Iraqis Agree on New Leaders but Stability Still Precarious Mamoon Alabbasi

Issue 176, Year 4 October 7, 2018 www.thearabweekly.com UK £2 EU €2.50 Talking about Is Standard Iraqi Yazidi ‘Arab NATO’ Arabic advocate wins threatened by dialects Nobel Prize Page 5 Page 22 Pages 6, 21 Iraqis agree on new leaders but stability still precarious Mamoon Alabbasi

London

raq has filled the posts of prime minister, president and parlia- ment speaker — five months af- I ter its national elections — but forming the next government could still prove divisive. The Iraqi parliament selected veteran Kurdish politician Barham Salih to be the country’s president. Hours later, Salih invited Shia Adel Abdul-Mahdi to be prime minister- designate. The naming of the presi- dent and prime minister came two weeks after Iraqi members of parlia- ment elected Sunni politician Mo- hammed al-Halbousi as speaker. Abdul-Mahdi, who has served as oil minister and vice-president, has one month to form a government that is approved by parliament, oth- erwise, his post would be designat- ed to a new pick. He was a consensus candidate of the two largest parliamentary blocs, both claiming to have the largest number of seats in parliament after forming new political alliances since the elections. The constitution dictates that the largest bloc nominates the prime Uncertainties. Newly elected Iraqi President Barham Salih (L) walks with his predecessor Fuad Masum during the handover ceremony in (AFP) minister but since it is not clear Baghdad, on October 3. which is the largest bloc, the rival groups of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr cabinet without any party pressure province effectively ended Abadi’s representatives in the cabinet. On Abdul-Mahdi’s Facebook page, and militia leader Hadi al-Amiri sep- or ethno-sectarian muhasasa, while chances to remain as prime minister Observers said that Abdul-Mahdi the first congratulations call report- arately filed nominations of Abdul- keeping the beautiful Iraqi mosaic. when his ally al-Sadr and the coun- would be pressured to award more ed was from Saudi Arabia. Mahdi. Bizarrely, the two blocs also We have asked him not to recom- try’s top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah government posts to the Kurdistan Maintaining the precarious bal- made a third joint nomination for mend for ministerial positions any- Ali al-Sistani, withdrew support for Democratic Party (KDP) after its ance between the United States and Abdul-Mahdi. one who is from our side (party), his second term. candidate, Fouad Hussein, lost the Iran and keeping the various do- There are fears that problems whoever he may be,” said al-Sadr. Abadi maintained that the central presidential race to Salih, who is mestic constituencies happy could would arise in Abdul-Mahdi’s selec- “We have given him (Abdul-Mah- government had allocated sufficient from the Patriotic Union of Kurdis- prove tricky. Ghassan al-Attiyah, tion of a cabinet because many of the di) one year to prove his success be- funds as well as the authority to lo- tan. Abdul-Mahdi, who reportedly director of the Iraq Foundation for country’s dominant parties would fore God and his people.” cal officials to carry out measures enjoys good ties with KDP leader Development and Democracy in press him for ministerial posts. A year is not considered long to avoid water shortages and pol- Masoud Barzani, is likely to seek London, told German radio DW, that Al-Sadr, on Twitter, said he urged enough to solve Iraq’s chronic prob- lution. He insisted local authorities to keep both rival Kurdish parties Iraq was headed towards a phase Abdul-Mahdi not give in to pressure lems, which include corruption and and some of his ministers had let happy. of instability because “the current from political parties wanting gov- inefficiency. him down. The United States and Iran both prime minister does not possess a ernment posts based on “muhasasa” Despite being credited with de- Most local officials, who hail from welcomed Abdul-Mahdi, who has popular or political party base of his — the allocation of official positions feating the Islamic State, preserving the country’s dominant parties, will good relations with Washington and own but relies on the satisfaction of based on ethnic, sectarian and parti- Iraq’s unity and maintaining sound likely remain in office once Abdul- Tehran. The Iranians are likely to others about him.” san considerations. international ties, incumbent Prime Mahdi takes charge. However, it is be happy that Abadi, who vowed to “We were able to bring a prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had his unknown whether he would reduce abide by US sanctions against Teh- Mamoon Alabbasi is Deputy minister who is independent and reputation severely damaged by the the number of ministries to avoid ran, is leaving office. The United Managing Editor and Online Editor has previously resigned from gov- crisis in Basra. wasteful spending as he advocated. States will probably be relieved that of The Arab Weekly. ernment over corruption… we have The protests over poor living Unlike al-Sadr, members of Amiri’s Iran-backed militiaman Amiri is not asked him to form his ministerial conditions in the oil-rich southern bloc are likely to press to have their going to be Iraq’s prime minister. P2-3,6 Fallout of Paris terror plot continues to haunt Iran Mahmud el-Shafey to the foiled attack, which targeted a stronger action against Iran at a time leaders can make when confronting mittee. June 30 rally by the National Council when the European Union is seeking to these kinds of episodes,” warned for- “The EU must expel all Iranian intel- of Resistance of Iran in Paris. circumvent US sanctions and preserve mer Italian Foreign Minister Giulio ligence agents working under the cov- London The moves coincided with a major the Iran nuclear deal. Terzi at an October 4 meeting focusing er of diplomats, businessmen, analysts French anti-terror raid on the Zahra “Tehran needs to know this outra- on European failings in dealing with or journalists in Europe and recall its he fallout from a foiled attack Centre France in Dunkirk, a Shia Islam- geous behaviour will not be tolerated,” Iran of the International Committee in ambassadors from Tehran,” he added. on an Iranian anti-government ic centre with ties to Iran and Hezbol- the White House National Security Search of Justice. Prosecutors allege the plot involved rally in Paris reverberated lah. Although it was unclear whether Council posted on Twitter. The National Council of Resistance Assadi, an Iranian diplomat based in T across Europe after France the raid, in which three people were ar- of Iran welcomed France’s and Ger- Vienna, hiring a Belgian-Iranian cou- froze the assets of Iran’s intelligence rested and weapons seized, was part of many’s decisions and called on Euro- ple to carry out a bomb attack on the services and Germany approved the the wider investigation, observers said The National Council of pean countries to take stronger action National Council of Resistance of Iran extradition of an Iranian diplomat it was clear Paris was getting tough on Resistance of Iran against Tehran, including suspending rally, including providing them with linked to the plot to Belgium, setting Tehran following the thwarted attack. welcomed France’s and ministerial visits, ending arms sales an explosive device. the stage for a potentially embarrass- “We can consider that France took Germany’s decisions and and expelling Iranian intelligence The couple was arrested in Belgium ing trial. the foiled bombing plot seriously and called on European agents operating under diplomatic and the device confiscated on the day “This extremely serious act that tar- has tried to put some pressure [on countries to take stronger cover. of the rally. Six people were detained geted our territory could not remain Iran]. It [France] wants to show a pow- action against Tehran. “We urge Germany, France and Bel- in coordinated raids by European po- unanswered,” a statement by France’s erful image of itself and that it is ready gium to expedite the prosecution of lice. Two of those arrested were later economy, interior and foreign minis- to protect its soil against any kind of “This absurd policy by the European the mastermind and the perpetrators released. tries said. terrorist attack,” Iranian journalist Er- institutions and a number of European of the largest state-sponsored terror- Paris specifically tied Iranian dip- shad Alijani told France 24. government and leaders of trying to ism case and refer the matter to the Mahmud el-Shafey is lomat Assadollah Assadi and Deputy The events raised controversy re- sell a completely wrong narrative to UN Security Council,” said Ali Safavi, a an Arab Weekly correspondent Minister and Director General of In- garding Tehran, with observers call- public opinion concerning Iran is the member of the National Council of Re- in London. telligence Saeid Hashemi Moghadam ing for European governments to take worst mistake that governments and sistance of Iran’s Foreign Affairs Com- P6,14 2 October 7, 2018 Cover Story Iraq In Iraq, political changes mean more of the same

Mamoon Alabbasi

he parliamentary elections in May were sold as going to bring positive changes to Iraq, both in terms of speed and substance. Howev- Ter, while politicians did break with political tradition several times this year, the results of the political process appear to be the same. The new vote counting machines were meant to save Iraqis time since they would be faster than manual count, in addition to being fraud-proof because they would be beyond the manipulative hands of corrupt election monitors. The outcome? The most serious voter fraud allegations since 2005, which took months to resolve and Keeping steady. The Iraqi honour guard stands at attention during the presidential handover ceremony at the involved a partial manual recount presidential palace in Baghdad, on October 3. (AFP) and the intervention of the Federal Supreme Court. that the interests of Iraq should Yet Sistani’s fatwa doesn’t seem to While there was no doubt that The final outcome? The recount come first, promising to make the apply to him. Salih, an internationally respected determined that the election re- country at peace with all of its Some observers remarked that figure, was by far a better candi- sults were broadly the same. neighbours. the election of Sunni politician date than his KDP rival, choosing Voting fraud is not new in Iraq As soon as those parties faced Mohammed al-Halbousi as parlia- a figure from outside the KDP-PUK but it was the first time the coun- the Basra-sparked wave of pub- ment speaker — thanks to the votes pool wouldn’t have been a bad try’s investigative bodies, includ- lic discontent, Shia rivals joined of the Iran-backed bloc — is a bad idea, especially someone such as ing the intelligence apparatus, ranks, sacrificing incumbent Prime precedent that prevented Sunnis female candidate Srwa Abdulwa- confirmed such a wide scale of Minister Haider al-Abadi for the from choosing their own candidate hid. It is, after all, a ceremonial election rigging. This was coupled country’s sins over the past 15 as was the custom. However, when post meant to represent the whole with lowest voter turnout in Iraq years. The fatwa of top Shia cleric looking at how previous parliament of Iraq and not necessarily linked post-2003. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, speakers were voted in an anti-Iran to one party. At the outset of elections, the which called for the sidelining of ticket shifted to being pro-Tehran Even Salih’s victory, had he level of anti-sectarian rhetoric by failed politicians, changed mean- politicians, you’ll realise that the remained in the party he founded political campaigners reached an ing from supporting Abadi to drop- results have remained the same. in 2017 (the Coalition for Democ- all-time high. Most of the major ping Abadi in a few months. Selecting Iraq’s president this racy and Justice) after leaving the blocs emphasised their cross- While the rival blocs of influ- year also broke with the tradition PUK, would have constituted a real sectarian and nationalist nature. ential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and of having the major Kurdish parties change. In the end, Iraq has kept Those who were considered Iran’s militia leader Hadi al-Amiri claim agree on their candidate, which the tradition of having a president proxies yesterday distanced them- each has the largest alliance in par- custom has it belongs to the Patri- from the PUK. selves from Tehran and highlighted liament, they agreed on a consen- otic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). This In the autonomous region of sus candidate for prime minister: time, the major Kurdish parties Kurdistan, little has changed, While politicians did break with Shia politician Adel Abdul-Mahdi. decided to field competitors for the too. The PUK accused the KDP of Abdul-Mahdi has been in min- presidency. Only two of the can- voter fraud and the small Kurdish political tradition several times isterial office before and resigned didates had a real chance: veteran parties accused both the PUK and this year, the results of the then reportedly in protest over politician Barham Salih on behalf KDP of voter fraud. Opposing sides corruption. He could not make a dif- of the PUK and Fouad Hussein from accuse each other of betrayal and political process appear to ference nor overcome corruption. the Kurdistan Democratic Party clientship and the KDP get to rule, the same. In other words, he tried and failed. (KDP). again. Room for optimism in Iraq under new leadership

Basra and instigated violence economic expertise. He is said to a dubious deal. Most members of there. have accepted the nomination as The choice of parliament and the heads of the It became obvious that what prime minister on condition that Adel parliamentarian blocs may have Salam Sarhan was needed was a transition the political parties do not inter- Abdul-Mahdi chosen Halbousi in the hope that phase that would make it possible fere in his cabinet choices. He has as prime he would oppose any attempt to to effectively deal with the cor- said competence and qualifica- minister is an make them stand trial for their ruption and destruction inside tions were going to be his main actions. the government apparatus. criteria in choosing his cabinet acceptable It was obvious that Halbousi espite relatively If the Sairoon bloc and its allies ministers. alternative was the favoured candidate of the justified pessimistic persisted in trying to break the Abdul-Mahdi would have to during this militias and the Iranian camp. opinions about the back of political corruption and be the only person in Iraq to transitional They preferred him to Khaled political process in giving Iraqis what they wanted, have refused the advantages and period, much al-Obaidi, who would have been Iraq, the choices for the country could have easily privileges that come with the better than tougher on corruption. president, prime fallen into an endless spiral of positions of Iraqi vice-president driving the The Kurdish parties, too, Dminister and parliament speaker violence. What the Iraqis wanted and oil minister. He had done country into prefer Halbousi at the head of allow many reasons for renewed was a transitional civil govern- just that twice by resigning from full chaos. the parliament when the time optimism. ment that would end sectarian- those positions when protesters comes to discuss the disputed The appointees were chosen ism and kick out militias and demanded it. areas between Kurdistan and the through a long and painful birth- political forces loyal to Iran. They In the end, the real judge of the federal government. Those par- ing process in a manner that also wanted a war on corruption. new government is going to be the ties opposed Obaidi’s election ap- shattered many tough-to-break What happened was an ac- Iraqi street. parently because he comes from loyalties along partisan or sectar- ceptance of a halfway solution Barham Salih, elected president Mosul and knows the historical ian or ethnic lines. towards that objective, a transi- of Iraq, has matured tremen- and social aspects of the disputed For the first time since 2003, tional and temporary phase. The dously since Kurdistan’s fierce areas. parliament members voted indi- anger on the streets of southern confrontation with the Iraqi Halbousi will not last long as vidually — not as blocs — and that and central Iraq had a lot to do federal government. His recent speaker. With the passing of the is a very positive development. with that. The political lines of statements and positions indicate current storm and after the for- The Shia, Sunni and Kurdish this transitional phase will be- that he is for a civil and modern mation of a new administration, camps in Iraq have experienced come clearer and better defined as state in Iraq. new blocs will crystallise in par- their first major fractures. There the fog surrounding Iran’s crisis His former nationalistic posi- liament and will probably remove was also a tendency towards dissipates. tions in favour of an independent him, given the heavy suspicions abandoning the quota system. The whole region is on verge of Kurdistan must be understood of corruption surrounding the There was a difficult and the downfall of political Islam. within the context of his instinc- man. danger-fraught birth of this new That this extraordinary develop- tive leanings but it seems he has In fact, there is movement to- process in Iraq with the drama in ment might happen faster than changed his views and is follow- wards that end and Obaidi might southern Iraq. When the likeli- anyone has anticipated as the ing a coherent civil state logic. turn out to be the best choice for hood of the formation of a new result of a domino effect when the Salih’s past should not be used Iraqi parliament speaker. government outside the influence main tile in that setup — the mul- against him. To avoid taking Iraq to the slip- of Iran became strong, shadowy lahs’ regime in Iran — tumbles. Salih is a qualified person and pery slopes of internal conflict hands poisoned the water in That is likely to happen soon. expertly knowledgeable in public and chaos, Iraqis can realistically The choice of Adel Abdul-Mahdi affairs, unlike some two-bit op- accept to live with these choices as prime minister is an acceptable portunists who had major posi- for the three leadership positions In the end, the real judge of alternative during this transition- tions in the previous government. in Iraq as part of a necessary tran- al period, much better than driv- However, the election of sitional phase. the new government is going ing the country into full chaos. Parliament Speaker Mohammed to be the Iraqi street. Abdul-Mahdi is known for his al-Halbousi has the appearance of Salam Sarhan is an Iraqi writer. October 7, 2018 3 Iraq Can Iraq’s new leaders deliver stability?

Ahmed Rasheed militias. His premiership marks and accept a compromise candi- the end of 15 years of rule by the date, Abdul-Mahdi.” Dawa Party, which has dominated Salih’s election is the first time Sulaymaniyah Iraqi politics since the toppling of someone has risen to one of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein in 2003. top posts without a backroom deal he election of a respected Lawmakers said that was pre- — an outcome that may suggest Kurdish politician to be cisely what made Abdul-Mahdi lawmakers are making the coun- Iraq’s president and his an attractive option, especially to try’s dire needs a priority over po- T designation of a compro- powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, litical gains. mise figure as prime minister gives who despises Dawa. Since Saddam’s fall, power in the country a fighting chance of Al-Sadr, alongside outgoing Iraq has been shared among its achieving stability after years of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, three largest ethnic-sectarian sectarian bloodshed, war and eco- leads one of the two main Shia components. The most powerful nomic turmoil. blocs. The other is led by Iran- post, that of prime minister, has al- Iraqi President Barham Salih, 58, backed militia leader Hadi al-Amiri ways been held by a Shia Arab, the who was elected by parliament, and former Prime Minister Nuri al- speaker of parliament by a Sunni is respected by both the United Maliki. Arab and the presidency by a Kurd, States and Iran, arch-rivals whose Amiri and Maliki are Iran’s two though that formula has not guar- competition for influence in Iraq most prominent allies in Iraq. Ab- anteed stability. has fuelled factionalism in a coun- adi was considered the preferred Both Washington and Tehran try dogged by deep sectarian rifts. candidate of the United States and had been vying to influence the The US Embassy in Baghdad and al-Sadr portrays himself as a na- shape of the incoming government Iranian President Hassan Rohani tionalist who rejects both US and but neither can claim to be the de- both congratulated Salih, raising Iranian influence. ciding factor in the presidential hopes he might energise the tradi- Iraq now has its three top lead- outcome. tionally ceremonial role of presi- ers — a president, prime minister “The outcome was not prede- dent and engage Tehran and Wash- and speaker of parliament — and termined. Despite US and Iranian ington to Iraq’s benefit. is edging closer to forming a new intervention, everyone was on the government five months after an phones,” said Bilal Wahab, a fel- inconclusive parliamentary elec- low at the Washington Institute for Abdul-Mahdi is an tion that was marred by histori- Near East Policy who is currently Islamist but doesn’t cally low turnout and widespread in Baghdad. “It was a unique po- belong to the Dawa Party fraud allegations. litical process, true politics but this and is perceived as a The appointments come weeks was an outlier event.” technocrat with a decent after protests in the oil-rich city Salih designated Abdul-Mahdi record in government. of Basra, the jewel of Iraq’s south- prime minister less than two hours ern Shia heartland, threatened to after being named president. Ab- “President Barham Salih has a destabilise the country. The gov- dul-Mahdi arrived at parliament strong personality and he’s well ernment’s inability to handle the before the presidential election respected by the West and regional protests and provide residents was finished, knowing he was a countries and most importantly with the basic services they were shoo-in. Iran,” said senior lawmaker Reb- demanding convinced al-Sadr to Abdul-Mahdi has the right politi- war Taha from the Patriotic Union abandon Abadi, his ally. cal pedigree. He is an Islamist but End of deadlock. New Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi of Kurdistan, the party that nomi- “After the unrest in Basra, Sayed doesn’t belong to the Dawa Party walks at the parliament building in Baghdad, on October 2. (AP) nated Salih. Muqtada was convinced that a and is perceived as a technocrat Salih’s choice of Adel Abdul- prime minister who failed to bring with a decent record in govern- elite dominated by Dawa, was key. Sistani has long urged politicians Mahdi, 76, as prime minister de- clean water to his people will defi- ment. The other big test Abdul-Mahdi to stop clinging to power and give a fuses months of tension between nitely fail at bringing stability to Getting the approval of al-Sadr, passed was gaining the blessing new breed of technocrats a chance Iraq’s two main Shia blocs that his country,” said one source close the cleric who has mass appeal to of Iraq’s top cleric, Grand Ayatol- to rebuild Iraq. hold the most seats in parliament to al-Sadr. “That was enough for the poor working class which has lah Ali al-Sistani. Arguably the and possess the most powerful Sayed Muqtada to sit with Amiri grown impatient with the political most powerful man in the country, (Reuters) Power struggle deepens in Iraqi Kurdistan after elections

Stephen Quillen not of a certain group or entity,” he said, before naming independent Shia politician Adel Abdul-Mahdi as Tunis the country’s next prime minister. Despite receiving support from oth of Kurdistan’s major Iraq’s allies and the international political parties scored elec- community, Salih’s nomination was toral victories recently but contentious in the Kurdish bloc, B remain deeply divided as which usually rallies around the Iraq’s new government and Kurd- candidate nominated by the PUK istan’s regional parliament take but this year failed to reach consen- shape. sus. The leading Kurdistan Democrat- As per an informal power-sharing ic Party (KDP) won an estimated 45 arrangement since 2006, the KDP of the 111 seats in the semi-autono- has controlled the Kurdistan Re- mous Kurdistan region parliament gional Government presidency and and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan the PUK has controlled the Iraqi (PKK) catapulted its candidate to presidency, a largely ceremonial the Iraqi presidency despite divi- post that is secondary to the prime sions over whom to nominate with- minister. in the Kurdish camp. This year the KDP argued the in- formal deal was no longer in effect and fielded its own candidate — Apart from the KDP-PUK Fouad Hussein, former chief of staff rivalry, the two leading to the KRG presidency — after the parties also face two parties failed to agree. backlash from Despite receiving strong pub- opposition movements, lic backing from influential KDP which have accused President Masoud Barzani, Hussein them of engaging in failed to shore up significant sup- voter fraud. port in Iraq’s parliament, receiving Lingering divisions. An Iraqi Kurdish woman casts her ballot for the parliamentary election at a 89 votes against Salih’s 165 in the polling station in Sulaymaniyah, on September 30. (AFP) Barham Salih, a veteran Kurdish first round. politician seen as a protege of late Reacting to the PUK candidate’s Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani, was victory, the KDP said in a statement: Yerevan Saeed, a Middle political Middle East Policy, told Egypt To- wahid, leader of the newly formed voted in as Iraqi president by parlia- “We do not consider the post as rep- analyst who specialises on Kurdish day that the jockeying over Iraq’s New Generation Movement, wrote ment on October 2. Seen as a mod- resenting the people of Kurdistan.” affairs, tweeted before the vote: “A presidency was “practically the end in a letter to the electoral commis- erate capable of dealing with both The development, analysts said, year ago Kurds had an independ- of the KDP-PUK’s so-called strategic sion. “I call on you to not ratify the the United States and Iran, Salih pointed to a growing power struggle ence referendum to secede from agreement in which the two par- results and dismantle this election.” was touted as a unifying figure for between Kurdistan’s two major par- Iraq. Today, the two ruling Kurdish ties and families have been dividing With 85% of votes counted, the a post-war country in need of stable ties, which together have formed a parties are almost ready to kill one every single position in the Kurdis- KRG was well ahead, taking 43.9% leadership. majority in parliament since 1992 another to get Iraqi presidential tan Region of Iraq and Baghdad.” of the vote compared to the PUK’s “President Barham Salih has a but soured after the disputed inde- post. We love to walk on the ex- Apart from the KDP-PUK rivalry, 21.2%. The Gorran (Change) move- strong personality and he’s well re- pendence referendum a year ago tremes.” the two leading parties also face ment trailed with 12.1%, with the spected by the West and regional that led to crippling sanctions and a Others pointed out that the dis- backlash from opposition move- New Generation Movement next at countries and most importantly loss of territory for Iraqi Kurds. pute could drive the KDP to form a ments, which have accused them of 8.4% followed by the Kurdistan Is- Iran,” PUK lawmaker Rebwar Taha “Barham’s win means more po- majority in parliament without the engaging in voter fraud in the Sep- lamic Group (Komal) with 7% and told Reuters. litical instability for the (Kurdis- PUK, its traditional ruling partner, tember 30 election. the Towards Reform alliance with As he was sworn into office, Salih tan) region,” wrote Iraqi Kurdistan- as well as break away from other in- “Degrading the commission and 5.1%. vowed to “safeguard Iraq’s unity based journalist Fazel Hawramy on formal power-sharing mechanisms. disrespecting commission employ- and safety.” Twitter. “The (KDP) will never ac- Kamal Chomani, a non-resident ees were never as obvious as (in) the Stephen Quillen is an Arab Weekly “I will be the president of Iraq and cept this result.” fellow at the Tahrir Institute for current election,” Shaswar Abdul- correspondent in Tunis. 4 October 7, 2018 News & Analysis Yemen Infighting and economic woes complicate situation in Yemen

Saleh Baidhani rity and stability at risk.” Fighting between the UAE- backed STC and the Saudi-backed Aden Yemeni government, ostensible allies against the Houthis, has he situation in Yemen be- broken out sporadically since that came more complicated start of the war in 2014. for the internationally The call from the STC drew T recognised government mixed reactions in the govern- of President Abd Rabbo Mansour ment-controlled south. Hadi after the Southern Transi- The Rally of Southern Civil- tional Council (STC) — an ally in ian Forces warned against what the fight against Houthi rebels — it called a “south-south conflict, called for an uprising. which would only serve the Hou- On the edge. Yemeni demonstrators block a road as they protest against inflation and the rise of “The southern people have the this” and their plan to take over living costs in Taiz, on October 4. (AFP) legitimate right to stage an upris- the country. The group pointed ing due to the rampant corrup- to its attempts “to narrow an ev- to skyrocket. lar to cover their imports,” Hamda- enhance the Yemeni rial exchange tion and the starvation policies er-widening rift between the le- Yemeni economists attributed ni said, adding that that situation rate, which will positively reflect exercised by the government,” STC gitimate government and some the rial’s collapse to political and causes speculation that attributes on the living conditions of Yemeni said in a statement. groups whose main stated goal is economic factors caused by the to the rial losing value. citizens,” he said. to unseat it.” war, along with illegal practices by “The collapse of the currency UN Special Envoy to Yemen Mar- The Southern Religious Author- the Houthis and the poor perfor- has reached a point where it is no tin Griffiths, in an interview with Yemeni Central Bank ity, distancing itself from the call, mance of the internationally recog- longer possible to operate,” a cur- Thomson Reuters, tied Yemen’s Governor Mohammed asked for “wisdom” in addressing nised government. rency trader in Ataq told Al-Masdar dire humanitarian situation to its Zammam announced conditions in Yemen and urged Yemeni economic journalist Rad- news. economic circumstances. October 3 that a $200 parties to cooperate. wan Hamdani said a prominent Yemeni Central Bank Governor “There’s no doubt in my mind million grant from Saudi However, Sheikh Hani al-Yazi- reason for the currency crisis was Mohammed Zammam announced whatsoever that this economic is- Arabia had been di, general director of Aden’s al- the loss of revenue to the country’s October 3 that a $200 million grant sue is now the overwhelmingly deposited in Yemen. Buraiqah district, welcomed the foreign reserves due to the cessa- from Saudi Arabia had been depos- most important priority,” Griffiths STC’s statement as “balanced and tion of oil and gas exports, as well ited in Yemen. said. “Within the UN we’re talking responsible.” as a lack of remittances from expa- Saudi Minister of Finance Mo- about the need for such a master The Hadi government issued A further issue is the decline of triates living in Yemen. hammed al-Jadaan said the grant plan… an immediate set of meas- a statement against “all forms of the Yemeni currency, resulting in “When the government pays was intended to “strengthen the ures over weeks that the World rebellion, be it Houthi or separa- thousands of protesters demon- salaries, most of the money spent fiscal position of the Central Bank.” Bank, [International Monetary tist and all acts of terrorism.” The strating in Aden. Currency traders goes to buy food and other prod- Jadaan said the grant, along with Fund], UN agencies, the Gulf ob- government called on political and went on strike in Aden and Ataq. ucts and this leads to the accumu- $3 billion deposited in January, re- viously, the government of Yemen social elites, unions and media or- The Yemeni rial has lost nearly half lation of a large amount of local flects Riyadh’s efforts to help the could come together to discuss.” ganisations in the south to “reject its value in the last year and traded cash from traders and suppliers, Yemeni people. acts of chaos, vandalism and riots at 800 rials to the dollar on Octo- who are turning to the already frag- “This support will improve the Saleh Baidhani is an Arab Weekly which would put the nation’s secu- ber 1, causing food and fuel prices ile banking market to buy the dol- Yemeni economic position and contributor in Yemen.

Viewpoint Iran’s gains in Yemen are fragile but dangerous

Militarily, the Houthis, al-Qaeda Sabahat Khan or years Iran has been accused of supporting or ISIS cannot win in Yemen while the Houthi insurgency the Saudi-led coalition is active. in Yemen to counter Politically speaking, as fringe ac- Saudi Arabia, thereby tors, the Houthis have never repre- becoming an accom- sented a real contender to govern Fplice to the human suffering the modern-day Yemen or resolve its conflict in Yemen has brought. socio-economic problems. Western sources say Iran has Note that the Mutawakkilite been backing the Houthi rebel Kingdom (1918-62) was secular movement in Yemen with ad- and existed in what was the shape vanced weaponry and military ad- of North Yemen before Yemen’s visers to sway the regional balance reunification. It is improbable that of power. In a strategy that loosely present-day Yemen could remain mirrors its backing of Hezbollah unified under Houthi rule, raising in Syria, Iran has been supporting the prospects of prolonged civil the Houthis with arms supplies, strife and instability. advisers, financial support and a Any resolution to the strife in small number of special forces. Yemen must look at curtailing While Iran rejects international militant forces and disarmament accusations of its supporting the of militias as well as addressing Houthis in Yemen, shipments High-stakes game. Houthi fighters display their weapons before water scarcity, poverty allevia- of weapons intercepted by US, heading to the frontline in Sana’a. (Reuters) tion, job creation and basic health French, Australian and various services. It is a scenario in which Arab naval forces suggest oth- the Houthis have — at best — a sup- erwise. Regional analysts have Iran and its partners, exemplified in a country where almost two- porting role in a broader political focused on the extent of Iranian by Hezbollah. Note that the Hou- thirds of Yemenis are Sunnis and process rather than a leading one. involvement in Yemen rather than this hail from a minority branch of where al-Qaeda and the Islamic Yemen’s descent into chaos the question of whether it has Shia Islam called the Zaidis while State (ISIS) have been highly ac- was far from spontaneous but the been happening or not. Iran subscribes to a revolutionary tive. solution is inevitably political and Policing Yemen’s 2,700km (rather than the traditional) form Tragically for Yemen, there is no must be based on the will of the coastline is no easy task and the of Twelver Shia Islam. dominant political force. Power Yemeni people rather than deter- Saudi-led coalition has struggled However, the propensity of and authority have been cascaded mined by its most heavily armed to seal entry points for smuggled Houthis to wage low-intensity con- across the country with various groups. supplies, particularly because car- flict in Yemen and keep Arab Gulf militant groups and terrorist As it is, Iran’s approach to Yemen goes are often transferred to small rivals such as Saudi Arabia and outfits but Yemeni society seeks overlooked the needs of the Yem- fishing boats for the final legs of the United Arab Emirates engaged a future free of paramilitaries, eni people and framed Yemen en- In a strategy that their journey. militarily has trumped their ideo- militias and external support tirely in the context of its regional Reports suggest Iran moved logical divergences from Twelver to groups that thrive on conflict strategy to counter and encircle loosely mirrors its beyond light and heavy weapons Shia Iran and overridden their cre- and instability. Regional and Saudi Arabia. backing of Hezbollah to offer drones, such as the Ababil, dentials to deliver national peace international stakeholders want to As such, Iran is seen by the Arab equipped with explosives to target to Yemen. ensure Yemen does not implode or Gulf countries to have pursued a in Syria, Iran has been radar and missile defence batter- It is also true that Houthi leaders become an ungoverned territory dangerous and high-stakes game supporting the ies. There has been speculation have viewed Iran with political ruled by militants and terrorists. that could lend support to violent Houthis with arms that Iran was instrumental in adoration but the fact remains that The Saudi-led coalition has been extremist groups, such as al-Qaeda assisting Houthi rebels to enhance the yawning gap between their left with the challenging task of and ISIS, which the Saudi-led coa- supplies, advisers, the capability of tactical ballistic fundamental religious beliefs is preventing a collapse of the Yem- lition have been robustly fighting. financial support and missiles, which were seized from not easily bridged. eni state as it fights a two-fronted the national armed forces. The Houthis have been faced campaign against al-Qaeda and Sabahat Khan is a senior analyst at a small number of Yet, as ideologically motivated with a choice of working with Iran ISIS on the one hand and the Hou- the Institute for Near East and Gulf special forces. actors, the Houthis are miles from to overcome domestic opposition this on the other. Military Analysis (INEGMA). October 7, 2018 5 News & Analysis Arab Security Talks on ‘Arab NATO’ said to be in early stages

Mohammed Alkhereiji what a final format comes in. In principle, Jordan always believes in all of us working together to ad- London dress the challenges and solve the crises,” Safadi told Russian govern- he Trump administration ment news agency Sputnik. is moving forward to es- “We will engage in a positive tablish the Middle East conversation with a view to ensur- T Strategic Alliance (MESA), ing that whatever we come up with including US Secretary of State will be a structure that would al- Mike Pompeo meeting with Gulf low us to collectively address chal- Cooperation Council (GCC) allies lenges and help us achieve peace, in follow-ups to meetings at the stability and security. There are UN General Assembly. many crises in the region that have Pompeo met with Bahraini regional and global implications, Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid and therefore any collective effort al-Khalifa on October 3 in Wash- on that would be useful in solving ington, where they continued dis- them.” cussions regarding MESA, the so- Several issues might hinder the called “Arab NATO.” United States’ efforts to get MESA Pompeo also spoke with Saudi off the ground, particularly coun- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal- tries expected to be part of the alli- man bin Abdulaziz about the war ance but are on very friendly terms in Yemen and countering the Ira- with Iran. nian regime’s malign activities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab the region,” the US State Depart- Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ment said. diplomatic and economic ties with MESA would include all six GCC GCC member Qatar in June 2017. countries, Jordan and Egypt to They imposed sanctions including counter Iran’s activities in the re- closing shared borders, sea routes gion. and airspace with Doha over what Despite the active push by the they described as Qatar’s support State Department, officials de- of Islamist terrorist groups and its scribed the talks at still near a relations with Iran. starting point. Saudi Arabia and the UAE re- moved Qatar from the coalition fighting on behalf of the Yemeni Several issues might government against the Iran-allied hinder the United States’ Houthi militia and Doha increased efforts to get MESA off the relations with Iran. ground, particularly In September, in a telephone countries expected to be conversation with Iranian Presi- part of the alliance but are dent Hassan Rohani, Qatari Emir on very friendly terms Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani expressed a willingness to boost Crucial alliances. A member of Sudanese forces walks on the tarmac during a joint military drill with with Iran. ties with Tehran, a pledge that Saudi troops at the Marwa air base in Sudan. (AFP) came at the same time Tehran was “We are in the early stages of dis- threatening to close the Strait of Oman’s coveted role as a re- gional matters, including the war say would likely be in private.” cussions and we agreed on contin- Hormuz and disrupt oil shipments gional mediator due to its declared and Yemen and the issue of Iran’s NPR Security Correspondent Da- uing them.” Sheikh Khalid told Sky from the Gulf. neutral foreign policy has come weapons smuggling to the Houthi vid Welna, who was reporting on News Arabia after meeting with If the General Assembly meet- into question, particularly regard- rebels. Mattis’s regional tour, said at the Pompeo at the General Assembly. ings are an indication, all sides in- ing the war in Yemen. The official statement from the time. He said there was a clear vision volved in the dispute have stressed Since the start of the conflict Pentagon did not include mention Whether Pompeo can get all par- with regards to “Iranian threats.” that issues were still a long way more than three years ago, allega- of weapons smuggling, with US ticipants on the same page is not Jordanian Foreign Minister from being resolved. tions of weapons smuggling to the analysts saying that was because known but there is a January 2019 Ayman Safadi also said talks were Another obstacle would be Houthis via Oman arose sporadi- of the sensitive nature of the mat- meeting scheduled to iron out the in their infancy. Oman, which had ties with Iran cally by the anti-Houthi coalition. ter and to not alienate Muscat. concept. “It’s a very early stage of this that facilitated the 2015 nuclear In March, US Defence Secre- “American officials are con- concept yet. A lot of discussions deal, which the Trump administra- tary James Mattis had high-level cerned about Iranian arms going Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf are going to have to be made to see tion recently withdrew from. talks with Omani officials on re- through Oman but anything they section editor of The Arab Weekly.

Viewpoint Is there an ‘Arab NATO’ in Trump’s Middle East toolbox? he Trump administra- Islamic State (ISIS) and counter would be primarily political and gested an Arab NATO as a vehicle tion is searching — so Russian and Iranian power in psychological rather than mili- for deploying Egyptian and Saudi far without success Syria and the region. To do so tary. Such developments would troops to areas of Syria occupied Geoffrey Aronson — for a mechanism to Washington is looking forward not materially affect the internal by Washington’s Kurdish allies in define and fortify its by looking backward to the first weaknesses, that have thus far the north-east. All nodded politely alliances with friends decades of the post-second-world- undermined Middle East strength when the idea of Arab countries Tin the Middle East. war era. and stability and would by no engaging in a hostile occupation Both former US President Barack In the 1950s, the British retreat means eliminate the tensions and of Syria was suggested but the Obama and current White House from Suez launched Washington fears that have thus far alienated ill-considered notion was quietly officials bet wrong on Syria after on a largely fruitless quest to much of the area from the West. dropped. the Russian intervention in Sep- organise regional defence among Such a loose grouping would not More recently, Zinni briefed tember 2015. Obama’s Secretary of newly independent and militarily result in any significant reduction Arab diplomats about the advan- Defence Ashton Carter famously weak Arab states, Iran and Paki- of the area’s military vulnerabil- tages of exploiting the individual warned that the intervention had stan. The Tripartite Declaration of ity.” strengths of their states — Saudi placed a “bullseye” on Moscow’s May 1950 was followed by the Mid- The odds are that Washington’s and Emirati air power, Egyptian back. dle East Command, Middle East latest creation, the Middle East land forces — to build a collective Trump administration officials Defence Organisation, Baghdad Strategic Alliance (or an “Arab security framework strong enough have been reticent to acknowledge Pact and the Central Treaty Or- NATO”), will come up short both to confront the “resistance axis” the extraordinary Russian success ganisation. These serial attempts as a symbol of unity and as an and facilitate US efforts to estab- in turning the war in its favour to cajole and force friends to join effective military alliance against lish a new generation of missile and winning strategic gains that Washington’s anti-communist ISIS and Iran. defence networks throughout the during the Cold War would have crusade often backfired. US Defence Secretary James area. been unthinkable. US diplomatic cables of the era Mattis asked retired US Marine However, in an era when US The deployment of Russian describe “formalising the weak- Corps General Anthony Zinni to President Donald Trump has troops on the Golan frontier, the ness” of tottering and unstable sell the idea to Washington’s Arab raised questions about the United basing of the Russian Air Force in Arab regimes trying to win mili- allies. States’ devotion to the cardinal Syria and the deployment of top- tary aid from the West without Zinni is the right man for the principle of NATO — the commit- of-the-line Russian air defence antagonising anti-imperialist job. He is well-known and respect- ment to collective defence — it is systems umbrella — including public opinion. ed as former head of the Central difficult to be optimistic about an the S-300 system said to be under The alliances promoted by Command and diplomatic trou- Arab commitment to collective Syrian authority — are the most Washington were, at best, declara- bleshooter for former President defence when key prospective notable examples of how Moscow tions of support for the United George W. Bush. More recently, he members often cannot even abide The odds are that has leveraged its decision to save States in the Cold War. The limited led a quiet US effort to reconcile each other’s company. the Ba’ath regime into a broad military capabilities of Arab allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar, whose We have been to this movie be- Washington’s latest strategic advance. required a long-term commitment continuing estrangement is one of fore: Washington’s failed history creation will come up Washington has had far less to training and equipping local many challenges Zinni will face as at Arab collective defence offers a short both as a symbol success in defining its objectives — forces without any real prospect of he tries to form an Arab NATO. time-tested warning that the lat- recall Obama’s empty demand for reducing US force contributions. While long on credibility and est incarnation — an “Arab NATO” of unity and as an Syrian President Bashar Assad’s In a typical commentary, the integrity, Zinni has been tasked — will also come up short. effective military removal — and devoting the re- Pentagon in 1955 warned: “The with selling an idea that has sources necessary to realise them. immediate effects of a loose re- always proved more attractive in Geoffrey Aronson is a alliance against ISIS The Trump administration faces gional defence grouping… backed the abstract than in the execution. non-resident scholar at the Middle and Iran. the imperative to “annihilate” the by US military aid programmes Last spring, Washington sug- East Institute in Washington. 6 October 7, 2018 Opinion

Editorial Nadia Murad’s Nobel Peace Prize

mid all the tragedy that has befallen Iraq over the last two decades, on October 5 Iraqis had a reason to celebrate. On that date, Nadia Murad, a 25-year-old Iraqi Yazidi woman who fellA victim to the Islamic State’s inhumanity, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the first in Iraq’s history. Along with Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege, she was recognised for her “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.” In 2014, Murad was kidnapped by the Islamic State (ISIS) and repeatedly tortured and gang- raped. Most of her family was killed. She escaped after three months in captivity and bravely spoke out about the barbarity she faced, giving powerful testimony about the depravity of an extremist group that reduced women to sex slaves and sought to annihilate members of other religious sects and faiths. ISIS may have been defeated on the battlefield over the last few years but its ideology remains a threat to the region and all of humanity. Murad’s fate recalls that of thousands of Yazidis who are still missing, as well as the millions of others belonging to Middle East © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly religious minority groups victimised by the bloodthirsty fanatics of ISIS. Murad’s dramatic journey is a stark reminder Winners and losers in Iraq of the tragic fate of all Iraqis who have suffered from terrorism. The US State Department’s annual report on terrorism stated that Iraq was Khairallah Khairallah hit with at least 1,951 terrorist attacks in 2017, killing an estimated 4,269 people, by far the Let’s face it. Iran has beaten the Americans all over heaviest toll of any country in the world. the place in Iraq. Iraqis are right to feel proud of Nadia Murad but, like all other populations in the region, they hat has just on all issues, and is deeply aware Abdul-Mahdi’s success as prime should also look forward to seeing more Arab happened in Iraq of Iran’s geopolitical and regional minister will also depend to a large citizens become Nobel laureates and join the must be viewed importance, including its delicate extent on his ability to deal with the ranks of leading scientists and contributors to from the angle of relationship with the Kurds. demands of the general population, universal progress. That will obviously have to US-Iranian rela- It is impossible to say whether the angry mobs that revolted in the be preceded by an Arab scientific revolution and tions. Salih is a friend of Iran or its foe. streets this past summer. the end of war and strife. WThe developments in Iraq are What is noticeable, however, is Iranian General Qassem Soleim- Announcing the award, Nobel Peace Prize not all negative. Adel Abdul-Mahdi that he has cordial relations with ani smartly executed a clever Committee Chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen was entrusted with forming a new international powers, including scheme. He brought in Abdul- said: “A more peaceful world can only be cabinet; Barham Salih, a respect- the United States and European Mahdi as prime minister by playing achieved if women and their fundamental rights able patriot, was elected president; countries. both the Muqtada al-Sadr Sairoon and security are recognised and protected in and Mohammed al-Halbousi (loyal Salih can play a role in restor- bloc and Hadi al-Amiri’s Al-Fateh war.” to Iran) was elected speaker of the ing calm, stability and tranquil- bloc. We know Amiri heads a sectar- In the Arab region, a more peaceful and parliament. lity to Iraq considering the great ian militia that is part of al-Hashed prosperous world would be more achievable if The choice of Salih alone is problems that the country suffers. al-Shaabi (the Popular Mobilisation women are protected and their rights promoted paramount to a candle being lit in These problems will be exacer- Forces). Sooner or later, the new in times of war and peace. the thickest Iraqi darkness. He is of bated once the new US sanctions prime minister will have to come Kurdish origin but places his Iraqi on Iran go into effect in November. to a decision regarding the fate and identity above everything else. Iraq will be required to align itself role of the al-Hashed forces. Iranian plot in Paris The problem is that Salih alone is fully with Iran then, and that is In the final analysis, however, the not going to extricate Iraq from the what Abadi refused to do and that Iraqi armed forces cannot forever rench authorities did not mince words quagmire. The problem is with the is exactly why Iran punished him. stand on the sidelines and watch about suspected Iranian involvement extremely limited powers of the So Salih will have a role at the Iraq be ruled by sectarian militias, in an aborted terrorist plot last July presidency of the republic as set national level, albeit within the except of course if the plan is to du- against an Iranian opposition rally in by Iraq’s new constitution. Most of limitations of his constitutional plicate Iran’s failing model in Iraq. Paris. the powers are concentrated in the prerogatives as president but what In this model, al-Hashed al-Shaa- A French diplomatic source told hands of the prime minister, who about Abdul-Mahdi? bi militias will control all details FReuters the results of “a long, meticulous and must be Shia. Here is a person through whom of the executive powers in the detailed investigation by our (intelligence) All signs indicate that Iran has the Americans, the Iranians and country, just like their counterparts services” that enabled Paris to “reach the improved its positions in Iraq, after the Shia constituencies shall meet. in Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary conclusion, without any doubt, that responsibil- regressing since the end of Nuri What we know about Abdul-Mahdi Guard Corps. Could it be that Abdul- ity fell on the Iranian Intelligence Ministry.” is that he is not from the pro-Irani- French authorities moved quickly to freeze al-Maliki’s term as prime minister Mahdi was parachuted in a prime Iranian intelligence services assets. French in 2014. an Dawa Party in Iraq. The man’s minister to execute that plan? anti-terrorism agencies raided a Shia centre in For one thing, Iran got rid of political history is full of changes Now, the simplest and most the northern French town of Dunkirk, which Haider al-Abadi, whose post- and swerves. He began his political baffling question: Where are the they accused of “clear support for several elections views and positions were career as a Ba’athist then was a Americans in all of this? terrorist organisations.” interpreted as wanting to place member of the Supreme Council The Americans must have been at The Iranian plot was corroborated by investi- Iraqi interests above those of Iran. of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq a loss in Iraq or too absent such that gations in Paris, Vienna, Brussels and Berlin. Abadi paid the price of his lost bet founded by Ayatollah Mohamed Iran succeeded in breaking the Sunni The plot started to unravel three months ago on US support and Iraqi national- Baqir al-Hakim. bloc and placed Halbousi as speaker after Belgian authorities arrested an Iranian ism. Abdul-Mahdi undoubtedly has a of the Iraqi parliament. This is a national couple in Brussels. The couple was Iraq now has a president with rich political experience as a leftist major achievement by Iran in Iraq. allegedly preparing to use an explosives-laden high qualifications but limited pre- and as an Islamist but can this ex- For the first time, there is a Sunni car against a meeting in Paris of the National rogatives. He is a pragmatic person perience help him change anything parliamentarian bloc loyal to Iran. Council of Resistance of Iran, attended by more than anything else. Salih in Iraq? All depends on the amount Let’s face it. Iran has beaten the Middle Eastern and US dignitaries. will not undertake anything risky, of freedom that will be afforded to Americans all over the place in Iraq. Among those subsequently arrested was especially that he is well-appraised him by Iran. It has scored too many goals there. Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat based in So, we must turn to Iran’s internal Vienna. He is to be extradited from Germany to affairs and ask: What’s going to hap- Brussels. pen inside Iran? Tehran’s response to the serious accusations levelled by the French has been surreal. “If there Everybody wonders whether the is a misunderstanding… about a thing that does United States is serious about going not exist, be it a conspiracy by others or a all the way in making Iran choose mistake, we can sit down and talk about it,” between becoming a normal state Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram in the region or paying the heavy Ghasemi said. price of its adventures outside its What is even more surreal is the timing of the borders. We are, of course, talking plot. It comes when European nations have been about Iran’s meddling in Iraq, Syria, looking to safeguard what’s left of the Iranian Lebanon, Yemen and Bahrain. nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of It doesn’t seem that the United Action, and to find ways to circumvent US States’ quitting of its 1955 Friend- sanctions against Tehran. ship Treaty with Iran, announced by State terrorism on the sovereign territory of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, other nations is a glaring violation of interna- signals that the agreement between tional law and of every basic ethical or diplo- both parties on Abdul-Mahdi as matic covenant. Even from the cynical and prime minister covers any other is- calculating perspective of ruthless Iranian sues beyond the Iraqi borders. operatives, such a plot could only further isolate Destabilising factor. Iraqi Shia demonstrators wave Iranian Iran and hasten the chance of additional sanc- and pro-Iranian party flags during a protest in Basra, Khairallah Khairallah is a Lebanese tions by the United States and European capitals. on September 15. (AFP) writer. October 7, 2018 7 Opinion

When he threatens OPEC, Trump speaks Published by Al Arab to voters at home Publishing House Mohamad Kawas Publisher and Group Executive Editor Midterm elections in the United States will be over soon and Trump will Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD cease his sales pitches and his vocal bargaining. Editor-in-Chief S President protection. He attacked NATO, Donald Trump is waving the possibility of with- Oussama Romdhani threatening OPEC drawing his country from the members and, alliance. He showered EU mem- Managing Editor implicitly, Gulf bers with criticism, ridicule and Iman Zayat countries with gratuitous provocations. Udire consequences if they do In his speeches on OPEC, Deputy Managing Editor not work on reducing oil prices. Saudi Arabia or whatever other and Online Editor Trump said a barrel of oil price party that happened to be in Mamoon Alabbasi is too high, like a merchant his way, Trump has not actually complaining about how the been addressing those coun- Senior Editor market’s mood is not suiting tries and entities, which clearly John Hendel his business. do not pay any attention to his Yet oil prices are not falling noise. The target of Trump’s Chief Copy Editor and OPEC is not increasing speeches is the American voter. Richard Pretorius production but is keeping sup- Trump is sowing the same ply levels steady in oil markets. seeds he planted during his Copy Editor Paradoxically, it’s going to be 2016 presidential campaign in Stephen Quillen Trump’s speeches that open current electoral battlefields of the door for further price hikes. the November midterm elec- Analysis Section Editor As the US president displays tions. His approach to har- Ed Blanche a severity and inflexibility vesting votes is not based on East/West Section Editor that no other US president has appealing to voters versed in More politics, less policy. US President Donald Trump addresses shown, capitals around the world affairs. He appeals to the supporters during a campaign rally at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Mark Habeeb on October 4. (Reuters) world seem to be dealing with imagination of voters who are Gulf Section Editor this man in Washington as sensitive to the images of the Mohammed Alkhereiji though he were just a rambunc- America defended by Super- many of becoming a “slave to always been part of US interests. tious chatterbox. The clatter of man, Rambo and company. Russia” and Germany observed So when Trump blesses the Society and Travel his invective is more reflective When Trump threatens a complete silence about the region with American protec- Sections Editor of petty domestic affairs and OPEC, the clamour is meant blunder. In Brussels, Trump tion, everybody knows that Samar Kadi intended for internal consump- for those who are listening in gave a speech to NATO chas- the United States is protecting tion rather than related to Chicago, Pennsylvania, Florida tising NATO. The audience what Washington has always Syria and Lebanon conventions of international re- or Texas. listened in sombre silence and considered vital to US strategic Section Editor lations and of managing global American journalist Justin then got up and left as if noth- security. Simon Speakman Cordall resources. Webb wrote in the Times of ing had happened. Midterm elections in the During his election campaign London that “the America that In sketches about Trump, United States will be over soon Contributing Editor for president, Trump had a elected Trump still loves him. he is often depicted deriding and Trump will cease his sales Rashmee Roshan Lall merry go round with the Gulf, Well-heeled liberals must learn leaders of Mexico, Canada and pitches and his vocal bargain- country by country. He rambled that the president did not win North Korea or insulting South ing. He will return to the voters Senior Correspondents at length about his intentions because he is nice or honest.” Korea, China and Japan. Only again when it’s time for the Mahmud el-Shafey (London) to get his way with Kuwait’s If Trump was not elected be- his buddy Russian President presidential elections. The Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) resources, said he would go to cause he was “nice or honest,” Vladimir Putin comes out un- entire world will be annoyed Iraq and say “I want your oil” why should he change his style scathed because he’s Trump’s hearing his same old tunes and Regular Columnists and dished out threats to this or character? favourite. Their Helsinki meet- will abandon him to his futile Claude Salhani and that capital. The US president goes from ing shall remain a mystery even exercises without honouring Yavuz Baydar He promised Americans one pulpit to another using to Washington’s agencies. him with a debate or giving him he would make Middle East- his talents in the service of the The Gulf countries do not the time of day. Correspondents ern countries pay the same Republican Party ahead of the have to get into an argument Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) heavy price South-east Asian midterm elections. with America’s strongman. Mohamad Kawas is a Lebanese Dunia El-Zobaidi (London) countries are paying for US In July, Trump accused Ger- They know their region has writer. Roua Khlifi (Tunis) Thomas Seibert (Washington) Chief Designer Barbie wannabes and Iraqi women activists at risk Marwen el-Hmedi

Rashmee Roshan Lall Designers Ibrahim Ben Bechir Is visibility a symptom of “depravity”? Does Hanen Jebali outspokenness signify “depravity”?

himaa Qassem, a for- Ditto, Rasha al-Hassan, the constitute “depravity”? Was it de- organisations have constantly Contact editor at: mer Miss Iraq, started beautician who ran Baghdad’s praved for Yassiri to make herself campaigned against successive [email protected] to receive death threats Viola Beauty Centre and died a up like a Barbie doll? attempts to replace the country’s days after the drive-by week after Yassiri. Should Yassiri have gladly de- relatively progressive personal killing in Baghdad of a Suad al-Ali, the 46-year-old clared to the international media status law governing marriage, social media star who Basra activist and mother of four, in 2015 that the Islamic State divorce and child custody with Shad been a runner-up in that seems a less obvious target until attacks “didn’t have an impact” more conservative legislation Al Arab Publishing House same beauty pageant. one considers her crime: She on her beauty clinic “and thank and they have argued loudly for a Quadrant Building The killing of 22-year-old Tara made herself visible by speaking God that people have this spirit women’s quota in government. 177-179 Hammersmith Road al-Fares followed the gunning up. to go on with their lives”? Was Regional developments have London W6 8BS down in September of a women’s Ali campaigned for human Hassan enabling decadence with affected women’s behaviour, rights activist in Basra. That rights as well as for greater the tweezers, lip liner, kohl pencil expectations and the way they killing followed the unexplained autonomy for Basra. In the weeks and nail polish? Did Ali in Basra are perceived. Groups such as death in August of two women before she was shot at point- encourage behaviour unbecom- the Coalition of Arab Women Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 involved with the beauty busi- blank range, Ali had been protest- ing of the Iraqi sisterhood? MPs Combating Violence Against Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 ness in Baghdad. ing the lack of basic services such In 2008, academics Nadje al-Ali Women, Karama and the Arab Qassem subsequently said as safe drinking water in the city. and Nicola Pratt described the Women Parliamentarians Forum prominent Iraqi women “are An estimated 100,000 residents trajectory of women’s organis- have increased cooperation being slaughtered like chickens” have fallen sick after drinking ing and the conflict in Iraq since between women activists and US Publisher: and Prime Minister Haider al- contaminated water. 2003 in a paper published in legislators. This has allowed Abadi acknowledged the pattern Ali met the US consul-general “Feminist Review.” They noted them to coordinate strategy, say, The Arab Weekly USA LLC. that “women’s participation in of killings suggests “a plan.” in Basra, which may have drawn against draconian marry-your- [email protected] What sort of plan might that be the attention of pro-Iranian mili- the public sphere is seen by some rapist laws. and why would it involve wom- tias. Some of the militias accuse Islamists to symbolise Western As Hala Ahed, a legal con- [email protected] cultural encroachment of Iraq, en’s deaths? The rest of Abadi’s those protesting failing govern- sultant at the Jordan Women’s Tel: 248-679-6624 sentence offers a clue. The plan, ment services of colluding with as well as being associated with Union, pointed out last year in he said, was “formulated by the United States against Iranian the perceived secular nature of a reference to those laws: “We organised parties to undermine influence in southern Iraq. Saddam Hussein’s regime.” started saying, ‘Why can’t we end security under the pretext of Whatever it was, Ali was They added, women activists’ Article 308 in Jordan, (the marry- fighting against depravity.” conspicuous as an outspoken risk of being a “victim of violence your-rapist law) when Egypt has There we have it. Fares, a woman. Those who dispatched and/or intimidation becomes done it in 1999, Morocco in 2014, divorced, single mother, known her killers probably knew the higher as their involvement in Tunisia in 2017 and there are for her brightly painted lips and message it would send. Women public life challenges the views motions happening in Lebanon Subscription & Advertising: short skirts on various social me- must remain unheard and un- of Islamist militia and insurgent and Iraq?” [email protected] dia platforms, was shot dead by seen. groups with regard to appropri- This is the context in which Tel 020 3667 7249 two motorcyclists on the street Is visibility a symptom of “de- ate gender relations and gender to view the supposed “deprav- for alleged “depravity.” pravity”? Does outspokenness roles.” Foreign occupation, Ali ity” that led to the death of four Rafeef al-Yassiri, who ran signify “depravity”? Fares, for and Pratt wrote, “has helped women in Iraq. Mohamed Al Mufti Baghdad’s Barbie Clinic and instance, had complained online to create an intensification of Marketing & Advertising encouraged women to alter their about a Shia cleric’s proposal of conservative gender ideologies, Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Manager appearance to fulfil their dreams, “temporary marriage,” which which are promoted not only by columnist for The Arab Weekly. may have mysteriously died in suggested she was willing to armed Islamist groups but also Her blog can be found at Direct: +44 20 8742 9262 her home because she too repre- call out lascivious men. Does political parties in government.” www.rashmee.com and she is on www.alarab.co.uk sented the descent to “depravity.” encouraging women to use Botox Indeed, Iraqi women’s Twitter: @rashmeerl. 8 October 7, 2018 News & Analysis Syria Iranian missile strikes spark wariness

Simon Speakman Cordall nic separatists. “Based on reports, this cowardly act was perpetrated by the people Tunis who are rescued by the Americans when they are in trouble in Syria ran fired six surface-to-air mis- and Iraq and are paid by Saudi Ara- siles from its base in the west- bia and the United Arab Emirates,” ern province of Kermanshah Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah I at a militant encampment near Ali Khamenei said on his website Abu Kamal in eastern Syria. Many two days after the Ahvaz attack and of those who survived the initial before the deputy head of the IRGC attack were killed in a drone strike, warned the United States and Israel which Iran’s state media reported of the “devastating response” to targeted “terrorist positions and come. support infrastructure.” Regardless of the identity of the The ostensible reason for the early specific target of the Iranian strikes, morning October 1 assault was in re- its intended audience lay else- taliation for a September 22 attack where. The launch was broadcast on a military parade in Ahvaz that on national television, showing that killed 29 people and injured dozens the sides of each missile were paint- more. ed with slogans calling for “Death to However, the missile attack America, Death to Israel, Death to seems to also have been meant to Al Saud,” referring to Saudi Arabia’s dispel confusion created by Teh- ruling family. ran’s wavering in placing the blame “Every such Iranian strike serves for the Ahvaz attack and for the in- multiple purposes, hence the fan- ability of its Islamic Revolutionary fare surrounding them,” Farzin Guard Corps (IRGC) to retaliate de- Nadimi, an associate fellow at the spite bombastic threats. The missile Washington Institute for Near East barrage was intended to send a mes- Policy, said. “It is to strengthen sage of military capability at home Iran’s deterrence even if they have and to issue a clear ballistic threat to use propaganda or even decep- internationally. tion to exaggerate their abilities.” Blame game. Missiles are fired from Kermanshah in western Iran to target positions of the Islamic Responsibility for the Ahvaz at- Within a region riven by conflict, State group in Syria, on October 1. (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) tack, in which gunmen disguised brinkmanship and tactical stale- as soldiers fired into the crowd, re- mates, the perception of strength Syria, in response to an attack on ple and wounded about 50. “The use of missiles with a maxi- mains unclear. It was claimed by can be as important as its posses- the country’s parliament and the Nadimi said the strikes showed mum range of 800km might be a Iranian separatists, who provided sion. “They want to show how per- mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah “improvement in accuracy but still signal to the West,” Nadimi said, the details of one of those involved fect their weapons are, therefore Khomeini that left 18 people dead. problems with reliability as one “that they are prepared to discuss in the attack. A rival claim was made they’re quick to deny any imperfec- Of the seven missiles fired, only two or two missiles failed shortly after capping the range of their missiles by the Islamic State (ISIS), which tion whenever something fails or were reported to have reached their launch.” at 800km — if they’re allowed to had video footage of the assailants misses,” Nadimi said. targets. The Iranian attacks refuelled con- keep them — and let go of the longer prior to the assault. This is the third time in about a In September this year, Iran tar- cerns about Tehran’s missile capa- range and more powerful missiles.” Iranian state media referred to year that Iranian missiles have been geted a separatist Kurdish militia it bility and provided additional argu- the targets of the missile strike as fired at targets outside the country. claimed was encamped in Iraq near ments to critics of the Iran nuclear Simon Speakman Cordall is takfiri — apostates — a term it uses In June 2017, the IRGC said it had the Syrian border. The separatists deal, which did not cover Iran’s bal- Syria/Lebanon section editor with to describe both ISIS and Arab eth- hit ISIS positions in Deir ez-Zor, said that strike killed at least 15 peo- listic development programme. The Arab Weekly. Proposed law puts Syria’s religious diversity at risk

Sami Moubayed ian atheist.” An online campaign, lation and describing it as a “first- called “I am a Syrian opposed to rate nationalist law.” Law #16,” was begun and some crit- Cuddling up to religious institu- Beirut ics are planning a sit-in at the gates tions is not new in Syria, especially of the Awqaf Ministry to voice their in times of upheaval. When taking ajor cracks are emerging objection. power in 1970, Hafez Assad courted in the pro-regime street The legislation gives the ministry the country’s leading clerics, ap- in Syria — unprecedent- the right to set up its own venture pointing many of them to his first M ed since 2011 — over a capital arm, establish investment parliament. When they opposed a controversial measure that is yet to projects, whose revenue would go suggested constitutional amend- be enacted, giving unprecedented directly to its treasury rather than ment, which cancelled specifica- powers to the Ministry of Religious to the coffers of the Syrian govern- tion of the president’s religion as Endowments (Awqaf). ment. The Awqaf Ministry is the Islam, he quickly restored Article 3 Law #16, which has the backing richest institution in Syria, thanks to the Syrian Charter. of the powerful Sunni Muslim cler- to the non-stop Islamic charity that After a bloody battle against the ical community in Damascus and it receives and the large amount of Muslim Brotherhood in the early Aleppo, is being challenged by sec- property that it owns, all registered 1980s, Assad embarked on an am- ular Muslims, Christians and Ala- as religious endowments since Ot- bitious project to build mosques wites, who say it is an infringement toman times. If the measure pass- and institutes for Quranic memori- on state secularism, arguing that it es, the ministry would get total fi- sation. Fifteen years ago, after the “Islamises society” and transforms nancial independence, making it a US invasion of Iraq, anti-American Syria into a virtual theocracy. state within a state. clerics were allowed to speak freely Backing them, ironically, is Grand The legislation mandates a task on pulpits, even praising the then- Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badr al-Din force, known as the “Religious called Sunni insurgency in Iraq. Hassoun, the highest religious au- Youth Team,” to train mosque Hamas, the Palestinian branch of thority in Syria, who is in an open preachers and women teachers of the Muslim Brotherhood, worked battle with Minister of Awqaf Mo- the Quran, in addition to monitor- and preached freely in Syria, with hammad Abdul Sattar al-Sayyed. ing public vice, with suggestions access to its airwaves. The gov- Sayyed claims, in private, that that they have final say on what is ernment allowed celebrations on the mufti was parachuted into his presented on stage, cinema and tel- the anniversaries of the Prophet’s job, despite lacking strong religious evision. birthday and ignored private Islam- credentials and is useful only when It also allows the ministry to ic lessons, which were both banned it comes to speaking to foreigners establish pre-university sharia in the early 1980s. because of his moderate views on schools and “religious councils” in That changed — albeit briefly — in religious coexistence. mosques, bypassing the ministries 2010 when bold secular measures Among other things, Law #16 of education and higher education. were taken, raising the ire of the would give the minister the right It would also get the right to collect clerical establishment. A casino was to appoint the grand mufti — a the zakat — charity mandatory in opened near Damascus Airport, the decision previously vested in the Islam — transforming it into an ob- first of its kind since gambling was Between the cracks. Syrian President Bashar Assad (C), Grand presidency — and limits his tenure ligatory government tax. outlawed in the 1970s, and a ban on Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun (R) and Minister of to three years, renewable by minis- The ministry would establish wearing the niqab at schools and Awqaf Mohammad Abdul Sattar al-Sayyed arrive to attend prayers terial permission only. the Higher Scientific Fiqh Council, universities was enforced. at Khadija Mosque in Tartus city, last June. (Syrian Presidency) If legislation passes, it would of which the minister is chairman. A controversial television series mean the automatic ejection of Twenty clerics would sit on its came next, which aired on Syrian saying that, by Islamic law, one sinated by the armed opposition Hassoun, who has been at the job board, deciding on all matters of re- TV, depicting, in a very negative cannot rise against a ruler unless in Damascus, accused of being an since 2005. The measure would ligious jurisprudence. There would manner, the inside world of a prom- he fails to call believers to prayer. “agent of the regime.” also strip the mufti from the right be no deputy chairman to the coun- inent Muslim sisterhood called the Bouti was a ranking authority in The cuddling between the gov- to lead the Higher Awqaf Council, cil, meaning that, if the minister is Qubaysiyat. A crippling drought Sunni Islam, respected in the Mus- ernment and the religious estab- as decreed by a law in 1961. absent, no legislation could pass. hit the country, prompting promi- lim world. He quietly set a series of lishments is yet another step in Supporting the mufti’s behind- Supporters of the law argue that nent cleric Said Ramadan al-Bouti demands, described as “painful” that marriage of mutual conveni- the-scenes lobbying against the it empowers the ministry to eradi- — preacher at the Umayyad Mosque by the Ba’athists, who neverthe- ence between the state and Islamic law are a handful of intellectuals cate fanatical preachers, those who — to blame it on Syria’s worrying less responded affirmatively, in- institutions. and MPs, including secular writer spread “Wahhabism and al-Qaeda distance from Islamic values. cluding shutting the casino, lifting Nabil Saleh, who leaked the con- thought in Syria.” On October 2, When the present conflict erupt- the niqab ban and establishing a Sami Moubayed is a Syrian troversial measure to the media the minister appeared on Syrian TV ed in 2011, however, Bouti put his religious television channel called historian and author of “Under the and was accused of being “a sectar- passionately defending the legis- full weight behind the government, Noor Sham. In 2013, he was assas- Black Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015). October 7, 2018 9 News & Analysis Lebanon Netanyahu’s accusations about Hezbollah trigger fears of confrontation Nicholas Blanford from acquiring “game-changing” weapons systems, including guided surface-to-surface missiles, air de- Beirut fence systems and anti-ship mis- siles. ccusations by Israeli Prime Of course, this has occurred in- Minister Binyamin Netan- numerable times since the war in yahu that Hezbollah has 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel A missile facilities adjacent ended inconclusively, leading to ex- Pointing fingers. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu shows suspected guided missile sites in to Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International pectations that another round is all Beirut during his address at the UN General Assembly, on September 27. (AP) Airport reignited jitters that Israeli but inevitable. may change strategy and conduct Nasrallah’s boast that Hezbollah’s air strikes against Hezbollah facili- arsenal includes precision-guided with considerable violence from dium, one of the three sites listed by it reportedly will take three months ties in Lebanon. missiles is the latest in a multi-year both sides. That means Hezbollah Netanyahu, and strolled around the for Syrian crews to be trained. Even Those concerns were reinforced series of “deterrence” stances in- will not have the luxury of time to pitch. They were taken to a ware- then, it is unclear whether the Syr- by the delivery by Russia of S-300 tended to warn Israel of the risks transfer sizeable numbers of mis- house just north of the stadium that ian military will have full control anti-aircraft systems to Syria to beef it faces should it begin aggression siles from depots — whether in Bei- contained nothing more than rags of the S-300s or operate them with up Damascus’s air defence capa- against Hezbollah and Lebanon. rut or elsewhere — to launch sites and debris. The problem, however, Russian oversight. bilities in response to the accidental By the same token, Netanyahu’s across the country. In all likelihood, was that the warehouse was not one The presence of S-300s, even if downing by Syrian air defence of an propaganda stunt was intended Hezbollah’s offensive missile arse- of the three facilities cited by the Is- fully under Syrian control, will raise Ilyushin Il-20 reconnaissance air- to needle Hezbollah by suggesting nal is already in place to allow for raeli prime minister. the threat factor for intruding Israe- craft during Israeli air raids on tar- Israel has good intelligence on the a speedy launch should a conflict The two remaining sites listed by li aircraft but it is unlikely that the gets near Latakia in north-western disposition of its military assets break out. Netanyahu were a warehouse next presence of the missiles will deter Syria. — assuming the Israeli prime min- Sources close to Hezbollah often to the airport perimeter and a small Israel from attacking Iranian and ister was telling the truth — and to hint about the automated nature of quay beside one of the airport run- Hezbollah targets in Syria, given Is- Hezbollah will not have unnerve the Lebanese population, the rocket firing systems. Long gone ways, just north of the Ouzai fishing rael’s suspected technological edge. the luxury of time to who might blanch at living close to are the days of trudging through harbour. The quay, which is fenced However, Israel knows that it a Hezbollah missile warehouse the olive groves in southern Lebanon off from the adjacent public beach, would run a great risk by striking transfer sizeable numbers coordinates of which are known to with a 122mm Grad on the shoul- is known locally as a Hezbollah fa- targets in Lebanon, thereby com- of missiles from depots — the Israeli Air Force. der and loading the rockets by hand cility, although it is unclear whether pelling a Hezbollah response. That whether in Beirut or What of Netanyahu’s claim? into the launchers. missiles are stored in the warehous- is why Netanyahu’s posturing in elsewhere — to launch There is little doubt that Hezbollah Therefore, one should treat with es on the dock. It was from here that New York, like Nasrallah’s admis- sites across the country. has amassed a considerable quanti- some scepticism Netanyahu’s claim Hezbollah launched an Iranian vari- sion over the precision-guided mis- ty of rockets and missiles since 2006 that Hezbollah has three missile ant of the Chinese C-802 anti-ship siles, is simply part of a long-under- Netanyahu’s expose, complete — as Nasrallah said in 2007 after a warehouses near Ouzai neighbour- missile in the 2006 war that disa- stood and ongoing effort to bolster with satellite images, at the UN truck carrying weapons to the south hood of southern Beirut. bled an Israeli naval vessel. the mutual balance of terror that General Assembly was shortly after was halted by the Lebanese Army. Lebanese Foreign Minister Ge- Netanyahu’s revelations at the has helped ensure calm along the Hezbollah Secretary-General Has- “We have weapons of all kinds and bran Bassil attempted to refute Ne- United Nations likely do not por- Lebanese-Israeli border for more san Nasrallah confirmed for the first quantities, as many as you want… tanyahu’s claim by inviting a group tend a shift by Israel to attack Hez- than 12 years. time that the party has acquired we don’t fight our enemies with of bemused diplomats to inspect bollah targets in Lebanon. First, the precision-guided missiles. swords made of wood,” he said. He some of the facilities in Ouzai. The S-300 air defence systems in Syria Nicholas Blanford is the author Nasrallah’s comment was intend- has since said that Hezbollah could tour was poorly organised, diplo- appear to be under the control of of “Warriors of God: Inside ed as a riposte to Israel, which, since hit any part of Israel. mats who attended said, and less the Russian military. Although the Hezbollah’s Thirty-Year Struggle January 2013, has been striking tar- However, if another war erupts, than convincing. Russians have said that the system Against Israel” (Random House gets in Syria to prevent Hezbollah it will likely begin very quickly and They visited Al-Ahed football sta- is intended for the Syrian military, 2011).

Viewpoint Beirut airport: Looking glass into a failed state

country’s airport is missile conversion sites, a claim is tasked with certain sectors, remains of the semblance of often an accurate he supported by showing aerial with some areas overlapping. Lebanese statehood. gauge of a state’s reconnaissance footage of three The situation is further compli- Neither Aoun nor Hariri took governance and the locations. cated by the fact that, within any punitive actions against the Makram Rabah ability of its differ- Lebanese Foreign Minister the Lebanese clientelist system, two officers involved or their ent branches to act Gebran Bassil, a Hezbollah ally, each agency serves as an agent of subordinates, preferring to stand inA concert. Airports are the face responded by organising a field various sects and, consequently, by their patrons, even at the cost of a country. The first impres- trip for the diplomatic corps there is the perennial concern of weakening the state. sions of tourists and locals are and media to the locations and that any conflict between them Yet the real fiasco is not that determined by those formed publicly accused Netanyahu of might suddenly assume a very Lebanon’s gateway to the world when arriving. warmongering. serious and sectarian twist. has turned into a cesspool. Nei- This is as equally true of the Netanyahu’s allegations aside, The recent incident involved ther is it that the people tasked glistening arrival halls in Dubai since Hariri’s assassination, both the ISF, charged with screening with its maintenance and protec- International Airport as it is Lebanon and the airport’s infra- and inspecting passengers, and tion have failed to carry out their of the decrepit airfield in Bei- structure have been deteriorat- Airport Security, which, as the jobs. Rather it is that this failed rut, where recurring incidents ing. Interruptions of service are name suggests, is to maintain model is an accurate reflection of underscore the inability of the commonplace and excessive security throughout the facility the entirety of the state and its facility and the government that delays the norm, making the and its environs. Both bodies are different branches. operates it. airport a virtual nightmare for nominally under the jurisdic- No one can argue that there Beirut International Airport the thousands who are obliged to tion of Minister of the Interior is any glimmer of hope for the was one of the flagship projects use it and, by doing so, provid- Nouhad Machnouk but the head Lebanese and their failed state. for late Prime Minister Rafik ing the perfect analogy for the of Airport Security, a Greek The manner in which Lebanon’s Hariri. He spearheaded the fortunes of the country it serves. Catholic Lebanese Army officer so-called elite and the Lebanese reconstruction and expansion of During the last few weeks, the who reports directly to Lebanese populace that supports them the facility directly after becom- airport boarding system col- President Michel Aoun, repeat- deal with the political, economic ing prime minister in 1992, with lapsed, leading to the suspension edly ignored the normal chain of and even environmental chal- the first phase completed in of all outgoing flights and trap- command. lenges proves that the rule of law 1998. ping passengers in the airport for The officer who heads the has been replaced by the law of The airport would also be his hours — public mayhem that was ISF airport contingent, a Sunni the jungle — a jungle inhabited own testament to history, being quickly shared around the world who is part of Prime Minister by beings who have lost the abil- Netanyahu’s renamed the Beirut-Rafik Hariri through social media. Saad Hariri’s political camp, has ity to make rational choices that International Airport following A standoff between the two se- butted heads with the chief of might save them the extinction allegations aside, his assassination in 2005. curity agencies tasked with the Airport Security before, leading that otherwise almost certainly since Hariri’s However, history has not been protection of the airport later led to bad blood between the two. awaits them. assassination, both as kind to the airport that bears to the closure of the inspection Shamefully this most recent his name. points for hours. fiasco was only resolved when Makram Rabah is a lecturer Lebanon and the The airport recently was in the Theoretically, the airport is po- Machnouk intervened directly, at the American University of airport’s headlines when Israeli Prime liced by five security agencies — making an emergency visit to Beirut and author of “A Campus Binyamin Netanyahu accused Customs, General Security, Air- the airport to return a sense of at War: Student Politics at the infrastructure have Hezbollah of utilising the area port Security, Internal Security normalcy to a senseless situ- American University of Beirut, been deteriorating. around the airport for secret Force (ISF) and the Army. Each ation, an added blow to what 1967-1975.” 10 October 7, 2018 News & Analysis Egypt Sisi-Netanyahu meeting reflects deeper ties

Ahmed Megahid time to waste on debate,” he said. “What is required is the political will to resume negotiations and Cairo achieve a settlement in accordance with these determinants [a two- he meeting between Egyp- state solution].” tian President Abdel Fat- Cairo says it can be central to tah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime the negotiations, something that T Minister Binyamin Netan- would confirm its vital strategic yahu at the UN General Assembly position in the region. demonstrates deepening ties be- As Egypt and Israel marked the tween the two countries, analysts 45th anniversary of the Yom Kip- said. pur War, what was increasingly “There is a noticeable change clear was that conflict belonged to in relations between Cairo and history amid growing political, se- Tel Aviv and this is seen clearly in curity and economic coordination growing coordination and consul- between Cairo and Tel Aviv. tations between them,” said Has- Egypt and Israel cooperate in san Nafaa, a professor of political fighting a branch of the Islamic science at Cairo University. “These State (ISIS) in the Sinai Peninsula. relations have moved from cooper- Israel allowed Egypt to deploy ad- ation in the 30 years that followed ditional troops and heavy artil- the signing of the 1979 peace treaty lery to the peninsula, even as the to coalition now.” 1979 peace treaty between the two countries specifically precludes The growing economic this. Egypt and Israel also coordi- interests are among nate security arrangements along their shared border, Israeli officials reasons that Cairo is said. working to bring the On the same day that Sisi was Palestinians together, meeting with Netanyahu in New finish off ISIS in the Sinai York, Israel’s Delek Drilling, US In the open. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Peninsula and secure its company Noble Energy and Egyp- Netanyahu (L) at the UN General Assembly, on September 27. (AFP) western border with Libya. tian firm East Gas signed a deal worth $518 million to purchase a Cairo has taken an increasingly 39% stake in the Eastern Mediter- development plans to become an border with Libya. to demonstrate its unique position important role in seeking to unite ranean Gas Pipeline. The pipeline Eastern Mediterranean energy In July, Egypt was instrumental in the region as vital to both Pales- Palestinian factions in preparation was built to export Egyptian gas to hub. in helping Hamas and Israel reach tinians and Israelis. for a broader Palestinian-Israeli Israel but, under the new arrange- “Apart from revealing the extent an agreement for calm on Gaza’s “Egypt will succeed in bringing peace process. Speaking in July ment, natural gas is expected to of political agreement between border with Israel. Although the calm between Gaza and Israel and 2017, Sisi outlined Cairo’s role as a flow from Israel to Egypt. Egypt and Israel, such economic deal soon collapsed, Cairo has con- pushing inter-Palestinian recon- central partner to both Palestinians In February, Delek, Noble and cooperation also opens the door tinued to mediate the issue. ciliation talks forward, given its and Israelis, as well as Washington. Egyptian company Dolphinus for totally new realities in the re- The latest talks between Hamas strong relations with all parties,” “Settling this conflict will nei- Holdings signed a $15 billion deal gion,” said Bashir Abdel Fattah, a and Cairo saw Hamas leader Yahya said Tarek Fahmi, a political sci- ther harm nor destabilise Israel,” for the import of 64 billion cubic researcher at Egyptian think-tank Sinwar confirm to Israeli media ence professor at Cairo University. Sisi said at a meeting of young feet of Israeli gas over ten years. Ahram Centre for Political and that he was open to peace. “There is a real chance for peace at people at Cairo University. “To the The gas would come from Israel’s Strategic Studies. “Now I see a true opportunity for all levels now and the Palestinians public opinion in Israel I say: We offshore Tamar and Leviathan These growing economic inter- change,” he told Israel’s Yedioth and the Israelis need to move to have a great opportunity to find a fields and pumped to Egypt where ests are among reasons that Cairo Ahronoth daily. “A new war is in exploit it.” solution to the Palestinian issue.” it will undergo the liquefying pro- is working to bring the Palestinians no one’s interest, certainly not our Sisi repeated the message at the cess before being sent to inter- together, finish off ISIS in the Sinai interest.” Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian UN General Assembly. “There is no national markets, part of Egypt’s Peninsula and secure its western This is an opportunity for Cairo reporter in Cairo. New legislation aims to revive Egyptian political parties

Hassan Abdel Zaher change their status. street, even more established par- political parties, called on smaller said. “This fragmentation renders The new bill would ensure a ties, such as the liberal Wafd Party, parties to form coalitions that our political life very weak.” 50/50 split between members are in disarray. Leaders of various would create stronger political en- The amendment would legalise Cairo elected as part of a party list and parties complain of a lack of state tities. some mergers that happened in nominal “independents” and support, at the political and finan- The weakness of Egypt’s politi- recent months, including that of gypt’s political map could would allow members to join or cial level, and limited freedoms cal parties became an embarrass- the centre-leftist Nation’s Future undergo a significant shift change party affiliation. granted parties. ment this year when no group Party and the Together for Egypt in its next parliamentary The current system was drafted could field a competitive candi- Coalition, which has mainly in- E session with members pre- in 2014, a time of political transi- date to go against Sisi in the presi- cluded independents. The merger paring to debate legislation that tion and unrest when many ques- Egyptian law reserves dential election. Sisi ultimately allowed the pro-Sisi Nation’s Fu- would determine the political af- tioned the strength of Egypt’s po- 120 seats in the 596-seat competed against only Moussa ture Party to control almost two- filiations of future lawmakers. litical parties, most of which had Mostafa Moussa, head of the cen- thirds of the seats of parliament. The measure, submitted by been founded after the 2011 revo- legislature for political trist El-Ghad Party. Moussa, who Nation’s Future Party, which was dozens of lawmakers in the previ- lution that ended Hosni Mubarak’s parties, which must put backed Sisi’s re-election bid before founded in 2014 by Sisi support- ous parliamentary session, would three-decade rule. forward lists of deciding to run on his own, took ers, is acting as a role model for amend the House of Deputies Law, “Those who drafted the law candidates that include less than 3% of the vote. Some an- other parties. Mindful of the dis- which regulates the makeup of the were hopeful that, in the years stringent quotas. alysts said more Egyptians spoiled connect between the parties and legislature. The changes would following the 2015 parliamentary their ballots than voted for Mous- Egyptian citizens, party members allow the country’s 106 political elections, the political parties will Egypt’s political parties are di- sa. are being encouraged to interact parties to field more candidates in gain strength and popularity,” vided between staunch backers Proposed amendments would directly with the electorate. The elections, potentially giving them said Tarek Fahmi, a political sci- of Egyptian President Abdel Fat- ease party mergers, which, Kholi party has promoted a programme greater representation in parlia- ence professor at Cairo University. tah al-Sisi and those who oppose said, would encourage groups and of free food and medical treatment ment. “Sorry to say, the political parties the president. Most parties that coalitions with similar agendas to to poor villages in the rural areas. This, lawmakers backing the bill could not gain either strength or oppose Sisi have little presence in form larger and stronger political The party said it hoped to score said, would breathe new life into popularity at that time.” parliament and hardly any popular entities. “The political scene is big at the municipal elections, Egypt’s moribund parliament. While most Egyptian political support. fragmented because of the pres- whose date has not been set, and “The political parties need to parties have little presence on the Sisi, citing the weaknesses of the ence of too many parties,” Kholi aspires to spearhead Sisi’s plans make their presence felt more in parliament. Observers are also inside parliament,” said Tarek al- looking to the next general and Kholi, one of the lawmakers sup- presidential elections, particularly porting the bill. “The current par- with Sisi serving his second term liament law does not allow this to in office. happen.” How parties compete will dic- Egyptian law reserves 120 seats tate Egypt’s future, with many in the 596-seat legislature for po- voters hoping to see a revival of a litical parties, which must put political scene that is often derid- forward lists of candidates that in- ed as stodgy and stolid. clude stringent quotas for youth, “Mergers will ensure that the women, Christians, farmers and resultant political entities are people with disabilities and Egyp- strong enough to reach people on tians residing abroad. Political the streets,” said Amr Hashem Ra- An additional 448 MPs are elect- disarray. bie, the deputy head of the Ahram ed through an individual candi- A 2015 file Centre for Political and Strategic dacy system and the president di- picture shows Studies think-tank. “Strong politi- rectly selects 28 lawmakers. Those a young man cal entities are a must if we want elected as part of the “individual- walking past to have a healthy political environ- seat” system must be independ- electoral ment.” ents even if they are from Egypt’s banners in political party system. Once in the Heliopolis Hassan Abdel Zaher is a parliament, those members can- area. Cairo-based contributor to not declare any party affiliation or (Reuters) The Arab Weekly. October 7, 2018 11 News & Analysis Maghreb UN chief asks Security Council to extend mandate of Western Sahara mission

Saad Guerraoui envoy of the UN secretary-general for Western Sahara,” Mohammed Khadad, the Polisario Front’s coor- Casablanca dinator with MINURSO, told Jeune Afrique. “This is good news.” N Secretary-General An- Moroccan Foreign Minister tonio Guterres asked the Nasser Bourita was not imme- UN Security Council to diately available for comment. U extend the mandate of the Bourita met with Guterres regard- UN Mission for the Referendum in ing the Western Sahara conflict on Western Sahara (MINURSO) to give the sidelines of the UN General As- his envoy time “necessary to cre- sembly in New York. ate conditions that will allow the The most recent negotiations be- political process to move forward.” tween Morocco and the Polisario The Security Council in April Front were in 2012. The peace pro- extended MINURSO’s mandate cess has since stalled. through October 31 rather than Koehler’s intent to invite Alge- one year. MINURSO was created ria to the talks is likely to pressure in April 1991 following the UN-bro- Algiers into playing a more active kered ceasefire between Morocco role in resolving the conflict, al- and the Algeria-backed Polisario though Algeria denies any involve- Front. ment in the dispute. The Security Council approved Morocco annexed Western Sa- a US-drafted resolution that urged hara in 1975 and maintains it is an the two warring parties to prepare integral part of the kingdom. The for talks within the 6-month dead- Polisario Front started an armed line. conflict in pursuit of an independ- “Maintaining peaceful and sta- ent state, a confrontation that last- ble conditions on the ground is ed until a UN-brokered a ceasefire essential to promote a resumption in 1991. of the political process,” Guterres Rabat has proposed a form of said. autonomy under Moroccan sover- He stressed that MINURSO re- eignty for the territory. The pro- Thorny conflict. UN Envoy for the Western Sahara Horst Koehler (C) leaves following a meeting with mained a key element to obtain a posal was rejected by the Polisario Polisario Front negotiators on the outskirts of Tindouf, last October. (AFP) just, lasting and mutually accept- Front, which insists on the right of able political solution. the Sahrawi people to self-deter- population in accordance with Se- affirms the relationship between The bill warns that the lack of Guterres’s call to renew MI- mination in a UN-monitored vote. curity Council resolutions and in the United States and Morocco resolution to the conflict inhibits NURSO’s mandate until October Moroccan Prime Minister response to the secretary-general’s while condemning recent actions regional security and economic 31, 2019, came after Envoy Horst Saadeddine Othmani told the Gen- appeals,” said Othmani. by the Polisario Front. prosperity in North Africa. It says Koehler, invited Morocco and the eral Assembly that Western Sahara Algerian Foreign Minister Ab- “The kingdom of Morocco was that the efforts Iran and Leba- Polisario Front, along with Algeria was a source of instability in North delkader Messahel said at the Gen- the first country to recognise the nese Shia movement Hezbollah to and Mauritania, to talks December Africa and accused Algeria of fuel- eral Assembly that his government United States in 1777 and remains maintain influence in North Africa 5-6 in Geneva to solve the Western ling the dispute. backed UN efforts to restart talks an important strategic ally and runs counter to the national secu- Sahara conflict. He requested a re- Othmani recalled Morocco’s de- on Western Sahara. He stressed partner for peace in the Middle East rity objectives of the United States. sponse by October 20. mand to allow as soon as possible that a solution must uphold the and North Africa,” said Wilson. If the bill becomes law, it would Guterres said Morocco and the the UN refugee agency to count the right of the people of Western Sa- “The terrorist regime in Iran has boost Morocco’s position on the Polisario Front agreed to “prelimi- population of the Sahrawi refugee hara to self-determination. been funding attacks against Mo- Western Sahara conflict and sup- nary discussions,” adding he was camps. Koehler’s invitation came two rocco by the Polisario Front and it port Rabat’s autonomy plan. confident about the responses ex- “We call on the international days after US Congressmen Joe is time for the United Nations to pected from Algeria and Maurita- community to urge Algeria to as- Wilson, Carlos Curbelo and Gerry promote a peaceful resolution to Saad Guerraoui is a contributor nia. sume its full responsibility by al- Connolly introduced a bill in the this Western Sahara conflict,” he to The Arab Weekly on Maghreb “We salute this step of the special lowing UNHCR to register this US House of Representatives that added. issues. Tunisian lawyers release documents claiming ‘secret’ Islamist organisation

Lamine Ghanmi emerging about the secret organisa- conflicting views on societal issues, document detailed how Khedher details” of leading businessmen, tion,” Raddaoui said. including Caid Essebsi’s call for gen- helped secure the release of Domen- military officers and former and Ennahda released a statement der equality in inheritance. ico Quirico, an Italian captured by current police officers. The docu- Tunis categorically rejecting that it had Many Ennahda leaders expressed jihadists in Syria, in September 2013. ment included recommendations engaged in political activity outside concern that the two camps’ fraying “Khedher was on the Turkish bor- on which figures to promote based awyers representing two as- the framework of the law. ties could have dangerous political der with Syria to receive him and on their perceived friendliness to sassinated Tunisian opposi- Islamist figures said the accusa- consequences and advised the par- hand him over to Italian intelligence Ennahda. tion leaders disclosed court tions levelled at Ennahda reflected ty’s leader to “return to the politics services,” said Raddaoui, reading Another document detailed a L documents claiming the Is- the “bankruptcy” of the radical of entente.” from one of the documents. “Khed- training session for Islamists on how lamist Ennahda Movement devel- leftist formations that sponsored In an open letter to Ennahda her’s action was in return for secret to effectively utilise “wiretapping” oped a sprawling “secret organisa- the news conference. However, the President Rached Ghannouchi, information from the Italian servic- for intelligence purposes. tion” aimed at cementing its covert lawyers said the documents were leading figures in the Islamist party es about the details of a meeting of The lawyers said the documents dominance of Tunisia’s political among a “trove” of papers seized warned that the end of “entente” Beji Caid Essebsi with a representa- were “a very small part of the troves scene. by authorities at what appeared to could result in “mounting tensions” tive of the Italian services.” (relating to) the secret organisation” The documents, released during a be an Islamist covert operation site and could endanger the democratic that were seized by the police but news conference October 2 in Tunis, disguised as a driving school. transition. long kept “in a dark room” by the alleged that Egypt’s Muslim Broth- One of the operation’s leaders was “There is no way out of the cur- While the court documents Interior Ministry, which was previ- erhood sent operatives to Tunis to alleged to be Mustapha Khedher, a rent political crisis except through provide no smoking gun ously controlled by Ennahda. train Ennahda members to run a former army officer who was jailed a return to the politics of entente about Ennahda’s Zied Lakhdar, secretary-general clandestine, multifaceted opera- with other military officers in the and the safeguarding of the balance involvement in political of the leftist Democratic Patriots’ tion in parallel to the party’s open 1990s for plotting to overthrow the between constitutionally ordained assassinations, they are Movement, whose leader Chokri Be- organisation. government. institutions,” Ennahda members, likely to create further laid was assassinated in 2013, said: While the court documents pro- led by former Ghannouchi aide Lotfi “The facts are before your eyes. “The Muslim Brotherhood in mistrust between Islamists Egypt was the technical adviser to vide no smoking gun about Ennah- Zitoun, wrote in the open letter. They substantiate what we have set up the secret organisation of En- da’s involvement in political assas- “This requires the movement to and the country’s secularist been saying about Ennahda. It is not nahda,” said Ridha Raddaoui, the sinations, they are likely to create stop taking sides in the dispute [be- camp. a party like the others.” lawyers’ spokesman. “The Broth- further mistrust between Islamists tween the president and the prime Zouheir Hamdi, head of the erhood of Egypt dispatched two of and the country’s secularist camp. minister] and to take the initiative, “In a trade-off with the Italians, pan-Arab nationalist Popular Cur- their experts on the issue to train Tunisian President Beji Caid Es- from your end, of repairing ties with Khedher received secret informa- rent party whose leader Mohamed Ennahda’s officials on how to build sebsi, the most influential secularist the president.” tion about a gas deal between Alge- Brahmi was also killed by suspected a secret arm.” leader, in September said his “en- Secular activist Boujemaa R’mili, a ria and Italy,” he added. Islamist extremists, claimed: “The “The training session was dis- tente” with Ennahda had ended. close friend of Caid Essebsi, warned Raddaoui also claimed the “secret documents provide facts not analy- guised as a workshop on farming,” Ennahda had established a de facto that “Ennahda losing its entente organisation’s” activity included ses that Ennahda has a secret or- he said, reading from court docu- alliance with Caid Essebsi five years could expose its leaders for prosecu- “intelligence eavesdropping” with ganisation. They display its genuine ments from 2012 and 2013 when ago, gaining considerable influence tion about their roles in recruiting sophisticated tools such as “record- political identity of violence and its Ennahda was the country’s ruling in governance and policymaking jihadists for war zones in Syria, Iraq ing pens.” role in the bloodshed in Syria and party and controlled the judiciary and gaining international legitima- and Libya and in fostering terrorism Other documents claimed the or- Libya and other parts of the Arab na- and the powerful Interior Ministry. cy. at home.” ganisation had an “extensive data- tion.” “These are documents from the Recently, however, that partner- Some of the revealed court docu- base with detailed names and fam- court. There is no doubt about their ship became strained due to di- ments alleged Ennahda had contact ily ties of the leading criminals in Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly truth and the veracity of the details vergent electoral calculations and with extremist groups overseas. One Tunis.” Another provided “intimate correspondent in Tunis. 12 October 7, 2018 News & Analysis Palestine Israel UNRWA faces unrest in Gaza over funding cuts

The Arab Weekly staff Mounting criticism. Palestinian London employees take part NRWA, the UN agency es- in a protest tablished to support Pal- against estinian refugees, is fac- job cuts by U ing mounting criticism in UNRWA in Gaza as the agency begins to feel Gaza City, on the pinch of US funding cuts. September Palestinian employees of UNRWA 19. (Reuters) have staged strikes and protests after the agency laid off more than 100 workers in its emergency pro- gramme. UNRWA also turned hun- dreds of positions into part-time jobs. The agency employs about 13,000 people in Gaza, where, the World Bank says, the unemployment rate is more than 50%. The cuts have affected education and health services in the Palestin- ian enclave, where two-thirds of the 2 million people who live there are eligible for aid. UNRWA withdrew some of its in- ternational staff from Gaza due to security concerns. Media reports said only six of 19 foreign staff members remained. “A number of staff [members] were harassed and prevented from carrying out their duties by indi- cilities to be harmed. which caters for 5 million Palestin- away,” UNRWA Commission-Gen- “It is catastrophic.” viduals protesting recent measures “The protection measures did not ian refugees in the region. eral Pierre Krahenbuhl said in Sep- The World Bank warned that resulting from UNRWA’s challeng- change but due to the recent job re- The United States and Israel argue tember. Gaza’s economy is in “free fall” as ing financial situation in particular ductions in the Gaza Strip there has that the descendants of the 750,000 He said the agency received pledg- cuts to aid and salaries add to an in relation to the Emergency Appeal been anger among the employees,” Palestinians who left their homes es of $118 million during a meeting already crippling economic cri- for the [occupied Palestinian terri- Eyad al-Bozom, spokesman for during the creation of Israel in 1948 of officials from 34 states and organ- sis. “The economic deterioration tories]. Some of these actions have the Hamas-led Interior Ministry in should not have refugee status. The isations at UN headquarters. There in both Gaza and West Bank can specifically targeted the UNRWA Gaza, told Reuters. “We will not let United States is apparently using the remains a budget gap of $68 million no longer be counteracted by for- management in Gaza,” a statement these protests develop and we will suspension of aid to urge the Pales- for this year and the agency may not eign aid, which has been in steady by the agency read. not allow any attacks against em- tinians to accept a Trump-sponsored be able to secure funds in the future. decline, nor by the private sector, “This comes after weeks of pro- ployees or facilities.” peace plan with the Israelis. which remains confined by re- tests, repeated incidents affecting UNRWA runs more than 270 The Palestinians have resisted US strictions on movement, access to international and national staff and schools, giving them responsibility pressure and UNRWA has defended UNRWA withdrew some of primary materials and trade,” the takes place despite serious UNRWA for about 280,000 students in Gaza. the way it calculates the number of its international staff from World Bank said. efforts to engage authorities in an UNRWA’s operations director, refugees. Gaza due to security Half of all Gazans live below the attempt to ensure proper security is Matthias Schmale, told the Associ- “No matter how often attempts concerns. poverty line, it said. afforded to its staff,” the statement ated Press that the agency “can’t are made to minimise or delegiti- “Increased frustration is feeding added. “UNRWA calls upon the lo- function properly” under current mise the individual and collective The UN development agency into the increased tensions, which cal authorities in Gaza to respond to financial conditions. experiences of Palestine refugees, (UNCTAD) said the US decision have already started spilling over its repeated demands to provide ef- The funding crisis was sparked by the undeniable fact remains that to halt aid to Palestinian refugees into unrest and setting back the hu- fective protection to its employees US President Donald Trump’s can- they have rights under international would create “more misery.” “The man development of the region’s and facilities.” cellation of $350 million in aid. The law and represent a community of situation in Gaza is becoming less large youth population,” said Mari- Hamas officials said they would Trump administration and Israel 5.4 million men, women and chil- and less liveable,” said Isabelle Du- na Wes, World Bank director for the not allow UNRWA employees or fa- oppose the work scope of UNRWA, dren who cannot simply be wished rant, the deputy head of UNCTAD. West Bank and Gaza. Viewpoint Desperate young Gazans at dead end alestinian expatriates are hoping to make enough money water. while giving fiery speeches of receive Facebook mes- to pay smugglers to get them to the On the path of tears of illegal resistance. In deeds, however, it is sages every day from Greek side. Those who can get the migration, there are many service a different story. Adli Sadeq relatives and friends funds are surprised to find surviv- providers. The poor wretches can Palestinian President Mahmoud in Gaza pleading with ing in the Greek market almost do nothing but buy these services Abbas, for example, is fighting them to help one of their impossible. The Greeks are no even when they know that they the “deal of the century” by clos- Pyoung people travel to Egypt or angels and often the refugees must might lead them to death. The ing more horizons in the face of get him a visa to anywhere or buy pay dearly to get to Europe. unscrupulous service providers are Palestinians or by announcing that him a ticket to Latin America or Greece has its own problems not always whom you expect. the Palestinian Authority has come Asia where an entry visa is not and, were it not for the quick The Turks, for example, know to an almost total agreement with required. reaction of international agen- that buyers in Gaza of entry visas the Israeli internal security agency Many of the pleas are motivated cies, which went to the aid of the to Turkey intend to migrate and so Shabak. It is as if Abbas and the by heart-wrenching reasons. In refugees stuck in Greece, a human do the Egyptians and the Greeks others are doing their best to de- Gaza, there are about 200,000 uni- disaster would have been inevi- and the Malaysians. As soon as a populate Gaza, drive the educated versity graduates, in all specialties, table. Amid deadly cold weather, refugee arrives in Kuala Lumpur youth out and let families become who are forced by need to eke out hundreds of Syrian families and en route to another destination, extinct. their daily living working as itiner- other refugees found themselves he’s asked to pay residency fees or That way, everybody is relieved ant sellers or doing back-breaking crammed in small summer tents exit and re-entry fees. of the problem and Gaza would be jobs for little money. on top of almost bare and unin- What is surprising and sad at the turned into a beach and vacation- Those who thought themselves habited islands. As donations and same time is that these markets for ing spot for the Palestinian officials lucky to have escaped to Egypt or contributions run dry, interna- refugee traffic are in Muslim coun- and their families and friends, Turkey find themselves piled up in tional relief agencies are finding it tries, not Christian and not Jewish, as well as for the companies that Cairo or Istanbul waiting for their extremely hard to continue their but Muslim countries of oppression would be offered the opportunity passports to return from Gaza. humanitarian work. and human ingratitude. It’s a great to exploit the natural gas off Gaza’s They sent their passports to Gaza On his way to Europe, the Gazan paradox that Muslim refugees coast. Hamas would benefit so their families could buy them refugee often falls victim to un- prefer to migrate to democratic because it would be spared the visas to “friendly” Turkey. scrupulous schemes and heartless countries with Christian majorities embarrassment of admitting its Often, the money for visas gangs who prey on human misery. because they are sure to be met failure in managing Gaza’s affairs is borrowed or raised through Here, Gazans are not alone. They with kindness and compassion. and of abandoning its broken contributions by members of the join thousands of other refugees It is also painful to note that dream of establishing a mini-state extended family. Once they are from countries governed by cor- many of the middlemen in this for the Muslim Brotherhood in the in Istanbul, these “lucky” Gazans rupt thieves. The escape routes trafficking in human misery are Gaza Strip. find themselves stuck, not able taken by these poor people are connected to the official system in The more Gazans cry for help, to move on to their intended final often dangerous, especially when their respective countries. To add the more they are oppressed politi- destinations in Europe. Life then these routes intersect security to the paradoxes, officialdom in cally and ignored by the so-called becomes difficult. checkpoints weary of terrorists those countries is often the loudest free world. Their plight will worsen Very often they can’t find jobs in and their movements. in voicing an unwavering devo- because, in the grand evil schemes the exhausted Turkish job market In the Sahara stretch between tion to the Palestinian cause and of their fate, they must reach a In the Sahara stretch and they don’t have enough funds Egypt and Libya, human tragedies boundless empathy towards Gaza point where any deal with Israel to pay for the return trip to Gaza. play out every day. I heard blood- and its inhabitants. would seem to be the ultimate and between Egypt and Those stuck in Egypt are often curdling stories of migrants being To top everything, it is difficult only lifebuoy available to them in Libya, human unable to pay the penalty for over- lost in the desert for days, aban- to ignore that the first guilty par- an angry ocean. staying their permit and therefore doned by smugglers, and whose ties in this tragedy are Palestinian tragedies play out cannot leave the country. only wish is no longer to get to the officials. These people never stop Adli Sadeq is a Palestinian writer every day. Young Gazans stuck in Turkey seacoast but just to get a drop of lamenting the fate of Palestine and political analyst. October 7, 2018 13 Debate Turkey Erdogan’s Sochi deal plays into Assad’s hands

If it does come to a fight between Idlib’s rebels and the Syrian Army, the deal has put the rebel groups, Oliver Wright some of which Turkey has nur- tured, into a more vulnerable posi- tion. This undermines Turkey’s leverage in Syria. Turkey naturally hopes it does uch has made not come to this but it is not clear much of a deal what it can do to change the cal- between Turkish culus in the time it has bought. If President Recep indications in Turkish media are Tayyip Erdogan anything to go by, Ankara would and Russian Presi- like to divert Damascus’s atten- Mdent Vladimir Putin over Syria’s tion to areas of Syria east of the north-western Idlib province. Euphrates under the control of Turkey’s government-controlled Kurdish militias backed by the media reacted with near euphoria, United States. reflecting relief that an anticipated Turkey has long viewed these Syrian government offensive groups as the gravest threat to its against the rebel-held enclave had national security emanating from been forestalled. One columnist Syria. It perhaps hopes the Syrian suggested that Erdogan, for whom government and its allies can be good news has been scarce lately, convinced that the threat those be nominated for the Nobel Peace same Kurdish groups pose to Syr- Prize. Elsewhere, many wondered ian territorial integrity is greater if the deal had done more than Perilous task. A Turkish forces convoy of trucks carrying tanks destined for Syria than that posed by Idlib’s rebels, buy Idlib, and Turkey, a temporary drives near the town of Reyhanli in Turkey, on September 13. (AP) not to mention other areas of Syria reprieve. the Turkish Army occupied in 2016 Idlib is occupied by a fractious removal of heavy weapons from its weaknesses. and 2018 . array of armed groups. Many have the zone, along with what Putin The Sochi deal gives every ap- Despite encouraging sounds little in common besides their referred to as “radically minded” pearance of furthering this strat- from Russian Foreign Minister opposition to Syria’s government, rebels. In return, Russia will pre- egy. It comes as no surprise that Sergei Lavrov, it is hard to see how partly explaining why they seem vent the Syrian government from the Syrian government reacted events in Sochi can alter circum- to spend as much time fight- undertaking an offensive in the positively. Rebel forces will, as- stances that resulted in the Syrian ing each other as their common heavily populated region. suming Turkey is at least partially government prioritising the recap- enemy. So far so good. Turkey tempo- successful in fulfilling its side of ture of Idlib over areas of Syria it Turkey has troops in this chaotic rarily averted a humanitarian ca- the bargain, be concentrated into a does not control. environment. They were deployed tastrophe in Idlib, one that would smaller area in Idlib, making them The Sochi deal smells more of under the terms of a 2017 agree- likely have caused hundreds of easier targets if the Syrian govern- Turkey’s desperation to avert, if ment with Russia and Iran to man thousands of refugees and rebels ment moves onto the offensive. only for now, an influx of refugees a dozen or so outposts along Idlib’s to flee towards the Turkish border. The deal is so riddled with ambi- and rebel fighters, many of them border with neighbouring Syr- Beyond that, it is hard to see guities that Turkey will find it near radicals, and less of long-term ian provinces, providing a barrier how the deal serves anyone’s in- impossible to uphold its terms. progress towards the realisation of separating the rebels from Syrian terests better than it does those of Turkey’s understanding of what Turkey’s goals in Syria. government forces. Syrian President Bashar Assad. constitute “radically minded” In the words of its former For- Under the terms of the Putin- Assad and his Russian, Iranian rebels likely differs from that of eign Minister Yasar Yakis, Turkey Erdogan deal announced Septem- and Hezbollah allies have fol- Russia’s, never mind the Syrian has agreed to “do the dirty work ber 17 in Sochi, Russia, Turkey is lowed, largely successfully, a strat- government’s view. Unless Turkey in Idlib.” The Syrian government’s tasked with establishing a demili- egy that involves corralling their can evict all rebel forces from dirty work that is. In the zero- tarised buffer zone 15-25km wide enemies into successively fewer the buffer zone within the short sum game of the Syrian conflict along Idlib’s border by the mid- and smaller enclaves. time frame, fingers will point at Turkey’s loss is the Syrian govern- dle of October. This requires the It is easy to understand why whatever groups remain in the ment’s gain. they have done this. Although zone. It is probable that the groups it concentrates their opponents’ most averse to eviction from the Oliver Wright completed a The Sochi deal smells more of strength, this allows the over- proposed zone will be those most doctorate in cognitive psychology Turkey’s desperation to avert, if stretched and undermanned obviously “radically minded.” at the University of Surrey. He only for now, an influx of government forces to reclaim So the Sochi deal, for all the lived in Turkey from 2006-18, areas vacated by the rebels at low praise it received in the Turkish working as an academic in the refugees and rebel fighters and cost and concentrate their supe- media, tasks Turkey with clearing psychology departments of Bilkent less of long-term progress rior firepower on fewer and more an area of Syrian territory of rebels and Bahcesehir universities. This target-rich environments. The that is liable to be reoccupied by article originally appeared on towards the realisation of strategy plays to the Syrian mili- the Syrian government at a time of ahvalnews.com. It is reprinted Turkey’s goals in Syria. tary’s strengths while concealing its choosing and at minimal cost. with permission. Will Batman blast mean new reckoning with Kurds?

one that echoes across Syria’s indirectly intervening in those re- no need for the Turkish military Kurdish-held areas and centres gions,” Tastekin told Ahval News The United in Manbij [city] as it’s already on Manbij. When the focus was Online, “[but now] the United States calm. [If the] Turkish military Yavuz Baydar on Idlib enclave, adjacent to the States may not remain a spectator continues to [were] in Manbij it would likely be Turkish-Syrian border further and watch Turkey throw a span- agonise over destabilising.” west, Turkish President Recep ner in the works in a place where which side to However, the Batman attack Tayyip Erdogan upped the ante. it has its own forces.” may provide Erdogan another Feeling the heat with respect He has a point. The “American prioritise: the argument, even as it adds to his to overseeing the withdrawal factor” was very visible when Kurds or displeasure about US arming of he bloody October 4 of jihadists from Idlib, Erdogan Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Turkey. the Kurdish People’s Protection incident in the mainly mentioned a possible military Cavusoglu signed a deal in the Units. Kurdish Batman offensive to the east of the Eu- early summer with US Secretary There is a chance it finds a posi- province is a reminder phrates River, with Manbij as its of State Mike Pompeo. Cavuso- tive echo in Washington. As on of the volatility of the epicentre. glu said the agreement was for other fronts, the Trump adminis- unresolved conflict. In Erdogan’s military objective US-backed Kurdish fighters to tration’s Turkey and Syria policy Tthe early hours of the day, at least was apparent: break the back of withdraw from Manbij within six remains opaque, with mixed and seven Turkish soldiers were killed local Kurdish administrations, months but this doesn’t seem to often contradictory signals sow- when Kurdish militants detonated known to be organically linked be happening. Instead, to Erdog- ing confusion about its objectives a roadside bomb. to the PKK and its fighter units an’s rage, there have been reports and priorities. The attack may have been a across the Jazeera-Kobani belt, in of US weapons and ammunition American diplomats, led by change of strategy by the Kurd- Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn. transfers to the local Kurdish James Jeffrey, special envoy for istan Workers’ Party (PKK). It The Kurdish issue is interlinked. fighters. Syria Engagement, are looking at chose to lie low after Turkey’s If one part across the border is af- Now, there is half-hearted Turkey’s demands but other US June 24 elections, even after the fected, so is the other. Hence, the cooperation. The two NATO al- agencies view the situation very intensification of the cross-border link between Batman and Manbij. lies have begun training for joint differently. For the Pentagon, the bombardment of PKK positions in However, the question remains: patrols but Turkish troops are not Kurds are an ally, a ground force the Qandil Mountains in north- Will the Turkish armed forces allowed into Manbij city centre. against not just the jihadists but eastern Iraq. The Batman incident launch another offensive without In a sense, the Americans have expansionist Iran. should be read as a response. caring for prior approval from thrown up a shield against Tur- This puts both Turkey and the There remains another issue, the US command in the region? key’s desire to take control. As an United States in a difficult posi- Turkish troops have done it twice, anonymous source told journalist tion. Erdogan must appease pro- in 2016 with Operation Euphrates Amberin Zaman: “The point of it Russia nationalists even as he de- The Batman attack may Shield and in January this year is to de-escalate.” fies the Iran embargo. The United provide Erdogan another with the aim of capturing Afrin. The source echoed Farouk States continues to agonise over It is obvious that Ankara will be al-Mashi, of Manbij Legislative which side to prioritise: the Kurds argument, even as it adds to faced with another impasse. Jour- Council, who said on the second or Turkey. his displeasure about US nalist Fehim Tastekin said the anniversary of the city’s libera- situation has changed drastically tion from the Islamic State, that Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish arming of the Kurdish since 2016. “The American factor it is safe and an integral part of journalist and regular columnist People’s Protection Units. didn’t exist when Turkey was Syria. The source said: “There is for The Arab Weekly. 14 October 7, 2018 Debate Iran

Iran’s terror plot in Paris raises many questions

the vehicle. Assadi has also been arrested. Does this ruthless approach Claude Salhani towards Iran’s opposition trump any other consideration? This and two other incidents involving Iranian intelligence agents lead one to believe that rench, German and Bel- the internal situation in Iran is far gian anti-terror police from stable, with people taking units are blaming Iran to the streets in large numbers in for an attempt to bomb protests across the country having a convention centre in the clerics worried. Following France last June. The the attack on the Iranian city of Fintended target was the leadership Ahvaz, one course of action the of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MeK) regime was likely to take in retali- — the People’s Resistance of Iran ation was the assassination of dis- — a Paris-based opposition group sidents overseas. vehemently opposed to the regime “Terror plots by Tehran against of the mullahs. its main opposition coalition, the The MeK has been fighting the NCRI and its main member organi- ruling theocracy in Iran since the sation, the [MeK], may well be a onset of the uprising that over- signal that Tehran is extremely threw the shah. When the revolu- vulnerable inside the country, as a tion began, the MeK was mostly result of the uprising and the key composed of left-leaning students, role that the [MeK] plays to ensure some of whom supported a Marx- the continuation of the protests,” ist ideology and believed that, said Raymond Tanter, a senior once the shah gone, they would member on the Middle East desk distance themselves from the of the National Security Council clergy. staff during the Reagan adminis- However, when the shah left, tration. the mullahs ordered the arrest of Do Iran’s intelligence operators tens of thousands MeK supporters, Signs of resilience. Supporters of Maryam Rajavi, president of the National Council of believe they can outsmart the hanging hundreds from construc- Resistance of Iran (NCRI), attend a rally in Villepinte near Paris, on June 30. (Reuters) “naive” Westerners? Obviously, in tion cranes and others on lamp their arrogance, they must believe posts on city streets. Mukasey and former FBI Director Court documents indicate that they can and that at times that The MeK went underground Louis Freeh. one of the people targeted in June they do. and found itself on European and Over the years the threat the was Jafarzadeh. Later this month, the US Marines American terror lists. It was not MeK posed to the Iranian regime Does the rogue state mindset of will commemorate the 35th an- until 2012 that it convinced Wash- has varied so why would the Iran’s regime prevail over Iran’s niversary of the bombing of the ington and Brussels to remove it Iranians choose to saw off the limb other reflexes? Beirut barracks in which 241 US from the terror lists. of the branch it is sitting on? Why Jafarzadeh said an operation service personnel, mostly Marines, Attending the June event were would Tehran commit a terror act such as the Paris plot very likely were killed. The United States hundreds of political figures, in France while suing the United took about a year to plan and accuses Iran of being responsible such as former New York Mayor States at the International Court of would have never gone ahead for the attack against them and the Rudy Giuliani, former US House Justice? without the approval of the coun- nearby French paratroopers, who Speaker Newt Gingrich, former “This proves just how worried try’s top leadership, including lost 59 men in a similar explosion. UN Ambassador Bill Richardson, the regime is of the MeK,’’ said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Iran wants the international former Attorney General Michael Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy direc- Ali Khamenei. community to abide by interna- tor of the Washington office of the Jafarzadeh said the bomb was tional laws where it is concerned National Council of Resistance of very sophisticated, requiring the while it behaves in a manner as An operation such as the Paris Iran (NCRI). Jafarzadeh represents work of a professional. Assadollah though these rules do not apply to plot very likely took about a the Iranian opposition group in Assadi, an Iranian diplomat based them. You can only play with fire year to plan and would have Washington. His revelations about in Vienna, allegedly had a couple for so long until it starts to burn Iran’s nuclear sites in August 2002 with Iranian roots transport the you, too. never gone ahead without the triggered the first inspections in bomb in their car. The couple approval of the country’s top Iran by the International Atomic was arrested in Belgium after the Claude Salhani is a regular leadership. Energy Agency. explosives were discovered in columnist for The Arab Weekly. Iran sentences businessmen to death as economy feels squeeze

That was when expectations grew and large, the political class has Babak Zanjani, a well-connected that US President Donald Trump unified in the face of renewed Corruption is a oil trader who helped circumnavi- would withdraw from the 2015 US sanctions, with principlists particularly gate earlier sanctions, remains in Gareth Smyth nuclear deal and re-impose sanc- expressing cautious support for explosive prison after being sentenced to tions, which he did in May. President Hassan Rohani. Howev- issue in Iran death in 2016. Ahmad Araghchi, a former deputy governor at the Where legitimate profit-making er, there are always calculations of because of an ends and graft begins is confused political self-interest to be made, Central Bank dealing with foreign by the charge of “corruption on especially with the looming con- official exchange, is out on bail after being Earth” for which Mazloumi and test to succeed Khamenei, 79, as ideology of arrested in August. n uncertain times Iranians two others have been condemned leader. Larijani is seen as a likely egalitarianism. The challenge is political as turn to gold coins. In the to death and for which 33 others contender. much as legal. Judiciary spokes- words of a former editor of a have been given sentences of up to Rohani’s central position in the man Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei leading business monthly in 20 years in prison. political spectrum helps. The me- threatened “harsh penalties” Tehran: “Gold coins are our In August, Iranian Supreme dia are less critical of the govern- against those who “block traffic on political hedge fund. We keep Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ment than in 2006, when reform- roads,” a reference to truck drivers Ithem at home and they make us agreed to the suggestion of judici- ist newspapers pilloried President staging nationwide strikes and feel secure.” ary chief Sadegh Larijani that spe- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as his protests over pay and high prices. One of three businessmen cial revolutionary courts be estab- renewal of the nuclear programme However, 153 deputies in the recently sentenced to death on lished to deal with an “economic escalated an international war of parliament of 290 have signed a corruption charges is known war.” These courts have extended words, stalled the economy and letter to the government calling as the “Sultan of Coins.” Vahid the capital charge of “corrup- boosted trade in gold coins. for dialogue to resolve the dispute. Mazloumi, 58, who has traded tion on Earth,” which has usually Since then, the rise of social “Timely measures,” wrote the gold and foreign currency in the been levelled at political enemies media has fed public disquiet. deputies, could prevent “disrup- Tehran bazaar for several decades, and against narcotics smugglers Famously in 2014-15, Instagram tions in the transportation of fuel was arrested in July for buying and or dissident clerics charged with accounts trailed the lifestyles of and goods” resulting from “failure subsequently selling two tonnes of apostasy. the “rich kids of Tehran,” culmi- to resolve the problems of truck bahar-e azad coins, Tasnim News Tasnim quoted Tehran’s deputy nating in the crash of a canary-yel- drivers who make up a group of Agency reported. prosecutor, Morteza Torka, that low Porsche that killed a 20-year- more than 400,000 people.” These “Spring of Liberty” coins Mazloumi had “close ties to a sen- old woman and the grandson of The challenges of managing go back to one of the first acts of ior manager at the Central Bank.” Ayatollah Rabbani-Shirazi, once social division will grow as the the Islamic Republic after the 1979 This may be a tie-in to Valiollah an aide to Khomeini. A decade economy is squeezed. By the time Revolution and many bear a pic- Seif, who was removed as governor earlier, “Crimson Gold,” Jafar US sanctions go into force in early ture of the late revolutionary lead- in July and is facing investigation Panahi’s internationally acclaimed November against oil exports, er, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. for currency abuses and has been 2003 film about a pizza-delivery Iran’s sales are likely to have As a liquid and proven asset, the barred from leaving the country. man exposed to class divisions dropped from 2.6 million barrels coins’ value has approximately Corruption is a particularly ex- in Tehran, was too sensitive to be a day to 1.5 million, which could quadrupled with the fall of the rial plosive issue in Iran because of an shown in Iran. cost the exchequer $30 billion a against the dollar since the spring. official ideology of egalitarianism. It is important for the authori- year as pressure on the rial grows. Khomeini famously rallied the ties to demonstrate they are taking It may be a long, cold winter in “mostazafin” (the oppressed or the stiff action against those enrich- Tehran. The challenges of poor) against the “mostakbarin” ing themselves in hard times. In managing social division (the oppressors or the rich). agreeing to special courts to deal Gareth Smyth is a regular Partly because of this, corrup- with economic crimes, Khamenei contributor to The Arab Weekly. will grow as the economy tion allegations are useful barbs called for sentences to be “carried He has reported from the Middle is squeezed. in Tehran’s factional battles. By out swiftly and justly.” East since 1992. October 7, 2018 15 Debate Iran Iranians turning away from religious orthodoxy

harsher response to the sources of the threat. On January 26, Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Alfoneh Rasoul Hassanzadeh, a scholar at the Spiritual Health Institute, warned against “novel mysti- cism,” which has a way of “infil- trating [Iranians’] spiritual life” through foreign books and films. nglish historian On May 8, Hojjat al-Eslam Mehdi Edward Gibbon Amjadizadeh, Friday prayer famously attributed leader of Bakharz in eastern the fall of the Roman Iran, complained in an interview Empire to the rise of about the rapid growth of “devi- Christianity and what ant sects” within Islam, as well Ehe perceived as the gradual loss as the spread of “home church- of civic virtue among its citizens. es” in Shiraz in Fars province The theory went that, as the and Nishapur in Razavi Khorasan citizenry abandoned its war- province. like pagan gods and turned to Tehran has yet to throw the peaceful doctrines of early Christians to the lions, as in Christianity, the empire found ancient Rome. It has responded itself defenceless in the face of to the rise of “deviant sects” barbarian enemies. and of evangelical Christianity Iran appears to be facing a with house raids, the arrest and similar threat as an increasing imprisonment of converts and number of Iranians turn from the harassment of their family mem- government-sanctioned interpre- bers to deter further conversions. tation of Shia Islam and look for In so doing, however, the regime spiritual guidance and conso- revives the story of persecution lation elsewhere. While some Seeking solace. Iranians walk past items being sold for Noruz, a Zoroastrian tradition, of early Christians at the hands follow the mystical interpreta- at Sadeqyeh Square in Tehran. (AFP) of Roman emperors. tions of Islam and deism of the The real problem lies else- Sufis and dervishes, others are where: The religious nature of attracted by the anti-clerical mil- charlatan miracle workers and majority Shias. Churches, after the regime in Tehran. As Hojjat lenarianism of former President sorcerers. All compete with each all, are subjected to surveillance al-Eslam Mohsen Kadivar points Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his other and Shia Islam to address by the Ministry of Intelligence out in his “Daghdagheh-ha-ye ilk. the spiritual needs of Iranians. and Security, which can easily Hokoumat-e Dini” (“Concerns of Despite the Zoroastrian cler- A US Commission on Interna- identify Muslims who frequent Religious Government”) when gy’s opposition to the conversion tional Religious Freedom report them. the head of state is also the head of non-Zoroastrians, there is no stated that evangelical Christi- Evangelical Christians, on of a country’s religion, the peo- shortage of Iranians wearing the anity appears to be particularly the other hand, are engaged in ple will blame God for the state’s Farvahar and other Zoroastrian well-organised and is persecuted a systematic effort to convert shortcomings. symbols. Evangelical Christi- just as methodically by Iranian Iranians. They, too, have home In other words, rather than anity is on the rise, too, as are authorities. churches, which are more or less strengthening the position of Assemblies of God (Kelisa-ye hidden from security services. religion among the citizenry, Jamaat-e Rabbani) and other Evangelical Christians transmit mixing religion with politics ex- Iran’s clerical elites are aware of Christian groups bring Iranians radio and television programmes poses religion to public criticism. together in so-called “house to Iran and smuggle Persian It leads the Iranian public to look the religious challenge to their churches” to preach the gospel. translations of the Bible into elsewhere for spiritual guidance. monopoly and have demanded a They differ from established Iran. churches in Iran, which serve Iran’s clerical elites are aware Ali Alfoneh is a visiting scholar harsher response to the sources the country’s Christian minority, of the religious challenge to their at the Arab Gulf States Institute of the threat. but do not proselytise among the monopoly and have demanded a in Washington. Iran should look in the mirror before placing blame for Ahvaz attack

Iran’s allegations of the Gulf countries’ collaboration with the Tallha West also ring hollow. Iran has ac- Abdulrazaq tively worked with Western pow- ers and even Israel since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established the Islamic Republic and began to wage ideological and actual war against everyone in the region in ran’s Islamic Revolutionary 1979. Guard Corps (IRGC) staged a Who can forget the Iran-Contra military parade September 22 scandal that almost toppled the in Ahvaz, a city in the restive Reagan administration in 1987? Arab-majority south-western Iran not only received arms to Khuzestan region of Iran. The fight neighbouring Muslim Iraq IIRGC was marking the anniver- from the “Great Satan,” as we sary of Iran’s 8-year war with Iraq hear the United States referred in the 1980s when four gunmen to almost daily, but the weapons opened fire on the procession. transfers were facilitated by none Most of the nearly 30 people other than the “Zionist entity,” killed were IRGC members but Israel, which Iran has threatened women and children were caught to wipe off the map. in the crossfire, leading to wide- In 2014, Iran’s Shia jihadist prox- spread condemnation of the ies in Iraq were directly receiving attack. air support from the Americans to Unsurprisingly, the Islamic State fight ISIS. For years, the Forces of (ISIS) claimed responsibility, as the Great Prophet — as they gran- did a local Arab militant emanci- diosely brand themselves — were pation movement called the Patri- Security challenges. Iranian soldiers take cover in a rain gutter off a street at the directly aided by the forces of the otic Arab Democratic Movement in scene of an attack on a military parade in Ahvaz, on September 22. (AFP) Great Satan, an irony that would Ahwaz. be hilarious were it not for its Despite the conflicting claims sheer hypocrisy and the countless of responsibility, Iran blamed What would the Iranian re- repressed by the Persian mullahs innocent lives that were lost in the the United States and its regional gime see in that mirror? Would it of Tehran for decades, Khuzestan process. Arab allies for the attacks. Iranian see a peaceful face, one that has was one of the main theatres of Iran is in no position to be ac- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali striven to bring about stability and the initial Iraqi invasion into Ira- cusing its Arab neighbours of any- Khamenei made not-so-subtle prosperity for itself and the entire nian territory in 1980. thing. It has worked hand-in-glove accusations and threats against region? Or would it see a disease- Although these Arabs are almost with Washington and Tel Aviv regional oil-rich Arabian Gulf pocked visage, one that has spread all followers of Iran’s official Shia while putting on a grand theatre countries. nothing but death, sectarianism faith, the Iranian regime still con- of Tehran’s enmity to these two The United States shot back with and misery at home and abroad? siders them a dangerous minority capitals to elicit popular support. a level-headed assessment and Iran’s actions have left a lasting group because they are Arabs. However, the jig is up, and Iran said Iran should look in the mirror and ugly impression on the world. The regime polluted Ahvaz’s should not use the death of in- if it wanted to understand why it See how people live in Iran and waters, poisoned its arable land nocents at a parade as an opportu- had been targeted. what the regime is doing in Iraq and tortured its people, prevent- nity to score political points over and Syria to understand what ing them from speaking their own its rivals. Iranian sectarian meddling has language. Iran is in no position to be wrought. Is it any surprise that Iranian Ar- Tallha Abdulrazaq is a researcher Known as “Arabistan” to the abs would feel pushed to violence at the University of Exeter’s accusing its Arab local Iranian-Arab population in the face of such racist colonial- Strategy and Security Institute in neighbours of anything. that has been suppressed and ism? England. 16 October 7, 2018 News & Analysis East West US ‘still in tough fight’ against ISIS Thomas Frank Minister Florence Parly. Mattis’s comments were made Washington days after James Jeffrey, the US special representative for Syria, he United States has said US troops and diplomats sharply reversed its policy would stay in Syria until ISIS was in Syria, saying it will stay defeated and until Iran-led forces T in the war-torn country as were removed “from the entirety long as Iran is there and doubling of Syria.” the number of diplomats it has in “The president wants us in Syria Syria to press for a political resolu- until that and other conditions are tion to the 7-year-old war. met,” Jeffrey said. The US policy marks a dramatic Some members of Congress and turnaround from US President Middle East experts expressed Donald Trump’s vow in March to scepticism that there could be a begin pulling US troops out of Syria diplomatic solution in Syria be- “very soon” and “let other people cause of the competing interests take care of it.” The new resolve to of Iran, Russia, Turkey, the United stay in Syria also is an acknowledg- States and Syrian President Bashar ment that, despite Trump’s boasts Assad. of having forced Islamic State “There’s no general consensus (ISIS) fighters out of territory they because Syria is no longer Syria. held in Syria and Iraq, the jihadist The parts under Assad’s control are group remains a threat. a rump state. The area under Turk- “We are still in a tough fight,” US ish control is functionally a state,” Defence Secretary James Mattis Oubai Shahbandar, a former US said. “Make no mistake about it: As defence intelligence officer, said ISIS has collapsed inward, in their October 3 during a panel discus- own way, they have reinforced a sion on Syria. “Russia wants Assad centre as they’ve been forced into restored to all of Syria. That’s prob- what is now less than 2% of their ably not going to happen.” original territory that they held.” Mattis acknowledged that “we’re US Assistant Secretary for Inter- under no illusions about the chal- national Security Affairs Robert lenge” of stabilising Syria through Karem told Congress on Septem- the United Nations. “We will have ber 26 that “ISIS remains stronger to do this, obviously, despite Rus- now than its predecessor al-Qaeda sia’s efforts to marginalise the in Iraq was when the United States United Nations in this effort,” he withdrew from Iraq in 2011.” Ka- said. rem said ISIS “has begun its tran- At a hearing September 26 of sition into an underground insur- the US House of Representatives gency.” Armed Services Committee, many congressmen expressed frustra- tion with the Trump administra- Some members of Congress tion’s changing goals in Syria. expressed scepticism that “We don’t even know what your there could be a diplomatic long-term objectives are,” Repre- solution in Syria because of sentative Seth Moulton, a Demo- competing interests. crat from Massachusetts and for- mer Marine officer in Iraq, told The approximately 2,000 US Karem. military personnel in Syria will Karem said “it’s going to be very fight “to restrict ISIS” to promote difficult to end this war” as long as a UN-led diplomatic solution to es- Iran “continues to engage in desta- tablish peace and stability in Syria, bilising activities [and] continues Unfinished business. A 2017 file picture shows a member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Mattis said. to foment sectarianism in Syria.” Forces (SDF) removing an Islamic State flag in the town of Tabqa. (AFP) “Our diplomats there on the The diplomatic effort received ground have been doubled in num- a setback when Russia said it had ber. As you see the military opera- transferred to Syria S-300 missile- of indirectly causing the crash of a Mike Pompeo said after the mis- fected areas and to stability in the tions becoming less, you will see defence systems aimed at helping Russian military jet in Syria, killing sile-defence systems were trans- Middle East.” the diplomatic effort now able to the Assad regime counter Israeli 15 Russian troops. ferred. “Having the Russians de- take root,” Mattis said at a briefing air strikes. Russia announced the “We consider this a very serious liver the S-300 into Syria presents Thomas Frank is an Arab Weekly in Paris with French Armed Forces sale after Moscow accused Israel escalation,” US Secretary of State greater risk to all of those in the af- correspondent in Washington.

Viewpoint US policy on Syria: Zigzags, U-turns and wishful thinking

ust six months after US administration. based Shia militia, played as large To hear Trump tell it, “We have President Donald Trump The “let’s-get-out-now” vision a role in turning the tide of war in really wiped out ISIS” and “oblit- said he would end US did not last long. The new strategy Assad’s favour as Russia’s 2015 de- erated” the jihadist group. People Bernd Debusmann involvement in the Syr- was enunciated by John Bolton, the ployment of aircraft and troops. outside the Trump White House’s ian conflict and instructed third person to serve as Trump’s Some US officials say they expect loop of alternative reality view the his national security team national security adviser. “We are an Iranian withdrawal could hap- situation very differently. ISIS has Jto prepare for the withdrawal of not going to leave as long as Iranian pen once there is a political solution lost much of the territory it held American troops, his administra- troops are outside Iran borders and to end the war. No such deal is in in Syria and Iraq but, in August, a tion is changing course. that includes Iranian proxies and sight. Five years of stuttering UN- Pentagon report said the extremist Its latest strategy is as follows: militias,” Bolton said on the side- brokered negotiations in Geneva group retains nearly 30,000 fighters The United States will have a lines of the UN General Assembly have done nothing to inspire opti- across the two countries and could presence for as long as Iran and its in September. mism. Most attempts at brokering mount a renewed insurgency. proxies are involved in the Syrian That assertion, for the first time, peace have failed over disagree- Similarly, there are few experts conflict. directly linked US actions in Syria ment on the role of Assad. who see an early end to Iran’s in- Like many American govern- — where there are around 2,000 Under Obama, Assad was rou- volvement in Syria and elsewhere, ment ideas on the bloodletting in American troops — with Iran’s in- tinely denounced as an illegitimate Washington’s second priority. “The Syria — both under Barack Obama volvement in Syria and elsewhere leader who must step aside. Trump notion that Iran is going to be asked and Trump — this one is based on in the Middle East. It has become has called the Syrian leader a to leave or be forced out in the fore- a large dose of wishful thinking an administration talking point, monster and contemplated having seeable future is illusory,” Robert and optimistic assumptions. It frequently repeated by James Jef- him assassinated after viewing Malley of the International Crisis continues a pattern of zigzags frey, the State Department’s newly stomach-turning video of a Syrian Group told the Washington Post. and U-turns that have turned the appointed special representative poison gas attack on civilians in “Iran has been the Assad regime’s United States into a player on the for Syria engagement. April 2017, as stated in “Fear,” a longest, most consistent and reli- sidelines of one of the worst con- None of the proponents of the book on the Trump presidency by able ally.” flicts since the second world war. new strategy has put a timeline on Bob Woodward. All of this points to a long Ameri- At least 500,000 Syrians have died when they expect Iran to disentan- Officials now say that removing can commitment to stay in Syria if in the fighting since the civil war gle from Syria and why they think Assad is no longer a “strategic is- the Trump administration sticks to began in 2011. the Tehran regime might do so. sue.” its latest strategy. Whether it will do The policy twist came despite There are no indications that Iran, a The priorities are completing the so remains to be seen and Trump Some US officials say Trump’s stated view at a rally in steadfast backer of the government defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), has a record of sudden foreign they expect an Iranian March that “I want to get out (of of Bashar Assad, intends to give up which was the official reason for US policy changes. withdrawal could Syria). I want to bring our troops the foothold on the Mediterranean military involvement in Syria, and back home… We’ll be coming out for which it spent much blood and getting Iran to withdraw from the Bernd Debusmann is a writer on happen once there is a of Syria, like, very soon. Let the treasure. country and stop meddling else- foreign affairs based in Washington. political solution to other people take care of it now.” An estimated 10,000 of Iran’s where in the region. Both are easier He has reported from more than That announcement stunned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said than done and both point to an 100 countries and was wounded end the war. No such many in the foreign policy com- troops, plus thousands of fighters American presence that could last twice while covering the civil war in deal is in sight. munity and some members of his from Hezbollah, the Lebanon- decades. Lebanon. October 7, 2018 17 Debate Migration Both shores of the Mediterranean have more in common than they imagine

Libya’s fate is, in many ways, Whether it likes it or not, as long Access to education and modern representative of that of the rest of as there continue to be ambitious It is counter- communication technologies Faouzia the southern shore of the Mediter- Arab and African young people productive for has instilled the new generations Salhine Elhuni ranean basin. Europe’s attitude who are dissatisfied with their Europeans to with a desire for decent living and towards other North African realities, and as long as people suf- turn their fear freedom. No different from other countries is similar wherever one fer from terror and war, there will of terrorism young people, they feel entitled to looks. Europe looks for piecemeal be migratory flows to Europe, both into a fear of pursuing such goals. The days of solutions and immediate fixes. legal and illegal. countries and populations living in It looks for places to install its Rather than deny this basic real- Islam and de facto seclusion are gone. disembarkation platforms and for ity, it is far better to accept it and hatred for In the countries of the southern he divide between both those to trust as proxies to protect adjust policies to it. Muslims. shores, regimes eventually came shores of the Mediter- its shores. It is obvious that the Mediter- to understand that they could not ranean is not as wide as The task of upholding security ranean region will continue to hold people down for long nor many may think. The and peace in the Mediterranean experience birthing pains. This deprive them of their legitimate southern shore may basin requires a wider vision and simply has to do with the exist- ambitions. It is now Europe’s turn be Arab and Muslim a sense of shared responsibility. ence on the southern shore of the to understand that, as long as peo- Tbut its young people, much like Whether in controlling migration Mediterranean of new generations ple on the southern shore look at European populations across the flows or guaranteeing regional of sophisticated, educated young migration to the north as the only sea, yearn for freedom, democracy peace, both shores of the Medi- people in search of jobs that com- way to fulfil some of their ambi- and a brighter future. terranean must be partners. It is mensurate with their qualifica- tions, erecting more barriers will Over the past few years, young not wise for Europe to look at the tions and ambitions. not stop them. people in the region demonstrated countries of the southern shore as We southerners may look dif- a willingness to sacrifice every- mere sentinels and ferent but we share Europe’s thing for their dreams. Former border guards for legitimate fear of extremism and regimes did not fathom the new its borders. terrorism. We recognise that a generations’ thirst for freedom and Europe cannot minority of our youth can fall failed to comprehend their desper- plan in isolation prey to radicalisation. Europeans, ate call for reform. from its south- however, must understand that The autistic attitude of fallen re- ern shore or from most of our people are victims of gimes did not, however, justify the the rest of Africa. religion-cloaked terrorism, too. Is- rash response of the West seven lam is the first victim of those who years ago. The massive military spread terror in its name. We on campaign it launched in Libya, the southern shore are the first in reducing the country to ruin and line to face the threats of violence leaving without any thoughtful and terror, now and in the future. exit strategy, irresponsibly endan- It is counterproductive for Euro- gered the Libyan people as it made peans to turn their fear of terror- the country’s quandary worse. ism into a fear of Islam and hatred The Libyan people continue to for Muslims. Such fears are based pay a heavy price for that war: on misperceptions that could kill weapons proliferate, militias and hope for empathy and dialogue. criminal gangs rule the streets and What people on both shores human trafficking and smuggling want first and foremost is stabil- of all kinds thrive throughout ity and security so they can live in the country. The state is virtually peace and work towards a better nowhere to be found. future for their children. When we realise this, we will have made the first crucial step towards collective peace and Whether in controlling security. Then, everybody in the migration flows or guaranteeing region wins. regional peace, both shores Faouzia Salhine Elhuni is the of the Mediterranean must Across the sea. Migrants look at the sea onboard the NGO Proactiva Open Arms boat, general manager of the Libyan be partners. on July 1. (AFP) publication al Ayam. Halifax celebrates 130 years of Lebanese immigration

for political gain, this monument heyday, Pier 21, which is known age. Overall an estimated 250,000 and the community behind it is an as Canada’s Ellis Island, saw the There are people in Canada are of Lebanese irrefutable testament to the impor- arrival of thousands of immigrants moments like descent, with 62,000 living in Tom Regan tance of immigration to our coun- from all over the world. After a the one on the Montreal. try,” Wadih Fares, the honorary long sea voyage, many chose to Halifax As for Halifax, English is the pre- consul of Lebanon for the Maritime remain in the city and develop new waterfront that dominant language but Arabic vies provinces, said at the unveiling. communities. with French as the city’s second “This piece of public art is a gift In the 1970s and ‘80s, when the show the role language. The city has two Mus- from us to our city, which we love civil war in Lebanon was intense, immigrants lim schools: the Maritime Muslim and are blessed to call home.” Halifax saw a second wave of play in Canada. Academy and the Ihsan Academy. n these turbulent times, when To understand the importance Lebanese immigrants. Many of Nova Scotia’s welcome goes be- it seems that many people and of the Lebanese community in those refugees already had family yond Halifax. In the past few years, governments in the Western Halifax and in the larger Canadian connections in the city. it has drawn Syrians fleeing the world are expressing anti- context, one must consider the role Many immigrants who went war, some of whom have started to immigrant sentiments, there the port city has played in the lives through Halifax prospered. contribute to the community. There are moments that celebrate of immigrants. The first Lebanese Canadians of Lebanese descent is the Syrian family that settled in Icultural diversity. immigrants to Halifax arrived in are among the most important Antigonish in northern Nova Scotia In late September on the water- 1884, a vanguard of Lebanese set- developers in the city. About and has built a chocolate business. front of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the tlers who came through the early 3.5% of the city’s population From humble beginnings in a shack Lebanese community and its many part of the 20th century. of about 300,000 traces its built by neighbours, the family has friends and supporters, unveiled Many in the first wave roots to Lebanon. That’s a factory that employs locals. a statue honouring more than a arrived in ships, which approximately 2% higher That said, even in Canada, where century of Lebanese immigration docked at Pier 21. In its than the Canadian aver- cultural diversity has traditionally to the Canadian city. The statue, been celebrated, the attitude to- which features a young man in wards immigration is cooling. The traditional Lebanese clothing, faces recent election of more conserva- away from Halifax Harbour as if he tive, sometimes openly xenopho- has just arrived to begin a new life. bic governments in the largest A plaque on the statue reads: Canadian provinces of Ontario and “This monument is a universal Quebec alarmed many immigrant symbol of a proud, strong and communities. At the federal level, globally united Lebanese com- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s munity. The statue honours the government has been forced to early Lebanese settlers who, 130 lower expectations of increased years ago, established a presence immigration under parliamentary in this country, sewing the bonds pressure from a decidedly right- of loyalty, faith and perseverance. wing and anti-immigrant conserva- We are thankful to our Nova Scotia tive opposition. community and for the enduring Even so, there are moments like friendships built in our new home, the one on the Halifax waterfront Canada.” that show the role immigrants play “In a time when the politics of in Canada. Approximately 20% of division is on the rise and the topic Canadians are immigrants but this of immigration is being politicised is a time of flux. The number of Canadians of European descent is Even in Canada, where declining and the country looks to immigrants to help sustain its vast cultural diversity has array of social programmes. traditionally been celebrated, A gift to the city. A statue portrays a Lebanese traveller in Tom Regan is a regular contributor the attitude towards traditional clothes to commemorate Lebanese immigrants in to The Arab Weekly and a immigration is cooling. Halifax. (Lebanity) columnist at factsandopinion.com. 18 October 7, 2018 Economy

Briefs Saudi Arabia to deposit $200 million in Yemen to boost rial

Saudi Arabia said it will deposit $200 million in Yemen’s central bank to stem a slide in the rial that has sent food prices soaring in the famine-threatened country. The emergency aid injection was aimed at “stabilising the economy and increasing the value” of the Yemeni currency, the Saudi Infor- mation Ministry said in a state- ment.

(Agence France-Presse) Libyan state oil firm delays energy conference Libya’s state oil company National Oil Corporation (NOC) said it postponed a conference in Benghazi following an attack on its Tripoli headquarters. The conference, set for Libya’s second-largest city, would al- low local and foreign oil and gas companies to discuss the sector’s Widening gap. Libyan men count money at a currency exchange shop in the Souk il-Jumaa district in Tripoli. (AFP) development. The conference will be October 24-26, two weeks later than sched- uled, NOC said. Libya’s formal economy struggles (Reuters) Kuwait stocks to keep pace with black market shine in the third quarter as market Michel Cousins whether it is for medical treatment This formula would require dol- equipment and that it was applying reforms pay off in Tunisia, a vacation in Turkey or lars being readily available in the for more. Under the new rules, the payment for goods from abroad. banks when people want them. If maximum for a letter of credit for Inclusion in an emerging market Tunis Such is the demand that it has not, the black market would con- industrial imports is $10 million, for benchmark and surging oil prices created a massive gap between tinue to thrive and its rate remain commercial imports $5 million and helped Kuwaiti stocks outshine ike central banks every- the official rate which has floated much higher. for other goods $1 million but there their regional peers in the past where, the Central Bank of around 1.30 dinars to the dollar and The moves were complicated by is no limit to the number of letters three months but some major Libya is officially in charge the black market rate. At one point the fact that in Libya a decision to of credit a business can apply for. active emerging-market investors L of the exchange rate for the last year, the latter was some seven devalue is not the responsibility The fact that businesses can now were waiting on the sidelines for country’s currency, the dinar, but times the official rate, although it is of the government or the manage- legitimately acquire foreign cur- more reforms. that is not the full story in Libya’s now down to a little more than four ment of the CBL, in this case bank rency, albeit at around 4 dinars to Kuwait’s main index was up case. times. Governor Sadik Elkabir. The deci- the dollar, will help stabilise the nearly 9% in the third quarter, Immediately behind the remark- In a country torn apart by politi- sion must come from the CBL’s economic situation in Libya, Raied beating other Gulf markets, includ- able art-deco headquarters of the cal, military, communal and ideo- board of directors. said. He predicted that it will end ing oil producers Saudi Arabia and Central Bank of Libya (CBL) on the logical rivalries and the self-inter- With the country split between the dominance of the black market Abu Dhabi, and edging past Qatar, edge of Tripoli’s Old City, another est of key players, the difference east and west and CBL Deputy Gov- and that the official rate and the the MSCI emerging market index currency market operates — the between the two rates has added to ernor Ali Hibri operating as gover- black market rate will quickly re- and Russia. powerful black market. Libyan citizens’ woes. It has made nor of the parallel eastern-based turn to near parity. At the square behind the bank on the cost of imports much more ex- CBL, no meeting to make such a (Reuters) any weekday, just before midday, pensive and fuel inflation. It has decision has been possible. Until hard currency is are several hundred people buy- also fuelled corruption. Instead, an alternative was de- available for all Libyans, UAE approves ing and selling hard currency. With One of the main scams has been vised by Elkabir and PC head Fayez not just businesses, the them there are suitcases — or plain that favoured applicants — includ- Sarraj, aided by experts from the black plastic bags — stuffed with ing, supposedly militia leaders — UN support mission: a surcharge black market will $16.4 billion thousands of dollars, dinars and are given letters of credit for non- of 183% on purchases of foreign continue to operate. budget for 2019 other currencies. There is even the existent imports. The letters of currency. It effectively devalues That remains to be seen. occasional gold bar. credit, usually in dollars, are paid the dinar, taking it to around 3.90 At the moment the black mar- The United Arab Emirates ap- Someone will hold up a fistful of for at the official rate. The money dinars to the dollar, although with ket rate is around 5.3 dinars to the proved a zero-deficit $16.4 billion dollars or euros, calling for bids. is credited to an account abroad, bank and other charges on top, it dollar compared to the surcharged budget for 2019, up 17% from this The buyers call out offers. When the dollars repatriated to Libya and will now cost around 4 dinars for official rate of around 3.90 di- year’s budget and the largest in the the seller feels the bidding is over, exchanged for dinars at the black $1. nars and it has been slowly mov- country’s history. he cries out “tamm” (“done”) or market rate. There are exceptions, such as the ing down since the surcharge an- The state-run WAM news agency “mabruk” (“congratulations”). The Another scam concerns the $500 personal exchange allowance, nouncement. said more than 40% of next year’s deal is done. $500 annual exchange allowance which is supposed to be increased However, there are reports that budget will go towards community for every Libyan. With it based on to $1,000 this year, and certain sub- businesses in eastern Libya were development, 17% towards educa- the official dinar/dollar rate, crafty sidised imports. having difficulty obtaining letters tion and 7% to health care. In a country torn by “entrepreneurs” — often bank em- The income generated will be of credit through banks in their rivalries and the ployees — were paying people more used to help fill the government’s region and were having to open ac- (Agence France-Presse) self-interest of key than the official rate for their $500 coffers, ostensibly paying for health counts in Tripoli. Moreover, until players, the difference allowance, which could be cashed care and other public services. hard currency is available for all between the official rate in through specially issued credit The move has not been without Libyans requiring it, not just busi- Sudan to print and the black market cards, then taking the cards abroad opposition. It is claimed that this is nesses, the black market will con- 100-pound rate adds to Libyan to draw the cash, usually in dol- a tax and, as such, illegal since tax- tinue to operate. citizens’ woes. lars, and again taking it to Libya to es cannot be introduced or changed Then there are the militias that banknotes to ease exchange for dinars on the black without a vote in the House of still control much of Tripoli and This has been Libya’s real foreign market. Representatives. But Libyan busi- that have allegedly earned millions liquidity crunch exchange market in recent times Hundreds of millions — possibly nessman Husni Bey said it is most through fraudulent letters of cred- and they are the black marketers billions — of dinars are said to have unlikely, if it went to court, that a it. They are not going to like this. Sudan’s central bank will print who have increasingly kept Libya’s been earned by the fraudsters, with judge would rule against the move. It should, though, help bring 100-pound bank notes for the first import-based economy afloat. the crippled Libyan state footing “It’s not a tax, it’s a surcharge and down prices in the shops. time to ease a liquidity crisis exac- Not that they are the big players. the bill. that’s not against the law,” he said. For ordinary Libyans living in a erbated by rampant inflation, state The multimillion-dollar exchange That may be about to change. In recent days, the system started bitterly divided country, with in- news agency SUNA said. deals are done by a small handful For some time, the Tripoli-based to go into effect. Businesses applied security and crime ever present for Sudan’s economy has been of traders who stay in their shops, Presidency Council and its govern- for letters of credit, and, as of Octo- so many, not to mention regular struggling since South Sudan doing the business and setting the ment of National Accord have been ber 3, were being given such letters. electricity cuts, an abysmal health seceded in 2011, taking with it daily black-market rate by phone. looking to devalue the dinar. The The country’s top dairy products service and so many other daily dif- three-quarters of oil output and With the CBL massively restrict- aim is to give them more dinars to manufacturer, Mohamed Raied, ficulties, that is at least one step in depriving Khartoum of a crucial ing the supply of foreign currency, spend in Libya for the oil dollars who also heads Libya’s union of the right direction. source of foreign currency. Libyans have turned to the black but, also, supposedly, to narrow chambers of commerce, said his market or the dollars or euros or the gap between the official and company had been given two letters Michel Cousins is a contributor to (Reuters) whatever currency they require — black market rates. of credit to import much needed The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. October 7, 2018 19 Economy

Solidarity move. (R-L) Jordanian King Abdullah II receives the finance ministers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in Amman, on October 4. (AFP) Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait bail out Jordan and Bahrain

The Arab Weekly staff million was received on October 4 law. Private businesses displayed give Bahrain $10 billion to support oil revenue, including the introduc- from Saudi Arabia. signs stating: “This shop is against the country’s funding requirements tion of a value added tax. The extra “It will consolidate financial and the new income law and we are through a long-term, interest-free funds would help Bahrain borrow London monetary stability and confidence with the strike.” loan, a source familiar with the from international debt markets at in the Jordanian economy and spur Jordanian King Abdullah II inter- agreement said. cheaper interest rates. audi Arabia, the United Arab growth,” Central Bank of Jordan vened on June 1 and stopped the Bahrain is expected to receive up The Bahrain government an- Emirates and Kuwait depos- Governor Ziad Fariz told Reuters. government from raising fuel and to $10 billion in financial support, nounced a package of reforms ex- ited $1 billion in Jordan’s “This will bolster the reserves and electricity prices, calming the situ- Kuwait’s Al Rai newspaper report- pected to create $2.1 billion in annu- S Central Bank and pledged allow the treasury to implement its ation. ed. “A Gulf decision at the highest al savings and eliminate its budget $10 billion to support Bahrain to projects to provide better services levels was taken to start the execu- deficit by 2022. Manama projected help both countries deal with finan- with the least burden possible.” Kuwait placed $500 tion steps for a programme to sup- a $3.5 billion budget deficit in 2018. cial difficulties. Jordan has struggled to curb its million in Jordan’s port the financial stability of Bah- Authorities said they are looking to The countries announced the debt since securing a $723 million Central Bank and $330 rain,” a gulf diplomatic source told increase non-oil revenues to drive move October 4 when their finance loan from the International Mon- million was received the newspaper. economic growth, diversify gov- ministers were in Jordan to finalise etary Fund (IMF) in 2016. Austerity on October 4 from Reuters reported that a $10 bil- ernment income streams and align the deal agreed to in June. measures, including a new income lion package would be worth about non-oil revenue with economic The financial aid package in- tax law tied to the IMF loan, saw Saudi Arabia. one-quarter of Bahrain’s annual growth. cludes $600 million in World Bank prices of basic necessities rise, lead- The demonstrations worried Gulf gross domestic product and 28% The two aid packages should not guarantees. Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and ing to angry demonstrations that countries fearing that instability in of public debt and cover more than be a major strain on the finances of Kuwait City would each contribute forced the prime minister to resign. Jordan, which has long backed US two years of state budget deficits, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi or Kuwait City $50 million to build schools in Jor- Thousands of Jordanians gath- foreign policy positions, could have going by International Monetary with the price of Brent oil at ap- dan. ered at the Professional Associa- repercussions on their own secu- Fund projections. proximately $80 a barrel. All three A source told Thompson Reuters tions Complex in Amman on May rity. Bloomberg News said the aid pro- countries have hundreds of billions that Kuwait placed $500 million 30 and shouted slogans against the Saudi Arabia, the United Arab gramme would involve spending of dollars in their sovereign wealth in Jordan’s Central Bank and $330 government and the income tax Emirates and Kuwait also agreed to cuts and measures to increase non- funds. Egypt on cusp of economic shift with gas sufficiency

Amr Emam domestic wells would meet nation- cause of political and security un- al consumption for the first time in rest or because of the lack of fuel. ten years. Many factories are reopening Cairo Over the past decade, Egypt need- with hopes that cheaper fuel will ed to import natural gas because of help Egypt’s manufacturing and gypt’s increase in natural the failure to upgrade production production industry. gas production, which has wells and find new gas sources. Cai- “This will help us attract even allowed Cairo to balance ro was spending approximately $3 more industrial investments,” Fiqqi E national consumption, is billion a year on gas imports. said. an economic turning point that will Political unrest following the 2011 Egyptian leaders said they ex- have far-reaching effects, officials revolution in Egypt also had a ma- pect to send its gas to international said. jor effect on the economy, produc- markets in 2021, pinning sector ex- “This is a development that will tion and the tourism sector, which pansion on a steady growth in pro- have an effect on all aspects of the meant Egypt’s energy sector faced duction and potential additional economy,” said Hamdi Abdel Aziz, even greater challenges. discoveries. Ministry of Petroleum spokesman. A major change came in 2015 Eni is working to determine the “The rise in national production when the Italian Eni energy giant scale of a gas field off the Mediter- will create a financial surplus that discovered a massive gas field off ranean coast of Sinai. Egypt has will help us a lot as we work on the Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The also collected seismic data about its development of our country.” Zohr gas field — one of the largest Red Sea coast, amid expectations gas fields in the region — went into that the area, which stands oppo- site Saudi Arabia’s western Red Sea Egyptian leaders expect production in December 2017 and is delivering 2 billion cubic feet of gas Within reach. A view of gas tanks at the desert road of Suez city, coast, contains huge oil and gas re- (Reuters) to send gas to per day, with production expected north of Cairo. serves. international markets in to rise to 2.7 billion cubic feet per Egypt is also spending billions of 2021, pinning hopes on a day by 2019. price. Many Egyptians use butane us move ahead with economic and dollars to upgrade and expand its steady growth in Along with other production fa- gas cylinders, particularly for cook- social development plans.” gas liquefaction facilities. production. cilities, the Zohr gas field promises ing. The government allocated $5 The budget deficit is expected to All these developments, the gov- to alter Egypt’s economic reality. billion for fuel subsidies in the 2018- reach $24 billion by July 2019, the ernment says, brings Egypt closer to Petroleum Minister Tarek al-Mul- In addition to cutting costs by no 19 budget. end of the current fiscal year. That becoming a regional energy hub. la announced on September 28 that longer importing liquefied natural Money saved in this regard will would be down almost $500 million “The realisation of this dream Egypt had received its last imported gas, Egypt will save money on bu- lower the budget deficit by $6 bil- from the budget deficit in the 2017- is increasingly becoming within shipment of liquefied natural gas. tane gas imports. Egypt imports lion annually, economists said. 18 fiscal year. national reach,” Abdel Aziz said. He said with local gas production almost half of its annual butane “This drop will mean that the gov- The presence of enough gas for “Our production is on the rise; we steadily rising, Egypt would no gas consumption of 4.5 million ernment will have a better chance national consumption, economists are close to production centres and longer import liquefied gas. tonnes, paying around $187 million of significantly reducing the budget said, would boost investor confi- markets and also have the necessary National gas production in Sep- a month. deficit in the future,” said Egyptian dence and help industrial investors liquefaction and refining facilities.” tember was 6.6 billion cubic feet per The government subsidies butane economist Fahkry al-Fiqqi. “This expand projects. day, up from 6 billion cubic feet in gas for consumers, selling butane will reflect positively on the overall Hundreds of factories have closed Amr Emam is a Cairo-based July. This means gas extracted from gas cylinders at one-third of market conditions of the economy and help since the 2011 revolution, either be- contributor to The Arab Weekly. 20 October 7, 2018 Society Media Egyptian reporters find refuge in the past

Mohammed Hadi discusses the role of Talaat Harb (1867-1941) in building the Egyp- tian economy, it has in mind cur- Cairo rent economic policies, which dif- fer greatly from Harb’s principles. uch of the material This absolves the paper from ac- broadcast or written by cusations of being anti-reform or of Egyptian media outlets criticising the government. M resembles an archive. There are many examples that In a phenomenon that reflects demonstrate that nostalgia rep- mounting restrictions on freedoms resents an explicit condemnation rather than nostalgia, journalists of the present. When the January are recycling content in various 2011 or the June 2013 revolutions forms instead of directly exploring are discussed or when the death of current issues. an intellectual is commemorated, Discussing issues that outwardly the political situation of the time is seem nostalgic is a form of escap- talked about at length. The impli- ism from the present, due to the cation is that today there is politi- feeling of helplessness in dealing cal and social stagnation. with Egypt’s crises. While such celebratory com- Some members of the media opt memorations avoid criticising the to focus on high points of Egypt’s current political situation, its au- past. Some find what they were thors could find themselves em- looking for in the history of the barrassing those in power who may pharaohs and bring up rulers they want to defend them. thought were good to their people. This scenario was played out Others resort to Arabic literature when the media poured exag- and another group jumped on the gerated attention to the memory commemoration of the death of of Nasser and his achievements. former Egyptian President Gamal Some praised his pan-Arabist, pan- Abdel Nasser to fill the airwaves Africanist and pan-Islamist roles and print papers with the man’s and his sense of initiative and lead- Subliminal news. An Egyptian vendor reads a newspaper outside his fruit and vegetable stand in exploits. ership. Nasser’s time was depicted Cairo. (AFP) as one of concrete actions, dictated by an awareness of Egypt’s regional Discussing issues that responsibilities and roles. Natu- to criticism and freedom of speech free, are considered untouchable without accountability. They do outwardly seem nostalgic rally, the media was replete with renders escaping to the past a safer now. Many figures acquitted in not realise that resorting to his- is a form of escapism from analyses, discussions and visions. alternative. All journalistic forms corruption cases went on vendet- tory is a trap in its own right, not the present, due to the Arab issues are virtually absent engage in nostalgia, even carica- tas once they regained their free- because the issues that they are al- feeling of helplessness in from most Egyptian media because tures, which are the weapons of dom to retaliate against those who lowed to treat today are substand- dealing with Egypt’s of the long list of prohibitions and choice in dealing with the harsh criticised them or even mentioned ard or incompatible with the cur- crises. taboos established by security ser- realities of life. Some cartoonists them in passing. rent moment but because relying vices that control most of Cairo’s prefer to reprise Salah Jaheen’s Saleh contends that the nostalgic on the past implies and exposes a Messaad Saleh, a professor of Arab concerns. Their extremely se- famous quatrains or scenes from phase of the printed press is part of professional and political poverty. media studies at Cairo University, cretive nature leads to a dearth of Salah Abdel Sabour’s plays to refer the generalised state of nostalgia The first thing that comes to mind said when journalists delve into information. to a current issue. that all Egyptians are experiencing. when reading about irrelevant top- the past they are projecting previ- Most Egyptian newspapers fail Some journalists face problems They do it to escape the dreariness ics is: Why do I care? Do this jour- ous times into the present because to deal with bitter realities. Most when links to or passages from ar- of the present for the beauty of nalist and his paper have anything they are either unable to deal with cannot figure out practical solu- ticles they published years ago re- the past, like one rushing to an old to say about my current problems? the present or they are not willing tions for the crises plaguing them, surface on social networking plat- song of Oum Kalthoum or Fairuz Isn’t there anything worth report- to face the consequences of an un- such as declining readership and forms. Some are reported to the after hearing some of the songs of- ing about the crises and pressing pleasant present. They hope their mounting debt. These challenges public prosecutor because issues fered in festivals. problems plaguing the country? audiences will pick up the hidden jeopardise the future of many me- they wrote about during the tran- Journalists and other media pro- messages. dia outlets. sitional period after the revolution fessionals seem to have found a Mohammed Hadi is an Egyptian For example, when a newspaper Saleh said the limited room given when the press was significantly source from which they can glean writer.

Viewpoint The closing of Dar Assayad is the end of an era in Lebanon

t doesn’t take much analysis art publication Al-Shabaka stop ap- This seems like the end of the me- not in line with those of the “Axis of Khairallah Khairallah to conclude that the closing of pearing, a new horrible reality has dia’s heroic stance in Lebanon. More Resistance.” the Lebanese publishing house settled in Lebanon. than anything else, the media scene To understand why, go to the Dar Assayad, which published Not long ago, this small country in Lebanon has been victimised by end of 2003 when Syrian President al Anwar newspaper, says a was overflowing with life and new the unfair and premeditated shrink- Bashar Assad received Lebanese lot about the conditions in ideas. In 2018 it is unable to resolve ing of the country’s role in the region Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Three ILebanon. the electricity and the garbage crises and by turning it into a “hostage” of other Syrian officials — Ghazi When a venerable newspaper plaguing it. During the 1960s, Leba- the so-called “Axis of Resistance.” Kanaan, minister of the interior at such as al Anwar or a magazine like non had one of the major airports in In practice, reducing Lebanon’s role the time; Rustom Ghazaleh, head of Assayad — as old as independent the world. Today, it looks more like in the region to a mere propaganda Syrian intelligence in Lebanon; and Lebanon itself — plus an excellent a desolate airport in a remote third tool for Iran and company was Mohammed Khallouf, head of the world country. entrusted to the sectarian militias in Syrian observers in Lebanon — also Surely there were many reasons the country. attended. Assad humiliated Hariri that led to the closing of Dar As- There are misconceptions about and then asked three things of him, sayad, some of which had to do with Lebanese media in general and including for Hariri to immediately family considerations of the owners. specifically about several Lebanese sell his shares in al-Nahar, which he However, if Dar Assayad’s manag- magazines and newspapers. Before did shortly after his return to Beirut. ers had to resort to that ultimate 1975, daily newspapers an-Nahar, Almost two years later, Hariri was solution, the case must have been al-Anwar and al Hayat and maga- assassinated. Shortly after, Samir desperate. zines al-Hawadith (politics) and al Qasir, the leading commentator at With the disappearance of Dar Chabaka (arts) balanced their budg- al-Nahar, was assassinated and so Assayad, another piece of Lebanon ets because Lebanon was a huge was journalist Gebran Tueni. The falls during a time the country is wit- media market. purpose was to silence al-Nahar. nessing the programmed crumbling The disappearance of Dar Assayad Al-Nahar continues to appear de- of its institutions. The latest sign is not just another current event. spite its deep financial crisis but the of deterioration is the protracted It must be treated as significant objective of the Syrian regime has failure to form a cabinet. Lebanese because it shows that the campaign been achieved. Al-Nahar is a shadow Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri against Lebanese media has, to a of its former self, with no fighting was officially entrusted by the newly large extent, achieved its goals. spirit left. It is the perfect example elected parliament to form a new At some point, there was a need to of what is desired of the media in government five months ago. silence Beirut. Closing Dar Assayad Lebanon. Killing Lebanese media is one is another step on that path. There The assassination of the Lebanese facet of the vicious campaign was and there continues to be a need mass media started with the arrival targeting Lebanon and aiming at to create in Lebanon an atmosphere of the Syrian regime’s Arab Deterrent impoverishing it in every domain so that cannot tolerate diversified Force in Lebanon in 1976. The clos- it becomes easy prey. This campaign media and will not accept any view ing of al-Anwar is the final outcome was at work previously when an of the trend started by the Syrian excellent newspaper, As-Safir, had to regime. To tell the truth, al-Anwar stop publication at the end of 2016. had been declining for the past few End of a With each closure, the spirit of There was and years and was headed for oblivion journey. diversity, which happens to be at there continues to were it not for its articles by Elham A Lebanese the heart of Lebanon’s character on be a need to create Said Freiha and Rafik Khouri. vendor dis- all levels, takes a direct hit. Looking Is it possible to say a final goodbye plays news- at the past half-century in Lebanon in Lebanon an to Lebanese newspapers? Perhaps, papers in the brings the realisation that it was mi- atmosphere that it would be rash to go down that southern port raculous that Lebanese mass media pessimistic road but, given the total city of Sidon. had survived all the tumultuous cannot tolerate breakdown threatening Lebanon, (AFP) events of that period. diversified media. nothing can be excluded. October 7, 2018 21 Society Nobel Prizes Former Iraqi ISIS prisoner awarded Nobel Peace Prize

The Arab Weekly staff the Nobel committee said in announcing the award. “Both laureates have made a cru- London cial contribution to focusing atten- tion on, and combating, war crimes. azidi campaigner Nadia Denis Mukwege is the helper who Murad and Congolese doc- has devoted his life to defending tor Denis Mukwege have these victims. Nadia Murad is the Y been awarded the 2018 witness who tells of the abuses per- Nobel Peace Prize for their work in petrated against herself and oth- combating sexual violence in con- ers,” the committee said. “Each of flicts zones around the world. them in their own way has helped The campaigners were honoured to give greater visibility to war-time for their “efforts to end the use of sexual violence so that the perpe- sexual violence as a weapon of trators can be held accountable for war,” Nobel Peace Prize Committee their actions.” Chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen Murad is only one of a limited said. “A more peaceful world can number of Nobel laureates from the only be achieved if women and Middle East since the annual award their fundamental rights and secu- was given beginning in 1901 and rity are recognised and protected in the first Yazidi to be so honoured. war.” She is the second youngest to have Murad and Mukwege will formal- received the award, after Malala ly receive the award December 10 in Yousafzai, who received the Nobel Oslo, Norway. Peace Prize when she was 17 in 2014. Murad, 25, was recognised for Prior to the 2014 purge of Sinjar her work highlighting the plight by ISIS fighters, Murad lived in the of the more than 100,000 Yazidis relatively unremarkable village of attacked, killed and enslaved by Kocho. However, after being taken Islamic State (ISIS) fighters during prisoner, she was enslaved and their insurgency in Iraq and Syria. transferred to ISIS’s Iraqi stronghold of Mosul where she described being beaten, burned with cigarettes and Murad is only one of a raped when trying to escape. limited number of Nobel Murad witnessed Yazidis being laureates from the Middle forced to renounce their religion. A story of survival. A 2016 file picture shows Nadia Murad, public advocate for the Yazidi community East since the annual With most of the men killed, Mu- in Iraq, delivering a speech at the European parliament in Strasbourg. (AFP) award was given rad saw their children being con- scripted and forced to train as ISIS beginning in 1901. fighters. Thousands of women were ried to an ISIS fighter, beaten and lished a new life in Germany where Her book, “The Last Girl: My forced into involuntary labour and made to wear makeup and tight she campaigns for what she calls, Story of Captivity and My Fight Mukwege, a 63-year-old gy- sexual slavery. clothes. However, with the help of “our peoples’ fight,” becoming a Against the Islamic State,” was pub- naecologist, received the award Describing the experience to the a sympathetic Muslim family from well-known spokeswoman for the lished in 2017. for his more than two decades of United Nations in 2016, human Mosul, Murad was provided with Yazidi people. Murad and Mukwege were se- work helping women recover from rights lawyer Amal Clooney charac- false paperwork and crossed dozens In 2016, along with her friend lected from a list of 331 Nobel Peace the violence and trauma of sexual terised the genocide, rape and traf- of kilometres into Iraqi Kurdistan, Lamiya Haji Bashar, she was award- Prize candidates, including Pope abuse and rape in eastern Demo- ficking of Yazidis by ISIS as a “bu- where she joined other displaced ed the European Union’s Sakharov Francis and the leaders of North cratic Republic of Congo. reaucracy of evil on an industrial Yazidis in camps. human rights prize. The same year Korea and South Korea, Kim Jong- “They have both put their own scale.” She said the slave market There, she learnt that six of her she was named the first Goodwill un and Moon Jae-in, who were con- personal security at risk by cou- extended to the internet. brothers and her mother had been Ambassador for the Dignity of Sur- sidered for their efforts in de-esca- rageously combating war crimes Like thousands of other Yazidi killed. vivors of Human Trafficking of the lating tensions between their two and securing justice for victims,” women, Murad was forcibly mar- Since then, Murad has estab- United Nations. countries.

Viewpoint Why there aren’t many Arab Nobel science laureates

he Nobel science prizes ing back Arab scientists is the mini- are done for another mal support received by the scien- Khadija year and in 2018, just tific community. This prevents labs Hamouchi as in most of the past from having advanced facilities or 117 years, there were [following] current technological few surprises for the trends, [which] makes it even more TArab world. No Arab scientist was difficult to receive international among this year’s laureates. grants,” he said. The Arab world has produced Tamara Salloum, another precious few Nobel laureates in research assistant at the lab, adds physics, chemistry and medicine, that the lack of ambition is upset- including Egyptian-American ting, saying: “As researchers in the chemist Ahmed Zewail in 1999, the Middle East, we have the same po- first Arab to win a Nobel in the sci- tential as anyone else in the world.” ence category. Arab scientists with a desire to The most recent winner from excel generally immigrate, often to the region was Turkish-American the West. In 2014, BBC Arabic re- chemist Aziz Sancar in 2015, who ported that approximately 50 000 stressed he wasn’t Arab but “a Sudanese university professionals, Turk.” There were two members of engineers and medical doctors had the Lebanese diaspora in the West left the country. Reversing the trend. A technician works at a laboratory in Masdar — the half-Lebanese, Brazil-born, In 2016, Jim al-Khalili, the City on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. (AFP) Britain-based Peter Medawar in Baghdad-born, Britain-based pro- 1960 and Lebanese-American Elias fessor of theoretical physics, noted James Corey in 1990. advancing economic, social and it cannot “attract foreign research- that Muslim countries in general That makes four, all of whom cultural development. In its annual ers from, say, South Korea.” “have fewer than ten scientists, have deep and abiding educational report on scientific research, the He has a point. In 2005, Harvard engineers and technicians per connections to the West and three foundation said scientific re- University produced more scien- thousand residents, compared to who don’t count as Arab. search in the Arab world is heavily tific papers than 17 Arabic-speaking the global average of 40 — and 140 In fact, there seems more chance underfunded with investment in countries put together. UNESCO’s in the developed world.” of an Arab from the region and university infrastructure, research 2009 Science Report stated that One of the reasons may be the based in it to win the Nobel Peace centres, human resources and the Egypt produces 0.3% of all scien- lack of regional interest in study- Prize than for science. Why? protection of intellectual property tific articles in the world; Lebanon ing science at the postgraduate “In the Arab world, we have not lagging far behind other regions. generates 0.04%; and Morocco, level. The Arab Thought Founda- given great minds a great envi- In 2012, Saudi Arabia spent Algeria, Libya and Tunisia each tion report said higher education ronment,” said Osama AbdelKa- 0.25% of its GDP, Tunisia 0.68% 0.03%. Those numbers have likely institutions have a low enrolment rim who runs MaterialSolved, a and Qatar 0.47% on research and not changed significantly in recent rate in applied sciences and math- start-up that helps researchers development. Even the private years. ematics compared to other fields. transform data into a visual story. sector in Arab countries is said Unsurprisingly then, Arab Those Arabs who do take up “Behind one [Nobel]-winning to be hesitant about investing in scientists are fairly limited in their science seem a low-key bunch. A scientist, there are teams of hun- scientific research because it has ability to make groundbreaking quick look at TEDx talks, the non- dreds of researchers working on a little faith in it. medical discoveries, consider the profit events that help spread ide- project.” Research by Sana Almansour, laws of physics or develop trans- as, shows there aren’t many Arab The Arab world, however, an associate professor at Princess formational methods in chemistry. scientists presenting research. doesn’t give its scientists such Nora bint Abdul Rahman Univer- In fact, they can’t help not Perhaps that, more than the lack resources and “in Egypt, many sity in Riyadh, said the region is winning prizes, said Harout Ara- of Nobel science prizes, says it all. researchers cannot even work full beset by the poor application of baghian, a research assistant and Arab scientists with a time on research but have to tutor information technology, a lack of molecular microbiologist at the Khadija Hamouchi is a desire to excel to financially sustain themselves,” strategic planning and an overde- Sima Tokajian’s Microbial Genom- Belgian-Moroccan social AbdelKarim said. pendence on foreign expertise. ics Lab at Lebanese American entrepreneur and founder of generally immigrate, The point is underlined by the AbdelKarim said the poor region- University. SEJAAL, an initiative that is often to the West. Arab Thought Foundation, an NGO al environment for science means “One of the main reasons hold- building an app for young people. 22 October 7, 2018 Culture Arabic Language Do dialects threaten or nourish Standard Arabic?

Mustafa Abid organised several campaigns to en- Yasser Ramadan, head of Kunuz courage using dialects in narration Publishing House in Cairo, said the and not just in dialogues. Arab world has become familiar with Cairo As it often happens in such feuds, local dialects of Arabic. He said using the debate is not purely about lan- dialects in novels in Egypt gave them n nearly every modern novel in guage usage. Purists accused sup- more realism and credibility. Social Standard Arabic there is bound to porters of the dialects of wanting to media platforms, such as Facebook, be dialogue written in dialectical destroy Classical Arabic. They ac- Twitter, Instagram and Telegram, I Arabic. This style feature feeds cused them of a lack of respect for its have allowed Arab intellectuals to the feud between supporters of the rich literary heritage. communicate with each other and sole use of Standard Arabic and those understand each other even when lo- who favour injecting local dialects. cal dialects are used. Even though a new round of the Defenders of dialects in The purists’ argument is alarm- battle is taking place, the feud itself literature say that using ist. They fear that too much reliance dates to the 1950s. The debate rages “popular” dialects on dialects in dialogues will lead to on, especially after some juries in lit- introduces realism. abandoning Standard Arabic alto- erary competitions in the Arab world gether. said they would have accepted the Egyptian novelist Nasser Arak said: use of dialects in novels. Champions of the dialects have ac- “Resorting to dialects in novels or at Standard Arabic purists said it can cused purists of closed-mindedness least in the dialogues between the be used to express many situations and of wanting to have patriarchal characters of the novel is absolutely and attitudes shared by all Arabic control of Arabic literature. undesirable. Using the dialect simply speakers. Therefore, it is essential to With new generations of novelists weakens the quality of the literary preserve it to elevate artistic and liter- and writers in Arabic, the balance text beyond repair.” ary taste. of power has shifted in favour of “True literature must be based on Defenders of dialects in literature the modernist camp. Local dialects established and known language say that using “popular” dialects in- have become the staple of dialogues rules. A talented writer would be able troduces realism. As far as compre- in novels. In some cases, the dialect to get inspired by these rules and im- hension is concerned, this side of the used is so geographically restricted prove them. Dialects, however, have debate argues that satellite TV chan- to specific communities like the dia- no specific rules and therefore are nels have made it possible for Arabic lects of Southern Egypt, of Aleppo in quite poor to be able to provide the speakers everywhere to understand Syria, Shawia in Algeria and Kurdish specific qualities of a good literary local dialects. in Syria and Iraq. text,” Arak added. For defenders of Standard Arabic, Virtual reality and social media Standard Arabic has codified rules Reconciling differences. platforms add a twist to the debate. that have been stable for centuries. 1988 Nobel Prize Literature Laureate An Egyptian man smokes a Naguib Mahfouz is the best example Youthful users have developed a spe- A talented, sagacious writer can tap water pipe in front of a mural supporting their argument. Mahfouz, cific style of mixing Standard Arabic into the hidden powers of the lan- of Egyptian novelist Naguib born in Cairo, wrote realistic novels with foreign words in their communi- guage. The best example is again Mahfouz in Cairo. (Reuters) using only Standard Arabic, even in cations. That style has found its way Mahfouz. In his novels, beggars, in- dialogues. to dialogues in novels. It is not un- formers, bootlickers, prostitutes and In Syria, the late novelist Hanna common to find main characters in street vendors speak in a simple and called “Third Language” — is possible tives to Standard Arabic in all do- Mina shared Mahfouz’s commitment modern novels in Arabic using words yet subtle Standard Arabic. and would reconcile Classical Arabic mains mean that dialects would be to Standard Arabic in literature and and expressions such as “missed Critics and writers are trying to find with modern times. considered full languages and could succeeded in depicting daily life and call,” “delete,” “block” and “chat” a middle ground. They insist that Algerian writer and translator lead to their codification. characters in Syrian society using and those words would appear writ- the fundamental principle in literary Younes Amara said he has no prob- “If promoters of dialects discover Standard Arabic. ten in Arabic characters. writing should be freedom of creativ- lem with using dialects in novels. this particular point, they would im- Perhaps the best-known supporter Supporters of the dialects argue ity. The theory behind the “middle- He does, however, have reserva- mediately realise that that process of the use of local dialects in all forms that novelists should depict reality as grounders” is that Standard Arabic is tions about translating foreign works would spell certain death for any dia- of communication is late Egyptian closely as possible. They argue that one way Arab unity is maintained. A straight to dialects. lect,” Amara said. intellectual Louis Awad, who used Standard Arabic is flexible and has “middle language” between Classi- He pointed out that valuing dia- Egyptian Arabic in his writings and evolved with daily life. cal Arabic and the dialects — the so- lects and pushing them as alterna- Mustafa Abid is an Egyptian writer.

Viewpoint Tunisia’s linguistic dilemma could affect future generations

uring the first half the 1960s, pro-French voices rose of the 20th century, again among Tunisian intellectu- France initiated its als but the literary and intellectual Hsouna Mosbahi colonial project for currents influenced by avant- Tunisia with the garde movements in Europe and Frenchification of the the Middle East drowned them DTunisian elite so they could be co- out. opted to further French interests Unfortunately, the political, through the elimination of the ideological and religious chaos Tunisian identity. For that project, that had invaded Tunisia left the colonial powers resorted to ideas Arabic language reeling under the of Orientalists who had come up horrendous use of Arabic by Tuni- with the linguistic theory claim- sian politicians and the media. ing that Arabic had become a dead This beautiful language is being language just like ancient oriental disfigured through the injection languages and Latin. of French words in political and The French argued that if the media discourse, especially in Tunisian elite wanted to be right advertising. Tunisians now speak in the heart of modern times, a hybrid language, mixing classical they had to write and speak in Arabic, French and Tunisian dia- the language of Moliere. French lect, all in the name of democracy colonial powers invested a lot in and freedom of expression. that project but only a few fake or Even stranger is that educa- misguided Tunisian intellectuals tional institutions and teachers’ went along. unions seem oblivious to this Tunisian intellectuals who had linguistic conundrum and have realised the enormous dangers of shown no reaction to it. In many the Frenchification project coun- More than one language. Young Tunisians, some of them holding instances, those institutions — tered it in different ways. During books, walk along the Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis. (AFP) directly or indirectly — feed the the 1930s, for example, Tunisian problem and contribute to making novelist and playwright Mahmoud it a de facto reality. Messadi produced his two most borrowed from European existen- poets, writers and intellectuals If nothing is done to reverse the important legacies, “The Dam” tial philosophers such as Scho- who played an essential role in trend, future Tunisian genera- If nothing is done and “Abu Hurairah Said.” Messadi penhauer, Nietzsche, Sartre and modernising Tunisian culture, not tions will become victims of this to reverse the had an excellent knowledge of the Camus. by killing the Arabic language but linguistic monstrosity that can classics of Arabic literature as well Messadi’s choice of classical Ar- by reviving it and freeing it from produce neither literature nor trend, future as of major classical and modern abic for his work was his weapon its long coma and adapting it to poetry nor philosophy. It is good generations will European works. in confronting France’s colonial reflect the fast-changing modern only for unproductive and boring Through his dramas, Messadi project and its efforts to erase the realities. chatter. become victims of wanted to rehabilitate the use of Arab identity of colonised Tunisia. Tunisian poet and literary critic To borrow Milan Kundera’s a linguistic classical Arabic and restore its lost Messadi was not alone in using Aboul-Qacem Echebbi renovated observation, when people are monstrosity that lustre by writing in a style worthy language against colonialism. Arab poetry and Tahar Haddad stripped of their language, their of the great classical Arab authors Poet Sandor Petofi did the same in innovated in social philosophy culture and their authenticity, it can produce such as al-Jahiz, Abu Hayyan Hungary as did Agostinho Neto in while novelists Ali Douagi and Mo- only means that they have been neither literature al-Tawhidi, Ibn al-Muqaffa and Angola, Mattesini in Italy and Jose hamed Aribi gave life to storytell- sentenced to death. al-Ma’arri. Messadi used classi- Marti in Cuba. ing in Arabic. nor poetry nor cal Arabic to write about modern Also during the 1930s, there Following independence from Hsouna Mosbahi is a Tunisian philosophy. philosophical topics and concepts emerged in Tunisia a number of France, and more precisely during writer. October 7, 2018 23 Culture Books Interview Talking to the director of the first Tunisian Book Fair

inspired the idea to hold a fair for status. There is a missing link that the Tunisian book in this new needs to be found.” cultural compound.” M’henni noted that Tunisian Roua Khlifi The fair will feature confer- books have a unique cultural ences, roundtable discussions, identity different from other Arab workshops and film screenings world literature. Part of the unisia will have a and competitions in four catego- particular identity of Tunisian national Tunisian ries: Best Children’s Book, Best thought is its modernist and Book Fair, a literary Creative Writing, Best Intellec- reformist streaks. event that has been tual Writing and Best Translated “Tunisia has a cultural tradition much awaited by Text. that is characterised by enlight- the country’s In addition to its attention to enment and avant-garde think- intellectuals and the state of Tunisian literature, ing. When it comes to Arab Twriters. the fair will reflect on the nation’s modernism, the Tunisian school Tunisian writer Mansour common concerns as the first was a pioneer,” M’henni said. M’henni is director of the first edition’s theme, “The Tunisian Openness to the world has edition of the fair, which will run Book Unites Us,” is intended to always come with Tunisian October 19-28 at the Tunis City of serve as a call for national unity. modernist thinking. “Tunisian Culture. “The slogan was chosen to literature is famed for its combi- M’henni acknowledged the underline the idea of unity that is nation of modernist thinking and importance of the time-honoured much needed in Tunisia now. We Islamic-Arabic influences as well legacy of the Tunis International want to unite all talents and as its other cultural roots. It has Tunisian books to the fore. Director of the national Tunisian Book Fair in reviving and promot- competencies around the ideas of remained faithful to its cultural Book Fair, Mansour M’henni. (Courtesy of Mansour M’henni) ing books and sees a special role patriotism and love of one’s coun- roots but it is also open to the for the new Tunisian Book Fair in try. This occasion should serve to cultures of the world.” bringing attention to not-enough unite Tunisians,” M’henni M’henni sees a role for Arab of readers to carry their project come up with new solutions. recognised Tunisian books and explained. intellectuals and writers, in with them,” M’henni said. M’henni suggested that Tunisian writers. M’henni said Tunisian books general, in promoting values of For the recently named director publishing houses need to adapt “When visitors go to the remained at a disadvantage in the modernity and tolerance. of the Tunisian Book Fair, the to the digitalisation and use all international book fair, they do Arab world despite their high “Some parts of the Arab world issues related to publishing possible means to promote their not pay that much attention to literary quality and strong became aware of this necessity to remain at the heart of the strug- work. the national books but, rather, presence in international literary be modern. Yet this does not deny gles of the literary scene in “The digitalisation of the world focus on foreign publications and forums and fairs. the existence of some forces that Tunisia. Despite the support of cannot leave the world of print international book publishers “There are no permanent are dragging the Arab world back. the government, Tunisian and literature unscathed. I and books,” M’henni said channels to distribute Tunisian There is an ongoing intellectual publishing houses and writers personally chose for years to Insufficient attention to books in the Arab world. The debate and there is even violent alike struggle to have Tunisian publish only in Tunisia and today Tunisian books prompted literary production is important pushback,’’ M’henni said. books published and distributed. I realise I was unfair to myself. intellectuals, writers and publish- and the number of writers is But M’henni sees coexistence M’henni said the fair will be an Lately, I published my books in ers to find other channels to increasing greatly. The govern- as inevitable. “People need to opportunity for Tunisian pub- France and Egypt. French promote their works. ment is also supporting writers know that mankind will have no lishers to discuss their issues and publishing houses rely on the “This is how the idea of and books as well as publishing choice but to coexist. Despite digital tools to sell the product,” promoting Tunisian books came houses. Tunisian books and their differences, they need to M’henni explained. about. It comes also as a part of a writers are present in all interna- maintain respect, communica- “In Tunisian “We need to abandon our whole new cultural policy that tional fairs in the Arab world but tion and constructivism.” traditional methods. Today, we seeks to promote and encourage there is no strong strategy of M’henni called on Tunisian literature, there are have publishing houses that print Tunisian production for its role communication by publishers,” writers to have an intellectual pioneer texts but 3,000 copies, which are left in the cultural and economic M’henni said. project in their writings to unsold. We must find a mecha- development of the country,” “Also, translation can serve as combat the effect of consumer- they couldn’t earn nism to engage the reader M’henni said. one of the mediums to reintro- ism on the printing world. their deserved through the digital world and the “The Ministry of Cultural duce Tunisian books in the Arab “Tunisian literature remains a use of digital platforms. We need Affairs dedicated the year 2018 to and international scenes,” said literature with a purpose and a status.” to use all possible means to get the Tunisian book and doubled M’henni, himself an award-win- mission but how can we share Director of the national the book closer to the readers.” the budget devoted to publishing ning, French-language writer. this project with others and how and supporting Tunisian books. “In Tunisian literature, there can we get the others involved? Tunisian Book Fair Roua Khlifi is a regular Travel The City of Culture was also are pioneer texts but they Writers need to find the right Mansour M’henni and Culture contributor to inaugurated this year, which also couldn’t earn their deserved channels to attract the attention The Arab Weekly. Obituary Middle East specialist Antoine Sfeir dies at 70

Remarkable events for L’Orient Le Jour, which Sfeir had been the president of legacy. A file he joined in 1968, Sfeir was the Paris-based school of interna- picture shows kidnapped and tortured in June tional relations, L’ileri, since Samar Kadi Franco- 1976 by a Palestine Liberation 2014. He presided over a research Lebanese Front-affiliated militia, which centre on the Middle East, the e was a public journalist and held him prisoner for many days. CERPO, and taught international face in France, Middle East “This event strengthened my relations at CELSA-Paris IV. He known for his specialist rejection of emotionalism in the was awarded the Legion deep knowledge Antoine Sfeir. profession. I also learned one d’Honneur in recognition of his and informative (Wikipedia) thing later, it was that I wanted to contributions in increasing analysis of the transmit ideas and that never knowledge and understanding of Arab and Muslim stopped. I was determined and the Arab Muslim world. Hworld. Franco-Lebanese journal- had the opportunity to re-engage His attachment to Lebanon was ist and Middle East specialist very quickly in journalism. A unparalleled. Sfeir was quoted as Antoine Sfeir, who was described profession of which one never telling Paroles de Corses: “Leba- by French politicians as the link tires and where we learn some- non is ‘the will to live together’ in between East and West, died Sep- thing every day. It is an activity respect of the other… I had the tember 30 in Paris. He had just where we are both a student and chance to seduce (girls) at the turned 70. a transmitter,” Sfeir told Paroles mosque on Friday, at the syna- A former consultant for Europe de Corses website. gogue on Saturday and at the 1 and founder and editor of The ordeal left him with church on Sunday… That’s what Cahiers de l’Orient, Sfeir was physical scars and led him to made me open up to those regularly invited by French radio leave for France, where he different religions and learn to and television channels to arrived in September 1976. He know them.” discuss Arab and Islamic issues. worked for several French Suffering for years from A student of religion, he was an publications, including La Croix, various ailments, Sfeir had expert in both Christianity and Le Point and Le Figaro. He moved away from the media Islam. For many in French and published essays on Middle world in recent months. He European media, he was the Eastern issues including “Les continued to attend conferences, ultimate pundit when it came to candidate, saluting a “great family of Christian Maronites. A Reseaux d’Allah” (“God’s Net- however. examining Islamism and extrem- friend,” wrote: “Antoine bridged student of the Jesuits, he was works”) in 1977, “L’Islam contre While L’Orient Le Jour paid ism in North Africa and the two worlds. He had a deep and studying medicine when he sent L’Islam” (“Islam Versus Islam”) tribute to its “old colleague,” Middle East. Sfeir was also an warm knowledge of Islam, in its writings to the local French-lan- and “L’Interminable Guerre des Michel Barnier, a French politi- expert in Maghrebi issues. He multiple facets and history… His guage newspaper L’Orient-Le Chiites et des Sunnites” (“The cian and the European Union’s was the author of “Tunisia: Land instructive pedagogic decipher- Jour, for which he wrote the Unending War of Shias and chief Brexit negotiator posted on of Paradoxes.” He was also an ing of the complexities of Islam weekly “Le Jour des Jeunes” Sunnis”) in 2012 and “Chretiens Twitter: “Yes, we will miss occasional contributor to The and the Arab world was always column before he was perma- d’Orient: S’ils disparaissaient?” Antoine Sfeir and his illuminat- Arab Weekly. welcome… It is with great nently hired. That led Sfeir to a (“Christians of the Orient: What ing analysis.” Francois Bayrou, president of sadness that we hear of his rich journey into media and book if They Disappeared?”) the Democratic Movement and passing.” publishing. A highly respected figure in Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly former French presidential Sfeir was born in Beirut in a While reporting on Mideast political and academic circles, Travel and Society section editor. 24 October 7, 2018 Travel www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Beirut: Through December 27

Events associated with Sursock Museum Late Nights occur noon-9pm each Thursday at the Sursock Museum in Beirut. Events include exhibitions, collection displays, late-night talks, performances and screenings.

Dubai: October 9-13

The award-winning musical “Ghost” will be performed at Dubai Opera for five days. The musical is based on the 1990 film, which starred Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. A view of Villa Donna Maria in Sofar. (Sofar Grand Hotel) Cairo: October 11-13

The Cairo Jazz Festival brings Sofar: Lebanon’s local and international musi- cians to perform. Most perfor- mances are at the venue halls of the Greek Campus and the historic hub Cairo Jazz Club. Essaouira: October 12-14

The second MOGA Festival of of luxury electronic music and culture will take place in Essaouira, Morocco. Performances, Samar Kadi intrigue. educational workshops, beach “The first Arab League summit in parties and digital video Lebanon was at the Grand Hotel in installations are among events Sofar the 1950s. It was a destination fa- scheduled. voured by Arab leaders who came t was the summer retreat of the here for vacationing,” Habr said, Carthage: Lebanese bourgeoisie and its “Celebrities like Oum Kalthoum, October 12-31 majestic Grand Hotel, the meet- Asmahan, Farid al Atrash and Ab- I ing place of celebrities, famous del Halim Hafez stayed in the hotel The 24th Musical October in artists, politicians and dignitaries more than once. Even Omar Sharif Carthage will take place at the from Lebanon and the region. used to gamble at the casino.” Acropolium on Byrsa Hill. The Sofar, a village nestled in Mount Today, the Grand Hotel is a pock- festival will include concerts Lebanon 1,300 metres above the marked effigy of its former glory by artists from Tunisia, Japan, sea, is known for its architecture, with broken stairs, faded poker Russia, Spain, Italy and Aus- luxurious villas and rich history. tables, peeling walls and what re- (Sofar Grand Hotel) tria. The village owes its celebrity to mains of the “piano a queue” in a A general view of Sofar. the railway, built by the Ottomans in corner of the reception area. How- Abu Simbel: 1880, that linked Beirut to the Bekaa ever, Young’s 40 artworks on can- French liaison officer who frequent- old houses built by the high society October 22 Valley. The easy access and its stun- vas depicting scenes of the hotel’s ed the hotel in the 1940s. The paint- of a bygone era, Sofar boasts two ning scenery overlooking the beau- heydays transport visitors to a time ing shows Spears, French mandate churches dating to the 19th century. The Sun Festival at Abu Simbel tiful Lamartine Valley attracted Bei- when the place was bursting with General Georges Catroux and British “The village, once too small to be takes place in February and Oc- rut’s Haute Bourgeoisie, who built life and glamour. General Henry Wilson negotiating noticed, grew quickly at the end of tober to mark dates associated lavish villas and the Grand Hotel. Lebanon’s independence from the the 19th century under the pulse of with Pharaoh Ramses II. When “The Grand Hotel was built by the French in 1943. the Haute Bourgeoisie, due to its In addition to the many Ramses II built his temple, it Sursock family in this very location In other paintings, drawn from natural beauty and cool summer was positioned so that, on his because it is just across the road villas and old houses built Lebanese writer Amin Rihani’s ac- weather. Even the French ambas- by the high society of a birthday and the date of his from the train station. It was the count of the hotel including his sto- sador had its summer residence in ascension to the throne, the main attraction in the area and eas- bygone era, Sofar boasts ry “Dancehall and Casino,” dancers Sofar for many decades,” Habr said. inner sanctum would be lit by ily accessible,” said Carlos Habr, the two churches dating to the sway under a once-glittering chan- “The Grand Hotel, however, was the rising sun and illuminate hotel warden who inherited the job 19th century. delier and gamblers gaze expectant- the main attraction. Visitors were statues of the sun gods. Twice from his father and grandfather. ly over roulette wheels. not admitted if not dressed appro- a year, people gather at the When it opened in 1892, Sofar’s The paintings were drawn from On a hilltop overlooking the tree- priately… Amin Rihani was thrown temple along the banks of the Grand Hotel included Lebanon’s stories of the hotel, as well as post- lined Sofar corniche, once a popular out of the hotel once because he was Nile to watch the sun rise and first casino. It was a hub of luxury cards, letters and the memoirs of afternoon promenade, stands Villa not wearing the right cloth,” Habr celebrate with food, dance and and sophistication luring the busi- people who spent memorable times Donna Maria, a fairytale castle built added with laughter. singing by local performers. ness of kings, emirs, artists and poli- there. in 1909 by a member of the Sursock Samir Khoury, 87, said he remem- ticians. It was looted and damaged “I got inspired also from talking family. bers childhood summers in Sofar. Dubai: in the early years of the civil war to the local old people and to the Like the hotel, it was severely “Every Sunday after church my fam- October 24-27 (1975-90) and remained closed un- Sursock family. The stories in this damaged and looted during the civil ily used to go to the Grand Hotel for til it reopened in September to host place are about all of Lebanon and war. It stands today wrecked and a snack,” he said. “It was a time of Dubai Opera will host the Hou- the exhibition, “Grand Hotel Sofar,” the whole Arab world and Europe,” uninhabited but forms a majestic happiness and joy. Lebanon had just ston Ballet for six performanc- by Beirut-based British artist Tom Young said. and dramatic backdrop to the events gained its independence. es of “Swan Lake.” The ballet Young in tribute to the hotel’s rich “The fate of Lebanon was decided that took place in the front espla- “I remember the whistling of the tells the story of a beautiful history. in the garden of this hotel,” Young nade, which has been rehabilitated, passing train. It moved so slowly maiden who is transformed Built on an area of 30,000 said, explaining the painting “Gen- a first step towards restoration of that as kids we used to try to catch into a swan by an evil knight. sq.metres, the hotel was a hub of erals” that he drew on memoirs of the villa. up with it. It was a different era. A live orchestra will be playing luxury as well as gossip and political General Edward Spears, a British- In addition to the many villas and These were the good old days.” Tchaikovsky’s original score.

Abu Dhabi: October 26-27

“Big in Japan Festival” will take place at Louvre Abu Dhabi for two days. The festival will include an art exhibition and events such as spoken-word poetry, screenings of Studio Ghibli anime films and Japa- nese cooking classes.

We welcome submissions of calendar items related to cultural events of interest to travellers in the Middle East and North Africa.

Please send tips to: [email protected] A visitor looks at paintings by British artist Tom Young at the Sofar Grand Hotel. (AFP) A view of the corniche in Sofar. (Sofar Grand Hotel)