English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For August 15/2020
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 01/46-55: “Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on August 14-15/2020
UN: Beirut Port Explosion Death Toll Rises to 178, at Least 30 Missing
Hale Meets Top Senior Officials in Lebanon on Second Day of Visit
French Death Toll from Beirut Blast Rises to 2, Paris Steps Up Probe
U.N. Tries to Sort Out Hazardous Waste in Beirut Blast
Hezbollah threatens to attack Israel if Beirut blast was sabotage: Nasrallah
Hezbollah to ignore UN-backed tribunal over Rafik Hariri assassination: Nasrallah
Nasrallah: State, People Should Respond if Israel behind Blast, Hizbullah Won't Stay Silent
Zarif slams help to Lebanon from foreign countries that ‘impose their conditions’
Zarif: Warships on Lebanon Coast Threat to Lebanese People, Resistance
Iran's Zarif meets Lebanese leaders as senior US official visits Beirut
Lebanon Speaker Remarks About ‘Conspiracy’ in MPs’ Resignation Draws Reactions
Iran tried to make Lebanon a training hub for terrorism: Former Lebanese official
UN launches $565 mln appeal to help Lebanon recover from Beirut explosion
Libyans Demand Lebanon Release Hannibal Gaddafi
France's Parly Confirms Macron Plans Trip to Lebanon on Sept. 1
Lebanon’s Hariri Avoids Talking About the New Government
Investigation Points to Security Failure behind Beirut Port Explosion
Banque du Liban governor holds millions in UK assets: Anti-corruption watchdog
Morocco leading in humanitarian aid to Lebanon
Sawan Receives Blast Lawsuit from Oueidat, to Begin Interrogations Monday
Families of Beirut Blast Victims Plead for Outside Inquiry
Lebanon: diplomatic flurry in blast-hit Beirut as aid effort expands
Hariri, a strong PM option in Lebanon, awaits US-Saudi green light
Beirut’s call to action: Lebanon's young hit the streets to help city battered by explosion/Aya Iskandarani/The National/August 14/2020
Families of Beirut blast victims demand UN Security Council probe into ‘massacre’/Najia HoussariArab News/August 14/2020
Despair and Anger in the City’s Skies/Elias Harfoush/Asharq Al Awsat/August 14/2020
Can Macron set Lebanon on a path to a brighter future?/Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri/Arab News/August 15/ 2020
What’s next after the resignation of Lebanon’s government?/Samar Kadi/The Arab Weekly/August 14/2020
Lebanon will never get well as long as Hezbollah is strangling it/Dr. John C. Hulsman/Arab News/August 14/2020
Question: "Is God / the Bible sexist?"/GotQuestions.org/August 14/2020

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on August 14-15/2020

UAE, Israel Agree to Normalize Diplomatic Ties
Netanyahu Thanks Egypt, Oman, Bahrain for their 'Support' of UAE Deal
Gargash Says Positive Reactions to Israel Deal Are Encouraging
Netanyahu Defends Deal with UAE
Berlin: Israel-UAE Deal 'Important Contribution to Peace'
Oman Supports UAE Decision to Normalize Ties with Israel
International Community Welcomes UAE-Israel Agreement
‘Friends of Sudan Group’ Backs Transitional Phase
Saudi Health Ministry Conducts 4 Million COVID-19 Lab Tests
Arab States, France Condemn Turkish Attacks on Iraqi Territory
Proposal of Tunisia ‘Government of Competencies’ Turned down by Key Parties
Kushner: 'Abraham Accord' in Discussion for Over a Year and a Half
LNA Accuses Qatar of Sending Terrorists to Libya

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on August 14-15/2020
The Israel-United Arab Emirates Deal and the End of Iranian Marauding, Kudos/Charles Elias Chartouni/August 14/2020
Covid Spread Can’t Only Be Explained by Who’s Being ‘Bad’/Faye Flam/Tara Lachapelle/Bloomberg/August,14/2020
Sumner Redstone Paved the Way for Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Musk/Tara Lachapelle/Bloomberg/August,14/2020
Mabrouk and mazel tov to all Muslims and Jews in this new era of peace/Ronald S. Lauder/Arab News/August 15, 2020
Peace and cooperation: A new path for Israelis and Emiratis/Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor/Arab News/August 15/2020
Syria remains Turkey’s priority despite Libya, E. Mediterranean tensions/Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/August 14/2020
The UAE and Israel agreement is only the tip of the iceberg/Rabbi Marc Schneier/Arab News/August 14/2020
The Israel-UAE Deal Is Trump’s First Unambiguous Diplomatic Success/John Hannah/Forign Policy/August 14/2020
After UAE-Israel peace deal, a Palestinian state is the next step/Nadim Shehadi/Al Arabiya/August 14/2020
 

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on August 14-15/2020

UN: Beirut Port Explosion Death Toll Rises to 178, at Least 30 Missing
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The death toll from last week's massive explosion that devastated Lebanon's Beirut port area has reached 178, with an estimated 6,000 people injured and at least 30 still missing, the United Nations said Friday. The explosion has affected operations at six hospitals and damaged more than 20 clinics in the parts of Beirut worst hit by the blast, the UN's humanitarian affairs agency said in its report. “A preliminary rapid assessment within a 15-kilometre radius of the explosions, has revealed that, out of 55 medical facilities, only half are fully operational and around 40 per cent have suffered moderate to serious damage and need rehabilitation,” the report said. Some 120 schools, used by 50,000 students, have been damaged. More than 1,000 of nearly 50,000 residential units were severely damaged, the UN report said. At east 13 refugees, including at least two Palestinians, were among those killed and more than 170,000 residents' apartments were damaged, it added. It still wasn't known what caused the Aug. 4 fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in Beirut’s port. But documents have emerged in the wake of the explosion that show the country’s top leadership and security officials were aware of the chemicals being stored in the city port, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Lebanon’s Parliament on Thursday approved a state of emergency in Beirut in its first session since the tragic explosion last week, granting the military sweeping powers amid rising popular anger and political uncertainty.
Despite damage to the silos in the Beirut port, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said food shortages are not expected. The blast struck Beirut in the midst of a crippling financial and economic crisis, and the UN predicted people may have difficulties restoring or fixing their homes. But at least 55% of buildings assessed were rented, which may allow people to move elsewhere, the UN said. According to the world body the Beirut port is operating at 30% capacity and the Tripoli port in the country's north, at 70% . That is allowing for food and goods to continue to flow. The World Food Program is bringing in a three-month supply of wheat flour and grains. According to AP, the agency said it is concerned about a surge in the new coronavirus cases, particularly as social distancing is relaxed during the widespread volunteering to help those affected by the blast and protests against the government and political elite. The government resigned on Aug. 10 and the Cabinet remains in caretaker capacity. Protesters are demanding officials be held accountable for the blast.

Hale Meets Top Senior Officials in Lebanon on Second Day of Visit
Naharnet/August 14/2020
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale met with senior Lebanese officials on Friday, one day after arriving into Lebanon and bypassing politicians to head straight to a hard-hit neighbourhood where young volunteers are helping people after the colossal Beirut blast
Accompanied by US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea and a delegation of US diplomats, Hale first met with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker PM Hassan Diab and ex-PM Saad Hariri who invited him to lunch at the Center House.
Hale conveyed condolences to President Aoun from US President Donald Trump, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for the victims of the Beirut Port explosion, stressing that the US stands by Lebanon and the Lebanese in the current ordeal, the National News Agency reported.
Hale pointed out the US President’s directives that the United States be present and ready for help, thanking President Aoun for Lebanon’s agreement to receive a team from the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) to participate in the investigations being conducted by the Lebanese judiciary.
Hale asserted that the US will not interfere in the internal Lebanese affairs, but will cooperate with its authorities, friends and allies in the region to offer the help needed. Stressing the need to enforce reforms in Lebanon, Hale said it “opens the door to releasing the CEDRE funds and cooperating with the IMF, because this is what Lebanon needs now.”Hale also met with Berri, Diab and Hariri. Arriving in Lebanon after last week's deadly Beirut blast, Hale bypassed politicians on Thursday to head straight to a hard-hit neighbourhood where young volunteers are helping people abandoned by their state.
At the volunteer hub dubbed the "Base Camp", there is a "focus on getting things done," Hale told a press conference after his tour. He contrasted the hive of activity to the "dysfunctional governance and empty promises" of Lebanon's political leaders, who face public outrage over the explosion of a vast stock of ammonium nitrate stored for years at Beirut's port. In the wake of the August 4 explosion of a huge chemical store that laid waste to whole Beirut neighbourhoods, students and young professionals have ditched classes and day jobs to save lives, provide emergency support and start to rebuild.
Hale's visit to the volunteer hub in the blast-hit Gemmayzeh district came days after French President Emmanuel Macron took a tour of the same street last Thursday, as well as meeting Lebanese leaders.

French Death Toll from Beirut Blast Rises to 2, Paris Steps Up Probe
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/2020
France has stepped up its probe into the massive Beirut port blast last week by handing it to investigating magistrates, prosecution sources said Friday, as it was confirmed two French citizens were among the 171 people killed.
The investigation has now been entrusted to two magistrates who can ultimately decide whether to press charges over the August 4 blast, a source in the office of the Paris prosecutor told AFP. Another source, who asked not to be named, said two French citizens were now confirmed to have been killed in the explosion. The death of one French victim -- prominent Lebanon-based architect Jean-Marc Bonfils -- had already been confirmed but the second victim has yet to be publicly identified. French prosecutors on August 5 opened a probe into "involuntary injury" using their jurisdiction to investigate acts committed abroad when French people are among the victims. Investigators and police from France have already been at the scene in Beirut for several days to reconstruct the chain of events that led to the explosion. The FBI will also join Lebanese investigators at the invitation of the Lebanese government, the US State Department said Thursday. The explosion has been blamed on a vast stock of ammonium nitrate left for years in a warehouse at the port despite repeated warnings. Lebanon's government under Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned this week following days of demonstrations demanding accountability over the disaster. Lebanese authorities have pledged a swift investigation and judicial officials said Wednesday the prosecution would question ministers and former ministers. President Michel Aoun has rejected calls from world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, and many Lebanese for an independent international investigation as a "waste of time."
 

U.N. Tries to Sort Out Hazardous Waste in Beirut Blast
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/August 14/2020
A U.N. agency said Friday it is trying to determine what kind of hazardous debris landed across Beirut after the catastrophic port explosion and how to clean it up safely. The United Nations Development Program said it also wanted to find out how much the August 4 blast in the Lebanese capital may have polluted the Mediterranean Sea. "Within seconds, Beirut was covered in layers and layers of debris," Rekha Das, the UNDP's crisis advisor in Lebanon, told reporters at the U.N. in Geneva via video-link. "We are assessing the types of debris: the bricks, the steel, the glass, hazardous waste, medical waste, and electronic waste also needs to be dealt with. "We have to find out what is dangerous and what is not. What can be recycled and what cannot. "And if it cannot be recycled, where can it be safely disposed? Lebanon already had a huge solid waste crisis before the blast."
Das said that besides the visible waste and contamination on the land, "the pollution and the environmental impact that the blast has had on the Mediterranean Sea is unknown." Das said the scale of the operation meant that the work had hardly begun and the zones damaged by the blast were difficult and dangerous to access because debris was still falling from buildings. "We know that there is toxic waste... out there, and a lot of plastic," she said. "We're working very closely with European Union experts who know about toxic waste and waste in general." Das said preliminary results from their first assessments should arrive within a week or so but for the moment, the UNDP was seeking $3 million from donors immediately. "We're looking at this in phases, so as we uncover the first bit, and we find out how complex the next bit will be, we will ask for more," she said. The explosion killed more than 170 people and wounded another 6,500. It happened when a huge stock of hazardous materials stored for years in a warehouse in the heart of the capital exploded, despite repeated warnings of the risk it posed.

Hezbollah threatens to attack Israel if Beirut blast was sabotage: Nasrallah
Reuters and AFP/Friday 14 August 2020
Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that his group would wait for results of a probe into the Beirut port blast, but that if it turns out to be an act of sabotage by Israel, then it would "pay an equal price." Speaking in a televised speech, he said the two theories under investigation were that an accident or sabotage caused the explosion of ammonium nitrate stored at a warehouse. Israel has denied any involvement in the Aug. 4 blast that killed 172 people and injured 6,000. Nasrallah also demanded that the new government in Lebanon be formed of traditional political parties. Prime Minister Hassan Diab's cabinet resigned on Monday over the explosion, widely blamed on negligence and corruption by the country's ruling class. Politics in multi-confessional Lebanon is dominated by former warlords from the 1975-1990 civil war who have exchanged their military fatigues for suits, or were replaced by relatives. In his second speech since the blast, Nasrallah dismissed the idea of a "neutral government" as a "waste of time" for a country where power and influence are distributed according to religious sects. "We don't believe there are neutral (candidates) in Lebanon for us to form a (neutral) government," Nasrallah said.
Instead, the Hezbollah chief called for a government model that has endured for years, despite prolonged political and economic crises and demands for change. "We are calling for attempts to form a national unity government, and if that is not possible, then a government that secures the widest representation possible for politicians and experts," Nasrallah said. "We call for a strong government, a capable government, a government that is protected politically," he added. A government that does not have the backing of the country's top political blocs "either falls, or collapses, or is toppled in parliament at any given crossroads," Nasrallah said. The explosion at Beirut's port happened when a huge stock of hazardous materials stored in a warehouse in the heart of the capital for years exploded, despite repeated warnings of the dangers it posed. The explosion revived a street protest movement that had first erupted in October last year against government corruption and a lingering economic crisis. Months of demonstrations that started last autumn led to the resignation of the government and installation of Diab at the head of a new cabinet dominated by Hezbollah and its allies. The Iran-backed Shia movement also controls the majority in parliament with its allies. Protesters filled the streets again and clashed with security forces in the days after the explosion, blaming their political leaders for the negligence they say led to the disaster. Western powers have pressed Lebanon's leaders for deep-seated change and a government that reflects the will of the people, and also insisted reforms be implemented to unlock billions of dollars in international aid.

Hezbollah to ignore UN-backed tribunal over Rafik Hariri assassination: Nasrallah
AFP/Friday 14 August 2020
Hezbollah will ignore the verdict due next week by a UN-backed court on the 2005 murder of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, the movement's leader said Friday. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is expected to hand down its verdict on Tuesday to four suspects, who were all being tried in absentia and are alleged members of Hezbollah. "We do not feel concerned by the STL's decisions," Nasrallah said in a televised address. "For us it will be as if no decision was ever announced," he said. "If our brothers are unjustly sentenced, as we expect, we will maintain their innocence." Nasrallah has repeatedly expressed similar views completely rejecting the jurisdiction and independence of the court, which is based in The Netherlands. The slain former prime minister's son Saad Hariri, himself a former premier, is expected in The Hague for the verdict. The four defendants went on trial in 2014 on charges including the "intentional homicide" of Hariri and 21 others, attempted homicide of 226 people wounded in the bombing, and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. Nasrallah warned that "some will attempt to exploit the STL to target the resistance and Hezbollah" but urged his supporters to be "patient" when the verdict is announced. Observers have voiced fears that the verdict, whichever way it goes, could spark violence on the streets of Lebanon between Hezbollah and Hariri supporters.

Nasrallah: State, People Should Respond if Israel behind Blast, Hizbullah Won't Stay Silent
Naharnet/August 14/2020
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday said the Lebanese state and people should have a say in any response should the investigation into the Beirut port blast prove that Israel was behind it. “Hizbullah does not have an account of events about the Beirut port blast… Hizbullah is awaiting the results of the investigation,” said Nasrallah in a televised speech marking the 2006 war with Israel. “Until now, nothing proves that there was an airstrike through a warplane or a drone,” Nasrallah added, while noting that an act of sabotage on the ground cannot be ruled out. “The investigation should be continued and answers should be offered to the Lebanese people,” Nasrallah said. “If the investigation determines that Israel is involved, the Lebanese state and people should have a say in the issue,” Hizbullah’s leader added. “If the answer hinges on Hizbullah, it cannot remain silent over a crime of this magnitude and Israel will pay a price of the magnitude,” Nasrallah added. Reiterating that Hizbullah does not trust any international investigation, Hizbullah’s leader commented on the U.S. announcement that an FBI team will take part in the probe by warning that “an FBI investigation would absolve Israel of any responsibility. Separately, Nasrallah said Hizbullah’s decision to respond to an Israeli strike that killed one of its fighters in Syria has not changed. “The issue is a matter of time,” he added. He also noted that Israel's weeks-long mobilization on Lebanon’s border is part of Hizbullah’s “punishment.”
As for the domestic situation in the wake of the catastrophic port explosion Nasrallah said “Hizbullah is not confused nor in a crisis.”“Along with our allies we are the strongest in the region,” he said. “There was a state of anger among our supporters over the past days and we sought to control the situation, because clearly some were trying to incite strife. We tell our supporters to keep this anger, because we might need it one day to put an end to all the attempts to drag Lebanon into civil war,” Nasrallah added. He lamented that there was “an attempt to topple the state in the very first hours after the blast,” alleging that “political forces and media outlets exploited people's pain to target not only Hizbullah but also President Michel Aoun.” Nasrallah also charged that Lebanese political forces sought in the past days to “topple the state and put Lebanon on the brink of civil war to serve personal and foreign interests.”“It was not those who toppled the government. The government was toppled by a host of circumstances and difficulties. In fact, a blast of such magnitude would have made it difficult for any government to continue,” Nasrallah pointed out. He meanwhile called for the formation of “a strong, capable and politically protected cabinet,” stressing that “talk of a neutral government is a waste of time” and claiming that “there are no independents in Lebanon.”"We are calling for attempts to form a national unity government, and if that is not possible, then a government that secures the widest representation possible for politicians and experts," Nasrallah said. As for the verdicts that will be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday over the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri, Nasrallah reiterated that his party is “not concerned with the STL’s rulings.”
“We cling to the innocence of our brothers should unjust verdicts be issued against them,” he said. Addressing Hizbullah’s supporters, Nasrallah said: “We should be aware that some will try to exploit the rulings and we should show awareness.”

Zarif slams help to Lebanon from foreign countries that ‘impose their conditions’
Yaghoub Fazeli/Al Arabiya English/Friday 14 August 2020
The international community should help Lebanon without imposing any conditions on its government, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Friday during a visit to the capital Beirut following the devastating explosion that killed more than 170 people in the city earlier this month. Zarif arrived in the Lebanese capital Thursday night and met with several senior Lebanese officials on Friday, including Prime Minister Hassan Diab, President Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe. “There should be international efforts to help Lebanon, not to impose anything on it,” Zarif said in televised comments. On August 4, over 170 people were killed and more than 6,000 others were injured in Beirut when a warehouse storing nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate exploded after catching on fire. The government of PM Diab resigned following the explosion. International humanitarian aid has poured in but foreign states have linked financial assistance to reform of the Lebanese state, which has defaulted on its huge sovereign debts. Zarif said there are sides that are taking advantage of Lebanon’s current circumstances, and that those same sides are the ones “who do not want stability and unity in Lebanon.”“It is not humane to exploit the pain and suffering of the people for political goals,” he said. “We believe that the government and the people of Lebanon should decide and other countries should not abuse the tragic need and the situation of Lebanon to impose their conditions,” said Zarif. Iran’s chief diplomat announced Tehran’s readiness to help reconstruct the areas affected by the explosion in Beirut, the official IRNA news agency reported. “I spoke with the Lebanese foreign minister about the possible means of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon at this stage, with reconstruction, electricity, medicine and all vital fields,” said Zarif. In his meeting with President Aoun, Zarif expressed hope that a stable situation would be established in Lebanon with the help of all political parties in the country, IRNA reported. Iran backs Lebanon’s powerful armed movement Hezbollah, which along with its allies helped form the outgoing government. The US classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist group. The most powerful group in Lebanon, Hezbollah exercises major sway over government. Zarif’s visit to Beirut at this time is the “peak of insolence,” former Lebanese Justice Minister Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi told Al Arabiya. “Zarif acts as if Lebanon is an Iranian province,” Rifi said, adding that “Iran has turned Lebanon into a training center for terrorists.”(With Reuters)

Zarif: Warships on Lebanon Coast Threat to Lebanese People, Resistance
Naharnet/August 14/2020
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday warned that the presence of foreign warships on Lebanon’s coast represents “a threat to the Lebanese people and its resistance.”“The presence of foreign warships on Lebanon’s coast is not normal and it is a threat to the Lebanese people and its resistance,” Zarif, who is on a visit to Lebanon, told al-Mayadeen television in response to a question about the issue. A French warship and a British warship have recently docked in Lebanon as part of the aid and rescue efforts. “The deployment of HMS Enterprise complements an immediate package of military and civilian support. As part of the strong relationship between both our armies, the UK has offered enhanced support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, who are central to the Government of Lebanon’s response, including tailored medical help, strategic air transport assistance, and engineering and communications support,” Lt. Gen. Sir John Lorimer, the UK Defense Senior Adviser Middle East and North Africa, said during a visit to Beirut on Monday. And on Friday, the Lebanese Army said French helicopter carrier PHA Tonnerre had docked at Beirut’s port, carrying a French army engineering unit, engineering vehicles and necessary equipment to remove debris from Beirut port. It was also carrying medical and food aid, construction material and two vehicles donated to the Lebanese Civil Defense, the army said. Separately, Zarif told al-Mayadeen that Iran does not endorse any specific candidate to lead the new Lebanese government. “We will cooperate with any nominee that the Lebanese would agree on,” he said. “We will choose what the Lebanese will choose, Lebanon’s security is our security and we will cooperate with any government selected by the Lebanese people,” Zarif added. “I reassured Lebanese officials that Iran is ready to help and not to impose anything on Lebanon,” he went on to say. And calling on the international community to “acknowledge Lebanon’s independence and stay away from its internal affairs,” Zarif said “if the Lebanese people allow those who don’t want Lebanon’s welfare to sow discord, fears will arise about Lebanon’s future.”

Iran's Zarif meets Lebanese leaders as senior US official visits Beirut
The Arab Weekly/August 14/2020
The Iranian foreign minister played the moral high ground while he checked on his country's interests in Lebanon.
BEIRUT--Tehran insists on being strongly present in Lebanon after the massive blast at Beirut’s port, with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif visiting the Lebanese capital Friday, in conjunction with the visit of the US Assistant Secretary of State David Hale.
Soon after his arrival in Lebanon, Zarif, who will be holding meetings with senior Lebanese officials, said that only the Lebanese people and their representatives can decide the country’s future. The blast at the Beirut’s port last week killed 172 people and prompted the government to resign. Iran backs Lebanon’s powerful armed movement Hezbollah, which along with its allies helped form the outgoing government. The United States classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist group. The Iranian foreign minister played the moral high ground while he checked on his country's interests in Lebanon. “It is not humane to exploit the pain and suffering of the people for political goals,” Iran’s Zarif told a joint news conference with Lebanon’s caretaker foreign minister. “We believe that the government and the people of Lebanon should decide on the future of Lebanon.”Zarif was speaking after senior US and French officials met President Michel Aoun in a flurry of Western diplomacy that has focused on urging Lebanon to fight entrenched corruption and enact long-delayed reforms to unlock foreign financial aid needed to tackle an economic crisis.Lebanese had been staging angry protests against a political elite blamed for the country’s many woes even before the August 4.blast, which injured 6,000, damaged swathes of the Mediterranean city and left 300,000 homeless. Some 30 people remain missing. The explosion sharply deepened anger at the authorities. “We can’t live like this. The West has to pressure our leaders to save us,” said Iyaam Ghanem, a Beirut pharmacist. International humanitarian aid has poured in but foreign states have linked any financial assistance to reform of the Lebanese state, which has defaulted on its huge sovereign debts. Zarif said Tehran and private Iranian companies were ready to help with reconstruction and rehabilitating Lebanon’s electricity sector, which is a chief target of reform. He added Western countries should not take advantage of the massive explosion in Beirut. “No foreign side should take advantage of the catastrophic conditions and the needs of Lebanon to impose dictates that are in their interests,” he said.
The blast has swelled popular anger at official corruption and mismanagement and political uncertainty. Victims and their representatives told reporters that only an independent probe would deliver justice, appealing to the UN Security Council for an international investigation and the referral of the blast to an international court. “Is it acceptable that people find their homes shattered, their families killed, their hopes and their dreams killed, with no justice,” said Paul Najjar, whose three-year-old daughter Alexandra died in the blast.
State news agency NNA said questioning of some ministers due on Friday had been postponed as the judge appointed for the task said he did not have authority to question government ministers. The cabinet resignation has fuelled uncertainty. Agreement on a new government will likely be very difficult in a country with deep factional rifts and a sectarian power-sharing system. Senior Christian cleric Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, who has called for keeping Beirut out of regional conflicts, said on Thursday that a new Lebanon was being “cooked in kitchens” of foreign countries, which he did not name, to serve the interest of politicians.

Lebanon Speaker Remarks About ‘Conspiracy’ in MPs’ Resignation Draws Reactions
Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri’s recent remarks about a “conspiracy” behind the recent resignations from parliament, drew reactions from several political figures that stressed the right of deputies to resign. During the first parliament session held since the Beirut explosion last week that killed at least 171 people, Berri described the resignation of eight deputies as a “conspiracy.” The first reaction to his comments came from leader of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea who said, “That wasn’t a conspiracy but rather practicing of a natural democratic right.”
He explained that in all cases, “only early parliamentary elections will save us from the current situation.”At least 171 lives were lost in the explosion on Aug. 4 that ripped through the Lebanese capital after a warehouse with 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate at the Beirut Port caught fire. Some 6,000 people were injured and 300,000 others rendered homeless. Following the blast, eight MPs submitted their resignations. One of them, Michel Mouawad, said Thursday, “We are not the ones to be accused of conspiring against state institutions. When did parliament ever hold any government accountable? When did it ask for the resignation of a cabinet for failing to achieve reforms or improve the economy?”Mouawad said the real conspiracy is having Lebanon dragged into the game of destructive axes. Elias Hankash, another deputy who has submitted his resignation, said that the Lebanese people have withdrawn their mandate from parliament, which is the institution from where the president, speaker and prime minister are chosen.

Iran tried to make Lebanon a training hub for terrorism: Former Lebanese official
Al Arabiya English/Friday 14 August 2020
Iran’s foreign minister, who is on a visit to Beirut, is acting as if Lebanon is an Iranian district, former Lebanese Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi said Friday. “[Mohammad Javad] Zarif’s visit to Beirut is the epitome of disrespectful,” Rifi told Al Arabiya in a televised interview. Zarif landed in Lebanon Thursday after the Aug. 4 Beirut explosions, which led to the killing of at least 200 people and injured over 6,000. Through Hezbollah’s militia, Iran has tried to make Lebanon a “training hub for terrorism,” Rifi added. Hezbollah is the only non-state actor in Lebanon that possesses arms, and it has boasted about its arsenal of missiles. The former Lebanese official said that Lebanon “desperately” needs to return to the Arab fold, rather than Iran.

UN launches $565 mln appeal to help Lebanon recover from Beirut explosion
AFP/Saturday 15 August 2020
The United Nations launched an appeal Friday to raise $565 million to help Lebanon recover from this month’s devastating port blast that killed 171 people. The UN said in a statement that the funds would be used to support Lebanon as it moves from immediate life-saving humanitarian relief towards rebuilding its shattered economy. “The task of rebuilding people’s lives and recovering from the devastation is only just beginning,” said Najat Rochdi, a UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon. “I urge the international community to demonstrate their steadfast commitment to the people of Lebanon and repay in turn Lebanon’s incredible generosity to Syrian and Palestine refugees with full financial support for this appeal,” she added. The August 4 explosion flattened surrounding neighborhoods, leaving thousands homeless, damaged dozens of hospitals and clinics and destroyed more than 100 schools. It also wounded at least 6,500 residents. The explosion was caused by a huge stock of hazardous materials stored in a warehouse, and was widely blamed on state corruption. It came as Lebanon reels from an economic crisis, with runaway inflation and bank capital controls fueling poverty, despair and angry street protests.
Western powers have pressed Lebanon’s leaders for deep changes and a government that reflects the will of the people, and also insisted reforms be implemented to unlock billions of dollars in international aid. The UN said its appeal money would target improving food security, help the rebuilding of damaged hospitals and schools and provide cash for shelter for families whose homes were rendered uninhabitable.

Libyans Demand Lebanon Release Hannibal Gaddafi
Cairo - Jamal Gawhar/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Libyan and Tunisian activists said that they have urged international and African organizations to act immediately to release Hannibal al-Gaddafi, son of late President Moammar Gaddafi, who has been detained in Lebanon for four years. Hannibal is being held “on charges of concealing information about the disappearance of the founder of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, Imam Musa al-Sadr, during his visit to Libya in August 1978, at the invitation of his father, Moammar Gaddafi.""The Arab League for Hannibal" said Thursday that it handed Human Rights Watch a memorandum regarding Hannibal and all prisoners and detainees of the former regime. It added that it had dispatched a delegation to Tunisia earlier this week to hand the African Union Commission, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and human rights and humanitarian missions a memorandum regarding "the imprisonment of Hannibal Gaddafi, and the other figures symbols of the former regime who had been arrested wrongfully, oppressively and unjustly."Russia had intervened to demand Hannibal’s release amid other intensified efforts to resolve the issue and allow him to rejoin his Lebanese wife Aline Skaff and three children who used to live with him Damascus where he was kidnapped and taken to Lebanon. A source close to Gaddafi's family was puzzled by what he called “improvisations” of laws in Lebanon. He told Asharq al-Awsat that investigation authorities there “did not provide any evidence of Hannibal’s involvement in the Sadr case, and it became clear to them that he was a young child at the time, yet they insist on keeping him prisoner. He demanded his immediate release. The delegation sent to Tunisia was headed by Bechir Essid, the head of the defense of Hannibal and the Libyan detainees. The League pointed out that the concerned organizations "showed great understanding of what was in the memo”. Hannibal’s defense team stressed that "no crime under the category of concealment of information could be validated against him, given that he was less than two-years-old. It revealed that Hannibal first learned of the crime in 1997 while he was on vacation in Morocco. Besides Hannibal, who was arrested in Lebanon, his brother Al-Saadi is still being held in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The Gaddafi family had previously threatened to file lawsuits, locally and internationally, demanding the release of their son. It held the “concerned authorities” that are detaining him responsible for his safety, charging that he has been "tortured and denied medical treatment.”In April 2018, a court in Tripoli acquitted Al-Saadi of the charge of killing player and coach of the Al-Ittihad football team, Bashir Al-Rayani. Despite the verdict, he remains in al-Hadba prison, despite pledges from Tripoli authorities that he will be released.

France's Parly Confirms Macron Plans Trip to Lebanon on Sept. 1
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to return to Beirut on Sept. 1 to follow up on the reconstruction efforts after the catastrophic blast which destroyed parts of Beirut last week, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said Friday.
Parly, speaking after a tour of the French helicopter-carrier Tonnerre which arrived earlier in the day in the devastated port of Beirut, also called on the Lebanese to form a government capable of taking "courageous decisions."She described the ship as a "floating city" which can provide all kind of medical and technical support, including a hospital, search and rescue equipment, construction materials and also transporting a shipment of flour. The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, which has the backing of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah, resigned in the wake of the explosion.
Macron was the first foreign official to visit the stricken capital, landing in Beirut two days after the blast that the Lebanese people widely blame on the authorities’ negligence of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that was left abandoned at the port for some six years. During his visit, he urged the authorities to form a national unity government and implement much-needed reform to save the Lebanese economy which was already in freefall before the August 4 blast.

Lebanon’s Hariri Avoids Talking About the New Government
Beirut - Mohamed Choucair/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Lebanon ushered in a new political stage following the devastating August 4 explosion that rocked the capital Beirut. The blast set a priority to rebuild the city and secure shelters to around 300,000 people whose homes were destroyed, political figures told Asharq Al-Awsat. The politicians, who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, said that the reconstruction should top the agenda of politicians. They pointed to the great efforts exerted by French President Emmanuel Macron to secure a political and reconstruction safety net for Lebanon, because without it, the country would be again drawn into the traditional political bickering that would only exacerbate the current crisis. The politicians also noted that the French president launched his initiative immediately after the explosion, “as if the disaster had befallen France, due to President Michel Aoun's inaction because he put the country in confrontation with the international community, a number of Arab countries and with the main political components.”The same political sources hinted at attempts for former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to assume the premiership after the resignation of Hassan Diab’s government. But they emphasized that those attempts do not express Hariri’s position.The political figures noted that the current efforts, instead, should focus on how to benefit from the international community’s mobilization to provide humanitarian aid to Lebanon in order to stop the economic and financial collapse.
They said that the wave of international support has opened a window of opportunity that should not be neglected. Based on these considerations, the sources noted that Hariri was avoiding to talk about the next government, pending the full implementation of Macron’s initiative and the agreement over a clear roadmap for the next stage.

Investigation Points to Security Failure behind Beirut Port Explosion
Beirut - Youssef Diab/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Investigations into the massive explosion that rocked Beirut last week are “highlighting a security failure by senior authorities at the port,” informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The sources stressed that serious procedures would be taken against those whose negligence and mismanagement would be proven by the investigations, noting that criminal responsibility would be established, given the scale of the disaster and the huge number of victims. On Friday, Judge Ghassan Khoury will start questioning current and former ministers, who have or had an authority over the port, and will listen to the testimony of former Minister of Public Works and Transport Ghazi Aridi. Khoury will hold successive sessions as of Monday to listen to former Minister of Public Works Ghazi Zoaiter and the rest of ministers of public works, finance and justice. Judicial and security investigations are focusing primarily on identifying those responsible for the blast, in parallel to a judicial and technical investigation aimed at finding out the causes of the explosion, and whether the ammonium nitrate warehouse detonated due to an error or by an external or internal premeditated attack. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the sources emphasized the importance of the efforts deployed by the French experts to determine the nature of the blast and the amount of explosive materials involved. However, the same sources noted that State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat is yet to receive the satellite images that he requested, as many accounts and testimonies spoke of hearing the sounds of warplanes flying at low altitude over Beirut and the Keserouan region moments before the blast.

Banque du Liban governor holds millions in UK assets: Anti-corruption watchdog
Arab News/August 14/2020
LONDON: An anti-corruption watchdog has accused the governor of the Banque du Liban, Lebanon’s central bank, of holding hundreds of millions of dollars in offshore assets. Riad Salameh and his family are accused by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, along with Lebanese investigative website Daraj, of owning over $100 million in companies worldwide, with the majority based in the UK. Salameh, previously considered a respectable, stabilizing force on the Lebanese financial sector, has seen his reputation tarnished as the country faces economic turmoil. He was responsible for the policy of pegging the Lebanese pound to the US dollar, a system that has collapsed in the aftermath of the government defaulting on international debt. He has also been accused of grossly overestimating assets held by the Banque du Liban to the tune of $6 billion. The latest revelations will have done little to improve Salameh’s image, despite there currently being no allegations of illegality over his family’s holdings. The majority of the assets identified are UK properties, including an apartment in London’s wealthy Hyde Park area worth around £3.5 million ($4.58 million) owned by Salameh’s son Nady.
It was initially bought by a company that was then dissolved after ownership was transferred to him. Salameh has dismissed suggestions of impropriety, saying his family’s wealth was accrued prior to his becoming governor of the Banque du Liban in 1993, and providing evidence that he had in excess of $23 million to his name at the time. It is the latest development in a litany of unflattering stories about Lebanon’s ruling elite, which has come under intense scrutiny following the devastating explosion at Beirut’s port on Aug. 4, caused by the combustion of thousands of tons of confiscated ammonium nitrate. The explosion killed over 170 people, and has been widely blamed on the incompetence of government officials who, many claim, have been complicit in the widespread accruing of wealth despite poor management.
An international bailout to help the country will almost certainly come on condition of serious institutional reforms. French President Emmanuel Macron last week called for “strong political initiatives to fight against corruption,” and a “transparent audit of the central bank and the banking system” if such assistance is to be forthcoming. “If reforms are not carried out, Lebanon will continue to sink,” he warned.

Morocco leading in humanitarian aid to Lebanon
The Arab Weekly/August 14/2020
RABAT –Morocco has sent more aid to Lebanon than any other country following the catastrophic August 4 explosion that killed more than 170 people, injured at least 6,000, wrecked Beirut’s port and caused widespread damage across the capital. According to media reports, humanitarian aid provided by Morocco exceeded assistance from the US, as well as European, Asian and Arab countries. On August 6, Moroccan King Mohammed VI ordered eight flights with medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanon – a move, he said, to express “Morocco’s solidarity with the Lebanese people.” The first aid shipment, which reached Beirut International Airport two days after the explosion, transported 295 tons of basic foodstuffs, 10 tons of medical equipment and 11 tons of special equipment to help the Lebanese people in dealing with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
Morocco also donated first aid medicine, food products including grains, canned food, powder milk, oil, and sugar, in addition to tents and blankets. King Mohammed VI’s initiative had a “great impact on the hearts of the Lebanese, and it came at the right time,” said Lebanese Ambassador to Morocco Ziad Atallah. “I express, on behalf of the Lebanese government, our deep gratitude and high esteem for the generous initiative of HM King Mohammed VI,” director of Arab Affairs at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ali Al-Mawla Safir told MAP. “The Moroccan humanitarian initiative, considered as one of the most important aid received by Lebanon, is an expression of solidarity on the part of Morocco, which has always shown a strong attachment to the values of solidarity with sisterly countries,” Safir added. Morocco also received dozens of messages of appreciation from Lebanese citizens, with the Arabic hashtag “Thank you King Mohammed VI” sweeping social networks like Twitter in recent days. The Moroccan monarch also ordered the establishment of a military field hospital in Beirut to help support medical operations as the number of victims surged.
The field hospital, which started operating August 10, counts 150 professionals, including 45 doctors of various specialities, notably resuscitators, surgeons, traumatologists, ENTs, ophthalmologists, burn treatment personnel, neurosurgeons, paediatricians and pharmacists. The August 4 explosion, which was centred on Beirut’s port and ripped across the capital, left around a quarter of a million people with homes unfit to live in. It also dealt a catastrophic blow to everyone in Lebanon from mechanics to major food importers who were already struggling amid a financial crisis that hammered the currency and sent unemployment soaring. Beirut was built around its port, one of the region’s busiest and for centuries a lifeline for Lebanon’s merchant culture. The blast badly damaged the port, and while some shipping lines say they are resuming visits to its container terminal, traders and business owners say they have no visibility on what goods survived or when imports can resume.

Sawan Receives Blast Lawsuit from Oueidat, to Begin Interrogations Monday
Naharnet/August 14/2020
Judicial investigator into the Beirut port blast Judge Fadi Sawan on Friday received a lawsuit filed by State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat against 25 people including 19 detainees, the National News Agency said. Sawan also received the files of the preliminary investigations and started studying them ahead of the interrogations that he will kick off on Monday. The lawsuit mentions 25 suspects, most notably the incumbent and former Customs chiefs and the director of Beirut’s port -- Badri Daher, Shafiq Merhi and Hasan Qureitem. It also targets “anyone identified by the investigation as being a perpetrator, partner, interferer or negligent” in connection with the crimes of “negligence; dereliction; and causing the death of more than 177 people, the injury and disabling of thousands and the full destruction of Beirut’s port, houses belonging to citizens, and public and private properties.”
Oueidat requested the interrogation of the aforementioned suspects and the issuance of arrest warrants against them, NNA said. Following wrangling between caretaker Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najm and the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, Lebanese authorities named Sawan, with a reputation for independence and integrity according to judicial sources, to lead investigations into the explosion. A Lebanese prosecutor will also question several ministers and former ministers over the explosion, a judicial official said Wednesday.
"The interrogations will begin with former public works minister Ghazi al-Aridi," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If a shortcoming or negligence on the part of one of the questioned ministers is found, the judiciary will have to state that it does not have jurisdiction to sue them," the official explained. The chief prosecutor will then have to transfer their file and connected evidence to parliament because the jurisdiction lies with a special council in charge of suing ministers and presidents.
 

Families of Beirut Blast Victims Plead for Outside Inquiry
Associated Press/Naharnet/August 14/2020
Lebanon's judicial investigation of the Beirut port explosion started with political wrangling over the naming of a lead investigator, military threats to jail leakers and doubts over whether a panel appointed along sectarian lines could be fully impartial.
So for many Lebanese, their greatest hope for credible answers about the blast that wrecked much of their capital may lie with outsiders. Families of the dead and survivors on Friday asked the U.N. Security Council for an international investigation. Others pin their hopes on the French forensic police who have joined the probe and FBI investigators are expected to take part.
"We are not lawyers or politicians, we are families and people, our appeal today is to the people of the international community," said Paul Najjar, a survivor of the explosion. "Is it acceptable today that people would find their homes shattered, their families killed, their hopes and their dreams killed as well, with no justice, in all impunity?"
French teams have pressed ahead at their work, sending divers into the underwater crater, taking explosives samples and preparing recommendations for both French and Lebanese magistrates. Among the French judicial police on the case are men and women who responded after the 2004 tsunami in Japan, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the November 2015 and Bastille Day 2016 terror attacks in France.
The Beirut explosion lies at the crossroads of a disastrous accident and a crime scene. It still was not known what sparked the fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate that were stored for years in Beirut's port next to densely populated residential areas. Documents have emerged that show the country's top leadership and security officials were aware of the stockpile.
Search and rescue crews flew in from around the world in the immediate aftermath and found themselves looking at a scene that was both familiar and yet strangely alien. "In an earthquake, it's easier because we can understand ... how it moves. But in this case, we didn't have enough elements to understand what happened," said Alberto Boanini, a member of the Italian rescue team. The team has seen its share of quakes and forest fires, but nothing quite like the port in Beirut, where he said it was hard to fathom what could level it so completely.
Many Lebanese want the probe taken out of the hands of their own government, having learned from past experience that the long-entrenched political factions, notorious for corruption, won't allow any results damaging to their leadership to come to light. The explosion killed more than 175 people, injured at least 6,000 and left tens of thousands homeless.
Paris sent judicial police because a French architect was among the dead, and French law gives jurisdiction for an investigation if a citizen dies abroad under questionable circumstances.
But the French investigators work only at the invitation of the Lebanese, and their orders are confidential.
French officials say they have the access they need but will not say whether their inquiry extends to questioning witnesses or requesting documents. They hand over their findings to the Lebanese, but keep a mirror copy for a French inquiry. The FBI is also joining at Lebanese authorities' invitation.
Top Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun, have rejected calls for an independent probe, describing it as "a waste of time" and suggesting it would be politicized. Nonetheless, Nada Abdelsater-Abusamra, a lawyer representing victims, said a letter was submitted to the U.N. Security Council asking for an international investigation.
In its last decision before resigning under pressure, six days after the explosion, Prime Minister Hassan Diab's government referred the port explosion case to the Higher Judicial Council, Lebanon's highest justice authority, to carry out the investigation.
An argument then ensued with the outgoing justice minister over the investigation's lead judge. After public wrangling, they compromised on Judge Fadi Sawwan, a former military investigating judge.
The Council itself is made up of 10 people, eight of whom are appointed according to the interests of the various political factions and religious sects in line with Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system.
The authorities have so far arrested at least 19 people, including the head of the Customs Department and his predecessor, as well as the head of the port.
Lebanese say they want to see investigations into top officials who knew about the ammonium nitrate.
"They will blame the small guys while the ones who are really responsible will get away with their crime, that's what will happen," said Jad, a 38-year-old computer engineer who declined to give his full name in line with his company's regulations not to discuss politics.
"If this time there is no credible, serious investigation that will lead to the punishment of everyone responsible for this disaster, it is goodbye Lebanon. No one will ever want to live in this country again," he said, standing on a bridge overlooking the decimated port. Lebanese forensics expert Omar Nachabe said the public infighting about the name of the lead investigator is a bad sign that casts doubt on the credibility of any local investigation.
"If I am a Lebanese citizen, my capital (city) has been destroyed. I want a quick and serious investigation, yet the government has not shown until now that it is up to the task," he told the local channel LBCI.
Explosions have marked a grim timeline in Lebanon's modern history and have killed presidents, prime ministers and countless journalists and activists during the country's 1975-90 civil war and beyond.
Almost none of the perpetrators were ever arrested or tried, and the truth was invariably buried. Lebanese had high hopes that the U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 killing of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri would be a chance to end impunity in Lebanon. But it took 15 years and was marred by doubts, politics and more deaths. The tribunal is to issue verdicts Tuesday.
International involvement in the investigation might bring some truth, but bringing justice is more complicated. Dov Jacobs, an international legal scholar based in the Netherlands, said the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine six years ago might be the closest analogy.
In that case, international experts had full access to the site, and international prosecutors charged three Russians and a Ukrainian with involvement in bringing down the plane and the murder of all on board. The men are on trial in a Dutch court in absentia, since none have been extradited.
But in Lebanon, Jacobs said, "the investigation itself is a tool of political influence. It's one of those frustrating moments where immediate calls for justice are faced with a wall which is the political reality on the ground."
 

Lebanon: diplomatic flurry in blast-hit Beirut as aid effort expands
AFP/August 14/ 2020
FBI to join investigation of port explosion at the invitation of Lebanese officials, US diplomat David Hale says.
Top officials from the US, France and Iran criss-crossed Beirut on Friday to supervise growing aid efforts and weigh in on Lebanon's political future, following the deadly port explosion blamed on state corruption. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran, which backs Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah, met officials in the capital ahead of a speech by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday evening. Mr Zarif's visit coincided with those of the top career diplomat of Iran's arch-foe the United States, David Hale, and French Defence Minister Florence Parly, who also met with Lebanese leaders and civil society representatives.Both Mr Hale and Ms Parly have joined calls from the international community for a reform-oriented government that would co-ordinate aid flooding into the crisis-hit Mediterranean country after the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab's cabinet on Monday.
Mr Zarif said it was for the Lebanese to decide what government they wanted.
"Others should not condition their aid on any change in Lebanon during this emergency situation," he said. Mr Zarif joined Lebanese officials in rejecting an international probe into the blast, saying "Lebanon, as an independent country, must be in charge of the investigation".Protesters filled the streets and clashed with security forces in the days after the August 4 explosion, blaming their political leaders for the negligence they say led to the disaster that killed at least 177 people and wounded at least 6,500. The blast happened when a huge stock of hazardous materials stocked in a warehouse in the heart of the capital for years exploded, despite repeated warnings of the risk it could cause.
The explosion revived a street protest movement that had first erupted in October last year against government corruption and a lingering economic crisis. Mr Diab's successor must be named by President Michel Aoun, the target of increasing vitriol from protesters, after consultations with parliamentary blocs representing Lebanon's longstanding political parties – the very ones that the protesters want to see gone. Mr Hale and Ms Parly met President Aoun separately on Friday and both have called for a government that reflects the will of the people and one that would implement reform. Overseeing the distribution of aid from the helicopter carrier Tonnerre, which docked in Beirut with food and construction materials, Ms Parly said she urged Mr Aoun president to speed up the process of government formation.
Ms Parly said the next government must have a "mission" and "for a limited period of time be in charge of carrying out far-reaching reforms". Mr Hale echoed her, calling for a government "that reflects and responds to the will of the people and genuinely commits and acts for real change".
Mr Aoun said he was in talks with top political blocs before formally starting parliamentary consultations to name a new premier.
The new administration will take power in a country that was already battered by crisis before the explosion, with crushing economic woes and widespread discontent at official corruption and ineptitude.Lebanese authorities named judge Fadi Sawan, with a reputation for independence and integrity according to judicial sources, to lead investigations into the explosion. But he will not himself question current and former ministers on the ammonium nitrate that was stocked at the port. They will instead be referred to a special judicial body specialised in questioning government officials.
On Thursday, Mr Hale said the US Federal Bureau of Investigations would join the probe "at the invitation" of Lebanese authorities.
France, which on Friday confirmed that two French citizens were among the 177 people killed in the blast, has opened its own enquiry. UN experts have called for a prompt and independent investigation into the explosion, expressing concern at the "impunity" they say Lebanese officials enjoy.
Lebanese authorities have rejected an international probe. Rescue workers continued to recover the remains of those killed in the blast at the devastated Beirut port on Friday. Relatives of three firefighters from the same family, who had tried to put out a fire that flared before the blast, were told that the remains of two of them had been identified by DNA analysis. "I don't have words to describe the fire that consumes us. Imagine getting to the point of being happy to have found the remains of two among you," said Antonella Hitti on Facebook, after learning that the remains of her brother Najib, 27, and her cousin Charbel, 22, had been identified. "We're not organising funerals before finding Charbel Karam," the third missing firefighter from the family, relative Mayane Nassif told AFP.

Hariri, a strong PM option in Lebanon, awaits US-Saudi green light
The Arab Weekly/August 14/2020
France is spearheading the international efforts to form the new Lebanese government.
In the past few hours, consultations in Beirut for the formation of a new government in replacement of Hassan Diab’s government have intensified. Diab and his cabinet resigned last Monday under angry street pressure following the catastrophic blast of August 4 at Beirut port which has resulted so far in the deaths of 171 people and wounding about 6,000 as well as causing great damage to buildings. Among the new candidates for the premiership, the name of former prime minister, Saad Hariri, is emerging as a strong possibility, after the Shia duo, Hezbollah and Amal Movement, refused the candidacy of former ambassador and head of the International Court of Justice Nawaf Salam. Political circles, however, say that Hariri’s acceptance of the premiership this time will depend on his obtaining an American-Saudi green light, because the leader of the Future Movement will not risk what remains of his political and popular assets without first ensuring Arab and international support.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, on Wednesday, expressed his country’s support for the formation of a new Lebanese government that enjoys favourable external conditions.
Hariri had previously assumed the premiership in 2016 based on a deal he had concluded with the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal Movement, with Hezbollah’s blessing. That did not sit well with the power circles in the US and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as they viewed that deal as a victory for Iran-backed Hezbollah, which they classified as a terrorist organization. Among the results of that deal was the erosion of Arab and international support for Lebanon at a time when the country was witnessing an economic and financial collapse that reached its climax with the outbreak of an unprecedented wave of protests in October 2019, calling for the departure of the entire political class from power. Hariri found himself forced to resign a few days after the outbreak of the protests.
It is clear that Hariri is about to embark on a tour of Western countries, according to sources close to the Future Movement. He seems to have has learned his lesson from his previous experience and will not accept taking on the heavy task of the Lebanese premiership without first ensuring international and Arab support. Observers believe that the catastrophic Beirut explosion has completely turned the Lebanese political context upside down, as everything seems to indicate the existence of an urgent international and Arab desire to have a new government in place in Lebanon as soon as possible in order to avoid the total collapse of the country, and also to buy more time in light of information talking about behind-the-scenes negotiations between regional and international powers for new major arrangements that extend beyond Lebanon.
Observers point out that Hariri remains the most realistic option for the premiership, given his reserves of popularity despite the many blows he has received over the past years, in addition to his being a non-confrontational figure at home, and most importantly, the good degree of confidence of the international community he still enjoys.
France is spearheading the international efforts to form the new Lebanese government. Not only it is currently trying very hard to reduce the disparities between the political forces in Lebanon, but also is moving on the Iranian front to convince Tehran to stay away from Lebanon, arguing that it was Iran’s interference in Lebanese affairs through its arm, Hezbollah, that was the main reason for the international community’s reluctance to support Lebanon in its economic crisis, now worsened by the blast in Beirut port.
Observers say that the French move cannot be read as being isolated from coordination with the US and even seems to be blessed by the Americans. They believe that the visit of the US Undersecretary of State David Hale to Beirut on Thursday comes in the context of these efforts, although this visit must not have been without bringing conditions that Hezbollah clearly needs to heed.
Clear warnings
On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, during which the former warned against continuing foreign interference in Lebanon’s affairs. According to a statement issued by the French presidency, Macron reminded his interlocutor of “the necessity for all concerned forces to avoid any escalation of tension as well as any external interference, and to support the formation of a government whose mission is to manage the emergency (crisis).”
This call was followed by another one to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which dealt with the Lebanese issue and the need to move to support efforts to form a government in this country, while working to distance it from regional conflicts.
It seemed that Macron’s goal in contacting Putin was to secure Moscow’s assistance in efforts to convince Tehran to spare Lebanon further shocks by curbing its interference in its internal affairs. Russian ambassador to Beirut Alexander Zaspki had previously stated that his country supports the formation of a national unity government headed by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, according to the usual criteria. Observers however believe that the success of all these efforts exerted to form a new government in Lebanon remains contingent on Hezbollah’s response, which now seems to be holding the fate of the country in its hands, either save it or cause its complete collapse. The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, acknowledged on Wednesday that there was unprecedented international pressure to form a new government in Lebanon. He, however, did not conceal his reservations about this step, as he prefers to proceed with early parliamentary elections in the hope of overturning the current balance of power in favour of his own political line. “There is a government in the process of being formed, and we are doing everything we can to make it an independent one, not like its predecessor,” Geagea said in a press conference. He also underscored that there was “tremendous international pressure that we have never felt before.”
When asked about the possibility of endorsing Hariri’s candidacy for the premiership, Geagea said “We are with a completely new government that is completely independent and completely neutral.” He pointed out that “after the resignation of the government, both the Future Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party were reluctant to submit their resignations from Parliament, leaving the Lebanese Forces alone as usual.” Geagea wished, “especially for the Phalanges Party, and I contacted Sheikh Samy Gemayel for that, that they back down on their resignations before submitting them to the Parliament, because we can influence (the course of events) from within the Parliament at this stage.”Last Monday, Geagea announced that a major development would be announced within hours, in reference to the collective resignations of the Lebanese Forces, the Future Movement and the Progressive Socialist from the House of Representatives in preparation for early parliamentary elections. However, this announcement remained pending after Hariri and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt backed out from taking that route.

Beirut’s call to action: Lebanon's young hit the streets to help city battered by explosion
Aya Iskandarani/The National/August 14/2020
Thousands of people have descended to clean the capital of debris and to provide food relief to those going hungry.
With a broomstick in one hand and a large bag of food in the other, Canadian-Lebanese student Jude Hamze heads out every afternoon to provide relief to the hungry and sweep debris from what was once the liveliest of Beirut’s neighbourhoods.
The 19-year-old is one of thousands of young Lebanese who volunteer daily in the wake of the blast that struck the Lebanese capital last week. The nation’s government, which stepped down on Monday, failed to deploy an adequate response to the crisis, leaving Beirut to rely on foreign aid and local volunteers. The devastation wrought by the explosion has triggered a civic call to action, with residents rushing to clean up the wreckage of their city.
“I saw photographs of Beirut on social media, and they scarred me,” Ms Hamze told The National. “This was not the Beirut I know. I wanted to fight for the city I love and bring it back to life.” On the day of the blast, she went down to the district of Mar Mikhael with her family and posted an Instagram story with their location. More friends began to arrive with brooms and food. “We spent six hours cleaning the streets,” she said.
Ms Hamze, who studies architecture in Paris, is due to leave later this month, to commence the new school year. “It saddens me to have to see this unfold from afar, helpless,” she said. “At the same time, I feel lucky to be able to have a good education abroad and maybe come back in the future to help more people.”
Like every summer, thousands of Lebanese expatriates and students studying abroad came back to Lebanon this year, despite coronavirus-related restrictions, only to witness the carnage of August 4.
A hangar containing 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate caught fire and exploded at 6.07pm, leaving at least 177 people dead and thousands injured. The chemical, used in the manufacture of fertilisers and explosives, was stored unsafely for six years after having been offloaded from a Russian-owned ship that had docked in Beirut, and needed repairs. High-level Lebanese officials, including President Michel Aoun, admitted to having known that its hazardous cargo had been stored at the port.
Yasmine Husseini, 19, donated blood to the wounded in the hours after the blast and has been volunteering every day since the incident. “It was my patriotic duty,” she said. The London-based law student said that volunteering is akin to collective therapy. “The only thing that can console you is seeing people help each other.”
Prior to the blast, the Lebanese-American had been studying for her exams, which take place in two weeks. She explained that she felt isolated and homesick when nationwide protests against sectarianism, corruption and dire living conditions spread across Lebanon last October. “I am so glad I was in Lebanon to help this time around. I am cleaning every day now, I cannot think about anything else,” she said.
An investigation into the cause of the blast was due to present its findings within five days. More than a week later, its results have yet to be published.
Lebanese people have taken to the streets since Saturday to demand that the political class step down and those responsible for the blast be prosecuted. Ms Husseini believes that protesting and volunteering are two sides of the same coin. “Even donating to charity is part of the fight against the political class. It means we do not trust the government to do its job,” she said.
She said her experience in London had opened her eyes about the extent to which Lebanese are stripped of basic rights. “Growing up, my parents used to laugh every time they heard the words ‘the government’. As a child, I used to think it was normal to pay for your education, and not have 24/7 access to electricity.”
Power and water cuts have been frequent in Lebanon since the end of its 15-year civil war in 1990. For the past couple of months, electricity blackouts have increased to at least 20 hours a day in Beirut.
Rasha Hamade, 19, also volunteered in Mar Mikhael and in the district of Karantina. “Strangers would walk up to me and say, ‘Thank you.’ They see the brooms and know we are here to help. Meanwhile, the municipality has been absent and the army has only been sent to repress protesters.”
The French-Lebanese film student has now gone back to Montreal.
Lebanon has a diaspora estimated at around 15 million people, more than double the size of its population. Sluggish economic growth and widespread corruption and nepotism have pushed young Lebanese to study and seek employment abroad for many years. Since September 2019, the nation has been battered by an unprecedented financial crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic and the blast have only exacerbated its problems.
Ms Hamade says she wants to help rebuild Beirut after her studies. “It’s part of being Lebanese. You don’t know if you will ever be able to live in your own country one day. But I still have unconditional love for Beirut,” she said.

Families of Beirut blast victims demand UN Security Council probe into ‘massacre’
Najia HoussariArab News/August 14/2020
BEIRUT: Families of the Beirut blast victims have demanded an international probe into the “massacre,” with an FBI team set to arrive in Lebanon on Sunday to join the investigation. At least 170 people were killed and thousands were wounded following the explosion of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate in a warehouse at the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4. It destroyed vast swathes of the capital, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless and stoking anger about authorities’ negligence and corruption.
Lebanon’s government under Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned earlier this week following days of demonstrations demanding accountability for the disaster.
Lawyer Nada Abdelsater said on behalf of the victims’ families: “The victims’ families do not trust the security and political system in Lebanon and believe it to be the suspect even if it was not the only one involved in this massacre.”
She said that the only legal way for an international investigation - and international prosecution - to take place was for the UN Security Council to send an investigative and fact-finding committee to Lebanon before the crime scene was further compromised. “After that, international prosecution takes place either by referring this crime against humanity to the International Criminal Court or by establishing a special court to look into this crime.”
She read out a demand signed by thousands of affected families. It was addressed to all UN Security Council member states and she said that copies had been sent through these countries’ ambassadors to Lebanon.
Foreign dignitaries continue to flock to Lebanon following the tragedy.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale met Lebanese officials on the second day of his visit to Beirut. He will meet political, spiritual, and civil society figures on Saturday. His trip coincides with that of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who arrived in Beirut on Thursday evening. But Zarif did not go to the areas devastated by the explosion, despite his visit being billed as an expression of solidarity with Lebanon during its time of need.
The first to visit Beirut after the explosion was from French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by Hale and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly. They were welcomed by the Lebanese, who requested their help to rescue Lebanon.
Zarif visited President Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Diab, and caretaker Foreign Affairs Minister Charbel Wehbe.
It was reported that Iran sent a field hospital to Lebanon. But it was placed on the campus of the Lebanese University in Hadath in the southern suburbs of Beirut, far from the site of the explosion and those directly affected by it.
According to the media office of Baabda Palace, Hale said at his meeting with Aoun that President Donald Trump's directives were that the US be present to help Lebanon. Hale said that his country would not intervene in Lebanon’s internal affairs, but that it would cooperate with Lebanese authorities, as well as friends and allies in the region, to help Lebanon and its people. He stressed that the Lebanese people must be listened to and their aspirations must be fulfilled.
He also highlighted the importance of achieving reforms in Lebanon and proceeding with the fight against corruption, as this path would open the door to funding from the Cedar (CEDRE) Conference and cooperation with the IMF “because this is what Lebanon needs now.”
Aoun told Hale that the investigation into the explosion would continue, and what was required was help in learning the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the ship that was carrying the deadly ammonium nitrate.
He welcomed the arrival of the FBI team and said a number of port officials were under investigation. He said that the first task of the new government was to achieve reforms, fight corruption and follow up on a crime audit decided by the Cabinet.
Parly, after her meeting with Aoun, said that France was and would remain by Lebanon’s side. She announced that Macron had ordered the opening of an air route between Lebanon and France to provide aid.
She also conveyed Macron’s message to Aoun and said that her country had provided much aid and would provide more, especially in terms of equipment that helped to remove rubble, complete relief work, and survey the damage.
She said that 750 French soldiers would participate in these tasks and “this is evidence of France’s standing with the Lebanese people.”
French experts were assisting in the ongoing investigation, she added, and this involvement was in conjunction with sending food and building equipment. “You can rely on France,” she said, emphasizing that Macron had pledged during his Beirut trip to put all of its resources at Lebanon’s disposal.
Parly hoped that there would soon be a new government in order to proceed with the reforms the international community deemed necessary. She said that Macron would return to Lebanon on Sept. 1 to complete the dialogue he had initiated with Lebanese officials and leaders, and to learn about repairs to devastated areas. But Zarif criticized the French initiative to facilitate the formation of a new Lebanese government. “Lebanon’s government and people are the only ones to decide on the government, and no one should exploit the circumstances to dictate to Lebanon what to do,” he said. “I believe it is not humane to take advantage of this tragic situation to dictate to Lebanon what to do.”

Despair and Anger in the City’s Skies
Elias Harfoush/Asharq Al Awsat/August 14/2020
Beirut does not deserve the disaster that hit it. At one point in time, the city used to sparkle; its fate was decided by politicians who knew its worth and the weight of the responsibility placed on their shoulders to protect the capital and the country.
No. Neither Beirut nor Lebanon were like this. Men in positions of leadership deserved to be there. They were not enticed by the positions they could attain by allying with anyone who held influence or carried arms. These men ran the Lebanese state, without their only “merit” being their role in a civil war that cost no less than 150,000 lives, injured and handicapped hundreds of thousands and destroyed cities and villages.
These "heroes" of the war share the blame for the situation Lebanon is in today. They wiped out the country during the war and continued this mission in peacetime. Their approach to governance is akin to that of leaders of gangs and militias, namely, sharing booty; they promote their beneficiaries and clients and heighten sectarian sentiments and tensions whenever a different approach gains steam. For their existence depends on exploiting these toxins that have made it impossible to establish a state in which citizens are equal and civil servants are promoted based on merit, not their loyalty to this or that leader.
The explosion at the port, despite its grave magnitude, is not the only calamity that has befallen Lebanon. The state has been running its affairs recklessly before this recklessness came to characterize political and military decisions and its foreign relations. Here, too, temptation and personal benefit played a role, and the party that runs Lebanon has turned into a tool in the hands of an armed force that operates outside of the state’s jurisdiction. Hezbollah’s power and the famous “understanding” between it and the ruling party have replaced the state’s constitution and laws.
The share of the blame for the explosion is not restricted to those directly responsible. It is an example of what goes on in all state agencies. It was caused by an accumulation of negligence and cronyism, bribes and middlemen, a complete absence of accountability and the paralysis of oversight bodies that have been stacked with loyal sycophants. The judiciary has also been paralyzed by politicians’ interference with its prerogatives. What could all of this have led to but the state's collapse, bankruptcy and inability to manage its affairs?
The explosion of tons of ammonium nitrate is thus a lethal declaration of the state's calamitous failure and negligence.
Ten days have gone by since the port disaster, and the so-called state in Lebanon is still searching for the official who let the huge amount of ammonium nitrate lay on hangars for seven years.
Hassan Diab's government had promised us, before it resigned, that we would know who was responsible within five days. Ten days after the disaster, no results - to convince the families of the victims that those responsible will be held accountable - have been announced.
No one knows who runs the state or how prerogatives and responsibilities are divided. The president, the commander in chief of the armed forces, the “strong president”, with his party, son-in-law and the ally who brought him to his position behind him, is warned about the chemical that “could blow-up the city” and does not find the time to do anything; “the hierarchy” prevents him from interfering with the port.
The hierarchy-adoring head of state had been tasked with presiding over a transitional government to prepare for presidential elections. He understood from this that he had been appointed president. He acted on this assumption and dissolved parliament. He ordered the army to bombard "hostile" areas. He ignited wars as he pleased. When his current allies drove him out of the Baabda Palace, he left defeated, looking for someone to provide him refuge.
President Michel Aoun is, of course, not the only one responsible for the disaster that struck Lebanon, killing nearly two hundred people, injuring thousands, destroying homes and displacing more than 300,000 residents. But he is the President of the Republic who vowed to preserve the country, protect its people and establish the rule of law. When a crime of this magnitude occurred, however, the president went looking for a scapegoat. He demanded tapes that show "the missiles that bombed the port" and then expressed reservations about an international investigation, based on the pretext that he wants "swift justice". Given all of this, Lebanese citizens are justified in asking about the purpose of wasting time with such absurd questions, while those responsible for the negligence, directly or indirectly, are known, and they knew the extent of the damage that could be caused by the material they buried, and they did nothing.
I say this because the persistent negligence and irresponsibility that characterize the so-called Lebanese state and those who run it makes the occurrence of disasters inevitable, if not in the port of Beirut, then in other public facilities. Of course, this time, the extent of the damage was immense because the explosion of the type of material that had been stored leads to disaster.
However, this neglect characterizes every ministry and institution. It is behind the financial collapse, a result of the absence of oversight over financial transactions and banking operations. It is behind the persistence of the electricity crisis though half of the public debt accumulated over the years was spent on it, while no one knows the justification for spending all this money on such poor provision. The same can be of other public services and infrastructural projects in a country whose service standards are now classified among the lowest of the low.
The country is now paying the price for its economic collapse and its isolation, caused by the persistent silence about Hezbollah’s role in the region’s crises on the part of the ruling elite and this role’s implications for Lebanon’s political and economic interests, while none of the beneficiaries of Hezbollah’s protection dare to speak out against the duality in national decision making, which has no parallels in any other independent country.
The explosion at the port has opened the door to a debate in Lebanon over how to solve the crisis and deal with its damages, and, most importantly, how to avoid another similar disaster. But it is those who are looking who created the current disasters. This means that the country is still turning in a vicious circle which will end where it had begun, namely, with the same officials returning to the same positions.
Put simply: in their presence, there is no hope for any solution.

Can Macron set Lebanon on a path to a brighter future?
Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri/Arab News/August 15/ 2020
Over the past week, many of us have been glued to television screens and social media sites as we followed the tragic events in Lebanon. What has happened is a genuine disaster for what was a beautiful country.
We saw the widespread destruction caused by the explosion in Beirut’s port area, accompanied by many analyses of what happened and speculation about whether it was deliberate or accidental, the result of internal or external forces, and who bears the ultimate responsibility.
It is not difficult for an experienced observer who is knowledgeable about Lebanese affairs to answer all these questions. Nor would such an observer be surprised by what has happened in the country.
The real problem for Lebanon is that it is not really a state; rather, it is an identity. Its name represents its people, and the true problem facing this small country is those who govern it from the shadows. It is not a question of who lives in the presidential palace or occupies the prime minister’s office.
After a 15-year civil war, Lebanon found nobody willing to help it other than its Arab brothers. We are all aware of the role played by Saudi Arabia in brokering the Taif Agreement, which ended some of the suffering. At the same time, however, international and regional powers took action that undermined the stability of the country. One of the most powerful was Iran. It pushed its sectarian agenda in full view of everyone, allowing it to spread on Lebanese soil and control the country.
Despite the control exerted by Tehran’s proxy — Hezbollah — in Lebanon, the Kingdom did not desert the Lebanese people, most of whom are opposed to this terrorist militia. By virtue of its position in the Arab world, the Kingdom provided support to Lebanon.
One of its most important, ambitious and brilliant projects to aid Lebanon was envisioned by former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. He would have guided Lebanon economically and played a very positive political role within the Arab world. Tehran, however, could not bear that or allow it to happen, nor could its proxy or the Syrians at the time. Hariri was assassinated in 2005, with Iran and its loyalists openly declaring that no one else would be permitted to have influence in Lebanon.
In addition to signaling the end of a dream of statehood, his murder also marked the start of the establishment of a revolutionary militia. Its actions in all aspects of the state led to the Lebanese people taking to the streets after the assassination of Hariri to protest against Syria, in an attempt to limit its influence in Lebanon at that time.
The militia, nonetheless, succeeded in establishing control over Lebanon. Since then, the country has lost its state and its identity, and the militia has been influential in domestic and international political decisions. It also controls the entrances and exits to Lebanon, whether by air, sea or land. Not just that, the Lebanese security forces and the army have no right to know what the terrorist militia is doing.
As a result of all these problems, Lebanon has endured many economic and political crises. There have been internal and external disputes, and even interventions by the terrorist militia in the affairs of other countries of the Gulf and Arab regions. The militia has the support of other terrorist organizations.
The militia also interfered in the Syrian crisis to prove that it is ready to fight and defend itself, on behalf of Iran, inside and outside of Lebanon, and by doing so ensured that Lebanon remains in turmoil and cannot become a proper state.
What is new, and what might change the equation to transform Lebanon from a sectarian Iranian puppet to a genuine state, is the visit by French President Emmanuel Macron shortly after the Beirut explosion. He was welcomed by the Lebanese people he met, and his visit is evidence of France’s warm feelings about Lebanon and the strength of its influence in the country.
Macron also met Lebanese officials and told them he will return within a month to see if there have been any meaningful reforms. In addition, he spoke to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. These are all good signs that point in the right direction.
There is no point naming a new prime minister without tackling the root of the problem — which is Hezbollah. The important thing now is not the return of well-known names; if Rafik Hariri himself returned, nothing would change and he would again be assassinated. The solution is to dismantle the militia and for it to hand over its weapons: Nothing else.
Tehran is responsible for the devastation and destruction in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. The solution is to curb the disruptive activities of Iran, dismantle its terrorist militias and renew the UN arms embargo.
The Beirut explosion has delayed the announcement of the results of an official investigation into Hariri’s death. This simply gives Iran and its militia more time to negotiate and seek advantageous compromises. All eyes are on France and Macron. Will he choose Lebanon, the state, or Iran’s sectarian militia? Lebanon and its people, as well as the wider region, will no longer tolerate the status quo.
Along with Yemen, Syria and Iraq, Lebanon represents one of the four models in our Arab countries. Without deliverance from the terrorist militias affiliated with Iran that operate within their borders, they will never be real states and will have no stability and no democracy.
Tehran is responsible for the devastation and destruction in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, where the atrocities are constant and numerous. The solution to the region’s problems is to curb the disruptive activities of Iran, dismantle its terrorist militias and renew the UN arms embargo.
*Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri is a political analyst and international relations scholar. Twitter: @DrHamsheri

What’s next after the resignation of Lebanon’s government?
Samar Kadi/The Arab Weekly/August 14/2020
BEIRUT--It took six days for the government of Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab to acknowledge defeat and step down following the August 4 seismic blast that shattered Beirut and sent angry crowds back to the streets to demand regime change and the departure of a ruling class accused of corruption and incompetence. The move followed days of violent anti-government protests over the explosion of some 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored insecurely at Beirut port since 2014. At least 160 people were killed, 6,000 injured and part of the city and the port pulverised.
Political analysts agree that despite attempts to float it by its staunchest supporters, including the powerful Hezbollah movement and its allies, the Shia Amal Movement of Speaker Nabih Berri and President Michel Aoun’s Christian Free Patriotic Movement, the government could not survive the catastrophe.
“The explosion has blown off the cabinet and thrown it in the sea. It should have resigned from the very first day,” said analyst Amin Kammourieh. “Diab’s government may not be held solely responsible for what happened but it definitely had a part in it because it was created to carry out the mission of enacting reforms and fighting corruption in which it failed drastically. “Diab’s biggest mistake was to accept to head a government controlled by the parties which are accused of corruption,” Kammourieh contended.
Painful slap
In his resignation speech, Diab blamed corrupt politicians who preceded him for the “earthquake” that hit Lebanon, saying decades of entrenched corruption is “bigger than the state.”Hezbollah suffered a painful blow with the departure of the puppet government it dominated. The move risks opening the way to dragged-out negotiations over a new cabinet amid urgent calls for reform. “The first impression is that the formation of a new government is very complicated and out of reach at least for the moment. But international pressure led by France is mounting and internal turmoil is building up and turning violent. This should normally speed up the Cabinet formation,” said political analyst Johnny Mounayar. Names of potential candidates for the premiership are being circulated, including Nawaf Salam, a sitting judge at the International Court of Justice, and Mohamed Baasiri, the former deputy governor of the Central Bank. Both have been rejected by Hezbollah as pro-American. A return to power of former premier Saad Hariri is also unlikely. Hariri, who resigned last year following anti-government protests known as the “October 17 revolt,” has set a number of conditions that are unlikely to be accepted by his political rivals. They include forming an independent government of non-politically affiliated technocrats with exceptional powers to introduce the aspired reforms. What was possible before August 4 is no longer enough, according to analysts who stressed the urgent need for a government that can deliver on the economy and reforms, including in the energy, social services, public administration and judicial sectors. “I don’t think the political class has the option of procrastinating in the formation of a new Cabinet. There are big international pressures and the country is no longer viable. Its two strongest economic pillars, the banking sector and trade through Beirut port have been shattered destroyed,” Kammourieh said.
“A government of technocrats could be an option but this time it would have unanimous political cover locally in addition to international support to carry out badly-needed reforms, unlike Diab’s government which was one-sided and isolated internationally,” he added.
World leaders, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, have pledged to provide emergency assistance to Lebanon after the port explosion devastated much of Beirut, causing billions of dollars of damage. But they have insisted there needs to be urgent reforms before they commit further financial aid to help stabilise the economy. The roots of Lebanon’s political malaise date to the end of its 15-year civil war in 1990 and the decision to share power through sectarian quotas. Critics say this has created an entrenched political class of corrupt warlords or “chiefs” who divide power and influence between themselves along sectarian lines. The pressure from the street — and from Macron, who visited Beirut last week after the blast — could push the political factions to put aside their differences and form a unity government. Meanwhile, public fury continues to spill out into the streets as thousands of people, some erecting scaffolds to hang effigies of their leaders, are calling for regime change and an international probe into the blast. About 20 people have been detained after the blast, including the head of Lebanon’s customs department and his predecessor, as well as the head of the port. Dozens of people have been questioned, including two former cabinet ministers, according to government officials..

Lebanon will never get well as long as Hezbollah is strangling it
Dr. John C. Hulsman/Arab News/August 14/2020
Since Beirut’s highly unexpected tragedy of Aug. 4 — when a monumental explosion facilitated by ammonium nitrate devastated its port and left 300,000 people homeless in one of the worst industrial accidents on record — everything has returned to normal, or at least what passes as routine in highly dysfunctional Lebanon.
On Monday, the country’s hapless and inept government fell, as outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab forthrightly allowed that the blast was ultimately caused by endemic corruption. Surprisingly, he went on to say, “corruption is rooted in every part of the state… I find that corruption is greater than the state,” and “the political class is using all their dirty tricks to prevent real change.” Hearteningly, international donors quickly pledged an impressive $300 million in humanitarian aid, though the costs of the disaster are estimated to amount to a gargantuan $15 billion. So isn’t this a rare and heartening example of government accountability, perhaps even the beginning of a brighter new chapter for this tragic country?
Well, hardly, as we have to look beneath the surface at the Kafka novel that is Lebanon as a failed state. First, the old discredited government is staying on in a caretaker capacity, meaning little change is likely to occur in the short term. Second, there is absolutely no indication that the new government will be populated by anyone other than the old discredited players in the outgoing government and the entrenched shadowy power brokers that sustain them. Rather, it is highly probable the old corrupt elite will continue to siphon off much of the country’s wealth for itself, providing next to nothing in return in terms of public services in a place where blackouts are endemic and the tap water is not safe to drink.
In fact, the old guard is already rallying round its exorbitant privileges. When asked if international calls for an investigation as to the precise causes of the blast was a good idea, Lebanese President Michel Aoun predictably (and illogically) said such an impartial effort would “dilute the truth.” The only “truth” such a statement reveals is that the country’s jaded elite is not very keen on being held accountable for its actions. Everyone alive knows this. In fact, it is telling that the international community’s $300 million in aid will be distributed through nongovernmental organizations, rather than swallowed up by the black hole that is the Lebanese government.
But beyond even all these daunting obstacles to making Lebanon well, one future mountainous problem stands out: The unbridled and pernicious influence of Hezbollah on the Lebanese state. For whatever comes next, unless Hezbollah is defanged, the country simply cannot be put back together, as the militia retains a pivotal voice.
Emerging from the brutal Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990, Hezbollah defied the 1989 Taif Agreement that finally put an end to the bloody conflict. Unlike the rest of the mosaic of militias that thrived during the carnage, Hezbollah alone ignored the accord’s terms, refusing to disband. The original sin of all that has followed comes from this, as retaining the hard men with guns has given Hezbollah disproportionate power in Lebanon, making it almost a state within a state.
Forging a strange alliance of expediency with the Maronite Christian faction of Aoun, their joint concord is the dominant force in the outgoing, corrupt, and discredited government. The alliance together controls 76 of 128 seats in parliament and runs 18 of the country’s 30 ministries. Indeed, the port of Lebanon itself, the epicenter of the blast, is an area under the militia’s direct control and a major source of its patronage. Suddenly, Aoun’s aversion to an international inquiry into the causes of the blast begins to make sense.
At base, the structural problem is that Hezbollah sees its interests in terms of what is best for itself and its financier, Iran, rather than what is best for the Lebanese people.
Retaining the hard men with guns has given Hezbollah disproportionate power in Lebanon.
The best example of this is Hezbollah’s 2013 intervention in the Syrian Civil War. While such a decisive initiative furthered the goals of both the bloody Assad regime (to which Hezbollah has traditionally been close) and Iran, the intervention amounted to a predictable disaster for the Lebanese state itself. The heightened conflict led to 1.5 million refugees spilling over Lebanon’s border — an economic burden the country could ill afford. Further, sanctions put into place by several of the Gulf states hit Lebanon’s rocky economy hard, drying up the river of remittances that traditionally kept the country going.
The inconvenient truth is that Hezbollah has both the muscle and the political power to veto any real efforts at fundamental reform of the failed Lebanese state. No such program stands the least chance of success until Hezbollah’s grasp around Lebanon’s neck has been broken. So while, on its surface, the past week’s fall of the Lebanese government seems heartening, this closer political risk look at how the country actually works makes it crystal clear that, at least so far, all this political movement actually amounts to much ado about nothing.
*Dr. John C. Hulsman is the president and managing partner of John C. Hulsman Enterprises, a prominent global political risk consulting firm. He is also senior columnist for City AM, the newspaper of the City of London. He can be contacted via www.chartwellspeakers.com.

Question: "Is God / the Bible sexist?"
GotQuestions.org/August 14/2020
Answer: Sexism is one gender, usually male, having dominance over the other gender, usually female. The Bible contains many references to women that, to our modern mindset, sound discriminatory towards women. But we have to remember that when the Bible describes an action, it does not necessarily mean that the Bible endorses that action. The Bible describes men treating women as little more than property, but that does not mean God approves of that action. The Bible is far more focused on reforming our souls than our societies. God knows that a changed heart will result in a changed behavior.
During Old Testament times, virtually every culture in the entire world was patriarchal in structure. That status of history is very clear—not only in Scripture but also in the rules that governed most societies. By modern value systems and worldly human viewpoint, that is called “sexist.” God ordained the order in society, not man, and He is the author of the establishment principles of authority. However, like everything else, fallen man has corrupted this order. That has resulted in the inequality of the standing of men and women throughout history. The exclusion and the discrimination that we find in our world is nothing new. It is the result of the fall of man and the introduction of sin. Therefore, we can rightly say that the term and the practice of “sexism” is a result of sin. The progressive revelation of the Bible leads us to the cure for sexism and indeed all the sinful practices of the human race.
To find and maintain a spiritual balance between the God-ordained positions of authority, we must look to Scripture. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old, and in it we find principles that tell us the correct line of authority and the cure for sin, the ill of all humanity, and that includes discrimination based upon gender.
The cross of Christ is the great equalizer. John 3:16 says, “Whoever believes,” and that is an all-inclusive statement that leaves no one out on the basis of position in society, mental capacity, or gender. We also find a passage in Galatians that speaks of our equal opportunity for salvation. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28). There is no sexism at the cross.
The Bible is not sexist in its accurate portrayal of the results of sin in both men and women. The Bible records all kinds of sin: slavery and bondage and the failures of its greatest heroes. Yet it also gives us the answer and the cure for those sins against God and His established order—a right relationship with God. The Old Testament was looking forward to the supreme sacrifice, and each time a sacrifice for sin was made, it was teaching the need for reconciliation to God. In the New Testament, the “Lamb that takes away the sin of the world” (see John 1:29) was born, died, was buried and rose again, and then ascended to His place in heaven, and there He intercedes for us. It is through belief in Him that the cure for sin is found, and that includes the sin of sexism.
The charge of sexism in the Bible is based upon a lack of knowledge of Scripture. When men and women of all ages have taken their God-ordained places and lived according to “thus says the LORD,” then there is a wonderful balance between the genders. That balance is what God began with, and it is what He will end with. There is an inordinate amount of attention paid to the various products of sin and not to the root of it. It is only when there is personal reconciliation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ that we find true equality. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
It is also very important to understand that the Bible’s ascribing different roles to men and women does not constitute sexism. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God expects men to take the leadership role in the church and the home. Does this make women inferior? Absolutely not. Does this mean women are less intelligent, less capable, or viewed as less in God’s eyes? Absolutely not! What it means is that in our sin-stained world, there has to be structure and authority. God has instituted the roles of authority for our good. Sexism is the abuse of these roles, not the existence of these roles.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on August 14-15/2020

UAE, Israel Agree to Normalize Diplomatic Ties
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state. US President Donald Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal. mA joint statement from the US, the UAE and Israel was issued immediately after Trump's tweet. It said delegations would meet in the coming weeks to sign deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and health care. The two countries also will partner on fighting the coronavirus pandemic. “Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East's most dynamic societies and advanced economics will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation and forging closer people-to-people relations,” said the statement by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "During a call with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories. The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship," Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed said on Twitter. UAE’s Ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba, said Thursday’s “announcement is a significant advance for the region and for diplomacy.”He said “it immediately stops annexation and the potential of violent escalation. It maintains the viability of a two-state solution as endorsed by the Arab League and international community.” He added that “it creates new dynamics and possibilities in the peace process” and bolsters Jordan’s stability.
 

Netanyahu Thanks Egypt, Oman, Bahrain for their 'Support' of UAE Deal
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday thanked the leaders of Egypt, Oman and Bahrain for their "support" of the agreement to normalize ties with the UAE. Under the accord, which US President Donald Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu thanked Arab supporters of the normalization. "I thank Egyptian President Sisi, and the governments of Oman and Bahrain, for their support of the historic peace treaty between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which is expanding the circle of peace and will be good for the entire region," Netanyahu tweeted. Israel has two official peace treaties with Arab states -- Egypt, since 1979, and Jordan, signed in 1994. In a brief statement, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi praised the agreement, saying it was a step forward towards achieving peace in the Middle East. Jordan did not reject or welcome the agreement, saying its future depends on what Israel does towards achieving “just peace” and “ending the occupation.” Bahrain congratulated the UAE on the agreement, saying this “historic” step will help boost regional security and stability.

Canada welcomes bilateral agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates
August 13, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:
“Canada welcomes the announcement made today by Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States that Israel and the UAE will begin normalizing relations. We see this as a historic and positive step toward peace and security in the region.
“We are also pleased that the Israeli government has announced its decision to suspend the annexation of parts of the West Bank. As a friend and ally of Israel and a friend to the Palestinian people, Canada remains strongly committed to a two-state solution, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel, and a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
“Canada will continue to work toward facilitating peace in the Middle East and upholding the rules-based international order.”

EU Welcomes Israel-UAE Relations Deal as Good for Regional Stability
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The EU's executive on Friday welcome the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic ties, saying it would benefit both countries and help promote stability in the Middle East. "It is important for both (countries) and for regional stability," a European Commission spokeswoman told a news briefing. "Both countries are our partners and of course ... we are committed to a two-state solution and we are of course ready to work on a resumption of the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians."Under the accord, which US President Donald Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank.

Gargash Says Positive Reactions to Israel Deal Are Encouraging
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
United Arab Emirate's minister of state for foreign affairs on Friday described as "encouraging" the reactions from main global capitals to its agreement with Israel. The deal dealt with the threat of further annexation of Palestinian territories, which had undermined chances of a two-state solution, Anwar Gargash said in a tweet. US President Donald Trump helped broker the deal to normalize bilateral diplomatic ties. Gargash on Thursday urged the Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu Defends Deal with UAE
Tel Aviv - Nazir Magally/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the deal with the UAE on the normalization of relations as “historic.”The agreement, under which Israel pledged to suspend annexation of Palestinian lands, was welcomed by the left-wing and center parties but not the far-right. Yamina leader Naftali Bennett, a hard-line right-winger, welcomed ties with the UAE but said that Netanyahu has sold the settlements for this achievement. Further, Yesha Council chairman Dani Dayan stated that Netanyahu has lost the premiership now that he is seen as a promise-breaker and a traitor. However, Netanyahu rejected the assertion that normalization with the UAE would be carried out in exchange for Israel giving up on annexation, stressing that there is “no change in my plans for annexation, with full coordination with the US.”He also said that he is still fully committed to his election promises of implementing Israeli sovereignty on Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The PM added that he believes other Arab and Islamic countries would soon follow the example of the UAE, and that ties with it will be comprehensive. Soon, direct flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi will be launched, he said. A joint statement from the US, the UAE and Israel said delegations would meet in the coming weeks to sign deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and health care.

Berlin: Israel-UAE Deal 'Important Contribution to Peace'
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Germany on Friday welcomed a "historic" deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates in which Israel pledged to suspend annexation of Palestinian lands. The normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE "is an important contribution to peace in the region," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement. Maas, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said he had congratulated his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi by phone on "this historic step.""We hope that this agreement will be the starting point for further positive developments in the region and that it will give fresh momentum to the Middle East peace process," he added.

Oman Supports UAE Decision to Normalize Ties with Israel
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The Sultanate of Oman said on Friday it supported the United Arab Emirate's decision to normalize ties with Israel, adding it hoped the accord would contribute to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in the Middle East. The statement by a foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency ONA, called the UAE-Israel agreement "historic.”Bahrain, another Gulf state, welcomed on Thursday the accord which stops Israeli annexation plans and raises the chances of peace, state news agency BNA said. Bahrain praised the United States for its efforts towards securing the deal.

International Community Welcomes UAE-Israel Agreement
London - Ramallah - Asharq Al-Awsat and Kifah Zboun/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The announcement of an agreement on the full normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel has been welcomed by the international community as an opportunity to consolidate the peace process in the Middle East. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes "any initiative that can promote peace and security in the Middle East region," Reuters quoted a UN spokesman as saying on Thursday. US President Donald Trump’s presumptive Democratic challenger for the presidency Joe Biden welcomed the "historic" agreement and called the UAE's move a "badly-needed act of statesmanship".In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the deal, saying on Twitter that "the UAE and Israel’s decision to normalize relations is hugely good news.”"It was my profound hope that annexation did not go ahead in the West Bank and today’s agreement to suspend those plans is a welcome step on the road to a more peaceful Middle East."Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was among the first in the Arab world to react to the agreement that includes an Israeli agreement to halt further annexation of Palestinian lands. "I followed with interest and appreciation the joint statement between the United States, United Arab Emirates and Israel to halt the Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands and taking steps to bring peace in the Middle East," Sisi said on Twitter. "I value the efforts of those in charge of the deal to achieve prosperity and stability for our region." But the Palestinian leadership denounced the accord, calling for an emergency meeting for the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to reject it. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the deal an "aggression" against the Palestinian people and a "betrayal" of their cause, including their claim to Jerusalem as a capital of their future state. Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian negotiator and member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, also condemned the deal. Hamas movement, which runs the coastal Gaza Strip, quickly said the agreement "does not serve the Palestinian cause".The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, also called it "shameful".

‘Friends of Sudan Group’ Backs Transitional Phase
Riyadh - Abdulhadi Habtor/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The Friends of Sudan Group has expressed full political support to Khartoum in its transitional phase. During the 8th Meeting of the Friends of Sudan, chaired by Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah stated that there is a historic opportunity to attain security, justice, and sustainable peace in Sudan. “We are well aware that the road to sustainable peace, development, and prosperity in Sudan is fraught with challenges. However, it is the only way to ensure a bright future for Sudan,” he said. He stressed “the importance of respecting the sovereignty of Sudan and the independence of its decisions in addressing the root causes of the conflict in order to reach comprehensive peace and strengthen its national unity and regional security.” He further welcomed the partners for peace at the conference. “I would like to emphasize the importance of taking advantage of this historic opportunity to realize sustainable peace, security, and justice in Sudan and give priority to national interests above all disagreements and conflicts.”The minister affirmed that the success of the peace process is directly linked to economic reform and sustainable development. As such, “the Kingdom appreciates the efforts of the transitional government in addressing the economic challenges exasperated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”He also stressed the importance of the continued support of all partners to the government in order to enable efficient and timely implementation of economic reform, as well as initiating debt relief through the World Bank and IMF.He expressed appreciation for the United States for its efforts to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, as it is crucial to the success of the economic reform. “Supporting Sudan, at this juncture, is an important investment to the maintenance of peace and security in the region and the world. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will exert all efforts possible to enable Sudan to resume its rightful place at the forefront of the Arab world and as a productive member of the African region and international community,” the minister added. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok stressed at the meeting that the government’s priorities are to settle peace and build a strong economy. The Sudanese PM expressed appreciation for efforts to remove Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, adding that these steps have proven to be successful. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash reiterated that his country supports Sudan in this transitional phase as well as all efforts that serve security, stability and prosperity.

Saudi Health Ministry Conducts 4 Million COVID-19 Lab Tests
Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
The Saudi Ministry of Health said it had conducted more than four million laboratory tests for COVID-19 using advanced testing technologies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing method. Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries in the world to provide laboratory testing for the virus, as it has prepared and equipped the national laboratory at the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control for Covid-19 tests, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The Health Ministry has also launched more than 50 specialized laboratories and units throughout the Kingdom, which contributed to bringing a quantum leap and advanced services, represented in obtaining test results in a record period. It indicated that since the outbreak of the virus in Saudi Arabia, almost 1,000 examinations were conducted every day - it now stands at 67,000 tests.
The Health Ministry continues to intensify laboratory tests through several effective measures that contributed to the early detection of virus cases. These measures included the implementation of the expanded testing, which focused on conducting testing by field teams from the Ministry, which resulted in detecting more infections, contributing to better containment of the virus. According to SPA, the Health Ministry has implemented the 2nd stage of its expanded COVID-19 testing that aims to assess the general spread of the virus in Saudi Arabia. It also launched the initiative of the (Tetamman) serving individuals who show COVID-19 symptoms.The Ministry also launched the 3rd stage of Make Sure (Taakkad) initiative centers across the Kingdom cities, as a part of the expanded screening to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19.
 

Arab States, France Condemn Turkish Attacks on Iraqi Territory
Baghdad- Fadhel al-NashmiAsharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Iraq received on Thursday Arab and French support one day after the killing of Iraqi border guards by Turkish airstrikes. France condemned the Turkish bombing of the Iraqi border guards in the "SedaKan" area in the Kurdistan region, confirming its keenness on fully respecting the sovereignty of Iraq.
"France condemns this dangerous development (the Turkish bombing of the Iraqi borders) and calls for the truth to be revealed," said the French Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Anies von der Molle, in a press release. Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Muhammed Hussein and he offered his condolences and sympathy for the Iraqi military martyrs. In this context, the two ministers affirmed their rejection of such violations against the security and stability of Arab countries. Hussein had also contacted the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and his counterparts, Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian Foreign Minister and the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah. A statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said those contacts were made to inform the Arab brothers about details of the attack, to emphasize the importance of concerted Arab efforts facing these dangerous developments in the security situation with neighboring Turkey, to come up with a unified position that keeps Turkey from repeating such violations, and to withdraw their invading forces from Iraqi territory. “The brothers affirmed their countries' full support for the security and sovereignty of Iraq, and condemned the Turkish attacks, calling for the immediate cessation of any Turkish military operations on Iraqi lands,” the statement said.
For its part, Ankara said Thursday it "will take the necessary measures to protect the security of its borders, in the event that Iraq continues to ignore the presence of the terrorist PKK members on its territory." A spokesman for the Joint Operations, Tahsin Al-Khafaji, described the recent Turkish attack on Sedkan in the Kurdistan region as a dangerous encroachment and escalation by the Turkish side, indicating that “it was carried out individually without informing Iraq despite the existence of several channels and contacts that link us with them both in past and even in the present. "Khafaji told the Iraqi news agency NINA that what happened is a "sinful attack on our national sovereignty, and a dangerous escalation by the Turkish side, which claims to pursue the PKK fighters." On Wednesday, head of the Iraqi-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Zafer Al-Ani, affirmed, "Ankara's persistence in the aggression will make it lose all its friends and it must solve its problems far from Iraq."He called on the government to pursue all possible political means to preserve the sovereignty of Iraq and the lives of its citizens. "From the position of my responsibility as head of the Iraqi-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee, I reiterate that Ankara's persistence in attacking Iraq will make it lose all its friends and no one will be able to justify its violations or turn a blind eye, as long as the matter concerns the sovereignty of Iraq and respect for its borders,” he said.

Proposal of Tunisia ‘Government of Competencies’ Turned down by Key Parties
Tunis - Mongi Saidani/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Tunisia's Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi continued on Thursday his political consultations to form a new government, but failed to reach any progress with blocs representing key parties in the parliament. These parties, which emerged victorious in the last parliamentary elections, are insisting on the formation of a political government that takes into account the results of the 2019 polls. Parliament Speaker and head of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, Rached Ghannouchi is a main supporter of the proposal. However, smaller parties back the formation of an independent government of competencies, which observers say will allow them to participate in the government coalition. Other parties, such as the Heart of Tunisia, People's Movement and Democratic Current, will be harmed by such a government seeing as they were elected to rule and implement their electoral programs. They therefore, view a government of competencies as a “clear coup” against the electoral results and one that is loyal to President Kais Saied. The Free Destourian Party and National Reform, each boasting 16 MPs, National Bloc, with 11 MPs, and Tahya Tounes, with 14 MPs, endorse an independent government. On the other side of the divide, are the Ennahda (54 MPs), Democratic Current (38 MPs), Heart of Tunisia (27 MPs) and Dignity Coalition (19 MPs), who reject a government of competencies. They represent the majority at parliament and can reject Mechichi’s government lineup when it is presented to a vote at the legislature.
As part of his consultations on Thursday, the PM-designate met with heads of organizations and associations, as well as President of the Supreme Judicial Council Youssef Bouzakher, Chairman of the Bar of Association Ibrahim Bouderbala, President of the Association of Tunisian Judges Anas Hamadi, and General Secretary of the Union of Tunisian Judges Amira al-Amri. Bouderbala said the political class must reach consensus over the nation’s common interest. He said the “delicate” situation demands that everyone agree on a number of common goals to “save Tunisia.”Former PM and head of Tahya Tounes, Youssef Chahed urged parties to parties to accept the formation of a government that excludes them. He predicted that they will reach an agreement over a cabinet lineup proposed by Mechichi.

Kushner: 'Abraham Accord' in Discussion for Over a Year and a Half
Washington- Hiba Al-Qudsi/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said on Thursday that the peace deal between Israel and the UAE, called the Abraham Accord, is something that’s been in discussions now for over a year and a half. In a press briefing held Thursday in Washington and attended by Asharq Al-Awsat, Kushner predicted a "very good chance" of Israel and another Arab country announcing a peace deal within the next three months. He described the Israeli-UAE deal as "an icebreaker between these two countries" and said that what "we'll hopefully see from there is more countries start to do the same." According to Trump’s son-in-law, the Accord came following extensive diplomatic efforts that resumed following the 2017 Riyadh summit, when US President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arab and laid out the problems that were facing the region and then, and after last year’s Manama summit which worked on encouraging economic relations between Israel and the Arab world. Kushner said President Trump was able to get Israel to agree to have a two-state solution with the Palestinians and, for the first time in history, to agree to a map that outlined the territory that they would be willing to work with in order to see that happen. “That showed a lot of people in the region that Israel was serious about really moving forward and making peace and also showed them that President Trump’s leadership and diplomacy could make things happen that hadn’t happened previously,” the advisor said. He said over the last six weeks, the discussions between UAE and Israel started accelerating around this being a potential different path. “A lot of people in the region are seeing that we can’t wait for the Palestinian leadership to try and resolve this. Every country is going to do what’s in their best interests, what’s in the region’s best interests,” Kushner said.
The advisor did not determine the time needed for the two countries to start signing agreements at the investment and security levels or to establish embassies and resume direct flights. When asked how long did Israel agree to suspend its annexation plan on the West Bank, Kushner said, “The suspension will last — it’s going to take a while for these agreements to get fully enforced and to go. And I think that right now the focus that Israel is going to be applying is towards building this relationship.”For his part, National security adviser Robert O'Brien said it wouldn’t surprise him if Trump is eventually nominated for a Nobel Prize for the peace deal. “Today’s work is an example of why he would be rightly considered and should be a frontrunner for the Nobel Peace Prize,” he said. The advisor spoke about tourism between Israel and the UAE. “Israel is a great land for tourism. That’ll expand trade between the UAE and Israel, which both have incredible economies,” O’Brien said. The UAE is now only the third Arab nation to have full diplomatic ties with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.

LNA Accuses Qatar of Sending Terrorists to Libya
Cairo – Khaled Mahmoud/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 14 August, 2020
Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari revealed that Qatar was supporting and financing the transport of terrorists from the Horn of Africa to Libya. He said on Thursday that 300 “takfiri extremists” had recently arrived from Somalia to Misrata where they will come under the command or Qatari officers. Turkey is still also sending terrorists to Libya, he added. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was “emptying terrorists from a number of countries” and sending them to Libya before possibly sending them to Europe. “Erdogan is sending equipment to the western region (in Libya) to boost his presence before the international community and impose a new status quo,” he explained. He said Erdogan has transformed the al-Watiya airbase into an operations and military supplies center, whereby it is receiving huge cargo planes, loaded with gear and transporting terrorists, from Turkey on a daily basis. The Muslim Brotherhood and terrorists are fighting for Turkey and Qatar, who in turn are fighting for other forces in order to destroy the Arab region, charged Mismari. Thousands of terrorists from 60 countries are now in Libya, he revealed, urging the United Nations mission to uncover who is sending them to fight in the country. Meanwhile, Turkey continued its political and military provocations in Libya and the Mediterranean after its warships and aircraft were seen at Khoms port that is controlled by the Ankara-backed Government of National Accord. Photos circulated by the pro-LNA Libyan News Agency showed two Turkish frigates at the port, which lies some 120 kilometers east of Tripoli. A Turkish helicopter was also seen overhead.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on August 14-15/2020

The Israel-United Arab Emirates Deal and the End of Iranian Marauding, Kudos
Charles Elias Chartouni/August 14/2020
الأتفاق بين الإمارات العربية ودولة إسرائيل ونهاية كذبة شعارات قدسية إيران التحريرية
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/89488/charles-elias-chartoun-the-israel-united-arab-emirates-deal-and-the-end-of-iranian-marauding-kudos-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%a8%d9%8a%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%b1/

The Trump administration has literally inflected the regional political dynamics by brokering a peace treaty between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
It’s a major breakthrough that tendentially reshuffles the regional strategic and political landscape, reorders its political priorities and boosts the chances of re-election of President Trump.
The diplomatic feat of the US administration is logging successful achievements on multiple fronts:
1/ the reordering of the Palestinian-Israeli dynamics away from the stalemated settlements expansion vs Palestinian stonewalling,
2/ the containment of the Iranian subversion strategy,
3/ the creation of a virtuous regional dynamic based on economic and technological cooperation, which altogether translate into a new political cycle destined to bury the one of endless and convoluted conflicts, ideological radicalism and waste of human and economic resources on destructive and self perpetuating conflicts.
This diplomatic breakthrough should bring the Palestinian authority back to the negotiating table, to oversee a consensual solution based on the Two States template and its legacy of international resolutions and summits which addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its ramifications and mythologies;
put an end to the instrumentalisation of this protracted social conflict by the competing Islamic and Arab power politics;
and invite the Palestinians to extract themselves from the vicious cycle of alternating dependencies and subservience to Arab, Muslim and international power politics, and build a leverage of their own based on independent Statehood, institution building, developmental priorities and the creation of an integrated economic and labor space between the Palestinian authority, Jordan and Israel;
the creation of region-wide political alliance to contain and sway the destructive inroads of Iranian and Turkish Islamic imperialisms, and set the course for negotiated political settlements in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Lybia.
This diplomatic feat should serve as the entry gate to a comprehensive regional peace plan, whereby the reconstruction of State matrices and inter-State political order, the negotiated settlements of Arab civil wars, the open-ended confrontation with the marauding Iranian and Turkish imperialisms, and the support of civil societies and political oppositions reformist agendas, should set the terms of a new political dynamic in the whole Middle East.
Islamisms and their mental configuration of obscurantism, resentment and hate politics, and political authoritarianism have built their fortunes in this region, and projected their hazards unto the rest of the world, on the very basis of a failed modernity, schizophrenic and psychotic worldviews, and destructive relationships within its societies and with the rest of the word. It’s about time to bury this destructive heritage, and engage the future with new paradigms and operational templates.
The Israel-United Arab Emirates deal will be felt throughout the region.

Covid Spread Can’t Only Be Explained by Who’s Being ‘Bad’
Faye Flam/Tara Lachapelle/Bloomberg/August,14/2020
There are some weird things going on in the coronavirus data. It’s curious that cases dropped so fast, and have stayed pretty low, in the spring hot zones — New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. And why did cases remain so low in Idaho and Hawaii until recently?
The mainstream narrative is that it’s all about good behavior when cases go down — mask wearing and giving up our social lives for the greater good. And conversely, bad behavior must be what makes them go up. We talk about certain regions having the virus “under control,” as if falling cases are purely a matter of will-power. A sort of moral reasoning is filling in for evidence. But why, then, have cases plummeted in Sweden, where mask wearing is a rarity? This is the time to use scientific methods to understand what’s happening. The pandemic has gone on long enough to reveal patterns in the way it spreads. If it’s all about behavior, that’s a testable hypothesis. If, as a few speculate, dramatic drops in some places have something to do with growing immunity in the population, we can also turn that into a testable hypothesis.
“The issue with data is one can manipulate it to show anything you want if you have an agenda,” says YouYang Gu, an independent data scientist. Cherry picking is easy — prediction is much harder, and Gu is getting some attention for the fact that models he’s been creating since April actually forecast what’s happened with the spread of the disease in the US.
He recently took to Twitter to urge public health officials to apply scientific thinking. He pointed to data on Louisiana, where cases were rising earlier in the summer and seemed to level off after various counties issued mask mandates.
But breaking the data down by county, he says, revealed a different story. Mask mandates varied in their timing, but places that implemented them late saw no more cases or deaths than those that did so early. “I don’t think there’s currently enough evidence to support the fact that recent policy interventions (mask mandates, bar closures) were the main drivers behind the recent decrease in cases,” he wrote.
That’s not to say that individual behavior doesn’t matter a lot — and the cancellation of big gatherings and other potential super-spreading events is more important than ever — but there may be more factors than we know driving the bigger picture.
A few scientists are examining the possibility that previously hard-hit areas are now being affected by a buildup of immunity, even if it flies in the face of the widespread understanding that the disease has to run through at least 60% of the population to achieve so-called herd immunity. (So far, antibody tests show only some 10-20% of the US population has had the disease.)
The term herd immunity is a little vague in this context. It was created to characterize the impact of immunization. It refers to the percentage of the population that must get immunized in order for a pathogen to die out — a quantity that depends on the nature of the virus, the efficacy of the vaccine and the behavior of the hosts. If natural immunity is starting to help in some places, that would suggest herd immunity is a reasonable and worthy goal of an immunization program.
But scientists have little experience applying herd immunity to a natural infection, and what understanding they have is changing. Scientists have started to investigate the possibility that there’s another critical factor here — heterogeneity in the way humans interact, and in our inherent, biological susceptibility to this disease. In a Science paper published in June, University of Stockholm mathematician Tom Britton and colleagues calculated that herd immunity might be reached after as few as 43% of a very heterogenous population becomes infected. People mix unevenly in a way that could lead to little pockets of immunity, slowing the spread of the virus long before the world achieves herd immunity.
We may also be heterogeneous in our biology. A recent paper in Science suggests that many people who’ve never been infected with SARS-CoV-2 carry a kind of immune cell, called a T-cell, which recognizes this novel virus and may partially mitigate an infection. These cells may be left over from infections with related viruses — the coronaviruses that cause the common cold. While scientists who authored the paper warn that it doesn’t imply that people with pre-existing T-cells can’t get infected, they leave open the possibility that it might account for some of the vast variability in symptoms.
Whatever the source of this heterogeneity, we know it exists. Most people on the contaminated cruise ship Diamond Princess remained uninfected, while others got asymptomatic infections and still others got severely ill.
Those differences can inform disease models, says statistics professor Gabriela Gomes of the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. “What we see is that infections do not occur at random, but that people who are most susceptible to infection get exposed first,” she says, leaving a pool of ever-less susceptible people behind. So far, her predictions of the spread in the UK, Belgium, Spain and Portugal have aligned well with reality. Her models showed small, shallow second peaks that would concentrate away from the places where the pandemic was most rampant last spring. For example, in Spain, the first outbreak was around Madrid, and now a smaller outbreak is happening around Catalonia.
She says her models keep predicting declines after the infection reached between 10% and 35% of the population. That doesn’t mean the virus has gone away — only that by her models, it won’t explode in those same places again. Gu’s models, too, predict no big second waves in New York City or Stockholm, but leave open the possibility of new outbreaks in relatively unaffected areas, just as Hawaii is now fighting outbreaks and New Zealand has imposed a new, short lockdown.
She says she didn’t expect to come up against resistance to her models in the scientific community. While she’s starting to get some attention in the media, she said journal editors told her that her modeling ideas, in preprint, posed the danger of making people feel entitled to relax their vigilance. Maybe the opposite is true, she suggests. Maybe censoring all but the most pessimistic views could discourage action by making the problem seem endless.
The controversy mirrors one that took place a few years ago when renowned cancer researcher Bert Vogelstein dared to suggest that the very nature of cancer had a random element and therefore some people who did everything right would get cancer through bad luck. He was pilloried for the view, not because it was untrue, but because it was deemed a dangerous invitation for people to be bad. Public health in the United States has a tendency toward moralizing against indulgences. We were told obesity was caused by indulgence in high-fat food even though the evidence pointed elsewhere, and it took years to recognize that opioid addiction is a disease and not a sin. That attitude may be ingrained in the culture, but it shouldn’t get in the way of the search for the truth.

Sumner Redstone Paved the Way for Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Musk
Tara Lachapelle/Bloomberg/August,14/2020
Sumner Redstone, the swashbuckling billionaire who built what is now ViacomCBS Inc., died on Tuesday at 97. He used to say that he would never have a legacy because he planned to live forever. News reports would qualify it as a joke, though with Redstone no one could be entirely sure. His hard-charging leadership style and dealmaking were of a bygone era, but he earned a legacy even if he didn’t want one: It lives on in the outsize personalities who wield singular control of their companies such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos. They are perhaps this generation’s Redstones, albeit a water-downed version of the cast of characters that ran the media world in its heyday. Redstone would have relished the opportunity to try to outwit any one of them.
The Boston native became a media mogul at an age when most are retiring. A gruesome near-death experience in a Boston hotel fire in 1979 fortified his survivor mentality, which underpinned every business move he made. “Winning is everything,” he said while taking a break from a tennis match in 1999 at the industry’s annual summit in Sun Valley, Idaho, terrain Redstone once ruled alongside rivals Rupert Murdoch, Barry Diller, and John Malone. Redstone’s grit and stubbornness were legendary, as were his wrath — ask any of his banished successors along the way — and wry sense of humor. “Legacies are for dead people,” he would say. And well into his 90s, when he was bedridden and no longer able to speak, an iPad was reportedly programmed to give the three responses only he would need: “Yes,” “no” and a curt vulgar dismissal. Logan Roy, the central character in the HBO hit series “Succession,” is said to be inspired by Redstone and Murdoch.
By 2000, Redstone had turned his family’s drive-in movie-theater chain into the second-biggest U. media conglomerate, following a takeover of CBS for some $50 billion and an earlier victory in the bitter battle to buy Paramount Pictures. When Redstone split up Viacom and CBS again in 2006, the reasons were as ego-driven as they were business-minded, handing his two favorite deputies each a company to run. That decision ultimately led to his empire’s vicissitudes of fortune. Philippe Dauman, a trusted Redstone ally, oversaw the decline of Paramount and Viacom’s cable networks, including MTV, which eventually resulted in his dramatic 2016 ouster. Leslie Moonves, who was put at the helm of CBS and made the network into the television-ratings envy of the industry, was brought down in 2018 by numerous sexual-misconduct allegations amid the #MeToo movement.
The drama extended to his family. Shari Redstone, who took over eventually, and her father were known to have a hot-and-cold relationship, and her ascension wasn’t a typical handing down of the family business. The elder Redstone publicly accused his daughter of a power grab at one point. Ugly legal battles ensued questioning his mental soundness and the legitimacy of her asserting control. The events unfolded publicly for years in tabloid pages. In the end, Shari Redstone got her way: Viacom and CBS’s management was replaced, the companies were merged and she became chairman. But her instinct that they needed more scale to compete was also right. The newly named ViacomCBS Inc. is now fighting to hang on in the streaming wars, trying not to get stomped on by Netflix Inc., Walt Disney Co., Amazon.com Inc., and Google.
The CEO who now leads ViacomCBS, Bob Bakish, who was installed by Shari Redstone, is almost the antithesis of her father. He’s a no-nonsense, roll-up-your-sleeves manager and isn’t much for schmoozing or press attention. In fact, that’s true of other appointees in what has started to be a year of mass turnover in the media industry. AT&T Inc., a once prosaic phone company that now competes in Hollywood and streaming through its ownership of Warner Bros. and HBO, selected John Stankey, a career AT&T executive, to be its new CEO beginning last month. Meanwhile at Disney, Bob Chapek, a mostly behind-the-scenes figure who ran the theme parks business, replaced the larger-than-life Bob Iger as CEO in February. Instead, Redstone’s presence is better reflected in the technology sphere, where the billionaires behind highflying companies have evaded their boards’ leash and charged ahead defiantly in their strategies.
ViacomCBS isn’t what it once was, but Bakish and his team are working to make it a serious contender in streaming — and it has a real shot, even as COVID-19 hurts film and cable-TV businesses like Viacom’s. Analysts and investors over the years have often wrongly predicted the end of the company, or that it would be sold off in pieces or swallowed whole by a deep-pocketed tech giant. Redstone had a button just for them.

Mabrouk and mazel tov to all Muslims and Jews in this new era of peace
Ronald S. Lauder/Arab News/August 15, 2020
There is finally some good news in a year that has been buffeted by the coronavirus crisis. The agreement between the UAE and Israel, announced by the White House on Thursday, is more than just an agreement to normalize relations between Israel and an Arab country. I believe it is the beginning of regionwide peace. It is a catalyst for more countries in the Middle East to actually envision a better future for their children, and it confirms to the entire world that there are still righteous women and men who have worked tirelessly for this moment.
It also shows us that there are still leaders who have the courage to make difficult and bold steps in the name of peace.
I am speaking specifically about Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, three leaders I respect enormously. While this announcement came as a great surprise to many, I know that it did not come about by accident. Many people have worked long hours to make this happen.
Let me explain why I believe this moment is so important. The agreement will open up new opportunities for cooperation on many levels. The most obvious benefit is greater security for the region. Perhaps not immediately apparent, but just as important, are the joint communiques that will come in the fields of business, science, education and the arts. These will lead to exchanges of knowledge and ideas, and there will be an opportunity to learn from one another about our traditions and history, all of which will lead to building a better future together.
During my visits to universities, cultural sites and souqs in the UAE, Bahrain and other nations, I have seen a people quite open and eager to engage the world. The conversations I had with them over cardamom coffee and dates allowed me to learn more about their wishes, hopes and dreams. I was deeply impressed with the openness of these people, as well as their tolerance toward other religions.
The agreement is called the Abraham Accord because of the obvious connection the two religions share with the Prophet Abraham.
In a wonderful reminder of this, the agreement is called the Abraham Accord, because of the obvious connection the two religions share with the Prophet Abraham.
It is the central part of our foundation, and has been the hope of our two great people, Jews and Muslims, to come together and live in peace. But the Abraham Accord will, hopefully, also encourage other countries in the region to follow the example of the UAE and normalize relations with the Jewish state. We must always remember that Abraham’s footprints are in Makkah, not too far from the Kaaba.
After Egypt and Jordan, we now have a third Arab nation joining the grand alliance of peace. I was on the White House lawn when the Camp David Peace Accord was signed and I distinctly remember thinking — believing — that more would follow. It might have taken longer than some people would have wished, but we now see it happening and for this I am so grateful.
We should all pause for a few moments and remind ourselves that those who still push for hatred against others in the name of our faiths will never be remembered as great men.
But those who have helped people come together — Sadat and Begin, King Hussein, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres — truly walk in the steps of the righteous.
This agreement will give people the opportunity to remember our shared heritage. Together, the descendants of Abraham can make not just their countries but the entire world a better place. I am hopeful that Avraham from Tel Aviv and Ibrahim from Abu Dhabi one day will be able to study together at universities in either of their countries. I look forward to sitting with both of them and sharing a plate of traditional food while discussing their shared dreams and hopes.
I would like to take this opportunity to send the following message to all the bridge builders in this world: As head of the World Jewish Congress, I often like to remind my Jewish and Muslim friends in Israel, the US, Europe and the Middle East that we are cousins. There might be some among us who like to forget or hide this fact, but a fact is a fact nonetheless.
Peace between us is possible. We see this again today. Friendship between us is possible. Brotherhood and sisterhood between us is possible. But it takes courage to take that first, difficult step. I thank God that there are people in this world, courageous people, who will take that step for all of us.
So, I say mabrouk and mazel tov to the leaders of the UAE and Israel and to the Trump administration in the US. Mabrouk and mazel tov to all of the people who never gave up hope and who build the bridges for a better world for our children.
• Ronald S. Lauder is president of the World Jewish Congress.

Peace and cooperation: A new path for Israelis and Emiratis
Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor/Arab News/August 15, 2020
The announcement of a peace deal between the UAE and Israel, brokered by US President Donald Trump, was a surprise to many. But for me, it is the natural progression of greater understanding between the UAE and Israel that has been developed largely because of shared economic aspirations and the emerging threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
I suspect that other regional nations will follow when they are able to take the temperature of the more conservative elements within their populations. I am proud of the UAE’s leadership for shining a light on a new road ahead, and I congratulate President Trump for making this happen.
I strongly believe that goodwill and mutual cooperation will benefit both Emiratis and Israelis, paving the way for economic, trade, technological, scientific and agricultural exchanges, security and energy cooperation, and a greater cultural understanding needed to smash outdated stereotypes that have kept us children of the Prophet Abraham on opposite sides of a fence for so long.
While I have actively supported justice for the Palestinians in the form of a two-state or one-state solution for most of my life, in recent years I have concluded that prolonging the enmity between Israel and most of the Arab world is an exercise in futility serving no one, least of all the Palestinian people. I have long encouraged any action that could result in peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and this deal is bound to create an atmosphere conducive to respectful negotiations.
In 2017, as a response to President Trump’s “deal of the century” — which turned out to be a damp squib due to its being heavily Israel-centric, worsened by the Palestinians’ refusal to participate in discussions — I wrote a column titled: “A window has opened for Middle East peace. Let’s grab the chance!”
I explained that whereas I once was an idealist, I have come to terms with the fact that unrealistic dreams are no use to a people yearning for a place where they can live peacefully and prosper. I stressed that violence has only encouraged the nuclear-armed, militarized occupying power to dig in its heels, and I urged both sides to come up with new, courageous, innovative strategies.
My country, the UAE, has done just that. It is a trendsetter that never ceases to amaze in every field. Until now, this new accord has been welcomed by Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain, the UK, Germany, France and the UN.
But it has been denounced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and various Palestinian spokespersons, in spite of the fact that it is conditional upon the Israeli government’s pledge to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s annexation of the West Bank on hold.
While it is the case that Netanyahu is under fire from right-wing settlers who are eager to see the annexation of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, he has tried to placate them by stating that the plan had not been binned. He further confirmed that he would not proceed without a green light from the White House. With the international community solidly against the idea, it is doubtful that he will get a nod from President Trump, whose Democratic rival Joe Biden, a great friend to Israel, has publicly stated: “Annexation would be a body blow to the cause of peace, which is why I opposed it now and would oppose it as president.”In my view, more Arab states allied to Israel will not only undermine the latter’s old argument that it is isolated and surrounded by millions of hostile Arabs, it will also strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s arm simply because the Jewish state will feel more secure, and the more friends in the neighborhood it has, the more it will have to lose by being intransigent.
We, in our part of the world, have all had our fair share of mutual hatreds and wars spanning more than 70 years, and what have we gained? Nothing other than insecurity, mistrust and trillion-dollar war machines, most rusting in warehouses.
The late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat knew that war with Israel joined at America’s hip was a mug’s game, so he courageously offered an olive branch to Israel’s then-Prime Minister Golda Meir, which was graciously accepted.
Sadat’s impromptu visit to Jerusalem was widely celebrated by Israelis. He was invited to deliver a speech in the Knesset (parliament) when he outlined his ideas for a comprehensive peace. Unfortunately he was shunned by the entire Arab world, branded a traitor by the Palestinians, and shot dead by a radical group while watching a military procession.
Yet his outreach to the enemy was the soil in which the return of all Israeli-occupied Egyptian lands was cultivated and, most crucially, it marked the end of conflicts. Then, all Palestinian lands occupied by Israel in 1967 were up for discussion. The longer this antipathy between Israelis and Palestinians has prevailed, the more the land once earmarked for a Palestinian state has shrunk.
My heart does go out to the Palestinian people, whose suffering is unending. But at the same time, their leaderships need to take note of the harsh reality. The old ways have failed dismally. I would therefore urge my Palestinian brothers and sisters to wait and see what benefits this new deal can bring to them before rushing to emotional, knee-jerk judgments.
In all honesty, if there is one Arab state that could win big time if only it was able to make peace with Israel, it is Lebanon. There would be no more border skirmishes, wars and bloodshed, and Lebanon would no longer require heavily armed militias to defend it from its neighbors.
Sadly, it goes without saying why this remains a pipedream, at least for now. Given their current reality, I am almost certain that if the Lebanese people were polled on this topic, the majority would opt for peace. The economic rewards alone would be enormous.
Goodwill and mutual cooperation will benefit both Emiratis and Israelis, paving the way for economic, trade, technological, scientific and agricultural exchanges.
Finally, I take this opportunity to salute all those involved in cementing a new and exciting new partnership between Israelis and Emiratis that I pray will be fruitful not only for the two newly allied countries, but also for our troubled region.
Is it too much of a stretch to imagine a Middle East at peace with open skies and borders, each country sharing ideas and expertise, instead of being written off as the planet’s eternal hotspot where violence reigns? If the Israeli-Emirati pact succeeds in inspiring new generations of leaders, then all is possible. Let us put our hatreds behind us and be the first to work toward that goal.
*Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor is a prominent UAE businessman and public figure. He is renowned for his views on international political affairs, his philanthropic activity and his efforts to promote peace. He has long acted as an unofficial ambassador for his country abroad. Twitter: @KhalafAlHabtoor

Syria remains Turkey’s priority despite Libya, E. Mediterranean tensions
Sinem Cengiz/Arab News/August 14/2020
For the past few months, Turkey’s agenda has been dominated by issues related to the reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque, the debate on the Istanbul Convention related to violence against women, strict restrictions on social media, and talks over alliances in the domestic political sphere. The currency crises and difficulties in the economic sphere, compounded by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), are also among the main issues figuring in daily conversations on the streets of Turkey.
While in the domestic sphere there is a laundry list of issues that need addressing, much has happened with regard to foreign policy as well. Almost every day, there is a new development in the Eastern Mediterranean that causes tension to escalate between the two warring parties, and Turkey is one of the main actors. The country has also become involved in the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Taking the repercussions of the latest escalation seriously, Ankara threw its support to Baku, falling out with its partner in Syria, namely Russia.
Along with the Syrian file, a very tough time seems to await Turkey’s foreign policymakers who need to be ready to tackle the forthcoming challenges on all fronts, ranging from Syria to Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean to Caucasia. For years, Syria has been the main testing ground for Turkish foreign policy. It was the issue on which the government garnered votes, as well that which inspired some of the harshest criticisms against it.
Syria’s importance stretches beyond its borders and, consequently, the crisis represents grave problems for Turkey and for many other involved actors. For Iran’s foes, the war in Syria has become a main battleground for their existential struggle. For the EU, the war, in basic terms, means refugees and the threat of increased migration to its shores. For Turkey, the instability of its immediate neighbor is a direct threat to its own domestic stability. Turkish interests in Syria have therefore become focused on the areas along its border and are no longer concerned with the future of the regime in Damascus. This has been Ankara's main policy since late 2016. For the US, the war has become the litmus test for its relations with regional allies. The resolution of this war would thus have a domino effect, influencing several hot points in the region and beyond. While all eyes have been fixed on tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, some significant developments have taken place in the Syrian theater. Let us take a closer look at them.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Turkish army has established a new base in the area of Jabal Al-Akrad, near the northern Syrian city of Latakia. Although the exact number of Turkish bases in Syria is unknown, this new base is seen as a move to limit the Syrian army’s room for maneuvering toward the district around Latakia. On Wednesday, it was reported that Turkish military reinforcements had also entered Syria’s embattled northwestern Idlib province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated recently that Turkish forces would stay in Syria until peace is restored. “Until the Syrian people are free, peaceful and safe, we will remain in this country,” Erdogan said during a speech on Tuesday, according to reports.
Turkey, while complying with the delicate truce signed with Russia, continues to push back against regime advances and defend its current positions. While it carries out joint patrols with the Russian army, it also stands firm against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Another development has been the oil deal signed between a US-based company and the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Following talks between US Sen. Lindsey Graham and SDF head Mazlum Kobane, Turkey condemned the deal and said it deeply regretted the US support, which it said disregards international law and violates territorial integrity. Syria has also joined Turkey in condemning the deal, calling it illegal and accusing it of being a way to steal Syria’s crude.
The results of the upcoming presidential elections in the US will be a very significant factor in shaping Turkey’s policies in Syria and the wider region.
Needless to say, the results of the upcoming presidential elections in the US will be a very significant factor in shaping Turkey’s policies in Syria and the wider region. A defeat for Donald Trump would mean the start of a new episode in Turkish-American ties, not necessarily positive given Joe Biden’s approach to Turkey’s policies in the region. This aside — as well as his statements over Russian S-400 missiles, the Eastern Mediterranean or concerns about freedom of the press and human rights in Turkey — he is against Turkey’s military operations in Syria and has stated that the YPG/PKK were betrayed by the US.
In a nutshell, it is Syria that is the main source of all the region's problems and it is Syria, again, where the panacea for lingering regional instability might be found. Overshadowed by the conflict in Libya and the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, the puzzling developments in Syria are where all eyes should be fixed. How Turkey responds to these developments will determine its actions in other areas as well.
*Sinem Cengiz is a Turkish political analyst who specializes in Turkey’s relations with the Middle East. Twitter: @SinemCngz

The UAE and Israel agreement is only the tip of the iceberg
Rabbi Marc Schneier/Arab News/August 14/2020
For years, I have heard from Gulf leaders about their desire to establish relations with Israel and it’s no secret that Israel was excited by the prospect as well. As news spread today about the UAE and Israel formally announcing the normalization of relations, many asked me why now and what do I predict will happen next? My answer is simple — this is just the beginning of normalization between Gulf states and Israel and, in fact, I will be so bold as to predict that at least one more Gulf state will establish diplomatic ties with Israel by the end of 2020.
There are a few main factors in the timing. First is the global pandemic. As I shared in my op-ed for Arab News in June, the Gulf states had a powerful incentive to work constructively with the State of Israel when it came to combatting COVID-19. Both the Gulf and Israel are deeply concerned about the disruptive impact of COVID-19 on their societies, and the Gulf is particularly concerned about the economic damage they have incurred due to the crash in the global price of oil. Given the high stakes, these countries are increasingly looking to Israel to help them find solutions. This public health crisis presented the perfect opportunity to transcend political differences and we saw that when UAE Ambassador to the UN Lana Zaki Nusseibeh told an Israeli journalist in May that her government would be willing to work with Israel on a vaccine. Shortly thereafter, the UAE worked directly with Israel to send two Etihad planes with medical supplies.
The other key factor is the increase in regional tensions with Iran. In many ways, this issue has been something both countries have faced for years, but they needed a catalyst to spark action; something that the more timely COVID-19 pandemic triggered. However, the UAE — and many of its neighbors — recognize that Israel could be a tremendous help there as well due to its mighty military.
By making this bold move, the UAE has paved the way for other Gulf states to establish relations with Israel. In the last three years, I’ve heard from three other Gulf states about their genuine desire to establish relations with Israel. They’ve shared, “Rabbi, with our resources and wealth and Israel’s brain trust and technological prowess and innovation, we can become the most powerful region in the world.” It was always a question of who would make this move first, but once the first Gulf state made this announcement, others said they would follow. Now that the UAE has made this announcement, we will see at least one more Gulf state establish diplomatic ties with Israel by the end of 2020.
• Rabbi Marc Schneier is president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and a noted adviser to many Gulf states.

The Israel-UAE Deal Is Trump’s First Unambiguous Diplomatic Success
John Hannah/Forign Policy/August 14/2020
It’s a historic achievement that eluded other presidents. Trump will try to make the most of it.
It’s a major win for U.S. President Donald Trump—arguably his administration’s first unqualified diplomatic success. Trump has previously claimed many foreign policy achievements, but most of these claims have been met with substantial critiques. Yes, the North American Free Trade Agreement was renegotiated, but the result was much less than meets the eye. A few tweaks, some necessary updating, and slapping a new name on it. But hardly the unprecedented triumph for U.S. trade policy that Trump heralded. Ditto for something like increased burden-sharing by NATO members. Sure, Trump’s threats and public taunts led several countries to increase their military spending, but at what cost to relations with the United States’ most important democratic allies and the credibility of the U.S. commitment to Europe’s common defense? What about Trump’s love affair with Kim Jung Un? The freeze on North Korea’s testing of nukes and intercontinental missiles has been great. The significant expansion of Kim’s arsenal of nuclear weapons? Not so much.
The Israel-UAE deal is different. It’s a genuine historic accomplishment that’s unambiguously good for the United States. It will bolster Israel’s security and wellbeing, a longstanding vital interest of the United States. It will contribute to peace and stability in the broader Middle East, not only by indefinitely forestalling a potentially destabilizing unilateral assertion of Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, but by giving the UAE and other modernizing Gulf states full access to the region’s dominant military and intelligence power, and to its most technologically advanced economy. It will worry, isolate, and enhance deterrence against Iran, the United States’ most dangerous regional adversary. And it reaffirms Washington’s still-unrivaled ability to serve as a force for good in alleviating some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. Neither China nor Russia, nor Europe nor the United Nations, could have played the same role of peacemaker.
The Israel-UAE deal is different—it’s a genuine historic accomplishment that’s unambiguously good for the United States and will contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East.
The agreement will rightly garner virtually unanimous support across the U.S. political spectrum. As Joe Biden, the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, indicated in his response to the announcement, the effort to advance peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors has been a top priority for administrations of both parties going back decades.
It was unfortunate that in his statement praising the deal, Biden couldn’t bring himself to congratulate Trump and his peace team for their role. Maybe that’s too much to expect in today’s intensely polarized environment, especially in an election year. There’s no doubt that the agreement will redound completely to Trump’s political advantage at a time when he’s badly in need of wins. And it will likely continue to pay major dividends to his reelection effort when one or more other Gulf states join the normalization process, and he plays host to a White House signing ceremony after the technical details of the deal are finalized—probably as close to Election Day as possible. But while Trump’s success might be bad for the Democrats’ narrow political interests, it’s an unadulterated good for U.S. national interests. Biden knows that and it would have been gracious and fitting for him, even healing in a way, to rise above today’s destructive partisanship, if only for a moment, to acknowledge the victory for the United States and to thank Trump for getting it done.
In the same way, it would be a nice touch if Trump were to invite Biden as well as all living former presidents to attend a signing ceremony when it finally happens and to recognize his predecessors’ role in pressing the cause of Middle East peace over the years. It would be a chance to send a powerful signal to the world that even in the middle of a bitterly fought election campaign, the leaders of the United States are still able to unite on behalf of the common good.
It would take a miracle, you say, for that kind of display of bipartisan statesmanship. Perhaps. But isn’t that what people used to say about peace between Israel and the Arabs? Hope indeed springs eternal.
*John Hannah is a senior counselor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and former national security advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney.

After UAE-Israel peace deal, a Palestinian state is the next step
Nadim Shehadi/Al Arabiya/August 14/2020
The new Israel-UAE peace agreement – the Abraham Accords – is a courageous step for the UAE and a giant step forward for the region. Where the region is perceived by experts to be one of perpetual crises and wars for well over three generations, this initiative can change the course of history, proving experts who believe peace is unobtainable wrong.
But this will only happen if the deal is met by a serious international effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by realizing the dream of a Palestinian state.
A two-state solution will also go toward fulfilling the conditions of the Arab Peace Initiative that, among other conditions, calls for Israel to return to the 1967 borders and an agreement on refugees and Jerusalem in line with UN resolutions. The initiative, known as Saudi Arabia’s King Abdallah plan has been endorsed by the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Using this plan as a path for lasting peace with will bring on board most of the Arab and Islamic states.
Any move toward peace will also weaken Iran’s axis of resistance, which thrives on the idea of fighting Israel and opposing any settlement of the conflict, using it instead as a recruiting agent to draw proxies and partners into its axis, as Iran draws its legitimacy from the idea of opposing Israel and the United States.
A one-step solution
This sort of two-state solution can be achieved if the United States would take one step to propose a UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution admitting the state of Palestine to the General Assembly.
This was on the table in a proposal by Dr. Nabil Shaath of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and submitted to the UN by President Mahmoud Abbas in September 2011. Israel prevented the proposal from being accepted, as it raised concerns over the security of settlers and that Palestine would become a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), meaning Israel’s leaders could be pursued for war crimes by that court. The latter is no longer a valid concern as Palestine accepted that it would come under the jurisdiction of the ICC in 2015.
Technically, both states already exist, with Israel becoming a state in 1948 at the UN General Assembly. In 1988, Palestine declared statehood, and today 137 states have recognized its legitimacy. Kosovo, on the other hand, is recognized by only 115 states.
UAE will not open embassy in Jerusalem without a Palestinian-Israel peace deal
Palestine is one UNSC vote away from being “actualized,” as Palestinian lawyers call the final step in the solution.
It is – and has always been – as simple as that.
But the two-state solution has been held hostage for the past 20 years by Israeli conditions, including the notion that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” made under the auspices of the Oslo Accords and that any peace agreement would signify the end of all claims. These are impossible conditions as there are hardly any two neighboring states that do not have any problems between them. Palestine and Israel will be no different. In fact, they will have far more problems than any other states, some of which will forever be unsurmountable.
An overflow of ideas
For these states though, there is no shortage of proposed peace solutions. The Middle East Peace Process launched in Madrid in 1990 will celebrate its 30th anniversary in September. For at least 25 years, studies have been conducted into every detail of the bilateral relations between the two states.
Reports on water, refugees, borders, Jerusalem, settlements, land swaps, Gaza development plans and historical reconciliation have been published. There is a deluge of initiatives by Canada, Sweden, Norway, Japan, Germany, the EU, the Quartet and even a group of Latin American states – and of course, by both Israelis and Palestinians.
There are creative solutions hidden in drawers, gathering dust on shelves or awaiting conversion from defunct software, like WordStar and Lotus123, all holding their breath for that elusive final status agreement.
One such imaginative proposal regarding refugees and settlements was the Sanders Plan named after an eccentric Englishman. Sanders suggested that Palestinians can have the right of return anywhere in historic Palestine – like a Jewish person has the right to Aliyah, or the right to go to the land of Israel – as long as they reside there as a citizen of Palestine and do not claim Israeli citizenship. In exchange, some of the settlers would remain in Palestine as Israeli citizens with a treaty between both states dealing with issues such as taxes, local election participation and residency requirements. This proposal in theory would have minimal effect on demographic concerns.
The fallacy of a one-state solution
Practically speaking, there is no mechanism to reach a one-state solution. No existing negotiation mechanisms can achieve such an outcome, nor can it be achieved by default if the two-state solution fails. And arguing such is a return to the era before the 1988 Palestinian charter and is a further perpetuation of the conflict. However, a two-state solution opens up endless possibilities for treaties between Israel and Palestine that could amount to a form of federalism or a binational entity of some sort, or even an arrangement with Jordan.
The most important thing is to satisfy the aspirations of both people, giving each a nation of their own. The choice is either endless conflict or a perpetual limbo in which a solution with the impossible conditions under the Oslo framework can never be achieved.
If two states can first be agreed on, problems can be dealt with as they arise and resolved as the two states move forward.
A new generation and a better future
The key is also to take advantage of opportunities arising from changes in the region. There is a new generation in the Arab world and in Iran that is uncompromising and seeks justice, freedom and a better future. They have different values from their parents and grandparents and are technologically connected to the world and want to be part of it. Their aspirations are certainly not for another 70 years of conflicts.
Indications of this phenomenon have been obvious since the Arab Spring uprisings that began in 2011.
Israelis and Palestinians have aimed their anger at their own leadership more than they have at the other. There has been no burning of Israeli or American flags in the demonstrations and revolutions that have erupted across the region demanding change. Those rituals belonged more to state-sponsored mass demonstrations under authoritarian regimes. Recent revolts in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran have also turned against the institutions of the IRGC.
The Israeli-Palestinian issue is now marginal compared to what it used to be before 2011 when it used to occupy center stage. It has been overshadowed by other issues, such as the war in Syria and the conflict with Iran. There has instead been a clear nostalgia for the more cosmopolitan past, which included a diversity of people like the historical Jewish populations of Baghdad, Mosul, Aleppo, Damascus, Beirut, Cairo and Alexandria.
A UAE Embassy in Jerusalem could be that historic first step for positive change only if it leads to a comprehensive and just peace for Palestine and Israel that will be the key to eventually transform the whole region.