UK £2 Issue 230, Year 5 EU €2.50 November 10, 2019 www.thearabweekly.com Hope on Iraq, the Egypt- Lebanon Ethiopia front unrest Pages 3,12 Pages 2,8-9 Arab leaders tout Riyadh Agreement as path to peace in war-torn Yemen ►The agreement was signed November 5 by Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and STC President Aidarus al-Zoubaidi.

The Arab Weekly staff ports this document as an impor- tant step to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen.” London Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said the Riyadh Agreement he signing of the Riyadh is “a great step towards resolving Agreement was received the Yemeni crisis.” positively by Arab leaders “I have followed with great and key international play- pleasure the signing of the deal Hard-line politics. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends the graduation of military T ers, including the United States between the Yemeni government cadets in Tehran, November 4. (AFP) and the United Nations. and the Southern Transitional The power-sharing deal be- Council under the generous aus- tween the internationally recog- pices of King Salman [bin Ab- nised Yemeni government and dulaziz Al Saud] and attendance Iran seeks to pressure Europe the Southern Transitional Council of Crown Prince Mohammed bin (STC) was expected to open the Salman [bin Abdulaziz] and UAE path for an end to infighting in Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed through ‘nuclear extortion’ southern Yemen and prepare for bin Zayed al-Nahyan,” Sisi posted a comprehensive political solu- on Twitter. Thomas Seibert an President Hassan Rohani, co-ar- that Tehran gets some of the eco- tion that may include the Houthi Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ah- chitect of the Joint Comprehensive nomic advantages promised under rebels and move Yemen out of the mad al-Jaber al-Sabah hailed the Plan (JCPOA) gave European powers the deal. war that has engulfed the country pact in a message to King Salman, Istanbul until January to find ways for Teh- For Iran, “perhaps the best option since 2015. saying it would “contribute to uni- ran to sell oil despite US sanctions. is to do as much trade as it can with fying ranks to solve differences he international accord to However, an EU spokeswoman the Eastern bloc and try to see if [US and preserve brotherly Yemen’s prevent Iran from develop- said it was becoming “increasingly President Donald] Trump will win a UN Special Envoy for security and stability.” ing nuclear weapons is un- difficult” to save the JCPOA. French second term or not,” he wrote. Yemen Martin Griffiths UN Special Envoy for Yemen T ravelling as European pow- President Emmanuel Macron also The possibility of US compromises said the deal would drive Martin Griffiths congratulated the ers question whether the pact can voiced frustration. He said Iran’s lat- remains low because there are no efforts to end the civil two sides on the deal, which he be saved following new violations est actions were a “profound shift” signs that Iran is willing to step back war that has devastated said would drive efforts to end by Tehran. from the nuclear deal. “I think that, from JCPOA violations or limit its re- the country. the civil war that has devastated The development could cost for the first time, Iran has decided gional ambitions. A study by London the country. “The signing of this Iran vital support from Europe in in an explicit and blunt manner to think-tank International Institute for “Signing the agreement, which agreement is an important step for its confrontation with the United leave the JCPOA,” he said. Strategic Studies (IISS) said Iran was is the fruit of long and relentless our collective efforts to advance a States and comes as public unrest in Without continued European expanding its proxy and asymmetri- efforts exerted by our brothers in peaceful settlement to the conflict Lebanon and Iraq challenges Iran’s backing for the agreement, the cal warfare strategy in a regional Saudi Arabia and the United Arab in Yemen,” Griffiths said. proxy-based strategy to widen its in- JCPOA would collapse. The United power struggle against US-backed Emirates, will be a turning point in Yemeni Minister of Information fluence in the Middle East. States says the agreement is not countries such as Saudi Arabia. the battle against the Houthi militia Muammar al-Eryani praised Saudi Iran said it had resumed uranium strong enough to rein in Iran’s nu- “While the conventional military and a new stage towards strength- Arabia’s role in reaching the deal. enrichment at its underground For- clear ambitions and aggressive re- balance remains heavily in favour ening relations between the Arab “We highly appreciate the re- dow nuclear plant, stepping further gional policies in the Middle East of the US and its allies, Iran has coalition and the STC,” said STC lentless efforts of our brothers in from the 2015 nuclear deal with and is calling on its European part- tipped the balance of effective force spokesman Nizar Haitham. KSA to accomplish the agreement world powers after the United States ners to join Washington’s hard-line in the Middle East to its advantage US President Donald Trump, and work to unite the Yemenis pulled out of it last year. Adding to stance. by developing a sovereign capa- who rarely comments on the war against challenges, especially the the rising tensions, the International “It is now time for all nations to re- bility to conduct warfare through in Yemen, wrote on Twitter that Iranian threat and its proxy Hou- Atomic Energy Agency, a UN agency, ject this regime’s nuclear extortion third parties,” IISS Director-General the agreement was a “very good” this,” Eryani wrote on Twitter. said Iran detained one of its nuclear and take serious steps to increase and Chief Executive John Chipman start, calling on all parties to con- The agreement was signed No- inspectors at another site and pre- pressure,” US Secretary of State wrote on the institute’s website. tinue to exert efforts to reach a fi- vember 5 by Yemeni President vented her from leaving the country. Mike Pompeo said in a statement. nal deal. Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and STC Tehran says efforts by France, Farhang Jahanpour, a British aca- Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly A British Foreign Office state- President Aidarus al-Zoubaidi. Abu Germany and the United Kingdom demic of Iranian descent, said it was correspondent. ment read: “The British govern- Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed to keep trade routes open despite understandable that Iran was exas- Full version of this article appears on ment welcomes the signing of the and Saudi Crown Prince Moham- US sanctions have been insufficient. perated by the United States’ with- www.thearabweekly.com Riyadh Agreement between the med attended the signing ceremo- Iran’s oil exports have fallen at least drawal from the nuclear agreement Yemeni legitimacy and the South- ny in Riyadh. 80% because of the sanctions. Irani- and Europe’s inability to make sure P17 ern Transitional Council and sup- P4 Mawlid holiday brings joy, festivities to Muslim countries Iman Zayat butter or olive oil and sugar rather figurine made of sugary paste that is took place throughout Morocco. Fez, It allows us, particularly through than the more expensive zgougou dressed in paper skirts, sparkles and known as Morocco’s spiritual capi- the Islamic faith, to attain a state of (pine cone) or hazelnuts variations fabric flowers. The dolls are tradi- tal, drew thousands of visitors from enjoyment in which we find inner Tunis that are traditional Mawlid treats. tionally offered by young men around the world for the celebra- peace, whether by means of dhikr Mawlid is celebrated by all major to their betrothed along with tions. (devotional prayer), tasbih (a repeti- uslims throughout the denominations of Islam, includ- other sweets made of dried In war-hit Libya, Sufis dressed in tive praise of Allah), music or Quran world celebrated the ing Sunnis who have ceremonies at fruit, nuts and nougat. traditional robes took part in pro- recitals,” he said. Mawlid holiday even as shrines to honour the Prophet Mo- In Lebanon, where anti- cessions across neighbourhoods, Historians say Mawlid was first M protests continued in Al- hammad’s legacy with festivities and corruption demonstra- chanting hymns to the beat of practised by the Fatimids, who intro- geria, Lebanon, Iraq and other loca- songs. tions raged, mosques drums and cymbals. duced the celebration to the Maghreb tions. Some of the largest ceremonies in were decorated with The centuries-old tradition in the early 12th century. The centuries-old holiday marking Tunisia took place November 2-10 in lights and crescents of Sufism “is in vogue,” said Mawlid is commemorated in Rabi I, the birth of Mohammad, the Prophet the central city of Kairouan, drawing to mark the holiday Slim Bacouche, a Sufi song- the third month in the Islamic calen- of Islam, brought people together for about 1 million visitors from around while people dis- writer and psycho- dar. The 12th of Rabi I is the accepted sweets and festivities but economic the country, said Ali Ben Saied, presi- tributed sweets. phonist. date among most of the Sunni schol- hardship made it difficult for some dent of the Association of the Proph- Cultural “Sufism is ars while Shia scholars regard the 17th families to celebrate with traditional et’s Birthday. events and reli- about a desire of Rabi I as the accepted date. treats. In Egypt, where many live in poor gious ceremo- to return to the In Tunisia, some families opted to conditions, sweets shops prepared nies, including source. It’s also a Iman Zayat is the Managing Editor of prepare flour asida (porridge) with the traditional “Mawlid bride,” a Sufi nights, quest for the truth. The Arab Weekly. 2 November 10, 2019 Top News Scores of Iraqi protesters killed in violent crackdown

The Arab Weekly staff Security forces built barricades, fired volleys of tear gas and stun grenades and resumed using live London ammunition. Even the use of tear gas has been espite growing interna- deadly. Medics and rights groups tional outcry, Iraqi secu- said security forces fired canisters rity forces and masked at demonstrators at close range, D assailants continued their instead of into the air as is usual crackdown on protesters, leading to allow the gas to disperse. The to mass bloodshed. Developments United Nations said at least 16 peo- raised questions about the role of ple died after suffering skull and Iran and its proxy militias in the chest injuries from fired canisters. attempts to violently snuff the Amnesty International said it protests. identified the military-grade can- isters as Serbian- and Iranian- made. Reports of a security UN Secretary-General Antonio plan to end the Guterres expressed “serious con- demonstrations cern over the rising number of supervised by Iran’s deaths and injuries during the on- Islamic Revolutionary going demonstrations in Iraq.” Guard Corps. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul- Mahdi was accused by protesters In Iraq, more than 250 demon- of orchestrating the bloodshed, strators — and as many as 300 by earning him the nickname “Qatil some estimates — have been killed Abdul-Mahdi” — “Abdul-Mahdi, since the start of anti-government the Killer.” protests October 1. However, the The role of Iran and its proxy violence did not stop thousands militias drew the ire of Iraqi dem- of members of Iraq’s influential onstrators after reports of a secu- tribes from flocking to Bagh- rity plan to end the demonstra- dad’s main protest camp in Tahrir tions that would be supervised by Square on November 8 to join the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard demonstrations. Corps and utilise the Popular Mo- “We won’t stop until the govern- bilisation Forces militia and other ment resigns,” one demonstrator pro-Iran Shia militias, such as told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Iraq’s Badr Organisation and Leba- Bridges became the main front non’s Hezbollah. in Baghdad as protesters tried to Media reports stated the plan Target of ire. An Iraqi protester hits a poster showing the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ block access to government of- would focus on disrupting dem- al-Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani with a shoe during anti-government protests in Baghdad. (AP) fices and foreign embassies. On onstrations in Tahrir Square and November 9, Iraqi security forces target media and human rights ac- regained control of three bridges tivists accused of inciting protests. stands at 25%, the World Bank of reforms to appease demonstra- of Iraq source was quoted by Reu- in the heart of Baghdad that were Protests began in early October said. Transparency International tors and Iraqi President Barham ters as saying losses by private occupied by protesters. In Basra, over widespread corruption and ranked Iraq the 12th most corrupt Salih promised early elections. banks and mobile phone com- several demonstrators were killed lack of jobs but escalated into calls country. On November 8, Iraq’s top Shia panies, money transfer services, by security forces who tried to reo- for the entire ruling system to step Abdul-Mahdi was said to be cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, tourism and airline booking offices pen roads blocked by sit-ins. Pro- down. considering resigning but, as the warned of “internal and external” have averaged more than $40 mil- testers cut access to Basra’s Umm Iraq is OPEC’s second-biggest protest movement dragged on, top forces seeking to exploit the pro- lion per day — almost $1.5 billion Qasr port, where most of Iraq’s oil producer but about 20% of the leaders appear to have reached a tests and drive instability. for Iraq in just more than a month. food and medical imports are de- population lives in poverty and consensus that he should see his The protests are having an eco- livered. the youth unemployment rate term through. He proposed a series nomic toll on Iraq. A Central Bank (With news agencies.) In Kuwait, too, Protests widen in Lebanon, turn resentment of corruption into major political-financial crisis sparks protests

The Arab Weekly staff push to drive out an elite they accuse The cabinet has stayed on in a care- movement. “I don’t see any change in The Arab Weekly staff of ruling the country like a cartel for taker capacity but efforts to form a the behaviour of any of the main ac- decades. new lineup seem to have stalled. tors after everything that happened,” s in Lebanon and Iraq, Beirut Some protesters were critical of Hariri said his resignation was a re- he told Reuters. suspected corruption ig- the country’s sectarian arrangements sponse to the demands of protesters, There are concerns the situation nited protests in Kuwait. oung protesters swelled the that underlie its political system and who want a government devoid of could lead to a major economic crisis. A Demonstrations took ranks of demonstrators in Leb- patronage ramifications. Leadership politicians accused of corruption. Gemayel said Lebanon was near “a place outside the Kuwaiti parlia- anon as the essentially peace- positions in the state are distributed Both Aoun and Berri are allies of huge monetary and financial collapse.” ment November 6. Y ful movement morphed into among Maronite Christian, Sunni Mus- Hezbollah, which has not said which The protests led to a 2-week closure Echoing the accusations of cor- a major political and financial crisis in lim and Shia Muslim representatives. candidate it backs to head the next of banks. Although financial institu- ruption levelled at parliament the severely debt-strapped country. In addition to party affiliation, sectar- government. Hezbollah Secretary- tions reopened November 1, restric- speaker Marzouq al-Ghanim, Thousands of students took to the ian considerations also affect access to General Hassan Nasrallah has accused tions on international transfers and demonstrators called on him to streets in Lebanon but demonstrations jobs and social privileges. foreign powers of instigating the un- withdrawals of hard currency created resign. “Resign! Resign, Marzouq, remained peaceful despite attempts The issue sets protesters against rest. new concerns. the Kuwaiti people don’t want by militants affiliated with pro-Iran most of the ruling class. “When you Capital inflows vital to financing you!” they chanted. ask for the dismantling of the politi- Shia groups Hezbollah and Amal to The youth Lebanon’s state budget and trade Former lawmaker Saleh al- disrupt them. cal sectarian system… you’re basically deficits have been slowing for years, Moulla used social media to call Students blocked traffic in Beirut asking the current political elite to unemployment rate contributing to a scarcity of foreign for a vigil, organised with permis- and demanded the removal of the commit group suicide. They’re not go- stands at more than 30% currency and the emergence of a black sion from authorities, under the political class and its sectarian-based ing to do that,” Maha Yahya, director of in Lebanon. market for the Lebanese pound. slogan “That’s enough!” power-sharing system. After blocking the Carnegie Middle East Centre, told Addressing one of the demands Moulla said the protest “a mes- roads for days, protesters switched to the Associated Press. Political actors in Lebanon ex- of the protesters, prosecutors are in- sage from the people and an ex- preventing access to institutions ac- The young people “want basic, fun- pressed scepticism about the outcome vestigating allegations of corruption pression of the unhappiness of the cused of mismanagement and corrup- damental rights and for them they of the talks. Leading Druze politician among senior officials. Former Leba- people in the face of corruption.” tion. really have nothing to lose,” she said. Walid Jumblatt took aim at Hariri and nese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora “Citizens feel that corruption is The youth unemployment rate “They recognise that this system Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran was questioned November 7 regard- widespread everywhere. We are stands at more than 30% in Lebanon. hasn’t worked for their parents; it is Bassil, who is also Aoun’s son-in-law, ing how $11 billion in state funds was the world’s richest country but There has been no apparent pro- not working for them.” writing on Twitter that, despite the spent while he was in power from still have no good roads, (public) gress made since Saad Hariri resigned Faced with a serious power vacu- protests and social and economic dan- 2005-09. education and health services as prime minister but Hariri did meet um, Aoun has yet to formally start the gers, the two “were meeting on how to On November 6, the World Bank have deteriorated,” political ana- with Lebanese President Michel Aoun process of consulting with politicians improve and beautify” a political deal warned that a failure to quickly form lyst Ibrahim Dashti told AFP. on November 7. to nominate a new prime minister. they struck in 2016. a Lebanese government that meets It is not clear what kind of politi- Lebanese protesters’ grievances ini- Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Amine Gemayel, whose Kataeb protesters’ demands could lead to an cal repercussions the demonstra- tially focused on poor infrastructure Hariri insisted he be nominated again Party was not part of the outgoing even sharper economic downturn. tions will have in Kuwait. and public services but quickly grew as prime minister, saying this was “for cabinet, said the main players had not into an unprecedented nationwide the good of Lebanon.” understood the depth of the protest (With news agencies.) (News agencies) November 10, 2019 3 Top News Erdogan, Trump to meet in Washington amid deepest diplomatic crisis in decades

Thomas Seibert “I think the current crisis is deeper in a number of different ways,” Eissenstat said by e-mail. Istanbul “First, at a very basic level, the ge- opolitical terrain has shifted since urkish President Recep 2003; Turkey feels less obligated Tayyip Erdogan is to travel to defer to the United States.” to Washington amid what “In addition, while the Trump- T analysts called the deep- Erdogan relationship is apparent- est crisis in Turkish-US relations ly quite strong, it is unlikely to be in decades. stable. The array of clear divides Erdogan is to meet with US Pres- has accumulated. I think we have ident Donald Trump at the White already reached a sort of breaking House on November 13. The Turk- point. The question now is how ish leader, who had delayed a de- dramatic that break will be.” cision on whether to go, said the Turkey has been stung by the US trip would proceed after a Novem- decision not to rely on Ankara in ber 6 telephone call with Trump, the special forces operation that Erdogan’s office said. led to the death of Islamic State Problems between Turkey and (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the United States have been pil- in a Syrian hideout close to the ing up. The two countries are at Turkish border last month. odds over Syria, where the United The Turkish government high- States has backed a Kurdish mili- lighted its successes in the fight tia that is regarded as a terrorist against ISIS. Ankara said its forces group by Turkey. There have been captured Baghdadi’s wife, sister tensions over Ankara’s decision to and brother-in law in Syria. buy a Russian missile defence sys- In a stab against the US admin- tem and accusations by American istration, Erdogan said Turkey prosecutors that a Turkish state “didn’t make a fuss like them” bank broke Iranian sanctions. when it captured the ISIS leader’s Tempers rose further in October wife. Adding fuel to fire. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting in Ankara, (AP) when Turkey began a military op- Turkish officials said Ankara November 6. eration in Syria and the US House can do business with Trump of Representatives adopted a himself but that forces in the US found Trump to be a fairly easy “In the Congress, Turkey is seen key-US ties,” she said. “From the resolution defining the mass kill- administration are working to partner — and quite easy to ma- as a country that turns a blind eye Turkish perspective, the US policy ing of Armenians in the Ottoman frustrate possible positive de- nipulate” while it was “meeting to ISIS, a country that attacks US in Syria confirmed that the US was Empire as “genocide.” The House velopments, Abdulkadir Selvi, more resistance in the bureaucra- allies on the ground — so those not a reliable ally and that Turkey also called for sanctions against a well-connected columnist for cy and in Congress.” were huge issues right after the could not depend on the US for its Turkey and for an investigation of the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper, “If Turkey’s foreign policy is conflict in Syria started,” Tol said security needs.” Erdogan’s personal finances. wrote November 6. predicated only on Trump’s good- by telephone, “and then the dem- While Ankara and Washington “We are aware that a group in the will, it is built on sand,” he added. ocratic backsliding also became a have been through other crises US wants to prevent a meeting be- “Trump is simply too mercurial big concern on the [Capitol] Hill. before, Eissenstat said he doubted The Turkish president is tween Trump and our president,” — and too incompetent — to be re- And I think that Turkey’s decision that relations would heal anytime scheduled to meet with Selvi quoted a Turkish official as lied on.” to work so closely with Russia at soon. Donald Trump at the saying. “They are concerned that Eissenstat pointed to the fact a time when concern over Russia “I don’t think we’ll see a warm- White House on Erdogan and Trump could make that US sanctions against Russia in the US peaked. I think that was ing of relations for the foreseeable November 13. progress if they meet.” had increased despite good per- very significant.” future,” he said. “There are likely Last month, Trump told Erdog- sonal relations between Trump Tol added the conflicting goals to be rolling crises for at least a Howard Eissenstat, a Turkey ex- an in a phone call that US troops and Russian President Vladimir of Turkey and the United States in few years.” pert at Saint Lawrence University would withdraw from Syria, in ef- Putin. “And, of course, if Trump Syria had caused great damage to In a best-case scenario both in New York and non-resident sen- fect giving the green light for the loses [the US presidential elec- relations. Just days before Erdog- countries could accept the fact ior fellow at the Project on Middle Turkish incursion into the coun- tion] in 2020, the shift may well an was to meet with Trump, Re- that they were partners and com- East Democracy in Washington, try. Under pressure from Congress be dramatic.” publican and Democratic senators petitors at the same time, Eissen- said the differences were more and his own Republican Party, Gonul Tol, director of the Cen- asked the US president to respond stat said, adding: “But for right severe than the rift caused by An- Trump later threatened Turkey tre for Turkish Studies in Wash- with sanctions if Turkey violated now we are witnessing a divorce, kara’s rejection of a planned US with sanctions and sent back ington, said politicians in Wash- the ceasefire agreement in Syria. of sorts, and divorces tend to be ground troop deployment before some US troops. ington had taken an increasingly “The diverging interests in Syria messy with a lot of ill feeling on all the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Eissenstat said that “Turkey has negative stance towards Turkey. I think dealt a huge blow to Tur- sides.” US mediation helps break Egypt-Ethiopia dam deadlock

Emily Przyborowski reaching a compromise on the tech- The $4 billion dam is designed to nical issues of filling and operating generate 6,450 megawatts of elec- the dam that could get political ap- tricity, doubling Ethiopia’s output Washington proval,” Davison said. and making it Africa’s largest power However, Michele Dunne, sen- exporter. fter months of deadlock ior fellow at the Carnegie Endow- Ethiopia says the project is cru- over the highly anticipated ment for International Peace, said cial for its economic development Grand Ethiopian Renais- she was sceptical about an agree- but Egypt fears the dam would se- A sance Dam, Ethiopia, Egypt ment after years of dispute about verely restrict its water supply from and Sudan agreed to continue nego- the dam. “There have been dozens the Nile, which provides 90% of the tiations in Washington. of rounds of failed diplomacy and a country’s fresh water. Egypt already Talks are to resume December 9 quick fix seems unlikely,” she said. faced a massive water shortage and and January 13 and a final resolu- The talks raised questions about if a drought were to occur, the GERD tion target date is set for January 15. the motives of the Trump adminis- would leave Egypt in serious trou- A statement from Ethiopia, Egypt tration for taking such a hands-on ble. and Sudan reads: “The [foreign] role in the Nile crisis. “Egypt has been behaving like a ministers reaffirmed their joint country with plentiful fresh water commitment to reach a comprehen- for many years, while, in fact, it has Michele Dunne, sive, cooperative, adaptive, sustain- senior fellow at the entered an era of water scarcity for able and mutually beneficial agree- Carnegie Endowment many reasons, including rapid pop- ment on the filling and operation of for International Peace ulation growth and climate change Dialogue back on track. US President Donald Trump (C), Sudanese the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance as well as the GERD,” said Dunne. Minister of Foreign Affairs Asma Mohamed Abdalla (L), Egyptian Dam (GERD) and to establish a clear Ethiopia said it will not stop Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry (2nd L), Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedu Andargachew (2nd R) and US process for fulfilling that commit- “There have been dozens of building the dam. Michael Han- ment in accordance with the 2015 na, a senior fellow at the Century Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (R) during a meeting in rounds of failed diplomacy Washington, November 6. (DPA) Declaration of Principles.” and a quick fix seems Foundation, said it will be difficult If an agreement is not reached unlikely.” for Ethiopia to make concessions by January 15, negotiators will in- to Egypt. “Ethiopia has not been the need for a final agreement. Ethiopia may not be as welcom- voke the Declaration of Principles, sympathetic to Egypt’s demands or On October 29, the Egyptian gov- ing to Washington’s mediation role, a document signed in 2015 to facili- Davison said the administration open to US or other third-party me- ernment requested Nigerian Presi- Hanna said. “Egypt is eager to por- tate disputes between countries de- sees a US benefit from a peaceful diation,” he said. dent Muhammadu Buhari act as tray the meetings as US-mediated pendent on the Nile River. resolution of the dispute. “I think The talks come following months mediator over the dam project but talks while Ethiopia has down- William Davison, senior analyst at the US shares the same interest as of negotiations that ended in a dead- Washington seems to have stepped played that aspect, suggesting sim- the International Crisis Group, said other countries in the dam,” he said. lock between Ethiopia and Egypt. in as a third-party negotiator in ply that the United States is serving the new talks could make a serious “If successful, it will boost electric- Most recently, Egyptian President place of Nigeria. “It appears that the as a host for the parties to discuss difference in negotiations. ity generation and regional coop- Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Ethio- US saw an opportunity to apply its the issues,” he said. “This new arrangement for con- eration and the alternative will be pian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at influence and increase the pressure certed talks over the next three harmful to all parties involved, in- a Russia-Africa summit in late Octo- on Egypt and Ethiopia to come to an Emily Przyborowski months increases the possibility of cluding the US.” ber when the two leaders discussed agreement,” said Davison. is an Arab Weekly correspondent 4 November 10, 2019 Top News Riyadh Agreement extends scope of Yemen settlement to include Houthis

A step forward. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (C-L), Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (C) and Yemen’s President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi (C-R) attend an agreement-signing ceremony between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the STC in Riyadh, November 5. (UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs)

The Arab Weekly staff Sources said UN Envoy Martin yadh Agreement reignited hopes Saudi Prince Khaled said in a of the Iranian project of spreading Griffiths recently travelled be- to revive the peace process. tweet: “We ask God that this agree- chaos, sedition and destruction, tween Sana’a and Riyadh to meet US President Donald Trump, ment will be the starting point for and to place the interest and secu- London with Saudi officials and senior posting on Twitter, described the opening a new page of sincere dia- rity of Yemen and the safety, sta- Houthi leaders. The Houthis said Riyadh Agreement as “a very good logue among all Yemenis in order bility and prosperity of its people he Riyadh Agreement be- in September that they would stop start” and called for action to reach to reach a political solution that above all other considerations.” tween the Yemeni govern- targeting Saudi Arabia, a move de- a final deal on the situation in Yem- will end the Yemeni crisis.” Observers said developments ment and the Southern scribed by Saudi Deputy Defence en. In an October 3 tweet, Prince in Arab capitals in Tehran’s orbit, T Transitional Council re- Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman The UK Foreign Office welcomed Khaled, who plays an important such as Baghdad and Beirut, plus vived hopes for a comprehensive as positive. the agreement, stating that the role in managing the Yemeni is- growing popular rejection of Irani- deal, which would include the Sources said the communication document was “an important step sue, said: “It is time for Yemenis, an hegemony, may persuade some Houthi rebels, to end the war in channel reported by the Saudi offi- to reach a comprehensive political all Yemenis, and we, together with Houthi leaders to abandon their Yemen. cial was a reference to the Houthi solution in Yemen.” them, to stand united in the face commitment to Iran. Political observers connected a delegation in Muscat led by Mo- statement from a Saudi official say- hammed Abdul Salam, who met ing Saudi Arabia had had commu- with officials in the Arab alliance Signed agreement a first step towards lasting solution in Yemen nications with the Houthis since amid the political effort started by 2016 to “support peace in Yemen” former US Secretary of State John The Arab Weekly staff for the signing ceremony in Ri- performance and opening them and a speech by Saudi Crown Kerry in Muscat in 2016. yadh. to participation of other elements Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin “If the Houthis are serious about London Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mo- from the legitimacy camp. Abdulaziz at the November 5 Ri- de-escalation and accept to come hammed expressed his wish that The agreement also ensured the yadh Agreement signing ceremo- to the negotiation table, Saudi Ara- fficials of the Yemeni gov- “peace and prosperity prevail participation of the STC in del- ny, in which he said the deal may bia will support their request and ernment and the South- throughout Yemen and that its egations of the legitimacy camp lead to broader understandings. the request of all political parties ern Transitional Council people enjoy security, stability to any peace consultations spon- to reach a political solution,” the O signed an agreement that and development.” sored by the United Nations. official told Agence France-Presse. Mustafa said the only obsta- Saudi Arabia showed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Chairman of the Fanar Centre In September, Washington said bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said for Policy Research Ezzat Mustafa, cle expected is the failure of the openness to a political it was meeting with Houthi repre- marked the beginning of a new a Yemeni political researcher, said Muslim Brotherhood to abide by settlement in Yemen sentatives. US Assistant Secretary phase of stability, construction the Riyadh Agreement addressed the media truce stipulated in the considering the Gulf of State for Near Eastern Affairs and development in Yemen. sensitivities that led to a crisis in agreement and its incitement initiative, the outcomes David Schenker said, during a visit The agreement was signed in Aden and southern governorates against it and the Arab alliance. of a Yemeni national to Saudi Arabia, that Washington Riyadh by Deputy Prime Minister in August. It also took note of con- Yemeni leaders affiliated with dialogue conference and was talking with the Houthis to Salem al-Khanbashi on behalf of ditions needed for the solution, the Islamist Islah Party in Had- UN Security Council find a “mutually acceptable” solu- the internationally recognised gov- which is likely to prevent a repeat ramawt were quick to demand resolutions. tion to the conflict in Yemen. ernment and by Nasser al-Khabaji of the dispute of last August. half the south’s share in the cen- “Our focus is on ending the war on behalf of the Southern Transi- It ensured the implementation tral authority and the government Sources said the “understand- in Yemen,” Schenker said. “We are tional Council (STC), culminating of the points covered by the agree- to be formed. ings” may include Yemen’s Con- having talks… with the Houthis to talks that had taken place in Saudi ment while providing for coordi- Some political and social ele- gress Party as a step towards try to find a negotiated solution ac- Arabia. nating military movements with ments from Hadramawt had met comprehensive dialogue with the ceptable to both sides.” Yemeni President Abd Rabbo the Arab coalition, a condition in Riyadh and insisted, in the let- Houthis as they face a politically The Riyadh Agreement between Mansour Hadi, STC President likely to enhance the efficiency in ter sent to Hadi, that Hadramawt and militarily coherent legitimate the internationally recognised gov- Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, along with the fight against Houthi rebels and be given the status of a province government camp. ernment and the Southern Transi- their respective delegations, par- terrorist organisations. while stressing their adherence to Saudi Arabia showed openness tional Council raised hopes of a ticipated in the Saudi-sponsored Mustafa said the agreement was legitimacy and rejection of bully- to a political settlement in Yemen comprehensive political solution dialogue in Jeddah. Saudi Crown comprehensive in military, securi- ing the state by the use of armed considering the Gulf initiative, the in Yemen. The agreement could Prince Mohammed and Abu Dhabi ty and economic aspects and in re- forces. outcomes of a Yemeni national dia- serve as a basis for an agreement Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed lation to activating the role of the logue conference and UN Security involving the Houthis. bin Zayed al-Nahyan were on hand state institutions, correcting their (With news agencies.) Council resolutions. International reaction to the Ri- November 10, 2019 5 Top News

Tunisia’s main parties shun Ennahda-led government

Lamine Ghanmi nahda’s plan to pick the next prime minister from its own officials fol- lowing negotiations November 7 on Tunis forming a government. The centre-left Democratic Cur- unisia’s Islamist Ennahda rent, with 22 seats, and pan-Arab Movement leaders have been nationalist People’s Movement, with trying to form a government 16 members in the parliament, de- T that would lead the country scribed Ennahda’s proposal as “un- for five years but have not found acceptable.” partners willing to join its coalition. The Democratic Current said En- Ennahda officials, especially those nahda’s experience in government close to party President Rached in the past eight years showed the Is- Ghannouchi, insist constitutional lamists could not be trusted to fight and democracy principles grant it corruption and safeguard the rule the right to form the cabinet and ex- of law — two priorities for the new pressed its preference that the gov- government to win the confidence ernment be led by Ghannouchi, who of regular Tunisians and potential is described by his loyalists as “the investors. most respected political personality The People’s Movement party said at home and abroad.” it wants “a presidential government” formed with the support of Saied. Analysts said the fractured par- Weeks of talks with liament after the elections showed potential allies to stated ideologies and political stands establish a government set certain parties apart, as it is the hit a deadlock when case for Ennahda and Qalb Tounes, most potential political while groups of close ideological and partners expressed an political stands did not have enough unwillingness to take members to form a government. part in a cabinet led by Ennahda ruled out associating A challenging conundrum. Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) meets with Rached Ghannouchi, head with Qalb Tounes, which is led by of Islamist Ennahda Movement at the Carthage Palace, October 25. (DPA) the Islamists. media magnate Nabil Karoui and has 38 seats in parliament, citing Ennahda won 52 seats in the “suspicions of corruption.” It also party said it did not seek to be part of replaced in a rupture with its past,” ing Ennahda’s shrinking voter base 217-member Tunisian parliament excluded from its talks the Free Des- a government led by Ennahda. said political writer Abdelwahed Ya- since 2011 and allegations of legal in October, the most of any single tourian Party (PDL), led by lawyer Analysts warned that Ennahda hiaoui. problems. party. However, weeks of talks with Abir Moussi, which advocates for could try to solve the problem by Ghannouchi’s mandate as party Analysts said putting Ennahda in potential allies to establish a govern- the legal exclusion of Ennahda from sticking to the formation of the gov- leader ends in 2020 when Ennahda control of the government in Tuni- ment, which needs the support of at politics. The PDL won 17 seats in par- ernment, even if it meant involving has its congress over strategy and sia would likely come with a price least five groups in parliament, hit a liament. regional polarisation at a time when leadership. for the country because of its tu- deadlock when most potential po- Main trade union the Tunisian political Islam is seen as a tool used “What we hear now in the new multuous environment, including litical partners expressed an unwill- General Labour Union and employ- by Turkey, Qatar and Iran to sow discourse of Ennahda’s leaders is in neighbouring Libya where anti- ingness to take part in a cabinet led ers group the Tunisian Union of In- strife and instability. the use of newspeak that aims at Islamists are fighting Islamists over by the Islamists. dustry, Trade and Handicrafts urged Internally, Ennahda is at a cross- mastering the present, so it can con- the control of the capital, Tripoli. Ennahda has until December to political parties to speed up the pro- roads whether it succeeds in form- trol the future,” said political writer “Our decision makers must take fashion a parliamentary majority cess of the government formation, ing a government or not. It faces a Hedi Ben Abbes, who was a junior into account this boiling geopolitical before Tunisian President Kais Saied citing the dire situation of the coun- leadership transition amid bitter op- minister in a coalition led by En- environment to demonstrate real- steps in to select another party to try try’s economy and expectations of position to Ghannouchi from within nahda in 2012. ism, responsibility, modesty and lu- to form a government. an impatient population after the the party. “Ennahda was rarely pushed to cidity to spare the country malicious Only the more extreme Islamist Al elections. “Ennahda appears to be in a wa- the wall like it is now. It is being strategies,” said Hedi Taje, direc- Karama coalition, which dubs itself Outgoing Prime Minister Youssef tershed moment in its history as forced to choose between a painful tor of Global Prospect Intelligence as the “revolutionary base” of En- Chahed’s Tahya Tounes party, with it is ripped from within by internal mutation towards a rule of law with think-tank. nahda, accepted. Al Karama controls 14 seats, offered an apparent way out divisions mirrored in the issue of the risk of getting its feathers torn 21 parliamentary seats. when it called for a “government of whether Ghannouchi remains presi- out or a descent into the abyss of the Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly Two major parties dismissed En- national interest,” even though the dent, which means continuity, or be politics of the worse,” he said, cit- correspondent in Tunis. Jordan seeks to restore people’s Ivanka Trump focuses on women confidence with cabinet reshuffle empowerment during visit to Morocco Roufan Nahhas Jordan Centre for Strategic Studies indicated that 59% of Jordanian re- spondents said the government is not Saad Guerraoui Amman capable of assuming its responsibili- ties. ordanian Prime Minister Omar Grievances include rampant unem- Rabat Razzaz reshuffled the country’s ployment, growing poverty and a poor cabinet for the fourth time since economy compounded by inflation vanka Trump, a daughter of US J he took office in October 2018, a and financial and administrative cor- President Donald Trump, speak- move aimed at regaining public con- ruption. The Jordanian Department ing during a visit to Morocco, fidence, defusing dissatisfaction and of Statistics said the unemployment I said women’s land ownership dealing with the country’s economic rate reached 19% in the first quarter remained essential for stimulating and social problems. of 2019, up 0.6% compared with the economic and social development. The new ministers announced No- same period last year. Trump, who is a White House ad- vember 7 include a Harvard graduate, “The reshuffle is linked to the weak viser, said families, communities a former minister, the dean of Jordan economic performance coupled with and countries flourish when wom- Media Institute and chairman of Jor- the lack of efforts to improve the cli- en are invested in and included in dan TV and former ambassadors and mate for investment and complaints the economy. consultants. Six will assume ministe- by the economic sectors,” said journal- Trump’s trip to Morocco, Novem- rial positions for the first time. ist Imad Hmoud. ber 6-8, was her third overseas trip They are: Mohammed Khalayleh “The government was not able to this year to promote the Women’s as minister of Awqaf and Islamic Af- implement a national economic stimu- Global Development and Prosper- fairs; Mohamad al-Ississ, minister lus plan on which citizens pinned a lot ity Initiative (W-GDP), which was of Finance; Amjad Adaileh, minister of hope for a better economy.” introduced in February to benefit of state for Media Affairs; Wissam Jordan was hit by a nationwide women in developing countries and On a charm offensive. Ivanka Trump (L), the daughter and senior Rabadi, minister of Planning; Tayseer teachers’ strike, the longest industrial help them with training, access to adviser to President Donald Trump, and Princess Lalla Meryem of (AP) Nueimi, minister of Education; Saleh action in the public sector, delaying by capital and land ownership. Morocco in Rabat, November 6. Kharabsheh, minister of Environment; four weeks the start of the school year Trump met with Moroccan King Basem Tweissi, minister of Culture; for more than 1.5 million students. Mohammed VI regarding legal re- This programme is expected to flourish,” Trump said. Muhyiddine Touq, minister of Higher Teachers demanded a salary increase. forms aimed at advancing gender benefit 31,000 farmers and their Trump led a signing ceremony Education; Fares Braizat, minister of In August, Jordanian King Abdullah equality in the country and hailed families, the group’s website stat- of agreements between several Youth; Khalid Saif, minister of Trans- II led part of a cabinet meeting dur- the historic ties between the United ed. partners to provide more than $6 port; and Ibrahim Shahahdeh, minis- ing which he stressed the need to im- States and Morocco. Trump met four women at an ol- million to support women with ad- ter of Agriculture. plement vital economic projects in a The Millennium Challenge Cor- ive grove who have benefited from ditional training on farming prac- Razzaz did not appoint a deputy transparent way and within a defined poration (MCC) Compact is work- changes that allow them to own tices, financial management and prime minister, which makes Jordani- timeframe. ing with the W-GDP in Morocco to land, an initiative at the forefront literacy. an Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi the Under an austerity plan sponsored empower female farmers whose of W-GDP’s goals to bolster wom- She was welcomed to Morocco second in charge in the government. by the International Monetary Fund, ability to own land has traditionally en’s social and economic status in by Princess Lalla Meryem and Mo- Razzaz said the reshuffle is meant Jordan must curb spending to reduce been subject to the multiple sys- Morocco. roccan Foreign Minister Nasser to deal with “the requirements of the its enormous debt of about $40 billion, tems of law that co-exist in a com- The olive grove is a project of Bourita. next phase, which necessitates more which is equivalent to 95% of GDP. plex and sometimes contradictory the MCC, which is a US aid agency efforts to overcome challenges.” framework. working with Morocco to promote Saad Guerraoui is a contributor The move breathed hope among Roufan Nahhas is a journalist based The MCC Compact, which took literacy and equality in land owner- to The Arab Weekly on Maghreb some Jordanians who had lost confi- in Jordan. effect in June, involves land own- ship. issues. dence in the government’s ability to ership process that will be piloted “When you invest in women, curb a deteriorating economic situa- Full version of this article appears on across 67,000 hectares in the Gharb they invest back into their families Full version of this article appears tion. A June poll by the University of www.thearabweekly.com and El Haouz regions. and communities and countries on www.thearabweekly.com 6 November 10, 2019 Opinion

Editorial More of the same from Iran, 40 years on

ast week was another week during which Iran spared no effort to project its hard-line and bellicose stands in international relations. Tehran celebrated November 4, in its own way, the 40th anniver- Lsary of the takeover of the US Embassy by radical Islamist students. The 444-day hostage crisis set the tone for decades of antagonism between Iran and the United States as well as other Western powers. The same animus ended up extending to Iran’s neighbouring region. “Thanks to God, today the revolution’s seedlings have evolved into a fruitful and huge tree that its shadow has covered the entire” Middle East, proclaimed Iranian Army commander General Abdolrahim Mousavi. The recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, titled “Iran’s Networks of Influence in the Middle East,” sheds light on Iran’s use of proxy forces and © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly asymmetric warfare tactics in the region. A “key ingredient” in Iran’s strategy, the report stated, was al-Quds Force, the exter- nal operations wing of the Islamic Revolu- Three decades after Berlin, walls are tionary Guard Corps. Iran’s network is obviously not meant to promote peace and stability in the region. obstructing hope in the Arab world However, the storm that is shaking Iraq and Lebanon has shown that Mousavi’s Oussama Romdhani “huge tree” is increasingly unable to cast its nefarious “shadow” in the region. The In any part of the region, interconnected populations realise the commonality homegrown unrest in Iraq and Lebanon is, in of their dreams and they want a stake in their respective countries. fact, a direct challenge to Iran’s influence. In an ironic twist of events on the anniver- he fall of the Berlin young Arabs. Disillusioned and obstacles of sectarianism, failed sary of the seizure of the US Embassy in Wall, 30 years ago, on surrounded by nothing but post-independence policies, Tehran, the Iranian Consulate in Karbala, November 9, 1989, dead ends at home, they look to bureaucratic and corrupt practices Iraq, was attacked by predominantly Shia was a testament to emigrate — even illegally. and a lack of freedom. More than demonstrators. Four protesters were killed the irrepressible Today, many desperate people anything else, there is a huge wall and 19 wounded outside the Iranian consu- human yearning for in the MENA region are more of distrust between them and late. The bloodshed occurred after hard-line Tfreedom. than willing to risk their lives to their politicians, whom they see as Iranian newspaper Kayhan called, once Restrained for too long by escape on the makeshift boats of responsible for making their lives again, on Iraqi protesters to seize American communist rulers, Eastern human traffickers, voting with miserable and robbing them of diplomatic posts in Iraq. Europeans just wanted out. They their feet in much the same way their chances for a better future. The Iraqi demonstrators’ anger was often saw greener and freer pastures Eastern Europeans did for many Arab protesters may not be directed at Iran’s regime and its proxies in beyond their borders. decades until the 1980s. acting out against authoritarian Iraq. Protesters were described as chanting Well before East German Nearly 700 people died while communism but they are “Out, out, Iran! Baghdad will stay free!” border guards opened the Berlin trying to break through the Iron rebelling against equally rigid “Very clearly, Iran, in both Lebanon and passageway in October 1989, the Curtain from East Germany and norms and obsolete rules. It is Iraq, wants to protect the system and not authoritarian governments of the many more in MENA are no not the conflicting interests of a allow it to fall apart,” said Renad Mansour, a time saw the writing on the wall. less committed to their cause. regional power such as Iran that researcher at Chatham House in London. In June 1989, Hungarian and Thousands have died trying to will change the equation. Much In both countries “it considers the Austrian foreign ministers were cross the Mediterranean during like the unhappy populations that demands of protesters potentially destabilis- cutting through the barbed the past few years, driven suffered under Soviet rule, they ing,” he told Agence France-Presse wire separating their countries. by poverty, war and a lack of see their leaders clinging to the To show their displeasure with Tehran, Others soon followed suit. They opportunity. past, or worse, living on another Iraqis threw shoes at pictures of Iranian were removing long-standing However, unlike Eastern planet. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and separations that much of Eastern Europeans who fled authoritarian If the governments of Iraq, Qassem Soleimani, the powerful Iranian Europe erected after Hungary environments, MENA’s desperate Lebanon, Algeria and a few other general who is said to be providing authori- built a 260km fence on its youth have few places to find Arab countries are having a tough ties in Baghdad with advice on how to crack Austrian border in 1949. safe harbour. time dealing with protests, it is down on protests. More than simply physical Since independence, because for too long they have It is significant that it is Shias more than barriers, these were ideological governments south of the been reluctant to initiate genuine Sunnis who are expressing anger about Iran. and political walls consecrating Mediterranean have been striking reform. They felt they had too Wathiq al-Hashimi, an analyst in Baghdad, the regimes’ distrust of their deals with Europeans to fight many vested interests at stake to expressed the view that “after these demon- citizens and their inability to illegal emigration and, while volunteer change. strations, Iran may lose Iraq by losing the move away from dogmatic cooperation in that area was in After years of procrastination, Shia street.” constraints. order, the governments lacked such change is much more Developments in Iraq and Lebanon are not History shows crossing the political vision and ability to difficult to introduce in a way the type of challenges that Iran used to face. borders is always the last resort draw the right lessons from the that satisfies demanding and Its belligerence in the region and the world when resources are scarce or steady exodus from their shores. disgruntled populations. Much are not the right tool to deal with the domes- when living conditions become Many Arab youth, unwilling more than in the 1980s, the value tic challenges facing its proxies in the unbearable. or unable to leave home, have systems of good governance, region. Similarly, for decades, breaking grown angry staring at walls equal opportunity and, above all, Iran’s rulers continue to pursue antago- through geographic barriers has that need to be torn down. They freedom have gone global and the nism with the West as means to secure been the goal of too many among see prohibitive and oppressive Arab region is no exception. support at home and safeguard its narrative Such forces overpower the of defiance to world powers. image of strength, awe and fear Addressing a fervent crowd outside the that assailed political regimes former US Embassy in Tehran, Mousavi used to project and rely upon to described the United States as a “scorpion.” preserve their rule. Whatever In a thinly veiled threat to Tehran’s antago- tools of repression they possess nists, he warned that “the era of imposing are not enough anymore. pressure with zero expense is over.” In any part of the region, The same day, Iran announced its inten- interconnected populations tion to step up uranium enrichment activity realise the commonality of their at its underground atomic facility in Fordow, dreams and they want a stake in taking another step back from its 2015 their respective countries. nuclear deal commitments. It signalled With a lack of real and timely further violations down the road as it reform, radical and abrupt announced that it had devised a prototype regime change often becomes the centrifuge that works 50 times faster than alternative. those allowed under the deal. As Soviet Union President Its move has frustrated many of the Mikhail Gorbachev told East countries that tried to shield the 2015 German President Erich Honecker nuclear deal. “I think that, for the first time, in October 1989: “Life punishes Iran has decided in an explicit and blunt those who are too late.” manner to leave the JCPOA (nuclear) agree- ment, which marks a profound shift,” said Oussama Romdhani French President Emmanuel Macron. Breaking out. Syrian migrants cross under a fence as they enter Hungary is Editor-in-Chief of at the border with Serbia, near Roszke. (Reuters) The Arab Weekly. November 10, 2019 7 Opinion

40 years after hostage crisis, US Published by Al Arab and Iran remain staunch enemies Publishing House Gregory Aftandilian Publisher Trump, despite his sabre-rattling, does not seem eager for a fight, having told and Group Executive Editor the American people that he is opposed to “endless wars” in the Middle East. Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD

lthough in his the West into believing that, Editor-in-Chief speech to the UN unless its economy is helped, Oussama Romdhani General Assembly it will accelerate its nuclear in September, US programme. President Donald Many polls until very recently Managing Editor Trump, in refer- indicated that the Iranian Iman Zayat enceA to Iran, said the United population held the most pro- States has never believed in American views in the region Deputy Managing Editor permanent enemies, the US-Iran outside of Israel. That view has and Online Editor enmity has lasted quite a while. changed. Mamoon Alabbasi November 4 marked the 40th The Toronto-based IranPoll, anniversary of the start of the which conducted more than “hostage crisis” when radical 3,000 phone interviews in Iran, Senior Editor Iranian students took over the indicated that 86% of Iranian US Embassy in Tehran and held respondents said they view the John Hendel US diplomats hostage for 444 United States unfavourably. In days. That Iranian Supreme addition, approval of Iranian Chief Copy Editor Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah President Hassan Rohani and Khomeini soon approved this Foreign Minister Mohammad Richard Pretorius Javad Zarif — the two main takeover led to a break in US- Copy Editors Iranian diplomatic relations, figures involved in negotiating which have yet to be restored. and supporting the nuclear deal Stephen Quillen That humiliating crisis Old grudges die hard. Iranians walk past anti-US graffiti on the wall of — has dropped from 82% to 42% Kyle Arensdorf (AP) was etched in stone for most the former US Embassy in Tehran, October 15. and 77% to 67%, respectively, Americans and has coloured over the past three years. their view of Iran, a country that Bazargan and Yazdi, who were nuclear deal did not materialise, The hard-line commander Gulf Section Editor was once a US ally. The hostage seeking spare parts for the especially as US companies were of the Islamic Revolutionary Mohammed Alkhereiji crisis ruined the chances for Iranian armed forces. Once the hesitant about investing in Iran Guard Corps’ Quds Force, Major- US President Jimmy Carter to embassy takeover occurred, and even during the last years of General Qassem Soleimani, has Society and Travel win a second term in office Bazargan and Yazdi could not the Obama presidency. When seen his approval rating increase Sections Editor and enabled hard-line factions convince Khomeini to reverse Trump pulled out of the deal from 73% to 82% in the same Samar Kadi in Iran to move against more his support for the seizure, they in 2018 and announced very period. moderate factions. were forced to resign. tough sanctions against Iran — A Gallup Poll said about 82% Senior Correspondents There is still debate among The latter interpretation including sanctioning European of Americans asked said they Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) scholars as to what precipitated seems the most plausible and companies doing business with hold an unfavourable view the hostage crisis. One school is indicative of a trend seen in Iran as well as an embargo on towards Iran. This percentage Thomas Seibert (Istanbul) argues that it was the decision more recent decades. Whenever Iranian oil exports — hope for has not changed much over the by the Carter administration to moderate elements want to a better life faded. Indeed, years. Regular Columnists allow the ailing shah to enter ease tensions with the United the Iranian economy has Although such figures portend Rashmee Roshan Lall the United States for medical States, their efforts are scuttled significantly retrenched. continued hostility between the Claude Salhani treatment, which radical by hardliners who want the Iran did not moderate its two countries, the only saving Yavuz Baydar elements in Iran interpreted as “revolution” to continue and are behaviour in the region, as grace is that neither country an attempt to repeat the events afraid that any rapprochement US President Barack Obama wants a war. Trump, despite his of 1953, when the United States with the United States would suggested it might. Moreover, sabre-rattling, does not seem Correspondents Tehran continued to engage helped to engineer a coup that lead to the fall of the regime. eager for a fight, having told Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) put the shah back in power. With the bulk of the Iranian in so-called proxy wars in the American people that he is Another school argues it was population born after the several Arab countries and, in opposed to “endless wars” in Dunia El-Zobaidi (London) a meeting on the sidelines of revolution, and with young more recent months, attacked the Middle East, and Iranian Roua Khlifi (Tunis) an international gathering in people upset over strict social oil tankers in the Gulf, an leaders know their armed forces Algiers between then Iranian codes and their country’s unmanned US drone over the are no match for the US military. Nazli Tarzi (London) Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan isolation, there was hope that Strait of Hormuz and Saudi oil Hence, 40 years after the (along with Foreign Minister the 2015 nuclear deal would facilities. hostage crisis, enmity has Chief Designer Ebrahim Yazdi) and Carter’s usher in a new, more open era. Although Iran has continued become the norm but without a Marwen el-Hmedi national security adviser, Indeed, when the deal was to adhere to most elements hot war. Zbigniew Brzezinski, that announced, there were scenes of the nuclear deal since Designers precipitated the embassy of young Iranians dancing in the Trump’s withdrawal, it has Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer takeover. streets of Tehran. started to enrich uranium in the Pardee School of Global Ibrahim Ben Bechir Radicals in Iran broadcast All that has changed. For above the limits set forth in Studies at Boston University and Hanen Jebali footage of the meeting on Iranians, the economic benefits the deal. It is engaging in a a former US State Department Iranian television to embarrass that were to accrue from the dangerous game, trying to scare Middle East analyst. Contact editor at: Arab spring, summer, autumn, winter… worldwide [email protected] Rashmee Roshan Lall While Lebanese and Iraqi protests can force through some change, their Al Arab Publishing House amorphousness means they are less likely to trigger a systemic overhaul. Quadrant Building 177-179 Hammersmith Road n no particular order, Iraq, its own bespoke trigger. Iraq a Lebanese protester told the learnt from Hong Kong, where London W6 8BS Lebanon, Egypt, Chile, Bo- and Lebanon share with Haiti BBC in reference to the now- the cycle of protests began five livia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, the frustration of years of scrapped daily charge imposed months ago? It’s probably fair Haiti, Spain, France. That misgovernance. by the government on voice to say that there is an imitative list is not complete. Squalls What’s interesting about the calls made through WhatsApp element because of repeated Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 of street protests around protests almost anywhere in and other apps: “We are not exposure to images and video Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 Ithe world are filling television the world right now is their here over the WhatsApp. We are from protests. screens and Twitter feeds. lack of form and a clear leader. here over everything.” This does not render copycat In some ways, it is reassuring Gatherings of differing sizes and Haider Jalal, a 21-year-old protests less authentic, organic that many of the same issues intensities take random shape. protester in Baghdad, offered or deeply felt but they do have a US Publisher: are resonating in different parts Sometimes, as in Lebanon a broad manifesto for the sort problem. The more the protests of the world. The “Arab spring” and Iraq, they sing or dance to of change he might regard are normalised, prompting The Arab Weekly USA LLC. seems to be everywhere — and infantile songs such as “Baby as acceptable. It had to be more and more people — even [email protected] Shark” rather than revolutionary wholesale, the draining of all year round. families with young children — [email protected] The fabled “Arab street,” anthems. the entire swamp: “I hope to to participate in them, the more a metaphor once touted by As for goals, they are get rid of all the parties that routine they start to appear and Tel: 248-679-6624 Western analysts to explain sweeping and indistinct, participated in the political the less threatening they seem ominous and inchoate public except for Bolivia, Spain and process from 2003 to today.” to authorities. opinion, appears to run through possibly Egypt. In Bolivia, the So, what is happening And, while they can force many conurbations outside unrest is about President Evo and why? Michael Heaney, a through some change — the region. Not too long ago, Morales’s fourth-term election research fellow in the School of Lebanese Prime Minister Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice- victory, which some describe Social and Political Sciences at Saad Hariri resigned; Iraqi president of the Foundation as a fraud. In Barcelona, Spain, the University of Glasgow, said: President Barham Salih offered Subscription & Advertising: for Defense of Democracies, it is anger at the harsh prison “There’s been more protests new elections — the protests’ [email protected] wrote: “There is not one Arab sentences for nine Catalan and there’s been more coverage amorphousness means they are Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 Street.” To that, one might add, leaders. In Egypt, the protests of protests, which means that less likely to trigger a systemic the notional Arab street is now were focused on corruption people are learning more about overhaul or the clear view of in Europe, East Asia and South after a businessman, from self- protests. The other is that the shining city on the hill Mohamed Al Mufti America, too, at least in the imposed exile in Europe, posted people are sharing information demanded by protesters. Marketing & Advertising videos on YouTube alleging the through social media and sense of febrile public sentiment Manager causing political turmoil. squandering of public funds. communicating with one Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Economic inequality In Iraq and Lebanon, (or for another about protests.” columnist for The Arab Weekly. Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 prompted the displays of that matter, Chile, Hong Kong, Does that mean Iraq is Her blog can be found at www.alarab.co.uk public anger in Iraq, Lebanon Haiti and France) however, the copycat result of nearby www.rashmee.com and she is on and Chile, although each had there is nothing so defined. As Lebanon and that Lebanon Twitter: @rashmeerl. 8 November 10, 2019 News & Analysis Lebanon Women of Lebanon stand at vanguard of popular protests

Samar Kadi and I heard a police officer telling Kaakour contends that the pro- his superior, ‘We cannot open the test movement has been powered road. It is blocked by two rows of by civil society organisations in Beirut women’,” Dandashly said. which women are a majority. The female revolutionaries were Lebanese women have legiti- uring the three weeks of a defiant when protesters were at- mate reasons to fight the sectarian largely peaceful anti-gov- tacked by followers of Iran-backed system of governance that pro- ernment revolt in Leba- Hezbollah and Shia Amal Move- testers wish to topple. “They are D non, women have been ment. calling for the establishment of a playing a leading role to assert “I was filming the raid when one civil state that would grant them their equal civic rights while act- of the attackers assailed me and all their rights and eliminate dis- ing as a buffer zone to protect the tried to break my phone,” Dan- criminatory laws that do them in- protests from falling into violence. dashly said. justice,” Kaakour said Since the start of the protests Oc- Aside from the common de- Lebanon has 15 personal status tober 17, the “women front line” of mands they had with all the Leb- laws for the country’s recognised rows of female shields has prevent- anese protesters, including the confessions and all of them dis- ed clashes between protesters and formation of a technocrat govern- criminate against women. Auton- riot police and army troops. ment and early elections, partici- omous religious courts administer “We have organised a female pating women had additional re- the laws and make it more difficult chain encircling the protesters out- quests they communicated loudly for women than for men to divorce side the government seat in Riad al and clearly. and get custody of their children. Solh Square,” said activist Darine A protest march November 3 by Lebanon’s nationality law de- Dandashly. feminist NGOs drew a large crowd nies citizenship to the children “We also prevented men protest- of female demonstrators chanting: and spouses of Lebanese women ers from taking the front row or “The revolution is a woman” and married to foreigners but not to trying to attack the police.” “She is coming to tear down the the foreign spouses and children Female protesters were instru- patriarchal system.” of Lebanese men. Reforming the mental in blocking roads and main “Lebanese women have long law has been a demand of local arteries. Dandashly was at the Ring been active in the country’s civil women’s rights groups for dec- Road in Beirut when police tried to society,” said Halime Kaakour, an ades. reopen it by force. activist and professor at the Fac- The most defiant. A woman holds a Lebanese flag as she stands at a “We were sitting on the asphalt ulty of Law and Political Sciences Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly roadblock during anti-government protests in Beirut, November 4. right in the middle of the road at the Lebanese University. Travel and Society section editor. (Reuters) Interview Amin Maalouf reflects on unrest in Lebanon and beyond

AW: You’ve lived in different Even access to drinking water is Emirates, Iran, Syria, Turkey, et tant player in the region. So, if the Javier Hernandez, Arribas Arab countries with a Muslim ma- becoming difficult. cetera? United States withdraws from the Henar Hernandez and Nour jority. Do you think these Islamic “In Lebanon, people suffer a AM: “What is happening now region, which seems to be hap- Ammar Laamrati countries really recognise the need lot from this situation. In recent is a conflict between different na- pening today, then the Iranians to face the challenges of moder- weeks, a new tax on the use of tions. Certainly, Iran is a regional could gain greater influence in the nity? Does the fact that a political WhatsApp fuelled a collective power with a huge influence on region. However, the economy ebanese writer Amin system compatible with the pre- outcry that led people to take to many of its neighbours — Iraq, remains their biggest weakness Maalouf talked about sent age has not yet been designed the streets to protest. Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian because they are vulnerable to his latest book “Le to make us believe that Islam is “I do not know where the dem- territories and Yemen — and its embargoes and sanctions and naufrage des civilisa- contrary to the secular rationality onstrations will lead or how long rivals in the region cannot match these have had a negative effect on tions” (“The Ship- of modern culture? they will last, because Lebanon’s it. Saudi Arabia, for example, is a them lately.” wreck of Civilisa- AM: “People have the same political system, despite its cor- rich country but it does not have tions”) October 23 in concerns, whether they are liv- rupt practices, is so strong and the same effect (on the region) and This article is published with LMadrid. At the Arab House ing in Beirut, Algiers, Madrid or entrenched that it is difficult to its army is not equivalent to Iran’s. permission of Al Jadid cultural Foundation, Maalouf met with Bogota. People ask about the same remove or overthrow. I don’t know “Iran is traditionally an impor- magazine. the editorial team of Altair thing. They have the same deep what the protesters will be able website, discussing what could aspirations. They want to have a to achieve but their intentions lead the ship of humanity to sink. better life, have more dignity and are certainly very laudable and AW: You have always insisted on to evolve in an environment that legitimate.” the need to build bridges between allows them to develop their own AW: A similar situation is evolv- ADVERTISEMENT cultures, especially between the faculties. ing in Algeria, in the so-called two shores of the Mediterranean. “I am convinced that there are popular movement. Do you think The Lebanese company, S.G.R SAL Offshore (the Do you think this is still possible in not many differences between the that the Algerian people will even- this age of nationalism, xenopho- aspirations of the Arab world and tually get their demands for a free franchisor) that is the sole owner of the trademark bia, racism and individualism? Is those of the Western world.” democracy? “Em Sherif” duly registered in the Trademarks De- this really possible? AW: There is discontent and an- AM: “Not just in Algeria, which AM: “I think that when pop- ger all over the streets of Lebanon, is going through something like partment in the Ministry of Economy in the United ulism, xenophobia and racism your country of origin. What can this. There have been a lot of Arab Emirates, declares that the franchise agreement emerge, there is often a reason to you tell us about the current situa- interesting developments in recent with Em Sherif Restaurant LLC (the franchisee) is that and it is necessary to address tion there? months in other countries, such this issue. When people have AM: “The protests started quite as in Sudan, where the popular terminated as of 29/8/2019 as a result of the breach- xenophobic and racist behaviours, some time ago, triggered mainly protests led to real change. ing of all obligations set forth under the franchise they’re definitely afraid of some- by the difficult living conditions “I don’t know what will happen thing. It’s not enough to simply facing the Lebanese. For several in the future but, at the moment, agreement. tell them ‘Don’t be afraid’ but we years, the citizens had to endure a government that is acceptable Under the latter, S.G.R SAL Offshore had granted Em must first understand why they’re frequent power outages and some- to the Sudanese people seems to Sherif Restaurant LLC a licence to set up and oper- afraid to be able to address this times shortages of essential prod- have been elected and has a new reason.” ucts such as bread and medicine. perspective on the future so we ate the franchised outlet “Em Sherif” in Dubai-UAE, will have to wait and see. as well as a licence to use and register a trade name “The same is happening in Iraq, even though the protests in that containing the name “Em Sherif”, restricted for the country were more violent. They purpose of enforcing the franchise agreement. were the result of the popular dis- Therefore, S.G.R SAL Offshore aims to clarify to all trust of the political system there. The situation in Iraq is somewhat its respectful clients in Dubai in particular, and in the similar to that in Lebanon be- UAE in general, the following: cause, although the political sys- tem in Iraq is not strong enough, Any act/business conducted by Em Sherif Restau- it will still be difficult to replace rant· LLC bears no relationship neither directly nor because it is based on the balance indirectly to S.G.R SAL Offshore. of power between the various factions in the country. It’ll be The continuous use of the tradename “Em Sherif” extremely difficult to replace such until· this date by Em Sherif Restaurant LLC is ille- a system and, so far, no radical change has taken place.” gal and is considered as gross violation to S.G.R SAL AW: To complete the tour of the OFFSHORE’s registered and protected rights. region, it is necessary to consider Thus, S.G.R SAL Offshore seeks from its respectful tensions in the Gulf region. What is the effect of conflicts between clients and distributors their attention and adher- countries in the region on people ence to the above. Delicate times. Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf. (Twitter) in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab November 10, 2019 9 News & Analysis Iraq What it takes for Iraq to overcome impasse

United Nations for Iraq in 1978 with led to corruption. There is no way those of 2003 shows a horrific drop one can separate both parts of the at all levels. equation. The inevitable and logical Samir Sumaidaie If we factor in the remarkable consequence of quotas and corrup- progress that has taken place in tion is the overinflated state appara- most parts of the world in the same tus because employment in govern- he ills of Iraq are well period, the deterioration in Iraq ment departments, whether security known and clearly takes even greater dimensions. This or civil, has become a political tool visible: financial and explains why no Iraqi went to the for buying loyalties. administrative corrup- rescue of the Saddam regime when When hiring to staff a department tion; sectarian and the US military machine arrived to or agency, what’s important is not ethnic quotas; an remove it. the objective need of that institution Toverstaffed and inefficient public The political leadership that in qualified human resources but to sector; the deterioration of all surfaced after the regime change continue to appoint cronies. Over public services, including water was diverse. The Kurds had a fairly time, the growing number of unem- and electricity shortages, poor organised and stable leadership ployed university graduates swelled health, education and transport and they had resources and expe- and pressure from public discontent services; a faltering economic rience in self-rule and autonomy forced the government to create un- output, especially in agriculture in Kurdistan since 1991. Political justified public-service positions and and industry; unemployment; Islam parties, particularly the Shia job grades to absorb this discontent, environmental deterioration; the ones, had qualified people and were making matters worse. politicisation of the judiciary and organised and supported politically In addition to a huge burden on the media; widespread drug abuse and financially. None of the other the state budget, inflation in state in- Patience running thin. An Iraqi protester waves the natioanl among the population; brain drain. political currents and tendencies stitutions and agencies deprives the flag in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square amid anti-government The list goes on. were organised or supported but general population of Iraq’s resourc- demonstrations, November 5. (AFP) Whoever believes that it is possible they enjoyed a broad support base es and impedes the performance of to focus on any of these phenomena among the country’s intellectuals the government. and fix it in isolation of all the others and administrators. When you hire people on the basis written constitution. belief is guaranteed and upheld by is deluding himself because they are Then the Kurdish leadership of their loyalty and willingness to For Iraq to emerge from its pre- the law. Only the state has the right interconnected and have one source: forged a “strategic alliance” with sustain the corrupt system, you’re dicament, all of this must change. to use violence, within the frame- the country’s political system. Shia Islamist parties that gave the not looking for qualified people ca- Citizens are equal in rights and every work of the law, of course, and no Without its reform we can’t begin Kurds immediate gains and opened pable of fixing problems. This is true citizen has the full right to any posi- individual or authority is above the to speak of fixing any of the other the way for Shia Islamist parties to in all sectors and levels of appoint- tion in the state if he or she is eligi- law. A citizen must be able to enjoy problems. Any solution would be a pounce on power in Baghdad, grab ments, starting with ministers down ble, regardless of his or her social, his or her full freedom to choose his minor, superficial patchwork proce- the state’s resources and use them, to “ghost” employees. ethnic or religious category. This is or her beliefs and ideologies without dure compared with the scale of the not to build the country, but to con- The best illustration of the colos- a necessary condition to break the imposing them on others. problem. solidate their hegemony. sal failure of this system is the ease impasse. This is the principle of citizen- The system wasn’t designed to fix Those resources were used to with which the Islamic State took There must be a complete change ship on which a modern state must the problems suffered by the coun- strengthen the parties and put in control of large areas of the country. in the political culture and a shift be built so it can catch up with try. This is despite that everyone in place a vile system of patronage. Therefore, we reiterate that Iraq’s from sectarianism and ethnic the heightened pace of civilised the political leadership is calling for To sustain this system, they had, of problems are interdependent and categorisation that run counter to countries. Without it, we’re going reform and claiming to want it and course, to involve leaders represent- can only be addressed by reforming the constitution and the spirit of the to be forever stuck in the same vi- seek it on the condition that their ing the Sunnis of Iraq led by the the political system first. times as well as to the principle of cious circle of the devastating trio of own interests are not compromised. Islamic Party, which turned out to The constitution forbids dis- citizenship. sectarianism, quotas and corruption Sectarian and ethnic quotas are be no less thirsty for the power and crimination on religious, sectarian When we say “Religion is for God — and we will only regress. None of the tools the designers of the Iraqi the benefits it produces than their or ethnic grounds but the prevail- and the homeland for all” it means the calls for and attempts at reform political system have used to divide generous partners. ing political culture and practice there must be a coherent state in will lead anywhere if we do not deal the spoils, lay their hands on the Thus was born a system of quotas say that the prime minister must which everyone is equally governed with this simple truth and there is rentier state of Iraq and loot its that became the solid foundation be a Shia and the two presidents by the rule of law. The state’s func- no other way to control the despic- resources in a systematic and legiti- of the political system in Iraq and are Sunni and Kurdish. This is an tion is to protect and serve citizens able corruption in Iraq. mate manner. flung the gates wide open to such a arrangement that was introduced without discrimination. Religious, Iraq is an exhausted and crum- blatant, comprehensive, ferocious, in 2004 as a temporary measure to sectarian and ethnic affiliations are Samir Sumaidaie is a former bling state that has been weakened and callous system of corruption reassure the “components” of Iraqi all respected and it is a personal member of the Governing Council, from the inside after decades of unsurpassed by any other model society but was soon transformed affair of the citizen outside the pre- minister of the Interior, permanent dictatorship, wars and siege. A com- known in the modern world. into a fixed custom that is taken rogatives of the state. representative of Iraq to the United parison of the economic, social and Sectarianism and ethnic politics for granted. Thus Iraq was “Leba- What is sacred to one citizen may Nations and ambassador of Iraq in cultural indicators published by the led to a system of quotas and quotas nonised,” despite and against its not be so to another but the right of Washington. Why are Sunni Arabs largely silent in Shia-dominated protests?

lies. Sunni Arabs felt abandoned by their fellow countrymen when they Tallha were demonised by pro-Iran politi- Abdulrazaq cians such as former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The sectar- ian discourse of the elites was left or a demographic that unchallenged and the Sunnis were has been acknowledged slaughtered without a whisper of for its political activity condemnation from those under in Iraq following the the same boot of tyranny. collapse of Saddam I remember seeing the aftermath Hussein’s regime in of the Hawija protest site, with F2003, it appears odd that Sunni tents on fire and Iraqi security Arabs of central, western and forces insulting protesters they had northern Iraq have largely been just killed, some of whom were absent from the demonstrations disabled and had fallen dead beside raging across the Shia-dominated their now-empty wheelchairs. areas to the south. Those abuses were reported ex- Rather than having a conspicu- tensively by human rights organisa- ous, even dominating, presence, tions, yet nothing was done. Even as in previous national protest protests by other Iraqis condemning movements, Sunni Arabs have been the brutal crackdown were notably withdrawn and reclusive, leading absent and this may well have been analysts to wonder why. The short due to the government’s allegations answer is that their attitude has that Sunni protesters were al-Qaeda nothing to do with not wanting an and Ba’athist sympathisers. Iraq that is free of corruption and They were dehumanised and Iranian influence. demonised and slaughtered. The The long answer, however, is inaction of the international com- directly tied to Sunni Arabs’ at- munity, as well as those in Iraq, tempts at political engagement meant the door had been opened and how they were crushed almost for the Islamic State (ISIS) terror into oblivion. The protest move- group by Maliki and Iran’s cronies Scars of the past still linger. An old man walks by a demonstrator wearing a mask during anti- (Reuters) ment of 2012-13 was Sunni-led and and we know how that ended. government protests in Baghdad, November 7. called on Iraqis of all ethnic and ISIS conquered two-thirds of religious backgrounds to join them Iraq before it was forced back. not allowed to renew identity docu- them would be tarred as another at- political class that has caused Iraqis in demanding an end to corruption, The terror cult’s campaign led to ments and have been effectively tempt at a “Ba’athist resurgence” or of all factions immeasurable harm. abusive anti-terrorism laws and the levelling of major Sunni Arab ostracised from public life, with as some sort of support for terror- While protests remain unorgan- sectarian politicking that marginal- population centres. There were even children denied access to ists such as al-Qaeda and ISIS, lead- ised, though, it is unlikely there ised everyone apart from the select more human rights abuses and war education. ing to yet more tragedy for them. will be popular demonstrations by political elite. crimes perpetrated against them, The legacy of Iran-sponsored However, if the leaderless pro- Sunni Arabs given the sectarian That same elite is still in power such as extrajudicial executions sectarianism in Iraq and the war tests become more organised and horrors they have already suffered. after having crushed the Sunni-led based on spurious allegations and against ISIS have scarred the Sunni formally reach out to the Sunni movement more than half a decade mass displacement of the popula- governorates. While they were call- Arab community, then it is almost Tallha Abdulrazaq is a researcher ago and is trying to do the same to tion into camps. ing, years ago, for much the same as certain the Sunnis would see the at the University of Exeter’s the Shia-led popular struggle. Some of these camps were filled the current protest movements are, benefit of a cross-sectarian coordi- Strategy and Security Institute in This is where the painful truth with people who, to this day, are they are afraid that any action by nated effort to weed out the corrupt England. 10 November 10, 2019 News & Analysis Gulf As it announces Aramco IPO, Riyadh forges on with 2030 reform track

Mohammed Alkhereiji

London

audi Arabia’s reform drive, including efforts to revamp its economy, reached a sig- S nificant milestone with the announcement of the Saudi Aramco initial public offering, which capped a series of events and reforms in line with the country’s Vision 2030 plan. After a 4-year process, Riyadh announced that oil giant Aramco, believed to be the world’s most prof- itable company, would float shares on the domestic exchange in what analysts said could be the world’s biggest stock listing. “Today marks a significant mile- stone in the history of the company and important progress towards de- livering Saudi Vision 2030, the king- dom’s blueprint for sustained eco- nomic diversification and growth,” Aramco Chairman Yasir al-Rumayy- an said in announcing the initial public offering (IPO). Reuters reported the first sub- scription for potential Aramco inves- tors would be December 4 and local trading would begin December 11, although the announcement did not include details concerning the num- ber of shares Aramco intends to float. Aramco said it would announce the transaction price on November 17. The Wall Street Journal reported Betting on the future. Two visitors at Aramco’s Upstream Learning Development Centre (UPDC) in Dhahran in eastern Saudi Arabia. (AFP) that, in the early stages, Aramco in- tends to sell 2%-5% of its shares, de- pending on demand. Saudi officials Arabia also initiated a new tourist 2016 to develop an indigenous enter- to open branches in the kingdom. Vision 2030,” said Saudi Minister of say floating 1%-2% of Aramco on the visa system available to citizens of tainment industry. The kingdom has “The new system achieves a quali- Higher Education Hamad bin Mo- domestic Tadawul stock exchange 49 countries. hosted a comic-con and major mu- tative leap in the march of Saudi uni- hammed Al al-Sheikh. could raise $20 billion-$40 billion. To encourage foreign tourists to sic acts, including Janet Jackson, 50 versities on grounds of empower- Foreign universities could open The Aramco IPO is one of the cor- visit the country, Saudi authorities Cent and K-pop sensation BTS. ment, distinctiveness and quality… Saudi branches through “specific nerstones of Saudi Crown Prince Mo- relaxed a number of laws viewed as The first women’s wrestling match in consistence with the kingdom’s regulations” to “boost competitive- hammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz’s deal breakers for people interested in in the country took place October 31 ness to increase the efficiency of Vision 2030 economic and social visiting the kingdom. Those includes in Riyadh with World Wrestling En- the university education system,” reform plan, which aims to prepare allowing foreign couples to stay tertainment performers Natalya and Sheikh was quoted by the official Saudi Arabia for the post-oil era. in hotels without proving they are Lacey Evans facing off in the pay- Floating Saudi Press Agency as saying. Since the plan’s introduction in married and foreign female tourists per-view match at the King Fahd The law offers universities full in- April 2016, Saudi Arabia has opened no longer being obliged to wear the International Stadium. The event dependence as part of the “general significantly both socially and eco- loose-fitting black abaya. was part of the Riyadh Season fes- 1%-2% policy” of the state, stressing that nomically, including the reversal of A significant aspect of Vision 2030 tival, which hosts cultural, artistic of Aramco on the each university will have a board of the ban on women driving, loosen- aims to develop Saudi Arabia into a and musical events over a 2-month domestic Tadawul stock trustees to help achieve “governance.” ing of guardianship laws and hosting regional tourist and entertainment period. recreational events such as music destination. The General Authority Riyadh also announced that for- exchange could raise Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf concerts and sporting events. Saudi of Entertainment was established in eign universities would be allowed $20 billion-$40 billion. section editor of The Arab Weekly. Arab Gulf countries step up to help Sudan

Samy Magdy Sudanese officials, speaking on trust” about how foreign aid would “requires some time.” ber meeting of the Friends of Sudan condition of anonymity, warned the be spent and “address the black However, the challenges facing said. The meeting was led by a top slow response and “empty prom- holes,” referring to the influence of Sudan are so daunting, it may no US diplomat, David Hale, and Tibor Cairo ises” from Western governments the security forces that served al- longer be able to wait for a change in Nagy, US assistant secretary of State could weaken Sudan’s new civilian Bashir’s regime for decades. Western policy. Battered by decades for African affairs. udan’s new prime minister leaders, only three months after The German ministry refused to of US sanctions and mismanage- The White House announced has repeatedly urged the they were appointed. comment on the meeting. ment under al-Bashir, Sudan suffers that “actions and policies” that led West to end his country’s in- “The West has not taken any con- Hamdok has counted on Washing- from high inflation, an enormous Washington to impose sanctions on S ternational pariah status. He crete steps to help the Sudanese,” ton lifting Sudan’s terror designa- foreign debt at close to $60 billion Sudan “have not been resolved” and said it’s the only way to save the na- said a government minister. “What tion, which would clear the way for and widespread shortages of essen- “continue to pose an unusual and tion’s fragile democratic transition we see now are words but no ac- loans from the International Mone- tial goods, including fuel, bread and extraordinary threat to the national from a plunging economy. tions. They are demanding things tary Fund and World Bank. A widely medicine. security and foreign policy of the In September, Sudanese Prime that might take years to address.” respected economist, he said Sudan Hamdok and General Abdel-Fat- United States.” Minister Abdalla Hamdok said he The officials said US and European needs up to $8 billion in foreign aid tah Burhan, head of the sovereign Elbadawi recently said Hamdok was expecting a “big breakthrough” officials set conditions that include in the next two years and another council overseeing Sudan’s transi- would travel to the United States that would lead to removing Sudan reaching a peace agreement with the $2 billion deposited as reserves to tion, visited Saudi Arabia and the “soon” to meet with US congres- from the US list of state sponsors of country’s rebel groups as well as ad- shore up the local currency. United Arab Emirates directly after sional leaders and other US officials terrorism and unlocking desperately dressing the role of Sudan’s security the prime minister returned from the in efforts to end the designation. needed foreign aid. forces in the transition. Sudanese officials warned UN General Assembly and France. “I’m afraid the window of oppor- However, so far, nothing has The last is a key sticking point in the slow response and Both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi tunity for the civilian (government) changed except that Hamdok is now talks. In a visit by a Sudanese del- vowed to provide $3 billion in aid in Sudan to succeed is closing and “ ” turning to two wealthy Gulf Arab egation to Berlin, a top German of- empty promises from following the Sudanese military’s largely so because the West isn’t monarchies — Saudi Arabia and the ficial urged clearly defining the role Western governments could overthrow of al-Bashir in April. The helping Sudan out of its financial United Arab Emirates — to secure of Sudan’s security agencies, espe- weaken the country’s new two monarchies have delivered half hole,” said Alex de Waal, a Sudan ex- funds to keep his government afloat. cially the paramilitary Rapid Sup- civilian leaders, only three of the $3 billion. The other half is pert at Tufts University. Both countries have been particular- port Forces. months after they were expected to be delivered by the end Osman Mirghani, editor of the ly helpful to Sudan. The powerful unit grew out of the appointed. of next year, said Sudanese Finance Sudanese newspaper al-Tayar, at- The United States listed Sudan as feared Janjaweed militias unleashed Minister Ibrahim Elbadawi. tended the October meeting with a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 during the Darfur conflict in the Instead, Sudanese Foreign Affairs Germany’s and France’s foreign German officials. He said the West and the designation stuck through- 2000s. It’s led by General Mohamed Assistant Under-Secretary Elham ministers visited Sudan in Septem- views the current government in Su- out Sudanese President Omar al- Hamdan Dagalo and has supplied Ahmed found herself repeating the ber and vowed to step up European dan as “weak, fragile and unstable,” Bashir’s rule. The United States be- ground forces to the Saudi-led coali- demand in an October meeting with efforts to readmit the country into one that’s failed to take the required gan a formal process to delist Sudan tion fighting in Yemen’s civil war. Brian Shukan, the new US charge the international economy and lob- measures regarding political free- in January 2017 but that was put on A Sudanese official who attended d’affaires to Khartoum, asking for by Washington to remove it from the doms, women’s and human rights. hold when Sudan’s mass protests the meeting said Stefan Oswald, di- a US plan to end the designation. US terror list. “In fact, nothing has changed ex- erupted last year. The uprising top- rector of sub-Saharan Africa in Ger- Shukan told Sudanese Foreign Min- The United States says it has cept the overthrow of the regime’s pled al-Bashir and forced the mili- many’s Development and Economic ister Asma Abdalla on November 3 reached out to Sudanese authorities head, Omar al-Bashir,” he said. tary into a power-sharing agreement Cooperation Ministry, told the del- that there are attempts to remove about lifting the terrorism designa- with civilians. egation it was important to “build Sudan from the US list but that this tion, a statement from a late-Octo- (The Associated Press) November 10, 2019 11 News & Analysis Qatar Interview Investigative reporter looks into Qatar’s ‘corrupting influence’ in France, Europe

Andalusian masters? and through terrorist and jihadist “Problems develop when religion networks) in the outbreak of the becomes political. If you haven’t inaptly named “Arab spring.” For Majed Nehme done so, go on the internet and whose benefit in your view? watch a speech given by Egyptian JMB: “Qatar, with (French Presi- President Gamal Abdel-Nasser in dent Nicolas) Sarkozy as an ally and acques-Marie Bourget is which he talks about a Muslim accomplice, played a considerable an internationally Brotherhood leader who had asked and detestable role in destroying renowned French writer him to impose wearing the veil on Libya. The jihadist flags of Benghazi and investigative journal- all Egyptian females. Nasser an- were sewn in Qatar long before the ist. A war correspondent swered him: ‘You’re not even able beginning of the offensive against and Middle East expert, to impose it on your own daughter (Libyan leader Muammar) Qaddafi, Bourget made his career and you want me to impose on all whose oil and billions were to Jin France Inter radio channel, Le of our sisters!’ That’s the problem. be looted. Where are today the Canard Enchainé satirical newspa- Pray all you want but leave power $170 billion that the Libyan leader per and the weeklies L’Express and alone. stashed in different banks world- Paris Match. He was awarded the “In France, I’m very uncomforta- wide, including $50 billion in Doha? “Scoop” prize in 1986 for reporting ble because to criticise the ‘veil’ and “Who has helped and financed on the Green Peace affair and he the aggressive behaviour of political the Mujao (Movement for Oneness revealed the assassination of Islamists, places you in the same and Jihad in West Africa) in Africa, British publisher Robert Maxwell camp as racists and extreme right- especially in Mali? Who had con- disguised as suicide. wing activists. So, we, humanists vinced France, without difficulty it While reporting from Ramallah and democrats and friends of the must be noted, to accept Qatar as a in the West Bank, Bourget was seri- Muslim world end up being caught member of the francophone coun- ously wounded by an Israeli soldier between a rock and a hard place, tries while we know the emirate on October 21, 2000. while we know from experience, was not eligible? This label of ‘fran- A daring and discreet journalist, from investigating and from living in cophone’ allows Qatar to transform he was awarded by former French Muslim countries that this political many schools in West Africa into President Jacques Chirac the French Islam did not come out of thin air. madrassas. Who, if not Qatar, in Daring but discreet. French writer and investigative journalist Medaille de Chevalier de l’Ordre “In France, it is sponsored, southern Niger was in contact with Jacques-Marie Bourget. (Majed Nehme) national de la Legion d’Honneur. encouraged and organised by states Boko Haram? In 2012, he published “Sabra & like Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In a “France and the West are be- string of French intellectuals, such is a hitch, the political authorities Chatila, au cœur du massacre,” poor and uprooted community, ing suicidal by encouraging this as Plantu or Jean Daniel, rushing will intervene to bury any sanctions with photographs by Marc Simon. the ‘zakat’ or charity from Doha country in exchange for mercantile to the Qatari Embassy in Paris to but that wasn’t the case with Al- His latest publication was “Le is welcomed as aid and espousing and suspiciously corrupt profits. receive the 10,000 euros of the Paris Manar channel, which was banned vilain petit Qatar, cet ami qui nous Wahhabism becomes an identity Let’s never forget that in Doha, Doha Prize. at the request of Israel. veut du mal” (“Nasty Little Qatar, and a source of support. It’s a trap. the capital of a mini-monarchy but “Qatar can finance seminars, “In the case of RT France, the tar- a Friend that Does Not Want Us “We have all lived in Muslim also a total dictatorship, a poet was trips, foundations, ‘research’ insti- get is (Russian President Vladimir) Good”) published in 2013 by Edi- countries where women walked the sentenced to death (then pardoned tutes, Islamic scholars, et cetera. Putin, who right now happens to be tions Fayard. streets freely and without a veil, under pressure) for having wished In France, Qatar, for its modernity the leader designated as ‘very bad,’ The Arab Weekly spoke with this outer sign of religious con- that the ‘spring’ season may come and positive action for a peace- so punishable.” Bourget in Paris. straint. ‘Progressive’ French people to Qatar one day. ful Islam preached by Al Jazeera, TAW: Qatar is currently asking the The Arab Weekly (TAW): What have trouble imagining that the veil “With Turkey, Qatar is the biggest was exempted from the tax on real European Union to ensure that Qa- led you to devote a book to Qatar? is the flag of political Islam and that proselytising country in France. estate gains.” tari passport holders are exempted Jacques-Marie Bourget (JMB): it is an import product.” Let’s not forget that Tariq Ramadan TAW: Does Qatar’s policy towards from Schengen Area visas. Will this “There was such a media craze TAW: Since the 1995 coup, this is a creature from Qatar and that he Europe consist solely in using its fi- not allow free access to Europe to for Qatar, especially in the French geopolitically insignificant small has woven his web so well, helped nancial assets to win the favours of Qatar’s proteges acting under the mainstream media, where Qatar gas and oil-rich state has become, at by men like Edwy Plenel who politicians while playing the game false cover of philanthropic activi- was too often presented as the least in the media and ideologically, wanted to build a ‘common home’ of the Muslim Brotherhood and ties, which could open a whole new model of “modern” Islam, a friend a political actor wanting to play in with him and with this type of other extremist groups whose val- Pandora’s box? of science, of the arts, culture and the big leagues and influence the propaganda we are close to disaster. ues and actions threaten European JMB: “That Qatar is asking tolerance, such that this micro-state course of history in the Muslim The same Plenel received a prize societies? Does not this remind you Europe for free access to Schengen had to be investigated. world. Is this megalomania or is from an organisation of the Turkish of the famous quote attributed to for the emirate’s passport holders “I started my investigation a little Qatar serving a bigger project that Muslim Brothers… Lenin: “The capitalists will sell us does not surprise me. Doha has naively, without prejudice, but I goes beyond it? “Doha’s aid to the ‘Arab spring’ the rope with which we will hang understood that, with the existing ended up very quickly finding the JMB: “Qatar is big only because it and then to jihadist organisations them”? division among European coun- happy truth: Everything that was is small. Let us remember this Rus- like al-Nusra is documented. Many JMB: “Vis-a-vis Europe, Qatar’s tries, corruption and the weight of said and written about Qatar was sian UN diplomat who, outraged Tunisian, Syrian, Egyptian and game became so obvious in France lobbies, there is a real ground to be false and funded by the emirate. by the arrogance of the representa- Libyan ‘rebel’ youths were trained that this absolute monarchy was conquered in Europe.” “Here we can think of the tive of Doha, told him: ‘The tip of and funded by US-Qatari structures forced to more discretion. The TAW: Has Qatar bought the foot- Potemkin villages, named after this my pencil is enough to hide your and Al Jazeera TV has always been ‘elites’ are trying to be discrete ball World Cup? Is there still a risk, Russian minister, in 1787, who or- country on the map. Just press one there for the propagation of lies and when attending a party organised given repeated revelations on this dered the construction of cardboard button and, hop, no more Qatar.’ the power of provocations. by Qatar. The new game is now in subject, to see FIFA reverse its deci- facades in the villages visited by “Since Qatar, a state that cer- “When the various ‘springs’ have the Balkans where, in all tranquil- sion to have the 2022 World Cup Empress Catherine II.” tainly has debts but swimming in settled, the Wahabbites continued lity, Wahhabism intends to establish competition in Qatar? TAW: You were the first in- gold nevertheless, lacks territorial their conquest otherwise, by arm- its new European base. JMB: “The limit of the Qatari vestigative journalist to take an space, a kind of colonial ideology ing the ‘Syrian rebels,’ especially “The European Parliament system was reached at the World interest in Qatar and to denounce and desire for conquest were born, from the weapons stockpiles of members are busy voting a scan- Athletics Championships. In my its “public tender acquisition of a lust for the empire of the dollar. Tripoli.” dalous text that puts on the same book ‘Le Vilain Petit Qatar,’ I had Islam in France.” With the rise of We’ve seen this happen in the past TAW: How do you explain the footing the heroes of Stalingrad and described the empty football sta- communitarianism in France and with the power of the Republic of complacency of some of France’s Auschwitz guards, while they see diums of Qatar during the football the false debate on the so-called Venice. It’s quite comparable. ruling elites towards this no malice in the rise of this political championship, with men going Islamic scarf widely favoured by “But money hardly circulates emirate at all levels: Islam perceived as a ‘regulator’.” there just to watch films on their both circles close to the nebula of without Qatari Wah- arms purchases (espe- TAW: How do you explain the tablets. the Muslim Brotherhood and by the habism, which is a cially acquiring Rafale complacency of the French authori- “During the athletics champion- Islamophobic and racist extreme kind of global pass- warplanes), financial ties, especially the Higher Audio- ships, the stadium was too big for right, how do you explain the port, a kind of Green investments, media, visual Council (CSA), towards the the meagre public and it was neces- blind-eye policy of French govern- Card granted to the sports? Qatari channel Al Jazeera, broad- sary to stretch tarpaulins over parts ments towards Qatar for at least two follower. JMB: “French cast by all the cable operators, and of it to shrink it. This attribution of decades? “Five or six years ‘elites’ are corrup- which propagates in the suburbs a global competition to Qatar is just JMB: “The question of the rise of ago, Qatar tried to cre- tible and Qatar’s fundamentalist ideology, hatred the latest episode in the globalised Islamic communitarianism is, for ate, in France, a kind of money has no and even calls for murder, while corruption of the power of dishon- me, extremely painful. Having been equivalent to CRIF (the smell. It is actually other foreign channels are strictly est leaders who do not think about brought up in the pain of the Catho- Representative Council exotic, oriental, monitored and even harassed as in the sport but about their bank ac- lic religion according to the most of Jewish Institutions in as Edward Said the case of RT France? counts in Singapore. inane principles, I have developed a France) and this tactic would say; bak- JMB: “Qatar’s strength, in terms “The World Cup in 2022 will con- total distaste for all religions. was, in fact, a way to take sheesh is quite of propaganda, is that it relies firm this hell whose most serious “That being said, one must be hold of Islam in France. To welcomed, as a largely on a community that speaks aspect is the death of 2,000 workers stupid to wish for a sort of world use a comparison that is cultural gesture. Arabic, a language little practised during the construction of the tow- secularisation that would be magi- not right, the emir and (Yu- “Thus, we by the so odiously called ‘native’ ers and stadiums of Doha, a scandal cal. Having travelled and lived a lot suf al-)Qaradawi then would have seen a French. This lack of filter allows well-known to and experienced by in Arab countries, I know that Islam become great caliphs.” Doha to propagate any fake news the very humanistic French pro- In-depth investigation. Cover of can be like the daily bread there TAW: Qatar, along with in total freedom, plus sermons by moters and architects in Paris.” Jacques-Marie Bourget’s book, “Nasty and, historically, it was the Turkey, both sponsors of the radical preacher Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Little Qatar, a Friend that Does Not vehicle of science and knowledge; Muslim Brotherhood, played which incite violence. The CSA does Majed Nehme is a Syrian-French Want Us Good.” need we mention the role of the a decisive role (financially not control any of this and, if there journalist in Paris. 12 November 10, 2019 News & Analysis Egypt New hope for settling Egypt-Ethiopia Nile dispute after Washington talks

Amr Emam

n expression of commit- ment by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan regarding a compre- A hensive agreement on filling the reservoir of and operating Ethio- pia’s gigantic Nile River dam offered hope for relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa, analysts said. “This commitment opens the door for an agreement,” said Nader Noureddine, a professor of water resources at Cairo University. “An agreement is very close, especially in the presence of a real political will on the part of the three states.” Foreign ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan met November 6 in Washington for talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), under mediation from the US govern- ment and the World Bank. They reaffirmed their resolve to reach a sustainable and mutually beneficial agreement on the dam, which has strained relations between Cairo and Addis Ababa and created fears of drought and economic devas- tation for Egypt. The foreign ministers said they At the heart of dispute. The construction site of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Guba Woreda, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Ethiopia. would establish a process for fulfill- (Reuters) ing that commitment along a declara- tion of principles signed in 2015. US President Donald Trump said the GERD would contribute towards cess. They also want to operate the way of settling the conflict,” said Ali three countries to settle disputes the meeting went well. “Just had a stability and development in eastern dam with Ethiopia during the pro- Masoud, a professor of political sci- arising out of the interpretation or meeting with top representatives Africa. cess. ence at Beni-Suef University. “The implementation of the Declaration of from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to Addis Ababa has pinned many eco- Ethiopia rejected both requests United States has strong relations Principles, amicably through consul- help solve their long running dispute nomic development hopes on the during talks in October. with both Egypt and Ethiopia, which tation or negotiation in accordance on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance GERD. It said the $4.5 billion project Cairo’s worries increased in late gives it special weight.” with the principle of good faith. Dam, one of the largest in the world,” will push development in impov- October when Ethiopian Prime Min- During their November 6 meet- If the parties are unable to resolve erished cities and create revenue ister Abiy Ahmed told the Ethiopian ing, the foreign ministers of Egypt, the dispute through consultation or That Ethiopia accepted through selling electricity to other parliament that no force could stop Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to have negotiation, they may jointly request countries. Ethiopia from building the dam. four technical meetings at the level conciliation, mediation or refer the international mediation in The dam, which will store close to He said he could put together 1 mil- of water ministers. They also agreed matter for consideration by the heads its dispute with Egypt, 80 billion cubic metres of water, will lion troops in any potential war with that the World Bank and the United of state or heads of government, the analysts said, is a good step make Ethiopia an electrical power Egypt. States would support and attend the article states. towards reaching a generation hub in the Horn of Africa. A few days later, Abiy met with meetings as observers. That, analysts said, allows for a settlement. However, the project poses exis- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al- They said they would work to- more active role by the international tential threats to Egypt. Sisi on the sidelines of the Russia- wards the completion of an agree- community, especially the United Trump tweeted November 6. With an annual share of 55.5 billion Africa summit and agreed to resume ment by January 15 and would attend States, in helping the three countries Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh cubic metres of water from the Nile, talks on the dam. meetings in Washington December 9 reach an agreement. Shoukry described the discussions in its only source of water, Egypt is al- Sisi had asked Trump to get in- and January 13 to assess and support “The United States will work hard Washington as “positive.” ready water-poor. The share has been volved in the dispute when he met progress. to make an agreement possible be- “These results include the pres- the same for decades, even as Egypt’s him in September on the sidelines of If an agreement is not reached by tween the three states,” Masoud said. ence of a clear and specific timetable population of more than 100 million the UN General Assembly. January 15, the three countries will “It is in the best interests of these for the course of negotiations [on the grows. That Ethiopia accepted interna- invoke Article 10 of the 2015 Declara- states to reach a negotiated settle- Ethiopian dam],” Shoukry said. Egyptian officials said they hope tional mediation in its dispute with tion of Principles, the three ministers ment on the dam because there is no He said an agreement among the they can convince Ethiopia to fill Egypt, analysts said, is a good step said in a joint statement. other way.” three countries on the pace of fill- the dam reservoir over a 7-year time towards reaching a settlement. The “Principle of Peaceful Set- ing of the reservoir and operation of frame to reduce the effects of the pro- “International mediation is a good tlement of Disputes” commits the Amr Emam is an Arab Weekly Egyptian parliament locks horns with al-Azhar over prerogatives

Hassan Abdel Zaher This is less about this specific bill of al-Azhar for the first time. and more about the struggle for con- The grand imam is selected by the trol between al-Azhar and the par- Islamic Research Academy and can- Cairo liament, observers said. not be sacked by the president, the Al-Azhar has dominated Egyp- government or the parliament. roposed legislation that tian Muslims’ lives for hundreds of Abu Hamed’s bill angered al- would regulate marriage and years; however, its failure to insti- Azhar. An al-Azhar University pro- divorce among Muslims is at tute reforms, the discourse of its fessor proposed a law that would jail P the centre of a dispute be- preachers and the curricula at its those who criticise the grand imam. tween the Egyptian parliament and schools and colleges have caused it al-Azhar. to come under scrutiny. Al-Azhar’s decision-making body Some people hold al-Azhar re- Al-Azhar said formulating drafted the measure after about a sponsible for a surge in extremism laws that organise the life year of discussion and is preparing because of its failure to dispute the of Egyptian families is its to refer the bill to the parliament ideology of terrorists. There is also a duty because it is part of for debate. Lawmakers, however, feeling in Egypt that men of religion its religious accuse al-Azhar of encroaching on should not be in control. responsibilities. their territory and interfering with Member of parliament Mohamed their work. Fouad said al-Azhar was turning the The latest measure widens the Al-Azhar is the most important row over the new bill into a religious gap between al-Azhar and parlia- religious institution for the major- war. “It [al-Azhar] acts in violation ment. Some politicians say they will ity Muslim population of Egypt and Keeping society in line. Al-Azhar scholars during a meeting in Cairo. of the secular nature of our state,” not consider al-Azhar’s proposal, (AP) hundreds of millions of Sunni Mus- he said. known as the Personal Status Bill. lims around the world. The debate over the bill is the lat- However, this could lead to even “Al-Azhar does not have the right Courts often take years to rule on of underage girls. est in a series of conflicts between more friction between the two insti- to propose or formulate laws,” said cases of women’s living expenses. Al-Azhar said formulating laws al-Azhar and the legislature. The dif- tutions, observers said. lawmaker Samir Rashad. Divorced people also wait a long that organise the life of Egyptian ferences are caused by parliament’s “Al-Azhar knows well that it does Al-Azhar’s measure is the fourth time before courts determine cus- families is its duty because it is part desire to assert itself while the reli- not have the right to draft laws,” said proposed — some drafted by par- tody of children. of its religious responsibilities. gious establishment wants to con- Islamist researcher Ahmed Abdo liamentarians — that are meant to Lawmakers are especially angry “We have received several bills on trol people’s lives, observers said. Maher. “Nevertheless, it wants to regulate marriage and divorce, cus- because, in proposing its own bill, the same issue, including from the Parliament angered al-Azhar in control people’s lives and make its tody of children and alimony. The al-Azhar overlooks measures parlia- parliament,” al-Azhar said in a state- early 2017 when politician Moham- voice only heard in this country.” bills look to address problems faced ment proposed regarding the issue. ment. “We drafted a bill that pro- ed Abu Hamed, a vocal critic of the by Egyptian women, especially the They accuse al-Azhar of drafting tects the rights of women and guar- religious establishment, proposed a Hassan Abdel Zaher is ability to obtain financial rights, af- an unbalanced bill that does men antees the presence of good care for bill reforming al-Azhar by allowing a Cairo-based contributor to ter divorce. injustice and allows the marriage the children after divorce.” the replacement of the grand imam The Arab Weekly. November 10, 2019 13 News & Analysis Syria Syria moves further into Iran’s orbit with new deal

Simon Speakman Cordall policy objectives. Commercial links between Iran and Russia are not new, in many Tunis cases predating Syria’s civil war, but what has changed dramatical- ith Iran’s signing of ly are the circumstances. In 2009, a preliminary agree- when Russia attempted to pay off ment to work with debts it had accrued through an- W the Syrian govern- choring its fleet at Tartus, Syria, ment to reconstruct the country’s through key investments, Damas- war-damaged electrical power cus was able to refuse. Since then, grid, Moscow’s and Tehran’s of- Syria’s economic output has de- ten competing interests gained a clined an estimated 70%. further foothold. Given the ruinous state of Syr- A memorandum of understand- ia’s economy and the millions of ing (MOU) signed November 4 in dollars needed in aid and for re- Tehran promised cooperation in construction, quick returns on constructing power plants, trans- Moscow’s and Tehran’s invest- mission lines and possibly merg- ments are unlikely. However, it ing Iran’s and Syria’s power grids has been suggested their com- via Iraq, the state news agency mercial interests in Syria point to IRNA reported. wider strife. Russia has invested heavily “Neither Russia nor Iran are go- in Syria’s natural gas and phos- ing to make money out of Syria,” phates resources, as well as un- Nicholas Heras, Middle East secu- dertaking major construction rity fellow at the Centre for a New within and around its military American Security think-tank, bases. Iran has invested in Syria’s said, “but by investing within cer- telecommunications and electri- tain key industries, particularly cal infrastructure. with regard to Syria’s few export- The military intervention of able industries, as well as in what Iran and Russia into Syria’s dev- could potentially in the future be astating conflict proved critical tourist areas, such as in Damas- in reversing Damascus’s fortunes cus and Aleppo, Russian and Ira- and saving Syrian President nian business interests, if not the Bashar Assad from almost certain states themselves, could make defeat. While their presence may some good money.” have bolstered Assad’s promises While hopes to embed their Power politics. Syrian President Bashar Assad (L) speaks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad to retake every inch of Syrian soil, presence in Syria’s economic pre- Zarif in Damascus, last April. (AP) their intervention has not come sent and exert as much influence without cost to Syria’s future and as possible over its political future its place in both countries’ wider are factors in Iranian and Russian Mediterranean, which is a major anchor points on which Russia last two years was the Israeli as- thinking, broader concerns could area of focus for Russia.” could project its influence to fur- sessment that the Iranians had be steering policy. “Russia has spent a significant ther locations, such as Libya and shifted their priority from using A memorandum of “For both Russia and Iran, the amount of time and energy in try- Egypt, and “potentially, in the Syria as a geographic space for understanding (MOU) physical geographic location of ing to control lines of communi- future, even further west, to Mo- sending precision-guided weap- signed November 4 in Syria is the most important factor cation and trade in the Mediterra- rocco and Gibraltar.” ons to Hezbollah in Lebanon to that leads to their strategic invest- nean, which has historically been For Iran, establishing a long- using Syria as a permanent base Tehran promised ments in Assad’s regime,” Heras an area of interest,” Heras said, term political and economic foot- to store and distribute weapons cooperation in constructing said. highlighting Russian efforts in ing on Israel’s doorstep is no less and also organise attacks against power plants, transmission “For Russia, the air force base at developing Syria’s Mediterranean important. Israel from Syria,” Heras said. lines and possibly merging Hmeimim (near Latakia) and the provinces. “In fact, what led to Israel’s Iran’s and Syria’s power naval pier at Tartus allow (it) to Moscow’s aim, Heras noted, extensive campaign against Iran Simon Speakman Cordall is a grids via Iraq. extend its powers into the Eastern was to establish those regions as and Iran-backed groups over the freelance writer. Viewpoint Welcome to east of Euphrates where US troops are isolated and friendless

Trump’s order to retreat. His pened,” explained outgoing US This reintegration of the where such forces flourish, surprise agreement with Turkey Deputy Assistant Defence Sec- Kurdish fighters, administrators then there is at least a case to Geoffrey to withdraw US forces east of retary for the Middle East Mick and educators is not a process be made for supporting Da- Aronson the Euphrates has, however, Mulroy. “So, I think now we have that will happen overnight, as mascus’s remit throughout the been transformed into a rede- to focus on the residual presence Syrian President Bashar Assad country. ployment of US forces to the and making sure that the SDF has acknowledged, but now, However, there is no reason popular American oil-producing regions of Syria sees us as a full and committed more than at any time since the to believe that anyone in Wash- movie in the 1980s east of Qamishli near the border partner.” outbreak of the war in 2011, the ington is prepared to make that portrayed a friend- with Iraq and south-east of Deir Really? forces compelling such a rap- argument, despite the fact that less and belea- ez-Zor. Having missed an opportunity prochement have never been the US decision to force the SDF guered police unit US officials have gone to great to leverage US support for a deal stronger. into the steely embrace of the trapped in a lengths to portray the takeover with Damascus over the last The trajectory of relations regime is the biggest territorial crime-riddenA New York neigh- of Syria’s oilfields as simply year-and-a-half, the SDF, after between the SDF and the cen- boost enjoyed by the regime business as usual but Trump’s Russian President Vladimir Pu- tral government in Damascus is since the war commenced. bourhood. The police manning Fort Apache, the Bronx were decision to sell out its partner tin’s orchestration of agreements clear and the small space that Instead, ignoring the impor- condemned to confront forces forces of the Syrian Defence with Damascus and Ankara, exists for an American strategy tance of its recent actions, the much more powerful and Forces (SDF) is a fact that can- has lost its ability to remain an based on an alliance with the Pentagon remains committed persistent than anything they not be undone or, as the United independent actor on the Syrian Kurds, who have been forced to frustrating and impeding could muster. Deployed as a States would seemingly have it, military and political scene. Its to understand that a loveless Damascus and its allies in the symbol of the state’s determi- be simply wished away. military positions are slowly reconciliation with Damascus “axis of resistance.” Whipsawed nation to impose law and order, Everyone — except Washing- but inexorably being assumed is their only viable option, has by the president’s scattershot the forces in Fort Apache ton — is taking seriously the by the Syrian Army, which will disappeared. policy pronouncements, Penta- became hostage to a population opportunities as well as the com- integrate most SDF forces into The US Congress and the US gon officials struggle to invent a that viewed them as the plications afforded by Trump’s its command structure. State Department are all but coherent strategic rationale for enemy. precipitous and ill-considered Many military, police and gov- oblivious to this fact. They talk the continuing deployment of To the men and women from actions. Russia is yet again at ernmental units of the SDF will and act as if the SDF and the US forces in Syria by pretending the 30th Armoured Brigade the centre of multilateral efforts be incorporated into the Syrian effectiveness of a Kurdish-US that the alliance with the Kurds Combat Team US Army National to establish the diplomatic national institutions and its as- alliance have not been fatally remains a plausible anchor for Guard from South Carolina, and security foundations for sets will return to the state. compromised by Trump’s ac- the United States. recently deployed to occupy the consolidating the government’s So, for example, on October 30 tions. They pretend that almost This latest of serial US blun- oil fields in eastern Syria — Wel- pre-eminence. It is moving into the Syrian Ministry of Defence nothing has changed when ders in Syria places Washington come to Syria’s Fort Apache! bases abandoned by the United called on SDF fighters to join its indeed everything has changed. in an unworkable operational Washington has no intention States and setting up coordina- ranks to counter Turkish attacks The Pentagon, which bears alliance with the SDF and its to surrender its presence in Syria tion centres with the SDF. in north-eastern Syria. The min- the most responsibility for new friends in Damascus. despite US President Donald The United States continues istry promised to welcome all Washington’s Syria campaign, US policy now is based upon in different and less disciplined SDF fighters. cannot, like the rest of the overseeing the production of oil directions. “We are in Syria facing the country, simply play chess with by the SDF — now working with The most recent example same enemy, we and the sons of itself. Even before the latest Assad — for sale to its tradition- of this American affliction is unified Syria of Arabs and Kurds upheaval, there were isolated al customers — the regime! The scriptwriters the bizarre policy adopted by should sacrifice our blood to voices suggesting that Wash- The scriptwriters of “Fort of “Fort Apache, The Washington towards the SDF restore every inch of the lands ington’s counterterror strategy Apache, The Bronx” would have Bronx” would have after Trump’s deal with Erdogan. of beloved Syria,” the ministry might require an eventual rap- rejected Washington’s policy in Trump’s action broke the back of declared. prochement with the regime. Syria as too implausible, even rejected Washington’s the alliance linking the SDF and The Syrian Interior Ministry If the best remedy for defeat- for fiction. policy in Syria as too the United States but Washing- released a similar statement, ing the Islamic State, et al., is ton proceeds as if nothing has welcoming personnel of the the expansion and consolida- Geoffrey Aronson is a non-resi- implausible, even for changed. SDF’s security forces to join its tion of state authority and its dent scholar at the Middle East fiction. “What’s happened has hap- ranks. return to ungoverned spaces Institute in Washington. 14 November 10, 2019 News & Analysis Maghreb Algerian candidates face public scorn as date of presidential elections nears

Lamine Ghanmi him as he walked on a sidewalk “Klitou lebled ya sarraguine” (“You looted the country, thieves), they Tunis shouted, pointing at Hmarnia. A man draped in the Algerian na- he normally friendly atmos- tional flag stood in front of Hmarnia phere at Algiers’ Baba Hassan and warned: “Beware of what awaits restaurant turned sour when you the next time you dare come by T former Algerian Prime Minis- here.” ter Ali Benflis prepared to dine there. The incident, a video of which went Other patrons at the Syrian restau- viral on social media, drew concerns rant insulted the former prime min- that Algeria’s presidential candidates, ister, who had just been confirmed all of whom served in some fashion as one of five candidates in Algeria’s under Bouteflika, would find it diffi- presidential elections. He left the res- cult to connect with voters. taurant but people continued to con- “What will happen when candi- front him. dates or their representatives descend The outrage towards Benflis, who on the campaign trails to address served as National Liberation Front meetings and other outreach gather- (FLN) chief and prime minister from ings?” asked political writer Sonia 1988-91 and later under former Alge- Lyes. rian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Protesters, estimated to number in underscores Algerians’ frustration the millions, demonstrated Novem- with a political class many claim is ber 1, with many voicing opposition clinging to a corrupt power structure. to the December 12 election. Crowds That frustration led protesters to reportedly chanting: “la Intikhabat take to the streets every Friday since maa al Isabaat” (“No to the elections February 16, demanding an overhaul with the gangs in power”). of a regime that has held power for The government insists that elec- decades. tions are the only legitimate way for- A call for new generation of politics. Algerian protesters draped in their country’s national flag chant Authorities arrested numerous ward and warned protesters not to slogans as they march together in Algiers, October 25. (AFP) former regime officials on charges of disrupt the process. corruption and scheduled elections In addition to Benflis and Teb- for December 12. Protesters, uncon- boune, Azzedine Mihoubi, Abdelkad- rians,” he said. “The country was set themselves about the rights abuses. said the five candidates on the bal- vinced that swift elections will funda- er Bengrina and Abdelaziz Belaid are back in every field of development “Who can imagine one of these lot “mean the regime is competing mentally change the system, oppose running for the country’s highest of- while it has all the means and re- candidates once elected to confront against itself.” the vote and seek a transitional peri- fice. sources to make huge progress. the system to change it from inside?” “A foretaste was given to them by od that allows for a serious opposition Mihoubi, a poet, served as a min- “Today, the sole prospect offered Former Prime Minister Mouloud this misfortune experienced by Ben- force to take shape. ister under Bouteflika and heads the by the upcoming elections is to restart Hamrouche refused to run for presi- flis at the restaurant,” he added. Benflis, who unsuccessfully ran for National Democratic Rally led by for- with the figures of the old system and dent, saying he would be unable to The Algerian Army command has president in 2004 and 2014, is report- mer Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, go throughout more years of wasting bring forward the kind of change they held firm that elections will go ahead edly backed by General Abderrazak who is jailed on corruption charges. natural and human rich resources.” seek, given the military establish- December 12. Cherif, a close ally of chief-of-staff Bengrina served as tourism minister Analysts said candidates had given ment’s far-reaching power. “There is no room for the electoral General Ahmed Gaid Salah. Cherif is a under Bouteflika. Belaid was a leader indications they are beholden to the “The Algerian political system has process to be called into question Chaoui from the same Batana region of the FLN’s youth and student or- country’s military leaders and army- wiped out the embryo of the state since it has won the assent of the peo- as Benflis. One of Cherif’s sons is a lo- ganisations. backed authorities because they have fruit of the national liberation war, ple who are determined to see it suc- cal leader in Benflis’s party in the oil- Political writer Samir Allam said not spoken publicly about the arrest extinguished the law and destroyed cessfully completed,” said the army producing areas of Hassi Messaoud Algerian protesters’ “exceptional of leading protest figures and allega- governance,” Hamrouche said. “Alge- mouthpiece El Djeich in an editorial and Ouargla. mobilisation” had “sent a message to tions that judges who were on strike ria badly needs a new, genuine model November 6. Benflis is not the only politician to the decision makers that they do not were assaulted by security forces. of a political system for the state “Despite provocations and tenden- be publicly scorned by angry protest- want a new experience with another “The candidates’ statements from rather than a change of men. The tious campaigns, the enemies of the ers. Tayeb Hmarnia, a senator who figure from the regime that has ru- the beginning of the electoral process homeland survival, that of its army homeland will not be able to turn represents presidential candidate Ab- ined the country.” have given no indication something and government depends on such a back neither the tide of history nor delmadjid Tebboune in Annaba, was “Bouteflika’s regime has been very good will come from them,” said system.” stop the train which is about to reach confronted by people who recognised uniquely traumatising for most Alge- Allam. “They do not dare to express Political writer Karim Khaoune its final destination,” it added.

Viewpoint Solutions to the Maghreb’s problems must be homegrown

as a model economy — the same of No Maghreb but the conflict stability in Libya is essential to Fund, as well as the Gulf coun- was true of Tunisia until 2011, so between Algeria and Morocco Tunisia’s economic and security tries, interfere in the countries’ caution is necessary when the suited Europe, especially France, wellbeing but that does not look politics, the better the chance for Francis Ghilès World Bank or the European for decades. The European Union likely to happen soon. each country forging its own Union dish out medals for good has no effective response and Whatever the fears of many in destiny. management. France even less. Fear of radical Europe and North Africa, change This does not mean that the n the face of it, North The countries of the Maghreb Islam, a condescending view how is coming to North Africa. When a European Union and the broader Africa looks highly share one characteristic: Islamic a united Maghreb could have model of economic growth rests West, as well as Gulf countries, unstable: a civil war parties of different hues are contributed to a faster rate of everywhere in the region of forms should not provide greater rages in Libya, with mostly integrated into the economic growth in Europe, of crony capitalism, of rent financial support to countries like no end in sight; political game. The starting point misreading of the key role North capture and corruption comes Tunisia. They may have to help Tunisia faces a very of political analysis can no longer Africa plays in stemming flows of unstuck, two reactions are Morocco even more than Tunisia, Ouncertain political future after be the Islamists versus the rest. African migrants to the European possible: pretend nothing has despite Tunis paying a very heavy elections during which the serious A second vital point is that Union and underestimating the changed or embrace change economic price for the misjudged challenges facing the country Europe remains the destination of growing Chinese presence have knowing the ride will be bumpy. French-led intervention in Libya were not discussed; in Algeria the choice for North Africans wishing contributed to a form of autism in Nowhere is this state of affairs in 2011. stalemate between the army and to study, travel, work and receive the Europe. better illustrated than in Algeria. One thing is not in doubt: in all the people is, nine months after it good medical treatment. For all its economic mismanage- The popular genie is out of the above-mentioned countries there started, as great as ever; while A third point is the increasingly ment, Algeria achieved one bottle and will not be put back in. are many well-educated profes- Morocco appears a haven of important role played by women important goal: wealth is spread How a consensus is formed is sionals and young people who can stability and sound economic in society in North Africa. Many evenly across the country; no anyone’s guess. What happens in offer solutions to the many management. Europeans who first visit Maghreb region is really poorer than the Algeria will probably be the most challenges their respective In Europe, policymakers wring countries are struck by their other. Exactly the opposite is true decisive feature of the immediate countries face. Why not listen to their hands in despair at the “Mediterranean aspect.” When in Tunisia where the poorer future of the region. them rather than to countries that violence in Libya but neither the they travel to Egypt and the Gulf, western and southern regions Were Algeria to descend into offer development aid and are United Kingdom nor France are they know they are in countries export 20% of their GDP (water, bloody mayhem, an outcome that often quite disconnected with the prepared to accept that the that are fundamentally differ- phosphates, et cetera) to the looks unlikely after nine months countries they operate in? policies they encouraged the ent. richer coast to the tune of $1.75 of peaceful demonstrations, all The answer is to modernise the United States and NATO to pursue Major differences exist between billion a year, said Kais Daly, the hell would break out across the political systems of the Maghreb, are responsible in large part for North African countries: Morocco former CEO of the state phosphate region. If a consensus is found allow local talent to emerge, dare the situation the country finds has been better managed than its company, not to mention their among the various political have serious debates. Get rid of a itself in. neighbours to the east, a much children. groups and the army, new ways of neocolonial mindset that believes In Tunisia, France supported broader part of the country is Unless a new political contract thinking might spread. that the answer lies in Washington outgoing Prime Minister Youssef involved in the modern economy is agreed between the coastal Libya looks set to continue its and Paris. Chahed, who crashed to defeat in from Tangier in the north to regions and the interior, Tunisian ways. Too many foreign cooks The maturity of the millions both elections and looks on in Agadir in the south. Yet the north unity will fracture further. spoil the broth and look to who demonstrate in Algeria every disbelief at the new president. and east remain poorer and will The turmoil in Libya deprives continue to do so. Friday and their refusal to use In Algeria, the European Union not enjoy faster economic growth legitimate manufacturers of their It is essential that, in Algeria violence suggest that North Africa is and will remain mute. France as long as the frontier with the traditional export market while and in Tunisia, economic and might be on the right path. knows change is inevitable but richer neighbour to the east pushing into Tunisia a flood of political reforms should be dares not embrace it. remains closed. That frontier is contraband consumer goods and homegrown. The less France, the Francis Ghilès is an associate Meanwhile, Morocco is pre- unlikely to open soon. forcing the closure of many European Union, the World Bank fellow at the Barcelona Centre for sented by many outside observers Europe often bemoans the cost Tunisian industrial plants. Greater and the International Monetary International Affairs. November 10, 2019 15 News & Analysis Palestine Israel Doubts surround efforts towards holding Palestinian general elections

Yousef Alhelou memo through Nasser laying out seven points that should be signed by Hamas ahead of the elections. London “The Palestinian factions in- volved in the elections should fforts to organise general declare their commitments to the elections in the Palestinian Palestine Liberation Organisation territories are under way. For (PLO) and honour (the) PLO’s ob- E the third time in ten days, ligations,” Sabri Saidam, a member the Palestinian Authority’s Central of the Central Committee of Fatah Election Committee delegation, told the Voice of Palestine radio. headed by Hanna Nasser, arrived in Cautious optimism regarding the Gaza to meet with other Palestinian election process began to fade after Shuttle visits. Hamas’s chief in Gaza Yahya Sinwar (R) and the Chairman of the Palestinian Central political factions, including rival Ha- the memo was released. Hamas- Election Committee Hanna Nasser in Gaza city, October 28. (AFP) mas, to discuss election details. ruled Gaza and the West Bank, Nasser’s shuttle visits, aimed at ruled by Abbas’s Fatah, have ac- facilitating communication between cused each other of obstructing the has failed to make headway with a step aside and concede power? should have ended in January Palestinian President Mahmoud Ab- upcoming elections amid fears Is- peace process with Israel. What would happen to resistance 2009. Analysts said this indicates bas and other parties in besieged rael might hamper the electioneer- Hamas had insisted on both leg- groups’ weapons? What would be that both sides lack legitimacy but Gaza, have reportedly made pro- ing process in East Jerusalem. islative and presidential elections the fate of the tens of thousands are also sceptical that either party gress. Fatah is also concerned that Ha- and electing new representatives of Hamas employees and recruits? will be able to win a majority. mas could forge an alliance with from all factions into the PLO’s Would the PA/Fatah defend the “Ending the split, unifying insti- supporters of dismissed Fatah of- National Council in occupied Jeru- election results if Israel steps in tutions, ending the president’s and Analysts said this ficial Mohammad Dahlan who, in salem. However, following discus- and hinders the work of elected Fatah’s domination of the PA and indicates that both Fatah 2016, formed the Fatah Democratic sions, it agreed to have legislative candidates when moving between the PLO and ending Hamas’s unilat- and Hamas lack legitimacy Reformist Current to compete with elections first, with the presiden- Gaza and the West Bank? eral control of Gaza, are all a natural but are also sceptical that Abbas. tial race three months later. A pres- Re-establishing legitimacy is es- gateway to free and fair elections either party will be able to Husam al-Dajani, a professor of idential decree would finalise the sential for Abbas internally and after which all parties have to re- win a majority. political science at Al-Ummah Uni- process, likely setting elections for externally. The United Nations an- spect its results,” said Hani al-Mas- versity in Gaza, said he thinks Ha- February 2020. nounced via its envoy to the Mid- ri, director-general of Masarat Cen- All eight Palestinian political mas is ready for elections because Still, there is deep mistrust be- dle East, Nickolay Mladenov, that it tre for Policy Research and Strategic parties agreed the overdue gen- “it wants to embarrass President tween Fatah and Hamas and there is is ready to help guarantee the suc- Studies. “Election and unity should eral elections should take place. Abbas because it knows that he and no guarantee that either party will cess of Palestinian elections. be one of the tools of the Palestin- However, a proposal for a national Fatah are not serious.” respect the result of any future elec- In the 2006 legislative elections, ian people to win their major battle reconciliation process and clear ob- “Fatah is divided. Dahlan’s Fatah tions. Hamas’s “change and reform” bloc against the occupation.” stacles to beginning the electoral Democratic Reformist Current en- There are many other ques- won a majority. Abbas, on the oth- process received little attention joys growing popularity, mainly in tions that future votes could raise: er hand, has been in power since Yousef Alhelou is a Palestinian from Fatah. Instead, Abbas sent a Gaza,” he said, adding that Abbas Would officials from both sides 2005, although his 4-year term journalist living in London. Viewpoint Who will help Palestinian refugees if UNRWA falls?

AFP said the report “paints a mirror — as US President Donald picture of a small number of mostly Trump and others say — broader foreign senior leaders centralising problems within the United Nations Stephen Starr power and influence while disregard- itself. Troublingly, the scandal gives ing UN checks and balances.” weight and prescience to the Trump Krahenbuhl is alleged to have creat- administration’s decision to cut its he Western leaders ed a position for Maria Mohammedi, annual $360 million funding to the running the UN Relief with whom he was allegedly romanti- agency last year. Even more worrying and Works Agency for cally involved, and taken her with is that UN Secretary-General Antonio Palestine Refugees in the him on business-class flights around Guterres has known about the alleged Near East are playing the world. Both Krahenbuhl and Mo- wrongdoings since December. with the lives of millions hammedi are married to other people. This speaks to something big- Tof Palestinian refugees. The author of the internal report has ger than UNRWA itself — that the An internal report by the UN Office been targeted by Hakam Shahwan, a international community cares little of Internal Oversight Services into senior UNRWA staff member, who left for what remains the most intractable the goings-on at senior levels of the the agency in July. problem in the Middle East — how to relief agency, known by the initials UNRWA and the individuals named solve the issue of the Palestinian right UNRWA, leadership and revealed by in the internal investigation vehe- of return. Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse mently deny the report’s charges and None of this is the fault of the Pal- (AFP) last July unveiled a damning say they are cooperating with the estinian refugees the organisation was culture of nepotism, graft and abuse. investigation. created to help. While such incidents UNRWA Commissioner-General While the findings of the internal and cultures are unfortunately com- Pierre Krahenbuhl resigned Novem- investigation have yet to be officially monplace at corporations and private ber 6. released, the incidents of bullying institutions, in UNRWA’s case, the Conducted late last year and to be and the corporate misuse of critical lives and futures of millions of Pales- released in the coming weeks, the funding uncovered show that the tinians are at risk because there is a report’s authors said they uncov- mostly European leaders at the head growing possibility that the agency, ered “sexual misconduct, nepotism, of the organisation have little regard crippled by the loss of millions of retaliation, discrimination and other for the people they are to help and dollars of US funding, may be closed. abuses of authority, for personal gain, represent and that their priorities lie In addition to the United States, Swit- Mounting uncertainties. A Palestinian man and children carry bags to suppress legitimate dissent and somewhere else entirely. zerland, Holland, Belgium and New of cereal outside an aid distribution centre run by UNRWA in to otherwise achieve their personal The Israeli and pro-Israel media Zealand have pulled their funding the central Gaza Strip refugee camp of Bureij, July 31. (AFP) objectives.” around the world, which for years since the scandal became public. singled UNRWA out for criticism, UNRWA is an extraordinarily disad- has had a field day with the scandal. vantaged behemoth. It’s responsible With UNRWA’s mission to expire What would happen then? Noth- Opinions put forward by pro-Israel for educating, housing and providing in June, it finds itself in a desperate ing positive at least, since a refugee UNRWA is an press — from Canada’s National Post health care for millions of refugees place. Does Guterres tear up the play- agency’s job is chiefly to resettle said extraordinarily to the New York Post and the constel- but boasts almost no political power book and shut UNRWA down? Such a refugees and Israel refuses to con- disadvantaged lation of Israeli media — call for the and few international friends. It’s move would depend on who is left to cede on the right of return. organisation to be disbanded. Some expected to operate and perform donate money to the organisation. With major donating backers likely behemoth. It’s even claim that UNRWA “promotes near miracles in desperate conditions If other countries, especially any to stand behind UNRWA when faced responsible for the dream nurtured among Palestin- in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon without of Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United with no serious alternative, the ians to destroy Israel.” any of its own money. It has not been Kingdom or the European Union organisation will probably continue educating, housing None, perhaps unsurprisingly, a properly functioning organisa- (though the latter is unlikely to do so) to struggle on. What’s unfortunate and providing health offers a solution or alternative to tion for a very long time, its brief should pull its funding as a result of is that much of the leadership that’s care for millions of an organisation that provides vital and mandate severely and continu- the scandal, then the United Nations’ brought UNRWA close to its knees is assistance for millions of displaced ally slighted and crippled over the senior leaders might find themselves likely to remain in place. refugees but boasts people — as well or as poorly it may decades. faced with little choice than to pull almost no political have been run at its top levels. Undoubtedly some will say these the plug and subsume the organisa- Stephen Starr is the author of “Revolt More than this, in the eyes of are exactly the reasons why it should tion into the UNHCR, the UN agency in Syria: Eye-Witness to the Uprising” power and few conservative and nativist regimes in be pulled apart and discontinued as for refugees, which is what pro-Israeli and has lived in Syria and Turkey international friends. the West, the troubles facing UNRWA an organisation. voices have long called for. since 2007. 16 November 10, 2019 News & Analysis Turkey Turkey raises pressure on Europe to take back foreign ISIS fighters

Thomas Seibert (SDF) hold thousands of ISIS fight- ers and tens of thousands of their family members in camps that have Istanbul not been taken over by the Turks or lie outside proposed “safe zones.” ollowing its military opera- The SDF’s detainees include 800 tion that gave Turkey con- fighters from Europe, 700 women trol over part of north-east- and 1,500 children, a CNN report F ern Syria, the government in stated. Ankara pressured European coun- Turkish Interior Minister Suley- tries to repatriate hundreds of their man Soylu said about 1,200 foreign citizens detained as fighters for the ISIS fighters are in Turkish prisons Islamic State. and 287 members, including wom- Turkey’s demands could lead to en and children, were recaptured new tensions between Ankara and during Turkey’s offensive after they the European Union because many escaped from detention centres. European countries, worried about Ankara accuses the YPG of free- the danger posed by radicalised and ing around 750 ISIS members. Altun battle-hardened returnees, are re- said there are 20 German nationals luctant to allow the return of Islam- among the suspected ISIS support- ic State (ISIS) fighters or their wives ers in Turkish detention. and children. Erdogan said in October that 500 “We need full cooperation and ISIS members who escaped deten- active partnership with our allies tion in northern Syria during the in terms of fighting with terrorism,” Turkish operation were from “vari- Fahrettin Altun, communications ous countries” such as France, the director for Turkish President Recep Netherlands and Germany. He Tayyip Erdogan, wrote in response added that around 150 Turkish ISIS to questions. Turkey was “suffering members caught in Syria would be a lot” because of the problem, he tried before Turkish courts but it added. was not clear what the Europeans would do. “Will those countries accept to take back the ones that About 1,200 foreign ISIS joined ISIS?” Erdogan asked. fighters are in Turkish Approximately 40,000 foreigners prisons and 287 members, from all over the world joined ISIS Unresolved problem. Men, allegedly affiliated with ISIS, sit on the floor in a prison in the including women and during the expansion of the jihad- north-eastern Syrian city of Hasakah, October 26. (AFP) children, were recaptured ists’ self-styled caliphate in 2014 during Turkey’s offensive. and 2015. About 10% of those were from Western Europe, the European France, have not ratified it and this view… We will send Daesh (ISIS) icy fellow at the European Council The Turkish Army and pro-Turk- Parliament said in a report last year. recent cases have triggered pro- members to their countries whether for Foreign Relations, argued that ish Syrian rebels secured a stretch About 1,300 of European ISIS longed legal battles, Agence France- they strip them of their citizenship European countries should repatri- of Syrian territory between the bor- fighters had returned to their home Presse reported. or not.” ate their citizens despite political der towns Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn countries by 2016, the report stated. Britain stripped more than 100 Turkey is backed by US President and legal challenges. Foot-dragging since the beginning of their opera- The rest were either killed or cap- people of citizenship for allegedly Donald Trump who said Europe is could have unwanted consequenc- tion October 9. tured as the extremists suffered joining jihadist groups abroad. not doing enough to deal with its es, Dworkin wrote in a commentary Ankara wants to push the Syrian- military setbacks that ended with High-profile cases such as teenage citizens that joined ISIS. on the council’s web page. Kurdish People’s Protection Units the loss of the last piece of territory ISIS recruit Shamima Begum and “They came from France, they “As negotiations between the (YPG) militia away from the border held by ISIS earlier this year. alleged recruit Jack Letts sparked came from Germany, they came Kurdish authorities and the Syrian but says it is fighting ISIS as well. The issue is creating friction be- court proceedings and fierce from the UK. They came from a lot government continue, Damascus Turkish officials said the military tween Turkey and European coun- political debate in Britain. of countries,” Trump said in Octo- could emerge as the arbiter of the captured the sister of dead Islamic tries, some of which have stripped Soylu said Turkey would not ac- ber. “And I actually said to them, if detainees’ fate” in eastern Syria, State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi their nationals involved with ISIS of cept this approach. you don’t take them, I’m going to Dworkin wrote. “A regime with a in the northern Syrian town of Azaz. citizenship. “The world has devised a new drop them right on your border and well-documented history of tortur- Ankara’s appeals to the Europe- Although under the New York method,” he said. “They say ‘Let’s you can have fun capturing them ing and killing prisoners would have ans point to a wider problem for the Convention of 1961, it is illegal to strip them of their citizenship… Let again,” he added, in reference to the control of many hundreds of Euro- European Union. The YPG-dom- leave someone stateless, several them be tried where they are.’ Europeans. pean citizens, including large num- inated Syrian Democratic Forces countries, including Britain and “It is impossible for us to accept Anthony Dworkin, a senior pol- bers of children.” Trump and Erdogan: An odd couple glued together by calculations

othing, it seems, will benefits from the diplomatic havoc A survey in Ankara by Turkiye will nag Trump to do the same or, break the bond that shatters the DNA of the West. Raporu indicated massive sup- at least, try to cut a deal, through between US Presi- Many wonder then that Erdogan port for the incursion across party a hard bargain (releasing some Yavuz Baydar dent Donald Trump has not cancelled or postponed blocs. That 97.6% of respondents detained US Embassy staff from and Turkish Presi- his visit to Washington when the from Erdogan’s Justice and De- prison), involving some bluffs and dent Recep Tayyip overwhelming majority of the US velopment Party would give their carrots, such as new trade con- NErdogan. Congress opposes it strongly. The backing didn’t come as a surprise. tracts. Regardless of how tense the rela- US House of Representatives passed Also unsurprising were the voters Second, he will ask Trump to tions have become between the two two resolutions after the Turkish of the Nationalist Movement Party, cease support to the Syrian Kurdish countries, some argue a mysterious incursion — one acknowledging the minor partner of Erdogan’s rule, militia. Third, he will ask for a free glue keeps the two together, mean- the Armenian genocide, the other whose support was more or less on trade agreement, even if it doesn’t ing, perhaps, that they have cast recommending a large scale of the same level. Additionally, more look likely to be accomplished for their lot with each other. sanctions against Erdogan’s gov- than one-third of respondents who some time. Neither Erdogan’s challenge to ernment. In periods of normality voted for the secular CHP voiced Erdogan keeping his own path NATO by purchasing Russian S-400 earlier, each act of this kind would support for Erdogan’s move. remains consistent but how about missiles, his soon-to-materialise in- have scaled down relations, called Assembled together, the pro-war Trump? What is in it for him? This is terest in Su-35 Russian jets nor the back the Turkish ambassador for sentiments articulated into nearly the question that is the major part Turkish incursion into Syria has led “consultations” from the United 85% support. of the puzzle. Trump to block Erdogan’s planned States and even asked US diplomats Such frenzy alienates Turkey’s Keeping close to a globally re- visit to Washington to leave. Kurds further. Obsessed with con- sented strongman places Trump in In such circumstances, a meeting Yet, Erdogan, after a cunning solidating his power after the defeat an awkward position because there between the leader of the world’s assessment, did just the opposite. in last spring’s local elections, Er- is no reason he will increase his sole superpower and the head of It seems he was the one insisting on dogan couldn’t care less. He raised approval ratings by being associated an increasingly cranky and trou- visiting Washington and for Trump, the stakes and won a huge public with Erdogan. His de facto sup- blemaking ally — when as wisely under the immense pressure of an relations victory. As he insists on port of the Turkish incursion has put by French President Emmanuel impeachment inquiry, it was a go visiting the White House, this con- convinced neither Congress nor his Macron, NATO seems to be expe- ahead. Puzzling indeed. sideration is a major factor that will evangelical voter base, the latter re- Keeping close to a riencing “brain death” — is telling For Erdogan, one cannot speak keep Erdogan from blinking. maining sympathetic to the Syrian more than enough how quickly and of embarrassment. The Turkish What is next? Erdogan knows Kurds. Then there are rumours on globally resented deeply realpolitik has become a incursion was a significant victory Trump is the one and only person whether Erdogan has some compro- strongman places global norm. at home. He gambled and he surged he can do business with but, what mising material to steer Trump his There is not a single state on the on the military operation. He knew business? own way. Trump in an awkward world stage — except Qatar, a hesi- the weak opposition bloc, consist- There will be, most likely, three The question of Trump’s special position because tant Azerbaijan and a silently cal- ing of a confused main opposition items on the agenda. Erdogan relationship with Erdogan needs to there is no reason he culating Russia — that approves of party, the Republican People’s remains obsessed with the notori- be addressed. Perhaps the White the behavioural pattern of Erdogan Party (CHP), and all others at the ous Halkbank money-laundering House meeting will answer this will increase his who, without a blink, cements his nationalist and conservative ground case in federal court in New York, question. approval ratings by iron rule, violently confronting the would be unable to challenge his that threatens to placing him and Kurds at home and across Turkey’s decision because Erdogan knew of his ministers in breach of the Iran Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish being associated with borders and planning a long-term the dormant nationalist frenzy in embargo. Erdogan, who managed journalist and regular columnist for Erdogan. stay in Syria. There is no doubt he large segments of Turkish society. to evaporate the case at home, The Arab Weekly. November 10, 2019 17 News & Analysis Iran Iran moves further out of JCPOA as pressure builds

Sabahat Khan the UN nuclear watchdog. Under JCPOA, Iran agreed to strin- gent caps and IAEA monitoring on Dubai its nuclear programme beyond what the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ran announced it will begin in- stipulates for its signatories. That is jecting uranium gas into 1,044 why JCPOA, which took eight years of centrifuges at its Fordow nu- diplomatic efforts and was hailed by I clear facility. The announcement the Obama administration as a strate- marks Iran’s fourth move in a phased gic breakthrough, opened the door to withdrawal from its commitments the lifting of international sanctions made under 2015 nuclear agreement, against Iran and hope for future rap- which allowed it to spin centrifuges prochement. in Fordow but without uranium gas. The Trump administration’s with- Centrifuges enrich uranium by spin- drawal from the JCPOA in 2018, how- ning uranium hexafluoride gas at ever, is proving to be a fatal blow for very high speeds to cause an atomic the accord, despite other signatories splitting process for nuclear fission. wanting its preservation. A collapse The head of Atomic Energy Organi- of JCPOA raises the risks of a danger- sation of Iran earlier confirmed the ous conflict in the Middle East. Euro- number of advanced centrifuges at peans, backed by Russia, have made facilities had been doubled. In July, efforts to keep JCPOA alive by finding Iran moved beyond the limit of 3.67% ways of compensating Iran for the enriched uranium allowed by the nu- United States’ departure and subse- clear agreement to 4.5%. quent sanctions but the deal appears As Tehran took its latest step out to be fatally imperilled. of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of The Instrument in Support of Trade Action (JCPOA), the formal name of Exchanges (INSTEX), established by the 2015 nuclear deal, Iranian Presi- the European Union in February, for dent Hassan Rohani declared it an example, is a mechanism designed “honour” for his country to resist the to allow foreign firms to do business United States. with Iran without incurring US penal- Rohani, however, struck a mild ties. However, INSTEX, while hold- note of optimism, conceding the vio- ing promise and potential for the fu- lations of the JCPOA were a “suspen- ture, has limited scope for trade and nuclear file but its wider activities by the IRGC. ditional missile batteries and 3,000 sion” of its obligations and “reversi- its effect has been small in the face that Washington views as dangerous The United States has also imposed specialist troops. ble” at any time — but insisted Tehran of powerful US sanctions that have and threatening to the international sanctions to restrict the supply of Separately, Iran has been shaken would only roll back the moves once choked Iran’s oil income. order. four strategic materials that it says by instability and protests in Leba- other signatories to the JCPOA were Europe called for Iran to reverse its The past 18 months, in particular, have uses for military or nuclear pro- non and Iraq where its allies are un- “fully implementing their commit- moves but has been largely restrained have seen the United States inten- grammes. In October, the US Treasury der growing pressure. Iran heads into ments.” Iran has been facing the with its responses to keep JCPOA sify economic pressure against Iran Department sanctioned nine more in- parliamentary polls and the United growing wrath of US economic sanc- alive. Tehran, however, is gradually to rein in Tehran’s regional activities dividuals with close ties to Iranian Su- States into presidential elections tions that are having a grinding effect moving towards red lines that would and force it to the negotiation table preme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khame- next year — the outcomes of both will on the country. eventually necessitate even the Eu- with a more comprehensive set of nei, including his chief-of-staff. be closely watched but, until then, In its defiance, however, Iran said ropean Union to make tough deci- concessions and guarantees. Formidable US reinforcements mounting pressure on Iran and the the reactivation of enrichment activi- sions to limit future risks — such as The Trump administration stepped have been dispatched to the region US-Iran deadlock more widely ap- ties in Fordow — a hardened facility suspending its JCPOA commitments up its targeting of Iran with radical following drone and missile attacks pears to have little space for a ma- near Qom that is built into a mountain — following which a resurrection of new measures — the powerful IRGC on Saudi Aramco facilities. B-1 and noeuvre. and was once an Islamic Revolution- JCPOA may effectively become im- was designated a terrorist entity last B-52 aircraft, long-range strategic ary Guard Corps (IRGC) base — would possible. year and the United States recently bombers with the capability to strike Sabahat Khan maintains a be carried out under a process trans- The United States’ departure from imposed new sanctions on Iran’s any location in the world, have ar- cross-disciplinary focus in parent for inspectors from the Interna- the JCPOA under US President Don- construction sector, which Wash- rived in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere international security, defence tional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), ald Trump was tied to not only Iran’s ington says is indirectly controlled along with F-22 stealth fighters, ad- policy and strategic issues. Viewpoint Electors of Iran’s next leader cannot even protect themselves against IRGC

nder extreme the media to demand public scru- economic pressure tiny into the source of wealth of from the United the elites. Ali Alfoneh States and on the For a time, the Sadati brothers brink of war with appeared immune from retribu- Saudi Arabia, Iran is tion and the regime did not mind Ualso facing a succession crisis: their anti-corruption campaign. Who will replace octogenarian That changed when Rouhollah Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as al-Sadati targeted Mohsen Rafiq- supreme leader and who gets to doust, one of the co-founders of elect that leader? the IRGC and a member of the On the surface, the answer to the board of the Foundation of the first question is fairly clear: The Oppressed, whose fabulous and 88-member Assembly of Experts ill-gotten wealth made headlines is constitutionally mandated to because of the Sadati brothers. designate and dismiss the leader. Clearly, they crossed the red line However, there is every reason to of the IRGC and the answer was doubt the powers of the institution swift: Arrest by the IRGC Intelli- because the Assembly of Experts gence Organisation. can’t even protect its own mem- Remarkably, the Assembly of bers. The arrest of Seyed Rouhol- Under the thumb. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (C-L) Experts has not engaged in any lah Sadr al-Sadati by the intelli- during a meeting with members of Iran’s Expert Assembly in Tehran, effort to protect its own member, gence organisation of the Islamic September 26. (AFP) whose only sin appears to be his Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fight against the corrupt system. provides a point in case. This raises serious questions Sadati is not your usual Iranian panions but, 48 hours after the ambassador to Copenhagen. about the independence, integ- cleric. Just 36 years old, the native planned flight, a message posted In August 2018, Mehdi al-Sadati rity and freedom of action of of the holy city of Qom represents on Mehdi’s Instagram account released photos of the luxurious the assembly: If the Assembly of Hormozgan province in the As- indicated they had been in the lifestyle of Mehdi Mazaheri, a poet Experts cannot protect its own sembly of Experts, an 88-member custody of the IRGC Intelligence and son of the former Iran Central members against the IRGC Intel- body empowered to designate and Organisation. Bank governor, asking where the ligence Organisation, how can it be Remarkably, the dismiss the leader of the Islamic The Sadati brothers gained poet got his money. In a separate expected that the assembly, rather Assembly of Experts Republic. certain fame by disclosing eco- campaign, he asked how family than the shadowy security service, More remarkably, the young nomic corruption among Iranian members of Admiral Ali Sham- will be the body that designates or has not engaged in seyed went into a minor occulta- elites. In December 2014, Mehdi khani, Supreme National Security dismisses the leader of the Islamic any effort to protect tion September 4, when he, his al-Sadati initiated an Instagram Council secretary, could afford Republic? its own member, brothers Mehdi and Reza, along campaign against diverting water real estate in fabulously expensive Under such circumstances, the with a fourth person, inexplicably from the Karun River in Khuzestan Lavasan county. The campaigns Assembly of Experts is reduced to whose only sin vanished prior to a planned flight province to the Zayanderud River gained Sadati more than 300,000 a rubber stamp of the IRGC. appears to be his fight from Tehran to Sadati’s constitu- in Isfahan. A few months later, followers on Instagram. ency in Bandar Abbas. he disclosed details of the exor- While Mehdi al-Sadati scan- Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at against the corrupt There is no news of the wherea- bitantly expensive wedding party dalised the fat cats of the regime the Arab Gulf States Institute in system. bouts of Sadati and his com- of Mohsen Moradian, son of Iran’s online, Rouhollah al-Sadati used Washington. 18 November 10, 2019 Economy

Viewpoint Briefs Record-setting Aramco IPO announced UAE announces major oil, gas unknown as Saudi Aramco execu- tives embark on a book-building discoveries process to drum up investor interest The United Arab Emirates, a Jareer Elass and determine an issue price. leading OPEC producer, announced The company is expected to offer “significant” oil and gas discover- 1-2% of its shares on the domes- ies and introduced a new pricing he Saudi government tic bourse. Though the company mechanism for Abu Dhabi flagship has formally kick- skirted specifics about timing, Murban crude. started the process for Saudi-owned news channel Al The Supreme Petroleum Council its long-anticipated Arabiya reported that subscription said the new discoveries included initial public offering of for investors would start Decem- 7 billion barrels of crude oil and 58 state oil and natural gas ber 4, with Saudi Aramco shares trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Tgiant Saudi Aramco, a sale that beginning to trade on the Tadawul Natural gas reserves were also could prove record-breaking. December 11. boosted to 273 trillion cubic feet. In However, Riyadh’s announce- One stumbling block in moving addition, the United Arab Emirates ment was short on specifics, leaving forward with the IPO — the Saudi discovered about 160 trillion cubic potential investors guessing about government’s intransigence on feet of unconventional natural gas. key details. accepting less than a $2 trillion Saudi Aramco revealed its inten- valuation — seemingly has been (Agence France-Presse) tion on November 3 to proceed with removed with Riyadh conceding to an initial public offering (IPO) on more realistic estimates by industry Saudi domestic stock exchange, the analysts and bankers of valuation of High hopes. Spheroids under reconstruction at Saudi Aramco oil Ride-hailing Tadawul, with company executives $1.5 trillion-$1.8 trillion. facility in Abqaiq, October 12. (Reuters) saying shares would be floated in The announcement of Saudi market revs up December in two tranches — one for Aramco’s intention to proceed institutional investors and another with its IPO came after approval proceeds from the sale based on its billion in the same period last year. in Egypt for retail investors. of the limited sale by Saudi state determination of a $2 trillion valua- Saudi Aramco’s annual net income Competition in Egypt’s ride- “Today marks a significant regulatory agency Capital Market tion of the state oil giant. of $111 billion last year made it the hailing and tech-enabled transport milestone in the history of the Authority (CMA) on the same day. The profits are to be directed into world’s most profitable firm. market is heating up as rivals from company and important progress Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin the kingdom’s sovereign wealth Despite unfavourable domestic global giant Uber and smaller local towards delivering Saudi Vision Salman bin Abdulaziz had signed fund, the Public Investment Fund and global economic environments, firms vie for a slice of the Middle 2030, the kingdom’s blueprint for off on the announcement two days (PIF), which is the investment ve- the Saudi government needs the East’s largest market. sustained economic diversification prior. hicle for Saudi Vision 2030, Crown IPO to happen because Vision 2030 The biggest players are Careem and growth,” Saudi Aramco Chair- “The price at which all subscrib- Prince Mohammed’s programme to has not produced tangible results and Uber, which had its initial man Yasir al-Rumayyan said in a ers in the offering will purchase overhaul the kingdom’s economy. towards revamping the kingdom’s public offering in May as it tries to statement. shares, the number of shares to The IPO process has faced consid- economy. With no foreign listing outspend competitors. The firms The IPO will be launched in a be sold and the percentage of the erable delays, affected by stub- slated and an expected lower valu- operate separately despite their tough economic and geopolitical shares to be sold will be determined bornly low oil prices, the regime’s ation, the $100 billion proceeds merger in March. environment for Riyadh. Crude at the end of the book-building insistence on the high valuation figure, heavily promoted by the Industry experts said they expect prices remain some $20 a barrel process,” Saudi Aramco said. “The and indecisiveness on selecting Saudi government over the past additional mergers as start-ups lower than what the government offering is being made available to a foreign exchange for listing. four years, is difficult to attain. try to gain market share for bus or wants and the latest Saudi Aramco qualifying individual investors and Rumayyan suggested that floating An IPO that offered 1% of Saudi motorbike services. earnings indicate a decline from a institutional investors.” shares outside of the kingdom is not Aramco shares at a valuation of $1.5 Egypt is among Uber’s Top 10 year ago. The CMA will allow non-resident a priority, saying: “If we consider an trillion would generate around $15 markets globally. The security of the company’s institutional foreign investors to international listing, it will be in the billion for the PIF. A 2% share flota- oil-producing and processing opera- purchase IPO shares as qualified future.” tion at that same valuation would (Reuters) tions is a concern following drone foreign investors under certain The Saudi government recently pull in around $30 billion, eclipsing and missile attacks in September conditions. delayed the official announcement Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba’s Tunisian inflation believed to have been perpetrated It’s been nearly four years since of the IPO so that Saudi Aramco $25 billion IPO in 2014. That would by Iran that targeted critical in- Crown Prince Mohammed broached could disclose its latest earnings to make the Saudi Aramco sale the slows to 6.5% frastructure and halved the firm’s the idea of selling a stake in the highlight the company’s profitabil- largest IPO ever, a public relations crude output. Saudi state crown jewel, with plans ity but the company reported that factor certainly part of Riyadh’s Tunisia’s annual inflation rate fell Questions about the volume to list up to 5% of Saudi Aramco on its 9-month earnings slipped 18% calculations. to 6.5% in October, from 6.7% in of shares the company will offer, the Tadawul and on one or more from the same period in 2018, with September, official data showed. the timing of the flotation on the foreign stock exchanges. The Saudi Saudi Aramco earning net income Jareer Elass reports from The central bank raised its main Tadawul and the all-important valu- government contended it would of $68.2 billion in the first three Washington on energy issues for interest rate to 7.75% from 6.75% in ation of the state energy firm are reap as much as $100 billion in quarters of 2019 compared to $83.1 The Arab Weekly. February to combat inflation.

(Reuters) Electric vehicles start carving their way in Egypt Libya launches new gas well in Marc Espanol Project Director Ali Hosny, who on improving their designs and did 2018, tax and importing exemp- added that the vehicles were, on av- amazing progress but the newcom- tions for private electric cars last Wafa field erage, lighter and faster than those ers also surprised us with great de- January, the prospect to build a fac- Cairo of last year. signs,” said Mohamed Abdelshak- tory to produce power stations with Libya’s National Oil Corpora- The competition represented the our, one of the mentors. “All cars China announced in October and tion said its subsidiary Mellitah Oil gypt’s new administrative culmination of an 8-month pro- [devoted] incredible attention to the steps to introduce electric vehi- and Gas Company inducted a new capital was the site of the gramme during which participating details.” cles in public transportation. production gas well in Wafa with a second energy efficiency teams developed an electric vehicle EVER’s primary objective is to in- Hosny said those measures will production capacity of 15 million E competition Electric Vehi- from scratch. Initially 31 Egyptian crease the pool of local engineers to help Egypt improve its local electric cubic feet per day. cle Rally, consolidating a project colleges registered but, after two boost an electric vehicle industry in vehicle sector. The new well will contribute to aimed at boosting the local electri- assessments by a panel of judges, Egypt that contributes sustainable “Now there are partnerships with the increase of gas supply to the lo- cal vehicle sector and promoting with experience in the automotive development of the country. Spe- top manufactures to open assem- cal network and the surplus will be clean technologies. industry, that considered technical cial attention is given to the crea- bly plants in Egypt and, given that exported, the National Oil Corpora- The event, in which 270 Egyp- reports and team presentations, the tion of interdisciplinary engineers projects like EVER are training more tion said. tian undergraduates representing number was reduced to 15. with knowledge and experience in university students, in the short The National Oil Corporation said 15 university teams participated, The selected teams then had six all the stages of electric vehicle de- term it will be possible to build elec- drilling of other wells in Wafa field gave competitors an opportunity months to fabricate, develop and velopment. tric cars designed 100% locally,” he continued and the drilling of well to showcase capacities of vehicles test their product. The nine teams “EVER’s main goal is capacity said. A-58 was expected to be completed they conceived and produced in that participated in the 2018 com- building and we have achieved it For most participants, EVER was in mid-December. four exhibitions that tested effi- petition were partially funded for the second consecutive year the first approach to the entire prod- ciency, speed, performance and en- based on improvements they had [because] this time we had more uct life cycle of an electric vehicle (Reuters) durance. introduced. Among new entries, universities that were able to fin- from designing to development. one was fully funded, four partially ish their cars, we built more human “The competition is very helpful Blockage of Umm A report by the Egyptian funded and one completely self- resources and we produced better because [the programme] repre- public policy consultancy funded. vehicles,” said Hosny. sents the main core of the automo- “[Throughout the project] you A report by the Egyptian public tive industry in particular and other Qasr port costs Lynx stated that electric get to know how to design from the policy consultancy Lynx stated that industries more broadly, given that Iraq over $6 billion vehicles represent less ground up a working vehicle… and electric vehicles represent less than it addresses its main points,” said than 1% of the global car you manufacture your own design 1% of the global car fleet, despite Bichoy Essam, a 23-year-old recent The blocking of Iraq’s major fleet. [in a way that] you end up seeing growing interest in environmen- graduate in mechatronics at Ain Umm Qasr port on the Gulf by anti- The Electric Vehicle Rally — EVER how your design in a computer pro- tally friendly electric mobility. In Shams University and the leader of government protesters has cost — was established in 2017 by gradu- gramme becomes real,” said Hassan the Middle East and Africa, and in the team that won the prize for the the country more than $6 billion, a ates of Cairo’s Ain Shams University Nassr, a 22-year-old student at the Egypt in particular, the outlook ap- competition’s most efficient vehicle. spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister and members of its Faculty of En- Higher Technological Institute and pears less encouraging, given rela- The winner of EVER 2019, whose Adel Abdul-Mahdi said. gineering innovation hub who had the team leader of its Apex Racing tively cheap oil prices, weak regu- main sponsor is the Academy of Sci- “The closure of Umm Qasr port participated in international elec- Team, which won the competition. lations on vehicle emissions and entific Research and Technology of harms the country. Hundreds of tric vehicle competitions. The first “It was a wonderful experience.” a lack of infrastructure and policy the Ministry of Higher Education, trucks are still parked. This issue similar competition in Egypt took During the programme, partici- and regulatory frameworks for the will receive a prize of $31,000. The is causing massive damage to the place last year. The 2019 edition ex- pants had experienced mentors sector to develop, the report said. runner-up team from the Egyptian nation. Iraq’s losses have exceeded panded the number of participants who supervised and offered recom- A compromise of Egyptian au- Russian University will get $15,500 $6 billion until now,” Abdul-Mahdi and saw a significant improvement mendations in all stages, including thorities with the electric vehi- and the third place Zagazig Univer- spokesman Abdul Kareem Khalaf in the quality of the vehicles. conceptualisation, design, manu- cle market, however, has recently sity, $7,750. said during a news conference. “Now we had more teams joining facturing, testing and the competi- borne fruit. This included the intro- us and we have 15 vehicles on the tion. duction of electric vehicle charging Marc Espanol is a Catalan (Reuters) track instead of nine,” said EVER “The [nine] old teams focused stations in the country in February journalist in Egypt. November 10, 2019 19 Economy Algerian crisis shakes profit for Qatar telecoms affiliate

Lamine Ghanmi “a key role in realising Ooredoo’s than 90% of the value of its total ambitions in Algeria, leading the exports and almost 60% of the state telecoms operations during a pe- budget. Tunis riod of digital transformation.” “For the oil and gas sector, the Algeria’s GDP inched up 0.3% in political uncertainty is dampening atar’s Ooredoo telecoms the second quarter of the year ver- down the hope of a rise of the out- Algerian affiliate’s profit sus 1.4% rise at the same time in the put,” said the World Bank’s report. slumped 17.3% for the first previous year, official figures show. The jailing of business leaders as Q nine months of this year The economy’s slackening pace was part of a sweeping crackdown on as 8-month-long unrest acceler- mainly due to an 8.3% decline in corruption, described by Algerian ated the deterioration of an already the crucial gas and oil sector, data President Abdelkader Bensalah as slack economy. from the government-run National “an unprecedented shift in the his- Ooredoo Algeria’s earnings be- Statistics Office indicated. tory of Algeria,” has a negative ef- fore interest, tax, depreciation and Most economic sectors were hit fect on the economy. amortisation (EBITDA) fell to $182 by the crisis as mass protests for “Managers of enterprises from million in the January-September root-and-branch change of the gov- various sectors have been arrested period against $220 million in the erning system since February 22 as part of investigations of corrup- same period in 2018, the company have affected economy even when tion. That has an effect in disrupt- said in a statement. EBITDA is the the demonstrations take place dur- ing the economy because of the main gauge of a firm’s profitability. ing the weekend to spare economic abrupt changes in management activities from direct disruptions. and the looming uncertainty about Algeria’s economic growth Investment growth, a main indi- investments,” the World Bank said. cator of confidence of businessmen The crisis was eating away the swung from 3.4% in 2001 to and their assumptions about politi- foreign currency reserves, Algeria’s 1.4% in 2018 with the record cal and economic stability, slowed major economic cushion against a high growth rate of 6.7% in to 0.9% in the second quarter of this severe economic situation. Finance 2003 following the changing year, a period when protests were Ministry officials said they expect- cycles of oil prices. largest, versus 4.1% in the same pe- ed reserves to drop $20 billion this riod of 2018, the data indicate. year to $60 billion, compared to Ooredoo Algeria, which has more “The political crisis Algeria has more than $200 billion in 2014. The than 13 million subscribers in Al- been experiencing should provoke reduction is tied to a sharp increase geria, saw turnover decline 10.3% a downturn of the country’s econ- in imports. to $520 million for the first nine omy whether in the hydrocarbons Import bills jumped from $12 bil- months of this year compared with sector or outside the hydrocarbons lion in 2001 to $68 billion in 2014, the same period in 2018. activity resulting in a growth rate exhausting the reserves and wreak- “The market circumstances re- slide to 1.3%,” the World Bank said ing havoc on Algeria’s more pro- main difficult in Algeria because October 9 in an assessment of Alge- ductive industries and “making of the economic instability and the ria’s economy. redundant even the country’s hon- decrease in consumer confidence Algeria’s GDP grew 1.4% in 2018 eybees,” said former Finance Minis- aggravated by the fierce competi- from the previous year, when ter Abdellatif Benachenhou. tion over prices by other telecoms the economy recorded its lowest “Beyond 2022, the stock of re- operators to secure market shares,” growth — 1.3% — in 16 years. serves will be exhausted and with it the company statement said. Algeria’s economic growth swung comes a sharp reduction of imports The Ooredoo Algeria results were from 3.4% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2018 and skyrocketing inflation because posted after the appointment of with the record high growth rate of of a shortage of consumer products German Nikolai Beckers as its CEO 6.7% in 2003 following the chang- as the state budget will be financed Difficult circumstances. An Algerian protester draped in his in August. The company said it was ing cycles of oil prices. Algeria’s oil by the deficit,” said former Prime country’s national flag talks on his mobile phone in Algiers, expected that Beckers would play and gas sector accounts for more Minister Ahmed Benbitour. October 25. (AFP) Viewpoint Lebanon needs an emergency reform kit

early a month has document drafted by the Ministry political reforms. than extraordinary tribunals, which elapsed since the of Energy and Water while the con- Judicial reform should be at the do not ensure justice and account- outbreak of the sultant is appointed by a grant given top of any government platform. ability. Makram Rabah Lebanese Revolu- by one of the expected bidders, all The Lebanese state disregards the On the more practical economic tion, which took flagrant breaches of government sacred constitutional principle of level, simple emergency measures millions across operating procedures. separation of powers. The judici- are urgently needed to alleviate NLebanon and the diaspora to revolt The ruling establishment wants ary should appoint its own judges rather than salvage the situation. against a political class that they to use the revolt and the fear of eco- and the executive branch must There should be the implementa- supported and repeatedly voted nomic collapse to make themselves refrain from meddling in the justice tion of temporary capital controls into office. richer and channel the $11 billion system. on money transfers. While capital The political and economic from the CEDRE aid conference to Reform should also reach the control might be a departure from shutdown in Lebanon, however, led their own coffers. The people on the security and law enforcement sec- Lebanon’s liberal economy, it is a many demonstrators to reconsider streets and those watching the re- tors, which should be purged from bitter pill the Lebanese must swal- their choices and heed threats of volt at home know that the people the clientelist appointment system low — and fast. the ruling elite whose scare tactics in power are incapable and unwill- that prevents their neutrality and Second, negotiate with the include violent intimidation and ing to reform their ways and thus makes them tools of the establish- Lebanese banks that own the warnings of economic ruin. this standoff will not end soon. ment, rather than guardians of the majority (53.8%) of total debt and Lebanon’s economy has seen Faced with this predicament, constitution. convince them to lower interest better days but years of imprudent the only way to prevent the loom- Anti-corruption legislation rates and to restructure the debts. economic policies, coupled with ing meltdown of the Lebanese should be enacted to protect whis- Lebanese banks must accept an a hysterical clientelist system and economy is for street demonstrators tle-blowers and set a mechanism increase in taxes over their profits. bad governance, led the state to the to stand strong, not falter and to for the recovery of stolen assets The tax stands at 10% and must be brink of bankruptcy. The Lebanese refuse to negotiate with any form and, more important, amend laws increased to allow the state more political class has shown an unwill- of authority unless the ruling elite to allow cabinet ministers to face revenues and to avoid passing more ingness to admit that the impasse is introduces required economic and the regular justice system rather direct taxes on to the less-privileged not merely an economic crisis but classes. a problem that speaks to the crux Third, there should be nego- of the Lebanese political system, tiations with the Lebanese armed which, to most Lebanese, has sim- forces over Regulation 3, which ply expired. multiplies military service years Adding insult to injury, a few days and thus costs the Lebanese billions before resigning, Lebanese Prime of dollars in end-of-service pen- Minister Saad Hariri introduced sions. his government’s economic reform Fourth, a law for public bids plan, which was utterly rejected by should be passed to increase trans- the Lebanese because it refrained parency and break the hegemony from including real political reforms of the cartels that clinch most state and merely proposed to spend more contracts. money to — hopefully — jump-start These measures might fall short the ailing economy. of the more ambitious aspirations of The audacity of the politicians is the Lebanese uprising but, for the fathomless as they claim that they immediate future, this emergency A law for public bids can consider $7 billion of electric- kit could give Lebanon a fighting should be passed to ity sector projects, in merely two chance and perhaps place Lebanon increase transparency weeks and with two days to report closer to recovery. it to cabinet — something experts and break the assert is impossible. Makram Rabah is a lecturer at hegemony of the If this was not enough, project the American University of Beirut bids would be supervised by the and author of “A Campus at War: cartels that clinch Public Procurement Management Limited options. An anti-government protester walks in front of a shop Student Politics at the American most state contracts. Administration and with a tender damaged by protesters in Beirut, October 21. (AP) University of Beirut, 1967-1975.” 20 November 10, 2019 Culture TV drama challenges historical narrative of Ottoman conquest in the Arab world

Ahmed Megahid Mamluk rivalry for controlling the Arab region had been seminal in determining the Arabs’ national Cairo identity. “This type of drama is very im- he Middle East Broadcast- portant because it gives young ing Centre is preparing to viewers a chance to know history,” broadcast “Kingdoms of said Egyptian TV and cinema critic T Fire,” the largest historical Tarek al-Shenawi. “This type of drama production in the Arab world work has almost disappeared from in decades. the Arab artistic scene because of The serial, which stars many Arab the huge amounts of money its pro- actors, brings together TV profes- duction requires.” sionals from the United Kingdom, It cost the UAE media platform Italy and Colombia who promised Genomedia $40 million to produce to keep Arab viewers glued to their the serial, making it the most ex- televisions through the show’s run. pensive drama production in the “This is what we are actually hop- Arab region in decades. ing for,” said Mohamed Suleiman The serial is directed by British Abdel Malek, an Egyptian screen- director Peter Webber, who is best writer of the serial. “Arab viewers known for his debut feature film usually prefer this type of work.” “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and the The serial focuses on the Ottoman horror film “Hannibal Rising.” conquest of Egypt and the end of the Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawi pation of Egypt and Tuman bay’s edge from drama works, not from Mamluk state in the Arab country. It plays Tuman bay II, who became execution in Cairo, the Ottomans books,” Abdel Malek said. “This is is centred on the period before the sultan of Egypt after the army of punished Egyptians for showing why we have to utilise this media arrival of the Ottomans in Egypt, The serial points out Qansuh al-Ghawri was defeated by loyalty to their fallen ruler. and not let one party present its the bravery of Mamluk ruler Tuman that the “glories” of Ottoman ruler Selim II at the Battle The serial is the first collabora- own view though it uncontested.” bay II and atrocities the Ottomans the Ottoman Empire of Marj Dabiq in 1516. tive Arab drama work, at least at Abdel Malek worked with history committed against Egyptians. were not so glorious, Tuman bay was popular among this high level, in decades. It shows books, many of which contrast the It is probably the first Arab TV especially crimes Egyptians because of his reputation what Arabs can do at the TV and view of the era Turkey puts forth, to work to address that period from for being virtuous and uncorrupted. drama level when they join hands. determine facts about the Ottoman those angles, depicting transforma- committed against He avoided most mistakes previous Its makers say it is the first move in a presence in Egypt. “It [the serial] tions in the Arab region during the Egyptians and the Mamluk rulers were notorious for. large project for defending the Arab corrects some of the lies propagat- early years of the Ottoman occupa- Ottomans’ theft of Tuman bay’s army was defeated national identity. ed about the Ottomans by Turkish tion of Egypt in 1517. The Ottoman- Egyptian wealth. by Ottoman troops. After the occu- “Young Arabs get their knowl- drama,” he said. Nejib Ayed’s legacy lives on at Carthage Film Festival

Roua Khlifi is easier,” Ben Chaabane said. “We Sudanese director Amjad Abu Ala- are still committed to promoting la’s first feature film, “You Will Die the cinema of the south, which tries at 20,” introduced many to Suda- Tunis and often succeeds in breaking free nese cinema. from monopolising cinematic ste- The film was awarded the Golden unisia’s Carthage Film Fes- reotypes.” Tanit for Best First Feature Film, tival continued its tradition To express its commitment to the also known as the Tahar Cheriaa of placing Arab and African cinema of the south, the festival Award, and the Best Script Tanit. T cinema before the public dedicated sections to films from “It has been a blessing so far,” said but the death of the event’s founder Nigeria and Chile, inviting festival- Islam Mubarak, the film’s featured cast a cloud over the recently con- goers to learn about the countries’ actress. “Sudan is rich in terms cluded 30th edition. cinema through selected works. of culture and nature. I was very Tunisian producer and intellectu- Ben Chaabane stressed the im- stressed about participating in the al Nejib Ayed, who died in August, portance of Carthage Pro, a plat- Carthage Film Festival. I was very was instrumental to the success of form for the exchange of profes- anxious and the minute I heard the the Carthage Film Festival (JCC), sional expertise among industry applause I was happy. Even in the bringing a modern, progressive vi- professionals. streets, people would stop and con- sion to Tunisian cinema that united “This section was especially val- gratulate. industry professionals from around orised by Nejib Ayed because it was “Sudanese cinema has been the region. meant to dedicate a space to the struggling and not up to date for “I want to thank Nejib Ayed for professional aspect of the festival the past years and this has been an creating a team that has such love and support the network of film- opportunity to show the world the and passion for cinema,” said Chiraz makers,” Ben Chaabane said. reality about Sudan. It is important Latiri, director of Tunisia’s National “It was envisioned by Nejib Ayed to show an image that is not stereo- Centre for Cinema and Audiovis- as a meeting point to insist on the typical about the country,” she said. uals. “He created a strong team of independence of cinematic indus- Sabri Bouzid, whose “Charter” organisation that swore to continue tries in Africa and [the] Arab world won the Silver Tanit for best short with the same passion for the festi- to build bridges between the two film, said he wanted to “envi- val and execute the programme that souths of the Mediterranean in sion the discourse of the country Ayed envisioned before his death.” terms of film production and distri- through the image.” Ayed’s legacy was apparent dur- bution.” “As a film director, I don’t want to ing this year’s festival, which show- Changes to the programme, de- replicate what happened. I am not cased 170 films from more than 40 signed by Ayed and his team, were going to say what is right or wrong countries screened across Tunisia. introduced this year. but rather shed light on the sub- Tarek Ben Chaabane, an artis- “This edition hasn’t changed but ject,” Bouzid said. tic consultant at the festival, said evolved with the addition of new The Golden Tanit in the docu- the JCC under Ayed’s direction sections such as Carthage Talks, mentary category was given to had done its best “to preserve the which consists of a series of pan- “Talking About Trees,” by Suhaib unique identity of the Carthage fes- els, the section of Diaspora Cinema Gasmelbari (Sudan), with “For gerian actor Lyes Salem earned the tival and be open to the new tech- dedicated to the works of Tunisian Sama,” by Waad Al-Khateab and Best Actor award for “Abou Leila.” niques of international festivals. film-makers in diaspora and the Edward Watts (Syria), winning the Abu Alala said the scriptwriting The elements of the identity we section of Carthage Digital, which Silver Tanit and “A Haunted Past,” award was especially meaningful. tried to strengthen and protect are develops the relationship of cinema by Fatma Riahi (Tunisia), awarded “One of my concerns was that if I the Arab-African identity of the fes- with digital industries,” Latiri said. the Bronze Tanit. am going to make a movie in Sudan, tival and supporting engaged cin- The festival maintained its out- The Golden Tanit for best short a country where not many stories ema despite the difficulties African reach to prisons, inviting prison- documentary film was awarded to were told, what would I say? When cinema encounters today.” ers to screenings and debates with “All Come from Dust,” by Younes I found the short story by Sudanese “Along with Ayed, we wanted to The Best Actress Tanit was film-makers. Ben Slimane (Tunisia). Hamour Ziad, I felt this is the movie keep the quality and not programme awarded to Tunisia’s Hend Many new films by young direc- The Best Actress Tanit was I want to make and especially that films that are not good enough tech- Sabry for her role in tors screened during the event re- awarded to Tunisia’s Hend Sabry one of my dreams to adapt more lit- nically and aesthetically because it “Noura’s Dream.” ceived praise at home and abroad. for her role in “Noura’s Dream.” Al- erature into the screen. I am glad I November 10, 2019 21 Media Cinema

regional countries, Turkey’s oc- cupation of Arab land in Syria and Iraq and the desire of Turkish Presi- dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan to re- Iraqi cartoonist takes vive what he considers the glories of the Ottoman Empire are pitting Arab and Turk historical narratives against each other. a jab at corruption, The serial tells the history of the Ottoman Empire by focusing on the conquest of Egypt and the end of the political power Mamluk state in the Arab country.

The same developments have cre- ated a regional cultural conflict in which various countries try to assert the value its culture and history. The serial reminds that the “glo- ries” of the Ottoman Empire were not so glorious, especially crimes committed against Egyptians and the Ottomans’ theft of Egyptian wealth. The Middle East Broadcasting Centre planned to start broadcasting the serial on November 17. Genome- dia has aired ads for the serial, giving viewers an insight into work. In scenes included in the promo, the makers of “Kingdoms of Fire” depend on modern sound effects An Arab narrative. Egyptian and actors appear in a new light. actor Khaled El Nabawi The programme’s creators amassed performs in “Kingdoms of a huge cast, especially for battle Fire.” scenes. Scenes of Tuman bay II rid- (Courtesy of Mohamed Suleiman ing a horse and exhorting his sol- Abdel Malek) diers in the face of the Ottomans are heart-rending. Shenawi, however, advised view- “Our absence from the artistic ers to judge programmes by the art- stage gave the chance for Turkish istry of their making, regardless of drama to fill the minds of our young- historical or political backgrounds. sters with purely Ottoman ideas “Viewers should judge art by artis- like the need for re-establishing the tic standards, not by anything else,” caliphate,” Abdel Malek said. “This Shenawi said. “They have to let their Wared Badr al-Salem fluence,” Humairi explained. is a battle for the minds of our peo- minds and hearts then judge the The chair is a familiar object in ple, which is why we have to have a events because works of art always the imagination of plastic artists national project through which we transcend political and religious Baghdad for aesthetic and philosophi- can present history as it really hap- boundaries.” cal reasons. Vincent Van pened.” or his latest exhibition, Gogh’s chair, for example, Recent developments, including Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian Iraqi cartoonist Khu- is one of the most famous the Turkish political war on some reporter in Cairo. dair al-Humairi chose chairs in paintings, while F 36 cartoons that sum- the monumental wooden marised corruption in and sculpture of a chair with a around political power in a broken leg by Swiss artist manner symbolic in its gener- Daniel Berset stands out- al outlines. He chose “Chairs” side the UN building in Ge- Nejib Ayed’s legacy lives on at Carthage Film Festival as the title for the exhibition be- neva. cause his cartoons focus on the When the chair is trans- object and concept of the chair as posed from the realm of familiar a symbol of political power. furniture to the realm of politics, it Humairi said he finds inspiration becomes an actor in popular thea- in Iraqi politics and politicians who tre farces widely circulated in the desperately cling to positions of in- Arab countries in general, and a fluence and power symbolised in favourite topic of biting politi- his cartoons by chairs. cal jokes. These new features of In this exhibition, Humairi fo- the object circulate and grow cused on a theme represented by in the popular consciousness, the chair. This common object be- making it possible for cartoon- comes the means by which he en- ists such as Humairi to encap- capsulates the bitter reality of Iraqi sulate them in expressive and politics, exposing the hypocrisy of powerful cartoons. politicians who have wreaked hav- With just a few simple lines in oc on life in Iraq. 36 scenes full of wit and irony, The artist’s work shows how a Humairi captures the attention of small wooden object used for viewers and excites their sense of sitting can be transformed humour. Some of his car- into a state of schizophrenia toons bear no titles in which the normal concept because the message of the chair becomes a callous is obvious. Others A special quest for power, influence, dom- have titles to bridge a giv- moment. ination and political terrorism en political reference with Tunisian actress as well. the drawing and involve the recipi- Hend Sabry Thus, Humairi’s cartoons, in ent in the ridicule of this scandal celebrates after which this everyday object is the they call the “seat of power.” receiving the central character, decry the absurd- When they are present, titles be- Best Actress ity of politics and its harmful effects come support conduits to reveal Tanit during the on human destinies. The artist skil- Who’s Khudair the nature of the chair as a political closing ceremony fully uses irony and dry humour to tool. of the Carthage unveil this absurdity and expose al-Humairi? In Humairi’s cartoons, chairs Film Festival, the hypocrisy of politicians. His push other chairs off cliffs, get November 2. simple, yet powerful cartoons re- shined and become pegs for family (AFP) flect his long experience in this dif- Khudair al-Humairi is trees. Politicians literally nail them- ficult art form. a pioneer of caricature selves to chairs or fight each other Humairi uses simple and light in Iraq. He has contrib- with legs broken off chairs or, in lines to draw familiar figures that uted to Alif magazine for another highly expressive cartoon, people can easily identify while ex- tightly cling to shaking chair legs aggerating certain features, a char- more than 20 years. His while the title repeats a famous po- won this here in Carthage,” he said. knows everything and understands acteristic feature of cartoon art, to satirical cartoons have litical quip: “We are holding on to “Noura’s Dream” by Hinde Bou- everything and they live all the de- critically thrust the political sym- appeared in many Iraqi the political process.” jemaa took the Golden Tanit in the tails the way we also live with them. bolism of the object chair, with all and Arab newspapers and Humairi’s skill as a cartoonist is Long Feature Film category. The It is special and heart-warming. I of its negative connotations, into magazines. He published a obvious. In one snapshot, he de- Silver Tanit went to “Atlantics” by never thought of this. I thought of the collective consciousness. constructs the ridiculous political French-Senegalese director and making films but never really fan- “The chair is one of the most single collection of draw- reality and exposes the ugly face actress Mati Diop and the Bronze tasised about awards. I thought it common pieces of furniture and ings titled “Caricature.” of the greedy and corrupt conspira- Tanit in the category was awarded only happens to others but now I the most familiar to us because we The artist has had exhibi- tors on this familiar, benign but so to “Scales” by Shahad Ameen from am happy.” use it daily in our lives. The object, tions in Bulgaria, Mexico, symbolic home object. Saudi Arabia. however, has become widely dis- Japan, Egypt, Morocco “It is different to screen the film Roua Khlifi is a regular Travel torted by its associated connota- Wared Badr al-Salem is an Iraqi at the Carthage Film Festival,” and Culture contributor to tions of power, dominance and in- and Belgium. writer. Boujemaa said. “The audience The Arab Weekly. 22 November 10, 2019 Culture Arab book publishing threatened by copyright infringement

Mahmoud Zaki lishing market that has decreased as much as 20%. He mentioned that pirating books and produc- Cairo ing forged copies caused dozens of publishing houses to close and he Arab Publishers Union writers have become reluctant to revealed that the market publish because of poor sales. for forged books in Arab Book piracy and forgery are not T countries has grown, caus- new. Publishing houses produce ing annual losses of $350 million to dozens of books annually that legitimate publishers. are reproduced by shady entities. Book piracy has become a hot These bodies produce lower-qual- topic in print and social media as ity copies and sell them at signifi- writers and critics urged readers cantly lower prices. Some Arab not to buy pirated books. readers buy the forged copies and The campaign was begun by say original publishers are scam- Egyptian writer Omar Taher, who ming them with higher prices. wrote several articles on the pub- Rashad explained that the nega- lishing crisis in Egypt. He was tive image created about regular quickly joined by other Arab writ- publishing houses is because of a ers, including Sudanese Hammour lack of awareness of the efforts and Ziada, Egyptian Ashraf El-Ashmawi costs involved in producing books. and Moroccan Youssef al-Rabie. “Publishing houses do not over- Some people have tried to de- price books and it is only normal fend the market for pirated books that forged books are cheaper,” as a logical alternative to recent he said. “Book pirates don’t pay prices increases, which has re- taxes or copyright royalties or ad- duced readers’ opportunities to ministrative expenses. They pro- buy many books. duce poor copies by reducing the cost of printing and, therefore, it’s only natural that forged books are The Arab publishing cheaper.” industry is facing The market for pirated books dif- At all costs. A man chooses a book at Al-Azbakeya market in Cairo. (Reuters) unprecedented challenges, fers from one Arab country to the including a publishing other in terms of size and quality market that has decreased of the forgery process. The market Rashad said the law in Egypt fewer books being written and pub- Saeed Abdo, president of the as much as 20%. is huge in countries such as Egypt, criminalises fraud and forgery with lished and even the disappearance Egyptian Publishers Union, Sudan and Morocco, where there fines of $300-$600 and a jail sen- of publishing houses. stressed the role of intellectual Data released by the Arab Pub- are sophisticated mafia-like net- tence of up to three months. Such Counterfeiting books is not property protection laws in Egypt lishers Union indicate that losses works producing and exporting a measly fine is not going to deter unique to the Arab world. It ex- in fighting piracy. The laws, how- by legitimate publishers due to the forged books. counterfeiters, especially when ists in many Western countries but ever, have not changed since be- counterfeiting market in the Arab Some countries play a major they know they stand to make mil- remains at a small scale and with ing enacted 50 years ago and are countries totalled $350 million an- role in the distribution and dis- lions of Egyptian pounds in profits very little effect on the regular book not a strong deterrent. They may nually. That figure indicated the semination of counterfeited books by counterfeiting books. market. This is essentially because even encourage the falsification of alarming growth of that market abroad. There are offices dedicated On top of tougher laws, publish- of the Western reader’s awareness books. since the size of the official book to receiving forged books and redis- ers stress the importance of in- of the importance of supporting the This is why the Egyptian Publish- market did not exceed $15 million. tributing them in other countries creasing public awareness about publishing industry and creators. ers Union recently submitted new Mohamed Rashad, president of where there is demand for books in the book piracy. Readers may be- There is, therefore, an urgent legislation for the protection of in- the Arab Publishers Union, said the Arabic, especially novels. lieve that the cheaper prices of need to raise awareness of the im- tellectual property to the Egyptian huge gap between the forged books Angry Arab publishers demand counterfeited books allow them to portance of respecting intellectual House of Representatives, propos- market and that of original books tougher measures and stronger en- buy more books but forged books property rights among young peo- ing tougher measures and higher released by Arab publishing houses forcement of laws protecting intel- indirectly affect the publishing ple through schools and universi- fines and prison terms for convict- created a catastrophe that threat- lectual property and the publishing world in the long run. Counterfeit- ties in the Arab world and to teach ed counterfeiters. ens the Arab publishing industry. system in Egypt, which is the larg- ing weakens the regular publishing people that forging books is a crime Rashad said it is facing unprece- est market for printing and selling market, leading to lower profits for and a form of cheating and decep- Mahmoud Zaki is an Egyptian dented challenges, including a pub- books in the Arab world. publishers and writers, resulting in tion. writer. Bureaucracy and politics hindering cultural life in Lebanon

space for free thought and expres- have been performing at interna- Samar Kadi sion that connected Beirut with the tional theatres and festivals around international arts scene and pre- the world. “While we are praised Beirut sented its openness and progres- and applauded abroad for commu- sive ideas, is being closed.” nicating a cultured and artistic im- eirut has lost a vibrant The group had to cancel pro- age of our country, at home we face cultural hub at a time grammes and events set for Oc- continuous hindering and margin- Lebanon is in need for in- tober, including the International alisation… This is absurd,” Rajeh B vigorating its cultural life. Cultural Summit that was supposed said. Citerne Beirut, a unique space for to take place for the first time in performing and contemporary Lebanon and an artistic gathering The theatre is to move for a arts that was inaugurated in April, for young people organised by the closed because of bureaucracy and UN Development Programme. new location next April but paperwork glitches. “We do not understand the rea- for bureaucratic reasons, it In a statement titled “In Lebanon sons why the authorities have re- did not have the necessary we destroy a theatre… to build an fused to extend the grace period permits to continue at its incinerator!” Maqamat, the asso- for just a few months,” Rajeh said. current location until that ciation running Citerne Beirut said “They turn a blind eye on many date. the theatre was to move for a new other projects with more serious location next April but for bureau- infractions, although it is their re- Maqamat called for “‘cultural cratic reasons, it did not have the sponsibility, notably the Ministry disobedience’ until we bring back necessary permits to continue at of Culture, to support such cul- our cultural life that has been con- its current location until that date. tural initiatives as Citerne Beirut, fiscated.” “We just asked for a grace pe- In limbo. A view of the Citerne Beirut building. especially in this period. Culture It vowed to continue with even riod until April or at least the end (Courtesy of Citerne Beirut) is mostly needed in a time domi- a greater momentum and strength of the year to give us time to find nated by racist and inclusive dis- to overcome this dangerous situa- an alternative location and work course and a decline in artistic tion. on the permits but the Beirut gov- “We had hoped that the mayor hub like Citerne Beirut.” and social values. “We will continue with all our ernor did not accept and the mu- and the governor of Beirut would Rajeh argued that, in other coun- “In Lebanon, they have no prob- strength and all our cultural and nicipality was not interested. We support such an artistic project, a tries, municipalities offer facilities lem to destroy a cultural hub while artistic activities, including BIPOD, were compelled to dismantle the full-fledged cultural and artistic and incentives to woo artists and they would make extra effort to all training classes, workshops and centre,” said Citerne Beirut artistic centre for the city and would help intellectuals with cultural projects. build an incinerator.” the dance school, as well as the director Omar Rajeh. us find a solution so that we could “While at Citerne Beirut we have Rajeh asked poignantly: “Will it artistic residencies for local and The structure in the form of a continue with that project without been carrying out multiple events be OK for our future in this country international artists and all co-pro- cistern in Beirut’s Mar Mikhail interruption, of course within the and enriching the cultural life in to be surrounded by garbage but ductions for emerging artists,” the neighbourhood was built on a land rule of law,” Rajeh said. the city, yet we see no appreciation not OK to sustain a cultural centre? statement said. leased until the end of April 2020. “I wish they (the authorities) from the authorities,” he said. Do we accept to live under consti- “From this moment on we begin Beirut Governor Ziad Shebib grant- would be as categorical and un- In its statement Maqamat, which tutional void and fail to fill our lives working on relocating Citerne Bei- ed Maqamat permission to operate compromising in confronting mat- has been organising the Beirut In- with culture and values?” rut to another place and looking the place until end of July but re- ters that harm the country, as they ternational Contemporary Dance In addition to supporting young for the necessary support and as- fused to extend the grace period. are determined to stop a cultural Festival (BIPOD), said “another people’s talents, Maqamat artists sistance to complete this project.” November 10, 2019 23 Heritage

From fathers to sons. A view from the entrance of Khayamiya Street leading up to Bab Zuweila, one of the surviving main gates of Cairo’s Old City. (AFP) Egypt’s khayamiya handicraft legacy surviving against all odds

Marwa al-A’sar

Cairo

ani Abdel-Kader was sit- ting cross-legged with his back straight on a small H wooden sofa, holding a big needle and scissors, quickly and skilfully sewing and trimming a col- ourful piece of khayamiya panel. A radio playing a song by legend- ary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in the background added to the traditional ambience and the work done in the shop. The walls of Abdel-Kader’s shop are covered with highly artistic shapes and sizes of handmade khayamiya panels and appliqued An Egyptian man looks at wall hangings at a shop in Cairo’s Hany Abdel-Kader sews a piece of a khayamiya panel. fabrics. It is one of about 30 small Khayamiya Street. (AFP) (Marwa al-A’sar) stores on Khayamiya Street next to Bab Zuwaila in the heart of Fatimid Cairo, which dates to 1200AD. but always involves creating works He said the craft is falling into fairs in the United States, England, in general, we get inspired by the old The khayamiya craft is passed of art. oblivion. France and Australia, where the masters of the profession. I choose from fathers to sons. Abdel-Kader, “Working as a khayami [a khay- “When I say anywhere in Egypt unique art is highly appreciated. the colours based on the design 43, has been working in the pro- amiya craftsman] is not easy. One that I work as a khayami, nobody “Foreigners, in general, value our and the fabric used is usually heavy fession, which he inherited from must have strong nerves and be understands what I’m talking about. art much more than Egyptians, who Egyptian cotton.” his grandfather, for 33 years. He is focused. It requires dedication, pa- They think that I only make tents may think it’s overrated,” he said. among the few artisans still dedi- tience and concentration and the for funerals and weddings,” he said To make a khayamiya applique, a cated to the traditional craft. For way we sit while we work protects sadly. design is drawn on paper, which is The word “khayamiya” is him, every day is another day of the spine from any damage,” Abdel- The word “khayamiya” is derived folded horizontally, vertically and derived from the Arabic work that could yield profit or not Kader explained. from the Arabic word “khyma,” diagonally. The paper is pricked with word “khyma,” meaning a meaning a tent. Khayamiya crafts- holes over the design, filled with tent. Khayamiya craftsmen men in the past were tentmakers charcoal or white chalk and placed in the past were tentmakers when people lived in tents or used on a piece of cloth to have the design when people lived in tents. suradiq (a tented pavilion) erected printed on it. on streets to host weddings, funerals The dots of the pattern are con- Another challenge facing the or other occasions. Now the profes- nected with a pencil and the back- khayamiya industry is the dramatic sion has changed and developed into ground fabric is tacked on heavy increase in the price of materials be- producing decor items. cotton canvas. The craftsman trims cause of inflation. Khayamiya as an industry dates to the shapes as he stitches them in an “This, in turn, led to the price hikes the Fatimid times when Egypt was amazingly fast movement of the nee- of khayamiya works. Egyptians are famous for its textiles. dle. turning away from handmade works, “At that time, khayamiya was a Prices of khayamiya pieces depend preferring cheap printed khayamiya flourishing business and craftsmen on the size and intricacy of the de- cloth instead. What we really lack is gathered on a street of their own,” sign and range from $4.50 to $235. good marketing for the industry to said Egyptian journalist Hossam “A piece may take from one day thrive,” Abdel-Kader said. Eddin Zidan, co-founder of the Mo- up to three months of work. Usually, “In the past, every Egyptian wathiqoun initiative. Islamic designs are the hardest and household had a piece of khayamiya “Because of terrorist attacks that take longer time to make,” Abdel- art. It is a national treasure and herit- targeted tourists in Egypt in the past Kader said. age which, alas, nobody understands few years, tourism suffered tremen- A khayami is an artist by nature now but we are surviving in one way dously, which had a big toll on khay- who can draw beautifully. or another against all the odds.” amiya craftsmen whose products are “Most of the designs I make my- An Egyptian craftsman showcases a tapestry in his shop in appreciated by visitors.” self,” Abdel-Kader said. “Sometimes Marwa al-A’sar is a Cairo-based Khayamiya Street in Cairo’s Old City. (AFP) Abdel-Kader said he took part in I do what the customer asks for but, journalist. 24 November 10, 2019

Art in the City www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Dubai: Through November 22

Taking place at Jameel Arts Centre, an institution dedicated to contemporary art, “Second Hand” is a group exhibition that explores materiality through a range of media including sculp- ture, installation, assemblage, drawing, photography, painting and performance.

Algiers: November 14-15

After six years of absence, Jamel Debbouze takes the stage with his new show “Maintenant ou Jamel.”

Bidiyah: November 15-22 Activists work on a mural in the Old City of Mosul. (Oumayma Omar) The Oman Desert Marathon is a footrace across the Omani de- sert covering 165km in six stag- ‘Art Revolution’ brings colour es. From the Oasis of Bidiyah to the Arabian Sea, participants will discover the most remote and untouched sands and the and hope to Iraq’s Mosul highest dunes in the region. Nefta: November 16-17 Oumayma Omar initiative begun in 2018. Murals and colours have been adorning Mosul’s Les Dunes Electroniques 2019 is restored walls and buildings since. a Tunisian event that celebrates Baghdad The first gigantic mural painted electronic music. The event under the initiative — 6 metres in takes place in the Ong Jemel he young people of Mosul height and 20 metres wide — was area of the Tunisian desert near have grabbed brushes and about peaceful coexistence and Nefta. Various international art- paint to beautify their war- the rejection of sectarianism, Amer ists will perform. T ravaged city in what they said. “We did a series of murals in al- call an “Art Revolution” aimed at Thawra neighbourhood, which was Cairo: erasing the ravages of violence extensively damaged in the battles November 20-29 left by Islamic State (ISIS) rule and for liberating Mosul. They featured breathing life back into their herit- the ruined heritage of Mosul and The 41st Cairo International age. ancient sites that were destroyed by Film Festival will include world “It is an expression of the revolt ISIS,” he said. cinema projections, seminars, and frustration that’s brewing in- The initiative worked in several workshops, debates and trib- side us because of the repression we areas of the city and encouraged or- utes. suffered during [Islamic State] ISIS ganisers to initiate another project, control of the city. Mosul’s people “Colour My Life” focusing on the Beirut: have many talents that were sup- Old City of Mosul, site of the final November 28-December 9 pressed and emerged after the de- battle against ISIS. parture of the criminal group,” said “It has facilitated and encouraged Beirut 63rd Annual Internation- activist Shaymaa’ Amer. the return of thousands of displaced al Arab Book Fair will take place “Drawing and colourful painting people back to their homes,” Amer An “Art Revolution” activist draws in the Old City of Mosul. at Beirut’s New Waterfront. breathe hope for a better life. It is a said. “We are trying to restore joy (Oumayma Omar) Many publishers and librarians means for expressing our dreams, and smiles through these colours are to take part in the fair, of- unifying the people and regaining and in cooperation with the peo- fering a wide range of Arab and confidence in our city with all its ple and citizens to encourage them ing the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, national organisations that provid- English books. diverse ethnicities and confessions to quit refugee camps and rebuild famous for its leaning minaret. ed raw materials such as paints and after ISIS had attempted to sow dis- their damaged homes.” Young people paint significant brushes,” he said. Tozeur: cord and hatred between us,” Amer The Old City of Mosul, on the historical sites in Mosul to restore Following the liberation of the December 25-28 said. western bank of the Tigris River, the grandeur of the city. Such sites city, several projects were com- The 21-year-old fine arts student is home to historic Islamic, Chris- include the Gates of Mosul and the menced to reconstruct and rehabili- Tozeur International Oasis is a member of the “Art Revolution” tian and Jewish landmarks, includ- Statue of Osman. tate Mosul. The Mosul government Festival will feature a variety of “We are trying to restore the introduced a major campaign to events, ranging from art exhibi- heritage sites of Mosul that disap- clear rubble and traces of ISIS from tions to music performances peared during the war through the the Old City. Thousands of homes along with displays of tradi- drawings,” said Mounir Majed, 19, have undergone reconstruction, al- tional local food and crafts. another activist with “Art Revolu- lowing for more people to return. Artists from various countries tion.” Al-Nuri Mosque, one of the most will perform and interact with The team of about 20 people came iconic sites in the city, was de- visitors. together shortly after the eviction stroyed in 2017 by ISIS. UNESCO an- of ISIS and included young people nounced that it would start recon- Muscat: who were discouraged through in- structing the monument in 2020. January 16-February 15 timidation from practising their ar- tistic hobbies, Majed said. The first gigantic mural Lasting a month, the annual He said he had to burn about 100 painted under the initiative Muscat Festival will feature canvases he had painted because of nightly fireworks, traditional fear of arrest by ISIS. “Now I am de- — 6 metres in height and 20 Omani music performances, lo- termined to encourage the youth to metres wide — was about cal cuisine, craft displays, exhi- regain confidence and do the things peaceful coexistence and bitions from regional countries they like despite the difficult condi- the rejection of and traditional dancing. tions they have… This is what we sectarianism. could achieve on the ground.” Beirut: A favourite mural Majed said he Mosul Mayor Zuhair al-Araji ac- February 18-March 22 painted with ten teammates over 4 knowledged the lack of official sup- days adorned the wall of the head- port for the initiative. “We are un- Al Bustan International Festival quarters of Nineveh governorate able to help financially because of of Music and the Performing command. lack of budget. Nonetheless, we are Arts is a musical celebration that “The drawing paid tribute to the facilitating their work by removing takes place throughout various sacrifices of the Iraqi Army in its any obstacles they might encoun- venues in Beirut and promotes fight against ISIS. It depicted differ- ter,” he said. music from all over the world. ent ethnic groups in the city in their “This movement is a clear indica- The festival includes orchestral traditional attires and famous his- tion that the youth want to breathe concerts, choral music, opera torical figures from Mosul,” Majed life into their society and restore the and dance performances. said. love of culture and arts in addition Large murals decorating the city to preaching tolerance and coexist- include the leaning minaret of al- ence. The youth were the most af- We welcome submissions of Nuri Mosque, the winged bull of fected by ISIS restrictions, which calendar items related to Nineveh known as the Lamassu and were alien and strange to the soci- cultural events of interest to the Nabi Yunus Mosque, which was ety,” Araji said. travellers in the Middle East destroyed by ISIS. and North Africa. Majed said the team did not re- Oumayma Omar, based in ceive financial support from the Baghdad, is a contributor to the Please send tips to: A member of the “Art Revolution” paints a mural. government. “The only support we Culture and Society section of [email protected] (Oumayma Omar) got was from some local and inter- The Arab Weekly.