Issue 224, Year 5 UK £2 September 29, 2019 www.thearabweekly.com EU €2.50 Who’s fanning Interview the flames Tunisian presidential in Egypt? candidate speaks from detention Page 10 Page 8 Deflecting Jacques Chirac remembered blame at the UN as ‘friend of the Arab world’ The Arab Weekly staff London he 74th UN General As- sembly was an occasion for some regional leaders to T clamour for support in deal- ing with crises but for others the moment was right to try to deflect blame for ongoing strife. That was the case for the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Thani, who blamed Libya’s woes on unnamed foreign actors. “Certain countries say they for- mally participate in international efforts on one hand and then un- dermine these efforts on another hand by supporting warlords and terrorist militias for their narrow interests against the legitimate gov- ernment,” Sheikh Tamim said. He seemed to be alluding to Egypt, whose President Abdel Fat- tah al-Sisi earlier called for “saving” Libya from “chaos perpetrated by militias and prevent the interven- tion of external actors in Libya’s in- ternal affairs.” Sheikh Tamim was not allud- ing to the armed gangs and terror- ist militias, reportedly fighting on the side of the internationally rec- ognised Government of National Accord headed by Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj against the Libyan National Army. Qatar backs those “warlords and terrorist mili- tias.” Neither did Sheikh Tamim men- “This is a provocation!” French President Jacques Chirac pushes an Israeli security man as he protests angrily about tight security tion the role played by Turkey in surrounding his visit to the Arab part of Jerusalem’s old city, October 1996. (AFP) apparently providing drones and advice in the Libyan conflict. Samar Kadi ian cause was dramatically illus- with US President George W. Bush. A personal friend of slain Leba- Aside from Qatar and Turkey, trated by his burst of anger at the A few months later, however, Chi- nese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, several countries, including France, Israeli police in Jerusalem when rac would seek to mend ties with Chirac visited Lebanon on various Italy, Russia, Egypt and Gulf na- Beirut they sought to prevent him from the United States and accept the occasions, the last time in 2005 to tions, are said to be backing one side meeting with Palestinians in Octo- fait accompli in Iraq. attend Hariri’s funeral. Chirac was against the other in Libya’s conflict. ormer French President ber 1996. “This is a provocation!” Chirac maintained special ties instrumental in setting up an in- To stem foreign interference in Jacques Chirac, who died he told them in English. “What do with Lebanon. He played an instru- ternational commission to investi- Libya, Germany has called for an September 26 at the age of you want? Me to go to my plane mental role in the adoption of at gate Hariri’s assassination and the international conference to con- F 86, will be remembered as and go back to France? Is that what least two UN Security Council res- international tribunal for Lebanon vene in October as a step towards a “friend of the Arab world.” you want? Let them go.” olutions on Lebanon — Resolution to prosecute his killers. resolving the conflict. Chirac, president from 1995- Chirac will also be remembered 1559 in 2004 calling for the with- Chirac firmed up ties with coun- During a meeting in New York 2007, maintained close ties with for the funeral worthy of a head of drawal of foreign forces (Syrian) tries of the Maghreb where he was with Sarraj, Turkish President Re- the Arab region, a policy initi- state given by France to Palestin- from Lebanon and disarmament of often welcomed like a hero. He cep Tayyip Erdogan was reported ated by French General Charles de ian leader Yasser Arafat, who died non-state factions (Hezbollah) and encouraged the North African geo- to have “reiterated his country’s Gaulle after the independence of there in November 2004. Resolution 1701 in 2006 that saw political grouping to rise above its support” for Sarraj’s “firm position Algeria in 1962 and reconfirmed History will particularly remem- Hezbollah gunmen withdraw from endemic divisions. in defence of the capital Tripoli,” an during the Arab-Israeli war of June ber Chirac for his opposition to the border area with Israel and the official statement said. 1967. the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 UN Interim Force in Lebanon rein- Samar Kadi in Beirut contributed Erdogan’s priority seemed to be Chirac’s support for the Palestin- and his willingness to cross swords forced and its mandate expanded. to this report. to deflect blame from Iran in the September 14 attacks against Ara- mco installations in Saudi Arabia. “I don’t think it would be the right thing to do to blame Iran,” Er- No US-Iran summit at UN, tensions soar dogan said in an interview with US cable channel Fox News. Thomas Seibert precondition for talks. “I said, of tween Trump and Rohani in New tions relief and I don’t see Trump course, NO!” Trump tweeted. York. granting relief as this would make In his speech at the United Na- Roland Popp, a security analyst him vulnerable in the domestic Istanbul tions, Trump accused Iranian lead- specialising on Middle Eastern af- sphere,” Popp said. ers of “bloodlust” and called on fairs, said conditions in New York In a sign that both Iran and the ensions between Iran and other nations to put pressure on were not right for a summit. United States remain publicly open the United States escalated Iran after the September 14 attacks “There are signals that Iran is to some form of dialogue despite as the leaders of the two on Saudi oil facilities that Washing- willing to contemplate an Iran their political differences, which T countries made conflict- ton blames on Tehran despite its Nuclear Deal Plus, which could be have raised the risk of war in the ing claims in their continuing row denials. a face-saving device for Trump’s Middle East, officials said the two over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions Led by France, European powers retreat from the brink,” Popp said sides were in contact over a possi- and regional aggression, frustrat- worked to organise a meeting be- by e-mail, in reference to the 2015 ble prisoner swap. ing European efforts to organise nuclear agreement that Trump tore US authorities released and de- the first summit between the two Roland Popp, up last year. ported an Iranian woman, Negar countries. a security analyst A new pact “might include some Ghodskani, who had pleaded guilty Iranian President Hassan Rohani specialising on Middle boilerplate language on Iran’s re- to exporting restricted US technol- said US President Donald Trump Eastern affairs gional policies and some aspira- ogy to Iran. There was speculation had offered to lift all US sanctions “There are signals that Iran tional language on ballistic mis- that Iran might release a detained in exchange for Iran’s willingness is willing to contemplate an siles,” Popp added. US doctoral student, Xiyue Wang. to join an Iranian-US summit dur- However, he said he did not ex- Iran Nuclear Deal Plus, which Treading on thin ice. Qatari ing the UN General Assembly in could be a face-saving device pect Iran to give in to US demands Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly New York. Trump denied any such on missiles or regional policies. “I correspondent. Emir addresses the United for Trump’s retreat from the Nations General Assembly, offer had been made, saying that brink.” doubt that Rohani can start nego- Iran wanted sanctions relief as a tiations with Trump without sanc- P2-3,13,16 September 24. (AP) 2 September 29, 2019 Cover Story Iran threat, Palestinian-Israeli conflict top concerns of Arab leaders at UN Amr Emam the occupation continues.” He called for instituting the two- state solution to give Palestinians the Cairo chance to establish their own state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem he need for collective action as its capital. against terrorism and extrem- “The two-state solution is the only ism, climate change, eco- genuine solution,” King Abdullah T nomic problems and regional said. “The alternative is one segre- conflicts were at the heart of Arab gated state with unequal laws that concerns during the 74th UN General is dependent on force, betraying the Assembly in New York. deepest values of the good people on The Palestinian-Israeli conflict and both sides.” Iran’s destabilising role in the region Palestinian President Mahmoud were common issues in speeches of Abbas repeated almost the same mes- almost all Arab leaders and delega- sage on September 26. “Can we have tion heads who addressed the annual a one-state where everybody lives gathering. equally?” Abbas asked. “Israel is seiz- Jordanian King Abdullah II said no ing the land and destroying the two- crisis had done more global damage state solution.” than the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He said he is only supportive of a “Neither side has achieved a du- two-state solution. rable peace that a secure future “This is the only solution,” he said. depends on,” King Abdullah said “This is international legitimacy. I September 24. “Regional and world will not accept apartheid.” stability has continued to pay the From Morocco to Iraq and from price.” Egypt to Lebanon, there was near He said it was ironic that the land unanimity among the top Arab offi- holy to three faiths — Judaism, Chris- cials who addressed the assembly on tianity and Islam — should be a place the need for settling the Palestinian- for conflict.