UK £2 Issue 214, Year 5 July 14, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com US-Iran Europe’s Mediating showdown inadequate Sudan’s refugee policies transition

Pages 4-6 Page 6 Page 11 Erdogan strikes defiant posture but crisis looms with US over Russian missile system ► If Turkey was to cancel the deal with Russia, Putin would ask Turkey to leave Syria, potentially allowing the creation of a “statelet” run by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units.

Thomas Seibert cancel the purchase by July 31 or be dropped from the F-35 programme. Soner Cagaptay, of the Washing- Istanbul ton Institute for Near East Policy, said the S-400 “is about to cause urkey is facing the big- what could be the greatest crisis gest crisis in its relations in US-Turkish relationship in more with the United States in than four decades.” T decades over an arms deal “My fear is that — if the US-Turk- with Russia but is determined to go ish relationship were to crash to- ahead with it, analysts said. day — it would take an even longer Implementing a $2.5 billion time for the relationship to be reset agreement, Moscow began deliv- and perhaps that reset could never ery July 12 of two batteries of its come,” Cagaptay said by e-mail. S-400 air defence system to Tur- The S-400 agreement fanned key. Antonov cargo planes from concerns in the West that Turkey Russia landed at Murted Air Base was moving closer to Russia. Ca- near Ankara, a video published by gaptay and other analysts said Turkey’s Defence Ministry on Twit- Moscow is looking for opportuni- ter showed. ties to weaken NATO. Russia is The United States has threatened “driving a wedge between Turkey sanctions against Turkey under a and the United States,” he said. law that punishes significant arms Aykan Erdemir, a senior fel- trade with Russia and is preparing low at the Foundation for Defense to end Ankara’s participation in the of Democracies, a think-tank in programme to build and deploy Washington, said Erdogan’s think- Could be trouble. A Russian military cargo plane carrying the S-400 missile defence system from the F-35 fighter jet. Reports said ing was based on “the mistaken as- Russia to the Murted military airbase, in Ankara, Turkey, July 12. (AFP) the Pentagon was taking steps to sumption that his personal rapport remove Turkey from the F-35-pro- with Trump can shield him from a ing the creation of a “statelet” run from Russia. deal. Laws in Washington meant gramme. range of US sanctions.” by the Kurdish People’s Protec- “Turkey will face real and nega- that “the US implements — with or US officials said they fear Russia “Erdogan assumes that Trump is tion Units militia, seen as a ter- tive consequences if they accept without Trump’s blessing — a num- could use the S-400 in Turkey to an all-powerful ruler who can dic- rorist group by Ankara, Cagaptay the S-400. Those consequences ber of punitive measures against improve the system’s abilities to tate his will regardless of Congress said. Russia could also give the include participation in the F-35 Turkey’s move to acquire military track Western planes. NATO also and US laws,” Erdemir wrote in an go-ahead for an offensive against programme,” US State Department hardware from a sanctioned Rus- said it was concerned. e-mail. Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province, spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus sian entity,” he wrote. Investors in Turkey have been “Ultimately, US-Turkish security triggering a new wave of refugees said. She also said Turkish officials “The US president could use his unsettled by the deal. Following and defence sector cooperation into Turkey. were fully aware of CAATSA. prerogatives to try to mitigate the news of the S-400’s arrival, the will be undermined for years, if not On the other hand, Turkey is Ankara responded by warning crisis by softening or slowing down Turkish lira weakened and the for decades, to come. facing US sanctions if Ankara de- the United States against taking the some of the measures but would main Istanbul share index fell. Cagaptay said it was possible Er- ploys the S-400. Turkey could face “wrong steps.” not be able to block them fully.” Turkish President Recep Tayy- dogan realised “he’s made a bad two sets of sanctions: exclusion “There is a pretty severe anti- “For this crisis in the making, Er- ip Erdogan, after meeting with decision” by buying the S-400 but from the F-35 project and punitive Turkey mood” in Congress, Ca- dogan has no one but his misguid- US President Donald Trump last the Turkish president was in a bind. measures under the Countering gaptay said. Trump and Erdogan ed policies to blame,” Erdemir said. month, said he was confident Tur- If Turkey was to cancel the deal America’s Adversaries Through could “find ways to mitigate this key would not face sanctions for with Russia, Russian President Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which crisis,” however. Erdemir voiced Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly buying the S-400 despite the Pen- Vladimir Putin would ask Turkey mandates sanctions for any “sig- scepticism about the idea that the correspondent. tagon formally telling Ankara to to leave Syria, potentially allow- nificant” purchases of weapons two leaders could hammer out a P2 US sanctions on Hezbollah to carry long-term impact in Lebanon, Middle East Sami Moubayed parallel with its military programme, political scene, due to his sensitive Or what if it targets Hezbollah cab- West who say that civilian members in 1992. position as head of the country’s inet ministers and their allies in the of Hezbollah, such as Raad, Sherri Raad serves on the party’s Execu- legislative branch and the might of Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, put- and Safa, who never carried arms Beirut tive Council and often as a personal the Shia street that he co-commands ting the entire Lebanese government but believe in the party’s doctrine, representative of Hezbollah Secre- with Nasrallah. in jeopardy? cannot be considered “terrorists.” part from its symbolism, tary-General Hassan Nasrallah. Raad Like many Shia politicians in Iraq, Hezbollah has two members Germany is of this view, drawing a the sanctioning of three heads Hezbollah’s bloc in parlia- Berri has brilliantly managed to in the Hariri cabinet: Youth and clear line between Hezbollah’s politi- top Hezbollah officials by ment, which includes 13 MPs. remain close both to Iran and the Sports Minister Muhammad Fneish cal and military wing and, until last A the United States carries no Sherri, 63, is far less known, hav- United States, positioning himself and Parliamentary Affairs Minister March, so was Great Britain. Hariri immediate or short-term substantial ing served in parliament since 2005. as an intermediary and stability Mamoud Komati. A third affiliate, relies on this argument to explain effect, given that none of the black- Safa is the most influential, being guarantor. If he was earmarked for who is not an official party mem- himself in the United States when listed names travels to the United one of the co-founders of Hezbollah sanctions, then nobody in Lebanon ber, is Jamal Jabak, the minister of asked why Hezbollah has been ad- States or owns property across the and a long-time friend and confidant is safe, not even Lebanese President health. If any of them are blacklisted, equately represented on all his cabi- Atlantic. of Nasrallah. Michel Aoun, who relied on Hezbol- sanctions would badly affect the sec- nets since 2009. This is just the beginning, howev- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lah support to reach Baabda Palace tors in which they work — in Jabak’s A third option that ought to be con- er, of where the Trump administra- said the blacklist aims at containing three years ago, or Prime Minister case, affecting medicine, hospitals sidered is how Hezbollah will react tion seems to be heading with Iran Hezbollah’s “corrupting influence” Saad Hariri, who appointed two Hez- and clinics — in addition to the entire to the US sanctions. What if it drags and its various proxies in the Middle in Lebanon. He added that the men bollah ministers to his government. legislative branch. the entire country into a confronta- East. If expanded horizontally across had “exploited their positions to If Hariri or whoever succeeds tion with the United States, claim- the Lebanese political spectrum or smuggle illegal goods into Lebanon, This is just the him as prime minister tries to force ing more sensitive portfolios such as vertically within the party itself, it pressure Lebanese financial institu- Hezbollah ministers out of office, education, for example, economy or can become quite dangerous — and tions to assist Hezbollah.” beginning, however, of the cabinet would fall — literarily electricity, subjecting those sectors painful — for all of Lebanon. Pompeo has been pushing for such where the Trump overnight — becoming “unconstitu- to US sanctions as well? For now, the sanctions only limit action since his March visit to Beirut. administration seems to tional.” Ignoring Hezbollah would be Much of that depends on how far the financial transactions and travel He called on the Lebanese state to be heading with Iran and impossible and so would squeezing the Trump administration will go abilities of MPs Muhammad Raad end its support for Hezbollah and its various proxies in the its members out of office or learning in what remains of its tenure and and Amin Sherri and of Wafiq Safa, threatened action against those who Middle East. how to live with them, while they whether it will expand the sanctions who oversees Hezbollah’s Liaison refused to comply. Shortly after his are sanctioned. list or stop at this stage ahead of the and Coordination Unit. departure, it was rumoured that the What if the Trump administration On a macro-level, the recent US 2020 elections, taking sanctions to US citizens will be unable to meet United States would be sanctioning goes further than Raad, Sherri and designation sends a message to the a new level if Trump is re-elected with them, hire them or do business Hezbollah’s chief ally, Nabih Berri, Safa, targeting Hezbollah “friends” international community that there president. with them. the long-time speaker of Lebanon’s in the Lebanese chamber? Berri is no such thing as a “military wing” Raad, 64, is the most well-known parliament and a firm ally of Nasral- would be first on the list no doubt, and “political command” for Hezbol- Sami Moubayed is a Syrian historian among the three, having held a par- lah. perhaps explaining why he snapped: lah. They are different faces to one and author of “Under the Black liamentary seat since Hezbollah de- The mere thought of sanctioning “This is an assault on parliament and entity, claim both the United States Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015). cided to take part in local politics, in Berri gripped the entire Lebanese on all of Lebanon!” and Israel. There are voices in the P3 2 July 14, 2019 Cover Story Turkish Tensions

Viewpoint What history teaches us about Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 system

When the ruling Justice and Development Party and its leader, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Yavuz Baydar Erdogan, proved unable to unify the society under benevolent political management, the country t was April 5, 1946, when the became a ship adrift. USS Missouri — a major When its rudder was broken battleship remembered as by an attempted coup, Turkey in the setting that formally 2016 turned into a state, if not a ended World War II — rogue one, seeking a port where anchored in Bosporus, autocracy was the norm. This is IIstanbul. It had sailed from New where those ruling in Ankara see York on a special mission — car- the interests of the country and rying back the remains of themselves. Mehmet Munir Ertegun, ambas- The rift that developed between sador of Turkey, who was a dean Washington and Ankara has a Angering neighbours. Journalists walk next to the drilling ship Yavuz at the port of Dilovasi outside of diplomatic corps in Washing- background that strengthens the Istanbul, June 20. (AFP) ton. thesis of a historic breaking point. The visit had a higher sym- Since 1989, it was the — then bolism and would come to be mighty — Turkish generals who remembered as a breaking point. felt their long-hidden frustration It marked the beginning of a new with the United States come to the Turkey fires up row over world — marked with a long Cold surface. They developed theories War all over it — taking shape and that it was the Americans who the value the United States placed pushed Turkish Islamists more on Turkey. and more to the centre stage of Six years later, February 18, politics in Turkey. natural gas resources in 1952, Turkey had officially become In their dark illusion, they a member of NATO. In 1954, a remained in denial that the special bilateral treaty gave the profound corruption that rotted United States the right to establish the Turkish political class and bases and keep military staff on bureaucracy was the reason the eastern Mediterranean Turkish soil. voters sought alternatives. When In a way, July 12, 2019, could Erdogan and his party rose to come to be seen as significant as power, allying themselves with Thomas Seibert clusive economic zone by Nicosia puted waters off eastern Cyprus. the visit of the American warship the Fethullah Gulen Movement, off the island’s southern coast fall Zenonas Tziarras, a researcher at 73 years ago. they were subjected to revenge by within its continental shelf. Turkish the PRIO Cyprus Centre in Nicosia, As the first shipments of the trials and a slow-motion demo- Istanbul Cypriots claim areas in the east. said Turkey was right in pointing sophisticated Russian S-400 tion from the centre stage. The More broadly, the dispute is about out that the maritime areas where surface-to-air missile defence sys- military, whose main bulk had he international row over Turkey’s concern that regional ri- its ships are operating had not been tems arrived in Murted Air Base always American-sceptic features, vast natural gas resources vals want to exclude Ankara from delimited. However, Turkey was in Ankara, the sense of a historic didn’t blame Islamists for the in the eastern Mediterra- an energy bonanza off its southern wrong in arguing that the rights shift hangs in the air. mistreatments they faced but T nean is heating up as Turkey shores. The eastern Mediterranean of Ankara and of Turkish Cypriots Turkey’s insistence on ac- the Americans. muscles in on efforts by Cyprus to contains an estimated 3.5 trillion were being violated, Tziarras said in quiring the batteries from Paradoxically, after a exploit rich hydrocarbon deposits cubic metres of natural gas and 1.7 an e-mail. a NATO adversary, while, Erdogan — off the coast of the divided island. billion barrels of oil. Cyprus “officially declared that defying the basic With the once an adversary of The Turkish ship Fatih started The biggest gas fields have been natural resources belong to all Cyp- principles of “inter- S-400 components the officers — came drilling last month 67km off Cy- detected off Israel, Egypt and Cy- riots and that all Cypriots will ben- operability” of the having landed on to believe the prus’s west coast. A second Turkish prus — countries that have been at efit once the conflict is resolved,” alliance, despite Turkish soil, same. When he fell vessel, Yavuz, reached a target area odds with Turkey for years. One Tziarras wrote. Nicosia has created open and uni- adventurism in out with Gulen, he off Karpas Peninsula on Cyprus’s plan is to build a $7 billion pipeline a fund into which all gas revenues fied threats from Ankara has faced one chal- east coast the second week of July. through the Mediterranean to move will flow. Washington on escalated much more lenge after another, The two ships are accompanied by gas to Europe, bypassing Turkey. Baconi said Cyprus defined its severe sanctions, with the murky Turkish Navy frigates. Progress by Cyprus to make mon- maritime borders in accordance raises inevitably the dramatically. coup attempt in 2016 The European Union has backed ey by selling liquefied natural gas with the UN Convention on the Law question of whether as the peak point. its member, the internationally rec- (LNG) escalated the row, said Tareq of the Sea, which meant that “it Ankara is determined Erdogan may have been ognised republic in the Greek part of Baconi, an analyst with the Interna- has international support to pur- in deorbiting from the alli- blaming the Gulenists for Cyprus, in condemning the Turkish tional Crisis Group. sue these goals. However, in the ance for good. the act but he believes the moves. Cyprus said it would defend “Cyprus is closer to its goal of absence of a political resolution Comparisons between USS Americans are seeking to topple with all diplomatic and legal means sending gas for re-export through between Turkey and Cyprus, any Missouri and S-400 are not far- him from power. its rights against Turkey’s encroach- Egypt’s LNG terminals,” Baconi activities that Cyprus carries out fetched. History is filled with such The profound disbelief — if not ment in waters where the island said via e-mail. “This moves Cyprus within its waters can be seized on events. Perceived threats from hostility — towards the United claims exclusive economic rights. closer to monetising its offshore gas by Turkey as a matter of dispute.” Joseph Stalin’s Russia pushed States is the force that brought the Brussels threatened to impose reserves, which was not an entirely Tziarras pointed out that Cyprus Turkey to the West then. Now, in so-called Eurasianist generals and sanctions against Turkey. Reuters clear prospect in the past. Such a had invited Ankara to talk about the one way or another, it is the other Erdogan together, approximately reported that a draft list of sanctions development is threatening to Tur- issue of maritime zones. way around. since 2014-15. Although this alli- includes measures to put high-level key, as it heightens its fears that “Ankara has thus far disregard- Nobody can argue that the ance that supports the presiden- talks with Ankara and negotiations it, and Turkish Cypriots, are being ed Cyprus’s efforts and calls and decision-making that led to the tial system may be short-lived, the on an air transport agreement on marginalised from these gains.” decided instead to use coercive Turkish obstinacy to proceed challenge to NATO and rapproche- hold, as well as freeze funding for Turkish Vice-President Fuat Ok- diplomacy. It is not willing to dis- with buying the Russian missile ment with Russia are its products. Turkey next year. The United States, tay said Ankara was determined cuss with the Republic of Cyprus defence systems was based on Turkey is determined to face Israel and Egypt also expressed con- to safeguard what it regards as its as it does not even recognise it,” reflexes. the consequences now expected cern. rights in the eastern Mediterranean. he wrote. “No doubt, the solution The underlying reason seems — mandated US sanctions and The Turkish Foreign Ministry re- should be dialogue.” apparent: Since the collapse of farther marginalisation within jected the criticism from Cyprus Years of international efforts to the Warsaw Bloc and end of Cold NATO — but the complexities of and the European Union, stating: The eastern overcome the division on Cyprus War, Turkey bears a major part of its objectives will remain: Erdogan “It has become clear that the Euro- Mediterranean contains have failed to produce a deal for the responsibility for an alienation and his Eurasianist allies in the ad- pean Union is incapable of taking an estimated 3.5 trillion reunification. In the absence of a from NATO. For three decades its ministration have different views on a role as an impartial mediator cubic metres of natural negotiation process, relations be- discontent has been brewing along on Syria, jihadists and the Muslim in negotiation processes regarding gas and 1.7 billion barrels tween Ankara and Nicosia remain with its inability to transform into Brotherhood. a resolution to the Cyprus problem.” of oil. strained. EU support for Cyprus a democratic state, which failed It should be argued that with Ankara argues that efforts by Cy- means that ties between Turkey to develop into a predictable, ac- the S-400 components having prus’s Greek republic to exploit the “Those who move against the and the bloc could be affected as countable, rights-based one. landed on Turkish soil, adventur- gas deposits violate Turkey’s rights legitimate rights of Turkey or the well. Turkey has insisted on the ism in Ankara has escalated much in the area and those of the Turk- Turkish Cyprus and discount Tur- Threats of international measures years-long argument that it was more dramatically. Turkey is fac- ish sector of the island. Cyprus has key in the region will not be able to are being shrugged off in Turkey. a special case requesting special ing, layer upon layer, a deepening been divided between Greek and reach their aims,” Oktay was quoted “The EU can’t go beyond threats treatment, refusing to handle crisis that will shatter its domestic Turkish parts since 1974 when a in Turkish news reports as saying. especially because it has its own its bleeding issue — the Kurds. political ground. Let’s see what coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the Ankara is determined to use na- problems, which can only be solved Coupled with the failed attempts the opposition can do. island with Greece sparked a Turk- val power in the dispute. Last year, with Turkey’s help such as the po- to meet the Copenhagen Criteria ish military invasion. Turkish warships forced a drillship tential risk of a new refugee influx,” and a myopic EU leadership, it Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish Turkey, which doesn’t recognise of the Italian energy company Eni, Merve Sebnem Oruc, a columnist has perceived the West as the one journalist and regular columnist Cyprus as a state, said parts of the which was working for Nicosia, to for the pro-government Daily Sabah discriminating. for The Arab Weekly. maritime region claimed as an ex- abandon exploration for gas in dis- newspaper, wrote in May. July 14, 2019 3 Cover Story Lebanon

Lebanese cabinet standoff means more trouble to come

the topic of whether to bring the security issue before the Judicial Council would be considered. Makram Rabah The standoff involves far more than the security incident. It shows how dangerous Lebanese Prime ebanon has been Minister Saad Hariri’s Faustian caught up in the arrangement with Bassil is. Once aftermath of a deadly Hariri relinquished one-third of his clash on Mount cabinet to Bassil, he was rendered Lebanon between incapable of fulfilling his constitu- supporters of Druze tional mandate as prime minister. Lchieftain Walid Jumblatt, who More important, Bassil’s ally leads the Progressive Party, and Hezbollah gained significant supporters of the pro-Syrian strength, allowing Bassil to use its Druze MP Talal Arslan. arms to push around his political The incident, which came foes, including Jumblatt and Samir against the backdrop of a popular Geagea, head of the Lebanese Druze protest movement against Forces. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil’s refusal to allow the Bassil’s visit to the Aley region country’s cabinet to convene of Mount Lebanon, ended in a constitutes a clear breach of the gunfight that killed two mem- Lebanese Constitution, which bers of Arslan’s clan. The stipulates that the prime local Druze community minister is the one who had been embittered If Lebanon’s should “call the Coun- towards Bassil be- cabinet dilemma cil of Ministers into cause of his role in was not enough session and sets its stoking tensions trouble, US sanctions on agenda, and… in- form the president there and seeking two Hezbollah to revoke a rec- beforehand of the onciliation pact lawmakers presented subjects included reached between further challenges on the agenda the Druze and the to the state. and of the urgent A battle for control. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (R) and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, last Maronites in 2000. subjects that will be February. (AFP) As dangerous as discussed.” the incident was, the polit- The designation is no ical implications could be more small matter. It was an important The recent drama is merely a This might seem far-fetched but is critical to ensuring Lebanon’s treacherous. change introduced with the Taif rehearsal for the challenges Hariri so was the prospect of an alliance economic stability. Following the bloodshed, Arslan Agreement that ended Lebanon’s will face in the not-too-distant fu- between Hariri and Michel Aoun While this might sound respon- and Bassil demanded that Leba- civil war in 1990 and made way for ture, including the expected verdict that catapulted the latter into the sible, Bassil’s efforts to undermine non’s cabinet place the incident a more equitable form of govern- by a special tribunal tasked with presidency. Hariri’s cabinet’s economic plan before the Judicial Council, a ance. designating responsibility for the If Lebanon’s cabinet dilemma by derailing the entire system of special tribunal that has extra- For Bassil, exercising control death of his father, former Prime was not enough trouble, US sanc- governance is evidence that Bassil jurisdictional authority on cases of over the cabinet is just another Minister Rafik Hariri. tions on two Hezbollah lawmakers and Hezbollah are reading from national security. Jumblatt, who way for him to exert leverage over When the verdict becomes of- presented further challenges to a different book, one whose last has the support of most of the cabi- Hariri. Hezbollah, by the same to- ficial — and likely names senior the state, reminding Beirut that it chapter will not be pleasant. net members, opposed the move, ken, continues to push back against Hezbollah members as culprits cannot escape retribution over its insisting the issue could be handled Hariri by isolating Lebanon region- — Hezbollah and its allies will concessions to Iran and Hezbollah. Makram Rabah is a lecturer at by regular judicial authorities. ally and internationally, reminding demand that the Lebanese state Hariri, meanwhile, strongly de- the American University of Beirut Bassil and his bloc then boycott- the country that, with its Maronite express solidarity with them and fended his decision to maintain the and author of “A Campus at War: ed a scheduled cabinet meeting, re- allies, it can bully its political foes proclaim the tribunal’s findings controversial alliance. Putting aside Student Politics at the American fusing to allow it to convene unless into submission. invalid and conspiratorial. political differences, he argued, University of Beirut, 1967-1975.” Syrian refugees facing insoluble dilemma in Lebanon

taken in refugees from Syria’s war to make Syrian refugees’ ability reported to be responsible for dis- nese Labour Minister Kamil Abu and the broader Mediterranean to stay less permanent, officials posing of the rubble the demolition Suleiman suggested Lebanon was migration crisis, popular opinion restricted materials they could use of their homes created. “applying the law in a courteous, has not been uniform and it has to build temporary homes. Those This was likely intended as a calm and dignified but strict man- James Snell not been positive. built of concrete were not allowed warning rather than the beginning ner” and that those who were likely No country could have hosted and would, after July 1, be demol- of mass eviction but is a demon- to await the end of this period of ince the Syrian civil war a refugee population as large or ished. stration that the Lebanese state raids and fines should not expect a began, and as millions comprising as great a propor- Many refugees, in compli- desires to be seen to mean busi- return to leniency. were internally dis- tion of its inhabitants as Lebanon ance with this ruling, had already ness. Another point of pressure “Employers must pay a fine placed or fled the has without popular disquiet. In demolished their own homes, facing Syrian refugees in Lebanon of 1.5 million Lebanese pounds country, Lebanon has Lebanon’s case, after eight years of replacing them with plastic or is employment. There, too, the ($1,000) for every violation. If felt the effect. war, not only is generosity of spirit wooden structures, which have Lebanese government is exerting a shop is not licensed, it will be SApproximately 1.5 million towards Syrian refugees less in been permitted. force on Syrians in the country. closed until the owner regulates his Syrians reside in Lebanon, which evidence but rhetoric by the public However, many concrete build- Lebanese Foreign Minister situation,” Suleiman said. has a population of 6 million. The and politicians has become less ings remained and, to enforce the Gebran Bassil insisted the increas- Syrian refugees in Lebanon situation is the responsibility of kind. Policies pursued by Leba- ruling, Lebanon’s military set about ing restrictions are primarily have never enjoyed easy accom- Lebanon’s government, one it non’s leaders are putting the future demolishing 20 homes the day after carried out using existing laws and modation and favourable working does not relish, and a reminder to of Lebanon’s refugee population in the deadline passed. Troops moved enforcing those that had fallen into conditions but their situation is the Lebanese of the conflict in the jeopardy. into camps around Arsal at 4.30am disuse amid the chaos of a refugee more difficult and more in jeop- country on their border and the At the beginning of July, an July 1, rights groups said, and used exodus. Human Rights Watch, ardy than before. With Lebanese uncertain times in which they live. arbitrary deadline began to be bulldozers to raze houses. however, considers the demolition politicians and public increas- As in other countries that have enforced. In eastern Lebanon, As before, Syrian refugees were of shelters and the order prompt- ingly concerned by the presence of ing it “one of many recent actions refugees and with goodwill worn to crank up pressure on Syrian refu- down after eight years of conflict in gees to go back.” their neighbour state, the refugees’ Another point of pressure is that cause is not a popular one. of employment. Of the more than 1 As the regime of Bashar Assad, million Syrians in Lebanon, many for now secure in Damascus, makes are forced to take work that is often increasing efforts to gain both not only unpleasant and insecure international recognition and good- but technically illegal. Refugees will, it has begun a dual approach registered with the United Nations to refugees: appealing to countries — just less than 1 million of the with large refugee populations by total in Lebanon — are not legally suggesting that those refugees can allowed to work but, to support return to a Syria at peace under themselves and their families, Assad; and appealing to wealthy many nonetheless do. countries for financial aid with the Approximately 500,000 of the justification of reconstructing Syria Syrians in Lebanon are registered so its refugees might return. workers rather than refugees. They Amid this effort and with very have sponsorship from employers little international opposition, and generally labour in protected Syrian refugees are facing a short- significant industries, such as age of goodwill and increasingly agriculture. sustained efforts to make their The Lebanese Ministry of lives uncomfortable and force them Labour has raided businesses that from what have become their coun- employ Syrians, levying fines on tries of residence — residence that those that did and forcing closures ought to be, as Lebanese authori- of some Syrian-owned businesses. ties seem keen to make clear, pos- As in housing, the justification sible only on a temporary basis. Surrounded by uncertainties. Syrian refugee children play on rubble of dismantled concrete huts at a offered by Lebanese ministers for makeshift Syrian refugee camp in Arsal, Lebanon, July 4. (Reuters) this active policy is legalistic. Leba- James Snell is a British journalist. 4 July 14, 2019 News & Analysis Iran Crisis Iran in tanker row with UK as pressure on Europe fails to produce results

Thomas Seibert

Istanbul

ensions between Iran and Britain are rising as Teh- ran’s efforts to pressure T European countries into providing economic compensation to offset damage done by US sanc- tions are failing to produce results. The British Navy said it pre- vented three Iranian paramilitary vessels from impeding the passage of a British commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz early July 11, a day after Iranian President Hassan Ro- hani warned of repercussions for the seizure of one of Iran’s super- tankers by British Royal Marines. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the United States and Britain would “regret” the July 4 seizure of the Iranian vessel off Gibraltar. Even before the tanker row with London erupted, Iran caused irrita- tion in Europe by breaking rules of its nuclear agreement with world powers. Tehran recently began Troubled waters. Oil tanker British Heritage sails in the Bosporus on its way to the Black Sea in Istanbul, last March. (Reuters) breaching uranium enrichment limits in response to the US ad- ministration’s withdrawal from the the agreement, it will become more “Iran wishes to put pressure on Iranian Ambassador to the United At Washington’s request, the agreement last year and its imposi- difficult for the European parties of the EU to activate its transaction Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi told United Nations’ nuclear watchdog tion of sweeping sanctions. the agreement to support Tehran.” channel, the so-called Instrument the BBC that European countries had a special meeting July 10. US US President Donald Trump said she said. “In the worst-case scenar- in Support of Trade Exchanges had failed to keep their pledges. delegate Jackie Wolcott told the sanctions were to be increased io this could lead to the reimposi- (INSTEX) that will allow compa- “They promised us to do exactly gathering that Iran was engaged “substantially.” He did not provide tion of all sanctions, including EU nies to continue trading with Iran what they were supposed to do: to in “nuclear extortion.” Her Iranian details. and UN sanctions, and an increased to a limited amount despite US compensate what we have lost as a counterpart, Kazem Gharib Aba- Analysts say Iran’s violations of confrontation between Iran and the sanctions,” Farhang Jahanpour, an result of the US withdrawal” from di, called it a “sad irony” that the limits set by the Joint Comprehen- international community.” Iranian academic and member of the JCPOA, Takht-Ravanchi said. meeting was convened at Wash- sive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the The July 11 reported tanker in- Kellogg College at the University “It is not acceptable to us to see ington’s request and claimed the 2015 nuclear agreement is formally cident, denied by the IRGC, could of Oxford, said by e-mail. that the Europeans are not honour- standoff was a result of the United known, are intended to get the Eu- provide a boost for a US plan to ing their commitments.” States’ “outlaw behaviour.” ropeans to do more against the US forge an international military al- Breaching JCPOA limits has not A source at the French presiden- punishment. liance to keep trade routes open. Amanda Paul, had the effect that Iran has hoped cy told Agence France-Presse that The strategy is leaving Europe in Under the plan, the United States senior policy analyst for. In a statement, Germany, “we are in a very critical phase. The an increasingly difficult situation. would provide command ships at the European Policy France and Britain said their con- Iranians are taking measures that Centre Amanda Paul, senior policy ana- while navy vessels from partner tinued support for the accord “re- are in violation (of the agreement) lyst at the European Policy Centre, countries would accompany ships “Should Iran continue to lies on Iran implementing its com- but (they) are very calibrated.” a think-tank in Brussels, said via e- in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab violate the agreement, it will mitments.” They added the “issues Paul said Europe should keep mail that Tehran had “good reason” el Mandeb Strait at the entry to the become more difficult for at hand should be addressed by looking for a solution despite prob- to be frustrated. “Iran signed the Red Sea. the European parties of the participants to the JCPOA.” lems between the European Union JCPOA in good faith and complied Since the United States’ with- agreement to support Tehran.” Iran’s violations of the JCPOA and Russia. Brussels and Moscow with it,” she wrote. drawal from the JCPOA, the re- have also complicated a French ef- are at odds over the conflict in “The nuclear deal is currently maining parties to the deal — Rus- fort to mediate between Iran and Ukraine and other issues. on life support,” Paul added. Iran’s sia, China, Germany, France, “That project has been talked the United States. French President “The Russians and Chinese, violation of some rules of the deal Britain and the European Union — about for over a year and still it has Emmanuel Macron sent his top dip- which both have some influence was “not helpful to the other signa- have been unable to meet Tehran’s not been set up. Therefore, Iran lomatic adviser, Emmanuel Bonne, over Iran, are the best options for tories of the JCPOA.” demands for economic assistance wishes to pressurise Britain, France to Tehran. There were no tangible brokering a way out of this danger- “Should Iran continue to violate to offset the sanctions. and Germany to get on with it.” results of the visit. ous situation,” Paul said.

Viewpoint Middle East battling for Trump’s psyche and Iran is learning fast

s Washington and yet to materialise after the United July 30, 2018, declaration that he secret meetings between Tillerson Tehran ratchet up States accused Tehran of perpetrat- was ready to meet his Iranian coun- and Zarif. He desired to be the fo- their rhetoric against ing sabotage against oil tankers terpart with “[n]o preconditions,” cus of attention, perhaps as the first Ali Alfoneh each other, even off the coast of Fujairah in May. Mousavian had an opinion article US president to meet the president possibly inching Instead, the US president, on June published in the August 1, 2018, or even Iran’s head of state in 40 towards a military 22, offered his assistance to “make Etemad urging Iranian President years. confrontation,A there is an Iran great again” as long as Tehran Hassan Rohani to take Trump at his With significant delay, Zarif has intensive campaign from various abstains from developing nuclear word. adopted Mousavian’s line and quarters to appeal to the delusion weapons. “Under present conditions, the directly appeals to Trump. In his of grandeur of the American Faring better, and cheaper, than military and Trump don’t want war April 29, interview with Fox News, president. Arab allies of the United States, with Iran and prefer talks with Iran the president’s favourite network, Israel and Arab allies of the under Prime Minister Binyamin without preconditions,” Mousavian Zarif warned Trump that Israel, United States seem to have a better Netanyahu, the government of Is- wrote and warned: “Military attack Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emir- reading of US President Donald rael persuaded Trump to recognise and regime change… is in the back ates and some of his own advisers Trump’s psyche but Tehran is Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in De- of mind of important politicians were dragging the United States learning fast. In the end, however, cember 2017. In March 2019, Trump such as John Bolton, national secu- into a conflict with Iran. Zarif re- as long as the current mercurial signed a proclamation formally rity adviser, and [Mike] Pompeo.” peated the same argument on July president is in the White House, recognising Israeli sovereignty Based on these observations, 9, claiming Trump was “lured” into US foreign policy will be unpre- over the Golan Heights. In return, Mousavian concluded his piece by “killing” the Iran nuclear deal. dictable. The Middle East, in turn, Netanyahu unveiled the Trump urging Rohani to invite Trump to Was the television tuned to Fox will most likely remain a neigh- Heights settlement in June. Tehran. News when Zarif directly addressed bourhood where every man is for Flattery clearly works with On August 6, 2018, Rohani, in a Trump a few months ago? Is the US himself. Trump, so do photo opportuni- televised interview, disclosed that president following Zarif on Twitter Trump’s first foreign trip as presi- ties as apparent in repeated empty Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- or is he still fuming over the Brit- dent was to Saudi Arabia in May summits with North Korean Su- mad Javad Zarif had already met ish ambassador’s report about the 2017, where he received a lavish preme Leader Kim Jong-un. with US Secretary of State Rex dysfunctional White House? One What Rohani did not welcome, danced the sword dance One of the first Iranian officials Tillerson, on the sidelines of the thing is for sure, with such a degree grasp was that Trump and signed a $110 billion arms deal. seeing through Trump’s character UN General Assembly. Rohani de- of unpredictability in Washington, Back in the United States, Trump was Ambassador Hossein Mousavi- clared his government, despite US every man is for himself in the Mid- had no interest in reciprocated Saudi hospitality by an, who unofficially represents Iran withdrawal from the Iran nuclear dle East. secret meetings claiming the kingdom would not from his residence in Princeton, deal, had, in principle, no problem last “two weeks” without American New Jersey. negotiating with the United States. Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at between Tillerson support. Heartened by Trump’s June 12, What Rohani did not grasp was the Arab Gulf States Institute in and Zarif. That support, by the way, has 2018, meeting with Kim and his that Trump had no interest in Washington. July 14, 2019 5 News & Analysis Iran Crisis Iran’s nuclear breaches ratchet up risks in showdown with Washington

accord a 60-day deadline in June to Sabahat Khan save the deal by compensating Iran against losses caused by US sanc- Dubai tions. Tehran said it is prepared to re- he International Atomic En- verse its breaches and return to ergy Agency confirmed that compliance with the original terms Iran had begun enriching of the deal if Europe can guaran- T uranium to 4.5%, a concen- tee the economic rewards Iran was tration that breaches the limit set promised with the agreement. by the Iran nuclear accord. The International Atomic Energy Weapons-grade uranium is at Agency backs the view that Iran has least 90% enriched and Iran’s new been in compliance with conditions levels are still considered low, al- of the nuclear accord. However, Iran though it is reportedly growing its said that, after its 60-day deadline, stockpile of low-enriched uranium. it would move to a “third phase.” Iran’s breaches do not presently While it is unclear what that would represent a major risk but, if it be- entail, the nuclear accord could ef- gins enriching to higher levels and fectively be dead within months. growing its nuclear stockpile, the The United States had taken on time to a “nuclear break-out,” when risks when it withdrew from the Iran may have enough material for a agreement because it was always weapon, becomes shorter. possible it ended up with nothing. The United States criticised Iran While Washington has been push- for the move as “crude” and de- ing Iran for a renegotiation of the signed to “extort payments,” saying deal, its calls have been rejected Tehran had no excuse to breach its with Tehran saying it can no long- commitments to the nuclear ac- er trust Washington to uphold any cord. deal. However, Tehran recently has The United States is signalled it could become possi- working to step up ble to talk with the United States if economic sanctions are lifted first. Dangerous gamble. Iran’s permanent representative to the international organisations Kazem Gharib international monitoring While not necessarily a concession, Abadi (C) during the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, July 10. (AFP) of the region’s key sea the development creates some lanes following a series space for manoeuvre on both sides. with the nuclear accord but inten- forces in Gibraltar. limited leverage on the crisis and of tanker attacks. Analysts said Iran’s regional ac- sified the regional activities it had The United States is working to appears to lack a clear, unified posi- tivities jeopardised the nuclear been widely criticised for. step up international monitoring tion on the standoff. Iran holds the United States re- deal. Because it was unclear wheth- The United States left the accord of the region’s key sea lanes follow- The current trajectory is defined sponsible for jeopardising the deal er Iran would change them and to bring things to a head and force ing a series of tanker attacks. There by an increasingly high-stakes com- by unilaterally withdrawing from other behaviour to become more Iran into a wider negotiation on its is speculation the United States is petition so international diplomatic it in May 2018 and imposing hefty pragmatic, the United States used nuclear programme and other stra- mulling other measures against efforts, particularly by European sanctions, which have created a cri- its influence to slow the economic tegic areas of contention through Iran short of war, such as additional leaders, might need to work to find sis in Iran. benefits Iran was expecting with applying brute economic pressure sanctions, cyber operations and a breakthrough within the coming The recent events escalated re- the nuclear accord. and buffing up its military posture. perhaps enhanced support for so- weeks that eases tensions involving gional tensions and increased the The United States was wary that Tensions remain high, with Iran cial activists challenging the status Iran. possibility of a direct military con- a financially stronger Iran could be- recently being charged with at- quo in Iran. frontation between Iran and the come a bigger challenge across the tempting to seize a British tanker A military conflict against Iran Sabahat Khan, based in Dubai, United States. region, especially given the extent in the Gulf in retaliation for an is a scenario the region is keen to maintains a cross-disciplinary Iran’s breaches came after it gave of its role in Syria and Yemen. Iranian tanker, said to be illegally avoid considering its highly unpre- focus in international security, European signatories to the nuclear As it turned out, Iran complied heading for Syria, seized by British dictable consequences. Europe has defence policy and strategic issues.

Viewpoint Gap between Europe, US regarding Iran highlighted by IAEA meeting

n 2006, the 35-member may coax him along such a Bonne that Tehran’s decision end up going to war… [Trump] governing board of the course. to increase enrichment was is verbally aggressive and loves International Atomic “Europe is moderating its “unchangeable” and criticised sanctions… It could cause them Gareth Smyth Energy Agency referred criticism of the US, at least in Europe’s failure to shield Iran to be more conciliatory. It might Iran’s nuclear programme public, to avoid making even from US sanctions. INSTEX, the not work, but I think people to the UN Security Council, harder the task of persuading the European special purpose vehicle shouldn’t prejudge it. We’ll see in Iwhich agreed to implement US to offer something in return for Iranian trade, is yet to yield a year.” sanctions that were lifted only for Iran staying within, or near results, even on humanitarian For Iran, a year could be a long after Tehran’s 2015 agreement to to, the JCPOA limits,” said a goods. time. Sanctions have plunged limit its nuclear activities. former European diplomat, “but Caught in the middle, the the country’s economy into The recent IAEA meeting broke if the US won’t play with ideas Europeans are not just alarmed recession. Oil exports have up in rancour without agreement of ‘paying a price’ for Iran to go at Iran’s likely steps to expand collapsed from 2.6 million or resolution. Why the United back to the limits, then this is a the nuclear programme or barrels per day (bpd) in 2018 to States requested the emergency forlorn hope.” possible moves to restrict the estimates of 380,000-500,000 session was left unclear. Omens are certainly mixed. access of IAEA inspectors. They bpd. The cost of medicine, food While Washington attacked As the IAEA board met, Trump are also puzzled by the Trump and other staples has rocketed. Tehran for stepping beyond limits claimed on Twitter that Iran — administration. Mehdi Zakerian, visiting law set by the Joint Comprehensive contrary to IAEA findings — was “I don’t think they have a professor at the University of Plan of Action (JCPOA) on secretly enriching uranium clear objective,” said the former Pennsylvania and a human rights uranium enrichment, Russian and threatened “substantially” diplomat commenting on US advocate who faced detention at delegate Mikhail Ulyanov argued increased sanctions. positions. “They’re just winging home in Iran, called US sanctions the United States was “refusing The IAEA is not a party to it, expecting Iran to crumble “flagrant economic war against to fulfil its own obligations under the JCPOA, which was signed eventually and then negotiate the Iranian people.” the nuclear deal… [and therefore] by Iran, the United States, on as many of the 12 points as Iran’s leadership has opted for lost any right to demand this Russia, China and the EU3 possible.” a resistance strategy of evading from others.” (Germany, France and the United The 12 demands are those sanctions, gradually resuming the Europe is working to maintain Kingdom) and endorsed by the laid down by US Secretary of nuclear programme and waiting the JCPOA or at least to keep Iran Security Council. The agency State Mike Pompeo last year, for Trump to lose the 2020 as close as possible to its terms. does monitor Iran’s nuclear including that Tehran end election. But patience varies. Tehran has breached them since programme under Tehran’s uranium enrichment, break “There are some — a small May by exceeding a limit of 300 safeguards agreement as a links with regional allies and group within the hard-liner kilograms of enriched uranium signatory of the Nuclear Non- abandon its missile programme. wing — who would be more than and more recently by enriching Proliferation Treaty. That enables With Iran showing no inclination happy if the US attacked some The recent IAEA beyond 3.67%. it to monitor Iran’s compliance to negotiate on such terms, sites in Iran, enabling them meeting broke up in On the day the IAEA board with the JCPOA. Trump’s wariness over military to blame the US for economic met, French President Emmanuel The EU3 statement to the IAEA entanglement leaves a default problems and gather people rancour without Macron’s senior adviser, board stressed the importance of position of tightening existing around the flag,” said an Iranian agreement or Emmanuel Bonne, was in Tehran Tehran continuing to allow “full sanctions and introducing new professor. “A few missiles could resolution. Why the seeking an understanding and timely access” to agency ones. produce martyrs to show the through which Iran would return inspections, called on Iran to “His [Trump’s] strategy is to world.” United States to JCPOA limits in exchange for return to JCPOA limits and shake things up with Iran and requested the the United States moderating requested an urgent meeting of also say he doesn’t want to go Gareth Smyth is a regular sanctions. The Europeans’ gambit JCPOA signatories. to war,” said US Representative contributor to The Arab Weekly. emergency session was that US President Donald In Tehran, Ali Shamkhani, Peter King, a Trump ally. “We’ll He has reported from the Middle was left unclear. Trump’s desire to prevent war Iran’s top security official, told see if it works. I don’t think we’ll East since 1992. 6 July 14, 2019 Opinion

Editorial Europe’s refugee policies are inadequate s is the case every summer, too many overcrowded boats carrying would-be migrants capsize while attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterra- nean. This year has been no exception. The tragedies continue even though, sinceA 2015, governments in North Africa and the Middle East have, with the help of Europe, brought their shores under tighter control. That was not the case, however, in Libya. Despite arrangements between European governments with some of Libya’s actors, would-be migrants continue to depart from the Libyan coast. An incident occurred July 4 when an inflatable boat carrying more than 80 migrants sank off the Tunisian coast after setting off from Libya. The bodies of 72 migrants have been recovered. Europe’s strategy has been to prevent the arrival of refugees at any cost. To stem the departure of refugees from Libya, it included questionable deals with dubious militias and an unreliable coast guard. As recently written by Mathieu von Rohr in Der Spiegel, Europeans “outsourced the horrors and washed their hands of any guilt” through such deals. He was referring to arrangements between European powers, including Italy and France, with opportunistic militias and a coast guard made up © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly itself of militia members to intercept migrants attempting to leave Libyan shores and take them to detention centres in squalid and often dangerous conditions. Iran has nothing to worry about To make up for lost revenue after the cancella- tion of illegal journeys across the sea, traffickers and the militiamen did not hesitate to find other in showdown with Trump uses for the detained refugees. Traffickers at the sub-Saharan end of the smuggling networks have Mohamad Kawas held refugees’ families for ransom. Strict anti-migration measures in Europe, best Tehran understands that negotiations are coming illustrated by enforcement of tough policies in someday but nothing is urgent right now. Italy since the coming to power in June 2018 of Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, reduced the flow of refugees to a trickle. So far this year, the number t’s Iran that is taking the for dialogue rather than for by the United States under of migrants who have crossed the Mediterranean initiative. It rushes to act confrontation. Trump con- the leadership of a president from Libya totalled 2,790, a decrease of 83% then waits for others to firms this reading through his who will be looking at the way compared to the same period in 2018 and a drop of react. So far, the actions consistent behaviour. All mes- things could benefit or harm 97% compared to 2017. have been dramatic sages delivered by the prime his chances for re-election. The reduction in the number of migrants could while the reactions have minister of Japan and by the Tehran knows that Trump not, however, stop migrant fatalities nor hide the Ibeen lukewarm and confused. Omani, German, British and may not launch formal surgi- shortcomings of Europe’s policies. Nothing in Tehran’s re- Swiss delegations before and cal military strikes, as he did “This year alone, just under 600 migrants have after him and most recently drowned in the Mediterranean. The horrors of the sponse to Washington’s with- in response to Syria’s use of European Union’s migration policies aren’t playing drawal from the nuclear deal by the French emissary repre- chemical weapons. To do so, out in front of the cameras — they are unfolding in is surprising. In its responses, sent nothing more to Tehran he needs assurances that no North Africa and on the high seas,” pointed out Iran is following a predictable than different versions of Iranian response will drag him von Rohr. map. the same message seeking and his country into a major When dozens of African refugees were killed The nuclear agreement is to convince it of choosing war that he has no control over July 2 in Tajoura, a suburb of Tripoli, it was a tragic not an Iranian affair and has negotiations as a necessary its outcomes. incident waiting to happen. More than 50 refugees, never been an objective of the and much-needed aspect of Trump has not been able — caught in the crossfire of Libya’s domestic strife, Islamic Republic’s regime. It Trump’s election campaign or, to put it more accurately, were killed that night. Others who tried to flee the was Washington that oversaw for a second term. has not tried — to convince detention centre were shot at by local sentries. the crafting and negotiat- Tehran understands that the US public that Iran poses a For months, there have been indications the ing of the deal through the negotiations are coming strategic threat to the United refugees in the centre were being exploited for military purposes. Two refugees told the Associ- backchannel of Muscat and someday but nothing is States. All previous US admin- ated Press they had been forced by a local militia to then marketed its birth with urgent right now. The US istrations had taken such a step maintain weapons. international partners. president has not achieved a before waging wars in Afghani- Media reports stated they were most likely When Iran threatens inter- breakthrough on the North stan, Iraq and Yugoslavia. requisitioned to do that work by the Dhaman national shipping lines in the Korean front that could serve In the Iranian case, however, militia led by militant Islamist commander Bashir Bab el Mandeb Strait and in as a model for decision-mak- the type of showdown that Khalfallah. Gulf waters, it represents a ers in Tehran. Trump has picked since May 8, International actors should have seen this different tussle altogether The scene is in Iran’s 2018, when the United States coming. In May the United Nations called for the At the same time, when Iran favour. To produce a nuclear withdrew from the nuclear evacuation of refugees who were in that kind of decides to enrich its uranium bomb, Iran needs to enrich agreement, has looked more predicament in Tajoura. UNHCR spokesman to forbidden levels, that rep- its uranium to 90% purity. like a game that Trump and his Charlie Yaxley said on Twitter: “Unacceptable that It has increased the rate of detention centres in Tripoli are being used to store resents a step that whoever team have been playing with weapons & military equipment. This is making thought first of killing the nu- enrichment to 4.5% and Iranian Supreme Leader Aya- clear agreement should have is threatening to bring tollah Ali Khamenei and them a target for attack, putting the lives of those Trump has not inside in grave danger. Violation of int’l humani- anticipated. So, Washington it up to 20%, which his team. If Trump wishes tarian law and has to stop.” is either intentionally draw- means that it has a been able — or to put to sit in the White House Despite the noted danger, Tripoli authorities did ing Iran into a military and long time ahead of it more accurately has for a second term, he not stop transferring refugees into the centre, UN “nuclear” escalation for some it to play cat and not tried — to convince must resort to a popu- reports said. sought purpose or US Presi- mouse and to enjoy the US public that list discourse that he After the July 2 incident, UN Special Envoy on dent Donald Trump’s decision receiving more and Iran poses a strategic was good at, promis- Migration in the Mediterranean Vincent Cochetel to pull out of the nuclear deal new mediation del- threat to the United ing greatness again to bemoaned the “blindness among European was an improvised emotional egations. America and speaking countries about the situation of migrants in Libya, States. reaction that politicians in Even when the time of lucrative deals with his which has been deteriorating for months.” Fighting only added to the risks, he said. Tehran find easy to deal with. is right to negotiate, country’s allies and rivals. Even more short-sightedness marks Europe’s Tehran has not felt any crit- from Tehran’s perspec- It does not look like Trump’s approach to stemming the flow of refugees from ical threat to its regime. The tive, it will be done on the approach to the Iranian issue sub-Saharan Africa without addressing its under- country is used to sanctions. premise that Iran is progress- is going to be profitable for lying factors. In fact, the sanctions imposed ing towards developing its Trump the candidate. Tehran “I understand Europe’s strategic interests but we by the UN Security Council nuclear bomb. That would knows that and will do its best have to move beyond that. Have the conflicts that with a wide international put it in a position of strength not to give him what might are spurring people to travel to Libya been consensus had been broader rather than being subjected ease the pressure he’s under resolved? There are currently 19 conflicts on the and harsher. Washington to US Secretary of State Mike in his presidential campaign. African continent,” he noted. “We have to tackle accused Tehran of being Pompeo’s famous 12 condi- In fact, it is counting on his the issues upstream.” behind the May 12 bombings tions. failure and the success of one Another part of the problem has to do with Observers must conclude Europe’s own divisive politics. The rise of populist of cargo ships off Fujairah in of his Democratic rivals, who, and nationalist movements in Europe has fuelled the United Arab Emirates, of that the world is dealing with incidentally, all have agreed to anti-migration trends. Europe’s policies have targeting two oil tankers in Iran as a major and funda- return to the nuclear agree- exposed them to accusations of bigotry and the Gulf of Oman on June 13 mental state in the world and ment that Trump had torn up. racism. Malian intellectual Aminata Traore has and of downing an American that, like it or not, the world Until the United States written that Europe’s restrictive policies stem drone over the Gulf on May must accept, deal, negotiate chooses a president in No- from an “atavistic refusal to form mixed societies.” 20. And yet, Tehran has not and compose with its regime vember 2020, Iran is unlikely A durable solution requires a European approach seen any response to the level as a definitive and final one. to have to worry about any that addresses the complex issues of peace, of these charges. Iran knows that its game outside threat. stability and development in the Arab world and Worse than that, Tehran has with the United States has Africa. Expedient measures offer only short-lived seen, in mediation attempts, gone into extra time. There is Mohamad Kawas is a Lebanese solutions. nothing more than a US desire no room for a war to be waged writer. July 14, 2019 7 Opinion Signs of deal between Algeria’s rulers and Islamists to circumvent protests Published by Al Arab Publishing House Saber Blidi Chenine’s rise to power points to prospects of other political Publisher and Group Executive Editor deals between the regime and Islamist groups. Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD ast-paced deals ment, the Algerian branch of ment were in favour of an Is- ment and other opposition and manoeuvres in the Muslim Brotherhood. A lamist opposition candidate. parties, such as the Workers’ Editor-in-Chief the Algerian parlia- few years ago, he abandoned In reality, the scenario is Party, the Rally for Culture and Oussama Romdhani ment surprised the Islamist party and joined indicative of the emergence Democracy and the Socialist the Algerian public the El Bina Movement, a of new coalitions and alli- Forces Front, opposed Che- when an Islamist splinter movement of the ances to absorb street anger nine’s election, the coali- Managing Editor Fwas put on track to become former Islamist bloc that and prepare the way for the tion parties — Amal Algeria, Iman Zayat speaker of parliament. join with other opposition coming political landscape. Algerian Popular Movement, The move came amid talk movements to shake off the Algerian authorities have and the Democratic National Deputy Managing Editor of a deal struck between Muslim Brotherhood image. a history of recruiting and Rally — and some independent and Online Editor Islamists and authorities to Chenine is said to be one mobilising political Islam MPs supported it before being Mamoon Alabbasi contain the popular protest of the faces planted by the groups during the Black joined by the FLN. movement. former intelligence apparatus Decade. The Muslim Broth- Chenine is a journalist by Senior Editor This would be the first time in the Brotherhood to keep erhood, for example, was profession and owns El-Raed that the third most power- the movement under surveil- used to counter the banned Study Centre and newspaper. John Hendel ful position in the Algerian lance. He played the role of Islamic Salvation Front and His rise to power indicates the Chief Copy Editor hierarchy was assigned to the opposition figure who encourage Islamist guerril- regime is looking to establish a figure not from parties would release the popular las to abandon their hide- a new dynamic inside parlia- Richard Pretorius loyal to the regime and from anger of the street and create outs in the mountains. ment to push its agenda. The Copy Editors outside the national politi- a rift within the Islamists. It Since his election to other message is that the cal current that dominates was part of the spectacle of parliament in 2017 as a demand for dissolving parlia- Stephen Quillen elected councils. democracy controlled by the candidate of El Bina ment, because it is the result Kyle Arensdorf Members of the Algerian usual circles of power. Movement, Chenine of controversial elections People’s National Assembly Algerian observers say has kept a safe The new speaker of in 2017, is out of the East/West Section Editor accepted the nomination of Chenine remains a graduate distance from the the Algerian question. Mahmud el-Shafey (London) of the Muslim Brotherhood MP Slimane Chenine to lead regime and loyal- parliament Slimane This development the legislative body. The school, even if he disagrees ist parties. He is, points to prospects of Gulf Section Editor Chenine is the Islamist candidate received with other Islamist parties on however, known other political deals Mohammed Alkhereiji overwhelming support side issues and details. for soft stances product of the between the regime from parliament, which is The Islamists and parlia- towards the regime political Islam and Islamist groups. Society and Travel dominated by the so-called mentary blocs that backed of former President school of thought. The goal could be to Sections Editor loyalist parties. Those parties Chenine are trying to market Abdelaziz Bouteflika circumvent the popular Samar Kadi withdrew their candidates the choice as a victory for the and political forces movement and absorb the to allow Chenine to win by a political opposition in Algeria loyal to him. anger of the street and build comfortable margin. and in line with demands The last-minute with- a power advantage over the Senior Correspondents Chenine replaces National from the Algerian street for drawal by Mohamed Djemai, democratic current and the Liberation Front (FLN) mem- political change. The sud- secretary-general of the FLN, popular movement that con- Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) ber Moaz Bouchareb, who den process, however, raises of his candidacy for speaker, tinues to demand the depar- Thomas Seibert (Istanbul) resigned recently. Chenine many questions about the along with the sudden with- ture of the regime and total is the first Islamist to lead a surprising rapprochement drawal of the other candi- political change. Regular Columnists powerful institution in Alge- between the ruling parties dates, suggests a political This is all the more alarm- Rashmee Roshan Lall ria. The speaker’s position and the Islamists. deal was concluded between ing after the escalation by Claude Salhani was monopolised by the FLN The ruling parties sacri- parliamentary blocs that hold army Chief-of-Staff General Yavuz Baydar during the one-party period ficed their own candidates the majority in parliament. Ahmed Gaid Salah speaking and later alternated between to make way for Chenine’s Furthermore, the nomina- about what he called “dubi- Correspondents the FLN and the Democratic nomination and that fuelled tion of an Islamist figure as ous agents,” in reference to National Rally. suspicion that hidden inter- speaker of the parliament those demanding a civil state Nazli Tarzi (London) Chenine is the product of ventions tried to create the would not have been possible and supporters of Amazigh Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) the political Islam school of semblance of a new politi- without the approval of — or identity. (London) thought. At the beginning of cal scene by misleading the at least no objection from — Dunia El-Zobaidi his political career, he joined Algerian public into thinking the military establishment. Saber Blidi is an Algerian Roua Khlifi (Tunis) the Society of Peace Move- that the elections with parlia- While the Hamas Move- writer. Chief Designer Marwen el-Hmedi

Why conspiracy theories thrive Designers Ibrahim Ben Bechir in the Middle East Hanen Jebali Claude Salhani Only bringing back the primacy of reason will save the Arab Contact editor at: world from the distorting prism of conspiracy theories. [email protected]

onspiracy theo- thrown in any debate with tool for explaining actions sary, given that its operating rists are found the hope of providing some beyond their control or budget is classified. in every country rationale to an otherwise contrary to their narratives, Almost on an equal pedes- Al Arab Publishing House but they seem to unintelligible — and demor- especially if it has to do with tal as the CIA in carrying the Quadrant Building thrive most in the alising — political reality. Israel or the West. blame for the shortfalls and 177-179 Hammersmith Road Arab world. There No topic is too small or It spares many the trouble associated calamities that visit London W6 8BS Care possibly valid reasons for inappropriate to such treat- of admitting much of the the Middle East is the Israeli that. ment. Issues such as private blame could go to mindsets external intelligence agency, It can be linked to the lives of celebrities — be they that remain detached from Mossad, aided by the power- region’s politics and evolu- in the business world, enter- reason and reality. Con- ful Zionist lobby in the United Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 tion of its societies. Yes, the tainment or sports — are fair spiracy theories enable those States. Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 region’s politics can and do game for conspirators. who espouse them not to Too many Middle Easterners influence believers in con- One topic seems to come in deal with their inability to continue to believe that Zion- spiracy theories. at the top in the Arab world handle real issues and real ists, combined with the power Such theories diminish sci- — politics — and the whims problems. and influence of the CIA, can US Publisher: entific reasoning, taking over of US politics and Washing- Among the favourite top- appoint or remove an Ameri- The Arab Weekly USA LLC. as the main interpretative ton’s role in determining the ics prevalent in the region can president as well as install mode. People in the region destinies of countries of the — from Morocco to or remove leaders around [email protected] can reclaim their destiny region. Once that role comes Yemen and from Syria the Middle East as though [email protected] once they steer away from into focus, the CIA is not far to Egypt — is any- they were pawns in a conspiracies and perceptions behind. thing related to US Conspiracy giant chess game. Tel: 248-679-6624 of overwhelming powers Whether it be US missions regional clout and, theorists are found Combine rumours, they cannot fight. to the moon or sending to narrow it down in every country conspiracy theories At its apex, Arab-Islamic spacecraft to Mars, many a bit, any CIA- but they seem to and war and what civilisation shone all over Arabs remain sceptical of US inspired plot. thrive most in the comes about is an even the world based on the pri- motives. Any major po- Arab world. more powerful vehicle macy of science and reason. The US mission to the litical event — and by which to disseminate An almost lost legacy. moon ranks high on conspir- often if the rumours crude, but highly effec- Subscription & Advertising: There is a widespread acy theorists’ list of topics. are juicy enough these tive, “fake news.” [email protected] belief today across the Arab They are convinced that conspiracy theories do not Only bringing back the Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 world, often shared by Americans never walked on need to be limited to major primacy of reason will save the the region’s social media the moon and that the entire events — is said to be the Arab world from the distorting networks, that just about moon landing was fabricated work of the spy agency. prism of conspiracy theories. Mohamed Al Mufti anything that happens in inside a Hollywood-style If one tries to reason with Marketing & Advertising the region is part of a greater studio. conspiracy theorists, they Claude Salhani is a regular Manager plot concocted by the CIA to Some governments in the reply that the CIA has the columnist for The Arab Weekly undermine the people and region, as well as Islamist resources to hire as many and a senior fellow at the Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 governments of the region. movements, encourage the people as it wants and is Institute of World Affairs in www.alarab.co.uk The words “conspiracy conspiracy spin because authorised to spend as much Washington. theories” are immediately it has proven a valuable money as it deems neces- 8 July 14, 2019 News & Analysis Gulf Yemen Socotrans protest al-Islah’s ‘disruptive activities’

Special correspondent United Arab Emirates aimed at pro- moting economic development on the island. Haidibu The STC has been promoting the re-establishment of self-govern- rotesters in Hadibu on So- ment in former South Yemen, which cotra took to the streets to merged in 1990 with North Yemen. protest what they said are Since the outbreak of the conflict P attempts by Yemen’s al-Islah in Yemen, and in particular since party to ‘”disrupt stability on the is- Socotra was hit by a devastating land.” Demonstrators also demand- cyclone in 2015, the Emirates’ Red ed the removal of Socotra Governor Crescent and the Sheikh Khalifa Ramzi Mahrous. bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation Mahrous and Yemeni Minister of have initiated a major programme Fisheries Fahd Salem Kafain, both of relief, aid and development as- from Socotra, are members of al- sistance. Islah, the local affiliate of the Mus- The effort included building lim Brotherhood. The party is a part schools, allocating financial sup- of the ruling coalition of the gov- port for teachers, the expansion and ernment of Yemen’s President Abd modernisation of the island’s main Rabbo Mansour Hadi. hospital, the extension of its main port and expansion of the power supply network. Although al-Islah is part Socotra had remained largely free of Hadi’s coalition of the fallout of the conflict that has government, protesters Simmering anger. Yemenis in Socotra demonstrate against al-Islah party, which they say is stoking raged on mainland Yemen since tensions, July 11. (Twitter) allege its actions in 2011. However, island residents say Socotra are part of a plan they fear that attempts by al-Islah taken place in Hadibu and other coalition government, protesters al- the militants had the backing of Ka- developed in to widen its influence will increase towns, with the support of the STC, lege its actions in Socotra are part of fain. collaboration with Qatar. tensions. other groups and local tribal lead- a plan developed in collaboration When the local commander of the They claim al-Islah provoked seri- ers. Some demonstrators described with Qatar to divert the attention of STC-affiliated Security Belt militia, A statement by the Socotra lead- ous frictions elsewhere in Yemen, the protests as “the beginning of the Saudi-led coalition from its fight Essam Shizabi, tried to negotiate ership of Yemen’s Southern Transi- including in Taiz, diverting at- a revolution against the Muslim against Houthi militias. the release of the vehicles, al-Islah tional Council (STC) said actions by tention from the main fight with Brotherhood,” in reference to al- Armed al-Islah supporters recent- reportedly shot him, causing inju- al-Islah and its supporters hinder Houthi militias. Islah. ly seized a ship carrying vehicles at ries that necessitated his hospitali- activities of organisations from the Regular demonstrations have Although al-Islah is part of Hadi’s Socotra’s main port. Al-Islah said sation.

Viewpoint Momentum building for stronger US-Saudi ties

audi Princess Reema challenges that come with that. imports. This makes Saudi Arabia’s stripped in 1994) slanted US public bint Bandar bin Sultan A month later, she spoke at the role in the energy market, which opinion decidedly against the king- has presented her Atlantic Council on socio-economic it has the ability to insulate from dom. The attacks also refocused credentials to US transformation in the kingdom as disruption, key to US interests. The attention on the role of Salafist Iman Zayat President Donald Trump part of its Vision 2030 programme, United States is also able to use its ideology in Saudi Arabia’s political as Saudi Arabia’s new specifically focusing on social ef- relationship with Saudi Arabia to system. Sambassador to the United fects, community engagement and advance strategic foreign policy Despite these shifts, the admin- States. improving quality of life. interests in the region. istration of US President George W. Almost a week before that meet- With Princess Reema represent- However, it has not always been Bush knew that cooperation with ing July 8, Trump praised Saudi ing Riyadh, a new momentum for easy for the two countries to co- Saudi Arabia was needed more Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal- stronger US-Saudi ties is expected operate on foreign policy matters. than ever in fighting the war on man bin Abdulaziz on the sidelines to build beyond the challeng- In the 1970s, for example, Arab terror and maintained close ties of the G20 summit, saying the ing moments that the relation- members of OPEC, including Saudi with Riyadh. crown prince was doing a “spec- ship endured especially after the Arabia, imposed an oil embargo How the United States and Saudi tacular job.” Trump was referring Khashoggi episode. on countries, including the United Arabia have bounced back from to Riyadh’s efforts to loosen social For more than a century, US-Sau- States, that supported Israel during those challenging periods shows restrictions and diversify the Saudi di relations have gone through ups the 1973 Yom Kippur War. how resilient their relationship is economy from its dependence on and downs but remained generally Even in that difficult time, — able to stand the test of time and oil. positive. however, the crisis did little to changing political waters. Much of Princess Reema faces a daunting The two countries’ relation- disrupt security ties between this is due to Saudi Arabia’s status task as Saudi envoy to the United ship began just one year after the Saudi Arabia and the United States. as a powerful global actor, both States but she can count on many founding of Saudi Arabia, in 1933, The embargo was lifted in March politically and economically. factors to work in her favour. when King Ibn Saud granted an oil 1974 and Washington and Riyadh With one of the 20 largest Among them are the princess’s exploration concession to Standard subsequently signed an agreement economies in the world, Saudi extensive knowledge of US politics Oil of California, a precursor to the to increase military and economic Arabia is a major global investor, and culture, her reputation as an Arabian American Oil Company — cooperation. In 1975, the United pumping tens of billions of dollars advocate for women’s rights and Aramco. In 1938, those ties grew States and Saudi Arabia concluded into projects around the world, as Trump’s resolve to maintain the stronger when oil was discovered military sales agreements worth $2 well as tens of billions of dollars in United States’ strategic, historic in the Eastern Province in Saudi billion. private wealth. The Office of the US alliance with the Saudis. Arabia and US energy interests in A low point for the Saudi-US Trade Representative stated that It is important to note that the the kingdom were further solidi- partnership came after the 9/11 US goods and services trade with princess, the daughter of influ- fied. attacks. The fact that 15 of the 19 Saudi Arabia totalled an estimated ential Saudi envoy and former While the United States is now hijackers were Saudi citizens and $48.1 billion in 2018. Exports were Ambassador to the United States energy-independent, many of its that the plan’s mastermind Osama $22.4 billion and imports were Prince Bandar bin Sultan, has been Asian allies, notably South Korea bin Laden was of Saudi origin (bin $25.7 billion. groomed for this mission from an and Japan, rely heavily on oil Laden’s Saudi citizenship was The kingdom’s geopolitical role early age. She is the granddaughter is equally significant, as it retains of King Salman’s brother, giving custodianship of the Muslim her significant influence within the world’s most revered holy sites and ruling family. maintains solid relations with most Princess Reema will no doubt be Arab countries. For the United forced to deal with many difficult States, cooperating with Saudi issues, notably tensions with Iran, Arabia can serve its interests in the the aftermath of the killing of Middle East and help strengthen Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi ties with other Arab countries. and the war in Yemen. This, of course, means that the To address these issues, she United States should preserve its could actively engage with mem- partnership with Riyadh and sup- bers of the US Congress and Wash- port the kingdom’s reform efforts, ington’s foreign policy elite but which are widely popular at home. that approach will only be effective When the two countries do if Riyadh works to reassure US poli- inevitably face challenges, they cymakers that the Saudis are open should engage in dialogue to help to addressing their concerns. forge common ground. After all, This will require the skilled their partnership is more criti- diplomacy that Princess Reema has cal than ever to counter security developed. A graduate of George threats common to both countries. Princess Reema faces Washington University in Wash- With Princess Reema beginning a daunting task as ington, she previously played a her mission, Saudi Arabia and the key role in strengthening Saudi-US United States should focus on how, Saudi envoy to the relations and shining a light on the together, they can help preserve United States but she kingdom’s forward vision. their interests and deal with mu- can count on many Last January, she attended the A fresh perspective. Saudi Arabia’s new Ambassador to the United tual challenges. World Economic Forum where she States Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan (R) presents her factors to work in her spoke about Saudi Arabia’s desire credentials to US President Donald Trump in Washington. Iman Zayat is Managing Editor of favour. to “create a new narrative” and the (Twitter) The Arab Weekly. July 14, 2019 9 News & Analysis Iraq

Iraq’s US envoy in troubled waters over call to normalise ties with Israel

Nazli Tarzi government of Israel but that does not imply we are not in contact with the diaspora inside Israel,” London Yasseen said. “I was asked in 2005 if Iraq intends to normalise its rela- emarks by Iraqi Ambas- tions with Israel to which I said no sador to the United States such proposal was ever presented Farid Yasseen whipped up or debated, not even on the agenda R a diplomatic storm that or in our thinking.” moved beyond social media. Yet these sympathies do not ap- Yasseen was attacked for encour- pear to chime with the Iraqi public. aging or insinuating the possibil- Iraq’s National Penal Code of ity of normalisation of relations 1969 states that allegiance towards between Israel and Iraq. “There are Zionism or material assistance to its objective and timely reasons that proponents or institutions are acts call for the resumption of relations “punishable by death.” with Israel,” Yasseen said, stressing Deputy Chairman of Iraq’s parlia- the total absence of such relations mentary Legislative Committee Mo- Under attack. Iraqi Ambassador to the United States Farid Yasseen. (US Institute of Peace) and the legal position of zero-toler- hamad al Ghazi urged Yasseen “to ance towards normalisation. clarify remarks made in an official Yasseen’s norm-defiant stance statement.” Sairoon-affiliated par- Zebari was one of the first ministers dictions in 2007, saying: “There will the same position that Arab states shocked and angered members of liamentarian Ghaib al-Amiri told Al to voice preference of upturning a be no relations between the Kurdis- adopted 30 years ago.” the Iraqi parliament, some calling Jazeera that “his position is unani- policy that stood in the way of dip- tan region and Israel if there are no Consensus in Iraq is firmly on Baghdad to summon the envoy mously rejected and it does not rep- lomatic relations with the Jewish diplomatic relations between Iraq aligned with the Palestinian strug- and others calling for his immedi- resent the Iraqi people or govern- state, Elaph reported. and Israel.” He said “there is no rea- gle, as shown by demonstrations ate resignation. The Iraqi Foreign ment — merely his [Yasseen’s] own In July 2003, Israeli Prime Min- son to keep such relations a secret” led by Muqtada al-Sadr’s support- Ministry’s initial response was that position.” ister Binyamin Netanyahu an- if they are established. ers outside the Bahraini Consu- reports had twisted the envoy’s The fact of the matter is an offi- nounced that “Israelis will soon be Warming relations between Israel late against the Jared Kushner-led words televised on Iraqi satellite cial policy whose boundaries are able to invest in Iraq, export and and Kurdish political components Peace to Prosperity workshop in station al Iraqiya. fixed and that no Iraqi administra- import products and services.” Yet were noted as far back as the 1960s Bahrain. Positions in the Gulf are Few appear interested in the wid- tion has openly resisted. However, time and again there have been at- and are widely viewed as a prelude changing and Arab consensus is not er context to the remarks made — at an individual level, it appears tempts to put such suspicions to to normalisation with Israel. Kurd- the same it was 50 years ago. Israel’s sizeable Iraqi diaspora who normalisation is being advocated bed by officials citing the official ish commandos have accompanied Iraqi consensus, however, is stay- “cherish and practice local customs and is no longer the mirage it once rule of thumb. Evidence of warm- Israeli operatives along the border ing firmly put while the wider re- and traditions,” the ambassador was. ing relations exists, despite sharp northern Iraq shares with Iran. gion contemplates the question of said. While estimates vary, an esti- Iraqi politician Mithal al-Alusi disagreements over the normalisa- Iraqi public opinion remains cau- normalisation and a soft approach mated 200,000 Israeli citizens are and former Iraqi translator turned tion of ties with Israel. tious as the Yasseen diplomatic towards Israel. thought to be of Iraqi Jewish de- Miss Iraq Sarah Idan are proponents Masoud Barzani, former presi- storm demonstrates. As for the cur- scent. of normalisation and are not alone. dent of the Kurdistan Regional Gov- rent government, Yasseen claimed Nazli Tarzi is an Arab Weekly “There are no relations to the Former Finance Minister Hoshyar ernment, laid a finger on the contra- that Baghdad remains stuck “on correspondent in London.

Viewpoint Converting Iraq’s army into an IRGC incarnation

ince the beginning of its export of Iranian oil shipments or a model for other Arab cities in Iraq For a long time, the latter has revolution, the Iranian by importing what the mullah’s destroyed by the militias. dealt with its internal concerns and regime has acted in regime requires. The system is run We are living in a time dominated battles by redirecting the missions Hamed al-Kilani accordance with a by a network of mafiosi that is in no by the gluttony of warlords and of units in the Iranian Army, doctrinal frame that was way motivated by a desire to relieve by the motives of operating including the infamous al-Quds the perfect cover for pressure of the US sanctions on demographic changes and cleansing brigade, to settling scores with Arab Sachieving old imperial ambitions Iranian citizens. under the cover of corrupt laws and regimes and taking control of Arab embodied in a specific political Why are the Popular Mobilisation elections. We are witnessing the capitals. system and diplomatic relations Forces (PMF) militias adamant spoliation of people’s properties The militias are being mobilised operating according to interna- embarrassing the government, even by means of intimidation, for various missions, foremost of tional standards and mecha- though all parties are performing impoverishment or a small which is inciting sectarian sedition nisms. their duties in terms of serving the compensation for a lost human and preparing for worse prospects The concept of authority in Iran mullahs’ regime in Iran? dignity. This is called investing in anticipation of any conflict with is a platform for carrying out the Perhaps the answer lies in the in despairing of promises of the United States through shocks regime’s doctrinal agenda and for fierce competition among the reconstruction and compensation. and catastrophes that transcend the mobilising the numerical strength of political parties in Iraq to show A latest form of terrorism Islamic State’s style of terror. sectarian groups that are convinced who’s more loyal to mullahs. There practised by the militias and their This requires a campaign of of the regime’s goals and are usually is the same competition among parties against the displaced caution, vigilance and mobilisation ready to perform what is required state institutions in Iran itself. inhabitants of Mosul is aimed at in preparation for unexpected of them without question or It is normal, then, that it becomes severing those refugees from their operations and attacks. Such hesitation. copied outside Iran’s border as part areas of residence by harassing attacks serve to confuse the By the nature of events that of its expansionist project. The aim homeowners to sell their property international community and rocked the region following is to restructure authority in Iraq damaged during the war on ISIS at force it to intervene after each Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s to conform to the configuration laughable prices. mini crisis. All the while, Iran is ascension to power in Iran, these of a state run by militias, which This form of real estate hoping to transform the nature of fanatical groups have lost all sense depends on the compliance of the investment is not condemned its conflict with the international of belonging to a state and have components of the militias based on or deterred by the international community to obtaining a declared their unequivocal loyalty lack of trust. The goal is to build a de community because it does not commitment on the part of Iran to the supreme leader and their facto recognition that loyalty of the pay attention to the details and to stand by its commitment to the willingness and readiness to carry government of Iraq and the other consequences of such dangerous nuclear agreement. out his orders, even if those orders state institutions is to the Iranian plans. The growing number of The militias in Iran are aware are at the expense of the people state first and foremost. This is refugees prevents the international that they have started to sink into they belong to. They offer power the militias’ message to the United community from discerning the multiple crises and have come to a over their country and their people States. militias’ weapons behind their crucial crossroads with the Iranian to the ideological occupier. This constant thievery of backs. The militias control political people. The same could also be said The Iraqis are discovering how whatever is left of the Iraqi state’s decisions in Iraq and compete with of Iraqi parties and the political “Iranian” militias in Iraq, ostensibly authority, the law and the will of the official authorities, who descend system. carrying Iraqi nationality and acting parliament does not mean there are from the same genes as the militias Some parties and their leaders in the name of Iraqi citizens, have instructions and decisions relating and compete to see who can move have started to jump off the wagon hijacked Iraq’s sovereign decisions. to the immediate issues and that the closer to the throne of the supreme of the Iranian project and into their They are quick to criticise the long-term details and foundations leader. own projects, trying to win the Some parties and government for not doing enough of the mullahs’ regime terrorist In light of the measures to people’s sympathies. They imply for Tehran even though the latter project are forgotten. integrate the PMF into the regular that they enjoy independence their leaders have is constantly juggling the complex The militias will not give up what Iraqi armed forces, what is being from Iran when it comes to making started to jump off the consequences of the US-Iran they have gained from the era of said about limiting the possession of sovereign decisions but they are confrontation by keeping the Islamic State (ISIS) terror and from weapons in Iraq to the government’s forgetting that people have a long wagon of the Iranian balance in favour of trade with Iran. the sectarian fatwas issued by the armed forces is another clear sign of collective memory and that it is project and into their This trade is unilateral and Shia authorities. Neither will they the plan to convert the professional that memory that will dispel many own projects, trying the Iranian regime is doing all it sacrifice election gains by militia army in Iraq to a local version of the of the dreams of the militias and can to keep Iraq as an outlet and blocs. It is possible to foresee what Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard warlords. to win the people’s a key platform for breaking US awaits the ancient city of Mosul and Corps, always in the service of the sympathies. sanctions, even by risking direct its Arab heritage, which can serve as mullahs’ regime. Hamed al-Kilani is an Iraqi writer. 10 July 14, 2019 News & Analysis Maghreb Pre-electoral controversies expose Tunisia’s paradoxes, uncertainties

lectuals and political activists. They Lamine Ghanmi said such a “selective approach” against political challengers would Tunis harm the democratic process and expose Tunisia to political and social olls indicate a popular back- turbulence. lash against the Islamist En- Critics of the amendments are nahda Movement and its sec- looking to Tunisian President Beji P ularist allies in the Tunisian Caid Essebsi, who has the authority government. A declining standard of to veto the changes or call a refer- living, despite government attempts endum over the parliamentary ini- at economic reform, was particularly tiative. If vetoed, the amendments blamed for the decrease in favoura- would be sent to parliament for a bility ratings of Tunisian Prime Min- new vote, needing 60% support to ister Youssef Chahed. pass. The polls’ results exposed Tuni- More than 60% of polled Tuni- sia’s political dilemmas and could sians said they disapproved of the muddy legislative and presidential amendments of the electoral law. elections in October and November. Karoui has built wide popular sup- Polls point to a lead by Tunisian port by handing out aid to poor peo- businessman and television station ple in remote villages and neglected owner Nabil Karoui in the presiden- urban areas. His critics accuse him of tial election, even though he might exploiting people’s poverty for po- be legally prevented from running litical gain and of unfairly using his for the office of president. access to the TV channel he owns to Parliament members loyal to En- promote his electoral ambitions. He nahda and Chahed voted June 18 for has already received a warning from electoral law changes that would ex- the country’s independent TV regu- clude certain candidates, including latory body. Karoui, from the presidential race. Also affected by the amendments is social personality Olfa Terras Ram- bourg, who had gained sudden noto- A legislative move to riety after a massive communication amend the electoral law and advertising campaign. Poor people’s votes. Nessma TV channel chairman Nabil Karoui speaks during an interview at his only a few months before The revised legislation bans candi- office in Tunis, June 18. (AFP) the election fuelled dates who resort to “political adver- criticism among tising” outside regulated electoral poll. The poll showed Karoui was cluding that almost half of Karoui’s vocated by the Islamists and their al- intellectuals and campaigns or lead charity NGOs the front-runner in the presidential backers were working-class and poor lies. This trend is expected to benefit political activists. from running for office. contest with the support of 23% of Tunisians, mostly from neglected anti-establishment formations. The government’s supporters respondents, more than three times urban districts and hinterland re- Liberal activist Rim Mahjoub said Karoui faces other roadblocks in defended the amendments, argu- that of Chahed. gions. the trends reflect “the resentment by addition to the legislative restric- ing they were aimed at address- Chahed saw favourability for his In a broader assessment of the re- citizens towards the current political tions after the judiciary froze his as- ing “loopholes” that had allowed party, Tahya Tounes, fall from 16.5% cords of the Islamists and their secu- class.” sets and banned him from travelling “populist” politicians to use “unfair in May to 8.6% in July. larist allies since 2014, opinion polls Some experts said they fear the abroad, pending his trial for suspect- tactics” to gain undue influence over Another surprise in the poll was indicated that 77.5% of Tunisian pre-electoral controversies could ed money laundering and tax eva- voters. the strong performance of fierce an- respondents perceived the record discourage people from voting in sion in a case dating to 2016. A poll conducted by the Sigma ti-Islamist lawyer Abir Moussi’s Free of the “ruling system” as “bad” and October and November. After appearing before a judge Conseil agency, published July 12 by Destourian Party, which had the 56.4% described it as “very bad.” “With this mentality of ‘all rotten,’ on July 12, Karoui claimed his inno- Le Maghreb newspaper, indicated support of 11.3% of potential voters. Contrary to their negative views we cannot expect a high voter turn- cence of all accusations. He reiter- that Ennahda’s electoral support Analysts predicted the Free Destou- on most aspects of the government’s out in the elections and high-skilled ated his intent to run for office and had fallen from 18% in May to 16.8% rian Party could gain more support performance, more than 78% of poll people in the parliament,” warned called for a referendum on the elec- in July. if Qalb Tounes could not field candi- respondents said they saw an im- Business News magazine editor toral law amendments. The data indicated Karoui’s Qalb dates. provement in Tunisia’s security situ- Nizar Bahloul. The move to change the electoral Tounes party could win 29.8% of Analysts said the strong showing ation over the last five years. law only a few months before the the vote in parliamentary elections. by Karoui and Qalb Tounes reflects Successive polls have indicated Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly vote fuelled criticism from intel- Ennahda’s 16.8% was second in the social and political paradoxes, in- mounting disapproval of stances ad- correspondent in Tunis. Heavy losses in Libya’s Islamist ranks trigger concern among supporters

Lamine Ghanmi militias to take control of the centre 2011 NATO-backed Islamist upris- of Tripoli. ing toppled long-ruling strongman Fighting between the LNA and Is- Muammar Qaddafi. Armed groups Tunis lamist militias has killed more than proliferated in Tripoli and other cit- 1,000 people, the United Nations ies in the west where the country has n a sign of a possibly changing said, a grim milestone in a conflict emerged as a major transit point for tide in the battle for Tripoli, ji- fuelled by Turkey’s intervention that migrants fleeing war and poverty for hadist spiritual guide Sadiq al- is drawing expanded interference Europe. I Ghiriani expressed concern that from other foreign powers. Many nationalist and secularist Libya’s most powerful Islamist mili- The LNA began its offensive on groups in Libya see LNA Field-Mar- tia was suffering heavy losses in its Tripoli April 4, advancing from the shal Khalifa Haftar as the only leader attempt to ward off the advance of capital’s southern outskirts against capable of ending the chaotic rule by the Libyan National Army. an array of militias and criminal the militia and gangs and restore the Ghiriani, the former grand mufti gangs. country’s hold across its territory. of Libya, said the Misrata militia had Egypt, the United Arab Emirates endured the “heaviest losses” in the and Saudi Arabia have lent support fight against the Libyan National Ghiriani’s assessment to the LNA as a bulwark against the Army (LNA), which is trying to clear appeared to support Muslim Brotherhood and other Is- Tripoli of Islamists and various mili- statements by LNA lamist groups backed by Turkey and tias that control the city. commanders who said Qatar. Misrata’s militias are the strongest their strategy involves a The LNA has stepped up its air Islamist force in Libya and are the war of attrition before strikes on the militias’ positions, in- main military rival to the LNA. cluding an attack early July 11 when Changing tide. A member of the Misrata militia prepares himself swarming the militias to to go to the front line in Tripoli, April 9. (Reuters) “I’m shocked by the large number take control of the centre a militia base was hit in Ain Zara, a of the Misrata fighters killed during of Tripoli. fierce front in southern Tripoli. Five the past week,” Ghiriani said on July militia members from Nalout were command of the LNA to complete where it had the largest military mis- 8. “We have to reverse the failures The LNA is widely recognised as killed, the LNA said. this stage with all its details.” sion. that led to the loss of such a high the largest, most disciplined and LNA General Ali Saleh Qahtani out- “Our morale is very high because Paris said July 10 that anti-tank number of fighters. best organised force with the most- lined the force’s plans to take control we are fighting for the homeland and missiles France bought from the “The duty calls upon us to exam- effective intelligence arm, the most of Tripoli. for restoring peace and security to United States and that had been ine the situation and shed the light seasoned special fighting teams and “The first stage was to advance in the Libyan citizens,” Qahtani said. found in the LNA’s Gharyan base and into the factors and causes of these unrivalled jet fighter fleet, including the capital and take positions in a He said the LNA “has broad popu- lost to the militias backed by Turkey losses to avoid them in the future. newly introduced F-16 warplanes. selected range of outposts according lar support in Tripoli” because “peo- were never intended for sale. When we look at the situation at the Battle lines have changed little to a plan and instructions from the ple suffered the horror from the mili- The French Ministry of the Armed front line, we find out the situation since the offensive began but the high command. The second stage is tias, the terrorist criminals and other Forces said the missiles were intend- is the same at the same point where fight has intensified since June 27 to drain the force of the enemy and jihadists.” ed for “self-protection of a French we started more than three months when Islamist militias, backed by avoid casualties among civilians and France broadly supports Haftar, military unit deployed to carry out a g o .” Turkey’s widening intervention, cap- damage to civil facilities,” he said. deeming his forces as helpful in the intelligence and counter-terrorism His assessment appeared to sup- tured Gharyan, 100km south-west “The biggest and decisive goal is fight against jihadists and other Is- operations.” port statements by LNA command- of Tripoli. LNA has its main base in to finish off the battle to free Tripoli lamist militants, especially in south- It is the first time since 2016 that ers who said their strategy involves a Gharyan to supply troops in Tripoli. and, for that, we are waiting for the ern areas near Niger where France France publicly acknowledged it had war of attrition before swarming the Libya plunged into chaos after the orders and instructions of the high has key energy interests and in Mali special forces deployed in Libya. July 14, 2019 11 Debate Sudan Can Sudan move beyond ‘Arab spring’ failures?

shown the qualities of a skilled politician. Before his foray into Khairallah Sudanese politics, Ahmed carried Khairallah out major reforms in his own country that placed it on a path of rapid growth. With the agreement achieved, y reaching an agree- Sudan has taken a major step ment with represent- towards getting out of its atives of the protest predicament. It was necessary for movement, Sudan’s the popular protest movement Transitional Military to overcome its distrust of the Council laid the military establishment, just as Bfoundation for a new phase in it was necessary for the military the country. In three years and to understand that there was no three months, Sudan could cross future for it if its ambition was into a stage where it would enjoy limited to the exercise of power in a modern system of government the tradition of Ibrahim Abboud, based on the peaceful transfer of Gaafar Nimeiry or al-Bashir. power under civilian rule. Despite the June 3 carnage Sudan deserves to settle on a in front of the armed forces’ political system that allows the headquarters in Khartoum exploitation of the country’s perpetrated by soldiers against natural resources under the rule peaceful civilians, the Sudanese of law rather than under a military Army’s senior officers have a regime, the rule of Islamist chance to prove they are different militias or the rule of corrupt, from al-Bashir. opportunistic parties battling for However, the question that crumbs of power. will come up is whether there Fortunately for Sudan, the are civilian leaders in the protest Transitional Military Council and movement capable of playing Alliance for Freedom and Change a positive role during the leaders both made concessions. transitional period as members Delicate phase. African Union envoy to Sudan Mohamed al-Hacen Lebatt (L) sits next to Sudan’s These are the people who brought of the sovereign council, Deputy Chief of the ruling Military Council General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as he shakes hands down the regime of Omar al- knowing that, for the first with an army general following a news conference in Khartoum, July 5. (AFP) Bashir. It was a backward 18 months, the military regime that lagged in will preside over the all fields, especially council. common people are increasingly the country in the same way al- on continuing to deal with in building the What Sudan The “Arab expressing regret over the fall of Bashir did and the civilians cannot the crisis and steering clear institutions of a needs is for a spring” was the repressive regime of former manage the country’s affairs alone. of the adventures of the modern state in responsible civilian a series of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Each side needs the other. The military establishment and the service of its leadership to catastrophes Yemen is fragmented beyond agreement that was achieved was the irresponsible behaviour of citizens. Al-Bashir emerge, a leadership wherever it repair. A piece of its territory a reasonable compromise. politicians who have repeatedly was prepared to that can crystallise a landed. In under Taliban-style rule by the What Sudan needs is for a facilitated the coming to power of do anything to stay political project for Syria, the world Iran-backed Houthis in the north responsible civilian leadership irrational officers like Nimeiry or in power, including the future. conspired to has become a base for launching to emerge, a leadership that can al-Bashir. dividing Sudan preserve a regime missiles and drones against Saudi crystallise a political project for In recent Sudanese history, It was necessary to disastrous for the Arabia. All talk of Yemen’s unity the future. there have been a good number of reach an agreement so Syrians but essential has become meaningless. Even It is regrettable that not a single distinguished politicians who have Sudan does not join the ranks to keep in place for the talk of returning to the formula of civilian figure has come forward, emerged. So, can we hope for the of countries that were hit by the protection of Israel. The “Arab a North Yemen and a South Yemen a person who can be on the front emergence of someone like Ismail “Arab spring” storm, a “spring” spring” led to the sinking of Libya is meaningless in the present lines and address the Sudanese al-Azhari or Ahmad Mahgoub? in name only because it turned out and no one knows if that country conditions. in a way that suggests that the One should hope that the 30 to be a deadly autumn for most. will be resurrected. Libya is There are several failed country is in good hands. Someone years of al-Bashir’s rule have Thank God that, in Sudan, there paying all the bills resulting from experiments from which the like the Ethiopian prime minister not wiped out the possibility for was room for reason and logic. Muammar Qaddafi’s grandiose Sudanese, military and civilians who has turned his country into a generation of intellectuals to The Sudanese stalemate dreams and failed projects, alike, can learn. Which path will a magnet for foreign investment produce a politician with a new continues despite all that has dreams that turned out to be mere they choose? and transformed it into one of vision for the future of Sudan. been achieved through mediation nightmares of a sick man. The Sudanese have, so far, taken the fastest growing economies in undertaken by Ethiopian Prime The “Arab spring” was also the path of common sense and Africa. Khairallah Khairallah is a Minister Abiy Ahmed. He has disastrous in Tunisia where the reason. The military cannot run In Sudan, much will depend Lebanese writer. Sudan after agreement between the military and the protest movement

backing out of a deal, as they did course, some of which concern the reconciling roles of the sovereign leaders within the council would before. role of the sovereign council and council, the government and the have to step down and would not be Mohamed To avoid the dismal fates of the its president. Other concerns relate decision-making operations in both included on the sovereign council. Aboelfadl dialogues during the Darfur, South to formation of the government chambers. The Alliance for Freedom and Kordofan and Blue Nile crises and and proportional representation What is striking about Sudan is Change has safely abandoned some the failure of negotiations with the of the various political currents, as that the dialogues have been going of its political romanticism and northern opposition forces during well as the process of selecting the on for some time and have not been contained some of the divisions he agreement reached the rule of Omar al-Bashir, it was members of the parliament. interrupted, despite the distance that emerged among its ranks. in Sudan, thanks to necessary to chart a clear political The phrase “the devil is in the between the various parties on the The alliance is, therefore, likely African-Ethiopian road map. It had to have internal details” is often used to express issues involved and the number of to neutralise some of the political mediation, between and external determinants so the difficulty of reaching any them. differences inside it because the the Transitional dialogue between the various sides agreement and it is true to a large Negotiations between the TMC differences are not very important Military Council and would not become an end in itself extent. The success of agreements and the Alliance for Freedom and to most Sudanese. Tthe Alliance for Freedom and and raise suspicions of collusion or depends on the degree of trust Change resumed rather quickly The same could be said of the Change put out the fire of street laxity. between negotiating parties, despite serious accusations of TMC. It, too, has shown a clear protests and defused a burning The Sudanese excel in the the general assessment of the betrayal levied against the TMC degree of maturity and rationality. political crisis. game of dialogues as a political consequences and risks, the following the forceful breaking It has shown a willingness to The signing of the agreement process. They can engage in them manner in which the up of the opposition sit- respond positively to Sudanese represents an important qualitative just as easily as they can check agreement and its goals in on June 3, which citizens’ aspirations to form a leap forward in the attempt to out of them. This is one of the are implemented and resulted in dozens of civilian government and has resolve outstanding issues and major challenges surrounding on the extent of each Reaching an civilian casualties. promised to bring to justice those end open-ended talks between the negotiations in Sudan. Reaching side’s awareness agreement does The expected responsible for corrupting the various Sudanese forces. an agreement does not mean of its political not mean disagreements political and economic conditions No matter how hard negotiating implementation of such an responsibility. implementation during the coming under the previous regime and camps and mediators try to clarify agreement is guaranteed. There are always of such an days in each rival those responsible for smearing the the responsibilities of each side, How many talks in Sudan have political forces agreement is camp will not Sudanese revolution by ordering the there will be certain details that broken down as if they had never that place their lead to calling off use of violence against protesters. remain unsettled and difficult to taken place? ideological goals guaranteed. negotiations for Caution is necessary when control, making it hard to maintain How many discussions have before any national good. Each camp is dealing with some vague details calm and stability. taken place but changed nothing? goal. expected to propose in the agreement. Deliberately The existence at local, regional How many agreements have been In the case of Sudan’s five candidates for the bringing up the subject of such and international levels of signed and annulled before the ink crises, the lurking “devil” sovereign council and this details would spoil the festive momentum pushing for the dried? would jump out a short time process is likely to produce some mood celebrating the signing of the agreement has helped avoid The mediation committee was after negotiations started. conflicts. agreement and cast a shadow on failure. External pressures were unable to reduce the gap between The length of the term for the The potential choices by the the relationship between the TMC obvious and made it difficult for the rival sides until it had secured president of the sovereign council Alliance for Freedom and Change and the Alliance for Freedom and either party to back out of the tremendous external support. and the wisdom behind granting might reflect the wide political Change. agreement. The many positive It was crucial to pressure both the Transitional Military Council spectrum involved. Reducing the Vigilance and attentiveness are reactions to the deal prove that sides to negotiate and reach an (TMC) the privilege of holding the number of representatives of each required to go through the next numerous sides inside and agreement, putting to rest the presidency of the sovereign council side to five, instead of the initial delicate phase and preserve the outside Sudan were relieved vague outcome options that could for the first 21 months, compared seven proposed, is likely to cause spirit of constructive dialogue. at the announcement, which have mired the Sudanese crisis in a to the 18 months for the Alliance of confusion within the TMC, which constituted a powerful deterrent stalemate. Freedom and Change are examples. was composed of seven members in Mohamed Aboelfadl is an Egyptian for the signatories to even think of There are outstanding issues, of Another is the mechanism for the first place. This means that two writer. 12 July 14, 2019 News & Analysis Syria

Germany snubs US request to send ground troops to Syria

Simon Speakman Cordall

Tunis

ollowing Germany’s refusal to deploy ground troops to Syria to backfill the draw- F down of US forces, lawmak- ers in Paris and London provided some relief to Washington with commitments to increase their presence in the region by 10-15%. In addition to fighting remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS), the US- led coalition’s presence in support of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is critical in deterring a Turkish assault on the territory they hold. In December 2018, US President Donald Trump announced the com- plete withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Given what many feel is the immense debt owed to the SDF for its sacrifices in fighting ISIS, as well as the risk of that militant group re- surfacing, the suggestion of leaving the Kurds isolated in Syria is politi- cally and militarily unthinkable. “For the [SDF] to be able to ad- minister north-eastern Syria for the long term, it will need a patron of some sort,” said Jeffrey Martini, a senior researcher at the RAND Cor- poration. “That could be a contin- ued US presence in the area, which deters the regime and Turkey from a large-scale ground invasion to push back the Kurds.” The situation remains fluid, Mar- tini pointed out, with opposing po- sitions of the regime and the Kurds far from fixed. “The alternative for- Stubborn concerns. A Kurdish policeman searches a man at a checkpoint controlled by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on a mula would be if the Syrian regime highway in Hasakah province. (AP) and the Kurds reach an accommo- dation,” he said. “In that case, no tag newspaper: “We want ground use of medical facilities as needed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s jun- the United States from the Syrian US presence would be necessary troops from Germany to partially at Ramstein (a large US base in Ger- ior coalition partners, the Social conflict. to sustain the Kurdish position, replace our soldiers.” He said he ex- many) and elsewhere. Democratic Party of Germany, the Nevertheless, even with an in- although the Kurds would need to pected an answer from the German “It is small and mainly symbolic Greens, liberal Free Democrats and creased contribution from Italy, make important concessions to the government this month. but politically important to both Left party, urging their leader to de- which is expected, plus further re- regime.” The answer came July 8, with a sides.” Pollack said. He added that cline the United States’ request for inforcements from Balkan states, German government spokesman he doubted the friction between troops. the fresh troops will not be enough saying: “When I say the govern- Germany and the Trump adminis- Concerns also exist over German to compensate for the United Given its history, ment envisages sticking to the tration, centring not least on Ger- troops’ readiness to engage in a States’ planned drawdown, poten- Germany’s overseas current measures in the anti-ISIS many’s contributions to NATO, mission that could extend beyond tially opening a door for the resur- military commitments (military) coalition, this includes no played a significant role in Berlin’s technical support for the SDF to gence of ISIS. have been consistently ground troops, as is well known.” decision making. “It’s much more active combat. German forces are Melissa Dalton, a senior fellow limited in scope. Though the increase in the mili- about internal legal and political is- known to be lacking in basic sup- at the Centre for Strategic and In- tary commitment of France and sues, as always even before Trump,” plies, such as protective vests and ternational Studies, told Foreign Though Britain and France have Britain will likely diffuse a potential Pollack said. winter clothing, and, a leaked re- Policy that it was likely ISIS would long-standing presences in Syria, diplomatic flare-up, analysts said Given its history, Germany’s port from last year indicated, they “over time be able to prey upon lo- Germany’s contribution has largely they are sceptical of the contribu- overseas military commitments in had resorted to painted broom- cal grievances,” as it did in before been limited to ancillary support. tion a German deployment to Syria recent decades have been consist- sticks in place of rifles during NATO its 2014 takeover of major cities, To reverse that, US Special Rep- might make. ently limited in scope and, prior exercises. and “reconstitute and be able to resentative for Syria Engagement “Germany’s contribution is main- to 1994, non-existent. There is However, the 10-15% increase take territory.” James Jeffrey travelled to Germa- ly in training, intel, support and lo- widespread public and political promised by France and Britain will ny in early July, telling Deutsche gistics,” said David Pollack, a fellow scepticism towards overseas mili- come as relief to policymakers in Simon Speakman Cordall is a Presse-Agentur and Welt am Sonn- at the Washington Institute, “plus tary commitments, with German Washington tasked with extricating freelance writer. Security reshuffle consolidates Assad’s posture as Syria’s strongman

The Arab Weekly staff al-Hassan, led the military cam- Nasser Deeb, who was appointed paigns of East Ghouta and Daraa in director of criminal intelligence. 2018, which were decisive victories There is a clear thread indicating Beirut for regime forces thanks to massive Assad’s ability to fire and hire at will, Russian air cover. seemingly telling friends and oppo- yrian President Bashar As- Jamil Hassan and Suheil al-Has- nents alike that he is more powerful sad ordered a major reshuf- san, who are not related, are from than the officers under his rule. fle of the Syrian security the Alawite sect that has ruled Syria Assad’s message appears to be S apparatus, which led to the since 1970 and from where Assad that there are no strongmen in Syria retirement of Syrian Air Force Intel- originates. So does General Ghassan apart from the president, who has ligence commander Major-General Ismail, Jamil Hassan’s deputy who dismissed all senior officers who Jamil Hassan. was chosen as his replacement. All were in power when the conflict Observers have been analysing three take orders from Assad, not started in 2011 and whom some the move to determine whether it from Iran or Russia. speculated were more powerful was mandated by Russia or Iran, the The same applies to Hussam than the president. two main backers of the Damascus Luka, the newly appointed head of Three years ago, Assad fired the regime. Syria’s General Intelligence Direc- powerful head of political security, Hassan, the most high-profile of torate. A Sunni Muslim from Kha- Rustom Gazaleh, and Rafik Sheha- the retired officers, was pensioned- naser in Aleppo province, Luka rose deh, commander of military intel- off, rather than dismissed. to prominence last November when ligence. Last year, he dismissed Appointed to lead the most wide- he was appointed director of po- the long-standing Defence Minister ly feared apparatus of Syrian secu- litical security. He replaced General Jassem al-Freij and, since Janu- rity in 2009, Hassan played a crucial Deeb Zeitoun, who commanded ary 2018, has kept the post of army role in suppressing the Syrian oppo- state security since 2012. chief-of-staff vacant. Close coordination. Syrian President Bashar Assad (R) sition during the early stages of the Both are considered Assad’s men The dismissals no doubt were receives Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria Alexander uprising. He worked closely with who were too junior under the rule made in close coordination with Lavrentiev (2nd L) in Damascus, June 20. (SANA) the Iranians, then shifted into the of his father and rose to prominence the Russians, who have been work- Russian orbit after Russian Presi- after Bashar Assad became presi- ing on revamping the military and dent Vladimir Putin sent troops to dent in 2000. security apparatus, ushering in a with Hafez Assad — Bashar Assad’s ing position for ten years but, judg- Syria in 2015. The security change is very cos- new generation of officers who are father — from 1970 until his death ing by the age of his successor — 59 Due to the sensitivity of his job, metic, replacing one Sunni Muslim battle-trained by the Russian Army in 2000. Because of the longevity — he will be retired within the next Hassan’s tenure was extended sev- Ba’athist officer with another Sunni and who are considered “trustwor- of their tenures, it was difficult to 12 months. So will the rest of the en times by Assad, with the Rus- Muslim Ba’athist officer, both As- thy” by Russia’s military command. get rid of them by the late 1990s, to officers placed in power recently, sians supporting the move. Hassan sadists. The same applies to General The Russians clearly don’t want make way for Bashar Assad and his preventing them from becoming had been due to retire at the age of Nasser al-Ali, who became head of officers who stay in power for too generation of officers. too strong at their jobs or too inde- 60 in 2012. His top general, Suheil political intelligence and General long, like the old guard that worked Hassan had been in a command- pendent. July 14, 2019 13 Spotlight Regional Security ISIS weakened but resurgence likely

James Snell noted ISIS’s history, its permuta- tions before and after the war in Iraq that began in 2003 and the extent to Cambridge which ISIS was capable of using un- governed spaces to recover, gather he speed with which the strength and create as a springboard Islamic State conquered for future conflict. territory after its advent in The apparent defeat of al-Qaeda T 2014 and in the years that in Iraq and the driving of its succes- followed cannot be denied. Nor can sor, the Islamic State of Iraq, into the the ferocity and threat of its rule. desert were followed, less than half The apparent self-confidence of a decade later, by the rise of ISIS. its theology and the devotion with So pervasive have warnings of an which fighters — foreign and local — ISIS resurgence become that broad flocked to its cause made it a threat agreement on this possibility has seen across the world. given way to dissension on the de- This threat galvanised opposi- tails. tion to the Islamic State (ISIS) and An analysis on a report from the led to a global effort to defeat the Institute for the Study of War makes caliphate its leaders had declared. the case that ISIS could return in an With progress of varying speed but especially stark framing. always with worldwide support and In it, analysts led by Jennifer Ca- with varying fighters on the ground farella suggest that ISIS is stronger but always with great international than its predecessor organisation, assistance, the coalition against ISIS the Islamic State of Iraq, was in defeated the militant group. 2010. Cafarella and her co-authors Its capitals were taken, some de- claim and that ISIS has the capacity stroyed in the process, and what was to capture a “major urban centre in purported to be ISIS’s last stand took Iraq or Syria.” place not in the cities it had domi- The report notes that ISIS has, in nated but in Barghouz on the banks infrastructural terms, assets that its Unfinished business. ISIS female supporters gesture as they stand together at al-Hol displacement of the Euphrates River in Syria. predecessor did not possess, such as camp in Hasakah governorate, Syria, last April. (Reuters) a sophisticated global propaganda An analysis on a report campaign and a network of foreign affiliates and operatives that have lition to Defeat ISIS in more guarded ago, despite enduring issues of cor- led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the Institute for proven themselves capable of com- terms — that ISIS has been compre- ruption, human rights abuses and and Syrian rebels, some of which the Study of War makes mitting acts of terror across the hensively defeated. sectarianism, which remain huge are practically supported by Turkey, the case that ISIS could world. Nonetheless, ISIS’s capacity and problems.” were used by the Global Coalition return in an especially This analysis dovetails with wor- its leaders’ intentions are not suf- In Syria, the regime of Bashar As- as ground forces to fight ISIS in the stark framing. ries about ungoverned spaces in ficient to create a new terror state. sad, despite defeating rebel pockets campaign that just concluded. eastern Syria and western and There are other players against in the country’s south and slowly Despite the rebels’ relative weak- This was a fitting denouement but northern Iraq. The weakness of the whom ISIS would compete if it attracting the de facto support of ness, they and the SDF would likely not an end. Though many ISIS lead- Iraqi government around Hawija, wished to re-establish its hold over Arab, European and North Ameri- possess the resolve and internation- ers have been killed, many of its key still containing an ISIS pocket, and territory. can states that no longer — even in al support necessary to keep a resur- figures are alive and in hiding. The the continued collapsed state Syrian Ryan O’Farrell, an independent gesture — argue for Assad’s removal, gent ISIS at bay. man ISIS attempted to declare ca- society has entered could present a analyst, said: “I think it’s impor- remains weak. However, its history, declared liph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is still more dynamic insurgency — of the tant to note that the Iraqi Security “The regime, however, has faced willingness to build on insurgent at large. Thousands of fighters still sort ISIS’s messaging has switched Forces are far better positioned to mounting casualties to ISIS units in foundations and the problems af- flock to his banner. to promoting — sufficient space to deal with security threats than they the areas between Palmyra and Deir flicting countries on both sides of For several years, analysts and resurge. were in 2011-14. Their numbers, ca- ez-Zor and has manpower issues the Iraq-Syria border contribute to policymakers warned that the re- All this gives the lie to claims — pacity and morale are far superior given the deployments to the Idlib a situation in which a re-emergence capture of territory from ISIS would made by the United States, espe- so it’s hard to see them abandoning fronts,” O’Farrell said. of the Islamic State remains worry- not end the threat of the group. They cially and the rest of the Global Coa- entire cities as happened five years Other forces, such as the Kurdish- ingly possible, if not certain.

Viewpoint Putin warns of terrorist ‘infiltration of militants into Libya’ from Idlib

ussian President East while combating terrorism since long-time leader Muammar Three months ago, Haftar’s Vladimir Putin visited remains to be seen but there is Qaddafi was overthrown in 2011. forces launched an offensive to Rome on July 4, more reason for optimism than in As one of the five permanent take Tripoli but the initiative has John C.K. Daly meeting with Roman US Middle Eastern policy. It is members of the UN Security faded and Russia and the interna- Catholic Pope Francis becoming more and more pro- Council, Russia can have a major tional community, far from and Italian Prime Israeli, anti-Iran and increasingly effect on international efforts to seeking overt intervention, have RMinister Giuseppe Conti. disinterested in terrorism, unless end the Libyan civil war. basically adopted a wait-and-see While discussions focused on it affects the continental United In it, forces and militia backed attitude. Russia’s strongest bilateral relations, in the following States directly. by the UN-backed Government of support for Haftar now is its veto Putin-Conti news conference, Russian concerns about Libya’s National Accord are battling the power in the Security Council. Putin delivered a stark warning political stability are not totally Libyan National Army, led by The arrival in Libya of ISIS about regional political instability. altruistic. Like other nations, Field-Marshal Khalifa Haftar and militants fleeing Syria is introduc- “I am particularly concerned Russia is interested in rebuilding earlier ostensibly supported by ing a malignant wildcard into the that from the Idlib zone in Syria we Libya’s battered hydrocarbon- Russia. Libyan binary stalemate, which are witnessing the infiltration of producing infrastructure. Last year, Russian media the international community will militants into Libya and this is a Prior to the 2011 NATO interven- reported that Haftar, during a visit be unable to manage or limit. threat for everyone because from tion, Libya, possessor of Africa’s to Moscow, told the Russian Two days after Putin’s warning, Libya they can go anywhere. Let’s largest oil reserves, was producing government that after he gained ISIS’s Libyan cell reaffirmed its not forget about it,” Putin said. 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) of control over oil exports through loyalty to self-styled caliph Abu His statement encapsulates two oil. Assuming that the political National Oil Company facilities in Bakr al-Baghdadi, expressing fundamental elements of Russian situation stabilises, the govern- Benghazi, Russian companies readiness to fight on the side of Middle Eastern foreign policy: ment in Tripoli plans to increase would be able to export oil from the group. support for existing regimes, as in oil output from existing fields to the country’s “oil crescent” ISIS’s intention from its incep- Syria; and the need for united 1.4 million bpd by the end of 2019. terminals, along the coast from tion has been to radicalise the international efforts to suppress Libya has been torn by conflict Sirte to Ras Lanuf. global Muslim community to wage terrorist instability with the jihad to further the establishment potential to metastasise regional of a transnational Islamic state. unrest when terrorists flee from The transfer of ISIS terrorists from Idlib. Syria to lawless regions of Libya, Putin reminded that Libya was where they can regroup and shattered by a NATO offensive in flourish, is particularly unsettling 2011 and has been disintegrating to Russia, whose population is since. nearly 10% Muslim, heavily The Russian Foreign Ministry concentrated in the country’s The arrival in Libya of estimates that up to 8,000 Russian restive Caucasian regions. citizens have fought in Iraq and Russia’s pragmatic solution to ISIS militants fleeing Syria and it is more than willing to terrorism is to eliminate terrorists Syria is introducing a assist recalcitrant Western where they incubate. Whether the countries to resolve incipient international community will see malignant wildcard terrorist problems incubating in beyond its issues with Putin’s into the Libyan binary Iraq and Syria. The most high- government and heed his warn- stalemate, which the profile has been Islamic State ings about Syrian terrorism (ISIS) jihadists marginalised by the incubating in the Maghreb “going international defeat of their caliphate. anywhere else” is another matter. community will be Whether EU members beyond Italy will realise the commonality Eyes on Libya. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (R) and John C.K. Daly is a Washington- unable to manage or of interest between Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands after a joint news based specialist on Russian and limit. Brussels in stabilising the Middle conference in Rome, July 4. (AFP) post-Soviet affairs. 14 July 14, 2019 News & Analysis Egypt Fear of Islamist resurgence, corruption cast shadow on Egypt’s next municipal polls

Hassan Abdel Zaher

Cairo

olitical parties in Egypt be- gan preparing for the mu- nicipal elections, which are P expected this year. The Egyptian House of Represent- atives has scheduled discussion on a draft measure that would regulate municipal councils. Enactment of the legislation would lead to elec- tions, the first at that level in more than a decade. Party preparations include form- ing electoral programmes, selection of candidates and training them for public campaigning. “We are taking serious measures to prepare for the elections and will be ready for it whenever its date is decided,” said Tarek al-Kholi, a leader of the Nation’s Future Party, which controls 44% of the seats in parliament.

Party preparations include forming electoral programmes, selection of candidates and training them for public campaigning.

“We are aware that winning the elections will be a tough job, given the fierce competition we expect to face from other political forces.” Egypt had municipal elections most recently in 2008. Fear from an Hurdles on the road. A man rides a bicycle decorated with Egyptian national flags at Qasr al-Nil bridge in Cairo. (Reuters) Islamist control of municipal coun- cils was among reasons Cairo did not call the elections. in the elections with the aim of re- Municipal council members usu- been unable to find solutions to In July 2016, parliament Speaker The same fears overshadow turning to the political stage,” said ally deal directly with people on very simple problems, including Ali Abdel A’al, accused Egypt’s of- preparations for elections now, es- Magdi Murshid, a House of Repre- the streets, which is why political collection of trash, providing poor ficials under previous regimes of pecially after Muslim Brotherhood sentatives member. “However, we parties consider the councils an im- districts and villages with sewage ignoring corruption in the munici- spokesman Abbas Qabari said the count on the awareness of the Egyp- portant opportunity to be directly and potable water and preventing palities. Brotherhood would allow its mem- tian public and their ability to vote in touch with the general public, in- destruction of farmland. The corruption scourge has cre- bers to enter secular political par- for those who will serve the inter- troduce themselves and build their Corruption in the municipalities ated a barrier between ordinary ties, particularly after the dissolu- ests of their country best.” popularity. is manifest in the large number of people and the municipalities, one tion of the Islamist Freedom and The bill being debated in parlia- The Brotherhood built its popu- financial and administrative irregu- that will not be broken easily by po- Justice Party. ment would not ban Islamists or larity by offering services neglected larities discovered by supervisory litical parties, observers said. Egypt has cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood affiliates from by the government, including help- authorities. “The municipalities and corrup- Muslim Brotherhood since 2013. It running in municipal elections. Is- ing people get subsidised bread and Millions of Egyptians remember tion were one and the same thing dissolved its main political party in lamists, especially those not known butane gas cylinders and offering Zakaria Azmi, a chamberlain under for many years,” said Farida al- late 2014, designated the group a to the public, do not carry a tag free medical care to the poor. President Hosni Mubarak, who in Naqqash, a senior member of the terrorist organisation and froze its showing political or ideological af- Apart from the competition they 2008 told parliament that the mu- leftist Unionist Progressive Party. funds. filiations. expect to face from Brotherhood af- nicipalities were up to their knees “This is why few people have con- However, Qabari’s statements The bill would give municipal filiates, Egyptian political parties with corruption. Azmi, himself, fidence that they can do anything mean some of those likely to run in councils unprecedented powers, face a problem convincing people of was accused of corruption when good.” municipal elections can be Muslim including withdrawing confidence the value of the municipal elections. Mubarak was deposed in 2011. He Brotherhood affiliates. from governors, who are appointed In Egypt, the municipalities are turned out to have amassed a huge Hassan Abdel Zaher is a “It is very possible that Brother- by the president, and fire municipal- synonymous with corruption and amount of wealth in an unlawful Cairo-based contributor to hood members or Islamists will run ity leaders. inefficiency. Municipalities have manner. The Arab Weekly. Israel targets Iranian arms shipments through Sinai Amr Emam in Sinai but news of the Israeli air tails the crossing into Sinai by Israe- president in 2014. involvement in Sinai and in Gaza strikes was no surprise to the Egyp- li fighter jets to strike common tar- Close coordination between for a long time now,” said Gehad tian military and political analysts gets or threats to Israel’s security. Egypt and Israel has become a na- Auda, a political science professor Cairo who pointed to growing security Israel and Egypt acting together tional security necessity for both at Helwan University. coordination between Cairo and Tel at the security level is one aspect sides, analysts said because ISIS Egyptian and Israeli security of- srael’s military role in Sinai and Aviv, two historical enemies that of the new Middle East, a region militants in Sinai are as much a ficials meet twice a year to discuss the intensity of its security co- are becoming united by the fight where traditional enemies are threat to Israel’s security as they are measures against common security ordination with Egypt have against extremism and Iran’s desta- united by security threats. Islamist to Egypt’s. threats. Security coordination be- I come to the fore recently with bilising role in the region. extremism and instability in Sinai, The security appendix of the tween the two countries is stipu- the Israeli Air Force conducting “There is growing security coor- along with Iran’s growing influ- peace treaty between the two coun- lated in the 1978 peace treaty. Bor- strikes against targets in Egyptian dination between Egypt and Israel, ence in the region, are perceived as tries limits the number of troops der control and the fight against territory. especially in Sinai,” said Akram threats to both Egypt and Israel. Egypt can deploy in Sinai and the smuggling gangs along the border Israeli fighter jets have attacked Badreddine, a political science pro- type of equipment they can use between Israel and Sinai are at the trucks, said to be carrying Iranian fessor at Cairo University. “Behind Israeli fighter jets have there. centre of security talks between the this coordination, there are under- To fight ISIS, Egypt transferred Egyptian and Israeli officials. weapons from Sinai to the Gaza attacked trucks, said to be Strip, from last November and standings between the two sides on tens of thousands of troops into Unrest in Libya, Iran’s involve- through May 2019. the fight against terrorism.” carrying Iranian weapons Sinai, a deployment that needed ment in backing extremists in Sinai The trucks carried missiles, In an interview last January from Sinai to the Gaza approval from Tel Aviv because it and in Gaza and ISIS in Sinai are weapons and explosives from Libya with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” pro- Strip, from last November could have been considered a viola- apparently compounding the com- on the road to Gaza, Israeli media gramme, Egyptian President Abdel and through May 2019. tion of the 1979 treaty. mon threats facing the two coun- said. One of the trucks allegedly Fattah al-Sisi acknowledged coordi- In January 2017, Sisi revealed that tries. held Iranian missiles meant for Is- nation between Egypt and Israel af- Egypt and Israel are reportedly 41 Egyptian army battalions — ap- “Security collaboration serves lamic Jihad, a militant faction in ter being asked whether Cairo had collaborating to prevent Gaza from proximately 25,000 personnel — the best interests of both states,” Gaza, Palestinian sources told the its “deepest and closest coopera- turning into a threat to their se- were fighting ISIS in Sinai. Egypt said retired Army General Moham- Israeli website i24NEWS. tion” ever with Israel. curity and stave off Iranian influ- also needed to move heavy equip- ed al-Shahawi. “This collaboration Israel, the website claimed, was “That is correct,” Sisi said. “Egyp- ence near their borders. Egypt was ment, including tanks, personnel is important for cutting off logisti- leading a large intelligence opera- tian fighter jets fighting [the Islamic the first Arab state to sign a peace carriers and fighter jets, which were cal support to the terrorists in Si- tion in Sinai to prevent the delivery State] ISIS sometimes have to cross treaty with Israel following a series banned by the treaty, into Sinai. nai, especially with the presence of of weapons and funds to Hamas to the Israeli side of the border and of wars with the country, most re- Iranian involvement in Gaza is regional sponsors for these terror- and Islamic Jihad through tunnels. this makes it important for us to co- cently the 1973 Yom Kippur War. another reason the two countries ists.” Egypt has not officially comment- ordinate with the Israeli side,” Sisi Sisi has officially met with Israeli stepped up coordination, analysts ed on the report or on repeated Is- said. Prime Minister Binyamin Netan- said. Amr Emam is an Arab Weekly raeli statements about coordination The coordination apparently en- yahu at least twice since he became “Egypt has been seeing Iranian contributor in Cairo. July 14, 2019 15 News & Analysis Palestine Israel

Israel, Iran exchange threats of war and destruction

The Arab Weekly staff

Tunis

srael and Iran have threat- ened each other with military strikes amid financial and po- I litical pressure from the United States on Tehran over its policies in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned that Israel’s fighter jets could reach Iran. “Recently, Iran has been threat- ening the destruction of Israel,” Netanyahu said July 9 at Nevatim Airbase in southern Israel, where he was inspecting F-35 jets. “It would do well to remember that these planes can reach anywhere in the Middle East, including Iran and certainly Syria.” A senior Iranian parliamentar- ian said Israel would be destroyed within 30 minutes if the United States attacked Iran. “If the US attacks us, only half an hour will remain in Israel’s lifes- pan,” Mojtaba Zolnour, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s Na- tional Security and Foreign Policy Commission said July 1, the semi- official Mehr News Agency report- ed. Israel has admitted to attacking Iranian targets and Tehran’s prox- War rhetoric. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu speaks at the Israeli Air Force pilots’ graduation ceremony at Hatzerim Airbase ies in Syria. Israel boasted in 2018 in southern Israel, June 27. (Reuters) to be the first country to use F-35s in combat. However, Israel recent- ly escalated its rhetoric to warn zone’ to the ‘red zone’ — that is, a tentions for its nuclear programme violence and terrorism throughout Cyprus on in a spillover from Israe- that it is ready to strike inside Iran military conflagration,” he said. but European countries urged the region and breathe out mur- li strikes in Syria. over Tehran’s nuclear programme “We must be prepared for this Tehran to stick to the deal despite derous hatred against Israel.” “It is understood that a missile and role in the region. and thus the State of Israel contin- Washington’s withdrawal. Pence’s remarks echoed a warn- fired from Syria fell here by ac- Israel’s Channel 12 television ues to devote itself to building up “We regret this decision by Iran, ing from US President Donald cident, as a result of being fired reported that Israeli intelligence its military might for the event that which calls into question an essen- Trump a day earlier. “Iran better in an uncontrolled way by batter- agencies prevented Islamic State it will have to respond to escala- tial instrument of nuclear non-pro- be careful,” Trump said. ies… in response to the intense at- and Iran-sponsored attacks in dif- tion scenarios.” liferation,” the foreign ministers of tacks yesterday evening by Israel,” ferent countries in the past three Iran announced that it would Germany, France and Britain said Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister years by providing authorities in breach commitments under the in a statement July 2. “We urge Iran Israel recently escalated its Kudret Ozersay said at a July 1 those counties with information 2015 nuclear deal with world pow- to reverse this step and to refrain rhetoric to warn that it is news conference. about the potential attacks. ers after the United States with- from further measures that under- ready to strike inside Iran “Based on our initial assessment, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel drew from the agreement and im- mine the nuclear deal.” over Tehran’s nuclear it is the remains of a missile which Katz said on July 2 that Israel was posed sanctions on Tehran. US Vice-President Mike Pence programme and role in the is known as S-200 in the Russian preparing for possible military in- Netanyahu said the announce- said the United States would not region. system and SA-5 in the NATO sys- volvement should there be a con- ment was a “very dangerous step” waiver from its target of maximum tem,” he added. “Undoubtedly we frontation between the United and called on European countries pressure against Iran. Observers fear a US-Iran mili- invite Syria, Israel and other coun- States and Iran. to sanction Tehran. “It’s important “We will never allow Iran to ob- tary confrontation might spill into tries in the region to take into ac- “It should be taken into account to respond to these actions not by tain a nuclear weapon,” Pence said the rest of the region, especially count the human and material se- that mistaken calculations by the reducing the pressure but by in- July 8. “Iran must choose between in countries where Iran has loyal curity of neighbouring countries, (Iranian) regime… are liable to creasing the pressure,” he said. caring for its people and continu- proxies. to take the necessary measures and bring about a shift from the ‘grey Iran denied having military in- ing to fund its proxies who spread An errant missile recently struck for everyone to behave calmly.”

Viewpoint Rise of BDS worldwide is worrying Israel

he Boycott, Divest- Israel expressed its worries outright lies,” the movement ment in Germany and Europe,” ment and Sanctions about BDS and urged its allies to posted on Twitter. “It’s not only Abusalama said. movement is gaining curb the growing movement. anti-Palestinian McCarthyism, it International pro-justice and Yousef Alhelou momentum. There is Germany was the latest is a betrayal of international law, pro-Palestinian activists vowed no doubt about this. country to respond to Israel’s German democracy and the fight they won’t be silenced or The educational, wishes and moved to outlaw the against real anti-Jewish racism.” deterred following the German Tcultural and business boycott is a BDS. Germany’s Bundestag Palestinians in the Israeli- resolution. Palestinian-led movement for became the first parliament in besieged Gaza Strip said they felt “It was an outrageous attack on justice, freedom and equality and Europe to declare the BDS insulted by the German move free speech. Human rights was initiated by Palestinian anti-Semitic. That move effec- against BDS. activists in Germany will con- academics in 2005. Inspired by tively labelled supporters of Sami Abu Salem, a Gaza tinue to struggle for freedom, the South African anti-apartheid Palestinian human rights as resident, said it was sad that justice and equality for the efforts, the movement, known by anti-Semites, saying their actions Germany alienated itself to the Palestinian people. BDS is an its initials “BDS,” urges action to were reminiscent of the Nazis’ illegal and inhumane Israeli explicitly anti-racist campaign pressure Israel to comply with campaigns against Jews. occupation. “Germany’s decision striving for justice. It’s an international law, mainly by The resolution came days after is very shocking because it means attempt to silence criticism of the ending its prolonged military the BDS called for artists to it does not support justice and apartheid state of Israel by occupation and colonisation. boycott the Eurovision song international law,” Salem said. parliamentarians of a state which Although it is considered by contest, which took place Abed Nasser, another resident continuously ignores the Palestinians as a means of recently in Tel Aviv. BDS sup- of Gaza, said the accusation of oppression of Palestinians,” Irish non-violent resistance and porters argued that Israel’s anti-Semitism is being used to BDS activist Zoe Lawlor said. struggle, it is seen as an existen- hosting of the event amounted to silence criticism of Israel. “The Although the German parlia- tial threat by Israelis, who claim a “whitewashing” of its occupa- term serves as a scarecrow to ment resolution is symbolic and BDS’s aim is to delegitimise their tion policies and treatment intimidate those who dare to non-binding, some BDS support- existence. towards Palestinians. criticise the actions of Israel ers said they were concerned that The global movement, which In Israel, the German move was towards the Palestinians,” he other countries might follow suit. includes academics, unions, hailed, with Prime Minister said. Such moves would curb peaceful The non-violent BDS associations and grass-roots Binyamin Netanyahu welcoming Palestinian BDS activist Majed resistance to occupation. campaign has raised operations around the world, it as an “important” decision. Abusalama, in Germany, said The non-violent BDS campaign claimed several recent successes. In a statement in response to Palestinians seeking justice has raised awareness and awareness and Last year, 20 singers and artists, the German parliament, BDS should not be falsely accused of generated support for the generated support for including Lana Del Rey, pulled reiterated that “the academic and being anti-Semitic. “This Palestinians but it remains to be the Palestinians but it out of a festival in Israel, follow- cultural boycott of Israel is (parliament) decision is wrong seen if it ends the injustice and ing a similar move by New strictly institutional and does not and completely disrespectful to discrimination against Palestin- remains to be seen if it Zealand singer Lorde months target individual Israelis.” our struggle for justice and equal- ians under Israeli colonisation, as ends the injustice and before. Scores of artists and stars “The German parliament’s ity, completely disrespectful to it did in apartheid South Africa. in film, theatre, literature and equation of the non-violent BDS civil rights in Europe. At this discrimination music have supported the movement for Palestinian rights moment, we are stronger and Yousef Alhelou is a Palestinian against Palestinians. movement. with anti-Semitism is based on more united in the BDS move- journalist living in London. 16 July 14, 2019 Debate East West

Europe unable to help as bedlam spreads in Sahel

The crisis is made worse by the fast disappearance of Lake Chad. For centuries, the lake Francis Ghilès was the largest reservoir in the semi-arid belt spanning Africa south of the Sahara Desert, he countries south relied upon by 30 million of the Sahara Desert people. Naturally shallow and in the Africa Sahel replenished by monsoons, the — Mauritania, Chad, lake is shrinking because Mali, Niger and seasonal variations of rainfall Burkina Faso — have lessened. The interna- Tremain below the radar of tional community remains international affairs most of the indifferent to this growing time. So, to a lesser degree, does tragedy — the UN appeal for Libya. Yet the risks of implosion Cameroon is only 8% funded. in many of these countries are The contrast between the growing. billions of dollars outside The lengthening list of foreign players spend on weapons to players and increasingly sophis- combat the rise in Islamist ticated weapons pouring into attacks and the financial effort the region are exacerbating they are prepared to make is deep-seated economic, social striking. Insecurity resulting and political conflicts. In the from huge numbers of displaced Sahel, some 4.5 million people people and climate change are displaced near the Lake Chad offers ideal conditions for basin, which touches Niger, preying by armed groups. If one Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon. considers that in most of these Cameroon is home to the countries the armed forces are fastest growing displacement badly trained, often under the crisis in Africa. The UN refugee leadership of corrupt dictators agency estimated that 800,000 and are often predators them- Fuel to fire. Turkey-made armoured personnel vehicles, shipped to Libya’s Government of National people are internally displaced selves, the conditions are there Accord, arrive at Tripoli port. (AFP) because of conflicts. The for a perfect storm. country is also playing host UN Secretary-General to 285,000 people who Antonio Guterres, on July forgetting that by so doing they Putin may not be an important nial software explain the fled violence in the 10, urged the interna- lose control of how policy is player in Libya and the Sahel but current crisis. Central African tional community to enacted. the Wagner Group’s military Desperate not to carry the bur- Republic and France’s incapacity support West Russia’s return to north-west- base, unthinkable a few years den of the “fight against 100,000 forced to think outside the Africa’s fight ern Africa is being intermedi- ago, in the Central African terrorism” alone, France is out of Nigeria by against extrem- ated by the Wagner Group, a Republic may be a sign of things pressuring Algeria, which has a box and reliance on Boko Haram. In ism. In the view shadowy band of mercenaries to come. well-equipped army of 150,000 Chad, there are an outdated form of of many observ- loyal to the Kremlin and con- Looking back a few decades, to engage militarily in Mali. around 460,000 neo-colonial ers, “an Islamic trolled by Yevgeny Prigozhin. the Sahel countries suffer from This reminds observers of the refugees, the software explain the insurgency” is The group’s footprint has been the consequences of La France- tens of thousands of North majority of whom current crisis. raging across the spreading from Ukraine to Syria Afrique, the network of corrup- African troops that fought in the are from Sudan and region. and Sudan to the Central African tion and servility to French French Army during the two the Central African Guterres argued Republic. Is Libya next? policy aims put in place by Paris world wars. Now, as then, the Republic, and 150,000 that more outside help Its existence is emblematic of after independence in the French were short of cannon internally displaced was needed but “outside how a more assertive Russia 1960s. fodder. people. help” has, in recent years, recruits, trains and deploys The former colonial power That senior officers and There are also large taken the form of US and French mercenaries while using a lost control of a region where politicians in Paris even harbour numbers of non-state armed troops; Russians private armies relentless disinformation bad governance, corruption, the the idea that Algeria might agree opposition groups with interna- such as the Wagner Group campaign to deny responsibil- displacement of hundreds of to the recreation of the modern tional links. These groups feed following in their footsteps. ity. thousands of people, aggravated version of the regiments of off perceived injustices and Here, as in Libya, the number Putin, however, is keen to by climate change, have “Tirailleurs algeriens” of inequalities. As David Miliband, of outside actors — all with track down Chechen jihadists upended a neo-colonial form of yesteryear suggests they are president of the International different agendas — add to the whom he promised to chase “to relationship that lasted half a caught in a time warp. Rescue Committee, pointed out: confusion, the French and the bottom of the lavatory.” century after independence. “When a humanitarian crisis is Americans out-source part of They are known to have been France’s incapacity to think Francis Ghilès is an associate not addressed it has political their policy. They often seek active in Syria and Libya, not in outside the box and reliance on fellow at the Barcelona Centre for ramifications.” financial support in the Gulf, the Sahel. an outdated form of neo-colo- International Affairs. Europe must challenge Iran’s assertion of impunity

Hamid Enayat exactly the opposite. Political Revolutionary Guard Corps in the help of traditional US allies, more nuanced concerns about leaders in London, Paris and June, the White House esti- such as the three European diplomatic tact or paths of least Berlin have reacted to threats by mated that Iran’s economy was signatories to the nuclear resistance. Iran will resist any ran is officially in violation Rohani and others by reiterating about 80% isolated. agreement. approach that the international of the 2015 nuclear deal their commitment to upholding US Treasury Secretary Steven Threats of uranium enrich- community takes to restraining and the violations will get the deal but virtually all of the Mnuchin promised the pressure ment to “any amount” stand its behaviour. Its officials have worse unless the European same Western officials have would continue until it reached alongside attempts to attack said so amid the ongoing Union capitulates to expressed deep concerns over 100% or until Iran’s malign global oil supplies and pro- tensions. What remains to be Iranian demands. Iran’s behaviour and it is behaviour ended. Develop- democracy opposition groups as seen is whether the interna- IIran’s leaders have announced reasonable to assume that their ments in the region suggest the part of an effort to strong-arm tional community will enforce they exceeded limits imposed patience has a limit. latter outcome is extremely Western policymakers into the its positions. on its stockpiles of nuclear Unfortunately, it is not clear unlikely. renewed embrace of a policy of There’s really no room for material and Iranian nuclear where that limit is. The Euro- Iranian officials have repeat- appeasement. This places the debate on this point. Maximum facilities are expected to begin pean Union and its members edly affirmed their commitment European Union at a crossroads pressure on the Iranian regime enriching uranium beyond the were remarkably slow to react to defying economic and at which it can either reward may compel it to submit to maximum allowed fissile purity. even after terrorist threats on diplomatic pressure from the terrorism or see it punished. negotiations that yield some- Iranian President Hassan Rohani their own soil, which recognis- United States but they have also This is the fundamental thing much more comprehen- has boasted about his govern- ably originated in Tehran. made it clear that effective question that policymakers sive than the 2015 nuclear deal. ment’s plans by saying it would French intelligence confirmed defiance is not possible without must consider ahead of any If this doesn’t happen, maxi- accelerate those activities up to as much last year after an mum pressure may encourage “any amount we want.” investigation into the planned an already active resistance This is far from being the bombing of a rally of Iranian movement inside Iran to exploit strongest example of Iranian expatriates near Paris. It was one the regime’s economic weakness defiance, coming as it does after of at least a half dozen such plots and realise the people’s long- attacks on six tankers and the thwarted across Europe and the frustrated demands for freedom, downing of a US surveillance United States in 2018 and yet democratic governance and drone. Yet there is good reason none of this seems to have been peaceful international relations. to believe that it will contribute regarded as an adequate reason If the world eschews maxi- to growing scepticism among to sever ties with Tehran. mum pressure, a devastating European policymakers who The European Union did outcome awaits. Rohani said it have remained committed to the impose sanctions on the Iranian himself: Iran will immediately nuclear deal and Iran more secret service and some of its move towards nuclear weapons generally. This is as it should be. known operatives but it has a capability and, speaking more In the face of economic pressure long way to go before it even generally, the regime will do by the Trump administration, begins to approach the “maxi- whatever it wants, secure in the Tehran is more clearly showing mum pressure” strategy adopted belief that the international its true colours. by the Trump administration. community will remain divided To compel the Europeans to There is still time, because over the question of how to stop provide Iran with financial that strategy is developing. Prior it. incentives for maintaining to the implementation of modest limits on its nuclear sanctions on Iranian Supreme Decisive juncture. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) Hamid Enayat is an Iranian programme, Tehran runs a risk Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Secretary-General of the European Union’s External Action Service human rights activist and analyst of encouraging them to do and members of the Islamic Helga Schmid (L) take part in a meeting in Vienna, June 28. (AFP) based in Europe. July 14, 2019 17 Spotlight Muslims in the West New Zealand Muslims see silver lining after tragedy

Nader Aboul Foutouh loudspeakers for prayer calls and the broadcast of Friday prayers on state television. Cairo Gamal Fouda, imam of the Al Noor Mosque, who witnessed the our months ago, the Muslim March attack, said in an interview community in New Zealand that the positive reactions have was just another minor- had an effect on the status of Mus- F ity in a society that didn’t lim communities in New Zealand know much about Islam. New Zea- and elsewhere. landers perceived their Muslims Al Noor Mosque has become a just through outward appearances, shrine for politicians and celebri- especially the stereotypical beard- ties from around the world, who ed men and veiled women. visit to show solidarity with the Things changed after the attacks Muslim community. on Al Noor Mosque and the Lin- New Zealand media have be- wood Islamic Centre in Christch- come increasingly supportive of urch in which 51 people died. That Muslims. They do not hesitate to event led imams in New Zealand attack stereotypes about Muslims to have direct dialogue with gov- and do not shy from countering the ernment officials, to whom they discourse of the extreme right in relayed grievances of New Zealand Europe. Muslims, and explore ways to pro- Fouda said Arab and Islamic soli- mote religious tolerance. Those ef- darity has helped the Muslim com- forts are bearing fruit. munity. The United Arab Emirates, New Zealand Prime Minister in particular, has played a promi- Jacinda Ardern on July 6 pledged nent role in covering the cost of to have the “Document on Human establishing a centre for tolerance Fraternity,” signed by Pope Francis and interfaith dialogue. The Forum on behalf of the Vatican and Grand for the Promotion of Peace in Mus- Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb on behalf of lim Societies, hosted by Abu Dhabi, al-Azhar, placed in schools, univer- has undertaken initiatives and fa- Show of support. Imam Gamal Fouda (C-R) of Al Noor mosque speaks with Britain’s Prince William sities and other educational insti- cilitated visits to New Zealand to after his visit in Christchurch, last April. (AFP) tutions so New Zealand’s new gen- establish a culture of interfaith co- erations grow up bearing a message existence and humanity. from an Islamic perspective. about it and, even if they want to the internet despite the fact that its of peace and goodwill. Fouda said the attacks revealed He stressed that initiatives aimed know more about it, they would countries have developed preven- that neither New Zealanders at at spreading the true concept of Is- not be able to find suitable refer- tive educational programmes and large nor the 70,000-person Mus- lam require linguistic proficiency. ences. It is, therefore, imperative to videos and that the social media Al Noor Mosque has lim community in the country were It is important, he pointed out, to engage a long-term effort to trans- platforms have established clear become a shrine for knowledgeable about Islam. Even choose imams fluent in local dia- late Islamic references and make controls to prevent abusing them politicians and celebrities young New Zealand Muslims who lects because their task is not only them available in Islamic centres, to promote content that encour- from around the world, spoke with the foreign press about to address Muslims but also to en- he said, adding that it is important ages extremism and terrorism,” he who visit to show the incident have shown only a gage dialogue with non-Muslims. to promote academic studies that said. solidarity with the shallow knowledge and insuffi- The imams need to strengthen address false claims about Islam. About 150 New Zealand nation- Muslim community. cient understanding of their faith. their knowledge of jurisprudence Fouda called for international als, including a leading police fig- The imam said renovation of the and other faith matters as well as laws to criminalise radical dis- ure, have converted to Islam since Since the March 15 attack on Al Al Noor Mosque had been complet- adopt modern religious discourse course through social media and the attacks. About 150,000 people Noor Mosque, the Muslim com- ed and its library stocked with a and be able to address controver- to counter calls for violence of any have visited Al Noor Mosque since munity in New Zealand has made large number of Islamic books and sial issues related to Islamic herit- kind or purpose. the shootings. impressive gains, including receiv- publications in various languages age. “The European Union, for exam- ing government authorisation to and focusing on religious tolerance Fouda said Westerners who at- ple, has not been able to impose its Nader Aboul Foutouh is an open Islamic schools, the use of and respect for freedom of faith tack Islam do not know much control over extremist rhetoric on Egyptian writer.

Viewpoint ‘Re-educating’ Chinese Muslims and all of Denmark

he “re-education” of mandatory training in “Danish newly regulated ghettos or say they don’t belong to the Muslims in two values” for children in ghetto “underprivileged areas,” to use country’s so-called national different parts of the areas. the terminology of the new races. Rashmee world — China and Dybvad’s centre-left party, housing minister. Where does Denmark’s ghetto Roshan Lall Denmark — has come then in opposition, voted for the China is focused on the Uighur programme for Muslims and sharply into focus. laws. He insists the laws seek to Muslims but Denmark is target- other non-Western immigrants TChina’s ambassador to Britain “transform underprivileged ing non-Western immigrants as a fit on the sliding scale of Islamo- dismissed a BBC report that areas” and end “parallel socie- whole. They constitute 9% of the phobia? Muslim children in Xinjiang ties.” population. That Muslims figure There have been complaints by region are systematically Both China and Denmark say in the targeted group is hardly Danish Muslims that their separated from their parents. these moves are part of broader surprising considering they are children are being taught far too Chinese authorities said the attempts to integrate minorities approximately 5.5% of the much about Christmas and that it Uighurs are being educated in into the life of their respective Danish population. is insulting to have to send a “vocational training centres” countries. However, there are preschooler to class to learn designed to combat extremism. striking differences in the thrust about “Danish values.” In Denmark, the housing and scale of the initiatives. There is no The international media quote minister in the new Social China seems focused on Uighur some Muslims in Denmark who Democrat government admitted Muslims and on inoculating discernible attempt bitterly say “Danish politics is that official use of the word against the virus of jihadism, by Denmark to force just about Muslims now.” The “ghetto” for marginalised, which it fears might be borne on Muslims in the sense of fear and of being a target heavily non-Western, Muslim the air — or the ether — from is apparent. neighbourhoods was “deroga- other parts of the world. Critics country to cease to be That is understandable but it’s tory.” Even so, the minister, of the Chinese policy say “voca- Muslim. worth considering the Danish Kaare Dybvad, defended laws tional training” is an anodyne strategy in a more holistic way. passed last year that ensure way to describe “cultural That said, it’s hard to shake off The government has spelt out its re-engineering” of a society by a sense that Muslims are the vision very clearly: “One Den- severing traditional religious and primary targets of the “re-educa- mark without Parallel Societies.” linguistic ties. tion” drive in Denmark. There is no discernible attempt Denmark is concentrating on At present, there is increased by Denmark to force Muslims in 25 urban neighbourhoods where scrutiny of Muslims in the United the country to cease to be more than half the residents are States, parts of Europe, China, Muslim. Instead, there is an of non-Western heritage. These India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. In attempt to thread non-white are not only the poorest and most disparate countries, there are Danes into the national tapestry. crime-ridden in the country, they varying levels of hostility to In a sense, this expands the are also beset by high unemploy- Muslims as a faith group. definition of what it means to be ment and a poorly educated The spectrum is broad. It Danish. It acknowledges that a population with few prospects ranges from thuggish behaviour Dane can be Muslim as well. for advancement. towards Muslims in Sri Lanka By extrapolation, all Danes are Former Prime Minister Lars since the Easter church attacks to being “re-educated.” A broad Lokke Rasmussen, whose more sinister attempts to new definition of Danish-ness is centre-right government created subsume the identity of minority coming into being. The results the laws to regulate “ghettos,” Muslim communities. This is the will only start to be apparent in a once called these neighbour- case in China and, to some generation. hoods “black holes on the map of extent, India. Denmark.” At the furthest point of the Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Despite the charged language, scale is Myanmar. Its official columnist for The Arab Weekly. Under strict surveillance. A Muslim man walks after prayers it’s clear there is a basic differ- position on the Rohingya Her blog can be found at in front of a mosque in Hotan in China’s Xinjiang Autonomous ence between China’s “voluntary Muslims since 1982 has been that www.rashmee.com and she is Region. (AFP) training centres” and Denmark’s they are non-citizens, which is to on Twitter: @rashmeerl. 18 July 14, 2019 Economy

Iraq, Jordan seek Briefs Eastern Libya, US firm close to signing Libya to further boost port deal Eastern Libyan authorities and US security firm Guidry Group plan economic ties to finalise an agreement to develop a major port in the east of the trou- bled oil producer, both sides said. Manuel Langendorf the border in February and agreed Talks have been going on for on a deal involving oil and other about a year to build a port in Su- goods. sah, which would mark a rare sign London Iraq would sell 10,000 barrels of of investment in Libya. oil per day to Jordan at a special “The Guidry Group and the ddressing the Sulaimani price. In exchange, Iraqi goods im- state of Libya through the Sea Port Forum earlier this year, ported through Jordan’s Aqaba port Authority officially signed the con- Iraqi President Barham would get preferential tariffs. The cession agreement May 13 for the A Salih touted Iraq’s capacity office of Jordanian Prime Minister development of a multipurpose, to help bring about a new regional Omar Razzaz said Jordan would ex- deep-sea port in Susah, Libya,” the order built on cooperation. Iraq, port electricity to Iraq within two Investment opportunities. Iraqi President Barham Salih (L) and Guidry Group said in a statement. he said, could “be a bridge to the years. Jordanian King Abdullah II shake hands during a welcoming “Next steps for the project will economies of the region by linking “The opening of the border will ceremony in Amman, last May. (Reuters) involve establishing all the techni- the infrastructure between Iraq and break the isolation that existed,” cal, financial, operational and the Gulf and Turkey between Iran Abdul-Mahdi said in February. commercial requirements.” and the Arab region and the Medi- “Iraq and Jordan are the lungs of hard by regional instability and participation rates in the world terranean.” each other and as one breathes, the border closures.” Other problems, and the World Bank said it expects (Reuters) Under the leadership of Salih and other will.” she said, include declining remit- economic growth to be distributed Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Before the border meeting, Jor- tances and foreign aid, low levels of unevenly across the country. The Egypt hikes domestic the Iraqi government has been danian King Abdullah II made a productivity and the large influx of last years saw mass protests against fuel prices as it rounds expanding efforts to deepen eco- rare trip to Baghdad, the first in Syrian refugees. corruption and a lack of economic nomic relations with neighbour- more than a decade, during which The World Bank measured the opportunities and services. off subsidy reform ing countries. To the chagrin of the he stressed the strong ties between Jordanian unemployment rate at Jordan sees Iraq as an important Egypt introduced another United States, this has included the the two countries. Salih had trav- 18.6% in 2018, a slight increase economic partner “because of the round of fuel subsidy cuts July 5, signing of several economic agree- elled to Jordan shortly after his in comparison to the year before. need for oil,” said Salam Jabbar Sha- raising domestic prices 16-30% ments with Iran, seen as the most election in 2018. Both visits were While noting “renewed momen- hab, an assistant professor at the to put them in line with their real influential outside actor in Iraq. billed as part of a shift in relations. tum” in the economy, the World University of Technology in Bagh- cost, as Cairo nears the end of Ties between the two countries Bank said more work was needed dad. Jordan, he said, views Iraq as an IMF-backed economic reform have undergone a large transfor- to improve the investment climate an important market for its goods, programme. As they work to expand mation in recent decades. Under and ease of doing business. It urged which is why it has focused on re- Scaling back fuel subsidies that trade between them, Jordan the reign of Saddam Hussein, Iraq the kingdom to diversify its energy viving trade. have strained the budget for dec- and Iraq face significant, provided Jordan with cheap oil, supply. In contrast, Jabbar Shahab said, ades was a key plank of a 3-year, albeit different, economic while Jordan’s Aqaba port became a In 2018, protests against planned “Jordan is not an important eco- $12 billion reform package signed challenges. lifeline for imports as international austerity measures backed by nomic partner for Iraq.” He noted with the International Monetary sanctions hit Iraq after the inva- the International Monetary Fund that Jordanian exports had de- Fund in 2016, as Egypt’s economy Another country Baghdad has sion of Kuwait in 1990. The 2003 spread across Jordan, leading to the clined significantly in recent years. struggled to recover from the been forging closer ties with is Jor- toppling of Saddam’s regime and resignation of Prime Minister Hani However, expanded trade could turmoil that followed the 2011 dan. In June, a Jordanian business the rising influence of Iran led to Mulki. benefit Iraq, Jabbar Shahab said, uprising. delegation visited Iraq to talk about a deterioration in relations in the The Iraqi GDP is more than five because Iraq needs the port of Aqa- The changes will push up prices investment opportunities and the economic and political realm, es- times the size of Jordan’s. Iraq has ba to facilitate the export of Iraqi oil for transport, food products and flow of Jordanian products into the pecially under former Iraqi Prime the fifth-largest crude oil reserves to Europe and the United States. other goods, adding to economic Iraqi market. Jordanian and Iraqi Minister Nuri a-Maliki. in the world but the country’s econ- “Trade relations between Iraq pressure on Egyptians who have entrepreneurs and government of- As they work to expand trade be- omy, highly dependent on oil rev- and Jordan could contribute to experienced several years of ficials recently met in Amman re- tween them, Jordan and Iraq face enues, took a hit when the Islamic stability in the western regions of austerity. garding digital transformation in significant, albeit different, eco- State destroyed large parts of Iraq. Iraq through the stimulation of em- the financial sector. nomic challenges. Iraq’s economic outlook is gen- ployment and the establishment of (Agence France-Presse) The developments come after “Jordan is facing one of its worst erally positive as the security situ- small enterprises,” he said. months of high-level diplomacy be- economic crises in decades,” said ation has improved and oil prices Ethiopia to send tween the two countries. The prime Suha Ma’ayeh, a journalist in Am- increased. However, the country Manuel Langendorf is a writer ministers of Jordan and Iraq met at man. “The economy has been hit has one of the lowest labour force focusing on the MENA region. 50,000 workers to UAE Ethiopia will send 50,000 peo- Viewpoint ple to work in the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopian Prime Minis- ter Abiy Ahmed announced. “Ethiopia is planning short- Foreign investors drawn to Saudi Aramco IPO offer term measures to reduce unem- ployment in Ethiopia and to cope broached three years ago, there has Industries Corporation (SABIC) manner.” He said the sale would with the increasing job demands been industry scepticism about the from the kingdom’s sovereign take place in 2020 or the beginning of our people,” Abiy told the IPO ever happening, given the state wealth fund, the Petroleum of 2021 and “setting the location of Ethiopian parliament. Jareer Elass firm’s opaqueness in revealing Investment Fund (PIF). The Saudi the IPO now is premature.” He said that, under the deal, financial and operational data, the government said the deal, Falih, speaking July 2, claimed 50,000 workers would be sent to crown prince’s inflated valuation of announced in March, would bolster the Saudi Aramco IPO “was never the United Arab Emirates in the omments by Saudi the company and the inability of Saudi Aramco’s downstream sector, fully suspended.” He said: “We have 2019-20 fiscal year and discus- Crown Prince Riyadh to lock in its choice of one or enhancing its corporate value always been clear that the IPO will sions continued about sending Mohammed bin more foreign bourses to participate ahead of the IPO and that the happen in the 2020-21 time- 200,000 workers over the next Salman bin in the listing. limited public sale would be frame.” three years. Abdulaziz and the The killing of Khashoggi put delayed due to the merger pro- Top-tier investment banks are kingdom’s oil Riyadh’s diplomatic and economic cess. reportedly in discussions with (Agence France-Presse) minister sparked relations with global powers to the The Saudi Aramco-SABIC Saudi Aramco over advisory speculation about test while investor confidence in acquisition would give a quick and capacities for the IPO. Although JP Cthe actuality and timing of the the kingdom and its economic sizeable cash injection into the PIF, Morgan, Morgan Stanley and HSBC Turkish lira hit by limited sale of state crown jewel reform programme, Saudi Vision the primary investment vehicle for had been picked to help support the dismissal of central Saudi Aramco. 2030, has been somewhat shaken. Vision 2030. It also put into public offering when it was first The Saudi leaders may be The crown prince’s warm question whether the Saudi announced in 2016, it is unclear bank governor emboldened to move forward on reception by world leaders at the government would need to go whether those institutions are Saudi Aramco’s initial public G20 summit and the Trump ahead with the IPO at all. talking to the Saudis about being Turkey’s lira weakened after offering (IPO) based on Riyadh’s administration’s unwavering The crown prince and other Saudi reinstated as advisers. Turkish President Recep Tayyip perception that it is successfully support for the Saudi heir to the officials have said the Saudi Aramco At least one foreign financial Erdogan dismissed the central weathering the political fallout throne may have helped Crown IPO should generate as much as entity has taken advantage of the bank governor, reigniting con- from the October 2018 killing of Prince Mohammed regain his $100 billion in sales proceeds based new momentum associated with cerns about political interference Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi political footing. on a corporate valuation of $2 the IPO. David Schwimmer, CEO of in monetary policy and expecta- and on the tremendous investor Saudi Aramco’s ability to raise $12 trillion. Industry estimates suggest the London Stock Exchange (LSE), tions of rate cuts to revive the response that the Saudi state oil and billion from orders of more than a valuation of $1.2 trillion-$1.5 accompanied British Finance recession-hit economy. gas giant received from its first $100 billion through its first trillion is more realistic. Minister Philip Hammond on a July The lira stood at 5.7285 to the international bond issuance. international bond issue in April In an interview June 16 with 6-7 visit to Jeddah, most likely to US dollar early July 8, 1.6% weaker Investment banks are reportedly demonstrates that foreign investors Asharq al-Awsat, Crown Prince push for the LSE as the favoured than on July 5 but off a low of in discussions with Saudi Aramco are willing to bet on the kingdom’s Mohammed dismissed the notion foreign bourse for share flota- 5.8245 in early Asian trade as in- to secure advisory roles for the IPO, political and economic future. of serious delays involved with tion. vestors fretted about the implica- while the head of one foreign The corporate bond offering was aspects of Saudi Arabia’s economic The Saudi government has tions of the move for central bank bourse seemingly pressed the case record-breaking in reflecting the overhaul plans, saying: “Vision repeatedly stated that Saudi independence. for floating shares on his exchange highest demand ever for an 2030 and its programmes, like all Aramco shares will be listed on the “His removal speaks to Er- in a recent visit to Jeddah. In their emerging market bond. Investors strategic plans, have to be reviewed domestic exchange, the Tadawul, dogan’s insistence on imposing his statements, Crown Prince Moham- took heart from financial data in and updated according to circum- and that one or more foreign diktats on monetary policy and, med and Oil Minister Khalid Saudi Aramco’s bond prospectus stances that may arise during bourses will also be involved. more broadly, it suggests tight al-Falih both made it clear that the proving the firm was the world’s implementation, without compro- Leading contenders are the LSE, the presidential control of economic IPO had never been put on hold, most profitable company last year mising its foundation or objec- New York Stock Exchange and the policies,” said Phoenix Kalen, with the sale scheduled for 2020 or with a net income of $111.1 billion. tives.” Hong Kong Stock Exchange. EM strategy director at Societe early 2021. Proceeds from the bond will help He reiterated the government’s Generale. Since the plan to offer up to 5% of fund Saudi Aramco’s $69.1 billion commitment to the Saudi Aramco Jareer Elass reports from Saudi Aramco to domestic and purchase of a 70% stake in Saudi IPO “but under the appropriate Washington on energy issues for (Reuters) international investors was petrochemical firm Saudi Basic circumstances and in a timely The Arab Weekly. July 14, 2019 19 Economy Interview Refugee entrepreneurs creating financial value across the world

restaurants and grocery stores to tion of application forms into the point that the area is now selected languages before Khadija called ‘Little Damascus.’ automatically filling in standard Hamouchi “In Turkey, a total of 8,367 new specifications such as name, date Syrian companies were founded of birth and address. in 2017, up from a mere 157 in “The application won the Beirut 2012. 800 Syrian industrial Berlin hackathon Spacehack in establishments have relocated June 2016 and was presented to hmad Sufian their operations in Jordan. investors and politicians at the Bayram has “Given that the act of choosing Startup Europe Summit 2016 in become the — when the choice is possible Berlin.” voice for — and moving to another country TAW: What technologies do refugee technol- is an inherently brave and risky refugees themselves need? ogy entrepre- decision, it should be of no ASB: “Technologies can help neurs from his surprise that refugees and save the lives of millions of native Syria. immigrants have repeatedly been refugees by solving some of the SinceA 2012, Bayram has been found to be more entrepreneurial most critical problems they face. supporting hundreds of Syrians than locals. Those people are Many have used the power of tech gain access to economic opportu- hungry to make it work. The to communicate, access informa- nities in a million meaningful desire has more to do with a will tion and learn. ways. to win and less to do with a “New technologies like block- Bayram is the author of percentage game. For them, it is a chain can help save the lives of “Entrepreneurship in Conflict survival game.” millions of refugees by solving Zones,” which highlights the TAW: What success story could some of the most critical prob- needs of Syrian entrepreneurs you share with us? lems they face. As many refugees inside their war-torn country. ASB: “Refugee entrepreneurs leave behind important docu- Recently, he published “Entre- are in all sectors and sometimes ments, such as birth certificates, preneurship in Exile,” offering the toughest ones. Sharqi Shop is marriage licences, passports and insights into Syria refugees an e-commerce for handicrafts in ID cards when they are forced to start-ups in host countries. Jordan. The online one-stop shop abandon their homes these He is the Middle East and Africa currently features 400 items documents are nearly impossible Resilience in face of adversity. Middle East and Africa regional regional manager at Techstars. made by 40 artisans, both Syrian to retrieve after one has left the manager at Techstars Ahmad Sufian Bayram. He is also Jusoor’s entrepreneur- refugees and Jordanians. The country. (Courtesy of Ahmad Sufian Bayram) ship programme manager, an start-up is part of Oasis500, the “Technology can allow host adviser in the Techfugees Board leading seed investment com- governments and support and an entrepreneur in residence pany and business accelerator in organisations to build trust and youths through a range of that have exacerbated the at Aliqtsadi. Jordan. could enable them to start issuing courses, adapted from interna- difficulties facing entrepreneurs Between flights, Bayram spoke “In Germany, a group of Syrian digitally authenticated identifica- tional universities, that take place working to create their start-ups. to The Arab Weekly via Skype. refugees developed an applica- tion documents that refugees in virtual venues. Participants Many decide to meet those Bayram said Syrian refugee tion that helps non-German could use everywhere to prove undergo free training and only challenges upfront and jump in to entrepreneurs have all it takes to speakers complete governmental their identity and who their pay a minimal fee to get their achieve their dreams. Refugees, create financial value in Syria, transactions through the transla- families are, open bank accounts, licence certificates. by the nature of their experience, their host country and the sign contracts or apply to univer- “Another example of two very are often forced to become world. sity.” talented founders created entrepreneurs. The Arab Weekly (TAW): How “Refugee TAW: What does tech entrepre- LiBeiroot, a car-hailing applica- “Many who have spent years in do refugees manage to become neurship look like for internally tion between Damascus and refugee camps frequently find entrepreneurs in such harsh entrepreneurs are in all displaced Syrians in their war- Beirut to provide people with an creative ways to make a living out conditions? sectors and sometimes torn country? easy way of transportation informal economies by selling Ahmad Sufian Bayram (ASB): the toughest ones.” ASB: “Syrian entrepreneurs between the Lebanese-Syrian goods or services to their fellow “Despite the severe conditions in have worked hard trying to solve Border as there has been more refugees or putting their skills to which refugees and immigrants their local community problems, demand than ever to travel to use to make more money.” live, they have shown incredible Middle East and Africa such as improving the infrastruc- Lebanon as Syrian airports and strength and resilience. The regional manager at ture, finding a job, access to embassies have closed.” Khadija Hamouchi is a Belgian- efforts of Syrian entrepreneurs learning and education and much TAW: What skills-advantage do Moroccan social entrepreneur have turned the neighbourhoods Techstars more. refugee entrepreneurs hold? and founder of SEJAAL, an of 6th of October City in Egypt, Ahmad Sufian Bayram “Tamkeen is a virtual training ASB: “The daily life of refugee initiative that is building an into bustling corridors of Syrian platform [that] targets Syrian entrepreneurs is full of challenges app for young people. Rabat to sell 8% stake in Maroc Telecom to offset fiscal deficit Saad Guerraoui the Casablanca Stock Exchange in eration, criticised the govern- 2004,” he said. ment’s decision to sell the telecom Idriss Berrada, general manager firm’s stake to cover its deficit in a Casablanca at Attijari Finances Corporation, written question to Economy and said Maroc Telecom’s share price Finance Minister Mohamed Ben- he Moroccan government stability over the last three years chaaboun. plans to sell an 8% stake in was an indication of resilience and Balafrej said the huge losses re- telecommunication giant strength compared to the rest of lated to the choice of a low sale T Maroc Telecom for nearly the market and the interest that price set at $12.70, while the aver- $900 million to offset the coun- institutional investors have for it. age share price of Maroc Telecom try’s budget deficit despite an out- in the previous year was $14.30. cry from the opposition. “The value set by the state will Maroc Telecom, which is listed The Moroccan Capital result in the loss of more than 1 bil- on the Casablanca and Euronext Market Authority said the lion dirhams ($100 million) from stock exchanges, is 53% owned by expected sale would inject its Treasury, equal to the construc- UAE telecom firm Etisalat. It oper- $877 million into the state tion and equipment of 80 commu- ates in several African countries, budget. nity schools,” said Balafrej. including Benin, Burkina Faso, The leftist opposition MP said it To boost exchange. A sign of Maroc Telecom near a shop in Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mali and Karim Hajji, general manager of was unfortunate that the state was Casablanca. (Saad Guerraoui) Mauritania. the Casablanca Stock Exchange, selling its property to offset its fi- The Moroccan Capital Market said the sale would boost the ex- nancial deficit, instead of accept- Authority said the expected sale change, which has suffered the last ing the proposal made by left-wing reached more than $580 million at and unions on increasing salaries would inject $877 million into the few years from a lack of liquidity. parties that called for imposing an the end of April against $760 mil- and family allowances is straining state budget. The Istiqlal Party, the second exceptional tax on oil companies lion, down 23.3% compared to the state finances. Abderrahmane Semmar, direc- largest opposition party, expressed that made “abnormal” profits. same period a year ago, the Moroc- The Moroccan treasurer said tor of the Department of Public concern about the way the govern- The sale price of Maroc Telecom can Exchange Office said. the increase in family benefits in- Enterprises and Privatisation, said ment was shedding its strategic shares to institutional firms under The Central Bank forecast this volved more than 380,000 civil the state’s sale of 8% of the com- public separations. Moroccan law is fixed at $12.70, year’s budget deficit to be 4.1% of servants. The salary increase was pany was part of the revival of the The executive bureau of the representing 6% of the stake. The GDP, slightly more than the gov- to be carried out in three stages — privatisation programme, which Alliance of Istiqlali Economists remaining 2% is to be sold to the ernment’s projected 3.9%, which May 2019, January 2020 and Janu- began in 2001. recalled that Morocco had had public for $12.53 per share. Me- would be an additional burden to ary 2021. “This operation comes following some “unfortunate” privatisation dias24 quoted a source as that the the state. Benchaaboun said that 53% of the successful completion of the experiences, saying: “Experience 2% sale was very successful with The government plans to im- tax revenues would have to cover first 6% through a private place- has shown that the total disen- 25,000 subscribers taking part in prove its fiscal deficit through payroll and pension and social se- ment with Moroccan institutions,” gagement of the state from certain the offering with an amount — $3.5 its privatisation programme that curity spending and that payroll Semmar said at a June 19 news companies, such as COMANAV billion — 15 times higher than the would generate a revenue of $1 costs would reach 11% of GDP. conference. and SAMIR, unfortunately ended offer. billion. However, more than half “It is also the most important badly.” The government’s decision of state’s revenue is earmarked Saad Guerraoui is a privatisation operation since the Omar Balafrej, a deputy of the comes as the net flow of foreign for salaries and contributions as contributor to The Arab introduction of Maroc Telecom on opposition Democratic Left Fed- direct investment in Morocco the social dialogue agreement Weekly on Maghreb issues. 20 July 14, 2019 Society Saudi Arabia Thousands of pilgrims start arriving in Saudi Arabia for haj

The Arab Weekly staff

London

lanes carrying some of the first Muslim pilgrims of the haj season landed in Saudi P Arabia as the country enters the holiest time on the Islamic cal- endar, when Muslims perform pil- grimage to Mecca. The annual pilgrimage will draw as many as 140,000 Indian worship- pers, 63,000 of whom are expected to arrive by July 21 and the remain- der by August 5, Arab News report- ed. Pilgrims from India arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina, where they were greeted by Ausaf Sayeed, India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Last year, more than 2.3 million pilgrims, overall, performed haj and this year’s season, which runs August 9-14, is expected to attract about 3 million faithful from around the world. The steady growth of the gather- ing, owing to improving transporta- tion and communication, makes it one of the largest logistical opera- tions managed by the Ministry of Haj and Umrah. Authorities must ensure security, traffic control, transporta- tion and accommodation infrastruc- ture and various other services are ready for the pilgrims. The latest innovation involves smart cards with a built-in tracking device that the ministry said would be distributed to 250,000 people in Spiritual journey. Muslim pilgrims arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport prior to the annual haj in the holy city of Mecca, July 7. (AFP) a pilot programme. The device will be vital to finding elderly or sick pil- grims lost while performing the rites. be taken against perpetrators, Al Ri- gathering. pilgrims of other nationalities were cially encouraged the use of haj as a Saudi Arabia said “all measures” yadh reported. In 2016, Iran insisted that visas killed. A year prior to those clashes, venue for protest. In the 1980s, Aya- would be taken against any attempt Similar warnings are issued al- to Iranian pilgrims be issued in Iran Saudi security forces uncovered tollah Ruhollah Khomeini called on to politicise the haj. most yearly by the government, reli- even in the absence on an agree- arms and explosives carried by Ira- pilgrims to stage demonstrations of Saudi Media Minister Turki al- gious officials and allies against acts ment to that effect. Iranian Culture nian pilgrims. “disavowal” against the Saudi mon- Shabanah echoed that position in a of sabotage whipped up by Iran in Minister Ali Jannati announced then Records suggest the Iranian lead- archy. statement issued July 10, emphasis- pursuit of political ends. that “Iranian pilgrims cannot go to ership and clerical class have offi- Those acts led Saudi Arabia to ing the spiritual and religious nature Iran has attempted to use politi- haj this year.” lower the number of pilgrims grant- of haj and called on pilgrims to look cal arguments to challenge Saudi A similar government-led boycott ed entry from Iran to 1,000 for every out for each other and to steer clear Arabi’s status as the custodian of drive that lasted 4 years occurred Smart cards with a built-in 1 million residents, which an agree- of attempts to disrupt the tranquil- Islam’s holiest sites. Iran has also in 1987 following clashes between tracking device will be ment reached last year overturned. lity of haj “through doctrinal and questioned the competency of haj Iranian pilgrims and Saudi secu- vital to finding elderly or This year, some 86,550 Iranians political slogans” or any “action.” He authorities to improve the manage- rity forces in which 275 Iranians, sick pilgrims lost while will travel to Mecca to perform the said “all necessary measures” would ment of the world’s largest Muslim 85 Saudi security personnel and 42 performing the rites. religious pilgrimage. Distribution of print newspapers halted in Saudi Arabia

The Arab Weekly staff met July 8 in Jeddah to discuss challenges faced by the industry. London King Salman stressed the need for media that better conveys the eaders in several Saudi kingdom’s efforts and contribu- cities were surprised by tions, regionally and internation- the announcement from ally, when global public opinion R the National Distribution towards the kingdom sours. The Company that it was stopping print meeting reinforced the govern- circulation of local newspapers. ment’s support of local press As the sole national distributor against such difficulties, to coun- of publications, newspapers and ter coverage the kingdom deems magazines the National Distribu- unfair or defamatory. tion Company (NDC) said the move Poor print sale performance in would first be applied in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia makes the task of dis- Abha, Qassem, Arar and Jouf over tribution a daunting responsibility the next month. The development that distributors are scaling back. reignited debate around print me- Any costs that papers cannot cover, dia versus digital news. distributors must foot the bill for. Monthly costs can amount to more than $2,500, a cost NDC claimed is Copies of local Serious difficulties. A vendor reads a newspaper as he sells melons and watermelons in a market in not viable or cost-effective. Riyadh. (Reuters) newspapers have not Advertising offered an important altogether disappeared bloodline that enabled newspapers although many fear the to recoup costs but ad revenues are ing of the Middle East and Saudi popular magazine sells around about the place of print in a fast- print press will be phased dropping off. Arabia’s standing within it. 185,000 copies,” Cecil Tuncalp paced world. Out of 1,016 partici- out entirely. Copies of local newspapers have The situation does not mir- wrote in 1994, adding that less pants in a poll conducted in 2017 not altogether disappeared al- ror successes of the 1990s, when than 5% reach Saudi’s adult popu- by the King Abdulaziz Centre for NDC cited rising printing costs though many fear the print press printing processes made their de- lation. National Dialogue, newspaper and shrinking revenues for news- will be phased out entirely. Resist- but in the country. Printed news The earliest overhaul of printed readers ranked in at 23%, e-readers papers for the change. ance to NDC’s shrinking responsi- grew as a natural response to sat- materials has initiated state-led accounted for 53% and the remain- “Dwindling number of readers bilities suggests not everyone is isfy people’s need to be informed. reforms to scale down “in-house” der expressed equal interest in and low sales,” a company state- onboard. However, the status of print media publications. The state traditional- reading newspapers both print and ment read, “are among the main News readers took to social me- changed drastically in subsequent ly disseminated such materials to online. reasons” that led to the announce- dia in favour of digital press and years. employees across all sectors but it A further 39% of respondents ment. against it. Many fear a potential Saudi media suffered as a result should be noted that oil companies said they had no interest in reading Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz fallout, citing the need for newspa- of limited circulation. “The top- print their own in-house materials, daily newspapers, compared with Al Saud, Media Minister Turki al- pers to be circulated during height- selling newspaper can muster a newspapers and journals. 23% who expressed enthusiasm to Shabanah and media delegates ened international media report- circulation of 26,000 and the most The decisions fuelled debate read daily. July 14, 2019 21 Society

Tunisia’s Bourguiba school gears up for summer session

Stephen Quillen also highly regarded. However, the Bourguiba school’s wide-ranging connections and relatively open Tunis outlook make it a popular destina- tion for students and professionals stablished in 1964, the looking to live and learn abroad. Bourguiba Institute of Mod- “People know that Tunisia is ern Languages is one of an open place and the Bourguiba E Tunisia’s oldest and most school is no exception,” said Ben storied educational establish- Ammar. “People are welcomed ments, priding itself in promoting here.” the Arabic language and establish- Valerie Mayot, a French student ing cross-cultural connections the at the institute who has lived in Tu- world over. nis for years, agreed that the Bour- At its onset, the school was run guiba school is an “exceptional” largely by US Peace Corps volun- place to study. “I know Tunis well teers who taught English. It soon and I like this country,” she said. developed into a hub for foreigners Even as Tunisia has weathered seeking to learn Arabic. Today, the extremist threats and social and school boasts students from across political turbulence since 2011, in- the globe seeking to improve com- terest in the school has remained petency in languages ranging from constant, Ben Ammar said. English to Turkish to Chinese. After terror attacks rocked Tunis on June 27, killing one and injuring Outside of the academic eight, the school received no can- year, the Bourguiba cellations for its summer session. A long experience. Foreign students attend class at the Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages school offers intensive Traditionally, most foreign stu- in Tunis, Tunisia. (Khaoula ben Amara) courses during July, dents at the Bourguiba school have been European — predominantly including 100 hours for Italian, Spanish and French, said for Romanian Culture and Science French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, It provides access to various Arabic learners and 80 Ben Ammar, but recently, it has be- “to enhance the teaching of Roma- said her courses have helped her socio-cultural activities, including hours for students of gun to receive more students from nian language.” develop skills needed for her job. workshops in Tunisian art, music, other languages. China and South Korea, perhaps But for most Tunisians, English “I’ve been taking intensive classes dance and cuisine and guided tours a reflection of deepening ties be- and German classes remain a pri- every day (since October) and I am and trips to key sites throughout The core of the Bourguiba tween the two regions. ority because they are critical for very satisfied,” Mayot said before a the country. school’s mission is teaching Arabic “The trend is probably related many professionals seeking to fur- morning class. “I have exceptional The school’s main Tunis cam- as a foreign language, for which it to 2011, when interest began to ther their careers abroad. teachers and I think the quality of pus, in the heart of downtown has gained a reputation as one of grow in the Arabic and the Islamic While the Bourguiba school classes here is exceptional… I’ve had on the Avenue de la Liberte, was the premier institutes in the region. world,” Ben Ammar said. maintains partnerships with lead- the best teacher in the world here.” bustling on a recent hot morn- “(The Bourguiba school) has a Interest in South-east Asia is ing universities and institutions, “(For my work), I need to be able ing. Drawing eager students from long experience,” said Imed Ben growing in Tunisia as well. In 2018, including the Arab World Institute to quickly understand Arab news- around the world, it is a source Ammar, the school’s director. “It the Bourguiba school received offi- in Paris, it remains open to the pub- papers and news in Arabic and I am of pride for much of the Tunisian is the place for teaching Arabic as a cial accreditation to teach Korean. lic, part of its mission to make high- progressing very quickly.” public who see it as a reflection of foreign language.” It has also built connections quality language training available Outside of the academic year, the country’s commitment to edu- Tunisia is not the only Arab coun- with Romania. Through Tunisia’s to all who are interested. the Bourguiba school offers inten- cation, progress and cultural en- try with a successful Arabic lan- Ministry of Higher Education and “We are open to the public,” said sive courses during July, including richment. guage programme. Jordan’s Qasid Scientific Research, the Bourguiba Ben Ammar. “Anyone can e-mail to 100 hours for Arabic learners and Arabic Institute and Egypt’s Inter- school collaborated with the Roma- sign up.” 80 hours for students of other lan- Stephen Quillen is an Arab national Language Institute are nian government to create a Centre Mayot, who works with the guages. Weekly correspondent. Lebanese fashion designer with an eye on sustainable alternatives

Samar Kadi Working with an NGO in northern Lebanon that trained underprivi- leged women in sewing, knitting Beirut and embroidery helped Ritter create a clothing brand with a mind of its roducing sustainable fashion own. that tends for the environ- “I discovered the old souks of ment combined with couture Tripoli where there are lots of sec- P that appeals to all ages, races ondhand cloth shops and many and backgrounds is at the core of the skilled artisans struggling to find Emergency Room fashion brand cre- work. I also discovered fabric shops ated by Lebanese-French designer that have lots of old stocks not really Eric Ritter. selling. I thought that something The brand’s name, which uses the could be done with what is available founder’s initials, underlines the ur- and decided to launch a new brand gent need to shift from the polluting that would try to be sustainable,” and harmful mass production of fast Ritter said. fashion to a sustainable and ethical Emergency Room uses unique alternative to clothing creation, Rit- vintage material and dead-stock A mix of cultures. A woman goes through clothes at the Emergency Room boutique in Mar Mikhael ter said. fabrics, including from curtains, bed in Beirut. (Emergency Room) “It is a global trend,” he said. “In sheets, mattresses and secondhand different parts of the world there are clothes that are locally sourced to the collection inspired by an eclectic ages, body types, gender, sexualities ing them and they stay on Earth for- people who recognise the impor- create unique pieces providing a mix of outfits such as the Japanese religions and skin colours. We tried ever and ever. It is important to slow tance of doing fashion differently, conscious and authentic ready-to- kimono, Spanish matador jackets to have one person that represents a down the whole process.” especially when you read about wear-line. and European trench coats. category of people that you can find Ritter used the event inaugurating the amount of pollution that is cre- All items are produced in local in Beirut. Altogether they kind of his boutique to make a fashion state- ated from producing clothes and workshops and cooperatives giving represent the whole community. In ment. Attendees were asked to pick hear about the way that fast fashion skilled local artisans a chance to take The brand’s name terms of ages, I had my grandmother any piece of second-hand clothing treats workers, you realise that you part in the process. underlines the urgent need modelling. She is almost 80,” Ritter from a shopping basket, grab scis- cannot build a brand in the same “Using these fabrics, deconstruct- to shift from the polluting said. sors and cut it in whatever way they way that everything is being done ing them and reconstructing them and harmful mass When people are hesitant about like. right now.” into new garments, make for very production of fast fashion to buying sustainable fashion, Ritter “The idea was that with whatever After graduating with a degree unique pieces and designs,” Ritter a sustainable and ethical does double effort, telling the whole they would be cutting we will be us- in fashion design from Esmod in said. alternative to clothing story behind it. ing to create fashion. It was a way Beirut, Ritter, 25, worked with re- A year after introducing the brand creation. “We explain about the fashion in- of awakening everybody to the fact nowned Lebanese and French de- during which he was selling through dustry and the harm caused by fast that it’s OK to use old pieces and to signers in Beirut and Paris. pop-up stores, Ritter opened an A photoshoot campaign Ritter fashion,” he said. “It is very compli- rough them up and that everybody “But still I was not happy because Emergency Room boutique in Bei- initiated alongside the debut of the cated because we have treated fash- can be part of the design process, I thought I was not going to make rut’s hip Mar Mikhael neighbour- boutique, portrayed a wide cast of ion in the last couple of decades as that accidents will create nice pieces any difference and I did not want to hood, displaying a colourful sum- models who, he said, represented disposable, forgetting that clothes at the end of the day,” Ritter said. launch my own brand without find- mer collection. the wide mix of cultures present in are not consumables. These are ing something special to say,” he Lime green, purple and pink are Beirut. things that we buy and stay with us Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly said. some of the bright colours used in “We had 25 models of different until we eventually end up throw- Travel and Society section editor. 22 July 14, 2019 Culture Manarat festival takes movies to the beach

Roua Khlifi

Tunis

he Mediterranean cinema festival Manarat show- cased films outside their T traditional venues, invit- ing audiences to spend summer nights watching movies on Tuni- sia’s beaches. The unique festival, which ran July 1-7, screened films from across the region to bridge Afri- can and European culture. It was organised under the guidance of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs with the cooperation of the National Centre for Cinema and Image and the French Institute of Tunisia. Festival Director Dora Bou- choucha said the event’s name — Manarat — represents “the paths we create in life.” “It is what we need to support our belonging to the Mediterrane- an. It is a festival to bring the two sides of the Mediterranean togeth- er. By screening films on beaches, we chose to bring cinema to peo- ple,” she said The festival included screen- ings in movie theatres and on nine beaches throughout the country. Its motto — “We love life. We go to the movies” — sought to empha- sise that art is a core component of life. Bouchoucha said “the audi- ence fell in love with the festival,” (Manarat) which included free screenings Free cinema for all. The screening of Yousry Nasrallah’s “Brooks, Meadows and Lovely Faces.” on beaches that were attended by some of the actors. help open new film theatres. That that keeps and make us human.” the first Arab film institute com- northern suburb of Tunis, praised “We believe it is important to is why (there are) more Tunisian Bouchoucha noted that it was mission to promote the distribu- the festival bringing free cinema to make accessibility to movies eas- films than last year in this edition.” an opportunity to showcase high- tion of films with the participation a wide audience. ier,” she said, adding that her vi- There were 54 fiction films and quality arthouse cinema, which is of seven Arab films: (from) Tuni- “I wanted to tell simple stories sion is to see more of the country 13 documentaries from 19 coun- often neglected for larger-budget sia, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, the Pal- like eating, living,” said Nasrallah. engaged with diverse cinema. tries screened during the festi- films. estinian territories, Lebanon and “I always say it is my most politi- “The goal is to go to the audi- val. One section was dedicated to Guests included Egyptian ac- Morocco,” said Chiraz Latiri, direc- cal film while it doesn’t have any ence, not wait for them,” Bouchou- works focused on social issues. tresses Elham Shahin and Nelly tor of Tunisia’s National Centre for politics in it.” cha said. “The films are at once in- “We (introduced) socially en- Karim, who presented their films Image and Cinema. Spanish film “Petra” by Jaime teresting, deep and entertaining. gaged films, which we call positive and talked about their experience “This edition, I am happy to an- Rosales was selected best film, Today’s audience is past finding it- film, with five fiction and five doc- in the industry. Director Yousry nounce the foundation of the Arab while the best performance award self on the screen but the audience umentaries,” Bouchoucha said. Nasrallah and Egyptian actor film platform to produce seven went to Greek actor Yannis Dra- wants to forget its difficult routine “It is a cinema of intervention, of Mahmoud Hemida presented mas- projects of Arab film-makers in kopoulos for his role in “Pity.” and daily lives thanks to films that social critique and denouncing is- ter classes. association with the other cin- Lebanese Cyril Aris’s documen- are entertaining, which is why we sues but through cinema. It opens One of the festival’s goals was to ema centres and residencies to tary “The Swing” was chosen best chose films with a cause but also our eyes and even if it doesn’t trig- help Mediterranean and Arab film- promote the development of Arab documentary film. entertaining.” ger a concrete reaction, it encour- makers more effectively distribute cinema.” She added: “Tunisian cinema ages our critical spirit and con- their work. Nasrallah, whose film “Brooks, Roua Khlifi is a regular Travel has thrived in recent years, man- sciousness. It is through art that “Last year, during the first edi- Meadows and Lovely Faces” was and Culture contributor to The aging to fill movie theatres and we manage to preserve that vein tion of the festival, we founded screened on a beach in La Marsa, a Arab Weekly. Asilah Arts Festival explores secrets of ‘African creativity’

Saad Guerraoui cal reflection on the situation in Af- the Expert Group on Institutional director-general of the Internation- mer Cape Verdean minister of cul- rica. He said the socio-political life, Reforms in Africa, said Africa need- al Organisation for Migration, said ture, said humanity will not exist including peace, stability and secu- ed to reinvest in education, train- development in Africa “is a fact without communication, which is Asilah rity, is another determining factor ing and research to prosper and of culture.” She raised questions why freedom is indispensable. Lu- of creativity. boost the culture of creativity. about the quality of education that cio said creativity will thrive more reativity is tied to an effi- “These elements are very funda- Nguimbi called for African gov- varies from one country to another the harder the dictatorships in Af- cient educational system, mental to supporting and enhanc- ernments to give more importance and whether it is up to the chal- rica are. which is a key driver of Afri- ing creativity that is necessary to to women because they carry lenges of the century. can countries’ development the transformation of African soci- strong values and beliefs that will Senegalese poet Amadou C Victor Borges, former in various sectors, said experts and eties,” said Borges, adding that cre- propel Africa’s development. Lamine Sall said Africa does not politicians at a symposium on the ativity was dependent on factors “Without reforming Africans and need the West for development foreign minister of Cape sidelines of the 41st Asilah Interna- that are at the heart of governance building a new cultural paradigm, because it has the potential to do Verde, said creativity was tional Cultural Moussem. and the development process. Africa will not create the right con- it on its own but Nejib Friji, direc- associated with innovation The 3-day symposium “African “We are often told that people ditions for a new socio-economic, tor of the Middle East and North in everyday life. Creativity in Africa and in the Di- create history. I would say that cre- political and scientific paradigm,” Africa Regional Office of the Inter- aspora,” which kicked off African ators shape history,” he said. he said. national Peace Institute, said: “Af- “There are no freedoms without cultural week in Asilah, included Pierre-Michel Nguimbi, CEO of Ndioro Ndiaye, former deputy rican development was tied to an communication… Creativity exists a panel of experts, researchers and integration conceived and led by as human faculty to defy commu- politicians from across Africa. Africans themselves without being nication and freedom,” he said. “As Mohamed Benaissa, secretary- detached from geo-strategic reali- soon as communication becomes general of the Asilah Forum Foun- ties.” a risk, it’s creativity’s role to defy dation and former Moroccan min- Hakim Ben Hammouda, Tunisian it and undermine it. Creativity ister of foreign affairs, said: “Asilah economist and former minister of should also exist among us in order is taking this year a major leap to- economy and finance, said young to push freedom beyond its limits.” wards celebrating Africa by dedi- people in Tunisia are showing proof Borges pointed out that a major cating a whole week to celebrating of creativity in their professions by part of Africans’ future identities African creativity in poetry, litera- using the latest cost-effective tech- will be determined by creativity ture and music.” nology. that is shown today at the structur- Victor Borges, former foreign Ben Hammouda cited the cinema al, artistic, societal, economic and minister of Cape Verde, said crea- industry in Tunisia, in which film- political levels. tivity was associated with inno- maker Abdelhamid Bouchnak’s Sall said those who make up the vation in everyday life. “I am per- “Dachra” has drawn thousands to African diaspora have long parted suaded that creativity is crucial to cinemas because of revolutionary with their home countries and that Africa’s future in arts, culture as technology. Africa’s development must be fully well as agriculture and economy,” Ben Hammouda said that today a reliant on home-grown talent. he said. “Creativity constitutes a new world is born through commu- He called on state institutions decisive element of our tomorrow’s nication tools, including social me- to bolster the spirit of creativity in identity.” dia, that transcended taboos and African youth that is the driving Borges said education should in- An eye on future challenges. Panellists take part in the “African boosted creativity and talent freed force of the 21st century at a time stil information, competences and Creativity in Africa and in the Diaspora” symposium in Asilah. from censorship. the continent is experiencing an creativity tools and promote a criti- (Saad Guerraoui) Mario Lucio, a musician and for- unprecedented brain drain. July 14, 2019 23 Culture Iraqi publishing industry faces challenges in fast-moving landscape

Khulud al-Fallah a few years, hundreds of publishing fabrication.” houses were established, some of “Some books are so superficial which were geared towards certain and their authors unable to even Basra editorial and literary agendas while put together a correct sentence. others were focused on making a Yet, their books are widely known afa Diab, who owns Dar Shah- profit. thanks to Instagram and Facebook riar Publishing House and “Yet,” Diab said, “it is impossible so each new printing of these books Bookshop in Basra, said there to predict the future of publishing runs out of stock in no time,” Diab S is still room for book publish- in Iraq. We have to wait to see who said. “On the other hand, there are ing despite challenges posed by remains standing in the cultural important books that actually run digital publishing and copyright in- arena a few years from now and out of print but not necessarily the fringements. that would depend on the prevail- ones advertised.” Diab rejected the notion that digi- ing economic, cultural and even On whether publishing houses in tal publishing would replace paper scientific conditions of the coun- Iraq prefer to publish novels rather publishing. “The smell of paper t r y.” than poetry, Diab said: “We cannot and its touch,” he said, “the ways really say that publishers inten- of holding and reading a paper edi- tionally turn their backs on poetry tion, the aesthetics of the cover and Book publishing in Iraq in favour of the novel. This reality print and the intimate relationship has gone through many is the result of what readers want. that a reader has with a print copy changes in the last two There is no market for poetry now, can never be replaced by a digital decades. not even for well-known poets. If a copy.” poetry collection achieves success If the Arab world, which is far Diab said non-fiction analytical and sells well, it is by pure chance, A passion for books. Owner of Dar Shahriar Publishing House and from being subjugated by digital books have been the bestsellers no more.” Bookshop in Basra Safa Diab. (Al Arab) technology, does not offer a meas- for his publishing houses since it He said novels were “currently ure of where the future of book opened two years ago. losing a bit of their lustre” because publishing lies, technologically ad- The Iraqi publisher said short sto- of declining quality. ing a book to a downloadable PDF book fairs, pays translation royal- vanced countries are far from aban- ries have also sold well. Since its in- “Some books just carry the format or by photocopying it and ties and costs and foreign publica- doning paper-based books, he said. ception, Dar Shahriar has promoted phrase ‘A Novel’ on the cover. The selling it cheaply. This eventually tion rights, et cetera. Diab said book publishing in Iraq short stories, publishing more than best proof of the loss of popularity causes great problems for readers “A book pirate does none of these has gone through many changes 20 short-story collections. Some of of the novel is its dwindling sales at themselves, he said. things. His investment does not in the last two decades. Before them were written by Arab or Iraqi book fairs in the Arab world during “A legitimate publisher deals di- exceed the price of the paper. So, 2003, there weren’t many publish- writers and others were translated the past two years,” he said. rectly with the authors and their what these acts of piracy are doing ing house, other than official ones into Arabic. Diab said book piracy “infringes problems and efforts, proofreads is basically killing books and pub- devoted to presenting official dis- Diab said some of the figures on the rights of the author and the and edits the submitted versions, lishers altogether.” course and official viewpoints. publishers post about the number publisher.” takes care of the book’s final de- 2003 was a turning point for the of copies printed are true and some “Piracy itself remains a form of sign and cover, pays author royal- Khulud al-Fallah is a publishing industry in Iraq. In just are “either meaningless or pure public theft, whether it is convert- ties, distributes it in bookshops and Libyan writer. Sharjah Museum, impressive showcase of Islamic art

N.P. Krishna Kumar The museum has a large and im- portant collection of early Islamic coins, including a large number of Sharjah Umayyad and Abbasid dinars and dirhams. ith thousands of his- On the first floor are the four gal- torical artefacts from all leries on Islamic art arranged accord- over the Islamic world, ing to time from the earliest period W the Sharjah Museum up to the 20th century. of Islamic Civilisation offers visi- The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic tors a unique exposure to timeless Faith presents an introduction to Is- achievements of Islamic life and its lam and the Quran. The exhibits are universality. arranged to explain the five pillars of Situated in the historical heart of Islam and provides a fascinating ac- Sharjah on the Majarrah waterfront, count of the haj. the museum is housed in what was Outstanding artefacts include sec- once a traditional Middle Eastern tions from the Kiswah, which covers souk. It was initially in the city’s Her- the Kaaba in Mecca, rare historical itage Area when it opened in 1996 Quran manuscripts as well as mod- under the name Sharjah Islamic Mu- els, photographs, presentations and seum until it was relocated in 2008. important facts about mosque archi- One cannot miss the grandeur of tecture from around the world. the building with its arched ceiling The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of and prominent 24-carat gold dome Science and Technology Gallery standing out from afar. showcases the achievements of Is- Curator Entisar al-Obaidli said the lamic science and the contributions museum has more than 5,000 arte- of Islamic scholars to world civilisa- facts, many of which are rare. The tion. Timeless achievements. The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic collection is arranged according to Sophisticated 3D models, audio- Civilisation. (Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation) themes and spread over seven gal- visuals and extensive information leries showcasing aspects of Islamic panels chart some of the most out- faith, science, discoveries, culture standing discoveries, inven- century through the 13th century of European ideas and products. scientist scholars from 200-1400. and Islamic art. tions and theories de- can be seen. Obaidli pointed out some of the Based on Hellenistic prototypes, it Galleries on the ground floor in- veloped by Islamic The Islamic Art Gallery 2 displays prominent items such as the sitara, was perfected in the Islamic world clude the Abu Bakr scholars in such important Islamic artworks dating curtain for the door of the Kaaba in and became the most commonly Gallery of Islamic fields as astronomy, from the 13th-19th centuries. Among Mecca. It is made of black silk satin, used device in astronomy both there Faith, the Ibn Al- medicine, geogra- the objects displayed are some that embroidered with gold and silver and later in Europe. It was used to Haytham Gallery phy, architecture, date to the days following the Mon- threads and features verses from the determine the time during the day of Science and mathematics, chemis- gol invasion of the eastern Islamic Quran, displayed in a traditional sys- or night, to measure latitudes, to ob- Technology try, military technol- world in the 13th century. The gal- tem of panels, circles and borders. serve the positions of the stars and and the Al ogy, marine naviga- lery presents a wide selection of to locate desired destinations. Majarrah tion and engineering. fascinating objects from Ottoman, A wonderful artefact on the first Temporary In the Islamic Art Safavid and Mughal lands. Curator Entisar al-Obaidli floor in the Islamic Art Gallery is the Exhibi- Gallery 1, a wide It was also a period of increas- said the museum has more Lion or Lynx Censer in bronze from tion Gallery range of artefacts, ing global trade, economic growth than 5,000 artefacts, many Khorasan, eastern Iran during the along with including pottery, and fruitful, creative interaction be- of which are rare. 11th-12th centuries, reflecting a pe- the Islamic metalwork, wood- tween artistic, cultural and religious riod of wealth and opulence. Coins Display in carving, manuscripts and communities. This curtain, also known as “Al “Twice a year, we organise exhi- the atrium out- textiles made in the Islam- The Islamic Art Galleries 3-4 are Burda” or “Al Burqu’a” is the most bitions of international standing in side. ic world from the seventh devoted to showcasing Islamic arts, ornamented part of the Kiswah collaboration with other museums crafts and weapons used in the 19th hanging, which covers the Kaaba. and institutions across the world and 20th centuries. In the Ibn al Haytham Gallery of like the Islamic Arts Museum Malay- During this period the region Science and Technology Astrolabes, sia and the Museum of Islamic Art in flourished economically and at- the curator highlighted the differ- Berlin,” said Obaidli. A journey through history. An old Islamic artefact on display at tracted interest from the Europeans, ent models of astrolabes, perhaps the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. which promoted cultural and artistic the most important astronomical N.P. Krishna Kumar is an Arab (Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation) exchange and the increasing influx instrument developed by Islamic Weekly contributor in Dubai. 24 July 14, 2019 Travel www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Dubai: Through August 3

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, the annual Dubai Summer Surprises offers an array of deals across the city’s shopping outlets, at- tractions, hotel staycations and family entertainment.

El Jem: Through August 9

El Jem Roman Amphitheatre, 160km south of Tunis, hosts classical musicians from all over the world for the International Festival of Symphonic Music of El Jem. In its 34th year, the festival programme includes symphonic and orchestral music from Spain, Italy, Austria, Egypt and Tunisia.

Hammamet: Through August 17

Hammamet, a Tunisian town on the northern shore of the Gulf of Hammamet, is the site of the 55th Hammamet International Festival. Concerts and plays are scheduled for more than a month.

Byblos: Artists perform near the cave of Althiburos. (Sailing Stones) Through August 24

Byblos International Festival in the ancient Phoenician port city of Byblos, north of Beirut, fea- Tunisia’s Althiburos cave, an artists’ tures international rock bands and pop singers. This year’s schedule includes French singer Mark Lavoine, Lebanese indie sanctuary in lush landscape rock band Mashrou’ Leila and Britain’s tribute ensemble Queen Symphonic. Roua Khlifi ghith transformed the natural concept. The place is an art gallery share it while they live with us. cave into a cultural and artistic and an archaeological site but, at We want to encourage traditional Beiteddine: temple, which became a sanctuary the same time, we want to make it cuisine and farming. It is a whole July 18-August 10 Dahmani for artists looking for inspiration an experience,” Chelly explained. life that people should adapt to be and visitors seeking a break from “People are interested in camp- and to embrace and be connected The annual Beiteddine Art Fes- n the outside, the cave modern life. ing on the site to enjoy being in to nature.” tival, in the Chouf mountains, looks like a typical natural After spending a large period of nature. We want to include artistic She added: “The cave will also includes a variety of perfor- sight. Amid green fields, his life abroad, Belghith returned workshops and residencies to al- host a festival for circus arts. The mances from opera and concerts O the cave is surrounded by to his father’s land and wanted to low people to be inspired by the architecture also will be a focal to theatre and art exhibitions. high hills in the distance at Tuni- transform the cave into a work- energy of the place but we don’t point. We can have architecture The festival welcomes more sia’s El Kef province. Trees circle shop for artists. For the past few want it to be only a question of us- students to build small huts or than 50,000 visitors as well as the cave, which feels deserted, al- years, the cave served as an art ing the space. We want artists to pools using materials that are bio- numerous star performers. most outside time and place. One gallery and a workshop. exchange knowledge and exper- and eco-friendly. It should be a can sense the solitude of the place. Having hosted a festival for al- tise.” spiritual experience for one to re- Jerash: The entrance is narrow and dark. ternative music in March, the cave The cave is situated amid beau- connect.” July 19-27 Walking closer to the cave, one is is gaining a reputation for being a tiful landscapes and has a camp- Chelly said the idea of using the met with an eerie feeling that sug- sanctuary for artists seeking resi- ing site. There are also rooms to cave began with a desire to pro- The Jerash Festival of Culture gests mystery. dencies in natural surroundings. accommodate guests. Spending a mote a different image of tourism and Arts, first put on in 1980, Yet, the minute visitors step in- The cave of Althiburos is not couple of days at the cave is guar- in Tunisia as well as to explore dif- transforms the ancient Jordani- side, that feeling dissipates. Walls only a home for legends and anteed to restore one’s peace and ferent cultural programmes. an city of Jerash into one of the are decorated in paintings, colour- myths that have haunted the peo- energy as visitors enjoy strolls in “It started with exploring new world’s liveliest cultural events, ful and joyful, standing in contrast ple of the village of Dahmani, it is a nature as well as traditional cui- places for camping and discover- with singers, poetry readings, to the location’s seemingly desert- haven and statuary for those who sine. ing these gems in Tunisia. Know- ballet performances, symphony ed appearance. The cave feels cosy seek inspiration and peace. “We want to encourage a notion ing the painter who owns the orchestras and art shows. This and welcoming as intended by its Product designer and artist Yas- of sharing and learning among place, I got to know more and the year’s edition includes artists owner. mine Chelly is a member of the people. The experience has to be cave has energy. Ammar wants such as Marcel Khalife, Moham- Only two hours from Tunis, team in charge of cultural pro- participatory,” Chelly said. “They it to be a sanctuary for artists,” ed Mounir, Abeer Nema and the the cave of Althiburos, in north- grammes at the cave. The goal is are inclusive and we are planning Chelly said. Sultans of Syria. western Tunisia, welcomes visi- to implement a new vision of cul- to be the venue for events that also “We don’t want it to be just a tors who can enjoy the historical ture. encourage people to be part and to venue for events but a spiritual Dubai: as well as the cultural inspiration “Along with the owner, Ammar give also. journey to connect with nature August 29 of the site. Belghith and artist Gaith Neffti, “Whatever experience they have and people.” Tunisian painter Ammar Bel- we are seeking to launch a new or skills or expertise, they can The site has much to offer, be- Westlife, the four-piece Irish tween exploring the mythical band, is performing at the side and the natural and histori- Coca-Cola Arena. The band is cal side. Outside the cave, one can celebrating 20 years of record- explore the “wells of love,” which breaking success; the members is based on a legend that Belghith of Westlife have embarked on knows how to tell best. The land their highly anticipated reunion belonged to his ancestors and the tour, the Twenty Tour. well has a sad legend that two lov- ers, Maysar and Marconda, fell in Tangier: and drowned but returned as trees September 15-22 that stand near the well. Not far from the cave, one can The 20th Tangier’s Jazz Festival explore the ruins of Althiburos, will feature international and lo- an archaeological site that dates cal jazz artists. Visitors can enjoy to before the third century when free street performances, free it was under Roman rule. The site dance courses and jazz concerts has remains of a forum, a theatre during the 8-day event. This and a house with mosaics. The year’s festival lineup includes theatre is 60 metres long and 35 Buika, Anne Sila and Nico Mo- metres wide. relli. While it is still being excavated, the site offers a glimpse to the in- We welcome submissions of fluence of the Roman Empire in calendar items related to north-western Tunisia. The site cultural events of interest to was chosen by Numidians to build travellers in the Middle East their town, which was granted the and North Africa. status of a municipality under the Please send tips to: Roman rule because it was on the [email protected] Visitors enjoy green fields near the cave of Althiburos. (Sailing Stones) route from Carthage.