issue number 147 |October 2014 NFORMATION INTERNATIONAL’s OPINION POLL ERSAL CLASHES AND Hariri’s RETURN TO LEBANON OFFICIAL EXAMS: BETWEEN PASS STATEMENTS AND OFFICIAL CERTIFICATES THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS NABIL MRAD www.monthlymagazine.com • Published by Information International sal HEAD OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BENOUATI CAR BOMBINGS IN 2013-2014 18 CARS | 143 VICTIMS AND 1,140 KILOGRAMS OF EXPLOSIVES Lebanon 5,000LL | Saudi Arabia 15SR | UAE 15DHR | Jordan 2JD| Syria 75SYP | Iraq 3,500IQD | Kuwait 1.5KD | Qatar 15QR | Bahrain 2BD | Oman 2OR | Yemen 15YRI | Egypt 10EP | Europe 5Euros October INDEX 2014 4 CAR BOMBINGS IN 2013-2014 8 RUNNING FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN 2009, 2013 AND 2014 12 OFFICIAL EXAMS: BETWEEN PASS STATEMENTS AND OFFICIAL CERTIFICATES 14 DEVELOPING THE ECONOMY OF TRIPOLI: BETWEEN THE FAIR AND THE ECONOMIC ZONE 16 DIRECTORATE FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEE AFFAIRS P: 24 P: 16 18 INFORMATION INTERNAtional’s OPINION POLL ERSAL CLASHES AND HAriri’s RETURN TO LEBANON 23 JAPANESE PARLIAMENT 24 NAJIB ABOU HAIDAR- SECT-LESS ID CARD 26 T HE ANNUAL PELVIC EXAMINATION: DR. HANNA SAADAH 27 BACK TO School – HEALTHY EATING TIPS: MAYA NAHOUL P: 14 28 INTERVIEW: NABIL MRAD HEAD OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BENOUATI 29 JEUNESSE CONTRE DROGUE 31 POPULAR CULTURE 32 DEBUNKING MYTH#86: THE AUTISTIC GENIUS 33 MUST-READ BOOKS: GIBRAN KHALIL GIBRAN-PEOPLE AND PLACES BEAR WITNESS HENRY ZOGHEIB 46 THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- ARAB WORLD BURIAL OF GAMAL ABDUL NASSER- OCTOBER 1970 34 MUST-read children’s BOOK: THE STORY OF HADI ORGAN DONATION 47 ON THE BELIEFS AND PLOTS OF AL-QAEDA (7) AL-QAEDA AND JIHAD IN THE PATH OF ISLAM 35 LEBANON FAMILIES: THE BAHLAWANS 49 REAL ESTATE PRICES - AUGUST 2014 36 DISCOVER LEBANON: AL-MUHTAQARA WILL IT BE RENAMED AL-MUFTAKHARA? 50 DID YOU KNOW THAT?: DIABETES WORLDWIDE 37 DISCOVER THE WORLD: MONACO 50 RAFIC HARIRI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 38 AUGUST 2014 HIGHLIGHTS TRAFFIC - JULY 2014 44 THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- LEBANON 51 LEBanon’s stATS 39 YEARS OF LEBANESE DIALOGUE |EDITORIAL “LONG LIVE CALIPH IBRAHIm!” Ahmad did not know that Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai, who lived and pursued education in Baghdad, was all-powerful. He thought that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was a hot and dry sandstorm that would soon give way to a rainy season before the land tilts towards the sun of the spring, flowering in full bloom like Ishtar and toasting the ever-youthful nature of Adonis, so that Ahmad would revel in the pure rapture of Al-Akhtal’s poetry which flourished under Muawiyah’s era and Ziryab’s music in Al-Andalus. Ahmad did not know that Caliph Ibrahim had a power so great that he was able to seize an area at least three times larger than today’s Lebanon. He did not know that Caliph Ibrahim had set his mind to unifying Iraq, Syria and Lebanon in defiance of the Sykes-PicotAgreement. Ahmad was mad at the Baathists of Syria and Iraq and blamed them for all the calamities that had befallen people. He even questioned the very existence of the Caliph Ibrahim, for he had never seen concrete evidence of him. However, all his wrath and doubts subsided when he read that those who attended the NATO Summit in Wales decided to fight ISIS. Indeed, all 28 NATO countries have waged war against Caliph Ibrahim. Recalling the defeats of 1967 and 1973, the defeat of Iraq against Iran, the execution of Saddam Hussein and the havoc unfolding in Gaza, the memories suddenly stirred the emotions of Ahmad. He swelled with unusual pride at the thought that the Samarra-born Caliph is threatening the ‘free world’. He grew even more proud when he heard John Kerry say “It may take a year, it may take two years, may take three years, but we are determined it has to happen. The effort to destroy and degrade [ISIS] will take time and persistence”. Fearing that the Sunni states might comply with the call of Barack Obama to ‘fight the Islamic State because that’s not what Islam is about’, Ahmad decided to hurry to the rescue of his Sunni from both their fellow Sunni and the Shia’a. He stopped drinking alcohol, dedicated himself to prayers and pledged allegiance to Caliph Ibrahim. “Long live Caliph Ibrahim”, he shouted at the top of his lungs as he waved the black flag. 4 | LEADER CAR BOMBINGS IN 2013-2014 18 CARS, 143 VICTIMS AND 1,140 KILOGRAMS OF EXPLOSIVES From July 2013, the wave of car bombings returned to Lebanon, disturbing the tranquility and putting the country in the grip of fear. This criminal and violent phenomenon, which first appeared during the Lebanese Civil War, returned in 2005 with the assassination of Rafic Hariri and a number of other high-ranking figures, only to dwindle again in the following years. However, the violence associated with car bombs reemerged in October 2012 when Brigadier General Wissam Al-Hassan was the target of this kind of wicked operation. However, after this incident car bombings began to decline gradually. In July 2013, the wave of car bombings staged a strong comeback and showed stark differences from all previous operations, as detailed below. Most of the car bombings were performed by extremist Islamic suicide bombers Most of the operations targeted areas with a distinctive sectarian nature (Shia’a) and political allegiance (Hezbollah and Amal Movement). Most of the operations targeted innocent civilians, except for one that was aimed at a political figure Some of the operations targeted the Lebanese Army and the Security Forces Between July 2013 and July 2014, 18 car bombings ripped through Lebanon killing 143 people and injuring 1279. The weight of the explosives used in the operations was estimated at 1,140 kilograms as illustrated in Table 1. Car bomb attacks recorded in Lebanon between July 2013 and July 2014 Table 1 Estimated Method of Date of Place of Vehicle used weight of detonating the Dead Injured Target explosion explosion in explosion explosives (kg) explosives Beer Abed- 9-7-2013 Southern Suburb 35 Kia Timer 0 58 Civilians of Beirut Ruwais- 15-8-2013 Soutehrn Suburb 60 BMW Timer 27 120 Civilians of Beirut Abu Ali Civilians and worshippers (the twin 23-8-2013 Roundabout- 100 BMW Timer bombings rocked two mosques in Tripoli 47 500 Tripoli, Al-Taqwa Mosque and Al- 23-8-2013 Mina- Tripoli 175 Ford Timer Salam Mosque) The attack targeted the Iranian Embassy but the suicide bombers, Moueen Abou Dahr from Saida Suicide 19-11-2013 Beer Hassan 50 ENVOY 24 150 and Mohammad al-Mohammad bombers from Bisariyeh failed to enter the embassy. Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack. 6 including Honda CRV Starco- former stolen since Activated by Former Finance Minister 27-12-2013 Downtown, 50 Minister 70 2012 from remote control Mohammad Chatah Beirut Mohammad Rmaileh Chatah issue 147 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. LEADER | 5 Car bomb attacks recorded in Lebanon between July 2013 and July 2014 Table 1 Estimated Method of Date of Place of Vehicle used weight of detonating the Dead Injured Target explosion explosion in explosion explosives (kg) explosives Qoutayba Al-Arid Street, 1993 Satem, a Haret Hreik- Grand Civilians- ISIS claimed 2-1-2014 20 suicide 5 70 Southern Suburb Cherokee responsibility for the attack. bomber from of Beirut Jeep Akkar 2010 Kia 16-1-2014 Suicide Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed Hermel Square 35 stolen from 2 35 (Thursday) bomber responsibility for the attack. Antelias Al-Arid Street, 3 rockets Kia stolen Haret Hreik- Suicide Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed 21-1-2014 weighing 15 from 4 36 Southern Suburb bomber responsibility for the attack. kilograms Kfarsghab of Beirut Grand Suicide Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed 1-2-2014 Hermel 30 5 24 Cherokee bomber responsibility for the attack. A suicide bomber with Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed Near Richani’s a suicide Suicide responsibility for the attack, 3-2-2014 gas station- 5 0 2 vest blows bomber reporting that it had aimed at a Choueifat himself up Hezbollah checkpoint. inside a van Beer Hassan Suicide 19-2-2014 near a Lebanese 75 Mercedes 6 60 Civilians bomber Army barrack Suicide 19-2-2014 Beer Hassan 90 BMW X5 5 68 Iranian Cultural Chancellery bomber 3 including Hermel at a Jeep Suicide an officer 22-2-2014 Lebanese Army 125 17 Lebanese Army Cherokee bomber and a checkpoint soldier Civilians- An-Nusra Front claimed responsibility for the attack, Jeep Grand Suicide 16-3-2014 Nabi Othman 120 4 11 reporting that the bombing came in Cherokee bomber response to Hezbollah’s operations in Yabrud. Lebanese Army- The Ahrar As- Wadi Ata- Ersal Suicide 29-3-2014 100 Kia 3 soldiers 4 soldiers Sunna Brigade of Baalbeck claimed outskirts bomber responsibility for the attack. Internal Security Forces checkpoint. The Ahrar As-Sunna Brigade of Baalbeck claimed 64 1 (an ISF responsibility for the attack and Nissan Suicide including 20-6-2014 Dahr El-Baydar 30 Warrant it was rumored that the operation Murano bomber 7 security Officer) was allegedly aimed at the Director members General of General Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim. 1 (a General Civilians. The Ahrar As-Sunna Tayyouneh- Mercedes Suicide 23-6-2014 25 Security 20 Brigade of Baalbeck claimed Chiyyah 300 bomber Inspector) responsibility for the attack Source: Car bombings as reported in Lebanese newspapers. issue 147 | October 2014 6 | LEADER CRIMINALS SLAY AND THE LEBANESE PAY Since the attempt on MP Marwan Hamadeh’s life in early October 2004 and the assassination of Rafic Hariri on February 14, 2005, Lebanon has once again become a stage for security tensions and unrest.