LCCC ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
September 07/17
Compiled &
Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
The Bulletin's Link on the
lccc Site
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/newselias/english.september07.17.htm
News Bulletin Achieves Since 2006
Bible Quotations For
Today
Whoever is faithful in a very little is
faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest
also in much.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 16/09-12/:"I tell you, make
friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone,
they may welcome you into the eternal homes. ‘Whoever is faithful in a very
little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is
dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest
wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been
faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?"
He is the true God and eternal life. Little
children, keep yourselves from idols
First Letter of John 05/13-21/:"I write these things to
you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you
have eternal life. And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask
anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in
whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. If you
see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask,
and God will give life to such a one to those whose sin is not mortal. There is
sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing
is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal. We know that those who are born of
God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one
does not touch them. We know that we are God’s children, and that the whole
world lies under the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has
come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we
are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal
life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols."”
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources
published on September 06-07/17
IDF drill and new Hizballah tactics at Deir ez-Zour/DEBKAfile
Exclusive Analysis September 6, 2017
Hezbollah Reacts To IDF Drill: We Are Ready For Any Act Of Israeli
Stupidity/Jerusalem Post/September 06/17
The Forgotten Palestinians/Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/September 06/17
Lessons for the West: Imprisoned for One's Faith/Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone
Institute/September 06/17
Syria: Elections Gambit to Get Russia Off the Hook/Amir Taheri/Gatestone
Institute/September 06/17
On the demise of intellectualism and ‘end of the preacher’/Fahad Suleiman
Shoqiran/Al Arabiya/September 06/17
Amr Khaled and the stardom of preaching/Mashari Althaydi/Al Arabiya/September
06/17
Titles For Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
September 06-07/17
Israel PM praises 'best ever' ties with Arab world
Aoun, C. Africa President Agree to Boost Bilateral Cooperation
Riachi Says Elections on Time, Warns against 'Destroying Govt.'
Families of Slain Soldiers Reject Mashnouq's Presence at Funeral
Hizbullah Hails Syrian Breach of IS Siege
Berri Says Failure to Hold By-elections Violates Constitution
Kaag Expresses Condolences over Death of Lebanese Troops
Maronite Bishops Decry 'Political Accusations' over Executed Troops
Hariri Calls for UN, Security Council Intervention to End Myanmar's Rohingya
Suffering
Berri: Parliament to Address Tax Law after Constitutional Council's Decision,
By-Elections May Rest in Peace
Jreissati Says Arsal File in Judiciary's Hands, Rules Out Politicization
IDF drill and new Hizballah tactics at Deir ez-Zour
17Lebanon identifies bodies of soldiers killed while in Islamic State hands
Hezbollah Reacts To IDF Drill: We Are Ready For Any Act Of Israeli Stupidity
Israeli Maneuvers Simulate War against Hezbollah
Titles For Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News
published on September 06-07/17
Iran, Vatican City discuss plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar
Bin Daghr: ‘Decisive Storm’ Shattered Iran’s Expansionist Dreams
UN: Syrian government dropped sarin on Khan Sheikoun
Nuclear deal allows Iran to become the next ‘North Korea,’ US envoy warns
Egypt to host war games with US after eight-year-hiatus
Turkish police kill would-be suicide bomber near police station
Barzani: Decision of referendum came after failure of partnership with Baghdad
Attack and retreat battles between the regime and ISIS in Deir al-Zour
Latest Lebanese Related News published on
September 06-07/17
Israel PM praises 'best ever' ties with Arab world
Wed 06 Sep 2017/NNA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised on
Wednesday his country's "best ever" ties with the Arab countries, citing "many
levels of cooperation" that still cannot be exposed. Hailing a "breakthrough" in
Israel's relations with the Arab world, Netanyahu said these ties cannot yet be
publicly acknowledged, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's
Office. "The things that are actually happening with [the Arab states] have
never happened in our history, even when we signed agreements," Netanyahu told
Israeli diplomats at a Jewish New Year's toast at the Foreign Ministry in
Jerusalem. He said that cooperation between Israel and Arab countries is being
held "in various ways and different levels," noting that these ties are not yet
"visible." Away from the public eye, Netanyahu said, "[the cooperation] is much
more than during any other period in the history of Israel. This is a tremendous
change."Israel and its Arab neighbors have been engaged in wars and conflicts
since the statehood of Israel in 1948. In 1978, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp
David Accords, marking the first ever peace agreement between the Jewish state
and an Arab country. In the 1990's, Israel signed a peace agreement with Jordan.
Arab states refrain from normalizing their relations with Israel, mainly due to
Israel's occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the annexed Golan
Heights. ---Xinhua
Aoun, C. Africa President Agree to Boost Bilateral Cooperation
Naharnet/September 06/17/President Michel Aoun on Wednesday held talks with
visiting Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera.
“I stressed that Lebanon and its people stand by stability and peace in the
Central African Republic. The language of fighting should end and there should
be a return to the language of dialogue, for the sake of the people of CAR,”
said Aoun at a joint press conference with Touadera at the Baabda Palace.
“We agreed to boost cooperation between our two countries in all fields and to
sign bilateral agreements,” Aoun added. He also noted that “the viewpoints were
identical on the need for mutual support between the two countries at the
international forums.” “We are looking forward to see the Central African
Republic supporting Lebanon,” Aoun went on to say. Touadera for his part said he
expressed his “desire to intensify ties between our two countries in terms of
fighting terrorism and boosting capabilities.” “We discussed the need to
strengthen and reinforce Lebanese investments in the Central African Republic,”
he said. He also hoped “a new dynamism will be created through involving
Lebanese entrepreneurs in the process of rebuilding CAR.”Last week, at least
eight people were killed and 29 injured in the latest bout of growing sectarian
unrest in the Central African Republic which has prompted warnings of genocide,
the U.N. said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the latest violence
but the clashes zone was the scene earlier this month of clashes between a
majority Muslim rebel group and a predominantly Christian militia, called the
anti-Balaka, which left at least 13 people dead. Central African Republic, a
former French colony with a population of 4.5 million and one of the world's
poorest nations, was pitched into a civil war between Muslim and Christian
militias in 2013 after President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by
the Seleka, factions of a rebel coalition. The United Nations maintains some
12,500 troops and police on the ground to help protect civilians and support the
government of President Touadera, who was elected last year.
Riachi Says Elections on Time, Warns against
'Destroying Govt.'
Naharnet/September 06/17/Information Minister Melhem Riachi of the Lebanese
Forces reassured Wednesday that the 2018 parliamentary elections will be held on
time. “The parliamentary elections will be held on time, unless an unexpected
war erupts,” Riachi said in an interview with MTV. Separately, the minister
warned that the government's parties “should not cross a certain line” in their
political confrontation, especially over the controversial issue of restoring
full ties with Damascus. “This would jeopardize its existence,” Riachi
cautioned. “Should the approach of scoring points continue, this might lead to
the government's destruction. This process destroys the government's work and it
might destroy this presidential tenure's first government,” the minister warned.
Families of Slain Soldiers Reject Mashnouq's
Presence at Funeral
Naharnet/September 06/17/Families of soldiers slain by the Islamic State
extremist group said on Wednesday that Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq need
not attend the funeral ceremony of their sons on Friday because of positions he
made back in 2014, LBCI reported Wednesday.
“We asked the Army Command, the Defense Minister (Yaacoub al-Sarraf) and PM Saad
Hariri not to let Mashnouq attend the funeral processions because of his
positions in 2014,” families of the soldiers told LBCI. The minister issued a
statement later in the day, clarifying that the families made an incorrect link
between the execution of their sons and a major anti-terror operation inside
Roumieh Prison's notorious Block B. He noted that according to "preliminary
official investigations," the troops were executed one year after the operation.
"IS religious official Abu Balqis killed the abducted troops two years ago --
one year after the Roumieh Prison operation -- after he came from Raqa for the
sole purpose of executing them and preventing negotiations over their fate,"
said Mashnouq in his statement. In 2014, riot police banned families of the
soldiers from blocking roads in a desperate attempt to pressure the government
into unveiling the fate of their sons.They had called on Mashnouq to resign from
his post. Earlier on Wednesday, Army chief General Jospeh Aoun informed the
relatives of the servicemen that DNA tests conducted on the remains of bodies
found in Arsal last week match the identities of their sons.
Aoun had met with the families at the Defense Ministry. They had later met with
Sarraf and Hariri. Funerals for the servicemen will be held on Friday. The
government issued Wednesday a memo declaring a day of mourning on Friday for the
martyr soldiers. Thirty servicemen were abducted by al-Nusra Front and the IS
organization during clashes with the Lebanese army in the northeastern border
town of Arsal in August 2014. Sixteen held by the Nusra (Jabhat Fateh al-Islam)
were freed in December 2015 through a Qatari-mediated deal that also included a
prisoner swap to release a number of inmates from Lebanese jails. The two groups
had previously executed four of the hostages. Nine servicemen remained in the IS
captivity until their remains were retrieved during an army battle against the
extremists on Lebanon's eastern border last week.
Hizbullah Hails Syrian Breach of IS Siege
Associated Press/Naharnet/September 06/17/Hizbullah, whose fighters are among
Iranian-backed forces pushing toward Syria's Deir Ezzor, congratulated Wednesday
the Syrian leadership for breaching a siege by the Islamic State group on parts
of the eastern city. In a statement, the party said this latest achievement is a
"prelude for the liberation of all remaining Syrian territory." Backed by
Russian airpower, Syrian forces and allied militiamen on Tuesday reached
besieged troops in Deir Ezzor, breaking a nearly three-year siege by IS
militants in a significant triumph against the extremists. Hizbullah, in its
statement, described it as a victory also for Syria's allies who stood by it,
and said this would not have happened were it not for the "determination" of the
Syrian leadership.
Berri Says Failure to Hold By-elections Violates Constitution
Naharnet/September 06/17/Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Wednesday that
the failure to hold parliamentary by-elections to fill three vacant seats in
Tripoli and Keserwan is “a violation of the Constitution,” lamenting that “these
by-elections will not be held.”The by-elections were supposed to be held on
September 24, according to media reports. They were supposed to be organized to
fill seats left vacant by the resignation of MP Robert Fadel, the death of MP
Badr Wannous and the election of Michel Aoun as the country's president.
Separately, Berri called Wednesday for a legislative session on September 19 and
20. “Parliament will instantly discuss the state budget after the Finance
Committee finalizes its reports,” MPs quoted Berri as saying during the weekly
Ain el-Tineh meeting. “There is no problem if there is any disagreement and the
matter will eventually be referred to the legislature,” the speaker added.
Berri also stressed the need to “reinforce the work of supervisory bodies and
their role in combating corruption and the waste of public money.”
Kaag Expresses Condolences over Death of Lebanese Troops
Naharnet/September 06/17/U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag on
Wednesday extended her “deep condolences” to the families of Lebanese soldiers
kidnapped and executed by the terrorist Islamic State group.“The servicemen will
always serve as a symbol of courage, commitment and dedication to their country.
The Special Coordinator also extends her condolences to the Lebanese State,”
Kaag's office said in a statement. The Special Coordinator also commended the
Lebanese Army and security forces in their “continued efforts to safeguard
Lebanon’s stability, security and territorial integrity, including from the
threat of terror.”The troops were officially announced dead earlier in the day
after the release of the results of DNA tests. Their remains had been recovered
last month after a military offensive by the Lebanese army on the eastern
border.
Maronite Bishops Decry 'Political Accusations' over Executed
Troops
Naharnet/September 06/17/The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday expressed
regret over the latest war of words regarding the case of the Lebanese
servicemen who were abducted and executed by the terrorist Islamic State group.
The bishops “express regret over the exchange of tirades,” they said in a
statement issued after their monthly meeting in Bkirki. “If an investigation is
necessary in this file, it should determine responsibilities, clarify
ambiguities and target all parties who were concerned back then,” the statement
said, urging against “political accusations.”
The parties should not “search for a scapegoat to unduly pin the blame on
whereas the circumstances of those events have not been forgotten,” the council
added, referring to the Lebanese army's 2014 clashes with IS and the al-Nusra
Front group. President Michel Aoun had on Thursday called on authorities to
probe the 2014 abduction of around 30 troops and policemen during the clashes
which were fought in and around the eastern border town of Arsal. “Out of
respect for truth as a human value, for the martyrdom of the martyrs and for the
plight of their families, and to prevent accusations against any innocent person
over major national issues that targeted our armed forces and bloodied the
hearts of the Lebanese, I call on authorities to conduct the necessary
investigations to determine responsibilities,” Aoun said. The president's move
came after Lebanon recovered the bodies of nine troops who were kidnapped by IS
in 2014 before being eventually executed. The fate of the soldiers was unveiled
as part of a Hizbullah-led ceasefire agreement with IS that followed separate
but simultaneous offensives by the Lebanese army and Hizbullah and the Syrian
army on both sides of the Lebanon-Syria border. Hizbullah, the Free Patriotic
Movement and some of their allies pinned the blame for the abduction of the
servicemen on Tammam Salam's 2014 government, former army chief General Jean
Qahwaji and al-Mustaqbal Movement, accusing them of preventing the army from
continuing a military operation against IS and al-Nusra. Hizbullah, meanwhile,
has been accused of facilitating a smooth withdrawal “in air-conditioned buses”
for the IS militants who surrendered during last month's border battles.
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has defended the withdrawal deal,
arguing that it was the “only way” to unveil the fate of the captive troops.
Hariri Calls for UN, Security Council Intervention to End
Myanmar's Rohingya Suffering
Naharnet/September 06/17/Prime Minister Saad Hariri urged on Wednesday the
United Nations and Security Council for an urgent intervention to end violence
against the the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. “The tragedy of the Muslim
Rohingya in Myanmar calls for a conscientious position of the International
Community,” said Hariri in a tweet. Persecution of the Rohingya, reviled as
illegal immigrants and mostly denied citizenship in Myanmar, has been a
lightning rod for anger across the Muslim world. Nearly 125,000 mostly Rohingya
refugees have crossed the border to Bangladesh in recent weeks, fleeing a
security sweep by Myanmar forces who have been torching villages in response to
attacks by Rohingya militants on August 25. The refugee exodus has enraged many
in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority country, and other states. On
Wednesday, at least five children were killed when several boats carrying
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Bangladesh sank, Bangladesh border guards told
AFP.
Berri: Parliament to Address Tax Law after Constitutional
Council's Decision, By-Elections May Rest in Peace
Naharnet/September 06/17/Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that the
parliament awaits for the Constitutional Council's decision as for “amending or
annulling the tax hike law” after which the legislative assembly will approach
the file, al-Joumhouria daily reported. “We are waiting for the decision of the
Constitutional Council regarding the tax hike law. The council can either
invalidate the whole law or request the revocation of some articles. Based on
what is decided by the Council comes the work of the parliament,” Berri told the
daily. Last week, the Constitutional Council ordered a suspension of the
implementation of the new tax law that was approved to fund a new wage scale for
civil servants and the armed forces, a day after ten MPs led by Kataeb Party
chief Sami Genayel filed an appeal against it.
The suspension is aimed at “studying the appeal in form and content,” the
Council had said. The Council, Lebanon's highest constitutional court, also
decided to hold a September 15 session to “discuss the appeal” and “an
open-ended session on September 18 to issue a ruling should the appeal be
accepted.”
On the parliamentary by-elections to fill three vacant seats in Keserwan and
Tripoli, Berri expressed belief that they will not be held, “may it rest in
peace,” he said. The by-elections are supposed to be held on September 24 to
fill the vacant Maronite seat of President Michel Aoun, and the Alawite seat in
Tripoli left vacant by the death of MP Badr Wannous and another Greek Orthodox
seat left vacant by the resignation of MP Robert Fadel. As for the upcoming
parliamentary elections slated in 2018, Berri said: “No fear for the approaching
elections,” but warned of the repercussions of disrupting the vote saying “if
they (politicians) want a coup, let them obstruct the elections.”
Jreissati Says Arsal File in Judiciary's Hands, Rules Out Politicization
Naharnet/September 06/17/Justice Minister Salim Jreissati confirmed on Wednesday
that the file of Arsal's incidents is in the hands of the judicial authority
away from any attempt to politicize the matter. State Prosecutor, Judge Samir
Hammoud had asked on Wednesday State Commissioner to the Military Court Judge
Saqr Saqr to task the Lebanese Army Intelligence to investigate the kidnapping,
capturing, and killing of servicemen. Jreissat told VDL (93.3) in an interview
that investigations would involve various parties who contributed, in one way or
another, to the death of the servicemen, in a bid to prosecute and punish them.
Jreissati promised the grief-stricken families of the martyred servicemen that
the Lebanese judiciary would be "up to the challenge", asserting no
politicization at all in this case. "The military judiciary has clear and
conclusive evidence, not to mention that Abou Taqiyeh's son is in the hands of
the judiciary with very substantial information that might help reach the
truth," he added.
IDF drill and new Hizballah tactics at Deir ez-Zour
DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis September 6, 2017
http://www.debka.com/article/26213/IDF-drill-and-new-Hizballah-tactics-at-Deir-ez-Zour
By Wednesday, Sept. 6, day three of the big IDF
exercise for war with Hizballah - after the Syrian army and two Hizballah
brigades, with massive Russian air and missile support, had broken the
three-year ISIS siege of Deir ez-Zour - it was evident that Hizballah was
fighting a different war from the scenario tens of thousands of Israeli troops
were practicing in the north.
DEBKAfile’s military sources have no doubt that without this Russian support,
the Syrians and Hizballah would have found it much harder to knock down ISIS
defenses, before advancing into the long-beleaguered eastern town, free the
wretched population and reunite with the force holding out in the trapped Syrian
airbase.
Russian jets were there to hit any ISIS fighters emerging to refortify damaged
lines and rebuild military positions and prevent manpower moving between points.
The defense ministry in Moscow confirmed that a Russian warship in the
Mediterranean had fired Kalibr cruise missiles to destroy an ISIS communications
and command center, ammo depots and an armored vehicle repair shop. The ISIS
occupiers of Deir ez-Zour had no air defense missiles for hampering Russian air
strikes.
This Deir ez-Zour operation counts nonetheless as a major victory for the Syrian
ruler, Bashar Assad, and his army, although there is still more fighting ahead
in the east, as the defeated ISIS withdraws eastward towards another of its
strongholds, the Syrian-Iraqi border town of Abu Kamal.
HIzballah certainly shares in this victory against ISIS in ten days of fighting.
It is not its first. Last week, the clash of arms against ISIS and other
Islamist groups in the Qalamoun Mountains on the Syrian-Lebanese border ended in
their virtual surrender and withdrawal.
Notwithstanding vehement denials, there was coordination between the Syrian,
Lebanese and Hizballah forces battling ISIS enclaves on both sides of that
border, with US and British special forces also taking part. It was this virtual
coalition which tipped the balance and led to the operation’s successful
conclusion.
We are therefore seeing Hizballah emeging as an army, which has gained valuable
combat experience in five years of fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Syrian
army and foreign Shiite militias. This experience was enhanced in recent weeks
by close military conjunction with two world powers, Russia and the United
States.
The IDF drill which has another seven days to go is geared to fighting a war
triggered by a Hizballah invasion of northern Israel from Lebanon. Is that
scenario still realistic in the light of that experience and the latest events
on two Syrian battles?
Most unlikely, say our military sources. They note that, building on its gains
and experience in the Syrian war arena, Hizballah may well choose a quite
different tactic, e.g, an attempt to draw Israeli forces into Lebanon and then
Syria by opening a second front against the IDF from there. In Syria, Hizballah
can count on the support of the Syrian army and pro-Iranian Shiite militias - an
alliance which has proved itself in Syria - whereas an invasion of northern
Israel would find Hizballah fighting alone and surrounded by Israeli forces.
In the remaining seven days of the exercise, the IDF still has a chance to
update its scenario.
Lebanon identifies bodies of soldiers killed while in Islamic State hands
(Reuters) September 06/17/ - Lebanon has identified the bodies of 10 of its
soldiers found along the Syrian border in an area taken back from Islamic State
last week, the Lebanese National News Agency reported on Wednesday.
The army’s offensive against the IS-held enclave in eastern Lebanon ended with
an evacuation of Islamic State militants and their families to eastern Syria
under a Hezbollah-brokered ceasefire deal. Under the agreement IS militants
identified where they had buried the soldiers, Lebanese army chief General
Joseph Aoun said last week. DNA tests confirmed that all 10 bodies found in the
former IS-enclave were the missing Lebanese soldiers, security sources and local
media reported on Wednesday. Islamic State militants had for years held
territory along the border, and captured the Lebanese soldiers in 2014 when they
briefly overran the town of Arsal, one of the worst spillovers of the Syrian
conflict into Lebanon. Lebanese President Michel Aoun last week called for an
investigation into the responsibilities their capture. Justice Minister Salim
Jrayssati said a military court would look into whether the civilian or military
authorities contributed to their capture, Hezbollah-affiliated al-Manar
television reported on Wednesday.
Reporting by Sarah Dadouch; Editing by Jon Boyle
Hezbollah Reacts To IDF Drill: We Are Ready For Any Act Of Israeli Stupidity
Jerusalem Post/September 06/17
/Lebanon did not remain silent following the launch of a massive IDF drill
simulating a possible war, with a Hezbollah official threatening that "the
Israelis won't succeed in surprising us."Lebanon did not remain silent following the start of a massive IDF drill
simulating a war, with a Hezbollah official threatening that “the Israelis won’t
succeed in surprising us.”A senior Hezbollah official taunted Israel on Tuesday, saying that “we are ready
for any attack or Israeli stupidity.”The official, who was quoted by several Lebanese media sources but was left
unnamed, spoke in reaction to the IDF’s announcement on Monday that it had begun
its biggest drill in 20 years, in preparation for a possible war against the
terrorist organization.
“We [Hezbollah] are fully alert and ready at any time for any possible
scenario,” the official was quoted as saying. He continued, “The Israelis won’t
succeed in surprising us, because Israel knows full well [what] Hezbollah’s
capabilities are after the loss it suffered in 2006 [in the Second Lebanon War],
which deterred the IDF.”The official had also said that the IDF was carrying out “the large military
drill” due to “Hezbollah’s military capabilities.”
Other Hezbollah associates, who were also unidentified by Lebanese media, were
quoted as speculating that Israel is carrying out the exercise in order to
prepare to face a renewed battle. The Jewish state is going to be forced to
confront an entirely different and strengthened entity than the one it faced a
little over a decade ago during the Second Lebanon War, they threatened.
IDF commanders have repeatedly affirmed this claim in recent years, saying that
Israel has indeed been preparing to contend with an enemy that no longer fights
in guerrilla-style groups and has amassed a significant arsenal of weapons as
well as knowledge and training.
According to the military, the exercise is set to last two weeks and will focus
on countering Hezbollah’s increased capabilities. Thousands of soldiers and
reservists from all different branches of the IDF (cyber, intelligence, ground
forces, the air force and the navy) are going to coordinate their operations as
during wartime, simulating an attack by Hezbollah.
The terrorist organization’s leader Hassan Nasrallah has made numerous threats
in the past few years, promising that Hezbollah has at least 100,000 rockets
pointed at “the Zionist entity” and ready to strike at any time.
Israel is closer than ever to its demise: Hezbollah official (credit: MEMRI)
Hezbollah official says Israel is closer than ever to its demise (credit: MEMRI)
Following the IDF’s announcement about the exercise, Lebanese media discussing
it at length. The Al-Manar website, which is affiliated with the terrorist
group, described the drill on Tuesday as “huge maneuvers by the Israeli Army
simulating an infiltration of Hezbollah [into Israeli territory].”
Al-Akhbar, a Beirut-based daily, used similar words, saying that Israel is
preparing to face “the second largest military in the Middle East.”
A centerfold analysis piece described the drill at length, quoting an anonymous
Israeli official and mocking Israel for what it deemed “its obvious pressure,”
which supposedly showed Israel was “clearly worried about its massive failure in
2006.”
But Israeli officials and security analysts seem to remain unfazed by
Hezbollah’s verbal attacks, stating that the terrorist group is embroiled in
other conflicts, in particular the Syrian civil war, and is unlikely to make
good on its threats anytime soon.IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot has said that while Hezbollah will
probably continue to lash out with various threats, it isn’t ready for war with
Israel yet. Hezbollah is going through “an internal crisis,” he said in 2016.
“[They are going through] an economic crisis and a leadership crisis,” he
pointed out and promised that Israel, in the meantime, is training and is ready
should it be faced with an escalation.
Israeli Maneuvers Simulate War against Hezbollah
Kifah Ziboun/ASharq Al Awsat/September 06/17/Ramallah- Israel’s army began on
Tuesday the biggest military maneuvers since 19 years, simulating a war against
“Hezbollah”. The 11-day maneuvers aim at enhancing readiness to a wide-scope
battle in the north. Afekhay Aderey, the spokesman of the Israeli Army, said
that the forces will simulate expected and variable war cases in the north.
“This is an exceptional exercise given its size and it is being executed by
various levels from soldiers in the field to superior leadership. The exercise
is significant to activate the force on the tactical level,” he added. The
maneuvers deal with war scenarios with Hezbollah, who in its turn is watching
closely. The exercise simulate a quick security escalation in the northern
region. The air force, navy force and intelligence take part in the training
that includes a simulation of a battle with Hezbollah whether as an attack or as
a defense along with any development that obliges the army to evacuate Israeli
towns near the border. The army will use drones in attacks and equipment
transport in addition to self-driving trucks and robots. A high-rank captain
stated that the army will mobilize all potentials in these maneuvers and will
simulate a battle with Hezbollah, an attack by Hezbollah and then the army’
response on three stages. The Israeli maneuvers will also simulate the scenario
when the Israeli cabinet decides to wage a war to defeat Hezbollah. IDF Chief of
Staff Gadi Eizenkot explained that defeating Hezbollah means targeting the enemy
with a mortal blow and reaching a phase where Hezbollah loses the ability to
attack or even the wish to. Officers see that this training attributes to the
huge change on the border, including interference of Russia and US in the Middle
East developments.
Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published on
September 06-07/17
Iran, Vatican City discuss plight of
Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar
Wed 06 Sep 2017 /NNA - In a Wednesday meeting with Vatican City’s Paul Richard
Gallagher in Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to
the issue of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and called on all countries to
cooperate and join hands to stop the massacre and mass expulsion of Muslims in
the country. The Iranian top diplomat also appreciated Vatican City’s efforts in
this regard. Speaking about the crisis in the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian FM
added that after the Cuban crisis the world has forgotten the danger of using
these weapons, but again we are witnessing that this great danger is posing
threats to the international community. Talking about the region’s critical
conditions, the Iranian foreign minister underlined the need for peaceful
solutions to overcome these crises, stressing that the world’s problem today is
extremism, which is not limited to a special region.
He also referred to the long-standing, respectful and reciprocal relations
between Tehran and the Holy See (Vatican City) and emphasized the need for
dialogue and effective cooperation between religions and civilizations. "Iran
respects the character and positions of the Pope," Zarif went on to say. In
turn, Gallagher referred to Vatican City’s efforts to resolve the crisis in
Myanmar, saying that "we will continue our efforts in this regard." He also
discussed the shared views between Tehran and Vatican City on regional
developments and dialogue and cooperation to end regional crises, the refugee
crisis, and extremism. He said Vatican City has supported the peaceful use of
nuclear energy and Iran’s nuclear deal, and it still throws its weight behind
it. "Encouraging the culture of peace and the peaceful coexistence of religions
in the Middle East should be pursued with earnestness and the Vatican has always
supported this coexistence between religions," he added. The Iranian foreign
minister and his counterpart from the Holy See also exchanged views on various
political, social and inter-regional issues, expressing satisfaction with the
process of dialogue between the two sides. ---Agencies
Bin Daghr: ‘Decisive Storm’ Shattered Iran’s Expansionist Dreams
Asharq Al-Awsat/September 06/17/Aden– Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid
Bin Daghr said that the Yemeni army, supported by the coalition forces,
“currently controls 85 percent of the territories and heads towards achieving
greater victory”, stressing that the “Decisive Storm”, led by Saudi Arabia, has
thwarted Iran’s projects in the Arab region. He also commended the great support
provided to the Yemeni people by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the
leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz
and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His comments came during his meeting in
Aden with the Commander of the Arab Coalition Forces Brig. Gen. Ahmed Abu Majid,
the Commander of the Saudi Forces Brigadier General Abdul Aziz Islam, the
Commander of the Bahraini and Sudanese Forces Major Hisham Al-Mubarak, and a
number of officers of the Arab Coalition Forces.Bin Daghr praised major
sacrifices offered by the Yemeni army and popular resistance to face Houthi and
Ali Abdullah Saleh militias, promising that victory was imminent. The Yemeni
prime minister pointed out to the support provided by Saudi Arabia, led by the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the UAE, under the leadership of Sheikh
Khalifa bin Zayed and the leaders of the State of Kuwait for their support to
the Yemeni people through the King Salman Relief Center, the UAE Red Crescent,
the Kuwait Relief Committee and “all those who helped Yemen in these difficult
circumstances”. For his part, the commander of the Arab Coalition Forces
reiterated UAE’s position in support of Yemen’s unity and stability, while the
commander of the Saudi Forces confirmed the Kingdom’s backing of Yemen’s
legitimacy and security. The meeting tackled a number of important issues on the
military and economic levels, and discussed the joint action to face Houthis and
terrorist organizations and the means to consolidate security and stability in
the liberated provinces.
UN: Syrian government dropped sarin on Khan Sheikoun
Reuters, GenevaWednesday, 6 September 2017/Syrian forces have used chemical
weapons more than two dozen times during the country’s civil war, including in
the deadly attack that led to US air strikes on government planes, UN war crimes
investigators said on Wednesday.
In the most conclusive findings to date from investigations into chemical
weapons attacks during the conflict, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said
a government warplane dropped sarin on Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province in
April, killing more than 80 civilians. “Government forces continued the pattern
of using chemical weapons against civilians in opposition-held areas. In the
gravest incident, the Syrian air force used sarin in Khan Sheikhoun, Idlib,
killing dozens, the majority of whom were women and children,” the report said,
declaring it a war crime. The attack was previously identified as containing
sarin, an odorless nerve agent. But that conclusion, reached by a fact-finding
mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), did
not say who carried it out. In all, UN investigators said they had documented 33
chemical weapons attacks to date. Twenty seven were by forces of the government
of President Bashar al-Assad, including seven between March 1 to July 7.
Perpetrators had not been identified yet in six early attacks, they said. The
Assad government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons. It said that its
strikes in Khan Sheikhoun hit a weapons depot belonging to rebel forces, a claim
dismissed by the UN investigators.
Nuclear deal allows Iran to become the next ‘North Korea,’ US envoy warns
AFP, United NationsWednesday, 6 September 2017/Washington’s ambassador to the
United Nations warned Tuesday that, if left unchanged, the Iran nuclear deal
could allow Tehran to pose the same kind of missile threat to US cities as North
Korea. President Donald Trump is due to decide in the middle of next month
whether he believes Iran is living up to its commitments or whether to seek new
US sanctions that could torpedo the accord. His ambassador to the United
Nations, Nikki Haley, would not say explicitly what her advice has been — but
left little room for doubt that she believes it is time to re-examine the
“flawed” deal. “I’m not making the case for decertifying. What I am saying is
that, should he decide to decertify he has grounds to stand on,” she told an
audience at the American Enterprise Institute. “What I am doing is just trying
to lay out the options of what’s out there, what we need to be looking at and
knowing that the end result has to be the national security of the United
States. “We should at no time be beholden to any agreement and sacrifice the
security of the United States to say that we’ll do it.”Under a 2015 deal signed
by Iran and six world powers, Tehran is supposed to roll back its nuclear
program and submit to inspections in return for Washington and its allies
lifting some sanctions. Thus far, the IAEA UN nuclear watchdog and the US State
Department have reported that Tehran has complied with the terms of the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the core of the deal.
But Haley, and other influential figures in Trump’s Washington, argue that
Iran’s continuing alleged breaches of limits placed on its ballistic missile
program violate the spirit of the deal. The previous missile sanctions were
listed in an annex to UN Security Council Resolution 2231, under which the world
body adopted the JCPOA into international law. Therefore, Haley argues, Tehran’s
ongoing development of ballistic missiles and alleged support for global
terrorism should be taken into account when Trump judges the success of the
deal. And she warned that the terms of the JCPOA begin to expire in ten years’
time — opening the way for them to resume weapons research. “That’s the day when
Iran’s military may very well already have the missile technology to send a
nuclear warhead to the United States, a technology that North Korea only
recently developed,” she said.
Egypt to host war games with US after eight-year-hiatus
The Associated PressTuesday, 5 September 2017/Egypt’s military says it will host
war games with US troops later this month for the first time in eight years.
Col. Tamer el-Rifai, a military spokesman, said Tuesday that the 10-day military
exercises, known as “Bright Star,” would begin September 10. The bi-annual
exercises date back to 1981, but the Obama administration postponed them in
2011, following the uprising that toppled longtime President Hosni Mubarak, and
scrapped them in 2013, after Egyptian security forces killed hundreds of
protesters while breaking up a mass sit-in. US President Donald Trump has
praised Egypt as a key ally against terrorism, although last month the United
States cut or delayed some $300 million in military and economic aid.
Turkish police kill would-be suicide bomber near police
station
Reuters, IstanbulWednesday, 6 September 2017/Turkish police shot dead an ISIS
militant who was set to carry out a suicide bomb attack on a police station in
the Mediterranean city of Mersin on Wednesday, the interior ministry said. The
assailant, wearing a vest packed with explosives, was killed outside the police
station in the Yenisehir district, which security sources said is located next
to the regional headquarters of Turkey’s MIT national intelligence agency. “One
member of the Daesh terrorist organization, wearing a suicide bomb vest, was
captured dead in front of the Mersin Yenisehir district’s ... central police
station,” the interior ministry said in a statement. Police officers spotted the
suspect behaving suspiciously some 50 meters (55 yards) from the police station
at around 8:15 a.m. (0515 GMT), the Mersin governor’s office said. The man
ignored an order to stop and continued to move toward the police station. He was
shot when his hand reached for a cable hanging down from his shoulder, the
governor’s office said. ISIS militants have previously carried out gun and bomb
attacks in Turkey. Many foreign fighters have also passed through Turkey in
recent years on their way to join the militant group in its self-proclaimed
caliphate in Syria and Iraq. Ankara has detained more than 5,000 ISIS suspects
and deported some 3,290 foreign militants from 95 different countries in recent
years, according to Turkish officials. The Dogan news agency identified the
would-be attacker as a 20-year-old Syrian national who lived in an apartment
block near the police station. It said bomb disposal experts defused the
explosive device. Police subsequently searched the home of the Syrian man and
detained his father, Dogan said, adding that his family had moved to Mersin a
year ago.
Barzani: Decision of referendum came after failure of
partnership with Baghdad
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishWednesday, 6 September 2017/The head of the
Iraqi Kurdistan province, Massoud Barzani, said in an exclusive interview with
Al Arabiya that the decision of the referendum came because of the failure of
partnership with Baghdad. Barzani explained that many attempts adopted by the
province to build a real partnership with the federal government were doomed for
failure even if they were successful in delaying the referendum decision for
another time. Barzani stressed that several international parties have advised
the province to postpone the referendum to another time because of the
preoccupation of Iraq in the fight against ISIS. He explained that several
agreements with Baghdad to form a democratic civilian state ended with a
sectarian state. The interview will be broadcast on Thursday at 7 pm Saudi
Arabia, 4 pm GMT on Al Arabiya on the program “With Turki AlDakhil”.
Attack and retreat battles between the regime and ISIS in
Deir al-Zour
Staff writer, Al Arabiya EnglishWednesday, 6 September 2017/ISIS launched a
counter-attack on an entrance that the regime's forces managed to break in on
Tuesday in a bid to re-impose the blockade on the 137th Brigade in Deir al-Zour
and the neighborhoods under Assad's control. According to the Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights, ISIS targeted the positions of the forces of the regime in the
area of the entrance and its perimeter with 6 bobby traps in the midst of fierce
fighting between the two parties. The Observatory also stated that the regime's
forces and militias, supported by Russian planes, were defending the entrance to
prevent terrorists from returning. For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry
underlined that the intelligence obtained through various channels, confirms
that the entrances and perimeter of the city of Deir al Zour were under the
control of elements descended from Russia and the countries of the Commonwealth
of Independent States.
Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on
September 06-07/17
The Forgotten Palestinians
Khaled Abu Toameh/Gatestone Institute/September 06/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/10941/forgotten-palestinians
Ayman Qawasmeh and Issa Amro would have been better off being arrested by
Israeli authorities. Had that happened, their stories would have made it to the
pages of major Western newspapers. CNN or NBC might have dedicated an entire
program to their ordeal. Without a way for the Western media outlets to
implicate Israel, however, their tale remains buried -- along with their
freedom.
The group also points out that it has documented some 472 cases of deaths
consequent to torture in Syrian detention centers and prisons over the past few
years.
Would anyone like to know about the true apartheid laws applied to Palestinians
in different Arab countries? The information is readily available: all that
needs to happen is for the Western media and the rest of the international
community to reconsider their obsession with Israel and to start paying
attention to the real Palestinian victims -- those living in the Arab countries.
More than 1,600 Palestinians have gone missing in Syria, and hundreds have been
killed, since the beginning of the civil war there. This is not the type of news
that makes it to mainstream media in the West, however.
To catch the eyes of the international community and media, Palestinians need to
live in the West Bank, Gaza Strip or Jerusalem. These are the lucky Palestinians
whose stories (and plights) are regularly covered by the international media.
Why? Mostly because these are the Palestinians whose stories are often linked,
directly and indirectly, to Israel.
It is no secret that Western journalists and mainstream media outlets have
developed an obsession with Israel. Everything that Israel does (or does not do)
receives widespread coverage, especially if there is a way to blame Israel for
inflicting suffering on the Palestinians.
When Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas imposed punitive
measures against the two million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, denying
them medicine, electricity and salaries, somehow the mainstream media finds a
way to implicate Israel.
Abbas's ongoing crackdown on the Palestinian media, including the arrest of
journalists and Facebook users, is also apparently not newsworthy, in the view
of the Western media. Who cares if Abbas blocks 30 news websites because of
their criticism of his policies and actions? Who cares if Abbas just this week
ordered the arrest of journalist Ayman Qawasmeh, the director of a private radio
station in Hebron?
Qawasmeh was arrested shortly after he criticized Abbas and called on him and
his prime minister, Rami Hamdallah, to resign. Western journalists covering the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict dismiss these stories only, it seems, because they
lack an anti-Israel angle.
As if the arrest of Qawasmeh were not enough, Abbas's security forces later
arrested Issa Amro, a Palestinian activist from Hebron, for speaking out against
the arrest of the journalist. Amro was taken into custody after he published a
Facebook post criticizing the Palestinian Authority security forces for
arresting the journalist and stifling freedom of expression.
Qawasmeh and Amro would have been better off being arrested by Israeli
authorities. Had that happened, their stories would have made it to the pages of
major Western newspapers. CNN or NBC might have dedicated an entire program to
their ordeal. Without a way for the Western media outlets to implicate Israel,
however, their tale remains buried -- along with their freedom.
The tragic tale of Palestinians in Syria exposes the double standard of the
international media and community when it comes to covering the Middle East:
when Israel is not involved, journalists are not involved.
What happens to Palestinians in Arab countries seems to be rather ho-hum to most
of the world. So what if thousands of Palestinians have gone missing or have
been killed? If an Arab state is involved, the media stays away.
The Action Group for Palestinians of Syria says that it has documented 1,632
cases of Palestinian detainees, including children and women, who have gone
missing and remain unaccounted for in Syria. Among those missing are
journalists, physicians, nurses and relief workers. The group says that the
detainees have been subjected to "all forms of torture" in various detention
centers and prisons in Syria.
The group also points out that it has documented some 472 cases of deaths
consequent to torture in Syrian detention centers and prisons over the past few
years. The actual numbers could be much higher, it says, in light of the secrecy
and severe restrictions imposed by the Syrian authorities. Families are afraid
to announce the death of their loved ones out of fear of retribution by the
Syrian authorities.
In another report, the same group reveals that some 3,570 Palestinians have been
killed since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, including 462 women.
Meanwhile, the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus has been under siege by the
Syrian army for more than 1510 days.
The Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Syria has been under siege by the Syrian
army for more than 1510 days. Pictured: Residents of Yarmouk line up to receive
food supplies, on January 31, 2014. (Image source: UNRWA)
Another Palestinian refugee camp, Dara'a, has been without water supply for more
than 1,247 days (Yarmouk has been without water for more than 1088 days). The
report also discloses that more than 85,000 Palestinians have fled Syria to
Europe by the end of 2016, while more than 60,000 have found refuge in Jordan,
Turkey, Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
These horrific figures are the norm in the Arab world's war-torn countries,
where Arabs and Muslims have been displacing, torturing, and killing each other
for many years. Disturbingly, the plight of Palestinians in Arab countries
barely merits international attention. This silence has deadly consequences, and
it is directly related to the disproportionate coverage the international media
gives to Israel.
Consider: one Palestinian shot by an Israeli policeman or soldier is likely to
get more coverage in the international media than thousands of Palestinians who
are being illegally incarcerated and tortured to death in an Arab country.
Innumerable stories can be published about the way the Arab countries mistreat
Palestinians -- from denying them basic rights such as citizenship and equality
to imprisoning and torturing them.
Would anyone like to know about the true apartheid laws applied to Palestinians
in different Arab countries? The information is readily available: all that
needs to happen is for the Western media and the rest of the international
community to reconsider their obsession with Israel and to start paying
attention to the real Palestinian victims -- those living in the Arab countries.
*Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist, is based in Jerusalem.
© 2017 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.
Lessons for the West: Imprisoned for One's Faith
Majid Rafizadeh/Gatestone Institute/September 06/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/10934/iran-bahai-persecution-rafizadeh
There is much that we the West -- and feminists -- can learn from her tale...
For one thing, freedom cannot be taken for granted. For another, liberal
attitudes towards Muslim fundamentalism serve only to imperil the free world.
Anyone who ignores the plight of women such as Rafizadeh -- or who makes excuses
for radical Islam -- is effectively emboldening the extremists and enabling them
to export their repressive ideology to the West.
The "biggest battle [that] lies ahead" is not merely for women's rights; it is
"against an ideology that regards female empowerment as an evil that must be
eradicated." — Gavin Mortimer, The Spectator.
Women in the West are increasingly being targeted by jihadists for persecution
and murder, noted the British historian Gavin Mortimer in a recent piece in the
Spectator. The radical Islamists are doing this, Mortimer said, "because in
their minds [females] represent empowerment and enlightenment, and also
immodesty."
Women in Muslim-majority countries are all too familiar with this attitude.
Subjected to the dictates of the strictest interpretation of Islam at the hands
of their patriarchal societies, they live as second-class citizens across the
Middle East. Those who dare to go against the grain in any fashion -- even by
belonging to another religion -- meet cruel fates.
Azita Rafizadeh, for instance, a wife and mother (and not related to the
author), is serving a four-year sentence in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for
"acting against national security" and "membership in an illegal Baha'i
institute." The way she is being treated gives a glimpse into the severe
oppression under which a non-Muslim woman is forced to live in a state governed
by Islamic law, Sharia.
Born in 1980 to a Baha'i family in Shiraz, Rafizadeh was not allowed by the
Iranian regime to attend university. She got around this restriction by
attending programs offered at the Bahai Institute of Higher Education (BIHE), an
underground university established in 1987 by Iran's minority Baha'i community
for its young members, who are discriminated against by the government because
of their faith.
After completing a BA in computer engineering, she married Payman Koushk-Baghi,
a fellow Baha'i whom she met at the BIHE. Together, the couple continued their
education in India, and returned to Iran in 2008 with teaching jobs at the BIHE.
The following year, Rafizadeh gave birth to a son. In the spring of 2010, she
and her husband were arrested -- and their computers and books confiscated -- as
part of a crackdown by regime intelligence services on BIHE teachers.
Azita Rafizadeh and her husband, Payman Koushk-Baghi, holding their son, Bashir,
in a photo taken before their imprisonment.
When she was brought before a judge, Rafizadeh refused to enter a plea deal
according to which she would not be sent to prison if she guaranteed that would
never work for the BIHE again. She refused. Ultimately, both she and her husband
were incarcerated, leaving their young son to be forced to live with another
family.
To make matters worse, to punish her further, in October 2016, Iranian
authorities transferred her husband to a different prison, and have denied the
couple most of their visitation rights.
Due to the Islamist regime in Iran, a leading state sponsor of global terrorism,
Rafizadeh had two obstacles to contend with throughout her life: being a female
and a Baha'i. A third hurdle, for which she is paying dearly -- as her health
has deteriorated seriously in jail -- is her refusal to compromise on her ideals
and values. She could have remained abroad after leaving to further her
education, but she chose instead to return to Iran to help others in her
predicament. She could have had a far easier life in another country, where she
would be free to practice her faith proudly and in peace. Yet she opted for a
difficult existence, putting herself in danger for a humanitarian cause. For
this she is being punished beyond all reason, other than that which Islamists
employ to justify their behavior towards "infidels."
Her Islamist jailers -- the figurative ones of the regime and the literal ones
at Evin Prison -- are not only keeping her behind bars under unspeakable
conditions, with no access to medicine or clean water, but also engage in
psychological torture to break her spirit.
In spite of her depression and ill health, Rafizadeh is among a group of fellow
women prisoners who remain defiant and attempt to call attention to the human
rights abuses they are enduring, particularly the removal of their husbands and
male relatives, and the new restrictions Iran has imposed to keep families
severed. In an open letter penned in August, they demanded the resumption of
family visits and the lifting of the ban on medicine.
There is much that we the West -- and feminists -- can learn from her tale and
from women in Iran and other Islamist states. For one thing, freedom cannot be
taken for granted. For another, liberal attitudes towards Muslim fundamentalism
serve only to imperil the free world. This has been true historically; many
lands now ruled by Islamists, including Iran, were far more open as societies
before they were taken over by Sharia. The contrast is on full display today.
Anyone who ignores the plight of women such as Rafizadeh -- or who makes excuses
for radical Islam -- is effectively emboldening the extremists and enabling them
to export their repressive ideology to the West. As Mortimer concluded in his
Spectator piece, the "biggest battle [that] lies ahead" is not merely for
women's rights; it is "against an ideology that regards female empowerment as an
evil that must be eradicated."
**Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is president of the International American Council on the
Middle East. He is a Harvard-educated and Iranian-American political scientist,
businessman, and author of "Peaceful Reformation in Iran's Islam". He can be
reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu.
© 2017 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.
Syria: Elections Gambit to Get Russia Off the Hook
Amir Taheri/Gatestone Institute/September 06/17
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/10934/iran-bahai-p
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/10944/syria-elections-russia
In a U-turn that might enter diplomatic annals as among the most bizarre, the
United Nations' special envoy on Syria, Staffan di Mistura, is forecasting an
end of the war and the holding of elections there next year.
In a BBC radio interview this week, di Mistura more than implied that the
international community must now accept the prolongation of President Bashar
al-Assad's rule and the holding of elections by what is left of his
administration.
Di Mistura's new position is in sharp contrast with the analysis he offered last
year when he explicitly ruled out "any possibility of holding elections under
the present regime."
Spelling out his new analysis yesterday, di Mistura speculated that the Islamic
State will lose its last strongholds in Syria by October, paving the way for
"free and fair elections."
In a U-turn that might enter diplomatic annals as among the most bizarre, the
United Nations' special envoy on Syria, Staffan di Mistura (pictured), is
forecasting an end of the war and the holding of elections there next year.
(Image source: UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré)
"What we are seeing is, in my opinion, the beginning of the end of this war...
what we need to make sure is that this becomes also the beginning of peace. And
that is where the challenge starts at this very moment," he said.
Analysts believe that di Mistura, frustrated by his failure to broker a deal
between the rival blocs in this conflict, is trying to inject a bit of "positive
mood" into what is an increasingly grim picture. Just a few weeks ago,
diplomatic circles were abuzz with rumors about di Mistura either being sacked
or throwing in the towel.
"His new optimism may be due to some vague promises from Moscow," says a UN
official on condition of anonymity."With the Trump administration apparently letting Russia play the lead in this
phase of the Syrian drama, di Mistura needs some backing from Russia to get
anything done. Russia, in return, demands that the issue of al-Assad's future be
set aside for the time being."
To cajole di Mistura in line, Moscow seems to have also promised a set of as yet
unspecific concessions by the Assad clan in Damascus.
What di Mistura ignores is the fact that Assad and his backers who think they
have won the war are in no mood to make any meaningful concessions to their
opponents who may represent a majority of the Syrian people.
"Russia and Iran are certainly trying to split the anti-Assad opposition," says
Iranian analyst Nasser Zamani. "The issue of early elections without a decision
on Assad's fate is likely to cause such a split."
The so-called Cairo and Moscow opposition groups, believed to have a tacit
understanding with at least part of the Assad regime, are likely to welcome the
idea of elections in 2018. The main opposition coalition, known as the High
Negotiations Committee, however, is likely to reject elections in circumstances
in which the Assad regime controls at least 40 per cent of the population.
Di Mistura's election gambit may, in fact, have little do with the core problems
of the Syrian tragedy. It is clear that no serious elections could be held in
such a short time and with no transition authority in place.
The dramatic changes in the Syrian demographic composition mean that no credible
electoral register could be established without a proper census. By most
estimates, at least half of Syria's population has been transformed into
refugees or displaced persons within the country.
Even if some kind of register is worked out, other key issues such as
designating constituencies or adopting the system of proportional representation
are complex enough to require more time to tackle.
Then there is the problem of who will organize, monitor and ultimately certify
any election.
In areas still nominally under his control, Assad has not allowed the United
Nations to build a credible presence that could be used as the basis for
monitoring elections.
The situation in areas held by the opposition is even worse, as far as the UN's
ability to have an impact is concerned.
More importantly, perhaps, it is not clear what the election will be about and
whether it will be fought by individual candidates or coalition of rival
parties. As far as Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers are concerned, the
exercise may simply be used as window-dressing to produce another Third
World-style majority for the regime.
Elections would be meaningful if the Syrians are offered a real choice of
alternatives. And that requires the production of programs that the electorate
can compare and judge.
Right now, the remnants of the Ba'ath Party, still nominally leading the
government in Damascus, is in no position to offer any concrete program beyond
obedience to President Assad.
The opposition coalition, however, does have something to offer in the shape of
the "transition road-map" approved at a conference in London last year and
envisaging the formation of an interim government within six months. The plan
implicitly accepts Assad's continued presence for six months until the
transition government is put in place.
It also insists that "war criminals and those charged with crimes against
humanity" would not get a role in the transition. However, it stopped short of
demanding the dismantling of the current regime's administrative, military and
security structures.
In an indirect attempt at addressing Russian concerns that Assad's departure
might lead to a collapse of the Syrian state and army, as was the case in Iraq
in 2003, "the road map" makes it clear that the opposition is looking not "for
purges" but for "reforms based on consensus and accommodation".
Under the "road map", special committees will review the "present situation" of
Syria's military and security apparatus with a view to restructuring them and
retraining their personnel to serve a people-based government rather than a
power based on clannish and narrow ideological considerations.
Although suggestions regarding the federal option are not specifically raised,
the "road-map" makes it clear it seeks the preservation of Syria's largely
centralized state structures with a series of reforms aimed at promoting
democratization.
The "road map" initially enjoyed di Mistura's strong backing but is no longer
mentioned by him. This maybe because the UN special envoy is trying to find a
way for Russia out of the Syrian quagmire rather than paving the way for lasting
peace in that war-torn country.
Di Mistura himself has hinted at this:
"Even those who believe they won the war -- that is the government -- they will
need to make a gesture, otherwise Daesh will come back in a month or two months'
time. Nobody had an interest in a resurgence of IS in Syria".
He went on to say that the leadership in Moscow, recalling the Soviet experience
of war in Afghanistan, "certainly wants an exit strategy."
Giving Moscow an exit strategy in Syria cannot come at the expense of the Syrian
people who have fought the regime for almost seven years.
The issue of Assad's future cannot be fudged. If elections are to be held,
Syrians must be offered a clear choice between a regime that has brought them to
grief and an opposition that may offer a less bad alternative.
**Amir Taheri, formerly editor of Iran's premier newspaper, Kayhan, before the
Iranian revolution of 1979, is a prominent author based on Europe. He is the
Chairman of Gatestone Europe.
**This article first appeared in Asharq Al Awsat and is reprinted here with the
kind permission of the author.
© 2017 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.
On the demise of intellectualism and ‘end of the preacher’
Fahad Suleiman Shoqiran/Al Arabiya/September 06/17
Comprehensive theories have been criticized since the mid-twentieth century.
Those who have been criticized include preachers, intellectuals and religious
clerics. Michel Foucault was an outspoken critic as he announced the demise of
the intellectual and even criticized his major project. “I never wrote anything
but illusions,” he once said. Gilles Deleuze was also a prominent critic as he
refused to be described as an “intellectual” and believed this description meant
gossip and boring television appearances. He preferred the term “philosopher”
because it means being preoccupied with small details while working to develop
or define a concept. Roland Barthes said: “Intellectuals are good for nothing.”
This orientation affected Arab thought via writings that criticized
intellectuals. Some examples are the books “The End of the Preacher” by Abd al-Ilah
Balqaziz published in 2000 and “The illusions of the elite and the criticism of
the intellectual” by Ali Harb published in 2004. Many Arab authors later
published similar books announcing the end of the intellectual’s “preaching”
role in the public sense.
Ignorance is spreading in the Arab and Muslim world and respect for knowledge
and education is decreasing in a frightening manner
Prestige through silence
Social media exposed many intellectual icons who gained their prestige through
their silence and balanced presence via writings in intellectual publications.
Social media revealed that some of these intellectuals are in fact ignorant or
frauds while many of them tried to curry favor with their followers.
They sought popularity thus destroying the value of education and knowledge. A
public intellectual suffers from the same disease as a preacher, artist or star
as they all feed off followers and care about nothing but pleasing them.
Education and knowledge are endless but the intellectuals’ and preachers’ main
problem is that they claim to be perfect and show everyone that they can answer
anything or debate any topic. A public intellectual, like a preacher, claims to
know the entire truth. He has the energy to brag about his achievements and take
pride in all the fuss which his empty presence causes on social media.
The Amr Khaled example
Within this context, preacher Amr Khaled recently caused a big fuss after he
used his Facebook page while performing hajj (Muslim pilgrimage) to pray for his
followers and wish that God makes their dreams come true. This simply exposes
his desire to please his many followers. Meanwhile, his followers stated that
they were deeply moved by his prayers while many mocked him.
Some analysts concluded that the jokes pertaining to the matter were because
societies have matured. However, Sheikh Amr has millions of followers.
Therefore, concluding that Muslim societies have matured – through the comments
condemning Amr’s recent move – is inaccurate. Ignorance is actually spreading in
the Arab and Muslim world and respect for knowledge and education is decreasing
in a frightening manner.
It is actually unbelievable how no one reads or learns about new things. This is
all because of the intellectual’s failure, the end of the preacher and the
emergence of tools replacing knowledge.
These tools help one achieve a sense of psychological victory as they make one
feel important when they post a picture or write a bad line of poetry or post a
new idea which they think are new to this world. When others share these posts
or like them, one feels complete though he made no effort whatsoever. Truth is,
however, it’s all emptiness and illusions.
It is important to declare the end of the preaching intellectual’s task no
matter what his post is or what his logic and approach are. Another word should
be used as many people who call themselves “intellectuals” made the mistake of
seeking to please others. Sometimes this went as far as submitting to
fundamentalists and armies of violence and terrorism.
The term “intellectual-preacher” has been exhausted. Human being must break free
from misleading and harmful symbols and icons. It is time when we return to his
shadow, as described by Gilles Deleuze, one of the men who announced the end of
the intellectualism.
Amr Khaled and the stardom of preaching
Mashari Althaydi/Al Arabiya/September 06/17
Egyptian preacher Amr Khaled – who is no stranger to polemics and controversies
– stirred up news after he released video clips of himself from the Hajj
pilgrimage.
These video clips included passages where he recorded himself in front of the
Kabaa with the Ihram attire praying heartily with devotion. This led to
criticism and ridicule from several parties.
Naturally, there were those who defended the star of Egyptian television
preacher and called the attacks directed toward him unfair and unfounded.
He himself defended his recordings, which comprised several passages on
spirituality and the days of Hajj. He stated that he was unjustly targeted and
reiterated his love for all Muslims. He also insisted that his video clips cut
off abruptly and were hence taken of context.
Also read: On the demise of intellectualism and ‘end of the preacher’
The issue is not the story itself but in the distorted reality reflected by this
incident. Since the proliferation of satellite channels, and emergence of social
media platforms, we are experiencing new trends in religious preaching. This new
phenomenon stirs people’s spirituality and invokes religious passions.
However, this time, it does not target the elderly or those accustomed with the
former methods of religious preaching and guidance. Indeed, this new kind of
preaching seeks youth including young girls in their quest for a “modern” and
trendy way of preaching or what is called “good presentation”.
The 21st century methods of preaching have become sophisticated, and the new
preacher has been transformed into a millionaire advertising star sought by
government institutions and corporations alike
Populist preaching
This new populist preaching is bold in both its presentation and content without
particular regard to the strict standards of texts and their meaning. Religious
scholars and erudite condemned these practices in the past and those who
perpetuated them.
Just recently, before the age of satellite channels and Internet, the public
came to know about a number of preachers, most of whom belonged to the Muslim
Brotherhood.
The latter preached with fervor and employed sermons in order to promote the
Brotherhood’s values and agenda, and commonly resorted to the use of slang jokes
on the pulpit.
Nowadays, a similar scenario is taking place even though preachers of the past
have been replaced by the rising stars of satellite TV and social media
platforms.
However, the new 21st century methods of preaching have become more
sophisticated, and the new preacher has been transformed into a millionaire
advertising star sought by government institutions and corporations alike.
Does the shortcomings we are witnessing today lie in the stars themselves or the
audience that created and propelled these celebrities? Or does it reside
somewhere else? What is certain is that during our times even the most sacred
values have been made devoid of sanctity.