English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For September 06/2020
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
The Bulletin's Link on the
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Bible Quotations For today
Truly I tell you,
unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven
Matthew 18/01-05: “At that time the disciples came
to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a
child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change
and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever
becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Whoever
welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on
September 05-06/2021
MoPH: 864 new Corona cases, 12 deaths
President Aoun to visiting youth delegation at Baabda Palace: Failure of every
financial & economic recovery plan means that the corrupt system fears
accountability
Aoun Says 'Corrupt System' Fears Accountability
Bassil Says FPM Won't Accept 'Another Year without a Govt.'
MP Says Miqati's Resignation Not on the Table
Syria 'Ready' to Help Lebanon with Gas, Electricity Transit
6 Syrian refugees arrested in Lebanon at risk of deportation
Higher Shiite Council Head Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan Dies
Al-Rahi offers condolences over Qabalan’s passing: May God compensate us with
examples of the great Imam for the good of Lebanon
Council of Ministers declares national mourning on Sunday & Monday, work to be
suspended in public administrations on Tuesday
Geagea warns against postponing parliamentary elections: We reject the weak &
submissive president, if you wish to change, alter your manner of voting
Resigning from parliament an option if government is not formed,” says Hobeich
Army receives medical supplies donated by Jordan
Al-Assad receives Lebanese delegation: Syria will remain besides the Lebanese
people
Arslan: Syria's steadfastness paved the way for this great transformation in the
international scene
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on September 05-06/2021
Israel President Meets Jordanian King to Cultivate Ties
Population of Israel 9.39 million, 6.94 million Jews
Taliban Battle for Panjshir as U.S. Warns of Afghanistan Civil War
Turkey says it ‘neutralized’ 18,500 militants over 6 years
IS Attack Kills 13 Iraqi Policemen
Bus Crash on Egypt Highway Kills 12 near Suez
Algeria Places Tunisia's Karoui in Pre-Trial Detention
Protests as Montenegro's New Orthodox Head Inaugurated
Prince Charles' Charity Boss Probed over Saudi Reports
Gunfire in Guinea Capital, Troops on Streets
Titles For The Latest The Latest LCCC
English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on
September 05-06/2021
Time is running out to stop Iran’s bomb/Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab
News/September 06/2021
For now, oil market’s short-term outlook is positive/Dr. Namat Abu Al-Soof/Arab
News/September 06/2021
A historical scandal that threatens Erdogan’s AKP/Yasar Yakis/Arab
News/September 05, 2021
Boosting Muslim-Jewish relations at Rosh Hashana/Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie /Arab
News/September 06/2021
The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on September 05-06/2021
MoPH: 864 new Corona
cases, 12 deaths
NNA/September 05/2021
In its daily report on the COVID-19 developments, the Ministry of Public Health
announced on Sunday the registration of 864 new infections with the Corona
virus, thus bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to-date to
607,400.
The report added that 12 deaths were also recorded during the past 24 hours.
President Aoun to visiting youth delegation at Baabda
Palace: Failure of every financial & economic recovery plan means that the
corrupt system fears accountability
NNA/September 05/2021
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, affirmed that "Failure of every
plan for financial and economic recovery or its failure to establish it at all
means one thing, which is that the corrupt system that still controls the
country and the people fears accountability, because any recovery plan stems
from three main pillars:
1- Identifying and distributing losses.
2- Defining responsibilities and accountability.
3- Determining treatment methods.
While meeting a youth delegation at Baabda Palace, President Aoun indicated that
the failure to determine the financial losses and their distribution between the
central bank, banks and the state led to two serious matters:
1- Ignoring those responsible for the financial ruin of the country.
2- The Lebanese people are currently solely responsible for the financial
collapse, and their deposits are being depleted, while the Lebanese people are
the victim and not the perpetrator, and no one, no matter how high they are, can
hold the entire people responsible for their wrong, destructive and corrupt
policies”.
“The people must know who humiliates them daily to obtain their most basic
rights and prevents them from freely disposing of their money in banks and
assets. Every popular revolution must aim in this direction: identifying and
distributing losses, defining responsibilities, holding officials accountable,
finding solutions at the expense of those who caused the financial disaster, and
did not burden the people directly and alone with the burden of the crisis” the
President added.
The President concluded his speech by saying: "My people are stolen and looted
daily! Words must be said and action must be done!" ---- [Presidency Information
Office]
Aoun Says 'Corrupt System' Fears Accountability
Naharnet/September 05/2021
President Michel Aoun on Sunday said that a “corrupt system” is still
“controlling the country and the people.”“The foiling of every plan proposed for
financial and economic recovery, or the failure to devise it in the first place,
means one thing, which is that the corrupt system that is still controlling the
country and the people fears accountability and penalization,” Aoun told a youth
delegation at the Baabda Palace. “Refraining from identifying the financial
losses and distributing them among the central bank, the banks and the state has
led to two dangerous things: the first is concealing those responsible for the
country’s financial ruin, and the second is burdening the people alone with the
financial collapse,” the President added. Noting that the people “must know who
is humiliating them daily” and “preventing them from freely using their
bank-held money and assets,” Aoun lamented that “the people are robbed and are
being robbed on daily basis!”“Words must be said and action must be taken,” he
urged.
Bassil Says FPM Won't Accept 'Another Year without a Govt.'
Naharnet/September 05/2021
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has hoped that Lebanon will have a
new government soon. "Those who want to deprive us of a government must go to
elections," Bassil added, in a speech before FPM youths. "We will not accept to
be kept for another year without a government and we will not stand idly by,"
Bassil went on to say. The FPM chief also hit out at the Lebanese Forces in
connection with the fuel found stored by pro-LF businessman Ibrahim al-Sakr."We
want a policy that puts an end to smuggling and hoarding by people who have
always practiced extortion against their people on checkpoints while today they
are taking their gasoline, diesel and oil," Bassil added, referring to the LF's
checkpoints during the civil war.
MP Says Miqati's Resignation Not on the Table
Naharnet/September 05/2021
There are matters that are still unresolved and President Michel Aoun and
PM-designate Najib Miqati will need to hold further consultations to resolve
them, a member of Miqati’s parliamentary bloc said. “The PM-designate for his
part has shown utmost positiveness in order to overcome the difficulties, but
there are some pending details,” MP Ali Darwish told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news
portal in remarks published Sunday. “He wants to be the head of capable
government that would be responsible for serving the people’s issues,” the
legislator added. Noting that Miqati is seeking a “balanced government,” Darwish
said “the negotiations that are ongoing behind the scenes are aimed at finding
these balances.”“Resignation is not at the table at the moment, seeing as we are
before a huge crisis and efforts are underway to resolve it,” the MP added,
noting that “PM-designate Miqati would alone announce his resignation if we
reach a dead end.”
Syria 'Ready' to Help Lebanon with Gas, Electricity Transit
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
Syria has agreed to help crisis-hit Lebanon by letting gas and electricity
transit through its territory, an official said, during the first high-level
visit from Beirut to Damascus since Syria's civil war erupted.
Harsh fuel shortages and power cuts inflicted by Lebanon's economic collapse
have paralyzed businesses such as restaurants, shops and industry as well as
vital services like hospitals. Now Lebanon hopes to strike a deal to import gas
from Egypt and electricity from Jordan using Syrian infrastructure -- with
Washington's blessing despite U.S. sanctions against the Damascus regime. Syria
is "ready" to help Lebanon with "transit for Egyptian gas and Jordanian
electricity via Syrian territory," senior official Nasri Khouri told reporters,
after the delegation led by interim deputy prime minister Zeina Akar met Syrian
Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad and Oil Minister Bassam Tomeh."The parties
agreed to set up a joint team to track technical details" of the plan, added
Khouri, who is secretary-general of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council.
Lebanon's energy minister, Raymond Ghajar, said a meeting would be held next
week in Jordan with representatives from Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Cairo to
discuss technical and financial issues and to decide on a work plan and
timetable. Work will be needed to get Syria's war-ravaged infrastructure up to
the task of moving the energy. Meanwhile Lebanon's presidency has previously
spoken of U.S.-led talks with the World Bank to finance its imports.
U.S.-Iran rivalry
Lebanon has maintained diplomatic ties with Syria but it adopted a policy of
dissociation from the conflict since it started in 2011, putting a dampener on
official dealings. Lebanese security officials and politicians have made several
visits to Syria in recent years, but almost exclusively in a personal capacity
or on behalf of political parties that support President Bashar al-Assad's
government. They include representatives of the powerful Iran-backed Hizbullah
movement, which has been battling alongside Assad's forces in Syria since the
early stages of the war.
The visit comes after the Lebanese presidency last month said that Washington
has agreed to help Lebanon secure electricity and natural gas from Jordan and
Egypt through Syrian territory. This implies that the U.S. is willing to waive
Western sanctions which prohibit any official transactions with the Syrian
government and which have hampered previous attempts by Lebanon to source gas
from Egypt. That announcement followed Hizbullah's statement that Iran would
begin sending fuel to Lebanon, with shipping website Tanker Trackers saying
Friday that the first two ships had set off. Lebanon, a country of more than six
million people, is grappling with an economic crisis branded by the World Bank
as one of the planet's worst in modern times.The central bank is struggling to
afford basic imports, including fuel, which has caused shortages and prolonged
power cuts that now last as long as 22 hours per day.
6 Syrian refugees arrested in Lebanon at risk of
deportation
AP/September 06, 2021
The threat of deportation is particularly concerning given that violence has
recently resumed in the hometown of most of the arrested Syrians
BEIRUT: Lawyers of six Syrian refugees arrested in Lebanon said on Sunday that
the country’s security services have given them a 24-hour ultimatum — either
leave Lebanon to a third country or be deported to Syria, the war-ravaged
country they fled. Lawyer Mohammed Sablouh said the move is highly unusual, is a
violation of Lebanon’s international obligations and laws, and seriously
endangers the men’s lives. The authorities “know very well that since the (men)
were arrested outside the embassy, they are therefore wanted by the Syrian
regime, and there is a really high probability they would be tortured or in
grave danger,” Sablouh told The Associated Press. “This is a violation of the
anti-torture convention and Lebanese laws.”There was no immediate comment from
Lebanese security, and it is not immediately clear who is responsible for the
decision that came 10 days after the men’s arrest, and without a court ruling.
The threat of deportation is particularly concerning given that violence has
recently resumed in the hometown of most of the arrested Syrians. Five of the
men are from the southern province of Daraa, where clashes have recently erupted
between government and allied forces and opposition gunmen, wrecking a
three-year old Russian-negotiated truce. According to Lebanese law, the men
should be put on trial, and could be either sentenced to prison or sent home
after serving their sentences. Lebanon is home to over 1 million Syrian
refugees, who now make up more than a quarter of the population.
HIGHLIGHTS
In Spring of 2019, Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council, a government body in charge
of national security and headed by the president, decided to deport refugees who
entered Lebanon ‘illegally’ after April 2019 — a clear violation of
international laws. Amnesty International said since then and up until August of
the same year, nearly 2,500 Syrians were forcibly deported back to Syria. In
Spring of 2019, Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council, a government body in charge of
national security and headed by the president, decided to deport refugees who
entered Lebanon “illegally” after April 2019 — a clear violation of
international laws. Amnesty International said since then and up until August of
the same year, nearly 2,500 Syrians were forcibly deported back to Syria.
Higher Shiite Council Head Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan Dies
Naharnet/September 05/2021
Higher Islamic Shiite Council head Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan passed away
overnight Saturday. He was 85. A video showed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri
offering condolences overnight at the al-Zahraa hospital to Qabalan’s son,
Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan. Qabalan was born in 1936 in the southern town of Mays al-Jabal.
He returned to Lebanon in 1963 after finishing his religious study in Iraq’s
Najaf. He became the head of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council in 2017 after
serving for a long time as its deputy chief. Mourning the late cleric, President
Michel Aoun described him as “an advocate of accord, solidarity and unity, and a
struggler for coexistence.”Berri for his part said Qabalan continued the path of
Imam Moussa al-Sadr in “moderation, coexistence and resisting deprivation and
occupation.” Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah meanwhile said the late
spiritual leader was “a strong defender of the Palestinian cause” and “a strong
supporter of the resistance in Lebanon.”Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi for
his part reminded of Qabalan’s “good relation” with Bkirki and his defense of
“coexistence and unity.”Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, Lebanon’s top
Sunni Muslim cleric, also mourned Qabalan, describing him as “a man of stances”
and “an icon of the icons of Islamic unity in Lebanon.”Former premier Saad
Hariri said Qabalan was “characterized by kindness and frankness” and that he
“dedicated his life to serving Lebanon and its unity.”
Al-Rahi offers condolences over Qabalan’s passing: May
God compensate us with examples of the great Imam for the good of Lebanon
NNA/September 05/2021
Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Beshara Boutros al-Rahi, expressed today, on behalf
of the Maronite Chruch, his heartfelt condolences to the Supreme Islamic Shiite
Council on the passing of Imam Sheikh Abdul-Amir Qabalan, and to the family of
the deceased and the dear Shiite community. “As we join you in praying for his
soul to rest in peace, we recall his good relationship and affection towards the
patriarchal seat and the patriarch, and affirm that he was of spiritual and
national added value…May the Lord compensate us with the likes of him for the
good of Lebanon and the protection of the authenticity of coexistence, the
source of its unity, its message and the goodness of its living in the spirit of
human brotherhood,” al-Rahi underlined.
Council of Ministers declares national mourning on Sunday &
Monday, work to be suspended in public administrations on Tuesday
NNA/September 05/2021
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers issued a memorandum on Sunday,
declaring “national mourning for the death of the Head of the Supreme Islamic
Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdul-Amir Qabalan, today and Monday, September 5 & 6,
with the national flag set at half mast in all public administrations, public
institutions and municipalities, and regular programs on radio and television
stations modified to suit the sad occasion.”The memorandum also stated that work
will be suspended in all public administrations on the funeral day of the late
Sheikh Qabalan upcoming Tuesday, September 7.
Geagea warns against postponing parliamentary elections:
We reject the weak & submissive president, if you wish to change, alter your
manner of voting
NNA/September 05/2021
Lebanese Forces Party Chief, Samir Geagea, stressed Sunday that his party “will
not accept that our people burn in hell, and we will not accept that Lebanon
disappears or that its features change and that its people starve.”He added: “We
will not accept that our people be robbed of their sovereignty, dignity and
freedom. We, the Lebanese Forces, will resist as we have resisted, so that
Lebanon persists again and again and also this time, and he who lives sees!”
Referring to the current mandate, Geagea said it is “the era of total collapse,
run by a ruling group that has relinquished the authority and sovereignty of the
state, struck its institutions, and turned it into a rogue failed state, ruled
by corrupt, failed people.” “There is no salvation or progress with this ruling
clique, whose solid core is the duo of Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic
Movement,” he stressed. "The crisis today is caused by the kidnapping of the
Lebanese state and its institutions and taking it hostage for a non-Lebanese
interest, and this has led to Lebanon losing its friendships and Arab and
international relations," Geagea underlined. He added: “We must realize,
decisively, that it is impossible to overcome the present tragic situation
without the establishment of a state, and it is impossible to establish a state
before restoring its decision, and it is impossible to establish a state if it
does not possess the exclusive arms of its entire territory.”
Geagea continued to affirm that the law cannot be applied on one group of the
Lebanese alone, nor can smuggling be stopped without controlling all borders and
deploying international forces along these borders. “Hezbollah cannot continue
in this way of ignoring reality, and in belittling and showing contempt against
the legitimate and just demands of the people. Doesn’t Hezbollah know that it
bears the main part of the responsibility for the devastating economic and
financial crisis, after it caused the severing of Lebanon’s relations with its
Arab surroundings, and plunged it into conflicts and regional axes that are
useless and which Lebanon has nothing to do with?” questioned Geagea.
The LF Chief went on to state that “the national crisis that threatens the
Lebanese entity in its role and existence is the mother crisis from which all
crises branch out, and for which we must focus on finding solutions through an
easy and simple road map: first by holding the parliamentary elections that will
be the starting point and the first step in the journey of a thousand miles;
second by electing a new president immediately after the completion of the new
parliament council, a president that is not weak and submissive; third by
forming a government of actual reforms emanating from the new parliament, which
will immediately begin the process of the desired rescue.” Geagea also cited the
need for “holding a national dialogue under the auspices of the new president to
discuss all issues and controversial files, especially those related to the
sovereignty, authority and decision of the state, and agree on how to execute
what has not been implemented of the Taif Accord, particularly with regards to
arms and expanded decentralization.”He reiterated, once again, that the success
of all the above depends on the success of the first and main step, namely
holding the parliamentary elections on time, urging the Lebanese people who aim
for change to alter their manner of voting in order to bring by the wanted
change. Geagea’s words came during the annual Mass service held as a tribute to
the souls of the martyrs of the Lebanese Resistance in Maarab, under the slogan
"Continuous Resistance", patronized by Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Bechara
Boutros al-Rahi, represented by Archbishop Hanna Rahmeh, and attended by members
of the "Strong Republic" parliamentary bloc and various prominent figures.
Resigning from parliament an option if government is not
formed,” says Hobeich
NNA/September 05/2021
Future Parliamentary Bloc Member, MP Hadi Hbeish, believed that "the third veto
power is the only obstacle in the process of forming the government," noting
that "there are options in case the cabinet is not formed, including resignation
from Parliament.”"The country is heading towards major collapse at the end of
September on all fronts," he regretfully cautioned in an interview with Al-Jadeed
TV. Over the gas import issue, the MP indicated that “America has permitted
Lebanon to import gas and electricity through Syria,” adding, “We accept help
from any country except Israel." On another note, Hobeich considered that if
resuming relations with Syria would lead to a problem with the Arab League, then
that step is rejected. “When Syria returns to the League of Arab States, then
dealing with it will be from one state to another," he said. However, he
reiterated that "we have no problem if the visit of the Lebanese delegation to
Syria will bring electricity to Lebanon."
Army receives medical supplies donated by Jordan
NNA/September 05/2021
Lebanese Army Command - Orientation Directorate issued a statement on Sunday, in
which it indicated that the "Lebanese army received at Rafic Hariri
International Airport about 5.5 tons of medical supplies donated by the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the army, in the presence of the Jordanian
ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al-Hadid, and the representative of the Army Chief,
General Joseph Aoun."
Al-Assad receives Lebanese delegation: Syria will remain
besides the Lebanese people
Arslan: Syria's steadfastness paved the way for this great transformation in the
international scene
NNA/September 05/2021
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Sunday a Lebanese delegation, headed
by Lebanese Democratic Party Chie, MP Talal Arslan, including religious clerics
and prominent dignitaries from the Unitarian Druze Sect, partisans and Lebanese
economic and social figures. In his welcoming word before the delegation,
al-Assad said "the relations between the two countries should not be affected by
changes and transitory circumstances, but rather efforts must be exerted to
strengthen them," stressing that “Syria will remain with the Lebanese people and
support them at various levels." “Leaders who have the correct and clear vision
are the ones who can, through the mutual relationship with the people, lead them
to the right goal and stability and to protect them from the pitfalls
confronting them at different times, in light of the attempts to dismantle the
social and national structures in the region,” he said. “The battle that leaders
must fight is the battle to protect the minds against what is targeting them,
which is the abolition and abandonment of identities,” al-Assad underlined. In
turn, Arslan considered in his word that “the legendary steadfastness of Syria
paved the way for this great transformation in the international scene, which
has not yet been completed…” “This is the lesson that generations, our
generations, from the depths of our east and our orient, must memorize, as well
as the generations of the free world who stand by our side in this aggressive
war being waged against us,” he added. “In light of this, we are no longer
tempted by the discourse of Western governments, with democracy, human rights,
and the great lies labeled as war on terrorism….” he affirmed. Arslan continued
to assert that members of the Unitarian community, the sons of Syria, Lebanon
and Palestine, have only one project, “which is the project of patriotism and
civilized Arabism,” adding that “their destiny and historical role is to be
elements of stability, openness and modernity,” noting that “they are known for
their love and appreciation for brave and heroic men.”
He also emphasized the importance of “resuming the normal Lebanese-Syrian
relations, as the two countries together constitute an economic integration that
has become an urgent necessity for both countries.”
“What happened yesterday in terms of Syria's gracious agreement to allow the
passage of Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity through Syrian territory to
Lebanon confirms that the return of these relations is inevitable, especially
with the presence of many files that require permanent and continuous
coordination,” confirmed Arslan, citing the Syrian displaced dossier as being at
the forefront of said files and noting that the main objective of leaving it
hanging is due to foreign agendas.
He explained that the initiative was previously taken to coordinate with the
Syrian state to start resolving this file, which was fully supported by the
Syrian President, but unfortunately, despite the approval of the return plan by
the Lebanese Cabinet, the government was unable to proceed with implementation
since the will of the international community prevented it.”
The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on
September 05-06/2021
Israel President Meets Jordanian King to Cultivate
Ties
Associated Press/September 05/2021
Israel's president met with the Jordanian king this past week, in a new sign of
improved relations between the two countries, the president's office said.
At the king's invitation, new President Isaac Herzog met King Abdullah II at his
palace in the Jordanian capital, Amman, Herzog's office said in a statement. The
two discussed a series of political and economic issues including energy and
sustainability.
"Jordan is a very important country. I have immense respect for King Abdullah, a
great leader, and a highly significant regional actor," Herzog was quoted as
saying following the meeting. Last week's meeting came less than two months
after Abdullah II and the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, met in secret
following years of fraught relations under former Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. In the week following, Jordan and Israel signed two breakthrough
water and trade deals. In his statement, Herzog spoke of improving regional
relations and the success of the so-called Abraham Accords in which Israel last
year normalized diplomatic ties with Bahrain, Morrocco, Sudan and the United
Arab Emirates. On Thursday, King Abdullah II along with the president of the
Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas attended a trilateral summit held by
Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The leaders discussed the elusive
two-state solution to the conflict with Israel, vowing their commitment for
Palestinians to have a right to an independent state. Israel and Jordan made
peace in 1994 and have close security ties. However, diplomatic relations have
been strained in recent years over tensions at the Al-Aqsa compound in
Jerusalem, and Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West
Bank.
Population of Israel 9.39 million, 6.94 million Jews
Arutz Sheva/September 05/2021
Population is expected to reach 10 million at the end of 2024, 15 million at the
end of 2048 and 20 million at the end of 2065.
Ahead of Rosh Hashanah 5782, the Central Bureau of Statistics has published
selected data on the population of Israel.
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the population of Israel is estimated at 9.391
million. The population is expected to reach 10 million at the end of 2024, 15
million at the end of 2048 and 20 million at the end of 2065. In Israel, there
are approximately 6.943 million Jewish residents (74% of the total population),
approximately 1.982 million Arab residents (21%) and approximately 466,000 other
residents (5%).The population of Israel increased by about 146,000 people. The
population growth rate was 1.6%. About 172,000 babies were born in Israel. About
48,000 people died in total, of which about 5,800 died from COVID-19 (in the
11.5 months since Rosh Hashanah last year). About 22,000 people were added to
the population in the migration balance, of whom about 20,000 were new
immigrants.
Taliban Battle for Panjshir as U.S. Warns of Afghanistan
Civil War
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
Taliban fighters advanced deep into the last holdout province of Panjshir
Sunday, as the top U.S. general warned Afghanistan faces a wider civil war that
would offer fertile ground for a resurgence of terrorism.Following their
lightning fast rout of Afghanistan's army last month -- and celebrations when
the last U.S. troops flew out after 20 years of war on Monday -- the Taliban are
seeking to crush resistance forces defending the mountainous Panjshir Valley.
The Taliban, who rolled into Kabul three weeks ago at a speed that analysts say
likely surprised even the hardline Islamists themselves, are yet to finalize
their new regime. But U.S. General Mark Milley questioned whether they can
consolidate power as they seek to shift from a guerrilla force to government. "I
think there's at least a very good probability of a broader civil war," said
Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a bleak assessment. "That will
then in turn lead to conditions that could, in fact, lead to a reconstitution of
al-Qaida or a growth of ISIS (Islamic State group)," he told Fox News Saturday.
Afghanistan's new rulers have pledged to be more accommodating than during their
first stint in power, which also came after years of conflict -- first the
Soviet invasion of 1979, and then a bloody civil war. They have promised a more
"inclusive" government that represents Afghanistan's complex ethnic makeup --
though women are unlikely to be included at the top levels. But few in Panjshir,
a rugged valley north of Kabul which held out for nearly a decade against the
Soviet Union's occupation and also the Taliban's first rule from 1996-2001, seem
to trust their promises.
'Humanitarian crisis'
Taliban official Bilal Karimi on Sunday reported heavy clashes in Panjshir, and
while resistance fighters insist they have the Islamists at bay, analysts warned
they are struggling. The Italian aid agency Emergency said Taliban forces had
reached the Panjshir village of Anabah, where they run a surgical center.
"Many people have fled from local villages in recent days," Emergency said in a
statement Saturday, adding it was continuing to provide medical services and
treating a "small number of wounded." Anabah lies some 25 kilometers (15 miles)
north inside the 115-kilometre-long valley, but unconfirmed reports suggested
the Taliban had seized other areas too. Bill Roggio, managing editor of the
U.S.-based Long War Journal, said Sunday that while there was still a "fog of
war" -- with unconfirmed reports the Taliban had captured multiple districts --
"it looks bad".
Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy losses on the other.
"The Taliban army has been hardened with 20 years of war, and make no mistake,
the Taliban trained an army," Roggio tweeted Sunday, adding that "the odds were
long" for the Panjshir resistance. "The Taliban army was injected with a massive
amount of weapons and munitions after the US withdrawal and collapse of the ANA"
(Afghan National Army), he added. Former vice-president Amrullah Saleh, who is
holed out in Panjshir alongside Ahmad Massoud -- the son of legendary
anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud -- warned of a grim situation. Saleh
in a statement spoke of a "large-scale humanitarian crisis", with thousands
"displaced by the Taliban onslaught". The Panjshir Valley, surrounded by jagged
snow-capped peaks, offers a natural defensive advantage, with fighters melting
away in the face of advancing forces, then launching ambushes firing from the
high tops down into the valley.
Looming uncertainty
The United States invaded Afghanistan and toppled the first Taliban regime in
2001 in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qaeda, which had taken sanctuary in
the country. Western governments now fear Afghanistan could again become a haven
for extremists bent on attacking them. Washington has said it will maintain an
"over-the-horizon" capability to strike against any threats to its security in
Afghanistan. The international community is coming to terms with having to deal
with the new Taliban regime with a flurry of diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State
Antony Blinken is due Monday in Qatar, a key player in the Afghan saga and the
location of the Taliban's political office, though he is not expected to meet
with the militants. He will then travel to Germany to lead a virtual 20-nation
ministerial meeting on Afghanistan alongside German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also set to convene a
high-level meeting on Afghanistan in Geneva on September 13, to focus on
humanitarian assistance for the country.
Turkey says it ‘neutralized’ 18,500 militants over 6
years
AP/September 06, 2021
ISTANBUL: Turkey has “neutralized” nearly 18,500 people that it calls
“terrorists” over the past six years, the Defense Ministry said Sunday. Since
the start of this year, that figure was 1,865, spokesperson Maj. Pinar Kara told
journalists in Ankara. The ministry uses the term to describe killed, wounded or
captured combatants. The vast majority of the 18,455 neutralized since July 2015
are thought to be members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has
waged war on Turkey since 1984. A 2.5-year cease-fire with the PKK – listed as a
terrorist organization by the US and the European Union – broke down in
2015.Turkey targeted the Daesh group after launching its first operation in
northern Syria in 2016 but has since largely focused on the PKK and its
affiliates in Turkey, Syria and Iraq.Although the total figure of 40,000 deaths
is often cited for the 37-year conflict with the PKK, the International Crisis
Group says “the precise figure for the overall casualty toll of the conflict is
impossible to confirm.”
FASTFACT
Turkey’s military conducted 22 operations against suspected insurgents inside
Turkey and abroad over the past month. Turkey’s military conducted 22 operations
against suspected insurgents inside Turkey and abroad over the past month, Kara
said. Since April, it has been carrying out ground and air operations against
the PKK in northern Iraq. These resulted in 244 militants being “neutralized,”
she added. Turning to the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Kara said the Turkish
Armed Forces evacuated 1,129 Turkish civilians between Aug. 25 and Aug. 27 and
assisted citizens of other countries. She also said that 23,931 military
personnel had been dismissed since a coup attempt in July 2016 that saw elements
of the military try to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.
IS Attack Kills 13 Iraqi Policemen
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
Thirteen policemen were killed in an attack by the Islamic State group against a
checkpoint near Kirkuk in northern Iraq early Sunday, medical and security
sources said.
The attack, to the south of the city, took place just after midnight, a senior
Iraqi police officer told AFP. Jihadist cells regularly target the Iraqi army
and police in the area, but this attack was one of the IS group's most deadly
this year.
Bus Crash on Egypt Highway Kills 12 near Suez
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
Twelve people were killed on an Egyptian highway early Sunday when their bus
overturned on their return from the popular Red Sea resort Sharm El-Sheikh,
medical and security sources said. Thirty-four other passengers were injured and
transported to the port town of Suez for treatment, the medical source added. No
specific cause for the accident about 110 kilometers (70 miles) east of the
capital Cairo was immediately given by authorities. Deadly road accidents due to
driver error and dilapidated infrastructure are common in Egypt. Some 7,000
people were killed last year in road accidents, according to official figures.
Algeria Places Tunisia's Karoui in Pre-Trial Detention
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
The runner-up in Tunisia's 2019 presidential election, Nabil Karoui, has been
placed in pre-trial detention in neighboring Algeria, accused of "entering the
country illegally", local media reported Sunday.
Karoui and his brother Ghazi, an MP, had faced a hearing before a magistrate in
the northeastern city of Constantine, the Ennahar newspaper wrote citing
"judicial sources". Constantine prosecutors could not immediately be reached for
comment.
In July, Karoui's former opponent, President Kais Saied had suspended parliament
and granted himself sweeping powers, hitting judges, MPs and businessmen with
arrests and travel bans in a supposed anti-corruption purge. Karoui was arrested
in late August by Algerian border police, with Tunisia releasing a warrant for
his arrest the day after. Algeria and Tunisia are bound by an agreement
stipulating the extradition by either country "of any person prosecuted or
convicted" in the other.
Any extradition request must be "accompanied by an official document from the
authorities". Karoui founded the private Tunisian channel Nessma TV, which is
partly owned by Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. He has been
under investigation since 2017 in a money laundering and tax evasion case. He
was arrested in 2019 and spent more than a month in prison at the height of the
presidential election campaign. He was freed but rearrested last December and
spent six months in pre-trial detention before being let out again in June.
Karoui came second in the 2019 election to Saied, a retired law professor and
political newcomer, as the electorate rejected the political class that had
ruled since the 2011 revolution.
Protests as Montenegro's New Orthodox Head Inaugurated
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
The new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro was inaugurated on
Sunday, arriving by helicopter under the protection of police who dispersed
protesters with tear gas. The decision to anoint Bishop Joanikije as the new
Metropolitan of Montenegro at the historic monastery of Cetinje has aggravated
ethnic tension in the tiny Balkan state. Protesters had blocked roads since
Saturday in a bid to prevent access to the small town, both the headquarters of
the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and a symbol of sovereignty for some
Montenegrins. Montenegro broke away from Serbia in 2006, but a third of its
620,000 inhabitants identify as Serbs and some deny Montenegro should be a
separate entity. The SPC is the dominant religion in the small state but its
opponents accuse it of serving Belgrade's interests. And the government that
assumed power at the end of 2020 is accused by its opponents of being too close
to the church. According to images released by the SPC, Joanikije and Patriarch
Porfirije were dropped off by helicopter on the monastery's lawn and rushed in
under the sound of bells.
- 'Defending our dignity -
A security perimeter had been set up by police around the 15th century building
to protect the brief enthronement ceremony. Police fired tear gas and used sonic
cannons to clear the protesters from the monastery. More than 20 people were
wounded and eight were arrested as a result of the unrest. During the ceremony,
Joanikije vowed to "serve the brotherly reconciliation" of Montenegro saying
that "the divisions have been provoked artificially". On Saturday, thousands of
protesters used cars or piled up rocks to block roads, with many spending the
night huddled around fires to keep warm, an AFP correspondent said. "I am here
to show my love for the country," said one protester, Saska Brajovic, 50. "We
are not asking for anything from anyone else, but we are dismissed by the
occupying Serbian Church. We are here defending our dignity." The protesters are
backed by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) of President Milo Djukanovic.
The president accused neighboring Serbia and the SPC of "dismissing Montenegro
and Montenegrins, as well as the integrity" of his country. Djukanovic had been
eager to curb the SPC's clout in Montenegro and build up an independent Orthodox
church.
- 'Benefits and privileges' -
But in August 2020 elections the DPS lost -- for the first time in three decades
-- to an opposition bloc led by SPC allies. Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic,
who is close to the Serbian Orthodox Church, has accused Djukanovic of having
deliberately stoked the recent tensions for political purposes.
Krivokapic called on Montenegrins "not to give in to the manipulation" of those
willing to risk conflict "in order to keep their benefits and privileges." The
monastery, where Montenegrin leaders sat for centuries until the end of World
War I, is considered by SPC opponents the property of the Montenegrin Orthodox
Church, which remains a small minority and is not recognized by the Orthodox
world. Metropolitan Joanikije was named to his new post in May, after the
death of his predecessor Metropolitan Amfilohije from Covid-19. The US embassy
called for calm, writing on its Facebook page: "To everyone who supports a
multiethnic, inclusive, and democratic Montenegro –- we appeal to you to calm
the current tensions."
Prince Charles' Charity Boss Probed over Saudi Reports
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
A former aide to Prince Charles has temporarily stepped down from his role
heading a charity founded by the British heir after newspaper revelations about
his links to a Saudi businessman. The Prince's Foundation said chief executive
Michael Fawcett had agreed to suspend his duties pending an internal
investigation into the allegations by The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday.
Fawcett, a former valet to Charles who is said to remain close to Queen
Elizabeth II's heir, is alleged to have coordinated work to grant a royal honor
and even UK citizenship for Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz. The Saudi
businessman had donated large sums to restoration projects of particular
interest to the Prince of Wales. Mahfouz reportedly denies any wrongdoing.
Charles' foundation, which helps jobless people get back into work and start
small businesses, said it took the newspaper reports "very seriously". "Michael
fully supports the ongoing investigation and has confirmed that he will assist
the investigation in every way," it said. As a trusted valet, Fawcett would
squeeze Charles' toothpaste onto his brush and help to dress him, according to
reports. "I can manage without just about anyone except Michael," the prince was
said to have once commented. In 2003, Fawcett was cleared of allegations of
financial misconduct over the sale of unwanted royal gifts. He was appointed as
head of the foundation in 2018 following a reorganization of Charles' charities.
Gunfire in Guinea Capital, Troops on Streets
Agence France Presse/September 05/2021
Gunfire was heard in the center of the Guinean capital Conkary on Sunday morning
and troops were seen on the streets, witnesses told AFP. There was no immediate
explanation for the incidents in Conakry's Kaloum peninsula, where the
presidency, various institutions and offices are located. Authorities in the
West African nation were not commenting on the situation. Residents reached by
telephone in Kaloum reported hearing sustained gunfire. Speaking on condition of
anonymity for their safety, they reported seeing a number of soldiers on the
streets who called on residents to return to their homes and stay there.
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials published on
September 05-06/2021
Time is running out to stop Iran’s
bomb
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh/Arab News/September 06/2021
The nuclear negotiations between the Iranian regime and the P5+1 world powers
(the UK, France, Russia, China, the US and Germany) in Vienna have stalled after
six rounds of talks and the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
nuclear deal has become increasingly unlikely.
During the last US administration, the Islamic Republic’s strategy was to place
the blame entirely on former President Donald Trump for pulling his country out
of the nuclear deal. The regime then began violating the terms of the agreement
by enriching uranium at a higher level and spinning more centrifuges. In June
2020, the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, pointed
out that the Iranian government was violating all the restrictions of the
nuclear deal.
In spite of the fact Iran should no longer have been considered a party to the
nuclear deal because it was breaching all its terms, Tehran still claimed that
it should enjoy its benefits, such as the lifting of the arms embargo. And, in
August last year, the UN Security Council voted to permit the 13-year-old arms
embargo on the Iranian regime to expire. The UN also decided against reimposing
the four rounds of sanctions against Iran that were lifted when the nuclear deal
came into effect in 2015.
The Iranian authorities appeared to have persuaded the world powers that it was
in favor of the JCPOA and would immediately rejoin the deal once the US does. In
January this year, the Biden administration assumed office and announced that it
was willing to return to the nuclear deal and lift the unilateral US sanctions
against the Islamic Republic.
But, since then, it is the Iranian regime that has been creating hurdles to
prevent the resurrection of the nuclear agreement. In a bid to revive the pact,
the Biden administration even began appeasing the Iranian regime through various
acts and policies. The first change came when the White House switched the Trump
administration’s policy of maximum pressure to one of appeasement toward Iran’s
proxy militia group in Yemen, the Houthis. Even though the evidence — including
a report by the UN — showed that the Iranian regime was delivering sophisticated
weapons to the Houthis, the Biden administration suspended some of the terrorism
sanctions that the Trump White House had imposed on the militia.
The Iranian regime has been creating hurdles to prevent the resurrection of the
nuclear agreement.
Soon after, the Biden administration revoked the designation of the Houthis as a
terrorist group. In June, it also lifted sanctions on three former Iranian
officials and several energy companies. And, in a blow to the Iranian people and
advocates of democracy and human rights, a few days after the Iranian regime
hand-picked a mass murderer to be its next president, the Biden administration
announced that it was considering lifting sanctions against Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei.
However, despite all these incentives and appeasement policies, Tehran continues
to make excuses for not rejoining the nuclear deal. One of the regime’s latest
excuses — made in the final days of Hassan Rouhani’s presidency — was that the
world powers ought to wait until Ebrahim Raisi took office in order to resume
nuclear talks. However, Raisi has now been president of Iran for a month and
there have been no efforts from the Islamic Republic to restart the nuclear
talks. Meanwhile, the regime has accelerated its enrichment of uranium to close
to weapons grade. All that is coming out of Tehran is words rather than
actions.This has caused concern among Western leaders and has led the EU and the
US to pressure Tehran to immediately return to the talks in Vienna. “We
vehemently ask Iran to return to the negotiating table constructively and as
soon as possible. We are ready to do so, but the time window won’t be open
indefinitely,” a German spokesperson said last week. After stating that it would
resume talks when Raisi assumed office, the Iranian leaders are now saying they
will not return for another two to three months. During an interview broadcast
by Iranian state television last week, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
said: “The government considers a real negotiation is a negotiation that
produces palpable results allowing the rights of the Iranian nation to be
guaranteed.” He added that the nuclear talks are “one of the questions on the
foreign policy and government agenda. The other party knows full well that a
process of two to three months is required for the new government to establish
itself and to start taking decisions.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime is reportedly only eight to 10 weeks away from
obtaining the materials necessary to build a nuclear weapon.
The regime has offered excuse after excuse in order to avoid resuming the
nuclear talks or rejoining the nuclear deal. All the while, it has accelerated
its uranium enrichment. It is incumbent on the international community to act
before it is too late.
*Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist.
Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh
For now, oil market’s short-term outlook is positive
Dr. Namat Abu Al-Soof/Arab News/September 06/2021
Last week, oil prices stayed neutral against the backdrop of the OPEC+
production policy announcement, and the ambiguous US statistics on crude
inventories and its local output. The 20th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting
agreed to adhere to pre-approved plans to increase production by 0.4 million
barrels per day, despite the August surge in coronavirus disease cases in Asia.
The decision was expected, and did not lead to a significant impact on oil
prices; few expected the alliance would slow the increase in production, and
they had reasons to believe that, given the ongoing pandemic and a slowdown in
the Chinese economy.Indeed, the decision taken by the group appears very
balanced. There are too many factors in the market that impact prices, from the
short-term effects of Hurricane Ida in the US to the long-term deterioration of
the COVID-19 situation in many major economies, which threatens the path of the
oil demand recovery globally. The calm nature of the meeting suggests that while
some OPEC+ members are concerned about the prospects of demand in Asia and the
US, they are not yet ready to discuss whether to suspend production increases.
However, such a decision will certainly depend on the overall market dynamics
and, more importantly, on the number of COVID-19 cases and economic data from
key markets.
On the other hand, statistics from the US Energy Information Administration,
published on Sept. 1, created a mixed impression. Even though on Thursday, Aug.
26, there were reports of evacuations of personnel from offshore platforms in
the Gulf of Mexico, the weekly level of production increased to 11.5 million
bpd. Apparently, the increase in American production is significantly ahead of
forecasts. At the same time, oil inventories fell by 7.2 million barrels against
the expected decrease of 3.1 million, considering the growth in production and a
slight decrease in net imports, it can be assumed that the fall is due to high
demand. Indeed, the total supply of petroleum products rose to 22.8 million bpd.
The average for four weeks increased to 21.4 million bpd — the maximum since
September 2019.
Oil prices remain higher over the week, with Brent trading above $72.5 a barrel
and WTI above $69.25 a barrel, driven by bullish US inventory and demand data, a
weaker US dollar and the effects of Ida on production in the Gulf of Mexico.
Thus, EIA statistics show strong demand, but supply is also beginning to
accelerate. At the same time, the dynamics in the next four months may be
multidirectional. The high driving season is coming to an end, which may soften
the demand for fuel, but production forecasts indicate growth. This can
contribute to the widening of the spread between Brent crude and West Texas
Intermediate.
At the same time, the climate situation in the Gulf of Mexico may act as an
important factor. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is
predicting an active hurricane season, which could limit the Gulf’s production.
That accounts for about 17 percent of all US oil production; if the forecasts
are correct, the deficit in the US market will only worsen, and spur price
growth to July highs.
For now, the short-term outlook for the market is positive. Brent is widely
expected to be traded in the range of $70-$75 per barrel in anticipation of new
drivers. Oil prices remain higher over the week, with Brent trading above $72.5
a barrel and WTI above $69.25 a barrel, driven by bullish US inventory and
demand data, a weaker US dollar and the effects of Ida on production in the Gulf
of Mexico. Moving forward, the focus will be returned to the uncertain demand
outlook caused by the rapid spreading of the delta coronavirus variant,
particularly in key markets.
• Dr. Namat Al-Soof is an Iraqi oil expert with long experience in upstream and
market analysis. He held senior analyst positions at OPEC, IEF in Riyadh, and
OPEC FUND for International Development. Currently, he is a consultant to a
number of companies in the oil industry.
A historical scandal that threatens Erdogan’s AKP
Yasar Yakis/Arab News/September 05, 2021
Erdogan Bayraktar, a former Turkish environment and urban planning minister,
last week disclosed new details about an issue that had looked closed for years.
His name was mentioned in a bribery scandal that broke out on Dec. 17, 2013. A
judiciary procedure was initiated against four Cabinet ministers and the
transcripts of their wiretapped conversations were leaked on social media. The
ministers were accused of receiving bribes from a rogue Turkish-Iranian
operator, Reza Zarrab, to launder about $20 billion owed by Turkey to Iran for
the purchase of oil. Ostensibly, the money-laundering was aimed at avoiding US
sanctions on Iran.
Zarrab was arrested in the US in 2016 and eventually decided to cooperate with
the judiciary. He thus disclosed every detail of the scandal and confessed that
he paid about $160 million to then-Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan to facilitate
the money-laundering operations.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was prime minister at the time, dismissed almost half
of the Cabinet, but Bayraktar pre-empted his dismissal and announced his
resignation, stating that all wrongdoings attributed to him were committed under
Erdogan’s instructions and that the prime minister should resign as well.
Using all his means, Erdogan blocked the legal action against the accused
ministers, purging, dismissing or punishing the public prosecutors and judges
who were implicated one way or another in this court case.
In his statement last week, Bayraktar voiced his disillusionment over Erdogan’s
attitude by saying that the now-president did not make any distinction between
him and the other three ministers who were accused of receiving large bribes.
“He put me in the same sack with the other thieves,” he said.
Such a disclosure could change several paradigms in a country governed by the
rule of law. Some analysts see Bayraktar’s disclosures as a sign of dissent in
the ranks of Turkey’s ruling party
Bayraktar said all accusations contained in his injunction were true, “from A to
Z.” Despite this, he claimed that, unlike the three other bribed ministers, his
case was special because his conduct amounted to “misuse of public duty” rather
than bribery.
Bayraktar’s disclosures opened a new debate. A minister has openly accused his
three colleagues of bribery. The offense had already been confessed to by the
main culprit, Zarrab, as well as Mehmet Hakan Atilla — the deputy
director-general of the Turkish state-owned Halkbank, which was implicated in
the money-laundering scandal — who has been jailed in the US. So there was
nothing new from this standpoint. Bayraktar must have waited so long to make
this statement because the law governing such offenses has a time limit of seven
years, so he is now free from prosecution. At the beginning of Zarrab’s bribery
operation, the Turkish authorities made a misjudgment by considering that the US
sanctions were a problem between the US and Iran. So they turned a deaf ear to
the warnings of the American banking experts. They even made minor adjustments
to the gold trading regulations to facilitate the export of gold to Iran.
Bayraktar’s disclosures also shed new light on the Turkish government’s claims
that the wiretaps and their transcripts were fake. Since he reconfirms that
everything contained in the injunction about him is true, the accusations about
the three other ministers must also be true.
At the time, the opposition parties regarded this affair as a conflict that
would weaken both Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party and the Turkish
cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US because he was
regarded as the mastermind exposing all this dirty linen. As a result, the
opposition parties preferred to watch the conflict unfold without initiating any
parliamentary or legal action.
Another missed opportunity for Turkey was to use this $20 billion for legitimate
trade with Iran. In the US sanctions on Tehran, there were exemptions that would
have allowed this money to be used for humanitarian purposes, such as to buy
food or medicines. Turkey could have used this window of opportunity to sell to
Iran items that fell within the scope of these humanitarian exemptions.
Some analysts see Bayraktar’s disclosures as a sign of dissension in the ranks
of Turkey’s ruling party. They believe there is a widespread malaise in the
party and that the number of dissenters may increase as such wrongdoings
proliferate.
There is a media ban in Turkey on news about the 2013 disclosures, which is
still in force, so it is not easy to fathom the exact size of the malaise. But
Erdogan is a skillful politician. He will use all means to stop the pressure
from getting out of control, and he will either ignore the problems or find a
way to negotiate them.
• Yasar Yakis is a former foreign minister of Turkey and founding member of the
ruling AK Party. Twitter: @yakis_yasar
Boosting Muslim-Jewish relations at Rosh Hashana
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie /Arab News/September 06/2021
The holiday of Rosh Hashana is a time for introspection. It is an important time
to reflect on the achievements in Muslim-Jewish dialogue and the opportunities
to further strengthen our bonds for the coming year. There is much that unites
us, including our shared values and traditions. Muslims and Jews working hand in
hand is what will ultimately lead to the success of our region. As we usher in
the Jewish new year on Monday evening, we must commit ourselves to furthering
our relationship and dialogue.
The great Mahatma Gandhi once noted: “If we are to respect others’ religions as
we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world’s religions is
a sacred duty.” As religious leaders, our responsibility is to find a path
toward peaceful coexistence between all religions and all people, especially the
world’s three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Over the past year, we have seen many achievements in this area. In Dubai, a
group of dynamic young Emiratis arranged a joint iftar-Lag B’Omer celebration
and invited Muslims and Jews to celebrate the holidays together. Our
organization has arranged Shabbat meals in both Bahrain and Dubai, bringing
together diplomats, Emiratis and Bahrainis — both Muslim and Jewish — to break
bread and talk about our commonalities. Friday is a special day for both
religions and we celebrate together.
Just a couple of weeks ago, a bar mitzvah was held in Bahrain for the first time
in 16 years. In attendance were Muslims and Jews.
A few months back, Muslim and Jewish ambassadors participated in a joint panel
discussion about the role of interfaith relations and how they are propelling
the region forward. Abdulla Rashed Al-Khalifa, Bahrain’s ambassador to the US;
Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to the US; Houda Nonoo, former Bahraini
ambassador to the US; and Marc Sievers, former US ambassador to Oman, all spoke
about why interfaith dialogue is critical for the region.
For 1,400 years, Judaism and Islam were inextricably linked in the Arabian
Peninsula, the Middle East and in medieval Spain. Each had a common ancestry,
similar values and holy scriptures. We are enjoined by our faiths to find a path
toward peaceful coexistence between all religions and all people. Therefore, in
order to establish a channel of communication and cooperation between Jews and
Muslims, between Judaism and Islam, the following steps are necessary.
We are enjoined by our faiths to find a path toward peaceful coexistence between
all religions and all people
First, we must lead by example and communicate to our own congregations that
peace is a basic human right. We must stand together should any of our
communities suffer harassment or attacks. And we must overcome some of the
misrepresentation, demonization, stereotyping, prejudice and lack of awareness
in the world through an ongoing educational process that teaches peace and
respect for each religion.
Second, as each of us takes enormous pride in our own religion’s history,
culture and tradition, so too must we pride ourselves on our level of
understanding and tolerance of each other’s religion. Just as we encourage our
own people’s pride in our own religions, we must castigate those who show
intolerance and ignorance of other religions and cultures.
Third, it is our responsibility to guide our people toward looking for the
inestimable value of peace, and not in the “importance” of religious conflict.
Yes, the world is made up of different races, colors, ethnicities, religions,
and political ideologies. However, the seeds of peace begin to grow when people
of all faiths and backgrounds are encouraged to communicate, tolerate, accept,
respect, and ultimately trust one another.
As the Jewish new year approaches, let us reflect on the wise words included in
the UN manifesto on the Culture of Peace, which states: “We must learn to use
one another’s religious belief as ways to connect — not as reasons for
conflict.” May these words serve as a guiding light for everybody in this region
for the coming year. Judaism and Islam are forever bound together as sister
religions. We are intertwined in our faith, liturgy, history and culture. It
behooves us to maintain an open dialogue and cherish our similarities and our
differences with respect, acceptance, coexistence and love for each other. We
owe it to our communities, to our people and to our common father Abraham.
• Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie is the rabbi of the Association of Gulf Jewish
Communities and the senior rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates.