LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 17/2019
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
Acts of the Apostles 03/11-21:”While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. ‘And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on July 16-17/2019
Hezbollah Withdraws its Troops towards Syrian-Lebanese Borders
Parliamentary Immunity Does Not Protect Hezbollah MPs From US Sanctions
Hariri Stresses Commitment to Develop Lebanon’s Maritime Capabilities
Hariri Hits Out at LF, Urges 'Responsible' Discourse on Financial Situation
In U.S., Bazzi Says Sanctions on Hizbullah MPs a 'Threat to Democracy'
Parliament Convenes in First Session to Tackle 2019 State Budget
One Wounded in Armed Clash in Khalde
Tripoli Municipality Members at Each Other’s Throats after Mayor, Deputy Sacked
British Ambassador Meets Army Commander in Bekaa Part of the High Level Steering Committee
Report: Hizbullah Withdrawing Forces from Syrian Territory towards Areas on Syrian-Lebanese Border
Police Tighten Security Around Parliament in Line with Budget Meeting
Dispute between Arslan's bodyguards and 'Arab Khaldeh' triggers gunfire, one injured
Bukhari hosts dinner banquet in honor of President of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences
Security Forces Prevent Palestinian Protesters from Marching to Parliament
Palestinians Protest Lebanon Crackdown on Unlicensed Foreign Workers
US sanctions on Hezbollah officials are a call to action for the Lebanese state
The untold love story of 1971 Miss Universe Georgina Rizk

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on July 16-17/2019
Trump Says U.S. Not Seeking 'Regime Change' in Iran
U.S. Fears Iran Seized UAE-Based Tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Khamenei: Iran to Respond to Britain’s Piracy of Oil Tanker
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood is Source of World’s Extremist Organizations
Security Council Extends Mandate of UN Mission in Hodeidah
Macron Urges Explanation from Iran over Detention of Academic
Lawmakers Narrowly Approve Von der Leyen as EU Chief

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on July 16-17/2019
US sanctions on Hezbollah officials are a call to action for the Lebanese state/ Makram Rabah/Asharq Al Awsat/July 16/2019
The untold love story of 1971 Miss Universe Georgina Rizk/Lemma Shehadi/The National/July 16/2019
Turkey: Out in the Cold/Burak Bekdil/Gatestone Institute/July 16/2019
Facebook: More Government Censorship/Judith Bergman/Gatestone Institute/July 16/2019
Will New Party Deepen Erdogan’s Isolation?/Salman Al-dossary/Asharq Al-Awsat/July 16/2019
The Path Forward With North Korea: ‘Denuclearization Lite’/James Stavridis/Asharq Al-Awsat/July 16/2019

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on July 16-17/2019
Hezbollah Withdraws its Troops towards Syrian-Lebanese Borders
London - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
Hezbollah has in the past few days deployed its troops in new areas in the western Qalamoun district in the Damascus countryside, after the forces withdrew from different areas where the Lebanese party was located inside Syrian territory, sources said on Monday. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said in a television interview on Friday evening that the number of party members, who have been fighting alongside the regime's forces in Syria, has been reduced publicly since 2013. “We are still present in all the places where we used to be; we are still there but there is no need to be there in large numbers, as long as there are no practical necessities for that,” he told Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV channel, adding that the Syrian regime “recovered greatly and found that today it does not need us.”“We have redeployed and re-positioned our forces”, he continued, stressing that “all dealing with the Syrian file has nothing to do with the [US] sanctions or financial austerity measures.”The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Hezbollah transported fighters with heavy weapons of short and long range missiles and heavy machine guns, and took up new position in the hillside area overlooking Flita town. It set up barricades and storage areas to hide its weapons and vehicles in the caves and trenches already dug in mountainous areas there. The Observatory added that Hezbollah acquired a full residential building next to Dirar Mosque in al-Qa’aa neighborhood in Yabroud city and raised its flags. In the Qara area, the party set up military headquarters in the neighborhoods of al-Karb, al-Mashfa and the Municipal Stadium.

Parliamentary Immunity Does Not Protect Hezbollah MPs From US Sanctions
Beirut - Youssef Diab/Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
The political and legal repercussions of the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department against Hezbollah deputies and officials have not yet crystallized, pushing the party to express, for the first time, its concern over the internal and external effects of such sanctions. This comes amid leaking information about a new list that will include leaders of parties close to the movement. Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc - headed by MP Mohammad Raad, who is under the US sanctions along with MP Amin Sherri - described the US recent move as “an aggression against Lebanon, its people and its choices,” describing it as “unacceptable and condemned by all sovereign and moral standards.” “It will not change anything in our convictions or in our resistance to the Israeli occupation,” the bloc added. Dr. Shafiq al-Masri, professor of international law at the American University of Beirut, said: “The sanctions are issued by one state and not by the international community; their effects are limited to any dealing of the concerned people with the Americans.”In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Masri noted that the US administration has merged Hezbollah’s political and military wings years ago, “while the European Union was still conservative on that, except for Britain, which is in the process of getting out of the Union.”As for the impact of these sanctions on the parliamentary immunity enjoyed by the Hezbollah deputies, al-Masri said that parliamentary immunity was effective on Lebanese territory and did not extend to other countries. He pointed out that international treaties granted cross-border immunity only to the president of the Republic, the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs. Dr. Sami Nader, the director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, said that sanctions “go beyond the question of individuals and their interests to reach the Lebanese state since Hezbollah is an essential part of its structure.”“There are no legal channels to circumvent the sanctions,” he underlined.

Hariri Stresses Commitment to Develop Lebanon’s Maritime Capabilities
Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri renewed his commitment to UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 2433, which stipulate that Lebanon should develop a plan for the enhancement and development of its maritime capabilities. Hariri visited on Monday the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF) at the Beirut Port. He was welcomed by UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col. The premier was briefed on a series of trainings and joint exercises conducted with the Lebanese Navy in close coordination with UNIFIL.
Hariri thanked UNIFIL and its Maritime Task Force for the work done in maintaining stability along Lebanese territorial waters and for the job they are doing in assisting the LAF Navy to enhance their capacities and capabilities. He said: “My presence here today is to reaffirm the Lebanese Government’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 2433,” which call on Lebanon to develop a plan to increase the Lebanese naval capabilities. “I am fully dedicated to further developing the capacities of the Lebanese Navy,” he underlined, adding: “Last week I was briefed on the final stages of this plan. I will do my utmost best to have it endorsed by the Council of Ministers before the 31st of August, the date of the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate.” The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2433 in August last year, calling on the Lebanese government to develop a plan to increase its naval capabilities, with the goal of ultimately decreasing the UNIFIL MTF towards a transitioning to LAF-Navy. Del Col, for his part, emphasized the importance of the role of the MTF in coordinating activities with the LAF-Navy, saying: “UNIFIL’s support to the LAF-Navy is of paramount importance in monitoring territorial waters, securing Lebanese coastline and preventing the unauthorized entry of arms or related materials by sea into Lebanon as well as ensuring stability in the country.”

Hariri Hits Out at LF, Urges 'Responsible' Discourse on Financial Situation
Naharnet/July 16/2019
Prime Minister Saad Hariri lashed out Tuesday at the Lebanese Forces during parliament’s debate of the 2019 draft state budget, following remarks by LF deputy chief MP George Adwan. “Attack the government as much as you want and launch fierce attacks on me personally, but when you talk about financial and monetary stability, you must talk responsibly. The situation is difficult but it is not disastrous,” Hariri said. “I call on MPs to talk responsibly about financial stability and if the LF wants to abide by the International Monetary Fund’s recommendations, would it accept liberating the Lebanese pound’s exchange rate, slapping an LBP 5,000 tax on gasoline and hiking the VAT tax to 15%?” Hariri asked. “We cannot endorse all of the IMF’s recommendations and the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese currency comes first,” the premier added. Adwan hit back, saying his party’s presence in parliament is not a formality. “We speak out of keenness on the government and as a party we have our vision and opinion. If our practice of our role represents an annoyance, this is not my problem,” Adwan added.

In U.S., Bazzi Says Sanctions on Hizbullah MPs a 'Threat to Democracy'
Naharnet/July 16/2019
MP Ali Bazzi of the Development and Liberation bloc on Tuesday described the recent U.S. sanctions on two Hizbullah MPs as a “threat to democracy.”Bazzi voiced his remarks in Washington where he is leading a parliamentary delegation at an invitation from the U.S. Congress. He is representing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. “When a state imposes sanctions on MPs from another state, this is a threat to democracy and a categorization of people according to the interests of a certain country, which contradicts with the principles of democracy,” Bazzi said, addressing parliamentary delegations from more than 20 countries, in the presence of members of the U.S. Congress. He added: “George Washington fought the British occupation for the sake of freedom and independence, and also in my country there are people who resisted and are resisting occupation and terrorism, because they are fond of freedom, national dignity and independence.”The US Treasury placed two Hizbullah members of Lebanon's parliament on its sanctions blacklist last Tuesday -- the first time Washington has taken aim at the Iran-allied group's elected politicians. Stepping up its effort to build global pressure on Hizbullah, the Treasury named MPs Amin Sherri and Mohammed Raad to a terror-related blacklist, saying that Hizbullah uses its parliamentary power to advance violent activities. Also placed on the blacklist was Wafiq Safa, a top Hizbullah official close to the movement's Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. targeted three officials "who leverage their positions to facilitate Hizbullah and the Iranian regime's malign efforts to undermine Lebanese sovereignty."

Parliament Convenes in First Session to Tackle 2019 State Budget
Naharnet/July 16/2019
The Parliament convened on Tuesday in its first legislative session to discuss and ratify the 2019 state budget amid heightened security measures as retired servicemen rallied in Downtown Beirut protesting budget articles that would affect their benefit pay. Legislators are scheduled to hold successive morning and evening sessions until Thursday. The Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee has referred the draft to the Parliament last week after wrapping its discussions and introducing some amendments. Speaker Nabih Berri said at the beginning of the session that "the Cabinet will convene during the general Parliament session to discuss the budget.”Head of the Finance and Budget Committee, MP Ibrahim Kanaan said the committee had convened 31 times between the 3rd of June and the 9th of July, noting the absence of an economic and social vision within the draft state budget that had been referred to it, as well as the low proportion of credit allocated to investment expenses. "The Committee had introduced amendments to the draft budget and could have made further amendments had it received said draft during the constitutional deadline, that is before the beginning of the 2019 fiscal year," Kanaan explained. He pointed out that the committee had amended 65 out of 99 articles and jettisoned 7 articles, adding that the amendments dealt with reducing the appropriation of some expenses allocated to some administrations. The lawmaker also made clear that the committee had completed budget studies taking into account that the closure of 2018 accounts had not been completed yet. For his part Hizbullah MP and Loyalty to the Resistance bloc member Hassan Fadlallah said: "Our position is clear in terms of refusing compromises over public money; any attempt to reach a settlement is a crime against public funds and the country, and we will endeavor to prevent this crime.”
He also highlighted the legal and constitutional obligation to complete the closure of accounts to "protect public funds," stressing that it is the duty of the government to shoulder this responsibility. MP Sethrida Geagea of the Lebanese Forces bloc meanwhile announced that her party will abstain from voting on the budget. “We wanted it to be a budget of tough measures and a budget of acknowledging the reality of the situation, but it comes as a budget of hesitation and procrastination,” Geagea said. “That’s why the LF party will abstain from voting for this budget, despite our support for some of its articles, which unfortunately are much less than what is required at the moment,” the MP added. “I ask God to be with Lebanon in these difficult days,” she went on to say. MP Bilal Abdullah of the Democratic Gathering lamented that a lot of his bloc’s proposals were overlooked, noting that it will re-submit them in the form of draft laws.
“The current budget comes under the pressure of economic collapse and have not studied the economic and social repercussions in a serious manner,” he said. He, however, announced that his bloc will vote in favor of the budget. MP Jamil al-Sayyed decried that “there is nothing in the budget that can rescue the country.” “It is a repetition of the previous budgets and an attempt to escape forward,” he added. MP Michel Mouawad of the Strong Lebanon bloc said he is not convinced by the budget but will vote for it, describing it as an “emergency landing” budget. “The results are not guaranteed,” he noted.
As for the controversy over the presentation of the so-called final accounts, MTV reported that Prime Minister Saad Hariri has agreed to a formula proposed by the Strong Lebanon bloc. “It calls for a six-month extension of the timeframe for submitting the final accounts, which negates the need for a cabinet session,” MTV added. Speaker Nabih Berri meanwhile confirmed that there will be no cabinet session anytime soon, which prompted MP George Adwan to decry what he called a "constitutional violation."

One Wounded in Armed Clash in Khalde
Naharnet/July 16/2019
An armed clash broke out on Tuesday in the Khalde area, leaving one person wounded. The National News Agency said guards of Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan exchanged fire with members of Khalde’s Arab tribes, which resulted in the injury of Sheikh Omar Ghosn.“Security forces immediately arrived on the site and are working on containing the incident,” NNA added. The LDP meanwhile issued a statement denying its involvement in the clash and describing it as a “personal dispute.”LDP sources told MTV that “a verbal clash broke out with Sheikh Omar Ghosn and young men close to him opened fire.”“They were the only ones who opened fire, wounding a woman in the area, and the army is encircling the houses of those who fired weapons,” the sources added.

Tripoli Municipality Members at Each Other’s Throats after Mayor, Deputy Sacked
Naharnet/July 16/2019
An altercation broke out Tuesday between the members of Tripoli Municipality during a stormy session that saw confidence withheld from the municipal chief and his deputy. Thirteen members voted in favor of withholding confidence from the mayor, Ahmed Qamareddine, as five granted him their confidence and another five cast blank votes. Twelve members also voted in favor of withholding confidence from Qamareddine’s deputy, Khaled al-Walid, after which a clash erupted between the members, with a group accusing another of “backstabbing” and failing to honor an agreement on renewing the deputy mayor’s mandate. “Amid the chaos, a number of municipality members walked out, stripping the session of its quorum,” the National News Agency said.Governor of the North Judge Ramzi Nohra meanwhile scheduled a session for electing a new mayor and deputy mayor for 10am Friday.

British Ambassador Meets Army Commander in Bekaa Part of the High Level Steering Committee
Naharnet/July 16/2019
British Ambassador to Lebanon Chris Rampling and US Ambassador Elizabeth Richard met the Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun at the Head Quarters of the Second Land Border Regiment to discuss progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border, during the High Level Steering Committee (HLSC), the UK embassy said in a press release on Tuesday.Following the meeting, Ambassador Rampling said: ‘It is an honor to visit the Head Quarters of the second Land Border Regiment. These barracks played a significant role in operations against Daesh, and Nusra and ultimately led to the success of Fajr El Jouroud operation. Our visit today to discuss the progress on the security of the Lebanese-Syrian border exemplifies the trust in the Lebanese Armed Forces and how they have managed to ensure state control of the border with Syria. I reiterated to the Commander the UK’s steadfast support to Lebanon through ongoing social, economic, educational and humanitarian projects, in addition to further support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and other security agencies. The LAF remains the sole legitimate defender of Lebanon. We remain proud partners of the Lebanese army and we look forward to strengthening our military and security relations even further.’

Report: Hizbullah Withdrawing Forces from Syrian Territory towards Areas on Syrian-Lebanese Border
Naharnet/July 16/2019
In the past few days Hizbullah reportedly has deployed troops in new areas in Western Qalamoun in the countryside of Damascus, after pulling these forces back from different Syrian areas where its troops were positioned, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat said on Tuesday.
Quoting unnamed sources, the newspaper said that Hizbullah has also moved heavy weapons with short and long-range rockets and heavy machine guns. The party has taken new positions in the hills overlooking the town of Flitah and set up barricades and wooden rooms at those points. Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had announced in a televised appearance on Friday that the number of party members who have been fighting alongside the Syrian government forces has been reduced publicly since 2013. On Monday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Hizbullah has hidden its weapons and vehicles in trenches dug in the mountainous areas.

Police Tighten Security Around Parliament in Line with Budget Meeting
Naharnet/July 16/2019
Amid protests expected by the retired servicemen in Nejmeh Square, the perimeter of the House of representatives was turned on Tuesday into a “buffer zone” in preparation for the launch of legislative meetings devoted to discussing and ratifying the 2019 state budget. Police set up temporary barricades and brought in barbed wire to prevent the protesters from approaching the parliament building. Retired servicemen began rallying in central Beirut since Monday evening vowing to “block all the entrances leading to the parliament.”The retirees are protesting against three articles in the new state budget that cut their pay benefits. The first is reportedly related to taxing separate benefits that “should have been part of the main salary since the 1990s.”The second is related to suspending pre-legal age retirement for the next three years while the third would raise health care fees from 6 to 9%, equaling retired servicemen with public sector pensioners. Photo source: michaeltotten.com

Dispute between Arslan's bodyguards and 'Arab Khaldeh' triggers gunfire, one injured
NNA - Tue 16 Jul 2019
Shooting occurred during a dispute that broke out between Deputy Talal Arslan's bodyguards and Khaldeh's Arab clans 'Arab Khaldeh', NNA Correspondent reported on Tuesday. Sheikh Omar Ghosn got wounded in the brawl. Instantly, security forces arrived at said scene to contain situation.

Bukhari hosts dinner banquet in honor of President of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences
NNA - Tue 16 Jul 2019
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, hosted this evening a dinner banquet at his residence in Yarzeh in honor of the President of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Dr. Abdul Majeed bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, and his accompanying delegation.
The dinner banquet was attended by Interior and Municipalities Minister, Rayya El Hassan and Tourism Minister Avedis Guidainian, as well as the Ambassadors of Oman Badr bin Mohammed al-Mantheri, Iraq Ali al-Ameri, and Kuwait Abdel Aal Al Qinai, in addition to Internal Security Forces (ISF) chief Imad Othman. Also attending the dinner banquet had been Beirut Governor Ziad Shbib, UAE Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Fahd Al Kaabi, and Hotel Owners' Syndicate Dean Pierre Aschkar.

Security Forces Prevent Palestinian Protesters from Marching to Parliament
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 16/2019
Security forces on Tuesday prevented Palestinian protesters from Marching from the capital’s Cola area towards parliament building in central Beirut. The protest was organized by the ‘Coalition of Palestinian Refugees Right to Work’ and other institutions and associations operating in Lebanon in protest at “arbitrary measures against Palestinian workers and merchants in Lebanon and their right to live in dignity.” The demonstrators instead settled for a sit-in under the Cola bridge. “We had obtained a permission for the demo but we were surprised this morning that people were prevented from leaving camps. We however managed to obtain a permission to hold a rally under the Cola bridge,” an organizer said. “A large number of the sons of the camps did not manage to reach the gathering point due to strict security measures,” the organizer added. The protesters are objecting to new labor measures ordered by Labor Minister Camille Abu Suleiman, arguing that the procedures would deprive Palestinian refugees in Lebanon of their incomes.Several protests have been staged since Monday in rejection of the minister’s move. Last month, the ministry gave companies a one-month deadline to acquire the necessary work permits. After the grace period expired last week, it started inspections, closing down non-compliant establishments and issuing others with warnings. Critics have said the measure essentially targets Syrians who have fled the war next door, but Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon also fear they will be hit. Palestinians in Lebanon are exempt from paying for work permits, the U.N. refugee agency says. But Palestinian business owners must still register and pay a quarter of the standard fee. Abu Suleiman denied the inspections had overwhelmingly affected Palestinians. "Of the 550 violations registered since last Wednesday, only two concerned large companies owned by Palestinians," he said. "The Palestinian reaction is incomprehensible," the minister said. The Palestinian ambassador in Beirut, Ashraf Dabbour, on Monday called on the Lebanese government to exempt Palestinians from these measures. Palestinian movement Hamas called for "the immediate end to all closures." Azzam al-Ahmad, from the Palestine Liberation Organization, discussed the measures with Lebanese officials, saying they went against Lebanese-Palestinian efforts "to organize the residency, work and rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon." Around 174,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps across the country, a one-off government census said in 2017.In 2010, Lebanon's parliament revoked a ban that had barred them from tens of professions for years, restricting them to jobs in fields such as construction and farming. But Palestinians are still not permitted to work in professions reserved for Lebanese citizens such as medicine, law, the army, and police. Palestinians began taking refuge in Lebanon with the creation of Israel in 1948, setting up camps that have since transformed into bustling, urban districts. Their presence has been controversial, with many blaming them for the start of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. Lebanon says it hosts around 1.5 million Syrians, after they fled the eight-year conflict at home, who have been accused of sparking a series of economic woes in the country.

Palestinians Protest Lebanon Crackdown on Unlicensed Foreign Workers
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
A couple of hundred Palestinian refugees protested Tuesday in the streets of Beirut against Lebanon's Labor Ministry cracking down on businesses employing foreign workers without a permit.They and dozens of demonstrators in Palestinian refugee camps in the capital, as well as the south and east of the country, denounced the move as "unfair".Last month, the ministry gave companies a one-month deadline to acquire the necessary work permits. After the grace period expired last week, it started inspections, closing down non-compliant establishments and issuing others with warnings, said AFP. Critics have said the measure essentially targets Syrians who have fled the war next door, but Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon also fear they will be hit. In Beirut, security forces prevented the protesters from reaching parliament, where this year's much delayed state budget was under discussion. Palestinians in Lebanon are exempt from paying for work permits, the UN refugee agency says. But Palestinian business owners must still register and pay a quarter of the standard fee. Labor Minister Camille Abou Suleiman denied the inspections had overwhelmingly affected Palestinians. "Of the 550 violations registered since last Wednesday, only two concerned large companies owned by Palestinians," he said, according to AFP. "The Palestinian reaction is incomprehensible," the minister said. The Palestinian ambassador in Beirut, Ashraf Dabbour, on Monday called on the Lebanese government to exempt Palestinians from these measures. Palestinian movement Hamas called for "the immediate end to all closures". Azzam al-Ahmad, from the Palestine Liberation Organization, discussed the measures with Lebanese officials, saying they went against Lebanese-Palestinian efforts "to organize the residency, work and rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon".Around 174,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps across the country, a one-off government census said in 2017. In 2010, Lebanon's parliament revoked a ban that had barred them from tens of professions for years, restricting them to jobs in fields such as construction and farming. But Palestinians are still not permitted to work in professions reserved for Lebanese citizens such as medicine, law, the army and police. Palestinians began taking refuge in Lebanon with the establishment of Israel in 1948, setting up camps that have since transformed into bustling, urban districts. Lebanon says it hosts around 1.5 million Syrians, after they fled the eight-year conflict at home, who have been accused of sparking a series of economic woes in the country.

US sanctions on Hezbollah officials are a call to action for the Lebanese state
 Makram Rabah/Asharq Al Awsat/July 16/2019
Last week the US Treasury issued a new list of names designating three members of Hezbollah under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism: Hezbollah’s security chief Wafiq Safa, the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc MP Muhammad Hasan Ra’d, and Beirut MP Amin Sherri.
To many, these sanctions are the latest measure in the Trump administration’s attempts to curb Iran’s ability to supply its militias across the region. However, a closer look at the targets of the latest sanctions reveals that they are as much directed towards the Lebanese state as they are towards Iran’s proxy in the Levant.The US Treasury issued the sanctions alongside a statement warning the Lebanese government of the need to distance itself from Hezbollah, which “threatens the economic stability and security of Lebanon and the wider region, all at a cost to the Lebanese people.” According to the statement, “Hezbollah uses its operatives in Lebanon’s Parliament to manipulate institutions in support of the terrorist group’s financial and security interests, and to bolster Iran’s malign activities.”
These sanctions confirm that Hezbollah’s military wing and political wing are one and the same: despite what some European countries argue, to distinguish between the two when it comes to sanctions is delusional. Ra’d, one of the newly sanctioned Hezbollah members, confirmed the lack of distinction in his own words, quoted by the US sanctions announcement: “Hezbollah is a military resistance party ... There is no separation between politics and resistance.”
The US has been trying to convince the international community, especially its European allies, that they should not deal with Hezbollah as a political entity distinct from its terrorist military wing. While the US strives to isolate Hezbollah, the Lebanese government has shown little will to follow. Hezbollah holds three cabinet positions and has 12 seats in parliament. Following the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun has repeatedly defended Hezbollah as a part of the Lebanese government. Similarly, Prime Minister Saad Hariri has refused to move to dislodge Hezbollah from government or even block them from holding key cabinet portfolios.
The choice of Ra’d, Sherri and Safa is therefore no coincidence: the Trump administration has chosen these three specifically because they embody how Hezbollah has taken advantage of the Lebanese state to pursue its aims.
By sanctioning Muhammad Hasan Ra’d, the leader of Hezbollah's "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc in Parliament, the US is cautioning the Lebanese Parliament and the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Berri is the leader of Amal, Hezbollah’s main Shiite ally, and uses his position to promote their agenda. Sanctioning Ra’d, who was elected to Hezbollah’s Shura Council in 2009 and has close ties to Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, sends a message that membership of the Lebanese Parliament will not provide Hezbollah or its allies with political and financial cover. Likewise, it warns the Lebanese parliament that its members can and will be targeted with sanctions. The choice of Amin Sherri, a Hezbollah MP for the Beirut II constituency, confirms the US government’s willingness to protect the Lebanese banking sector against Hezbollah pressure. Sherri has been accused of threatening Lebanese banks for carrying out the measures imposed by the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, passed by the US Congress in 2018. Sanctioning Sherri sends a message to Lebanese government officials and banks: The US will punish any officials who fail to enforce the legal sanctions, and will support Lebanese banks against Hezbollah.The third on the list is Wafiq Safa, Hezbollah’s highest public security chief as head of the Liaison and Coordination Unit. Safa’s role is to liaise with other political parties and the various security agencies of the Lebanese state, especially the Lebanese Army. As a result of sanctions, Safa will no longer be able to publicly visit any of the Lebanese heads of security, especially those whose agencies are on the receiving end of financial aid and training from the US government. Therefore, by neutralizing Safa’s ability to work with the Lebanese army, the US sanctions force the Lebanese state to acknowledge that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and not a legitimate part of the Lebanese security apparatus. These sanctions are aimed at pressuring the Lebanese government into pushing back against Iranian hegemony and asserting its sovereignty. However, the Lebanese state’s response to these recent sanctions has been below par, as it continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of the stakes at hand. Prime Minister Hariri simply gave a somewhat myopic remark that such sanctions will not impede the work of his cabinet, a position which was also shared by President Aoun and Speaker Berri, with the latter branding the sanctions an “assault on all of Lebanon.”The sanctions are therefore a call to action aimed at the Lebanese state. By targeting Hezbollah operatives who have interacted closely with the Lebanese parliament, army, and financial sector, they highlight the state’s failure to recognize the threat posed by ignoring Hezbollah’s terrorist activities.
*Makram Rabah is a lecturer at the American University of Beirut, Department of History. He is the author of A Campus at War: Student Politics at the American University of Beirut, 1967-1975. He tweets @makramrabah.

The untold love story of 1971 Miss Universe Georgina Rizk
Lemma Shehadi/The National/July 16/2019
https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/art/the-untold-love-story-of-1971-miss-universe-georgina-rizk-1.886566
We discover how artist Alfred Tarazi is retelling the romance of the Lebanese beauty queen and Ali Hassan Salameh, a notorious figure of the Palestine Liberation Organisation
They were an unlikely couple. She was an international beauty queen. He was what many saw as a revolutionary with close connections to America’s Central Intelligence Agency. But in 1970s Beirut, the marriage of Georgina Rizk, a Lebanese model and winner of the Miss Universe contest in 1971, to Ali Hassan Salameh, a leading figure of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, was the talk of the town.
“They were one of the most talked-about couples in Beirut at the time. Everyone I know in the city is connected to them in some way, or remembers seeing them in restaurants and nightclubs,” says Lebanese artist Alfred Tarazi.
After their marriage in 1977, Rizk and Salameh honeymooned in Hawaii and Disneyland, Florida, on a trip that was partially facilitated and funded by the CIA. “She simply fell in love. Anyone who had met Salameh would tell you how handsome and charming he was,” explains Tarazi.
Salameh’s activities catapulted Rizk into a world of resistance and international politics that she had previously ignored. She became his second wife, adhering to an Islamic tolerance of having more than one spouse, which was both arcane in Beirut at the time and forbidden by Rizk’s own Christian faith. But their idyll was shortlived. Salameh was assassinated by agents of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in 1979, as Lebanon’s burgeoning civil war began to escalate.
Their story forms part of Tarazi’s work Two Lovers, a kinetic installation that was on display at the recent Beirut Design Week, an exhibition that takes place annually in the Lebanese capital. Tarazi drew from thousands of images from popular culture of the period, as well as oral histories, including a recent interview with Rizk herself. The project took Tarazi four years to complete.
At the installation’s heart were two canvas scrolls, encased in glass and steel frames, designed by the artist specifically for the work. They revealed a montage of images taken from the lives of Rizk and Salameh: memorable media portraits, political cartoons, press cuttings and a gigantic Mickey Mouse balloon symbolising their honeymoon.
'Two Lovers' highlights events such as Rizk and Salameh's honeymoon trip to the US. Courtesy of the artist
But the scrolls also connected the two characters to the wider popular and political culture of their time. There are references to Lebanese pop sensation Sabah, James Bond actor Roger Moore and Salameh’s political contemporaries, as well as excerpts from popular songs and details of film posters.
As part of the installation, a mechanism allowed the scrolls to unfold in any direction, which recalls traditional advertising screens. Alongside the glass casing, hundreds of images from posters and press cuttings printed in black and white hung from strings from the ceiling.
Tarazi, who trained as a graphic designer before becoming an artist, believes that print culture of the 20th century is the strongest symbol of modernity in the Middle East. His studio in the dusty industrial quarter of Quarantina reveals piles of magazines, books, newspaper archives and found objects that the artist has amassed over 14 years.
Installation view of Alfred Tarazi's work at Beirut Design Week 2019. Courtesy of the artist
The art installation features hundreds of posters and press cuttings. Courtesy of the artist
“Whether it was [relationships], culture or politics, print publishers aimed to spread revolutionary ideas as widely and to as many people as possible,” he explains. “Their work had a huge modernising impact.” Rizk came to symbolise these currents.
Two Lovers portrays Beirut in the 1970s as a hotbed of social and political ideas. “Rizk’s sexual revolution and Salameh’s political one show the breadth of ideas that were coursing through Beirut at the time,” Tarazi explains.
He is referring to the Miss Universe pageant in 1971, when Rizk became the first woman in the Middle East to be given the title, and who expressed her views in favour of pre-marital relations during a press conference.
Her comments drew criticism from the more conservative Arab media upon her return to Lebanon, and she retracted them. “Though she wanted to embrace the movement of free love, she was at heart a traditional woman, caught between global changes and local values,” says Tarazi. He recalls his recent interview with Rizk in 2018. “She was very concerned about her portrayal as a model for Lebanese magazines,” says Tarazi.
This contradiction, he argues, is a microcosm for the development of Lebanese popular and political culture at the time: “It was an ongoing tension between the global and local, modernity and tradition.”
Two Lovers also aims to challenge the portrayal of Salameh as an international terrorist. “He is often vilified as a blood-thirsty murderer,” says Tarazi, “but his story is much more nuanced.” The work revises historical portrayals of Salameh, who served as PLO leader Yasser Arafat’s chief of intelligence. “Salameh’s story was often manipulated by his enemies, and shows how leaders from Arab resistance movements are repeatedly vilified,” says Tarazi.
Salameh was linked to Black September, the organisation responsible for the kidnapping of 11 Israeli athletes, as they flew in to Germany for the 1972 Munich Olympics. The athletes were killed in the crossfire between the German police and the hostage-takers. The event caused international outcry, and led to the German police revising its anti-terrorism protocols.
But lesser-known is Salameh’s ongoing contact with the CIA through the ’70s, which ensured the protection of American diplomatic and security forces on the ground in Lebanon in those years. “If anything, the Americans owe him a debt of honour,” Tarazi says provocatively. This protection ended after Salameh’s assassination by Mossad in 1979. “With his death, the Americans lost all connections with the PLO in Lebanon,” says Tarazi. He points to the deadly bombing of the American Embassy in Beirut four years later, which killed Salameh’s main contact, CIA agent Bob Ames.
The artwork forms part of Tarazi’s wider inquiry into Lebanon’s civil war, too, which broke out in 1975 and ravaged the country for more than 15 years. “Understanding the civil war can help us understand Lebanon’s present context,” he says.
He addresses the challenge of depicting a conflict that was a history few Lebanese people will agree on. The civil war is not taught in Lebanese schools, and there is no official account of the events that took place. “History is told by the winners, but in Lebanon nobody won,” says Tarazi. But he believes the absence of an official account of the war is a strength, not a weakness.
“It is part of who we are, a part of our richness as a country,” he says. “There are many stories and versions of the events, all of them valid, and we should be looking at all of them.” As such, his collages and kinetic installations refuse to narrate events in a straightforward, linear manner.
If portraits of Rizk recall Lebanon’s lost golden age, Salameh’s mark the country’s descent into civil war. But their bittersweet pairing continues to capture the imaginations of the Lebanese and others who encounter them. They encapsulate the era’s revolutionary ideas in a story driven by passion, violence and loss. “I am not being nostalgic by focusing on the past,” insists Tarazi, “The traces of their story are still present in Lebanon today.”

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on July 16-17/2019
Trump Says U.S. Not Seeking 'Regime Change' in Iran
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 16/2019
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States is not pushing to topple Iran's leadership but is determined to stop it acquiring nuclear weapons. "We are not looking for regime change. We are not looking for that at all," Trump said during a cabinet meeting. "They can't have a nuclear weapon."

U.S. Fears Iran Seized UAE-Based Tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 16/2019
A small oil tanker from the United Arab Emirates traveling through the Strait of Hormuz entered Iranian waters and turned off its tracker two days ago, leading the U.S. to suspect Iran seized the vessel amid heightened tensions in the region, an American defense official said Tuesday. Iran offered no immediate comment on what happened to the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Riah late Saturday night, though an Emirati official acknowledged the vessel sent out no distress call. Oil tankers previously have been targeted in the wider region amid tensions between the U.S. and Iran over its unraveling nuclear deal with world powers. The concern about the Riah comes as Iran continues its own high-pressure campaign over its nuclear program after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord over a year ago. Recently, Iran has inched its uranium production and enrichment over the limits of its 2015 nuclear deal, trying to put more pressure on Europe to offer it better terms and allow it to sell its crude oil abroad. However, those tensions also have seen the U.S. send thousands of additional troops, nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and advanced fighter jets into the Mideast. Mysterious attacks on oil tankers and Iran shooting down a U.S. military surveillance drone has added to the fears of an armed conflict breaking out.The Riah, a 58-meter (190-foot) oil tanker, typically made trips from Dubai and Sharjah on the UAE's west coast before going through the strait and heading to Fujairah on the UAE's east coast. However, something happened to the vessel after 11 p.m. on Saturday, according to tracking data. Capt. Ranjith Raja of the data firm Refinitiv told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the tanker hadn't switched off its tracking in three months of trips around the UAE.
"That is a red flag," Raja said.
A U.S. defense official later told the AP that the Riah was in Iranian territorial waters near Qeshm Island, which has a Revolutionary Guard base on it. "We certainly have suspicions that it was taken," the official said. "Could it have broken down or been towed for assistance? That's a possibility. But the longer there is a period of no contact ... it's going to be a concern."The official spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter did not directly involve U.S. interests. An Emirati official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing security matter, said the vessel "did not emit a distress call."
"We are monitoring the situation with our international partners," the official said. The ship's registered owner, Dubai-based Prime Tankers LLC, told the AP it had sold the ship to another company called Mouj Al-Bahar. A man who answered a telephone number registered to the firm told the AP it didn't own any ships. The Emirati official said the ship was "neither UAE owned nor operated" and carried no Emirati personnel, without elaborating.
Separately Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country will retaliate over the seizure of an Iranian supertanker carrying 2.1 million barrels of light crude oil. The vessel was seized with the help of British Royal Marines earlier this month off Gibraltar over suspicion it was heading to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions, an operation Khamenei called "piracy" in a televised speech.
"God willing, the Islamic Republic and its committed forces will not leave this evil without a response," he said. He did not elaborate. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Saturday that Britain will facilitate the release of the ship if Iran can provide guarantees the vessel will not breach European sanctions on oil shipments to Syria. Iran previously has threatened to stop oil tankers passing through the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all crude oil passes, if it cannot sell its own oil abroad. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif seemed to suggest in a television interview that the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile program could be up for negotiations with the U.S., a possible opening for talks as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington. Zarif suggested an initially high price for such negotiations — the halt of American arms sales to both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two key U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf. Iran's ballistic missile program remains under the control of the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Khamenei.
Zarif brought up the ballistic missile suggestion during an interview with NBC News that aired Monday night while he is in New York for meetings at the United Nations. He mentioned the UAE spending $22 billion and Saudi Arabia spending $67 billion on weapons last year, many of them American-made, while Iran spent only $16 billion in comparison. "These are American weaponry that is going into our region, making our region ready to explode," Zarif said. "So if they want to talk about our missiles, they need first to stop selling all these weapons, including missiles, to our region." Iran's mission to the United Nations later called Zarif's suggestion "hypothetical.""Iran's missiles ... are absolutely and under no condition negotiable with anyone or any country, period," the mission said. Trump during his time in the White House has pointed to arms sales to the Mideast as important to the American economy, so it remains unclear how he'd react to cutting into those purchases. Since its 1979 Islamic Revolution and the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran has faced a variety of economic sanctions. That has cut into Iran's ability to buy advanced weaponry abroad. While Gulf Arab nations have purchased advanced fighter jets, Iran still relies on pre-1979 U.S. fighter jets, as well as aging Soviet MiGs and other planes.
Facing that shortfall, Iran instead invested heavily into its ballistic missile program. That's both due to sanctions and the memory of the missile attacks launched by Saddam Hussein during Iran's bloody 1980s war with Iraq. Khamenei reportedly has restricted the range of ballistic missiles manufactured in Iran to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). While that keeps Europe out of range, it means the Iranian missiles can hit much of the Middle East, including Israel and American military bases in the region. In pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump in part blamed the accord not addressing Iran's ballistic missile program. The U.S. fears Iran could use its missile technology and space program to build nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, something Tehran denies it wants to do.

Khamenei: Iran to Respond to Britain’s Piracy of Oil Tanker
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei vowed to Tuesday that Tehran will respond to Britain’s impounding of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar earlier this month. “Evil Britain commits piracy and steals our ship ... and gives it a legal appearance. Iran and those who believe in our system will not leave such evil deeds unanswered,” Khamenei said in remarks broadcast on television. The supertanker, carrying 2.1 million barrels of light crude oil, was seized with the help of British Royal Marines off Gibraltar on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Saturday that Britain will facilitate the release the ship if Iran can provide guarantees the vessel will not breach the sanctions. Iran has condemned the impounding of the tanker, warning of reciprocal measures. On Thursday, London said three Iranian vessels tried to block a British-owned tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but backed off when confronted by a Royal Navy warship. Iran denied that its vessels had done any such thing. An escalation of tensions between Western states and Iran is not in anybody’s interest, British Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said on Tuesday. “We have been consistent: Escalation in the Gulf is not in anyone’s interests and we have repeatedly stressed that to the Iranians,” the spokesman said.

Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood is Source of World’s Extremist Organizations
Cairo - Walid Abul Rahman/Asharq Al Awsat/July 16/2019
Egypt said all takfiri groups stem from the same extremist ideological source established by the Muslim Brotherhood organization, stressing the need to continue efforts to address terrorism in all its forms. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez made this stance at a meeting of the liaison strategy group of the Global Coalition against ISIS in Washington. He said victories over ISIS should not be considered a final goal, adding that the only way to eliminate terrorism lies in adopting a unified international approach on an all-out confrontation of terrorist groups, their ideology and activities. Hafez cited the initiative launched by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to renew religious discourse, praising the role played by the al-Azhar and Dar al-Iftaa to counter terrorism. He stressed that Egypt will continue to support the liaison strategy group based on its experience in combating terrorism, highlighting the role played by its religious institutions in correcting misconceptions about religion and promoting moderate Islam. An international study by Center on Religion and Geopolitics in Britain noted that 50 percent of extremists have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood or related organizations. Meanwhile, Advisor to Egypt’s Mufti, Ibrahim Najm stated that the Brotherhood is the root of extremism in the world, accusing it of adopting destructive rhetoric and inciting violence. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that organizations like the Brotherhood make false interpretations of the holy Quran to justify their actions and legitimize their crimes.

Security Council Extends Mandate of UN Mission in Hodeidah
New York - Ali Barada/Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
The United Nations Security Council voted on Monday to extend the mandate of the organization’s mission to support a peace deal in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. Its mission will be extended an additional six months and end on January 2020. The council called for the implementation of the agreement on Hodeidah and its three ports according to the Stockholm deal that was reached in December 2018 between the legitimate government and Iran-backed Houthi militias. The council members unanimously agreed to extend the mission’s mandate at the request of Britain. The mission will monitor the warring parties’ adherence to the ceasefire and redeployment of forces in Hodeidah city and its Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa ports. The United Nations is trying to broker a withdrawal from Hodeidah so UN-supervised management can take over. Government and Houthi representatives met on a UN ship in the Red Sea for talks on Sunday and Monday, a UN statement said. The two sides met as members of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, a body set up by the United Nations and chaired by Danish Lieutenant General Michael Lollesgaard to oversee the ceasefire and troop exit. The committee finalized conceptual agreement on troop withdrawals, which now required political leaders’ buy-in, the statement said. Political leaders would also have to agree on “local security forces, local authority and revenues”, the statement said, without elaborating.

Macron Urges Explanation from Iran over Detention of Academic
Asharq Al-Awsat/Tuesday, 16 July, 2019
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday demanded an explanation from Iran after the arrest last month of Franco-Iranian dual national Fariba Adelkhah, an incident that complicates Paris’ efforts to defuse tensions in the region. “What’s happened worries me a lot. We were informed for several days and I had the opportunity to express not only my disagreement but my desire to have clarifications from President (Hassan) Rouhani,” Macron told a news conference in Belgrade. “I’m waiting for the clarifications, but it’s obvious that France protects its citizens.”“No explanations at this stage have been given to me to explain in a valid way this arrest,” Macron said. Adelkhah, an academic researcher, was arrested in Iran in June by the Revolutionary Guards for allegedly spying, according to media reports over the weekend. Adelkhah, a 60-year-old anthropologist, is senior research fellow at Sciences Po in Paris. Her arrest comes as France is trying to de-escalate tension between longtime foes Iran and the United States over Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal. On Tuesday, Iran's judiciary confirmed the arrest. "She is among suspects that have been recently arrested," judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said, without specifying the accusations against her. "Now is not an appropriate time to give more information on this case," Esmaili told reporters at a news conference broadcast by the judiciary's news website Mizan Online. It was not clear when Macron spoke to Rouhani on the issue, but he officially spoke to Rouhani on July 6. At the time, there was no mention in the readout by the French presidency of Adelkhah’s arrest. Macron’s top diplomat was also in Tehran and saw Rouhani last week. France’s foreign ministry earlier on Monday demanded consular access to her “without delay.”“The French authorities in this difficult context have taken steps with Iranian authorities to get information from them on her situation and the conditions of her arrest and asked for consular access as is foreseen in these circumstances, necessary precursor for her quick release,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement. “No satisfactory response has been given to these requests.”Iran previously arrested and charged French citizens, including in 2009. Iran released that detainee a year later. Jean-Francois Bayart, a French academic and friend of Adelkhah's, said he and colleagues had alerted French authorities when the anthropologist did not return home from a trip to her homeland as scheduled on June 25. He said he thought she had been arrested on June 5 and was being held at the Evin prison in Tehran. "She has been visited by her family. She hasn't been mistreated, but I'm worried about her because she isn't physically strong," Bayart told AFP. "We don't know how long this totally unacceptable detention is going to last.""Iran doesn't recognize dual nationality, so for them she is Iranian, which is why consular access has not been permitted," he added. "But talks have taken place at the highest levels between the countries."
Adelkhah was arrested while visiting her mother.
Bayart said that Adelkhah had arrived in France in 1977 to study. Rights activists have criticized Iran’s arrests of dual nationals that they say are aimed at getting concessions from other countries. British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, has been jailed in Tehran since 2016 on sedition charges, a detention that has caused major tensions with Britain. In April, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif offered a prisoner swap to secure the release of jailed Iranians in the United States. Iranian authorities have denied holding detainees for ransom and accuse Western governments of holding Iranians on trumped-up charges. In 2016, Iran released five US citizens in a prisoner exchange as the nuclear deal was implemented.

Lawmakers Narrowly Approve Von der Leyen as EU Chief
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 16/2019
Skeptical EU lawmakers approved German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen's appointment as president of the European Commission by the narrowest of margins in a knife-edge secret ballot Tuesday. The 60-year-old conservative will take over from Jean-Claude Juncker on November 1 and become the first woman in the powerful post, but she won only 383 votes in the 751-seat parliament.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on July 16-17/2019
Turkey: Out in the Cold
Burak Bekdil/Gatestone Institute/July 16/2019
The fight for Tripoli has killed more than 750 people – not a stunning number when compared to 9/11, but not small enough to be ignored like a bomb blowing up in Paris, Istanbul or Berlin.
Earlier, during the first signs of the Arab Spring, Erdoğan took to the idea of bringing together Muslims of the Middle East and uniting them under a Turkish empire that was being reborn – with him as the new caliph.
Erdoğan was the rock star in Beirut or Cairo not because poor Arabs were desperately waiting for the return of Turks to lead them -- Turkey has serious friction with Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates -- but simply because they were programmed to cozy up to any anti-Zionist man, animal or plant.
Add to that picture a rising alliance of all those Arab states with Western states and corporate actors in exploring hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it becomes hard to find anyone who wishes to play on the Turkish side.
It looks as if the Turkish strategy team loves to bet on the loser. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's calculations on a policy of building sectarian Islam throughout the Middle East has cost him a number of Muslim countries, yet he keeps on making the same mistake.
It looks as if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's will and power to fight all of the world's infidels – Muslims with different rituals, secular Muslims, Christians and Jews – will never cease.
Earlier, during the first signs of the Arab Spring, Erdoğan took to the idea of bringing together Muslims of the Middle East and uniting them under a Turkish empire that was being reborn – with him as the new caliph.
His violent anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist rhetoric worked well to earn him Arab popularity. But the message he got was wrong.
Erdoğan was the rock star in Beirut or Cairo not because poor Arabs were desperately waiting for the return of Turks to lead them -- Turkey has been experiencing serious friction with Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates –- but simply because all of them are programmed to cozy up to any anti-Zionist man, animal or plant.
If you look at the map, you will see in Iraq a Turkish cold war with Iran and Iranian elements; in Syria, a losing war of friendly jihadists -- who work for the non-violent annihilation of Judaism -- against bad jihadists; and in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, worse than cold wars. There is also Lebanon, which may have appeared just too non-Sunni; Jordan, which was never reliable; and Egypt, the most populous Arab state and an explicitly hostile state actor against Turkey. Add to that picture a rising alliance of all those Arab states with Western states and corporate actors in exploring hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it becomes hard to find anyone who wishes to play on the Turkish side. The potential of Turkish drilling activity off Cyprus in retaliation to the opposition's bloc is merely Turkish propaganda for the Turks.
Now there is another "small Turkish problem" in another Muslim, Maghreb country. Having lost the possibility of proceeding through diplomacy with all the neighboring countries in the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey apparently decided to take sides in a post-Gadhafi Libya, torn by civil wars. Ideologically, Erdoğan's Turkey might be expected to go for the hearts and minds related to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. It did.
Before Ghadhafi was toppled and executed, Erdoğan was against any Western army playing a role in Libya "What the hell is NATO doing in Libya?" he said. "... This is out of the question." Then he accused the French of lacking a conscience in their Libyan operations. Erdoğan apparently thought he could build a Libya that was pro-Hamas, pro-Sunni and pro-Turkey, but French plans diverged.
It looks as if the Turkish strategy team loves to bet on the loser. Erdoğan's calculations on a policy of building sectarian Islam throughout the Middle East has cost him a number of Muslim countries, yet he keeps on making the same mistake.
On June 29, Eastern Libyan forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar said they would ban any commercial flights from Libya to Turkey and ban Turkish ships from docking in the country. Turkey, on the other hand, has been supporting Libya's internationally recognized government in Tripoli, which recently dealt a blow to eastern (Haftar's) forces trying to seize the capital in a three-month campaign. The Libyans, it seems, simply do not want the Turks in their battle, while Turkey insists on taking a role.
Haftar and his backers say they are trying to free the capital from militias, which they blame for destabilizing Libya since the fall of General Muammar Gadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Haftar's critics accuse him of trying to seize power through force and deepening a conflict between factions based in the east and west of the sprawling North African country. A spokesman for the LNA, Haftar's self-styled liberation army, Ahmed al-Mesmari, said the country had "come under illegitimate Turkish aggression" in recent weeks. "Turkey has become directly involved in the battle (for Tripoli), with its soldiers, planes, sea ships and all the supplies that now reach Misrata, Tripoli and Zuwara directly," al-Mesmari said.
On July 1, six Turkish citizens were detained and released in Libya by forces loyal to renegade military commander Haftar. Haftar's forces have accused Turkey of providing air cover for the military of the rival government in Tripoli. Ankara says its involvement in Libya is aimed at promoting "regional peace and stability".
The fight for Tripoli has killed more than 750 people – not a stunning number when compared to 9/11, but not small enough to be ignored like a bomb blowing up in Paris, Istanbul or Berlin.
A decade ago, Erdoğan promised that "Israel would soon be internationally isolated." Just look at the political map of the eastern Mediterranean, however, and it will not be too difficult to find the only country that is clearly isolated.
In "Lords of the Horizon - A History of the Ottoman Empire," Jason Goodwin notes that he writes "about a people who do not exist. The word 'Ottoman' does not describe a place. Nobody nowadays speaks their language. Only a few professors can begin to understand their poetry... [Yet] For six hundred years the Ottoman empire swelled and declined".
*Burak Bekdil, one of Turkey's leading journalists, was recently fired from the country's most noted newspaper after 29 years, for writing in Gatestone what is taking place in Turkey. He is a Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
© 2019 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written conse

Facebook: More Government Censorship
Judith Bergman/Gatestone Institute/July 16/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14293/facebook-government-
As indicated by the US in its statement, the problem with these government-led drives for more censorship in the name of fighting "terrorist and violent extremist content online" is where one draws the line as to what constitutes "hate speech", and the extent to which such drives can manage to uphold the rights of citizens to free speech.
In Europe, hate-speech laws have increasingly been used to shut down the speech of citizens who disagree with government migration policies.
The claim of preventing the spread of terrorist content has also been used as an excuse in attempts to shut down political opponents....
At the same time, the different signatories to the Christchurch Call to Action appear to have different views on what constitutes terrorism in the first place, further complicating how one should define 'terrorist content'.
It is often argued that Facebook is a private enterprise and therefore free to censor whatever it wishes.
However, Facebook and the other internet giants, such as Google, YouTube (a subsidiary of Google), and Twitter, have come to control the flow of information on the internet, to such a degree – as virtual monopolies -- that they have become the 'public square' of our times. That outcome makes them far more than merely private enterprises and endows them with a special responsibility: Those who cannot publish on Facebook or Twitter, effectively no longer have full freedom of speech.
Governments have always known that free speech can be controlled on social media -- there is no internet freedom in countries such as China or Russia. For years, however, Western governments have also been controlling the conduct of free speech on the internet – in the name of fighting supposed 'hate speech'. Controlling free speech has taken the form of 'cooperating' with the internet giants -- Facebook, Google, Twitter and You Tube -- on voluntary initiatives such as the EU "Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech online", which requires social media giants to act as censors on behalf of the European Union and to remove within 24 hours content that is regarded as "illegal hate speech".
This control of free speech has also brought about national legislation, such as Germany's censorship law, in 2018. This law requires social media platforms to delete or block any alleged online "criminal offenses", such as libel, slander, defamation or incitement, within 24 hours of receipt of a user complaint. If the platforms fail to do so, the German government can fine them up to 50 million euros for failing to comply with the law.
Two new initiatives look likely to intensify government censorship on the internet.
In France, a recent government report about Facebook, commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron, has called for increasing government oversight over the social media giant. This new 'oversight' includes allowing an "independent regulator" to police how Facebook deals with alleged hate speech. The report has also called for laws allowing the French government to investigate and fine social networks that "don't take responsibility" for the content published by users on their websites. As part of writing the report, French regulators who spent six months inside Facebook, monitoring its policies, concluded, "The inadequacy and lack of credibility in the self-regulatory approach adopted by the largest platforms justify public intervention to make them more responsible".
France's parliament is currently debating legislation that would give such a new 'independent regulator' the power to fine tech companies up to 4% of their global revenue if they do not do enough to remove 'hateful content' from their network. "I am hopeful that it [the French proposal] can become a model that can be used across the EU", Mark Zuckerberg said after a recent meeting with Macron.
In Paris on May 15, 17 countries[1], the European Commission, and eight major tech companies[2] adopted[3] the Christchurch Call to Action agreement. This agreement, initiated by France and New Zealand, is named after a terrorist attack that killed 51 Muslim worshipers in two Christchurch mosques in March. According to the Christchurch Call's website:
"The Christchurch Call is a commitment by Governments and tech companies to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. It rests on the conviction that a free, open and secure internet offers extraordinary benefits to society. Respect for freedom of expression is fundamental. However, no one has the right to create and share terrorist and violent extremist content online.
"The support shown in Paris for the Christchurch Call is just the first step. We are now calling on other countries, companies, and organisations to join us."
The US did not sign the agreement. The White House wrote in an official statement:
"We continue to be proactive in our efforts to counter terrorist content online while also continuing to respect freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Further, we maintain that the best tool to defeat terrorist speech is productive speech, and thus we emphasize the importance of promoting credible, alternative narratives as the primary means by which we can defeat terrorist messaging."
As indicated by the US in its statement, the problem with these government-led drives for more censorship in the name of fighting "terrorist and violent extremist content online" is where one draws the line as to what constitutes "hate speech", and the extent to which such drives can manage to uphold the rights of citizens to free speech. In Europe, hate-speech laws have increasingly been used to shut down the speech of citizens who disagree with government migration policies.
The claim of preventing the spread of terrorist content has also been used as an excuse in attempts to shut down political opponents, such as Marine Le Pen, the leader of the Rassemblement National (National Rally) party, formerly known as Front National. She has been charged with circulating "violent messages that incite terrorism or pornography or seriously harm human dignity" and could be facing three years' imprisonment and a fine of possibly €75,000 ($90,000). In 2015, she had tweeted images of atrocities committed by ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and that could be viewed by a minor. One of the images showed the body of James Foley, the American journalist beheaded by ISIS terrorists, while the others showed a man in an orange jumpsuit being driven over by a tank and another of a man being burned alive in a cage.
In Denmark, an outspoken critic of Islam, Jaleh Tavakoli, a Danish-Iranian blogger and author of the book, Public Secrets of Islam, shared an online video of the rape and murder by Islamic State terrorists in Morocco of two Scandinavian young women. Tavakoli was not only charged for sharing the video but was threatened that the state would take away her foster daughter. Tavakoli explained that she shared the video because the international media was reporting that the Danish woman had been beheaded -- while no such information was to be found in the Danish media. How are citizens supposed to be able to even talk about Islamic terrorism -- or any terrorism -- if governments criminalize people who post information about the atrocities committed by such terrorists?
At the same time, the different signatories to the Christchurch Call to Action appear to have different views on what constitutes terrorism in the first place, further complicating how one should define 'terrorist content'. The UK's decision earlier this year to proscribe Hezbollah in its entirety, for example, stands in stark contrast to the rest of the EU, which designated only Hezbollah's "military wing" as a terrorist organization in 2013, after a Hezbollah terrorist attack in July 2012 in Burgas, Bulgaria, killed five Israeli tourists and their local bus driver, and injured another 32 people. Until then, the EU had not viewed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization at all. The US had already designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization in 1997.
Given all of the above, it is impossible not to view these new government-led attempts at curbing free speech, however well-meaning they are intended to be, with acute alarm for the future of free speech.
*Judith Bergman, a columnist, lawyer and political analyst, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
[1] Australia, Canada , France, Germany, Indonesia, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan , Jordan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
[2] Amazon, Daily Motion, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Qwant, Twitter and YouTube.
[3] Only 9 of the supporting countries and the European Commission were physically present at the meeting on May 16.
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Will New Party Deepen Erdogan’s Isolation?
Salman Al-dossary/Asharq Al-Awsat/July 16/2019
The move was coming even if late. After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ruled for a long time with undisputed authority, his party controlling and sweeping the rivals, the time came when his nearest confidant abandoned him and jumped out of his boat.
As his former ally and former prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu - who was a good friend and then became a bitter opponent – is on his way to establish a new party, another close member of the narrow circle and one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), former Economy Minister Ali Babacan, submitted his resignation, saying Turkey was in need of a "new vision."
Babacan, as Davutoglu, is heading to establish another party, born out of the old shaky political coalition. The new alliance will group leaders who are upset with the president’s policies that have brought their country to its own fate. Not only the former president, Abdullah Gul, is the strongest supporter of the new endeavor, but dozens of senior AKP members and parliamentarians are waiting for the moment when the party is officially announced.
The new move is ready to be launched. Its program is well defined and prepared. The Erdogan ship is no longer safe to board. It is now sailing in a sea of broken waves, with a lost compass. The Erdogan regime has destroyed the state’s relations and alliances, which has negatively affected the internal situation.
Erdogan is fighting to maintain his party’s popularity through which he was controlling with a strong grip the state’s internal and external policies; but all this has become from the past. Many of the founders of the “Justice and Development” are no longer in his camp, and the rest are either afraid to abandon him or awaiting his departure. All this happens in the midst of internal political calamity after the party lost major municipalities in Turkey. This comes in parallel with a great political failure in foreign relations, whether with the European Union on the one hand, or with the United States of America on the other.
Then the S-400 deal with Russia came to make matters worse, and Erdogan found himself alone, not supported by any of his former allies, who were decreasing while his enemies were multiplying.
Perhaps the successive rifts are considered by Erdogan as a small snowball that does not imply any trouble. Didn’t he describe those who left as traitors, only because they wanted to correct the path?
However, the great difficulties facing his country, driven by reckless policies at home and abroad, will push towards a bigger snowball, until it reaches a level that Erdogan can no longer withstand.
No one knows the moment when the Sultan will see his power erode and his popularity fade away; but it is a moment that will undoubtedly come, and its signs are obvious for all those who are watching the aggressive policies pursued by Erdogan.
While he has been long resting on his party’s power and allies and the weakness of his rivals, the equation has changed in less than a year, and the Justice and Development has been slapped from within. While the top founders are scrambling to jump out of the Sultan’s train, all political parties and forces are standing against Erdogan’s policies. It is certainly the first time his rule is that weak. Even if he is trying to show that he was still powerful, the circumstances surrounding him are exposing his weakness, revealing his isolation, and further alienating his friends.

The Path Forward With North Korea: ‘Denuclearization Lite’
James Stavridis/Asharq Al-Awsat/July 16/2019
Over the past couple of weeks, there have been increasing signs that the Trump administration – and particularly the president himself – is moderating its position on North Korea’s stockpile of nuclear weapons. Gone are the adamant statements that the US will only accept complete, immediate and irreversible denuclearization. Instead, we’ve seen a symbolic but historic meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone, more flattering rhetoric about the North Korean dictator – the president calling the meeting “an honor” - and hints that the US could accept a longer timeline in the movement toward denuclearization. What has caused this shift? And, just as importantly, would it work in military terms?
The short answer to the first question is simple: reality. No serious observer of the Korean situation in general and Kim in particular would bet that the impetuous young leader would ever willingly surrender his nuclear weapons. They are obviously his best guarantee against US-imposed regime change. As the certainty of this has sunk in for the Trump team, they are seeking another path to a demonstrable foreign policy “win” that can be touted in the run-up to the 2020 election.
While the ultimate shape of what might be termed “denuclearization lite” remains unclear, one can envision the general outline. For starters, the US would likely demand a full, verifiable accounting of North Korea’s active nuclear and missile programs, with specific geographic positions identified. The US could also push for a reduction in the total stockpile to a number that international inspectors could keep under permanent observation, say 50 warheads of a specified level of kilotons each. The warheads would be held in a small number of locations, three or so, each with a technical oversight system (cameras, electronic monitors) to alert inspectors if the facilities were breached. There could be a similar plan for the launcher systems, but they would be based different parts of the country than the warheads. All of this would be verified by international teams, which would have a mandate to inspect the facilities at any time.
In exchange, the North would receive sanctions relief and a large amount of development aid, although perhaps not of the kind Trump famously proposed for North Korea’s beaches in his first meeting with Kim: “Boy, look at that view. Wouldn't that make a great condo?”
There are plenty of valid objections to such a scheme. One is that Trump wouldn’t be delivering fully on the problem he has correctly identified: Making sure Kim can’t attack the US with a nuclear weapon. On the other hand, America and its allies live under that threat from Russia and China, and are “comfortable” with other nuclear-armed nations such as India, Israel and Pakistan.
The real question, then, is how the US could mitigate the risk of a nuclear North Korea from a military perspective after it achieves this nuclear-lite deal through diplomatic negotiations. As unsettling as the thought may be of Kim actually having all the pieces needed for deliverable nuclear weapons - with US approval - it is a circumstance that can be managed militarily, through three key steps.
The first is intelligence. Currently, the US lacks adequate visibility into the North Korean nuclear program. Putting the warheads and missiles into a small number of facilities under an international inspection regime is a big improvement, but not sufficient in itself. The US can do better by working more closely with South Korea, which has a fairly good intelligence pipe into the north. The Pentagon and the intelligence community also need to infiltrate North Korea’s cyber systems; despite the regime’s efforts to remain isolated from the world, it will inexorably rely more on the internet. And there should be no relaxing of the effort to observe North Korea by the traditional space-based satellite intelligence constellation.
A second key will be countermeasures. Increasing America’s ability to counter the ballistic missile threat would reduce Kim’s leverage considerably. This means developing better ground-based missile defenses, both on the Korean peninsula and over the US homeland and territories; electronic countermeasures to jam North Korean systems; offensive cyber-operations directed against not only the North’s missile systems but also its electric grid; and development of directed energy weapons (aka laser beams).
Finally, there is good old-fashioned deterrence, which kept the Soviet threat at bay for decades. Deterrence is composed of capability plus credibility, meaning the adversary knows what you are capable of doing and also understands you are willing to do it. In this case, it would be the capability of the US and South Korea to not only defeat North Korean forces but ultimately overthrow the regime. Giving credibility to that threat involves stepping up military exercises with South Korea and other Asian allies – some of which, unfortunately, Trump has curtailed - and being explicit in how America would react if provoked.
Trump’s erratic approach toward North Korea has been a real problem, but his shifting of America’s negotiating stance to reflect the reality of what is actually achievable through diplomacy is a good move. Increasing US intelligence capabilities, countermeasures and deterrence to mitigate the long-term threat is an even better one.