Lebanese PM Visits UN Peacekeepers amid Dispute over Mandate
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Prime Minister Hassan Diab visits UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. (Dalati & Nohra)
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab visited United Nations peacekeepers in the country's south near the border with Israel on Wednesday, describing the presence of the force in the volatile area as a necessity. The visit comes amid the backdrop of a war of words between Israeli and Lebanese officials, including the Hezbollah party, over the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The force has been deployed in southern Lebanon since an Israeli invasion in 1978. Israel is calling for major changes in the way the mission in southern Lebanon operates on the ground, demanding that it have access to all sites and freedom of movement and that it report back to the Security Council if it is being blocked. Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah, said late Tuesday that Lebanon will not accept a change of mandate for UNIFIL to allow it to raid and search areas, calling it a violation of the country's sovereignty. Nasrallah said the US is pressuring Lebanon to accept such a change. Diab said the presence of the troops was “necessary and urgent” in light of the ongoing "violations by Israel of Lebanon’s sovereignty by land, sea and air.” The quibble over the UNIFIL mandate comes up every year before the mandate is renewed in the summer. The peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon was originally created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops after the 1978 invasion. The mission was expanded after a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah so that peacekeepers could deploy along the Lebanon-Israel border to help Lebanese troops extend their authority into their country’s south for the first time in decades. Israel has repeatedly accused Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants of impeding the peacekeepers from carrying out their mandate. On Tuesday, residents of the southern village of Blida protested against UNIFIL troops, accusing the Finnish battalion conducting patrols of damaging cars in the village. UNIFIL said it was investigating the incident. UNIFIL includes more than 9,400 ground troops and over 850 naval personnel in a Maritime Task Force.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304961/lebanese-pm-visits-un-peacekeepers-amid-dispute-over-mandate
1 Turkish Soldier Killed in Explosion along Syria’s M4 Highway
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Turkish and Russian military vehicles take part in a joint patrol in the northern Idlib province, Syria, April 15, 2020. (Reuters)
One Turkish soldier has died from an explosion along the M4 highway in Syria’s Idlib, the last opposition stronghold in the country. In a statement Wednesday, the Turkish defense ministry said the soldier was wounded in an explosion and died later in a hospital. It said the explosion took place in an area about 250 meters (820 feet) south of a road patrolled by Turkish forces. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Video footage posted online showed smoke billowing from a building along the M4 highway before a large explosion along the road where the patrol was taking place. Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syria’s war, agreed on a ceasefire on March 5 following weeks of clashes that brought them to the brink of direct confrontation. Ankara backs opposition factions fighting against Bashar Assad’s regime, and Moscow supports Damascus. Fighting in Idlib, which escalated starting in December, has displaced nearly a million people and raised concerns of a fresh wave of migrants towards Turkey, which currently hosts nearly 4 million refugees. Since the deal, Turkey and Russia have conducted 12 patrols along the M4, some of which were cut short due to security concerns, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last month accused Assad’s forces of violating the ceasefire, warning that they would suffer “heavy losses” if it persisted. He added that Ankara would not allow any “dark groups” in the region to violate the ceasefire either. At least 66 Turkish soldiers have been killed in Idlib this year.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304951/1-turkish-soldier-killed-explosion-along-syria%E2%80%99s-m4-highway
Protesters Calling for Jobs Halt Tunisia's Phosphate Output
Business
Asharq Al-Awsat
Protesters, who are demanding jobs and a share in revenue from the area's natural resources, block the road to the oil field in Tataouine, Tunisia, May 12, 2017. (Reuters)
Protesters calling for jobs have brought Tunisia’s phosphate output to a halt by staging sit-ins at state-run Gafsa Phosphate (CPG), the country’s sole producer, a company official said on Wednesday. The protests are one of the first tests for the new government of Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfkah, who said last month that raising phosphate production would be one of his priorities. Tunisia was once one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate minerals, which are used to make fertilizers, but its market share fell after a 2011 uprising against then president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Since then, localized protests and strikes have steadily cut into production and caused billions of dollars in losses. The company official told Reuters that dozens of young unemployed people were holding sit-ins in production sites at Al-Mitlaoui, Mdhila and Om Lrayes, hitting phosphate output. Tunisia produced about 8.2 million tons of phosphate in 2010. That had dropped to 3.8 million tons last year and production is expected to be 4.5 million tons this year.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304946/protesters-calling-jobs-halt-tunisias-phosphate-output
Asharq Al-Awsat
A picture taken on March 1, 2019 shows the Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. (AFP)
The Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem will reopen Sunday after a two-month closure due to the novel coronavirus, a senior official said Wednesday. "All the doors of the Al-Aqsa mosque (compound) will be opened at dawn on Sunday," Omar al-Kiswani, the mosque's director, told AFP. Details of the reopening have not yet been finalized, including whether the mosques on the site will be opened to worshippers or if the public will only be allowed into the courtyard where the faithful also pray. The compound, located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, closed its doors in March as part of measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Religious sites in Jerusalem began to reopen in recent days as the reported number of new cases declined, but the Al-Aqsa mosque compound remained shut during the Eid al-Fitr holiday that began on March 24 for most Muslims and marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Scuffles broke out between Israeli police and Palestinians on the first day of Eid as worshippers tried to break through barriers to enter the compound. The site has often been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is the third holiest site in Islam and where Muslims believe Mohammed ascended to heaven. It is also holy to Jews, who believe it to be the site of their two ancient temples -- the second of which was destroyed in 70 AD. Palestinian authorities have confirmed fewer than 500 cases in the West Bank and Gaza, which have a combined population of more than 4.5 million. In total, Israel has recorded more than 16,500 coronavirus infections and 281 deaths in its population of nine million.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304941/jerusalems-al-aqsa-mosque-reopen-sunday
Don't Abandon us, we Don't Transmit Coronavirus, Say Cairo Dogs and Cats
Varieties
Asharq Al-Awsat
The owner of Bosy, a female cat, gives her a kiss during treatments at the Animalia Veterinary Clinic center, amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19, in Cairo, Egypt May 21, 2020. (Reuters)
The doggies and kitties of a Cairo veterinary clinic have an important message, and they are taking it to the internet. Don’t abandon us. We don’t spread the coronavirus. “We started this campaign after noticing that there were many people leaving dogs and cats outside our clinic,” explained veterinarian Corolos Majdi at the Animalia clinic in the Egyptian capital. Pets looked after at home are highly unlikely to spread any disease, but dogs or cats abandoned on the street can be dangerous, he said, according to Reuters. Doctors at the clinic decided to let the pets spread the message. They began photographing dogs and cats wearing signs explaining that keeping them is safe. The photos are posted on social media sites on the internet. “I don’t transmit the coronavirus. Please don’t be frightened of me,” said Loola, a white French Poodle. Or rather that’s what was written on the sign she sported for her photoshoot. Poosey, a 3-year-old long-haired cat, and Snowy, a white Griffon dog, took turns posing with a sign saying: “I love you. Please don’t throw me out in the street.” “Please don’t worry, dogs don’t transmit the coronavirus,” said Snowy’s owner, a young girl named Julia Joseph. “God created these animals so we can care for them.”
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304926/dont-abandon-us-we-dont-transmit-coronavirus-say-cairo-dogs-and-cats
Saudi Arabia Reports 1,815 New Coronavirus Infections
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
Streets are deserted in Riyadh amid curfew over the coronavirus. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia registered on Wednesday 1,815 new coronavirus cases, raising its total to 78,541. The Health Ministry said that 27,094 of the cases were active, while 2,572 more patients have recovered from the disease. Recoveries now stand at 51,022. Fourteen fatalities were reported in the past 24 hours, raising the toll to 425.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304911/saudi-arabia-reports-1815-new-coronavirus-infections
Russia Denies Sending Military Support to Libya, US Stands Firm
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
An image released by the US military on Tuesday which it says shows one of the MiGs that flew to Libya. (US Africa Command)
Russia denied on Wednesday that it has sent military personnel to Libya, refuting American accusations Tuesday that it has deployed fighter aircraft to the North African country to back the Libyan National Army, commanded by Khalifa Haftar. The Russian upper house of parliament has not received a request to approve such a dispatch, Interfax on Wednesday cited Vladimir Dzhabarov, first deputy head of the upper house’s international affairs committee, as saying. The US military said Tuesday Moscow had deployed the aircraft to support Russian mercenaries fighting for the LNA. On Wednesday, it said Russian military personnel flew MiG 29 and SU-24 fighter planes to a Libyan airbase escorted by other Russian fighter jets, detailing a deployment of air power that could have a big impact on Libya’s war. They first landed in Tobruk, in eastern Libya, and then flew to Jufra in central Libya, an LNA stronghold, the tweets said. They added that 14 newly unmarked Russian fighter planes had been delivered to Jufra. The LNA has suffered a series of military setbacks recently in his offensive to capture the capital Tripoli after the Turkey-backed Government of National Accord captured the strategic Watiya airbase and a number of western coastal cities. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said on Wednesday the situation in Libya was very worrying, warning the Syria scenario was being replicated in the country. “The crisis is deepening. We are facing a ‘Syrianization’ of Libya,” he told a French Senate hearing.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304901/russia-denies-sending-military-support-libya-us-stands-firm
Arab Coalition Downs Houthi Drones Fired at Saudi Arabia’s Najran
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
The Saudi-led Arab coalition intercepted and downed on Wednesday drones fired by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen towards Saudi Arabia. Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said the drones were fired at civilian targets in Najran city. He slammed the Houthis for their ongoing violation of international humanitarian law by launching such drones at civilian installations and residential areas. Wednesday’s incident demonstrates the militias’ rejection of the coalition’s ceasefire initiative and de-escalation efforts that were declared on April 9, he added, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The Houthis had never even responded to the ceasefire, committing more than 4,455 violations throughout this time, using all forms of light and heavy weapons and ballistic missiles, Malki remarked. The coalition will continue to take deterrent measures against the Houthis to neutralize and destroy their capabilities in line with international humanitarian law, he vowed.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304881/arab-coalition-downs-houthi-drones-fired-saudi-arabia%E2%80%99s-najran
Israeli Officials: Annexation Plan Facing Challenges
Arab World
Ramallah - Kifah Zaboun
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement on the annexation plan (File photo: Reuters)
Israel’s measures to legislate the process of imposing Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and settlements in the West Bank will begin in early July, but requires few weeks to be approved, according to an Israeli official. The head of the Governmental Coalition in Israel, Mickey Zohar, revealed that the government will approve the draft law, and then it will be submitted to the Knesset for voting and approval. Zohar announced that the concerned authorities are currently working on drawing up the maps that will help in reaching an understanding with the US administration about the areas that Israel will impose its sovereignty over. The official opposes the demand for establishing a Palestinian state in exchange for the annexation, expressing his conviction that Israel will not give up the annexation in any case. Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel will not miss a “historic opportunity” to extend its sovereignty to parts of the West Bank. The Israeli security services at this stage oppose the annexation and the occupation army believes that applying Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank will not be possible on the ground, given the short period of time in the face of a possible deterioration of the security situation. The Hebrew Walla website quoted security officials as saying that the army estimates the field response to the annexation may be unexpected, and depends on the Palestinians acceptance of the step. The report indicated that Netanyahu might only give a statement on July 1, but delay the annexation process for few months, giving the security establishment time to prepare for an escalation by Palestinians. Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu-Rukun warned that if the government implements its plan to unilaterally annex portions of the West Bank and Jordan Valley, there will be a wave of violence. Abu-Rukun told Defense Minister Benny Gantz that annexation could lead to a “shattering of security coordination and a wave of violence.” Palestinians could cancel all aspects of security coordination, and the Authority security officers might turn their weapons on Israel, he warned. Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom monitored the paths of “applying sovereignty” and internal and external challenges that might face Israel. The newspaper said that Netanyahu faces multiple paths, including securing a majority in either the Knesset or government in favor of the move. According to the daily, Netanyahu has taken all the necessary steps to implement the annexation process, but he has not decided on the path yet, which will be crucial for the approval. It indicated that the areas in which sovereignty will be applied have been precisely defined through a joint US-Israeli committee, but many ministers and members of the Knesset have still not been informed about details of the plan. The newspaper pointed out that the Israeli decision regarding the application of sovereignty involves some domestic and foreign challenges, especially that Netanyahu has not yet submitted the final map. Hayom says that some of Likud hardline ministers, such as Zeev Elkin or Tzipi Hotovely, may oppose or abstain from voting, while Prime Minister-designate Benny Gantz has not yet decided whether to allow members of his party to vote freely on the issue. Another challenge facing Netanyahu can be described as the political and security risks that will affect the ministers’ stance, especially given the great opposition of the international community. Meanwhile, the Fatah movement called on the Palestinians to be vigilant and cautious in these difficult and crucial times, stressing the need for solidarity and unity.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304616/israeli-officials-annexation-plan-facing-challenges
Saudi Investment Fund Buys Stake in Giant Indian Company
Business
Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Investment Fund Buys Stake in Giant Indian Company
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has revealed making a new expansion in its agricultural activity through the acquisition of a significant stake in a giant Indian company. The PIF earlier announced waiting for investment opportunities, noting that they will be in the fields of aviation, oil, gas, and entertainment. It revealed on its Twitter account on Monday that the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) has acquired a 29.91 percent stake in Daawat Foods Ltd. (DFL) from India Agri Business Fund. The investment comes in line with SALIC’s strategy in investing in rice, intending to strengthen and make the rice supply chain more efficient and robust. DFL is one of the manufacturing and sourcing arms of LT Foods. It houses one of the five manufacturing facilities owned by LT Group in India and currently contributes to around 22 percent of the total production of the Group. LT Foods Ltd. is an 80-year-old Consumer Food Company delivering the finest quality rice and rice-based food brands in more than 80 countries. The Company has consolidated revenue of around $550 million as of fiscal year 2019. Its flagship brands ‘Daawat’ and ‘Royal’ enjoy leading positions in India and the US with a market share of 29 percent and 45 percent respectively and have a strong market share in other countries as well. It is noteworthy that SALIC was established by a royal decree as a Saudi Arabian Joint Stock Company on April 14, 2009, wholly owned by the PIF. Its activities are in the field of agricultural investment and livestock production in the countries that have a comparative advantage to contribute to achieving food security, providing food products, and stabilizing food prices in the Kingdom.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2304586/saudi-investment-fund-buys-stake-giant-indian-company
Coronavirus Cases Drop in Saudi Arabia for 6th Straight Day
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
Security forces man a checkpoint to enforce curfew in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia registered on Tuesday 1,931 new coronavirus cases, in what was the sixth consecutive day in a drop in infections. Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Abdelali said the total number of infections in the Kingdom has risen to 76,726, while recoveries have reached 48,450. Twelve new fatalities were reported, with the tally now at 411. Speaking at a daily press briefing on the outbreak, Abdelali said that Saudi Arabia was approaching a new stage that paves the way for the gradual return to normal, while social distancing measures should still be respected. The pandemic is not over and the virus is still there, but ways to contain them are now available, he stressed. “We should not rely on others to protect us … we are all responsible,” he added. He underlined the need to avoid gatherings and adhere to health measures, most important of which is staying at home, wearing a face mask outdoors, washing hands frequently and avoiding touching surfaces and one’s face.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2303221/coronavirus-cases-drop-saudi-arabia-6th-straight-day
Saudi Arabia to Allow Mosques to Open for Friday Prayers
Gulf
Asharq Al-Awsat
Worshippers perform Eid prayers at the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia will allow mosques to open for Friday prayers, state TV reported on Tuesday, as the Kingdom eases restrictions on movement to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Mosques will be authorized to open 20 minutes before Friday prayers and should close 20 minutes after they finish, state TV said on Twitter, citing the ministry of Islamic affairs. Saudi authorities said on Monday that restrictions would be lifted in three phases, culminating in a curfew ending - with the exception of the holy city of Makkah - from June 21. The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, which attract millions of travellers from around the world, will remain suspended until further notice.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2303206/saudi-arabia-allow-mosques-open-friday-prayers
US Military Says Russia Deployed Fighter Jets to Libya
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
A boy wearing a Libyan flag takes part in a celebration marking the sixth anniversary of the Libyan revolution, in Benghazi, Libya February 17, 2017. (Reuters)
The US military said on Tuesday that Russia has deployed fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian mercenaries fighting for the Libyan National Army (LNA), adding to concerns of a new escalation in the conflict. “Russian military aircraft are likely to provide close air support and offensive fire,” the United States Africa command said in a statement it posted on its website and on Twitter. The LNA, commanded by Khalifa Haftar, launched an offensive last year to seize the capital Tripoli. However, in recent weeks the Government of National Accord (GNA) has with extensive Turkish backing pushed Haftar back from his foothold in southern Tripoli and from some other parts of the northwest. The statement said the aircraft had arrived from an airbase in Russia after transiting via Syria, where they were repainted to conceal their Russian origin. There was no immediate response from the Russian Defense Ministry to a request for comment. On Saturday, Russian fighters in Libya were flown out of a town south of Tripoli by their Libyan allies after retreating from frontlines in Tripoli, the town’s mayor said. The LNA has denied any foreigners are fighting with it, but the United Nations said this month that Russian private military contractor Wagner Group had up to 1,200 people in Libya. “Russia has employed state-sponsored Wagner in Libya to conceal its direct role and to afford Moscow plausible deniability of its malign actions,” the US statement said.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2303196/us-military-says-russia-deployed-fighter-jets-libya
Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy
Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy - Former Egyptian Ambassador and Senior UN official.
The situation in Syria seems to have recently captured some international attention, but not with news promising that the tragedy is approaching its end and rekindling the Syrian people’s hope of realizing their aspirations to live in peace, dignity, security and harmony. Our attention is, instead, diverted to the sensational issues such as: the feud between President Assad and his cousin, Rami Makhlouf, the hostile exchange in the media between Moscow and Damascus, the alleged plan involving Washington, Ankara and Moscow to remove Assad, etc.. While some consider such news of fleeting consequence, others interpret them as an indication that the Assad era is approaching its end. Those who hold the latter view base themselves on the premise that any political change in Syria has to pass through Moscow. Regardless of the credibility of either of the two positions, Moscow maintains - at least at the official level - that it does not interfere in Syrian domestic affairs. There is no doubt that the Russian military intervention, which took place upon the invitation of Damascus, ensured the survival of the Assad regime. Moscow, however, has made it clear, in more ways than one, that it intervened to save Syria from terrorism, not to prevent the collapse of a system of governance or save any particular individuals. Nonetheless, for some saving the country was synonymous with saving the regime. My understanding of the Russian position is that as long as the fight against terrorism continues, Syria was in need of a supreme commander of the armed forces. This was essential to maintain the cohesiveness of an already over-stretched Syrian army. A breakdown in the chain of command would lead to the total disintegration of the army, and as a consequence, the state. The commander in chief is the president of the republic, Bashar Assad. Although terrorism is receding in most parts in Syria, it continues to have a territorial base in Idlib. Therefore, it is understandable that combatting terrorism, at this stage, is focused on Idlib. Meanwhile, it appears that the fight against ISIS in the Syrian desert will be postponed. This is the case despite the establishment of a de-escalation zone by the Astana process, as well as the bilateral agreement between Russia and Turkey on Idlib. Al-Nusra Front continues to be not only active and but dominant in Idlib. The challenge has always been how to separate the armed groups from al- Nusra. The US failed in the past and now Turkey has yet to deliver. The Russian military intervention had the overwhelming support of the Russian public because it was perceived as taking the battle against terrorism outside Russian territory. In this regard, it is important to note that at the height of the fighting in Syria, Russian and former Soviet fighters were estimated to be anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000. They were also among the most effective having gained combat experience in Chechnya, Central Asia and the Balkans Now that Russia has secured its long-term presence in Syria, and saved the Syrian state from collapse, thereby enhancing Moscow’s international stature, President Putin needs to declare that he has removed the threat of terrorism emanating from Syria. Only then can he announce that he has accomplished the goals of the military intervention. No doubt this would help in reversing the drop in Putin’s popularity, which could be partly attributed to the receding public support for Russian policy in Syria. To achieve this objective, there is a need to the reopen the strategic highway M4 linking Aleppo to Latakia, as stipulated in the Russian-Turkish agreement in March. This would entail the removal of the Central Asian fighters from the strategic town of Jisr al-Shoghour and its surrounding heights. It is from there that terrorists are able to threaten the Russian airbase in Hmeimin. After initial difficulties, it now appears that the joint Russian-Turkish patrols on the M4 highway have made progress. On May 20, a patrol reached the town of Ariha, some 35 km from Jisr al-Shoughour. Once the joint patrols can secure the highway and the buffer area around it, the terrorist threat to Hmeimim will be greatly reduced and commercial traffic can resume between Aleppo and the port of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast. The latter is of vital importance to any future economic revival in Syria. Once the Russians are satisfied that the terrorists no longer pose a threat to Hmeimin and, that the they are confined to a relatively small area straddling the border between Idlib and Turkey, Russia can then put the onus of eliminating what remains of those terrorists, particularly those of concern to Moscow, squarely on Turkey’s shoulders. Once M4 is secured, it would not be surprising for Moscow to declare that its military objectives in Syria have been met. The expectation is that Russia will then need to concentrate its energies on accelerating the political process. Russia understands that to achieve success in Syria, it needs to transform its military achievements into political gains. And for that it needs to achieve a political settlement through the full implementation of Security Council resolution 2254 - which it takes pride as being the result of its collaboration with the United States - starting with constitutional reform followed by free and fair elections in which all Syrians would participate. It would then be expected that Moscow would press Damascus to be more forthcoming with regard to the work of the Constitutional Committee in particular, and the full implementation of resolution 2254 in general. The announcement on May 25 that the Russian ambassador in Damascus has been appointed also as Presidential Envoy for the development of Russian-Syrian relations can be an indication that Moscow has indeed started to take concrete steps in this regard. As presidential envoy, the ambassador will be able to transmit the Russian leaders’ messages directly and more frequently to Assad. Needless to say, Moscow would expect a cooperative Syrian leadership. Attention will then be focused on how Assad conducts himself with respect to the full implementation of resolution 2254 as well as how Moscow will react to his actions. This may turn out to be a defining moment not only for the future of Syria, but also for Russia’s international credibility. Insofar as Russia’s position in supporting the Syrian government regain its entire territory, this will be a goal for Moscow to achieve in future by mediating between Damascus and Ankara with the view to reach a package based on the 1998 Adana agreement which would include: the future Syrian-Turkish relationship, including the stability of the Syrian-Turkish border and a solution of the Kurdish issue in Syria. If Russia succeeds in such an endeavor it will further enhance its standing in the Middle East. Needless to say, Russia’s ability to implement its policies in Syria depend largely on how it manages its relations not only with Turkey and the United States, but also Iran.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302951/ramzy-ezzeldin-ramzy/russia%E2%80%99s-biggest-challenge-syria
Asharq Al-Awsat
Yousra Sandabad and her parents go out for some fresh air on their rooftop on the first day of Eid in lockdown due to the coronavirus, in Casablanca, Morocco, May 24, 2020. (AP)
Instead of mass prayers and large family gatherings filled with colorful clothes, gifts and traditional foods, millions of Moroccan Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr at home, subdued and isolated amid their country’s newly extended coronavirus lockdown. The mood was somber for the normally joyous holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, but also mixed with gratitude that Morocco's brush with the virus has been so far milder than those in the US or Europe. And Moroccan families found ways to make Eid special, as Muslims around the world adapted the religious festival because of social distancing rules and life under confinement, reported The Associated Press. In Casablanca, Morocco’s most populous city, where police tasked with enforcing the lockdown guarded deserted streets, 21-year-old Yousra Sandabad’s family greeted loved ones over video calls. They cooed at a baby on a cellphone screen, as a breeze lapped the gauzy curtains, honey-laden sweets piled high on the table along with other traditional holiday treats. Her extended family lives in several different cities across the kingdom and they would normally get together to celebrate Eid. But her family hasn’t had a guest since Morocco’s strict lockdown was declared over two months ago. She celebrated the day with just her parents, Afifa and Moustafa, and took a trip to their rooftop for a view of the city, the Atlantic Ocean, and Casablanca’s iconic Hassan II Mosque. About 100 kilometers away, in Sale, Ghita Naoui and her sister Fatima shared a meal with their children as they watched TV and drank tea. Suhail, her nephew, an amateur music producer, worked on a new mix as his sister and cousin caught up with their friends via social media. The virus was on many minds, but also hope that restrictions are relaxed soon. Morocco was early to order confinement, and has reported only 200 deaths and about 7,500 infections overall. “It’s not how we imagined celebrating Eid,” Fatima Naoui said while cooking lunch for the family, “but we hope that by the next (major Muslim holiday), things will be back like it used to be.”
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302941/confined-moroccans-find-new-ways-celebrate-eid
Jeddah - Asharq Al-Awsat
Image used for illustrative purpose. (Gettyimages)
Electronic payments continued to grow exponentially in Saudi Arabia, driven by the conditions imposed by the outbreak of Covid-19. Latest statistics revealed the record increase of Saudi payments through smart devices by 1500 percent, compared to the same period last year. In conjunction with the procedures adopted to face the new coronavirus pandemic, indicators of Saudi payments through electronic points of sale increased remarkably, at a time when precautionary measures in the Kingdom continued, by imposing partial and total curfews and calling for avoiding cash payment to limit the spread of the virus. Payments via the Mada system increased by 1523 percent in the first quarter of 2020. During that period, 83.6 million electronic transactions were executed, compared to 5.1 million transactions in the first quarter of 2019. The value of sales during those operations amounted to 7.1 billion riyals ($ 1.8 billion). Mada is the Saudi payment network and the developed version of electronic payment services in the Kingdom. Its launch came to enhance the automated exchange systems, points of sale and electronic payment services on the Internet with an upgraded flexibility, speed and safety. In the same context, Mada’s online payments in the first quarter of this year recorded 20.8 million transactions, representing a 406 percent increase over the same period last year, while the value of purchases reached 5.1 billion riyals ($ 1.3 billion), an increase of 405 percent of the value recorded last year.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302931/saudi-arabia-records-jump-electronic-payments
Al-Hajraf: Fair Mechanism to Deal with Future Intra-Gulf Disputes Being Planned
Gulf
Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat
Secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf. (KUNA)
Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, Secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that the dispute within the Council represents a challenge to joint cooperation and a common concern for all the GCC countries. He affirmed that Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was working to solve the dispute with Gulf and international support, adding that a fair mechanism would be put in place to deal with any disagreements that could arise in the future. The path of joint cooperation has witnessed many challenges during the past four decades, as well as several achievements and gains that have been realized in several fields and on more than one level, he remarked in a televised speech on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the founding of the GCC. The secretary-general went on to say that the wisdom and vision of the GCC leaders have enabled the Council to overcome these challenges and, at the same time, preserve its gains and achievements for the development, security and prosperity of its countries and citizens. Al-Hajraf noted that emerging challenges required “collective thinking and cooperation to confront them and deal with their repercussions.” On the outbreak of coronavirus, he underlined that GCC states must strengthen joint work and collective willingness to deal with this unprecedented crisis and to prepare for the post-pandemic world. He added the GCC must unite efforts to deal with the economic repercussions of the virus, which represent the biggest challenge facing the world today.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302916/al-hajraf-fair-mechanism-deal-future-intra-gulf-disputes-being-planned
Netanyahu Pushes Ahead on Plan to 'Judaize' Jerusalem
Arab World
Ramallah - Kifah Zaboun
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas looks on as Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh sits next to him as Abbas delivers a speech following the announcement by US President Donald Trump of the Mideast peace plan, in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 28, 2020. Reuters/Raneen Sawafta
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested the formulation of a plan to develop and enhance Jerusalem’s status. He called on the heritage and finance ministries to prepare a special NIS 200 million-worth investment plan (more than 52 million euros) to implement development projects in Jerusalem. “I ask the director generals of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Heritage Ministry, together with Finance Minister Yisrael Katz, to prepare a special NIS 200 million plan to continue developing and enhancing Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said during the new cabinet’s first meeting. “It is important during the coronavirus pandemic that Jerusalem remains a priority,” he tweeted. Netanyahu praised the importance of US President Donald Trump’s support in developing the “eternal and indivisible capital of the Jewish people.” “We are working on developing the city and promoting projects in various fields,” he stressed, adding that he owes these projects a great deal to Trump’s historic move, in which he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, “correcting a historical mistake.” “This is important in the corona era. This is important because Jerusalem is always our greatest joy. I can conclude and say: Next year in the rebuilt and healthy Jerusalem.” For his part, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh immediately responded to Netanyahu’s tweets, stressing that his attempts to Judaize Jerusalem will fail. “Netanyahu’s plan to Judaize Jerusalem is not new,” he affirmed. Shtayyeh stressed that Palestine counts on its people, whose steadfastness and resistance are the basis for success. Israel won’t ever be able to Judaize Palestinians, the Premier said, adding that several conferences have been held in support of Jerusalem, but their outcomes were not translated in a serious and practical way. Shtayyeh expressed hope that Arabs will take a steady stance in support for Jerusalem and against all the conspiracies to take over the Palestinian city. The PA has earlier canceled all agreements with Israel, in light of the latter’s decision to annex parts of the West Bank. In a press conference in Ramallah, Shtayyeh said international organizations will serve as a communication channel with Israel for daily life affairs. The government will send medical equipment and medicines from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip through the World Health Organization, he noted.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302906/netanyahu-pushes-ahead-plan-judaize-jerusalem
Lebanon’s Berri Upset with Qabalan’s Comments as Officials Scramble to Address Fallout
Arab World
Beirut – Caroline Akoum
Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is seen at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon, November 6, 2017. (Reuters)
Lebanon’s parliament Speaker Nabih Berri expressed disappointment over recent statements by Mufti al-Jaafari Ahmad Qabalan, well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. Qabalan criticized the Lebanese system based on equality between Christians and Muslims, and said in Eid al-Fitr holiday message: “We confirm that Lebanon was built on a sectarian basis, with the function of serving the colonial and monopolistic project, and this formula has ended, and what Beshara Al-Khoury and Riyadh Al-Solh did is no longer suitable for the state of the individual and the citizen; it is a phase that has come to an end.” Sources familiar with Berri’s position acknowledged that the mufti’s words raised confusion among the political circles. The speaker’s visitors told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was upset with Qablan’s approach. They noted that contacts were underway to contain its repercussions. Qabalan’s remarks came after Berri rejected what he described as “the dissonant voices calling for federalism.” Last week, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, called for administrative and financial decentralization, which was interpreted by many observers as an invitation to a kind of federalism. In comments, MP Ghazi Zoaiter, who belongs to Berri’s parliamentary bloc, told Asharq Al-Awsat: “We support everything that unites the citizens of this country and does not differentiate between them. This is the message of Imam Musa al-Sadr, as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said.” FPM MP Alain Aoun refused to comment on the matter, and considered that Qabalan’s speech did not reflect the political position of the Shiite community that is expressed by the Amal Movement and Hezbollah. The head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), former deputy Walid Jumblatt, said on Twitter: “I don’t see how some people are still talking about federalism, or something similar to partition, which is a suicide project for everyone without exception…”
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302881/lebanon%E2%80%99s-berri-upset-qabalan%E2%80%99s-comments-officials-scramble-address-fallout
The Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE announced registering five new deaths caused by COVID-19 on Tuesday, raising the death-toll to 253. The ministry also revealed recording 779 new cases, raising the number of infections in the country to 31,086. It also said 325 have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of those recovered to date to 15,982. The ministry also confirmed that up to 28,000 new tests have been conducted. Meanwhile in Kuwait, the Health Ministry said 608 cases were recorded the past 24 hours. The new infections raised the total number of cases to 22,575. Seven new deaths were also registered while 685 have recovered so far.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302866/covid-19-cases-rise-uae-kuwait
Moroccan Customs Generate over $10 Billion in Revenue
Business
Rabat - Asharq Al-Awsat
Terminal I of the Tangier Med port in the northern city of Tangier, Morocco (File photo: AFP)
Moroccan customs recorded $10.3 billion in revenue in 2019, up from $10.08 billion in 2018, announced the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration (ADII). It published a recent report on its 2019 activities, describing customs revenues as a “continuing upward trend”, indicating that last year's collected revenues reached $10.1 billion and the total revenues reached $10.3 billion. ADII explained that the revenue increase is due to the “remarkable development in imports,” expressing satisfaction over the 3 percent growth from 2018, according to Morocco’s national news agency Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP). The report showed that the value-added tax (VAT) represented 58 percent of the total amount of budgetary revenue, followed by the internal consumption tax (ICT) with 31 percent, and then import duties which showed a 10 percent of the total. It also noted that VAT receipts increased by 3 percent to $5.7 billion due to a quasi-stagnation of VAT receipts on energy products, offset by the increase of VAT on other products by 3 percent, or over $150 million. Revenues collected under the pipeline fee amounted to over $100 billion, a 34.2 percent drop compared to 2018. The decline is due to a 45.7 percent drop in volume, offset by the increase in price by 6.4 percent. Meanwhile, the internal consumption tax increased by 6 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year, which is due to the good performance of all the headings of the tax, including an over 5 percent on manufactured tobacco, above 6 percent on energy products, and other goods with 11 percent. Over the last five years, VAT represented 57 percent of budget revenue, showing an average 4-percent annual increase, according to ADII. The internal consumption tax also continued its upward trend with an average annual growth of 4.6 percent and a share average budget revenue of 31 percent. Despite recorded fluctuations between 2017 and 2018, import duties showed a positive average of 4.7 percent over the last five years, according to ADII. Meanwhile, smuggled cigarettes amounted to 5.23 percent of the Moroccan market during the past year The Administration stated that the results of the sixth study on smuggled cigarettes for 2019 revealed it represented a 5.23 percent of the national level, compared to 3.73 percent in 2018, and 5.64 percent in 2017. The report highlighted that this increase is attributed to the recent increase in the official prices of cigarettes, noting that this rate is still very low compared to rates recorded in many countries.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302836/moroccan-customs-generate-over-10-billion-revenue
Bethlehem Nativity Church Reopens after Coronavirus Closure
Arab World
Asharq Al-Awsat
Bishop Theophylactos reopens Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity as Palestinian authorities eased coronavirus restrictions in the occupied West Bank, on May 26, 2020. (AFP)
Bethlehem's storied Church of the Nativity reopened to visitors on Tuesday, after a nearly three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. A handful of priests from different Christian denominations stood watch as the door to the church in the Israeli-occupied West Bank was opened, an AFP photographer reported. The church, built over the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born, was closed on March 5 as the first cases of the virus were reported in the West Bank. The church is one of Christianity’s most sacred shrines and the closure came ahead of the busy Easter holiday season that typically draws tens of thousands of visitors and worshipers. Bishop Theophylactos, a Greek Orthodox cleric, called the reopening a day of celebration for Bethlehem since “all the people now can enter the church and pray like before.” Initially only 50 people will be allowed in the church at one time and visitors must wear face coverings and observe social distancing, a joint statement from the churches that control the site said. Kissing or touching the stones, including in the grotto where Christians believe Jesus was born, will be forbidden. The Bethlehem outbreak began with a group of Greek tourists who visited the city, including the Church of the Nativity, prompting church authorities to sterilize the site. The Palestinian Authority has reported some 400 cases of the coronavirus in the West Bank, with two deaths. Most of the cases were traced to Palestinians who worked inside Israel, which has been coping with a much larger outbreak. Israeli authorities have begun to gradually reopen schools, houses of worship and markets as the spread of the novel coronavirus has slowed. Israel’s Health Ministry has reported over 16,700 confirmed cases of the disease and 279 deaths. More than 14,000 have recovered.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302821/bethlehem-nativity-church-reopens-after-coronavirus-closure
Jordan Shortens Eid Holiday, Public Sector Resumes Work after 2 Months
Arab World
Amman - Mohammed Kheir Rawashdeh
A man wears a face mask amid concerns over the coronavirus as he buys vegetables in Amman, Jordan, April 12, 2020. (Reuters)
The Eid al-Fitr holiday was different this year in Jordan after the government had imposed full curfew during the first day and a partial-curfew for the second due to the coronavirus outbreak. The third, however, was a normal working day for public sector employees who returned to their offices after more than a two-month suspension. The government faced fierce popular criticism for imposing a 72-hour lockdown, which included the first day of the holiday. Such measures could be re-imposed whenever the health conditions demand it, said Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh. No new infections have been recorded in the Kingdom over the past two days. The eight cases recorded last week were Jordanians who had returned from abroad, and they were all quarantined in hotels. The total number of coronavirus cases stands at 711, of whom 163 have recovered, while nine elderly Jordanians have died. Nearly 250,000 public sector employees will return to work on Tuesday, excluding mothers who will remain at home until daycares are reopened. All employees are obliged to wear masks and gloves and keep social distancing in the workplace and closed areas. As the academic year draws to an end, assessments of online education policies implemented by the Ministry of Education have varied. Education Minister Tayseer Nuami stressed the government’s commitment to carry out exams for high school students as scheduled in early July, within an intensive exams program. Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that a plan was drafted for a gradual easing of restrictions and allowing people to move around more freely, especially with public workers returning to their jobs. Demands have also been mounting for the return of other businesses, such as restaurants and cafes, but with strict preventive measures.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302796/jordan-shortens-eid-holiday-public-sector-resumes-work-after-2-months
Houthi Threats Undermine Griffiths’ Latest Peace Efforts in Yemen
Arab World
Aden – Ali Rabih
Houthi militants ride in a patrol truck in Sanaa May 2, 2015. (Reuters)
The Iran-backed Houthi militias warned they may resort to escalation on the ground against the legitimate government and Arab coalition. The announcement, by Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam Flita, coincided with the end of a unilateral coalition ceasefire in Yemen that was aimed at suspending fighting so that the country could focus on combating the new coronavirus outbreak. The six-week ceasefire ended on May 23 with the militias refusing to announce a truce of their own. Flita, who resides in Oman, tweeted that the government and coalition will “regret” continuing their military operations against the Houthis. The so-called Houthi deputy foreign minister, Hussein al-Ezzi, said that the militias’ patience had run out and that the coalition operations had “crossed all lines”. The coalition had resumed its operations against the Houthis in recent days, dealing them heavy blows in al-Bayda, Marib and Jawf. It also managed to capture mountainous positions in Nahm, northeast of Sanaa. The Houthi threats undermine a recent call by United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, who had urged calm, an end to fighting, the reopening of Sanaa airport and release prisoners. The government had positively met his call and held the Houthis responsible for obstructing peace efforts. Government and western sources revealed that the envoy was still being confronted with Houthi stalling and refusal to discuss peace. The foreign ministry over the weekend had called on Griffiths, UN Security Council and international community to expose to the world the true sides that are hindering peace in Yemen.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302596/houthi-threats-undermine-griffiths%E2%80%99-latest-peace-efforts-yemen
Al-Azhar Investigates with Man Accused of Leading Banned Eid Prayers
Arab World
Cairo - Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Azhar Investigates with Man Accused of Leading Banned Eid Prayers
A video of a man wearing Al-Azhar University’s uniform being chased by police has been widely circulated by social media users in Egypt. The man had been reportedly leading Eid congregational prayers in violation of anti-coronavirus measures that prevent gatherings. Al-Azhar Undersecretary Sheikh Saleh Abbas said the student was referred to investigation, being a high school student in one of Al-Azhar’s affiliated institutes. He was accused of violating decisions by the state, Ministry of Endowments and the Dar al-Ifta and fatawas by Al-Azhar, all banning gatherings for Eid prayers to avoid the coronavirus outbreak. The indictment issued by the foundation includes “not carrying a permit to work as an Imam and insulting Al-Azhar.” Since late March, Egypt has suspended congregational prayers in its mosques and restricted its work to calling to prayer, as part of several measures implemented by the authorities to prevent the virus’s spread. Also, several Egyptian religious institutions decided not to hold Eid al-Fitr prayers in mosques and permitted their performance at homes to avoid gatherings. Head of the religious sector at the Ministry of Endowments Jaber Taya said the circulated video shows the man is ignorant, denying him being affiliated with the ministry. According to Egyptian local media, the man led the Eid prayers in response to requests by some people living in his neighborhood.
from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2302556/al-azhar-investigates-man-accused-leading-banned-eid-prayers
