English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For October 19/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
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Bible Quotations For today
If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
Saint Luke 16/01-12/:"The Lord Jesus said to the disciples: ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, "What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer." Then the manager said to himself, "What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes." So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, "How much do you owe my master?" He answered, "A hundred jugs of olive oil." He said to him, "Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty." Then he asked another, "And how much do you owe?" He replied, "A hundred containers of wheat." He said to him, "Take your bill and make it eighty." And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. ‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?"

Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 18-19/2026
The Danger of Hardness of Heart, Death of Conscience, and Absence of Shame: When the Light of God Goes Out in Man/Elias Bejjani/October 18/2026
Lebanon’s Judiciary is Kidnapped and the Military Court Protects the Iranian Occupation… The Complaint Against Ambassador Nada Mouaouad is a Scandal and an Insult to the Judiciary, to the President of the Republic, and to the Government/Elias Bejjani/October 15/2026
Letter to Rubio Urges Lebanon to Repeal Law Boycotting Israel
Hezbollah flexes street muscle as questions grow over Lebanese state’s response
Israel reinforces Lebanon border as tensions rise over Hezbollah disarmament and upcoming talks: The details
Israel-Lebanon agreement shines light on long-lost Jewish community
Israeli Fire Isolates Lebanese Villages Beyond 'Yellow Line'
Lebanon Weighs $2 Billion Plan to Boost Consumption and Production
It’s Family’: Lebanese Villagers Dread Looming UN Peacekeeper Pullout
PM Salam calls for stronger state authority, stresses war and peace decisions belong to state alone
Speaker Berri calls for UNIFIL to remain in Lebanon, urges international pressure on Israel to implement Resolution 1701
BDL sources: Raising withdrawal limits under consideration, reserves belong to depositors
Lebanese banks dispute $600 million tax claim over Eurobond gains

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 18-19/2026
CFB Wainwright fire sparked by live training exercise, causes explosion: sources
At least seven people have been killed and dozens more are injured, while a fire remains held south of the town of Wainwright.
Netanyahu says will eliminate Iran threat with Trump after his endorsement
Trump says Iran war will end 'very quickly', says preventing nukes remains priority
Vance says US wants 'commitment' from Iran it won't rebuild nuclear program
Trump reveals the secret behind his support for Netanyahu.. and Iran at the heart of the calculations
Trump warns Tehran and supports Netanyahu.. and the latter responds "We will complete the mission"
Eisenkot in response to Trump: Israelis alone choose their leaders
We will strike Iran alone.. Netanyahu reveals a plan to encircle Israel from Lebanon to Egypt and Gaza
Iran Urges US to Accept Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s New Defense Minister Threatens ‘Enormous Damage’ if US Attacks
Sisi Says Egypt Ready for Any Measure to Protect Saudi Arabia
Egypt Says It Will Provide Saudi Arabia with All Necessary Support
Gulf Support to Saudi Arabia’s Right to Defend Itself, Condemnation of Houthi Attacks
Coalition Thwarts Houthi Attempt to Smuggle Weapons at Sea as Taiz Withstands Militant Assaults
Saudi defense minister, UAE president discuss regional developments, Gulf cooperation
Yemen Rejects Iran's Mediation Bid While It Continues to Arm Houthis
Trump Endorses Netanyahu in Israel’s Upcoming Election
In Shadow of War, Israelis to Decide if Hard-Right Turn Is Permanent
US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Attack on American Journalist
US Wants Israel to ‘Crack Down’ on Settler Violence in West Bank, Rubio Says
US Officials Visit Palestinian Village After Settler Attacks on Diplomats
Netanyahu election rival says 'only Israelis can choose their leader'
France Counts Cost of Violent Protests, 1,800 Arrested
France rocked by nationwide clashes, blazes and looting
Zelensky says spoke to Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 18-19/2026
Syria Is Rebuilding an Army Before It Rebuilds Syria/Pierre Rehov/Gatestone Institute/October 18, 2026
Egypt Enters the War/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
The Region’s Real Picture, Without AI Beautification/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
A Just War Against Houthi Aggression/Fahid Suleiman al-Shoqiran/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Egypt and Saudi Arabia: 'The Sword Is More Truthful Than Books'/Mishary Dhayidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
The Loss of the Palestinian Election Opportunity?!/Abdel Moneim Said/Al-Masry Al-Youm/October 18, 2026
Netanyahu May Go, but His Policies Will Remain/Imad El-Din Hussein/Al-Bayan/October 18, 2026
Selected Face Book & X tweets on October 18/2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on October 18-19/2026
The Danger of Hardness of Heart, Death of Conscience, and Absence of Shame: When the Light of God Goes Out in Man
Elias Bejjani/October 18/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158366/
Man Between the Light of Truth and the Darkness of Evil
The life we live, with all its details, turns and crossroads, is nothing but a path whose features are determined by the choices we make, by the values we believe in, and by the measure of God’s presence in our conscience and our hearts. Man, whatever his status, however much money, power and influence he may possess, remains accountable before God for his words and deeds, for the good he has done, and the evil he has committed, for the truth he knew and then denied, and for the duty he recognized and then evaded. We are destined to choose between two ways: the way of righteousness, wisdom, and the fear of God, and the way of straying, pride, hardness of heart, and death of conscience. The difference between the two ways is not in outward appearances, nor in the religious slogans a man raises, nor in the number of prayers he recites before others, but in the reality of the heart, the sincerity of faith, the purity of intention, the uprightness of conduct, and the extent of his respect for human dignity and human rights. The man who truly fears God does not content himself with talking about virtue, but strives to practice it. He does not content himself with condemning evil in others, but begins by holding himself accountable. He does not make religion a means to justify his mistakes or cover his interests, but makes it a light to guide him to truth, a voice to deter him from injustice, and a scale by which he judges his own conscience before he judges others. And the Lord Jesus Christ says in the Gospel of Matthew: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Purity of heart is not weakness, nor naivety, nor compromise of truth, but it is a spiritual and moral strength that makes man able to speak the truth without lying, to practice justice without vengeance, to defend himself without injustice, and to confront evil without himself becoming an instrument of evil.
I. Conscience, Shame, and the Tongue: God’s Gifts and Man’s Responsibility
A living conscience, shame at committing wrong, and a tongue that speaks truth are not marginal matters in human life, but are among the most important manifestations of the moral responsibility that God has entrusted to man, distinguished him with, and called him through to discern between good and evil, between truth and falsehood, between love and hatred. Conscience is that inner voice that awakens a man when he errs, disturbs his rest when he oppresses, and calls him to confess his sin and repair what he has corrupted. As for shame, in its noble moral sense, it is man’s sense that his dignity is incompatible with lying, betrayal, treachery, and assault on others. And the tongue is the instrument by which man can console, encourage, reconcile, and bear witness to the truth, just as he can, if he misuses it, wound, insult, incite, mislead, and slander. But the great problem begins when man loses these three restraints: his conscience dies, his shame disappears, and his tongue turns into a weapon directed against others. Then wrong is no longer wrong to him, nor lying a disgrace, nor assault on people’s dignity a cause for remorse; rather, oppression may become for him a means to achieve interests, deception a sign of what he imagines to be intelligence, and insolence an expression of false strength. Here lies the real danger: not that man errs, for man is weak and prone to fall, but that he loses the ability to admit his error, that he justifies his evil, that he refuses repentance, and that he considers anyone who confronts him with the truth to be his enemy.
The Lord Jesus says: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
The tongue often reveals what the heart stores. The words a man chooses in moments of anger or dispute or self-interest may reveal the truth of what governs his behavior. He who is accustomed to lying, slander, and insult, and no longer feels any remorse, should ask himself: What remains of the voice of conscience within me? And what value remains to my words if I use them to destroy others instead of speaking the truth?
The Bible also warns us of the danger of the tongue, as the Book of Proverbs says: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). How many a word has restored hope to a despairing man, and how many a word has crushed a soul, how many a slander has tarnished the reputation of an innocent, how many a lie has divided members of a family, how many a hateful speech has ignited enmity that could have been avoided! A word is not a passing sound that ends as soon as it is uttered; it may leave a wound that lasts for years, it may lead to injustice, and it may destroy trust that is difficult to rebuild. Therefore, the man who fears God watches his tongue, and knows that freedom of speech does not mean freedom to slander, and that frankness does not justify insult, and that disagreement does not grant anyone the right to strip others of their dignity.
II. Hardness of Heart: When Man Sees the Truth and Rejects It
Hardness of heart is among the most dangerous spiritual and moral states a man can reach. The hard-hearted man is not necessarily one who is ignorant of the truth, but may be among those who know it well, and are aware of the consequences of their actions, but refuse to submit to it because their interests or their pride or their grudges are more important to them than the truth. It may begin with justifying a small mistake, then the mistake is repeated until it becomes a habit, then the habit turns into a fixed behavior, until man loses his moral sensitivity towards what he commits. In the end, he may reach a stage where he no longer feels guilt when he oppresses, nor shame when he lies, nor regret when he destroys the lives of others. A hard heart is not formed in a single day, but may be shaped gradually through persistence in evil, rejection of advice, contempt for others, arrogance against truth, and evasion of responsibility. For this reason, the Bible warns us against hardness of heart, saying in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7-8).
This divine call is not directed only to persons far from faith, but to every man who is able to hear the voice of truth and then chooses to ignore it. How many a man hears sincere advice, but rejects it because admitting a mistake wounds his pride? And how many a person realizes he has harmed another, but prefers to persist in stubbornness rather than say a word of apology? Confessing a mistake does not diminish a man’s value, but reveals his courage and maturity. As for persisting in falsehood, while knowing the truth, it is what turns a mistake into a dangerous path of obstinacy and denial.
And the Gospel of Mark presents to us a painful image of hardness of heart, when it mentions that Jesus looked at some of those present “with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts” (Mark 3:5). It is an image that combines anger at evil and sorrow for the man who refuses to see the truth. God does not call man to cruelty, nor does He rejoice in his fall, but wants him to repent and return to the way of life. But refusal of repentance makes man a prisoner of his sin, and deprives him of the inner peace that neither money nor positions nor outward victories can grant.
III. Death of Conscience and Absence of Shame: More Dangerous Than the Mistake Itself
A mistake followed by remorse may become the beginning of reform, while a mistake followed by denial and lying and justification may turn into a door to more evil. A living conscience does not prevent man from falling every time, but it does not allow him to rest in his sin as if nothing had happened. It reminds him of his responsibility, and calls him to retreat from falsehood, to apologize to those he has wronged, to restore rights to their owners, and to bear the consequences of his actions.
But when conscience dies, man becomes able to witness the suffering of others without concern, and to inflict harm upon them without remorse, and to repeat the offense without feeling shame. It may come to the point of turning facts upside down, so he portrays himself as the victim while he is the aggressor, and accuses the oppressed instead of confessing his oppression, and attacks all who expose his mistakes instead of correcting them.
Here the absence of shame becomes a double danger, because moral shame is not merely fear of people’s gaze, but an inner awareness that there are limits that man must not cross without losing respect for himself and for others. However, a distinction must be made between shame that leads to repentance, and disgrace that crushes man and makes him believe there is no hope for reform. The Christian faith does not call to despair, but to sincere repentance and return to God. What is required is not that man remain a prisoner of his mistake, but that he confess it and repair it as much as he can.
Saint Paul says in his Epistle to the Ephesians: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).
Silence about evil is not always wisdom, and overlooking injustice is not always love. True love does not mean collusion with the aggressor, nor covering up corruption, nor demanding that the oppressed be silent to preserve the comfort of the oppressor. Rather, it means standing beside truth, defending human dignity, and refusing to turn tolerance into a cover for repeating offense. He who errs and then repents opens a new door for himself, but he who errs and persists and continues to harm others doubles his moral responsibility for every new act he commits.
IV. He Who Sows Evil Cannot Guarantee a Harvest of Peace
It is among the profound moral laws in life that a man’s actions leave their traces, and that injustice leaves wounds, and that hatred breeds enmities, and that betrayal destroys trust, and that lying weakens its owner’s credibility. Results may not appear immediately, and the oppressor may succeed for some time in evading accountability, but that does not turn injustice into right, nor does temporary escape prove innocence.
The Book of Proverbs says: “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him” (Proverbs 26:27). And Saint Paul says: “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). These two wisdoms do not mean that everyone who suffers has committed evil, or that every calamity that befalls man is a direct punishment for an act he did. The Bible itself rejects this simplification, and teaches us that the innocent may suffer, and that the unjust may sometimes enjoy temporary prosperity. But they affirm that moral choices have consequences, and that man cannot build a sound life on deception and aggression and then expect his relationships and his community and his conscience to remain safe from ruin.
As the authentic Lebanese proverb says: “You will surely drink from the same cup you gave others to drink from.” This proverb sums up a deep human experience: he who sows hatred may reap isolation, he who becomes accustomed to betrayal may lose the trust of those closest to him, and he who destroys the dignity of others may one day find himself surrounded by people who neither trust nor respect him.
But justice does not mean that we await the misfortunes of others or gloat over their fall. The believer does not make revenge his goal, nor does he wish evil even on one who wronged him, but he seeks justice, and leaves final judgment to God, and strives to protect the innocent and prevent the repetition of harm.
And the Lord Jesus says: “All who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). It is a call to reject the logic of violence and revenge, and to realize that evil is not cured by unleashing similar evil, but by truth and justice and self-control.
V. A Stumbling Block: When Hurting Others Becomes a Way of Life
Undoubtedly, we have all met in the paths of life persons who leave behind them pain and disputes and disappointments. Some of them hurt others out of ignorance or impulsiveness, and may reconsider when they realize the results of their actions. But some others persist in offense, delight in stirring up conflicts, and use hurtful words and rumors and manipulation of situations to weaken those around them, especially members of their family and those close to them. These do not content themselves with inflicting harm, but may try to convince their victims that they themselves are the wrongdoers, and that demanding one’s right is aggression, and that defending dignity is pride, and that exposing the truth is an offense against them. The most dangerous thing in these practices is that they make the harmful person act as if he were above accountability, and turn human relationships from spaces for love and cooperation into arenas of fear and blackmail and enmity. And the Lord Jesus warns of the danger of being a cause for the fall or misleading of others, saying: “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7).
A stumbling block is not only one who pushes others to commit wrong, but can also be one who exploits their weakness, or destroys their self-confidence, or uses his position and authority to humiliate them, or turns his life and the lives of those around him into a series of crises because of his stubbornness and malice. How far is the difference between a man who errs and apologizes, and a man who deliberately offends and then boasts about it! And how far is the difference between one who uses his strength to protect the weak, and one who uses it to subdue them! And how far is the difference between one who disagrees with others and respects their dignity, and one who considers disagreement a justification for insult and defamation and revenge! The believer is called to love man, but he is not called to accept injustice or justify evil. He can forgive, without giving up his right to protection and justice; and he can pray for those who have wronged him, without exposing himself or his family to continued harm.
VI. Pride, Malice, and Envy: Masks Hiding Fragility of Spirit
When pride exceeds the bounds of legitimate self-respect, it turns into a barrier that prevents man from seeing his faults. And malice makes him a prisoner of the past, and envy drives him to resent the success of others, and the desire for revenge deprives him of peace, while love of domination makes him believe that his dignity is not realized except by subjugating others. The arrogant man may appear strong, but he is unable to say the word “I was wrong.” He may talk about morals, but he excludes himself from their rules. He may raise slogans of faith, while his actions contradict the mercy and truth and justice to which faith calls. For this reason, a man’s goodness must not be measured by what he says about himself, but by what he does when truth conflicts with his interest, and by what he says when he is angry, and by how he deals with those who cannot return harm to him, and by his readiness to admit his mistake and correct what he has corrupted. And the Lord Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). Man is known by his fruits: by his truthfulness or his lying, and by his mercy or his cruelty, and by his justice or his injustice, and by his loyalty or his betrayal, and by his humility or his arrogance. Not everyone who speaks in the name of God walks in His way, and not everyone who raises the slogan of virtue practices it in his daily life. True faith is not verbal adornment, but a daily commitment to be truthful and just and merciful, to refuse to exploit others, to face one’s mistakes with courage, and to always remember that human dignity is not his property to strip from others.
VII. Judgment: When Masks and Excuses Are of No Use
Among the most dangerous illusions of man is to believe that he can forever escape responsibility for his actions, or that money and influence and connections and the ability to deceive people can grant him immunity before the justice of God. Man may be able to hide the truth from some people, and may succeed in justifying his actions before his surroundings, and may find those who applaud him or defend him, but the truth of faith that must not be ignored is that man is accountable before God for his deeds and his words, and for the way in which he used his freedom and his talents and his position in life. And the Lord Jesus says: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). This verse places the tongue at the heart of spiritual responsibility. A word is not a trivial matter, and slander is not merely a passing dispute, and false witness is not a legitimate means to protect interests. Every man has responsibility for his speech, especially when he deliberately misleads others or defames the innocent or incites injustice. And the Bible also says: “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). This means that responsibility is personal, and that man cannot justify his sin simply because others have also committed it, nor can he turn following the group or loyalty to a person or party or interest into an exemption from moral accountability. But faith in judgment should not lead us to despair or to issuing final judgments on the fate of others. God alone knows the depths of hearts, and He alone is the just Judge. As for our duty, it is to hold ourselves accountable, to reject evil, to demand justice, and to open the door of repentance before all who want a sincere return to truth.
VIII. Repentance Is Possible as Long as Man Is Ready to Return to God
Despite the seriousness of hardness of heart and death of conscience, the Christian message does not close the door of hope. God does not want the destruction of man, but his repentance and return to the way of life. And the man who has erred is not condemned to remain a prisoner of his past, if he has the courage to confess his sin and seek forgiveness and work to repair what he has corrupted. The Lord Jesus says: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). Self-denial here means, in its moral essence, that man frees himself from slavery to ego and pride, and stops making his desires and interests the sole criterion of truth. For repentance is not merely words spoken, nor temporary tears, nor an apology aimed at restoring interests, but it is a change in heart and behavior, a readiness to bear responsibility, to restore rights, and to refrain from repeating harm. And among the most beautiful things the Bible declares about God’s mercy is His saying in the Book of Ezekiel: “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30). God calls man to return, not to persist; to confession, not to denial; to repairing what can be repaired, not to hiding behind excuses. And he who sincerely seeks forgiveness must also seek reconciliation with those he has wronged, and restore rights to their owners, and build a new conduct that proves the sincerity of his repentance. As for he who refuses to confess his mistake and insists on harming others, he cannot make the word “forgiveness” a means to silence his victims, nor demand that they forget the harm while he continues to commit it. True reconciliation needs honesty, forgiveness does not abolish justice, and pardon does not mean granting the aggressor a license to repeat his aggression.
Conclusion: Fear God, Keep Your Conscience Alive, and Guard Your Tongue
Man, whatever money or power or fame or influence he possesses, remains poor if he has lost his conscience, and a loser if the sense of right and wrong has died in his heart, and mistaken if he believes that insolence is strength, and cruelty is courage, and the ability to harm others is a sign of superiority. The man who fears God does not measure his success by the number of those he has subjugated, nor by the value of the money he has amassed, nor by his ability to silence those who oppose him, but by the extent of his uprightness, his truthfulness, his justice, his mercy, and his respect for the dignity of others. Remember, O man, that a living conscience is both a grace and a responsibility, and that shame at wrongdoing is not a defect, and that an apology does not diminish your dignity, and that a true word does not become false because people of interests hate to hear it. And remember that the tongue which God created to be an instrument of communication and good can become, if misused, a cause of injustice and division and enmity.
So do not dig a pit for your brother, nor plant thorns in his path, nor make the weakness of others an opportunity to exploit them, nor their love for you a means to control them. And do not imagine that silence imposed by fear is proof that you are right, or that the absence of human accountability means the absence of divine justice. And let us always remember the saying of the Lord Jesus: “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:17). So let us hold ourselves accountable before we hold others accountable, and let us guard our tongues before we demand that people respect our words, and let us ask God for a humble heart that does not become arrogant against truth, and a living conscience that does not compromise on justice, and a spirit capable of repentance and forgiveness, and a will that refuses to make evil a way of life. And let us raise our hearts in prayer and hope, asking God to bring dead consciences back to life, and hard hearts back to mercy, and lying tongues back to truth, and hateful souls back to love. And let us pray for every man who has lost his way, not to justify his evil, but so that he may return to truth, and stop harming others, and begin the journey of repentance and reform. So fear God, O man, and watch your heart and your tongue and your deeds, and do not allow pride and malice and self-interest to extinguish the light of conscience within you. For life is short, appearances are fleeting, and masks do not last, but man’s responsibility for his choices before God remains a reality worth pausing over every day. And let us conclude with the words of Saint Paul the Apostle: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Amen.
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Lebanon’s Judiciary is Kidnapped and the Military Court Protects the Iranian Occupation… The Complaint Against Ambassador Nada Mouaouad is a Scandal and an Insult to the Judiciary, to the President of the Republic, and to the Government
Elias Bejjani/October 15/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/10/158299/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjqWyVZwwjU&t=10s
There has been no judiciary in Lebanon since the era of the barbaric Syrian occupation. What exists is a security and judicial branch of the Iranian occupation axis, run by the terrorist Hezbollah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the king of corruption and corrupting, Iran’s parliamentary front and its ugly tool behind which the leaders of the terrorist Hezbollah hide.
It is a confiscated judiciary, fully controlled. Its mission is not to enforce justice, but to intimidate and terrorize, the Lebanese, to muzzle them, and to pursue anyone who rejects the lie of the “Resistance” and its Iranian enterprise.
Hezbollah, with its diabolical mindset, has invented a cheap method of intimidation: an army of lawyers working for it, whose sole task is to file reports and complaints against every free Lebanese — journalist, activist, writer, business owner, ordinary citizen. The charge is ready-made and canned: “Insulting the Resistance,” “Cursing the Resistance,” or the most vulgar and common charge: “Violating the laws that consider Israel an enemy.” They practice full-fledged legal prostitution, and their insolence, debauchery, and political prostitution have reached the point of filing a claim against Lebanon’s Ambassador to Washington, Mrs. Nada Hamadeh, because she performed a basic humanitarian act and contacted her colleague, the Israeli Ambassador in Washington, to wish his son a speedy recovery after he was targeted in a terrorist attack by a Palestinian jihadist criminal in the West Bank.
What inhuman depravity is this? Disabled minds and anesthetized — if not dead — sensibilities. How could Ambassador Hamadeh not contact her colleague, the Israeli Ambassador, when she heads the Lebanese dialogue delegation with Israel and spends long hours with him in dialogue and in preparation for it?
In the same context, Hezbollah singles out with its claims honorable, free and sovereign activists such as the writer and director Youssef Khoury, against whom the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council — which is nothing more than a religious arm of Hezbollah — filed a claim on charges of “Insulting the Karbala incident.” And in this domain we have dozens of claims filed by Hezbollah against anyone who does not agree with and cheer for their lie, their deception, and their Persian-Iranian trade in bloody and farcical theatrics of what is called “resistance.”
The Lebanese Constitution does not name Israel as an enemy, nor any other state: Contrary to the lies of Hezbollah’s media, there is not a single text in the Lebanese Constitution that defines or imposes enmity toward Israel or any other state. This is an established legal fact; as the legal and historical framework of Lebanon’s relationship with Israel was not defined by the Constitution, but by the General Armistice Agreement of 1949, which remained a foundational point in the Taif Agreement that became the current Constitution. The Constitution in its preamble says only that Lebanon is a sovereign, free, and independent homeland, a final homeland for all its sons, committed to the charters of the United Nations and to coexistence. As for defining the enemy, it left it to practice and deed, i.e., to whoever violates sovereignty and occupies land. And here we say it clearly: He who fits the constitutional definition of the enemy today is Hezbollah itself, because it is the one that violates the Constitution, occupies the country and confiscates its decision, contradicts the charter of coexistence, and violates sovereignty by land, sea, and arms.
Where then did the charge of “the enemy” come from? From two expired ordinary laws:
A- The Law Boycotting Israel, issued on June 23, 1955: Issued under Camille Chamoun in compliance with the resolutions of the Arab League, and stipulates in its first article that: “It is prohibited for any natural or legal person to conclude by himself or through an intermediary an agreement with bodies or persons residing in Israel or belonging to it by nationality or working for its account or for its benefit, whenever the subject of the agreement is commercial transactions or financial operations or any other dealing whatever its nature.” Noting that all Arab states have completely abandoned this law and most of them have concluded peace agreements with the State of Israel.
B- The Lebanese Penal Code:
Article 285: “Shall be punished by imprisonment for at least one year and a fine of no less than two hundred thousand Lebanese pounds, every Lebanese and every person residing in Lebanon who undertakes or attempts to undertake, directly or through a borrowed person, a commercial deal or any purchase or sale or barter deal with one of the nationals of the enemy or with a person residing in the enemy’s country.”
Article 286: “Shall be punished with the same penalty whoever contributes to a loan or subscription for the benefit of a hostile state.”
Articles 278 and following: Criminalize contact with the enemy with the intent to oppose state projects, and its penalty reaches life imprisonment with hard labor.
These articles were enacted to punish commercial and financial deals and military espionage, not to punish a humanitarian contact or diplomatic dialogue carried out by Lebanon’s official Ambassador who heads the negotiating delegation.
The Armistice Agreement nullifies absolute enmity: And this is the knockout blow to all of Hezbollah’s bravado and heresies. The Lebanese-Israeli Armistice Agreement signed in Ras al-Naqoura on March 23, 1949, under the auspices of the United Nations, does not mention the word “enemy” at all in its full text published in the United Nations archive.
The terms used in the text are:
“The parties to the present agreement”
“facilitate the transition from the present truce to permanent peace in Palestine”
Article One affirms “mutual guarantees” and “the right of each party to its security,” and Article Two affirms that the provisions of the agreement are “dictated exclusively by military considerations” and do not prejudice the final peaceful settlement. In international law, states that sign an armistice agreement between them, define an armistice line, and establish a joint armistice commission, are no longer legally in a state of absolute enmity, but in a state of temporary truce paving the way for permanent peace. The agreement itself stipulates that it remains in force “until a peaceful settlement between the parties is achieved.”
So, how can the humanitarian contact of Lebanon’s Ambassador be a crime of “contact with the enemy,” while the Lebanese state itself is a signatory with this party to an armistice agreement recognized by the United Nations until today? Ambassador Mouaouad is also officially tasked by the President of the Republic and the Government with the negotiating mission with the State of Israel that she is carrying out.
The truth is that it was not Israel who violated the truce and abrogated it, but Lebanon when it allowed, since the Cairo Agreement of 1969, Palestinian terrorist organizations and then the terrorist, jihadist Hezbollah — a criminal organization — to use its land as a platform for war against Israel, which transformed Lebanon from a truce state into a state of aggression.
The Military Court… The Court of the Inquisition
And here comes the most dangerous role: the role of the Military Court, which should be called the Military Court of Hezbollah and Nabih Berri. It is the one that encroaches upon free people and issues unjust, illegal, and unconstitutional judgments against them, in literal implementation of Hezbollah’s agenda. The court is not a court, but rather a tool of repression and a sword hanging over the necks of Lebanese who reject the Iranian occupation and before that rejected and resisted the Syrian occupation. Therefore, the national and legal demand is clear: abolish and close the Military Court immediately, annul all judgments it has issued, and prosecute the judges who headed it because they betrayed their oath and betrayed justice.
The Lebanese judiciary must free itself from the yoke of the corrupt and heretical Berri and from the jihadist and terrorist Hezbollah, and must categorically refuse to accept any complaint filed by Hezbollah or its lawyers, against anyone and for any reason. And why? Because legally, Hezbollah is an illegitimate organization and outside the law in accordance with the decisions of the current Lebanese government itself, which approved the exclusivity of arms in the hands of the state. It is an illegal armed militia, a criminal organization that assassinated hundreds of Lebanese and thousands of Syrians, and carried out for Iran hundreds of terrorist operations in dozens of countries, and is listed on the terrorism list of the Arab League and in dozens of regional and international countries, noting that the United States classifies it as a terrorist and criminal group fully affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Sound legal logic does not call for accepting the complaints of Hezbollah and Nabih Berri, but for dissolving Hezbollah and dismantling all its institutions, confiscating its properties, and prosecuting its leaders as war and terrorism criminals.
The Constitution does not name Israel as an enemy by name, nor any other state, but defines the enemy by its actions. And the enemy is he who occupies the land, confiscates the decision, assassinates those who oppose him, destroys the economy, displaces citizens, and openly declares his absolute subordination to a foreign state. And this description applies 100% to Hezbollah itself.
The question is: Why doesn’t a single Member of Parliament step forward in Parliament — and only one MP is required, not ten as is rumored — with a bill to abolish all laws and legislation that prohibit a Lebanese citizen from dealing with Israelis and the State of Israel, in the same free and unrestricted manner as he deals with all other countries of the world?
*The author, Elias Bejjani, is a Lebanese expatriate activist
Author’s Email: Phoenicia@hotmail.com
Author’s Website: https://eliasbejjaninews.com

Letter to Rubio Urges Lebanon to Repeal Law Boycotting Israel
Al-Markazia/October 18, 2026
Tom Harb, a member of the Republican Party, revealed that a letter has been sent to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling for coordination between the U.S. ambassadors to Lebanon and Israel. The proposal seeks to establish a pilot program allowing Lebanese Christians and Muslims to visit the Holy Land and return to Lebanon without facing legal prosecution—a program intended to begin before Christmas 2026. In an interview with MTV, Harb stated that the letter calls for the repeal of the 1955 law boycotting Israel and for enabling direct engagement between the Lebanese and Israeli peoples at the military, diplomatic, and civilian levels. He added, "The letter urges the U.S. administration and Congress to condition financial and military aid to Lebanon on the repeal of the boycott law and the implementation of concrete steps to facilitate engagement with Israel—essentially making the aid contingent upon an amendment to the law." Furthermore, he noted, "The letter calls for the imposition of U.S. sanctions against any Lebanese official or institution that pursues or penalizes individuals for engaging in peaceful contact with Israelis or for visiting holy sites."

Hezbollah flexes street muscle as questions grow over Lebanese state’s response
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/October 18, 2026
BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army deployed extensively across Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday morning, patrolling streets following protests by Hezbollah supporters that saw dozens of motorcyclists descend on the capital, gathering along a major thoroughfare and chanting slogans in support of the group. The demonstrations followed two incidents that have heightened tensions between Hezbollah and the Lebanese authorities. The first involved the seizure of about 800 kg of C4 and TNT explosives at a checkpoint in Dahr Al-Baydar, which connects the Bekaa Valley to Beirut, more than a week ago. Two Hezbollah members were arrested in connection with the shipment, while the group acknowledged ownership of the explosives and demanded their return. The second incident occurred on Friday, when security forces raided an apartment in Beirut’s southern suburbs and confiscated unfit pharmaceutical products. Hezbollah members reportedly surrounded the security personnel conducting the operation, although the officers continued their work. The demonstrations revived memories of 2008, when Hezbollah gunmen wearing black shirts took to Beirut’s streets in response to government efforts to dismantle the group’s private telecommunications network, which was found to be connected to the state network. The ensuing clashes left several civilians dead and wounded. The developments have raised questions about whether Hezbollah is attempting to reassert its control over Beirut, as it did 18 years ago, and whether it still possesses the ability to do so. They also come amid the Lebanese government’s decisions last August to establish a state monopoly on weapons and declare Hezbollah’s military wing illegitimate, raising further questions about whether the country’s changing political and security landscape will prevent any attempt by the group to reassert its influence. Lebanon’s top public prosecutor, Judge Ahmad Rami Al-Hajj, issued urgent judicial orders to the Lebanese Army’s Intelligence Directorate, the Gendarmerie Command and the Judicial Police, instructing them to immediately identify armed individuals who obstructed the security operation targeting a warehouse containing counterfeit medicines.
The orders called for the identification and prosecution of those who surrounded security personnel and interfered with the judicial operation, with a view to taking deterrent legal action against them. Al-Hajj also instructed the head of the Central Criminal Investigations Department to expand the investigation into non-compliant pharmaceutical products and conduct on-site inspections of warehouses belonging to the companies and distributors implicated in the case. In a statement, Hezbollah sought to distance itself from the pharmaceutical scandal and denied circulating reports that its officials were being pursued in connection with the case, particularly Hussein Al-Abdallah, head of the group’s Liaison and Coordination Committee, and his assistant, Ali Ayyoub.
The group dismissed the reports as “rumors.”
A Lebanese official source told Arab News that President Joseph Aoun had instructed army intelligence to expand its investigation into the explosives seized in Dahr Al-Baydar and determine their intended use. Justice Minister Adel Nassar told Arab News that the Cabinet had adopted its decision to establish a state monopoly on weapons through a majority vote. “The responsibility of the state today is to prevent threats to its security, to stop Lebanon from being dragged into other people’s wars, and to avoid providing pretexts for wars at Lebanon’s expense and at the expense of the people of the south and Beirut’s southern suburbs,” he said. “Storing such a large quantity of explosives in the southern suburbs requires the state to intervene to protect Lebanese society from a group that is placing an entire area the size of Beirut’s southern suburbs at risk.”
Nassar insisted that the authorities would not back down. “There will be no leniency, and no one is above the law. What is required is to continue the investigations and pursue them to the very end without hesitation,” he said. Former MP Fares Souaid, who heads the opposition Saydet Al-Jabal Gathering, dismissed the prospect of Hezbollah’s street demonstrations fundamentally altering the political balance. “Hezbollah’s displays will not turn the situation upside down. Its movements are merely intended to rally its supporters, but they will achieve nothing,” he told Arab News.
“This brazen behavior is an attempt to compensate for weakness. The situation in the region has changed. Syria is now without Bashar Assad, and Iran is no longer capable of changing the balance in its favor and regaining its grip on Lebanon.” Souaid added that although the Lebanese Army was avoiding a confrontation with Hezbollah for its own reasons, it was no longer an ally of the group.
Beirut MP Waddah Sadek described the motorcycle procession through the capital on Friday night and into Saturday morning as a rehearsal for a return to the “black shirts” scenes of 2008 and the overthrow of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government in 2011.
“Protecting Beirut and its residents is the responsibility of the Lebanese Army and security forces,” Sadek said. “Any leniency will push the country toward a dangerous deterioration that Hezbollah, and Iran behind it, want at this stage.”Beirut MP Ibrahim Mneimneh, meanwhile, criticized the authorities’ response to what he described as Hezbollah’s increasingly brazen challenges to the state. “While Hezbollah has grown bolder in defying the state, the state’s response has been disappointing,” he said. “Hezbollah is trying to reestablish itself through old rhetoric and practices that we had hoped were behind us. “This is the result of the stalled implementation of the government’s decision to bring Hezbollah’s weapons under state control, as well as the loss of momentum behind efforts to make Beirut a weapons-free city.” Ali Al-Amin, editor-in-chief of the Janoubia news website, said residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs had observed a series of Hezbollah activities intended to demonstrate that the group remained a force to be reckoned with. “Hezbollah is trying to send a message that it is still present and that the state should not go too far,” he told Arab News. “These are warning messages. According to discussions circulating in the southern suburbs, the party is attempting to impose its presence more forcefully and expand its influence. “Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army’s movements have been timid, almost as though it is yielding to Hezbollah’s threats, even though the army leadership is implementing the instructions of the political authorities.”Al-Amin argued that delays in implementing government decisions, excessive sensitivity in handling the Hezbollah issue, weak enforcement of the law and a lack of political backing for security forces had allowed the group to continue challenging state authority. “The delay in implementing government decisions, the excessive caution in dealing with this issue, the lax enforcement of the law on the ground, and the failure to provide the necessary political cover for security forces to carry out their duties have all allowed Hezbollah to overstep its bounds and retain its disproportionate power,” he said.

Israel reinforces Lebanon border as tensions rise over Hezbollah disarmament and upcoming talks: The details
LBCI/October 18, 2026
Israel has redeployed its 36th and 91st divisions along the border with Lebanon, reinforcing them with additional units, including the Golani Brigade, following reports alleging that Hezbollah received approval from Iran to raise its level of alert. The reports coincided with remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed a lack of confidence in the Lebanese army's and government's willingness to disarm Hezbollah. Israeli security officials said there was no intelligence indicating an Iranian plan to target Israel ahead of the elections. However, they warned that Tehran was making efforts to create a regional security crisis that could draw the Israeli military into a confrontation. As Israel continues its military preparations for a potential confrontation with Lebanon, Israeli officials insist that the decision to send a military delegation to participate in talks with the Lebanese army in Tampa, Florida, next Tuesday is largely a formality. An Israeli political official said Israel would not make concessions on any demands related to implementing the framework plan. The official also rejected potential Lebanese demands for an Israeli withdrawal, an end to military operations or the release of prisoners.
Israel continues to insist on Hezbollah's complete disarmament, placing responsibility for achieving that objective on the Lebanese military. According to Israeli officials, U.S. pressure to convene the meeting is no coincidence. The talks come about a month before the U.S. midterm elections, as the Trump administration focuses on Iran. They also coincide with Israel's election period and efforts to avoid triggering a broader regional crisis.

Israel-Lebanon agreement shines light on long-lost Jewish community
Associated Press/October 18, 2026
Rabbi Elie Abadie left his native Lebanon more than five decades ago and has not even visited since, but his Lebanese roots remain an integral part of his identity. He has 3,000 Arabic songs on his smart phone. His wife, an American, learned from his mother how to cook the Lebanese dishes he loves. When he speaks with his siblings, he uses a mixture of Arabic and French, like many citizens of Lebanon, a former French protectorate. The once-thriving Lebanese Jewish community has been largely forgotten in the decades since most of them left the country. But the latest Israel-Hezbollah war — which pushed Lebanon and Israel into direct negotiations — has brought them under the spotlight again.Last month, Israel agreed to release five civilians detained by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon in exchange for Lebanon's help in searching for the bodies of Lebanese Jewish leaders abducted and killed in the 1980s, during Lebanon's civil war. The news stirred painful memories for Lebanese Jews like Abadie, 65, who was born and raised in Beirut to parents who moved to Lebanon from Syria. Abadie left his country of birth at 10 and settled for some years in Mexico. He is now based in Dubai, serving as the senior rabbi emeritus of the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf states.He remembers the Lebanon of his childhood in the 1960s in its "best days" with "beautiful beaches and rivieras, mountain resorts, skiing resorts." His family, like many Lebanese Jews, left as anti-Jewish sentiment rose after the 1967 war between Israel and Arab countries. Security fears have kept him away since, but Abadie hopes to come back one day to reopen Beirut's long-shuttered central synagogue. "It is unfortunately a sad reality that, since Lebanon and the Jews go back over 3,000 years from the time of King Solomon and King Hiram of Tyre and their peaceful and friendly relations, the situation in the last 50 years marked such a decline in Jewish population and life in Lebanon," he said. Nada Abdelsamad, a Lebanese journalist who wrote two books about Lebanon's Jewish community, said the country once had between 18,000 and 20,000 Jews, many of them living in the central Beirut district of Wadi Abu Jmil, which was nicknamed the Valley of the Jews. After the war surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948, many Jews fled other Arab countries like Syria and Iraq, where they faced increasing discrimination and sometimes violence, and came to Lebanon, a religiously diverse country where they felt safer. Some were then smuggled into Israel, but many stayed in Lebanon. That changed after the 1967 war in which Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria in addition to east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon was polarized between pro-West groups and others that supported Palestinian factions and Egyptian leader Gamal Abdul-Nasser. In 1969, Lebanon and Palestinian factions signed the Cairo Agreement, allowing the Palestinian groups to operate freely in Lebanon.
"From that day on, the Jewish community in Lebanon felt very insecure and threatened," recalls Abadie. "We started seeing marches and protests in the streets of Lebanon, chanting, 'Death to Israel and to the Jews.'"
His family left.
The situation deteriorated further after the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975. With kidnappings by armed groups rampant, prominent figures from Lebanon's dwindling Jewish community were taken by force from their homes, work or the streets. An organization calling itself the Organization of the Oppressed on Earth — believed to be linked to Hezbollah — was blamed. At least seven Jews are among the 17,000 missing Lebanese people whose fate remains unknown decades after the 15-year war ended, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
The Jewish news agency says they include Isac Sasson, then-president of Lebanon's Jewish community; doctor Elie Hallak, known for treating people from all religious sects at his Beirut clinic; and Salim Jamous, the Jewish community's former secretary general. Several others were confirmed killed and their bodies recovered at the time. Lebanese officials have not announced any breakthrough in discovering the fate of the missing Jews. It's not clear what will be done with their remains if they are found. "In the end these are Lebanese citizens, and there is a legal process if they want to move them outside the country," said Bassem El Hout, an attorney representing Lebanon's Jewish community. Asked about Israel's interest in the disappeared Lebanese Jews, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, told The Associated Press: "Israel, as the nation-state of the Jewish people, has a profound and enduring responsibility to Jews throughout the world" which "does not end at Israel's borders, nor does it end with death."Judaism is still one of Lebanon's 18 officially-recognized religious sects, but only a handful of Jews remain. El Hout said no one knows the exact number. Abadie estimated that about 20 Jews are scattered across the country. "Not all of them profess publicly about their Jewish religion, except for maybe to close friends and neighbors," he said. On voting lists of Lebanese citizens, about 4,000 Jews are still listed in Beirut and about 1,000 in the southern port city of Sidon, but many are likely living abroad. El Hout said there are five remaining synagogues in Lebanon, the oldest of which is in Sidon. A sign reading "the Jewish quarter" still stands in the narrow alleyways of Sidon's old quarter, where the synagogue and some Jewish-owned homes are shuttered. Taleb Kara Ahmed, who wrote several books about the city's Jewish community, said many left to Latin America before Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon. When Israeli troops withdrew from Sidon in 1985, the last Jews left with them, taking copies of the Torah from the city's synagogue, he said. The current head of Lebanon's Jewish community, Samo Behar, declined to be interviewed or to give the AP permission to film inside the shuttered century-old Maghen Abraham Synagogue in Beirut, which was damaged during the civil war and renovated nearly two decades ago. Dany Liniado left months after the outbreak of the civil war in 1975. She moved through several countries, including Israel, eventually settling in Mexico, which has a significant Lebanese Jewish diaspora. Many Lebanese Jews settled in the U.S., France and Brazil, as well as in Israel. Two months after she left Lebanon, her father was detained in Beirut and beaten by gunmen who referred to him as "an Israeli agent," before a prominent Lebanese politician secured his release and advised him to leave the country."When he reached me in Milan, he was not the same person," Liniado said. She has no plans to return, even to visit. "For me, it's too late," she said. She cooks Lebanese dishes, listens to Lebanese songs and is proud of her "Lebanese DNA." But now her identity is complicated. She lived in Israel for six years and also identifies as Israeli. Despite recent negotiations between their governments, the two countries remain officially at war. "I am a Lebanese Jew but now I am everything. I can be Israeli, I can be French, I can be Mexican. You know what, I am a citizen of the world," Liniado said by telephone from Mexico City. "I'm a Jewish citizen of the world."

Israeli Fire Isolates Lebanese Villages Beyond 'Yellow Line'
Beirut: Soubhi Amhaz/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Residents of border villages in southern Lebanon face growing risks as Israeli forces continue firing at village entrances and surrounding roads, raising fears that entire communities could become effectively isolated without their access routes being formally closed or Israeli troops being stationed inside them. The repercussions extend beyond daily travel, affecting residents' ability to reach their farmland and medical facilities amid continued Israeli military movements and aerial surveillance. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a telephone call on Thursday evening. Last week, Israeli forces prevented residents of Kfar Shouba from reaching their fields on Thursday. Two days earlier, Israeli gunfire had swept the Marjayoun-Ebel El Saqi road, coinciding with shelling on the outskirts of Haris and Baraachit and gunfire directed toward the entrances of Mansouri.
Controlling Access Through Firepower to Prevent Residents' Return
Retired Brig. Gen. Dr. Hisham Jaber told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel had learned from its previous military experiences and was therefore seeking a different approach. "Israel does not want to occupy the southern villages beyond the Yellow Line and station its forces inside them this time. Instead, it seeks to occupy strategic positions overlooking those villages, allowing it to control surrounding areas from a distance while avoiding the risks its troops would face if they entered the villages," he said.Jaber explained that Israel's current tactics rely on controlling main and secondary roads connecting the villages through firepower deployed from Israeli military positions, alongside continuous aerial surveillance using drones. "Israeli drones constantly monitor movements, and whenever they detect activity on a road, the types of vehicles involved are examined," he said.
"Some vehicles may be targeted simply because they arouse suspicion. Motorcycles, for example, are frequently targeted, while other vehicles, such as vans, may also be at risk depending on their movements and Israeli suspicions." Jaber warned that roads connecting border villages would become dangerous even without a direct Israeli military occupation. Indeed, several roads have become so dangerous and isolated that they are effectively impassable, despite not being under direct occupation. These include the Nabatieh-Marjayoun road through Khardali, where vehicles can no longer pass, as well as roads around Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Kfar Tebnit and the outskirts of Kfar Rumman. The restrictions stem from artillery shelling, intense sweeping gunfire, and strikes carried out by artillery and drones. On October 2, a delegation from the Deir Mimas municipality met President Joseph Aoun and requested guarantees that roads leading to the village would remain open, essential services would be maintained, and farmers would be able to reach their land for the olive harvest.
Artillery Shelling to Deter Residents from Returning
Assessing the continued Israeli shelling of southern villages, Jaber said such attacks do not necessarily signal a new military escalation each time they occur. "Israel already maintains a continuous level of attacks and repeatedly uses artillery to strike specific areas and villages," he said.
He explained that intermittent artillery shelling of villages, including Kfar Rumman, serves a political and security objective: preventing residents from returning to their homes, stopping communities from reestablishing themselves and deterring any activity Israel might perceive as a threat to its forces. "Israel does not need to conduct large-scale ground operations to achieve this objective. It can keep villages under pressure through occasional artillery shelling, discouraging residents from returning and making normal life difficult," he said. Retired Brig. Gen. Said Kazah, meanwhile, told Asharq Al-Awsat that roads linking southern Lebanon's border villages, as well as areas under Israeli occupation or facing Israeli military positions, remain unsafe because of continued military movements and gunfire. He warned that it was impossible to know the intentions of Israeli forces or the nature of the operations they might undertake. "The danger is not limited to the roads. It also extends to residents who continue to remain in their border villages," he said.
Border Roads and Villages Remain Unsafe
Kazah explained that the presence of a foreign army occupying territory leaves roads and surrounding areas under constant threat. "When a foreign army occupies territory, all roads and areas within or facing the occupied zone remain vulnerable because we cannot know the intentions of the occupying forces or the operations they may be planning," he said. "As a result, the presence of civilians in southern villages remains fraught with danger." He added that wars invariably involve collateral damage resulting from gunfire, a possibility taken into account when military operations are planned.This, he said, helps explain the risks faced by civilians living in or near areas where military operations are taking place. "Border roads are not entirely safe. All border areas under Israeli occupation, and even those facing them, remain exposed to danger, whether from direct military operations or bullets that may reach them during exchanges of fire," Kazah said. "This makes both civilian movement and residence in these areas subject to constant risks." Fears that villages could become isolated are grounded in previous incidents. In March, Israeli shelling disrupted traffic along the Khardali road and the Marjayoun-Hasbaya route before both were reopened. On June 4, the Lebanese Army announced the reopening of the Marjayoun-Dibbin-Ebel El Saqi road after removing Israeli earth barriers. At the time, however, the army warned civilians against approaching the area until troop deployments were completed and checks for unexploded ordnance had been carried out.

Lebanon Weighs $2 Billion Plan to Boost Consumption and Production
Beirut: Ali Zeineddine/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Lebanese government, economic and banking officials are considering a $2 billion financing plan aimed at stimulating consumer spending, increasing industrial production and boosting exports by providing equal amounts of credit to individuals and businesses. Under the assumptions outlined in the proposal, the initiative could generate up to $574 million in additional government revenue in its first year, supporting economic activity and growth. The plan proposes channeling financing through Banque du Liban (BDL), Lebanon's central bank, either by allowing commercial banks to draw down funds they have placed with it or through direct lending from the central bank's liquidity. Commercial banks would then extend the loans to eligible borrowers. One billion dollars would be allocated to consumer lending, including car loans and personal spending, while the remaining $1 billion would go to businesses, primarily to finance working capital and upgrade industrial machinery. The goal is to increase production, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen exports. The proposal remains under discussion, with officials working to incorporate feedback and make the necessary improvements before seeking formal approval. It is based on projections of economic and fiscal returns, alongside the potential to stimulate consumption and production simultaneously and support government efforts to restore financial stability. According to a working paper obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat from a senior official involved in the discussions, the initial, one-time injection of $2 billion is expected to generate approximately $2.95 billion in economic activity. That would represent around 6.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), based on an estimated GDP of $46 billion, or 8 percent using a lower estimate of $36.9 billion, according to the paper, which cites World Bank data.
Financing Mechanism
The official said discussions had reached an advanced stage, with the plan's provisions drafted, its components organized and potential funding sources identified. The options include allowing banks to withdraw part of their placements at the central bank or providing direct financing from BDL's liquidity. Both would be subject to strict arrangements ensuring that credit is divided equally between households and businesses. The working paper also envisages recycling the financing as borrowers repay their loans, allowing banks to lend the funds again and sustain the economic impact over time. It estimates that this revolving credit mechanism could generate approximately $3 billion in economic activity annually. Under the proposed arrangement, the central bank would provide $2 billion to commercial banks through formally recorded transactions, classified either as withdrawals from existing placements or as new lending facilities. The banks would then extend the funds to businesses and consumers, earning a fixed margin of two percentage points on corporate loans and three percentage points on consumer loans.
The total annual return on the lending portfolio is projected at approximately $50 million in the first year. The funding, whether provided directly, through withdrawals from banks' placements or via lending facilities administered through the banking system, would come almost exclusively from the central bank's foreign currency reserves, currently estimated at approximately $11.6 billion. The plan calls for an equal allocation of loans to consumers and businesses, targeting activities that allow repayment over the short and medium term. This would enable the funds to be lent repeatedly in the coming years, increasing liquidity flows throughout the economy. Beyond its potential near-term multiplier effect and the restoration of a vital banking function, the proposed financing represents a significant structural opportunity for key productive sectors. Most credit products have been effectively unavailable since Lebanon's financial crisis erupted, leaving banks' placements at the central bank, estimated at approximately $80 billion, tied up. The same crisis, now approaching the end of its seventh consecutive year, has severely weakened consumers' purchasing power following the collapse of the Lebanese currency and restrictions on deposit withdrawals. Depending on the applicable BDL circulars and the categories of eligible beneficiaries, depositors can currently withdraw between $500 and $1,000 per month. The proposal also raises the possibility of allocating part of the initiative's returns to provide additional liquidity through existing mechanisms for repaying bank deposits.
Untapped Investment Opportunities
According to field surveys cited in the proposal, Lebanese industry is currently operating at approximately 50 percent of its installed capacity, pointing to significant untapped investment opportunities that the plan considers capable of generating reliable returns. The proposal seeks to help close that gap by directing approximately $700 million toward working capital, including raw materials and additional production shifts, while allocating another $300 million to modernize industrial machinery. Once the financing is fully deployed, the plan projects a substantial and sustained increase in exports of approximately $1.14 billion. This would represent growth of nearly 38 percent in annual exports of goods and services, compared with their current estimated value of around $3 billion. The additional financing is also expected to stimulate activity across industrial sectors, diversify products and goods, create jobs and improve workers' incomes.At the same time, the plan proposes allocating $1 billion to consumer lending, with an initial distribution that remains subject to review and adjustment. Under the preliminary proposal, up to $400 million would finance car loans repayable over five years, while $600 million would fund personal spending loans with repayment scheduled over one year. A net interest margin of three percentage points on consumer lending would generate an estimated $30 million in returns, helping sustain and potentially expand the financing program in subsequent years. Financial modeling suggests that the proposed $2 billion credit package could generate up to $574 million in additional government revenue in its first year by stimulating economic activity. Value-added tax (VAT) would account for the largest share, generating approximately $310 million, followed by customs duties and excise taxes of at least $135 million.
Income tax revenue is projected at approximately $100 million, while taxes on bank profits could generate between $8 million and $31 million, depending on the lending mechanism ultimately adopted. From an economic and financial perspective, the corporate lending component alone is projected to contribute more than $1.34 billion annually to Lebanon's balance of payments through increased export earnings and savings on imports. The initiative would also help raise industrial capacity utilization and modernize factories, strengthening Lebanon's external trade position by revitalizing industrial production and services, expanding exports and replacing imported goods with locally manufactured alternatives.

It’s Family’: Lebanese Villagers Dread Looming UN Peacekeeper Pullout
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
From his shop in south Lebanon near the Israeli border, Mark Diab says life in his village will be turned upside down when a decades-long United Nations peacekeeping force pulls out next year. "UNIFIL isn't just business, to us it's family," said Diab, 59, whose sister is among residents of Ibl al-Saqi who have married peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon over the years. She now lives in Spain. "We're basically open because of the UN. We started when I was young," Diab said from his shop, just down the road from a UNIFIL base, selling clothes. The force's withdrawal will hurt the local economy and "will impact our relationships... and we'll lose security and stability," he said, as the sound of an explosion rang out in the distance.
"I'm very sad they're leaving... We've spent a lifetime with them."
UNIFIL has served as a buffer since Israel first invaded Lebanon in 1978.
It has become part of the fabric of south Lebanese villages like Ibl al-Saqi after decades spent monitoring border hostilities and supporting local communities, including with humanitarian assistance. But after pressure from Washington, the UN Security Council last year voted to end the force's mandate on December 31, 2026. In a narrow garden in Ibl al-Saqi called Norway Square, tattered Norwegian and Lebanese flags flew near plaques paying tribute to peacekeepers from the Scandinavian country whose arrival decades ago forged ties that run deep. A street sign points to a town in Norway about 5,200 kilometers (more than 3,200 miles) away. Nearby, an Indian flag flew at Mahatma Gandhi Park close to a statue, posters and plaques set up by Indian peacekeepers. An armored vehicle of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) moves along a road in Lebanon's southern border village of Ibl al-Saqi on October 13, 2026. (AFP)
'Positive mark' -
Ibl al-Saqi is located just outside an Israeli-declared "security zone" which runs around 10 kilometers deep in Lebanese territory along the border. It was established after the latest war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group erupted this year.
Israeli troops operate nearby, and locals advised AFP journalists to avoid southern parts of the otherwise quiet, peaceful village, nestled among hills covered in olive groves. From his municipal office near framed UNIFIL pictures and paraphernalia, mayor George Rahhal said the peacekeepers had brought stability and reassurance to villagers over years of conflict and uncertainty. "They've left a positive mark on everybody's hearts, firstly through security, then the economy, healthcare, supporting schools, the sick," said Rahhal, who like others in the village also has Norwegian citizenship and speaks the language. "At some point the UN has to leave... but not in these circumstances." Lebanon has called for UNIFIL's mandate to be extended, fearing a security vacuum at a time when hostilities prevent the Lebanese army, whose resources are limited, from deploying across the country's south. Rahhal said many Ibl al-Saqi residents were UNIFIL employees or contractors. Almost "the entire community will be impacted" economically by the withdrawal, directly or indirectly, he said. "We can live after the international force (leaves), but how and where and who will be responsible for us?"UNIFIL now counts about 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries. Spokesperson Kandice Ardiel told AFP it also "has around 400 national staff" and works with numerous local companies providing contracted services.
'Stayed in our village' -
Peacekeepers are stationed in many Israeli-occupied areas now off-limits to most Lebanese after the most recent war. Many border villages have seen heavy destruction. More than 4,300 people have been killed in Lebanon since March, including seven peacekeepers caught in the crossfire.
Israel still carries out strikes and demolitions despite a lull in hostilities since late June. Andrea Tenenti, who served as UNIFIL spokesperson for almost 20 years, told AFP that the force's presence "was not simply about maintaining peace and security". UNIFIL "has long been the second largest employer and economic contributor in southern Lebanon, after the Lebanese state", he said. "Its economic footprint, however, extended far beyond its direct workforce," he added, with associated activities "supporting a much wider network of businesses and livelihoods".Its withdrawal "risks creating a significant vacuum... at a particularly critical time". At a workshop in Ibl al-Saqi, laborers supervised clattering embroidery machines sewing customized items including banners and tags for peacekeepers stationed nearby. Shelves were packed with colorful souvenirs and keepsakes for UNIFIL personnel -- the business's main market after Lebanon's economy collapsed in 2019. Co-owner Khaled Nahra, 48, said the workshop had been running for some 25 years and had around a dozen employees, but would be forced to close when UNIFIL leaves."We've stayed in our village... this was the best thing about working with the UN," he said. "There are people who've been working here for 15... 20 years. They're like me. They don't know what to do."

PM Salam calls for stronger state authority, stresses war and peace decisions belong to state alone
LBCI/October 18, 2026
PM Salam calls for stronger state authority, stresses war and peace decisions belong to state alone
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised the increased deployment of security forces across Greater Beirut and reaffirmed that decisions on war and peace must remain exclusively in the hands of the state and its constitutional institutions. In a post on X, Salam said he had contacted Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal and Internal Security Forces Director-General Maj. Gen. Raed Abdullah to commend the reinforcement of security deployments in Greater Beirut over the past two days. He stressed the importance of these measures in reassuring citizens that the state and its security forces are safeguarding their safety, following nighttime gatherings in the capital that raised suspicions and concerns about potential security risks. Salam emphasized that lasting stability cannot be achieved unless the state extends its authority across all Lebanese territory, even gradually, through its own security forces alone. The prime minister also said he had met with Justice Minister Adel Nassar and Prosecutor General Rami Hajj to review measures aimed at expanding the investigation into a shipment of explosives seized in Dahr al-Baidar and subsequent developments. He called for the arrest of all those involved in the possession or transportation of illegal weapons and their referral to the competent judicial authorities for prosecution and punishment. Salam stressed that the law would be the only limit governing these efforts. He also urged all parties to place Lebanon's national interests above all other considerations and refrain from linking them to foreign interests or objectives. The prime minister reiterated that decisions concerning war and peace must remain solely within the authority of the Lebanese state and its constitutional institutions.

Speaker Berri calls for UNIFIL to remain in Lebanon, urges international pressure on Israel to implement Resolution 1701
LBCI/October 18, 2026
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to maintaining the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and called for coordinated international efforts to ensure Israel's compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
Berri made the remarks during a meeting at his Ain el-Tineh residence with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Alice Rufo and an accompanying delegation. French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrick Durel and Berri's adviser, Mahmoud Berri, also attended the meeting. Discussions focused on developments in Lebanon and the wider region, political and security developments, Lebanon's position on UNIFIL's continued presence and ways to strengthen Lebanese-French relations. Berri thanked France and President Emmanuel Macron for their continued support for Lebanon, praising the sacrifices of French troops serving with UNIFIL, as well as those of other participating countries over more than 48 years. He highlighted their role in implementing international resolutions, particularly U.N. Security Council Resolutions 425 and 1701. Berri emphasized that UNIFIL's mission extends beyond military and security responsibilities to include humanitarian, cultural, economic and social contributions that strengthen relations between communities and nations. He stressed that Lebanese authorities and the Lebanese people remain united in their support for the continued presence of international peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. Berri also expressed hope for French, European, international and regional efforts to prevent a security vacuum that could arise if UNIFIL's mandate expires before Resolution 1701 is fully implemented. He reiterated that Lebanon has complied and continues to comply with the resolution, while accusing Israel of repeatedly violating its provisions, continuing its military operations against Lebanon and occupying large areas of southern Lebanon. The speaker called for unified national and international efforts to halt Israeli attacks and ensure Israel implements international resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701, rather than undermining them.

BDL sources: Raising withdrawal limits under consideration, reserves belong to depositors
LBCI/October 18, 2026
Sources at Banque du Liban (BDL) confirmed that a proposal to raise withdrawal limits under Circulars 158 and 166 is under consideration, but stressed that any decision would not be made in response to pressure from leaked reports. Instead, the move would require a decision by the central bank's Central Council, based on the amount of money it wants circulating in the market.The sources said BDL is also seeking to help people cope with an unprecedented rise in living expenses, particularly fuel costs, school tuition fees and other financial burdens. They added that a decision to increase withdrawal limits would be made at the appropriate time, potentially ahead of the holiday season. The central bank sources also emphasized that the reserves held at BDL do not belong to the central bank itself but represent commercial banks' reserves deposited with BDL and, ultimately, depositors' money. They stressed that returning these funds to depositors is not a favor granted by anyone, particularly the central bank.

Lebanese banks dispute $600 million tax claim over Eurobond gains
LBCI/October 18, 2026
Lebanese banks accuse the Finance Ministry of seeking to collect around $600 million in taxes from them because they recorded profits on Eurobonds as their value in Lebanese lira rose sharply amid the collapse of the national currency. The banks argue that the bonds were valued at around LBP 150,000 when the dollar traded at LBP 1,500, compared with roughly LBP 9 million when the exchange rate reached LBP 89,500 per dollar. They maintain that they lost more than 75% of the bonds’ actual value in dollar terms and that it is therefore incorrect to classify the currency-driven increase in their pound value as a real profit. Banking sources said taxes should be imposed on actual profits in accordance with accounting and legal standards, rather than on book gains that fail to account for investment losses. The sources also warned that any new tax deductions from banks would reduce the funds available for returning deposits to customers, particularly those with deposits of up to $100,000. They argued that the collapse of the exchange rate should not be turned into an opportunity for additional tax collection or used to impose further burdens on banks and depositors at the expense of their rights. However, Finance Ministry sources said the government had not imposed any new tax on the banks. They said the ministry had asked some banks, based on existing legal provisions, to correct their financial declarations after they reported having no profits. If the banks fail to amend those declarations, they could be subject to taxation, the ministry sources said, describing the measure as part of efforts to combat tax evasion, particularly among large taxpayers, including major companies.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on October 18-19/2026 (Some of the News reports below are translated from Arabic by AI)
CFB Wainwright fire sparked by live training exercise, causes explosion: sources
At least seven people have been killed and dozens more are injured, while a fire remains held south of the town of Wainwright.
Sean Previl and Jeff Semple/October 18, 2026
A preliminary investigation into the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright suggests a munition from a live training exercise sparked a fast-moving grass fire, causing Saturday's explosion, according to multiple military sources. Separate military sources told Global News that at least seven people died in the incident, and dozens more were injured at the base, located around 200 kilometres from Edmonton. On Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that four service members perished and their next of kin have been notified, adding that dozens more were seriously injured. "Yesterday afternoon, a violent fast-moving fire swept through Canadian Armed Forces Base in Wainwright, Alberta, and what followed was one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime," Carney said. Minister of National Defence David McGuinty said he is travelling to Edmonton and will be briefed on the latest developments regarding the incident. Carney said flags will be flown at half-mast on all federal buildings across the country. As the investigation continues, many details remain unknown, but here's what is known so far about the calamity.
How the fire started
The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed Sunday that the fire ignited within a training area at approximately 4 p.m. MT on Saturday. "The fire spread rapidly beyond the boundaries of the training area, while military and civilian emergency services responded quickly to control that fire and to support those affected by this tragic event," the CAF said in a news release. A source on scene told Global News troops were loading the injured to bring back to the base before going back into the field to collect more of their comrades. Environment Canada had issued a warning of high winds for Alberta earlier in the day, with a windstorm hitting large areas of the province. Gusts reached up to 100 km/h, toppling trees, sending signs flying, and rolling garbage cans down streets.It is unclear why military exercises with live munitions continued despite the high winds. Residents who spoke with Global News said they heard the exercises until they went quiet, then heard sirens. "There is that emotional piece, definitely; it's hard our neighbour across the street is a serving member, our neighbours on both sides of us are former serving members," said Mayor Bruce Pugh. "The CAF is like a family, very similar to this community." The Municipal District of Wainwright said the fire south of town crossed the base fence earlier in the day and was being actively managed. At approximately midnight, the municipality said the fire was contained, but a fire watch would remain in place overnight.
Where is CFB Wainwright and what surrounds it?
CFB Wainwright is considered one of the CAF's busiest bases and is used to train Canada's military and prepare units for combat operations. It's considered, according to retired Maj.-Gen. David Fraser, "as real as it can be" in preparing soldiers for combat operations. The base is home to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, and approximately 12 lodger units. It is not yet known what was involved in Saturday's military training, as previous exercises have involved artillery and armoured vehicles. But Fraser told The Canadian Press training at the base involves more than just weapons training, with exercises covering everything in the CAF's arsenal from firearms to aircraft. Exercises are organized and methodical and Fraser says something went wrong at CFB Wainwright, adding those who undergo this training are well-versed in safety procedures. Safety staff also oversee every exercise. According to the Government of Canada, more than 200 active gas wells and associated pipelines can be found in the CFB Wainwright area. The area is also known for livestock grazing and recreational hunting, which has been allowed for more than four decades at the base. The base is about 609 square-kilometres in size and located about 205 kilometres southeast of Edmonton and found within one kilometre of the town of Wainwright.
Alberta residents urged to use emergency care wisely
Acute Care Alberta advised Saturday evening that a Code Orange had been declared for multiple hospitals. A Code Orange is issued when a mass casualty incident or external disaster has occurred and many injured patients are expected to arrive. Albertans have been advised to use emergency care resources wisely to make room for the tragedy's victims. Residents requiring immediate, emergency care for life-threatening illnesses or injuries were told to go to any of Edmonton's other acute care facilities, if at all possible. Ambulances from across Alberta were diverted to the base about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, taking them away from responding to 911 calls in other communities. STARS air ambulance crews flew in from Edmonton and Saskatoon to provide assistance, Carney said. The most recent occurred in July when a three-person rope team was performing a rescue exercise at the time of the incident. The three members fell into a crevasse in Jasper National Park, dropping about 20 metres. The three were responsive and stable and flown to hospital after being rescued. One of the deadliest training exercises that happened on Canadian soil was in 1988 at CFB Chilliwack. Students were practicing explosive cratering in the demolition phase of their military engineer officer training when a charge detonated prematurely during a session. According to the Canadian Military Engineers Association, 29 students and seven instructors were in attendance. Six students were killed and several others were injured. A coroner's inquest and board of inquiry concluded the a hotspot developed inside the camouflet tube, triggered by friction and heat generated when the tamping rod was used with excessive force. The hotspot likely ignited a blockage, causing a small detonation that then triggered the main charge. The incident was ruled as accidental. There has also been a previous incident in the last decade at CFB Wainwright, when Sgt. Robert Dynerowicz died during a training exercise in 2017. He was commanding a light-armoured vehicle when the incident occurred. Three others were injured.

Netanyahu says will eliminate Iran threat with Trump after his endorsement
LBCI/October 18/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump will help them "eliminate the Iranian threat" if he wins the tight election race, shortly after the U.S. leader endorsed him. In a video released by his Likud party, Netanyahu called on voters to heed Trump's words, assuring them "we have crushed Iran" and adding that their partnership "will continue in order to eliminate the Iranian threat over the next two years, or even sooner". AFP

Trump says Iran war will end 'very quickly', says preventing nukes remains priority
Naharnet/October 18/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that the ongoing war with Iran will end “very quickly,” promising that American gas prices will fall below pre-war levels once hostilities cease.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Kentucky ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, Trump defended American military strikes on Iranian targets, claiming they had destroyed Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.He said preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remained a key national security priority.

Vance says US wants 'commitment' from Iran it won't rebuild nuclear program
Naharnet/October 18/2026
U.S. Vice President JD Vance — who participated in negotiations with Iran over the summer — has defended President Donald Trump's Iran strategy, and said the Trump administration is looking for a "final firm commitment from the Iranians that they're not going to rebuild their nuclear program."
In an interview with CBS news, Vance also said that "when this conflict is over, we are going to see gas prices come down."He said oil is still being exported from the Middle East because of efforts by the U.S. military to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump reveals the secret behind his support for Netanyahu.. and Iran at the heart of the calculations
Riyadh - Al Arabiya.net/18 October/2026
US President Donald Trump revealed the reasons for his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections scheduled for October 27, confirming that their good relationship and their cooperation in confronting Iran pushed him to announce his endorsement, despite disagreements that marked their relationship in recent months.According to a report by the " Axios" website, Sunday, Trump announced his full support for Netanyahu nine days before the Israeli elections, in a step the site described as unprecedented in US-Israeli relations, as no American president has previously announced public and explicit support for a candidate in Israeli elections. Trump said, in a short telephone interview with the site, that he had intended to support Netanyahu from the beginning, but did not want to announce his position early. He added: "I was always going to do it, but I didn't want to do it too early."The US President explained that his good relationship with Netanyahu was behind his decision, expressing his belief that they will continue to cooperate well if the Israeli Prime Minister is re-elected.
Warning about another leader coming to power
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump described Netanyahu as a "great warrior prime minister," and an important partner for the United States in the war against Iran. He warned against electing another Israeli leader, saying that if someone other than Netanyahu takes leadership of Israel, the United States may have to continue working against Iran alone, which he does not want. When Axios asked him whether he could cooperate with another Israeli prime minister, he answered: "Maybe I will and maybe not.. Who wants to take the risk?" For his part, Netanyahu thanked the US President for his support, and wrote via the platform "X": "Together we will complete the mission." As for his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, he affirmed his respect for Trump and his appreciation for what he has offered to Israel, but stressed that the elections are an internal Israeli matter, and that only Israeli citizens have the right to determine their results. The Axios website indicated that Trump had refrained in recent months from announcing his support for Netanyahu, amid tensions between them over Iran and the Gaza Strip. The site quoted two people who spoke directly with the US President as saying he criticized Netanyahu in private conversations, and held him responsible for Israeli failures to prevent the October 7th attacks, and also wondered whether the Prime Minister was harming Israel's international image. Some of Trump's advisers believed that his agenda in the Middle East might benefit from the formation of a different Israeli government, but the US President ultimately decided to support Netanyahu. In a related context, Axios reported that the two leaders discussed two weeks ago the possibility of launching a new large-scale military operation against Iran before the Israeli and American elections. According to the report, Trump initially appeared inclined to resume attacks, but became more hesitant and decided to wait until after the elections. The site noted that Trump hinted in his post supporting Netanyahu at the possibility of completing operations against Iran later, when he said: "We will finish the mission soon."This support comes before a decisive vote for Netanyahu, amid polls indicating, according to Axios, that his coalition may not get the 61 seats needed to form a new government.

Trump warns Tehran and supports Netanyahu.. and the latter responds "We will complete the mission"
Riyadh - Al Arabiya.net/18 October/2026
US President Donald Trump again directed his threats to Iran, threatening the possibility of launching new strikes. Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform today Sunday that "Iran was hit with devastating blows." But he warned saying: "If it does not change its approach and quickly, we will complete the mission soon," in reference to the possibility of resuming the war. In addition, he expressed his full and absolute support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his upcoming race for re-election as head of government. Trump also considered that "If Netanyahu does not win the elections, the United States will have to carry out the mission against Iran by itself." He added: "I am not inclined to that." Netanyahu responded to this support, thanking Trump for his support. He wrote in a tweet on his X account: "Thank you, President Trump, for the tremendous support and joint work.. Together we will accomplish the mission!" This warning came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed earlier today that the offer made by his country to open the Strait of Hormuz is still on the table. Araghchi explained in press statements that the American side introduced some amendments, while his country is still awaiting a response through mediators. The American warning also came as the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said that Iran has prepared a plan more destructive than the two previous wars if the "enemies" undertake any adventure. Rezaei wrote in a tweet via X platform, that "The repeated threats launched by American officials these days do not change the reality on the ground." He pointed out that "Iran's new operational plan will not proceed according to the rules they know," according to his expression. The US President had previously confirmed that he will not direct any new strikes against Iranian sites before the end of the midterm elections for Congress, scheduled for November 3. Netanyahu also, in a previous interview days ago, expressed his refusal to launch a new round of war on Iran before the American and Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, due to their repercussions on these elections at the present time.

Eisenkot in response to Trump: Israelis alone choose their leaders
Janoubia/18 October/2026
US President Donald Trump entered the line of Israeli elections by announcing open and explicit support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a step that prompted a response from his main rival Gadi Eisenkot, who stressed that choosing Israel's leadership remains exclusively in the hands of Israelis. Eisenkot said, Sunday, during a conference in Tel Aviv, that he admires the US President, but stressed in return that " Israel is a democratic state, and only Israelis can choose their leaders," in a direct response to Trump's announcement of his full support for Netanyahu in the electoral race.
Trump had earlier announced his explicit support for Netanyahu via a post on his Truth Social platform, affirming his support for him in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The US President wrote: "Let this message serve as a testimony to my full and unconditional support for Bibi Netanyahu in the race to be re-elected as Prime Minister of Israel." Trump's position was not limited to announcing his support for Netanyahu, but linked the election result to the course of confrontation with Iran, saying that another personality taking leadership of Israel will make the United States forced to complete the mission against Tehran by itself, adding that this is not what he wants. Trump also warned that Washington may complete its operations against Iran soon if Tehran does not quickly change its approach, considering that its military and financial capabilities have been subjected to devastating and systematic strikes. Israel is preparing to hold parliamentary elections on October 27, amid competition between the Likud party led by Netanyahu and opposition forces, foremost the centrist "Yashar" party led by Eisenkot. The open American support for Netanyahu adds a new dimension to the electoral competition, with the Iranian file entering the heart of political discourse, at a time when Eisenkot affirms that deciding the identity of the next leadership must remain in the hands of Israeli voters alone.

We will strike Iran alone.. Netanyahu reveals a plan to encircle Israel from Lebanon to Egypt and Gaza
Janoubia/18 October / 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a plan to establish buffer zones and security barriers along the borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and the Gaza Strip, in parallel with escalating his threats towards Iran, announcing Israel's readiness to direct a preemptive strike at it even without American assistance. Netanyahu said that his government is working to create "buffer zones and security barriers" on various border fronts, within an approach he said aims to reshape the security environment surrounding Israel, placing several regional fronts within one security plan.
On the West Bank front and inside Israel, Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces will move to "wide offensive operations" to uproot what he described as "terrorist strongholds," in reference to a trend towards intensifying military and security operations. As for Iran, Netanyahu raised the ceiling of threat, saying that Israel is ready to direct a preemptive strike even without American assistance, stressing the necessity of preventing Tehran from directing the first strike.His position was not limited to hinting at military action, but announced that the Israeli goal is "to eliminate the Iranian threat and overthrow the regime in Tehran," in a statement that puts regime change among the goals he announced for the confrontation. In parallel, Netanyahu affirmed that Israel will continue to work to eliminate the capabilities of Hamas and Hezbollah, and prevent them from rebuilding their strength, placing the two files within the priorities of the next stage.

Iran Urges US to Accept Proposal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Iran's ‌offer to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian media outlets on Sunday. Iran presented its proposal in mid-September after an interim ceasefire collapsed. Tehran later acknowledged receiving a US response, but Iran’s security chief said last week negotiations have stalled because Washington failed to address all seven conditions for ‌reopening the strait. "Our ‌situation is clear and based ‌on ⁠the seven-days proposal presented ⁠to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table and if there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn't, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz ⁠is obvious," Araghchi said while in Baghdad ‌for a meeting ‌of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Iran's conditions include, among other ‌demands, the lifting of the US blockade on ‌its ports, the lifting of US sanctions on its oil exports as well as ending hostilities on all regional fronts. If Washington accepts Tehran's conditions, the strait ‌could reopen within six days, with talks resuming the following day, Araghchi said. A central ⁠point ⁠of disagreement has been Washington’s insistence on addressing Iran's nuclear program from the outset. US Vice President JD Vance said earlier this month that Iran must make a "meaningful" reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries' eight-month war. Tehran says negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried about a fifth of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and restoring security in the waterway.

Iran’s New Defense Minister Threatens ‘Enormous Damage’ if US Attacks
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Newly appointed Iranian defense minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi threatened on Sunday to inflict "enormous damage" on the United States and its allies in the Middle East if Washington resumes its military campaign against the country. "People can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to attack us," Akhlaghi told reporters shortly after securing parliament's vote of confidence. "If they (the US) do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage." Iranian lawmakers had earlier approved Akhlaghi's appointment as the country's new defense minister, after his predecessor was killed on the first day of the war with the United States. "Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) today gave a vote of confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the nominee for minister of defense and armed forces logistics," state television reported, nearly eight months after the initial US-Israeli strikes that sparked the conflict. According to the government website, Akhlaghi "was elected to the post with 237 votes in favor", out of a total of 277 votes cast. The veteran defense official replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack on a leadership compound on February 28, alongside former supreme leader Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. "If I receive parliament's vote of confidence, responsibility for the Ministry of Defense will fall to me at a sensitive juncture," Akhlaghi said before the vote, according to the ISNA news agency. "Under such circumstances, defending the country requires an accurate understanding of the environment, an understanding of the logic behind developments, the identification of influential trends, and preparedness to face different possible futures," he added. Although he does not hold a military rank, Akhlaghi has worked in the defense ministry for 42 years and has headed the Iranian Defense Industries Organization, the state's weapons manufacturer, since 2013. The United Nations sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2007 over his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.

Sisi Says Egypt Ready for Any Measure to Protect Saudi Arabia
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Egypt's parliament will meet on Sunday after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asked lawmakers to authorize support for Saudi defenses. Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Egyptian military academy, Sisi said on Saturday that it was "inconceivable" for Cairo to stand by while Saudi Arabia was "harmed or its security and stability threatened.” "Egypt, of course, with the directives of His Majesty King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will carry out any measure to protect you or defend you," he said. Sisi said Cairo stood "with full force and support to protect and defend the lands of our brothers in the Gulf,” before asking attendees to stand and give a military salute to Gulf states. "I'm not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone," he added. "We are speaking only about defense." Shortly after Sisi's remarks, state media reported that parliament would convene an emergency session on Sunday at the president's request. Former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Mohamed Hegazy said that al-Sisi’s remarks about Egypt’s willingness to take measures to protect its Gulf Arab brethren, if requested, “carry a clear political and strategic message: Egypt views Gulf security as an integral part of Egyptian and Arab national security, and Arab solidarity is not limited to political and diplomatic positions, but extends to a readiness to shoulder responsibility when Arab states face threats to their security and stability.”Hegazy told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the president’s remarks also underscore that any potential Egyptian action would be defensive and protective in nature, undertaken at the request of its Gulf partners, rather than aimed at attacking any party or entering into an open military confrontation.”He said this “reflects the distinction between possessing the capability to protect Arab interests and seeking escalation.” “The president’s remarks affirm that force in this context is a tool of deterrence and protection, not an instrument of war and escalation. This comes within the framework of Egypt’s longstanding commitment to Arab solidarity, while safeguarding security, stability, and the resources of the countries of the region,” he added.

Egypt Says It Will Provide Saudi Arabia with All Necessary Support
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Egypt's National Defense Council decided on Sunday to provide all necessary and possible forms of support to Saudi Arabia to defend its security and stability, and to safeguard its capabilities, territorial integrity, and Islamic holy sites. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi chaired a meeting of the National Defense Council at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, said a statement the spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency on Facebook. The Council reviewed the overall current regional developments and the dangerous escalations unfolding in the region, particularly in light of the intensifying and unacceptable attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, he added. Consequently, the Council decided on "complete alignment and full solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stemming from the historical relations and solid bonds connecting the peoples of the two brotherly nations as the heart of the Arab nation, and out of the firm belief that Saudi national security is inextricably linked to Egyptian and Arab national security."The Council also decided to "provide all necessary and possible forms of support to Saudi Arabia to defend its security and stability, and to safeguard its capabilities, territorial integrity, and Islamic holy sites," as well as to continue and intensify political and diplomatic efforts, in coordination with relevant regional and international parties, to contribute to de-escalation across the entire region and to peacefully resolve the crises unfolding within it. The meeting was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and the ministers of Interior, Finance, Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates' Affairs. It was also attended by the head of the General Intelligence Service, commanders of the main branches of the Armed Forces, Chief of the Armed Forces Operations Authority, chief of Military Intelligence, and Secretary-General of the National Defense Council.

Gulf Support to Saudi Arabia’s Right to Defend Itself, Condemnation of Houthi Attacks
Manama: Merza al-Khuwaldi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Gulf foreign ministers discussed in Bahrain on Sunday regional developments, specifically Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. The officials meeting at the 168th GCC Ministerial Council condemned the assaults and supported the Kingdom's right to defend itself. In addition to developments in Yemen, they discussed the escalation in the region and threats to freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea. The Gulf meeting was followed by the ninth joint ministerial meeting for the Gulf-Russian Strategic Dialogue, aimed at strengthening relations between both sides and expanding the horizons of partnership in various fields. Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi said the talks between the Gulf ministers and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will address ways to develop Gulf-Russian cooperation and exchange views on issues of common interest.
Solidarity with Saudi Arabia
Addressing the Ministerial Council meeting, Bahrain’s FM Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani underlined Gulf solidarity with Saudi Arabia and their support for its right to self-defense. “We stand as one with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and support its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter,” he said.The security of "Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the member states of the GCC" and "the security of the GCC states is a fundamental pillar of regional and international security,” he declared. He condemned the terrorist Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and “their deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects and airports” that has left deaths and injuries. He noted the attack on King Khalid International Airport that left 14 civilians dead and over 300 people wounded. The attacks are a flagrant violation of international law and Chicago convention on international civilian aviation, he said, while reiterating Bahrain’s firm stance in support of Saudi Arabia in confronting these assaults. For his part, Albudaiwi stressed that the heinous assaults committed by the terrorist militia “confront us with deliberate criminal conduct that disregards the sanctity of human life, the safety of civilian facilities, and the consequences of escalation on regional security and stability.” He reiterated the GCC's “categorical condemnation of these blatant assaults, rejecting the continued targeting of airports, civilian facilities, and energy infrastructure, as well as terrorizing residents and endangering travelers and workers.” He affirmed that this militia’s “persistence in repeating its crimes necessitates impactful international action to halt its attacks, hold those responsible accountable, and prevent its threats to security and stability.”"The repeated Iranian attacks to which GCC member states have been subjected cannot be overlooked, as they represent a flagrant violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a direct threat to their security and stability,” he added. “This is in addition to the dangerous and ongoing Iranian practices targeting the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and its attempts to exploit this vital international waterway as a tool for pressure and intimidation, exposing international trade and global energy supplies to grave risks,” Albudaiwi stated. While reiterating the categorical condemnation of these unacceptable attacks and practices, he asserted the necessity of Iran’s adherence to the principles of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter, the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and ensuring freedom of navigation and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions or threats.

Coalition Thwarts Houthi Attempt to Smuggle Weapons at Sea as Taiz Withstands Militant Assaults
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen thwarted an attempt by the terrorist Houthi group to smuggle weapons at sea to Yemen’s Hodeidah governorate in a development that highlights efforts to cut off the militants’ military supply lines. On the ground, clashes continued along fronts in Taiz as Operation Dawn of Yemen expands. In a video on the X platform about the smuggling operation, Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki said: "We strike them on land... we sink them in the sea." On Saturday, Operation Dawn of Yemen entered its 13th day amid ongoing Houthi attacks on the fronts in the southwestern city of Taiz. Government forces and the Popular Resistance repelled the attacks in fierce battles, with the Houthis incurring heavy losses, according to Yemeni military statements. The Yemeni Armed Forces announced that it carried out 1,417 precise and direct operations, using warplanes, drones and field artillery, targeting militia gatherings, reinforcements, fortified positions, firing sources, armored vehicles, combat equipment, and drone launch sites. Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Majed al-Nuzaili said the operations have disrupted Houthi movement, preventing them from deploying their reserves to the fronts or achieving any tactical objective on the ground. The operations killed and injured around 800 militants, and destroyed or damaged more than 190 armored, transport and supply vehicles, as well as fortifications and firing positions, he added. The Armed Forces on the eastern front managed to clear hostile positions and expand their scope of control, securing a new tactical field position, he went on to say. In Taiz, al-Nuzaili said the Armed Forces and the Popular Resistance thwarted continuous waves of attacks, while warplanes targeted the militia's positions and reinforcements with concentrated strikes, inflicting heavy losses among their ranks. The Armed Forces confirmed that their operations are strictly confined to legitimate military targets and are executed in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules. They renewed their call to citizens in areas under the control of the militias to protect their children from recruitment campaigns and from being dragged into losing battles in defense of a project that does not represent the Yemeni people and does not serve their homeland. In another development, al-Nuzaili said that government forces and the Popular Resistance detained a number of Houthi field commanders. According to government forces' statements, the Houthi militia continues to send reinforcements to the frontlines to compensate for its losses. The steadfastness of government forces is preventing the Houthis from achieving their field goals, despite the continuous military pressure, they added.
The developments are not limited to Taiz. The Armed Forces announced that they made new progress in Marib, taking control of strategic positions. Meanwhile, operations on the southern and western fronts aim to deplete the group's capabilities and weaken its movements. According to al-Nuzaili, military engineering units continue to remove mines and explosive devices planted by the Houthis, as well as securing the recaptured areas and opening roads for the armed forces.

Saudi defense minister, UAE president discuss regional developments, Gulf cooperation
Al Arabiya English/18 October/2026
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday for talks on regional developments, strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing joint Gulf action. In a post on X, Prince Khalid said the meeting took place at the direction of the Saudi leadership and that he conveyed greetings from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the UAE president. “We reaffirmed the depth of the fraternal and historic relations between our two countries and discussed regional developments and ways to strengthen cooperation and joint Gulf action,” Prince Khalid wrote. The UAE’s state news agency WAM said the meeting also addressed ways to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest and exchanged views on efforts to strengthen regional security and stability and achieve lasting peace. Earlier Sunday, Prince Khalid met UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who also serves as deputy prime minister and chairman of the Presidential Court. The two officials reviewed bilateral relations and their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and coordination across various sectors, according to WAM. Their discussions also covered regional developments and issues of mutual concern, with both sides emphasizing the importance of cooperation in supporting regional security and stability. The meetings come amid heightened regional tensions, including an escalation in Yemen and continued attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia. Following the meetings, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, hailed Prince Khalid’s “successful” visit to Abu Dhabi, saying his meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the depth and strength of Saudi-Emirati relations.
“Our security and destiny are shared, and our partnership is a cornerstone of the Gulf’s stability and prosperity,” Gargash wrote on X. He added that the wisdom of the two countries’ leadership and their solidarity during difficult times were the strongest response to those betting against the relationship.

Yemen Rejects Iran's Mediation Bid While It Continues to Arm Houthis
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
The Yemeni government has rejected Iran's attempts to position itself as a mediator in the country's war, holding Tehran responsible for supporting the Houthi takeover and prolonging the conflict by supplying the group with weapons, funding, training, missiles, drones and military experts.
Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba said Iran had made itself a party to the war against the Yemeni people and should end its military support for the Houthis and respect national sovereignty and the principles of good neighborliness rather than offer to mediate. Her remarks reflect the government's efforts to move beyond political accusations against Tehran and press for international action against the sources of the group's weapons. Speaking on the sidelines of the 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Al-Zouba said Tehran could not arm one party to a conflict and then present itself as a mediator seeking to end it. She argued that Iran's attempts to portray the war as a conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia ignored the reality of an armed group's takeover of the Yemeni state.
The minister accused the Iranian regime of using Yemen as a bargaining chip and channeling pressure directed at Tehran into attacks whose costs are borne by the people of the region, international trade and global markets. She noted that the Houthis had rejected regional and international peace initiatives, including a Saudi-proposed roadmap, and exploited periods of de-escalation to regroup and strengthen their military capabilities.
Tehran's Responsibility
Al-Zouba also rejected Iran's attempts to portray the Houthis as Yemen's legitimate representatives or describe them as the "Yemeni Armed Forces." She stressed that Tehran's dealings with the group did not grant it the legitimacy to represent the Yemeni state or give the Iranian regime authority over Yemen's sovereign decisions. The minister also rejected efforts to characterize the campaign to restore state institutions as a conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. She said Houthi claims that the group acts according to its own interests and calculations did not absolve Iran of responsibility for arming it and enabling it to continue its attacks. Al-Zouba cited several Iranian actions that she described as violations of Yemeni sovereignty, including the handover of Yemen's diplomatic premises in Tehran to a Houthi representative in November 2019. She also pointed to the smuggling of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officer into Sanaa in October 2020 and his appointment as ambassador to the Houthis, as well as flights operated to Sanaa airport in July 2026 without the internationally recognized government's approval. The minister accused Tehran of continuing to interfere in Yemen's affairs despite the severing of diplomatic relations in October 2015, describing those actions as violations of the rules governing relations between states, Yemeni sovereignty and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Al-Zouba linked these accusations to the ongoing military escalation in Yemen, citing Houthi ballistic missile attacks on Maashiq Palace, the seat of the presidency and government in the temporary capital, Aden. She also pointed to the continued siege of Taiz and shelling of residential neighborhoods, alongside attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and threatening international shipping.
Call for Islamic Action
Amid what she described as growing threats, the Yemeni foreign minister urged OIC member states to take a firm stance against the Houthis, designate the group a terrorist organization, cut off its funding sources and halt the flow of weapons and military expertise to its forces.
She stressed that the continuation of the war could not be separated from Iranian military and technical support, warning against allowing Yemeni territory to become a launching pad for threats to regional security. Al-Zouba called for Islamic solidarity to move beyond declarations and translate into practical measures that protect member states and their resources while countering foreign interference that fuels conflicts. She also urged the international community to enforce the arms embargo on the Houthis under UN Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2624, hold the group's financiers accountable and support the Yemeni government in restoring state institutions and extending its authority throughout the country. Al-Zouba emphasized that Yemen's security was closely tied to that of its neighbors and that confronting Iranian interference required ending support for armed proxies and safeguarding national sovereignty. She also highlighted Saudi Arabia's continued support for Yemen through economic, humanitarian and development assistance. On the political front, the minister said the Yemeni government, which had remained committed to pursuing peace for 12 years, would not accept a political process that served as cover to legitimize the Houthi takeover or allow weapons to remain outside state institutions. She stressed that a just and lasting peace required respect for Yemen's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, the restoration of its institutions and adherence to the agreed framework for a political settlement, foremost among them UN Security Council Resolution 2216. The remarks came as Operation Dawn of Yemen, launched by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi, continued its campaign to restore state institutions and extend government authority across the country's entire territory, according to the government.

Trump Endorses Netanyahu in Israel’s Upcoming Election
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
US President Donald Trump on Sunday offered his "complete and total" endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the country's October 27 elections. "Please let this Letter serve to represent my Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu in his upcoming Race for Re-Election as Prime Minister of Israel. BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister who is in a tight race to win a new mandate, quickly acknowledged Trump's gesture.  "Thank you, President Trump, for your tremendous support and for our work together. Together we will complete the mission!" Netanyahu wrote on X. In his post, Trump described Netanyahu as "a Great Warrior Prime Minister" and ally in the war against Iran that began in late February with a massive bombing campaign but has dragged on as Tehran has retaliated by blocking global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump asserted that without Netanyahu as Israel's leader, the United States would be alone in combating the threat from the Tehran regime, "with its 51-year-old chant, 'Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan.'""If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so," the US president said. "This is the kind of Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a Country for which it has done so much," he added.

In Shadow of War, Israelis to Decide if Hard-Right Turn Is Permanent
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Three years after suffering their deadliest single attack, Israelis will deliver their verdict on veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an October 27 election that could decide if the country moves definitively into hard-right nationalism. The trauma of October 7, 2023 remains raw across Israel. Faded stickers bearing the smiles of young people killed by Hamas cover station walls and lampposts, and at bustling restaurants, no one bats an eye as patrons dine with their assault rifles, now liberally allowed. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister who polls show is in a tight race, is seeking a new mandate after leading a multi-front regional war in response to October 7, with Israel reducing Gaza to rubble, occupying part of Lebanon and, with US help, bombarding Iran. The relentless Gaza campaign has brought pariah status to Israel in many once-friendly Western countries, and Netanyahu himself faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Even if the public broadly has supported the war's aims, the effects at home have been much more divisive, including emboldening Netanyahu's far-right allies bent on reshaping Israel into a religious-nationalist Jewish state. "I really think that these elections are about the future of the state in a literal sense," said Gideon Rahat, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Israel Democracy Institute. Netanyahu's government has ramped up settlements in the occupied West Bank where settlers armed with the blessing of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been attacking Palestinians on their lands with only occasional pushback from authorities.
"The state without a monopoly on the use of force is a failed state," Rahat said.
Netanyahu, who turns 77 on October 21, has served as prime minister on and off for more than 19 years. The wily political operator returned to power in December 2022 bringing in once-shunned ultra-nationalists and quickly tried to rein in the judiciary, which is examining corruption charges that could land him in jail. The proposed reforms brought out some of the largest protests in Israel's history in the months before the Hamas attack. "Everyone in the country has a strong opinion about Netanyahu. People either hate him or adore him," said Alon Yakter, a political scientist at Tel Aviv University. "When you want to see who people vote for, the first question you have to ask is their emotional feelings about Netanyahu."
Anti-Netanyahu in style, not stance -
Seeking to unseat Netanyahu is an informal bloc of parties united mostly around their distaste for him. Netanyahu's most formidable rival, according to polls, is former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who is in many ways his antithesis -- a political novice who wants to unite centrists rather than rally a base, and a phlegmatic speaker with halting English and none of the American-raised Netanyahu's flair for blistering, headline-grabbing speeches. Eisenkot, as well as other opposition leaders, have zeroed in on why Netanyahu failed to prevent October 7.Netanyahu has been rocked by reports he ignored warnings. He vehemently denies the charges, blaming security chiefs who he said failed to wake him up that morning. Netanyahu "may have his perfect English, but even with perfect English he got us October 7", Eisenkot, in Hebrew, told a security conference at Reichman University.
Eisenkot's son died in the Gaza war -- offering an unspoken contrast to Netanyahu's son Yair, a globe-trotting social media provocateur. The working-class son of Moroccan Jewish immigrants, Eisenkot would be the first prime minister of Middle Eastern ancestry, a watershed in a country politically dominated since its founding by an elite of European descent. Opposition leaders have not criticized Netanyahu's decision to wage war, likely a losing stance in a country where a recent survey found that only 21 percent of the population identifies as anywhere left of center. Eisenkot, as military chief during the 2006 Lebanon war, promoted the Israeli doctrine of using massive force even against civilian infrastructure when in areas used by militants, such as Hezbollah. The opposition has instead heavily focused on social issues including Netanyahu's tight alliance with ultra-Orthodox Jews, a fast-growing segment of the population due to high birth rates that has promoted religious priorities, such as keeping public transit closed on Saturdays. Netanyahu, while personally secular, has allowed religious students to remain exempt from military service, a source of particular resentment when stretched reservists have served multiple tours.
Opposition figure Naftali Bennett, prime minister in a short-lived 2021-22 government, has vowed to end all exemptions to military service and said that social divisions were putting Israel on a "slow-motion suicide mission".
Hardline appeal -
While the opposition attacks Netanyahu over October 7, for some Israelis, the aftermath of the attack shows the government has brought stability. While Israelis have died in Iranian and Hezbollah retaliatory attacks, fire has stopped from Gaza, even as Israel keeps striking the territory and Hamas remains. Israel's economy has boomed since October 7, with construction sites dotting the major cities and the stock market soaring, led by the technology and defense sectors. Neriah Yarchi, 19, a barber from Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, came of political age after October 7. He said he would vote for far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who wants the "voluntary" removal of Gaza's two million Palestinians. "If Gaza had been ours, they wouldn't have had a place to infiltrate from and there wouldn't have been a massacre," Yarchi said. Netanyahu has sought to seize on his international notoriety, with his Likud party putting up posters of leaders including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an outspoken critic of Israeli policies, that read, "They want Netanyahu to lose. Don't let them win." Netanyahu has also vowed loudly never to align with parties representing Arab Israelis, who make up around one-fifth of the population and who some expect to turn out in higher numbers after the intense anti-Arab stances of some of Netanyahu's ministers. Arab lawmakers broke precedent to be kingmakers in the 2021-2022 government. If the new election's results are as close as expected, it could take weeks or months to form a government. Eisenkot has said he would not ally with Arab parties or Netanyahu, but some critics do not believe he would refuse. Uriel Reichman, a former lawmaker who founded the university bearing his name, told the conference addressed by Eisenkot that a Netanyahu triumph could permanently entrench Israel's right-wing turn. He drew a parallel to countries where an elected populist packs the government with loyalists and transforms once-independent institutions. "Experience shows that once such a system is put in place, it would be extremely difficult to dismantle it," he said.

US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Attack on American Journalist
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply condemned on Sunday settler violence during an olive harvest in the West Bank that injured several Palestinians and Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine as “a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards.”
In a post late Saturday on X, he called for “a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this.”Levine was seriously injured in the attack Friday in the West Bank village of Abu Falah. Israeli police are also investigating an attack by Israeli settlers on European diplomats Saturday in another West Bank village. Settler violence against Palestinians has soared this year and spiked further in recent weeks as Israel plans to hold elections Oct. 27. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ambiguous in addressing Levine’s assault, condemning “violence against anyone” but referring to the attack as “alleged” and saying its circumstances remain unclear. Huckabee said Levine’s assault was “vicious” and “dishonorable,” and noted that she was clearly identified as a journalist when she was attacked. Levine, an award-winning photojournalist who has covered conflict zones around the world for more than four decades, remains hospitalized in Tel Aviv as she recovers from hand surgery, broken ribs and other injuries she sustained in the attack. She said she was forced to the ground and beaten for more than 10 minutes by the settlers, who also stole her camera, passport and phone. The Washington Post reiterated its call for a full and transparent investigation, though Israel rarely investigates settler violence fully. Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, says around 94% of investigations into settler violence since 2005 have ended without an indictment, with just 3% leading to full or partial convictions.

US Wants Israel to ‘Crack Down’ on Settler Violence in West Bank, Rubio Says
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
The United States wants Israel to do more to deter attacks committed by settlers in the West Bank, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday. "We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing," Rubio said. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them ‌to crack ‌down on that stuff." His ‌comments ⁠to reporters came ⁠after the widespread dissemination of video showing multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday ⁠incident, which took place ‌as Israeli settlers ‌attacked Palestinian civilians. European diplomats and a French ‌mayor also were attacked in the occupied ‌West Bank, Belgium's foreign minister said. The US State Department, Rubio said, has inquired about the event that included Levine's ‌attack. Rubio, who spoke to reporters before boarding a flight to ⁠Uzbekistan, ⁠said he expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday. Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.

US Officials Visit Palestinian Village After Settler Attacks on Diplomats
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
US diplomats visited a Christian Palestinian town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday following attacks by militant Israeli settlers on European diplomats and an American photojournalist in the previous two days. Riley Barnes, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, Brian Burch, US ambassador to the Holy See, and a number of other diplomats visited the Latin Convent church and were expected to meet with members of the Christian community in Taybeh. Belgian, French and Polish diplomats, along with a French mayor and Palestinian civilians, had been attacked near Taybeh on Saturday by masked Israeli settlers. The previous day, ‌Washington Post photojournalist ‌Heidi Levine was taken to hospital after being assaulted ‌while covering ⁠a Palestinian olive ⁠harvest near another West Bank village.
The diplomats' visit coincided with US President Donald Trump endorsing his ally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for Israel's parliamentary election on October 27.
NETANYAHU CIRCUMSPECT ON SETTLER VIOLENCE
Trump has this year expressed his opposition to settlement expansion, but his administration has put little pressure on Netanyahu's right-wing, pro-settler government to change its policy. UN bodies and most countries deem the settlements ⁠illegal under international law, but Israel rejects this, viewing ‌the territory as disputed rather than occupied. While ‌Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and the Israeli military both blamed "Israeli rioters" for the ‌attack on the diplomats, Netanyahu, whose coalition is projected to lose ‌its governing majority, has been more circumspect. He has said the diplomats entered a "sensitive area with a history of confrontations without prior coordination with the Israeli army", and that the facts of the attack on Levine are "unclear". France urged Israeli authorities to arrest Saturday's attackers ‌and to end criminal violence in the West Bank, but by Sunday there was no announcement from Israeli ⁠authorities of ⁠any arrests in either of the two latest incidents. The West Bank is home to some 500,000 settlers and at least 3 million Palestinians. Settler attacks on the Palestinians are surging, with at least 170 since September 27, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group. Journalists, activists and foreign observers have also been targeted. Yet prosecutions of Israeli settlers are rare. On Sunday, Reuters saw a group of at least 10 settlers, masked and dressed in black, hurling rocks at Palestinians and activists harvesting olives near the Palestinian West Bank town of Salfit, prompting the farmers to flee.Israeli border police were in the area and shot tear gas towards the hills.

Netanyahu election rival says 'only Israelis can choose their leader'
LBCI/October 18/2026
The main election rival to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Sunday to U.S. President Donald Trump's endorsement of the incumbent premier, saying "only Israelis can choose their leader".Speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv ahead of upcoming elections, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot said he "admires" Trump, but "Israel is a democratic country: only Israelis can choose their leader". AFP

France Counts Cost of Violent Protests, 1,800 Arrested
Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
France was reeling on Sunday from widespread damage caused in violent protests the day before that saw 1,800 people arrested, a historic town hall torched and widespread looting. The convulsion, which officials described as of extraordinary intensity, raised the stakes for President Emmanuel Macron, who is in his final months in power before elections to replace him in six months' time. It followed weeks of student protests that had also turned violent at times. Around "1,800 people have been arrested and now investigations are under way to identify the perpetrators of these acts so they can be brought to justice", Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X on Sunday. In Paris, where police said a "record" 855 people had been arrested, streets were littered with the burnt-out remains of barricades built by protesters using bikes and bins and other materials. Several streets had smashed shop windows and the remains of torched cars.  The capital experienced "a level of violence that we have never, I believe, seen before", said Paris deputy mayor Lamia El Aaraje. Paris and many other cities, including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Strasbourg, had scores of shops pillaged by masked youths during the protests, which had been called against high inflation and the cost of living. The city of Limoges lost its 19th-century town hall to a fire the local prefect, Maurice Barate, told LCI television had been deliberately set by "a wild horde". The fire was only brought under control early Sunday.
Political recriminations flew over the scenes of destruction.  Macron's centrist government and far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen both blamed "ultra-left" groups for the violence. Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who had prominently backed the demonstrations, late Saturday urged demonstrators to stay away from any looting, describing it as "contrary to our methods". Paris's Socialist deputy mayor, Lamia El Aaraje, accused Le Pen's party of fueling tensions around the protests to further her ambition of becoming president next year. The far-right National Rally party was "acting like a pyromaniac firefighter", El Aaraje said. US Vice President JD Vance also waded in, implying that the unrest stemmed from immigration. "Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility," Vance said on X.
500 arrested in Paris -
In Paris, where startled tourists had been seen Saturday running with suitcases along streets filled with tear gas and protesters, the prosecutor's office said more than 500 people were in custody. It said arrests had been carried out through the night until early Sunday, with most taken into custody on suspicion of receiving stolen goods, association with intent to commit violence, and vandalism. Officials in Lyon said 160 people were in custody there. Around 500 police, firemen and paramedics were hurt in the protests, Interior Minister Nunez said, adding that the figure was provisional. The violence took place on the sidelines of nationwide cost-of-living protests that the interior ministry said were attended by 550,000 people. The CGT union said 800,000 people participated. Police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters who threw projectiles and aimed fireworks. A 17-year-old boy had his right hand blown off by a crowd-control grenade in the southern city of Saint-Etienne. Analyst Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group think tank said on X that Saturday's "terrible scenes" were "not political protest in any true sense. Most of the real demonstrations against high oil prices and failing schools were peaceful". He added: "The violence came from a fringe of the ultra-left. The looting by opportunistic gangs from the poor suburbs. All good news for Marine Le Pen." During and after those demonstrations, gangs of youths roamed city streets, sporadically confronting police, while setting fires and attacking shuttered stores to break in and empty their shelves. France's Yellow Vest movement, which staged street protests eight years ago against Macron's government over planned fuel-tax hikes, had called Saturday's "yellow and youth" demonstrations. The principal grievance was the cost of living, pushed up in part by the war in the Middle East that has helped send inflation soaring in Europe as elsewhere.

France rocked by nationwide clashes, blazes and looting
Agence France Presse/October 18/2026
France woke up Sunday to devastated streets after clashes between police and protesters, mass looting and fires erupted nationwide as marches against rising costs of living degenerated into "extreme" violence. The widespread unrest followed weeks of student protests and comes just six months ahead of elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron. Whole streets in Paris "have been devastated", the city's mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said as groups of masked young men torched parked cars and ransacked shops. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who had condemned the "extreme intensity" of the violence, said 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers hurt. It was "a miracle the toll isn't higher", he said. The violence began on the sidelines of marches in the capital and other cities over the cost of living that the interior ministry said were attended by 550,000 people. The CGT union, which took part, said 800,000 people participated. Police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters who threw projectiles and aimed fireworks. A 17-year-old boy had his right hand blown off by a crowd-control grenade in the southern city of Saint-Etienne.
Looting -
During and after those demonstrations, gangs of youths roamed city streets, sporadically confronting police, while setting fires and attacking shuttered stores to break in and empty their shelves.
Scores of shops -- supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, clothing retailers, opticians, cosmetic vendors and consumer electronics stores -- were looted in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg. AFP reporters in Paris saw groups of half a dozen young men attacking the shops in an organised way. Wearing masks and gloves, they first disconnected security cameras before smashing windows to get in. The looting added to a day of destruction and vandalism, with town halls in several cities targeted. The town hall in the city of Limoges -- more than 140 years old -- was largely destroyed by a blaze set by masked protesters who broke in, according to the region's top official. Two others were broken into and vandalised in Marseille and Lille. A police compound in Bordeaux was also vandalised, while in Lyon protesters set ablaze a tourist office. The violence has drawn global headlines -- in the United States, Vice President JD Vance blamed immigration for the unrest. "Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility," he said on X. President Macron said that "those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting -- even in our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished". Opposition politicians vying to replace Macron in presidential elections in April and May have seized on the chaos. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen condemned "the rioters" and claimed that the party of her far-left rival for the presidency, Jean-Luc Melenchon, had "legitimised the violence". She vowed to protect the French "from the violence of the extreme left". Melenchon, who had prominently supported the demonstrations and the student protests preceding them, urged demonstrators to stay away from any looting, describing it as "contrary to our methods".
'Revolution' -
France's Yellow Vest movement, which staged street protests eight years ago against Macron's government over planned fuel tax hikes, had called for Saturday's "yellow and youth" demonstrations. The principal grievance was the cost of living, pushed up in part by the war in the Middle East that has helped send inflation soaring in Europe as elsewhere. "We're sick of slaving away for poverty wages while our rents keep going up," teacher Regine Monfroid told AFP in the eastern city of Strasbourg. But there were other issues. In Paris, tens of thousands marched across the east and north of the city in one major march, some shouting "Everyone hates the police" and "Macron, resign". High school student Kamil Alahyan, 18, said he was protesting "for so many reasons -- the elections coming up in 2027, politicians who lie, the ultra-rich who've been taking more and more wealth over the past 10 years".Several protesters sought to draw parallels with the French Revolution of 1789. "It's the Revolution -- we're taking the Bastille!" some shouted in Marseille as they forced their way into the mayor's offices. In the western city of La Rochelle, marchers streamed behind a placard reading: "Revolution or death."And in the southern city of Montpellier, a giant blue sign reading "The people will win" was unfurled above a central square. "The government is trembling and it's right to tremble because when the French people are angry, they never let up," Ryad Rani, the head of the LSU high school student representative body, told journalists in Paris.

Zelensky says spoke to Trump envoys Witkoff and Kushner
LBCI/October 18/2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he spoke with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner amid a spat with Donald Trump and that they had discussed the supply of American Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv. "I have just spoken with representatives of the American president -- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner," Zelensky said in his evening address, adding that "It is clear that there are many things that matter to all of us and that this war must be brought to an end." AFP

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on October 18-19/2026
Syria Is Rebuilding an Army Before It Rebuilds Syria
Pierre Rehov/Gatestone Institute/October 18, 2026
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22923/syria-rebuilding-army
Al-Sharaa, it appears, is directing most of the state's resources, foreign aid included, toward a large standing army and new weapons systems, while concealing the scale of the effort.
Western governments and al-Sharaa do not attach the same meaning to the word "stability."
Middle Eastern alignments rarely outlive the enemy that produced them... Iran and its militias spent years fighting the insurgency that carried him to power. None of that says what a stronger Syrian state will do in ten years.
In September 2025, al-Sharaa told reporters that a security deal with Israel, modeled on the 1974 disengagement agreement, was a "necessity."
A year after he declared this supposed "necessity," al-Sharaa announced at the UN that the Golan Heights "will remain Syrian" – possibly so that Syrians will once again be able to shoot down at Israeli farmers on the plain below. Al-Sharaa added the complaint that "Israel is launching attacks against Syria. There have been 500 air strikes, more than 1,200 incursions, and 300 detentions. This is at odds with the orientation we're seeing at global level."
Al-Sharaa, however, forgot to mention why. Ever since al-Sharaa overthrew the Assad regime, Christians, Druze, Alawites and other minorities have been victims of attacks that are reportedly "genocidal" – all while al-Sharaa's plan for the radical Islamization of Syria surges ahead.
The Trump administration's removal of Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism seems to have been based on wishes rather than any kind of facts on the ground. Perhaps the administration still hopes -- although, after its run-in with Iran, it really should have learned better -- that rewarding good behavior before it takes place will somehow magically cause it to spring into being simply does not work. Gifts in good faith, especially to supposedly former terrorists, can simply get pocketed in expectation of the next ones.
At this point, al-Sharaa's demand [that Golan Heights "will remain Syrian"] is tantamount to expecting the United States to return its southwest to Mexico.
Israel, evidently motivated by survival, treats its northern frontier as a question of capabilities rather than of declared intentions....
The wager is that investment and honors will pull al-Sharaa toward moderation. It may pay off, but its beneficiary, al-Sharaa, is using part of the proceeds to build an armed power of his own.
Israeli security sources concede that a chance to lock in border arrangements was missed when al-Sharaa was weak and newly installed, and now assess that a confrontation is a matter of time.
A channel to Damascus has bought Washington influence that isolation never could, but it should not buy amnesia: al-Sharaa's past is documented, his diplomacy is real, and the army now taking shape belongs to the same man.
Whether Ahmed al-Sharaa has changed since the world knew him as al-Jolani will occupy biographers. Israel's planners have stopped asking. They are counting his brigades.
Ahmed al-Sharaa inherited a country in ruins. War halved the size of Syria's economy and left nine people out of ten below the poverty line. According to serious Israeli sources, the priority in Damascus has little to do with reconstruction.
Al-Sharaa, it appears, is directing most of the state's resources, foreign aid included, toward a large standing army and new weapons systems, while concealing the scale of the effort. His forces are not yet rated as capable, but they have held brigade-level exercises, are being organized into brigades with divisions to follow, and are seeking air defenses able to restrict the Israeli Air Force. This is the army Israel gutted in December 2024, when 480 strikes in two days destroyed an estimated 80 percent of Assad's strategic arsenal. It is being rebuilt with money meant to rebuild the country.
Al-Sharaa has spent two years trying to persuade the world that he is no longer Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. He joined al-Qaeda in Iraq after America's 2003 invasion, spent five years in the American prison at Camp Bucca, and returned to Syria in 2011 to found the Nusra Front. The United States designated him a global terrorist in May 2013, and put a $10 million bounty on him, which was lifted only in December 2024.
He broke with al-Qaeda in 2016 and recast himself as a nationalist. After Damascus fell on December 8, 2024, the military fatigues gave way to suits. In May 2025, President Donald Trump met him in Riyadh the day after announcing the lifting of sanctions, and in November he became the first Syrian president ever received at the White House, where Syria joined the coalition against the Islamic State.
The gamble had a rationale: isolation threatened to turn a wrecked state into another permanent failure. Saudi Arabia and Turkey lobbied for lifting sanctions, and Europe saw a path to stabilizing the country and sending Syrian refugees home. In May 2025, the European Union lifted its economic sanctions. In December 2025, the US Congress repealed the Caesar Act, and on August 24, 2026, Washington removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a designation it had carried since 1979. Germany, which reopened its Damascus embassy in March 2025 and hosted al-Sharaa in Berlin a year later, now leads the European aid effort.
Western governments and al-Sharaa do not attach the same meaning to the word "stability." Europe needs a Syria calm enough to justify sending back refugees. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates want Damascus locked out of Iran's orbit, and Washington wants a partner against the Islamic State. Al-Sharaa needs all of them, and Israeli assessments hold that he is using them for something larger: restoring Syria as a regional military power.
His planning is apparently aimed at the moment, once his buildup is complete and the American presence in Iraq has thinned, when he can strike Hezbollah in Lebanon and the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Those targets are Israel's enemies too, but that does not make the army taking shape in Damascus an Israeli asset. As one security official put it:
"Ahmed al-Sharaa wants to build Syria under his leadership into a regional power that will look in every direction. The moment he decides to, he will also direct military force against Israel."
Middle Eastern alignments rarely outlive the enemy that produced them. Al-Sharaa's hostility toward Iran and Hezbollah follows from his own history: Iran and its militias spent years fighting the insurgency that carried him to power. None of that says what a stronger Syrian state will do in ten years.
In September 2025, al-Sharaa told reporters that a security deal with Israel, modeled on the 1974 disengagement agreement, was a "necessity."
A year after he declared this supposed "necessity," al-Sharaa announced at the UN that the Golan Heights "will remain Syrian" – possibly so that Syrians will once again be able to shoot down at Israeli farmers on the plain below. Al-Sharaa added the complaint that "Israel is launching attacks against Syria. There have been 500 air strikes, more than 1,200 incursions, and 300 detentions. This is at odds with the orientation we're seeing at global level."
Al-Sharaa, however, forgot to mention why. Ever since al-Sharaa overthrew the Assad regime, Christians, Druze, Alawites and other minorities have been victims of attacks that are reportedly "genocidal" – all while al-Sharaa's plan for the radical Islamization of Syria surges ahead.
The Trump administration's removal of Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism seems to have been based on wishes rather than any kind of facts on the ground. Perhaps the administration still hopes -- although, after its run-in with Iran, it really should have learned better -- that rewarding good behavior before it takes place will somehow magically cause it to spring into being simply does not work. Gifts in good faith, especially to supposedly former terrorists, can simply get pocketed in expectation of the next ones.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz immediately replied to al-Sharaa, "The Golan under Israeli sovereignty is an integral part of the State of Israel forever."
At this point, al-Sharaa's demand is tantamount to expecting the United States to return its southwest to Mexico.
Israel, evidently motivated by survival, treats its northern frontier as a question of capabilities rather than of declared intentions: the red lines it carried into the American-mediated talks that resumed in August after a six-month freeze include: a demilitarized Syrian Golan, no Turkish military activity in Syria and no strategic weapons systems in Syrian hands. Al-Sharaa has not simply exchanged one patron for another. Turkey made his rise possible and, under an August 2025 training agreement, is to supply weapons systems to the new army, yet Israeli officials do not expect him to hand Syrian bases to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, even if that is what Erdogan expects. When Israel bombed the Abu al-Duhur air base on August 18 to forestall a Turkish deployment, the American envoy called the strike an "unnecessary escalation," while Israeli sources judged that it had spared al-Sharaa a choice he preferred not to make.
Russia has not left either. In August, Russia and Syria agreed to convert Russia's military bases in Syria, Tartus and Hmeimim, into joint training centers with Russian forces remaining, and in September a Russian convoy docked at Tartus for the first resupply under the deal.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have their own reasons for courting al-Sharaa. Assad's fall shattered the corridor Iran spent decades building through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Gulf money can make the loss permanent. Saudi Arabia and Qatar paid off Syria's World Bank arrears in April 2025; a Saudi delegation signed $6.4 billion in agreements that July, and DP World took a 30-year, $800 million concession on the port of Tartus. The wager is that investment and honors will pull al-Sharaa toward moderation. It may pay off, but its beneficiary, al-Sharaa, is using part of the proceeds to build an armed power of his own. Israel now faces a problem less simple than Assad, who was hostile but familiar and dependent on Iran and Russia.
Israeli security sources concede that a chance to lock in border arrangements was missed when al-Sharaa was weak and newly installed, and now assess that a confrontation is a matter of time.
The communication cell agreed in Paris in January still exists. Mossad chief Roman Gofman met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Amman in August. The Israeli defense establishment is intensifying intelligence collection on Syrian forces and preparing for a broad operation should the buildup threaten Israel's freedom of action. A channel to Damascus has bought Washington influence that isolation never could, but it should not buy amnesia: al-Sharaa's past is documented, his diplomacy is real, and the army now taking shape belongs to the same man.
Whether Ahmed al-Sharaa has changed since the world knew him as al-Jolani will occupy biographers. Israel's planners have stopped asking. They are counting his brigades.
**Pierre Rehov, who holds a law degree from Paris-Assas, is a French reporter, novelist and documentary filmmaker. He is the author of six novels, including "Beyond Red Lines", "The Third Testament" and "Red Eden", translated from French. His latest essay on the aftermath of the October 7 massacre " 7 octobre - La riposte " became a bestseller in France. As a filmmaker, he has produced and directed 17 documentaries, many photographed at high risk in Middle Eastern war zones, and focusing on terrorism, media bias, and the persecution of Christians. His latest documentary, "Pogrom(s)" highlights the context of ancient Jew hatred within Muslim civilization as the main force behind the October 7 massacre.
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

Egypt Enters the War
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
In fact, Egypt had been expected to join the Gulf front in confronting Iran and its proxies in Iraq and Yemen. This is, after all, a necessity for Egypt’s own regional balance of power. Now that Cairo has declared its readiness to participate, we can expect this official Egyptian position to be met with skepticism and criticism from various hostile and doubtful parties: Why did Cairo not take part ten months ago? Is its position linked to the Saudi financial deposit? Or is it merely a verbal pledge? But Cairo, whether it likes it or not, has become a party to the war. Egypt has been directly targeted by projectiles, and before that had been explicitly threatened by Iran-aligned groups in Yemen and Iraq. For three years, Egypt has been paying the price for Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea through lost foreign-currency revenues. The cost has exceeded the combined repercussions of the wars in Libya, Sudan and Gaza. According to international estimates, Cairo is losing around $6 billion annually in Suez Canal revenues. The Egyptian economy also faces its most serious threat from the war’s repercussions for Egyptians working in the Gulf. More than five million Egyptians work in five Gulf states, and their jobs and incomes could be disrupted if the war continues and those countries’ oil and gas exports decline. Under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Cairo has never been enthusiastic about going to war. But these Gulf wars have placed Egypt on the front line against its will. The challenge goes beyond economic risks and threats to the livelihoods of millions of Egyptians. The emergence of Iran as a dominant power in the Gulf would diminish Egypt’s influence and threaten its national security. Cairo had previously been an undeclared arena for confrontation between Gulf governments and the Iranian regime following the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power. At the time, Tehran sought, through a series of moves, to support the Brotherhood and strengthen its control over the state.
President Sisi’s declaration of readiness to enter the war sends a clear message to Tehran, which has benefited from divisions among Gulf states and the absence of broader Arab support, leaving the Gulf fragmented and isolated. As for why Egypt is acting now rather than months ago, there may be understandable considerations behind the timing, including allowing an opportunity for negotiations and reconciliation and avoiding the appearance of joining Washington in a united front against Iran. Some seek to reduce Cairo’s motives to financial considerations. But the equation goes far beyond that. Iran’s rise would come at Egypt’s expense, and Cairo is acting in defense of its interests, influence and economy. Tehran could once again interfere in Egypt’s internal affairs and seek to destabilize the country, as it has done before. Egypt is also defending its economic security: losses in Suez Canal revenues resulting from Houthi and Iranian actions amount to around $6 billion annually, or $18 billion over three years of attacks on shipping and vessels avoiding the canal. Beyond the canal’s losses, the war also threatens the livelihoods of millions of Egyptians working in the Gulf.The final question remains: Will Egyptian participation alter the military balance on the ground? That will depend on the nature and scale of its involvement, which remains to be seen. Politically, Cairo is sending a message to Iran and the Arab world: it is no longer possible to remain silent in the face of Iran’s war against the Gulf.

The Region’s Real Picture, Without AI Beautification
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
At the end of last week, during an Arab intellectual forum, a diplomat spoke about the Arab world’s situation with a degree of pessimistic candor rarely heard from professional diplomats.
Speaking “from the heart” in deliberately unscripted remarks, he said: “Our situation is bad, and things are certainly not going well.” He then went on to explain in detail various aspects of the failures and ambiguities surrounding the Arab world today, as well as the challenges confronting our region amid the international circumstances with which we are all familiar. His remarks gave me the opportunity, in my intervention the following day, to be equally candid, including acknowledging our own shortcomings. Yet without delving into the figures and statistics that demonstrate the depth of our crisis, and without indulging excessively in self-flagellation, I suggested that our predicament is part of a broader set of crises shaped by a “global leadership crisis.”Indeed, there appears to be no coherent and robust strategy among the major powers, whether states or institutions, that control the mechanisms of decision-making, crisis resolution and priority-setting. As a result, we are witnessing confusion, misguided bets and hesitation in adopting early remedies for crises that are likely to worsen unless action is taken quickly to contain them and curb their repercussions.
The Arab world faces crises that threaten the fate of some of its most sensitive regions, while others have major political, military and economic repercussions for the entire world. The dangerous and explosive situation in the Gulf, for example, should never have reached its current stage, let alone what it may, God forbid, yet become, had it been possible to devise a reasonable and binding alternative to the Iranian nuclear agreement. Accordingly, the continuing vacuum created by the absence of a formula binding Iran to an alternative “agreement” has given the Israeli right free rein to escalate, entangle others, incite tensions and expand, with unconditional support and cover from Washington and the hard-line evangelical lobby.
Thus, whether knowingly or not, the intransigence of Tehran’s “hawks” has given Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist associates the opportunity, first, to destroy Gaza and seek to eliminate Palestine as both a people and a cause, and second, to undermine every prospect for peace with Israel’s “neighbors,” under defensive pretexts, whether in Lebanon, Iraq or Yemen, and later Syria.
There is no doubt that global “energy security” is an extremely sensitive issue that neither Washington nor the Western capitals supporting it in its war against Iran will take lightly. This is why the issue of “guaranteeing freedom of navigation” through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab has become a matter of near-consensus, even among Western capitals that do not fully embrace the priorities of US President Donald Trump. At the same time, there is little indication that the US position can count heavily on Moscow’s and Beijing’s silence regarding these two vital waterways, which are a priority for every Gulf Cooperation Council state. This comes as Trump’s current policies, based on attempts to appease the Kremlin over the Russia-Ukraine war, are causing growing concern in Europe.
Meanwhile, some observers believe that the West’s preoccupation with developments in the Middle East, and with the mistakes that could be committed there on the basis of either miscalculations or Israeli considerations, is leaving China relatively comfortable and able to remain focused on advancing its technological and economic ambitions worldwide.
The loss of the ability to exercise “containment” is an extremely dangerous reality in a volatile region such as the Middle East. More than ever, there is now a need to pursue practical and effective options capable of preventing a further slide toward catastrophe. This is particularly urgent as restraints on arming “third parties” have broken down and extremist groups, whether state-backed or mercenary, exploit confusion and disagreements to trigger potentially catastrophic escalation across the region.
It is true that attention is currently focused on Iran and what Washington will decide to do about it. But the situation in Palestine has become catastrophic by every measure. Nor do the prospects look at all promising on the two fronts of Israeli “expansion” at the expense of Lebanon and Syria. With regard to Syria in particular, Turkish assessments must be closely watched as the Israeli right openly seeks to draw Ankara into conflict with the “Christian world,” beginning with Greece and Cyprus.
Moreover, if we recall the map displayed by the Israeli prime minister before the international media showing an area stretching “from the Euphrates to the Nile,” we must pay close attention to the means Israel could employ to influence developments.
These range from exploiting the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia’s favor to securing alternatives to the Suez Canal, the vital artery of the Egyptian economy. Nor should we overlook Netanyahu’s establishment of a foothold in “Somaliland,” which would ease Addis Ababa’s concerns by providing it with access to the sea, thereby reducing its need to make concessions to its Arab neighbors. These are brief snapshots of the troubling reality confronting our Arab region. In my view, this situation calls for serious reflection, rather than wasting time pointing fingers, trading accusations or opening up distracting side battles.

A Just War Against Houthi Aggression
Fahid Suleiman al-Shoqiran/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
Man could not have shaped this world in the manner we live today without the supremacy of absolute will - a will that leads toward decisive paths, forcing humans to make history-altering decisions, the pinnacle of which is the decision to go to war. If we were to browse the history of wars, we would find that war itself is the most precise document of human movement and the foundation of human survival. While wars may be a collection of stories, humans, through their will, are the heroes, creators, and weavers of all those tales. Indeed, following the two world wars and the scattered civil conflicts in Asia and Europe - whether driven by religious or ethnic reasons - some philosophers distanced themselves to search for systems that could curb the will to wage war. This gave rise to idealistic theories that quickly failed because they defied human nature. Instead, humanity did not eradicate wars or abandon them; rather, it took upon itself the task of regulating the rules of engagement, codifying the laws of war, and placing every conflict within its specific contexts and justifications, while striving to spare innocent non-combatants from its salvos and gunfire. It is true that concepts were introduced to accelerate the end of war, such as negotiation, which developed scientifically and practically; however, it is war and its power that make the document of any agreement more durable and enforceable.
The option of war is necessary when its comprehensive justifications are met, making it one of the wars that must be fought without hesitation. Contrary to what some believe, war is not the antithesis of right; rather, it is part of "the right actions that work in harmony with the energy of the nation, whereas unjust actions are those that move in the opposite direction. The former succeed, the latter fail, and success is the necessary material realization of the concept of right," according to Hegel. Meanwhile, Dühring went even further: "The purpose of right is peace, and the tools used to achieve that goal are conflict, war, and might. Conflict is inherent to human history. Thus, it is not foreign to right, but on the contrary, it is closely linked to the essence of right... for it is the true component of right." The most prominent example of a necessary war is what Saudi Arabia is undertaking against the Houthi terrorist militia threat, which opposes the concept of the state, with the aim of ending it. It has already become clear through Houthi terrorist actions that the war against them is necessary, having received societal and regional support since its very first day.
The continuation of the war against the Houthis throughout the past years remains essential; the terrorism currently practiced by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia through the targeting of holy sites, airports, and civilian objects has led the world to view the Coalition's war against Houthi terrorism with understanding or endorsement. The Houthis have destroyed the Yemeni interior, codifying and legalizing slavery while portraying the downtrodden in the streets as a reflection of their popularity and a part of their grassroots support base. It is laughable that they engage in dialogue committees studying their lack of objection to "secularism" should they seize power in Yemen. In fact, a first-tier leader of theirs recently proposed a Houthi project to develop "microchips" and "artificial intelligence" at a center to be headquartered in Sanaa!
The war against the Houthis serves to protect Yemeni children. Consistent reports and monitoring confirm that the Houthis make the distribution of medicine to families dependent on vulnerable children executing orders they do not understand, such as masking military movements, delivering messages, or holding up photos. This is a crime that the international community must expose.
The Houthi aggression comes at a moment of weakness for the group in particular and for its axis in general, especially following the series of major defeats it has suffered since Iran's proxies ventured into fighting support wars that backfired on them with significant losses.
In conclusion, the just, rational, and justified war against the Houthis will end in victory, as this terrorist militia has pushed its aggression to the absolute limit. This rogue terrorist militia is simply incapable of understanding the political frameworks or negotiation ideas that some are trying to promote.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia: 'The Sword Is More Truthful Than Books'
Mishary Dhayidi/Asharq Al-Awsat/October 18/2026
The idea that national security is interconnected, with the security of one country affecting that of another, is an undeniable reality, not merely a rhetorical flourish. This is especially true of the security ties between Egypt and the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, which faces Egypt across the Red Sea, with the Sinai Peninsula bringing the two countries almost together by land. From the shores of NEOM, the lights of Sharm El-Sheikh are visible at night. Saudi-Egyptian solidarity has deep historical roots. During the 1956 Suez War, known as the Tripartite Aggression, Saudi Arabia stood by Egypt under King Saud. Several Saudi princes, including the future King Salman, even joined volunteer campaigns to defend Egypt. The story of Saudi support for Egypt during King Faisal's reign and the October War, also known as the War of the Crossing, is well documented, particularly the measures Faisal and Saudi Arabia took concerning oil exports. Then came King Abdullah's reign and the upheaval of 2011 and the years that followed, during what was called the "Arab Spring." Everyone remembers how Riyadh stood by Cairo during those difficult times. Nor should we forget Egypt's support for Kuwait under the late President Hosni Mubarak during Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion, when Gulf security was at stake. Today, Egypt has a president with a profound sense of historical responsibility. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi saved his country from chaos and led it through a second crossing, this time toward security and development. On Saturday, speaking at a graduation ceremony for a new class at the Egyptian Military Academy in the New Administrative Capital, El-Sisi called on parliament to convene an emergency session and grant him a mandate to take whatever measures Saudi Arabia might request. He stressed that Egypt "will take any action to defend its brothers in the Gulf." The Egyptian president also affirmed that "Cairo will take any action to protect and defend its brothers, in accordance with the directives of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman." El-Sisi specifically urged Egyptians never to forget the support Gulf countries have provided to Egypt since 2013, thanking them for standing by his country. Indeed, Egypt's House of Representatives decided to hold a plenary session on Sunday in response to the president's request. The security of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia and Egypt is inseparable from that of Yemen. Securing it means protecting Yemen, its state and its people, against the ambitions of the extremist, fundamentalist Houthi movement, which has shown the world the dangers of its arsenal and the incendiary political and ideological delusions that drive it.
The time has come for resolve and decisive action. As the great Arab poet Abu Tammam said: "The sword is more truthful than the books, Its blade divides earnestness from jest."

The Loss of the Palestinian Election Opportunity?!
Abdel Moneim Said/Al-Masry Al-Youm/October 18, 2026
On September 22, I published an article titled "The Necessity of Palestinian Elections," in which I urged the Palestinian elite not to squander the opportunity to hold presidential and legislative elections. Engaging in elections is a vital aspect of exercising sovereignty; it allows the world to witness democratic processes and enables new generations—who have gone 22 years without choosing the leaders who hold their destiny in their hands—to finally have a say. The "opportunity" here refers to seizing a moment that would allow the Palestinian people and their leadership to lay some of the foundations for the state they aspire to—a state already recognized by 157 nations, even though it does not yet exist in reality, nor does the world see within it the institutions or a legitimate political system capable of speaking on its behalf.
Postponing the elections until September 2027 cannot be justified by citing Israeli obstacles—ranging from the situation in Jerusalem to the dire conditions in Gaza and the West Bank. The Palestinian leadership was well aware of these challenges when they originally set the election date for November 28—a date that falls after the U.S. midterm elections (November 4) and after the Israeli elections (October 27). The intention was to leverage the current climate, in which global public opinion has increasingly engaged with the Palestinian cause, and to press for conditions that would facilitate the holding of these elections.
Since October 7, 2023, the staggering price paid by Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israeli prisons has brought the Palestinian identity—along with its iconic symbols, such as the *keffiyeh*—to the forefront in capitals across the globe. Instead of seizing the opportunity, supporters of Palestinian rights were met with disappointment when Palestinian leaders decided to postpone the elections. The Palestinian people now face a major test, as traditional political strategies have failed to deliver on their promises. Fatah had pledged that diplomacy and negotiations would lead to independence, while Hamas promised that armed resistance would liberate Palestine; yet, neither the passage of time nor the sacrifices made have brought them any closer to the goal of an independent state. The Palestinian Authority has failed to establish an accountable system of governance—a failure compounded by its decision to pursue elections only to subsequently abandon them. Meanwhile, Gaza has suffered catastrophic destruction, the West Bank remains under occupation, and settlement expansion continues unabated.
These realities are well known to the Palestinians, yet acknowledging failure is difficult when national identity has been forged around strategies that are now being called into question. Obstacles that have hindered elections in the past continue to resurface, treated as if they were new discoveries; there is no indication that these hurdles will be overcome or that any meaningful action will be taken to address them. Elections offer further benefits, as they facilitate a national dialogue regarding the past and the path forward. In essence, elections serve as a review of what has come before. In an article, Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin concluded that the fundamental question facing Palestinians today is not whether they should continue their struggle for freedom, but whether they are prepared to rethink the nature of that struggle, the methods employed, and the objectives they seek to achieve.

Netanyahu May Go, but His Policies Will Remain
Imad El-Din Hussein/Al-Bayan/October 18, 2026
Is it possible that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing governing coalition might fail to secure enough seats in the upcoming elections to form a new government? The answer is yes. And if that were to happen, what would be the expected consequences for Israeli policies regarding the Gaza Strip, Palestine, southern Lebanon, and the wider region? Will we see sweeping changes in these policies, or are these policies not contingent upon the individual serving as prime minister—or even the specific composition of the government cabinet? When the events of October 7, 2023, took place, opinion polls suggested that the government’s chances of survival in any potential election were virtually non-existent. However, Netanyahu leveraged his political skills, cunning, and experience to significantly improve his standing. The latest polls, the results of which were published just two days ago, indicate that the "Yashar" party—led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot—would secure 21 seats. Likud, under Benjamin Netanyahu, would receive 18 seats; "Ma'an," led by Naftali Bennett, would take 13; "The Democrats," headed by Yair Golan, would get 9; and both "Yisrael Beiteinu" (led by Avigdor Liberman) and the "Joint Arab List" would each receive 8 seats. Similarly, "Otzma Yehudit" (Jewish Power), led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, and "United Torah Judaism" would also secure 8 seats each. The Shas party would receive 7 seats, while the Arab "Ra'am" (United Arab List) and the "Religious Zionist" party, led by Bezalel Smotrich, would each obtain 6 seats.
Aggregating these figures, Gadi Eisenkot’s camp would command 48% of the seats, compared to 41% for Netanyahu’s camp, with the remainder held by Arab parties. However, despite Netanyahu and his camp trailing, this does not necessarily mean that Eisenkot could form a 61-seat coalition—the threshold required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset—unless his camp were to form an alliance with the Arab bloc. Such an alliance remains a difficult prospect for the majority of Israeli parties, even those in the opposition. Pending the actual results following the elections on October 27, this analysis will explore the potential impact of these projected outcomes on Palestine and the Arab world. One of the major misconceptions among many Arab observers, analysts, and experts is the belief that if Benjamin Netanyahu fails to form a stable government with his extremist coalition, all the region’s problems will be instantly resolved and peace will spread throughout the area. They assume that the root of the problem lies solely with Netanyahu himself or his government—specifically the ministers, who may well be the most extremist in the entire history of Israel.
However, a close examination of the Israeli political landscape since the formation of Netanyahu’s current government on December 29, 2022, reveals that these are, in fact, the policies of the State of Israel, not merely those of this specific administration. A crucial fact often overlooked by many Arab observers and analysts is that the Likud party, led by Netanyahu, has governed Israel almost continuously since 1996—with only brief, intermittent periods under the Labor Party, led by Ehud Barak. In short, it is the Israeli electorate that brings Likud-led governments to power; consequently, what has truly shifted is the composition of Israeli society, which has increasingly veered toward the far right. It is worth recalling that the left-leaning Labor Party governed Israel for the majority of the period from the state’s founding in 1948 until 1996. There were only a few exceptions—most notably the administration of Menachem Begin, which signed the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt—during which the "Right" held power. Today, the popularity of left-wing and centrist parties has generally waned, and they no longer possess any significant, genuine representation in the Knesset. A case in point is the Labor Party—which, under the leadership of David Ben-Gurion, played the primary role in the founding of Israel—now holding only four seats in the Knesset (even following its alliance with Meretz). It has since rebranded as "The Democrats," led by Yair Golan. Similarly, the popularity of most other left-wing and centrist parties—the Greens, for instance—has also declined.
The crucial point I wish to highlight does not concern Benjamin Netanyahu, the other members of his government, or even the Israeli political landscape as a whole; rather, it lies fundamentally with the majority of the Israeli public who elect these far-right parties. It is the people who head to the ballot boxes to choose figures like Netanyahu, Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, Lapid, Eisenkot, or Bennett. A crucial point to consider is that even if Israelis decide—on October 27th—not to grant Netanyahu a majority sufficient to form a government, Israeli policy is unlikely to change significantly. This is because the candidates from other parties who might succeed him share the same fundamental outlook; while they may oppose him personally or take issue with some of his actions, they—for instance—reject the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Furthermore, most of them oppose a withdrawal from Gaza, and some have even called for the use of weapons of mass destruction to annihilate it. Moreover, when Netanyahu approached the Knesset on several occasions over the past three years, seeking a vote to block the creation of a Palestinian state—as a countermeasure to external pressure—he received the support of the vast majority of Israeli parties. While Israeli parties may diverge on various issues—such as judicial reform, the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim), the secular nature of the state, or a host of other social and economic matters—they are in complete agreement that Israel must remain the dominant power in the region. The only real difference among them lies in the methods employed to achieve this: some favor the use of "hard power," while others prefer a more subtle, "velvet-glove" approach.

Selected Face Book & X tweets on October 18/2026
Ted Cruz
https://x.com/tedcruz/status/2111593216784916859/video/1
We are witnessing Islamists right now burning Paris because Europe has committed cultural suicide.
We should look to France as foreshadowing for what America faces if we don’t stop this here.

Nadine Barakat
https://x.com/nadinebarakatlb/status/2111575050168004903/video/1
When Ideology replaces brain & logic… does this shit happening in Europe free balestine ? Why didn’t they do it before if that’s the case … Burning historical buildings and churches , causing chaos in Europe … is the way to free balestine?! The Radical left useful idiots are as “brainwashed” and “brain-less” as those terrorists who join qaeda and Daesh and Hezbollah.I’m confident there is drugs involved with all this.. they supply them with some drugs and unleash them…

Majed@971AlSaadi
My brother
I salute you for being a true hero of this great nation. Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication have saved lives and protected the people who call this land home
You have done more than serve your country. You have embodied its values, its strength, and its spirit May God protect you, honour your service, and keep you safe. We are proud of you, brother 🇮🇳 🇦🇪 O India what have you produced!!! https://x.com/TheNationalNews/status/2111520917713211868/video/1

Hussain Abdul-Hussain
Like the Palestinian flag, wherever there is Hezbollah, there is violence, blood and death. Hezbollah thugs engage in a fight with Arab clans south of Beirut. Developing.
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LebyNews
https://x.com/lebynews/status/2111561214920913045/video/2
الجيش اللبناني يقوم بتطويق المصلى التابع لحزب الله في السعديات
معلومات أولية وقوع إصابات في صفوف أبناء العرب وبعد الإصابات وصفت بالخطيرة

charles chartouni
France, declare a state of siege, and crush the rabble without a second thought. De Gaulle-Massu to put an end to this Bolshevik Islamist masquerade.

ILTV Israel News
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar addressed the story surrounding Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun’s reported role in stopping the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv.
Speaking to The National, Machchhar said, “I don’t know about the plumber story to be very honest,” before adding, “Can a plumber land an aircraft? I mean...?”
His comments leave room for interpretation, as it remains unclear whether he was expressing doubt about the account or simply saying he was unfamiliar with it.
During the interview, Machchhar also made no mention of Israeli passengers helping regain control of the aircraft or contributing to saving his life. @TheNationalNews

charles chartouni
Destruction of the regalian order: dissolve LFI, bring trials, declare a state of siege, repress without qualms, force the resignation of the president and parliament.

Pope Leo XIV
I would like to thank all those who have prayed for me in recent days. I wish to express my particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all the staff of the Gemelli Hospital. This experience has made me feel particularly close to all those who are living with illness or infirmity. Now that I have overcome this delicate phase I will gradually resume my activities, always with God’s help and your prayers.