LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
March 02/2019

Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani

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Bible Quotations For today
‘You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek 
Letter to the Hebrews 07/11-19: “If perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood for the people received the law under this priesthood what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of him, ‘You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on March 01-02/2019
Lebanese government faces first public dispute between Future Movement and Hezbollah
Saniora: Anyone Setting Up a Mini-State inside the State is Corrupt
The World Council of the Cedars Revolution Condemns Hezbollah-Linked Officials in Venezuela
AMCD Calls on Middle Eastern Communities in Venezuela to Support Guaido
French Diplomat in Beirut to Follow up on CEDRE Implementation
Report: French Envoy Gives Lebanon 2-Month Deadline to Launch Reforms
French Envoy Meets Hariri, Urges CEDRE Reforms 'within 2 Weeks'
Khalil meets Duquesne over CEDRE implementation
Jreissati meets Duquesne over CEDRE implementation
Lebanon’s Hezbollah slams British ban, says it shows US ‘obedience’
Rahi calls on government to speed up economic recovery
New Batch of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Returns Home
Lebanese Army Launches Security Operation Against Drug Cells
Geagea Says LBCI Ruling against Lebanese who Confronted 'Armed Palestinians'
Plural and united, Lebanon stands against extremism and terrorism, but Syrian refugees remain an issue
Lebanon: From the 1984 Intifada to the 3rd Republic/Bachar Halabi | Rabih Jamil/ISPI/March 01/19
Lebanon: Is It Goodbye to the Taif Accord?

Litles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on March 01-02/2019
Israeli attorney-general plans to charge Netanyahu in corruption cases
IRGC commander: Iran plans to ‘break America, Israel and Saudi Arabia’
Iran's Zarif Returns to His Post, Receives Invitation to Visit Damascus
Hamas Arrests Founder of Iran-linked Group in Gaza
Assad’s Visit to Tehran a Message to US, Moscow
US-backed SDF expects ‘fierce battle’ in final ISIS enclave
Egypt arrests six over Cairo train crash that killed 25
US offers $1 million reward to find Bin Laden son
Algerian PM Warns of ‘Syrian Scenario’
Sudan’s Bashir hands party leadership to new deputy
Europe throws out plan to blacklist Saudi Arabia for money laundering
U.S., Russia Fail in U.N. Push for Action on Venezuela

Titles For The Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 01-02/2019
Lebanese government faces first public dispute between Future Movement and Hezbollah/Najia Houssari/Arab News/01 March/19
Saniora: Anyone Setting Up a Mini-State inside the State is Corrupt/Naharnet/March 01/19
The World Council of the Cedars Revolution Condemns Hezbollah-Linked Officials in Venezuela/EINPresswire.com/March 01/19
AMCD Calls on Middle Eastern Communities in Venezuela to Support Guaido/EINPresswire.com/March 01/19
Plural and united, Lebanon stands against extremism and terrorism, but Syrian refugees remain an issue/Fady Noun/AsiaNews/March 01/19
Lebanon: From the 1984 Intifada to the 3rd Republic/Bachar Halabi | Rabih Jamil/ISPI/March 01/19
Lebanon: Is It Goodbye to the Taif Accord?/Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19
Latest Fashion in Politics: Going Dutch/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19
Palestinians: Marching Backwards as Israel Prepares for Elections/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/March 01/2019
Has Europe relinquished its role in the Middle East/Ziad El Sayegh/Annahar/February 23/2019
Analysis/Facing Charges, Netanyahu Looks to World Stage for Help/Amos Harel/Haaretz/March 01/19

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News published on March 01-02/2019
Lebanese government faces first public dispute between Future Movement and Hezbollah
Najia Houssari/Arab News/01 March/19
Hezbollah is behind smuggling operations from narcotic drugs production to trafficking, says Future TV
BEIRUT: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has responded to a campaign launched by Hezbollah accusing him of corruption and demanding that he should be brought to justice. He said: “The campaign aims to demonize all the governments headed by Rafic Hariri and attack him as well as all the prime ministers who followed him, including Saad Hariri.” “This campaign against Siniora, and therefore against Hariri’s axis, has commenced before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issues its ruling on the assassination of former PM Rafic Hariri, which five Hezbollah members are accused of and are escaping from prosecution,” a source close to Siniora said. Siniora broke his silence in a press conference on Friday, during which he attacked Hezbollah: “The biggest corruption is political corruption, and everyone who establishes smaller states within the state, controls the state’s facilities, disrupts the constitutional deadline, and denies the course of law is politically corrupt.” He said: “We are looking these days at something similar to what happened during the days of the security regime 20 years ago when I was framed.”Siniora’s speech reminded the Lebanese people of a campaign launched by the Lebanese-Syrian security regime against Rafic Hariri in 1998-2000. This campaign was repeated before the assassination of Rafic Hariri in 2004-2005 and after Israel’s aggression against Lebanon in 2006. The decision issued last week by the Constitutional Council to withdraw the Parliament membership of Future MP Dima Jamali was the first attempt to weaken the parliamentary bloc of PM Saad Harari.
The campaign against Siniora reached its peak when a Hezbollah MP reopened the file on the $11 billion spent during Siniora’s premiership, a move that the Future Movement described in a statement as paving the way to target Saad Hariri. Siniora stressed that “the spending, whether from the budget appropriations or the treasury, was not illegal.” He added: “It was fully legal under the acts of Parliament. The spending was subject to the same mechanisms stipulated in the Public Accountancy Act, beginning with the prior and subsequent monitoring and approval of the expenditure controller and the Audit Court.”He said: “Every disbursement is recorded, audited and available. Expenditures are fully recorded in the records of their ministries, in addition to being recorded in the Ministry of Finance’s records, published on its website.”He revealed that the amounts Iran said it had paid to Lebanon had not been disclosed to the Lebanese state, and that when he met with Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon more than once during his premiership, he asked the ambassador, but he had refused to say how much had been paid. Siniora said: “Those who got involved in regional and international conflicts that jeopardized the interests of Lebanon and its people, took the state hostage and exposed it to risks, disrupted institutions and their constitutional deadlines, and interrupted the economic process have no right to hide in their impasse in dust that does not last and which we have enough light to dispel.”Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah presented financial documents two days ago to the financial prosecutor, Judge Ali Ibrahim, who initiated an investigation by summoning an employee from the Ministry of Finance to listen to her testimony, even though this file has nothing to do with the fight against corruption or financial waste. This file is associated with “zeroing” the state’s financial accounts to allow the government to begin its work and carry out projects by approving the 2019 budget law.
MP Fadlallah said in a press conference at the time: “We want to hear what the judiciary says about those who have manipulated the state’s finances and its financial restrictions.”
Hariri’s Future TV channel launched an attack on Hezbollah on Thursday evening, referring to the corruption and wasted money linked to Hezbollah, from the smuggling operations carried out through the airport, ports and land borders.
They are estimated at billions of dollars, to being behind the production and trafficking of narcotic drugs such as Captagon, and establishing dummy companies registered with guarantor institutions, leading to the loss of billions of dollars in public money.

Saniora: Anyone Setting Up a Mini-State inside the State is Corrupt
Naharnet/March 01/19
Ex-PM Fouad Saniora on Friday described the issue of the “missing” $11 billion as a “farce,” as he announced that those “setting up mini-states inside the state” are the real corrupts, in an apparent jab at Hizbullah. At a press conference he held to comment on the latest controversy sparked by MP Hassan Fadlallah's remarks, Saniora said the 11 billion dollars in question were spent on interest hikes, treasury loans for Electricite Du Liban, and wage hikes and recruitment expenses for the armed forces. “The entire $11 billion issue is a storm in a teacup,” Saniora added. “Someone is trying to deviate people's attention to other issues to conceal what they are doing and to prevent real reform,” he went on to say. “What is happening today resembles what happened in 1999 regarding the so-called fabricated Bourj Hammoud scandal, in which I was accused of being involved,” Saniora said. “Someone is preparing such farces,” the ex-PM warned. Noting that the spending did not violate the law, but was rather “fully legal,” Saniora said “talk about the absence of documents is a silly joke aimed at distorting the images of all the governments that were led by Rafik Hariri and to insult him and insult all the premiers who succeeded him including Saad Hariri.”Apparently lashing out at Hizbullah and its allies, Saniora added: “The bigger corruption is political corruption. A politically corrupt person is anyone who sets up mini-states inside the state, controls its facilities, impedes constitutional junctures and prevents the implementation of the law.”The former premier also noted that he has prepared a “complete study” that he would submit to President Michel Aoun, the Council of Ministers and Parliament in order to “clarify all details.”“We want to put an end to the stories that are misleading the people,” he said.

The World Council of the Cedars Revolution Condemns Hezbollah-Linked Officials in Venezuela
المجلس العالمي لثورة الأرز  يدين علاقة حزب الله بالمسؤولين في فنزويلا
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, February 28, 2019 /EINPresswire.com
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/72634/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A9/
The World Council of Cedars Revolution (WCCR), representing the Lebanese diaspora world-wide, is very concerned about the role of Hezbollah-linked elements within the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, particularly because of their alleged role in the oppression of civilians. We call on the Trump administration and the US Congress to investigate the role played by these pro-Iran officials in the Maduro regime of Lebanese origin.
These include the Prosecutor General of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, who is under US sanction due to his links to international terror and subversion (Hezbollah), the Minister of Education, Das Jaua, who has been sanctioned by the EU, Canada, Panama, Switzerland and the United States for a variety of offenses including money-laundering, financing terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The current Minister of Industries and National Production, Tareck El Aissami, while serving as Vice President under Maduro (January 2017 – June 2018), was accused by the US of corruption, money laundering, and drug trafficking involving Hezbollah. Canada, the EU, Switzerland and the United States have all imposed sanctions on him as well. According to the former Venezuelan intelligence chief, Hugo Carvajal, El-Aissami was instrumental in inviting Hezbollah into Venezuela in 2009.
“We need to make sure that these corrupt, Hezbollah-linked officials are swept from power along with Maduro,” said Tom Harb, President of WCCR. “Because their positions of power are at risk, they are likely to take draconian action against their political opponents among the civilian population.
“We hope the US government and the OAS will conduct a swift investigation of these allegedly pro-Hezbollah officials to determine if they are causing any harm to civilians across Venezuela,” he said.
Just as the new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is taking action against Hezbollah operatives in his country, it is hoped the same can happen in Venezuela with the rise of Juan Guaido and the restoration of democracy. Terror networks must be eradicated in this hemisphere.
WCCR is in coordination with The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy (AMCD) to expand awareness of Middle Eastern influence in Venezuela to identify more names collaborating with the Maduro regime.
Rebecca Bynum
The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy
+1 615-775-6801

AMCD Calls on Middle Eastern Communities in Venezuela to Support Guaido
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/72634/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A9/
WASHINGTON, DC, USA, March 1, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The American Mideast Coalition for Democracy, an umbrella organization representing the Middle Eastern and North African diaspora in the United States, calls on the Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian and other Middle Eastern communities in Venezuela to renounce the Maduro socialist dictatorship and embrace freedom and democracy by throwing their support to interim President Juan Guaidó. Said AMCD co-chair, John Hajjar, ”To quote Larry Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council, ‘We must put Socialism on trial and convict it.’ Exhibit A in that trial should be Venezuela, a once prosperous and proud nation whose poor inhabitants have now been reduced to searching for food in the trash."“Our ancestors fled oppression in the Middle East,” said AMCD co-Chair, Tom Harb. “Now, we, their descendants, must fight oppression on this continent. We call on all Middle Easterners in Venezuela to courageously stand against the socialist lie. Support Guaidó! Support Freedom!”

French Diplomat in Beirut to Follow up on CEDRE Implementation
Beirut - Asharq Al-Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19/Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate to the Mediterranean, will meet on Friday with Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, at the conclusion of a visit to Beirut, during which he followed up on the implementation of the CEDRE Conference decisions. Sources informed of the meetings said that Duquesne was happy to see that the government’s policy statement included the main decisions taken at the Cedre Conference, with regards to the reforms in the electricity sector, debt and public deficit reduction and other necessary reforms.The French diplomat also underlined the need to “accelerate the executive steps to put the Cedre Conference on track of implementation and translate the reform clauses contained in the ministerial statement”, in terms of combating squandering and corruption and reducing the deficit and the public debt. Duquesne held a series of meetings on Thursday, with the economic team of President Michel Aoun, the European Union Group in Beirut and a group of the World Economic Organization for Sustainable Development, Hariri’s economic team and Minister of Economy Mansour Bteish. On Friday, he met with Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

Report: French Envoy Gives Lebanon 2-Month Deadline to Launch Reforms
Naharnet/March 01/19/Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate for the Mediterranean who is in charge of following up on the implementation of the resolutions of the CEDRE conference, has given Lebanon a two-month deadline to launch a number of reforms, a media report said. “Duquesne, who is in Beirut, told those he met yesterday that France and its allies are giving Lebanon a two-month deadline to implement what they recommend of preliminary reforms,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.
The said reforms “are based on privatization and the most dangerous steps concern the telecom sector,” the daily added. “Should Lebanon fail to commit itself, the pledges of the donor and lending countries will be in peril,” al-Akhbar said.
According to information obtained by the newspaper, the French envoy called for “slashing the budget deficit by 1% from the GDP, devising a real and serious mechanism for combating tax evasion and corruption, seeking partnership contracts with the private sector and liberalizing the telecom sector.”Duquesne is scheduled to hold a press conference on Friday afternoon.

French Envoy Meets Hariri, Urges CEDRE Reforms 'within 2 Weeks'
Naharnet/March 01/19/Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate for the Mediterranean who is in charge of following up on the implementation of the resolutions of the CEDRE conference, held talks Friday with Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Beirut. “Within two weeks, we must notice a desire from the Lebanese to start the reforms recommended by the CEDRE conference,” Duquesne said after the Center House talks. “The government should devise a specific program for implementing CEDRE's terms and the donors are especially focusing on the issue of reforms and confronting corruption,” the French envoy added. A media report has said that Duquesne has given Lebanon a “two-month deadline” to launch a number of reforms. “Duquesne told those he met yesterday that France and its allies are giving Lebanon a two-month deadline to implement what they recommend of preliminary reforms,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday. The said reforms “are based on privatization and the most dangerous steps concern the telecom sector,” the daily added. “Should Lebanon fail to commit itself, the pledges of the donor and lending countries will be in peril,” al-Akhbar said.According to information obtained by the newspaper, the French envoy called for “slashing the budget deficit by 1% from the GDP, devising a real and serious mechanism for combating tax evasion and corruption, seeking partnership contracts with the private sector and liberalizing the telecom sector.”

Khalil meets Duquesne over CEDRE implementation
Fri 01 Mar 2019/NNA - Finance Minister, Ali Hassan Khalil met this Friday, in his office at the ministry, with Ambassador Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate to follow up on CEDRE results. Talks reportedly touched on issues related to the CEDRE conference implementation. Speaking on emerging, Ambassador Duquesne hoped that the 2019 budget would be swifty submitted, stressing the need to achieve progress on three main tracks, notably reforms, funding and projects. On the other hand, Minister Khalil met with the World Bank Mashreq Regional Director, Saroj Kumar Jha, with whom he discussed joint projects between Lebanon and the World Bank.

Jreissati meets Duquesne over CEDRE implementation
Fri 01 Mar 2019/NNA - Minister of Environment, Fadi Jreissati met this Friday, in his office at the ministry, with Ambassador Pierre Duquesne, the French inter-ministerial delegate to follow up on CEDRE results. Ambassador Duquesne was accompanied by a French delegation. Discussions reportedly focused on the need to speed up the executive mechanisms of CEDRE Conference and implement the reform-related clauses of the ministerial statement. Minister Jreissati described the meeting as "fruitful", disclosing that CEDRE's top priorities revolve around three main topics: water, electricity and the waste management crisis. The minister urged the government to shoulder its responsibility as quickly as possible in this regard, saying that Ambassador Duquesne has confirmed the international community's commitment to the CEDRE program and all the funds they pledged.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah slams British ban, says it shows US ‘obedience’
Reuters, Beirut/Friday, 1 March 2019/The Lebanese group Hezbollah condemned on Friday the British government’s decision to list it as a terrorist organization, saying the move showed “servile obedience” to the United States. The heavily armed Shiite group, which is backed by Iran, said in a statement it was a “resistance movement against Israeli occupation” and described the British move as an “insult to the feelings, sympathies and will of the Lebanese people that consider Hezbollah a major political and popular force”. “Hezbollah sees in this decision servile obedience to the US administration, revealing that the British government is but a mere a follower in service of its American master,” the statement added. Britain said on Monday it planned to ban all wings of Hezbollah due to its destabilizing influence in the Middle East, having previously proscribed its external security unit and its military wing. Hezbollah is already deemed a terrorist organization by Washington. Long the most powerful group in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s clout has expanded at home and in the region. The group controls three of 30 ministries in the government led by Western-backed Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, the largest number ever. It does not acknowledge having separate political and military wings. Hezbollah and political allies that view its arsenal as an asset to Lebanon won more than 70 of parliament’s 128 seats in an election last year, a major blow to Lebanese parties that oppose its possession of weapons like the Christian Lebanese Forces which enjoys close ties to US-allied Gulf states.Hezbollah, founded in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has also seen its regional influence expand with fighters in various Middle East conflicts including neighboring Syria.
Military aid
The British ban means anyone who is a member of Hezbollah or invites support will be committing a criminal offence with a potential jail sentence of up to 10 years. The move may raise questions for London’s relationship with Lebanon, which includes military and security aid. Following the decision, Hariri said he hoped the decision should not harm bilateral ties, telling reporters: “We consider that this matter pertains to Britain, not Lebanon.”Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt reiterated Britain’s support for “a stable and prosperous Lebanon” and said the listing would “not change our ongoing commitment to Lebanon...” Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, a political ally of Hezbollah, said the British move would not have a negative impact on Lebanon and that Britain had informed Lebanon of its commitment to bilateral ties. But he also defended the group, whose arsenal has been a focal point of political division for years in Lebanon. Inside Britain, Hezbollah has been a topic of internal political controversy, with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn criticized by opponents for once calling the group friends.

Rahi calls on government to speed up economic recovery
Fri 01 Mar 2019/NNA - Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Boutros Rahi, on Friday urged the government to accelerate economic recovery, halt public funds' squandering and combat widespread corruption in state administrations. Patriarch Rahi's words on Friday chaired the mass service held in Bkirki, marking the closing of the Caritas Conference, and the launching of the solidarity campaign and Lent 2019. The Mass was attended by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, President of Caritas Internationalis, the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Joseph Spiteri, MPs Chamel Roukoz and Mario Aoun, as well as scores of political, military, and diplomatic dignitaries. Rahi urged the government to deal with the simmering recessions witnessed in the business sector.

New Batch of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Returns Home
Beirut- Asharq Al-Awsat/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19/A new batch of Syrian refugees left a number of Lebanese areas heading back home to Syria. The process of return took place under the supervision of the Lebanese General Security and representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In Nabatiyeh and Saida alone, 4 fully-packed Pullman buses drove towards the Masnaa border crossing. United Nations representatives and partnered relief organizations asked Syrian returnees about the motives behind heading back home. A woman was cited by the Syrian Arab News Agency that her decision to go back was as such: “We are no longer able to afford living in Lebanon, especially with discriminatory and depleting UN assistance.”UN agents also questioned returnees on the availability of safe housing in Syria. In the Hermel area of Bekaa dozens of displaced Syrians gathered in the area of the border crossing in the Jousa area in a stormy weather. They were transferred to Syria carrying their personal belongings after Lebanese public security having arranged their leave. This is the first time convoys of Syrian returnees are spotted on the far northeastern Lebanese border. Land crossings in the area were avoided before due to harsh winter weather conditions, especially in Arsal. Also from the north, dozens of Syrian families arrived at the border crossing at Aboudiya, where Syrian refugees underwent customs and security vetting.

Lebanese Army Launches Security Operation Against Drug Cells
Beirut- Nazeer Rida/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19/The Lebanese Army conducted a series of operations to chase drug dealers in the Beqaa region and the Internal Security Forces kicked off the same campaign in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. These steps followed a political and security decision in Lebanon to dismantle illicit drug cells and arrest narcotic lords as part of a nationwide policy to crack down on wanted people responsible for promoting illicit drugs in the country. Official sources told Asharq Al-Awsat there is a firm decision in Lebanon to arrest those drug lords and chase their cells. In the past days, the Army raided a factory owned by wanted fugitive Noah Zaiter in the northern Beqaa, confiscating a cargo estimated at about 20 trucks of drugs. The factory is located in a farm owned by Noah and his brother Zuhair in the town of Riha-Marah al-Mir. Military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the whereabouts of Zaiter, Lebanon's most notorious drug lord, were still unknown, amid uncertain reports that the man has left the country to Syria via illegal channels. Last Thursday, the ISF arrested several people involved in promoting illicit drugs in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Reports said the Counterterrorism and Crimes Office arrested five Lebanese in Metn, Sayyad, Barouk for promoting illicit drugs, while the Division of Information at the ISF had arrested last week in Mount Lebanon two Lebanese and two Syrians, considered to be from the most prominent drug dealers in the country. The military sources said the Army intelligence is constantly and closely chasing those drug fugitives. “Those wanted criminals do not possess the freedom to move because they are closely monitored. There are efforts to arrest them,” they said.

Geagea Says LBCI Ruling against Lebanese who Confronted 'Armed Palestinians'
Naharnet/March 01/19/Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday criticized anew the ruling that was issued Thursday by Judge Fatima Jouni over the ownership of LBCI television. “The ruling in the LBCI case was not a ruling in the LBCI case but rather a ruling against every honorable Lebanese citizen who confronted the armed Palestinian groups that were trying to establish an alternative entity in Lebanon,” Geagea tweeted, referring to Lebanon's civil war and the Palestinian role in it. In her ruling, Judge Jouni said the TV network had been initially funded by a “disbanded militia” and consequently by “revenues and bank loans granted to a company whose stakes are largely owned by Pierre Daher.”“It has not been proved that Dr. Geagea and the LF had contributed any of their money in the establishment of that firm, seeing as they are not the owners of the money of disbanded militias,” Jouni said, noting that Geagea and the LF also did not play a role in obtaining the license that the TV network was granted after civil war.“Only the Lebanese state has the right to share Daher in his stakes,” Jouni added, arguing that the state is the owner of any funds belonging to civil war militias.

Plural and united, Lebanon stands against extremism and terrorism, but Syrian refugees remain an issue
Fady Noun/AsiaNews/March 01/19
Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi attended the Caritas regional conference. The cardinal spoke out against attempts at ethnic and religious cleansing in the region. For the president, the priority is to counteract intolerance and conflicts.
Beirut (AsiaNews) – "Someone is trying to draw up a new Mashriq, far from its unifying identity and its religious diversity," said President Michel Aoun during a Conference at the Caritas Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in which he also addressed the Syrian refugee problem in Lebanon from a geopolitical perspective. Aoun, like the head of the Maronite Church Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi, noted that Lebanon and the Mashriq are fighting the same fight for pluralism, against segregated and racist states. For him, it is necessary to fight what is causing the demographic redistribution of the region’s populations via religious and ethnic cleansing, "turning our Levantine societies into racist, one-sided, divided and conflcited societies". Mr Aoun, in particular, warns against "an intellectual contagion, that is spreading quickly, through social media as well", fuelling intolerance, extremism and terrorism.
Speaking on "the common good in pluralistic societies", and the issue of forced migration of populations in recent decades, the head of the Maronite Church argued once again that the problem of the return to Syria of the displaced of the war is separate from the political settlement of the political and military conflict that has ravaged that country since 2011.
What follows are significant excerpts from the President’s address, which he delivered in French, to make himself understood to foreign guests at the conference, in particular Cardinals Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and President of Caritas Internationalis, and Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "The architect of the National Pact, Michel Chiha, stated that ‘Anyone seeking to control a confessional community in Lebanon seeks to destroy Lebanon as a whole.’ It is clear that this also applies to the Levant - the Mashriq. Our Mashriq is a mixture of cultures, a crossroad of civilisations, a cradle of monotheistic religions. It is a unique model with a rich spiritual, cultural and cognitive, and any attack on one of its components is nothing but an attack on this model and its uniqueness. "All the events of the last few years are, without a shadow of a doubt, aimed at transforming our Levantine societies into racist, one-sided, divided and conflicted societies. In fact, the human haemorrhage, forced migration and relentless attempts at demographic change, the various waves of displacement over the last decades, the partition of Palestine and the displacement of its population, in addition to the current pressure for displacement on the rest of its inhabitants, the refusal of the right of return of the Palestinians and their resettlement in the countries of refuge, are all events that outline a new Levant (Mashriq), far from its unifying identity and far from its religious, communitarian and cultural diversity."
The threats of extremism and terrorism
"Our duty is to reject and resist these attempts with determination and perseverance. The land of the Levant (Mashriq) must not be emptied of its inhabitants; the cradle of Christ, the path of Golgotha and the Holy Sepulcher cannot be envisaged without Christians, just like Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque without Muslims, like water that cannot flow if the source dries up. “The biggest threat to our world and our region today is extremism and terrorism, which feed on each other. The danger lies in the fact that it is an intellectual contagion, spreading quickly, particularly through social media, which relies on ignorance, poverty and marginalisation to sow destructive ideas and beliefs in order to create an environment conducive to terrorism." The President also noted that he launched an initiative at the United Nations to make Lebanon a permanent centre for dialogue between different civilisations, cultures and races by setting up an ‘Academy for encounter and dialogue among people’, whose aim would be to spread a culture of encounter faithful to "the essence of Lebanon", which, as Pope John Paul II put it, is “more than a homeland, it is a message".
The president did not fail to mention the importance of Caritas Lebanon, the Church’s pastoral outreach body, which "lies with its interfaith, interethnic and inter-state action", and which provides "help and services when needed, regardless of religion, identity and ethnicity."

Lebanon: From the 1984 Intifada to the 3rd Republic
Bachar Halabi | Rabih Jamil/ISPI/March 01/19
Following the parliamentary election in May 2018 and after 9 months of negotiations, designated Prime Minister Saad Hariri was able to form a government in Lebanon. Although it appears to be a national unity government, bringing together almost all political factions in the country, the formation process received a lot of criticism, as it was considered a break from custom and was eventually perceived as Hezbollah's government in many Western circles.
However, to better understand the process this government took to be formed, we need to understand the transition the Lebanese political power-sharing arrangement has undergone through the years.
Historical Context
Although the Lebanese Civil War did not end until 1990, the intifada (uprising) it witnessed on February 6, 1984, served as a benchmark for the post-war cross-religious power-sharing arrangement. The face value of the intifada might appear to have been an “act of resistance” by Muslim left-leaning militias in west Beirut against the state’s oppression, instrumentalized by its security apparatuses mainly controlled by Christian figures under the patronage of then Lebanese president Amine Gemayel. But, in fact, the intifada was a conduit for the structural fragmentation of the state institutions of the post-1943 independence model that served as the first version of the power-sharing arrangement among the different religions until the civil war broke out.
The intifada, spearheaded by the Shia Amal movement and the Druze Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), defeated the state’s law enforcement apparatuses and drove them away from the capital for the first time ever. Eventually, the two parties established a de facto rule over the state, where the two warlords, Nabih Berri – leader of Amal – and Walid Jumblat – leader of the PSP – monopolized the right to exercise coercive force, leading to the erosion of the centralized Lebanese state.
Even more, the intifada served as the backdrop for the post-war power-sharing arrangement, which saw Christian parties sidelined. The new formula culminated in what came to be known as the Ta’ef agreement that put an end to the war, shifted executive power from the Christian presidency to the Muslim-Sunni premiership and signaled the birth of the 2nd Republic – a new phase in Lebanese politics.
The Old Order
Later, the term “troika” was used to depict the power-sharing arrangement in the 1990s, which saw Rafic Hariri as Prime Minister, Berri (the main player in the 1984 intifada) as the speaker of parliament and Elias Heraoui as president – the weakest link. Joumblat, who reaped the benefits of the military triumph during the war, played a second-to-none role in calibrating Lebanese politics, gaining veto power and an oversized representation in the parliament. Added to that, Syria was awarded custody over Lebanon, giving it “puppet master” status that allowed it to monopolize the role of “peace-guarantor” between the different religions and to become the broker of the Second Republic (Ta’ef Republic).
Meanwhile, the new arrangement in the nascent republic held a clause: with the government in place taking care of reconstruction, development, and socio-economic day-to-day issues, the state’s foreign policy was for the Syrian regime to dictate, which fell in line with its “resistance” rhetoric. This clause allowed the Syrian regime to nurture the emerging armed resistance, namely Hezbollah, in southern Lebanon and allowed the party to be the only armed power operating outside the state. As of 1996, the armed resistance was officially recognized and gained regional acknowledgment through the “April Understanding” brokered by the late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The agreement put an end to the cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah and guaranteed both sides the right to resist and protect itself against any aggression.
More recently, all ministerial statements – policy statements that set the general guidelines of the government – in the subsequent governments after the “2008 Doha Agreement”, acknowledged the armed resistance as a parallel to the Lebanese army, putting it in charge of “protecting Lebanon from foreign attacks”.
Turning Point
After the assassination of Rafic Hariri in 2005 and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, the influence of the two Shia parties (Amal and Hezbollah) grew to unprecedented levels. The assassination started a snowball effect which impacted Lebanese politics for the next fifteen years.
With Syria’s wings clipped in Lebanon, in 2005, Michel Aoun – leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and ad interim president from 1988 to 1990 – could return from exile and Samir Geagea – leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF) – was released from jail. The return of these two leaders invigorated the Christian constituency in the country, allowing its leadership to reserve itself a seat at the table.
Yet, in fear of Christians’ opening a discussion about the post-Ta’ef power-sharing arrangement, the popular Christian leader, Michel Aoun, faced a Berri-Joumblat-Hariri (Saad, the son) opposition upon his arrival.
Jumblat and Berri had gambled on cornering Aoun in order not to share power, thinking that Aoun’s nationalist anti-Syria and anti-Hezbollah rhetoric would prove to be a too heavy load to shed in case he decided to turn against them.
Yet Aoun, in a quick breakaway from his political legacy, shifted his politics 180 degrees, outmaneuvered Berri and Jumblat and signed a memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah. The memorandum opened a new phase in Lebanese politics signaling the return of the Christian constituency to the power-sharing equation. Ironically enough, it was signed on February 6, 2006.
Hezbollah’s power and influence grew twofold after it managed to weather the repercussions of the 2006 war with Israel by turning the party’s mere defensive resistance during the war into a so-called “victory”. With a growing military arsenal and a void left by the Syrian withdrawal from the country, the power-sharing arrangement had to be questioned again, eventually creating immeasurable tensions among the different political players in the country. The buildup led to a mini-intifada (or a mini civil war) in May 2008. This mini-intifada, conducted by Hezbollah and Amal, again hit at the heart of executive power, which in the Second Republic meant the premiership occupied by Prime Minister Fouad Sinioura at the time.
The Third Republic
As of 2008, Shias represented by Amal and Hezbollah became partners in the decision-making process while holding veto power over the executive. This was achieved on two levels: first by Hezbollah’s growing military power and arsenal; and secondly by enforcing a new formula for the cabinets’ distribution in the government, which allowed the Shia parties, along with their allies, to account for half of any formed cabinets. Moreover, their political influence grew exponentially following their direct military involvement in the Syrian crisis.
With the war in Syria winding down, Hezbollah emerges as one of the regional political powers partaking of an alliance that stems from the southern suburbs of Beirut, passes through Damascus, Bagdad, Tehran and reaches Red Square in Moscow. Following the Lebanese parliamentary elections in May 2018 and in a break from custom, Hezbollah flexed its muscles, henceforward dictating the process and terms for forming a new government. The party’s role was extremely visible in the prolonged negotiations (9 months) that preceded the formation of the new cabinet headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Today, Hariri wisely understands the limitations of his dwindling leadership and the reduction of the Sunni role in controlling executive power in the country. Therefore, Hariri managed to reach a cohabitation arrangement with his long-time political nemeses, namely Hezbollah and Aoun. The arrangement had previously led to a rapprochement between Hariri and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gebran Bassil (Aoun’s son-in-law, main advisor and gatekeeper) and culminated in an agreement that saw Michel Aoun as the 17th president of the republic, elected on October 31, 2016.
It’s believed that the new cohabitation arrangement was instigated by Hariri’s need to spare the country a new wave of political violence and to buy his leadership an insurance policy for the coming period. Nevertheless, this relationship is mutually exclusive since Hariri represents a major winning card for his new partners. In fact, to them he is the best man to lead a government that must deal with an ailing economy and mounting international pressure – risking sanctions from the USA.
Henceforth, again on a February 6, in 2019, the day the new Lebanese government saw the light, a new era began in Lebanon cementing a rearranged power-sharing formula with the induction of a “neo-troika” consisting of Hezbollah, Hariri and Bassil. Therefore, the bickering between Berri and Bassil on one side and Jumblat and Hariri on the other is a result of the sidelining of the two figureheads, Berri and Jumblat, of post-Ta’ef Lebanon and one may argue that they are on their way out of the political scene after over three decades of headlining it. Also, with this new power-sharing arrangement Samir Geagea is seen to be struggling to play a major role in government despite the success his party achieved in the recent elections.
Hariri’s dwindling influence must also be seen through the lack of support from his traditional backers, namely Saudi Arabia, which also dealt him a major blow following his alleged November 4, 2017 detainment in Riyadh ordered by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. This erratic move blew Hariri’s regional cover, made him vulnerable and more prone to further concession and compromise. Hence why the cabinet shows signs of further concessions made by Hariri.
However, until today, Hariri has represented an intersection of strategic interests between France and Russia. Yet, with growing Russian influence in the region due to its support to the Syrian regime, Hariri’s concessions, such as handing over the Ministry of Refugees to an outspoken supporter of the Syrian regime and adopting the Russian-led initiative in regard to the return of Syrian refugees – highly opposed by Western powers – in the ministerial statement of his new government, seem to be a form of buying himself a Russian safety net and probably landing a future role in Syria’s much hyped reconstruction process.
Hariri’s repositioning should also be interpreted in a regional context where both the United Arab Emirates and Egypt – Saudi Arabia’s two major allies – are actively normalizing with the Syrian regime despite the US administration’s continuous pressure on its allies to halt the process. However, if Syria is brought back into the Arab fold, and with Hezbollah and Bassil (Hariri’s new partners) both adamantly calling for normalization with the Syrian regime, Hariri cannot survive as the odd man out in the Third Republic.

Lebanon: Is It Goodbye to the Taif Accord?
لبنان: هل انتهى «اتفاق الطائف»؟
إياد أبو شقرا/الشرق الأوسط/
Eyad Abu Shakra/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/72435/%d8%a5%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a3%d8%a8%d9%88-%d8%b4%d9%82%d8%b1%d8%a7-%d9%84%d8%a8%d9%86%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%87%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d9%87%d9%89-%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b7/
What happened during the Lebanese Council of Ministers’ meeting a few days ago neither needs a constitutional opinion from Montesquieu or Francis Bacon nor an expert’s review from Daniel Webster.
Despite the fact that what took place was a decisive step, it was nevertheless, quite natural given the current circumstances in Lebanon. In short, the Lebanese President, General Michel Aoun, effectively, decided to abrogate the ‘Taif Accords’, in the presence of a full session of the Council of Ministers, which – as per the Lebanese Constitution – embodies the Executive Power in the country!
The President has, indeed, abrogated ‘The Taif Accords’ armed by an electoral law imposed by the political, military and demographic imbalance, and bolstered by the results of elections conducted under that law in the shadow of Hezbollah’s arsenal and its security-run ‘state within the state’; all this, ensured that the President gets an influential ‘chunk’ in a must-be disabled Council of Ministers!
It is worth mentioning that President Aoun, was always openly opposed to the ‘Accord’, while his current ‘ally’ Hezbollah was implicit in its opposition, although, through a diligent and systematic strategy managed to weaken it, and now all but officially has finished it off.
The priority of Aoun’s ‘Free Patriotic Movement’ (FPM), even before Hezbollah nominated him as Presidential candidate, and later on securing his election, was to exploit Hezbollah military might, its sectarian base, and its regional connections to getting rid of the ‘Taif Agreement’. For the FPM, the Taif deprived the Lebanese Christians of their influence at the top of the executive power to Sunni Muslims’ benefit. However, since the Christians were unable on their own to reclaim their ‘lost’ privileges from the Sunnis, they had to strike a deal with Hezbollah and its Shiite base for that end.
As for Hezbollah, it has always been part and parcel of Iran’s strategy for regional hegemony. In a multi-confessional country, like Lebanon, such a strategy was bound to encounter a Sunni bloc; thus, it was vitally important to reassure the Christians, and then win them over in what looks like a comprehensive regional picture necessary for a ‘Coalition of Minorities’ against the ‘Sea of Sunni Islam’. Subsequently, both Hezbollah and its backers in Tehran, decided to support the most extremist Christians in Lebanon to become their advocates in Western political circles.
Any Lebanese blessed with a good memory can recall some Christian political views after the Syrian Uprising in March 2011’ including pronouncements like “there is no doubt that the Damascus Regime is bad, but the alternative is worse!”. Such views were propagated and ‘marketed’ at the highest levels in both Europe and the US.
In parallel, as Tehran was working overtime on supporting extremist and terrorist Sunni organizations everywhere, in order to portray itself before the World as a ‘partner in the fight against Takfiri terror’, its propaganda machine was presenting these organization as the true embodiment of political Sunnism. This has been the case with Tehran’s tacit continuous support of extremist groups on its Afghanistan and Pakistan borders, Islamic Jihad and the ‘hawkish wing’ with Hamas in Gaza, and the failure to actively confront the buildup of extremist currents during the Syrian Uprising and the ISIS invasion of Mosul in northern Iraq. For years, Tehran has been nurturing Sunni extremism as a pretext to ‘demonize’ Sunni Islam and build international alliances to fight it.
Unfortunately, naïve Sunnis and Shiites fell victim to this conspiracy, the results of which are for all of us to see, from Iraq to Yemen and Libya, via Syria and Lebanon. This is also true of the international community; for, while Russia and China were from the very beginning siding with the Iranian leadership, the ISIS atrocities in Syria and Iraq provided the excuse for major European capitals to reach an understanding with Tehran, and show willingness to accept both its nuclear ambition and its territorial expansionism. As for Washington, and despite the end of the pro-Iran Obama era, priorities for the present Republican administration continue to regard its primary role – at least in Syria – is fighting ISIS.
This has been the case, although Washington is fully aware of what Tehran and its ‘Popular Mobilization Forces’ are doing in Iraq. It is also aware of how strong and deep the relationship between Bashar Al-Assad’s security-based regime and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) is. This ‘bond’ is what led Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other Iranian appendages - be they Iraqi, Afghan, Pakistani, or Irani - in the ‘war’ to save the Damascus regime.
Furthermore, Washington, as well as Paris and London know too well the details of the political situation in Lebanon, and Hezbollah ‘crawling’ hegemony over the Lebanese political decision-making mechanisms. The three capitals have enough information about the ongoing ‘scenario’ since 2000 when the Israeli army withdrew from south Lebanon, and later on, since the two significant landmarks of 2006 and 2008. In 2006, as the Lebanese recall, Hezbollah launched a cross-border attack to which Israel responded with a devastating military campaign culminating with a ‘deal’ that ended the militia’s presence south of the Litani River in south Lebanon; however, the ‘deal’ did not disarm it. Then, in 2008 Hezbollah turned its firepower against its political opponents inside Lebanon, and in 2011 against the Syrian people.
Washington, Paris, and London are aware, too, of how Hezbollah disrupted Lebanon’s political life in order to impose its candidate General Aoun as President. They also know what it means to accord a militia with foreign loyalty, and in de facto control of the country, a legitimate and constitutional cover through the President and his party.
Indeed, to make matters worse still, the three capitals have not only welcomed the electoral law tailor-made to benefit the de facto ‘party of government’ – now enjoying the ‘legitimate’ cover of an elected President – but also a secure permanent majority thanks to legitimate’ cover as well as armed hegemony.
Thus, what Lebanon is witnessing at the moment is the effective end of the ‘Taif Accord’; and given the current situation, a redundant International Tribunal that has been dealing with the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his colleagues and allies.

Latest LCCC English Miscellaneous Reports & News published on March 01-02/2019
Israeli attorney-general plans to charge Netanyahu in corruption cases
Reuters, Jerusalem/Friday, 1 March 2019/Israel’s attorney-general announced on Thursday he intends to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, a decision coming just six weeks before a closely contested national election. It was the first time a serving Israeli prime minister has been put on official notice of planned prosecution, and deepened uncertainty over how Netanyahu, a veteran right-wing leader, will fare against a coalition of upstart centrist rivals. An actual filing of the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust would depend on the outcome of a required hearing, the Justice Ministry said. That could take months to complete. At that hearing - which could take place after the April 9 election - Netanyahu can try to persuade the attorney-general, Avichai Mandelblit, not to indict him. His voice brimming with indignation as he addressed the nation during prime-time TV news, Netanyahu dismissed the three criminal cases as a political “witch-hunt” designed to oust him. “I intend to serve you and the country as prime minister for many more years. But it’s up to you,” he said, referring to his hopes of winning a fourth consecutive term in April. “It’s not up to the civil servants. It’s not up to the television studios. It’s not up to the pundits and journalists.”Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully accepting $264,000-worth of gifts, which prosecutors said included cigars and champagne, from tycoons and dispensing favors in alleged bids for improved coverage by an Israeli newspaper and a website. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of bribery and a maximum 3-year term for fraud and breach of trust. Israel’s shekel weakened against the dollar on the news. It was trading at 3.63 per dollar at 1620 GMT, from 3.6240 before the announcement and down 0.4 percent versus the US currency from Wednesday. Opinion polls show a tight race for Netanyahu’s Likud party, with sharp gains for a centre-left alliance led by Benny Gantz, a former armed forces chief who has pledged clean government.
‘A GREAT PRIME MINISTER’
At the hearing with Mandelblit, the 69-year-old Netanyahu can cite the public interest in arguing against an indictment. In his statement on Thursday, the prime minister touted what he has achieved for the country: noting the strong economy and ties with world powers that he has cultivated over the last decade. “This is not to be taken for granted,” he said. Netanyahu would be under no legal requirement to resign, even if indicted. But if he were re-elected it would likely be to lead a coalition, as he does now, and if he were indicted, public pressure could buckle the necessary alliances. Already, Gantz said in a statement on Thursday evening he would not join Netanyahu in any future coalition government, given the possible corruption indictment. US President Donald Trump, asked at a news conference earlier on Thursday about Netanyahu’s legal troubles, voiced support for the Israeli leader. Trump and Netanyahu have been in lockstep over policy towards Iran and the Palestinians. “Well, I just think he has been a great prime minister,” said Trump. Anshel Pfeffer, author of a recent Netanyahu biography, said on Twitter that Israel was entering “uncharted waters” in which “no one has any idea how being a prime minister under notice of indictment will effect Netanyahu and his government”.

IRGC commander: Iran plans to ‘break America, Israel and Saudi Arabia’
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Thursday, 28 February 2019/A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander has threatened to “break America, Israel and Saudi Arabia” and vowed that Tehran will “never lay down” its weapons. Brigadier General Hossein Salami, deputy head of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reportedly made the threats during a speech on February 19 just days after a deadly suicide car bombing killed 27 members of the organization. “Our nation’s sword has been drawn out of its sheath. Our enemies should know that we will never let them be,” Salami said. “The Saud regime should know that it will not last,” he added. The head of the IRGC General Mohammad Ali Jafari threatened to retaliate against Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the attack last week. Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group that operates near the Iran-Pakistan border, claimed responsibility for the attack. Salami went on to describe the United States as “distressed” and called into question its world power status. “America, too, has been defeated. The Zionist regime is struggling to survive by using psychological warfare. Our enemies have despaired. They are helpless, and you advance,” the senior IRGC commander said in the speech.
“Our war is not a local war”
“We shall fight them on the global level, not just in one spot. Our war is not a local war. We have plans to defeat the world powers,” he added. Earlier this month, Salami warned Europe against forcing the Islamic Republic into boosting the range of its missiles by trying to halt their development. Iran develops its missile technology according to a “defensive strategy” which changes according to need, he said. Iran had earlier this month announced the “successful test” of a new cruise missile with a range of over 1,350 kilometers, coinciding with the anniversary of the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran's Zarif Returns to His Post, Receives Invitation to Visit Damascus
Tehran - Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 01 March, 2019/Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially rejected the resignation of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, which he submitted earlier this week. “Accepting your resignation would be against the benefit of the country, so I reject it,” Rouhani said in a letter to Zarif published on the government’s website. Zarif spoke on the phone on Wednesday with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Moualem, Fars news agency reported. He also received an invitation from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to visit Damascus. The Iranian minister also held a phone discussion with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and offered mediation between India and Pakistan after the tension between the two countries intensified. He took part in the reception of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who arrived in the Iranian capital on Wednesday morning. In response to Rouhani’s rejection of his resignation, Zarif said: “I have had no concern other than elevating [our] foreign policy and the credibility of the Foreign Ministry as the person in charge of advancing foreign policy and protecting national interests and people's rights in the international arena.” His comments appeared on his Instagram page, as reported by Mehr news agency. A senior commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that Zarif was the main figure responsible for Iran’s foreign policy, adding that he enjoyed the support of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although Zarif did not give specific reasons for his sudden resignation two days ago, Iranian media reports indicated that he took this step as he was not invited to a meeting between Rouhani and Assad in Tehran on Monday. “The absence of Zarif was the result of a bureaucratic error,” said Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. “There is evidence that there was no intention to exclude Mr. Zarif from this meeting, and I should emphasize that he is the main official of the country's foreign policy as the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he remarked.

Hamas Arrests Founder of Iran-linked Group in Gaza
Ramallah- Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 01 March, 2019/Hamas arrested Hisham Salam, the leader of the Iran-sponsored al-Sabrin organization in Gaza. Local reports revealed that Hamas gunmen had raided Salem’s residence, arresting him. The campaign which took in Iran’s top colluder in Gaza also targeted four of his personal aides and senior al-Sabrin officials. In the arrest raid, digital devices, computers, mobile phones and documents were seized. Salam’s detention comes as a major blow Iran, especially that the latter had invested greatly in gaining foothold and securing influence in the Hamas ruled Gaza Strip. Salam’s arrest came in the context of Hamas’ plans to end al-Sabrin’s activity in the Strip, insider sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The decision to rout al-Sabirn was not being made public by Hamas, according to sources, was due to the Palestinian’s group desire to maintain constraint and avoid escalating tensions with the Tehran cleric-led regime. Sources revealed that a plan has been laid out to incrementally disband and eventually terminate al-Sabirn’s presence, with the first phase being arresting bigshot officials in the Iran-backed group. It also includes blocking channels providing al-Sabrin members with funds and arms. Salam, is considered one of Iran’s most prominent propagandists in Gaza. According to the sources, Salam and others are currently being probed by Hamas interrogators. Investigations are said to be most focused on communications, relations, weapons and financing methods. Three years ago, Hamas launched a clandestine campaign against al-Sabrin movement as the public’s rejection for the group grew stronger. Hamas-al-Sabrin tensions peaked after Salam was targeted for assassination post public rage growing against his spreading of Shiism. According to sources, speaking under the conditions of anonymity, Salam attempted fleeing Gaza but failed. He, however, managed to his wife and 7 of his children to settle in Tehran. Despite the dire accusations and Palestinian contempt for al-Sabrin movement, Hamas did not resort to banning the group. Nevertheless, the group is completely banned from the West Bank with Palestinian Authority actively working to keep the group outside its territory.

Assad’s Visit to Tehran a Message to US, Moscow
London - Ibrahim Hamidi/ Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 01 March, 2019/The first visit by Syria's Bashar Assad to Tehran this week carried several messages to the American administration and Moscow, particularly that it came following US President Donald Trump’s decision to keep about 400 US troops in Syria and on the eve of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to Moscow to settle the issue of the S-300 missile defense system supplied to Syria. The visit also came amid escalatory activities to establish a constitutional committee for Syria and the retreat of talks about Arab normalization with Damascus.
First, the visit came during Russian reproach from Syria, as Moscow showed it was not satisfied with Assad’s criticisms of the Astana-Sochi path to form a constitutional committee. Reports said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani informed Assad about results of the Russian-Turkish-Iranian summit, particularly items related to the unity of Syria and the withdrawal of illegitimate forces, except Russian troops and Iranian militias. Second, Assad’s trip aimed to please Iran after Tehran slowed, three months ago, providing Damascus with oil derivatives and food products to exert pressure on the Syrian government to sign a long-term "economic cooperation" agreement, which was translated during the visit of Iranian First Vice-President Ishaq Jahangiri to Damascus last week to give Tehran the priority to rebuild the country. Third, the visit was a message to the recent Arab attempts to normalize relations with the Syrian regime, with hopes to boost the Arab role in Damascus facing the Turkish and Iranian presence there. Arab states currently froze any attempts to normalize relations with Syria and they delayed a decision allowing the return of Syria to the Arab League after their next summit scheduled in Tunis at the end of March.
Therefore, Assad’s presence in Tehran carried a message to the American administration and Arab countries showing that the leader would never break ties with Tehran. Fourth, the visit carried messages to Trump’s decision to keep about 400 US troops in Syria. Observers expect that the next phase would witness Russian-Iranian coordination with Syrian tribes to weaken Washington’s allies in Syria.  Fifth, Assad and Iranian leaders tackled the safe zone. Iranian news outlets quoted Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as warning Washington against creating a buffer zone in Syria despite US talks with Turkey to activate the Adana Agreement allowing Ankara to penetrate 28 to 32 kilometers inside Syrian territories. Sixth, Assad’s visit to Tehran discussed the northern triangle as Damascus plans to make a military operation in the countryside of Idlib and to “draw” Russia to accept such choice. However, Russia still respects an agreement with Turkey to de-escalate tension in the northern triangle. Seventh, media sources said during his visit to Russia, Netanyahu brought updated maps of Iranian positions in Syria to show the Russians and that he asked for military coordination to settle the issue of the S-300 missile defense system to Syria. The visit of Assad to Tehran aimed to form a counter-military coordination between Syria and Iran facing those Israeli-Russian talks, particularly after Iranian positions were targeted by several Israeli strikes, amid a Russian silence.

US-backed SDF expects ‘fierce battle’ in final ISIS enclave
Reuters, Deir al-Zor province, Syria/Friday, 1 March 2019/The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) expect a “fierce battle” with ISIS militants who are still holed up in the group’s last enclave in eastern Syria, Mustafa Bali, the head of the SDF media office, told Reuters on Friday. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the SDF had retaken 100 percent of the territory once held by ISIS. But Bali said ISIS militants were still holed up in Baghouz, a village on the Iraqi border, and had not surrendered. “We won’t storm the village and declare it liberated unless we have completely confirmed the departure of civilians.”

US military says airstrike in central Somalia kills 26 al-Shabab extremists
The Associated Press, Nairobi/Friday, 1 March 2019/The United States military says it has killed 26 fighters from al-Shabab extremist group with an airstrike in central Somalia, after a pair of strikes earlier this week killed 55. The US Africa Command says the attack occurred Thursday in the Hiran region, where the others took place.The airstrike was announced shortly after Somali authorities said a deadly overnight siege by al-Shabab had ended in the capital, Mogadishu, with all attackers killed. The US has dramatically increased airstrikes against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, Africa’s deadliest extremist group, since President Donald Trump took office. The US has carried out 24 strikes this year. Authorities and experts acknowledge that it will take more than airstrikes to defeat the extremist group, which holds large parts of rural central and southern Somalia.

Egypt arrests six over Cairo train crash that killed 25
The Associated Press, Cairo/Friday, 1 March 2019/Egyptian authorities have arrested six people over a deadly crash this week at Cairo’s main train station that killed at least 25 people.The country’s top prosecutor ordered late Thursday that those arrested - two train conductors, their aides and two other rail workers - remain in custody for four more days pending further investigation. Wednesday’s crash also left at least 47 injured. Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek earlier said the investigation determined that the accident was triggered by a brawl between two conductors. He says one conductor failed to put the brakes on before leaving the locomotive, unleashed the speeding, unmanned engine which then crashed into a concrete barrier at the Ramses station in downtown Cairo, setting of a huge explosion and fire.Transportation Minister Hisham Arafat resigned after the accident.

US offers $1 million reward to find Bin Laden son
AFP, Washington/Friday, 1 March 2019/The United States on Thursday offered a $1 million reward for information on a son of late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, seeing him as an emerging face of extremism. The location of Hamza bin Laden has been the subject of speculation for years with reports of him living in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria or under house arrest in Iran. “Hamza bin Laden is the son of deceased former AQ leader Osama bin Laden and is emerging as a leader in the AQ franchise,” a State Department statement said, referring to al-Qaeda. The State Department said that it would offer $1 million for information leading to his location in any country. Bin Laden, who according to the United States is around 30, has threatened attacks against the United States to avenge the 2011 killing of his father. US intelligence agencies increasingly see the younger bin Laden as a successor to his father, especially as the even more extreme ISIS group is down to its last sliver of land in Syria. In 2015, bin Laden released an audio message urging militants in Syria to unite, claiming that the fight in the war-torn country paves the way to “liberating Palestine.”Hamza bin Laden’s whereabouts have been a matter of dispute. He is believed to have spent years along with his mother in Iran. One of Hamza bin Laden’s half-brothers told The Guardian last year that Hamza’s whereabouts were unknown but that he may be in Afghanistan. He also said that Hamza bin Laden married the daughter of Mohammed Atta, the lead hijacker in al-Qaeda’s September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Algerian PM Warns of ‘Syrian Scenario’
Algiers- Boualam Ghimrasah/Asharq Al-Awsat/Friday, 01 March, 2019/Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia warned of “Syrian scenario in Algeria” in light of extensive calls for mass protests today (Friday) denouncing a fifth term for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.Ouyahia responded Thursday in the parliament to remarks and questions by many MPs in the context of presenting outcomes of the government's achievement during 2018. While recounting the President's achievements in figures and project naming, the PM talked about the strong popular opposition to the President's term extension. Notably, demonstrations have been ongoing since last Friday, and they are expected to escalate today after Friday prayers. “There is hateful movement against Bouteflika. Does it target his history and achievements?” Ouyahia wondered. The President has not spoken in public and has made few public appearances since suffering a stroke in 2013, which has confined him to a wheelchair. He ran for 2014 elections at people’s request, Ouyahia explained, adding that he clearly and transparently presents outcomes of his achievements to his people. Opposition MPs, a minority, strongly criticized the figures and statistics provided by the PM. "Instead of presenting the government’s achievements in 2018, it has dealt with all the projects and actions implemented by the executive branch since the beginning of the fourth mandate five years ago, and this is similar to what Ouyahia has presented to the parliament, an early campaign for the running president,” they said. Ouyahia, for his part, also drew a comparison to the 1991 strike that preceded Algeria's 10-year civil war. “I remember 1991, it was like today. I read today that there is a call to strike, I remember the strike of 1991," he added, pointing out that he still does not understand why all this opposition since the constitution provides the right of candidacy for all, and no one has the right to deny the President the request to renew confidence in his program. He compared the growing protest movement to the peaceful demonstrations that erupted in Syria and sparked a war, which is now nearing its ninth year. Addressing MPs, Ouyahia said some “demonstrators offered roses to the policemen. But we should recall that in Syria it also began with roses", he said. His remarks sparked ire from a number of lawmakers who stormed out of parliament while others applauded the prime minister.

Sudan’s Bashir hands party leadership to new deputy
AFP, Khartoum/Friday, 1 March 2019/Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has handed leadership of the country’s ruling party to his newly appointed deputy, the party said late Thursday, weeks into protests against Bashir’s rule. Demonstrations and deadly clashes have rocked Bashir’s iron-fisted rule since December, and last week he imposed a year-long state of emergency to quell the protests. “President Omar al-Bashir has transferred his authority as chief of the party to Ahmed Harun,” the ruling National Congress Party said in a statement. “Harun will serve as the acting chief of NCP until the party’s next general convention, where a new president of the party will be elected.”Bashir appointed Harun, wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in the conflict in Darfur, as his deputy party chief last week as part of top level changes in his administration in the face of ongoing protests. Bashir himself is wanted by the ICC for alleged genocide and war crimes in Darfur, charges he denies. The NCP has an overwhelming majority in parliament, and according to its charter, the chief of the party becomes its candidate in presidential elections. The next presidential election in Sudan is scheduled in 2020. The NCP was formed a few years after Bashir swept to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989, with him as party chief ever since. But protestors have staged regular demonstrations across Sudan since December, accusing the administration of mismanaging the economy and calling on Bashir to step down. He declared a year-long state of emergency across the country last week after an initial crackdown failed to suppress the protests. Bashir also dissolved the federal and provincial governments, appointing 16 army officers and two from the feared National Intelligence and Security Service as governors of the country’s 18 provinces. Bashir also ordered the creation of special emergency courts to investigate violations during the state of emergency. On Thursday, eight protesters were sentenced to jail by emergency courts in Khartoum for participating in unauthorized rallies earlier in the day, the first such punishments handed down since the courts were established. Officials say 31 people have died in protest-related violence so far, while Human Rights Watch says at least 51 people have been killed. Protests first erupted against a government decision to triple the price of bread, but swiftly escalated into demonstrations against Bashir’s rule.

Europe throws out plan to blacklist Saudi Arabia for money laundering
Arab News/March 01/ 2019/JEDDAH: Europe on Friday threw out plans to place Saudi Arabia on a blacklist of “high-risk” countries for terrorism financing and money laundering. The blacklist was proposed in February by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, but required majority approval by the bloc’s member states. All 28 voted unanimously to reject it.“We cannot support the current proposal that was not established in a transparent and credible process,” the member states said.The provisional list contained 23 states and territories, including four administered by the US — American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. For the first time, the European Commission proposed different criteria from those used by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which sets the global standard against money laundering. The FATF list is smaller, and includes Iran but not Saudi Arabia. Under the new methodology, countries could be blacklisted if they do not provide sufficient information on company ownership or if their rules on reporting suspicious transactions or monitoring customers are considered too lax. Inclusion on the EU list would not trigger sanctions, but would require European banks to apply tighter controls on transactions with customers and institutions in those countries. EU confirmation of the list proposed by the Commission would have caused damage in three areas, Salman Al-Ansari, founder of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee, told Arab News. “First, it would have degraded the FATF,” he said. “Second, it would have harmed the EU’s reputation and made its lists politicized rather than authentic and legitimate.“Third, it would have greatly damaged the EU’s financial interests with their biggest trading partner in the Middle East.”Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri, a Saudi political analyst and international relations scholar in Riyadh, said the Kingdom “should never have been put there in the first place.”No other country had taken the steps Saudi Arabia had taken to counter terrorism, Al-Shehri said. “We have been in the forefront of fighting terrorism in myriad ways, including by cutting off financing. To put Saudi Arabia on that list is laughable.”Countries “inimical to the interests of Saudi Arabia,” such as Iran and Qatar, were whipping up anti-Saudi hysteria in the West, he said. “They are not able to digest the fact that Saudi Arabia has emerged as a beacon of stability and a force for good in the Arab world and the Middle East. Europe and the rest of the world must not fall for such vicious propaganda and must see through the shenanigans of Qatar and Iran.”

U.S., Russia Fail in U.N. Push for Action on Venezuela
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/March 01/19/Russia and China overnight vetoed a U.S. resolution in the U.N. Security Council on addressing the crisis in Venezuela, but a counter-proposal from Moscow did not win enough votes.The failure to take action on the two competing drafts laid bare divisions among world powers over the way forward in Venezuela, which is mired in a political standoff and an economic meltdown. The proposed US text -- which called for new presidential elections in Venezuela and unimpeded deliveries of humanitarian aid -- won the required nine votes at the 15-member council, but Moscow and Beijing joined forces to block it. Resolutions at the council, which are legally binding, must garner nine votes to be adopted, with no vetoes from the five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Russia's draft resolution -- which urged a settlement "through peaceful means" and insisted that all humanitarian aid be agreed by Maduro's government -- won only four votes: Russia, China, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. Seven countries including the United States, European countries and Peru opposed the Russian measure and there were four abstentions.
Battered by economic collapse, Venezuela descended into a major political crisis when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in January and asserted that President Nicolas Maduro was no longer legitimate. The United States is leading a push for recognition of Guaido, who heads the National Assembly. He is now backed by more than 50 countries. After the double vetoes, U.S. envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams took an implicit swipe at Russia and China, lamenting that countries "continue to shield Maduro and his cronies and prolong the suffering of the Venezuelan people."
Abrams expressed satisfaction that "a clear majority of the council" had supported the U.S. stance.France, Germany and Britain were among those that backed the proposed U.S. measure. South Africa voted no while Indonesia, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast abstained.
Asked how long it will take for Maduro to fall, Abrams told reporters: "Are we talking days, weeks or months? We hope it's as little as possible."
Regime change
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia meanwhile accused the United States of putting forward a text that was "written for regime change, disguised as care for people. We have all seen this already in Libya, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan."Venezuela's Ambassador Samuel Moncada renewed his government's assertions that the United States is preparing military action, referring to President Donald Trump's statement that "all options are on the table."Maduro has accused the United States of using aid as a political tool aimed at overthrowing him, and blames U.S. sanctions for the economic turmoil. The crisis turned violent over the weekend when four people died in clashes at Venezuela's borders during an attempt led by Guaido to bring in humanitarian aid from Colombia and Brazil.

Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on March 01-02/2019
Latest Fashion in Politics: Going Dutch
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/March 01/19
In English, the expression “going Dutch” is applied to a group of friends who go out to dinner together and then each pays his or her own bill. The rationale for this is twofold. Firstly, the friends are free to choose whatever they like regardless of the price on the menu. Secondly, none of them could assume an air of superiority by paying the bill for everyone. It is not only at dinner outings of friends that the expression comes useful. When it comes to political parties, too, the Dutch “go Dutch”. By last count, the Netherlands was home to no fewer than 22 national parties, four regional parties and seven local ones, which puts the European kingdom top of the list in the world for the number of political parties. The Netherland is also the only democracy in which no single party has won a majority since the 1890s.
And that is not all. In the past century or so, The Netherlands has witnessed the rise and fall of more than 70 other parties representing the richest spectrum of political ideologies and illusions in any mature democracy.
The conventional wisdom might have us consider that extreme diversity as a sign of deep divisions and a cause of instability in The Netherlands. However, at least after the Second World War, The Netherlands has always been one of the most united and stable democracies in Europe, its national unity bolstered by its tradition of political diversity. Its experience has refuted the claim, loudly made in central and eastern parts of the European continent, where unanimity has often been mistaken for unity and stagnation for stability in a doctrine that found its apotheosis in the one-party system.
Three elements have helped make “going Dutch” possible for the Dutch. The first is monarchy which, acting as a unifying factor standing above partisan politics, provides the assurance that no party or group can recast the nation in its own image even by securing an electoral majority that, by definition, is transient and conjectural.
The second element is the system of proportional representation, first launched in 1918 and still in force, that allows even relatively small numbers of voters to secure a seat, or at least a side-chair, in the decision-making centers of the state.
Between “going Dutch” politically and sweating under the one-party yoke has been the British two-party system in which two readily recognizable outfits, one moderately leftist the other mildly on the right, have dominated the scene through a duopolistic hold on power.
With the one-party model discredited and, barring partial exceptions in Russia and Byelorussia, bequeathed to the dustbin of history, it may be time for the two-party system to implode. In fact, such implosion happened last year in France when an insurrectionary new movement called France on March, formed in a few months, captured a majority in the parliament and then the presidency as well, pushing the two main parties of left and right to the sidelines.
But the potentially most significant blow to the two-party model may be taking shape in its original birthplace, Great Britain, and its biggest arena that is the United States. In Britain what could be described as the Brexit fever has splintered the two main parties, Conservative and Labour, possibly beyond repair. The number of members of parliament from both parties that relinquished their whips last week may still be small, but even a cursory examination of the two parties would reveal numerous fractures affecting many more politicians.
In the United States, the Republican Party has already split three ways: The Donald Trump-to-the-end faction, right now a majority, the traditional party mandarins, and the waverers in the middle. The Democrat Party’s divisions run even deeper with traditional party barons trying to make a comeback in the face of energetic challenges from the populist left and European-style Social Democrats. Taking into account personal ambitions, the presence of more than a dozen presidential hopefuls may also indicate other deeper division. Thanks to the globalization of social media, the “going Dutch” fashion may be spreading beyond the confines of Western democracies. One example was in Brazil where more than a dozen parties have appeared on the scene while Jair Bolsonaro, a politician unable to secure a parliamentary majority, has won the presidency. Another example was Pakistan where the latest elections were contested by 12 parties, an all-time record, and dozens of independents.
“Going Dutch” is also finding adepts in Thailand as it heads for general elections later this month. Several elements have contributed to the growing popularity of “going Dutch”. To start with there is what one might venture to call “the democratization of information.” It is no longer possible for governments or political parties to establish suzerainty over information either by monopolizing its source or controlling the narrative. Anyone with a smartphone or a tablet could easily find alternative narratives.Then there is the possibility of crowd-funding which enables even a small group of determined activists to secure enough funding not to become dependent on a few fat cats, corporations or trade unions. The key here is determination; often a small but highly motivated minority could best a much larger but less committed majority in a fair contest. Lenin’s famous phrase “Better fewer, but better” may have been an early understanding of that fact. The third element that encourages “going Dutch” is the widespread desacralization of power elites who have had the smirk wiped off their faces with Brexit, and the emergence of people like Trump and Bolsonaro not to mention the many versions of Johnny-come-lately who have won elections in Greece, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Spain and Germany. All that, of course, is dismissed by some as a temporary surge of populism, often intended as a term of abuse. However, the fact is that the classical ways of doing politics are undergoing important changes that one would ignore at one’s peril. It is not sufficient to sit back and play “Dutch uncle” which means moaning and admonishing. Nor would “Dutch courage” provide the answer where a cool head is needed.

Palestinians: Marching Backwards as Israel Prepares for Elections
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/March 01/2019
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13812/palestinians-israel-elections
Instead of marching Palestinians towards democracy, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas have chosen the model of totalitarianism as a way of governing their people. The pro-Abbas demonstrations organized by Fatah in the West Bank are reminiscent of dictatorships in the Arab world that send their loyalists to the streets to voice support for the ruler. The Hamas-sponsored anti-Abbas demonstrations in the Gaza Strip will not solve any of the crises facing the Palestinians there. These protests are Hamas's way of distracting attention from its failure to improve the living conditions of the people living under its repressive regime.
The only way for the Palestinians to move forward is by protesting against their failed leaders in the PA and Hamas. Many Palestinians, however, are afraid to speak out against their rulers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Why would any Palestinian speak out against Abbas when the PA arrests and harasses those who even dare to post critical remarks on Facebook? Why would any Palestinian in the Gaza Strip criticize Hamas when he or she knows that this would endanger their lives?
On April 9, Israelis will again celebrate democracy by voting in a free and democratic election. The Palestinians, meanwhile, will mark another year of dictatorship and failed leadership, and will continue to dream about heading to any ballot box at all.
Since its inception in 1994, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has held only two elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC): the first in 1996 and the second in 2006. The PLC is elected for four years only, but political rivalries among Palestinian factions have blocked any agreement on holding the vote on time. Pictured: The PLC building in Ramallah on January 28, 2006, three days after its last election. (Photo by Zharan Hammad/Getty Images)
Israelis are scheduled to head to the ballot boxes on April 9 to vote for a new parliament (Knesset). This will be the fifth general election in Israel since 2006.
The Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, on the other hand, have, since 2006, failed to hold a single election for their parliament, known as the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
Since its inception in 1994, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has held only two legislative elections: the first in 1996 and the second in 2006. The PLC is elected for four years only, but political rivalries among Palestinian factions have blocked any agreement on holding the vote on time.
Since 1994, the Palestinians have also held only two presidential elections: the first in 1996 and the second in 2005. Yasser Arafat won the first election with 88.2% of the vote. His only opponent was a Samiha Khalil, a prominent female charity worker, who got only 11.5% of the vote.
Mahmoud Abbas won the second presidential election, which took place on January 9, 2005. After winning 62% of the vote, he was elected to a four-year term as the new president of the PA. The 83-year-old Abbas was one of seven candidates who ran in the election.
Israel has held seven general elections since the establishment of the PA in 1994, and has since elected five prime ministers: Shimon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. The Palestinians, by contrast, have only elected two presidents in the past 25 years: Arafat and Abbas.
At this stage, it seems unclear whether the Palestinians will manage to hold the long-overdue presidential and parliamentary elections. Abbas has just entered his 15th year of his four-year-term, while the Palestinian parliament has been inoperative since 2007, the year Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip. Abbas recently decided to dissolve the Palestinian parliament. His decision drew sharp criticism from several Palestinian groups, including Hamas. Abbas's political rivals have condemned his move as "illegal and unconstitutional." Abbas says he wants to hold new elections for the parliament and has instructed his government and the Palestinian Central Elections Committee to start preparing for the vote.
It is anyone's guess as to how Abbas will hold parliamentary elections when Hamas and other Palestinian groups are saying that they will boycott the vote. Under the current circumstances, Abbas may have to hold the elections solely in the territories under the control of his PA in the West Bank, and not the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
What is mainly blocking the Palestinians from holding presidential and parliamentary elections is the continued dispute between Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas. It does not appear that the falling-out/disagreement has run its course. Repeated attempts in the past 13 years by several Arab countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to reach "reconciliation agreements" between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have thus far fallen flat.In recent weeks, the rivalry between Fatah and Hamas has intensified to a point where they have begun waging street- and online campaigns to discredit each other.
A Hamas-sponsored campaign is calling for the ouster of Abbas on the pretext that he is no longer considered a rightful and legitimate leader because his term in office expired in 2009. Thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip to protest against Abbas and demand that he be removed from power in the Fatah-run West Bank. The protests are being held under the banner: "Go Away!" The anti-Abbas protesters are particularly angry with the PA president because of the sanctions he imposed on the Gaza Strip more than a year ago. These include cutting salaries to thousands of Palestinians and refusing to pay Israel for fuel and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip.
Fatah loyalists in the West Bank have launched a counter-campaign in support of their president, Mahmoud Abbas. In the past week, Fatah organized several pro-Abbas rallies in several West Bank cities under the banner: "You Represent Me" and "We Chose You." The pro-Abbas demonstrators are also castigating Hamas for its continued rule over the Gaza Strip and its refusal to allow the PA government to assume its responsibilities there.
The demonstrations, both in favor of and against Abbas, are yet another sign of the deepening crisis between Fatah and Hamas, the main players in the Palestinian arena. The two parties are also accusing each other of arresting and torturing each other's supporters. Last week, Fatah claimed that Hamas has arrested more than 100 Fatah members in the Gaza Strip for their role in organizing pro-Abbas rallies there. Hamas, for its part, says that hardly a day passes without the PA arresting several of its supporters and members in the West Bank.
Fatah says it would be impossible to hold fair and free elections in the Gaza Strip at a time when Hamas is arresting and torturing Fatah activists and other political opponents there. Similarly, Hamas says it would be impossible to hold free and democratic elections in the West Bank at a time when Abbas's security forces are continuing their crackdown on Hamas members and supporters there.
Let the world take note: the two-state solution has been realized in the Middle East. The Palestinians have ended up with two separate mini-states of their own. These mini-states have been at war with each other since 2007. The leaders of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas cannot agree on anything, not even on daylight savings time. If the PA says that daylight savings time ends on a specific day, Hamas rejects the decision and chooses another day, creating two different time zones for the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
If the PA and Hamas cannot agree on the time of day, it takes little imagination to understand that they cannot agree on guaranteeing the Palestinians the right to have democratic and free elections.
Once again, Palestinians are left to sit back and watch with envy how Israelis prepare for their upcoming general elections while the PA and Hamas continue slinging mud at each other rather than leading the Palestinian people.
For now, it appears that neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas is interested in holding presidential and legislative elections. The two parties feel comfortable with the status quo; the PA and Abbas are the unchallenged rulers of parts of the West Bank and they see no reason why they should risk holding an election that could result in a Hamas victory. Hamas, for its part, is comfortable with its exclusive control of the two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and sees no reason why it should allow Palestinians to practice their right to elect new leaders.
Instead of marching Palestinians towards democracy, the PA and Hamas have chosen the model of totalitarianism as a way of governing their people. The pro-Abbas demonstrations organized by Fatah in the West Bank are reminiscent of dictatorships in the Arab world that send their loyalists to the streets to voice support for the ruler. The Hamas-sponsored anti-Abbas demonstrations in the Gaza Strip will not solve any of the crises facing the Palestinians there. These protests are Hamas's way of distracting attention from its failure to improve the living conditions of the people under its repressive regime.
The only way for the Palestinians to move forward is by protesting against their failed leaders in the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Many Palestinians, however, are afraid to speak out against their rulers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Why would any Palestinian speak out against Abbas when the PA arrests and harasses those who even dare to post critical remarks on Facebook? Why would any Palestinian in the Gaza Strip criticize Hamas when he or she knows that this would endanger their lives? On April 9, Israelis will again celebrate democracy by voting in a free and democratic election. The Palestinians, meanwhile, will mark another year of dictatorship and failed leadership, and will continue to dream about heading to any ballot box at all.
*Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem, is a Shillman Journalism Fellow at 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.

Has Europe relinquished its role in the Middle East?
Ziad El Sayegh/Annahar/February 23/2019
Simply put, Europe has failed to meet its historic moral duties.
BEIRUT: The Middle East seems in its worst shape. Palestine has seen its territory shrink to a sliver of what it once was, Syria is divided into several factions, Lebanon has seemingly surrendered to its fate, and Iraq is still bleeding, while Jordan has ostensibly managed to stay afloat.
Meanwhile, Europe is weakened and unable to either address these divisions or fill the void left by the US, who is now pre-occupied with its own domestic challenges. Russia, on the other hand, is spearheading a campaign to bolster its status while China is attempting to supersede both the US and Europe economically. Taking advantage, Iran, through its many proxies across the region, is pursuing its strategy of exporting the Islamic revolution while the Security Council stands idle, drowning in its administrative duties instead of advancing its international peacemaking policies.
As Iran, Turkey, and Russia gain ground, Europe which remains committed to promoting dialogue, human right values, and stability along the lines of its interest-driven foreign policies, is losing influence in the Middle East. This is mainly the result of Europe's failure to undertake a balanced intervention that reflects its moral standing of days gone. Despite the complexity of its own situation with the rise of far-right movements, European leaders must take action if a concrete solution to any of the conflicts spanning the Middle East is to be reached.
Europe and Palestine
Despite Europe intervening to bridge the gap left by the US in the funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, it has come up short in the negotiations process at a time when it should adopt a more dynamic stance. Europe must somehow find a way to abandon its lethargic stance, re-energize the peace process, and bring both Israel and the US to the negotiations table.
This European resignation thus far has dealt a blow to the Palestinian people and their rights.
Europe and Syria
On the Syrian front, it is clear that Europe is still committed to a diplomatic solution but hasn't been able to contain Russia, Iran and Turkey or protect the Syrian people's rights. Its efforts have been merely concentrated on channeling financial and humanitarian aid to ease the suffering of refugees as reconstruction efforts stall pending a diplomatic solution to the conflict.  The European humanitarian effort should be transformed into a diplomatic campaign to restore peace and stability in Syria. Otherwise, Europe would have failed to uphold its historic moral obligations.
*Ziad El Sayegh is an expert in Public Policies and Refugee crises.

Analysis/Facing Charges, Netanyahu Looks to World Stage for Help
عاموس هاريل: نيتنياهو في مواجهته للإتهامات يتطلع للحصول على المساعدة من الخارج
Amos Harel/Haaretz/March 01/19
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/72627/amos-harel-facing-charges-netanyahu-looks-to-world-stage-for-help-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85/
The attorney general’s decision to indict the prime minister creates an unprecedented situation. Benjamin Netanyahu is not the first prime minister to be saddled with such a decision, but he’s the first to insist on staying at his post during an election, a subsequent hearing and, as far as he’s concerned, during the entire trial that will follow. By comparison, Ehud Olmert, who preceded Netanyahu in his entanglement with the law, announced his retirement even before the attorney general’s decision and certainly before his hearing.
Eight months passed between Olmert’s announcement in 2009 and the subsequent election, a period in which he conducted Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Netanyahu is preparing for more than that. At least according to his official statements, he believes he can manage the affairs of Israel, an almost impossible country even under normal circumstances, even when called upon to appear in the Jerusalem District Court three or four times a week.
Even now, long before that happens, Netanyahu will have to divide his time between his campaign, his altercations with the attorney general and the state prosecution and the fulfilment of his role as prime minister and defense minister. The last two days were a prelude to the nature of things to come. Netanyahu set out for an important meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but shortened his visit to return to Israel ahead of Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit’s announcement. Many of the questions he fielded from journalists accompanying him related to the repulsive video clip Likud put out, showing a military cemetery as a backdrop, and his reaction to the then-expected decision by the attorney general. (Netanyahu had a prepared response, but chose to ignore these questions while in Moscow.)
Alongside ongoing diplomatic needs, it’s obvious that Netanyahu’s frequent trips abroad are connected to maintaining his public image ahead of the election. This is a great advantage he has over his rivals, who lack this kind of experience. Netanyahu is viewed as a person with global connections, with the leaders of the great powers and other nations, including Arab states, attendant on his views. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump granted him an electoral bonus by praising Netanyahu’s performance, in response to a question by an Israeli correspondent at the end of Trump’s meeting with North Korea’s leader in Vietnam.
It’s doubtful whether Trump has learned how to pronounce the names of Benny Gantz or Avi Gabbay, but he’ll be happy to meet Netanyahu at the end of the month, when he comes to the annual AIPAC meeting in Washington. These pictures will open newscasts and help the Likud campaign, allowing Netanyahu to minimize the damage caused by Mendelblit’s decision to indict him.
Following the meeting in Moscow, “diplomatic sources” – are there any left near the prime minister, who gradually loses most advisers? – boasted of the achievements of that summit. The downing of the Ilyushin jet, they said, was behind us; Russia and Israel decided to discuss ways of reconstructing Syria; the Russians pledged to help get rid of all foreign forces in Syria (namely, Iranians too) in the future.
The credibility of these claims, as well as the significance of understandings that were reached, is unclear. The Ilyushin was shot down (by Syrian aerial defense systems) last September; two months later there were reports of Israeli air strikes again. The new rules of the game were set then. The change is that air strikes now focus on central and southern Syria, far from areas Russian forces are deployed in. It’s hard to understand what Israel has to do with reconstructing Syria, and the removal of foreign forces still seems like a distant vision.
The most critical issue for Israel was not mentioned publicly. After the Ilyushin incident, Russia supplied Syria with more advanced S-300 aerial defense systems. It’s important for Netanyahu that Putin delay making these systems operational, and keeping them under Russian supervision. Giving Syria control over these systems will hasten their use and require Israel’s air force to destroy them so they don’t endanger its planes. This could escalate the confrontation with Syrian and Iranian forces on our northern front. The media was not told what, if any, was agreed on between Putin and Netanyahu in this matter.
As the publication of the attorney general’s decision weakens Likud’s standing in the polls, one can expect an even more aggressive campaign, aimed at saving Netanyahu from electoral defeat and from an indictment (assuming he manages to pass, as he plans to, the “French law,” which prevents the indictment of a sitting prime minister). The cemetery-based video clip, which Netanyahu rushed to remove from his Facebook page following public criticism, is only the opening shot. The tougher the pressure gets, the more we’ll hear messages blending blood, bereavement and terror.
Up to now, election considerations have not seemed to affect defense policy, other than a cabinet decision to curtail tax reimbursements to the Palestinian Authority as retribution for its assistance to security prisoners. However, it’s obvious that the heads of the security branches will now have to demonstrate great sensitivity to the ethical aspects of their roles, while deflecting inappropriate pressure. A heating up of the election campaign could lead to an increase of other unwanted effects, such as dissemination of false news, in the service of election advertising. Rising tensions could lead to violence. The Shin Bet security service should be highly alert to risks facing candidates and state prosecutors.
Most of the defense-related activity will focus in the short term on the Palestinian front, due to slashing of funds to the Palestinian Authority, the clash over the opening of a new mosque on Temple Mount, and the ongoing tension on the Gaza border. Politicians are pessimistic, believing a new round of clashes with Hamas may erupt before the election.
Efforts to avoid this are noticeable. Egypt has released four Hamas naval commandos, arrested in 2015, from prison. This was seen as a gesture intended to calm the situation in Gaza. Israel has also released a member of the Palestinian parliament, who had been under administrative detention for two years. There are also rumors regarding more than 50 Palestinian prisoners who were released in the Gilad Shalit exchange but later re-arrested. This may indicate a re-examination of the issue of prisoners and missing soldiers, also in an attempt to calm the situation.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/.premium-when-the-defense-minister-is-taken-to-court-expect-aggression-1.6980888