LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
January 01/17
Compiled
& Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The
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Bible Quotations For Today
Did you not know that I must be in
my Father’s house
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 02/41-52/:"Every year
his parents went to
You are a priest for ever, according to
the order of Melchizedek.
Letter to the Hebrews 07/11-19/:"If perfection had been attainable through
the levitical priesthood for the people received the
law under this priesthood what further need would there have been to speak of
another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one
according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood,
there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Now the one of whom these
things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served
at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended
from
Titles
For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on January 01/17
Resolutions & Prayers For The New Year/Elias Bejjani/December
31/16
Propping up US-Iraqi Mosul flop exposed Baghdad/DEBKAfile
Exclusive Analysis December 31/16,
Now empowered, Iran will take a bolder approach in the region/Majid Rafizadeh/The
National/December 31/16
Opinion: 2016 – The Year of Aleppo/Amir Taheri/ASharq
Al Awsat/December 31/16
Britain's Little Lies/Douglas Murray/Gatestone
Institute/December 31/16
Blocking peace/Ben-Dror Yemini/Ynetnews/December
31/16
Britain and Australia more supportive of Israel than Obama and Kerry/Alan M. Dershowitz/Gatestone Institute/December 31/16
The Saudi vision and population growth/Mshari Al Thaydi/Al Arabiya/December 31/16
Saudi defense industry is a national priority/Samar Fatany/Saudi Gazette/December 31/16
Titles For Latest Lebanese Related News published on January
01/17
Resolutions & Prayers For The New Year
Turkey's Foreign Minister: Hezbollah Must Leave Syria and Go Back to Lebanon
Hariri visits Defense Ministry, Helou
Army Barracks: Investing in security is vital and has special priority
Report: Lebanon Escapes Terror Attack Plots
Ibrahim: Lebanese Mediator to Negotiate Release of Servicemen Abducted by IS
Report: Preparations for Parliamentary Polls Going in Two Parallel Lines
Hariri: Govt. to Tackle Oil Decrees Wednesday, Aoun's
Saudi Trip Boosts Tourism
Lahham: Let's all be peacemakers in 2017!
Building collapses in Baisariye, Kheir
gives instructions for instant shelter allowances to its inhabitants
Sarraf urges Lebanese to adhere to security forces'
guidance instructions
Kabbara in memory of Karami:
We are still in need of his influential personality
Kanaan hopes for visionary understanding for the
State
Lebanese Army Intelligence raids Syrian encampments in Saida,
Zahrani
Latest Lebanese Related News
published on January 01/17
Resolutions & Prayers For The New Year
Elias Bejjani/December 31/16
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2016/12/31/elias-bejjani-resolutions-prayers-for-the-new-year/
With this New Year, We ask Our Father, Almighty God, with reverence to shower
on all people and all countries graces of faith, hope, love, peace and meekness.
With this new year, we call on every one to pray from
the depth of their hearts for all those who are in danger, deprived of their
basic rights and encountering any sort of pain, persecution, problems or
hardships.
We, call on every one to pray and ask almighty God to cure them and every body
else from all evilness thinking and deeds.
We pray that Almighty God shall grant all people holy gifts of forgiveness and
the strength to keep loving others, specially those
that are their rivals and adversaries.
While welcoming the New Year No one should forget that our life on this earth
is too short, and that we must be righteous to deserve the eternal dwelling in
Heaven where there will be no pain or fights, but happiness and peace.
(Corinthians 2:2-10: "But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen,
nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those
who love him"--these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For
the spirit searches everything, even the depths of God".)
With the new year, let us all pray to be genuinely
positive, hopeful, joyful, and relaxed.
Hopefully people all over the world shall welcome the new
year by putting their burdens of pain, sickness, deprivation,
persecution, separation, broken hearts, disappointments, frustrations,
bereavements, injustice, abandonment, and anger in the hands of Almighty God.
Our Father, Almighty God, with his gracious wisdom and abundant generosity,
shall definitely see in every way possible that we safely overcome all our hardships
and difficulties.
Let us all trust Him and recognize that we are all His beloved children that He
has created us in his image.
(Romans 8:16-19: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we
are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs
with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified
with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the
creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.")
No one should question or doubt God's deep love for each and every one of us.
How could He not, as He sent his only son, Jesus Christ to defeat death, give
us the eternal life, suffer and be crucified so we, His children, can become
purified from the original sin and be helped to walk safely the path of
salvation.
(John 3:2 : "Beloved, we are God's children now,
and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we
shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is".)
Let us welcome this new year by asking Almighty God to help us live in peace
and harmony with ourselves and others, lead our steps into the righteous paths,
grant us the strength of endurance and hold us back from the sin of hurting or
hating others.
Let us ask Almighty God to give us the graces of love, meekness, humbleness,
transparency, honesty, forgiveness, and maintain our hearts and minds pure, and
free from hatred, grudges and selfishness.
With the start of this New Year we are ought to always remember that vengeance
is evil and forgiveness is a Godly grace.
Let us make a resolution that we shall not allow vengeance to take control of
our lives.
With this coming New Year we are ought to solidify our mere trust in God's
justice, wisdom, love and keep on forgiving all those who hurt or hate us.
(Matthew 13/43: "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear".)
Let one of our New Year resolution be to hold on to
God's teachings and never allow vengeance to take us hostages.
(Romans 12/19-21: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the
wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the
Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty,
give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his
head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.")
With the New Year Let us all pray and ask Almighty God to keep us all around
the year fully aware that our life on this perishable earth is temporary, and
that on The Day of Judgment we shall be accountable for all our deeds be good
or bad.
(Daniel 12:2-3: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth
shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky
above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and
ever".)
Happy New Year
NCRI/December 31/16/Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlüt
Çavuşoğlu, in an interview with
Hariri visits Defense
Ministry, Helou Army Barracks: Investing in security
is vital and has special priority
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - Prime Minister Saad
Hariri visited, on Saturday, the Ministry of Defense
headquarters in Yarze, where he was briefed on the
security measures adopted to ensure citizens' peace and comfort throughout New
Year's Eve. Greeted by Defense Minister, Yacoub Sarraf, and Army
Commander, General Jean Kahwaji, Hariri was given
details on all security measures implemented by the Army on various Lebanese
territories to ensure tranquility. "Investing in security is vital and has
special priority," said Hariri, praising the exerted efforts to maintain
security on all Lebanese lands. He stressed on supporting the Army and military
forces with all possible means, so as to enable them to carry out their duties
to the fullest. Hariri also paid a visit to el-Helou
Army Barracks, where he was greeted by Interior and Municipalities Minister, Nuhad el-Mashnouq, and Internal
Security Forces Director General, Major General Ibrahim Basbous,
and Beirut Police Chief, Brigadier General Mohammad Ayoubi.
Hariri was briefed on the full measures to ensure citizens' safety during the
New Year's celebrations. "We, as a government, will try to do everything
in our power to equip security forces and facilitate security work in the
future," vowed Hariri.
Report: Lebanon Escapes Terror Attack
Plots
Naharnet/December 31/16/ The Army Intelligence
Directorate obtained, after thorough monitoring, some “accurate and credible”
information that terror cells are taking action in the northern city of Tripoli
according to instructions delivered to them from Islamist fugitive Shadi al-Mawalai, who is taking
refuge in the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh,
As Safir daily reported Saturday. “The cell was
preparing to stage terror acts inside
Ibrahim: Lebanese Mediator to Negotiate
Release of Servicemen Abducted by IS
Naharnet/December 31/16/General Security chief Maj.
Gen. Abbas Ibrahim reiterated on Saturday that he is
determined to find a solution for the file of servicemen abducted by the
Islamic State, as he revealed that security forces were able to thwart a
suicide bombing plot in Sidon. “We are determined to end the file of servicemen
kidnapped by the IS,” Ibrahim told LBCI TV station in a phone conversation.
“There are serious efforts being exerted through a Lebanese mediator for the
release of the servicemen,” he went on to say.
“Efforts will continue till the end to free them.” Later during the day,
President Michel Aoun invited to the Presidential
Palace two relatives of the servicemen. He met with brother of captive soldier
Ibrahim Mgheit, Nizam, and
Hussein Youssef the father of soldier Mohammed Youssef. The IS group and al-Nusra
Front, which re-branded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in July when it split from the al-Qaida
movement, abducted over 30 servicemen in clashes with the Lebanese army in the northeastern border town of Arsal
in August 2014. Sixteen held by the Jabhat Fateh al-Islam were freed in December last year through a
Qatari-mediated deal that also included a prisoner swap to release a number of
inmates from Lebanese jails. The two groups had previously executed four of the
hostages. Nine hostages are still being held by the IS and their families do
not know much about their fate. On the other hand, Ibrahim pointed out that
coordination between the security forces are ongoing to preserve stability. He
revealed that a suspect was arrested in the southern city of
Report: Preparations for Parliamentary
Polls Going in Two Parallel Lines
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/committee tasked with overlooking the upcoming parliamentary elections
and providing the needed funds for the Interior Ministry to stage the elections
on time, will be conducted before February 10, which marks the beginning of the
constitutional deadline, An Nahar daily reported
Saturday. Official sources told the daily on condition of anonymity that “an
undisclosed political agreement was reached to gear up for the elections in two
parallel line. The first would be setting up the
preparations for staging them based on the current 1960 electoral law, in
conjunction with a similar workshop to reach a new electoral law. “Shall it be
agreed to stage the polls based on a new law, it would include a technical
postponement for the elections in order to update the mechanisms, and hence
hold them in June instead of May,” they told the daily.
Hariri: Govt. to Tackle Oil Decrees
Wednesday, Aoun's Saudi Trip Boosts Tourism
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/ Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Friday
that the executive decrees necessary for oil and gas exploration will be on the
agenda of a cabinet session that will be held Wednesday, as he noted that
President Michel Aoun's upcoming visit to Saudi
Arabia will “greatly contribute to the return of tourists to Lebanon.”“From now on, it is prohibited to return to the
political rift, seeing as it turns out that the political rift is only useful to
garner a few electoral votes,” Hariri told a delegation from the country's
Economic Committees and private sector. “The presence of a country advancing
economically is beneficial for everyone, and even the democratic and political
game will become better and the political rhetoric will differ drastically,”
the premier added.
“All political parties must ease their rhetoric to preserve this
atmosphere,” he urged. Hariri added: “We have a cabinet session on Wednesday
and the executive decrees of the oil sector will be on its agenda.”
Lahham: Let's all be peacemakers in 2017!
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - Patriarch of Antioch, Levant,
Building collapses in Baisariye,
Kheir gives instructions for instant shelter
allowances to its inhabitants
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - As a result of the heavy rains, a 4-floor building
collapsed on Saturday in the town of
It is to note that the town has witnessed slides in soil over the past months,
which caused cracks in several buildings.
Sarraf urges Lebanese to adhere to security forces' guidance
instructions
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - National Defense Minister, Yacoub Sarraf, held a press
conference at his Yarze office on Saturday, during
which he congratulated the Lebanese on the occasion of the New Year, while
urging them to abide by the instructions of security forces and fully cooperate
with them. Sarraf thanked the President of the
Republic and the Prime Minister for closely following-up on the security situation
in the country. He also commended all security forces deployed across the
Lebanese territories and along the borders under difficult climate conditions,
as well as the Civil Defense and Red Cross units, for
their relentless efforts and sacrifices for the sake of ensuring citizens'
security and stability. Sarraf also reminded citizens
of the following hotline numbers:
- 1701 Ministry of National Defense
- 125 Civil Defense
- 175 Fire Brigade
- 140 Red Cross
Kabbara in memory of Karami: We are
still in need of his influential personality
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - In a statement marking two years since the passing away
of former PM Omar Karami, Labor
Minister Mohammad Kabbara deemed, on Saturday, that
Tripoli has lost with his absence a "national figure who furiously
defended Tripoli's rights, dignity and presence in political life."
"We are still in need of his influential personality," added Kabbara.
He concluded by saying: "
Kanaan hopes for visionary understanding for the State
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - "Change and Reform" Parliamentary Bloc Member,
MP Ibrahim Kanaan, hoped via "Twitter" on
Saturday that: "In 2017, we would move from understandings to a visionary
understanding for the State, so as to complete the strong mandate's impossible
accomplishments."
Lebanese Army Intelligence raids Syrian
encampments in Saida, Zahrani
Sat 31 Dec 2016/NNA - Army Intelligence Units raided on Saturday
gatherings for Syrian refugee camps in Ghaziyya, east
of Saida and Akibiyya in Zahrani, National News Agency correspondent reported.
Latest LCCC Bulletin For
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 01/17
Revelers Bid Adieu to a Year of Conflicts, Celebrity Deaths
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/ As 2016 draws to a close, revelers around the
world are bidding a weary adieu to a year filled with political surprises,
prolonged conflicts and deaths of legendary celebrities. How people are
ushering in the new year:
After a year that saw the deaths of a seemingly endless parade of entertainers,
Sydney will honor some of the most beloved. The
city's famed fireworks display over the harbor will
pay homage to Prince and David Bowie, and will be set to a music medley
inspired by the late singers. "We are hoping to make it rain purple this
year for the first time, not only off the barges, but also off the
Officials urged residents to carry on celebrating as normal, despite the
threats of extremist attacks across the globe and in
"Ultimately the best way that we can respond to the threats around
the world is to fight for our freedoms, enjoy our freedoms, and part of that is
ensuring that we go about and celebrate New Year's Eve," state Premier Mike
Baird said.
More than 300,000 visitors are expected to descend on
CHINA
Residents in
The Bund waterfront in
SOUTH KOREA
Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans will usher in the new year with a massive protest demanding the resignation of
disgraced President Park Geun-hye. It will be the
10th straight weekend of protests that led to Park's impeachment on Dec. 9 over
a corruption scandal.
The evening rally will overlap with
The city's mayor, Park Won-soon, invited as guests a man whose teenage
son was among more than 300 people who died during a 2014 ferry sinking, and a
woman who was forced into sexual slavery by
For most people in
UN Security Council to vote on Syria
ceasefire
The Associated Press, United NationsSaturday, 31
December 2016/The UN Security Council will vote Saturday on a resolution that
would endorse the cease-fire agreement in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey,
and reiterate support for a roadmap to peace that starts with a transitional
government. The resolution also calls for "rapid, safe and
unhindered" access to deliver humanitarian aid throughout the country. And
it looks forward to a meeting in late January between the Syrian government and
opposition in
The council is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. EST. Russia's UN Mission said
members would hold closed consultations and then vote. The cease-fire
agreement, if it holds, would mark a potential breakthrough in a conflict that
began in 2011 with an uprising against decades of rule by President Bashar Assad's family and has left over 250,000 dead and
more than 13.5 million people in need of urgent assistance, and triggered a
refugee crisis across
Churkin told reporters "there is no
competition" between the talks in Astana and negotiations that the UN
special envoy for
He said de Mistura has been in contact with the
Russian government and "indicated his eagerness to help organize the
Astana meetings. ... So we expect the United Nations to be fully involved in
the preparations of the meetings."Churkin said
The
Member of the Syrian
Opposition Coalition: Ceasefire in Syria Sends a Warning Message to Iran Regime
NCRINCRIDecember 31/16/ “The ceasefire agreement
between Russia and Turkey sends a warning message to the regime in Iran that it
must take practical measures in the process of ceasefire in Syria and also
remove its militias from Syria in the near future,” Nasr Hariri, member of the
Syrian opposition coalition said. In an interview with Al Arabiya
on December 30, Nasr Hariri said: “
NCRIDecember 31/16/ Hossein
Sadeghi, father of political prisoner Arash Sadeghi, staged hunger
strike to support his son. Mr. Sadeghi said: “My son Arash in his 67th day of hunger strike is xperiencing moment to moment struggle with death. On
Monday, December 26, Arash was urgently transferred
to Taleghani hospital in
Maryam Rajavi Appeals to the
Nation to Help
NCRI Statements/December 31/16/The Iranian Resistance's President-elect Maryam Rajavi said, "It is a
national catastrophe with rare precedent in
She blamed the ruling clerical regime and the criminal, unscrupulous mullahs
for this tragedy and added, "This news provoked vast social outrage,
indicating the Iranian people's hatred of a regime that every hour of its rule
is tantamount to the devastation of numerous people and to further destruction
and dissipation of the country."Despite its
deplorable and shocking impact on society, the tragedy of the homeless poor who
sleep in graves is just one out of countless calamities inflicted on the people
of
The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran/December 30, 2016
Trump Administration Should Hold Iran
Accountable for Executions
NCRI Statements/December 31/16/Highlighting the ongoing violations of Human
Rights in Iran, Dr. Ali Safavi a member of the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran and
president of the Near East Policy Research wrote an article in ‘The Hill’ on
December 30, the following is the full text: Nearly a year after the
implementation of the nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the ensuing fanfare regarding the possibility of an
age of reform within a feeble theocracy, Tehran’s behavior
has taken a turn for the worse. The most tangible evidence of this can be seen
in its treatment of the Iranian people.
By any measure, the human rights situation in
This should encourage the new
Consider the facts. The Iranian regime has stepped up executions dramatically
in recent years. Amnesty International has called it a “staggering execution
spree” while underscoring that
Over 2,700 executions have been carried out since Hassan Rouhani
took office in 2013, the most in the past 25 years. Victims include political
dissidents like Gholamreza Khosravi,
an activist of
On Dec. 19, the U.N. General Assembly expressed "serious concern at the
alarmingly high frequency of the imposition and carrying-out of the death
penalty by the (Iranian regime)… including executions undertaken for crimes that
do not qualify as the most serious crimes, on the basis of forced confessions
or against minors and persons who at the time of their offence were under the
age of 18.”
The U.N. censure resolution also called on the Iranian regime “to ensure, in
law and in practice, that no one is subjected to torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
“
“Execution of two juvenile offenders in just a few days makes a mockery of
Imprisoned activists are routinely subjected to torture and ill treatment by
the regime. Many female activists are deprived of medical treatment as a form
of psychological and physical torture.
Maryam Akbari Monfared, for example, is one of the prominent prisoners
who is suffering from serious illnesses in the Iranian regime's jails, but is
deliberately deprived of treatment. She called for an investigation into the
killing of thousands of prisoners in 1988.
Women are treated worse than second-class citizens. Since 2014, the Majlis (parliament) has adopted four legislations further
limiting women’s rights, restricting access to employment and education.
According to Reporters without Borders,
moderate, “the overall situation has worsened” with
regard to human rights in
Most shockingly, in August, an audio tape was released which gave more clues
about a large-scale massacre that killed as many as 30,000 political prisoners
in
In the audio tape, the late Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, at the time slated to become the next supreme
leader, tells a group of senior judicial and intelligence officials, “In my
opinion, the greatest crime committed during the Islamic Republic, for which
history will condemn us, has been committed by you.”
Among the executed were pregnant women and girls as young as 15, as underscored
by Montazeri.
According to the Washington Post, “Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
opposition group, urged international prosecutors to use the tape as further
evidence that can be used to press charges for the political slayings of the
late 1980s.”
One of the officials involved in the 1988 massacre was Mostafa
Pourmohammadi, now, paradoxically, Rouhani’s justice minister. He has publicly said he is
“proud” of having carried out “God’s commandment” in executing thousands of
political opponents.
In September, a resolution (H.Con.Res.159) was introduced in the U.S. Congress
condemning the mass executions of 1988. It urged U.N. authorities “to create a
Commission of Inquiry to fully investigate the massacre and to gather evidence
and identify the names and roles of specific perpetrators with a view towards
bringing them to justice.”
The new
The deep resentment that the Iranian people feel toward the turbaned tyrants
should strengthen this resolve. The dossier of the regime’s egregious rights
violations, especially the 1988 massacre of political dissidents, should be
referred to the U.N. Security Council.
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/Russia is pushing for a UN Security Council vote Saturday to support the
ceasefire it helped broker in
Despite being left out of the process,
Analysts were cautious but said the involvement of
UN backs Russian-Turkish Syria peace
plan
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishSaturday,
31 December 2016 Text size A A A
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously backed a Russian-Turkish
initiative over a ceasefire and new negotiations on Syria. The Security Council
began closed-door consultations on Saturday as several factions among the
Syrian opposition released a statement denouncing the regime’s continued
violations of an ongoing ceasefire. The opposition said that there should be no
exceptions made to the ceasefire and all parties should stick to the terms
agreed upon. The statement released by the Free Syrian Army, the opposition’s
military wing, was provided to AlArabiya.net in full. As with
previous failed ceasefire attempts, the current agreement excludes both the
al-Qaeda-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel
factions, and
Trump Praises 'Very Smart' Putin for
Holding Off on Reprisals Against US
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President
Vladimir Putin for not quickly hitting back at Washington for the punitive measures
imposed over alleged interference in the November election. "Great move on
delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" Trump tweeted.
Central Baghdad Blasts Kill Dozens
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/Twin blasts ripped through a busy market area in central Baghdad
Saturday, police said, shattering a relative lull in attacks in the capital and
marring preparations for New Year celebrations. Two suicide bombers attacked
the Al-Sinek area, killing at least 27 people and
wounding 53, a police colonel said. An officer in the interior ministry and a
hospital official confirmed the toll. "Many of the victims were people
from the spare parts shops in the area, they were gathered near a cart selling
breakfast when the explosions went off," said Ibrahim Mohammed Ali, who
owns a nearby shop. Torn clothes and mangled iron were strewn across the ground
in pools of blood at the site of the wreckage near
Caution marks Iraqi army advance against ISIS north of
Reuters,
Gunshot kills Saudi citizen in Qatif
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishSaturday,
31 December 2016/A gunshot coming from an unknown
source has hit and killed a citizen in
Ban Ki-moon
‘feels like Cinderella’ as he bids UN farewell
The Associated Press, United NationsSaturday, 31
December 2016/Ban Ki-moon joked to hundreds of
diplomats and UN staff as he left United Nations headquarters Friday for the
last time as secretary-general that he feels “like Cinderella — tomorrow at
midnight, everything changes.” Flanked by the presidents of the General
Assembly and the Security Council, the native South Korean thanked UN workers
for their hard work and commitment over the course of his 10-year tenure, which
ends at midnight Dec. 31. “Tomorrow night on the eve of the new year, I’ll be
in
Merkel’s message to terrorists in New
Year’s address
AFP, BerlinSaturday, 31 December 2016/Chancellor
Angela Merkel called on Germans Saturday to hold firm to democratic values in
the face of militant terror, urging them to counter "murderers who are
full of hate" with compassion and cohesion. In her New Year's address
delivered less than two weeks after a Tunisian suspect rammed a truck into a
crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people, Merkel acknowledged it
was "bitter and sickening" that the attack and others in July were
carried out by asylum seekers. Nevertheless, she defended her decision in
September 2015 to let in tens of thousands fleeing war from mostly Arab and
Muslim nations. "When we look at the images of bombed out
Two other attacks carried out in July by asylum seekers, and the December
19 assault have emboldened right-wing populist
critics. The German leader promised that the government will in 2017
"swiftly put in place and implement any necessary political or legal
changes" to close down any security gaps, after the
But she said the system is "strong, it allows everyone to act,
participate. "It accepts, no, it demands
contradictions and criticisms. "Criticism that peacefully and respects
individuals, that seek solutions and compromises and does not exclude entire
groups," she said, urging politicians not to forget these guiding
principles in the run-up to elections in 2017.
Maryam Rajavi's Message to FIFCJ
Conference in
NCRI Statements/December 31/16/A conference was held by the International
Federation of Women in Legal Careers (FIFCJ) from November 14 to 17, 2016, in
Prominent jurists and legal experts from North America, Latin America, Africa,
and
The message reads:
Madam President, My dear sisters, On behalf of Iranian women who struggle to
gain freedom from the bondage of a fundamentalist tyranny, I salute you all. I
would like to thank Ms. Maria Elena Elverdin,
President of the International Federation of Women in Legal Careers, and the
Association of Argentine Jurist Women for this excellent initiative. Your
valuable efforts encourage all women in achieving a 50-50 planet. The focus of
this conference, namely a woman's right on her body, is an inherent right
related to the emancipation of mankind. Likewise, depriving women of this right
is the central nucleus of a backward ideology that enchains women and humanity.
In the contemporary times, Islamic fundamentalism targets women more than
anyone else. From Boko Haram, to the Taliban, to
Such systematic misogyny and persistent reproduction of male-domination are the
mechanism by which they control the society and preserve their power.
Nevertheless, the women of
Source: http://www.maryam-rajavi.com/en/remarks/messages/item/maryam-rajavi-message-to-the-conference-of-women-in-legal-careers-in-argentina-november-2016
Roadside bomb kills police officer,
soldier in Egypt
Sat 31 Dec 2016/Reuters/NNA - A police officer and a soldier were killed
by a roadside bomb in Egypt's northern Sinai peninsula on Saturday, security
sources said. The bomb was detonated remotely when the victims' armored vehicle passed by during a security operation, the
sources said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but an Islamist
insurgency in the Sinai has gained pace since the military toppled President
Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013
following mass protests against him. The militant group staging the insurgency
pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2014 and adopted the name
Egypt Begins Handing over MS804 Crash
Victims' Remains
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/December
31/16/Egyptian authorities on Saturday started handing the remains of those
killed in the crash of EgyptAir flight 804 to their
families, the airline said. The Airbus A320 had been flying from
Officials will start handing over the Egyptian passengers' remains on Sunday
and the bodies of French passengers and other nationalities will follow, it
said, without specifying a timeline. The airliner had been carrying two Iraqis,
two Canadians and one passenger each from
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis
& editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 01/17
Propping up US-Iraqi Mosul
flop exposed Baghdad
DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis December
31/16,
The US-backed Iraqi campaign launched in October to liberate Mosul from
the clutches of the Islamic State is on its last legs, although the Obama
administration and Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi are making every effort to disguise the debacle.
AS debkafile has been reporting for three
weeks, the Iraqi army’s
This development has major security ramifications - not only for
The jihadists staunched the Iraqi army’s advance by releasing in its path
hundreds of suicide killers in waves on foot and in bomb cars. This tactic has
inflicted crippling losses on the two elite Iraqi divisions leading the
offensive, the Golden Division, which is the backbone of
This week, another 1,700 US special operations
forces and 4,000 members of the Iraqi federal police and counter-terrorism
service (CTS) were urgently sent out to reinforce the crumbling front lines.
Their deployment was officially characterized as marking the launch of “the
second phase of the operation to retake
Their real function was to prop up the few positions Iraqi forces have
captured so far and save the
Western military observers noted Saturday, Dec. 31, that more and more
American troops are to be seen on the embattled city’s front lines.
Our military sources add that the Iraqi counter-terrorism force sent to
And, inevitably, on Saturday, two suicide bombers blew themselves up on a
main street of the capital, killing 28 people and inuring 40 in their first
major attack there in three months since the onset of the
This happened the day after the Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook released an
unwelcome report that
ISIS for its part issued a menacing new communiqué that jacked up its
threat against neighboring
ISIS is informing the world of its coming targets, say debkafile’s counterterrorism sources, which are:
1. The overthrow of the Hashemite king and his
rule, and
2. The seizure of southern
If Baghdadi succeeds in this scheme, he will gain control of a large
stretch of land adjacent to Israel and Egyptian Sinai to the west and Saudi
Arabia to the south, thereby bringing both under threat and placing itself
close enough to block the port of Aqaba, Jordan’s only outlet to the sea.From the desert region of southern Jordan, ISIS will
also achieve proximity to the Sinai desert – through Israeli and Egyptian
Bedouin – and be able to control the main Middle East arms-smuggling route and
the Sinai center of operations of this illicit and enormously profitable
trade
Now empowered, Iran will take a bolder
approach in the region
Majid Rafizadeh/The
National/December 31/16
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2016/12/31/majid-rafizadehthe-national-now-empowered-iran-will-take-a-bolder-approach-in-the-region/
Iran’s economic, geopolitical, strategic and military prospects in 2017 look
bright for Tehran’s ruling politicians, but the situation is bleaker as far as
regional tensions are concerned.
After last year’s nuclear deal,
The moderates in
However, the economic status and living standards of ordinary people in
This means that the people’s disenchantment, disaffection and grievances
with the government will increase.
Since
In other words,
With more cash in the treasury, the IRGC will expand its military,
financial, advisory and intelligence assistance to its staunchest allies. This
will increase sectarianism, enlarge the Shia-Sunni
divide and empower fundamentalist groups such as ISIL.
Since the
It’s worth noting that while
The nuclear deal will probably remain intact. Even if the new
The only change in the US-Iran relationship will probably be heightened
rhetorical tension, but this is unlikely to translate into geopolitical,
strategic or economic repercussions that damage
Then there is the issue of a possible succession to the supreme leader,
who is said to be ill. It is realistic to expect that the senior generals of
the IRGC and Mr Khamenei are already grooming a
cleric who shares their ideals. This means that the next supreme leader will
probably be a hardliner who will preserve the core pillars of the Islamic
Republic’s political establishment, prioritising its revolutionary ideals and
giving more power to the IRGC to pursue its militaristic ambitions.
Domestic reforms are less likely to occur at a fundamental level, meaning
that social justice, human rights and the rule of law will not improve.
We are unlikely to witness a significant domestic fracture across
**Dr Majid Rafizadeh
is an Iranian-American political scientist,
Opinion: 2016 – The Year of
Amir Taheri/ASharq Al Awsat/December
31/16
In classic cultures, each year, instead of being
designated by a number, was given a name. It could be the name of a major
battle such as The Elephant when Abyssinians invaded the Arabian Peninsula, an
exceptional natural disaster, The Locust which marked the beginning of the end
for Sumer, or even an obscure river north of Rome, the Rubicon, the crossing of
which by Caesar triggered the civil war that led to the death of the Roman
Republic and the emergence of the Empire.
As various cultures established calendars and learned how to use them, the
practice of baptizing each year with a name fell into disuse. In 1937 the
French writer, later politician, Andre Malraux, revived the tradition by
suggesting that year be named after
In the context of the Spanish Civil war, then in its second year, the aerial
crucifixion of
The attack introduced a new form of warfare in which the aim was no longer to
weaken or destroy an armed opponent, but to kill as many civilian
non-combatants as possible. That was a dress rehearsal, albeit on a
small-scale, for the carpet-bombing of
Throughout history, war had meant a clash of two rival armed groups with
civilians simply required to submit to the winner at the conclusion of the
conflict. In
The Western democracies, notably
With all that in mind, would it be outrageous to wonder whether 2016 couldn’t
be named as the year of
Beyond that, the resemblance between the two events is staggering. In
In both cases, the attackers didn’t allow humanitarian aid to reach the people
trapped in the inferno of the targeted city. German and Italian planes knocked
out a small convoy of relief organized by volunteers from
Before
By the time this column appears, the Moscow-Tehran axis may well be celebrating
“victory” in
This does not mean that today, though gone rogue,
Whatever happens next in this war, one thing is certain: 2016 will be
remembered as the Year of Aleppo, Syria’s hero-martyr city.
Britain's Little Lies
Douglas Murray/Gatestone Institute/December 31/16
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9685/britain-little-lies
This is a serious category error for a Prime Minister
to make. It puts critics of a religion on the same plane as people wanted for
terrorism. It blurs the line between speech and action, and mixes people who
call for violence with those who do not.
Only now, a fortnight later, has the true duplicity of Theresa May's speech
been exposed. For now the world has learned what diplomacy the British
government was engaged in even as May was making her speech. At the same time
as the Prime Minister was talking about "true friendship" in front of
friends of
The British government, whilst saying that it remains committed to a peace deal
that comes as a result of direct negotiations between the two sides, has its
own preconditions for peace: a freeze on the building of what it calls
"settlements." They maintain this line despite the fact that
settlements have nothing to do with the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Before the June 1967 Six Day War, there were no such things as
"settlements." Palestinians were trying to destroy and
displace
If you take a stand that is based on a lie, then that stand cannot succeed. If
you try to oppose anti-Semitism but pretend it is the same thing as "Islamophobia," then the structure on which you have
made your stand will totter and all your aspirations will fail. If you try to
make a stand based on the idea that settlement construction rather than the
intransigence of the Palestinians to the existence of a Jewish state is what is
holding up a peace deal, then facts will keep on intruding.
On December 12, the Conservative Prime Minister of the
For many of the people listening in the room, there were just two discordant
notes. The first was related to the focus on anti-Semitism in May's speech. As
she used the opportunity rightly to lambaste the Labour party for its
anti-Semitism problem, she extended the reach of her own claims for herself.
While boasting of her success as Home Secretary in keeping out the prominent
French anti-Semite Dieudonné and finally deporting
the Salafist cleric Abu Qatada
al-Filistini back to his native
This is a serious category error for a Prime Minister to make. It puts critics
of a religion, such as Geller and Spencer, on the same plane as people wanted
for terrorism (Qatada). It blurs the line between
speech and action, and mixes people who call for violence with those who do
not. The comparison also fails to follow the consequences of its logic to its
own illogical conclusion. The comparison fails to recognise that anyone who
objects to Islamic anti-Semitism is immediately known as an "Islamophobe." Therefore, someone hoping to come to
There was, however, a clear political sense to them. A Prime Minister in a
country such as 21st Century Britain might believe that he or she has to be
exceptionally careful not to appear to be criticising any one group of people
or praising another too highly. So for the time being in
The same tactic brought the other discordant moment at the Prime Minister's
lunch -- the same tactic brought to the discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian
dispute. For the other discordant note in May's speech came
when she mentioned Israeli settlement building. It was carefully placed
in the speech, after a passage in which May congratulated her own Department
for International Development (DfID) Minister, Priti Patel. In the days before the lunch, Patel had
announced that DfID would carry out an investigation
to determine whether British taxpayer money being sent to what May called
"the
"When talking about global obligations, we must be honest with our
friends, like
The comment was received in silence and May moved on.
But this comment fitted in closely with the strategy of her other comment. For
having lavished praise on
At the time of May's speech, these two issues seemed like minor cavils to some
and gained little notice. Only now, a fortnight later, has the true duplicity
of the speech been exposed. For now the world has learned what diplomacy the
British government was engaged in even as May was making her speech.
At the same time as the Prime Minister was talking about "true
friendship" in front of friends of
The most obvious interpretation of this fact is simply a reflection that
friends do not kick friends in the back. Especially not in
the world's foremost international forum for kicking that particular friend.
But some people are putting a kinder interpretation on the facts. The kindest
to date is that the May government believes that a sterner line on the issue of
Israeli settlements would give the British government more leverage with the
Palestinians.
If that is so, then it seems that the May government will have to learn abroad
the same lesson that they must learn at home. Both will come about because of
the same strategic mistake: a reliance on the short-term convenience of what
must seem at first to be only convenient little lies. The problem is that such
little lies, when tested on the great seas of domestic and international
affairs, have a tendency to come to grief with exceptional rapidity and ease.
Politicians are keen on taking stands. But if you take a stand that is based on
a lie, then that stand cannot succeed. If you try to oppose anti-Semitism but
pretend it is the same thing as "Islamophobia,"
then the structure on which you have made your stand will totter and all your
aspirations will fail. If you try to make a stand for
**Douglas Murray, British author, commentator and public affairs analyst, is
based in
© 2016 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The
articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of
Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced,
copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone
Institute.
Blocking peace
Ben-Dror Yemini/Ynetnews/December
31/16
Op-ed: Both Kerry's speech this week and the UN Security Council resolution
last week enabled Palestinian intransigence. But Netanyahu's response to the
resolution causes just as much damage—by undermining
he Palestinians have been presented with three
proposals to establish a Palestinian state on 95 percent—more or less—of the
land
To understand the Palestinian logic, one must listen to the comments
made, for example, by Abbas Zaki,
one of the PLO's senior officials, about five years ago: "When we say that
the settlement should be based upon (the 1967) borders, President (Abbas) understands, we understand, and everybody knows that
the greater goal cannot be accomplished in one go ... If Israel withdraws from
Jerusalem, evacuates the 650,000 settlers, and dismantles the wall – what will
become of Israel? It will come to an end ... Netanyahu, Lieberman, and Obama
... All those scumbags ... If one says that one wants to wipe
Zaki didn't keep this strategy to himself. He
presented it in an interview with Al-Jazeera. It may not be the position of the
entire leadership at the Palestinian Authority, but he's obviously representing
a lot more than we think.
John Kerry's speech this week included no mention of the Palestinian
intransigence. Not even a word. To those who aren't familiar with the history
of the negotiations from the Oslo Accord to this very day, it must seem like a
commendable speech. Kerry knows how to get the message across. He's in favor of peace and in favor of a
Jewish state. He's against the settlements, which were mentioned in his speech
more than anything else. His speech explained that therein lies
the rub, and no other issue is as grave.
This was also his explanation for the UN Security Council Resolution
2334. Except that there is a difference. In his speech, Kerry spoke about land
swaps. The Security Council's version was entirely different. It was a
resolution calling to return to the 1967 lines. The Obama administration has
given it its stamp of approval. It was a shot of encouragement to the peace refusniks on the Palestinian side.
The cheers coming from the Palestinian camp following the vote at the UN
Security Council were the result of the success of the strategy Abbas Zaki was talking about. The
demand to return to the 1967 lines—without any compromises, without
Kerry's farewell speech on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
One must admit, though, that here and there,
different voices were heard. There are moderate Palestinians. There was
willingness, like the Geneva Initiative, to reach a compromise based on two
states for two peoples, while including the settlement blocs in Israeli
territory.
But it appears the "Eradicate
The Palestinians' move at the UN was not meant to promote any kind of
peace agreement. It was meant to block one. Just like the Palestinians' appeals
to parliaments and governments around the world to gain recognition for a
Palestinian state. A slew of useful idiots, led by Israeli diplomat Alon Liel, became the main
instrument of their strategy. Liel and his ilk joined
the struggle to convince parliaments around the world to accept the Palestinian
demand. After all, these useful idiots don't require anything of the
Palestinians: Not letting go of the "right of return" fantasy nor stopping the incitement against
The document that was leaked to an Egyptian newspaper this week is
reminiscent of a fateful meeting that took place in the White House on March
17, 2014. During that meeting, President Obama presented Mahmoud
Abbas with Kerry's second peace framework, which is
similar to the one Kerry himself presented in his speech this week. The
Palestinian team rejected the framework and negotiator Saeb
Erekat was rewarded with a juicy curse word from
National Security Advisor Susan Rice.
The Americans should have realized back then who they were dealing with.
But that didn't happen. Unlike Bill Clinton, who pointed to Yasser Arafat as
the one who thwarted his generous proposal, Obama and Kerry chose the opposite
direction. Abbas told them no, but they never said a
word about it. Silence. Complete silence. Deceit. Even an editorial in the Washington Post—which is
not exactly a conservative newspaper—accused Obama this week, using harsh
words, of serial failure.
All of this still doesn't justify Netanyahu's
retaliation. When the prime minister of
It appears that throughout almost the entire affair, his position was
just. He had excellent reasons to come out against the president of the
The Zionist Union and Yesh Atid
released harsh statements against the UN Security Council resolution. On the
other side was the camp of Zehava Galon,
Ahmad Tibi, the useful idiots, B'Tselem
and Haaretz, who encouraged the resolution and
welcomed it. So the division on this issue is not between the Right and the
Left. It's between the radical Left and everyone else—the Zionist Left, the
center and the Right. But for the post-truth Netanyahu, the picture is entirely
different. In his mind, anyone who questions his response belongs to the
radical Left that seeks to harm
On January 20, Netanyahu's close associates say, everything is going to
change. A new president and a new administration in the
It was a bad week for anyone who still hopes that one day,
we'll have a peace agreement. It was a week of deceit and radicalization.
Obama, Kerry and Netanyahu are this week's heroes. Or rather, its anti-heroes
Britain and Australia more supportive of
Israel than Obama and Kerry
Alan M. Dershowitz/Gatestone Institute/December 31/16
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9686/britain-and-australia-more-supportive-of-israel
When the British Prime minster and the Australians foreign minister both
criticize the Obama administration for being unfair to Israel, you can be sure
that something is very wrong with what President Obama and Secretary Kerry have
been doing. This is what Theresa May said:
"We do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the
democratically elected government of an ally. [W]e are
also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict.
In particular, the people of
This is what Julie Bishop, the foreign minister of
"In voting at the UN, the [Australian] Coalition government has
consistently not supported one-‐sided resolutions targeting
And these are only the public criticisms. In private several other countries
have expressed dismay at the problems caused by the last minute moves of the
lame duck Obama administration.
Initially, the New York Times failed to report these important international
developments,
presumably because they disagree with them. Only after other media featured the
British and Australian criticism did they decide to cover it. They did
immediately report that the Jewish community – both in the
Jews, including Senators Schumer, Blumenthal, Gillibrand,
and Wyden have been vocally critical. So have numerous liberal congressmen and
pundits.4 I certainly count myself as a liberal Democrat, who opposes
Only J Street -‐-‐
which carries Obama's water -‐-‐ has expressed support, along with a few handfuls of
hard-‐left
reform rabbis and professional Israel bashers, who the Times reporter quoted as
if they
were representative of the larger Jewish community.
In contrast to the relative uniformity of the
Most who have expressed views have been critical, but we have not yet heard
from several leading Democrats, especially Keith Ellison who is seeking the
chairmanship of the DNC. This is an issue on which silence is not a virtue. It
is important for all Democrats to stand up and be counted.
There is actually some good news growing out of the Kerry speech. Arab leaders
have expressed support for his proposal, which would require the Palestinian
Authority to recognize
This is the phony excuse Hanan Ashwari,
the official spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority, gave for why it would
be "against our principles" to recognize Israel as the nation state
of the Jewish people:
If you want to give religion to states, then this is against our principles. I
don't recognize Islamic states. I don't recognize Christian states. I don't
recognize Jewish states. A state is a state for all its citizens. It has to be
Democratic, inclusive, tolerant, and has to be genuinely representative of all its people. You cannot give added value to any people
because of their religion or ethnicity."5
This statement may win the award for Ashwari as
hypocrite of the year. The Palestinian Authority, which she officially
represents, has the following in its Constitution:
"Islam is the official religion in
Moreover, the Palestinian Authority recognizes
Is Ashwari really saying that the principles of the
Palestinian Authority require it to renounce their own Constitution and to
withdraw recognition from all their Muslim allies? What about from
Israel is the only state in the Middle East that grants religious equality to
all its citizens as a matter of law.7 Israeli Arabs enjoy more rights than do
Arabs (let alone Jews) of any Arab state. They serve in all branches of
government, including the Knesset and the Supreme Court. They have their own
religious authorities recognized by the state.
Contrast this to the Palestinian leadership that has vowed that "not a
single" Israeli Jew will be able to reside in the future Palestinian
state.8 Furthermore Israeli Jews are banned from Palestinian universities and
other institutions.9
So let's have three cheers for Great Britain and Australia, a cheer and a half
for Arab leaders, and a big raspberry for the hypocrisy of Hanan
Ashwari and her Palestinian Authority.
1Alan M. Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor of
Law, Emeritus and author of Taking the Stand: My Life in the
2 Michael Birnbaum, British Leader Theresa May Breaks
with John Kerry's Condemnation of Israel, Washington
3 Adam Nagourney& Sharon Otterman,
American Jews Divided Over Strain in U.S.-‐Israel Relations, New York
Times, Dec. 29, 2016. See also Peter Baker, In 'Red' and 'Blue' Israel,
Separate Lives and Divergent Narratives, New York Times, Dec. 29, 2016
4 Rebecca Kheel, Obama Faces Widespread Backlash
After Abstaining from UN Israel Vote, The Hill, Dec. 23, 2016.
See e.g.
5 CNN New Day with Don Lemon, Dec. 27, 2016.
62002 Basic Laws, Art. 4, available at
http://www.palestinianbasiclaw.org/basic-‐law/2002-‐basic-‐law
7 Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948
8 Abbas: 'Not a single Israeli' in future Palestinian
state,' Jerusalem Post, July 30, 2013, available at
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-‐East/Abbas-‐wants-‐not-‐a-‐single-‐Israeli-‐in-‐future-‐Palestinian-‐state-‐321470
9Amira Hass, When A Haaretz Journalist Was Asked To
Leave A Palestinian University, Sept. 28, 2014
© 2016 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The
articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of
Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced,
copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone
Institute.
The Saudi vision and population growth
Mshari Al Thaydi/Al Arabiya/December 31/16
The world's population explosion is one of the biggest
obstacles hindering the train of development and creating exhausting
competition between the pace of development and the demands of the increasing
population.
All this means that the rate of Saudi population
growth is increasing at a worrying pace. When we talk about population growth,
we are not only talking about citizens but also about residents, considering
the increase of number of refugees from Arab countries and other countries as a
result civil wars.
It means a lot of pressure on services, goods, energy, general resources, such
as those related to hospitalization, education and transportation etc. But when
does population growth become useful?
It becomes useful “when this increase is met with a result in term of the
state’s real production, and when this increase leads to decrease in poverty
and increase of the average income. Population growth must not lead to the
deterioration of the quality of life or to the decrease of essential services
or deterioration of these services’ quality. Population growth must not harm
the environment or drain natural resources.” (Muntser
Abu al-Hajjaj al-Aqsri, al-Ahram) Finally, the religious debate about the issue is not
conclusive. Some prohibit family planning and some allow it as it has its
benefits. This debate by various sources is available for anyone who wants to
check it out. Speaking of jurisprudence, it's worth noting that that the four
imams of the Sunni sect did not have many children. Imam Abu Hanifa only had one son, Hammad,
Imam Shafii had two sons, Othman and Mohammed, Imam
Ahmad ibn Hanbal had two
sons, Saleh and Abdullah and Imam Malik
had one son, Yahya. What can be seen is that
population growth is not adding to market production or expertise as the
opposite is happening. Therefore, the situation must be bravely confronted and
programs that encourage family planning must be devised so the new Saudi train moves
forward without any obstructions. *This article was first published in Asharq al-Awsat on December 26,
2016.
Saudi defense
industry is a national priority
Samar Fatany/Saudi Gazette/December 31/ 2016
The Sultanate of Oman’s decision to join the Saudi-led anti- terrorism
coalition is a welcome development and a major boost to the 40-nation Islamic
Military Alliance created on Dec. 15, 2015 to enhance regional security.
Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second
deputy premier and minister of defense, stated that
Saudi Vision 2030 includes plans to boost the military industry and to raise
the level of security services within the Saudi army. He stated that the
Kingdom would be restructuring many military deals to be linked to Saudi
manufacturing.
He also added, that the Kingdom is in the
process of establishing a holding company for military industries. He said, “It
will be later in the Saudi market, also for ‘transparency’, so a citizen can
know the military deals, the company’s performance, sales, deals and industries
very clearly.” Developing a strong Saudi defense
industry is a national priority.
Foreign military assistance
In line with the new vision and the alarming threat of terrorism, seeking
military cooperation with major industrial powers is critical to prevent
dangerous situations. The drive for self-dependency and the setting up of our
own parameters of defense is a step in the right
direction. It is time we build our own defense
mechanisms. For years, we have been entirely dependent on foreign military
assistance and that has weakened our status in the global community and has
allowed many to take advantage of our vulnerability. The new vision opens doors
for us to import and develop our own indigenous technology to suit our needs
and environment.
The official visit of the high-level delegation of the Italian frigate
Nave Carabiniere on Dec. 28 to the Jeddah Chamber of
Commerce and Industry presented an opportunity for our business community to
view state-of-the-art naval ships and products. The commanding officer
Francesco Pagnotta explained that the purpose of the
visit was to foster cooperation and to demonstrate the newest and most advanced
navy projects that are not only for military purposes but also for civilian
tasks that include providing power and water supply, humanitarian assistance,
hospital services and logistic support with medical care capacity.
Members of the delegation included ship building business leaders who
offered services to provide technology transfer of the latest naval ships and
electronic warfare and defense equipment. They shared
their expertise in surveillance and cyber intelligence systems with the aim of
deterring the threat of terrorists or other illegal activities.
Our region must work on a strategy for the efficient transfer of military
technology and the creation of policies to foster relations to build partners
and not remain recipients in the evolution of technology. If we do not develop
our military mechanism and spend wisely on defense,
we will be easy prey for warmongers and terrorist organizations.
**This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette on December 31,
2016.