LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
April 04/2019

Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12/33-40: “Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on April 03-04/19
Damascus Refuses to Recognize Shebaa Farms as Lebanese Territory
After 37 Years The Body Of Sgt Zachary Baumel Has Returned To Israel
Jumblat Says Handover of Israeli Soldier Body 'Precious Gift' to Netanyahu
Aoun, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Meet in Baabda
Beirut Awaits Appointment of Russian Committee Members on Syrian Refugees
Army Receives Six Drones from United States
Hariri Assures EU Envoys on Dissociation Policy, CEDRE Reforms
Berri winds up visit to Iraq, meets President Salih
Pompeo Conveyed Israeli Warning Over Iran’s Building of Missile Factory In Lebanon
STL President Tells Serhan Verdicts before Year's End
Aoun, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Meet in Baabda
Khalil: I Fulfilled My Mission and Submitted Budget to PM
Report: Disagreements over Naming BDL Vice Governors
Report: Lebanon Pushes for Austerity Plan Amid Economic Woes
Syrian Suspects Kill Fellow Citizens in Damascus, Infiltrate into Lebanon
Jumblat Says Wage Scale Won't be Altered, Slams Atallah Remarks
Former President Amine Gemayel Says Lebanon Going Through 'Difficult' Phase
Finance Minister Submits Draft Budget to Prime Minister
Facing 4th Charge', Ghosn Announces Press Conference
Jarrah Says 20hr Power Feed in Early 2020, Ships Not Ruled Out
Customs Council Member Charged with Several Corruption Offenses
Electricity ministerial committee will meet again tomorrow

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on April 03-04/19
US: 3 Countries Cut Oil Imports from Iran to Zero
Iran puts death toll from flooding at 62
Differences Among Iraqi Politicians over Basra Autonomous Region
SDF Tracks ISIS Militants in Caves
Four suicide bombers hit Syria’s Raqqa: SDF
$25 mln reward for information on ISIS leader whereabouts
Guterres from Al-Azhar Mosque: Most of Terrorism Victims are Muslims, Arabs
Netanyahu & Putin meet urgently over Iran’s new command hub in Aleppo
Would-be Palestinian attacker shot dead in West Bank
Gantz Says Netanyahu Rhetoric Could Spark Civil War
In Israel Election, Palestinians are Nowhere to Be Found
London Stocks Stable with All Eyes on Brexit
2nd British Minister Resigns over Further Brexit Delay
May Seeks Last-Minute Brexit Tie-Breaker with Opposition
Saudi Says 5 Wounded as Yemen Rebel Drones Intercepted
Kremlin Hopes for Transition in Algeria without Foreign 'Interference'
France Backs Algerians' Pursuit of 'Democratic Transition'
Algerians Cheer End of Bouteflika Era but Want Broader Change

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 03-04/19
Damascus Refuses to Recognize Shebaa Farms as Lebanese Territory/Mohammed Shukair/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19
Brunei invokes laws allowing stoning for gay sex, adultery/Ynetnews/Associated Press/April 03/19
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Announces The Goals Of 'The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution' For The Next 40 Years – Part Two/MEMRI/April 03/19
China's Han Superstate: The New Third Reich/Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/April 03/2019
A Simple Woman for Difficult Times/Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19
Arab League Summit Brings Hope to Algeria, Libya/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19
Egyptian opinions split as debate on regulating polygamy develops/Sonia Farid/Al Arabiya/April 03/19

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on April 03-04/19
Damascus Refuses to Recognize Shebaa Farms as Lebanese Territory
Mohammed Shukair/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/73513/%D9%85%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%82-%D8%AA%D8%B6%D8%B9%D9%81-%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A9/
In his address to the Arab Summit in Tunis over the weekend, Lebanese President Michel Aoun expressed concern over the US decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the fate of the occupied Shebaa Farms, Kfar Shouba hills and the Lebanese part of the town of Ghajar. The Syrian official position on the recent US move came in line with the Arab and international positions, which unanimously agreed that such a resolution encourages Israel to pursue its expansionist policy and obstruct efforts to achieve peace in the region. Some Lebanese figures close to the Hezbollah party have recently announced that they expect the launching of a Syrian “resistance” movement from the Golan and even went on to set specific dates for its launch, under the pretext that the US decision would also affect the Lebanese territory still occupied by Israel. By allowing themselves to set a timetable for launching of the resistance from the Golan on behalf of the Syrian regime, those figures want to say that Damascus' stance suddenly changed from “reluctant” to “resistant”.
This would suggest that Syria might adopt a new method, contrary to its previous dealing with the Lebanese resistance to the Israeli occupation. That resistance was based on dissociating the Golan Heights, in line with the disengagement agreement signed by former US President Richard Nixon with late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, in the wake of the October 1973 war, which produced a long truce that is still in effect today. Israel had tried to consider the Lebanese territories occupied in 1967 to fall under UN Security Council resolution 242, not resolution 425, based on which it withdrew from Lebanon in 2000. Israel links its presence in the occupied Lebanese territories to the Golan Heights, even though 1973 Security Council resolution 338 calls for a ceasefire on all fronts and the implementation of resolution 242 in its entirety.
However, the liberation of southern Lebanon in May 2000 and Israel’s withdrawal from the territories it occupied, with the exception of the Shebaa Farms, the Kafr Shouba hills and the Lebanese part of Ghajar, prompted the Lebanese government, under the term of then President Emile Lahoud, to raise the issue before the United Nations. The UN did not object to Lebanon’s demand, but referred it to the Syrian regime months after the arrival of Bashar al-Assad to the presidency. The international body asked Beirut to obtain from Damascus a document to be resolved by international law between the two countries and serve as an official document in which Syria recognizes Lebanese sovereignty over these areas. Damascus attributed at the time the reason for its refusal to provide Beirut with such a paper to its demand that Israel's withdrawal be the starting point to begin the demarcation of the border between Lebanon and Syria. Today, it seems that the annexation of the Golan Heights to Israeli sovereignty allowed the Syrian regime to link Lebanon to this file, but this will inevitably lead to the launching of the Syrian resistance from the Golan front, as desired by some in Lebanon who are closely linked to the axis of “resistance.”

After 37 Years The Body Of Sgt Zachary Baumel Has Returned To Israel
Jerusalem Post/April 03/19/There was no prisoner exchange, Manelis said, explaining that it was an operational mission carried out by military intelligence. Close to 40 years after he was went missing in action following the Battle of Sultan Yacub, the body of Sgt. Zachary Baumel has been returned to Israel for burial. Baumel’s body was repatriated to Israel via a third country several days ago and identified by his DNA at the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute as well as by the Chief Military Rabbi Brig.-Gen. Eyal Karim, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis said on Wednesday.Thead of the manpower directorate Maj.-Gen.l Motti Almoz personally informed the Baumel family that he had been identified. “This was a long-term effort by the intelligence community and the Missing Persons Division during which various operational activities were carried out to locate the missing soldiers, ” the military said, adding that the military is “committed to continuing the efforts to locate Sergeant Yehuda Katz, Sergeant Tzvika Feldman and all the missing soldiers and captives, and all fallen IDF soldiers whose burial places are unknown.”
Manelis said he couldn’t say where he was buried for all these years, while Feldman was in the same tank as Baumel when he was killed, Manelis would not comment on whether the body of Feldman would soon be found and returned to Israel. There was no prisoner exchange, Manelis said, explaining that it was an operational mission carried out by military intelligence. “We never gave up on returning our missing soldiers from Sultan Yacub. There were several operations in this regard,” he said. The battle of Sultan Yacoub took place on the sixth day of the First Lebanon War in June 1982. Twenty Israeli soldiers were killed in the battle which took place in Syria and eight IDF tanks remained in Syrian hands, among them the one which held including Baumel, Zvi Feldman, and Yehuda Katz. “The Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, IDF commanders and soldiers, embrace all the families, including the Baumel, Feldman and Katz families in these moments.”

Jumblat Says Handover of Israeli Soldier Body 'Precious Gift' to Netanyahu
Naharnet/April 03/19/Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Wednesday described the handover of the body of an Israeli soldier missing since 1982 as a valuable gift to embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections. “In the game of nations that manipulates the fate of peoples, the handover of the body of an Israeli soldier via unknown mediators is a free but precious gift to Netanyahu for his elections,” Jumblat tweeted. “A big salutation to the Syrian regime, the spearhead of Arab, regional and global defiance,” the PSP leader added sarcastically. Israel announced earlier on Wednesday that the remains of a soldier missing since the 1982 Lebanon war had been returned to the country, bringing to a close a highly sensitive case for Israelis. "It is one of the most moving moments in all my years at the head of the country," Netanyahu said in a televised address. "This operation is the result of major diplomatic efforts that we will speak about one day," he added. Israel's military declined to provide details on how the remains were retrieved, including where they were found.
Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel had been missing since what is known as the Battle of Sultan Yacoub, said Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus. Israeli soldiers fought with Syrian forces in the battle on June 10-11, 1982 in the Lebanese village of Sultan Yacoub, near the Syrian border. Anwar Raja, a Syria-based official with the Palestinian militant group PFLP-GC, said that insurgents excavated graves in the capital Damascus last year in search of the remains of three missing Israeli soldiers. He said that their remains had been transferred to Syria after the 1982 battle. He also suggested that the insurgents might have handed over the soldier's body to Israel via Turkey.

Aoun, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Meet in Baabda
Associated Press/Naharnet/April 03/19/President Michel Aoun received at Baabda Palace Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza who conveyed a message from Venezuela’s President briefing him on the current developments in Venezuela, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday. NNA said discussions highlighted the Lebanese-Venezuelan relations, and the situation of the Lebanese and Venezuelans of Lebanese origin and their role in public life in Venezuela. Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, has stripped opposition leader Juan Guaidó of his parliamentary immunity, putting him at risk of arrest for supposedly violating the constitution when he declared himself interim president in January. "He is in breach of most part of the constitution, so the judiciary has to take care of those who violated the Venezuelan law," Arreaza told reporters in Beirut. The Ambassador of Venezuela to Lebanon and several Venezuelan diplomats accompanied Arreaza during his meeting with Aoun. Arreaza is reportedly expected to meet with an official from the Hizbullah before traveling onward to Syria. The United States and roughly 50 other nations recognize Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader.Maduro's government has warm relations with Syria and its allies in Lebanon, all of which are opposed to U.S. policies.

Beirut Awaits Appointment of Russian Committee Members on Syrian Refugees
Beirut - Khalil Fleihan/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19/Lebanese President Michel Aoun has concluded a series of meetings to set a timetable for the return of Syrian refugees to their home country in an organized manner.Aoun had addressed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the sponsor of Moscow’s initiative on securing the return of displaced Syrians. However, a source informed about the Russian-Lebanese summit, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the zero hour for the initiative has not yet been determined. Several political figures criticized the joint statement that was issued following the Putin-Aoun meeting in Moscow last month, for failing to choose the Russian members of the Committee responsible for arranging the repatriation of Syrians, except for the name of Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin. The source said that the Committee has Russian and Lebanese members, and that several Lebanese ministers would attend its meetings when discussions are set to focus on issues that concern their ministries. For example, the source said Lebanese Interior Minister Rayya Hassan would attend some of the Committee’s sessions when talks tackle security matters. “The Russian side would be responsible for implementing decisions on securing the safe return of refugees inside Syria,” he said. The source expects Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to visit Moscow when the structure of the joint Committee is ready. “What Aoun and Putin agreed on should be revealed when Moscow completes appointing members of the Russian delegation in the Committee,” the source said.It added that the Lebanese delegation has been formed and it includes adviser Georges Shaaban, representing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Amal Abu Zeid, representing Bassil and head of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, in addition to the minister concerned with the topic on the agenda of the talks.

Army Receives Six Drones from United States
Naharnet/April 03/19/The Lebanese Army has received six unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the U.S. military assistance program, the National News Agency said on Wednesday. The delivery took place at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in the presence of Lebanese officers and representatives of the U.S. embassy. The drones are valued at around $11 million.

Hariri Assures EU Envoys on Dissociation Policy, CEDRE Reforms
Naharnet/April 03/19/Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday stressed Lebanon's commitment to the policy of disassociation from “all the tensions and fires” in the region and to the reforms recommended by the CEDRE Lebanon support conference. Hariri's remarks were voiced during a meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union in the region, in the presence of the Head of the EU Delegation to Lebanon Ambassador Christina Lassen, on the sidelines of their participation in the annual conference of EU ambassadors, held in Lebanon this year. At the beginning of the meeting, Hariri explained the general situation in Lebanon and the plans of the government, especially in terms of reforms, economic advancement and the implementation of CEDRE decisions. He stressed the need for concerted efforts to enable the government to achieve this. He also expressed his appreciation of the role of the European Union in assisting Lebanon and the role it plays in helping to shoulder the burden of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon. He said: “Without this assistance, Lebanon could not have carried all these burdens, and it still needs more help.” He underlined the importance of the return of the displaced Syrians to their country and to alleviate their suffering, asserting that their return should not constitute a new suffering for them. He added: “The European Union helped Lebanon convene the CEDRE Conference and the government is fully committed to implementing the reforms adopted by the conference very soon.”Hariri also stressed the need to combat extremism in the region. He said: “The level of extremism has started to decline in the region, and I never doubted our ability to fight extremism and succeed in that, but we must know and address the causes of its origin. Today, the region is witnessing commitment to moderate Islamic thought. The meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in the United Arab Emirates came in this context, and this is a path we encourage. The European Union should play a role in this respect by promoting moderation in the region and the world. Anyone who uses religion or extremism in politics will fail because politics should exclusively serve citizens and nation-building.”Hariri also called for more European investments in Lebanon in various fields, particularly in energy, water, technology, infrastructure, education and health, saying this supports the work of Lebanese institutions. Hariri concluded by reiterating his government's commitment to supporting the role of women in political life. He pointed out that the presence of four women ministers in the government, including the Minister of Interior, shows that “we want to continue this path.”

Berri winds up visit to Iraq, meets President Salih
Wed 03 Apr 2019/NNA - House Speaker Nabih Berri culminated his visit to Iraq by having audience with Iraqi President Barham Salih, on the regional situation and the bilateral relations between the two countries. President Salih said Iraq and the Iraqi people harbor special affinity towards Lebanon, welcoming Speaker Berri in Iraq. Salih also hoped that Speaker Berri's visit to Iraq would be a prelude to further visits which would contribute to bolstering the bilateral relations and cooperation prospects between the two countries. Speaker Berri, in turn, congratulated Iraq and the Iraqi people on scoring victory over the Takfiri terrorism, hailing Iraq's current policy of openness. Berri also underlined the importance of unity and dialogue, expressing hope for bolstering economic cooperation and increasing investments between the two countries. Following the one-hour meeting, Berri told media representatives that he also discussed with the Iraqi President the Lebanese-Iraqi relations and the Lebanese investments in Iraq, especially the subject of oil construction, which operates between Kirkuk and the city of Tripoli. Berri also held a meeting at the Iraqi parliament with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed Al Halbousi, in the presence of the Iraqi parliamentary blocs belonging to all affiliations. Discussions reportedly touched on means of bolstering the bilateral relations between the two countries, notably at the political level and the exchange of investments. The parliamentary bloc representatives hailed the role of Berri as a significant statesman keen on the unity and sovereignty of Lebanon.

Pompeo Conveyed Israeli Warning Over Iran’s Building of Missile Factory In Lebanon
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 3 April, 2019/US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo conveyed to Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri and other officials he met during his visit to Beirut, last week, an Israeli warning that Iran and Hezbollah were building a new plant to produce precision rockets on the Lebanese territory, political sources in Tel Aviv revealed on Tuesday. The sources, citing two officials - one American and the other Israeli – said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Pompeo, during his recent visit to Tel Aviv, of data, maps and satellite images showing that Hezbollah was secretly building a new plant for the production of precision Iranian missiles with the participation of experts from Tehran, adding that the project was not known until recently. According to the sources, Netanyahu asked the US State secretary to deliver a sharp message to the officials in Beirut. They confirmed that Pompeo conveyed the warning to Hariri and the rest of the officials and went to explicitly express US concern over Hezbollah’s activity in Lebanon. During his stay in Beirut last month, Pompeo met with Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and President Michel Aoun, as well as Hariri. He called on the Lebanese people to stand up to Hezbollah’s “criminality, terror and threats,” and claimed US sanctions on Iran and its Lebanese ally were working and that more pressure on them was forthcoming. “Hezbollah and its illegitimate militia put the entire country on the front lines of Iran’s misguided proxy campaign,” Pompeo stated.

STL President Tells Serhan Verdicts before Year's End
Naharnet/April 03/19/Justice Minister Albert Serhan held talks Wednesday at the ministry with visiting Special Tribunal for Lebanon President Judge Ivana Hrdličková. “We discussed with Judge Hrdličková and the accompanying delegation the course of the investigation and the trials that are being conducted at the STL and the President explained the details of these procedures to us, which are special and somehow complicated,” Serhan said after the talks. “She reassured us that the verdicts will be issued before the end of this year,” he added. Asked about reports claiming that there are new revelations related to some assassinations, Serhan said: “They did not disclose such things to me, seeing as the trials remain confidential, and we're awaiting the issuance of the ruling by the Trial Chamber.”“For my part, I expressed the Lebanese government's full readiness to cooperate with the court in all what it may request from us, and they lauded the Lebanese side's cooperation,” the minister added. The court has put on trial in absentia four Hizbullah suspects accused of being involved in the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri. The judges are holding confidential deliberations ahead of the issuance of the rulings. Hizbullah has denied responsibility, describing the court as a conspiracy and vowing that the accused will never be arrested.

Aoun, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Meet in Baabda
Associated Press/Naharnet/April 03/19/President Michel Aoun received at Baabda Palace Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza who conveyed a message from Venezuela’s President briefing him on the current developments in Venezuela, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday.NNA said discussions highlighted the Lebanese-Venezuelan relations, and the situation of the Lebanese and Venezuelans of Lebanese origin and their role in public life in Venezuela.Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, loyal to President Nicolas Maduro, has stripped opposition leader Juan Guaidó of his parliamentary immunity, putting him at risk of arrest for supposedly violating the constitution when he declared himself interim president in January. "He is in breach of most part of the constitution, so the judiciary has to take care of those who violated the Venezuelan law," Arreaza told reporters in Beirut. The Ambassador of Venezuela to Lebanon and several Venezuelan diplomats accompanied Arreaza during his meeting with Aoun. Arreaza is reportedly expected to meet with an official from the Hizbullah before traveling onward to Syria. The United States and roughly 50 other nations recognize Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate leader. Maduro's government has warm relations with Syria and its allies in Lebanon, all of which are opposed to U.S. policies.

Khalil: I Fulfilled My Mission and Submitted Budget to PM
Naharnet/April 03/19/Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil has submitted the 2019 final draft state budget to Prime Minister Saad Hariri, which awaits the approval of the Cabinet.A meeting was held between Hariri and Khalil and lasted for two hours during which the final review of the draft budget was completed, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday. “I have made the final revision of the budget with Prime Minister Hariri, awaiting for the PM to determine the appropriate time to study it in the Cabinet after a series of contacts and consultations,” Khalil told the daily. The Minister added: “The budget is realistic, integrated and feasible. It’s not exaggerated, neither in reducing expenditures nor in increasing revenues.”“We have conducted the required review of the cuts, an estimate of revenues and the drafting of legal amendments. We are in the final stage of discussing them within the Cabinet, waiting for some of the consultations that Hariri will have before including it on the agenda," added the Minister. “I as the Finance Minister have finished my mission, printed the budget and submitted it to the Prime Minister,” he concluded.

Report: Disagreements over Naming BDL Vice Governors
Naharnet/April 03/19/The Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss 26 items on its agenda, but an important item was “ignored inclusion” and related to the appointment of vice governors of the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban, BDL), al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday. Ministerial sources told the daily: “The Cabinet agenda has ignored inclusion of an item related to appointing the vice-governors of BDL because of conflicting opinions between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Tashnag Party over naming the Armenian member.”The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: “The FPM wants to replace Haroutioun Samuelian (whose term and that of the four other Vice-Governors ended Sunday) while Tashnaq wants to renew his term for another five years.”The sources added: "It was believed that the matter was set when Druze leader and Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat, and Prime Minister Saad Hariri agreed to appoint banker Fadi Fleihan instead of Saad Andary for the Druze seat, but it seemed that was not enough.” Vice-Governors are appointed by decree sanctioned by the Cabinet for a renewable five-year term. The current Vice-Governors, whose term ended at the end of March are: Raed H. Charafeddine (Shiite), Saad Andary (Druze), Muhammad Baasiri (Sunni)and Haroutioun Samuelian (Armenian). By law, the candidates for the vice governors’ posts are chosen along confessional lines.

Report: Lebanon Pushes for Austerity Plan Amid Economic Woes
Naharnet/April 03/19/Lebanon’s government is pursuing an austerity policy which is crystallizing in the budget of 2019, not yet approved by the government, and includes “spending control” as part of a reform policy required by the CEDRE conference for Lebanon, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Wednesday. The government is expected to discuss the budget in order to approve it and refer it to parliament before May 31, in parallel with "the government's determination to implement a package of reforms aimed at not only reviving the Lebanese economy but also fortifying it,” according to Interior Minister Raya el-Hassan. It is clear that the electricity sector will be the main destination for reducing government expenditures, along with other sectors most notably government contributions to public sector employees, in addition to a plan to increase revenues through the activation of tax collection, said the daily. Quoting unnamed sources, the daily added that each parliamentary bloc holds several files for the need to control expenditure. These proposals will be discussed by the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee when the government refers the new budget to the Parliament. Prime Minister Saad Hariri noted last week that “difficult decisions related to the budget and reforms will be taken,” urging “all political factions to shoulder their responsibility.”Political sources told the newspaper that among the proposals to cut spending are the “compensations for deputies, reduction of travel expenses for public sector employees, overtime allowances in state departments, fuel vouchers for officers in the military and security sectors, reducing staff at embassies and diplomatic missions abroad, and reducing allocations to charitable organizations.”In addition to the plan to activate collection, control the border, combating smuggling and tax evasion, the sources said that “among the proposals are reduction in school scholarships for public sector employees.”The customs sector also suffers from “waste and corruption,” says MP George Adwan, the Chairman of the Committee of Administration and Justice. He declared “there is waste, corruption and non-application of laws in the customs sector. These things can not continue," he said, stressing that “the Justice Administration Committee will exercise its oversight role.”

Syrian Suspects Kill Fellow Citizens in Damascus, Infiltrate into Lebanon
Naharnet/April 03/19/The General Directorate of State Security arrested two Syrian suspects who committed a criminal act in Syria and fled illegally into Lebanon, the National News Agency reported on Wednesday. NNA said the Directorate obtained information about two Syrian suspects who infiltrated into Lebanon after killing two Syrian individuals in the countryside of Latakia. After investigations, the Directorate determined their whereabouts in the region of Mount Lebanon, where they were arrested. The suspects in the killing admitted to the crime which they said was motivated by theft.They were referred to the General Prosecutor's Office in Mount Lebanon.

Jumblat Says Wage Scale Won't be Altered, Slams Atallah Remarks
Naharnet/April 03/19/Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday reassured that the new wage scale for civil servants and the armed forces will not be altered. The wage scale was approved in 2017 after strenuous negotiations and years of street protests. Separately, Jumblat said that the World Bank is laying out some demands related to lowering expenditure, noting that any such measure should begin with “the salaries of former ministers and MPs, the rents of governmental buildings and the army's Measure 3.”“I'm a former MP and my monthly salary amounts to $6,000 and this is not fair,” Jumblat said in a video interview with the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa portal. Commenting on remarks by Minister of the Displaced Ghassan Atallah that “Christians are still afraid to sleep at night in Mount Lebanon (Chouf and Aley),” Jumblat said: “Let's ask his political part whether it accepts this statement.”“Does the Free Patriotic Movement accept the remarks of the minister of the displaced, especially after the (Christian) reconciliation with the PSP?” Jumblat added.

Former President Amine Gemayel Says Lebanon Going Through 'Difficult' Phase
Kataeb.org/Wednesday 03rd April 2019/Former President Amine Gemayel described the current situation in Lebanon as "difficult", pointing out to the lingering refugee crisis, economic hardships, corruption and the inefficiency of supervisory bodies that are all burdening the country. Gemayel was addressing Lebanese expatriates following a mass he attended at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-cathedral in Sydney.The service was officiated by Father Tony Sarkis and attended by representatives of different Lebanese parties.

Finance Minister Submits Draft Budget to Prime Minister
Kataeb.org/Wednesday 03rd April 2019/Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Tuesday handed the 2019 draft state budget to Prime Minister Saad Hariri to be referred now to the government for endorsement. Following a two-hour meeting during which he and Hariri went over the draft, Khalil said that it is up to the premier to decide when to put it on the government's table for discussion.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted Khalil as describing the draft as "realistic" and "workable". “As finance minister, I fulfilled my task," he said. Earlier this week, Khalil told Al-Joumhouria newspaper that the budget includes a plan to reduce the deficit-to-GDP ratio to less than 9%, adding that it could be reduced by up to 2.5 percent this year. In its policy statement, the government pledged to undertake a financial consolidation that would start by decreasing the deficit by at least 1% of GDP annually over the next five years, as required by the international community at the CEDRE conference.

Facing 4th Charge', Ghosn Announces Press Conference
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/Tokyo prosecutors are considering pressing a fresh charge against Carlos Ghosn, local media said Wednesday, as the former Nissan boss announced on Twitter he would be giving his side of the story. In the latest twist in a rollercoaster of a case, Japanese investigators are reportedly eyeing a possible aggravated breach of trust charge related to at least $32 million in Nissan funds transferred to a distributor in Oman. Some of the money is believed to have been used to buy a luxury boat allegedly used by Ghosn and his family, according to a source familiar with the matter. If Tokyo prosecutors were to proceed, it would be the fourth criminal charge against the 65-year-old former high-flying auto executive, who denies all allegations. Ghosn already faces three charges of financial misconduct over allegations he under-reported his compensation and sought to transfer personal losses to Nissan's books. Tokyo district prosecutors are discussing the case with more senior colleagues before deciding whether to move ahead, Japanese media said.Shortly after the reports emerged, a verified Twitter account in Ghosn's name said he would be speaking to journalists next week. "I'm getting ready to tell the truth about what's happening. Press conference on Thursday, April 11," said the tweet, sent early Wednesday afternoon. A spokeswoman for the executive later confirmed the news conference in a statement to AFP.
Flight risk'
If prosecutors were to file new charges, it would not necessarily mean Ghosn returns to the detention centre where he spent more than three months before winning bail on March 6, according to a local lawyer. "The prosecutor can hit Ghosn with new charges without sending him back to prison. Prosecutors would need to again justify a detention by saying he was a flight risk and could destroy evidence and the chances seem fairly slim," said the lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous. The news came after it emerged that lawyers for Renault -- Nissan's parent company that Ghosn also led -- have handed over documents to prosecutors showing millions of euros in payments to the firm's distributors in Oman. An internal probe by Nissan, which is cooperating with prosecutors, has found Ghosn had approved over $30 million in payments to a distributor in Oman, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to AFP.  Some of this money ended up in personal accounts, or was used for purchases and investments by Ghosn -- mainly to buy a yacht and make investments via his son's firm -- according to this person. A spokesperson for Ghosn has already rejected these allegations. "The payments made by Renault to the distributor in Oman have not been diverted from their commercial objectives and under no circumstances has all or part of such payments benefited Carlos Ghosn or his family," said the representative in a statement. In a bolt from the blue that rocked Japan and the business world, Ghosn was arrested on November 19 after prosecutors stormed his private jet at a Tokyo airport and took him into custody. He spent more than 100 days in detention with limited access to lawyers before being released on a bail of nearly $9 million. Nissan swiftly removed him as chairman and is also expected to remove him from the board at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting slated for Monday.

Jarrah Says 20hr Power Feed in Early 2020, Ships Not Ruled Out
Naharnet/April 03/19/Citizens will enjoy at least 20-hour per day power supply in early 2020, a minister said Wednesday after a meeting for a ministerial panel tasked with studying an electricity plan to resolve the country's chronic crisis. “Near-complete consensus has been reached on the energy minister's plan and on the places where the temporary and permanent plants will be built as well as the generation capacity of each site,” Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah said. Told that the energy minister has announced that the option of renting power ships is still on the table, contrary to his announcement Tuesday that it had been dropped, Jarrah said: “If a bidder says that they could provide us with the temporary part via a ship, pending the completion of the permanent solution and with a cost less than that proposed by another bidder who intends to build an on-land plant, we will certainly discuss such an option in the committee.”Asked when the committee expects the 20-hour threshold to be reached, the minister said: “If we approve the plan this week, we will need three to four months to approve contacts and finalize the temporary plants. This means that we would provide the 1,450 megawatts in the first months of 2020.”
The committee will hold another meeting after Thursday's cabinet session.

Customs Council Member Charged with Several Corruption Offenses
Naharnet/April 03/19/Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun on Wednesday charged Higher Council of Customs member Gracia Kazzi with “receiving bribes, money laundering and abuse of power.”Aoun also slapped a travel ban on Kazzi pending the end of investigations and asked the Finance Ministry to suspend her from her functions at the Higher Council of Customs.

Electricity ministerial committee will meet again tomorrow
Wed 03 Apr 2019/ NNA - The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri chaired this afternoon at the Grand Serail the meeting of the ministerial committee tasked with studying the electricity plan. Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani, ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Jamal Jarrah, Akram Chehayeb, Mohamed Fneish, Youssef Fenianos, Camille Abou Slaiman, Nada Boustani and Adel Afiouni, the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers Mahmoud Makkieh, representatives of the World Bank and a number of advisers attended. After the meeting, Jarrah said: “The committee met today, and will meet again tomorrow after the Council of Ministers to resolve issues and points that were not discussed due to prior appointments of Prime Minister Hariri. Discussions tackled a number of essential points, we agreed on some in principles, while there were suggestions on other points and they be drafted and e-mailed to the ministers, to be read and discussed tomorrow. In general the atmosphere is very positive and work is quick despite the responsible and in-depth discussion that is taking place on all the mechanisms and the items of the plan. There are several views on how to manage tenders. We reached two proposals, both of which are reasonable and need a more in-depth discussion so that we can take the final decision to the Council of Ministers on the method that we will adopt in the tender. The issue of temporary and permanent production was also discussed and there was an agreement on the plan of the Minister of Energy and the places where the temporary and permanent power plants would be established and the volume of production in each location. These issues are almost finished and need a last reading to situate the locations. As for the Selaata expropriation, there is a land owned by Electricité du Liban, which is enough for the first stage of production, which is the first power plant. Discussions are underway on ways to get an additional land if needed, the party that will finance the next expropriation and whether it will take place now or later. I think we made progress and tomorrow there will be another meeting to agree on the remaining items.”Asked to comment on the statement made by the Minister of Energy who announced that the power ships are still an option and that permanent power supply will be before 2023, Jarrah said: “By 2023 we would have secured the bulk of energy we need for the future, but this plan is extended. If someone offers to give us the temporary part through power ships until the permanent solution is completed and with a less cost than the power plant, then we will certainly discuss this choice in the committee. We are open to choices. The main objective of the plan is to reduce electricity deficit and ensure electricity 24 hours per day. These are the main strategic objectives of the plan, in addition to ending the two billion dollars in the next few years. Starting 2019 the technical and nontechnical squander will be reduced, thus achieving an estimated saving between two hundred and four hundred billion Lebanese pounds and this is very important. When we ensure twenty four hour electricity we will then think of increasing the tariff without increasing the price of a certain amount of electricity for poor classes and increase it for the higher levels of consumption.”
Asked when to expect electricity 24/7, he said: “If we finish this week, we need around three or four months for contracting and another six months to finish the temporary power plants. This means by the first few months of 2020 we will be able to provide 1450 Megawatt or a little less.”
Regarding the modernization of networks, Jarrah explained that when we put new power on the networks, we should guarantee that the transport lines are ready to transport it. He said that two choices are being discussed regarding the tender issue, and then they will be sent to the cabinet, adding that this is not an easy issue and each item should be thoroughly discussed in order to take the necessary decision.

Latest LCCC English Miscellaneous Reports & News published on April 03-04/19
US: 3 Countries Cut Oil Imports from Iran to Zero
Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 3 April, 2019/Three of eight importers granted waivers by Washington to buy oil from Iran have now cut their shipments to zero, announced Brian Hook, the special US envoy for Iran, on Tuesday.
“In November, we granted eight oil waivers to avoid a spike in the price of oil. I can confirm today three of those importers are now at zero,” he told reporters. Hook did not identify the three. “There are better market conditions for us to accelerate our path to zero,” Hook said. “We are not looking to grant any waivers or exceptions to our sanctions regime.” He added that US oil sanctions against Iran had removed about 1.5 million barrels of Iranian oil exports from the market since May 2018. “This has denied the regime access to well over $10 billion in (oil) revenue - a loss of at least $30 million a day,” he said. The United States reimposed sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump last May withdrew the country from a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and several world powers, accusing it of supporting terrorism and conflicts in Syria and Yemen. While the United States has set a goal of completely halting Iran’s oil exports, it granted temporary import waivers to China, India, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey and South Korea to ensure low oil prices and no disruption to the global oil market. The Trump administration is currently in consultations with the importers ahead of a May 2 deadline when the waivers expire.Oil prices on Tuesday hit their highest level so far in 2019, with Brent crude approaching $70 a barrel on the prospect that more sanctions against Iran and Venezuelan disruptions could deepen an OPEC-led supply cut. Analysts believe the administration is likely to extend the waivers to the remaining five importers to placate top buyers China and India and to decrease the chance of higher oil prices. China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey are likely to be given waivers that could cap Iran’s crude oil exports at about 1.1 million barrels per day, US-based analysts at Eurasia Group said in January. That would remove Italy, Greece and Taiwan from the waivers list. Hook said a decision on whether to extend the waivers would be made “in due course.” A total of 23 importers that once took Iranian oil had cut imports to zero, he stated. “With oil prices actually lower than they were when we announced our sanctions and global production stable, we are on the fast track to zeroing out all purchases of Iranian crude,” he revealed. A senior Trump administration official told reporters on Monday that the US government was considering additional sanctions against Iran that would target areas of its economy that have not been hit before. Hook said more than 26 rounds of US sanctions against Iran had restricted the country’s cash flow and constrained its ability to operate in the region. Earlier on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran’s government of mismanagement that has led to devastating flooding across the country. At least 47 people have been killed in the past two weeks from flash floods.

Iran puts death toll from flooding at 62
The Associated Press, Tehran, Iran/Wednesday, 3 April 2019/Iranian media are reporting that the number of dead from recent flooding has risen to 62, up from 57 the day before. A Wednesday report by the semi-official Fars news agency quotes Ahmad Shojaei, head of the country’s forensic medicine department, as saying the casualties were in various provinces that experienced flooding over the past two weeks. Also on Wednesday, Iran President Hassan Rouhani called US sanctions that have allegedly blocked international relief assistance to needy people in flood-stricken areas an “unprecedented crime.”Iran has been facing major flooding that has struck hundreds of villages, towns and cities in the western half of the country, where authorities declared an emergency in some places.

Differences Among Iraqi Politicians over Basra Autonomous Region
Baghdad - Fadhel al-Nashmi/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19/The Basra provincial council unanimously approved on Tuesday to transform the southern governorate into an autonomous region. The Council also invited other governorates to join the new region. The Iraqi Constitution states that any governorate can become a region with independent powers. Article 119 of the Constitution states that one or more governorates have the right to organize into a region in two methods: A request by one-third of the council members or a request by one-tenth of the voters in each of the governorates intending to form a region. Since 2008, Basra residents have been calling for a federation. However, their request has been rejected. The city had witnessed a series of demonstrations since June 2018 due to poor services and unemployment. Head of the Basra provincial council Sabah al-Bazoni said Tuesday the decision on the formation of the autonomous region needs the votes of 12 council members. “Today, we have more than 20 signatures,” Bazoni said. “We support the Constitution and the will of the people in Basra to establish a region,” Galih Khazali, a deputy allied with the Bina Alliance and who represents Basra in Parliament, told Asharq Al-Awsat. He said Basra provides Iraq with 85 percent of its financial revenues, but “gets nothing in return, unlike the Kurdistan Region that offers nothing to the government from its oil revenues.”However, another Basra deputy form the Reform Alliance, Badr al-Ziadi, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the council’s latest move did not come at the appropriate time. “Basrans cannot agree on appointing a governor, so how can we manage the whole Basra region?” Ziadi asked.

SDF Tracks ISIS Militants in Caves
London - Damascus - Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 3 April, 2019/A US-backed force said Tuesday it was chasing ISIS militants in eastern Syria, as coalition warplanes pound the extremists more than a week after their so-called "caliphate" was declared defeated. The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by warplanes of a US-led coalition, dislodged ISIS militants from their last redoubt in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border on March 23, following a months-long offensive. The US-backed alliance is now "tracking down remnants of the terrorist group", SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said on Tuesday. "There are groups hiding in caves overlooking Baghouz," he said. The US-led coalition said it was supporting sweeping operations with air strikes on militant hideouts. "The Syrian Democratic Forces continues to deny ISIS a physical space and influence in the area and work to deny them the resources they need to return," coalition spokesman Scott Rawlinson told AFP on Monday. "In support of back-clearance operations, the coalition continues to conduct precision strike support in coordination with SDF," he said.
The official said anti-ISIS operations are now focusing on "eroding" the group's "capacity to regenerate and collaborate". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said that more than a dozen coalition air strikes have targeted ISIS hideouts in Baghouz since Sunday. Strikes hit caves and farmlands in the village where holdout militants are believed to be hiding, it said. ISIS fighters also retain a presence in Syria's vast Badia desert and various other hideouts, and have continued to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held territory. Last week, ISIS killed seven US-backed fighters in an attack on a checkpoint in the northern city of Manbij, which is controlled by a local council linked to the SDF. The Observatory on Tuesday said that nine suspected militants were captured in the former ISIS bastion of Raqqa since Sunday. The SDF has warned that a new phase has begun in anti-ISIS operations, following the defeat of the militant proto-state.

Four suicide bombers hit Syria’s Raqqa: SDF
Reuters, Beirut Wednesday, 3 April 2019/Four suicide bombers struck in Syria’s Raqqa on Wednesday, a spokesman for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) which controls the city said in a message to journalists. “Four suicide bombers blew themselves up,” said Mustafa Bali, head of the SDF’s media office, in an online chat when asked about blasts in Raqqa.

$25 mln reward for information on ISIS leader whereabouts
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Wednesday, 3 April 2019/The US-led international coalition against ISIS will give a $25 million reward to those who report the whereabouts of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. International coalition aircrafts dropped leaflets on Tuesday on the Iraqi city of Ramadi, urging those with information regarding al-Baghdadi to contact the coalition via call or text. A source in the police headquarters of Ramadi said that aircrafts belonging to the international coalition dropped leaflets across different parts of the city. The leaflet read: “The leader of ISIS and his fighters stole your land and killed your family, and now he is hiding safely away from the death and destruction he planted.” “With your information you can avenge him and his destruction,” the leaflet also read. Earlier, it was reported that ISIS group leader was not in Iraq. According to Iraqi intelligence, al-Baghdadi is hiding in eastern Syria and moves around with only a small group of followers, including one of his sons.

Guterres from Al-Azhar Mosque: Most of Terrorism Victims are Muslims, Arabs
Cairo - Walid Abul Rahman/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19/UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the growing hatred against Muslims all over the world. “Around the world, we are seeing ever-rising anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia. Hate speech is entering the mainstream, spreading like wildfire through social media and radio,” he added. “We see it spreading in liberal democracies, as well as in authoritarian states. These dark forces menace democratic values, social stability and peace. They stigmatize women, minorities, migrants and refugees,” he stressed. Guterres’ warnings came during his speech from Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo - the largest Sunni institution in the world - where he met with Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb. “When people are attacked, physically, verbally or on social media, because of their race, religion or ethnicity, all of society is diminished. We all have a part to play in repairing the fissures and ending the polarization that are so prevalent in many of our societies today,” the UN chief emphasized. “As the Grand Imam stated, Muslims have paid a heavy price due to the actions of a handful of criminals.” He also stressed that “all religions agree that God forbids killing.”Guterres highly commended the religious summit held in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, saying: “It is so heartening to see to see the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, and Pope Francis join hands in Abu Dhabi in February in a show of interfaith brotherhood.”“I have here, given by the Grand Imam, the text - the common text, approved by him and the Pope, which is a fantastic testimony of mutual respect, tolerance, compassion and peace, given by the two great religious leaders to the world,” he affirmed. The Grand Imam, for his part, expressed his readiness to cooperate with the United Nations on the common goals in consolidating world peace and achieving equality among all human beings.

Netanyahu & Putin meet urgently over Iran’s new command hub in Aleppo
DEBKAfile/April 03/19/The removal from Damascus to Aleppo of Iran’s IRGC command HQ brings Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’ to Moscow on Thursday, April 4, for an urgent meeting with President Vladimir Putin – five days before Israel’s general election – to reset their coordination arrangements. DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report that the Iranians completed the transfer of their commands and military facilities, lock, stock and barrel, from Damascus to Aleppo in the second half of March. They hoped that this move would get them out of range of Israel’s serial air and missile raids, calculating that the IAF would be reluctant to risk running into the Russian S-400 and S-300 air defense batteries deployed nearby at the Khmeimim Air Base. They were proved wrong. No sooner had the Iranian command staff moved into its new premises, when the Israeli air force on March 27, conducted one of its broadest raids hitherto on Iranian targets in Syria. Casualties of dead and injured were heavy and the devastation extensive. According to our sources, that raid was just the opening shot. Israel has finished with Damascus as the arena for destroying Iran’s military facilities and shifted its campaign to Aleppo. However, the geography makes it incumbent on Israel to draw up fresh rules of coordination with the Russian forces posted in northern Syria. This imperative was behind the official Kremlin account of the phone conversation conducted by Netanyahu and Putin on Monday, April 1 – “pressing bilateral issues including military contacts” – which made a face-to-face meeting between the new leaders essential.

Would-be Palestinian attacker shot dead in West Bank
Yoav Zitun and Elisha Ben Kimon/Ynetnews|/April 03/19/Israeli driver opens fire on knife-wielding man who tried to stab him inside his own vehicle; second armed Israeli driver also opens fire in incident near Nablus; no other injuries reported A would-be Palestinian attacker was shot dead Wednesday morning during an attempted stabbing near Huwara in the West Bank. The man was shot by two armed Israeli civilians, including his target. The attacker was evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva in critical condition and died shortly afterwards. No one else was harmed in the incident. Initial reports said the attacker blocked an Israeli vehicle in which a father and his daughter were sitting, at a junction near Huwara on Route 60, close to the Palestinian city of Nablus. He approached the car’s driver with a knife in his hand when the driver and an Israeli driving a nearby truck opened fire. The driver was later named as Yehoshua Sherman, who runs the field campaign for the New Right Party. “I went to work and drove from Elon Moreh towards the Tapuach Junction,” said Sherman. “At one of the junctions (along the way) a terrorist charged at the car and tried to open the door. I got out of the car (from the other door) and as he was making his way to me, I shot him along with another man who driving a truck behind me.”Yossi Dagan, the head of Shomron Regional Council, expressed his support for the two Israelis who neutralized the attacker: “This is how one should act — firmly, against those who seek our harm, and with no fear,” Dagan said. “This event highlights the importance of finishing the new road that bypasses Hawara, as we’ve agreed with the prime minister. There is no reason why Israeli residents should drive through hostile Arab communities every morning and endanger their lives and their children’s lives,” said Dagan. "The road should be completed swiftly.”

Gantz Says Netanyahu Rhetoric Could Spark Civil War
Tel Aviv- Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 3 April, 2019/Blue and White Leader Benny Gantz responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier accused him of being insane. Gantz said Netanyahu’s campaign rhetoric is divisive and incites tensions, adding that it has reached dangerous levels and “could spark a civil war.”The charge came a day after Gantz accused Netanyahu of being involved in the incitement to violence that led to the 1995 assassination of former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Gantz argued Netanyahu would like him dead, and Likud now seeks to paint Gantz as “insane, a cuckoo, mentally unstable.”“He used to be different, but 13 years [in power] have done this to him. He has lost something he once had, and instead of cultivating civil unity, he could cause a civil war, and we must be wary of it,” Gantz said, in response to Likud Party’s accusations. “When you are in office too long, you lose the statesmanship, you lose the desire and the longing to serve other people and enact change, and you begin to deal only with your political survival,” Gantz said, promising that he will enact a law to limit the premiership to two terms or no more than eight years. The political scene revealed a Likud campaign on Twitter against Gantz, in which 135,000 fake accounts were created to promote Likud’s propaganda against him. Netanyahu had to convene a special press conference to respond to this accusation. He claimed that these were not fake accounts planted by Likud but were real accounts of independent people. He brought with him Giora Ezra, 63, to the press briefing Monday in a bid to dismiss accusations his Likud party has deployed an army of internet bots to help get him reelected. Ezra posts online as “Captain George” and tweets his Liked-supporting opinion. Gantz started another campaign in which he accused Netanyahu of using political lies such as world dictators. “Netanyahu is pushing the election debate to dangerous levels that threaten democracy, and he is imitating Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his threat to Israeli democracy," Gantz said.

In Israel Election, Palestinians are Nowhere to Be Found
Associated Press/Naharnet/April 03/19/In a charged election campaign that has been heavy on insults and short on substance, Israel's conflict with the Palestinians has been notably absent from the discourse. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud Party has offered no plan for what many believe is the country's most existential problem. His main challenger speaks vaguely of "separation," while Netanyahu's hard-line partners speak openly of the once unthinkable idea of annexing all or parts of the West Bank. Talk of a Palestinian state, the international community's preferred solution for the past two decades, is non-existent. It is a far cry from past elections, when peace with the Palestinians was the central issue for voters. This apparent lack of interest reflects widespread disillusionment in Israel over years of failed peace efforts.
But it also is a testament to Netanyahu's success in sidelining the issue. Capitalizing on internal Palestinian divisions and promoting sometimes contradictory policies, Netanyahu has succeeded in managing the conflict without addressing the bigger issue of how two intertwined peoples will live together in the future. Strong backing from the Trump administration has given him an extra boost. "The peace track is currently in a coma," said Shmuel Rosner, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute. "There's not much hope for a viable solution to be revived in the near future, so people can just keep pushing it aside until someday it comes back to haunt them."Netanyahu took office in early 2009 and under heavy pressure from then-President Barack Obama reluctantly stated his support for an independent Palestinian state, albeit with many conditions, which were rejected. Things quickly went downhill, and serious peace talks never took place during Obama's time in office. Throughout his tenure, Netanyahu has repeatedly cast blame on the Palestinians, accusing President Mahmoud Abbas, who seeks a negotiated settlement with Israel, of incitement and promoting "terror." At the same time, he has maintained behind-the-scenes security cooperation with Abbas' forces in the West Bank in a joint struggle against the Hamas militant group. In the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Netanyahu has engaged in frequent rounds of fighting, but is also conducting behind-the-scenes negotiations with his bitter enemy in hopes of maintaining calm. The Trump administration has further sidelined the Palestinians by cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, prompting the Palestinians to sever ties with the U.S. A long-promised peace plan, which the White House says will be released after the election, faces dim prospects, if it is even released.
With the peace process in a deep freeze, it is perhaps no surprise that none of the major Israeli parties are talking about the Palestinians. "The Palestinian cause is totally absent in the Israeli elections, and when it comes, it comes only in a negative context," said Ahmed Majdalani, a senior Palestinian official. "This is worrisome, because it tells us that we are going from bad to worse."The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war — for an independent state. The so-called two-state solution is widely backed internationally as the best way to end the conflict. If Israel continues to rule over millions of Palestinians, the thinking goes, the Palestinians will eventually abandon their dream of statehood and instead demand Israeli citizenship and full equality. In such a scenario, Israel would no longer be able to be both Jewish and democratic. Israelis accuse the Palestinians of rejecting generous peace offers, most recently in late 2008, a narrative the Palestinians reject. The Israelis also point to the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, which cleared the way for Hamas to seize power from Abbas' forces two years later. Ahead of the election, several religious and nationalist parties, along with individual members of Netanyahu's Likud party, have openly called for annexing parts or all of the West Bank. These plans include a range of proposals for the Palestinians, including nonvoting residency rights, possible citizenship or financial incentives to emigrate. It remains unclear how hard these parties, all potential coalition partners for Netanyahu, will push, though Trump's recent recognition of Israel's annexation of the occupied Golan Heights has led to stepped-up calls for annexing West Bank territory. Likud spokesman Eli Hazan said he does not expect annexation to be on the agenda. He said the party "strongly believes" in the status quo. "We are against the one-state solution and two-state solution. Both ways may lead to the end of Israel as a Jewish and democratic country," he said.
Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israeli Democracy Institute and a former lawmaker, said he did not think Netanyahu would give in to the annexation calls. "At the end of the day, West Bank annexation is the prerogative of the prime minister," he said. Netanyahu's main challenger, former military chief Benny Gantz, has given Israel's "peace camp" some dim hope. His Blue and White party's platform devotes just a few sentences to the Palestinians, promising "an open horizon for political settlement" and pledging to work with Arab neighbors to find a way to "deepen the separation." It makes no mention of Palestinian statehood, and says Israel will continue to maintain control of parts of the West Bank and never divide Jerusalem. Ghassan Khatib, a former Palestinian negotiator, said the lack of interest on the Israeli side is harmful to the Palestinians in the short term but much worse for Israel in the long term. "It means the end of the two-state solution," he said. "The alternative will be an apartheid system, and this will cause huge damage to Israeli democracy and the image of Israel."Yossi Beilin, one of the chief architects of Israel's historic 1993 interim peace agreement with the Palestinians, said Netanyahu's policies have been "devastating" for peace prospects. Yet he remains confident the two-state solution will one day be adopted due to a lack of alternatives, and even believes that Gantz "for sure" will pursue a peace deal if elected. Ironically, Trump's peace plan, if released, may force Netanyahu's hand, Beilin said. If elected, Netanyahu will have a hard time resisting his close friend's proposal while his hard-line coalition partners oppose any concessions to the Palestinians."The impact of the plan might be very interesting," Beilin said.

London Stocks Stable with All Eyes on Brexit
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/London's stock market steadied at the start of trading on Wednesday, after British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would seek another Brexit delay to avoid crashing out. In initial deals, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was virtually flat at 7,390.03 points. In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index gained almost 0.9 percent to 11,855.40 points and the Paris CAC 40 won 0.6 percent to 5,458.02 compared with Tuesday's closing levels.

2nd British Minister Resigns over Further Brexit Delay
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/Junior Brexit minister Chris Heaton-Harris became the second British government member to resign on Wednesday after Prime Minister Theresa May said she would ask to delay Brexit again and find a compromise with Labor. Heaton-Harris said in a letter to May that he would have wanted Britain to leave the European Union on the scheduled departure date of March 29, adding: "I simply cannot support any further extension."

May Seeks Last-Minute Brexit Tie-Breaker with Opposition
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/Prime Minister Theresa May was to meet on Wednesday with the leader of Britain's main opposition party in a bid to thrash out a Brexit compromise just days before a deadline to leave the EU. The British premier was to hold talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn the day after announcing she would ask Brussels for another "short" delay to Brexit to avoid crashing out next week. The move, which followed a long cabinet meeting on Tuesday, angered Brexit hardliners in her party as it opens the possibility of Britain aiming for closer economic ties with the European Union after leaving. The Labour Party has consistently called for Britain to remain in a customs union with the EU while the government has so far ruled this out saying Britain should have an independent trade policy after Brexit. A junior government member, Nigel Adams, resigned in protest on Wednesday, telling the prime minister in a letter that she was making "a grave error". "It is clear we will now end up in the customs union. This is not the Brexit my constituents were promised," he wrote.May and Corbyn were to face off at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons ahead of a likely meeting in parliament during the afternoon. The EU's response was expected to come Wednesday in the form of a speech by European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels.
'Let us be patient'
May must come up with a viable plan to end Britain's 46 years of EU membership ahead of a summit next Wednesday, when she will ask European leaders for another Brexit delay. Last month they approved postponing the original March 29 departure date, setting a new April 12 deadline. Bloc leaders have warned they will not delay indefinitely but with time now running perilously short EU council president Donald Tusk cautiously welcomed May's statement. "Even if, after today, we don't know what the end result will be, let us be patient," he said on Twitter. The prime minister's new strategy follows months of political gridlock over Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. The country voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the bloc in a divisive 2016 referendum. However, the exit process has only exacerbated divisions among the public and politicians, including May's cabinet. MPs have rejected three times her divorce deal negotiated with the EU, but after seizing control of the process, have been unable to come up with their own plan. On Wednesday cross-party lawmakers will try to rush a law through the House of Commons to prevent Britain leaving the bloc without a deal.
'We should leave on April 12'
After previously opposing parliament's attempts to find a majority for an alternative plan, May hinted Tuesday that she would now be willing to work with MPs. The prime minister outlined that if her government and Labour agree on a plan, she would request a delay that was "as short as possible and which ends when we pass a deal" through parliament. However if no agreement is found, she vowed to allow lawmakers to direct what she does. May is hoping that under that scenario Britain could still leave with a deal before May 22, so it did not have to take part in European Parliament elections. "The government stands ready to abide by the decision of the House," she said. British newspapers reported numerous Brexiteers in her cabinet opposed the Labour outreach and instead favour pursing a no-deal departure -- though several publicly backed May's new stance. "It's undesirable but it is the remorseless logic of the numbers in the House of Commons," Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told the BBC. However, hardline eurosceptic Conservative MPs reacted furiously to the move. "The process has now been taken control of entirely by people who backed Remain," influential lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg also told the BBC. "We should leave on April 12 without a deal."

Saudi Says 5 Wounded as Yemen Rebel Drones Intercepted
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/Saudi air defences intercepted two drones launched by Huthi rebels from neighbouring Yemen but debris wounded five civilians, including a child, a Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels said on Wednesday. The drones targeted Khamis Mushait, home to a major airbase in the southwest of kingdom, coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. "At 9:35 pm (1835 GMT) on Tuesday, the Royal Saudi Air Defence systems detected two unidentified objects headed towards civilian (areas)," he said, adding they were "intercepted and destroyed". The Yemeni rebels have repeatedly fired ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia and even claimed attacks on airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two main cities of the United Arab Emirates, the kingdom's principal coalition ally. Saudi Arabia has said the missiles were all intercepted by air defences, but one civilian was killed by shrapnel. The UAE has denied coming under missile attack. The rebels say their missile attacks have targeted airbases from which the coalition has conducted a devastating bombing war since March 2015 in support of the Yemeni government. Most of those killed in the conflict have been civilians, while millions have been brought to the brink of famine.

Kremlin Hopes for Transition in Algeria without Foreign 'Interference'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/The Kremlin on Wednesday said it hoped for a transition of power in Algeria without foreign "interference" after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in the face of massive street protests. "We expect that the internal processes that are happening in this country and are exclusively the internal affair of Algeria will take place without the interference of any third countries," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

France Backs Algerians' Pursuit of 'Democratic Transition'
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/France said Tuesday it was confident in Algeria's "democratic transition," after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika submitted his resignation in the face of massive street protests. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the ailing leader's decision to step down marked the turning of "an important page in the history of Algeria."He said the Algerian people had shown, through "dignified and peaceful" protests in recent weeks, that they were "determined to make their voice heard.""We are confident in the ability of all Algerians to continue this democratic transition in the same spirit of calm and responsibility" that has prevailed in recent weeks, Le Drian added in a statement. Bouteflika, 82, had ruled the former French colony for some two decades and had long been accused of clinging to power.
The veteran leader faced mounting pressure to step down following his decision to seek a fifth term, despite rarely being seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.His decision to stand aside was announced on state television on Tuesday, which quoted his resignation letter saying the move was to allow Algerians "to take Algeria towards a better future to which they legitimately aspire."

Algerians Cheer End of Bouteflika Era but Want Broader Change
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/April 03/19/Flag-waving Algerians celebrated the resignation of ailing leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika after two decades in power, but vowed to keep protesting to demand sweeping change to the country's whole political system. The 82-year-old president ceded power in the face of massive street demonstrations that have shaken the North African nation, with state media announcing late Tuesday he had submitted his resignation with immediate effect. Car horns sounded on the streets before jubilant crowds converged in the centre of the capital Algiers to cheer the departure of the veteran leader, who has rarely appeared in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. At the same time, many people said they were determined to continue demonstrating, rejecting any transition that leaves power in the hands of the "system". "I want my daughter to remember this historic day. Bouteflika's gone, but it's far from over," said 35-year-old Amal, who wore a T-shirt with the slogan "I am against the system" and vowed to march again on Friday. For 44-year-old engineer Hamid Boumaza, Bouteflika's resignation was "too little, too late"."Bouteflika's departure is no longer enough. We want them all to go. We want full freedom and we will march for as long as necessary." Others paid tribute to the longtime leader, but regretted that he had clung to power for so long."Bouteflika worked. I voted for him at first, but he didn't know how to leave with his head held high," said Bilan Brahim, 40.
'Appeasement of hearts'
Algeria has largely avoided the turmoil unleashed by the Arab Spring uprisings that brought down rulers in neighbouring Tunisia and Libya. But discontent, particularly among the young, turned to anger after Bouteflika announced in February that he would seek a fifth term in office in an election that had been scheduled for this month. He dropped his bid in the face of the mass protests but also postponed the vote, angering Algerians who saw the move as a ploy to stay in power. On Monday, his office said he would resign before his mandate expires at the end of the month. And as pressure mounted, state television announced late Tuesday that Bouteflika "officially advised the Constitutional Council of the end of his term of office as President of the Republic".
"This decision which I take in my soul and conscience is destined to contribute to the appeasement of the hearts and minds of my compatriots, to allow them to take Algeria towards a better future to which they legitimately aspire," his resignation letter said.
Footage showed Bouteflika, dressed in a beige North African tunic and sitting in his wheelchair, handing the resignation letter to the head of the Constitutional Council, Tayeb Belaiz. The United States said the future of Algeria was now up to its people. "Questions about how to navigate this transition in Algeria, that is for the Algerian people to decide," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters. Russian, a longtime ally of Algeria, called for a transition without foreign "interference". French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Bouteflika's decision to step down marked the turning of "an important page in the history of Algeria". "We are confident in the ability of all Algerians to continue this democratic transition in the same spirit of calm and responsibility" that has prevailed in recent weeks, Le Drian added.
Algeria's constitution says that once the president officially resigns, the speaker of the upper house of parliament, 77-year-old Abdelkader Bensalah, acts as interim leader for up to 90 days during which a presidential election must be organised. The resignation came shortly after the military demanded impeachment proceedings be launched against Bouteflika. Armed forces chief Ahmed Gaid Salah said the army's "sole ambition" was to "protect the people from a handful of (other) people who have unduly taken over the wealth of the Algerian people".
A long-time Bouteflika ally, the general last week called on the president to resign or be declared unfit to rule, becoming one of the first of his longtime supporters to abandon him. Bouteflika had named a new government on Sunday, made up mainly of technocrats under recently appointed premier Noureddine Bedoui. The administration -- supposed to steer the country towards transition -- included General Gaid Salah remaining in his position as deputy defence minister. Among the other key Bouteflika backers is his younger brother and special adviser Said, who was frequently cited in the past as a likely successor to the president. Discreet and rarely seen in public, Said Bouteflika has exerted increasing influence behind the scenes as his brother's health worsened, but the president's resignation could take away much of his power.

Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on April 03-04/19
Brunei invokes laws allowing stoning for gay sex, adultery
Ynetnews/Associated Press/April 03/19
New Islamic criminal laws that took effect Wednesday trigger outcry from countries, rights groups and celebrities far beyond the tiny Southeast Asian nation’s shores
SINGAPORE — New Islamic criminal laws that took effect in Brunei on Wednesday, punishing gay sex and adultery by stoning offenders to death, have triggered an outcry from countries, rights groups and celebrities far beyond the tiny Southeast Asian nation’s shores. The penalties were provided for under new sections of Brunei’s Shariah Penal Code. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah instituted the code in 2014 to bolster the influence of Islam in the oil-rich monarchy of around 430,000 people, two-thirds of whom are Muslim.
Even before 2014, homosexuality was already punishable in Brunei by a jail term of up to 10 years. The first stage of the Shariah Penal Code included fines or jail for offenses such as pregnancy out of wedlock or failing to pray on Fridays. But under the new laws — which apply to children and foreigners, even if they are not Muslim — those found guilty of gay sex could be stoned to death or whipped. Adulterers risk death by stoning too, while thieves face amputation of a right hand on their first offense and a left foot on their second. “Living in Brunei, we already knew that our sexual identity is taboo and should not be expressed. We already felt belittled before the law came to place,” said a 23-year-old member of the LGBTQ community who wanted to be identified only as Kun out of fear of reprisal from the authorities.
“Now with it, we feel even smaller and the ones who could potentially oppress us have more opportunity to harass us to say and do what they want,” he said. Celebrities including George Clooney, Elton John and Ellen DeGeneres have voiced opposition to the new laws, and have rallied a boycott of nine hotels in the U.S. and Europe with ties to Hassanal, who is still sultan.
“Are we really going to help fund the murder of innocent citizens?” Clooney wrote Thursday on Deadline Hollywood.
Clooney said that while you can’t shame “murderous regimes,” you can shame “the banks, the financiers and the institutions that do business with them.” There has been no vocal opposition to the new penalties in Brunei, where the sultan rules as head of state with full executive authority. Public criticism of his policies is extremely rare in the country. Hassanal, who has reigned since 1967, has previously said the Penal Code should be regarded as a form of “special guidance” from God and would be “part of the great history” of Brunei. On Tuesday, the United States joined the United Kingdom, Germany and France in urging Brunei to halt its plans.
“The United States strongly opposes violence, criminalization and discrimination targeting vulnerable groups, including women at risk of violence, religious and ethnic minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons,” State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.
Brunei’s Southeast Asian neighbors, some of whom have laws banning sex between men, were silent. But LGBTQ citizens of other nearby Muslim-majority countries were concerned about the broad penalties. “I am very worried that Indonesia or Malaysia may follow the lead,” said a 24-year-old man from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, who wanted to be identified only by his first name, Ludwig. “I think people nowadays, especially the younger generation, are quite OK with LGBT, but those who are not make the loudest noise and they are the reason why it seems like everyone is against it.”Nearly two-thirds of Malaysia’s 32 million people are Muslim. They are governed by Islamic courts in family, marriage and personal issues. Last year, two Malaysian Muslim women were convicted under Islamic laws and caned for attempting to have sex with each other. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged Brunei’s government to “stop the entry into force of this Draconian new penal code.”“Any religion-based legislation must not violate human rights, including the rights of those belonging to the majority religion as well as of religious minorities and non-believers,” she said in a statement on Monday. Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called on the sultan to “immediately suspend amputations, stoning, and all other rights-abusing provisions and punishments.”“Brunei’s new penal code is barbaric to the core, imposing archaic punishments for acts that shouldn’t even be crimes,” Robertson said in a statement on Wednesday. Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Brunei researcher at Amnesty International, decried the “vicious” laws and asked the international community to condemn them.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Announces The Goals Of 'The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution' For The Next 40 Years – Part Two: 'You Must Preserve Your Revolution... And Bring It Ever Closer To Its Great Aspiration – The Creation Of A New Islamic Civilization, And Preparations For The Rise Of The Sun Of The Mahdi'
MEMRI/April 03/19
On February 13, 2019, two days after the marking of Iran's 40th Revolution Day, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a statement on his website, in Farsi and English, setting out in detail his vision for the next 40 years of the Islamic Revolution. Calling it "the Second Phase of the Islamic Revolution" on the path to transforming it into "a new Islamic civilization" that will encompass all humanity, he directed his guidelines for establishing the revolution for Iran's younger generation.[1]
The following are the main points of the statement posted by Khamenei on his website, translated from the original Farsi and taken from the original English.[2] (For the full original English version from Khamenei's website, see Appendix.)
The Islamic Revolution Provided Humanity With "The Religion And The Material World Together, And Declared The Coming Of A New Era"
Khameini wrote: "No one presumed [i.e. ever imagined that] a major religious movement would emerge; the Islamic Revolution of Iran stepped onto the scene gloriously and mightily... It broke the frameworks... it put the religion and the material world together, and declared the coming of a new era...
"It was natural that the vanguard of deviation and oppression [i.e. the infidel superpowers] would react to this – but their reaction failed. The representatives of modernity, from the right [i.e. the capitalist West] and the left [i.e. the Communist East], whether presenting themselves as ignoring this emerging and unprecedented voice or attempting to stifle it, has only brought them closer to their inevitable doom. Today, after 40 annual celebrations of [Iran's Islamic] Revolution, one of the two centers of hostility has been destroyed [i.e. the U.S.S.R] and the other [i.e. the U.S.] is entangled in predicaments that herald its death. But the Islamic Revolution moves ahead, preserving and adhering to its mottos."
"The Global Mottos Of This Religious Revolution... Will Never Expire"
"Everything has an expiration date. But the global mottos of this religious revolution are exceptional; they will never expire, because they are involved with the essence of human nature across all eras. Freedom, morality, spirituality, justice, independence, dignity, rationality, and brotherhood do not belong to a single generation or society, rising in one period and setting in another. It is impossible to imagine a people that despises these values. If this ever happened, it was because [government] officials turned their back on these religious values...
"The Islamic Revolution is always flexible and willing to correct its mistakes, because it is a living, energetic phenomenon. But it never backs down [from its fundamental principles] and it is not passive. It is responsive to criticism, and sees [criticism] as a divine blessing and as a warning to those who are not implementing its precepts – but it never distances itself from any of its values, that are interwoven, Allah be praised, in the religious faith of the public. Since it was built, the [regime] system has not diminished, and it sees no contradiction between revolutionary dynamism and political and social order. It always defends the theory of the revolutionary regime [of Iran].
"The Islamic Republic [of Iran] is not fossilized or without emotion and understanding regarding new phenomena and realities. It is firmly committed to its principles. It is very sensitive about the borders it places between it and its rivals and enemies. It is never neglectful about [preserving] the lines that guide it. It is important to it that it knows why it must remain, and in what manner... The gap between reality and what is needed can be eliminated... and without a doubt will be vigorously eliminated in the future thanks to the presence of the young, believing, wise, and motivated generation.
"The Islamic Revolution of the Iranian nation is mighty, and also lenient and even oppressed. It has never operated in extremism or leftism – [ideologies that have] looted many other uprisings and movements. It has never fired the first shot in any battle – not even against America or Saddam [Hussein]; it has [only] defended itself after being attacked by the enemy, striking back with a triumphant blow. Since its inception, this Revolution has never been cruel or bloodthirsty; it has [also] never been passive or deterred. It stands clearly and courageously against the tyrants and dictators, and defends the oppressed and downtrodden. This revolutionary justice and might, integrity and honesty, global and regional realm of operation for the oppressed of the world is a source of pride for Iran and for Iranians – may they continue forever."
"I Would Like To Address My Dear Young People... [Who Are About] To Begin The Next Phase Of The Great Jihad For Building A Great Islamic Iran"
"Now, at the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the Islamic Republic, my insignificant self would like to address my dear young people – the generation that is about to enter the arena to begin the next phase of the Great Jihad for building a great Islamic Iran. The first section of my address concerns the past.
"My dear ones, what is not known can be attained only through personal experience, or by listening to the experience of others. Much of what we have seen and examined has not yet been seen and examined by your generation. We have seen, and you have yet to see.
"The coming decades are your decades, and you must preserve your Revolution with motivation and knowledge, and bring it ever closer to its great aspiration – the creation of a new Islamic civilization, and the preparations for the rise of the sun of the [Twelfth Imam] Mahdi...
"The enemies of the Revolution are highly motivated and are acting to distort the past and even the present, and to spread lies about them, and they are using money and all means in order to do so. There are many thieves of thought, insight, and belief. It is not possible to hear the truth from the enemy and its troops.
"The Islamic Revolution and the regime that emerged from it began from nothing. Everything was against us... we had no experience... Combining [the idea of] the republic with Islam, and the tools that created this combination and its development, were achieved only by divine guidance and by the light-filled heart and great thought of Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini. This was the first brilliance of the [Islamic] Revolution.
"Then, the Revolution of the Iranian nation transformed the bipolar world of that time into a tripolar world. After that, following the fall of the Soviet Union and its satellite states, and their eradication, and the rise of new power centers, the new conflict between Islam and the Arrogance [i.e. the West, led by the U.S.] became the world's prominent phenomenon, and the global focus of attention... In this way, the path of the world changed, and the earthquake of the Revolution awakened the pharaohs from their sleep...
"The hostility [towards Iran] began with all intensity... Despite all these onerous problems, the Islamic Republic marched forward with ever greater and stronger steps. These past 40 years have witnessed great jihad, brilliant pride, and amazing developments in Islamic Iran. The magnitude of these developments... is evident only in comparison to other revolutions that took place during a similar span of time – the French Revolution, the October 1917 revolution in Russia, and the Indian Revolution...
"The Islamic Revolution placed Iran on the track of rapid advancement. For its first step, it transformed the miserable monarchical regime into a popular democratic regime, and brought into the center of the administration of the state the element of national will – which is the foundation of comprehensive and real progress. Then, it turned the young people into the leaders of the main events, and brought them into key roles in the administration [of the state]. It conveyed to all the spirit and belief of 'yes we can,' and by virtue of the enemies' sanctions, taught everyone to rely on domestic capabilities...
"The fruit of the efforts over the past 40 years is before our eyes: a country and a nation – independent, free, and mighty; respected, religious, advanced in science, full of valuable experience, imbued with confidence and hope, influential in the region and with strong stances on global affairs, with rapid, record-breaking scientific advancement... in the areas of nuclear [science], stem cell science, nanotechnology, aerospace science, and so on... Know that had there not been disregard of the slogans of the Revolution and of the revolutionary movement at several pivotal points in time during these past 40 years – which unfortunately happened, and which caused damage – the achievements of the Revolution would have been even greater, and many of today's problems would not exist.
"Today, mighty Iran faces challenges by the Arrogance [the West, led by the U.S.], as it did at the dawn of the Revolution, but with a significant difference: If the challenge against America then concerned tying the hands of the foreign agents [in Iran], or closing the embassy of the Zionist regime in Tehran, or exposing the [American] spy nest [the term used to refer to the U.S. Embassy in Tehran] – the challenge today concerns the presence of mighty Iran at the borders of the Zionist regime, and the expulsion of America's illegitimate presence from the Middle East, and the support of the Islamic Republic [of Iran] for the struggle of the Palestinian jihad fighters in the heart of the occupied territories [i.e. Israel], and the defense of the flying flag of Hizbullah and of the [Islamic] resistance across this region.
"And if the West's problem then was to prevent Iran from acquiring the most primitive weapons, the West's problem today is to prevent the transfer of advanced Iranian weapons to the resistance forces [in the region]...
"One of the important points on which [the young people] who are building the future must focus is that they are living in a land that is exceptional in terms of its natural and human potential. Most of these capabilities have so far been untapped, or tapped only slightly, and this is because of negligence on the part of those doing the work [in Iran]...
"The most important and promising potential in the country is its talented manpower, which is deeply based on faith and religion... [Iran's] 36 million [young people] aged 15-40, of whom 14 million have higher education, [and its] many, many young people who grew up with the revolutionary spirit and morale and are ready to try for the sake of the country and in the jihadi effort... [are a resource] to which no material resource can be compared..."
Khamenei's Advice To Young Iranians: "Go Beyond The Current Frontiers Of Science In The Most Important Fields"
"My dear children, I have several recommendations for you on important, fundamental issues..."
"1. Science and Research: Science is the most obvious means for a country to attain respect and might. The other face of science is capability... We do not recommend using science for evil, like the West has, but we are definitely emphasizing [the need] to create sources of science and knowledge within us... We still lag far behind the global heights of science, and must reach the peaks. I would like to tell you that the path for us so far, for all its importance, is only beginning. We must go beyond the current frontiers of science in the most important fields. We are still far from this stage, because we began from nothing...
"At the moment, we have begun to advance, and our progress is accelerating, but this acceleration must continue for many years, until we close the gap. My demand of you young people is to follow this path [of scientific achievement] with increased responsibility, like waging jihad. The foundation stones of the scientific revolution have already been laid in this country, and this [scientific] revolution has [already] offered martyrs, such as the martyred nuclear scientists.[3] [So] rise up and disappoint the evil, spiteful enemy who very much fears your scientific jihad.
"2. Morality and Spirituality: The more spiritual understanding and moral conscience grow in society, the more they yield blessed fruit. [In order to reach] this, there is undoubtedly a need for jihad and effort. This jihad and this effort will not succeed without the help of the authorities. However, spirituality and morality cannot be attained by orders [alone], and therefore the authorities will not be able to create them by force; they themselves must first behave morally and spiritually and only then can they prepare the infrastructure of society to spread [these values]. That is, the authorities must help social organizations in this matter; they must intelligently fight the anti-spirituality and anti-morality centers, and, in short, must not allow the sons of Hell to forcibly transform the public and tempt them to become like themselves.
"The advanced and mass means of communication offer a very dangerous option for agents of anti-spirituality and anti-morality centers. We see today with our own eyes the enemies' increasing attack on the pure hearts of the young people and children that is being carried out via these means. The relevant government organizations have a weighty obligation in this matter, and they must act wisely and responsibility...
"3. Economy: The economy is key, and a defining matter. A strong economy is a strong point and a vital element against the [influence of foreign] regimes on the country. A weak economy is a weak point and lays the infrastructure for enemy influence and control. But the economy is not the aim of an Islamic society – it is a means without which the aim cannot be achieved... The solution to the problems of [Iran's] economy is a policy of 'resistance economy,'[4] and operational plans must be put in place for all parts of it that must be implemented [by the regime] forcefully, responsibly, and energetically.
"4. Justice and Fighting Corruption: These two issues are intertwined. Economic, moral, and political corruption are an infected tumor in states and regimes. If they are found in the regime structure, it is a destructive earthquake [that will strike at] its legitimacy. A regime like the Islamic Republic has a more serious and fundamental need for justice and for fighting corruption [than other regimes do] because it requires legitimacy beyond [regimes'] traditional legitimacy – one that is more deeply rooted than is usual in society.
"The danger of an outbreak of this threat is not distant even in the Islamic Republic [of Iran]... It requires an experienced organization with a penetrating gaze and a decisive approach, that will be omnipresent in the three authorities [i.e. branches of government] and will truly fight corruption, particularly within the regime organizations... Allah be praised, the officials of this regime generally maintain their purity and integrity, but even the slightest bit [of corruption] is unacceptable. Everyone must know that economic integrity is a condition for the legitimacy of everyone in the upper echelon of the Islamic Republic...
"5. Independence and Freedom: National independence means that the nation and the regime are not subject to the bullying and domineering of the world superpowers. Social freedom means that every member of society has the right to decide, act, and think... Obviously, the meaning of 'independence' does not include the state's policy and economy within its borders, and 'freedom' does not need to be against divine morality, laws and values, and the rights of the public.
"6. National Dignity, Foreign Relations, Setting Boundaries Against The Enemy: All these are branches of the principle of 'dignity, wisdom, and interests' in international relations. The global arena today is witness to phenomena that have come into being, or are about to emerge, such as: the new dynamism of the Islamic Awakening Movement that is based on the model of resistance against the rule of America and Zionism, the failure of the American policy in the Middle East, the thwarting of their treacherous collaborators in the region, and the expansion of the mighty presence of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East and the broad reflection of this presence throughout the world of the Arrogance. All these are part of the displays of dignity by the Islamic Republic, and without the courage and wisdom of the jihadi administrators they would not have come about.
"In addition to the criminal America, the Iranian nation today sees several European countries as deceptive and unreliable. The Islamic Republic of Iran must carefully preserve the boundaries between it and them. It will not withdraw a single step from its revolutionary and national values; it will not fear their empty threats, and it will take into account the dignity of the [Iranian] state and nation. Likewise, the Islamic Republic must resolve its problems with them with a revolutionary, wise, and interest-based approach, and they are resolvable in this way. With regard to America, it is impossible to imagine that [Iran's] problems with it can be solved, and negotiating with it [will bring] nothing but material and spiritual damage.
"7. Lifestyle: The West's effort to spread a Western lifestyle in Iran has caused our country and our nation irreparable moral, economic, religious, and political damage. [Therefore,] this struggle against the West's efforts demands comprehensive and intelligent jihad, and here too we are pinning our hopes on you, the young people..."
Appendix: "On the Occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution – February 11, 2019"
In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, upon his pure and immaculate household, upon his chosen companions and upon those who follow them in charity until the Day of Judgment
Among all the nations suffering from oppression, few make an effort to launch a revolution; and among those nations that have risen and launched a revolution, few have been witnessed to have pursued it to the end, or moved beyond merely changing the government and safeguarded their revolutionary values. However, the auspicious Revolution of the Iranian nation—which is the greatest and most popular revolution of the contemporary era—is the sole revolution that has persisted forty years of pride, saved from betrayal to its values, and it has preserved its dignity and original slogans against all the temptations which seemed irresistible; hence, entering the second phase of self-development, society-processing and civilization-building. Heartfelt salutations to this nation, the generation who initiated and continued [the movement] and the generation that currently steps into the magnificent and global phenomenon of the second forty years!
The day when the world was divided into the material West and East, and no one presumed a major religious movement would emerge, the Islamic revolution of Iran stepped into the scene gloriously and mightily; it broke the frameworks; it flaunted to the world the outdatedness of the clichés; it put the religion and the material world together, and declared the coming of a new era. It was much expected that the leaders of deviation and oppression would react—but in vain. Whatever the right and left modernity did— from pretending to ignore this emerging and unprecedented voice to extensive efforts for suffocating it— just brought them closer to their indispensable demise. Today, after forty annual celebrations of the victory of the Revolution and forty Fajr ten-days, one of the two centers of animosity has already perished, and the second one is struggling with predicaments that signal its death in the near future. Whereas, the Islamic Revolution is advancing while preserving and adhering to its mottos.
It is possible to assume an expiry date for anything, yet, the global mottos of this religious revolution are exceptional; they will never expire, because they match human nature in all eras. Freedom, ethics, spirituality, justice, independence, dignity, rationality, brotherhood, are not limited to a single generation or society so that they would rise in a period and decline in the next. It is impossible to imagine a people who despise these values. The reported cases of reluctance to these values were due to the officials who had shrunken from these religious values; and not due to their adherence to them and endeavors for achieving them.
The Islamic revolution—like a living and unwavering phenomenon—is always flexible and ready to correct its mistakes, but it is not revisionary or passive. It is positively sensitive to criticisms; it regards them as a divine blessing as well as a warning to those who do not act upon their words; yet it, by no means, takes distance from its values, which are blended with the religious faith of the people, thanks be to God. Since the establishment of the system, the Islamic revolution has never suffered from, and will never suffer from stagnation and recession, and it does not see any conflict and contradiction between revolutionary dynamism and political and social order; rather, it eternally defends the theory of the revolutionary system.
The Islamic Republic is not reactionary and it does not lack perception and understanding in face of new phenomena and situations; however, it strongly adheres to its principles and it is highly sensitive to its frontiers in relation to its rivals and enemies. It never imprecisely regards its principal lines and considers it important as why and how it would persist. Undoubtedly, the gap between the musts and the realities has always tormented the idealist consciences; however, this gap is fillable, and in the past forty years it has been filled in many cases, and certainly in the future, with the presence of a young, faithful, wise and motivated generation, it will be filled more vigorously.
The Islamic Revolution of the Iranian nation has been mighty, but merciful; forgiving and even oppressed. It has not committed any of extremist and deviated acts that have marked many other uprisings and movements with stigma. In no conflicts—not even against the United States or Saddam Hussein—did it ever shoot the first bullet and, in all cases, it defended itself after the enemy's attack; of course, it blew the defensive strike vigorously. Since its inception, this Revolution has never been merciless nor has it ever shed blood; it has neither been passive nor hesitant. Standing assertively and courageously against bullies and thugs, it has defended the oppressed. This revolutionary bravery and gallantry, this honesty, assertiveness, and sovereignty; this global and regional realm of action in support of the oppressed of the world represent a source of pride for Iran and the Iranians, and may it persist eternally!
Now, at the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the Islamic Republic, I would like to address my dear young people: the generation who steps up to start another part of the Great Jihad [selfless endeavor] for building a great Islamic Iran. The first section of my address concerns the past.
Dear ones! You cannot learn but from your own experience or listening to the experiences of others. Many of what we have seen and experimented, your generation has not experienced and seen yet. We have seen and you will see. The decades ahead are your decades, and it is you who should protect your revolution while you are qualified and full of motivation, and move it closer to its great ideal: that is, the emergence of a new Islamic civilization and the preparation for the rising of the great sun of wilayat (may our souls be sacrificed for him) [Imam Mahdi (a.s.)]. To take steady steps in the future, we need to develop a good knowledge of the past and learn from the experiences. If this strategy is neglected, lies will replace the truth, and the future will be menaced by unknown threats. The adversaries of the revolution are strongly motivated in their efforts to spread distortions and lies about the past and even the present, exploiting money and all the necessary tools for it. The bandits of thought, creed and awareness are ample; the truth cannot be heard from the enemy and its troops.
The Islamic Revolution and the establishment that rose from it started from scratch. Firstly, everything was against us: the corrupt regime of Taghut [Pahlavi tyranny]—which, in addition to its dependence and corruption, tyranny and being coup-based—was the first royal regime in Iran that was brought to power by the foreigners rather than by the force of sword; the government of the United States and some other Western governments; or the extremely chaotic situation inside Iran; and the shameful backwardness in science and technology, politics, spirituality, and any other virtue.
Secondly, there was no precedent experience before us and the path ahead of us had not been walked. Obviously, Marxist uprisings and the like could not represent a role model for a revolution that emerged from the heart of Islamic faith and knowledge. Islamic revolutionaries began without an example and experience, and the combination of a republic and Islam and the means for the formation and progress of it were not achieved except through the divine guidance as well as the luminous heart and the great thought of Imam Khomeini. And this marked the first brilliance of the Revolution.
Then, the revolution of the Iranian nation transformed the bipolar world of that day into a three polar world, and then, with the fall and disappearance of the Soviet Union and its allies and the emergence of new poles of power, the new dichotomy of “Islam and the Arrogant Front” became a prominent phenomenon of the contemporary world and the focal point that is attracting the world’s attention. On the one hand, the aspirated look of the oppressed nations, freedom-seeking movements and some independence-seeking states of the world fixated on it; and on the other hand, it was screened by resentful and malicious eyes of the world’s bullying regimes and blackmailer thugs. Such, the world adopted a different orientation, and the seismic power of the Revolution shook the untroubled pharaohs. Hostilities began with all intensity; if it was not due to the magnificent power of the faith and the motivation of this nation and the heavenly and endorsed leadership of our imminent Imam, it was impossible to resist the hostility, conspiracy, and vice [directed at us].
In spite of all these onerous problems, the Islamic Republic took greater and stronger steps day after day. The past 40 years exhibited great jihads, brilliant achievements and amazing advances for Islamic Iran. The magnitude of the progress made by the Iranian nation in the last forty years is well-recognized when compared to similar spans following other major revolutions such as the French Revolution, the October Revolution of the Soviet Union and the Indian Revolution. The jihadi management strategies inspired by Islamic faith and the belief in the principle of "we can do it"—that Imam Khomeini (r.a.) had taught us all—assisted Iran in its achievement of dignity and progress on various areas.
The revolution put an end to a long historical decadence, and the country, which was severely humiliated and utterly retrograded during the Pahlavi and Qajar dynasties, started to progress rapidly. In its first step, the revolution turned the disgraceful regime of the tyrannical monarchy into a popular and democratic state, and employed the element of national determination—which is the essence of comprehensive and genuine progress—to the heart of the country's governance; then, it turned the youth into the main forerunners of the developments and the key players in the management of the country. It conveyed the "we can do it" spirit and belief to everyone; thanks to the enemies’ sanctions, it taught everyone to rely on domestic capacities, and this unfolded a source of great blessings:
Firstly: It guaranteed the stability and security of the country; the territorial integrity and the protection of the borders—which were targeted by the enemy's serious threats—and gave rise to the miracle of victory in the eight-year war, leading to the defeat of the Ba'athist regime, and its American, European and Eastern supporters.
Secondly: It acted as the country's engine in developing the field of science and technology, and in creating the vital, economic and constructional infrastructures which continue to grow more prevalent day by day: several thousands of knowledge enterprises; several thousands of infrastructure and necessary projects for the country in the areas of civil engineering and transportation, industry, power, mining, health care, agriculture and water; millions of university graduates or students; thousands of colleges and universities throughout the country; dozens of big projects, such as the nuclear fuel cycle, stem cells, nanotechnology, biotechnology, etc., all ranking among the top of the world; developing sixty times more non-oil exports and nearly ten times more industrial units. The quality of the industrial sector advanced tens of times more than before; the industry that only relied on assembling and montage was transformed into domestic technology; in various engineering disciplines including the defense industries visible prominence was observed; achievements were made in the critical fields of medicine and the position of authority in it; and dozens of other examples of progress are the outcomes of that morale as well as the social involvement and the collective feeling that the Revolution granted to the country. Before the revolution, Iran had zero production of science and technology; it had no capability in the industry except for assembling and no ability in science except for translation [of other works].
Thirdly: The Revolution has elevated to a culmination the popular participation in political matters such as elections, confronting internal seditions, turnout in national arenas and scenes involving the fight against the Arrogant Front. Regarding social matters, it boosted, for instance, humanitarian aids and engaging in charity activities that had begun before the Revolution. After the revolution, people eagerly partake in service-providing to those affected by natural disasters and social shortcomings.
Fourthly: It astonishingly enhanced the political acumen of the people and their view of international issues. The Revolution expanded beyond the limited number of isolation-seeking elites—often known as the enlightened—the political analysis and understanding of international issues on the matters such as crimes by the West and particularly the United States; the Palestinian cause and the historical oppression of the Palestinian nation; the issue of bullying powers’ warmongering attitudes, vices, intrusions in other nations’ affairs and the like. This type of intellectualism became widespread and available to the masses throughout the country and in all areas of life, and similar matters have become understandable and clear even for teenagers and children.
Fifthly: It distributed the country's public facilities in a manner closer to justice. If I —this very humble person—am not satisfied with the functioning of justice in the country, it is due to the fact that this lofty value should shine like a unique gem on the Islamic Republic, but it has not yet. However, my dissatisfaction should not be taken to mean that no work has been done for the establishment of justice. The reality is that the achievements made in combating injustice over the past four decades are not comparable to any other era in the past. During the regime of Taghut [tyrannical dynasties], most of the services and revenues of the country were available only to a small group of the residents of the capital city or their counterparts in other parts of the country. The people in most cities, especially in remote areas and villages, were at the end of the list and often deprived of basic infrastructure and services.
The Islamic Republic has been one of the world's most successful governments in relocating its services and wealth from the center to all parts of the country, and from the affluent areas of the cities to the poor neighborhoods. The great statistics on building roads and housing construction; the establishment of industrial centers; the reformation of agricultural matters; distribution of electricity, water as well as building medical centers, universities, dams, and power plants and the like even to the most remote areas of the country, truly makes us proud. Certainly, all these efforts were neither reflected in the inefficient propagations of the officials of the Islamic Republic nor did the foreign and domestic malevolent enemies confess it. Yet, it is there and remains as good deeds of jihadi, sincere managers before God and for the sake of the people. Nevertheless, the notion of justice as expected by the Islamic Republic—that seeks to follow the role model of the government founded by Imam Ali (a.s.)—is far superior to that, and I look forward to seeing you, the young people, realizing it.
Sixthly: It significantly enhanced the level of spirituality and ethics in the public sphere of society. This auspicious phenomenon was particularly promoted due to Imam Khomeini’s manners during the period of the fights leading to, as well as after, the victory of the Revolution. That spiritual man and the mystic pure of material enticements headed a country the foundation of whose people’s beliefs were deeply rooted. Although the propaganda promoting corruption and immorality during the Pahlavi era had stricken hard blows to the nation and had dragged the Western moral corruption into the lives of middle-class people—particularly the youth—, the religious and ethical approach of the Islamic Republic attracted the bright and apt hearts, especially those of the young individuals, and the ambiance changed in the interest of religion and morality.
Strives by the young individuals in the face of hardships, including the Sacred Defense [against US-backed Saddam invasion of Iran], were accompanied by prayers and spirit of brotherhood and sacrifice, and reminiscent of the events that unfolded during the early history of Islam, exhibiting them live and vivid before everyone’s eyes. Fathers, mothers, and wives bid farewells to their loved ones who set off for various fronts of jihad, motivated by a sense of religious duty; then, once they encountered their blood-soaked or wounded bodies, they accepted the calamity while they were grateful to God. Mosques and religious spaces became unprecedentedly busy. Several thousands of young individuals, university students and professors, women and men were in the waiting list for performing I’tikaf. Several thousands of young volunteers were eager to join Jihadi [volunteering] camps, construction jihad, and the construction mobilization forces. Prayers and Hajj pilgrimage, fasting and pilgrim walks and various religious ceremonies along with obligatory and non-obligatory donations flourished everywhere, especially among young people. To this day, this has become better in quality and larger in quantity. This has all happened at a time when the increasing moral decline of the West and its followers as well as their massive propaganda to drive men and women into corruption, has isolated morality and spirituality in the major parts of the world: this represents another miracle of the Revolution and the active and forward-looking Islamic system.
Seventhly: The magnificent and glorious epitome of rising up against the bullies, thugs and arrogant powers of the world—led by the criminal and warmongering U.S.A.—grew more prominent day after day. During all these forty years, Iran and the Iranians—particularly the youth of this land—have been known as never surrendering and always safeguarding the Revolution, its divine magnificence and its pride against arrogant, haughty states. The hegemonic powers of the world—that have lived on trespassing the independence of other countries and plundering their vital interests in order to fulfill their evil intentions—have confessed to their weakness in the face of the Islamic and Revolutionary Iran. In the lively ambiance of the Revolution, the Iranian nation managed to first expel the puppets of the United States, the agents who betrayed the nation, and since then, the Iranian nation has vigorously prevented any domination over the country by bullying powers.
Dear young individuals! These are only a limited number of the major headlines in the forty-year history of the Islamic Revolution: the splendid, enduring and brilliant revolution that you, by God’s Grace, should take the second big step towards advancing it.
The fruit of the efforts made during the past forty years is before our eyes: an independent country and nation; free; powerful; dignified; faithful; advanced in science; full of valuable experiences; confident and hopeful; with essential impact on the region and a strong logic on global issues; with records in the growth rate of scientific advances, and in earning high ranks in important sciences and technology such as nuclear science, stem cells, nanoscience, aerospace and so forth; leading in expanding social services; excelling in promoting jihadi [volunteering] motivations among young people; leading in having an efficient young population and many other honor-winning features which are all the products of the Revolution and the result of taking the revolutionary and jihadi direction. You should know that if ignorance of the Revolution’s mottos and negligence of the Revolutionary movement had not occurred in some periods during the forty-year history of the Revolution—which unfortunately existed and were extremely detrimental—the Revolution’s accomplishments would have gone far beyond what we witness today and the country would have been far ahead on the path towards the great ideals and many of the current problems would not have existed today.
Today, just like the first days after the Revolution, sovereign Iran faces challenges from the imperialists, arrogant powers; yet, there is a meaningful difference. If the challenges posed by the United States those days involved ending the intrusion by foreign agents or closing down the embassy of the Zionist regime in Tehran, or exposing the spy den [the former US embassy in Tehran], today, the challenges concern Iran’s strong presence near the borders of the Zionist regime, putting an end to the United States’ unlawful infiltration in the West Asia, the Islamic Republic’s support for the Palestinian people’s resistance at the heart of the Occupied Territories as well as defending the high flying flag of Hezbollah and the resistance throughout this region. If then the West’s concern was to prevent Iran from buying basic weaponry, today, their concern is to prevent the transfer of advanced Iranian weapons to the Resistance forces. If on those days, the United States presumed that the Islamic government and the Iranian nation could be vanquished with the help of a few Iranian sellouts and a small number of aircrafts and helicopters, today they feel they need a coalition of tens of hostile or daunted states to counter Iran on the political and security fronts; and yet, they fail. Thanks to the revolution, Iran today stands out at an elevated position, one that the Iranian nation deserves to enjoy in front of the world; and Iran has already passed the challenging twists on the path of resolving its fundamental issues.
However, the trail traveled so far is merely a portion of the glorious path towards the exalted ideals of the Islamic Republic. The continuation of this path—which is most probably not as demanding as the past—must be traveled with the willpower, vigilance, swiftness, and innovation of you, the young ones. Young managers, young executives, young thinkers, young activists in every field—ranging from politics, economy, culture, international relations, to religion, ethics, morality, and justice—should shoulder the responsibilities by making use of the experiences and the lessons learned in the past, applying the revolutionary view and the spirit of jihadi actions in order to build our dear Iran as a comprehensive model of an advanced Islamic government.
An important point that needs to be considered by those who build the future is that we are living in a country which is distinctive in terms of natural and human resources. Yet, many of these resources have been left untapped or only slightly exploited due to negligence by the officials. Great endeavors, as well as revolutionary and youthful motivations, will be able to activate them, marking a real leap forward in the country’s material and moral progress.
The most important aspiring potential in the country is the potential and proficient human resource that enjoys a deep, noble foundation of faith and religion. The young population under 40—an important part of which is the result of a birth boom in the 80’s—represents a valuable prospect for the country. Enjoying a population of 36 million people aged between 15 and 40; nearly 14 million people with higher education degrees; ranking the second in the world by the number of science and engineering graduates; numerous young individuals brought up with a revolutionary spirit and ready to work for the sake of God and for the love of their country; and large numbers of intellectual and investigating young individuals who are in the job of creating scientific, cultural, industrial and other types of products, add up to the enormous wealth of the country that cannot be compared to any material reserves.
In addition to the aforementioned assets, there is a long list of material opportunities for the country that can be activated and exploited by efficient, motivated and intelligent managers in order to significantly increase domestic production and make the country self-sufficient, wealthy and truly self-reliant, hence overcoming the current problems. Iran makes up 1% of the world population, however, it possesses 7% of the global natural resources: massive underground resources; special geographical position between the East and the West the North and the South; a major national market; vast regional market including 15 neighbors that constitute a population of 600 million; long coastal borders; fertile lands with a great variety of agricultural products; and vast and versatile economy are only some of the countries’ potentials. Many potentials have been left untapped. It is said that Iran has the first place in the world in terms of unexploited natural and human resources. Without a doubt, you the faithful and active young ones can amend this great shortcoming. The second decade of the outlook must be dedicated to making use of the previous accomplishments and unexploited potentials, and the country’s growth must be enhanced in different sectors including production and national economy.
Now, I would like to offer you my dear sons and daughters, some pieces of advice regarding a few essential topics. These topics include science and research; spirituality and morals; economy; justice and the fight against corruption; independence and liberty; national dignity, international relations, borderlines with the enemy, and lifestyle.
However, prior to any anything, my first advice concerns hopefulness and observing an optimistic outlook of the future. Without this fundamental key to any deadlock, not even one step can be taken forward. What I am referring to is authentic hope based on evident realities. I have always avoided false and deceiving hopefulness, but I have also warned myself and others against unfounded pessimism and false fear. During these past 40 years, and today as ever, the enemy’s propaganda and communication policy, as well as its most active programs, have revolved around making people and even our officials and statesmen lose their hope in the future. False news, biased analysis, reversing facts, concealing the hopeful aspects, amplifying small problems and berating or denying great advantages, have been constantly on the agenda of thousands of audio-visual and internet-based media by the enemies of the Iranian. And of course, their followers inside the country can be seen using the freedoms to work in the service of the enemy. You, the young individuals, must be the forerunners of breaking the siege of such propaganda. Grow the plant of hope for the future in yourself and those around you. Drive fear and disappointment away from yourself and others. This is your first and most fundamental Jihad to make. Signs of hope—some of which were mentioned—are before your eyes. The growth of the admirers of the Revolution has been far greater than that of outgoing fans, and loyal and helping hands and hearts are far more numerous than the corrupts, the traitors, and the greedy. The world has high regard and respect for the Iranian youth, Iranian’s perseverance and ingenuity in many fields. Value yourself, and with the strength given by God, ascend towards the future and create epics.
As for the advice:
1) Science and research: science, is the most obvious instrument of dignity and power for a country. The other face of knowledge is ability. The west brought about 200 years of wealth, influence, and power for itself thanks to their advances in science, and despite their weak moral and ideological foundations, they could dominate societies left behind from the train of science, politics, and economy by imposing western lifestyle on them. We are not calling for the abuse of science like what the West did; however, we insist on the country’s need to flow the fountains of science among ourselves. Thank God, our nation’s talent in acquiring science and research is higher than the world’s average. The scientific uprising in the country that started almost two decades ago has been going on with a speed surprising for global observers, i.e. 11 times faster than the average pace of the world’s scientific growth.
Our achievements in science and technology—that have put us in the 16th place among more than 200 countries in the world, have surprised world observers and in some sensitive and new fields has promoted us to the first ranks—happened while the country was under financial and scientific sanctions. In spite of having to swim against the tide made by the enemy, we have made great records, and this is a great blessing, for which one needs to thank God day and night.
However, the point I am making is that this traveled path, despite its importance, has just been the beginning and nothing more than. We are still far behind the summits of the world’s science. We need to reach the summits. We need to go beyond the current frontiers of science in the most important fields. We are still far behind from this stage. We started from scratch. The shameful scientific retrogression during the Pahlavi, and the Qajar—when the world had just started its scientific race—dealt us a heavy blow, keeping us miles behind this fast-moving train.
We have started the movement now and are going forward at full speed. But this fast-forward movements needs to preserve momentum for years to come, so that it can compensate for the regression. I have always warmly and firmly advised and warned and called upon the universities, the academics, the research centers and the researchers about this. However, now, I am asking all of you, the young individuals, to follow on this track with more sense of responsibility, considering it a Jihad. The foundation stone of a scientific revolution in the country has been laid, and this revolution has offered martyrs, including the martyred nuclear scientists, too. Rise up to defeat the malicious, spiteful enemy who strongly fears your scientific Jihad.
2) Spirituality and morals: Spirituality means emphasizing on spiritual values, such as sincerity, sacrifice, reliance on God, and faith in yourself and the society. Morals entail observing virtues such as benevolence, forgiveness, assisting the needy, truthfulness, courage, humbleness, self-confidence, and other good characteristics. Spirituality and morals guide every movement, individuals and social activities and represent the main need of the society. Their existence makes life a paradise even in spite of material shortages, whereas their lack, even while materially rich, creates a hell.
The growth of spiritual perception and moral conscience in society brings about more blessings. This indeed requires Jihad and effort, and this Jihad and effort will not succeed much without the help of governments. Spirituality and morals, certainly will not be acquired through decrees and orders; hence, governments cannot create it using coercive force. However, primarily, they themselves need to observe moral and spiritual behavior. Secondly, they need to prepare the ground for the spread of those virtues in society and assist and provide a realm of influence to the social organizations in this regard. They need to fight in a rational manner against centers of anti-spirituality and anti-morality and prevent the evil ones from pulling others down with them by force or deception.
Advanced and pervasive means of communication have provided centers of anti-spirituality and anti-morality with a very dangerous facility, and now we are witnessing the enemies’ ever-increasing assault on the pure hearts of the youth, teenagers, and even children by employing these means. Liable government entities have great responsibilities in this regard that have to be taken up wisely and thoroughly responsibly. Of course, this does not mean that non-governmental individuals and organizations have no responsibility. God willing, in the era ahead, overwhelming short and medium-term plans need to be devised and implemented about this matter.
3) Economy: Economy is a key defining point. A strong economy is the strong point and the important factor in blocking domination and infiltration; while a weak economy is the Achilles heel that prepares the ground for infiltration, domination, and intrusion by the enemies. Poverty and affluence affect the materialistic and spiritual aspects of human beings. Economy, of course, is not an ideal of the Islamic society. Rather, it is a means without which one would not be able to fulfill the ideals. Insistence on reinforcing the country’s independent economy that is based on mass and quality production, justice-based distribution, reasonable and waste-free consumption, and wise managerial relations—which I have repeatedly insisted upon time and again in recent years—are due to the incredible impact economy can have on the society’s current and future life.The Islamic Revolution showed us the way out of the weak, dependent and corrupt economy of the Pahlavi era. However, feeble performances have posed internal and external challenges to the country’s economy. The external challenges include the enemy’s sanctions and temptations that would be rendered less effective or even ineffective if the internal challenges are resolved. The internal challenges consist of structural defects and managerial weaknesses.
The main defects include economic reliance on oil; government interference in sectors of the economy that do not fit into the sphere of government’s responsibilities; relying on imports rather than domestic strength and potentials; very limited exploitation of the country’s human resources potentials; defective and unbalanced budgeting; and finally lack of consistency in executive economic policies, disrespecting priorities and excessive and even wasteful expenses in parts of state organizations. The result is problems in people’s livelihoods including the high rate of unemployment among the youth, low income of lower classes, etc.
The solution to these problems lies in the strong, responsible and lively implementation of the policies delineated by the Economy of Resistance that need to be outlined, followed up and acted upon by administrations. The country’s economic intra-production, becoming productive and knowledge-based, making the economy popular, avoiding authoritarian government oversight, and extroversion using aforementioned potentials are among important examples of these solutions. A young, wise, faithful and knowledgeable committee of economy experts inside the government can undoubtedly accomplish these aims. The times ahead must be employed for action by the committee.
The beloved young individuals across the nation should know that all solutions lie within the country. Assuming that ‘economic problems are merely the result of sanctions and sanctions are because of resistance against imperialism and not submitting to the enemy, so the solution is to kneel before the enemy and kiss the wolf’s paw’ is an unforgivable mistake. This completely false analysis—although sometimes emitted from the mouths and pens of some ignorant individuals inside the country—has its roots in foreign think tanks and conspirers who intend to induce them in policy makers, decision makers, and the general public inside the country.
4) Justice and fight against corruption: These two virtues necessitate each other. Economic, moral, and political corruption are like tumors in the body of countries and governments; if found in the body of a system of governance, they would constitute a devastating quake and a heavy blow to their legitimacy. And for an establishment like the Islamic Republic—that requires beyond the common legitimacy and social acceptance—, this is far more serious and fundamental than for any other systems. The temptations of wealth, power and rank weakened some, even in the most resembling of all governments to Imam Ali’s governance; i.e. Amir Al-Mu’minin’s own government. Thus, the hazard posed by the emergence of such a threat in the Islamic Republic—whose officials once competed with each other in Revolutionary piety, and in maintaining a simple lifestyle—has never been and still is not far from probable. This makes the constant presence of an efficient organization, with sharp eyes and decisive actions within the three branches of powers (executive, legislature, judiciary) necessary, in order to truly fight corruption, especially in governmental bodies.
Of course, the proportion of corrupt individuals among the officials of the Islamic Republic is much smaller than that of many other countries, and particularly to that of the Pahlavi regime—which was totally corrupt and encouraged corruption—and thanks be to God, the agents of this system have mostly stayed clean from it; however, even the slightest corruption is unacceptable. Everyone must know that economic transparency is the precondition for the legitimacy for all officials of the Islamic Republic. Everybody must beware of the evil of greed, and avoid illegitimate earnings, and supplicate to God to help them in this regard.
Supervising and governmental organizations must prevent corruption from being conceived and fight its spread with sincerity and sensitivity. This fight needs faithful men ready for Jihad, who are dignified and have pure [financial] records and bright hearts. This fight is an effective part of an all-around effort that the Islamic Republic must put in to establish justice.
Justice has been among the primary ideals pursued by all prophets, and in the Islamic Republic, it has equal status and value. This is a sacred word for all times and in all lands and would not be completely established unless under the governance of Imam Mahdi (may our spirits be sacrificed for him). However, it is relatively always and everywhere possible, and it is a duty to be carried out by anyone, especially the rulers and the powerful. The Islamic Republic has taken major steps in this way, examples of which have been briefly mentioned above. Of course, more works need to be done to explain and describe the efforts made in this regard, and the conspiracy by the enemies of the Revolution aimed at twisting the reality, or at least remaining silent and concealing [the truth] must be nullified.
Regardless, I am clearly telling the beloved young people that the future of the country awaits, that what has been done until now stands at a huge distance from what must have been done. In the Islamic Republic, the official’s hearts must constantly beat for eliminating the deprivations and they must be seriously fearful of deep class struggles. In the Islamic Republic, not only seeking wealth is not a crime, it is actually encouraged. However, discrimination in the distribution of public resources and granting special privileges, and tolerating economic cheaters—all of which result in injustice—are strictly forbidden. Moreover, ignoring classes in need of support is never acceptable.
These words have been frequently repeated in the form of policies and laws, but for a proper implementation, we place our hope in the young people [to do it]; and if the leadership of the various sectors of the country is entrusted to young, revolutionary, wise and competent young people—who are not few in numbers, thanks be to God—this hope will be fulfilled; God willing.
5) Independence and Freedom: National Independence means the freedom of the nation and the state from the imposition and bullying of the domineering powers of the world. And social freedom means the right for every member of the society to decide, act and think; both of which are Islamic values; they are divine gifts bestowed upon humans, and none of them is a gift to be offered to the people by the state.
Governments are obliged to provide the two abovementioned rights. The importance of freedom and independence is well-known by those who have fought for it. The Iranian nation is among them, thanks to the forty-year jihad. The current independence and freedom of the Islamic Iran were achieved by the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable, brave and self-sacrificing human beings; often young, but all in the high ranks of humanity. This fruit of the pure tree of the Revolution cannot be put at risk by naive and sometimes biased justifications. All, especially the government of the Islamic Republic, are obligated to do their utmost to protect it. Obviously, "independence" should not be defined as the confinement of the politics and the economy of the country within its borders, and "freedom" should not be defined in opposition to divine ethics, law, values and public rights.
6) National dignity, foreign relations, defining borderlines in relations with the enemy: The three are branches of the principle of "dignity, wisdom, and expediency" in international relations. The global scene today witnesses a phenomena that are unfolding or will unfold in the near future: the new dynamism of the Islamic Awakening Movement based on the model of resistance to the U.S. and Zionists’ domination; the failure of US policies in the West Asian region and the defeat of their traitorous allies in the region; the expansion of the powerful political presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in West Asia, and its wide-ranging reflection across the world of domineering powers. These are examples of the reputation of the Islamic republic, which were not achieved except by means of the courage and wisdom of the jihadi [selflessly striving] managers.
The leaders of the domineering system are worried; their proposals generally involve deception and lies. Today, the Iranian nation, in addition to the criminal regime of the United States, regards a number of European governments as deceiving and unreliable. The Islamic Republic of Iran must prudently observe its boundaries with them; it should not retreat from its revolutionary and national values; it should not be scared by their void threats; and at all times, it should consider the dignity of the country and try to wisely, prudently and of course with a revolutionary standpoint settle the solvable problems it has in relations with them. In the case of the United States, no problem with them is seen to be resolved, and any negotiation with the U.S. will have no outcome but material and spiritual harms.
7) Lifestyle: There are many necessary points to make in this regard. I will leave it to another opportunity, and I suffice to mention that, the West's attempts to promote the Western lifestyle in Iran has caused a lot of irreversible moral, economic, religious and political detriments to our country and our nation. Countering them requires a comprehensive and intelligent jihad that again here you, the young individuals, are expected to carry out. Finally, I would like to thank the enthusiastic, proud and enemy-repelling presence of our dear nation on the Bahman 22nd [February 11] demonstration, marking the fortieth anniversary of the great Islamic Revolution and I thank the Almighty God for it. Peace be upon our Imam Mahdi (a.s.)—may our souls be sacrificed for him—; peace be upon the pure souls of the honorable martyrs and the pure soul of Imam Khomeini (r.a.), and peace be upon all the dear people of Iran and special greetings be to the young Iranians.
Keeping you in my prayers,
Sayyid Ali Khamenei
February 11, 2019
[1] See MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 1441, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Announces The Goals Of 'The Second Phase Of The Islamic Revolution' For The Next 40 Years: 'The Challenge Is Mighty Iran's Presence At The Borders Of The Zionist Regime', February 13, 2019.
[2] English.Khamenei.ir/news/6415/The-Second-Phase-of-the-Revolution-Statement-addressed-to-the, February 13, 2019.
[3] A reference to the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists.
[4] Khamenei insists that the economic woes of the Iranian public must be solved with the "resistance economy," that is, with self-reliance and rejection of economic cooperation with the West, including foreign investment in Iran. For Khamenei's explanation of "resistance economy," see MEMRI Special Dispatch No.6088, Khamenei's 'Red Lines' Speech, June 29, 2015.

China's Han Superstate: The New Third Reich
Gordon G. Chang/Gatestone Institute/April 03/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13995/china-third-reich
China's ruler, Xi Jinping, demands that the five recognized religions — official recognition is a control mechanism — "Sinicize." The Chinese, as a part of this ruthless and relentless effort, are destroying mosques and churches, forcing devout Muslims to drink alcohol and eat pork, inserting Han officials to live in Muslim homes, and ending religious instruction for minors.
In recent years, there have been many ugly portrayals of Africans in Chinese media, and although the skit last year was not the worst, it was striking because the main state broadcaster, by airing it to about 800 million viewers, made it clear Chinese officials think of Africans as both objects of derision and subhuman.
Concentration camps, racism, eugenics, ambitions of world domination. Sound familiar?
There is a new Third Reich, and it is China.
More than a million people, for no reason other than their ethnicity or religion, are held in concentration camps in what Beijing calls the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and what traditional inhabitants of the area, the Uighurs, say is East Turkestan. In addition to Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs are also held in these facilities.
Families in this troubled area, shown on maps as the northwestern portion of the People's Republic of China, are being torn apart. The children of imprisoned Uighur and Kazakh parents are "confined" to "schools" that are separated from the outside by barbed wire and heavy police patrols. They are denied instruction in their own language, forced to learn Mandarin Chinese. The controls are part of a so-called "Hanification" policy, a program of forced assimilation. "Han" is the name of China's dominant ethnic group.
Because Uighurs and Kazakhs are dying in the camps in considerable numbers, Beijing is building crematoria to eradicate burial traditions while disposing of corpses.
The camps, a crime against humanity, are spreading. China is now building similar facilities, given various euphemistic names such as "vocational training centers," in Tibet, in China's southwest.
At the same time, Beijing is renewing its attempt to eliminate religion country-wide. Christians have come under even greater attack across China, as have Buddhists. China's ruler, Xi Jinping, demands that the five recognized religions — official recognition is a control mechanism — "Sinicize." The Chinese, as a part of this ruthless and relentless effort, are destroying mosques and churches, forcing devout Muslims to drink alcohol and eat pork, inserting Han officials to live in Muslim homes, and ending religious instruction for minors.
These attempts, which have antecedents in Chinese history, have been intensified since Xi became the Communist Party's general secretary in November 2012.
At the same time, Xi, far more than his predecessors, has been promoting the concept of a world order ruled by only one sovereign, a Chinese one.
In broad outline, Xi's vision of the world is remarkably similar to that of the Third Reich, at least before the mass murders.
The Third Reich and the People's Republic share a virulent racism, in China politely referred to as "Han chauvinism." The Han category, which is said to include about 92% of the population of the People's Republic, is in truth the amalgamation of related ethnic groups.
Chinese mythology holds that all Chinese are descendants of the Yellow Emperor, who is thought to have ruled in the third millennium BCE. The Chinese consider themselves to be a branch of humanity separate from the rest of the world, a view reinforced by indoctrination in schools, among other means.
Chinese scholars support this notion of Chinese separateness with the "Peking Man" theory of evolution, which holds the Chinese do not share a common African ancestor with the remainder of humankind. This theory of the unique evolution of the Chinese has, not surprisingly, reinforced racist views.
As a result of racism, many in China, including officials, "believe themselves to be categorically different from and impliedly superior to the rest of the humankind," writes Fei-Ling Wang, author of The China Order: Centralia, World Empire, and the Nature of Chinese Power.
The racism, therefore, is institutionalized and openly promoted. That was painfully evident last year in the 13-minute skit on China Central Television's Spring Festival Gala, the premier television show in China. In "Let's Celebrate Together," a Chinese actress in blackface played a Kenyan mother, who had an enormous bosom and ridiculously large buttocks. Worse, her sidekick was a human-size monkey. The combination of the monkey and the woman was an echo of the Hubei Provincial Museum exhibit, "This is Africa," which in 2017 displayed photographs of Africans flush next to images of primates.
In recent years, there have been many ugly portrayals of Africans in Chinese media, and although the skit last year was not the worst, it was striking because the main state broadcaster, by airing it to about 800 million viewers, made it clear Chinese officials think of Africans as both objects of derision and subhuman. In these circumstances, it is a safe assumption that these views are shared by the Beijing leadership, which, alarmingly, is making more frequent race-based appeals to Chinese people — and not only those in China.
This century's master race has a problem, however. China, now the world's most populous state, faces rapid demographic decline. Last year's birth rate was the lowest since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. The country's population will peak in 2029, according to the World Population Prospects 2017, published by the United Nations Population Division. But the high-point could in fact come in just the next couple years, as the U.N. numbers are based on Beijing's overly optimistic assumptions. China's official demographers, for instance, did not foresee the near-collapse of the birthrate last year.
In 2024, another momentous event will occur. Then, for the first time in at least 300 years — and maybe for the first time in recorded history — China will not be the world's most populous society. That honor will go to a country the Chinese generally both detest and fear, India. When India peaks in 2061, it will have a population 398,088 million larger than China's.
Once China begins to shrink, it will shrink fast. In 2018, China's population was 4.3 times larger than America's. By 2100, China is projected to have a population only 2.3 times larger.
China's demographic path is set for decades, and it will have momentous — and extremely adverse — consequences for Chinese society and the country's "comprehensive national strength." Perhaps that is why Beijing looks as if it may be trying to compensate for collapsing demography by laying the groundwork for a race of superhuman Chinese.
He Jiankui of Shenzhen's Southern University of Science and Technology announced in November that he had used CRISPR to edit human embryos that produced live births, in this case twins girls. He claimed he was making the babies resistant to HIV, but there is speculation he was also trying to enhance intelligence. In any event, the announcement evoked Nazi eugenics experiments, especially because there is evidence that the Chinese government had backed He's "world's first" experiment, considered unethical and dangerous.
Certainly dangerous is Xi Jinping. "Mao Zedong may have played on the Third World's racial resentments when trying to unite former colonial peoples against white imperialists, but he thought that Communism was a global phenomenon that would eventually find a home everywhere and Mao's utopia was in the future," the Hudson Institute's Charles Horner told Gatestone. "Xi Jinping's Chinese Communist Party is not global or utopian in this way; instead, it seems in thrall to an essential 'Chinese-ness.'"
Horner sees disconcerting similarities between Xi's China and 1930s Imperial Japan. "Like Imperial Japan then," Horner said, "Xi and the Party look backward to a mythologized past when a benign Emperor brought the whole world together to bask in his glory and share his munificence."
Concentration camps, racism, eugenics, ambitions of world domination. Sound familiar?
There is a new Third Reich, and it is China.
Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China and a Gatestone Institute Distinguished Senior Fellow.
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A Simple Woman for Difficult Times
Hazem Saghieh/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19
There is constant joy in Theresa May’s life that is often incomplete.
She was born in 1956, a year that was particularly difficult on her future Conservative party. At the time, its leader, Anthony Eden, suffered a defeat in the Suez. In 1997, she won her first seat in parliament, representing Maidenhead in Berkshire. That year, the Conservatives ended years of upheaval at 10 Downing Street with Labor’s Tony Blair. In 2016, May became the Conservative leader and Donald Trump became the leader of the western world. In 2017, she waged her first election as prime minister, but failed in securing the same number of Conservative seats. In fact their numbers went down from 330 to 317, but they still held the majority.
Many factors have helped shape Theresa May. She hails from Berkshire, a region rich in history and folklore. Her father was a Church of England clergyman and an Anglo-Catholic. She graduated from Oxford University in 1977 after studying one of the most harmless of disciplines: Geography. After that she worked as a financial consultant and later married Philip May, who worked in investment management.
Her electoral district, Maidenhead, from where she emerged as a popular lawmaker, is not fond of severe stances. It is one of many rural towns in Berkshire, whose largest city, Reading, boasts no more than 250,000 residents. Reading is also the capital telecommunication technology and commerce. We can therefore infer that prosperity does not always hinge on large cities and the complications brought about by cosmopolitanism.
May is an adherent of “one-nation conservatism”, which was first touted by Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century former prime minister and Conservative leader. He attempted through this phrase in attracting the working class to his party and demanded that the rich show a “moral obligation” towards the poor.
May therefore, does not adhere to the “liberal left”, which won the cultural war at the end of the 20th century by advocating diversity. She also does not adhere to the “liberal right” that won the economic battle. These two factions are united in defending Europe. She, on the other hand, has remained committed to old conservative values: Faith, education and family. In 2002, May became the leader of her party in what is largely a management role. She served as Home Secretary between 2010 and 2016. She was known for tightening restrictions on immigration, but other than that, nothing remarkable can be cited from her years in office.
May is only the second woman to ever become prime minister of England. Comparing her to the first, Margret Thatcher, would do her a great disservice. The latter lived up to her “iron” name.
With the referendum on Brexit came great challenges. The dispute that has divided the British needs a hero to resolve. May is not forged from heroic iron. It is true that she had warned of the dangers of Brexit, but the ensuing confrontation demanded a lioness and she acted like a chicken: As soon as she succeeded David Cameron, she firmly declared that “Brexit means Brexit” and she offered Brexiters concessions and even appointed some of them minister.
Her emotional attachment to “little England” made her adapt to the results of the referendum, even though she is not a Brexiter herself. She waged arduous negotiations with the Europeans to adopt a policy that she did not choose. Parliament has rejected her exit plan three consecutive times. The influential businessmen in her party are concerned and upset. She has faced adversity from the European Union and her own party, where she is treading carefully like a soldier in enemy territory. Most significantly, the unity of her party itself is being threatened despite her efforts for consensus. Observers say she is extreme in her moderation. In her stubbornness, she uses ambiguous rhetoric to hide her actual sentiments. Above all, May blames everyone but herself. It is a form of defense where she fails to acknowledge her own faults and instead sees them in others. She is now stumbling at her own words. Throughout her political career, she has adopted contradictory positions on all issues, whether on ideology, society or gender, in a hope that rivals would find common ground. We are now at a crossroads where consensus is impossible. She may either call for another election, another referendum or resign because the fate of the whole nation is at risk and cannot be resolved by simple settlements. The “empire on which the sun never sets” is now being threatened with darkness.

Arab League Summit Brings Hope to Algeria, Libya
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/April 03/19
After the Algerian delegation to the Arab League Summit in Tunis completed its mission and left, most of the country’s Cabinet members were dismissed and big changes were announced.
The Libyan delegation also left the Tunisian capital amid reports that a political resolution was imminent, this time with the consent of all the conflicting forces. The architect of the resolution, Ghassan Salame, who attended the summit, informed everyone present of the expected breakthroughs. I met with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, after the summit’s conclusion and asked him about it. He said: “This is my fourth Arab summit as secretary-general, and I have previously participated in six summits as Egypt’s foreign minister. I can say that this summit has been the smoothest of all — there have been no disagreements. Even the communique, with all the points that were previously contentious, like denouncing Iran, was faced with no objections.”
The question is: What comes after the summit has ended? No doubt Algeria is the most important current event. The country is undergoing a serious and delicate phase. There was the potential for conflict between institutions and communal forces. The street — through peaceful demonstrations — has played a valuable role, giving legitimacy to removing the president, while the army announced its commitment to the constitution.
Without a constitutional framework and support from the Algerian people, it would have looked like a coup attempt, although President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s time in office has all but ended.
There is more to the story, and everyone is watching carefully to see how things will turn out during the transitional phase, and how power will be transferred, whether within the ruling party — which has dominated the political scene in Algeria for decades — or outside it.
For Algerians, neighboring states and even European countries north of the Mediterranean, the details are important. These parties are extremely concerned about collapses like those witnessed among societies — namely in Libya, Yemen and Syria — that went through the Arab Spring revolutions only to have their rosy dreams shattered by bloodshed.
This is why we have not heard criticism of the measures announced in Algeria. Most of the interested governments seem to agree with decisions that pave the way for removing Bouteflika and his party from power. Even governments that have a different opinion have preferred not to voice it in order to avoid dividing the street and to prevent rival camps from further complicating the transitional situation. Unlike Algeria, the conflict in Libya is very complex, but it seems that we now have happy news. Salame, the UN envoy to Libya, appears to be close to announcing a resolution of the conflict, with consensus found among the key parties. If he manages to achieve that, this will be the first conflict in the region to be resolved politically.
The conflict in Libya could continue for many years due to the abundance of oil money. The UN envoy’s mission has been to convince all parties that they will all win if they agree on a political system that unites them, instead of creating divided fiefdoms — each with their own government, Parliament, presidency and army — that do not enjoy sufficient legitimacy, and thus are expected to perpetuate the war.
Syria’s regime was absent from the Arab League Summit after mediation failed to invite it back. The problem is Iran, which is regarded by the countries of the region as the main obstacle to ending the Syrian conflict.
The Turkish military intervention, in turn, has helped give legitimacy to the Iranian military presence. Also, US recognition of Israel’s annexation of Syria’s Golan Heights has given Tehran a reason to stay. Without the Iranians and Turks leaving, Syria will continue to lacking sovereignty.

Egyptian opinions split as debate on regulating polygamy develops
Sonia Farid/Al Arabiya/April 03/19
Controversy over polygamy in Egypt is far from new. The battle between religious scholars and women’s rights activists and organizations has been ongoing for years. While the latter is pushing for laws that ban or at least regulate polygamy, the former rejects any restriction of a right given by the Quran to male Muslims. Meanwhile, the majority of Egyptians seem to prefer the status quo, so supporters of a change lack both leverage and popular backing. It was only when the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, the most prominent religious institution in Sunni Islam, stepped in that a turning point began to seem possible.In his weekly televised interview, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb said that in 90 percent of cases polygamy is unfair for women, children, and families. He argued that the current perception of polygamy is based on a distorted understanding of Islam.
“Polygamy is not an absolute right,” he said. “It is restricted by a number of conditions, on top of which is fairness. Otherwise, it is not permitted.” As expected, a heated debate ensued. Approval was as fervent as objection, as both camps wondered whether these statements mean that a law regulating polygamy is underway.
Both the hopes and concerns that al-Tayeb’s statements triggered are valid, since the personal status law is already being reviewed by a specialized committee at al-Azhar. Everyone is wondering whether restrictions on polygamy will be among the modifications.
It is not clear what kind of restrictions will be introduced. But most likely a man would need to obtain legal permission before taking a second wife, and to do this, he would have to state his reasons. These might include the first wife’s health condition or inability to have children, for example, or proof that the second marriage would not harm the first wife and her children. The wife would also have the right to take the husband to court if his second marriage violated the new law, and might also be granted divorce if she wishes. The second wife would also need to approve, and thus would have to be officially notified her husband-to-be is already married.
The feasibility of monitoring these conditions and ascertaining that no harm is done to any of the parties is questionable, though. What if the reasons the man offers for taking a second wife can in no way be proven? Emotional ones, for example?
How can fairness be guaranteed? Is it only measured by the man’s ability to support both his wives financially? What about other damages the women might sustain, or the children for that matter? What kind of law can stop a man from lying to both his wives, especially if his first wife’s name is not on his national identification document?
A ban, then, seems more practical, yet almost impossible. The negative reaction of most Egyptians to the equal inheritance law issued in Tunisia in 2018 is revealing. In fact, many responses that condemned al-Tayeb’s statements on social media mentioned Tunisia, where polygamy has been banned since the 1950s, as an example of a Muslim country that violates Islamic laws.Apart from average Egyptians, resistance by ultra-conservative clerics and their supporters – and there are many of them – is hard to overlook. Al-Tayeb’s remarks were followed by a counter-campaign launched by Sameh Abdel Hamid Hamouda, a Salafi preacher and former member of al-Nour Party. The campaign, called “Let him have many,” is based on the argument that polygamy is the solution for the current marriage problem in Egypt. The idea is that as many women as possible would get married if each man married more than one. It is the duty of rich men, said many supporters of the campaign, to marry up to four.
Several voices from inside al-Azhar declared they subscribed to the same view. Online pro-polygamy campaigns launched by women in the past few years also lend the campaign credibility.
The pressure to which al-Tayeb was subjected and questions about a possible ban drove al-Azhar to issue a statement clarifying what the imam meant, in order to avoid any misunderstanding. According to the statement, he never intended to suggest banning polygamy, but rather restricting it in order to make sure no injustice is done to women and their families.
The statement was obviously meant to appease both camps. But it did not really work as planned, because while women’s rights activists are not yet disappointed, Salafis are far from content.
This is expected to last until the amendments to the personal status law are made public. While a ban is not obviously on the table, any form of restriction is bound to cause a great row among conservative clerics and citizens alike. The reaction of MPs, who will discuss the draft law and approve or disapprove it, is also unpredictable. One fact cannot be overlooked: al-Azhar is the highest religious authority in Egypt and its fatwas are treated with considerable reverence, even amid the influence of other more conservative groups. Al-Azhar and the state have not been on the best of terms as far as renewing religious discourse is concerned.
ere have been several incidents in which al-Tayeb and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi were at loggerheads. The most memorable one was in 2017, when al-Sisi demanded that verbal divorce should not count as legally valid and al-Tayeb refused. On several other occasions, the imam indirectly criticized al-Sisi’s approach to renewing religious discourse, in what seemed to be a struggle for the independence of al-Azhar and for religious authority. Al-Azhar’s statement about polygamy could signal a rapprochement between al-Sisi and al-Tayeb, one in which a compromise is reached about the modernization of Islamic laws. If this is the case, then a law will pass, and polygamy will be restricted in one way or another. Whether it will work on the ground remains to be seen. It is highly unlikely that the law will have any popular support. What is likely, though, is that it will shake the credibility of al-Azhar, even if slightly.