English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For September 09/2026
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
The man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church.
Letter to the Ephesians 05/22-32/:"Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord.For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church."

Titles For The English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 08-09/2026
To the journalist George Akoury, in regards to the background of his joining the inciters in their street campaign against Alfred Madi/Elias Bejjani/September 08/2026
Elias Bejjani/Charles Chartouni the Bashirist is definitively the polar opposite of Melhem Riachy. Hezbollah must be put on trial, not engaged in dialogue/September 7, 2026
Lebanon's Martyrs Are Its Righteous Ones, Its Pride, Glory, and Dignity/Elias Bejjani / September 06, 2016
Who is Saint Charbel of Edessa, Whose Feast the Church Celebrates Annually on September 5, and Who is His Martyr Sister, Barabia?/Elias Bejjani/September 05/2025
Elias Bejjani/Video Link to My Interview on Al-Hawiya Youtube Platform
Where Is the Church?/Etienne Saqr-Abu Arz/Facebook/September 8, 2026
A police state whose intelligence apparatus killed Mohammad Harkous and arrests anyone who insults Aoun. We aren’t insulting you, we’re describing your practices/This is, O Paula, what exposed you/Activist Nadine Barakat/X Platform/September 08/2026
Video interview link & text with Dr. Charles Shartouni, the distinguished sovereignist,
Issa visits Shiite council, says US wants 'interest of Shiite community'
Rome negotiations might be moved to Washington
Report: Local, Arab and int'l efforts lead to de-escalation in Nabatieh
Speaking for the people of the South, Nabatieh rejects Iran’s weapons and calls upon the State—will it answer?/Lara Yazbeck/Nidaa Al-Watan/September 9, 2026
Nabatieh Appeals to the Army Amid Efforts to Withdraw "The Party"
Residents of Tyre Raise Their Voices: The State Must Assert Its Sovereignty in the South
Hezbollah Surrenders to Israel and Attacks the State: Let It Either Protect the State or Spare It Its Harm!/Lara Yazbek | Al-Markaziya | September 8, 2026
Israeli Explosions and Raids on Southern Lebanese Towns; Israeli Military Drones Fly Over Beirut
Arab League Adopts Lebanese Government Resolutions and Calls for Consolidating Arms Under State Control
Residents of Tyre Raise Their Voices: The State Must Assert Its Sovereignty in the South
Aoun questions whether Israel really wants peace, says Israeli pretexts 'flimsy'
South Lebanon: Latest developments
House of pro-Hezbollah Sunni MP comes under fire
South Lebanon town buries its dead after Israeli strike
Death toll from Monday strikes rises to 13
Why Israel is unlikely to withdraw from Lebanon/Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/September 8, 2026

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 08-09/2026
US military says it has destroyed 5 Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on Navy warship
Iran Guards say seized unmanned US submarine drone in Hormuz
Iran launched an attack against US Navy Ships on Monday, WSJ reports
Jordan army says shot down missiles from Iran: statement
Netanyahu will make a quick trip to speak at the UN after Mamdani urged his arrest, diplomat says
12 countries including France, UK say to sanction trade from Israeli settlements
Netanyahu under fire over report UAE warned of October 7 attack
Israeli forces bomb Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp after evacuation order
Ex-Israeli PM backs British ban on settlement trade
Israel president says UK sanctions on settlements will be ‘on wrong side of history’
Arab League condemns Israeli actions in Gaza, West Bank ahead of UN General Assembly
Breaking point? UK slammed as ‘antisemitic’ as Israel calls for shutting down consulate
US, Arab nations condemn Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Yemen rebels hit Saudi Arabia with wave of strikes, wounding 73
Saudi FM says Kingdom will not hesitate to defend itself against Houthi attacks
Syria should protect minorities to stop emigration: minister

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on September 08-09/2026
A two-state solution is missing from Israel’s election debate/Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/September 8, 2026
Trump’s ‘economic D-Day’ about more than sanctions/Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/September 8, 2026
US hubris has led to a Middle East quagmire/Dr. Ramzy Baroud/Arab News/September 8, 2026
Palestinian demands hold key to Israeli poll/Chris Doyle/Arab News/September 8, 2026
Analysis: 25 Years Later: Al-Qaeda's Weaker, Islamic Supremacists Alive And Kicking/|
Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez/MEMRI/September 08/21026
Hamas's War on Trump's Board of Peace/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/September 8, 2026
Des suicidaires, dit-on/Par Akl Awit/Face Book/September 8, 2026
Suicidal people, they say/ Akl Awit/Face Book/September 8, 2026
The escalation between the Houthis, the Yemeni legitimacy, and the Kingdom: Why now?/Laura Yameen/Al Markazia/September 8, 2026

Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on September 08-09/2026
To the journalist George Akoury, in regards to the background of his joining the inciters in their street campaign against Alfred Madi
Elias Bejjani/September 08/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157310/
Strange is your stance, my brother George.. I used to believe that you are a journalist in earnest and not one of those who move according to the edicts and instructions of someone, whoever he may be.. Most certainly, your professional, elite, and high-standard journalistic level should have not let you sink into the ranks of the , inciters, and panegyrists. Return to where you must be and let the mouthpieces execute the boss’s edicts.
As for Alfred Madi, the man has his merits and demerits like anyone working in social, political, and public affairs, but in short, he was one of the closest confidants to Sheikh Bashir and one of those who effectively struggled to build his historical legacy of which we are proud.
The fact remains that Madi’s history, present, and the achievements of Alfred Madi are not going to be diminished by a campaign of defamation, childish and street-style insults that do not befit the position of the one who stands behind them, stirs them up, and ordered them…
It is a shame, my dear George, this conduct is a condemned deviation. Regarding it, I say: ‘You lick the rasp and relish in your own blood, because Madi is of you the LF and in you, while the national cause we all struggle for is the same, no matter how distant the current positions became.’
Best regards to you.”.

Elias Bejjani/Charles Chartouni the Bashirist is definitively the polar opposite of Melhem Riachy. Hezbollah must be put on trial, not engaged in dialogue
September 7, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157277/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqgXXYCXIbU&t=386s
Introduction
This commentary addresses the sharp political dispute that recently erupted between writer and thinker Dr. Charles Chartouni and former minister and current parliament member Melhem Riachy. This disagreement reflects a profound clash of viewpoints regarding how to approach Hezbollah: this terrorist, criminal, Iranian, and mafia-like organization that constitutes a total occupation of the Lebanese state’s decisions and resources, and has no ties to Lebanon other than being a tool to implement the agendas of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Velayat-e Faqih. Complacency in floating the idea of dialogue with this armed and criminal entity, or attempting to launder its dark history by integrating it into the political arena on its own terms, represents a betrayal of sovereign principles, normalization with terrorism and murder, and a denial of the sacrifices of free martyrs such as Dr. Charles Chartouni, who stands as a model of steadfastness and dignity.
Summary Table of Commentary Headings
Introduction of the Dispute
• Reference to Minister Melhem Riachy’s interview and his readiness for dialogue with Hezbollah after disarming.
• Dr. Charles Chartouni’s sharp criticism of this proposal via the “X” platform.
• Riachy’s harsh and inappropriate response (“Shame on you”).
Dr. Charles Chartouni’s Journey
• A historical fighter, one of the founders of the “Lebanese Forces” and a companion of Sheikh Bashir Gemayel, who worked with him holding ministerial rank.
• A thinker, intellectual, and author in three languages, living in exile in America out of fear for his life due to harassment by Hezbollah, which dominates the judiciary in Lebanon.
• A model of integrity and steadfastness, who never received a salary nor compromised his sovereign principles or his rejection of occupation.
Melhem Riachy’s Journey
• Review of his previous political and professional transitions (Albert Mokheiber, El-Murr House, Michel Samaha, and Cedrus Bank).
• Critical questions regarding his background and his current and former political positions compared to the authentic Lebanese Forces line.
Hezbollah’s Nature and Criminal Reality
• A non-Lebanese organization established by Iranian-Syrian will to serve as the Supreme Leader’s army on the Mediterranean.
• A terrorist and criminal organization involved in the assassination of leaders, politicians, deputies, thinkers, and journalists (foremost among them Rafik Hariri), engaging globally in drug manufacturing, drug trade, and mafia networks.
• A terrorist, Iranian, jihadist party that kidnaps the Shiite community, takes them hostage, and enslaves them to serve the “Velayat-e Faqih” project.
Political Errors and Sins
• Considering calls for dialogue with Hezbollah or attempts to integrate it into politics as a major national sin and cover-up for terrorism.
• Rejecting the flawed narrative that equates national martyrs with the martyrs of the Iranian militia.
• Emphasizing that true sovereignty requires prosecuting the party as a terrorist entity rather than holding dialogue with it.
Conclusion
• A tribute of appreciation and pride to Dr. Charles Chartouni for his steadfastness along Bashir Gemayel’s path.
• An explicit call to Riachy to change his political rhetoric and apologize to Dr. Chartouni for the offensive remarks directed at him.
It remains essential to emphasize that a true sovereign approach to Lebanon does not recognize any negotiation or settlement with a terrorist Iranian militia that caused the destruction of Lebanon and the displacement of its people, and that symbols of thought and freedom like Dr. Charles Chartouni remain the living conscience of the cause of free people.

Lebanon's Martyrs Are Its Righteous Ones, Its Pride, Glory, and Dignity
Elias Bejjani / September 06, 2016
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2016/09/28625/
From the 2015 Archives
Today, we commemorate the memory of our righteous martyrs whose sacrifices and witness have enabled us, despite all hardships and challenges, to continue enjoying our freedom, preserving our dignity, and holding our heads high. They are the grain of wheat that died so that it might bear much fruit, as our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).
They are the leaven that continually nourishes the determination, courage, conscience, spirit, and resolve of our people, inspiring them to continue the journey of sacrifice, Calvary, crucifixion, and resurrection with faith, bravery, devotion, and perseverance.
Lebanon, the Land of the Cedars, is a land of holiness, redemption, and mission. It is the stronghold of martyrs and free people, and a refuge for every oppressed and weary soul. Such has always been Lebanon, and such it shall remain until the end of time. It is the duty of every Lebanese—morally, spiritually, and patriotically—to bear witness to truth without fear, and to uphold the banners of brotherhood, freedom, love, faith, generosity, and forgiveness.
Saint Paul writes in his Epistle to the Romans (8:31-32): "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also graciously give us all things with Him?"
He also teaches in his First Epistle to the Corinthians: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Indeed, God is with us and with Lebanon. Therefore, neither evil forces, terrorism, extremism, fanaticism, nor those who seek to impose fear and subjugation will ever succeed in breaking our spirit, imposing their dark will upon us, or forcing us to abandon our freedom and dignity.
Thank you to every martyr who armed himself with love and, for its sake, offered his life upon the altar of the Land of the Cedars so that Lebanon might remain free, sovereign, and independent, and so that every Lebanese might continue to live with dignity, pride, and liberty.
Thank you to the families of the martyrs whose faith and patriotism gave birth to heroes and righteous men and women. Thank you to Lebanon's sacred soil that nurtured these martyrs and embraced their remains. Thank you to Almighty God who blessed Lebanon with such heroic sons and daughters.
To ensure that their sacrifices are never in vain, it is our sacred duty to remain faithful to the cause for which they died—the cause of Lebanon, its people, their freedoms, and their faith. Likewise, those who were abducted, disappeared, or forcibly exiled remain living martyrs, and their fate is a trust placed in our hands.They gave without measure. They gave generously and selflessly to Lebanon. They offered everything they possessed without being asked. They even gave their lives joyfully because they believed in the words of Christ: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13).
They also believed that "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Therefore, they willingly and joyfully offered themselves upon the altar of their homeland, preserving its existence, protecting its people, and defending its freedoms.
Let us honor them as they honored us. Let us remain faithful custodians of the sanctity of their sacrifice by safeguarding our cause, our homeland, our dignity, and our faith.
Those who deny the sacrifices of the martyrs or betray the cause for which they gave their lives deny truth itself and forfeit the honor of belonging to Lebanon—the Lebanon of holiness, sacrifice, and freedom.
Every religious leader, politician, official, or citizen who betrays Lebanon, its people, and its freedoms betrays the blood and sacrifices of the martyrs and places himself in opposition to truth, justice, and history.
Likewise, whoever embraces submission instead of freedom, and betrayal instead of loyalty, becomes morally complicit in the martyrdom of those heroes and in the betrayal of the homeland and its sacred legacy.
Today, as we pray for the repose of the souls of Lebanon's righteous martyrs, we must not forget the living martyrs among our forcibly disappeared compatriots who languished in Syrian prisons. We must remain committed to uncovering their fate and securing justice for them and their families.
And as we beseech God to grant eternal rest to our martyrs and welcome them into His heavenly kingdom, we must also remember our compatriots who sought refuge in Israel after the year 2000 and who continue to be denied the right to return to their homeland because of policies of exclusion, intimidation, and political vengeance.
These faithful Lebanese were deprived of the right to return to the land they defended and for which they sacrificed so much. They chose to stand against domination and coercion, and for that they continue to pay a heavy price.
In conclusion, nations whose sons and daughters are unwilling to sacrifice for them are nations destined to disappear. Lebanon, rooted in history, faith, and freedom, would not have survived were it not for the sacrifices of its martyrs and the dedication of its honorable and patriotic citizens.
May God bless Lebanon, protect it, and shield its people from all evil.
O Martyr of Lebanon, rest in peace, for thanks to heroes like you, Lebanon shall remain free. It shall neither kneel nor accept humiliation.
Let us pray with reverence for the souls of the martyrs of the Land of the Cedars, asking God to grant them eternal rest among the saints and the righteous, and to bless Lebanon with the grace to remain faithful to their sacrifices and steadfast on the path of truth, freedom, and love.

Who is Saint Charbel of Edessa, Whose Feast the Church Celebrates Annually on September 5, and Who is His Martyr Sister, Barabia?
Elias Bejjani/September 05/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157241/
Note: The information contained in this study is drawn from numerous documented ecclesiastical, theological, research, and media references.
Introduction
On the Fith Of September the Church celebrates the annual feast of Saint Charbel of Edessa—after whom Lebanon’s Saint Charbel Makhlouf was named—and honors his martyr sister, Barabia.
It is worth mentioning that the name “Charbel” is closely associated with Lebanon’s great saint, Charbel Makhlouf. However, Charbel of Edessa had the historical precedence and priority in receiving the crown of Christian martyrdom and defending the faith to death, becoming a milestone in the history of the martyrs of the East.
Birthplace and Year of Birth
Birthplace: The city of Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa in southeastern Turkey), which was an ancient Syriac Christian and cultural center.
Year of Birth: He was born in the second half of the 1st century AD and lived and was martyred at the beginning of the 2nd century AD, specifically around the year 105 AD.
Stages of His Life While a Pagan
Religious Position: Before his conversion, Charbel was the high priest of the pagan temples and the chief of the priests in the city of Edessa.
Appearance and Role: He enjoyed a high social standing and broad authority. During major feasts and celebrations, he would wear the finest robes and place a golden crown on his head, directing the rituals of offering incense and sacrifices to the pagan gods amidst the noise and official celebrations ordered by the Roman Emperor Trajan.
The Turning Point: Conversion and Repentance
The credit for Charbel’s conversion goes to Saint Barsimaeus (whose name means “Son of the Blind” in Syriac), who was the Bishop of Edessa at that time.
The Confrontation: In the midst of a massive pagan celebration presided over by Charbel, Bishop Barsimaeus stepped forward courageously and confronted him, saying: “May Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth, hold you accountable for all those whom you mislead, deceive, and turn away from the true God.” He then began to preach to him about the true faith in the one Creator and the futility of bowing down to “worthless, created idols incapable of doing anything.”
Conversion: The words of Bishop Barsimaeus acted like magic on Charbel’s heart. His inner sight was enlightened, and he abandoned his paganism, announcing his repentance and faith in Christ. He was followed in this by his sister Barabia and some of his close associates.
Monastic Services and Spiritual Struggle
After embracing Christianity, Charbel embarked on a path of repentance and deep spiritual service:
Renouncing Vain Glory: He abandoned his high position, rejected pagan offerings, and embraced a life of asceticism, prayers, and deep immersion in the teachings of the Gospel.
Martyrdom and Evangelism: Charbel did not content himself with personal faith; he professed it openly. He was accompanied in his new journey by his sister Barabia, who dedicated her life to the Lord and shared with them the path of suffering and martyrdom. Together, they became an example of Christian steadfastness in the face of the harsh Roman persecutions ordered by Emperor Trajan against anyone who refused to bow down to the idols.
Martyrdom
Due to his absolute refusal to return to idol worship and offer sacrifices to the Roman gods in compliance with Emperor Trajan’s decrees, Charbel and his sister Barabia were arrested.
Torments: They were subjected to various forms of cruelty and severe tortures to break their faith, but they showed unmatched steadfastness.
End of the Struggle: Charbel and his sister Barabia received the crown of martyrdom at the beginning of the 2nd century AD (specifically around 105 AD), ending their lives by decapitation for the sake of Christ’s name, thus being harvested into the registry of the early Church’s martyrs.
The Connection to Lebanon’s Saint Charbel of Edessa
Naming: Lebanon’s great saint (Charbel Makhlouf) was named after Saint Charbel of Edessa as a blessing from his fragrant life, struggle, and heroism in the faith.
Annual Feast: The Church celebrates the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Charbel of Edessa and his sister Barabia on September 5 of every year.
A Prayer for Lebanon Through the Intercession of Saint Charbel of Edessa
O Lord God, You who granted Saint Charbel of Edessa the grace of steadfastness unto blood and martyrdom for Your holy name, we place before Your heavenly throne today our occupied, tortured, and oppressed homeland, Lebanon. Through his intercession and the intercession of his pure and martyr sister, Barabia, we ask You to guide its people, protect them, strengthen their faith and patience, and restore the blessings of peace, stability, faith, and love to its holy land. We ask You to wipe away its wounds, deliver it from the abomination of occupation, terrorists, jihadists, and all crises, and plant true peace in the hearts of its people. Through the intercession of Your martyr, restore the light of hope to Lebanon, and anchor its citizens in faith and love, that it may remain a land of martyrdom and faith. Amen.

Elias Bejjani/Video Link to My Interview on Al-Hawiya Youtube Platform
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157173/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGWz35mW1Tw&t=101s
Elias Bejjani/Video Link to My Interview on Al-Hawiya Youtube Platform: An In-Depth Critical Analysis and Exposure of the Positions of President Aoun, Patriarch Al-Rahi, the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Prime Minister Salam and His Government, and the Rest of Lebanon’s Ruling Class Amid a Conspiracy Against Sovereigntists and an Intelligence-Driven Narrative Criminalizing and Prosecuting Anyone Who Says Hezbollah Is Iranian, an Enemy of the Shiites, and Not a Resistance Movement—Aimed at Circumventing the Recent U.S. Law Declaring Hezbollah an Iranian Organization, Beginning with the Judicial Pursuit of Director Youssef El Khoury
Interview conducted by journalist Abdul Rahman Darnika for Al-Hawiya Website – September 2, 2026

Where Is the Church?
Etienne Saqr-Abu Arz/Facebook/September 8, 2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157326/
Amidst the stifling economic hardship in which middle-class and poor families are struggling—hardship that fuels mass emigration and drains Lebanon of its youth, among other consequences...
Everyone is asking: Where does the Church stand regarding this escalating crisis, which threatens the nation and its very existence with dire consequences? Why does it fail to come to the aid of its people regarding their essential needs, the school tuition fees that are draining parents' pockets, and so much more?
Is there any need to remind the Church’s shepherds of Christ’s teachings on acts of mercy and aiding the poor, or of His famous words: "No one can serve two masters: God and money..." (Matthew 6:24)?
In short, perhaps these shepherds have overlooked the fact that continued mass emigration will—God forbid—lead to the emptying of the country, leaving the Church with shepherds but no flock. Let them recall the Patriarchs of Qannoubine, of whom it was said: "Their hearts were of gold, but their staffs were of wood."
At your service, Lebanon.

A police state whose intelligence apparatus killed Mohammad Harkous and arrests anyone who insults Aoun. We aren’t insulting you, we’re describing your practices/This is, O Paula, what exposed you…
Activist Nadine Barakat/X Platform/September 08/2026
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157321/
“For 40 days, young Zain al-Abidin al-Sailami spent time in prison by a decision of the military judiciary, on the charge of ‘insulting the President of the Republic.’
Zain’s case is not the only one; recent periods have witnessed a striking recurrence of the detention of dozens of citizens on the very same charge, amidst a fear that prevents most people from speaking out. Even expats were not spared; a Lebanese citizen holding American citizenship was detained immediately upon his arrival at the airport on the same charge, and was not released until after the intervention of the US Embassy at the request of his family.
These detentions directly open the door to two clear legal violations:
The absence of any authority for military agencies to make arrests
There is nothing in the Lebanese constitution or laws, nor in any decree or ministerial decision, that grants any military apparatus—whether Army Intelligence or the Military Police—the authority to arrest any person on the charge of insulting the president.
The lack of jurisdiction of the military judiciary: Lebanese law includes no text permitting the military judiciary to prosecute civilians on the charge of insulting the president; nonetheless, the Military Public Prosecution and the Military Investigating Judge carry out detentions and trials in a manner entirely contrary to the law.It is worth noting that Article 114 of the new Media Law, according to recent amendments, prohibits provisional detention in publication cases regardless of the perpetrator’s status.
What is happening heralds the authorities’ transformation of Lebanon into a model of police states along the lines of some normalization countries in the Gulf, in preparation for securing a comfortable atmosphere of absolute silence in the face of the concessionary and capitulatory projects the authorities are preparing for Lebanon. President Aoun had affirmed in his inaugural oath speech delivered before parliament following his election on January 9, 2025, his absolute commitment to protecting the sanctity of individual and collective freedoms as the core of the Lebanese entity… but the implementation during his reign was completely contradictory.”

Video interview link & text with Dr. Charles Shartouni, the distinguished sovereignist,
The interviws is addressing the debauchery, shamelessness, and treason of Lebanon’s rulers, and the dhimmi role of the Church/An in-depth critical and strategic analysis of the Lebanese political and field landscape amid rapid developments, specifically following the fall of the “Ali Al-Tahir” hill, the dynamics of the Iranian axis conflict, the role of official political authority, the stance toward the Shiite community and the Maronite Church, and the upcoming scenarios in light of Israeli and American strategies in the region.
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2026/09/157329/
The interview was conducted by Fadi Chehwan via his youtube platform
September 08/2026.
Note: Transcription, drafting, summarization, headings, and English translation by Elias Bejjani with absolute freedom.
Introduction
The interview provides an in-depth critical and strategic analysis of the Lebanese political and field landscape amid rapid developments, specifically following the fall of the “Ali Al-Tahir” hill, the dynamics of the Iranian axis conflict, the role of official political authority, the stance toward the Shiite community and the Maronites, and the upcoming scenarios in light of Israeli and American strategies in the region.
Interview Headings
The End of the Era of “Fatal Illusions”: The ramifications of the fall of the Ali Al-Tahir hill on Hezbollah’s military and political future.
The Shiite Dilemma and National Choices: Questions regarding the collective responsibility of the Shiite community for adopting Hezbollah’s coup-oriented choices, and the necessity of returning to the path of the state and national normalization.
The Dangers of Backlash Inward and the Potential for Civil War: How Hezbollah deals with defeats by attempting to impose its influence internally.
Assessment of the Lebanese Executive Authority: Sharp criticism of the President of the Republic (Joseph Aoun) and the government headed by (Nawaf Salam), describing their performance as clumsy and lacking a unified vision.
The Christian Stance and Open Options: Emphasizing the rejection of submission to the equations of the Lebanese establishment, and the readiness of diaspora and Christian forces to fight the battle to defend the entity from abroad.
The Maronite Church File: A sharp attack on the performance of Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi and certain clerics, alongside the announcement of a methodical movement toward the Papal Nunciature in Washington.
The Israeli and Field Scenario: The collapse of the Lebanese state from the diplomatic equation in contrast to Israel’s imposition of a security zone devoid of weapons that expands geographically.
Summary
The Field and Political Scene: Dr. Charles Shartouni considered that the fall of the “Ali Al-Tahir” hill marks the end of the phase of “fatal illusions” and the gambles led by Hezbollah, noting that Hezbololah is experiencing a strategic dilemma that may push it, as usual, to turn inward toward the Lebanese interior.
Responsibility of the Shiite Community: Chartouni argued that the Shiite community bears collective responsibility for adopting the Iranian coup option, calling on it to return to the embrace of the state and political and national pluralism to avoid a catastrophe that would destroy the entire Lebanese entity.
Critique of Official Authority: Chartouni directed fierce criticism at the President and government, considering them to lack clarity and a unified stance, and accusing them of evading core issues such as disarming Hezbollah, in addition to pointing out contradictions in internal political performance.
Christian and Ecclesiastical Affairs: Shartouni criticized the performance of certain Christian leaders and figures, and launched a sharp attack on the Maronite patriarchal leadership and several ecclesiastical figures announcing his intention to take escalatory and methodical steps (via reports and actions in Washington) to reject what he considers an encroachment on rights and the entity. The Field and Israeli Situation: Chartouni concluded by emphasizing that Israel no longer gives weight to the Lebanese state, and is proceeding to impose field and security realities on the ground (such as a weapon-free security zone in the south) regardless of the fragility of the official Lebanese stance.

Issa visits Shiite council, says US wants 'interest of Shiite community'
Naharnet/September 8, 2026
The U.S. wants “the interest of the Shiite community and the return of residents to the South and their homes,” U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said on Tuesday after a visit to the Higher Islamic Shiite Council and a meeting with its head Sheikh Ali al-Khatib.
Speaking in Arabic, Issa added that Washington is willing to negotiate with Hezbollah “through the state,” adding that “the state is the side that works for the sake of Lebanon.”As for the file of Lebanese captives held by Israel, the ambassador said Washington will exert all efforts possible to resolve the matter. Commenting on Israel’s escalating attacks on south Lebanon, Issa said: “To us, someone attacked and someone responded and we can’t rule that Israel is the one attacking without remembering who started first. We used to say, ‘If you don't attack, the Israelis won't retaliate, but if you attack, they will retaliate forcefully,’ and this is what I understood from the Israeli side.”Asked whether there will be a new Israeli war on Lebanon, Issa said: "No, there will be no war ... No, certainly no."

Rome negotiations might be moved to Washington
Naharnet/September 8, 2026
There is talk behind the scenes about the possibility of moving the Rome negotiations, for which no date has yet been set, to Washington, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday.“The negotiating delegation may be limited to the military team, or there may be a merger between the military and political levels, but until now nothing is certain,” the daily added.

Report: Local, Arab and int'l efforts lead to de-escalation in Nabatieh
Naharnet/September 8, 2026
Contacts made by President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam, in addition to Arab and international efforts, have contributed to pacifying the situation in the city of Nabatieh, Al-Jadeed TV said on Tuesday, after 27 people were killed and 69 others were wounded in three days of Israeli attacks in the Nabatieh region. Future steps might be taken to “consolidate and immunize stability through the deployment of the Lebanese army and security forces,” Al-Jadeed added.A senior political source also told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper that local and international efforts were exerted in a bid to “contain the escalation and prevent its expansion.”“The foreign contacts with the brothers and friends were led by President Joseph Aoun and they focused on reining in escalation, halting Israeli attacks and compelling Israel to respect the framework agreement, as Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji held broad consultations with his Arab counterparts in parallel with his participation in the Arab ministerial meeting,” the source added. Washington meanwhile informed the Lebanese government that “the reason for Israel's escalation in Nabatieh and the surrounding area was Hezbollah's attack on the Israeli army and its launching of drones, in addition to Hezbollah's activities in those areas, which prompted Israel to respond forcefully and decisively,” Nidaa al-Watan said. “Lebanon was also informed that any further action by Hezbollah would be met with a fierce and violent military response,” it added. Al-Jadeed later reported that the Lebanese Army was staging patrols in the city of Nabatieh. "The Lebanese Army is expected to deploy at a number of points in the city of Nabatieh in parallel with patrols in the city's neighborhoods, paving the way for a bigger step," it added.

Speaking for the people of the South, Nabatieh rejects Iran’s weapons and calls upon the State—will it answer?
Lara Yazbeck/Nidaa Al-Watan/September 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Following an initial appeal launched on May 29, 2026—in which they warned that war and destruction were reaching Nabatieh and urged the State to act before it was too late—a group of doctors, engineers, lawyers, bankers, media professionals, academics, writers, and activists have issued the "Second Nabatieh Appeal" in recent hours. Signed by 400 individuals, the appeal calls for the immediate deployment of the army to Nabatieh.
Nabatieh Pins Its Hopes on the State
The dramatic military developments in the South over the past few days—specifically the Israeli army’s capture of the Ali al-Tahir hills—served as the primary catalyst for this appeal. There is deep concern that political authorities in Tel Aviv are preparing for further escalation on the southern front, with Nabatieh as the next target. Although the Israeli army prefers to redeploy toward what it terms the "gray zone," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to rack up "achievements" to maximize his chances of winning the upcoming Israeli elections. The fall of Nabatieh—along with what and whom it represents—into his army's grip on the eve of the election would deliver exactly what he seeks. According to sovereignist political sources speaking to *Nidaa Al-Watan*, the people of Nabatieh—having witnessed the fate of those who bought into the "Axis of Resistance" illusions regarding deterrence, steadfastness, and confrontation—are now turning to the Lebanese State for protection. They are pinning their hopes on it, believing that the entry and deployment of its army into the city—and the removal of all traces of the illegitimate Iranian-backed mini-state—would spare them the bitter cup Netanyahu wants them to drink. This sentiment is shared first by most Southerners—even if they have not yet raised their voices, keeping this cry suppressed within—and secondly by the majority of the Lebanese people.
**Faith in Legitimacy**
The catastrophe befalling the South has irrevocably incinerated the tales of heroism and narratives that Hezbollah had long sold to the people. The scenes of destruction, displacement, and recurring massacres have exposed the "Party," proving that Iranian weaponry neither protected nor built anything.
At a time when Iranian officials have openly declared that the Lebanese South is "finished"—acknowledging that Tehran has washed its hands of the region and turned its back on it—sources indicate that Nabatieh is now calling upon the Lebanese state for protection. The city places its faith in the state, believing in the protective power of legitimacy—a legitimacy that has, to a significant extent, shielded the southern villages that held fast to it and refused to allow Iranian-backed arms to enter during both "support front" wars.
**Will It Heed the Call?**
Yet, the most pressing question that arises is: Does the state believe in itself and its own capabilities? Will it answer the call of its citizens in Nabatieh and deploy its army there, or will it let them down? The decision to deploy the army exclusively across the entire 10,452 square kilometers of the country—and to clear it of illicit weaponry—has already been made. The Lebanese people are eager to see this implemented. Will their state decide to carry it out? Israel may well be determined to drag Nabatieh into the same catastrophe befalling the south; however, the State must at least make an effort. It needs to demonstrate—first to its own people and then to the world—its resolve to assert sole control over the land and decision-making within Lebanon by deploying a strong force to the south to wrest it back from Iran. Will it take this step and, from Nabatieh, set in motion the process of consolidating arms under state control?

Nabatieh Appeals to the Army Amid Efforts to Withdraw "The Party"
Nidaa Al-Watan/September 9, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Following the fall of the Ali Al-Tahir hill to the Israeli army—after Hezbollah refused to hand it over to the Lebanese Army—Nabatieh now faces a critical test. It cannot afford a repeat of the same scenario, especially after "the Party" once again provided Israel with pretexts to expand its operations beyond the "security zone." As danger knocks at the doors of the city—which serves as the political and social heart of the South—Nabatieh is appealing to the State and its army for help, a stance also reflected in the signing of the "Nabatieh Call 2." In this context, *Nidaa Al-Watan* has learned that, alongside intensive contacts led by President Joseph Aoun with the Americans, Nabatieh witnessed a widespread deployment of the Lebanese Army. This move was ordered by President Aoun and Army Commander General Rudolph Haykal to spare the city the fate of other southern areas that have suffered destruction. This deployment is set to expand today as the army brings in further reinforcements, coinciding with the return of state agencies to the city and its surroundings—part of a plan to strengthen the State's presence and protect the region. Yesterday, Aoun led a series of domestic and international contacts. Domestically, he communicated with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is working to persuade Hezbollah to withdraw and make way for the army's deployment. Internationally, contacts focused primarily on the American side, which promised to work toward de-escalation. In this context, the Army Command issued a statement clarifying that "certain media outlets and news websites are circulating information regarding the start of an army deployment in several areas of southern Lebanon. The Army Command wishes to clarify that military units have been deployed in all areas free of Israeli occupation—particularly the Nabatieh region—both prior to the current events and during the present phase. The army has currently intensified its operations in several areas to reassure local residents. The Command emphasizes the necessity of relying on its official statements for accurate information." On a parallel political track, the visit by US Ambassador Michel Aissa to the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council carried significant implications regarding form, substance, and timing; through it, he conveyed a clear political message to Hezbollah: that Washington engages with Lebanon through its official institutions and approaches its internal components via their legitimate authorities. Aissa stressed that the United States seeks to understand the concerns of the Shiite community and act in its best interests—facilitating the return of southerners to their villages—while noting, however, the "existence of a problem with a segment of this community that fails to grasp the magnitude of its responsibilities." Clarifying his earlier remarks on the possibility of negotiating with Hezbollah, Aissa defined the limits of the US approach by asserting that "the Lebanese state is the sole entity authorized to negotiate on Lebanon's behalf, and any communication with 'the Party'—should it occur—must take place through the state." Regarding the release of prisoners from Israeli jails, he affirmed, "We will not stop until all these objectives are achieved; it is our responsibility to see this path through to the end." In contrast, Al-Khatib emphasized "the need for the United States to play at least a fair and balanced role in addressing the crisis," noting that "Shiites are not terrorists and did not take up arms out of choice, but rather because of the Israeli occupation; they are prepared today to address this issue—provided they are granted guarantees and protection—in a way that reassures them about their future and their destiny."

Residents of Tyre Raise Their Voices: The State Must Assert Its Sovereignty in the South
Al-Markaziya/September 8, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The following statement was issued by the residents of Tyre: We, the people of Lebanon in general—and of the city and district of Tyre in particular—are rallying once again to save the South, its cities, and its villages from being transformed entirely into a devastated, depopulated disaster zone. We join our voices to the "Nabatieh 2" appeal, calling upon the Presidency, the Government, and the Army Command to shoulder their responsibilities and immediately assert control over areas not currently under direct Israeli occupation. The threat facing the South today is not merely the ongoing occupation and displacement along the so-called "Yellow Line," but also the transformation of the Tyre and Nabatieh regions into uninhabitable areas due to Israel's persistent hostilities. The State’s primary responsibility today is to deploy the Army and security forces to enforce order, consolidate arms control, and prohibit any weaponry—of any kind—that serves as a pretext for Israel without acting as a deterrent, serving instead only as a burden on the South. Furthermore, the State must assert its sovereignty in a manner that decouples the South from the trajectory of regional wars and negotiations—paths that have yielded nothing but destruction and calamity. As residents of the South, we also have a responsibility to speak the truth and raise our voices clearly and without equivocation, rejecting the delusions, hubris, and gambling with our present and our children's future. We call upon the State to demonstrate determination in the negotiation process—despite its flaws, Israeli aggression, and Iran's insistence on using the South as a proxy battleground—and to seek international and Arab support to expand the scope of "pilot zones" to include Al-Khiam, Bint Jbeil, Al-Mansouri, and Naqoura, ultimately leading to the full liberation of the South. Today, we raise our voices—from Tyre to Nabatieh—to declare: Enough with the ruin, destruction, and sacrifices imposed on the South and its people for the sake of foreign agendas. The time has come for the South to return to the nation, and for the State to return to the South.

Hezbollah Surrenders to Israel and Attacks the State: Let It Either Protect the State or Spare It Its Harm!
Lara Yazbek | Al-Markaziya | September 8, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
Al-Markaziya – Hezbollah preferred to hand over the Ali al-Tahir hills to the "Israeli enemy" rather than voluntarily hand them over to the Lebanese Army. According to sovereignist political sources speaking to Al-Markaziya, the Party offers numerous excuses and justifications for this decision—which amounts to surrender, if not outright treason. First, it claims the hills do not actually hold the strategic importance Israel attributed to them. Second, it seeks to avoid setting a precedent of handing over one of its positions to the Lebanese Army at Israel's behest—a move that could lead to a pattern of being stripped of its southern positions. Third, it fears that Israel might attack and occupy the hills after the Lebanese Army takes control of them. Yet, no matter how hard the Party tries to conceal or sugarcoat the truth, the reality remains stark and clear to everyone—including, and perhaps especially, its own support base. The sources note that Israel has effectively gained control of the hills; the Party rejected an offer made months ago to withdraw and hand the area to its own national army, choosing instead to gift the territory to Israel on a silver platter. Even worse, rather than feeling ashamed of its actions, the Party continues to attack the Lebanese State for negotiating with Israel and advancing the US-sponsored process. If the Party is unaware, we remind it that these very negotiations secured the release of prisoners just days ago—individuals Lebanon received from Israel—at the exact time the Party was handing the hills over to that same adversary. These negotiations—which the Party seeks to derail by providing Israel with every pretext needed to scuttle them and continue its bombardment and obliteration of the South—represent the last card Lebanon holds to try and rein in Tel Aviv, which has now set its sights on Nabatieh. If the Party is capable of confronting and deterring Israel with missiles and drones, let it do so. But if it is not—and it is not—then it should withdraw militarily, remain silent politically, and spare the State the harm caused by its actions and its mouthpieces, allowing the State to attempt, alongside the Americans, to brake the Israeli war machine and salvage what remains.

Israeli Explosions and Raids on Southern Lebanese Towns; Israeli Military Drones Fly Over Beirut
Riyadh: AlArabiya.net/Agencies/September 8, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
On Tuesday evening, Israeli forces carried out a major explosion in the town of Zoutar Al-Sharqiya, while Israeli warplanes launched two airstrikes on the town of Nabatieh Al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes struck the Al-Hariq neighborhood in Nabatieh Al-Fawqa—approaching from the direction of Kfar Tebnit—before launching a second raid on the town less than fifteen minutes later. Nabatieh Al-Fawqa, Dawhat Kfar Remman, and the town of Sarbine were also subjected to Israeli artillery shelling. Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces conducted a demolition operation in the town of Al-Mansouri in southern Lebanon, accompanied by the bulldozing of several homes. Israeli drones were observed flying at low altitude over the capital, Beirut, extending into the airspace of the Southern Suburbs (Dahiyeh). Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army stated on Tuesday that its units are deployed in all areas free of Israeli occupation—particularly the Nabatieh region—both prior to and during the current events. The statement explained that the army has intensified its operations in several areas to reassure residents and emphasized the importance of relying on official command statements for accurate information. These developments unfold amidst ongoing tension along the Lebanese-Israeli border, as Israel continues to carry out airstrikes and targeted attacks across various parts of southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, despite repeated announcements regarding ceasefires and their extensions. A ceasefire had been announced on June 20, followed by a decrease in the frequency of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.

Arab League Adopts Lebanese Government Resolutions and Calls for Consolidating Arms Under State Control
Al-Markaziya/September 8, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
At the conclusion of its 166th session yesterday evening at the General Secretariat headquarters in Cairo, the Council of the League of Arab States—convened at the level of foreign ministers—reaffirmed its "full solidarity with the Lebanese Republic and its absolute support for its sovereignty, independence, and national unity." It emphasized the "exclusive right of the Lebanese State to make its own sovereign national decisions, free from any external interference or pressure." The Council, having unanimously adopted the Lebanese government's decisions, expressed its support for the government's measures to reclaim authority over decisions regarding war and peace and to restrict the possession of arms solely to the army and legitimate security forces—in accordance with the Taif Agreement and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. It affirmed its backing for government decisions prohibiting military and security activities outside the legal framework, halting Iranian interference in internal affairs, and upholding a policy of sovereignty and positive neutrality. The Council also welcomed the tangible progress made in the handover of weapons by Palestinian factions to the Lebanese legitimate authorities and the extension of state authority over all camps without exception, while simultaneously asserting its categorical rejection of the permanent settlement of Palestinian refugees and its commitment to safeguarding the role of UNRWA to ensure their right of return. Furthermore, the Council condemned ongoing Israeli attacks and violations against Lebanese territory, as well as the targeting of infrastructure and UNIFIL forces, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal and rejecting any attempts to impose buffer zones. It called upon the international community to mobilize necessary support for the Lebanese Army and to cooperate in resolving the issue of displaced Syrians by ensuring their safe and sustainable return. On the economic and judicial fronts, the Council commended the financial and institutional reform steps taken by the Lebanese government to achieve recovery and protect Lebanon's maritime and sovereign rights, affirming its full support for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the Beirut Port explosion, the assassination of the martyred Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr and his two companions, with the ultimate goal of achieving justice and holding those responsible accountable.

Residents of Tyre Raise Their Voices: The State Must Assert Its Sovereignty in the South
Al-Markaziya/September 8, 2026 (Google translation from Arabic)
The following statement was issued by the residents of Tyre: We, the people of Lebanon in general—and of the city and district of Tyre in particular—are rallying once again to save the South, its cities, and its villages from being transformed entirely into a devastated, depopulated disaster zone. We join our voices to the "Nabatieh 2" appeal, calling upon the Presidency, the Government, and the Army Command to shoulder their responsibilities and immediately assert control over areas not currently under direct Israeli occupation. The threat facing the South today is not merely the ongoing occupation and displacement along the so-called "Yellow Line," but also the transformation of the Tyre and Nabatieh regions into uninhabitable areas due to Israel's persistent hostilities. The State’s primary responsibility today is to deploy the Army and security forces to enforce order, consolidate arms control, and prohibit any weaponry—of any kind—that serves as a pretext for Israel without acting as a deterrent, serving instead only as a burden on the South. Furthermore, the State must assert its sovereignty in a manner that decouples the South from the trajectory of regional wars and negotiations—paths that have yielded nothing but destruction and calamity. As residents of the South, we also have a responsibility to speak the truth and raise our voices clearly and without equivocation, rejecting the delusions, hubris, and gambling with our present and our children's future. We call upon the State to demonstrate determination in the negotiation process—despite its flaws, Israeli aggression, and Iran's insistence on using the South as a proxy battleground—and to seek international and Arab support to expand the scope of "pilot zones" to include Al-Khiam, Bint Jbeil, Al-Mansouri, and Naqoura, ultimately leading to the full liberation of the South. Today, we raise our voices—from Tyre to Nabatieh—to declare: enough with the ruin, destruction, and sacrifices imposed on the South and its people for the sake of foreign agendas. The time has come for the South to return to the nation, and for the State to return to the South.

Aoun questions whether Israel really wants peace, says Israeli pretexts 'flimsy'
Naharnet/September 8, 2026
Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel's "repeated attacks" on Lebanon, accusing it of violating the U.S.-brokered framework deal. "When both sides sign an agreement, they are expected to honor it," he said. "Unfortunately, while Lebanon remains committed to the agreement and insists on its implementation, Israel continues to offer unacceptable excuses to justify its aggression. Flimsy pretexts are being used to defend these ongoing strikes."Aoun condemned the destruction of an entire building to target a single individual. "Innocent victims have fallen — women, children, and families who have nothing to do with what is happening, yet are paying the price of violent and unjustified bombardment," he said. "Entire towns and villages have been destroyed, and the Civil Defense, the Red Cross, state institutions, the army, and security forces have been targeted."Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes in south Lebanon on Monday, killing 13 people including women and children, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday, in an intensification of violence after a weeks-long lull. The Health Ministry said 27 people were killed and 69 others wounded in Israeli attacks on south Lebanon over the past three days. The majority of the casualties were recorded in the Nabatieh region. "The scale and magnitude of these attacks are completely disproportionate," President Aoun said. "253 children have been killed. These children were not Hezbollah members; they weren't armed or fighting.""The killing of innocents, including children and women, the destruction and burning of homes, and the bulldozing of property are condemned, rejected, and unjustified crimes," he added. "These actions target the framework agreement and undermine all efforts to halt the escalation in the South and the region as a whole," Aoun warned, adding that he is still determined to pursue the diplomatic path, which he considers "the best solution for both sides." Aoun urged Israel to respond positively to the framework agreement it signed, noting that this agreement enjoyed Arab and European support and was signed under American sponsorship. He went a step further, questioning whether Israel actually wants peace. "Does Israel want peace or war? And if it wants war, let it say so clearly.

South Lebanon: Latest developments
Naharnet//September 8, 2026
Israeli artillery shelled overnight into Tuesday Wadi al-Slouqi and Wadi al-Hujair, while forces opened fire at forests near Qabrikha and detonated houses in al-Mansouri.
On Monday 13 people, including women and children, were killed in strikes on the south.

House of pro-Hezbollah Sunni MP comes under fire
Naharnet/September 8, 2026
The house of MP Melhem al-Hujeiri, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc, came under gunfire at dawn in the northeastern town of Arsal, media reports said.
Al-Jadeed television said the house was hit by several gunshots that caused damage.Security forces have since arrived at the scene and launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators.

South Lebanon town buries its dead after Israeli strike
Agence France Presse/September 8, 2026
Hundreds of people in south Lebanon gathered on Tuesday to mourn two Hezbollah members and their family, among them a three-month-old infant, killed by an Israeli strike a day prior. The two brothers' coffins, draped in the Iran-backed group's yellow flag, portraits of them in camouflage fatigues fixed to the front, led the procession through the village battered by repeated conflict over nearly three years. Another 10 coffins were covered in Lebanese flags, indicating that the rest of the Farhat family killed when Monday's strike levelled their home were civilians. The fighting in Lebanon had calmed since a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon were both agreed in June. But Beirut still reports recurring Israeli strikes, which it says have killed more than 4,300 people in total since March, and Israeli forces continue to occupy what it calls a "security zone" in the south. A separate strike on Kfar Rumman on Monday killed an 18-year-old rescuer with the Risala Association, linked to the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement, the organization said, who was mourned alongside the Farhat family on Tuesday.
"We have 13 killed including grandfather and grandmother, husbands and wives, and their children including a three-months old infant," deputy mayor Nureddine Nureddine told AFP from the funeral. "Someone put an end to these crimes," Nureddine said, adding that the strike that killed the Farhat family "occurred at night, while they were sleeping". "There was no military activity, nothing."An AFP correspondent saw people marching to the cemetery, waving Hezbollah flags as women dressed in black wept, holding pictures of the dead as an Israeli drone flew overhead. "Death to America, death to Israel," mourners yelled.
'A shred of honor'
The Israeli military said on Monday that it had struck Hezbollah "infrastructure sites" across southern Lebanon after the launch of two explosive drones towards its troops, as well as "several terrorists" it said were transferring weapons. "The claim that several uninvolved individuals were harmed as a result of the strikes is being reviewed," it said, adding that the military "will continue to operate to remove threats while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement".Since Friday, at least 28 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Standing next to a picture of his own son, a Hezbollah member killed by Israel, Ghaleb Baalbaki slammed the Lebanese government for continuing direct talks with Israel. "If they have even a shred of honor, the first thing they should do would be to stop the negotiations," he said. The lull in violence that began in June had allowed hundreds of thousands of displaced people to return home. "Kfar Rumman was coming back to life, there were more than 1,400 people" in the town before the latest escalation, Nureddine said, "Now, they can be counted on your fingers."

Death toll from Monday strikes rises to 13
Agence France Presse/September 8, 2026
Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes in south Lebanon, killing 13 people including women and children, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday, in an intensification of violence after a weeks-long lull. Israel's military vowed to continue targeting Hezbollah, accusing the Iran-backed militants of repeated violations of a ceasefire in place since June.
Hezbollah has not commented on the threat, or on the escalation in strikes seen in recent days. Israel hit swathes of south Lebanon hard during the Middle East war that erupted with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and its forces continue to occupy what it calls a "security zone".One of the overnight strikes hit a building in the town of Kfar Rumman, killing 11 people, including two children and four women. Another attack in the same town killed a rescuer and wounded another, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
A later strike on Rihan, also in the south but further from the border with Israel, killed one person, while a strike on the city of Nabatieh wounded nine including two children and three women. Israel has been intensifying strikes in the southern Nabatieh area after saying on Thursday that it had seized the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge from Hezbollah, a claim the Iran-backed group has not commented on. The Israeli military in a statement said it had struck Hezbollah "infrastructure sites" across southern Lebanon after the launch of two explosive drones towards its troops, as well as "several terrorists" it said were transferring weapons. The army said it "will continue to operate to remove threats while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement". In a separate statement, it said it killed a Hezbollah member in the area of the Beaufort fortress who opened fire on its troops from inside a building, and that "during the close-quarters encounter, two IDF soldiers were lightly injured".
School books in the rubble
Fighting in Lebanon had decreased since a June memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran on the wider Middle East war and an Israel-Lebanon framework agreement later that month. On Monday, Israel's foreign ministry accused Hezbollah of "repeated drone attacks" and "attempting to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon". The ministry said Hezbollah had violated the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel that includes disarmament of the group. The rescuer who was killed was just 18 years old, according to his civil defense organization which is affiliated with the Amal movement, a political ally of Hezbollah. An AFP photographer saw the building that was hit in Kfar Rumman had been destroyed, with school books and remnants of furniture strewn across the rubble. Rescue teams were searching the debris on Monday morning for other victims. Villagers had returned home following the June truce after being displaced by the war. "Since we returned here, we've lived in fear," Fouad Chakaron told AFP. He insisted the targeted building was inhabited by "peaceful people with no connection to anyone".
Neighbors fled after the strike, which also damaged nearby buildings, AFP's photographer said. The NNA later reported additional strikes on the Nabatieh area, and controlled detonations of unexploded munitions in at least two parts of the south.
'I couldn't believe it' -
Israel issued no warning to Kfar Rumman before the strikes but released an evacuation order ahead of a separate attack in nearby Deir Zahrani. The Israeli military said in an Arabic-language message that it was targeting a "Hezbollah terrorist facility", warning that those who remained in the area were at risk. "They called me at 2:00 am and told me to get out of the house because it is being targeted," resident Abbas Toufeili told AFP, referring to the Israeli army. "I said that's impossible, why is my house being targeted? There's nothing in it. I couldn't believe it."He said he took his wife, children and elderly mother outside in their pajamas and they stood on the street watching their house be destroyed.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes killed seven people. Attacks on Friday killed four.
The Israeli army has said it is responding to Hezbollah's launch of two drones towards its soldiers inside Lebanon, but did not specify whether any of its troops were wounded. Hezbollah has not claimed any attack since June 20. Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion of Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people since March, Beirut says. Israeli forces are operating inside a self-declared "security zone" around 10 kilometers (six miles) deep inside Lebanon along the border. On Sunday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged Washington and the international community to help stop Israeli attacks.

Why Israel is unlikely to withdraw from Lebanon
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/September 8, 2026
The Israeli army on Friday announced that it had taken control of the Ali Al-Taher ridge, Hezbollah’s last stronghold in the south of Lebanon. The group’s operations have been almost nonexistent recently. As stipulated by the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement, Tel Aviv should hand over the areas it occupies to the Lebanese army once they have been cleared of Hezbollah and other nonstate actors. The million-dollar question is: Will Israel comply?
While the agreement instructs an Israeli withdrawal from areas handed over to the Lebanese army, this would not be the first time Israel has reneged on an agreement. The actions we are witnessing today — such as the destruction of roads, the building of barriers and the establishment of a military presence on the ground — do not suggest an imminent withdrawal. Rather, they point to an Israeli attempt to impose a fait accompli and transform the south into a buffer zone.
Lebanese factions sympathetic to Israel claim that it has no reason to remain in Lebanon if there is no threat from Hezbollah. These factions — namely the Lebanese Forces and the Phalangists — constantly blame Hezbollah without faulting Israel, believing that Tel Aviv has no expansionist plans in Lebanon. They will face a great deal of scrutiny if Israel fails to comply with the framework agreement.
Today’s actions point to an Israeli attempt to impose a fait accompli and transform the south into a buffer zone
The government of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, which gambled that the agreement would automatically lead to an Israeli withdrawal and a full handover to the Lebanese army, is today facing a difficult test. Aoun will face particular scrutiny as it was he who initiated the process of negotiations with Israel. And he did so without an internal agreement on the matter. Hence, if things go south, he will be the first one to be blamed. However, it is important to see the issue objectively.
Aoun took the decision to negotiate in the early days of the Iran war. The general assumption was that Tehran was losing and it would be better to join the winning team, i.e., the US. However, the situation changed and America now seems stuck in a quagmire. As the war has progressed, the Iranian position has hardened and its demands have increased. The US, on the other hand, wants a graceful exit from the conflict while preserving the image of a winner.
Additionally, the Lebanese leadership believed that US President Donald Trump would be able to pressure Israel. However, that seemed unrealistic. US envoy Tom Barrack clearly stated in July that Washington cannot force Israel to do anything it does not want to do. Israel has declared that it wants to retain freedom of action. In addition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he is not willing to withdraw from Lebanon, Syria, Gaza or the West Bank.
Any observer can conclude that the Israeli presence in south Lebanon is part of a broader expansionist agenda aimed at retaining leverage and a sphere of influence in Gaza, southern Lebanon and southern Syria. Following its seizure of Ali Al-Taher ridge, Israel conducted an intense bombardment campaign around Nabatiyeh. Among the targets destroyed were the Finance Ministry building and a civilian hospital. Aoun held Israel responsible and asked the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to stop the bombing and withdraw.
An Israeli failure to withdraw after it has cleared the south of Hezbollah’s presence will increase internal tensions
The chances are that Israel will not withdraw. It has a long history of not respecting agreements it has signed. The most recent case is Gaza. Though Hamas surrendered all the hostages and expressed a willingness for “complete disarmament,” Israel refused the plan presented by the US and Washington did nothing to twist its arm. The Board of Peace put together by Trump is sitting idle. In this context, how is the US expected to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanon?
Aoun visited Greece the day the latter signed a $3.5 billion defense deal with Israel. He urged Athens to plead with Israel. However, if the US is unable to pressure Tel Aviv, why would Greece be able to do so? It is unlikely that Washington will pressure Israel to withdraw. I sincerely hope I am proved wrong, but I doubt it. Nevertheless, an Israeli failure to withdraw after it has cleared the south of Hezbollah’s presence will increase internal tensions.
This would help Hezbollah politically, giving it legitimacy. It would renew the narrative of the resistance. It would further weaken the state and any effort to disarm the group. However, if the state was successful in its negotiations and was able to push the Israelis to withdraw, then it could rally the different factions around it and confront Hezbollah. If the diplomatic track fails, it will be difficult for the state to disarm the group. While Israel says it wants Hezbollah disarmed, it is indirectly preventing the state from doing so by incapacitating it.
Maybe Israel will surprise us and withdraw, though it is very unlikely. All the indicators show that it will not. It would be in Israel’s interest to withdraw and work, through the Americans, with the Lebanese government on disarming Hezbollah. However, the Israeli leaders do not think that way. They are blinded by arrogance. They think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want to.
It was a big step for the Lebanese government, against all odds, to accept direct negotiations with Israel. But if the Israelis refuse to withdraw, they will be throwing the current government under the bus and will make sure that the government that follows it will not negotiate.
--Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 08-09/2026
US military says it has destroyed 5 Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on Navy warship
AP/September 8, 2026
The blasts occurred in the area where most of Iran's oil is exported from
Iran has launched missiles toward US targets in Jordan, Iranian state-run media said, following the latest American strikes.It’s the latest tit-for-tat retaliation after the US military said it destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers following two attacks on a US warship by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard over the past two days.US Central Command, when asked about the strikes on the Jordanian airbase, said it had no information to offer. The Iranian tankers destroyed in the attack were the Kivik, Charminar, Horizon 1 and the Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, Central Command said. The US military also destroyed the vessel Derya, which was located near Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command said the crews of the five vessels were told to abandoned ship before the attacks. The strikes come just three days after US forces destroyed three Iranian oil tankers after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards tried to attack a US aircraft carrier and destroyer.Iranian state television also reported the US strikes, saying US forces attacked at least three Iranian oil tankers near the southern port of Jask and near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. It said the crews were evacuated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will not allow Iran's attacks to go unanswered. “Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships. And for every time they do that or try to do that, they’re going to lose tankers. And I think you’ll see that again today,” Rubio told reporters Tuesday when asked about the latest attacks in Iran while on a trip to Colombia. Danny Citrinowicz, an Iran expert at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, warned that such back-and-forth strikes can only risk more retaliation and further impact to the global economy. “There is no kinetic solution to the Strait of Hormuz problem,” he said on social media. “Every attempt to impose one only brings Washington and Tehran closer to an escalation that may become increasingly difficult to control.”An Iranian state TV reporter in Jask said an Iranian tanker was struck near the coast of Yekbeni, while another explosion was heard in the area whose source and location were not immediately clear. State TV later reported that the US military attacked a second tanker near waters off Jask. It said the crews of both vessels were being evacuated by lifeboat toward the Jask coast. Separately, state television reported that another Iranian tanker was attacked in Kharg Island anchorage area. It said the crew was safely evacuated shortly after the strike. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy on Tuesday warned crews of oil tankers near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain to immediately leave their vessels, saying the ships could be targeted in retaliation for US attacks on Iranian tankers. It accused Kuwait and Bahrain of hosting US forces and assisting in the attacks. On Saturday, the US military said it had struck three Iranian oil tankers after Navy warships were targeted with ballistic missiles, warning that it would, “if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.” Iran later said it planned to announce a new “exclusion zone” near the Strait of Hormuz aimed at vessels intending to transit. The latest strikes are part of a dual economic and military approach by President Donald Trump as he struggles to bring an end to a more than six-month-old war with Tehran.
The Trump administration on Tuesday also imposed sanctions on additional elements of Iran’s aviation industry, targeting more than two dozen commercial and private airlines as well as foreign cargo service providers in its new push to isolate Tehran from its remaining trading partners. Both the US and Iran are seeking to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, where about one-fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war began. Rising energy prices are posing political problems for Trump and his Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections. A barrel of international standard Brent crude briefly climbed as high as $99.46 on Tuesday. A US blockade of Iranian ports has squeezed the country’s economy by limiting its oil exports, while the American military has been helping a limited number of ships transit on a route through the Strait of Hormuz off Oman. Tehran wants ships to follow a route that it chooses through the strait, which was considered an international waterway before the war.

Iran Guards say seized unmanned US submarine drone in Hormuz
AFP/September 8, 2026
TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday said they seized an American submarine drone in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has blockaded in the months-long Middle East war. “The IRGC naval forces captured one of the most modern, unmanned, and smart submarines of the US terrorist army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz in a complex intelligence and operational action at dawn today,” the Guards said in a statement carried by state TV. “This smart submarine is equipped with the latest technology in the subsurface field in the world, which was delivered to the US terrorist army fleet in 2025,” the statement added.“This submarine has now been captured and images of it will be released in the coming hours.” Iranian media reported that the unmanned underwater vehicle’s main capabilities included “subsurface reconnaissance and surveillance, seabed mapping, mine detection and inspection of submarine cables and pipelines.” Iran has maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports, since the outbreak of the war in late February.The US has imposed its own counter-blockade of Iranian ports. Iran says it plans to charge fees from transiting vessels to fund services including environmental protection, something the US fiercely opposes.

Iran launched an attack against US Navy Ships on Monday, WSJ reports
Reuters/September 8, 2026
DUBAI: Iran launched an ​attack against US Navy ships on Monday that ‌the ‌US ​military ‌has ⁠yet ​to acknowledge, the ⁠Wall Street Journal reported on ⁠Tuesday, citing US ‌officials.
No ‌American ​ships ‌were ‌struck in Iran’s Monday attacks, ‌the report said, citing the officials. Reuters ⁠could ⁠not immediately verify the report.

Jordan army says shot down missiles from Iran: statement
AFP/September 8, 2026
AMMAN: Jordan’s army said Wednesday it shot down 18 missiles from Iran targeting the US-allied kingdom. “Jordan’s air defense systems engaged 20 ballistic missiles launched toward Jordanian territory, successfully intercepting and destroying 18 of them, while two missiles fell in unpopulated areas,” the army said in a statement, adding that they came from Iran.

Netanyahu will make a quick trip to speak at the UN after Mamdani urged his arrest, diplomat says
AP/September 8, 2026
UNITED NATIONS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a whirlwind 24-hour trip to speak at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders this month because “there is no option” after New York’s mayor urged his arrest over the war in Gaza, Israel’s U.N. envoy said Tuesday.Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” when he called the prime minister a “war criminal” and called for his arrest, which he had to withdraw because New York City does not have authority to take Netanyahu into custody. “You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon added. He stressed, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”Netanyahu has become an increasingly polarizing figure over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Mamdani, whose office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday, has pointed to the arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war crimes tribunal against Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him and another Israeli official of crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court warrant said there was reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians in the campaign against Hamas — charges Israel denies. While New York City does not have legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant, Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to do so. The U.S. and Israel are not members of the court, and the Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC staffers in a campaign to dismantle the tribunal. Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late on Sept. 23, address the U.N. General Assembly the afternoon of Sept. 24 and fly back to Israel that night, Danon said. Danon noted that the meeting of leaders from the 193 U.N. member nations is taking place during the Jewish holidays and an election campaign as Netanyahu tries to keep his job as prime minister. Danon said protests against Netanyahu would “create more chaos” on New York streets during the high-level meetings the week of Sept. 22-28. Last year, there was a mass walkout from the U.N. General Assembly hall when Netanyahu started to speak from the podium. This year, Danon said, “I expect that there will be something like another show.” But the ambassador said Netanyahu is experienced, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”

12 countries including France, UK say to sanction trade from Israeli settlements
Agence France Presse/September 8, 2026
Twelve countries including Britain, Canada and France Tuesday said they would slap sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, after increasing attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian villages in the occupied territory.
"Today, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures," the nations' foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

Netanyahu under fire over report UAE warned of October 7 attack
Agence France Presse/September 8, 2026
Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unfit to serve after a report that the United Arab Emirates had warned him before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Haaretz newspaper, in a report excerpted from a forthcoming book by its reporters, said UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke to Netanyahu a week and a half before the attack and told him that Hamas was planning a major operation. Netanyahu's office called the report by the left-leaning newspaper "an absolute lie" and denied he spoke to the Emirati leader at that time. Gadi Eisenkot, a former military commander who has emerged as Netanyahu's top rival in upcoming October 27 elections, accused the long-serving prime minister of evading responsibility for security lapses and resorting to "pathetic" excuses, such as saying he was not woken up soon enough on the morning of the attack.
"Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for October 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit," Eisenkot wrote on X. Naftali Bennett, a former prime minister also running in elections, said Netanyahu "bears personal and direct responsibility" for the deaths on October 7, the deadliest attack in Israeli history. "Netanyahu cannot continue to serve in his position for even one more minute," Bennett said. Haaretz said that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, later killed by Israel, had warned a former Palestinian official that the militants were preparing "a terrifying operation" which he described as an "earthquake". The former Palestinian official relayed the message to an Emirati advisor, who passed it on to the Emirati leader who then called Netanyahu, according to the newspaper. The UAE normalized ties with Israel in 2020 as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords under President Donald Trump's first administration.
Netanyahu sees close ties with the UAE as a key achievement. The newspaper, quoting mostly anonymous sources, said that Netanyahu replied calmly to the warning.Netanyahu for years had sought to preserve the status quo with Hamas, which would receive funding via Qatar with an understanding the Islamist group was more interested in self-preservation than a devastating war with Israel. Hamas on October 7 stormed into Israel in a rampage that included mass killing at a music festival.The attack killed 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. The militants also dragged into Gaza some 251 hostages, 44 of them already dead. The massive Israeli offensive in response has left most of Gaza in ruins and killed 73,658 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Israeli forces bomb Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp after evacuation order
ANAN TELLO/Arab News/September 8, 2026
LONDON: Israeli forces bombed the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza on Tuesday shortly after ordering residents to evacuate several blocks, according to preliminary accounts from local residents. The Israeli military issued the evacuation order earlier in the day, warning it planned to strike several blocks in the camp, residents told Arab News. Residents began leaving Bureij and moving toward nearby Nuseirat, according to local and Arab media reports. Maysa Yousef, a central Gaza resident, said the military had warned it would bomb a house, though residents did not know which home was being targeted. “The Israeli army said it was going to bomb a house — God knows whose house,” Yousef said about an hour before the strikes were heard. “All of Bureij had to evacuate because of the planned bombing of a house whose owner has not been named.” Local media reported that the home of the Al-Siraj family in Block 7 was struck. Arab News could not independently verify the report. Yousef said evacuation calls were being issued neighborhood by neighborhood, fueling panic among families already displaced by the war. “They are calling one house in every neighborhood and telling people to evacuate immediately,” she said. “People are fleeing in panic. They will remain in the streets until the evacuation order is lifted.”The evacuation affected a camp whose residents include people living in tents and others displaced from elsewhere in Gaza, she said: “An entire camp is being evacuated. The whole camp is made up of tents and displaced people, including sick people, children and people with disabilities.”Elsewhere on Tuesday, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for areas surrounding Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Palestinian media reported that Israeli airstrikes hit a house near the hospital complex’s maternity ward. For many residents, said Yousef, the order revived the trauma of repeated displacement. “I would rather die than be evacuated,” she added. “The hardest thing in the world is having to leave everything behind and go. When we fled before, we even went barefoot.”

Ex-Israeli PM backs British ban on settlement trade
Arab News/September 8, 2026
LONDON: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has voiced support for the UK’s new ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. He told The Guardian that the decision, announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, “became unavoidable as a result of a continuous effort of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by a large group of Jewish terrorists in the West Bank.”Olmert added: “The crimes of these terrorists are actively assisted by police and military units over a long period of time. “The highest levels of government led by Minister of Defence (Israel) Katz and Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu are actively supporting these terrorists and avoid taking the necessary measures to stop it.”Olmert’s comments come as Israelis prepare to go to the polls late next month. “Millions of Israelis are appalled by this terror and are actively resisting the terrorists,” he said. “Sanctions are directed against the terrorists not against Israel, and as such they are unavoidable.”In announcing the new UK policy, Miliband referenced earlier comments by Olmert, saying: “Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister, has described what is happening as, I quote, ‘a violent and criminal effort to ethnically cleanse territories in the West Bank.’”

Israel president says UK sanctions on settlements will be ‘on wrong side of history’
AFP/September 8, 2026
Jerusalem: Israel’s President Isaac Herzog warned against British sanctions on settlements in the occupied West Bank, expected to be announced on Tuesday, saying the decision would “fall on the wrong side of history”.“Later today, we expect to see headlines announcing certain British trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria,” Herzog said, using the biblical term for the West Bank. “If this happens - and other nations may join - I believe it will prove to be a grave miscalculation, a decision that will fall on the wrong side of history,” he added. The expected UK move follows weeks of increasing settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied territory. It also comes as the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ramps up settlement construction in the West Bank, which some western governments fear threatens a two-state solution. British government minister Pat McFadden said Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband would make a statement to parliament laying out “measures specifically targeted at the expansion of these settlements, which are illegal under international law, in the West Bank”. He told Sky News that the changes, on which he provided no further detail, would be motivated by “the idea of keeping alive this possibility of seeing a Palestinian state alongside Israel”. “I think it’s also important to say that Israel is an important trading partner for the UK. This isn’t intended to be a boycott of all Israeli goods.” UK government ministers have suggested recently that goods coming out of settlements could be subject to trade restrictions as part of the changes. Herzog on Tuesday said: “Sanctions are not a solution. Dialogue is.”“I say to all foreign governments: Stop! Step away from the dead-end of sanctions and boycotts. And turn toward constructive dialogue and toward cooperation,” he added. Israel has since 1967 occupied the West Bank, where more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements among some three million Palestinians. With Israel headed to the polls next month, Herzog said the UK move, if announced, “would be a gross interference in the democratic elections of a sovereign nation”.
“It will serve no one. It will directly harm - unfortunately - Palestinians, robbing them of business and employment,” he added.

Arab League condemns Israeli actions in Gaza, West Bank ahead of UN General Assembly
Fady Francis/Arab News/September 8, 2026
CAIRO: The Arab League stepped up its criticism of Israel ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank while calling for stronger international pressure over the Palestinian issue. The league issued a series of statements and raised issues during a ministerial meeting this week as Arab delegations prepared for the General Assembly. The Arab League’s Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy on Sunday strongly condemned statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz calling for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Fahmy said such remarks undermined international efforts to advance peace, end the war in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians. He also accused Israel of continuing unilateral and escalatory policies that were worsening conditions in the territory.
Speaking at an Arab League ministerial meeting on Monday, Fahmy said the organization was documenting what it described as Israeli violations of international law and international legitimacy resolutions. The league would begin by establishing a unified coordination mechanism linking Arab monitoring bodies with relevant departments of its General Secretariat, he said. The aim would be to standardize methods of monitoring and documentation and produce regular material that could be used in political, media and legal efforts.Ambassador Salah Halima, a former Egyptian assistant foreign minister, told Arab News that Fahmy’s remarks provided a road map for how Arab delegations were likely to approach the Palestinian issue at the General Assembly. Halima strongly criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, accusing it of violating international law and seeking to displace Palestinians from Gaza. He said meaningful sanctions would require either action by individual governments or coordinated measures by blocs such as the EU. “Imposing sanctions on Israel could only be achieved through serious action by individual countries or through the collective efforts of countries such as the European Union,” he said. The calls for greater pressure coincided with warnings from UN officials over developments in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk told the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday that more than 1,300 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza since the ceasefire was announced almost a year ago. “In the West Bank, Israel’s annexation is unfolding, unobstructed, despite the clear ruling of the International Court of Justice,” Turk said. “What more will it take for states to take action to prevent the entrenchment of occupation across land earmarked for Palestinians under the two-state solution?”He called on countries to halt arms transfers to Israel where there was a risk that weapons could be used in violations of international law, and urged companies to end business practices supporting illegal settlements. The warnings come amid a worsening humanitarian situation in both Gaza and the West Bank, where food insecurity and displacement have increased sharply. The UN World Food Programme announced last week that funding shortages would force it to halve the number of people receiving food assistance in the West Bank.The WFP estimates that around 900,000 people there are food insecure, with settler violence, displacement and disruption to livelihoods contributing to rising need. The agency had been assisting about 400,000 of the most vulnerable people but said that figure would fall to 200,000 from this month because of funding constraints. Food assistance needs in the West Bank have more than doubled since 2023, according to the agency. Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed El-Orabi told Arab News that a central weakness of the international response remained the gap between UN recommendations and concrete action. “There are two contradictory actions on the part of the United Nations,” he said. “It issues recommendations concerning Palestine, but on the other hand there is no serious action regarding sanctions.”El-Orabi said greater political pressure would likely have to come from major international actors, including the EU, particularly through economic measures. Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, another former Egyptian assistant foreign minister, said repeated UN debates on Palestine had produced recommendations that were rarely implemented. He accused Israel of disregarding the UN Charter and criticized Israeli actions affecting humanitarian assistance and UN agencies serving Palestinian refugees.
Hassan said continuing to raise the Palestinian issue at the General Assembly nevertheless remained an important means of maintaining political pressure on Israel. Repeated discussion by Arab delegations and countries supporting the Palestinians, he added, ensured the issue remained on the international agenda even when resolutions were not implemented. Fahmy has repeatedly reaffirmed the Arab League’s support for Palestinians remaining on their land and rejected proposals that would alter Gaza’s geography or demography.He has also maintained that the future of Gaza cannot be separated from the wider Palestinian question and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant international resolutions.As Arab officials head into this year’s General Assembly, their challenge will be to translate that longstanding diplomatic position into practical international pressure. The league’s new documentation mechanism appears designed to strengthen the political and legal case presented by Arab states, but several of the diplomats who spoke to Arab News argued that the decisive question remains whether major international powers are prepared to move beyond statements and resolutions toward tangible measures.

Breaking point? UK slammed as ‘antisemitic’ as Israel calls for shutting down consulate
Updated 8 September 2026 18:08
ALEX JAMES/Arab News/September 8, 2026
Israeli ministers have answered targeted British sanctions with threats, insults and demands for diplomatic retaliation
Experts examine what the extraordinary response means for bilateral ties and how far the confrontation could escalate
Sanctions announced by the British government on Tuesday targeting West Bank settlements have upended the UK’s decades-long balancing act and provoked furious condemnation from the Israeli government that has all but severed relations between the two.
Coming a year on from recognizing Palestinian statehood, the Labour-led UK government confirmed it was tightening restrictions on arms exports to Israel and was placing bans on the import of all goods from settlements and on some services, including construction, financing, infrastructure, real estate, and settlement advertising. Addressing Parliament, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is of Jewish heritage and lost multiple members of his family during the Holocaust, labeled the settlers “terrorists” who had received tacit support for their practices by an Israeli government.
“There is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank perpetrated by settler terrorists, and all too often, the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this, and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians,” Miliband added.
The move marks part of a broader international pushback on settlement activity, with Canada and France also announcing on Tuesday they would join Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK in enacting bans.
FAST FACT
Cumulative settlement contribution — Between 2000 and 2020, Israeli settlements in Area C and occupied East Jerusalem contributed an estimated $628 billion to Israel’s economy, about 2.7 times the annual Palestinian GDP over the same period.
Annual structural impact — Settlements and their related restrictions drain an estimated 25.3% of the West Bank’s potential GDP annually. Bilateral Palestine-UK trade — Totaled £38 million ($51.4 million) in 2025, versus £6 billion with Israel, though Palestinian goods are likely undercounted because they are often recorded as Israeli trade. Source: UN Conference on Trade and Development, UK Department for Business and Trade
Against a backdrop of looming Israeli elections, questions are now being asked: Does the news out of London mark a long-term structural shift in its relationship with Israel, or is it part of a coordinated effort to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections in late October?
In Israel, early political response was definitive, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leaning into a global call by right-wing governments as he urged the country to “publicly recognize that the Malvinas Islands (Falklands) are Argentine territory under occupation.”
He added: “The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal money from the Argentine people.”Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, meanwhile, claimed “we will not be a doormat trampled by an antisemitic government, in a country conquered by radical Islam, trying to save itself from economic and social decline.” Addressing the media shortly after Miliband’s announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated plainly that the UK was engaging in election interference as he warned that the Israeli population “emphatically” rejected Palestinian statehood.Announcing countermeasures, Saar said Israel would close the British Consulate in Jerusalem; remove British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat in southern Israel; terminate the UK’s role in training Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank; and deny 12 elected officials entry to Israel. These include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Fahad Ansari, director of Riverway to the Sea, Naz Shah, Diane Abbott MP, Hannah Spencer, Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns, John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, and Adrian Ramsay.
Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s history of offensive comments would likely mean these remarks were not “seen as serious” in and of themselves, but warned that they could not be wholly ignored.
“They (Gvir and Smotrich) are viewed with the sort of contempt that is necessary. It’s one of the many reasons that they are sanctioned,” Doyle told Arab News. “But clearly, the concern will remain that somehow whatever they say could become official Israeli government policy, not least in an election cycle.”
Burcu Ozcelik, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Arab News the real threat from Israel surrounded the potential that it could downgrade aspects of intelligence-sharing and defense cooperation with the UK.
Doing so, Ozcelik said, would prove “significant” and was “exactly why” she expected to see the UK go to great pains in the days and weeks ahead to “telegraph that the settlement trade ban is legally and diplomatically defensible because it is consistent with its recognition policy, but that the UK seeks to preserve substantial security and economic ties with Israel.” However, according to observers who spoke to Arab News, the UK appears to have reached a point at which it is willing to take that gamble, with Doyle noting that after meeting with Miliband on Monday, he was convinced the ban was indicative of a broader structural shift. “I’m quite convinced that Ed Miliband is genuine when he says that this will be a reset in relations with Israel,” said Doyle. “It’s a phrase he’s used in public and repeated. So I think that imposing a ban on trade with settlements is certainly part of that. But I think that there needs to be other measures, and I expect that there will be.”
Concurring, Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, described the decision as “long overdue,” writing on X that the sanctions marked a “turning point in UK-Palestine relations,” with Britain moving “from condemnation to consequences, from words to action.”
Stressing that the development marked neither a “wholesale rupture with Israel” nor a “blanket trade ban” with Israel, Ozcelik said the Labour government was adding consistency to last September’s recognition of Palestine and the country’s “continued commitment to a two-state solution.”“It is distinguishing between Israel’s legitimate security concerns, which the UK fully recognizes, and the settlement expansion in the West Bank, which the UK considers illegal under international law,” Ozcelik said.
“The UK government’s calculation is that if it recognizes a Palestinian state while taking no action against settlements that undermine the territorial viability of a future state, there is an obvious credibility gap. These measures need to be read as an attempt to give practical meaning to the UK’s support for a two-state solution.”Public support for a ban has been steadily climbing since a recommendation for one last July from the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, with an August YouGov poll pointing to 50 percent support, with just 16 percent opposed, while Caabu research noted 246 MPs were in favor. Trustee of the Britain Palestine Project, which seeks equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, and former UK Consul-General to Jerusalem Sir Vincent Fean said that with “no peace process” and a “genocide in Gaza and apartheid, state-controlled settler violence and ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank,” action was necessary. “This is a necessary reset of UK government policy, wholly consistent with UK recognition of the State of Palestine on Sept. 21, 2025, and respect for international law, which the Labour government came into office committed to uphold,” Fean told Arab News.
“It exerts UK leverage over Israeli illegal settlements for the first time. The UK has joined the international virtual consensus in condemning settlements as illegal, undermining prospects for peace. But nothing was done to stop them. “With this policy step change, the UK is giving a lead to like-minded partners. The UK is not powerless in this regard.”Noting that the UK move was “inevitable” amid a “deterioration of the security situation in the West Bank,” which followed the Israeli government overturning a 20-year settlement ban in Jenin, Yossi Mekelberg said he wanted to see words matched with action.
“Taking measures against the trade with the settlements is one thing, but we also need to see a drive toward a two-state solution,” Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow on the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, told Arab News.
“Do you support the two-state solution on both sides? Do you support the process? If so, you need to fill it with content, with substance.” Asked to provide a metric for measuring the ban’s success, Ozcelik said this would ultimately be measured in whether it deters implementation of the contentious E1 plan, which critics say will sever Palestinian territory in such a way that a contiguous state is no longer possible.

US, Arab nations condemn Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
Arab News/September 8, 2026
DUBAI: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday slammed Yemen’s Houthis as “agents” of Iran after the militia targeted multiple civilian and economic sites in Saudi Arabia. “The Houthis, in many ways, are agents and proxies of the Iranians,” Rubio said. “I think behind some of this is clearly the Iranian hand,” he told reporters before boarding a flight to Latin America. Rubio hailed the “very strong” defensive military ties between Washington and Riyadh, adding that the US was watching these events very closely. He also cited ground operations inside Yemen, where the Yemeni military is taking on the Houthis, and “pushing back against some of the ground advances that they [the Houthis] attempted to make.”GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi has condemned the Houthis for attacks targeting southern Saudi Arabia cities that have resulted in 73 people wounded and damaged property. Albudaiwi said the attacks are a blatant violation of international laws and norms, a complete disregard for the safety of civilians, and threaten regional and international security. He said the repeated assaults also reveal the Houthi group’s intentions and its rejection of efforts to achieve peace and stability in Yemen. “Targeting civilian installations and national capabilities is a condemned terrorist act that cannot be justified or tolerated under any pretext,” Albudaiwi stated. He called on the international community to hold the perpetrators and their backers accountable for their actions. Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and said member states stand united with the Kingdom against threats to its security, stability, sovereignty and national capabilities. He also reaffirmed the bloc’s support for measures taken by Saudi Arabia to protect its territory, citizens and residents, and wished those injured a full and speedy recovery.
Kuwait In a statement, Kuwait’s government said the attacks are “a flagrant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, a direct threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents, and a breach of international and humanitarian law that undermines regional security and stability.” It also condemned the Houthi militia’s continued targeting of commercial ships in the Red Sea, which it said constitutes a direct threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation, global energy supplies, and international trade.
Egypt
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denouncing the Houthi’s actions and attacks. “Egypt stands with Saudi Arabia against any threat to its security and sovereignty, condemning the missile and drone attacks on four southern Saudi cities.”
Qatar
Qatar also condemned the Houthis for the attacks on Saudi civilian and economic sites, and on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, calling them “a reprehensible act of aggression.”
Bahrain
Bahrain has condemned the attacks and reaffirmed full solidarity with the Kingdom, and support for measures Saudi Arabia plans to protect its sovereignty and security.
Lebanon
Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun, condemned the terrorist attacks that targeted several Saudi cities. He stated: “We in Lebanon are following with utmost concern this dangerous escalation that targets the security and stability of our sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we strongly condemn this aggressive act that constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a sister state and a direct threat to the safety of its citizens and residents on its territory" emphasizing that “the security of the Kingdom is an inseparable part of the security of Lebanon and the entire Arab region, and that any targeting of its sovereignty necessitates comprehensive Arab and international condemnation.”
President Aoun concluded by saying: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the injured, wishing a swift recovery to all the wounded, and renewing Lebanon’s stand alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in everything that preserves its security, stability, and sovereignty.”
Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif released a statement on his X account condemning the "cowardly" Houthi attack on the Kingdom, saying" Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia. Such dastardly attacks threaten innocent lives as well as regional peace and security. We reaffirm our steadfast support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and pray for the swift recovery of all those injured."
United Arab Emirates
In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, the UAE condemned the Houthi attacks on the Kingdom's economic and civilian infrastructure. It also condemned the continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Ministry affirmed "these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom, and a threat to its stability and security."
Sudan
Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks launched by the Houthi militia on areas in the southern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Ministry described the attacks as a threat to the Kingdom’s security, the safety of its territory and citizens, and the security and stability of the region. The government of Sudan affirmed its full solidarity with the Kingdom, its leadership, government, and people, in the face of any threats to its security, sovereignty, and stability. It also upheld the Kingdom's right to take necessary measures to protect its territory and citizens in accordance with international law.

Yemen rebels hit Saudi Arabia with wave of strikes, wounding 73
Associated Press/September 8, 2026
A wave of Houthi attacks Tuesday on Saudi Arabia wounded more than 70 people and ignited fires at several oil facilities and utilities in the kingdom's southern region, authorities said, a major escalation in the renewed conflict between an important U.S. ally and the Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen. The attacks come after weeks of escalating clashes between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen, which shattered a four-year truce in the country's civil war. Fighting has raged on fronts including Yemen's west coast, with government forces saying they have made territorial gains in the provinces of Hodeida, Taiz and Baydah. The Houthis have also launched attacks on Saudi oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea. The attacks early Tuesday hit "civilian and economic facilities" in the Saudi cities of Abha's Jazan, Najran and Khamis Mushait said Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, said in a statement. Al-Malki said the attacks wounded 73 people, including women and children. He didn't provide a breakdown or further details. The attacks ignited fires at several oil facilities and utilities in Saudi Arabia's southern region, the kingdom's Energy Ministry said in a statement. Operations at the oil facilities and utilities were temporarily suspended, it said. The ministry said firefighters were battling the fires Tuesday morning. Al-Malki called the attacks a "serious escalation" and a "flagrant violation of the kingdom's sovereignty, and a direct threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents." He vowed retaliation, saying that the Saudi-led coalition "will take all necessary operational measures to deter the terrorist Houthi militia with utmost resolve."
The Houthis did not comment on the attacks, but said a statement about "a large-scale military operation" deep inside Saudi Arabia would be released. Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office overseeing the Saba news agency run by the rebels, took to social media to laud the attacks. "The Saudi enemy has to understand that the time for committing crimes and massacres against the Yemeni people without response, deterrence or paying a price has ended," he said. The attacks came hours after the rebels blamed Saudi Arabia for an airstrike that hit a prison in Yemen's northern province of Jawf. At least seven people, including a child, were killed and seven others were wounded in the strike in the city of Hazem, the Houthis said. Yemen's civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates, intervened the following year to try to restore the government to power. Tensions rose earlier this year between U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE as their partnership in the war in Yemen broke down, leading to the UAE pulling out of Yemen. The civil war in Yemen has killed at least 150,000 people, according to U.N. estimates, and at times pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Saudi FM says Kingdom will not hesitate to defend itself against Houthi attacks
Arab News/September 8, 2026
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Faisal bin Farhan, said on Tuesday the Kingdom will not hesitate to defend itself against Houthi attacks. Speaking from Russia’s capital, the minister said the Kingdom would use all available means to protect its interests. “Houthi militia resorts to violence whenever it finds itself in a difficult situation. The Houthis are trying to export their domestic problems inside Yemen to Saudi Arabia,” he added. The minister said the door for diplomacy was open for the Houthis but that they resorted to violence whenever they found themselves in a difficult situation. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia were unacceptable. “Security and freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait must be ensured,” he added.

Syria should protect minorities to stop emigration: minister
AFP/September 8, 2026
ROME: Syria’s future constitution should guarantee the equality and inclusion of all religious minorities to stem emigration, a Syrian minister told AFP on Tuesday. “We have to have a new constitution, which includes everybody, and (in which) everybody is equal under the law,” Syria’s Social Affairs and Labour Minister Hind Kabawat told AFP. Kabawat is the only woman and only Christian in the Islamist transition government headed up by Ahmed Al-Sharaa set up after the 2024 fall of former president Bashar Assad. The transition parliament set up since Al-Sharaa came to power has the task of coming up with a new constitution.Syria, a majority Sunni Muslim country, is home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities. There are also sizeable Alawite, Druze, Ismaili and Kurdish minorities. The number of Christians has plunged — going down from around a million before the start of the civil war in 2011 — to around 300,000 people, according to experts.Kabawat said the departure of Christians started long before Assad’s fall. “I felt the acceleration since the massacres of Hama in the 1980s. Many Christians decided to leave. We used to be 15 percent, then 9 percent, then 4 percent,” she said. Asked whether the departures had sped up since the fall of Assad, Kabawat said Syrians from different communities were still leaving. “They’re worried, and they don’t know what kind of government this is,” she said, adding that the government needed to do more to show it was “inclusive.”Kabawat is in Rome to meet Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday with around 20 Muslim and Christian officials from the Arab world.

The Latest LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on September 08-09/2026
A two-state solution is missing from Israel’s election debate
Yossi Mekelberg/Arab News/September 8, 2026
It is not unheard of for politicians to sweep the most important issues under the carpet, engaging in wishful thinking that they will somehow resolve themselves or disappear. Yet time and again, it has been proven that one can ignore reality but one can never avoid its consequences. It might sound naive but it is surely not too much to expect, especially during an election campaign, that the most crucial issues facing the present and future of a country should be addressed and debated with honesty and that the differences between the various political positions should be clearly presented. Voters should be able to walk to the polling stations with a clear idea of what course of action they are voting for and what they can expect their leaders to pursue once elected.
If I am right in making these assumptions, then I cannot think of an issue that should be more hotly debated ahead of the Israeli general election than peacefully resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. One would particularly expect such a debate from the leaders and parties likely to form the next coalition government and potentially produce the next prime minister. Yet there appears to be something approaching a conspiracy of silence: avoidance or perhaps an attempt to sedate voters with the same old commitments to maintaining something resembling what they perceive as the status quo. It is not only the fault of politicians. Voters cannot exonerate themselves if they are not demanding to be presented with new alternatives and more nuanced approaches instead of cliches and warmed-up versions of old and failed policies. But there is very little of that. Among the parties that represent what is generally referred to as the Zionist narrative, and that mainly represent Jewish voters, there is not a single one that would openly commit to a two-state solution — and, with it, ending the occupation — in any shape or form. If the opposition replaces the current government, the best it appears to offer is some form of de-escalation
To be sure, the parties that form the current coalition government are very clear that they oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state. At the more extreme end of the spectrum, some support the full annexation of the West Bank, while some would extend this to the Gaza Strip as well. They support the continued expansion of settlements and the harassment of the local population in the hope of their “voluntary migration,” a euphemism for forced displacement. With this camp, there is little ambiguity. For all intents and purposes, they admit that they do not recognize international law. Many among them do not even recognize Israeli law and state authorities when these stand in the way of their biblical-messianic mission of annexation and the imposition of Jewish supremacy. I doubt there is any need to elaborate on why such a megalomaniacal plan should fill with dread any Israeli who believes in human rights, democracy and, above all, human decency.
Then there are the parties that mainly represent the Palestinian citizens of Israel. They support a two-state solution, which, for the Israeli right, automatically singles them out as, at best, disloyal and, at worst, traitors. At a recent party conference, Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas said: “We, the Arab citizens of Israel, serve as a bridge for the pursuit of peace. A Palestinian state exists and is recognized by most countries of the world, apart from the United States and Israel. We want them to recognize it, too, and to work for peace, reconciliation and an end to the occupation and to the conflict.” This caused a massive commotion in Israel. Here was a political leader who aspires to be part of the Israeli consensus and potentially the next coalition government daring to plainly say that the path to peace goes through a two-state solution. There was no one to congratulate him for agreeing to take on the thankless task of becoming a bridge for peace and helping to end more than a century of conflict that has caused so much bloodshed, pain and sorrow.
Instead, Gadi Eisenkot, who leads Yashar, the party projected to win most seats and who is a candidate to become the next prime minister, was quick to reject the idea of a Palestinian state. Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid and, of course, Avigdor Lieberman appear uninterested in a two-state solution. But what do they offer as an alternative? And among the Democrats, whose candidates include known supporters of Palestinian statehood, support for a Palestinian state has not been incorporated into the party’s official platform.
If the opposition wins enough votes to replace the current coalition government, the best it appears to offer is some form of de-escalation: removing annexation from the agenda and stopping settler terrorist violence. This would certainly be good news but it hardly amounts to a proposal for a long-term peaceful solution. It would be little more than reversing the most obvious and destructive developments — developments that should never have been allowed in the first place. For too long, the conflict with the Palestinians has defined Israel and Israeli society. That is why, in the months leading up to the Oct. 27 election, there needs to be a poignant and honest conversation that examines the issue from every possible angle. Thus far, the conflict has largely been viewed through a narrow, securitized prism. This approach fails to address the root causes, most notably the absence of a diplomatic and political solution. It also fails to consider the consequences of depriving people of their right to self-determination, their basic rights and their dignity, while expecting them to accept this without resistance, especially as they face the continued expansion of settlements, their land being confiscated, their livelihoods curtailed and daily restrictions on their freedom of movement, in addition to their lack of personal security. There must be an honest conversation about the consequences of preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state
The brutality of the occupation and what it does to Palestinians is clear. But there must also be a conversation about what the occupation does to Israel, a country that, since its independence, has aspired to be both Jewish and democratic. Is it a coincidence that the rapid deterioration of Israel’s democratic system has coincided with the rule of a government whose members are among the most ardent supporters of the occupation and annexation? There must be a discussion about the relationship between allowing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to fester and the increase in violence within Israeli society. And what have Israelis learned from the horrors of Oct. 7, and from the years since then, when they cast their votes?The promise of Benjamin Netanyahu, the self-proclaimed “Mr. Security,” to protect Israelis from any threat ended with the worst massacre of Jews since the end of the Second World War. It happened under his watch, yet he has resisted a state commission of inquiry amid concerns about what such an investigation might reveal. Finally, there must be an honest conversation about the consequences of preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, one that is subject to all the security guarantees that might be required, on Israel’s standing in the world. These are pertinent issues for the long-term existence and well-being of Israel and for its ability to become the country it once aspired to be. Kicking the can down the road simply will not do.
**Yossi Mekelberg is a professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. X: @YMekelberg

Trump’s ‘economic D-Day’ about more than sanctions
Nadim Shehadi/Arab News/September 8, 2026
There are many ways of looking at US President Donald Trump’s “economic D-Day” against Iran. Conventional wisdom says that economic sanctions on the economy simply do not work, but maybe they were never meant to. This is part of a many-sided mind game involving both domestic and international audiences. It is like a gunman in a cowboy movie aiming at several targets at the same time. There is the opponent, the opponent’s public, the international audience of allies and rivals, and, most importantly, your own domestic public. Sanctions are sometimes the default option to show that something is being done. This can be for internal political reasons, to avoid other choices or as a digression to gain time. These curbs have little effect on the regimes being sanctioned and instead it is the civilian population that bears the brunt via the economic collapse of their day-to-day lives. The targeted regime can use the restrictions to grow stronger by directing the anger at the US rather than at itself. We have seen this in many cases, from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq to Bashar Assad’s Syria to Tehran itself. In 1991, former US President George H.W. Bush called on Iraqis to rise up against Saddam, which they did, thinking they had US support. But Bush got cold feet and, instead of liberating the Iraqi people, punished them with sanctions and allowed Saddam to crush the revolt.
So, when Trump announces an “economic D-Day” — unleashing maximum pressure and threatening secondary sanctions on anyone doing business with Iran — the anti-Trump mainstream media’s reaction is entirely predictable. It is framed as a desperate measure from an administration whose policy has failed, with the Iranian regime still standing, the Strait of Hormuz a flashpoint and the US losing the battle. Here, domestic politics becomes the main battleground. At the same time, Trump must show his base and the public that he is acting tough and winning; he cannot afford to project any degree of weakness.
If Washington shows any sign of fragility, the Iran regime will seize on it to declare victory to its own people. Tehran is playing a similar game. The Iranian regime has its own internal constituency and hard-liners to satisfy. If Washington shows any sign of fragility, the regime will seize on it to declare victory to its own people. Any concessions can backfire. When former President Joe Biden suspended the enforcement of certain sanctions as an incentive for diplomatic progress, the approach failed — the Iranians viewed it as a weakness to be exploited.
This time, the regime may have met its match, with both sides playing tough and Trump not falling for any of the previous traps set by Tehran. One was using the nuclear issue as a diversion while building up its proxies in the region. Another was using these proxies to keep the battle away from its own territory.
For more than 30 years, many of the region’s dictators have used nuclear negotiations and weapons of mass destruction as a diversion. Saddam welcomed international inspectors and kept the world busy while he was massacring his own people. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi used them as a rehabilitation tool. Assad, with Russian help, brought in inspectors as a distraction and avoided the retaliation that former US President Barack Obama promised — his famous “red line” — if Syria used chemical weapons against its own people. As a result, Assad was given a green light to destroy his country.
The 2015 nuclear deal allowed Iran to develop its regional power, which we saw in action after Oct. 7, 2023. The main condition during these negotiations was that the US should concentrate only on the technicalities of the nuclear issue and was forbidden to bring to the table any “geopolitical” matters involving Iran’s role in the region. Hence, Iran intervened in Syria to prop up the Assad regime and continued to build up its proxies in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Trump, however, refuses to isolate the nuclear file and insists on addressing the entire package, including ballistic missiles and regional proxies.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is trying to exert counterpressure by targeting Gulf states and holding global trade hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. But this kind of economic blackmail is a double-edged sword. Tehran is not gaining any friends in the region by acting like a global nuisance, nor is it winning favor with its own key allies. Closing international waterways hurts major energy importers such as China far more than it hurts the energy independent US.
Maximum pressure is a card in Trump’s hand for his broader strategic posture, particularly regarding China
At the same time, the war is now happening on Iranian soil. For 47 years, the IRGC has managed to avoid this by keeping the confrontation with the US away from its own territory. As such, it is far more costly than when the battles were in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon or Gaza. This is far less sustainable and is affecting the economy, infrastructure and destroying most of the regime’s arsenal and military equipment.
This brings us to the broader geopolitical chessboard. Maximum pressure on Iran is not just about Tehran — it is also a card in Trump’s hand for his broader strategic posture, particularly regarding his upcoming meeting with China’s Xi Jinping. By squeezing Iran’s oil trade, Trump creates leverage that can be traded or leveraged in high-level talks with Beijing. None of this changes the tragic human reality. Under extreme sanctions, it is never the regime elites who starve or go without medicine; it is ordinary civilians who bear the brunt of a collapsing economy and skyrocketing inflation. We saw this devastating pattern in Iraq and we are seeing it again in Iran. Nobody can predict the final outcome of this confrontation or how internal shifts on either side will influence events. Trump may have to back down due to purely internal pressures if the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections is unfavorable. In Iran, we may also see popular revolts intensifying. Both sides may be let down by their allies because of economic pressures resulting from the war. But viewing Trump’s “economic D-Day” purely as a sanctions failure ignores the brutal realities of political survival. This is not just economic policy; it is a battle of wits and political posturing played out on a global stage, with both sides fighting as much for their domestic survival as they are for regional dominance.
**Nadim Shehadi is an economist and political adviser. X: @Confusezeus
Nadim Shehadi is an economist and political adviser. He has held positions in academia and think tanks in Europe and the US. He ran a program on the regional dimension of the Middle East Peace Process at Chatham House.

US hubris has led to a Middle East quagmire
Dr. Ramzy Baroud/Arab News/September 8, 2026
The US government continues to double down, even as its stubbornness costs it dearly not only in material terms but also in geopolitical influence. Washington is rapidly losing power and status in the Middle East, a decline that could produce a wider domino effect, reverberating around the world.
The latest expression of this hubris came from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Speaking at a G20 gathering of finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina, last week, Bessent declared that, within two years, the Strait of Hormuz would become “a worthless piece of water,” as oil would instead be transported through overland pipelines.
Bessent is promoting a new narrative that shifts the emphasis from the military war to an economic one. In an article for The Financial Times last month, he announced that “an economic D-Day is coming for Iran,” threatening countries that continue to trade with Tehran with severe economic consequences. This sounds more like an admission of Washington’s inability to alter the course of the war than a serious foreign policy strategy.
Two dominant schools of thought have emerged to explain how Washington finds itself in this position. The first, promoted largely by sections of the US media, former officials, and retired military commanders, argues that the war on Iran was a mistake from the outset and that Washington lacked the military and logistical preparedness necessary to wage it.
Bessent is promoting a new narrative that shifts the emphasis from the military war to an economic one
The second explanation places Iran at the center. It argues that Washington fundamentally underestimated Iran’s military capabilities, political resilience and regional reach, instead treating the country as though it were another Venezuela that could be subdued through sanctions, threats and limited military pressure.
Both explanations contain elements of truth. Neither, however, provides the deeper, less defensive and more historically grounded understanding required to explain the scale of the present American failure.
John Mearsheimer, the prominent US political scientist and international relations scholar, has been among the boldest critics of the war. American President Donald Trump “is trapped and has no way out,” Mearsheimer wrote in July. “All of this is to say that the decision to attack Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, is one of the greatest blunders in the history of US foreign policy,” he added. Mearsheimer, Jeffrey Sachs, Scott Ritter and other critical American voices often — and understandably — analyze these “great blunders” from a US-centered perspective. For millions of people in the Middle East, however, this collective analysis is not an intellectual or strategic exercise. It describes their everyday reality. They have lived through these catastrophic miscalculations and paid the human price of US intransigence, militarism and political failure. The history of US foreign policy in the Middle East offers countless examples of this destructive pattern. Washington’s support for Israel — the region’s greatest destabilizing force — remains the most enduring example.
Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians and other peoples of the region require no new strategic framework to reach a conclusion similar to Mearsheimer’s. They have experienced the consequences of US power directly: wars, invasions, occupations, sanctions, political interference and unconditional support for Israel.
Key Middle Eastern leaders understand that a prolonged war against Iran would not remain confined to Iran. The US also established a disastrous record through its invasion and occupation of Iraq. It succeeded in overthrowing Saddam Hussein’s government in 2003 but failed catastrophically to govern the country, stabilize it or restructure the Middle East according to the “vision” it had proclaimed. The outcome was not a new American order but the devastation of Iraq, prolonged instability and the rise of political forces the US had neither anticipated nor controlled.
Washington’s Western allies were also drawn into what became known as the Iraq quagmire, paying considerable political, military and financial costs for a war whose premises proved false and whose consequences remain unresolved.
Naturally, those former partners have little appetite for participating in a much larger and potentially more destructive war against Iran for an indefinite period.
But the Middle East has changed. Regional states now possess greater political agency and more diversified alliances than they did in 2003 — and they have far more at stake. They are no longer operating within a regional order in which Washington represents the only meaningful center of power.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Egypt last week provides one of numerous examples. “We must uphold the principle that the people of the Middle East are the masters of their own affairs,” Xi said during his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He also urged countries to oppose “external interference” and strengthen regional dialogue on peace and security.
Like Egypt, other regional powers are similarly diversifying their partnerships rather than relying exclusively on Washington.
Key Middle Eastern leaders understand that a prolonged war against Iran would not remain confined to Iran. It could destabilize the entire region, devastate economies and infrastructure, threaten vital energy routes, and generate interconnected wars whose consequences could endure for decades.
This brings us to Israel. Historically the cornerstone of US strategy in the region, Israel is itself considerably weaker. It is militarily overstretched, politically fragmented, socially divided and unable to decisively conclude any of the wars it has opened, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s repeated declarations of victory. Washington’s present predicament, therefore, cannot be explained solely through depleted arsenals, poor military planning, Trump’s impulsiveness or Netanyahu’s manipulation. Nor can it be understood simply as the result of underestimating Iran. The deeper failure lies in Washington’s attempt to impose an outdated model of regional domination on a Middle East — and a world — that has fundamentally changed.
*Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and the editor of The Palestine Chronicle. His latest book, “Before the Flood,” was published by Seven Stories Press. His website is ramzybaroud.net. X: @RamzyBaroud

Palestinian demands hold key to Israeli poll
Chris Doyle/Arab News/September 8, 2026
They may be most unloved kingmakers in global politics. Palestinian citizens of Israel represent roughly a fifth of the Israeli population, but around 50 days from a crucial Israel election, it is their votes that could determine which bloc wins.
The trouble is that these Palestinians inside Israel are subject to arguably the worst levels of racism, hatred, and discrimination in Israel’s history. Already Israeli Jewish political figures — not just the firebreathers of the far right — are tripping over themselves in a sprint to insist they will never back a government that has to rely on Arab members of the Knesset. According to a poll last November, 71.5 percent of the Israeli Jews oppose Arab parties being in government. The Joint List and the United Arab List are the two primary options for Palestinian voters. The latest polls indicate the Joint List will get nine seats and UAL five. The record for Palestinian parties was 15 seats in the 2020 election, so 14 seats would represent a success. Much will depend on turnout. This is much lower in Palestinian areas than against the national average, which hovers around the 70 percent mark. The low point for Arab voting was in the 2021 election at 44 percent, yet it has reached as high as 64.8 percent in March 2020. Not all Palestinian voters vote for Arab parties, but they typically expect to get over 80 percent of that vote. The low turnout is largely because of the lack of faith in the system, and a feeling that they do not truly belong.
Palestinian political figures in Israel tell me they are confident that this time there will be a high turnout. The desire to get rid of Netanyahu is high. Fighting crime and stopping the demolitions are powerful calls, and they want action.
Sami Abu Shehadeh, the leader of Balad, part of the Joint List, tells me: “The people are terrified. They want to see a change. They do not want to see this coalition come back again.” Fear is the motivation.
Much will depend on the turnout
Constant stories about the Palestinians being a Trojan horse hardly help. A recent report found that the Israeli Ministry of Education has been conducting surveillance on teachers to determine if they are guilty of incitement. Three out of every four under surveillance were Arab.Aside from fear, a desire for accountability matters, that the leaders who committed a genocide have to pay a price. Abu Shehadeh is clear: “We can prevent the criminals coming back to rule again. The racist policies of the current government toward the Palestinians in Israel have been terrifying.” Palestinian core demands include addressing policing. Palestinian communities have suffered a huge surge in crime, they argue as a result of the Israeli police deliberately ignoring their towns and villages, and thereby giving free rein to criminal elements. The most extreme minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has been responsible for policing, and his ouster would be warmly welcomed. The statistics are startling. In 2025, there were a record 252 killings in Palestinian communities, making up 80 percent all violent killings in Israel. Israeli police have solved only 15 percent of homicides in Palestinian communities inside Israel, against 65 percent in Jewish communities.
A second core demand is the end of the demolition derby, above all in the Naqab. Last year, Israel carried out more than 5,700 demolitions and enforcement orders in the Naqab, according to Ben Gvir. The problem is that Palestinian Bedouin often cannot get permits or live in one of the 35 unrecognized villages that do not appear on any town planning schemes. Once again Ben Gvir is the architect of the project. Palestinians I spoke to feel that these demolitions are part of a similar strategy as adopted in the occupied West Bank.
Fear is the motivation
For all these reasons, many Palestinians fear what will transpire between now and polling day. This includes campaigns of voter suppression, preventing voters from getting to the polling stations. Many Israeli politicians will attempt to stop Palestinians candidates from running. Others think Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will try to find an excuse to cancel the elections or not accept the result as legitimate. A strong case has to be made for international observers and monitors to properly assess how the vote is conducted and to ensure that it is credible and fair. The lame argument that Israel is a democracy while systematically discriminating against its Palestinian minority has to be put to rest.
Palestinians want to commit regicide, to dethrone the king of Israeli politics, Netanyahu, but also determine the path of his replacement. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, looks like he is the most likely man, but he is just the lesser of two evils in the eyes of Palestinians. Eisenkot and his allies do not disavow many of the Netanyahu policies toward Palestinians. They face two options, one arguably slightly less violent and racist than the other.
Chris Doyle is director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding in London. X: @Doylech

Analysis: 25 Years Later: Al-Qaeda's Weaker, Islamic Supremacists Alive And Kicking |
Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez/MEMRI/September 08/21026
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, were a close-run thing. Not so much because of the danger of disruption by the Americans but because much of Al-Qaeda's Shura Council itself was uneasy about the plot. This was not due to any love of the Americans or squeamishness but because of strategic concerns (and because they did not want to abuse the hospitality of their Taliban hosts). Some Jihadist veterans did not like Bin Ladin's vanity: "I think our brother has caught the disease of screens, flashes, fans, and applause" one hostile email from Abu Khalid Al-Suri and Abu Musab Al-Suri warned of Bin Ladin.
Today Al-Qaeda, as a leadership cadre has a much lower profile even while some Al-Qaeda branches, specifically in the African Sahel and in the Horn of Africa, are still powerful and growing. The rift between Al-Qaeda and its unruly, brutal offspring, the Islamic State (IS, or ISIS), has never healed and they sometimes fight each other. IS also has a much lower profile in terms of leaders than it used to, although it too is flourishing in its work in Africa, particularly in its specialty of slaughtering African Christians.
Westerners are still inspired by Jihadism, despite the seemingly diminished capacity of the groups' leadership and the (relative) decrease in their propaganda. Only last month, 34-year-old American Jessica Bowie, a convert to Islam five years ago, was arrested for plotting an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack.[1] In 2025, 117 people were arrested in Spain on charges related to Islamist terrorism, the highest number from any of the EU states in 2025.[2] The Hamas attack on Israel of October 7, 2023, generated more enthusiasm, as far as activism is concerned, in the West than it did in the East, if for no other reason than there is greater freedom for such agitation in the West than there is in the police states of the Muslim world.[3] Youth radicalization, to a "salad bar" of varied radical options, is a global phenomenon.[4]
We forget, at our peril, that Al-Qaeda, unlike the Islamic State, was relatively flexible and pragmatic in its choice of allies and tactics. Al-Zawahiri privately criticized the beheading videos coming out of Iraq, believing that such things should be done off camera. In another letter, he warned against targeting religious minorities – Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians – in Pakistan. He saw both as distracting from the main lines of effort in confronting the United States and winning over the Muslim masses.
Despite eventually fighting and killing other Muslims, Al-Qaeda saw itself as part of a larger, political and ideological project.[5] The specific group and leader may rise or fall, but the larger project remains intact to this day. The revolutionary goal was the same, that Islam should be defended and that it should be, at least, dominant if not victorious.[6] Bin Ladin himself was especially interested in seeing the two greatest defeats of Islam, as he saw it, reversed in Palestine and Spain.[7] Abdullah Azzam said something similar.
If we look at the broad scope of Islamism worldwide, it is obvious that much has changed over the past quarter century. While there is a serious uptick in Jihadist violence in Africa, Salafi-Jihadism is weaker in the Arab world overall even though an Islamist militant group seized power in Syria in December 2024. If Islamism is making major political and societal strides anywhere right now, that would be in the West and it is not happening through terror – although Islamist terror still exists – but through migration and politics.[8]
Ayman Al-Zawahiri went from the ideological extremism of the Muslim Brotherhood to the regional violent extremism of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and then to the global scope of Al-Qaeda. Today, the equation is reversed as the Islamic "revolution" is demographic, mostly legal and local, in terms of numbers and percentages in the West that lead to greater power, including enhanced political power.[9] This is not to say that all or most Muslims in the West are Islamists, far from it. Most are, like most non-Muslims in the West, bystanders, largely passive participants in unfolding dramas driven by a focused and engaged political minority.
The broad goals of the violent revolutionaries of September 11th, 2001 and the activists of today do overlap in a type of modern Asabiyya or group feeling that seeks to promote and enlarge the power of Islam (as interpreted by the Islamists themselves) by whatever means necessary. Al-Zawahiri the Muslim Brother turned Jihadist may have felt that he had no other options in Egypt. In the West, you do have options, especially if temporarily, cynically, allied with the political left.[10]
It is deeply ironic that Islamic Supremacism (or Islamic Nationalism) advanced in the West mostly unchallenged over the past quarter century while liberal elites simultaneously demonized "Christian Nationalism" and, especially since October 7, Zionism (which is, after all, Jewish Nationalism).[11] Runaway immigration, especially Muslim immigration, has turbocharged the polar factionalism trending in the West which, coupled with economic crises and loss of faith in the legitimacy of the system, threatens to bring new levels of civil strife to Europe and North America.[12]
Bin Ladin wanted to bring about a type of global "Islamic Moment" and it has finally come about in ways he did not quite expect (although Islamists at the time boasted about how the 9/11 attacks had led to many conversions to Islam in the West).[13] We in the West are in a sort of twilight struggle for meaning that many of us also do not quite comprehend.[14] Only last month, the head of an influential Qatar-funded Muslim cleric organization made the connection: Without the Hamas attacks of October 7, Muslim political leaders like Mamdani in New York City and El-Sayed in Michigan would not have risen.[15] Terror led to political success. A non-Muslim making such an expansive claim would have been regarded, at best, as an ignorant alarmist.
Rather than being some sort of dated, retrograde backwater, the Middle East pathologies that reigned for decades, and among which political Islam grew and festered, have now been implanted or reconfigured in the West: identity politics, disinformation, antisemitism. 9/11 and subsequent events accelerated this process. This all happens right at the time that the West, and the world, are confronting other, unrelated existential crises: the birth dearth, the debt bomb, and the economic and social dislocation caused by new technologies including artificial intelligence. The fateful fuse lit by Al-Qaeda a quarter century ago has now joined a wider conflagration.[16]
*Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice President of MEMRI.
[1] Thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6042548-woman-arrested-ny-state-capitol-bomb-plot, August 20, 2026.
[2] Europeanconservative.com/articles/news/europol-islamist-terrorism-report-spain-france-youth-radicalization-antisemitism, July 23, 2026.
[3] Insights.telosinstitute.net/p/free-palestine-moral-exhibitionism, October 9, 2025.
[4] Thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2025-september-9, September 9, 2025.
[5] Lahoud, Nelly "Beware of Imitators: Al-Qa'ida through the Lens of Its Confidential Secretary (Harmony Program, CTC at West Point, 4 June 2012
[6] Journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/JCS/article/download/219/377?inline=1, Fall 2003.
[7] Militantislammonitor.org/article/id/3558, August 4, 2008.
[8] Zinebriboua.com/p/the-west-faces-two-islams, September 4, 2026.
[10] Longbrief.com/florence-bergeaud-blackler-the-muslim-brotherhood-wants-to-make-our-society-sharia-compatible, May 14, 2024.
[11] Ideas.tikvah.org/mosaic/essays/responses/old-new-anti-semitism, September 4, 2026.
[12] Militarystrategymagazine.com/article/civil-war-comes-to-the-west, Summer 2023.
[16] Statecraftandstrategy.com/the-new-counterterrorism-terrain/the-war-of-ideas-to-come, April 27, 2023.

Hamas's War on Trump's Board of Peace
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/September 8, 2026
Just days before the terrorist group launched its latest campaign against the Board of Peace, a senior Hamas delegation traveled to Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.
Is Iran encouraging Hamas to resist or delay the implementation of the US peace plan for Gaza, particularly the demand that Hamas surrender its weapons and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip?
Hamas's own statements suggest that the terrorist group is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the direction of Trump's peace process.
[Prominent Palestinian political analyst Ahmed Fouad] Alkhatib wrote [in the New York Times] that the Gaza Strip should become "the pride of the Palestinian people" and a model of effective Palestinian self-governance. He also called for deep deradicalization in schools, mosques, the media, and public discourse.
Alkhatib argued that Gaza cannot have a future as long as Hamas remains in power, called for Hamas to be excluded from governance, rejected the glorification of "resistance," and said that Gaza needs deradicalization in its schools, mosques, media, and public discourse.
Alkhatib was not simply criticizing Hamas; he was arguing for a Gaza without Hamas rule, without its weapons, and without the ideology that has sustained its power.
Hamas did not welcome these ideas.
The terrorist group does not merely object to specific policies. It appears to object to the very idea that Palestinians – particularly those living in the Gaza Strip – might begin discussing a future without Hamas domination, without armed "resistance," and without the ideology that has brought the Gaza Strip decades of war and destruction.
Hamas wants the international community to believe that it is prepared to participate in a new political process. At the same time, however, it continues to defend its weapons, its ideology, and its claim to represent the Palestinian national aspirations.
Hamas's reaction also demonstrates that the terrorist group has not changed. Hamas wants the international community to believe that it is prepared to participate in a new political process. At the same time, however, it continues to defend its weapons, its ideology, and its claim to represent the Palestinian national aspirations.
The central question, therefore, is whether Hamas is actually prepared to do what it has been asked to do: disarm and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip.
For years, Hamas has managed to turn every discussion about its weapons into discussions about Israel.
This response is precisely the problem. Hamas wants the benefits of the new political framework without accepting its most important obligations. Hamas wants reconstruction, international recognition, political influence, and a role in determining Gaza's future. Yet it does not appear prepared to accept the fundamental condition of a peaceful future: that Gaza cannot remain under the control of an armed terrorist organization.
The question that Trump and the Board of Peace should now be asking is easy: When will Hamas surrender its weapons? If Hamas refuses, why is the Board of Peace continuing to negotiate with it as though disarmament were merely another item on a diplomatic agenda?
Hamas's attacks on the Board of Peace should not be viewed as an ordinary diplomatic disagreement. They are a warning that Hamas has no intention of quietly disappearing from Gaza's political or military landscape. The terrorist group is signaling that it will resist any attempt to disarm it, remove it from power or replace its ideology of "resistance" with a program of reconstruction and deradicalization.
By attacking the Board of Peace, Hamas is also attacking its members, including Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, countries that apparently still maintain close relations with Hamas. Why are those countries silent? If Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan genuinely support the new Gaza framework, they should tell Hamas that the time has come to stop making excuses and fulfill its commitments.
The Board of Peace should not be a platform for Hamas to demand immunity for its commanders, including those involved in the October 7 massacre. The Board of Peace should not be an institution whose sole responsibility is to prevent Israel from pursuing terrorists who continue to threaten its citizens. Hamas appears to believe that the Board of Peace exists to restrain Israel while protecting the terrorist group.
Hamas, it seems, does not want to abandon the Board of Peace's peace plan and roadmap. Instead, Hamas wants to redefine them – from a process for disarming Hamas into a process for protecting Hamas.
Just days before Hamas launched its latest media campaign against the Board of Peace, a senior Hamas delegation traveled to Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf. Pictured: The Hamas delegation meets in Tehran with Araghchi on September 2, 2026. (Image source: Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
The Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group has suddenly stepped up its rhetorical attacks on US President Donald J. Trump's Board of Peace. They are accusing the body of promoting the Israeli narrative, failing to pressure Israel and interfering in Palestinian affairs.
There is something else that deserves attention: the timing.
Just days before the terrorist group launched its latest campaign against the Board of Peace, a senior Hamas delegation traveled to Tehran and met with senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.
Is this a coincidence? It may be. However, the timing raises an important question that the Trump Administration and the Board of Peace should not ignore: Is Iran encouraging Hamas to resist or delay the implementation of the US peace plan for Gaza, particularly the demand that Hamas surrender its weapons and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip?
Hamas's own statements suggest that the terrorist group is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the direction of Trump's peace process.
The Hamas delegation that visited Tehran was headed by Bassem Naim, head of Hamas's Arab and Islamic Relations Office, and included senior Hamas figures Osama Hamdan, Mahmoud Mardawi, and Khaled al-Qaddoumi.
According to Hamas, the delegation discussed with the Iranian officials the latest developments in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem, as well as Hamas's discussions with mediators and representatives of the Board of Peace concerning the implementation of the second phase of the Trump peace plan.
Hamas claimed that it remains committed to the plan and the Board of Peace's recent roadmap.
Shortly after the meeting in Tehran, Hamas stepped up its rhetorical attacks on the Board of Peace.
Hamas's visit to Iran deserves attention. The Iranian regime has for decades supported Hamas politically, financially, and militarily. Hamas itself has publicly thanked Iran for its support during the delegation's recent visit to Tehran and emphasized the importance of continued consultation and coordination.
The Hamas delegation went to Tehran, discussed the Board of Peace's roadmap, and then returned to publicly attack the body responsible for implementing it.
At the very least, this should prompt the Trump Administration and the Board of Peace to ask: What was discussed in Tehran? Did the Iranian regime encourage Hamas to stand firm against disarmament? Did the two sides discuss ways to preserve Hamas's military capabilities? Did Iran seek to exploit Hamas's position as part of its broader confrontation with the United States?
There is enough in Hamas's own statements to justify asking these questions. The danger is that the international community may once again mistake Hamas's willingness to negotiate for a willingness to surrender its weapons.
The two are quite different.
Hamas, like Iran, has made commitments before. Hamas, like Iran, has also repeatedly demonstrated that it views negotiations as a means of delaying compliance, preserving its power and advancing its strategic objectives.
The latest dispute erupted after the Board of Peace reposted on X an article by Palestinian-American writer Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib from the New York Times. Alkhatib, a prominent Palestinian political analyst from the Gaza Strip who lives in the United States, argued that Gaza needs a fundamentally different future – one based on self-government, prosperity, and deradicalization rather than perpetual conflict.
Alkhatib wrote that the Gaza Strip should become "the pride of the Palestinian people" and a model of effective Palestinian self-governance. He also called for deep deradicalization in schools, mosques, the media, and public discourse.
Hamas did not welcome these ideas. Instead, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem accused the Board of Peace of publishing material containing "incorrect information" and "biased opinions" that were unfair to the Palestinians and their "resistance."
Qassem demanded that the Board of Peace maintain a "balanced and objective discourse" and refrain from publishing material that, in Hamas's view, adopts the narrative of the "Zionist occupation."
Bassem Naim, another senior Hamas official, was even more explicit. He accused the Board of Peace of becoming a "media activist" and of publishing what he described as "destructive nonsense."
Hamas's reaction is revealing.
The terrorist group does not merely object to specific policies. It appears to object to the very idea that Palestinians – particularly those living in the Gaza Strip – might begin discussing a future without Hamas domination, without armed "resistance," and without the ideology that has brought the Gaza Strip decades of war and destruction.
The Board of Peace's reposting of Alkhatib's article apparently touched a nerve when the article directly challenged the very foundations of Hamas's political and ideological narrative.
Alkhatib argued that Gaza cannot have a future as long as Hamas remains in power, called for Hamas to be excluded from governance, rejected the glorification of "resistance," and said that Gaza needs deradicalization in its schools, mosques, media, and public discourse.
Alkhatib was not simply criticizing Hamas; he was arguing for a Gaza without Hamas rule, without its weapons, and without the ideology that has sustained its power.
Hamas's reaction also demonstrates that the terrorist group has not changed. Hamas wants the international community to believe that it is prepared to participate in a new political process. At the same time, however, it continues to defend its weapons, its ideology, and its claim to represent the Palestinian national aspirations.
The contradiction cannot be ignored.
The central question, therefore, is whether Hamas is actually prepared to do what it has been asked to do: disarm and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip.
For years, Hamas has managed to turn every discussion about its weapons into discussions about Israel. This tactic is evident again in its latest statements. Instead of answering the question of disarmament, Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire. Instead of explaining when and how it will surrender its weapons, Hamas talks about the "rights" of the Palestinian people. Instead of discussing why the Gaza Strip was turned into a launching pad for attacks against Israel. Hamas demands that the Board of Peace focus on Israel.
This response is precisely the problem. Hamas wants the benefits of the new political framework without accepting its most important obligations. Hamas wants reconstruction, international recognition, political influence, and a role in determining Gaza's future. Yet it does not appear prepared to accept the fundamental condition of a peaceful future: that Gaza cannot remain under the control of an armed terrorist organization.
The question that Trump and the Board of Peace should now be asking is easy: When will Hamas surrender its weapons? If Hamas refuses, why is the Board of Peace continuing to negotiate with it as though disarmament were merely another item on a diplomatic agenda?
There should be no ambiguity. A terrorist organization cannot be permitted to retain its weapons while simultaneously claiming to support a peace process. Hamas should also not -- as happened with Iran -- be allowed to use negotiations to buy time, consolidate its power and preserve its military infrastructure.
Hamas's attacks on the Board of Peace should not be viewed as an ordinary diplomatic disagreement. They are a warning that Hamas has no intention of quietly disappearing from Gaza's political or military landscape. The terrorist group is signaling that it will resist any attempt to disarm it, remove it from power or replace its ideology of "resistance" with a program of reconstruction and deradicalization.
By attacking the Board of Peace, Hamas is also attacking its members, including Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan, countries that apparently still maintain close relations with Hamas. Why are those countries silent? If Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan genuinely support the new Gaza framework, they should tell Hamas that the time has come to stop making excuses and fulfill its commitments.
The October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel should have eliminated any illusion that Hamas can be allowed to remain an armed political force in the Gaza Strip. Yet today, nearly three years after October 7, the international community is still debating how to persuade Hamas to disarm.
The answer is that Hamas should be given a clear choice: surrender its weapons and relinquish control of Gaza, or face the consequences of refusing.
The Board of Peace should not be a platform for Hamas to demand immunity for its commanders, including those involved in the October 7 massacre. The Board of Peace should not be an institution whose sole responsibility is to prevent Israel from pursuing terrorists who continue to threaten its citizens. Hamas appears to believe that the Board of Peace exists to restrain Israel while protecting the terrorist group.
If Hamas's latest attacks are any indication, the terrorist group is already looking for ways to escape the commitments it has purportedly accepted.
Hamas, it seems, does not want to abandon the Board of Peace's peace plan and roadmap. Instead, Hamas wants to redefine them – from a process for disarming Hamas into a process for protecting Hamas.
*Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22843/hamas-trump-board-of-peace
*Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on X (formerly Twitter)
© 2026 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute.

Des suicidaires, dit-on
Par Akl Awit/Face Book/September 8, 2026
On dit qu’Israël est un État criminel, et que nul, dans le monde, ne semble véritablement décidé à mettre un terme à ses crimes. Son existence même serait un suicide ; sa violence, un suicide ; tout, en lui, relèverait d’une logique suicidaire. Où trouver alors une issue ?
Mais ce qui se déroule chez nous, dans un pays qui n’est pas un État criminel, relève d’un autre désastre : celui d’une société qui égorge sa propre existence, sa propre vie, ses propres habitants. C’est une forme de suicide.
Sans généraliser, il faut pourtant parler de ces Libanais qui détruisent leur existence, celle de leurs proches et l’avenir de leurs enfants. Ils ne le font ni par inadvertance ni par ignorance, mais en pleine conscience, avec préméditation et persévérance. Ceux-là sont des meurtriers, chacun à sa manière, chacun à son rang, chacun selon ses responsabilités. Dans leur rapport au monde, ils sont suicidaires ; dans leur religion, suicidaires ; dans leur politique, suicidaires ; dans leurs guerres et leurs affrontements, suicidaires. Où que l’on regarde, le même vertige apparaît. Où trouver alors une issue ?
Car en se suicidant, ils nous entraînent dans leur chute. Ils assassinent jusqu’à l’idée même de la vie. Ils condamnent les enfants à naître, les mères et les pères, les frères et les sœurs, les amis, les proches et les lointains. Ils détruisent la terre et le ciel, le rêve et l’espérance, la nuit et le jour. Ils saccagent les vignobles, les figuiers, les oliviers, les troupeaux, les sources, les saules, les villages et les villes. Ils dévastent les plaines, les vallées et les montagnes. Ils emportent avec eux le Liban, la Palestine, Antioche et, au-delà, tout l’Orient.
En détruisant leur propre être, ils détruisent ce qui les entoure. Ils répandent le sang des promesses, des sourires et des corps livrés au ciel des exterminations. Ils condamnent les maisons, les terrasses, les ombrages, les chemins encore humides des pas de ceux qui les ont précédés. Aux générations qui survivent, ils lèguent le sang, le poison, le vide et le deuil d’un lieu devenu sourd à lui-même.
Ces suicidaires n’ont plus besoin de rêves. Ils n’ont plus besoin d’idées, de repos ni de refuge. Leurs esprits errent dans les déserts qu’ils ont eux-mêmes créés. Leurs pensées sont devenues leur propre désert.
Ils ne sont ni hésitants ni perdus. Ils avancent vers leur destin comme on avance vers un rêve dont on connaît déjà la fin. Ils savent que leurs récits ne produiront ni renaissance ni avenir. Ils savent que ces cycles se répéteront indéfiniment, sans horizon ni délivrance. Leurs visions ne sont plus que hallucinations, vestiges et ruines.
Ils n’aspirent plus au retour. Ils ne regrettent ni les maisons, ni la terre, ni les êtres aimés. Ils ne cherchent ni port ni refuge. Chaque éclat de rire est déjà contaminé par la certitude de la vanité et de l’anéantissement.
Ils emportent avec eux toute lucidité, de peur qu’un sursaut de conscience ne les arrache à leur ivresse.
Ils ne sont ni véritablement morts ni véritablement vivants. Ils ne connaissent ni fatigue, ni remords, ni douleur. Ils marchent vers leurs linceuls avant même que leurs corps ne les rejoignent. Ils précèdent leur propre disparition.
Ils entraînent les autres dans leur course. Ils partagent un pain pétri de poussière d’os et de sang. Ils nous entraînent dans leur suicide sans accepter le moindre reproche, sans entendre les larmes ni les supplications.
Quand ils s’abandonnent enfin au dernier sommeil, leurs rêves eux-mêmes refusent de leur tenir compagnie. Plus de lumière. Plus de lampe. Plus d’étoiles.
Leur vêtement est suicide. Leur nudité est suicide. Leur mort est suicide.
Où que l’on se tourne, c’est encore le suicide.
Alors, où trouver une issue ?
Sans généraliser, répétons-le. Mais il est temps de mettre un terme à ceux qui propagent cette logique de destruction, et de mettre un terme au suicide lui-même. See less

Suicidal people, they say
 Akl Awit/Face Book/September 8, 2026
They say that Israel is a criminal state, and that no one in the world seems truly determined to put an end to its crimes. Its very existence would be a suicide; its violence, a suicide; everything about it would be suicidal. Where then is an exit to be found?
But what is happening to us, in a country that is not a criminal state, is another disaster: that of a society that is strangling its own existence, its own life, its own inhabitants. It is a form of suicide.
Without generalizing, one must still speak of these Lebanese who are destroying their existence, that of their loved ones and the future of their children. They are not doing it by accident or ignorance, but with full awareness, with premeditation and perseverance. Those are the murderers, each in their own way, each in their own rank, each according to their responsibilities. In their view of the world, they are suicidal; in their religion, suicidal; in their politics, suicidal; in their wars and confrontations, suicidal. Wherever you look, the same vertigo appears. Where then is an exit to be found?
For in committing suicide, they are dragging us into their fall. They are assassinating even the very idea of life. They are destroying the earth and the sky, the dream and the hope, the night and the day. They are destroying the vineyards, the fig trees, the olive trees, the flocks, the springs, the wells, the villages and the cities. They are devastating the plains, the valleys and the mountains. They are taking with them Lebanon, Palestine, Antioch and, beyond that, all of the Orient.
By destroying their own being, they are destroying what surrounds them. They are spreading the blood of promises, smiles and bodies given to the sky of extermination. They are condemning the houses, the terraces, the shade, the paths still wet with the footsteps of those who came before them. To the surviving generations, they leave the blood, the poison, the void and the mourning of a place that has become deaf to itself.
These suicidal people no longer need dreams. They no longer need ideas, rest or refuge. Their minds wander in the deserts they themselves have created. Their thoughts have become their own desert.
They are neither hesitant nor lost. They move toward their destiny as one moves toward a dream whose end is already known. They know that their stories will produce neither rebirth nor future. They know that these cycles will repeat indefinitely, without horizon or deliverance. Their visions are no longer just hallucinations, relics and ruins.
They no longer aspire to return. They do not regret the houses, the land, or the loved ones. They do not seek port or refuge. Every burst of laughter is already contaminated by the certainty of vanity and annihilation.
They carry with them all lucidity, for fear that a sudden awakening will tear them away from their drunkenness.
They are neither truly dead nor truly alive. They know neither fatigue, nor remorse, nor pain. They walk toward their own demise even before their bodies join them. They precede their own disappearance.
They drag others into their race. They share a bread crust of bone dust and blood. They drag us into their suicide without accepting a single reproach, without hearing the tears or the supplications.
When they finally surrender to their last sleep, their dreams themselves refuse to keep them company. No more light. No more lamp. No more stars.
Their clothing is suicide. Their nudity is suicide. Their death is suicide.
Wherever one turns, it is still suicide.
So, where to find an exit?
Without generalizing, let us repeat it. But it is time to put an end to those who spread this logic of destruction, and to put an end to suicide itself.

The escalation between the Houthis, the Yemeni legitimacy, and the Kingdom: Why now?
Laura Yameen/Al Markazia/September 8, 2026  (Google translation from Arabic)
Central - Today, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Houthi attacks that resulted in the injury of 73 civilians in the Kingdom, stressing that it will take “all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty.” She said in a statement that the Kingdom affirms its “legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty,” stressing “the necessity of immediately stopping all forms of escalation practiced by this militia and its continued threats to the security of maritime navigation.” The Saudi authorities pointed out that operations in some energy facilities in the Kingdom, the world's largest oil exporter, stopped today following attacks launched by the Houthis. The Saudi Ministry of Energy stated that fires broke out in locations and several people were injured, while firefighting and other emergency teams rushed to contain the fires and assess the damage. The Ministry added, "The competent authorities continue to deal with the repercussions of the targeting, and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of facilities and workers, and business continuity in accordance with the approved operational plans."
The escalation between the Houthis, supported by Iran, and the Kingdom, coincides with confrontations between them and the Yemeni government forces, which intensified on September 3, when the Houthis launched a large-scale, multi-pronged attack in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, using ballistic missiles, drones, and ground forces, in an attempt to advance towards strategic locations close to the coast, the Taiz-Mokha road, and the areas overlooking Bab al-Mandab. Government forces responded with a counterattack, regaining lost positions during the first hours, while bringing their warplanes more broadly into the battle. According to what diplomatic sources told Al-Markazia, Al-Houthi, and behind him Iran, want to keep Yemen as a back ground for the ongoing conflict in the region, to which they can resort if necessary. Thus, Al-Houthi closes Bab al-Mandab, just as the Iranian cut off Hormuz, and also confuses the energy markets and annoys Saudi Arabia in particular and the Gulf people in general. Hence, in response to this plan, the Yemeni government and the coalition supporting it are restricting Al-Houthi, who responds by targeting Yemeni legitimacy and the Kingdom. This conflict is therefore part of the regional conflict and constitutes evidence that Tehran is not willing to give up its cards in the region, which are cards that allow it to keep its voice and influence strongly present in the region, the sources conclude.

Selected Face Book & X tweets on September 08/2026