LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
June 07/2019
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.
First Letter of Peter 02/11-17:”Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honour everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honour the emperor.”

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on June 06-07/2019
Germany’s parliament to debate proposal to ban Lebanon’s Hezbollah
Aoun meets with Irinej: We are working to maintain balance, especially as war in the region aims to eliminate large groups, cause disruption
Report: Aoun Snubs Bou Saab Proposal on Reviewing Mabsout Investigations
Bou Saab 'Won't Remain Silent' over Tripoli Attacker Release
Israel Fixes Device on Transmission Pole Facing Houla
Refugees Evacuate Camp after Clashing with Civil Defense
Hariri Reportedly Awaiting 'Initiative from Bassil'
Hajjar Says Mustabqal-FPM Settlement Led to 'a Lot of Achievements'
Environment Minister Hails Bickfaya's Waste Management Initiative
Hankache Slams Authority's Failure to Manage Waste Crisis
ElKhalil calls for supporting constitutional, security institutions in face of terrorism
Azar refuses granting amnesty to terrorists
Jarrah addressing farmers' delegation: Government is determined to address pollution of Litani River and Qaraoun Lake Basin
AMCD Celebrates the Launch of Nader Moumneh's Book on the Lebanese Christian Resistance
Beirut Twice Over EU limit for Air Quality

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 06-07/2019
World Leaders Mark 75 Years since D-Day on Normandy's Beaches
Trump says Tehran is ‘championing terrorism’ across the Middle East
US, Iran plan ‘oil for goods’ deal to ease sanctions
Trump says ‘fine’ if Iran wants to open talks
An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft
NATO Iraq mission not disrupted by Iran tension: Commander
Egypt kills 14 suspected militants in raid after Sinai attack
Observers: Syria rebels repel government forces in northwest
Syria regime bombardment kills 10 during Eid: monitor
Senators Seek to Block Trump's Arms Sales to Saudis
Netanyahu Appoints Israel's First Openly Gay Minister
Palestinians pledge to cancel leaked ministerial raises, says UN envoy
African Union suspends Sudan over deadly unrest
Canadian Statement on situation in Sudan
Sudan health ministry says death toll from violence rises to 61
Sudan opposition rejects army’s offer of talks, death toll hits 101

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on June 06-07/2019
AMCD Celebrates the Launch of Nader Moumneh's Book on the Lebanese Christian Resistance/AMCD/June 06/2019
Beirut Twice Over EU limit for Air Quality/The Daily Star/June 06/2019
World Leaders Mark 75 Years since D-Day on Normandy's Beaches/Agence France Presse/Naharnet /June 06/2019
US, Iran plan ‘oil for goods’ deal to ease sanctions/Arab News/June 06/2019
The Transatlantic Relationship on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day/Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/June 06/2019
Turkey's "Second Invasion" of Cyprus: Illegal Drilling in Eastern Mediterranean/Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/June 06/2019
Jordanian MP Khalil Attieh: I Will Take Up Arms Against Israel, Slap Israeli Soldiers With My Shoe, Spit In Their Faces... When Jihad Is Declared/MEMRI/June 06/2019
Despite Its Participation In The Arab And Muslim Summits In Mecca – Qatar Remains In The Pro-Iranian Camp/B. Chernitsky/MEMRI/June 06/2019
Threat from Iran is not military, but cyber war/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/June 06/2019
US trade war further upsets Washington’s ties with India/Michael Kugelman/Arab News/June 06/2019
Brexit Britain’s reminder of its extensive history of immigration/Jonathan Gornall/Arab News/June 06/2019
Trump’s state visit shows US-UK ties will endure/Cornelia Meyer/Arab News/June 06/2019
Reshuffling Iraqi Generals: Who Benefits/Michael Knights and Alexandre Mello/The Washington Institute/June 06/2019
US warns Sudan — and perhaps the Saudis — about cracking down on protesters/Simnon Henderson/The Hill/June 06/2019

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on June 06-07/2019
Germany’s parliament to debate proposal to ban Lebanon’s Hezbollah
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Thursday, 6 June 2019/Germany’s parliament (Bundestag) is to debate on Thursday a proposal to ban the activities of Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the country. The proposal was introduced by the right-wing Alternative for Germany AfD party, which accuses the pro-allied Iranian militia of posing a threat to Germany. The debate of the proposed bill in the Bundestag coincides with a statement issued by the German local intelligence, which pointed out that the numbers of Hezbollah elements in Germany rose to 1,050 in 2018. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed hope last week that Germany would follow in the footsteps of Britain and ban Hezbollah. Last February, Britain said it plans to ban all wings of Hezbollah due to its destabilizing influence in the Middle East, classifying the Lebanese militant movement as a terrorist organization, a move condemned by the Lebanese militia, which said that it showed “servile obedience” to the US.

Aoun meets with Irinej: We are working to maintain balance, especially as war in the region aims to eliminate large groups, cause disruption
Thu 06 Jun 2019/NNA - President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, stressed Thursday on the deep relations linking Lebanon and Serbia together and the similar sufferings of both the Lebanese and Serbian peoples, hailing the efforts undertaken to further boost and strengthen the friendship and solidarity ties between both countries. "In Lebanon we are living together, Christians and Muslims, and as Christians we are always working to maintain balance especially in wake of our difficult circumstances resulting from the war in the region, which aims at the elimination of large groups and the destruction of entire areas," Aoun affirmed. The President's words came during his meeting at Baabda Presidential Palace this afternoon with the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Irinej (Gavrilovic), accompanied by Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, John X Yaziji, and a delegation of prominent religious clerics. Also attending was State Minister for Presidential Affairs Selim Jreissati, National Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab and Justice Minister Albert Serhan. "Our Christian teachings only carry us to spread love and kindness among people," said Aoun. "Those who read the Gospel and the Epistles of St. Paul cannot but achieve this universal message among various sects and religions," he maintained. "There are neither any boundaries nor barriers between Christians. It is true that there are different Christian doctrines, cultures, customs and traditions, but there is only one Christ and one Bible, and the law of love is solely capable of establishing peace and justice across the world," the President emphasized.
In turn, Irinej thanked the President for his warm reception and kind words. "We have come for a visit of peace, such peace to which we look forward together, one that the whole world yearns for," he said. "There is nothing more wonderful than having the same people live together as brothers, for this is the most joyous act because the Lord asked us to live in peace as brethrens with all communities," the Patriarch added. He regretted to see that human beings today are doing their utmost to distance themselves from real peace, which has triggered so many problems and increased pain. "Our homeland has passed through difficult times and wars similar to those witnessed in Lebanon. But hope remains to overcome and forget the wounds of the past, and to look forward to building peace in our nation and in all countries of the world," the Serbian Patriarch emphasized.
"It is my second visit to your beautiful country...The Lord has given you a home for joy, and the fulfillment of joy depends on man," said Irinej. "I am carrying a message of love and peace from the Serbian people, and we are eager to consolidate the relations between our two peoples, hoping that you would visit our homeland since our people harbor the best feelings of friendship and affection for the Lebanese and Syrian peoples for many years," he assured.
The Serbian Patriarch confirmed the importance of working for peace and putting an end to wars, stressing that pursuing wars will only lead to the destruction and annihilation of humanity. For his part, Patriarch Yaziji highlighted the importance of Patriarch Irinej's visit to both Lebanon and Syria, particularly under these difficult circumstances. He underlined the importance of the close relations between the two Orthodox Churches in Antioch and Serbia. "The Serbian people have suffered as much as we have, and we continue to deepen our understanding of each other as a result of similar circumstances," Yaziji added. At the end of the encounter, the Patriarch of Serbia offered President Aoun the Patriarchate's emblem and an album about Serbia while Aoun, in turn, presented him with a souvenir gift token from Lebanon.

Report: Aoun Snubs Bou Saab Proposal on Reviewing Mabsout Investigations
Naharnet /June 06/2019/President Michel Aoun has reevaluated the Free Patriotic Movement's attacks on al-Mustaqbal Movement and Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Imad Othman after “the public calls for him to intervene to put an end to continued campaigns by the FPM's ministers,” a media report published Thursday said. “He did not endorse a proposal made by (Defense Minister Elias) Bou Saab on reviewing the interrogations of the terrorist (Abdul Rahman) Mabsout, during the security meeting he presided over on Tuesday over the Tripoli terrorist operation,” al-Hayat newspaper reported.
Al-Mustaqbal Movement sources meanwhile noted that Mabsout was “arrested by the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch in 2017 before being referred to the Military Court, which sentenced him to a year and a half in jail.”A Mustaqbal-FPM war of words has been raging for several days now over several issues. The two parties have bickered over remarks attributed to FPM chief Jebran Bassil in some media reports, over the Military Court’s controversial acquittal of Lt. Col. Suzanne al-Hajj and lastly over the Tripoli deadly attack. A lone gunman using a motorcycle fired on police and army vehicles in different parts of Tripoli on Monday night, killing two police officers and two soldiers and wounding several others before blowing himself up later when confronted by troops. The army identified the gunman as Abdul Rahman Mabsout, but gave no other details. LBCI TV said Mabsout was a former member of the Islamic State group who fought with the extremist movement in Syria. It said he had been detained when he returned to Lebanon in 2016 and was released a year later.

Bou Saab 'Won't Remain Silent' over Tripoli Attacker Release
Naharnet /June 06/2019/Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab stressed Thursday that there should be “accountability” and that “the truth should be unveiled” regarding the 2017 release from jail of Islamic State militant Abdul Rahman Mabsout, who carried out Monday's deadly attack in Tripoli.
Speaking to reporters after offering condolences to the family of slain army officer Hassan Farhat in the southern town of Baraashit, Bou Saab said he promised Farhat's father that he “will not remain silent” or “conceal anything.” “A probe will be launched into this file and there are instructions from President Michel Aoun for unveiling the truth,” Bou Saab added, noting that he is not targeting a certain political party. “This is only about the terrorist and those working to provide cover for terrorists,” the minister said. Describing the Tripoli attack as “terrorist par excellence,” Bou Saab pointed out that “it is premature to say whether the terrorist was mentally disturbed.” He also revealed that he will sign two decrees on Friday: the first promoting Farhat to the rank of captain and the second demanding “a reevaluation of the file of imprisoned terrorists.” Bou Saab has exchanged tirades with al-Mustaqbal Movement officials in the wake of the Tripoli attack. Using a motorcycle, the gunman Mabsout fired on police and army vehicles in different parts of Tripoli on Monday night, killing two police officers and two soldiers and wounding several others before blowing himself up later when confronted by troops. Media reports said Mabsout was a former member of the Islamic State group who fought with the extremist movement in Syria. The reports say he had been detained upon returning to Lebanon in 2016 before being released a year later.

Israel Fixes Device on Transmission Pole Facing Houla
Naharnet /June 06/2019/Israeli forces on Thursday installed a device on a transmission pole near the al-Abbad military post facing the southern border town of Houla, Marjeyoun district, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. “The device is expected to be a reconnaissance device or a mobile surveillance camera,” the agency said.

Refugees Evacuate Camp after Clashing with Civil Defense
Naharnet /June 06/2019/Around 700 displaced Syrians have evacuated their encampment near the Bekaa town of Deir al-Ahmar after some of them clashed with Civil Defense firefighters, media reports said. Several firefighters were injured and the windows of their vehicle were smashed during the incident. The Civil Defense members were on a firefighting mission near the encampment. According to An Nahar newspaper, a blaze erupted in a bush near the refugee gathering and the refugees “were dismayed by the billowing smoke during the firefighting process and by the rising dust.” Syrian activist Ahmed al-Qassir said on his Facebook page that the blaze had been doused by the refugees and army troops prior to the arrival of Civil Defense. “After the fire was put out, the Civil Defense vehicle arrived and a fight erupted between one of its members and one of the residents, which prompted the vehicle driver to run over two Syrian tents,” Qassir added. “The tenant of one of the tents was panicked due to the presence of his children in it and the encampment's residents were infuriated, so they beat up and insulted the driver, after which security forces, the army and municipal police arrived and arrested around 30 refugees,” the activist said. “A number of the town's residents then arrived in their cars and started drifting between the tents to scare the refugees, prompting them to flee in a state of panic and terror,” Qassir added. In the evening, the municipal chiefs, mayors and political and religious dignitaries of the Deir al-Ahmar region strongly condemned “the blatant attack by a group of Syrian refugees on Civil Defense members who were performing their humanitarian duty.” “Due to the massive popular anger and to preserve the refugees' safety, it has been decided to prohibit the return of any of the Syrian refugees to the encampment,” they said in a statement.

Hariri Reportedly Awaiting 'Initiative from Bassil'
Naharnet /June 06/2019/Prime Minister Saad Hariri is awaiting Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil to “make an initiative towards reinforcing the presidential settlement amid the severed ties between them that require efforts to restore the relation,” a media report said. “No positive development has so far occurred in terms of containing the latest tensions and escalations between the Hariri-led al-Mustaqbal Movement and the Bassil-led FPM,” Asharq al-Awsat daily quoted highly informed Lebanese ministerial sources as saying in remarks published Thursday. “There is no political break of ties between them, although the contacts are severed and mending the ties requires extraordinary efforts,” the sources said. “Hariri has expressed all his reservations through the stances that have been issued by al-Mustaqbal and the ball now is in Bassil's court,” the sources added. Senior FPM sources meanwhile responded to Asharq al-Awsat's report, saying: “To us, there is no problem. Someone has rather fabricated and invented the problem.” A Mustaqbal-FPM war of words has been raging for several days now over several issues. The two parties have bickered over remarks attributed to Bassil in some media reports as well as over the Military Court’s controversial acquittal of Lt. Col. Suzanne al-Hajj, and lastly over the Tripoli deadly attack.

Hajjar Says Mustabqal-FPM Settlement Led to 'a Lot of Achievements'
Naharnet /June 06/2019/MP Mohammed al-Hajjar of al-Mustaqbal bloc noted Thursday that the settlement between Mustaqbal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement has led to “a lot of achievements,” amid a major deterioration in ties between the two movements. Hajjar reminded of the electoral law, the parliamentary elections, the formation of the government and the approval of the state budget, in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio (100.3-100.5). “What happened lately was a campaign against al-Mustaqbal Movement, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the Movement's leaders and state officials who support the Movement or are loyal to it,” Hajjar said. “This campaign is behind the current deterioration, because this rhetoric has promoted us to respond,” the lawmaker explained. He accordingly called on the FPM to “adjust its rhetoric,” noting that “there were positive signals over the past two days.”Hajjar also stressed his Movement's keenness on the political settlement. A Mustaqbal-FPM war of words has been raging for several days now over several issues. The two parties have bickered over remarks attributed to FPM chief Jebran Bassil in some media reports as well as over the Military Court’s controversial acquittal of Lt. Col. Suzanne al-Hajj, and lastly over the Tripoli deadly attack.

Environment Minister Hails Bickfaya's Waste Management Initiative
Kataeb.org/June 06/2019/Environment Minister Fady Jreissati on Thursday visited the Bi-Clean waste sorting facility in Bickfaya as part of his Metn tour, praising the remarkable work that said plant has been doing over the past few years. Jreissati called on other municipalities to follow suit and opt for the same sorting concept, noting that the Article 80 of the government's waste plan clearly stipulates the decentralization of waste management. Speaking following a guided tour along with Bickfaya's mayor Nicole Gemayel, the minister hailed the Bi-Clean plant as a source of pride, stressing that there’s no excuse for any municipality to claim not to be able to do the same. “Despite facing several obstacles, the municipality of Bickfaya has been able to conduct waste sorting at source without having any government support,” he highlighted. Bi-Clean is a waste sorting plant established in 2016 and which treats the garbage collected from the towns of Bickfaya, Mhaydse, Sekiat al-Misk and Bhersaf.

Hankache Slams Authority's Failure to Manage Waste Crisis
Kataeb.org/June 06/2019/Kataeb MP Elias Hankache on Thursday slammed the ruling authority's failure to manage the lingering waste crisis, saying that the government is once again forcing people to choose between what is bad and worse. “The state has been making people choose between the bad and worse over the past three years,” Hankache said in an interview on Voice of Lebanon radio station. "It all started with the genius plan to establish landfills in Metn and the Costa Brava." The lawmaker blasted the authority's empty promises to set out sustainable solutions, while it is today forcing the expansion of the existing landfills. “How can we trust any new promises made by a government that is nothing but an extension of the previous one?"

 ElKhalil calls for supporting constitutional, security institutions in face of terrorism
Thu 06 Jun 2019/NNA - "Development and Liberation" Parliamentary Bloc Secretary-General, MP Anwar El-Khalil, called Thursday for "backing all constitutional institutions and security apparatuses in the confrontation of terrorism, one chapter of which was witnessed a few days ago in Tripoli."El-Khalil stressed "the importance of national unity in the face of extremism and in confronting the Israeli enemy, the first side to benefit from any security flaw and any undermining act against internal stability."The MP paid tribute to the fallen martyrs of the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces, expressing his sincere condolences and solidarity with their families and their leadership command in wake of their tragic loss. El-Khalil's words came during his visit to Imam of the Southern town of Kfarkila, Abbas Fadallah, accompanied by MP Kassem Hashem to express their well-wishes on the Fitr Eid.

Azar refuses granting amnesty to terrorists
Thu 06 Jun 2019/NNA - MP Roger Azar reiterated Thursday the necessity of not proceeding with the process of granting amnesty to terrorists, stressing the need for respecting courts' decisions. Azar's statement came during an interview on "Sawt Al Hurriya" Radio Station, where he asserted that the Lebanese state cannot tolerate those who attack the army. He also hoped that "Tripoli's events will be a lesson for all".

Jarrah addressing farmers' delegation: Government is determined to address pollution of Litani River and Qaraoun Lake Basin
Thu 06 Jun 2019/NNA - Minister of Information, Jamal Jarrah, confirmed Thursday the "government's determination to address the pollution of the Litani River and Qaraoun Lake Basin," pointing to the significance of the Cedar Conference in allocating funds for environmental projects. Jarrah, whose words came before a delegation of farmers, stressed "the importance of cooperation between the official and civic sectors to combat pollution since it is a shared responsibility.""We have great confidence in our people in the Bekaa and the South, and we feel the extent of their concern to restore the environment to what it was in the past," he said. Finally, Jarrah pointed to the many workshops to be launched following the adoption of the budget at the developmental and environmental levels to address the pending problems.

AMCD Celebrates the Launch of Nader Moumneh's Book on the Lebanese Christian Resistance
التحالف الأميركي الشرق أوسطي للديموقراطية يحتفل مع
نادر نادر مومني بإطلاق كتابه التاريخي المميز الذي يحمل عنوان المقاومة المسيحة اللبنانية
AMCD/June 6, 2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/75568/75568/
Washington DC: The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy joined Mr. Nader Moumneh to celebrate the launch of his scholarly and important new book entitled, "Lebanese Forces: Emergence and Transformation of the Christian Resistance" on May 29th at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington DC. Mr. Moumneh delivered the following remarks:
"I would like to thank the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy for giving me the opportunity to be here and present my book on the Lebanese Christian Resistance a.k.a the Lebanese Forces. The book is the culmination of 25 years of painstaking research and hundreds of interviews across the globe. A pure labour of love I might add.
"I was six years old when the Lebanese war broke out in 1975 and I was too young to understand the grim realities of war, but I have developed a strong interest in politics. I closely followed the rapid ascendancy of Bashir Gemayel and I was deeply shocked at his violent death in 1982.
"A year later, the Iran-sponsored Shiite group Hezbollah bombed the US embassy and the Marine barracks in Beirut. The lack of decisive and swift response to the terror attacks and the abrupt withdrawal of the Marines from Lebanon in early 1984 has enabled Iran to gain a foothold in Lebanon.
"The book examines the formation and evolution of the Lebanese Christian Resistance, the fight against the dual Palestinian and Syrian occupation of Lebanon and the relentless quest for sovereignty. It also dwells on the destructive power struggle within the Christian community and the lingering consequences of the intra-Christian war on Lebanon.
"The book also discusses the growing influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran’s unwavering efforts to create a Shiite crescent in the Middle East. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Dr. Walid Phares for taking the time to write a comprehensive afterword for my 25-year academic work. His expert input and deep insight into the regional developments in the Middle East are invaluable!
"Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for President Trump’s Mideast policy and the concerted efforts to establish an Arab NATO, a crucial military counter-weight to Iranian influence in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. It is time for the Arab world to close ranks and halt Iran’s ambitions to control the Levant. I hope you will take the time to read my 619-page book. It will appeal to scholars, Middle East experts, government officials, intelligence services, graduate students in political science and general audience alike!"
AMCD wishes Mr. Moumneh the greatest success with his worthy effort.

Beirut Twice Over EU limit for Air Quality
The Daily Star/June 06/2019
Air pollution
An especially thick haze has hung over Beirut in recent weeks. The yellowish cloud, perhaps most visible from vantage points above the city, has drawn attention from experts and everyday residents alike.
Issam Lakkis, a professor of mechanical engineering at the American University of Beirut, told The Daily Star that he and his colleagues had “observed and sensed higher levels of pollution [early last week].” Najat Saliba, an associate professor in analytical chemistry at AUB, said the air had felt especially “heavy” in recent days.
The air-quality app Sensio recorded that on many days in late May, pollution levels in Beirut had “maxed out.” The app’s pollution forecast suggests that levels will hit the highest rating again, starting midweek.
According to previously unpublished data collected by Mohammad Roumie, a researcher at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, in May the levels of particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers and below were up by 1 microgram per cubic meter compared with a year earlier.
What does this mean for average Beirutis, and what can they do to stave off the negative consequences?
NUCLEAR REACTION
ANALYSISParticles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter - about 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair - are more dangerous than larger particles, Roumie explains. “Below this size they can infiltrate your body. They can go to your lungs, into blood cells and can generate many diseases - asthmatic, cardiovascular, and even cancer.”
The European Environment Agency’s air-quality standards set the maximum acceptable annual average of PM 2.5 at 10 mg/m3. Beirut’s May 2019 average - 21 mg/m3 - was over double that yearly recommended average.
The 2019 winter averages similarly exceeded that recommendation - hitting as high as 24 mg/m3 in January and only as low as 15 mg/m3 in January.
“Within the month, some days may be PM 6, and some may be more than PM 30,” Roumie said, adding that the day-to-day disparity is a result of various climatic factors.
An air sanitary expert from the Environment Ministry attributed the high pollution levels in Beirut from the past two weeks to a sandstorm she said had blown across the Sahara Desert.
Roumie has been collecting air samples on the roof of LAEC’s laboratories near Beirut’s airport every week since 2014. He and his team use the laboratory’s ion beam accelerator to determine the elemental composition of the air particulate matter collected in the samples.
He said that to this point, it has been impossible in Lebanon to identify the elemental makeup of pollutants. “You cannot say at the moment: ‘I have calcium ... coming from the cement factory.’”
But the technology used by Roumie’s lab is able to differentiate between calcium from a cement factory and calcium from a Saharan dust storm, he explained.
He said his project ultimately aims to determine the sources of air pollution by percentage. “When you know the contribution of the sources to our air pollution, then you can say to the decision maker, ‘We have to take action against these kind of sources,’” Roumie told The Daily Star.
He believes that the findings could help the government tax individual and commercial behaviors causing air pollution, and help the country conform to EU PM standards.
“To be effective you have to make people pay for what they are doing. They are polluting, they are responsible for this pollution,” alluding to cement factories and power plants as probable culprits.WHAT’S THE CAUSE?Statistics aside, what does the worsening pollution mean for the Beirutis venturing out onto the sidewalks? Carcinogen levels in the capital are seven times higher than in Los Angeles, Najat Saliba, the analytical chemistry professor, told The Daily Star.
In one of her studies, she found that carcinogens released by diesel generators - ubiquitous throughout the country because of the state’s failure to provide 24-hour electricity - are the equivalent of smoking two cigarettes a day.
“At times, the power outage is only three hours. In other areas it can be more like 10 hours,” she said. In other words, diesel generator pollution may be considerably higher in areas outside the capital than inside Beirut.
As for why air pollution is generally worse in the summer, Saliba pointed to two main factors: a lack of wind and solar radiation.
“There is high solar radiation, which can ‘cook’ pollution faster. In the morning, when cars start moving, they produce [nitric oxide]. With solar radiation it turns into [nitric dioxide], which is the bad guy.”
Lakkis, the mechanical engineering professor at AUB, who led a team that produced a mathematical model of Beirut to predict air pollution levels, also pointed to the lack wind as a primary culprit for why contamination levels are higher during the summer months.
Lakkis said that whether pollution stays or leaves is the function of wind and temperature.
He also listed a number of other factors that exacerbate air pollution during the summer months.
“Pollution is a function of three parameters, loosely,” he said.
“One is emission sources. Are we emitting less or more in the summer? The main emission sources in Beirut are the cars ... and the diesel generators,” he added.
Although Lakkis says he doesn’t think more cars are on the road during the summer, he believes that Beirutis likely consume more electricity in the summer, “especially if turning on the AC. The cars themselves are burning more fuel if the AC is turned on in car.”
Variations in temperature throughout the day are the second “very important parameter,” he added. The cool air in the mornings is heavier than the warm hair later in the day, and therefore is dispersed less easily.
“The worst case scenario is when there is no wind and low temperature. You can see this happening in summer, when the earth is still cold and the pollutant tends to stay. ... Later in the day, when it is warmer, [the pollutant] goes up due to buoyancy, and things improve a little bit.”
what CAN BE DONE?With pollutant levels already soaring above safe averages and only worsening, can anything be done to shield residents until a reformist strategy such as the one proposed by Roumie can be realized? The expert from the Environment Ministry declined to comment on the ministry’s plans to combat air pollution in the immediate future. However, the “National Strategy for Air Quality Management” released by the ministry says it aims to “reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management by 2030.”
As for the short term, air quality experts agree that certain personal measures can be taken to reduce the adverse health effects of air pollution in cities.
Besides societal strategies that he believes are “widely known by now,” Lakkis recommended a number of personal steps that may help reduce the negative health effects of air pollution.
Especially modern and well-maintained cars should have air filters that sift out a “significant portion” of pollutants, even if they don’t get rid of all of them. “Usually filters have trouble filtering the very small particles - what we call PM 2.5,” Lakkis said.
Air conditioning, meanwhile, can increase “self-pollution” - a vehicle’s own engine fumes entering the passenger compartment - as well as overall emissions on the road. Staying at home is another option, as not even the face masks favored by the residents of many polluted cities are an effective prevention. Although most masks can filter PM 10 and below, they fail to filter out the more dangerous, fine inhalable particles, that is of PM 2.5 and below.
“I sit on advisory board for the World Health Organization. This discussion was brought up several times. Masks may be effective, but there is not enough evidence to recommend them,” Saliba said.
At home, Lakkis recommended installing a “good-quality indoor filter,” and opening and closing windows at the right time. “If a diesel generator is running next door, close the windows.”
“I don’t open windows in my home. I don’t walk outside unless I have to,” Saliba added.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on June 06-07/2019
World Leaders Mark 75 Years since D-Day on Normandy's Beaches
Agence France Presse/Naharnet /June 06/2019
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in France Thursday to join other world leaders on the beaches of Normandy in a tribute to the veterans and dead heroes of the D-Day landings that shaped the outcome of World War II.Despite being largely blamed for growing international discord, Trump headed to join in the attempted show of transatlantic harmony on the 75th anniversary of the assault. "Heading over to Normandy to celebrate some of the bravest that ever lived," the U.S. leader tweeted on arrival in France. "We are eternally grateful!"French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier paid tribute to D-Day veterans at the start of Thursday's commemorations for the soldiers who surged onto the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944. On an occasion mixing high politics with poignant historical remembrance, Macron met first with May at Ver-sur-Mer, where they laid the first stone for a new British memorial to fallen soldiers.
"Standing here as the waves wash quietly onto the shore below us, it's almost impossible to grasp the raw courage it must have taken that day to leap from landing craft and into the surf, despite the fury of battle," May said. Under a bright blue sky, she finished her speech by addressing the assembled veterans, whose numbers dwindle with each major anniversary. "I want to say the only words we can: thank you," she said in her final international appearance before she steps down as leader of the Conservative party on Friday. Britain's delayed departure from the European Union, which has cost May her job as prime minister, is just one of many rifts that has opened recently among Western allies, whose alliance forged in World War II is under unprecedented strain. The man blamed for most of the discord, Trump, was set to arrive in northern France for a ceremony at the US military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking Omaha Beach where 9,400 US servicemen are buried.
Overlooked heroes
Both leaders will give speeches, while the French president will also bestow the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest honour, on five American veterans. Macron and Trump -- whose once warm relations have chilled due to mounting public disagreements on Iran, climate change and trade -- will then meet for private talks followed by a working lunch. Macron will end the day with an homage at Colleville Montgomery for the Kieffer Commando, the only French soldiers to storm a Normandy beach on D-Day which opened a new front against the Nazis and led to the liberation of France and much of western Europe.
The 177 men, who were given the honour of being the first to touch French soil, had long been little more than a footnote in France's official histories of the war -- an oversight officials in Macron's office said the president is eager to correct. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend a ceremony at Juno Beach, where Canadian forces were in charge of the assault. D-Day is seen by many as one of the great symbols of transatlantic cooperation, as young American and Canadian servicemen sacrificed their lives in the struggle to end the Third Reich's grip on Europe.
The June 6, 1944 landings by Allied forces on five Normandy beaches were the biggest naval operation ever in terms of the number of ships deployed and the troops involved. By the end of what became known as "the longest day", 156,000 Allied troops and 20,000 vehicles had landed in Nazi-occupied northern France despite facing a hail of bullets, artillery and aircraft fire.
'Shared values', strained ties
Tens of thousands of French and foreign visitors, many donning WWII uniforms or driving vintage military vehicles, have converged on Normandy to honour the veterans. Trump arrived in France from a three-day state visit to Britain, where he attended a ceremony in Portsmouth to mark D-Day alongside Queen Elizabeth II and over a dozen other world leaders. In a joint proclamation, the 16 nations present in Portsmouth affirmed their shared responsibility to ensure that the horrors of World War II are never repeated. They reaffirmed their commitment to "shared values" and vowed to work together to defend freedoms "whenever they are threatened." President Vladimir Putin, who was invited in 2004 on the 60th anniversary of the invasion, did not receive an invitation to either ceremony, a snub indicative of the West's strained relations with Russia. Russia's foreign ministry said Wednesday that the Allied invasion on D-Day did not determine the course of World War II and its importance should not be exaggerated. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists that it was the efforts of the Soviet Union, which entered the war in 1941, that secured victory.

Trump says Tehran is ‘championing terrorism’ across the Middle East
Trump also said Iran was failing as a nation following tough US sanctions, but that he was ready to talk to the Iranians
Macron: France and the United States share the common objective of preventing Iran obtaining nuclear arms
Arab News/June 06/2019/CAEN, France: Iran is “championing terrorism” across the Middle East, President Donald Trump said Thursday in Caen, western France, after attending a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Trump also said Iran was failing as a nation following tough US sanctions, but that he was ready to talk to the Iranians. France and the United States share the common objective of preventing Iran obtaining nuclear arms and new international negotiations need to be opened for that goal to be met, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday. Both men were speaking before holding bilateral talks in Caen, western France, after attending a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Trump added that he would make a decision on whether to slap more than $300 billion in tariffs on China after a meeting of leaders of the world’s largest economies at the end of June in Japan, where he will hold talks with China’s president.Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister is traveling to Iran next week to discuss the faltering nuclear accord between Tehran and leading world powers. Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Adebahr said Thursday that the visit is part of a broader trip to the Middle East that also includes stops in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. She said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas plans to meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammed Javad Zarif on Monday. Adebahr said Germany believes the 2015 deal remains "a good agreement that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons" and that Maas discussed the trip with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a recent visit to Berlin. US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord last year, saying that it failed to sufficiently curb Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Exclusive: US, Iran plan ‘oil for goods’ deal to ease sanctions
Arab News/June 06/2019
Iraq will be transit point for exports and imports, sources tell Arab News
BAGHDAD: Iranian and US officials are in the early stages of negotiating an agreement to allow Tehran to sell limited quantities of oil in exchange for goods, Iraqi sources have told Arab News.
Iraq will be the transit point for both the oil exports and the import of goods, according to officials in Baghdad familiar with the talks. Washington’s stated policy is for sanctions to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero, and US government sources denied to Arab News that there was a deal to permit limited sales. However, a senior Iraqi official familiar with what he described as “ongoing talks” said the deal was “a goodwill gesture offered by the Americans to calm the escalation between the two countries, although it is still in its preliminary stages.” Iran arms, equips and controls dozens of armed factions in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, whose activities are a serious threat to the US and its allies in the region. One of the aims of US economic sanctions is to prevent Tehran from funding these groups. “The main goal that the Americans are looking to achieve is preventing the Iranians from obtaining any cash,” a second Iraqi official familiar with the talks told Arab News. “The deal will allow the Americans to monitor and control everything, the amount of Iranian crude oil exported and the kind of goods imported, and be sure that no cash is paid.
“This will paralyze the Iranians and force them to abandon the armed factions they fund and will keep them busy dealing with the internal Iranian situation.”
The initial deal is thought to have been concluded by Bijan Zanganeh, the Iranian minister of oil, on an unannounced visit to Iraq a month ago. It is not yet final because details such as the amount of oil to be sold, the main buyer and the kind of goods to be imported are still under discussion.
“The Iranians suggested one of the European countries as a key buyer for the oil but the Americans refused,” a source familiar with the talks told Arab News. “The confirmed thing so far is that Iraq will be the transit area for the exchange operations, so the US can closely monitor the commitment of the Iranians.”The agreement is based on the UN oil-for-food program implemented in Iraq in 1995 to ease the impact of sanctions imposed after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The program allowed Iraq to sell oil in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs under UN supervision without obtaining funds to boost its military. “The targeted shape of the suggested deal is almost a copy of the oil-for-food program, but Iraq will replace the UN as the supervisor of procurement and receipt and disbursement of funds,” a prominent Shiite leader and a member of Iraq’s oil and power parliamentary committee familiar with the talks told Arab News. “The proposal is to open a bank account in the Iraqi Central Bank in favor of Iran to deposit the money obtained from the sale of Iranian oil, and then for Iraq to pay for Iranian purchases later, using this money.
Monitoring
“This mechanism will enable the Americans to follow the money closely and monitor Iran’s disbursements.”
Another member of the oil and power parliamentary committee said: “The opening of the bank account, the receipt of the oil money and the payment of the invoices for Iran’s purchases are among the points agreed upon.”A prominent Shiite leader familiar with the deal told Arab News it also included maintaining all the pre-sanctions contracts that Iran signed with European, Chinese and other Asian companies to provide medical supplies and spare parts for the oil industry. Iraq will financially cover these contracts from the money in the proposed Iranian account.The deal would also solve another issue. Iraq imported 1,100MW of electricity per day from Iran for many years, in addition to 28 million cubic meters of gas that generates a further 4,000MW. Supplies ceased last summer because Iraq was unable to pay as a result of US financial sanctions on Iran. The subsequent power shortages led to violent demonstrations in the Shiite-dominated provinces in southern Iraq. At least 17 people were killed, including members of the security forces, and government and party offices, including the Iranian Consulate, were burned.

Trump says ‘fine’ if Iran wants to open talks
AFP, Caen/Thursday, 6 June 2019/US President Donald Trump on Thursday said it was “fine” for him if Iran wanted to hold talks, adding the Islamic Republic was currently “failing as a nation”. The United States has had no diplomatic relations with Iran following the hostage seize of the American embassy in Tehran that followed the 1979 Islamic Revolution. US diplomats helped negotiate the landmark 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear program with Europe under his predecessor Barack Obama but Trump unilaterally pulled out of the deal in May 2018. Speaking after talks in northern France with French President Emmanuel Macron, an ardent supporter of diplomacy with Iran, Trump indicated he could consider talking to Tehran. “I understand they want to talk and if they want to talk that’s fine,” said Trump, who is in northern France to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. “We’ll talk but the one thing that they can’t have is they can’t have nuclear weapons,” he added. Trump said when he came to power Iran was “undisputed champions of terror” but indicated activity had slackened in recent times.
“They’re not doing that anymore. They’re doing very poorly as a nation. They’re failing as a nation,” said Trump. Trump referred to the US sanctions against Iran, which are battering the Iranian economy especially since Washington pulled out of the nuclear deal. “I don’t want them to fail as a nation. We can turn that around very quickly but the sanctions have been extraordinary,” he said. Although EU leaders were bitterly angered by Trump’s pullout from the nuclear deal, the US president said and Macron did not have differences on how to handle Iran.
Macron said the US shared the same four objectives on Iran: Prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons, reduce its activities in ballistics, contain Iran’s operations in the region, and promote regional peace. The French president said that in order to achieve such objectives “you need to start a negotiation” and applauded Trump’s apparent readiness to hold talks. “I think the words pronounced from President Trump today are very important,” said Macron, speaking in English. “We need to open a new negotiation.”The comments came as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has a warm personal relationship with Trump, plans to travel to Iran next week as Tokyo aims to play a mediation role. However, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out at Trump earlier this week, saying “when such a person is the president, this shows the political and moral decline of that country.”

An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft
The Associated Press, Baghdad/Thursday, 6 June 2019 /Iran has chosen to “step back and recalculate” after making preparations for an apparent attack against US forces in the Gulf region, but it is too early to conclude the threat is gone, the top commander of American forces in the Mideast said on Thursday. In an interview with three reporters accompanying him to the Gulf, General Frank McKenzie said he remains concerned by Iran’s potential for aggression, and he would not rule out requesting additional US forces to bolster defenses against Iranian missiles or other weapons. “I don’t actually believe the threat has diminished,” McKenzie said. “I believe the threat is very real.”McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, and other military officials are trying to strike a balance between persuading Iran that the US is prepared to retaliate for an Iranian attack on Americans, thus deterring conflict, and pushing so much military muscle into the Gulf that Iran thinks the US plans an attack, in which case it might feel compelled to strike preemptively and thus spark war. Tensions between the US and Iran have worsened since President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and several world powers, and reinstated sanctions on Tehran. Last month, in response to what American officials characterized as an imminent threat, the US announced it would rush an aircraft carrier and other assets to the region.
“It is my assessment that this has caused the Iranians to back up a little bit, but I’m not sure they are strategically backing down,” McKenzie told reporters from The Associated Press and two other media organizations. The general said the US is showing enough force to “establish deterrence” without “needlessly” provoking its longtime adversary. “We’re working very hard to walk that line.”He said he is confident in the moves he has made thus far. “We’ve taken steps to show the Iranians that we mean business in our ability to defend ourselves,” he said, referring to the accelerated deployment to the Gulf area of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, four Air Force B-52 bombers and additional batteries of Army Patriot air-defense systems.
Speaking at the Baghdad headquarters of the US-led coalition fighting the ISIS extremist group in Iraq and Syria, McKenzie said he also has repositioned surveillance aircraft to more closely monitor the situation in the Gulf and in Iraq, where the US has 5,200 troops on the ground, and has given Iran a “new look” by introducing more aerial patrols by land- and carrier-based fighters. “Cumulatively, all of these have caused them to sort of step back and recalculate the course that they apparently were on,” he said. Iran configured missiles on dhows. McKenzie did not mention it, but other officials have said that in early May Iran had cruise and perhaps short-range ballistic missiles configured for potential use aboard a small number of dhows sailing off its coast. More recently, those missiles, which were deemed a potential threat, were offloaded, officials have said. McKenzie stressed that the danger of conflict with a decades-old American adversary has not passed.
“I hesitate to say that deterrence has been established,” he said. “We continue to see possible imminent threats” of a potential Iranian attack. He said he could not be more specific due to the classification of the intelligence, which he said is as clear and compelling as any he has seen in years. McKenzie, a veteran of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, took command of Central Command in late March, shortly before the onset of the latest surge in tensions with Iran. He previously directed the staff that supports the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The general said he - not the White House - initiated the May 5 moves to accelerate the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln carrier group and to dispatch B-52 bombers. He said the intelligence on Iranian threats in the first days of May was “compelling” and that the threats were “advanced, imminent and very specific.” The pattern of intelligence on Iranian preparations for potential attacks emerged as the Trump administration took a pair of highly public actions meant to penalize Iran. The first was the State Department’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
The second, perhaps more consequential, move was a April 22 announcement that waivers for American sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil would not be renewed when they expired May 2, meaning Iran lost vital oil export revenues.
US intelligence was then picking up what General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last week looked like a pattern of Iranian plotting against US and other targets in the region. Dunford said that on May 3, the US sent a message to Iranian officials “just to make it clear they understood that we would hold them accountable should something take place in the region.”Two days later, Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, announced the movement of the carrier, prompting an explosion of questions about what new threats Iran had posed to prompt such a highly unusual White House declaration. McKenzie said the carrier request was his, in consultation with Dunford, and that he faced no political pressure to make the request.

NATO Iraq mission not disrupted by Iran tension: Commander
AFP, Brussels/Thursday, 6 June 2019/The head of the NATO mission in Iraq insisted on Thursday that the recent increase in tension between the US and Iran has not hampered the alliance’s work in the country. Washington ordered the evacuation of non-emergency staff from its Baghdad embassy last month due to an alleged growing threat from Iranian-linked Iraqi militias, while Germany and the Netherlands suspended their training missions. But Canadian General Dany Fortin, who leads NATO’s 500-strong training and advisory mission in Iraq, said his forces had “sufficiently mitigated” the threat and were able to continue working. “There’s no doubt there’s still risk and as reported in the media in the last few weeks there was a critical threat, cause for concern for the US and for all of us,” Fortin told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels. “We have force protection measures in place to ensure that we’re vigilant, unpredictable, we change things, but we can continue our activities. So it hasn’t affected our advising, our training activities whatsoever.”The NATO mission aims to train local Iraqi forces and improve military education centers to try to avoid a repeat of 2014, when the so-called ISIS extremist group seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. Fortin said the aim was to create a “self-sustainable” system of forces and training in Iraq, adding that he hoped this could be achieved in three to four years. The US evacuation order last month came after the Pentagon deployed a carrier task force and B-52 bombers to the Gulf to deter an unspecified threat from Tehran to US forces or allies. Despite international skepticism, the US government has been pointing to increasing threats from Iran, a long-time enemy and rival of US allies in the region. Washington has also decided to deploy an extra 1,500 troops to the region, while stepping up economic sanctions against Tehran. The swinging economic penalties came after the US pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, imperiling an accord that many of Washington’s allies say is the best way to stop Tehran developing atomic weapons.

Egypt kills 14 suspected militants in raid after Sinai attack
AFP, Cairo/Thursday, 6 June 2019/Egyptian security forces have killed 14 suspected militants during a raid carried out in the restive Sinai Peninsula in response to a deadly checkpoint attack, the authorities said. Wednesday’s attack, claimed by ISIS, left dead eight policemen southwest of el-Arish, capital of North Sinai, and five militants were killed in exchanges of fire that ensued. Some other suspected militants fled the scene before security forces tracked down and killed 14 of them in the raid, the interior ministry said in a statement. “Following the route of escaped elements responsible for the attack led to a group of terrorist elements in an abandoned hideout in an empty lot,” the ministry said. The security forces surrounded the suspected militants before engaging “in a heavy shootout” which killed 14 of them, it added.They also found 14 guns, three explosive devices and two explosive belts in their possession. Pictures of the slain militants lying in pools of blood were also circulated along with the statement. A medical source sent AFP a list naming the eight police personnel killed, which a security source confirmed. AFP also received a recording from a police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, of security forces communications that appeared to confirm that a military plane destroyed a tank hijacked by a militant during the attack. In a statement released by its propaganda wing, Amaq, ISIS said its fighters had launched “two simultaneous attacks on two police checkpoints” in el-Arish. The attack took place on the day of Eid al-Fitr. In February 2018, the army launched a nationwide offensive against the militants, focused mainly on North Sinai. The troubled hotspot has long been a center of insurgents affiliated with IS that Egypt has battled against. According to official figures, around 665 insurgents have been killed since the start of the operation, while the army has lost some 50 soldiers. No independent statistics are available and the region is largely cut off to journalists, making verification of casualty figures extremely difficult.

Observers: Syria rebels repel government forces in northwest
The Associated Press, Beirut/Thursday, 6 June 2019/Syrian armed opposition and a war monitoring group say insurgents have launched an offensive against government forces on the edge of their stronghold in northwestern Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebel offensive Thursday afternoon began with a volley of rockets and missiles lobbed at government forces in villages recently captured from the opposition. The Observatory said the rebels burned tires to obstruct warplanes’ vision. A rebel umbrella group, National Front for Liberation, said the offensive is aimed to repel government forces.Government forces began a ground offensive in late April against areas under rebel control since 2015, after a Russia-Turkey backed cease-fire in place for months failed to reduce the influence of extremists in the stronghold or open a highway that links government-controlled cities.

Syria regime bombardment kills 10 during Eid: monitor
AFP, Kafr Aweid, Syria/Thursday, 6 June 2019/Air strikes and shelling by regime forces killed 10 civilians in Syria’s northwest on Wednesday, as residents marked the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a war monitor said. Two children were among six people killed in regime strikes on the town of Kafr Aweid in the extremist-held province of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The victims’ relatives gathered at the town’s graveyard on Wednesday afternoon as an excavator dug a large pit in the ground. The scattered remains of one of the children were placed in a cardboard box before being buried, an AFP photographer said. The corpse of another was covered in an embroidered blue sheath. Another civilian died in regime shelling on the northern Hama countryside, also held by insurgents, said the Britain-based monitor. Regime air strikes also hit a motorcycle in the Idlib town of Maaret al-Numan, killing a woman and her two children, said the Observatory. Wednesday’s attacks come amid an escalation in violence in parts of the country’s northwest held by Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. A September deal was supposed to avert a full-out regime offensive on Idlib province and adjacent areas, home to around three million people, nearly half of whom have been displaced from other parts of Syria. But the regime and its ally Russia have since late April ramped up deadly air strikes and rocket fire on the region, and fighters have clashed on its edges.The bombardment of Idlib province and neighboring areas has killed more than 300 people since late April, according to the Observatory. It also displaced nearly 270,000 people in May alone, according to the UN. A total of 24 health facilities and 35 schools have been hit in the latest escalation, according to the UN’s humanitarian office. Analysts predict that President Bashar al-Assad and his allies will continue to chip away at the area, but not unleash a major assault that would create chaos on Turkey’s doorstep.The conflict in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011.

Senators Seek to Block Trump's Arms Sales to Saudis
Agence France Presse/Naharnet /June 06/2019/U.S. senators across the political spectrum on Wednesday moved to block President Donald Trump's plan to sell $8.1 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies as lawmakers' frustration with the kingdom soars. The Trump administration last month said it would use emergency powers to defy Congress and provide munitions, aircraft maintenance and other military components to Saudi Arabia along with the United Arab Emirates. The move infuriated lawmakers who believe the weapons could be used to kill civilians in war-ravaged Yemen, where the Saudis and Emiratis lead a coalition supporting pro-government forces, and millions of residents are at risk of starvation. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who is usually in lockstep with Trump, voiced hope for "strong bipartisan support" in preventing the sales. "While I understand that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behavior of Mohammed bin Salman cannot be ignored. Now is not the time to do business as usual with Saudi Arabia," Graham said, referring to the kingdom's powerful crown prince. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration would not follow the usual process of submitting the sales to Congress due to an emergency caused by Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional rival which has backed the Huthi rebels who control much of Yemen.
The senators nonetheless said they would go ahead and introduce resolutions of disapproval -- as they could for sales that are formally submitted -- for each of the 22 arms deals, which also include a transfer of US arms from the United Arab Emirates to Jordan. The chances of success are uncertain as Trump could veto any disapproval resolutions. The Senate and House of Representatives both need two-thirds votes to override him. Trump -- who has hailed the Saudi alliance as good for the U.S. arms business -- in April vetoed a resolution that would have ended U.S. military support for the Saudi-led forces in Yemen.
Buying from China, too?
CNN, meanwhile, reported that U.S. intelligence has shown that Saudi Arabia -- generally a loyal U.S. customer -- has stepped up its ballistic missile program with support from China. The United States, but not China, is part of a 1987 pact of nations that restricts missile exports, but Saudi Arabia has been keen to preserve an edge over Iran, which manufactures its own missiles. CNN, quoting unnamed sources, said that US lawmakers were incensed that the Trump administration initially did not disclose the classified information on the missiles. Senators in April sharply criticized Pompeo at a public briefing over not sharing information, but the substance behind the dispute appeared cryptic at the time. Anger with Saudi Arabia has grown in Congress since the October killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who wrote columns for The Washington Post and lived in Virginia. He was strangled and his body dismembered after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to sort out marriage paperwork, according to Turkish and US officials. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat who has been among the most outspoken critics of Saudi Arabia, said that only Congress could change the dynamics between the two countries and work to end the humanitarian crisis in Yemen."Saudi Arabia treats us like the junior partner in this relationship, chopping up US residents and torturing others, all the while demanding we remain silent and sell them more weapons," Murphy said.
Nuclear concerns
Lawmakers have also been outraged over the Trump administration's eagerness to send nuclear technology and expertise to Saudi Arabia -- again skirting the normal US process as Riyadh has not signed a so-called Section 123 agreement to guarantee peaceful use.
Senator Tim Kaine, who pressed the Energy Department for more detail on the transfers, said that two of the seven transfers took place after the slaying of Khashoggi -- including one on October 18, 2018, just 16 days after he died. "President Trump's eagerness to give the Saudis anything they want, over bipartisan congressional objection, harms American national security interests and is one of many steps the administration is taking that is fueling a dangerous escalation of tension in the region," Kaine said in a statement. Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, has launched an ambitious, $80 billion plan to build 16 nuclear reactors. But Crown Prince Mohammed has provoked concerns by saying the kingdom would seek a nuclear weapon if Iran obtains one.

Netanyahu Appoints Israel's First Openly Gay Minister
Agence France Presse/Naharnet /June 06/2019/Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tapped Amir Ohana as acting justice minister, the first openly gay minister in the country's history. The appointment of Ohana, from Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, comes as Jerusalem prepares for its annual Gay Pride celebrations on Thursday. "Amir Ohana is a jurist who knows the legal system well," the premier's office said in a statement. He takes up the position from Netanyahu's right-wing rival Ayelet Shaked, fired by the premier on Sunday along with education minister Naftali Bennett after the prime minister failed to form a government following April elections. Netanyahu opted for parliament to dissolve itself and approve new elections, preventing Israeli President Reuven Rivlin from selecting someone else to form a government. Shaked and Bennett had left the Likud years earlier, but their New Right party failed to win enough votes in April's poll to clear the threshold to join Israel's parliament. Israeli ministers remain in their posts immediately after elections, until the formation of the next administration. But Netanyahu's office confirmed their sackings at the weekend. Justice ministry hopeful Betzalel Smotrich, of the religious far-right alliance United Right, said Monday the country should be run according to biblical laws, sparking outrage among secular Israelis. Netanyahu responded by saying "the state of Israel will not be a halakha state", referring to Jewish law. Thousands of people are expected to converge on Jerusalem on Thursday for its "march of pride and tolerance" to support the rights the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, amid tight security. In 2015, a 16-year-old demonstrator at the march was stabbed to death by an ultra-orthodox Jew. Israel has presented itself as a pioneer in LGBT rights in the region, but homosexuality is deeply rejected by conservative religious parties whose support Netanyahu is likely to need in order to form his next government. It has also been accused of "pinkwashing", or pushing its reputation for tolerance, in an effort to restore a liberal image tarnished by its occupation of Palestinian territories.Netanyahu's failure to form a coalition was due to strongly secular right-wing former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman's refusal to back down on demands for legislation to force religious Jews to serve in the army along with other Israelis.

Palestinians pledge to cancel leaked ministerial raises, says UN envoy
AFP, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories/Thursday, 6 June 2019/The cash-strapped Palestinian government has pledged to suspend a secret increase in ministerial salaries, the United Nations envoy on the Israel-Palestinian conflict said on Thursday after reports of the raise sparked anger. Documents leaked online appeared to show that in 2017, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas had quietly agreed to increase monthly salaries of ministers from $3,000 to $5,000, as well as boosting the prime minister’s salary from $4,000 to $6,000. The revelation, by an anonymous online group known as “Against the Current”, came as the Palestinian government faces desperate financial shortfalls. Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said on Thursday he had spoken to recently installed Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who had agreed to cancel the raises. “At a time when the #Palestinian people are struggling with economic hardship, when salaries were cut in #Gaza, such decisions defy logic and rightly anger people,” Mladenov tweeted in reaction to the news of the salary increase. “I spoke to @DrShtayyeh who committed to end this practice immediately and investigate.”Shtayyeh, who replaced predecessor Rami Hamdallah in April, was not immediately available for comment. Palestinians commenting on Against the Current’s Facebook page expressed outrage at the reported raises. “All these ministers, what service do they provide to the people anyway? They’re just honorary roles,” wrote Subhi al-Hamdani. The Palestinian Authority has been forced to halve the salaries of many employees in recent months due to an ongoing financial dispute with Israel. The Jewish state has been deducting around $10 million a month from taxes it collects on behalf of the PA, money it says corresponds to payments to families of prisoners in Israeli jails -- including those who have carried out attacks. Israel sees such payments as rewards for attacks on its citizens, but the Palestinians argue they are a vital lifeline for families who have often lost their main breadwinner. They also accuse Israel of arresting people arbitrarily. Abbas has responded to the Israeli move by refusing to accept any of the tax revenues, which equate to more than half his government’s budget. The United States has also cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians. US envoy Jason Greenblatt said the salary hikes for ministers showed the Palestinian leadership had sought to enrich themselves while creating a “self-imposed financial crisis.”“Where’s the care/concern about the people?” he tweeted.

African Union suspends Sudan over deadly unrest
The Associated Press, Khartoum/Thursday, 6 June 2019/The African Union’s Peace and Security Council says it has suspended Sudan’s participation in all AU activities “with immediate effect” over the deadly unrest in the country. The body posted on Twitter that the suspension will remain until “the effective establishment” of a civilian-led transitional authority, calling the awaited transition “the only way to allow the Sudan to exit from the current crisis.” Thursday’s announcement came as the committee met on the Sudan crisis, a day after new clashes brought the death toll in three days of the ruling military’s crackdown to 108. The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Fake Mahamat, earlier this week strongly condemned the violence in Sudan and urged the country’s ruling military council “to protect the civilians from further harm.”

Canadian Statement on situation in Sudan
June 6, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Global Affairs Canada today issued the following statement:
“Canada is closely following the evolving situation in Sudan. We are appalled that the Sudanese Transitional Military Council and Rapid Support Forces violently attacked protestors in front of the Sudanese Armed Forces headquarters on June 3, and by the continued use of indiscriminate violence to intimidate the civilian population. This violence, including sexual violence, is unacceptable and a blatant attack on the basic rights of the Sudanese people, who have been bravely calling for change following decades of oppression from their government.
“Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those who were killed and those who were injured in these attacks. We call for the perpetrators to be held to account.
“Canada takes note of and supports the African Union’s immediate suspension of Sudan from all African Union activities until a civilian-led transitional government can be established.
“Canada is prepared to do whatever it can to support a civilian-led transition to a democratically elected government in Sudan.”

Sudan health ministry says death toll from violence rises to 61
Reuters, Khartoum/Thursday, 6 June 2019/The official death toll in Sudan from violence that erupted on Monday has risen to 61, the director-general of the Health Ministry said on Thursday, up from a previous toll of 46. Suleiman Abdel Jabbar told Reuters that of the 61 documented cases, 52 were from the capital Khartoum and they included 49 civilians killed by gunfire and three security personnel who died from stab wounds. The rest were from other provinces. The report came after opposition-linked medics said more than 100 people had lost their lives in the violence. Regional and International reactions to Sudan crisis
In a related development, Washington on Wednesday called on Sudan’s military rulers to “desist from violence” and urged talks with protesters to resume, after doctors said 108 people had been killed in a crackdown, according to AFP. “The United States condemns the recent attacks on protesters in Sudan,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. It called on the ruling military council and Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries to desist from violence and “a civilian-led transition that leads to timely elections and free expression of the will of the Sudanese people,” Ortagus said. “Senior Department officials are engaging now with officials in the region and we welcome the recent statements from the AU, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia calling for restraint from violence and resumption of dialogue,” she added. Riyadh had earlier sought a resumption of “dialogue between the various parties of Sudan.”The Central Committee for Sudanese Doctors close to the protest movement said on Wednesday that at least 108 people had been killed in the crackdown, including 40 people whose bodies were recovered from the Nile river. More than 500 people were wounded. Army ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Wednesday said the council would “negotiate with no restriction,” but protest leaders rejected the offer. After the killing “justice and accountability” are needed before talks about a political process, said Amjad Farid, a spokesman for the Sudanese Professionals Association which spearheaded protests that led to the ouster in April of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir was replaced by the military council. Also the United Arab Emirates said it is watching developments in Sudan with great concern and supports the continuation of a dialogue between the different parties, the UAE foreign ministry said in a statement published by the state news agency WAM late on Wednesday. On Thursday, Russia said it opposed foreign intervention in Sudan and the authorities in Khartoum must subdue what it described as extremists, Russia’s RIA news agency reported. The Russian foreign ministry also said it supported the holding of elections in Sudan, Reuters reported.

Sudan opposition rejects army’s offer of talks, death toll hits 101
Reuters, Khartoum/Thursday, 6 June 2019/Sudan’s military rulers offered to resume talks with opposition groups on Wednesday, two days after security forces mounted a deadly raid on a protest camp, but the opposition rejected the invitation. Medics linked to the opposition said the death toll from Monday’s operation and subsequent unrest had risen to 101 and that it was expected to increase further. No official casualty figures have been released. The raid, which followed weeks of wrangling between the ruling military council and opposition groups over who should lead Sudan’s transition to democracy, marked the worst outbreak of violence since the army ousted President Omar al-Bashir in April after months of protests against his rule.
The Transitional Military Council cancelled all agreements it had reached with the opposition immediately after the raid but on Wednesday it rowed back amid mounting international criticism of the violence. “We in the military council extend our hand for negotiations without shackles except the interests of the homeland,” its head, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said on state TV. But a Sudanese alliance of protesters and opposition groups rejected the offer, saying the military could not be trusted. “Today the council invited us to dialogue and at the same time it is imposing fear on citizens in the streets,” Madani Abbas Madani, a leader of the Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces (DFCF), told Reuters. Madani said Burhan’s invitation had come before the arrest of one of the opposition alliance members, Yasir Arman, deputy head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) rebel group.
Gunfire, street blockades
Opposition medics said that 40 dead bodies had been pulled out of the Nile on Tuesday and taken to an unknown destination by pick-up trucks belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. That brings the total death toll from the recent violence to 101, the medics said. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the report. Locals set tires on fire and block a sidestreet leading to their neighborhood in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to stop military vehicles from driving through the area on June 4, 2019. (AFP)
A military council spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment, but a source said a statement was to be issued soon. The mood in the capital Khartoum remained tense on Wednesday, with demonstrators blocking streets in several districts. Gunfire rang out in the distance. Most shops were shuttered on what would usually have been a bustling Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday. Minor protests erupted outside mosques after Eid prayers but there were no reports of significant clashes with security forces. The deputy head of the military council, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, said in a televised speech that it had launched “an urgent and transparent investigation” into the recent violence. “Any person who crossed boundaries has to be punished,” he added. The military has denied trying to clear the sit-in protest outside the defense ministry on Monday. Its spokesman said forces moved in to deal with disruptive groups nearby and the violence spread from there.Saudi Arabia, which has close ties to Sudan’s military council, said on Wednesday it was watching developments with great concern and called for more dialogue. US National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a Twitter post that Monday’s violence by Sudan’s security forces was “abhorrent” and demanded that the military council facilitate moves towards a civilian-led government. The main protest organizer, the Sudanese Professionals Association, has called for an international committee to investigate Monday’s deaths in what it branded a “massacre”. Several airlines have cancelled flights to Khartoum, including Bahrain’s Gulf Air, flydubai and EgyptAir. Sudan has been rocked by unrest since December, when anger over rising bread prices and cash shortages broke into sustained protests against Bashir that culminated in the military removing him after three decades in office.

The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on June 06-07/2019
The Transatlantic Relationship on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day
Con Coughlin/Gatestone Institute/June 06/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14346/nato-relationship
US officials were shocked when Angela Merkel said she had no intention of meeting the target [of minimum defence spending of 2 percent of GDP] by 2024, but that Germany might be able to reach it by 2030. Given the closeness of Germany's relationship with Russia, particularly over the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline which will supply Berlin's energy needs for decades to come, this attitude suggests Germany is more interested in its relations with Russia than sustaining the NATO alliance.
For a president who is already critical of the Europeans' failure to pay for defending their continent, this cavalier attitude can hardly be deemed constructive.
What the free world needs is a strong NATO to defend democracy against autocratic regimes like China and Russia, not one that is distracted by unnecessary internal squabbles, lest the transatlantic alliance one day cease to exist.
US President Donald Trump's attendance at this week's commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in northern France comes at a time when the future of the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe is under unprecedented strain.
The Normandy landings, which began on June 6 and resulted in Allied forces achieving the remarkable feat of delivering 156,000 troops on to the shores of northern France, unquestionably represents the high water mark of the transatlantic relationship.
Not only did it ultimately result in the defeat of Nazi Germany and end the reign of terror it had instituted over much of Europe. It also led to the formation of the close alliance between the Western democracies of the free world in the existential battle with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
And yet, despite the significant victories the alliance achieved against these two significant foes, serious concerns are now being raised as to whether the alliance has the resilience to meet future challenges, from the emergence of China to the destabilizing policies of rogue states like Russia and Iran.
It is not just the personal dislike many Europeans claim to have for Mr Trump himself that threatens the future well-being of the relationship, although the childish antics of anti-Trump protesters in Britain this week, where the president is on a three-day state visit, hardly help the cause of transatlantic cooperation.
While the British government literally rolled out the red carpet for the 45th US President, with Mr Trump receiving a warm welcome from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, the magnificent pomp and ceremony of the royal occasion will have been somewhat undermined by the appearance of the "Trump baby" balloon in the skies over London.
If the balloon's re-appearance -- it made its debut during Mr Trump's brief visit to London last year -- signifies the deep dislike many left-wing politicians, such as Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn have for Mr Trump, there are other, more worrying trends, that raise questions about whether the alliance can survive in years to come.
Foremost among these remains the refusal of a number of European countries, such as Germany, to pay their fair share towards the cost of maintaining NATO, the military alliance whose origins date back to the close cooperation forged between the Allies during World War II.
Even though European leaders, at the 2014 NATO summit in Cardiff, pledged to meet NATO's minimum defence spending requirement of 2 percent of GDP by 2024, the Trump administration is becoming increasingly frustrated by the failure of a number of European leaders to fulfil their obligations.
For example, at a recent meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington, US officials were shocked when Mrs Merkel said she had no intention of meeting the target by 2024, but that Germany might be able to reach it by 2030.
Given the closeness of Germany's relationship with Russia, particularly over the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which will supply Berlin's energy needs for decades to come, this attitude suggests Germany is more interested in its relations with Russia than sustaining the NATO alliance.
For a president who is already critical of the Europeans' failure to pay for defending their continent, this cavalier attitude can hardly be deemed constructive.
Iran is another issue where the Europeans' insistence of going their own way over the 2015 nuclear deal has caused unnecessary friction with Washington. As signatories to the deal that former President Barack Obama helped to negotiate with the ayatollahs in 2015, Britain, France and Germany continue to insist that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) remains the best means of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
To that end they have encouraged European firms to continue trading with Tehran even if, by so doing, they run the risk of being penalised by the US.
The divergence of opinion between Europe and the US over Iran is likely to deepen further if Washington fulfils its promise to present the UN this week with clear evidence that Iran was involved in recent acts of terrorism in the Gulf, including planting four explosive devices on oil tankers anchored in the Gulf.
If, as seems increasingly likely, it can be proven that Iran was responsible for the recent escalation in tensions in the Gulf region, then Europe's insistence on trying to save the nuclear deal will be even harder to justify.
And the longer such differences of opinion exist between the US and Europe on key policy areas, whether it is NATO funding or Iran's nuclear programme, the greater the tensions within the transatlantic alliance are likely to be. Therefore, in order to prevent irrepairable damage to this vital relationship, this approach is short-sighted on the part of the Europeans. What the free world needs is a strong NATO to defend democracy against autocratic regimes like China and Russia, not one that is distracted by unnecessary internal squabbles, lest the transatlantic alliance one day cease to exist.
*Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's defence and foreign affairs editor.
© 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.

Turkey's "Second Invasion" of Cyprus: Illegal Drilling in Eastern Mediterranean
يوزي بولوت/معهد كايتستون: تركيا تغزو للمرة الثانية قبرص ولكن هذه المرة بتنقيبها اللاقاني عن البترول شرقي المتوسط
Uzay Bulut/Gatestone Institute/June 06/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/75549/%d9%8a%d9%88%d8%b2%d9%8a-%d8%a8%d9%88%d9%84%d9%88%d8%aa-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%87%d8%af-%d9%83%d8%a7%d9%8a%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%86-%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%83%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d8%aa%d8%ba%d8%b2%d9%88-%d9%84%d9%84/
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14256/cyprus-turkey-illegal-drilling
"Although Turkey has been violating Cyprus's sovereignty since 1974, the current highly volatile internal political and economic situation in Turkey has made the Turkish government get even more aggressive in the eastern Mediterranean.... For Mr. Erdogan's plans to succeed, Cyprus needs to be eliminated." — Harris Samaras, an expert on the Cypriot EEZ and chairman of the international investment banking firm Pytheas.
"Mr. Erdogan is aware that it will be impossible for Turkey to achieve its goals of regional hegemony if US interests in particular, but also French ones, develop a firm foothold in Cyprus. This is his biggest fear." — Harris Samaras.
"The East Med Pipeline, then -- which has been started with the blessing of the US -- is of the utmost importance. At the last trilateral meeting of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was present and supported the project. If it goes ahead, it will be a major slap in the face for Turkey's energy plans." — Harris Samaras.
"Concrete steps should be taken to stop Turkish violations against Cyprus's EEZ. Sanctions should be imposed at the level of the European Council to the persons and companies responsible for the drilling. All pre-accession funds to Turkey should be blocked, and Turkish access to loans by the European Investment Bank should be eliminated. Additional options, if Turkey escalates the situation further, are imposing sanctions on Turkey's banking sector and freezing the accession process altogether. The US also needs to lift the irrational arms embargo it imposed on the Republic of Cyprus in 1987, and help it to rearm and modernize its ability to defend itself, while keeping the UN peace keeping mission (UNFICYP) intact." — Theodoros Tsakiris, assistant professor of energy policy and geopolitics at the University of Nicosia.
According to Harris Samaras, an expert on the Cypriot EEZ and chairman of the international investment banking firm Pytheas, "The East Med Pipeline... is of the utmost importance. At the last trilateral meeting of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was present and supported the project." Pictured: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets in Jerusalem with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on March 20, 2019. (Image source: Israel Government Press Office)
Turkey's latest provocation against the Republic of Cyprus -- drilling for gas in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the eastern Mediterranean -- has elicited harsh reactions from the international community.
Likening Turkey's encroachment to "a second invasion," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said that the action constitutes a "violation of international law;" his Foreign Ministry submitted a map delineating its EEZ boundaries with Turkey to the United Nations. In addition, Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides said that his government is seeking an international arrest warrant for the crew of "Fatih," the drilling vessel that Ankara dispatched to Cypriot waters.
EU High Representative and Vice President, Federica Mogherini promptly issued a statement "urgently call[ing] on Turkey to show restraint, respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus in its exclusive economic zone and refrain from any such illegal action to which the European Union will respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus."
The U.S. State Department also urged Turkey to halt the drilling.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry lashed out with a statement of its own:
"[T]he attempts of the third parties to act as an international court in determining maritime boundaries is unacceptable. In this context, the statement of the US calling Turkey by expressing that "there exists Greek Cypriot claims over the area" is neither constructive nor compatible with international law, given the fact that there is no valid maritime delimitation agreement in the region."
In a recent interview with the Gatestone Institute, Harris Samaras, an expert on the Cypriot EEZ and chairman of the international investment banking firm Pytheas, explained:
"Although Turkey has been violating Cyprus's sovereignty since 1974, the current highly volatile internal political and economic situation in Turkey has made the Turkish government get even more aggressive in the eastern Mediterranean. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling AKP party have to save face by sustaining the dogma of supranationalism that granted him and his party power.
"Another factor that triggered Turkey here was the confirmation of commercial hydrocarbons within Cyprus' EEZ and the announced interest of oil and gas conglomerates, such as ExxonMobil, ENI and Total to continue their activities. Last year, ENI was obstructed by Turkey's gunboats from continuing operations. But ExxonMobil was not. Why? Because it was accompanied by the US Navy, so Turkey could not do anything.
"Meanwhile, the natural gas discoveries by ExxonMobil have demonstrated that Cyprus could eventually establish a liquefaction plant to serve Cypriot and regional deposits. This would almost automatically transform Cyprus into a regional hydrocarbon hub, and at the same time reduce Turkey's energy importance, plans and investments.
"Politically, the biggest regional threat to Turkey's targeting of Cyprus is Israel. The strongest energy link for Israel is Cyprus, a democratic, EU member state. So, for Mr. Erdogan's plans to succeed, Cyprus needs to be eliminated. Moreover, Egypt is a significant regional force with the Zhor natural gas fields in its arsenal. Despite past differences, Israeli and Egyptian relationships have improved.
"Mr. Erdogan is aware that it will be impossible for Turkey to achieve its goals of regional hegemony if US interests in particular, but also French ones, develop a firm foothold in Cyprus. This is his biggest fear.
"In addition, Turkey's relationship with Russia has strengthened in recent years. If Turkey ends up installing Russian S-400s, Mr. Erdogan knows that his geopolitical span and influence will be in many ways limited, as they will come into direct conflict with US and Israeli interests. 'Neutralizing' Cyprus, the weakest link in the equation, in many ways disarms Israel's regional geopolitical effectiveness.
"The East Med Pipeline, then -- which has been started with the blessing of the US -- is of the utmost importance. At the last trilateral meeting of Israel, Cyprus and Greece, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was present and supported the project. If it goes ahead, it will be a major slap in the face for Turkey's energy plans."
Theodoros Tsakiris, assistant professor of energy policy and geopolitics at the University of Nicosia, told Gatestone:
"Turkey started targeting the Cyprus' EEZ in 2011, when it signed a demarcation agreement of its continental shelf with the Turkish occupied area of Cyprus that only Turkey recognizes as an independent state -- the so-called 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC). Not only are the Turkish activities in Cyprus's EEZ illegal, but the Turkish ships are also causing serious difficulties for Cypriot and international companies operating in the area. In February 2018, for example, the Turkish navy blocked the attempted drilling of the Italian oil company ENI in the demarcated Cypriot EEZ. Meanwhile, more Turkish drilling ships may be on their way.
"Concrete steps should be taken to stop Turkish violations against Cyprus's EEZ. Sanctions should be imposed at the level of the European Council to the persons and companies responsible for the drilling. All pre-accession funds to Turkey should be blocked, and Turkish access to loans by the European Investment Bank should be eliminated. Additional options, if Turkey escalates the situation further, are imposing sanctions on Turkey's banking sector and freezing the accession process altogether. The US also needs to lift the irrational arms embargo it imposed on the Republic of Cyprus in 1987, and help it to rearm and modernize its ability to defend itself, while keeping the UN peace keeping mission (UNFICYP) intact."
*Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.
© 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.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14256/cyprus-turkey-illegal-drilling

Jordanian MP Khalil Attieh: I Will Take Up Arms Against Israel, Slap Israeli Soldiers With My Shoe, Spit In Their Faces... When Jihad Is Declared
MEMRI/June 06/2019
Jordanian MP Khalil Attieh said in a June 2, 2019 interview on Jordan Today TV (Jordan) that he is sometimes tempted to burn an Israeli flag in the Jordanian parliament again, as he had done once before. The interviewer challenged Attieh, saying that burning the Israeli flag is only a "bogus victory" over a powerful enemy, and he asked Attieh if he would ever take up arms against Israel. Attieh said he and his children would be the first to go fight if there was a call for Jihad in Palestine, but when the interviewer pressed him to answer if he would take up arms against Israel even without a call for Jihad, Attieh objected by saying that it would be impossible for him to enter Palestine.
The interviewer then asked what Attieh would do if he had to choose between living in a Palestinian state or in Jordan, and Attieh insisted that he would live in both countries and keep both citizenships, even when the interviewer asked what he would do if this were not an option. Attieh then said that he wants to slap an Israeli with his shoe and spit in his face, and the interviewer asked why he didn't do that to the Israeli soldier guarding the border when he crossed the border back into Jordan. Attieh answered: "The day will come when I will [do this]." For more from Khalil Attieh, see MEMRI TV Clips No. 7092, No. 6953, and No. 5941.
Interviewer: "If you could go back in time, would you still have burned the Israeli flag in the parliament?"
Khalil Attieh: "By Allah, from time to time, I am tempted to repeat what I did. After I see all the Israeli violations, and especially what the Zionists did today, when they defiled the Al-Aqsa Mosque – the destination of our Prophet's nocturnal journey... Time and again, I am tempted to do it again, and to even do more..."
Interviewer: "Why would you burn the Israeli flag?"
Khalil Attieh: "In order to burn their hearts. When I did it, I understood just how much..."
Interviewer: "Why are we always looking for bogus victories? While we [act against] them by burning a flag made of a piece of cloth, they burn our hearts [by hurting] our children, our livelihood, and so on. We burn the Israeli flag and display it as an act of bravery. Meanwhile, as a response, the Israelis can kill ten young men, kidnap ten girls, imprison people, demolish houses, take over lands... We are always looking for bogus victories.
"Why don't you take up arms and go to Palestine?"
Khalil Attieh: "By God, if Jihad is declared..."
Interviewer: "Without a declaration of Jihad... Why don't you take a weapon and go to Palestine?"
Khalil Attieh: "Are the borders open? They will shoot me..."
Interviewer: "Can't you enter Palestine?"
Khalil Attieh: "Of course not. How can I? Tell me. Show me a way other than parachuting or entering through a tunnel underground. But by Allah, if there is a call for Jihad, me and my children will be the first to go. The Jews that you are talking about..."
Interviewer: "How will you enter?"
Khalil Attieh: "Allah willing, a day will come when Jihad is declared, and we will fight for the sake of Palestine, because Palestine will not be restored through peace and surrender, but through Jihad and Jihad only."
Interviewer: "If Palestine is liberated, and all those who have other nationalities are asked to give up their nationalities in order to live in Palestine – will you give up your Jordanian nationality and your life in Jordan and go live in Palestine?"
Khalil Attieh: "I will build a house in Lod and move between it and my houses in Amman."
Interviewer: "This is a diplomatic answer..."
Khalil Attieh: "No, it's not. It comes from my heart."
Interviewer: "If you are asked to give up all your other nationalities in order to live in Palestine... You can choose whatever you want. You can also stay as you are. But if you want to live in Palestine, you have to give up everything. What would you do?"
Khalil Attieh: "But I am allowed to have two nationalities..."
Interviewer: "What if you were not allowed to have two?"
Khalil Attieh: "I would insist on having both nationalities."
Interviewer: "You can't. Either Jordanian or Palestinian."
Khalil Attieh: "I will have both Jordanian and Palestinian."
Interviewer: "Either Jordanian or Palestinian."
Khalil Attieh: "I will do my best to have both."
Interviewer: "If you had to choose between a Jordanian passport and a Palestinian one, which one would you carry?"
Khalil Attieh: "I would carry both."
Interviewer: "You can't. Choose one."
Khalil Attieh: "I would carry both.
"I wish I could stand in front of an Israeli so that I can slap him with my shoe and spit in his face. By Allah, I will do that! By Allah, I would spit in his face no matter what it costs me..."
Interviewer: "But when you saw the [Israeli] solider, you just gave him your passport so that he would let you into your country. Why didn't you spit in his face and slap him with your shoe?"
Khalil Attieh: "You asked me about the ambassador and I answered."
Interviewer: "But this is a soldier, he is worse! He is occupying your land. Why didn’t you slap him with your shoe?"
Khalil Attieh: "They day will come, Allah willing. The day will come when I will slap him and spit in his face."

Despite Its Participation In The Arab And Muslim Summits In Mecca – Qatar Remains In The Pro-Iranian Camp
ميمري/ب.شارنسكي: بالرغم من مشاركة قطر في المؤتمرين العربي والإسلامي في مكة إلا إنها باقية في المعسكر المؤيد لإيران
By: B. Chernitsky/MEMRI/June 06/2019
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/75574/%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%85%d8%b1%d9%8a-%d8%a8-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%86%d8%b3%d9%83%d9%8a-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%ba%d9%85-%d9%85%d9%86-%d9%85%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%83%d8%a9-%d9%82%d8%b7%d8%b1-%d9%81%d9%8a/
In the last days of May 2019, three regional summits were held in Mecca. Two of them, emergency summits of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and of the Arab League, were convened by Saudi Arabia to present a united Gulf front vis-à-vis Iran in response to recent incidents: the attack on the Saudi oil facilities by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels[1]and the Fujairah attack on the oil tankers, two of which were Saudi. A third summit, which had been scheduled in advance, was held one day later (May 31) under the aegis of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The participation of Qatari Prime Minister 'Abdallah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Aal Thani in all three summits sparked speculations about a possible thaw in the tense relations between Qatar and the countries that have been boycotting it in the last two years due to its close connections with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, namely Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE.[2]
On the face of it, there were indeed indications of a possible improvement in the relations between the countries, including the fact that Qatar was represented at the summits by its prime minister, Aal Thani, who is the highest-ranking Qatari official to visit Saudi Arabia since the boycott began. Moreover, Saudi King Salman shook Aal Thani's hand, and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman was also seen to shake hands with him. Furthermore, Qatar's flag was flown in Mecca along with those of the other attending states. Qatari Foreign Minister Muhammad bin 'Abd Al-Rahman Aal Thani tweeted on May 30 that his country's participation in the summits stemmed from its commitment to "joint Arab and Islamic action," and noted the importance of dialogue and cooperation for defending the region's security.[3]
In Saudi Arabia, only a few officials addressed the issue of Qatar's participation at the summit, among them Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-'Assaf. At a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General 'Abd Al-Latif Al-Zayani and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Abu Al-Gheit, Al-'Assaf noted the importance of Qatar's participation at the Mecca summits at a higher level of participation than previously, while noting that Qatar had always attended the GCC summits. He also remarked that "Gulf countries" (hinting at Kuwait) were acting to resolve the crisis with it, but that these efforts would only succeed if Qatar "mended its ways."[4]
However, even as the summits commenced, there were indications of continued tension between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. According to a report by the Rai Al-Yawm website, while the Qatari prime minister was being welcomed by the Saudi king at a reception for the participants of the summits, Qatar's Al-Jazeera aired footage of past missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia that its Patriot anti-missile system had failed to intercept.[5] Two days after the summits ended, Qatar expressed reservations regarding their concluding statements (unlike Iraq, which expressed its reservations regarding the Arab League statement at the summit itself). The concluding statements harshly condemned the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities and oil tankers, and called on Iran to respect the sovereignty of other countries, refrain from interfering in their affairs, and stop supporting militias and terror organizations. The GCC concluding statement also underscored Gulf unity in the face of threats, and expressed support for the U.S. policy vis-à-vis Iran.[6] Qatar objected to the GCC and Arab League statements due to the harsh tone towards Iran and due to the mention of Gulf unity when the boycott on Qatar has not been lifted.
Qatar's willingness to participate in the summits at a high level, coupled with its belated expression of reservations regarding their concluding statements, is apparently an attempt to maintain its good relations with both Iran and the U.S., and to maneuver between the two sides in this tense period.[7] However, its reservations also indicate its continued support of Iran and its refusal to be part of the Gulf front vis-à-vis Iran and its allies.
The following are Qatari responses to the summits and their concluding statements, and from Saudi responses to the Qatari reservations.
Qatari Responses To The Mecca Summits
Explaining Qatar's reservations about the summits' concluding statements, Qatari Foreign Minister Muhammad 'Abd Al-Rahman Aal Thani told the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel that they had been drafted without consulting the participating states, which was a breach of protocol, and that they contravened Qatar's foreign policy by focusing on escalating tensions with Iran rather than on dialogue with it, which, he said, does not serve the interests of the countries and peoples of the region. He also complained that the concluding statements disregarded the suffering of certain peoples in the region, such as the Yemenis, Syrians, Libyans and Palestinians,[8] and wondered what was the meaning of "Gulf unity" when three Gulf countries were boycotting a fourth. He disclosed that, at the GCC summit, Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had made efforts to settle the conflict, but to no avail, and stressed that Qatar would not be dictated to by the boycotting states.[9]
It should be noted that even before the summits, articles in the Qatari press expressed pessimism about their outcome on the grounds that they would focus on Saudi concerns while disregarding issues that concern the Arab world at large.[10] Some editorials in the Qatari government press praised their country's participation in the summits and stressed its willingness for dialogue, and several also criticized the ongoing boycott on Qatar. [11]
Following the summits, Qatari editorials and articles expressed disappointment that they had not contributed to settling the Gulf crisis and ending the siege on Qatar, and had not addressed the suffering of certain Arab peoples. For example, the Qatari Al-Raya daily stated in its June 3 editorial that Qatar had objected to the concluding statements because they had been dictated in advance, and because they disregarded the Gulf crisis and the Qatar siege. Likewise, a June 3 article in Al-Sharq, by Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Mohannadi, criticized Saudi Arabia for not placing the Gulf crisis at the top of the agenda.[12] An article published by Al-Watan director-general Ahmad 'Ali on June 5, which was the second anniversary of the Qatar boycott, condemned the "hypocrisy" of the GCC, which talks of Gulf unity while continuing to boycott Qatar, and called it "The Council of Disgrace."[13]
Saudi, Gulf Responses To Qatar's Reservations
In response to the Qatari reservations, officials and articles in the countries boycotting Qatar claimed that its negative attitude towards the summits stemmed from its dependence on foreign forces, hinting at Iran. Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs 'Adel Al-Jubeir tweeted: "Sovereign states declare their positions and reservations regarding conferences at the conferences [themselves and not after them]... Qatar expressed reservations today about two [concluding] statements that condemn the Iranian interference in the affairs of the region's countries, even though, [contrary to Qatar's claim,] the Arab League statement stressed the importance of the Palestinian issue and of the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Everyone knows that Qatar's distortions [of the facts] come as no surprise."[14]
Articles and opinion pieces in the Saudi press stated that Qatar has no policy or position of its own. For example, the Saudi Al-Sharq Al-Awsat daily noted, citing Gulf sources, that it was pressure from Iran that made Qatar back down from its positions on the concluding statements.[15] Likewise, 'Okaz wrote in its June 4 editorial, under the headline "Qatar – When a State Has No Position of Its Own," that the Qatari regime is characterized by shifts in political positions and distortion of facts, that it lacks the courage to openly state its positions, and that it is acting in Iran's interests.[16] Additionally, Amal 'Abd Al-'Aziz Al-Hazani pondered, in her column in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, whether Doha had become the fifth Arab capital to be ruled by Iran – along with Beirut, Baghdad, Damascus, and Sanaa.[17]
Saudi Arabia, June 3, 2019)
* B. Chernitsky is a research fellow at MEMRI.
[1] Alalamtv.net, May 19, 2019.
[2] On the background of the outbreak of the crisis, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis No. 1315, Uproar In The Gulf Following Alleged Statements By Qatari Emir Condemning Gulf States, Praising Iran, Hizbullah, Muslim Brotherhood And Hamas, May 25, 2017.
[3] Twitter.com/MBA_AlThani, May 30, 2019.
[4] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (Saudi Arabia), May 31, 2019.
[5] Raialyoum.com, May 31, 2019.
[6] GCC summit concluding statement, Al-Bayan (UAE), May 30-31, 2019.
[7] U.S. media even reported that it was pressure from the U.S. that made Qatar send a high-level representative to the summits (see cnn.com, May 31, 2019). An editorial on the Bloomberg website stated that achieving a resolution to the Gulf crisis at the Saudi summits would serve the interest of the U.S., which is striving to form a unified Gulf front against Iran and to establish an "Arab NATO" (bloomberg.com, May 29, 2019).
[8] Al-Jazeera.net, June 3, 2019.
[9] Al-Jazeera.net, June 3, 2019. The Qatari Foreign Minister made similar statements to the Al-Arabi channel, aired by the London-based Qatari BEIN network, stating that the siege on Qatar impacts the security of the entire region (youtube.com/watch?v=9f8eezy-tK8, June 3, 2019; Al-Sharq, Qatar, June 4, 2019).
[10] For example, a May 30 editorial in London-based Qatari daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi assessed that the summits would fail due to the policy of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, and a columnist for the Qatari daily Al-Sharq, Ahmad 'Abd Al-Malik, wrote on May 29 that the summits were pointless and would yield no results.
[11] See Al-Sharq editorial from May 31, 2019, June 2, 2019 article by Al-Watan director-general Ahmad 'Ali, and June 1 article by Muhammad Qayrat in Al-Sharq.
[12] Journalist Ibtisam Aal Sa'd made similar statements in another Al-Sharq article published that day.
[13] Al-Watan (Qatar), June 5, 2019.
[14] Twitter.com/AdelAljubeir, June 2, 2019. UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash tweeted that Qatar's reservations are due to pressure exerted (presumably by Iran) on "the weak and unsovereign" (i.e., Qatar), and also from "lack of good faith," "unreliability," or "all of the above" (twitter.com/AnwarGargash June 2, 2019). Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Aal Khalifa said that Qatar's reservations indicate that improving its relations with the GCC counties is not at the top of its agenda and that it is counting on "mediators" to rescue it from the boycott. Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), June 3, 2019.
[15] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), June 3, 2019.
[16] 'Okaz (Saudi Arabia), June 4, 2019. In other articles on the subject, Khaled Al-Suleiman stressed in his June 4 column in 'Okaz that Qatar does not make independent decisions and does not appreciate its (Gulf) allies' efforts at rapprochement with their neighbors, and Mashari Al-Dhaidi, in his June 3, 2019 column in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, condemned Qatar's links to Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood and wondered who Qatar was lining up with when it withdrew from the anti-Iran concluding statements.
[17] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), June 5, 2019.

Threat from Iran is not military, but cyber war
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/June 06/2019
The Iranian regime has ratcheted up its threats against the US and its rivals in the Middle East. A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander last month warned that the American military presence in the Gulf is a target. Amirali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC’s aerospace division, said: “An aircraft carrier that has at least 40 to 50 planes on it and 6,000 forces gathered within it was a serious threat for us in the past, but now it is a target and the threats have switched to opportunities.”
Gen. Morteza Qorbani, an adviser to Iran’s military command, followed this up by warning of the secret weapons it claims to possess. “America is sending two warships to the region. If they commit the slightest stupidity, we will send these ships to the bottom of the sea along with their crew and planes using two missiles or two new secret weapons,” he said.
Although it is Iran’s senior military generals who are currently escalating their threats of war in the region, in the past other regime loyalists have done the same. For example, Ali Reza Farqani, the editor-in-chief of Iran’s Arman newspaper and a former prime minister who previously warned of mass kidnappings and the killing of US citizens, last year emphasized in an editorial that Iran “needs a foreign war” and that “war is a blessing.”
Nevertheless, it is crucial to point out that such threats are mostly political posturing and a tactic for psychological warfare because issuing threats of direct war is not an uncommon phenomenon in the context of the Iranian regime’s political discourse.
The regime’s modus operandi is not to launch a direct war but to deploy third parties, such as its militias, proxies and terror groups, and carry out cyberattacks against the US or countries in the region that Tehran views as its enemies.
This is due to the fact that any direct military confrontation initiated by the Islamic Republic would be suicidal for the ruling mullahs. The senior cadre of the IRGC know that, when it comes to comparing their military capabilities with the US, Washington undeniably comes out on top in every aspect. According to the 2019 Global Fire Power report, which ranks countries based on their military might, the US has the most powerful military in the world. The US has nearly 1.3 million active military personnel, 860,000 reserves and a total available manpower of 144 million, while the Iranian leaders have about 523,000 active, 350,000 in reserve and 47 million available.
The regime’s modus operandi is not to launch a direct war but to deploy third parties, such as its militias, proxies and terror groups, and carry out cyberattacks against the US or countries in the region that Tehran views as its enemies.
In addition, the US — whose air and naval forces are the most powerful in the world — indisputably dominates and outstrips Iran’s forces. It has nearly 15 times more aircraft than Iran, with more than 12,000 compared to Tehran’s 850.
In addition, the Iranian leaders are aware that, if they attack the US, some of Washington’s allies in the region would almost certainly come to its aid. As a result, the Islamic Republic would prefer to hide behind its militias and proxies and engage in cyberwarfare. As Abdollah Araqi, the IRGC’s deputy commander of ground forces, has said: “We have armed ourselves with new tools because a cyber war is more dangerous than a physical war.”
This is why Iran is investing significantly in arming its militias and advancing its cyber program. The Israeli-based Institute for National Security Studies stated in 2016 that: “The IRGC clearly makes the country one of the best and most advanced nations when it comes to cyberwarfare. In a case of escalation between Iran and the West, Iran will likely aim to launch a cyberattack against critical infrastructures in the United States and its allies, (targeting) energy infrastructure, financial institutions, and transportation systems.”
The US and its allies ought to be aware of Iran’s cyberattacks at this time of heightened tensions. In November 2018, two people based in Iran were accused of being behind a series of cyberattacks on US targets, which included crippling the city of Atlanta’s government by targeting its hospitals, schools, state agencies and other institutions. Data from these major institutions was held hostage in exchange for ransom payments. According to Brian Benczkowski, the head of the criminal division of the Justice Department, the individuals “deliberately engaged in an extreme form of 21st-century digital blackmail, attacking and extorting vulnerable victims like hospitals and schools — victims they knew would be willing and able to pay.”
The Justice Department also indicted seven Iranian citizens for distributed denial of service attacks against 46 companies mainly in the banking and financial sectors. In addition, US intelligence concluded that the Islamic Republic was behind the “Shamoon” virus that targeted the computers of Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil corporation in 2012.
In a nutshell, Iran’s leaders are aware that direct war with the US would be suicidal for the regime. As a result, Tehran’s modus operandi for confronting America is to hide behind its militias and carry out cyberattacks.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman, and president of the International American Council. Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh

US trade war further upsets Washington’s ties with India
Michael Kugelman/Arab News/June 06/2019
Throughout his turbulent term in office, President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to make US foreign policy more muscular and nationalistic. In some cases, such as building a wall on the US-Mexico border, he has suffered repeated setbacks. In others, such as his decision to hold direct talks with North Korean President Kim Jong Un after earlier threatening to use military force against Pyongyang, he has changed course dramatically.
There is one case, however, where he has held firm and made major progress: Trade policy. Trump’s America is now embroiled in a full-blown trade war with China, and it is fast approaching one with Mexico — a particularly surprising development given the importance and robustness of the US-Mexico trade relationship.
It is unclear how slapping increasingly higher tariffs on Mexican goods will decrease the number of Mexican migrants entering America, which is Trump’s stated reason for imposing new tariffs. It is also unclear why Trump, with just over a year to go until the next US presidential election, would want to take a drastic step fraught with such great economic risks for the American people. Indeed, it seems like every economist out there is warning that US consumers, not Mexico, will bear the costs of these new tariffs.
The question now is what the Trump-triggered global trade war portends for Washington’s commercial relations with other key countries — and particularly those where trade ties are already strained. It is a question that is particularly worth asking with regards to the US-India partnership.
This is a relationship that has enjoyed impressive growth on the defense side, with a series of agreements in recent years that enable the two countries’ militaries to work closer together. The deepening US-India partnership is impelled in great part by shared concerns about the threat of an increasingly powerful China, and also about extremism and terrorism in South Asia.
US-India economic ties have, however, long lagged behind the fast-growing defense side. In recent years, despite differences over a variety of economic issues — from barriers to US investment in India to spats over tariffs and intellectual property rights — the bilateral relationship has remained sound, with the strength of the defense relationship enabling the overall partnership to withstand the blows on the commercial side.
And yet, thanks in great part to Trump’s increasingly hard-line trade policies, issues that had previously been mere nuisances in the bilateral relationship could soon become serious tensions.
In effect, defense ties represent the sweet spot of the US-India partnership, while economic relations are the Achilles’ heel. And the tendon in that Achilles’ heel is now in danger of rupturing.
Consider the current state of play. Trump has reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran, a key Indian energy supplier. New Delhi is being obliged to significantly reduce its Iranian oil imports. This won’t be easy, given that it imports about 80 percent of its oil needs and given that Iran, even after India reduced its imports from Tehran in recent years due to earlier sanctions, has remained a top energy supplierfor India.
Then there is the White House’s decision to remove India from the list of countries receiving preferential trade benefits. To be sure, this move won’t torpedo India’s economy. The value of Indian goods coming under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program is about $6 billion, according to the Congressional Research Service. Still, the timing is troubling for India, where unemployment has reached a 45-year high and economic growth has fallen to a five-year low. Additionally, the optics of yanking GSP benefits away from a key US partner are suboptimal, to say the least.
These two big-ticket tension points come on top of growing tensions around tariffs, including Trump’s decision to impose import tariffs on steel and aluminum products. He has also frequently voiced criticism(some of it warranted) about India’s own high tariffs and protectionist measures.
Trump’s hard line on China and Mexico suggest he will be in no hurry to soften his stance toward India, meaning that the pressure will be on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new government to ease up on the country’s own protectionist policies. Yet Modi, like Trump, is a nationalist — and he just won a new term with a sky-high electoral mandate. A politically embattled Trump, meanwhile, faces his own election in the coming months. Rallying his conservative base will be a priority, which suggests that relenting on his hard line on trade is not likely to be on the cards.
Prolonged trade tensions bring into question the idea of a true US-India strategic partnership. After all, one rarely hears about prolonged tariff tensions or other economic obstacles in the context of Washington’s relations with Australia, Israel or the UK — some of America’s tried and trusted strategic partners. Consequently, US-India relations face a big test in the coming weeks.
*Michael Kugelman is deputy director of the Asia Program and senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Twitter: @michaelkugelman

Brexit Britain’s reminder of its extensive history of immigration
Jonathan Gornall/Arab News/June 06/2019
In the divisive Brexit referendum of 2016, Essex voters responded enthusiastically to the toxic blend of misinformation and anti-immigrant scaremongering that powered the Leave campaign to victory. (Reuters)
Some 1,400 years ago, a prince of Anglo-Saxon Britain was buried with his worldly goods in a once-sacred spot in what would eventually become the English county of Essex. The burial chamber, constructed between A.D. 575 and 605, was excavated in 2003. Last month, after 16 years of restoration and research, the collection of objects designed to accompany the grave’s occupant on his journey to the afterlife finally went on display at Southend Central Museum. Among a remarkable collection of 110 artifacts, perhaps the most significant is one that was created not in ancient Britain, but in distant Syria.
Along with the coins, cauldrons, drinking horns, weapons and other items recovered from the grave, archaeologists discovered an almost perfectly intact copper alloy vessel that once held drinking water. A distinctive band of three decorative discs bearing reliefs of two Christian saints identified it as having been made in the ancient Byzantine city of Sergiopolis, near modern-day Resaf. The two saints, Sergius and his brother Bacchus, were martyred for their faith in A.D. 305. Archaeologists speculate that the flagon was brought back to Britain by pilgrims who visited Sergiopolis, the city named after the Christian martyr. However it got there, 17 centuries later the flagon bears witness to historical connections largely forgotten in the febrile isolationist atmosphere increasingly commanding the political narrative in Brexit Britain and much of Europe.
In the divisive Brexit referendum of 2016, Essex voters responded enthusiastically to the toxic blend of misinformation and anti-immigrant scaremongering that powered the Leave campaign to victory. The county directly northeast of London was home to two of the five UK districts with the highest percentage of Leave voters, with more than 70 percent backing Brexit.
The referendum took place at the height of the Mediterranean migrant crisis, which was ruthlessly exploited by the UK Independence Party (UKIP). A UKIP poster unveiled days before the vote, showing a long line of refugees under the headline “Breaking point — the EU has failed us all,” was condemned for inciting racial hatred. One politician at the time said the Leave campaigners “are now exploiting the misery of the Syrian refugee crisis in the most dishonest and immoral way.” That year, more than 5,000 people seeking a new life in Europe drowned in the Mediterranean. Later, UKIP’s leader would claim it was the poster that tipped the vote in favor of Brexit. The compassion generated in Britain nine months earlier by the photographs of three-year-old Syrian boy Alan Kurdi lying dead on a Turkish beach appeared to have evaporated.
The referendum took place at the height of the Mediterranean migrant crisis, which was ruthlessly exploited by the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
Today, issues of national identity are driving the rise of far-right nationalist parties in more than a dozen countries across Europe, while Britain continues to grapple with the political fallout from its Brexit vote. But something unexpected has happened in Essex, and in other parts of Britain that opened their doors to refugees post-Brexit, following a decision by the government to resettle more than 20,000 Syrians in the country by 2020. The flagon isn’t the only product of Syria that has found a new home in the unlikely setting of Brexit Essex. Across the county, dozens of refugees have been building new lives with the support of local communities and councils. Among them is Zak Al-Halak, 34, his wife Ghaliya, 25, and their three young children, whose harrowing journey took them from their war-ravaged home in Talkalakh, western Syria, to the Essex seaside town of Brightlingsea.
“We would like to thank the people of Essex so much for welcoming us here,” Zak told the local newspaper in 2017, with evident amazement at the warmth of their reception. “Everyone is very kind and friendly toward us... and we thank God for that.”
These are the human faces of a curious and uplifting trend that has emerged since the Brexit vote; that communities that have the most experience of immigrants are likely to be the least opposed to migration. As the think tank Demos put it: “Contact with minorities takes the edge off negative preconceptions.”
A simple flagon now on display in the heart of what appeared, after that referendum, to warrant being labeled one of Britain’s most anti-immigrant communities, conveys a forgotten message of history: That human beings, from the north of Europe to the heart of the Middle East, were connecting for centuries before today’s manipulation of differences for the sake of political expediency. Together, the flagon and the ancient Anglo-Saxon prince who once owned it also tell us the true history of the British people, not the one manufactured by the crude and cynical sloganeering of politicians.
Archaeologists believe the prince buried in Southend-on-Sea may be Seaxa, the brother of King Saebert, who ruled the kingdom of the East Saxons from 604 to 616. There was nothing “British” about Saebert’s line, nor even about Essex, a county that derives its name from the East Saxons, Germanic tribespeople who migrated to Britain from northern Europe in the 5th century. In their wake came the Nordic Vikings, who left their own mark on the DNA of the “British,” followed in turn by the Normans, a cross between the Frankish tribes and the Norsemen who overran them in the 9th century. Modern Britain, in other words, is not a bastion of racial purity but the product of a story of continuous migration that exposes the fragile nature of the Anglo-Saxon identity to which many in the UK cling as a badge of nationalistic honor.
The flagon now on display in a small municipal museum in Southend-on-Sea offers mute testimony to a common past that cannot and should not be co-opted for divisive short-term political gain. And, for a small community of refugees building new lives 3,500 kilometers from their homeland, it serves as an unexpected and welcome physical connection to the ancient culture they were forced to leave behind.
*Jonathan Gornall is a British journalist, formerly with The Times, who has lived and worked in the Middle East and is now based in the UK. Copyright: Syndication Bureau

Trump’s state visit shows US-UK ties will endure
Cornelia Meyer/Arab News/June 06/2019
Donald Trump this week finally paid the UK a state visit, to which he had been invited nearly two years ago, when Theresa May went to the US for her first overseas trip as prime minister.
The visit went surprisingly well. One could almost literally feel the sucking in of air by diplomats and civil servants whose job it was to avoid any glitches, which is quite a task when dealing with the notoriously unpredictable Trump.
Day one was all about pomp and pageantry, as the president and his wife were received for lunch by Queen Elizabeth, for tea by Prince Charles, and then treated to a lavish state dinner at Buckingham Palace.
Day two was about politics and protests. Trump met the now outgoing premier May, selected Cabinet members including Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (who is a prime ministerial contender), and had a phone call with Boris Johnson, another contender. Then he had tea with the UK’s disrupter-in-chief Nigel Farage, who has just led his new Brexit Party to a stunning result in the elections to the European Parliament. Meanwhile, on the streets of London, Jeremy Corbyn and several members of his shadow Cabinet protested against Trump, the infamous “baby Trump blimp” included. Corbyn had refused to take part in the state banquet, as had Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow. But the leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition apparently still asked for a meeting with the president, which the latter turned down on account of Corbyn being a “negative force.”
Day three was about performances, processions and parades to commemorate D-Day, for it was on the night of June 5, 1944, that the Allied forces left the safety of their British harbors before landing on the beaches of Normandy the following morning. The tributes were moving and were attended by the heads of state or government of the Allied nations who embarked on that daring trip to fight Nazi Germany, as well as current German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Also in attendance were roughly 300 brave veterans who were among the 150,000 troops who bravely defended freedom itself on D-Day. Casualties on the day were many: 4,400 Allied soldiers died and 10,000 were wounded.
Politically, there was not much for Trump to discuss as May will resign on Friday and any bilateral negotiations will have to be carried out by her successor. Trump had promised a great trade deal, which was nice but lacked specificity. His ambassador had put the cat among the pigeons when he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr that the National Health Service (NHS) should be opened up to US companies in conjunction with any trade deal. The Americans were probably unaware of just how protective Britain’s politicians and especially its public are about their health service.
Trump's ambassador had put the cat among the pigeons when he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr that the National Health Service (NHS) should be opened up to US companies in conjunction with any trade deal.
All in all, the president’s press conference concluded on a harmonious note, with Trump being complimentary to May, whom he had previously criticized over her handling of Brexit. Trump reiterated that a “phenomenal” trade deal was on offer and asserted that nothing could come between US and UK security services’ collaboration. That comment referred to Huawei, which the May administration was in favor of allowing to participate in the roll-out of the country’s 5G infrastructure. This was a safe bet by the US president as the three frontrunners to succeed May — Johnson, Hunt and Michael Gove — oppose giving Huawei a role.
While the trip was surprisingly harmonious, there was controversy and some conflict, especially because, over time, more than 1 million Britons had signed a petition calling for the country not to afford the US president the honor of a state visit.
Aside from the angst over the NHS and Bercow and Corbyn not attending the state banquet, there was an unfortunate Trump tweet, in which he called London Mayor Sadiq Khan a “stone cold loser.” That did not go down well with the British public. The president was also not afforded the opportunity to address Parliament, which is customary for allied foreign leaders on a state visit. Bercow opposed giving Trump permission, which stirred its own controversy within the British establishment. The demonstrations on the streets were smaller than expected — in the thousands rather than the hundreds of thousands.
As soon as he had left British soil, Trump generated controversy when, in a press conference with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, he suggested the Irish could build a wall on the Northern Irish border after Brexit. Again, he might not have been briefed appropriately as it is an open border that is pivotal to maintaining the hard-won peace on the island. Varadkar put the president right straight away.
The visit may have been long on protocol and light on substance. Still, it showed two things. Firstly, the relationship between the US and the UK is very important to both nations, irrespective of the occupants of the White House or 10 Downing Street. The security relationship is unshakeable. For Britain, this has always been the most important relationship.
The economic relationship matters too: The UK and the US are each other’s biggest investors, with cumulative investments exceeding $1 trillion. Bilateral trade amounts to $192 billion annually. The economic relationship will, in all likelihood, gain in importance to the UK once it has left the EU. It will become a top priority for London to find and foster strong alliances outside of the EU. In that sense, the UK government may find itself in a weaker negotiating position vis-a-vis the world’s largest economy than if the country was still a member of the EU, with its 500 million-strong population.
Secondly, the visit also demonstrated that, while the UK may leave the EU, it adheres to the same beliefs in multilateral frameworks as its European neighbors. This point was brought home by the speech made by the Queen at the state banquet, where she urged the US president to take care of the post-war international institutions that the two countries co-founded. It was further underlined by the gifts the Queen and May gave Trump. The monarch handed over a first edition of Winston Churchill’s “The Second World War,” extolling the importance of defending democracy and freedom. May gave Trump Churchill’s draft of the Atlantic Charter of 1941, which laid out the intellectual framework for the UN.
*Cornelia Meyer is a business consultant, macro-economist and energy expert. Twitter: @MeyerResources

Reshuffling Iraqi Generals: Who Benefits?
Michael Knights and Alexandre Mello/The Washington Institute/June 06/2019
Three top commanders have been replaced in northern areas where Iran-backed militias are trying to outmuscle the regular security forces. Washington should find out why.
On May 29, the Iraqi government announced that its leading military commander in Mosul, Maj. Gen. Najim Abdullah al-Jabbouri, would be retiring in June. Replacing him as head of the Nineveh Operations Command (NiOC) is Staff Maj. Gen. Numan Abdul al-Zubai, who will transfer after briefly leading the Salah al-Din Operations Command. In his place at SaDOC will be Staff Maj. Gen. Abdul Mohsen al-Abbasi, who will vacate the Diyala Operations Command (DOC) to a division commander, Staff Maj. Gen. Ghassan al-Izzi.
The incoming officers are not necessarily bad choices. General Zubai, a Sunni, has a long record fighting the Islamic State (IS) with Iraqi army formations in Anbar province. Unlike his predecessor, he is not a native of Nineveh province, instead hailing from western Baghdad. General Abbasi, a Sunni combat commander from Kirkuk, has considerable experience leading the army’s 14th Division near Fallujah. And General Izzi previously led the 11th Division in northeast Baghdad. The one thing all these commanders have in common is that they recently transferred from environments where they had to make daily accommodations with powerful militia leaders.
The circumstances and timing of the changes are more worrisome. General Jabbouri formerly served as police chief and mayor of Tal Afar, where his work alongside U.S. forces in 2005-2008 provided one of the first clear counterinsurgency victories against al-Qaeda in Iraq, the forerunner to IS. After being driven out of the country in 2009 by Shia elements in the security forces, he worked at National Defense University in Washington until 2014. He returned to Iraq in 2015, however, leading the effort to liberate and govern Mosul within his native Nineveh province. Although resented by some personnel for being an air defense officer in a senior army role, he was effective at recruiting local tribes for the anti-IS fight and partnering with the U.S.-led coalition. He also sought to implement the Iraqi government’s policy of reducing the threat to local stability posed by Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) militia elements in Mosul city and the Nineveh Plains. According to official explanations, he is now being retired due to age, even though many generals older than him have continued to serve.
General Jabbouri’s discharge comes at a time when pro-Iranian elements within the predominantly Shia PMF have struck deals with local Sunni and Kurdish partners to elect Mansour Marid—a member of a PMF-associated political bloc—as governor of Sunni-majority Nineveh. This controversial action has split Sunni factions in both the provincial government and Baghdad. Alongside Jabbouri’s retirement and the refusal of militias in the Nineveh Plains to comply with legal orders placing them under NiOC’s control, the PMF’s outsize role in the governor’s appointment sends a worrisome message.
After all, this is how Mosul began to rot in 2011-2014, when the city slid downhill from relative stability to IS control. Just days after U.S. forces withdrew in late 2011, Iraq began to remove senior American-trained army officers from key commands. In the two years before Mosul fell, the area’s top military officials were replaced no fewer than seven times, and the provincial police chief twice, with each change worse than the last. In contrast, one of former prime minister Haider al-Abadi’s first steps upon assuming office in 2014 was to quickly restore Jabbouri and other U.S.-trained commanders, and the result was the liberation of two dozen cities in just three years.
Washington has a stake in Iraq’s security, particularly in the leadership of the regular military forces, America’s most important partners in the war against IS. The U.S. government should therefore devote more effort to early warning and assessment of senior command changes in Iraq, especially multiple replacements of officers with a proven track record of fighting IS or preventing its reemergence. The Combined Joint Task Force and the U.S. embassy should regularly report to Prime Minister Adil Abdulmahdi if new commanders give special favor to militias, are less cooperative than their predecessors, or refuse legal orders from Baghdad.
The Iraqi army’s efforts to absorb and control militias in the Nineveh Plains may be an early test of success on this front. Learning who pushed the decision to remove Jabbouri—and why—is another important item to track down. Looking closely at the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s role in selecting Nineveh’s new governor may provide further insight on the reliability of U.S. partners. Only by doggedly highlighting negative conduct can Washington hope to prevent slippage in Iraq’s military and civil leadership.
*Michael Knights, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, has spent considerable time since 2003 embedded with the Iraqi security forces. Alexandre Mello is the lead security analyst at energy advisory service Horizon Client Access.

US warns Sudan — and perhaps the Saudis — about cracking down on protesters
سيمون هندرسون: أميركا تحذر السودان وربما السعوديين من مغبة قمع المتظاهرين في السودان
Simnon Henderson/The Hill/June 06/2019
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Dreadful events are happening in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and more likely will come. Paramilitary troops loyal to Sudan’s ruling generals have imposed a reign of terror. Opposition civilians, whose protests forced the end of the 30-year rule of President Omar al-Bashir in April, have been beaten, and women raped. The government acknowledges more than 40 deaths. The real total is likely to be multiples of this.
Today’s London Times reports that women, including medical staff, were singled out for abuse, quoting a protest leader as saying: “The [militia] knows that if they break the women, they break the revolution. In this culture there is no greater punishment for women than sexual crimes.” The newspaper reported that “an image of a fighter’s ‘war trophy’ — underwear thought to have been taken from rape victims and dangled from a rifle — was circulated widely on social media.”
Khartoum is a long way from Washington and, for many Americans perhaps, Sudan is synonymous with dictatorship and famine. But this time may be different. The United States appears to be publicly expressing concern about Saudi Arabia’s role, most likely overseen by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, aka MbS.
The deputy head of the Sudanese military council, Gen. Mohammad Hamadan Dagalo, known as Hemeti, met with MbS in Jeddah last month. Dagalo was a warlord during the atrocities in Darfur in 2003, events that resulted in President Bashir’s indictment for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. This week, Dagalo said the protestors had been infiltrated by rogue elements and drug dealers.
On Tuesday, the State Department said: “Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale spoke today with Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman” — MbS’s younger brother, aka KbS — “about the brutal crackdown against peaceful protestors by Sudan’s Transitional Military Council on June 3. Under Secretary Hale noted the importance of a transition from the Transitional Military Council to a civilian-led government in accordance with the will of the Sudanese people.”
In the circumstances, it is hard not to see the statement as being very public pressure on Riyadh to change its support for the Sudanese generals. What event or intelligence prompted Hale’s conversation with KbS is unknown, but the tone of the statement suggests Riyadh may have actively encouraged the crackdown. The kingdom, along with Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was visited by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sudanese military council, last week. It is assumed he sought — and received — support and backing for his action, which started on Monday when his forces attacked a protest camp in Khartoum.
As an evident consequence of U.S. pressure, the Saudi Press Agency issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the kingdom “has followed with great concern the developments in the brotherly Republic of Sudan, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.” Another statement from the embassy quoted the Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs as saying: “Our priorities are Sudan’s security and stability. We are confident that the people of Sudan will not allow their country to descend into chaos and civil war, which only serves the forces of terrorism and extremism.”
In the context, “terrorism and extremism” likely are code words for Turkey and Qatar, which Riyadh judges are competing for influence in Khartoum. Last week the Sudanese military council shut the Khartoum office of Al-Jazeera, the Qatari broadcaster, and ordered Sudan’s ambassador in Qatar to return home for consultations.
The politics of the crisis are in considerable flux. When the crackdown started, the military said they were abrogating commitments on a transition to civilian rule. Since then, they have offered unconditional talks with opposition leaders. But this has been rejected by the alliance of protest and opposition groups.
Although the United States and Europe are publicly concerned, China, backed by Russia, blocked moves at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday to condemn the killing of civilians and call for an immediate end to the violence. The African Union said it has suspended Sudan.
The person to watch is Dagalo. And, based on the events of this week, he can be ruthless. That doesn’t sound good for the people of Sudan.
*Simon Henderson is the Baker Fellow and director of the Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Follow him on Twitter @shendersongulf.