UK £2 Issue 247, Year 5 March 8, 2020 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Iraq’s political Post-election Coronavirus uncertainties deadlock fears in the persist amid unrest in Israel Middle East

Pages 3, 7, 9 Pages 2, 6, 14 Pages 4, 16, 17 Tunis suicide attack resurrects terrorism shadow, memory of Ben Guerdane’s battle Attack shows that jihadists are still irked by the memory of security forces winning the battle of Ben Guerdane, four years ago.

Stephen Quillen in the Tunis suburb but disrupted and Lamine Ghanmi activity there only briefly. Soon af- terwards, the high-end restaurants and coffee shops in the area were Tunis back to usual business. “I heard a huge thud that I first n the anniversary of a wa- thought was a tremor,” a private tershed battle in the south security guard, posted across the of the country, suicide street from the embassy, said. O bombers struck a police Sofiene Sliti, the spokesman for checkpoint near the US Embassy in Tunisia’s counterterrorism crimes Tunis, jolting the country into real- court, said the two attackers were ising that the fight against terrorism carrying a large amount of explo- is far from over. sives and that their motorbike was The March 6 bombing killed a po- booby-trapped. liceman and injured five other peo- Local media said the attackers ple. The two attackers also died. were Tunisian nationals who had The terrorist incident occurred recently been released from prison. on the eve of Tunisia marking the Their identities were not released fourth anniversary of the battle of but media reports said they were Ben Guerdane in southern Tunisia, from a working-class neighbour- where security forces with the help hood north of Tunis and that one of the local population repelled an of them had been imprisoned over Ben Guerdane’s anniversary. Police secure the scene of bomb attack near the US Embassy in Tunis, attempt by Islamic State-affiliated charges of “glorifying terrorism” on March 6. (AFP) extremists to establish a foothold social media. on the border between Tunisia and The bombing was among a string against terrorists; that’s why they Tunisian citizens who fought with Fakhfakh released a statement call- Libya. of lone-wolf attacks in recent years are opting for such desperate acts extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, ing on the country to “close ranks A total of 55 extremists were but the trend is a far cry from jihad- reflecting their confusion,” Mechi- many of whom are under surveil- and reject any form of violence that killed in Ben Guerdane and 42 ar- ist activities in 2015, when Islamic chi said. lance, house arrest or in prison. could threaten Tunisia’s security rested, while 13 security troops and State-claimed assaults on the Bardo Others saw additional lessons Instability in next-door Libya, and democracy.” seven civilians died. The battle is National Museum and the Sousse from the suicide attack. Amel where heavily armed militias and He praised security units that commemorated each year by Tu- beach resort caused scores of fatali- Grami, an expert on extremism, jihadist formations, including Tuni- “have shown great courage and nisians as a triumph against terror- ties. said the attacks could be a form of sian militants, roam the landscape promptness in the fight against ter- ism. Terror-related concerns in Tunis “retaliation” for the killing of Abu amid continued civil strife, is an- rorism.” “We will be celebrating the anni- in recent years have been limited to Iyadh, the head of Ansar al-Sharia other source of concern for Tuni- As it battles a lingering terror- versary of the Ben Guerdane battle relatively small-scale attacks with of Tunisia, which has claimed alle- sian authorities. ist threat, Tunisia remains under a as a victory against terrorism,” min- limited casualties and clashes in giance to the Islamic State, as well “The attack indicates that the state of emergency. ister of the interior Hichem Mechi- the mountainous regions near Al- as a “message to the West and US security challenge remains a major chi told Tunisian television. geria between security troops and telling us they are still alive.” challenge in Tunisia,” security ana- Stephen Quillen and The March 6 blast shocked the jihadist fighters. Adding to Tunisia’s terror con- lyst Ali Zeramdini told Reuters. Lamine Ghanmi are Arab Weekly diplomatic and business enclave “We have retaken the initiative cerns is the return of hundreds of Incoming Prime Minister Elyes correspondents in Tunis. Idlib agreement draws battle lines for next Turkish-Russian escalation

Thomas Seibert soldiers into Idlib since early Febru- The day after the Moscow agree- quoted Russian Foreign Ministry The clash between Moscow’s pri- ary. ment, the Syrian Observatory for spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as orities and those of Turkey, which Turkey is likely to try to turn the Human Rights, a war monitor, said saying that “as far as efforts to elimi- has supported rebel groups fighting Istanbul northern part of the province into nine rebel fighters and six Syrian nate militants and terrorists go, if Assad, has not gone away with the a “safe zone” for hundreds of thou- government soldiers had been killed they are designated as such, they latest Moscow agreement. As those he ceasefire agreement for sands of refugees who have fled in fresh clashes. must be eradicated, first and fore- differences persist, they could be- Idlib, struck March 5 in Mos- fighting in other parts of Idlib, the Referring to the many jihadist for- most, by the Syrian Armed Forces come the backdrop for the next es- cow, seems to draw the bat- last rebel bastion in Syria after nine mations that make up a major part of and the forces of countries that le- calation in Idlib. T tle lines for the next escala- years of war. the Turkey-backed Syrian armed op- gally cooperate with the Syrian au- tion between Turkey and Russia in Syria has seen many ceasefire position, Russia and Syria say “ter- thorities.” Charles Lister Syria. agreements that broke down shortly rorists” in Idlib must be stopped. Charles Lister, director of the “I think the agreement is not after they were signed, however. The Russian news agency Tass Countering Terrorism and Extrem- strong enough and will not hold for ism Programme at the Middle East a long time,” Mohannad Othman of Institute in Washington, said the “In other words, this [Syria] the Al-Sham Humanitarian Founda- remark by Zakharova indicated that ceasefire is likely to be as tion, an NGO active in Syria, said via the new truce might be short-lived. meaningless as all those that e-mail a day after the Russian-Turk- “In other words, this [Syria] cease- came before it.” ish deal was struck. fire is likely to be as meaningless as “I think what was produced yes- all those that came before it,” Lister Iran, Assad’s second international terday is a status quo, where both wrote on Twitter. partner, is another factor that could sides accept a temporary situation Some refugees in Idlib also said rock the new ceasefire, said Michael as it is, and fighting will resume very they were not very hopeful and ex- Tanchum, a senior fellow at the Aus- soon,” he said. press scepticism about the commit- trian Institute for European and Se- The agreement between Russian ment of Damascus and its Russian curity Policy. President Vladimir Putin and Turk- backers to the ceasefire. “Iran-backed Shia militias and es- ish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan The main goal of Russia, Assad’s pecially Hezbollah fought very hard in effect cuts Idlib in half. The sec- main backer, is to secure a victory against Turkish allied forces in key tor of the embattled Syrian province by the Syrian Army in Idlib, which strategic locations,” Tanchum said south of the M4 highway, which would seal Assad’s triumph over his in a message in response to ques- crosses Idlib from east to west, is adversaries nine years after the Syr- tions. “Iran will need to be brought to be controlled by forces loyal to ian war began. Success in helping into the process or Hezbollah could Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Assad to regain control of the whole reignite tensions with attacks on area north of the M4 will be under country would be a major strate- Turkey-backed forces.” the control of various rebel groups, gic win for Russia, cementing the of which the jihadist Hayat Tahrir Opposite directions. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and his country’s new role as a Middle East Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly al-Sham is the strongest, and of Tur- Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their talks at the power broker as the influence of the correspondent. key, which has sent thousands of Kremlin in Moscow, March 5. (AP) United States in the region wanes. 2, 7-8, 15 2 March 8, 2020 Top news

Putin frustrates Turkey’s military plans in Idlib

Thomas Seibert

Istanbul

he new Russian-Turkish agreement for a ceasefire in the embattled Syrian prov- T ince of Idlib demonstrates that Moscow, as the supreme pow- er in Syria, is ready to override An- kara’s interests to reach its aim of ending the war with a victory for its partner, Syrian President Bashar Assad, analysts said. The agreement, announced March 5 after a 6-hour meeting in Moscow between Russian Presi- dent Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan essentially froze the conflict lines in Idlib. The deal did not force Assad’s forces to roll back mili- tary gains made in the past three months, which had been a key Turkish demand. Erdogan also failed to get Putin to agree to a no- fly-zone in Idlib. The deal lacked specifics or a known mechanism to enforce the truce. It is the latest of many cease- fire agreements for Idlib. All un- ravelled within a few months, trig- gering new government offensives that captured more territory from the opposition. Syrian government forces now control much of Syria after evicting rebels from other Tense calm. Syrians ride motorcycles as Turkish military vehicles drive past a camp for displaced people near the village of Kafr Lusin in parts of the country. Syria’s north-eastern Idlib province, March 6. (AFP) Carlo Masala, an international affairs expert at Bundeswehr Uni- versity in Munich, said the Mos- cow backed Assad while Ankara Turkey’s military success against become territory controlled by As- unable to do what it wants in Idlib. cow meeting clearly demonstrated supported the government’s foes. Syrian forces in recent days, espe- sad’s forces. Tanchum and other Masala said Turkey needed Putin’s Turkey’s dependence on Russia in Both Russia and Turkey wanted to cially through the use of drones, experts said those outposts would consent for measures to prevent a the Syrian conflict. “It’s an asym- avoid a showdown but the sharply “was sufficient to prevent the fur- have to be moved north. Erdogan, mass influx of hundreds of thou- metric relationship,” Masala said conflicting interests in Idlib prov- ther advancement of the Syrian speaking during his flight to Tur- sands of refugees into Turkey, one by phone. “Erdogan had to accept ince made it difficult to negotiate a military and allied forces in Idlib key from Moscow, said the out- of the main goals of the month-old that he is the weaker partner. Rus- mutually acceptable compromise. province.” posts would stay where they are. military intervention by the Turk- sia’s main goal of restoring Assad’s The truce seemed to be holding As a result, “Russia agreed to a ish army. power in all parts of Syria hasn’t the day after the summit, even halt, at least for the time being, of Despite the Turkish “Creating a safe zone [for refu- though the Syrian Observatory the Syrian government’s attempt changed.” leader’s upbeat gees] in the Turkish-controlled Masala said the development for Human Rights, a war monitor, to retake territory. This helps pre- part of Idlib will require a green could increase pressure by Putin said nine rebel fighters and six Syr- serves Turkey’s positions in north- comments, Ankara is light from Russia,” Masala said. on Erdogan to accept direct or in- ian government soldiers had been ern Syria, which Ankara views as a clearly unable to do what “Right now, I don’t see any incen- direct talks with the Assad admin- killed in fresh clashes. vital national issue,” Tanchum said it wants in Idlib. tive for Russia to agree to that,” he istration, something the Turkish The deal envisages a security via e-mail. said. leader had rejected. corridor along the M4, a key east- “However, Turkey has had to Erdogan also said his personal re- Masala said he does not foresee “That could be the next step,” west highway in Idlib. Russian accept the territorial gains made lationship with Putin was as close a major military role for the West Masala said about possible con- and Turkish troops are supposed by the Syrian government. The as ever. He was in constant contact in Idlib. “We — as EU and NATO — tacts between Turkish and Syrian to begin joint patrols on the M4 M-4 highway is the new bound- with the Russian leader and the won’t do anything if it’s close to officials. “At the end of the day, on March 15. The reopening of the ary of the Turkish monitored pair could intervene immediately Russian troops,” he said. He also Russia wants a political solution M4, which has been closed by in- area of Idlib.” “as soon as something explodes.” warned that Western troops tasked that keeps Assad in power. Mos- surgents since 2012, will be a test The fate of Turkish military out- Erdogan added that Turkey would with guarding a possible safe zone cow wants this conflict to end.” for the new Russia-Turkey deal. posts, erected under a previous remain “vigilant” against ceasefire would need a robust mandate for Until the latest crisis, Putin and Michael Tanchum, a senior fel- Russian-Turkish deal, was unclear. violations by Syrian forces. military action, something Euro- Erdogan had coordinated their in- low at the Austrian Institute for Several of the positions are south Despite the Turkish leader’s up- pean countries were not ready to terests in Syria even though Mos- European and Security Policy, said of the M4, in what has, in effect, beat comments, Ankara is clearly accept at the moment. Israel elections fail to break impasse, give Arab parties higher standing

Samir Wahbi Gantz is very unlikely to try to in- an intensive get-out-the-vote cam- vite into his coalition the Arab Joint paign. Voters were also motivated list, a coalition of parties formed in by resentment of the provisions Paris Israel by post-1948 Palestinians. contained in the US peace proposal Taunted by Netanyahu over the de about the possible transfer of the fter its third parliamentary facto support of the Joint List for his population of Israel’s Arab Triangle election in less than a year, camp, Gantz is keeping Arab parties to Palestinian sovereignty. Israel faces continued po- at arm’s length. Furthermore, former There was also lingering bitterness A litical deadlock and could Defence Minister Avigdor Lieber- about the law passed by Netanyahu’s head once more to the polls. man, a hard-line ally of the Blue and government in 2018 declaring Israel The results of the vote gave Israeli White alliance, would not accept in a Jewish state and pushing them to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanya- any circumstance to be part of a coa- second-rate citizen status. hu’s Likud party 36 seats out of 120 lition with the Joint List. Arab voters and politicians had in parliament against 33 seats for ri- Israeli “Zionist” parties cannot ig- mixed feelings about the election re- val Blue and White alliance of former nore the Arab factor. The Joint List sults. “It was a mix of happiness and Arab factor. Head of Israel’s predominantly Arab Joint List army chief Benny Gantz. Combined won 15 seats and is the third-largest pride at the result for the Arab com- coalition Ayman Odeh talks to reporters in the city of Haifa, with allied formations, Netanyahu’s formation in parliament. It was munity and disappointment at the March 3. (AFP) bloc counted 58 seats, three seats boosted by a turnout of nearly 65%, national result,” Yousef Jabareen, short of a governing majority. the highest rate since 1999. an Arab-Israeli lawmaker said in an Netanyahu’s opponents in parlia- Alluding to fears of coronavirus “The Joint List is here. The Arab interview with the New York Times. ment, including Blue and White and contagion during elections, Ayelet public is here. We forced everyone “Netanyahu, with all his racist in- the Joint List, are reported to be dis- Gundar-Goshen, an award-winning The predominantly Arab — because of our power, because of citement, succeeded in getting more cussing the legal possibility of pre- Israeli screenwriter and novelist, Joint List won 15 seats our public that granted us power — power.” venting the beleaguered prime min- wrote for Time magazine: “History and is the third-largest to treat us as an important and de- The Joint List will not sit in the ister from being designated again by will tell us whether the infection we formation in parliament. cisive factor,” MP Ahmad Tibi told same cabinet with Lieberman just to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to had to fear most was indeed the cor- Israel’s Army Radio. He said the two thwart the Likud. “Getting rid of Ne- form the next cabinet. That is seen in onavirus, or another infection: Hate Theoretically, the election math additional seats won by the Joint tanyahu does not come at any price,” any case as an unlikely scenario that plague — to the justice system, to would secure a 62-58 advantage for List compared to September’s elec- said Jabareen. could plunge the country into a con- minorities, to democratic principles the anti-Netanyahu camp in parlia- tion were instrumental in blocking An additional factor that will stitutional crisis. — that is spreading so fast and deep ment but nearly insurmountable Netanyahu’s Likud from getting a 61- determine the outcome of Israeli Israeli political analysts see Israeli and so dangerously.” divisions in the bloc would prevent seat majority. politics is the criminal case against politics as dangerously divided and Gantz from forming a governing coa- Israeli Arab parties achieved their Netanyahu, scheduled to go to trial hate filled, even without the Arab Samir Wahbi is an Arab writer based lition. unprecedented performance after March 17. factor. in Paris. March 8, 2020 3 Top news Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah militia engages in sabre-rattling as political vacuum endures

The Arab Weekly staff

London

raq was left with a political vac- uum after Mohammed Allawi withdrew as prime minister- I designate and accused political rivals of obstruction. Allawi announced his decision March 2 after failing to secure a parliamentary quorum for a vote on his proposed cabinet within the constitutionally mandated 30-day deadline, leaving Iraq in a politi- cal logjam and leading to increased pressure from the Iran-backed Pop- ular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). “Some are trying to nominate candidates for the prime minister position who are accused of being involved in the US assassination of [Iranian al-Quds Force] commander Qassem Soleimani and PMF com- mander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,” Abu Ali al-Askari, a security official for Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah, posted on Twitter. “This is a declaration of war against Iraqi people that will burn what remains of Iraq.”

Kata’ib Hezbollah announced a March 15 deadline for Iraqis to break off contact with US troops or face consequences.

A cross section of Iraqi political forces, particularly Sunni and Kurd- ish blocs, coalesced against Allawi’s nomination, complaining that his cabinet locked them out of power. Allawi had been backed by the Fa- Tinderbox. Protesters chant slogans as they walk past a Kata’ib Hezbollah billboard during an anti-government demonstration in Basra, tah Alliance — the PMF’s political last January. (AFP) wing — and cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sairoun Alliance, the two most powerful Shia forces in Iraq. ed, Kata’ib Hezbollah turned up the will bear the responsibility for their Askari called on other PMF groups ani and Muhandis. Caretaker Prime Minister Adel heat with Askari threatening any stance of reluctance and stubborn- to support Kata’ib Hezbollah’s di- “This historic crime was carried Abdul-Mahdi said he would take a Iraqis working with US troops. ness before God and the people.” rective “with everything in their out with the knowledge of one of voluntary absence, handing duties Addressing the “owners of Iraqi Askari’s statement directly ad- ability.” Iraq’s three presidents who facili- to the head of his office, Abu Jihad transportation and security com- dressed Iraq’s security forces, specif- Kata’ib Hezbollah’s announce- tated this cowardly act,” the state- al-Hashemi, and his cabinet. Hashe- panies” via Twitter, Askari issued ically those under command of the ment was in retaliation to the US ment said. mi is viewed by many in Baghdad what he termed a “final and irre- Interior Ministry and counterterror- State Department designating the The term “Iraq’s three presiden- as Iran’s man in Iraq and Abdul- versible warning” to cancel their ism units. “To preserve your history group’s leader, Ahmad al-Hamida- cies” is believed to be a reference to Mahdi’s decision as a stalling tac- contracts with US forces. He warned and your loyalty to the blood of the wi, as a “specially designated global the president, prime minister and tic given that, if he had remained, any Iraqis with diplomatic or eco- martyrs, it is imperative to not meet terrorist.” Hamidawi replaced Mu- speaker of parliament. Iraq’s constitution would mandate nomic ties to US troops to cut off with the leaders of the occupation,” handis. “We are prepared to provide his duties revert to President Bar- contact. he said. A statement from the group, also what information we have on this ham Salih. Kata’ib Hezbollah announced a Iraq’s military is divided into issued March 4, accused one of issue exclusively to Mr Adel Abdul- While Iraq waited for a new prime March 15 deadline for Iraqis to break factions and includes the PMF, of Iraq’s most senior officials of collu- Mahdi in person,” the statement minister-designate to be nominat- off contact with US troops or “they which Kata’ib Hezbollah is part. sion in the assassination of Soleim- concluded. Houthi rebels terrorise Jawf homes, loot hospitals

Mohammed Alkhereiji ransacked more than 48 homes in of a power struggle between the Al Hazm. government and the UAE-backed The statement claimed the Hou- separatist Southern Transitional London this banned 29,500 children from at- Council (STC), which seized con- tending schools or the local College trol of the city last year amid dead- he United Nations called of Education and Human Sciences. ly clashes. for restraint and the pro- The militia also allegedly looted Al- A military source told Al-Masdar tection of civilians as the Hazm Hospital. The groups called News that STC fighters prevented T spike in fighting in Yemen’s on the United Nations and humani- Saudi forces from reaching the Oil Marib, Jawf and Sana’a governo- tarian organisations to speed deliv- Harbour in Aden, where they had rates continued. eries of emergency provisions. been heading to begin negotiations Clashes broke out March 1 in the with other STC personnel who had Rule of fear. Houthi fighters display their weapons during a Jawf city of Al Hazm, leading to a prevented a ship from offloading gathering in Sana’a, February 20. (AP) massive displacement of civilians. Iran-backed Houthis fuel days earlier. Heavy fighting, including artillery raided and ransacked For decades, many southern shelling, was reported on the out- more than 48 homes Yemenis have said they felt ex- sacked Zoubaidi as Aden governor Iran-backed Houthis took con- skirts of Al Hazm. Agence France- in Al Hazm. ploited by leaders in the north, in May 2017. Zoubaidi then joined trol of Sana’a in September 2014, Presse reported that more than including former President Ali the southern separatists, which forcing Hadi to flee the country. In 2,000 families had been displaced. Aden, the temporary capital of Abdullah Saleh and his associates. eventually rebranded itself as the March 2015, a Saudi-led military Most of Jawf was previously un- Yemen’s internationally recog- Anti-Saleh sentiment led to the STC movement. coalition fighting in support of the der Houthi control; however, the nised government, has been beset formation of the Southern Mobility The STC has been a challenge to Hadi government began a military fall of Al Hazm is a logistics night- by violence, including targeted Movement in 2007, which has the Hadi’s authority in southern Yem- campaign against the Houthis. The mare for Saudi Arabia because it killings. Local media reported that re-establishment of South Yemen en. In August, separatists seized fighting triggered what the United is only 150km south of the Saudi a Yemeni soldier had been assassi- as an independent state as its main control of Aden and battled gov- Nations described as the world’s border. nated March 2 in Aden. goal. ernment forces in other southern worst humanitarian crisis, with With the fall of Jawf, the Hou- The victim’s father was a promi- STC President Aidarus al-Zou- provinces, which prompted Saudi millions displaced and in need of this’ brutality has also been on nent military commander and had baidi and Yemeni President Abd Arabia and the United Arab Emir- aid. display. A statement by nine civil been assassinated in similar cir- Rabbo Mansour Hadi have a his- ates to step in to calm tensions. society organisations in Marib and cumstances in 2012. tory of bad blood between them, However, tensions between the Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf Jawf said the militia raided and Aden has become the focal point stemming from the time Hadi two sides have continued. section editor of The Arab Weekly. 4 March 8, 2020 Top news

What peace process in Libya after Salame? IAEA raises alarm over Michel Cousins community. The United Nations is at fault be- Iran’s nuclear cause, since the 2011 toppling of Lib- Tunis yan leader Muammar Qaddafi, it has programme continuously tried to install a stand- he announcement by Ghassan ard Western-style political system Salame that he was resigning in Libya that runs roughshod over News agencies as UN special envoy to Libya the country’s political traditions and T and head of its support mis- components; the international com- Vienna sion was not wholly unexpected. munity because, despite promises in There were rumours last year he Berlin, it balked at taking the tough ran has nearly tripled its stockpile was considering resigning because of decisions needed to stop the flow of enriched uranium over the last health issues. Since then, however, of weapons and mercenaries from three months in violation of its diplomatic efforts to resolve the Liby- foreign actors that is now the prime I agreement with world powers and an crisis have faced ever greater chal- cause for the conflict’s continuation. is refusing to answer questions about lenges, with questions asked regularly A few days before he tweeted his three possible undeclared nuclear about how long Salame could contin- resignation, Salame angrily lashed out sites, the International Atomic Energy ue facing them. at the failure of the international com- Agency said. The final straw was the collapse munity to ensure the promises made International Atomic Energy Agency of UN Support Mission in Libya (UN- in Berlin were kept. “Did I get the kind (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi SMIL) efforts to build on January’s of support needed since then? My said March 3 the issue was “serious” Berlin Conference on Libya and re- answer is: no. I need much more sup- Fourth to try. UN Special Envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame delivers and he expressed hope Iran would re- launch efforts to find a diplomatic port,” he said. a news briefing after a meeting of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military turn quickly to full compliance. solution to the crisis — specifically It was not just the absence of mean- Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, February 6. (Reuters) “I sincerely hope that Iran will listen the 5+5 talks between top military ingful pressure on the sanctions to us and listen to the voice of the in- commanders from both sides of the violators, such as Turkey, there was ternational community at the board of conflict and the political dialogue that absence of international pressure on ists and revolutionaries to accept the For the moment, it is Williams who governors and assess that it is in their was to start February 26. Libyan players as well. results of the 2014 elections, which is left in charge in what may be a own interest to cooperate with us,” he It effectively collapsed when both “They [key international players] they lost, and to then seize power in lengthy interregnum. said. “We don’t have a political agenda. the rival Tobruk-based House of Rep- have many ways of putting pressure Tripoli, forcing the government to Guterres’s other problem is the We simply are requesting them to com- resentatives and the Tripoli-based on those who violate the ceasefire, on flee east to Beida, was one of the main view among Libyan players, and ply with their obligations.” High Council of State decided to boy- those who violate the arms embargo, roots of the current divisions. probably others, that Salame’s resig- “We will be walking towards a crisis cott it, which exposed UNMSIL’s dip- on those who do not come to Geneva Guterres’s hope of a smooth transi- nation presses the restart button, that (if not),” he warned. lomatic efforts as a failure. political talks, on those who give or- tion and a continuation of UNSMIL’s existing UNSMIL plans are dead in the Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium Two statements regarding Salame’s ders to sabotage the military or politi- efforts is unlikely to turn into reality water. is more than five times the limit fixed resignation stand out as to what hap- cal talks,” Salame said. “They could be First, he is likely to have difficulty Certainly, they are on hold until a under a landmark 2015 deal with world pens next — although not necessarily doing all this. Did they do it the way in finding a quick replacement for new envoy is found, Williams per- powers, the IAEA, the United Nations’ in the way intended — and they con- they committed to do it? My answer Salame. Many will see the job as an suades a reluctant White House to nuclear monitoring group, said. tradict each other. is no.” impossible task. Deputy Special En- take a more proactive policy on Libya. The IAEA said, as of February 19, Former Libyan Ambassador to the The United Nations’ focus on in- voy Stephanie Williams, who in 2018 That would not be an easy task al- Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to- United Nations Ibrahim al-Dabbashi stalling a standard Western political was interim US charge d’affaires to though surprises cannot be ruled out talled 1,020.9 kilograms, compared said Salame failed in the task given system in Libya — believing that a Libya, would certainly assure con- in Libya. to 372.3 kilograms noted in its report him and so would anyone who re- ceasefire, an interim government of tinuity. However, although she is However, if it is to effect real pro- November 3. The nuclear deal that Iran placed him. UN Secretary-General An- national unity and then elections will hard-working and highly focused on gress in Libya, the United Nations signed in 2015 with the United States, tonio Guterres said he wants a smooth solve the crisis and ignoring Libya’s achieving success, it is thought Rus- needs to rethink what it can offer. Fo- Germany, France, Britain, China and transition in UNMSIL “so as not to political traditions — is the fundamen- sia and France would oppose her ap- cused on elections and a new govern- Russia allows Iran to keep a stockpile lose any momentum on the gains that tal problem. pointment. ment as the answer to Libya’s prob- of 202.8 kilograms. have been made.” It is the reason why Salame’s pre- For that reason, but also because lems, it is on the wrong track. With the violations, Tehran has said Dabbashi is right in speaking of decessors as UN special envoys were Guterres said at the African Union The focus must be on bringing it hopes to put pressure on the other failure and predicting it would not also seen as having failed. There were summit in February that it should Libyans together again. Only then is countries involved to increase eco- end with a new appointment but elections in Libya in 2012 and in 2014. play a greater role in finding a Libya there any chance that elections and a nomic incentives to make up for hard- he is wrong in personalising it. It Neither brought peace, stability or solution, he may look to a leading new government could succeed. hitting sanctions imposed by Wash- was not Salame’s fault diplomatic ef- progress to the country. They, in fact, African politician. The question re- ington after the American withdrawal forts failed — it was the fault of the made matters worse. mains: Who would want to take the Michel Cousins is a contributor to from the nuclear agreement. United Nations and the international The refusal by the coalition of Islam- job? The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. In a second report issued March 3, the IAEA said it identified three sites in Iran where the country possibly stored undeclared nuclear material or under- Fear snowballs in Middle East over spread of coronavirus took nuclear-related activities without alerting international observers. It said it sent questions to Iran in three sepa- The Arab Weekly staff in all 31 Iranian provinces. Friday rate letters but received no answers. prayers were cancelled across major “The agency identified a number cities. of questions related to possible unde- London Iraq cancelled Friday prayers in clared nuclear material and nuclear- Karbala, where a weekly sermon related activities at three locations he number of people in- is delivered on behalf of the coun- in Iran that had not been declared by fected with the novel coro- try’s top Shia cleric. Authorities in Iran,” the IAEA said. navirus topped 100,000 as the United Arab Emirates limited The IAEA previously said uranium T of March 6, as the global prayers to two verses of the Quran, particles of man-made origin had been epidemic upended routines, threat- so they lasted no more than 10 min- discovered at a location outside Tehran ened livelihoods and prompted utes. that had not been declared, which ap- quarantine measures. Saudi Arabia has been especial- peared to confirm allegations by the The consequences of the virus ly cautious as the health concern United States and Israel about a secret outbreak extended beyond the grows, taking the unprecedented nuclear warehouse. health realm, as closed borders and measure of barring Muslim pilgrims The agency said Tehran responded a general economic slowdown were from Islam’s holiest sites for the to its latest concerns in a letter January expected to hurt struggling commu- year-round umrah pilgrimage to 28 that “Iran will not recognise any al- nities for months to come. prevent an outbreak. legation on past activities and does not World Food Programme Execu- There are fears that the pilgrim- consider itself obliged to respond to tive Director David Beasley warned ages, which see millions of people Across divides. A Palestinian man wearing a protective mask such allegation.” of the potential for “absolute devas- converge on relatively small reli- stands outside Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. (AFP) The IAEA responded that its requests tation” as the outbreak’s effects rip- gious sites, could be a major source for clarification were in line with Iran’s pled through Africa and the Middle of contagion spread. However, the broader commitment to allow inspec- East, parts of which are already suf- cancellations drew scrutiny from tourists from the Israeli-occupied raeli and Palestinian medical work- tions of its nuclear facilities and not fering from conflict and instability. religious hardliners and risks cost- West Bank just weeks ahead of the ers. tied to the landmark nuclear deal. ing the kingdom millions of dollars Easter season. COGAT said the closure of Bethle- Some experts consider the amount in tourism revenue. The action by the Palestinian hem would apply to all Israelis and of nuclear material Iran has amassed The United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates, home Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Palestinians but not goods, which sufficient to produce a nuclear weap- has imposed tight to two of the world’s major long- threatened to devastate the vital would continue to flow freely and on. However, Tehran would still need restrictions, warning haul airlines — Emirates and Etihad tourism industry in the town where the closure would remain in place several more steps, including further citizens and foreign — has imposed tight restrictions, Jesus is believed to have been born. until further notice. enrichment, to make the substance us- residents not to travel warning citizens and foreign resi- The Church of the Nativity was More than 4,990 cases of the vi- able in a weapon. abroad during the global dents not to travel abroad during closed after suspicions that four Pal- rus, which causes the illness COV- The report said that Iran has not outbreak. the global outbreak. estinians had caught the virus. The ID-19, have been confirmed across been enriching uranium above 4.5%. The warning from the country’s Health Ministry said seven Pales- the Middle East. Iran and Italy have An enrichment level of around 90% By far the worst hit country in Health and Community Protection tinians from Bethlehem had tested the world’s highest death tolls out- would be needed for weapons viability. the Middle East was Iran, whose Ministry came as Abu Dhabi sent positive for the virus. They worked side of China. The 2015 deal has been hanging by authorities planned to set up check- 215 foreigners it evacuated from at a hotel where Greek tourists who As the virus spreads, World a thread since the United States with- points to limit travel and urged peo- hard-hit Hubei in China to a quaran- later were found to have the virus Health Organisation workers have drew from it in May 2018 and imposed ple to stop using paper money that tine area in Emirates Humanitarian stayed in late February. been racing to sort, package and stinging sanctions on Iran, in particular was thought to be playing a part in City. They include citizens of Egypt, Israeli and Palestinian health of- ship medical supplies to countries targeting its vital oil sector. the spread of the illness. Sudan and Yemen. ficials met March 5 to coordinate around the world. Demand for pro- The IAEA report was released after After downplaying the sever- Health officials warned that those responses and shared information tective medical supplies, such as a meeting in Vienna of the remaining ity of the outbreak for weeks, Iran travelling abroad could face quaran- on the virus’s spread. masks, gloves and gowns, is sky- parties to the deal, which ended with- said March 6 it had 4,747 confirmed tine at the discretion of authorities. COGAT, the Israeli defence body rocketing. More than 101,000 peo- out a clear plan to keep the accord in cases and 124 deaths related to cor- In the Palestinian city of Bethle- responsible for Palestinian civilian ple have been infected in around 90 place. onavirus. Iranian Health Ministry hem, an important stop for Chris- matters, said it delivered 250 test countries. spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour tian pilgrims, authorities closed the kits to the Palestinians and was co- (Information from the Associated Press confirmed the virus was reported Church of the Nativity and banned ordinating training sessions for Is- (With news agencies) and Reuters was used in this report.) March 8, 2020 5 Top news

Egypt executes Tunisian Islamist figure Islamic extremist resigns from party Hesham Ashmawy Reuters in widening split in Cairo

gypt executed top Islamist Ennahda’s leadership militant Hesham Ashmawy after he was convicted of E involvement in high-profile Lamine Ghanmi Jelassi and other party figures, jihadist attacks in Egypt and the re- such as Mohamed Ben Salem, disa- gion. greed with Ghannouchi over party “The execution by hanging was Tunis management and decision making carried out based on a decision by as well as its shifting alliances with the military court… and after taking bdelhamid Jelassi, a lead- other parties. all the relevant judicial procedures,” ing figure in Tunisia’s “It is crucial for Ennahda to find said army spokesman Tamer al-Rifai. Islamist Ennahda Move- solutions to its problems before its Ashmawy — dubbed Egypt’s “most A ment, resigned from the congress. Failing in that, Ennah- wanted man” by local media — was party, citing a “cleansing” of dis- da risks meeting the same fate as a former officer with Egypt’s special sent by Ennahda President Rached Nidaa Tounes,” Jelassi warned be- forces who went on to fight with al- Ghannouchi. fore his resignation. Dissensions. A 2014 file picture shows former member of Qaeda linked groups. Jelassi, who once said “Ennahda Nidaa Tounes, founded by Beji the Islamist Ennahda Party Abdelhamid Jelassi speaking to On March 2, a Cairo court sen- is all my life. I did learn no trade ex- Caid Essebsi in 2012 as a counter- journalists. (AFP) tenced Ashmawy and 36 other peo- cept being its advocate,” resigned weight to Ennahda, won parliamen- ple to death for having been con- March 6, joining Zied Laadhari, tary elections and the presidency in victed for 54 crimes, including killing who stepped down in November 2015 for Caid Essebsi, who died in nounced their departure. Ghannouchi voiced support for police officers and setting off explo- as party secretary-general, as part office last year. Jelassi contrasted his beliefs with Tunisian President Kais Saied be- sives at security installations. of the widening split in the Islamist Nidaa Tounes has since splin- the party’s leadership saying: “I fore his election in October, saying Ashmawy, 42, joined the Egyptian movement’s leadership. tered amid leadership infighting will remain faithful and committed Saied and Ennahda would bolster armed forces as a young man and be- The party meets in May to decide and sank into political irrelevance. to my convictions and values, in- the government’s stability because came a member of an elite unit but on a replacement for Ghannouchi While it once had 89 seats in parlia- cluding belief in social democracy, they belong to the same “revo- was dismissed in 2012 over his hard- as Ennahda president. Jelassi’s res- ment, it did not win a seat in last a political life ruled by the respect lutionary” bloc. However, Ghan- ening religious views. ignation signals mounting tensions year’s elections. of moral values, keeping our com- nouchi is now locked in a fight with He was convicted last November that could trigger a bitter feud dur- Ennahda has also been losing mitments and upholding clarity.” Saied over who holds the most by a military court for his role in 14 ing the party congress. voter support, the trust of poten- Zigzags by Ghannouchi in his power and influence over govern- crimes, including the 2014 killing of “I belonged to Ennahda for 40 tial allies and the loyalty of party policies and alliances and the sus- ment and diplomacy. 22 soldiers in a border post attack and years to defend a set of values and officials. The poor performance of picion of a power grab being behind “Tunisia’s new government and a 2013 assassination attempt on a for- principles. I believe that continuing successive coalition governments, his exclusion of important figures new president represent political mer interior minister. in Ennahda is not useful to advance of which it was a member, and the from Ennahda’s list of candidates forces stirring up populism, po- Ashmawy was also found guilty of these values,” said Jelassi, a former perception of lack of internal demo- during the latest elections deep- larisation and tensions,” said the having led the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis party vice-president. cratic practices caused disaffection ened distrust within the party. International Crisis Group in an Islamist militant group in the Sinai Jelassi and other party figures among its traditional constituen- Public distrust of Ennahda has assessment of the situation in Tu- region. Ashmawy broke with the or- said they counted on the party cies and fuelled dissent in its lead- also deepened, polls indicate, over nisia. It urged “compromise on the ganisation after it pledged allegiance congress to shift the movement ership. the perception of ineptitude in gov- country’s major long-term national to the Islamic State in November from Ghannouchi’s tight control Former Ghannouchi Chief-of- ernment and accusations of a secret strategic orientation.” 2014. but Jelassi said he now expects the Staff Zouheir Chehoudi resigned apparatus involved in the assassi- “This would make it possible Other charges against him includ- congress to be stacked with Ghan- last September, asking in an open nation of two leftist leaders in 2013. to mitigate ideological conflicts ed infiltrating Libyan territories and nouchi’s loyalists. letter that Ghannouchi “resign from Ennahda vehemently rejected the and reduce the populist surge that forming an al-Qaeda aligned militant “Democracy inside Ennahda politics and stay home.” He accused accusations. could weaken the country’s abil- group, al-Mourabitoun, there. has become impossible,” he said. Ghannouchi of being surrounded Before last October’s elections, ity to deal with either an external In October 2018, the Libyan Na- “Some friends inside Ennahda still by “a corrupt and corrupting mi- Ennahda pledged not to align itself shock caused by a worsening secu- tional Army captured Ashmawy in gamble on reforming the party nority in the party’s leadership.” with Qalb Tounes, saying its leader, rity context at the regional level or the eastern city of Derna and he was from inside. For me that is not pos- Additional party resignations Nabil Karoui, was “dogged by sus- the deterioration of its macro-eco- extradited to Egypt in May. sible anymore.” came in January when Hichem picions of corruption.” However, nomic stability,” the International Egypt has for years been fighting Jelassi, before his resignation, Laarayedh, the son of former Prime Ennahda later worked to convince Crisis Group added. an insurgency in North Sinai that es- said Ennahda had experienced Minister Ali Laarayedh, and Zied Qalb Tounes to support Ghan- calated after the army’s 2013 ouster “genuine internal labour of change” Boumekhla, a member of the deci- nouchi, 78, in the vote for parlia- Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly of Islamist President Muhammad to decide its future. sion-making Choura Council, an- mentary speaker. correspondent in Tunis. Morsi. Refugees become ‘toys’ in standoff between Turkey and Europe

Thomas Seibert with his wife, told the Associated key to prevent refugees from cross- leyman Soylu said approximately Turkey. The European Union backed Press that Turkish police told him to ing to Greece. The move to open the 142,000 migrants had travelled to Greece by promising $780 million in go to there. “We don’t know what border is seen as an effort by Turkey the border since February 28, an in- aid and called on Turkey to revise its Pazarkule is happening. We are like toys to to pressure EU governments over crease of 6,000 in two days. About decision to let the migrants travel them,” he said in the border town of the Syrian conflict across its south- 136,000 were counted in the first towards Greece because the EU bor- wo years ago, Ensar trav- Edirne. “We are like a ball to them. ern border. days after February 28. der would remain closed to them. elled from Afghanistan via Everyone passes us to this side and Ankara said Turkey, a country Soylu also told Turkish media “The news about the alleged Pakistan and Iran to Turkey the other side. I don’t know what hosting more than 3 million Syrians that Erdogan instructed him to stop openness (of the Greek-Turkish bor- T in search of a better life. Fol- will happen to us.” and hundreds of thousands of mi- boats carrying migrants crossing the der) is false and people should not lowing two years of working in a Refugees began gathering at the grants from other countries, cannot Aegean to Greek islands because of try to move there,” EU top diplomat bakery in the western Turkish town Pazarkule crossing February 28 af- shoulder the burden alone anymore. the danger that women and children Josep Borrell said during a meeting of Balikesir to get by, the 19-year-old ter word spread on social media that The government expressed concern could drown. Greek media reported of EU foreign ministers March 6 in heard in February that the Turkish Turkey was no longer preventing that the crisis in the Syrian province that 58 migrants arrived on Turkish Croatia. government was no longer keeping them from leaving the country. of Idlib could send up to 1 million islands in the 24 hours before March refugees from going to Europe. He Turkish President Recep Tayyip additional refugees into Turkey at 6. Just days earlier, the United Na- packed his bag and made his way to Erdogan confirmed on February 29 a time many Turks say the Syrians tions said more than 600 migrants a Ankara said Turkey, a the Pazarkule crossing point on the that he had “opened the gates,” ac- should go home. day had made the journey. country hosting more Turkish land border with Greece. cusing the European Union of failing A week after throwing the bor- Greek and Turkish security forces than 3 million Syrians Now he is stuck, like thousands of to live up to a 2016 agreement that der gates open, Turkish authorities deployed tear gas March 6, wit- and hundreds of other refugees in Pazarkule, just out- included European financial help for reported a drop in attempted cross- nesses said, sending large plumes thousands of migrants side the city of Edirne in north-west- Ankara in return for a pledge by Tur- ings. Turkish Interior Minister Su- of smoke above the Kastanies- from other countries, ern Turkey. Greek border guards Pazarkule border crossing. Some cannot shoulder the have closed the crossing. migrants dabbed stinging eyes with burden alone anymore. “I am not going back,” Ensar, who water. Other trekked through fields gave his first name only, said March seeking chinks in the well-guarded The European Union could offer 1. “I have to get over there somehow frontier. more money to Ankara beyond the and I will stay here until that hap- Ankara’s move rattled Europe, $6.7 billion pledged in the 2016 deal pens.” which was shaken by the arrival of to help the refugees but Turkey must Ensar said he and others at hundreds of thousands of Syrians in first stop using them as a “bargain- Pazarkule were sleeping in the open 2015, an influx that was stopped by ing chip,” he said. despite freezing temperatures. the 2016 agreement. Many refugees at Pazarkule ap- “What else can we do?” he asked. Greek government spokesman peared to be from Afghanistan. Days later, refugees were still go- Stelios Petsas attacked Turkey over “I am not allowed to work in Tur- ing nowhere in their attempt to get the situation. key and have to be afraid of the po- through the border fence. Turkey “Turkey, rather than controlling lice all the time,” said a young Af- deployed an elite police force to the migrant and refugee trafficking ghan man who had travelled to the prevent Greek border guards from rings, has itself become a trafficker,” border region in a taxi from Istanbul pushing back migrants but the de- he said in a statement March 1. Pet- with his wife and young daughter. ployment added to a sense of hope- sas added that Turkey was using While Syrians enjoy provisional lessness among refugees, some of the people gathered at the border protection in Turkey, Afghans are whom said they were told by Turkish as “pawns” to exercise diplomatic considered illegal migrants and face authorities to cross over to Greece, pressure. deportation. Turkish authorities only to be repelled by Greek troops. Pressure politics. Migrants arrive at the village of Skala Greek countermeasures, includ- stopped detaining Afghans since the Mohammad Omid, an Afghan who Sikaminias on the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the ing water cannon and tear gas, pre- decision to open the border in late has been at the border for five days Aegean Sea from Turkey in a dinghy, March 2. (AFP) vented many migrants from leaving February. 6 March 8, 2020 Opinion

Editorial Celebrating Arab women’s rights

his year, as it is the case every year, the world marks International Women’s Day on March 8. The commemoration is usually an occasion for celebration of the milestones achieved. In the Arab world, there have been quite a few Tsuch recent milestones that deserve to be highlighted. Women have acceded to senior ministerial posts, including the defence and justice portfolios, in Lebanon and Tunisia. Reforms adopted in Saudi Arabia have allowed women to enjoy unprecedented freedoms. Measures introduced in the UAE and Morocco have enhanced women’s rights in the work- place and in society. Much of the credit for progress achieved goes to the women of the region themselves as they press for their rights. Enlightened leaderships have also played a big role in overcoming the resistance of regressive forces wary of women’s rights. The momentum for reform is boosted by Arab public trends increasingly favourable to gender equality, especially in terms of educa- tion and work. A recent Arab Barometer survey showed that only shrinking minorities still said that a © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly university education “is more important for men than women.” Only 21% of respondents in the region shared that opinion in 2019 com- pared with 26% in 2006. In Jordan, the percent- Election results are indicative of age decreased from 35% to 17%; in Morocco, from 25% to 15%. Also, support for the outdated notion that a changes in Israel and the region woman’s place is in the home continues to thin. Those who today say that “a married woman can work outside the home” total 90% in Khairallah Khairallah Lebanon, 88% in Tunisia, 86% in Egypt and 86% in the Palestinian territories. The first issue is that the real winner in today’s Israel is the Such reassuring trends cannot, however, hide lingering gaps in everyday reality. Educational Israeli assassin of Yitzhak Rabin in November 1995. attainment by female students hardly matches the rate of access by women to the labour hether Israeli death, the peace process died high-tech companies. Suddenly, market. For many reasons, including legal, Prime Minis- and another Israel was born the the tough and romanticised life social and cultural constraints, that rate ter Binyamin moment Amir fired his deadly in the kibbutz that symbolised remains one of the lowest in the world, leading Netanyahu shot. Israeli society became a distant to a staggering imbalance between the partici- manages to With that shot, he ended the memory. pation of men and women in the workplace. form a cabinet life of a political figure who had Israel has changed tremen- And that comes with a cost. Wor not is not as important as that been the Israeli Defence Forces dously internally. Its relations Lili Mottaghi, senior economist at the World he understands the great change chief-of-staff during the 1967 with the United States in the era Bank, said women constitute only 21% of the in Israel, where the competition war and who had symbolised of President Donald Trump have labour force in the Middle East and North is between the right and the right the ability and courage to take changed as well. The region has Africa and contribute just 18% of MENA’s GDP. for the purpose of marginalising the difficult and right decisions also changed. The biggest change The economic fallout is naturally huge. to achieve peace with this Arab Mottaghi estimates that, without the lingering any role for Arab parties. was improved Russian-Israeli labour force gender gap, “the GDP growth rate The two major right-wing country or the other. relations. There is clear coordi- in MENA could have doubled or increased by groups — the Likud party and the Rabin’s assassination marked nation in policies and operations about $1 trillion in cumulative output. Blue and White alliance — do not the end of political leaders in between the two sides in Syria, “Currently, $575 billion in regional income is want to hear about Arab parties Israel associated with specific for example. Netanyahu and lost because of gender-based discrimination in despite their good performance important historical events since Russian President Vladimir Putin laws, social norms and practices that constrain in the March 2 election. David Ben-Gurion announced have become great buddies. women’s rights and opportunities,” said World Netanyahu has rehabilitated the establishment of the state in What many ignore is that Bank Group President David Malpass. his image and clinched a po- 1948 or with Israel’s 1956, 1967 repercussions of the political In many parts of the Arab world, female litical victory at the same time. and 1973 wars. earthquake that shook Iraq in students constitute majorities of university The Likud bloc finished with The only one left was Shimon 2003 reverberate in the region. graduates but young women graduates have the most seats so, unless the Peres but he turned out to be The American occupation and less of a chance to find a job or a permanent courts say otherwise, it is up to lacking the leadership quali- the non-sustainable regime that research position than their male colleagues. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin ties that would have enabled replaced it wiped out the Iraq The contradiction between the progress to task Netanyahu with forming him to take tough decisions, as that we have always known. made in the Arab region in terms of women’s a cabinet. evidenced by his inability to po- Syria is also gone and Lebanon access to educational opportunities or health It is remarkable how Israeli litically survive Rabin. Peres lost is on its way to disintegration. services and their rate of participation in the voters put their trust in Netan- the 1996 elections even though We still do not know how Hez- labour market is referred to as “the MENA yahu again despite corruption most Israelis were sympathetic bollah, Iran’s sectarian militia paradox.” Overcoming that requires measures charges for which he is to appear to his Labour Party at that point. in control of Lebanon’s cur- encouraging women’s participation in eco- in court March 17. This indicates As for Ariel Sharon, he re- rent “glory days,” to borrow its nomic activity, an adjustment of working the Israelis are no longer inter- mained a right-wing politician words, is going to cope with this regulations to accommodate women’s family ested in ethical considerations. without vision or scope. His only collapse. On top of this, most obligations and, more broadly, a change in All that is important for the or- interest was to keep gnawing at official and popular Arab public mindsets to do away with outdated notions, such as the one according to which female dinary Israeli is following a right- Palestinian lands until comes the opinion sees Iran as the greatest employment compounds male joblessness. wing policy based on achieving day when all hope for a viable danger to the Arabs. Public opinion seems also ahead of politi- welfare and comfortable living Palestinian state dies. So, whether Netanyahu gets cians as regards Arab women’s current role in and consecrating the occupation Netanyahu represents the his government is not as impor- government. Public opinion, as illustrated by to the West Bank, while ignoring Israel born on the day of Rabin’s tant as understanding the great the Arab Barometer Survey results, indicates what was called the peace pro- assassination. Above all, he rep- changes in the region through that most Arab respondents do not object to cess with the Palestinians. resents the transformation in the what is happening in Israel. women serving as presidents or prime minis- It is not guaranteed Netanyahu Israeli society. Given this premise, isn’t it ters. Majorities of 77% in Lebanon, 72% in will be able to form a govern- Through suicide bombings strange that the Palestinian Morocco, 67% in Iraq and Tunisia and 61% in ment. He needs 61 Knesset votes in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and National Authority condemns Egypt accept that a woman can serve as head of for that and he only has 58. elsewhere in the 1990s and the so-called Deal of the Century state. Decades since independence, no woman While waiting for that drama early 2000s, Hamas helped this and then stands by as a specta- has yet assumed the top government position to unfold, there are other issues transformation take place and tor? Isn’t it even stranger that in the region but there is no glass ceiling worth mentioning to understand in order to thwart any peace there is a lot of talk about the blocking women’s ascension to the highest seat the radical transformation in Is- process. need to restore the Palestinian in power. rael in the past 20 years, leading In 2002, and while the Arab national unity in response to this Times are clearly changing in the region and to Netanyahu becoming the new summit in Beirut was ending, a deal, while the reality indicates protest movements in Iraq, Lebanon, Algeria “king of Israel.” He won this title suicide bombing was carried out that the Palestinian internal rift and Sudan have shown that women are part of because he has held the position near the Lebanese border, killing has become more profound than change in the region. of prime minister the longest. a number of Israeli civilians. ever? Women’s yearning for fairness and equality The first issue is that the real Obviously, the aim of that opera- These are mere observations has the support of overwhelming majorities in winner in today’s Israel is the tion was to nip in the bud the about the changes we see taking the Arab world. Their ambitions are buttressed Israeli assassin of Yitzhak Rabin Arab Peace Initiative endorsed place in the whole region and in by access to new communication technologies. in November 1995. His name by that Arab summit. Israel itself, where the only con- No fewer than 70% of the people in MENA are estimated to have access to the internet and is Yigal Amir, a young Jewish Beside the role of Iran-backed stant is that of more settlements 86% are on social media. extremist of Yemeni origin. Hamas in changing the nature of and expansion of the occupation That connectedness is bound to accelerate In his confessions, Amir said Israeli society, there were other zone, whether Netanyahu forms the gender-equality momentum and bring he decided to kill Rabin because significant factors. For exam- a government or not. down obstacles that hinder progress of Arab Rabin signed the Oslo Agreement ple, it would be naive to ignore women and of their whole societies. with Palestinian leader Yasser the role of the newly found Khairallah Khairallah is a Arafat in 1993. Since Rabin’s great wealth created by Israeli Lebanese writer. March 8, 2020 7 Opinion

Erdogan saves face in Moscow but Published by Al Arab remains trapped in his own policies Publishing House

Francis Ghilès Publisher If the European Union wants to regain influence in the region, and Group Executive Editor swallowing its pride is the first thing it is going to have to do. Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD urkey has been a very offer more than limited surveil- active player in the lance and intelligence sharing. Editor-in-Chief Syrian conflict since Erdogan has repeatedly criti- Oussama Romdhani the very beginning cised NATO and went so far as to in 2011. First in an at- buy a Russian air defence system tempt to topple Syrian over strong US objections. He Managing Editor TPresident Bashar Assad and then has jeopardised the West’s fight Iman Zayat under the excuse of preventing against ISIS by waging war on the the Kurds from forming their own Kurds. Now, yet again, he is trying Senior Editor country/region on that side of the to weaponise the Syrian refugee John Hendel border. crisis to bend the European Union Its heavy involvement explains to his will. why Turkey is supporting what Erdogan’s aggressive rhetoric, Chief Copy Editor Western observers say are thou- endless angry words and insults Richard Pretorius sands of supporters and fighters towards Western leaders have of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Idlib. finally humbled a man who de- Copy Editors The European Union and the lights in the bully-boy tactics. His United States for years supported humbling will not, however, end Stephen Quillen those seeking to oust Assad and the crisis. Kyle Arensdorf some of those they supported be- The European Union will have longed to radical Islamic groups. to engage further if it wishes to Western policies might have move forward on resolving the East/West Editor been at times confused but Tur- Syria crisis. Its leaders will be Mahmud El-Shafey key had from 2011 onward made forced to mend bridges, to some Facing unpleasant choices. European Commissioner for Promoting our little secret of its support for extent with Russia as Macron has European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas (R) speaks with French Interior radical Islamic groups often tied hinted in the recent months. Gulf Section Editor Minister Christophe Castaner during a meeting of EU Interior Ministers in to ISIS and al-Qaeda. It provided However much it finds Putin Mohammed Alkhereiji Brussels, March 4. (AP) weapons to them and opened its distasteful, the European Union hospitals to treat their wounded must eat its words where Assad Society and Travel fighters. After Russian President the risk of a direct confrontation human cost for Russia. He wants is concerned. It cannot avoid Sections Editor Vladimir Putin intervened to between Russia and Turkey. A risk to declare a landmark strategic engaging with two of the key Samar Kadi support Assad, Erdogan sought to all the greater as most Turkish victory at the expense of the players in this bloody game. It will humour him but their “alliance” casualties were seemingly caused European Union. be hard for some EU leaders to Senior Correspondents has been tested to the limit. not by Syrian jets but by deliber- He might consider letting Er- swallow their pride and deal with Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) Whatever Putin, Assad and ate, follow-up Russian air strikes. dogan off the hook but he will no the Assad regime, whose demise (Istanbul) Western leaders disagreed on, Turkey opened the gates of its doubt insist that Turkish troops they had confidently predicted for Thomas Seibert

they mostly shared the view that frontier with Greece and 10,000 withdraw from Idlib and other years. Regular Columnists ISIS and allied jihadist formations refugees have been attempting to Turkey-occupied Syrian territo- However, if the European Union were the prime targets of their force their way into Europe. This ries west of the Euphrates and the wants to regain influence in the Rashmee Roshan Lall fight. is reviving fears of the refugee Kurdish-dominated north-eastern region, swallowing its pride is the Claude Salhani A Russia jet was shot down by crisis of 2015. Turkey had an region that Erdogan controver- first thing it is going to have to Yavuz Baydar Turkey in 2015 and now Turkish agreement with the European sially invaded last autumn. do. That is what realpolitik is all fighter planes outnumber Syrian Union that included more than $6 Erdogan’s idea of maintain- about. jets. The game is increasingly dan- billion in aid to help the country ing a “safe zone” inside Syria to With the ceasefire agreed in Correspondents gerous and the stakes are high. shoulder the burden of 4.1 million which refugees in Turkey could, Moscow, Erdogan saves face. But Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) Whatever the rights or wrongs refugees and asylum seekers in in theory, return to looks like in no way does it suggest that of various parties to this conflict, Turkey. what it has always been, a dream. the Turkish leader’s tight rope Dunia El-Zobaidi (London) Erdogan’s hubris has placed Erdogan is openly blackmail- Putin wants a victory for his client approach to foreign policy will Roua Khlifi (Tunis) Turkey on the brink of disaster ing the European Union, which in Damascus and that means As- be easier to pursue in the future and isolation. Turkey is sharply at is faced with very unpleasant sad’s troops reoccupying the last than it has been in the recent past. odds with all other major players choices. Its leaders — not least rebel-held province in the country Caught between his NATO “al- Chief Designer in the never-ending Syria tragedy. French President Emmanuel — Idlib. lies”, the Russia Syria axis and the Marwen el-Hmedi Open warfare against the Assad Macron, who has been very criti- Erdogan’s strategy has a house- interests of his regional rivals in government carries high risks. cal of Erdogan — might resist the of-straw quality to it, which was Libya, Mr Erdogan looks increas- Designers Turkish fighter jets have at- Turkish president more than in further exposed in recent weeks ingly like someone who has fallen Ibrahim Ben Bechir tacked Syrian airports and radar the past when his Islamic extremist allies into a trap, that of being every- Hanen Jebali installations well behind the de A major question remains over in Idlib proved unable to resist the one’s holy fool. facto front line, which has turned how Putin will play his cards. The advance of Syrian forces backed a proxy war into a direct confron- Russian president badly wants an by the Russians. As Erdogan ap- Francis Ghilès is an associate tation between two heavily armed end to the Syrian war, which has pealed for help, the United States fellow at the Barcelona Centre for Contact editor at: neighbours. This has increased had a considerable financial and and NATO refused essentially to International Affairs. [email protected] Iraqi President Barham Salih, Al Arab Publishing House when will you resign? Quadrant Building Ibrahim Zobeidi 177-179 Hammersmith Road London W6 8BS Salih will never be able to accomplish a thing even if he becomes the president of all presidents, the prime minister of all prime ministers and the CEO of all CEOs. Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 resident Barham summed up in one point. He is What is certain, however, is there are no miracles in these Salih is greatly trying to find a new appointee that Salih will never be able to bad times. committed to as prime minister from within accomplish a thing even if he The only thing that Salih will reconstructing the same old political parties becomes the president of all end up realising March 18 is US Publisher: Iraq, reforming the and blocs that tried all kinds presidents, the prime minister that any candidate put forth by economy, restoring of fraudulent tricks and false of all prime ministers and the the parties of the quota system The Arab Weekly USA LLC. Pfactories, revitalising agri- promises to satisfy the angry CEO of all CEOs. He won’t be will be rejected by the rebel- [email protected] culture and creating tonnes mobs but failed. able to do anything significant lious masses and, if the masses [email protected] of job opportunities for the Had Salih dared to stand up to cool off the angry protesters reject him, he will inevitably thousands of unemployed and to the “armed” parties and and make them go home safe fall. Tel: 248-679-6624 disillusioned youth who are chosen a non-partisan, honest, and sound. Salih will only be wasting his today the main nerve of the honourable and patriotic can- Let Salih have all the powers time and energy if he continues uprising in Iraq but it might be didate — and there are many in the country, he still won’t be to search for a candidate for too late. such candidates among the able to bring to justice a major prime minister amid the waste Salih’s call on political millions of Iraqi scientists who figure of corruption such as of the Green Zone parties and parties to “seriously strive are neither traitors nor agents Nuri al-Maliki or a major assas- their hungry corrupt leaders. to reach a national agree- and genuinely biased to the sin like Muqtada al-Sadr or any Wouldn’t it be better for him Subscription & Advertising: ment for the appointment of angry multitude — that person other known Iranian agent. to get out of As-Salam Palace [email protected] an alternate prime minister, would have been thrown out In short, as long as some in Baghdad and flee to Sulay- Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 who could be nationally and by the mafia parties before he bodies other than the state are maniyah in Kurdistan before popularly accepted, during the reached parliament for a vote allowed to carry weapons, the it is too late? He could hand specified constitutional period, of confidence. corrupt will always be stronger in his resignation from there Mohamed Al Mufti in order to form a government The fraudulent and lame than the government and, and enjoy peace of mind that Marketing & Advertising capable of handling its tasks Iraqi Constitution says the as long as Iran does what it the ironically named “Peace Manager in light of the tremendous president of the republic could wants in Iraq, there will be no Palace” doesn’t know. challenges facing Iraq” is more also take over the responsibili- way out of their predicament Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 like searching for a needle in a ties of prime minister, in this for the Iraqi people, barring Ibrahim Zobeidi is an Iraqi www.alarab.co.uk haystack. case as of March 18. So, let’s a miracle, of course, and we writer and US publisher of The Salih’s dilemma can be wait and see. know that, unfortunately, Arab Weekly. 8 March 8, 2020 News & Analysis Syria Why Turkey can’t afford a confrontation with Russia

Simon Speakman Cordall Syrian defences. Underscoring the differences be- tween Ankara and Moscow has been eace talks in Moscow between a growing economic bond, which Turkish President Recep has almost served as a brake on the Tayyip Erdogan and Russian march towards war and likely played P President Vladimir Putin bore a key role in steering Erdogan and the hallmarks of two great powers Putin to the negotiating table in Mos- stepping back from the brink of war. cow. As in Libya, Russia and Turkey “Neither side here wants a serious back opposing sides in Syria’s civil conflict, both sides will ultimately war. In rebel-held Idlib, on Turkey’s want to settle things,” Anna Bor- border, Ankara backs a number of shchevskaya, a senior fellow at the rebel groups and maintains observa- Washington Institute, said before the tion posts. Moscow supports the Syr- Erdogan-Putin meeting March 5. ian government of President Bashar “The key issue here is that Putin Assad, a continuation of an alliance has more leverage over Erdogan than that predates the fall of the Soviet the other way around. In the past, Union. the two of them have made deals in Syria but ultimately they were more advantageous to the Russian posi- Though Turkey may be a tion and I suspect a similar scenario Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu attend a significant regional will play out here.” The strong side. meeting with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Kremlin in Moscow, March 5. (AFP) power, trade relations Economic relations between Tur- between Russia and key and Russia have been growing Turkey remain firmly almost in tandem with their regional between Russia and Turkey remain with Turkey and imposed sweep- directly confront Turkey regarding tilted in Moscow’s favour. rivalry. Foremost among the rela- firmly tilted in Moscow’s favour. ing economic sanctions on Ankara, Syria. tions was the sale of the Russia-made “Russian tourists are very im- including halting all charter flights However, as long as its alliance Russia has committed to support- S-400 air defence system, which portant to the Turkish economy, as to Turkey, essentially ending Tur- with Assad remains intact, it is likely ing Assad in his aim to retake “every gives Turkey a powerful weapons is the energy trade — Turkey is the key’s profitable tourist trade with that any agreement between Erdog- inch” of Syrian soil. Erdogan is con- system independent of NATO. Also third-largest buyer of Russian gas,” Russia. an and Putin will mark a postpone- cerned about the potential of mil- in the mix are lucrative Russian con- Borshchevskaya said, “and the con- In June 2016, Erdogan wrote to ment of further confrontation over lions of refugees flooding across the tracts available to Turkey’s construc- struction of TurkStream (gas pipe- Putin expressing sympathies, a com- Idlib, rather than a guarantor. Turkish border, as well as the risk of tion sector. line) carries wider strategic implica- munication seized on by Russian “The main problem in Idlib is the a hostile power establishing a strong- “They are very close,” Borshchevs- tions. These are all foreign policy media as an apology. desire of President Bashar Assad… to hold on its frontier. kaya said. “Russia is a key trading tools Putin uses as a tap he can turn “In the end Erdogan had to apolo- establish full control of the area and That the ferocity of the two coun- partner to Turkey. Bilateral trade is on and off.” gise to Putin,” Borshchevskaya said. block the border with Turkey, while try’s differences increased in recent in the tens of billions, I’ve seen es- Perhaps the best example of how “Thus, Erdogan has more to lose also having pushed 3 million of the weeks is beyond dispute. Follow- timates of approximately $30 billion neither side can afford open conflict than Putin.” Sunni population, unfriendly to As- ing the death of 36 Turkish soldiers annually and, crucially, last year the was provided by the downing of a While circumstances have sad, out onto Turkish soil,” Vladimir in an air strike February 28 in Idlib, two countries started trading in their Russian Su-24 warplane in Novem- changed dramatically over the last Frolov, a Russian foreign affairs ana- an incident Ankara was at pains not national currencies but here, too, Pu- ber 2015. The circumstances of that five years, the trade balance remains lyst, told the Guardian newspaper. to blame Moscow for, thousands of tin has more leverage.” incident remain disputed but short- unaltered. While it is true that bal- Turkish troops entered the province, Though Turkey may be a signifi- ly after the downing of the plane, ance largely favours Russia, it is also Simon Speakman Cordall is a with Turkish air attacks battering cant regional power, trade relations Moscow halted all communications true that Moscow cannot afford to freelance writer.

Viewpoint Erdogan concessions in the Idlib talks ussian President ian armies overran strategic analyst, who also noted: “The ously asked for. He had a sym- Vladimir Putin and towns east and south of Idlib, Turkish checkpoints were not bolic victory in his pocket, one Turkish President two battlefield developments mentioned in the new deal and that he can take home — namely Sami Moubayed Recep Tayyip Erdogan that greatly worried Erdogan. He the Syrian Army now gets to the heavy losses incurred by the have proven — yet fumed that the Syrians had gone keep all territory that it recently Syrian Army. again — that they speak too far, now standing danger- retook.” Prior to the Moscow meeting, Rthe same political language, despite ously close to the 25 Turkish In exchange for Erdogan’s Erdogan asked for an expansion major differences over Libya and checkpoints scattered across lenience, Putin met him halfway of his army’s checkpoints, from Syria. Idlib. regarding the M4, agreeing to 25 to 50, along with a no-fly zone They met in Moscow to end This, he added, was a viola- temporarily share it with Turkey. for the Russian and Syrian ar- the escalating confrontation in tion of Sochi 2018. The Russians Joint Turkish-Russian patrols are mies, where only Turkish drones Idlib, which has led to the death politely reminded him that the to start operating on the high- would be allowed to operate. of more than 30 Turkish soldiers Sochi agreement had given way as of March 15 and a 12km He also asked for a mechanism and “neutralised” — which Turkey 12 checkpoints in Idlib, safe corridor will run through it. to monitor violations in Idlib, means killed or incapacitated not 25, and that the current Erdogan has been re-tasked with something lacking in the Sochi — 2,093 Syrians. After a nearly number was a Turkish viola- the same mission from Sochi 2018 and Moscow 2020 agree- 6-hour meeting March 5, the two tion. The Russians claimed that 2018 — to cleanse Idlib of HTS. ments. presidents decided to reimpose their operations aimed only at This time, however, he has not The Russians don’t mind a a ceasefire in Idlib — the 14th in squeezing the armed opposition been given a deadline. joint Turkish-Russian monitor- less than two years — and restart out of the Idlib countryside, “This restores the ball to ing team, even if it includes Iran, joint patrols and security coordi- rather than taking Idlib city, Erdogan’s court,” said Elias, “but their co-guarantor at Astana, but nation, which have been frozen and restoring the M4 and M5 if he doesn’t do the job, then at a this would surely be vetoed by since February. highways, connecting Aleppo bare minimum, this will lead to the West. Putin insists on keep- with Latakia and Damascus severe internal fighting between ing Idlib in the hands of Turkey Background disagreement respectively. the Turkish-backed groups and and Russia only and not interna- Until recently, the two leaders Erdogan did not believe them. others based in Idlib, which will tionalising the problem through were at daggers drawn over in- weaken them all, playing out any UN resolution. terpretation of the Sochi Agree- The new deal fully in Russia’s favour.” “Erdogan conceded,” conclud- ment of September 2018, which The new agreement makes ed Ibrahim Hamidi, senior diplo- tasked Erdogan with cleansing no mention of the M5 Highway, Erdogan’s concessions matic editor at Asharq Al-Awsat the opposition-held area from the longest in Syria, which was As a confidence-building newspaper and a native of Idlib. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), al- retaken in February by Russian measure, Erdogan will have to “Turkey was asking that the Syr- Qaeda’s branch in Syria. and Syrian forces. It will remain evacuate his proxies from the ian Army return to the pre-Sochi This was something Erdogan in the hands of the Syrian Army vicinity of the M5, where they Idlib borders of 2018. That did Turkish President failed to achieve, raising Putin’s and so will Khan Sheikhoun, hold pockets of resistance that not happen and, rather, the cur- Recep Tayyip Erdogan ire. The Russian president Maaret al-Numan and Sara- could obstruct travel on the rent borders were maintained. accepted a much argued that if Turkey wasn’t qib, territorial gains that have highway, making it unsafe for Opening the M4 was a Turkish going to do the job, he would act become permanent and silently trade, traffic or military use by concession and so was having no smaller zone of with his Syrian allies, striking at accepted by Erdogan as a fait the Russian and Syrian armies. Turkish presence on the M5.” influence for himself all armed groups in Idlib, even accompli. However, at the end of the those armed and funded by the “These are new borders to an day, Erdogan accepted a much Sami Moubayed is a Syrian in Idlib than he Turks. amended Sochi agreement,” said smaller zone of influence for historian and author of “Under previously asked for. Swiftly, the Russian and Syr- Amer Elias, a Syrian political himself in Idlib than he previ- the Black Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015). March 8, 2020 9 Viewpoint Iraq Uncertainty looms for leaderless Iraq

Nazli Tarzi

ring of uncertainty closes in on Iraq, one of the world’s wealth- iest oil nations, days after Prime Minister- designate Mohammed AllawiA withdrew his candidacy. The move reshuffles the political deck, reinstating caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi as head of government three months after he left his mantle over the unlaw- ful death of 400 protesters. As the protest movement raises the stakes, can Iraqi President Barham Salih appoint a successor within the closing 15-day window, in ac- cordance with constitutional law? As the opening narrows, the political vacuum widens. Despite maintaining his position as care- taker prime minister, Abdul-Mahdi placed his responsibilities on hold, invoking “voluntary absence.” That means responsibilities ad- ministered by the prime minister, from leading meetings to talks with dignitaries, will be delegated to deputies. While Oil Minister Thamer al-Ghadban led the first session after Abdul-Mahdi excused himself beneath a leave of absence, experts said that only Salih is quali- fied to stand in place of the prime minister. Aiming high. An anti-government protester uses a slingshot to fire a stone at security forces during clashes in Baghdad, March 2. (AP) Political seats remain occu- pied but the Iraqi government is The statement read as a list of partisan and private interests briefing in late February she said Nuri al-Maliki, Fatah Alliance effectively leaderless, as quarrels instructions informed by what of political parties. Many will that hope is contingent on wheth- leader Hadi al-Amiri and head of over shares of the ministerial pie the constitution prescribes but protect their booty no matter the er politicians and communities the Victory Alliance former Prime between political factions persist. Iraq appears to be moving in cost, desperate to cling to power. “step up to the plate” and put the Minister Haider al-Abadi. “I express deep regret over our circles, after months of protest The latest items on Abdul- interest of the country first. Some have likened Salih’s role brother Mohammed Allawi’s fail- confounded authorities. Mahdi’s agenda are not new. He Despite the ensuing stalemate, to a delicate balancing act, to win ure to form the new government,” The state of impotence was has called for an emergency ses- Hennis-Plasschaert called for an over ruling Shia parties while ex- read a statement in which Abdul- welcomed by dissenting fac- sion to determine final provisions immediate end to human rights tracting concessions to help the Mahdi addressed all branches of tions of the ruling elite, includ- of a new electoral law and a set abuses against the backdrop of country overcome the political government. ing Kurdistan Democratic Party date for elections. He proposed the country’s uprising. deadlock. President Masoud Barzani. He early December but no date can The death of an estimated 700 Putting aside the hypothesis of congratulated Kurdish and Iraqi be ratified while the government protesters since anger erupted progress, uncertainty clouds the parties, largely Sunni but also remains legless. across Baghdad and southern horizon but protesters, civil so- Protesters, civil some Shia actors, for boycotting The court of Iraqi public opin- provinces last October ranks low ciety, student unions and school the cabinet lineup, achieving ion will reject both should the in leaderless Iraq but will weigh children are forming their own society, student what Barzani called “a historic government revert to its reliance heavily on future policy designs, alliance against the kakistocracy unions and school achievement.” on sectarian quotas that delivered protesters contend. governing Iraq. Unlike the dither- Attempts by opposing Kurdish and stripped Allawi of his powers In his search for an alternative ing elite, protesters have taken children are forming and Sunni blocs were cited by in the space of a month. The Iraqi candidate, Salih has met with decisive steps to call corruption their own alliance Allawi as reasons he failed in his street never endorsed him. leaders of Shia parties who at to account while the government against the mandate. Hope for the rentier state ex- some stage in the past 15 years in Baghdad stalls. Iraq’s 17-year road to recovery ists, said UN Special Representa- have governed the country: the kakistocracy has hit countless speed bumps tive Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. National Wisdom Movement’s Nazli Tarzi is an Arab Weekly governing Iraq. but the most stubborn are the During a UN Security Council Ammar al-Hakim, Dawa Party’s correspondent in London. Iran’s threatening messages to Iraq

chosen prime minister. It was ties in Iraq, especially among control of power in Baghdad after eight years. One year after that issued by a leader of the Iraqi those who favour weapons as the the popular revolt of October 1, war, it rejected Saddam’s peace Majid Hezbollah Brigades. best option to resolve crises, a 2019. One of the main goals of initiatives, sensing, perhaps, al-Samarrai Recall that Iraqi Prime Minis- choice they practised again and that revolt was to get rid of the that one day its forces would in- ter-designate Mohammed Allawi again against the people of Iraq Iranian influence in Baghdad. vade Iraq, overthrow the regime failed to form a government and since 2003. Whenever circumstances there and replace it with the wice in just ten days, called for the reappointment However, the callous threats allow, Iran shows its aggressive velayat-e faqih. Iraqis were told by of Prime Minister Adel Abdul- from Iran aimed at imposing the tendency. In 1979, the Khomeini Next came Ali Khamenei’s re- militia leaders, who Mahdi despite rumours of him choice to its vassal Shia parties regime exploited the sectarian gime, which continued the end- were either convey- resigning his post to obey the for new prime minister factor to use Iraqi Shias for its less series of killing Iraqis since ing Iranian messages Shia authority’s desire. simply reflected the national and political purposes. the occupation of 2003. And yet, or making threats on The Iraqi Hezbollah thugs who state of des- It ended up, however, betraying the people of Iraq do not bear Ttheir own, that Iraq will burn. issued the threat were the same peration of the their 14-year hospitality. any hatred towards the people of The first message came dur- ones who threatened to kick Iranian re- One year after it took power in neighbouring Iran, since they are ing a television interview with Iraqi President Barham Salih out gime over Tehran, it started a war against also victims of the injustice and Muqtada al-Sadr, whose words of Baghdad if he met with US losing the Iraqis, a war that lasted tyranny of this regime. were understood as saying that President Donald Trump. Salih If the Iranian regime and its Tehran threatened to burn Iraq if did meet Trump on the sidelines Iraqi proxies had confidence that a prime minister was appointed of the Davos conference and our Iraq was still in their grasp, they from outside the Fatah and Sair- thug friends could not touch him. would not threaten to burn it oun blocs. Iraqis are confused about these down. One wouldn’t burn one’s The second threat of hellfire barbaric threats and their con- possession when one is benefit- awaiting Iraq was if Intelligence nection to the world of politics ing from it. Then again, did they Director Mustafa al-Kazemi was because they are more appropri- not burn the Sunni Arab cities of ate to the world of mafias. Then Mosul, Saladin, Fallujah, Diyala again, they are probably more and Kirkuk out of spite and sec- akin to Iran’s hollow threats of tarian hatred? If the Iranian burning Israel, while it shame- These thugs do not possess regime and its Iraqi lessly purchased weapons from the slightest notion of civil peace Israel during the Iran-Iraq war or and dialogue. They are armed proxies had perhaps they were expressions and dangerous, preparing the confidence that of desperation, just like Saddam ground for the execution of their Iraq was still in Hussein’s threats of burning half political leaders’ decisions to kill of Israel. opponents and displace civil- their grasp, they The divisions among the Shia ians. would not threaten bloc over Allawi’s appointment as prime minister exposed the Up against foreign meddling. University students attend a protest Majid al-Samarrai is an Iraqi to burn it down. desperation of the pro-Iran par- against Iran intervention, in Basra, last January. (Reuters) writer. 10 March 8, 2020 News & Analysis Gulf UK engages Oman on Yemen, Iran

Sabahat Khan

Dubai

ritish Foreign Minister Dom- inic Raab recently made his first official visit to the Arab B Gulf for security and trade- related discussions in Oman and Saudi Arabia. The United Kingdom is looking to reinforce security and trade ties to the region as it moves into a future outside the European Union. While the United Kingdom aims to define a new global role for itself following Brexit, tensions involving Iran and Yemen’s civil war pose seri- ous risks for British interests in the region. Raab met with Yemeni leaders, including President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in Riyadh as part of renewed efforts to find a political solution to the 5-year-old war in Yemen. Earlier, Raab had been in Oman to meet the new ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, and Oma- ni Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi. Raab’s visit came as British-Oman Strong ties. Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said (C) meets with British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab (3rd L) in Muscat, March 2. relations have seen an upsurge. This (British Embassy in Oman) year the two countries will mark the 220th anniversary of the Unshook the United Kingdom, will undoubt- Minister Boris Johnson visited tained cordial relations for decades. always been smooth but it has Treaty, which declared the bond be- edly be important to its success. Oman in January after his death. Those ties survived the 1979 Iranian brought about comparisons with tween the two countries should be Beyond trade, the United King- Oman has performed a critical Revolution. Iranian Foreign Minis- the Swiss approach at times. Oman “unshook to the end of time.” dom attaches particular importance backchannel role over the years on ter Mohammad Javad Zarif attended was the only Arab Gulf country that Last May, London and Muscat to ties with Oman given its diplo- regional issues, notably facilitating Sultan Qaboos’s funeral in January. maintained its embassy in Damas- signed the Oman-UK Comprehen- matic efforts and potential future secret talks between Washington Now that the JCPOA looks cus throughout Syria’s 9-year-old sive Agreement, which lays out a role in staving off a regional conflict and Tehran that led to the signing doomed under US President Donald civil war. Last autumn, Oman host- framework for bilateral cooperation. with Iran and in help for finding a of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Trump, and following the US kill- ed Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Trade between the two sides has political solution to Yemen’s pro- Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal, ing of Iran’s most important mili- Netanyahu in what was seen as a surged, last year soaring 90% to $3.7 tracted conflict and gradual implo- between Iran and world powers. tary official, Major-General Qassem major development for the Middle billion. sion. Soleimani, Oman could again have a East. The United Kingdom accounts Under the late Sultan Qaboos bin crucial role to perform. Alluding to When the British-flagged ship for about half of all foreign direct Said Al Said, Oman attempted to While the United Kingdom the same, prior to Raab’s visit, days Stena Impero was seized by Iranian investment (FDI) into Oman, mak- occupy a neutral space on regional aims to define a new global earlier US Secretary of State Mike forces carrying crude oil last year, ing it the largest source of FDI. The conflicts and strategic disagree- role for itself following Pompeo also made a short visit to Muscat was quick to call for its re- British credit agency, UK Export Fi- ments. Following his ascension to Brexit, tensions involving Muscat where he met with bin Ala- lease and for restraint from Tehran. nance, is playing a growing role to the throne, Sultan Haitham, an Ox- Iran and Yemen’s civil war wi. As the United Kingdom deep- facilitate trade with approximately ford graduate and career diplomat pose serious risks for British Muscat has made efforts to bro- ens engagement with Oman — two $3.9 billion of financing available who served 16 years at the Foreign ker indirect talks between Houthi years ago it announced a new Brit- specifically for projects in Oman. Ministry, including as under-secre- interests in the region. rebels, who last year pledged alle- ish naval base to be hosted there Enhanced UK-Oman trade ties tary and secretary-general, declared giance to Khamenei, and the Sau- — both sides will look forward to bode well for Oman, which saw eco- the country would continue its ef- In 2015, Iranian Supreme Leader di-led coalition in Yemen for some using their steadily growing influ- nomic growth decline nearly 1% in forts as a facilitator of peace under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recognised time. The Yemen conflict remains ence to ensure the region can move 2017 after healthy growth of 5% a the same principles of Sultan Qa- the role of “[o]ne of the esteemed politically unresolved but when a towards accelerated dialogue and year earlier. Now Oman Vision 2040, boos. leaders in the region” who had solution is eventually found, Mus- diplomacy. which features 65 Key Performance Sultan Qaboos, whose death in brought a message from the Ameri- cat’s role and mediation support Indicators, is aiming to kick-start a January ended a reign of 50 years, can president saying he was “will- could well be recognised as instru- Sabahat Khan maintains a new economic development model was a highly respected and valued ing to resolve the nuclear issue with mental once more. cross-disciplinary focus in that focuses on the non-oil sector. partner in the Arab Gulf for the UK. Iran and lift the sanctions.” Oman’s search for the middle international security, defence International partners, particularly Britain’s Prince Charles and Prime Muscat and Tehran have main- ground diplomatically has not policy and strategic issues. Iranian cyberthreat hovers over GCC region

Mohammed Alkhereiji cyberattacks and we find similarity cant regional political capital, is an Aramco (in 2012).” and one might reason that you might across different regions,” Moataz Bin attractive target for cybercriminals The GCC probably lags in compari- see them resorting to physical attacks Ali, vice-president of Trend Micro for and politically motivated hackers. son to the United States or the United because they do not have the capabil- London the MENA region said via e-mail. He Even Gulf Cooperation Council Kingdom but cybersecurity has been ities to get the level of impact in the said manufacturing and government (GCC) members with smaller econo- improving in Saudi Arabia and the cyber domain right now.” ast September, Saudi Ara- organisations are consistently the mies have been targeted by Iranian United Arab Emirates. However, the mco was hit with a drone and first- or second-most targeted sectors hackers. Last August, an attack said rest of the GCC is still catching up, cruise missile attack that tar- followed by the financial services to have been carried out by hackers Shepherd pointed out. The challenge of thwarting L geted oil processing facilities industry, the education sector and linked to Iran infiltrated networks of Gulf countries appear to be taking cyberattacks is a region- in eastern Saudi Arabia. The attack, health care. Bahraini government agencies and the matter seriously. Planet Market wide concern as attacks which Saudi and US officials blamed “Industries that are prominent in critical infrastructure sites. Reports said the GCC cybersecurity become more sophisticated market, which totalled $7.2 billion in on Iran, led to the temporary shut- GCC, such as energy and oil and gas, “There is a mixture of capabilities and motivations range down of the Aramco facilities, which are among the top ten most-hit sec- and maturity within the GCC,” said 2016, was expected to reach $11.4 bil- affected 5% of global oil production. tors through the entirety of 2019,” he Alister Shepherd, director for Mid- lion by 2024. from geopolitical to While that attack made headlines said. dle East and Africa at Mandiant, a Shepherd said most attacks his criminal activity. around the world, Aramco has been The challenge of thwarting cyber- subsidiary of US cybersecurity firm firm has seen have been state-spon- the target of constant assaults of an- attacks is a region-wide concern as at- FireEye. “So, we have seen Saudi Ara- sored, with groups tied to Iran heav- Warding off cyberattacks is not an other kind — cyberattacks — with a tacks become more sophisticated and bia in particular and the UAE as well ily active in the region. exclusive challenge of governments significant spike in attacks on com- motivations range from geopolitical invest heavily and key governmental “They obviously respond to geo- and large companies, particularly puter systems in the final quarter of to criminal activity. The United Arab entities have been steadily improving political events, so sometimes we considering that people in the region 2019, Aramco officials said. Emirates, a tourism and business hub since 2012 with the trigger being the see a spike in activities around major are avid social media users. “Overall, there is definitely an in- with a thriving economy and signifi- first Shamoon (virus) attack on Saudi events, such as the US withdrawal “One major theme that we have crease in the attempts of (cyber) at- from Joint Comprehensive Plan of seen in social media is social engi- tacks and we are very successful in Action or sanctions,” Shepherd said, neering or just targeting, so identify- preventing these attacks at the earli- referring to the nuclear deal between ing individuals who work at organi- est stage possible,” Khalid al-Harbi, Iran and global powers. sations of interest and targeting them Aramco’s chief information security Mandiant noted that “one obser- through social media, so that could officer, told Thomson Reuters. vation that we have made is that the be with the eventual aim of gaining “The pattern of the attacks is cycli- capabilities of Iran to conduct a cy- access to the parent organisation, cal and we are seeing that the mag- berattack of the scale of something be it government or private sector,” nitude is increasing. I would suspect like Shamoon in 2012 seems to have Shepherd said. that this will continue to be a trend.” been degraded.” The cyberdefence Mandiant said it noticed that this Aramco’s response in neutralising capabilities of GCC countries have in- method was used by Iranian opera- cyberattacks contrasts with its capa- creased, Shepherd said. tions to spread pro-Iranian propa- bilities of a few years ago. In January “Iranian attack capabilities have ganda. 2017, an attack at the Sadara Chemical been increasing incrementally and “Iranians are trying to gain a reac- Company, an Aramco-Dow Chemical have been outpaced by the defensive tion from individuals from what we joint venture, wiped out the firm’s investments in Saudi Arabia,” he said. would call inauthentic media,” Shep- computer systems. “That means that their ability to con- herd said. “They are news stories fa- “There are several key industries Threat hunting. Technicians practise defence against cyberattacks on duct cyber disruptive and destructive vourable to Iran and unfavourable to that tend to bear the brunt of these the power grid during a simulation at a training centre in Germany. (AFP) attacks has been relatively degraded its opponents in the region.” March 8, 2020 11 News & Analysis Egypt In Egypt’s Sinai, civil servants defy ISIS threat

Special Correspondent

Cairo

n 2017, Islamic State terrorists attacked the main power grid in the North Sinai town of Sheikh I Zuweid with rocket-propelled grenades. The attack threw hun- dreds of homes into darkness, para- lysed health facilities and caused businesses to stop working. Despite an awareness of dangers surrounding his job, Sami Osman (not his real name) hurried to the site and fixed the grid, allowing life to return to normal in the town. The grid was attacked several times in the following months. In- stead of repairing it, Osman, in his mid-50s, and his colleagues from the town’s electricity company used cables that had been unused for years in restoring electrical power. “We cannot stop thinking of how we can help residents lead a normal life,” Osman said. “The terrorists cannot beat us.” The old cables continue to work well because Islamic State (ISIS) militants cannot trace them. They cannot find the people standing be- hind the operation of the electricity sector in Sheikh Zuweid, either. Those working to give North Sinai residents access to basic services do everything they can to keep life go- ing. They defy violence and death. ISIS took root in north-eastern Egypt a few years ago. At the height of its activity, the militants, original- ly a local group that swore allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014, turned some parts of North Sinai into no-go areas. Sinai residents were sometimes caught in the middle of fighting between the Egyptian Army and police and ISIS terrorists. That in- cludes workers such as Osman. Harsh conditions. A worker uses a digger on the new road to Saint Catherine, in the Sinai Peninsula, south of Cairo. (Reuters) “The terrorists especially target these workers because they want life to stop in North Sinai,” said se- tacks and those by ISIS. There is no official estimate of the most of North Sinai, security ana- official figures indicate. curity expert Fouad Allam. “If the First responders, medical work- number of civil servants killed in lysts said. Despite this, people such as Os- people providing basic services fail ers, judges and street cleaners are Sinai in recent years. Some of those “This improvement is manifest man are far from secure, being at to do their job, there will be public not immune to similar attacks. who died do not feature in media in the ability of the army to make the front line of the war on terror- anger that can be used by the terror- On March 3, militants attacked reports about ISIS attacks. Most it difficult for the terrorists to stage ism in Sinai. They keep working ists in drawing in new recruits.” ambulance workers trying to trans- reports refer to them as “civilians” attacks,” said security expert Gamal to make North Sinai a place fit for To provide residents with port a conscript seriously injured but they are terrorists. Eddine Mazloum. life. services, Osman and other like him during an attack on a police post in These people work through fire- Osman is known among residents must be creative. Sometimes they southern Rafah. When the vehicle, fights and bomb attacks to make life Sinai workers are of Sheikh Zuweid as the “Minister conceal their identity. Other times on the road to al-Arish, stopped, possible for the residents in areas af- sometimes caught in the of Electricity” because he is always they brave threats from ISIS and militants opened its rear door and fected by violence. fighting between there to repair services after repeat- continue work to provide important found the conscript bleeding inside. Security conditions have notice- ed electricity blackouts, sometimes services. They shot and killed him. ably improved in North Sinai, with security forces and ISIS putting his life in danger. They leave their homes knowing This was the latest attack on med- the Egyptian Army intensifying a fighters. “We are prone to death every day that they might not return. Osman ical teams in North Sinai. Rescue crackdown on ISIS. ISIS is less ca- In 2019, ISIS was blamed for 45 but these terrorists will never suc- has lost five colleagues since 2015 workers are killed only because they pable of staging attacks now, which attacks on army and police posts in ceed in intimidating us or making because of stray bullets, bomb at- offer help to victims of ISIS attacks. is why life is returning to normal in North Sinai, down from 169 in 2018, us afraid,” Osman said. Crackdown on Shia TV channels, websites expected in Egypt

Amr Emam The court verdict does not name Sabri’s lawsuit was seen as an many years. It is home to al-Azhar, Red Sea in peril and endangering the Shia channels affected. Dozens aid to millions of Egyptian Salafists the epicentre of Sunni Islamic the Suez Canal. of Shia channels are broadcast via who had been fighting against Shia learning. The expansion of Shia Islam, Cairo Egyptian communications satellite Islam. “Egypt has real fears from the Salafists said, hits at the heart of series Nilesat. They include reli- The Salafists, ultraorthodox expansion of Shia Islam in it,” said Egypt’s social and religious fabric. gypt’s Salafists welcomed a gious channels and some that have Muslims who claim to adhere to Mervat Zakaria, an Iranian affairs “This is why we have to do every- court ruling ordering Egyp- social content. a purer version of Islam, even as specialist at the Arab Centre for Mi- thing we can to stop this expan- tian authorities to suspend The court verdict orders the clo- some people view them as reli- gration and Research think-tank. sion,” Abdel Hamid said. E operations at Shia TV chan- sure of Shia websites, including gious zealots, have been lobby- “This expansion is strongly con- It is not clear how Egyptian au- nels and internet service provid- al-Nafis, which is owned and oper- ing against Shia Islam, consider- nected with Iran’s desire to expand thorities will enforce the court rul- ers to take down Shia sites. The ated by Shia activist Ahmed Rasem ing it heresy. They carried out its political influence.” ing and block Shia channels and verdict, they said, protects Egypt al-Nafis. campaigns against Shia Islam, take down Shia websites. Egyptian against attempts by Iran to spread Nafis, a medical doctor in his trying to increase awareness of authorities have acted to pressure Shia Islam in Egypt. late 60s, has been accused of pro- what they described as dangers Dozens of Shia channels are Shia citizens, including closing “Shia Islam poses a great danger moting Shia Islam in Egypt and inherent in the spread of Shia broadcast via Egyptian Shia centres and preventing them to Egypt and its people,” Salafist nurturing ties with Shia clerics in ideas. communications satellite from entering important shrines, activist Sameh Abdel Hamid said. Iraq and Iran. His site is not a re- In June 2013, a Salafist mob at- series Nilesat. such as that of Al Hussein, near Egypt’s Supreme Administra- ligious one but contains articles tacked a house in Giza province downtown Cairo. tive Court, which rules in disputes that often defend Iranian policies near Cairo, where Shias gathered The conflict between Cairo and The Egyptian Ministry of Islamic between ordinary citizens and in the region. He said the verdict to celebrate the birth of Imam al- Tehran dates back hundreds of Endowments welcomed the ver- state institutions, ordered Shia TV to take down his site bodes ill for Mahdi, believed by Shias to be the years but was re-energised by the dict and said it would be a good channels be taken off the airwaves freedom of faith and expression in redeemer of Muslims. Chanting 1979 Islamic Revolution and Iran’s step on the road of preventing di- in Egypt and the blocking of Shia Egypt. “Allahu Akbar,” the mob killed four mullahs’ support of the 1981 as- visions. websites. “It [the verdict] targets the site people in the house. sassination of Egyptian President “We do not want divisions in our The case was brought by Egyp- of a man who can do nothing but However, this is less about ani- Anwar Sadat, a close friend of country,” said Sheikh Khaled al- tian lawyer Samir Sabri, who ac- think and write,” Nafis said. “This mosities between Salafists and Shi- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Guindi, a member of the Supreme cused the channels and websites is more than just an attack on a site as and more about Egyptian fears shah of Iran before the revolution. Council for Islamic Affairs, the ex- of intentionally working to spread that can be replaced with another,” of the expansion of Shia Islam in Relations between Tehran and ecutive body of the ministry. “Shia Shia Islam to destabilise Egypt. he wrote on his site. Egypt, analysts said. Deep under the Palestinian faction, Hamas, channels do nothing but insult “The presence of these channels Nafis described the ruling as an these fears are political, cultural which rules the Gaza Strip on Sunnis and their religious sym- and sites has so many negative ef- “outdated” method to stop his and geostrategic conflicts between Egypt’s north-eastern border, are bols.” fects on Egypt,” Sabri said. “They ideas from reaching Egyptians and Egypt and Iran. alarming to Cairo. Egypt views Ira- pose a real danger to Egypt’s reli- to prevent him from expressing Egypt was believed to be the nian support to the Houthi militia Amr Emam is an Arab Weekly gious and cultural identity.” himself. centre of the Islamic world for in Yemen as putting security in the contributor in Cairo. 12 March 8, 2020 News & Analysis Algeria Islamist ‘thorn’ sparks Overhaul of Algeria car industry over suspicion polarisation amid of corruption among Algeria’s Hirak previous officials

Lamine Ghanmi Lamine Ghanmi the issue of patent, invention and technology,” he said. The new policy scraps that re- Tunis Tunis quirement but tightens other in- vestors’ conditions. lgerians took to the streets he Algerian government “To close the file of the domes- for the 55th successive repeatedly promised in tic auto industry, the new speci- Friday on March 6, con- recent years to expand fications are aimed to satisfy the A tinuing their demands for T the domestic auto indus- conditions of serious investors broad changes in the military-dom- try and make home-produced intent on establishing a genuine inated regime. vehicles available to the public at car plant in Algeria,” said Ait Ali. However, heated debate about lower prices than imported cars. “If big carmakers do not want to attempts by Islamists to influence However, officials in the cur- come to Algeria, we will not bring the pro-democracy movement re- rent government accused the them at any price.” vived polarisation between secu- former government’s policy of “The Algerian government is larists and Islamists. Some describe being a ploy to enrich business- under no obligation to attract Islamists as a “thorn” in the side of people close to ousted President auto industry investors to the the Hirak, as the protest movement Abdelaziz Bouteflika. detriment of the national econo- is known. “The previous policy dealing my,” he added. The dispute raised concerns that with the car industry was a fic- The new guidelines for car in- Islamists could disrupt the unity tion, a fraud,” said Algerian In- dustry investors include a re- among protesters and leading fig- dustry and Mining Minister Fer- quired 30% integration rate. ures despite ideological differences. hat Ait Ali as he outlined a new “The 30% integration rate Algeria’s first experiment in strategy to jump-start the domes- means that 30% of inputs in the multiparty elections in the 1990s tic car industry. car plant will come from the do- backfired because of polarisation Two former prime ministers, mestic industry,” said Ait Ali, between secularists and Islamists, Abdelmalek Sellal and Ahmed adding that foreign car manufac- who assailed democracy as “here- Ouyahia, and two former indus- turers “must employ only Alge- sy” and said the elections would be try ministers, Youcef Yousfi and rian workers.” the “last vote” if they were to win. Mahjoub Bedda, are standing tri- The new push to develop an Algeria plunged into a civil war al alongside 17 other senior offi- auto industry in Algeria would that killed an estimated 200,000 cials and businessmen for alleged exclude French carmaker Re- people after Islamists won elec- corruption in the auto industry. nault. tions in 1992 and established The stated plan was to trim im- “After the 1990s, carmakers armed groups involved in massive ports, provide jobs and diversify decided to de-localise plants be- bloodshed. That legacy has many the economy from its reliance on cause they saw high profits and Algerians reluctant to support Is- oil and gas. Incoming officials benefits in some countries offer- lamist groups. have pointed to serious flaws in ing advantages like cheap work- “The Islamists know that it is the strategy. force,” said Ait Ali. impossible for them to gain power “Car assembly lines do not Algeria missed that trend be- through support of people in the necessarily imply the establish- cause “it had no vision at the streets. That’s why they nurture A threat to unity. Head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Algeria, the ment of an auto industry,” Ait Ali time,” he said, and when it tried ideas about disrupting the unity of Movement for Peaceful Society, Abderrazak Makri, attends a news said. “A group of people sought to to catch up, it made a mistake by the democratic movement,” said conference in Algiers, last September. (AFP) make Algerians understand that picking Renault as its first part- secularist opposition figure Said the assembly lines of vehicles ner. Saadi. were the first stage of car indus- “Is it logical to select that main “The strategy of the Islamists is movement. Makri, however, said Saadi and other secularists argue try integration. partner which has the same in- to ally themselves with the hard- Islamists represent an important that Islamists can only be accepted “It does not reflect any logical vestment in a neighbouring coun- pressed ruling authorities on the voice and should not be sidelined. in the movement when they aban- economics. It is not by launch- try (Morocco)? Do you believe hope they would dominate the re- “We have been marching in the don their “fundamentalist agenda.” ing assembly lines of around 60 this partner which produces cars gime in the mid-term.” Hirak for more than one year. We “The Algerian question will find car brands that we can develop a in Morocco can afford to invest The head of the Muslim Broth- are present in all regions,” said its way of resolution when what domestic auto industry. The inte- in Algeria to produce the same erhood in Algeria, the Movement Makri, who threatened to organise remains of the temptations of the gration of the car industry cannot number of cars here? That defies for Peaceful Society, Abderrazak “Islamists only” protests. Muslim fundamentalism becomes be done in dispersing and frag- all logic,” he said. Makri, called secularists in the pro- “Unfortunately, there is a po- a conservative political current,” mentation of the industry.” In 2014, Renault opened a plant tests “members of Masonic move- litical and ideological current that said Saadi. in Algeria’s western city of Oran ments and agents of (former colo- seeks to sow division among Alge- Mohamed Benchicou, a secu- to produce 75,000 vehicles annu- nial power) France.” rians. I blame the radical secularist larist who shared time in prison The new push to develop an ally. German automaker Volkswa- “These secularists do not want current, which aims to monopolise with Belhadj, said “Belhadj has not auto industry in Algeria gen has its assembly plant in the us to be part of the Hirak as if they the Hirak,” he said. “We know their changed and he sticks to his ideas.” would exclude French western Relizane­ province. Asian own the Hirak,” he said. “They names and their organisations. “He deliberately lets other people carmaker Renault. carmakers are also present in the spread rumours against us to un- They have websites financed by draw profiles of him as a changed country. dermine our image.” foreigners and they have associa- man. He finds that amazing,” said Under the previous pro- Auto experts said Algeria must Algeria’s year-long protest move- tions linked to Masonic groups.” Benchicou. “That is why the ini- gramme, foreign carmakers, in compete against Morocco to fos- ment has seen people across the The debate over relations be- tiative by Bouchachi and others to partnership with lo­cal investors, ter a sustainable domestic car country take to the streets in large tween Islamists and secularists in visit him is more than an error, a were eligible for state incentives, industry but it is not clear which numbers each week in peaceful the Hirak erupted when protest fault. The visit is an act of decep- including tax exemptions and foreign car maker Algeria is eye- demonstrations. The movement leader Mustapha Bouchachi and tion to use the prestige of the Hirak foreign currenc­y transfer waiv- ing as a partner. began February 22, 2019, when pro- two Hirak figures visited Islamist for the benefit of a person who de- ers, to pay for the import­ ed parts Within a few years, Morocco is testers mobilised to oppose long- leader Ali Belhadj the day the Hirak clares himself openly and publicly to be assembled at local plants. expected to be one of the most time President Abdelaziz Boutefli- marked its first anniversary, Febru- as the enemy of democracy.” The incentives were meant to en- prominent destinations for the ka’s bid to seek a fifth term in office. ary 22. For many secularists, coexist- courage growth in Algeria’s car automotive industry, given its Bouteflika was ousted in April Activists dismissed the visit as ence with Islamists on the political industry and reduce the outflow geographical position for exports but protesters’ demands grew to a “whitewashing” of Belhadj’s scene presents a serious dilemma of foreign currency by cutting and good investment climate. include broad reforms of the mili- “bloody record.” over how to build a functioning vehi­cle imports. Morocco’s automotive sector’s tary-dominated government. Belhadj, who once led the now- multiparty democracy. In the 15 years leading up to exports jumped by an annual Analysts said the protests have banned Islamic Salvation Front “Those who want the exclusion 2016, Algeria imported 4 million average of 14.5% for the decade been a breakthrough for Algeria, that many Algerians blame for the of the Islamists put themselves in a cars, spending $25 billion, indus- leading up to 2018 to $17.7 bil- moving the country beyond its fear civil war, is under state surveil- big contradiction,” said protest fig- try and customs figures indicated. lion. About 116,600 jobs have of a resurgent Islamist threat to the lance. ure Lahouari Addi. “They demand Industry experts estimated been created since the launch of public demanding serious demo- One activist wrote on social me- that the military does not dominate that increased wages and popula- the Industrial Acceleration Plan cratic reforms. dia: “We cannot successfully fight the state and at the same time want tion growth could drive demand in 2014, with an installed produc- Months of protests yielded re- for democracy with people who see to shut out the Islamists, which to 2.5 million new cars a year. tion capacity of 700,000 vehicles sults and many figures in Boutef- democracy as heresy.” represent up to 20% of the elector- Fuel subsidies also help keep mainly by Renault and French lika’s regime once believed to be Bouchachi defended the visit, a t e .” en ­ergy costs low for car-makers, carmaker Peugeot. untouchable were jailed. However, saying “Belhadj is suffering from “How we can exclude the Islam- with Algeria’s energy subsidies Also drawn to Morocco is Chi- efforts to stop presidential elec- serious violations of his rights. I ists if we do not call the army to do estimated at about $45 billion an- nese automotive equipment gi- tions were unsuccessful and Abdel- visited him out of my convictions that?” he asked. “What can we do nually by the International Mon- ant Nexteer Automotive, which madjid Tebboune, a former prime as a campaigner for human rights. to achieve that?” etary Fund. inaugurated its first production minister, was elected in December There is no political project behind While the Hirak is viewed as a However, the main barrier to site in Africa in Kenitra last year Tebboune, who briefly served such visit.” uniting force for Algerians, it has foreign investmen­ t is the coun- with an investment of more than under Bouteflika, reached out to Saadi responded: “It is one thing yet to effectively address polarisa- try’s shareholder regulations, $35 million. protesters, praising the movement to defend the civic rights of a man. tion between Islamists and secular- which require local partners to With a surface area of 10,000 as “democratic” and giving them We will never hesitate to do that. ists. own 51% of any project. Ait Ali sq.metres, the factory recruited some concessions. He recently said But it is another issue when an up- “The Hirak is bringing Algeri- said the “51%-49% shareholding 500 employees in the Atlantic the “blessed Hirak saved the coun- rising by citizens for democracy ans together in their diversities condition was aimed at frighten- Free Zone of Kenitra to produce try from a total collapse.” endorses the record, stands and but (the movement) has yet to ing away serious investors.” power-assisted pinion steering Islamists kept a low profile in convictions of this man, his project free the movement of the thorn of “A true investor will never give systems. It will have to position the protests after demonstrators and past. That is what is happening the Islamists,” said political writer up such share because it is not itself as the first production unit rejected their attempts to lead the now after this visit.” Ahmed Merad. just an issue of money. It involves for the Chinese firm in Africa. March 8, 2020 13 News & Analysis Lebanon Confusion and fear hang over Lebanon as debt matures

Samar Kadi Nada Sleiman, an artisan. “Lebanon needs to have an eco- nomic salvation plan even if it de- Beirut faults because, if we do pay, there will be no more money to buy fuel, pprehension and confu- wheat, medicines and other basic sion thickened as the clock commodities. Also, the people’s run down on Lebanon’s savings will be put at risk. Definitely, A looming debt maturities of the population will bear the brunt of a $1.2 billion Eurobond due March any decision,” Sleiman said. 9. Defaulting or paying the debt is Some politicians turned their expected to aggravate the acute criticism to Lebanon’s banking sec- Financial woes. A man walks in front of a bank in Beirut, March 6. (AFP) economic crisis gripping the coun- tor, which survived unscathed from try. the country’s devastating civil strife (1975-90) and wars with Israel. bank had around 11% and foreign state prosecutor, who warned that than 30% of its value on the parallel Lebanese parliament Speaker Na- investors owned the remainder. “such a move would send the coun- market since September, reaching The Lebanese pound has bih Berri, of the Shia Amal Move- However, those figures may have try, as well as its monetary, financial a peak of 2,600 pounds to the US lost more than 30% of its ment, accused banks of diluting changed after local banks reported- and economic sectors into chaos.” dollar. value on the parallel market local holdings by selling their Eu- ly sold part of their Eurobond hold- The government separately ap- Financial strains came to a head since September. robonds to foreign investors, thus ings to foreign lenders. proved a draft law on lifting bank last year as capital inflows slowed weakening Lebanon’s position in Economists warned that paying secrecy, which is at the core of the and protests erupted against a polit- The government has been study- talks with foreign bondholders. the March 9 Eurobond debt on time Lebanese banking system. The ical elite that has dominated Leba- ing, with the help of international The banks, which for years fun- would eat away at Lebanon’s plum- move was described as “an impor- non since the civil war and steered finance experts, the options of or- nelled deposits to the state, own the meting foreign currency reserves, tant achievement” to hold account- it into crisis. derly and unorderly default and bulk of the sovereign debt and have while bankers said default would able any corrupt person,” including The crisis is rooted in decades of their repercussions and a third op- been in discord with political pow- damage the country’s reputation ministers, MPs and public officials. waste and corruption that landed tion — partial payment and negoti- ers over the March repayment. with lenders. Public anger has boiled in recent the country with one of the world’s ating the remainder. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in A decision by the financial pros- months at the banks, which severely biggest public debt burdens. “Whether they pay or not, the November, estimated that around ecutor to freeze the assets of 20 curbed people’s access to their sav- people at large will suffer the most 50% of Eurobonds were held by lo- Lebanese banks on March 5 was ings and blocked transfers abroad. Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly and will be totally helpless,” said cal banks, while Lebanon’s central blocked almost immediately by the The Lebanese pound has lost more Travel and Society section editor.

Viewpoint Is Lebanon on the verge of collapse?

s Lebanon passes complete all huge tenders through the most without the supervision of the severe and unprec- committee. Rami Rayess edented economic Information leaked from and fiscal crisis in Paris indicated that France had its contemporary lost enthusiasm to extend aid history,A there are increasing to Lebanon unless it seeks aid doubts that its new cabinet is from the International Monetary capable of confronting the enor- Fund (IMF), a step that would mous upcoming challenges. deepen division among Leba- The Arab and international nese political parties. Hezbollah communities upon which Leba- has explicitly rejected any deal non traditionally relies for aid with the IMF because it consid- have expressed a cold attitude ers the fund a Western tool used towards the cabinet headed by to dominate crippled countries Hassan Diab. such as Lebanon. Lebanese Foreign Minister On the Arab front, Diab has Nassif Hitti recently made his reportedly asked to visit Saudi first European visit to Paris, Arabia, part of a Gulf tour that with the new cabinet relying on would also see him travel to the French to revive the CEDRE Kuwait, the United Arab Emir- Conference resolutions that ates, Qatar and other countries. pledged almost $11 billion in aid Riyadh has yet to respond. Qatar to Lebanon. has said it would welcome a The conference was orches- visit from Diab, regardless. trated by French President The new government’s plan Emmanuel Macron, convened promised Qatar Petroleum one in the French capital in April out of the three grand Floating 2018 and called on Lebanon Storage Regasification Units to to initiate reforms that would be built in Lebanon. introduce drastic changes to the Another enormous challenge economy. that confronts the cabinet is Lebanon’s power sector the $1.2 billion Eurobond set squanders $2 billion a year in to mature March 9, with other estimated losses, a figure that bonds requiring repayment has increased the country’s defi- in April and June. Lebanese cit and public debt to no avail Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni, because the country still suffers a veteran financial expert, said electricity shortages in vast the country “has the option to At a crossroads. Protesters seek to prevent MPs and government areas. In effect, the new cabi- choose between the worse and officials from reaching the parliament building for a vote of net has copy-pasted the former the worst.” confidence in Beirut, February 11. (Reuters) government’s plan as-is without After the Central Bank an- amendment. nounced that it was the sole The plan postpones the as- responsibility of the cabinet The revolt that started Octo- designated term, which ends in signment of an independent to deal with this debt, there ber 17, 2019, toppled the govern- 2022. As a result of this, politi- supervisory committee, which are fears that abiding by those ment headed by Saad Hariri but cal and economic deadlock is is a precondition for donors, payments would lead to a sharp has lost momentum, with a few looming. The call for early to increase transparency and decrease in the Central Bank’s exceptions of cutting roads or Once more, Lebanon finds parliamentary secure efficient administering foreign currency reserves, breaking into ministries and itself at a crossroads as it has elections, though of the sector. The pretext is that something that would exacer- public departments. always been. No matter where it there is a need to change the bate the liquidity crisis in the The call for early parliamen- goes and how it goes, difficulties supported by several regulatory law first. Criticisms country. Parliament Speaker Na- tary elections, though support- are at the forefront. political forces, seems have also been voiced against bih Berri warned against making ed by several political forces, this postponement, consider- the forthcoming payment, say- seems to be blocked by Hezbol- Rami Rayess is a Lebanese to be blocked by ing that this is a step that would ing it would lead to catastrophic lah, which is of the view that writer. Follow him on Twitter: Hezbollah. allow the Energy Ministry to results at the social level. parliament should complete its @RamiRayess. 14 March 8, 2020 Viewpoint Palestine Israel Annexation is more than a gift of words

tered market with a new settlement area, long a key demand of settlers in their unceasing campaign to Geoffrey Aronson destroy the economic foundations of the Arab community and expand Jewish settlement. uch attention has been focused on Greater Jerusalem Israeli intentions Israel has laboured with great to annex West success to establish successive Bank territory and walls of settlement aimed at isolat- the green light for ing Jerusalem from its West Bank Msuch a move given by the Trump hinterland — from Bethlehem in administration. the south to Ramallah in the north At such a moment it is worth — and undermine the prospects for recalling the advice of Israel’s first a viable and sovereign Palestinian president, the Zionist luminary presence in the city. Chaim Weizmann. As a diplomat, New and expanding settlements Weizmann tirelessly argued for in and around Jerusalem are one a Jewish state in the capitals of territorial anchor of this strategy. Europe and famously met with Trump’s green light expedited Prince Faisal bin Hussein in 1919 to plans, some of them long post- promote the Zionist cause. poned, for new and expanded However, despite his consider- settlement areas, not only in East able achievements, Weizmann Jerusalem but also in strategic loca- understood that without creating tions immediately outside the city. facts on the ground, professions of In the north, plans for an Israeli support from distant capitals were suburb of 50,000 at the site of the Back to square one. An Israeli election monitor wearing gloves holds envelopes as votes are counted of little practical value. shuttered Jerusalem airport at following Israel’s national election, in Shoham, Israel, March 4. (Reuters) “A state cannot be created by de- Atarot were recently announced. cree,” Weizmann observed almost Creation of this settlement between a century ago, “but by forces of and among the Palestinian neigh- people and in the course of genera- bourhoods of Kufr ‘Aqab, Qalandia Uncertain outcome of Israeli tions. Even if all the governments and Al-Ram further imperils the of the world gave us a country, it existence of a territorial foundation would only be a gift of words but if for Palestinian sovereignty any- the Jewish people will go and build where in the city while creating a election will affect US vote Palestine, the State of Israel will territorial bridge of settlement link- become a reality.” ing settlements north of Jerusalem With US President Donald with Israel’s coastal plain. Trump’s declaration supporting Just east of Jerusalem, on a Lieberman, like Gantz, is not Committee (AIPAC) conference, annexation securely in his pocket, hilltop visible from the Mount of opposed to joining a coalition with said: “We cannot ignore that in to- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Olives, a vast new settlement area Gregory Likud provided Netanyahu is no day’s Democratic Party… standing Netanyahu announced a series known as E-1 is, after many years longer leader. He said he would with Israel [is] controversial.” of settlement and building plans of delay, scheduled for housing Aftandilian back legislation that would prohibit US Vice-President Mike Pence, in Jerusalem and the West Bank construction. Over the years, a po- a sitting prime minister under in- at the same conference, blasted that attest to the continuing and lice station and extensive road and esults from Israel’s dictment from remaining in his job US Senator Bernie Sanders, who decisive importance of Weizmann’s services infrastructure have been March 2 election but that can only come about if a refused to attend the gathering, timeless instruction. built but successive Israeli govern- indicate that the right new government is formed under charging that it gave a platform to ments deferred to international wing will remain in Gantz, which would mean reaching “bigotry” and, in a recent Demo- Hebron and, particularly, US opposition to the ascendancy even out to the Arab List. cratic debate, called Netanyahu a Hebron is the site of the Ibra- the creation of a vast new settle- if no new government “reactionary racist.” himi Mosque (aka Tomb of the ment in the area. Ris formed soon, which will have This put former Vice-President Patriarchs), a place of pilgrimage Israel supports development of reverberations in the US presiden- Joe Biden, who has had a remark- throughout the ages for Muslims this area for the very reason that tial race. Trump has been able rebound in the Democratic and Jews. Right-wing settlers, Palestinians and the international The right-religious bloc won silent on the Israeli contest of late and is slightly ahead armed by then-Deputy Prime Min- community oppose it: It closes the plurality (58 seats in parlia- election results but of Sanders, in a bit of a quandary. ister Yigal Allon, settled in the town the door to a territorial division ment) but is three seats short of To win the Democratic Party nomi- in April 1968. Since then Hebron, of Jerusalem’s eastern hinterland the 61 needed to form a governing he clearly wants nation and later the presidency, the market town for the entire West while blocking the only remaining coalition. This bloc includes Prime Netanyahu to form a Biden must unite centrists and Bank south of Bethlehem, has been land corridor between the northern Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s progressives. However, the latter, under siege by a small but deter- (Ramallah-Nablus) and southern Likud party (36 seats), religious new government or particularly young people in that mined group of settlers who claim (Bethlehem-Hebron) West Bank. parties (Shas with nine seats and remain as the wing, share Sanders’ views on cur- Hebron as their own. Two other links in this chain United Torah Jerusalem with seven caretaker prime rent Israeli policies. The massacre of worshippers by of settlement — Har Homa and seats), plus the right-wing Yamina Significantly, Biden has had his a settler in 1994 presented an op- Airplane Hill — are scheduled for party (six seats). minister. problems with Netanyahu in the portunity for the Rabin government expanded construction in the The centre-left bloc won 40 past. When he was vice-president to remove the settlers from the city permissive environment created by seats, which includes 33 seats for The chairman of the Arab List, in 2010, he was visibly angry when, and, more broadly, to give evidence Washington. Both settlement areas the Blue and White alliance led by Ayman Odeh, said he would only arriving in Israel, the Netanyahu that Israel was intent on evacuat- divide and separate the Bethle- Benny Gantz and seven seats for consider doing so if Gantz changes government announced new set- ing settlements during the Oslo hem region from Jerusalem, while the Labour-Gesher-Meretz coali- his position on key issues, includ- tlement building in East Jerusalem. era. However, Rabin, only months fortifying territorial links between tion. ing his support for the govern- Biden is hoping to straddle the before his assassination, demurred. Israeli settlement areas south and Outside of those blocs are the ment’s plan, blessed by US Presi- fence by differentiating between He closed the bustling Palestinian east of the city. Arab List, which won the most dent Donald Trump, of annexation support for Israel and opposition to market instead. Israel’s byzantine system of land seats (15) in its history, and former of settlements in the West Bank. Israeli policies. Under successive Israeli govern- and construction licensing mean Defence Minister Avigdor Lieber- This means the Israeli politi- Biden’s video speech at the ments, the town’s economic and that, recent declarations notwith- man’s Yisrael Beitenu party (seven cal situation is again up in the air AIPAC conference noted that, while transport centre has been shuttered standing, the bulldozers are not seats). but Netanyahu and his right-wing he “will always stand with and for and deserted, while the embryonic necessarily on their way. In some Normally, the Israeli president partners will remain at the helm, a secure, democratic Jewish State Jewish settlement in strategic parts cases, ground will not be broken for asks the party with the most seats perhaps for many months, until it is of Israel,” he is against plans to an- of the city incrementally expanded. years, while for others the adver- to try to form a government. Hence, sorted out or new elections called. nex parts of the West Bank, which US Ambassador to Israel David tisements offering new dwellings it is likely Netanyahu will get the In the United States, Trump has he said would preclude a future, Friedman has said that the applica- for sale have been published. first nod to do so but he is again been silent on the Israeli election contiguous Palestinian state. Biden tion of Israeli sovereignty to the After a half century of settlement facing obstacles. He would like to results but he clearly wants Netan- also noted that current Israeli poli- Jewish areas of Hebron poses “no in the West Bank and East Jerusa- bring Blue and White into his coali- yahu to form a new government or cies on settlements and annexation problem.” lem, construction that begins more tion but Gantz continues to say that remain as the caretaker prime min- are “undermining support for Israel Late last year, in what Palestine or less one year later is of little joining with Likud is only possible if ister. Trump knows that Democrats in the United States, especially Liberation Organisation official consequence. Netanyahu, whose trial on corrup- in general are opposed to Netan- among young people.” He is likely Saeb Erekat called “the first tan- A day before Israel’s third elec- tion charges begins March 17, steps yahu’s policies and the US peace to stick with this message. gible result of the US decision to tion in a year, Netanyahu once down and the prime minister has plan, which basically endorses the Biden’s speech was praised by legitimise colonisation,” plans were again promised to make good on said he has no intention to do so. Likud agenda. Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder of the J announced to replace the shut- his promise to annex West Bank That leaves Lieberman as the As the presidential campaign Street organisation, a liberal Jewish territory. “That will happen within spoiler or kingmaker. Israeli media heats up, Trump wants nothing alternative to AIPAC. This support weeks, two months at the most, I reports suggested Lieberman will better than to harp on what he was important to Biden because hope,” he said. recommend that Gantz form the claims is the “anti-Israel” posi- he hopes it will deflect Trump’s Israel’s byzantine However, in the West Bank, next government, which implies tion of Democrats. This will help attacks as well as differentiate system of land and whether annexation occurs or not, he would throw his support to him. him consolidate support with his himself from Sanders, who was such “a gift of words” is almost However, that would only reach Christian evangelical base, which is criticised for his remarks not only construction beside the point. 47 seats, if one counts the Labour- strongly in favour of Netanyahu, as by Republicans, as was expected, licensing mean that, As the saying popularised by Gesher-Meretz parties in this well as right-wing elements of the but by some Democrats. recent declarations early Zionist settlers goes: “Another equation. American Jewish community. goat, another dunam… and the Without the Arab List of 15 seats, Trump’s surrogates have already Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer in notwithstanding, country will be ours.” such a government cannot be chimed in on this theme. The Re- the Pardee School of Global Studies the bulldozers are formed and Lieberman has a toxic publican majority leader of the US at Boston University and a former Geoffrey Aronson is a non-resident relationship with the Arab parties, Senate, Mitch McConnell, at the re- US State Department Middle East not necessarily on scholar at the Middle East Institute as they have with him. cent American Israel Public Affairs analyst. their way. in Washington. March 8, 2020 15 Viewpoint Turkey

Turkey’s opening of Greek border plays into Assad’s hands

expected to embrace and readily return to living under Assad? That was a major concern for Stephen Starr Damascus only until Turkey opened its border to Greece at the end of February, allowing y opening the border many Idlib residents to escape to Greece for refu- first to Turkey and then, poten- gees, Turkey is doing tially, to Europe. It means the the Syrian govern- Syrian government no longer ment a major favour. must think about reintegrating Throughout the many of the more than 3 million BSyrian conflict, dozens of com- people who detest it. munities with people numbering This is part of a broader strate- in the hundreds of thousands gic move by Damascus. — stricken people from formerly There’s a very specific reason anti-government regions, such Assad chose to allow residents as al-Waer in Homs, east Aleppo of opposition areas safe pas- and Eastern Ghouta outside sage and refuge in Idlib and Damascus — were relocated to the northern fringes of Aleppo Idlib province and neighbouring province and not, for example, Jarabulus in Aleppo province. the Lebanese, Jordanian or At least 1.5 million Syrians Iraqi border areas. It’s because fled to Idlib over the course of the Assad regime knew that to the conflict, though that figure pen in millions of people on the is likely to be far higher because Turkish border would have a many of the displaced later greater potential destabilising ef- moved on to Turkey. fect on Europe, Turkey and the In the years since and despite West than on its neighbouring the many challenges, Idlib Arab countries (which Damas- maintained its opposition to cus probably calculated would the regime of Syrian President refuse to resettle in their own Bashar Assad. Its residents have countries). grown increasingly accustomed In the past week, tens of thou- to living free from the yoke of sands of migrants and refugees the Assad dictatorship and the attempted crossing into Greece paranoia and propaganda that from Turkey, setting off a new goes with it. diplomatic crisis for Athens and As a result, reintegrating these the wider European political belligerent millions of Syrians hierarchy. Refugees in between. A migrant shows tear gas canisters to media members as they wait on the once the regime regained con- What’s clear is that the Assad no man’s land between Turkey and Greece, at Turkey’s Pazarkule border crossing with Greece’s trol of Idlib was always going to government is not in the busi- Kastanies, near Edirne in Turkey, March 5. (Reuters) prove to be a major challenge: ness of providing anything in How do you convince people terms of infrastructure or secu- whose houses you’ve destroyed rity for its own citizens. When they did go back, how- ing pad for external operations. border, there are precedents. and family members you’ve It has a long history of using ever, thousands were promptly Nor would we allow others to Terrorists responsible for major killed to accept your rule? How, Syrian refugees and expats for detained. use it for such a purpose. I made attacks in France and elsewhere after years of bombings, chemi- its own gain. Even before the Idlib’s refugees aren’t the only clear that we would focus exclu- used the migrant trail to get cal attacks and air strikes on uprising and war, senior Syrian element in the province that sively on our struggle against from ISIS-controlled territory in the already displaced residents officials would tell journalists could present a major challenge the Syrian regime and its allies Syria and Iraq to the continent of Idlib, could such people be how the government wanted to Europe and the Syrian regime. in Syria.” in 2015. expats and overseas labourers to There are tens of thousands of While HTS may or may not All this means that, while the stay away because they provid- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), continue to fight the regime Greek, European and Turkish ed important funds through re- Hurras al-Din, Islamic State until it is forcibly removed from governments argue and the While there is no patriated cash to the struggling (ISIS) cells and other fighters for Idlib, where do its fighters go watching world cries foul over local economy. It also meant the whom there is nowhere to go if then? And the ISIS cells? They, the plight facing Idlib, in Damas- evidence that regime didn’t have to meet their and when the regime, backed by potentially, may be heading for cus senior leaders are rubbing extremists have basic medical, education and Russian warplanes, regains full the Greek border in hopes of their hands together with glee. recently attempted to housing needs. control of the province. reaching mainland Europe from For them, the Idlib conflict has As it became clearer that the As recently as February, where they could be expected to worked out well. reach Europe through regime was going to prevail in HTS commander Muhammad plot further carnage. the Turkish-Greek the war, in July 2019 it had ap- al-Jolani told the International While there is no evidence Stephen Starr is the author of parently changed its tune with Crisis Group: “I conditioned my that extremists have recently “Revolt in Syria: Eye-Witness to border, there are Assad taking to television to en- pledge on the notion that we attempted to reach Europe the Uprising” and has lived in precedents. courage Syrians to return home. would not use Syria as a launch- through the Turkish-Greek Syria and Turkey since 2007. Erdogan’s pyrrhic victory cannot hide the fact he has come home empty-handed

of Idlib’s key east-west M4 high- that the West, which had hoped own red lines and a corridor pery and deceitful Erdogan can way, along which joint Russian- that Turkey would start turn- of opportunities for future be and how intact his jihadist Turkish patrols will begin on ing to NATO and the European cooperation on these issues. inner core remains. It will be on Yavuz Baydar March 15,” Reuters reported. Union, would be proven to be Third, take advantage of mis- Syria that Erdogan’s dreams of “The corridor stretches 6km to delusional. takes made by the other parties Neo-Ottoman irredentism, as the north and 6km to the south In a move whose choreogra- whose position is important well as his aspiration to be- fter a meeting in of the M4 — effectively advanc- phy could only be described as to Ankara — the United States come the supreme leader of the Moscow that lasted ing Russia’s presence further a show of master diplomatic — and use the contrast to your Ikhwan line, will end. nearly 6 hours, north into Idlib.” craftsmanship, Putin reasserted advantage,” he said. As Marc Champion, writing the conclusion is Gone are the loud threats his authority, manoeuvring in The result of the Moscow for Bloomberg News, astutely simple: Turkish uttered by Erdogan, who a way that would not totally meeting: Erdogan was offered pointed out: “Erdogan has President Recep threatened a broader assault on alienate Erdogan and his team a straitjacket, doomed to watch now doubled down to apply TayyipA Erdogan returned home Syrian positions in Idlib if his while simultaneously signalling further Syrian-Russian advances military force where diplomacy empty-handed, having learnt deadline was not met. The ab- to the rest of the world who was according to whatever timetable failed in both Syria and Libya, the bitter lesson that his mid- sence of any agreement on what boss. they like. After his tete-a-tete only to find the field crowded size country has to bend before will happen with the Turkish As summarised by Maxim with Putin, the Turkish presi- with other external powers. the iron will of Russian Presi- military observation posts also Suchkov, a non-resident expert dent has become even more Meanwhile, he has alienated dent Vladimir Putin. points to continued vulner- at the Russian International deeply dependent on Russia. traditional allies in the West and The symbols of the meeting, ability of Turkish Armed Forces Affairs Council, Moscow won He may, however, be con- made enemies of Arab lead- as reflected by pictures and personnel. based on a tripartite negotiating tent for the time being for the ers wary of his support for the videos, spoke for themselves: A The apparent humiliation for strategy: conflict to remain, given that Muslim Brotherhood.” weary Erdogan suppressing his the Turkish delegation was that “First, demonstrate empathy this is part of his “survival In this context, Erdogan’s usual angry self before Putin as Commander-in-Chief Erdogan, on issues that are sensitive and by crisis” strategy but time is impulsive weaponising of poor his team of ministers and secu- with the burden of the mas- important to Turkish security. slowly running out for Erdogan. refugees as a show of fierce rity officials lined up, standing sacre of 36 soldiers — unofficial Second, clearly outline your Reliable domestic polls indicate confrontation with the Euro- as if they were Kremlin syco- figures mention at least 50 — on a decline of support for his Syria pean Union proves itself to be phants, at the legs of the mighty his shoulders, had to go all the and Libya policies. It means he another huge erratic move. It re- statue of Catherine the Great, way to Putin’s office only to find will face growing resistance in sults in the joint mobilisation of the victor against the Ottomans himself returning with the same Erdogan’s impulsive Turkey, leaving him, possibly, the United States and the Euro- in the late 19th century. bitter load. He may know he has with only one option: become pean Union to draw a line along Back home, all Erdogan is left been defeated in his latest battle weaponising of poor even more of a hardliner at the north-eastern and Aegean with is a fragile ceasefire, the and probably will go on to lose refugees as a show of home. border of Greece, adding to the future of which is as uncertain the war. fierce confrontation Another takeaway from solitude of Ankara, which finds as ever, leaving Russia and its I have repeatedly argued that the Moscow meeting was the itself more or less on its own — protectorate, Syria, free to move Putin would not blink in the with the European underlying fact of how defin- rudderless and irrational. ahead to capture whatever is face of Erdogan’s gamble and Union proves itself to ing Russian mistrust towards left of Idlib. that he would make sure that the ruling Turkish clique has Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish “The deal establishes a his Syria — and regional — strat- be another huge become. Deep down, Putin has journalist and regular columnist security corridor on each side egy remained unshattered and erratic move. been reminded about how slip- for The Arab Weekly. 16 March 8, 2020 Viewpoint Iran Iran is sick with its political system not just coronavirus

Ali Alfoneh

ith 4,747 infec- tions, 124 regis- tered fatalities and 739 report- edly recovered as of March 5, Iran Wis one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, a disease that democratically targets everyone, including members of the country’s political elite. At least 23 members of the 290- seat Iranian parliament have been diagnosed with coronavirus and that number is likely to rise. The vi- rus claimed the lives of two newly elected parliamentarians, Iran’s former ambassador to the Vatican and two members of the Expedi- ency Discernment Council. However, the real illness in Iran’s political system is not the corona- virus but the bacillus of authoritari- anism. The collapse of the authority of the Iranian parliament demon- strates the sick state of Iran’s politi- cal system. Before the February 21 parliamentary elections, the Guard- ian Council disqualified more than half of the candidates, including 80 incumbent parliamentarians, on grounds ranging from “economic corruption” and “lack of commit- ment to the Islamic Republic” to “lack of practical commitment to Islam.” These allegations undermine the authority of the outgoing parlia- Broken trust? An Iranian man wearing a mask walks under a mural bearing an image of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ment. If 80 parliamentarians are in Tehran, March 4. (AFP) economically corrupt and lack commitment to the regime and to Islam, what is the legal status of Presenting his austerity budget March 21. the incumbent parliament and that parliament” and a deed that “in- laws passed by the votes of those to the parliament last December, However, since the Iranian par- would most likely also have met sults the parliament, as well as the parliamentarians until the new Iranian President Hassan Rohani liament has suspended its meet- significant resistance in the incom- Supreme Leader.” parliament convenes after March 21 warned the fiscal year 2020-21 ings because of the coronavirus, ing parliament. Khamenei may well find comfort in the Iranian new year? would be the year of “maximum Speaker Ali Larijani, citing “per- A similar scenario played out last in the ease with which he managed Since the widespread disqualifi- pressure and continuation of the mission from the Supreme Leader,” November, when a parliamentary to bypass parliament and intimi- cation of incumbents, the Iranian sanctions.” Therefore, Rohani em- submitted the dismissed budget to majority opposed Rohani’s aboli- date parliamentarians into submis- parliament has suffered a much phasised the need for “resistance the Guardian Council for approval. tion of fuel subsidies. At the very sion and obedience but by silencing bigger humiliation: The incumbent budget,” which would be almost Parliamentarians Abdul Reza last moment, Larijani read aloud parliamentarians and marginalis- and the incoming parliaments have independent of revenue from oil Misri and Asadollah Abbasi said Khamenei’s letter from the podium ing institutions, he weakened the both lost all influence over next and gas exports, since both com- Larijani did not just have “per- of parliament demanding support popular roots of the regime. year’s budget. modities are sanctioned by the mission” from Iranian Supreme for the fuel subsidy reform. Few Khamenei will be held respon- United States. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei protested Khamenei’s demands sible for the austerity budget and On February 24, parliamentar- but received a “decree” in which and the Rohani government moved other unpopular decisions but Khamenei will be held ians rejected Rohani’s budget bill. Khamenei demanded parliament on to suppress protesters. the bacillus of authoritarianism According to the norms and hand the budget to the Guardian This time, parliamentary protests apparently makes leaders blind to responsible for the regulations of the Iranian parlia- Council. are not as loud: Mahmoud Sadeqi, consequences. austerity budget and ment, the cabinet was expected to In doing so, Larijani and Khame- an incumbent parliamentarian present a new budget, either to the nei completely bypassed the barred from running for parliament Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at other unpopular incumbent parliament or the new legislature to enact an austerity again, called the budget decision the Arab Gulf States Institute in decisions. parliament convening after budget, which was dismissed by “the last nail in the coffin of the Washington. Coronavirus tests Iran’s limits

extent. Official numbers of infected die. Mohammad Mirmohammadi, capacity to act but also to contain ered up the virus’s arrival and initial — nearly 5,000 — do not accord with an adviser to the supreme leader, the virus. spread, Iran’s people are wary of the number of reported deaths, was next. Hossein Sheikholeslam, Iran analysts must consider its ability to contain the virus and James Snell which would indicate tens of thou- a former ambassador to Syria, also whether coronavirus will hamper improve the situation. sands of cases. succumbed to the virus. the ruling class as it struggles to This comes after a year in which Whereas authorities first claimed As well as circulating among treat those affected and prevent the popular protests over corrup- he spread of coronavirus there had been 12 deaths from the the ruling class, the virus is also entire legislative and administra- tion, the state of the economy and around the world has virus, on February 24, a member present in Iran’s prisons, including tive class from being exposed to the Iran’s foreign wars were brutally been rapid and disrup- of parliament for Qom, Ahmad the notorious Evin prison. Nazanin virus. repressed and IRGC adventurism in tive but nowhere is the Amirabadi Farahani, claimed the Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British prisoner The same token applies to Iran’s Syria, Iraq and Yemen has become outbreak as uncon- death toll was at least five times of conscience, said she had the international system, including increasingly documented interna- trolled and chaotic as in higher. Iraj Harirchi, a deputy health virus and described her symptoms, its militias, organised by IRGC op- tionally and resented at home. TIran. Although Iran only confirmed minister who disputed Farahani’s though Iranian officials denied her eratives, in foreign countries. Iraq, Although the outbreak in Iran its first cases on February 19, the statistics, was later diagnosed with claim. Oman, the United Arab Emirates represents state failure and infec- virus spread widely and infected the virus after he appeared visibly The state has taken unprecedent- and Lebanon say their first cases of tion among the elites places the people from every class of Iranian ill at a news conference. ed action to stop the virus spread the virus were traced to Iran. ruling class in some danger, Middle society. The spread of COVID-19 in Iran among prisoners, temporarily free- Phillip Smyth, Soref fellow at the East analyst Kyle Orton said: “The From the beginning of Iran’s has affected the ruling class to an ing 54,000 inmates to prevent the Washington Institute for Near East Iranian state does not seem to be outbreak, members of parliament unprecedented degree. As of March prison population transmitting the Policy, said: “It will be interesting to in any imminent danger but the and outside observers accused the 3, it was estimated that 8% of the virus among itself. see what happens to Shia militias as mishandling of the coronavirus Iranian state of covering up or fail- country’s MPs were infected, lead- It is speculated that the virus higher-level command and clerical crisis could well be the catalyst for ing to disclose the infection’s true ing to the sitting of parliament being entered the country through the structures get sick and as major another round of civil disobedi- suspended indefinitely. international travel of officials, who cities used to coordinate them (like ence.” In addition to Harirchi, Ma- may have caught it in affected areas Qom) get affected.” All of this is in the future, as Any widespread soumeh Ebtekar, one of Iran’s in China. Its spread to prisons and The Iranian state is being over- Iran’s people brace for a broader vice-presidents; Mojtaba Zonnour, across the country has been attrib- stretched attempting to constrain outbreak, and must be seen in the transmission among chairman of the National Security uted to the Islamic Revolutionary the virus. Although the country has shadow of remaining state power the IRGC could and Foreign Affairs Committee; and Guard Corps (IRGC), members of the infrastructure to deal with natu- and control. Pir-Hossein Kolivand, head of the which frequently move around the ral disasters such as earthquakes, a “For now, however, it seems substantially diminish country’s emergency services, have country and are involved in many widespread rate of infection would the population is too scared — of not only the state’s all been infected. aspects of Iranian administration overwhelm the country’s health- repression and of the virus. They’re capacity to act but The death toll among the elites is and politics. care systems. sitting home to await develop- also significant. Hadi Khosroshahi, Any widespread transmission Another concern among Iran’s ments,” Orton said. also its ability to a former ambassador to the Holy among the IRGC could substan- leaders is the effect on public trust. contain the virus. See, was the first among them to tially diminish not only the state’s After it appeared that the state cov- James Snell is a British journalist. March 8, 2020 17 Spotlight Coronavirus in MENA Egyptian authorities come under fire over unrestricted entry of Chinese despite virus risk

Ahmed Megahid 14 days after their arrival. the virus will cause it to spread like Egypt was one of the first coun- wildfire.” tries to airlift its nationals from Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Cairo China. Hundreds of Egyptians were Madbouli travelled to the Red Sea flown from various Chinese cities, resort of Hurghada to check meas- gyptian authorities have including the central city of Wuhan, ures applied to tourists arriving at come under fire for allowing the epicentre of the coronavirus Hurghada International Airport. foreign tourists and inves- outbreak. When they arrived, the He said the government did not E tors entry in apparent dis- returnees were taken to a quaran- hide anything concerning the coro- regard of coronavirus-related risks. tine facility in the north-western navirus. Egypt, he added, had taken More than 100 foreign tourists ar- province of Matrouh. measures since the virus outbreak rived in Cairo International Airport Egypt reported its third corona- in China, including formation of a on February 29. virus case March 5 — a 44-year-old national panel that decides which Their arrival came as Egyptians Egyptian national who returned actions should be taken. expressed concern about the ef- from Serbia via France. It was the The World Health Organisation fectiveness of Egypt’s quarantine first infection to be officially con- commended Egypt’s measures and measures and procedures to discov- firmed among Egyptians. said Cairo has been coordinating its er travellers infected with the virus. It reported its second case March action closely and transparently. Part of the fear stems from a lack 2 — a Canadian oil worker who later Egyptians have been sharing of confidence in state institutions, tested negative for the virus. This advice on social media on how to including in the national health was about two weeks after Egypt re- avoid virus infection, including system. There is also a feeling that ported its first virus infection, a Chi- regular hand washing and keeping something is being hidden, espe- nese national. No infections have away from crowded places, espe- cially with some countries confirm- been officially confirmed among cially on Egypt’s congested public ing infections for people who had Egyptians. transport. arrived from Egypt. Some parliamentarians expressed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah satisfaction with government pre- al-Sisi sent Health Minister Hala Egypt’s failure to ban the paredness. “Health authorities do Zayed to China on March 2 to de- entry of foreigners shows their best to prevent the virus from liver a message of support and ac- entering,” said Hala Mistkli, a mem- quire information about how China the limits to which ber of the Committee on Health in is dealing with the virus. countries heavily the Egyptian parliament. “All the Chinese health authorities gave Untrustworthy procedure. Egyptian Quarantine Authority dependent on tourism will necessary measures are taken at the Zayed technical documents on the employees prepare to scan body temperature of incoming go to protect their citizens ports of entry and they are paying virus, Egyptian media said. There travellers at Cairo International Airport, February 1. (AFP) in times of a health crisis. o ff.” were reports that China would share However, there is obvious con- virus detection equipment with “There is an urgent need for ban- cern among the populace. Face Egypt. of a health crisis. life, especially in the industrial and ning the entry of tourists and busi- masks have sold out at many phar- The Health Ministry has tested The tourism sector contributes mining sectors. nessmen,” said Bassant Fahmi, a macies and some shops that have more than 1,400 Egyptians for the around 15% of Egypt’s annual na- Chinese companies are construct- member of the Committee on Eco- stocks of the masks have been sell- virus but none of them proved posi- tional income, the Ministry of Tour- ing large parts of Egypt’s new ad- nomic Affairs at the Egyptian parlia- ing them at four times original pric- tive. The ministry has prepared a ism said. This year, Egypt was hop- ministrative capital. ment. “A decision should be taken es. plan for dealing with an outbreak, ing to attract 500,000 tourists from “The economy will suffer great- in this regard, even if it will cause “The authorities need to deal with including the evacuation of schools, China, up from 160,000 in 2018 and ly if the authorities ban the entry losses to the economy.” this issue with a higher degree of universities and workplaces. 300,000 in 2019. of foreigners, including tourists,” Egypt raised alert levels at its transparency,” said Ehab al-Taher, Egypt’s failure to ban the entry of China invests around $11 billion Fahmi said, “but this will be a lot entry points and started applying secretary-general of the Egyptian foreigners, as other countries have, in Egypt and as many as 1,300 Chi- less costly than a virus outbreak.” strict quarantine measures, includ- Medical Syndicate, the independ- shows the limits to which countries nese companies operate in Egypt. ing putting people entering the ent guild of the country’s medical heavily dependent on tourism will Chinese investors have become an Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian country under close supervision for doctors. “Denying the presence of go to protect their citizens in times important part of Egypt’s economic reporter in Cairo. GCC countries introduce Jordan tourism suffers huge additional coronavirus measures blow from coronavirus Roufan Nahhas contamination. Data from the Central Bank of Jor- Mohammed Alkhereiji closing schools and higher education civil aviation authority issued a list of dan (CBJ) showed revenues from institutions for four weeks beginning ten countries whose nationals must Amman tourism during January reached March 8. produce certificates issued by the $501.3 million, an increase of 11.4%, London After a 16-year-old student, who Kuwaiti Embassy in their own coun- s Jordan confirmed its first over January 2019. had travelled overseas, tested posi- tries indicating they are coronavirus- coronavirus case — a Jorda- However, that was before the virus ountries across the Mid- tive for the virus, UAE authorities free to be granted entry, although nian who had recently visited outbreak expanded out of China. dle East reported new cases issued an advisory statement asking officials later reversed that decision. A Italy — its tourism sector was “There is no doubt tourism will suf- of coronavirus infection as citizens to avoid travel. He warned Kuwaiti officials decided to delay feeling the brunt of the virus outbreak. fer and as operators in the sector we C regional health officials in- those who do travel could face pre- the Gulf Cooperation Council Games, Conferences, lectures, workshops, have felt the negative effect on our troduced additional measures to ventive measures such as self-isola- a multi-sport event scheduled for sporting events and rallies around Jor- businesses since the outbreak of the contain spread of the virus that has tion. April 3-11 but was moved to Decem- dan, including the much-anticipated virus. I fear that we will have some killed more than 3,000 people world- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh ber 2020. first Arab Forum for Tourism Invest- harsh times ahead,” said Hassan wide. Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan The Qatari Health Ministry said ment planned for March 14, have been Ababneh, owner of a resthouse near In the Gulf Cooperation Council met with Microsoft founder and phi- eight individuals had been infected cancelled or postponed, the coastal city of Aqaba. region, additional travel bans were lanthropist Bill Gates regarding the with the coronavirus. The Qatari gov- Hotels and tour operators reported Petra Development and Tourism introduced, sporting events and mu- coronavirus, based on the record of ernment announced the cancellation a large number of booking cancella- Regional Authority Chief Commis- sic concerts rescheduled and screen- previous global initiatives between of the Doha International Maritime tions. The Jordan Society of Tourism sioner Suleiman Farajat said that, de- ing measures and public awareness the United Arab Emirates and the Bill Defence Exhibition and Conference and Travel Agents (JSTA) said about spite the effects of the coronavirus on campaigns increased. and Melinda Gates Foundation. [DIMDEX]. 30% of reservations had been can- global tourism, in the city of Petra “the In Saudi Arabia, which has report- “Our main priority is to maintain celled. total number of visitors in February ed five individuals infected with the public health in the state of Qatar; “Most alarming is that there is 2020 reached 81,406, compared with COVID-19 virus, officials suspended Kuwait announced two therefore, it was decided not to have no demand by tourists who used to 74,413 last year.” the umrah in Mecca and visits to the new cases, both coming the event,” DIMDEX said on its Twit- reserve their trips several months After the first case of coronavirus Al Masjid an Nabawi Mosque in the from Iran, raising the ter account. ahead. The whole world is in a state of appeared in Jordan, things took a holy city of Medina. number of infections to Qatari authorities also banned all anticipation to what will happen next downturn. An Interior Ministry source said 58, the highest in the Gulf arrivals from Egypt, excluding Qa- with the coronavirus,” JSTA President Tareq Tweisi, head of the Petra Ho- the decision was among many pre- region. taris. Mohammad Samih stated. tels Owners Society, noted that book- cautionary measures taken by Saudi The ban irked Egyptian officials, Tourist operators say more cancel- ing cancellations started in the past officials to providing “maximum “My good friend @BillGates and I whose country is part of a quartet of lations were expected. few weeks. “So far, cancellations protection and safety” for citizens discussed over a call the importance Arab nations that severed diplomatic “We used to have a fully booked have reached around 35% and we and residents. The two holy sites reo- of enhancing cooperation between ties with Qatar in 2017. In reaction, summer season by tourists from expect more cancellation of prior res- pened March 6 but a ban on interna- multilateral institutions and private Egypt banned the entry of Qatari China, Europe, the United States and ervations to happen in the coming tional pilgrims and tourists from 25 entities in the global fight against all nationals into the country over the the Gulf countries but, with the global months,” Tweisi said. countries remained in place. diseases and COVID-19 in particular,” coronavirus, citing the “norm of reci- scare of coronavirus, many have can- “Petra had a great two months at the Among the events in Saudi Arabia Sheikh Mohammed said on Twit- procity.” celled or postponed their bookings beginning of the year but now things affected by the virus outbreak was ter. “We have been and will remain In Bahrain, the sale of tickets to of hotel rooms and tours,” said Mu- are different and the cancellations are the Red Sea International Film Festi- strong partners in this effort.” the Formula One Grand Prix were rad Ghsoun, owner of Skygate Travel making everyone working in tourism val, which was to begin March 12 in The electronic dance music festi- put on hold but the event, scheduled Agency. worry that things will stagnate every- Jeddah. “The spread of coronavirus val Ultra was cancelled in the United for March 22, is yet to be cancelled. “This has affected everyone work- where,” he added. is a battle we all must face around the Arab Emirates, while AI Everything, Bahrain also announced there were ing in the tourism sector. If travel re- Last year, approximately 40,000 globe,” organisers said in a statement an exhibition focusing on Artificial 54 coronavirus cases in the country. strictions from and to Asia continue Chinese tourists visited Jordan but on the event’s website announcing intelligence technology, was post- In Oman, health officials on March then the business is in real danger.” none visited in February 2020 com- the postponement. poned. 5 said there were 16 coronavirus Jordan took precautionary meas- pared to 5,000 in the same month last The United Arab Emirates, which Kuwait announced two new cases, cases, with one infected citizen hav- ures at airports, including installing year. reported 27 coronavirus cases, is tak- both coming from Iran, raising the ing recently returned from Italy. The fixed and manual thermal scanners to ing additional measures to contain number of infections to 58, the high- other 15 people infected had recently detect arrivals with high temperatures Roufan Nahhas is a journalist based the spread of the infection, including est in the Gulf region. The country’s travelled to Iran. or other symptoms of coronavirus in Jordan. 18 March 8, 2020 Economy

Viewpoint Briefs

Dubai government Saudi central bank cuts key rates 50 to buy back shares basis points

The Saudi central bank cut key in DP World interest rates 50 basis points (bps) following the US Federal Reserve’s 50 bps cut. entirely state-owned, some 12 years The Saudi Arabian Monetary Au- after the port operator raised $5 thority reduced its repo rate, used billion in an initial public offering to lend money to banks, 50 bps to Jareer Elass and floated 3.8 billion shares on the 1.75% and its reverse repo rate, at Dubai International Financial Ex- which commercial banks deposit change, the predecessor to Nasdaq money with the central bank, 50 he debt-burdened Dubai. bps to 1.25%, it said on its website. government of Dubai DP World explained that the is making the unu- demands of the equity markets for (Reuters) sual move to regain full short-term gains increasingly ran Market leader. Terminal tractors line up at DP World’s Terminal 2 ownership of partially counter to the company’s medium- at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai. (Reuters) privatised state firm DP and long-term goals, resulting in TWorld, buying back public shares its return to private ownership Inflation’s rise and delisting the company from its and delisting on Nasdaq Dubai. DP investment arm unable to make retail sectors. local stock exchange. World said its board determined debt repayments to creditors on The impending delisting of DP tests Turkish In doing so, Dubai is bucking the that “the disadvantages of main- time. The government of Abu Dhabi World from Nasdaq Dubai is not the trend in the region of governments taining a public listing outweigh the provided Dubai with $25 billion in company’s first exit from a stock recovery selling stakes in profitable state benefits” and that delisting was in bailout funding to help the smaller exchange. The firm began float- entities to the public to raise cash “the best interest of the company.” emirate stay afloat financially and ing shares on the London Stock Turkey’s key inflation gauge and strengthen and diversify their PFZW is 100% owned by Dubai Dubai World signed a $25 billion Exchange (LSE) in June 2011 but rose for a fourth consecutive capital markets. World, one of the Dubai govern- debt restructuring agreement in weak trading volumes prompted month to 12.37% in February, data DP World, the world’s fourth-larg- ment’s state investment vehicles 2011. The state investment con- DP World to delist shares from the showed, testing the Central Bank est port operator with a network of that focuses on transport and glomerate reportedly has around London index in early 2015. of Turkey’s resolve to keep stimu- 91 marine and inland cargo termi- logistics, dry docks and maritime, $9.9 billion in debt maturing in The effect of DP World delisting lating the economy in the face of nals, announced February 17 that its urban development and financial 2022 and another $1.1 billion due in on Nasdaq Dubai will have a far a weakening lira and a worsening parent company, state-owned Port services. 2026. greater effect on the Dubai bourse conflict in Syria. and Free Zone World (PFZW) was DP World said: “In the context of The Dubai government has a than it had on the LSE. The United The rise in yearly and monthly offering to purchase the 19.55% of the planned delisting of DP World, a debt of $124 billion. Approximately Arab Emirates’ seventh-largest firm consumer price measures was DP World’s shares listed on Nasdaq payment of $5.15 billion is required $23 billion in loans to government- by market value, DP World is the less than expected, the Turkish Dubai for $16.75 a share. That share from PFZW to Dubai World to assist related entities due to mature largest of only eight equity listings Statistical Institute said, which price is a 29% premium over the Dubai World in discharging its out- by the end of 2021 is expected to on Nasdaq Dubai. could leave the bank optimistic closing price of $13 a share from the standing obligations to its commer- be restructured a second time. The loss of Nasdaq Dubai’s most that inflation will reverse and dip previous day. cial bank lenders, so that DP World Dubai’s economy is hurting from valuable stock and potentially towards 8.2% by year-end. The cost of PFZW buying those can implement its strategy without a prolonged real estate downturn, another equity listing, ENBD Real Many analysts said they expect outstanding shares is estimated at any restrictions from Dubai World’s with property prices at their lowest Estate Investment Trust, will be a the central bank to ease monetary $2.72 billion. The cash offer is ex- creditors.” levels in a decade, as well as a strug- serious blow to the bourse in terms policy in March after it has ag- pected to be completed in the third The government of Dubai is rais- gling retail market. With marginal of its liquidity. gressively cut the key interest rate quarter of this year and requires ing $9 billion to take back full con- oil earnings, Dubai has focused on The two other larger UAE ex- to 10.75% from 24% in July. The shareholder and regulatory approv- trol of DP World and help refinance deriving its revenues from high-end changes — the Abu Dhabi Securities government has pushed for single- als. existing debt owed by Dubai World. real estate, tourism, logistics and Exchange and the Dubai Financial digit rates to boost a rebound from This step will make DP World Citibank and Deutsche Bank have financial services. Market — each have more than 70 recession. underwritten that amount, which The Gulf emirate’s economy grew listed companies. includes the $2.7 billion for the 2.1% in 2019. The government has To boost liquidity and diver- (Reuters) share purchases, the $5.15 billion great expectations that economic sity on the two more prominent The impending dividend payment to Dubai World growth will rise to 3.2% this year, exchanges, the UAE government in- delisting of DP World and Dubai World’s additional debt because of its Expo 2020 world fair, troduced a draft law facilitating the refinancing, and are working with which kicks off in October and runs listing of family-owned businesses Kuwait excludes from Nasdaq Dubai is other banks to redistribute that through April 2021. An estimated on those bourses. not the company’s debt. 11 million visitors are anticipated oil carriers from Dubai World was at the heart to flock to the emirate for the fair, Jareer Elass reports from first exit from a stock of the Dubai government’s 2009 giving a welcome shot in the arm Washington on energy issues for ban on foreign exchange. financial crisis, with the state to Dubai’s tourism, real estate and The Arab Weekly. ships

Kuwait has barred foreign ships, Locust invasion threatens MENA crops except those carrying oil, from de- parting to or arriving from several countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Omar el-Huni locusts, the UN Food and Agriculture The notice banned ships from Organisation said. and to South Korea, Italy, Thai- Locust invasions have been asso- land, Singapore, Japan, China, London ciated with danger and plagues since Hong Kong and Iraq. ancient Egyptian times. Referenced Oil sector ships are excluded warms of locusts swept into in the Quran, the Bible and Homer’s from the ban, the authorities said the Middle East and North Af- “Iliad,” locusts have been known to in a separate notice. rica, posing serious danger to carry disease, damage crops, con- S crops and risking a crippling tribute to famine and drive migra- (Reuters) food shortage. tion. High winds pushed the locusts The latest outbreak of locusts in into the region from the Horn of Af- the Gulf region follows an outbreak rica after the insects destroyed crops in 2019, when hordes of pests spread Egypt plans to in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Soma- across cities in Saudi Arabia, includ- lia, Ethiopia and South Sudan. The ing Riyadh, Jazan, Mecca and Qas- sell $500 million swarm was reported to have reached sim. Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, Jor- This year, locusts invaded four of Banque du Caire dan, Oman, Kuwait and Iran. Saudi Saudi Arabia’s key agricultural areas: Arabia and Bahrain have been hit the Riyadh, Qassim, Ha’il and the East- stake hardest. ern Province. Authorities attempted Locusts are a species of grasshop- to thwart the devastation by dou- Egypt aims to sell a minority pers that are usually solitary but bling daily insecticide applications. stake in state-owned Banque du turn into nomadic, ravenous crop- Saudi Arabia is coordinating its Growing concern. A Kuwaiti man shows a bag full of locusts at a Caire in an initial public offering damaging pests when lacking proper response with neighbouring Ku- market in Al-Rai, north-west of Kuwait City, January 25. (AFP) in mid-April in a sale worth about vegetation. wait, which is highly dependent on $500 million, provided investor farmland to meet its food needs. interest holds up in the face of the If officials are The locust threat is of great concern avoid the worst. the statement. “The math is clear, as coronavirus, its chairman said. to Bahrain, too, where the swarm “This is a scourge of biblical pro- is our moral obligation: Pay a little It would be Egypt’s biggest sale unsuccessful in quickly invaded the country in such great portions,” said a statement by Qu now or pay a lot more later.” of state assets since 2006. The rooting out the plague, numbers that it blackened the sky Dongyu, director-general of the If officials are unsuccessful in bank is part of a revived pro- there is fear that it could over a major highway, halting traffic. Food and Agriculture Organisation; quickly rooting out the plague, there gramme of selling shares in a long trigger a dangerous Analysts said they were concerned Mark Lowcock, UN emergency re- is fear that it could trigger a danger- list of state companies that was feedback loop. that the damage was only beginning. lief coordinator; and David Beasley, ous feedback loop, with less avail- announced three years ago but has Locusts have a 3-month reproduc- executive director of the World Food able vegetation causing the locusts faced repeated delays. The desert locust of the Middle tion cycle, meaning that a new gen- Programme. “Yet, as ancient as this to act even more aggressively and With assets of $11.7 billion at East, Africa and Asia is considered eration could appear just as new scourge is, its scale today is unprec- cause greater damage. the end of 2019, Banque du Caire among the world’s most dangerous. crops begin to sprout. edented in modern times.” ranks as the sixth- or seventh- A swarm of a single square kilometre Global food and agriculture of- “Acting now to avert a food crisis is Omar el-Huni is a contributor to largest Egyptian bank. can destroy 35,000 people’s worth of ficials said there has not been a a more humane, effective and cost- The Arab Weekly on environmental food in one day. Each square kilome- similar locust outbreak in modern efficient approach than responding issues. He studies environmental (Reuters) tre of the species can total 150 million times but that there was time to to the aftermath of disaster,” added science at the University of Reading. March 8, 2020 19 Viewpoint Economy Six decades after independence, Middle East still looking for growth model

ed that 116 million people across ten Arab countries (41% of the total Rashmee population), are poor and another Roshan Lall 25% were vulnerable to poverty. This translates to an estimated 250 million people who may be poor or t’s been 75 years since World vulnerable out of a population of War II ended and the idea of 400 million. decolonising the Middle East The MENA region is also re- and North Africa began to garded as the most unequal in the gain ground but, while formal world, with the top 10% of its peo- colonisation ended about six ple accounting for 64% of wealth, Idecades ago, the region seems un- although the average masks enor- able to find a clear path to growth. mous differences from one country Rather than an “Arab spring,” to another. what may be needed is a temper- The middle class in non-oil pro- ate autumn, a season of mellow ducing Arab countries has shrunk fruitfulness to tackle the region’s from 45% to 33% of the popula- biggest problems. These include tion, ESCWA economists said. In a finding a way to use the demo- report for the Carnegie Corporation graphic bulge to advantage, last year, Palestinian-American reducing inequality of opportunity author Rami G. Khouri described and outcome and boosting local what he called “poverty’s new opportunity. agony,” the fact that a poor family Here are some of the region’s key in the Middle East will remain poor issues: for several generations. Egypt is a case in point. In 2018, Youth ‘explosion’ Cairo vowed to halve poverty by The MENA region’s population 2020 and eliminate it by 2030. grew from around 100 million in However, Egypt’s national statis- 1950 to approximately 380 million tics agency released a report on in 2000, the Population Reference household finances last year that Bureau said. It is now about 420 said that 33% of Egypt’s 99 million million and half that population people were classified as poor, up lives in four countries — Egypt, from 28% in 2015. The World Bank Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. subsequently nearly doubled that The 2016 Arab Human Develop- figure, saying 60% of Egyptians ment Report, which focused on were “either poor or vulnerable.” youth, said most of the region’s Wealth gaps between countries population is under the age of 25. are greater in the region than in The youth bulge is the result of others because it has some of the declining mortality rates in the world’s richest economies as well past 40 years as well as an average as some of the poorest, such as annual population growth rate of Yemen. 1.8%, compared with 1% globally. Inequality is not the only prob- The absolute number of young lem in the region. Former World people is predicted to increase Bank economist Branko Milanovic from 46 million in 2010 to 58 mil- said the uneven picture means that lion in 2025. last year’s protests in Lebanon, Though a large youthful popula- Algeria, Sudan and Iraq cannot be Dramatic changes. Employees of Aramco oil company at Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq oil processing plant. (AFP) tion would normally be regarded explained by “a blanket story of an economic blessing, it’s become inequality.” the bane of the MENA region. The Indeed, Algeria, a relatively The state is the largest employer more than 10 million people — and ment in post-conflict settings demographic trend suggests the egalitarian country, was roiled by in many Arab countries and over- reduced more than two-thirds of stated. region needs to create more than protests, first against a long-serv- regulation of the private sector left Syrians to poverty. 300 million jobs by 2050, the World ing president and then against the it underdeveloped and unable to By 2017, conflict in Yemen and New thinking needed Bank said. wider political system. overcome the significant barriers Libya had displaced more than 15% This is the year when, for the Jihad Azour, International French economist Thomas Piket- to trade and economic cooperation and 10% of their respective popula- first time, an Arab country holds Monetary Fund (IMF) director for ty, who wrote the bestselling book across regional borders. Mean- tions of 4 million and 6 million. the chairmanship of the Group of the Middle East and Central Asia, on income inequality, “Capital in while, inflexible labour laws stifled Taken together, the Syrian, Yemen 20 of the world’s largest econo- said MENA countries’ growth rate the Twenty-First Century,” said job creation and cronyism allowed and Libyan civil wars have affected mies. It could be an opportunity to “is lower that what is required to Arab countries must come up with inefficiency to stay unchallenged. more than 60 million people, about consider existing trends within the tackle unemployment. Youth un- a way to share the region’s vast and In 2018, the average rank of Arab one-fifth of the MENA population. region, what needs to be changed employment in the region exceeds unequally distrib­uted wealth. countries on the World Bank’s Do- Infrastructural damage runs into and how. 25%-30%.” The average unemploy- ing Business survey was 115th out the billions of dollars but it is the In the words of Oxford devel- ment rate across the region is 11%, Lost decades of growth of 190 countries. loss — or outright collapse, as in opment macroeconomist Adeel compared to 7% in other emerging In the decade from 2009, the Along with structural factors, Yemen — of economic activity that Malik, “the Arab developmental and developing economies. region’s average economic growth conflict has had a debilitating ef- has affected real GDP growth. model… seems to have passed its Unsurprisingly, said Harvard was one-third slower than in the fect on economic growth. Three Countries in the region affected expiration date.” In a 2014 paper economist Ishac Diwan, a senior previous decade. The IMF said per years ago, the World Bank noted by conflict lost $614 billion cumu- for the Journal of International fellow at the Middle East Initiative, capita incomes have been “near that the Syrian war had killed latively in GDP from 2010-15 — 6% Affairs, Malik said “failure of the young Arabs are unhappier than stagnant” and youth unemploy- approximately 500,000 people, of the regional GDP, ESCWA’s 2018 Arab state to deliver social justice their elders as well as their peers ment has “worsened significantly.” displaced half the population — report on institutional develop- is ultimately rooted in the failure in countries at similar stages of of a development model based on development. heavy state intervention in the Last year’s Arab Youth Survey economy and increasingly unsus- stated that 45% of young Arab tainable buyouts of local popula- respondents said they regard tions through generous welfare joblessness as one of the region’s entitlements.” main challenges, well ahead of the It’s a good point, for the region’s Syrian war (28%) and the threat of richest countries just as much as its terrorism (26%). poorest. Oil-rich states are affected The region’s population is by dramatic changes in oil prices expected to nearly double by 2030 and the increasingly urgent sug- and the IMF estimated that 27 gestion that the world is at “peak million young Arabs will enter the oil.” An IMF report warned that, by labour market the next five years. 2034, declining oil demand could erode the $2 trillion in financial Poverty and inequality wealth amassed by Gulf Coopera- Most Arab people do not live in tion Council members. The IMF oil-rich countries. Data from the said “faster progress with eco- UN Economic and Social Commis- nomic diversification and private sion for Western Asia (ESCWA) stat- sector development will be critical to ensure sustainable growth.” Creativity and courage will be needed if the Arab world is to meet Though a large the expectations of its youthful youthful population population and the challenges would normally be posed by its increasing inequality. regarded an economic Rashmee Roshan Lall is a blessing, it’s become columnist for The Arab Weekly. Her blog can be found at the bane of the MENA www.rashmee.com and she is on region. Many challenges. Students at the university of Hamdaniya in Ainkawa on the outskirts of Erbil. (Reuters) Twitter: @rashmeerl. 20 March 8, 2020 Special Focus Arab Women Today Lebanese women to press for equal personal status rights on International Women’s Day

Samar Kadi

Beirut

lthough a record of six female ministers sit in Lebanon’s cabinet, Leb- A anese women struggle to achieve equal gender rights in a country where discrimination against them is facilitated by 15 religion-based personal status laws. Family law in Lebanon falls un- der the ruling of religious courts so each sect dictates its own rules concerning marriage, divorce, in- heritance and custody, which are mostly unfair to women across all confessions. A video of a divorced Shia wom- an grieving her daughter’s death after she was denied the right to see her for years and forbidden from attending her funeral sent crowds demonstrating outside the Supreme Islamic Shia Coun- cil, the community’s highest reli- gious authority. Men and women chanted that corruption had in- filtrated the turbans of religious leaders who refuse to listen to de- mands for more just rulings. Unfortunately, another Inter- national Women’s Day is marked and women in Lebanon, who are Unrelenting struggle. Women’s rights activists during an anti-government protest in Beirut. (AFP) educated and hardworking, are still fighting for basic rights, said Mona Fayyad, a sociologist and Lebanese University professor. places them at the mercy of the amended the custody regulations tations on their pecuniary rights; national Women’s Day under the “One of the most flagrant forms clergy in matters of marriage, di- except the Shia. and the risk of losing their chil- theme “I am Generation Equality: of discrimination against Leba- vorce, inheritance, et cetera.” “Of course, we hope there is a dren if they remarry or when the Realising Women’s Rights.” nese women is not having the “Definitely women are doubly common equitable civic law for so-called maternal custody period Those included a female march right to give their nationality to harmed because religious laws do personal status affairs that applies ends. on March 8, panel discussions of their children if they are married not grant them the same rights as to all religions and sects. Besides “Gender inequality in Lebanon women’s role in the protest move- to non-Lebanese, whereas men men when it comes to inheritance personal status issues, many dis- is among the worst in the world,” ment and a 2-day event — “Women grant their non-Lebanese wives or children custody or even the criminate laws need to be amend- Fayyad said. “There is no equal- in the spotlight” — that includes full citizenship in no time,” Fayy- right to divorce in the Shia com- ed to become fairer to women and ity between people (the haves talks, discussions, stand-up com- ad said. munity,” Fayyad added. fulfil their rights,” Ibrahim added. and have nots) in general and no edy, yoga workshops, garage sales Zeina Ibrahim, a member of the Prominent Shia cleric Sheikh equality between male and fe- and live music. The activities were Equal rights in a civil state Protecting Lebanese Women or- Ahmad Taleb called for reforms male citizens especially under the organised by women architects, ganisation, has been campaigning in religious courts. He said he authority of the clergy. What we artists and activists who started are among the demands of for seven years to raise maternal supports raising the age of cus- need is hands-off from the clergy local initiatives that are environ- anti-government custody within the Shia commu- tody and that immediate reforms over personal status laws.” mentally sensitive. demonstrators who have nity to 7 years for boys and 9 years should be made within the courts, Equal rights in a civil state are One event was designed to hon- been protesting since for girls, as well as shared custody Ibrahim noted. among the demands of anti-gov- our pioneering Lebanese women October against a ruling afterward. A report by Human Rights ernment demonstrators who have athletes who defied social stigmas class accused of corruption. “We have many clerics who Watch, called “Unequal and Un- been protesting since October and thrived through determina- back us and they are part of the protected” listing forms of dis- against a ruling class accused of tion and perseverance and a pub- “Discrimination is also inherent campaign because they consider crimination facing women in Leb- corruption and mismanagement lic talk on how to “build resilience in the personal status laws of all our demands are rightful and can anon, said, across all confessions, that pushed Lebanon to the brink in a time of crisis” will provide tips sects and religions. It is a matter be achieved since it does not go women faced legal and other of economic collapse. to deal with the socio-economic that harms both genders because against religion,” Ibrahim said, obstacles when terminating un- Meanwhile, events dedicated to crisis gripping Lebanon; mentally, it consigns them to their sect and noting that all other sects have happy or abusive marriages; limi- women’s rights were set for Inter- financially and physically. Viewpoint Gender bias in the workplace is a daily struggle for women

once was invited on a Skype bewilderment and, frankly, pain. On this occasion of International fellow male entrepreneur was the call by the male founder of Interestingly, when I spoke with Women’s Day, I wanted to recount first to receive my plain call-out, to Khadija a promising, well-funded other female entrepreneurs about those two events to share what had which he responded with silence, Hamouchi start-up for quick knowledge these experiences, they shared ended such violence, at least in my then embarrassment and finally an exchange. I gladly accepted similar ones of intimidation, ag- daily encounters with men: imme- apology. the invitation. Never mind gressiveness, mansplaining and diate plain call out to behaviours Sure enough, when we have Ithat the individual in question did other “delicacies.” disrespectful of my integrity as a taken our power in random not show up to a previous ap- In the spectrum of gender-based human in my professional interac- daily events, then we will be more pointment without the decency of violence and female oppression in tions and of my presence in the strongly equipped to demand notice or an apology. I rejoiced at Arab societies, my colleagues and I public space. equal pay, appropriate childcare, the opportunity to learn more from might have been the luckiest after Through repetitive experiences, the right to pass on nationality to a fellow entrepreneur. all but, no, we are not. I mastered how to sharply address our children, full right to divorce, During the very first minutes, All types of violence on the spec- and resolve those behaviours live fair involvement in politics, rights the tone was set. I was sharply or- trum of gravity are still violence. — call that crisis management, if to own our bodies, reap the full dered to keep my mouth shut and No distinctions can be made. One you will. I came to the sad conclu- financial benefits of our work and ask my questions at the end of the kind of violence fuels, justifies sion that men with fully grown equal parenting emotional respon- “conversation.” You guessed right: and prepares for its next cycle and prefrontal cortex do not need an- sibilities. I never asked questions and was ladder. other gender advocacy campaign Until then, regaining our power left to my own dissection of such It seems that, no matter the to cognitively accept and respect is priority. Our silence not only violence. amount of women’s rights activ- the presence of a millenary female entertains the traumas of such You may be willing to reassure ism and call for women’s inclusion human. experiences but fuels such toxic me that this was a one-off event and gender-parity, that cycle of I learnt my power was regained behaviour. We must speak up for and that I may not have been thick- violence continues outside those and rebalanced in imposing bound- ourselves, so our daughters will I learnt my power was skinned enough. I wish. A year ago, conferences, talks and reports. aries to men who have the healthy never be silenced. on a call with a different organisa- Maybe because, no matter the cognitive capacity to understand regained and tion, a male director interrupted importance and the energy behind them. Khadija Hamouchi, an award- rebalanced in his female colleague while she those efforts, they will never teach Mind you, such facing required winning technology entrepreneur imposing boundaries joyfully shared their work. There basic human decency to some men much exercising and disruption and researcher, is the co-founder was no apparent reason for the who have learnt somewhat else in of my Pavlovian brain, which had of Jawla Inc, an online publishing to men who have the interruption than the man believ- our societies and elsewhere despite somehow — until my first anecdote tool for right-to-left languages, healthy cognitive ing his words were more important the strong presence of feminism — been going along with ingrained including Arabic in particular. than hers. as a concept in our Arabic liter- patriarchy and the unparalleled She conveys stories of change and capacity to Just like me, she instantly ary, philosophical and intellectual sense of male self-entitlement. homegrown intellectual thinking in understand them. silenced herself. I watched in heritage. For much of his discomfort, my the Middle East and North Africa. March 8, 2020 21 Special Focus Arab Women Today GCC sees women’s rights progress

The Arab Weekly staff areas highlighted were Saudi women’s freedom of movement with reforms under the country’s London Vision 2030 plan championing changes to domestic laws. Women ith International in the kingdom no longer need Women’s Day cel- permission from a male guard- ebrated on March 8, ian to travel abroad or to obtain a W efforts to improve the passport, for instance. lives of women in the Gulf Coop- “Saudi Arabia also amended the eration Council region are yield- Civil Status Law to allow a woman ing positive results. to choose where to live in the same In February, during the 39th ses- way as a man by removing a pro- sion of the Arab Women’s Com- vision that made the husband’s mittee, which convened under the home the default residence,” the banner of “Empowering Women… report said, adding that a husband Development of Society,” Riyadh can no longer sue his wife for leav- was declared the “Capital of Arab ing the marital home. Women 2020.” “These new regulations are his- Saudi Arabia hosting the UN- tory in the making. They call for endorsed event speaks volumes the equal engagement of women about the progress the kingdom and men in our society,” Saudi has made on female empower- Ambassador to the United States ment. Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan said about the reforms. “It is a holistic approach to gen- UAE reforms include der equality that will unquestion- prohibiting ably create real change for Saudi discrimination based on women,” she added. gender, introducing The World Bank highlighted penalties for sexual what it described as ground- harassment and lifting breaking Saudi reforms, which restrictions on women’s ranged from laws that protect work at night and in women from discrimination in certain industries. employment to the criminalising Major gains. Saudi women walk past a mural painting showing Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on of sexual harassment in public Tahliya Street in Riyadh. (AFP) “Women, Business and the and private sector employment, Law,” an annual report compiled while encouraging women’s en- by the World Bank that analyses trepreneurship by prohibiting and lifting restrictions on wom- trators. Bahraini Labour Minister said. “Bahrain has introduced laws and regulations pertaining gender-based discrimination in en’s work at night and in certain Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Hu- legislation against discrimina- to women’s economic inclusion, accessing financial services. industries. maidan said the new laws were in tion in the workplace and Jordan said the Saudi economy leads the The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain also reportedly made line with international standards. removed legal restrictions which world in improvement towards which has a progressive record in progress with its Supreme Coun- Regional achievements were limited women’s ability to work at gender equality. support of its female population cil for Women recently adopting also recognised in the United night. “Saudi Arabia made the biggest and counts eight women serving a second National Plan for the States. In January, during the “We all need to applaud these improvement globally, enacting in the government’s cabinet, was Advancement of Bahraini Women keynote address at the Global achievements and advance- reforms in six out of eight areas also lauded for its reforms. for 2013-22, which focuses on sup- Women’s Forum in Dubai, Ivanka ments.” measured including in women’s “Over the last several years, porting women’s entrepreneur- Trump, daughter of US President Trump commended Emirati mobility, sexual harassment, re- Emirati authorities have shown ship and enhancing their physical Donald Trump, praised Saudi Ara- leaders for “removing barriers to tirement age and economic activ- a commitment to removing legal and psychological wellbeing and bia and the United Arab Emirates women joining the workforce and ity,” said the report, which also barriers to women’s work,” the protection from domestic vio- for improving the quality of life of developing a national strategy praised the United Arab Emirates World Bank report said. lence. female citizens. that recognises that women are for its reforms. UAE reforms include prohibit- Additionally, Bahrain adopted “Saudi Arabia has changed laws central to sustainable growth.” The World Bank report showed ing discrimination based on gen- provisions regarding sexual har- to respect women’s freedom of “We know that this is going to Saudi Arabia’s ranking increas- der in employment, introducing assment in employment, includ- movement and access to credit grow and flourish in the years ing 38.8 points since 2017. Among penalties for sexual harassment ing criminal penalties for perpe- and financial services,” Trump ahead,” she said. Yemeni women harassed as pro-Iran Houthis press oppressive campaign

Agence France-Presse patrolled college campuses to en- “This is shocking for Yemeni so- force dress codes. ciety because it’s one thing to de- Much of the crackdown came nounce certain behaviour and what Dubai without official decree or docu- people are wearing and it’s another mentation, although Agence thing to go and abuse these women he Iran-backed Houthi re- France-Presse saw a copy of a like Houthis are doing,” Dawsari bels arrived without warn- Houthi letter sent to NGOs, illus- said. ing, heavily armed and trating the new mood as it laid out “It goes against our tribal values; T in a furious mood as they rules for workshops. it goes against our Islamic values. barged into Ophelia, the only cafe “Exclude all activities that aim to The difference now is that Houthis for women in Sana’a, and demand- stir laughter, joy or entertainment can force it down the throats of ed it be shut down immediately. among the trainees and that lead to people living under their control.” When owner Shaima Mohammed the lowering of barriers and mod- The Houthi campaign collides asked for time to allow her custom- esty between women and men,” it with a society, which, although Abusive control. Yemeni women shop in the old city market of ers to gather their things, one of the read. “This is something that com- conservative, traditionally allowed Sana’a, March 2. (AFP) Houthis snapped at her: “Women pletely contradicts the teachings of space for individual freedoms and should be in their homes. Why are Islam and the ethics of our Yemeni cultivated an appreciation of music they going out in public?” society.” and leisure, said Adel al-Ahmadi, a On February 13, on the eve of Val- strictions being imposed on people “Armed men filled the street, di- Yemen’s long war has pitted the Yemeni academic. entine’s Day, young people were in the capital,” he said. recting obscenities at the women as Houthis, who are backed by Iran The rebels, from the mountain- beaten in the street for failing to Houthis have campaigned in they left,” Mohammed recounted and control large sections of the ous north, proved themselves to comply with the new notions of ac- schools and on college campuses in a Facebook post announcing the north, against the internationally be a formidable fighting force since ceptable dress. against young people being “im- cafe’s closure. recognised government, which has they swept into Sana’a in 2014, ral- Unlike the days before the con- properly dressed,” said Hemdane the support of a Saudi-led military lying behind their slogan: “Death flict, when people were free to cel- al-Ali, a journalist and human rights coalition. to America! Death to Israel! Curse ebrate with chocolates and flowers, activist who lives in self-exile. On February 13, on the eve of The conflict in what was already on the Jews! Victory to Islam!” one young man had his red shirt At Sana’a University, Houthis Valentine’s Day, young the Arab world’s poorest country The militia, which rose in the torn off by assailants who saw it formed squads that “patrol the cor- people were beaten in the has killed tens of thousands and 1990s over alleged sectarian dis- as a symbol of an event that runs ridors to prevent any contact be- street for failing to comply triggered what the United Nations crimination, are from the minor- counter to Yemeni values. tween students of different sexes,” with the new notions of calls the worst humanitarian crisis ity Zaidi Shia sect of Islam, which In January, men’s hair salons he said. acceptable dress. on Earth, with millions displaced makes up about one-third of the were told fashionable styles were “Young fighters go through and in need of aid. population. banned. Young men who fell afoul months of training in the moun- The incident, one of a series in “The situation in Houthi-con- “It is an ideological movement, of the rule with longer styles have tains, taught not only how to use rebel-held northern Yemen, illus- trolled areas is getting tighter and which has evolved from the status been hauled into major intersec- weapons but also indoctrinated trates the Houthis’ determination tighter. People are scared,” said Na- of oppressed to that of the oppres- tions where their locks were pub- in a radical version of Shia Islam,” to impose their own moral order dwa al-Dawsari, a Yemeni conflict sor,” Ahmadi said. licly chopped back with large scis- Dawsari said. on Yemenis who have endured five analyst. Witnesses in Sana’a told of a ris- sors. “If you want to understand why years of grinding conflict. She confirmed accounts of wom- ing number of disturbing incidents Another cafe owner in Sana’a Houthis behave in certain ways, In recent months, restaurants en being harassed for wearing belts since late 2019, a period that has said his establishment had been you have to look at Iran. They’ve where men and women mingled around their traditional abaya seen the Houthis rack up battlefield shut down twice in three months been trained by Iran, taught how to have been shut down, scissors- robes, with rebels tearing them off, victories and crank up a confronta- by armed Houthi rebels. use disinformation, how to subju- wielding militias have policed saying the silhouette they create is tion with UN agencies attempting “We are completely opposed to gate women. They’re developing a men’s hairstyles and rebel forces too “exciting.” to deliver humanitarian aid. these abusive measures and the re- police state akin to Iran.” 22 March 8, 2020 Culture

Kuwaiti producer talks about new generation of Arab film-makers

and seen. Khadija Hamouchi “In our 4-month programme, young people are doing wonders adia Ahmad is a re- on screen. Let us imagine what nowned Arab media they could achieve with a full and film personality. feature film.” The Kuwaiti actress, TAW: “How cut-throat are they journalist and former compared to the previous genera- MBC talk show co- tion?” Nhost describes herself as an art and NA: “They are reappropriating social activist. It has been a long new genres previous generations route for a woman who wrote her have not explored. We have seen first play at age 16. the reinvention of old Kuwaiti Ahmad has appeared on stages in women’s traditional tales. We Kuwait, Beirut and New York, win- have seen fantasy as a genre and ning acclaim from theatre stalwarts the interpretation of horror and and critics. thriller in the most poetic aesthetic As a producer and director, she manner. has developed major musical “That cut-throat approach stems theatre productions in association from the frustrations that many with the National Council of Arts young people feel, women and and Culture and the Amiri Diwan men alike. In the Middle East, we in Kuwait. She has contributed to are grateful to see them turn those redeveloping the Kuwaiti art scene feelings into creative genius. Also, Priceless. An Egyptian archaeologist restores the throne of King Tutankhamun at the conservation but it is in her social work that the industry as a whole could see centre in the Grand Egyptian Museum. (AFP) most ignites Ahmad’s passion for more women in film-making and the performing arts. that would be cut-throat, too.” In 2011, she co-founded the TAW: “Why don’t we see their Loyac Academy of Performing Arts work more often in big theatre with her mother, Fareah al-Saqqaf, movies?” and other committed women Egypt gets tougher from Kuwaiti society as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The organisation runs highly sought- As a producer and after university-level film-making director, Nadia programmes for young people in to safeguard its the Middle East. Ahmad has developed Ahmad spoke to The Arab major musical theatre Weekly in Beirut, delivering productions in persuasive comments producing a new generation of film-makers and association with the ancient treasures harvesting talent for a living. National Council of Providing alternative education is critical to helping the younger Arts and Culture and Harvey Morris artefact trading, much of it via the police and customs authorities if generation find the artistic fire the Amiri Diwan in internet by traders claiming the they identify suspicious items on within and make them feel they Kuwait. items had been legally obtained. offer at auction houses, galleries are change agents of history. When London Authorities are also taking a or websites such as eBay. young people are heard, they go more aggressive approach to re- The moves to safeguard Egypt’s a long way personally and profes- NA: “Few dare to approach big he plundering of Egypt’s covering what they claim are sto- archaeological heritage come as sionally. theatre movies and smaller ones archaeological treasures len artefacts that have appeared exhibits at the Egyptian Museum, The Arab Weekly (TAW): “What are slowly disappearing. We have is as old as the pharaohs. on the international antiquities an iconic rose-red building in characterises this new generation had Studio Image Nation in Abu T Ancient grave robbers market. Tahrir Square, are disappearing of homegrown Arab film-makers in Dhabi showing real interest. gave way to colonial-era explor- Government officials last year into packing cases to be trans- the making?” “To widen audiences, we need ers, who dispatched their finds to said they planned to sue the Lon- ferred to a new Grand Egyptian Nadia Ahmad (NA): “Our film- to do community work that has Europe’s greatest museums and a don auction house Christie’s after Museum near the pyramids at makers are reflecting on them- not been done before. Moreover, legal trade thrived on internation- it went ahead, despite Egypt’s Giza. selves, which is a great sign of these people are creating their own al markets until 1983. protests, with the $6 million sale intelligence. Our young cohorts movies and reach bigger, more In that year, the Egyptian par- of a disputed bust of King Tut- want to remain as close and as short-span audiences organically liament enacted a stringent law, ankhamun. Authorities are taking a authentic to themselves and their on other mobile digital platforms. backed by the threat of prison The Egyptians say the bust, more aggressive daily experiences as possible. The films created at Loyac film terms, that declared all antiqui- from a private collection, was approach to recovering “Unlike previous customs of camp in Lebanon are travelling ties on national territory to be the stolen from Luxor in the 1970s. what they claim are Arab cinema, they are turning the to festival screenings as far as property of the state. A ban on trade in looted artefacts stolen artefacts that mirror on themselves, to cause Kuwait and South Africa and that However, in the years of unrest predates restrictions introduced have appeared on the ripple effects on their audience is change.” and political uncertainty follow- in 1983. international antiquities purposefully. They want to pioneer TAW: “What attitude and know- ing the “Arab spring,” a decline in The law is also getting tougher market. change by recounting untold narra- how do young Arab film-makers security and a surge in illegal con- on domestic transgressors. The tives. It goes beyond pure enter- need to make it? struction around archaeological Cairo Criminal Court recently The $1 billion project is part tainment.” NA.: “I believe we still need to sites saw a resurgence of looting sentenced Boutros Raouf Boutros of Egypt’s effort to upgrade and TAW: “What common inspira- nurture a healthy can-do attitude. and the smuggling of artefacts. Ghali, brother of a former finance modernise its attractions for for- tions and aspirations do they Nowadays, it is too familiar for minister, to 30 years in prison eign tourists. share?” young people to think that they plus a 6 million pound ($383,387) The new museum will house NA: “In the Middle East, we have cannot make a difference. Learn- The moves to safeguard fine on two charges of trafficking more than 100,000 objects, in- this tendency of sanctifying art- ing they cannot do without a Egypt’s archaeological antiquities. cluding 30,000 that have never ists while only the active creation healthy sense of ‘I.’ Nevertheless, heritage come as The artefacts, seized by Italian been exhibited. Highlights will should matter. Younger genera- they must learn the ‘we,’ too. exhibits at the Egyptian police in 2017, included more than include King Tutankhamun’s tions aspire to channel their unique They can empower themselves Museum are 20,000 coins as well as statuettes, 5,000-piece funerary collection, energy. They offer thought-provok- from people who are different. It is disappearing into gold-plated masks and a wooden on display for the first time in one ing stories that shake people’s feel- a sensitive, quite risky balance to packing cases to be coffin. The recovered items were space. ings, beyond the pursuit of Oscars know how to, at times, delete transferred to a new put on display in Egypt, as was an The old Tahrir Square museum and other international prizes. the ‘I’ and tame the godi- Grand Egyptian Museum ancient gilded coffin repatriated is a splendid reminder of a by- “They want to put their pain fied ego. They need to near the pyramids at by New York’s Metropolitan Mu- gone age. Opened in 1902, it had on screens. Pain shared is pain learn to be in the seum of Art after US investigators become somewhat rundown in divided. Much better than service of others Giza. identified it as a looted antiquity. recent years, with priceless treas- blowing it up. through the arts to As the almost 9 million tourists Egypt is not on its own in the ures kept in rickety display cases They aspire make a life worth who visited Egypt in 2019 can tes- campaign to hold on to its nation- as old as the museum itself. to be heard living.” tify, security has been firmly re- al treasures. The British Museum, In the old laissez-faire days, established around the sites, with which has the largest collection when trading in national treas- a visible police presence around of ancient Egyptian artefacts out- ures was relatively unfettered even the lesser-visited monu- side Egypt, last year took on the by law, the museum had its own ments of the Nile Valley. role of leading an international shop for the sale of genuine arte- Parliament moved this year to task force to monitor the trade in facts. These days visitors to the toughen the 1983 law by warn- Egyptian and Nubian antiquities. museum and to its successor at ing that any individual illicitly Experts in London, using a so- Giza will have to make do with re- buying or selling an item of cul- phisticated database, worked productions as they exit through tural heritage outside Egypt could with colleagues in Cairo and Khar- the gift shop. face a fine of 10 million Egyptian toum to identify looted or stolen pounds ($640,000) and maxi- items. Looted items might never Harvey Morris has written mum-security jail time. have been reported missing and several books on the Middle East, The Egyptian Culture Ministry others might have been sold dec- including “No Friends but the said the measure was prompted ades ago with fake provenances. Mountains: The Tragic History of Big ambitions. Kuwaiti actress, journalist and former MBC talk by the increasing cases of illegal Part of the team’s task is to alert the Kurds.” show co-host Nadia Ahmad. (Courtesy of Nadia Ahmad) March 8, 2020 23 Culture Veteran Egyptian writer knows how to tell a children’s story

Mai Hajji His book “Ships of Forbidden Things,” for example, tells of chil- dren who steal their father’s space- Cairo ship and go on an interplanetary expedition. The fantasy world and gyptian writer Yacoub el- events of the story fit well with the Sharouni has a special bond close relationship that new genera- with children’s literature tions have with technology. E that has lasted nearly 70 Sharouni pointed out that years. During those years of writ- most members of the same fam- ing, he has kept up with the spirit ily, including children, own mobile of the times, monitoring the intel- phones and use social media so it is lectual and psychological changes imperative to create a connection A special bond with children’s literature. Egyptian writer Yacoub el-Sharouni. (Al Arab) in his readership so he does not be- between children and books at an come isolated from their world. early age. This is why he pays at- Sharouni, born in 1931, has not tention to the covers of his books border. The residents there face was honoured by the Italian Min- imagination and reality while high- ceased to pace with technological to make sure they contain connec- the consequences of the blockage istry of Education for “Treasure lighting creativity as the major tool changes. He created virtual worlds tions with modern technology. of a groundwater well. They had to of the Island of Mermaids” and by for progress and success. He said in which robots and spaceships get He added that it is possible to manage their home water reserves, Germany’s Goethe Institute for humans, not money, should be con- out of the control of what he called create an emotional connection be- which were sufficient for only three “The Wonderful Journey.” In 2016, sidered humanity’s real treasure. the “General Authority of the Plan- tween children and books by work- days. In the end, the problem was he won the prize of Best Writer of Sharouni’s works are equally at- et Earth.” ing on the shapes of books for chil- solved with the help of the chil- Children’s Books and his name was tractive to children and adults be- dren. Books can, for example, take dren. added to the Honour List of the cause they deal with issues that Sharouni said children’s the shape of familiar possessions “A Miracle in the Desert” was Swiss International Board on Books concern families. He relies on such as a toy car, for instance, or ranked among the most important for Young People. dialogue mixed with narration to literature stimulates make them appeal to several of the Arab works in children’s literature. Sharouni said children’s literature prevent monotony and he uses a thought and is a tool for child’s senses at the same time. It was reprinted 17 times and won in the Arab world faces many chal- polyphonic narration style so eve- changing reality. A simple technique, such as the Sheikh Zayed Prize for Chil- lenges that hinder its development, rybody has a voice and something placing small pictures next to the dren’s Literature in the Arab world including alarmingly high levels of to say in his stories. Sharouni is a prolific writer with words, works very well. In books in 2014. The book’s popularity illiteracy among Arabic-speaking It was perhaps this unique fea- approximately 400 works to his based on questions and answers, among young readers has not di- children, Arab families’ neglect of ture of Sharouni’s works that en- credit. His career is proof that good book designers might consider minished. reading for their children, lack of couraged the Egyptian Ministry of literature always finds interested placing the answers behind pop-up Sharouni often addresses issues publishing houses specialising in Culture to seek his help in its Read- readers, provided the writer is not windows or behind pages that slide that concern society in general, children’s literature and rising book ing for All project during the 1990s. afraid of trying new things and re- to reveal them. such as the role of women in de- prices. He was in charge of training and mains open to international expe- Sharouni was the first in the Arab velopment or the problem of slums The secret of Sharouni’s longev- implementation of a national cam- riences in this era of the global vil- world to use musical books. He said around major cities. He has also ity as a writer of children’s litera- paign to encourage reading under lage. he got the idea at the Bologna Book written about war victories, peo- ture lies in the fact that he focuses the slogan “A library everywhere” He said he adapts his writing Fair in Italy. He placed buttons on ple with disabilities and street chil- on issues and problems related to and to promote computer literacy style to suit the tastes of today’s the side of his adventure books that dren. the future. In “The Treasure of the and foreign-language learning. rushed readers. Sharouni relies on activated sounds relating to the He said he regrets there is no inte- Island of the Mermaids” he criti- Sharouni said the minds of chil- large characters and concise con- characters and events of the stories. grated system for translating Arabic cised authoritarian education and dren welcome knowledge and tent and enhances his stories with Sharouni is constantly innovat- books to other languages so they revealed its effects on children’s learning, and that desire can be ex- brightly coloured attractive illustra- ing in his stories. In “A Miracle in can serve as intercultural commu- creative abilities. He was the first ploited to instil in them the values​ tions that are in line with techno- the Desert,” he anticipated a water nication bridges. in the Arab world to raise this issue. of tolerance and acceptance of the logical developments. Additionally, shortage crisis and offered a scien- Sharouni’s ability to write books Sharouni said children’s litera- other through literature and educa- he uses digital media to tell his sto- tific approach to it. in genres that appeal to children ture stimulates thought and is a tool tional curricula. ries because that offers audiovisual The story takes place at Al-Jara everywhere enabled him to win for changing reality by presenting tools that attract children. oasis, near the Egyptian-Libyan several international awards. He works that combine the worlds of Mai Hajji is an Egyptian writer. Saudi intellectual sees ‘clouds in the literary scene’

Zaki al-Soudeir continuous relations and exchanges the political decision was to form a between the different regions and “military alliance of brothers and components of the Saudi kingdom friends” and Kuwait returned to its Riyadh but now I see only dark clouds and people and the liberating forces left the winds are still in the sky of the at the end of their mission. audi writer Muhammad al- literary scene.” “At that time, the revivalist camp Shaqha was brought up in a He said Saudi Arabia has always felt that they were failing, so they typical environment. He grew had a fourth branch of power — the turned their rhetoric and discourse S up in the Saudi city of Taif media. Press institutions did not live against the internal social movement where he attended school and went up to expectations and did not meet and changes and against modernist on to work for the government. the needs of the citizens. The distri- literature and thought,” he said. After four decades as a writer, bution of the newspapers and their “My experience with the Taif Shaqha, 72, said the cultural land- popularity were dependent on how Literary Club informs me that all scape in Saudi Arabia “is like spo- good their sports sections were and religious, intellectual and literary radic islands and communication the whims of their writers and edi- currents, be they traditionalist or between their inhabitants is fraught tors, he said. modernist, can make their voices with suspicion and lack of apprecia- “The recent national transfor- heard and express their convictions. tion and, in extreme cases, people mations came at the same time as There were confrontations outside don’t hesitate to hang you or assas- the bankruptcy of the press insti- the confines of the club and in other A new phase. Saudi writer Muhammad al-Shaqha. (Al Arab) sinate your character.” tutions and their paper editions,” cities between individuals, and I re- “We were literary imitators and said Shaqha. “They coincided with peat here individuals.” of the kingdom would have values club. If a group applied for permis- transmitters of art,” Shaqha said. the national Saudi television shut- Shaqha said economic, modernity that are quite different from those sion to create a literary club, its “We respected the masters from ting down its channel dedicated and modernisation aspects of Saudi of a neighbouring region. Let’s not members would be granted that per- Egypt, Syria and Iraq and we listened to culture, its children channel, its Vision 2030 are key foundations for even talk about the differences be- mission. Since last March and until so that we could learn how to read economic channels and its English- the country’s development and that tween the cultural values of a com- now, the official view of a literary and write and how to eradicate the speaking Channel Two. Vision 2030 embraces the establish- munity in the far north and those club is blurry. environment of illiteracy we grew “They have been replaced by one ment of a national humanitarian of a community in the deep south. “So far, nothing can really be said up in. Then we became intellectuals, channel that looked very much like system supported by all members of We even find influences from neigh- about the outlook of the ministry’s specialising in fields that we knew Saudi TV’s Channel One but using society. bouring countries.” cultural initiatives. The 16 cultural nothing of their essence — even after foreign characters. All the closed “There is no social conflict be- Regarding literary clubs after gov- sectors have not been implemented completing our education. channels were turned into sports tween the religious establishment ernment initiatives for private cul- and neither were the related cultural “Finally, we embarked on the channels that nobody watches ex- and the existing liberal establish- tural houses and centres, Shaqha entities. As to the literary clubs, their phase of modernity that was essen- cept when there were local football ment,” he said. “It is rather a fabri- said: “I did not find literature among elected directors have been sacked tial in building our personality but matches on. This is the current state cated clash between those who are the ministry’s sectors. The minis- and replaced by committees of four we ignored the identities of all those of our state television and our press ignorant of religious law and speak- try’s vision considered poetry as an appointed members. The Ministry who came to help us with building institutions after the onset of the na- ers who do not know the values ​​of independent sector, while poetry of Culture is nothing more than a our country in all fields.” tional transformations.” liberal thought based on freedom of obviously comes under literature. headquarters and a theoretical pro- Shaqha continued: “The Taif Lit- Shaqha said “a living and vibrant speech and action. Islam is a heaven- “The General Presidency for gramme in a bunch of files waiting to erary Club saw the light as a lush society” will not be affected by nega- ly law that came ‘to perfect morals’ Youth Welfare in the days of Prince be opened.” island filled with fruit and voices tive alliances.” He used as an exam- as the Prophet had said. Faisal bin Fahd treated a literary from all over the place. There were ple when Iraq occupied Kuwait and “Each community in each region club as it would deal with a sports Zaki al-Soudeir is a Saudi writer. 24 March 8, 2020 Mosaic www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Beirut: Through March 22

Al Bustan International Festival of Music and the Performing Arts is a musical celebration that takes place at various venues in Beirut and promotes music from all over the world. The festival includes orchestral concerts, choral music, opera and dance performances.

Hurghada: March 2-9

Egypt Sensual Festival 2020 offers dancing, workshops and performances from artists who will teach and dance with visitors. The event features pool parties, beach parties, boat parties, workshops, shows and music performances.

Jeddah: Through July 3

Full Moon Festival at Dur- rat Al-Arous La Fontaine 2 is suitable for all ages, offering a wide range of activities, From Umm Kulthum’s West End musical in London. (Zainab Mehdi) including fire shows, musi- cal performances and other interesting programmes.

El Kef: West End musical celebrates March 14-21 Sicca Jazz, an annual music festival in El Kef, in north- western Tunisia, brings musi- cians from all over the world Arab diva Umm Kulthum to perform and interact. This year’s programme includes indoor and street concerts. Zainab Mehdi The compelling concert covered Umm Kulthum’s most recognised Marrakech: and admired works from the 1920s March 19-22 London through to the 1970s; the 1940s marked the beginning of her Gold- The second Beat Hotel Mar- nown as Egypt’s Fourth en Age. rakech will take place in the Pyramid and “The Star Umm Kulthum’s best-known foothills of the Atlas Moun- of the Orient,” Arab diva works, formulated by Egyptian tains at the Fellah Hotel. The K Umm Kulthum was cel- musical figures including Moham- festival features international ebrated in a special musical based ed Abdel Wahab, Riyad El Sunbati, artists and DJs in addition to on her life at a London West End Sayed Mekawy, Mohamed el-Qas- global cuisine and well-being theatre. abji and Baligh Hamdi, were per- activities. “Umm Kulthum and the Golden formed by an orchestra conducted Era” brought alive the music legacy by Louai Alhenawi. Zammour: of the Egyptian singer who carved Umm Kulthum’s rise to fame March 19-22 Arab history and moved women’s was not a straightforward one. De- voices into the consciousness of termined for people to hear how The fourth Zammour Trek- the Arab world. remarkable and moving his daugh- king is scheduled for a Berber ter’s voice was, Umm Kulthum’s village in the Tunisian Sa- father dressed the young girl in hara over four days and three Performing alongside boy’s clothing to have her sing in nights. Visitors can camp in talented West End public. Given that Umm Kulthum Bedouin tents, trek or bike in dancers and singers, was born to a poor family, it wasn’t many of whom were unable to read was a girl from a village who strug- the village, visit mountains, Syrian soprano Lubana usual in Egyptian peasant tradi- and write. gled for many years disguised as a attend folklore parties and Al Quntar played the tion for women or girls to sing in Performing alongside talented boy. I hope that people will get a enjoy traditional food. role of the Arab diva. front of strangers. West End dancers and singers, closer insight on Umm Kulthum’s In 1926, Umm Kulthum signed Syrian soprano Lubana Al Quntar journey, including her success,” Cairo: One of Umm Kulthum’s aspira- her first contract with Gramo- played the role of the Arab diva. Quntar said. March 20-April 10 tions was to go London after her phone Records, which paid her a Umm Kulthum’s granddaughter, “For me, it’s very emotional to legendary 1967 performance in yearly salary and royalties for eve- Sanaa Nabil, was on stage as a see how her character developed Downtown Contemporary Paris at the Olympia. “It is my gift ry record sold. As her career ad- guest performer. from being a child trapped in a Arts Festival is an internation- to bring her to the stage in Lon- vanced, Umm Kulthum replaced “Singing the right way, which very closed, religious and protec- al multidisciplinary contem- don,” said Mona Khashoggi, the her male outfits for conservative in this case would be singing like tive circle, then came out of this porary event that includes lo- musical’s Saudi writer and pro- yet stylish women’s dresses and Umm Kulthum is a challenge and environment to become one of the cal, regional and international ducer was accompanied by a takht, a will always be a challenge. Howev- most successful Arab singers of all music, theatre, dance, visual Marsm, a London events com- group of talented musicians. er, I am doing the best that I can. times. It’s just amazing.” arts and films by artists from pany promoting underground, al- By combining poetry with mu- That’s what makes everything so Quntar said she hoped the musi- Egypt, the Arab world and be- ternative and indie Arab music and sic, Umm Kulthum made fine lit- exciting,” Quntar said. cal would also be performed else- yond. The festival takes place culture, helped promote the event. erature available to the masses, Quntar said singers from the where in Europe, the United States in various venues in Cairo. era of classical Arabic music had and the Middle East. a huge role to play throughout her “Now is the perfect time to cre- Tunis: singing career. ate and remember the great singer. April 2-11 “Growing up, I’d always listen We hope that people around the to Asmahan, whom I am related world will be a part of this exciting The 15th Jazz a Carthage, an to. Notable singers such as Umm tribute and celebration. The con- annual music festival, brings Kulthum, Souad Mohamed, Farid cert is distinctive because it is the together renowned interna- al-Atrash, Mohamed Abdel Wahab first time an Arab figure has been tional and local musicians were and still are an inspiration to represented in this way, especially for concerts, gatherings and me. in a Western country,” she said. street performances. Concerts “I will always be amazed by “It’s time to remember and pay are scheduled for Gammarth, Umm Kulthum’s singing tech- tribute to exceptional Arab per- Tunis and Sidi Bou Said. nique. Singing Umm Kulthum’s formers such as Asmahan, Farid songs makes everything feel al-Atrash, Mohamed Abdel Wahab unique and that’s exactly what her and Abdel Halim Hafez,” Quntar We welcome submissions of voice was. It was unique. She had added. calendar items related to an amazing strong voice that cap- Khashoggi said she is working cultural events of interest to tured the souls of millions of peo- on a musical focusing on Asma- travellers in the Middle East ple,” Quntar said han, a Syrian-born singer whose and North Africa. She said she hoped the musi- voice has been compared with cal would help connect the public Umm Kulthum’s. Please send tips to: with Umm Kulthum’s songs and [email protected] her life. Zainab Mehdi is an Arab Weekly “Behind this great singer, there intern.