Issue 225, Year 5 UK £2 October 6, 2019 www.thearabweekly.com EU €2.50 Tunisia’s What went wrong election blues with Doha’s athletics championships?

Pages 4 Page 9 First soldiers, then teachers: Turkey widens presence in northern Syria

Thomas Seibert Under pressure by voters to send 3.6 million Syrian refugees home, Turkish President Recep Istanbul Tayyip Erdogan’s government Freedom chants. A demonstrator takes part in street protests in Baghdad, October 2. (Reuters) is stepping up efforts to create s the Turkish govern- secure conditions and new in- ment considers a military frastructure in parts of Syria. An- incursion into north- kara has built hospitals, restored A eastern Syria, Ankara is schools and trained personnel in widening its presence in other north-western Syria and Turkish Mass protests in Iraq parts of the neighbouring country media reports say it is planning by setting up university branches. to build an industrial zone in the An Islamic sciences faculty is to region to create 7,000 jobs. be opened in Syria’s Azaz, an edu- The statement about the new cation faculty in Afrin and a fac- faculties followed a warning from rattle Iran and proxies ulty of economics and administra- Erdogan, who, on October 1, said tive sciences in al-Bab, Turkey’s Turkey had no choice but to act Anti-corruption protests were coupled with expressions of official Gazette said. The faculties alone to set up a “security zone” will be created by Gaziantep Uni- in eastern Syria, given the lack resentment of Iranian encroachment in Iraq. Protesters chanted: versity in southern Turkey. of progress during talks with the United States. It was Erdogan’s “Baghdad is free, free. Iran get out, out.” most direct indication of a mili- Gaziantep University in tary incursion. Mamoon Alabbasi killed since protests began October 1. Increasing signs of Iraqis’ rejec- southern Turkey will Washington regards the YPG Aside from Baghdad, all areas that tion of subservience to Iran seems establish an Islamic as its most important local ally witnessed large demonstrations to have pushed Tehran towards a sciences faculty in Azaz, in the fight against the Islamic London were in Iraq’s southern Shia-major- more aggressive posture in terms an education faculty in State and has tried to find a com- ity provinces. of its options in Iraq. During the Afrin and a faculty of promise with Ankara but Turkish ass anti-government Observers said hostility towards unrest, it became more vocal economics and Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told demonstrations calling Iranian meddling in Iraq had in- about its willingness to use Iraqi US Secretary of Defence Mark Es- for an end to state cor- creased in those areas in the past territory to strike at Washington’s administrative sciences per in a phone call October 3 that ruption, improvement few years, especially after the de- interests if the United States at- in al-Bab, all in north- Ankara would end its work with M western Syria. of basic services and access to job feat of the Islamic State as people tacked Iran. the United States on establishing opportunities in Iraq appear to have had to deal with poor living condi- On October 3, Iraq’s Foreign the “security zone” if Washington rattled Iran and its Iraqi proxies. tions in times of relative peace. Ministry summoned Iranian Am- The three towns are in north- stalled on the issue, Akar’s minis- While calling for the dismissal of The Iranian Foreign Ministry ad- bassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi western Syria, in regions Turkey try said. the government in Baghdad, many vised its pilgrims who are intending to denounce comments he made twice since 2016 sent forces to Turkey says it plans to resettle protesters expressed discontent to travel to Iraq for Arbaeen, which on Iraq’s Dijlah TV that Iran would drive back the Syrian Kurdish Peo- up to 3 million Syrians in 140 yet- with militia leaders and politicians begins October 19, to delay their “strike back anywhere, including ple’s Protection Units (YPG) mi- to-be-built towns inside the “se- who are openly — or perceived to be journeys until conditions ease in (in) Iraq,” in retaliation for a US at- litia and Islamic State fighters to curity zone.” Ankara put the cost — backed by Tehran. the country. An estimated 1.8 mil- tack against Tehran. protect its border. of the project at around $26 bil- Anti-corruption protests were lion Iranians took part in the Arbae- Gaziantep University, in the lion and called for international coupled with expressions of resent- en pilgrimage to Iraq last year. Mamoon Alabbasi is Deputy border province of Gaziantep, had funding. ment of Iranian encroachment in Senior Iranian clerics and state- Managing Editor and Online Editor establihed a vocational training Iraq. Protesters chanted: “Baghdad sanctioned media in Iran accused the of The Arab Weekly. school in the Syrian border town Thomas Seibert is an Arab is free, free. Iran get out, out.” United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia of Jarablus in 2018. Weekly correspondent. Nearly 100 people were reported of being behind the Iraqi protests. P2-3,6 For US group, Egypt matchmaking app is a catch

Marc Espanol relationships. erations, especially regarding ing to divorce in Egypt and in our during which it received finan- “Our vision is to help millions authentication of accounts Arab society,” said Ali. “Any suc- cial, legal and technical support, and millions worldwide into find- and its strict confidential- cessful relationship is [based as well as access to the Flat6Labs’ Cairo ing the right life partner in a safe, ity. This is particularly the on] complementarity, as each network of partners and inves- healthy and culturally accepted case with women, who partner complements the im- tors. atch Group, a US digi- manner,” said Shaymaa Ali, co- have the option to hide or perfect in the other, accepting By the end of the programme, tal company providing founder of Harmonica. blur their pictures, give his flaws, characteristics of his the application had attracted dating services and the Harmonica gathers informa- a guardian of their choice feelings and differences.” some 5,000 users, a figure that M owner of brands such tion from a wide range of personal the option to access the Before being launched would increase 700% in the fol- as Tinder, Match and Meetic, an- questions designed by psycholo- application or report in November 2017, lowing weeks, Flat6Labs said. nounced the acquisition of the gists, the accounts and individual other users. Harmonica joined a Following its stage at Flat6Labs, Egyptian emerging matchmaking assessments, which allow the Harmonica’s 4-month programme Harmonica entered the early stage application Harmonica, marking lifestyle, way of thinking and pri- founders said its of a regional early- venture fund and seed accelera- the latest major success for the lo- orities of each user to be identi- accuracy in estab- stage investor and ac- tor 500 Startups, where it raised cal start-up arena. fied. The data are analysed by an lishing compatibility celerator, Flat6Labs, $150,000. Unlike mainstream dating apps algorithm that suggests potential between two users and the more traditional match- partners, which adjust as the ap- reduces the possi- Innovation rules. Harmonica’s (Full version of this article appears on making agencies, Harmonica re- plication is used and users evalu- bility of divorce. www.thearabweekly.com) lies on an artificial intelligence ate proposed matches. “Lack of compat- co-founder Aly Khaled Metwally. engine to determine compatibil- Among Harmonica’s main at- ibility is one of the Marc Espanol is a Catalan (Courtesy Harmonica) ity among users to help them find tributes are its safety consid- main factors lead- journalist in Egypt. 2 October 6, 2019 Cover Story Violent unrest shakes Iraq as prime minister marks year in office

Mamoon Alabbasi attacks on peaceful protesters and security forces which we reject and condemn,” said Sistani. Iraq unrest London Al-Sadr said he asked members of his bloc to boycott parliamen- The Arab Weekly staff ass anti-government tary sessions and, in a statement protests across Iraq’s from his office, said the govern- London predominately Shia ment should resign and early elec- M provinces have shaken tions should take place “under UN the government of Prime Minister supervision.” ● The Iraqi protesters Adel Abdul-Mahdi on the first an- Parliamentary leaders said they are predominately niversary of his taking office. would dedicate a session “to ex- At least 93 people were reported amining the demands of the pro- young university degree to have been killed after anti-riot testers.” holders calling for police sought to disperse demon- Abdul-Mahdi was the consensus better services and job strations that started October 1 in candidate of al-Sadr and Ali Ami- Baghdad and spread to other cit- ri, an Iran-backed militia leader opportunities as well as ies. More than 4,000 people were whose political alliance was sec- an end to corruption. injured and 200 protesters re- ond in the 2018 elections. They are demanding the mained in police custody, figures The prime minister, who has released October 5 by the Iraqi no political party of his own nor a prime minister resign. parliament’s human rights com- strong electoral base, is viewed by ● Iraqi Prime Minister mission stated. critics as giving in to pressure from Authorities imposed a curfew the country’s pro-Iran factions, Adel Abdul-Mahdi rose and an internet blackout to stop which are widely held responsible to power one year ago the demonstrations but govern- for much of the country’s troubles. but has failed to carry ment efforts did not succeed. The In a speech October 4, Abdul- curfew was lifted October 5. Mahdi said he had heard protest- out promised reforms. The demonstrators’ demands ers’ “legitimate” demands but He is seen as weak in the include an end to rampant state now they needed to go home. face of Iran-backed corruption, the improvement of He asked for more time because basic services and access to job op- “there are no magic solutions” to militia leaders who are portunities. the country’s problems. viewed as wielding too Wide public discontent with the The prime minister defended much influence and inability, or the lack of will, of Iraqi the security forces’ handling of governments to implement anti- the mass rallies, saying police had responsible for many of corruption reforms and raise the abided by “international stand- the country’s woes. standard of living was thought to ards” — a move that infuriated ● Iraq is ranked as the be among the main reasons that demonstrators. denied former Prime Minister Some of Iraq’s neighbours and 12th most corrupt Haider al-Abadi a second term in other countries in the region ad- country in Transparency Decommissioning office in the 2018 parliamentary vised their citizens against trav- International’s 2018 elections. elling to Iraq over fears that they might be caught up in the vio- “Corruption Perceptions lence. Index.” of Iraqi anti-terror Until October 5, at least 93 The United Nations called on the The youth people were reported to Iraqi authorities to investigate the ● have been killed and more force used by anti-riot police. unemployment rate is commander draws than 4,000 people were “All incidents in which the ac- more than 20%, the injured. At least 200 tions of security forces have re- World Bank said. It is protesters remained in sulted in death and injury should be promptly, independently and higher among university police custody. public criticism transparently investigated,” said graduates. Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman for ● Mass rallies began Abadi’s electoral alliance fin- the UN rights office in Geneva. The Arab Weekly staff ated Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism ished third in that election, de- “We call on the Iraqi government October 1 and anti-riot Service (CTS). Saadi was also spite the former prime minister’s to allow people to freely exercise police clashed with unhappy with the Popular Mo- celebrated role in helping defeat their rights to freedom of expres- London bilisation Forces (PMF), the the Islamic State and safeguarding sion and peaceful assembly,” she demonstrators from day umbrella group of the militias, Iraq’s territorial integrity. said. “People’s grievances need to one. At least 93 people, he Iraqi government’s whose influence he sought to As the 2018 mass protests be heard.” mainly protesters, have decision to decommis- limit. showed no sign of dying down, Amnesty International con- sion Staff Lieutenant- Factions within the PMF “per- been killed. The influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, demned the use of “lethal and T General Abdul-Wahab sonally” lobbied for Saadi’s re- whose electoral alliance came in unnecessary force” against Iraqi protests took place in al-Saadi as deputy head of the moval, an Iraqi government offi- first in the elections, withdrew his protesters. Baghdad and most of Counter-Terrorism Service drew cial told Agence France-Presse. backing for Abadi to remain in of- “This must not be yet another wide public criticism on tradi- “These groups were operating fice. case of the government announc- the Shia-majority tional and social media. outside the state and the only Abadi also lost the support of ing an investigation or committee southern provinces. The decision to sideline Saadi barrier was the CTS,” the official Iraq’s Shia spiritual leader, Grand of inquiry which never yields any was taken by Iraqi Prime Min- said. “The idea is to sideline him Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who hinted results,” said Lynn Maalouf, Am- ister Adel Abdul-Mahdi but no to bring somebody close to Iran that Abadi should step aside be- nesty International’s Middle East reason for the move was an- and no longer have the CTS as a cause he failed to implement re- Research Director. nounced. Saadi was transferred check.” forms. Observers said corruption has to an unspecified post at the Other observers said the mo- Unlike Abadi, who completed 4 become the main threat to Iraq’s Iraqi Defence Ministry. tive behind Saadi’s transfer was years in office, Abdul-Mahdi, who stability. Saadi branded the transfer an not because of pressure from became prime minister October “As indicated by their slogans “insult” and a “punishment” the PMF but stemmed from 25, 2018, is facing protests that are and banners, the protesters have and told the Associated Press complaints from fellow CTS calling for his downfall less than a made it plain that they do not see that “there is no job for me at members. Saadi was reportedly year after he was sworn in office. corruption primarily as issue of the Defence Ministry… I prefer looking into corruption within Both al-Sadr and Sistani have giv- personal greed and lawlessness to retire.” Eventually, however, CTS circles. en vocal support to the protesters. but as the direct result of the po- Saadi complied with the prime Iraqis took to social media to In a Friday sermon October 4 litical system and the parties that minister’s ordered transfer. criticise the government deci- read out by his representative dominate it,” wrote Toby Dodge, Commentators in Iraq were sion leading the hashtag “We Ahmed al-Safi, Sistani said the associate fellow of Chatham divided on the motives behind are all Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi” to government needed to take “clear House’s Middle East and North Af- Abdul-Mahdi’s sidelining of trend on Twitter. and practical steps” to address rica programme. Saadi, a widely respected gen- Some demonstrators at mass people’s grievances. “Unless these demands for an eral celebrated for his part in the rallies in Baghdad and cities in “The government and the politi- end to corruption and far-reaching war against the Islamic State. southern Iraq raised a photo of cal sides have not fulfilled the de- reform of the system are met, Iraq Observers attributed the move Saadi during the protests. mands of the people to fight cor- will continue to be destabilised by to pressure from the country’s Politician Khaled al-Obeidi, a ruption,” Sistani said. popular alienation from the gov- Iran-backed militia leaders who former Iraqi defence minister, Sistani lashed out against the erning elite and the mass protests viewed Saadi as too close to called on parliament to investi- mounting death toll. “There are this causes.” the United States, which cre- gate Saadi’s decommissioning. October 6, 2019 3 Iraq Demonstrators vow to continue protests ‘until government is changed’ Azhar Al-Rubaie stitution affirmed the right to access information,” said Hayder Hamzoz, founder and CEO of the Iraqi Net- Baghdad work for Social Media. “Making the internet offline puts raqi protesters vowed to contin- millions of Iraqis in isolation and ue anti-government demonstra- darkness, preventing them from tions despite the heavy-handed expressing their opinions on social- I response of the security services media platform,” Hamzoz said. that caused the death of scores of “The only communication means demonstrators. in Iraq were through phone calls If authorities cannot address pro- and texts. The internet service was testers’ demands for a better life and online in Kurdistan and the people an end to corruption, protesters say in Kurdistan called their friends in they will not stop demonstrating other cities to get news on what is across Iraq until the government going on to post it on social media.” of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul- Fatima Ali, a protester in Bagh- Mahdi is changed. dad, said she was “shocked” by Chanting in Baghdad’s Tahrir the anti-riot police’s use of batons Square, Ahmed Mansour, 29, said against her after she “had been suf- he travelled from Dhi Qar province focating from tear gas.” to protest. “We are demanding the “The riot policeman took off my change of Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s gov- hijab and continued to beat me to ernment because it failed to meet stop me from protesting but I never our demands,” he said. gave up until we get our demands,” “Why have the security forces she said. fired at us rubber and live bullets as Diaa al-Hindi, a 29-year-old activ- well as tear gas? Are we enemies of ist from Karbala, said: “Our demand the country or are we the people of is just one demand now: to topple this homeland? They cannot stop us the current regime.” from taking to the street to demand “I and a group of my friends went our neglected rights,” said Mansour. to Baghdad to participate in Tah- “I told the riot police not to beat rir Square but we… faced all kinds the women and beat me instead but of weapons by the riot police,” they continued to beat the women said Hindi. “The blood filled Iraq’s as well as the elderly. Many peo- streets and the government still ple were killed and hundreds were does not care about us.” wounded and transferred to Sheikh Protesters said they were angry Zayed Hospital in Baghdad.” with the speech Abdul-Mahdi deliv- He said: “Demonstrations will ered October 4 because he blamed Bridging the gap. Protesters speak with Iraqi riot demonstrators, not the security ap- police members behind barbed wire barricades continue until we get Adel Abdul- paratus. during a demonstration in the central Iraqi shrine Mahdi out office.” “Abdul-Mahdi’s speech is just a city of Najaf on October 1, 2019. (AFP) Security forces have clashed with demonstrators in Baghdad and lie. It is a clear threat for more killing southern provinces since October if we continue to protest,” said Mo- 1. Sources in the Independent High hammed al-Alawan, 24, an activist Commission for Human Rights of from Basra. Viewpoint Iraq said at least 28 people had been International and local Iraqi or- killed and approximately 1,200 had ganisations expressed concern been injured. More than 200 people about excessive force used on have been jailed. peaceful demonstrators in Iraq. Iraqi President Barham Salih Ibrahim al-Sarraj, head of Iraqi On Iraq’s Independence Day called for “restraint and respecting Journalists’ Rights Defence Asso- the law” and added “our sons in the ciation, described the force from the security forces have the duty to pro- riot police against journalists and rumble of the trucks of “National inces that rose against injustice, tect citizens’ rights and to maintain bloggers as “illegal” and “inhuman.” Repression” troops, the smoke while the Arabs of the Sunni public security” after security forces Hussein Adel and his wife, Sara, of raging fires and poisonous gas provinces, along with the Iraqis fired weapons and used tear gas to who had volunteered to give first from anti-riot bombs, with the of the three Kurdish provinces, disperse thousands of protesters. aid to wounded protesters, were re- Ibrahim Zobeidi screams and cries of fallen vic- were satisfied with following the Starting in Baghdad, the protests portedly killed in their own home on tims and their relatives, and with unfolding drama on television spread to other Iraqi provinces and October 3. No one claimed responsi- ctober 3 marked the the loud anger of the rebellious and Facebook, as if those who cities, including Basra, Babil, Kar- bility for their death. 87th anniversary of masses demanding a free and fell, stricken by the bullets of bala, Diyala, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Muth- A witness, who did not wish to be Iraq’s independ- dignified life. treachery and betrayal, were not anna, Najaf and Wasit. identified, said he saw six masked ence, the end of the Interestingly enough, just their brothers who had revolted Activists said the demonstrations men wearing black leave two vehi- British Mandate a few days prior, Iraqi Presi- for a free and happy country, were spontaneous and were or- cles in front of the couple’s home. and of the country dent Barham Salih told the UN generous enough to embrace all ganised through social networking Two of the masked men entered the Ojoining the League of Nations. It General Assembly that ensuring of its citizens, with no discrimi- sites, without dictates from politi- house and shots were heard. They is a strange coincidence that this a dignified life for Iraqi citizens nation and marginalisation and cians or foreign parties. exited the house and the six men anniversary finds Iraq without had been achieved under his no exception while those who As an attempt to curb the protest- left, the witness added. The couple independence and living under rule and that of his mujahideen stole, looted, oppressed, falsified, ers, Iraqi authorities cut the internet was found dead. tutelage, mandate and occupa- companions — Adel Abdul- conspired and betrayed have in 75% of the country, leaving more tion. Mahdi, brother Fuad Hussein and never been in harm’s way. than 30 million people offline. Azhar Al-Rubaie is a freelance On this year’s glorious Inde- brother Hoshyar Zebari before Probably a day will come when “Internet interruption in Iraq is journalist based in Iraq. His writing pendence Day, Iraqis should have him and the late Uncle Jalal Tala- the courageous Iraqi people will a big (rights) violation, intended to focuses on politics, health, society, been celebrating this auspicious bani and brother Massoud plus do what other peoples, whose curb protesters and is against free- wars and human rights. Follow him occasion with military and civil the whole lot of Salim al-Jabouri, conditions were not as desper- dom of expression — as Iraq’s con- on Twitter: @AzherRubaie. ceremonies, happy popular pa- Mohammed Halbusi, Oussama ate as theirs, have done. These rades and official processions in Najafi and Khamis al-Khanjar and are nations that have refused to every city and village. their militias, relatives, followers continue enduring decades of It was hoped that, after 87 and companions. injustice and oppressors. years of freedom, independence, On this year’s Independence At first, they demonstrated construction, justice, equity, Day there was blood oozing from peacefully but, when their de- equality and of generous spend- the finest youth of the homeland; mands were met with disregard ing of the country’s abundant there were many wounded, and and oppression, they unleashed a wealth on education, health, live ammunition fell on Baghdad, storm of revolutions that uproot- agriculture, industry, trade, care Nasiriya, Basra, Samawah, Najaf ed corrupt regimes and threw for the talented and creative and and Karbala, fired on at will by their equally corrupt leaders in on care for scientists, experts and armed government and Popular the trash, despite the latter’s inventors, Iraq would be reaping Mobilisation Forces thugs, aided military and police might. the fruits of its sacrifices. by Iranian Major-General Qas- Yes, the gang of treacherous It was not meant to be. sem Soleimani’s spies, under the thugs has betrayed the honour- On this sad and dark anniver- pretence of fighting foreign spies able youth of our homeland but sary and on the even darker day and agents hired by the United their treachery has awakened that followed, Iraqis awoke to the States and other powers of world millions after millions of Iraqis sound of gunfire in the squares of imperialism to wipe out the who will rise again and again Baghdad, Nasiriya, Najaf, Diwani- regime of Imam Hussein and the until they are victorious. yah and Karbala, the city that republic of his heir-guardian. chanted “Tehran out. Karbala is What is sad and strange about Ibrahim Zobeidi is an Iraqi free.” these events is that it was only writer and US publisher of Youth frustrations. An Iraqi protester hides behind a wall during The atmosphere filled with the the masses of the southern prov- The Arab Weekly. demonstrations in Baghdad, October 4. (AFP) 4 October 6, 2019 News & Analysis Tunisia Obituary Roger Bismuth, iconic leader of Tunisia’s Jewish community, passes away

Industry, Trade and Handicraft, known by its French acronym Oussama UTICA. Romdhani Since independence, he maintained close contacts with all Tunisian governments. He very special and loyal repeated that his philosophy reader of The Arab about politics and politicians Weekly died October was derived from his faith. “Our 2. Roger Bismuth, religion teaches us to cooperate who for decades was with the authorities of our country, the iconic leader of for the common good,” he said. Polarised landscape. A Tunisian woman looks at posters of candidates in legislative elections in Tunisia’sA small Jewish community, Bismuth was a personal Tunis, October 4. (AFP) passed away at the age of 92. friend of Tunisian President Beji Bismuth was a witness to the Caid Essebsi and before him of eras in Tunisia before and after President Zine el-Abidine Ben independence. He was a defender Ali, both of whom died in recent of the welfare of Jews, especially weeks. For six years after 2004, In mid election cycle, the elderly among them, in his Bismuth was the “only Jewish North African country and worked senator” in the Arab world. tirelessly so the Tunisian Jewish As president of the Tunisian community gained legal status as Jewish community, Bismuth an organisation. maintained good relations with Tunisians fret about There were an estimated 170,000 political leaders since the 2011 Jews in Tunisia when the country uprising. gained independence from France When consulted, he opposed in 1956 before that population suggestions that a quota be set dropped to about 1,500 currently, for Jews or Christians in the new possible risks ahead mostly in Tunis and the southern parliament. “We should have island of Djerba. the same rights and obligations Bismuth saw the community as other citizens,” Bismuth said. Lamine Ghanmi highlighted his outreach to the poor ing for 217 parliamentary seats, in- as a full-fledged component of “Why should there be a quota set during which he handed out food, cluding 119 incumbent members of Tunisia’s makeup. To a foreign for people based on religion? medicine and other aid. He made it to whom 32 are from Ennahda and ten Jewish delegation that asked him “Besides, religion is a private Tunis the second round of the presidential from Tahya Tounes party, which is led if he would ever leave Tunisia, matter. Once you make of it vote despite being in jail since August by Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Bismuth was categorical: “This is a political consideration, you unisian voters return to the 23 on accusations of money launder- Chahed. the country where I was born. This destroy both politics and religion.” polls amid heightened con- ing and tax evasion. Analysts said they expect voters to is the place where my ancestors He found much pride in showing cerns about the future of their His detention has a concern regard- confirm in the parliamentary vote the and I were born. This is my home. off Tunisia’s climate of religious T country’s experiment in de- ing the possible legal challenge if he trend from the first-round presiden- Why should I leave?” tolerance to foreign visitors, mocracy. loses the runoff. He has complained tial vote. Bismuth rose from being a especially dignitaries from the Since the start of the election cam- about a “lack of equal opportunity” Karoui’s backers escalated their construction worker to managing United States who attend the paign ahead of presidential and leg- in the campaign. He was not able to campaign against Ennahda’s lead- 12 Tunisian industrial companies. annual Jewish pilgrimage to islative elections, political and legal take part in debates ahead of the first ers, accusing them of involvement in He started as a labourer in the Djerba. glitches have seemed endless. Distrust round of voting and it is not known if graft, embezzlement, killing three op- construction industry when he “Maybe US officials can see with of politicians, judicial imbroglios and he will be released in time to debate position leaders and the recruitment was 14, walking as much as 10km their own eyes, when they come fiery rhetoric raised questions about Saied prior to the second round. of Tunisian jihadists to fight abroad. to arrive to work. “I was just a to Tunisia, that there is still some the stability of the Tunisian political A Tunisian court on October 1 Polarisation is fuelling a thick wave labourer among labourers,” he hope for religious coexistence system after elections and the ability turned down an appeal by Karoui to of wariness. “We have more than 200 recalled during an interview three in the Arab world,” he told our of any future government to manage be released from jail ahead of legisla- political parties but the most impor- years ago. newspaper once. the country’s socio-economic crisis. tive elections. tant is the party of fear. Everyone is He was a successful business Despite sporadic terrorist The electorate dumped its frustra- Another legal issue has clouded the scared about the future. More than executive who perceived his incidents in the country, Bismuth tions on the Islamist Ennahda Move- election landscape with the Demo- ever, Tunisia is threatened with grave companies as “families.” For said he was convinced the spirit ment and its secularist allies when it cratic Current party filing a lawsuit events,” said Hedi Behi, editor of decades, he was an active leading of religious tolerance was much knocked out all candidates with con- against Karoui, Ennahda and Eish Leaders magazine. member of the country’s business more resilient than expressions nections to the political system in the Tounsi for contracting US and Cana- “Libya, Somalia, Venezuela, Cuba. federation, the Tunisian Union of of extremism and bigotry. He saw first round of the presidential vote. dian public relations companies and Tunisia faces the risks to be like one it as defining the character of his They picked two outsiders: Kais spending amounts above the maxi- of those countries if independent can- fellow citizens and driving him to Saied, a maverick university law mum allowed by Tunisian election didates close to Kais Saied (win),” said be always optimistic. teacher with no party affiliation and law. The judiciary said it would exam- Bahloul. Bismuth found much “What has always struck me whose makeshift campaign is headed ine the complaint. “The anti-establishment vote ad- is that, despite all the attention- by a Marxist-Leninist theorist, and Ennahda voiced support for Saied to vocated by these people will push pride in showing off grabbing manifestations of jihadist Nabil Karoui, a jailed businessman draw his backers to support its legisla- Tunisians into a situation where they Tunisia’s climate of violence, tolerance has come more who has become the nemesis of the tive candidates. Ennahda’s campaign would not find any running water to religious tolerance to naturally to this country than Islamists in both parliamentary and strategy is to gain the votes of Saied’s drink, electric power at home, medi- bigotry,” he wrote in an op-ed presidential elections. The presiden- supporters to win the most seats in cine at the pharmacy or foodstuffs on foreign visitors, published by The Arab Weekly. tial runoff is October 13, one week af- the parliamentary election and then market shelves,” he added. especially dignitaries ter parliamentary elections. form a “revolutionary government” if Risks at home are compounded by Oussama Romdhani is Nizar Bahloul, editor of Busi- Saied wins the presidency. an unpredictable shift in Tunisia’s re- from the United Editor-in-Chief of ness News magazine, said he sees “Vote for Ennahda to win parlia- gional environment. Algeria, whose States. The Arab Weekly. the country “plunging deep into the mentary elections and confirm the leaders in 2013 helped with advice, abyss.” “When we say that the coun- victory of Saied,” its main campaign financial and security support and try will face a situation this year that slogan read. helped usher in entente between Is- is worse than the one it faced in 2011, Habib Ellouz, a radical Ennahda lamists and secularists, are trying to we are choosing our words carefully,” leader who was sidelined in the recent cope with its own upheaval. The Eu- he added. years when Ennahda focused on a ropean Union’s praise for Tunisia for He was alluding to the 2011 upheav- “Muslim Democrat” image, returned sustaining the course of democracy al after the uprising that toppled the to the forefront of the party alongside is dimming into discrete compassion, regime of President Zine el-Abidine other ultraconservative hardliners. analysts said. Ben Ali. “The only choice we have as revo- Tunisia’s political uncertainties do Tunisian law bans the release of lutionaries now is Ennahda,” said El- not seem to be part of the US admin- polls during election campaigns but louz. istration’s priorities, although Wash- experts have said the legislative con- He warned that, if the Islamists lose, ington has backed the country with test is expected to be a tight race be- “Tunisia will be ruled by a govern- financial and military support, since tween Karoui’s Qalb Tounes and En- ment that it is an extension of the old 2011. nahda. regime and corruption and a Mafia- Parliamentary and presidential Qalb Tounes was formed about run government. elections will test the ability of Tuni- three months before the parliamen- “Saied’s victory is clear but he will sia’s elites to overcome their differ- tary vote by Karoui. He banked on achieve a qualitative leap only if there ences and accept the verdict of the his charity drive during the last three is a revolutionary government and ballot box. Courts seem bound to play years in remote hamlets and neglect- an alliance between revolutionaries a crucial role and independence of the ed poor urban areas of main cities. to have the control of a revolution- judiciary might be for that matter the Karoui canvassed areas where social ary government and a revolutionary cornerstone of the process. depression was most obvious. presidency,” he added. A man who believed in coexistence. Late leader of Tunisia’s Karoui owns shares in the popular Some 15,000 candidates, running Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly Jewish community Roger Bismuth. (Al Arab) television channel Nessma, which on more than 1,500 lists, are compet- correspondent in Tunis. October 6, 2019 5 News & Analysis Maghreb

Sarraj given cold shoulder by US after rejecting talks with Haftar

Michel Cousins to regain strength, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) carried out Tunis four strikes September 19-29 on sus- pected ISIS fighters near Murzuq he battle for Tripoli pitting in southern Libya. The Americans the Libyan National Army claimed to have killed 43 terrorists. against the forces of the in- US Defence officials were quoted T ternationally recognised after the first attack as saying that Government of National Accord has it was carried out by Reaper drones intensified in recent weeks. based in Niger, where American Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have been using a drone base Field-Marshal Khalifa Haftar needs in Agadez. Initial operations at the to show progress in the fight to base started in August and signifi- Political dead-end? GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj waits to speak at the 74th Session of the strengthen his position ahead of an cantly increased US capabilities to General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, September 25. (AFP) international conference on Libya in strike targets in southern Libya and Berlin, possibly before the end of Oc- the wider region. tober, analysts said. The timing of the Murzuq attacks seems to have resulted in a cold forces to withdraw to their pre-April take place. Many are not confident, To that end, there have been re- was seen as linked to the base be- shoulder from US officials during the 4 positions; the military to be under however, that it would succeed. newed attacks in Tripoli, Misrata coming operational. A Tebu source UN General Assembly. civilian government control; and all Turkey is seen as the potential and Sirte. While the LNA has tried said ISIS fighters and other militant In the flurry of contacts other countries to cease dealings with par- spanner in the works. While it is ac- to shift action from near Tarhuna organisations, such as Boko Haram leaders had on the margin of the allel institutions — in other words cepted that Washington could pres- and to the southern edges of Trip- and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, UN meetings, there was no meeting with the government in Benghazi sure Egypt or Saudi Arabia to stop oli, there is no sign of an imminent have been in the town for some time for Sarraj with US President Don- and the LNA. supplying Haftar and Qatar to stop breakthrough. but only recently have they been tar- ald Trump, Secretary of State Mike The hardening of Sarraj’s position aiding the GNA, it is another matter The LNA continued to hit Tripoli’s geted. Pompeo or other top US officials. In comes as Haftar’s stance appears to whether Turkey would go along. Mitiga airport and, on October 1, re- The strikes may be linked to the what was considered a slap in the be softening. The same day Sarraj Turkish President Recep Tayyip newed its attempt to capture mili- fact that Murzuq, the source said, face, the only officials Sarraj met addressed the General Assembly, Erdogan is ideologically committed tary camps in southern Tripoli and is now empty of its civilian popu- with were David Hale, the State De- Haftar said dialogue was necessary. to the GNA. Diplomats and analysts push towards Gharyan. The LNA lation. Its Arab majority, members partment’s under-secretary for Po- Although he said dialogue could said the chances of him stopping claimed to have destroyed Turkish- of the Al-Ahali tribe, fled in August litical Affairs, and David Schenker, not happen while militias and ter- arming it and providing it with tac- supplied and -operated drones and after mainly Tebu fighters took con- the assistant secretary of state for rorists controlled Tripoli, he had tical and operational support, in- the installations from which they trol. Tebu civilians subsequently left Near Eastern Affairs. previously ruled out dialogue. His cluding military advisers, are almost were launched at Mitiga. because shops, offices and schools US displeasure is thought to be new position followed talks he had zero. However, for every drone the LNA all closed. linked to the uncompromising po- in Abu Dhabi with US Ambassador The expectation that the Berlin destroys, Turkey is said to provide “Only fighters remain,” the source sition adopted by Sarraj at the Gen- Richard Norland during which Nor- conference is likely to fail does not the Government of National Accord said, effectively backing up AFRI- eral Assembly where he condemned land made it clear that Washington appear to particularly worry LNA (GNA) with replacements, which are COM’s claims that no civilians were Haftar as a “war criminal” and said is determined for a political solu- officials. One pro-Haftar Libyan often launched from roads rather killed in the attacks. there would be no negotiations with tion to the Libyan crisis, not a mili- analyst suggested they would go than airport runways. There are said However, the fighters also fled fol- him. tary one. through the motions of supporting it to be hundreds of unmanned aerial lowing the drone attack September Sarraj later set out a series of con- International protagonists in Libya to keep the international community vehicles being used on both sides in 19. The source said a strike Septem- ditions for taking part in talks with have their eyes set on the Berlin con- happy but a war of attrition was fine the battle. ber 26 hit militants heading north to- the LNA, conditions seemingly ference. Western diplomats in Tunis with Haftar. Drones were used with deadly ef- wards Sebha and a September 29 at- designed to be rejected by Haftar. accredited to Libya said the confer- “Haftar can afford to wait,” he fect in another part of the country tack targeted a group moving south. These include the acceptance of the ence, aimed at enforcing the Libyan said. “The [Tripoli] militias cannot.” but these were US drones. Amid GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sar- Skhirat Agreement as the sole basis arms embargo as well as organising warnings that the Islamic state (ISIS) raj’s hard-line position at the United for dialogue and of the GNA as the a ceasefire and setting out the basis Michel Cousins is a contributor to was using the Libya power vacuum Nations against talks with Haftar sole legitimate government; LNA for an all-Libyan conference, would The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. Paris concerned over ebbing French influence in North Africa

Gouyette was quick to establish a The French, because of a prospect of the sale of equipment they believe can best serve their good working relationship with Is- famously inept ambassador, that is cheaper than what France interests. French media do not lamist leader Rached Ghannouchi failed to see former leader Zine and its EU peers offer, the grow- seem to be able to rid itself of a Francis Ghilès after the Ennahda Movement won el-Abidine Ben Ali was on his way ing Chinese presence has long view that Algerians are atavisti- a plurality of votes in the general out in early 2011. Equally, they been viewed as a threat by French cally violent, something dis- elections and led successive gov- failed to see the vast popular officials and companies. proved by the generally peaceful he victory of politi- ernments in 2013 and 2014. What- protest that has engulfed Algeria Today, these same actors are nature of the protests of recent cians many observers ever misgivings the French might these past seven months. It is working with the Chinese — there months. label “populist” in the have initially had about Ennahda, doubtful whether they under- is simply no other solution. The question of the role of first round of Tunisian realpolitik prevailed. stand what is going on in the Whether this is viewed as “losing Islamist parties is important but presidential elections Nor did they pay much atten- broader Sahel where families and influence” or simply accepting endless studies in the European has prompted fears in tion when a few senior business- tribes, pushed to the sidelines reality matters little. Union about “radical Islam” and TFrance, the former colonial power men in Tunis reportedly begged after France invaded the region Ironically, German companies “de-radicalisation” suggest many in the Maghreb, that it is losing the ambassador to plead their in the late 19th century, are re- are making great strides across think-tanks might have lost their influence in the budding democ- case for a French military inter- emerging as important power the region but France does not compass. Many such studies are racy. vention to nip Ennahda’s power brokers. seem to worry about that. It is los- written by people who speak While it is true that the late in the bud. French officials like to main- ing lucrative trade to companies neither Arabic nor Berber, nor any Tunisian President Beji Caid Es- There is no reason to believe tain relations with “natives” who that strike out on their own and of the languages of the Sahel. Few sebsi was familiar with all things matters will be different this time resemble them and often feel are less closely tied to the govern- travel to remote areas or enjoy French, no one knows what links around. That said, the emergence more at ease in Paris than in their ment in Berlin, at least formally, the in-depth knowledge of former the two front-runners to be the of Saied and Karoui came as a respective countries’ hinterland. than their French equivalents. French colonial administrators. next Tunisian president, Kais shock only to foreigners who do In the Sahel, the French back the Some observers bemoan Rus- The younger generations in the Saied and Nabil Karoui, might not know Tunisia in-depth, usu- Tuareg nomads to the dismay of sia’s influence and sale of weap- Maghreb, at least, have a far more have with the French elite. What ally do not speak Arabic and view Peul tribes, which play an impor- ons to Algeria, oblivious of the realistic view of France than their is certain, however, is that the the country’s politics through tant role across the region. contracts clinched by Germany, elders who, when well heeled, “revolutionary” fringe that the prism of the smart residential French policy in Libya is a puz- Italy and the United States in often have their children working purports to support Saied is quite suburbs of Tunis. zle to many in Paris itself. The recent years. in France. hostile to French interests seeing Saied and Karoui may be popu- French are quick to dismiss those In West Africa, Moroccan com- So, loss of influence or simply in them a continuation of colonial lists but hardly more so than Caid who commit violent acts as af- panies are very active but France the inevitable march of history? dominance of the country. Essebsi and his prime minister, filiates of al-Qaeda in the Islamic views Morocco as an ally. Morocco Recent events suggest France Rehashing grievances about Youssef Chahed, who performed Maghreb, mimicking the United tries to engage actors across the and its European peers must the distant past will do nothing badly at the polls after presiding States, whose main purpose region, notably by funding the adjust that reading the tea leaves to help Tunisia face up to the over three years of poor economic seems to be to push sophisticated training of “moderate imams.” of Paris politics matters less huge economic challenges it faces growth, doubling of the country’s weapons into a region wracked The reality is, at times, slightly than what an older generation today: rampant corruption, a foreign debt, rampant corruption by social conflict, growing water different, particularly where the of Maghrebi and African leaders doubling of the debt and regional and endless squabbles between stress and corrupt governments. imams are concerned. were used to. More and more key imbalances. Throwing red meat to most parties and within Caid Stability has not returned to the Algeria presents perhaps the decisions will be taken in Tunis, the populace is the worst form of Essebsi’s creation, Nidaa Tounes. Sahel while the West worries greatest challenge. The young Paris and African capitals without demagoguery. Rebuilding trust, Leftist parties disintegrated at the about Russia’s emergence in the generation often speaks excellent consulting honourable corre- investment and hope for young polls, a just reward for their inca- region. French but also English. After 60 spondents in Paris. people is what is so desperately pacity to articulate the grievances The West must contend with the years of independence, the extent needed. of millions of Tunisians whose growing Chinese presence in the of French influence has ebbed: Francis Ghilès is an associate It is best to remember that for- living standards have declined Sahel and North Africa. Supported young businessmen work with fellow at the Barcelona Centre for mer French Ambassador Francois since 2011. by many on the ground and the French companies or whomever International Affairs. 6 October 6, 2019 Opinion

Editorial The unrest in Iraq and Lebanon

nemployment, deteriorating standards of living and suspicion of government corruption are once again proving to be a combustible mix in many parts of the region. Demonstrations in Iraq, Lebanon and Uother Arab countries are expressing long pent-up frustrations, including distrust of politicians. More than 0 demonstrators have been killed in Iraq where denunciation of corruption seemed to be the leitmo- tiv. Chatham House researcher Toby Dodge stated: “Politically sanctioned corruption among senior politicians and civil servants is systematically undermining popular faith in the Iraqi government.” Sectarian quotas are no stranger to the problem of institutionalised corruption. The disproportionate role of the pro-Iranian militias in public life has made Iraq’s situation even more dire. The suspected haemorrhaging of public funds is huge — estimated at about $450 billion since 2004. Iraq ranks 168th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s 2018 “Corruption Perception Index.” A US National Democratic Institute survey of Iraqis last summer reported that “very large majorities” of respondents said three key issues were worsening: corruption (83% said it was getting worse), job opportunities (83%) and cost of living (73%). The same priorities could be duplicated in Lebanon. © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly Protests there at the end of September were the latest manifestation of public anger and distrust in the government’s ability to introduce long-delayed reforms to shore up the staggering economy and bring Searching for a new Iraq in much-needed financial support promised during the CEDRE conference. Lebanon experts see Hezbol- lah using the protests to pressure the country into opposing US banking sanctions. Khairallah Khairallah The economic crisis has worsened in the past two What we are witnessing in Iraq is the search weeks, with worries about the dollar-reliant local currency losing value for the first time in more than for an alternative to a bankrupt authority. two decades. Despite tens of billions of dollars spent since the here is an abnormal the militias could do was turn mediate between Iran and Gulf 15-year civil war ended in 1990, Lebanon has crum- situation in Iraq. Iraq into a vassal state to Iran. countries and he cannot medi- bling infrastructure, including hours-long daily There is something At present, there is an Iranian ate between Iran and the United electricity cuts, trash piles in the streets and sporadic like a massive desire to prove to the United States. All he can do is implement supplies from the state-owned water company. States that Iraq is nothing but a The crisis of confidence between the public and popular revolt. what Iran asks him to do, like get- authorities has reached unprecedented levels. Starting with the playing card in the hands of Teh- ting rid of an officer like Saadi who Political leaders are largely blamed for mismanage- Tremoval of Lieutenant-General ran and that continued US sanc- embodies the possibility that the ment and corruption. Lebanon ranked 138th on the Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, former tions will prompt Iran to retali- Iraqi Army can play a significant “Corruption Perceptions Index.” deputy head of counterterror- ate. So far, Iran has been content role at the national level, away The unemployment rate for the under 35s runs at ism services, and appointed to with small operations in Iraq. from sectarian, regional and na- 37%. As in many parts the Arab world, it affects young the Defence Ministry, to Now is the time for Iran to tionalistic sensitivities. university graduates more than others. widespread demonstrations and demonstrate the extent and Abdul-Mahdi can also imple- Lebanon is facing a deep-running fiscal crisis as it unrest in Baghdad and other depth of its control of Iraq. It is ment Iran’s request to open the staggers under one of the highest debt ratios in the cities with people being killed important for it to show that the border crossing with Syria and world. and wounded, something is not regime in Iraq is but a replica of hold Israel responsible for strikes Added to ongoing conflicts, socio-economic right and the status quo cannot the Iranian regime where the Is- targeting the Popular Mobilisation grievances and distrust of governments cannot be ignored because they could further destabilise the continue indefinitely. lamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Forces. region if their deep roots are not addressed properly. It seems the political system is master. One cause of the situation in Iraq that emerged after Saddam Hus- The removal of Saadi, a profes- was the decision to disband the sein’s fall has not found the right sional officer who enjoyed genu- Iraqi Army made by US Adminis- elements for its survival. What ine respect in all Iraqi circles, is trator of the Coalition Provisional The terrorist peril we have is a country called Iraq evidence of Iran’s insistence to Authority of Iraq Paul Bremer in in search of a new regime or, have the Iraqi Army become a 2003. The Americans realised their in the Sahel more correctly, a new governance dependency of the Popular Mobi- mistake and crime too late because formula 61 years after the fall of lisation Forces, the Iraqi version they were too busy eliminating any espite regional and international the monarchy. of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary hope for a resurrection of Saddam’s anti-terrorism efforts, the jihadist threat in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Since the day the monarchy Guard Corps. regime. in the Sahel region, is far from receding. fell and since the massacre of The ensuing reaction on Iraqi They did not realise that top UN Secretary-General Antonio the Hashemite family by rabble streets was normal. There is still Iraqi Army officers had no appre- Guterres raised the alarm during the UN officers who knew nothing about a patriotic spirit among all Iraqis ciation for the late Iraqi president DGeneral Assembly, saying: “I know we are all very the civilised world, Iraq has been of all sects, a spirit that rejects who had dragged them into the concerned about the continuing escalation of searching for a safety raft. What and opposes Iranian hegemony. 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, then into violence in the Sahel and its expansion to the Gulf this means is that the regime put What we are witnessing in Iraq the invasion of Kuwait and the war of Guinea countries.” in place by the Americans in 2003 is the search for an alternative that followed it. Jihadist activity is spreading from Mali to was even worse than the Saddam to a bankrupt authority, which The question of removing Saadi Burkina Faso, Niger and beyond, to Togo, Benin, regime, which, at least, had a is aimlessly looking for some is not a matter of removing a Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. national army. role to play but refuses to accept professional Iraqi Army officer who During the last week of September and first days the simple truth that Iran is not of October, extremists killed 17 people, including It is true that had fought the Islamic State in troops, in attacks in Burkina Faso. Twenty-five army was ready to accept Iraq in any other Mosul and whose conduct soldiers were killed and 60 unaccounted for after controlled by role but that of vassal. was not motivated by jihadist attacks on an army barracks in Mali. a small group In the end, Iraqi Prime Min- any sectarian consid- The Centre for Strategic and International Studies of officers, ister Adel Abdul-Mahdi cannot erations. The point in Washington said the number of attacks by mostly from Tikrit, is that Iran wants to Islamic extremists in the Sahel has doubled on a but it is also true that say that it is the boss yearly basis since 2016. The death toll in 2018 was Iraq was not under the in Iraq. 465. rule of sectarian militias Saadi’s departure Extremists with claims of affiliation to al-Qaeda controlled by Iran. confirmed the weak- or the Islamic State pursue their violent mayhem in Iraq has been paying the ness of the Iraqi government, a many countries. price for the mistake made weakness that was revealed in the Jihadist activity is all too often combined with criminal trafficking in what the security analysis by the administration of former post-May 2018 elections phase group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data US President George W. Bush. when Tehran vetoed the appoint- Project described as the “jihadisation of banditry.” Bush had embarked on a crazy ments of certain Iraqi figures. Iran In 2017 Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mali and adventure, similar to Saddam’s imposed Abdul-Mahdi as prime Mauritania, with the support of France, started the adventure in Kuwait in 1990. minister as the only one acceptable G5 Sahel task force. Besides French and US forces on Saddam invaded Kuwait without to it. the ground, the United Nations operates a considering what he would do Perhaps the man’s failure to be 15,000-strong force in Mali. However, US forces are the next day. He knew nothing of an independent decision maker disengaging and funds not easy to come by. Kuwait, including that he would who could maintain a minimum of Across the region, leaders complain of unfulfilled not find a single Kuwaiti citizen internal balance, especially regard- pledges and plead for help from international willing to collaborate with the ing the protection of the army, is an financial institutions and the Arab world. Rising terrorist activities south of the Sahara occupier. indication that the regime in place should be of concern to countries of North Africa With respect to Iraq, the Amer- since 2003 is bankrupt and that it and the rest of the world. icans were far from imagining is time to search for a new formula The alarm of the UN secretary-general is being that the Iran-affiliated militias for Iraq, a formula that might not taken seriously as Africa’s terrorism scourge is the they took into Baghdad and Basra see the day except on the ruins of source of problems with far-reaching effects, such on their tanks were incapable current Iraq. as population displacement, illegal emigration and of building a democratic system poverty. that would serve as a model for Khairallah Khairallah is a other countries in the region. All Lebanese writer. October 6, 2019 7 Opinion

Europe does battle again with Published by Al Arab the demons of migration Rashmee Roshan Lall Publishing House

Direct investment in countries that produce the most Publisher migrants is a strategically smart idea. and Group Executive Editor Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD new migration the world without creating a on its Aegean islands. At least to engage. That’s not strictly plan soon goes counter-current that encour- 45,000 asylum-seekers arrived a quid pro quo, more a way of Editor-in-Chief before EU ages economic migrants to in Greece this year, mostly by signalling benign intent and Oussama Romdhani ministers. It’s use any means possible to get sea. That’s more than half of recognition that collabora- already been to the European Union on the the 77,000 refugees and other tion gets better results than agreed to in pretext of seeking refuge? migrants who crossed into Eu- cudgels. Managing Editor principleA by Finland, France, There are two obvious steps, rope from the Middle East and Direct investment in coun- Iman Zayat Germany, Italy and Malta, all both badly needed and long North Africa region in 2019. tries that produce the most of which said they would overdue. Rejigging the Dublin migrants is a strategically smart Deputy Managing Editor automatically accept an First, the Dublin regulation regulation must be a priority. It idea. So is the creation of a and Online Editor equitable share of migrants must be fixed expeditiously. would restore a sense of equi- system that allows for easier Mamoon Alabbasi rescued at sea. This rule requires migrants to librium and fair play among EU legal short-term migration to German Interior Minister apply for asylum in the first members with respect to mi- Europe through scholarships Horst Seehofer pledged that EU country they physically gration. It would also lower the and streamlined visas. Senior Editor Germany would take in 25% enter and nowhere else. This political temperature around Sudanese-British billionaire of those saved. The hope and generally means countries on the issue. Mo Ibrahim recently made this John Hendel expectation are that other the geographical front line of The second meaningful fix point during a debate on global countries share responsibility. the migrant flow — Greece, for migrants to Europe is about inequality at a Bill & Melinda Chief Copy Editor That, however, may be Italy, Spain — are left to deal process. More resources need Gates Foundation Goalkeepers unrealistic, considering that with the issue as best they can, to be allocated to the speedy event in New York. The migra- Richard Pretorius always and forever. processing of asylum applica- the European Union is fac- tion issue needs less hysteria Copy Editors ing resistance to unified and Geography, as has been said, tions and for failed claimants and more European strategic collaborative action on a more is destiny. What this means, to be deported as quickly as planning, he said. Stephen Quillen anodyne issue by far — climate the way things are set up, is possible. That can only happen “People need to understand Kyle Arensdorf policy. that the front-line countries if Europe takes a holistic ap- in this global world we all Piotr Naimski, Poland’s feel permanently beleaguered proach towards relationships depend upon each other. In chief strategic energy adviser, and permanently aggrieved, to the home countries of the Europe, there is hysteria about Gulf Section Editor recently said Poland would not with all the attendant conse- failed claimants. migration. The best way to deal Mohammed Alkhereiji meet the EU goal of cutting net quences for domestic political Claus Sorensen, former di- with migration is not by having carbon emissions to zero by opportunism and grandstand- rector-general of the European this armada of military boats in Society and Travel 2050 and that other European ing. We’ve already seen the Commission’s Civil Protection the Mediterranean but creating Sections Editor countries should share respon- results of this in Italy, with the and Humanitarian Aid depart- jobs in Africa,” Ibrahim said. Samar Kadi sibility instead. Poland is the rise of Matteo Salvini’s League ment, suggested that this is If Europe’s renewed battle biggest of four EU countries party. possible if the European Union with the demons of migration Senior Correspondents that refused in June to sign up The situation is not quite mobilises “all its foreign-policy is to succeed, it must iden- Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) to the bloc’s goal of becoming the same in Spain but there instruments, including devel- tify the demons — it’s not the the first carbon-neutral conti- is no saying it won’t, or can’t, opment assistance and invest- migrants themselves but the Thomas Seibert (Istanbul) nent by 2050. change. After all, Spain is ment funds and initiatives in iniquitous systems that force Migration is a more emotive about 7 nautical miles from security, trade, energy, agricul- them to leave home and deal Regular Columnists issue than carbon neutral- Africa at the nearest point and, ture, fisheries, climate action, with them on foreign shores. Rashmee Roshan Lall ity and the European Union consequently, a magnet for air transport and health.” Claude Salhani is seeking to strike a difficult migrants crossing the Mediter- Unfortunately, many of the Rashmee Roshan Lall is a Yavuz Baydar balance on migrants. How to ranean. countries that haemorrhage columnist for The Arab Weekly. allow access to people genu- Think of Greece, with people are afflicted with cor- Her blog can be found at inely fleeing persecution and mounting unrest around the ruption and governance issues www.rashmee.com and she is Correspondents overflowing refugee camps but there’s no other way than violence in other parts of on Twitter: @rashmeerl. Nazli Tarzi (London) Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) How deep is your hate? Dunia El-Zobaidi (London) Roua Khlifi (Tunis)

Claude Salhani Chief Designer For Iran and its surrogates, enmity towards Israel and the United States provides Marwen el-Hmedi

justification for amassing weapons and militarising their societies. Designers

here is a recurring for the forthcoming conflicts. weapons and militarising their Potomac Institute for Policy Ibrahim Ben Bechir question that Happy thoughts. societies. Studies in Washington, a Hanen Jebali arises in the Tehran openly supports anti- “This sinister regime must panellist explained there are minds of many Israeli armed groups, including be wiped off the map and this three branches of Hezbollah. people concerned the Palestinian Hamas and is no longer… a dream (but) it There is the political party, Contact editor at: about and by the Lebanon’s Hezbollah, but it is an achievable goal,” Iranian which is represented in T [email protected] violence that perpetuates in is the Palestinians and the Major-General Hossein Salami parliament by elected deputies, the Middle East. This concern Lebanese who have sustained was quoted by the IRGC’s including Christian deputies. revolves around extremist the most losses as a result Sepah News as saying. Hezbollah also has had, at thinking found among actors of the wars of Hamas and Four decades on from Iran’s various times, one or more in the unfolding drama in Hezbollah. Islamic Revolution, “we have ministers in the Lebanese which violence, hate and In June 2018, Iranian managed to obtain the capacity government. Al Arab Publishing House ignorance are the principal Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali to destroy the imposter Zionist The social branches of Quadrant Building actors. Khamenei reaffirmed Tehran’s regime,” he said. Hezbollah act in the absence of 177-179 Hammersmith Road Are those fanatics calling long-held position that Israel Salami’s comments, while the Lebanese state, providing London W6 8BS for the destruction of Israel is “a malignant cancerous not unusual for Iranian health care, education and really aiming for the complete tumour that must be removed officials, were made amid social services. destruction of the Jewish and eradicated.” Iranian particularly heightened Then there is the armed state or are they playing it generals routinely express the international tensions over group, which is considered Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 up for the benefit of Western desire to destroy Israel or claim Iran’s nuclear programme and by many in the West to be a Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 television cameras? to be able to wipe out Tel Aviv. incidents that raised fears of a terrorist organisation. Why do protesters from When the commander of confrontation between Tehran The conundrum is that if the Sana’a to Peshawar have their Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary and its main regional rival, social services were removed, banners written in — often Guard Corps (IRGC) says Riyadh. thousands of children would US Publisher: poor — English? It is no secret “wiping out Israel from The United States, which be taken out of school and they crave the attention of the the face of the Earth” is an withdrew from a landmark deprived of many basic The Arab Weekly USA LLC. Western world. “achievable goal,” does he nuclear deal between Iran services. Social services may [email protected] really mean it? Does he believe and world powers in 2018, provide the radical group with Calling for the destruction [email protected] of one’s perceived enemy is it when he says Tehran has has imposed a campaign of human shields for its messages a psychological weapon. It is “obtain[ed] the capacity to “maximum pressure” — with of hate and armed organisation Tel: 248-679-6624 the radicals’ way to pressure destroy the imposter Zionist vocal support from Israeli but what is the alternative for their nemesis by ratcheting up regime”? Prime Minister Binyamin poor children? the anger of their public. In both cases, the answer is Netanyahu. Getting rid of hate speech Such radical discourse likely “No.” Salami’s comments were would be the first step of may find acceptance in the Much like its proxies in given prominent coverage the de-escalation process in minds of the rank and file Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and by the Tasnim and Fars news conflict-plagued regions. and the undereducated who other places who clamour agencies, close to ultra- For hate-driven regimes, Subscription & Advertising: may see the situation and its in their rallies for the conservative political factions. such as the one in Tehran [email protected] resolution in simplistic terms. destruction of the “Zionist The rhetoric of eradication and other extremist systems, Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 The reality reflects a very enemy,” Iranian military and of the other is unrealistic the it would be utterly de- different image. political establishment’s other way around. Iran cannot legitimising. So don’t expect In ensuring that a eradication discourse is more uproot Israel and Israel will a hate-free environment to Mohamed Al Mufti not wipe out Hezbollah or continuous posture of a legitimising cry of war and emerge by tomorrow. Marketing & Advertising a mobilising slogan for their Hamas. These organisations enmity towards the other Manager is relentlessly fed by supporters. provide extreme expressions Claude Salhani is a regular professional hate-mongers, For Iran and its surrogates, of anger and hate but also columnist for The Arab Weekly Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 they bank on their ability to enmity towards Israel and social services to impoverished and a senior fellow at the www.alarab.co.uk make sure the next generation the United States provides populations. Institute of World Affairs in will provide cannon fodder justification for amassing At a conference at the Washington. 8 October 6, 2019 News & Analysis Egypt Egyptian government mulls new reforms after wave of street protests

Ahmed Megahid city of Damietta. The protesters ket and subsidies crippled the state called for the ousting of Egyptian treasury. Those conditions scared President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and off investors and threatened to Cairo complained of high food prices. leave Egypt incapable of securing The demonstrations followed its food needs. hrinking political freedoms, the release of videos by a con- Sisi ended Egypt’s controlled ex- high food prices, growing struction contractor who worked change rate regime, slashed most unemployment, poverty with the Egyptian Army for years. energy, water and electricity subsi- S and rampant corruption Mohamed Ali, who lives in Spain, dies and introduced new taxes. He were issues behind protests in accused Sisi of constructing luxu- also initiated infrastructure and Egypt, analysts said. rious palaces while the Egyptian construction projects, including a It is necessary for Egyptian au- people suffered acute poverty. new capital, 14 new urban commu- thorities to start immediate re- He said the army was dominating nities and thousands of kilometres forms to reduce pressure on those Egypt’s economic life. of new roads. with limited incomes and allow for The Muslim Brotherhood used The projects created demand for more freedoms, they said. Ali’s videos and the anger they construction materials, provided “The protests were limited but engendered among the public to millions of jobs and returned thou- they delivered a strong message incite Egyptians against Sisi but sands of factories to production about the presence of discontent there was already unrest among again after years of recession. among members of the general the public because of Sisi’s poli- The economic reforms improved public,” said Mustafa Kamal al- cies, analysts said. overall indicators, increased for- Sayyid, a political science profes- “There is almost no tolerance eign currency reserves, raised the sor at Cairo University. “I am afraid to freedoms. The noose is being exports and reduced pressure on they will happen again if the gov- tightened around rights advocates the state budget. ernment does not start introducing and the conditions of the civil so- “Most of the positive results of political and economic reforms.” ciety cannot be worse,” Sayyid the reforms were on paper only,” said. said Rashad Abdo, an economics The Muslim Brotherhood Rights groups refer to thousands professor at Cairo University. “As of political prisoners in Egypt’s for citizens, these results have not used Ali’s videos and the jails, even as Egyptian authori- improved their lives or economic anger they engendered ties say those in the prisons had conditions.” Daily struggle. Egyptians gather to buy subsidised sugar from a among the public to incite committed criminal offences. If For the average Egyptian, how- government truck in Cairo. (Reuters) Egyptians against Sisi but that is true, Egypt must justify ever, the reforms were catastroph- there was already unrest the reported arrest of hundreds of ic. The liberalisation of the ex- made more effort in shielding the and ease backlash from the reform among the public because of peaceful demonstrators, analysts change rate of the Egyptian pound poor against the negative effects of programme. Sisi’s policies. said. caused food prices to triple, mak- these reforms,” Abdo said. “The government runs a huge Diminishing freedoms com- ing millions of people incapable of Social protection programmes, risk if it does not address all these The late-September protests pound Egyptians’ economic griev- meeting their simplest of needs. including one that offered cash aid problems,” said Bassant Fahmi, a were the first in Egypt in years. ances, mostly because of the Egyptians must pay more for to tens of thousands of poor fami- member of the Economic Affairs They defied Egypt’s anti-protest country’s fast-paced and tough their bills, even as salaries of lies, strive to do that. Committee in the Egyptian parlia- law, which requires official author- economic reform programme. around 6 million civil servants and However, the government ap- ment. “Failure in action will pose isation for public assemblies. Sisi became president when millions of private-sector work- parently needs to do more. The real dangers to our social peace Hundreds of demonstrators took food import costs were depleting ers remained the same. An official parliament is expected to sum- and political stability.” part in protests in several cities, in- Egypt’s foreign currency reserves, report in August said the national mon the prime minister to inquire cluding Cairo, the textile hub of El the parallel market absorbed much poverty rate had jumped to 32.5%. about the government’s plan to Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian Mahalla and the northern coastal of the foreign currency in the mar- “The government should have prevent public anger from growing reporter in Cairo. Cairo media take shots at Turkey, Qatar as row mounts

Amr Emam Brotherhood. Turkey, whose na- cal science at Beni Suef University. ing the Turkish president as the The media war between Egypt tional broadcaster TRT consist- “This will force Egypt to react in least qualified person to talk about and Turkey and Qatar is a symptom ently criticises Egypt, hosts several kind.” democracy and human rights. The of a deep ideological, geostrategic Cairo Brotherhood TV channels. Egyptian media had remained Foreign Ministry accused Erdogan and economic struggle between the Turkey and Qatar, political ana- largely silent while Turkish and Qa- of personally sponsoring terrorist three states, analysts said. gypt’s pro-government pri- lysts said, undermine Egypt by sup- tari media stepped up attacks in re- organisations. Doha and Istanbul were hop- vate media have started a porting Islamist militias controlling cent years. It seems, however, that This probably was seen as per- ing that the prevalence of Islamist war with Turkish and Qatari Tripoli, Libya, and fighting the Cai- Egyptians are less likely to continue mission for pro-government pri- forces over Arab countries would E news outlets following ac- ro-backed National Libyan Army. to maintain the policy of restraint. vate media in Egypt to unleash at- give them leverage in those states, cusations that Istanbul and Doha Erdogan uses every opportunity In the intensified sniping, pro- tacks against Turkey and Qatar. they added. backed recent protests in Egypt. to criticise Egypt’s government. On government media in the three The media war, analysts said, is TV stations owned by supporters September 24, he told the UN Gen- countries are acting as proxies for grounded in fears that inaccura- of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah eral Assembly that Turkey would the regimes. Experts said there is cies or manipulations in reporting In the intensified al-Sisi dedicated prime news and continue to raise the case of Morsi, strong influence exerted on news Egyptian developments by Turkish sniping, pro-government talk shows to Turkey and Qatar, of- who died at an Egyptian court ear- organisations, not only by Cairo but and Qatari media could fuel unrest media in the three ten discussing what hosts describe lier this year. also by Doha and Ankara. in Egypt. countries are acting as as scandals of the ruling elites in “The two countries are purpose- The Egyptian Foreign Ministry is- “Egypt is fed up and is afraid be- proxies for the regimes. both countries. fully acting against Egyptian po- sued a strongly worded condemna- cause media have a great influence Some of the stations broadcast litical and security interests,” said tion of Erdogan a few hours after his now,” Yousry said. Turkey is being excluded from presumably leaked phone conver- Nadia Helmy, a professor of politi- General Assembly speech, describ- Those recently demonstrating the natural gas bonanza in the East sations between Turkish President in Egypt were reacting to videos Mediterranean region. Egypt’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his min- posted by a construction contrac- maritime border demarcation with isters, especially Finance Minister tor who accused Sisi of misspend- Greece and Cyprus is leaving Tur- Berat Albayrak, Erdogan’s son-in- ing public funds and the Egyptian key out, which is drawing angry law. Army of dominating the economy. statements from Istanbul. One station interviewed Turkish In reporting on the protests, Egypt has downgraded its dip- scholar Fethullah Gulen, an arch- Turkish and Qatari media used lomatic representation in Turkey, enemy of Erdogan, in which Gulen blatant fabrications. Some reports recalled its ambassador from Doha criticised Erdogan and his domestic used images of old protests to give and kicked the Turkish and Qatari and foreign policies. the impression that Egyptians were ambassadors out. “This is a natural reaction to revolting en masse against Sisi. Compounding this, the analysts the media war by both countries Egypt’s media war will most like- said, could be other economic and against Egypt,” said Jihan Yousry, a ly have little effect, experts said. political measures. media professor at Cairo University. Apart from the fact that the TV “Egypt should start real esca- “The two countries have been using stations participating in the cam- lation against the two countries, their media to incite against Egypt paign are all local, there is a lan- including by focusing on the hu- for years.” guage barrier, especially when it man rights violations committed in Egypt fell foul of Turkey and Qa- comes to the desire of Egypt’s me- them and uncovering them before tar, the region’s staunchest spon- dia to address the public in Turkey. the world public opinion,” Helmy sors of political Islam, in 2013 when “The campaign in Arabic is val- said. its army backed popular demands ueless,” said Sami Abdel Aziz, the “Egypt can also host Turkish and for ousting Islamist President Mu- former dean of the College of Mass Qatari opposition figures and allow hammad Morsi. Communication at Cairo Univer- them to operate freely here.” The two countries became ha- sity. “How will Egypt address the vens for the Islamist opposition, More than just news. An Egyptian man reads a newspaper in the Turkish public in a language it does Amr Emam is an Arab Weekly con- including those from the Muslim neighbourhood of El-Gamaliah in Cairo. (AP) not understand?” tributor in Cairo. October 6, 2019 9 News & Analysis Qatar

Away from base. F-22 Raptors prepare to take off at Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar. (Reuters) US trains on transfer of operations out of Qatar

Emily Przyborowski Officials said the remote-control was not publicly announced but between Washington and Teh- broke out with Iran, Al Udeid base drill had already been planned but officials said the temporary move ran. Becca Wasser, a senior policy would be a likely target. new technology and recent attacks was part of a long-term plan to analyst at the RAND Corporation, Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow Washington in the region led them to acceler- conduct operations in the Middle said: “This was another move that at the International Institute for ate the schedule. East from remote locations. Full had been in the works for some Strategic Studies, told the Post: ashington’s test-trans- operations were returned to Al time. It’s not a reaction to the lat- “It doesn’t take a whole heap of fer of US Air Force op- Udeid after 24 hours. est Iranian provocations but com- imagination to look at it and think erations from Al Udeid The possibility of the The Air Force is planning to oper- ing clean about it now is a clear if push came to shove and it was United States moving W Airbase in Qatar to ate remotely one full day a month message to Tehran.” a full-blown conflict, it would be Shaw Air Force Base in South Caro- operations from Al Udeid and eight hours a day in the fu- Last summer, retired US Air one of the priority targets.” lina is part of a US effort to adjust is likely to be a source of ture, the Washington Post report- Force General Charles F. Wald, a The tactical shift would lessen to emerging threats and new mili- concern and ed. Military officials told the Post former commander of US Central the effect of an attack on Al Udeid, tary realities, analysts said. disappointment for the increase in remote operations Command Air Forces, called for which might be difficult to defend. For 24 hours in September, con- Qatar. means positions in the base would the airbase to be closed if Qatar The US military seems to think trol of the operations was trans- be transferred to the United States. did not sever its connections with agility and adaptability are key no- ferred from the Combined Air and An estimated 11,000 US ser- The possibility of the United Iran. tions in meeting any challenges, Space Operations Centre (CAOC) at vice personnel are stationed at Al States moving operations from Al In an open letter to US President Byron Pompa, US Air Force Central Al Udeid to Shaw Air Force Base in Udeid, the largest US airbase in the Udeid is likely to be a source of Donald Trump, Wald said: “In Command operations director at South Carolina. Middle East since it began operat- concern and disappointment for this current climate, where Iran Al Udeid, told the Post. The United States’ move came ing in 2002. It houses the CAOC Qatar, which recently spent $1.8 is accused of attacking foreign oil “In times like today,” he said, after weeks of increased tensions and US Central Command staff. billion to expand the base. tankers and US drones and has “we can’t have a tonne of per- between Washington and Tehran. CAOC is one of the senior com- Although Washington has not announced it’s accelerating work manent-fixture operating bases The September 14 Saudi Aramco mands in the NATO air-defence discussed plans to fully transfer on its nuclear programme, Qatar throughout the area of responsi- attack and June 20 Iranian down- system, providing control over operations from the base, Doha’s must choose: It can keep its US air- bility.” ing of a US drone have raised con- airpower, including jets, bomb- close ties to Iran have made that an base or its ties to Tehran.” cerns among US military officials ers and unmanned aerial vehicles option in some US military circles. The transition to more remote Emily Przyborowski is an about a possible Iranian strike on throughout the Middle East. Some analysts said the move control of operations is a tactical Arab Weekly correspondent in US interests in the region. The shift-of-control operation was not in reaction to tensions move by the United States. If war Washington. Athletics championships turn into PR nightmare for Qatar

The Arab Weekly staff featuring the competition branding. ates independently from the world world-record holder Gebrselassie What went Even for the men’s 100-metre final body, were at the stadium to talk told the AP in a telephone interview. — the centrepiece of the champion- about potential misconduct in Do- Other distance events in Doha wrong during the London ships — fans were vastly outnum- ha’s bid. saw athletes fail to finish. In the bered by empty seats. “It is an area that is an area of men’s 50km walk, 15 of 46 starters championships: he IAAF World Athletics “The IAAF needs to learn and get concern not only to us but to oth- dropped out, and six out of 23 were Championships had been in- better, fill up stadiums and make ers,” AIU head Brett Clothier said, non-finishers in the women’s 50km tended to showcase Doha’s athletics a more interesting sport,” discussing the cooperation with walk. T preparedness for the 2022 said Akani Simbine, the South Af- French prosecutors. The championships revived alle- Lack of fan base led FIFA World Cup but ended being the rican who finished fourth in the Broadcasting from a set in the sta- gations of Qatari authorities abuse ● source of many headaches instead. 100-metre race. “That’s the thing dium, former athletes on the BBC of constrution workers. Before the to sparce attendance Glitches indicate major issues, in- they need to figure out.” attacked organisers. championships, Amnesty Inter- of the most popular cluding allegations of corruption IAAF President Sebastian Coe “Our governing body has let our national published “All Work, No and abuse of construction workers, can’t blame the 2014 IAAF decision athletes down massively,” said Den- Pay: The Struggle of Qatar’s Migrant IAAF events. that may not be worked out by 2022. awarding Qatar the 2019 champion- ise Lewis, the heptathlon gold med- Workers for Justice,” a report that Sicne the first days of the event, ship on predecessor Lamine Diack allist at the 2000 Olympics. detailed alleged abuse of foreign- lack of fans during the champi- because Coe was then an IAAF vice- Distance-running great Haile ers working on the construction of onships triggered criticism of the president and served on the bid Gebrselassie said it was a mistake sports sites and who, Amnesty In- Intolerable heat IAAF’s decision to award its show- evaluation committee. to have the track and field world ternational said, “were ruthlessly ● piece event to a tiny country with- After the bid vote, Coe said Qatar championships in Qatar and that and systematically exploited.” even at night out a significant track and field fan “put some incentives on the table,” marathon runners could have died It said hundreds of the workers prevented many of base and with desert heat. including building athletics facili- from the heat. Even running the had been sent home without pay. Evidence of sparse attendance ties around the world. A year later, marathon at midnight did not allow “We’re not against the world ath- the athletes from was obvious when Jamaican Shelly- Coe told British parliamentarians he runners to miss the heat. letics championship being staged in completing their Ann Fraser-Pryce took her victory was unsure if the bid was clean. The women’s marathon started at Doha but Qatar’s shameful record lap September 30 after winning her Qatar’s conduct in bidding for midnight September 28 to avoid the over the exploitation of migrant races. fourth 100-metre title. With empty the IAAF championships is the sub- worst of the heat in Qatar but was workers in the country mustn’t be seats dominating the background, ject of a criminal investigation in still run in humid conditions that airbrushed out of the picture ei- most of those on hand for the wom- France. made it feel like 40 Celsius. Twen- ther,” said Allan Hogarth, Amnesty The championships en’s 100 final seemed to be Jamai- A preliminary charge of “active ty-eight of the 68 women dropped International UK’s head of policy ● can supporters, team officials or corruption” was filed in May against out, 30 runners were given medi- and Government Affairs. revived allegations of Fraser-Pryce family members, the Nasser al-Khelaifi, the chairman cal inspections and one was briefly Sports experts worry about the corruption during the Associated Press (AP) reported. of the beIN media group and runs hospitalised. possible significance of the athlet- When bidding for the 2017 cham- French football team Paris Saint- “It was a mistake to conduct the ics championship’s mishaps and Doha bid and of abuse pionships, Doha promised the IAAF Germain, alleging a $3.5 million championship in such hot weather other organisational concerns on of construction that every session would be sold payment to an IAAF official. Khelaifi in Doha, especially the marathon the organisation of the FIFA World out and there would be “no empty denies any wrongdoing race. As someone who has been in Cup in 2022. workers. seats.” Tens of thousands of seats Officials of the Athletics Integrity the sport for many years, I’ve found instead were covered with fabric Unit (AIU), an IAAF unit that oper- it unacceptable,” former marathon (With news agencies.) 10 October 6, 2019 News & Analysis Syria Interview Syrian opposition leader calls for pressure on Damascus as constitution talks loom

and a member of the constitutional tee can be a first step in the right committee, said she did not expect direction.” much from the government of Syr- Syria is scheduled to have presi- Thomas Seibert ian President Bashar Assad at the dential elections in 2021 and the Not expecting much. Vice-president of the Istanbul-based Syrian Geneva talks. United Nations hopes the consti- National Coalition Dima Moussa. (Courtesy of Dima Moussa) “The Assad regime’s strategy tutional talks can create a climate has always been to buy time and and mechanism for free and fair yrian opposition leader undermine and cripple the political elections. society — to draft constitutional Assad,” Moussa said. Dima Moussa has called process,” Moussa said in an inter- Assad’s government, which has proposals before taking them to “Idlib is the last safe haven for for international view. “The Assad regime has done all but won the war militarily with the full 150-member committee. Syrians who do not want to or pressure on the Damas- everything and anything to hinder the help of Russia, is highly un- Decisions require a 75% majority to cannot live under regime control. cus government at talks any progress and the process of the likely to offer concessions on that make sure no group dominates the There is no Idlib after Idlib. Unless about a new constitution constitutional committee will not front. Syrian officials suggested As- proceedings. there is a solution, conditions in Sfor the war-torn country. be any different.” sad, who is 54 and has ruled Syria Moussa said only outside pres- Syria will continue to deteriorate. After almost two years of nego- Having opposition and civil for almost 20 years, will run for sure could ensure that Assad’s There will be more waves of refu- tiations and setbacks, the United society representatives in the office again. The opposition says government would agree to com- gees.” Nations announced the creation committee “will make the regime there can be no overall political promises in Geneva. Even if the committee can agree of a constitutional committee for resolution to the conflict as long as “There are two countries that on a new basic law and fresh elec- Syria. The panel, which includes Assad remains in power. support the regime: Russia and tions, the challenges are daunting. 50 representatives each from the Speaking at the United Nations, Iran. If anybody can apply pressure “Syrians inside and outside government, the opposition and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid on the regime, it is those two coun- the country will need to feel safe civil society, is to meet for the first Even if the committee Muallem reaffirmed the govern- tries, especially Russia,” she said. enough to vote freely,” Moussa time October 30 in Geneva. can agree on a new ment’s support for the commit- Pressure on Russia to lean on said. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir basic law and fresh tee. However, he also cemented Damascus had to come from the She said the opposition had Pedersen called the committee “a opposition concerns that Damascus entire international community, several core demands for the new sign of hope for the long-suffering elections, the could slow down the panel’s work, Moussa added. “There has to be constitution: “Equal citizenship, Syrian people” after more than challenges are insisting that “no deadlines or more engagement of geopolitical respect and freedoms for the eight years of a war that has timetables must be imposed on the interests, especially from the US citizens; a government that serves killed hundreds of thousands and daunting. committee.” and the EU. There needs to be a the people and not the other way displaced about half of the prewar Moussa, a 41-year-old US-trained real will,” she said. around; separation of powers — population of 22 million. even more obstructionist,” Moussa lawyer from Homs, joined the op- The Syrian war has become a right now, the president is capable The fact that the government added. position shortly after the conflict focus for EU countries since hun- of enacting any laws he wants; and and the opposition accepted the The gulf between the govern- erupted in 2011 and has been vice- dreds of thousands of refugees ar- military and security services that United Nations’ rules for the work ment and the opposition remained president of the SNC since last year. rived there in 2015. A pact between protect the people.” of the committee marked “the deep, Pedersen admitted. As one of the 50 opposition mem- Europe and Turkey stemmed the Moussa said she would travel to first concrete political agreement “This is a deeply divided society. bers of the constitutional commit- flow but Ankara warned that a Syr- Geneva with “conflicting feelings.” between the two sides,” Pedersen There is a lack of trust, obviously tee, she is to travel to Geneva for ian government offensive in Idlib “There have been over eight said in a UN statement. between the two parties, but there the inaugural session of the panel. province, the last rebel bastion in years of seeing so much blood be- However, Moussa, vice-presi- is also a lack of trust between Syria The UN plan calls for the creation Syria, could trigger a new influx of ing shed. I feel a huge responsibil- dent of the Istanbul-based Syrian and the international community,” of a smaller group of delegates — 15 up to 1 million people. ity,” she said. “We realise that the National Coalition (SNC), a major Pedersen told Reuters. “So, hope- members each from the govern- “It is in Europe’s self-interest to constitution by itself is not going to group of the opposition-in-exile, fully, the constitutional commit- ment, the opposition and civil convince Russia to put pressure on solve all of Syria’s problems.” Caution over Syria constitution process

Simon Speakman Cordall noteworthy. UK Foreign Secretary the Syrian society. You know differ- Kurdish allies, as well as block any However, with allegations of gas Dominic Raab termed it a “wel- ent ethnic, different religious com- move towards establishing a Kurd- attacks in Idlib, the committee’s come first step” and the leader of munities and, of course, different ish statelet near Turkey’s border. chances of destigmatising the As- Tunis the opposition, Nasr Hariri, said political affiliations.” “The talks are less about estab- sad regime to the point Western “the battle is still long.” Idlib is likely to prove pivotal to lishing a settlement for Syrians than funds could become available for n what has been billed as one UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir the committee and future talks. they are about trying to come up reconstruction seem a long shot. of the greatest advances for in- Pedersen said the committee’s first Both the Syrian government and with a workable framework for the In addition, if only as a response ternational democracy in Syria meeting would be October 30 but Russia are engaged in a campaign to Iranians, Turks and Russians,” said to public pressure at home and I since UN members called for a cautioned that fighting across Syr- wrest control of the province from Ryan Bohl, a MENA analyst with US diplomatic pressure from abroad, ceasefire and talks in 2015, the for- ia, especially in Idlib province, may jihadist groups, including formerly geopolitical intelligence platform the United States is unlikely to re- mation of the country’s constitu- slow negotiations in Geneva. al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al- Stratfor. “With Russia and Iran linquish its Syrian stronghold and, tional committee was announced “The situation in the north-east Sham, which dominates it. helping, (Syrian President Bashar) with it, its Kurdish allies on the September 23. is one of many challenges that we That has placed them in danger- Assad move on Idlib, undercutting basis of a new Syrian Constitution Some analysts remained cau- do have,” Pedersen told Voice of ous proximity to Turkish forces Turkey’s influence and reputation alone. tious, however, viewing the pro- America. “What we have made sure and their proxies, deployed along there, the three big powers have a cess as more designed to buy time is that the committee has a broad Syria’s northern border to thwart major problem.” for Russia and Iran as they seek to representation from all segments of the influence of the United States’ Bohl said neither Moscow nor Consensus over the balance commitments to the Assad Tehran wanted to jeopardise the mandate of the influence they’ve gained in Damas- regime with conflicting relations committee seems with Turkey. cus by pressuring Assad to slow his The mood in New York was una- advance on Idlib. Neither was ei- distant, with opposition shamedly optimistic. UN Secretary- ther party keen on seeing inflamed and regime figures General Antonio Guterres said the tensions with Turkey. arguing whether it serves “credible, balanced and inclusive” “The committee is meant to slow to rewrite the 150-member committee would down this process, de-escalate it constitution or merely convene in Geneva, expected to and see if there’s a diplomatic path consider potential first meet October 30, allowing the that would allow Turkey to hold amendments to it. United Nations to adopt a “broader some of its gains in northern Syria political process forward.” — particularly in assuring Ankara The regime and opposition were that Syria won’t become a major “Again, this goes back to the idea each assigned 50 committee mem- base for Kurdish militants to attack that this process is mostly window bers, with civil society groups and Turkey itself,” Bohl said. dressing when it comes to Syrian independents making up the rest. “A symbolic constitutional pro- politics. Assad is going nowhere Consensus over the mandate of the cess is likely to emerge, if only for and his power will not be diluted,” committee seems distant, with op- the sake of reassuring Turkey that Bohl said, “but the process has position and regime figures argu- its interests are being taken into ac- great value to Turkey, Russia and ing whether it serves to rewrite the count for the civil war’s final phas- Iran as they negotiate the shape constitution or merely consider po- es,” Bohl continued, “but it would of their influence as the civil war tential amendments to it. be symbolic: at the end of the day, comes to an end.” However, after years of fighting Many challenges. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen a new Syrian constitution will not and two years of negotiations, that attends a news conference in Geneva on the creation of a change the brute political facts on Simon Speakman Cordall the committee has been formed is constitutional committee for Syria, October 2. (AFP) the ground.” is a freelance writer. October 6, 2019 11 Spotlight Fighting Extremism Conditions propitious for extremism in the Arab world

Mustafa Abid the Fatimid state. In his works, Ismail focuses on the link between history and the pre- Cairo sent, which he did in “Contemporary Fundamentalist Discourse,” “The f we want to have some control Islamic Caliphate Between Thought over our present and our future – and History” and “The Controversy and avoid repeating mistakes, it of the I and the Other.” I is essential we develop an acute Ismail explained that the general awareness of history. This is the ar- climate in many Arab countries is gument put forth by Mahmoud Is- ideal for accommodating and em- mail, a professor of Islamic history at bracing extremists. Even after the Ain Shams University, when he tries “Arab spring” revolutions, freedoms to determine the future of extremist are lacking in many countries that religious groups in the Arab world. have witnessed incomplete revolu- Ismail said terrorist organisations tions. will not be disappearing anytime Strangely enough, there are repeat soon in the Middle East. He bluntly performances of the policies that stated that the time of the Muslim had led to public anger and paved Brotherhood, al-Qaeda, the Islamic the way to religious movements to State (ISIS) and others has not end- take over the public arena and reach ed. power in some countries. “Do not think that the defeat of He reiterated that the denial of ISIS means the end of the time of ter- freedoms and the refusal of intellec- rorist organisations. These organisa- tual pluralism allow the expansion tions mutate or are reborn and they of clandestine groups and that the are able to expand as long as the sur- death of politics is not in the interest rounding environment allows them of the Arab regimes, insisting that, to grow and renew themselves,” he when ruling elites fail to internalise said. the lessons of history, Arab countries fall into the hands of extremist reli- gious regimes. Washington played a Far from defeated. Men suspected of being ISIS fighters wait to be searched by members of the He also pointed out that it is dan- Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces after leaving Baghouz in northern Syria, last February. (AFP) major role in supporting gerous to maintain stifling condi- the Muslim Brotherhood tions in a country, especially at the to reach power in Egypt economic and social levels, because In the introduction to “The Mar- litical bias. These policies would be impos- after the revolution of that allows for religious groups to at- ginalised in Egyptian History,” Is- Because of his long research and sible to introduce and implement January 25, 2011. tract new supporters. mail wrote: “We need to monitor experience in underground and under a respectable civil regime. Ismail stressed that the persis- the deterioration of the situation extremist movements, Ismail said “Even the bloody organisations Ismail issued that warning in tence of a great inequity between of Egyptians in real time. This de- he believes that the Muslim Broth- that claim hostility to the West speaking to The Arab Weekly after social classes after the revolutions terioration had triggered popular erhood is not ready to be co-opt- and America, such as ISIS, do not a three-year hiatus from writing be- and the worsening of economic con- anger that took various forms, such ed now or in the near future. The operate outside the control and cause of illness. ditions represent an ever-present as demonstrations and strikes in all Brotherhood is a crafty organisa- influence of Western intelligence He said the best way to stop terror- threat that should not be underesti- sectors. The reaction was the rise tion and represents the most op- services,” Ismail said. These ser- ist movements and keep them from mated because deteriorating condi- of extremist religious movements portunistic and chameleon-like vices “often breach and penetrate spreading is to have more freedom, tions of education and culture do not that adopt violence as a method religious organisations, he said. Islamic organisations and groups expand political participation and allow liberal or enlightened thought of confrontation and which the It does not believe in the concept with a view to influencing state address the economic and social im- to exist. Unbearable economic and government has succeeded in sup- of a homeland and is by far the policies.” balances in Arab countries that have social conditions inevitably lead to pressing but, because of the politi- mother organisation from which Ismail said using religion for po- experienced revolutions. unprecedented extremism. “History cal and intellectual bankruptcy of all violent and bloody religious or- litical ends “is a bad proposition Ismail has more than 50 publica- shows that clearly and we must learn all political parties without excep- ganisations emerged, even if they because the conflict between re- tions in Arabic to his credit, notably from it,” said Ismail. tion, we believe that a revolution is deny it. ligion and secularism is artificial. “Is This the End of Ibn Khaldoun,” Ismail’s predictions about the on its way.” Ismail said Washington played a Secularism is not apostasy. In fact, “The Marginalised in Islamic Histo- return of Islamist movements be- It can be said that the decision- major role in supporting the Mus- Islam is the religion of secular- ry,” “The Marginalised in European cause of the cloning by authorities making circles in Egypt could have lim Brotherhood to reach power in ism and the secularism that was History” and “Secret Movements of pre-“Arab spring” policies cannot avoided much of what happened Egypt after the revolution of Janu- prevailing in Europe, except for in Islam.” He is known for his two- be ignored. He was one of the few in January 2011 if they had heeded ary 25, 2011. It wanted to use it for France, was not opposed to re- volume publication about the soci- scholars who predicted the outbreak the warnings of a man who, for the implementation of certain pol- ligion but was all for upholding ology of Islamic thought as well as of public anger against authorities five decades, offered his views as icies that would be consistent with common sense and justice.” for his books about the history of the two years before the “Arab spring” an independent thinker and re- the organisation’s ideological de- Islamic caliphate and the history of began. searcher without partisan or po- nial of the concept of a homeland. Mustafa Abid is an Egyptian writer.

Viewpoint Syria’s al-Hol camp presents grave challenges

t the end of September, prisons served as a significant re- “Unless Iraq follows through with ‘freed’,” she noted. in the section of the source for the insurgents. At Camp its relatively draconian sentencing The presence of the “ISIS women” al-Hol refugee camp in Bucca and other locations, future policies (note, they failed to do so in al-Hol makes administering the James Snell north-eastern Syria that ISIS leaders were housed together in 2007-11 and many on ‘death row’ camp more difficult and serves as houses foreigners, and then often released and formed were in Abu Ghraib when the break- a perverse justification for a lack Russian women — sup- the leadership cadre that established out happened in 2013), it’s hard not to of international action to improve portersA of the Islamic State — ISIS in Syria to form its multinational see where this goes,” Whiteside said. conditions or deal with the foreign- severely beat two Turkistani caliphate. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a fellow at the ers present who are unrepentant and women, apparently because their Domestic fear of repatriating ISIS Foreign Policy Research Institute, violent. victims refused sharia indoctrina- supporters prevents them from being said that, while “ISIS undoubtedly As grave as this direct threat seems, tion. split up and processed at home but wishes to be able to conduct prison Tsurkov argued, “more attention Stories such as these from the for- keeping them together in Syria, in a breaks, as long as the international should be paid to the disastrous eigners’ annex of al-Hol have become situation they can continue to dem- coalition maintains its protection humanitarian situation in the camp too common. onstrate and enforce their ideology, is over north-eastern Syria… I do not and the fact that most residents are Approximately 10,000 foreigners no resolution. believe that ISIS will become power- children.” are thought to be accommodated at Craig Whiteside, a counterterror- ful enough or have the opportunity to Analyst Ryan O’Farrell said the suf- al-Hol, many of them picked up from ism researcher, said: “The Bucca break out any of its members.” fering of those in al-Hol had become the remnants of the caliphate the problem is a serious one and a reflec- The Syrian Democratic Forces a minor cause celebre among ISIS Islamic State (ISIS) claimed it would tion of the difficulties of this trans- (SDF), whose fighters are responsible supporters. More directly, “the camp create. national problem where individual for the camp, periodically attempts to isn’t a recruitment site for fighters Most inhabitants of the camp are country laws and politics prevent any raise alarm in foreign capitals about but it is a humanitarian crisis and locals and most of the foreigners in shared solution.” the burdens it bears. It suggests that virtually guaranteeing that tens of al-Hol are children. Among the for- “The politics of holding detain- escapes or prison breaks or even the thousands of children are raised in eign women are true believers of the ees with little battlefield evidence trading or releasing of prisoners on its that ideology, which has huge secu- Islamic State, who profess continued and the almost certainty of abuse, watch, could become likely without rity implications in the years ahead,” loyalty to its leader and seek to im- neglect, prison breakouts, corruption new international help. he said. pose its values, by force if necessary, that goes with these activities almost “The SDF, forced to deal with this Debate about al-Hol has the poten- on the unwilling. repel states from getting anywhere population largely by itself due to tial to be as indecisive as the interna- Al-Hol presents a grave humanitar- near these locations,” he added. “So, irresponsible policies of the coun- tional response to those living there ian challenge. Thousands live there in instead of trying, countries choose tries of origin of the foreign families, but common solutions exist. If al-Hol is primarily deteriorating conditions with little lo- neglect over half-hearted measures naturally has an interest in presenting If al-Hol is primarily seen as a hot- seen as a hotbed of cal or international relief in sight. The that have too much political risk.” the threat as serious and imminent,” bed of support for terror, repatriating children present, even the children Whiteside said that not only have Tsurkov said. “ISIS women” prevents their free support for terror, of ISIS fighters and “ISIS women,” do ISIS’s and its predecessor’s opera- But “even if ISIS were to gain association and diminishes the harm repatriating “ISIS not belong in such a place. tions broken supporters out of prison, the ability to carry out attacks to they could do to others. If al-Hol is women” prevents Because of actions by “ISIS notably in the escape of up to 500 break out its detained members and understood primarily as a humani- women,” the camp is referred to in supporters from Abu Ghraib in 2013, supporters, I believe [ISIS] would tarian catastrophe, allowing thou- their free association government and think-tank analyses many were released through amnes- prioritise prisons with male combat- sands of children to exist there, in and diminishes the as a location of real ISIS support from ties and concessions to the problems ants and not camps full of women conditions of deprivation and torpor, which a resurgent terror group may encountered by local bureaucracies with malnourished and pneumonia- simply cannot be justified. harm they could do to draw members and resources. in holding so many difficult prison- ridden children for whom they others. In Iraq, during the occupation, ers. would have to provide services once James Snell is a British journalist. 12 October 6, 2019 Debate Lebanon

The rage in Beirut is a reminder of Lebanon’s toxic politics

Makram Rabah

he streets of downtown Beirut were momentar- ily transformed into a war zone when an anti-government demonstration turned Tinto a riot that involved protesters burning tyres and closing main streets leading to the heart of the Lebanese capital. Despite a small turnout and the petering out of the crowds, the September 29 protest spread fear across the country as an omen of what might come if Lebanon’s economic downturn goes into full meltdown. It was not the voices of the protesters demanding the over- throw of the corrupt political establishment but rather the message the vandalism and rioting carried to both Lebanon and the international community and what would come if the United States’ maximum pressure campaign and the sanctions on Iran and its main auxiliary Hezbollah continue. The protest was triggered by a crisis that erupted after a high demand on dollars led to the currency’s scarcity, forcing the Lebanese Central Bank and the banking sector to take measures that caused havoc and a currency stampede. Toxic system. Anti-government protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in front of the government house in downtown Beirut, While the prime reason for the September 29. (AP) economic meltdown is to be found in unethical and corrupt policies pre-emptive move on the part of violent message allows the two somewhat unavoidable fate, the methods, ones that would pave the — or lack of policy — of successive Hezbollah and its Syrian allies to factions to justify their inability to Lebanese are trying to envision the way for a deep state capable of Lebanese governments, the protect their racketeering business implement economic sanctions day after their economic doomsday standing up to any challenge, immediate reason is the US and to ensure that no obstacles against Hezbollah. and what will basically happen to including any Hezbollah-like sanctions against Hezbollah and disrupt the channels, which they Consequently, under the pretext their savings and their liveli- hostile takeover such as the the latter’s reactions and actions to intend to continue using. that tighter sanctions would lead hoods. present one. avoid them. One of the most vivid threats to full-scale civil war, the Lebanese While true that the Lebanese are The violence on the streets of It was not only the Syrian that was issued to the international state can appeal to the Trump renowned for their great resilience Beirut is another rude reminder of regime’s and Hezbollah’s need for community, and to the US govern- administration to delay or recon- and strength against the odds, the what awaits Lebanon if a drastic hard currency that sparked this ment in particular, is that Hezbol- sider measures that could be current political and economic emergency economic plan is not crisis but equally that many of lah can threaten Lebanon’s counterproductive to the initial meltdown is one of unprecedented immediately and fully imple- Lebanon’s merchant class have stability and security through goal of the sanctions — the contain- magnitude and long-lasting mented. Hoping for Hezbollah to been importing key commodities these ostensibly disgruntled young ment and weakening of Iran. effects. abandon its violent world outlook for the Syrian regime, which they men and does not need to use its The riots, equally, will perhaps Yet, what is more alarming is that is clearly a losing bet on which only “legally” export to Syria. armed militia, like it did in May give Hariri enough ammunition to the Lebanese political class and the compulsive gamblers would Such supplies include petroleum 2008 when it led a failed coup hammer through the pledges of the public have not realised that while consider a wager. products and medicine, which is against the government of former CEDRE economic conference by the crisis might appear as financial, priced and paid for in dollars, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. appealing to its French patrons and in fact, it rests in the toxicity of the Makram Rabah is a lecturer at the forcing Lebanese merchants to go Depicted as an attack on its main stressing the urgency of dispensing Lebanese political system and the American University of Beirut and to the black market in search for Christian ally President Michel the funds to prevent the economic ruling establishment that refuse to author of “A Campus at War: dollars as demand increases. Aoun and, by extension, Prime collapse of Lebanon. abandon its 18th-century practices Student Politics at the American Consequently, the rioting was a Minister Saad Hariri, Hezbollah’s Faced with a gloomy and and adopt modern governance University of Beirut, 1967-1975.” The message Hezbollah is sending through street protests

sorts resulting from the “abnor- ble for the country’s monetary rumoured. The Trump adminis- to Hezbollah’s has produced mal phenomenon” of withdraw- policy. The central bank is also tration is aware of a network of some results. ing large quantities of dollars the authority responsible for major interests and benefits run This is what led Hezbollah to Ali al-Amin from the market. overseeing Lebanese banks and by Hezbollah from within official send more than one message Lebanon’s central bank refused consequently is the authority institutions. through the protests. The party is to supply dollars to the market that the US Treasury Department The party is also in charge of a basically saying that it won’t ebanon has been because activity was running will hold accountable for guaran- mafia-type network of legal and allow it to be suffocated econom- shaken by a series of contrary to the usual currency teeing the compliance of Leba- illegal business interests belong- ically and, if suffocation is street protests in transactions. This led to the rise nese banks with US sanctions. ing to Lebanese and non-Leba- inevitable, then all of Lebanon Beirut and several of the dollar exchange rate to Sanctions on Hezbollah led the nese. US sources said Lebanon will suffocate with it. other areas, with main 1,700 Lebanese pounds while the party, specifically Secretary- has become an illegal market for The protests involved political roads blocked with central bank of Lebanon main- General Hassan Nasrallah, to turn Iranian products, especially in messages, the first of which was Lburning tyres. The protests were tained its rate of slightly more to Tehran for help. Hezbollah the medicine and steel that Lebanon is ready to live in largely spontaneous and limited than 1,500 pounds to the dol- circles said Nasrallah’s visit to sectors, benefiting from political chaos if economic in size. Small as they were, lar. Tehran, following his Hezbollah’s control of pressure and financial sanctions however, they were not devoid of The protected financial mafias renewing his loyalty to illegal ports and of its continue on Hezbollah. political messages. bought dollars at currency Iranian Supreme direct and indirect A second message was that There is no doubt that the exchange shops and other outlets Leader Ali Khame- The economic crisis influence over the security and stability in Lebanon economic crisis in Lebanon has at attractive prices. More than nei, took place in in Lebanon has legitimate ports. are not an unavoidable destiny worsened, increasing pressures one Lebanese financial expert the context of worsened, increasing Economic and anyone wishing for security on the daily lives of citizens and spoke of operations moving large providing pressures on the daily analysts said the and stability in the country, be it mistrust between the authorities quantities of paper dollars to financial lives of citizens and US position the Europeans or the Americans, and the people. Syria. resources to mistrust between the indicates that the must first deal with the fact that There is another aspect to the Other monitoring sources Hezbollah. authorities and the course of sanc- Hezbollah is the key to stabil- crisis, however, in what can be advanced the theory of Hezbol- These circles like people. tions, although ity. seen as the repercussions of the lah’s decision to rely on the black to repeat that slow, is a long-term A third warning to the banks, US sanctions on Hezbollah and market for its foreign currency “Nasrallah spoke policy aimed at one that the party promoted in those that are the result of needs to offset the consequences forcibly with the Iranian producing a complete the media, was that protecting frustration of the international of the sanctions and meet its leadership about the need to separation between Hezbollah Lebanon from US sanctions community, particularly France, financial needs because it has give priority to supporting and its various arms as well as requires protecting Hezbollah as with the failure of the Lebanese become increasingly difficult for Hezbollah financially and at the between Lebanese institutions, a Lebanese component rather authorities to carry out required the party to use usual bank level required by reality, espe- whether official or private. than an external force and that reforms for the release of the channels because Lebanese cially in the event of an Israeli This course is not without risks the behaviour of the central bank funds garnered in the CEDRE banks have become very cautious aggression on Lebanon.” and cannot guarantee the governor is no longer acceptable conference. about participating in them. What senior US Treasury success of the US goals but it and justifies his firing. Lebanon recently experienced Hezbollah recently stepped up officials said during their visit to seems that scaring financial a shortage of US dollars in the its attacks on the central bank Beirut appears to be much more parties in Lebanon about the Ali al-Amin is a Lebanese currency market, a mini-crisis of governor because he is responsi- serious than what had been danger of linking their interests writer. October 6, 2019 13 Debate Palestine Israel

A Gantz-led government would only slightly improve prospects for peace

yahu that had been scheduled for October 2. Gregory Officials from Gantz’s party Aftandilian charged that Likud was headed to the negotiating table with preconditions and without ven though Binyamin having shed right-wing and Netanyahu’s Likud religious parties. Blue and White party won one seat officials charged that Likud was less than the Blue and demanding that Netanyahu be White alliance, led by prime minister first. former army chief-of- Likud charged that Blue and Estaff Benny Gantz, Israeli White officials were playing President Reuven Rivlin tasked political games with the inten- Netanyahu with forming a tion of scuttling unity talks in the government. hope for new Israeli elections. This is because Netanyahu Underlying these problematic initially had a total of 55 Knesset manoeuvres was news that members on his side (32 from Israel’s independent attorney Likud plus those from right-wing general planned to move ahead secular and religious parties) with corruption charges against compared with 54 for Gantz (33 Netanyahu. for the Blue and White plus those The Washington Post reported from left and centre secular that, while Israeli law allows a parties and Arab parties). With prime minister to remain in the Knesset comprising 120 office while being prosecuted, members, one needs at least 61 to many Israeli legal scholars say form a governing coalition. the corruption charges are so Lesser of two evils? Members of Knesset Yair Lapid (L) of Yesh Atid and Benny Gantz of the Israel Rivlin’s preference is for Likud serious that the Israeli Supreme Resilience party, both part of the Blue and White alliance, sit together during a meeting in Jerusalem, and the Blue and White to form a Court will intervene to compel October 3. (AFP) national unity government with Netanyahu to step down if he is alternating prime ministers. indicted. Rivlin brought Netanyahu and There is speculation in Israel of a peace deal. yahu as playing the anti-Arab by edging Gantz, should he Gantz together at his home on that Netanyahu may be angling Gantz’s position on the card and not interested in a peace become prime minister, to be September 25 to discuss that to strike a deal with the attorney Israeli-Palestinian situation is deal that would, by necessity, more accommodating to the possibility. Such a government general to resign as prime less clear. At a news conference involve territorial compromise. Palestinians. With Trump facing has been done before in Israel, so minister in return for no prosecu- in April he refused to say whether If Gantz were to rely on what is possible impeachment, he does it would not be too strange to do tion. With Netanyahu in legal he favoured an independent known as the United Arab List to not want to alienate supporters it again. trouble, Gantz may conclude he Palestinian state. He added that form a coalition government, he within the Christian evangelical However, efforts to form a does not need to enter into a Israel should retain the Jordan would have to show more community and right-wing government were bogged down coalition with his rival. Why Valley, not go back to the 1967 flexibility on the Palestinian elements of the American Jewish by secular versus religious issues commit to anything when your lines, and that Jerusalem should issue. community by being seen as and personal rivalries. Netan- rival might have to resign in the “stay united as our capital.” This is where Washington putting pressure on Israel. yahu’s courting of religious very near future? He then called for new Israeli could play an important role. US Hence, while Israel under a parties has made a union with Should Netanyahu weather the and Palestinian leadership in President Donald Trump, despite Gantz leadership would be Gantz and his supporters difficult storm and remain prime minis- order to strike a peace deal. What the political gifts he gave to slightly better for the Palestin- because many of Gantz’s backers ter, the chances for an Israeli- type of deal he envisions within Netanyahu such as recognising ians, without a strong US role in say religious parties have had too Palestinian peace deal are these parameters is unknown. Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the parties to a deal, the much sway over the Israeli virtually non-existent. During His only promising statement Israeli sovereignty over the Golan prospects for a solution to the polity. the election campaign Netan- was: “We do not want to rule the Heights, apparently feels no Israeli-Palestinian situation are As for a unity government yahu promised to continue Palestinians.” compunction to stick with the very slim. between Likud and the Blue and settlement building and annex For Israeli Arabs, who won 13 current Israeli leader. As Trump White, which would bring their parts of the West Bank. Some seats in the parliamentary has said many times within the Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer in combined seats to 65, more than members of his right-wing elections because of their higher US domestic context, he prefers the Pardee School of Global Studies enough to form governing coalition are adamantly opposed voter turnout, most of them are winners over losers. at Boston University and a former coalition, Gantz cancelled a to any territorial compromise, throwing their support behind Trump, however, does not US State Department Middle East follow-on meeting with Netan- which would negate any chance Gantz because they see Netan- want to expend political capital analyst. With or without Netanyahu, West Bank annexation is on Israel’s agenda

expression of God’s support for the Golan Heights — a formal unspecified “vital” areas. dimensions of Palestinian annexation of the entire West move that Israel itself has yet to “There is one place where we authority around Jericho Geoffrey Bank but after the Likud leader’s make — and to assert that “Israel can apply Israeli sovereignty outlined in the Oslo agree- Aronson surprise election victory in 1977, has right to some but unlikely immediately after the elections,” ments. then Israeli Foreign Minister all” of the West Bank. Netanyahu said days before the Despite the noise generated by Moshe Dayan forced the new These diplomatic develop- September election, “If I receive Netanyahu’s declarations, the uring Israel’s prime minister to refrain from ments are conditioned on the from you, citizens of Israel, a Israeli public refused to award election season, the West Bank’s de jure annexa- success of Israel’s settlement clear mandate to do so… today I him carte blanche to make good incumbent Prime tion as long as the international drive and its insatiable appetite announce my intention to apply, on his annexation promises. A Minister Binyamin diplomatic effort led by Wash- for West Bank land. Israelis living with the formation of the next government based on the Netanyahu’s ington continued. outside the borders of the state government, Israeli sovereignty election results will nevertheless promise to annex In the following decades, more number more than 700,000. over the Jordan Valley and north- be sympathetic to his annexation Dparts of the West Bank became than 200 Israeli settlements were They comprise a significant part ern Dead Sea.” agenda, particularly in the the policy centrepiece of his established and both the Syrian of Israel’s electorate whose needs Netanyahu’s patent for Jordan Valley, which is viewed as campaign. Golan Heights (in 1981) and as citizens — from schools to anticipated annexation in the an essential security asset and in How will the ambiguous Jerusalem (1980) were declared roads and property rights — are Jordan Valley, a mixed city such settlements comprising “Greater results of the September 17 vote, by Israel’s Knesset to be insepa- ignored by Israeli politicians at as Hebron, and the remainder of Jerusalem” and the suburban which awarded no party a clear rable parts of Israel — annexed de their peril. the West Bank is based on the outposts east of Tel Aviv. path to forming a ruling majority jure as well as de facto. Little wonder then that none territorial division first However, a coalition govern- in the 120-member Knesset, Neither Israel’s declarations of Israel’s most popular Zionist expressed in the Oslo era — ment of the sort now contem- affect the prospects for Israel’s nor the associated policy of parties has seen any political annexation of maximum West plated, as well as the prospect of annexation of Hebron, Greater “creating facts” on the ground advantage in opposing the Bank territory (Area C) and the a Netanyahu-led caretaker Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and removed the areas from the current dynamic favouring limitation of Palestinians to government until yet another the scores of settlements that negotiation agenda. Israeli annexation and avoiding their Israeli-defined minimal election next spring if such have long dominated 60% of the decisions to annex Jerusalem unpopular discussion of territorial assets (Areas A efforts fail, limit Israel’s ability West Bank, Oslo’s Area C? and the Golan were declared territorial compromise and B) without to take such momentous Netanyahu is not the first “null and void” at the United and the creation of a Jerusalem. initiatives. Israeli leader to support annex- Nations. Palestinian state. Neither Israel’s Netanyahu’s A sympathetic administration ing parts of territories conquered The territorial division of Netanyahu’s declarations nor the map of the Jordan in Washington has done much to by Israel in June 1967. Within Jerusalem was a key element of re-election associated policy of Valley region encourage Netanyahu’s public days of that victory, the Knesset diplomacy conducted by US campaign sought “creating facts” on the offers important support for annexation. Trump’s voted overwhelmingly to Presidents Bill Clinton and to take political ground removed the hints about growing domestic problems, “extend Israeli law and jurisdic- George W. Bush and an Israeli advantage of this areas from the Israel’s annexa- however, may force White House tion and public administration to retreat from the Golan Heights hospitable negotiation agenda. tion strategy and attentions closer to home. any part of the Land of Israel.” was the focus of negotiations environment for its roots in the In any case, no matter who sits The annexation incorporating with Syria during the first years unilateral Israeli Oslo era division of in the prime minister’s office, it not only Jordanian (East) of this century. decisions regarding the territory into is Israel’s appetite for the West Jerusalem but additional West However, the failure of those annexation. He promised Areas A, B and C. This Bank, rather than internationally Bank lands to the north and east efforts created space for the to annex the Jordan Valley 1995 agreement set aside 60% sanctioned demand for Israeli were, after application of this re-emerging popularity of area and the northern Dead of the West Bank under withdrawal and Palestinian administrative order by the annexation in Israel and not only Sea (some 25% of the West Bank) exclusive Israeli security, statehood, that promises to national unity government among Israel’s right wing. immediately after his expected settlement and administrative define the political and diplo- headed by Labour Party leader Popular support for annexa- victory and later promised that, control. The annexation map matic landscape for quite some Levi Eshkol, declared part of tion has been legitimatised and with US support, Israel would employed by Netanyahu 24 years time to come. Israel’s “eternal capital.” energised by the Trump admin- extend Israeli sovereignty to “all later is an exact replica of Oslo’s Then Israeli Prime Minister istration’s decisions to move the the settlements” in the West Jordan Valley map. Area C in its Geoffrey Aronson is a non-resident Menachem Begin said Israel’s US Embassy to Jerusalem, to Bank, sites “important to entirety is now annexed, scholar at the Middle East Institute military conquests were an recognise Israeli sovereignty on Israel’s heritage” and other excluding the exactly similar in Washington. 14 October 6, 2019 News & Analysis Turkey

Viewpoint With illness of nationalist ally, Erdogan faces challenges as he strives to keep power

Certainly, he wants to stick to his pledge that he will remain at the “super-presidential” post, Yavuz Baydar when Turkey celebrates its centennial in 2023. That is also the year of the next general s the Turkish elections. parliament con- Erdogan knows that none of the vened October 1, it political parties’ deputies want a found itself not only snap election. Not only is the a rubber stamp in burden of crisis extremely heavy the service of the for the winner but the main president,A but also with an reason for their reluctance is the agenda screaming “crisis.” lucrative salaries deputies receive On mission to mend strained alliance. US Senator Lindsey Graham (L) meets with Turkish President On top of unresolved issues, and four more years in parliamen- Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, September 22. (Twitter) there was another key develop- tary seats offer enough comfort. ment on the eve of parliament’s The president’s primary option, opening ceremony: Devlet therefore, is to engineer politics Bahceli, long-time leader of the within the given political land- ultra-nationalist, extreme-right scape, using the weaknesses, Pushback in US against Nationalist Movement Party while avoiding early elections. (MHP), was unable to attend. He For this he must continue to take had been taken to hospital and an the MHP, with or without Bahceli, official statement said he had for granted, and consolidate the attempts to readmit Turkey “heart problems.” Nationalist-Islamist bloc by Since then, rumours have offering carrots to the Iyi Party. increased. Sources said the His calculation is not only 71-year-old chief “grey wolf” — a limited to avoiding early elections into F-35 programme mythological symbol of Turkish but also winning the presidential ultra-nationalists — was in a grave race in 2023. There, he faces an state of health. Even if he was even greater challenge. Polls Paul Iddon and fuselage parts. 52% were mission capable. This, it discharged from hospital, he suggest that the AKP-MHP Nicholas Danforth, a senior visit- said, was largely because of a short- would no longer be able to alliance’s cumulative votes have Erbil ing fellow at the German Marshall age of spare parts and “difficulty conduct political business. If so, it fallen to less than 50%, which is Fund, distinguished between the managing and moving parts around means his party, which he has led crucial for a repeat victory. S Senator Lindsey Graham, prospect of Turkey facing CAATSA the world.” unchallenged since 1997, would The second point in the a close ally of US President sanctions and its suspension from “Considering that Turkey com- be dragged into serious disar- engineering plan of Erdogan is to Donald Trump, said he was the F-35 programme, which was be- mitted to buying 100 F-35s, it would ray. gain enough seats in parliament U trying to get Turkey read- cause of fears Russia could use the be dumb to bump Turkey out of the This possibility is one of the last to lower the threshold for the next mitted into the programme to help S-400s to gather information on the programme, given the already bleak things that Erdogan, politically presidential elections to more build and operate F-35 advanced jets’ defences. future forecast of the programme,” squeezed into a corner, needs. than 40%. For this, he would fighter jets after Ankara was sus- “While CAATSA is a political mat- Demirdas said. “So, I am of the opin- Bahceli has been the help that certainly need 400 seats in pended for buying Russian S-400 air ter, the decision to remove Turkey ion that Turkey will somehow remain went to Erdogan’s rescue follow- parliament for an amendment of defence systems. from the F-35 programme was the in the programme and will receive its ing the general elections in the constitution. The AKP-MHP Graham strongly argued against result of concrete concerns about F-35s if Trump gets re-elected, re- 2018. bloc currently has 340. taking measures against Turkey un- the plane’s security,” Danforth said. gardless of the S-400 situation.” Bahceli supported the ruling The addition of Iyi to the der the Countering America’s Ad- “This means that short of Erdogan Stein said the F-35 spare parts is- Justice and Development Party alliance would move the number versaries Through Sanctions Act shipping the S-400s back to Russia sues were not Turkey-related and (AKP), forming a coalition to 380 — enough only for taking (CAATSA), which obliges the US ad- tomorrow, it’s very hard to see how would be addressed as the pro- symbolising the synthesis of the amendment to a referendum. ministration to punish any country Turkey would be readmitted to the gramme matured. He said Turkey nationalism and Islamism. It He is short of 20 seats, which is that makes a significant purchase of programme in the near future.” had many options for air and mis- maintains a broad base in surely a challenge. military hardware from Russia. Aaron Stein, director of the Middle sile defence but chose the Russian parliament — decisive in the Beyond this, the uncertainties Trump has held back from imple- East programme at the Foreign Policy one. “It chose S-400 knowing that it continuity of the oppressive, leave more questions than menting CAATSA measures against Research Institute, said the F-35 talk would lose F-35,” Stein said. anti-Western and adventurist answers. For example: Does the Turkey and Graham’s comments “has just gotten to be an absurdity.” Anticipating that it would not take policies Ankara stands for. constitution allow Erdogan to be could indicate a move within the “Turkey is being removed from delivery of F-35s, Turkey stockpiled Bahceli’s health may shatter the elected for a third time? The administration to lift the suspension the programme. Turkey will be re- spare parts for its large F-16 fleet, ground on which Erdogan stands. wording is so vague that it already from the F-35 programme imposed in placed,” Stein said. “Lindsey Gra- which the F-35s were supposed to It may explain why the Turkish prepares for a battlefield. July after the first S-400 parts were ham is trying to get Ankara to undo replace. president reached out to the This much is clear: With Iyi delivered to Ankara. the S-400 purchase in exchange for Demirdas said despite Russia- minor part of opposition alliance, striking a deal with the AKP, the “We’re trying to get them back in a free trade deal and F-35s. I’ve got backed attacks on Turkey-backed re- the Iyi Party. opposition bloc’s Nation Alliance the F-35 programme,” Graham said news for Lindsey, there won’t be a bels in Syria’s Idlib province, Russia has come to an end. following a meeting September 22 free trade deal. He isn’t the first to was doing more to appease Turkey’s What complicates the picture of with Turkish President Recep Tayyip try this. So this back and forth is just security concerns in Syria compared The exit from politics the crisis-ridden country is the Erdogan. tiresome.” to the United States, which was sup- apparent slowness, bordering on In late September, Turkish Foreign Ali Demirdas, professor of inter- porting the Syrian Kurds. of key ally Devlet passivity, of the two main actors Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu claimed national relations and contributor “Therefore, I don’t expect that Bahceli, long-time in politics: The main opposition Washington was considering letting to international affairs magazine the Turkey will hurt its relations with leader of the ultra- party, the Republican People’s Turkey back into the programme. National Interest, said that, while Russia,” he said. “This being said, the Party (CHP), remains in limbo; Graham argued in July that if Tur- Congress wanted to implement US should do more for Turkey than nationalist, extreme- while half-supporting Erdogan’s key did not activate the S-400s, then CAATSA sanctions on Turkey when what Russia is doing to pull Turkey right Nationalist failed Syria policy, it is keeping a it should not be subject to sanctions it received the S-400s, it opted not away from Russia’s strong orbit.” distance to the pro-Kurdish but US Defence Secretary Mark Es- to after Turkey threatened a military That would require major US con- Movement Party, is Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), per insisted in August that Turkey operation against US-backed Kurdish cessions on its support for Syrian the last thing Erdogan whose voter base was a game had to completely remove the S- forces in northern Syria. Kurdish forces and its refusal to ex- needs. changer in this year’s local 400s before the United States would “The US has been offering all sorts tradite Fethullah Gulen, the man Er- elections, meaning a defeat for consider readmitting it to the F-35 of incentives to Turkey to prevent dogan says was behind the 2016 coup Iyi, an offshoot of Bahceli’s Erdogan. programme. an incursion, such as increasing the attempt, Demirdas said. MHP, is led by Meral Aksener, While the CHP has opted for a Trump is frustrated that the Unit- trade volume to $100 billion and “It appears now that the US needs who, together with some ultra- wait-and-see-until-2023 policy of ed States cannot sell Turkey the 100 easing up tariffs on steel and alu- Turkey more than Turkey needs the nationalists, represents a discon- avoiding snap elections and F-35s it has ordered, describing the minium,” Demirdas said. Graham’s US,” he said. “Therefore, it is very un- tent with the old “grey wolf’s” staying clear of the HDP, former situation as “not fair.” move to get Turkey back into the F-35 likely that Turkey will deactivate the way of dominating politics. President Abdullah Gul and Max Hoffman, associate director programme was “part of this effort to S-400 systems.” Sources said secret contacts former Deputy Prime Minister Ali of national security and internation- disincentivise a Turkish military op- Hoffman said he doubted Erdogan between Erdogan and some Iyi Babacan are squandering valuable al policy at the Centre for American eration,” he said. would give up on the S-400 deal, Party figures ended in a hand- time. A recent undisclosed poll Progress Action Fund, said he sus- Demirdas pointed out that Turkish “having incurred such a large cost shake about the latter joining the gives enough clues of the latter pected Graham was exploring the companies were completing existing in both material and political terms ruling coalition in January 2020 at duo losing momentum. The more possibility of Turkey’s readmission orders for F-35 components and their and even despite Russia continuing the latest. they wait to announce a party, the to the F-35 programme with Trump’s participation in making parts of the its campaign in Idlib against Turkish This prospect may be a game more votes they seem to lose. tacit approval. jets would not end until next March. wishes.” changer — at least Erdogan hopes ”Everything will be just fine” However, he said, “the profession- US sources said removing Turkey While Trump might want to al- so. There are several reasons for was the slogan on which Erdogan al ranks of the US government and from the programme would not be as low Turkey back into the F-35 pro- his seemingly endless search to last spring lost control of six most of Congress remain unified in costly and complicated as the Turk- gramme “unified congressional and secure continuity in power. The greater municipalities. The their opposition to readmitting Tur- ish government says because other executive interagency opposition to bleeding of the AKP is unstoppable slogan’s effectiveness is waning key to the programme without the countries could step in and make the such a move will likely preclude it,” — more than four pollsters indicate but the opposition is rudderless, removal of the S-400s.” parts. Hoffman said. that its voter support has fallen to giving Turkey’s autocrat again Turkey’s permanent removal from Demirdas said the F-35s already 30-35%, an all-time low. manoeuvring room to stage a the F-35 programme would result suffered from a lack of spare parts. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist In terms of the consequences of survival game anew. in it losing an estimated $9 billion A study by the US Government Ac- based in Erbil who writes about the economic crisis, 2020 seems worth of contracts to build some countability Office said that from Middle East affairs. This article first to be decisive for Turkish politics, Yavuz Baydar is a Turkish journalist 1,000 parts for the aircraft, ranging May-November 2018 only 27% of all appeared on ahvalnews.com and is which keeps Erdogan busy and regular columnist for from cockpit displays to landing gear F-35s were fully mission capable and republished with permission. calculating options. The Arab Weekly. October 6, 2019 15 News & Analysis Iran Russia widens influence over Iran as tensions with US rise

Thomas Seibert Rohani’s trip came after efforts to organise a meeting with US President Donald Trump failed Istanbul and European powers blamed Tehran for the September 14 at- ussia is widening its in- tack on Saudi oil installations. fluence over Iran as the Speaking before the meeting in regime in Tehran slides Armenia, Rohani stressed Iran’s R further into international request to join the EAEU, adding isolation in its disputes with the that a free trade agreement with United States and Saudi Arabia. the bloc would soon go into effect. Moscow’s move is part of a “This is a very important step wider strategy by the Kremlin to under the circumstances that the extend Russia’s role in the Middle Americans cruelly seek to apply East following its military inter- pressure and sanctions on the vention in Syria four years ago. Iranian nation and Iran’s foreign Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Iranian President Hassan Rohani Iran also enjoys continuing sup- trade,” Rohani was quoted as say- More than meets the eye. during their meeting in Yerevan, October 1. (AFP) port from its western neighbour ing by Iran’s Press TV. and NATO member Turkey, whose Orhan Gafarli, an expert on Rus- president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sia at the Ankara Policy Centre cooperate in Syria and Moscow ington’s influence in a region ed States’ Middle East policies said the country would contin- think-tank, said many problems has said it is willing to consider where strong US naval and air have shaken confidence in the tra- ue buying Iranian oil despite US remained to be solved before Iran the delivery of its modern S-400 forces have guaranteed free trade ditional American role as the ref- sanctions. Tehran, Moscow and could join the EAEU. “But the missile defence system to Tehran. routes and protected America’s al- eree in the region. Ankara have formed a close alli- move is important as a political Russia has also been important lies, such as Saudi Arabia. US allies in the Middle East were ance in the Syria conflict where step to blunt the US embargo,” Ga- for Iran on the political front. To- Moscow was proceeding care- aghast in 2013 when US President the trio is united in its determina- farli said by telephone. gether with China and European fully, Gafarli said. “On the issue of Barack Obama did not follow tion to lessen US influence. Extending business ties with powers, Moscow supports efforts the nuclear agreement with Iran, through on his threat to punish Russia provides Iran with a pos- to keep the 2015 international nu- Russia is very close to the German Syria’s government for the use of sibility to go around US sanctions clear agreement with Iran in place position,” he said. The Kremlin chemical weapons. Trump elic- Russia is keen to develop that have crippled the country’s despite the US withdrawal. was trying to pursue a “balanced ited a similar response when he ties with players in the economy. Tehran has repeatedly “Tehran and Moscow have a approach” and to avoid a direct shied away from military action region who are hostile to voiced frustration with what Iran strategic relationship and Rus- challenge of the United States, Ga- against Iran this year, analysts Iran. Putin is to visit Saudi sees as a lack of action by EU sia has always stood by Iran dur- farli said. said. Arabia and the Gulf in countries to shield trade ties from ing hard times and, besides be- Russia is keen to develop ties “If I were the Saudis, I’d be beat- October. US sanctions. ing neighbours, the policies of with players in the region who ing a path to Moscow, beating a Following a decision by the the leaders of the two countries are hostile to Iran. Putin is to visit path to Beijing, to find somebody Trump administration to intro- have created a new relationship Saudi Arabia and the Gulf in Octo- more reliable than the United Iranian President Hassan Roha- duce sanctions against Iran’s cen- between Iran and Russia,” Irani- ber. States,” Kori Schake, deputy di- ni travelled to Armenia for meet- tral bank, Russia said it would ig- an Foreign Minister Mohammad Moscow’s state arms exporter rector-general of the International ings of the Eurasian Economic Un- nore the US move. Iran said that Javad Zarif said during a visit to said it would talk with countries Institute for Strategic Studies and ion (EAEU), a Russia-dominated its own financial telecommunica- Moscow in September. in the Middle East about selling a former director for defence strat- economic association of former tion system SEPAM had replaced Zarif welcomed a Russian pro- them anti-drone weapons sys- egy at the National Security Coun- Soviet republics. He met with the US-dominated SWIFT system posal for ensuring security in tems, muscling in on a market cil, told Agence France-Presse. Russian President Vladimir Putin in Iran’s financial transactions the Gulf. The plan, which is also long dominated by the United “There are opportunities that on the sidelines of the Armenia with Russia. backed by China, envisages an in- States. Russia’s Pantsir group of Russia will harvest from their meetings for talks on the nuclear Tehran also hopes for closer mil- ternational conference on security anti-drone weaponry is to be on investment in Syria,” she said. row between Iran and the United itary ties. Iran’s Press TV reported and cooperation in the Gulf, with display at the Dubai Airshow in “Showing that they are willing States as well as on security in the that the country was planning a view to establishing a regional November. to run risks that countries in the Gulf, a statement posted on the naval exercises with Russian and security organisation. Governments in the region are West will not… may be comforting website of the Iranian presidency Chinese forces for the first time. If implemented, the proposal more willing to listen to Russia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said. Russian and Iranian forces already would drastically reduce Wash- than in the past because the Unit- right now.” Viewpoint The singular ordeal of Iran’s dual nationals

ecause of Iran’s Iranian citizens. When mem- based Crescent Petroleum, and Dorri-Esfahani, accountant and propaganda machin- bers of the Iranian expatriate his father, Baqer Namazi, adviser to the governor of ery, Majid Takht- community visit Iran, Iranian provide a good case study. Iran’s Central Bank, both Ali Alfoneh Ravanchi, Iranian embassies will not grant them The Iranian-American dual arrested in 2016, provide other ambassador to the visas as foreign nationals but nationals were arrested by the interesting cases. United Nations, has demands them to apply for Intelligence Organisation of the Djalali was arrested, con- Bbecome a living martyr. passport and travel documents Islamic Revolutionary Guard victed of “spreading corruption Hospitalised in New York and issued by the embassy, after Corps (IRGC), in 2015 and 2016, on Earth” and sentenced to undergoing treatment for which they can legally enter respectively, and later sen- death after forced confes- cancer, he was denied by the Iran as Iranian citizens. tenced to 10 years in prison for sions. US Department of State a visit Once the dual nationals “co-operating with a hostile Dorri-Esfahani’s ordeal is from Iranian Foreign Minister desire to exit Iranian territory, foreign power.” There is, even more bizarre because the Mohammad Javad Zarif, whose Tehran de facto recognises however, every reason to Ministry of Intelligence, which movements in the United their non-Iranian citizenship believe the Namazis are victims is closer to Rohani, insists he is States are extremely and they must produce their US of the struggle for power innocent while the rival restricted. or EU passports to document between Iranian President Intelligence Organisation of the However, the State Depart- they are allowed legal entry Hassan Rohani and the IRGC. IRGC says he is a foreign spy. ment issued a statement into their destinations. Rohani triumphantly negoti- The inter-agency rivalry promising “travel request will This arrangement puts the ated the nuclear deal with the between Iran’s Ministry of be granted if Iran releases a US dual nationals in a precarious United States and was trying to Intelligence and the IRGC’s citizen” imprisoned in Iran. position in which they can be open Iran’s economy to foreign Intelligence Organisation and, Who is that US citizen and what denied help from foreign investments with intermediar- more fundamentally, the is the ordeal of Iran’s dual governments if they find ies such as the Namazis. The struggle for power between nationals? themselves at odds with the IRGC did not see any need for Rohani and the IRGC is not Tehran has a long tradition of Iranian legal system. It is a intermediaries and desired to likely to end soon. imprisoning Iranian dual highly politicised legal system, make direct deals with foreign This, unfortunately, means The inter-agency nationals as bargaining chips which is manipulated by the investors. By arresting the the singular ordeal of Iran’s rivalry between Iran’s with the other countries. Most intelligence services in the Namazis, the IRGC also demon- dual nationals such as the Ministry of prominently, Iranian-American regime’s dealings with foreign strated the impotence of the Namazis, Djalali, Dorri-Esfa- nationals, but more recently governments. In other cases, Rohani government. hani and many others will Intelligence and the also Iranian-British and dual nationals become hos- Iranian-Swedish dual continue. IRGC’s Intelligence Iranian-French dual nation- tages in the domestic struggle national Ahmadreza Djalali, a als. for power within the regime. specialist in emergency Ali Alfoneh is a senior fellow at Organisation is not Iran does not officially Siamak Namazi, the head of medicine, and Iranian-Cana- the Arab Gulf States Institute in likely to end soon. recognise dual nationality of strategic planning at Dubai- dian dual national Abdolrasoul Washington. 16 October 6, 2019 News & Analysis East West

Viewpoint What are Washington’s options for a military faceoff with Iran? key stakeholders respond. Sabahat Khan This is why, despite being “locked and loaded,” the United States is aiming to nullify Iran’s mmediately following the goal of demonstrating its resil- attacks against Saudi oil ience and sense of strength — not infrastructure on September just to its allies and proxies but the 14, US President Donald global audience at large — without Trump tweeted the United resort to military means or an States was “locked and immediate tit-for-tat reply. Iloaded” to strike at Iran, pending The United States retains verification of Tehran’s role in the considerable space to generate attacks. options for its standoff with Iran Iran denies involvement in the as the crisis moves into a more attacks that cut off production of intense phase. almost 6 million barrels per day of The Trump administration has Saudi crude oil but has been an offer of direct talks with Iran charged with responsibility by the resting at the table. It is a possibil- United States and key European ity that France and Germany are powers such as Germany, France said to be working hard to make and the United Kingdom. happen. Iran maintains it is A gentleman’s deal. Cypriot Defence Minister Savvas Angelides (R) talks with his Egyptian The attacks, which hit the prepared for talks but only if counterpart Lieutenant-General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki in Nicosia, September 11. (AP) Abqaiq processing plant and sanctions are lifted first. Khurais oil field, are said to have The United States may decide to featured 18 strikes involving maintain the economic pressure drones and seven with cruise or increase its scope and effects missiles. As a result, crude prices through new sanctions or stricter Eastern Mediterranean gas is skyrocketed 20% to $72 a barrel enforcement, including by going and unprecedented risks were harder at stopping the little oil introduced into the global oil Iran is able to still export. supply chain. Washington has been consider- key to Egypt-Turkey tensions? As condemnation of the attacks ing new sanctions against Iran’s echoed around the world, calls for nuclear programme and these restraint were also issued. It is in may now be placed in effect moments such as these that sooner . Ahmed Fouad dermining the maritime borders exchange for allowing a Turkish hostilities can erupt abruptly and Taking a page out of Iran’s book, demarcation agreement between military presence in the north. spiral into war. cyber operations are often Egypt and Cyprus, which guar- “If Turkey seizes Cypriot gas, However, Iran’s standoff with difficult to attribute and the Cairo antees Egypt’s rights to Mediter- it means that the next step will the United States has indeed United States could potentially ranean gas. be the Egyptian gas concession involved rising stakes and orchestrate such against Iran’s oil s contention grows over Egypt’s first maritime border areas, some of which are close to brinksmanship in recent infrastructure to disrupt output control of energy re- demarcation agreement with Cy- the Cypriot waters,” Dayasti said. months. — or even target other critical sources in the Eastern prus was reached in 2003 by Pres- When Italian energy firm Eni The “maximum pressure” national infrastructure — where A Mediterranean, it may be ident Hosni Mubarak. The accord sent a drilling rig in 2018 to ex- approach being pursued by the risks of collateral damage are time to reinterpret many of the was widely criticised for squan- plore Mediterranean Cypriot’s Washington is crippling the much lower. crises in the Middle East. dering Egypt’s rights to natural Block 8 concession area, whose Iranian economy and drying up The United States could quietly The foreign ministers of Egypt, gas reserves in the interest of Cy- hydrocarbon reserves may ex- Tehran’s coffers. This is effec- go after Iran’s key regional allies Cyprus and Greece have con- prus and Israel. tend into areas covered by the tively America’s war of attrition and proxies, particularly in Iraq demned Turkey for drilling for Later, the regime of Muslim Egyptian-Cypriot partnership of against Iran through economic but potentially in Yemen, to natural gas in Cyprus’s maritime Brotherhood-affiliated President 2014, Turkey sent frigates to har- means aiming to change its prevent weapons transfers or to areas in violation of international Muhammad Morsi, which was ass the rig, pushing the company behaviour. neutralise weapons storage and agreements, an accusation Tur- hostile to Mubarak, surprisingly to pull it. logistics sites. In a longer-term key’s Foreign Ministry swiftly re- neglected to make adjustments However, it seems that the effort, the United States could jected. to the agreement or investigating Egyptian regime is no longer will- The United States bolster its intelligence and Although the matter seems to Mubarak’s regime for allegedly ing to stand still against Turkish security cooperation aimed at be a dispute between Turkey and failing to protect Egypt’s rights in threats, said Mahmoud Zahran, a retains considerable closing the financing operations Cyprus, Turkish journalist Esra the Eastern Mediterranean. journalist specialising in Turkish space to generate of these groups and arresting or Elonu, who is close to the Turkish In February 2013, Egypt’s pros- affairs. options for its even killing key commanders, for regime, indicated it could have ecutor, then tied to the Muslim “The first meeting of the Egyp- example. larger implications for Egypt. Brotherhood, closed investiga- tian-established Eastern Mediter- standoff with Iran as Meanwhile, in a important “If [Egyptian President Abdel tions into Mubarak for his alleged ranean Gas Forum, in July 2019, the crisis moves into a signal to Iran, the US military Fattah] al-Sisi wants to stop pro- role in the Israeli-Cypriot takeo- in partnership with seven coun- temporarily moved its regional tests against him, he should sit ver of the Samson gas field in the tries poses a clear threat to Tur- more intense phase. command centre’s operations for dialogue on the Mediterrane- Eastern Mediterranean and other key if the forum would create an from Qatar to South Carolina. It is an gas,” Elonu posted on Twitter fields in Egyptian territory. alliance to protect the interests Europe has been generally one of the moves that confirm the September 20. Yasin Aktay, chief of its countries in the Mediterra- critical of Trump’s recent Iran United States is thinking seriously about imminent military contin- adviser to the Turkish presidency, Rafiq Dayasti, nean,” Zahran said. policy, characterising it as an re-tweeted the comment before it a professor of geopolitics at Cairo’s That forum includes Italy, approach of “maximum tension” gencies, so direct military strikes was deleted by the journalist. Helwan University Greece and Cyprus — members of instead. Europe is concerned that are not out of the question, Elonu’s tweet makes sense the European Union, which Tur- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of either. “If Turkey seizes Cypriot gas, when taking into account reports key has been in stalled negotia- Action (JCPOA) has, as antici- Concurrently, the United States it means that the next step will about the connections of Egyp- tions to enter — and Israel, a close pated, been jeopardised by the will also be actively working with be the Egyptian gas concession tian actor and contractor Mo- ally of the United States, which United States’ approach. its partners in the Arab Gulf, as it areas, some of which are close hamed Ali, who helped spark an has threatened to impose eco- In May, Tehran announced its is doing so now with Riyadh, to to the Cypriot waters.” anti-Sisi protest movement, to nomic sanctions on Ankara since plan to withdraw from the accord explore ways to enhance the the Qatari ambassador in Madrid. the election of President Donald in three phases but Iran’s depar- protection of key oil facilities and Qatar is Turkey’s most prominent In 2014, Sisi repaired ties with Trump. ture from the JCPOA is only one other critical national infrastruc- Arab ally. Cyprus with a supplementary Egypt, an ally of Mediterranean element of its planned reaction to ture that could be vulnerable to Ali, a businessman who lives in agreement to work with the and Gulf countries, is posed with the United States’ push for a the type of threat being posited by self-imposed exile in Spain, urged country on part of its Mediter- an opportunity to unify its allies wider, more comprehensive low-flying drones that have a Egyptians to protest about his al- ranean hydrocarbon reserves in combating Turkish influence, renegotiation of its nuclear capability to fly at relatively slow legations of government corrup- near Egyptian maritime borders. especially with Ankara at odds activities and, now, regional speeds and loiter around. tion. Brotherhood officials said He concluded a maritime border with major Gulf powers because role. Drones of this sort represent a the call did not receive sufficient agreement with Greece in 2016 to of its support for Qatar against Fomenting regional instability type of threat that may be low-end support, a leaked audio recording guarantee Egypt’s rights in many Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Unit- and carrying out provocations on the technology scale but which broadcast on Egyptian television gas concession areas. ed Arab Emirates and Bahrain, that present escalatory risks, such missile defence systems such as indicated. Ankara repeatedly condemned which have been boycotting Doha as a region-wide conflict, appear the Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 were His calls for protests are be- the new agreements, claiming since June 2017. to be a focal premise of Iran’s not designed to defend against. lieved to be supported by Muslim they violate the rights of Turkey In September, Saudi Foreign response of defiance. Without doubt, efforts will be Brotherhood officials in Turkey, a and northern Cyprus, indicating Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf met Officially and repeatedly, Iran under way at reconfiguring air leaked audio recording between that Ankara may have lent sup- with Cypriot President Nicos has denied involvement in the defences with the appropriate London-based Brotherhood port to Morsi because of his ne- Anastasiades in Nicosia, the first September 14 attacks but main- systems — most of which are leader Mohamed Sudan and an glect regarding Mediterranean Saudi official to make the trip. taining deniability is a tactic that readily available — to plug unknown brotherhood official in gas. His visit was accompanied by so- is unsustainable over time. potential gaps needed to defend Turkey and broadcast on Egyp- Cyprus has been divided into cial media campaigns aimed at Deniability ceases to become against threats such as low-flying, tian television indicated. two parts since 1974: one of Turk- increasing Saudi tourism to Cy- credible when it relates to slow drones that were previously Rafiq Dayasti, a professor of ish origin in the north, whose prus over Turkey. activities that are no longer not anticipated. geopolitics at Cairo’s Helwan government is not internation- Saudi Arabia sends the third- infrequent or sporadic — as such, University, said the dispute be- ally recognised, and another area most tourists to Turkey yearly. future incidents along the lines of Sabahat Khan, based in Dubai, tween Turkey and Egypt began of Greek origin in the south. In the attacks on Saudi oil infrastruc- maintains a cross-disciplinary focus when Turkey intruded on Cypriot 2004, Greek Cypriots rejected Ahmed Fouad is an Egyptian ture are likely to unfold in a much in international security, defence waters because this means un- a UN plan to unify the island in writer. different manner regarding how policy and strategic issues. October 6, 2019 17 Spotlight Expats in the Maghreb Italians return to Tunisia, to retire by the sea

Michel Cousins Hammamet, Nabeul and Kelibia. Others, he explained, live further south in Monastir, Sousse and Mah- Tunis dia and even further away in Gabes, in Tunis itself or in the seaside sub- unisia is an integral part of urb of La Marsa. The seaside is a the Arab world but it is one common factor. Almost all the Ital- where French language and ians live within easy reach of the T culture are everywhere. sea. French bureaucracy, French oper- It is in stark contrast to the flow ating systems, French supermarket of mainly African migrants crossing chains — and a great deal more — all the Mediterranean the other way, constant reminders of the country’s setting out towards Italy, in some colonial past. cases from Tunisia itself, but, for But walk around Tunis and a dif- both, it is about a search for a better ferent European link becomes ap- life. parent. The architecture is decid- The Italians head to Tunisia to edly Italian and a little investigation take advantage of its considerably often reveals the name of an Italian, cheaper cost of living, the low rate not a French, architect on a building. of the Tunisian dinar to the euro and There are cafes and shops with Ital- its far lower taxes. ian names — Roma, Sorrento, Gari- In a country where the average baldi, Rossini — all pointing towards salary is around $273 a month, “Ital- what was once a strong Italian pres- ians can live very, very well here,” ence. Ladik said. Those with not particu- Italy and Tunisia have an ancient larly large pensions can have the link all the way back to Carthage, lifestyle of a retired bank manager Hannibal and the Romans. For cen- or senior official back home. turies there were Italian merchants “They can have a beautiful villa, operating in Tunis. In the late 19th a cleaning lady, a lovely garden,” century and the early 20th, when he said. The drop in the value of Tunisia was under French control, the dinar against the euro in recent most Europeans living in the coun- years has boosted their disposable try were Italian, welcomed by beys income, Ladik added. wanting to modernise the country’s Generous tax breaks have been a economy. further pull. An Italian resident in Tunisia pays a fraction of what he or she would have to pay in taxes in Go to the market at the Italy, as long as they spend a mini- Tunis seaside suburb of mum of six months and one day in La Marsa or to shops in Tunisia. Just 20% of income is sub- Hammamet and Kelibia ject to tax, with the tax-take 0-32%, and you will increasingly depending on income levels. The hear Italian being other 80% of income is tax-free. spoken. Italians, Giuseppe, from Rome, who lives particularly older north of Hammamet, fewer than Italians, are returning. 100 metres from the beach, said: New home. President of the Association of Italian Residents in Tunisia Donato Ladik (L) with the “My pension is not a lot, just more President of the Italian Council of State Filippo Patroni Griffi in Tunis. (Courtesy of Donato Ladik) In 1910, there were 105,000 Ital- than 1,500 euros ($1,640) a month. ians in Tunisia, most from Sicily, as I cannot live on that in Italy. Here, I opposed to 35,000 French. After Tu- can live very well on 3,000 dinars a 7,000-10,000 euros a month. That is state health care through an agree- holidays in Tunisia. nisian independence in 1956, both month. That’s around 1,000 euros. I a huge monthly income in Tunisia. ment between Italy and Tunisia but It is also in contrast to the general groups declined rapidly in num- can actually save money.” Because of tax breaks, he added, the low cost of private treatment in revival of the Tunisian tourist indus- ber. By 1969 there were fewer than He said he is very happy, pointing they can all afford not only to live Tunisia — considered by many to be try after the 2015 terrorist attacks on 10,000 Italians and, by 2005, 3,000, out that Tunisia is not that far from extremely well in Tunisia but, in as good as the standards in Europe the Bardo National Museum in Tu- two-thirds of whom were in Tunisia Italy, the lifestyle not all that differ- some cases, to help fund their chil- — puts it well within the reach of al- nis and at Sousse. So far, 2019 has to work on contracts for Italian com- ent and that, on a good day, from dren back in Italy needing help to most all Italians living in the country. been a bumper year for tourism in panies. nearby Kelibia you can see the Ital- buy a house, a car or whatever else. The trend of Italian pensioners Tunisia. Figures indicate that from Since the 2011 uprising, however, ian island of Pantelleria, 70km away. “I know several who take luxury moving to Tunis is stirring the inter- January through the end of August, the trend has dramatically reversed. “I’ve no intention of returning to vacations elsewhere. They travel to est of big business. North of Tunis, 6.3 million tourists visited the coun- Go to the market at the Tunis sea- Italy. This is my home now,” he said. Dubai, to the Far East. They could planning permission has been grant- try, earning it $1.2 billion. side suburb of La Marsa or to shops Numbers of Italian pensioners not do that living in Italy,” Moncef ed for a retirement village — right by “The Germans are coming back, in Hammamet and Kelibia and you are rising, said Moncef, who used said. He noted, though, that most the sea, of course — that would in- the French are coming back, the will increasingly hear Italian being to help sort out paperwork for Ital- Italian rent their Tunisian villas. corporate villas, apartment blocks, British are coming back but not spoken. Italians, particularly older ians taking up residence in Tunisia Moncef and Ladik pointed out a hotel, cinema, clinic, restaurants, the Italians,” said Moncef, at least Italians, are returning. and asked that his full name not be that the Italian authorities are not cafes and a shopping centre. The not Italian package holidaymakers. Donato Ladik, the president of used. He said that it is not just those happy with the growing number of $100 million project is intended to Those arriving were doing so as in- the Association of Italian Residents who find it hard to make ends meet Italian pensioners settling in Tunisia attract specifically Italian retirees. dividuals. The Italian tour industry, in Tunisia, said there are almost in Italy who to retire to Tunisia. and depriving them of valuable tax. In contrast to the growing move- worried about security, was deliber- 10,000 Italians officially resident in “In Hammamet there are many Health care might be considered ment of Italian pensioners to Tu- ately avoiding Tunisia, he said. the country. Most of them are retir- senior Italian policemen, senior a major concern for the elderly but, nisia, there are fewer Italian tour- It was bizarre, he added. Italians ees, he said. military officers, all with large pen- Ladik said, that is not an issue for ists heading there. “Business is not seemed happy to have their parents The largest group, some 3,200, is sions,” he said. He said he knows most of the Italian pensioners. Many good,” said an Italian travel agent retire to Tunisia but were afraid to found in Cap Bon, east of Tunis, in some with pensions of between of them have access to Tunisian whose company focuses on selling visit it themselves. Rabat becoming Morocco’s expat hotspot

Kaja Bouman Morocco four years ago, she settled destination. The city, north of Rabat, An important selling point of Ra- in Tangier, in northern Morocco. was dubbed the “Sahara’s Paris” by bat is that it’s not overrun by tourists However, after visiting Rabat, she Winston Churchill 70 years ago and and tourism hasn’t become the main Rabat decided to relocate. has since gained popularity among source of income for locals. The resi- “Tangier is beautiful but it’s small travellers across the globe but its dents of Rabat’s medina generally orocco’s capital Rabat is and you end up going to the same status has recently subsided among don’t speak English and don’t have often described as “bor- places over and over again,” she said. Morocco’s expat community. their sales talks ready for every tour- ing” by locals. It’s a city “Rabat has many different areas to ist who passes, making the streets with government offices, discover.” of Rabat comfortable to walk for M The lack of attention for the king’s palace and embassies but The city has mostly maintained foreign-looking expats. without nightlife or other attrac- its traditional vibe and atmosphere. tourists and expats in A selling point for female expats is tions. There are men’s cafes on every cor- Rabat is one of the safety. However, expats beg to differ. ner, Moroccan flags and pictures of biggest ways in which it “In Rabat, I can go anywhere by my- More foreigners in Morocco are Moroccan King Mohammed VI in differs from Marrakech. self, even in the evening,” said Gribbs. choosing Rabat as their home base every office but Western influence “Casablanca has sketchy areas. I don’t over Marrakech or Casablanca. is visible in a number of neighbour- Aside from a couple stares and always feel comfortable there.” “Rabat is not boring at all,” Eliza- hoods. small children trying to sell her Even though Casablanca is worth beth Gribbs, an English teacher from In Agdal or Hassan, there are roses, the locals barely seemed to a visit, it’s easier for women to live the United States, said as she entered Americans and Europeans at almost notice Gribbs as she walked through in Rabat where they don’t have to Rabat’s lively medina. Her light skin every bar. Visitors can get a smooth- the market inside Rabat’s medina. avoid too many neighbourhoods and blonde, curly hair stood out in ie bowl or chai latte at a “hipster” The lack of attention for tour- and are safe to move around on their the mass of Moroccans making their American-style coffee house and ists and expats in Rabat is one of own. way through the narrow streets of buy alcohol in cafes and stores. the biggest ways in which it differs Rabat remains a hidden gem for the old city. With its ancient Hassan tower and from Marrakech, Gribbs said, add- expats in Morocco but with its grow- “Even if you live in a quiet neigh- Kasbah, exotic gardens, beautiful ing that’s a good thing. “Marrakech ing popularity and great appeal it Lots to discover. Elizabeth bourhood in Rabat, you can always seaside and historic mosques, Rabat is dirty and crowded,” she said. “You can’t be long before it turns into one Gribbs, an English teacher find areas with restaurants and cafes has plenty to offer tourists. always have to watch your bag to of the main expat cities of North Af- from the United States, poses to go out and have fun,” Gribbs said. However, with more than 2.5 mil- make sure nothing gets stolen and rica. for a photo in Rabat. Gribbs said she has been in Rabat lion visitors last year, Marrakech you’re constantly hassled by street (Courtesy of Elizabeth Gribbs) for two years. When she arrived in has the title of Morocco’s top tourist vendors.” Kaja Bouman is a Dutch journalist. 18 October 6, 2019 Economy

Unlocking the potential of oil products in the MENA region Briefs

Omar el-Huni Jordan’s striking London teachers reject government call to s the end of the UAE Vision 2021 approaches, govern- return to work mental moves to diversify A the energy sector in the Tens of thousands of Jor- MENA region have been bolstered danian teachers defied a by a need to unlock the potential of government call to end their every oil and gas molecule. 4-week-old nationwide strike To extract the full potential from over pay, in a deepening crisis crude oil, refinery takes place. The that threatens to further strain industrial process involves extract- the heavily indebted country’s ing the crude oil from beneath the state finances. Earth’s surface and refining it into a The Jordanian Teachers’ variety of useful products, such as Syndicate rejected as “bread petroleum, kerosene, jet fuel, gaso- crumbs” modest pay increases line and other types of fuels. offered by Jordanian Prime Industry forecasts indicate that Minister Omar Razzaz in a bid by 2040 the demand for natural gas to end the strike. will grow 40% and the demand for The teachers’ union, which oil will increase by at least 10 mil- has 100,000 members, is lion barrels per day. The increase in demanding a 50% pay hike. demand for these resources is the Razzaz said pay increases that primary reason for driving invest- Thriving industry. A file picture shows visitors walking through exhibitions during the Abu Dhabi took effect in October averaging (AFP) ment downstream across the MENA International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC-2016) in Abu Dhabi. $35 per month were the most region and over the next 20 years, Jordan could afford. projects valued at $283 billion are troleum Exhibition and Conference “While producers in the Middle vember 11-14, will bring industry The teachers, whose aver- being implemented to help the re- (ADIPEC), said that as MENA pro- East continue to maximise value thought leaders together. Inaugu- age salary is around $630 per gion meet this ever-increasing de- ducers focus on maximising value from existing fields, there is height- rated in 1984, ADIPEC is recognised month, say they have fallen mand for energy. from the existing fields, developing ened interest in developing new re- as a leading industry conference and behind others in a bloated pub- Following the decline in the price resources have heightened inter- sources, both offshore and onshore, exhibition for oil and gas. lic sector plagued by corruption of oil in 2014, margins have fallen est onshore and offshore. This will as well as investing in upgrading and Forty-two oil companies, 145,000 and mismanagement. but the demand for refined products have a knock-on effect in the inves- diversifying both infrastructure and visitors and more than 980 technical exceeds that of the refinery capac- tigating of diversifying and upgrad- products downstream to create new and strategic speakers from around ity. Therefore, it is important to con- ing infrastructure and the revenue products lines and revenue streams. the world will gather for the event (Reuters) sider the need for upgrades to the streams and new product lines. ADIPEC 2019 will be a catalyst for fu- that brings together more than 2,200 technology used at these refineries. “The headline speakers at ADIPEC ture growth and prosperity in the oil international exhibiting companies. In the average refinery processes, are the same policymakers and busi- and gas industry,” Hudson said. This year’s conference will dem- France offers a less than half of a barrel of oil will ness leaders whose decisions will Algeria’s Sonatrach has disclosed onstrate the evolution taking place contribute to its value; the remain- shape the future of oil and gas. Their plans to execute projects worth in the energy sector, with “Oil & conference on der will be what is known as “nega- dialogue in Abu Dhabi will set the $10.8 billion with a $2.5 billion con- Gas 4.0” the main strategic confer- Sudan’s debt if US tive crude oil” or “crack.” Converting agenda for a thriving industry and tract regarding the Hassi Messaoud ence of the event, hosting sessions this negative product into a valuable economic growth, underpinned by refinery. Egypt’s Ministry of Petro- exploring the development of tech- lifts sanctions resource is the main reason for an people, partnerships, technology leum and the Kuwait Oil Company nology and energy. Other sessions upgrade to the refinery process. and bold and innovative thinking,” have project plans worth $12.3 bil- will examine partnerships for global France offered to host a Should upgrades not be imple- Hudson said. lion. energy conservation. conference with Sudan’s mented, because of the pace of re- Saudi Aramco, the largest spender The largest pre-execution con- international creditors to help finery engagement, they will lose in the region’s oil and gas sector, tract value lies with Iraq’s Ministry Omar el-Huni is a contributor to Khartoum address debt issues their competitive edge and have no has $31 billion in investments under of Oil, where the projects carry a val- The Arab Weekly on environmental as soon as the United States choice but to close operations. way, with $42.2 billion of projects ue of $19.5 billion, with $13.7 billion issues. He studies environmental removes the country from its Christopher Hudson, president spread across the three largest oil in the bidding phase. science at the University of state-sponsored terrorism list, of the Abu Dhabi International Pe- and gas companies in Kuwait. ADIPEC 2019, scheduled for No- Reading. French President Emmanuel Macron said. Viewpoint In efforts to stabilise the country and to repair an economy battered by years of US sanctions and government Saudi Arabia gears up to tackle economic challenges mismanagement during Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule, the Su- in the first quarter of this year. attacks on Saudi oil infrastruc- crude production capacity and danese transition government Saudi Arabia’s oil GDP declined ture to its decision to downgrade the goal of reaching 12 million led by Prime Minister Abdalla 3.02% in the second quarter, a its sovereign rating for the bpd in November. Crude produc- Hamdok is attending talks with Jareer Elass reflection of the kingdom’s kingdom from “A+” to “A” with a tion is expected to recover to Washington to see Sudan with- participation in crude produc- Stable Outlook. The rating 9.89 million bpd in October. drawn from the list. tion cuts it helped orchestrate agency pulled no punches, The ministry noted that “the On the sidelines of a UN orking with other OPEC members and saying: “We believe that there is response and resilience of the General Assembly, Hamdok ex- overtime to independent oil producers a risk of further attacks on Saudi company and the markets pressed hope that Sudan would recover its known as OPEC+. Arabia, which could result in underline the reliable nature of reach an agreement with the crude produc- Revised forecasts for Saudi economic damage.” the supply of oil for global United States “very soon.” tion and economic growth paint a bleak Fitch Ratings assessed that markets from the kingdom.” The exports picture, raising questions of “Saudi Arabia is vulnerable to ministry hoped “the agency will Wfollowing attacks on oil infra- whether the country is escalating geopolitical tensions see fit to revise its decision in (Reuters) structure and pressing ahead approaching an economic given its prominent foreign the light of continuing stability with plans for state energy giant recession. policy stance, including its close within the supply to markets.” Saudi Aramco’s initial public Saudi Finance Minister alignment with US policy on Iran The sovereign rating down- Tunisia’s budget offering, Riyadh is pushing back Mohammed al-Jadaan warned and its continued involvement grade is a blow to the Saudi against unwelcome and that “total GDP is going to be in the Yemen war.” government, which recently will rise in 2020 untimely economic develop- significantly less than what we Fitch credited Saudi Aramco’s stepped up the pace of preparing ments. have forecast.” He insisted the speedy restoration or substitu- for the Saudi Aramco initial to $16.1 billion Financial figures released attacks on Saudi oil infrastruc- tion of lost production as public offering (IPO). There are September 30 by the Saudi ture would have “zero” effect on “demonstrating resilience to the reports that the state oil and gas Tunisia’s state budget will government indicate a deep revenue and pointed to the Gulf attacks” but also highlighted the firm will announce its IPO plans rise from $13.7 billion in 2019 slowdown in the kingdom’s producer’s lower oil output as kingdom’s “continuing fiscal in late October. to $16.1 billion in 2020, Finance economy, raising concerns the primary reason for a less deficits” as contributing to the One scenario has Saudi Minister Ridha Chalghoum said about the Gulf nation’s fiscal robust economic performance in sovereign rating downgrade. Aramco listing 1% of its shares in a report by state news agency health while a major credit 2019. The Finance Ministry on the Saudi domestic exchange, TAP. rating agency downgraded its Two leading global credit addressed the agency’s sover- the Tadawul, by the end of this The budget targeted a deficit sovereign rating for Riyadh after rating agencies, Moody’s eign rating demotion, stating it year, followed by another 1% on in 2020 of 3% of GDP, compared the September 14 attacks on the Investors Service and Fitch was “disappointed that Fitch the domestic bourse in 2020 and with the 3.9% that Tunisian Abqaiq processing plant and the Ratings, weighed in with their took a swift decision to down- up to 3% floated on a foreign Prime Minister Youssef Chahed Khurais oil field. assessments of Saudi Arabia’s grade the kingdom.” exchange either in 2020 or has said is expected this year Figures released by the Saudi economic health. Moody’s Referring to the mid-Septem- 2021. and the 7.4% recorded three Finance Ministry did reveal a estimates the kingdom’s real ber attacks, the ministry said: A phased sale on the Tadawul years ago. Chahed has said in- bright spot: the country’s GDP will grow 0.3% in 2019, “The event highlights Saudi would ensure the relatively flation would drop to about 5% non-oil economic growth down from its forecast earlier in Arabia’s outstanding capacity to small domestic bourse would next year from a high of 7.8% expanded nearly 3% in the the year of 1.5% growth. effectively deal with adversities, not be overwhelmed. The last year. second quarter of 2019, the Moody’s discounted the commitment to maintaining front-runner for the foreign Tunisia’s weak economy is a fastest that sector had grown in effects of the attacks on Abqaiq stability in the global oil markets exchange increasingly appears big theme in elections set for four years. The growth was and Khurais for contributing to and the Kingdom’s status as an to be the Tokyo Stock Exchange, this month. Tourism, an impor- attributed to a strengthening in the economic downturn within important international ally.” which is heavily courting Saudi tant source of foreign currency, private-sector activity backed the kingdom and instead The ministry called the Aramco for the listing. There are has begun to recover four years by the kingdom’s chief sover- attributed Saudi Arabia’s sovereign ratings downgrade rumours about a push within the after two militant attacks that eign fund, the Public Invest- decision to underproduce from “somewhat speculative.” Saudi top leadership for a 10% killed scored of foreigners. ment Fund. its agreed-upon OPEC+ quota as The Finance Ministry under- listing of company shares. The kingdom’s overall GDP influencing GDP growth. scored that the country’s oil grew 0.5% in the second quarter Fitch Ratings had a much more supply was “fully back online,” Jareer Elass reports from (Reuters) from the same period a year ago dire view of Riyadh’s fiscal with the kingdom attaining 11.3 Washington on energy issues for and plunged from 1.66% growth situation and directly linked the million barrels per day (bpd) of The Arab Weekly. October 6, 2019 19 Economy

Algeria to borrow from abroad for first time in 15 years

Lamine Ghanmi address widening economic imbal- ances. The collapse of oil prices in 2014 Tunis left Algeria, Europe’s third-largest supplier of gas, struggling to sus- he Algerian government is tain the most generous subsidy sys- turning to foreign lenders tem in the Maghreb. for the first time in 15 years As a result, Algeria’s budget defi- T as oil and gas output de- cit widened to around 16% of GDP clines and takes a toll on the econ- since 2015 and its current account omy. showed a double-digit gap in the Algerian Finance Minister Mo- past three years, eating away at for- hamed Loukal, speaking after Al- eign reserves. geria’s cabinet adopted measures Algerian authorities moved to for the draft 2020 budget, said the gradually open the economy to for- country would seek “long-term eign investment and trim the budg- loans that will be allocated only to et deficit this year. finance strategic projects.” The move comes as protests Algeria had banned any foreign continue in Algeria. Demonstra- debt since 2005, when the govern- tors have demanded a complete ment began emphasising “eco- overhaul of a regime they blame nomic nationalism” and “financial for corruption and economic mis- sovereignty.” management. Since February 22, Loukal said Algeria would not the movement forced out long-time seek loans from the international President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and market until early 2021 when the numerous high-level officials close country’s foreign reserves are ex- to Bouteflika have been imprisoned pected to hit the lowest level in on corruption charges. many years. Algeria’s international Protesters pressured army- reserves have shrunk by more than backed authorities to cancel half since their peak in 2014, with planned elections on two occa- officials projecting the stockpile to sions. They are seeking a transi- Tough times. People walk past the headquarters of the Bank of Algeria in Algiers. (Reuters) total $68 billion by the end of 2019. tional period that would allow for a stable opposition bloc to develop, while authorities insist on a quicker The government said foreign of domestic energy consumption, the sale of oil and gas, this trend is Finance Minister Mohamed election timetable. loans to be contracted beginning slashing export potential and pro- alarming.” Loukal said Algeria would Algerian General Ahmed Gaid next year will finance basic infra- hibitive legislation preventing for- Sonatrach was quoted by APS as seek “long-term loans that Salah, the army chief-of-staff, structure and structural economic eign investment and new technol- saying in the document that oil and will be allocated only to warned of “harsh punishment” for projects, such as the $3 billion port ogy. gas output declined 18% in recent finance strategic projects.” those who oppose the next planned project of Cherchell outside Algiers The Algeria Press Service (APS), years as foreign investors’ share in presidential vote, which he says is and a $6 billion phosphate develop- Algeria’s official news agency, re- gas and oil production ventures de- Oil and gas revenues account for “vital” for Algeria’s future. ment project in the mineral basin of leased a summary of an “internal creased. more than 95% of total exports and The government envisages in the Tebessa. document” from Sonatrach show- “The circumstances of the gas around 60% of the Algerian budget. draft budget for 2020 lowering the Other projects include the exten- ing the effects of lower oil prices on and oil sector offer no concrete The country needs crude oil prices deficit to 7.2% after it projected to sion of an underground transport international markets, the high rise possibility to halt the decline of ac- of nearly $100 a barrel to balance its trim it to nearly 10% this year. network in Algiers, the construc- in domestic consumption and the tivities,” it said in a plea to the gov- budget in 2019. It priced its Sahara The government has made pro- tion of an underground train sys- decline in production of oil and gas. ernment to alter legislation to lure Blend for October at around $62 a gress in all economic sectors, ex- tem in the western city of Oran and “The difficulties of Sonatrach foreign investment. barrel. cept the hydrocarbon industry, by the completion of a highway link- mirror the situation of the country “The situation of the sector The International Monetary Fund scrapping a law that made it com- ing Algeria to Tunisia and Morocco. that had lost its economic attrac- makes it more necessary than ever advised Algerian authorities to cau- pulsory for Algerian nationals to However, Algerian state oil firm tiveness,” said economist Makhlouf to promulgate a new law on the hy- tiously devalue the country’s cur- own a majority stake in any ven- Sonatrach sparked concern when Mehenni. “For many years, the drocarbons adapted to the current rency, the dinar, to borrow from tures established by foreign inves- it, for the first time, issued a grim production and exports of oil and international context and also to abroad and open its economy to tors. The measure was included in outlook of the country’s oil and gas were declining inexorably. For enhance the advantages of Algeria,” more international investment to next year’s budget law. gas sector because of rapid growth a country that depends entirely on Sonatrach added. Morocco strives to upgrade its fishing industry

Mohamed al-Alawi ing infrastructure across the entire production chain. The report stated that octopus Rabat fishing was subject to illegal fish- ing and reporting practices “such as report has revealed that dual reporting of the same product Morocco’s fishing sector and mixing authorised products faces several challenges with products coming from IUU A associated with improv- fishing.” It pointed out the serious ing production while considering shortage in refrigeration equip- sustainability and conservation of ment in wholesale fish markets fisheries, although the sector has where there is usually one cold grown in recent years. room, except at the Marrakech mar- The Moroccan Ministry of Agri- ket where there are four such areas. culture established its Alliotis Plan Rabat aspires to utilise fishery in 2009, the first integrated strategy resources in a sustainable manner for the fishing and aquaculture sec- and double its domestic fish pro- tor in the country, to modernise the duction by next year, making the marine sector and improve its com- sector a key driver of economic petitiveness. growth. A rich coastal zone. A fishing boat sails into the harbour of the economic capital of Morocco, A report by the Supreme Coun- Morocco is counting on the ad- Casablanca. (AFP) cil of Accounts stressed addressing vantages of its location and long imbalances in implementing the coastline to strengthen partner- plan, which focuses on improving ships with African countries in the that 19 of the 21 planned goals had mestic consumption, investments its contribution to the economy by resources, infrastructure and pro- fishing sector and become a hub been implemented. and combating fish smuggling. increasing exports. The report stat- duction. connecting the continent with the The ministry voices reservations Akhannouch said the sector’s ed that exports of marine products The council’s report identified world, especially after Morocco has about two recommendations in the contributions to the Moroccan in 2017 amounted to about $2.3 bil- shortcomings, including delays in returned to the African Union. report, one of which is to frame economy in 2017 totalled about $1.7 lion, representing 50% of all reve- completing projects and in achiev- Morocco has a coastal zone of preparations and management of billion, 80% of the objective fixed nues from the food and agricultural ing goals, especially those related about ​​1.12 million sq.km, which is fisheries with legal tools, such as a by the Alliotis Plan. exports and 10% of the country’s to improving the presence of Mo- one of the richest in the world in law or a decree. Official figures indicate that Mo- total exports. roccan fisheries in international terms of fisheries. Moroccan Agriculture and Fish- roccan fisheries improved their The fishing sector has become markets, fish production and aq- The Ministry of Agriculture de- eries Minister Aziz Akhannouch share of the world market from one of the main contributors to re- uaculture, as well as improving the fended the productivity of the fish- said the Alliotis Plan had achieved 1.8% in 2007 to 1.9% in 2015 be- ducing unemployment, providing domestic consumption of sea prod- eries sector and the Alliotis Plan, significant results, as shown by cause of improvements in market nearly 200,000 jobs, in addition to ucts. saying ministerial actions contrib- achievements in the fishing sector diversification and expansion to 135 boosting prospects for sustainable The report cited the effects il- uted to the sustainable exploitation and the high number of transac- countries, compared to 127 coun- growth as exports grow because of legal, unreported and unregulated of marine resources. It emphasised tions. He pointed to the growth of tries in 2010. government incentives. (IUU) fishing have on the sector’s that Morocco was benefiting from private investment in the sector Despite reservations about the ef- contribution to Morocco’s GDP and the plan and pointed out that the and tangible improvements in sci- ficacy of the Alliotis Plan, the fish- Mohamed al-Alawi is a Moroccan highlighted the weakness of exist- Supreme Council’s report stated entific research, aquaculture, do- eries sector in Morocco increased writer. 20 October 6, 2019 Society

Egypt establishes insurance policy against divorce

Hassan Abdel Zaher ditional family structure fuelled by an increase in the national poverty rate. Cairo The proposed legislation would require men to purchase a divorce gyptian officials are craft- insurance policy before marry- ing legislation that would ing in an amount based on the require married men to dowry paid to the bride’s family. It E obtain insurance for their has not been settled whether this family in the event of divorce. would be a one-time fee or a recur- The suggested amendments to ring payment but there are fears the insurance code, introduced by that having to purchase an insur- the Financial Regulatory Author- ance policy on marriages could ity, are aimed at ensuring greater affect the plans of those getting protection for vulnerable citizens, married if they were forced to pay including the growing number of a large amount of money for the divorced mothers. insurance. Khaled el-Nashar, deputy chair- man of the Financial Regulatory Authority, said divorced mothers There were would receive the entire sum if a 220,096 divorces in marriage ends. “This will help them get by until Egypt in 2018, the they reach a settlement of their fi- Central Agency for nancial rights, either peacefully or Public Mobilisation through the courts,” Nashar said. The aftermath of a divorce can and Statistics stated, a be especially painful for moth- 6.7% increase from the ers, who often struggle for years through backlogged courts before previous year. cases of alimony or child custody are resolved. A stubborn problem. Two students perform a skit at Cairo University about a married couple having “Divorce is becoming a very Some divorced mothers did not an argument as part of a new government project aimed at curbing Egypt’s divorce rate. (Reuters) worrying phenomenon in our receive any financial settlement, country,” said Hanan Salem, a pro- which can drive them and their fessor of sociology at Ain Shams children into poverty and home- are a response to the courts’ fail- ever, the initiative was blocked by ensuring mothers’ legal rights. University. “There is an urgent lessness, analysts said. There are ures to manage divorce cases. al-Azhar, which said barring oral “Most men are certain that ali- need for action here.” tens of thousands of homeless In 2004, Egypt introduced “fam- divorces would contradict Islamic mony cases take a very long time There were 220,096 divorces in children in Egypt. ily courts” aimed at quickly re- precepts. at the courts,” said lawmaker Faiqa Egypt in 2018, the Central Agency “Husbands easily shirk their solving divorce-related disputes The cabinet was expected to Fahim. “The new insurance policy for Public Mobilisation and Statis- responsibility for sustaining between former spouses. approve amendments to the in- would immunise those mothers tics stated, a 6.7% increase from their children after divorce,” said In January 2017, Egyptian Presi- surance code and refer them to against the financial problems the previous year. In 2017, the Khaled Shehab, a lawyer who spe- dent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed parliament for debate and a vote, they face after the collapse of their national divorce rate was 2.1 per cialises in divorce proceedings. ending “oral divorces,” through possibly in October when parlia- marriage.” every 1,000 marriages, considered “This deals irreparable damage to which men divorce their wives ment reconvenes. high for the region. families, especially if the women simply by word of mouth. His pro- Some lawmakers said they were Hassan Abdel Zaher is For some, the growing divorce divorced are unemployed.” posal would have required divorces enthusiastic about the amendments, a Cairo-based contributor to rate points to an erosion of the tra- The proposed insurance policies to be officially documented. How- calling them an important step to The Arab Weekly. Viewpoint The Maghreb needs a sexual revolution

her country. nothing has changed in terms of gist Olfa Dakhlaoui. a case of prostitution which could “We must pretend, feint and relations between the sexes and She said we must stop pretend- result in both partners sentenced turn in circles to overcome the ob- sex education. The topic of sex re- ing that religion is not responsible to six months in prison. In Moroc- Hamid Zanaz stacles erected against love in the mains the ultimate taboo. for sexual repression. “We raise co, Article 490 of the Penal Code streets of Algiers and we have to ig- In Tunisia and Morocco, young our girls on strict ideas of ​​haram provides a 1-year prison sentence nore obscene remarks and touch- men and women caught having sex and halal and we create in them an for anyone who has a sexual rela- ow do young men ing by total strangers and it doesn’t outside the legal relationship of enormous frustration. No wonder tionship outside the framework of and women in matter whether we’re veiled or un- marriage can be sentenced to pris- they grow up associating sex with marriage. Tunisia, Algeria veiled. Even completely covered on. In the three countries, virginity fear,” Dakhlaoui said. and Morocco live females are not safe from these is valued at its weight in gold, even That was the experience of Mo- their love and sex types of behaviour,” Ines said. though hymen reconstruction sur- roccan writer Leila Soleimani, who While modernisation lives? What is their A UN study stated that 66% of gery, practised clandestinely by wrote: “I wondered and brought Hattitude towards the perception Algerian women have been sexu- many doctors, is a very profitable back memories of my teenage days has touched many of gender relations in their ally harassed. Another young Alge- business before wedding seasons. in Rabat in the 1990s. At that time, aspects of life in countries? How do they adapt to rian woman said it is the Algerian Lesbians, homosexuals and any- sex for me was associated with overwhelmingly conservative family code that is the source of one convicted of “sexual deviance” danger, violence and secrecy. I was Tunisia, Algeria and environments and sometimes the tragedy of the women. This can be sentenced to three months terrified at the risk of unwanted Morocco, almost strict norms and laws? is why so many are strongly in- in jail. “In 2018, 200 homosexu- pregnancy and the fear of being nothing has changed To quote Ines, a young Algerian volved in protests and are looking als were arrested in Tunisia. Many unable to get rid of the foetus in a woman, love between the sexes to change it. homosexuals have left the country country where abortion is forbid- in terms of relations in the Maghreb is more of a battle While modernisation has and those who have not done so den.” between the sexes than a picnic. She is referring to touched many aspects of life in Tu- risk their freedom and sometimes If Algeria prohibits abortion like widespread sexual harassment in nisia, Algeria and Morocco, almost their lives,” said Tunisian sexolo- Morocco, Tunisia does not. and sex education. Soleimani spoke of the barbaric ritual practised on young teenage There is no freedom for lovers females in which the girl’s grand- outside the institution of marriage. mother or a close relative would Very often in countries deriving mumble ridiculous gibberish, be- their laws from sharia, a couple lieved to have the power of pro- could not get a room in a hotel if tecting the girl’s virginity. Psycho- they could not prove they are mar- logically, that’s the equivalent of a ried. Such legal repression and so- permanent chastity belt. cial pressure often result in social It is not just teenagers who are and moral catastrophes, such as affected. Men and women in the forced and arranged marriages, Maghreb do not live their love or marital rape, the farce of hymen sexual experiences normally but reconstruction, unattended births they must pretend and hide to the and discarding foetuses in garbage point that some relations turn into bags tragedies because of the lack of The testimonies of many people sexual human rights. are mirrors that reflect the image “Women have to endure many of a society, a culture and a religion pressures and much coercion and and not just the intimate paths of bear many burdens,” Soleimani individuals. Sexual rights are fun- said. “Virginity is always sacred, damental and political human cohabitation between the sexes rights and their repression serve is not allowed or deplorable in all authoritarian regimes. cases and can be counted as pros- So, when will we see a sexu- titution punishable by imprison- al revolution break out in the ment; even a stolen kiss in the Maghreb countries that will restore street is seen as a very bad act.” to individuals their dignities, free- Although in Tunisia, cohabita- doms and bodies? tion between a man and a woman Breaking taboos. A Tunisian couple poses for a photograph with their 3-year-old son and 4-month- is not explicitly forbidden by law, Hamid Zanaz is an Algerian writer old daughter at their house in Tunis. (Reuters) police often try to prove that it is living in France. October 6, 2019 21 Society

Jordanian men defy conservative traditions with rush to plastic surgery

Roufan Nahhas interested in breast reduction and belly fat elimination because sim- Amman ply doing sports and going to the gym is not enough,” he said. lastic surgery is gaining “Older men prefer to work on popularity among Jorda- their faces, such as removing the nian men who are setting wrinkles and many request to P a trend for cosmetic im- have excess skin removed when provements including nose jobs, they lose weight after intragas- hair and beard transplants and tric balloon surgery but they are breast reduction. less daring than young men and While plastic surgery is consid- hesitate to go under the knife,” ered mainly female territory in Tarawneh said. Jordan’s conservative society, Jor- Tajmeeli.com, a website that Cheaper options. A hair specialist checks a patient in Istanbul. (AFP) danian men are increasingly plac- provides educational informa- ing their bodies in the hands of tion about cosmetic procedures to tion of what one pays in Europe, The surgery cost approximately on the woman prior to surgery. plastic surgeons. A study conduct- Arabic speakers, states that Saudi which is around $9,000, or in Jor- $21,000 and lasted 12 hours; ex- A “Hollywood smile” is another ed by plastic surgeons in Jordan Arabia has the highest percent- dan, which is more than $3,000,” perts said it should have only tak- procedure frequently requested in 2018 revealed that 55% of their age of cosmetic surgery users in Ashhab added. en about five hours. by young men and women, Dr Ah- clinics’ visitors were male. the region, followed by Egypt, the While some men are keen on im- mad Kamal said. Plastic surgery consultant Dr United Arab Emirates, Morocco proving their looks, though, oth- “Whitening teeth is one of the Hussein al-Tarawneh said he not- and Jordan. ers avoid plastic surgery because The most requested most demanded procedures by ed a significant rise in the number The most requested cosmetic of the potential dangers. cosmetic procedures are both sexes and the prices vary of men requesting surgery. procedures, the website said, are “Whenever I think of plastic hair and beard from a few hundred to a thousand “Men are becoming increasing- hair and beard transplants, rhi- surgery I remember the case of transplants, rhinoplasty dollars. Having a white smile is be- ly obsessed with plastic surgery, noplasty (nose jobs), liposuction, the Jordanian woman who died in (nose jobs), liposuction, coming an essential part of the life which they read about and watch gastric sleeve, dental implants and 2017, after liposuction surgery by gastric sleeve, dental of Jordanians due to smoking, cof- abdominoplasty. a famous surgeon, due to gas em- fee drinking, et cetera. Some even videos on social media. While implants and in the past, men used to feel shy Some Jordanians said they trav- bolism,” said Mohannad Abu Rum- take out loans to fix their teeth,” about consulting plastic surgeons, el to Turkey for hair transplants, man, 30, who said he is trying to abdominoplasty. Kamal said. today it is becoming normal. citing “better results and cheaper lose weight. The desire to improve appear- “Also, one of the characteristics options.” “Some surgeons are looking for In another case that ended in ances is increasing among young of modern life is that people are “It would have been crazy to financial gain more than perform- tragedy, a 27-year-old mother Jordanians, said Tarawneh, who becoming more attentive to their do it here in Amman due to the ing a good job; so, do I need to risk died after an intragastric balloon advises them “to take it easy, not looks as a way of expressing them- very high cost. In Turkey, it cost it or not? That is the question and, surgery in which a saline-filled to expect miraculous transforma- selves,” he said. me around $1,500. The result was so far, the answer is, ‘no’,” he said. silicone balloon was placed in her tions and do their homework in Tarawneh said people of differ- great and I have my hair back,” The death of the 32-year-old stomach to help her lose weight by advance by checking the best plac- ent age groups seek different types said Ahmed Ashhab, a 25-year-old woman angered Jordanians who limiting how much she could eat. es and best results.” of surgeries. pharmacist. blamed the surgeon and his team Reports blamed her doctor, who “Many young men go for nose “Turkey is leading the world in for performing the surgery, which suggested the surgery but alleged- Roufan Nahhas is a journalist jobs. Those aged 20-30 are also hair transplant surgeries for a frac- had no guarantee of success. ly did not perform medical checks based in Jordan. With sights set on overseas, Tunisians hone foreign language skills

Stephen Quillen da and the United States. The trend non-profit Amideast and the United classes at the age of 10. A small Germany, in need of young work- has helped make Tunisia, where Kingdom’s British Council, among percentage of the population also ers to help accommodate its age- most citizens are multilingual, a re- others, provide highly sought-after speaks Shelha, a traditional Berber ing population, has good reason to Tunis gional hub for languages. certified English courses, including language found primarily in south- attract skilled professionals from There are dozens of language- in business English. For prospective ern villages. abroad, especially in the medi- rustrated by limited career training centres in Tunis that pro- German speakers, there is the non- With young Tunisians increasing- cal and engineering fields. A study opportunities and a declin- vide courses in English, French, profit Goethe Institut and Getusion ly setting their sights abroad, broad stated that more than 1 million ing standard of living in German and other languages. There academy. language capacities are more im- highly skilled foreign workers are in F their country, young Tuni- are also a growing number of pri- Often described as a crossroads portant than ever and many profes- Germany’s labour force, more than sians are increasingly looking to vate tutors offering individual ses- between Africa, the Middle East sionals are seeking to hone fluency one-quarter of the international work abroad, fuelling a demand for sions to supplement in-class learn- and Europe, Tunisia draws on a va- in French and English or pick up workforce. language training in the North Afri- ing. riety of cultural and linguistic influ- a new language, such as German, Another reason German has likely can nation. Outside of Tunisia’s Bourguiba ences that make citizens versed in a Italian or Turkish. gained traction in Tunisia is because Each year, hundreds of young Institute, which focuses on teach- variety of tongues. Ameni Kthiri, who helps organise of Germany’s deep engagement in Tunisian doctors, lawyers, engi- ing Arabic to foreigners but also Apart from Derja (Tunisian Ara- a language exchange programme in cultural and political affairs. The neers and other professionals study provides courses in dozens of other bic), Tunisian students are trained Tunis, said Tunisians’ main motiva- Goethe Institute, a non-profit cul- to improve foreign-language flu- languages, there are a range of op- from an early age in Modern Stand- tions for learning foreign languages tural association, hosts regular ency needed to pursue career paths tions for Tunisians pursuing top- ard Arabic and French, and public are “living and finding a job abroad” outreach events in Tunis that are abroad, especially in Europe, Cana- notch language training. The US school pupils begin taking English or being hired at home “with an in- open to the public and have helped ternational company.” promote the German language and “The most commonly sought-af- fostered cultural exchange. There ter languages are English and Ger- are also numerous German political man,” she added. foundations that work with — and German is in especially high de- hire — Tunisian nationals. mand among aspiring Tunisian doctors and engineers, who say work conditions and opportunities Broad language capacities for career advancement in Germa- are more important than ny are better than in Tunisia. ever and many Farah Ben Cheikh, a Tunisian professionals are seeking to medical student planning to work hone fluency in French and in Germany, said she prefers it to English or pick up a new other countries because its system language, such as German, affords her the option to pursue a Italian or Turkish. specialised career path and begin working quickly. Apart from Germany, many Tuni- “I prefer Germany because it of- sian professionals travel to France, fers the opportunity to specialise, Italy, Canada and the United States. which is not the case in France,” A smaller number travel to other said Ben Cheikh. “The procedure is European countries such as Bel- also much less complicated than the gium, Switzerland, Austria and the one in the US or Canada. When you United Kingdom. go to Germany, you need to pass the It is estimated that each year hun- medical German exam and then the dreds of Tunisian doctors and more knowledge verification exam but than 1,000 Tunisian engineers take you can start working in the hospi- their skills abroad, a trend that is tal before passing any exams. likely to expand in a globalised job “This makes it easier for doctors market. who don’t have enough money to Key training. Students take a picture with their teacher (2nd L) at the Amideast in Tunis. (Amideast) stay without work for three years Stephen Quillen is an Arab Weekly preparing for their exams.” correspondent in Tunis. 22 October 6, 2019 Culture

UAE galleries draw art lovers as rich new season opens

N.P. Krishna Kumar

Dubai

fter the summer lull, a hec- tic schedule of diverse and exciting art shows across A the United Arab Emirates is beckoning visitors. The Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi reopened in September after extensive renovation with a solo show by pioneering Emirati artist Najat Makki, titled “Najat Makki: Luminescence.” Displayed throughout the Cultural Foundation’s main hall and ground floor, the show is to be available through December 15 and highlights the artist’s experimental and open approach to various geographical and historical influences. “These are abstract works I have created during the last one year based on the theme of ‘light’,” Makki said. On the first floor, “Tribute: A dedication to Najat Makki” features works by 19 eminent Emirati art- ists expressing their admiration for Makki. The Louvre Abu Dhabi unveiled the season’s opening exhibition on September 18 titled “Rendezvous in Paris: Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani & Co. (1900-1939),” which will be open through December 7. Through a curation of celebrated paintings and sculptures, including Exciting shows. The contemporary dance performance WRECK-List of Extinct Species staged at Concrete in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Pablo Picasso’s “Portrait of Gustave (Alserkal Avenue) Coquiot” (1901), Amedeo Modigli- ani’s “Portrait of Dedie” (1918), Marc tory of luxury from antiquity to the Alserkal Avenue announced a which she described as “a powerful spired by the tent traditions of the Chagall’s “The Father” (1911) and Ta- present day. landmark exhibition “Is This To- exhibition by 13 artists that explores region. mara de Lempicka’s “Girl in a Green In Dubai, every year on Septem- morrow?” to take place in Concrete urgent ideas around material herit- The Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF), Dress” (1927-30), visitors will dis- ber 30, the art-loving public throngs from November 6-29. “‘Is This To- age including acts of destruction, in collaboration with the Sharjah cover and learn more about the lives Alserkal Avenue for “Alserkal Lates” morrow?’ will be the cornerstone of reconstruction and restitution.” Museums Authority, presents “Last- and works of these foreign artists in to celebrate a new season of art, cul- our November programming, much The season includes the debut ing Impressions: Adam Henein,” a Paris and gain insight into the social ture and entertainment. of which will explore the confluence of “The Library of Unread Books,” survey of the artist’s paintings and landscape of the period. This year was especially spectacu- of art and architecture,” said Vilma a community-led enterprise, and a sculptures from the 1950s until to- “We are thrilled to see ‘Rendez- lar with compelling new art exhi- Jurkute, Alserkal Avenue director. solo show by Saudi artist Sarah Abu day. Curated by Sheikha Noora al- vous in Paris…’ kick off our 2019-20 bitions, some of them solo shows Antonia Carver, director of Dubai’s Abdullah. Mualla, the exhibition, which runs season,” said Manuel Rabate, di- by Emirati artists Alaa Edris, Sarah Jameel Art Centre, unveiled this The Sharjah Museums Author- until November 16, showcases more rector of Louvre Abu Dhabi. “The Almehairi and Farah Al Qasimi, at season’s set of exhibitions and pro- ity is celebrating the heritage of the than 70 works by Henein referenc- exhibition illuminates the creative 18 contemporary art galleries in the grammes, led by “Phantom Limb,” MENA region through “T-Serai,” a ing universal themes, Egyptian her- output during a time of enormous 46,500-sq.-metre cultural district. portable “palace” made of recycled itage and ancient Egyptian symbols. political and social upheaval, as well “Body Building,” which includes The Louvre Abu Dhabi fabric using the art of reverse ap- An exhibition reflecting on the as how the power of intellectual ex- more than 90 works by artists unveiled the season’s plique, at the Sharjah Museum of evolution of the Arab Image Foun- change defined the artistic produc- from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and opening exhibition on Islamic Civilisation. dation and its collections through tion of a generation.” France at the Ishara Art Foundation, The exhibition by Azra Aksamija, the work and contributions of its Another ground-breaking exhibi- explores South Asian identities and September 18 titled an architectural historian and direc- co-founder Akram Zaatari, titled tion presented for the first time in perspectives in the context of the “Rendezvous in Paris: tor of Future Heritage Lab at Massa- “Against Photography,” is running at the Middle East at Louvre Abu Dha- architecture and the built environ- Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani chusetts Institute of Technology in SAF until January 10. bi will be “10,000 Years of Luxury,” ment. The works were selected be- & Co. (1900-1939),” which the United States, runs until Decem- which runs from October 30 through cause they resonate with the South will be open through ber 7 and showcases the installation N.P. Krishna Kumar is an Arab February 18, 2020, exploring the his- Asian experience in the Gulf. December 7. in the form of a portable palace, in- Weekly contributor in Dubai. ‘New Poetry from North Africa’ illuminates London evening

Karen Dabrowska about the poem itself. It is freight- focus of the summer issue of MPT In her introduction to “The Illu- “One reason I loved working with ed with a lot of cultural resonances (Modern Poetry in Translation). minated Paths,” Editor Clare Pol- her [Bechar] was for the chance to and illusions and with a history The literary magazine, founded lard recalled workshops in Tunisia spend time listening to poetry in London and a literary heritage. The British in 1965 by Ted Hughes and Dan- “where each word’s poetic nuance her mother tongue, Tamazight,” Council’s aim is to foster friendly iel Weissbort, had two main aims: was fiercely debated and also Bulley said. “Often known as Ber- oets from Morocco, Tunisia understanding between the UK to get poetry out from behind the times when the poets would pair ber, Tamazight is a widely spoken and Algeria shared their po- and the rest of the world and poet- Iron Curtain into a wider circu- off to translate each other’s work indigenous language that predates etry with an English-speak- ry is such a fantastic vehicle for do- lation in English and to benefit on cushions under the tree, in cool the arrival of Arabic in North Af- P ing audience through read- ing that,” said Jim Hinks, literature writers and the reading public in side rooms or on the hammock. rica. ings, translations and discussions programme manager of the British Britain and the United States by “The focus of this issue (“The Il- “After Algerian independence in of their works at London bookshop Council presenting them with good work luminated Paths”) is the result and 1962, efforts to replace the colo- Waterstones. “The Illuminated Paths” was the from abroad. it is a pleasure to present such a nial French language with Arabic “The Illuminated Paths: New varied and exhilarating selection meant that Tamazight was mar- Poetry from North Africa,” which of poems, which stand testimony ginalised. It would be another 40 took place in September, featured to the friendships that developed years before the language was con- readings from Fatma Krouma and and the power of words.” stitutionally recognised and strug- Ashref Kerkeni (Tunisia), Adil Pollard said the poems brim gles for its future continue today.” Latefi and Nassima Raoui (Moroc- with the belief that poetry matters Because of the context within co), Fadhila Bechar and Mohamed enough to wound, transform, me- which Bechar’s poetry resides, Rafik Taibi (Algeria), and the UK morialise, seduce and even heal, her choice to write and perform in poet-translators Victoria Adukwei such as in Zouleikha Elhamed’s Tamazight is a brave, political one, Bulley, Vidyan Ravinthiran, Stew- lines, translated by Sprackland: “I Bulley said. art Sanderson, Adham Smart and melted like snow inside its song “Her work speaks to and for a Martha Sprackland. and the glory of it rose up in my life culture that is rich in orality, with The poems were first read in Ara- with its honey-scent.” ancient traditions that lie qui- bic and Tamazight and the English “The Illuminated Paths” begins etly at the heart of contemporary translations followed. The works with a black-and-white portrait of North African life. Bechar’s spoken of four poets from Libya and Mau- each author, followed by a com- voice is gentle but her poetry is ritania who were not able to travel ment from the translator. The Eng- forthright with cries of longing and to London were read by their col- lish translation of several poems survival: the unforgiving realities leagues. appears next. of social hardship and personal The poets participating in the The first reading was by Bechar, heartbreak,” Bulley said. British Council’s Majaaz project a strong feminist voice in Algerian “Hers is a poetry of loyalty and were brought together in Tunisia literature who writes in her moth- resilience that is as personal as it is with some of the United King- er tongue Tamazight. The transla- national, as humble as it is fierce.” dom’s best poets to make the col- Forthright poetry. Fadhila Bechar (L) and Victoria Adukwei tions were read by Bulley, director laborative translations. Bulley (R) at the translation workshop in Tunisia. of an intergenerational poetry, film Karen Dabrowska is an Arab “To translate poetry is not just (Courtesy of The British Council) and translation project. Weekly contributor in London. October 6, 2019 23 Culture

Carrying their lives in suitcases. Acrylic on wood artwork by Lebanese artist Ginane Makki Bacho. (Paul Hennebelle) History written in metal at Beirut exhibition

Samar Kadi sculptural work from its inception. Bacho has been producing sculp- and reworked. truck for her grandchild. “I am an engaged artist and I tures out of shrapnel and scrap It began with shrapnel left of the “I first tried to make figurines have always been working on the metal for four decades. For her 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. to put in the truck, which was ex- Beirut theme of war because I wanted latest exhibition, she welded hun- From those she sculpted cedars, tremely difficult. However, the to talk about actualities,” Bacho dreds of metal toy-size figurines the symbol of Lebanese national outcome was astounding, even for ho said history is only said. “I feel it is my responsibility connected at the edges and rep- pride. She repeatedly visited junk- me. Then I thought maybe I should written in books? Leb- towards humanity and future gen- resented in clusters as groups of yards and scrap shops to scavenge work more on these and see what anese artist Ginane erations to show in a concrete way families and children. for elements through which she comes out,” she said. W Makki Bacho has been what has been happening in the would recount the Arab “Apoca- It took Bacho seven years to com- recounting the history of Lebanon world around us. lypse,” her reference to the “Arab plete her series of exhibitions. and the region with metal artwork “In history books we read about The sculptures and spring.” After the “Arab spring” opened in exhibitions depicting the horrors wars, invasions and atrocities from carvings of “Iron is a medium that I feel before the people of the region the of wars and forced migration. the Mongol invasions to the Cru- “Interminable Seasons of comfortable working with,” Bacho doors of hell, Bacho worked on em- “Interminable Seasons of Migra- saders and more recent wars but Migration” are dedicated said. “Why iron? Because iron is a bodying hordes of jihadists, war tion,” Bacho’s latest show at Agial we had nothing concrete portray- to the flocks of beings cold material and it insinuates war, machinery and ships carrying fu- Art Gallery in Beirut, is a continu- ing these events. What is happen- fleeing from hell. arms and violence.” gitives at sea, prisoners’ cages and ation of a previous work titled ing to us in this region is real and Producing small-scale iron figu- ritual slaughter in her 2016 “Civili- “Civilisation” in which the artist we cannot act like ostriches by Displayed together in the format rines in large quantities sation.” used the same technique, materials burying our head in the sand but of an installation, the clusters ap- proved to be an ex- The sculptures and carvings of and themes that have marked her we need to expose them.” pear to be masses of people in pro- tremely difficult and “Interminable Seasons of Migra- cession, mimicking the thousands daunting task. tion,” which is an extension of of refugees fleeing across lands Bacho said the its predecessor, are dedicated and seas with limited belongings. idea came to to the flocks of beings fleeing While “Civilisation” was spe- her when she from hell. cifically inspired by the atroci- was working on a “I like to recount a story. It ties committed by the Islamic is like a book that you read State, “Interminable Sea- chapter after chapter. sons of Migration” repre- One chapter is about sents the broader theme the weapons and tanks, of people’s uprooting another about the kill- and movement glob- ing and torture cages, ally. and yet another about “Throughout the migrants. At the history there end I believe that I have been sev- could manage to give eral seasons an image of what is of migration happening to us and and it is con- in the region,” Bacho tinuing. In said. Lebanon, for In her own way, Ba- instance, we had cho repaints the epic to move and flee of displacement and several times asylum. She embodies during the civil multiple countries in war (1975-90). their forced migra- You have the tion. She sculpted Syrians and her subjects from the Rohingyas metal one by one, in Myanmar for catching the move- example. Forced migra- ment of their limbs, tion is not only about suitcases in hand. She this region but it is hap- formed small groups pening in many places of refugees using bronze or around the world,” Ba- carved them on wood. cho said. “I work for a cause and She has always showed a that is the cause of peace. preference to working with We only live once and I metal, although she also like to give a testimony mastered other techniques of life, of history and and media, including our present,” Bacho painting and photogra- said. phy. She has fashioned most of her works from Samar Kadi is The Arab Stories of uprooting. Artwork by Lebanese artist Ginane Makki a metallic gel that she Unknown destination. Bronze artwork on display at Weekly Travel and Bacho on display. (Paul Hennebelle) gathered, remodelled “Interminable Seasons of Migration.” (Paul Hennebelle) Society section editor. 24 October 6, 2019 Travel www.thearabweekly.com

Agenda

Beirut: Through October 10

Beirut is celebrating cinema with the 19th Beirut Interna- tional Film Festival, which includes competitions in Long Features, Short Films and Documentaries in addition to Lebanon premieres of films.

Tunis: Through October 13

Dream City, a biennial multidis- ciplinary celebration of contem- porary art, takes place in public spaces in the Medina of Tunis. The event includes movie pro- A local prepares food in Wadi Degla. (Al Arab) A view of the map of Wadi Degla nature reserve in Egypt. (Twitter) jections, theatre performances, music concerts and art exhibi- tions. Artists from Africa, the Middle East and Europe will Wadi Degla Nature Reserve offers participate. Carthage: October 10-31

The Musical October in sanctuary for Cairo residents Carthage will take place at the Acropolium of Carthage on Byrsa Hill. The festival includes Rihab Aliwa concerts by artists from Tunisia, Japan, Russia and Italy. Wadi Degla Essaouira: ears ago, residents of Cairo, October 11-13 exhausted by the daily rig- ours of modern city life, The third MOGA Festival of Y could be forgiven if they electronic music and culture were less than enthusiastic about will take place in Essaouira, experiencing Bedouin culture. Af- Morocco. Performances, educa- ter all, getting to it meant gearing tional workshops, beach parties up for seemingly endless treks in and digital video installations tough conditions with comforts are scheduled. few and far in between. It could take hours to arrive at Erfoud: the Sinai Peninsula and trying to October 14-31 reach the Halayeb, Shalateen and Abu Ramad border triangle with The Erfoud region in eastern Sudan. Morocco is famous for its date However, the Wadi Degla nature palms. Every year after harvest, reserve, 35km south of Cairo in the local tribesmen gather for a Maadi District, is accessible to all, festival that features traditional part of an initiative by the Egyp- music, Berber dances, horse tian Ministry of the Environment. races and exhibits of local It was the site in August for the cuisine. Nature and Local Cultures Festival that introduced city dwellers to an- Sidi Bou Said: cient culture in the oases of Egypt’s October 21-26 western Sahara. The reserve extends over 60km The 13th Musiqat Festival takes A climber rappels down a cliff in Wadi Degla. (Twitter) and includes rare plants, endan- place at the Ennejma Ezzahra gered reptiles and birds. palace in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. Most Cairo residents are una- swords in their sheaths. Alaa Ab- dispute between Egypt and Sudan. telecommunications infrastructure The festival includes a variety ware they can experience a desert dulhadi, a tribe member, pointed Many women in the tent wore dis- in the oases, it seems almost every- of music shows. Artists from adventure practically in their back- out that the weapons are hardly tinctive black garments and face one has social media accounts. Spain, Tunisia, Austria, Greece, yard and basically for free. Travel decoration. markings to reflect their prominent Modernisation has also affected Cuba, Senegal and Morocco are expenses cost 3 Egyptian pounds “We still use fencing with swords role in Bedouin life, as manifested the language of Bedouin life. The scheduled to perform. ($0.18) for Egyptians and 5 pounds and shields in some duels and by the various sheep- and goat- “retana” dialect is only used by ($0.34) for foreigners. competitions,” he said. “The duel leather handicrafts showcased for about one-tenth of Al-Bashaira, the Beirut: As soon as tourists hit the road ends when one of the competitors decorative and household use. president of the tribe’s association November 10 between Maadi and Ain Sokhna succeeds in disarming his oppo- Hussein Merai, president of Al- said. resort on the Red Sea, the bustle nent. Some of us will never go out Basharia Families Association, Food was a highlight of the event, The 17th Beirut International and noise of the city fades. Only a without their swords hanging from said he relished the festival as a with thick kaboury bread on grand Marathon features international short distance on an unpaved road their shoulders.” chance to bring together tribes and display. Almost unknown in Cairo, runners on a route that passes stands between them and the vast Close to the Ababda tent was one share cultures. “The festival could where thin bread is commonplace, the city’s historic monuments spaces and cliffs of the reserve. representing the oases of Fayoum, have garnered double the attend- kaboury is made of a flour-and-wa- and medieval buildings. At the entrance, Bedouins who south-west of Cairo. It showcased ance if it were in winter because ter dough that Bedouins cover in participated in the August festival local wooden handicrafts and tex- the nature reserves flourish in that hot ashes of burning wood for a few Bidiyah: pitched tents, the first of which be- tiles. At its centre were two Nu- season and a carpet of green veg- minutes. They remove the outer November 15-22 longed to the Ababda, one of the bian women painting henna on the etation would be covering the Elba layer that was in contact with ashes largest Arab tribes with territories hands of female visitors. Mountain range, adding to nature’s using a stone and the bread, up to The Oman Desert Marathon is extending from Sinai to Sudan. A few metres away was the tent splendour,” he said. 5cm thick, is ready to be eaten. an amazing footrace across the At the centre of the Ababda of Al-Basharia, one of the tribes of Most visitors seemed to be uni- Another original Bedouin dish Omani desert covering 165km tent hung two ornately decorated the Halayeb Triangle, a region in versity students, impressed by featured at the event was soulatah, in six stages. From the Oasis what they saw in tribal customs, consisting of meat directly grilled of Bidiyah to the Arabian Sea, costumes, singing and dancing. on special hot stones brought participants will discover the “Halayeb is still adhering to its from the oases for the festival. For most remote and untouched Bedouin oral traditions,” Merai drinks, they served al-Jabna, an sands and the highest dunes in said, “but it is now relying more Arabic coffee prepared on firewood the region. on written documents. Marriage and mixed with ginger. in the past used to be performed After the evening meal and un- Dubai: according to the Sunna and public til sunset, the Bedouins arranged November 20 announcement. The tribe’s chief people in circles to engage in sing- would gather the tribe members ing and dancing. Music is an essen- The award-winning English and publicly declare the young tial part of who they are, using it singer-songwriter Michael groom and bride married, without to anchor weddings, eulogies and Rosenberg, better known as having to go through any docu- most other get-togethers. Inside Passenger, will perform at Dubai mentation process their tents, there is usually at least Opera. “Now, the state is very adamant one traditional musical instrument on documenting all transactions and often a tamboura, a primitive stringed instrument. and on issuing identity documents We welcome submissions of “They have a simple lifestyle. to the populations of the border calendar items related to They sleep and wake up early and zones. This step preserves the cultural events of interest to avoid fast and fried foods that leave rights of the people and does not travellers in the Middle East the worst effects on us Cairenes,” detract from our original customs.” and North Africa. Alaa Abdulhadi, from the Abab- said student and festival-goer Is- da tribe, said that, even within the lam Abdel Moneim. Please send tips to: Locals and visitors take part in the August festival in Wadi Degla. traditional tribes, modern life has [email protected] (Al Arab) been making inroads. Despite weak Rihab Aliwa is an Egyptian writer.