Issue 143, Year 3 www.thearabweekly.com UK £2/ EU €2.50 February 11, 2018

What role British Offshore gas for culture tourists flashpoints ministries in return in Egypt and the Arab world? to Tunisia Pages 8,13 Page 22 Page 11 Syria enters new post-ISIS phase with massive US, Israeli strikes Thomas Seibert

Washington

lmost exactly seven years after the start of the Syr- ian civil war, the country is experiencing a dra- matic surge in violence withA unprecedented Israeli and US strikes. As regional and world powers compete for territory, influence and natural resources within the war- ravaged state, the US and Israeli strikes could complicate the plans of Iran and Turkey in Syria and the rest of the region, as the war on the Islamic State (ISIS) comes to an end. Israel’s massive air strikes that pummelled Syrian air-defence po- sitions and Iranian targets on Feb- ruary 10 came on the heels of US attacks on forces loyal to the Da- mascus regime in Deir ez-Zor in the Euphrates Valley. Israel’s raids occurred after its reported interception of an Iranian drone over its territory and the New phase. Israeli soldiers take positions in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights near the border with Syria, on February 10. (AFP) shooting down of an Israeli F-16 fighter jet. ington seemed to be warning its defeat of ISIS means that conflicting open-ended US military presence troops would march towards Manbij Israeli military spokesman Lieu- NATO ally Turkey and other players priorities of Washington and Mos- in Syria. One declared goal by the next, a city approximately 100km tenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus in the Syrian drama, especially Iran, cow could now come to the fore. United States is to make sure that east of Afrin, to drive out the Peo- called the drone intrusion “the that it intended to play a major role US Secretary of Defence James ISIS does not make a comeback. ple’s Protection Units (YPG) from most blatant and severe Iranian vio- in shaping the future of the war- Mattis called the push of the pro- Another is to prevent Russia from there as well and has called on the lation of Israeli sovereignty in the torn country. More than 100 of the Syrian troops over the Euphrates winning back all of Syria for its ally, United States to withdraw its mili- last years.” 500 pro-government Syrian fighters “perplexing” but was careful not to Syrian President Bashar Assad, and tary units from the city. In response, Israel has often expressed re- were killed, US officials said. blame Russia. The US defence chief block further expansion of Iranian two high-ranking US generals visit- sentment of the military presence The United States rejected calls insisted the fighting in Deir ez-Zor influence in the country. ed in a demonstration of support for of Iran and its proxies in Syria and by Turkey to withdraw from Man- did not indicate a deeper American Washington is bound to face criti- the Kurdish fighters there. Lebanon but this was the first di- bij, a strategically vital enclave in involvement in the Syrian conflict. cism at home over its continued In a bid to mend the growing rift rect confrontation between the two northern Syria under the control of “We are not getting engaged in the presence in Syria. “I am gravely con- with Ankara, US national security arch-foes since the start of Syria’s US-backed Syrian Defence Forces Syrian civil war,” he said. cerned that the Trump administra- adviser H.R. McMaster and Secre- war. Israel confirmed hitting four (SDF), which include Kurdish and The clash, however, followed the tion is purposefully stumbling into tary of State Rex Tillerson prepared Iranian military targets during its Arab militias. announcement by Washington of an a broader conflict, without a vote for separate visits to Turkey and raids on Syria. The US raids raised questions of Congress or clear objectives,” Mattis was to meet with his Turk- Beyond escalating tensions with about relations with Russia in Syria. US Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat ish counterpart, Nurettin Canikli, in Iran, Israel’s strikes will cause rip- The line previously drawn to deline- The US and Israeli from Virginia, said in an Associated Brussels. ple effects in Syria and Lebanon, ate zones of influence of the United strikes could Press report. increasing friction with the pro-Iran States and Russia showed signs of complicate the plans of The US administration’s determi- Thomas Seibert is a Washington . breaking down following the US air Iran and Turkey in nation to stay engaged in Syria and correspondent for The Arab A few days before the Israeli strikes. The United States and Rus- to keep backing and — if necessary — Weekly. Simon Speakman Cordall raids, the United States carried out sia last year agreed that the Euphra- Syria and the rest of the protecting the SDF is causing fresh contributed to this story air strikes against pro-government tes would be a dividing line between region, as the war on tensions with Ankara. Turkish Pres- from Tunis. Syrian forces in Deir ez-Zor. Wash- their forces in Syria. However, the ISIS comes to an end. ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his P2,12 Viewpoint As Iraq elections loom, Abadi’s coalition is disintegrating

ince announcing in pro-Iran PMF announced it would Abadi soon after the departure of With Abadi’s allies abandoning January that local and be splitting from the Victory Al- the PMF’s Conquest bloc. As Abadi him in droves, it probably came as national elections would liance and contesting elections was unwilling to guarantee better some relief to him that his rival and Tallha Abdulrazaq both be on May 12, Iraqi separately under its own “Conquest political positions should the Vic- former prime minister, Nuri al-Ma- is a researcher at the University Prime Minister Haider List” against the prime minister. tory Alliance claim victory in May, liki, would probably be sidelined in of Exeter’s Strategy and Security al-Abadi has faced a Essentially, by allying with the Hakim decided to weaken Abadi favour of the incumbent. Reports Institute in England. Sseries of political disasters, lead- PMF, Abadi ensured that the group by leaving the list and creating his in Arab media said and ing many to doubt whether he is would have grounds to proceed own. Washington were in agreement that charismatic and strong enough to with fielding its own candidates but Aside from Abadi’s position another Maliki premiership would hold his newly created list together failed to calculate it would abandon appearing increasingly weaker, be disastrous for their agendas in before the candidates are tested in him once it got what it wanted. criticism has been levelled at the Iraq and they would, therefore, the polls. A little more than a fortnight decision to have local and national throw their weight behind Abadi. Abadi harmed his credibility as a later, the incumbent suffered government elections on the same However, Abadi cannot rest unifier after forging a political alli- another blow to his prestige when day. Having the polls together on his laurels. He may well win ance with the sectarian Shia-dom- senior Shia cleric Ammar al-Hakim means it is likely that the groups the elections with Iranian and inated Popular Mobilisation Forces announced he would also be part- that dominate the national vote American backing but those same Having the polls (PMF) and spending much of the ing ways with Abadi. Hakim, scion will control provincial councils. backers will ensure that he never battle for Mosul assuring Iraqis that of an influential Shia clerical fam- This may be problematic as, has full control over parliament. together means it no militants would field candidates ily, declared he would set up his ordinarily, midterm local elections After all, both Hakim’s Wisdom Al- is likely that the in elections without first disarming. own “Wisdom Alliance” to contest act as a barometer for the people’s liance and the PMF’s Conquest list groups that Abadi named his new electoral list elections against the prime minis- level of contentment with the are Iranian proxies, with the latter the “Victory Alliance,” seeking to ter, declaring he would try to work national leadership. By bringing directly armed, funded and backed dominate the capitalise on the perception that he with Abadi “for the shared benefit the votes into synchronicity, the by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary national vote will was instrumental in the defeat of of the country.” federal government has essentially Guard Corps. the Islamic State (ISIS). Despite the positive-sounding erased that opportunity and is at- As Abadi is about to find out, control provincial However, less than 48 hours rhetoric, reports suggest that tempting to consolidate power at with such friends, who needs councils. after the announcement, the Hakim threatened to walk out on both the local and national levels. enemies? 2 February 11, 2018 Cover Story Syria Israeli raids in Syria escalate the conflict with Iran, ripple effects likely in Lebanon

Simon Speakman Cordall

Tunis

assive Israeli air strikes battered Syr- ian and Iranian posi- tions in Syria after an unmanned Iranian Maircraft was intercepted by Israel over its territory and an Israeli fighter jet was shot down by Syrian Wider circle anti-aircraft fire. of fire. This first direct confrontation People stand between Iran and Israel since the next to a part beginning of the Syrian war in of a missile 2011 threatened to carry serious in Quneitra consequences in Syria and across in south- the region, especially for Leba- western non, where the pro-Iran Hezbollah Syria, on could consider moves that would February 10. ratchet up already-high tensions (Reuters) with Israel. The Israeli F-16 jet was downed early February 10, Israeli officials said. Both pilots escaped but one was said to be badly wounded. An Israeli military statement said an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from within Syria was intercepted in Israeli airspace by a combat helicopter. The Israeli Air Force then “targeted the Ira- nian control systems in Syria that sent the UAV into Israeli airspace,” a tweet from military spokesman “That’s why our response is as se- government facilities suspected of directly engage since the ambigu- Russian plans to impose some form Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Con- vere as it is.” developing weapons that could be ous conclusion of their month-long of peace settlement on the war- ricus stated. Israeli aircraft came With the battlefield defeat of used against the Jewish state. confrontation in 2006. At that time, ravaged country before its March 18 under “massive” anti-aircraft fire the Islamic State (ISIS), Syria has Iran has yet to respond to the Is- despite incurring heavy casualties, elections. from Syrian positions, which re- become the theatre for a deadly raeli strikes but tensions between Hezbollah pushed Israeli forces Turkish forces are engaged sulted in the downing of the jet. escalation of rivalries between re- Tel Aviv and Tehran’s Lebanese back across the frontier. against Syria’s Kurds in northern Israel confirmed that it had at- gional and world powers, with Is- proxy, Hezbollah, have been esca- However, since its involvement Syria and the United States carried tacked 12 other targets in Syria in rael joining the United States, Rus- lating. Israeli accusations of Iran- in the Syrian conflict, Hezbollah out massive air strikes against Syr- response, including three air de- sia, Turkey, the Syrian regime, plus sponsored and Hezbollah-operated is regarded as having significantly ian forces, said to include Russian fence batteries and four installa- Iran and its principal Lebanese ally weapons plants in Lebanon have improved its military capacity and “contractors,” in oil-rich Deir ez-Zor tions “that are part of Iran’s mili- Hezbollah, in competing for promi- been growing. Israeli military battlefield experience, increasing on February 7. Elsewhere, both Rus- tary establishment in Syria.” nence on an increasingly crowded spokesman Brigadier-General Ron- the risks of a clash with Israel. sian and Syrian jets were said to be In an apparent recognition of the stage. en Manelis in January accused Iran An escalation of violence in Syria waging a war of attrition across the heightened risks of any escalation, Though this is the first direct con- of turning Lebanon into “one big would mark a serious setback for north-western province of Idlib and Israel’s military spokesmen said frontation between Israel and Iran, missile factory.” the Assad regime was pounding the that, though Syria and Iran were Israeli air strikes on positions in Further fuelling tensions be- suburb of east Ghouta. “playing with fire,” Israel was “not Syria have been a regular feature of tween the two countries have been Israel confirmed How Israel’s entry into the fray looking to escalate the situation.” the war. Israeli action had been re- Israeli plans to construct a border attacking 12 targets may shape circumstances remains “This is the most blatant and stricted to what it claimed were ad- wall on territory claims as its including four “that to be seen. severe Iranian violation of Israeli vanced weapons stores or convoys own and the public dispute over a sovereignty in the last years,” Con- taking materiel to Hezbollah in gas field straddling the countries’ are part of Iran’s Simon Speakman Cordall is Syria/ ricus said, referring to the reported neighbouring Lebanon. However, maritime frontiers. military establishment Lebanon section editor with The UAV incursion into Israeli airspace. it also sporadically struck at Syrian Israel and Hezbollah have yet to in Syria.” Arab Weekly. Viewpoint US Syria goals built upon shaky foundations and uncertain alliances

Kurdish militia allies against the mandate in eastern Rojava would the displaced. Some refugees have Significant parts of the Arab com- Iranian revolution. do much to resolve questions over returned to the Turkish-controlled ponent within the SDF are pulled The key portions of Tillerson’s al-Qaeda’s former branch in the areas of Syria and perhaps more will from pro-Assad formations that will Kyle Orton statement said the United States country’s west. Questions among in the future. not fight either Assad or Iran. The is a Middle East analyst. Follow “desires five key end states” in Syria: the Arab population over the extent Assad has used weapons of mass Rojava statelet is entirely reliant him on Twitter @KyleWOrton. an “enduring defeat” to ISIS and of the SDF/PKK’s legitimacy within destruction at least once while US upon the Assad regime’s toleration al-Qaeda; a political resolution to Rojava might open space for jihad- forces were in Syria. The April 2017 of its existence and Iran’s financing underlying armed struggle between ists to infiltrate within the east. cruise missile strikes by the United of its public services. Bashar Assad’s regime and the popu- The United States’ doubling down States seem to have prevented a US intelligence is aware of the lation that rose against him, which on its alliance with the PKK exacer- repeat but Assad still has weapons PKK’s coordination with Iran’s Islam- sees the dictator depart; curtailing bates rifts within NATO, distracting stockpiles and production infra- ic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s influence and making sure the Turks, who are best placed to structure. It is not obvious how they the regime holds the key security “Syria’s neighbours are secure from tackle Syria’s al-Qaeda-linked Hayat can be dismantled from a remote nodes, including airports, through- all threats emanating from Syria;” Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and reinforc- protectorate. out Rojava. Even in areas newly cap- allowing the return of refugees; and ing Ankara’s view that the United The other US objectives — guard- tured by the PKK, the Assad regime’s the removal of all weapons of mass States’ presence in Syria is contrary ing against threats to Syria’s neigh- secret police are back, able to carry destruction from Syria. to its own interests. This incentiv- bours and the goals of “reducing… off activists and rebels to dungeons To avoid large-scale deployments ises Turkey to undermine the US malicious Iranian influence from in Damascus in exchange for paying and in a futile attempt to run a mandate, risking anti-ISIS gains and, Syria” and getting rid of Assad — are the government salaries for the PKK. counterterrorism war, while avoid- more seriously, keeping Turkey’s the most troubled. They are unlikely The US air strikes February 7 ing entanglement in Syria’s underly- view of Syria aligned with those of to be feasible if the intention is to against pro-regime forces in defence S Secretary of State Rex ing conflict, the United States has the Russia-Iran axis. use the PKK to achieve them. The of the SDF-PKK provide a model of Tillerson laid out the worked “by, with and through” the Elsewhere, there is little prospect PKK has used Syria as a logistics what might be to come. If US resolve Trump administration’s Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This of refugees returning. More Syrian base to attack Turkish cities and holds and the PKK-held areas are vision for Syria, mak- is a diplomatic construct designed refugees fled Assad than any other SDF-flagged fighters have shown up guaranteed through force, it could ing clear that, contrary to circumvent the political and actor within the Syrian conflict. inside Syria in the ranks of the PKK. freeze Iran’s influence and perhaps Uto the expectations of many, the legal problems of working with the Even if their homes haven’t been There is significant reason to doubt reverse it within the areas currently United States will stay in Syria Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), an colonised by Iran’s militias, they the PKK’s resolve in a confrontation held. Eradicating Iran’s footprint beyond the collapse of the Islamic organisation classified as terrorists cannot return while Assad remains with pro-Assad forces. within Rojava would take consider- State’s (ISIS) self-proclaimed cali- by Turkey and the United States. in power. Both Idlib, dominated by The PKK’s connections to Assad, able effort and the notion of the phate, holding the jihadists at bay Though there are many Arab and HTS, and the authoritarian regime Iran and Russia are old and exten- PKK using Rojava as a base to attack and establishing an order compat- other units within the SDF, few deny of the PKK offer limited appeal to sive. From the outset of the war, the the Iranian security architecture in ible with US interests. that the PKK controls the group, po- PKK has been aligned with the pro- western Syria is unrealistic. Crucially, Tillerson — in a sharp litically, militarily and strategically. US intelligence is Assad coalition and past confronta- This leaves Tehran triumphant in break with US President Donald A mandate over Rojava, as the PKK aware of the PKK’s tions only seem to have drawn them “useful Syria” and in possession of Trump’s predecessor — specified calls the region it occupies in north- closer. In Manbij, the PKK ceded the initiative, able to harass the US that countering Iranian influence ern Syria, might allow the United coordination with US-won territory to Assad and Iran zone in pursuit of its overarching within Syria was a central US objec- States to keep ISIS at a manageable Iran’s Islamic to hold off Turkey. In Afrin, the strategic goal of reconsolidating all tive. The problem with the strategy level, at least as long as the United PKK called on the regime to come of Syria under Assad and his various is that it seems to rely on repur- States stays. It is not clear, how- Revolutionary to its defence against the Turkish militias and driving the United States posing the United States’ anti-ISIS ever, that a jointly held Kurdish-US Guard Corps. onslaught. out of the region. February 11, 2018 3 News & Analysis Iraq After ISIS black flags, Iraq faces ‘White Banners’ threat

Mamoon Alabbasi

London

raqi forces began a military op- eration against militants who are threatening an oil route between Iraq and Iran, rekin- dling fears over the security of Ithe country despite Baghdad’s an- nouncement of victory against the Islamic State (ISIS). The military operation aims to secure areas between Kirkuk’s oil fields and Khanaqin on the Ira- nian border, two Iraqi officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity before the operation started. The officials said six pro-government guards were killed by the militants south of the Hamrin Mountains. “With the goal of enforcing se- curity and stability, destroying sleeper cells and continuing clear- ing operations, an operation was launched in the early hours of this morning to search and clear areas east of Tuz Khurmatu,” the Iraqi military said in a statement on Feb- ruary 7. The Iraqi Army, special security units and the predominately Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) took part in the operation, which had US air support and coordina- tion with peshmerga fighters, the Iraqi military said. As part of its plans to boost oil exports, Iraq announced that it would be transporting crude oil via At gunpoint. An Iraqi flag mounted on a military vehicle at an oil field in Dibis area on the outskirts of Kirkuk. (Reuters) tanker trucks from Kirkuk to be re- fined in Iran. There are reports that an Iraq-Iran pipeline will be built Baghdad in October. News that the group is not new but on Kurdistan’s independence last merging and dividing. The list is as to export oil from Kirkuk, replac- “The White Banners group [has] made up of militants from Ansar September. mutable as everything else in the ing the one that heads to Turkey been accused of carrying out ter- al-Islam, which includes predomi- These groups, which call for the country,” wrote Wassim Bassem in via areas controlled by the Kurd- rorist activities and targeting ju- nately Kurdish fighters affiliated “liberation” of Kirkuk and Tuz the website Al-Monitor. istan Regional Government (KRG). diciary members,” Al Arabiya re- with al-Qaeda. Khurmatu from central govern- The fight against such militancy It remains unclear which group ported. There are reports that the group ment control, are made up of vol- is likely to continue, albeit not in the militants threatening the oil Turkmen MP Jassim Mohammed has welcomed former ISIS mili- unteers that are no longer affiliated the same scale as that against ISIS. route are aligned with, ISIS or Jaafar accused Kurdish leaders in tants to its ranks. with the peshmerga or the KRG. “The fight against insurgency the mysterious al-Rayat al-Bayda December of supporting the group, The White Banners group is “said “The myriad armed groups in continues and goes beyond the (translated as the White Banners or Al Arabiya said. to be an alliance of former Islamic Iraq are constantly emerging, full-on kinetic phase to address the the White Flags). The group’s flag The KRG denies links to the State militants and disgruntled many enabling structural factors is white with the head of a lion in White Banners but central govern- Kurdish mafia members pushed behind Iraq’s insurgencies (corrup- the centre. ment officials have accused their out of the nearby town of Tuz The KRG denies links tion, illicit money, uneven state The White Banners militants are Kurdish counterparts of not doing Khurmatu,” wrote Tom Westcott in to the White Banners capacity, unemployment),” Fanar reportedly made up of Kurds who enough to fight the militants. the website Middle East Eye. but central government Haddad, a senior research fellow objected to the control of the Iraqi Abu Reda al-Najjar, a PMF com- There are separate reports of officials have accused at the National University of Singa- central government over Kirkuk mander, said the White Banners is Kurdish groups not affiliated to the pore, told the National newspaper. province and Tuz Khurmatu in a new group composed of Iranian White Banners taking up against their Kurdish Saladin province, which had been Kurdish separatists, most notably the Iraqi Army and the PMF fol- counterparts of not Mamoon Alabbasi is Deputy under KRG control for more than the Kurdistan Free Life Party. lowing the fallout between Bagh- doing enough to fight Managing Editor and Online two years before being retaken by Other Iraqi officials told Arab dad and Erbil over the referendum the militants. Editor of The Arab Weekly. Viewpoint Iraqi rulers’ record since 2003 is hardly impressive

he parties in power must be credited to all Iraqis rather was the establishment of the quota turned into shrines. in Iraq are more than than to this official or that party. system of power-sharing left by Women also have fallen victim happy and willing to In the coming electoral cycle, all the infamous Paul Bremer. It was to these “great achievements.” As Majed Sameraei repeat — over and over Iraqis should ask themselves — in disastrous for Iraq. Let’s not also if the humiliation of the war and is an Iraqi writer. again — that ballot all fairness and without forget the killing of hundreds of of retrograde practices were not boxes have the last say. prejudice — about the achieve- Iraqi scientists and the forced exile enough, the great “progressive” TThey expect the citizens to believe ments of the various Iraqi adminis- of thousands of doctors and engi- parties of Iraqi democracy have they live in a democracy. trations since 2003. neers. The country’s intellectual eagerly pushed for a law allowing However, a quick look at the Has the suffering in their daily elite was gone and was replaced marriages with females as young as three most recent elections in lives lessened? by illiterate opportunists with fake 9 years old. How is that for a great Iraq reveals the incredible extent Is there less death and destruc- diplomas from Iran. humanitarian achievement? of cheating and the ugly reality tion in their communities? It was heart-wrenching to come Wherever one looks in Iraq, there of shady political wheeling and Are they any safer in their homes across scores of talented Iraqi doc- is corruption and failure. The son dealing. The array of manipulative or on the street? tors practising in British hospitals. of the Najaf governor is selling tactics during election campaigns is With paramilitary militias roam- They spoke of the pain they felt drugs and billions of dollars have amazing. ing the streets and an absence for being deprived of the honour evaporated into fictitious contracts. The best proof for this is that Iraq of the state, are they safe from of serving their country. They’ve Yet, Abadi dares at Davos to speak is living the same saga of failure kidnapping, random arrests and become valuable additions to the about his achievements. If the vic- after failure because the same murder? British health services, so much so tory over ISIS is put aside, nothing players in the political arena are We will not indulge in a com- that, a few years ago, the British of what Abadi mentioned is true. adamant on staying in the game by parison between pre-2003 Iraq and Ministry of Health feared facing a Who would seriously believe any means necessary. post-2003 Iraq. In 2003, the Iraqis crisis should those doctors decide that Iraq is experiencing “peace During the initial phase of the de- were relieved of the shackles of the to return to Iraq. Iraqi Prime Min- and stability that is the envy of the mocracy sham in Iraq, the chances dictatorial regime of Saddam Hus- ister Haider al-Abadi, who inciden- world” or that Iraq hasn’t experi- of winning for any particular elec- sein but the Islamist parties of Iraq tally once had British nationality, enced such a “dazzling state since tion list depended on how much cannot claim for themselves that knows this. 50 years ago” or that he would Shia support that list enjoyed. The achievement. That is credited to Other examples of the “glorious “push through with implementing governing parties became experts the Americans and the Iranians. achievements” of the corrupt po- the cross-sectarian project?” at making local enemies based Following that, the biggest litical parties in Iraq’s newly found Abadi always puts forth his so- on sectarian discrimination and achievement of the occupation democracy are easy to come by. called anti-corruption campaign In the coming resorting to a variety of legal covers forces was the dismantling of the Public education in Iraq has gone to but it is known he wouldn’t dare such as de-Ba’athification meas- Iraqi Army. That army belonged to pot. Illiteracy in Iraq was elimi- stand up to his friends, colleagues electoral cycle, all ures. the country and not to Saddam. It nated in the late 1970s and UNESCO and influential members of his Iraqis should ask Such sectarian practices ruined would have been a better choice to ranked Iraqi public schools among Dawa Party. He would like to con- themselves about the lives of Iraqi people. Now, after remove pro-Saddam officers and the best in the world during the vince people to judge him by his defeating the Islamic State (ISIS) in leave the army standing. Alas, once 1980s. achievements post-2014 when he the achievements Iraq, everybody wants to reap the the army was gone, the gates were Recent statistics, however, show rose to power but just as Ibrahim of the various Iraqi dividends of that victory and ride flung open for all agents of evil and that the literacy rate in Iraq is ap- al-Jaafari and Nuri al-Maliki, who the wave of post-sectarianism. destruction to overrun the country. proximately 60%. Six million Iraqis preceded him as prime minister, administrations However, victory over ISIS is the The most notorious achievement are completely illiterate and lecture were, Abadi is the product of the since 2003. only real achievement in Iraq and it of the American occupation of Iraq halls in Iraqi universities have been Dawa Party. 4 February 11, 2018 News & Analysis Gulf UAE hosts Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, bilateral and regional issues discussed

Mohammed Alkhereiji the UAE would focus on “means of military ties with the Emirates, met enhancing political, economic and with Sheikh Mohammed in Abu commercial cooperation and the lat- Dhabi February 7 with talks centring London est regional developments.” on developing joint Arab action on “UAE-Egyptian relations are based security and stability, especially gyptian President Abdel on strong foundations of consensus with regards to fighting terrorism Fattah al-Sisi and Jorda- and understanding on regional and and extremism. nian King Abdullah II trav- international issues,” a WAM state- The official Jordanian Petra news elled to the United Arab ment said. agency said King Abdullah ex- Emirates for official talks WAM quoted Sheikh Mohammed pressed gratitude to the UAE for its Ewith UAE leaders at a time when bin Zayed as saying: “The Emirati- “sustained support to the kingdom the Emirates’ regional influence has Egyptian coordination has proved to carry out development projects grown because of its efforts in pro- its hardness over the past years in and its aid in the military field.” moting security and stability. facing various challenges in the The two leaders discussed the Talks over two days between Sisi region, foremost of which is the Middle East peace process and how and UAE leaders focused on cooper- challenge of terrorism, which has to kick-start Palestinian-Israeli ne- ation in political and economic are- become a serious global threat that gotiations based on a two-state so- nas, as well as security matters and cannot be tolerated.” lution. methods of fighting “extremism, Both the king and the Abu Dhabi violence and terrorism,” the UAE’s crown prince agreed on the impor- WAM news agency reported. King Abdullah tance of creating a framework that Sisi met with Sheikh Moham- expressed gratitude would lead to an independent Pal- med bin Rashid al-Maktoum, UAE to the UAE for its estinian state with East Jerusalem as vice-president, prime minister and “sustained support its capital, as proposed by the 2002 ruler of Dubai and Abu Dhabi Crown Arab Peace Initiative. Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to the kingdom.” In a related development, the al-Nahyan. World Health Organisation an- “Mohammed bin Rashid and Mo- Last June, Egypt and the UAE, nounced that 20 medical centres in hammed bin Zayed discussed means along with Saudi Arabia and Bah- the Gaza Strip would soon be fully of strengthening our brotherly rela- rain, severed diplomatic ties with operational thanks to a grant from tions, along with regional and inter- Qatar as well as all air, sea and land the UAE. After an emergency ap- national issues, with the Egyptian links to the Gulf state, over what peal from the United Nations, the president,” Sheikh Mohammed bin they described as Qatar’s interfer- UAE pledged $2 million to help end Zayed wrote on his Twitter account. ence in their sovereign affairs and its a fuel shortage that affected more Officials did not elaborate on ties to radical Islamic groups, charg- than 2 million Gaza natives. Common threats. Jordanian King Abdullah II (L) and Abu Dhabi the nature of the talks but Egyp- es Doha denies. Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Abu tian presidential spokesman Bas- King Abdullah, whose country Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf Dhabi, on February 7. (Jordanian Royal Palace) sam Radi earlier said Sisi’s visit to enjoys considerable economic and section editor of The Arab Weekly. Yemeni government- Viewpoint Oman’s supposed policy southern separatist truce of neutrality does not

holds despite accusations Mohammed Alkhereiji convince anyone anymore Saleh Baidhani The strategy, according to ana- lysts, includes reaching out to mem- mani officials gave international neutrality, portrays tages Muscat provides for Qatar bers on the fringe of the Southern Egyptian President itself as the “Switzerland of the are not much different from Iran’s Sana’a Movement, including Qatar-backed Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Middle East.” However, with the and Turkey’s declared support to Hassan Baum, who heads the hard- the red-carpet treat- polarised geopolitical climate in Doha. fforts by Saudi Arabia and line wing of the movement, to give ment during his first the region as well as the economic Gulf capitals are also unim- the United Arab Emirates to the impression that Al-Islah was on state visit to the Gulf challenges facing the sultanate, pressed by Muscat’s official calm tensions between the good terms with the STC. Ocountry. Despite the predictable Muscat’s precarious balance is stance of neutrality towards Iran internationally recognised Leading the group’s media out- exchange of pleasantries and well- increasingly unrealistic and ulti- at a time when Tehran’s designs government of Yemen and reach is Hadi’s vice-president and meaning pledges of enhanced mately untenable. are perceived as an existential Ethe secessionist Southern Transi- one of the founders of Al-Islah, Gen- cooperation, the unmentioned Fellow Gulf Cooperation Coun- security threat to the region. tional Council (STC) seem to have eral Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar. elephant in the room was Qatar. cil (GCC) members, which vehe- News that Muscat was instru- made progress, despite both sides Ahmar said he was not opposed to There was no mention of the mently object to Qatar’s policies, mental in secretly bringing Iran blaming the other for deadly clashes the legitimate peaceful demands of small Gulf country in official are increasingly unconvinced by and the United States to the that broke out in Aden. the STC and was prepared to stand statements issued during the visit the sultanate’s supposedly non- negotiating table that led to the High-ranking officials on both with STC Supreme Commander but Omani and Egyptian lead- committed stance on the dispute 2015 nuclear agreement, known sides pledged to de-escalate tensions Aidarus al-Zubaidi against the Iran- ers could not see eye to eye on between Doha and Saudi Arabia, as the Joint Comprehensive Plan and asked the coalition supporting allied Houthi rebels. Muscat’s neutral position in the the United Arab Emirates, Bahra