llLCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
May 28/16
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
http://www.eliasbejjaninews.com/newsbulletin16/english.may28.16.htm
News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Click Here to go to the LCCC Daily English/Arabic News Buletins Archieves Since 2006
Bible Quotations For Today
If I had not come and spoken
to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 15/22-27:"If I had not come
and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for
their sin.
Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works
that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated
both me and my Father. It was to fulfil the word that is written in their law,
"They hated me without a cause."
‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of
truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to
testify because you have been with me from the beginning."
An angel of the Lord opened
the prison doors, brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and tell
the people the whole message about this life.’
Acts of the Apostles 05/12-21a.:"Now many signs and wonders were done among the
people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s
Portico.None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high
esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of
both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and
laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of
them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns
around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and
they were all cured. Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with
him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested
the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of
the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the
temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.’When they heard
this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. When
the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and
the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them
brought."
Pope Francis's Tweet For
Today
Mary is an icon of how the Church must offer forgiveness to those who seek it.
Marie est l’Icône de la Mère Eglise qui offre le pardon de Dieu à tous ceux qui
l’invoquent.
مريم هي أيقونة الكنيسة الأم التي تفيض مغفرةَ الله على الذين يتضرّعون إليها.
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on May 27- 28/16
For the love of
Lebanon, elect a president/Hugo Shorter//Al Arabiya/May 27/16
May 25: Liberate the presidency from tutelage/Nayla Tueni/Al Arabiya/May 27/16
Lebanon: Tripoli readies for a different kind of battle/Alex Rowell/Now
Lebanon/May 27/16
Sweden Choosing to Lose War against Middle East Antisemitism/Nima Gholam Ali
Pour/Gatestone Institute/May 27 /16
US, Kurds to clear path toward Raqqa, with or without Turkey/Fehim Taştekin/Al-Monitor/May
27/16
Why Hamas and Israel both oppose French peace initiative/Rasha Abou Jalal/Al-Monitor/May
27/16
Two-time presidential candidate says Egypt losing its role in region/Ahmed Hidji/Al-Monitor/May
27/16
The resurgence of oil/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/May 27/16
Iran behaves the way it does because the US allows it to/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al
Arabiya/May 27/16
Titles For Latest Lebanese Related News published on May 27- 28/16
Report on
Glaser's Visit: U.S. Fight against Hizbullah Ongoing and Escalating
Hbesih, Geagea in Heated Dispute over Qoubaiyat Municipal Polls
Report: Army Controls Situation in Bekaa amid Fears of Vengeance Killings
Mashnouq Says Torza Elections Will Be Held on Time
General Security Arrests Palestinian Involved in Arms Trade
Hochstein Encourages Lebanon to Benefit from Energy Potentials
‘Inexcusable errors’ by Australia TV crew in Beirut kidnap
Rahi on Mt Lebanon Great Famine 100th anniversary: For liberating state
institutions from grip of political powers
Derian warns of continuous presidential void
Khiam Center stages sit in outside Ministry of Interior, demands prohibiting
random shooting
Bou Saab participates in workshop on education sector's reality, aspirations
For the love of Lebanon, elect a president
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 27- 28/16
Amnesty Warns of 'Dramatic Surge' in
Saudi Executions
100,000 Syrians Trapped as IS Advances near Turkish Border
Hundreds of People Flee Iraq's Fallujah Area
Two Bahraini Police Hurt in Clashes with Protesters
Obama Makes History with Hiroshima Visit
A doctor working at a hospital in Saudi Arabia has been shot for helping a woman
deliver a baby.
Man hanged in public in southern Iran city
Struan Stevenson: Scotland should think long and hard before it does business
with Iran regime
Struan Stevenson: Scotland should think long and hard before it does business
with Iran regime
17 workers flogged for protests after losing work at Iran mine
Iranian Sunni prisoners protest insults in Gohardasht Prison
Report: To defeat ISIS, Assad must be removed from power in Syria
CBS is most popular US network for eighth season in a row
Kashmir militants wage ‘selfie war’ against Indian crackdown
Turkish journalist stripped of parental rights over court coverage: lawyer
Links From Jihad Watch Site for
May 27- 28/16
Hugh Fitzgerald: Switzerland: What’s in a Handshake?
UK Sharia courts face government inquiry over “discriminatory” treatment of
women
Archbishop of Cologne: Worried about Islamic terror? Remember that Christianity
cost people’s lives in the past
Robert Spencer in PJ Media: Flying Pig Alert: A DEMOCRATIC Congressman (From
CA!) Admits ISIS is Islamic
Muslim cleric: “Islam was spread by the sword…Allah’s true religion should be
spread by the sword”
“Terrorism theorist” Max Abrahms: Don’t kill jihad leaders, it just makes
jihadis mad
Denmark: Royal Theater in Copenhagen cancels “Satanic Verses” play to avoid
offending Muslims
Germany: Muslim migrant murders 70-year-old woman, leaves behind Arabic notes
“religious in content”
France: Muslims “angry over Syria bombings” stab soldier with box cutter
The Stephen Coughlin Moment: The U.S. “Reporter’s Rolodex” of Islamic Advisers
Kenya: Two Muslims arrested for Islamic State mass murder plots in Nairobi and
Mombasa
Texas: Muslim lied to FBI about pledging allegiance to the
Islamic State
Latest Lebanese Related News published on May 27- 28/16
Report on Glaser's Visit:
U.S. Fight against Hizbullah Ongoing and Escalating
Naharnet/May 27/16/U.S. Assistant Treasury Secretary for Terrorist Financing
Daniel Glaser stressed that his country is keen on Lebanon’s stability, assuring
that the U.S. sanctions law only targets Hizbullah, As Safir daily reported on
Friday. “There is no random or discretionary application of the U.S. law, and
there are no intentions to target a specific Lebanese group. We have announced
that the aim of the law is to fight Hizbullah. We are not visiting the country
to negotiate the law with Lebanese delegations, but to discuss the ways of its
implementation,” the daily quoted Glaser during his visit to Lebanon.
It added that the U.S. official reiterated his country's keenness on Lebanon's
stability at the political, security, economic and banking levels. He assured
that it supports Lebanon's military and security institutions in their fight
against terrorism and urges for the election of a Lebanese president. Glaser
denied reports claiming that the law aims to target everyone who deals with
Hizbullah, stressing that it is confined to the party as an entity, members and
leaders. He said: “At the same time, we are interested in checking the volume of
financial transactions, their value and destination.”Glaser stressed that his
country “respects the Lebanese financial laws” and that the government must
similarly respect the laws of the United States as long as it wants to do
business with the U.S. banking and financial system. According to the daily, the
first day of talks of Glaser highlighted that the U.S. war against Hizbullah is
ongoing and escalating, but this time taking economic and financial shapes. The
U.S. official met with PM Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail and is set to meet
Speaker Nabih Berri. On Thursday he met with Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil
The U.S. regulations say Washington will target those "knowingly facilitating a
significant transaction or transactions for" Hizbullah or any individual,
business or institution linked to the group. Those under sanctions include
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and slain top commander Mustafa
Badreddine, as well as some businessmen. The list also includes the group's al-Manar
TV and al-Nour Radio. Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh had said that the bank
will abide by the restrictions in the Hizbullah International Financing
Prevention Act, which was signed into law in December.
Hbesih, Geagea in Heated
Dispute over Qoubaiyat Municipal Polls
Naharnet/May 27/16/Tensions were high on Friday between Mustaqbal Movement MP
Hadi Hbeish and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea over Sunday's municipal
elections in the northern town of Qoubaiyat. Geagea had stated earlier during
the day that it would be inevitable that the elections take on a political turn
if it seeks to advance its developmental ambitions to which Hbeish later said
that the residents of the town themselves will further its aspirations. Geagea
had vowed that the elections will transform the town from an “isolated island,”
which prompted Hbeish to respond: “Qoubaiyat was never an isolated island. “It
has produced several statesmen and members of the army. So how could it ever be
labeled as an isolated island? “Qoubaiyat and its residents have themselves
placed themselves on the map in Lebanon and we are not waiting a municipal list
to place it on the map. “This is a democratic competition and we must not call
it a battle,” declared the MP during a press conference. The LF and Free
Patriotic Movement back a list headed by Tony Mikhael and Jean Chidiac. It is
running against a list headed by current municipal chief Abdo Abdo, who is
backed by Hbeish, former MP Mikhael al-Daher, and the Kataeb Party. Hbeish
added: “Some sides are trying to drag non-Christian parties into the Qoubaiyat
battle. The residents of the town are much greater than those seeking to stoke
sectarian sentiments.” Moreover, he denied claims that the Mustaqbal Movement is
meddling in the polls. “The movement had announced that it is not interfering in
the Sunni-majority areas in the elections in Akkar, so why would it do so in the
Christian-majority Qoubaiyat?” he asked. “We are not undermining the people's
intelligence,” he stated, while noting the alliance between the FPM and MP
Khaled al-Daher. “Why shouldn't these sides propose municipal agendas” instead
of political ones, he wondered. “Claims of the Movement's meddling in these
elections is a sign of weakness of the other.” Furthermore, Hbeish stressed: “It
is wrong to portray the Qoubaiyat battle as if we object to Christian consensus.
We will not abandon the residents of our town.” “Does the other camp believe
that slogans alone will win over the people? A lot of services are needed on the
ground,” he said. Earlier, Geagea had defended the list running for the
municipal council in Qoubaiyat, saying that the area seeks to become in the
“heart of Lebanon.” He said: “The list is being accused of having political
affiliations and this is not an accusation.” Geagea added: “We support those who
want to transform Qoubaiyat from an isolated island to a developed area.”
“Taking it into the heart of Lebanon requires those who have such policies and
such policies mean that candidates have to be linked to parties,” he explained.
The final round of the four-stage of the municipal elections are set to be held
in the North on Sunday.
Report: Army Controls
Situation in Bekaa amid Fears of Vengeance Killings
Naharnet/May 27/16/Military sources stressed on Friday that the security
situation in the eastern Bekaa Valley has been controlled and that the army has
deployed its troops to counter any reactions following a spat of revenge
killings in the area, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday. “The security
situation in Bekaa is under control. The army has carried out a wide deployment
plan amid fears that responses could arise after Maarouf Hamieh killed Mohammed
al-Hujeiri,” the source said on condition of anonymity. “Hamieh has committed a
crime and the army is till searching for him,” added the source.
On Tuesday, Maarouf Hamieh confessed to the murder of al-Hujeiri to avenge his
son's death. Mohammed Hamieh was among three servicemen who were executed by the
al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front and Islamic State groups after they were
kidnapped from the northeastern border town of Arsal in August 2014 in wake of
clashes in the area. Hujeiri is the nephew of Mustapha al-Hujeiri, also known as
“Abou Taqiyeh”, who the Hamieh family accuses of having links to the al-Nusra
Front and of being involved in the soldier's killing. “The army intelligence
obtained information stating that some people have intention to shake the
security situation and the army is dealing with them seriously,” added the
source. On reports claiming that the Hujeiri family might also seek revenge by
bombing a bus carrying people from the Hamieh family, the source said: “So far,
investigations have not shown the validity of information about these
intentions.”Tuesday's murder sparked tensions in Arsal, amid heavy security
measures taken by the army in the town to avert any retaliatory actions.
Mashnouq Says Torza Elections Will Be Held on Time
Naharnet/May 27/16/Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq announced on Friday that
the municipal elections in the northern town of Torza will be held as scheduled
on Sunday. The minister had previously issued a decree postponing the polls in
the Bcharre town. They were initially postponed due to “local tensions”. These
tensions could cause security clashes between families in the town, especially
after a number of candidates withdrew from the elections, explained Mashnouq at
the time. Residents of Torza had filed a petition requesting the delay. The
final round of the four-stage of the municipal elections are set to be held in
the North on Sunday.
General Security Arrests
Palestinian Involved in Arms Trade
Naharnet/May 27/16/The General Security announced that it has arrested a
Palestinian refugee for his activity in trading arms and ammunition, the
state-run National News Agency reported on Friday. “Within its framework to
follow-up the activities of terror groups and its sleeper cells, the General
Security arrested, based on the Public Prosecutor's request, Palestinian refugee
A.A. for having activities in the trade of weapons and ammunition,” said a
statement issued by the General Security Directorate. “The detainee is also
wanted on several other charges, including firearms shooting,” it added. He
confessed during the interrogation to have participated along with other two
Palestinians M.W. and Y.S. in trading artillery, ammunition and other materials
in return for sums of money. He was referred to the related judiciary. Efforts
are ongoing to arrest other people involved.
Hochstein Encourages Lebanon
to Benefit from Energy Potentials
Naharnet/May 27/16/The U.S. Department of State's Special Envoy and Coordinator
for International Energy Affairs Amos J. Hochstein encouraged during his visit
to Lebanon on Thursday the government officials to take advantage of Lebanon’s
potential to attract investment to successfully develop its hydrocarbon sector.
Amos met with several Lebanese officials where discussions focused on the
Lebanese and regional energy issues. He met with Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime
Minister Tamam Salam, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jebran Bassil, Minister of
Energy and Water Arthur Nazarian, ex-PM and MP Saad Hariri, and U.N. Special
Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag. Hochstein also delivered the keynote
address at Lebanon’s Third Forum on Oil and Gas, where he discussed global
energy developments and the importance of eastern Mediterranean reserves in the
world market. In his meetings, the Special Envoy encouraged Lebanese officials
to take advantage of Lebanon’s potential to attract investment to successfully
develop its hydrocarbon sector. He reaffirmed American support to Lebanon in its
efforts to achieve economic growth and prosperity through transparent,
sustainable development of its offshore energy prospects. Lebanon and Israel are
bickering over a zone that consists of about 854 square kilometers of oil
reserves and suspected energy reserves that could generate billions of dollars.
Lebanon has been slow to exploit its maritime resources compared with other
eastern Mediterranean countries. Israel, Cyprus and Turkey are all much more
advanced in drilling for oil and gas. In March 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey
estimated a mean of 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and a mean of 34.5
trillion cubic meters of recoverable gas in the Levant Basin in the eastern
Mediterranean, which includes the territorial waters of Lebanon, Israel, Syria
and Cyprus. The formation of the Petroleum Authority was the first major step in
future oil exploration since parliament passed a law in 2011 setting the
country's maritime boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone.
‘Inexcusable errors’ by
Australia TV crew in Beirut kidnap
AFP, Sydney Friday, 27 May 2016/An Australian television crew involved in a
botched child kidnap story in Lebanon made “inexcusable errors”, a review found
Friday, with a producer leaving the company and others reprimanded. The team
from Channel Nine’s “60 Minutes” current affairs programme were detained last
month and accused of aiding Australian mother Sally Faulkner snatch her son and
daughter in broad daylight on a Beirut street. They were all charged “for
kidnapping the two children and for taking part in the crime” and spent almost
two weeks in jail before being released after the woman’s estranged husband
agreed to drop personal charges. Evidence presented to a Beirut court showed
Nine paid Child Abduction Recovery International more than Aus$100,000
(US$72,000) on behalf of Faulkner, who had sought 60 Minutes’ help in her family
battle. In return, the crew would exclusively film the story. “It’s clear from
our findings that inexcusable errors were made,” said veteran journalist Gerald
Stone, who conducted the review on behalf of the broadcaster. He found the crew
formed an emotional attachment to Faulkner and “in this case, it led to 60
Minutes grossly underestimating a number of factors, not least being the power
or willingness of a foreign government to enforce its laws”. Stone, who founded
60 Minutes Australia 37 years ago, lamented the team’s poor judgement, its
failure to adhere to Nine’s usual procedures on safety and security risks and
pointed to too much autonomy for producers without adequate management
oversight. Stephen Rice, producer of the Faulkner story, stepped down but star
reporter Tara Brown, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment
all escaped with formal warnings. Nine chief executive Hugh Marks said the story
exposed the crew to serious risks and the company to significant reputational
damage. “We got too close to the story and suffered damaging consequences,” he
said. “As a result of the review, we are expanding and upgrading our processes
related to story selection and approval, how we approve contracts and payments
and the way we conduct risk assessments.”Faulkner has said that her ex-husband
Ali al-Amin took their children for a holiday to Beirut and then allegedly
refused to return them to Australia. Her lawyer Ghassan Mughabghab told
journalists last month his client had since struck a deal with Amin granting him
full custody of the children in line with Lebanese law.
Rahi on Mt Lebanon Great
Famine 100th anniversary: For liberating state institutions from grip of
political powers
Fri 27 May 2016/NNA - Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rahi urged the
Lebanese political spectrum to shoulder their obligation towards reducing
poverty, hunger and deprivation, through the formation of state power, and
liberalizing constitutional institutions from the grip of political powers.
Patriarch Rahi's fresh stance came on Friday during his patronage of the
Conference entitled: "Mount Lebanon Great Famine 100th anniversary," organized
by the Maronite Center for Documentation and Research at La Sagesse University.
Rahi also underlined the paramount need for economic uprising in all its
productive sectors, thus reflecting its pioneering role in the Middle East
region. It is to note that Mt Lebanon tragic Famine spread throughout the First
World War (1914-1918), with one-third of population ravaged by starvation- the
majority of them Christians.
The Conference included the launching of the Book entitled: "Famine of the Mount
Lebanon People."
Derian warns of continuous
presidential void
Fri 27 May 2016/NNA - Mufti of the Republic, Abdel Latif Derian warned on Friday
of "the nonstop presidential vacuum.""What we are witnessing today in Lebanon of
loss is the result of the presidential vacuum and political controversy. This
continuous void leads to chaos and destruction," the Mufti said during a
ceremony held in Beirut. On the other hand, Derian stressed that "scholars are
role models in the field of information, guidance, counseling, education and
ethics."
Khiam Center stages sit in
outside Ministry of Interior, demands prohibiting random shooting
Fri 27 May 2016/NA - Khiam rehabilitation center staged a sit-in on Friday
outside the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities in Sanayeh, demanding a law
which prevents random shooting. This move comes upon the call of all those who
lost family members due to acts of irresponsible and reckless shooting.
Lawmaker, Ghassan Mkheiber, took part in the sit-in after referring to the House
of Parliament a project-law which recommends the criminalization of random
shooting. It is to note that 10 MPs of different parliamentary blocs signed the
afore-mentioned project-law.
Bou Saab participates in
workshop on education sector's reality, aspirations
Fri 27 May 2016/NNA - The Lebanese Army Research and Strategic Studies Center,
in cooperation with the Civil Impact Forum, organized a workshop titled "The
educational sector in Lebanon between reality and aspirations", attended by
Minister of Education and Higher Learning Elias Bou Saab, and ranking
dignitaries. Bou Saab delivered a speech at the opening ceremony sating "the
difficulties faced by education in Lebanon, in its public and private
departments, and the effort exerted by the ministry to overcome these
difficulties." The Minister tackled the mechanism of action for the development
of the educational sector at various levels, praising the cooperation of the
Lebanese army in the field, and its keenness on security during exams and
educational activities.
For the love of Lebanon, elect a
president
Hugo Shorter//Al Arabiya/May 27/16
Lebanon “commemorates” today the two year anniversary since it last had a
President. Notre Dame University recently marked the 500th anniversary of the
publication of Thomas More’s Utopia. Erasmus thought More’s genius was "such as
England never had and never again will have." But beyond his national importance
to my country, I think Thomas More is relevant to modern-day Lebanon. What is
Lebanon’s utopia? Today’s presidential vacuum is an unwelcome reminder of the
blockages in the sectarian system which can paralyse and weaken the state.
Undoubtedly, Lebanon’s utopia must be based on co-existence. However the key
thing is this: those who want to preserve a form of co-existence should want a
strong state. Because a system that does not deliver jobs, public services or
the rule of law is not, in the long run, viable. That means democratic
accountability and legal checks and balances that go beyond the mathematical
division of the state and its spoils on sectarian lines. It means a system that
is not paralysed by sectarian rivalry and works for the interests of the
Lebanese. Electing a President matters. Lebanon has stayed stable thanks to the
resilience and flexibility of its people, the outstanding work of some key
Lebanese institutions, and the growing international support it has received.
But the vacuum is eroding the pillars of the state. It is time for the Lebanese
to have a country that reflects the dynamism and creativity of its people, and
that flourishes as a model of successful co-existence and a unique gateway
between the West and the Middle East
Drifting reforms
It’s harder for the government to take necessary decisions, especially on
security and economic priorities. As a result, key economic reforms are
drifting, and it is a challenge for Lebanon to seize the major opportunities
after the London conference to develop large-scale infrastructure projects which
can create jobs and boost the economy. The recent municipal elections are one
welcome opportunity to refresh the democratic process. But they do not
substitute for the election of a President, or for Parliamentary elections, with
the widest possible participation (both of candidates and voters). It is not for
me to say what kind of electoral law, what kind of institutional reforms are
needed. But I sense throughout the country that the model of “plus ça change,
plus c’est la meme chose” is exhausted. How to pursue the national Utopia is
often a matter of fierce political debate and difficult change. Leaders have a
responsibility to protect and strengthen the co-existence that Lebanon
represents by coming together, through compromise, around an agreed way forward.
It is time for the Lebanese to have a country that reflects the dynamism and
creativity of its people, and that flourishes again as a model of successful
co-existence and a unique gateway between the West and the Middle East. It is
time for Lebanon to have a President.
_______________________
Hugo Shorter the UK ambassador to Lebanon. He was a previous personal adviser to
the Foreign Secretary on a wide range of Foreign Policy priorities as Head of
External Affairs for Europe Directorate. In that role, he had accompanied the
Foreign Secretary on a monthly basis to the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU,
helping negotiate EU foreign policy decisions in areas such as crisis
management, sanctions and military operations. He has also co-ordinated the UK’s
foreign policy work on G7/8, including during the UK G8 presidency in 2013 and
the G8 Summit at Lough Erne.
May 25: Liberate the presidency from
tutelage
Nayla Tueni/Al Arabiya/May 27/16
Wednesday May 25 marked the 16th Liberation Day anniversary. It is shameful not
to recognize this occasion, and how some ignore it due to their political and
ideological differences with Hezbollah, which hijacked resistance that existed
long before it was established, and continues to exist in different forms and on
several fronts. Hezbollah has benefited from Iran and Syria to monopolize the
resistance and thus control Lebanon. May 25 marks the day when Israeli forces
withdrew from southern Lebanon. It is a historic day, as is April 26, when
Lebanon was liberated from Syrian occupation. We must always remember these
dates, and educate future generations about them so they learn about the
persecution their parents and grandparents endured to protect their country.
Presidential vacuum
On May 25, 2016, the country also marked two years of presidential vacuum. How
can Hezbollah, which contributed to ending Israel’s occupation, hold the
republic captive, hijack the presidency and prevent democracy? How can it
liberate the south but boycott parliamentary sessions dedicated to electing a
president at a time when Lebanon is near collapse? The Syrian regime has wanted
to obstruct democracy in Lebanon ever since it was forced to withdraw its troops
11 years ago. Lebanon was liberated from the Syrian army, but it seems not from
its tutelage. How can the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which fought for
“freedom, sovereignty and independence,” hold the presidency hostage and allow
the country to be without a president? Lebanon was able to elect presidents even
during Israeli and Syrian occupation. The biggest threat lies in the fact that
the presidential vacuum is entering its third year with no end in sight. The
Syrian regime has wanted to obstruct democracy in Lebanon ever since it was
forced to withdraw its troops 11 years ago. It wants to prove to the world that
Lebanon cannot manage its own affairs. This has been proven due to proxies that
continue to obstruct state affairs. Lebanon was liberated from the Syrian army
in 2005, but it seems not from its tutelage. MPs from several blocs, religions
and sects have tried to elect a president, but have failed due to the lack of a
quorum. History will document that Hezbollah and the FPM committed the crime of
preventing the election of a president. It will record that some MPs betrayed
the trust they were given. It will record that Liberation Day has turned into a
bad memory. What are feasts good for in a paralyzed state that does not have a
president?
Lebanon: Tripoli readies for a
different kind of battle
Alex Rowell/Now Lebanon/May 27/16
TRIPOLI, Lebanon: The last time NOW walked along Syria Street, three days after
yet another round of militia clashes between the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood on
the street’s south side and the Jabal Mohsen quarter to its north had left 17
dead, the shops were almost all shuttered with heavy metal sheets; Lebanese
Armed Forces armed personnel carriers (APCs) and Humvees the only vehicles
moving on the road.
Revisiting the boulevard Thursday afternoon, however, the spectacle was
dramatically different. Doors everywhere were open for business, populated with
customers and busy workers. The volume of car traffic sufficed to cause jams in
both directions. On several buildings, the scores of bullet- and rocket-holes
that had once been such distinguishing features were now filled in. True, the
army APCs were still there, parked with their gun turrets manned at various
entrances to Jabal Mohsen, and soldiers stood patting their M-16s on the corner
of every side street leading into Tabbaneh. But it’s been nineteen months since
the last serious clash here, and, by Syria Street standards, things couldn’t
have been calmer – it was a very different kind of battle NOW had come to cover
this time.
Tripoli, Lebanon’s second city, will go to the polls Sunday in the final round
of the nationwide municipal elections. Unlike many other cities where local
chieftains and strongmen formed joint lists, effectively reducing the vote to a
foregone conclusion, in Tripoli the stage is set for a vigorous three-way
contest.
A ‘For Tripoli’ list, backed by two billionaire former prime ministers, Najib
Miqati and Saad al-Hariri, as well as ex-ministers Mohammad Safadi, Faisal
Karami and Ahmad Karami, along with the Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiyah and Al-Masharii
Islamist parties, faces off against the ‘Tripoli’s Decision’ list backed by
retired Internal Security Forces chief and resigned Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi,
and the ‘Tripoli is a Capital’ list headed by former MP Misbah al-Ahdab.
The lists each have a distinctive character, palpable even from the style of
posters plastered around town. ‘For Tripoli,’ whose billboards appear on the
highway several kilometers before one even enters the city, makes no secret of
being a multi-partisan cross-section of the establishment, bringing together
heavyweights from both the pro- and anti-Damascus ‘March 8’ and ‘March 14’
coalitions, respectively. Rifi, by contrast, who has smothered the area near his
home on Riad al-Solh St with populist banners, is running on a hawkish March 14
ticket, asserting, “We will not allow the March 8 team to control our
institutions.” Ahdab has issued a manifesto calling for socioeconomic
development, hoping to tap into the everyday concerns of the city’s many
low-income households.
In Tabbaneh, residents told NOW they were casting their lot with Rifi, in
appreciation of his firm stance against the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition they
blame not only for the local violence, but the misfortunes of Tripoli more
generally.
“I swear to God, me, my wife, my sisters and my whole family will vote for Rifi,”
said a mechanic wiping his brow in a garage. “You can ask anyone else you want
here, they’ll all tell you the same thing.”
“There’s no one but Rifi,” agreed a young man sitting on a plastic chair a few
doors down, smoking an arguileh pipe. “He’s the only one with principles,” said
a friend seated next to him. “Hariri was the one who turned us against Miqati in
the first place, and now he’s shaking his hand,” he added resentfully.
Only one member of the group dissented. Asked if he too was voting for Rifi, a
young man with a long, bushy beard replied, deadpan: “I’m a Daeshi [ISIS
member], I don’t vote.”
That was a joke – or so NOW hoped – but some others said in earnest they
wouldn’t be voting for anyone. At the ‘Qahwetna’ café, opened on Syria St
earlier this year by the NGO March with a view to promoting integration between
Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen residents, four young men – hailing from both quarters
– said they felt abandoned by all politicians without exception.
“They used us as cannon fodder, then turned their backs the moment the fighting
stopped, not even paying for our hospital bills,” said a bony youth of about 18.
“Miqati has the most money, so he’ll win”
In the city center, there was markedly less enthusiasm for Rifi, with residents
seemingly resigned to the inevitability of a ‘For Tripoli’ victory.
“Miqati has the most money, so he’ll win,” said a worker at the ‘Gentleman’s
Snack’ restaurant on Rahibat St, near Nejmeh Square. “He provides services –
cleans roads, repairs infrastructure, etc.” Neither Rifi nor Hariri had much
mass support in the city, in this man’s estimation. As for Ahdab, “he’s the most
honorable one, but he doesn’t have Miqati’s money.”
By chance, NOW spotted Ahdab on the next street down, walking door-to-door to
hand out copies of his manifesto, stopping regularly to smile for ‘selfie’
photos requested by random passers-by. After saying hello, he invited NOW to his
house on Maarad St to explain the ‘Tripoli is a Capital’ program further.
“We’re totally aware that it’s David against Goliath,” he said in his living
room, surrounded by half a dozen members of the campaign team. “But still, it
has to be done. We can’t leave an opportunity like this without stating exactly
what should be done in order to save Tripoli.”
The two key points of his program, Ahdab said, were the provision of health
insurance for those who have none, and job creation. “These things are the
minimum that could be done by the municipality of a city that has gone through
all this instability.”
He also vowed to counter what he says is the rampant corruption of the current
municipality (“they spent almost [$67 million] lately, and nobody understands
what they did with it”) by introducing full financial transparency. “It should
be very normal to know how much money the municipality has, and to have it
published. You know, if you go to the municipality’s website, the last budget
that’s published is the 2009 budget. We’re in 2016!”
While the program may well appeal to policy-motivated voters, the ‘For Tripoli’
list has proposals of its own to counter with. One of their candidates, Chadi
Nachabe, is a well-known local civil society activist, who was spoken of highly
by everyone from Tabbaneh residents to Ahdab himself. In a phone call Friday,
Nachabe told NOW the ‘For Tripoli’ manifesto comprised seven policy priorities,
including boosting tourism, tackling youth unemployment and revamping
infrastructure.
“[We have to] improve the economic situation and attract visitors from nearby
areas such as Koura and Zgharta to come and shop in the city, because we
suffered from the wars and battles in the city, losing a lot of people from
outside Tripoli,” said Nachabe.
Still, for other civil society activists, the idea of working for the major
political juggernauts is a deal breaker.
“They’re the ones who were funding and arming all the young guys to kill each
other,” said Taleb Kabbara, a blogger volunteering for the ‘Tripoli is a
Capital’ campaign.
“I would never trust any of those people.”
**Amin Nasr contributed reporting.
Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 27- 28/16
Amnesty Warns of 'Dramatic
Surge' in Saudi Executions
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 27/16/Amnesty International warned on Friday
that a surge in executions carried out by Saudi authorities could see more than
100 people put to death in the first six months of 2016. The London-based
watchdog says that the kingdom carried out at least 158 death sentences last
year, making it the third most prolific executioner after Iran and Pakistan.
This year, at least 94 people have been executed so far, "higher than at the
same point last year," Amnesty said. If executions continue at the same pace,
"Saudi Arabia will have put to death more than 100 people in the first six
months of this year," the human rights group warned. "Executions in Saudi Arabia
have been surging dramatically for two years now and this appalling trend shows
no sign of slowing," said Amnesty's MENA deputy director James Lynch. Lynch
spoke of "pervasive flaws" in the kingdom's justice system "which mean that it
is entirely routine for people to be sentenced to death after grossly unfair
trials." Murder and drug trafficking cases account for the majority of Saudi
executions, although 47 people were put to death for "terrorism" on a single day
in January. Among those was Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr whose execution sparked a
diplomatic row between Riyadh and Tehran.His nephew, Ali al-Nimr, who was
arrested with two others while they were still minors, is currently on death
row. Nimr's death sentence based on "confessions he says were extracted through
torture provides a glaring example of the arbitrary use of the death penalty
after proceedings that blatantly flout international human rights standards,"
said Amnesty. Lynch urged Saudi authorities to "quash his conviction and order a
re-trial immediately in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards
without recourse to the death penalty." Saudi Arabia has a strict Islamic legal
code under which murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery, rape and apostasy are
all punishable by death. "The Saudi Arabian authorities should end their
reliance on this cruel and inhuman form of punishment and establish an official
moratorium on executions immediately," said Lynch. Most people put to death in
Saudi Arabia are beheaded with a sword.
100,000 Syrians Trapped as IS
Advances near Turkish Border
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 27/16/At least 100,000 people were trapped
Friday along Syria's border with Turkey after the Islamic State group swept
through rebel territory in Aleppo province, rights groups and activists said.
The shock IS advance on two rebel-held towns came as the jihadist group is
facing an offensive further east in its own heartland of Raqa province. IS
fighters cut a key road between the rebel towns of Azaz, close to the Turkish
border, and nearby Marea, journalist Maamoun Khateeb told AFP from Azaz. "This
is a disaster," Khateeb said, adding that some 15,000 people were now besieged
in Marea. The jihadist onslaught threatens tens of thousands of internally
displaced Syrians living in informal camps near the border, closed by Turkey for
several months. "We are terribly concerned... about the estimated 100,000 people
trapped between the Turkish border and active front lines," said Pablo Marco,
regional operations manager for Doctors Without Borders (MSF). MSF said it was
evacuating patients and staff from a hospital it supports in Salamah, a nearby
town, just three kilometers (two miles) from the front line. "There is nowhere
for people to flee to as the fighting gets closer," Marco said. Gerry Simpson
from Human Rights Watch said the number of Syrians trapped along the closed
border could be as high as 165,000. Marea and Azaz both fell to opposition
forces in 2012 and have been vital stops along a rebel supply route from Turkey.
IS has tried to advance on both towns for months. In a statement on Friday, the
jihadist group said it launched a "surprise attack" and seized a series of
villages near Azaz. Also on Friday, government bombardment on rebel-controlled
areas of Aleppo province left at least 15 people dead, rescue workers told AFP.
At least two people were killed in barrel bomb attacks on an
opposition-controlled eastern district of Aleppo city, the civil defense --
known as the White Helmets -- said. Air strikes also killed nine people in the
town of Hreitan and four in Kfar Hamra. Since fighting intensified there in
2012, Aleppo province has been transformed into a patchwork of territories held
by the government, rebels, Kurds, and jihadists.
Hundreds of People Flee
Iraq's Fallujah Area
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 27/16/Hundreds of people fled the Fallujah
area on Friday with the help of Iraqi forces who are fighting to retake the city
from the Islamic State jihadist group, officials said. Iraqi forces launched an
operation to recapture Fallujah, an IS stronghold located just 50 kilometers (30
miles) west of Baghdad, at the start of this week. But few of the estimated tens
of thousands of civilians inside the city have managed to escape. "Our forces
evacuated 460 people... most of them women and children," said police Lieutenant
General Raed Shakir Jawdat. "Hundreds of families from the people of Fallujah
have been able to leave," said Raja Barakat, a member of the security committee
for Anbar province, where Fallujah is located. Umm Omar, who was accompanied by
more than 10 members of her family, said they were trapped in the Al-Sijr area
on the northern outskirts of the city. IS prevented them from leaving, and "gave
us food that only animals would eat," Umm Omar said. An official from the
Norwegian Refugee Council said that most families who have managed to escape
"were displaced from areas around Fallujah... and a few were displaced from
inside the city." The NRC said in a statement earlier in the day that of the 150
families it knew of that had escaped, all but one were from the outskirts of the
city. "The situation inside Fallujah is getting critical by the day," said Nasr
Muflahi, NRC's Iraq director. "We are now hearing reports of contaminated water
being used for drinking, while entire neighborhoods are being displaced within
the battle zone with no safe way out," Muflahi said. Anti-government fighters
seized Fallujah in early 2014, and the city later became an IS stronghold. The
jihadists overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but have been
on the defensive for months and have lost significant ground to Iraqi forces.
Two Bahraini Police Hurt in
Clashes with Protesters
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 27/16/Two Bahraini policemen were wounded in
clashes with protesters in the hometown of a jailed Shiite opposition chief,
according to an interior ministry statement in the Gulf kingdom. "Security
forces confronted groups of saboteurs in Bilad al-Qadim," the ministry said in a
statement posted late Thursday on Twitter. The "saboteurs" hurled Molotov
cocktails at the policemen wounding two, it added. Bahraini authorities usually
refer to protesters as "saboteurs". Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been shaken by
unrest since it quelled a month-long, Shiite-led uprising demanding reforms in
2011. But protesters still frequently clash with police in Shiite villages
outside the capital Manama. Bilad al-Qadim is the hometown of Shiite opposition
chief Sheikh Ali Salman, currently serving a four-year jail sentence for
inciting disobedience. On Thursday, a Bahraini court jailed 19 Shiites for
attacks against police, including five life sentences, according to a judicial
source.The Shiite-majority kingdom, connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway,
lies across the Gulf from Shiite Iran and is home to the US Fifth Fleet.
Obama Makes History with
Hiroshima Visit
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/May 27/16/Barack Obama paid moving tribute to
victims of the first atomic bomb Friday and called for a world free of nuclear
weapons, during a historic and emotional visit to Hiroshima. In a ceremony
loaded with symbolism, the first sitting U.S. president to visit the city met
survivors of the fearsome attack that marked one of the final, terrifying
chapters of World War II. "71 years ago, death fell from the sky and the world
was changed," Obama said of a bomb that "demonstrated that mankind possessed the
means to destroy itself". "Why did we come to this place, to Hiroshima? We come
to ponder a terrible force unleashed in the not-so-distant past. We come to
mourn the dead," he said. As crows called through the hush of the Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Park, Obama offered a floral wreath at the cenotaph, pausing in
momentary contemplation with his eyes closed and his head lowered. The site lies
in the shadow of a domed building, whose skeleton stands in silent testament to
those who perished. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe followed by offering his
own wreath and a brief, silent bow. After both men had spoken, Obama, whose
predecessor Harry Truman gave the go-ahead for the world's first nuclear strike,
greeted ageing survivors, embracing 79-year-old Shigeaki Mori, who appeared
overcome with emotion. “The president gestured as if he was going to give me a
hug, so we hugged,” Mori told reporters afterwards. Obama also chatted with a
smiling Sunao Tsuboi, 91, who had earlier said he wanted to tell the US
president how grateful he was for his visit.
Ball of searing heat
The trip comes more than seven decades after the Enola Gay bomber dropped its
deadly atomic payload, dubbed "Little Boy", over the western Japanese city. The
bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people, some of whom died immediately in a
ball of searing heat; others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related
illnesses in the weeks, months and years afterwards. A second nuclear bomb
destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. The visit also marks seven
years since Obama's memorable speech in Prague in which he called for the
elimination of atomic weapons, a call that helped him win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Crowds of young and old gathered to meet the American president, who retains
enormous star power in Japan. "We welcome President Obama," said 80-year-old
Toshiyuki Kawamoto. "I hope this historic visit to Hiroshima will push for the
movement of abolishing nuclear weapons in the world."
'We listen to the silent cry'
Japanese and American flags flew on the street in front of the site, with a city
official saying it was the first time the Stars and Stripes had been raised
there. As expected, Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted
that he would not revisit decisions made by Truman at the close of a brutal war.
As an eternal flame flickered behind him, however, he said leaders had an
obligation to "pursue a world without" nuclear weapons. "This is why we come to
this place, we stand here, in the middle of this city and force ourselves to
imagine the moment the bomb fell. "We force ourselves to feel the dread of
children confused by what they see. We listen to a silent cry." "The world was
forever changed here but, today, the children of this city will go through their
day in peace," the U.S. president said. "What a precious thing that is." While
some in Japan feel the attack was a war crime because it targeted civilians,
many Americans believe it hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately
saved lives. Though there had been calls for an apology, public reaction to the
visit and the speech was overwhelmingly positive. Megu Shimomura, a 14-year-old
schoolgirl, one of the selected guests at the ceremony, told AFP: "I was
thrilled to attend the historic event. Obama is someone who lives in a very
different world than I do but I felt his humanity." Shinzo Abe praised the
"courage" of the visit, which he said offered hope for a nuclear free future.
"An American president comes into contact with the reality of an atomic bombing
and renews his resolve toward realizing a world without nuclear weapons," he
said. "I sincerely welcome this historic visit, which has long been awaited by
not only people of Hiroshima, but by all Japanese people."The pilgrimage drew a
less sympathetic response in other Northeast Asian countries where historical
disputes with Tokyo over wartime and colonial aggression remain raw. In a
commentary released late Thursday, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency
called Obama’s trek to Hiroshima an act of "childish political calculation"
aimed at disguising the president’s true nature as a "nuclear war maniac".
"Obama is seized with the wild ambition to dominate the world by dint of the
U.S. nuclear edge," the agency said. And in Beijing, the government-published
China Daily newspaper ran a headline saying: "Atomic bombings of Japan were of
its own making."
A doctor working at a hospital in
Saudi Arabia has been shot for helping a woman deliver a baby.
The New Arab/May 26/16
http://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/5/26/saudi-man-shoots-male-doctor-for-delivering-his-baby
Jordanian obstetrician Dr Mohannad al-Zubn helped a Saudi woman give birth at
the King Fahad Medical City in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last month. The new
father went to the hospital, saying he wanted to thank the doctor - but, after
meeting him outside in the garden, withdrew a concealed gun and shot him at
close range. The unnamed attacker was reported to have carried out the shooting
because he did not believe a man should have helped his wife give birth. "The
husband came to the hospital looking for the doctor and shot him in the chest in
an attempt to kill him for helping his wife deliver a baby," said a hospital
spokesperson. Zubn is said to be recovering in hospital from the blast, and his
injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. The assailant fled the scene,
but was swiftly picked up by police. Although many Saudi Twitter users condemned
the attack, there were also some who supported the attacker - saying a female
physician should have treated the pregnant woman. Saudi Arabia has strict laws
governing gender segregation in public places. The mixing of men and women in
hospitals and other places leads to corruption and vices such as exchanging
looks
In 2011, more than 100 doctors and religious leaders wrote to the ministry of
health urging them to build women-only hospitals. A Saudi woman started a
Facebook group named "Pure Hospitals", a campaign for hospitals where all staff
- from surgeons to cleaners - were women. "The mixing of men and women in
hospitals and other places leads to corruption and vices such as exchanging
looks, breakdowns in barriers between men and women, and unethical relationships
forbidden in Islam," Arab News reported the woman as saying. Male doctors in
Saudi hospitals can only legally treat women in extreme circumstances, and then
only with the presence of a male guardian. The Commission for the Promotion of
Virtue and Prevention of Vice has issued orders that women cannot visit clinics
without a male member of their family acting as a guardian. "Islamic law does
not permit women to visit their doctors without male guardians," said Qais
al-Mubarak, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars. "Women are prohibited
from exposing body parts to male doctors in Islamic law, especially during
childbirth. This does not include medical emergencies. Islamic jurisprudence
makes exceptions." In 2014, the ministry of health issued a directive to all
hospital and health centres with new guidelines for male doctors.They said that
male medical workers could only examine members of the opposite sex if a woman
nurse were also present.
Man hanged in public in southern Iran city
Friday, 27 May 2016/National Council of Resistance of Iran/NCRI – Iran’s
fundamentalist regime on Thursday publicly hanged a man in the southern city of
Shiraz. The regime’s judiciary in Fars Province, southern Iran, in a May 26
statement identified the victim only as Hamid B. The regime mass executed on
Wednesday 11 prisoners in their twenties, including at least one who is believed
to have been only 16 at the time of his alleged offence. Another five prisoners
were executed on Tuesday in Ghezel-Hessar Prison of Karaj and Adelabad Prison of
Shiraz. Another prisoner was hanged in public in Ramsar, northern Iran, after
spending eight years in prison. Iran’s fundamentalist regime has sharply
increased its rate of executions, carrying out at least 21 hangings in a 48-hour
period last week.
Ms. Farideh Karimi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
and a human rights activist, on Wednesday called for an urgent response by the
United Nations and foreign governments to the appalling state of human rights in
Iran. “The rising number of mass executions in Iran in recent weeks clearly
shows that the regime has in no way decided to change its disgraceful human
rights record. Any claim of moderation under Hassan Rouhani is simply a myth. It
is high time for the United Nations and human rights organizations to speak out
against the brutal executions by the mullahs’ regime and send Iran’s human
rights dossier before the UN Security Council,” she said. The latest hanging
brings to at least 116 the number of people executed in Iran since April 10.
Three of those executed were women and two are believed to have been juvenile
offenders. Iran's fundamentalist regime earlier this month amputated the fingers
of a man in his thirties in Mashhad, the latest in a line of draconian
punishments handed down and carried out in recent weeks. The National Council of
Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said in a statement on April 13 that the increasing
trend of executions “aimed at intensifying the climate of terror to rein in
expanding protests by various strata of the society, especially at a time of
visits by high-ranking European officials, demonstrates that the claim of
moderation is nothing but an illusion for this medieval regime.”
Amnesty International in its April 6 annual Death Penalty report covering the
2015 period wrote: "Iran put at least 977 people to death in 2015, compared to
at least 743 the year before.""Iran alone accounted for 82% of all executions
recorded" in the Middle East and North Africa, the human rights group said.
There have been more than 2,300 executions during Hassan Rouhani’s tenure as
President. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation
in Iran in March announced that the number of executions in Iran in 2015 was
greater than any year in the last 25 years. Rouhani has explicitly endorsed the
executions as examples of “God’s commandments” and “laws of the parliament that
belong to the people.
Struan Stevenson: Scotland
should think long and hard before it does business with Iran regime
Friday, 27 May 2016/National Council of Resistance of Iran/Struan Stevenson, a
former Member of the European Parliament from Scotland, has urged the Scottish
government not to pursue former First Minister Alex Salmond’s idea about
building trade and cultural links with Iran's regime. Writing in The Herald on
Thursday, Mr. Stevenson said: "Iran’s appalling record on human rights and the
financing and export of terror is second to none, causing widespread unrest
among its oppressed citizens." "Indeed a rising tide of protests inside Iran has
triggered a brutal backlash by the clerical authorities. Acknowledging the
serious threat posed by recent demonstrations, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei told a meeting of senior security officials two weeks ago further
repressive measures throughout the country were now a 'high priority'.""While
the West continues to applaud the smiling president Hassan Rouhani, the reality
is that since he took office in 2013, at least 2,300 men and 66 women have been
executed in Iran, many of them hanged in public.""Clearly, following his recent
visit to Tehran, Mr Salmond is spellbound by Iran. He seems blissfully unaware
of the fact the Iranian Revolutionary Guards supply arms, money and military
personnel to every Middle East conflict zone.""Scotland should think long and
hard before it does business with Tehran. Those who put profits before people
and human rights will not be quickly forgiven when this criminal regime is
overthrown and freedom and democracy are restored in Iran," he added.
Struan Stevenson was a Conservative MEP representing Scotland in the European
Parliament from 1999 until his retirement in 2014. He was president of the
Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Iraq from 2009 to 2014 and President
of Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup from 2005 to 2014.
17 workers flogged for
protests after losing work at Iran mine
Thursday, 26 May 2016/National Council of Resistance of Iran/NCRI - Seventeen
Iranian miners who took part in a protest after being made redundant were lashed
between 30 and 100 times earlier this month as punishment by the mullahs' regime
in Iran.
The men previously worked at the Aq-Dareh Gold Mine in Western Azerbaijan
Province, north-west Iran. In December 2014 the Pouya Zarkan Company which runs
the gold mine fired 350 of its workers. As a result a large protest was held by
the sacked workers outside the guard's office near the mine. The conduct of the
guards toward the protesters led to one of the ex-employees, who was under
considerable pressure due to losing his job, to commit suicide on December 27,
2014. The regime's judiciary in the province quickly moved to prosecute 17 of
the former laborers for instigating havoc. They were sentenced to time in
prison, a fine and flogging. Vahid Yari, the state-appointed lawyer for the 17
men, told the state-run ILNA news agency on Wednesday, May 25, that the flogging
sentence was carried out in mid-May. He said five of the workers received 100
lashes each, another five received 50 lashes each, and the remaining seven
received 30 lashes each for their part in the protests.
Iranian Sunni prisoners
protest insults in Gohardasht Prison
Thursday, 26 May 2016/National Council of Resistance of Iran/NCRI - Iranian
Sunni prisoners in Hall 21 of Gohardasht (Rajai Shahr) Prison in Karaj held a
protest on Wednesday, May 25, against one of the mercenaries of the mullahs’
regime who had insulted the beliefs and sanctities of Sunni Islam. The
protesters held a sit-in and demanded that the warden who made the insults be
identified and forced to apologize. In fear of the protest spreading, prison
guards were deployed in front of the entrance of the hall, ordering protesters
to disperse quickly and threatening them with force.
Report: To defeat ISIS, Assad
must be removed from power in Syria
Thursday, 26 May 2016/National Council of Resistance of Iran/NCRI - The
International Committee In Search of Justice has published a new reported
entitled “Islamic Fundamentalism and Road Map to Defeat Daesh (ISIS).”Following
the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, the new report offers analysis on
the origins of the problem of Islamic extremism in the Middle East and a series
of recommendations for a smart policy by the international community that could
lead to the neutralization of Islamic State (ISIS) and to lay the foundations
for peace in the region. The 36-page report was published on Wednesday, May 26,
on the website of the ISJ committee:
http://isjcommittee.com/2016/05/islamic-fundamentalism-road-map-to-defeat-daesh-isis-new-isj-report/
The report points out the only viable solution to eliminate ISIS is to
simultaneously work to remove Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad from power.
“This option will overhaul the political and military conditions in Syria and
deprive Daesh of its breeding ground. Terminating a five-year catastrophe that
has left nearly half a million innocent people dead and more than 10 million
homeless refugees, will undoubtedly diminish motivations for terrorism to a
great extent. In the next step, it will open the way for the current Syrian Army
to be joined by its opponents to confront Daesh. This will halt the flow of the
refugees to Europe and could even open the way for the majority of current
refugees to return to their homes in Syria,” the report said.
“Under this option, it is necessary to aid the Syrian opposition because it can
provide the troops that are needed on the ground. An essential part of any
effective policy would be opening the way for the moderate Syrian opposition and
the moderate Sunnis and tribes in Iraq, while giving them military and political
assistance or at least protecting them against genocide and barbarism of the
Assad regime, Daesh and the Iranian-backed Shiite militias. Ultimately it will
be the people of these countries who will uproot terrorism and restore peace and
security in their homelands.”“Declaration of a no-fly zone is essential to
efficient aiding of the Syrian opposition. Creation of this zone would provide a
safe place behind the lines for the moderate opponents, as well as a refuge for
displaced people, and finally a launching pad for the overthrow of the Assad
regime.”“This solution will be complemented by a cultural battle against
extremism; a solution which will present a tolerant and democratic
interpretation of Islam against fundamentalism.”The report recommended that in
conjunction with firm security measures in Europe and airstrikes against ISIS:
1) The ouster of Bashar Assad should be set as the prime target of EU’s strategy
in Syria while encouraging the US to adopt the same direction;
2) The moderate opposition, especially the Free Army of Syria, should be
supported militarily and specifically with air-defence batteries;
3) Removal of foreign forces, especially Iranian IRGC (Revolutionary Guards0,
Hezbollah and their affiliated militias from Syria, should be a fixture of the
EU’s position during the peace talks;
4) The formation of a no-fly zone with help from the US and Turkey;
5) Supporting democratic Muslims who advocate a tolerant Islam in Europe and on
the international arena as the strategic antithesis to extremism under the
banner of Islam.
CBS is most popular US network for
eighth season in a row
The Associated Press Wednesday, 25 May 2016/CBS will finish the television
season as the nation’s most popular television network for the eighth
consecutive year, and win among the youthful demographic sought by advertisers
for only the third time since modern record-keeping began in the 1980s. CBS’
victory among all viewers was its 13th in the past 14 years, the Nielsen company
said. Fox won in 2007-8, when a writer’s strike kept most fresh scripted series
off the air while “American Idol” was at its peak. Through Sunday, CBS’ margin
of victory over second-place NBC was nearly 2.8 million, the Nielsen company
said. ABC was third and Fox fourth. The season actually ends Wednesday night,
but the rankings almost certainly won’t change. All of the networks lost viewers
from last year, except for Fox, which was essentially even. CBS also won among
viewers aged 18-to-49-years-old, the advertiser-desired demo, for the third time
since the 2012-13 and 1991-92 seasons. That blunts the common charge from its
rivals that CBS is only dominant among older, less desirable viewers. “NCIS” was
television’s most popular drama for the seventh consecutive year, and “The Big
Bang Theory” the most popular comedy for the sixth straight year, Nielsen said.
Both CBS shows averaged just over 20 million viewers per episode. The
most-watched program for the year, on average, was NBC’s Sunday night football
games in the fall. “It was a long time ago, but we remember what it felt like to
be in last place,” CBS Corp. Chairman Leslie Moonves said while presenting the
network’s fall schedule to advertisers last week. That was many years — and many
millions of dollars paid to Moonves in salary — in the past. CBS also won the
last full week of the TV season in ratings and the season finale of “NCIS” was
the most-watched show, by nearly five million viewers over its closest
competitor — the “NCIS” New Orleans spinoff. CBS averaged 6.9 million viewers
last week. ABC had 5.9 million and, with the help of the Billboard Music Awards,
won among viewers aged 18-to-49. NBC averaged 5 million viewers, Fox had 3.2
million, Univision had 1.9 million, the CW had 1.5 million, Telemundo had 1.4
million and ION Television had 1.3 million. Led by its coverage of the NBA’s
Western Conference Finals, TNT was the week’s most popular cable network,
averaging 3.11 million viewers in prime time. ESPN had 2.45 million, Fox News
Channel had 1.92 million, USA had 1.57 million and TBS had 1.47 million. ABC’s
“World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 7.9 million
viewers, its first weekly victory since early February. NBC’s “Nightly News” had
7.8 million viewers and the “CBS Evening News” had 6.7 million. For the week of
May 16-22, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: “NCIS,” CBS, 18.02
million; “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 13.3 million; “Dancing With the Stars,” ABC,
11.64 million; “Empire,” Fox, 10.88 million; “Billboard Music Awards,” ABC, 9.76
million; “Survivor,” CBS, 9.54 million; “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 9.52 million;
“The Voice” (Tuesday), NBC, 9.05 million; NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City at Golden
State, Game 1, TNT, 8.71 million; “The Big Bang Theory,” CBS, 8.63 million.
Kashmir militants wage ‘selfie war’
against Indian crackdown
By Douglas Busvine and Fayaz Bukhari Reuters Monday, 23 May 2016/Rebels like
Burhan Wani, more adept at spreading their message via smartphone than wielding
an assault rifle, are becoming a rallying point in disputed Kashmir for youth
who reject the authority of India's federal government. Wani, a 22-year-old
commander of Islamic separatist group Hizb-ul Mujahideen, personifies a new
generation of militant who is winning public sympathy in a battle that once
again risks destabilizing the troubled northern region. "He is on a pious path
and we are proud of him," said Mohammad Muzaffar Wani, the father of the
militant who shot to notoriety with pictures of his group on social media last
year, along with speeches calling Kashmiris to arms. "All of Kashmir supports
his cause," Wani, the headmaster of a school, said in an interview at the family
home in Tral in southern Kashmir. A massive crackdown by Indian security forces
has contained a separatist revolt in Kashmir that first flared in the 1990s,
with Pakistan's backing, but is now mainly homegrown. But the backlash it has
provoked reflects what many Kashmiris call the refusal of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's two-year-old government to engage in a meaningful dialogue over
the fate of India's only Muslim-majority region. "The government of India has
decided that they want to engage with the problem militarily, not politically,"
said Mirwais Umar Farooq, a hereditary religious leader and advocate of a
peaceful path to independence.
Separatist leaders accuse New Delhi of keeping people in Kashmir, long the
center of a bitter territorial dispute between nuclear-armed neighbors India and
Pakistan, under the heel of up to 750,000 security forces. At the same time,
they say, it is pursuing a long-term strategy to effectively annex the region of
12.5 million people demographically, religiously and economically. The result,
both moderate and hardline separatists warn, will be the further radicalization
of a generation already brutalized by a crackdown on a wave of street protests
that peaked in 2010. "It's troubling – there should not be this level of
alienation," said Naeem Akhtar, the state's education minister and a leader of
the People's Democratic Party (PDP), that has run Jammu and Kashmir state in an
unlikely coalition with Modi's Hindu-centric Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since
last year. "We should try and build emotional bonds between Jammu and Kashmir
and the rest of the country," added Akhtar. "It will take time, but I think we
are on course."Both parties say their alliance of opposites is working, but
their development agenda - including a road building campaign to upgrade
infrastructure ruined by decades of neglect - has yet to deliver.
Cat and mouse
Human rights advocates say the militants are not capable of launching serious
attacks, preferring instead to play cat and mouse with security forces, who
outnumber them by more than 3,000 to one, to make a political point. "They have
guns in their hands but circulating videos is not violence – it's propaganda,"
said Khurram Parvez, an official of a civil society grouping. Wani, who remains
at large, featured in a recent video, warming his hands by a forest campfire,
chatting and laughing with colleagues. In recent months, outpourings of sympathy
for the militants have escalated, with stone-throwing crowds gathering at the
site of gun battles to thwart efforts to kill or capture the gunmen. Huge
numbers have turned out, too, at funerals of rebels killed in "encounters", such
as a recent shootout in which three militants - two linked to Wani - died. "The
worrying part is that the trust deficit between the system and the public is
huge," said a senior Indian military officer who estimates the number of
militants active in the Kashmir Valley at about 200. "The only way they can
express their grievances is by violence against the symbols of the state," said
the officer, who sought anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Militancy has decreased in Kashmir, a senior aide to Modi told Reuters, but
social volatility has increased as security forces systematically eliminate
domestic rebels, who rely on the sympathy of many Kashmiris. "Before, the goal
was to neutralize foreign infiltrators," the aide said, on condition of
anonymity. "Now the domestic terrorists are being bumped Female student Shaista
Hameed, 22, and a male youth died in stray fire in one such encounter, in the
village of Lelhar in February, that killed a militant from the Pakistan-backed
rebel group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Two rebels escaped, shielded by a stone-throwing
crowd. "These militants are our brothers," said a local high school senior, who
gave his name as Tariq. "They are fighting for us and demanding the right to
freedom."Asked how he saw his future, he said, "If the atrocities continue, I
will take up the gun.
Turkish journalist stripped of
parental rights over court coverage: lawyer
Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters, Istanbul Wednesday, 18 May 2016/A Turkish journalist has
been sentenced to 20 months in jail and stripped of legal rights over her
children for breaching the confidentiality of a court case, her lawyer said on
Wednesday, raising further concern about deteriorating press freedoms. Arzu
Yildiz was sued by the state after publishing footage in May 2015 from a court
hearing at which four prosecutors were on trial for ordering a search of trucks
belonging to Turkey’s MIT intelligence agency as they travelled to Syria in
2014. The incident was highly sensitive for President Tayyip Erdogan and the
government. Erdogan said the searching of the trucks and some of the media
coverage of it was part of a plot by his political enemies to undermine him and
embarrass Turkey. Two prominent journalists were sentenced to at least five
years in jail for revealing state secrets in a separate case this month after
publishing footage which purported to show the trucks carrying weapons to Syria.
The ruling against Yildiz, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, said she would
be deprived of legal guardianship of her children, invoking an article in
Turkey’s penal code which allows courts to strip jailed individuals of such
rights. Her lawyer said the decision meant she would not be able to register her
children in school, open bank accounts for them or take them abroad alone and
could only do so in conjunction with their father. Yildiz is married with two
children. “This was an act of revenge,” the lawyer, Alpdeger Tanriverdi, told
Reuters by telephone. “There are many cases in which the court does not execute
this article of the penal code. They didn’t have to do it.”The court could not
immediately be reached for comment. The sentence is pending approval from the
court of appeals.
Press freedom concerns
The case against the two other journalists sentenced this month in relation to
the searching of the MIT trucks - Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, editor-in-chief and
Ankara bureau chief respectively of the Cumhuriyet daily - brought condemnation
from global rights groups and heightened concern about press freedom. Several
Turkish opposition newspapers have been shut over the past six months and
broadcasters taken off air. Prosecutors have meanwhile opened more than 1,800
cases against people for insulting Erdogan since he became president in 2014,
including journalists, cartoonists and teenagers. Erdogan has acknowledged that
the MIT trucks, which were stopped by gendarmerie and police officers en route
to the Syrian border, belonged to the intelligence agency and said they were
carrying aid to Turkmen fighters in Syria. But he has said that prosecutors had
no authority to order the trucks be searched and that they were part of a
“parallel state” run by his ally-turned-foe Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Islamic
cleric with a network of followers who Erdogan says is bent on discrediting him.
The prosecutors have denied the allegations. Gulen has denied plotting against
the government.
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on
May 27- 28/16
Sweden Choosing to
Lose War against Middle East Antisemitism?
Nima Gholam Ali Pour/Gatestone Institute/May 27 /16
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/8099/sweden-antisemitism
Who invited this "Salafist
megastar," who denies the Holocaust and is known for making anti-Semitic
statements, to visit Malmö? What do you do when anti-Semitism in Malmö, Sweden's
third-largest city, is so normalized that children in a public school can
endorse a conference with anti-Semitic elements?
Anti-Semitism is such a gigantic problem in Malmö that even senior city
officials cannot understand how it became so normalized. They seem to dismiss it
as part of a non-Swedish culture that, in a multicultural society, must be
tolerated, even accommodated.
If there are children in Swedish public schools today who are promoting an
anti-Semitic conference, what will these children do in the future?
Is Sweden really turning into a country where Jews are no longer welcome,
someday to become a country without Jews? And if that happens, what does that
say about Sweden? And who will come next after the Jews?
Malmö, Sweden's third-largest city, is an important, visible part of Sweden. If
you read the Municipality of Malmö's political objectives, which the Municipal
Council of Malmö has endorsed, you will see that "racism, discrimination and
hate crimes do not belong in open Malmö." The reality, however, is different.
Anti-Semitism there has reached bizarre levels -- with politicians and other
policymakers in Sweden doing nothing about it.
On April 30, 2016, the Islamic imam and preacher Salman Al-Ouda, who has been
described in the Swedish media as a "Salafist megastar," visited Malmö. Al-Ouda
apparently inspired Osama bin Laden, has claimed that the Holocaust was a myth,
and is known for making anti-Semitic statements.
The first question anyone should ask is: Who invited such a person to visit
Malmö?
It turned out that it was a politician from the Green Party, currently part of
the Swedish government's ruling coalition, and which also governs in Malmö
locally, together with the Social Democrats.
The second question that anyone should ask is: What kind of reception did Al-Ouda
receive in such a large Swedish city?
Well, Al-Ouda got to speak at one of Malmö's most famous conference facilities,
Amiralen, described on the official website of the Municipality of Malmö as a
part of the city's cultural heritage. Al-Ouda was also invited by the Alhambra
Muslim student association, at Malmö University. In other words, even though
Malmö's policies officially state that racism has no place in Malmö, Al-Ouda, an
anti-Semite, was treated as a diplomat.
On May 6, just a week after Al-Ouda's visit, the fourteenth "Palestinians in
Europe Conference" was held in Malmö. One of the conference's organizers, the
Palestinian Return Centre, has close ties to the Hamas terrorist organization.
The Palestinians in Europe Conference was held at Malmömässan, another famous
conference center in Malmö. When a Swedish pro-Israel organization, Perspektiv
På Israel, sent an email to the CEO of Malmömässan, Lasse Larsson, to warn him
that an anti-Semite was going to speak at his conference center, Larsson
replied:
"We, MalmöMässan, do not take positions on the substance of the matter, but have
entrusted this to our authorities that have given the go-ahead and therefore we
will allow the conference to be conducted."
The problem is that if you allow someone to spread hatred against Jews, you need
to have a clear position. Would he have allowed the hall to be used to spread
hate speech against African-Swedes or homosexuals or women?
In Malmö, when it comes to Middle Eastern anti-Semitism, there is currently no
clear position from any major institution.
When it was revealed that one of the speakers at the Palestinians in Europe
Conference was to be the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ekrim Said
Sabri, who has also repeatedly made anti-Semitic remarks, an announcement came
that two Swedish Members of Parliament, Hillevi Larsson (Social Democrat) and
Daniel Sestrajcic (Left Party), would also speak at it. This arrangement
appeared to be no coincidence. In October 2015, both of these MPs spoke in Malmö
at a rally in which participants celebrated knife attacks against Jews in
Israel. Additionally, when the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malmö in
2013, it was Daniel Sestrajcic, then chairman of Malmö's Municipal Cultural
board, who argued that Eurovision should suspend Israel.
After the Perspektiv På Israel organization revealed that Sestrajcic and Larsson
were to participate in the Palestinians in Europe Conference with Sheikh Sabri,
a known anti-Semite, Israel's ambassador to Sweden wrote a critical op-ed for a
major Swedish newspaper -- after which the two MPs cancelled their appearance.
Wait, it gets worse. Prior to the Palestinian conference, a public school class
in Malmö participated in an video advertisement promoting it. The advertisement
was filmed on the premises of the Apelgårdsskolan public elementary school. The
idea that in Sweden a public school openly endorses a Palestinian conference to
which an anti-Semite is invited to speak may also sound bizarre, but that is
exactly what took place.
As this author also happens to be a member of Malmö's school board, it seemed
normal to contact the school's director and the municipal councilor responsible
for primary schools, to report the advertisement. The councilor never responded
-- but the school's director did. The advertising video, he said, was just a
"call to participate in the conference."
What do you do when anti-Semitism in Sweden's third-largest city is so
normalized that children in a public school can endorse a conference with
anti-Semitic elements?
Although the school director's reply was published in the online magazine
Situation Malmö (of which this author is the editor), the media in Malmö was, as
always, silent.
Apelgårdsskolan elementary school in Malmö (left) openly endorsed a conference
to which Sheikh Ekrim Said Sabri, who has repeatedly made anti-Semitic remarks,
was invited to speak. Right: Hillevi Larsson, a Social Democratic MP
representing a district of Malmö, accepted an invitation to speak at the same
conference where Sheikh Sabri was scheduled to speak. Larsson is pictured
showing off a Palestinian flag and a "map of Palestine" in which Israel does not
exist.
The topic of anti-Semitism is so normalized in Malmö that when children are
promoting a conference with anti-Semitic elements, it is not something the media
even writes about. The omission seems part of an editorial policy of
deliberately choosing not to report about Islamic and Palestinian anti-Semitism.
Anti-Semitism, is, in fact, such a gigantic problem in Malmö that even senior
politicians and officials in the city seem not to understand how it became so
normalized. They seem to dismiss it as part of a non-Swedish culture that, in a
multicultural society, must be tolerated, even accommodated.
It is only in Muslim countries -- and evidently extreme liberal countries such
as Sweden -- that a public school could promote a conference with anti-Semitic
elements without anyone reacting.
That this happens in one of Sweden's largest cities, means that leading
politicians in the country are aware of this rough anti-Semitic wave, but prefer
not to do anything about it.
Some of the reasons for this preference are:
Large-scale immigration from countries where anti-Semitism is normalized.
A strong pro-Palestinian engagement among Swedish politicians that has resulted
in a totally surreal debate about the Israel-Palestine debate, in which Israel
is unjustly demonized.
A desire among political parties in Sweden to win the votes of immigrants.
A Swedish multiculturalism that is so uncritical of foreign cultures that it
cannot differentiate between culture and racism.
A fear of sounding critical of immigration.
Important Swedish institutions, such as the Church of Sweden, legitimizing
anti-Semitism by endorsing the Kairos Palestine document.
Sweden has officially surrendered to the Middle Eastern anti-Semitism.
The period of April-May 2016, and the visits by assorted anti-Semites to Malmö,
show a regrettable pattern. In Sweden in general, and Malmö in particular, there
are too many politicians, senior officials, journalists, heads of schools and
companies that do not distance themselves from anti-Semitism.
Such a condition cannot only be described as bizarre; it is extremely dangerous.
There are Jewish communities in Malmö and elsewhere in Sweden. Jews are one of
Sweden's five recognized minorities. As one of the countries that has joined the
Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities, Sweden has an obligation to stop the normalization of anti-Semitism
in Sweden.
When politicians and senior officials let children in Sweden's third-largest
city endorse a racist conference, with which even the most extreme anti-Israel
Swedish MPs refuse to associate, it is obvious that Sweden wishes to lose its
fight against Middle Eastern anti-Semitism. Allowing schoolchildren to endorse
anti-Semitism deserves nothing but condemnation, whether in Gaza or in Sweden.
We expect this pattern in Sweden of indulging anti-Semitism to be fixed.
If there are children in Swedish public schools today who are promoting an
anti-Semitic conference, what will these children do in the future? In a
European continent where Western values are being challenged by Islamic values
and European security is threatened by Islamic extremists, these children are
being abandoned and being forced into choosing racist values, because Swedish
authorities refuse to say "No" to Middle Eastern anti-Semitism.
The more normalized Middle Eastern anti-Semitism becomes in Sweden, the more you
see Palestinian and other Arabic and Islamic organizations pushing the limits of
how openly they can express it. You start asking yourself, will Sweden someday
become a country without Jews. And if that happens, what does that say about
Sweden? And who will come next after the Jews? To cleanse a country of Jews
through massive Islamic immigration is no better than doing the same thing
through cattle-cars or concentration camps.
Is Sweden really turning into a country where Jews are no longer welcome?
Have the institutions in Sweden really chosen to lose the fight against Middle
Eastern anti-Semitism and to let extremist Islam win?
***Nima Gholam Ali Pour is a member of the board of education in the Swedish
city of Malmö and is engaged in several Swedish think tanks concerned with the
Middle East. He is also editor for the social conservative website Situation
Malmö. Gholam Ali Pour is the author of the Swedish book "Därför är mångkultur
förtryck"("Why multiculturalism is oppression").
© 2016 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. No part of the Gatestone
website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without
the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
US, Kurds to clear
path toward Raqqa, with or without Turkey
Fehim Taştekin/Al-Monitor/May 27/16
More fronts are opening up against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria. In
Iraq, government forces conducting probes against Mosul, which has been under IS
control for two years, are also working to liberate Fallujah, while in Syria a
major operation is underway against the IS stronghold of Raqqa.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG)
and its women's brigade, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), launched an
operation north of Raqqa with US air support May 24, immediately after US
Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. Joseph Votel's visit to Kobani, Syria,
and Ankara. Two Syrian towns on the border with Turkey, Jarablus and al-Rai, are
IS' only gates to the outside world and figure highly in the plans, as their
loss would be a serious blow to IS. The United States, however, postponed YPG
plans to liberate Jarablus because of Turkey's red line against the Kurds,
focusing instead on Manbij. But when negotiations with Ankara over Manbij did
not proceed in the desired manner, plans shifted to rural Raqqa.
In the Raqqa plan, which Kurdish sources who spoke to Al-Monitor call "the
biggest operation of the past two years," coalition planes bombed IS targets
south of Ain Issa. As SDF units on the ground conduct a three-pronged advance,
about 250 US troops are giving them coordination support behind the front lines.
The objective for the time being is not to enter Raqqa's town center, but to
clear the way. Ain Issa is 55 kilometers (34 miles) north of Raqqa.
YPJ Commander Rojda Felat said in a May 24 press briefing, "We are launching
this move with the participation of SDF units to free Raqqa. We are supported
also by Tahrir ar-Raqqa Brigade and international coalition warplanes. This
action also aims to prevent any attacks against our people at Jazeera, Gire Spi
and Kobani."
SDF Commander Abu Fayyad said: "Our goal is to save the regional population from
the cruelty of IS gangs. With this move we will liberate [the area] north of
Raqqa."
Knowing how IS treats women, having a woman announce an operation against the
group was an interesting touch.
A source close to the negotiations between the Americans and the Kurds spoke to
Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity about the operational planning.
"In the first phase they will go as far as 10 kilometers [6 miles] south of Ain
Issa. This is the area from where [IS] launches attacks against Kobani, Tell
Abyad and Hasakah. There is no intention to enter Raqqa during this phase. When
the operation ends around Ain Issa, a second phase will be initiated toward
Manbij and rural al-Bab. US will support these operations. But US reservations
about operations at Azaz and Jarablus continue. Americans won’t get involved at
Azaz and Jarablus fronts because they promised Turkey they will stay out.
Americans want to refocus on Raqqa after the Manbij-al-Bab front."
Asked if Kurds would enter Jarablus without US support, or if the United States
would stop them from doing so, a Kurdish source said: "The US will not interfere
if Kurds mount an operation there. They say, 'You are on your own.'" As for a
possible date for the Raqqa operation, the source said: "Americans want a
victory at Raqqa and Mosul before their elections. Kurds want to open a corridor
from Kobani to Afrin. Of course all this may change with new actors after the
elections. That is why the Kurds want to make progress on their own plans before
the elections."
Another reason for the Raqqa operation's delay is that the SDF's operational
capacity still leaves much to be desired. It is not an option for the Kurdish
YPG-YPJ to control Raqqa, because they will encounter local resistance. They
also worry that scattering their forces in Arab regions could weaken the
defensive lines of Rojava (Syrian Kurdistan). Therefore, Arab forces would have
to get in shape to control the situation in the post-IS period.
In the northern front, the situation is still extremely complicated in areas
adjacent to the Turkish border. Votel, who came to Ankara after meeting with SDF
and YPG commanders at Kobani on May 23, met in Ankara with Gen. Yasar Guler,
deputy chief of the Turkish general staff, and Foreign Ministry officials.
According to a May 24 report in the daily Hurriyet, Votel was told Turkey will
not contribute to a military operation against Raqqa.
The Turkish side did not give a straight answer when asked whether it would
support such an operation if the PYD were kept out of it. Ankara repeated that
it will not allow the YPG to take over the Azaz-Jarablus line.
But it is increasingly difficult for Ankara to maintain its position on blocking
an operation against Jarablus. In his recent visit to Washington, Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan submitted to US President Barack Obama a plan to
rid the region of IS. That plan called for clearing al-Rai and Jarablus using
armed groups supported by Turkey. On April 7, with an operation that involved 10
groups, including Ahrar al-Sham, al-Rai was liberated from IS. But all of those
units, supported by artillery fire from Turkey, could hold al-Rai for only four
days.
They abandoned their weapons and ran away. IS not only recovered the places it
had lost, it also took over four new villages.
According to reports, after the loss of al-Rai, Turkey's National Intelligence
Organization (MIT) met with those 10 groups for two days in the Turkish border
town of Kilis. Turkish officials expressed their dismay about the rout and
demanded changes in the groups' commands. Sham Brigade and Nureddin Zengi
Brigade changed their officials in charge of operations. Although there are
rumors of a second operation against al-Rai, the fiasco partially weakened
Turkey's hand.
It is important that Votel went to Kobani despite Turkey's potentially bitter
reaction. It is curious, however, that Ankara — which made such a fuss when
Obama's anti-IS envoy Brett McGurk went to Kobani and Jazeera on Jan. 30-31 —
was surprisingly silent over Votel's contacts with the YPG.
Of course at this point there is no room for optimism that Ankara will erase its
red lines vis-a-vis the Kurds. Instead, Turkey is now trying to put together an
even more formidable force with Jabhat al-Nusra, which it is trying to steer
away from al-Qaeda.
Why Hamas and Israel both
oppose French peace initiative
Rasha Abou Jalal/Al-Monitor/May 27/16
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — France is moving forward with plans for a June 3
international peace conference in Paris designed to revive the peace process
between Israelis and Palestinians — despite outright rejection by Israel and
Hamas.
France is bringing the United States and other countries to the table, but
without the initial participation of Israel or the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The PA supports this approach, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
insists on bilateral negotiations, and Hamas rejects any talk of peace.
The French initiative includes five items: returning to the 1967 borders between
Israel and a future Palestinian state; making Jerusalem the capital of the two
states; determining a two-year margin for negotiations to reach a final
agreement; having an international follow-up on the peace process while leaving
the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians; and having the
negotiations sponsored by an international support group that would include
representatives of Arab countries, the European Union and the UN Security
Council member states.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls met with no success when he visited Israel
and the Palestinian territories this week to discuss the initiative.
Speaking at the Israeli parliament May 23, Netanyahu said he told Valls he
wanted to carry on with the peace process with the Palestinians on the basis of
a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes Israel as a Jewish state and a
national homeland for the Jewish people.
He added, "These are not conditions to start negotiations, but the end of a
successful political path that incorporates direct bilateral negotiations
between Palestinians and Israelis, without preconditions, and without
international dictates."
Wassel Abu Youssef, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, told Al-Monitor,
"The idea of the [French] conference is based on a meeting between the foreign
ministers of 20 countries in addition to the European Union and the United
Nations, but without the participation of Israelis and Palestinians. Should this
conference be a success, it would usher in an international summit to be held in
the second half of 2016 in the presence of the PA and Israeli leaders."
Abu Youssef pointed out that direct bilateral negotiations "have not yielded any
tangible outcome since the PA's formation in 1993."
"This conference is of paramount importance for the Palestinians because it
serves as an important international opportunity to emphasize the need to
implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly,
which come to the advantage of Palestinians." Anything less, he said, would be
"fruitless efforts."
"Meeting the Palestinian rights is our precondition to any initiative, mainly
the withdrawal from the entire occupied Palestinian territories along the 1967
borders."
Commenting on Netanyahu's conditions for resuming negotiations, Abu Youssef
said, "We will refuse to recognize the Jewishness of the State of Israel, and we
insist on it. Should we accept this, it would put the Arab minority's fate in
Israel at risk. This is why we believe Netanyahu's principles are a stumbling
block in front of the French initiative."
Commenting on the steps that the PA might take in the event of the failure of
the conference, Abu Youssef said, "Our option is clear, which is to continue our
actions in the corridors of the international forums to establish a Palestinian
state, put an end to the occupation and hold Israel accountable before the
International Criminal Court (ICC) for its crimes against Palestinians."
He also stressed the importance of the conference as it turns the page on the
"biased" US sponsorship in the negotiations, saying this bias "has caused the
failure of all previous international efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict."
Meanwhile, Hamas rejects any international efforts to resume peace talks that
would place the PA and Israel back on the negotiation track.
"Any proposals to bring the two parties back to the negotiating table aim at
slaying the Palestinian cause, giving the occupation forces more time to expand
their settlements and to further confiscate Palestinian lands," Hamas leader
Yahya Moussa told Al-Monitor.
"The international community cannot offer any solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict without the approval of Hamas, which won the
Palestinian legislative elections in 2006."
Moussa stressed that Hamas' solution to end the conflict is based "on the
Israeli withdrawal from the entire Palestinian territories occupied since 1948,
the return of the Palestinian refugees who have been displaced from their home
and lands since 1948 and the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners from
Israeli jails." Hamas will always opt for the armed resistance until the
"restoration of the Palestinian rights," he added.
Commenting on Hamas' rejection of the conference, Abu Youssef said, "The
Palestinian people have nothing to lose from moving forward in this conference.
Let us try the efforts to end the conflict and bring peace to the region that
are not, for once, American-tinted. However, to ensure the success of such
efforts, there must be a real international will to end the occupation."
Political analyst Talal Okal said he does not entertain any hopes of a
successful conference.
"The Israeli government's insistence on continuing its settlement policy, the
Judaization of Jerusalem and the ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land does
not bode success of this conference," he told Al-Monitor.
"The international community does not exert any real pressure on Israel, as
those exerted on Iran in the context of resolving the nuclear issue. Thus,
Israel does not feel obliged to move forward toward peace with the Palestinians.
On the contrary, it is setting further plans for settlements and expansions,"
Okal added.
Although US Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed to attend the conference,
the US administration has yet to take a stance in favor of the French
initiative.
In this context, Okal said, "The important thing is that the US does not oppose
the initiative. I believe it did not reject it as Israel did because this would
show the world its domination and intransigence in resolving the conflict in
accordance to its unilateral vision only."
Political analyst Hassan Abdo shares the same pessimistic view on the
conference. "I do not believe the French initiative will be a window to solving
the conflict. Since the beginning of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not one
state or international institution such as the UN or the Security Council has
adopted any approach binding Israel to implement any international decisions in
favor of the Palestinians," he told Al-Monitor.
"I believe the conference will end in mere visions and nonbinding
recommendations to Israel," he added.
Abdo also ruled out a peace deal with Israel in the future as long as Netanyahu
is in office. "Even if the PA agreed to all of Israel's demands — such as the
recognition of the Jewishness of the state and the exchange of territories —
Netanyahu will continue to demand further concessions," he said.
As France continues its preparations for the conference, Palestinians hold out
hope that this might put an end to the Israeli occupation. But they believe that
the real solution remains in exerting deterrent pressure on Israel to force it
to act accordingly.
Two-time presidential candidate says Egypt losing its role in region
Ahmed Hidji/Al-Monitor/May 27/16
On May 24, the Court of Appeal revoked the decision to imprison the 101
demonstrators and imposed a fine on them instead. The rest of the protesters
have yet to be released.
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Sabahi tackled Sisi’s performance during his
two-year reign as well as the real alternative initiative, which he believes is
the only way to achieve the January 25 Revolution goals.
The text of the interview follows:
Al-Monitor: What motivated you to stage a sit-in at the Karama Party
headquarters?
Sabahi: The maximum sentences issued against more than 150 young Egyptians based
on an unconstitutional law and unjust trials. The authorities are seeking to
punish people who wanted to express their opinion in a peaceful way. This is
part of a set of measures aimed at tightening the noose on the right to peaceful
expression. Instead of resorting to dialogue, the authorities used the security
forces as a major tool to deal with those voicing a different opinion. Tyranny
is the name of the game. The president is being deified and the people are being
forced to surrender.
Al-Monitor: How does the ceding of the two islands pose a threat to Egypt's
national security?
Sabahi: Land ceding constitutes the biggest threat to our national security. The
state lost sovereignty over part of its territory, and the constitution has been
violated. Its first article determines the state's territory and ensures its
unity, while Article 155 prohibits ceding [land], even if the people give their
consent. In this case, the people were not even informed of the state’s
intention to take this dangerous step.
This is a great example of the tyrannous state, which took a decision it is not
authorized to take. Strategically speaking, the Strait of Tiran is the main
navigable waterway that leads to the Israeli port of Eilat, and the ceding made
Egypt share sovereignty over it with another country. Despite the international
nature of this strait after Camp David, the transfer of the islands’ ownership
to Saudi Arabia prevents Egypt from imposing its full sovereignty over the
strait. I link this to the Israeli seas canal project aimed at establishing a
link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea through the Dead Sea. This
channel will serve as an alternative to the Suez Canal and will turn the latter
into a swimming pool. The ceding has crippled Egypt’s grip on this project and
made the Suez Canal lose its importance.
Al-Monitor: To what extent is your sit-in able to dissuade the state from its
decision regarding the border demarcation agreement?
Sabahi: The protests are actually aimed at making a difference in the case of
prisoners of conscience, but the land issue will require considerable effort. We
are protesting at a time when the authorities are mobilizing their media outlets
and audience despite the negative impact that such mobilization would have on
Egypt’s interests.
Al-Monitor: What is your take on the popular movement witnessed in Egypt
following the agreement?
Sabahi: Egyptians have an inherent potential capable of exploding when
necessary. This has been exemplified by the demonstrations that included
thousands of people, knowing that many young Egyptians had withdrawn from such
movements out of frustration. This is a sign that the popular movement in Egypt
is alive and cannot be extinguished.
Al-Monitor: What is your take on the authorities’ dealing with this movement?
Sabahi: The authorities’ dealing with the movement is weak. The leadership has
abused its security apparatus, which reflects the fragility of its position and
its persuasion inability. Why would it resort to violence if it is confident of
its ability to convince the masses? Egypt has become a strong state with a weak
administration that resorts to excessive force whenever it feels that it is in a
weak position.
Al-Monitor: Why do you believe the demonstration law needs to be reconsidered?
Sabahi: This law should have been reconsidered ever since it was released. It
should be a law that guarantees, not obstructs, the constitutional right [to
demonstrate]. It is an unjust and brutal law, and it is being used by the
authorities to maltreat dissidents. The absence of a way for people to
peacefully express their opinion sets the stage for terrorism. Not only do we
need to amend the demonstration law, but we also need to have all prisoners of
conscience released. The people should be allowed to express their opinion.
Al-Monitor: What is your take on Sisi’s dealing with the topics of freedoms, the
economy, foreign policy and social justice?
Sabahi: Social justice is the most important of all. The poor have become
poorer, and the policies governing the economy and wealth management and
distribution are the same as before January 25, 2011.
As far as freedoms are concerned, the authorities’ philosophy has not changed.
These are still demeaning the role of the masses. The only difference is that
there are now more victims. Also, in terms of national independence and Egypt’s
role, Egypt is losing its leading role in the region.
Economically speaking, with all due respect to the efforts made in several
projects — some of which succeeded, while others failed — the society and its
institutions did not participate in the decision-making process, and the order
of priorities faded. There was no fixed plan to determine our needs, our funding
sources and the available opportunities aimed at figuring out the optimal
spending methods, the projects’ social impact and role in creating jobs so that
the poor classes can benefit the most from the proceeds of the projects as a
step on the path toward achieving social justice. We are dealing with the same
old policies that will eventually lead to the same results, but those who are
now in charge of the implementation of policies do not even have the managerial
skills to run bad policies.
Al-Monitor: What is your take on [President Abdel Fattah al-] Sisi's recent
comments on warm peace with Israel?
Sabahi: We are in the process of launching a project to widen the scope of Camp
David. I expect new peace initiatives that would work to achieve Israel's
interests in the first place, but the transfer of islands was certainly part of
this warm peace and Israel was a party to the agreement. I see this as a step to
draw a new regional map in a way that redistributes the effective players
therein. This was disclosed by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and reiterated by
Sisi, who said that Egypt is not striving for leadership. The current
authorities are defying geographical and historical facts, and they are working
to make Egypt move from leadership to dependency, in favor of whom? If they want
to serve Saudi Arabia, then this confirms the idea of turning the conflict in
the region from an Arab-Israeli conflict into a Sunni-Shiite conflict, and this
is exactly what would serve the interests of Israel. However, if they are
working to serve Israel's interests, then the outcome would be worse.
Al-Monitor: What's new in the “real alternative initiative”?
Sabahi: The initiative was born because we know full well that despite the
existing hostility between the [former President Hosni] Mubarak regime and the
Muslim Brotherhood, these are two sides of the same coin. They adopted the same
policies and the same choices that led to the same consequences of poverty,
corruption, tyranny and subordination. The two have agreed not to allow the
people to show an alternative to them. The problem faced by the revolution was
the absence of organization, and the gap must be filled through organization and
alternative policies. We are seeking to build a strong party that includes the
Karama Party, the Egyptian Popular Current and several independent currents to
support the democratic movement in the street, and we will go into the upcoming
local elections to measure our ability to build a discourse capable of earning
the trust of the masses.
Al-Monitor: What is your assessment of the performance of the current
parliament?
Sabahi: It is very weak. And this is expected given that security and political
money have played an illogical role that went beyond what is permitted within
[the parliament]. Yet still I appreciate the attempts made by some good
parliamentarians, but the parliament’s decision is not confined to those alone.
The authorities have made this parliament, and its performance goes in line with
the performance of the authorities.
Al-Monitor: What do you think of the current administration’s management of the
country’s affairs?
Sabahi: I think the authorities are abusing violence instead of using their
political mind. The authorities should solve problems politically, not through
their security apparatus, so that the policies that led the people to revolt get
changed.
Al-Monitor: To what extent are the Egyptian media outlets biased toward the
authorities?
Sabahi: The Egyptian media is largely biased to the ruling authorities as a
result of the imposed restrictions and the pressures placed on them. Add to this
the influence of the capital that owns most of the independent national media
outlets. The crisis is not only about bias, but about the aggravation of the
hate and polarization discourse. Instead of finding consensus among the people,
the media outlets are deepening the division.
Al-Monitor: Why do you think the Egyptians are less ambitious now when it comes
to achieving the goals of the January 25 Revolution?
Sabahi: The revolution has ups and downs. The aspirations of the people after
January 25 were legitimate and deeply rooted. What changed is the people’s
ability to reach these goals because the revolution lacks organization, and it
was stolen twice. I think Egyptians still have the same dreams following the
January 25 Revolution, but their ability to achieve these dreams requires more
effort.
Al-Monitor: Do you think Sisi [supports] the January 25 Revolution goals?
Sabahi: Sisi is not aligned with the January 25 Revolution goals, and he must
change his security and economic policies and involve the community in all of
his decisions.
Al-Monitor: What is your take on the presence of the Egyptian Popular Current in
the Egyptian street?
Sabahi: The Egyptian Popular Current’s presence has diminished, as is the case
with the rest of the political forces. We are working on forming a strong
partisan entity to establish an organized civilian front that can serve as a
substitute for the two sides of the coin, namely the old regime and the Muslim
Brotherhood.
Al-Monitor: What are you working on currently? Do you intend to run in the next
presidential election?
Sabahi: In addition to working on the alternative initiative, I am working with
all the parties on achieving the January 25 goals, like any Egyptian who
participated in the revolution and witnessed the sacrifices that were made in
this regard, and I have a great insistence on this. As for the next presidential
election, I will not be participating.
The resurgence of oil
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/May 27/16
The best news so far this year is that oil prices have risen, reaching just over
$50 per barrel. Prices were expected to continue declining to around $20,
expanding the economic crisis and shaking the whole Middle East, not only
petroleum-exporting countries. The price rise does not prevent a new phase of
economic pain, but it has lifted spirits in drained markets. It was attributed
to unrest in the Nigerian oil regions, ongoing reforms in some Middle Eastern
oil facilities - which chose the least costly time for reform - and ongoing
conflict in Libya, Yemen, Syria and Iraq. However, the price may decline again
this year, if not for sure in coming years. The implications and risks concern
us all. The nightmare of cheap oil began with the extraction of shale oil in
economic quantities, and increasing its competitive share in the market to a
point that made the United States an oil exporter. Consequently, for the first
time we felt a serious threat to the reality that we were used to for decades,
which relies almost solely on oil. Sadly, the price rise will result in
increased war-funding in the region. Without a collective, careful policy to
avoid war, all that the region will earn from oil will be spent on war
Ripple effect
This is not limited to the Gulf but includes countries such as Egypt, which
depends on oil sales and remittances from its citizens in oil-producing
countries. Countries that do not have oil partly rely on selling products to
oil-producing countries, labor remittances or financial aid. The situation in
the Gulf countries is the most difficult, because they do not currently have
alternatives. They are afraid because of the rapid decline in oil prices that
was accompanied by the cancellation of many government projects, the slowdown in
payments for contracting companies, and reduced payments to employees. On the
one hand this created a pessimistic climate, but on the other it led many to
accept the idea of economic change, reducing dependence on oil and cutting
subsidies on goods and services. The price rise is not meant to renew our
addiction or stall economic reform, because $50-$70 per barrel will not be
enough to pay government expenses and the fiscal deficit. Sadly, the price rise
will result in increased war-funding in the region. Oil itself is a cause of
conflict. Without a collective, careful policy to avoid war, all that the region
will earn from oil will be spent on war. Can a country such as Iran - which did
not witness one prosperous era in its modern history, and which has never
benefited from its oil resources due to war - be convinced? Its nuclear deal and
economic openness are worthless if it is determined to raise spending on war and
militias in the region. Despite rising oil prices and the openness of world
markets to Iran’s oil, it will not be enough if it does not change its
understanding of the world around it.
Iran behaves the way it does because the US allows it to
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Al Arabiya/May 27/16
In the last few years, Iran’s expanding influence in the region, militarily and
ideologically, has become undeniable.
Alireza Zakani, a member of the Iranian parliament who is close to Iran’s
Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, boasted that “three Arab capitals (Beirut,
Damascus, and Baghdad) have already fallen into Iran’s hands and belong to the
Iranian Islamic Revolution.” He also added that Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, is now
the fourth. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, justifies Iran’s role
in perpetuating the specific narrative that what is happening in other Arab
nations is the struggle of “the oppressed”, it is the “Islamic Awakening” where
other nations are following the footsteps of Iran’s Islamic revolution of 1979.
In a controversial statement he declared, “Yemen, Bahrain and Palestine are
oppressed, and we protect oppressed people as much as we can”. Khamenei
continues to depict himself as the savior of these Muslims. It goes without
saying that Iran’s interference in the domestic affairs of other countries has
added fuel the conflicts, increasing the death toll, sectarians fighting, and
further militarizing and radicalizing the environment. Notwithstanding the
complaints regarding Iran’s intervention in other Arab countries, the question
is why Iran’s expanding military is going unchecked? The Obama’s administration
is so focused on preventing the nuclear agreement from falling apart that it is
not prioritizing Iran’s current foreign and regional policies
Obama administration
First of all, the Obama’s administration is so focused on preventing the nuclear
agreement from falling apart that it is not prioritizing Iran’s current foreign
and regional policies. Even Iran’s human rights violations have taken the back
seat in the White House's Iran agenda. Secondly, the administration forgot that
Iranian leaders were the ones who were desperate for the nuclear deal, that they
needed the sanctions relief since the hold-on-power of the ruling politicians
was in danger. The White House had used the removal of sanctions as leverage to
pressure Iran to come to the negotiating table, but the trend changed
afterwards. Iranian politicians skillfully took the upper hand, making
Washington hostage to the nuclear agreement. A year after the nuclear
negotiations began, no robust position was being taken toward Iran’s expanding
and destabilizing role in Damascus, Baghdad, Yemen, and Bahrain. Iran’s
provocative military actions such as firing ballistic missiles or detaining
American navy personnel were also disregarded. In addition, the Obama
administration’s Middle East policy appears to favor Iran’s presence in other
countries including Syria and Iraq. For example, from the administration
perspective, Tehran and Washington’s interests are converging in Iraq. Iran is
viewed as being an important player in maintaining the status quo in Baghdad and
preventing the government from being overthrown by Sunni opposition. As a
result, Iran’s infiltration of the military and security apparatuses in Iraq has
gone unchecked.
In Syria, the Obama administration perceives Revolutionary Guard Corps and
Iran’s Quds force as serving Washington’s interests in preventing the Islamic
state from taking power. This has overshadowed other realities that Iran is
contributing to radicalizing the conflict, which has led to a death toll of
approximately 400,000 people, according to the UN special envoy for Syria. Iran
continues to send its IRGC, as well as provide financial support, and military
assistance to Bashar al-Assad. In Yemen, Iran bandwagons on the Houthi’s
success, increasing its arms assistance, and capitalizing on the conflict in
order to ratchet up its strategic and geopolitical leverage, particularly near
the border of Saudi Arabia.
Other powers
European powers have emphasized using Iran as an alternative to reduce their
energy dependence on Russia. According to Tasnim news agency, the commercial
director of the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) pointed out recently that
its fleet will return to European ports next month after a five year absence.
Iran’s oil sale to Europe has already reached half of pre-sanction levels. In
addition, similar to the Obama administration, European powers including
Germany, France, and the UK, favor the argument that defines Iran’s military
role in other countries as a counterbalance to ISIS, rather than fueling and
radicalizing the regional conflicts. On the other hand, Russia and China permit
Iran to behave the way it does due to the benefits they receive in arms sales,
trade, and more importantly in counterbalancing the influence of the US and its
European allies in the region. When it comes to regional powers, there has not
been a unified, coordinated, organized front that opposes Iran’s regional and
foreign policies. In closing, part of the reason that Iranian leaders are more
publicly pursing their regional hegemonic ambitions is the fact that global
powers appear to allow Iran to behave the way it does, and there exists no
robust opposition regionally or globally to restrain the IRGC.