Detailed
Lebanese & Lebanese Related LCCC English New Bulletin For November 01/2018
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias
Bejjani
To Read The Detailed English
News Bulletin For November 01/2018 Click on the Link below
http://data.eliasbejjaninews.com/newselias18/english.november01.18.htm
News Bulletin Achieves Since
2006/Click on
the Link Below
Click Here to enter the LCCC Arabic/English news bulletins Achieves since 2006
Bible
Quotations
Do you
thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have
done all that you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless slaves; we have
done only what we ought to have done
Luke 17/05-10: "The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’The Lord
replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this
mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea", and it would obey you.
‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing
or tending sheep in the field, "Come here at once and take your place at the
table"? Would you not rather say to him, "Prepare supper for me, put on your
apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink"?Do
you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have
done all that you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless slaves; we have
done only what we ought to have done!""
نشرات اخبار عربية وانكليزية مطولة ومفصلة يومية على موقعنا الألكتروني على
الرابط التالي
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/
Daily Lebanese/Arabic - English news bulletins on our LCCC web site.Click on
the link below
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/
Titles For The Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials
from miscellaneous sources published on November 01/18
As Cabinet formation in Lebanon continues to stall, economy spirals/Georgi
Azar/Annahar/October 31/
Jounieh a regional hotspot for pollution, says Greenpeace/Georgi Azar/Annahar/October
31/
How will Hezbollah act in Lebanon’s new government/Mohamed Chebaro/Arab
News/October 31/18
US Mid East forces brace for trouble from Iran over impending oil sanctions/DebkeFile/October
31/18
Pakistan: Asia Bibi Acquitted After Years Awaiting Death for "Blasphemy"/Giulio
Meotti/Gatestone Institute/October 31/18
The real reason behind Susan Rice’s attack on Saudi Arabia/Mamdouh AlMuhaini/Al
Arabiya/October 31/18
Susan Rice, is Iran only a Saudi problem/Mashari Althaydi/Al Arabiya/October
31/18
Social or antisocial media/Jordanian King, Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein/Arab
News/October 31/18
EU’s fundamental values at stake in year of reckoning/Joschka Fischer/Arab
News/October 31/18
What Would Reagan Do on Iran/Simon Miles and Farzan Sabet/Foreign
Policy/October 31/18
Most Refugees Won’t Return to Syria until Conditions Are Right/Peter Yeo/The
Hill/October 31/18
The Idea of a New Syrian Constitution Is a Diplomatic Fig Leaf/Faisal Al
Yafai/The National/October 31/18
Titles For The
Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
November 01/18
Guterres: Hezbollah will drag Lebanon
into war
Aoun Slams 'Use of Delay as Tactic', Asks Hizbullah to Avoid 'Crack in
National Unity'
As Cabinet formation in Lebanon continues to stall, economy spirals
Jounieh a regional hotspot for pollution, says Greenpeace
Aoun Meets with EU Ambassador Christina Lassen
Aoun meets UNFPA's Kanim, says Lebanon keen on pluralism in the face of
displacement
Report: Aoun Wished Govt. Would Be Formed before Election Anniversary
Hariri, Rampling tackle general situation
Report: Hariri, Khalil Hold ‘Heated’ Meeting Away from Spotlight
Berri on government formation: All we have left is prayersBerri 'Praying'
for Govt. Formation, Holds Back on Legislative Session
Berri 'Praying' for Govt. Formation, Holds Back on Legislative Session
Report: Bassil Meets Hariri over Sunni Obstacle, Maronite Seats
Bassil to Aoun: Nothing Will Stop Us
SKeyes Condemns Prison Sentence against Journalist Fidaa Itani
Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel Arrives in Moscow to Take Part in Unity Day
Celebration
Hankache Lashes Out at 'Time-Waste Heroes' in Wake of Alarming World Bank
Report
Press Syndicate delegation pays solidarity visit to Saudi Embassy
How will Hezbollah act in Lebanon’s new government?
Titles For The Latest LCCC
Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News published
on November 01/18
U.S. Calls for Yemen
Ceasefire
Turkey Doubts Saudi Willingness to 'Genuinely Cooperate' on Khashoggi
Russia Probes Terror after Teen Suicide Attack on Security Service
US Mid East forces brace for trouble from Iran over impending oil sanctions
Guterres letter to UN Security Council announces new Syria envoy
Hundreds of Kurdish fighters arrive in eastern Syria to help fight ISIS
US-backed Syria force suspends anti-ISIS attacks after turkey hits
Blast kills three in Iraq, ISIS claims attack
US calls for end to Yemen hostilities and resumption of peace talks
President Rouhani anticipates difficult months ahead for Iranians
Iran summons Danish ambassador over attack allegations
The spokesman Yaquob Hurr al-Tisteri said that the Danish security
authorities thwarted an
South Sudan rebel leader Machar arrives in capital, first time since 2016
In first, Israel appoints woman as ambassador to Egypt
Oman minister visits Ramallah after Netanyahu talks
The Latest LCCC Lebanese Related News published on
November 01/18
Guterres: Hezbollah
will drag Lebanon into war
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Wednesday, 31 October 2018/UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres has warned in a report to the Security Council that
the militia group Hezbollah could drag Lebanon into war and called for its
disarmament. Guterres said Hezbollah was the most powerful militia in
Lebanon and asked in his report whether the Lebanese state could exercise
its sovereignty while Hezbollah's strengthens its military arsenal. Guterres
also called for the implementation of the resolution calling for the
disarmament of militias in Lebanon. His report also warned against the
consequences of the participation of Hezbollah in the conflict in Syria,
considering it a violation of the policy of self-distancing in Lebanon.
Guterres also referred to Hezbollah's assistance to the Houthis in Yemen as
military advisers and trainers, saying that their actions pose a serious
regional and global threat.
Aoun Slams 'Use of Delay as Tactic', Asks Hizbullah to
Avoid 'Crack in National Unity'
President Michel Aoun on Wednesday slammed what he called “the use of delay
as a political tactic,” in reference to the stalled cabinet formation
process, as he advised Hizbullah to avoid any “crack in national unity.” “We
have given some parties a share bigger than their size to relieve them
regarding this government,” Aoun said in an apparent reference to the
Lebanese Forces. “The government should be formed according to specific
standards and it should not marginalize any sect or group and had everyone
accepted their sizes there wouldn't have been a problem,” Aoun added in a
nationally-televised interview marking two years since his election as
president. Asked about the emergence of the so-called Sunni representation
hurdle as the new cabinet was on the verge of formation, the president said:
“The obstacles are unjustified and using delay as a political tactic
undermines the national strategy that we are in dire need for.” “Every
minute of delay in the cabinet formation process will cost us a lot,” Aoun
warned. “The Consultative Sunni Gathering are individuals and not a bloc and
they have grouped together lately and we want the premier to be strong
because he has major challenges ahead,” he added.
“As for Hizbullah's stance, we don't want any crack in national unity,” Aoun
went on to say, when asked whether Hizbullah's support for the independent
Sunni MPs might spark a Sunni-Shiite clash. The president added: “The
situation is not easy and I don't know if everyone evaluates things like I
do.”
Turning to the tensions between the LF and the Free Patriotic Movement, Aoun
said “there is no infighting in the Christian arena but rather conflicting
viewpoints.”“There is a political dispute and not a dispute over the
country,” he added. Asked about reports suggesting that the financial
situation in Lebanon is facing collapse, Aoun said: “I do not have immediate
concerns over the economic and financial situations but should we continue
in the same manner the danger will become imminent.” “The media is
contributing to spreading harmful reports in this regard,” he lamented. The
new cabinet was on the verge of formation on Monday after the LF accepted
the portfolios that were assigned to it but a last-minute hurdle over the
representation of the so-called independent Sunni MPs has surfaced.
Hizbullah has thrown its weight behind the MPs' demand and refrained from
providing Hariri with the names of its own ministers in a bid to press him
to accept giving a seat to the aforementioned Sunni grouping.
As Cabinet formation in Lebanon continues to stall, economy spirals
Georgi Azar/Annahar/October 31/
BEIRUT: As both local and regional experts continue to sound alarm bells
over Lebanon’s dire economic state and the need to form a new Cabinet,
Lebanese lawmakers have returned to wrangling over the allocation of
ministries and the size of their individual shares. The Lebanese Forces
ceding ground earlier this week and capitulating to the demands of the Free
Patriotic Movement breathed life into hopes of a swift Cabinet formation,
yet the emergence of a new obstacle has essentially brought back the main
players to the negotiating table. March 8-affiliated Sunni MPs, backed by
Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, are now demanding
to be represented in the upcoming Cabinet. With both Shiite leaders throwing
their weight behind the 6 MP-strong coalition, the pro-Hezbollah Sunni bloc
is now poised to join the Cabinet, despite Hariri’s utter refusal to cede
one minister on their behalf.
With the emergence of this latest stumbling block, the pro-Hezbollah Sunni
bloc has continued distancing itself from blame for the latest setback. In
an interview Wednesday, MP Walid Sukkarieh maintained his willingness to
form a new Cabinet “as quickly as possible,” casting aside “responsibility
for the formation delay.” Both Nasrallah and Berri have also refused to hand
in the names of their proposed ministers thus far, in an attempt to further
pile pressure on Hariri who’s hinted at the possibility of stepping down as
Prime Minister-designate.
Hariri found himself in this predicament after suffering a devastating loss
during the May 6 parliamentary elections, capturing a mere 17 MPs across
Lebanon's districts, down from 27 nine years ago.
This latest development prompted President Michel Aoun to hold talks with
Hariri on Tuesday, during which the premier reiterated his refusal to hand
over a seat from his own share in the Cabinet to the group of Sunni MPs. But
sources close to the negotiation process have noted that a breakthrough
could be reached at any moment, a day after the World Bank issued a scathing
report warning of further inaction. From rising unemployment and debt to GDP
ratio, to increasing poverty rates, the World Bank highlighted Lebanon’s
lack of obvious sources for an economic boost before calling for the
implementation of swift reforms to tackle these issues. Lebanon’s
medium-term economic prospects remain sluggish, it said, indicating that the
economy has "struggled to reduce widespread poverty and generate inclusive
growth." “The risk profile for Lebanon is rising sharply in light of the
convergence of a number of negative local and global factors, including
global monetary conditions,” it said. “Fiscal and electricity reforms are
highlighted as priorities.” The positive confidence following the CEDRE IV
donor conference, during which the Lebanese government secured over $11
billion in grants and soft loans to kickstart the economy, has waned as the
government impasse lingers on. The Central Bank has continuously attempted
to counter this downward trend, with the latest being a swap of Treasury
bills held by BDL with newly MoF-issued Eurobonds in the amount of $5.5
billion, around $3 billion of which were subsequently sold (along with
enticements) to banks. This was done to raise BDL's foreign exchange
reserves, which reached around $44 billion by the end of June.
Jounieh a regional hotspot for pollution, says Greenpeace
Georgi Azar/Annahar/October 31/
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s city of Jounieh ranked fifth among the Arab world's 23
countries in terms pollution clusters, producing record levels of nitrogen
dioxide, according to environmental campaign group Greenpeace. In a report
released Monday, Greenpeace listed Jounieh among the world's top 50
pollution hotspots, coming ahead of major cities like Cairo and New Delhi.
Satellite data produced by a European Space Agency satellite and analyzed by
Greenpeace between June 1 and August 31 showed Jounieh’s nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) emissions to be one of the highest in the world.
Nitrous oxide is a dangerous pollutant emitted into the air when burning
fossil fuels such as oil and diesel, with the main source emanating from the
transport sector and electricity production plants from the Zouk power
factories, as well as the diesel generators located throughout the country.
Coal burning and transport emissions are the principal sources of air
pollution in the region, the report noted. “Air pollution is a global health
crisis, with up to 95% of the world breathing unsafe air. With hotspots
across six continents, ranging from cities to industrial clusters to
agricultural areas, this new analysis shows us more clearly than ever before
just how big a part of the picture NO2 pollution is,” said Lauri Myllyvirta,
Greenpeace Nordic air pollution campaigner. "We know that Lebanon's air is
heavily polluted, but we are surprised that Jounieh is in a position higher
than major cities such as New Delhi," said Greenpeace Middle East campaign
official Julain Jreissati. . "It is a frightening warning that air pollution
in the densely populated areas has reached very dangerous levels,
endangering the health of Lebanese citizens. " Nitrogen oxides (NOx) —
including NO2 — are estimated to cause many thousands of premature deaths
worldwide every year. The world’s biggest hotspot over the three month
period is Mpumalanga in South Africa, home to a cluster of a dozen
coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of over 32 gigawatts owned and
operated by Eskom. - With AP
Aoun Meets with EU Ambassador Christina Lassen
Naharnet/October 31/18/President Michel Aoun met on Wednesday
with European Union Ambassador Christina Lassen in Baabda to take stock of
recent domestic and regional political developments. The visit coincided
with Aoun's two-year anniversary in office and was an opportunity to discuss
the milestones that have shaped his tenure so far, including the successful
parliamentary elections, as well as upcoming priorities, the Delegation of
the European Union to the Republic of Lebanon said in a press release. In
this context, Lassen inquired about the remaining obstacles facing the
formation of a new government of national unity, and hoped that they would
be resolved soon, for the benefit of Lebanon and the Lebanese people.
She also exchanged with the President on his vision for the
Ministerial Statement, expressing hope that the next government would take
into account the principles expressed by the International Support Group for
Lebanon and discussed at the international conferences held in Rome, Paris
and Brussels in support of Lebanon earlier this year. These notably included
the policy of disassociation from external conflicts, resumption of a
national dialogue for a National Defense Strategy, and the implementation of
a number of important structural and sectoral reforms needed to attract
investments towards Lebanon’s sustainable economic development.Lassen
discussed with Aoun the follow-up to the support conferences and encouraged
Lebanon to accelerate setting up the follow-up mechanisms agreed in the
framework of CEDRE as well as the fight against corruption. "The European
Union will continue to support all efforts by Lebanon to implement the
necessary reforms, in a spirit of good will and commitment to our pledges",
the Ambassador said.
Aoun meets UNFPA's Kanim, says Lebanon keen on pluralism in the face of
displacement
Wed 31 Oct 2018/NNA - President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, welcomed
at Baabda Palace on Wednesday the Executive Director of the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Natalia Kanim. "Lebanon is endeavouring to
promote the rights of women and children and to enhance their participation
in the country's political life," Aoun told his visitor. "Freedom of
expression is safeguarded in Lebanon, and the independence of the judiciary
is effective. The best conditions for prisoners are maintained, and their
rights are guaranteed," Aoun told the UN official. "The state encourages
Lebanese women to be effective in the field of legislation, and women are
appointed in several positions within the executive branch," Aoun added. The
President also explained to Kanim achievements on the economic level,
starting with the adoption of a modern economic reform plan, reaching the
national security plan through which terrorist threats have been eliminated.
He also briefed her on the achievement of parliamentary elections "on the
basis of proportionality for the first time in Lebanon's history, which
enabled the representation of all the Lebanese alike." The President of the
Republic stressed ongoing efforts to form a new government and to begin the
completion of reforms, as well as to take advantage of decisions and
recommendations of the international conferences such as CEDRE, Rome 2, and
Brussels. Moreover, Aoun stressed Lebanon's keenness on preserving cultural,
ethnic and religious diversity in the region, especially in the face of
attempts at displacement and division. In turn, Kanim expressed her pleasure
to visit Lebanon, and thanked President Aoun for receiving her with her
accompanying delegation.Kanim praised the relations linking Lebanon to the
United Nations organizations in general, and to the United Nations
Population Fund in specific. "We are looking forward to strengthening this
cooperation under the auspices and care of President Aoun," she said. The UN
diplomat lauded that "the existing partnership with the Lebanese National
Commission for Lebanese Women, headed by Mrs. Claudine Aoun Roukoz," hoping
that Lebanese women will participate more and more in the Lebanese political
life.
Report: Aoun Wished Govt. Would Be Formed before Election Anniversary
Naharnet/October 31/18/President Michel Aoun was reportedly disappointed
that a government was not formed before his second anniversary as head of
state, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Wednesday. Well-informed
political sources said the new obstacle, related to the representation of
opposition Sunni MPs, that delayed the government formation further, has
“echoed negatively” among circles of the President and his Free Patriotic
Movement. Aoun was hoping the government would be formed before he
celebrates the second anniversary of his election, which happens today, the
daily said. The President is set to make a televised appearance on the
occasion to talk about the achievements of his presidential term and the
plans that he is counting on to implement through the new government. A new
obstacle had emerged Monday in the cabinet formation process after Hizbullah
insisted that a grouping of Sunni MPs opposed to Prime Minister-designate
Saad Hariri should be represented in the government.
The so-called Sunni hurdle is the last obstacle delaying the
formation of the government after a standoff over Christian and Druze seats
was resolved. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has meanwhile announced
that he'd rather step down than give independent Sunni MPs a seat from his
own ministerial share. The sources told al-Hayat that “as much as this new
condition constitutes a slap for Hariri and his mission, it also constitutes
a slap for Hizbullah’s ally Aoun, who was hoping to celebrate the
anniversary under a new government.”
Hariri, Rampling
tackle general situation
Wed 31 Oct 2018/NNA - Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri received this
evening at the Center House the British Ambassador to Lebanon, Chris
Rampling, with whom he discussed the general situation and the bilateral
relations. Premier Hariri also met with Mufti of Tripoli and the North Malek
Shaar, with most recent developments and northern affairs featuring high on
their talks.
Report: Hariri, Khalil Hold ‘Heated’ Meeting Away from
Spotlight
Naharnet/October 31/18/As wrangling over representation in the new
government takes new forms each day, a “heated” meeting was reportedly held
away from the spotlight between Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and
senior Hizbullah official Hajj Hussein Khalil, al-Joumhouria daily reported
on Wednesday. The two men have met two day ago, during which Khalil (Hizbullah
secretary-general's political aide) insisted that a grouping of Sunni MPs,
opposed to Hariri, should be represented in the government, said the daily.
The meeting was described as “heated”, and when Hariri asked to provide him
with the names of Hizbullah’s new ministers, like other parties did, Khalil
refused in a bid to press the PM-designate to accept his demand.
The new obstacle had emerged Monday after a long-running standoff
over the representation of the Lebanese Forces was resolved earlier in the
day. Hariri was tasked with forming the government in May. His mission has
since been delayed because of wrangling between the country’s political
parties over shares and quotas. Later on Wednesday, al-Mustaqbal Movement
sources told LBCI TV station: “We have no knowledge about such a meeting.”
Berri on government formation: All we
have left is prayers
Wed 31 Oct 2018/NNA - Visiting MPs within the framework of "Wednesday
Gathering" with House Speaker Nabih Berri. quoted him as saying that he has
undertaken all the necessary contacts on the subject of government
formation. According to the visiting lawmakers, Berri said: "All we have
left in this regard is prayers." Speaker Berru sounded the alarm once again
on the seriousness of the current economic situation and its repercussions
at the social and daily living conditions. Berri also addressed the issue of
the pollution of the Litani River, expressing his dissatisfaction with the
method adopted sp far to resolve this crisis. Berri urged the General
Prosecution to get hold of this case to reach a radical solution to this
crisis. MPs said the Speaker had the intention to call for a legislative
session, however preferred to postpone his decision pending developments on
the local scene.
Berri 'Praying' for Govt. Formation, Holds Back on Legislative Session
Naharnet/October 31/18/Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced Wednesday
that “all we can do is to pray for the government to be formed.”Berri also
warned over the economic situation in the country and the “dangerous
developments” in the region, telling MPs that he prefers to hold back on a
legislative session that he had intended to call for in light of “the
current situation and circumstances.”The new cabinet was on the verge of
formation on Monday after the Lebanese Forces accepted the portfolios that
have been assigned to it but a last-minute hurdle over the representation of
the so-called independent Sunni MPs has surfaced. Hizbullah has backed the
MPs' demand and refrained from providing Prime Minister-designate Saad
Hariri with the names of its own ministers in a bid to press him to accept
giving a seat to the aforementioned Sunni grouping.
Report: Bassil Meets Hariri over Sunni Obstacle, Maronite Seats
Naharnet/October 31/18/Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil held
talks Wednesday at the Center House with Prime Minister-designate Saad
Hariri. MTV said Bassil carried to Hariri a
proposal from President Michel Aoun to resolve the so-called Sunni obstacle
that is delaying the formation of the new government.
“The proposal calls for naming a Sunni minister not provocative to
Hariri from the President's share,” the TV network said. The proposed
candidate “should not belong to Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh's
bloc, which means that MPs Faisal Karami and Jihad al-Samad are excluded,”
MTV added. Separately, Bassil carried to Hariri a demand from Aoun to
“redistribute seats among sects, especially those allocated to Maronites,
after the Lebanese Forces demanded that it be represented by two Maronites,
a Greek Orthodox and an Armenian Catholic,” the TV network said. “Aoun wants
the LF to be represented by one instead of two Maronites and Center House
sources have said that, 'in this case, it seems that they don't want a
government,'” MTV added. The new cabinet was on the verge of formation on
Monday after the LF accepted the portfolios that were assigned to it but a
last-minute hurdle over the representation of the so-called independent
Sunni MPs has surfaced. Hizbullah has backed the
MPs' demand and refrained from providing Hariri with the names of its own
ministers in a bid to press him to accept giving a seat to the
aforementioned Sunni grouping.
Bassil to Aoun: Nothing Will Stop Us
Naharnet/October 31/18/Head of the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc and
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil praised the “achievements” made
during the term of President Michel Aoun (FPM founder), while lashing out at
rival parties without naming them as the President marks the two-year
anniversary in office. Addressing Aoun, Jebran said: “No one can stop the
achievements of the (presidential) tenure, because in a period of only two
years you were able to achieve what they did not achieve in decades.”
Without naming anyone, Bassil added addressing Aoun: “You have succeeded
where they failed. They have placed obstacles, lied and cursed. Their only
concern was to undermine the accomplishments of others without themselves
achieving anything. As for us, we have made a vow and we will carry on until
the end, nothing will stop us.”Aoun is set to make a televised appearance
marking his two-year anniversary as head of state to talk about the
“achievements” of his presidential term and the plans that he is counting on
to implement through the new government.
SKeyes Condemns Prison
Sentence against Journalist Fidaa Itani
Source: Beirut – SKeyes/October 31/18/On October 22, 2018, the Baabda
criminal court judge Ahmad Shehade sentenced journalist Fidaa Itani to two
months in prison and fined him 35 million Lebanese pounds for libel,
defamation and slander against Minister of Foreign Affairs and Free
Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil, following a Facebook post he
published. On June 29, 2018, Itani was sentenced to four months in prison
and fined 10 million Lebanese pounds in other lawsuits filed by Bassil.
Complaints against Itani were also previously lodged by Wafiq Safa, a
Hezbollah high-ranking official and Nader Hariri, former chief-of-staff to
the Prime Minister. The SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom firmly
condemns the use of justice as a tool of repression and intimidation against
journalists and opposition activists. The Center is also strongly opposed to
any prison sentence against journalists and calls on the Editors’ Syndicate
to adopt a firm position on this issue and refrain from playing up to
political parties. Fidaa Itani currently lives in the UK where he was
granted political asylum to shield him from the serious threats he had been
receiving during the last years he spent in Lebanon. Journalists have the
duty to shed light on flawed government performance and hold authorities to
account. And authorities have the duty to secure an atmosphere of freedom
and justice while preserving citizens’ right to access information. The
“Stability v. Freedom” equation that parties in power are trying to
inculcate in the minds of Lebanese people is totally unacceptable.
Kataeb leader Samy
Gemayel Arrives in Moscow to Take Part in Unity Day Celebration
Kataeb.org/Wednesday 31st October 2018/Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel on
Wednesday arrived in Moscow upon an invitation he received to take part in
Russia's National Unity Day celebration at the Kremlin. Gemayel will be
meeting with officials at the Russian Foreign Ministry, as well as the State
Duma and Orthodox Patriarchate. The Kataeb leader is accompanied by his
deputy Salim Sayegh, MP Elias Hankache, former MP Fady Haber
Hankache Lashes Out at 'Time-Waste Heroes' in Wake of
Alarming World Bank Report
Kataeb.org/Wednesday 31st October 2018/MP Elias Hankache on Wednesday lashed
out at political forces that have been haggling over ministerial shares
while Lebanon’s risk framework is “rising sharply”, as per the World Bank.
On Tuesday, the World Bank issued its Lebanon Economic Outlook report in
which it warned that the utility of some of the tools used by the central
bank is being depleted after years of implementation."On the other hand, the
heroes of time-waste and bickering over ministerial shares are moving from
one complexity to another, as the end up submitting to a 'God-given' will
instead of forming a rescue government," Hankache wrote on Twitter.
Press Syndicate delegation pays solidarity visit to Saudi Embassy
Wed 31 Oct 2018/NNA - A delegation of the Lebanese Press Federation, led by
Dean, Aouni al-Kaaki, on Wednesday visited the headquarters of Saudi Embassy
IN Beirut, in solidarity with the Kingdom and in condemnation of the
front-page editorial published in "Ad-Diyar" daily newspaper. The delegation
was greeted by Saudi Minister Plenipotentiary Charge d'Affaires Walid al-Bukhari,
in the presence of UAE Ambassador to Lebanon, Saeed Hamad al-Shamsi, and
Kuwait's Ambassador, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Lebanon, Abdel Aal al-Qinai.
Al-Kaaki condemned the editorial published in the Lebanese daily, noting
that "it was a dark day in the history of the Lebanese press."He expressed
discontent of the Lebanese journalistic and press body in this regard,
underlining that Lebanon is the country of liberties, culture, science and
ethics. Al-Kaaki apologized to all Saudi officials, and to the Saudi
ambassador, recalling that Lebanese officials have deplored what took place.
For his part, Kuwaiti ambassador al-Qinai said that journalist Charles Ayoub
did not take into account the national interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese
people, stressing that the information sector delivers the constructive
message of ethics, with its prime mission to bring people and countries
closer together. Bukhari, for his part, highly appreciated the solidarity
visit by the Lebanese media delegation, who represent the principles of
moderation and moral values. The Saudi diplomat said what happened did not
reflect Lebanon's press ethics, neither in content nor in message. He said
he has received several contacts from reporters who do not share the views
of Saudi Arabia, yet they voiced solidarity with the Kingdom. Bukhari also
thanked the President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, who in his words,
personally followed up on the case and instructed the Minister of Justice to
take immediate legal action in this regard. Bukhari also thanked the
positions of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, Progressive Socialist
Party head Walid Jumblatt, Information Minister Melhem Riachy, and all
officials who deplored such a conduct. Bukhari announced that diplomatic
measures will be taken against the daily, noting that his Country will not
allow any irresponsible media to disrupt relations between Lebanon and the
kingdom, which is keen on the security, stability and prosperity of Lebanon.
The UAE ambassador Al-Shamsi stressed the paramount need for necessary legal
measures to deter such abuses.
How will Hezbollah act
in Lebanon’s new government?
محمد شبارو: كيف سيتصرف حزب الله في الحكومة الجديدة
Mohamed Chebaro/Arab News/October 31/18
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/68529/mohamed-chebaro-how-will-hezbollah-act-in-lebanons-new-government-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88-%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%81-%D8%AD/
Many descriptions have been used over the years to refer to the Lebanese
militia group Hezbollah. It was seen as a militant group; a terror group; a
resistance group fighting Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon; a key
supporter of the Palestinian cause rejecting all forms of peace with the
Zionist enemy; a unit in the Iranian revolutionary guards working to advance
Iran’s interests in the Arab world; and a protector of the Shiite community
in Lebanon and beyond. Slowly but surely, Hezbollah became a political force
recognized by many Western governments as the political wing of a Lebanese
Shiite militant group capable of getting its representatives elected as MPs
in Lebanon’s parliament, as ministers in the Cabinet, or as officers across
all key units of the embattled Lebanese armed forces and security forces.
In short, Hezbollah has, over the years, moved from being a mere militia
propped up by Iran and Syria to a Trojan horse not only controlling Lebanon,
but also penetrating the state and societies in the Middle East, as well as
shaping the wider narrative in the Arabic-speaking world.
But, if the Cabinet formed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri is sworn in at long
last, history will record the first time Hezbollah has ascended to control
the Lebanese government and, by default, the country through democratic
means. This is the result of a carefully recrafted electoral law that has
ensured Hezbollah and its allies from across Lebanon’s confessional and
religious divide earned the majority of seats in Parliament and the
government so that it is firmly and constitutionally in full control of the
country’s executive branch. This is a battle that Hezbollah started with the
assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. This killing led to
the speedy withdrawal of the Syrian forces from Lebanon after 30 years.
Hezbollah, with Iranian and Syrian blessing, quickly filled the void,
announcing that Syrian interests in Lebanon were the party’s own interests
and therefore they would be upheld to counter the independence movement that
emerged after Hariri’s assassination.
The second important event was the return from exile of the Maronite
Christian ex-army general Michel Aoun, who tried but failed to remove Syrian
forces from Lebanon through a destructive war of liberation in 1989. Upon
his return, Aoun quickly positioned himself and his reform and change Free
Patriotic Movement as Hezbollah’s key Christian ally. Hezbollah promised to
support Aoun’s presidential bid as and when the matter arose.
Lebanon, with such a government, is most likely to be in the eye of the
storm since the US is tightening the noose on Iran — Hezbollah’s paymaster
general.
Thirteen years have lapsed between the senior Hariri’s assassination and the
ascendance of Hezbollah to finally dominate the executive branch of
government in Lebanon. This was not bloodless. Hezbollah, it is thought,
followed Hariri’s assassination with a series of politically motivated
killings of MPs opposed to the regime in Syria or opposed to Hezbollah’s
remaining as an armed militia within the state of Lebanon. The campaign saw
the deaths of several MPs, politicians, journalists and key military
commanders seen as an obstacle for Hezbollah and the long-term plans of its
patrons, Iran and Syria.
The war in Syria and the failure to topple Bashar Assad’s regime has further
emboldened Hezbollah. A carefully crafted campaign of political
intimidation, obstruction, disinformation, manipulation and exploitation of
all political groups in Lebanon led to Hezbollah and its key Christian
allies winning the largest number of seats in the parliamentary elections
held in May 2018. This was after carefully tailoring the electoral law to
deny groups opposed to Hezbollah and its patrons from achieving a majority.
As a result, the new Lebanese Cabinet will include 18 pro-Hezbollah
ministers and only 12 for Saad Hariri and his anti-Syria allies.
It will be interesting to monitor how the new government, which could be
labeled the first Hezbollah-formed and dominated government in Lebanon, will
govern and run the country. This is important as, since its emergence as a
key powerbroker, Hezbollah has undermined all other governments,
institutions and players in its game of vying for absolute control of
Lebanon’s political, economic and social affairs. Though headed by PM Saad
Hariri, Lebanon, with such a government, is most likely to be in the eye of
the storm since the US is tightening the noose on Iran — Hezbollah’s
paymaster general. Lebanon today is a heavily indebted country and it needs
the support of international institutions and Western powers to shield it
from economic collapse.
Lebanon, we were told, was a miracle. A miracle from its inception as an
idea, a miracle that it made it in the modern world as a nation state, and
also miraculously survived many rounds of civil strife. Saving Lebanon this
time, with a proscribed terrorist party in the heart of its government, is
maybe a long shot. In the last 20 years, Hezbollah has positioned itself as
the only party that “can” in Lebanon, with its clear monopoly on power and
success. In the past, the fractured nature of the country meant that
Hezbollah could hide behind a weak government. If the new government is
sworn in, it will be interesting to see how Hezbollah will manage its
affairs from within after years of pretending to be in the shadows as an
opposition group.
* Mohamed Chebaro is a British-Lebanese
journalist with more than 25 years’ experience covering war, terrorism,
defense, current affairs and diplomacy. He is also a media consultant and
trainer.
The Latest LCCC Bulletin For Miscellaneous Reports And News
published
on
November 01/18
U.S. Calls for Yemen
Ceasefire
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/October 31/18/The United States
called Tuesday for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, as the Saudi-led
military coalition sent more than 10,000 new troops toward a vital
rebel-held port city ahead of a new assault. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said
the US had been watching the conflict "for long enough," adding that Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which are in a US-backed coalition
fighting Shiite Huthi rebels, are ready for talks. "We have got to move
toward a peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it some time
in the future," Mattis said at the US Institute of Peace in Washington. "We
need to be doing this in the next 30 days."He said the US is calling for all
warring parties to meet with United Nations special envoy Martin Griffiths
in Sweden in November and "come to a solution." US-Saudi ties have cooled in
recent weeks after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent
critic of the conservative kingdom, that has also tarnished the image of
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in
the conflict between embattled Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi,
whose government is recognized by the United Nations, and the Huthis in
2015. Nearly 10,000 people have since been killed and the country now stands
at the brink of famine, with more than 22 million Yemenis -- three quarters
of the population -- in need of humanitarian assistance.
The pro-government coalition deployed its reinforcements to the Red
Sea coast ahead of a new offensive on Hodeida "within days," a military
official told AFP earlier. He said they would also
"secure areas liberated" from the Iran-linked Huthi rebels, and that forces
from Sudan, part of the coalition, had moved in to "secure" areas around the
city. Huthi rebels have for the past 10 days been
stationing fighters on rooftops of buildings in Hodeida city, government
military officials told AFP. The adjacent port is the entry point for more
than 70 percent of imports to the impoverished country.
Peace is 'the only way' -The United States has faced fierce international
criticism for its role in supporting the Saudi-led coalition, especially
after a series of strikes killed scores of civilians.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an end to all coalition
air strikes in Yemen's populated areas. "The time is now for the cessation
of hostilities, including missile and UAV (drone) strikes from Huthi-controlled
areas into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," Pompeo
said in a statement. "Subsequently, coalition air strikes must cease in all
populated areas in Yemen." Mattis said US support is based primarily on
teaching the Saudi air force to improve targeting and to not drop bombs when
there is any doubt about what they might hit. "Our goal right now is to
achieve a level of capability by those forces fighting against the Huthis
that they are not killing innocent people," he said. Mattis said the
ceasefire should be based on a pullback of Huthi rebels from the border and
a ceasefire, and the parties must come together to end the war. "That will
permit the special envoy Martin Griffiths... to get them together in Sweden
and end this war. That is the only way we are going to really solve this,"
he added.
Last month, UN-led peace talks failed to take off after Huthi rebels refused
to fly to Geneva over what they said was the UN's failure to guarantee a
safe return to the capital Sanaa, which the group has controlled since 2014.
Pompeo said the peace talks would aim to "implement confidence-building
measures to address the underlying issues of the conflict, the
demilitarization of borders and the concentration of all large weapons under
international observation.""A cessation of hostilities and vigorous
resumption of a political track will help ease the humanitarian crisis as
well," he added. "It is time to end this conflict, replace conflict with
compromise and allow the Yemeni people to heal through peace and
reconstruction."
Turkey Doubts Saudi Willingness to 'Genuinely Cooperate' on Khashoggi
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/October 31/18/Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was
strangled as soon as he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and then
dismembered as part of a premeditated plan, Turkey's chief prosecutor said
Wednesday, making details of the murder public for the first time. The
revelations came just hours after Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor left
Istanbul, and the Turkish prosecutor's office said it was "obliged" to
reveal the details after the talks produced "no concrete results." Gruesome
reports in the Turkish media had previously alleged that Khashoggi, a
59-year-old Washington Post contributor critical of the powerful Saudi crown
prince, had been killed and cut into pieces by a team sent from Riyadh to
silence him. His body has not been found. "In accordance with plans made in
advance, the victim, Jamal Khashoggi, was strangled to death immediately
after entering the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul on October
2, 2018 for marriage formalities," said a statement from the office of
Istanbul chief prosecutor Irfan Fidan. "The victim's body was dismembered
and destroyed following his death by suffocation -– again, in line with
advance plans," it added. "Despite our well-intentioned efforts to reveal
the truth, no concrete results have come out of those meetings."Riyadh sent
the head of its investigation to Istanbul this week seeking to draw a line
under a crisis that has brought near unprecedented scrutiny on Saudi Arabia.
However a senior Turkish official said earlier Wednesday that Saudi
officials seemed "primarily interested in finding out what evidence Turkey
had against the perpetrators.""We did not get the impression that they were
keen on genuinely cooperating with the investigation," the official told AFP
on condition of anonymity.
No 'local co-conspirators'?
After arriving on Sunday, Saudi Arabia's Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb
met with Fidan twice, visited the consulate and spoke with Turkey's MIT
intelligence agency. He flew out of Istanbul on
Wednesday afternoon without making a public statement.
After initially insisting Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed, then
saying he died in a brawl during an interview gone wrong, the Saudi regime
has since admitted he was killed by a "rogue operation" and arrested 18
people. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged the Saudi regime to
reveal the location of Khashoggi's body and who ordered the hit.
Erdogan has also called on Riyadh reveal the
identity of local "co-conspirators" that media reports claimed had disposed
of Khashoggi's body. However Mojeb said that Saudi authorities had made no
such statement about local collaborators, the Istanbul prosecutor's office
said. The Saudi prosecutor’s office meanwhile
invited Fidan and his delegation to Riyadh "along with the evidence they
have obtained," it added.
'Truth needs to come out'
The case has sorely strained relations between the ultra-conservative
kingdom and the West. France said Wednesday that
"not enough" was being done to find those responsible for the murder of
Khashoggi, who was an insider in Saudi royal circles before going into
self-imposed exile in the United States last year. "This crime has to be
punished and the perpetrators identified. The truth needs to come out,"
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said. In an
editorial published Tuesday, the Washington Post accused Riyadh of
"deflecting questions by pretending to investigate" the murder. It said the
administration of U.S. President Donald Trump was "playing along" and
"pretending to believe that the Saudis can conduct a credible probe -- even
though a chief suspect is the kingdom's own autocratic ruler."
The editorial also urged the U.S. Congress to impose sanctions on
those responsible -- "including, if the available evidence points to him,
Mohammed bin Salman — and reshape U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia."The
affair has tarnished the image of the crown prince, who has positioned
himself as a Saudi reformer. He has denounced the murder as "repulsive" and
strongly denied any involvement. Trump meanwhile has called the case "one of
the worst cover-ups in history", but warned against halting a Saudi arms
deal, saying it would harm U.S. jobs. However relations between the
long-time allies have cooled after the murder and on Tuesday Washington
called for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen, where the U.S. has faced
fierce international criticism for supporting a Saudi-led coalition.
Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said the U.S. had been watching the
conflict, in which nearly 10,000 people have been killed, "for long enough."
Russia Probes Terror after Teen Suicide Attack on
Security Service
Agence France Presse/Naharnet/October 31/18/Russia launched a terrorism
probe Wednesday after a 17-year-old student blew himself up at the regional
headquarters of the FSB security agency, wounding three employees. Several
minutes before the suicide blast in the northern city of Arkhangelsk, a post
on an anarchist forum warned of an imminent explosion. Investigators said
they were checking whether the suspected bomber was a member of any banned
organizations and talk to his friends and relatives to "find out the motives
for the crime." An explosive device detonated in the FSB building shortly
before 9:00 am (0600 GMT), authorities said. Investigators identified the
bomber as a 17-year-old local resident. An
official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, named the suicide
bomber as Mikhail Zhlobitsky, a student at a local technical college.
Investigators probing the attack released a photo of the suspect -- a skinny
young man with a backpack -- inside the FSB building. Authorities cordoned
off streets around the building for several hours, with police and experts
combing the area for clues. Attacks on police and security services are
common in Russia's restive Northern Caucasus, but are rare in the rest of
the country. President Vladimir Putin -- himself a former FSB officer -- was
informed about the explosion, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters,
but declined to speculate on the motive. Investigators said they had opened
a probe into terrorism and illegal possession of ammunition. Alexander
Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee probing the case, said
the young man's motives should be established "as soon as possible."
Investigators searched Zhlobitsky's apartment and questioned his relatives
and friends. Three FSB employees were hospitalized with injuries after the
blast in Arkhangelsk, which is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) north
of Moscow. "One man is in surgery," a spokeswoman
for the regional FSB told AFP.
'FSB has gone mad'
Seven minutes before the blast, a post in an anarchist forum on Telegram, a
messaging service, warned that the FSB building would be the target of a
"terror attack." The writer of the post, who
signed as Valeryan Panov, said he would claim responsibility for it.
"The reasons are quite clear to you," said the post. "It (the FSB) is
inventing cases and torturing people. I will most likely croak in the
blast," he added. "I wish you a bright future of anarchist communism." The
FSB is the main successor to the feared KGB agency known for persecuting
dissidents in the Soviet era. Starting in 2017, the FSB has launched several
cases against young anarchists in the cities of St Petersburg and Penza.
Avtonom.org, an anarchist website, have labeled the arrests "repressions"
and said the young men were being tortured in custody.
The website said on Wednesday evening however that the attacker in
Arkhangelsk "has never been in contact with us", that they don't know of any
"noticeable anarchist activities" in the northern city. Attacks by
anarchists on Russian authorities have in the past included setting police
cars on fire and throwing Molotov cocktails at the offices of the ruling
party United Russia. Regional governor Igor Orlov said that the authorities
were working to establish the type of explosive used. "Things are very
serious," he said, blaming the attack on "destructive forces" that influence
young Russians. "We are taking measures to increase security of all public
and state buildings in Arkhangelsk region," he added.
US Mid East forces
brace for trouble from Iran over impending oil sanctions
DebkeFile/October 31/18
The threat of a forceful Iranian response to the US embargo on its oil
sales, which goes into effect on Nov. 5 ,was contained in Iranian Foreign
Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif’s remark on Tuesday, Oct. 30: “Unfortunately,
a law-breaking country seeks to punish a country that abides by the law…
This method will have severe consequences for the world order.” The threat
of “consequences to the world order” may be translated into such options as
Iranian disruption of world oil supplies, a substantial military attack on
US or Arab Middle East targets, on Israel – or all of these actions in
successive stages. Iran has concentrated in Iraq and along its Gulf coast
large numbers of Saeghe stealth drones (modeled on the advanced US RQ-170
Sentinel captured by Tehran in 2011). Al Qods Brigades forces operating in
Syria have also been armed with these sophisticated drones. UAVs of
different types were given to the Iraqi Shiite militias serving Tehran at
home and in Syria as well as the Lebanese Hizballah. The Saege drones have
taken over the tasks of the exploding speedboats formerly used by
Revolutionary Guards as primary weapons against Western and Arab oil tanker
shipping in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian drone attack on ISIS
concentrations in eastern Syria on Oct. 1 appeared to many Western and
Middle East military experts to have been a kind of dress rehearsal for the
use of this UAV for deadly air strikes on US, Israeli or Arab targets. Then,
11 of these stealth drones were launched from Iran and flew across the
entire width of Iraq to reach their targets, without being intercepted or
even sighted by US, Israeli or Jordanian forces. The Saeghes hit Syrian base
with miniature, precision-guided Sadid-345 glide bombs. Then, this
Revolutionary Guards weapon made its debut performance in real combat
conditions and returned safely to base. Al Qods chief Maj. Gen. Qassem
Soleimani has been placed in charge of all forthcoming Iran’s military
preparations.
Guterres letter to UN Security Council announces new
Syria envoy
AFP, United Nations/Wednesday, 31 October 2018/United Nations chief Antonio
Guterres has informed the Security Council that he wishes to appoint
Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen as the next special envoy to Syria,
diplomatic sources told AFP Tuesday. Pedersen is currently Norway's
ambassador to China and has previously served as its envoy to the UN. "I am
pleased to inform you of my intention to announce the appointment of Mr Geir
O Pedersen as my Special Envoy for Syria. In taking this decision, I have
consulted broadly, including with the government of the Syrian Arab
Republic," Guterres wrote in a letter seen by AFP. "Mr Pedersen will support
the Syrian parties by facilitating an inclusive and credible political
solution that meets the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people," the
letter read. It also thanked Staffan de Mistura, the outgoing envoy, "for
his more than four years of concerted efforts and contributions to search
for peace in Syria."The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany met in
Istanbul at the weekend and called for a political solution to the war and a
permanent truce in the last major rebel-held bastion of Idlib. Their joint
statement called for a committee to be established to draft Syria's post-war
constitution before the end of the year, "paving the way for free and fair
elections" in the war-torn country. The Syria conflict, which began with
anti-government street protests in 2011, has claimed more than 360,000 lives
and drawn in foreign powers and various jihadist groups.
Hundreds of Kurdish fighters arrive in eastern Syria to help fight ISIS
AFP, Beirut/Wednesday, 31 October 2018/Hundreds of Kurdish fighters have
arrived in eastern Syria to help a US-backed alliance fight ISIS after a
major setback last week, a monitor said Tuesday. The Syrian Democratic
Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-Arab alliance backed by the US-led coalition,
launched an offensive on September 10 to expel ISIS from their holdout of
Hajin on the Iraqi border. They advanced slowly with support from coalition
air strikes, but faced sand storms and a vicious fightback including suicide
bombers, which forced them to retreat on Sunday. According to the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, at least 72 SDF
fighters were killed in last week’s ISIS counter-attack, one of the
extremist group’s deadliest operations this year. The monitoring group said
hundreds of Kurdish fighters, men and women, had arrived on the outskirts of
the Hajin pocket since then. “Since Sunday, over two days, 500 fighters from
the Kurdish special forces, the People’s Protection Units and the Women’s
Protection Units have been sent,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.
Later on Tuesday, he said “at least 100 SDF fighters” had arrived from the
northern city of Manbij, bringing the total number of reinforcements to
arrive over the past two days to 600. Several thousand SDF fighters were
already present in the area, he said. An SDF spokesman said Kurdish fighters
“experienced in fighting ISIS” had been sent as reinforcements to the Hajin
front, but said he could not confirm numbers. “These units will take part in
fighting ISIS on the Hajin front,” Mustefa Bali said. On Sunday, an SDF
commander told AFP that military reinforcements and heavy weapons had been
sent to the front. He said the alliance would launch a new assault as soon
as the reinforcements had arrived. Coalition strikes on the area Tuesday
killed at least nine extremists, the Observatory said. More than 300 SDF
fighters and around 500 ISIS extremists have been killed in the past seven
weeks of fighting, according to the monitor. The coalition estimates that
2,000 ISIS militants remain in the Hajin area. ISIS overran large swathes of
Syria and neighboring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a “caliphate” across
territory it controlled. But the extremist group has since lost most of that
territory to various offensives in both countries. In Syria, its presence
has been reduced to parts of the vast Badia desert and the Hajin pocket.
More than 360,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since
Syria’s war erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government
protests.
US-backed Syria force suspends anti-ISIS attacks after turkey hits
AFPWednesday, 31 October 2018/A Kurdish-led force backed by the US-led
coalition said Wednesday it was suspending operations against ISIS after
Turkish shelling of Kurdish militia posts in northern Syria. The Syrian
Democratic Forces, joint Arab-Kurdish units led by the Kurds, announced a
“temporary halt” to their operation launched in eastern Syria on September
10 while condemning the “provocations” of Turkey.
Blast kills three in Iraq, ISIS claims attack
Reuters, Baquba/Wednesday, 31 October 2018/Three Shiite Muslim pilgrims were
killed by a roadside bomb as they walked to a holy site near the
northeastern Iraqi city of Khanaqin on Tuesday, police said. ISIS claimed
responsibility for the attack, the group’s news agency Amaq reported. The
claim could not immediately be verified. The Sunni Muslim militants are
active in the area and have targeted Shiite pilgrims in the past. ISIS has
waged a campaign of kidnappings and killings since its self-proclaimed
caliphate in Iraq and neighboring Syria collapsed in 2017.
US calls for end to Yemen hostilities and resumption of
peace talks
Arab News/October 31, 2018/United Nations says it aims to re-launch Yemen
peace talks “within a month”Pentagon chief Jim Mattis says Saudi Arabia and
the UAE are ready for talks
DUBAI: The United States has called for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen
and the resumption of vigorous efforts for a political solution to the
crisis. The United Nations on Wednesday responded saying it aims to
re-launch Yemen peace talks “within a month.” The talks are expected to take
place in Sweden. The call is the latest effort to end the war, which was
triggered when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized the capital Sanaa in
2014 and forced the internationally recognized government to flee. An Arab
coalition including Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in early 2015 after
the militia seized Aden. Pro-government forces then drove the Houthis from
much of the south of the country. Senior US official called for a ceasefire
to take hold within 30 days, but it also placed blame on Iran for fueling
the conflict. “The United States calls on all parties to support UN Special
Envoy Martin Griffiths in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in
Yemen based on agreed references,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
“The time is now for the cessation of hostilities, including missile and UAV
strikes from Houthi-controlled areas into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates. Subsequently, Coalition air strikes must cease in
all populated areas in Yemen.”Pompeo called on parties to start
consultations in November, under the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin
Griffiths, in a third country. The consultations would aim for a possible
adoption and implementation of “confidence-building measures to address the
underlying issues of the conflict, the demilitarization of borders, and the
concentration of all large weapons under international observations. “A
cessation of hostilities and vigorous resumption of a political track will
help ease the humanitarian crisis as well,” the US state secretary added.
“It is a time to end this conflict, replace conflict with compromise, and
allow the Yemeni people to heal through peace and reconstruction,” Pompeo
said. The last attempt at peace talks in Geneva collapsed in September when
the Houthis failed to attend. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said on Tuesday that
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are ready for talks.“We have got to move toward a
peace effort here, and we can't say we are going to do it some time in the
future,” Mattis said at the US Institute of Peace in Washington. Mattis
called for demilitarization of Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia “so that the
Saudis and the Emirates do not have to worry about missiles coming into
their homes and cities and airports.”He also said measures should be taken
to “ensure that all Iranian-supplied missiles to the Houthis" are put under
“international watch.”
Mattis put primary blame on Iran. He said its proxies and surrogate forces
are fueling the conflict. UN envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed the calls for
an immediate resumption of talks. “I urge all concerned parties to seize
this opportunity to engage constructively with our current efforts to
swiftly resume political consultations to agree on a framework for political
negotiations,” he said. “We remain committed to bring the Yemeni parties to
the negotiations table within a month.”Sweden's foreign minister said
Wednesday that Griffiths has asked Sweden to host such talks. The move was
backed by British Prime Minister Theresa May. The conflict in Yemen has
sparked the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with the UN estimating that
three-quarters of the population — or 22 million people — in need of
immediate humanitarian support. Nearly 10,000 people have died in the
conflict since March 2015. The fighting has become focussed on the port of
Hodeidah held by the Houthis. On Tuesday, pro-government forces made
significant gains on several frontline positions near the port.
President Rouhani anticipates difficult months ahead
for Iranians
The Associated Press, Tehran/Wednesday, 31 October 2018/President Hassan
Rouhani says Iranians may face more difficulties in the months ahead after
the US imposes new sanctions on Monday. Speaking in a televised cabinet
meeting on Wednesday, Rouhani said: “The situation was hard for people in
the recent months, and it may be hard in the next several months, too.”The
US has been re-imposing sanctions on Iran since President Donald Trump’s
withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord with Western powers in May. Also
read: How will the approaching US sanctions affect Iran’s economy? On
Monday, the US plans to impose sanctions on Iran’s oil and gas industry.
Ahwazi official tells Al Arabiya English details of Iran attack in Denmark.
Iran summons Danish
ambassador over attack allegations
Arab News/October 31, 2018/DUBAI: Iran's foreign ministry summoned the
Danish ambassador on Wednesday, following the arrest of an Iranian-Norwegian
national for allegedly plotting an attack in Denmark. According to statement
from the ministry, the Danish ambassador met with a senior official for
European affairs at the foreign ministry Wednesday morning. “In this meeting
the official strongly denied the biased reports on a foiled attack plot on
an Iranian dissident in Denmark and its attribution to the Islamic republic
of Iran,” spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said, warning against “hasty and
controversial actions.”Meanwhile, the British government has also expressed
deep concern over recent reports of Iranian assassination attempts abroad.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Tuesday that his country fully
supported Denmark’s move in the face of illegal Iranian intelligence
activities. The statement came after Denmark’s foreign ministry recalled its
ambassador to Iran for consultations in response to an alleged plot from
Tehran which targeted to assassinate the leader of the Danish branch of the
Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz. Iran’s ambassador to
Denmark Morteza Muradine was also summoned for a meeting. A Norwegian
citizen of Iranian background was arrested on Oct. 21, Denmark’s security
service chief Finn Borch Andersen said, on suspicion he was aiding an
unknown Iranian intelligence service “to act in Denmark” and for involvement
in planning to kill an opposition member. “We are dealing with an Iranian
intelligence agency planning an attack on Danish soil. Obviously, we can't
and won't accept that,” Andersen told a news conference. The unidentified
suspect denied wrongdoing in a court appearance and is now in pre-trial
custody until Nov. 8. (With AFP)
The spokesman Yaquob Hurr al-Tisteri said that the
Danish security authorities thwarted an
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/Wednesday, 31 October
2018/In a new development regarding Denmark’s move to recall its ambassador
to Iran, it has been revealed that a foiled attack was targeting the leader
of the “Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz” who is residing
in the Scandinavian country. In an interview with Al Arabiya English the
spokesman of the “Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz” Yaquob
Hurr al-Tisteri said that the Danish security authorities thwarted an
attempt targeting the head of the movement Habib Jaber.
When asked whether this failed plan is a continuation of the plan that led
to the assassination of Ahmed Mawla (who was also a leader of the “Struggle
Movement”) last year in the Netherlands, al-Tisteri said: “Iran has never
stopped its plots against our Arab Ahwazi people and its activists,
especially since our cause and the struggle of our people has now escalated
considerably, but certainly this will not discourage the movement of the
struggle and the rest of our organizations from going forward to lift the
injustice and oppression of our people and their right to self-determination.”The
spokesman revealed that they are coordinating with a law firm in the
Scandinavian country “to prepare a legal file based on the available
information on the role of the Iranian regime in this failed attack to be
presented to the Danish judiciary.”
He confirmed during the interview that “Denmark has officially announced
that it will move to urge the EU countries to take a common stand against
the Iranian regime for its direct role in this thwarted operation,” adding
“the Danish security chief also issued a strong warning to the Iranian
intelligence services’ reluctance to repeat any attempt of this
kind.”Tisteri concluded by saying that: “The failed operation that was
revealed today is a consistent Iranian approach toward the demands of our
fair Ahwazi people and the demands of other non-Persian peoples, and once
again shows that the Iranian state has no solutions other than terrorism
against just demands.”
South Sudan rebel leader Machar arrives in capital,
first time since 2016
Reuters, Juba/Wednesday, 31 October 2018/South Sudan rebel leader Riek
Machar returned to the capital Juba on Wednesday, according to a Reuters
witness, more than two years after he fled the country after the collapse of
a 2016 peace deal. Machar, the former vice president, fled to neighbouring
Democratic Republic of Congo in 2016 after fierce fighting broke out in
Juba, killing hundreds of people. He later travelled to South Africa, where
he was held under house arrest until earlier this year. Last month he and
President Salva Kiir signed a new peace deal in the latest attempt to end
the five-year war.
In first, Israel appoints woman as ambassador to Egypt
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English/October 31/18/On Tuesday, Israel appointed
its first female ambassador to Cairo since the Egypt-Israel peace treaty was
signed in 1979. Amira Oron will be succeeding outgoing ambassador David
Govrin, after he finished his mandate nearly two years after taking office.
Oron is the second Israeli woman to serve as ambassador to an Arab country
after Einat Schlein, who was Israel’s top representative in Jordan. Oron has
vast experience in diplomacy where she served as Israel’s ambassador to
Turkey for two years, and has been working at the foreign ministry for 27
years. She was also the director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of
Communications in the Arab World. Oron studied Islamic and Middle Eastern
studies and speaks Arabic. Cairo and Tel Aviv did not reveal the date of the
new ambassador's arrival. Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979
after four wars between the two countries.
Oman minister visits
Ramallah after Netanyahu talks
AFP/October 31, 2018/RAMALLAH: An Omani minister met Palestinian president
Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday and delivered a letter about Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise visit to the Gulf sultanate last
week, official Palestinian media said. Yusuf bin Alawi, minister in charge
of foreign affairs, gave Abbas the letter from Oman’s Sultan Qaboos,
official Palestinian news agency WAFA said. It gave no further details on
their discussions in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinians
have been concerned by Israel’s bid for rapprochement with Gulf countries.
Frozen peace efforts and Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian
territory have been obstacles to Israeli attempts to win official
recognition from countries in the region. But there has long been talk of
under-the-radar contacts, particularly regarding Iran, which is the enemy
both of Israel and Gulf states.
The Latest LCCC Bulletin analysis & editorials from
miscellaneous sources published on
November 01/18
Pakistan: Asia Bibi Acquitted After Years Awaiting Death for "Blasphemy"
باكستان تلغي حكما بالإعدام على المسيحية اسيا بيبي التي كانت أدينت بالتجديف
Giulio Meotti/Gatestone Institute/October 31/18
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/68521/pakistan-asia-bibi-acquitted-after-years-awaiting-death-for-blasphemy-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%83%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%aa%d9%84%d8%ba%d9%8a-%d8%ad%d9%83%d9%85%d8%a7-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b9/
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13208/pakistan-asia-bibi-acquitted
Asia Bibi was sentenced to death in 2010 because she is a Christian and
because she was thirsty. Today, justice was served when her conviction was
overturned.
Now, Bibi may be targeted for assassination when she is released. Islamists
have placed a bounty on her head of 50 million rupees ($375,000). Salman
Taseer, a brave Muslim who was governor of Pakistan's Punjab province, was
murdered just for expressing support for her. Pakistan's federal Minister
for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, was also murdered for defending Bibi.
Lawyers defending Christians and others accused of blasphemy are sometimes
murdered as well.
In the ultimate irony, just a few days ago, the so-called European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR) upheld this same blasphemy law. The ECHR ruling is
unspeakable. It is time to remove the unelected judges of that unaccountable
and unappealable court.
Asia Bibi and two of her five children, pictured prior to her imprisonment
on death row in 2010 for "blasphemy."
After 3,422 days of cruel and unjustified imprisonment as "the first woman
to be sentenced to death for blasphemy," the death penalty verdict against
Asia Noreen Bibi has finally been overturned.
Pakistan's Supreme today set aside the death sentence against Bibi, a Roman
Catholic mother of five. After being convicted in a trial in 2010 for false
accusations of "blasphemy", now justice has actually prevailed. Killing Bibi
because her Muslim co-workers were offended that she, an "unclean"
Christian, drank water from a communal well, was too much even for Pakistan,
where Christians are habitually persecuted.
Bibi is now being "held at an undisclosed location for security reasons."
Islamist hardliners have already threatened the judges that if she is freed,
those responsible would meet a "horrible" end.
On June 14, 2009, Asia Bibi drank water from a communal well on a hot day,
while working in a field. Two Muslim women alleged that because she, a
Christian, had touched the water from the well, the entire well was now
haram (forbidden by Islamic law). Asia responded by saying "I think Jesus
would see if differently from Mohammed," that Jesus had "died on the cross
for the sins of mankind," and asked, "What did your Prophet Muhammad ever do
to save mankind?" This enraged the other women, who pushed and spit on her.
Five days later, as she worked in another field, a crowd of "dozens of men
and women," calling for Bibi's death, beat her savagely and carried her to
the village, where police arrested her. Qari Muhammad Sallam, the village
imam (who had not been present at the water dispute), and the women who said
Bibi had defiled the well-water, told the police chief that Bibi had
"insulted the Prophet Mohammed."
On November 8, 2010, after just five minutes of deliberation, Asia Noreen
Bibi, under Article 295 of Pakistan's Penal Code, was sentenced to death by
hanging.
Asia Bibi was sentenced to death because she is a Christian and because she
was thirsty.
Islamists cheered the verdict. Asia Bibi was alone against an entire country
ready to sacrifice its weak Christian minority to appease the Islamists.
After Bibi's arrest, her family moved houses 15 times in five years. In the
last weeks there have been reports of Asia suffering dementia. Eight years
of solitary confinement, with the daily risk of being murdered in prison,
have been a brutal form of psychological torture. For fear of being poisoned
in prison, Bibi was allowed even to prepare her own meals.
A few days ago, during the plenary meeting in Strasbourg, the president of
the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, said:
"Asia Bibi enraged some women for having drunk from a well. According to
those women, such contact with Christian lips would have contaminated the
water. After being attacked and reported for blasphemy, Asia Bibi risks
being hanged. I ask the Pakistani authorities... to make sure that woman can
have a fair trial and to avoid any form of discrimination or religious
prejudice."
Now, we must fear that when Bibi is released, she will be targeted for
assassination. Islamists have placed a bounty on her head of 50 million
rupees ($375,000).
Salman Taseer, a brave Muslim who was governor of Pakistan's Punjab
province, paid with his life just for expressing support for Asia; he was
murdered by his own bodyguard, who said "he did this because Mr Taseer
recently defended the proposed amendments to the blasphemy law." In another
example of justice prevailing, his murderer, Mumtaz Qadri, was executed.
However, lawyers defending Christians and others accused of blasphemy in
Pakistan are sometimes murdered as well. Pakistan's federal Minister for
Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, was also murdered for defending Bibi. Although
no one has even been officially executed in Pakistan for the crime of
blasphemy, "many have been murdered purely on the basis of accusations
against them", Newsweek reported. According to Human Rights Watch, since
1990 at least 60 people accused of blasphemy have been murdered. Last year,
a student was lynched by a mob for allegedly committing blasphemy.
Thousands of extremist Muslims rallied in Pakistan in the last few weeks in
order to pressure judges to uphold the death sentence. They chanted "Hang
infidel Asia" as they marched through the streets. Now Pakistani Islamists
say that the judges who acquitted Asia Bibi "deserve death". That is why
Bibi now needs to flee the country. Several countries have already offered
her asylum.
Since Asia Bibi was condemned to death, Christians in Pakistan have suffered
a string of especially deadly terror attacks. An Islamist suicide bomber
even targeted and slaughtered Christian children at a playground in a public
park. Where was the West?
French priest Pierre-Hervé Grosjean asked in Le Figaro: "How could the
country of human rights be silent in the face of this injustice? ... How can
one want to save the Christians of Iraq from the barbarians of ISIS, if one
is not able to save a Christian from the laws of an allied country?...
Non-believing friends, her fate also concerns you: through her, it is the
freedom and the dignity of each one that you defend. Your word is precious
and courageous. Your silence would be terrible".
But the silence has been terrible.
No one took the streets of Europe to protest Asia Bibi's imprisonment. No
major Western columnist penned articles proclaiming "Je Suis Asia Bibi."
Western secular human rights groups, always ready and willing to embrace any
cause, largely remained missing in action. The campaigners to free
terrorists from a relatively comfortable prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, had
no time to ask for Asia Bibi's release. No feminist organization supported
this Christian mother. The United Nations, which just condemned France for
its law banning the niqab, also stood silent. It was a conspiracy of
cowardice.
After years in a windowless cell, Asia Bibi has triumphed over her would-be
executioners. Injustice against Christians will continue, however, along
with the West's craven silence in the face of their persecution. Asia Bibi's
case is also the story of the West's moral suicide.
Where have our philosophers, humanists and journalists been during these
last nine years of injustice? It is this sad indifference that is devouring
the West.
In the ultimate irony, just a few days ago, the so-called European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR) upheld the same sort blasphemy law. The ECHR ruling is
unspeakable. As Grégor Puppinck, head of the European Centre for Law and
Justice, said, "the decision by the ECHR would have justified the conviction
of Charlie Hebdo's cartoons..." It is time to remove the unelected judges of
that unaccountable and unappealable court.
*Giulio Meotti, Cultural Editor for Il Foglio, is an Italian journalist and
author.
© 2018 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone
Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be
reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of
Gatestone Institute.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13208/pakistan-asia-bibi-acquitted
The real reason behind Susan Rice’s attack on Saudi
Arabia
Mamdouh AlMuhaini/Al Arabiya/October 31/18
The Khashoggi case has become a game of bids and a political ball. But it
has clearly exposed strong ideological orientations and deeply repressed
feelings, not only of ordinary people, but also of high-profile officials
who have hidden their real stances and shrouded them with diplomacy and
official courtesy.
The most prominent of these figures are top members of former President
Barack Obama’s administration. They removed their masks and invested in the
Khashoggi case in order to attack President Trump and weaken him before the
elections, while distorting the image of Saudis in order to embellish that
of their Iranian friends. It’s clear that this collective rush to quash all
diplomatic traditions was because they thought this as their once in a
lifetime chance.
Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice wrote a disgruntled article in
the New York Times and based it on the Khashoggi case to doubt the role of
Saudi Arabia and to state that the kingdom is an ally that cannot be
depended on. When reading the article, one quickly realizes that Rice’s aim
is irrelevant to Khashoggi. She seeks to attack Trump and gain points
against him to serve her Democratic Party. It’s said that she will run for
Congress in the 2020 elections.
Susan Rice is the impudent and publicized face of political exploitation of
the Khashoggi case, which clearly exposed moral hypocrisy and a desire to
exploit the case of a Saudi citizen against his own country for purely
political and ideological goals.
This is the domestic aim, but the foreign goal is related to Rice’s doctrine
that clashes with Saudi Arabia’s role and stance.
Rice, like Obama, is inclined to the Iranians on political and ideological
fronts. Rice was not upset by the Iranians’ military and political expansion
in the region. She did not fully criticize them when she was a UN
ambassador, and as national security advisor, she did not take any practical
steps to limit the horrific crimes the Iranians committed. She rather
confirmed her soft reconciliatory stance via the Iranian nuclear deal which
she celebrated with her team.
Rice directed her anger at the Trump administration and its ally Riyadh due
to repealing the great achievement of the Obama administration. She has
repeatedly said that withdrawing from the nuclear deal is utmost stupidity
and will enable the Iranians to win in the end. This is of course not true
as the Iranian regime is facing difficult circumstances amid an
unprecedented economic siege.
Ideology is preventing Rice from seeing the facts on the ground. She does
not say anything about the proclaimed crimes of the Tehran regime, whether
those committed in Iran or outside it such as in Syria. She does not say
anything about the terrorist militias which Iran planted across the world,
and she views Iran as a strong and important ally. At the same time, she
intentionally ignores the vital Saudi role in protecting the region’s
stability via an ongoing fierce war against Sunni and Shiite terror groups
and rogue regimes and uses the isolated Khashoggi case, in which legal
measures have been taken and announced to the world, in order to picture
Saudi Arabia as the unreliable reckless power.
Obama administration gave a green light to Iran
During the Green Movement in 2009, the Iranian authorities committed
horrific violations, killed hundreds and arrested thousands. Back then, Rice
did not write an article in the New York Times demanding to punish Iran. On
the contrary, she kept silent just like President Obama, who back then said
his remarks will be exploited against the rebels. What happened is that the
American administration’s silence actually gave a green light to the
Revolutionary Guards to finish off protestors and mercilessly shed blood.
Afterwards we were certain it was a trick because the Obama administration
had kept silent in order not to sabotage the nuclear deal which it was later
going to propose to the Iranians.
Rice did not only keep silent over this bad development that year and she
did not only attack the Trump administration and his closest ally, Saudi
Arabia, after withdrawing from the nuclear deal but she also called on the
current American administration to keep silent over the recent popular
protests in Iran after Trump and members of his administration voiced their
support of the revolting Iranian people.
Rice’s stance that ideologically opposes Saudi Arabia is not limited to the
Khashoggi case. There have been previous stances before such as to those
related to the Saudi-Canadian dispute. Rice posted tweets attacking the
American administration for not taking a firm position against Saudi Arabia,
a position that harmonizes with American values and interests.
In the eyes of Rice, American interests harmonize with the Iranian interest
even if the Iranian regime is the largest sponsor of terrorism according to
the US State Department itself. At the same time, she incites against Saudi
Arabia due to a diplomatic dispute with another country. It’s difficult to
imagine that Rice will say something about the recent Iranian explosions
plans in France and the recent assassinations which the Iranian intelligence
planned in Denmark. It’s strange that Rice attacks Saudi Arabia after Canada
violated diplomatic norms and interfered in an internal affair at the time
when President Trump describes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a
coward and weak.
Most members of Obama’s team like former Vice President Joe Biden and former
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan repeat the same
ideas and make the same demands. However, Rice is the impudent and
publicized face of political exploitation of the Khashoggi case, which
clearly exposed moral hypocrisy and a desire to exploit the case of a Saudi
citizen against his own country for purely political and ideological goals.
Rice tried to present a logical discussion but she voiced grudges in the
form of recommendations to the American administration to end the alliance
with Saudi Arabia and pursue rapprochement with Iran. It’s easy to
understand this bitterness if we put this stance in a political and
ideological context. Saudi Arabia stood in the face of a leftist ideological
project in the Middle East, a project which the Obama administration adopted
in Egypt. The kingdom also stood against Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Therefore it’s not strange to see these three parties, the leftists, the
Iranians and the Brotherhood, sleeping on one bed and currently uniting in a
camp that’s directed against Saudi Arabia and particularly against Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However this hostile camp has revealed the
opposite of its goals as it revealed the strength of the Saudi state, the
rootedness of political legitimacy and the solidity of the Saudi people’s
national identity.
Susan Rice, is Iran only a Saudi problem?
Mashari Althaydi/Al Arabiya/October 31/18
What Danish security service chief Finn Borch Andersen revealed on Tuesday
about the involvement of Iran’s agents in preparing for a terrorist attack
in Denmark is an additional new evidence to the nature of the threat
embodied by the ruling Khomeini regime in Tehran.
“We are dealing with an Iranian intelligence agency planning an attack on
Danish soil. Obviously, we can’t and won’t accept that,” Andersen said.
Before that, the French authorities expelled Iranian diplomats because of
the proven involvement of Iranian agents and diplomats affiliated with the
Iranian intelligence in planning a terrorist attack in France against an
Iranian opposition gathering. The perpetrators prepared for the attack from
neighboring Belgium. These are quick examples which happened around
the same time and which express the essence of the Iranian behavior in
Europe whose politicians defend keeping the (political) nuclear deal with
its Khomeini regime. This “bad” deal was overturned by US President Donald
Trump in a way that sparked the rage of the Obama movement, including the
“tailor” of the deal former US Secretary of State John Kerry and Obama’s
closest advisor, who inherits his temper, Susan Rice.
Within the context of riding the wave of the raging attack using the Jamal
Khashoggi case, Rice expanded the scope of her attack on Saudi Arabia and on
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – the man behind the vision, change
and the new Saudi Arabia.
It’s as if putting up with the Iranian behavior, the way it was during
Obama’s era, in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon...etc. is good and beneficial
for the US itself. The real agenda of the Obama movement has been clearly
exposed long before the Khashoggi case. Khashoggi’s case was thus a mere
excuse in Rice’s attack on Saudi Arabia in her article in the New York
Times. Mrs. Rice is angry at the new Saudi Arabia and President Trump, and
among her frank excuses as to why she is this angry, is because Saudi Arabia
boycotted Qatar, America’s friendly ally.
What’s more dangerous, according to the loyal wise politician Rice, is her
criticism of Saudi Arabia because “it urged Trump to withdraw from the
nuclear deal with Iran!”The picture is crystal clear. It’s as if putting up
with the Iranian behavior, the way it was during Obama’s era, in Iraq,
Syria, Yemen, Lebanon...etc. is good and beneficial for the US itself.
Problems with Iran
It’s as if America does not have its own problems with Iran, regardless of
Saudi Arabia. Iran’s operations against the US, ever since the establishment
of the Khomeini regime, are no secret. There aren’t only explosions and
assassinations and the establishment of hostile militias as America was also
poisoned with the consequences of drugs and money laundering as seen in the
famous Project Cassandra which Susan’s president, i.e. Obama, pretended not
to notice. Another example is the explosion of the Pan Am flight and the
death of all civilian passengers on board above Lockerbie in Scotland in
December 1988.
Years later, it turned out that the real culprit is the Iranian regime and
not Qaddafi, as published by the Daily Mail which cited a book by American
writer Douglas Boyd. The question is: Mrs. Rice, is Iran’s problem only with
Saudi Arabia?
Social or antisocial media?
بقلم ملك الأردن،
عبد
الله الثاني بن الحسين: هل وسائل الإعلام الإجتماعية هي اجتماعية أو
معادية اجتماعياً
Jordanian King,
Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein/Arab News/October 31/2018
http://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/68534/jordanian-king-abdullah-ii-ibn-al-hussein-social-or-antisocial-media-%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%8C-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84/
Writing this article is a way for me to address all dear Jordanians and
encourage a constructive discussion on our priorities and multiple key
national issues, some of which I have highlighted during my various meetings
and recently in the Speech from the Throne, covering political, economic,
and social aspects. I will continue to shed light on such important national
matters through various platforms. In this article, I have decided to focus
on a crucial issue—that of disturbing trends on social media platforms.
Our current era may be witnessing the most profound change in the history of
media and communications, and in the way information is consumed, produced,
spread, and interacted with. I am sure most of you are reading this article
on their mobile phones, and once done, some of you will be sharing their
opinions and thoughts on social media. I look forward to reading them.
Today, social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, enable us to
make our voices heard. They provide us with unprecedented opportunities to
connect with each other, to express our opinions and exchange views, to come
together around key and humanitarian causes, and to highlight and discuss
critical issues while building on them through constructive dialogue.
None can deny Jordan’s steadfastness in the face of adversity. No force,
agenda, or attempts to sow sedition can sway Jordanians from their
commitment to protecting the homeland at the first sign of an attempt to
threaten its security and unity.
These tools and technologies have become vital for us all, myself included.
They are a means for me to listen to citizens’ thoughts and opinions, as
much as possible, unfiltered, without mediators, barriers or restrictions.
Although times and tools may change, the high values of compassion and
solidarity will remain at the heart of the Jordanian ethos. This is what
distinguishes us. It is the anchor that enables us to stand firm in the face
of all storms.
None can deny Jordan’s steadfastness in the face of adversity. No force,
agenda, or attempts to sow sedition can sway Jordanians from their
commitment to protecting the homeland at the first sign of an attempt to
threaten its security and unity. These deep-rooted values we have inherited
and strive to instil in our children are the protective, sturdy shield we
maintain and are proud of.
However, seeing recent attempts to shake this anchor on social media
platforms has pushed me to write this today. When navigating social media
platforms, we often face an overwhelming volume of hostility, libel, and
hatred. These platforms have almost become a place for slander and
defamation; they are rife with hurtful comments and misinformation, and they
almost lack any sense of moral or social responsibility, or adherence to the
laws in place to deter and hold all offenders to account.
What we witnessed lately with the Dead Sea incident—which has caused deep
pain to us all—and some of the commentary that followed indeed prove that
this anchor has been shaken. It reminds us that using social media requires
that we do so with a sense of responsibility as we engage over events of a
national scale. I find myself compelled to examine some patterns of this
engagement. We must differentiate between those who criticised performance
and called for identifying the responsible parties—this stems from deep
concern and we need that—and between those few who have been offensive to
the memory of the children we have lost, which makes us question the basis
of their relationship with society and the goals behind this negativity that
has, unfortunately, robbed them of their humanity. We must also question who
is behind these opinions that are far removed from the values of our
society.
Dealing with the aftermath of the deeply painful Dead Sea incident requires
taking stock of shortcomings and aspects of negligence, in order to hold to
account those who prove to be responsible and to learn lessons that would
enable us to avoid such painful incidents in the future. It also requires a
deep, comprehensive reflection on the scope and nature of engagement on
social media platforms.
It is evident to all observers of online discussions that rumours and
fabricated news are used by certain individuals to mislead their followers,
fuelling their own agendas and polarising public opinion, or settling
personal and political scores.
[We] have been long warned of rumours and rumourmongers; God says in the
Holy Quran: “O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any
news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards
become full of repentance for what ye have done.” (Al Hujurat: Verse 6)
Amongst lies, empty slogans, and false heroisms, negativity and frustration
thrive. Readers are often left confused between truth and rumour. An air of
suspicion, confusion, and pessimism, lingers in society because of a rumour
that bases its credibility solely on its ability to go viral. Thus, the
virtual world no longer reflects the real image of our deep-rooted values,
our society, and our everyday reality.
It has been said that a lie can travel halfway around the world, before the
truth can get its boots on. An MIT study supports this, reporting that
fabricated news is 70 percent more likely to spread on a social media
platform such as Twitter than a factual report.
This calls to mind the wave of rumours and false stories that spread while I
was on my annual break, and continued even after I returned and resumed my
activities. The question persisted: where is the king? Some went as far as
questioning my presence even as I stood before them. Can it be that an
illusion perpetuated by screens has become a reality to some?
Unfortunately, some people have tried to spread rumours targeting the morale
and unity of Jordanians. And when those people are confronted with the fact
that their accusations are baseless, they still argue: there is no smoke
without fire. I can surely say that those with ill intentions towards Jordan
will always find a way to spark a crisis out of nothing.
From time to time, I find myself compelled to address this issue, and we
must all never hesitate to confront, those who hide behind their screens and
lies with the truth. Whoever suffers harm may resort to court to seek
justice, for we are a country of institutions governed by law.
Anyone who offends a Jordanian—whether from my bigger Jordanian family or my
immediate family—offends me personally.
To put the phenomenon of misinformation in context, we must remember that it
is not unique to Jordan. It is a global phenomenon and challenge. The impact
of fabricated news and misinformation was evident in key moments over the
past two years across Europe and the United States. As a result, we are
witnessing a global trend of countries developing laws to address the spread
of fabricated news and misinformation.
Today, there is an urgent need to develop our laws to ensure the protection
of freedom of expression, protect citizens’ right to privacy, combat rumours
and misinformation, and counter hate speech, especially since several senior
executives of the world’s largest social media platforms have openly
recognised that their platforms could be abused for negative and destructive
purposes.
In light of these pressing developments which must be addressed, it is
important to strike a balance between safeguarding freedom of expression—a
right we are always committed to protecting—and between the rights and
priorities integral to the stability and welfare of our society. This will
positively contribute to enriching the public debate necessary to combat the
phenomenon of using social media irresponsibly and negatively in many
instances.
Social media companies undoubtedly have a key role in countering the
negative use of social media platforms, through ongoing technical
enhancement, and regular reviews of ethical and legal terms of use.
Moreover, governments are compelled to work transparently and provide
accurate, timely information to the public in this era of openness. And I
hope that our current government will rise to public expectations in this
regard. We also cannot disregard the role of media platforms and
professionals as key pillars in the flow of information and communication.
They must enhance their professional standards and uphold their ethical
responsibilities.
More important, however, is our responsibility as individuals and societies
not to be a passive audience, but to be active and critical of what we read,
what we believe, and what we share with others. We must apply reason and
common sense to weigh news and information.
Let us reflect and ask ourselves: where would we end up if we were not
responsible and cautious when interacting on social media? What would our
future look like if we abandoned rationality and reason; if we chose rumours
over truth; if our discourse were based on lies and hearsay; if character
assassination became the norm? Imagine what would happen if officials were
too paralysed by fear to take the right decisions to serve the country and
its citizens, or if they were rushed to take arbitrary, uninformed
decisions. If citizens did not have reliable facts and information readily
available, how could they make informed decisions and engage in responsible
national dialogue on decisive issues?
Indeed, Jordan still has a long way to go to fulfil its aspirations and
become what Jordanians strive for and well deserve; many challenges remain
before us. Therefore, our first priority is development and reform.
Countries are not built on scepticism and self-doubt, nor on undermining and
denying achievements. They are built by determination, will, hard work, and
positive and constructive engagement in national issues.
As we proudly near the centennial of the Jordanian state, and as the world
around us develops at an unprecedented pace, let us march confidently and
positively towards the future, lest we are left behind. Let us utilise the
tools of this age in our favour, enriching them with our Jordanian identity,
values, and ethics that have guided this homeland’s journey over a century.
• Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein is the king of Jordan. Published in conjunction
with Jordan Times and Al-Rai.
EU’s fundamental values at stake in year of reckoning
Joschka Fischer/Arab News/October 31, 2018
Politically, 2019 will be an extraordinarily important year for the EU. The
UK is currently on track to leave the EU on March 29. And, following
elections to the European Parliament in May, nearly all of the most
important leadership positions across EU institutions will turn over. Thus,
depending on how parliamentary seats are distributed, Europe could witness a
major realignment of power among member states, within EU institutions, and
between member states and the Parliament.
The new distribution of power within EU institutions will be reflected
largely through personnel. New presidents of the European Commission, the
European Council, and the European Central Bank will be appointed, and a new
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
will be chosen. If nationalist Euroskeptic parties become the largest group
in the European Parliament, these appointments could represent an abrupt
break from the past.
EU member states are more divided now than ever, even on the most
fundamental issues concerning the European project. The broad pro-European
consensus of the past has been replaced by a resurgent nationalism.
Moreover, east is increasingly pitted against west, and north against south.
And there is good reason to fear that these widening rifts will be reflected
in the new composition of the Parliament, making majority governance
difficult, if not impossible.
Today’s de facto grand coalition between the conservative European People’s
Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)
most likely will not survive beyond the elections. The S&D, in particular,
is in deep — indeed, existential — crisis across Europe. And there are new
players on the field, including French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist
La Republique En Marche! and a smattering of radical Euroskeptic and
nationalist parties.
The broad pro-European consensus of the past has been replaced by a
resurgent nationalism.
Given the unprecedented prominence of nationalist parties in this election
cycle, the usual pro forma European campaign issues will inevitably take a
back seat. This will be a contest about Europe and the future of European
democracy. Recent developments in a number of member states have challenged
foundational EU principles, such as the rule of law and the separation of
powers. These democratic institutions, as well as questions of European
solidarity and sovereignty, will all effectively be on the ballot.
Needless to say, the parliamentary elections will have far-reaching
implications for Europe’s future in a rapidly changing world. The current
president of the US has such disdain for the EU that many now talk of “the
end of the West.” An increasingly revanchist Russia is waging wars along the
European periphery and in Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is
taking his country down the path of authoritarianism. And China is demanding
recognition as a global power.
Worse still, US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to withdraw the US
from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia raises
the threat of a renewed arms race. And this is coinciding with an escalating
climate crisis and a global contest for predominance in artificial
intelligence, the risks of which are still largely unaccounted for.
Against this dismal backdrop, the question is what will become of Europe?
Will Europeans manage to hold on to their sovereignty, or will their
self-inflicted disunity render them ever more dependent on other powers?
Pro-EU parties must make Europe’s place in the world a central issue of the
parliamentary election campaign; otherwise, they will suffer a shattering
defeat at the hands of the new nationalists. The nationalists want to return
to the past — it is up to the pro-Europeans to offer answers for the future.
Make no mistake: A nationalist victory next year would rock the EU to its
core and throw it into another deep crisis. It would represent a defeat for
the fundamental values of the European project. Given the scale of the
threat, pro-Europeans cannot count on business as usual. Recent upheavals in
many member states’ party systems have altered the electoral calculus, and
the pro-Europeans must adapt accordingly.
For my part, I foresee next year’s elections auguring dramatic change in
Europe. For better or worse, the question of Europe itself has been
politicized, and now it must be decided. There will either be a rebirth of
nationalism or a victory for EU-level democracy and unity. Sadly,
pro-Europeans cannot hope for any help from abroad. In fact, the opposite is
true: Europe must be vigilant in policing foreign interference in its
affairs — including its elections.
In recent years, there has been much talk of the EU suffering from a
“democratic deficit.” But the fight for a majority in the European
Parliament actually represents a major opportunity for democracy.
Pro-Europeans need only wake up in time to seize it — or Europe’s enemies
will.
*Joschka Fischer, Germany’s foreign minister and vice chancellor from 1998
to 2005, was a leader of the German Green Party for almost 20 years.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018.
What Would Reagan Do
on Iran?
Simon Miles and Farzan Sabet/Foreign Policy/October 31/18
Despite Saudi Arabia’s admission that the killing of journalist Jamal
Khashoggi earlier this month was premeditated, the Trump administration
appears determined to maintain the U.S. partnership with Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates, and Israel to put unprecedented pressure on Iran. The
next step in this master plan will be the Nov. 5 full reimposition of
sanctions on Iran.
According to recent reports, Peter Schweizer’s 1994 book Victory has helped
inspire the U.S. approach to dealing with Iran, including the sanctions
campaign to force the country to capitulate to U.S. demands. Their reliance
on Schweizer’s account reveals the pitfalls of policymakers looking to the
past to make policy for the future. The book’s boosters contend that the
strategy of “maximum pressure”—unrelenting economic, ideological, and
covert-action measures short of war against the Soviet Union—that allegedly
brought down the Cold War nemesis can have a similar effect today on Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo even echoed this theme in a recent
article.
The only problem is that Schweizer’s narrative of U.S. policy and the Soviet
collapse in the 1980s is flawed; it is not a reliable guide on how to deal
with Tehran. In fact, the application of maximum pressure based on this
triumphalist history may be counterproductive, strengthening the most
conservative and hawkish elements in the Islamic Republic, alienating an
increasingly destitute Iranian population, and weakening the trans-Atlantic
alliance. The Trump administration’s current approach to Iran has little in
common with the carefully calibrated approach President Ronald Reagan
actually took toward the Soviet Union. Schweizer’s
book has appeal in Washington because it tells a compelling tale of U.S.
policymakers effecting change in a complex world. “Examining the collapse of
the Soviet Union outside of the context of American policy,” Schweizer sums
up, “is a little like investigating a sudden, unexpected, and mysterious
death without exploring the possibility of murder.” And in his telling, the
man who slayed the Communist behemoth was Ronald Reagan.
But Schweizer’s work is far from a complete recounting of the facts of the
case. After all, he did not have access to U.S. or Soviet archives and all
they revealed at the time of writing, and he disregarded anything that
detracted from Reagan’s own role, such as the idea that the Soviet Union
died of self-inflicted injuries. Missing from Schweizer’s narrative is any
semblance of Soviet agency; Moscow is acted upon but does not act. This is
not how the Reagan administration saw the Soviet Union, and, crucially, it
is not how President Donald Trump’s should see Iran.
Schweizer is correct that the Reagan administration intensified pressure on
the Soviet Union, but pressure was not the sum total of U.S. policy toward
Moscow during the 1980s. It ignores Reagan’s overtures to the Kremlin, long
predating the arrival on the scene of the reformist Mikhail Gorbachev in
1985. Some of these moves, such as Reagan’s spring 1981 letter to Leonid
Brezhnev, urging the then-Soviet leader to work with him to reduce
international tensions, are well known. Others remain in the shadows, such
as the back channel established by U.S. Ambassador to West Germany Arthur F.
Burns that same year. As Reagan denounced the Soviet Union as an “evil
empire” destined for “the ash heap of history,” Burns was reassuring his
top-level Soviet interlocutors that this was no different than “parents
getting carried away by anger and using insulting language towards their own
children.”
Nor were all opportunities to undermine the Soviet Union seized. For
instance, after the Soviet air force shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007
in September 1983 after it strayed into Soviet airspace near Sakhalin
Island, the Reagan administration did not capitalize on an opportunity to
hold Moscow publicly accountable for each of the 269 deaths, including one
member of the U.S. Congress. Instead, the Reagan administration chose to
restrain itself. U.S. negotiators did not discard the progress made in the
intermediate-range nuclear weapons talks underway in Geneva, for example,
but kept working with the Soviets to reduce nuclear arsenals in Europe.
Reagan knew how to wield the carrot, as well as the stick.
Comparing the Soviet Union in its twilight to Iran today is at best an
imperfect analogy. Since the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989,
Iran has lurched back and forth between flawed reform and counterreform.
Today, reformers are barely hanging on to elected power centers and are
thwarted by hard-liners who wield authority from unelected perches. At the
same time, the Islamic Republic has undeniably undergone meaningful changes
over the last four decades, from an authoritarian system with a state-led
economy and highly restricted society, to a competitive authoritarian one
with a mixed economy and fewer social restrictions.
Elections, largely a rubber stamp on Khomeini’s charismatic rule
until the 1990s, today give Iranians a limited measure of choice in shaping
their political future, even if that choice is between a narrow range of
regime insiders. The economy, whose commanding heights the state once
jealously guarded, now incorporates more market mechanisms and private
actors, even if it remains riddled with mismanagement and corruption.
Society, once completely suffocated by the strict imposition of Islamic
mores, now sees Iranian women defiantly casting off their veils in public,
even if they still sometimes pay a heavy price for their transgressions.
This gradual but marked change has been grudgingly conceded by ruling
hard-liners, under pressure from the brave activism of Iranian citizens, who
are using every opportunity to enact change including the limited space
opened up by reformers who—like Gorbachev—want to save the system.
A Victory-style strategy of maximum pressure on Iran could set off a cascade
of unintended consequences that would harm long-term U.S. interests. The
specter of a hard-line backlash to Gorbachev loomed over U.S. policy toward
the Soviet Union during the late 1980s, tempering the harshest instincts of
the Reagan administration. Soviet hard-liners’ attempted coup in August 1991
showed just how right the White House had been to worry what would happen if
it pushed Gorbachev too far. It was certainly never taken for granted that
the liberal opposition or the flawed but courageous Boris Yeltsin would
succeed Gorbachev. A policy of maximum pressure
today is likely to force Iran’s fractious elites to unite around the goal of
regime survival and further empower actors such as the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps, help Tehran incite anti-American resentment among ordinary
Iranians suffering under sanctions, and hurt the United States’ standing in
the world.
In part as a consequence of this policy, the Hassan Rouhani government has
been on the back foot, relying more heavily on the conservatives rather than
reformists in his coalition and finding it expedient to engage in
confrontational rhetoric toward the United States. And as the two countries
and their respective allies have moved closer to military confrontation and
an economic siege under Trump, the Revolutionary Guards who dominate the
country’s ballistic missile program, proxy warfare networks, and illicit
business activity stand to further strengthen their already formidable
position.
These possibilities take on greater significance in light of the looming
succession process to replace the aging supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei. While the framework and context in which this succession will
unfold largely remains a mystery, the balance of power within Iran is likely
to influence its outcome. Finally, although Iranians since 1979 have turned
their ire inward toward their own rulers, a policy of maximum pressure could
endow the waning anti-Americanism of the Islamic Republic with a new sheen
of nationalist rationalization.
Beyond Iran, the Trump administration’s policy of maximum pressure has
undermined the trans-Atlantic alliance and strained other important global
partnerships. U.S. pursuit of a punitive sanctions campaign against Iran
without consideration for allies’ interests has cast the United States as an
intransigent actor, drawing scrutiny away from Tehran’s troubling human
rights record, regional role, and ballistic missiles.
European efforts to diminish the impact of U.S. sanctions, for example by
creating a barter system to facilitate European Union-Iran bilateral trade
in the absence of private financial institutions’ willingness to do so,
could undermine the U.S. dollar’s position as the global reserve currency,
harming the future efficacy of sanctions as a tool of U.S. statecraft and
Washington’s ability to finance its foreign policy by running deficits.
Rather than using Schweizer’s hagiographical Victory as a template, the
Trump administration may want to take a page out of Reagan’s actual
playbook. Whatever mix of diplomatic, economic, and military means the
administration employs, it should consider incorporating three key elements.
First, Washington must heal the breach with Europe. Reagan understood the
importance of the trans-Atlantic alliance for confronting the Soviet Union,
and any campaign to address Iran’s behavior is likely to be more successful
with Europe on board.
Second, avoid bolstering hard-liners and hold good-faith negotiations over
pressing issues. Reagan was aware of internal Soviet dynamics and entered
into direct talks with genuine openness when it was called for.
Finally, minimize the negative impact of U.S. policy on ordinary Iranians.
Reagan never lost sight of the fact that in the struggle against “the evil
empire,” everyday citizens throughout the Eastern bloc were communism’s main
victims and, crucially, the most valuable agents of change. It was they,
after all, who tore down the Berlin Wall.
Most Refugees Won’t Return to Syria until Conditions Are Right
Peter Yeo/The Hill/October 31/18
It seems logical: As the brutal Syrian civil war appears to wind down, the
estimated five million Syrians who fled the violence in their homeland will
soon be asked to return home. Neighboring countries with hundreds of
thousands of Syrian refugees can shed the burden of hosting foreign
populations. Syrian refugees, who overwhelmingly say they want to return to
their homeland, begin the transition. A rational scenario perhaps, but
there’s one catch: most refugees won’t return until conditions in Syria are
right.
The sooner U.S. policy makers and countries hosting Syrian refugees plan for
this reality, the better. I recently returned from Lebanon, where I met with
Syrian refugees, Lebanese officials and UN refugee workers. The refugees I
met fell into four groups:
Some will return to Syria only if there’s regime change. These refugees want
a broad political settlement, President Assad gone, the Syrian Constitution
rewritten and American guarantees of their safety and freedom upon their
return. We cannot and should not, dismiss these dreams, however unlikely.
Other refugees will accept something less. Their return is tied to an end to
fighting in their communities and an assurance of basic security for them
and their families. They want the Syrian government to pledge that men will
not be drafted into the Syrian military when they return, or be forced to
engage in whatever fighting remains. They want a reliable process to recover
their property if others occupy it.
A smaller group has begun to return voluntarily, despite the fact that UNHCR,
the UN’s refugee agency, believes conditions in Syria are not yet conducive
to a return in “safety and dignity.”Reports from inside Syria will determine
the pace of voluntary repatriation; extended Syrian families and friends are
in close contact with each other via WhatsApp.
Others won’t be allowed to return at all. The Syrian government will deny
them re-entry based on perceived political affiliations or their homes will
be gone, occupied by largely Shia families settling in Syria as part of a
forced demographic transition.
Lebanon, hosting more than one million Syrian refugee, which is equivalent
to 25 percent of their population, welcomed them at first. Now some senior
ministers want them to go home. They’re treated like out-of-town guests who
have over-stayed their welcome.
They are blamed for driving down wages and taxing Lebanon’s fragile
infrastructure and health care system. Perhaps most significantly, many
Lebanese fear that the Syrian refugees will stay for generations, as more
than 400,000 Palestinians did after 1948. With most refugees being Sunnis,
this potential outcome threatens to further complicate Lebanon’s complex
confessional political system. The Syrian refugees are no happier. They are
living in limbo, afraid to leave settlements for fear of being jailed or
deported and without access to jobs in the formal economy. Vital
humanitarian assistance provided by UNHCR and the World Food Programme,
supported generously by the American taxpayers, has made a crucial
difference. UNHCR has also been an important intermediary between Syrian
refugees and the communities that are hosting them.
What can U.S. policy makers and the global communities do to help these
refugees and a country like Lebanon that has supported these refugees beyond
their capacity?
First, while Russia and the U.S. have divided sharply over the Syrian Civil
War, we need to find common ground together to help those Syrian refugees
who choose to return to do so successfully. We must work with regional
players, as challenging as that will be, in support of the UN’s efforts to
establish minimum standards for refugee returns, including security
guarantees, limitations on military conscription, ensuring property
restitution and UNHCR access to monitor and assist returning refugees.
Second, the U.S. and other donor countries need to plan and fund multi-year
financial and political commitments to support the UN’s humanitarian aid to
the refugees in Lebanon and surrounding countries. The wealthy countries of
the Arab world, which have provided only token financial support for the
refugees, must also invest more.
Third, recognizing the complexities of U.S. policy towards Lebanon,
including the strong political power of Hezbollah, we must find ways to
assist the government and people of
Lebanon, through development assistance and financing from international
financial institutions. Their continued generosity in hosting refugees
despite their own political and economic challenges deserves recognition and
support. Lebanon must not be abandoned at this critical moment in the
region’s history. The Syrian civil war has been a tragedy. The U.S. and the
global community must ensure that this devastation is not further compounded
by prematurely abandoning millions of Syrian refugees and the Lebanese
people who offered them sanctuary.
The Idea of a New Syrian Constitution Is a Diplomatic Fig Leaf
Faisal Al Yafai/The National/October 31/18
Over the past few days, two of the forums tasked with ending the Syrian war
have coalesced their efforts around the writing of a new constitution for
the nation.
First, over the weekend, came a push from the UN special envoy for Syria,
Staffan de Mistura, who will step down next month after four years in the
job. Speaking to the UN Security Council, he seemed to pin his hopes on a
new constitution being created but said Damascus was blocking the creation
of a drafting committee. At last month's UN General Assembly, Syrian foreign
minister Walid Al Muallem went so far as to warn against external
intervention in the forming of a committee.
Then, on Saturday, Turkey and Russia pulled off quite a remarkable coup,
getting the leaders of Germany and France to go to Istanbul and essentially
endorse a plan that the Russians had first manufactured, issuing a
communique calling for a drafting committee to be established before the end
of the year.
They proposed this despite knowing – because Mr De Mistura had told them
just hours before – that the Assad regime was stalling on the formation of
the committee and refusing to accept the UN's authority in appointing
members to the committee.
Cynical observers might wonder if the renewed push for the committee to be
formed in the next few weeks is simply a way of allowing Mr De Mistura to
leave with some diplomatic dignity at the end of November.
In any case, the idea of a new Syrian constitution is a mere diplomatic fig
leaf, concocted to spare the blushes of western powers for having been
comprehensively outmanoeuvred by Russia and the Syrian regime. A new
constitution will not, as the leaders declared, pave the way for elections
and an end to the war. The Assad regime will not allow a genuinely new
constitution. And even if there was a new constitution, it would not solve
the issues it is meant to address.
The sudden focus on this new constitution is puzzling, given that, from the
moment it was proposed in January, it has created divisions among Syria's
opposition and looked extremely unlikely to ever happen.
Recall that the proposal for a 150-member committee made up of both
government and opposition figures to rewrite the constitution and pave the
way for elections was first proposed at a Russian-backed conference in the
Black Sea resort of Sochi earlier this year, at a time when Russian fighter
jets were dropping bombs in support of the Assad regime.
Mr De Mistura inexplicably took the idea back under the auspices of the
UN-led Geneva process, despite leading opposition figures saying at the time
that it was unworkable and the wrong moment to try it.
The opposition argued at the time that what was needed was a transitional
government to prove that there would be a move away from the Assad regime.
Worse, they pointed out, seeking to rewrite the constitution in Syria, at a
time when war was still ongoing and the regime was fighting for its
survival, was hardly conducive to a genuinely impartial process.
Still, the idea has not gone away and Mr De Mistura last week asked Russia
and Turkey to push the regime to stop blocking the establishment of the
committee, so that the process of writing a constitution – nearly a year
after it was first proposed – can actually begin.
But there will be no new constitution. That much ought to have been clear to
a seasoned diplomat. Instead, the endless debate with the regime is a ruse
to delay and ultimately deny the committee any power.
The idea is that one third of the seats on the committee will go to the
regime, a third to the opposition and a further third to independents, some
of whom would be proposed by the UN. But the regime has consistently
objected to any but the most anodyne of opposition members and now refuses
to allow the UN to even propose independents.
In any case, a new constitution, if one were ever drafted, would not solve
the two issues it is meant to address – even aside from the fact that the
lack of Arab consensus on a new course for Syria or a seat at the
negotiating table in these discussions remains a sticking point, as Ahmed
Aboul Gheit, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, said on the
sidelines of the Manama Dialogue.
But, setting aside that hurdle, the regime will never allow genuine
opposition any representation, which means that the grievances that sparked
the uprising will remain, and there will be no justice for those killed,
maimed, dispossessed or forcibly removed from their homes. There will be no
truth about what happened to the tens of thousands who have disappeared
after being detained by the regime, and no reconciliation among the
communities affected.
Nor would a new constitution solve the refugee crisis. One of the reasons
why Germany and France have been persuaded to back the creation of a new
constitution is because they believe it would influence the decision of
Syrian refugees to return home.
Yet with Bashar Al Assad remaining in place, it is unlikely many would feel
safe enough to go home. I've argued previously that the most likely outcome
is for Russia to persuade the regime to accept fresh elections, which would
be convincingly “won” by the regime, thereby offering a route back to
international respectability.But on the ground, this would be the same old Assad regime – the one that
initially shot peaceful protesters, that tortured men and women to death and
that now still leads to the disappearance of refugees who have returned home
– meaning few of those Syrians who felt threatened enough to leave would
feel safe to go back.The truth is that attempts to end the conflict have not gone well for the
West and establishing peace is going just as badly. There is little that can
be done now to stop Mr Al Assad remaining as president of Syria
indefinitely, and European powers and Turkey know it. A new constitution is
merely a means of repackaging the inevitable, with some kind of imprint of
them playing a part in negotiations. On the ground, nothing will change and
for Syrians, any new constitution will not be worth the paper it is printed
on.