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Page 18 Page 15 Page 12 Iraq’s Region expects more trying times PM-designate faces resistance as infection cases continue to rise of Shia bloc There is concern that lack of testing means, among other factors, producing inaccurate counts of infection cases. The Arab Weekly staff

Samir Wahbi raqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi faces a tough task in forming a new cabinet and se- Paris I curing parliamentary approval of his proposed government within s the number of confirmed 30 days. cases of the coronavirus Zurfi, 54, a former governor of Na- contamination climbs, there jaf, was asked to form a new govern- A are increasing concerns ment March 17 by Iranian President across the Middle East and North Af- Barham Salih after the two largest rica that more trying times are ahead. parliamentary blocs failed to nomi- Official figures indicate there are nate a candidate. As a senior figure 18,000 confirmed cases of corona- in the Nasr-led bloc of the Iraqi par- virus infection in the Eastern Medi- liament, led by former Prime Minis- terranean region — the Middle East, ter Haider al-Abadi, Zurfi must bring North Africa, Afghanistan and Paki- together Iraq’s fractured political stan — with more than 1,000 deaths scene. in seven countries, mostly in Iran. Zurfi has announced a 12-point The way of life to which the region plan, including promises for early had been accustomed has come to a snap elections, to address the coro- halt. Millions of students are out of navirus threat and secure Iraq’s school, airline travel is suspended 2020 federal budget. nearly everywhere and employees His pledges on foreign policy, par- are struggling to work from home, ticularly on “avoiding regional and when they can. international conflicts” and “seek- Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ing to open up to all neighbouring Al Saud said the kingdom would im- countries and the general interna- plement all needed measures to con- tional community, in a way that pre- tain the “difficult stage” of the coro- serves the independence of Iraq as a navirus crisis. However, he warned sovereign nation,” would gain him “the next stage will be more difficult support from Iraq’s Sunni and Kurd- at the global level in confronting the ish groups but could be a concern for rapid spread of the pandemic.” No social distancing here. A crowd of Iranians, some only wearing protective masks, at Tehran’s Iran-backed Shia groups. (AFP) There is fear among experts that grand bazaar, despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the actual number of virus infection his powerful Sairoon bloc may not be cases is higher than official figures. The ability to track the pandemic things even worse in the future. suspensions and quarantines, could inclined to back Zurfi, given his role A lack of testing kits amid a chroni- varies from country to country. In Most countries in the Arab world render life unbearable for vulnerable as Najaf governor during which he cally inadequate health structure in some Arab countries, the situation also lack ventilator-equipped in- segments of the population. fought against al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army many parts of the region along with is akin to that of sub-Saharan Africa tensive care units to cope with the There are those facing conditions and its rebellion against US troops in the possibility that many mild cases in the early weeks of the outbreak swelling numbers of those infected. of war or are displaced and with no 2004. The other powerful Shia bloc, are not being detected could produce when only two countries had out- To further compound the problem, access to reliable health systems. Fatah, led by Hadi al-Amiri and asso- an inaccurate count. break testing ability. many in society are not showing There is also a huge part of the popu- ciated with the Iran-backed Popular Global health authorities called on Even more adequately equipped signs of full awareness or mobilisa- lation that is either self-employed or Mobilisation Forces (PMF), rejected MENA countries to be more forth- Arab countries were blinded by Iran’s tion. Shia religious processions in living off the informal sector may not Zurfi outright, describing his nomi- coming about epidemiological sta- attempts at denial and under-report- Iraq and Iran have continued to draw be able to economically survive the nation as unconstitutional. tistics. ing as to the extent of the contamina- large crowds in recent days. disruptive measures. Shia parties have begun a media “Unfortunately, even today, as tion in its borders that delayed pre- “Frankly we are seeing uneven ap- “We need to take it to the next campaign against Zurfi, accusing the situation is becoming critical, cautionary decisions, especially in proaches across the region. While we level to ensure support reaches those him of corruption while he was gov- information on cases is insufficient- terms of travel restrictions. have observed impressive progress entirely dependent on the informal ernor, as well as being too close to ly communicated by countries to Tehran refrained from stamp- in several countries, not all are yet economy and countries less able to the United States. WHO,” said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, ing passports of Shia visitors from applying the whole of government respond,” cautioned UN Secretary- Zurfi has not commented about World Health Organisation regional Gulf Cooperation Council coun- and whole of society approach,” said General Antonio Guterres. calls for the United States to with- director for the Eastern Mediterra- tries, triggering vehement protests Mandhari. draw troops from Iraq, demands that nean. He complained of “under-re- from Riyadh. By refusing to impose There are concerns that some Samir Wahbi is an Arab writer based gained traction following the killing porting on the part of some countries quarantines and confinement meas- drastic decisions taken to curtail the in Paris. of Iranian Major-General Qassem with regard to positive cases.” ures, Iranian authorities could make spread of the disease, such as travel P2-9, 11, 16-17 Soleimani in a US drone strike. The clout of Shia groups seems however to have atrophied in recent months. It was not clear to what extent Iran sends message of belligerence vowing new that Iraq’s protest movement could support Zurfi but many demonstra- tors view him as part of Iraq’s cor- retaliation against US even as coronavirus crisis deepens rupt political class.

Thomas Seibert our great commander. We have re- The exchanges are signs of a war President Donald Trump under a sponded to that terrorist act and by proxy between Iran and the “maximum pressure” campaign af- will respond to it,” Rohani said in a United States in the Middle East as ter he took the United States out of Istanbul televised speech. Tehran’s tries to expand its regional the nuclear agreement with Tehran Soleimani, leader of the IRGC’s influence. two years ago. ran is hardening its stance in its al-Quds Force, was instrumental Washington argues that its cam- confrontation with the United in implementing Iran’s aggressive paign to curb Iran’s nuclear, mis- States, seeking further revenge strategy in the Middle East through Iranian President Hassan sile and regional activities does Rohani said Iran would I for the killing of one of its top proxies in countries of the region not stop the flow of humanitarian commanders even as the coronavi- such as Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. continue to respond to the goods but Iran says the sanctions rus threat in the sanctions-hit coun- The United States launched air United States’ assassination must be lifted to allow the import try developed into a crisis that kills strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed of Major-General Qassem of medical goods needed to fight about 150 people every day and in- Shia militia members believed re- Soleimani. coronavirus. fects 50 each hour. sponsible for the rocket attack that Iran’s neighbours are concerned Iranian President Hassan Rohani killed and wounded US and British Rohani’s belligerent statement that the Islamic Republic could said Iran would continue to re- troops at a base north of Baghdad. indicated that Iran is determined worsen the coronavirus situation spond to the United States’ assas- In a speech marking Nowruz, the to keep pouring resources into for- for the region. Approximately 90% sination of Major-General Qassem Persian New Year, Rohani highlight- eign policy adventures at a time of all cases in the Middle East can Soleimani, an Islamic Revolution- ed what he viewed as the achieve- its health system is under severe be traced to Iran, news reports said. ary Guard Corps (IRGC) command- ments of the past year, including strain because of the coronavirus Looking for acceptance. er killed in a US drone strike in Iraq the missile strikes on US troops in pandemic. Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly File photo of Adnan al-Zurfi, in January. Iraq and the downing of a sophisti- Iran’s economy has been severely correspondent. then-governor of Najaf. (AFP) “The Americans assassinated cated US drone. hit by sanctions introduced by US P2, 17 P7, 10 2 March 22, 2020 Top news Gulf countries announce tougher measures to contain virus outbreak Mohammed Alkhereiji Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz signed to promote Saudi tourism Al Saud delivered a rare public ad- that have been postponed or can- dress urging Saudis to work together celled, including the Red Sea Inter- ith infection levels ris- to confront the pandemic. national Film Festival. ing, Gulf Cooperation “We are living through a difficult Gulf officials introduced meas- Council members galva- period in the history of the world ures to cushion their economies W nised efforts to address but we are fully aware that it will from the coronavirus-related fall- the COVID-19 virus outbreak. pass despite its cruelty, bitterness out. The Central Bank of the United In Saudi Arabia, which has 274 and difficulty,” King Salman said in a Arab Emirates announced a stimu- confirmed coronavirus cases, au- 5-minute televised statement. lus package of $27.3 billion and the thorities adopted a policy of maxi- ”Therefore, rest assured that we Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority re- mum precaution to combat the are very keen on providing the nec- vealed a $13.3 billion stimulus plan spread of the disease. Saudi offi- essary medication, food and living to sustain the country’s private sec- cials have suspended work for both necessities for citizens and resi- tor. the public and private sector for a dents of this blessed land. All gov- The United Arab Emirates, which 2-week period. ernment sectors, led by the Ministry has 140 known cases of COVID-19 vi- Saudi Health Minister Tawfiq of Health, are doing all they can and rus infection, suspended issuing la- al-Rabiah, speaking at a news con- taking all necessary measures to en- bour permits and visas upon arrival. ference, urged Saudi and foreign sure the health of the nation’s citi- With 460 individuals infected Total impact. A cleric calls for the prayer at an empty Al-Rajhi nationals in the kingdom to remain zens and residents.” with coronavirus, Qatar has the Mosque after Friday prayers were suspended following the spread (Reuters) at home, saying cases of infection In line with event cancellations highest number of infection cases of the coronavirus in Riyadh, March 20. were expected to rise. across the region, the Jeddah Sea- of any Arab country. Qatari Emir A week after suspending interna- son festival, scheduled for June and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani time because of coronavirus meas- G20 leaders’ summit next week to tional flights, Saudi officials halted July, was called off. halted all commercial flights to ures in place. advance a coordinated response to domestic flights, buses, taxis and “To all Jeddah residents, it’s with Doha for two weeks, suspended The Kuwaiti Health Ministry an- the COVID-19 pandemic and its hu- trains for 14 days as of March 21, the feelings of deep sadness that we public transportation and required nounced six new coronavirus cases man and economic implications,” a Interior Ministry said. The measures have had to take this tough deci- students to attend classes remotely. had been detected, putting the to- statement released March 18 said. were described as “preventive and sion. The spread of coronavirus is Qatar Airways, the country’s na- tal at 148. Kuwaiti authorities were “The summit will build on the on- precautionary.” a battle we all must face around the tional carrier, also suspended activi- considering a curfew and pardoning going efforts of the G20 finance min- Officials also said mosques across globe, and it’s with no hesitation ties, Reports indicated that the air- debts for nationals for six months, isters and central bank governors, Saudi Arabia would not admit wor- that we are respecting all measures line was furloughing a large number Al-Qabas newspaper reported. senior health, trade and foreign af- shippers for the customary five needed to meet the current health of its staff members, including 200 Saudi Arabia announced it would fairs officials to further develop the daily prayers or the weekly Friday emergency,” festival organisers said Filipino workers. host a virtual G20 summit to discuss precise requirements and actions congregation. They have suspend- in a statement reported in the Saudi In Oman, 48 cases of COVID-19 tackling the coronavirus pandemic. needed.” ed worship at the Grand Mosque in Gazette. virus have been reported. The gov- “The Saudi G20 presidency is Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in The Jeddah Season festival is one ernment urged tourists to leave the communicating with G20 countries Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf Medina. of the many cultural events de- country “at the earliest” possible to convene an extraordinary virtual section editor of The Arab Weekly. Despite confinement Lebanon Coronavirus pandemic working on economic rescue plan not affecting US policy

Samar Kadi been isolated at the Rafik Hariri Uni- the first time and its currency lost versity Hospital in Beirut (RHUH), some 40% of its value while dol- towards Iran the only public facility treating cor- lar reserves are critically low. Work Beirut onavirus patients, the ministry said to draw up economic rescue plans Arshad Mohammed, to Washington, Tehran released it is preparing for Stage Four in its continued despite the shutdown Daphne Psaledakis US citizen Michael White from ith an increasing num- fight against the virus. because of the virus, Economy Min- and Parisa Hafezi its custody though he must stay ber of people testing Preparations for Stage Four in- ister Raoul Nehme said. in Iran. Suzanne Maloney of the positive for COVID-19, cluded equipping 12 government Major aspects of the plan, includ- Brookings Institution said Iran W Lebanon tightened hospitals and at least five private ing how the state will cut the deficit Washington allowing White or other detained confinement measures under state facilities across the country with and boost revenues, will probably US citizens to return home might of “sanitary mobilisation” to rein isolation units to receive infected be ready by mid-April, Nehme told he United States sent appeal to US President Donald in the outbreak of the virus, which people if the disease spreads and Reuters. Iran a blunt message: the Trump. has claimed four lives and infected exceeds RHUH’s capacities. While noting that it was too early spread of the coronavi- “I still don’t believe this admin- more than 160. to gauge the effect of the coronavi- T rus will not save it from istration wants to provide a lot of “Citizens are urged to adhere to rus outbreak, Nehme said aid from US sanctions that are choking off leeway to the Iranian authorities the strict measures issued by the While diagnosed cases countries to which Lebanon has Tehran’s oil revenues and isolat- but that doesn’t mean they can’t official authorities, especially the have all been isolated, been looking for support “can be ing its economy. or shouldn’t be looking for every mandatory home quarantine and the country is preparing less significant” if they suffer their The United States, which ar- opportunity to” get medical sup- the restrictions on movement, ex- for Stage Four in its fight own financial problems. gues that its “maximum pressure” plies into Iran, she said. cept when absolutely necessary,” against the virus. “We will certainly seek the sup- campaign to curb Iran’s nuclear, “Iran is Italy, only on steroids,” a Lebanese Health Ministry state- port of our friends in the Arab world missile and regional activities Maloney said, alluding to the out- ment said. The effect of the coronavirus and but their revenues are going down does not stop the flow of humani- break in Italy, whose coronavirus “There are six cases of an un- falling oil prices may have damaged drastically with the price of oil go- tarian goods, imposed new sanc- death toll has exceeded that of known origin and the reason is com- Lebanon’s chances of securing bad- ing down under $30 (per barrel) tions the week of March 16. China, where the virus emerged. munity infections. Security forces ly needed aid from foreign coun- practically so that puts limitations Some analysts suggested the are asked to be stricter, to the extent tries to deal with its worst financial on their capacity to assist us,” he Trump administration should do of barring people from leaving their crisis blamed on the political class added. more to speed the flow of humani- “Our policy of maximum homes,” Lebanese Health Minister corruption and mismanagement. Fears of spread of coronavirus tarian goods into Iran, though pressure on the regime Hamad Hasan stated. Lebanon has been unable to pay triggered riots at two overcrowded they saw little evidence to suggest continues,” said Brian While diagnosed cases have all foreign currency sovereign debt for Lebanese prisons. Inmates demand- this was in the offing. Hook, the US special ed to be released, even if temporar- “Our policy of maximum pres- representative for ily, fearing the virus would spread sure on the regime continues,” Iranian affairs said. rapidly in the closed environment. said Brian Hook, the US special Police said precautions were be- representative for Iranian affairs. Mark Dubowitz, an Iran hawk ing taken to protect the prisons “US sanctions are not preventing with the Foundation for Defense from coronavirus. Only one person aid from getting to Iran.” of Democracies policy group, said from each inmate’s family will be al- “While Iran is an epicentre of Washington could send medical lowed to visit and prisons are regu- this virus outbreak and facing true goods to Iran via private groups larly disinfected. economic catastrophe… there will but should not ease sanctions. The usually jammed streets of be no relief on sanctions,” said “At the very time Iran-backed Beirut were mostly deserted as Elizabeth Rosenberg of the Cen- Shia militias in Iraq are killing shops, restaurants, cafes, malls and tre for a New American Security Americans and Brits and others, businesses observed mandatory think-tank. this would be exactly the wrong closure, which will last until at least Hook said Washington sent a time to be providing any kind of March 29. diplomatic note to Tehran offering economic relief to the regime,” Police patrols on Beirut’s seaside help with coronavirus “and it was he said, referring to this month’s promenade stopped the few recal- quickly rejected.” attack on a military camp in Iraq citrant strollers and joggers, forcing He blamed Iran’s leadership for that killed one British and two US them to return to their homes. its coronavirus woes, saying Iran personnel. The country’s air, land and sea- “spends billions on terrorism and “We should be sending medi- ports of entry and all non-essential foreign wars” and that if it spent cal supplies directly to Iranians public and private institutions were one-tenth of this “on a better through non-governmental or- closed until the end of March. health-care system, the Iranian ganisations and bypass the re- Challenged. Lebanese President Michel Aoun (R) and Prime people would have been much gime.” Minister Hassan Diab attend a cabinet meeting at the presidential Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly better off.” palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, March 19. (AP) Travel and Society section editor. In what might be a gesture (Reuters) March 22, 2020 3 Top news

Saudi Arabia calls for virtual G20 summit over coronavirus

Agence France-Presse The United States and Britain are spearheading a multibillion-dollar international fight against econom- Riyadh ic havoc as the European Union shuts its borders to travellers from audi Arabia has called for a outside for 30 days. “virtual” summit of leaders The announcement of the sum- from the Group of 20 major mit by Saudi Arabia, the first Arab S economies to address the country to hold the G20 presidency, coronavirus pandemic. comes amid criticism that the G20 “The Saudi G20 presidency is was slow to address the pandemic. communicating with G20 countries “The G20 is missing in action to convene an extraordinary virtual today, unlike 2008,” Ian Bremmer, G20 leaders’ summit… to advance a president and founder of the Eura- coordinated response to the COV- sia Group, said on Twitter. Isolation. A passenger stranded at Tunis Carthage Airport waits for a flight, March 16. (AFP) ID-19 pandemic and its human and Saudi Arabia is bracing for a cor- economic implications,” the gov- onavirus-led economic slump after ernment said in a statement. it shut cinemas, malls and restau- “G20 leaders will put forward a rants, suspended the year-round coordinated set of policies to pro- umrah and locked down the east- Restrictive measures provoke tect people and safeguard the glob- ern Qatif region — home to approxi- al economy.” mately 500,000 people — to contain The announcement comes after the virus. G20 financial chiefs in February Riyadh also faces plummeting tensions with trade unions voiced “real concern” at meetings oil prices, which recently slipped in Riyadh over the potential eco- below $30 a barrel for the first time nomic shock from the coronavirus in four years on the back of sagging pandemic. Since then, global stock demand and a price war with Rus- and business federation and oil markets have slumped amid sia. heightened concerns of the out- Saudi Arabia is to host G20 lead- break spreading. ers for the group’s annual summit Lamine Ghanmi in Tunisia, including a ban on move- the self-isolation measures. Sure, Most market commentators say November 21-22. It planned more ment between cities and stricter con- many citizens do that but, unfortu- the virus-wracked world economy than 100 events in the run-up to the finement measures for the general nately, we observed side-slips by oth- will likely plunge into recession. summit, organisers said. unisia stepped up measures public. ers,” he said. to slow the spread of the “The general health isolation in- Fakhfakh said the government novel coronavirus, order- volves that most people stay home “will leave no business falling into T ing a lockdown of cities and and do not go out except for excep- bankruptcy and no citizen will be shutting factories. Some of the gov- tional needs,” he said. abandoned by the roadside.” Many ernment’s measures were however Major industrial zones with large Tunisians, however, wondered criticised by unions and the business factories would be shut down to pre- where the cash-strapped govern- federation. vent contact between workers, he ment would find the resources to “The situation is under control in added. fight the disease and stem the eco- Tunisia and there is no cause for pan- Saied said food and other essential nomic fallout. ic and fear,” said Saied after a national goods would be provided to workers Tourism is also expected to suffer security council meeting. who lose their jobs because of the huge losses after the European Union The Tunisian government was as- lockdown. He called on the judiciary closed its borders, while trade will be sailed by powerful social groups, in- and police to crack down on specula- affected because of the closure of the cluding the Tunisian General Labour tors seeking to profit from the crisis by country’s borders with Libya and Al- Union (UGTT) and employers group hoarding basic goods to inflate prices. geria. the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade Tunisia recorded its first coronavi- Fakhfakh called on citizens to do- and Handicrafts (UTICA), question- rus death, a 72-year-old woman who nate to a newly created health fund to ing its leadership during and before recently returned from Turkey. Nissaf bolster the health-care system while the health emergency. Ben Alaya, a Health Ministry official, the government worked on a plan to reported 60 confirmed infections as help citizens and companies affected of March 21. She said 41 cases were by the disease. Many Tunisians Contingencies. Participants at a meeting of finance ministers and individuals returning from abroad. Saied said he would donate half of central bank governors of the G20 nations in Riyadh, February 23. (AFP) wondered how a cash- Tunisia had already introduced his salary to a government fund to as- strapped government wide-ranging measures to combat sist with upgrading the equipment of would find the resources the virus before Saied’s announce- hospitals and other health-care facili- to both fight the disease ment, including shutting its borders, ties. Many Tunisians and civil society Jordan imposes nationwide and stem the economic enforcing a 6pm-6am curfew and organisations donated money to help fallout. urging individuals to observe “social the government cope with crisis. distancing” measures. Saied’s decision to impose a curfew curfew against epidemic “They (previous governments) left There had also been a ban on mass was criticised because it caused peo- the country bankrupt with no means gatherings in markets, Moorish baths ple to cram together in public trans- Reuters spokesman Amjad Adailah said. to confront this crisis,” said UTICA and wedding parties. portation to make it to shops to buy The new measures seemed to be President Samir Majoul. “They took Coffee shops and restaurants had necessities before the ordered 4pm working because streets across Am- away our money as taxes but did been allowed to remain open until closure. Amman man and other main cities were de- nothing for the country in return dur- 4pm but some people appeared lax “Because of this curfew starting serted and shops shuttered after the ing 10 years.” He urged a focus on in observing social-distancing re- from 6pm that no other country had ordan instituted a nationwide curfew went into effect. preserving the “human resources” of strictions, which prompted calls on imposed, administrations, offices, curfew on March 21, limiting Jordanian King Abdullah II enact- the country. social media for a military-enforced enterprises and supermarkets must the mobility of its 10 million ed an emergency decree giving the The UGTT called the government’s curfew. Coffeeshops and restaurants close before 6pm when workers and J citizens indefinitely to combat government sweeping powers to en- measures too “vague” and implic- we eventually closed all day. employees rush together to the pub- the spread of coronavirus. Anyone force an army-imposed curfew and itly accused the government of lax The government hopes to slow lic transport system to be at homes violating the curfew, which restricts other measures that restrict civil and stances as it asked for “strict rules” transmission of the virus to prevent before the curfew begins,” said Nizar movement beyond emergencies and political liberties. in implementing the “comprehensive mass infections that threatened to Bahloul, editor of the online maga- essential services, could be jailed up quarantine” measures. overwhelm hospitals that are ill- zine Business News. to a year, the army said. As it warned of “widespread an- equipped after years of neglect. Saied “With the traffic jam, people cram “Anyone going outside will be sub- Thousands of soldiers ger” against “phenomena of hoard- lamented the state of the country’s buses, trains to spend more time to- jecting themselves to punishment,” have been deployed ing of basic goods by profiteers, high- hospitals in December, saying pa- gether on the roads. Before that, citi- Jordanian Justice Minister Bassam inside cities and on main er costs of living and chaos caused tients suffered because of a shortage zens rush to shops and supermarkets Talhouni warned. The curfew is to be highways. by some in the distribution system of materials. to buy their needs in foods and other in place until further notice. of food stuffs,” the UGTT called for Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes stuffs,” he said. Thousands of soldiers deployed Health Minister Saad Jaber said urgent “social measures” to compen- Fakhfakh said the government was “That causes the formation of inside cities and on main highways Jordan had 85 confirmed cases of sate for loss of income and for intro- working on a “protection plan” to crowds with the consequences easy across the country while armoured coronavirus, with officials warning ducing additional taxes on wealth to prepare for mass infections by pro- to deduce and what is only left for police vehicles roamed city streets, that numbers could rise. be used “towards fighting the corona- viding human resources and equip- Kais Saied is to call on the good spirits calling on people to heed warnings Jordan closed land and sea border virus outbreak”. ment to hospitals and other health- to spare Tunisia of disaster of his own not to leave their homes. crossings with Syria, Iraq, Egypt and It also decried authorities’ not care facilities, as well setting up doing.” The curfew was announced after Israel and suspended all incoming dealing firmly with uncooperative digital platforms to allow doctors to Critics of the president said Saied officials criticised the presence of and outgoing flights March 17. expatriates returning from European treat infected people at their homes. was competing with Fakhfakh and many people on the streets even af- The government said Jordan, countries, including the new epicen- He expressed disappointment that parliament Speaker Rached Ghan- ter warnings to stay home, a ban on which imports most of its food and tre of the disease Italy. “Tunisians some citizens were not adhering to nouchi in a larger power struggle. gatherings and public worship and is an energy importer, has several were shocked by the government precautionary measures and com- Saied envisaged that life would “re- suspension of work for civil servants months’ worth of commodities and failure to enforce the quarantine of pared those coming in contact with turn to its normal course within two and private companies. petroleum products stockpiled. travellers as the returning expatriates people who could be infected to “at- weeks if people respected the precau- “Unfortunately, we have seen reck- Economy authorities delayed loan defied the state by skirting this meas- tackers carrying bladed weapons to tionary measures and stay home ex- lessness in scenes of shopping and payments, slashed interest rates and ure,” it said. strike unwary targets.” cept for emergency needs.” However, moving around in the streets. These injected monetary to help cushion Saied laid out nine measures to “I urge all citizens to act conscien- health officials said the crisis could pose a grave danger to our efforts to the country from economic effects of slow the transmission of COVID-19 tiously and diligently in observing likely go on for much longer. contain the epidemic,” government the crisis. 4 March 22, 2020 Top news Algeria’s streets eerily quiet as protesters agree to stay home over virus threat

Lamine Ghanmi to put the greater national interest ahead of any other consideration and not go out on the street in order Tunis to safeguard their health and the country’s health.” n eerie quiet fell over Al- The decision to suspend protests geria’s streets, which had came before Algerian President Ab- been rallying points for delmadjid Tebboune banned dem- A weekly anti-government onstrations to slow coronavirus protests for months, as citizens transmission. stayed home to combat the spread “Coronavirus threatens the lives of the novel coronavirus. of the people. Only the strict re- Streets across the country, nor- spect of hygiene procedures and so- mally bustling with protesters who cial distancing can slow the trans- have demonstrated each Friday for mission of the virus,” protest figure more than a year, were silent March Karim Tabbou said in a message 20 as Algeria stepped up measures from jail, relayed by his brother on to deal with the global health crisis. social media. Few shoppers were on the streets “It is necessary to respect and fol- of Algiers while a single govern- low as individuals and groups the ment vehicle slowly patrolled the guidelines of the health authorities area. A loudspeaker was used to to spare lives from the virus dan- remind citizens to sanitise their g e r.” homes, communal areas and apart- Algeria’s protest movement ment blocks. erupted February 22, 2019, after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika an- nounced his intention to seek a Health pause. Empty streets in Algiers after anti-government protests were suspended, March 20. Algerian Communication fifth term in office. After Bouteflika (Reuters) Minister Ammar Belhimer stepped down in April, the move- hailed protest figures for ment expanded its demands to in- their “wisdom” in clude an overhaul of the country’s cluding shutting the country’s bor- that we have taken all the necessary The FFS said it was time to temporarily halting military-dominated ruling regime. ders to all travellers, allowing only measures and our operational ca- “transform this great popular revo- demonstrations to guard Tebboune began his term as air and maritime shipments to be pacities are untapped,” Tebboune lution into a new, collective, pa- against the virus. president by praising the Hirak for let in. Officials restricted most for- said. triotic effort to fight the looming “saving Algeria from total collapse” eign travel and closed mosques to Algerian Communication Minis- health peril.” and encouraging demonstrators to stop the virus’s spread. ter Ammar Belhimer hailed protest Aissam Chibane, a surgeon at The shift in Algeria came as the press on with their movement as a Tebboune said efforts were being figures for their “wisdom” in tem- Mustapha Bacha Hospital in Algiers country faces one of the most seri- “democratic right.” made to disinfect public transport porarily halting demonstrations to who participated in weekly pro- ous coronavirus outbreaks in North However, facing declining oil rev- systems, “including every train and guard against the virus. tests, said: “Stopping marches is a Africa, with 90 confirmed infec- enue and the threat of the corona- bus station.” He said the govern- “The Hirak is intelligent and gen- duty no one can argue against.” tions and ten deaths, health au- virus, the government is in a tough ment would crack down on hoard- erous,” Belhimer said. “It must re- “We can create groups of vol- thorities said. spot. Tebboune said the coronavi- ers of consumer goods or those who main so and it will have to be more unteers to help combat the coro- Protest leaders called to trans- rus outbreak is a national security profiteer from the crisis, as well as thoughtful and willing when the navirus,” he said. “The Hirak has form the movement into a “front of issue that requires the state to tem- those who push “fake news.” nation faces an imminent danger.” tremendous capacities and it will solidarity” against the pandemic. porarily curb some rights. He said the government had The country’s main political par- surprise those who doubt the de- Echoing calls for a “medical truce” “I want to assure you that the equipment for 6,000 intensive care ties and civic associations, includ- ployment of such forces against the by protest leaders, university stu- state remains fully aware of the hospital beds in preparation for ing three main secularist opposition disease.” dents held off their usual Tuesday sensitive situation, a willing lis- the virus’s spread. He said Algeria groups — the Socialist Forces Front However, Algeria’s Specialised demonstrations on March 17. tener to the concerns of the citi- remained in Stage Two of person- (FFS), the Rally for Culture and De- Doctors Union said the main prob- “We announce the suspension of zens and committed to the respect to-person transmission rather than mocracy and the Workers’ Party lem in halting transmission of the our participation in the protests,” of freedoms and rights,” Tebboune Stage Three of community trans- — whose members were among virus was the “lack of awareness said a group of student organisa- said. mission. the movement’s main organisers, among the population and trivi- tions. “We call on all the Hirak (pro- Tebboune announced a 12-point “Even when the disease evolves agreed to suspend protests until the alisation of the pandemic among a democracy movement)’s activists plan to combat the epidemic, in- into Stage Three, you should know health threat was over. great number of the citizens.” Future of Israeli settlements will depend on next government but also on economics as worries persist

Josef Federman illegal obstacles to peace. ing small settlements deep inside council, said it was “no secret” that came up short and the March 2 In a break from his Republican the territory. the Trump administration has been election ended in deadlock. Netan- and Democratic predecessors, That new annual construction more tolerant of construction. yahu’s rival, Benny Gantz, is trying Jerusalem Trump has taken a much softer line could house approximately an ad- Whether the thousands of units to form the country’s next govern- towards the settlements. Surround- ditional 9,000 people per year in in the pipeline are built, he said, will ment but appears to face long odds sraeli settlement activity in ed by advisers with close ties to the settlements, based on Peace Now’s depend on who leads Israel’s next of success. If neither man can cob- the West Bank surged in 2019, settlement movement, Trump’s ad- estimate of four people per house- government and who wins the US ble together a governing coalition, a watchdog group said, main- ministration declared last year that hold. presidential election in November. the country could plunge into a I taining a rapid pace that drew it did not consider the settlements Under Israeli law, settlements “If we still have the same players, fourth consecutive election, placing strength from the friendly policies to be illegal under international must go through several stages of Netanyahu and Trump, I predict Netanyahu’s future into question as of the Trump administration. law. Then, in January, he unveiled bureaucratic planning before con- the figures you will see in 2020, or he prepares to go on trial for corrup- Peace Now, a monitoring group a Mideast plan that envisions plac- struction. Peace Now said last year more accurately 2021, will actually tion charges. that opposes the settlements, said ing large parts of the West Bank, Israel advanced plans to build near- be higher than 2019,” he said. Trump’s future, meanwhile, also in a report released March 17 that including the settlements, under ly 8,457 new homes, putting them Netanyahu, fighting for his politi- is suddenly in question following Israel’s average annual construc- permanent Israeli control. on track to potentially be built in cal life, took pro-settlement steps widespread criticism of the US re- tion rate has risen 25% since US The Palestinians, with wide in- the coming years — up from 5,618 while campaigning for re-election sponse to the coronavirus crisis. President Donald Trump took office ternational backing, seek all of the units last year and 6,742 in 2017. early this year. The virus could also play a role in in 2017. West Bank and East Jerusalem, also Immediately after Trump un- the growth of the settlements. An Perhaps more significantly, Is- captured in 1967, as parts of a fu- veiled his Mideast plan, Netanyahu economic slowdown, for instance, raeli Prime Minister Binyamin Ne- ture independent state. An economic slowdown vowed to begin annexing the set- could potentially slow demand in tanyahu’s government last year ap- With nearly 500,000 settlers liv- could potentially slow tlements. When the White House the Israeli housing market, includ- proved plans to build thousands of ing in the West Bank and more than demand in the Israeli balked, he pushed forward a flurry ing in settlements. new homes, laying the groundwork 220,000 in East Jerusalem, the Pal- housing market, of new settlement plans as he tried In the West Bank, there are risks for a sharp spike in construction in estinians say the chances of estab- including in settlements. to cater to his hard-line base. from Israelis and Palestinians — who the coming years. That included an lishing a state in those territories During the first two months of are covered by two different health explosion in plans for new settle- are quickly dwindling. They reject- By comparison, Israel advanced this year, Israel pushed ahead plans systems and governments — com- ment projects approved early this ed the Trump Mideast plan, saying plans for 4,611 new homes during for an additional 7,500 homes, near- ing together. Revivi’s settlement, year. it would extinguish any hopes of the final two years of the Obama ly half of them in the sensitive E1 for example, is next to the Palestin- “In my opinion, they’re trying to independence. administration, when ties with the area, Peace Now said. ian city of Bethlehem and residents take advantage of the window of Peace Now figures state that Isra- United States were strained. Developing that area, jutting often are in contact with one other. opportunity that they have under el began construction on 1,917 new Peace Now gathered data from deep into the West Bank east of Thousands of Palestinians, includ- the Trump administration, know- homes in the West Bank last year. official Israeli sources and by con- Jerusalem, would hinder Palestin- ing construction workers, work in ing that it might change in a few That marked a slight dip from 2,100 ducting aerial photography of set- ian hopes of creating a contiguous the settlements. months,” said Hagit Ofran, a Peace construction starts in 2018. Overall, tlements. Israeli settlement groups, state. Israel previously refrained “With all the potential of catching Now researcher. “There was no Israel has begun construction on using different sets of measures, from building in E1 because of op- the virus, all these things become such supportive administration for an average of 2,267 homes per year also reported rapid growth in the position by prior US administra- a much more relevant issue that the settlements previously, ever.” since Trump took office, compared settler population during the Trump tions. Israel also moved ahead with needs to be discussed, determined, Most of the world considers the with an annual average of 1,807 era. plans to build more than 1,500 units decided upon and definitely acted West Bank, captured by Israel in the units during the Obama adminis- Oded Revivi, mayor of the set- in a contentious area of East Jerusa- upon,” Revivi said. 1967 Mideast war, to be occupied tration. Construction was scattered tlement of Efrat and the chief for- lem. territory and Israeli settlements throughout the West Bank, includ- eign envoy of the Yesha settler Despite these steps, Netanyahu (The Associated Press.) March 22, 2020 5 Top news EU mulls more refugee aid for Turkey despite resentment of Ankara’s stance in border crisis

Thomas Seibert the border was shut after about 500 migrants attempted to break down a border fence and enter Istanbul Greece, the Associated Press re- ported. Greek police said they n a stunning policy reversal, used tear gas to repel the push to Turkey closed its land border break down the fence south of the with Greece in line with de- Kastanies Border Crossing. They I mands from Europe, almost said Turkish authorities also fired three weeks after Ankara’s deci- tear gas at the Greek border. sion to “open the gates” triggered Turkish media reported that a major crisis with the European about 10,000 migrants are holding Union. out in the hope of finding a way to Borders with Greece and Bul- cross the border but the Associat- garia were closed March 18 in ed Press put their number at only the framework of Turkey’s fight 2,000. against the coronavirus outbreak, The Associated Press quoted a the state-run Anadolu news agen- senior Turkish official as saying cy reported. The decision came a that the border closure did not day after Turkey’s President Re- end Ankara’s policy of allowing cep Tayyip Erdogan met via video migrants to leave Turkey. conference about the refugee cri- The Turkish Evrensel newspa- sis with German Chancellor An- per quoted an Afghan refugee on gela Merkel, French President Em- the border as saying “many” mi- manuel Macron and British Prime grants were returning to Istanbul Minister Boris Johnson. or other Turkish cities in buses The video conference, organ- provided by Turkish authorities. ised after leaders decided to avoid Others stayed in the hope of get- The $6.6 billion question. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) attends a videoconference a personal meeting because of ting to Greece despite the closed with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime the spread of the coronavirus, border, the refugee said. Vecih Minister Boris Johnson in Ankara, Turkey, March 17. (AFP) took place a week after Erdogan Cuzdan, a journalist with the met with EU Commission Presi- Turkish news website syendika. dent Ursula von der Leyen and EU org, tweeted a video that he said an countered by comparing the table its offer of further support because of the coronavirus pan- Council President Charles Michel showed refugees being led to Greek border guards to “Nazis.” for refugees in Turkey.” demic. in Brussels. buses to take them away from the Merkel indicated after the video “No matter who is president in The video conference did not border. conference that Europe was will- Ankara, the European Union has produce decisions for Idlib. Mer- Erdogan, whose country has ing to provide more money to Tur- to acknowledge what Turkey has kel said Germany had already ear- Merkel’s recent taken in 3.6 million Syrians, has key despite anger over Erdogan’s been doing hosting millions of marked $137 million for humani- statement indicated that said Europe is not fulfilling its behaviour. She said Europe was refugees for years already,” Knaus tarian aid in the Syrian province. Europe was willing to promises made under a 2016 pact willing to talk about Ankara’s de- said. “Both sides have an inter- However, she and other Western provide more money to signed to stem a flow of hundreds mand to extend an existing cus- est in renewing the cooperation” leaders are reluctant to provide Turkey despite anger of thousands of Syrians via Tur- toms union between the European agreed in 2016 but Turkey had to money for Erdogan’s plan to re- over Erdogan’s key to Europe that shocked the Union and Turkey. end its “immoral game” of using settle up to 2 million Syrians from behaviour. European Union. Under the agree- Gerald Knaus, co-founder of desperate refugees to pressure the Turkey in a “safe zone” in a region ment Brussels said Turkey would the European Stability Initiative European Union, he added. of north-eastern Syria occupied by The flurry of diplomatic activity receive $6.6 billion in return for think-tank in Berlin and one of Knaus said the European Union Turkish troops. was sparked by Erdogan’s decision preventing Syrians from crossing the architects of the 2016 refugee should announce the payment of Knaus said that while the Euro- February 28 to open Turkey’s land into the European Union, in an agreement, said Turkey had lost another $6.6 billion to make sure pean Union was right to distance border with Greece. Tens of thou- understanding that, in effect, paid many sympathies in the European that integration and education itself from any plan to change the sands of Syrians, Afghans and ref- Turkey for keeping the refugees Union by encouraging people to programmes for Syrians in Turkey demographic situation in the pre- ugees from other countries went within its borders. cross the border with Greece irreg- continued. “What we need is a mi- dominantly Kurdish north-east of to the border to enter Greece but By opening the border gates ularly. However, Europe should ni-agreement to help the refugees Syria, the situation was different Greek border guards, backed by of- to Greece, Erdogan violated that not let itself be guided by indigna- as quickly as possible,” he said. in Idlib because desperate people ficers from the European border deal, the European Union said. tion over Erdogan, Knaus said by Other issues, such as Turkey’s there had been displaced by fight- task force Frontex, blocked most Speaking days after Erdogan’s de- telephone. demand that the European Union ing in other areas of Syria. migrants from entering Greece. cision, Merkel accused the Turk- “It is good that Turkey stops grant Turkish citizens visa-free “Cooperation with Turkey to Border troops have used tear gas, ish president of playing politics instrumentalising people at the travel in Europe, could be ad- provide humanitarian aid for water cannon and plastic bullets “on the backs of refugees.” Other border,” Knaus said, speaking af- dressed in detailed negotiations people in Idlib is not the same as in clashes with refugees. EU officials said Erdogan was try- ter Ankara’s decision to close the in the coming months, because supporting resettlement plans for New violence broke out before ing to “blackmail” Europe. Erdog- border again. “Now the EU should all borders are closed in any case north-eastern Syria,” Knaus said. Deprived of means, Syrian refugees face mounting virus threat

Walid Saleh tem struggles with the outbreak, ness campaigns and the distribu- and Laila Bassam the government is worried about tion of hygiene materials were the virus spreading to camps under way and preparations were holding Syrian and Palestinian being made for additional hos- Akfar refugees. pitalisation capacity that may be Lebanese Health Minister Ham- needed. yrian refugee Mohamed al- ad Hasan said refugee health care “We are all working around the Bakhas is trying to protect was a responsibility shared by the clock,” said Lisa Abou Khaled, his family from coronavirus state and UN agencies but he said communications officer at UNHCR S infection by keeping their the international community has in Lebanon. camp as clean as he can but, with- been slow to react to the crisis. Given the high population den- out enough soap or the money to sity of the camps, Hassan noted buy sanitiser or face masks, there the difficulties of maintaining per- is only so much he can do. No cases have been sonal hygiene and said the spread “They gave us an awareness ses- officially recorded yet of coronavirus was a real danger. sion and one bar of soap each but among Syrian refugees, Field hospitals would allow for this is not enough,” said Bakhas, who number the isolation and treatment of the 40, referring to aid workers who approximately 1 million infected. visited his camp in northern Leba- of Lebanon’s population “The international community non in mid-March. of 6 million. and UN institutions must without “We ask for disinfectants, sani- delay prepare the ground to save tisers for the camp. We are a big “The international community these communities in case the vi- group,” said Bakhas, who fled to with its UN agencies is a bit late rus spreads among them,” he said. Lebanon from Homs in Syria eight in putting plans, thinking about Lebanon was grappling with a years ago and lives with his wife establishing a field hospital or financial and economic crisis be- and child. supporting the Health Ministry so fore coronavirus hit. The govern- Lebanon has recorded 149 cases that it can carry out its obligations ment is appealing for foreign aid of coronavirus and at least four towards its people, Lebanese soci- for its public health system. enough for regular handwashing, including setting up additional people have died from the vi- ety in addition to the Palestinian Coronavirus poses a host of new relief workers said. As it stands, facilities in existing hospitals or rus. No cases have been recorded and Syrian brothers,” Hassan said. difficulties to refugees who have accessing health care can also be separate field hospitals. It’s likely among Syrian refugees, who num- The UN refugee agency UNHCR been struggling in poverty for a problem. If refugees need to go that a combination of both will be ber approximately 1 million of said efforts to fight the spread of years in Lebanon. to hospital, they cannot afford the needed,” Abou Khaled said. Lebanon’s population of 6 million. coronavirus to refugee communi- With water mostly trucked to journey or pay for treatment. As Lebanon’s public health sys- ties had started early on. Aware- their camps, refugees do not have “We are exploring all options (Reuters) 6 March 22, 2020 Opinion

Editorial Dealing with school disruptions in MENA he coronavirus outbreak has caused officials to close schools and univer- sities, keeping half of the world’s student population from going to class. This is probably the widest educational disruption since World TWar II. Figures recently released by the UN Educa- tional, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) stated that no fewer than 850 million children and youngsters are out of school after governments around the world closed schools and universities as a precau- tionary measure against the spread of the virus, which has infected about 217,000 people and killed more than 9,000, Agence France-Presse reported. The decision to close educational institutions has affected — totally or partially — at least 113 countries. “The scale and speed of the school and university closures represent an unprec- edented challenge for the education sector,” said UNESCO, noting that “this represents more than a doubling in four days in the number of learners prohibited from going to educational institutions.” This massive education disruption inter- © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly rupted the normal process of learning for millions of children, teenagers and young adults around the world and obviously in the MENA region as well. Iran fighting for the survival of its regime The number of students in the region is not small. In many parts of the Arab world, such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco and and that of regional proxies Sudan, there are more than 7 million students at all levels of education in each country. That figure is more than 25 million in Egypt alone. Khairallah Khairallah In less populous parts of the Arab world, It’s no secret that Iran’s attempts to impose a pro-Iran students make up about one-fourth of the population. candidate for prime minister have failed miserably. In the Middle East and North Africa, the effect will be deeply felt by millions and ran will find it very hard expected on several fronts. On Soleimani, commander of al-Quds millions more in society who are struggling to let go of Iraq, especially the political front, Iranian politi- Force of the Islamic Revolution- with other aspects of the fallout from the considering its policies’ set- cal tools and affiliates in Iraq ob- ary Guard Corps, and Abu Mahdi pandemic. backs at every level, includ- jected to Iraqi President Barham al-Muhandis, deputy commander Some MENA countries are also in a situation ing inside Iran itself. Salih’s appointment of Adnan of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilisa- of war and strife. Regular uninterrupted With the exception al-Zurfi to form a new cabinet. tion Forces in Iraq. education was already very difficult to ensure Iperhaps of Iraq, Iran has lost What else could have been The event represented a turning there. Being out of school in these countries practically all its bargaining chips expected of Salih? He had to use point in Iraqi internal affairs and will put thousands of children in harm’s way with the “Great Satan,” especially his constitutional prerogatives throughout the region. Zurfi’s because of prevailing conditions of insecurity. after it found it very difficult to to deal with the power vacuum success in trying to form a cabinet Some Arab countries have scrambled to change the demographic makeup at the executive branch since the approved by the Iraqi parliament offer students online education. That means and sectarian map in Syria. Its forced resignation of Adel Abdul- would be a translation of the internet access, which varies between one efforts to concentrate the Shia Mahdi and Mohammed Allawi’s transformation that began with country and another and across social strata. population in specific areas, in- failure to get the parliament’s Soleimani’s death. Providing temporary free and universal cluding Raqqa and the outskirts endorsement. There is likely to be fierce Ira- access to the internet might be the only of Aleppo, started with Bashar This failure has affected its nian resistance to a government reasonable course of action during this health Assad’s accession to power in proxies in Iraq, such as Muqtada led by Zurfi. This resistance would crisis. Such an extraordinary step would 2000. al-Sadr, who suddenly tried to include more strikes targeting US require a combined effort between govern- The Iranian mind suffers from play the role of referee for all forces in Iraq. The Trump admin- ments and the private sector. The economic the disease of believing that political forces in Iraq but his istration would have no choice losses incurred would pale in comparison to the Islamic Republic can play group ended up splitting. This but to respond aggressively in the benefits reaped by society. In any case, a dominant role at the regional was shown by its strange behav- Iraq and even perhaps inside Iran. time will probably show there is no other level. Iran couldn’t get rid of the iour in the Iraqi street and the There is no secret now that option. illusion of its regional hegemony way it deals with Shia citizens Iran is fighting for its survival in The ability and availability of parents to until it began clashing with real- protesting corruption and Iranian Iraq and in the region and for the guide their children through the type of ity. practices in Iraq. survival of its regime in Iran. teaching provided via the internet is not going This reality means that Iran It is no secret that Zurfi, whose Iran can only end up leaving to be the same. Less educated parents will is at the mercy of the United reputation and record were be- Iraq defeated for at least two have more difficulty tutoring their children. States and its sanctions. This is ing questioned by many, is said reasons. First, it is rejected by Economically challenged families will not why Iranian tools and proxies to belong to the current led by Iraqis and by most Shias in Iraq. find it easy to provide computers or internet are demanding the lifting of the former Prime Minister Haider The second reason is that the connections. sanctions, which seem to have al-Abadi, whom Iran was ada- current regime is defeated inside “The current situation imposes immense affected Iran and its economy mant on excluding from power Iran itself. challenges for countries to be able to provide much more than expected. following the May 2018 elections. This regime has nothing to offer uninterrupted learning for all children and It was remarkable to note Iran wanted to punish Abadi for to any country outside its borders youth in an equitable manner,” said UNESCO Hezbollah Secretary-General refusing to become another Nuri other than sectarian militias that Director-General Audrey Azoulay, a French Hassan Nasrallah’s call on the al-Maliki. Abdul-Mahdi had ac- spread misery and underdevelop- cultural figure of Moroccan origin. United States to “lift its sanctions cepted Iran’s dictates but wanted ment wherever it is established. “We are stepping up on our global response on Iran” if it really wants to help to moderate his positions until Lebanon and Syria remain the by creating a coalition to ensure a fast and Iran deal with the coronavirus he was toppled by the October best illustrations of this simple coordinated response. Beyond meeting pandemic. popular uprising. truth. immediate needs, this effort is an opportunity The pandemic revealed — once Concomitant with Salih’s Inside Iran, the regime has to rethink education, scale-up distance more — that the Islamic Republic designation of Zurfi as prime nothing to offer its citizens. After learning and make education systems more established by Ayatollah Ruhol- minister-designate, there was a the US sanctions, the coronavirus resilient, open and innovative,” added Azou- lah Khomeini is but a third-world series of Katyusha rocket attacks epidemic confirmed there is no lay. country, at best. by pro-Iran Iraqi militias on US such thing as an Iranian model. The ability of the UNESCO could be bol- The problem with the Islamic targets in and around Baghdad. The artificial legend of an Iranian stered by input from the Arab League Educa- Republic is that it refuses to learn Such attacks have become a new resistance is explained by the tional, Cultural and Scientific Organisation, from experiences of other coun- Iranian tactic in Iraq, which is refusal of successive US adminis- UNESCO’s Arab equivalent. tries, especially the former Soviet part of its war of attrition against trations to use the big-stick policy Pan-Arab institutions should coordinate Union, which wanted to be — and the American presence in Iraq. against the Iranian regime, that their approaches with UNESCO in providing thought itself — a superpower The US response has been is until the arrival of the Trump educational applications and platforms and but, because of its weak econo- limited to one counterattack on administration. online teaching material to help with remote my, ended up disintegrating. one militia’s positions in Iraq but This administration seems to learning during school closures. Iraq will remain Iraq and the reaction indicated that the have an ideologically motivated UNESCO has published a list including Iran will remain Iran but until Americans knew exactly who stance against the Iranian regime, Arabic language online education resources the Islamic Republic comes to stood behind the rocket attacks. coupled with a clear desire on the Edraak and Arabic language online video that inevitable conclusion, it The United States has made part of the US military and secu- learning platform Nafham. will fight a long war of attrition countless mistakes in Iraq, espe- rity establishment to reopen files As fear and at times panic grip the adult with the United States, which cially since it handed it to Iran and settle old scores, starting with world, children and youth will need psycho- Tehran wants to kick out of Iraq. and its Iraqi militias in 2003. Still, the historic detention that began logical guidance as well as they stay at home. Although possible, even if US there has been a major change of in November 1979 of US diplomats That could be of equal importance to the President Donald Trump loses heart on the part of the United for 444 days. health precautions that need to be taken in the November elections, this is States that has culminated the face of the pandemic. highly unlikely. with the twin assassinations of Khairallah Khairallah is a Iran’s war of attrition in Iraq is Iranian Major-General Qassem Lebanese writer. March 22, 2020 7 Opinion

In time of coronavirus, ISIS shows Published by Al Arab method in its murderous madness Publishing House

Rashmee Roshan Lall Publisher ISIS urged its followers to avoid Europe and Group Executive Editor like the plague. Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD he unfolding coro- contract it (the novel coronavirus) Health Organisation? This brings us to the second navirus crisis has as soon as possible and become There could be two possible possible reason for ISIS’s travel Editor-in-Chief elements of the sur- super-spreaders throughout the reasons. First, ISIS is nothing if advisory on coronavirus-affected Oussama Romdhani real, one of which is West. Beats the hell out of blow- not methodical. That’s been clear Europe. Might it be a recogni- the extremist group ing yourself up on a bus. And, if since 2013, when it started its tion that there is no particular Islamic State’s “travel the predictions of mass casualties rise to prominence, going from a reason to terrorise a region that is Managing Editor Tadvice” to its members. are to be believed, a lot more wannabe caliphate to holding ter- already so fearful about its very Iman Zayat In its al-Naba newsletter, the effective.” ritory that comprised about one- existence? ISIS might sense that Islamic State (ISIS) urged its fol- In a bizarre sort of way, that third of Syria and 40% of Iraq. richer pickings in harvesting fear Senior Editor lowers to avoid Europe like the makes sense, especially when it In late 2015, approximately and control are to be had beyond John Hendel plague. Literally. The “healthy comes to ISIS, a jihadist group 340 official documents, notices, Europe. should not enter the land of the that has long pursued a corporat- receipts and internal memos of Could it signal that ISIS is epidemic and the afflicted should ist management model, which the Islamic State ruled by ISIS rebalancing? Loss of territory, Chief Copy Editor not exit from it,” the group said, professionalised terrorism with showed the extent to which the revenue, operational capacity and Richard Pretorius in trademark apocalyptic vein. the precision use of suicide jihadist group was obsessed with manpower the past three years The advisory prompted some attacks. Whether it was car creating a bureaucratic structure changed the group’s focus. While Copy Editors hilarity because ISIS normally bombers, activists detonating to buttress its state-building ISIS claims it is resurgent in Iraq reserves fire and brimstone as a suicide vests, random stabbings exercise. — a new propaganda video boasts Stephen Quillen warning for what the West has in world capitals or coordinated The documents came to light of a series of guerrilla attacks in Kyle Arensdorf coming to it, at the hands of ISIS. assaults in Paris, Brussels, Egypt’s via Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, northern Iraq — the growth area Indeed, it does seem ludicrous Sinai Peninsula and elsewhere, a young researcher in Cardiff in for the group in recent times has that ISIS, which often incites the whole point of ISIS has been Wales, who compiled primary been the Sahel, from Senegal to East/West Editor followers to carry out suicide its celebration of death. It calls source material about the state Sudan. Mahmud El-Shafey attacks on the West, should issue its cohort of suicide attackers that ISIS was attempting to build. Once it controlled most of an advisory restricting travel to “death admirers, the knights of It was Tamimi, incidentally, who Syria’s oil fields and crude was Europe and that ISIS, branded martyrdom.” translated ISIS’s travel advisory the militant group’s biggest single Gulf Section Editor a “death cult” by former British It wasn’t too long ago that on Europe and blogged about it in source of revenue. Now, the Mohammed Alkhereiji Prime Minister David Cameron, Olivier Roy, the French profes- English. International Crisis Group said, appears to fear its followers could sor considered an expert on The documents gathered by ISIS is focused on gold mines in Society and Travel die if they set foot in Europe. political Islam, noted that ISIS Tamimi about the now-defunct the Sahel, particularly in Mali, Sections Editor One British tabloid columnist had changed the terrorist’s death caliphate stated that ISIS created Burkina Faso and Niger. It seems Samar Kadi suggested that, if ISIS leaders from mere possibility or an unfor- rules and regulations for eve- to be the region that ISIS sees as a “had any imagination, they tunate consequence of his actions rything including fishing, dress viable host for its own particular Senior Correspondents would have claimed responsibil- to a central part of the plan. For codes, the sale of counterfeit virus. Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) ity for the virus.” ISIS jihadists, said Roy, “suicide brands and university admis- (Istanbul) Richard Littlejohn, who is attacks are perceived as the ulti- sions. Even though ISIS lost its Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Thomas Seibert

known for his controversial mate goal of their engagement.” state and 95% of its territory and columnist for The Arab Weekly. Regular Columnists fulminations, wrote in the So, what’s with the travel advi- revenue sources by December Her blog can be found at www. Daily Mail: “They could have sory on Europe, the epicentre of 2017, there is nothing to suggest it rashmee.com and she is on Rashmee Roshan Lall instructed their jihadists to the virus, as stated by the World has lost its pragmatic gene. Twitter: @rashmeerl. Claude Salhani Yavuz Baydar

What a new prime minister-designate Correspondents Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) in Iraq brings Dunia El-Zobaidi (London) Ibrahim Zobeidi Roua Khlifi (Tunis)

By insisting on monopolising power, wealth and decision-making, Chief Designer the religious and sectarian parties in Iraq prove their stupidity. Marwen el-Hmedi

inally, Iraqi President What is even more irksome in pro-Iranian Islamic Dawa Party about the future of Iraq and its Designers Barham Salih has this appointment is Salih asked in 1983. people. The saddest and most Ibrahim Ben Bechir found the person he Zurfi to commit to implementing In the March 1991 uprising that shameful thing is that the despic- Hanen Jebali saw fit to occupy the protesters’ demands — without followed the defeat of the Iraqi able religious parties in Iraq, same seat of prime specifying those demands, even Army in Kuwait, Zurfi was one of despite being rejected by their minister. though Salih is the one who the inmates of Abu Ghraib prison own sects, insist on monopolis- FHowever, many Iraqis begged knows these demands in detail. who fled during the uprising and ing the right to appoint their own Contact editor at: to differ with Salih and don’t The other difficult thing to participated in it. When Saddam candidates for the position that see his new candidate, Adnan swallow is that Zurfi himself, as Hussein quelled the uprising, the Iraqi people look up to the [email protected] al-Zurfi, as such. They are reject- he tweeted the good tidings of Zurfi fled to Saudi Arabia and most to save them from the ban- ing him not only because of his his appointment, promised Ira- lived in the Rafah refugee camp. ditry, knives, bombs and militias public record but on grounds qis a new Iraq “free of corruption From Syria, Zurfi migrated, as of these parties. that the man has climbed all the and militias,” which made them a refugee, to the United States The parties’ turbaned leaders way up the power hierarchy and very suspicious of him. and lived in Dearborn, Michigan. refuse to let go of their sine qua Al Arab Publishing House find a place among the wolves of No Iraqi prime minister After the US-led invasion of Iraq, non condition that any candidate Quadrant Building the existing political process, an can abolish the militias, espe- Zurfi returned to Iraq as a mem- to be prime minister must be one 177-179 Hammersmith Road exclusive club whose member- cially when he is a member of ber of the Council for the Re- of their own or one of their trust- London W6 8BS ship is open to only those of their the brotherhood of the owners construction of Iraq, which was ed vassals whose loyalty cannot ilk or who are worthy of their of these militias. They can’t let founded by Imad al-Khurasani, be questioned, regardless of the acceptance. go of their militias because they and at the same time as a transla- clothes he wears or for the public It has been the practice, need them to eat, drink, plunder, tor with the US administration in rhetoric he sees fit to enable him Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 since the leaders of the Shia, kill and kidnap, without fear or Baghdad. to earn a comfortable living. Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 Sunni and Kurdish parties rose shame. Zurfi later was appointed, The masses should guard to power in 2003, that those who How can any sane person along with three other individu- against believing the good inten- wish to belong to the big boys’ believe any prime minister when als from Najaf, as a member of tions of the followers of Amiri’s club must work according to the he promises his fellow citizens the council to supervise the re- militias when they protested US Publisher: well-known law of opportun- to eliminate corruption, while habilitation and development of Salih’s decision to choose a can- ism, which is “Grab power to everybody knows he is the prod- Najaf province. Provisional Coa- didate from outside their group. The Arab Weekly USA LLC. get money and get money to uct of the corrupt environment lition Administrator Paul Bremer It could just be part of a dirty [email protected] ploy to mislead the Iraqi masses get power” and then they can that gave birth to him, nurtured was said to have rewarded Zurfi [email protected] maintain their permanent seat in him, watched over his training by appointing him governor of into believing that Zurfi is a true the club as long they stay on that and development until he rose to Najaf in 2004. patriot since he is contested by Tel: 248-679-6624 same straight path. prominence to the point that he In the 2013 provincial elec- them. It was inevitable that Salih was blessed with the position of tions, Zurfi lost his position By insisting on monopolising would have no choice but to governor of Najaf, the “Vatican” because his party leader, Maliki, power, wealth and decision-mak- pick a candidate for the highest of the Shia ruling parties because did not come to his rescue. So ing, the religious and sectarian position of the executive branch of its sectarian, political, security Zurfi withdrew from the Dawa parties in Iraq prove their stupid- from the inner circles of Hadi and economic importance to Party and established a coalition ity, ignorance, greed, blindness al-Amiri, Nuri al-Maliki, Ammar them? he called “Al-Wafa.” and lack of foresight, because Subscription & Advertising: al-Hakim, Muqtada al-Sadr, And then the prodigal son be- The Najafis hold Zurfi person- they have not yet realised that [email protected] Qais al-Khazali, Haider al-Abadi came assistant to the minister of ally responsible for many of their time has run out and that Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 and Falih Alfayyadh. It can’t be Interior during the days of the fa- bloody civil battles that de- the true effective power in Iraq otherwise. mously sinister minister of police stroyed ancient historical neigh- is in the hands of the millions The appointee must be from Baqir Solagh. That ministry was bourhoods of Najaf, which led of angry Iraqis who will not rest Mohamed Al Mufti that community even if he has wholly owned by Iranian Major- them, at that time, to come out until they have disinfected their Marketing & Advertising country from the virus of sectari- a mile-long record of illiteracy, General Qassem Soleimani, then in mass marches condemning Manager sectarian extremism, corruption, it was passed on to his heirs. the violence and they accused anism, racism and corruption. fraud and blind loyalty to the For those who do not know him of being the most prominent Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 greatest guardian and master of Zurfi, they will be interested to figure behind it. Ibrahim Zobeidi is an Iraqi www.alarab.co.uk all, the one who lies beyond Iraqi learn that, at the age of 17, he was Zurfi’s sinister record is not the writer and US publisher of borders. a documented member of the only sad and worrisome thing The Arab Weekly. 8 March 22, 2020 News & Analysis Lebanon The Lebanese Army, Hezbollah and the coronavirus

Makram Rabah

he Lebanese govern- ment was on the verge of declaring a state of national emergency that would lock down the entire country and Tgrant the Lebanese armed forces extra-jurisdictional powers to enable them to limit the spread of the coronavirus. However, the projected state of emergency was replaced by “total mobilisation,” which adopted the same measures but was short of empowering the Lebanese Army, which was met with bewilderment and outrage by the public. The Lebanese Constitution allows the executive branch to declare a state of emergency to respond to or pre-empt imminent dangers. Empowering the Lebanese Army would have been the logical, not to say the ethical action to take, given that the Lebanese state and its various decrepit institutions lack the resources and the moral stand- ing the Lebanese Army possesses with the public. To understand the Diab govern- ment’s decision to settle for total mobilisation rather than a state of emergency one needs to under- stand the tensions the latter would Facing threat. Lebanese intelligence officers patrol a street in Beirut after authorities ordered shops to close for two weeks to fight COVID-19. (AFP) have created between the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah. the suspected under-reporting of Empowering the army to imple- the coronavirus in the Shia commu- ment the state of emergency would nity. Those suspicions are hugely seriously curtail Hezbollah’s ability based on the fact that Hezbollah to carry out its logistical opera- has been leading many pilgrim Walid Jumblatt: Hezbollah tions, especially crossing in and expeditions to Iran, not to men- out of Syria undetected, and would tion that many of its militants train sooner rather than later place the there and are believed to have been finally understood that dealing Lebanese Army and this transna- exposed to coronavirus. tional militia at odds. By disenfranchising the Lebanese Despite having an implicit under- Army, the Diab cabinet missed out standing with the Lebanese Army, on another chance to stand up not with the IMF was ‘inevitable’ Hezbollah always looks at this US- only to the biological pandemic but trained and -equipped institution also to the political diseases eating with distrust and is always looking at the heart of the state. Settling for recommended by the IMF. tion to the financial crisis would for ways to control it or render it total mobilisation proved that the Jumblatt said Hezbollah finally be to go to the IMF and finally ineffective. Diab government, as well as the rul- understood that dealing with the there was agreement about that. I On many occasions, the Leba- ing establishment, will only carry Zuhair Kasibati IMF was “inevitable” and ex- still wouldn’t say that we have the nese Army found itself facing out matters that are sanctioned by pressed surprise at the party green light.” Hezbollah on matters related to Hezbollah and its leadership in Iran. fearing that collaboration with the jurisdictional and operational In a televised speech, Hezbollah s the world concen- international financial institution command and, despite having a Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah trates on addressing could infringe on Lebanese sov- He called for ‘a coordination mechanism between reminded everyone that he was the the coronavirus pan- ereignty. He called for “a serious the two, an Iran-sponsored militia only decision-maker, lecturing and demic and following programme of reforms, starting serious programme and the legitimate army of the state advising his audience how to take the declaration of a with the electricity sector,” whose of reforms, starting cannot theoretically coexist. precautions against the corona- medical emergency financial burden constituted half with the electricity virus. Interestingly, Nasrallah’s inA Lebanon, Walid Jumblatt, the of Lebanon’s public debt. speech underscored the party’s leader of the Progressive Socialist Jumblatt, in a telephone discus- sector.’ Empowering the army mindset and flawed approach to Party in the country, wondered: sion with the Lebanese commu- any challenge. He said: “In any bat- “Is Hezbollah immune to corona- nity in the United States on the an- Jumblatt praised Lebanese offi- to implement the tle, there’s a target and an enemy, virus?” niversary of the death of his father, cials’ decision to declare a health state of emergency the problem in this battle is that the Jumblatt, speaking to The Arab Kamal Jumblatt, who was assas- emergency, noting that the gov- enemy is coronavirus.” Weekly, reiterated his stance that sinated on March 16, 1977, said: ernment “had done the minimum would seriously In this respect, Nasrallah proved “there is no escaping cooperation” “The Lebanon of tourism, services level of its duties. It is true that curtail Hezbollah’s to be no different from the hun- with the International Monetary and hotels, the Lebanon that used there was some delay but not just ability to carry out its dreds of Americans who rushed Fund (IMF) to get out of the finan- to be called the Switzerland of the in Lebanon.” to gun stores and supermarkets to cial crisis plaguing Lebanon and Middle East is gone and there must “Today, let us forget the issue of logistical operations. stock up on bullets and on toilet which has been exacerbated by the be a new model of production.” Hezbollah’s weapons,” Jumblatt paper, believing that the epidemic coronavirus outbreak. Jumblatt said: “The current said when asked about decision- During battles to root out Islamic can be killed by guns or by double- He called for “careful stances” to- challenge that is unparalleled for making in government. “What is State militants in eastern Lebanon, ply tissue paper. wards the IMF as long as the goal is the Lebanese citizen and for all needed is the weapon of solidarity Hezbollah went out of its way to Deploying the Lebanese Army to save Lebanon from collapse and humanity is the challenge of the among all Lebanese to confront try to deny the Lebanese Army its to fight the coronavirus is not refused to comment on criticism current pandemic.” the most dangerous enemy facing much earned victory, one the entire only due to its tactical and logisti- addressed to Lebanese Prime Min- He said he refused to start a humanity today. country celebrated. cal ability but rather because it is ister Hassan Diab’s government for political controversy but pointed “It won’t make any sense to Despite the pandemic threat of representative of a cross national/ dragging its feet in offering reforms out that he insisted that “the solu- start a controversy with Hezbollah the coronavirus, Hezbollah cannot sectarian power base that would right now. Besides, Hezbollah rep- afford to have its lifeline with Iran enhance unity and discipline, resents a segment of the Lebanese severed, especially the route that which are the only weapons hu- society. Granted it takes its orders stretches from Beirut to Damascus manity has to fight this disease and from Iran but this segment is loyal that keeps it supplied with ammu- many like it. to the party. “But, is Hezbollah nition and, more important, fresh In essence it has nothing to do immune to the coronavirus epi- dollars. with the issue of total mobilisation demic? That Hezbollah is accused of or declaring a state of emergency “The time is now for the broad- running many illegal border points but how the Lebanese state contin- est solidarity” with all political with Syria, which it uses to keep a ues to fail in the test of statehood factions, he said. “It’s human billion-dollar black economy going, and how Hezbollah has proven, solidarity above any political is one more reason to refuse any time and again, that it is more concern.” oversight. dangerous to Lebanon’s future than He refused to comment on Coincidentally, keeping the any flu or doomsday disease for demanding the dismissal of Leba- Lebanese Army at bay even with which, sooner or later, there will be nese President Michel Aoun. In a the coronavirus is something that a cure. previous interview with The Arab Hezbollah will continue to do even Weekly, however, he had said that if this means exposing the Leba- Makram Rabah is a lecturer such a move would require broad nese and their own constituency to at the American University of national backing. further dangers. Beirut and author of “Conflict on A full army-administered lock- Mount Lebanon: The Druze, the Zuhair Kasibati is a Lebanese down would allow access to Hez- Maronites and Collective Memory” journalist. bollah areas and perhaps expose (Edinburgh University Press). Reality check. Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. (Reuters) March 22, 2020 9 News & Analysis Egypt Calls mount for protecting, releasing prisoners against COVID-19 risk

Special Correspondent public places, including train sta- tions, public parks and schools. Health authorities reached out to Cairo the public via social media to warn against taking the disease lightly ights advocates called on and advised them to regularly wash Egyptian authorities to pro- their hands and avoid crowded tect tens of thousands of places. R prisoners against COVID-19, People on Egyptian streets are with fears from the virus sweeping seen wearing gloves and face the country. There have been dem- masks. Some do not touch door- onstrations also calling for release knobs or shopping carts at grocery of the detainees with the police ar- stores without first spraying them resting some of the protesters. with steriliser. Authorities have a moral obliga- Disinfectants and detergents are tion to protect prisoners, includ- disappearing from the shop shelves. ing by temporarily releasing them, Immunity-enhancing medicines are to prevent the virus from spread- turning into a huge business. ing through the country’s prisons, The same concern is apparent in rights activists said. the rights community but for the “There are credible fears for the safety of the prisoners. The gov- safety of the prisoners,” said rights ernment does not provide a spe- lawyer Negad el-Borai. “The fear is cific number of the prisoners in the that the disease can appear inside country’s 86 jails; however, last No- the prisons.” vember, pro-government TV host Nasha’at al-Deihei said there were 114,000 people in prisons. Approximately 200 people in Rights advocates said they are es- Egypt have tested positive pecially concerned about those in for the virus. Six, including temporary detention, which Deihei a foreign national, said totalled 30,000 people, and the died. More than 20 of those government should temporarily re- Raising questions. A picture taken during a guided tour organised by the Egyptian State Information diagnosed with COVID-19 lease them especially those over the Service shows inmates receiving medical treatment at the clinic of Borg el-Arab Prison near have recovered. age of 50. Alexandria, November 20, 2019. (AFP) “This will protect those prisoners Packed with prisoners and low on against the disease,” said rights ad- cleanliness, prisons are becoming vocate Khaled Emam. “The precautionary measures ties to release prisoners to protect the Islamist movement of being be- the centre of COVID-19 concerns in Egypt’s Criminal Procedure Law taken inside the prisons are even them against COVID-19. hind terrorist attacks in Egypt since the rights community. gives the prosecution the right to more powerful than those taken The same issue has been widely 2013. Approximately 200 people in release those in temporary deten- outside them,” said retired police used by the Muslim Brotherhood, Some said the involvement of the Egypt have tested positive for the tion for a specific period. The pris- general Fouad Allam. “The prisons which has seen thousands of its Brotherhood calling for the release virus. Six, including a foreign na- oners can report to police every are always decontaminated, prison- members jailed in the past six years of the prisoners discredits the ef- tional, died. More than 20 of those day to ensure that they are still in ers showing the symptoms of dis- in a government crackdown on the fort but rights advocates said the diagnosed with COVID-19 have re- Egypt. Also, Article 155 of the Egyp- ease undergo strong tests and those group. issue is less about politics and more covered. tian Constitution gives the Egyptian with chronic diseases are under the Hamza Zawba, a Muslim Brother- about the health of the prisoners To stem COVID-19 infections, president the right to pardon pris- close watch of prison doctors.” hood host who appears on Mekam- and the prison staff members. Egypt has suspended flights to and oners. The Egyptian government has eleen TV, which is broadcast from “The density of the prisons, poor from the country, is keeping school- “Any of these measures can pre- not officially commented on points Turkey, said on March 13 that the ventilation inside them and the children at home and has closed vent health catastrophes from hap- raised by the rights community as release of prisoners should mark a lack of enough cleanliness in them universities. Authorities cancelled pening inside the prisons,” Emam far as COVID-19 and prisons are con- new beginning between Egyptian make the implementation of any cultural events that require an au- said. cerned. authorities and the prisoners. precautionary measures a difficult dience and asked female civil serv- Egyptian prison authorities have On March 18, four political activ- The Muslim Brotherhood has matter,” Borae said. “Older prison- ants to stay at home. banned visits by prisoners’ relatives ists, including writer Ahdaf Soueif, conducted a misinformation cam- ers are prone to COVID-19 compli- Biological and chemical warfare and said they are trying to keep were arrested when they staged a paign against Egypt for years. cations and this should be clear in personnel have been disinfecting prisons safe. protest in Cairo to call on authori- Egyptian authorities also accuse the minds of the prison authorities.” Resignations raise questions about future of Egypt’s largest political party ahead of elections

Ahmed Megahid dent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who had been preparing for change for two complained that Egypt’s traditional months now,” he told The Arab political parties failed to attract the Weekly. Cairo country’s disgruntled youth, in- However, the lack of details sur- cluding anti-Mubarak revolutionar- rounding the resignations, includ- he Nation’s Future Party, ies who said the country had failed ing the absence of official state- Egypt’s largest political to move forward on a democratic ments, raised concern. organisation, has been hit path. Rashad would be demoted to par- T with high-level resigna- When it was established, the ty deputy chairman, party sources tions, raising questions about its Nation’s Future Party was meant said, and a new party senior official place in the country’s political to bring in those young people. would be selected chairman. scene ahead of parliamentary elec- The party’s first leader, Mohamed A party official said changes in Uncertain future. Former Secretary-General of the Nation’s tions. Badran, was in his 20s and was of- the upper echelons of leadership Future Party Ashraf Rashad. (Courtesy of Nation’s Future Party) Ashraf Rashad, chairman of the ten seen accompanying Sisi, includ- are aimed at preparing the Nation’s Nation’s Future Party, which has a ing during the 2016 inauguration of Future Party for parliamentary commanding majority in the Egyp- the parallel channel of the Suez Ca- elections. The vote is viewed as All of Egypt’s parties are readying oldest parties won only a handful tian parliament, suddenly stepped nal. Badran quit the party’s leader- crucial because the resulting parlia- for parliamentary elections, prepar- of seats. In contrast, the Nation’s down from party leadership March ship suddenly in 2016. ment will oversee the formation of ing lists of potential candidates and Future Party has a two-thirds ma- 10. The party’s secretary-general, In the following years, the party the next government. reaching out to the public for sup- jority in parliament, half a million Hossam al-Kholi, also submitted his gained influence through a series of The official, who requested ano- port. members nationwide and offices in resignation, raising questions about political and social activities. nymity, added that the next Na- almost all provinces. the internal workings of the party. The party recently championed tion’s Future Party leader would The Nation’s Future It is also believed to have sup- “This is a large political party and efforts to build consensus among have to be widely popular, given Party is unique on port from state institutions and is such sudden resignations inside it political parties for legislation reg- the competitive nature of the elec- viewed positively by much of the raise fears about its future,” said po- ulating parliamentary elections, tions. Egypt’s political stage, population because of its charita- litical commentator Saeed Sadek. expected by the end of this year or Kholi backed this view, saying which has more than 100 ble work, including providing free The Nation’s Future Party is early in 2021. “these developments make it nec- parties, most of which medical services for those in need. unique on Egypt’s political stage, The sudden party resignations essary for the party to get ready for are small and relatively “This is a very important politi- which has more than 100 parties, reflect the nature of Egypt’s politi- expected changes on the political inactive. cal party,” Sadek said. “This justi- most of which are small and rela- cal life: unexpected and uncertain, stage.” fies the concern over the sudden tively inactive. political observers said. “These changes also require the Most Egyptian political parties, changes happening inside it.” Emerging in 2015, the Nation’s Rashad said his resignation presence of a popular politician to including those formed after the Future Party gained overwhelm- was not a result of internal con- lead the party in the coming peri- 2011 revolution, are not represent- Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian ing support from Egyptian Presi- flicts within the party. “We have od,” he added. ed in parliament. The country’s reporter in Cairo. 10 March 22, 2020 News & Analysis Iraq Who is Adnan al-Zurfi, the second prime minister-designate tasked with forming Iraq’s transitional government?

was an ardent opponent of Saddam Hussein’s government, attending Iraqi opposition conferences, Nazli Tarzi including one at the London Hilton, he revealed previously to Iraqi satellite network Alsumaria n a moment eagerly awaited News. by international observers and Against the backdrop of the Iraqi protesters, Iraqi President Iran-Iraq war, Zurfi joined the Barham Salih designated Ad- Dawa Party in 1983. He was nan al-Zurfi as prime minister- sentenced to life in Abu Ghraib designate, two weeks after prison in 1988 for ties to militant IMohammed Allawi resigned. groups. He escaped after the 1991 “It is with great honour and a uprising aimed at ousting greater sense of a moral and nation- Saddam. alist duty that I accept the task of Fearing rearrest by regime forming a transitional govern- forces, Zurfi fled to Saudi Arabia’s ment,” Zurfi posted on Twitter on Rafha camp before migrating to the March 17, hours after the United States. In 1994, he settled in announcement. As granted by Chicago and later in Dearborn, Iraq’s constitution, he has 30 days Michigan. He then returned to Iraq to carry out the task. to carve out his place in the new However, Zurfi appears to fall Iraq. short of protesters’ demands for an Zurfi’s opponents, largely independent candidate with a pro-Iran cohorts and militias, cite clean record. his time in the United States and Since 2003, Zurfi, 54, has held dual Iraqi-US citizenship in alleging various political posts. He entered Zurfi is an American agent. Not the post-Saddam political arena as even Zurfi’s image as a Shia a Dawa Party-aligned parliamentar- moderate who studied Islamic ian before securing his candidacy jurisprudence has blunted criti- as mayor of Najaf after vetting by cism against him. Coalition Provisional Authority Despite Zurfi’s intimate ties to Arduous process. President Barham Salih (L) meeting with Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi Administrator Paul Bremer. parties and paramilitaries aligned in Baghdad, March 17. (AFP) Zurfi was Najaf mayor from with Iraq’s clerical establishment, 2004-05 and 2009-14. In the he was categorically rejected by intervening years he secured a seat hardliners connected to Tehran. Law Coalition, the National spokesman, threatened to disrupt coronavirus. on Najaf’s Provincial Council and Factions that represent the Contract Bloc and the National the country and Shibl al-Zaydi, the Local media reported on Zurfi’s served in the Interior Ministry as an self-prescribed Islamic Resistance Approach issued a statement head of Kata’ib al Imam Ali, wrote record as mayor of Najaf and assistant. pointed to Zurfi’s membership in vowing to use “all necessary means on Twitter: “United, we can defeat alleged corruption. Al Masalah No different than members of former Prime Minister Haider to halt moves that threaten peace the greatest enemy but if we are News claimed Zurfi used his the governing political class, Zurfi al-Abadi’s Victory Coalition, Al and our national fabric,” Mayadeen divided ‘Salih’ rules.” position to secure investment Nasr, as proof of his US leanings. News reported. Fatah may use its Sairoun parliamentarian Salam licences for partner or ghost firms, Pro-Iranian parliamentary leverage in parliament to deny al-Shammari described the in direct violation of Iraq’s Tenders factions and armed groups Zurfi a parliament vote of confi- nomination as the first step Law. While Zurfi has slammed Salih’s move as unconsti- dence victory. towards resolving Iraq’s national While Zurfi has proven more tutional. They argue that nomina- Armed groups are likely to strike crises while COVID-19 greatly divisive than men chosen to form proven more divisive tions are lawful if chosen from the on US installations in Iraq, similar affects Middle Eastern countries, previous cabinets, it is unclear than men chosen to biggest parliamentary bloc but a to recent strikes against Camp whose health-care systems seem whether he can succeed where his form previous legal position on that point is not Taji. ill-equipped to handle the pan- successors failed and whether the clearly stated in the Iraqi Constitu- Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq-affiliated demic. vote of confidence will be the rug cabinets, it is unclear tion. Sadiqoun bloc issued a statement Zurfi’s rejection has also been that opponents pull from under his whether he can Factions opposing Zurfi’s that unanimously rejected Zurfi, heard in Najaf but increasingly on feet. nomination congregated at former describing him disparagingly as a online platforms after the govern- succeed where his Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s “US joker.” Jawad Talabawi, the ment declared a nationwide curfew Nazli Tarzi is an Arab Weekly successors failed. home. Fatah Alliance, the State of official Asa’ib Ahl Al Haq militia to prevent the spread of the correspondent in London. Usbat al-Thairen: The new Iran-backed militia on Iraq’s block

against the US and other coalition coalition and entrenched Iranian Iraq’s military infrastructure. early warning to the militias when forces in the area.” influence over the emerging Iraqi The militias’ leaders, with possible. It’s the main reason the “The Iranians aggressively try state. assistance from Iran’s Islamic US doesn’t share intel on targeting James Snell to pursue their goals and have During the war against the Revolutionary Guard Corps of IRGC militias because Badr will never, since the Islamic Revolu- Islamic State (ISIS), these militias (IRGC), have since dug themselves simply tip them off,” said Pre- tion, given up on end of goals of — under the Popular Mobilisation into Iraqi politics. gent. n March 11, rockets regional and ideological domi- Forces label — were folded into the As outposts of the Iranian The United States has declared struck Camp Taji in nance, along with pushing Iraqi military’s overall strategy, regime and sharing its objectives, its willingness to draw down Iraq, which houses Western powers out of the region,” officially licensed by government the groups attack US and other forces in Iraq, having moved some troops from several he said. decree and deployed to the front Western forces to make their stays into the country to stabilise the countries. Two US sol- The reception Usbat al-Thairen lines to fight ISIS. Their power in Iraq difficult to justify and too situation after the assassination in diers and one British received demonstrates its part in a within the umbrella of the Iraqi costly to maintain. Attacks against January of Qassem Soleimani, Oreservist were killed. wider picture. Iran has run and state only grew. foreign forces fit that pattern former head of the IRGC’s al-Quds After a US response the next financed several Shia militias in The militias are accused of entirely. Force and the architect of Iran’s day, involving bombing ammo Iraq since the overthrow of brutality and committing sectarian “The group follows in a long foreign expeditionary policy. dumps maintained by Kata’ib Saddam. crimes in their campaign to take line of fronts created by the With US forces increasingly Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy From the beginning, these Iraq from ISIS. Not only were the Islamic Republic to threaten, carry being withdrawn and trainers militia, more rockets were fired at forces, including the Badr Organi- alleged incidents not punished, out attacks and confuse their from Western countries likely to Camp Taji on March 14. sation, led by Hadi al-Amiri, they were not investigated. foes,” Smyth said. leave Iraq in the coming weeks The campaign is claimed to be fought with the occupying Militias remain an essential part of All this is done in conjunction because of the spread of coronavi- the work of a new group — the with other militias. rus there, responding to this new League of Revolutionaries (Usbat “The recognised groups offer twist on Iran’s militia strategy may al-Thairen). Stressing its desire to the group praise and then try to prove difficult but it could begin expel Western troops from Iraq, play the card of no real involve- by stating more clearly what this the group has threatened more ment, with a wink and a nudge. purportedly new organisation is. attacks against foreign forces and Kata’ib Hezbollah did that recently “It is time to designate [as bombed the Besmaya military with their statement about the terrorists] Badr and Hadi al-Amiri base, south of Baghdad, where rockets in Taji,” Smyth said. — the battle space holder — the Spanish soldiers are deployed, on New groups are intended to man who allows these militias to March 17. give the indication of burgeoning operate across Iraq through his Though its name is novel, Usbat resistance to the foreign presence. Badr Organisation and its satura- al-Thairen is a new version of an That the groups are themselves tion of key leadership positions old threat. projections of Iranian power and across the intelligence and It is “a grouping of designated part of a strategy designed to security apparatus,” Pregent terrorist entities under a new maintain Iran’s grip on Iraq only said. name. The thinking: Change the renders their actions more “The Taji attack is in line with name to escape being targeted by a vexing. IRGC operations… The US should current designation,” said Michael That they are carried out with hit IRGC and IRGC targets in Iran Pregent, senior fellow at the the support of some within the — punishing the regime is the only Hudson Institute. Iraqi state makes a response even way to put pressure on the IRGC to Phillip Smyth, Soref fellow at harder to achieve. clamp down on these militias or the Washington Institute of Near Old threat. The site of the airport at the Iraqi shrine city of “Hadi al-Amiri’s Badr are in the give them up to the US,” he East Policy, described Usbat Karbala, which was damaged by US air strikes following the Joint Operations Centre, in the added. al-Thairen as “just a front for the death of two Americans and a Briton in a rocket attack against the [Interior Ministry], in the [Defence Iranians to continue their actions military base in Taji, March 13. (AFP) Ministry]. Amiri’s Badr provides James Snell is a British journalist. March 22, 2020 11 News & Analysis Syria Aid activists say coronavirus poses deadly danger for people fleeing war in Idlib

Thomas Seibert “IDPs living in overcrowded ar- eas without sanitation are at high risk,” the Syrian American Medical Istanbul Society, an aid organisation, said on Twitter. “There is an urgent id activists said a possible need for testing kits in order to re- outbreak of the new coro- spond timely to a potential #coro- navirus in the embattled navirus outbreak in north-west A Syrian province of Idlib #Syria.” could become a deadly threat to Syrian officials said there is no millions of people in the region. coronavirus case in the country, Approximately 3 million people even though all five of its neigh- live in Idlib, the last stronghold bours — Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, of rebels fighting Syrian President Israel and Jordan — have detected Bashar Assad after nine years of the virus on their territory. war. The United Nations said near- Reports said the World Health ly 1 million internally displaced Organisation (WHO) was yet to people (IDPs) are seeking shelter start testing people in Syria for along the closed border with Tur- coronavirus. Unable to provide key in camps that lack basic facili- services from government-held ties, such as toilets and showers. territory in Syria, the WHO pro- vides cross-border assistance to rebel-held Idlib via Turkey. Syria’s “fragile health Aid organisations in Idlib said systems may not have they were preparing for an out- the capacity to detect break. One of the groups, the Vio- and respond,” to an let Organisation, said it disinfect- epidemic, said WHO ed several hospitals in Idlib, built spokesman Hedinn quarantine tents and trained staff Halldorsson. to deal with infections. Recent fighting has damaged “The minute the virus reaches Idlib’s medical infrastructure, Fears mounting. A Syrian man distributes face masks at a camp for displaced people the camps, there is no way to stop already devastated by the war, in north-western Syria’s Idlib province. (AFP) it,” Fadi al-Dairi, regional coordi- making any outbreak even more nator for Syria at the British NGO serious. Syria’s “fragile health sys- Hand in Hand for Aid and Devel- tems may not have the capacity neighbouring EU member Greece. coronavirus in the Idlib camps, Di- versities and technical institutes opment, said by telephone. to detect and respond” to an epi- Speaking after the conference, rani said by telephone, “but it is an until April 2, the official SANA Idlib, in north-western Syria, demic, WHO spokesman Hedinn Merkel said Germany was ready to optimum environment for the vi- news agency reported. The gov- has been subject to months of in- Halldorsson told Agence France- spend $137 million for humanitar- rus — a hundred people are sharing ernment reduced civil servant staff- tense bombardment by the Syrian Presse. ian aid in Idlib. one toilet.” ing 60%, slashed working hours regime and its ally Russia. The Syr- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Dairi said there was little Europe “If a case occurs, how could aid and suspended the use of finger- ian offensive was halted March 6 Erdogan had talks via video link could do to address the danger organisations deal with that?” he print scanners for public employ- by a ceasefire negotiated between with German Chancellor Angela posed by coronavirus in Idlib but asked. “There are only 50 ventila- ees for a month, SANA said. Russia and Turkey. Ankara has de- Merkel, French President Emma- he suggested the European Union tors in the whole of Idlib.” Two quarantine centres are to ployed thousands of troops in the nuel Macron and British Prime might be able to send more testing Syrian authorities announced be established in each of the coun- enclave, operating alongside its Minister Boris Johnson to address equipment to the province. measures aimed at preventing the try’s provinces, the government Syrian opposition allies. the situation in Syria and the new Hisham Dirani, co-founder and virus from reaching the war-torn said. There were no details about The military situation remains refugee crisis between Turkey and CEO of the Turkey-based aid group country, including school closures how the plan could be implement- volatile despite the truce. Turkey the European Union, triggered by Binaa, said dire conditions in the and a ban on smoking shisha in ca- ed in Idlib, a region effectively said two of its soldiers in Idlib Erdogan’s decision in late Feb- camps created a fertile breeding fes, state media reported. split into a government-held area were killed in a rocket attack by ruary to open Turkey’s borders ground for the virus. Damascus ordered the closure of in the south and rebel territory in “some radical groups.” for migrants wishing to cross to “So far we have no cases” of all public and private schools, uni- the north.

Viewpoint Syria imposes restrictions in the face of virus risk but still allows flights from Iran

s the wider world doubt adding to the sense of fear clubs, wedding halls, even public that system mostly lies in ruins. goes into lockdown that permeated life. parks and citizens’ service centres Perhaps the biggest threat in Syr- because of the coro- Daily power cuts would happen have been ordered to close. ia, as pointed out by Human Rights Stephen Starr navirus threat, people in 4-hour stints. At 7pm, the power As of March 16, 134 Syrian Watch, is the tens of thousands in France, Italy, Spain would go and with it television citizens having returned from of people arbitrarily detained in and elsewhere are and internet access, something overseas, had been quarantined dungeon-like conditions for op- gettingA an — albeit forced — sense that contributed to an enduring at a facility outside Damascus. posing the regime. Their health is of everyday life for millions of feeling of helplessness for many. The Syrian government’s efforts in considerable peril. Syrians. People worried about getting at stopping the spread of the virus “The Syrian government main- What’s happening in much of enough home heating oil and were mostly limited to disinfect- tains that there have been no the world looks a lot like life in natural gas for cooking, with the ing public transport vehicles and confirmed cases of coronavirus Syria in 2011 and 2012, a time of price of both items rocketing 400% operating cleaning measures at in Syria thus far but its neigh- revolution, hope and trepidation. in 2011. What’s happening today Damascus International Airport. bours have all reported cases and In 2011, millions of Syrian children across Europe because of the coro- One of the only countries with it is clear how catastrophic even went without basic education for navirus feels very similar. direct flights to Syria is Iran — a one case in Syria’s overcrowded months in an attempt by the As- Even now, Syrians find them- major epicentre of the coronavirus prisons would be,” Human Rights sad regime to keep people off the selves burdened by the current crisis with tens of thousands of in- Watch said. streets, be they anti-government crisis. Workers in the country’s fections likely and hundreds dead. The main difference between the protesters or regular citizens. vast and overstretched public sec- Despite this, Syrian Health Min- lockdown that much of the world Universities were closed to prevent tor have been told to stay at home, ister Nizar Yazaji claimed there are is dealing with and what’s happen- students gathering and planning much like many other countries no cases of the virus in Syria. The ing in Syria is that, for the wider protests and Friday prayers can- where the virus has taken hold. World Health Organisation’s office world, there is light at the end of celled to stop worshippers doing For Syrians, however, a lack of in Damascus said it “assesses the the tunnel, whenever that may likewise. adequate residential internet in- risk (of a coronavirus outbreak) is shine. In Syria, it’s simply a case of Today, religious congrega- frastructure, including high-speed very high in Syria… The govern- going from bad to worse. tions and universities have been internet, means they are unable ment of Syria is working with the What’s more, anything that has suspended in dozens of countries to continue working and earning available capacities, which are not the potential to rock the boat and — much like during the early days a full salary. Even for those with at all matching countries which are cause people to act out of the or- of the Syrian revolution. good internet service, the archaic not under conflict.” dinary — a global viral pandemic, Back then, the Syrian govern- nature of the public system means Equally as incredible is that Syria for example — is seen by the Assad ment enforced stay-at-home that remote working in Syria can’t continues to allow direct flights regime as a threat to its power and lockdowns in places such as operate as efficiently as in other from Tehran. There have also tends to make it very nervous. Modamieh, Douma and Harasta countries. been multiple reports of doctors So, not only do Syrians have in the Damascus suburbs. Even What’s more, while govern- treating patients with coronavirus- to deal with the global pandemic in communities without public ments in many developed coun- like symptoms but who are too and all that entails, they are again The WHO assessed anti-government protests, water, tries have tabled packages such as fearful to report their suspicions to faced with a regime fearful that gas and petrol restrictions were mortgage and tax relief and issuing authorities. people may rise up once more. the risk of a wholesale. We would spend entire cheques for people who can’t get Another concern is that, while coronavirus days crawling from petrol station to work, in Syria no such measures in 2011 Syria boasted a relatively Stephen Starr is the author of to petrol station in Damascus in are likely to come to pass. well-functioning health system, “Revolt in Syria: Eye-Witness to outbreak as “very search of fuel for the car — wasting Across Syria, schools have been if even wholly ill-prepared to deal the Uprising” and has lived in Syria high in Syria.” precious working hours — and no closed until at least April 2; night- with a mass viral outbreak, today and Turkey since 2007. 12 March 22, 2020 News & Analysis Gulf Saudi anti-graft campaign nabs hundreds of civil servants, including judges

The Arab Weekly staff cused of abusing power and receiv- ing bribes. Two judges were arrested for allegedly receiving bribes. London The announcement of the sweep follows the arrests of senior mem- audi anti-corruption authori- bers of the royal family earlier in ties announced the deten- March. Among those arrested were tion of nearly 300 individu- Saudi King Salman bin Abdullah Al S als, most of whom worked as Saud’s brother, Prince Ahmed bin civil servants in a variety of sectors Abdulaziz, 78, and former Crown throughout the country. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin The arrests were announced Abdulaziz, 60, for allegedly attempt- March 15 and involved 298 people ing a coup through the Allegiance detained at the request of Saudi Ara- Council, the body set up in 2007 by bia’s Control and Anti-Corruption the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Authority (Nazaha), the government Al Saud to address succession within agency set up to address administra- the then royal family. tive and financial corruption. Despite speculation tying the roy- A total of 674 state employees al arrests to the latest detentions, it were investigated, while 298 were appears that the matters were un- arrested on suspicion of financial related, particularly as the Nazaha and administrative corruption, in- crackdown is part of Riyadh’s anti- cluding bribery, embezzlement and corruption drive designed to make waste of public money, misuse of the investment climate in the king- employment powers and adminis- dom more attractive for internation- trative misuse, a statement by Naz- al investors, in line with its Vision aha said. 2030 reform programme. Although Nazaha was formed in 2011, the anti-corruption body ac- The arrests involved 298 celerated its activities after King Sal- detained at the request of man ascended to the throne in Janu- Saudi Arabia’s Control and ary 2015. In a 2017 interview, Crown Anti-Corruption Authority. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said King Salman made Unrelenting. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz attends a meeting of the Saudi cabinet. Saudi officials said defendants a goal of tackling corruption on the (DPA/SPA) had confessed to misappropriating first day he assumed power. the equivalent of $100 million. “He was also not satisfied with the The arrested include 16 peo- role this (corruption) committee has and royalty accountable. rested in the culmination of a 3-year resulted in the kingdom recovering ple allegedly involved in bribery played. If fighting corruption is not King Salman issued a royal de- investigation. $107 billion to be channelled into and money laundering over De- on the top of the agenda, it means cree forming an anti-corruption Authorities leading the investiga- economic development projects, fence Ministry contracts, includ- the fight is not succeeding,” Crown task force to be overseen by Crown tion negotiated settlements with Saudi Minister of Finance Moham- ing a general and seven officers, Prince Mohammed told Al Arabiya Prince Mohammed, with the juris- some detainees and said those held med al-Jadaan said. from 2005-15. TV. “No person involved in corrup- diction to “investigate, issue arrest on corruption charges would be re- Praised for its scope, the anti-cor- A group of 21 individuals, includ- tion will survive, whether it is a warrants, travel bans and freeze ac- quired to return misappropriated ruption investigation brought those ing three foreign nationals, stand ac- prince or a minister or whoever.” counts and portfolios,” an official funds. Some suspects would have once viewed as untouchable in cused of “exploiting contracts” with Nazaha came to the world’s at- statement said. to turn over as much as 70% of their Saudi Arabia into account. Howev- the health authorities. Another 14 tention in November 2017, when That resulted in more than 200 in- wealth, the Financial Times report- er, that allegations and settlements people, including three high-rank- authorities in Riyadh began a king- dividuals, including members of the ed. were kept secret resulted in accusa- ing police officers and four interior dom-wide anti-corruption cam- royal family, former ministers and Most of those arrested agreed to tions of a lack of transparency in the ministry staff members, were ac- paign to hold both average citizens high-profile businessmen, being ar- settle to avoid prosecution, which proceedings. US urges Yemen factions to implement Riyadh deal

The Arab Weekly staff Ahmed and near the palace. Arabiya. He denied the existence Yemeni government and the STC. the southern separatist movement. A senior coalition commander of “any rift between the STC and On March 18, pro-government For decades, many Southern reportedly returned to Saudi Ara- the coalition.” forces and STC units engaged Yemenis have felt exploited by London bia for consultations after forces “We are trying to revive projects in heavy fighting on the island. leaders in the north, mainly the loyal to the UAE-backed STC re- and investments to rebuild Aden, Clashes broke out after STC fight- late former President Ali Abdul- he United States implored fused to hand the airport over to rehabilitate the airport and develop ers “stormed the port of the island lah Saleh and his associates. The Yemen’s internationally Saudi-trained forces. the port there,” Malki said, while and tried to take out weapons and anti-Saleh sentiment led to the for- recognised government A spokesman for the Saudi-led blaming reports of continued ten- equipment that the source claimed mation of the Southern Mobility T and the secessionist South- coalition played down the spat. sions on “ill-intentioned media.” were on board an Emirati aid ship,” Movement in 2007, which has the ern Transitional Council to im- The Riyadh Agreement “contrib- However, Yemeni media paint- Al-Masdar News said. re-establishment of South Yemen mediately implement a peace deal uted to the return of normalcy” to ed a different story, particularly A government military battalion as an independent state as its main brokered last November by Saudi Aden, coalition spokesman Saudi to Socotra island, a flashpoint in based in Socotra earlier this year goal. Arabia. Colonel Turki al-Malki told Al the power struggle between the defected and pledged allegiance to STC President Aidarus al-Zoubai- “The United States supports the di and Yemeni President Hadi have efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi a history of bad blood between Arabia to facilitate the implemen- them, stemming from the time tation of the Riyadh Agreement,” Hadi sacked him as Aden governor the US Embassy in Yemen said on in May 2017, which led to Zoubaidi Twitter. The statement urged feud- joining forces with the southern ing factions to “overcome their separatists, which eventually re- differences and implement the branded itself as the STC move- agreement without delay in the in- ment. terest of all Yemenis.” After several years of friction The Saudi Foreign Ministry pre- between the two sides, which oc- viously urged Yemen’s government casionally resulted in fighting, and the southern separatists to matters escalated significantly in implement the Riyadh Agreement August 2019. During that period, and put the country’s “national in- fighting resulted in STC troops terest first.” taking control of government po- The call from the United States sitions in the temporary capital echoing Riyadh’s plea comes when Aden. tensions continue to escalate be- Last November, Saudi Arabia tween the government and the sponsored a peace agreement be- Southern Transitional Council tween the Yemeni government and (STC), regional media reported. the STC. The deal called for the for- The pro-southern Aden al-Ghad mation of a new government with- reported that STC Security Belt in 30 days of its signing. The agree- fighters closed the Presidential Pal- ment called for tens of thousands ace and prevented ministers from of STC fighters to be placed under meeting there. the command of Yemen’s interior The meeting was to include the and defence ministries. ministers of education, higher ed- However, the deadline for the ucation and health to discuss the government’s formation expired coronavirus outbreak, Yemen’s Al- with renewed hostilities and accu- Masdar News reported. sations between the two sides. An The website earlier reported additional deal between the two the arrival of STC reinforcements Continued strife. A member of Yemen’s southern separatist-dominated Security Belt Forces stands sides was signed in January and re- to Aden’s western district of Bir guard during a meeting of the Southern Transitional Council in Aden. (AFP) sulted in a prisoner exchange. March 22, 2020 13 News & Analysis Maghreb US expects UN call for recovening Libya talks to be issued shortly

Michel Cousins approach is on the cards. “I think what you’re going to see on the part of the United States and oth- Tunis ers in the international community… that it’s time to name names,” Nor- uspending military operations land said. in Libya, especially in Tripoli, The aim is not only to stop them is a key goal of US diplomacy. fuelling the conflict, it is also to get S That and a political dialogue them to realise that their interven- that produces a prosperous, peaceful tions only deepen the divide. Libya are among the main objectives Washington is particularly con- of US policy in Libya, US Ambassador cerned about foreign mercenaries. Complex landscape. US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland (L) talks to The Arab Weekly contributor to Libya Richard Norland said. The Russians sent in the private Wag- Michel Cousins. (US Embassy, Libya) “US policy is to work with all parties ner Group, which Norland estimated in Libya in support of a negotiated set- at 2,000 personnel. They are being tlement to the conflict,” Norland told used “to undermine the recognised key role in driving AU policy this year. hope. The United States is among halt in revenue from abroad from oil The Arab Weekly. “We have very close government,” he said. Norland was in Pretoria March 10-11 those that backed the international sales, with the blockages of salaries, ties to the [Government of National Their presence and that of other for talks with South African officials call for a “humanitarian pause” in it is only a matter of time until Libya Accord] GNA and Prime Minister mercenaries is a dangerous phenom- about “silencing the guns” in Libya. the Libyan conflict to concentrate on enters into an economic free fall and a [Fayez al-Sarraj]. We’re also in contact enon and source of concern, not just He also met with Sarraj, who was in dealing with the virus outbreak. major economic crisis,” Norland said. with [Field-Marshal Khalifa] Haftar. for the United States but also Libyans South Africa for similar talks with “This could be a great opportu- Asked if time was running out for “We’re in contact with a variety of “who don’t want the country to be Ramaphosa. nity for the country to work together, Libya economically, with the oil price actors throughout the country. It is all ‘occupied’ by anybody, whether Rus- South African officials indicated averting a major public health crisis dropping and oil being Libya’s only aimed at one specific goal, which is to sians, Turks, Syrians or anybody else,” they were “very interested” in using and at the same time creating a posi- source of revenue, he said he was cau- suspend military operations, move the ambassador said. Libya as a model for “Silencing the tive atmosphere for trying to move tiously hopeful because there are oth- towards a lasting ceasefire and launch The notion that Libya’s sovereignty Guns” during Ramaphosa’s chairman- forward on the 5+5 ceasefire discus- er resources — gold, uranium, a huge a political process that will result in a and independence are in jeopardy be- ship, said Norland. sions in Geneva,” Norland said. Mediterranean coastline. Libya could stable political construct for Libya.” cause of foreign mercenaries will res- He said he does not agree with Hopeful that the suggestion will be fulfil its potential, he said, but the pre- onate with other countries in Africa, Libyan actors who see Salame’s work taken up, Norland said he was keen sent crisis casts a massive shadow. Norland said. brought to a sudden stop by his res- that Libya’s economic problems re- “Is time running out? That’s a ques- Richard Norland, US Haftar’s Libyan National Army ac- ignation. “I don’t accept the premise main a major focus of attention. Eco- tion for the leaders involved in all ambassador to Libya: cused Turkish President Recep Tayy- that we’re back to square one,” Nor- nomic issues “underlie the conflict to sides in this conflict and their external “(Libyans) don’t want the ip Erdogan of having sent thousands land said. a certain degree,” he noted. patrons,” Norland said. “Does per- country to be ‘occupied’ by of mercenaries from Syria to Libya to Praising Salame’s “remarkable ar- Economic dialogue, which the US petuating this conflict by a single day anybody, whether Russians, help troops loyal to the GNA. chitecture for peace,” Norland said it Embassy has led the past three years, help Libya? I don’t see how it does but Turks, Syrians or anybody Following the resignation of Ghas- can be built upon “if the parties are is central to the peace process and re- there are vested interested who may else.” san Salame as UN special envoy to willing to do it.” With Deputy Special form a must. want to see the current situation per- Libya, Washington is increasingly fo- Envoy Stephanie Williams in charge “There will need to be reform of petuate itself because they are bene- Neither the offensive, which he cused on the African Union as a me- in an acting role, there can be conti- the Central Bank [of Libya], the audit fiting from it somehow economically. termed counterproductive, nor the diator in the Libyan divide, not as a nuity. agency, some of the other economic If that’s the case, they may drag this wider conflict is in anyone’s interests, replacement for the United Nations “The path is there for people to take institutions in order to enhance public on longer than Libyan can sustain and Norland said. but as an active partner. In any event, if they want to. The 5+5 talks in Ge- confidence that there’s a new system the public will pay a huge price for it. “Those who say that they are con- opening the doors to greater direct neva can reconvene once the parties in place,” he said. “I think from my perspective as cerned about the rise of Muslim ex- African Union participation to solve have looked at the ceasefire draft doc- Other economic reforms needed, an objective outsider the sooner this tremism or the rise of militias in Trip- the crisis was part of the Berlin Con- ument and made some refinements to he said, include subsidies and fuel conflict can be ended, the sooner the oli and use this as a justification for ference follow-up process before the it,” Norland said. prices, although he agreed that this offensive can be stopped, the sooner the offensive on Tripoli miss the point resignation. A UN call for the talks to reconvene cannot be done overnight or in isola- the militias cease to hold sway, the that the offensive is having precisely At the AU summit in February, would be issued shortly, Norland said, tion from political reform. sooner we have transparency on the the opposite effect. It is empowering where the theme was “Silencing the although because of the coronavirus Nonetheless, there are economic distribution of resources, the sooner militias. It is making the government Guns” (chosen with Libya partly in threat, the meeting may have to be moves that can be done in the mean- extremists agree to play a proper role more dependent on militias. It is giv- mind), UN Secretary-General Antonio virtual. That would not necessarily be time. Central to confidence is trans- in political life or be excluded… None ing extremist voices a greater say in Guterres agreed that the African Un- a bad thing. parency and central to that is the of that can happen soon enough!” what happens,” he said. ion should play a greater role in help- “Maybe it is easier to get people planned audit of the Central Bank, the The United States is not only fully ing bring peace to the conflict-torn who disagree together on a screen ambassador said, adding “it’s been Michel Cousins is a contributor to engaged with both side of the divide, country. rather than in the same room,” the taking too long.” The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. it is also engaged with external actors With South African President Cyril ambassador said. Economic progress remains crucial, “whose role has sometimes helped to Ramaphosa serving as chairman of The coronavirus pandemic pro- he explained. Full text of interview on fuel the conflict.” For them, a tougher the African Union, South Africa has a vides another paradoxical reason for “With the oil blockade, with the www.thearabweekly.com Morocco’s once-powerful left struggling to regain leading role on the political scene

Saad Guerraoui “This party no longer has a com- tiate it from other political parties the product of a “conspiracy theo- tions. pass. It was built on the strategy of since Youssoufi’s government. ry.” “They create viruses and their “We have neither the same politi- the democratic struggle but now Abdeslam al-Aziz, secretary-gen- remedies when they want to,” said cal culture nor the behaviour to be Casablanca finds itself involved in a misappro- eral of the National Ittihadi Congress Mounib at a conference February 27, able to unify our ranks. Many mem- priation of the constitution,” wrote (CNI), said the decline of the left drawing heavy criticism on social bers are still acting as party figures orocco’s once-powerful news website Challenge.ma, add- wing in Morocco was mainly because media. rather than FGD members, which left, which led the gov- ing that the USFP could only regain of the rise of political Islam in the A few days later, Omar Balafrej, jeopardises the federation’s future,” ernment from 1998-2002 its position if it re-establishes itself country, the state’s creation and sup- Mounib’s party colleague and parlia- said Aziz. M under Prime Minister Ab- as the prime supporter of popular port of the Authenticity and Moder- mentarian, expressed disagreement In the runup to the last legisla- derrahmane Youssoufi, is struggling hopes. nity Party and Moroccans’ increasing with Mounib in a written question tive elections, the FGD’s popularity to regain its leading role. vote for the conservative right. addressed to Moroccan Prime Minis- on social media reached an all-time Seventeen years after Youssoufi “We cannot compete with the PJD, ter Saad Eddine El Othmani. high thanks to the support of many retired from political life, the Social- It took the coronavirus which has the financial means to Balafrej stressed the need to en- artists and intellectuals but the elec- ist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) outbreak to expose draw supporters through its chari- courage rational thinking and com- tion results were a major setback for is going through a major crisis. Its divisions between table and social actions across the bat conspiracy theories, calling on the FGD. secretary-general, Driss Lachgar, is leaders of the Federation whole country,” said Aziz, who was Othmani to set out comprehensive “Many of our followers and back- being criticised by opponents in the of the Democratic Left a USFP member, before switching to public policies to “encourage ra- ers did not register to vote, which party who are calling for his immedi- (FGD), known as the the CNI. tional thinking and critical thinking reflected the poor results,” said Aziz. ate resignation. ‘unified left.’ It took the coronavirus outbreak in society.” Eighteen months ahead of the The USFP political bureau is at a to expose divisions between leaders Aziz said cohesion in the FGD will next elections, Aziz warned the stalemate after many leaders left The USFP last October marked the of the Federation of the Democratic never happen as long as the three PSU’s resistance to the fusion of the the party because of deep disagree- 60th anniversary of its founding but Left (FGD), known as the “unified parties fail to unify their ranks. three parties could backfire on them. ments with Lachgar’s decisions, the event was boycotted by several left.” The FGD, a coalition of the CNI “Managing a coalition of three par- “I cannot predict whether the fu- including his move to join the gov- iconic party figures, including Yous- Socialist Democratic Vanguard Party ties will never work because there sion will take place before or after ernment in 2016 in an alliance with soufi and Mohamed El Yazghi, deal- and the United Socialist Party (PSU), are always conflicts both locally and the upcoming elections,” he said. the Islamist Party of Justice and ing a blow to the reconciliation pro- won only two parliamentary seats in nationwide,” Aziz said while ex- Development (PJD), which ana- cess. the 2016 elections. plaining the “complex calculations” Saad Guerraoui is a contributor lysts described as “suicidal” for the Analysts said the USFP has to put PSU Secretary-General Nabila of supporting each other that cost to The Arab Weekly on Maghreb USFP’s image. in place a line that would differen- Mounib said the coronavirus was them seats in the last municipal elec- issues. 14 March 22, 2020 Spotlight Political Islam British NGO pushes for ‘international treaty to ban the political use of religion’

The Arab Weekly staff division to its own ends,” he wrote. BPUR International has worked with prominent political, civic London and intellectual leaders, includ- ing Egyptian billionaire Naguib British NGO is introduc- Sawiris, who was voted chairman ing an “international of trustees on March 17. treaty to ban the political The board includes former Ital- A use of religion,” to halt in- ian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi, equality and religious discrimina- former Canadian Secretary of tion. State David Kilgour, former MEP BPUR International, founded Struan Stevenson, former member by British-Iraqi journalist Salam of the Council of Europe Elisabetta Sarhan, said it was developing a Zamparutti, Iraqi musician Na- treaty that would “introduce a seer Shamma and tech entrepre- clear framework to ban all politi- neur Mila Bessmann. It also lists cal uses of religion that undermine former Arab League Secretary- equal citizenship and religious dis- General Amr Moussa, Italian Sena- crimination in rights and duties,” tor Roberto Rampi and scholar a statement on the organisation’s Noam Chomsky as supporters and website said. brought on international human rights experts Karen Parker and Al- BPUR International plans to fred-Maurice de Zayas as advisers. Sarhan said the organisation’s focus on eliminating “the aim is “entirely different from all root causes” of the problem divisive confrontational attempts by providing a “clear to separate religion and politics, framework in line with the which have often caused more UN Declaration on Human damage than good, playing into Rights.” the hands of extremists and un- able to build global consensus.” Sarhan, a contributor to The “The world’s leading powers NGO with a cause. Founder and director Salam Sarhan (L) and Chairman of Trustees Egyptian billionaire Arab Weekly, grew support for the have often made grave errors Naguib Sawiris. (Mona Fayek) initiative after writing an opinion when dealing with religious sen- article for the Independent last sitivities in local and international year in which he argued to “move conflicts, playing into the hands of ists and a better climate of respect It plans to establish a global teachings to serve distasteful towards an international consen- sectarian and extremist parties,” for religious rights, including ban- monitor to expose political abuses agenda,” BPUR International said sus to prevent any invocation of Sarhan said. ning political parties from engag- of religion and provide verified in- on its website. religion… to support national and BPUR International plans to fo- ing in religious discrimination and formation on abuses that enable “We believe that the time is now political agendas.” cus on eliminating “the root caus- protecting freedom of belief and governments and organisations to right to initiate and coordinate a “It is overdue to initiate and co- es” of the problem by providing a worship, the organisation stated hold perpetrators to account. concerted global effort to stop the ordinate a concerted global effort “clear framework in line with the on its website. “We must not forget that the cur- use of any religion to justify any to stop the use of any religion to UN Declaration on Human Rights.” “No responsible government rent murky situation is also allow- political endeavour that uses reli- justify any political endeavour Sarhan said he hopes to see can refuse such fundamental fair ing vicious political and economic gious intolerance and division to that uses religious intolerance and weapons withdrawn from extrem- rules,” BPUR International stated. interests to manipulate religious its own ends.” Egyptian Salafists in uproar over bill restricting polygamy, underage marriages

Hassan Abdel Zaher lygamy and curb related social ail- than one wife but this right is far proved into law, this bill will cause marriage in the absence of such ments. Parliament’s Committee on from unfettered. I also believe that the whole society to collapse,” Ab- statements or they would be subject Constitutional and Legislative Af- the changes happening in our soci- del Hamid said. to penalties, including suspension. Cairo fairs has debated the measure and ety require a rethink of the way this The proposed legislation will Apart from trying to curb polyg- referred it to al-Azhar, Egypt’s high- right is practised.” introduce new terms to marriage amy, the bill seeks to eradicate the gypt’s ultraorthodox est religious authority, for review. contracts, requiring husbands to marriage of underage girls, which Salafists are rising up The bill, some lawmakers said, get written approval from their first is rife in some parts of Egypt, often against a bill proposed by is important because it addresses Women’s rights groups have wife to be able to contract a second driven by the desire of poor parents been mobilising in support E the government to rein in social issues that have been over- marriage. However, it is considered to get money in return for marrying polygamy by committing Muslim looked. of the bill. unlikely that many women would off their daughters. husbands wishing to take a second “I think there is more openness be willing to sign a statement allow- The measure would also make wife to get written approval from in society now for restricting po- Salafists, who accuse those prop- ing their husbands to marry other it necessary for husbands who di- their first wives. lygamy,” said MP Samir Rashad, a agating the new rules of overlook- women. vorce so they can marry again to If passed, the measure would re- member of the committee. “Islam ing the licence Islam gave men, are Marriage registration officials provide their estranged wives with place a law that has regulated mar- gives men the right to marry more strongly opposed to the bill. “If ap- would not be able to register the a monthly pension. It would give riage contracts since 1955. women the right to divorce with- The Salafists said the proposal out approval of their husbands and oversteps the Islamic religion, without filing for divorce at Egypt’s which gives men the right to have Family Courts. four wives at one time. Under present regulations wom- “You cannot eliminate a licence en seeking separation file a com- that was given by God to men by plaint at Family Courts, which man-made law,” said Salafist activ- sometimes can take years to reach ist Sameh Abdel Hamid. “Laws are a settlement. OK so long as they do not violate Salafists object to women’s right religious rules.” to divorce, which they describe Egypt is among Arab countries as “an insult to men,” warning it that allow Muslim men to marry would increase Egypt’s already more than one wife. Some coun- high divorce rates. tries, including those in North Af- In 2018, divorces increased 6.7% rica, have introduced restrictions to 211,554 compared with 2017, the to polygamy. Tunisia banned it in Central Agency for Public Mobilisa- 1957. tion and Statistics, the official sta- There is no reliable estimate of tistics agency, stated. the number of men with more than Women’s rights groups have been one wife in Egypt. mobilising in support of the bill, ac- Egypt’s laws are said to be sharia- cusing Islamists of encouraging po- based, which means that they must lygamous practices. conform to Islamic law. “They are behind the increase Nonetheless, Islam restricts po- in these practices,” said women’s lygamy by making it necessary rights advocate Azza Kamel. “Sorry for men who have more than one to say, these practices are humiliat- wife to treat each wife fairly and ing to women and lead to the loss of on equal footing. The Quran says, their rights.” however, such equal treatment is not possible. Hassan Abdel Zaher is a Authorities proposed the bill to Question of rights. Lawmakers of the Egyptian Salafist Nour Party attend a special session of parliament Cairo-based contributor to — among other things — restrict po- to vote on new constitutional amendments in Cairo, April 16, 2019. (AFP) The Arab Weekly. March 22, 2020 15 News & Analysis Palestine Israel Interview Former PA adviser says Trump peace plan ‘dormant’

a near universal rejection of this TAW: “What, if anything, can plan. be done in response to the Trump “However, there are two other plan?” Sharmila Devi scenarios that are possible. One GAO: “I think there is some- is if we have a second Trump thing to be done. The wisest administration, it is likely we course of action right now would haith al-Omari is a will have a renewed push to get be for the Palestinians with senior fellow at the it more widely adopted. One ex- Arab support to come up with Washington Insti- pects, if there is a second admin- a counteroffer. I think what’s tute’s Irwin Levy istration, there will be diplomatic been happening over the last few Family Programme energy around it. weeks, since the peace plan was on the US-Israel “The second issue is, of released, was an image of the GStrategic Relationship. Prior to course, what happens in Israel Palestinians yet again solidifying that, he held various positions because this plan potentially as rejectionist. within the Palestinian Authority, could give the green light to “I think the way to deal with it including director of Palestinian annexation [of large parts of the is for the Palestinians to present a President Mahmoud Abbas’s in- West Bank] by Israel. That de- realistic counteroffer. If they wait ternational relations department. pends on the outcome of Israeli until a second Trump administra- He has worked closely on the coalition-building but you can tion, it might be too late for them Palestinian-Israeli peace process see a scenario in which, if you to do that. I think this is the time for decades, having served as have a right-wing Israeli govern- and, in many ways, they have an an adviser to the Palestinians’ ment, while the plan itself might opening now.” negotiating team during perma- not go forward, aspects of it that TAW: “What is the likelihood of nent status negotiations from relate to annexation start being the Palestinians making a coun- 1999-2001. In that capacity, he implemented.” teroffer?” participated in various negotiat- TAW: “Do you think the Arab GAO: “Unfortunately minimal ing rounds, most notably the world is united in its rejection?” and it’s minimal not because Camp David summit and the GAO: “I don’t think it’s united. there is no counteroffer. I mean Taba talks. I think what we see in the Arab the Palestinians, especially the Omari is a lawyer by training world are two sets of dynamics. negotiators, know the extent of and a graduate of Georgetown “One, and this is almost uni- the compromises they’re willing and Oxford universities. Before versal among Arabs particularly to make and yet I think the Pales- focusing on the Middle East peace in the Gulf, is a decoupling of tinian leadership feels politically Deciphering the future. Ghaith al-Omari (WINEP) process, he taught international the peace process from bilateral very weak in domestic terms and law in Jordan and worked in hu- relations with Israel and this is the Palestinian leadership is fac- man rights advocacy. something that will go on. So the ing a legitimacy crisis, a legiti- think the trauma of the second and Jordan will go through its He spoke with The Arab Weekly not-so-secret, behind-the-scenes macy deficit. intifada is still real for many Pal- deepest crisis by far since its as the coronavirus began prompt- security and sometimes econom- “In this situation, they are estinians but in these situations entry into force… At a minimum ing countries around the world to ic links, they will continue. too cautious and too politically of volatility we simply do not there could be a suspension of limit travel and as coalition-build- “On the other hand, most weak to present a counteroffer know how things will move. diplomatic relations… Given the ing continued in Israel following Arab countries will support the so, while this might be the wisest “The second thing is given the mood in Jordan, things could go recent elections. Palestinians no matter what the move from a national perspec- political fragility of the [Pales- up all the way up to cancellation The Arab Weekly (TAW): “What Palestinians say on issues related tive, I fear political weakness will tinian Authority] PA, this could of the treaty. I doubt there will might happen to the Trump peace to the peace process. However, make them unwilling or unable be the moment that pushes it be cancellation but there could plan, announced earlier this year the support will vary in intensity. to do so.” over the edge…The PA will not be complete suspension of all but rejected by a majority of Some countries will very proac- TAW: “What might happen if disband itself, there are too many political and civilian aspects of countries?” tively push for the Palestinian Israel moved ahead with any an- vested interests but it might the treaty.” Ghaith al-Omari (GAO): “From position, some countries will be nexation moves?” come to a point when it becomes a traditional diplomatic angle, more passive and that depends GAO: “Will there be violence? irrelevant and implodes. Sharmila Devi is a former British for now the plan seems to be dor- on how these countries see the This is the question and no one “The final point, maybe even correspondent in the Middle East mant in the sense that Palestinian conflict through the lenses of its knows. So far, we’ve seen very more or equally important, is and writes on political and social diplomacy has managed to create own national priorities.” little appetite for violence and I the peace treaty between Israel issues in the region. Viewpoint Gantz’s attempt to form Israeli government faces obstacles lthough Benny Gantz, have long been opposed to an Netanyahu’s corruption trial, should be coming together to leader of the Blue and alliance with Arab parties. which was to begin March 17, manage the virus crisis. Gregory White alliance, has If those three Blue and White was postponed for at least two In the meantime, Netanyahu been given first oppor- members bolt from the coalition, months, ostensibly because of the has tried to portray himself as a Aftandilian tunity to form a new Gantz’s chances of forming a gov- virus. That decision was made strong leader dealing with the Israeli government, ernment become nil. Some reports by Israeli Justice Minister Amir virus, though his efforts have heA is facing many obstacles, both suggest the dissident members Ohana — a Likud member — who caused controversy because he in- political and administrative. would put party loyalty above placed the courts under a state of structed Israel’s internal security On the political front, the only their personal views and vote emergency, which then led the service, Shin Bet, to use mobile- way he can form a government is with Gantz but that scenario is not Jerusalem District Court, where phone tracking technology to by bringing in the Arab List, a coa- guaranteed. Netanyahu was to have his trial, to monitor the movements of virus lition of Israeli Arab parties that In addition, even if those mem- say proceedings against the prime patients. won 15 seats, because the group bers stick with Gantz, his desire minister would not begin until Gantz criticised the adjourn- he previously assembled — Blue to reach an agreement with the May. This has given Netanyahu a ment of the Knesset as a political and White, 33 seats; Labour-Gesh- Arab List is not assured. During political reprieve. ploy and emphasised that parlia- er-Meretz, seven seats; and Yisrael the election campaign, Gantz In addition, Knesset Speaker ment needs to convene to deal Beiteinu, seven seats — falls short explicitly said he would not form Yuli Edelstein, a Likud member with the virus situation. He said of the 61 needed to establish a a government with the Arab List and a staunch Netanyahu ally, that without a functioning Fi- government. and he endorsed the Trump peace used his powers to hinder Gantz. nance Committee, “there won’t be Adding the Arab List would plan, which has been strongly op- Although newly elected mem- any budget” to deal with the virus give Gantz 62 seats — enough for posed by the Palestinians. bers of parliament were sworn in and without the functioning of a governing majority — but such The leaders of the Arab List March 16, and Gantz introduced security committees, “there won’t an expanded coalition is rife with want Gantz to backpedal his sup- a series of resolutions against be any oversight over government difficulties. The only thing the port for the Trump plan before Netanyahu — one imposing a two- tracking of civilians.” disparate parties have in common they come to an agreement with term limit for a prime minister, For the time being, Netanyahu is opposition to Israeli Prime Min- him, something he has been reluc- another that would bar a prime and his political allies have used ister Binyamin Netanyahu. tant to do. minister under indictment from the virus emergency to stave off Relations between Yisrael The right-wing media in Israel serving in his post and a third a direct challenge by Gantz, how- Beiteinu, led by former Defence played up some of the stances of prohibiting an indicted member ever, once the virus threat ends, Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and the newly elected members of the of parliament from forming a Netanyahu’s legal and political the Arab List are particularly acri- Arab List to put Gantz in a tight government — Edelstein abruptly problems will resurface. In the monious but it does not end there. spot. Video clips circulated of Arab adjoined the Knesset on March meantime, Gantz will have to Several members of the Blue List member Heba Yazbak stating 18, using the coronavirus as an shore up his fragile coalition if he and White, which itself is a coali- in a previous interview: “We want excuse. wants to form a government, an tion, spoke against joining forces to fight, with all our strength, rac- Blue and White also petitioned effort that remains a very difficult Netanyahu and his with the Arab parties. Alliance ism, apartheid and Zionism.” to have a vote to replace Edelstein process. member Omer Yankelevich told On the administrative front, as speaker. The Washington Post political allies have Gantz she opposes such a move, Netanyahu and his political allies reported that Edelstein dismissed Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer thrown up roadblocks Israeli media reported. Two other have thrown up roadblocks to the attempts as “petty politics,” in the Pardee School of Global members of Blue and White, Yoaz stymie Gantz’s plans and were adding that it was not the time Studies at Boston University and to stymie Gantz’s Hendel and Zvi Hauser, represent- using the coronavirus to delay any to advance “controversial leg- a former US State Department plans. ing the right-wing of the party, political change. islation” when political leaders Middle East analyst. 16 March 22, 2020 News & Analysis Turkey Critics fear a pandemic explosion in Turkish prisons

Yavuz Baydar

o, the coronavirus pandemic has shown its brutal face in Turkey as well. After a long period of silence by Turkish President Recep Tayyip SErdogan, whose choice to remain out of the spotlight for about a week raised many eyebrows, the number of coronavirus cases declared by the Ministry of Health points to a surge. As a result, those who mistrusted the system for its lack of transparency raised their voices even louder. As of March 20, 359 people in Turkey were confirmed as being infected with coronavirus, with 168 diagnoses recorded in the preceding 24 hours. There have been four confirmed deaths, although that number was predicted to rise geometrically, given the alarm being raised by doctors. The government agrees. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said he expected the number of coronavirus diagnoses to peak within two weeks. After a remarkable hesitation in recent weeks, authorities placed about 10,000 people under quarantine. However, much of the official attention seems Tense mood. A refection off an advert shows members of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality disinfecting a public bus at Eminonu in disproportionately focused Istanbul, March 20. (AFP) on economic measures rather than tackling the spread of the concrete preventive steps, which men — apparently influenced by When the next batch of returning Iran’s move to release prisoners virus. Ankara’s plan to deal did not go beyond “wash your the myth of Erdogan as saviour pilgrims, around 7,000, were to curb the pandemic from with the pandemic, given the hands and salute each other from a — expressed indifference, some placed in confinement, it seemed penetrating prison compounds, hardships already being faced distance” rhetoric. openly protesting the ban on too little, too late. with many calling for priority by Turkey’s embattled economy, “The best way not to fight the entering mosques. So deep was the ignorance release to be given to Turkish has been exposed amid a quickly epidemic is not to be caught by the The element of religion among these returning pilgrims prisoners held on political weakening local currency and virus,” he said, stating the obvious. revealed the main source of that many of them attempted to grounds. soaring unemployment. However, his broader strategy the spread of the virus. It was escape, some successfully. Such The clock is ticking but — All of this points to an uphill couldn’t be clearer: Focus on his the people returning from social facts show the weaknesses perhaps no surprise for Turkey battle. Even Erdogan’s recent devout base, even if this falls umrah — pilgrimage in Mecca — — or unwillingness — of Turkey’s observers — Erdogan’s government announcement of a 100 billion short of his constitutional duty to who, despite authorities’ early political leadership. seems hesitant, delaying the lira ($15.4 billion) package to embrace the whole nation at a time knowledge of the outbreak, The big unknown is what to process. There are even signs support Turkey’s economy offered of global crisis that defies borders. were allowed to travel to Saudi do with the massive number of that common criminals could be more questions than answers, On the social level, there were Arabia. About 15,000 pilgrims prison inmates. There are nearly temporarily released instead. with experts wondering how facts that surfaced and others that returned to Turkey during this 300,000 people locked up behind COVID-19 may turn out to the envisioned funding will be remain question marks. period and, without being put bars in Turkey. It is well known be a codename for testing financed. Many predicted a rapidly First, there is the defiant under quarantine, mingled with that after the 2016 attempted Erdogan’s regime to the limit as rising inflation rate. mentality of fatalism that seems their relatives and neighbours. coup, Turkey’s prisons were filled the pandemic forces a tense and On the political level, Turkey’s deep-rooted in the conservative beyond capacity. Human Rights mistrustful society to distance hard-line administration is psyche. Although the mighty Watch said approximately 50,000 itself even further from those demonstrating its well-known Diyanet (Directorate of Religious of Turkey’s prison population who rule the country and their reflexes. Erdogan’s much- Affairs), which has more than Turkey’s hard-line are political prisoners, the main stunning hubris. anticipated speech March 19 was 100,000 imams on its payroll, administration is bulk of whom are Gulenists and heavily coloured by religion and decided to close the mosques for Kurdish dissidents, as well as Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish framed by the elements of a Friday Friday prayers and community demonstrating its liberals, judges and journalists. journalist and regular columnist sermon rather than based on gatherings, many deeply pious well-known reflexes. Voices are rising, referring to for The Arab Weekly. Is Erdogan out to undo the Treaty of Lausanne?

o say that Turk- top of the charts of Turkey’s politi- Second is the question of land, in Cyprus in 1973. ish President Recep cians. From where he sits today, land that the Ottoman Empire lost Erdogan began to lay the Tayyip Erdogan is Erdogan has only one politician to its neighbours through the 1923 groundwork for this sometime Claude Salhani power hungry would whose star shines brighter than Treaty of Lausanne. The treaty ago. In December 2017 he sug- be a gross understate- his and that is Mustafa Kemal, aka was to outline the boundaries of gested that “some details” in the ment. Ataturk. the modern Turkish state after the Treaty of Lausanne were “un- TIt’s been nearly two decades The problem for Erdogan is that demise of the Ottoman Empire. clear” and that they may need to since Erdogan rose to power, Ataturk is more than a national Under that agreement Turkey be revisited. He had maps shown initially as prime minister in hero. He is revered almost as a was to return to its neighbours on Turkish television with the 2002 and then as president after saint. A strange analogy for a lands that the Ottomans had current borders extending beyond amending the country’s constitu- man who introduced “laicite” to taken, often under the excuse that where they should be into Greece, tion to give the mostly ceremoni- Turkey, that is the separation of ethnic Turks were in peril and Bulgaria, Armenia, Iraq and Syria. ous role of the Turkish presidency religion and state. that they went in to protect the Certainly, a detail that would not executive powers. That is not Surpassing Ataturk’s accom- minorities. What the Turks omit- elude the governments in Athens, counting his years as mayor of plishments is no simple task. ted to mention is that, once in the Sophia, Yerevan, Baghdad and Istanbul, from where he propelled Erdogan is aware that to reach territory, they carried out ethnic Damascus. himself onto the national stage such a position he would need cleansing, moving populations, Reclaiming contested territories and was elected to the country’s to accomplish deeds that even destroying homes and businesses demands tact, patience and, most top job. the great Ataturk could not. Still, and even tearing up cemeteries. of all, diplomacy. However, for someone as ambi- Erdogan is confident that he has Does Erdogan wish to revisit Another worrying sign of Erdog- tious as Erdogan, the presidency two aces up his sleeve. The first is the Treaty of Lausanne? There are an’s expansionist policy is the way may not be enough. His ego religion. some who say that is exactly what Turkey has acted in Syria. Erdogan demands more, much more. Some Whereas Ataturk sought to he hopes to accomplish. That, in saw an opportunity to send troops say he would like to be consid- remove religion from politics, his mind, there can be no greater into Syrian territory and jumped ered leader of the Arab world in Erdogan is trying to manipulate accomplishment than to expand at the chance, knowing that once the absence of any charismatic politics with religion. While his at- Turkey. Turkish forces were in Syrian terri- Whereas Ataturk Arab leader. If leading the Arabs is tempts to return Islam as religion The Treaty of Lausanne set tory it would become very difficult sought to remove unlikely to become a reality, he is of state in Turkey goes counter to out to establish the permanent to extract them amid the chaos of likely to set his sights on leading everything Ataturk and the Kemal- borders between post-Ottoman war. religion from politics, the Muslim world. ists stood for, Erdogan believes he Turkey and its neighbours. De- Erdogan is trying to There is little doubt Erdogan can use Islam as a weapon to win establishing the framework of Claude Salhani is a regular manipulate politics aspires to becoming the man greater support. Indeed, the more treaties takes time and cannot be columnist for The Arab Weekly who returns Turkey to its glory of he consolidates power the more he achieved overnight, unless Turkey and a senior fellow at the Institute with religion. yesteryear. He wants to reach the seems to rely on his Islamist base. is prepared to go to war, as it did of World Affairs in Washington. March 22, 2020 17 News & Analysis Iran Iranian authorities warn about ‘millions’ of virus deaths but face credibility problem

Thomas Seibert Iranian leaders have a hard time being listened to because they have a serious credibility prob- Istanbul lem with their citizens, including being accused of having ignored ran is facing a possible catas- and downplayed the danger after trophe as officials warned of the first virus cases were recorded a collapse of the country’s February 19. I health system and a scientific Iran experts said the regime study cited by state television said wanted before anything else to millions could die as the coronavi- secure mass turnouts for anniver- rus spreads. sary celebrations of the Islamic One concern is that widespread Revolution of 1979 and for parlia- travel within the country for mentary elections. Nowruz — the Persian New Year — The death toll in Iran from the on March 21 could exacerbate the coronavirus was more than 1,400 grave situation. by March 20 and nearly 20,000 Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatol- people have been confirmed in- lah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa fected. Only China and Italy have March 17 prohibiting “unneces- more fatalities. sary” travel. “If the trend continues, there “Stay at home… Shopping for the will not be enough capacity,” Ali New Year is like committing sui- Reza Zali, the government official cide these days,” a Health Ministry leading the campaign against the official told state television, which outbreak, was quoted as saying by said millions of Iranians could die the state-run IRNA news agency. of the virus if people travelled for Omid Rezaee, an Iranian jour- the New Year holidays. nalist in Germany, said no one in Iran believed that official state- Iranian authorities are ments reflected the truth. “In fact, the health system has accused of having ignored already broken down,” Rezaee Trust gap. Iranian President Hassan Rohani takes part in a video conference meeting with the and downplayed the said via e-mail. “Not a day goes danger after the first virus minister of Health and other officials regarding the measures taken to hamper the spread of coronavirus. by without several health workers (DPA) cases were recorded dying of coronavirus.” He said his February 19. contacts in Iran told him that there were no ambulances left for non- even reporting it on Iran’s tightly eral Antonio Guterres on March 12, not the real reason for Iran’s ina- Khamenei and Iranian President corona-related patients. controlled state television rep- Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- bility to limit the number of infec- Hassan Rohani, in separate New Things could get much worse. resented a major change for a mad Javad Zarif wrote that Iran tions and deaths. Year messages, vowed to over- Afruz Eslami, an Iranian state TV country whose officials had -de suffered “under the most severe “A key reason for the outbreak come the coronavirus and increase journalist who is a medical doctor, nied the severity of the crisis. and indiscriminate campaign of in Iran was that the government economic growth. cited a study by Tehran’s Sharif In an effort to stop the virus, economic terrorism in history.” denied the presence of the virus in Khamenei, who has final say on University of Technology that of- the government temporarily freed Iran’s UN mission urged the in- the country for a long time because all state matters, called the New fered three scenarios. If people about 85,000 prisoners, includ- ternational community to call on of the anniversary of the revolu- Year “the year of leaps in produc- begin to cooperate now, Iran will ing political prisoners. On March the United States to lift sanctions tion and because of the elections,” tion” in Iran’s economy. He said the see 120,000 infections and 12,000 10, Javaid Rehman, the UN spe- against the country immediately Rezaee said. “Sanctions don’t have country’s 80 million people are in deaths before the outbreak is over, cial rapporteur on human rights in so it can import medicine and anything to do with that.” a position to boost domestic pro- she said. If they offer medium co- Iran, asked Tehran to free all polit- medical equipment needed to Another reason was a lack of duction alongside the country’s operation, there would be 300,000 ical prisoners temporarily from its fight coronavirus. Iran asked for $5 government investment in the exports. Rohani marked Nowruz cases and 110,000 deaths, she said. overcrowded and disease-ridden billion in emergency funding from health sector in recent years, by promising a better economy If people fail to follow any guid- jails to help stem the spread of the International Monetary Fund. Rezaee added. and called the coronavirus “an un- ance, it could collapse Iran’s al- coronavirus. However, Washington, which ar- The government has come un- invited destructive guest.” ready-strained medical system, Tehran blames US sanctions, gues that its “maximum pressure” der fire for its reluctance to impose Large gatherings for Friday Eslami said. If the “medical facili- imposed after Washington left campaign to curb Iran’s nuclear, strict measures, such as the lock- prayers were cancelled across the ties are not sufficient, there will the 2015 international agreement missile and regional activities does down of whole cities. country, the ministry said, and be 4 million cases and 3.5 million aimed at stopping Iran from ac- not stop the flow of humanitarian Some measures aimed at limit- Shia Muslim sites and shrines in people will die,” she said. quiring nuclear weapons, for set- goods, imposed new sanctions. ing gatherings at religious sites Mashhad and Qom have been Eslami did not elaborate on backs in the fight against the virus. Rezaee said US sanctions, while sparked outrage by clerics and closed. what metrics the study used but In a letter to UN Secretary-Gen- causing restrictions for Iran, were their followers.

Viewpoint Iran is one step closer to anarchy

The actual numbers are doubt- provinces. lessly much higher and, worse, Still worse, there are sustained there are growing signs of anarchy reports on local vigilante groups, Ali Alfoneh and lawlessness in certain parts of armed with sticks, barricading en- Iran. try points to their cities to prevent Aware of the scope and mag- out-of-town visitors. There are just he year 1398 [2019- nitude of the crisis, on March 13 as many reports on locals attacking 12] began with flood- Khamenei established the Health automobiles with plates indicating “ ing and ended with and Treatment Headquarters under they are registered in Qom. the corona[virus],” the supervision of Major-General Both at city gates and in the face Iranian Supreme Mohammad Bagheri, Iranian armed of attacks against Qom-registered Leader Ayatollah Ali forces chief-of-staff. Bagheri pre- vehicles, police have not inter- KhameneiT said in his New Year ad- sented his plan to stop the conta- vened. There were even reports of dress, which, for the first time since gion and treat those affected. the police siding with the vigilante 1989, was delivered in a studio in Bagheri’s initiatives included groups. Tehran and not the Imam Reza production of an online platform, The Islamic Revolutionary Guard shrine in Mashhad. within 10 days, to monitor the Corps (IRGC) and the Basij are no- Khamenei ended his address on entire population, identify indi- where to be seen. There are reports an optimistic note, calling the New viduals suspected of carrying the of hospitals and clinics refusing Year the year of “leap in produc- virus and alerting those potentially treatment to non-local patients. tion” but there is little indication exposed to the virus. Increasingly, it appears as if the of the Persian New Year being less Although Bagheri did not provide Confused priorities. Under armed watch, an Iranian voter wears a government and the IRGC have horrific than the past year: official details, this initiative may resemble mask and shows his ID during parliamentary elections in Tehran last given up the fight against the statistics stated there are 19,644 measures adopted by South Korea February. (AFP) spread of the contagion. Incapable confirmed cases of coronavirus and Israel to use counterterrorism of controlling the unruly public, the infection in Iran; 6,745 people have electronic surveillance mecha- government and the IRGC abstain recovered and there were nisms. As of March 20, there was no members to contribute to the effort Spain. However, as of March 20, from imposing quarantine orders reportedly 1,433 fatalities. update on the initiative. against the virus and treat Iranians traffic between Qom, the epicentre they can’t enforce and studiously Bagheri also promised the Ira- in hospitals, field hospitals and of the contagion in Iran, and the refrain from preventing inter-city nian Defence Ministry’s facilities clinics of the armed forces all over rest of Iran, in particular Tehran, travel and tolerate vigilantism would produce test kits, surgical the country. continued. while waiting for better times. The Islamic masks and protective clothing for Bagheri’s promise of “empty- So did traffic between Tehran In the meantime, Iran is getting health professionals and there was ing the streets within 24 hours,” and the lush and green northern one step closer to anarchy and Revolutionary Guard some indication that this, indeed, was largely ignored by the public provinces of Iran on the Caspian lawlessness. Corps (IRGC) and the was happening. and the security forces alike. At coast. This has resulted in further So are Bagheri’s promises of the time, the promise was widely spread of the virus and exponen- Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at Basij are nowhere to mobilising retired doctors and interpreted as effectively lock- tial growth of infected individu- the Arab Gulf States Institute in be seen. nurses, medical students and Basij ing down Iran like Italy, France or als in Tehran and in the northern Washington. 18 March 22, 2020 News & Analysis East West Most mosques close in UK as country moves towards general shutdown amid outbreak

The Arab Weekly staff couraged from attending the masjid if they do not have any underlying health conditions. London “It is recognised that there are mixed views in relation to masjids fter the Muslim Council remaining open. These decisions of Britain and the Brit- are not taken lightly, and everyone ish Board of Scholars and recognises the severity of the pan- A Imams called for Muslim demic. Those who wish to attend the communities across the United masjids should not be belittled or Kingdom to suspend all “congrega- prevented from doing so,” the fatwa tional activities,” most mosques in concluded. the country closed their doors. The edict was issued March 17, one However, not all Muslim lead- day before the British government ers seemed to follow the advice. ordered the closure of schools and A fatwa by several British Muslim universities and said this year’s aca- scholars called for mosques to re- demic exams would not take place in main open. “Masjids in the United June as scheduled. Kingdom should remain open for On the same day, the Muslim congregational salah [prayers] until Council of Britain (MCB) — the larg- and unless the government places a est umbrella group of Muslim as- total restriction on religious places,” sociations and mosques in the a fatwa by Deobandi scholar Yusuf United Kingdom — said it supported Shabbir said. mosque closures to protect the com- Shabbir’s fatwa was approved by munity from coronavirus. Mufti Shabbir Ahmed of Darul Ul- “We all have a public duty to pro- oom Blackburn and Mufti Muham- tect one another from harm and it is mad Tahir of Darul Uloom Bury. evident the most effective way to do this now is to avoid social contact as much as possible. This includes all A fatwa by British Muslim walks of life, whether social, work Suspending worship. Regents Park Mosque in London. (AFP) scholars appears to call for or the mosque,” said MCB Secretary- mosques to remain open. General Harun Khan. mosques to close over coronavirus “But we must stress that it is tions among some people. “Whether it be at the mosques fears. unsafe and harmful to continue “I am not praying jummah (Fri- “Those diagnosed with coronavi- (particularly Friday prayers) that “We must emphasise our strong business as usual, or even with sig- day) or other prayers in the mosque rus or with its symptoms should per- draw crowds, including the elderly, concern that mosques and madras- nificant adjustments that some insti- due to the spread of the coronavi- form salah [prayers] at home. Simi- vulnerable and those at high risk, sahs… can contribute to significant tutions have made to date.” rus,” said Noor Dahri, director of the larly, those with underlying health weddings, social events or simple viral transmission in our popula- The statement concluded that Islamic Theology of Counterterror- conditions, particularly the elderly, day-to-day activities, it is imperative tion,” the statement said. “We do not continued congregational activity ism think-tank. are excused from attending the mas- that this extraordinary step is taken want our community to panic and represented a major risk to Muslim “Mosques should be closed imme- jid,” the fatwa said. to ensure the safety and wellbeing of act rashly, especially in our duty to communities, “especially our elders diately for all prayers but imams are “We are aware of the advice of our communities and our country as Allah and his houses of worship and and those most vulnerable” and not taking the issue seriously. They some organisations in relation to a whole,” he said. are aware of the comfort and secu- called on mosques to act. are playing a blame game that other over 60s not attending masjids. A statement from the British Is- rity our community institutions and Although most closed their doors, mosques are open so why should However, over 60s should not be dis- lamic Medical Association called on mosques offer us in times like these. some remained open, raising ques- they close.” Viewpoint Why is nobody talking about foreign policy in the Labour leadership contest?

vote against him. Voters were heard the Labour Party and each of the again and again complaining that leadership candidates has said that Mahmud they could not cast their ballot for he or she would prioritise the issue. el-Shafey somebody who was a “friend” of Nandy, considered a centrist, has Hamas and Hezbollah, who received faced criticism for seeming to be money to appear as a guest on Iran’s trying to play “both sides” after she s voting in the Labour Press TV and who was viewed as a received the backing of the Jewish leadership contest “pacifist” who would dismantle the Labour Movement — one of the old- begins, the focus has United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent. est societies affiliated with the party been on domestic is- Corbyn’s stance on other foreign — while expressing support for the sues and the extent to policy issues puts him on the right Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). which any future leader side of history and gained him many “I have and always will support wouldA yaw towards or away from the ardent fans. He opposed the Iraq war Palestinian rights. That’s why I op- radical policies and populist stylings and other British military misad- pose [US President Donald] Trump’s of outgoing Labour leader Jeremy ventures in the Middle East, while plan, have campaigned against Corbyn. pledging to swiftly “recognise Pal- British business profiting from the Scant attention has been paid to estine as a state” should he become occupied Palestinian territories and foreign policy with few questions prime minister. Policies such as this support any embargo on arms deals directed to the Labour leadership saw Labour Party membership peak. that violates human rights,” she said candidates on how, if they ever enter Many people joined the party on the in response to a letter from the PSC. Skipping what’s important. Three Labour leadership candidates Number 10 Downing Street, they strength of Corbyn’s personal appeal Nandy, chairwoman of the Labour (L-R) Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey. (AFP) would direct the country’s foreign and they remain a major force in the Friends of Palestine group who be- policy. party. came an MP in 2010, said she backs As Labour members, along with Long-Bailey, viewed as a natural Palestinians’ right of return but did He was knighted in 2014 for tic and avoid getting dragged into unions and other allied groups, look successor to Corbyn, awarded the not support the Boycott, Divestment “services to law and criminal justice” culture wars and identity politics and to decide between Shadow Brexit outgoing leader a score of 10 out of and Sanctions (BDS) movement. She and is a former director of public focus instead on actually winning. Minister Keir Starmer, former Shad- 10 when asked to rate his leadership described herself as a “Zionist” who prosecution. His experience in law “The right ideas in politics never ow Charities Minister Lisa Nandy and of the party. That’s a leadership that would kick out any Labour members and order, as well as his “establish- work without the right mentality,” former Shadow Business Secretary includes overseeing Labour’s biggest found guilty of anti-Semitism. ment” bearing, may help him win he said in a speech marking Labour’s Rebecca Long-Bailey, foreign policy election loss in nearly 100 years. “How can you support Zionism, be votes from the centre but on foreign 120th anniversary in February. “The acumen is clearly not among criteria On foreign policy, just like on against the BDS campaign and then policy he is cut from the same cloth Labour Party is not an NGO and not being considered. domestic policy, Long-Bailey would support pledges from an organisa- as Nandy and Long-Bailey. a pressure group. Its aim is not to This is a mistake, particularly be expected to pursue a very similar tion like PSC who had records of Like them, he has voted consist- trend on Twitter or to have celebri- considering Corbyn’s strong views tact to Corbyn but without the bag- being deliberately ambiguous about ently against British military action ties (temporarily) fawn over it or on foreign policy caused many in gage. Given that she only joined the two-state solution and do pro- overseas, including against mis- to glory in a bubble of adulation Britain to vote for him and many to Labour in 2010 and became an MP in mote BDS?” asked Stephane Savary, sions to fight the Islamic State. Like pricked by the sharp point of the 2015, she has little hands-on foreign national vice-chairman of the Jewish them, he is supportive of a two-state first tough decision. Our task is to policy experience. Labour Movement on Twitter. “Play- solution to the Israeli-Palestinian win power and get our hands stuck No pictures of her laying wreaths ing both sides won’t make you more conflict while also making clear that into the muddy mangle of govern- Whoever becomes on the graves of Hamas martyrs will electable.” he respects and supports Israel’s ing.” Labour’s next leader emerge during the election campaign Starmer, another centrist and the existence. Whoever becomes Labour’s next April 4, he or she will and she has been careful not to fall apparent front-runner as indicted by Like them, he supports a strategic leader April 4, he or she will face a into anti-Semitic discourse when polling, also has not spoken much British retreat from the Middle East muddy mangle when dealing with face a muddy mangle talking about Palestine, something about foreign policy. His legal work based on ideological, rather than the Middle East mired in conflict and when dealing with the that remains an obsession among on human rights and opposition to realistic grounds. tension. How will they address that? the left. the death penalty won him many The most recent Labour leader to Middle East mired in Dealing with anti-Semitism was fans, as did his strong anti-Brexit win an election, Tony Blair, called on Mahmud el-Shafey is an Arab conflict and tension. and remains a major challenge for stance. the party to seek to be more realis- Weekly correspondent in London. March 22, 2020 19 Viewpoint East West Washington’s policy in Iraq works until it doesn’t

by the US military in Iraq is not a their very nature these rules are classic military victory but rather not explicit and articulate. The the far more limited achievement antagonism underlying relations Geoffrey Aronson of frustrating the efforts of Iran simply prevents such clarity. and its Iraqi allies to expel the McKenzie acknowledged that United States from the country. the US policy of economic war- In Iraq, like Syria next door, fare and international isolation n recent Capitol Hill testi- Washington would consider it a leaves Iran only one arena — the mony, all but overlooked in victory if Iran and its local allies military sphere — to conduct a the pandemonium created simply stopped contesting its defensive battle against Wash- by the coronavirus pandem- presence in the country. ington’s policy of “maximum ic, US Marine Corps General Iran, however, like the combat- pressure.” Frank McKenzie offered ants in Syria, has not received the Washington defines Iran as the Ivital insights into the conduct of memo. head of the snake but US efforts yet another of the United States’ “Since May 2019,” McKenzie in Iraq are directed principally “forever wars” — this one in Iraq. noted, “Iranian proxies and against Iraqi-deployed militias Almost half a century after Shia militia groups in Iraq have supported by Tehran. the Iranian Revolution and the increased attacks on US inter- Iran has deputised its Iraqi Iran-Iraq War, three decades after ests and conducted scores of proxies to conduct its military the United States chased Saddam unmanned aerial system — aerial confrontation with the United Mismatch. US Marine Corps Brigadier-General Vincent Barker (L) Hussein out of Kuwait and almost unmanned system reconnais- States, increasing their limited speaks with Iraqi General Ali Jassim at the US base in Qaim as US two decades after the US-led in- sance flights near US and Iraqi attacks in recent months against troops prepare for redeployment, March 17. (AFP) vasion of Iraq, McKenzie offered security force bases. the Green Zone and US military some basic rules governing Wash- “[The] Iranian regime desire[s] installations around the country. ington’s policy of permanent to continue malign activities that Washington has failed to deter admitted that Iran lacks “a good plan beyond a willingness by the military intervention in Iraq. threaten lives, destabilise sover- such attacks and when US Presi- understanding of where our red United States to trade blows.” Iraq, irreparably weakened by eign nations, threaten freedom of dent Donald Trump broke the line is.” As former US President Israel is the premier practition- decades of war, political fratri- navigation and regional com- rules in January by assassinat- Barack Obama discovered to his er of this policy of “wars between cide and deprivation, continues merce, global energy supplies ing Iraqi Major-General Qassem chagrin, a red line that is not wars” but, unlike Washington, Is- to tempt the intervention of out- and the global economy itself. Soleimani, Iran did not retreat. defended is no line at all. rael is engaged in a century- long siders. Iraq may be the prize but “At [US Central Command] we Instead, it upped the ante, In a conflict governed by the conflict — a battle built into the it is merely the arena where the recognise that, so long as the US employing for the first time its rules of the game, breaking the very fabric of the Middle East. contest between more powerful applies diplomatic and economic own arsenal of ballistic missiles rules is built into the system. Am- Israel has adopted the policy of states is being waged. pressure, the joint force must against US bases in Anbar and biguity and opacity make such rules of the game with adversar- Washington’s deployment in be postured to deter Iran from Kurdistan. a system of relations inherently ies as varied as the Palestine Lib- Iraq, and indeed throughout the deploying the military element of Following this confrontation, unstable. The rules of the game eration Organisation, Hezbollah, region, is viewed by US strate- power to counter our actions.” McKenzie said that a “rough form work, until they don’t. Hamas and Iran. Both sides find gists as a manageable, potentially All conflicts have rules govern- of deterrence, what I would call Soleimani’s assassination broke this form of warfare more toler- useful distraction from the main ing the conduct and the strate- contested deterrence… at the the rule, practised not out of any able than total war or surrender challenges to US global influence gies of combatants — ranging level of state-on-state attacks” affection for the Iranian leader and retreat. — China and, to a lesser extent, from total war to more benign had been re-established. but rather because his assassina- For Washington, to adopt Russia. If countries are to see an forms of confrontation. These As a consequence, direct con- tion had long been deemed by US Israel’s strategy of the Iron Wall advantage in allying with the “rules of the game” are a defining frontation between Iranian and officials to be counterproductive. reflects a strategic mismatch that United States in this global con- feature of the forever wars that US forces appears to be off the “Killing Soleimani might have promises for Washington not frontation, explained one sena- dominate the Middle East. table, for the moment. made sense,” explained retired victory but rather bloody and tor, Washington must maintain The rules of the game in Iraq McKenzie stressed that killing Marine Corps Colonel Andrew endless stalemate. the credibility of the US staying are limited to winning a tacti- US personnel is an explicit Amer- Milburn, a special operations power in Iraq. cal advantage in what is viewed ican “red line” but, as recent US leader, “if it was part of an over- Geoffrey Aronson is a non- Unlike the battle against the by both sides as a never-ending casualties attest, this line, too, arching plan but the evidence so resident scholar at the Middle Islamic State, the goal adopted conflict far short of victory. By has been crossed. McKenzie far indicates that there is no such East Institute in Washington. Lack of leadership hinders the fight against the coronavirus across the Mediterranean

from attending mosque services, In Tunisia, the population contin- that prides itself on its Cartesian In Tunisia and Algeria, there saying he would consult with clerics ued to jam cafes and crowd public mindset, this inconsistent wavering were signs of panic buying but about further measures, as if these transportation. Even after Saied an- was laughable. also of a growing awareness that Francis Ghilès men of religion were medical doc- nounced a 6pm-6am curfew, people In Paris and London, thousands queuing while keeping a 2-metre tors. He was laughed out of court could still huddle in smoke-filled crowded in parks and partied in “social distance” from others in by social media and mosques were coffee-shops from morning till late nightclubs and restaurants. In the queue was essential. he first casualty of the ordered closed a few days later by afternoon as if the virus only struck Germany, until things worsened, On both shores of the Mediter- coronavirus pandemic, the government. at sunset. the chancellor left her minister of ranean, public opinion and civil beyond those who died Others in government suggested Ridiculous half-measures ruled health to handle the issue society might well be much more of it in hospitals, is, the Hirak protest movement had the day. Saied asked Tunisians to Irrational behaviour, epitomised mature and sophisticated than without a shadow of a been infiltrated by foreign agents donate half of their monthly salaries by Trump, and lack of awareness the politicians whose rather petty doubt, political leader- as if it were a virus. It was a poor to fight the virus, quite an incred- about the unprecedented nature political calculations were not Tship. choice of words and a pathetic at- ible request from a population that of the pandemic reflected amateur altered despite the warning signs. Leaders throughout the world tempt to instrumentalise a peaceful can hardly make ends meet. Had politics and lack of leadership at a failed to show clear-sighted vision uprising of millions of Algerians. he announced bold measures to time when hundreds were dying in and decisiveness despite virologists More credible were the 25 medical limit hoarding and panic buying, Italy. From Rome to Paris, having warned for weeks about doctors and university professors he might have sounded more like a One of the very few politicians to a forthcoming virus outbreak. who appealed to protesters to stop statesman than a misguided saint. emerge with his status enhanced from London to However, from Rome to Paris, from demonstrating, arguing — quite Years of so-called democracy have was Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Washington, from London to Washington, from Algiers rightly — that “the Hirak is an idea seriously weakened the Tunisian Conte. The university professor had Algiers to Tunis, to Tunis, obfuscation and denial and an idea does not die but some of state. been chosen by the right-wing par- have been the name of the game. our friends who die will never come Western European countries are ties, which won the 2018 elections obfuscation and This delayed a resolute and quick back.” not offering better examples of as a figurehead leader. However, his denial have been the response to the pandemic. Hirak figures decided to stop sound and credible leadership than firm handling, combined with his Nobody expected much from US demonstrating, although the coun- in the Maghreb. Macron allowed personal honesty — a first in modern name of the game. President Donald Trump or from try’s leaders lost a precious oppor- the first round of local elections to Italian history — turned him into an Brazilian autocrat Jair Bolsonaro or tunity to reconcile Algerians and go ahead March 15 only to cancel actor of weight, not only in Italy but Maybe some European leaders for that matter from British Prime promote transparency and more the second round scheduled for also on the European stage. secretly agreed with Trump, who Minister Boris Johnson, who tried responsible government. the following week. For a country Many cliches collapsed: the persisted in talking about a “Chi- to resurrect the “blood, sweat and slightly “dolce far niente” (“happy nese virus.” The irony, a sad one, tears” narrative of his hero Winston doing nothing”) Italians were is that China — not the European Churchill when he first addressed shown to have far more discipline Union — is sending nurses and the British public to warn them that than their government in what medical supplies to Italy and other “many families were going to lose amounts to the most serious crisis countries. loved ones before their time.” since the second world war. Civil If the European Union does not His words sounded more like society responded, often better get its act together, the refusal black comedy or low farce than than the rulers. of its leading members, such as an echo of a speech by the famed In Algeria, the private sector France and Germany, to send World War II prime minister. Ger- responded quickly. One entrepre- medical supplies to the worst- man Chancellor Angela Merkel neur put his chain of hotels and hit country will be seen in the and French President Emmanuel restaurants at the disposal of those same light as the German/French Macron hardly fared better. Algerian in need. Others mobilised their crafted rules that nearly destroyed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune resources to help. Many in the medi- the Greek economy about a dec- and his Tunisian counterpart Kais cal profession posted videos on so- ade ago. That risks spelling the Saied sounded quite out of their cial media calling for more prudent end of the European Union as we depth. attitudes by the public. Some com- know it. Ridicule invited itself quickly into plained of the lack of preparedness the situation. Algerian Minister of by public hospitals where health Francis Ghilès is an associate Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi Stormy waters. A ferry carrying Algerians who left France prepares to professionals often lacked protec- fellow at the Barcelona Centre for barred older people and women dock in Algiers amid a coronavirus outbreak, March 19. (AFP) tive masks and disinfectants. International Affairs. 20 March 22, 2020 Economy Coronavirus Fallout Saudi Aramco prepares for tough year after major income slashed

charge involving subsidiary Sadara Chemical Company. The Saudi state energy giant reported Jareer Elass net revenues for 2019 at $294.9 billion, down 8% from 2018 net revenues. audi Aramco, the Saudi Aramco said it would world’s most profitable reduce its capital expenditures company, took a major for 2020 to $25 billion-$30 billion income hit in 2019 and from 2019’s $32.8 billion spend- is preparing for an even ing levels because of poor market tougher fiscal year that conditions resulting from the Swill be heavily influenced by the coronavirus outbreak reducing coronavirus pandemic and an oil global demand and “recent com- price war between Riyadh and modity price volatility.” Moscow. Saudi Aramco President and In the first earnings report CEO Amin Nasser stated: “The following its sale of 1.7% of the recent COVID-19 outbreak and its company, Saudi Aramco revealed rapid spread illustrate the impor- its net profit fell 21% in 2019 to tance of agility and adaptability in 330.69 billion riyals ($88.1 billion) an ever-changing global land- from 2018’s net income of $111.1 scape… In fact, we have already billion. Despite the earnings drop, taken steps to rationalise our Saudi Aramco retained the title planned 2020 capital spending.” of the world’s most profitable The Saudi state energy firm paid Crisis within the crisis. General view of Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in company, surpassing technology out $73.2 billion in dividends for Saudi Arabia. (Reuters) behemoth Apple Incorporated, 2019, of which some $3.9 billion which recorded a net profit of $55 was dedicated to retail investors billion in its latest financial year. who bought shares in Saudi Ara- early February and prices further bpd to 12.3 million bpd in April. Not surprisingly, the Saudi In releasing its earnings report mco’s initial public offering (IPO). dropped as the virus spread to The Saudi Press Agency reiter- Aramco share price has taken a March 15, the Saudi state oil and Saudi Aramco garnered $29.4 other continents and global de- ated that pledge, stating on battering as crude prices suffered. gas conglomerate said it would billion from that sale — an initial mand weakened. March 18 that “[Saudi] Ministry of News of the Saudi-Russian spat reduce spending in 2020 in $25.6 billion from the 1.5% IPO Expectations of continued Energy directed Saudi Aramco to saw the share price of Saudi Ara- response to a lower oil price envi- in December and an additional cooperation between the OPEC+ continue to supply crude oil at a mco on the domestic exchange, ronment but would increase cash $3.8 billion when it activated its members to shore up prices were level of 12.3 million bpd over the the Tadawul, close below its $8.53 dividends. The latter move is in- “greenshoe” purchasing option a dashed March 6 when Russia coming months.” Riyadh hopes IPO share price for the first time terpreted as a gesture to appease month later. The company said it refused to sign on to a Saudi-led to push its crude exports from since the December 11 listing, disgruntled individual sharehold- plans to pay $75 billion in divi- proposal to reduce collective out- current levels of 7 million bpd at $8 a share on March 8. The ers who have seen the value of dends this year. put by an additional 1.5 million to more than 10 million bpd in company’s shares closed below Saudi Aramco shares collapse in Crude prices have tumbled barrels per day (bpd) and declared May, believing it will profit by its the IPO share price in subsequent recent weeks. more than 60% since a peak in that all OPEC+ members were higher output offsetting the lower days of trading, recently as low as Saudi Aramco described 2019 early January when geopolitical free to produce at whatever levels oil prices. $7.73 a share. as an “exceptional” year involv- events involving the United States they wanted beginning April 1. The Saudi sabre-rattling and The company’s market capi- ing a “difficult macroeconomic and Iran pushed up prices of Saudi Aramco’s retaliatory coronavirus-led recession con- talisation reportedly has fallen environment.” The company benchmark crudes US West Texas response to Moscow’s abrupt cerns sent the price of WTI tum- by $320 billion to $1.44 trillion in attributed the net income drop to Intermediate (WTI) and UK Brent rejection was to slash its official bling 24% on March 18 to $20.37 the aftermath of the Russian and lower crude prices and reduced to $65-$72 a barrel. oil selling prices to key markets a barrel, reaching its lowest level Saudi moves. production volumes associated Oil markets began taking notice and commit to opening its crude since February 2002. The price of with OPEC+ agreements as well of the growing effects that the floodgates. Saudi Aramco claimed Brent sank 13% on the same day Jareer Elass reports from as declining refining and chemi- rapidly spreading coronavirus was that it would hike production to $24.88 a barrel, a level last seen Washington on energy issues for cal margins and a $1.6 billion having on Chinese demand by from recent levels of 9.7 million in May 2003. The Arab Weekly.

Viewpoint Amid global crisis, G20 holds huge significance under Saudi presidency

Sabahat Khan tige. Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency the lack of appropriate, early during the previous global finan- With the world’s major oil presents a timely opportunity to intervention against coronavirus cial crisis. producers going head-to-head, showcase Vision 2030, driven by by governments around the world, The US presidential election the US shale oil and gas produc- audi Crown Prince Crown Prince Mohammed, to a especially in Europe, that could this year, the United Kingdom’s ers, which have the highest costs Mohammed bin Salman high-powered international audi- have limited rates of infection staggered exit from the European of production internationally bin Abdulaziz told Brit- ence. Washington has taken the lead Union and a new wave of illegal but also represent one of the ish Prime Minister Boris Riyadh earlier hosted finance with drastic measures — closing its immigration into Europe from American economy’s few boom- Johnson and Spanish ministers and central bankers borders and announcing emer- conflict zones could extend even ing sectors, face an existential Prime Minister Pedro from G20 countries to discuss gency assistance for its economy. more negative influences on pros- challenge once again. A spell of SSanchez that he plans to call an ex- an economic downturn that had The Federal Reserve cut inter- pects for international coopera- low oil prices could help support traordinary meeting of the G20 to already begun taking hold last est rates to historical lows and tion and breakthroughs in the lead a faster global economic recov- address the coronavirus pandemic year. Much of the discussions governments around the world up to the G20’s summit. ery and bring oil markets back to and its growing economic effects. were anchored around challenges announced large support packages equilibrium. The Spanish government said with achieving 2% annual infla- to assure liquidity in the financial In today’s interconnected, the urgent meeting — to take tion targets that could keep global sector and to stimulate economic globalised world, seldom is the place virtually — would provide economic growth on track growth. The economic shock impact of events or decisions by an opportunity for world leaders Another area of discussion for The global policymaking toolkit from coronavirus is one country limited to its borders to evaluate the emerging global G20 officials was how the Chinese is, however, becoming stretched or without secondary effects. The situation and build consensus on government will manage the eco- and much hinges on efforts al- no longer a Chinese rationale for the G20, at least in coordinating actions. nomic shock from its coronavirus ready under way to deliver results. issue but firmly a part, is to manage the sort of cri- Saudi Arabia assumed presiden- outbreak and the international im- In this context, November’s G20 ses confronting the world despite cy of the G20 earlier this year and plications that would carry. Now, summit is increasingly likely to global one. inherent political differences and will host various group meetings with stock indexes and financial have a historic significance for competition among its members. through 2020, including its highly markets, particularly bond mar- what is or is not agreed by world There is also growing attention For the Saudi leadership, in anticipated annual summit in kets, turned on their heads around leaders with respect to coordinat- on the oil price war which began particular Crown Prince Mo- November in Riyadh. the world and with central banks ed action for averting a prolonged after OPEC+ talks collapsed. Saudi hammed, presidency of the The G20 brings together the making emergency cuts to interest global recession. Arabia, the de facto OPEC leader, G20 provides an opportunity to world’s largest and fastest-grow- rates, the entire global scenario The G20 annual summit in and its cartel partners declared project and promote Riyadh’s in- ing economies — representing has transformed. 2009 was regarded as the most they suspended all supply limits. ternational influence to the world more than 85% of the global econ- The economic shock from important ever because the plan Riyadh is rapidly boosting produc- in extraordinary times. There is omy and covering approximately coronavirus is no longer a Chinese agreed to was considered the tion and undercutting Russian oil also a growing likelihood that the two-thirds of the world’s popula- issue but firmly a global one, with turning point for moving on from in the market after Moscow did G20’s summit in Riyadh could tion — to build shared approaches Europe positioned at the heart of the global financial crisis, which not agree to production cuts pro- prove to be its most important to common challenges. the pandemic. Coronavirus was struck a year earlier, triggered by posed by OPEC that were designed yet. Saudi Arabia is the only Arab declared a pandemic by the World the sub-prime mortgage crisis. to keep oil prices stable in the face member of the G20 and the Health Organisation (WHO), which The recent backdrop of intensify- of slowing demand, particularly Sabahat Khan maintains a cross- group’s summit this year will be had been closely monitoring its ing trade wars between the United from China, which saw year-on- disciplinary focus in international the first time the Middle East hosts spread. States, China and others created year exports fall by more than security, defence policy and a meeting of this scale and pres- The WHO has been critical of new dynamics that did not exist one-quarter in February. strategic issues. March 22, 2020 21 Economy Coronavirus Fallout

Lebanon’s agriculture industry looks to Briefs Middle Eastern ‘coping mechanisms’ amid virus outbreak airlines lose $7 billion as airports shut mechanisms they have used.” private sector, has long suffered coast. Hamade suggested relocat- Seven Middle Eastern countries These coping mechanisms, he as high state spending was funded ing the famous Almaza beer fac- suspended all commercial flights explained, were still primarily with high-interest loans from tory in Beirut’s northern suburb to because of the coronavirus out- Gareth Smyth to deal with difficulties sourcing domestic banks attracting depos- the Bekaa, freeing strategic land break and the aviation industry’s imported seeds, fertiliser and pes- its from expatriates. Government and boosting the rural economy. largest trade association said air- ticides during the planting season, deficits, Hamade pointed out, Growing up in Beirut and Paris, lines in the region have lost more anj Hamade is at given dollar shortages and capital persisted even once the balance Hamade studied chemistry at the than $7 billion in revenue. home, taking turns controls introduced by banks. of payments turned negative after Lebanese University before turn- The International Air Transport with his wife over The COVID-19 crisis, Hamade 2011 to reach a 2020 World Bank ing to agriculture with a scholar- Association, which represents ap- childcare and work said, has, in a way, helped Leba- projection of 21.4% of GDP. ship for a master’s degree in Bari proximately 290 airlines world- periods. The Lebanese nese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, “We need a new model where before a doctorate at Bologna Uni- wide, said travel restrictions that University’s assistant in office since January. the banks are directed towards versity on the political economy countries imposed to slow the Kprofessor in agricultural econom- “Life is on hold for many peo- financing productive businesses, of Lebanese agriculture and rural spread of the virus “have more ics is taking stock of a COVID-19 ple. The situation is dangerous including agriculture and the areas. far-reaching implications than crisis amid the country’s fiscal, but, overall, it gives the country ‘knowledge economy,’ instead Once back home, he worked as anything we have seen before.” banking and political crises. a break from the financial crisis,” of financing the state,” Hamade a consultant on rural tourism and The group called for emergency “It’s still early,” he said. “Pro- Hamade said. “The government said. “We shouldn’t rely on rentier integrating people with disabili- aid of up to $200 billion for airlines duction is on-going, agriculture has time to plan, to work under interest or real estate sales.” ties and as an activist within the globally. is mechanised. The farmer is less pressure, to manage both the A strong supporter of Lebanon’s Lebanese Association for Demo- alone in the field with little risk of corona challenge and negotiations al-thawra — the street protests and cratic Elections. He began his (The Associated Press) contagion.” with creditors.” civil mobilisation since October 17 post at the Lebanese University in Fresh food, central to Lebanon’s The government is in talks — Hamade said he feels transfor- 2014. famous diet, is widely available, about a $1.2 billion Eurobond it mation coming, even if politicians Hamade has been active in even if hand sanitiser and surgi- did not repay March 9 and bonds try to “kick the can down the the national tourism strategy, Iraq faces financial cal masks are scarce. The coun- of $1.3 billion due in April and road” with talk of offshore oil and launched in 2015, and seeking try’s distribution channels have June. With a $90 billion debt — at gas. diversification from glitzy hotels calamity after worked before in crises, including 170% of GDP the world’s largest — “Perhaps during a crisis, people and illegal beach resorts. The crude crash the month-long 2006 Israeli bom- Lebanon’s recession will be deeper are more willing to think different- Lebanon Mountain Trail, opened bardment. in 2020 than the pre-COVID-19 ly. The hole in the central bank’s in 2006, created employment for Between plummeting oil prices, However, social isolation, which forecast of 5% by consultants balance sheet is so big we just can- more than 400 people. Food- political deadlock and reduced is being widely observed, leaves Capital Economics. not go back to where things were,” tourism packages have multi- global appetite for a bailout, Iraq a blurred overall picture. Officials The Diab government, Hamade he said. plied. Small-scale agriculture has is on the cusp of financial calamity and academics are restricted in argued, has dealt with the virus If private banks prove slow, ag- been showcased by Beirut’s Souk that could force austerity collecting information and meeting outbreak fairly well by closing riculture can lead the way but the el-Tayeb, established by Kamal measures. others. “We’re looking to resume in educational institutions on Febru- better the government coordina- Mouzawak in 2004. Officials appear remarkably op- May,” said Hamade. “By then, we’ll ary 29, a week after the first case tion, Hamade insisted, the better Hamade stressed an integrated timistic, however, a view experts see if farmers were able to plant was confirmed, and by encour- will be the results. approach. Multilingual, passionate described as being “in denial” normally and what kind of coping aging social distancing, giving a “We may see new investment in and informed, he is one of a rising given forecast oil crashes would relatively low total of deaths. dairy production, export-oriented generation of Lebanese seeking cost Iraq two-thirds of its net “They made one mistake early production. Rural areas have op- change. Right now, he’s keep- income this year. Lebanese expert Kanj on, not quickly stopping planes tions. We need a nexus of activi- ing busy at home while looking Iraq, which relies on oil rev- from Iran [the first case arrived by ties — agro-food, environmental forward to getting some soil on his enues for more than 90% of its Hamade takes stock of plane from Qom],” said Hamade. protection, non-polluting indus- boots. revenues, was expected to face COVID-19 crisis in the “They’ve acted fast [since then]. tries, tourism and hospitality. We “vast economic pressures,” said midst of the country’s Politically, they were lucky with should look at EU rural develop- Gareth Smyth is a regular con- International Energy Agency Ex- this window of opportunity to ment,” he said. tributor to The Arab Weekly. He ecutive Director Fatih Birol. fiscal, banking and work on the financial issues.” This includes moving light has reported from the Middle East political crises. Agriculture, with the rest of the industry from the overcrowded since 1992. (Agence France-Presse)

Wind energy is a ‘key technology’ with Saudis to boost oil exports to 10 million benefits for MENA barrels per day Saudi Arabia said it plans to boost oil exports to more than 10 Omar el-Huni million barrels per day as the OPEC kingpin escalates a price war with Russia. London The world’s biggest crude exporter said it would free up an he Global Wind Energy additional 250,000 barrels per day Council released data indi- (bpd) of oil for exports by using cating an increase of 894 gas for domestic consumption. T megawatts of wind power in “Saudi Arabia will utilise the gas the Middle East and Africa regions in produced by the Fadhili gas plant 2019. to compensate for around 250,000 While this was a 7% decrease in bpd of domestic oil consumption,” growth from 2018, the Global Wind a spokesman for the Saudi Energy Energy Council (GWEC) Market In- Ministry said in a statement. telligence predicted rapid accelera- This “will enable the kingdom to tion in the coming years. By 2024, increase its crude exports during GWEC said MENA will have 10.7 gi- the coming few months to exceed gawatts (GW) of wind energy capac- 10 (million bpd).” ity, a 167% increase from now. The quick development is ex- (Agence France-Presse) pected to be spurred by installations in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, a 1.8 GW installation in Egypt and 3.3 GW worth of installations in South Af- Lebanon banks to rica. In the MENA region, Egypt ranked shut until March 29 first in wind energy capacity at 262 megawatts (MW), trailed by Mo- Energy with potential. Wind turbines at a wind farm in the southwestern Moroccan city of Tarfaya. Bank branches in Lebanon closed rocco at 216 MW. Jordan was third, (AFP) March 17 and will not reopen until contributing 190 MW of wind power March 29 for the safety of em- capacity. ployees during the coronavirus The GWEC report stated that, potential,” GWEC CEO Ben Backwell Its members represent more than others to advocate for better wind outbreak, the banking association within MENA, wind energy was ex- said in a statement released in Feb- 1,500 institutions, companies and power policy. said. pected to become a “key technolo- ruary. organisations in more than 80 coun- The GWEC’s results were released It said banks would continue gy” that allows for cost-effective and “This will be crucial as the region’s tries, as well as manufacturers, re- as part of their Global Wind Report to provide salaries in Lebanese sustainable energy, enabling coun- energy demands, GDP and popula- search institutes, developers, manu- that provides an overview of chang- pounds and necessary transactions tries such as Jordan to transform tion are set to grow significantly facturers and finance and insurance es in the global wind industry, in- for companies, especially those re- their energy systems and ensure over the next decade, as wind can companies, who work with the Unit- cluding an update on trends such as lated to food and medical supplies. that electricity is widely available. provide a decentralised, cheap and ed Nations Framework Convention changing business models, offshore The government declared a This was predicted to create skilled reliable energy source to increase on Climate Change, the Internation- wind growth and corporate sourc- medical state of emergency March jobs and drive economic growth. electrification rates and support this al Renewable Energy Agency and ing. 15, announcing a shutdown that “Challenges such as policy and growth.” included most public institutions power market frameworks, trans- GWEC describes itself as an “in- Omar el-Huni is a contributor and private companies. mission infrastructure bottlenecks ternational association for the wind Quick developments are to The Arab Weekly on and odd-taker risk must be over- power industry,” representing the expected to be spurred by environmental issues. He studies (Reuters) come for Africa and the Middle East entire wind energy sector as a global installations in Morocco, environmental science at the to take full advantage of their wind member-based organisation. Saudi Arabia and Egypt. University of Reading. 22 March 22, 2020 Society

Viewpoint ‘Rebels of quarantine’ frustrate Tunisian authorities

“Rebellion” is not just about returnees, locals are frustrating authorities not considering a total Imen Boudali daytime lockdown. Still oblivious to the gravity of the situation, people mingle in coffee shops and public ealth authorities spaces but also for social events. around the world Law enforcement agents used have pressed on their tear gas to disperse a gathering in populations a piece of Sousse, where dozens of people basic advice to avoid attended a ram fight. Organisers coronavirus infec- did not want to stop the show until Htion: social distancing. However, police used force to disperse the adhering to restrictions on public crowd. gatherings has not proven easy for Municipalities have banned wed- many Tunisians. ding celebration parties to avoid Calling on people to avoid crowds contamination. To lead by example, or observe self-quarantine for 14 Minister of Health Abdellatif Mekki days appears to be asking too much. announced the postponement of his In many places, cafes and mosques son’s were still highly frequented. Public wedding. transportation in Tunis was as Faced with multiple violations, crowded as ever. People appeared worried Tunisians urged authorities oblivious to the danger they face or to take drastic measures. Search lacked awareness about the effects warrants, court complaints and of the extraordinary crisis. even the withdrawal of passports In some parts of Tunisia, reckless- are being considered for people who ness was strangely resilient. Many do not respect preventive measures threw away the idea of isolation set by the country but that did not and refused to disrupt their way of seem to be enough. life. They, especially returnees from Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes abroad, preferred to embrace usual Fakhfakh on March 16 announced A closed theatre in central Cairo. (Hassan Abdel Zaher) habits of meeting, gathering and decisions aimed at damage control socialising. and at reassuring the public. Gather- With the country’s less than 40 ings and markets were banned, confirmed cases, Tunisian authori- cultural and sporting events were ties announced that almost 60% of cancelled while the workday for their coronavirus patients were peo- state employees was reduced to five COVID-19 fears put ple coming from abroad. However, hours. the number of infections is likely to Through the change in adminis- quickly spike. trative hours, he sought to reduce Still, officials find it difficult to pressure on public transportation convince citizens of the dire conse- during peak hours, a strategy that quences of not respecting measures was thwarted by the curfew deci- Egypt’s cultural and aimed at stemming the spread of sion. the virus. Making sure rebellious Tunisian President Kais Saied, to citizens returning from abroad and counter the spread of the coronavi- others observe a quarantine has be- rus, announced a curfew from 6am- come a full-time job for authorities. 6 pm. Less than 24 hours later, im- social life on hold A few reluctant souls have been put ages of people crowded on buses on under house arrest. their way home before the curfew In Nabeul, Regional Health Direc- enraged Tunisians. “Is this a really a Hassan Abdel Zaher tians returning from other coun- and Egyptian cinema directors tor Adel Haddadi said 90% of return- good decision?” some internet users tries, especially those with major and specialists, had to undergo ees from abroad were not respecting wondered. “In Tunisia, the corona- COVID-19 outbreaks, keeping a COVID-19 tests before they could self-isolation advice. He said there virus does not come out until after Cairo close eye on cities and villages leave the city. are many difficulties in tracking 4pm, that is why officials took all of where multiple infections have Taking advantage of the clo- returnees from countries where the these decisions,” joked others. he lights of the Cairo Op- been recorded. sure, public health authorities are virus has spread, since receiving lists With the rapid evolution of the era House are dark and The suspension of popular Nile disinfecting cultural centres and of all arrivals throughout the whole situation and the many measures the large space outside the cruises and flights to and from sterilising cinemas and theatres, country and not just the province instituted — some considered con- T gigantic cultural complex, Egypt, until at least April, was ex- including the Opera House and its created difficulty in monitoring tradictory — calming the people and the symbol of Egypt’s pulsating pected to have a severe effect on several performance areas. commitment to self-quarantine. controlling the “rebels of quaran- cultural life, is deserted. the country’s tourism sector and The Ministry of Culture began Another citizen returning from tine” appear to be among priorities COVID-19 fears have put all cul- national flag carrier, EgyptAir. training workers on digital man- abroad refused to be quarantined of Tunisian officials. tural activities in Egypt, known as agement tools to facilitate online by the regional authorities in the Authorities try to convince people a cultural powerhouse in the Arab operation of cultural institutions. northern province of Jendouba. they could be spared the full effects region, on hold. “We fear that large public Rock band Massar Egbari, from For 12 days, the 62-year-old did of the health catastrophe by mini- The Egyptian Ministry of Cul- gatherings will contribute Alexandria, said it would organise not abide by self-isolation, defying mising the immeasurable threat the ture suspended all cultural activi- to spreading the disease,” its first online concert to adapt to authorities and visiting friends and whole world is facing. Saied even ties as part of measures to stem said Culture Ministry the lockdown and continue reach- family around Ain Draham. said that the threat will be gone in the proliferation of the coronavi- spokesman Mohamed ing out to its fans. On March 18, on the first day of two weeks. The spiking number of rus, which has killed at least six Mounir. Band co-founder Ayman Mas- the curfew, a Polish tourist and her cases tells another story. people and infected 200 in Egypt. soud said the concert “is aimed Tunisian friend were arrested in Cinemas and theatres were shut Tourism revenues amount to $1 to encourage other bands to do Hammamet for breaking the curfew. Imen Boudali is a Tunisian writer. down, book-signing ceremonies billion a month and the suspen- the same while contributing to banned and cultural festivals sion of flights for 15 days would precautionary measures against called off across the country. Ar- cost EgyptAir $161 million, official COVID-19.” tistic fairs and dance and music estimates stated. The ban is disrupting cinema events were cancelled and foreign “Despite all the projected losses, and TV productions that require artists and delegations were asked these measures are indispensable the presence of a large number of not to travel to Egypt. to prevent a national catastrophe people. “The suspension is necessary, in case things were taken light- The suspension of cinema and given the dangerous nature of ly,” said Mohamed al-Ammari, TV works is causing big financial the virus,” said Culture Ministry chairman of parliament’s Health losses to producers who have been spokesman Mohamed Mounir. Committee. “Theatres, cinemas racing to complete programmes “We fear that large public gather- and cultural centres are breeding to be broadcast during Ramadan. ings will contribute to spreading grounds for contamination be- The month-long Muslim fasting the disease.” cause they are always packed with period, which starts end of April, Authorities closed schools and large numbers of people.” is a prime television period across universities, keeping some 20 mil- Among cultural events that have the Arab region. lion students at home; asked most been called off is the Cairo Short “Producers are doing everything of the country’s 6 million civil Film Festival, which was sched- possible to complete their works servants not to go to work; sus- uled for March 15. before things get worse,” said pended flights to and from Egypt The authorities banned the Egyptian cinema and TV produc- and postponed all sports activities, audience at Luxor African Film er Mohamed al-Adl. “There will including very popular football Festival, which began March 6, be major financial losses for pro- matches. and cancelled the event’s closing ducers who will have to put their Officials said health authori- ceremony. Participants at the fes- works on hold until this emergen- Considering a lockdown. People walk at the Kasbah souk in the ties are closely monitoring Egyp- tival, including foreign, African cy ends.” old town of Tunis, March 10. (AFP) March 22, 2020 23 Media Interview Makram Mohamed Ahmed: Freedom of the press in Egypt is not to be feared

this case is not the right tool to do tendency to exclude talented things.” people from the media. “Oversight Ahmed said he does not believe and responsibility are given to Heba Yassine anything can justify restrictions untalented people who focus on on freedom of opinion and expres- imposing a certain routine and sion in Egypt and that individuals dullness to stifle competition and and groups should be allowed to block the way for better-abled t was rather noticeable express themselves. Everything people who could contribute to when Makram Mohamed seems to indicate, he said, that opening new horizons,” he said. Ahmed, president of the the country can tolerate varia- Ahmed ruled out conflicts Supreme Council for Media tions in opinions and, without the between prerogatives of the newly Regulation, recently made freedom of the press, no society re-established Ministry of Infor- bold statements about the can make progress. mation and the Supreme Council Iabsence of freedom of opinion The comments appear contra- for Media Regulation. He said Breaking the silence. President of the Supreme Council for Media and of expression in Egypt and dictory to Ahmed’s previous criti- the council represents a moral Regulation Makram Mohamed Ahmed. (Al Arab) denounced intimidation of op- cism of Western media including authority that imposes ethics and posing voices in the country. accusing the BBC of being hostile requires adherence to profes- Ahmed, affectionately known to the Egyptian state. sional standards and protects the foreign media, including Muslim said. “The press suffers from to his colleagues as the “Sheikh “I can disagree with them but journalistic profession by holding Brotherhood channels that adopt many restraints and is going of Egyptian Journalists,” spoke to I do not wage war against them those who break rules accountable a Qatari-Turkish agenda to stir up through a real crisis due primarily The Arab Weekly about breaking because they had broadcast a for their actions. public opinion against the govern- to lack of professionalism, intel- his silence amid rising specula- different opinion,” he explained. There are three media oversight ment. Another segment of society lectual laziness and absence of tions over prospects of Egypt “Listening to foreign media is bodies in Egypt — the Supreme relied on social media for informa- innovation. opening more horizons for politi- important and the convergence of Media Council, the National Media tion. “It should become more active cal freedom and starting a new national ideas with their interna- Authority and the National Press Ahmed said Egyptians should and develop the capabilities and phase for the opposition. He was tional counterparts is necessary Authority — with conflicting pre- trust the choice of viewers and talents of its professionals and emphatic about the close rela- and our right to disagree with rogatives and responsibilities. readers because audiences have provide a better-quality product tionship between freedom of the them should be respected. Ahmed’s views of the role of become more mature and ex- without fear of difference and press and any other reforms and “Egyptians have matured and the Supreme Council for Media perienced in sorting truth from diversity of opinion because that’s that there was no reason to fear journalists are sane people and do Regulation indicate he has almost propaganda. He said the Arab what lights up the right path to dissenting voices, especially if the not state opinions haphazardly confined it to imposing profes- mind is able to discuss the issues take.” political situation is stable. but back them up with a vision, sional standards and disciplining of its world freely, creatively and Ahmed said we are in a world of “These demands (for freedom) experience and common sense. the profession to protect it from openly and the fear of the Muslim open skies that cannot be closed. may have come late but each There should always be some further restrictions. This is the Brotherhood media should not be It has become impossible to hide person speaks according to his or degree of tolerance when opinions role the other media oversight exaggerated. the truth or different views from her ability, courage and circum- differ.” bodies tried to avoid to the point He said social media platforms normal citizens so it is far better to stances,” Ahmed said. “I believe Ahmed added: “There was that newspapers and television do not represent a problem in dis- allow ideas to flow freely. that I was true to my profession never a time when an opinion ar- seem captive to directives and seminating information but rather It is a fact that the human mind and tried as much as possible and ticle in the press affected Egypt’s instructions from other govern- offer space for differing opinions has always championed truth, within the available framework to security and stability so this exag- ment departments that placed and have contributed to having diversity and the right to be differ- defend the right of journalists to gerated fear of a different opinion media in one side and the street ideas mature and converge. Their ent, he said. Those values must speak out and the need to expand is out of place and we really need on the other. benefits outweigh their shortcom- be protected because Egypt’s the spaces of freedom and to to show more daring in lifting This condition was reflected ings, Ahmed said, even though at progress will depend on increas- reiterate the point that there is no restrictions on the freedoms of in the relationship between the times they have been exploited for ing respect for freedom of opinion need for this exaggerated fear of opinion and expression. Without street and the local media. The ill purposes. and expression. liberating freedoms because the these freedoms, we can hardly general public stopped buying “The press is in need of the right to be different is a necessity speak of any tangible progress. newspapers and watching official whole society to help it improve Heba Yassine is an Egyptian for progress and prevention in He said there has been a channels. Some switched to its current conditions,” Ahmed writer. First real-life drama about military heroes to be shown on Tunisian

Ahmed Fayez al-Qudwa actions against terrorists and smug- Jamila Chihi, Dorsaf Mamlouk, The series production team the special forces known for their glers, the series would focus on Kawthar Belhaj, Mohamed Ali Nah- pointed out that “27” involved discipline and high moral values” their daily and intimate lives, their di, Asma Ben Othman and Abir Ben- about 100 roles and 150 extras who and that that model is primarily di- Tunis love stories and how difficult it is to nani. In addition to veteran actors, were all carefully selected, with the rected at the youth who have been connect with people whose lives are the drama is showcasing new and participation of well-known artistic marginalised. It also tells politicians 7” is the intriguing title constantly in danger. youthful talents, such as Tarek Ma- figures in Tunisia. that, “if people love the country as of a series that will pre- Bouassida did not forget to shed nai, Rami Dhaoui, Ibaa Hamli and “27” is also full of action scenes the army does and if they are loyal mier during Ramadan light on the difficult social and ma- Yosra Messaoudi. and adventures. It strongly draws to it as the army is, we would be in 2on Tunisian national terial conditions of some soldiers On the choice of the series title, attention to issues related to the per- different conditions now.” “television. The series depicts actual and on how they reconcile demands Bouassida said the number 27 is one sonal lives of soldiers who sacrificed dramatic and heroic events from the of their risky job with the demands of his favourites and it “has special their lives for their country, espe- Tunisian Army’s war on terrorism of family lives. significance in Arab and Islamic her- cially in recent years that witnessed The series, to be shown and cross-border smuggling. The stellar cast includes some of itage for its association an escalation in terrorist operations during Ramadan, is titled Series director and scriptwriter the most prominent television and with the night of the and the targeting of the military and “27” in reference to the Yousri Bouassida told The Arab cinema stars in Tunisia, including 27th of the month security forces in Tunisia. Eagle 27 Division of the Weekly that the work mixes action Hichem Rostom, Raouf Ben Amor, of Ramadan.” The scenario revolves around Tunisian Army. and social drama. It recreates epi- the lives and relations of Ziad, field sodes from the lives and actions of commander of Division 27, Abdel- The Tunisia Army is held in great men and women in an elite corps hamid, the colonel in charge of the esteem by the public and is seen as in Tunisia’s armed forces dedicated operations room, and Abdelha- the main bulwark preventing the to combating terrorism and corrup- mid’s son, Sakr, who is Ziad’s close country from slipping into chaos. tion. friend. The army played a major role in The series is titled “27” in refer- Sakr also belongs to the special achieving a peaceful transition of ence to the Eagle 27 Division of the forces but refused to join Division power following the departure of Tunisian Army. This elite division 27 because “he considers that former President Zine el-Abidine has been in the thick of Tunisia’s the country does not de- Ben Ali. war on terrorism and smuggling the serve that he carries Bouassida said he is proud the past few years. The series comprises about his ‘coffin’ every series is the first dramatic work that 20 episodes, was produced by the day.” Sakr discovers that patriot- celebrates the heroism of the Tu- Tunisian National Television and ism springs from love for one’s nisian Army, noting that no one in is to be broadcast during the holy homeland and has nothing to do Tunisia questions its capabilities or month of Ramadan. with the rulers of the land. Bouassi- loyalty. The series relies on drama, sus- da said that is the essential message He is professor of audiovisual pense and action to depict dramatic of the series. writing and director and screen- moments from the personal lives of Bouassida said the series has an writer of the first season of last members of the elite corps and mix important message for the youth year’s successful series “Chouer- them with action scenes from their of the country in that there are reb.” He also produced the first operations against terrorists and excellent role models who can be all-Tunisian cartoon “Fikri and Ka- smugglers. emulated other than the “bad role slan” in 2006, in addition to many Bouassida said “27” is the first models” of criminals showcased in documentary works. dramatic work in Tunisia to deal television series in recent years. with the topic. He said that, in addi- He said the aim of “27” was to Ahmed Fayez al-Qudwa is a tion to showcasing the troops’ risky Intriguing. A scene from the Tunisian series “27.” (Al Arab) “give another picture and model of Palestinian journalist. 24 March 22, 2020

Mosaic www.thearabweekly.com

Mar Doumit Convent in Qobayat. (Samar Kadi) A view of Mar Challita Church in Akkar. (Samar Kadi) Akkar, the spectacular and yet forgotten part of Lebanon‘s riches

Samar Kadi from the megalithic phase to the ing the Rif Festival to highlight Roman, Greek, the Crusades, all the countryside and rural areas. the way to the Ottomans, we do “For four days, we seek to raise Qobayat not really exist on Lebanon’s tour- awareness about the importance ism map,” Daher said. of protecting and sustaining ru- t has history, ancient ruins “They say Akkar is a disadvan- ral life, heritage and environment and natural wealth, including taged and deprived area and it through film screenings, hikes cedar and pine reserves, but is very true in that sense. Many and debates,” he said. I few Lebanese have been there Lebanese from other regions have Qobayat, voted among the most or are aware of the attractions of never been to Akkar or do not re- charming three villages in Leba- Akkar, Lebanon’s northernmost ally know about it. We can say it non, boasts unique places of wor- region and one of the most disad- is a new area that the Lebanese ship, such as the Church of Saydet vantaged. are discovering now. Lots of sites el Ghessaleh, as well as shrines, Surrounded by lush forests that need to be excavated and protect- including Mar Elias, the Convent reach 2,000 metres above sea lev- ed but there is a total absence of of Mar Doumit and the Church of el, Qobayat, one of Akkar’s larg- government interest. It is a forgot- Mar Challita. est villages, is ideal for hikers and ten part of Lebanon.” The Scientific Permanent Muse- nature lovers, said Antoine Daher, Private local initiatives are help- um for Animals, Birds and Butter- a medical doctor and member of ing promote the region as a des- flies in Mar Doumit Convent dis- Qobayat’s Environment Council tination for ecotourism and reli- plays a collection of 161 birds and that has set up a watch tower to gious tourism, in view of its many 23 animal species from Lebanon monitor arson and tree cutting. old churches and monasteries. and neighbouring countries. It is A Muslim couple visiting Mar Challita on their wedding day. “You can stay 30 days in Qobay- the only museum for butterflies in (Samar Kadi) Private local initiatives are at and walk a different trail every Lebanon with a 4,000-strong but- day. They are of different levels of terfly collection of species from all helping promote the region difficulty and length and go from over the world, including one type built in the fourth century on the stones, which I used in the recon- as a destination for 500 [metres] up to 900 metres that can only live in the vicinity of ruins of a pagan Roman temple. It struction,” Kodeih said. ecotourism and religious [above sea level],” Daher said. cedar forests, said Roman Catho- was destroyed in an earthquake It took Kodeih 30 years to re- tourism, in view of its many Tour packages can be checked lic priest Ayyoub Yaacoub. and remained a pile of stones un- build the church. Her son, who old churches and and booked online and through “The convent was built in the til Laurice Kodeih, 75, vowed to survived for 10 years, is buried in monasteries. smart phone applications. Spe- first half of the 19th century. The rebuild it. the churchyard. “I rebuilt it stone cially trained guides can be hired first school in the region was “My son was between life and by stone for him,” she said. The “Akkar has the largest green to lead hikers and explain the born here, just under this tree,” death after falling from the fifth place is now a pilgrimage place for space in Lebanon that is void of area’s geography, ecology and his- Yaacoub said pointing at a big floor so I made a vow to rebuild both Christians and Muslims. any construction and although it tory. 200-year-old oak tree. the church if he survived. People An hour’s drive from Qobayat is is rich in heritage and history with Daher said Qobayat’s Environ- The Church of Mar Challita, or volunteered to help me in the dig- Akkar el Atiqa Fortress, a remnant vestiges from different periods ment Council has been organis- Saint Artemius, in Qobayat was ging and the removal of the huge of the Crusaders’ period. Sitting atop a hill between the two dra- matically deep valleys of Akkar and the two Ostwan creeks, the fort is only accessible on foot. Fol- lowing attacks by Prince Fakhred- dine in the 17th century, the for- tress was destroyed and only a few passages, arcades, rooms, canals and rock-engraved grave- yards remain. The valley and plain of Ouyoun el Samak, on the border of Akkar Mountain, is another attractive spot. This barely known place of beauty is abundant in water with numerous small lakes, a dam and the River Nahr Moussa. A cascade of water from the mountain gush- es plentifully into the valley with the melting of the snows. Restau- rants and cafes have been set up in the area, where Lebanese cui- sine can be enjoyed looking out on one of the most enviable views in the country. To take full advantage of all that Akkar has to offer — be it from its religious heritage or its rich and well-preserved natural environ- ment — one can choose among facilities in Qobayat, including cottages for rent, as well as an A view of Ouyoun El Samak in Akkar. (Samar Kadi) Roman ruins in Qobayat. (Samar Kadi) ecolodge.