar said.
After Gaza ceasefire, Salam urges world to pressure
Israel to stop violations in Lebanon
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called on the international community to pressure
Israel to halt its attacks on Lebanon, as he welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza.
"While our government is committed to the ceasefire (reached in late
November between Lebanon and Israel) and is working diligently to extend state
authority over all Lebanese territory with its own forces and to monopolize
weapons, the country is still exposed to almost daily Israeli aggressions,"
Salam said Monday, referring to the government's decision to disarm Hezbollah.
The November ceasefire sought to end more than a year of hostilities including
two months of open war between Israel and Hezbollah, but Israel has kept up its
strikes, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. It is
also still occupying five hills in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic.""I
call upon our regional and international friends to join us in working to stop
these aggressions and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from
Lebanese territories, and to help us rebuild (war-hit regions), in order to
achieve stability," Salam said. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri who had accused
the government of marginalizing the people of south Lebanon and of not
prioritizing the reconstruction of the war affected areas, had said that Israel
is trying to turn the southern border towns into an "unlivable demilitarized
buffer zone" after it struck "300 vehicles, including bulldozers, excavators,
and cranes, used for removing rubble in order to begin the reconstruction
effort". He urged the government to file a complaint with the United Nations
Security Council, which Salam later did.
HRW urges justice 2 years after deadly Israeli attack on journalists in Lebanon
Agence France Presse/October 14, 2025
Human Rights Watch has urged Lebanon to pursue justice two years after an
Israeli strike killed a Reuters journalist and wounded six others, including two
from AFP. The October 13, 2023 attack killed Issam
Abdallah and wounded two of his colleagues from Reuters, as well as two people
from broadcaster Al Jazeera, and AFP's Dylan Collins and Christina Assi as they
were working in south Lebanon near the Israeli border.
The attack took place just days after Lebanon's Hezbollah initiated cross-border
exchanges with Israel over the Gaza war. Photographer Assi was seriously wounded
and later had to have her right leg amputated. On Thursday, Lebanon's government
tasked the justice ministry with investigating legal options for prosecuting
Israel for crimes against journalists. The government's move "offers a fresh
opportunity to achieve justice for the victims", Human Rights Watch said in a
statement Monday, noting that two years since the attack, "victims of war crimes
in Lebanon remain without effective access to accountability and justice".Since
Abdallah's killing, "scores of other civilians in Lebanon have been killed in
apparently deliberate or indiscriminate attacks that violate the laws of war and
amount to war crimes", HRW's Ramzi Kaiss said in the statement. A November
ceasefire sought to end more than a year of hostilities including two months of
open war between Israel and Hezbollah, but Israel has kept up its strikes,
usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. Free-press
watchdog Reporters Without Borders last week also welcomed the government's
move, saying "Lebanon is finally taking action against impunity for the crime"
and urging Beirut to refer the case to the International Criminal Court.
Morris Tidball-Binz, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or
arbitrary executions said Friday it was "a premeditated, targeted and
double-tapped attack from the Israeli forces, a clear violation, in my opinion,
of IHL (international humanitarian law), a war crime".An AFP probe into the
deadly attack, jointly conducted with Airwars, an NGO that investigates attacks
on civilians in conflict situations, pointed to a 120-mm tank shell only used by
the Israeli army. A U.N. investigation found there was "no exchange of fire"
before the attack.
UK reaffirms support for Lebanese army amid talks on post-UNIFIL strategy
LBCI/October 14, 2025
Lebanon’s Defense Minister Michel Menassa met with Admiral Edward Green, the
British Ministry of Defense’s Senior Adviser for Middle East Affairs, and
British Ambassador Hamish Cowell to discuss regional developments and their
potential impact on Lebanon.
Talks focused on the army’s plan to keep weapons under state authority, the
implementation of U.N. Resolution 1701, and preparations for the end of UNIFIL’s
land and maritime missions in 2026. Admiral Green reaffirmed the UK’s continued
support for the Lebanese army, particularly in building watchtowers and
monitoring posts along the borders.
Lebanese, Egyptian FMs discuss Gaza ceasefire and bilateral cooperation
LBCI/October 14, 2025
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji discussed recent developments related
to halting the war in Gaza with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. In a
phone call, Rajji praised “the efforts made to end the suffering of the
Palestinian people.”He expressed hope “that Arab and international initiatives
will succeed in reaching a lasting agreement that spares lives and allows
Palestinians to establish their state.” Rajji also discussed bilateral relations
with the Egyptian minister and ways to strengthen them, emphasizing the
importance of continued coordination across various fields.
Lebanon and Syria discuss legal cooperation amid ongoing talks on detainee cases
LBCI/October 14, 2025
Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri affirmed that Lebanese-Syrian relations go
beyond the specific issue under discussion in the joint committee, noting that
the total number of detainees and convicted individuals between the two
countries stands at around 2,300.
Speaking at a joint press conference following a meeting with a Syrian
delegation led by Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais, Lebanese Justice
Minister Adel Nassar stressed the importance of respecting legal frameworks and
the sovereignty of both nations. He also underlined the need to avoid
unnecessary delays in ongoing discussions.For his part, Minister al-Wais said
that the two sides have not yet reached a final vision, adding that “what has
happened in Syria is significant on the legal and constitutional levels.” He
emphasized that both parties share close perspectives and a joint will to
cooperate “within the framework of truth and justice.”
Economic Bodies urge Health Minister to suspend decision on Tannourine water
LBCI/October 14, 2025
The Economic Bodies called on Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine to suspend the
decision to halt operations at Tannourine Water Company and withdraw its
products over contamination concerns, pending additional laboratory tests on its
water. They explained that the request stems from the company’s longstanding
reputation and the trust it enjoys among the Lebanese, as well as the need to
preserve it and ensure the continuity of its workers’ employment.
Tannourine says water sample not properly collected
Naharnet/October 14, 2025
The Tannourine Mineral Water company on Tuesday stressed that its bottled water
meets the country’s health and safety standards, after the Health Ministry
ordered its suspension and the removal of its products from the market over a
detected bacteria.
“The sample that was relied on was not collected according to the applicable
norms,” Tannourine’s CEO said at a press conference, noting that the sample was
taken in the absence of any company representative and that the related test
that was conducted makes the results inaccurate and invalid. The Health Ministry
said Monday that the samples tested were contaminated with the pseudomonas
aeruginosa bacteria. A Health Ministry statement published on the Ministry’s
official website said the company will remain suspended pending the
identification of the contamination source and the addressing of the problem.
The statement added that the company was required to pull its bottles from the
market within three days at the latest and should refrain from supplying the
market with any water bottles before obtaining a permission from the health
minister. The Ministry also warned that the violation of the decision would
subject company to administrative and judicial measures. Health Minister Rakan
Nassereddine later said that the Ministry was “responsibly following up on the
testing of other Tannourine drinking water samples that are currently in
laboratories and is waiting for the latest results in order to act accordingly.”
He added that the Ministry has started taking samples from the other brands of
bottled water that exist in the Lebanese market in order to verify the safety
and quality. Nassereddine also reassured that the
measure taken against Tannourine would be immediately reversed should it take
all the necessary measures to ensure the quality and safety of its water.
Minister of Agriculture on "Tannourine Water" Issue: It
Taught Me a Big Lesson... "LARI": Results within 48 Hours
Al-Markaziya/October 14, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani, affirmed today, Tuesday, that the
"Tannourine water company issue taught him a big lesson," in his comment on the
matter, responding to a journalist's question before entering a meeting with
potato farmers at the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Zahle
and the Bekaa. This was in response to the stir the decision caused on social
media and the accusations directed at him personally. He also re-explained the
issue at the beginning of the meeting. Hani explained
that he signed the decision by mandate for the Minister of Public Health, who is
in Berlin attending a World Health Organization conference. He indicated that
the decision "was sent to me as an urgent matter for signing, due to a problem
with the samples of Tannourine company's water, which is a public health issue."
He clarified that he signed the decision without knowing the details of the
problem or its implications. In this context, it was learned that the Minister
of Agriculture was at the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) in Tal
Amara when the decision was sent to him for signature.
Hani pointed out that the decision was technical, and it was supposed to go from
the ministry to the company via the district physician, to halt the production
line for two weeks to conduct broader procedures to identify the source of the
problem, after which the company would correct it and the process would
conclude. He added: "Unfortunately, the decision went in another direction, a
political direction."
He paused at the clarification statement issued by the Minister of Health today,
and said that "the statement was finalized with the company's director this
morning, and he was the first person I contacted to tell him that no one is
targeted and it is a technical procedure, and the Ministry of Health is obliged
to proceed with it." Hani also referred to the Tannourine Water company's press
conference today, "whose statement was scientific, and anyone who speaks within
a technical, scientific framework at a press conference will certainly not err
on the subject of water."
He confirmed that "the Ministry of Health has taken 11 additional samples, and
their results are expected to begin appearing starting tomorrow morning, and the
Ministry of Agriculture has also requested LARI to take samples, with results
expected tomorrow noon." Hani concluded by saying: "In this government, we are a
group of administrators and technical experts who came to this government to
push our country forward, not to harm companies and tarnish their reputation. On
a personal level, I am proud of every Lebanese product." He continued: "This was
a big lesson for me because I come from a technical and scientific background,
far from all these tensions and the talk we heard," explaining that his
relationship with Nestlé, Aquafina, and Al-Nada companies is "due to them
operating in our vicinity in the Chouf, and I have no bias towards any company
in Lebanon, and the companies are highly respected." He noted that "we drink
Tannourine water in the Ministry of Agriculture office."
In a related context, the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI)
announced in a statement that "Celine Hajar, the director of the Water
Laboratory in Fanar, has collected samples of Tannourine water from different
regions, in addition to other brands for testing, and the results will be
released within 48 hours." LARI wished that the ministries "would conduct tests
in the accredited laboratories, and not any other laboratory, and the
laboratories are: LARI and IRI," clarifying that "this matter was issued by a
decision from the Minister of Agriculture, and no employee from any ministry has
the right to change the laboratories." It also wished that "social media would
verify any news, especially since they seek scandals, thus becoming tools of
social destruction."
From Spring to Shelf: How Lebanon’s Bottled Water Failed
This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Lebanon informed the public on October
13, 2025, that it would be removing Tannourine bottled water from stores after
tests revealed the existence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a harmful bacterium. The
announcement sent shock waves throughout the country. Tannourine, one of the
nation’s most recognized bottled-water brands, suddenly raised a bigger
question: how safe is the bottled water we drink, and the industry that bottles
it?
From Nature to Factory
Lebanon hosts hundreds of mountain springs, from Falougha to Tannourine to
Sannine, which feed most of the country’s bottled-water brands.
At a typical treatment plant, the process begins at the wellhead or
spring, where water is transferred to a treatment facility. The first step is
screening, which filters out sand, leaves, and other debris. When the water
comes from a clean underground spring, basic filtration may be sufficient to
remove small particles. However, when water is sourced from a well or surface
supply, facilities add extra purification steps, passing it through carbon
filters, membranes, or reverse osmosis systems to remove minerals, salts, and
bacteria. Finally, the water is disinfected with
ultraviolet (UV) light or ozone, providing the last line of defense against
germs before it enters the bottling area. Robotic machines then fill and seal
the bottles under sterile conditions.
Even a minor issue, like a dirty pipe, broken UV lamp, or poor hygiene, can
introduce contamination. That appears to be the case with Tannourine, where
samples tested positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Spring Water vs. Treated Water: What’s in the Bottle?
If you’ve read a Lebanese bottled water label, you’ve probably seen “spring
water” or “treated drinking water.” They sound similar, but they’re not.
Spring water comes from underground sources, often in the mountains, and
is naturally drinkable. It receives light filtration to remove sediment but is
otherwise left in its natural state. Brands like Sohat and Talaya fall into this
category, promoting their natural purity and distinct mineral compositions.
Purified, or table water, on the other hand, can come from almost
anywhere: a borehole, well, or even a municipal supply. It’s then processed
using systems like reverse osmosis, ozone, or UV light to remove impurities.
Both types must meet LIBNOR (Lebanese Standards Institution) and MoPH
safety regulations. However, the key difference lies in their source: spring
water is naturally filtered, while purified water is treated by human-made
systems. In simple terms, one is inherently clean; the
other is thoroughly cleaned.
What the Ministry Screens and Why It Matters
The MoPH maintains a list of certified bottled-water brands, classified as
natural, spring, or table water, including Sohat, Tannourine, and Talaya.
To remain on this list, companies must regularly submit samples for
microbiological testing, including for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Detection of this
bacterium indicates a failure in the disinfection process or contamination after
treatment. This is exactly what led to the suspension
and recall of Tannourine. The ministry pledged to continue testing other brands
and only reinstate Tannourine once the issue is fully resolved.
A Big Industry with Uneven Standards
Lebanon’s bottled-water industry is bigger than many assume. A 2016 report by
Blominvest Bank estimated over 50 licensed factories across the country.
The sector is divided between natural spring-water brands, like Sohat,
Rim, Talaya, and Sannine, and treated or table-water producers, usually smaller
operations that rely on purification systems rather than mountain springs.
The report highlighted that more than half of licensed bottlers produce
treated water, which is cheaper to make but highly dependent on hygiene and
system maintenance. Without regular filter changes, sanitized pipes, and
constant electricity for disinfection, bacteria can multiply. Frequent power
cuts, outdated equipment, and weak oversight make quality control inconsistent
across the industry.
Why Contamination Happens and How to Prevent It
Experts point to several common causes:
Unclean storage tanks or piping
Power outages that disable UV or ozone disinfection
Poor hygiene when handling bottles or caps
Once contamination begins, bacteria like Pseudomonas can multiply quickly,
especially in warm, humid storage areas. The most
responsible manufacturers follow HACCP protocols (Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Points) to monitor every stage from source to shelf. Some even publish
lab reports and hold ISO 22000 food-safety certification.
What Consumers Can Do
Your best defense is awareness:
Always read the label; it should list the water source, bottling date, and
manufacturer
Store bottles in a cool, dark place; avoid heat exposure
Monitor MoPH advisories and updated brand approvals
If the water smells or tastes strange, don’t drink it; even sealed bottles can
degrade if stored improperly
A System Under Pressure
The Tannourine recall may turn out to be an isolated error, but it exposes
deeper issues in Lebanon’s bottled-water sector.In a country where tap water is
often unsafe, bottled water has become a daily essential. But it depends not
only on natural purity but also on relentless human oversight.
Ideally, every drop should follow a clean path from the mountains of Lebanon to
your glass. In reality, it takes just one overlooked cleaning, a faulty filter,
or a single power cut to turn that purity into a public health crisis.
Lebanon Still Charms, but Tourism Numbers Fall
Christiane Tager/This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
Once a symbol of the Middle East’s dolce vita, Lebanon is struggling to reclaim
its golden age of tourism. Economic instability, deteriorating infrastructure
and regional insecurity have kept visitors away. Yet amid these challenges,
tentative signs suggest a possible revival. In the 2010s, Lebanon ranked among
the world’s top tourist destinations, celebrated for its festivals, crowded
beaches, boutique hotels and award-winning cuisine. Tourism then accounted for
nearly a fifth of GDP and was at the very heart of the economy. Today, that
postcard-perfect image has faded. Two years after a brief recovery, the sector
remains fragile, battered by financial instability and security concerns. Yet
amid collapse and resilience, Lebanese hospitality continues to shine.
A Sector in Freefall
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Lebanon welcomed just 1.13 million
visitors in 2024, down from 1.66 million in 2023, a decline of 32.1%. One-third
of tourists clearly chose other, more stable destinations. Before the 2019
crisis, the country attracted nearly 2 million visitors annually, representing
around 19% of GDP. Today, that contribution has sharply fallen. The World Travel
& Tourism Council (WTTC) reports that tourism accounted for only 5.5% of GDP in
2024, down from 6.6% in 2023.
The hospitality sector, once a cornerstone of the Lebanese economy, has also
slowed. Many hotels and restaurants have only partially reopened, while others
struggle to cover their expenses. Tourism revenues, estimated at 112.369 billion
Lebanese pounds in 2023, have declined proportionally with the drop in visitor
numbers, according to a 2025 report by the United Nations Development Programme.
Rankings in Decline
Regionally, Lebanon continues to lag. According to the World Economic Forum’s
2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index, it ranks eighth among Arab countries
and 79th out of 119 globally. While the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia
attract millions of visitors through massive tourism investments, Lebanon still
struggles to modernize its infrastructure and ensure site security.
Lebanon: Between Charm and Chaos
Yet despite these challenges, Lebanon retains its magnetic appeal. In 2025, the
Ministry of Tourism reported some stabilization, with around 238,000 visitors
arriving in the first quarter alone. Few places in the world offer the
possibility of skiing in Faraya in the morning and dining by the sea in Byblos
at night. The charm remains, but confidence has waned. Reviving Lebanese tourism
will require more than nostalgic slogans. Infrastructure must be upgraded,
visitor security guaranteed and services modernized, alongside restoring
international trust. The country still possesses major assets: exceptional
heritage, legendary hospitality and a vibrant culture. With the right reforms,
Lebanon could once again reclaim its former glory.
Lebanon on the Sidelines: Restoring State Authority Is Critical
Bassam Abou Zeid/This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
Events are unfolding across the region, while Lebanon remains on the sidelines,
lacking a meaningful political presence in the reshaped Middle East.
Lebanese officials have been following, via the media, US President
Donald Trump’s visit to Israel, the developments in Gaza, his Knesset address
and the Sharm al-Sheikh summit. Official sources say these developments show
that the “peace train” is moving in the region. Failing to join it could leave
Lebanon alone, bearing the costs and remaining a battleground. President Joseph
Aoun is fully aware of this reality, which is why he has sought to open a small
window in the crisis with Israel by calling for a halt to military operations
and initiating a path toward negotiations. Sources
emphasize that Aoun’s statements have reached regional and international
observers. Yet these actors remain firm that any measures to control weapons
must be tangible and effective to elicit a positive response from Israel.
Otherwise, Lebanon risks being left to its fate on the sidelines of regional
developments. Western diplomatic sources have
underscored that Lebanon must understand the message behind its exclusion from
the summit. The country’s political leadership is urged to act decisively in
confronting Hezbollah and Iran, whose interference continues to block Lebanon’s
path toward peace and stability. The sources pointed
to lessons from Iraq, which managed to curb Iranian influence, prevent the
Popular Mobilization Forces from interfering in its foreign policy and remain
actively engaged in regional and international initiatives. Similarly, Syria,
under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is swiftly moving toward a security
understanding with Israel that could pave the way for normalization, despite not
being invited to the summit. Crucially, these sources
note that Hamas has stepped back from the military and political arena,
intensifying pressure on Hezbollah and Iran. With fewer levers of influence,
they are using their remaining power to keep Lebanon hostage to their continued
refusal to accept stability and peace. Western diplomatic sources stress that
Lebanon’s opportunity to join the new regional trajectory is limited. The
government is being urged to effectively implement the weapons control decision
and confront Hezbollah’s actions, which undermine state authority. Failing to do
so would signal an unwillingness to reclaim sovereignty and would prevent
Lebanon from gaining the international community’s trust to play a meaningful
role in the region.
Israel to Lebanon: Disarm Hezbollah, or Never Recover
Hussain Abdul-Hussain/This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
Lebanon’s government warns that disarming Hezbollah, the pro-Iran militia that
undermines its sovereignty, risks plunging the country into civil war. Yet, it
simultaneously demands that the international community restrain Israel from
targeting this group. This contradictory stance exacts a devastating toll:
Without Hezbollah’s disarmament, Israel’s low-intensity military campaign will
persist, repelling reconstruction funds and foreign investments. Lebanon faces
prolonged economic paralysis and political irrelevance, a self-inflicted crisis
rooted in its failure to confront the militia that holds its sovereignty
hostage.
Lebanon’s leadership appears trapped in a web of fallacious reasoning, seemingly
unable to distinguish between its obligations under international law—such as
enforcing state control over armed groups per UN Security Council Resolution
1701—and its domestic political entanglements. By failing to assert sovereignty,
Lebanon invites external intervention. Unwilling to
tolerate an armed Hezbollah along its northern border, Israel fills this vacuum
with relentless airstrikes on militia operatives and arms depots while
maintaining control over five strategic hilltops near the border.
Many Lebanese politicians often deflect responsibility, proposing economic
development or programs to lure Hezbollah fighters into civilian jobs as
alternatives to disarmament. These are mere distractions, delaying the
inevitable and empowering Hezbollah, which exploits Lebanon’s dysfunction to
maintain its military and political dominance. Such proposals ignore the reality
that economic recovery and stability are impossible while an armed militia
undermines the state.
The international community, exasperated by Lebanon’s chronic indecision, has no
interest in resolving this self-inflicted crisis. The message is clear: Lebanese
sovereignty is Lebanon’s responsibility. Beirut must make the hard choice to
disarm Hezbollah, whatever the cost, or remain a bystander as Israel continues
to neutralize the militia’s threat.
A parallel dynamic unfolds in Gaza, where the refusal to disarm Hamas
perpetuates suffering and stagnation. The first phase of the Trump Deal secured
the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
However, unless Hamas surrenders its weapons, Israel will retain control over
half of Gaza, including all border crossings. This
stranglehold blocks reconstruction funds and investments critical for rebuilding
infrastructure and fostering economic growth. Like Lebanon, Gaza prioritizes
militia armament over national interests, sacrificing the population’s desperate
need for jobs, housing, and stability. The refusal to disarm Hamas ensures Gaza
remains under Israeli military oversight, unable to recover from years of
conflict. The ethos of resistance, embodied by
Hezbollah and Hamas, is meant to serve national survival. Instead, both militias
invert this principle: Lebanon and Gaza remain crippled so that Hezbollah and
Hamas can endure. This perverse dynamic condemns the region to perpetual
conflict, economic ruin, and lost opportunities for future generations. By
prioritizing their arsenals over the welfare of their people, these militias
betray the very cause they claim to champion, leaving Lebanon and Gaza trapped
in a cycle of devastation. A recent Israeli strike in
Msailih, a southern Lebanese town and the hometown of Speaker Nabih
Berri—Hezbollah’s political ally in the Shia political duo—underscored Israel’s
resolve. The target was a company renting small tractors and construction
vehicles, which Hezbollah allegedly uses to dig tunnels and build
fortifications. These vehicles are also essential for clearing debris and
rebuilding Lebanon’s war-torn south. By striking them,
Israel sent a pointed message: as long as Berri and his allies enable
Hezbollah’s rearmament and undermine Lebanese sovereignty, no one is immune from
Israel’s reach. Israel’s strategy shifted decisively after October 7, 2023, when
it recognized that Arab governments, including Lebanon and the Palestinian
Authority, lack the power to control militias. This realization redefined
Israel’s approach to security and peace. No longer relying on promises from weak
states, Israel now imposes its own terms: Disarm Hezbollah and Hamas, or face
indefinite military oversight. In Lebanon, this means
continued strikes on Hezbollah’s infrastructure and operatives. In Gaza, it
means controlling key territories until Hamas disarms.
The international community’s patience has worn thin. Lebanon and Gaza cannot
expect external powers to resolve their crises. Sovereignty demands tough
decisions—disarming militias, enforcing state authority, and prioritizing
national recovery over ideological resistance.
Hezbollah and Hamas have long exploited the rhetoric of resistance to justify
their grip on power, but their actions serve only to prolong suffering. Until
Beirut and Gaza act decisively, Israel will continue policing these militias,
ensuring both regions pay the price of inaction with prolonged devastation,
economic collapse, and the erosion of any hope for a stable, prosperous future.
The path to recovery lies in courage, not capitulation to armed groups that hold
their people hostage.
Gaza Deal: A Funeral for a Bygone Era
Nadim Koteich/Asas Media/October 14/2025
(Free translation from Arabic by Elias Bejjani)
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/10/148214/
The ceasefire agreement in Gaza, as it announces the end of the war or its
bloodiest chapters, concludes a political era in the Middle East that lasted for
more than twenty years. What we are witnessing is not the end of the war, but
the end of war as a political language, which was used to establish the myth
that non-state militias are capable of shaping the region's future indefinitely.
The Hamas movement is not negotiating now from the position of one who
has solidified their vision for the conflict and its tools. Rather, it is
searching among the rubble of architecture and politics for ways to survive,
having been depleted and hollowed out, and is facing a future filled with
questions of reconstruction, governance, and legitimacy. However, Hamas is only
the most obvious loser in a broader ideological collapse that has encompassed
the entirety of what is called the "Axis of Resistance."
Has Iran's Management of Proxy Wars Ended?
Every proxy war managed by Iran in the region heads toward the same end, where
its partners find themselves becoming shadows of their former selves. Hizbullah,
before Hamas, submitted to a ceasefire agreement without achieving any of its
conditions. The Gaza war continued after it was forced out of it, its military
structure was destroyed, and its leaders were killed. The land that was not
occupied before the support war is now occupied, with no real prospect of
withdrawal unless Israel agrees that its security conditions have been met.
As for the Houthis, they will find it difficult to justify their attacks
after Hamas has surrendered to the logic of a ceasefire, under Israel's sweeping
conditions, most notably the continued presence of its army in Gaza. On top of
all this, Iran was subjected to the test that it created the Axis of Resistance
to avoid—direct war with Israel and America—only to find out that the Iranian
deterrence theory is merely proxy deterrence, for a regime that cannot withstand
direct blows and realizes that the price of open confrontation is far beyond its
capabilities.
Putting these developments together points to the end of the resistance project
as a whole, not just scattered tactical defeats.
Iran and the Expiration of Validity
The Iranian regional project has not only been crushed militarily, but its
theoretical and practical validity has expired, having failed to fulfill its
promise of an alternative system and a counter-narrative to the Western and Gulf
models. A close examination of the Gaza agreement and its twenty clauses shows
that the intellectual and political axis around which the deliberations for the
day after the war revolve is the pragmatism of the state, not the vagaries of
theological extremism. First: One of the observations
that has not received sufficient coverage during the Gaza war is that the Arab
world did not explode, as Yahya Sinwar or Khaled Meshaal had called for. All the
sympathy, indignation, and protests did not produce the comprehensive
mobilization or a sustained popular uprising that the Axis wanted as a vehicle
to change the political balance in the Arab world, not in Israel, with the aim
of shaking Arab governments and states and redrawing the borders in some of
them. This popular political maturity is the practical translation of the state
of satiation the region has reached, with its states and peoples, whereby the
emotional and mental center of Arab politics has shifted from the Palestinian
cause to the internal challenges of each state individually. It is not a minor
detail that youth demonstrations in Morocco, for example, only occurred in the
context of demanding better health and education conditions. It is not a minor
detail that Syria is openly negotiating with Israel over joint security
arrangements at the height of the Gaza war. It is not a minor detail that the
majority of Lebanese are celebrating their country's exit from the support war
they were dragged into, amid an implicit and open welcome for the results of the
Israeli war on "Hizbullah." It is not a minor detail that Jordan, the weakest
link among the recipients of the repercussions of the Gaza war, succeeded in
strengthening the country's political and societal immunity in the face of daily
incitement against Jordan's security and regime.
The tragedy of Gaza accelerated this psychological transition, not because Arab
public opinion abandoned its people in their hardest ordeal, but because it
bypassed the policies that made Gaza a perpetual and continuous issue.
Second: The ceasefire agreement establishes regional and international
custodianship over Gaza, and perhaps the entire Palestinian issue, by the United
States, the Gulf States, Egypt, and Turkey. Gaza is set to become the prototype
for what we might call "hybrid sovereignty": Palestinian in name locally,
financially supported by the Gulf and international institutions, politically
managed from Washington, and subject to practical supervision by a group of
regional actors with conflicting interests but shared stakes in stability. The
alternative to occupation is not sovereignty or the two-state solution, at least
for now, but a political structure with multiple layers of sovereignty,
distributed authority, and continuous negotiation over legitimacy. The real
upcoming battle is not over who controls Gaza, but over who writes the rules of
this emerging order, and whether it will become a model for the post-conflict
phase in Yemen, Lebanon, or even Syria and beyond.
Third: For the first time in our region, reconstruction will be used as a
weapon, by employing contracts, funds, infrastructure projects, and monitoring
mechanisms to re-engineer the political DNA of Gaza and the entire Palestinian
issue. The intention here is for economic and architectural modernization to be
transformed into a tool designed for ideological disarmament, so that not a
single dollar is spent in a place that does not lead to the restoration of
Gaza's and the region's political, value-based, and intellectual spirit before
restoring stones and infrastructure. What we are facing now is a complex
state-building process where the reconstruction process transcends its
humanitarian and charitable dimension that prevailed in past wars, whether in
previous rounds of Gaza or after the 2006 Lebanon war.
Diversity of Narratives
It will not be surprising for every regional actor in this test to claim that
the Gaza deal proves the correctness of their point of view. Qatar will frame it
as proof of successful mediation. The UAE will present it as confirmation of the
feasibility of normalization. Saudi Arabia will employ it to support the
Kingdom's future political transformations and choices. Iran will insist that it
demonstrated that resistance cannot be entirely extinguished. Turkey will
declare that it deserves praise for its humanitarian intervention. The United
States will describe it as a triumph for the political Trumpism's unconventional
diplomacy. And Israel will celebrate it as a sign of decisive Israeli
superiority. The next conflict will be a rhetorical battle in a war of
narratives, about who writes the story of victory, who defines defeat, and who
takes the paternity of the new order.
But what is undisputed is that the tragedy of Gaza, ironically, will transform
into the birthplace of the new Arab political realism, and will offer a model
for how to manage post-conflict areas in an era where proposals for permanent
occupation or full sovereignty are no longer always possible. The clearest block
of rubble in destroyed Gaza is the rubble of the Axis of Resistance's rhetoric
and its old answers. Resistance is not the essence of identity, theological
extremism about the ideas of Jihad and Nusra (support) is not a sure tool for
manufacturing the future, and eternal conflict is not a source of national
cohesion. The Gaza deal may not be the end of the conflict. But it is certainly
the end of armed struggle and militias as an organizing principle for regional
politics.
Joseph Aoun: Dialogue with Israel Is Possible
Marc Saikali/This is Beirut/October 14, 2025
President Joseph Aoun delivered two sentences that may well mark a turning point
for Lebanon. First, he stated that “our country cannot remain on the sidelines
of efforts undertaken to resolve the crises unfolding in the region.” Then he
added that “a dialogue with Israel is possible.”
These two brief remarks echoed those of Donald Trump in his address to the
Knesset, when he congratulated the Lebanese president for his efforts — a
comment widely interpreted as a nod to Aoun’s stance on Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Aoun’s words carry even greater weight given Lebanon’s glaring absence
from the recent Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Around the table, some thirty heads of state and government debated the region’s
future — yet Lebanon’s voice was missing. This absence speaks volumes about the
country’s fading role and the urgent need to reclaim a seat at the table where
the new Middle East is being shaped. That, in essence,
is Aoun’s message. Lebanon can no longer afford to merely endure the fallout of
other people’s wars. It must once again become an actor — even if only a
stabilizing one. The prospect of an end to fighting in Gaza opens a narrow
window through which dialogue and diplomacy might yet regain their place.
Nothing is settled yet. But in a region paralyzed by fear and mistrust,
Aoun’s words sound like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes, a single sentence can
shift the landscape. Meanwhile, the pro-Iranian
militia finds itself increasingly exposed. Even Hamas — for whom Hezbollah
launched its disastrous “war of support” — is now negotiating the surrender of
its weapons and authority. Lebanon is left with parts
of its territory in ruins and no funds for the estimated fourteen-billion-dollar
reconstruction. Aoun himself acknowledged this fact, stressing that only an
international conference could fund such efforts. Yet, as long as the weapons
remain, such a conference will not take place. As a
new wind sweeps across the Middle East, Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsor now
stand at a crossroads: cling to futile wars waged in the name of Palestinians
who have already moved on, or allow the long-suffering Lebanese people finally
to board the train of history as it passes before their eyes.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on October
14-15/2025
Clans, armed groups are challenging Hamas in Gaza Strip
Reuters/October 14, 2025
GAZA STRIP: As the Gaza war dragged on, a diminished Hamas faced growing
internal challenges to its control of Gaza from long-standing rivals, many of
them affiliated with powerful local clans. Since Friday’s ceasefire took hold,
Hamas has sought to reassert itself, killing dozens of opponents in a crackdown
after appearing to get a US nod to temporarily police the shattered enclave. The
following are some of the key clans and figures whose members have clashed with
Hamas forces over the past two years. Abu Shabab clan: Yasser Abu Shabab, based
in the Rafah area, is the most prominent anti-Hamas clan leader. He operates in
a part of southern Gaza still occupied by Israeli forces. According to a source,
his group has recruited hundreds of fighters by offering attractive salaries.
Hamas accuses him of collaborating with Israel, a charge he denies. His personal
force is estimated to be around 400 men. Doghmosh clan: The Doghmosh clan is one
of the largest and most powerful in the Gaza Strip and has historically been
well-armed. Mumtaz Doghmosh, a key clan leader, previously led the Popular
Resistance Committees’ armed wing in Gaza City. He later formed the “Army of
Islam,” which declared allegiance to Daesh.
BACKGROUND
Yasser Abu Shabab, based in Rafah, is the most prominent anti-Hamas clan leader.
Mumtaz Doghmosh’s whereabouts have been unknown since before the war
erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas fighters clashed with members of Doghmosh on
Sunday and Monday. Al-Majayda clan: This large and powerful clan is centered in
Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Its members have clashed with Hamas
fighters in recent months. Earlier this month, Hamas
raided the clan’s area to arrest men it said were wanted for killing Hamas
members. A shootout ensued, resulting in several deaths on both sides, Hamas and
clan members said. On Monday, the head of the clan issued a statement on social
media affirming support for the security campaign launched by Hamas to maintain
law and order in Gaza, urging clan members to cooperate. Rami
Hellis: The Hellis clan is a large clan in Gaza City, centered in the Shejaia
suburb. A few months ago a senior member of the clan, Rami Hellis and Ahmed
Jundeya, a member of another large Shejaia clan, formed a group that operates in
defiance of Hamas within parts of Shejaia that are still under Israeli army
control.
UN says states willing to fund Gaza’s $70 billion rebuild
Reuters/October 14, 2025
ANKARA/GENEVA: There are promising early indications from countries, including
the United States as well as Arab and European states, about their willingness
to contribute to the $70 billion cost of rebuilding Gaza, a United Nations
Development Programme official said on Tuesday. “We’ve had very good indications
already,” UNDP’s Jaco Cilliers told reporters at a press conference in Geneva,
without giving details. He estimated that the two-year Israel-Hamas war had
generated at least 55 million tonnes of rubble.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan earlier said he will seek the support of Gulf
states, the United States and Europe for the reconstruction of Gaza under the
new ceasefire deal, and he believed project financing will be provided swiftly.
Speaking to reporters on a return flight from Sharm El-Sheikh, Erdogan said
Western countries’ decisions to recognize the Palestinian state should be seen
as building blocks of a two-state solution, according to a transcript shared by
his office on Tuesday.
Trump Says ‘Will Decide’ on Solution to Middle East
Conflict
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he "will decide what I think is right" on
a long-term solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Trump made a brief
visit to the Middle East to join regional leaders Monday in signing a
declaration meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza after two years of war.
Addressing the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Trump noted "a lot of
people like the one state solution, some people like the two state solutions.
We'll have to see." "I will decide what I think is right, but I'd be in
coordination with other states and other countries," he told journalists aboard
Air Force One.
Around three-quarters of the 193 UN member states recognize the Palestinian
state proclaimed in 1988 by the exiled Palestinian leadership. The United
States, Israel's closest ally, criticized the decision last month by allies
including Britain and Canada to recognize Palestine as a state.
Trump Convinced Netanyahu to Take a Deal. Can He Keep Him Onboard?
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
US President Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed peacemaker who has campaigned for a
Nobel Prize, finally got a camera-ready diplomatic victory on Monday as world
leaders flew to Egypt for the signing of the ceasefire and hostage-release deal
he brokered between Israel and Hamas. But if lasting peace is to take root,
analysts and diplomats say, Trump will have to maintain pressure on the man
whose support he'll need in the next phases of his plan: Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. US presidents from Bill Clinton to Joe Biden have found the
strong-willed Israeli leader difficult to work with, and even Trump
administration officials have been frustrated by some Israeli military strikes
they see as undermining US policy. But this month Trump managed to push
Netanyahu into accepting his framework for a broader peace deal while persuading
other Middle Eastern countries to convince Hamas to return all the Israeli
hostages, its key leverage in the war.
The work could get harder from here, however.
Israel and Hamas remain sharply divided over many aspects of Trump's 20-point
plan and, as Israel prepares for next year's elections, Netanyahu's approach may
shift as he attempts to keep his right-wing coalition together. "We're entering
a political year where everything is related to campaigns, and Netanyahu's
calculations may flip from caving to pressure to trying to ensure his political
survival," said Nimrod Goren, the president of Mitvim, an Israeli foreign policy
think tank. The strength of Trump's peace plan, said the diplomats and analysts,
is also its weakness. The document at the heart of the
deal leaves much undefined, and neither side actually agreed to the fine print
of each term. That vagueness was key to getting both sides to sign on, but it
also means some of the most difficult diplomatic work is just beginning.
Among the potential sticking points of Trump's peace plan is an agreement
that Hamas disarm and play no role in Gaza's future administration. While Hamas
agreed to Trump's plan generally, the group's official response made no mention
of those specific terms, and Hamas leaders have indicated that they do in fact
see a role for themselves in governing a post-war Gaza. "There are a number of
ways this could go sideways," said Jon Alterman, a Middle East expert at
Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former State
Department official. "It's hard to remember an international agreement that left
so much to be worked out later."The Israeli embassy in Washington did not
immediately respond to a request for comment. A senior
US official suggested that Trump had gained influence with Netanyahu in part by
strongly supporting Israel on other important matters. Trump's first
administration formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the
disputed Golan Heights as part of the country, two things long sought by the
Israeli government. "One thing President Trump's done with Israel ... is that
he's not trying to be a middle-of-the-roader," the US official said. "He's
basically stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel 100%. But because of that, he's
been able to help guide them in the right direction."
A STERNER TRUMP
Trump has a mixed record when it comes to applying political pressure on
Netanyahu.
In July, Israel bombed the Syrian defense ministry in Damascus even as the US
had made a point of expanding ties with the new Syrian government. The US
president gave political cover in Gaza to Netanyahu for months amid mounting
humanitarian concerns among European and Arab countries. But in recent weeks, a
sterner Trump has emerged. He forced Netanyahu to call the PM of Qatar to
apologize after a failed bombing raid targeting Hamas negotiators in that
country in September. Ultimately, he muscled Netanyahu into signing onto his
20-point plan despite the Israeli leader's misgivings.
At the moment, said Alterman, the Middle East expert, Trump can likely exert
leverage over Netanyahu given the US president's significant popularity in
Israel. "Trump's greatest leverage is he's much more
politically popular in Israel than Netanyahu," Alterman said, "and he can either
support Netanyahu's political future or sabotage it."At the speech before the
Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump playfully poked at the Israeli leader in
ways that indicated he did not feel the need to treat Netanyahu with special
deference. "Well, see, now you can be a little bit nicer, Bibi, because you're
not at war anymore," Trump said to laughs. But next year's elections could
change Netanyahu's political calculations in ways that are difficult to predict.
Supporters of right-wing politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich could
in theory threaten Netanyahu's governing coalition if they are sufficiently
angered by the decision to halt military operations against Hamas. Analysts warn
that foot-dragging by the Palestinian group over disarming could lead right-wing
elements of the coalition to pressure Netanyahu to resume military operations in
Gaza, effectively scuttling Trump's deal. "We are troubled with the fact that
Hamas still, today, declares it will stay in power in Gaza," Simcha Rothman, a
member of the Religious Zionism party and of Netanyahu's governing coalition,
told Reuters on Monday. "We are not happy with any deal that is not total
surrender of Hamas ... We will not accept any partial victory." Another issue
that could prove an irritant: a provision in the peace plan that admits the
possibility of a future Palestinian state, which analysts say most Israelis
would struggle to accept after Hamas' cross-border attack of October 7, 2023.
Dan Shapiro, a former US ambassador to Israel, said that if government
and opposition politicians campaign heavily against the creation of such a
state, it could limit the willingness of Arab countries to push Hamas to fulfill
its obligations under Trump's deal. "That was a very
important inclusion to get the support of the Arab states to do their part,"
Shapiro said. "If the political discourse is a full-on rejection of a
Palestinian state for all time, I think that could color the enthusiasm of the
Arab parties."
Israel Says It Opens Fire on Suspects in Gaza, Local Authorities Report Six
Killed
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Israel's military said it opened fire on Tuesday to remove a threat posed by
suspects who approached its forces in the northern Gaza Strip, and health
authorities in the enclave said at least six Palestinians had been killed by
Israeli fire. The military said the suspects had crossed a boundary for an
initial Israeli pullback under a US-brokered ceasefire plan, in a violation of
the deal. Gaza's local health authority said the Israeli military killed six
Palestinians in two separate incidents across the enclave on Tuesday. On Monday,
Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages from Gaza and Israel sent home
busloads of Palestinian detainees under the ceasefire deal, as US President
Donald Trump declared the end of a two-year-long war that has upended the
broader Middle East.
Gaza Ceasefire Outlook Darkens as Israel Delays Aid
and Hamas Tightens Grip
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Israel delayed aid into Gaza and kept the enclave's border shut on Tuesday,
while re-emergent Hamas fighters demonstrated their grip by executing men in the
street, darkening the outlook for US President Donald Trump's plan to end the
war. Three Israeli officials said Israel had decided to restrict aid into the
shattered Gaza Strip and delay plans to open the border crossing to Egypt at
least through Wednesday, because Hamas had been too slow to turn over bodies of
dead hostages. The group has said locating the bodies is difficult. Meanwhile,
Hamas has swiftly reclaimed the streets of Gaza's urban areas, following the
partial withdrawal of Israeli troops last week. In a video circulated late on
Monday, Hamas fighters dragged seven men with hands tied behind their backs into
a Gaza City square, forced them to their knees and shot them from behind, as
dozens of onlookers watched from nearby shopfronts. A Hamas source confirmed
that the video was filmed on Monday and that Hamas fighters participated in the
executions. Reuters was able to confirm the location by visible geographic
features.
DELAY IN HANDING OVER BODIES
Trump has given his blessing to Hamas to reassert some control of Gaza, at least
temporarily. Israeli officials, who say any final settlement must permanently
disarm Hamas, have so far refrained from commenting publicly on the reemergence
of the group's fighters. On Monday the US president proclaimed the "historic
dawn of a new Middle East" to Israel's parliament, as Israel and Hamas were
exchanging the last 20 living Israeli hostages in Gaza for nearly 2,000
Palestinian detainees and prisoners. But so far, Hamas has handed over only four
coffins of dead hostages, leaving at least 23 presumed dead and one unaccounted
for, still in Gaza. Aid trucks have yet to be permitted to enter Gaza at the
full anticipated rate of hundreds per day, and plans have yet to be implemented
to open the crossing to Egypt to let some Gazans out, initially to evacuate the
wounded for medical treatment.
HAMAS RETURN DEMONSTRATES HURDLES TO SETTLEMENT
The highly public return of Hamas to control of Gaza's streets demonstrates the
hurdles to progressing from the initial ceasefire - phase one of Trump's plan -
to a permanent settlement that would prevent a new eruption of fighting. Gaza
residents said Hamas fighters were increasingly visible on Tuesday, deploying
along routes needed for aid deliveries. Palestinian security sources said dozens
of people had been killed in clashes between Hamas fighters and rivals in recent
days. Meanwhile, Israeli drone fire killed five people as they went to check on
houses in a suburb east of Gaza City and an airstrike killed one person and
injured another near Khan Younis, Gaza health authorities said. Hamas accused
Israel of violating the ceasefire. The Israeli military said it had fired on
people who crossed truce lines and approached its forces after ignoring calls to
turn back. A summit co-hosted by Trump in Egypt on Monday ended with no public
announcement of major progress towards establishing an international military
force for Gaza, or a new governing body.
HAMAS ASSERTS CONTROL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently maintained that the
war cannot end until Hamas gives up its weapons and ceases to control Gaza, a
demand that the fighters have rejected, torpedoing all previous peace efforts.
But Trump, having announced that the war is now over, said on Monday Hamas still
had a temporary green light to keep order. "They do want to stop the problems,
and they've been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time,"
he said. Hamas sources told Reuters on Tuesday the group would tolerate no more
violations of order in Gaza and would target collaborators, armed looters and
drug dealers. The group, though greatly weakened after two years of pummeling
Israeli bombardment and ground incursions, has been gradually reasserting itself
since the ceasefire took hold. It has deployed hundreds of workers to start
rubble clearing on key routes needed to access damaged or destroyed housing and
to repair broken water pipes. Road clearance and security provision will also be
needed for increased aid delivery.
AID AND HOSTAGES
The ceasefire has stopped two years of devastating warfare in Gaza triggered by
the October 7, 2023 attack in which Hamas-led gunmen killed around 1,200 people
and seized 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military
campaign in Gaza killed nearly 68,000 people according to local health
authorities, with thousands more feared dead under the rubble. Gaza's Civil
Defense Service said 250 bodies had been recovered since the truce began.
Swathes of Gaza are in ruins and the global hunger monitor said in August there
was famine in the territory. Thousands of Gazans have been returning to homes
since the ceasefire, many finding whole streets bombed into dust. UNICEF
spokesperson Tess Ingram said that while aid was getting into Gaza with tents,
tarpaulin sheets, winter clothes, family hygiene kits and other critical items,
she hoped for a significant increase later this week.
Truce does not mean impunity for Gaza ‘genocide’
AFP/October 14, 2025
MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday the truce between
Hamas and Israel must not come at the expense of holding accountable those
responsible for the “genocide” in Gaza. “Peace cannot mean forgetting; it cannot
mean impunity,” the Socialist premier said during an interview with Cadena Ser
radio. “Those who were key actors in the genocide perpetrated in Gaza must
answer to justice, there can be no impunity,” he added when asked about the
possibility of legal proceedings against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. Spain, one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s offensive
in Gaza, announced in September that its prosecutor would investigate “serious
violations” of human rights in the Palestinian territory in coordination with
the International Criminal Court. The court has issued arrest warrants for
Netanyahu and Israel’s former defense minister Yoav Gallant. Sanchez, who
attended a peace summit on Gaza in Egypt on Monday, reaffirmed that Spain’s arms
embargo on shipments to and from Israel remains in place. “We will maintain this
embargo until the process is consolidated and definitively moves toward peace,”
he said. Sanchez also suggested Spain could take part in future efforts to
secure peace and aid reconstruction in Gaza.
Britain Pushes Northern Ireland as Model for
Disarming Gaza
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Britain could take a leading role in helping to disarm Hamas in Gaza, based on
its experience of encouraging militant groups in Northern Ireland to lay down
their arms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday. Starmer told parliament
that decommissioning the enclave would be vital if Donald Trump's ceasefire
between Israel and Hamas is to last, the first stage of the US president's
20-point framework to bring peace to the Palestinian enclave. Starmer's national
security adviser, Jonathan Powell, was a chief architect of the 1998 Good Friday
Agreement which largely ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern
Ireland, working alongside former prime minister Tony Blair, who has been tipped
for a role in Gaza. Three European diplomats also said
the Northern Ireland case was being cited as a possible future model for Gaza,
although they noted there was no comprehensive plan in place. "Of course, this
is going to be difficult, but it's vital. It was difficult in Northern Ireland
in relation to the IRA (Irish Republican Army), but it was vital," Starmer said.
"That is why we have said that we stand ready, based on our experience in
Northern Ireland, to help with the decommissioning process. I'm not going to
pretend that's easy, but it is extremely important." The IRA, an overwhelmingly
Catholic group seeking a united Ireland, said in 2005 it would formally end its
armed struggle. It refused to dispose of its weapons in public but agreed to the
presence of independent monitors, who after three months said it had put its
weapons beyond use. The Northern Ireland peace deal dealt with everything from
reform of the police to the early release of paramilitary prisoners, the
disarmament of paramilitary groups and the "normalization" of security
arrangements. However, the IRA never governed Northern
Ireland, unlike Hamas, which has been in control of Gaza since 2007 and has
overseen all sectors of public life. Powell was in
Egypt on Monday for an international summit on Gaza, alongside Starmer.
According to the BBC, he was there last week as the negotiations were being
finalized. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Powell
on X on Monday for his "incredible input and tireless efforts". In Gaza, Israeli
officials have said any final settlement must permanently disarm Hamas. Trump
has also said he will establish a "Board of Peace" to oversee the governance of
Gaza. He had initially suggested that Blair would serve on that, but he said on
Sunday he needed to find out if that was an "acceptable choice to everybody".
Syria’s Sharaa to Visit Moscow on Wednesday
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Moscow on Wednesday, pro-government
Syria TV and a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, despite the
postponement of an Arab summit there that he had planned to attend. Sharaa is
set to hold talks on the continued presence of Russia’s naval base in Tartous
and its air base in Hmeimim, a Syrian official source said. He will also
formally request the handover of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a
Russian ally, for trial over alleged crimes against Syrians, the source added.
Sharaa led opposition fighters into Damascus in December and installed a new
government. Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia.
Moscow has since attempted to preserve ties with Syria's new authorities,
including offering Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes on Syrian
territory. In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Moscow. Shaibani's
visit was the first since Assad's ouster.
Lavrov skeptical of Trump peace plan, calls for Palestine recognition
Tamara Aboalsaud/Arab NewsOctober 14, 2025
MOSCOW: US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan is the “best thing to end
bloodshed” and allow humanitarian aid and relief to enter Gaza, but lasting
peace is doubtful without Palestinian statehood, Russia’s foreign minister told
a press conference on Monday. “We welcome the prospect, but we have a certain
amount of skepticism,” Sergei Lavrov said, adding: “I have no clue how they
(Gazans) will be able to live there right now.” According to estimates, more
than 80 percent of Gaza has been reduced to rubble in the two-year Israeli
onslaught. Lavrov said that focusing on reconstruction is better than continuing
to allow Gazans to live under constant Israeli shelling. Russia is ready to take
part in the reconstruction process “in any format,” he added. The foreign
minister highlighted that Trump’s plan only mentions ending the violence in the
Gaza Strip but does not talk about the ways to ensure Palestinian prosperity in
the West Bank and how to force Israel to accept 1967 borders.
The press conference came a few days ahead of what was supposed to be the
first Russian-Arab Summit, intended to strengthen Russia-Middle East relations
and economic cooperation, as well as establish common security goals.
The summit has since been postponed indefinitely due to international focus on
the Gaza ceasefire. Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi chaired
the Gaza peace summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh yesterday.
The leaders of about 30 countries attended to discuss the first phase of
the Gaza peace plan, although representatives from both Palestine and Israel
were notably absent. The Trump Declaration for
Enduring Peace and Prosperity was jointly signed by the US, Egypt, Turkiye and
Qatar. The agreement has been criticized in some
quarters for being too simplistic and offering little information on how to
guarantee lasting peace.
When asked why Russia did not attend the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, Lavrov said the
“invitation was sent out by the hosts,” and that the attendees mostly consisted
of Arab stakeholders and the US. “Not everyone likes the partnership between
Russia and the Arab world,” he added. He said that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed
Al-Sudani was not invited despite being the president of the Arab League. Lavrov
said the root cause of the instability and violence in Palestine is the lack of
an internationally recognized independent Palestinian state, calling it the most
important matter for regional security.
He expressed his disappointment over the failure of the 2003 Roadmap for Peace
proposed by the Quartet on the Middle East: the US, Russia, EU and UN.
Lavrov also criticized the delay of some countries in recognizing a
Palestinian state. “If you decided to recognize the state, why should you wait
two to three months? You’re waiting until there’s nothing left,” he said.
Regarding the issue of Lebanon, Lavrov said that Israel and Lebanon should abide
by UN Security Council Resolution 1701, calling for a full cessation of
hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. On economic cooperation between Russia
and the Arab states, he described the Arab world as a key player in global
economics and security negotiations. He said that trade between Russia and the
Arab world has grown and now exceeds $34 billion, and highlighted crucial
cooperation in oil and gas, energy, agriculture, humanitarian aid, education and
tourism.
Lavrov praised Russia’s hosting of the Intervision Song Contest in Moscow on
Sept. 20, which saw 23 countries take part, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt
and the UAE. “Our Saudi friends have already invited
everyone as they host the next edition of the contest” in Riyadh next year, he
said.
Kremlin Says It Welcomes Trump’s Desire to Focus on
Search for Peace in Ukraine After Gaza Ceasefire
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
The Kremlin said on Tuesday it welcomed US President Donald Trump's desire to
focus on the search for a peace deal to end the fighting in Ukraine after
achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and hoped he'd be able to push Kyiv towards a
settlement. Addressing the Israeli Knesset a day earlier after brokering a deal
between Israel and Hamas, Trump spoke of wanting to get a deal done with Iran
over its nuclear program, but said he'd turn his attention to trying to end the
war in Ukraine first. "...first we have to get Russia done. We gotta get that
one done. If you don't mind, Steve, let's focus on Russia first," Trump said,
addressing Steve Witkoff, his special envoy who has held talks with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in the past. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said
Russia remained open to peace talks. "We certainly welcome such intentions and
we welcome the confirmation of the political will to do everything possible to
promote the search for peaceful solutions," Peskov said, when asked about
Trump's comments. "We are already well acquainted with Mr. Witkoff; he is
effective, has proven his effectiveness now in the Middle East, and we hope that
his talents will continue to contribute to the work already underway in
Ukraine."
Russia accuses Ukraine of stalling negotiations and of not making good on an
idea of setting up working groups to consider potential aspects of a deal.
Ukraine accuses Moscow of not being serious about a deal and of putting forward
conditions that are tantamount to asking for it to surrender. "The Russian side
remains open and ready for peaceful dialogue, and we hope that the influence of
the United States and the diplomatic skills of President Trump's envoys will
help encourage the Ukrainian side to be more active and more willing to engage
in the peace process," Peskov said. Peskov has said that dialogue with the US
around Ukraine has stalled, while Trump has spoken of possibly supplying Ukraine
with Tomahawk cruise missiles, something Moscow has made clear it would regard
as a dangerous escalation.
Erdogan says Syrian Kurds’ quick integration to help Syria
AFP/October 14, 2025
ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Syrian Kurdish forces’
quick integration into Syria would help accelerate the country’s development and
promote national unity, in remarks shared by his office Tuesday. The Syrian
Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls large swathes of Syria’s oil-rich
northeast, signed an agreement with the new Syrian authorities in March to merge
their civil and military institutions though the terms of the deal were never
implemented. Last week, Syria announced a comprehensive ceasefire with the
Kurdish forces after talks between President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Kurdish leader
Mazloum Abdi that followed deadly clashes in the northern city of Aleppo.In an
interview with AFP, Abdi said he had reached a “preliminary agreement” with
Damascus on the integration of his troops into Syria’s military and security
forces. Erdogan, whose government forged close ties
with Syria’s new rulers, said the integration should happen as soon as possible.
“The swift integration of the SDF into Syria will also accelerate Syria’s
development efforts,” he told reporters on the plane back from a summit in
Egypt. “We commend the Syrian government for moving forward with a vision that
encompasses all ethnic and religious elements of the country,” he said.
“This is in the interest of both Syria and Turkiye.”Between 2016 and
2019, Turkiye launched three offensives in northern Syria against Syrian Kurdish
fighters, who form the backbone of the SDF, and against Islamic State (IS) group
militants.
Erdogan Opposed Netanyahu’s Attendance at Summit, Turkish Official Confirms
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made clear he would not accept Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s presence at a high-level summit in Egypt, a
senior official said Tuesday, adding that Ankara had made plans to prevent the
Israeli leader from attending the meeting. The remarks by Omer Celik, spokesman
for Erdogan’s ruling party, marked the first public confirmation that Türkiye
had actively worked to block Netanyahu’s participation in Monday’s summit at the
Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh aimed at supporting the ceasefire in Gaza.
Erdogan, whose government maintains ties with Hamas, was one of the signatories
of a four-party declaration alongside US President Donald Trump and the leaders
of Egypt and Qatar. Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on Tuesday. Although
Netanyahu initially accepted a last-minute invitation to attend the summit, his
office later announced that he would not participate due to a Jewish holiday. On
Monday, a Turkish government official who requested anonymity to discuss the
issue, told The Associated Press that Erdogan, a vocal critic of Netanyahu’s
military actions in Gaza, had launched a diplomatic effort to prevent his
attendance. The official said Türkiye’s initiative gained support from several
other nations, ultimately leading to Netanyahu’s withdrawal. “Our president’s
stance is absolutely clear,” Celik told journalists. “He would never accept
being in the same photo frame as Netanyahu. He would not accept being at the
same summit. He wouldn’t accept sitting at the same table.”Celik said Türkiye
always prepares for multiple scenarios ahead of such summits. “Netanyahu’s
participation was not initially on the table,” he said. “However, since we are
prepared for every possible scenario, we had already worked out how to respond
if such a situation arose.”On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia
al-Sudani also warned Egyptian and US officials that he would withdraw from the
summit if Netanyahu attended, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
Erdogan did not comment publicly over Türkiye’s role in preventing Netanyahu’s
attendance. In a speech on Tuesday, Erdogan hailed the declaration signed in
Egypt as a significant step toward halting what he described as “genocide” in
Gaza. Erdogan has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza — an
allegation Israel strongly denies.
Despite the breakthrough, the scars of two years of intense suffering may never
fully heal, while the reconstruction of Gaza would be a long process, the
Turkish president said. “The devastation caused by the
genocide may never be fully repaired,” he said. “Rebuilding Gaza will likely
take years.”Meanwhile, Erdogan’s plane aborted its landing at Sharm el-Sheikh on
Monday due to a runway issue, according to Hurriyet newspaper, which is closely
aligned with the government. The report dismissed claims that the presidential
aircraft had circled above the Red Sea as Erdogan threatened to boycott the
meeting.
Israel tells UN will only allow half agreed number of aid trucks into Gaza
Reuters/October 14, 2025
Israel will not allow fuel or gas except for specific needs related to
humanitarian infrastructure Israel has told the United Nations it will only
allow 300 aid trucks – half the agreed number – into the Gaza Strip from
Wednesday and that no fuel or gas will be allowed into the enclave except for
specific needs related to humanitarian infrastructure, according to a note seen
by Reuters and confirmed by the UN. Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Gaza, confirmed the UN
had received the note from COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees
aid flows into Gaza. COGAT had said on Friday that it expected about 600 aid
trucks to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire. The COGAT note said the
restrictions were being taken because “Hamas violated the agreement regarding
the release of the bodies of the hostages.”
Arafat’s nephew returns to West Bank with plan for post-war Gaza
Reuters/October 14, 2025
RAMALLAH: A nephew of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has returned to the
West Bank after four years of self-exile, outlining a roadmap to secure peace in
Gaza with Hamas transforming into a political party and declaring his readiness
to help govern.
Nasser Al-Qudwa, a prominent critic of the current Palestinian leadership, also
urged “a serious confrontation of corruption in this country.” He said President
Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah Movement needed deep reform and must do more to counter
Jewish settler violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
“The first duty ... is to regain confidence of the street — something
that we lost — and we have to be brave enough and say that we don’t have it
anymore, and without it, frankly, it’s useless,” Qudwa said. Qudwa left the West
Bank in 2021 after he was expelled from Fatah, the movement founded by his
uncle, over his decision to field his own list in elections, defying Abbas who
canceled the vote. Abbas, 89, readmitted Qudwa to
Fatah last week, after offering an amnesty for expelled members. His return
coincides with renewed pressure on Abbas to enact long-delayed reforms in the
Palestinian Authority as it presses for a role in Gaza, lost to Hamas in 2007,
despite Israeli objections and being sidelined in President Donald Trump’s plan.
Palestinian analysts say Qudwa could have a role, citing his ties to Arab
states, his contacts with Hamas, standing as Arafat’s nephew and his Gazan
origins: he was born in Khan Younis. “If I’m needed, I’m not going to hesitate,”
Qudwa, 72, said. He said existing PA assets in Gaza
should be used in a new police force, and that Gaza’s current police could be
vetted and used as well. “Hamas needs to understand that nobody is coming after
them, that some of these employees will be given another opportunity, that they
will not be assassinated, that there will be an opportunity for them to
participate in the political life.” He said a Palestinian “council of
commissioners” could run Gaza. While Abbas could appoint its head, keeping a
link between the West Bank and Gaza, Qudwa said he was not suggesting the
“return of the (Palestinian) Authority as is to govern Gaza.”
He said that international supervision would be “fine,” but Gaza must be
run by Palestinians and they must be able to hold elections, last held in 2006.
Iran Sentences 2 French Citizens to a Combined 63
Years over Espionage Charges
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
An Iranian court sentenced two French citizens to a combined 63 years in prison
on espionage and national security charges, the country's judiciary said
Tuesday, likely further straining relations between Tehran and Paris. The
semiofficial Fars news agency named the pair as Cecile Kohler and Chuck Paris.
The two have been held since 2022 on charges France has denounced as
“unjustified and unfounded.” The judiciary’s Mizan news agency also reported
Tuesday’s sentencing but without sharing the names of the two French nationals.
Their possible prison sentences, which can be appealed to Iran’s Supreme Court
within 20 days, come as Tehran pressures French authorities to release an
Iranian national. Iran's Revolutionary Court in Tehran, which holds closed-door
hearings that often see defendants unable to access the evidence allegedly
gathered against them, issued the preliminary verdict, Mizan reported. The court
accused the two of working for French intelligence and cooperating with Israel.
The court sentenced the two defendants to over 30 years in prison apiece, Mizan
reported. Typically, convicts only serve the longest single term among their
charges. Kohler and Paris were arrested after meeting
with protesting Iranian teachers and taking part in an anti-government rally,
Iranian media reported at the time. France identified the two as a teachers’
union official and her partner on vacation in Iran. Concerns for their safety
grew after the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June that saw Israel bomb a notorious
prison in Tehran. In September, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his
nation was close to making a prisoner swap deal with France. Mahdieh Esfandiari,
a translator living in the French city of Lyon since 2018, was arrested in
February on a terror-related charge for alleged posts on Telegram about the
Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that triggered the war in Gaza,
according to French media reports. Last week, Iran released a teenage
French-German cyclist who disappeared in June while riding across the country,
the French government said. Iran has not acknowledged Lennart Monterlos'
release. Iran is known for holding dual nationals and Westerners and using them
as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations.
Iran Says Trump’s Call for Peace ‘At Odds’ with US Actions
Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
Iran said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's call for a peace deal with
Tehran was inconsistent with Washington's actions, referring to its strikes on
Iranian nuclear sites in June. "The desire for peace and dialogue expressed by
the US president is at odds with the hostile and criminal behavior of the United
States towards the Iranian people," the foreign ministry said in a statement. In
mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran, striking
nuclear and military facilities as well as residential areas and killing more
than 1,000 people. The 12-day war with Israel, during which the US struck the
key nuclear facilities in Iran, derailed high-level nuclear talks between Tehran
and Washington. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks that killed
dozens in Israel. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel has been in place since
June 24. During a Monday speech at the Israeli Knesset, Trump said he wanted a
peace deal with Iran and that the ball was in Tehran's court for any agreement
to come to pass. In its statement, Iran dismissed the call. "How can one attack
the residential areas and nuclear facilities of a country in the midst of
political negotiations, kill more than 1,000 people including innocent women and
children, and then demand peace and friendship?" the foreign ministry asked.
Trump also said "nothing would do more good" for the region than for
Iran's leaders "to renounce terrorists, stop threatening their neighbors, quit
funding their militant proxies, and finally recognize Israel's right to
exist".Tehran struck back, calling the remarks "irresponsible and shameful" and
accusing the United States of being "a leading producer of terrorism and a
supporter of the terrorist and genocidal Zionist regime"."The United States...
has no moral authority to accuse others," Iran's foreign ministry said.
Syrian president to head to Moscow on Wednesday: officials
Reuters/October 14, 2025
DAMASCUS: Syria’s President Ahmed Al-Sharaa will head to Moscow on Wednesday,
where he is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, a
government official and a foreign ministry official said. It marks Sharaa’s
first visit to Russia since the December overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler and
Russian ally Bashar Assad, who sought refuge in Moscow. The scheduled visit
“will include President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the foreign minister, and military and
economic officials,” the official, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not
allowed to brief the media, told AFP. The official
source added Sharaa is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
and that the two sides will also discuss “economic issues related to investment,
the status of Russian bases in Syria, and the issue of rearming the new Syrian
military.”A foreign ministry official confirmed the visit and Sharaa’s meeting
with Putin, noting that “economic and political issues and the status of Russian
military bases in Syria are on the agenda.”Russia’s naval base in Tartus and its
air base at Hmeimim, both on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, are Moscow’s only
official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. Moscow had used the
bases extensively during its intervention in the Syrian civil war on Assad’s
side in 2015, with heavy air bombardments of opposition-held areas.
Sharaa was supposed to participate in a Russian-Arab summit to be held on
Wednesday, but Moscow postponed it as many Arab leaders due to attend were
involved in the implementation of the United States’ ceasefire plan for the Gaza
Strip, which went into effect on Friday. Syria’s new rulers have sought peaceful
relations with Russia despite the latter’s former alliance with Assad. In July,
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani was the first senior Syrian official
of the new administration to visit Russia. In January, Deputy Foreign Minister
Mikhail Bogdanov and a delegation made the first trip to Syria by Russian
officials after the toppling of Assad.
5 suspects arrested following large captagon seizure
in Syria’s Aleppo
Arab News/October 14, 2025
LONDON: Syrian anti-narcotics authorities cracked down on criminal networks
involved in drug trafficking in two separate operations on Tuesday following
close monitoring. The Anti-Narcotics Department in
Aleppo arrested five people and seized 1 kg of H-Boz and 158,000 captagon pills
during the first operation. The department then seized 267,000 captagon pills
and 20 kg of hashish. The authorities from the Syrian Arab Republic said that
the seized items were confiscated and those involved in the crimes had been
referred to the judiciary, reported the Syrian Arab News Agency. Authorities in
Syria continue to fight against drug trafficking, cooperating with neighboring
countries such as Jordan, Turkiye, and Iraq to dismantle criminal networks. The
former regime of Bashar Assad has been accused of helping to turn the country
into a hub for manufacturing highly toxic captagon while sponsoring cartels to
smuggle drugs to the Arab Gulf and other countries.
The Latest English LCCC analysis &
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on October
14-15/2025
Are Iran nuclear negotiations back on the
table?
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/October 14, 2025
When, back in late August, the E3 — the UK, France and Germany — notified the UN
that Iran was in breach of its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement,
better known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which imposed severe
restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities, the last nail was about to be
hammered into this agreement’s coffin. A month later, as required by procedures,
the notification led to the activation of the “snapback” mechanism, imposing a
wide range of sanctions on the regime in Tehran due to what the E3 called
“Iran’s persistent and significant nonperformance of its JCPOA commitments.”
There is hardly anyone who genuinely believes that imposing more sanctions on
Iran is going to achieve an immediate impact. But after several years, the US,
which unilaterally abandoned the JCPOA in 2018, and Europe are now more aligned
in their efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear military capability.
But will this necessarily lead to the desired result of Tehran rethinking its
nuclear strategy? This is unlikely because, unless
there is a diplomatic path out of this crisis, it may have the opposite effect
of reinforcing its rulers’ intransigence, especially at a time when the Iranian
leadership is still licking its wounds from the June war with Israel, which
exposed its security vulnerabilities after its nuclear facilities took a big
hit. Sustaining the agreement would have required
negotiations to start well before the sunset clause came into effect
President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the JCPOA, largely
influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, destined the agreement
to remain on life support until the triggering of the “snapback” clause
effectively pronounced it officially dead. In this instance, the urgency to
trigger this mechanism was not due to signs of Iran accelerating its march
toward nuclear military capability but rather because of the nature of the 2015
deal.
Under the nuclear accord, Iran and world powers agreed to a “sunset” clause that
meant certain restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program would expire by October
2025. It might have been an oversight by those who agreed to it at the time. Or
maybe it stemmed from a belief that 10 years would create enough mutual trust to
move from an agreement that was transactional to a transformational one that
would change the nature of relations between Iran and the world and would
therefore end with Iran abandoning its wish to develop nuclear weapons.
This transition from transactional to transformational has unfortunately
not happened. Moreover, from a tactical negotiating perspective, it enabled
Iran’s president at the time, Hassan Rouhani, to promote the deal domestically
as one that, after a decade of compliance, would allow Iran’s civilian nuclear
program to operate without restrictions.
It might be a case of naivety, a reflection of the difference between how Tehran
operates compared to the West, but also a tendency to kick the can down the road
that enabled it to reach a deal but then fail to maintain not only the letter of
the agreement but also the spirit of it. Sustaining the agreement would have
required both sides to start negotiating well before the sunset clause came into
effect to find a mutually beneficial replacement.
Instead, such talks were postponed. With the US uninterested and the JCPOA
expiring on Oct. 18, this time constraint pushed the E3 to reimpose sanctions.
But this should only be a prelude to the search for a new agreement.
The timing of the reimposition of sanctions, so close to the June war,
suggests an inevitable link, even if the two are not directly connected. Yet,
while Israel and the US repeatedly claim that the 12-day war severely set back
the Iranian nuclear program, there is no clear evidence. And of special concern
is the status of a stockpile of 408 kg of uranium enriched to close to
weapons-grade level, which possibly remains beneath the rubble of the nuclear
facility bombed by Israel and the US, or is hidden somewhere else.
Until the US’ withdrawal from the agreement, Iran’s nuclear program was
generally controlled
Despite the damage to its nuclear facilities and the decimation of the top
echelon of the country’s security forces, Iran’s position on inspection has
hardened and it is not authorizing inspectors to regain access to Iran’s nuclear
sites, nor has it produced and transmitted to the International Atomic Energy
Agency a report accounting for that stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
For all intents and purposes, the JCPOA collapsed with the US decision to
abandon it unilaterally, achieving the opposite of what the agreement was
intended to achieve. Until the US’ withdrawal from the agreement, Iran’s nuclear
program was generally controlled. But in the following years, and by the Iranian
regime’s own admission, the enrichment process was accelerated. And now, without
any binding agreement, containing Iran’s march toward developing nuclear
military capability will be extremely difficult.
However, since Iran’s air defenses took a significant hit during the June war,
this might tempt Israel, or even the US, to try to complete the mission of
eliminating Iran’s nuclear program. What might also encourage such an approach
is the weakening of the so-called Axis of Resistance, including Hamas or
Hezbollah, and Syria’s exit from Iran’s orbit after the fall of the Assad
regime.
On the other hand, these developments have empowered Iran’s hard-liners to
demand an acceleration of the nuclear program to overcome the country’s security
vulnerability and to take courage from their demonstrated ability to inflict
hurt deep into Israel, including the latter’s major strategic assets. Acting on
this might be a dangerous miscalculation, but the idea still prevails within the
leadership in Tehran. Therefore, although escalation
is not inevitable, sanctions are not a long-term solution unless all sides
recognize the opportunity to return to diplomatic negotiations. Beyond the
posturing and accusatory rhetoric between Iran and the West, the least-worst
alternative for both sides is to enter a new round of the talks, as arduous and
laborious as these efforts are expected to be.
Long-term sanctions make the lives of ordinary people even more difficult and,
in the case of Iran, they are strengthening the hold of the Revolutionary Guards
over the country’s economy. A new deal with tight regimes of inspection and
monitoring of Iran’s nuclear facilities would allow for the eventual removal of
sanctions and could create space for Tehran to cease being an unsettling element
in the region, which could lead to an improvement in the regional security
architecture.
**Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate
fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg
Trump has his day but elephant in the room remains
Osama Al-Sharif/Arab News/October 14, 2025
Monday was an extraordinary day in the life of the Middle East: an end to the
two-year-old Israeli war on Gaza and, in the words of US President Donald Trump,
“the dawn of a new Middle East” and an end to “the long and painful nightmare.”
The promise of a historic breakthrough to the region’s endemic conflicts was so
surreal that there was an actual sense of optimism running through the entire
area, something that has not been felt for years and maybe decades.
But let’s not kid ourselves. This was Trump’s day. Forget about the
release of the remaining living hostages by Hamas or the release of fewer than
2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel — most of whom were never even charged.
Forget about the fact that the guns went silent in Gaza and that aid was finally
flowing into the beleaguered enclave. This was Trump’s moment in history,
enveloped in hyperbole and long-winded speeches.
Yet it was equally crucial in so many ways, in particular the fact the US is now
back in charge of how this conflict-ridden region will move forward. If
anything, it reinstated one overused statement: without the US, peace can never
be achieved in the Middle East.
The US was in control of the so-called peace process for decades, starting with
the post-Gulf War Madrid Peace Conference, passing through the Oslo Accords, the
second Camp David meetings, the roadmaps and the Obama declarations. Then the
process collapsed. The US was out as a broker and mediator. The region was
engulfed in chaos. No peace in the Middle East can be
achieved without giving the Palestinians the right of self-determination.
Oct. 7, 2023, was a game-changer in so many ways: for the Israelis, the
Palestinians, the rest of the world and, finally, for the US. More than 67,000
Palestinian casualties later — the genocide, the starving children and the
wanton destruction — Israel had reached a tipping point. The world had turned
against it. Its leaders were wanted for war crimes. Every week, millions around
the globe marched in support of Palestine. Public opinion in the US had shifted.
Countries lined up to recognize a free and independent Palestine.
What President Joe Biden failed to see, Trump’s inner circle came to embrace.
Benjamin Netanyahu had become a threat to Israel and to the US.
In his speech at the Knesset on Monday, Trump showered Netanyahu with
praise, but in effect he had, by imposing the Gaza deal on him, put him in a
political straitjacket. The war is over and there is no turning back. It is
something that Netanyahu never expected to be enforced on him by Israel’s
foremost ally. No amount of praise hurled at Netanyahu will save him from the
process of accountability to the Israeli public that awaits him, and which will
start as soon as the euphoria of the hostages’ return dissipates.
But what the Knesset and Sharm El-Sheikh speeches by Trump failed to mention was
the elephant in the room: the Palestinian issue. It is now a fact that no peace
in the Middle East can be achieved without giving the Palestinians the right of
self-determination that enables them to have a state of their own under UN
resolutions, basically ending the Israeli occupation. Peace in the Middle East
has been the declared objective of many US administrations. Despite Monday’s
celebrations in both Israel and Egypt, the US president danced around the main
obstacle to a final and lasting peace in the region: giving the Palestinians
their own state. Still, Trump’s peace overture and his commitment to ending the
war in Gaza are no small feat. The world gathered in Sinai to support the end of
the war. Although this was an acknowledgment of Trump as a peacemaker, hard work
lies ahead. The question is, how committed is Trump to bringing peace to the
region? He could take the accolades from Monday’s historic event and walk away.
Or, he has the capacity to get engaged in the delicate and cumbersome process of
defusing the crux of the region’s most obtrusive conflicts: the Palestinian
search for an end to Israeli occupation.
For now, Trump seems to be willing to take ownership of the banner of ‘peace in
the Middle East’
Trump never got into the details. The facts are that, under him, the US never
recommitted to the two-state solution. Washington’s role could be limited to a
process to end the war in Gaza, with all that entails, such as reconstruction,
the body that will run the Strip and the future of Gaza in a few years. But then
what happens in the West Bank? What about the Palestinian Authority and the
future of the Oslo Accords? It could all boil down to one thing: either Trump
comes clean about Palestinian rights, which is what the rest of the world
demands, or he could opt to bail out of the whole thing. For now, Trump seems to
be willing to take ownership of the banner of “peace in the Middle East.” But
that comes with a hefty price tag for the US, Israel and the Palestinians. So
far, Trump has given the Palestinians nothing. Not even rhetorical gifts. The
Sharm El-Sheikh summit, a significant gathering of world leaders who seem to
have a common stance on the way to resolve the Palestine question, failed to
deliver a clear US policy for a peace that extends beyond the Israel-Palestine
conflict. While Trump sent a goodwill message to Iran, asking it to join the
Abraham Accords, he skimped on the details. The fact
of the matter is that, while the US is the only country that today has sway over
Israel, Trump is cryptic on how to move forward beyond ending the Gaza war. That
achievement is essential in so many ways. It now has the support of many
countries. What comes next is more complex: the reconstruction, the replacement
of Hamas by an international body, the role of the PA in the future of Gaza, and
the need for guarantees that Israel will not attack Gaza again. Although these
issues are essential, they do little to settle the bigger conflict. What happens
in the West Bank with the aggressive, illegal Jewish-only settlements and the
attempts to destroy the PA as a step to de facto annexation?
Trump now owns the prospect of peace in the Middle East. Monday was his
day more than anything else. Now he must answer to the tens of Arab, Muslim and
Western leaders who came to Sharm El-Sheikh to laud his efforts and his bold
declarations. How his team will move things forward is the big question.
**Osama Al-Sharif is a journalist and political commentator based in Amman. X:
@plato010
Spain's Prime Minister on the Wrong Side of History
Robert Williams/Gatestone InstituteOctober 14, 2025
Before the extraordinary success of "Phase One" of US President Donald J.
Trump's peace plan yesterday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his
regret recently that Spain, due to its lack of nuclear weapons, could not end
the war in Gaza – meaning nuke Israel.
"Spain is the only democratic country where it is the government that fuels
violent protests." -- Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Spanish opposition leader, September
15, 2025.
What of Qatar, which sponsors Al Qaeda? Spain and Qatar enjoy excellent
relations, and entered into a strategic partnership in 2022 to deepen their
economic and political ties. The country that most likely helped finance the
biggest terrorist attack on Spanish soil is respected and rewarded by Spain,
while Israel, which is fighting that very same terrorism, is denigrated and its
citizens hounded. Already, Spain has prohibited any
trade in military equipment with Israel, banned the use of Spanish ports and
airspace to transport fuel or weapons to the Israeli military, and is
introducing an additional 9 measures against Israel, while throwing many more
millions of euros after the terrorist UNRWA. At the
end of the day, other than his hatred of Jews, Sánchez is doing what all corrupt
leaders have always done: blaming the Jews to deflect attention from his own
problems. Sánchez finds himself in the midst of several corruption scandals and
is struggling to stay in power amidst demands for him to be held accountable and
resign.
Perhaps it is time for Sánchez and those who voted for him to reconsider.
Before the extraordinary success of "Phase One" of US President Donald J.
Trump's peace plan yesterday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his
regret recently that Spain, due to its lack of nuclear weapons, could not end
the war in Gaza – meaning nuke Israel. "Spain, as you know, doesn't have nuclear
bombs, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves," Sánchez lamented. "We alone
can't stop the Israeli offensive. But that doesn't mean we won't stop trying.
Because there are causes worth fighting for, even if winning them isn't in our
sole power."
Sánchez's comment -- wishing for the annihilation of Israel -- did not raise any
eyebrows among Western European elites, who are usually quick to arrest, fine
and imprison for alleged "hate speech," anyone who disagrees with their policies
or hurts their sensitive feelings. Apparently remarks such as that -- wishing
for the genocide of the Jews -- are now normalized, mainstream and socially
acceptable for the leader of an ostensibly civilized European country.
A few days later, Sánchez happily remarked that the violent rioters who have
been disrupting the weeks-long Vuelta cycling race in Spain to protest the
participation of the Israeli cycling team -- a private team, not a state one --
bring the riders into physical danger. The Spanish prime minister, far from
ensuring the restoration of law and order at this international sporting event,
was praising the violence and inciting more of it:
Today the Vuelta a España finishes and we show our absolute respect and
recognition for the athletes. But [we also show] our admiration for the Spanish
people who mobilise for just causes such as Palestine. Today Spain shines as an
example and as a source of pride. It's [giving] an example to the international
community by taking a step forward in defence of human rights."
Targeting Jews, we are given to understand, is now a "defense of human rights."
Spain's pro-Hamas rioters acted immediately on the prime minister's incitement.
They launched such a violent attack on the last part of the Vuelta that it had
to be cancelled entirely. According to sources in Spain's police trade union,
the police appear to have received orders not to act against the pro-Hamas
rioters as they struck. "Spain is the only democratic
country where it is the government that fuels violent protests," opposition
leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said.
Earlier, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares had done his own part in
fueling the riots by announcing that ordinary Israelis are no longer welcome in
Spain, and advocating for the expulsion of the Israeli cycling team from the
Vuelta race:
"We have to send a message to Israel and the Israeli society that Europe and
Israel can only have normal relations when human rights are respected."
Israel and Spain are not at war. Nevertheless, Albares, with his statement,
declared Israelis – Jews – beyond the pale of "normal relations" due to a
defensive and existential war that Israel is fighting - in part also to protect
Spain.
Conversely, when Al Qaeda – sponsored by Qatar – launched the deadliest
terrorist attack on European soil in Spain in 2004, murdering 193 people and
wounding 2,000 others, Muslims were not spoken of this way: that would have been
discriminatory. Not only that, but since then, Spain has welcomed millions of
Muslim immigrants into the country, including a million Moroccans, even though
one of the Al Qaeda terrorists behind the attack on Spain was Moroccan.
What of Qatar, which sponsors Al Qaeda? Spain and Qatar enjoy excellent
relations, and entered into a strategic partnership in 2022 to deepen their
economic and political ties. The country that most likely helped finance the
biggest terrorist attack on Spanish soil is respected and rewarded by Spain,
while Israel, which is fighting that very same terrorism, is denigrated and its
citizens hounded.
Already, Spain has prohibited any trade in military equipment with Israel,
banned the use of Spanish ports and airspace to transport fuel or weapons to the
Israeli military, and is introducing an additional 9 measures against Israel,
while throwing many more millions of euros after the terrorist UNRWA.
In May 2024, Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz Pérez vowed that
"Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," so the genocidal strain in
the Spanish government since 1492, when both the Jews and the "Moors" (Muslims)
were expelled, is not new. Apparently Spanish ministers are too busy threatening
the Jewish state with annihilation to have time to look at people within their
own country to whom they are denying statehood.
Catalonia, for instance, which is a region with its own national culture and
language, has long struggled to be independent, but in 2017, when it tried to
hold a referendum for independence, Spanish national police beat Catalonian
voters and threw Catalonian politicians in jail.
At the end of the day, other than his hatred of Jews, Sánchez is doing what all
corrupt leaders have always done: blaming the Jews to deflect attention from his
own problems. Sánchez finds himself in the midst of several corruption scandals
and is struggling to stay in power amidst demands for him to be held accountable
and resign. Meanwhile, Spain's Jews pay the price for
the Spanish government's Jew-hate, most recently at the Vuelta. Spanish Jews,
who went to see the Vuelta with Spanish and Israeli flags, were harassed by
"hundreds of people with Palestinian flags and with a tremendously violent and
coercive attitude," despite the fact that they were located where the police
told them to stand to avoid confrontation. The mob even chased them even though
they moved elsewhere "not to provoke anyone." Meanwhile, the police did nothing.
Ángel Más, president of the Action and Communication for the Middle East (ACOM),
said: ""It was a very sad day in which street
terrorism was normalized as a way to obtain political objectives through
coercion, intimidation, the breaking of the law and fundamental rights.... These
people did not come to protest a cycling tour, or support any team, or
peacefully express an opinion at a public event. They came to lynch us. Their
problem is not the participation of an Israeli team in La Vuelta; its problem is
that we breathe, it is that we exist."
Perhaps it is time for Sánchez and those who voted for him to reconsider.
**Robert Williams is based in the United States.
© 2025 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do
not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
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or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Jordan’s economy is on the brink of collapse —
here’s how the US can help
Dan Swift/The Hill/October 14/2025
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5544321-jordans-economy-is-on-the-brink-of-collapse-heres-how-the-us-can-help/
Jordan is a dependable U.S. ally in a region where reliability is scarce. Jordan
promotes religious tolerance, hosts U.S. forces, and cares for hundreds of
thousands of Syrian refugees. It punches well above its weight in terms of
geopolitical role.
Its economy, however, leaves something to be desired.
Ask any Jordanian how the economy is going, and you will hear the word “zift” —
an Arabic slang expression that means “crap.” It is a bitter shorthand for high
inflation, low growth, and heavy taxes. As Jordan’s largest donor and strategic
partner, the U.S. has the tools to help reformers in Jordan seize opportunities
and shift the country’s economic trajectory.
Jordan’s economy has been stagnant for more than a decade. With population
growth fueled by the Syrian refugee crisis, per capita incomes are now lower
than before the 2008 global financial crisis. Unemployment remains high at 21
percent, but even that figure understates the problem, because most Jordanians
have stopped looking for work. Labor force participation is just 33 percent —
among the world’s five lowest rates. Female participation is just 14 percent,
less than half of Saudi Arabia’s rate, even though Jordanian women are more
educated than Jordanian men.
Foreign investment is essential to generate jobs. But paradoxically, many of
Jordan’s most strategically important sectors remain formally closed to foreign
direct investment. Wholesale, retail, distribution, import and export services,
and transportation all remain restricted. A ministerial-level investment
committee can approve exceptions, but that uncertainty scares off most
investors. This contradicts the Royal Hashemite Court’s own economic
modernization vision, which identifies investment into the transport and
logistics sectors as central to Jordan’s growth.
The contradiction is deliberate. Key sectors, especially trucking, are
politically sensitive and tightly protected. Tribes in the Mafraq and Ma’an
governates dominate trucking licenses, routes, and hiring — occasionally
enforcing control through roadblocks, protests, or even the threat of violence.
Liberalization carries security risks, but it could also boost competitiveness
and cut costs across the economy.
The good news is that Jordan has options to generate growth and jobs — if its
leaders can muster political courage and U.S. support.
One thing Jordan should do is quickly expand its natural gas pipeline network to
industrial zones. Clean and relatively cheap natural gas piped in from the
eastern Mediterranean can replace dirty and expensive liquified petroleum gas
trucked in from Iraq. The U.S. can profitably finance this expansion, which will
lower industrial costs across Jordan’s economy.
Jordan can also increase its power exports to Iraq. With U.S. backing, Jordan
recently completed a powerful 400-kV transmission line to serve its eastern
neighbor.
As a U.S. diplomat, I led American efforts, including the financial support, to
make this happen. The hard part — acquiring the land and building towers in
Al-Anbar Province in Iraq — is over. With cable upgrades, the connection could
provide power to parts of the province that haven’t had it for years, while
reducing Iraq’s dependence on Iranian gas.
Over time, the connection could form the foundation for a regional power pool
that eventually links Jordan, Iraq, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Connected grids
would mean lower costs and greater stability for all.
With U.S. support, Jordan can also become a mining powerhouse and regional
processing center for rare earth minerals found in monazite sands. These
elements — an essential component for the magnets U.S. industry needs — are
abundant in southern Jordan. The country already has built-in refining expertise
and infrastructure from U.S.-Jordanian ventures like the Jordan Bromine Company.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration failed to support this project. The
current administration should not make the same mistake.
Jordanian pessimism about the economy is understandable, but I respectfully
disagree. When I was in Amman, I helped a U.S. firm train young Jordanians —
especially women — for remote data science jobs with Gulf companies. We designed
a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the model. Final evaluation results
will be available in 2027, but early signs are promising — participants are
gaining skills and landing remote jobs.
This demonstrates the power of Jordanian resilience and private sector
investment to generate employment opportunities and solve longstanding social
problems — in this case, norms that discouraged women from commuting. Jordan
needs more of these solutions to lower costs and expand job opportunities for
its middle class. As Jordan’s largest donor and
supporter, the U.S. can help. Each year, U.S. law requires the Treasury to
transfer $750 million dollars in cash to Jordan, funds that Amman needs to
balance its books. Congress should give the
State Department authority to condition these funds on progress against reform
benchmarks: opening closed sectors, expanding natural gas networks, boosting
power exports, and developing a U.S.-aligned critical mineral mining and
processing sector. Properly applied, this leverage could empower reformers,
weaken entrenched interests, and push notoriously slow ministries to deliver on
priority projects. Jordan’s economy does not need a revolution. But it does need
more economic growth to keep its middle class productive in the face of high
inflation, and increasing taxes. It needs political courage, strategic clarity,
and a little tough love from its most important ally.
Daniel Swift is a senior research analyst for economics, finance, and trade for
the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies. He is a retired U.S. diplomat who served in Jordan from June 2019
to July 2023.
We’re Done with the Nobel Prize… But What About
Palestine and the Region?
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
US President Donald Trump lost the battle for the Nobel Peace Prize. In another
sense, however, he did not, winning his bet on a “peace deal” in Gaza, though he
didn’t really win that either. This is not “a play on words;” these are the
facts.
As for the Nobel Prize, Trump may have taken his demands for it too far,
convincing the committee that he felt its members were somehow obligated to hand
it to him and submit to his pressure. Nonetheless, if Trump’s ego took a hit,
astute political observers have recognized that granting the prize to the
Venezuelan right-wing politician María Corina Machado was, in fact, a precious
gift. It came at a perfect time for the American president, who is very eager to
topple the leftist regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, even if it means using
force. The American right has a long history with Venezuela, the country with
the world’s largest oil reserves. The relationship between the countries only
effectively ended when the leftist officer Hugo Chavez came to power. After
ruling from 1999 until his death in 2013, he was succeeded by Maduro, who
remains in office to this day.
In fact, Trump has never hidden his intention to bring an end to the left’s rule
in Venezuela. He is currently escalating militarily under the pretext of
“combating drug cartels,” but these actions are not only about narcotics.
Washington is offering generous financial support for Argentina to reinforce the
position of its far-right president Javier Milei ahead of the general elections.
Added to this is Trump’s growing support for populist right-wing leaders across
Latin America, including Nayib Bukele in El Salvador.
Here, observers draw a parallel between the “scenario” of elevating Machado
through the Nobel Peace Prize and the decision to award that same prize to the
Polish trade union leader Lech Walesa in 1983. The head of the “Solidarity”
union at the time, Walesa led the movement to end communist rule in Poland. It
is worth remembering that the opposition movement in Poland, the largest
Catholic country in Eastern Europe, had begun to gain momentum in 1978 with the
election of the Polish Cardinal, Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, as the new
Pope of the Vatican, making him the first non-Italian pontiff of the twentieth
century. From then on, Western circles watched the “decay” of the Soviets
closely, working patiently and persistently to eventually exhaust it.
They kept the Soviet leadership busy on several fronts. The USSR’s Afghan
quagmire (which followed the overthrow of King Mohammad Zahir Shah), propaganda
wars (notably through Radio Free Europe, which could be accessed in the Eastern
Bloc, and campaigns tied to human rights and the right of Jews to emigrate from
the former Soviet Union, all pushed in this direction. And here we recall,
Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, as the committee
credited him with “accelerating” the shifts that led to the dissolution of the
Soviet state, which officially stopped existing in 1991. The same prize had
earlier been given to the Russian dissident Andrei Sakharov and the Jewish
activist of Romanian origin Elie Wiesel.
Back to Trump and the Middle East...
If the ongoing Gaza war that began on October 7, 2023, is worth reflecting on,
first for insights into the prospects of peace and second to understand the
considerations of the Nobel Peace Prize committee, we are immediately faced with
two clear truths:
The first truth is that many remain unconvinced that the “peace deal” has
succeeded, though it has, at least temporarily, put an end to this horrific
humanitarian tragedy. Indeed, observers from across the political spectrum see
it as just another “deal” that fascinates the White House, with the president
ignoring crucial details, dimensions, or repercussions. In fact, the details are
the last thing on the minds of the two men whom the US president entrusted with
negotiating the deal on his behalf, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Although Benjamin Netanyahu may have persuaded the two men that he is moving
forward with the “deal,” the outrage of hardline settlers suggests otherwise.
Moreover, the Israeli public does not appear ready for a profound "settlement"
that could lead to a form of “coexistence” and ensure lasting peace in the
region. The second truth is that while it is being
presented as an “agreement that could not have been achieved without pressure
from the US president,” the deal is, in reality, a labyrinth of open-ended
questions. Mutual trust is indispensable if decades of suspicion and resentment
are to be overcome. In other words, Trump’s drive for personal glory does not,
in itself, amount to a solid guarantee for opening a new chapter in the region.
Upon examining Trump’s twenty points that make up his “deal,” I am reminded of
the sardonic remark by former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. When he
was presented with President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points at the end of
World War I, Clemenceau complained: “Mr. Wilson bores me with his fourteen
points. Why fourteen? God Almighty gave us only ten commandments!”Accordingly,
given the level of understanding that Kushner and Witkoff have of the region,
and with figures such as Netanyahu and the “doyenne” of the settlers Daniela
Weiss in the picture, it could prove difficult to implement those twenty points.
Thus, I would argue that the Arab negotiators and guarantors, as well as
the Palestinian leaders themselves, must engage in honest, serious, deep, and
transparent dialogue that moves beyond utopian illusions. There is no doubt that
Israel’s domestic tensions over the hostages have helped to “loosen the knots”
of the talks, and Israel, despite its dominance over the global media narrative,
has lost many levers over the past two years.
Nonetheless, this is a time of uncertainty, and the foreseeable future does not
seem reassuring: nothing has changed at the core of the Palestinian–Israeli
conflict, and, by extension, the Arab–Israeli conflict. Yes... There has been no
real progress toward solutions that could ensure a minimal level of coexistence
and positive interaction.
Questions of the Post-Gaza War Levant
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/October 14/2025
While the next phases of the Gaza agreement and its implementation are shrouded
in ambiguity, the broad trajectory of the Levant, as we can gather from this
agreement and others, is not obscure. The un-regrettable demise of an entire
ecosystem of forces and ideas, after it had tasked itself with molding and
engineering the region for decades, is unequivocal. “The resistance” has
collapsed: not only have the militias that manifest it been dilapidated, it has
also collapsed as a regime and method for dictating foreign and domestic policy
- that is, for dictating the terms of the relationship among “its people” and
between the latter and the world. “The cause” has also
collapsed, both as the chronic confiscation and manufacture of Palestinian
suffering and as a veto over the wishes and sovereignty of neighboring states.
In turn, the “Islamic Revolution” has collapsed as both a socially and
nationally implosive principle and as a model for hindering progress and
obstructing modernity’s path to its homeland and the region.
In strategic terms, the “Axis of Resistance” has collapsed as well; some of its
regimes have already fallen, while others are teetering on the edge of the
cliff. Accordingly, the notion of a powerful and intimidating “big brother”
sheltering small servants has also fallen.
Islamism - both Sunni and Shiite - is a common thread that, with the exception
of the Assad regime, runs through all the components of this system. That allows
for comparing their blow with that suffered by the Arab Nationalist (Nasserist
Baathists) military dictatorship in 1967 after they had, for over a decade, been
the driving force of the region.
In other words, an entire world of powers and relationships is receding, leaving
the Levant with a void that urgently calls on the region to re-found itself at a
time when it lacks the tools needed to undertake this task. If political Islam
had ascended as the alternative that should fill the vacuum left by Arab
nationalism and its regimes after 1967, what is likely to fill the vacuum left
by the decline of political Islam? Deepening
apprehensions, the current state of religious, sectarian, and ethnic relations
is alarming throughout the region, including in Gaza, where communal groups
could rush to fill that vacuum through violent means, leading to belligerent
infighting. This apprehension is premised on real causes for concern, foremost
among them the fact that all the pacts and alliances - both explicit and
implicit - that had once been forged in opposition to the forces of the
Resistance Axis have become obsolete. In Lebanon and Syria, this sort of
collapse typically coincides with a surge of mutual suspicion and hostility
among yesterday’s allies. This development falls into
the category of the “national” communities’ increasing divergence from one
another and atomization after having long repressed the questions that should
have been deliberated and answered following independence. That is how the
peoples of the region, from Palestine to Iraq, seem to have lost sight of the
tomorrow that today will bring: what sort of homelands will they inhabit, and
under what framework?
Meanwhile, the frustration born of defeat, as well as the humiliation and
profound comprehensive skepticism defeat brings, only strengthens the elements
fueling internal strife, which are already strong enough.
October 7 and its repercussions were not just military setbacks. They pose
existential questions to all the peoples of the Levant, not for the Palestinians
alone: Who are we? What is our social contract premised on? And where are we
headed? It seems that it will not be easy for any “Noah” to survive this
“flood.”
As a result of the inveterate inertia of the Levant’s mainstream political
culture, and given the accumulated failures to change oneself, the task bringing
this change about was left to Israel. The genocidal spite that shaped its
implementation of this undertaking has allowed Israel to build an imperial
strategic sphere around itself, obliging everyone to deal with this situation as
a fait accompli for the foreseeable future.
If this development is reassuring to some, because they believe that it
consolidates the end of the hostilities that have sprung from deadly “cause” and
paves a path toward regional peace and stability, others are haunted, with good
reason, by fears that this development could add a lot of fuel to flames of
domestic strife - that certain communities could, with the belligerence and
vengefulness we are familiar with, leveraging this shift against other
communities. Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition maintaining power would add
credence and viability to this sort of assumption.
Completing this bleak picture is this deceptive culture whose denial ends only
where its declarations of victory begin, considerably dimming this already
gloomy vision of the future. Every second, it launches a political and
informational October 7 that completes what it did that day, pummeling the mind
and reason while absolving those responsible for this tragedy from blame.
Nonetheless, one signal that has not received the attention it deserves
emits some light. The most frequently repeated argument in defense of Trump’s
“plan” for Gaza has revolved around the need to stop the killing immediately,
though we should not forget that many who have echoed this sentiment did so
merely to clean their image or distract from their defeat. We know that
premising political ends on such ground has never been a hallmark of our
region’s mainstream political culture, which, following the logic of the
“million martyrs,” has compelled our dominant forces to orient their struggle
towards “winning” a million martyrs. So, is this
alternative way of seeing things and the world destined to take root and
prosper, potentially humanizing this deeply morbid political culture?
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and the Ideology Trap
Nadim Koteich/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 14, 2025 (Translated from Arabic)
The awarding of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria
Corina Machado extracted the prize and its committee from a political quandary,
only to push them into a deeper ideological trap. Despite Machado's deserving
recognition for her steadfast peaceful struggle against her country's regime,
this year's prize will be defined for a long time by the identity of the person
it was withheld from, rather than the winner: President Donald Trump.
The unprecedented lobbying campaign waged by the American President created an
existential dilemma for the committee. Giving him the award would have looked
like surrender to the political "bullying" practiced by Trump and would have led
to more challenges to the prize's credibility in Norway. The award would have
also granted moral legitimacy to a person the global liberal elite classifies as
hostile to democratic values and institutions.
Conversely, withholding the prize from him reinforced the skepticism that has
accompanied the prize's journey and the accusations against its committee that
it does not always act as a body that objectively evaluates peace, but rather as
an ideological guardian of liberal values and symbols. The committee, formed
under the influence of the center-left trends in Norway, often tends to honor
individual resistance against regimes it views as authoritarian, as in Machado's
case, at the expense of broader diplomatic achievements by political systems and
administrations that may not align with its ideological vision.
The disregard for Trump, whose efforts contributed to reaching a ceasefire
agreement in Gaza and saved hundreds of thousands of people who were threatened
if the conflict continued, reveals a deep ideological bias for progressive
ideals at the expense of pragmatic efforts with a significant impact, especially
when led by figures loathed by liberals like Trump.
Trump did not win the prize, but the logic of the political war he is waging
against the global left won a moment that reinforces the impression that the
"Nobel" has become an echo chamber for liberal elites living in their own
bubble. This neglect fuels the populist narrative that "elites rig the game" to
marginalize political opponents, an accusation the American President has not
dropped since he claimed the results of the 2020 presidential election were
rigged in favor of the Democratic Party candidate, Joe Biden.
The Nobel Peace Prize Committee not only missed a historic opportunity to use
the award to consolidate Trump's diplomatic gains and give him political cover
to continue his work toward a more comprehensive peace process, but it now risks
increasing the ideological divisions between the left-wing awakening movement
(Woke Culture) and the rising national right-wing currents in Europe and the
world. Trump's demands for the prize are not just the bragging of a narcissistic
personality, but a stance supported by tangible diplomatic achievements that
surpass, in scale and impact, the achievements of many nominees and even some
previous winners. The Gaza ceasefire agreement and the groundwork laid for
ending a brutal two-year escalation between Israel and Hamas... Trump is
actively leading remarkable efforts for comprehensive peace in the region,
following his success in concluding peace agreements during his first term
between the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
Trump's arsenal is not devoid of utilizing American military power to promote
peace instead of spreading chaos, as happened with Iran toward the end of his
first term, and what is happening now with the containment of Iranian influence
and the destabilization of the regime's capabilities. Even if Trump's efforts in
the Russian-Ukrainian war file are still in their initial stages and face
immense challenges, his unconventional diplomatic approach, based on direct
contact with President Vladimir Putin and the threat of severe sanctions, has
yielded some tangible results. His efforts may form the basis for more
comprehensive future settlements. These and other achievements, regardless of
Trump's exaggerations about ending eight wars, are actual accomplishments, not
promises. In contrast, the awarding of the prize to Barack Obama in 2009 was
based entirely on intentions, aspirations, and hope, before the latter expanded
drone warfare and increased American military interventions around the world.
Therefore, if the criterion for the prize is actual results, Trump's nomination
deserves more serious discussion. And if the criterion is intentions, his
intentions to end wars and achieve peace surpass the intentions of those who
preceded him. To cover up the dilemma, the committee chose Machado, who deserves
recognition for her courage. However, Machado's striking gesture, dedicating the
prize to Trump, confirmed that his "decisive support" is what "saved millions of
lives," as she herself revealed the direct link between Trump's efforts in Latin
America and her win.
The real danger facing the prize remains not in the justifications for awarding
it to Machado, but in the underlying reasons for withholding it from Trump.
Denying a global deal-maker with tangible achievements in the world's most
volatile regions, simply because of his political right-wing stance, reinforces
the impression that the prize no longer measures peace, but political loyalty to
the liberal elite. Once the prize loses credibility in evaluating achievements,
it ceases to be a tool for promoting peace and becomes merely a weapon used to
take sides in ideological conflicts.
Selected English Tweets from X Platform For
14
October/2025
Pope Leo XIV
Let us never forget the fundamental importance, at
every level, of respect for life and its protection at all stages—from
conception to old age, and up to the moment of death. I hope this awareness will
continue to grow, especially regarding access to medical care and medicines.
Pope Leo XIV
Let us look upon the faces of those who are overwhelmed by the irrational
ferocity of those who mercilessly plan death and destruction. Let us listen to
their cry! May we continue to work to restore #Peace in every part of the world,
and may we promote among peoples the principles of justice, fairness, and
cooperation, on which peace is founded.
JD Vance
Today marks a truly historic achievement in President Trump's mission for peace.
It was incredible to see those hostages returned safely after two long years of
unspeakable horrors. May God continue to guide our president and may this
finally be a lasting peace in the region.
Pierre Poilievre
Two years after Hamas’ sadistic attack on innocent Israelis, the families of
twenty hostages are finally able to hug their loved ones. This peace provides an
opportunity for the Hamas-launched bloodshed to finally end, which has been a
tragic reality for too long.
Twenty-eight other hostages were murdered, and for those who knew them, it is
still a moment of immense grief. We hope their bodies will be quickly recovered
and their families, friends and loved ones might be able to find closure with
their return.
The October 7th attacks were the darkest day for the Jewish people since the
Holocaust. Through it all, Israelis and Jews around the world have shown
incredible resilience, with hope that the safe return of the hostages could
bring the war to an end. We thank President Trump for his leadership negotiating
a peaceful closure to this war and hope that it serves to bring lasting,
generational peace. Never Forget, and Never Again.
Doug Ford
This Thanksgiving, I’m thrilled to join in celebrating the long overdue return
of the remaining hostages and the beginning of a ceasefire in Gaza. I sincerely
hope this is the first step toward lasting peace and lasting recovery for all
those impacted by the terrible attacks of October 7, 2023 and the war of the
last two years.
Zéna Mansour
I place my hopes on someone like Zoe, one of the women of the future who are
capable, with integrity & culture, of carrying the torch of confrontation in
defense of Lebanon's identity &Maronite Christian people's identity, rights,
existence. Young women like Zoe have become rare.
Stephen Harper
Congratulations to @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, @Netanyahu @MohamedBinZayed
, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and other regional leaders. Tomorrow is a
new day thanks to your unwavering leadership. May this bring a new era of peace,
prosperity and long term stability for all in the Middle East.
Marco Rubio
Some serve a lifetime in public office and never experience a day like today. In
time history will detail the full story of how today was made possible. But for
now all Americans should at least know this, that today would not have happened
without @potus doing some pretty extraordinary things.
Mark Carney
The first phase of today’s historic peace plan has been signed, opening a new
chapter for Israelis, Palestinians, and the world.
Canada commends the leadership of President Trump, and leaders of Qatar, Egypt,
and Türkiye for enabling this step toward a just and lasting peace.
Morgan Ortagus
Like many of us of working on the Middle East, I've been unable to sleep,
watching and anticipating this day for 2 years. The hardest thing I’ve ever done
in my career is to meet with the hostage families— and now the living are
finally home. Often, I didn’t have much hope to give these families but I would
put on a brave face and tell them one thing I knew for certain: @POTUS would do
everything in his power to get all of the hostages home. And I knew he meant it.
As an American diplomat, I am so proud that our President, our nation, our team
were able to get this done. Not endless security council speeches, not fake
conferences, but our President. I am endlessly proud to be a part of this team
and this moment. G-d bless America.