company:asharq al-awsat

Pentagon Warns Syria’s Assad against Attacking Washington Allies | Asharq AL-awsat
▻https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1287576/pentagon-warns-syria%E2%80%99s-assad-against-attacking-washington-allies

The Pentagon on Thursday warned Head of Syrian regime Bashar al-Assad not to carry out an offensive against Kurdish and Arab forces backed by the Washington that control the country’s north-east.

Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the joint staff, said during a press conference on Thursday: “Any interested party in Syria should understand that attacking US Forces or our coalition partners will be a bad policy.”

Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White later stated that US is in Syria only to fight ISIS.

She added that the “US did not want to get involved in Syria’s civil war.”

Assad told Russian broadcaster RT in an interview that the “only problem left in Syria is the SDF.”

Assad said there were only “two options" to deal with SDF.

“The first one: we started now opening doors for negotiations. Because the majority of them are Syrians."

Otherwise, "we’re going to resort... to liberating those areas by force,” he added.

SDF continue to fight against ISIS in part of oil-rich province of Deir Al Zour.

US Condemns Syria’s Decision to Recognize 2 Breakaway #Georgia Regions | Asharq AL-awsat
▻https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1284956/us-condemns-syria%E2%80%99s-decision-recognize-2-breakaway-georgia-regions

The United States condemned on Wednesday the Syrian regime for recognizing two breakaway regions in Georgia and establishing diplomatic ties with them.

“The United States strongly condemns the Syrian regime’s intention to establish diplomatic relations with the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of #Abkhazia and #South_Ossetia,” US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

It added that it fully backed Georgia’s independence and reiterating its call for Russia to withdraw from the area.

“_These regions are part of Georgia. The United States’ position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia is unwavering,” the statement said.

On Tuesday [29/05/18], Georgia said it would sever diplomatic relations with Syria after Damascus moved to recognize the two regions as independent states.

“With this act the Assad regime declared its support for Russia’s military aggression against Georgia, the illegal occupation of Abkhazia and (South Ossetia) regions and the ethnic cleansing that has been taking place for years,” Georgia said.

Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru previously recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which broke away from Georgia following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

US-Led Coalition May Withdraw From Al-Tanaf Base Under Deal With Russia – Reports
▻https://southfront.org/us-led-coalition-may-withdraw-from-al-tanaf-base-under-deal-with-russia-

The US is considering to abandon the al-Tanaf base near the Syrian-Iraqi border under a deal with Russia, that will also force Iranian-backed forces and the Lebanese movement Hezbollah to withdraw away from the border with Jordan and from the contact line with Israel, the Newsweek magazine reported on May 30.

Earlier this week, the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat released a similar report, in which it claimed that Russia, the US and Jordan are negotiating a deal that will enable the SAA to capture the opposition-held areas in the governorates of Daraa and al-Quneitra in exchange for pushing Iranian and Iran-backed forces more than 25km away from the border with Jordan. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, the militants who will reject this deal will be evacuated to the northern governorate of Idlib.

Several Israeli news outlets, including Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post, also reported that Israel and Russia are currently finalizing a deal that will force Iranian forces and Hezbollah to withdraw more than 60km away from the contact line between Syria and Israel.

While these reports remain unconfirmed by any official source, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier that all non-Syrian forces must withdraw from the de-escalation zone in southern Syria. This could be a proof that Russia, Jordan, Israel and the US are indeed preparing an agreement.

#syrie #al-tanaf

Signé Sarkozy, par Samir Atallah dans Asharq Al-Awsat - Actuarabe
▻http://actuarabe.com/signe-sarkozy

http://actuarabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sami-Atallah.jpg

En plus de sa superficialité et de son inutilité, cette pétition reflète l’ignorance d’une vérité très simple par ses signataires : l’Islam est la deuxième religion du pays. Cette tribune est inacceptable, illégale et porte atteinte à la fraternité nationale. Comment un ancien Président ayant juré sur la constitution de préserver l’unité du pays à une période très tendue et délicate peut-il la signer ?

Sarkozy a juste voulu faire oublier les accusations dont il est l’objet et l’argent qu’il a reçu de Khadafi. Il a voulu faire oublier une faute pardonnable en commettant une faute impardonnable, cacher une faute éthique par une faute nationale. Il a quitté les milieux gaullistes pour rejoindre les mouvements fascistes se répandant actuellement en Europe. C’est comme si cet homme n’avait pas vu la France telle qu’elle est pendant des années au Ministère de l’intérieur, puis le monde pendant 5 années à l’Elysée.

Les Émirats chassés de Somalie ?
▻http://www.presstv.com/DetailFr/2018/02/28/553877/Corne-de-lAfrique-Les-Emirats-jouent-de-malheur

Je serais à la place de MBS, je leur dirais de faire une coalition pour attaquer le Somalie et Djibouti.

Et pourquoi pas l’Ethiopie, si j’en crois l’article arabe dont je mets le lien. @simplicissimus, ça a l’air super compliqué, et je te sens plus motivé que moi sur le sujet ;-)

▻http://thenewkhalij.news/%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A9/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D)

#fret_maritime #corne_de_l'afrique #émirats

Reports of ‘attempted security breach,’ 1 killed at Israeli embassy in Jordan
uly 23, 2017 9:38 P.M. (Updated: July 23, 2017 9:47 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=778307

http://www.maannews.com/Photos/441092C.jpg

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Jordanian media reported on Sunday that the area surrounding the Israeli embassy in the Jordanian capital, Amman, had been shut down on Sunday evening following an ’attempted security breach’ which allegedly left one person dead and another injured.

According to media outlet Ammon News reported that security forces had cordoned off the area, adding that one Jordanian was believed to be dead, while an Israeli was reportedly wounded.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that the incident was “under full censorship” — preventing Israeli media and foreign journalists with Israeli press cards from reporting on the event.

“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
Israeli embassy security guard shoots, kills 2 Jordanians in Amman
July 23, 2017 9:38 P.M. (Updated: July 24, 2017 11:50 A.M.)

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — An Israeli embassy security guard shot and killed two Jordanians in Amman under unclear circumstances Sunday night, with Jordanian media describing the incident as a personal dispute and the Israeli foreign ministry saying the Israeli guard was defending himself from a politically-motivated attack.

According to reports, two Jordanian carpenter workers had arrived to an apartment in the residential complex used by the Israeli embassy to replace furniture.

An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement that one of the workers crept up behind the guard and began stabbing him with a screwdriver. The guard then opened fire, killing the alleged attacker, and also inadvertently shot the Jordanian owner of the building who was present at the scene, who later succumbed to his wounds as well.

A third Jordanian worker was present at the scene, according to the statement, which was released Monday morning after the incident was put under a media ban by Israeli authorities overnight.

The ministry’s statement said the Israeli guard was lightly injured in the incident, without elaborating on the nature of his injuries. Israeli news outlet Haaretz said he was injured when jumping back away from the Jordanian as he his cocked his weapon.

The slain alleged assailant was identified as 17-year-old Muhammad Zakariya al-Jawawdeh, reportedly of Palestinian origin, who died after being shot twice. He had previously done maintenance work in the Israeli embassy and its residential compound.

The Jordanian General Security Administration issued a statement, reportedly saying the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being investigated, and did not say that a Jordanian carpenter had attacked an Israeli.

Later Sunday night, dozens of al-Jawawdeh’s family members gathered in Asharq Al-Awsat square in Amman to protest his death, demanding that the Jordanian government release all details of the investigation and punish the shooter.

One relative told news cameras from private Jordanian outlet Ammon that the boy had went to the apartment to collect money in return for a bedroom set purchased by the Israeli guard, claiming that al-Jawawdeh did not realize the customer was armed or a Jewish Israeli.

“He was a student on summer holiday. The boy went with the young guys to collect the money, and a heated argument broke out between him another young man there. We didn’t know they were armed, nor did we know they were Jews. If we knew they were Jews, we would have considered it dishonor that they visit our stores,” the man said.

“What has happened is that our son had heated argument with the man. Regardless of whether he slapped you or you boxed him, how dare you in cold-blood cock your handgun and shoot the boy as if he was a cockroach?”

The father also said in an interview with Jordanian television station Roya TV that his son did not know the nationality of the man who killed him and that he was a regular customer who bought furniture from them.

However, Israeli authorities have been treating the incident as a possible attack in retaliation to rising tensions in occupied East Jerusalem.

#Ambassade_israélienne #Amman #Jordanie #Ziv

U.S. Will Lose Syria to Iran and Abandon Kurdish Allies, Former Ambassador Says
▻http://www.newsweek.com/us-military-kurds-lose-iran-syria-former-ambassador-627395

Robert Ford, who served as envoy to Syria under former President Barack Obama from 2011 through 2014, said during an interview Monday with the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that “Obama did not leave the Trump administration many options to achieve its goal” of defeating the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) and curbing Iran’s foothold in the region. While Iran and Russia back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against various insurgents and jihadists trying to topple him, the U.S. supports an irregular coalition, the Syrian Democratic Forces, made up mostly of Kurds, but including other ethnic minorities and Arabs. Despite the group’s recent successes in storming ISIS’s de facto capital of Raqqa, Ford said “the game was finished” for U.S. plans to overthrow Assad or compete with Iran’s success in the country.

(...) The Syrian Democratic Forces were mostly neutral in the battle between pro- and anti-Syrian government forces, but tensions have risen between the U.S. and pro-Syrian government forces that now share extensive front lines since ISIS’s collapse on multiple fronts. Recent clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces were followed by the U.S.’s unprecedented decision to shoot down a Syrian military jet it claimed was operating too close to positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces. Siding with the U.S,, however, will turn out to be a grave mistake for the Kurds, according to Ford. He said U.S. support for Kurds would disappear, as it did in post-invasion Iraq, after ISIS was defeated in Raqqa and in other areas.

“[The U.S.] will not defend the Kurds against Assad’s forces,” the former envoy said. “What we’re doing with the Kurds is not only politically stupid, but immoral.”

“Syrian Kurds are making their biggest mistake in trusting the Americans,” he added.

De fait, on peut imaginer que ce seront les Kurdes qui finiront par payer la note en #syrie, même si c’est immoral comme le dit un ex-ambassadeur qui s’y connaît dans ce domaine...

Entre Téhéran et Riyad, la politique libanaise avance en terrain miné - Scarlett HADDAD - L’Orient-Le Jour
▻https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1034788/entre-teheran-et-riyad-la-politique-libanaise-avance-en-terrain-mine.

Devenu président, Michel Aoun a depuis le début cherché à instaurer un équilibre dans les relations du Liban avec les pays de la région, sans modifier ses options stratégiques. C’est ainsi qu’il a choisi de commencer ses visites à l’étranger par l’Arabie saoudite et le Qatar en raison de l’importance de ces pays sur la scène locale, notamment sur le plan économique avec la présence de près d’un demi-million de Libanais qui travaillent dans le Golfe. Il voulait aussi commencer par les pays qui avaient été les plus réservés au sujet de sa candidature à la présidence, dans l’intention de les rassurer sur sa politique à leur égard. Mais, en même temps, il a déclaré à la chaîne française LCI que la Syrie sans Assad aurait été une seconde Libye. Et hier, il a déclaré à une chaîne égyptienne que les armes du Hezbollah sont complémentaires de celles de l’armée, tant qu’il y aura une portion de territoire libanais occupé par les Israéliens. De plus, Michel Aoun a choisi comme seconde destination de ses voyages à l’étranger l’Égypte et la Jordanie, deux pays qui sont en train de changer de position à l’égard du dossier syrien, au point d’ailleurs de s’attirer les critiques du chef des SR saoudiens, rapportées par le quotidien Asharq al-Awsat. Selon le même responsable libanais, il ne faut donc pas croire que l’Arabie saoudite a repris la haute main au Liban, ce pays continuant de suivre son propre chemin, en essayant d’avancer dans un terrain miné, sans modifier ses choix de base. Il précise aussi que les Saoudiens n’ont pas demandé au président Aoun de modifier ses prises de position, limitant leurs entretiens avec lui aux dossiers qui ne posent pas de problème.

Article de Jean Aziz dans al-Monitor sur l’établissement par la Jordanie de la liste « noire » des organisations terroristes en Syrie dont elle a été chargé - et qui constitueraient donc des cibles légitimes. Comme prévu, ça ne va pas être simple :
Is Jordan capable of developing the Syrian terrorist group blacklist ? / extrait
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/11/jordan-mission-designate-terrorist-groups-syria.html#ixzz3szBZqWyq

Abu Rumman told Al-Monitor, “This is a complicated issue that could compromise Jordan since adding more groups to the list will provoke their backers and threaten the kingdom’s stability.” The support group has already agreed to include IS and Jabhat al-Nusra on the list. Among the groups that could possibly be added are Ahrar al-Sham, al-Sham Front and Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest).
“Some of these Islamist groups fall in a gray area. Some will argue that they are radical, while others will claim they are moderate,” said Abu Rumman. This, he added, is part of the challenge facing Jordan. The survey group’s designations could affect alliances among the anti-regime groups — for instance, Jaish al-Fatah’s affiliation with the already designated Jabhat al-Nusra — and weaken the opposition on the ground, especially if foreign backers stop financing some of them, Abu Rumman noted.

It is not clear how Amman will manage its mission amid the conflicting interests and goals among the regional and international players involved in the Syrian conflict. According to the newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, Jordan will soon host a meeting to determine “radical organizations in Syria.” It reported that at least seven more groups will be added to the terrorist list. Political analyst Orieb al-Rintawi told Al-Monitor that one criteria Jordan will use to designate radical groups is “their acceptance or rejection of a political process” in Syria.
Saudi Arabia, a major supporter of some groups in Syria, including Ahrar al-Sham, is planning to hold a conference in mid-December for the Syrian opposition to foster a unified position among factions. The conference is supposed to include the various representatives from the Syrian opposition and military factions.
Rintawi warned, “The Saudis must not exclude or marginalize groups that are not on close terms with Riyadh.” What the Saudis do stands to have some effect on Jordan’s task. “The conference could give recognition to groups that might end up on the Jordanian list,” he said.
There are unconfirmed reports that Amman is already being pressured by Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The Dubai-based Gulf News reported Nov. 23 that the two countries “have convinced Jordan to cross off two of their proxies [Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham] from the list of Syria’s rebel groups banned from joining the political process.” The paper also reported, “The Russians wanted to exclude Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, while Saudi Arabia insisted both are moderate and legitimate opposition groups.”

Question déjà évoquée ici indirectement, à propos de l’impossibilité d’une liste « blanche », par @nidal : ►http://seenthis.net/messages/433418

The Free Syrian Army: 4,000 or 60,000? - Al Arabiya News
▻http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2015/02/02/Abdulrahman al-Rashed

The current puzzling question regarding the size of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) highlights just how vague the situation is and how easily propaganda is marketed on both sides. The Syrian regime is pushing the idea that the opposition is divided and has been wiped out, while the opposition says it is reorganizing 60,000 fighters who are members of the FSA.

What is certain is that Western support the FSA is receiving has decreased. A Wall Street Journal report said American military support for the Syrian opposition had regressed, and that the U.S. only gave the equivalent of 16 bullets a month per fighter.

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday : “ Since the first of the year, we have delivered approximately 2.7 million in nonlethal supplies and equipment to the moderate opposition, including water trucks, back hoes, generators, winterization gear, and more than 17,000 food baskets.”

Despite the restraints levied against it, the FSA is on the verge of consolidating its control of southern Syria. Despite this scarcity, the FSA and the moderate Syrian opposition in general deserve appreciation for their steadfastness despite a lull in support, and despite the restraints placed against them (they are no longer able to move freely in northern Syria due to constant targeting by the extremist al-Nusra Front).

Added to that, Turkey has also begun to restrain the activity of the FSA and its leaders, perhaps as a result of foreign pressures.

Consolidating control
Despite the restraints levied against it, the FSA is on the verge of consolidating its control of southern Syria - in Daraa and its surroundings - even though many of the fighters have not received salaries in months.

Salim Idriss, minister of defense in the opposition government, said the opposition had begun to unite factions to establish a united army that will include 60,000 fighters. Idriss further hypothesized that the world will realize that its only option to confront the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is to topple the Syrian regime and support the moderate opposition which represents all Syrian people of different religions, sects and tribes.

Some American politicians and legislators agree with this opinion when it comes to the topic of confronting ISIS and the threats it poses to the world.

A member of the U.S. Senate Defense Affairs Committee said : “ The American government must support the Free Syrian Army because it’s the only option. Despite the hesitation to support [the FSA], its leadership will be capable of altering the vision of regional countries in support of the Syrian people and [will also be capable] of altering the vision of suspicious Western countries if it really manages to reunite itself and if it really succeeds at uniting the ranks of, at least, its military leaderships [especially since] rival and competing political leaderships are not as significant during this difficult phase.”

This article was first published in Asharq al-Awsat on February 2, 2015.

Abdulrahman al-Rashed
The current puzzling question regarding the size of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) highlights just how vague the situation is and how easily propaganda is marketed on both sides. The Syrian regime is pushing the idea that the opposition is divided and has been wiped out, while the opposition says it is reorganizing 60,000 fighters who are members of the FSA.

What is certain is that Western support the FSA is receiving has decreased. A Wall Street Journal report said American military support for the Syrian opposition had regressed, and that the U.S. only gave the equivalent of 16 bullets a month per fighter.

The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday: “Since the first of the year, we have delivered approximately 2.7 million in nonlethal supplies and equipment to the moderate opposition, including water trucks, back hoes, generators, winterization gear, and more than 17,000 food baskets.”

Despite the restraints levied against it, the FSA is on the verge of consolidating its control of southern Syria

Abdulrahman al-Rashed
Despite this scarcity, the FSA and the moderate Syrian opposition in general deserve appreciation for their steadfastness despite a lull in support, and despite the restraints placed against them (they are no longer able to move freely in northern Syria due to constant targeting by the extremist al-Nusra Front).

Added to that, Turkey has also begun to restrain the activity of the FSA and its leaders, perhaps as a result of foreign pressures.

Consolidating control
Despite the restraints levied against it, the FSA is on the verge of consolidating its control of southern Syria - in Daraa and its surroundings - even though many of the fighters have not received salaries in months.

Salim Idriss, minister of defense in the opposition government, said the opposition had begun to unite factions to establish a united army that will include 60,000 fighters. Idriss further hypothesized that the world will realize that its only option to confront the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is to topple the Syrian regime and support the moderate opposition which represents all Syrian people of different religions, sects and tribes.

Some American politicians and legislators agree with this opinion when it comes to the topic of confronting ISIS and the threats it poses to the world.

A member of the U.S. Senate Defense Affairs Committee said: “The American government must support the Free Syrian Army because it’s the only option. Despite the hesitation to support [the FSA], its leadership will be capable of altering the vision of regional countries in support of the Syrian people and [will also be capable] of altering the vision of suspicious Western countries if it really manages to reunite itself and if it really succeeds at uniting the ranks of, at least, its military leaderships [especially since] rival and competing political leaderships are not as significant during this difficult phase.”

This article was first published in Asharq al-Awsat on February 2, 2015.

MOYEN-ORIENT • Palestine : un veto à l’ONU ? Tant mieux ! | Courrier international | Carole Lyon |
17 Décembre 2014
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/2014/12/17/palestine-un-veto-a-l-onu-tant-mieux

Pour les Palestiniens, ce mercredi 17 décembre marque une étape diplomatique décisive et une occasion d’observer comment les positions internationales à l’égard de leur cause ont évolué. Pour la diplomatie israélienne, par contre, cette journée s’est rapidement profilée comme un « mercredi noir », constate sur Al-Monitor l’éditorialiste israélien Ben Caspit.

En une seule journée, « le système judiciaire européen retire le Hamas de sa liste des organisations terroristes ; les Etats membres de la Convention de Genève se réunissent à la demande de la Palestine pour convenir de plusieurs résolutions à l’encontre d’Israël ; le Parlement européen se prononce sur une version adoucie d’une résolution de reconnaissance d’un Etat palestinien. Et, last but not least, le projet de résolution palestinien est soumis au Conseil de sécurité ». Bref, écrit Ben Caspit, « il y avait longtemps qu’on n’avait pas vu une telle offensive diplomatique contre Israël ».

La décision est prise

« La projet de résolution, soutenu par la Ligue arabe et promu en coordination avec la Jordanie – actuellement membre non-permanent du Conseil de sécurité – demande la fin de l’occupation israélienne en territoire palestinien avant la date-butoir de novembre 2016 », explique le quotidien panarabe Asharq Al-Awsat.

Cette démarche intervient alors que, face à l’enlisement du dialogue israélo-palestinien, plusieurs parlements européens ont décidé de se saisir de la question et de se prononcer en faveur d’une reconnaissance de la Palestine, tandis qu’en Israël, le Premier ministre a fait le choix de renvoyer ses ministres issus du centre, afin de se reporter sur ses partenaires d’extrême droite, certes plus arrangeants vis-à-vis de sa stratégie politique, mais qui militent pour le maintien et le développement des colonies en territoire palestinien.

La France, soutenue par l’Allemagne et la Grande-Bretagne, a tenté d’assouplir la demande, en proposant un texte sans date-butoir afin d’éviter un veto. Mais c’est bien le texte original qui sera présenté à l’ONU, a affirmé mardi soir un représentant de l’OLP, « que nous ayons les neuf votes du Conseil de sécurité ou pas, la décision a été prise ». « Le but est de faire pression sur les Américains... et aussi sur les Français, pour qu’ils fassent une proposition sérieuse rapidement », a confié une source diplomatique palestinienne à Asharq Al-Awsat. Mercredi matin, le ministre palestinien des Affaires étrangères déclarait, lui, que le texte déposé reposerait largement sur les propositions françaises. Sans préciser s’il avait conservé la mention d’une date butoir.

“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
Mercredi noir pour l’Etat sioniste
par Kharroubi Habib
▻http://www.lequotidien-oran.com/?news=5207495

Sur la question palestinienne qui était hier en débat à la fois au sein du Parlement européen et au Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, la grande surprise qui a mis en émoi médias internationaux et observateurs n’est pas venue de l’une de ces institutions, mais de la Cour européenne de justice qui a rendu public le même jour un arrêt par lequel elle retire le Hamas palestinien de la liste européenne des organisations terroristes internationales.

Sur Israël et ses partisans dont les alarmes étaient déjà grandes à l’éventualité que le Parlement européen et le Conseil de sécurité concluent leurs débats par des résolutions favorables à la reconnaissance de l’Etat palestinien, la décision de la Cour européenne de justice a fait l’effet d’une bombe qui a pulvérisé leur arrogante certitude. Il y a de quoi en effet car c’est tout l’argumentaire dont Israël a usé pour dissuader la communauté internationale de reconnaître l’Etat palestinien et aussi pour justifier ses criminelles agressions contre les Palestiniens qui a ainsi volé en éclats.

La veille même où le Parlement européen et le Conseil de sécurité s’apprêtaient à examiner l’affaire de la reconnaissance de l’Etat palestinien, Benyamin Netanyahu a déclaré à leur intention qu’Israël ne se pliera pas à leurs résolutions de cette nature pour la raison qu’elles seront une « reconnaissance du terrorisme » contre lequel il combat. Par « terrorisme » c’est évidemment le Hamas que Benyamin Netanyahu vise. Tout ce que son gouvernement a entrepris contre les Palestiniens l’a été en prenant prétexte que c’est pour éradiquer cette « organisation terroriste », de même qu’il se refuse avec le même prétexte à accepter la solution de deux Etats au conflit israélo-palestinien.

C’est peu dire par conséquent que l’arrêt de la Cour européenne de justice a résonné avec la force d’un coup de tonnerre aux oreilles des dirigeants de l’Etat sioniste qui ont jusqu’alors pensé que l’inscription du Hamas sur la liste européenne des organisations terroristes leur valait reconnaissance du droit de traiter les Palestiniens comme étant tous de potentiels terroristes car ne désavouant pas ce mouvement et donc de leur refus de leur permettre d’avoir un Etat national décrété menaçant pour la sécurité d’Israël. Il les a secoués si rudement qu’ils en ont perdu toute retenue au point de sommer la Cour européenne de justice de se dédire immédiatement en annulant sa décision. Les lobbys sionistes tout aussi pris de court par l’arrêt de cette institution se déchaînent contre elle et battent le rappel des relais dont ils disposent dans les institutions de l’Union européenne pour contrer cette décision de justice.

Ce mercredi aura été effectivement une journée noire pour Israël et les lobbys qui le défendent. Ils ont enregistré une « bérézina » diplomatique qui, quoi qu’ils en disent pour en déprécier la portée, aura des conséquences sur le rapport de force entre Palestiniens et Israéliens qui a permis jusqu’alors à ces derniers d’ignorer les revendications des premiers de la fin de l’occupation de leurs territoires et de la création de leur Etat national.

High turnout as polls close in Bahraini elections despite opposition boycott « ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2014/11/article55338802

Speaking to the press from a polling station, Justice Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa announced on Saturday that voter turnout had reached 51.5 percent for the parliamentary elections and 53.7 percent for the municipal vote.

He said the estimates were “conservative” and that the final turnout would be confirmed once the vote was fully counted.

He added that the call for a boycott of the poll by the opposition—led by the Shi’ite Al-Wefaq group—had only managed to prevent 16 percent of voters from casting their votes.

Elections in 2010, which were not boycotted by the opposition, garnered a 67 percent turnout.

Qatar no longer offering citizenship to Bahraini nationals: Bahrain interior minister « ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2014/11/article55338696

Qatar no longer offering citizenship to Bahraini nationals: Bahrain interior minister
Bahrain earlier accused Qatar of luring its citizens to switch nationality

Bahraini Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Khalifa attends the consultative meeting of interior ministers from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in the Bahraini capital Manama on April 23, 2013. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Al-Shaikh)

Manama and Abu Dhabi, Asharq Al-Awsat—Qatar has stopped offering Bahraini nationals Qatari citizenship, Bahraini Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Khalifa said on Tuesday, in what may mark the end of a long-running dispute between the two states.

Sheikh Rashid said the understanding reached between the two countries on the issue reflected their “mutual respect,” and would help the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remain united.

Controversy erupted earlier in the year after Doha allegedly began offering Qatari citizenship to Bahraini nationals from prominent Sunni families, many of them members of the military and security services, according to sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat in September.

Manama issued three warnings to Doha in August and September over the issue, and passed a law in August imposing fines on Bahraini citizens who took on the nationalities of other countries without the approval of the authorities.

Bahraini citizens are permitted to have dual nationalities, but only after seeking permission from the minister of the interior.

Sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat in September said the issue was one of the main sticking points in the months-long dispute within the GCC, which saw Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain accuse Qatar of interfering in their internal affairs.

The dispute was resolved on Sunday following an emergency meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, following efforts to mediate the diplomatic row by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Sheikh Rashid praised the work of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, in helping to resolve the dispute, saying it displayed the “importance of the role which GCC countries can play to bring about stability in the Arab world, especially during the unusual circumstances the region is currently experiencing.”

He added that these events “obligated us [GCC countries] to have a united outlook and to undertake concerted efforts” to ensure regional stability.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah received a message from the Ruler of Dubai and Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Gen. Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces—who both represented the UAE at Sunday’s meeting—thanking him, and the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al Sabah, for their mediation efforts.

TRANSLATED: Half of 52-strong “FSA” force leave Kobani fight after disputes with Kurds
▻http://mideastwire.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/translated-half-of-52-strong-fsa-force-leave-kobani-fight-aft

On November 3, the Saudi-owned, London-based Asharq al-Awsat daily newspaper carried the following report: “Sources at the Free Syrian Army and others from the Kurdish People Protection Units revealed that differences took place between the fighters of the Free Army and the Kurds in the Syrian city of Kobani (Ain Arab) near the Turkish borders, which is now witnessing massive battles aimed at repelling the attacks of the ISIL group.

“A source at the military council, which is affiliated to the Free Army told Asharq al-Awsat that “differences occurred between the Kurds and the Free Army’s fighters who entered Kobani from Turkey a few days ago.” They added that around 20 out of 52 fighters left the region and returned to Turkey. The differences likely occurred as a result of failing to supply the opposition members with ammunition or fighting equipment that the International Alliance had previously tossed to the Kurdish fighters by air.

“On the other hand, a source at the People Protection Units told Asharq al-Awsat that “the fighters of the Free Army that recently entered Kobani had a political rather than a military objective.” He also accused them of following Turkey’s orders…”

ISIS in control of 60 percent of Syrian oil: sources « ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2014/07/article55334174

ISIS in control of 60 percent of Syrian oil: sources
Al-Qaeda-splinter group expanding oil production efforts in Syria

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is preparing to seize one of the few remaining major oil production centers in Syria not under its control, according to Syrian opposition officials.

“ISIS is already in control of more than 60 percent of Syria’s oil, with a total production rate of 180, 0000 barrel per day” and now plans to seize facilities in the northern province of Hassakah, an official from the Ministry of Energy in the interim Syrian opposition government, Yamin Al-Shami, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Having seized control of the majority of oil fields in Raqqa province, in central Syria, and Deir Ezzor province, along the Iraqi border, ISIS is preparing to mobilize fighters in a new push towards the town of Rmelan, home to the largest oil fields in Hassakah. Rmealn is under the control of Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG.

Shami warned that oil production constitutes a significant source of revenue for ISIS, adding that the Islamist militant group is able to sell a barrel of crude oil for around 18 US dollars. Brent crude, a global benchmark, currently sells at around 107 US dollars.

Oil is transported from ISIS-held areas with the help of local and foreign brokers, Shami said.

Despite its recent advances in Iraq, ISIS has been unable to take control of oil resources comparable to those it holds in Syria, and its recent attempt to capture the key Baiji refinery was successfully deterred by Iraqi forces. But Iraq’s oil infrastructure is far from secure, and there are frequent reports that huge amounts of crude oil are being smuggled out of the country by militants.

“Militant groups, along with ISIS, are stealing crude oil from fields near the Hamrin mountains” in northeastern Iraq, a local administrative official, Shallal Abdool, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Kurdish Peshmerga forces that control the area have seized more than 50 tankers loaded with stolen crude oil,” he added.

When asked about the destination to which oil is being taken, Abdool said: “There are many sides inside and outside Iraq that buy crude oil . . . and there are smugglers and brokers in Iraq who buy it for a cheap price in order to sell it abroad.”

Valerie Marcel, of London-based Chatham House think tank, said: “Fighters from ISIS can sell oil on the black market to buyers from Turkey, the Kurdistan region and Iran.”

“ISIS’s use of temporary refineries allows them to sell oil more easily.”

But, pointing to the fact that oil smuggling has been a problem for decades, others played down worries about ISIS’s oil activities.

“Oil smuggling operations from these sites exist and have been taking place for a long time before ISIS took over Nineveh province,” the governor of Salah Al-Din province, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Jubouri, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Syrian rebel group holding nuns captive offers hostage swap
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syrian-rebel-group-holding-nuns-captive-offers-hostage-swap

A Syrian rebel group calling itself “Free Qalamoun” has claimed the kidnapping of 12 nuns and said it wants to trade them for a thousand female detainees held by the government, a pan-Arab newspaper reported on Friday. Rebel spokesman Mohannad Abu al-Fidaa told Asharq al-Awsat that the nuns were safe but “will not be released until several demands have been implemented, most importantly, the release of 1,000 Syrian women held in regime prisons.” Reuters could not independently confirm the report. read more

#syria #Top_News

En Egypte, une nouvelle campagne pour boycotter les élections présidentielles si le général al-Sissi ne se présente pas | Asharq Al-Awsat
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2013/11/article55321862

More than 15 million Egyptians have signed a petition calling on Gen. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to stand for president, the director of the Kamel Gmeilak (“Complete the Favor”) campaign told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Rifai Nasrallah, who heads the campaign that takes its name from a popular Egyptian proverb, said: “In the event that Sisi refuses to stand, we will call on the Egyptian people to boycott the presidential elections.”

Libération des pélerins libanais retenus en otage depuis 17 mois en Syrie :
▻http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionId=2597&articleId=1868&ChannelId=62794&Author=زينب%20يا

L’Orient-Le Jour, après un gros effort pour rationaliser l’enlèvement (17 mois tout de même), reprend la dénonciation de ces « médias provocateurs libanais » qui évoquent une grosse somme d’argent. Asharq al-Awsat, vraiment ?
▻http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/838607/damas-na-toujours-pas-relache-les-detenues-reclamees-par-les-ravisseu

Tempête du Nord a par ailleurs nié avoir reçu de l’argent en échange des otages, contrairement « à ce que des médias provocateurs libanais ont affirmé ». La somme de 100 millions d’euros avait été évoquée par le journal Asharq al-Awsat.

Le New York Times ne publie pas de photos, mais reproduit les élucubrations :

The Syrian rebels had accused the men of belonging to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. Hezbollah officials and the captives’ families denied that, saying the men had been returning by bus from a pilgrimage to Iran.

Avec les photos du Safir, ce genre d’élucubration devient évidemment grotesque :
▻http://assafir.com/Photos/Photos21-10-2013/117010.jpg

Puisque les photos montrent que les pèlerins ont assez nettement dépassé la limite d’âge pour être des combattants du Hezbollah, le New York Times sort cette plus très belle généralisation :

Some local reports said the Syrian government was expected to release a number of female prisoners as demanded by the rebels in exchange for the captives from Lebanon, which is home to Hezbollah, a Syrian ally.

Opinion: Qaradawi and Religious Sentiment | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2013/09/article55317208

Earlier this week, renowned Mauritanian preacher and jurist Dr. Abdullah bin Bayyah resigned from his post as vice chairman of the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS). The post of chairman is, of course, held by none other than Egyptian-born cleric Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. Now, Sheikh Qaradawi has displayed a sudden partisan rush of empathy towards the Muslim Brotherhood, thereby placing his colleagues in IUMS—who hate to be branded as Brotherhood supporters—in a particularly embarrassing situation. This is particularly the case as IUMS is dominated by people who adopt the Brotherhood’s discourse and ideology, even if they are not necessarily official members of the group and are viewed as being “formalistically” independent.

The original objective of IUMS was to “create” an entity for issuing fatwas, serving as a juristic wing that could influence all Muslims whereby it would achieve full stature as a religious institution independent of the Muslim Brotherhood. In fact, this was the big challenge facing the Muslim Brotherhood and those adopting its culture.

IUMS incorporated well-known names in the world of jurisprudence [Islamic Fiqh] such as Qaradawi himself and Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah. Yet, those affiliated to the organization also include “activists” and zealous preachers who hold influential posts despite lacking the requisite jurisprudential experience and qualifications. The majority of such figures did not resign in the same manner as Bin Bayyah, and remain affiliated to Qaradawi’s Union.

Were it not for the uprisings against the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Tunisia, the organization may have swallowed the fatwa issuing institutions and all traditional religious entities, as was manifested by the plot hatched by the Brotherhood against Egypt’s Al-Azhar.

In my opinion, IUMS, founded in 2004 with a council of trustees incorporating Rachid Ghannouchi and Fahmi Howaidi, was nothing more than a first attempt at creating a Brotherhood-friendly fatwa wing. Yet, the uprising against the Brotherhood has called for old calculations to be reconsidered. For his part, Sheikh Qaradawi opted to deny and escalate the situation, whilst others have submitted to the new reality and taken a step backward, attempting to distance themselves from the Muslim Brotherhood.

Le chef d’une des branches d’Al Qaeda en Syrie serait mort :
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2013/08/article55313503

The commander of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a major Islamist opposition group fighting the government of Bashar Al-Assad, was killed in the city of Salamiyah near Hama during a failed attack the rebel group launched against government forces on Sunday, Asharq Al-Awsat has learnt.

A member of the Syrian opposition, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, said: “Imad Ahmad, a Palestinian national, the commander-in-chief of the ISIS, was killed last Sunday in the eastern suburbs of Hama.”

Note : insister sur le conditionnel. Avec la reprise en main du dossier syrien par Bandar Bin Sultan, je ne doute pas que l’on va nous annoncer, dans les semaines qui viennent, par petites touches successives, la disparition d’Al Qaeda en Syrie.

Ghannouchi on Tunisian political crisis, terrorism |

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT, 1st of August 2013

▻http://www.aawsat.net/2013/08/article55312019

London, Asharq Al-Awsat—Tunisia finds itself in the midst of an escalating political and security crisis following the assassination of secularist politician Mohamed Brahmi on July 25, the second killing of an opposition leader this year. The Islamist-dominated government in Tunis has been subject to increasing calls to step down, while the Constitutional Assembly has been dissolved.

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi spoke about the political and security crisis in the country, the threat of terrorism and the escalating calls for the dissolution of government.

Asharq Al-Awsat: Ennahda issued a statement earlier this week proposing to expand the political base of rule in Tunisia. Why have you taken this decision now? Is this in response to the escalating political and security crisis in the country, or was this initiative already in the pipeline?

Rachid Ghannouchi: We said that we are open to all proposals that aim to protect the democratic process in Tunisia, particularly as our country is passing through difficult circumstances which require that we exert all of our effort to confront terrorism. Within this framework, and in order to serve the national interest, we are extending our hands to everybody as part of looking for a way out of this transitional phase for Tunisia.

Le sens des priorités des rebelles d’Alep : libérer la Syrie de l’impérialisme des viennoiseries françaises :
▻http://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2013/07/30/Aleppo-rebel-religious-committee-forbids-colonial-croissants.html

A sharia committee in a rebel-held area of Aleppo issued a fatwa deeming croissants ‘haram’ (forbidden in Islamic law) because of their “colonial” significance, pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported on Tuesday.

Croissants’ crescent shape celebrates European victory over Muslims, according to the fatwa (religious ruling).

Histoire forte intéressante des FM au Bahreïn

The Brotherhood in Bahrain | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2013/06/article55306719

Manama, Asharq Al-Awsat—Despite the Muslim Brotherhood in Kuwait’s dominant presence and influential position over Brotherhood members in other Gulf nations, Bahrain was actually the first effective starting point for organizing the Brotherhood in the Gulf. This has been confirmed by observers, analysts and accounts from members of the Brotherhood themselves.

Le dialogue bahreïnien dans son bourbier. Ici le Ministre de la Justice explique les raisons du piétinement.

Bahrain’s Minister of Justice on the National Dialogue | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
▻http://www.aawsat.net/2013/07/article55309035

Q: A document from opposition organizations that was posted on the Internet spoke about what they termed “balanced representation” and the necessity of changing the political representation equation at the negotiating table by replacing the representatives of the legislative authority with independent individuals. How do you see this particular issue?

Such a discourse arouses two significant points: First, it is unreasonable that now that four months of prolonged sessions and negotiations have passed, one of the sides suddenly attempts to impose a change on the structure of the negotiations without any convincing legal or political reason. This raises significant questions about the goal of such a discourse, which in my assessment seems to be an obstacle to progress towards the objectives of the dialogue.

Second, accepting such a discourse regarding a major component of national dialogue—independent representatives of the legislative authority, who perform a vital role in the present and the future in smoothing the process to consensus and dialogue—would be an insult to the legislative authority and to the individuals who represent it, as well as to the role it is performing in Bahrain’s political arena. This must be clear, particularly as MPs, for example, are elected individuals whose legitimacy is unquestioned. The current parliament represents 52 percent of eligible voters, hence it is clear that such a discourse does not serve national consensus.

The slain Libyan strongman, Muammar Qaddafi, sought to recruit armed militants to carry out terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, according to leaked files published Wednesday by the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

▻http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/21/267460.html