LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
July 25/2019
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/eliasnews19/english.july25.19.htm
News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006
Bible Quotations For today
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not
let them be afraid
Saint John 14/21-27:"They who have my commandments and keep them
are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I
will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him,
‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the
world?’Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father
will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever
does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine,
but is from the Father who sent me. ‘I have said these things to you while I am
still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to
you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese
& Lebanese Related News published on July 24-25/2019
As Iran-U.S. Tensions Rise, Hezbollah Readies for War With Israel
Hezbollah Operative Killed In Southern Syria Was Part Of Golan File
Lebanon Accuses Israel of Threatening Its Civilian Infrastructure
Report: Lebanon Accuses Israel of Threatening Civilian Infrastructure
Lebanon Issues Arrest Warrant against Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
Arslan’s Unyielding Stance Hinders Mediation, Prevents Convening of Lebanese
Cabinet
Jumblat Calls for Adjoining Choueifat, Qabrshmoun Cases
Report: Proposals to Unravel Qabrshmoun Crisis 'Unproductive'
Arslan Warns of Revenge Acts if Aley Incident Not Referred to Judicial Council
Grand Serail Meeting Tackles Waste Dumping at Costa Brava
Mashrou' Leila Remove FB Posts after Interrogation
Berri: There is positive progress in oil borders file
Hassan, Chidiac, Safadi, Boustani partake in dialogue session on 'women
partnership in developing socio economic vision'
Hariri chairs two meetings on garbage issue: Roadmap including a radical
solution and a temporary one
Hariri: Reforms to change the way of thinking and modernize the laws
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published on July 24-25/2019
Israel Attacks Iranian Stronghold In Syria-Report
Israel Launches Strikes on Southern Syria
Turkey Unimpressed by U.S. Buffer Zone Ideas in Syria
Bombardment Kills 18 Civilians in Northwest Syria
Netanyahu Releases Video, Hints of Bombing Iraq
Netanyahu Aborted Lieberman Plans to Assassinate Hamas Chief
Israel Says Foiled Iranian Spy Ring Attempt
UK Denies Sending Any Mediators to Iran as Rouhani Says Ready to Negotiate
Pentagon Says European Gulf Security Plan 'Complementary' to U.S. Moves
Iran Denies US Intercepted its Drones
6,000 Unregistered Migrants Arrested in Istanbul
UN Urged to Investigate Kidnapping of Libyan MP
Arrest Warrants for 11 Iraqi Ministers Suspected of Corruption
EgyptAir Executive: British Airways Suspension of Cairo Flights is Illogical
Boris Johnson Becomes British PM with Brexit Vow
May Slaps Down 'Stop Brexit' Cry in Farewell Speech
Libya Navy Seizes Italian Fishing Boat
Deaths as suicide bomber detonates in Mogadishu, mayor badly wounded
Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous
sources published
on July 24-25/2019
As Iran-U.S. Tensions Rise, Hezbollah Readies for War With Israel/Jesse
Rosenfeld/Daily Beast/July 24/2019
Hezbollah Operative Killed In Southern Syria Was Part Of Golan File/Jerusalem
Post/July 24/2019
Israel Attacks Iranian Stronghold In Syria-Report/Jerusalem Post/Reuters/July
24/2019
Gulf Confrontation a Battle of Nerves/Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/July
24/2019
Why Was a Saudi Attacked by Palestinians?/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone
Institute/July 24/2019
Greece's New Government: Undoing the Damage of Years of Socialist Rule/Maria
Polizoidou/Gatestone Institute/July 24/2019
Not even loyalist journalists safe in Assad’s Syria/Haid Haid/Arab News/July
24/2019
What is Iran hoping to achieve with Gulf confrontations/Dr. Azeem Ibrahim/Arab
News/July 24/2019
The US needs to talk about China/Minxin Pei,/Arab News/July 24/2019
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News published on July 24-25/2019
As Iran-U.S. Tensions Rise, Hezbollah Readies for War With Israel
Jesse Rosenfeld/Daily Beast/July 24/2019
Hezbollah field commanders say they’re redeploying toward Israel’s border, ready
to fight in a devastating conflagration.
BEIRUT—The tranquil winding roads of Lebanon’s mountainous interior are far from
the tense waters of the Persian Gulf where President Donald Trump says America
came within 10 minutes of war with Iran a few weeks ago. And where, he said on
Thursday, the U.S. shot down an Iranian drone. But if fighting ever does begin,
these hills and valleys near the border with Israel will quickly be on the front
lines. And according to Hezbollah commanders, that moment could be coming soon.
When Trump talked of war, he meant a shooting war in the conventional sense. But
for Iran and its allies, it’s Trump’s economic war with its suffocating
sanctions that is bringing the region to the brink of armed conflict. The
targets of Trump’s weaponized dollar increasingly see resorting to military
engagements as the only response left.Here in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s commanders
are close allies and clients of Iran—and they are targeted by U.S. sanctions as
well. They warn that if the pressure continues these rugged hills where the
Party of God fought bloody guerrilla campaigns to end 15 years of Israeli
occupation in 2000 and repel an Israeli invasion in 2006 could erupt once again.
And this time, they say, the combat will be far more devastating. Hezbollah’s
forces, battle-hardened in the Syrian civil war, have begun redeploying toward
the Israeli border, not only in Lebanon, but in Syria opposite the
Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights. Hezbollah fighters who spoke to The
Daily Beast say their organization is hurting from sanctions and ready to
initiate hostilities—if and when Tehran deems that necessary. “The sanctions now
have us preparing for dealing with the Israeli front,” says “Commander Samir,” a
Hezbollah officer in charge of 800 fighters on Lebanon’s border with Israel. He
declines to use his real name because he is not authorized to speak to the
media. “We will fire the first shot this time,” he says. “The pressure may
actually be consolidating and motivating Iran’s proxies.”Hezbollah’s military
wing has changed fundamentally since its 2012 entrance into the war in Syria to
prop up the Assad regime, transforming into a regional fighting force the Shia
organization inspired by the Iranian revolution that the U.S. lists as a
terrorist group. When Trump offers the reasons he pulled out of the nuclear deal
with Iran last year, precipitating the current crisis, he cites Iran’s support
for militias that extend its power and influence across the region as something
the U.S. intends to end—with Hezbollah the main target. But the pressure may
actually be consolidating and motivating Iran’s proxies. Hezbollah is still
fighting in Syria while training Iranian allied militias in Iraq and Yemen. The
commander says his organization and Iran have moved past their split with
Palestinian allies over Syria, where they were on opposite sides of the Syrian
revolution as it turned into a bloody regional proxy war, and Iran is once again
providing training and support for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. From a
living room overlooking the valleys where he became a veteran, ambushing the
Israeli army and melting away into the surrounding hills, Samir says the next
war will be nothing like those that came before.
Hezbollah Operative Killed In Southern Syria Was Part Of
Golan File
Jerusalem Post/July 24/2019
Mashour Zidan was killed Monday in the southern Syrian town of Sasa not far from
the Israeli Golan Heights
The Hezbollah operative killed in Syria was part of the group’s clandestine
“Golan File,” which aims to establish and entrench a covert force in the Syrian
Golan Heights that is designed to act against Israel when given the order.
Mashour Zidan, a resident of the Druze village of Hader in the Syrian Golan
Heights, was killed Monday after an IED planted in his car exploded as he was
driving near the town of Sasa in southern Syria. While Syria’s official news
agency SANA blamed his death on an IED, Syrian opposition reports stated that he
was killed in an airstrike by an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle. Israel, which
does not comment on foreign reports, has remained mum on his death. Hezbollah
has also remained quiet and has not blamed Israel for his death.According to the
Lebanese news site al-Modon, Zidan was believed to have been killed fighting in
Syria’s eastern Ghouta after he “mysteriously disappeared four months earlier.”
But, according to the report, Zidan had been summoned to Lebanon before he
returned to Syria with a new identity.
His “mysterious” disappearance came around the time Israel announced that it
uncovered Hezbollah’s Golan File network. According to a report in Haaretz,
Zidan was responsible for recruiting volunteers from villages near the border
with Israel in order to gather intelligence about IDF movements and hide
explosive devices, light weapons, machine guns and anti-tank missiles in their
homes. The Golan File has its headquarters in Damascus and Beirut, and there are
tens of operatives operating in the Syrian towns of Hadar, Quinetra and Erneh
who collect intelligence on Israel and military movement on the Israeli Golan
Heights.
According to the IDF, the Hezbollah militants involved in the clandestine
network focus on familiarizing themselves with the Syrian Golan Heights and on
gathering intelligence on Israel and the border area. They are also working to
establish intelligence gathering capabilities against Israel, operating from
civilian observation posts and regime military positions near the border. Senior
intelligence officers in the IDF’s Northern Command said that Hezbollah’s Golan
File began in the summer following the reconquering of the Syrian Golan by
regime troops. Operatives involved in the file have weaponry available from the
civil war and, if needed, will receive additional weaponry from Lebanon or
existing arsenals kept by Hezbollah and Iran. The IDF believes that the next war
on the northern border will not be contained to one front, but along the entire
northern border with both Lebanon and Syria. The military also expects that
during the next war, Hezbollah will try to bring the fight to the home front by
infiltrating Israeli communities to inflict significant civilian and military
casualties. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said in mid-July that the group
had decreased the number of its fighters supporting the regime of Bashar Assad
in Syria, and had redeployed the troops to southern Lebanon as well as the
Syrian Golan Heights. Two days before Zidan was assassinated, the Daily Beast
published a report with several Hezbollah commanders as saying that the majority
of deployment has taken place on the Lebanese side of the border, the group has
also bolstered its forces on the Syrian Golan Heights, bordering Israel.
Lebanon Accuses Israel of Threatening Its Civilian
Infrastructure
Reuters/Haaretz/July 24/2019
Israel's UN envoy claimed at the Security Council that Beirut's port has become
'the port of Hezbollah,' saying it's used by Iran to supply the group with
weapons. Lebanon accused Israel on Tuesday of threatening its civilian
infrastructure after Israel told the United Nations Security Council that Iran
was exploiting the Port of Beirut to smuggle weapons to the Hezbollah movement.
Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, said that in 2018 and 2019, "Israel found
that Iran and the Quds Force have begun to advance the exploitation of the
civilian maritime channels, and specifically the Port of Beirut.""The Port of
Beirut is now the Port of Hezbollah," Danon told the 15-member Security Council.
Israel sees Hezbollah, against which it fought a month-long war in 2006, as the
biggest threat on its borders. Lebanese UN Ambassador Amal Mudallali said the
Lebanese saw such accusations a "direct threats on their peace and civilian
infrastructure." Hezbollah is part of Lebanon's coalition government. If he is
using them to prepare the ground and the international community for an attack
on Lebanon's civilian ports and airport and its infrastructure - as they did in
2006 - this council should not stay silent," she said. Speaking in the council
later on Tuesday, Iran's deputy UN ambassador, Eshagh Al-Habib, did not directly
address the Israeli accusations, but said Danon had "unsuccessfully tried to
distract attention away from the crimes and unlawful policies of its regime."
Report: Lebanon Accuses Israel of Threatening Civilian
Infrastructure
Naharnet/July 24/2019
Lebanon's ambassador to the United Nations, Amal Mudallali, slammed Israel’s
claims at the UN Security Council that the Port of Beirut was used to “smuggle”
weapons to Hizbullah, and accused Israel of threatening Lebanon’s civilian
infrastructure, media reports said on Wednesday. “The Lebanese see such
accusations as direct threats to peace and civilian infrastructure,” said
Mudallali following accusations directed against Lebanon by the Israeli
ambassador at the UN. “If these threats are used to prepare the grounds and
international community for an attack on Lebanon's airports and civilian ports
and infrastructure -as they did back in 2006- this council should not stay
silent," Mudallali said. The Israeli ambassador claimed at the UN Security
Council that Iran was using the port of Beirut to “smuggle” weapons to Hizbullah.
“In 2018 and 2019, Israel found that Iran and the Quds Force were taking action
to exploit civilian maritime channels, especially the port of Beirut,” Israel's
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon said. Addressing the
15-member UN Security Council, Danon said: “The port of Beirut is now the port
of Hizbullah.”
Lebanon Issues Arrest Warrant against Saif al-Islam Gaddafi
New York, Beirut - Ali Barda and Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24
July, 2019
A Lebanese investigative judge issued on Tuesday arrest warrants in absentia
against Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi and nine other Libyan defendants in the case of
the disappearance of Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his two companions, Sheikh Mohammed
Yaacoub and journalist Abbas Badreddine. Judge Zaher Hamadeh is following up on
the remaining necessary legal proceedings, with the warrants being forwarded to
Interpol. The Lebanese judiciary holds the regime of late Libyan leader Moammar
al-Gaddafi responsible for the disappearance Sadr, who went missing with his two
companions in Libya on August 31, 1978. Hamadeh’s arrest warrant includes
Moammar Gaddafi’s former intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi and Ahmad Ramadan,
a top aide to the late ruler and former head of the regime’s intelligence
office. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported on Tuesday that the
Foreign Ministry at the Libyan Government of National repeatedly rejected to
notify the defendants in due process. Therefore, Lebanon notified the
Libyan authorities by post, as stipulated in the Code of Criminal Procedures.
Sadr was a highly revered Shi’ite cleric who founded the Lebanese AMAL Movement
in 1974. Separately, the UN Security Council listened on Tuesday to UN Special
Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis concerning the implementation of resolution
1701. Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Kubis mainly spoke about the
situation at the Lebanese-Israeli borders. During the session, US diplomats
focused on the issue of tunnels Hezbollah had dug into Israel under the Lebanese
border, wondering why Lebanese authorities refused to cooperate with UNIFIL’s
investigations. The diplomats also stressed the need to prevent the entry of
armed groups in UNIFIL's Area of Operations in South Lebanon from the Litani
River to the Blue Line.
Arslan’s Unyielding Stance Hinders Mediation, Prevents
Convening of Lebanese Cabinet
Beirut - Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Ongoing Lebanese political disputes over incidents in the Chouf in late June -
which claimed the lives of two aides of Minister of State for Displaced Affairs
Saleh al-Gharib – are preventing the Cabinet from convening for the fourth
consecutive week after mediation failed to reach a settlement to the crisis. The
General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers did not distribute the agenda of
the cabinet session on Tuesday, meaning that no session would be held this week.
Meanwhile, contacts are underway to contain the crisis, including a meeting
between President Michel Aoun and General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim. The
Chouf incident escalated as supporters of Progressive Socialist Party chief and
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt protested against a planned visit to the area by
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, a Jumblatt adversary. Gharib, a Druze
politician, is politically aligned with Bassil and backed by Jumblatt’s Druze
rival MP Talal Arslan, the leader of the Lebanese Democratic Party. The PSP has
accused Gharib’s companions of opening fire at the protesters, leading to an
exchange of fire in which two PSP supporters were also wounded. The Lebanese
Democratic Party is insisting on referring the file to the Judicial Council – a
demand rejected by the PSP, stressing the need for the completion of the
investigations before the referral of the case to the judicial authority. In
light of the ongoing bickering, the Cabinet has failed to meet to approve
pending issues, including administrative appointments and decisions related to
the 2019 budget law. According to Mustaqbal MP Mohammad al-Hajjar, Prime
Minister Saad Hariri’s decision to suspend government work was based on the need
to resolve the political crisis to avoid any escalation during the ministerial
meeting. Arslan, for his part, insists on his request to refer the case to the
Judicial Council, which is seen by political sources as driving the crisis into
a deadlock, given his refusal to back down from his demand.
Jumblat Calls for Adjoining Choueifat, Qabrshmoun Cases
Naharnet/July 24/2019
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Wednesday called for
adjoining the cases of the Choueifat and Qabrshmoun incidents and referring them
together to the Judicial Council. Calling for “respecting people and their
intelligence,” Jumblat said the Qabrshmoun incident “resulted from the previous
chaos that marred some armed demonstrations all the way to the Choueifat crime,
whose perpetrator has fled to Syria.” He was referring to the convoys that
roamed the Chouf region in support of Arab Tawhid Party leader Wiam Wahhab in
November 2018 and the armed clash with Lebanese Democratic Party supporters in
May that year in which a PSP supporter was killed. “That’s why I believe that
it’s about time the two cases were adjoined and the relevant authorities would
decide how and if it is necessary to refer the two cases together to the
Judicial Council,” Jumblat added.
Wahhab snapped back swiftly via Twitter, urging Jumblat to put an end to his “illusions.”“Walid
Beik, how can we convince you that the (convoys’) passage in al-Mukhtara was not
targeted against you and that there was no global conspiracy behind it. Comrade
Suqrat al-Ashqar took the decision and it wasn’t an armed demonstration; the
convoy was rather faced by armed checkpoints,” Wahhab said. “Calm down a bit, no
one is targeting you, and please get rid of your illusions,” he added.
Report: Proposals to Unravel Qabrshmoun Crisis
'Unproductive'
Naharnet/July 24/2019
General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim reportedly told President Michel Aoun that
the suggested solutions to resolve the Qabrshmoun crisis have “failed to bear
fruition” in light of adamant positions to refer the case to the Judicial
Council, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.
Abbas reportedly said the Lebanese Democratic Party still “insists” the case be
referred to the Judicial Council and that it be listed on the agenda of the
Cabinet which Prime Minister Saad Hariri rejects. The June 30 Qabrshmoun deadly
incident forced the suspension of Cabinet sessions since July 2. Hizbullah
sources on the other hand, told the daily “nothing indicates the Cabinet could
meet anytime soon.” They noted that although Hizbullah has no role in converging
the rival parties, but it believes that MP Talal Arslan and his Minister were
assaulted.”Sources of the Free Patriotic Movement, an ally of the LDP, said
referring the case to the judiciary is meant to hold offenders accountable for
their actions. “The Judicial Council is only a means, but accountability is the
main goal.”Two bodyguards of State Minister for Refugee Affairs Saleh al-Gharib
were killed and a third was wounded in a clash with Progressive Socialist Party
supporters in the Aley town of Qabrshmoun on June 30. The minister escaped
unharmed as a PSP supporter was wounded. Gharib and his party have described the
incident as an ambush and an assassination attempt while the PSP has accused the
minister’s bodyguards of forcing their way and firing on protesters. Gharib’s
party has insisted that the case should be referred to the Judicial Council, a
demand opposed by the PSP and its allies.
Arslan Warns of Revenge Acts if Aley Incident Not Referred
to Judicial Council
Naharnet/July 24/2019
Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan on Wednesday warned that “people
might take their right with their own hands” should authorities fail to refer
the file of the deadly Qabrshmoun incident to the Judicial Council. “No one
would be able to control the situation at that moment,” he cautioned after talks
in Ain el-Tineh with Speaker Nabih Berri. “It is shameful for the state not to
take what happened very seriously and not to refer it to the Judicial Council,”
he said. As for cabinet sessions, Arslan said he is not opposed to the
resumption of meetings. “We are not against holding a cabinet session and we
call on it to convene immediately and put the issue to a vote,” he said, noting
that those who vote against the move would bear the responsibility for “what
might happen in Mount Lebanon and what might happen in the future.” “We will
accept the results of the investigation when it gets referred to the Judicial
Council and I announce to everyone that no one enjoys a cover and I call for
interrogating everyone, starting by (State Minister for Refugee Affairs) Saleh
al-Gharib,” Arslan went on to say. Two of Gharib’s bodyguards were killed and a
third was wounded in a clash with Progressive Socialist Party supporters in the
Aley town of Qabrshmoun on June 30. The minister escaped unharmed as a PSP
supporter was wounded. Gharib and his party have described the incident as an
ambush and an assassination attempt while the PSP has accused the minister’s
bodyguards of forcing their way and firing on protesters. Gharib’s party has
insisted that the case should be referred to the Judicial Council, a demand
opposed by the PSP and its allies. The case has forced the suspension of cabinet
sessions since July 2.
Grand Serail Meeting Tackles Waste Dumping at Costa Brava
Naharnet/July 24/2019
Prime Minister Saad Hariri chaired a meeting at the Grand Serail on Wednesday
with several ministers and heads of municipalities where discussions focused on
the options available as concerns emerge over a new garbage crisis after the
closure of Costa Brava landfill.
“The meeting was good and productive. Closure of the Costa Brava landfill is an
old decision that was postponed,” said State Minister for Parliament Affairs
Mahmoud Qmati after the meeting. “It is not linked to any political
development,” he assured. He added that “sanitary landfills are a temporary
solution until the root solutions are reached," noting that "a road map is being
prepared to solve the waste problem in Lebanon entirely.”The meeting was held in
the presence of Ministers: Ali Hassan Khalil, Mahmoud Qmati and Fadi Jreissati;
and the head of the Southern Suburbs Municipalities Mohammed Dergham, head of
Ghobeiry's Municipality Maen al Khalil, head of Haret Hreik Municipality Ziad
Waked, head of Burj al-Brajneh Municipality Atef Mansour, head of Mrayyjeh
Municipality Samir Abi Khalil, head of Choueifat Municipality Shdid Hanna.
Southern Beirut municipalities said on Monday they will prevent the garbage of
Beirut, Baabda and Mount Lebanon from entering the landfill. MTV station said
that the garbage crisis will "probably surface again" following the decision of
head of the Southern Suburbs Municipalities to stop receiving trash from Beirut,
Baabda and Mount Lebanon.
"We will prevent the garbage of Beirut, Baabda and Mount Lebanon from entering
to Costa Brava. We will only receive trash from Choueifat and Beirut's southern
suburbs," said Dergham on Tuesday. In remarks he made to MTV, Beirut Mayor Jamal
Itani said: “We truly wish the garbage crisis does not return to the streets of
Beirut. The waste in Beirut is also produced by around one million individuals
who visit the capital daily (from various Lebanese region),” he said. Itani said
he “regrets” rejections they face to establish garbage incinerators in the
capital: “It is regretful how no one rejects the presence of around 950 garbage
incinerators around Lebanon, meanwhile we face opposition to build ones in
Beirut which badly needs sustainable solution.”
Mashrou' Leila Remove FB Posts after Interrogation
Naharnet/July 24/2019
Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Ghada Aoun on Wednesday ordered the release of the
members of Lebanese rock band Mashrou’s Leila after they were interrogated by
the State Security agency. “The band’s members removed Facebook posts that
insult Christian sanctities at the behest of the Directorate General of State
Security,” the National News Agency said. The lawyer Christine Nakhoul, hired by
social media activist Philippe Seif, had filed a lawsuit against the band’s
upcoming gig at the Byblos International Festival, which has sparked a storm of
controversy in the country over accusations that the band insults Christianity
in its songs and on its social media accounts. The lawsuit accuses the band of
“insulting sanctities and religions and stirring sectarian sentiments.”The
band’s supporters and opponents have been clashing on social networking websites
for days now, amid calls for banning the concert. Some users, including Free
Patriotic Movement official Naji Hayek, have openly threatened to resort to
violence to prevent the gig from taking place. The Maronite Archbishopric of
Byblos has meanwhile issued a statement calling for “barring the Mashrou’ Leila
performance on the land of holiness, culture and history,” in reference to the
city of Byblos. The band had been banned from performing in Jordan in 2016 over
similar accusations. The director of the Byblos International Festival has said
that there are efforts to solve the issue out of the public eye. With its unique
blend of intricate indie rock and enigmatic Arabic poetry, the band has become
one of the Middle East's biggest bands. Its lyrics touch on sexuality but have
also tackled the curses of Lebanese and Arab politics, materialism and social
strife, often with satirical twists.
Berri: There is positive progress in oil borders file
NNA - Wed 24 Jul 2019
Deputies quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as saying "there is positive progress in the
oil land and sea border file.""The agreement, which includes six points, has
been completed by 90% and there remains one point still under discussion," Berri
told Deputies at the Wednesday Gathering, showing optimism that a final solution
to this file could be reached. On the government issue, Berri reportedly uttered
surprise over the cabinet's non-convening for over three weeks, "especially
since there are issues that require holding such sessions, the latest of which
being the Palestinian workers' issue.""All international indicators are waiting
for the Council of Ministers to keep pace with the work of the House of
Representatives after the completion of the budget," Berri said.
Hassan, Chidiac, Safadi, Boustani partake in dialogue
session on 'women partnership in developing socio economic vision'
NNA - Wed 24 Jul 2019
Lebanon's Economic and Social Council on Wednesday hosted a dialogue session
entitled "Women's Partnership and Engagement in Developing Socio-Economic
Vision" with Minister of Interior and Municipalities Rayya El Hassan, Energy and
Water Minister, Nada Boustani, Minister of State for Administrative Development
Affairs Dr May Chidiac, and Minister of State for Economic Empowerment of Women
and Youth, Violette Khairallah Al-Safadi, at the Council's headquarters in
Downtown Beirut.
Partaking in the dialgue session had been Head of the Social and Economic
Council, Charles Arbid, in the presence of former ministers Jean Ogassabian and
Mona Afeish, Economy Director General Alia Abbas, National News Agency (NNA)
Director Laure Sleiman Saab, and Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Advisor Hazar
Caracallah.
Scores of media, economic, social and concerned dignitaries were also present.
Opening up today's dialogue session, Arbid stressed the role of women in
policy-making after bearing out their noteworthy presence in the political,
economic and social domains and succeeding in carrying out their full-fledged
roles in society and in their leadership positions.
In her delivered word, Minister El Hassan hailed the work of the Council,
deeming it as the right platform for devising socio-economic policies.
On her assumption of the Interior Ministry's portfolio, El Hassan said that one
of the top priorities of her work at the Ministry had been the drug dossier,
stressing the need for developing a Drug treatment plan.
The Minister disclosed that she is currently working on this dossier in
cooperation with the Ministry of Health and other concerned ministries.
El Hassan added that she is working on other dossiers, as part of her
priorities, including traffic safety dossier and the election law dossier.
Minister Chidiac, in turn, dwelt on the political representation of women in the
country, saying Lebanon has succeeded to a certain extent in breaking the
barriers placed on the path of women, taking a step forward by appointing four
women ministers in the current government.
Chidiac said the four appointed ministers share one key concern, notably how to
advance the country, develop its human resources and modernize its public
administration, away from narrow calculations and futile sensitivities.
Chidiac also underlined the paramount importance of the elements of hard work,
self-esteem, perseverance and engagement in helping women attain their aspired
success and fulfillment.
She also disclosed that the Ministry shall, in the future, link its
anti-corruption projects in the public sector with the gender issue and women's
representation, notably with many studies showing that the presence of women in
political decision-making posts inevitably reduces cases of corruption.
Minister Al Safadi, for her part, stressed that for women to play an effective
role in building the economy and developing society, they must start to be
involved in policy making.
On the participation of women in decision-making, Safadi called on "parties to
balance the presence of men and women within their leadership ranks."
Safadi underscored the need to protect the public sector from corruption and
simultaneously maintain the development of the private sector. She also
underscored the paramount importance of women empowerment, notably rural women.
Minister Boustani, in turn, said that her Ministry is one of the key ministries
directly associated with economic and social affairs, saying the electricity
dossier had been at the top of her priorities since her assumption of the
Ministry's portfolio.
She added that amongst her priorities of work at the Ministry had been the
energy dossier and the water and sewage dossier.
"We have launched a national plan for water, sanitation and sewage treatment and
we are cooperating with all the relevant ministries," she said, adding that this
plan shall be soon forwarded to the Council of Ministers, hoping that all would
agree on advancing this highly important national plan.
Hariri chairs two meetings on garbage issue: Roadmap
including a radical solution and a temporary one
NNA - Wed 24 Jul 2019 at 16:13 Politics
The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri chaired today at the Grand
Serail a meeting dedicated to the Costa Brava landfill.
Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Mahmoud Komati and Fadi Jreissati, the head of the
federation of Southern Suburb Municipalities Mohammad Dargham, the president of
Ghobeiry's Municipality Maan Khalil, the president of Haret Hreik's Municipality
Ziad Waked, the president of Burj Al Barajneh's Municipality Atef Mansour, the
president of Mreijeh's Municipality Samir Abi Khalil, and the vice president of
Choueifat's Municipality Chdid Hanna attended.
After the meeting, Minister Komati said: "The meeting was good and positive. The
problem of the Costa Brava was discussed in depth, and most importantly, there
is no political background to this problem at all. This subject is old and has
been delayed and is not linked to any political issue."
He added: "The meeting underscored that all the people of the areas benefiting
from the landfill of the Costa Brava, whether in Southern Mount Lebanon,
Northern Mount Lebanon, Beirut, the suburb or Baabda, are our people and we do
not accept that they be harmed. We should reach radical solutions to the problem
of garbage in Lebanon starting with the federation of Southern Suburb
Municipalities.
What happened was that the problem began to be seriously raised at the level of
Lebanon and in the Ministerial Committee that met yesterday and was dedicated to
the issue of solid waste treatment. This pushed toward an action to find a rapid
solution to the whole waste issue in Lebanon.
The meeting was positive and the Federation of Municipalities was very
responsive. They explained the problem away from politics and a roadmap was
presented for a solution to the waste problem in Lebanon, including the Costa
Brava. There is radical solution that requires 4 years, during which a temporary
solution will be implemented. All things were discussed and the atmosphere was
very good. The Federation will meet again today and announce its position. There
will be follow-up meetings between Prime Minister Hariri and the concerned
ministers a month later and the examined solution is for all Lebanon".
Question: Does this mean that the landfill will reopen again for the waste of
Aley, Shouf and Beirut?
Komati: This demand will be discussed today by the Federation of Municipalities
of the Suburb that will take the decision in the light of the promises and the
road map.
Question: What are the government's recommendations in this regard?
Komati: The government asked that the landfill work for an additional time,
until the solution starts.
Question: Is there a financial problem? Does the Union of Municipalities collect
dues for each ton of waste entering the landfill?
Komati: Within the solution and the roadmap, a solution has been found for this
issue.
Question: How much are their dues?
Komati: There are two years' benefits that have not been paid to the
municipalities in respect of the Costa Brava. But there are also financial
benefits for all the municipalities in Lebanon that were raised today.
Question: What is the radical solution that you are talking about?
Komati: This will be announced later. We will not talk about the details now.
There is a clear intention and seriousness that when a decision is taken by the
Government, the implementation will be accompanied by security protection.
Refusal is no longer acceptable. All people refuse to have the landfill close to
them, where do we put these wastes?
Question: Does this mean that we will hear about new landfills soon?
Komati: We said that any radical solution needs 4 years, and therefore we need a
temporary solution. If we start with the radical solution, we will have no
temporary solution except for sanitary landfills, to reach the radical solution.
On the other hand, Hariri chaired a meeting attended by Defense Minister Elias
Bou Saab, Environment Minister Fadi Jreissati and MPs Edgar Maalouf, Elias
Hankash, Sami Gemayel, Fadi Abillama and Hagop Pakradounian.
After the meeting, Jreissati said: "As it became known, the issue of garbage is
considered a major national crisis that no one can ignore, and the government is
dealing with it seriously. I can say that the meetings held to discuss this
issue are positive. There is an open dialogue and each team is expressing its
concerns. As a government, we have the opportunity to present all the plans that
we work on as environment ministry or as government."
He added: "The meeting of Metn deputies with Prime Minister Hariri today was
part of the positive and open dialogue, and we all have all responsibility to
work to reach a solution. We agreed to hold another meeting next week to take
the final decision on this subject, and the debate ended today in a positive
way, although we frankly did not reach a result, but the dialogue is very
positive and Prime Minister Hariri is committed to continue the discussion next
week."
Question: Will there be an expansion of the Burj Hammoud landfill?
Jreissati: The decision will be taken next week.
Question: Are you waiting for a political agreement?
Jreaissati: Rather a technical agreement.
Hariri: Reforms to change the way of thinking and modernize the laws
NNA - Wed 24 Jul 2019
The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri received today at the
Grand Serail 33 Lebanese students who are currently studying abroad and visiting
Lebanon as part of the political tourism program organized by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. Hariri told the students that the government intends to carry
out a number of structural reforms at all levels in the country, especially in
terms of changing the way of thinking and modernizing old laws. He said: "We
started to modernize a large number of laws, to re-evaluate the structure of the
state and we hope to adopt a new approach in work, in order to reach
e-government. For us, CEDRE is a key engine for re-launching the economy
alongside the McKinsey's study of 1,500 projects in different productive
sectors, including agriculture, telecommunications, industry, tourism,
religious, culture, archaeological sites... We certainly have many problems,
especially garbage, which is one of the major problems facing the country. Last
month we held weekly meetings to find a solution to this crisis. I think that by
the end of August we will have a solution but the problem is that there is a
lack of confidence among Lebanese citizens in any project, whether to turn waste
into energy or any other solution. What we have to do as a government is to find
solutions and make sure they are implemented at the highest international
standards, and then we're done with this problem."Norwegian Ambassador Hariri
also received the Norwegian Ambassador to Lebanon Lene Lind in a farewell visit.
The meeting focused on the situation in Lebanon and the region as well as the
bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on
July 24-25/2019
Israel Attacks Iranian Stronghold In
Syria-Report
Jerusalem Post/Reuters/July 24/2019
Last month the Syrian army said it had shot down a number of Israeli missiles
targeting the location.
Syrian state television said on Wednesday there were reports of an Israeli
attack on a strategic area in southern Syria where Western intelligence sources
previously said Iranian-backed militias are known to be based. According
to Ynet, explosions began around 12:40 a.m. near the Golan Heights. Then again
at 1:00 a.m. two more explosions were heard. One in the Quneitra area and
another in Tel al-Hara in the northwest of Daraa.This area had long been an
outpost for Russian forces but was later taken by Iranian-backed militias,
according to Western intelligence sources. Tel Haraa is a strategically located
area in southern Deraa province overlooking the Israeli-held Golan Heights. It
was for many years a major Russian military radar outpost until rebels took it
over in 2014 before it was again recaptured by the Syrian army last year. The
zone has been a target of Israeli raids against Tehran-backed militias which
have become entrenched in southern Syria and the Golan Heights near the border
with Israel. Last month the Syrian army said it had shot down a number of
Israeli missiles targeting the location.In recent years, Israel has carried out
hundreds of strikes in Syria that it says have targeted its regional archrival,
Iran, as well as Lebanon's Hezbollah, which it calls the biggest threat to its
borders.
Israel Launches Strikes on Southern Syria
Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Israel struck Syrian regime positions in the Tall al-Hara region in the Daraa
province, south of Damascus, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The
“probably Israeli” attacks also targeted two areas in the neighboring province
of Quneitra, it added. "The regime's anti-aircraft defense has been activated to
counter the attack," director of the Britain-based Observatory Rami Abdel Rahman
said. "Some missiles have been shot down, others have hit their target."The
Observatory reported "loss of life" without giving further details. Syria's
state news agency SANA said the Israeli strike targeted Syrian military
positions in Tall al-Hara. Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in
Syria since the beginning of its conflict in 2011, targeting forces loyal to
regime leader Bashar Assad and his allies Iran and Hezbollah. The conflict has
killed more than 370,000 people and drawn in world powers since it started with
the brutal repression of anti-regime protests. Israeli strikes have previously
targeted Tall al-Hara where Hezbollah has installed a radar system and the
regime has erected anti-aircraft batteries, according to the Observatory. At the
end of June, six civilians and nine pro-regime fighters were killed in Israeli
strikes near Damascus and in the central province of Homs, it added. Israel says
it is determined to prevent its arch-foe Iran from entrenching itself militarily
in Syria, where Tehran backs Assad. Israel insists that it has the right to
continue to target positions held by Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah out of
self-defense. Tall al-Hara is a strategically located area in southern Daraa
province overlooking the Israeli-held Golan Heights. It was for many years a
major Russian military radar outpost until opposition factions took it over in
2014 before it was again recaptured by the regime last year.
Turkey Unimpressed by U.S. Buffer Zone Ideas in Syria
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
Turkey said Wednesday that it was not satisfied with the buffer zone solutions
offered by the United States in northern Syria, aimed at preventing clashes
between Turkish and Kurdish forces. "The latest U.S. proposals are not
satisfactory," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the state-run Anadolu news
agency. "We should say things clearly: we have the impression that (the United
States) is trying to buy time," he added. "A deal must be reached quickly on a
security zone. Our patience has run out."The two countries began talks on
Tuesday after Turkey repeatedly threatened to launch an offensive against
Kurdish forces in Syria. The buffer zone idea was first mooted by U.S. President
Donald Trump in January. The US has provided extensive support to the Syrian
Kurdish YPG militia in Syria. The YPG has led the fighting against the Islamic
State (IS) group in Syria, but Ankara sees it as a terrorist off-shoot of
Kurdish militants inside Turkey. Turkey has launched two previous offensives
into Syria against IS and the YPG, in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
Bombardment Kills 18 Civilians in Northwest Syria
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
Bombardment by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally killed 18 civilians
including five children in northwest Syria Wednesday, a monitor said, in the
latest violence to hit the jihadist-run bastion. The Syrian regime and its
Russian ally have stepped up their deadly bombardment of Idlib province and
adjacent areas in Aleppo and Hama provinces since late April. Among those killed
Wednesday were 10 civilians including three children, all from the same family,
hit by Russian air strikes on a farm near the town of Khan Sheikhun in Idlib
province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Eight others including
two children lost their lives in regime air strikes and artillery fire in other
parts of the bastion of some three million people, the Britain-based monitor
said. The spike in violence since late April has killed around 720 civilians,
according to the Observatory, which relies on sources inside Syria for its
information. More than 330,000 people have fled violence in the area over the
past three months, the United Nations says. On Monday, air strikes killed at
least 50 civilians in various parts of the bastion. Mark Cutts, U.N. deputy
regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, this week described a
worsening "nightmare" unfolding in Idlib. He described Monday's aerial onslaught
as "one of the deadliest attacks on civilian areas that we have seen since the
upsurge in fighting." The Idlib region has since January been administered by
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group led by Syria's former al-Qaida affiliate. But
other jihadists and rebels are also present in the area. Syria's war has killed
more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with a
brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.
Netanyahu Releases Video, Hints of Bombing Iraq
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a new election video, hinting
to a possible Israeli role in an attack carried out on Friday by a drone
targeting an Iranian base north of Baghdad. Netanyahu tweeted an ad on Monday
mocking Blue and White party co-leader Yair Lapid, who wants to become foreign
minister if his party wins the upcoming elections. The ad sported a phonetic
transcription of Lapid’s statements in English during an interview with CNN,
indicating he was making up non-existent words. It then went on to show
Netanyahu speaking eloquently in English, during the 73rd session of the UN
General Assembly meetings in September 2018, hinting at possible Israeli
airstrikes on Iranian sites in Iraq. He specified back then “a military base of
the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq.”Israeli commentators linked this video
to the news of the drone that attacked a base belonging to Iran-linked
paramilitary groups in northern Salahuddin province in Iraq on Friday. No
organization or state has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the
Pentagon denied any US link or involvement. Israel has refrained from commenting
but press reports have linked Israel with the attack. “Israel has recently
passed on to the US and EU countries messages indicating that if the Iranian
presence in Iraq is not addressed, Israel will not remain idle and will have to
act,” Walla news website quoted senior political sources as saying. Sources said
that Israel is talking about the possibility of Iran establishing precision
missile factories and military bases that the Quds Force could use in a possible
war against it. The website linked the report of a non-Israeli site specialized
in monitoring aircraft movements, in which it said the attack was carried out by
an Israeli F-35 fighter jet, to Netanyahu’s statements during the reception of
two F-35 fighter jets in southern Israel's Nevatim airbase last week. In his
statements, Netanyahu said the jets can reach “anywhere in the Middle East,”
including Iran.
Netanyahu Aborted Lieberman Plans to Assassinate Hamas
Chief
Tel Aviv - Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman revealed on Monday that Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly prevented him from executing plans he
had prepared to assassinate Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. His statements during an
electoral meeting were in response to repeated harsh criticism by Netanyahu in
which he said Lieberman “doesn’t match words with deeds.”Netanyahu revealed that
Lieberman had repeatedly addressed the possibility of assassinating Haniyeh, but
he never acted on his words when he assumed the defense portfolio.
“I’ve decided to tackle this subject for the first time today and put an end to
the series of lies,” Lieberman said during a meeting with a group of
Russian-Jewish activists from his party. “I have submitted an integrated plan
several times to the Cabinet to assassinate Haniyeh, and every time Netanyahu
volunteered to abort it.”“I proposed assassinating Haniyeh before 2015 elections
and promised the public to carry out the assassination two days after taking
office as defense minister,” Lieberman added. “When I took office in 2017, I
submitted a very clear and integrated plan that couldn’t be interpreted
differently to assassinate Haniyeh and other officials, but Netanyahu aborted
it,” he continued. Lieberman appeared to be particularly angry with Netanyahu
for running an election campaign against him on the Russian street, warning
Russian Jews of the premier’s deceit. He said the PM does not know how to tell
the truth and does not care for the people, Russians and Oriental and Ashkenazi
Jews. All he cares about is retaining his position in power.
Israel Says Foiled Iranian Spy Ring Attempt
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
Israel's domestic intelligence service said Wednesday that the country's
security forces had uncovered Iranian intelligence efforts to recruit Israeli
Arabs and Palestinians. A statement from the Shin Bet did not give the number or
identities of suspects or say if any had been arrested or charged but said that
the alleged Iranian-run operation was discovered "in recent months.""The network
was based in Syria under Iranian guidance and was led by a Syrian operative
nicknamed 'Abu Jihad'", it said. "It attempted to recruit people via preliminary
contacts based on fictitious Facebook profiles and -- later -- messaging apps."
"The affair joins other recent events in which terrorist elements (including
those from Hamas and Hezbollah) have established contacts with Israeli Arabs and
Palestinians over the internet in order to recruit them for intelligence
gathering and terrorist activity," the statement added. It said that those
contacted were asked to gather data on sites such as military bases and police
stations with a view to providing Iran with potential Israeli targets. "The
decisive majority of Israeli citizens refused to cooperate," it added. Israel's
Arab minority -- who number more than 1.3 million -- are the descendants of
Palestinians who stayed on their land when the state of Israel was established
in 1948. Israel considers Iran its archfoe and has carried out hundreds of
strikes in neighboring Syria against what it says are Iranian and Hezbollah
military targets. It has vowed to keep Iran from entrenching itself militarily
there. On Sunday Israeli cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi boasted on public radio
how his country had been killing Iranians for the past two years. "We strike the
Iranians hundreds of times in Syria," he said in an interview. "Sometimes we
acknowledge it and sometimes foreign reports reveal it." Syria's state news
agency said that Israel fired missiles at Syrian military positions held by the
government and its allies early on Wednesday. The missiles were fired into
southern Syria, close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel's military
declined comment. Last month Israeli military prosecutors charged a
Palestinian-Jordanian accused of working to set up Iranian spy networks in the
Jewish state and the occupied West Bank. In 2018 Israel charged three
Palestinians with planning "terrorist" attacks on behalf of Iran, and in 2015 an
Israeli court sentenced an Iranian-born Belgian citizen to seven years in prison
for spying for Tehran while posing as a businessman.
UK Denies Sending Any Mediators to Iran as Rouhani Says
Ready to Negotiate
Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Britain has not sent any representatives to Tehran, a British source said after
Iranian media reported that a mediator had been sent to discuss the freeing of a
British-flagged tanker seized by Iran. "We are not aware of any representatives
being sent as mediators to Iran," a British diplomatic source said. The UK is in
a tense standoff with Tehran over British authorities' seizure of an Iranian
tanker in early July and Iran's detention of a UK-flagged ship in the Gulf last
week. Wednesday’s denial came as Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran is
ready for "just" negotiations but not if they mean surrender.
Rouhani seemed to be referring to possible negotiations with the United States.
US President Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran
last year and reimposed sanctions on it, but has said he is willing to hold
talks with Tehran. "As long as I have the responsibility for the executive
duties of the country, we are completely ready for just, legal and honest
negotiations to solve the problems," Rouhani said, according to his official
website. "But at the same time we are not ready to sit at the table of surrender
under the name of negotiations." Amid soaring tensions in the region, Trump said
in late June that he had called off strikes against Iran at the last minute in
response to the destruction of a US drone. A series of attacks on oil
tankers in the Gulf region, as well as Iran's seizure of a British-flagged
tanker in retaliation for Britain impounding one of its own vessels in
Gibraltar, have turned the area into a powder keg.
Pentagon Says European Gulf Security Plan 'Complementary'
to U.S. Moves
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
Britain's plans for a European-led protection force for Gulf shipping lanes is
"complementary" to plans by the United States to prevent "provocative actions"
by Iran, new Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday. "I think it's all
complementary," Esper told reporters when asked about the initiative which
London, Paris and Berlin have been working on since Tehran seized a
British-flagged tanker in the Gulf's strategic Strait of Hormuz last week.
"There will be clearly coordination between us all. CENTCOM will be the
coordinating authority," he added, referring to the U.S. Central Command
responsible for American forces in the region. Esper, speaking to reporters for
the first time since formally taking office late Tuesday after the U.S. Senate
confirmed his appointment, said such an effort would work "whether we do that as
one big group, or as subgroups."The two key things for Washington are to
"maintain freedom of navigation" in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf, and
"deterring provocative actions from Iran," the Pentagon chief said. The United
States wants to mount an international coalition to escort ships through the
Gulf but so far, few countries have signed on, with Washington's allies
concerned about the situation escalating into a full-blown regional conflict.
The Europeans want to safeguard maritime traffic in the Gulf but do not want to
align themselves with President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" strategy in
dealing with Iran, as they are hoping to salvage a 2015 international deal with
Tehran on its nuclear program. The United States unilaterally withdrew from that
agreement in May last year, and relations between Tehran and Washington have
been tense ever since. U.S. forces are prepared to escort U.S.-flagged ships
through the Strait of Hormuz "to the degree that the risk demands it," Esper
said.
Iran Denies US Intercepted its Drones
Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Iran denied on Wednesday Washington’s allegations that the US military had
intercepted its drones last week. Iran's defense minister, Amir Hatami, told
reporters that "if someone claims he should provide evidence," adding that "none
of our drones have been intercepted."He said that when Iran shot down a US drone
last month it shared images of the wreckage to verify it. The United States said
last Thursday that a Navy ship had destroyed an Iranian drone in the Strait of
Hormuz after the aircraft threatened the vessel, but Iran said it had no
information about losing a drone. US Central Command said Tuesday that one
Iranian drone crashed into the sea after the USS Boxer took what Central Command
called "defensive action" against it last Thursday. It said the Boxer also
"engaged" a second Iranian drone at the same time, but could not confirm it was
destroyed. "We are confident we brought down one drone, we may have brought down
a second," General Kenneth McKenzie told CBS News in an interview. A US
official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the warship
Boxer may have brought down a second drone last week, though they were still
working to confirm it. "We brought down one for sure. ... There might have been
a second," said the official. Tensions in the Gulf region are high, with fears
that the United States and Iran could stumble into war. The United States has
blamed Iran for a series of attacks since mid-May on shipping around the Strait
of Hormuz, the world's most important oil artery. Tehran rejects the
allegations. Iran in June shot down a US military surveillance drone in the Gulf
with a surface-to-air missile. Iran says the drone was in its airspace, but
Washington says it was in international skies. President Donald Trump said at
the time the United States had come close to launching a military strike on Iran
in retaliation for the downing of the US drone.
6,000 Unregistered Migrants Arrested in Istanbul
Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
A crackdown on unregistered migrants in Istanbul has seen 6,000 arrests,
including Afghans and Syrians, in the past two weeks, Turkey's interior minister
said Wednesday. "We have been carrying out an operation since July 12... We have
caught 6,122 people in Istanbul, including 2,600 Afghans," Interior Minister
Suleyman Soylu told TV station NTV. He said Syrians were part of the group,
without giving numbers. There has been concern in recent days over reports that
hundreds of Syrian refugees have been sent back to Syria, after being forced to
sign consent forms in Turkish that they do not understand.
Soylu denied the claims. "When we catch Syrians who are not registered, we send
them to refugee camps," he said, citing a camp in the Turkish border province of
Hatay. However, Agence France Presse quoted him as saying that some Syrians were
choosing to go back to their home country "voluntarily" to areas where fighting
has abated. Turkey has more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees -- the highest
number in the world. Most have "temporary protection" permits but these restrict
them to the province in which they were registered. The current crackdown is
aimed at those who live in Istanbul without a permit to stay in the city. A
coalition of Syrian NGOs said Monday that more than 600 Syrians -- mostly with
protection permits issued in other provinces -- were arrested in Istanbul last
week and deported back to Syria, rather than to their assigned provinces. A
survey published this month by Kadir Has University in Istanbul showed growing
hostility towards Syrians, rising from 54.5 percent of respondents in 2017 to
67.7 percent in 2019.
UN Urged to Investigate Kidnapping of Libyan MP
Cairo - Jamal Jawhar/Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and all member states should form an
investigative committee into the disappearance of Libyan House of
Representatives (HoR) member Siham Sergewa, lawmaker Jalal al-Shuwaihdi has
said. Shuwaihdi issued a memo, a copy of which was received by Asharq Al-Awsat,
describing the forced disappearance as a blatant violation of all international
norms and basic human rights. The Benghazi MP said the city is unstable amid
kidnappings, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances, in addition to
stopping the families of victims from accepting condolences in their homes.
Shuwaihdi indicated that the kidnapping of the MP was a violation of the
sanctity of her home and an assault on her family after they were beaten and
terrorized. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that he handed over the memo to the
political affairs committee of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
He attributed Sergewa’s abduction to her criticism of militia practices in
Libya, and the eastern region and Benghazi in particular. The MP said in his
memo that the UN’s response to the kidnapping was unsatisfactory, stressing the
need to investigate this crime and many others committed before. Sergewa was
abducted from her home in Benghazi by an armed militia and has not been heard
from since last week. Hours before her abduction, the MP was in Cairo. Sergewa’s
daughter announced the kidnapping on the MP’s Facebook page and posted photos,
saying: “I'm Dr Siham's daughter... and this is our home. They kidnapped my
mother and shot my father with two bullets in his leg, and destroyed our house
and car. We are still looking for my mother. “UNSMIL and many international
organizations expressed concern over Sergewa’s disappearance, demanding her
immediate release. “Enforced disappearance, unlawful arrest and abduction based
on political views or affiliations constitute a serious blow to the rule of
law,” the UN mission said in a statement. The Presidential Council of the
Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) also expressed its deep
concern over the abduction by “the militias in Benghazi.”
Arrest Warrants for 11 Iraqi Ministers Suspected of
Corruption
Baghdad - Hamza Mustafa/Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Tuesday that arrest warrants have
been issued for 11 ministers and ministerial-level officials suspected of
corruption. "The Anti-Corruption Council has strengthened its measures to fight
corruption and to pursue the corrupt. We will mention the names of the accused
if the investigations prove their corruption," the prime minister said. Mahdi
told a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting that 4,117 cases are
not yet resolved in various government institutions. A reliable source told
Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the arrest warrants don’t include current cabinet
ministers, saying some of the former ministers live abroad. On another level,
Abdul Mahdi said that Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) will not be
integrated into the army or police because it falls within a different category.
He added that Iraq will not accept for any armed party to remain outside state
control. Earlier, the PM announced that the official decree has become effective
regarding the restructuring of the PMF and transferring its fighters to camps
away from cities.
EgyptAir Executive: British Airways Suspension of Cairo
Flights is Illogical
Asharq Al-Awsat/Wednesday, 24 July, 2019
Vice chairman of EgyptAir Holding Co, Sherif Ezzat Badrous described Tuesday
British Airways’ decision to suspend flights to Cairo for several days was
“without a logical reason.”He told reporters at a ceremony marking the delivery
of the carrier’s newest Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner that Cairo airport is safe and
EgyptAir continues to operate in a “very safe environment.”“What happened three
days ago was unexpected completely, and without a logical reason,” Sherif Ezzat
Badrous said. “Until now, at this moment, we don’t have any logical reason” for
the actions taken by British Airways. “You can ask them about the true reasons,”
he added. British Airways, part of International Airlines Group, suspended
flights to Cairo on Saturday for seven days “as a security precaution” as it
reviews security at the Cairo airport. Later on Saturday, Germany’s Lufthansa
said it had canceled services from Munich and Frankfurt to Cairo, but it resumed
flights on Sunday. On Sunday, Egypt’s aviation minister, Younis Al-Masry,
“expressed his displeasure at British Airways’ taking a decision unilaterally
concerning the security of Egyptian airports without referring to the competent
Egyptian authorities,” the Aviation Ministry said in a statement. Other airlines
were continuing to operate flights to Cairo. Air France had decided to maintain
its service to Cairo after liaising with French and Egyptian authorities, an
airline spokesman said in a statement sent to Reuters. Emirates flights were
operating to schedule, a spokeswoman said. The website for Abu Dhabi’s Etihad
showed its services were also operating, and a spokesman said the airline was
monitoring the security situation in Cairo.
Boris Johnson Becomes British PM with Brexit Vow
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
Boris Johnson took over as Britain's prime minister Wednesday, promising to pull
his country out of the European Union on October 31 by any means necessary. A
day after winning the leadership of his Conservative party, the former London
mayor and figurehead of the 2016 Brexit campaign formally replaced Theresa May.
His ascent is the culmination of a lifelong ambition for the blond-haired
politician, who delights in playing the clown but now faces an immense challenge
ahead. Johnson has promised to deliver Brexit in three months' time but faces
opposition in Brussels and has only a wafer-thin majority in the British
parliament. Beloved by many for his refusal to take life too seriously, he is
accused by others of divisive rhetoric, a flexible approach to the truth and
incompetence. Before he even took office, several pro-European ministers quit in
protest at his threat to leave the EU without a divorce agreement to ease the
split.
Opposition Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn challenged Johnson to call a snap general
election, saying he has no mandate from the public to govern. Although he won a
landslide of Conservative party members, a YouGov survey Wednesday found
Johnson's approval rating was just 31 percent among the public. Even his
appointment was disrupted by climate protesters, who briefly stopped his convoy
heading to Buckingham Palace to be nominated by Queen Elizabeth II.
Brexit challenge
Johnson is expected to swiftly announce his new cabinet, and his first
appointment proved predictably contentious. He named as a top adviser Dominic
Cummings, a combative character who helped lead the victorious "Vote Leave"
campaign during the 2016 EU referendum. May resigned after failing to get her
plan for leaving the EU through parliament, forcing her to twice delay Britain's
departure date. Johnson has vowed to renegotiate her deal or take Britain out of
the bloc at the next deadline, October 31, without any agreement with Brussels.
But the EU refuses to reopen the text, while some of his own MPs have said they
might even bring down the government rather than accept a damaging "no deal"
exit. May took over three years ago promising to deal with the "burning
injustices" in society, but leaves behind a divided party, country and Brexit in
doubt. In a short speech in Downing Street, before tendering her resignation to
the queen at the palace, she wished Johnson "every good fortune."A heckler
shouted "Stop Brexit" as she stood with her husband Philip by her side, to which
she retorted: "I think not." But she emphasized that Brexit should be done "in a
way that works for the whole United Kingdom", amid fears a disorderly divorce
could cause irreparable damage to ties between England, Northern Ireland and
Scotland. During his victory speech on Tuesday, Johnson urged Britain to "ping
off the guy-ropes of self-doubt and negativity" and vowed to unite the country.
A source in his campaign team said he would build a diverse cabinet with more
women and a record number of ethnic minority politicians. Sajid Javid, the son
of a Pakistani immigrants and currently May's interior minister, has been widely
tipped to take over as finance minister.
'Britain Trump'
Brexit aside, the most immediate problem facing Johnson is a stand-off with Iran
after Tehran seized a UK-flagged tanker in the Gulf last week. The current
foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, was Johnson's rival for the leadership and is
not expected to keep his job, although he may stay in cabinet. May's government
also provoked the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump this month with the leak of
diplomatic cables criticizing the White House. Johnson has emphasized the
importance of Britain's relations with the United States. And Trump was one of
the first to congratulate Johnson on his victory saying he would be "great" and
describing him as "Britain Trump". Trump suggested Johnson would work together
well with anti-EU figurehead Nigel Farage, whose Brexit Party has taken a big
chunk of euroskeptic votes from the Conservatives. Johnson has ruled out any
electoral pact.
May Slaps Down 'Stop Brexit' Cry in Farewell Speech
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
Outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May fended off an anti-Brexit heckler
during her farewell speech on Wednesday just before tendering her resignation.
May's speech in Downing Street outside her Number 10 office was interrupted by a
yell of "Stop Brexit!" from beyond the security gates at the end of the road. "I
think not," she retorted, before returning to prepared remarks. Perennial anti-Brexit
heckler Steve Bray spends his time standing outside parliament hollering "Stop
Brexit!" at passing politicians and during live television broadcasts. Some MPs
and newscasters have found his months of incessant yelling tedious and
infuriating; some admire his tenacity. The holler came as May, flanked by staff
and her husband Philip, was thanking those around her for their support during
her fraught three years in office. May stopped and looked towards the Downing
Street gates, while her husband quipped: "That wasn't me!" with a chuckle. "I
think the answer to that is: I think not," May said, going on to finish her
brief speech. When the departing premier announced her resignation last month on
exactly the same spot, she broke into tears at the end of her speech. But there
were no tears this time as she made her way back to the step outside the famous
black 10 Downing Street door for one last wave good-bye. The couple then left
for Buckingham Palace, where May tendered her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II,
the head of state. May tried three times to get MPs to agree to her Brexit deal.
When it became clear that her fourth attempt to persuade lawmakers to sign off
on the divorce deal would be futile, she announced her resignation.
Libya Navy Seizes Italian Fishing Boat
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/July 24/2019
The Libyan navy said Tuesday it seized an Italian-flagged fishing vessel and is
questioning its crew in the western port city of Misrata. "A coastguard
patrol... seized on Tuesday night an Italian fishing boat in (Libyan)
territorial waters with seven sailors on board, five Italians and two
Tunisians," said Colonel Rida Issa of the marine forces loyal to the
UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). The boat was steered into the
port of Misrata where the seven crew members are being questioned, Issa said at
a press conference. The Italian foreign ministry confirmed the seizure in a
statement, adding that the reasons behind it "are not yet clear" but are "likely
related to fishing activities". The Italian coast is some 300 kilometers (185
miles) from Libya, and there are recurring tensions between Italian and Libyan
fishing boats in the area. Italian foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi
"instructed the Italian ambassador Guiseppe Buccino to work quickly... (to
ensure) the correct treatment and rapid release of the crew and boat", according
to the statement. Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of
strongman Moammar Gadhafi in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. Two authorities are
now vying for power -- the GNA based in Tripoli and a parallel administration in
the east of the country backed by forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Hafter launched an offensive to take Tripoli on April 4 and fighting continues
south of the capital between Haftar's forces and those of the GNA, including a
powerful Misrata militia.
Deaths as suicide bomber detonates in Mogadishu, mayor
badly wounded
AP/July 24, 2019
A suicide bomber walked into the office of Mogadishu's mayor and detonated
explosives strapped to his waist, killing several people and badly wounding the
mayor. The attack occurred shortly after the new United Nations envoy to Somalia
visited mayor
Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility
MOGADISHU: A suicide bomber walked into the office of Mogadishu’s mayor and
detonated explosives strapped to his waist, killing several people and badly
wounding the mayor, Somali police said Wednesday.
The attack occurred shortly after the new United Nations envoy to Somalia, James
Swan, had paid the mayor a “courtesy call” and left the compound, an official at
the mayor’s office told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of
anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The UN mission in Somalia in a tweet before the bombing posted photos of the
smiling mayor and new envoy, saying Swan had received an overview of the
“challenges” in the region. The mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, and his deputy
were rushed to a hospital with critical wounds and two district commissioners
were among the dead, said police Capt. Mohamed Hussein. It was not clear how the
bomber managed to enter the mayor’s office during a security meeting. Some
security officials said the attacker might have coordinated with corrupt
officials, offering them bribes for access.
The Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility. It often
targets government buildings such as the presidential palace and other
high-profile parts of Mogadishu with bombings. The security officials said
Wednesday’s attack appeared to be a shift in tactics, as the extremists in the
past had rarely managed to infiltrate heavily fortified government buildings
without first detonating one or more vehicle bombs. The Somalia-based Al-Shabab
was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but still controls parts of the Horn of
Africa nation’s south and central regions and is a frequent target of US
airstrikes.
The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published
on July 24-25/2019
Gulf Confrontation a Battle of Nerves
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed/Asharq Al Awsat/July 24/2019
With assaults, tanker hijackings, threats to navigation and drone attacks, it is
not easy to keep your cool in such a tense atmosphere, but this is the game and
its rules of play. What is happening in the Gulf is a battle of nerves.
Confronting Iran is like playing a Rubik’s Cube — solving it requires many
attempts before getting the correct final form. Wrong steps are easier and more
numerous than the right ones. A military confrontation with Iran seems easier
too; however, it may destroy the military power of the regime but not
necessarily eliminate it, creating a bigger problem for the region. The
coalition may also win the war, but the war could destroy the economic
capabilities of the Gulf states.
Furthermore, the crisis could start small with a step like rescuing a hijacked
oil tanker, but it may then get out of control and develop into a wider war.
There are also other possibilities to take into account, such as the positions
of the other major powers. China and Russia have their own different
calculations. Russia has several differences with the West in its former sphere
of influence, which it lost with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and it dearly
wants to restore its old capitals, from Kiev to Prague. China also has its own
differences with the US in the East China and South China Seas, as well as their
trade disputes. Thus, in the event of a complicated and prolonged Iranian
crisis, which is not resolved swiftly militarily or politically, these countries
will intervene for their own aims, as Russia has done in Syria.
Indeed, this is not limited only to the two big players; there are the Iranian
militias too, which are trained to fight the street battles of Tehran. They
cannot win the war, but they are capable of spreading chaos throughout the
region. Then there is the counter-front, where different countries may have
different aims. Israel’s main issue is to eliminate or prevent Iran’s nuclear
weapons. Saudi Arabia’s top priority, on the other hand, is to stop Iran’s
threatening project, which includes taking over its neighbors Yemen and Iraq.
This difference in purpose will surely be reflected in the nature of the
confrontation.
Well, some may say that “as long as the picture seems full of risks and
differences, why not go back to what the situation was a year ago,” i.e., before
the economic sanctions were applied or even before Washington announced its
withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, and thus avoid another war? This is an
idealistic approach, but it will not end the problem. The fact is that “for
free” peace only postpones the war until it becomes harsher and more dangerous
later.
Iran continues its drive to dominate Iraq, Syria and Yemen, which is a public
policy proudly declared by senior leaders in Tehran. It will continue in its
drive until the delayed war occurs.
Moreover, many reports confirm that Iran is, indeed, close to building its
nuclear weapons. The British believe it is only a year away from achieving that
aim. Washington says Iran has never stopped working on its nuclear program,
despite its claims and signed pledges. This means that, once Iran becomes a
nuclear power, no one would ever confront it militarily due to its danger to the
world; thus, the big powers would have to accept the status quo that Tehran
would impose.
Therefore, the timing of decisive action is a fundamental factor, whereas
postponing it is not in favor of Iran’s opponents, whatever today’s calculations
and the risks of confrontation are. This, again, does not mean that anyone wants
war. In fact, no one wants it. US President Donald Trump’s plan is blockading
Iran and forcing it to agree to stop its aggressive policy. Trump’s goals may
take one to four years to achieve. Until then, the difficulty lies in
maintaining nerves and not getting dragged into a major war, and convincing
Tehran that the war will destroy it, without the need to prove it on the ground.
Why Was a Saudi Attacked by Palestinians?
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/July 24/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14588/palestinians-assault-saudi-blogger
The main reason the Saudi blogger was assaulted and humiliated during his visit
to the Al-Aqsa Mosque was incitement.
It came mainly from the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), a group
affiliated with Fatah, and that has been described by some in the West, and even
in Israel, as "moderate" and "pragmatic."
Spitting in the face of a Saudi blogger and cursing him as an "animal" and
"Zionist" is not behavior conducive to luring cash from his state -- or any
other self-respecting entity -- that refuses to be slapped in the face while
providing handouts.
The moment Palestinians noticed Saudi blogger Mohamed Saud at the Al-Aqsa Mosque
compound in Jerusalem, they demonstrated to him how they treat their Arab
brothers, hurling insults and spitting at Saud. What did the Saudi visitor do to
deserve this humiliation and physical abuse?
When Saudi blogger Mohamed Saud arrived at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on July
22, he apparently thought he would peacefully pray at the site before proceeding
to tour the markets of the Old City of Jerusalem. Moreover, Saud apparently
believed that as an Arab Muslim, he would be warmly welcomed by his Palestinian
brothers.
He was wrong.
The moment Palestinians noticed the Saudi blogger at one of Islam's holiest
sites, they demonstrated to him how they treat their Arab brothers.
Videos that surfaced on social media showed a number of Palestinians hurling
insults and spitting at Saud. One Palestinian later threw a plastic chair at him
as he left the compound.
What did the Saudi visitor do to deserve this humiliation and physical abuse?
What crime did he commit to be denounced as "garbage," "animal," and "traitor"
and "Zionist?"
The unfortunate Saudi's crime -- in the eyes of the Palestinians -- was that he
was part of a delegation of Arab journalists invited to visit Israel. Such
visits are often condemned by Palestinians as actions that lead to promoting
normalization between Arabs and Israel. The Palestinians are strongly opposed to
any form of normalization with Israel and consider it tantamount to treason.
They are afraid that if the Arabs normalize their relations with Israel, they
will stop caring about the Palestinians. The Palestinian position is that there
can be no normalization between Israel and the Arabs before the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved.
This humiliating treatment was far from an isolated incident. The moment
Palestinian media organizations learned about the arrival of the journalists to
Israel, they rushed to issue statements denouncing the delegation and calling on
Arabs and Muslims to blacklist the visitors.
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), a body dominated by loyalists of
President Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah faction, was the first to come out
against the Arab journalists and accuse them of promoting normalization with
Israel.
The PJS and other Palestinian media organizations called on the Federation of
Arab Journalists to hold the journalists to account and add them to its
"blacklist." This order means that the journalists who visited Israel would be
expelled from any union or organization to which they belonged. It also means
that the visiting journalists would be boycotted by other Arab journalists and
media organizations and refused employment.
The main reason the Saudi blogger was assaulted and humiliated during his visit
to the Al-Aqsa Mosque was incitement. It came mainly from the PJS, a group
affiliated with Fatah, and that has been described by some in the West, and even
in Israel, as "moderate" and "pragmatic."
Recently, the same Fatah-affiliated PJS warned Palestinian journalists against
accepting an invitation by US presidential envoy Jason Greenblatt to visit the
White House.
In June, the PJS condemned Bahrain for inviting Israeli journalists to cover the
US-led "Prosperity to Peace" economic workshop in Bahrain.
Rami Alshrafi, one of the heads of the PJS in the Gaza Strip, threatened that
his group would publicly shame any journalist who engaged in activities that
could be looked upon as normalization with Israel. "We will publish a list of
all those Arab journalists who take any normalization moves with the occupation
state of Israel," he said. "We will publish a blacklist of all those Arab
journalistic organizations and journalists who host Israeli journalists."
The PJS had, a few years ago, also initiated a boycott of Israeli journalists
and threatened to boycott any Palestinian official that gives an interview to
the Israeli media. In an interview, PJS chairman Nasser Abu Bakr, a former
journalist with Agence France-Presse (AFP), explained that the decision was
taken after his friends and he "reached the conclusions that no interview of
[Palestinian] officials [to Israeli media] serves the Palestinian cause."
Bizarrely, while Abbas's syndicate has been repeatedly calling for a boycott of
Israeli journalists, he continues to meet every now and then with
representatives of the Israeli media. Needless to say, the PJS and its members
have never condemned Abbas for violating their ban. They know that the day they
utter a word against the Palestinian Authority president, they will either lose
funding from the Palestinian government or be thrown into prison -- or worse.
First, the Palestinian journalists incited the public against their Israeli
colleagues and called for boycotting them. Next, they incited the public against
Palestinian journalists who dared to meet with Israelis. Now, it is the turn of
non-Palestinian Arab journalists to feel the heat.
Instead of welcoming the Arab journalists into Jerusalem and inviting them to
visit Ramallah, the de facto capital of the Palestinian leadership, the
Palestinians chose to insult and physically assault their Saudi visitor. As if
that is not enough, they are also demanding that Arabs and Muslims punish the
blogger and his colleagues for allegedly promoting normalization with Israel.
The assault on the Saudi blogger does not bode well for the future of
Palestinian relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.
Several Saudis took to social media to express their disgust over the attack on
Saud. "I can't understand the wakaha (audacity) of the Palestinians who
expressed joy over the assault," said Saudi citizen Ibrahim Al-Sulieman.
Another Saudi, Abdullah, commented: "Although [Saud] represents only himself,
the Palestinians exposed their hatred towards him only because he is from Saudi
Arabia."
While Israeli government officials were quick to denounce the "cruel" attack on
the Saudi blogger, Palestinian leaders failed to condemn the incident, a
response likely to aggravate tensions between the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia.
There is one additional reason the Palestinians do not want to see Saudis at the
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound: The Palestinians are probably afraid that Saudi Arabia
is seeking the role of "custodian of holy sites" in Jerusalem, a role presently
held by Jordan. Both Jordan and the Palestinians are believed to be strongly
opposed to granting the Saudis any role in administering the holy sites in the
city. A monopoly over the mosque brings them, they believe, prestige and respect
in the Arab and Islamic countries.
The assault on the Saudi blogger is yet another sign of mounting tensions
between the Palestinians and some Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.
According to a few accounts, the Saudis have been launching a crackdown on
Palestinians living in the kingdom by arresting and harassing dozens of them.
Reports about a rapprochement between several Arab states and Israel are
worrying the Palestinians; they say they feel that their Arab bothers are
turning their back on them. This sense of abandonment was reinforced by the
refusal of Saudi Arabia and some Arab states to heed calls by the Palestinians
to boycott the economic workshop in Bahrain.
A recent public opinion poll showed that 80% of surveyed Palestinians view the
participation of Arab countries in the workshop as an abandonment of the
Palestinian cause.
In a way, the Palestinians are right: their Arab brothers are indeed starting to
turn their backs on them. The Palestinians might wish to ask themselves the
important question: why this is happening? Here is a hint: Spitting in the face
of a Saudi blogger and cursing him as an "animal" and "Zionist" is not behavior
conducive to luring cash from his state -- or any other self-respecting entity
-- that refuses to be slapped in the face while providing handouts.
*Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem, is a
Shillman Journalism Fellow at Gatestone Institute.
Follow Khaled Abu Toameh on Twitter
© 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 consent of Gatestone Institute.
Greece's New Government: Undoing the Damage of Years of
Socialist Rule
by Maria Polizoidou/Gatestone Institute/July 24/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14569/greece-undoing-damage
The new government took office with an apparent sense of genuine purpose... The
new government has transferred the handling of illegal immigration from the
auspices of the Ministry for Migration Policy to that of the Ministry of Citizen
Protection, treating the issue as a national-security threat.
The Mitsotakis-led government is also reversing its predecessor's course where
foreign policy is concerned, stressing a desire to enhance Greek-American
relations. One step in illustrating a closer alliance with the administration of
U.S. President Donald Trump is the recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's
transitional president in his battle against Nicolás Maduro. Another step is
strengthening ties with Israel.
Greece now has a single-party government... which means that it will not be
forced to compromise with Marxists and Social Democrats. This situation bodes
well for the major economic and social reforms that Mitsotakis... was elected to
undertake.
Mitsotakis deserves a chance at home and abroad to prove that opening up the
economy while clamping down on forces that threaten Greek democracy can undo the
damage done by years of socialist rule.
Greece's new prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has the chance to prove that
opening up the economy while clamping down on forces that threaten Greek
democracy can undo the damage done by years of socialist rule. Pictured:
Mitsotakis (foreground left) is sworn in as prime minister on July 8, 2019, at
the Presidential Palace in Athens. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
The July 7 elections in Greece have ushered in a new era of promise, with the
victory of the center-right New Democracy Party leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis,
over the incumbent prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, head of the left-wing Syriza
coalition.
The vote represented the Greek people's frustration and disgust not only with
the failures of the Syriza-led government, which wreaked havoc on the economy
and state institutions, but with the accompanying widespread corruption and
anarchy that overtook the country.
The new government took office with an apparent sense of genuine purpose,
seemingly intent on exacting immediate change. The new Minister for Citizen
Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, for example, set to work with the
encouraging pledge to reform the police force. He announced that he would make
law enforcement more efficient, through better recruitment policies, backup for
anti-crime units and by enabling raids into virtual "no-go" zones, such as
Exarchia, a hotbed of drug-dealers, anarchists and illegal immigrants.
Speaking of which, the new government has transferred the handling of illegal
immigration from the auspices of the Ministry for Migration Policy to that of
the Ministry of Citizen Protection, treating the issue as a national-security
threat.
The new government's stated economic reforms include a drastic reduction in
taxes, a tough stance against the violation of workers' rights, the
encouragement of major foreign investments and curing the ills of the
health-care system -- the first step of which has been a surprise inspection of
hospitals in Athens.
The Mitsotakis-led government is also reversing its predecessor's course where
foreign policy is concerned, stressing a desire to enhance Greek-American
relations. One step in illustrating a closer alliance with the administration of
U.S. President Donald Trump is the recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's
transitional president in his battle against Nicolás Maduro. Another step is
strengthening ties with Israel. Members of the new government, in fact, are on
record as having told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they
support moving the Greek Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as Trump has done
with the U.S. Embassy.
Mitsotakis is encountering problems from Berlin and Brussels, however, over his
seeking of a reduction in primary budget surplus targets.
Yet Germany and Eurozone leaders might do well to realize two important things:
first, that Greece is no longer ruled by the insecure populists of Syriza; and
second, that large surpluses are actually a safety valve for debt repayment.
Greece now has a single-party government that enjoys a wide parliamentary
majority, which means that it will not be forced to compromise with Marxists and
Social Democrats. This situation bodes well for the major economic and social
reforms that Mitsotakis is planning and which he was elected to undertake. He
deserves a chance at home and abroad to prove that opening up the economy while
clamping down on forces that threaten Greek democracy can undo the damage done
by years of socialist rule.
*Maria Polizoidou, a reporter, broadcast journalist, and consultant on
international and foreign affairs, is based in Greece. She has a graduate degree
in "Geopolitics and Security Issues in the Islamic complex of Turkey and Middle
East" from the University of Athens.
© 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 consent of Gatestone Institute.
Not even loyalist journalists safe in Assad’s Syria
Haid Haid/Arab News/July 24/2019
Rabea Kalawandy, a war correspondent and social media influencer, was arrested
on July 8 in Aleppo. This might seem sadly unremarkable in a country where the
regime has systemically targeted journalists throughout the conflict. But what
is unusual about this case is that Kalawandy is a pro-regime journalist arrested
by the Syrian government itself.
And he is not the only one to have fallen foul of the Assad government. Being a
loyalist is no longer enough to avoid persecution and even arrest. In order to
understand why, one needs to appreciate how the regime uses the press.
Since the Ba’ath Party took power in 1963, the press in Syria has largely
consisted of official newspapers and TV channels and radio stations controlled
by the Ministry of Information. These are closely monitored by the intelligence
services. But, following the start of the uprising in March 2011, when large
numbers of “citizen journalists” began publishing reports of the daily
anti-Assad protests, the regime was forced to rethink its strategy. The official
news platforms were deeply unpopular — even among those loyal to the regime —
and could neither suppress nor counter the demonstrators or media activists
supporting them. So the regime adopted the same tactics, employing its own
citizen journalists to create alternative media platforms through which to
disseminate its narrative.
However, today, as living standards continue to deteriorate even as the conflict
winds down, many “approved” journalists and media influencers have turned their
attention toward issues such as the appalling civic conditions in cities and
towns, and corruption — topics that the regime does not want aired. Over the
past year, an increasing number of loyalist citizen journalists have been
harassed and even arrested by Syrian intelligence. The reasons vary, but
essentially boil down to the curious charge of being “out of order.”
The most high-profile case is that of Wissam Al-Tair, editor of Damascus Now, a
Facebook page with more than 2.7 million followers. It is one of the most
influential pro-government media outlets. The prominent influencer was arrested
in mid-December. The reason for this is unclear, but the widespread belief is
that it was because of his posts about harsh conditions endured by army
conscripts and the fuel crisis in the country. Al-Tair’s whereabouts remain
unknown.
Likewise, Mohammed Harsho, editor of the Hashtag Syria website, was detained for
24 hours in April for posting an article on government plans to increase the
price of gasoline. Raeif Salameh, a journalist with the Ba’ath Party’s media
unit, was also arrested around the same time for allegedly running a Facebook
page critical of the Ministry of Health.
Many ‘approved’ journalists have turned their attention toward issues such as
the appalling civic conditions in cities and towns
For others, intimidation has been enough to scare them off. Among these is Ali
Hassoun, editor-in-chief of the weekly Al Ayam. He announced his retirement in
May, a few days after the newspaper was forced to close. In his last editorial,
entitled “A Warrior Takes a Break,” he cited the increasing pressure faced by
journalists in what he called “the harshest (period) in the history of the
Syrian press, due to increased restrictions on the freedom of the press.”
The criteria for singling out pro-regime journalists for persecution and even
prosecution appear to be the crossing of prescribed “red lines” and having a
large audience, readership or following. But what do these incidents tell us
about what the regime is trying to achieve through its new strategy toward the
press?
Firstly, it is a reminder to journalists, social media influencers and, indeed,
the wider population that the regime’s tolerance of criticism has not changed.
Next, the regime wants to control what goes out on social media by accessing —
by force, if need be — the most influential accounts. The official Facebook
pages of both Kalawandy and Damascus Now resumed operation after their account
holders were arrested. However, the reactivated sites made no reference to their
fate or to the new operators (which, in all likelihood, is one of the
intelligence agencies). Other social media accounts have been closed down, and
their operators forced to quit or made to disappear.
Lastly, the regime is determined to retake total control over the flow of
information in the country, or at least in areas it controls. As in the time
before the start of the conflict, this will most likely be achieved via official
channels and semi-private media platforms owned by people directly affiliated
with the government, such as Bashar Assad’s cousins Rami Makhlouf, Majd Bahjat
Suleiman, Mohammed Saber Hamsho and Aktham Douba. That control is further
bolstered by a new law passed in March last year that establishes a special
court to deal with “information and communication crimes.” Among other things,
the law allows for the prosecution of journalists who disseminate information
deemed contrary to the regime’s interests.
So far, the number of loyalist journalists who have been arrested remains
relatively small. However, the targeting of high-profile figures and the
involvement of the dreaded intelligence agencies in their arrests have been
enough to ensure that the regime’s message of “back to business as usual” is
received loud and clear.
*Haid Haid is a research fellow at the International Center for the Study of
Radicalization at King’s College London. He is also a consulting research fellow
of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa program.
*Copyright: Syndication Bureau
What is Iran hoping to achieve with Gulf confrontations?
Dr. Azeem Ibrahim/Arab News/July 24/2019
One possible upside for Iran from the recent flare-ups in the Strait of Hormuz
is that crude oil prices jumped more than 1 percent on the news that the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) last week seized a British oil tanker,
supposedly in retaliation for Britain’s Royal Marines seizing an Iranian ship
near the Strait of Gibraltar at the beginning of July. This led to some
speculation that one of Tehran’s aims might be to put pressure on the West
through destabilizing prices in the global oil markets. The US administration
was quick to deny Iran would be able to pursue this tactic to much effect. And,
on this occasion, they would be largely correct. The US does, at this moment in
time, have effective energy independence and it also has significant surpluses
with which it could support its allies.
If all-out war were to break out in the Gulf, global oil prices would still
spike, but that spike would be of relatively limited scope — and certainly the
US, and by extension much of the West, would be able to absorb it. This is not
the 1970s or 80s, when any Gulf nation could send the economies of the West into
a tailspin with a mere threat to the supply of Middle Eastern oil.
An alternative explanation is that, even if Tehran is not aiming quite as high
as destabilizing Western economies, it would still very likely benefit from an
increase in oil prices, however modest. The country’s budget gets an estimated
30 to 40 percent of its revenues from oil exports. In the context of America’s
“maximum (economic) pressure” on Tehran, which the regime is currently feeling
rather acutely, some reprieve from an oil revenue bump would be more than
welcome. Iran may have the capacity to seize isolated ships, but it does not
have the capacity to stare down a US naval deployment to the region
Unfortunately, this is not likely a good explanation either. For such a tactic
to be effective, Iran would need to be able to sustain a long-term, credible
threat to oil shipping through the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the
Gulf of Oman. This is quite beyond its capacity at the moment. Iran can
certainly harass the occasional ship, and individual shipping companies might
feel an immediate impact, but, overall, a sustained assault on shipping in the
area would prompt the West to deploy naval patrols in force. Iran may have the
capacity to seize isolated ships, but it does not have the capacity to stare
down a US naval deployment to the region. All this would achieve is to negate
much of Iran’s leverage and risk escalating the situation even further.
And escalating the situation is not something anyone wants. Not the US, sure,
but certainly not the regime in Tehran. The problem that the US has is that,
despite its overwhelming destructive capacity, it is utterly incapable of
deploying that capacity to bend the Middle East to its will; the ways in which
it has won the wars and lost the peace in both Afghanistan and Iraq is
definitive proof of the limits of American hard power. A direct military
campaign against Iran would be an expensive mistake for Washington. But, for the
current regime in Tehran, ensnaring the US in another Middle East war would be
worse than just a mistake — it would be suicide. The US may not be able to ever
compel a country like Iran to bend to its will, but it can certainly bomb the
regime to oblivion and hunt down and exterminate every last ayatollah or officer
of the IRGC. The Iranian government knows this. Iran, as a regional power, does
have many strengths but the leadership in Tehran is well aware of the limits of
that power. The Islamic Republic would not have survived as long as it has,
surrounded as it is by existential enemies, if the leadership did not have a
clear view of the field.
This, as well as the recent drone incidents, would be best understood as limited
skirmishing as both sides are gearing toward a rehashing of the Obama-era
nuclear deal. Each side is trying to demonstrate capacity to gain extra leverage
in that negotiation. This does risk scuppering the chances of a deal altogether
if some kind of serious accident happens on either side. But, for now, that
remains the direction of travel. In that respect, global oil prices look quite
safe from this particular threat — at least for the time being.
*Dr. Azeem Ibrahim is a Director at the Center for Global Policy and author of
“The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar’s Genocide” (Hurst, 2017). Twitter: @AzeemIbrahim
The US needs to talk about China
Minxin Pei,/Arab News/July 24/2019
Of all the changes in US foreign policy President Donald Trump’s administration
has made, the most consequential is the adoption of a confrontational stance
toward China. Replacing a decades-old policy of engagement, Trump’s approach has
not only resulted in an economic cold war between the world’s two largest
economies; it has also raised the specter of armed conflict in the South China
Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
Within the first year of his presidency, Trump labeled China a strategic
“competitor” and “rival power.” But it is not just Trump: For the US national
security establishment and leading Republican members of Congress — as well as
some Democrats — China represents the most serious long-term threat to America’s
global pre-eminence and vital interests.
Geopolitics has been the primary cause of the rapid deterioration in US-China
relations over the last two years, and Trump’s trade war must be viewed in this
context. US tariffs may be focused on undermining China’s long-term economic
potential, but the underlying motivation is to weaken China as a strategic
rival.
This should be clear from the fact that, despite Trump’s economic justifications
— protection of US businesses’ intellectual property and correction of the huge
bilateral trade imbalance — his tariffs are likely to do serious harm to the US
economy, as they unravel an economic relationship built over four decades. In
substance, if not in name, America’s China policy has become entirely
adversarial.
This shift has alarmed some of America’s most experienced China scholars and
former policymakers. In an open letter, nearly 100 of them — including both
Republicans and Democrats, and many vocal critics of Chinese policies and
behavior — recently called on Trump not to treat China as an enemy.
The American public seems largely to agree. There is, to be sure, widespread
antipathy toward China throughout the US. According to the Pew Research Center’s
most recent survey on the matter (conducted in August 2018), only 38 percent of
Americans view China favorably, while 47 percent view it unfavorably. But only
29 percent of respondents cited China’s military might as a cause for concern. A
much larger share — 58 percent — are worried about its economic prowess. This
suggests that, in the eyes of most Americans, the primary objective of relations
with China should be to protect their livelihoods, not to initiate a
geopolitical confrontation.
Yet a geopolitical confrontation seems to be precisely what the Trump
administration is engineering — possibly at the expense of many Americans’
livelihoods. This disconnect reflects the extent to which the shift in America’s
China policy has occurred out of the public’s view and without open debate.
Such a debate is urgently needed. Though the trade war has been dominating
headlines since it began, much of the American public is unaware of the extent
of the transformation in US policy toward China, which exposes their country to
an open-ended conflict with what will soon be the world’s largest economy and
its leading emerging power.
In a democracy, a government cannot pursue a long-term struggle with a powerful
geopolitical adversary without sustained political support from an informed
public. Special attention should be paid to young people (who, according to Pew,
have a significantly more favorable view of China than their elders) because
they will bear the brunt of the costs of the unfolding Sino-American cold war.
In substance, if not in name, America’s China policy has become entirely
adversarial.
For such a debate to be credible, the Trump administration will need to answer
crucial questions about its China policy. First and foremost, what is the
policy’s ultimate objective? Possible answers include modification of certain
Chinese behaviors or policies, containment of Chinese economic or military
might, or outright regime change.
The Trump administration would then have to explain how it intends to achieve
its stated objective. Is “economic decoupling,” favored by the China hawks in
Trump’s orbit, an effective or feasible strategy? The authors of the recent open
letter argue that US efforts to decouple China from the global economy “will
damage (America’s) international role and reputation, and undermine the economic
interests of all nations.” And could other countries — even traditional US
allies — be convinced to support those efforts? Would the US be willing (or
able) to go it alone?
Whichever policy it chooses, the Trump administration must be able to justify
it. Last October, Vice President Mike Pence effectively declared “cold war” on
China in a blistering speech that included a litany of accusations, including
interference in US politics and oppression of its own people. What Pence — and
the rest of the Trump administration — did not offer was a reasoned
justification for America’s treatment of China as an existential threat.
The final question that must be asked concerns multilateral cooperation. To
confront shared challenges — some of which, like climate change and nuclear
proliferation, actually are existential threats — the world needs such
cooperation more than ever. Can the US embrace a policy of confrontation toward
China without precluding collaboration on issues where it is required?
The signatories of the open letter — as well as a slew of renowned economists,
politicians and thinkers — have presented an informed and thoughtful statement
of their collective views on China. The Trump administration must illuminate its
own vision and goals to the people it is supposed to represent.
*Minxin Pei, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and the
author of “China’s Crony Capitalism,” is the inaugural Library of Congress Chair
in US-China Relations. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.