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UK £2 Issue 215, Year 5 July 21, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Algeria’s Africa Cup triumph deepens patriotic spirit

Stephen Quillen

Tunis

he Algerian national football team won the Africa Cup of Nations finals, leading to T countrywide jubilation and briefly uniting a protest-hit country that has been rocked by political tur- bulence. Algeria defeated top-ranked Sen- egal, 1-0, to claim its first African Cup of Nations trophy in 29 years, sparking impassioned celebrations throughout Algeria as well as in Par- is, London and Tunis. “I’m very happy. Our whole na- tion‚ our people were waiting for Murky waters. A file picture shows the Stena Impero, a British-flagged tanker, off the coast of Europoort in Rotterdam. (AFP) this second star for a long time‚” said Algeria’s Manager Djamel Belmadi‚ who took over and revamped Alge- ria’s struggling squad last August. “To do what we’ve been able to do‚ Iran fans flames at Strait of Hormuz and to put ourselves on the top of Af- rica in 10 months‚ is extraordinary.” The victory seemed to reinforce Algeria’s patriotic spirit as protesters with brazen attack on British tanker enter the fifth month of a movement seeking lasting political change. With tears rolling from the eyes of Thomas Seibert the world’s sea-borne oil. Another seized two weeks ago in an opera- shipped daily through the strait be- players and staff and emotions run- British ship was briefly detained by tion aided by British Royal Marines tween Iran in the north and Oman ning high among fans throughout Iran before being released. on allegations of breaching EU in the south. Disruption of tanker the tournament, it was clear the Istanbul British Foreign Secretary Jeremy sanctions against Syria. traffic would hit oil and gas mar- stakes for Algerians were much high- Hunt said he was worried Iran had Looking for leverage in its row kets and could affect the global er than football. n the most serious escala- taken a “dangerous path of illegal with the United States, the Iranian economy. Fittingly, the closing match was tion since the confrontation and destabilising behaviour.” leadership has previously warned The United States, which has played on a Friday, the day each between Iran and the United Tehran said its Islamic Revolu- that it could stop traffic in the Strait sent naval and air force units to the week that tens of thousands of peo- I States in the Gulf began two tionary Guard Corps seized the of Hormuz. Iranian President Has- Gulf region and is deploying an ad- ple have taken to the streets in Al- months ago, Tehran drove up ten- Stena Impero after the British ship san Rohani said last year that “no ditional 500 military personnel to geria to raise their voice for change. sions with the West by seizing a damaged an Iranian fishing ves- oil will be exported” from the Gulf Saudi Arabia to deter Iranian ag- This time, however, the scene was British-flagged oil tanker at a key sel in a collision but the effort to if the United States blocked Iran’s gression, said it wants to build an different: There were fewer angry choke point of the world’s oil trade. explain the move with a need to crude exports. international coalition to secure chants and more jubilant cheers. To With the attack July 19 on the investigate a suspected maritime Washington has imposed crush- traffic in the strait. many, the national team’s success Stena Impero, Iran signalled its incident sounded hollow. ing sanctions against Iran’s oil was a moment of vindication. determination to interfere with The attack occurred only hours industry to make Tehran accept Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly The exciting run was not devoid traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a after a British court in Gibraltar stricter limits on its nuclear pro- correspondent. of politics, however. The Algerian main artery for global oil trade that said it would extend by 30 days gramme. government made every effort to carries approximately one-third of the detention of an Iranian tanker Huge amounts of oil and gas are P2-3, 6 capitalise on the Desert Foxes’ suc- cess, organising charter flights for fans to attend matches in Egypt and putting embattled Interim President Little progress on Sudan power-sharing Abdelkader Bensalah centre stage in Cairo at the closing match July 19. Not all the coverage was positive for Algeria’s leaders because fans talks as opposition group voices concerns took the political protest to an inter- national audience, displaying signs Hassan Abdel Zaher power-sharing deal signed July 17. The United States supported the tions it imposed on Khartoum in and chanting slogans critical of the “The deal is a good step but the deal amid concerns about Sudan’s October 1997 but the Sudanese government. road ahead is very bumpy,” said descent into state failure and vio- economy continues to suffer reper- Some fans reportedly chanted Cairo Ibrahim Ezzeddine, a leader within lence. “The situation is still fragile. cussions of the sanctions. “La Casa del Mouradia,” a reference the Sudanese community in Cairo. There are still spoilers out there,” Perhaps that is why most of those to the presidential palace, that was ower-sharing talks between The TMC, which took over after Tibor Nagy, US assistant secretary present welcomed the deal. heard in chants by Friday protest- Sudan’s political forces and the downfall of the Omar al-Bashir of state for African affairs, said. Lieutenant-General Hamdan Da- ers during the dramatic semi-final the ruling Transitional Mili- regime in April, signed the deal The deal was “absolutely a step for- galo, TMC deputy chairman, said match against Nigeria. P tary Council (TMC) were with the FFC early July 17 after 11 ward,” he added. the agreement would open the A fan who held up a sign with the staggering a short time after the hours of Ethiopian- and AU-medi- door for a new partnership. popular anti-government phrase “So they all go” during Algeria’s opening two sides agreed to form a sover- ated negotiations. The main opposition However, not everybody in Su- eign council to manage Sudan’s af- The formation of a sovereign dan shared this optimism, includ- match against Kenya was sent home fairs during the country’s political council of 11 members, including cited disagreements ing some FFC political forces. and imprisoned. transition. five army generals, five FFC mem- inside the group over The Sudanese Communist Party Overall, the focus of Algeria’s Officials of the Forces for Free- bers and a civilian, was agreed to. the constitutional said the deal gives the TMC more football triumph was the national dom and Change (FFC), the main One of the generals will lead the document as well as control over Sudan. It said in a squad’s heart and resilience — and opposition group, said a new round Sovereign Council for 21 months dissatisfaction with the statement that the deal overlooks how it reflects a nation that has and of negotiations on a constitutional and an FFC member will lead it for political paper. the need for getting rid of the rem- continues to struggle through chal- document that compliments the 18 months during Sudan’s transi- nants of the al-Bashir regime, bring lenge and adversity. political paper had been post- tion. Ethiopia’s representative in the corrupt al-Bashir-era officials to “For me, the national team and the poned. The agreement opens the door for negotiations, Mohamed Dirir, de- court and return money stolen by country are the same,” Belmadi told They cited disagreements inside a peace process in Sudan within six scribed the deal as “historic.” the regime. New Frame. “We represent a country the group over the constitutional months and calls for the initiation “This is a decisive moment in Su- The Revolutionary Front also ob- with a glorious past... Our revolution document as well as dissatisfaction of action by Sudanese authorities to dan’s history,” Dirir said. jected to the deal. and independence, it’s not some- with the political paper. rescue the economy and introduce Two-thirds of Sudan’s popula- The Network of Sudanese Oppo- thing you find anywhere. They are “The coalition needs to conduct reforms to state institutions and tion is considered poor, govern- sition Journalists said the deal had anchored in all of us as Algerians, more internal consultations to the military establishment. ment figures indicate. The country failed to create new realities for the sometimes even unconsciously. In reach a common vision,” said Omar There were hopes that the agree- has been designated a “state spon- Sudanese people. sport, the notion of sacrifice and sol- al-Dagir, an FFC leader. ment would end tensions between sor of terrorism” by the United idarity are essential.” There was already heightened Sudan’s political forces and the States since 1993. In October 2017, Hassan Abdel Zaher is a scepticism over Sudan’s political TMC, after months of unrest and the United States lifted most eco- Cairo-based contributor to The Stephen Quillen is an Arab Weekly players’ ability to move beyond the bloodshed. nomic, trade and financial sanc- Arab Weekly. correspondent in Tunis. 2 July 21, 2019 Cover Story UK Iran British tankers in the crosshairs of Iran’s ‘unnecessary’ escalation

Nazli Tarzi A statement from the govern- ment cited the move as one that runs “contrary to international law.” London In a sharp contrast to typically luke- warm responses, UK Foreign Minis- n what was described as an eye- ter Jeremy Hunt, who is seeking to for-eye strategy in Arabian Gulf, become Britain’s prime minister, hit Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary out on Twitter. Hunt cited events as I Guard Corps reportedly boarded the reason why Britain “must invest two British oil tankers in the Arabian more in defence.” Gulf amid rising tensions between “We have run down our Navy Tehran, London and Washington. too much and this must now be ur- The owners of the British-flagged gently reversed,” he said, adding: Stena Impero said they had been “We need to show confidence in the unable to contact the vessel, which world by putting our money where had a crew of 23 and was “heading our mouth is!” north towards Iran.” The British Hunt’s position appears sym- government said the tanker was metrical to the United States, whose surrounded by four vessels and a advisers and others issued grave helicopter. warnings regarding direct confron- A second British-owned, Liberi- tation with Iran. However, Britain an-flagged tanker was boarded by has shown greater restraint than Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps US President Donald Trump, who but was allowed to continue its wrote on Twitter that Iran would be journey. subject to “consequences the like of British Foreign Secretary Jeremy which few throughout history have Hunt warned there would be “seri- never suffered.” ous consequences” if Iran did not Britain’s vulnerability in the Ara- release the Stena Impero. He said bian Gulf refocused public rhetoric the seizure was “completely unac- on the need for a boost in defence ceptable” and “freedom of naviga- funding. In Hunt’s mind, Britain tion must be maintained.” ought to take no chances as unpre- On the defensive. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (L) waits for the start of a meeting at the “We are not looking at military dictability remains the most visible European Council in Brussels, last May. (AP) options. We are looking at a diplo- hallmark in the escalation in the matic way to resolve this situation Gulf. but we are very clear that it must be Hunt warned against “unneces- foreign policy and trade. US officials Times, as “a lopsided special rela- trade pendulum swings, militarily, resolved,” he said. sary” escalation, reaffirming the are emboldened by British backing tionship.” there’s a greater common ground Britain was the latest country direction of Britain’s long-term for- of US objectives in the Middle East While Brexit remains viewed as between the two countries. in a growing chorus to comment eign policy commitment in the Gulf. as they work to coordinate against a ripe opportunity for the United “The Islamic regime’s persistent on bubbling tensions between the British commitments echo the US a backdrop of threats to freedom of States to comfortably walk into fear of an outside aggressor… have United States and Iran. Though pre- position, as both share mutual con- navigation and the passage of oil- trade deals with Britain, the expec- contributed to making threat and viously neutral, Britain has taken cerns over Iranian intimidation of bearing ships. tation will not happen as swiftly as counter-threat, as well as mutual a sharper tone towards Tehran in commercial vessels. Britain appears Britain hopes to acquire a more some in the United Kingdom had distrust, the defining patterns in recent weeks. Tensions between ready to engage its military — mim- active role in the region but needs believed or hoped. the Islamic Republic’s international the United Kingdom and Iran flared icking the United States’ default the help of the United States to do British Chancellor of the Excheq- relations,” Amin Saikal, author of this month when Royal Marines position — to de-escalate. In an in- it. It is unclear whether Britain will uer Philip Hammond warned recent- “Iran Rising: The Survival and Fu- seized an Iranian tanker suspected terview with Channel 4 News, Hunt call on the United States for greater ly that demands proposed by the ture of the Islamic Republic,” wrote of breaking EU sanctions regarding stated confidently: “We [Britain] are military support but, for now, the United States may prove unpopular, in late June. Syria. totally committed to keeping the two are entering an alliance of val- adding that, regardless of who wins The persistence of these patterns Iran threatened to seize a Brit- Middle East denuclearised.” ues against Iran as they twin their the British leadership contest, that of tit-for-tat may lock Britain into ish oil tanker and United Kingdom US national security adviser John defence priorities. person will face an unrealistic task a more permanent alliance but, for raised the threat to British shipping Bolton previously told the Daily Behind the scenes, observers of negotiating a workable trade deal. now, Britain has inserted itself into in Iranian waters in the Gulf to “crit- Telegraph in an interview that “the are cautious of what a “special re- The timescale was slammed as a growing assembly of countries ical” — the highest level. On July 10, relationship between the two mili- lationship” between Washington ambitious and the outcome of which working to defuse political sparks — British Ministry of Defence reported taries is as good as it has ever been.” and Westminster may look like or rests on the movement of US busi- vowing to act by its words. an attempted interception of a Brit- Britain’s defence-first strategy the course it may take. It was dis- nesses and whether they can resist ish oil tanker as it crossed into the is in part an outcome of rekindled missed by British journalist Philip the lure of rival financial centres. Nazli Tarzi is an Arab Weekly Strait of Hormuz. Anglo-American ties at the level of Stephens, writing for the Financial Irrespective of which way the correspondent in London. Viewpoint Britain’s restraint in dealing with Iran’s aggression

Sabahat Khan collapse in this new, higher-stakes minister, has reasons to be more United Kingdom was “not looking The United Kingdom possesses environment and issued deadlines involved than some of his European at military options. We are looking a deep understanding of the wider to see results. counterparts beyond the leadership at a diplomatic way to resolve this Middle East region and the strategic After European diplomats met contest. situation but we are very clear that challenges it faces and will confront to discuss the JCPOA, EU foreign With a growing risk of US-Iran it must be resolved.” ahead. British officials are believed policy chief Federica Mogherini war, Hunt has been categorical in Hunt had reached out to his to have made exhaustive efforts to announced that Europe would not insisting the United Kingdom and Iranian counterpart reassuring him persuade Trump against withdraw- trigger the dispute mechanism its allies are not seeking a conflict. the Iranian tanker was seized on ing from the JCPOA. Considering hen the Interna- in the JCPOA by which Iranian He described the possibility of any intelligence it was illegally heading its “special relationship” with tional Atomic non-compliance would result in “unintended escalation” as being for Syria against EU sanctions and the United States, Britain will be Energy Agency sanctions. The European assess- “very dangerous to the world,” call- offered to facilitate its release if especially keen to ensure tensions confirmed that ment was that the breaches are not ing for “cool heads” to prevail. Tehran was able to offer guarantees do not escalate to the point of a Iran had significant and European instead Britain assesses that Iran remains its tanker would not breach current military confrontation that it would breached limits called on Iran to “reverse the steps at least one year from developing sanctions. be unavoidably drawn into. Wagreed to its stockpiles of low- and go back to full compliance.” enough uranium for a weapon and Britain has 15-30 tankers and It is a difficult task because the enriched uranium as part of the The European Union was highly is hopeful about saving the JCPOA other large ships in the Gulf on any United Kingdom supports growing Joint Comprehensive Plan of critical of the US withdrawal from despite the “small window” in given day. The United Kingdom has pressure on Iran that forces a revi- Action, the accord was thrown the JCPOA but its position and role which to do so. raised the security level for British sion of its regional behaviour yet it into further jeopardy. in the crisis appeared to lack clarity However, Iranian boats report- vessels in the region to the highest is also clear-minded about the need Tehran says it is responding to or firmness. Having been a driving edly harassed a British oil tanker be- category and is reinforcing naval to avoid a regional conflict. So the the unilateral US withdrawal from force behind the JCPOA, Europe fore being repelled by British forces deployments. The Gulf continues United Kingdom may find itself in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of seems to be taking the back seat deployed to safeguard maritime to be an area of great strategic an impossible task of moderating its Action (JCPOA) and subsequent now. shipping. The incident followed the importance to the United Kingdom American ally as well as Iran while sanctions that have crippled Iran’s While in New York for a UN seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in and the country remains one of the upholding its key national interests largest source of revenue — oil ex- meeting, Zarif criticised Europe Gibraltar by British forces, de- most important strategic players in and commitments to a rules-based ports — and its connectivity to the saying: “There is a serious differ- scribed by Iranian Supreme Leader the wider region. international system. international financial system. ence between doing something and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “piracy” The United Kingdom’s recent role Yet, while the United Kingdom’s For a year, Iran pinned hopes on announcing your willingness.” On and an act of “evilness.” also should be viewed in the back- regional influence and role out- Europe to sustain the JCPOA. Prior the other extreme, Israeli Prime In a more serious escalation, drop of the controversy surround- size those of the European Union, to the imposition of the widening Minister Binyamin Netanyahu lik- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard ing Sir Kim Darroch, who resigned the collective efforts of both are net of US sanctions on Iran, Iranian ened Europe’s apparent position on Corps reportedly boarded two as British ambassador to the United increasingly needed to ensure that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Iran with its appeasement of Nazi British oil tankers in the Arabian States after leaks surfaced where any turning point the region may Zarif praised European efforts in Germany. Gulf on July 19, with one, the Stena he described the US withdrawal be approaching will be one which is preserving the deal as being better By comparison, the United Impero, “going dark,” meaning its from the JCPOA as “diplomatic positive rather than dangerous. than what Tehran had expected. Kingdom’s regional role has been transponder was turned off, and the vandalism.” Darroch suggested the However, tightening US sanc- much more focused and forward. other, the Liberian-flagged Mesdar, US President Donald Trump had Sabahat Khan, based in Dubai, tions against Iran created a new UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, allowed to resume navigation. abandoned the nuclear deal to spite maintains a cross-disciplinary focus scenario. Iran has again been calling facing off against Boris Johnson to Despite the serious nature of the former President Barack Obama and in international security, on Europe to save the deal from become the country’s next prime Iranian move, Hunt insisted the had no “’day-after strategy.” defence policy and strategic issues. July 21, 2019 3 News & Analysis Tensions with Iran Iran signals willingness to talk to US but common ground still remote

Thomas Seibert ship. Iran said it had no information about losing a drone. Washington demanded Iran re- Istanbul lease a ship Iranian forces seized in the Gulf and a US military com- lmost a year after the US mander in the region said the Unit- brought back sanctions ed States would work “aggressively” against Iran both sides to ensure free passage of vessels A say they are ready for new through the vital waterway. Iran talks but a new spike of military played down the seizure of the ship, tensions threatens to sink efforts which it said was a small tanker that for de-escalation. was smuggling oil. Following US President Donald The escalation came as officials Trump’s decision last year to with- from both Iran and the United States draw from the 2015 nuclear deal, said talks were possible. Washington reintroduced sanctions Iranian President Hassan Rohani against Tehran starting with meas- said Tehran was willing to negoti- ures against Iran’s financial sector ate if Washington lifted sanctions on August 7, 2018. More stringent and returned to the JCPOA. He told sanctions against Iran’s oil industry French President Emmanuel Ma- followed in November. cron that Iran was determined to Trump’s “maximum pressure” “leave all doors open” to save the campaign failed to force Iran into nuclear deal. accepting stricter rules for its nu- Iranian Foreign Minister Moham- clear programme. Instead, Tehran mad Javad Zarif suggested for the has started to violate limits set in first time that Iran’s ballistic missile the Joint Comprehensive Plan of programme could be on the table Action (JCPOA) to stir European for negotiations with the United countries into action against the States if US officials stopped selling US sanctions. However, the Iranian arms to its Gulf allies. Tehran later initiative has done little to improve denied the missile programme was A new card to play. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif prepares to address the the situation for the country’s key up for negotiation. However, Zarif, High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at UN headquarters, July 17. (AP) oil industry. speaking in New York, said Iran could ratify a document prescrib- from testing ballistic missiles. “All would be for Iran to agree to stop put time limits on Iranian commit- ing more intrusive inspections of we want is a fair deal,” he said. further violations of the nuclear ments from 2030 to 2050 would Efforts to rescue the its nuclear programme if the Unit- EU countries stepped up their deal, while the United States could be one possibility, Vatanka said. A agreement and initiate ed States abandoned its economic campaign to keep the JCPOA from grant temporary waivers for coun- changed nuclear deal would give talks involving both the sanctions. collapsing. The 28 EU foreign min- tries such as China to buy Iranian Trump the chance to sell the new United States and Iran will The document, known as the Ad- isters insisted that recent Iranian oil legally. Then talks could start, agreement to his voter base as a face huge challenges. ditional Protocol, gives Internation- actions surpassing uranium enrich- “most likely in a multilateral con- much better accord than the one al Atomic Energy Agency inspectors ment thresholds set by the 2015 deal text,” including Iran, Russia, Chi- his predecessor Barack Obama ne- “The good news is: Neither side more tools to verify that a nuclear did not necessarily condemn the na, the Europeans and the United gotiated. really wants a war,” Alex Vatanka, programme is peaceful. While US whole accord. States. A diplomatic memo leaked to an Iran expert at the Middle East officials suggested they viewed the However, efforts to rescue the “This won’t be easy,” Vatanka the British media stated that Brit- Institute in Washington, said by tel- idea as a non-starter, analysts said agreement and initiate talks involv- said. In the United States, Trump ish Ambassador to Washington Kim ephone. He said tensions were likely it could provide an opening for ing both the United States and Iran critics were likely to argue that the Darroch said Trump withdrew from to continue but also that he expect- Trump’s administration to pursue will face huge challenges. For one, president gave in to the Iranians. the JCPOA to spite Obama. ed “efforts to find a middle ground.” diplomacy. the format of possible talks is un- The climb-down would be even In the May 2018 cable published A new round of military tension Trump stressed his willingness to clear. Bilateral negotiations between harder for Iran because of the ideo- by the Daily Mail, Darroch called in the Gulf heightened the risk of reach to an agreement with Tehran, the United States and Iran, which do logical enmity of Tehran against Trump’s decision to abandon a direct confrontation that both saying he did not aim for regime not have diplomatic relations, are Washington, Vatanka said, adding, the international accord “an act sides said they want to avoid. The change in Tehran and that “a lot of unlikely. Confidence-building meas- “but it would be an opportunity to of diplomatic vandalism, seem- US Navy said it destroyed an Ira- progress has been made.” He de- ures from both sides would be need- make changes to the 2015 nuclear ingly for ideological and personal- nian drone in the Strait of Hormuz fined his goals as keeping Iran from ed to create momentum for talks. deal.” ity reasons” because the pact “was after the aircraft threatened the a acquiring nuclear weapons and Vatanka said one possibility Extending the sunset clauses that Obama’s deal.”

Viewpoint Iran flexes muscles while Trump sees logic in Obama’s Iran deal

he Iranian government That being said, the Pentagon and the Trump admin- ordered 500 US troops to Saudi istration are playing a Arabia, where they will be part dangerous game of of a 1,000 strong force based just Claude Salhani chicken in the waters of south of Riyadh. the Gulf. Why the US troops in Saudi Arabia? Tsudden escalation that has What a grand idea! brought the two countries, and Perhaps if Trump bothered to others, to the brink of an all-out read some history he might real- war? ise that part of Osama bin Laden’s It began in 2011 at the annual original gripe with the king of White House Correspondents’ As- Saudi Arabia in 1990, when sociation Dinner, an event where Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, movers and shakers of the political, was the anger of Muslims to have entertainment and media worlds are US soldiers — read “infidels” — on present. the land of the two holy mosques. US President Barack Obama made Bin Laden asked the king to fun of Donald Trump — five years have the American and other for- before Trump was elected president Uncompromising approach. An Iranian surface-to-surface eign forces withdraw and he, bin — that evening, calling him “The ballistic missile on display during its inauguration ceremony at an Laden, with his combat-hardened Donald,” playing along with the undisclosed location, last February. (AFP) Afghan Arabs, as his Afghan war event’s tradition to poke fun at the veterans were known, would take president or anyone else you or the After pulling the United States Iran nuclear agreement as “the it upon themselves to liberate designated host for the event may out of the nuclear deal principally worst deal ever,” a “disaster” that Kuwait from the Iraqi Army. want to roast. because it was achieved under didn’t cover nearly enough of the A Saudi official present in this It was obvious that Trump did Obama’s presidency, Trump, today, Islamist-led country’s nefarious exchange said the king’s reply not appreciate the humour. While has indicated that the Obama-era behaviour. was to laugh, reminding bin Perhaps if Trump every guest at his table was laughing deal might not be so bad after all. But look at where he has taken Laden that the Iraqi Army was the bothered to read some heartily, “The Donald” was livid. It is For Trump, the Iran situation is the United States and its allies. largest Arab army and hardened believed by many who report on the rapidly becoming a no-win situa- White House insiders say there by an 8-year war with Iran. Many history he might White House that Trump made up tion. appears to be two factions inside say this was the turning point for realise that part of bin his mind that evening that he would Diplomats familiar with it say the White House with one saying bin Laden when he declared holy undo anything Obama did. that what Trump is proposing today the United States should be flexible war on the Americans and the Laden’s original gripe Jarrett Blanc, a former US State echoes the 2015 deal reached by the and the other wants an even stricter Saudi royal family. with the king of Saudi Department official who helped Obama administration. policy adopted. Now Trump wants to send Arabia in 1990 was the oversee the 2015 agreement between Trump has repeatedly urged the Iran has reverted to its aggressive more US troops to Saudi Arabia. the West and Iran, said: “Trump got Iranian leadership to negotiate, say- mode by unleashing its sea-borne anger of Muslims to rid of the Iran nuclear deal because it ing that Tehran’s nuclear ambitions Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Claude Salhani is a regular have US soldiers on was Barack Obama’s agreement.” are his chief concern, talking points or proxies, who have attacked at columnist for The Arab Weekly “If you were to present to Trump that experts say echo the 2015 ac- least one British oil tanker. and a senior fellow at the the land of the two the same deal, he’d be thrilled,” said cords. Both sides claim they do not want Institute of World Affairs in holy mosques. Blanc. Trump has long trashed the 2015 to escalate the situations. Washington. 4 July 21, 2019 News & Analysis Gulf Tide turning against Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait

Faith Salama social organisation. The Muslim Brotherhood was then regarded by the Kuwaiti gov- Abu Dhabi ernment as a political ally because of its close relations with govern- aving long been tolerant mental ministers and its role in of the Muslim Brother- countering Arab nationalists and hood’s political activities, communists. H Kuwait recently hand- Kuwait’s relationship with the ed over eight Egyptian nationals Brotherhood grew strained in Feb- linked to the Brotherhood who re- ruary 2012 when it called for con- portedly admitted to carrying out stitutional amendments to limit terrorist operations in Egypt. the power of the ruling family and The men, the Kuwaiti Interior enhance Islamist principles. The On alert. Men pass a security check before entering to pray in Kuwait City’s Grand Mosque. (AFP) Ministry said, belonged to a militant Brotherhood also came under fire cell linked to the Muslim Brother- when Kuwaiti politicians accused hood and fled to Kuwait after be- its members of engaging in terror- authorities with information about erations and the law must be en- being connected to the organisa- ing sentenced to prison. Kuwaiti ism, money laundering and plot- a suspected group run by political forced with an iron fist, away from tion. Deputy Prime Minister Anas Khalid ting a coup against the Kuwaiti gov- authorities in Turkey. any form of intervention.” Kuwait’s crackdown on the al-Saleh said the men “admitted ernment. It was reported that Egyptian Members of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood comes as it deep- carrying out terrorist operations… Allegations had surfaced against General Intelligence Service Direc- Brotherhood mobilised to defend ens ties with a regional anti-terror inside Egyptian territory.” the group long ago. In 2005, Ku- tor Major-General Abbas Kamel vis- the Egyptian suspects. Former Is- camp that includes Egypt, the Unit- The deportations signal a dra- waiti teachers said the country’s ited Kuwait in June to provide au- lamist MP Jamaan al-Harbash, who ed Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and matic shift from the Muslim Broth- religious curricula, which Brother- thorities with a list of members of was sentenced to prison in Kuwait Bahrain. erhood in Kuwait, which, unlike hood members from Egypt played the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood for taking part in the storming of the Since 2013, Kuwait has joined Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United a central role in crafting, was being and details about the suspected ter- National Assembly in 2011 and has Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Arab Emirates, does not officially used to foment extremism and ter- rorist cell, the way its members ex- since fled to Turkey, condemned Emirates in providing financial and consider the group a terror organi- rorism. changed messages and transferred the Interior Ministry’s move. diplomatic support to the Egyptian sation. Now, however, it seems that the money to suspects in Turkey and Islamist MP Adel al-Damkhi government. It also increased pres- Brotherhood has been pushed on Qatar wanted by the Egyptian au- lashed out at Kuwait, saying “the sure on Egyptians connected to the the defensive in Kuwait, which has thorities. behaviour of the Interior Ministry Brotherhood living in Kuwait and The turnaround in made clear it will no longer tolerate The turnaround in Kuwaiti policy violates the constitution,” even has been purging Brotherhood sup- Kuwaiti policy on the the group’s activities. on the Brotherhood is likely to be though the eight Egyptians were re- porters from the Kuwaiti govern- Brotherhood is likely to “Investigations are under way to a major blow to the group and its portedly returned under the terms ment. be a major blow to the determine who enabled these indi- international affiliates. It will es- of bilateral agreements. Kuwaiti media quoted anony- group and its viduals to operate under the radar pecially hurt the Brotherhood on In January 2017, Egypt and Ku- mous sources claiming Brother- international affiliates. and cooperated with them to cover the financial front, given that it re- wait signed a legal and judicial hood supporters in the Ministry of up their activities,” a statement by ceives significant funding through cooperation agreement on civil, Religious Endowments and Islamic The Brotherhood’s political wing, the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry noted. Kuwait, either by members of the commercial, criminal and person- Affairs, the Zakat House and other the Islamic Constitutional Move- “We will not be lenient with ac- Kuwaiti Brotherhood branch or al status issues, as well as on the governmental bodies had been ment, is deeply involved in Kuwaiti complices,” the statement added, from Egyptian Islamists who fled transfer of individuals sentenced to retired or moved to marginalised politics. The party’s roots in Kuwait saying that the ministry would the country after the ouster of Is- prison. offices. The move was described go back to 1952 when the Kuwaiti “strike with an iron fist anyone who lamist President Muhammad Morsi. The backlash from Islamists was by Kuwaiti experts as a legitimate Muslim Brotherhood, or Islamic wishes to threaten Kuwait’s nation- “Kuwait is not a safe haven for viewed in Kuwait as confirmation defence against a subversive and Guidance Society, was established. al security.” terrorists and they are not allowed of their connection to the moth- foreign organisation that does not The group later became known as The dismantling of the Brother- to establish their headquarters er organisation in Egypt, which recognise the state. the Social Reform Society (Al-Islah) hood-linked cell reportedly took here,” said Kuwaiti MP Riyad al-Ad- banned the Muslim Brotherhood in and, in 1963, was registered with place after Egyptian intelligence sani. He asserted that “the security 2013 and authorities have arrested Faith Salama is a Lebanese the Ministry of Social Affairs as a services provided Kuwaiti security of the country is above all consid- thousands of people suspected of journalist. Jordan, facing pressure at home, restores relations with Qatar

Faith Salama edly opened talks with Turkey opened more jobs for Jordani- Momani noted that Amman has In the last few years, Jordan’s and Qatar, long-standing rivals of an expatriates as part of the aid remained “clear, firm and support- economic growth has slowed to Saudi Arabia. Amman has even package, which includes project ive of Saudi Arabia and the United an average of 2%. The country’s Abu Dhabi made subtle overtures to Iran. finance and job-generating invest- Arab Emirates when it comes to foreign debt increased from $19 “Our relations depend on our ments. the conflict in Yemen and coun- billion in 2011 — 60% of GDP — to n a new twist in the Qatari interests,” said a source close to Qatar, which has a large stake tering Iranian threats — a position $35.1 billion in 2016 — 93.4% of crisis, Jordan took a step to- the Jordanian government, speak- in Jordan’s second largest bank, that was repeatedly upheld by GDP. wards normalising ties with ing on condition of anonymity, has pledged to pump hundreds of King Abdullah, who views the se- The economic downturn is I Doha, naming an ambassador adding: “Jordan doesn’t have any millions of dollars into Jordan in curity of the Arab Gulf region, no- largely due to regional instabil- to the country for the first time in conflict with Turkey or Qatar or what diplomats say is an attempt tably Saudi Arabia and the United ity, which has led to a decline in two years. even Iran. What distance we have to drive a wedge between Amman Arab Emirates, as a red line.” tourist activity and foreign in- Jordan appointed Zeid al-Law- depends on the benefits to us.” and Riyadh. Despite sometimes diverging vestment, as well as higher mili- zi, a career diplomat and Foreign Doha hopes that the resumption interests, Saudi Arabia and Jordan tary expenditures, attacks on an Ministry secretary-general, as of ties with Amman would show maintain close ties in many fields Egyptian pipeline supplying the its ambassador to Qatar. Doha Despite sometimes that the quartet’s boycott has and Amman’s recent overture to kingdom with gas, the collapse then announced Sheikh Saud bin diverging interests, failed. Qatari media hailed the de- Qatar could come at a heavy eco- of trade with Iraq and Syria, the Nasser al-Thani, a member of the Saudi Arabia and Jordan velopment as a victory of Doha’s nomic and diplomatic cost. costs of hosting Syrian refugees Qatari royal family, as ambassador maintain close ties in “soft power diplomacy.” Amman’s bet on Qatar to help and accumulated interest from to Amman. many fields and However, Jordan denied that its ease the country’s economic outstanding loans. The development comes more Amman’s recent rapprochement with Qatar was struggles is risky as Doha is mired In 2017, Jordan received 15% less than two years after Amman overture to Qatar could a sign it was pulling away from in its own domestic and regional in foreign grants, further straining challenges. Qatar could face fur- downgraded its diplomatic repre- come at a heavy Saudi Arabia, Amman’s traditional the economy. This forced the gov- sentation, a few days after Saudi Gulf ally. ther hardship as its remaining al- ernment to raise prices and the in- Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, economic and diplomatic “Amman will remain solidly in lies — Iran and Turkey — come un- come tax for the working popula- Egypt and Bahrain — the Arab cost. the Saudi-Emirati camp,” Jordani- der international pressure. tion, triggering mass protests. Quartet — cut diplomatic ties with Doha, which has found itself in- an political analyst Oraib Rantawi Some Jordanian politicians Saudi Arabia, believing that Qatar, accusing it of supporting Is- creasingly isolated since the Arab said. warned that the resumption of Jordan had mismanaged Riyadh’s lamist militants and meddling in Quartet’s boycott, has reached “The decision was based on as- diplomatic ties with Doha, cou- financial support, cut its regular their internal affairs. out to Amman, most recently sessment of bilateral interests pled with Jordan’s relatively le- subsidies to Jordan. Jordan has traditionally turned when Qatari Minister of State for that Amman has with Doha. It is nient position on the Muslim Public unrest in Jordan is not to Arab monarchies to shore up Defence Khalid bin Mohammed neither a change of alliances nor Brotherhood, which is listed as dying down and frequent protests its economy. However, Gulf Arab al-Attiyah visited Amman in April a move to bargain with other Gulf a terrorist organisation in Saudi threaten to further destabilise the countries have shifted their for- and signed military cooperation countries,” said Hasan al-Momani, Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab country. Alongside calls to address eign policy focus to their rivalry accords. professor of International Rela- Emirates, would put Amman in a Jordan’s economic problems, vari- with Iran, cutting financial sup- Last summer, Qatar extended a tions at the University of Jordan. difficult position, especially at a ous political forces, which include port for Amman. $500 million aid package to Jor- “Jordanian ties with Saudi Ara- time when it needs Arab support traditional opposition groups as Threatened by persisting pro- dan days after its Gulf adversaries bia and the UAE have historically to deal with internal and external well as tribal leaders, former re- tests at home — on top of the de- pledged $2.5 billion to help Jordan been strong at all levels, politi- challenges. gime officials and retired military clining Saudi cash subsidies that overcome an economic crisis after cally, economically and militarily, Unlike its neighbours, Jordan officers, are demanding political kept Jordan afloat for decades — rare anti-government protests. compared to ties between Amman has few natural resources and re- reforms that include limiting the Jordanian King Abdullah II report- In recent months, Qatar has and Doha.” lies on oil imports for energy. king’s powers. July 21, 2019 5 News & Analysis Saudi Arabia New defence partnerships emerge as Riyadh pushes industrialisation goals

Sabahat Khan SAMI recently announced an agreement with Paramount Group, one of South Africa’s leading de- Dubai fence and aerospace companies known for innovative approaches audi Arabia, the world’s in manufacturing of equipment most important oil supplier, such as infantry combat vehi- is also one of the world’s cles and unmanned systems. As S leading defence spenders an industrial partner, Paramount and despite cost-cutting initiatives Group, with product and solutions to enhance efficiency, will allocate ranging across the air, land and sea more than $50 billion to its de- domains, promises to offer proven fence budget this year. capabilities as well as a long-term Until recently, it is estimated commitment to Saudi Arabia. that Saudi industries represented SAMI has also announced a joint only as little as 2% of that spend- venture with Hanwha Munition ing. Systems to produce and sell mu- Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims nitions in Saudi Arabia. Hanwha to localise as much as 50% of its an- Munition Systems is part of Han- nual defence expenditures. It is an wha Group, one of South Korea’s ambitious target but from the cur- leading diversified industrial con- rent low base to begin with there glomerates whose core business is enormous potential for growth area in defence is supported by an and multifaceted economic bene- international research and devel- fits as Riyadh bids to grow non-oil opment network. sectors of the economy and boost In future phases, SAMI will work industrial output. with Hanwha Group to expand Riyadh is developing new indus- product lines and develop more tries in defence and aeronautics advanced systems for the land with a concentrated strategy that forces locally. will generate billions in income French company Figeac Aero and create thousands of employ- entered into a joint venture with ment opportunities for its growing SAMI in June to manufacture parts Ambitious plans. A view of the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) exhibit during the pool of highly skilled workers. for commercial and military air- International Defence Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi, last February. (Reuters) In 2017, Saudi Arabian Military craft in Saudi Arabia. Figeac Aero Industries (SAMI) was established specialises in machining structur- cus on aeronautics, land systems, international partnerships to es- panded civilian customer base. by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth al, engine and precision parts with weapons and defence electronics. tablish joint ventures. In June, SAMI acquired one of fund to lead efforts in cultivating a light alloys and hard metals. SAMI’s efforts to develop interna- SAMI acquired a majority stake Saudi Arabia’s biggest and best- more dynamic defence industrial The new entity is expected to tional partnerships in defence are in Aircraft Accessories and Com- known defence companies, Ad- base. focus on machining processes and likely to continue as it implements ponents Company (AACC), which vanced Electronics Company, SAMI has a target to create will deliver finished goods and a strategy to meet its ambitious is a maintenance, repair and over- which was established in 1988 to- 40,000 jobs by 2030 and is on a could represent an important mile- targets. haul (MRO) focused company gether with BAE Systems as part of mission to develop Saudi defence stone in Saudi Arabia’s journey SAMI’s role is also as much about specialising in aircraft hydraulics. the offset programme. It has seen industries through new partner- into the manufacture of high-end reshaping Saudi Arabia’s domestic Demand for specialist MRO and growing revenues in recent years — ships and joint ventures that can aeronautics products. industrial landscape to set it up related support services are seeing last year turning over $552 million. bring international expertise, To reach sales revenue targets of for the kind of rapid growth that is massive growth in Saudi Arabia This year, Saudi Arabia began knowledge and technology for $10 billion by 2025, SAMI is plan- being planned for it. So SAMI has and the Gulf region. SAMI plans to rolling out its first batches of 22 manufacturing and professional ning multibillion-dollar strategic been as active within Saudi Arabia expand AACC into new MRO areas, domestically assembled Hawk Mk technical services to Saudi Ara- investments and the creation of on the mergers and acquisitions including helicopters, and wants 165 Advanced Jet Trainers ordered bia’s doorstep. as many as 30 joint ventures to fo- front as it has been in developing to achieve scale by serving an ex- from BAE Systems.

Viewpoint Saudi Arabia’s multipronged strategy to clip Iran’s wings in Arab countries

iyadh has, at times, to their policies and practices United Arab Emirates announced it Riyadh is committed to re-engaging flexed its military described by humanitarian would finance a $50 million project with its traditional ally, backing muscle, such as in organisations as war crimes. to rebuild Mosul’s Great Mosque of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri Yemen, or opted for As the sands shift in the Middle al-Nuri, a landmark famous for its to counter Hezbollah and preserving Iman Zayat rapprochement, such East, Saudi Arabia’s strategy to leaning minaret that was destroyed the country’s delicate political as in Iraq. In Lebanon, contain Iran in Yemen will bear by the Islamic State. In October 2017, balance. RSaudi Arabia has sent mixed fruit but this could take some two months before Iraq declared During the meeting, Lebanon’s messages on how to deal with time. Meanwhile, Iran and its victory over the terrorist group, former prime ministers voiced Hezbollah. Houthi allies are hoping to buy the Iraqi-Saudi Joint Coordination concern that Hariri was growing Riyadh’s policy concerning time, desperately hoping that US Council was established to help weaker as Saudi Arabia disengages. Yemen has been consistent. It has Republicans will lose in the 2020 rebuild devastated areas in Iraq. “We feel that the prime minister remained committed to restoring elections and a new American This is not enough to forge is being targeted and weakened,” the internationally recognised policy could give them new life. a different path in Iraq. Saudi said Tammam Salam, one of the government of Yemeni President Riyadh is aware of this strategy Arabia and its allies need to three former prime ministers who Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and and has been working to clamp concentrate efforts on reducing met King Salman, along with Fouad preventing Iran’s “criminal down on Iran’s expansionist Iraq’s dependence on Iranian gas, Siniora and Najib Mikati. interference in Yemeni affairs,” a ambitions across the region. electricity, refined petroleum Lebanon needs more than recent statement by Saudi Deputy In Iraq, Saudi Arabia has tried to products and non-energy exports Riyadh’s political support to get Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin build bridges. Following a flurry that provide revenue streams for back on its feet. For the country to Salman said. of visits by top officials, Saudi Tehran, helping it to limit at least confront Iranian influence, a more As such, Riyadh’s military Ambassador to Iraq Abdul Aziz some of the economic damage active Saudi-led role is needed in intervention, which began in Al Shammari made a landmark resulting from US trade and the security, economic and military 2015, will continue until the announcement: The long-closed investment restrictions. fields. There is also a need for Iran-backed Houthis cease to Iraqi-Saudi border would reopen Riyadh also needs to assist the broader, more cohesive cooperation be subservient to Tehran and October 15. Iraqi government’s efforts to rein with Lebanon to restore its balance commit to Yemen’s national The reopening of the Arar entry in Iran-backed Shia militias to of power. interest. This must start with them point, which was closed in 1990 curtail their influence over some of Lebanon needs to take the implementing agreements already following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the economy and their control of initiative to return Saudi Arabia signed, including the Stockholm is intended to strengthen relations checkpoints in some provinces. into its fold, not simply wait for the ceasefire deal, which calls for troop between the two neighbours and Equally critical is Iran’s influence country’s financial assistance. pullback from the flashpoint port of boost trade. in Lebanon, via its most important Indeed, Lebanon is a prime Hodeidah. Riyadh hopes that such a move international proxy: Hezbollah. example of why Saudi Arabia must Knowing that Riyadh and its will help Iraq return to the Arab fold With Lebanon dogged by rampant remain cautious as it works against regional allies will not accept defeat and steer clear of Iran’s destructive corruption, political fragmentation Iran’s agenda. Exerting pressure can in Yemen, the Houthis are left with influence, which has propped up and the influence of Hezbollah, take different forms but should not few options. sectarian militias outside of state Riyadh has been hesitant to lend in any way alienate the countries Their main backer, Iran, is control. financial help, concerned that Riyadh is cooperating with. struggling under a “maximum This strategy of rapprochement, money could end up in the hands of Saudi Arabia has achieved some of pressure” campaign imposed by beginning in 2015 when the the Iran-backed Shia group. its objectives but the path remains Washington that has left Tehran’s kingdom reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia could be changing quite long and difficult, requiring Lebanon is a prime economy squeezed to almost Baghdad after a quarter-century tunes, though, after a July 15 renewed cooperation and solidarity nothing. This means assistance break, could allow it to secure meeting between King Salman between the Arab countries that example of why Saudi provided to the Houthis will also stronger economic ties, making and three former Lebanese prime hope to see the Middle East regain Arabia must remain dwindle, leaving them alone in the it more independent and regain a ministers in Jeddah. stability and peace. face of the Arab military powers stronger stature in the region. While no concrete measures cautious as it works they are pitted against and the The fruits of this effort are already were announced, the meeting Iman Zayat is Managing Editor of against Iran’s agenda. growing international backlash beginning to show. Last April, the was viewed as a positive sign that The Arab Weekly. 6 July 21, 2019 Opinion

Editorial Iran’s doublespeak is a desperate ploy ran is playing a sneaky rhetorical game to fool its Western counterparts into thinking it is open to peace discussions, sending conflicting signals on the status of its ballistic missile programme and whether it could be the subject of future negotiations. IIn an interview with US television network NBC, which aired July 15, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif appeared to open the door to possible negotiations over Iran’s missile programme, saying that the United States would need “first to stop selling all these weapons, including missiles, to our region” if it wants Iran to give up theirs. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacted, saying that Iran appeared willing to negotiate over its missile programme “for the first time,” in what he and US President Donald Trump presented as evidence that sanctions and military pressure were working. However, within hours of Pompeo’s state- ment, the idea was shot down by the Iranian mission to the United Nations, which iterated that Iranian missiles are “absolutely and under no condition negotiable with anyone or any country, period.” Ali-Reza Mir-Yousefi, spokesman for Iran’s mission to the United Nations, said the two men had misinterpreted Zarif’s public statements, in © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly which he repeated demands that, if the United States “wants to talk about missiles, it should stop selling weapons, including missiles, to regional states.” Iran’s expansionism keeps Pompeo’s comments not only showed Wash- ington’s eagerness to turn weeks of confronta- tion with Iran into a negotiation opportunity but Yemen at war also served as a reminder of how hard such an Khairallah Khairallah endeavour will be to accomplish. So what is Iran’s plan? Is it open to scaling Yemen’s predicament is not over. It will go on as long as back its missile programme if a compromise can there is no change on the fronts. be reached with the United States or is it unwill- ing to negotiate under any circumstances, as Zarif said? he stalemate contin- Yemen. One should not forget that indication that the legitimacy If history is any guide, Iran has no intention of ues in Yemen at all the Houthis, who are ultimately camp can deal with the coming giving up its ballistic missiles, which are a levels. Perhaps the just an Iranian tool, had, after challenges. It has placed itself on central feature of its militaristic designs to exert best expression of it is seizing Sana’a, made a dash the sidelines of events politically influence throughout the region. Not only does what the Houthis have towards Aden and Mocha Port. and militarily while the whole Iran’s missile technology allow it to reach US been doing in northern The Arab alliance made great region is boiling. targets in the Arab Gulf region with growing TYemen since they laid their hands efforts to reclaim Aden and The Yemeni question is not accuracy, it enables it to equip its regional on Sana’a on September 21, 2014. prevent Iran from claiming confined to Yemen but has become proxies with increased military might, extend- The first thing that strikes a control over Mocha Port near closely linked to developments ing its sphere of influence far beyond its bor- visitor to Sana’a is the prevailing Bab el Mandeb Strait, a strategic in the region and will depend on ders. sad atmosphere. During the last waterway and the entrance to the the outcome of the US-Iranian If Iran loses this technology, it knows it would 10 years of Ali Abdullah Saleh’s Suez Canal. confrontation. lose a core part of its military strategy and leave rule, Sana’a was becoming a place When the Houthis took control In the meantime, the people itself more vulnerable than it already is. For where it would be possible and of Mocha, Iranian arrogance had of Sana’a will suffer injustice as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei nice to live. Recent visitors to no limits. More than one official in will the whole of Yemen where and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the city, however, report there Tehran boasted about Iran having hunger, disease and ignorance which oversees the programme, this is not an was nothing but misery in the control over the Strait of Hormuz have made significant inroads. option. venerable, ancient city. and Bab el Mandeb. When Sana’a, in particular, surely However, Zarif’s doublespeak does serve a An enormous injustice has Houthis were kicked out of Mocha deserves better than Houthis, purpose. It allows Iran to present fake peace- befallen Sana’a inhabitants. What Port, the Iranian regime was who owe much of their success keeping credentials in front of a foreign audi- did Sana’a do to deserve this deprived of a major blackmailing to the unholy secret alliance ence and portray itself as the victim of Arab injustice? card. they had made with the Muslim aggression. Surely, Sana’a does not deserve Operation Decisive Storm Brotherhood. This tired narrative is unlikely to prove this fate, which is the expression has achieved part of what As time goes on, the convincing. It is well known that Iran has, for of the victory of the culture of was needed. The greatest Brotherhood appears to years, used its weapons to instigate conflict and death over the culture of life. mystery, however, is The Yemeni have no intention of stir sectarian strife outside its borders, includ- Sana’a symbolises the depth of still unsolved. Why has question is not achieving any military ing in Lebanon and Yemen. the Yemeni impasse, especially the United Nations confined to Yemen breakthrough but rather Iran’s Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, for exam- now that there are no signs for an provided political and but has become finds its interest in ple, has acquired through Iran a staggering end to the Houthi occupation of international cover for closely linked keeping the military arsenal of short-range missiles, including those the city. Houthis’ presence in to developments deadlock intact. with greater accuracy and destructive power. The United Nations, through Sana’a? in the region. Yemen’s fate is really Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasral- its envoy Martin Griffiths, made When the rebels hanging on the outcome lah recently claimed the missiles could reach all a big mistake when it gave captured Sana’a, Hadi of the major battle taking of neighbouring Israel, which he threatened to Houthis’ presence in Sana’a a sort agreed to sign an agreement place in the region. As long bring to the “verge of vanishing.” of legitimacy and changed the with them that has been blessed as the Iranian regime exists, the In Yemen, Iran-made missiles have proven nature of the crisis by limiting it by UN Envoy Jamal Benomar. Houthis will remain in Sana’a and equally dangerous, falling into the hands of the to a conflict between the so-called What Griffiths is doing is the people of Sana’a will live a life Houthi rebels battling the internationally legitimacy camp represented carrying on with that agreement, they do not deserve. recognised government of Abd Rabbo Mansour by interim President Abd Rabbo a deal the Houthis ignored even Yemen deserves much better Hadi. Mansour Hadi on one hand and though Hadi was keen to provide than this. Abdelmalik al-Houthi Time and again, the Iran-backed Houthis have Houthis on the other. them with many services and is only one of the faces behind fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, often hitting That mistake deepened the favours because he had nothing the Yemeni tragedy. The so-called civilian infrastructure and causing civilian Yemeni predicament and the on his mind but revenge on Saleh, legitimacy camp is another and casualties. The United Nations has repeatedly tragedy of Sana’a and other cities, as if the whole Yemeni issue was the third one is the UN envoy’s condemned such attacks “in the strongest including Taiz and Aden. This is a personal score for him to settle. unwarranted insistence on the terms.” because the Houthis cannot be a Not only did the Houthis obtain assumption that it will be possible Perhaps most frightening are Iran’s alleged solution to the crisis and neither recognition from the United to remove the Houthis from efforts to pair its ballistic missiles with nuclear can the legitimacy camp. As proof, Nations for their legitimacy that Hodeidah and place the port under technology, in clear violation of UN regulations. suffice it to point out that the they concretised through the the control of an international Last December, Iran was condemned by the legitimacy camp has not achieved Stockholm Agreement, they force. United States, the United Kingdom, Germany any significant breakthrough for immediately placed the interim Not long ago, the legitimacy and France for conducting a missile test to this years. president under house arrest in camp could have achieved a effect. Soon, the Houthi occupation Sana’a. Hadi escaped in February major breakthrough if it had had All of this illustrates why Iran is the single of Sana’a will be blowing out 2015 and moved to Aden. The a crucial victory on one of the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Gulf its sixth candle. The situation Houthis proceeded to settle an old important military fronts. Alas, region and why curbing its missile programme on the ground, however, will score with Saleh, assassinating that didn’t happen and now should be a priority for the international remain unchanged as long as him in December 2017. everything seems to be hanging community and the US administration as they the legitimacy camp remains Yemen’s predicament is not on what is going on in the region, seek to forge a new deal. incapable of achieving a major over. It will go on as long as there on the outcomes of the US-Iran To ensure the Iranian threat is minimised, any military breakthrough. is no change on the fronts. The confrontation and on the resulting potential deal between the parties should not There is no doubt that Houthis are going to manoeuvre situation in Iran at the end of this only address Iran’s nuclear programme but also Operation Decisive Storm, begun by any means to remain in confrontation. its missile programme. Anything short of that in March 2015, has achieved many Hodeidah. would put us back at square one and put the results. It stopped the spread Perhaps the most serious aspect Khairallah Khairallah is a region at increased risk of Iranian aggression. of Houthi control to all parts of of the threat is that there is no Lebanese writer. July 21, 2019 7 Opinion Dead bodies on Mediterranean shores underscore EU’s failure to protect migrants’ lives Published by Al Arab Publishing House Tarek Guizani It is very likely that the complex internal conflict in Libya and the varied positions of EU members Publisher and Group Executive Editor towards the two Libyan governments seem to weigh heavily in the illegal migration file. Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD n many areas of the — at the risk of drowning other than political pres- servatory indicate that the shores of Mediterranean and death — in exchange for sures for the increase in the number of drownings has Editor-in-Chief countries, with the some money. number of migration boats increased from 24 victims for Oussama Romdhani of the highest tourism Now, however, the equa- departing from Libya and for every 1,000 migrants having revenues in the world, tion is heavily slanted to- the increase in the number reached Europe in 2017 to 33 death and holidaymak- wards death because Western of drownings. Previously, the victims per 1,000 migrants in Managing Editor Iers can be found side by side. governments have abdicated blame was placed on armed 2018. Iman Zayat Sunny, romantic beaches on their responsibilities. For militias in Libya, which had By comparison, from 2014- both shores of the Mediter- migrants, chances for rescue consolidated their grip on 17, the number of drowning Deputy Managing Editor ranean are no longer limited have shrunk and death has human trafficking there. victims and missing at sea in and Online Editor to the fun-in-the-sun crowd become likely. The best they However, it is very likely the Mediterranean exceeded Mamoon Alabbasi and vacationers. This is also can hope for is being sent that the complex internal 15,000, making it the most a place for the corpses of des- back from where they came. conflict in Libya and the dangerous migration route in Senior Editor perate migrants who failed Restrictions on rescue ac- varied positions of EU mem- the world. This is a horrible to reach their goal of seeking tivities have affected illegal bers towards the two Libyan figure, perhaps even more John Hendel better life opportunities. migration across the Medi- governments seem to weigh tragic than the death toll of Chief Copy Editor From the coasts of Cadiz terranean basin. The Euro- heavily in the illegal migra- the sea battles witnessed by and Lesbos in southern Spain Mediterranean Observatory tion file since the latter rep- the Mediterranean since the Richard Pretorius and Greece to the shores of for Human Rights said the resents an important means Middle Ages. Copy Editors Djerba and Zarzis in Tunisia number of migrants attempt- of pressure. These figures alone are and of the island of Sicily in ing to cross the Mediterrane- There wasn’t a long wait enough to underscore the Stephen Quillen Italy, not a single day passes an fell from 362,000 in 2016 for the results of that European Union’s failure Kyle Arensdorf without its toll of the death to 116,000 in 2018. game as the Tunisian Now, to manage the illegal of migrants in Mediterranean However, these results coast has been the the equation is immigration crisis. East/West Section Editor waters trying to escape areas were not accompanied by scene of the drown- heavily slanted They are even enough Mahmud el-Shafey (London) of conflict and poverty in the effective and honest poli- ing of about 150 mi- towards death to condemn it for Middle East and Asia. cies to protect the lives of grants, not count- because Western deliberately not doing Gulf Section Editor The shores of the Medi- migrants either at sea or in ing the missing, in enough to protect governments have Mohammed Alkhereiji terranean basin may soon coastal asylum centres on just a few weeks, human life in flagrant abdicated their be awash with the bodies the southern shore of the as well as of the contradiction of the Society and Travel of drowned migrants if the Mediterranean, especially arrest of hundreds of responsibilities. values professed by the Sections Editor Italian government and the in Libya, or to issue them migrants at sea, all of institutions of the union. Samar Kadi right-wing in the European humanitarian entry visas. whom had left from the Human Rights Watch Union maintain strict posi- These European policies Libyan coast. said the failure of EU mem- tions restricting the activities not only violate the 1951 Con- The two hapless boats that bers to ensure adequate Senior Correspondents of non-governmental rescue vention relating to the Status capsized recently had left search and rescue capabili- organisations. of Refugees but spread chaos the Libyan city of Zouara. It ties in the Mediterranean is Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) While the populist gov- at sea once again by imposing is likely that the unfortunate contrary to the spirit of Thomas Seibert (Istanbul) ernment in Rome and its a fait accompli policy against migrants found easy arrange- international maritime law supporters in the bloc claim hundreds of thousands of ments provided by the local and, in some circumstances, Regular Columnists restricting the activities of migrants and refugees fleeing immigration mafia for them may raise the issue of the Rashmee Roshan Lall such organisations is aimed war and poverty. to accept to take the peril- European Union being liable Claude Salhani at curbing human trafficking, As a result, an average of ous crossing in boats that for the avoidable loss of life reality shows a different and six migrants die every day are unfit for long-distance and for direct violations of the Yavuz Baydar more tragic picture. in the Mediterranean, the journeys and without safety prohibition against forced de- Correspondents Previously, human traf- UN High Commissioner for equipment. portation — sending migrants ficking gangs, which operate Refugees says. Behind that Whether the problem is back to persecution, torture Nazli Tarzi (London) within complex criminal figure we can imagine many related to political pressure, or ill treatment. Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) networks that often include painful stories of children collusion or EU constraints, (London) corrupt government officials, and women lost at sea. the figures furnished by the Tarek Guizani is a Tunisian Dunia El-Zobaidi offer migration and survival There is no explanation Euro-Mediterranean Ob- writer. Roua Khlifi (Tunis) Chief Designer Marwen el-Hmedi

Trump versus Palestinians: Designers The ‘Great Man’ theory at work Ibrahim Ben Bechir Hanen Jebali Rashmee Roshan Lall Trump has decisively removed a key brick in the wall that protected Palestinian hopes of a sovereign state and self-determination. Contact editor at: [email protected] hatever make them feel less margin- Thus, will Trump have the Palestinians. However happens alised. changed the course of history. ineffectual or “foam”-like with Don- Some suggest a freeze on One man, by one impetuous, his promised “Deal of the ald Trump the process of building the grossly unfair act, will have Century” for the Palestinian- in the 2020 new US Embassy in Jerusa- altered the parameters of the Israeli issue and whatever this Al Arab Publishing House US presi- lem. Others want to estab- long-running debate over a US president does or does not Quadrant Building Wdential election, one thing lish a US diplomatic post in just solution to the Palestin- do about the situation, Trump 177-179 Hammersmith Road seems unlikely to change: Jerusalem accredited to the ian-Israeli conflict. This is a has decisively removed a key London W6 8BS The US Embassy in Israel Palestinian Authority. Still contemporaneous example brick in the wall that pro- will remain in Jerusalem. It others stress that US policy of the practical effects of tected Palestinian hopes of a will not be moved back to should ensure Jerusalem will the “Great Man” theory of sovereign state and self-deter- Tel Aviv even if Trump is not be a shared capital for Israel history, which applies to mination. Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 re-elected. and the future Palestinian individuals whose char- He has made it impos- Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 The heaving field of Demo- state. Almost everyone sup- acter, inclinations and One thing seems sible to credibly talk of a cratic presidential candidates ports reopening the Pales- behaviour affect the unlikely to change: two-state solution. He has criticised Trump’s deci- tine Liberation Organisation course of history for The US Embassy in has killed that dream sion to move the embassy to office in Washington and the good or ill. Israel will remain in by enabling Binyamin US Publisher: Jerusalem. However, none renewal of funding to the Many dispute Jerusalem. It will not Netanyahu’s govern- The Arab Weekly USA LLC. of those candidates say they UN Relief and Works Agency the “Great Man” be moved back to Tel ment to assert Israel’s would return the US Embassy for Palestine Refugees in the theory, preferring right to Jerusalem [email protected] Aviv even if Trump is to its previous, less contro- Near East. to see history as even as it posits the ab- [email protected] versial position should they What they don’t say is the the culmination of not re-elected. sorption of most of the win the White House. US Embassy will be moved large, long-term forces. West Bank’s settlements Tel: 248-679-6624 Instead, they offer a back to Tel Aviv under a post- France’s Annales school into the state of Israel. bouquet of ideas to restore Trump administration. They of historical thought, for ex- Clearly, the “Great Man” balance to the US relation- cite various reasons, not least ample, sees change develop- theory has much to recom- ship with the Palestinians. whether it would be “practi- ing across sections of society mend it. The best and the Former US Vice-President Joe cal or productive” to undo rather than emanating from worst choices made by those Biden, for instance, would Trump’s high-handed 2017 particular individuals. we call the “great men” of the reopen the consulate in East decision to wilfully ignore in- One of Annales’ found- 20th century triggered revolu- Subscription & Advertising: Jerusalem to “engage the Pal- ternational law, multiple UN ers, Fernand Braudel, who tions, dismantled empires, [email protected] estinians.” In common with resolutions and the principle wrote a sweeping account enshrined egalitarian laws or Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 many of the other Democratic of natural justice to legitimise of the Mediterranean, said the complete reverse. Trump, hopefuls, Biden has said the annexation of territory events were brief, nervous too, has been decisive for the he would return the United seized in war. oscillations — the “froth” on Palestinian people. Mohamed Al Mufti States to encouraging a two- In other words, even if the waves of time — and that Marketing & Advertising state solution. Trump were no longer presi- decisions taken by powerful Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Manager Almost all the Democrats dent of the United States on individuals were insignifi- columnist for The Arab vying to take Trump’s job inauguration day January 2021, cant “foam” on the ocean’s Weekly. Her blog can be Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 offer suggestions on how his unilateral recognition of surface. found at www.rashmee.com www.alarab.co.uk to restore US support to the Jerusalem as Israel’s capital Surely this cannot be true and she is on Twitter: Palestinians and to somehow would stand unchallenged. with respect to Trump and @rashmeerl. 8 July 21, 2019 News & Analysis Maghreb Controversy in Tunisia over migrants’ burials

Lamine Ghanmi They were responding to Tu- nisian authorities’ response to the death of 82 migrants headed Tunis to Italy from Libya. Their bodies washed onto Tunisia’s shores after hen civil war broke their boat sank July 11. out in Libya in 2011, Fishermen who came across the Tunisia opened its site of the sinking were able to res- W borders to more than cue four migrants, one of whom 1 million people, the equivalent of died later at hospital. 10% of Tunisia’s population, offer- The government moved the ing shelter and accommodation. bodies on garbage trucks to hospi- World leaders and refugee ad- tals for a medical examiner to take vocacy groups praised Tunisia for DNA samples. its generosity at a time when many Zarzis municipality officials bur- European governments stood ied 20 corpses in a mass grave July against the flow of migrants and 14. Officials in Gabes and Dkhila refugees. Toujan refused to allow the mi- Eight years later, however, Tuni- grants’ bodies to be buried in local sia’s open-door policy is being put cemeteries. to the test as scores of drowned The three municipalities are migrants wash up on its shores. controlled by the Islamist En- The Tunisian government has nahda Movement, a partner in the been unable to implement an ad- country’s coalition governments. equate policy on how the deceased Rights activists criticised the mu- are to be buried, either transporting nicipalities for refusing to bury the and burying the bodies or leaving migrants. Some called the move the job to volunteer activists who “racist.” Almost all the migrants ‘Cemetery of the Unknown.’ An employee from the municipality of Zarzis works at the tombs of have made it their mission to hon- were black sub-Saharan Africans, African migrants in El Ketif near the eastern coastal city of Zarzis, July 17. (AFP) ourably lay the migrants to rest. aged 20-30, the Tunisian Red Cres- cent said. etery where some 400 migrants migrants. It has made Italy’s ports migrants reportedly died attempt- Migrant journeys “It is shameful how the authori- ties have dealt with human beings have been laid to rest the “Cem- off limits to NGO rescue vessels ing to cross the Mediterranean, the became more after death as they transported the etery of the Unknown.” and expanded the search-and- International Organisation for Mi- treacherous after Italy corpses of the dead migrants in Marzoug has criticised the gov- rescue area for which the Libyan gration said. Last year, there were and militia groups in garbage trucks and municipalities ernment for failing to provide land Coast Guard is responsible, reduc- 924 deaths. The peak was in 2016 Tripoli, Libya, restricted relinquished their moral and hu- and keep adequate records of the ing the area over which NGOs and when 2,911 people died attempting humanitarian efforts to manitarian responsibility in pro- dead since 2006. “Humanitarian EU ships have rescue responsibil- to get form Africa to Europe. rescue migrants at sea. viding decent places for the buri- duty is the last concern of the Tu- ity. Libya has become a regional hub als,” said FTDES. nisian state,” he said. The European Union has im- for migrant trafficking rings that The Tunisian Forum for Eco- It hailed Bouchama municipal- Migrant journeys, already very plemented stricter regulations on often send vessels that are not fit nomic and Social Rights (FTDES) ity for allowing some bodies to be hazardous, became more treach- NGOs, directing them to the Liby- for sea but over-crowded with mi- said it “was shameful” that mi- buried in the municipal cemetery. erous after Italy and militia groups an Coast Guard as they respond to grants. grant corpses had been carried Retired fisherman and rights in Tripoli, Libya, restricted hu- humanitarian missions. The policy Islamist militias are using the in garbage trucks and that some advocate Chemseddine Marzoug, manitarian efforts to rescue mi- changes reduced the number of il- trafficking enterprise as a source of had been dumped in a mass grave in recent years, has helped ensure grants at sea. legal sea crossings but the propor- revenue, migrant advocacy groups with no proper record for loved migrants’ bodies washed ashore Italy’s right-wing government tion of death during migrant cross- said. ones who might wish to visit their are recovered, documented and has cooperated with groups in ings is up, figures from migrant graves or attempt to have the bod- provided a proper burial. Tripoli to decrease sea-time cross- rights groups indicate. Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly ies repatriated. He dubbed the makeshift cem- ings, bringing down the number of From January through June, 555 correspondent in Tunis. Libya’s GNA hopes to shore up UK’s support with extradition of suspected terrorist

Michel Cousins tradition of its citizens to another the public prosecutor ordered his country, even when the citizens extradition. are also nationals of the other “It’s been a political decision, Tunis country. both in timing and the process,” There has been only one other said a former senior Libyan gov- ibyan authorities have exception and it also involved the ernment official. The Tripoli-based handed to British repre- United Kingdom. In 1999, faced Presidential Council and its Gov- sentatives Hashem Abedi, with sanctions after an explosion ernment of National Accord (GNA) L the brother of Salman Abe- brought down Pan Am Flight 103 agreed to send Abedi to Britain “to di, who killed 23 people by setting over Lockerbie, Scotland, in De- curry favour” with the British gov- off a bomb near Manchester Arena cember 1988, former Libyan leader ernment, he said, stressing that it In the hands of Justice. A file picture shows Hashem Abedi, the on May 22, 2017. Muammar Qaddafi agreed to send was no coincidence that after 20 brother of the man who carried out the bombing in the British city (AFP) Hashem Abedi, like his brother, for trial in the Netherlands two months of delays it occurred when of Manchester. was born in the United Kingdom Libyans accused of involvement. Tripoli was under attack from the and is a joint UK-Libyan national. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was found Libyan National Army (LNA). Tripoli authorities agreed to the those suspected of involvement in He is accused by the British of guilty and jailed in Scotland; “There’s no other explanation,” extradition because they want to the killing in 1984 of police officer having helped plan the terror at- Lamin Khalifah Fhimah was found said a Libyan journalist. “There demonstrate their opposition to Yvonne Fletcher outside the Liby- tack. Returned to the United King- not guilty and freed. has to have been a deal.” terrorism. The LNA has repeatedly an Embassy in London. dom July 17, Abedi, 22, has been Claims have appeared in Brit- accused the Presidential Council Nor is there any sign that the charged with murder, attempted ish media of a “secret deal” under and the GNA of supporting terror- GNA will agree to hand over to murder and conspiracy to cause an The British are still which the United Kingdom would ists and says this is why it has to the ICC Qaddafi’s intelligence explosion. looking to extradite supposedly provide military intel- take over Tripoli. chief and brother-in-law Abdul- Abedi and his father Ramadan those suspected of ligence to the GNA to help com- If this is an attempt to refute lah Senussi or his son Saif al-Islam were arrested in Tripoli by the involvement in the bat the LNA offensive. It was sug- terrorism claims, it is likely that Qaddafi. Handing them over would Rada Special Deterrence Force the killing in 1984 of police gested in one newspaper that there Presidential Council leader Fayez be too politically sensitive. There day after the Manchester attack. officer Yvonne Fletcher could be British military assistance al-Sarraj and other GNA members would be protests and probably Rada said Abedi confessed to be- outside the Libyan for the GNA; however, that was will challenge the LNA to hand riots, something no Libyan govern- ing a member of the Islamic State Embassy in London. dismissed by Libyan officials and over Mahmoud al-Werfalli to the ment wants to see. (ISIS), which claimed responsibil- UK-based Libya observers. International Criminal Court in Abedi is not in the same league. ity for the attack. Both claims are The general view in Libya is “I don’t expect anything from The Hague. Werfalli, an LNA com- “No one cares what happens to viewed with scepticism by the that Abedi’s extradition is also po- the British,” said the former Libyan mander, is accused of war crimes, him” noted the Libyan journalist. British. litical, although it is claimed there government official. “They won’t including the summary execution Extraditing him may make news UK officials requested Abedi’s was a lengthy legal process that give intelligence or equipment, of prisoners in Benghazi. in the United Kingdom but it is not extradition in November 2017 but, ended with him being stripped of just verbal support. It’ll be just It is unlikely that Abedi’s extra- likely to spark protests in Libya. even though Britain and Libya his Libyan nationality to allow for words.” dition will lead to other Libyans signed an extradition treaty in the extradition. When his appeal A related explanation being put being rendered elsewhere. The Michel Cousins is a contributor to 2008, Libyan law prevents the ex- against this failed, it was reported, by some figures in Libya is that British are still looking to extradite The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. July 21, 2019 9 News & Analysis Egypt Concerns mount in Egypt as Israel boosts ties with Ethiopia

Hassan Abdel Zaher companies the benefit of earning more money. Relations between Israel and Cairo Egypt — traditional enemies for decades — have been steadily gyptian analysts down- strengthening amid shared inter- played reports about Is- ests and security concerns. The rael installing an advanced two countries are concerned with E air defence system at the the growing influence of Iran as Grand Ethiopian Renaissance well as the rise in Islamist militan- Dam, a multibillion-dollar project cy in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and that is expected to deprive Egypt in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. of a sizeable portion of its Nile Israeli media recently disclosed River water access. the extent of security cooperation The analysts expressed concern between the two countries in Sinai about Israel’s growing role in Af- by referring to Israeli air strikes rica, especially in the Nile Basin, against Iranian arms shipments to saying Cairo needed to ensure that Islamic Jihad in Sinai last Novem- Israeli moves in the region would ber and in May this year. not come at its expense. Egypt, which in 1979 became the “Israel works hard to strengthen first Arab country to sign a peace its ties with African states, espe- treaty with Israel after a series of cially with Ethiopia,” said politi- wars, has tried to bring the Israelis cal analyst Abdel Monem Halawa. and the Palestinians to the nego- “The sure thing is that Israel gains tiation table. ground wherever Egypt pulls out, “There are shared interests be- especially in this continent that tween the two states, which is has considered for decades to be a why I believe that Israel will not natural extension of Egypt.” sell advanced military equipment to Ethiopia,” said Samir Ghattas, director of the Middle East Studies There is belief in Cairo Forum think-tank. that Israel would not Egypt has been pursuing peace- jeopardise its improving ful means in settling the Nile water relations with Egypt only dispute with Ethiopia, despite the to give its defence sensitive nature of the issue. technology companies Since becoming Egypt’s presi- the benefit of earning dent in 2014, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi more money. has visited Addis Ababa several times and hosted top Ethiopian of- Israeli media reports claimed ficials in Cairo to strengthen ties that three Israeli firms installed with the Ethiopians. Bone of contention. Construction workers are seen in a section of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam the Spyder-MR air defence system, The Ethiopian dam is a life-or- during a media tour along the Nile River in Benishangul Gumuz Region in Ethiopia. (Reuters) which can simultaneously fire two death issue for the Egyptians. different types of missiles, in May Designed to store 74 billion cu- to shield the Ethiopian dam. bic metres of water, the project tian Ministry of Irrigation said. for filling the dam reservoir, which up for Nile water shortages and Addis Ababa opted for the sys- will make the nightmare of water “This is why the Ethiopian dam would mitigate the effects of the prepare for tough days ahead if tem, officials said, after it per- scarcity a reality in Egypt. Egypt is will have devastating effects on process on Egypt. Cairo and Addis Ababa do not reach formed well in the Indian-Pa- water-poor already and the steady Egypt,” said Abbas al-Sharaqi, a Sisi has said several times that agreement on the dam or if Ethiopia kistani clashes in Kashmir five growth of its population is not be- professor of water resources at the Egypt wanted the water of the Nile does not honour its repeated pledge months earlier. ing met with an increase in water College of African Studies in Cairo to be a source of cooperation among not to harm Egypt’s water interests. Neither Israel nor Egypt has offi- resources. University. “It will affect everything Nile Basin countries, not a source of “Relations between Israel and cially commented on the reports. Egypt receives around 55.5 bil- in Egypt.” friction or conflict. Ethiopia are worrying to Egypt,” There is belief in Cairo that Is- lion cubic metres of water from the Numerous talks between the two His administration has initiated Halawa said. “True, there is coop- rael would not jeopardise its im- Nile every year, which is more than sides have produced little. Egypt a series of water desalination and eration and coordination between proving relations with Egypt only 20 billion cubic metres of water has been trying to convince the treatment projects that are costing Egypt and Israel but at the end Isra- to give its defence technology less than national needs, the Egyp- Ethiopians to lengthen the duration Egypt billions of dollars to make el works to serve its own interests.” Egypt’s Nubians hold on to ‘right of return’

Ahmed Megahid The compensation is a revolu- That meant the Nubian lan- tionary move by the administra- guage, which has its own alpha- tion of Egyptian President Abdel bet and vocabulary, began to dis- Cairo Fattah al-Sisi, who pledged in his appear while Nubian traditional election campaign in 2014 to help dress and cuisine also were affect- ubian activists vowed to Nubians displaced by develop- ed. Few Nubians who lived in his- fight to obtain the right ment projects. torical Nubia are alive. of return to their histori- “This is a great move, even as “This was a great loss, not only N cal villages in southern some of the residents of histori- for the Nubians but also for hu- Egypt after the government said it cal Nubia are not satisfied with the manity at large,” said Mustafa would compensate those forced to compensation offered by the gov- Abdel Qadir, a Nubian culture spe- leave the villages. ernment,” said Yassin Abdel Sab- cialist. “Geography and the times “The government just wants our, a member of parliament from were far stronger than the ability the Nubians to drop their right to Nubia. of the Nubians to hold onto their return to their original villages,” own culture.” said Nubian activist Hani Youssef. Nubian elders refused to speak “This is totally unacceptable.” A government Arabic, even after they migrated The government has started un- committee said it to other parts of Egypt. Some of precedented measures to compen- expects more than them passed the Nubian language sate Nubians forced to leave homes 11,000 compensation to their children and grandchil- in southern Egypt because of con- requests. dren but this was far from enough struction of the Aswan Reservoir at to preserve the Nubian culture. the beginning of the 20th century Dozens of Nubian villages were This is probably why rights Unresolved issue. Nubian men share dinner at a traditional and the High Dam in the 1960s. threatened by Nile flooding. The groups started a campaign against wedding in the village of Adindan near Aswan. (Reuters) A government committee stud- Aswan Reservoir and the High the plan of the government to ied compensation requests from Dam were designed to control compensate the Nubians for the residents of historical Nubia, flood water and protect thousands loss of their homes and farms. The the Nubian social fabric and de- This is why Youssef and other which included the southern part of villages in the Nile Valley and compensation, the groups said in stroy Nubian identity, culture and activists call for enforcing the of Egypt to the border with Sudan, Delta. a statement, should not do away language. constitution as far as Nubia is con- or their heirs. The projects created devastation with the right of Nubians to return The groups added that financial cerned. The committee said it expects of another type, however, affect- to villages in historical Nubia. compensation for the Nubians and “The Nubians only want to more than 11,000 compensation ing historical Nubia, its distinct “The compensation is, in effect, denying them the right of return return to their original places requests, Parliamentary Affairs culture, way of life and language. an attempt to get around the right violates the Egyptian constitution. and the land of their ancestors,” Minister Ashraf Marwan said. Most of the Nubians moved of the Nubians to return to their Article 236 of the 2014 constitu- Youssef said. “This is a right they He said Nubians who had lost north into other cities. They call original villages,” the statement tion stipulates that the authorities will never give up, regardless of land or flats would be given plots themselves “Nubians in the Dias- said. must implement projects to de- any talk of compensation.” in other areas, including in Cairo, pora.” When they moved to other They said giving the Nubians velop the original areas of the Nu- the city of Aswan and in the north- places, the Nubians tried to mimic flats and plots of land away from bians and allow them to return to Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian ern coastal city of Alexandria. the way of life of local residents. historical Nubia would devastate them within 10 years. reporter in Cairo. 10 July 21, 2019 News & Analysis Iraq Hikma plans to become Iraq’s main opposition party but challenges abound

Azhar Al-Rubaie civil disobedience.” Kareem Hammadi, a journalist in Baghdad, participated in a seminar Baghdad titled “Opposition as a Necessary Balance Force in the Political Sys- he Hikma Movement, led tem” organised by Hikma in early by cleric Ammar al-Hakim, July. is seeking to capitalise on “In my presentation, I stressed T rising dissatisfaction with the importance of having a strong the Iraqi government to become Shia opposition, even under a Shia- the country’s main Shia opposition led government,” Hammadi said. party but winning supporters will “Hikma could convince Iraqis likely be difficult amid the general who have lost faith in Iraq’s dem- Playing on grievances. Iraqi Shia cleric and head of Hikma party Ammar al-Hakim gives a speech in mistrust of politicians in Iraq. ocratic landscape that the party Najaf, last May. (AFP) In June, Hikma, which trans- wants a true solution to the govern- lates as “Wisdom,” withdrew from ment’s mistakes, privatisation, cor- on law. This is the most powerful ples of negative acts by the govern- ernment does not have their confi- the al-Islah bloc in parliament and ruption and poor services.” kind of opposition. Some people ment, diagnose the mistakes and dence.” announced it was forming a “con- “We need a real opposition, one with political power are afraid of have pragmatic solutions,” Qader The call to march by Hikma has structive opposition” to the govern- that is not opposed to the idea of showing their true selves. We will said. not gone without criticism. In ment of Prime Minister Adel Abdul- the state and that is not linked to take away the mask they hide be- She branded Hikma’s position as Basra, the request was perceived Mahdi. a terrorist organisation,” he said.” hind and show the world who they “intelligent and courageous” and by many as a cynical political ma- The process would include protests are.” said the “formation of a strong op- noeuvre. Activists accuse the party and civil disobedience but would “We will have demonstrations in position is very necessary. I agree of seeking to regain Basra’s guber- The call for a million-man not disrupt the government while it all of Iraq’s provinces and demand with this [opposition] and think it natorial seat in the next local elec- march march by Hikma attempts to show that it is capable the end of the chaos that reigns to- very necessary to continue Iraq’s tions. The previous governor, Majid has not gone without of taking care of the problems.” day,” he said. “To do this, we must political process.” al-Nasrawi, a Hikma member, fled criticism. Salah al-Arbawi, head of Ammar disarm those who create chaos. In- Hisham al-Hashimi, a political to Iran after allegations of corrup- al-Hakim’s office in Baghdad, said stead, we want everyone to focus analyst in Baghdad, said the oppo- tion. Hikma has called on Iraqis to take the time had come to form an effi- on fighting corruption and creating sition has responsibilities. “The (Hikma) party is trying to part in a million-man march across cient opposition to the poor perfor- jobs. The demonstrations will be “Being in the opposition not only get back into the Basra provincial the country to protest poor services mance of government. especially for Hikma followers but means challenging the government council by riding the wave of dem- and corruption. The party said it “The strategic value in our op- anyone is welcome to join us.” but also providing alternatives to it. onstrations,” said Haider al-Musa- would call for “civil disobedience” position initiative is that will end Hikma’s call was received well by The opposition must include every wi, a Basra resident. if the government did not meet the political irresponsibility that other parties. Sarwa Abdulwahid bloc that is not present in the gov- Kadhim al-Sahlani, a protest demonstrators’ demands. has tarnished the previous period Qader, a former member of the Iraqi ernment. The opposition needs to leader in Basra, said demonstrators Hameed Mu’alla, leader of the under the name of ‘harmonious de- parliament from the New Genera- include independent parliamentar- would not join forces with Hikma. General Assembly of Hikma, said mocracy.’ It will lead to a consolida- tion party, said the country needs a ians,” he said. “We are not against [Hikma] and that the party has the choice of tion of democracy and legal protec- “loyal” opposition. “For a political bloc to be con- it has every right to demonstrate “two kinds of opposition — soft tion for the opposition to practise “In the democratic system, there sidered part of the opposition, it but we do not want to be part of it,” and aggressive. Soft opposition its rights through protests, sit-ins must be opposition but there must must satisfy two conditions: The he said. by questioning parliamentary of- and even strikes,” Arbawi said. also be loyalty. If the opposition bloc must not be a participant in ficials. Aggressive opposition by “We do not want a messy opposi- from [Hikma members] is serious, the government and the majority of Azhar Al-Rubaie is a freelance calling for demonstrations and tion but an opposition that is based they must be able to give real exam- its members must feel that the gov- journalist in Iraq. Viewpoint Iraq’s growing community of atheists no longer peripheral

theists in Iraq are a Muwatin coalition, told Al Ghad and banal religious slogans and the ligence stated that the charge facing growing minority no television: “Yes, there are several failure of religious institutions to Mousa “is the attempt to promote longer on the political cases [of atheism] that have not but act against corruption. and spread atheism.” Nazli Tarzi sidelines and increas- might grow into a wider trend… Since 2003, the political order The community in the southern ingly under the state’s There is no place for these ‘foreign’ banished secular and democratic province of Nasriiya, where the radar. As their numbers ideas in Iraqi society. spaces, including those of civil incident took place, rallied behind grow,A a critical debate is flourishing: “It would be irrational to claim society, while militias carried out Mousa. Iraqi writer Ahmad al- Who might they be? What do they that it’s a reaction to Islamic rule… assassination campaigns against Saadawi criticised the arrest and represent? Out of what conditions We’re an Islamic society, not an “non-believers” coded as “devi- the evolving saga “as trivial and did they hatch? Islamic state.” ants” as far as their religious phi- stupid,” adding that “authorities are The growing prevalence of athe- The Iraqi street has made its posi- losophy teaches. trying to build legitimacy under the ism is not entirely disconnected tion clear as popular slogans during The phenomenon is global as imposition of a culture of preven- from the political misdeeds of po- mass protests attacked the ruling internet access exposes people to tion and control.” litical and religious figures, warned class over official abuse of religious materials that pierce the veil of le- Iraq’s climate of censorship, as Iraqi thinker Izzat Shahbandar. and political authority. gitimacy that religious institutions the case of Mousa underscores, The ruling political class, care- The population is seething with hide behind. In 2013, a Gallup Poll explains the existence of a sprawl- fully propped up by religious religious entities and armed groups stated that 13%, of the global popu- ing, freethinking, online network institutions, regularly occupies — claiming divinity — for having lation identified as atheist. of atheists. Whether online or on television slots to downplay the superimposed themselves onto In Iraq, however, vocalising belief the ground, atheists do not seek to uptick. The increasing prevalence political life. in atheism or disbelief in Islam can mirror the ignorance of Iraqi rulers of atheism and agnosticism signals “They overuse and misuse God’s be a death sentence. An increasing by spreading hate. a tidal public opinion change. name, police human bodies, pro- number of female testimonies are Corruption and lack of civic Defences rolled out by religious hibit extramarital sex and police appearing online as women brave rights or protection have bred an air parties and government advocates, the bodies of women,” said Fadhil, censorship on the topic. of discontent or anger that security have done little to restore public 30-year-old from Basra. Iraqi biologist Worood Zuhair, forces cannot sweep away. faith in a class that “increasingly The “Global Index of Religiosity 31, from Karbala, was beaten by Iraqis are asking questions that represents the corruption of mor- and Atheism” listed Iraq as one of her brothers for having expressed challenge the assumed, self-granted als, irreligion and the politicisation six countries as having the lowest doubts about her faith, Deutsche legitimacy that emboldens those of religious life,” said an atheist rate of atheism in 2013. After six Welle reported. Zuhair was placed in power to claim a monopoly on from southern Iraq, who did not years, the situation is fast changing under police protection and, while religion. State-initiated attacks on wish to be identified. as the tide of religiosity recedes. her wounds have healed, the atheists are increasing but there is Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Religious figures have come trauma remains virulent. not a single piece of legislation that National Wisdom Movement, was to represent all that’s inherently “The sense of betrayal that pre- criminalises atheism or agnosti- among the first to speak out against wrong in Iraqi politics and its wider vails,” said Tamimi, has suppressed cism. the phenomenon in 2017, threaten- society, Iraqi writer Gaith al-Tamimi the nation’s appetite for religion, Iraq’s constitution safeguards ing to strike atheism “with an iron said. Old and young, Tamimi said, a nation where religion is weap- religious freedom and expression. fist” and quash it through “rational seek to escape the imposition of onised to gag, restrict, maim and “Just words on paper as far as I see” Iraqis are asking thought.” dangerous religious dogmas in inhibit the wider population. Abdulwaheed from Basra said when Iraqi writer Alaa al-Khatib pursuit of their own freedom. “The Disillusionment is an expected asked about constitutional protec- questions that noted that the office of the Grand philosophical debate has long been and inevitable outcome. Godless tions. He described conversion as challenge the Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was equally active but Iraqis are questioning the Iraqis who have fled the country “a political reaction as the reality of assumed, self-granted perturbed. role religion serves today,” he said. have spoken freely but those inside life turns from bad to worse.” A damning report by CNBC in Tamimi identifies three key are subjected to violence or death The mobilising force behind the legitimacy that April said that “unbelievers,” irre- drivers: The extravaganza of at the hands of militias. godless movement is not simply emboldens those in spective of their religious denomi- violence perpetrated by the likes Bookkeeper Ihsan Mousa was disdain for religion but a legiti- nation, are “forced underground.” of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic arrested during a police raid on his mate response to the corruptibility power to claim a Mohammad Jamil al-Mayahi, State; religious dogma that pits library in late 2018. An official state- of politics and politicisation in monopoly on religion. a member of parliament for Al- various groups against each other; ment by the Directorate of Intel- Islam. July 21, 2019 11 News & Analysis Syria Violence creeps back into major Syrian cities

Sami Moubayed Trump to keep more troops in Syria. Last December, Trump an- Beirut nounced that he was withdrawing the bulk of his forces from north- iolence seems to have crept eastern Syria, claiming that ISIS had back into three major Syr- been thoroughly defeated, with its ian cities, in addition to last stronghold, in Baghouz, dis- V Idlib, last of the opposition mantled in March. strongholds, which has been un- The Kurds have clung on to Qam- der joint Syrian and Russian attack ishli and Hasakah with particular since April. valour, however, hoping they would Hasakah and Qamishli are viewed form the nucleus of what they had by many, including the Trump ad- hoped would be the Federal Govern- ministration, as projections of Kurd- ment of Northern Syria. ish influence in the future of Syria. That never materialised, mainly On July 11, a car bomb exploded because none of the main stake- at the entrance of the Virgin May holders, including Russia, Iran and Church in Qamishli, a stone’s throw Turkey, let it pass and because the from the Turkish border, injuring 11 two cities were never fully under people. It was the fiercest attack on SDF rule, nor are they geographi- the city since explosions went off at cally linked to other towns in the three restaurants in 2015, killing 16 Kurdish enclave. Government Christians. In Hasakah, three explo- troops have never left the so-called sions rocked through the city, also security zone of Hasakah, which in- on July 11. cludes the palace of justice and the Presidential Square. In Qamishli, government troops As if the tension in Daraa control most of their former secu- was not enough, Damascus rity branches, parts of the city’s says “sleeping cells” are main market and its airport. Russia- operating in the nearby city sponsored talks between Damascus of Sweida, capital of the and the Kurds have been going on Uneasy calm. A Syrian Army soldier stands next to a Syrian flag in Umm al-Mayazen in the Druze Mountain. for more than a year, negotiating a countryside of Daraa. (Reuters) phased surrender of Qamishli and The Syrian Democratic Forces Hasakah. The government side has (SDF) said the attacks are the dirty been conditioning the surrender of countable for what happened. even those who had defected to join city of Sweida, capital of the Druze work of Turkish President Recep all heavy arms, either to the state or The third conflict zone is the the opposition forces or deserted Mountain, where young men are re- Tayyip Erdogan, who laid claim to to the Russians, and for government southern town of Daraa, north of their posts over the course of the fusing to be shipped off to faraway the cities six months ago but was institutions to return to Qamishli the Syrian-Jordan border. Several conflict. battlefields, saying they will only prevented from marching against and Hasakah, like hospitals, schools attacks against government troops That grace period is over and gov- serve in Druze towns and villages. them by the Americans. The Turk- and police stations. have been recorded since April, ernment troops have been arresting Unlike previous cases, the new ish-based opposition is blaming it Last May, Abdullah Ocalan, the topped with a handful of demon- young men throughout the city, all conflicts do not fall within the on Syrian officialdom. spiritual godfather of the SDF and strations. A roadside bomb targeted wanted for the military draft. At- classical black-and-white regime- Locals, who spoke to The Arab historic leader of the Kurdish revo- a bus carrying soldiers on July 17, tempts at obtaining an extension for versus-opposition scenarios. Fault Weekly on condition of anonymity, lution, called on the SDF to “avoid killing three of them. their collective exemption were flat- lines have blurred in major cities, did not rule out the possibility of conflict” with the Syrian govern- When the city surrendered and ly rejected by Damascus and so were with overlapping rivalries and in- the terrorist attacks being carried ment and to settle disputes through signed up for the Russia-led recon- calls to issue a general pardon, or to terests cutting across the horizontal out by the SDF itself. The SDF, they negotiations, rather than armed ciliation process in June 2018, Da- re-enlist former Daraa bureaucrats and vertical landscape, inspired, no reasoned, would swiftly blame it on confrontation. The SDF acted in mascus gave the young men of Daraa into the city’s civil service, regard- doubt, by the chaos that prevails. the Islamic State (ISIS), tailor-fit to good faith but the recent attacks a grace period of one year to fix their less of their opposition sympathies. shoulder all terrorism blame in the make it very difficult for them to legal documents before joining the As if the tension in Daraa was not Sami Moubayed is a Syrian Syrian battlefield, hoping that this give concessions, considering a furi- Syrian Army. All able-bodied Syrian enough, Damascus says “sleeping historian and author of “Under the would inspire US President Donald ous Kurdish street holding them ac- men aged 18-41 were asked to enlist, cells” are operating in the nearby Black Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015).

Viewpoint Syrian regime’s chemical propaganda should be taken seriously

he Syrian civil war’s use of punitive force a preferable “bathtub sarin” and gassed chemical warfare in Syria on the most horrific feature has alternative to conflict. themselves and civilians, or that regime. One particular aspect stood become its most consist- Years of subsequent attacks and attacks of which the regime is out: When recounting portions of the envoy’s statement, his words James Snell ent undertone, one of high chemical casualties show the alleged to have committed are “false the threat of war crimes limits of that decision. Chemical flag” efforts designed to draw in were presented by Russian state committed with chemi- munitions remain a powerful tool foreign support. media not as a contradiction of the Tcal weapons. in the regime’s armoury, one which Military offensives are often NGO’s reporting but as the verdict of Hundreds of attacks have been sees frequent use. presaged by the suggestion that the OPCW itself. made with chemical weapons, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, rebel forces are readying another This is not a new trick. An whose manufacture and use a chemical weapons expert and chemical false flag. individual submission to the OPCW are restricted by international co-chairman of medical NGOs that Syrian and Russian officials regarding the chemical attack on agreement. A report by the Global operate in Syria, said Assad’s use of have made aspersions against the Douma in April 2018, an incident Public Policy Institute recorded chemical weapons in Ghouta “broke Organisation for the Prohibition of in which more than 40 people died more than 336 incidents in which Obama’s ‘red line’ but saved Assad.” Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which and was blamed on the regime, was the use of chemical weapons in Syria “The regime knows that bombs has made extensive allegations reported by pro-Assad and Russian was likely. Of those incidents, 98%, and bullets only go so far,” de of chemical weapons use by the media as a leaked OPCW report the report claimed, were carried out Bretton-Gordon said. regime. that exculpated the regime. The by the regime of Bashar Assad. Likewise, even the threat of This development was coupled OPCW’s declared findings stated the Chemical weapons have proven chemical weapons only goes so with Russia’s state-owned opposite conclusion. a potent weapon for Damascus, far. For the regime, chemical propaganda outlets reporting “The regime and Russia central to its strategy to defeat propaganda goes further. the Russian envoy to the have a well-oiled machine for all opposition by removing every Every chemical attack, even OPCW warning that rebels propaganda in the chemical defence that could be used by those those identified as having been were planning a “chemical attack disinformation field,” de living under alternative authority. carried out by aircraft — which provocation” in Idlib. Bretton-Gordon said. “We saw However, chemical weapons and only the regime and its allies All this is of a piece an incredible Russian campaign the international outrage their use possess — has been disputed or with the efforts both states after the Salisbury attacks, which represents have placed the regime obfuscated. have made to discredit initially completely overwhelmed on the brink of overthrow in the The regime’s advocates, investigative bodies the UK government and took time to past. sympathetic media and that blame counter.” When a regime’s sarin attack state-owned channels Parts of Syria remain outside killed hundreds in Ghouta in August claim that rebel groups Assad’s orbit. If the regime wishes to 2013, it seemed punitive action from made their own The risk is conquer them, it will likely rely on powers opposed to Assad was likely. variety of real. A 2015 Russian support in both propaganda US President Barack Obama had file picture and physical terms. promised a response if the regime shows a Chemical weapons serve as both used chemical weapons. French jets Syrian Civil an indispensable part of the regime’s were reportedly in the air. Defence arsenal and as a potent aspect of its The expected reprisal did member propaganda efforts. The widespread not occur, derailed by political carrying a deployment by pro-regime media Chemical weapons opposition in the British House damaged of the suggestion that rebels in Idlib serve as both an of Commons and possible canister from province are preparing a “chemical what activists indispensable part of dissent in the US Congress. provocation” needs to be taken Instead, the United States said was a seriously. It represents not only a the regime’s arsenal agreed, with Assad’s ally Russia chlorine propaganda offensive but also the and as a potent aspect acting as the broker, to supervise the gas attack likely prospect of an assault by surrender of Assad’s newly declared in Idlib’s chemical means to come. of its propaganda chemical stockpiles. Obama countryside. (AFP) efforts. declared a compromise avoiding the James Snell is a British journalist. 12 July 21, 2019 News & Analysis Lebanon In siding with Iran, Hezbollah could put Lebanon’s future at serious risk

Simon Speakman Cordall tential targets. Nasrallah’s comments drew a predictably bellicose response Tunis from Netanyahu, who used a cabi- net meeting July 14 to threaten to hile Hezbollah Secre- deal Hezbollah “and Lebanon a tary-General Hassan crushing military blow,” irrespec- Nasrallah and Israeli tive of the large portions of Leba- W Prime Minister Biny- nese society opposed to Hezbollah amin Netanyahu have been quick and its allies. to use the Gulf’s escalating ten- Analysts downplayed the risks of sions to rattle sabres, analysts the verbal exchange. downplayed the likelihood that “I think Nasrallah’s rhetoric here the exchange of threats would de- is entirely standard, expected and velop into full-scale conflict in the aligns with how Hezbollah talks immediate future. about itself and its relationship to That the situation across the Gulf Iran,” said Emily Hawthorne, sen- is tense cannot be denied. Iran ior Middle East and North Africa claimed to have seized the British analyst at risk consultancy Strat- oil tanker Stena Impero as it navi- for. gated the Strait of Hormuz on July “That said, Hezbollah is a very 19, an apparent retaliation against potent weapon of Iran’s, should the British impounding of the Ira- Iran choose to deploy it. Howev- nian vessel Grace 1 in early July. It er, we are far from that stage in a was the second possible seizure of potential conflict between the US a foreign vessel by Iranian forces and Iran and I don’t think there’s after the UAE-registered Riah was a near-term risk of Hezbollah de- intercepted July 14 in the Gulf. ployments.” Reports in May, confirmed by the US State Department, indicat- Emily Hawthorne, senior Middle East and ed the withdrawal of Hezbollah’s North Africa analyst forces from Syria where they had deployed in significant numbers since 2012. “I think Nasrallah’s rhetoric The United States claimed this is entirely standard, expected was evidence that US sanctions and aligns with how Hezbollah were beginning to affect Iran’s abil- talks about itself and its ity to sustain Hezbollah’s presence relationship to Iran.” in Syria. Nasrallah confirmed the pullback on July 12, attributing it to Adding to an already febrile mix changing circumstances in Syria. was the downing of an Iranian “Hezbollah’s drawdown in Syria drone by a US vessel in the strait is related more to the dynamics of the day before the Stena Imperio’s the Syrian conflict winding down,” interception, an incident denied Hawthorne said, “as well as the re- by Tehran. ality of how Israel has been able to Ratcheting tensions up further effectively target Hezbollah assets has been the deployment of a in Syria.” Each has his own concerns. A man pushes a trolley as he passes a poster showing Hezbollah leader third British warship to the region, Hezbollah’s fighters return from Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in the southern suburb of Beirut. (AP) ostensibly to replace the frigate Syria a far more potent military HMS Montrose but unlikely to be force than when they left. viewed in Tehran as anything but “Hezbollah’s experience fighting tering economy. proximately $800 million in aid. said, “so long as Hezbollah allies Western provocation. in the Syrian conflict has given it In March, concluding a visit to With its economy faltering and hold the presidency (as they cur- Nasrallah, speaking July 12 on training and practice that has made Lebanon, US Secretary of State ratings agency Moody’s downgrad- rently do) and so long as Hezbollah Al-Manar TV, said: “Are we going it a more capable fighting force Mike Pompeo used a news con- ing Lebanon’s credit worthiness in has a strong political and security to sit back and watch? Iran won’t should a conflict arise in which it ference to issue a stark choice to June, it is aid Beirut can ill afford position in the country. be alone in the war, that is clear.” (is) deployed,” Hawthorne said. policymakers in Beirut: contain to lose. “However, if US sanctions on He threatened Israel with all-out Hezbollah’s posturing jeopardis- Hezbollah or risk the loss of US aid However, Hezbollah remains rel- Hezbollah continue to deepen and attack by Iran and its proxies in the es significant sections of Lebanon and face potentially devastating atively secure. broaden out to other Hezbollah al- region, breaking down the nature as well as loans and aid packages sanctions. Last year, the United “There is no real risk of political lies in the country, this will cause of the threatened action and po- that help maintain Lebanon’s fal- States provided Lebanon with ap- censure in Lebanon,” Hawthorne some chaos in Beirut.”

Viewpoint Incident involving Hezbollah MP exposes faults of Lebanon’s religious system

embers of the one of Hezbollah’s most hawkish his father heads the office of the an archaic political system that Lebanese elements, Moussawi is famous for representative of Iranian Ayatollah flaunts liberal values and diversity parliament, much verbal altercations on the parlia- Ali Khamenei in Lebanon made yet fails at every juncture to prove ment pulpit. A recent such perfor- him untouchable and even more that it is willing to reform. Makram Rabah like lawmakers elsewhere, are mance earned him a disciplinary powerful than an elected Hezbol- Moussawi’s assault at police pre- elected with a suspension of activities by his own lah MP. cinct brought back the just demand Mmandate to uphold the constitu- party because of remarks deemed Despite the colossal efforts of for equality and justice to women tion and represent constituents’ offensive to Christians. civil society and women activists and to all Lebanese by revising interests. The crux of this tragic event is to amend discriminatory laws and existing legislation that treat them Nawaf al-Moussawi, an MP for not solely the continued implica- push towards a civil legal code for as subjects of sects rather than the Tyre constituency in south- tions of Hezbollah weapons and its marriage, the Lebanese political citizens. ern Lebanon, accompanied by 20 impediment to the Lebanese state class has refused to accommodate All those who condone the armed men, on July 13 stormed a but, rather, that Hezbollah and the demands, preferring to side vigilante act of Moussawi as that police station in the coastal town of other Lebanese political parties with religious institutions instead. of a desperate father and claim Damour and assaulted his former have failed to provide a proper As fate would have it, Moussawi they would do the same for their son-in-law, who was being ques- legal framework that governs the is a member of the parliamentary own daughter have to remember tioned about an altercation with rights of women, especially in dis- subcommittee that was review- that, if Hezbollah and its weapons Moussawi’s daughter. putes that arise from marriage. ing civil status laws that would and the immunity of Moussawi’s Moussawi’s vigilantism stirred Moussawi’s daughter’s ordeal is empower his daughter and women parliamentary office could not save heated debate throughout Lebanon rather a very common occurrence. in general. a battered women from legal abuse and many embraced the incident Hundreds of Lebanese women are Addressing the committee with then what would? The real measure of as an act of a desperate father go- victims of the patriarchal system a tear in his eye when announc- The real measure of power is not ing to the aid of his abused daugh- that renders them feeble before ing that his family was affected gauged by tribal, economic, po- power is not gauged ter and her children. religious courts that often take the by these laws, Moussawi still fell litical or military might but by the by tribal, economic, Others condemned Moussawi, side of the husband. in line with Hezbollah conserva- state’s ability to protect its people who was clearly breaching the law The Ja’fari Shia courts, in which tive proclivities and declared that by updating laws and upholding political or military he was entrusted to uphold. The Moussawi’s daughter has been bat- “women rights can be protected by the rule of law, something that might but by the critics said Moussawi violated the tling her former husband, has de- the current laws and that what was would protect Moussawi’s daugh- state’s ability to rule of law when tried to take mat- prived her of child custody, which needed was to reform the judicial ter and all generations to come. ters into his own hands. discriminatorily grants custody to body rather than asking for the protect its people by Complicating matters is that the father at the age of 2 for the boy amendments of the pre-existing Makram Rabah is a lecturer at updating laws and Moussawi is a senior member of and 7 for the girl. texts.” the American University of Beirut Hezbollah, whose Iranian agenda That Moussawi’s ex-husband However, it is not only about and author of “A Campus at War: upholding the rule and arsenal make it the antithesis belongs to a powerful Shia clan Moussawi or his theologically driv- Student Politics at the American of law. of Lebanese statehood. Considered from the Bekaa Valley and that en Iranian party but rather about University of Beirut, 1967-1975.” July 21, 2019 13 News & Analysis Palestine Israel House demolitions on the rise in East Jerusalem

Manuel Langendorf based on the 2011 military order on security grounds. UN officials called on Israel to halt the demoli- London tion plans. “Recent months saw an increase n July, Israeli police evicted a in the number of home demoli- Palestinian family from their tions in the city,” said Amit Gilutz, home in the East Jerusalem spokesman for the Israeli human I neighbourhood of Silwan. The rights organisation B’Tselem. area was cordoned off as a right- Israeli journalist Peggy Cidor said wing settler association removed the first half of 2019 saw more house the Siyam family’s belongings. demolitions in East Jerusalem than The case gained prominence af- all of 2018, during which 113 struc- ter it reached the Israeli High Court, tures were demolished. which ruled in favour of the Elad Palestinians in East Jerusalem Association, determining that it have long maintained they are owned most of the building. practically forced to build illegally It is an example of a campaign of because it is impossible to obtain evictions and house demolitions Israeli permits. “There are no lands affecting Palestinian residents of left in Jerusalem for us to build or East Jerusalem and its immediate live on,” Palestinian Mohammed surroundings. Abu Teir told the United Nations. One day after the Silwan evic- Estimates are that about one- tion, Israeli security forces fired tear third of all Palestinian homes in gas to break up a protest over the East Jerusalem do not have an planned demolition of homes in Sur Israeli-issued building permit, put- Baher neighbourhood. Most of Sur ting more than 100,000 people at Baher lies within the East Jerusalem risk of displacement, the United Na- municipal area but the neighbour- tions said. hood also stretches into the West Silwan was the site of more dem- Bank. olitions recently, when four Pales- The High Court dismissed a peti- tinian shops were reportedly de- tion by residents, who demanded a molished on July 17. military order prohibiting construc- At the end of June, another event tion be cancelled. On June 18, resi- in Silwan, which borders Jerusa- dents were given “intent to demol- lem’s Old City, caused an uproar. In ish” with a 30-day notice. the presence of US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and US Presi- About one-third of all dent Donald Trump’s Middle East Envoy Jason Greenblatt, authori- Palestinian homes in ties opened an excavated road that East Jerusalem do not Israeli archaeologists identified as a have an Israeli-issued pilgrims’ road to Jerusalem. building permit, putting Senior Palestinian official Saeb more than 100,000 Erekat sharply criticised the event, people at risk of calling Friedman an “extremist Is- Total impunity. Israeli settlers and movers work at a house after the Palestinian Siyam family was displacement. raeli settler.” evicted in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan in East Jerusalem, July 10. (AFP) Observers say Palestinians in Je- An Israeli military order in 2011 rusalem are having a difficult time. designated a buffer zone of 100-300 “Jerusalem Palestinians face a health and education among other there “are continued efforts on the ish settler areas in the West Bank. metres on each side of the separa- massive Israeli campaign to limit things, but has been read by some part of Israel to engineer a Jewish The threat of further demolitions tion barrier in Sur Baher, citing se- their presence in the city and force observers as a way of expanding Is- majority in Jerusalem by driving persists. The neighbourhood of curity concerns. Construction is not them to leave it,” said Menachem rael’s sovereignty over East Jerusa- Palestinian East Jerusalemites out Wadi Yasul in Silwan “is now under allowed in the zone even if permits Klein, professor of political studies lem. Part of the education funding of the city while disregarding their threat of being demolished, which, have been issued by the Palestinian at Bar-Ilan University and adviser to is earmarked for switching to the rights and needs.” if carried out, will leave its 500 resi- Authority. However, there are es- former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Israeli bagrut curriculum. The campaign against Palestin- dents homeless,” Gilutz said. timates that around 200 buildings Barak. Along with more funding, Cidor ians in the eastern part of the city, Efforts by residents to give the are in the buffer zone, half of which Cidor said the government’s at- said, came an intensified crackdown Klein said, is based on the acknowl- area, zoned as a “green area,” a were built after the 2011 order. titude towards East Jerusalem has on illegal construction. Right-wing edgment “that Israel fails to turn residential status have failed for 15 The UN humanitarian affairs changed in the last two years. “For associations such as Elad stepped East Jerusalem Jewish despite the years. agency said Israeli authorities have 50 years, no one paid attention,” she up efforts to buy properties in East heavy Israeli investments in the “We are going to see more proper- demolished or “forced owners to said. Jerusalem, using middlemen and, project.” ties in East Jerusalem being bought” demolish” 69 structures in Sur Ba- In May 2018, the Israeli cabinet if necessary, the courts to purchase To win the demographic battle, by right-wing associations, Cidor her since 2009. unveiled a $560 million develop- Palestinian properties. Klein said, right-wing governments predicted. Observers say the Sur Baher case ment plan for East Jerusalem, a A significant part of the bat- were considering redrawing the would mark the first time home significant increase in funding. The tle over space in East Jerusalem municipal boundaries to exclude Manuel Langendorf is a writer demolitions would be carried out plan allocates funds for transport, is about demography. Gilutz said Palestinian areas and include Jew- focusing on the MENA region.

Viewpoint Hamas under fire for failed policies, toxic rhetoric

alestinians in Gaza who suicide because of poverty and parties is big. and defiles its holy sites.” have been suffering debts. The number of beggars Hamas has not helped improve Hammad’s irresponsible and from an Israeli siege — mainly children — in the streets its image. miscalculated comments are Yousef Alhelou since 2007 are increas- has reportedly tripled. Saeb Erekat, the secretary-gen- harmful to the Palestinian cause. ingly expressing Mass migration is taking place eral of the Palestine Liberation They diverted attention from frustration with Hamas, from Gaza to settle in Europe, Organisation’s Executive Commit- hate-inciting and racist state- Pthe movement that controls the especially among unemployed tee, condemned statements by ments of Israeli officials and Gaza Strip, for failing to provide youth and graduates. Even some senior Hamas official Fathi religious leaders against Palestin- solutions to their problems. of those who are rich and who Hammad calling on the Palestin- ians. Many crises that took place have a stable life have left looking ian Diaspora to kill Jews. “His speech is outlandish, recently led Palestinians to for a better future and to enjoy “The just values of the Palestin- bizarre and does not represent any question why Hamas has stayed in their basic rights. ian cause include love for free- of the Palestinian people, let alone power but is unable to lift the Activists and journalists have dom, justice and equality. The the Palestinian leadership; even siege and provide a decent life for left because they were unable to repugnant statement of Hamas Hamas movement disowned his the nearly 2 million residents of express themselves or report leader Mr Fathi Hammad about statement,” said Asad Abu the tiny costal enclave. without intimidation. Jews doesn’t represent any of Sharekh, a Palestinian political Those who want to work in the Leaving Gaza is not easy. The them. Religion shouldn’t be used analyst. governmental sector in Gaza must Egypt-controlled Rafah crossing is for political purposes.” Erekat “The official policy of the be a Hamas loyalist or at least the main gateway for the Gazans posted on Twitter. Palestinian people, including all supporter. This also applies to to the outside world. They must Palestinian social media factions, is that we are not against international aid assistance from exert effort to make sure their activists slammed Hammad’s the Jews. Judaism is a religion that countries such as Saudi Arabia, name is on the departures list. incendiary rhetoric, describing it a we respect but we say that our the United Arab Emirates, Qatar Connections and sometimes political stupidity. They said the enemy is Zionism and the Israeli and Turkey and NGOs. bribes are a must to make it out of struggle of Palestinians is against occupation.” The priority to receive food aid the “big prison.” Israel’s military occupation. “Our Hamas has failed to rule and depends on how well a person is Coordination must go through enemy is the occupation and not resist at the same time. It has connected to the Islamic move- both Egyptian authorities and Jews. There are many Jews misused the rhetoric when ment. Housing projects for those Hamas. Reaching Cairo safely supportive of what is right and addressing the world. It did not It would take whose homes were destroyed in from Rafah via the Sinai Peninsula just in the world,” Palestinian consider the geopolitics of the courage for Hamas wars with Israel are also prioritised is another story. The suffering has activist Ahmad Abu Artema wrote region. by level of loyalty to Hamas. become part of Gazans’ daily life on Facebook. It would take courage for Hamas to admit its failures If a person has no connection to and Hamas is often accused of Hamas issued a statement to admit its failures but it has but it has further Hamas, they must be very patient contributing to the misery by saying: “Hamas’s consistent, further cracked down on critics. and fight for rights. refusing to concede power, allow adopted policy of limiting its cracked down on No accountability is carried out. elections and reconcile with resistance to the Zionist occupa- Yousef Alhelou is a Palestinian critics. Many young people committed Fatah. The gap between the two tion that usurps Palestine’s land journalist living in London. 14 July 21, 2019 News & Analysis Turkey Victory in court is bittersweet for Turkish media rights activists

Thomas Seibert being released in January 2018, had violated the rights of the defendant. Istanbul Accusations against Yucel included spreading terrorist propaganda rol Onderoglu does not have by publishing an interview with a to go to prison, at least for Kurdish rebel commander. Erdog- now, but that doesn’t mean an publicly called him “an agent, a E he feels like a free man. terrorist.” Yucel’s lawyer Veysel Ok Onderoglu, the Turkey repre- said the decision by the top court sentative of Reporters Without Bor- could pave the way for other jailed ders (RSF), an international media journalists to be freed. freedom advocacy group, and two In July, the country’s highest ap- other activists charged with spread- peals court acquitted journalist Me- ing “terrorist propaganda” have hmet Altan, who had been charged been found not guilty by a court in with having links to the movement Istanbul. Onderoglu will face an- of Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Is- other trial with similar charges this lamic cleric accused by Ankara of year and, if convicted, could be sen- being the mastermind of the 2016 tenced to seven-and-a-half years in coup attempt. The court lowered prison. charges against Altan’s brother Ah- Turkey ranks 157th of 180 coun- met, a former newspaper editor, tries on the RSF’s press freedom and Nazli Ilicak, a prominent col- index. More than 100 journalists are umnist who had been sentenced to in prison and hundreds of media life in prison but may be eligible for outlets have closed in recent years. early release. RSF and other organisations say The verdict in Onderoglu’s case pressure on media that do not toe came as a surprise to the defend- the government line has increased ants. Onderoglu had said he ex- dramatically since a coup attempt pected a prison sentence of around in 2016. 18 months. The government says journal- Onderoglu, who was travelling A battle won but war is not over. Turkey’s representative for international rights group Reporters ists are not prosecuted because of abroad when the verdict in his case Without Borders (RSF) Erol Onderoglu speaks during a news conference to condemn attacks on their work but because they spread was handed down July 17, said it civil society groups in Turkey, last February. (AFP) messages of terrorist organisations. was too early to speak of a positive “Those who put their pens and their trend that could widen freedom of cameras into the service of terror- expression in the country. “These paper after the acquittal that the de- November 7 to face terror-related will be on trial again in four months’ ist organisations cannot be [called] are pragmatic, good steps,” he said cision by the judiciary to investigate charges with 16 other activists be- time. The way this historic press journalists in our view,” Turkish by telephone, referring to the recent and a 3-year trial because of a non- cause they publicly defended the freedom defender is being harassed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan verdicts, “but we need acquittal de- violent act of solidarity had created rights of a group of Turkish aca- is a deep injustice. We therefore said in June. cisions in all the cases.” “pressure on innocent people.” demics to criticise the government’s urge the Turkish judicial system to The European Union says, how- His own trial is a case in point. The court in Istanbul gave no rea- Kurdish policy. demonstrate the same good sense ever, that Turkey is going through a Onderoglu and his co-defendants son for the acquittals but Ondero- International rights groups and that it showed today and to quickly “serious backsliding” in basic rights — Human Rights Foundation of glu pointed out that other rights ac- organisations welcomed the recent abandon this new prosecution.” and the judiciary. To improve rela- Turkey President Sebnem Korur tivists who had taken part in guest acquittals. Harlem Desir, the media freedom tions with the European Union, An- Fincanci and author Ahmet Nesin editing Ozgur Gundem had re- “Erol Onderoglu’s acquittal is an representative of the Organisation kara had promised judicial reforms. — were accused of carrying out ter- ceived prison sentences, suspend- exceptional victory for justice and for Security and Cooperation in Courts in Turkey have recently rorist propaganda and incitement ed sentences or had to pay fines. press freedom in a country where Europe, of which Turkey is a mem- handed down several decisions in to crime after guest-editing Ozgur “The arbitrary measures have to both are being trampled on every ber, spoke of a “long-awaited rul- favour of journalists accused of ter- Gundem, a newspaper focusing on end,” Onderoglu said, adding that day,” RSF Secretary-General Chris- ing, which comes at a crucial time ror-related offenses. Kurdish issues, and campaigning he hoped the conclusion of his trial tophe Deloire said in a statement for all journalists in Turkey. I hope The Constitutional Court of Tur- against efforts to censor it. They would enable lawyers for other ac- posted on the organisation’s web- that this positive news will reflect key ruled in June that the arrest of said their action was a step to de- tivists to file appeals against guilty site. on other similar cases of prosecuted German-Turkish journalist Deniz fend media pluralism. verdicts. “Our deep relief is tinged with bit- journalists and those currently be- Yucel, who spent a year in jail before Fincanci told the Evrensel news- Onderoglu must return to court terness because our correspondent hind bars in the country.”

Viewpoint Is Ali Babacan the man to finally take on Erdogan?

he resignation of the which to speak directly to Turks among Turks during the 2000s. while impressive at the time, soon co-founder of Turkey’s in a way few high-level insiders And it is from this standpoint bled out. Justice and Develop- have done. that Babacan may look to reach A failed coup attempt in July Stephen Starr ment Party, Ali His comments are bold, given Turks via a new political party 2015 was crushed within hours Babacan, sent shock- the level of repression in Turkey — as the man who made the and fuelled Erdogan’s push for waves throughout the and punishment meted out to economy better. control. At that time, Babacan’s Tcountry. those challenging Erdogan’s Erdogan aside, the main players portfolio was reduced sharply In a statement July 8 declaring authority, and instructive in behind the original AKP move- amid speculation of him having his resignation from the ruling terms of what Babacan plans to do ment are gone. Add in a recession, ties to US-based cleric Fethullah Justice and Development Party next. the central bank governor’s Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for (AKP), Babacan declared: “In The timing of Babacan’s dismissal and the embarrassing the attempted takeover. recent years, deep differences announcement is not accidental, loss of the mayoralty of Istanbul And yet, the challenges to have emerged over the principles, coming just weeks after the AKP’s and it’s becoming increasingly Erdogan are beginning to pile up. values and opinions in which I loss of the Istanbul mayoral seat clear that the difficulties facing Some he can shrug off, others, believe and the implementations and two days after the country’s the AKP are mounting. such as the economic hardship [of the AKP] in separate areas. The central bank governor, ostensibly Were Gul and Davutoglu, who squeezing many of Turkey’s 80 current situation necessitated a a non-political position, was fired reports indicate may choose to go million residents, are much more brand-new vision of the future in by presidential decree. it alone and establish his own complex. Turkey because we have new, Babacan commands much political organisation, to get The reason the AKP achieved so dynamic and promising genera- respect in Turkey as the architect behind Babacan and form a new much for so long was that it tions that have completely of the economic and financial party together, dozens of other brought together Turkey’s best different demands.” restructuring that pulled Turkey AKP members disillusioned with minds and leaders. Today, it has He said he and others believe from a deep inflation crisis in the Erdogan’s amassment of power but one: Erdogan. He is sur- the problems facing Turkey can early 2000s. Appointed as could jump ship with them. rounded by sycophants with little only be resolved by involving a minister for economic affairs in To be sure, even if a new experience or knowledge of wide and varied group of indi- 2002 at just 35 years of age, splinter party of former AKP running a country. They seem to viduals. Babacan is regarded as a cadres were set up, it wouldn’t believe their only duty is to act on With the statement seen as an respected, capable and shrewd necessarily immediately mean the whim of their president’s There is much testing indication of his plans to establish reader of Turkey’s political the end of the AKP. Forming new every wish and command. a rival political party, it clearly landscape. parties in Turkey is something of There is much testing of the of the waters for raises the question: Is Babacan He helped turn the country into a national sport. Prominent waters for Babacan, Davutoglu Babacan, Davutoglu the man to take on Turkish one of the fastest-growing political movements, such as the and other AKP renegades to do President Recep Tayyip economies in the world during Kurdish-rooted Peoples’ Demo- before they mount a serious and other AKP Erdogan? the decade that followed. cratic Party, founded in 2012, and threat to the ruling party but the renegades to do before Unlike other high-profile It was this unprecedented the nationalist Iyi Party, estab- ingredients appear to be in place. they mount a serious leaders — former President degree of economic comfort and lished less than two years ago, Be sure, however, Erdogan knows Abdullah Gul and ex-Prime access to loans, combined with added to the political mix have that, too. threat to the ruling Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the AKP’s conservative ideology not proved fatal for the AKP. party but the 2007 and 2016, respectively, for and Erdogan’s reputation as an Erdogan, of course, has faced Stephen Starr is the author of example — who over the years left uncompromising leader on the down challengers before and “Revolt in Syria: Eye-Witness to ingredients appear to the AKP quietly, Babacan used his world stage, that created such come out on top. The 2013 Gezi the Uprising” and has lived in be in place. resignation as a platform from widespread support for the party Park anti-government protests, Syria and Turkey since 2007. July 21, 2019 15 Debate Iran

Shamkhani caught between Iranian president and IRGC

Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was commander-in-chief, and his deputy Rohani. Ali Alfoneh It was hardly surprising that Rohani appointed Shamkhani secretary of Iran’s powerful onourable, candid Supreme National Security and courageous, Council in September 2013. After ethnically Arab all, Shamkhani was politically Iranian Rear reliable and respected in IRGC Admiral Ali circles. Shamkhani, However, as the IRGC finds HSupreme National Security itself at odds with Rohani, it has Council secretary, stands out begun a systematic smear among the ruling elite of the campaign against the president’s Islamic Republic. closest associates. By December Politically reliable and 16, 2018, Shamkhani was respected by members of the targeted by the IRGC. Yashar Islamic Revolutionary Guard Soltani, a former IRGC member Corps (IRGC), Shamkhani has turned journalist, asked on also enjoyed a modicum of Twitter: “Mr Shamkhani, are immunity. you aware of the illegal act of In recent months, your son-in-law who is the however, Shamkhani owner of a property in has been subjected to Lavasan?” malicious gossip Wealthy Lavasan, because of alleged As the struggle for mockingly called misdeeds of the Beverly Hills of close relatives. power between the Iran, has very For now, IRGC and Rohani strict Shamkhani intensifies, construction appears to have Shamkhani must regulations to survived the pick sides. protect wildlife. campaign against This blogger him in the media claimed Shamkhani’s but his position is son-in-law used his weakened and so is the connections to build more position of his political ally than double the permitted Under pressure. Iranian Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Supreme National Security Council secretary, in Iranian President Hassan property size to increase his Tehran, last March. (AFP) Rohani. profit margin. Shamkhani, 63, owes his On January 11, Soltani career to a network of friends he disclosed a copy of a letter from is generally believed to be close than the small fines owners pay had used identity papers of a made in his youth. In the the mayor of Lavasan, to the to the IRGC Intelligence the municipality. 3-year-old child to engage in mid-1970s, he joined the head of the Lavasan Justice Organisation, released a lengthy On April 23, several Iranian business. Mansouroun group, which Administration, in which the report on the subject. A Raja news agencies, including The media campaign against engaged in small-time mayor complained Shamkhani’s News reporter visited the Didgah-e Now, disclosed that the Shamkhani stopped as abruptly as opposition activities against the son-in-law had prohibited construction site and illegal construction activity in it had begun, which shows the shah’s regime. Through municipal inspectors from interviewed the chief engineer Lavasan had happened under the purpose was not the fight against membership in the group, entering the premises. Clearly while recording on a hidden name of Seyed Mohammad-Taha corruption but a warning to Shamkhani became acquainted displeased with the revelations, camera. Mir-Mohammad-Ali, who is a Shamkhani. As the struggle for with Mohsen Rezaee, who would on January 13, the angry son-in- The chief engineer explained major creditor of the semi- power between the IRGC and become the IRGC’s chief law and a gang of construction “no one respects the bankrupted Caspian Credit Rohani intensifies, Shamkhani commander during the war with workers armed with shovels and municipality’s construction Institute. must pick sides. The abrupt end Iraq and appointed Shamkhani picks attacked Soltani’s home in regulations” and the Seyed Mohammad-Taha of the campaign against him may to serve as his deputy. an attempt to deter him from municipality itself benefits Mir-Mohammad-Ali is the indicate he has made his choice. It was during the war with Iraq making further tweets. financially by fining property 3-year-old grandson of Ali that Shamkhani befriended two By that time, however, the owners, who gladly pay the Shamkhani, Supreme National Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at other key individuals: story had spread to mainstream fines: The profit from selling a Security Council secretary. the Arab Gulf States Institute in Parliamentary Speaker Akbar news agencies. Raja News, which large property is vastly bigger Clearly, the Shamkhani family Washington. Where’s the outrage when Iran targets Kurds inside Iraq?

minorities is not well-docu- stance against the mullahs and the various authorities in The Kurdish people lack mented, preserved and easily call them out on their abysmally Tehran. The Khomeinist regime’s employment and access to accessible to anyone with an racist attitudes. response was absolutely brutal, economic opportunities Tallha internet connection and the Kurds in Iran have suffered with a crackdown on Kurds that afforded other groups. They are Abdulrazaq desire to learn about the Kurdish extreme forms of discrimination led to the death of 10,000 people discriminated against in the liberation movement in Iran. for more than a century and this and the forcible displacement of housing and rental markets and ran’s Islamic Revolutionary While Iranian authorities do intensified following Ayatollah 200,000 others. are distanced from accessing Guard Corps has carried out control access to Twitter and Ruhollah Khomeini’s revolution To this day, Kurds are rou- education. Worse are the routine deadly strikes against what other social media, there is more and seizure of power in 1979. tinely prevented from connect- arrests, torture and brutal mass it described as “terrorists” than enough information After the new Iranian regime ing with their language, culture executions of political activists across its shared border through the work of Kurdish took power, the Kurds revolted, and heritage as Iranian authori- and Kurds who simply seek to with Iraqi Kurdistan. activists as well as human rights seeking to establish an autono- ties seek to Persianise Iran’s express their opinion and ask for IIn early July, the Islamic monitors for activists without mous entity away from the diverse and multicultural a better standard of living and to Revolutionary Guard Corps selective morality to take a firm oppressive power structures of population. not be discriminated against. (IRGC) deployed rockets, drones Despite the evidence against and artillery to strike at alleged the Iranian regime, however, terror camps but instead hit activists in the West are as silent farmland. Rather than killing as the grave. Why? terrorists, the IRGC, blacklisted I believe the answer is that as terrorists by the United States, they are torn between their killed a woman and wounded leftist ideology’s double-speak. two members of her family who On the one hand, they claim to were working the land. champion human rights and The IRGC had the temerity to minorities. On the other, they call on the people of Kurdistan are “anti-imperialist” and to “distance themselves” from therefore do their utmost to areas they gave no warning they ignore any and every atrocity would strike. Iran commits for the simple I am astounded whenever Iran reason of “because America.” kills Kurds or commits atrocities Such a juvenile outlook on against minorities but those world affairs is not only idiotic, it actions are met with deafening is hypocritical because it cannot silence. This criticism can be be moral and just to support levelled especially at leftist Kurdish rights in one place while activists in the West who tend to ignoring those same rights in react in justifiable outrage another simply because it whenever Kurdish people are conflicts with their world view. oppressed, killed or subjugated Iran needs to stop getting a in Iraq, Syria or Turkey. free pass on killing Kurds simply However, when it is Iran doing because it is having bad rela- the oppressing, killing and tions with the United States. subjugating of Iranian Kurds, those activists seem to have very Tallha Abdulrazaq is a little to say on the matter. researcher at the University of It is not as though Iran’s record Deafening silence. A Kurdish man sprays red paint at holes in a wall made by shrapnel from an IRGC Exeter’s Strategy and Security on oppressing Kurds and other rocket attack in Koysinjaq, 100km east of Erbil, last September. (AFP) Institute in England. 16 July 21, 2019 News & Analysis Turkey’s Drift from the West Turkey’s ties with EU, US under pressure as Ankara pulls away from traditional allies

Thomas Seibert the United States and the European Union, two allies sometimes seen by Ankara as acting against Turkish Istanbul interests. Under Erdogan, Turkey has changed its political self-image urkey’s ties with the United from that of a trusted partner of the States and Europe are un- West to that of a regional power of der serious strain as rows its own that does not necessarily T over an arms deal with Rus- act in unison with the United States sia and natural gas exploration in or Europe. the eastern Mediterranean reveal a Murat Yetkin, author of Yetkin growing gulf between Ankara and Report, a blog on Turkish politi- the West. cal matters, said Turkey was going The United States threw Turkey, through a “redefinition of its rela- a NATO member and EU accession tions with the US and the EU.” candidate, out of a fighter plane Yetkin said Erdogan’s verdict programme while the European about “threats” coming from the Union decided to impose sanctions West was serious and reflected a against Ankara. view shared by many Turks. “That In a blunt description that has an echo in public opinion,” Yet- summed up increasing friction be- kin said by telephone. tween his country’s policy priori- Roland Popp, a security analyst ties and those of the United States focusing on Middle Eastern affairs, and Europe, Turkish President Re- said Erdogan had no intention to cep Tayyip Erdogan said the West initiate a sweeping crisis with the had become a source of “threats.” West “but — as a consequence of his policy choices — might indeed end Fait accompli. First components of a Russian S-400 missile defence system are seen after being up with one.” unloaded from a Russian plane at Murted Airport, known as Akinci Air Base, near Ankara, July 12. (Reuters) Major differences with the “As so often, Erdogan is a prison- US over Syria and other er of his badly conceived and erratic issues and the European policy decisions,” Popp said via e- fighter planes to Turkey as well. In sponse to the sanctions. its values, to the East and an au- Union’s refusal to accept mail. “His musings about the threat a statement likely to increase con- The twin confrontation with thoritarian bloc of countries.” Turkey’s membership bid coning from the West might prove cerns in NATO, Erdogan said he Washington and Brussels, coupled Kerim Has, a Moscow-based ex- have opened cracks between to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.” hoped for future “joint production” with Ankara’s changed world view, pert on Turkish-Russian relations Turkey and the West that However, the government is con- of air defence systems with Russia could shake the foundation of re- said the S-400 deal deepened the may be permanent. fident that Turkey is so important and for cooperation with Moscow in lations between Turkey and the Kremlin’s influence over Turkey. for US security interests and for EU developing a new system, the S-500. West. The country has been a NATO “Turkey’s dependency on Rus- “Despite our political and mili- efforts to stem the flow of refugees The European Union has slapped member since 1952 and has been sia’s regional politics will increase tary pacts with the Western alli- from the Middle East that the West sanctions on Turkey over Ankara’s trying to join the European Union after [the] S-400 missiles deploy- ance, we see the biggest threats will not cut ties completely. insistence to drill for gas and oil off and its predecessors since 1963. ment and its weakening ties with coming from there as well,” Erdog- “Turkey is an indispensable part- EU-member Cyrus, an action seen Major differences with the United the US and Europe considering the an was quoted July 14 as saying. He ner for Europe’s security,” Foreign as illegal by Brussels and Nicosia. States over Syria and other issues, multiple sanctions from multiple spoke shortly before the anniver- Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote The European Union suspended the European Union’s refusal to ac- directions,” Has said in an e-mail. sary of a coup attempt in 2016 that last year in a commentary for the negotiations on the Comprehen- cept Turkey’s membership bid and Has compared the Erdogan gov- some in his government blamed on French newspaper Le Monde. sive Air Transport Agreement and an ever-closer cooperation with ernment to that of Venezuelan Western powers. Following delivery of the Russian agreed not to have the Associa- Russia have opened cracks between President Nicolas Maduro. He said Some observers say Turkey’s re- S-400 air defence system, the Unit- tion Council and meetings of the Turkey and the West that may be the leadership in Ankara was likely cent policy choices exposed an axis ed States excluded Turkey from EU-Turkey high-level dialogues. It permanent, some analysts say. to feel threatened by possible US shift by Ankara, away from its tra- the F-35 fighter jet programme. endorsed a proposal to reduce pre- Aykan Erdemir, a former member moves to unseat it and therefore ditional focus on its Western part- Republican and Democratic law- accession assistance to Turkey for of the Turkish parliament and now sought closer ties to Russia. ners. makers pressed US President Don- 2020, a move that could result in a senior fellow at the Foundation for The Turkish political elite felt in At the very least, the develop- ald Trump to impose sanctions on loss of $170 million for Ankara. Defense of Democracies think-tank, need of “Russian political and mili- ment demonstrates Turkey’s de- Turkey. Ankara shrugged off the EU de- told NBC News there was a “greater tary support to overcome a poten- termination to push through its Russian officials said they were cision and announced it would in- shift in Turkey’s orientation away tial ‘Maduro scenario’ of Venezuela own agenda despite warnings by ready to look at selling Russian tensify its drilling off Cyprus in re- from the transatlantic alliance and in Turkey,” Has wrote.

Viewpoint Targeted sanctions could be more effective after Turkey’s S-400 purchase

verything, it seems, goes Now, the United States and the Turkey by choosing to impose loggerheads over the armed groups as envisioned by Russian European Union are facing the sanctions on what it sees as illegal that each country supports, as President Vladimir same challenge of whether to drilling in the territorial waters of Turak argues. Yavuz Baydar Putin. Embittered by counter Erdogan’s high-stakes gam- Cyprus. These would take into There are those who agree, what he perceives as ble. The ground has never been so account sensitivities regarding adding that, at this stage, transac- open enmity from ripe for Putin to harvest what he business with Turkey and the fear tional deals with strongmen — and EWashington, Turkish President desires. of millions of Syrian refugees it has not sanctions — work much more Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been There are voices questioning the been keeping on its soil. efficiently. There are others who proceeding with the transfer to logic of Ankara’s escalatory moves. For the United States, such push for a full-scale embargo Turkish soil of Russia’s advanced Professor Ersin Kalaycioglu asked concerns as these are “trivial.” regime, based on the notion that S-400 missile defence systems, in why Turkey has resorted to raw, The US Senate’s rapid move to the softer you are with bullying sheer defiance of the principles of and not soft, power in recent years, impose the Countering America’s leaders like Erdogan, the more the traditional transatlantic saying he regretted that Ankara is Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ground you lose. alliance. chiefly responsible for the troubles penalties has to do, as Natasha It’s an old dilemma in a new, big Putin deserves all the credit for with Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turak reported on CNBC, with the bottle but, at the core, it is simple. progress that he surely believes will Cyprus, Greece… senators’ hope that sanctions will First, you should care that people serve Russia’s global interests in “Russia doesn’t agree either with send a clear message about NATO are touched by embargos as little pushing back the United States’ Turkey’s thesis on the region in members buying weapons from as possible, so they know they are decades-long influence in the general and it is impossible to non-NATO countries. not the targets. region, where Turkey is at the understand why we squeezed If Washington stays aloof, as US Second, we know, from the epicentre. His was an extremely ourselves into a corner,” Kalaycio- President Donald Trump implies it example of Russian oligarchs close well-calculated move, with the glu told Voice of America. should, a precedent will take to Putin, what type of sanctions deep insight that if you move the Given the national mood, serving shape, setting the stage for US work. Since the logic goes that the stone called Turkey from under Erdogan so well, such voices get allies to roam free. This would S-400/F-35 crisis is far too big for NATO, it will inflict severe damage lost in translation. speed up the grand decline of Trump to ignore, that it is “above to the Kremlin’s major adversary. “Erdogan’s ideologues portray American power. him,” the wise move would be to And it does. the United States as an ‘enemy Not a surprise, then, that analysts shape the sanctions to target Consequently, the historic shift country.’ Turks increasingly buy have begun the usual rounds of people and institutions closest to symbolised by this purchase that line. Seven of ten Turks tearing their hair considering Erdogan and all those who push presented the Trump administra- questioned said they feel threat- whether punishing a big ally with a for aggressive adventurism in the tion with a huge dilemma: Whether ened by US power, a 28-percentage- powerful military is a good idea. region. to punish Turkey for severely point increase since 2013 — a higher Could it backfire? Some argue that Sanctions must be directed If Washington stays endangering the interoperability of jump than in any country recently an impulsive set of sanctions would intensely at well-defined single NATO weapons systems and to polled,” said Blaise Misztal, a fellow help Turkey de-orbit rapidly into targets, to be enhanced to similar aloof, as US President what extent. with the Hudson Institute. the lap of the Kremlin. others. This seems to be the only Donald Trump As if the Turkish-American crisis The main calculation in Erdog- Turkey could respond to sanc- language that goes to the heads of implies it should, a weren’t a striking enough tectonic an’s gamble is this: Let them — the tions by restricting US access to its political thugs who keep their shift, the escalating rift between United States or the European Incirlik Airbase, a strategically vital people as mass hostages in poten- precedent will take the European Union and Turkey Union — sanction Turkey and I will launchpad for American operations tially lethal confrontations. shape, setting the because of the drilling for hydro- have a field day capitalising on in the region. carbons in the Eastern Mediterra- increased anti-Western sentiment It could also escalate attacks on Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish journalist stage for US allies to nean has landed as icing on the at home. The European Union US-backed Kurdish militias in Syria, and regular columnist roam free. cake. could take a slightly softer line on where the two have long been at for The Arab Weekly. July 21, 2019 17 Debate US

Trump’s anti-minority statements hit a low point

nists,” offered Trump some public advice — to “aim higher” by Gregory focusing on these congresswom- Aftandilian en’s policies rather than their personal backgrounds. Tellingly, Trump said he disa- lthough no stranger to greed with that softer approach. He anti-minority and asked rhetorically: “What am I xenophobic state- supposed to do, wait till we get ments, US President someone else… in higher office?” Donald Trump hit a Trump’s strategy is to divert low point July 14 when attention from his failed policies heA said four progressive Demo- and offer “red meat” to his political cratic congresswomen of minority base. He has been a master at backgrounds should “go back” to playing to the prejudices of his the “crime-infested places from base, which believes immigration which they came.” has changed America for the Not only was this statement worse. highly offensive, it was absurd and Trump was reeling from the fact racist. Three of the four women that a federal court struck down his were born in the United States, and attempt to include a citizenship the fourth, Ilhan Omar, has been a question in the upcoming 2020 US naturalised US citizen since she Census. Hence, he wanted to show was a teenager. his base that he still cares about That two of the women, Rashida their concerns and zeroing in on Tlaib of Michigan and Omar of the minority congresswomen, even Minnesota, are of Muslim back- though only one is an immigrant, ground recalled Trump’s anti-Mus- was the easiest and most inflam- lim tirades from the 2016 presiden- matory way to do that. tial campaign. Trump believes that the more the After his July 14 statement, Democrats and “liberal elites” Trump doubled down on his criticise him, the more his base will Not easily intimidated. US Representative Ayanna Pressley speaks as Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (L), demagoguery, accusing the four support him. Rashida Tlaib (2nd R) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hold a news conference to address remarks made congresswomen of “hating Most politicians take the position by US President Donald Trump, July 15. (AFP) America” and “hating Israel.” that to win re-election, it is These statements and comments important to widen one’s political prompted the Democratic-led US base but not Trump. Knowing that At a large rally in North Carolina resurrected by a US president. This Jersey, said on the House floor: “We House of Representatives to pass a Democrats despise him and that the following day, Trump’s may why Trump subsequently know who he (Trump) is. The resolution condemning Trump’s polls indicate that most independ- supporters chanted “Send her tried to distance himself from the question is: ‘Who are we? Are we remarks. Only four Republicans ents are opposed to him, what he is back,” referring to Omar. In chant. still the country of immigrants?’” voted for the resolution, indicating counting on is that his base will response, the congresswoman This is significant in that, Some of Trump’s supporters will how divided the country has come out in even greater numbers called Trump a “fascist” and although Trump’s rural base of sup- undoubtedly say we should no become and that many Republican than in 2016. The way to encourage reminded people that the United port tends to come from whites of longer welcome immigrants, politicians are afraid to criticise that is to constantly frame issues as States is supposed to be a country Anglo-Saxon or Scotch-Irish especially those of Muslim back- Trump. “us versus them,” the latter that allows “democratic debate and backgrounds, some of his urban ground and those who do not look Prior to this episode, the Demo- meaning the new America that is dissent.” and suburban supporters are from like they do but, thankfully, most cratic Party was embroiled in religiously and ethnically much On the other hand, some Trump ethnic backgrounds whose families Americans see immigrants as a internal battles on such issues as more diverse than it was 30 or 40 supporters, such as Anthony came from southern and eastern positive contributor to the United impeachment, health care and years ago. Scaramucci, who served briefly as Europe. They spent the last couple States and reject demagoguery. border security. While those issues Whether Trump went too far this White House communications of generations becoming “Ameri- The key question is: Which are contentious, what unites time — even for his supporters — is director, said on CNN that Trump’s can” and believe that the govern- America will it be, the tolerant one Democrats is their loathing of an open question. On July 16, a comments were not only racist, for ment should not be giving “hand- or the intolerant one? Unfortu- Trump, for which he gives them CNN reporter interviewed a group which Trump should apologise, but outs and special privileges” to nately, the occupant in the White ample fodder. of Republican women in Dallas, were also “obnoxious to Italian- newcomers that their own ances- House is doing his best to stoke Some Republicans said the Texas, and all of them said they did Americans.” tors did not receive. support for the latter. president went too far or coun- not consider Trump’s comments as Scaramucci and many other In 2016, many of them supported selled restraint. Trump’s erstwhile racist and agreed with Trump that ethnic Americans know that the Trump but when Trump uses such Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer in Republican ally in the US Senate, the four should leave the United line “go back to where you came prejudicial lines, it touches a raw the Pardee School of Global Studies Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, States if they “hate it so much.” from” is an old ethnic slur that was nerve for some. at Boston University and a former after charging that the four These Republican women said they hurled at their immigrant grand- US Representative Tom US State Department Middle East congresswomen were “commu- would vote for Trump in 2020. parents and it should not be Malinowski, a Democrat from New analyst. Two congressional resolutions that won’t advance Israeli-Palestinian peace

the Israelis and Palestinians to living in settlements that have, by The second measure before thing but what, other than hand- return to direct negotiations as the design, carved the areas West Bank Congress is House Resolution 326 wringing, is the congressional only way to achieve an end to the open to Palestinians into non-con- “Regarding efforts to resolve the response to continued construc- James J. Zogby Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” tiguous “Bantustans”; the aggres- Israeli-Palestinian conflict through tion and how will the members The bulk of the resolution is sive land grabs, demolition of a negotiated two-state solution.” deal with the 620,000 settlers who devoted to a series of “Whereas” Palestinian homes; the brutal This is also a non-binding resolu- reside in the West Bank? he US House Committee and “Resolved” clauses opposing behaviour of occupation authori- tion. It is sponsored by 144 Calling for an end to the occupa- on Foreign Affairs is BDS. The clauses mischaracterise ties; the policies of the Israeli members of Congress and has a tion and opposing annexation is scheduled to move on the goals of the BDS movement, government and its opposition, companion bill before the US one thing but what has been and four bills — all of which misquote the BDS movement both of which see no place for the Senate (Senate Resolution 234) will be the response of Congress to drive more nails in the co-founder and falsely claim that “viable” Palestinian state called for that is sponsored by nine Demo- Israel’s deeper encroachment into coffin of Israeli-Pales- BDS targets not just the state of in Resolution 246; or the annexa- crats, including two presidential the territories and its de facto Ttinian peace. Two of the proposed Israel but individual Jews “who tionist policies under way in the aspirants: Bernie Sanders and annexation of large areas of bills are blatantly pro-Israel but it support Israel.” area referred to “East Jerusalem,” Elizabeth Warren. Palestinian lands that have been is two relatively more benign Resolution 246 concerns me for having a profoundly negative Resolution 326 includes one very captured inside what Israel calls pieces of legislation that cause me two principal reasons: effect on the lives of the 320,000 positive “Whereas” clause that East Jerusalem and behind its West real concern. Far from being a benign resolu- Palestinian citizens who live calls for “an end to the occupation, Bank Wall? House Resolution 246 — “Oppos- tion, the measure has been there. including opposing settlement Being opposed to something is ing efforts to de-legitimise the correctly described by the Arab All of this is ignored, as is activity and moves towards one thing, acting against what you State of Israel and the Global American Institute as a “transpar- congressional complicity in these unilateral annexation in Palestin- oppose is quite another. Boycott, Divestment and Sanc- ent ploy” that delegitimises a legal Israeli policies. Despite several ian territory.” The bottom line is that Congress, tions” — is a non-binding resolu- and non-violent movement that past US administrations calling on Because such strong language as much as this and past adminis- tion putting Congress on record in advocates for Palestinian human Israel to stop settlement construc- has never before appeared in a trations, is responsible for the opposition to Boycott, Divestment rights and secures the blessing of tion, not only do they continue but congressional bill with this many current state of affairs in Israeli- and Sanctions (BDS) movement. an overwhelming majority of they continue with Congress’s sponsors, Resolution 326 is Palestinian relations. Decades of Unlike earlier versions, Resolu- Congress in this effort. blessing in the form of increased deserving of support. It should be congressional inaction in the face tion 246 does not impose penalties While this non-binding resolu- aid and not only no US sanctions recalled that we were unable to get of Israeli transgressions of interna- on BDS supporters nor does it tion does not criminalise BDS, by but not even a rebuke. the Clinton campaign to insert the tional law and the human rights of conflate Israel and “areas under defaming the practices advocated When the Palestinians have words “settlements” and “occupa- the occupied Palestinian people Israeli control” — a not too clever by the movement and putting appealed to the United Nations or tion” in the 2016 Democratic Party have resulted in Israeli impunity way designed to recognise Israeli Congress on record in opposition other international bodies such as Platform. — the Israelis know they can get sovereignty over West Bank to it, Resolution 246 opens the the International Criminal Court, Even with this, I am concerned away with anything — and deepen- settlements. For this reason, this door to state laws and future the response of US administrations that this support for a “two-state ing Palestinian despair — the resolution has won the support of congressional efforts to do so. or Congress has been to punish the solution” not be turned into what I Palestinians have lost hope that liberal groups and is co-sponsored Resolution 246’s profession of Palestinians and the international have termed “a two-state absolu- the United States will ever hear by a bipartisan group of 338 support for a two-state solution organisations in question. tion,” which sees members of their cries for justice. members of Congress. and its implication that the BDS As a result, the only recourse Congress going on record in These two measures, one of Resolution 246 includes lan- movement is an obstacle to Palestinians have had is in the support of an outcome but which blames the victims and the guage calling for a two-state reaching that goal can only be court of public opinion. Hence, the absolving themselves of responsi- other that would allow some solution to the Israeli-Palestinian described as naive or even disin- BDS movement. Their successes bility to address what can be done members of Congress to feel conflict, stating: “Both the Israeli genuous. have been greeted by Israel and to realise that outcome and if it is “they’re off the hook,” cause me to and Palestinian people should be Nowhere in the resolution is now the US Congress with hysteria. even possible to achieve a viable be concerned. able to live in safe and sovereign there any mention of any of Hence, the effort to delegitimise “two-state solution” given realities states, free from fear and violence, obstacles posed by the Israeli and defame the movement with in the occupied territories. James J. Zogby is president of the with mutual recognition.” It “urges government: the 620,000 settlers criminalisation sure to follow. Opposing settlements is one Arab American Institute. 18 July 21, 2019 Economy

Egypt pins hopes on African Briefs Saudi cabinet gives go-ahead for markets to shore up economy businesses to open 24/7 Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved Mohamed Hammad Egypt plans to establish ten lo- a measure to allow shops to remain gistics centres around Africa, with open 24 hours a day. the first set for Kenya. The decision, reported by the Cairo Exporting companies would ship state-run Saudi Press Agency, said products to the centres and sell the Ministry of Municipal and Rural he manufacturing and ex- them directly to traders. The goal is Affairs will decide the fees shops port sectors in Egypt suffer to offset lost opportunities in areas would need to pay to remain open from the loss of many tra- of political tensions. around the clock. T ditional Arab markets, es- Cairo is trying to reap the bene- The move could help local busi- pecially geographically close ones fits of activating the African Conti- nesses boost sales. such as Libya and Sudan, in addi- nental Free Trade Area Agreement tion to the losses of Iraqi, Syrian (AfCFTA), that Egyptian President (Associated Press) and Yemeni customers and their Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had, as current inability to find replacement mar- president of the African Union, an- kets. nounced at the recent extraordi- Iraq’s southern oil The Libyan and Sudanese mar- nary African summit. exports reach 3.42 kets accounted for almost half of The African Union website the Egyptian food industry’s ex- states that seven countries, in- million bpd in July ports, which have a high competi- cluding Egypt, made offers to host Clouds on the horizon. Container trucks stand in line on a road due to tive advantage because of proxim- AfCFTA’s General Secretariat. bad weather in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. (Reuters) Iraq’s oil exports from its south- ity and consumer demand. The move would boost Cairo’s ern ports reached 3.42 million The share of Arab countries in goal of doubling its exports but barrels per day (bpd) in July, two oil the Egyptian exports in general is new markets promotions need ef- of the increase in fees collected in Mahmoud El Borai, secretary- officials said. about 24%. Cairo is seeking to in- forts beyond those required in tra- countries to secure goods against general of the 6th of October Inves- Exports from its southern Basra crease that share by boosting ex- ditional export markets because of theft of goods. tors Association, said Egyptian ex- terminals fell to 3.39 million bpd in ports from $22 billion a year to $55 expected strong competition. Bahaa al-Adly, president of the porters are looking forward to the June from 3.441 million bpd in the billion in five years. Several markets in the Arab re- Badr Investors Association said: inauguration in October of a ship- previous month. Cairo is counting on increasing gion, Europe and the United States “There is but the African markets ping line connecting the port of Ain Officials said repair work at a exports to conventional markets have imposed bans on importing for Egyptian exports because of Sokhna on the Red Sea to East Afri- section of a marine pipeline in the by about 20% a year but conflicts in some Egyptian products. Adel al- trade in our traditional markets, can countries. Gulf that transports crude oil to the the Middle East have played havoc Shenwani, a member of the board exports have slowed considerably.” He said Egyptian products face Basra ports slowed shipments for with its plans. of directors of the 10th of Ramadan fierce competition in African mar- three days in June. “The Egyptian market is start- Investors Association, said the in- kets, especially from countries al- ing to groan, sector by sector, be- stability in neighbouring markets The Libyan and Sudanese ready established in those areas, (Reuters) cause of the many conflicts and prompted Egyptian exporters to markets accounted for including India, Turkey and China. a large number of factories in the target new African markets, in- almost half of the Egyptian It takes about 45 days for Egyp- food sectors suffer from a stagger- cluding Cameroon, Chad, Burundi food industry’s exports, tian goods to reach Tanzania but UAE plans overhaul ing accumulation of merchandise and Gabon. which have a high only one week for Indian goods in warehouses,” said Hani Barzi, He said many food industry ex- competitive advantage to get there. The introduction of a for trading operations chairman of the Export Council for porters had focused on exporting because of proximity and new shipping line in October is ex- Food Industries. products to Sudan in recent years consumer demand. pected to shorten the trip for Egyp- The United Arab Emirates’ state- He said sugar mills have about 1 at the expense of the local market. tians goods to nine days. run ADNOC plans to overhaul its million tonnes of “stagnant stocks” With the political crisis in Sudan, He said export activities and the The new shipping line is to con- trading operations as it seeks to because of a market recession since those exporters found themselves Egyptian economy could receive a nect Ain Sokhna Port in Egypt to emulate the success of rival oil March, the continuing Libyan crisis in trouble. significant boost by targeting mar- Mombasa in Kenya. Investors’ as- majors. and increased tensions in Sudan. Shenwani said high costs hin- kets in Central, West and East Af- sociations urged Egyptian Minister The company has hired former Business organisations are pre- dered exports to African markets. rica. of Business Affairs Hisham Tawfiq employees of private-sector peers paring a promotional plan targeting The cost of shipping a container Cairo is seeking to boost its for- to extend the shipping line to Dar and wants to introduce a regional African markets by sending trade to countries with no sea or river eign currency resources but there es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanza- oil benchmark, similar to interna- missions and taking advantage of port is $8,000-$10,000. The cost is are challenges presented by Afri- nia. tional markers Brent and West Texas logistics prepared by the Egyptian $6,000 in countries with ports. can markets, which generally fa- Intermediate, sources familiar with Ministry of Commerce and Indus- The high cost of transport to vour a barter system because they Mohamed Hammad is an Egyptian the plans said. try. landlocked countries is because cannot pay cash in dollars. writer. The plan is not yet finalised and must be approved by UAE authori- Viewpoint ties, such as the Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council, the sources said. Indexes reveal Iran has one of the most ‘miserable’ economies in the world (Reuters)

adding the nation’s rates of Fund (IMF) in April projected that steep borrowing costs and Lebanon hopes for inflation and unemployment. It Iran’s economy would shrink for a unemployment. The most sure-fire best tourist season was introduced in the 1970s by an second year in a row while inflation way to mitigate that misery is in years Jareer Elass economic adviser to former US could reach 40% or higher in 2019, economic growth.” President Lyndon Johnson and is thanks to reinforced US sanctions Not surprisingly, Hanke’s most considered a measure of the targeting crude exports — the miserable economy in 2018 for the Lebanon is hoping for its best ehran’s debilitating socio-economic conditions Iranian regime’s chief source of fourth consecutive year was tourist season since 2010, thanks to financial decline is impacting the country’s average revenue. Venezuela, with a score of a rise in European visitors and a re- taking an extreme toll citizen. The IMF estimated an annual 1,746,439 — a reflection of a high turn of Saudis, whose government on Iran’s economic In its analysis, the SCI — Iran’s average inflation rate of 31.2% for jobless rate and hyperinflation. lifted a travel warning this year. health and increasing official statistical data gatherer — Iran in 2018. It noted that Tehran’s Hanke’s 2018 misery index In the first half of 2019, the num- the population’s said that the country’s misery economy contracted 3.9% in 2018 shines a spotlight on how healthy ber of Saudi visitors had doubled Tmisery, several economic indexes index was at 39% in the winter of — following growth of 3.8% in 2017 the economies of some of Iran’s from a year earlier, Tourism Minis- indicate. 2018, up from 19.4% the previous — and would likely shrink 6% this neighbours are faring: Not far ter Avedis Guidanian said. “Misery indexes,” which winter. year with 0.2% growth expected in behind Iran’s third position is Revenue from tourism will measure the quality of a country’s The SCI reported that Iran’s 2020. The fund calculated that Turkey, in fifth place with an index exceed $7 billion in 2019, nearly economic well-being, place Iran in unemployment rate was 12.1% and Iran’s unemployment rate was score of 53.3. Egypt with a score of 46% more than last year, Guidanian the unenviable position of being the rate of inflation climbed to 13.9% in 2018, with the rate 36.8 is ranked ninth most added. among the most “miserable” 26.9% this past winter. The predicted to rise to 15.4% this year miserable economy, while Jordan’s He credited the boost to better economies in the world based on statistical agency also revealed that and 16.1% in 2020. score of 30.9 puts it in 12th security, efforts to tap into new key fiscal indicators. A misery Iran’s inflation rate for the In his 2018 annual misery index, position. Iran’s regional nemesis markets and a thaw in relations index produced in Iran and 12-month period that ended on US economist Steve Hanke Saudi Arabia rated an index score with Riyadh. several external indexes June 21 stood at 37.6%. The SCI said positioned Iran as the third most of 23.5, the 18th most miserable demonstrate how Tehran’s the Gulf nation’s economy miserable economy in his index of economy on the list. (Reuters) bruised economy is hitting contracted 4.9% in the Iranian 95 countries. Hanke credited An economics research group, citizens in the pocketbook. calendar year that ended March 20, Tehran’s leap from its 11th place FocusEconomics, has put out its Punishing US sanctions on pushing Tehran further into ranking in his 2017 index with a 2019 misery index, placing Iran Saudi Arabia raises Tehran that were renewed in 2018 recession. score of 34.6 to the third spot in fourth behind Argentina, local petrol prices and increased this year with The International Monetary 2018 with a score of 79.7 to the Zimbabwe and Venezuela, noting additional export restrictions and country’s plunging rial, which has that for Tehran, “economic Saudi Aramco said it was rais- financial targets on leadership are contributed to the spike in the rate sanctions from the US continue to ing domestic petrol prices, with 91 leading factors in Iran’s economic of inflation over the last year. fuel inflation.” octane grade reaching 1.53 riyals crisis. Recent calculations by the FocusEconomics, has The rial reached a historic low in With the value of the rial having ($0.41) per litre from 1.44 riyals Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) put out its 2019 misery September, trading at 190,000 to plunged as much as 60% over the ($0.38) and 95 octane grade rising indicate the quality of the index, placing Iran the US dollar, though it has since past year and the cost of food and to 2.18 riyals ($0.58) from 2.10 riyals country’s economic health was recovered and recently traded at medicine climbing 40%-60%, the ($0.56). twice as bad in the winter of 2018 fourth behind 118,000 to the dollar. average Iranian citizen would be Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant said as it was a year before, a sign of Argentina, Zimbabwe Hanke’s index is a variation on hard-pressed to disagree that his in a statement that the adjustments the ramifications of the US the standard misery index — taking country has one of the most were in line with the government’s sanctions. Two other indexes put and Venezuela, noting the sum of unemployment, miserable economies in the plans to reform energy and water Iran in the top five of most that for Tehran, inflation and bank lending rates world. prices and that they were subject to miserable economies globally. “economic sanctions minus the percentage change in changes in global exports prices. A misery index is an informal real GDP per capita. He said: “In Jareer Elass reports from barometer of a country’s from the US continue the sphere of economics, misery Washington on energy issues for (Reuters) economy, typically calculated by to fuel inflation.” tends to flow from high inflation, The Arab Weekly. July 21, 2019 19 Debate China in MENA

Trade balances in North Africa remain in China’s favour

German and Italian equivalents because they are cheaper. Chinese imports account for 28% Francis Ghilès of Tunisia’s trade deficit. There are two ways to counter this: make Tunisia more attrac- conomic exchange is tive for Chinese tourists and the fundamental encourage investment from the driver of China’s Middle Kingdom. The number of relations with the Mid- Chinese visitors to Morocco and dle East though Tunisia has been increasing. strategic considera- China’s presence in the region Etions are no longer absent. The is often focused on infrastructure aim of its grand political strategy — big-ticket projects such as the known as the “Great Rejuvena- East West Highway and Africa’s tion of the Chinese Nation” is a longest railway tunnel in Algeria, self-assigned mission to return bridges in Morocco and Egypt’s China to the prosperity and new administrative capital. prestige it enjoyed before the Under former Tunisian encroachment of European President Zine el-Abidine Ben colonialism in China in the 19th Ali, discussions with China led to century. projects that included a large China defines the region as new port at Enfidha and upgrad- “West North Africa” and includes ing the Tunis-to-Algiers railway. all countries from Sudan to Since 2011, the Chinese have Morocco in it. Beijing has failed to find in the Tunisian established strategic partner- government an interlocutor of ships with Morocco, Sudan, influence and projects get Algeria and Egypt. waylaid in the morass of bureau- The quest for resources to fuel cracy and corruption, which its industrialisation — hydrocar- characterises that country’s Growing footprint. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El bons from Algeria, Sudan and economic management. Othmani at a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, last September. (AFP) Libya; iron ore from Mauritania; Where there are big-ticket copper zinc, lead and fertilisers projects, the number of Chinese from Morocco — cannot hide the workers is much greater — 90,000 tion in the Mediterranean and is liser, which Tunisia produces thus leading to factory closures special importance of Sudan, in Algeria where Chinese compa- expected to soon surpass the two from its phosphate rock. Here and loss of jobs. which sent 94% of its exported nies have done a lot of work in largest commercial ports in the again, Morocco’s state phosphate Tunisian Minister of Finance oil to China in 2016. Libya used to construction over the past 20 region — Algeciras and Valencia and fertiliser company OCP is Fadhel Abdelkefi fell on his export 10% of its oil to China, a years and 35,000 in Libya until in Spain. way ahead in its joint ventures sword two years ago when he figure that collapsed in 2011 but they were evacuated in 2011. In Equally important was the with China. tried to clean up the Augean shot up to $3.5 billion last year as all these countries the mobile launch in March 2017 of Moham- Tunisia suffers from another stables of the customs at the port oil production in Libya company Huawei is making med VI Tangier Tech City, a problem, the massive illicit of Rades. That said, all North increased. inroads. 2,000-hectare project in which import of Chinese manufactured African ports are finding it very Trade balances everywhere are In a strategic sense, China is 200 Chinese companies specialis- goods, from toys to white goods difficult to adapt to new World in China’s favour. Its aggregate keen to be present in Tunisia and ing in aeronautics, vehicle spare and counterfeit luxury brands. Trade Organisation rules — low exports of $25 billion are worth Morocco because those countries parts, textile and food processing These goods enter the ports in customs dues but tighter surveil- five times its imports. The offer easier access to the EU will eventually constitute China’s Tunis and Sfax illegally, as they lance. Chinese commercial surplus is markets. Hence, its interest in biggest industrial platform in do from Libya where Misrata In Tunisia, beyond the porosity noteworthy in the case of Algeria, Tangier and Kenitra, which have Africa. This project is a joint serves as the port of entry from of the Libyan border large which imports an average of $7 become major hubs for the venture between the Chinese Istanbul, the two having retained quantities of cigarettes and billion-$8 billion of goods assembly of cars for re-export group Haite, BMCE, one of the links that go back to Ottoman petrol are smuggled across the annually and exports around $1 across Africa. kingdom’s two leading banks; times. country’s south-western border billion. Such a region offers Chinese and the Tangier-Tetouan regional Smuggled Chinese goods come with Algeria. This results in large Chinese exports of $1.4 billion companies the opportunity to government. in a wide range of quality and are tax revenue loss for the Tunisian to Tunisia are not matched by “Europeanise” goods it makes, Since November, Tangier is very attractive to Tunisians but government. This situation will imports worth a meagre $25 which benefit from easier access linked to Casablanca, which the problem has little to do with only improve if the government million. Tunisian exports to to European markets than boasts an active Casa Finance China. As long as Tunisian dares to confront the powerful China were multiplied by products made in China. City whose focus is Africa, by the authorities fail to regain control interests that protect such one-and-a-half from 1999-2015 As Morocco increases Tanger first fast rail train built in Africa. of their major ports, they not only smuggling. but imports grew by a factor of Med 2’s container handling Tunisia could provide the basis lose money from unpaid customs 35. Machinery of every kind capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by for the Chinese manufacturing of dues but allow on to the market Francis Ghilès is an associate account for more than half of all the end of the year, the port will photovoltaic solar panels, train goods that compete directly with fellow at the Barcelona Centre for imports and displaced French, become the primary port destina- and metro carriages and ferti- domestically manufactured ones, International Affairs. Why Chinese products are not the driver of MENA’s informal economy

ment finance is emerging. an exponential rise in the youth those in the mining sector, have tools to work with and alternative Following the China Arab States unemployment rate as well as a revealed the dark side of the channels for trade. Broader access Alessandro Cooperation Forum last year in parallel rise in informal employ- informal economy. Chinese SMEs to information provides a new Arduino Beijing, which established a ment. have had a negative effect on local marketing tool for products and “strategic partnership” with the It is important to recognise the social organisations because of gives a voice to local communi- Arab world, and after the Forum effect that small to medium worker exploitation, uneven ties. he informal economy on China-Africa Cooperation the Chinese businesses, ranging from labour relations and substandard For example, Transsion prod- in the Middle East and same year, Beijing expanded its natural resources extraction to living conditions. ucts are not only cheap, they are North Africa generates economic cooperation into the non-agricultural production, and Often the perception is that the tailored to local conditions, a sizeable part of the humanitarian aid sector. the role of Chinese goods whole- importation and sale of Chinese ranging from extended battery life GDP in the region. In the MENA region, a large sale, have had on the region’s goods are controlled by the that is necessary because of The general impres- percentage of the workforce is informal economy. Chinese expatriate community, frequent blackouts, as well as Tsion is that small private Chinese active in the informal economy. Previous measures against which is a source of frustration handsets that support dual SIM companies and the abundance of Workers in the informal sector the informal economy to force and envy. The fact is that a high cards, which enable customers to low-price, low-quality “Made in are often exposed to it into the formal taxable percentage of Chinese goods is use different billing plans or an China” imported goods are a demanding and sector have failed on imported into Africa by Nigerian unlocked handset to switch from driving force in the informal unstable working many levels. Often, traders, among others. Anyone one network to another, depend- economy. The reality differs in conditions that To achieve the informal strolling in the Yiwu market in ing on service availability. several important respects. often involve sustainable economies and the China’s Zhejiang province will Other features overlooked by For example, the introduction significant development, bridges related Chinese encounter a wide array of traders global leaders include dust-proof of Chinese goods lowered the physical risks. must be built products are more from the Cape to Cairo. handsets, robust equipment that threshold for MENA residents to The Interna- between the formal responsive to local One of the common criticisms of operates in challenging environ- enter the consumer products tional Labour and informal realities and needs products traded in the informal mental conditions and the ability market. Household appliances, Organisation (ILO) economies. than economic economy is that they have a low to adapt to various languages. electronic goods and low-price said most of the 2 theories imposed level of sophistication. In this The entrepreneurial spirit, mobile phones constitute a large billion people from abroad. respect, the informal economy which in Africa is in its infancy, is percentage of the goods exported working in the informal The perception that acts as a constraint against also promoted by the informal by China to the MENA region. sector are in emerging and Chinese wholesale dealers innovation and modernisation. economy. To achieve sustainable The mantra that low price infers developing countries. The ILO have only negative effects on However, that perception is development, however, bridges low quality is not applicable to all reported that 85.8% of local economies is not entirely misleading, especially in Africa. must be built between the formal Chinese imports, as illustrated by employment in Africa is in the accurate. Chinese companies are In addition to the Chinese Tecno and informal economies. the Chinese-made dust-proof informal sector, in contrast to often vertically integrated, and iTel, mobile phone models Key to this, which is to address Android mobile phone that is a 68.6% in Arab countries. meaning that they are both made by the lesser-known the differences between percep- key factor in Africa’s booming Because of their status as wholesaler and retailer. By Chinese phone maker Transsion tion and reality, is a difficult but social media market. informal labour, workers in the eliminating third parties in the and the availability of cheap or not insurmountable task. The In the MENA region, the Chinese grey market are not eligible for supply chain, Chinese merchants even free telecommunication result will enable the informal strategy is progressively shifting basic welfare services and are force prices down. While this is subscription plans permitted sector to promote grass-roots towards a pattern of more diversi- excluded from official workplace bad news for local producers and several countries to leapfrog into modernisation from within. fied cooperation. In contrast to safety protections. retailers, it is good news for local the digital age of social media China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Until 2010, the MENA region consumers, especially those with networking. Alessandro Arduino is the author which is heavily focused on was characterised by state-led low disposable incomes. Access to the digital telecom- of “China’s Private Army. infrastructure, a new approach to economies. Numerous crises that Chinese small-to-medium munications network enables the Protecting the New Silk Road,” China’s overseas aid and develop- hit the region, however, generated enterprises (SMEs), especially informal economy to develop Palgrave-Macmillan, 2018. 20 July 21, 2019 Society Media Technology

Creating quality. Egyptian software Interview engineer AbdAllah Khashaba. (Courtesy Arabic voice-over of AbdAllah market generates new Khashaba) career opportunities for young talents

Establishing good business governance between voice-over Khadija artists and clients is key to Hamouchi creating quality Arabic audio recordings, providing career opportunities and keeping bdAllah voice-over recordings accessible Khashaba has to all. been writing The Arab Weekly (TAW): Why posed to our digital lives.” material, audiobooks, podcasts, about that hidden new market.” code for 12 years. does the region need Arabic TAW: How is the Arabic voice- poetry, cartoon dubbing, movies “Out of the 25,000 local artists, The Egyptian voice-over recordings? over market changing? and games. only 3,000 were professional software engi- AbdAllah Khashaba (AK): AK: “The voice-over market in “Above all, they demand quality. talents with proper training and neer worked on “Unlike programming languages, its open form is at its early stages. One factor that is usually over- had the necessary equipment. We the Dubai Digital voice-over recordings target It was either concentrated in the looked is that quality is product- find it important to professionalise LibraryA for the Mohammed Bin human audiences. It is axiomatic hands of costly studio production based and depends on guidelines the remaining 22,000 to provide Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, to address humans in their houses or the hands of individuals and technical specifications. work opportunities, diversify the where he built his expertise on language and voice. Even more so without much control over quality. “Our experience shows that industry and offer infinite choices content copyright, international in our region where language Because of high-cost productions, some countries tend to have their for listeners. We offer online data formatting standards and speaks to the heart. Voice can only elite companies could have preferred voices. Egyptian clients training, blog resources and content access methodologies. express a range of emotions and access to this service and, in most prefer Saudi voices. Emirati clients organise voice competitions to All competitive skills to take on can deliver messages more cases, there would not be a guaran- are very much into voices from create a real professional commu- a new mission: democratising and optimally than any other means. tee for acceptable levels of quality Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria, in nity.” professionalising the Arabic Humans have the innate ability to or diversity in voices.” that order. TAW: What is the future of the voice-over market. By “voice- quote words and enact joyfulness, “With the expansion of techno- “We are also realising how voice-over industry? over” is meant the voice of sadness and seriousness through logical innovation in the region, much-predefined roles, styles, AK: “Every industry is becoming speakers whose face does not sound. This reality had to be trans- voice-over recordings have ages, genders, languages and involved with the inclusion of appear, serving some other embraced several digital applica- dialects matter for the voice of the voice as an essential supportive purpose. tions, sometimes unexpected character. These criteria all bring asset. By nature, we believe it can Khashaba is the founder of “The emergence of ones. the voice-over to real life experi- go down or die as long as the voice Soundeals, a marketplace for this new market has “In the Middle East, human ence.” is a natural component of human- professional Arabic voice-over voices are used in TV, radio TAW: Does the region have ity. artists. The business was created made local talent advertisement, audiobooks, enough talent to supply the “The evolution of media and out of a different business idea. from Egypt, Saudi YouTube video, podcasts, e-learn- demand? technology is also key in develop- When introducing their video ing material, interactive voice AK: “The emergence of this new ing new trends such as voice-con- advertising campaign on social Arabia, the response messages, Chatbots market has made local talent from trolled devices, artificial intelli- media, Khashaba and his team Palestinian models and even robots.” Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Palestin- gence human voice trained models were looking for professional territories, Syria, TAW: What are Arab listeners ian territories, Syria, Jordan and and Internet of Things devices, voices. They went to the trouble of demanding? Morocco resurface. We would have which are all in the making.” finding good voice-over artists. Jordan and Morocco AK: “Based on what our clients never imagined that many young They quickly jumped into solving resurface.” request, we can observe that Arab people were looking at that market Khadija Hamouchi is a that problem. listeners are keen on voice usage as a career. Belgian-Moroccan social Khashaba spoke to The Arab Egyptian for video advertisements, motion “When we launched three years entrepreneur and founder of Weekly via WhatsApp Call, software engineer and infographics videos, interac- ago, more than 25,000 local SEJAAL, an initiative that is unfolding this nascent yet AbdAllah Khashaba tive voice response messages, voice-over artists registered on our building an app for young profitable industry. documentaries, educational platform. That number says it all people. Drop in sales, rising costs give tough times to Egypt’s newspaper industry

Ahmed Megahid rent head of the Culture and Media agency that regulates the country’s Committee in the Egyptian parlia- newspapers and magazines, raised ment. the prices of the newspapers 33% ef- Cairo Behind the sharp drop in news- fective July 1. paper sales are changing readers’ The authority said it was part of here were times when moods and the competition caused an overall plan to reduce newspa- newsstand owner Musta- by the digital information revolu- pers’ losses. It was the latest in a fa Hussein would return tion, experts said. series of price raises by the news- T home with pockets full of “The newspapers cannot stand papers, including a 40% bump last money. competition with the new media September. “Newspaper sales used to thrive, and social media,” said Mohamed The raise, newspaper editors which swelled the profits sell- Tharwat, a media expert. “Most said, is indispensable if some news- ers like me made,” Hussein said. readers now prefer electronic me- papers hope to continue printing. “However, those days are gone and dia to the print press.” “The printing of the newspapers I do not think they will come back.” The drop in sales caused mas- is becoming so costly, which is why A foggy future. An Egyptian man reads a newspaper in the Hussein, one of the oldest news- sive financial losses to newspapers the decision to raise newspaper Zamalek district in Cairo. (AP) paper sellers in Giza province, and led to online news sites draw- prices is necessary,” said Hesham which is part of Greater Cairo, has ing advertisers from print newspa- Sultan, editor of the private Akhir seen Egypt’s newspaper industry pers, leaving newspapers unable to al-Anba’a weekly newspaper. “The owned press establishments have printing and turn into online sites. collapse before his eyes. It took, either make money or cover their newspapers are having a tough incurred total debts of 20 billion Hussein said he knows why. he said, only a few years for dis- spending. time covering their costs.” pounds ($1.2 billion) to the banks. Every day, he stands for hours on tribution of the newspapers to go The last three years have been Even before the latest rise in There are fears that the latest Giza Square, one of the busiest in from the very top to the very bot- especially difficult for the coun- printing costs, newspapers in- raise in newspaper prices will ef- Giza province, and waits for read- tom. try’s newspapers with the price of curred losses because they had fectively end the newspaper in- ers to buy copies from the stacks of Egypt has 650 daily, weekly and newsprint, printing materials and to sell at a fraction of their actual dustry in Egypt and scare readers newspapers placed orderly in front monthly publications. Of the daily distribution rising dramatically. cost. The three major daily news- from the print media. of him. newspapers, 11 are owned and run The increases were exasperated by papers — Al-Ahram, Al Akhbar and This is why authority Chairman Instead of buying, those stand- by the government; 14 are owned the drop in the value of the Egyp- Al Gomhouria — sold for 2 Egyp- Karam Gabr recommended that ing in front of him only look at the by companies or individuals; and tian pound, further driving up rela- tian pounds ($0.12) a copy before each of the state-run establish- headlines of the front pages of the six are owned by political parties. tive prices of imported materials the latest price increase, even as ments, which have thousands of newspapers, which are often the Some of these newspapers, such such as ink. printing cost more than 8 pounds workers, including journalists, same, and leave. as Al-Ahram, almost the oldest dai- Some newspapers have been un- ($0.50) a copy. printing workers, distribution of- “Why should anybody buy the ly newspaper in the region, used able to cope and seemingly each To make up for the difference be- ficers and advertising agents, bet- newspapers when they know the to distribute 1 million copies a day. day another newspaper announces tween what they spent and what ter exploit their assets, including news already from the sites and TV Now, the 650 publications distrib- it will stop its print edition or is they earned, newspapers depend- land and buildings. hours ahead?” Hussein asked. “The ute fewer than 350,000 copies a closing. ed on advertisements and financial Heikal said he expected some newspapers will be scrapped by the day, said Osama Heikal, the former On June 24, Egypt’s National Su- support from the government and newspapers to disappear from readers even more with this latest information minister and the cur- preme Press Authority, the state borrowing from banks. The 11 state- newsstands and others to stop rise in the prices.” July 21, 2019 21 Society Health KSRelief, UNICEF push mission to vaccinate 1.14 million Yemeni children

Caline Malek hygiene promotion so they could raise awareness in communities, including through door-to-door Dubai visits. The programme’s activities in- humanitarian project clude improving immunisation aimed at improving the services at fixed and mobile sites health of Yemeni children for basic vaccinations against nine A has extended its vaccina- vaccine-preventable diseases, and tions capabilities. measles and rubella vaccinations; Led by the King Salman Humani- while providing the supply of vac- tarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRe- cinations and transportation of lief), which serves people in 44 supplies. countries, and UNICEF, the initia- The project will provide 70 solar- tive kicked off in April 2018. powered refrigerators, three cold It was recently extended by six rooms and seven sets of equipment months to further develop the im- for solar refrigerators. It is to build munisation coverage in Yemen, and outfit a central maintenance Saving lives. A Yemeni child receives a vaccination at Aljomhori hospital in Yemen. (KSRelief) with the aim to vaccinate 1.14 mil- workshop and five maintenance lion children in every Yemeni gov- workshops in five governorates, ernorate at a cost of $4.8 million. while training 2,000 health work- years were vaccinated against mea- erty and intermittent conflict,” suspected acute watery diarrhoea The project’s objective is to re- ers on implementing immunisation sles and rubella. Moallem said cases,” Moallem added. duce the rates of disease and death programmes and 50 middle-man- “The centre will implement EPI The conflict has pushed the “Nearly 10.2 million children re- that can be prevented by vaccina- agement health-care supervisors. activities and obtain related sup- health system to the brink. quire basic health-care assistance, tion and limit the spread of dis- An expected 600 field visits will plies in accordance with the imple- “Most health workers have not 9.2 million children don’t have ac- eases. take place, with the distribution of mentation plan,” Moallem said. been paid in nearly three years, cess to safe water, sanitation and UNICEF said extensive vacci- 1 million brochures and 24 health “KSRelief will also establish a medical equipment is in short sup- hygiene and approximately 60% nation coverage provides protec- education lectures. So far, 75% of central maintenance and repair ply and attacks on or near critical of pregnant mothers deliver at tion to children and communities the programme is complete by vac- workshop and a cold room and infrastructure, such as water points home, rather than health facilities, against diseases such as polio or cinating children under the age of 1 warehouse are currently being and health facilities, continue to be that puts them and their babies at measles. “With the contribution with the Penta3 vaccine. constructed in Aden and Sana’a. a daily reality,” Moallem noted. higher risk of complications and from KSRelief, UNICEF has been “This vaccine provides protec- This is one of KSRelief’s many “Only half of all health facili- preventable death. The obvious so- able to improve the delivery of vac- tion from several life-threatening programmes to support Yemen’s ties are functional and even these lution is an immediate halt to hos- cination services and increased diseases, including diphtheria, per- health sector to protect the health face severe shortages in medicine, tilities so that a lasting peace can coverage, especially for children tussis, tetanus, hepatitis, Haemo- of all Yemenis and I hope that the equipment and staff. Widespread prevail.” under one and women of child- philus and Influenza B,” said Dr Ab- desired objectives will be achieved acute malnutrition among children For millions of children in Yem- bearing age (15-49 years), thus sav- dullah Al Moallem, KSRelief’s head through the extension of this vital is making them more vulnerable to en, UNICEF’s response is the differ- ing lives of children and mothers,” of Health and Environmental Aid. programme.” diarrhoea and other water-borne ence between life and death. a UNICEF statement said. “Through this grant, 113 solar di- UNICEF said the situation re- diseases.” “To alleviate the suffering of chil- The statement said that, in 2018 rect drivers and 13 cold rooms were mains dire and is likely to worsen With 12.3 million Yemeni chil- dren, first of all, the war must end and 2019, KSRelief support had provided and 1,900 health workers if the current circumstances persist dren in need of health and nutri- to allow for recovery and a return benefited more than 211,000 chil- and supervisors were trained in or worsen. “In Yemen, a child dies tion, education, access to clean to normal life,” Moallem conclud- dren with vaccination against five various programmes and in immu- every 10 minutes from preventable water and sanitation services and ed. “In the meantime, the interna- life-threatening diseases. In addi- nisation and public hygiene pro- causes,” the spokesman said. protection and more than 1.8 mil- tional community should continue tion, more than 4.2 million chil- motion.” “One woman and six newborns lion acutely malnourished, further to provide the resources needed to dren aged 6 months-5 years living Via vaccination units and the Ex- die every two hours from com- efforts will prove vital. respond to the urgent needs of chil- in high-risk districts were vacci- panded Programme on Immunisa- plications during pregnancy or at “Around 2 million children are dren across all sectors.” nated against measles and rubella. tion (EPI) from the World Health childbirth in Yemen. The health- dependent on food aid and those A total of 1,900 health workers Organisation, approximately 4 care system is in tatters due to under the age of 5 continue to rep- Caline Malek is an Arab Weekly were trained on immunisation and million children aged 6 months-5 years of underdevelopment, pov- resent more than a quarter of all contributor in Abu Dhabi. NGO seeking to decriminalise drug use in Lebanon

Samar Kadi criminal record and for at least 3 the part of the law, Wazan said. years you cannot apply for a job or “Following collective action by get housing loan or move on with the civil society against the judi- Beirut your life,” Wazan said. cial hesitancy in applying this law, The complex Lebanese criminal the court of appeal handed down he Support Don’t Punish justice system can add to the harm a decision compelling judges to campaign for decriminal- to young people, Wazan observed. cease all legal proceedings against ising the use of illicit sub- an illicit substance user willing to stances is very relevant in undergo treatment and to immedi- T An online survey conducted Lebanon where the law on drug use ately refer the person to the DAC, and the jumble of the criminal jus- by Skoun in 2018 of people leaving no room for judges to der- tice system harms young Lebanese aged 18-35 indicated that ogate from this decision,” Wazan whose future is often jeopardised 44% of those who responded said. by judicial flaws, the NGO Skoun said they were for ending However, the Civil Observatory said. criminalisation of drug use. for an Independent and Transpar- Skoun, which runs addic- ent Judiciary said about 110 cases tion treatment centres, has been “During arrest people are trau- with substance use disorders out strongly lobbying for amending the matised, interrogated, humiliated of the 2,709 of those arrested for criminal law regarding drug use, and come under tremendous psy- drug use were referred to the DAC with punishment ranging from 3 chological pressure. In many cases in 2014. months to 3 years in prison, in the they stay beyond the legal limit of In addition to lobbying parlia- case of personal consumption, arrest, which is 4 days. Some stay ment to decriminalise substance along with a fine. for weeks and months because of use, Skoun and rights activists Harsh measures. A Lebanese customs officer shows a confiscated “The Support Don’t Punish cam- red tape and judicial delays,” Wa- worked on the integration of sub- block of hashish in Beirut. (AFP) paign advocates for policies that zan said. stance use treatment centres into are based on human rights and “We are actively calling for de- primary health care. public health, especially for youth criminalising illicit substance use “We already operate a centre Most people arrested for drug and interrogating, it is better to ranging from 16 to 35 years old, because we see on a daily basis the in the Rafik Hariri governmental use have been smoking cannabis, place them in the public health sys- who constitute around 80% of harms caused by treating that as hospital in Beirut and we will soon such as hash and marijuana. An es- tem. If someone needs treatment, those arrested, for use of illicit sub- a crime. I know of a student who open a rehab centre in Baalbek gov- timated 80% are aged 16-35. psychological support, assistance stance,” said Michelle Wazan, drug missed his final exams and had to ernmental hospital and another in “At Skoun we really believe that they should be able to get it free of policy coordinator at Skoun. repeat the whole school year be- Tripoli,” Wazan said. decriminalising personal sub- charge,” she said. “Our discourse is that people cause he was arrested for a long An online survey conducted by stance use should be a priority for Skoun was established in 2003 who use drugs have to be support- time.” Skoun in 2018 of people aged 18-35 the state. A lot of young people are by two psychologists and a psy- ed and not punished. Punishing The law on drugs allows users to indicated that 44% of those who suffering from that. It creates many chiatrist as an outpatient treatment people is counterproductive.” decide on prison or addiction ther- responded said they were for end- obstacles for the development of centre for addictions of all kinds — Teenagers and young adults are apy when arrested. The law says ing criminalisation of drug use, 16% the country and the future of the drug, alcohol and behavioural ad- regularly arrested by police in pubs illicit substance users can ask the said they didn’t know and 39% said youth,” Wazan said. diction. Its team of six therapists or on the street for smoking mari- Drug Addiction Committee (DAC) they were against ending criminali- “We are not calling for the legali- and two psychiatrists delivered juana or using an illicit substance for therapy and referral to addic- sation. The survey results reported sation of drugs, their production or individualised support to 584 pa- occasionally for recreational rea- tion treatment clinics but long pro- that 15% of the sample (3,274 re- circulation. Decriminalising drug tients in 2017. sons. cedures and reluctance by judges spondents) said they tried at least use is completely different.” “If you get arrested and prose- deprived many users, especially once an illicit substance and 75% “Instead of spending state re- Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly cuted for drug use it will be on your the youth, from benefiting from said they had never used any drugs. sources, in arresting, prosecuting Travel and Society section editor. 22 July 21, 2019 Culture Egypt opens museum commemorating life and legacy of novelist Naguib Mahfouz

A glimpse into the world of the writer. Naguib Mahfouz’s personal belongings on More than just stories. Posters of movies based on Naguib Mahfouz’s novels on display at the museum in Cairo. (Amr Emam) display in Cairo. (Amr Emam)

Amr Emam plex, a few metres from al-Azhar Minister of Culture Enas Abdel floor allows screening of Mahfouz’s sein mosques and was the trading Mosque, in Gamaliya District, an Dayem. “Egypt is very keen on pre- literary works that were made into centre in the Fatimid and Mamluk area closely associated with the serving the legacy of its innovators films. Another room contains per- eras. Cairo Ottoman era of the 16th-20th cen- who have formed its soft power.” sonal belongings, such as shaving The district, a maze of alley- turies. A large photo of Mahfouz greets kit, eyeglasses, pen and suits. Most ways lined with small shops that museum celebrating re- visitors at the entrance of the two- of the belongings were donated to sell fabrics, scents and clothes, is a nowned Egyptian novelist storey building. Being initially a the museum by Mahfouz’s daugh- very dynamic place. Women wear- Naguib Mahfouz has been A movie theatre on the mosque, the building has a large ter. ing traditional Egyptian dresses second floor allows A established in the heart dome, surrounded by four smaller Another space contains a large and the buildings that stand on of Cairo’s old city, also known as screening of Mahfouz’s ones. screen that plays a television pro- both sides of the alleyways seem Fatimid Cairo, where the Nobel literary works that were The site is divided into sections, gramme in which Mahfouz tells to have jumped out of Mahfouz’s laureate was born, raised and lived made into films. each occupying a room accessible his life story. A room dubbed novels. most of his life. through a blue door. One of the “Departure Dreams” displays in- “Mahfouz was not a mere man Abul Dahab, treasurer of the Ot- rooms is a conference centre and formation about an attempt on of letters but a whole life,” said Ka- toman Empire in Egypt, built the another is a library that contains Mahfouz’s life in October 1994 and Mohamed Abul Dahab reem Shaboury, the engineer who complex in 1772. The mosque was hundreds of books, some written papers that were handwritten by Mosque, a building of great designed the museum. “He is the the main building of the complex. by Mahfouz and others that are Mahfouz. Another room is called historical value, was man who made everything that Apart from being a house of wor- critical studies of his works. “Eulogy” and contains writings selected to host the was local in Egypt international.” ship, it contained an eatery where One space on the ground floor about Mahfouz after his death in museum. Opened July 14 in ceremonies the poor could receive free food. contains awards, medals and cer- 2006. that involved the minister of cul- It took three years of combined tificates that Mahfouz won in his Gamaliya is the incarnation of The surroundings become an in- ture and the minister of antiqui- efforts by the Ministry of Culture lifetime. A special room is dedi- Mahfouz’s life and art. The district tegral part of Naguib Mahfouz Mu- ties, the museum is the first to and the Ministry of Antiquities to cated to the Noble Prize in Litera- is an open-air museum with doz- seum and its message. honour Mahfouz since his death in convert the mosque into a muse- ture where photos of all those who ens of historical buildings. Each is “This is more than just a muse- 2006. um showcasing the legacy of Mah- have won the award are displayed. associated to part of Egypt’s his- um of Naguib Mahfouz but a centre Mohamed Abul Dahab Mosque, fouz, the only Arab to receive the The room contains a copy of Mah- tory and has been witness to the of light and an exhibition of every- a building of great historical value, Nobel Prize in Literature. fouz’s speech delivered after the country’s political, economic; so- thing Mahfouz believed in,” said was selected to host the museum. “This is an important interna- prize was awarded in 1988. cial and religious developments. Yusuf al-Qaid, a writer and a long- It is part of the Abul Dahab Com- tional achievement,” said Egyptian A movie theatre on the second It is home to al-Azhar and al-Hus- time friend of Mahfouz. London exhibition displays migrant tragedies at sea

Karen Dabrowska focuses on the wreckage of a boat cations at the University of West- that was recovered near the Libyan minster, is the author of “Refram- coast with 450 bodies inside. Hirzel ing Migration: Lampedusa, Border London goes beyond documenting the trag- Spectacle and Aesthetics of Subver- edy to uncover the stories of some sion.” Ramsay, an award-winning e can’t tell you to en- of those involved. artist and the author of “Reframing joy this exhibition.” “Half a mile from Lampedusa” by the Debate: the Art of Lampedusa” “ That was the mes- Tamara Kametani tells the story of is exhibiting a series of 30 graphite Wsage from the cura- a capsized boat carrying more than rubbings from the graves of 30 uni- tors Federica Mazzara and Maya 500 migrants and refugees from dentified migrants who died at sea Ramsay on the opening night of Libya to Lampedusa. A total of 368 while trying to reach Europe. “Sink Without Trace: Exhibition on people died and Italian navy divers Migrant Deaths at Sea” at London’s recorded video footage underwater. P21 Gallery. Kametani’s cyanotype is a single The works of 18 artists from It is a haunting, eerie exhibition. frame taken from this footage. The Denmark, Ethiopia, Eritrea, A soiled orange life vest hangs on cyanotype printing method does Iraqi Kurdistan, Israel, Italy, the wall; visitors see the remains not use a fixer to stabilise the image Slovakia, South Africa and of shoes worn by a migrant who and prevent it from fading. As a re- Sudan are featured in the drowned at sea and the nails from sult, the image fades slowly during exhibition. a shipwrecked migrant boat. The Tragic stories. The salvaged wreck of a boat that capsized off the the exhibition, metaphorically high- objects are collected from such ves- coast of Libya in 2015. (Max Hirzel) lighting the fact that the memory of The exhibition and the catalogue sels in Sicily, anonymous drawings the event will continue to fade until are raising money for Alarm Phone, made on migrant boats and works it disappears from public memory. a rescue hotline for migrants in dis- created by unaccompanied minors and wall-based works, including on the boat with her. As tensions In “Faces of Sea,” Iraqi Kurdish tress at sea. in transit camps in Calais, France. wooden fragments of migrant boats rose the smugglers tried to force artist Mariwan Jalal displays a se- The curators and artists are defi- Close to the gallery on Regents Ca- onto which she has painted media the mother to throw the body of ries of screen prints based on his nitely trying to influence public nal a rescued North African migrant images of the migration crisis. the dead child into the sea. She re- personal experience of travelling to opinion. boat is moored. British artist Lucy The works of 18 artists from Den- fused and one night when she was the United Kingdom by sea. “I was In a questionnaire handed out at Wood set out on an epic solo voyage mark, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Iraqi Kurd- sleeping they took action but they born in an area very far from the the end, visitors are asked to what from the southern Italian island of istan, Israel, Italy, Slovakia, South mistakenly threw the sleeping child sea. I had no relationship with the extent their views or understanding Lampedusa to London in the boat Africa and Sudan are featured in the into the sea. sea other than having seen it in the of migrant deaths at sea changed in 2013. The vessel served as a float- exhibition. Deaths off the Libyan coast are movies until the day came when I upon visiting the exhibition and ing art installation containing the In “From a Distance,” mixed a recurring theme. In a 12-minute had to travel to the sea and attempt whether they would be more likely objects that had been abandoned media Iraqi Kurdish artist Behjat video “The Bureaucracy of Angels,” to cross it illegally,” Jalal said. to engage with campaigns to im- by the migrants and videos telling Omer Abdulla tells a tragic story Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chana- The concept for the “Sink Without prove migration policies in the Unit- the stories of those Wood met in in the form of a series of graphite rin record the demolition of 100 mi- Trace” exhibition was born out of ed Kingdom and Europe after their Lampedusa. Visitors to the exhibi- drawings of twins. A mother com- grant boats in Sicily in the winter of the curator’s long-standing research visit to the exhibition. tion are welcome to experience the ing from the Middle East to Europe 2016. into the subject of art and migrant cramped conditions onboard. In the across the Mediterranean kept the In the “Migrant Bodies” series of deaths at sea. Mazzara, a senior Karen Dabrowska is an Arab gallery, Wood is showing sculpture body of one of the twins who died images, photographer Max Hirzel lecturer in Intercultural Communi- Weekly contributor in London. July 21, 2019 23 Culture Interview Bahraini poet highlights appeal of colloquial poetry to Arab readers

especially through many Bahraini harsh life of pearl divers, the A world of passion. Bahraini poet Ali Abdullah Khalifa. (Al Arab) students who studied in Beirut and profession of my ancestors. I am the Mohamed Cairo,” Khalifa said. son of a diver. Therefore, I spontane- al-Alawi “This openness on the outside is ously talked about the exploitation and Colloquial Arabic and I pub- exactly those he had written about part of the nature of the Bahraini experienced by people in the lished many collections in both who did not understand his mes- personality. Bahrainis, like all profession and wanted to show the varieties because I wanted to touch sage. li Abdullah Khalifa islanders, are particularly keen on existence of maritime feudalism, different parts of the society. When I “I do not know when to write in is considered one being open to the world. The which is worse than land feudal- write in the local dialect, I follow the Colloquial Arabic or Classical Arabic. of the founders of Bahraini authorities have contrib- ism. mawwal style, which is the style of It’s really the poem itself that the Bahraini uted to this movement by sending “In my ​​writing I was inspired by sailor songs in Bahrain, much chooses its language and style,” modern poetry Bahraini students to study in Arab my own harsh life experience and by admired by all because it is part of Khalifa said. “I don’t have a problem movement. He’s universities.” what I witnessed, so I wrote as a sort their heritage.” with either genre and I don’t feel any had several Khalifa said Bahrain was a of paying attention to the hidden He added: “I do not feel any contradiction. important literary pioneer in the cultural movement aspects of things.” contradiction when I am working on “I feel that a poem written in the andA poetic experiences since the and there are similar movements in Khalifa maintained the same path texts in Classical Arabic or in local dialect is sweet and light but early 1960s. He’s also interested in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab in later poems. He wrote about his Colloquial Arabic. Colloquial Arabic so is a poem written in Classical popular culture and has published Emirates, Oman and Kuwait. Bahraini environment, turning it is my mother tongue. I heard it in Arabic. I do feel, however, that research on folklore in specialised “What is excellent about these into special poetic symbols. He said cradle songs and it seeped deep in Classical Arabic gives me a wider magazines. His poetry has been movements is that they are in poetry still has charm and will be my memory and soul. room for expression because of the translated into English, French, constant communication and with us as long as there is a beating “I also grew up in a Bahraini multiplicity of the lexical items. Persian, Italian, Romanian, Russian interaction through conferences heart. environment of sea workers who “I also love to recite my poems and Portuguese. and other events, whether at the He said he agrees that true poets chanted poems daily and fluently in using body language as a very Khalifa, in an interview with The individual level or at the institu- and true poetry are rare and that Bahraini Arabic. So, I had taken, as a important means of conveying Arab Weekly, stressed that the first tional level,” he said. poetry is a divine gift. A pseudo- child, big gulps of the spirit of those meaning. Whether I write in feature of the literary and cultural “As to cultural and literary poet cannot make poetry. Talent, folk poems, which I consider colloquial or classical language, the movement in Bahrain was that it is magazines and publications, however, is not enough, because the important texts. When I was 6, I was important thing for me is that I feel keeping abreast with the Arab Kuwait was definitely a pioneer essence of poetry requires care and placed in Quranic school and I that I have expressed what I wanted cultural movement, both in culture because of the great importance it refinement, in addition to giving it memorised the Quran and that’s to say and that I have conveyed a in general and literature and art in gave to culture from the beginning the appropriate importance in our how I now have two wings to soar poetic experience.” particular. of its modern history and of the lives. Poetry is a cause, a high art with.” Khalifa noted that he has never He said there has been an resources it allocated to cultural and we need to honour it. It cannot, Khalifa acknowledged that he written lyrics for a song but some of educated elite in Bahrain who has development. for example, be used for profit or exploited the richness of vernacular his poems have been put to been in contact with the poles of “Not only did Kuwait play a huge play, he said. and standard languages to music. Arab culture and developments in and pioneering role in developing Khalifa said, however, we should strengthen his poetic talent and take “When a singer or a composer intellectual and literary fields. That its local literary movement, it also not ask for the impossible from on various issues. He said he did not likes one of my poems and asks for gives the Bahraini literary move- financed and supported cultural poets. If a poet happens to live in an plan to write in Colloquial Arabic, my permission to turn it into a song, ment a vitality that allows it to movements in other Gulf states and illiterate society, what could he do? that it happened spontaneously. I do not object,” he said. “Some of experience momentum that marks several Arab countries.” He is neither responsible for that He recalled that, when he pub- my poems were selected for songs, the literary scene and other fields Khalifa said a poet cannot plan a illiteracy nor can he be a teacher. lished his first collection of poems, even though I have declined several in the Arab world. poem right from the beginning. “If a society does not appreciate he was congratulated by many requests for writing lyrics for That momentum created an intel- “In my writing, I tried to give a poetry, you have to find a way to simple folk and workers in his opening songs for television series. lectual vitality in Bahrain in voice to myself, my surroundings communicate with it first,” said neighbourhood but they said they Artist Khalid al-Sheikh, for exam- addition to developing an avid and my environment. That is why I Khalifa. “I wrote in the local Arabic did not understand what he wanted ple, selected some lines from one of audience for literary works. titled my first collection of poems dialect because this medium to say in his poems. He said this my poems and sang them.” “This literary and cultural ‘Anin al-Sawari’ (‘Lament of the reaches readers quickly but I did not made him both sad and motivated. vitality in Bahrain has been Masts’),” he said. really focus on Colloquial Arabic. Motivated to continue writing in Mohamed al-Alawi is a Moroccan constantly alive and renewed, “I wanted to paint, in words, the “I write in both Classical Arabic Bahraini Arabic but sad that it was writer. Iraqi group spreads tolerance and peace through art

Oumayma Omar dangling wires captures visitors’ at- it with positivity. At the end they tention because of its unusual shape. perform before an audience which “It is the work of a young par- helps them to gain hope and self- Baghdad ticipant in a recent exhibition who confidence,” Saad explained. wanted to raise awareness about the Beit Tarkeeb also offers therapy alking into the tradi- problem of poor power supply and through reading and discussion of tional Baghdadi house, the incredible amount of electrical books chosen by therapists. They one is amazed by the wires on the streets of Baghdad,” have a weekly Open Projector Night W number of artworks dis- Saad explained. to present works from local and re- played in the yard and on walls of “Contemporary art is something gional film-makers and Art Lecture the building’s spacious rooms. new in Iraq and not many people Lab once a month, which is a public Beit Tarkeeb, in Baghdad’s Kar- understand the message the artists lecture series presented by special- rada neighbourhood, is a platform are trying to convey. Each work has ists and devoted to the study and de- for a variety of art forms and where an idea behind it and seeks to raise a velopment of arts and sciences. young Iraqis can train, learn and problem that is affecting the society The artists at Beit Tarkeeb come expose their work covering visual without directly touching on poli- from different backgrounds, differ- arts, performing arts, films, music, tics, religion or gender.” ent regions and various art fields but literature, photography and interior “Art is not meant to cause con- they unite under the shared goal of design. flict or controversy but constructive conveying peace. Some came from “Our goal is to spread the culture change. We believe in art’s ability Mosul, where they lived under the of peace and its values. Art is our to positively affect fellow Iraqis and tyrannical rule of the Islamic State. means to communicate our prin- foster the aspired change,” Saad Art therapies are designed to deal Communicating through art. Visitors at Beit Tarkeeb in Baghdad’s ciples and alternatives to rampant added. with post-war traumas and to spread Karrada neighbourhood. (Oumayma Omar) violence wrecking the Iraqi soci- Artists in Beit Tarkeeb stage sur- a culture of tolerance and non-vio- ety,” said Zeid Saad, 27, an artist and prise musical and theatre perfor- lence by promoting the principle of founding member of Beit Tarkeeb. mances on the streets of Baghdad. civil peace and preventing acts of ing the youth without any charge,” she said with a big smile. “We are an NGO that promotes “The idea is to share with the pub- reprisals, Saad said. National con- he said. “Beit Tarkeeb gives young Outside the restored Baghdadi contemporary arts for young talents lic, not to be confined in a closed cerns, such as the absence of the talents complete freedom in practis- house, contemporary artworks, in- aged 15-35 who wish to express their space,” Saad said. “Beit Tarkeeb suc- rule of law and justice, corruption or ing their art and using the place. That cluding sculptures, installations and ideas through a variety of art genres, ceeded in breaking conventional ap- widespread unemployment, feature helps develop their artistic skills paintings, are featured on walls and especially music, acting and danc- proaches through its performances, heavily in discussions as well as con- without pressure or preconditions.” in different corners of the yard. ing.” workshops and training courses with cerns about tribal justice and punish- Mina Hamed, 16, was rushing to “I am confident that Beit Tarkeeb Since its founding in 2015, Beit the support of European institutions ment and the proliferation of weap- the drawing workshop in the build- will constitute a milestone in the Tarkeeb has been organising the advocating contemporary art.” ons outside government control. ing’s basement carrying her colour course of Iraqi art. We aspire to be Baghdad Contemporary Art Festival, With the support of Germany’s Atef Jaffal, an 18-year-old con- tubes, brushes and canvas. “I have the nucleus from which contempo- which is the only festival in Iraq that GIZ, the group organises “art ther- temporary interior designer and been passionate about drawing since rary arts in the country will expand,” features young artists in artistic spe- apy” sessions during which partici- volunteer worker with Beit Tarkeeb, childhood. When I learned about Saad said. cialities such as contemporary art, pants play music with utensils and speaks about his work with passion. the summer sessions at Tarkeeb, I literature, music, cinema and thea- housewares. “Through these ses- “I want to be part of this place couldn’t wait for school to finish. Oumayma Omar, based in Baghdad, tre. sions participants work on expel- that will propel contemporary art I wish to study medicine and art. is a contributor to the Culture and A large installation of twisted and ling negative energy and replacing through the great support it is offer- There is no harm in practising both,” Society section of The Arab Weekly. 24 July 21, 2019 Travel www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Jerash: Through July 27

The Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts, first put on in 1980, transforms the ancient Jordanian city of Jerash into one of the world’s liveliest cultural events, with singers, poetry readings, ballet performances, symphony orchestras and art shows. This year’s edition includes artists such as Marcel Khalife, Mohamed Mounir, Abeer Nema and the Sultans of Syria.

Baalbek: Through August 3

Set in the Roman ruins in eastern Lebanon, the Baalbek Interna- tional Festival includes opera, Mount Hermon as seen from the Ammiq Wetlands in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. (AFP) classical music, pop and jazz concerts, modern and classical dance by international and local performers. This year’s edition includes performances by Marcel Ecotourism, stunning nature lure Khalife, Melody Gardot and Ja- hida Wehbe.

El Jem: visitors to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley Through August 9 El Jem Roman Amphitheatre, Samar Kadi “It is in the people’s interest to 160km south of Tunis, hosts preserve nature. Having a piece of classical musicians from all over land next to a polluted river, for the world for the International Taanayel instance, won’t be useful. If a tree Festival of Symphonic Music of El can be a source of income, why not Jem. In its 34th year, the festival cotourism is rising as a sustain it? There is no harm in mak- programme includes symphonic trend to attract tourists to ing profitable investments while and orchestral music from Spain, Lebanon and encourage the preserving the ecology. Sustainabil- Italy, Austria, Egypt and Tunisia. E country’s citizens to work ity here serves the environment as on protecting their heritage, envi- well as the economy and the soci- Sousse: ronment and ecology while helping ety,” Noon said. Through August 15 sustain rural communities. While it is a fairly new trend in Projects geared to preserve the Lebanon, ecotourism started in The International Festival of ecology and entice tourism have Europe in the late 1970s as an alter- Sousse celebrates the diversity of been popping up in various regions, native to mass tourism, which was Tunisian culture and history. The a big challenge in Lebanon where damaging the environment and un- festival includes performances of concrete structures are mushroom- dermining local communities, tra- local and international artists. ing at the expense of green areas. ditions and cultural heritage. More people are showing interest A softer kind of tourism was Byblos: in nature conservation because it is needed, one that would protect an Through August 24 profitable and there is an economic area’s natural and cultural legacy as need for it, said Chaker Noon, co- well as educate the traveller and se- Byblos International Festival founder of Baldati, an ecology-ori- cure funds for ecological conserva- in the ancient Phoenician port ented NGO. tion, aiding economic development city of Byblos, north of Beirut, “Hotels are becoming very ex- and empowering local communi- Greenery surrounding Ecolodge in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. features international rock bands pensive and require big invest- ties. (Samar Kadi) and pop singers. This year’s ments, whereas ecological projects, “The lodges are built by local schedule includes French singer such as camping sites, guest houses people in the traditional way, us- and local visitors. prised,” Nakhleh said. Mark Lavoine, Lebanese indie and ecolodges are simple and much ing materials that are found lo- French-Japanese tourist Arkane She said she did not mind waking rock band Mashrou’ Leila and more affordable to people willing to cally, such as wood, hay, mud and Monavon, a guest at Ecolodge, said up to the sound of a rooster crow- Britain’s tribute ensemble Queen invest in tourism,” Noon said. clay,” said Fadi Firzli, manager of when she travels she always looks ing. “When one chooses to stay in Symphonic. “In the past, regular tourism Ecolodge in Taanayel, one of the for authentic and traditional places the countryside and in the nature amounted to some 80% of tour- oldest ecological accommodations that “have a soul” rather than regu- one should expect the sounds of Dubai: ism activity globally. Today, things mushrooming in the Bekaa Valley lar hotels. birds… It is much better than hear- August 15-30 have changed. People are returning in eastern Lebanon. “Experiencing how people live ing the noise of cars and traffic,” she to nature, looking for new experi- “The aim was to rebuild typi- and eat helps understand the his- said. Dubai Opera will host its first ences and new sensations. cal houses of the Bekaa region, tory of a place. One can sleep in a Noon said he is confident eco- Disney Festival with 48 clas- “Lebanon has all the elements for which are disappearing and being concrete room anywhere but when tourism will grow in Lebanon as the sic Disney films — from original developing an ecotourism industry, replaced by cement constructions you stay in places like this, it is a Lebanese become aware of the ad- animation to live-action titles including a beautiful nature, crea- that are harmful to the environ- different experience. Your entire vantages of preserving the environ- — scheduled. The list includes tive entrepreneurship and good ment,” Firzli said. “To work with body can feel it,” Monavon said. ment — economically, socially and favourites such as “The Little services. This has helped a lot in people and material in proximity, Salwa Nakhleh, a French-Leba- health wise. Mermaid,” “Moana,” “Hocus boosting ecotourism in addition to means fewer cars, less carbon and nese raised in France, has visited “The young generation is in- Pocus” and “Honey, I Shrunk the the fact that people are becoming work as a community. It is much Lebanon more than once but never creasingly appreciating the trend Kids.” more aware of environmental is- cheaper, healthier and environ- stayed in an ecolodge before. and they are more aware and better sues.” ment-friendly.” “I booked online after seeing educated about the environment. Marrakech: New conservation laws, especial- Many say ecotourism in Lebanon the photos. I love nature and I saw The ecotourism business is attract- September 13-15 ly regarding strict construction reg- started because it was a global trend that you sleep on mattresses on the ing more investors who see in it a ulations to safeguard green spaces, that appealed to the Lebanese who floor in traditional mud houses and good source of income that doesn’t The Oasis Festival is an event are being introduced by municipali- like to stay in vogue. Nonetheless, a village environment, so I thought require investment of big money,” that celebrates electronic music. ties in rural areas, Noon noted. the approach is attracting foreign that suits me and I was nicely sur- Noon said. It takes place in the Moroccan desert for three days of perfor- mances and gathers artists from all over the world.

Tangier: September 15-22

The 20th Tangier’s Jazz Festival will feature international and lo- cal jazz artists. Visitors can enjoy free street performances, free dance courses and jazz concerts during the 8-day event. This year’s festival lineup includes Buika, Anne Sila and Nico Morelli.

We welcome submissions of calendar items related to cultural events of interest to travellers in the Middle East and North Africa.

Please send tips to: A room with sleeping mattresses on the floor at Ecolodge. A place where visitors can rest at Ecolodge in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. [email protected] (Samar Kadi) (Samar Kadi)