Self-Doubts Further Imperil 'Deal of the Century' Despite Economic Focus

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Self-Doubts Further Imperil 'Deal of the Century' Despite Economic Focus UK £2 Issue 209, Year 5 June 9, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com The Arab region Qatar, two The unending on World years after business Environment Day of fighting the boycott extremism Pages 6,20 Page 5 Pages 12-13 Self-doubts further imperil ‘Deal of the Century’ despite economic focus ► Members of the Trump administration seem divided and sceptical about the practicality of the plan. Mamoon Alabbasi not the only obstacles to the “Deal of the Century.” Members of the Trump adminis- London tration seem divided on the practi- cality of the plan. he yet-to-be-announced US Speaking in a private meeting peace plan for the Middle with Jewish leaders, US Secretary East that is commonly re- of State Mike Pompeo gave a candid T ferred to as the “Deal of the assessment of the plan. In an audio Century” appears to have suffered recording of the meeting obtained setbacks, prompting Washington by the Washington Post, Pompeo to focus on the economic aspects of noted that “one might argue” that a possible Israeli-Arab agreement. the deal is “unexecutable” and it Its expressions of doubt about the might not “gain traction.” practicality of the deal are further Pompeo acknowledged that imperilling the initiative. “frankly, this has taken us longer to The Trump administration is roll out our plan than I had original- nonetheless pressing ahead with a ly thought it might.” He confirmed: US-led conference on the Palestin- “It may be rejected. Could be in the ian economy, June 25-26 in Bahrain, end, folks will say: ‘It’s not particu- despite Palestinian political leaders larly original. It doesn’t particularly and businessmen declaring they work for me,’ that is, ‘It’s got two would not take part. good things and nine bad things, The International Monetary I’m out’.” Fund, the World Bank and the Eu- Such concerns were not ex- ropean Bank for Reconstruction pressed only by Pompeo. and Development said they would “Prominent conservative and Undermined. President Donald Trump (Front-L) turns to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attend the gathering, dubbed the pro-Israel voices close to the White (C) after signing a proclamation at the White House in Washington, last March. White House adviser (AP) “Peace for Prosperity” conference. House are increasingly sharing their Jared Kushner is first on the left. Regional support for any political fears, which range from the possi- measure that may be announced at bility that the peace proposal could ready to govern themselves. political solution that takes into ac- Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the conference is already reserved. trigger violence to worries that its of- “The hope is, is that over time, count the legitimate aspirations of form a government. A rerun of the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab ferings could forever kill efforts to they (Palestinians) can become ca- both the Palestinians and the Israe- Israeli elections is to take place Sep- Emirates said they would attend the craft a two-state solution,” reported pable of governing,” Kushner told lis” and added that it must also be tember 17. conference but they are unlikely to Politico. news site Axios. He said he was not in line with the accepted “interna- In the meanwhile, Palestinians publicly endorse a political deal re- “Many hoped the plan would get concerned whether the Palestinians tional parameters.” see the “Deal of the Century” as jected by the Palestinians. shelved even before the latest po- do not trust him. “I’m not here to be By insisting on international law, promoting anything but peace. Statements from leaders at the litical turmoil in Israel prompted trusted,” he said. European powers reiterated their “The Palestinian peace camp has Arab and Islamic summits in Mecca the scheduling of new elections in In anticipation of the Bahrain objection to the continued Israeli to hope that the political complica- were univocal in their rejection of the fall. Now, some are going on the “workshop,” Kushner recently con- occupation of the Palestinian ter- tions that both Trump and Netanya- Washington’s stances on the occu- record to urge the Trump adminis- cluded a trip to Morocco, Jordan ritories and to measures or policies hu face mean they’ll step away from pied Palestinian territories and the tration to set aside the plan indefi- and Israel — with an additional stop that would entrench that occupa- the deal and that they can keep Golan Heights. The leaders reiterat- nitely, even though few people have in Belgium to meet with European tion. their camp alive until the scales of ed their support for an independent seen the closely held proposal.” leaders — in an apparent bid to gain Israel, which is likely to attend the peace process are balanced once Palestinian state, with East Jerusa- Recent statements by Kushner support for the conference but his the conference, expressed support again,” wrote Palestinian activist lem as its capital. have raised eyebrows. The Pales- shuttle diplomacy does not appear for the involvement of US President Muhammad Shehada in Haaretz. Palestinian objections, Arab cau- tinians, who have long accused to have been fruitful. Donald Trump aimed at brokering tion, European insistence on in- Trump of siding with Israel at their The European Commission a future Mideast peace deal with Mamoon Alabbasi is Deputy Man- ternational conventions and the expense, are likely to feel their po- stressed in a statement that any US the Palestinians. But the country is aging Editor and Online Editor of absence of an electoral mandate in sition validated after Trump’s son- economic plan for the Palestinians grappling with political uncertain- The Arab Weekly. the current Israeli government are in-law suggested they were not yet must be accompanied by a “viable ty after the failure of Israeli Prime P2 ‘Fun Bus’ a breather for Beirut’s street children Samar Kadi his large family. “I like being on tion for street children while giv- activities were carried out on the The programme seeks to engage the bus because I can learn, draw ing them the chance to take a res- pavement or in open shelters in with the families of working chil- and watch cartoons,” he said. pite from street work. specific areas, Tabsh said. “The dren and encourage them to get Beirut The “Fun Bus” initiative, funded “Our bus rolls every day, except idea of the bus came later. We their sons and daughters off the by the UN High Commissioner for Sundays, stopping at different lo- thought the kids needed a safe streets. lad in her black headscarf Refugees and the European Union cations and neighbourhoods,” said and private space to express them- and long robe, Rayyan and implemented by the Makh- Youssef Tabsh, project manager at selves,” he said. hurried to the brightly zoumi Foundation, a Lebanese the Makhzoumi Foundation. “Now when they see our bus The “Fun Bus” initiative provides support and C coloured bus as it pulled NGO, provides support and recrea- When the project began in 2017, they would hurry inside because to the side of the street at a large they feel it is for them. We are tak- recreation to street children intersection in the heart of Beirut. ing them off the street for 1 to 2 while giving them the Packing away the boxes of tissues hours during which they can enjoy chance to take a respite from she was selling, the 13-year-old activities, go crazy and let go the street work. hopped on board the bus stationed steam before going back on the under the shade of a tree. street,” Tabsh added. The programme has taken more “I cannot stay long. My mother On the “Fun Bus,” the youths get than 150 children off the streets will not allow it. I have to go back to live their childhood for a couple in the past two years but many to work,” she said. of hours, a welcome change from challenges remain. It has reached Every Thursday, Rayyan and selling tissues and chewing gum hundreds of children working in other Syrian refugee children sell- for a few dollars a day. The initia- Beirut, most of whom are from ing chewing gum and tissues at tive offers lessons in basic literacy among the nearly 950,000 regis- the busy intersection wait impa- and numeracy, awareness sessions tered Syrian refugees living in the tiently for the “Fun Bus” where on hygiene, protection issues and country. Their families live below they can enjoy activities such as the dangers they could face on the the poverty line, with limited ac- drawing, watching films and basic streets. cess to employment, often leaving learning. “Most of the children have never them with no option than to send Yazan, 11 years old and originally set foot in school but, with the ba- their children out to work to make from Aleppo, said he has been on sic learning we offer, they are now ends meet. the bus several times in the two able to read numbers and words years since he started working on A welcome change. The “Fun Bus” drives in downtown Beirut. making them better equipped to Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly the street to help provide food for (Makhzoumi Foundation) protect themselves,” Tabsh said. Travel and Society section editor. 2 June 9, 2019 News & Analysis Palestine Israel New elections in Israel undermine chances for ‘Deal of the Century’ reasonable comfort with capital- ists, peaceniks with settlers, the Geoffrey orthodox religious with militant Aronson secularists. This is “Team Israel” — the source of its vitality and dynamism here is today a king in and its ability for more than half a Israel and his name is century to defy demands for an end Binyamin Netan- to the occupation of the West Bank yahu.
Recommended publications
  • Lebanon: Managing the Gathering Storm
    LEBANON: MANAGING THE GATHERING STORM Middle East Report N°48 – 5 December 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. A SYSTEM BETWEEN OLD AND NEW.................................................................. 1 A. SETTING THE STAGE: THE ELECTORAL CONTEST..................................................................1 B. THE MEHLIS EFFECT.............................................................................................................5 II. SECTARIANISM AND INTERNATIONALISATION ............................................. 8 A. FROM SYRIAN TUTELAGE TO WESTERN UMBRELLA?............................................................8 B. SHIFTING ALLIANCES..........................................................................................................12 III. THE HIZBOLLAH QUESTION ................................................................................ 16 A. “A NEW PHASE OF CONFRONTATION” ................................................................................17 B. HIZBOLLAH AS THE SHIITE GUARDIAN?..............................................................................19 C. THE PARTY OF GOD TURNS PARTY OF GOVERNMENT.........................................................20 IV. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 22 A. A BROAD INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR A NARROW AGENDA .......................................22 B. A LEBANESE COURT ON FOREIGN
    [Show full text]
  • Libido Song List 2000
    LIBIDO SONG LIST 2000 - Now Ain’t It Fun (Paramore) All Of Me (John Legend) American Boy (Estelle & Kanye West) Bartender (T-Pain & Akon) Because Of You (Ne-Yo) Birthday (Katy Perry) Blame It (Jamie Foxx & T-Pain) Blurred Lines (Robin Thicke) Break Your Heart (Taio Cruz) Burn (Ellie Goulding) Can’t Hold Us (Macklemore) California Gurls (Katy Perry) Champagne Life (Ne-Yo) Closer (Ne-Yo) Counting Stars (OneRepublic) Crazy In Love (Beyonce) DJ Got Us Falling In Love (Usher) Diamonds (Rihanna) Die Young (Ke$ha) Don’t Worry Child (Swedish House Mafia) Dynamite (Taio Cruz) Fancy (Iggy Azalea) Feel Again (OneRepublic) Feel So Close (Calvin Harris) Fine China (Chris Brown) Forget You (Cee-Lo) Get Lucky (Daft Punk & Pharrell) Give Me Everything (Tonight) (Ne-Yo & Pitbull) Gold Digger (Kanye West) Good Feeling (Flo Rida) Good Life (OneRepublic) Happy (Pharrell Williams) Hey Brother (Avicii) Hey Ya (Outkast) Hold On, We’re Going Home (Drake) I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas) I Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me) (Jay-Z) I Need Your Love (Calvin Harris) Ignition Remix (R. Kelly) I’m In Miami Trick (LMFAO) In The Club (50 Cent) Just Dance (Lady Gaga) Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars) Let Me Love You (Ne-Yo) Let’s Get It Started (Black Eyed Peas) Locked Out Of Heaven (Bruno Mars) Love At First Sight (Kylie Minogue) Low (Flo-Rida & T-Pain) Meet Me Halfway (Black Eyed Peas) Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera) More (Usher) Nothin’ On You (B.o.B. feat Bruno Mars) OMG (Usher feat Will.i.am) Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO) Please Don’t Stop the Music (Rihanna) Pumped Up Kicks (Foster The People) Raise Your Glass (Pink) Rolling In The Deep (Adele) Royals (Lorde) Rude Boy (Rihanna) Safe & Sound (Capital Cities) Say it Right (Nelly Furtado) Scream & Shout (Will.i.am & Britney Spears) Sexy & I Know It (LMFAO) Sexy Chick (Akon & David Guetta) Sexy Love (Ne-Yo) SexyBack (Justin Timberlake) Set Fire To The Rain (Adele) Starships (Nicki Minaj) Stay The Night (Zedd ft.
    [Show full text]
  • 8123 Songs, 21 Days, 63.83 GB
    Page 1 of 247 Music 8123 songs, 21 days, 63.83 GB Name Artist The A Team Ed Sheeran A-List (Radio Edit) XMIXR Sisqo feat. Waka Flocka Flame A.D.I.D.A.S. (Clean Edit) Killer Mike ft Big Boi Aaroma (Bonus Version) Pru About A Girl The Academy Is... About The Money (Radio Edit) XMIXR T.I. feat. Young Thug About The Money (Remix) (Radio Edit) XMIXR T.I. feat. Young Thug, Lil Wayne & Jeezy About Us [Pop Edit] Brooke Hogan ft. Paul Wall Absolute Zero (Radio Edit) XMIXR Stone Sour Absolutely (Story Of A Girl) Ninedays Absolution Calling (Radio Edit) XMIXR Incubus Acapella Karmin Acapella Kelis Acapella (Radio Edit) XMIXR Karmin Accidentally in Love Counting Crows According To You (Top 40 Edit) Orianthi Act Right (Promo Only Clean Edit) Yo Gotti Feat. Young Jeezy & YG Act Right (Radio Edit) XMIXR Yo Gotti ft Jeezy & YG Actin Crazy (Radio Edit) XMIXR Action Bronson Actin' Up (Clean) Wale & Meek Mill f./French Montana Actin' Up (Radio Edit) XMIXR Wale & Meek Mill ft French Montana Action Man Hafdís Huld Addicted Ace Young Addicted Enrique Iglsias Addicted Saving abel Addicted Simple Plan Addicted To Bass Puretone Addicted To Pain (Radio Edit) XMIXR Alter Bridge Addicted To You (Radio Edit) XMIXR Avicii Addiction Ryan Leslie Feat. Cassie & Fabolous Music Page 2 of 247 Name Artist Addresses (Radio Edit) XMIXR T.I. Adore You (Radio Edit) XMIXR Miley Cyrus Adorn Miguel Adorn Miguel Adorn (Radio Edit) XMIXR Miguel Adorn (Remix) Miguel f./Wiz Khalifa Adorn (Remix) (Radio Edit) XMIXR Miguel ft Wiz Khalifa Adrenaline (Radio Edit) XMIXR Shinedown Adrienne Calling, The Adult Swim (Radio Edit) XMIXR DJ Spinking feat.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Gender Refugee' and the Imgined South Africa
    Bodies'over'Borders'and'Borders'over'Bodies:'The' ‘Gender'Refugee’'and'the'Imagined'South'Africa' ' ' B'Camminga' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Thesis'Presented'for'the'Degree' of' DOCTOR'OF'PHILOSOPHY' Department'of'Sociology' University'of'Cape'Town,''2016' ' ' Supervisors:'Prof'Deborah'Posel,'Dr'Zethu'Matebeni'and'Associate' Prof'Susan'Levine' University of' Cape Town ' ' ' ' ' ' ' The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town ' Declaration' ' 'I,'B'Camminga,'hereby'declare'that'the'work'on'which'this'thesis'is'based'is'my'original'work'(except'where' acknowledgements'indicate'otherwise)'and'that'neither'the'whole'work'nor'any'part'of'it'has'been,'is'being,' or'is'to'be'submitted'for'another'degree'in'this'or'any'other'university.' ' signature removed Signature:……………………………………………….''Date:'…'15/.08/2016…………….' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 2' ' Acknowledgements' ' There'are'many'people'that'made'this'thesis'possible,'but'first'and'foremost'I'would'like' to'express'my'deepest'gratitude'to'those'who'agreed'to'participate'in'this'project.'I'carry' their'stories'of'resilience,'struggle'and'survival'with'me'daily.'I'know'that'many'of'those' who'took'part'in'this'project'did'so'with'the'hope'that'work'like'this'would'somehow'bring'
    [Show full text]
  • Understanding the Dynamics of Lebanon's Protest Movementi
    POLICY OUTLOOK POLICY OUTLOOK DISCUSSION PAPER Understanding the Dynamics of Lebanon’s Protest Movementi In the midst of a severe economic crisis, the protests that broke out in Lebanon on October 17th represent a potential monumental rupture in the country’s post-Civil War political and social order. Lebanon’s ruling class has been shaken and traditional political dynamics have been disrupted. Yet, in a state often characterised as weak, the political and social regime premised on sectarian and confessional divisions remains strong. Attempts to re-enforce sectarian divisions by traditional political parties are a clear demonstration of this dynamic. While the protest movement continues to press its demands for the removal of what they see as a corrupted political class, an independent cabinet and new a new electoral law, many challenges remain. Understanding both the dynamics of the protest movement and the lenses through which politics are viewed in the country represents an important piece of the puzzle in understanding where the country may be heading and determining long-term policy solutions to the country’s economic, political and social ills. The opinions expressed in this policy outlook represent the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the TRT World Research Centre. POLICY OUTLOOK Introduction Background: The On October 17th 2019, Lebanon witnessed an outburst of popular anger ostensibly in reaction to the declared Ta’if Accord and intention to institute a ‘WhatsApp’ tax in the midst of an ongoing economic crisis. Widespread and largely the cementing of a unprecedented protests have been taking place across the country ever since.
    [Show full text]
  • Spring Ahead
    VOL. 116 - NO. 10 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 9, 2012 $.30 A COPY Romney Wins Most States, Delegates But Can’t Seal Deal Yet by Sal Giarratani March 6, Super Tuesday flavoring is required. How- has come and gone and the ever, if you pour in the whole Republican nomination fight bottle, the batch is ruined.” only looks like it will get If Mitt Romney wants to be longer and nastier. Mitt an electable frontrunner, he Romney won six states and needs to tell his super PAC the lion’s share of delegates to stop going nuclear on both Spring in play but Rick Santorum Santorum and Gingrich. It took three states and Newt is time to shift to a more Gingrich won 47 percent of positive strategy painting the vote to top the ticket Mitt as the nice guy with in winner-take-all Georgia. the right answers that Meanwhile, Rick Santorum, Americans need to hear in Ahead who once again as in Michi- 2012. Stop bashing your gan, narrowly lost to Romney opponents and start giving Daylight Savings Time Begins in Ohio by a 38 percent to 37 ning the hearts and minds voters in November a reason Be sure to move yourth clocks percent, a 1 percent victory of the Republican base. to pick you over President Sunday, March 11 at 2:00 am. for Romney in winner-take- Upcoming next are Ala- Obama. Set yourAHEAD clocks for woneard hour one hour. all Ohio, The race is now bama, Mississippi and Kan- There is still a distinct pos- The Boston Fire Department reminds residents to make about delegate counts and sas and none of these are sibility that Republican del- in Romney Country by most anotheron Saturday important ad jNightustment March— change 10 theth b, atteries2012 in Mitt is the frontrunner with egates might be gathering at your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
    [Show full text]
  • Lebanon's Unstable Equilibrium
    LEBANON'S UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM AUTHOR Mona Yacoubian November 2009 UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE 1200 17th Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20036-3011 www.usip.org USIP Peace Briefing: Lebanon's Unstable Equilibrium INTRODUCTION Lebanon's recently announced national unity government has eased fears that the country would once again be mired in a dangerous political stalemate. Yet, despite the recent breakthrough, Lebanon's unstable equilibrium -- marked by both internal and regional tensions - - could still devolve into serious violence. Deep seated sectarian animosities persist, raising the prospects for political instability and civil strife if unaddressed. Regionally, mounting tensions with Israel raise the worrisome possibility of isolated border incidents spiraling into more serious conflict. Taken together these two underlying challenges to stability -- internal civil unrest and regional conflict with Israel -- could undermine Lebanon’s fragile peace. This paper will examine internal challenges to Lebanon’s stability. Formed five months after the June 2009 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's consensus cabinet, comprised of his March 14th coalition together with members of the opposition March 8th bloc, is an essential step toward ensuring that Lebanon gains more stable footing. 1 The new government follows a compromise formula allotting 15 cabinet seats to the majority, 10 to the opposition, and five to President Michel Suleiman. While power-sharing arrangements are by nature less effective and more prone to stalemate, they are crucial to Lebanon’s delicately balanced confessional system and provide an essential pathway to civil peace. Beyond the new consensus government, two critical developments would help to facilitate peace and stability in Lebanon: .
    [Show full text]
  • Songs by Artist
    73K October 2013 Songs by Artist 73K October 2013 Title Title Title +44 2 Chainz & Chris Brown 3 Doors Down When Your Heart Stops Countdown Let Me Go Beating 2 Evisa Live For Today 10 Years Oh La La La Loser Beautiful 2 Live Crew Road I'm On, The Through The Iris Do Wah Diddy Diddy When I'm Gone Wasteland Me So Horny When You're Young 10,000 Maniacs We Want Some P---Y! 3 Doors Down & Bob Seger Because The Night 2 Pac Landing In London Candy Everybody Wants California Love 3 Of A Kind Like The Weather Changes Baby Cakes More Than This Dear Mama 3 Of Hearts These Are The Days How Do You Want It Arizona Rain Trouble Me Thugz Mansion Love Is Enough 100 Proof Aged In Soul Until The End Of Time 30 Seconds To Mars Somebody's Been Sleeping 2 Pac & Eminem Closer To The Edge 10cc One Day At A Time Kill, The Donna 2 Pac & Eric Williams Kings And Queens Dreadlock Holiday Do For Love 311 I'm Mandy 2 Pac & Notorious Big All Mixed Up I'm Not In Love Runnin' Amber Rubber Bullets 2 Pistols & Ray J Beyond The Gray Sky Things We Do For Love, The You Know Me Creatures (For A While) Wall Street Shuffle 2 Pistols & T Pain & Tay Dizm Don't Tread On Me We Do For Love She Got It Down 112 2 Unlimited First Straw Come See Me No Limits Hey You Cupid 20 Fingers I'll Be Here Awhile Dance With Me Short Dick Man Love Song It's Over Now 21 Demands You Wouldn't Believe Only You Give Me A Minute 38 Special Peaches & Cream 21st Century Girls Back Where You Belong Right Here For You 21St Century Girls Caught Up In You U Already Know 3 Colours Red Hold On Loosely 112 & Ludacris Beautiful Day If I'd Been The One Hot & Wet 3 Days Grace Rockin' Into The Night 12 Gauge Home Second Chance Dunkie Butt Just Like You Teacher, Teacher 12 Stones 3 Doors Down Wild Eyed Southern Boys Crash Away From The Sun 3LW Far Away Be Like That I Do (Wanna Get Close To We Are One Behind Those Eyes You) 1910 Fruitgum Co.
    [Show full text]
  • View/Print Page As PDF
    MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 3229 Lebanon’s Latest Moves Show the Effectiveness of Targeted International Pressure by Hanin Ghaddar Dec 17, 2019 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Hanin Ghaddar Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Fellow at The Washington Institute's Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. Brief Analysis By uniting behind the message that financial aid and punishment will be tied to specific courses of action, the United States, France, and the UN may finally be able to push Beirut into establishing a reform-minded government. ince caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri resigned in October, the process of forming a new Lebanese S government has become more complicated. Street protests continue amid increased violence by security institutions, while the country’s dominant political actor—the widely designated terrorist organization Hezbollah—is still insisting on a government headed by Hariri and favorable to its interests. Yet three important events took place last week that could change that plan and break the deadlock. First, the International Support Group for Lebanon (ISGL), co-chaired by France and the United Nations, met in Paris and explicitly stated that the international community will not help Lebanon financially until a new government is formed—specifically, one “that will have the capacity and credibility to deliver the necessary substantive policy package of economic reforms, and that will be committed to dissociate the country from regional tensions and crisis.” Although there was no mention of who should—or should not—head this government, the consensus on reform was clear.
    [Show full text]
  • To Push Past Hezbollah Stonewalling, Leverage the LAF by Hanin Ghaddar
    MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 3453 To Push Past Hezbollah Stonewalling, Leverage the LAF by Hanin Ghaddar Mar 18, 2021 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Hanin Ghaddar Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Fellow at The Washington Institute's Geduld Program on Arab Politics, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant. Brief Analysis The political fallout from a recent speech by the Lebanese Armed Forces commander gives Washington and its partners a golden opportunity to prod the country from crisis management toward actual solutions. s Lebanon’s economy continues its freefall and government formation stalls, protestors have responded to A the resultant humanitarian crisis by returning to the streets. Although the movement does not seem as well- organized as it was in 2019, it is certainly more heated. And this time around, the economic meltdown has reached the army. In a March 8 speech, Lebanese Armed Forces commander Gen. Joseph Aoun lamented the dire situation facing the institution and its soldiers. His words also carried weighty political messages against the ruling elites, whom he accused of cutting the LAF’s budget to a dangerous degree. Currency devaluation has left most soldiers earning around $60 per month, and many of them are requesting leaves of absence or no longer reporting to their jobs, while senior commanders are asking for early retirement. Of course, the LAF’s financial situation is no different from that of other state institutions, and simply giving raises to the troops (as suggested by the minister of finance) would be unfair to others and could increase inflation.
    [Show full text]
  • Discourse As an Electoral Campaigning Tool: Exploiting the Emotions of Voters
    Discourse as an Electoral Campaigning Tool: Exploiting the Policy Report Policy Emotions of Voters DEC 2020 Founded in 1989, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies is a Beirut-based independent, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to produce and advocate policies that improve good governance in fields such as oil and gas, economic development, public finance, and decentralization. This report is published in partnership with HIVOS through the Women Empowered for Leadership (WE4L) programme, funded by the Netherlands Foreign Ministry FLOW fund. Copyright © 2020. The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies Designed by Polypod Executed by Zéna Khairallah Sadat Tower, Tenth Flour P.O.B 55-215, Leon Street, Ras Beirut, Lebanon T+ +961 1 79 93 01 F: +961 1 79 93 02 [email protected] www.lcps-lebanon.org Discourse as an Electoral Campaigning Tool: Exploiting the Emotions of Voters Sami Atallah Sami Atallah is the director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. He is currently leading several policy studies on youth social identity and political engagement, electoral behavior, political and social sectarianism, and the role of municipalities in dealing with the refugee crisis. He is the co-editor of Democracy, Decentralization, and Service Delivery in the Arab World (with Mona Harb, Beirut, LCPS 2015), co- editor of The Future of Petroleum in Lebanon: Energy, Politics, and Economic Growth (with Bassam Fattouh, I.B. Tauris, 2019), and co-editor of The Lebanese Parliament 2009-2018: From Illegal Extensions to Vacuum (with Nayla Geagea, 2018). Nadim El Kak Nadim El Kak is a researcher at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies and research associate at Lebanon Support.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue34 V5.Qxd
    CONTENTS July 2005 - Issue N° 34 NDU Spirit A periodical about campus life at Notre Dame University - Louaïze. 2 A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS 3 French Delegation at NDU 3 Lebanese Emigrants’ Delegation at NDU 4 NDU Activists and Congressman STUDENT AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES 5 Admissions in Action! Report by Dr. Elham Hasham WEERC 27 ETE Seminars 10 WEERC Workshop for Chekka area 28 NDU Winner at ESU Competition LERC Conferences 29 NDU Founders’ Day 11 Children of Lebanese in Australia 31 Job Fair 2005 – Dr. Rosemary Suliman 32 NDU Students in Turkey – Nathalie Kobrossi 13 Forum: Residents and Emigrants 33 NDU Student Soars High – Dr. Naji Oueijan 4th Millennial Lecture Series 35 Deputy Pierre Jmeil and Dr. Wadih al-Hajj 15 Universal Reason: Religion and Civil Society – Lebanon of Tomorrow – Dr. William Grassie 35 Dr. Eddy Abillamaa – The Future of the Forces 19 What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem 36 Candidates Farid el-Khazen, I. Kanaan, – Dr. Joseph Bechara G. Abi Zaid and A. Aoun 20 Cross Cultural Symposium with American 36 A Call for Democracy – Deputy Mosbah Ahdab University, Washington 36 Gibran Tueni talks North Campus News 37 Sports Office News 23 Workshop: Lebanese Architecture 37 NDU students united for Independence 24 Workshop on Drug Abuse 25 Shouf Campus Shorts — Events OPINION AND CULTURE 38 Experience never stops – Elias Karout 65 Mechanical Engineering at NDU – Dr. Walid C. Assaf 39 Social - Correction 66 Heating System with Storage – Dr. Walid C. Assaf 40 Why NDU? – Serge Dagher 67 American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Charbel Wehbe 41 Government in Media Developments 68 Solid Mechanics and its Applications – Dr.
    [Show full text]