Tax Hikes and Wildfires Fuel Unrest in Lebanon
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UK £2 Issue 227, Year 5 October 20, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Tolerance at the After heart of debate Tunisia’s in Riyadh elections Page 17 Page 10 US and Turkey strike a deal on Syria but doubts remain Thomas Seibert servation posts in the zone, adding Ankara would respond if the Syrian Istanbul government “makes a mistake” in the region. espite an agreement be- Washington said the zone agreed tween the United States upon in Ankara involves a much and Turkey to establish a smaller area. US Syria Envoy James D “security zone” in northern Jeffrey, in a reference to a 100km Syria, there is confusion about terms stretch between Ras al-Ayn and Tal of the deal while Russia, the main Abyad, described the “central part of power in the Syrian conflict, is work- the north-east” of Syria as the loca- ing for a solution that would weaken tion of the planned “security zone.” Ankara’s role in the neighbouring Mazlum Abdi, commander of the country. YPG-dominated Syrian Democratic A 13-point plan, presented October Forces, agreed with Jeffrey. He told 17 by US Vice-President Mike Pence a local television station that “this after talks with Turkish President ceasefire covers those regions where Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, there is now war, between [Ras al- calls for a 5-day suspension of Tur- Ayn] and Tal Abyad.” key’s military campaign in northern He rejected a Turkish plan to reset- Syria, a withdrawal of Kurdish Peo- tle millions of Syrian refugees from A blend of defiance and hope. A demonstrator sits on a sofa with a Lebanese flag covering his face near burning ple’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters Turkey in the zone. “Demographic (Reuters) tyres during a protest over deteriorating economic conditions in Jdeideh, Lebanon, October 18. and the creation of a predominantly change must not be carried out,” Turkey-controlled “security zone” Abdi said, as relayed by the media 30km deep along the Syrian border. office of the Kurdish autonomous Shelling and gunfire could be government in northern Syria. heard in the vicinity of the Syrian Moscow also refuses a permanent Tax hikes and wildfires border town of Ras al-Ayn, near the Turkish presence in northern Syria. Turkish town of Ceylanpinar, hours Before a meeting between Erdogan after the agreement was published. and Russian President Vladimir Pu- The Syrian Observatory for Human tin, scheduled for October 22, the fuel unrest in Lebanon Rights said there were Turkish air Kremlin’s Syria Envoy Alexander strikes on the village of Bab al-Kheir, Lavrentiev said his country was “op- Samar Kadi protester screamed. “Revolution! of Prime Minister Saad Hariri.” east of Ras al-Ain on the border. The posed to Turkish troops staying on Thieves!” chanted the crowd outside “For once the Lebanese are acting war monitor said 14 civilians were Syrian territory permanently.” Beirut government and parliament build- as citizens who share the sufferings, killed. Erdogan said he would discuss the ings. not as partisans divided by tradi- Turkey said it wants the security “security zone” issue with Putin. lanned tax hikes became the Widespread corruption com- tional sectarian polarisation,” Fayyad cordon to cover the border region latest in a string of blows to pounded by years of regional turmoil added. from the Euphrates in the west to Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly the Lebanese people, sending is catching up with Lebanon, which The government came under harsh the border with Iraq to the east, an correspondent. P thousands into the streets to has the third-highest debt level in criticism for not being prepared to area of approximately 400km. Er- protest during the country’s severe the world — 150% of GDP and a total fight wildfires. Lebanon’s three fire- dogan said he wants to build 12 ob- P4-7,14-15 economic crisis. of $86 billion. fighting helicopters have not been Days after Lebanon was engulfed “The people took to the streets in a functional since 2014, prompting au- by wildfires and the government’s spontaneous way. They felt they are thorities to ask Cyprus for assistance. inability to meet an emergency that being deprived of their last means of A preliminary assessment indicat- resulted in the loss of thousands of free expression. Those who use web ed that some 2,100 hectares of for- hectares of forests and damage to messaging are the people who can- ests were lost south of Beirut, far be- properties was exposed, public anger not afford to pay the regular mobile yond the yearly average of 600-800 peaked over the imposition of a 20- fees, which are the most expensive hectares of burned land, said George cent daily fee on messaging applica- worldwide,” said socio-economist Mitri, director of the land and natural tions, including WhatsApp. Mona Fayyad. resources programme at the Univer- The government later scrapped The protests transcended sectar- sity of Balamand. the tax and Lebanese Prime Min- ian divisions and confessional rheto- “We had more than 100 fires in 48 ister Saad Hariri gave his political ric that is traditionally used to break hours,” Mitri said. adversaries in the cabinet a 72-hour up activism, Fayyad said. In a show of national solidar- ultimatum to agree on “convincing” “For the first time each commu- ity, volunteers from across Lebanon reforms. nity is turning against its own lead- rushed to back up overwhelmed fire Security forces fired tear gas to ers,” she said. “In southern Lebanon and civil defence crews and assist disperse protesters in Beirut amid (Shia communities) are protesting those affected by the blaze and Leba- some of the largest demonstrations against Hezbollah and Amal MPs. In nese living abroad sent donations. Dealmaker? US President Donald Trump talked about Turkey’s the country has seen in years. Riots Christian areas they criticised Presi- agreement to a ceasefire in Syria, October 17. Speaking to reporters left two people dead and dozens dent Michel Aoun and burned post- Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly as he arrived in Fort Worth, Texas, he compared the conflict wounded. ers of [Foreign Secretary] Gebran Travel and Society section editor. between Turkish forces and Kurds to a fight between children. “We have no jobs, we have no Bassil. In mainly Sunni Akkar and (Reuters) money and we have no future,” one Tripoli they are burning the posters P6,8 Viewpoint Renewed momentum in Russia-Gulf ties promises strong dividends ship with the United States, which Moving beyond oil markets, Arab The Saudi Vision 2030 plan noted, with a particular emphasis Sabahat Khan remains critical for the Arab Gulf. Gulf and Russian counterparts are provided an opportunity to identify on trade promotion and joint The constraints of the Cold War have building new stakes in their bilateral synergies and harmonise strategic investments, reflects a convergence ussian President disappeared and, as it reasserts itself relationships. Saudi Arabia and Rus- development plans. between Russian and Arab Gulf Vladimir Putin’s on the global stage, Russia does so sia signed about 20 agreements In Abu Dhabi, the United Arab counterparts. successful visits to with the confidence that it is not eas- worth more than $2 billion. Emirates and Russia concluded six Russia’s role in regional affairs and Saudi Arabia and the ily ignored. The flagship deal involves the agreements focusing on expanding crises is likely to grow in a way that United Arab Emirates The region’s tensions with Iran Saudi Arabian Basic Industries joint investments and technical adds stability rather than intensifies reaffirmed the transfor- over its activities and Moscow’s role Corporation — SABIC — one of the cooperation. Investments worth $1.3 competition, promising dividends Rmational discourse under way in Syria have emphasised a need to world’s largest petrochemicals billion are to be led by Mubadala, for all. between Moscow and the Arab strategically engage Russia. For Rus- company, teaming with the Russian Abu Dhabi’s strategic investment Gulf. sia, too, the Arab Gulf is not viewed Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to company, and the RDIF. Sabahat Khan maintains In Abu Dhabi, Putin’s meetings wholly in the context of its rivalry build a methanol plant in Russia. Russia has also secured a 5% in a cross-disciplinary focus in with Crown Prince Mohammed bin with the United States or by a purely The RDIF is also to work with the the ultra-sour Ghasha gas field for international security, defence policy Zayed al-Nahyan renewed the mo- security-driven calculus. This has Saudi Agricultural and Livestock around $200 million, marking the and strategic issues. mentum in Russian-UAE ties. allowed both sides to be more crea- Investment Company to identify first time it will be involved in the (Full version of this article appears on Relations with Russia are no tive and open to each other. Defence investment opportunities in Russia’s Emirates’ upstream activities. www.thearabweekly.com) longer viewed exclusively through cooperation and trade figured in the agricultural sector, which has consid- Expanding ties and cooperation the prism of the enduring partner- equation but not centrally. erable potential to develop. across the broad range of areas P2-3 2 October 20, 2019 News & Analysis Russia in the Gulf Meetings in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh highlight deepening Russian-GCC ties Caline Malek drone or, more seriously, the attack “Moscow is serious about pursu- on Saudi oil facilities.” ing healthy partnerships with Arab Putin, Shateri said, had shown countries and the lower Gulf states Dubai true mettle by “sticking it out” with help to anchor Russian interests in his ally Syria and could fill the vac- the region,” he said.