LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS
BULLETIN
January 04/17
Compiled
& Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The
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Bible Quotations For Today
Prophet, Anna the daughter of
Phanuel came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who
were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 02/36-40/:"There was
also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of
a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,
then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but
worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she
came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking
for the redemption of
For God is not unjust; he will
not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the
saints, as you still do.
Letter to the Hebrews 06/09-12/:"Even though we speak in this way,
beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to
salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love
that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we
want each one of you to show the same diligence, so as to realize the full assurance
of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of
those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Titles For Latest
LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on
January 03-04/17
The Significance, Ramifications, And Messages Of Hizbullah's Show Of
Military Force In Al-Qusayr, Syria/Yael Yehoshua/MEMRI/January 03/17
Local Loyalist Militias of Suwayda’: Katibat Jalamid Urman (Dir’ al-Jabal)/By
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi/Syria Comment/January 03/17
The Specifics of Sharia’s Savageries/Raymond Ibrahim/FrontPage Magazine/Lanuary
03/17
Iran's New Indigenous Air Defence System/NATO Take Heed/Debalina
Ghoshal//Gatestone Institute/January 03/17
Capucci, Archbishop Jailed for Aiding Palestinian Militants, Dies at 94/Sewll
Chanjan/The NewYork Times/January 02/17
Hamas's Fatah and the No-State Solution/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/January 03/17
What will Trump do against Iran’s expansion/Turki Aldakhil/Al Arabiya/January
03/17
urkey, the terrorists’ first target/Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/January
03/17
Why Ali Al-Naimi’s book is a source of pride/Hussein Shobokshi/Al
Arabiya/January 03/17
Titles For Latest Lebanese Related News published on January
03-04/17
Aoun stands minute of silence in mourning of Istanbul terrorist attack
victims
Hariri: Aoun's visit to Saudi Arabia will reflect positively on the bilateral
relations
Hariri Declares National Mourning as Lebanon Bids Farewell to Club Attack
Victims
Judeh visits Hariri: Jordan and Lebanon most affected by Syrian refugees
Aoun Travels to Riyadh Next Week, Cairo among Next Stops
Hezbollah, Assad regime attack Wadi Barada for 11th day
Jordan, Lebanon share same refugee burden: FM
Jordan FM Meets Aoun and Hariri, Hands President Invitation to Visit Amman
Change and Reform Urges 'National Anti-Terror Plan', Says Electoral Law Must
Enjoy 'Broadest Consensus'
Future bloc applauds cabinet's performance during Istanbul's massacre
Fugitive Suspected of IS Links Held in Tripoli as Arms Seized
Kataeb Slams 'Failure to Deal with Electoral Law as a Priority'
Wednesday's Cabinet Session to Address Tragedy of Istanbul's Lebanese Victims
General Ibrahim: We coordinate with world security apparatuses to protect
Lebanon from terrorism
Army Intelligence refers to judiciary terror ring linked to Shadi Mawlawi
Jumblatt via Twitter: Oil and gas item on Cabinet agenda tomorrow like pre
prepared feast to be munched
Rahi receives Ukrainian Ambassador
Palestinian Security Forces apprehend suspects accused of assassinating Hmeid,
Saleh
Grenade blast heard in Ain Helweh
Syrian boy dies after drowning in Taanayel well
The Significance, Ramifications, And Messages Of Hizbullah's Show Of Military
Force In Al-Qusayr, Syria
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on
January 03-04/17
Turkey nightclub suspect in grim selfie video in Istanbul
Turkey Says to Press On with Syria Operation despite Istanbul Attack
Turkey Makes More Arrests in Hunt for Istanbul Attacker
Across Middle East, Final Goodbyes to Istanbul Dead
Ex-Qaida Affiliate Leaders among 25 Dead in Syria Strike
Fighting Puts Syria Peace Negotiations at Risk
IS Attack on Iraq Police Station Kills Three
Iran Regime Was Forced to Release Arash Sadeghi's Wife After 72-Days of Hunger
Strike and Massive Public Support
Protest Gathering of Labor Union in Front of Iran Regime's Parliament
Head of Iran Regime Assembly of Experts: Cyberspace Is More Dangerous Than
Drugs
Clashes with Rebels, al-Qaida Kill 16 Yemeni Soldiers
Libya Strongman Says Russia 'to Fight Arms Embargo'
Graft Probe Tests Netanyahu's Years-Long Hold on Power
US Congress plans targeted legislation against Iran and the UN
Paul Ryan re-elected as US House Speaker
Hillary and Bill Clinton to Attend Donald Trump Inauguration, Aides Say
Latest Lebanese Related News
published on January 03-04/17
Aoun stands minute of
silence in mourning of Istanbul terrorist attack victims
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, stood a
minute of silence at 3.00 p.m. this afternoon in mourning of the souls of the
three Lebanese martyrs who were killed in the
The President received today a delegation of the Lebanese Diaspora at
Hariri: Aoun's visit to Saudi Arabia will
reflect positively on the bilateral relations
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - Prime Minister Saad Hariri received this evening at the
Grand Serail a delegation of Lebanese businessmen in Jeddah, in the presence of
the Consul General of Lebanon in Jeddah Ziad Atallah and the head of the Lebanese
Saudi Business Council Raouf Abu Zaki. At the beginning of the meeting, Atallah
congratulated Hariri on the formation of the government and said: "The
Lebanese community in the
He added: "We wanted to inform today about the activities of the
consulate and the community, and the latest was the establishment of a huge
building for the consulate in Jeddah, funded by Lebanese and Saudis businessmen
with a value of approximately 15 million dollars, which made it the most
important mission of
Congratulations message
Hariri sent a message to the new Secretary General of the United Nations,
Antonio Guterres, congratulating him on his post.
Hariri Declares National Mourning as
Naharnet/January 03/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday declared national
mourning over the Lebanese victims of
The bodies of the victims and five of the wounded had arrived Monday
evening in
The jihadist Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the
attack, saying it was in response to
Judeh visits Hariri: Jordan and Lebanon
most affected by Syrian refugees
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - Prime Minister Saad Hariri received this afternoon at the
Grand Serail, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and
Expatriate affairs Minister Nasser Judeh, who said after the meeting: "I
had the honor this morning to meet with the President of the Republic, General
Michel Aoun, and conveyed to him a written message from King Abdullah II , that
included an invitation to attend the Arab summit that will to be hosted by
Jordan next March. We hope that his Excellency will accept the invitation
because his presence would have a significant impact on the success of the
summit. I took also the opportunity to convey to the president the greetings of
his Majesty the King and his sincere congratulations for his election as
president of
Aoun Travels to Riyadh Next Week,
Naharnet/January 03/17/Michel Aoun is preparing to visit the Saudi capital
Hezbollah, Assad regime attack Wadi
Barada for 11th day
Orient Net Publication Date: 2017-01-02 /The Lebanese terrorist Hezbollah
militia and Assad regime continued their offensive on Wadi Barad for an 11th
consecutive day, according to Orient News Correspondent. Assad regime warplanes
hit Wadi Barada with 11 airstrikes on Monday threatening the ceasefire deal
which took effect at midnight last Thursday. Opposition-held villages of the
valley have been under siege for months by Hezbollah and Assad regime. The
humanitarian situation was already dire even before the recent offensive
started 11 days ago. In addition to the bombing, people in the valley have now
to endure life without water, electricity or any means of communication
including landlines, cell phones and the Internet. The villages also face acute
shortage of food, medicine and fuel due to the long siege.
Wadi Barada, located 18 kilometers northwest of
Jordan, Lebanon share same refugee burden:
FM
The Daily Star/January 03, 2017 /BEIRUT: Visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister
Nasser Judeh said Tuesday his country and Lebanon were both facing pressing
challenges due to the huge influx of Syrian refugees. "We are suffering
from the same humanitarian consequences from the Syrian crisis and the refugee
influx, which is causing a lot of burden on our economies,"Judeh, who was
in Beirut arrived on a one-day visit, said after meeting with Prime Minister
Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail. Judeh said that refugees make up about 22
percent of
Jordan FM Meets Aoun and Hariri, Hands
President Invitation to Visit
Naharnet/January 03/17/Jordanian Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Nasser
Judeh held talks Tuesday in
Change and Reform Urges 'National
Anti-Terror Plan', Says Electoral Law Must Enjoy 'Broadest Consensus'
Naharnet/January 03/17/The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Tuesday
called for a “national plan for combating terrorism” in the wake of the carnage
that hit an Istanbul nightclub, as it urged an electoral law that “enjoys the
broadest consensus possible.” “The security of our country is above all
other considerations, according to the presidential oath of office and the
ministerial policy statement,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its
weekly meeting in Rabieh, calling for “a national plan for combating terrorism
that boosts coordination among the various security agencies.”And noting that
Lebanese authorities have addressed the issue of the Lebanese victims of
Future bloc applauds cabinet's
performance during Istanbul's massacre
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - "Future" bloc convened its weekly meeting
on Tuesday afternoon at the Center House chaired by former Prime Minister,
Fouad Siniora and tackled the situation in Lebanon and the region. The bloc
stood for a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs, especially the Lebanese
who were killed in the bloodbath, as result of the terrorist act on New Year's
Eve in
Fugitive Suspected of IS Links Held in
Tripoli as Arms Seized
Naharnet/January 03/17/A General Security force on Tuesday arrested the
fugitive A. D. in Tripoli's al-Zahriyeh neighborhood on suspicion of belonging
and communicating with the jihadist Islamic State group, LBCI television
reported. A large army unit meanwhile raided a depot in
Kataeb Slams 'Failure to
Deal with Electoral Law as a Priority'
Naharnet/January 03/17/The Kataeb Party on Tuesday condemned the political
forces' failure to “deal with the electoral law as a priority,” warning that
“the deadlines are nearing.”“Any procrastination in passing the new law
and its main elements, especially the supervisory commission and the setting of
dates for the electoral bodies, would put the country before two bad choices –
the rejected 1960 law or a third extension” of the parliament's term, said a
statement issued by Kataeb's politburo after its weekly meeting. Both choices
would “deal a new blow to democracy,” the party warned. Interior Minister
Nouhad al-Mashnouq had recently warned that there is not much time left to pass
a new electoral law while announcing that the ministry is ready to organize the
polls under the 1960 law. Hizbullah has repeatedly called for an electoral law
fully based on proportional representation but other political parties,
especially al-Mustaqbal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party, have
rejected the proposal and argued that the party's controversial arsenal of arms
would prevent serious competition in regions where the Iran-backed party has
clout. Mustaqbal, the Lebanese Forces and the PSP have meanwhile proposed a
hybrid electoral law that mixes the proportional representation and the
winner-takes-all systems. Speaker Nabih Berri has also proposed a hybrid law.
The country has not voted for a parliament since 2009, with the legislature
instead twice extending its own mandate. The 2009 polls were held under an
amended version of the 1960 electoral law and the next elections are scheduled
for May 2017.
Wednesday's Cabinet Session to Address
Tragedy of Istanbul's Lebanese Victims
Naharnet/January 03/17/The Cabinet is expected to tackle the plight of
the Lebanese citizens who were affected by the Istanbul nightclub massacre,
although the issue is not on the official agenda. In remarks to An Nahar
newspaper published Tuesday, ministerial sources highlighted “the importance of
the solidarity, coordination and speed shown by all the relevant state agencies
in the face of the tragedy, which were directly overseen by the president and
the premier.”“The impact on the Lebanese public opinion would have been worse
had it not felt and clearly sensed, perhaps for the first time, the extent of
harmony, speed and coordination in addressing the situations of the wounded
Lebanese and their families, and in the quick transfer of the martyrs and the
wounded to Beirut,” the sources added. Three Lebanese were killed and six
others were wounded at
General Ibrahim: We coordinate with world
security apparatuses to protect Lebanon from terrorism
Tue 03 Jan 2017 /NNA - General Security Chief, General Abbas Ibrahim,
maintained on Tuesday that his agency was coordinating with the security
apparatuses worldwide in order to protect Lebanon from the perils of terrorism,
adding that the directorate also provided those authorities with needed
information for that matter. "
"The Lebanese society in general does not constitute a supportive
environment for destructive terrorist ideologies," he stressed. "The
new year carries along many security and administrative challenges," he
indicated. He lastly revealed that work was underway to form a General Security
unit specialized with fighting corruption.
Army Intelligence refers to judiciary
terror ring linked to Shadi Mawlawi
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - The Lebanese Army Intelligence Directorate
indicated, in a communiqué on Tuesday, that it had referred to the judiciary
court a terror ring arrested in Tripoli and linked to Shadi Mawlaw, a commander
from al-Nusra Front who is still at large inside the Palestinian refugee camp
of Ain-el-Hilwe. The ring, which inlcudes 11 members, was planning to dispatch
booby-trapped cars to the southern suburbs of
Jumblatt via Twitter: Oil and gas item on
Cabinet agenda tomorrow like pre prepared feast to be munched
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - "Democratic Gathering" head MP Walid
Jumblatt noted that the first item to be addressed tomorrow at the Cabinet
meeting-- which was distributed in an urgent way-- is the oil and gas item
"as if all related things were resolved to approve these decrees," as
he remarked. "This matter looks like a feast pre-pared behind the scene to
be devoured tomorrow," MP Jumblatt said in a series of tweets on Tuesday.
In this regard, Jumblatt noted the absence of a national company and a sovereign
Fund, with a valueless national body. He said that the Minister- regardless of
his affiliation- enjoys all powers of regions' distribution and bidding, not to
mention the Ministry's special fund. Jumblatt said tomorrow's meeting is akin
to the "Godfather" Movie" and its famous saying "the offer
cannot be refused." The MP wondered about the future of the Lebanese youth
and whether
Rahi receives Ukrainian Ambassador
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - The Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rahi
received on Tuesday the Ukrainian Ambassador to
Palestinian Security Forces apprehend
suspects accused of assassinating Hmeid, Saleh
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - The Palestinian Security Forces have detained fugitives
on suspicion of killing Samer Hmeid and Mahmoud Saleh last week, NNA field
reporter said, NNA field reporter said on Tuesday. The Palestinian force has
opened investigations into said case to take the appropriate measures.
Grenade blast heard in Ain Helweh
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - A hand grenade explosion has been heard in Ain el Helweh
Camp in
Syrian boy dies after drowning in Taanayel
well
Tue 03 Jan 2017/NNA - A five-year-old boy (Syrian national) drowned and
died on Tuesday in a well in Taanayel, NNA field reporter said.
The Significance, Ramifications, And
Messages Of Hizbullah's Show Of Military Force In Al-Qusayr, Syria
Yael Yehoshua/MEMRI/January 03/17
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2017/01/03/yael-yehoshuamemrithe-significance-ramifications-and-messages-of-hizbullahs-show-of-military-force-in-al-qusayr-syria/
https://www.memri.org/reports/significance-ramifications-and-messages-hizbullahs-show-military-force-al-qusayr-syria
On November 13, 2016, Hizbullah marked its annual Martyr Day by holding its
first military parade in a Syrian town, Al-Qusayr, which Hizbullah took over in
2013 following a long and bloody battle with rebel forces, and which has since
become the main symbol of the organization's involvement in the Syria war
alongside the Assad regime. The parade featured hundreds of fighters in
military uniforms, tanks, U.S.-made M113 armored personnel carriers, cannon,
machine guns, and an armored regiment. Also marching was the Al-Radwan
division, comprising some 10,000 fighters from Hizbullah's "intervention
forces" and "special forces" fighting in Syria, which constitute
the spearhead of the organization in the country.[1]
By holding this parade at this time and at this location, Hizbullah was
informing its rivals, locally and in the region – that is, political players in
Lebanon, the Syrian rebels and their Arab supporters, and the West and Israel –
that it is now a powerful cross-border military force that can control areas
outside Lebanon's borders. The parade did indeed cause a tremendous stir among
Hizbullah supporters, as well as among the organization's opponents.
This paper will review the significance and ramifications of the parade in
Al-Qusayr and the messages that it sent.
Hizbullah Underlines Its Presence On Syrian Soil
Hizbullah's holding the parade on Syrian soil, particularly in Al-Qusayr, is a
symbolic yet highly significant act showing the organization's control of part
of Syrian territory. Al-Qusayr is the jewel in the crown of Hizbullah's
military involvement in
Also, holding the parade on Syrian soil as opposed to Lebanese soil is a
blatant attempt by Hizbullah to highlight its presence in
Qassem's statements were backed up by statements by Lebanese Army Gen. (ret.)
Amin Hatit, who is close to Hizbullah: "Hizbullah's presence in Syria is
something basic... As far as we are concerned, there is no difference between
Al-Qusayr and South [
By holding it on its Martyr Day, Hizbullah also intended the parade to convey a
message to the Shi'ite public in Lebanon, which supports Hizbullah and is the
source of its political power and its fighters, that despite its losses
Hizbullah has remained strong. For Lebanese Shi'ites, many of whom have been
killed and wounded in the past four years of Hizbullah's fighting in Syria, and
particularly in the ongoing battle for Aleppo, the parade was meant to boost
morale and signal that the losses had not been in vain but had only further
strengthened the organization and made it possible for it to become a regional
power.
Hizbullah's Transition From A Resistance Force To A Quasi-Regular Army
Hizbullah's demonstration of its military strength by parading hundreds of its
soldiers with tanks, cannon, machine guns, and so on also reflected its wish to
send the message that it was now a well-trained and well-armed force, with new
units, resembling an experienced regular army, and was no longer a resistance
militia waging guerilla warfare against Israel.
This upgrade of its military and deterrence capabilities is the result of its
military experience in
It appears that Hizbullah's show of strength at this time was because of
achievements in the field by both it and its camp, the resistance axis. These
achievements included the strengthening of Hizbullah, the Syrian army, and the
militias that have been operating alongside the Syrian army since the beginning
of Russia's military involvement in Syria over a year ago along with the
upsurge in the political status of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in the Arab
world and in the West, and the bolstering of Iran's regional and international
status because of its increased military presence in Iraq and Syria and in the
wake of the nuclear agreement and the election of the Hizbullah ally Michel
Aoun to the Lebanese presidency.
Hizbullah As A Cross-Border Regional Force
Alongside the messages it sent locally, the parade was aimed at letting the
region know that Hizbullah is a cross-border military force that is not bound
by any particular territory and does not recognize the Syria-Lebanon border, or
other borders between
Hizbullah and its sponsor, Iran, which itself is striving to spread its Islamic
Revolution and "Rule of the Jurisprudent" doctrine, do not consider
geographic borders to be significant, and are deepening their penetration of
many countries in the region. This approach is expressed by the military
involvement of
The military parade sent a message not only to the rebels in Syria, but also to
their sponsors in the Arab and Muslim world – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey –
underlining that the resistance axis in Syria has the upper hand, and that Hizbullah
will not hesitate to show its power anywhere it needs to in order to subjugate
its opponents. On this matter, Lebanese Army Gen. (ret.) Amin Hatit said:
"Had Hizbullah wanted to send a message to
In an interview with the Iranian website Tasnim, which is close to
Also, Nasser Qandil, editor of the pro-Syria Lebanese daily Al-Bina and an
Assad associate, wrote in a November 16, 2016 article titled "Hizbullah –
The New Middle East Army" that the organization is a cross-border force
and that the borders between countries mean nothing to it. He stated that
Hizbullah has become the "Middle East Army" because of its military
capabilities and because it is a military force that crosses borders, and that
it has achieved this by virtue of the popular organizations in the region that
assist it, which comprise approximately a million fighters spread across the
In this context, Qandil added that as Israel's military strength and Saudi
Arabia's economic and political strength were waning, and as Al-Qaeda was
failing, and as the U.S. was more preoccupied with domestic affairs and Russia
was concerned about neutralizing other regional forces such as Turkey,
"Hizbullah and the network of its allies is developing, becoming like a
soft-[power] state that lives in the bosom of several countries. [Hizbullah] is
not a rival [to the states on whose soil it exists], but complements them,
living and developing at their consent as a deterrent force and as added
strategic value. Thus, this force is becoming the most important fact emerging
with the beginning of the 21st century... and no force in existence can
threaten the growth of this new army of the Middle East that is deployed from
Hizbullah As An Independent Force Operating Outside Lebanese Laws And
Institutions
The Al-Qusayr military parade has great significance also vis-à-vis
By holding the parade, Hizbullah has again proven, to Lebanon and to the entire
world, that it is not subject to Lebanon's laws and institutions, but that it operates
according to its own interests and the interests of Iran and the resistance
axis. As far as it is concerned, its presence in
This message was discordant to Hizbullah's opponents within
Other criticism came from Ali Al-Husseini, in his column in the Lebanese daily
Al-Mustaqbal, associated with the March 14 Forces: "It is odd that this
parade was held at the same time as preparations were being carried out by the
Lebanese army for [Lebanon's November 22] Independence Day... The message to
Hizbullah As A Deterrent Force In Lebanon's Internal Politics
Hizbullah's parade, which also came several weeks after its ally Michel Aoun
was elected Lebanon's president,[15] and at the height of consultations for the
establishment of a new government headed by Sa'ad Al-Hariri, head of the
Al-Mustaqbal stream, was also a way of flexing its muscles at various forces in
Lebanon's political arena, particularly at President Aoun and his party which
are still considered Hizbullah allies. This show of strength was aimed at
reiterating that the organization had military power and that it would not
agree to any changes to the political balance of power that were not in its
favor, and would also not allow its weapons to be touched.
While Aoun's election was considered a victory for Hizbullah and for the March
8 Forces that it heads, there is, according to reports in the Lebanese media,
great apprehension in Hizbullah and in the March 8 Forces that Aoun will end
his sweeping support for the resistance, and will moderate his stance, compromise,
and lean more towards the center than he has in the past, and will show
neutrality towards both the March 14 Forces and the March 8 Forces.
The cooperation between Aoun (who represents the majority of Christians in the
country after forming an alliance with the Christian Lebanese Forces party led
by Samir Geagea) and Al-Hariri (who represents the majority of Sunnis) –
cooperation which led to Aoun's election and to the appointment of Al-Hariri to
establish the next government – is also of concern to the Shi'ite Hizbullah.
Its main fear stems from the possibility of shifts in the political power
balance in the country, because Aoun's alliance with Hizbullah foe Geagea has
created a powerful, cohesive Christian group that has shared out the government
portfolios among its members, at the expense of the other Christian parties who
belong to the March 8 Forces – and Aoun is likely to prioritize this powerful
Christian group over his alliance with Hizbullah and his support for the
resistance.
These apprehensions also increased following visits by Saudi and Qatari
emissaries to Aoun, following which the latter promised that Saudi Arabia will
be the first stop on his visits to Arab countries, and in light of his
statement, as part of his wish to establish Lebanon as an independent actor,
that Lebanon under his leadership would "adopt an independent policy and
will not be subjugated to anyone."[16]
Hizbullah As An Anti-Israel Deterrent Force From Both Lebanese And Syrian
Territory
Hizbullah also used the parade to convey a message about its position on a war
against
That the parade was an attempt by Hizbullah to demonstrate its strength to
'Abdallah Kamah wrote on the Lebanese website Alhadathnews.net: "At a time
when the warriors of the Al-Radwan [division] are fighting and gaining combat
experience in
Moreover, by holding the parade on Syrian soil, Hizbullah challenged Israel's
opposition to the establishment of Hizbullah forces in Syria, specifically in
the Golan Heights. Increasing its presence in the Syrian Golan is part of the
organization's plan to expand the arena of conflict with
In an article published a few days after the parade, the political editor of
the Lebanese daily Al-Safir implied that that one of the reasons Hizbullah is
establishing itself in Syria is to open an additional front against Israel in
the Golan Heights: "The weapons displayed by Hizbullah [at the parade] are
weapons that [regular] armies have, and this is a clear message to Israel that
the arena for every future campaign will absolutely not be limited to certain
Lebanese borders and to a local population that either does or does not support
[the resistance], but will rather be an arena that is more energetic, deeper,
and broader – strategically, geographically, and militarily."[23]
*Yael Yehoshua is Vice President for Research and Director of MEMRI Israel
[1] For more on the military parade, see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 6677,
Special Dispatch No. 6677, Hizbullah Military Parade In Syrian Town Of Al-Qusayr:
Tanks, Cannon, And Machine Guns, November 14, 2016. It should be noted that the
Lebanese army denied claims that the M113 APCs and other military equipment in
the parade belonged to it. Al-Nahar (
[2] Al-Mudun (
[3] Al-Safir (
[4] Al-Nahar (
[5] Al-Mudun (
[6] Al-Safir (
[7] Alahednews.com, November 16, 2016.
[8] Al-Nahar (
[9] Tasnim (
[10] Al-Bina (
[11] For more on Lebanese criticism of Hizbullah's involvement in the fighting
in Syria, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 980, Lebanon Openly Enters
Fighting In Syria, June 13, 2013; Special Dispatch No. 6383, Lebanese Writer:
Hizbullah Is No Longer A Resistance Organization, But An Occupier And Target
For Resistance, April 12, 2016; Inquiry & Analysis No. 1147, Lebanese
Elements Furious Over Hizbullah's Activity In Golan, Shebaa Farms, Critical Of
Nasrallah's Statements About Uniting Lebanese, Syrian Resistance Fronts, March
11, 2016.
[12] Al-Safir (
[13] Twitter.com/Ashraf_Rifi, November 14, 2016.
[14] Al-Mustaqbal (
[15] See MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1276, Al-Hariri's Choice Of Hizbullah
Ally Aoun For Lebanese Presidency Is Another March 14 Forces Concession To
Pro-Iran Axis, October 28, 2016.
[16] Al-Safir (
[17] Al-Mudun (
[18] For example, Alhadathnews.net, November 15, 2016.
[19] Alhadathnews.net, November 15, 2016.
[20] Al-Akhbar (
[21] For Lebanese criticism of Nasrallah's statement, see MEMRI Special
Dispatch No. 5994, Lebanese Elements Furious Over Hizbullah's Activity In
Golan, Shebaa Farms; Slam Nasrallah's Statements About Uniting Lebanese, Syrian
Resistance Fronts, March 10, 2015; For more on Hizbullah and Iranian IRGC
activity in the Syrian Golan on the Israeli border, see MEMRI Inquiry &
Analysis No. 1138, Following Killing Of Hizbullah Operative Jihad Mughniyah,
New Information Comes To Light Regarding Hizbullah, Iranian Activity In Syrian
Golan On Israeli Border, January 28, 2015; MEMRI Daily Brief No. 1146, From The
Mediterranean to the Golan, Iran Builds Active Front And Direct Military
Presence On Israel's Border To Deter Israel And Further Ideology Of Eliminating
The Zionist Regime, February 16, 2015.
[22] For more on Hizbullah's activity in the Golan, see MEMRI Special Dispatch
No. 6039, Board Chairman Of Pro-Hizbullah Lebanese
Daily: Hizbullah Has Established Resistance Infrastructure In Syrian Golan In
Cooperation With Locals, April 30, 2015.
[23] Al-Safir (
Latest LCCC Bulletin For
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on January 03-04/17
Turkey nightclub suspect in
grim selfie video in Istanbul
DUSAN STOJANOVIC,Associated Press
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2017/01/03/apturkey-nightclub-suspect-in-grim-selfie-video-in-istanbul/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/turkish-media-run-selfie-video-alleged-nightclub-gunman-074045957.html
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish state media aired new footage on Tuesday of a man
believed to be the gunman who killed 39 people at a nightclub, showing a grim
selfie video of the suspect as he circles Istanbul's most famous square.
The camera never leaves the man's unsmiling face as he walks through Taksim
square, one of Istanbul's prime tourist spots, during the 44-second video
broadcast on state-run Anadolu television and other media.
It wasn't immediately clear if it was filmed before or after the New Year's
massacre at the Reina nightclub, or how the footage was obtained. The gunman,
who hasn't been publicly identified, is still at large.
The Islamic State group claimed the attack on Monday, saying a "soldier of
the caliphate" had carried out the mass shooting to avenge Turkish
military operations against IS in northern Syria.
Layan Nasser, an 18-year-old Arab Israeli dental assistant who had traveled to
"She had dreams to work, to progress, to study, to raise a family, but
unfortunately the terror put an end to her dreams," Tira mayor Mamoun Abd
El Hai said.
At least 14 people have been detained in connection with the attack. Two
foreigners were detained at Ataturk airport's international terminal on Tuesday
after police checked their cellphones and luggage, according to Anadolu.
Hurriyet newspaper said that a woman identified by Turkish media as the wife of
the massacre suspect has told police she didn't know her husband was an IS
member.
The woman was detained in the central town of
Media reports say the gunman flew to
The family rented a studio in
Hurriyet said the gunman returned to
Haber Turk newspaper on Tuesday said the man is thought to be a member of
The nightclub assailant, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed a policeman
and a civilian in the early hours of 2017 outside the club before opening fire
on the estimated 600 people inside. The establishment is frequented by famous
locals, including singers, actors and athletes. Most of the dead on Sunday were
foreign tourists.
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/Turkey will press on with its
military operation in
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/Turkish authorities on Tuesday
intensified efforts to identify a suspected jihadist from Central Asia behind
the massacre of 39 people at an
Police released pictures of the suspect who went on the rampage at the
plush Reina nightclub on New Year's night, spraying about 120 bullets at
terrified partygoers before slipping away into the night. So far, 16 people are
being held over the attack, including two foreigners detained by Turkish police
at
'Wandering dangerously'
The Islamic State (IS) group on Monday claimed the massacre, the first
time it has clearly stated being behind a major attack in Turkey. The suspect
-- who has not been named but reportedly may be from
'Hard to understand'
Near the entrance to the nightclub on the shores
of the Bosphorus, an impromptu shrine was set up with pictures of the dead
where well-wishers have been piling up flowers. "The attacker arrived at
the door and opened fire towards me," club manager Ali Unal told AFP.
"My foot slipped and I fell down, the gunshots didn't
stop."Police meanwhile released the first clear images of the attacker,
including one taken by security cameras on the night of the attack. And a
chilling video of the suspect taken near
Across Middle East, Final Goodbyes to
Funerals were being held across the Middle East Tuesday for victims of the
'People who love life'
In
'Kind, loveable and clever'
Arab Israeli Lian
Five-month-old orphaned
Funerals were also to be held later Tuesday for two Tunisian victims of
the attack, husband and wife Mohamed Azzabi and Senda Nakaa who left behind a
five-month-old daughter. Nakaa was also a French citizen, and French ambassador
Olivier Poivre d'Arvor was on hand when their bodies arrived at
Twin Saudi brothers
The Saudi Gazette on Tuesday reported that among the victims were Saudi
twins Mohammed and Ahmed Saud Al-Fadl, 24, who died together in the attack.
They had just graduated from university, said the newspaper, which ran a
picture of the brothers wearing matching shirts and identical glasses. It
identified another of the Saudi victims as 24-year-old Lubna Ghaznawi, who was
at the club with two girlfriends. Funerals were also held in
Ex-Qaida Affiliate Leaders among 25 Dead
in Syria Strike
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/An air strike in Syria on Tuesday
killed at least 25 members of former al-Qaida affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front
including senior figures, a monitor said. Unidentified aircraft "hit a
major base of Fateh al-Sham near to the town of
Fighting Puts
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/A dozen Syrian rebel factions have
suspended talks on new peace negotiations, accusing President Bashar Assad's
regime of violating a four-day-old ceasefire with attacks near
'Critical phase'
Fierce fighting in Wadi Barada continued on Tuesday, the Britain-based
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. Government forces used barrel
bombs and artillery after advancing on Monday to the outskirts of the Ain
al-Fijeh spring, the area's main water source, it said. The regime accuses
rebels of deliberately damaging infrastructure there, poisoning the water
supply with fuel then cutting the flow to
Spillover in
The ceasefire and planned talks are the latest effort to negotiate an end
to
IS Attack on Iraq Police Station Kills
Three
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/An attack carried out by the
Islamic State group on a police station in the Iraqi city of Samarra has left
three members of the force dead, officers said Tuesday. According to security
officials from Salaheddin province, in which
The attack, similar to one carried out in late November 2016, was claimed by IS
via its propaganda agency Amaq.
Iran Regime Was Forced to Release Arash
Sadeghi's Wife After 72-Days of Hunger Strike and Massive Public Support
NCRI/January 03/17/ After 72 days of hunger strike by Arash Sadeghi and
additional strikes by other political prisoners and the wave of domestic and
international supports, Iran regime was forced to release his wife Golrokh
Ebrahimi on bail of 500 million toman (125000 dollars). Arash Sadeghi had a
short meeting with his wife before her releae. Arash Sadeghi said to his wife
after achieving his goal, now he will put an end to his hunger strike. He was
seventy two days in strike and despite serious health conditions and being on
the verge of death he was not willing to break the strike. On Monday December2,
hundreds of people gathered in front of Evin prison and called for his release,
during this period some other political prisoners also started hunger strike to
support him. In a statement issued on Monday, Amnesty International called for
his immediate release and asked
Protest Gathering of Labor Union in Front
of
NCRI/January 03/17/On Tuesday, January 3, 2017, more than 3,000 members of the
Labor Community Union staged a protest gathering, in front of the
The protesters joined in the capital city
Head of Iran Regime Assembly of Experts:
Cyberspace Is More Dangerous Than Drugs
NCRI/January 03/17/The Iranian regime’s head of the Assembly of Experts, mullah
Ahmad Jannati, while claiming cyberspace and social media can lead young people
astray and their danger is more than (the danger of) drugs, theft and other
social problems, demanded more crackdowns on cyberspace activists. According to
state-run Entekhab website, mullah Jannati on Saturday December 31 in a meeting
with the Kish Island Police Chief said they should take measures with full
force to deal with and confront the potential damage of cyberspace and added:
“Cyberspace affects the ideas, thoughts and behavior of the young people and
you should make the success that you have achieved in the fight against this
phenomenon in Kish available to other people so that they also benefit from
these experiences.” “Cyberspace is one of the regime’s
and country’s important issues of the day and other issues are secondary,” he
said. The regime’s Kish Island Police Chief pointed out that in addition to the
measures taken against cyberspace activity, the repressive plan against women
and the so-called improper veiling in also the police priority and said: “The
issue of (women’s) veiling is another priority of the police in
Clashes with Rebels, al-Qaida Kill 16
Yemeni Soldiers
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/Sixteen Yemeni pro-government
fighters were killed on Tuesday in separate clashes with Huthi rebels and
al-Qaida fighters in the south of the war-torn country, military sources and
officials said. Forces supporting
Libya Strongman Says Russia 'to Fight
Arms Embargo'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/January 03/17/Russia will seek to end an arms
embargo against Libya and could supply weapons to Khalifa Haftar, whose forces
support a rival administration to the U.N.-backed unity government, the
military strongman said Tuesday. Asked whether he was promised arms during a
recent visit to
Dialogue possible, but not yet
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last month there had been a
"significant shift" in efforts to bring the field marshal to the
table.Haftar said he was open to dialogue with GNA head Fayez Serraj in
principle, but it was impossible to talk politics just now. "We are at
war, security issues take precedence. It's not an opportune time for politics.
We need to fight to save the country from Islamic extremists," he said.
"I began talks with Serraj two and half years ago. Without
any concrete results. Once the extremists have been beaten we can start
talking about democracy and elections again. But not now," he added.
Haftar denied media reports of an upcoming meeting with Serraj, saying the last
time they had spoken directly was in January 2016. But he admitted: "I
have nothing personally against Serraj. He is not the problem, it's those around
him. "If he really wants to fight to make peace in the country, he should
take up arms and join our ranks. He is always welcome."
Graft Probe Tests Netanyahu's Years-Long Hold on Power
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a graft probe some believe could force
him from office, but the four-term premier has overcome legal troubles in the
past and remains a towering figure in Israeli politics. Police questioned
Netanyahu for some three hours at his official residence in
Wealthy supporters
Lessons from Olmert
There is a recent example to draw lessons from, with Netanyahu's
predecessor Ehud Olmert forced to resign while dogged by corruption allegations
and now serving 27 months in prison. "With Ehud Olmert, there was a moment
in which his otherwise substantial following abandoned him because they
increasingly became convinced that the allegations were solid," Amotz
Asa-El, a former Jerusalem Post executive editor and currently a columnist for
the paper, told AFP. "I don't see this now with Prime Minister
Netanyahu," he added, though cautioned that further revelations could
change that. Netanyahu and his family have overcome legal troubles in earlier
years -- and involving similar accusations. In 2000, prosecutors decided there
was insufficient evidence to indict Netanyahu and his wife Sara following an
investigation. The probe then looked at whether they unlawfully kept gifts
presented to Netanyahu during his first term as prime minister from 1996 and
1999. It also investigated whether they had promised a
US Congress plans targeted legislation
against Iran and the UN
Jerusalem Post/January 03/17/WASHINGTON -- As the House of
Representatives plans to vote on a resolution this week that will condemn the
UN for its targeting of Israel, its leadership has already planned additional
measures sure to please the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
its allies in Washington. Over the course of the next hundred days, Republicans
hope to punish the UN for its passage of a resolution condemning
Paul Ryan re-elected as US House
Speaker
AFP/January 03/17/Washington (AFP) -
The Republican majority in both the House and Senate is now expected to clear
the way for Trump to roll out much of his conservative agenda. Trump and the
Republicans appear to be in broad agreement on a roadmap that includes
replacing President Barack Obama's trademark health care law, building a wall
-- or fence -- on the Mexican border, and slashing taxes.
Hillary and Bill Clinton to Attend Donald
Trump Inauguration, Aides Say
January 03/17/JOSH HASKELL and MEGHAN KENEALLY/Good Morning America/Hillary and
Bill Clinton plan to attend the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration, their
respective aides say. Former presidents from both parties typically attend
inaugurations, but her presence takes on added meaning given that the former
first lady was President-elect Donald Trump’s main opponent in the 2016 race.
Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2.9 million votes,
but Republican Trump won the Electoral College, securing him the presidency.
The last time
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis
& editorials from miscellaneous sources published on January 03-04/17
Local Loyalist Militias of Suwayda’: Katibat Jalamid Urman (Dir’ al-Jabal)
By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi/Syria Comment/January 3rd, 2017
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2017/01/03/aymenn-jawad-al-tamimisyria-comment-local-loyalist-militias-of-suwayda-katibat-jalamid-urman-dir-al-jabal/
Emblem of Katibat Jalamid Urman, featuring the group’s name on top as well as
the appended name Dir’ al-Jabal on the bottom. In the middle is the star that
represents the Druze faith. The rim of the emblem consists of the Syrian flag.
Previous posts on regime loyalist factions in the predominantly Druze province of
Suwayda’ have primarily looked at groups existing on the wider provincial
level, such as Kata’ib Humat al-Diyar of Nazih Jerbo’ and the Dir’ al-Watan
grouping led by Syrian army officer veteran Nayef al-Aqil and Yusuf Jerbo’, who
is one of the mashayakh al-‘aql of Syrian Druze. In contrast, the Katibat
Jalamid Urman is a more local outfit. The group’s name translates to “The Rocks
of Urman Battalion.” Urman is a village in southern Suwayda’ province located
to the northeast of the town of
Like the other Druze militia factions in the province, Katibat Jalamid Urman
frames its activities in defensive terms. In the About
section on its Facebook page, the militia describes itself as “an auxiliary
organization for the Syrian Arab Army whose task is to defend the land and
honour and protect the dignity of the mountain under the banner of the
homeland.” The term ‘auxiliary’ (Arabic radif) is a common term among
pro-regime militias. The pro-regime orientation also becomes apparent in other
social media posts, such as tributes offered to regime forces personnel injured
on fronts outside of Suwayda’ like East Ghouta in the Damascus area and the
Sha’er field in the Homs desert. The latter case involved a certain Lu’ay
Ghalib Rashid (originally from Urman), who was injured alongside a number of
other Suwayda’ National Defence Forces personnel in fighting in the Sha’er area
in late November 2016. Besides tributes to wounded fighters, Katibat Jalamid
Urman also offered condolences on the death of Osama Akram Hamza, a soldier
originally from Urman and killed on the Deir az-Zor front in eastern
Madin Mahmoud al-Dbaisi, originally from Urman and killed in Darayya on 21
February 2016. Katibat Jalamid Urman has offered condolences for his death too.
In terms of its affiliations, Katibat Jalamid Urman appears to be equated in discourse
to the Popular Committees (al-Lujan al-Sha’abiya), which were among the first
manifestations of local pro-regime mobilization in the Syrian civil war. In a
similar vein, account from June 2015 emerges on a page called Urman Bint
al-Jabal (“Urman: Daughter of the Mountain”), which wrote the following in
relation to Katibat Jalamid Urman:
“Armed battalions have been formed in every village of the villages of the
province to be prepared for whatever danger may arise. As an example, in Urman
came the formation of “Katibat Jalamid Urman- Dir’ al-Jabal,” which was formed
four years ago both in a secret and organized form and operates on the ground
with all determination and willpower. They [the battalions] must be a true
nucleus for future projects that the many can rely upon. And here comes the
role of our dear exiled ones in supporting the popular activism and charity
associations that have begun earnest work in their role, with the formation of
special committees and intense connection and the exertion of all efforts to
make available the goods of necessity and the necessary foundation for the
citizen’s daily life as well as provision of security and guarantee for the
citizen.”
To be sure, public references to Katibat Jalamid Urman by name only seem to date
as far back as 2015. Yet it does not follow from such an observation that the
group did not exist before 2015. Rather, going by the Urman Bint al-Jabal
account, the militia simply existed in a more low-key form.
Similar to the testimony of the Urman Bint al-Jabal posting, an account from
July 2015 highlights the role of mughtaribeen (‘exiles’) in supporting the
Katibat Jalamid Urman, as part of a series of interesting details on pushback
against the more third-way Rijal al-Karama (“Men of Dignity”) movement of
Sheikh Abu Fahad Waheed al-Bal’ous in a number of Suwayda’ localities:
“After the sheikh of fitna [derisive term for Bal’ous, referring to the notion
he was stirring up internal quarrels] directed his arms at the sons of the
noble Bani Ma’arouf and wounded two people with dangerous wounds such that they
remain in intensive care, the responses of the people of the mountain and the
noble Bani Ma’arouf have been as follows:
The village of Dhibin requests no visit from the one who has called himself the
sheikh of karama [Bal’ous] and rejects the theatrics of gifts (portion of
arms). The village of al-Gharayya is a blazing fire on account of the error in
using the name of our sayyid Sheikh Abd al-Wahhab [see here for this sheikh and
the village of al-Gharayya] for lack of respect [of him] and his heirs and
inserting his name for interests. And after that, Salkhad al-Zaghaba
[al-Zaghaba is an epithet frequently attached to Salkhad] warns against a visit
and is actually threatening kill him. And after that, [there is] Urman, which
formed the Jalamid Urman faction with support from its noble exiles, and they
said if one of the families of Suwayda’ hands over the banner to the sheikh of
karama, all of the sheikhs of Urman are karama and no one bears the banner of
Urman except is people.”
Bal’ous appears in video footage showing that he did visit Urman as part of his
outreach. While there does not appear to be a formal Rijal al-Karama contingent
in the village, there does seem to be some sympathy in Urman for the movement’s
aims, such as a statement issued by “Rijal Urman al-Karama” in November 2015
rejecting forced military conscription at the hands of the security apparatus.
Like Kata’ib Humat al-Diyar, Katibat Jalamid Urman has tried to promote an
image as a force of the state and upholding law-and-order through its
publicised activities. For example, an enduring problem in Suwayda’ province
has been smuggling activity. In April 2016, Katibat Jalamid Urman stopped a car
loaded with a large quantity of drugs and then burned the contents of the car
in front of the people of Urman in the village square. In January 2016, the
group took responsibility for ensuring order when secondary students leave
school at the end of the school day:
“To reduce and avoid the problems caused by some of the youth after the
students go out from secondary school, Katibat Jalamid Urman has decided to
take responsibility for the situation, and a number of its members have gone
out when the students come out and have closed all the entries and have ensured
the students’ safety until they arrive at their homes.”
The militia has also engaged in patrols of Suwayda’ border areas alongside
other groups both on the eastern border areas and on the southern Syria-Jordan
border areas, as part of ensuring readiness to respond to any emergency.
Besides all these activities relating to maintaining security and upholding
law-and-order, the group has undertaken some social outreach, notably
replanting trees in the
Members of Katibat Jalamid Urman can be identified by their distinct insignia
worn on the arms and chest, as can be seen from the photos below:
Similar use of insignia as above, with Dir’ al-Jabal chest-patches and the
group’s emblem in the form of an arm-patch.
The existence of the group’s symbols on the ground is also attested in
certificates issued for Mother’s Day for mothers of ‘martyrs’ who have died
fighting for the regime. This honouring of mothers of ‘martyrs’ was done as a
joint event with the Kata’ib al-Ba’ath and two notables
Certificate issued by Katibat Jalamid Urman for the mother of Raghed Fadl Allah
al-Shariti. Originally from Urman, he was killed in Deraa on 27 June 2013 and
is said to have been its tenth ‘martyr.’
The current level of security threats posed to the locality of Urman is very
low, but the case of Katibat Jalamid Urman does provide an interesting look at
militia mobilization and regime loyalist sentiment on the more local level in
Suwayda’ province. No militia mobilization is occurring within the province at
the local or province-wide level that envisions overthrowing the regime
structure in place.
The Specifics of Sharia’s Savageries
Raymond Ibrahim/FrontPage Magazine/Lanuary 03/17
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2017/01/03/raymond-ibrahimfrontpage-magazine-the-specifics-of-sharias-savageries/
Although Western media regularly claim no “motive” for many of the Islamic
attacks on non-Muslims, many are by now at least vaguely aware that the Muslim
perpetrators rely on generic Islamic teachings that foster hostility for
non-Muslims.
Yet often overlooked are the very stringent and detailed Islamic rulings behind
many terror attacks.
Take the recent attack on St. Peter’s Cathedral in
For instance, why was St. Peter’s specifically targeted? The obvious answer is
that it holds a prestigious place among the Coptic Orthodox community, as it
stands within the St. Mark complex, the seat of the Coptic Pope in
Yet there is another reason. In November 2014, ISIS called on its Muslim
followers and sympathizers to attack all churches in
A few months later, one Hussein bin Mahmoud, a jurist of Sharia law for the Islamic
State, said in an article published on February 17, 2015, and appearing in
various jihadi websites, that all Christian churches in
The ruling concerning the churches that are in Cairo is that they be destroyed,
according to the consensus of the righteous forefathers, because they are new
under Islam, and Cairo is a new city whose original inhabitants were Muslim;
there were no churches in it previously.
As for churches in Upper Egypt, which may have been in existence before the
Islamic conquest of
All this is related to the mainstream Islamic view concerning non-Muslim places
of worship: if they existed when Islam’s historic jihadis invaded the land, and
if the native people surrendered peacefully, they may continue to exist (though
never repaired); if, on the other hand, the native people resisted the invading
Muslims, then all existing churches must be destroyed. In both cases new
churches are not allowed to be built.
As it happens, modern
Hence one of the reasons why St. Peter’s in
Such are the minute details and rulings that regularly inform the hostile
worldview of
But of course Western analysts may be excused for being ignorant of this arcane
ruling. After all, if Sunni militants such as ISIS are zealous over the welfare
of Sunni cities, most of them are equally ignorant of the ironic fact that
Iran's New Indigenous Air Defence
System/NATO Take Heed
Debalina Ghoshal//Gatestone Institute/January 03/17
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/2017/01/03/debalina-ghoshalgatestone-institute-irans-new-indigenous-air-defence-systemnato-take-heed/
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9638/iran-air-defence
Clearly, if Iran continues to develop long range launch capabilities, it could
choose destabilize the entire Middle East region, and directly threaten Israel
and Europe.
The rapid development of an advanced system such as the Bavar-3 demonstrates
that the Iranians are capable of developing not only defensive but also
offensive weapons systems, even as Iran remains prohibited under the present
UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015) from developing surface-to-surface nuclear-capable
ballistic missiles.
If
While Western governments and NATO continue to congratulate themselves on
the Iranian nuclear deal, in
In August 2016, on
As Iranian President Hassan Rouhani bragged with complete accuracy,
"The Islamic Republic is one of the eight countries in the world who have
mastered the technology to build these engines." Brigadier General Hossein
Dehqan claimed that
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (right) poses with the
Bavar-373 air-defense system, August 21, 2016. (Image source:
Bavar-373 is a marked upgrade from previous Iranian air defence
capabilities. It is reportedly mounted on a Zafar 8x8 special wheeled chassis,
designed to operate both on and off roads, with an operational range of 800km.
The system uses Sayyed-3 category canister-launched missiles along with target
acquisition radar, target engagement radar, and phased-array radar. The
Sayyed-3 missiles hit mid-altitude targets with greater destructive power and
increased range and speed than previous generations of Iranian missiles.
The Iranians claim, probably accurately, that the Bavar will be capable
of downing bombers and other combat aircraft including helicopters and drones.
Many reports confirm that the Bavar is superior to the Russian S-300, as it has
greater mobility, better targeting capability, and faster launch preparation.
The Bavar is just one of
**Debalina Ghoshal is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Human Security
Studies,
© 2017 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.
Capucci, Archbishop Jailed for Aiding
Palestinian Militants, Dies at 94
Sewll Chanjan/The NewYork Times/January 02/17
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/world/middleeast/hilarion-capucci-archbishop-jailed-for-aiding-palestinian-militants-dies-at-94.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&hpw&rref=obituaries&_r=0
Archbishop Hilarion Capucci, who as the head of the Greek Catholic Church in
Jerusalem was arrested in 1974 and charged with using his Mercedes sedan to
smuggle arms to Palestinian militants, died on Sunday in Rome. He was 94.
The death was confirmed by the
Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority, praised
Archbishop Capucci for “defending the rights of the Palestinian people.”
In 1965, Archbishop Capucci became the prelate of the tiny Melkite Greek
Catholic community in
As a religious leader, the archbishop could travel across the
Lebanese-Israeli border without being subject to inspection. On Aug. 8, 1974,
Archbishop Capucci was stopped in
Continue reading the main story
He was released on his recognizance, but arrested 10 days later. He was
accused of acting as an undercover liaison between Fatah, the dominant faction
within the Palestine Liberation Organization, and guerrilla cells in the
The authorities also said he had smuggled gold, whiskey and television
sets across the border.
In addition, investigators said the archbishop had been involved in a
plan to fire three Katyusha rockets toward
He was the highest-ranking Christian clergyman ever to be charged by
The Israeli authorities, who had kept the archbishop under surveillance
for some time, were unmoved. They said he would stand trial and then indicted
him on charges that included maintaining contact with foreign agents and
carrying illegal weapons. Prosecutors said he had met with Khalil al-Wazir, a
top militant known by the nom de guerre Abu Jihad, and another militant at the
home of the archbishop’s relatives in
As the case moved toward trial, the Israeli Army said it had foiled an
Arab terrorist plot to free the archbishop from jail. A judge rejected the
archbishop’s claim of diplomatic immunity, noting that
On Dec. 9, 1974, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Addressing the
court, he said in Arabic that if Jesus were alive they would have wept
together.
Archbishop Capucci was given a one-person cell and permitted to celebrate
Mass and wear his clerical robe. He was allowed visitors, including the Latin
patriarch of
On June 28, 1976, militants hijacked an Air France plane en route from
Tel Aviv to
Archbishop Capucci’s time in prison came to an end in 1977, after
elections that brought the right-leaning Likud Party to power. The new
government said it would be willing to release him if the pope made a formal
request. The pope requested his release on humanitarian grounds — he had been
on several hunger strikes — and on Nov. 6, his sentence was commuted. He was
put on a commercial flight to
The release stipulated that Archbishop Capucci not be reassigned in the
Middle East, and after an audience with the pope, he was sent to
Archbishop Capucci maintained his activism in the region. He visited
Americans held captive at the United States Embassy in Iran in 1979;
accompanied the bodies of eight United States service members who were killed
in an unsuccessful mission to free the hostages; and traveled to Iraq in 1990
to petition Saddam Hussein’s government to release a group of Italians after
the invasion of Kuwait.
He was on board a Turkish-owned ship, part of a 2010 attempt to send
relief to the blockaded Gaza Strip, when it was intercepted by Israeli forces.
Hilarion Capucci was born on March 2, 1922, in
In a 2010 interview with Al Jazeera, he said he had taken part in the
Hamas's Fatah and the No-State Solution
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/January 03/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9707/hamas-fatah
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared that 2017 will be the
"year of international recognition of the State of Palestine."
The melee in
More bad news from the poll: if presidential elections were to be held today,
Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the terrorist group Hamas, would beat Abbas by 49% to
45%.
Palestinians are now openly talking about two different Fatah factions. After
Abbas's decision to strip the legislators of their parliamentary immunity, six
Fatah PLC members participated in a Hamas-sponsored meeting of the PLC in the
Gaza Strip. This was the first time since 2007 that such a move had been made.
Fatah leaders in the Gaza Strip, unlike their colleagues in the
The Fatah gunmen who marched in the Gaza Strip courtesy of Hamas are not
supporters of Abbas. Instead, they represent the "other face" of
Fatah -- the one that does not believe in any peace process with
During a celebration in Ramallah marking the 52nd anniversary of the founding
of his Fatah faction, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas
declared that 2017 will be the "year of international recognition of the
State of Palestine." Hailing the recent anti-settlement UN Security
Council resolution 2334, Abbas said he was prepared to work with the new
administration of Donald Trump "to achieve peace in the region."
But while Abbas and his lieutenants were celebrating in Ramallah, at least 11
Palestinians were wounded in a scuffle that erupted between rival Fatah
factions in the Gaza Strip. According to sources in the Gaza Strip, the fight
broke out between Abbas loyalists and supporters of estranged Fatah leader Mohammed
Dahlan. The confrontation, which was the most violent between the two sides in
many years, is yet another sign of increasing schism in Fatah. Moreover, it is
an indication of how Abbas's control over his own faction is slipping through
his hands. Hamas policemen who were at the scene did not interfere to break up
the fight between the warring Fatah activists.
The melee in
Abbas says he wants to work with the Trump Administration to achieve peace in
the
Abbas's speech coincided with a new public opinion poll that showed that 64% of
Palestinians want him to step down. The poll, conducted by the Ramallah-based
The poll's findings show that the percentage of Palestinians who want Abbas to
resign has risen over the past three months from 61% to 64%. More bad news from
the poll: if presidential elections were to be held today, Ismail Haniyeh,
leader of the terrorist group Hamas, would beat Abbas by 49% to 45%.
The results of the poll should not come as a surprise to those who have been monitoring
Palestinian affairs for the past few years. Judging from the sentiments on the
Palestinian street, there is good reason to believe that the 81-year-old Abbas,
who is now in his 12th year of his four-year term in office, has long ago lost
much of his credibility among his people. The real surprise is that only 64% of
Palestinians want to see him gone.
Many Palestinians hold Abbas personally responsible for the continued and rapid
deterioration in the Palestinian arena. They see his incompetent and failed
leadership as the main reason behind the 2007 violent Hamas takeover of the
Gaza Strip. As soon as Hamas started shooting, Abbas's fragile, corrupt and
strife-ridden Palestinian Authority security forces collapsed. Critics of Abbas
say that lack of leadership and decision-making on his part facilitated the
Hamas seizure of the Gaza Strip.
Yet over the years, it has become evident that Abbas has not only lost the Gaza
Strip and its two million inhabitants to Hamas, but that he is also losing
control over his own Fatah faction there. Abbas has managed to alienate many
Fatah leaders and activists in the Gaza Strip (most of whom
are not necessarily affiliated with his arch-rival, Dahlan) to a point where
Palestinians are now openly talking about two different Fatah factions.
Instead of devoting his energies to freeing the Gaza Strip from the iron grip
of Hamas, Abbas has spent the past few years waging war against anyone in Fatah
who dares to challenge his policies or criticize him. In this regard, he has
resorted to a number of punitive measures that have further escalated tensions
among Fatah cadres.
These measures include cutting off salaries and pensions to Fatah employees
whose loyalty to Abbas is in question or who are suspected of being affiliated
with Dahlan. As far as Abbas is concerned, affiliation with Hamas is less of a
crime than being affiliated with Dahlan or any of his rivals in Fatah. Another
measure that Abbas has taken to punish his rivals in Fatah: stripping them of
their parliamentary immunity. The latest victims of this punishment: Mohamed
Dahlan, Nasser Juma'ah, Shami Al-Shami, Najat Abu Baker and Jamal Al-Tirawi.
Abbas took the decision without seeking the approval of the Palestinian
parliament, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), or any other judicial or
decision-making institution. His detractors point out that the removal of the
parliamentary immunity is in violation of the Palestinian Basic Law, because
the PLC is the only party authorized to take such a decision.
When Fatah legislators protested against Abbas's arbitrary measure by holding a
sit-in strike inside the offices of the International Committee of the Red
Cross in Ramallah, Abbas ordered his security forces to raid the compound and
evict them by force. "This is a grave violation of the legislators' rights
and it is completely unjustified," said a spokeswoman for Fatah in the
Gaza Strip.
"It is also an indication of the repressive measures taken by the
Palestinian Authority security forces. The legislators were holding a peaceful
protest inside the offices of the Red Cross after President Abbas's decision to
remove their parliamentary immunity. We hold the president, the prime minister
and the security forces responsible for the violations against human rights and
public freedoms. We also condemn the silence of the Red Cross towards this
despicable assault against the legislators inside the (Red Cross)
offices."
Abbas's crackdown on his Fatah critics has driven them into the open arms of
Hamas. After Abbas's decision to strip the legislators of their parliamentary
immunity, six Fatah PLC members participated in a Hamas-sponsored meeting of
the PLC in the Gaza Strip. This was the first time since 2007 that such a move
had been made.
The PLC has been effectively paralyzed since the Hamas takeover of the Gaza
Strip. However, this has not prevented Hamas from continuing to convene
sessions of the parliament in the Gaza Strip during the past few years. Until
recently, Fatah legislators have boycotted these meetings because they do not
recognize Hamas's rule over the Gaza Strip. Abbas's punitive and vengeful
measures, however, have pushed Fatah legislators to change this status quo.
This means that Fatah leaders in the Gaza Strip, unlike their colleagues in the
Emboldened by the growing divisions in Fatah, Hamas leaders are also beginning
to flirt with disgruntled Abbas critics who have been hurt by Abbas's measures.
For the first time in many years, the Hamas government permitted thousands of
Fatah gunmen to hold a military parade in the Gaza Strip this week, marking the
faction's 52nd anniversary.
Pictured: For the first time in many years, Hamas permitted thousands of Fatah
gunmen to hold a military parade in the Gaza Strip this week. (Image source:
YouTube video screenshot)
The Fatah gunmen who marched in the Gaza Strip courtesy of Hamas are not
supporters of Abbas, the overall commander of Fatah. Instead, they represent
the "other face" of Fatah -- the one that does not believe in any
peace process with
Meanwhile, Abbas appears to be living on a different planet. His ego prevents
him from grasping the news that the polls reveal: most of his people are done
with him. He refuses to wake up to the truth that his Fatah faction is falling
into pieces, his erstwhile loyalists getting into bed with Hamas. He asks the
world to recognize a Palestinian state when his own private residence in the
Gaza Strip is forbidden to him. Indeed, it seems that the Palestinians are
moving toward a "no-state solution" -- a Gaza Strip run by Hamas and
dissident Fatah members and a
Abbas maintains that he is eager to work with the Trump Administration to
achieve peace in the region. But will he have the courage to tell the new
**Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in
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What will Trump do against
Turki Aldakhil/Al Arabiya/January 03/17
As Donald Trump is about to enter the White House, President Barack Obama
played his last card in an attempt to achieve one last glory. He condemned
Israeli settlements and expelled Russian diplomats but these are just
formalities that do not influence the essence of Russian expansion or halt
Israeli settlements. For Trump, agreeing with the Russians will be important
during his presidential term. For those who’ve known the Russians well and
studied them, like Henry Kissinger did, there are analyses of anticipated roles
for the Russians. However how will things be between Gulf countries and the
Perhaps the most important statement made by Trump’s team is related to Trump’s
real intention to establish an alliance that includes Gulf countries,
Trump is before a basic challenge that’s represented in including Shiite
terrorism within the campaign against terrorism in order to reverse Obama’s
sectarian theory which only views terrorism as a Sunni product as Shiite
militias “fight ISIS”
There’s no use of this criticism but let’s recall the unprecedented surrender
by Obama’s administration to Iran’s mullahs. It surrendered despite the fact
that
'Hungry wolves'
Perhaps these hungry wolves were let out against Gulf
countries to carry out terror attacks and avenge from
**This article was first published in Al Sharq al-Awsat on January 03, 2016.
urkey, the terrorists’ first target
Abdulrahman al-Rashed/Al Arabiya/January 03/17
Two attacks have shaken
Then three ISIS fighters carried out a horrific attack on the
The Pakistan parallel
I think
It is expected that the Turkish authorities will now address extremist groups
which found themselves a comfortable haven in Turkey after they escaped from
Egypt, Tunisia and the Gulf as Ankara’s government needs to document
cooperation with regional security systems after it protested them in the past
for thinking they were lenient with these groups which politically oppose it.
**This article was first published in Asharq al-Awsat on Jan. 3, 2017.
Why Ali Al-Naimi’s book is a source of
pride
Hussein Shobokshi/Al Arabiya/January 03/17
It is rare for any Saudi official to publish his
memoirs. And when any new book is published, it is usually in great demand out
of curiosity and passion to know the mysterious and subtle details and exciting
events behind the scenes of the Saudi decision-making.
This is exactly what happened with the book, “Out of the Desert” authored by
the former Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi. A smooth and enjoyable book that
allows the reader to see the life of a self-made man par excellence from his
amazing background with a modest beginning and the story of his rise from
bottom to one of the top and ambitious administrative jobs in the country and
also at the international level. As one reads the book, one can learn important
facts of the former Saudi minister’s talks and discussions, challenges and
confrontations with various political, financial and oil leaders around the
world. The former minister is proud of his abilities and skills acquired in the
discussions and negotiations in order to obtain the best terms and prices of
any possible deal and that he had the upper hand in the bargaining process. The
most exciting chapter in the book is “Give Dough to the Baker.” This chapter
discusses about the initiatives announced by
Policy is an integral part of the economy and there is no scenario in which you
can see this relationship more clearly than the oil policy in the Middle East
with more detail and complexity
At this juncture, the late Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal, under whose
presidency the initiative was undertaken, understood the consequences of these
negotiations, later stayed away from these discussions, as it was purely “the
oil” factor.
In my view, it was this “tough stance” in these negotiations, partly headed by
Exxon Mobil’s Rex Tilerson (current candidate for the position of secretary of
state in the administration team of President-elect Donald Trump) that caused
the talks not to succeed in maintaining the “great attitude” with the giant
The alleged delight
Personally, I am convinced that it contributed to accelerating the decision of
the neo-conservatives to invade
*This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette on January 02, 2016.