Tuesday, July 26, 2022

07/26 Links Pt1: Palestinian leaders are waging a war on Palestinians; Arabs: 'US President Decided to Tamper with ME Security for No Reason'; Nasrallah: Hezbollah has all of Israel in its missile range

From Ian:

US should stop funding UNRWA - opinion
UNRWA’s anti-Israel bias is systemic and manifests well beyond its definition of refugee status. In 2021, UNRWA removed its Gaza director, Matthias Schmale, after he commented Israel’s airstrikes were very precise in its 2021 operation. UNRWA’s textbooks continue to glorify terrorism and depict Jews as “impure,” and “inherently treacherous, and hostile to Islam and Muslims,” according to curriculum watchdog IMPACT-se.

UNRWA’s bias says a lot about the bad faith character of those in leadership positions on behalf of the Palestinians and why further US funding will fail to propel a solution unless there are serious reforms. Palestinian leaders have realized that though they are not powerful enough to destroy Israel – an aspiration stated in Hamas and the PLO’s charters – they continue to reject peace proposals, perpetuate conflict and steal foreign aid.

Despite Palestinian leadership having received 25 times more aid per capita than that which Europe received under the Marshall Plan to rebuild following World War II – all inflation considered – the Palestinian people have still yet to achieve European-style development. This is largely because Palestinian leaders waste hundreds of millions of dollars on initiatives designed to incite violence, such as its pay-for-slay fund, which provides stipends to terrorists and their families in proportion with the severity of their crimes.

As bloodshed ensues, Palestinian leaders regularly siphon public funds, which account for Yasser Arafat’s billions, and surely how career politician Mahmoud Abbas and his sons, who previously created companies that contracted with foreign aid donors, collectively amassed over $100 million (NIS 345 million). Notably, Hamas figureheads Khaled Meshaal and Mousa Abu Marzook have also “somehow” become billionaires.

While the US’s most recent pledge to UNRWA might be lower than last year’s donation, worth $334 million (NIS 1.2 billion), it is unrealistic to think that change will ensue until both Palestinian leadership and UNRWA are forced to reform. America is in a position of power and must insist that UNRWA remove all antisemitic staff and materials from its curricula before granting any future aid. Otherwise, the US can only expect endless conflict as a consequence of the propaganda of UNRWA’s current curriculums.
Emily Schrader: Palestinian leaders are waging a war on Palestinians
Several weeks ago, Human Rights Watch (HRW) came out with a report criticizing the Palestinian leadership for widespread use of torture. While organizations like HRW are usually and disproportionately focused on condemning Israel, this is not the first report of its kind exposing the problems in Palestinian leadership, both in Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Shortly after, a report from UN Watch was released, detailing systemic torture of Palestinians. Within the week, a lawsuit was filed in the International Criminal seeking to hold the Palestinian leaders accountable.

The Palestinian Authority made international headlines last year with the murder of PA critic Nizar Banat, who was beaten to death by PA security forces. To date, no one has been held accountable for his death, and many of his supporters and protesters have been arrested, as well, on charges of unlawful assembly, insulting higher authorities and inciting sectarian strife. Indeed, the PA has a habit of arresting regime critics, even for something as small as a Facebook post.

Palestinian punishment
Once arrested, Palestinians in the West Bank may face physical beatings, solitary confinement, the whipping of feet, forced confessions, stress positions for prolonged periods of time, inhumane prison conditions and more. The Independent Commission Human Rights (ICHR) received 252 complaints of torture and 279 of arbitrary arrest in the West Bank in 2021 alone. In Gaza, Palestinians fare even worse.

The terrorist organization Hamas is known for their draconian punishments and hardline Islamist positions. They have publicly executed dozens of collaborators with Israel, without any sort of due process, and they routinely bully, arrest and harm Palestinians who don’t fall in line with their terrorist agenda. They have also executed some of their own members for being gay and who can forget that they have started three wars with Israel in recent years resulting in a catastrophic humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza, all while their leaders enjoy a luxury life, in many cases, abroad.

But despite all the testimonies and the evidence from Palestinians themselves, you wouldn’t even know such reports exist if you looked at the activities of pro-Palestinian groups abroad or at the social media feeds of the largest Free Palestine advocates. It’s been radio silence from notable activists like Mohamed El Kurd, Muna El Kurd, Miriam Barghouti, Ahed Tamimi and others on the reports of systemic torture of Palestinians at the hands of Palestinians.
Khaled Abu Toameh: Arabs: 'US President Decided to Tamper with [Middle East] Security for No Reason...'
Arabs point out that one of Biden's biggest mistakes was that he took America's Arab allies for granted while embarking on a policy of appeasement towards Iran's mullahs.

"The behavior of the Obama and Biden administrations regarding Iran and Afghanistan served as a wake-up call for the countries of the region." — Ali Hamadeh, Lebanese Journalist, Annahar, July 20, 2022.

"Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya were stable countries until the US president decided to tamper with their security for no reason other than his fascination with the discourse of the left and the extremist [Muslim] Brotherhood...." — Saudi political analyst Mohammed Al-Saed, Okaz, July 18, 2022.

"I remember a little over a year ago how Biden described his relations with Riyadh when he said that they were partners and not allies, then removed the [Iranian-backed] Houthis from their designation as terrorists and then returned to the Iranian nuclear agreement." — Mohammed Al-Saed, Okaz, July 18, 2022.

The Arabs are telling Biden that they do not appreciate or respect weak leaders and remain concerned about his appeasement policy toward the mullahs and their proxies in the Middle East.


Seth Frantzman: Nasrallah: Hezbollah has all of Israel in its missile range
Nasrallah’s threats and statements against Israel ran the usual gamut of claims, he said Israel was afraid to enter Lebanon’s territory and that this showed that Hezbollah had deterred Israel. Nasrallah spoke to the media on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Hezbollah and spelled out its accomplishments and future endeavors. He praised Iranian support for the “axis” of resistance.

He looked back at history and said that Israel had withdrawn from Lebanon in the past and that Israel had shown it could not even maintain the “security belt” inside Lebanon that Israel maintained until 2000. He said Israel has been afraid to confront Hezbollah since the 2006 war.

“We are capable of deterrence and if needed, we will respond. Even if it leads to war,” the Hezbollah leader said. “Due to Europe's need to replace Russian oil and gas, Lebanon is facing a historic opportunity. Biden came to the region because of oil and gas. But the additional oil of Saudi Arabia and the UAE will not solve Europe's needs either. The war between Ukraine and Russia has made them look for alternatives to Russian oil and gas.”

Hezbollah hopes to gain from the Ukraine crisis. “This is a historic and golden opportunity for us to push for our oil. Regarding NATO in the Middle East, I must say that many people talk about their dreams. Biden only traveled to the region for oil. The priority of Biden and America is to confront Russia in Ukraine. For this reason, they are against any war…They do not want a war that will cause an explosion in the region.” Hezbollah’s abilities

Nasrallah details Hezbollah’s abilities, discussing Hezbollah’s precision-guided missiles. He said that this gives Hezbollah the ability to prevent Israel or companies from extracting gas from Karish. “The ball is now in Lebanon's territory. It is not, but it is not allowed to extract oil and gas in an area that is not subject to conflict. Now Lebanon has given concessions that the enemy should not refuse.”

Besides noting that Hezbollah drone threats to Israel are increasing, Nasrallah also spelled out how it would make decisions for Lebanon in the future.

The Secretary General of Hezbollah stated that "The Lebanese government is not able to make a proper decision to protect this country and its resources. Therefore, the resistance is forced to make a decision. Our goal is for Lebanon to extract oil and gas; Because this is the only way to save Lebanon. This is an action that must be taken. We will not accept any deception and we must take back our rights. Our goal is to make Lebanon extract oil and gas and to draw the maritime borders of this country correctly,’” Fars News reported.
Hizbullah Sec.-Gen. Nasrallah: All of Israel’s Offshore Gas Fields Are Within Range of Our Threat

Would Nasrallah risk war with Israel over the Karish gas rig? - analysis
Hezbollah has made it clear that they will continue to challenge Israel over the rig, despite the real risk of deteriorating into a full-blown war.

And unlike past wars, this would be a war over a strategic economic asset. Lebanon has been suffering from a crippling economic crisis since 2019 that has only gotten worse with the global food and fuel crisis.

A ruling in favor of Lebanon would allow the country to finally have some breathing room for its population which has not had a break in years.

Israel, of course, is not immune to the crisis and the Karish was set to be an answer to the country’s expanding demand for energy. The excess gas would also be available for export, such as for Europe, which is reeling from Russia’s war in Ukraine and its threat to shut off or reduce supply to the continent over its support for Kyiv.

Should Nasrallah follow through with his threats, Israelis across the country need to be ready.

It would not look like a war with Hamas, and it would not look like the war between Russia and Ukraine. A war with Hezbollah would drag the entire region into a war that would also see all terror groups and Iranian proxies take part.

And the complete destruction and deadly consequences of the war would be on Nasrallah, not the IDF.
Israel prepared to counter Hezbollah belligerence
Brig. Gen. (Res.) Amir Avivi, Director of the Israel's Defense & Security Forum, evaluates the threats made by Iran-proxy Hezbollah, and the claims made by Iran that it has busted an Israeli spy ring




Im Tirtzu: Col. Richard Kemp in Conversation with Im Tirtzu's Chairman of the Board Douglas Altabef
The former commander of NATO troops in Iraq speaks with Im Tirtzu on Israel and Russia, Western resolve, and what Israel must focus on. Richard Kemp has fought for democracy and Western Civilization on and off the battlefield, and has become one of Israel's vocal advocates on the international stage.




Huge industrial partnership links Bahrain, UAE, Egypt and Jordan
A bloc of four Arab countries with 122 million people, all of which are peace partners of Israel, have joined together as part of a unique and large new partnership. Bahrain has joined the UAE, Egypt and Jordan in this new partnership, which will focus on a range of economic investments in the region.

This is designed to bolster Arab economic integration. These are among the key economies of the region. The fact that the countries all have peace with Israel illustrates new possibilities for the Abraham Accords because trade is the key building block of a new peace.

The National reported on Monday that “Bahrain has joined the Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development, boosting the industrial manufacturing value add of the alliance to more than $112.5 billion.”

The report says that Foreign Direct Investment “in the UAE, Egypt and Jordan reached $151 billion between 2016-2020, accounting for about 42% of new FDI in the Middle East. The total value of the countries’ exports stood at $433 billion in 2019, while imports amounted to approximately $399 billion, according to the statement.”

Key officials such as Egypt’s Minister of Transport, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Jordanian Minister of Industry attended the meeting this week alongside Zayed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Bahrain.

“Bahrain, a major producer of raw aluminum and iron ore, boasts a strong industrial sector with more than 9,500 companies and 55,000 employees and $4.3 billion in industrial foreign direct investment. The partnership aims to establish large joint industrial projects, create job opportunities, contribute to increasing economic output, diversify the economies of the partner countries, support industrial production and increase exports,” the statement said, according to The National.


IDF Arrests Suspect With Loaded Gun Who Started Fire at West Bank Kibbutz
Israeli forces apprehended a suspect armed with a loaded, improvised gun in the West Bank on Monday evening, the military said, after the man threw a Molotov cocktail near Kibbutz Migdal Oz.

Troops who scouted the area after the suspect was caught also found an explosive device, according to the military. An X-ray taken of his improvised gun, shared by the IDF after the incident, showed that it was loaded with a bullet in its chamber.

The man has since been transferred for further questioning.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the suspect, a Palestinian, was spotted by the forces while lying in ambush in the bushes. The IDF assessed that he sought to attack the forces who arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire he ignited, the outlet reported.

The incident comes as Israel continues to grapple with a wave of violence by Palestinian and Arab Israeli perpetrators, with more than 60 people killed or injured in terrorist attacks since March.

Just a day earlier, Israeli forces were reported to have thwarted a suspected stabbing attack at Tapuah Junction, a major intersection located south of Nablus in the West Bank.

On Friday, police arrested a Palestinian man who they said had a knife in his pocket and was following worshippers in a suspicious manner in the Old City of Jerusalem.


IDF Demolishes Homes of Terrorists Responsible for Ariel Attack
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday night demolished homes in the town of Qarawat Bani Hassan near Nablus in the West Bank of the two Palestinians who carried out a terrorist attack in Ariel in April.

An IDF spokesperson said that violent clashes took place during the overnight operation with hundreds of Palestinians throwing stones and burning tires at the Israeli forces.

“The homes of the terrorists Yahya Merei and Yosef Merei, who were captured and arrested after the attack, were destroyed after their families’ petitions to the High Court were rejected,” the spokesman said in a statement.

The April attack left a 23-year-old security guard Vyacheslav Gorev dead. The military wing of Hamas later took responsibility for the assault. The armed terrorists were detained by the Shin Bet security service a few days after the attack.

Ten people suspected of involvement in terrorist activities were also arrested by the IDF during the overnight raid across the West Bank that was carried out as part of the ongoing counterterrorism operation “Break the wave.” Illegal weapons were confiscated.


PMW: Abbas incites Church against Israel in phone call with the Pope
Under the guise of concern for Pope Francis’ health, PA Chairman Abbas exploited a phone call with the pope to incite and inflame the Church against Israel.

In their conversation, Abbas repeated the libel that Israel “attacks” Christian and Muslim holy sites:
”His Honor [Abbas] updated Pope Francis on the attacks to which the Christian and Islamic holy sites are being subjected, and especially the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.” [Official PA TV News, July 12, 2022]

Palestinian Media Watch has documented numerous such statements that refer to the presence of Jews at these places as “invasions,” “break-ins,” and “attacks.” The statements also expose the PA’s antisemitic ideologies, declaring that the presence of Jews “defiles” and “desecrates” these holy sites.

Even PA Chairman Abbas has argued that Israelis “desecrate the sanctity of our holy sites”:
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: "The Israeli occupation forces are committing oppression and arbitrary acts in order to erase the holy city’s identity, change its spiritual and historical characteristics, desecrate the sanctity of our holy sites – the Islamic and Christian ones, and pressure its residents, visitors, and those coming to worship there. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is being subjected to invasions every day." 

[Official PA TV News, March 31, 2019]

PLO Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh recently reiterated Abbas’ statement, when he stressed that Israeli/Jewish presence “defiles” Muslim and Christian holy sites:

PLO Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh: “Jerusalem is ours, the Noble Sanctuary (i.e., the Temple Mount) is ours, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is ours, the Wailing Wall is ours. It is all ours. Therefore, we will not let the occupation defile these holy sites.”

[Official PA TV, Topic of the Day, May 9 and 10, 2022]
In condolence phone call, PA chief says gunmen slain in fight with IDF are ‘martyrs’
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called the fathers of two Palestinian gunmen who were killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops in the West Bank, and expressed his condolences.

In a video of the phone call, Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh is seen with the bereaved fathers, handing over a phone with Abbas on speaker.

“We are all mourning,” Abbas is heard saying. “That is our destiny and we can’t escape it. We must make sacrifices for the homeland,” he adds.

“Your son will reach heaven together with the other martyrs,” Abbas said, addressing one of the fathers.

“May God bless all martyrs,” he added, before concluding the call.

Israel’s Channel 12 said the phone call was seen by the broadly unpopular Abbas as an opportunity to make some internal political gains — hence its filming and circulation on Palestinian social media.


Ehud Barak: It is too late to stop Iran's nuclear program with military action
Iran is close to becoming a nuclear state and military action will no longer be effective in stopping the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, former prime minister Ehud Barak warned this week.

Barak made the assessment in a column he penned for Time Magazine in which he argued that while attacks can be carried out, they are unlikely to succeed in delaying the program.

"Both Israel and (for sure) the US can operate over the skies of Iran against this or that site or installation and destroy it. But once Iran is a de-facto threshold nuclear state this kind of attack simply cannot delay the Iranians from turning nuclear. Indeed, under certain circumstances it might accelerate their rush toward assembling that bomb, and provide them a measure of legitimacy on grounds of self-defense," Barak wrote.

With that said, the former prime minister and IDF chief of staff called on the United States to help provide Israel with the means needed to carry out an independent military attack against the Iranian nuclear program if "both governments are convinced it is absolutely necessary."

Israel should be reserved the right to a large-scale military operation against the Islamic Republic, as a nuclear breakout "will most probably" occur when the US has its hands full with other crises across the globe, Barak said.

"This summer, Iran will turn into a de-facto threshold nuclear state," Barak added, further warning that operations over Iranian skies "simply cannot delay the Iranians from turning nuclear."
MEMRI: Failed Initiative To Establish Middle East NATO – Arab Countries Clarify: There Will Be No Regional Military Alliance Against Iran; We Seek To Improve Our Relations With It
In the weeks preceding the visit of U.S. President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia for the July 16, 2022 Jeddah Security and Development Summit, Arab and international media published numerous reports claiming that one of the main topics slated to be discussed at the summit – attended by Biden and the leaders of the nine Arab countries – was the establishment of a regional military alliance against Iran. According to the reports, this alliance was to include Israel alongside the moderate Arab countries, among them Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan. Many were referring to this initiative as the establishment of a "regional NATO."[1] Remarks by Jordan's King Abdullah II in a June 24 interview with an American channel, that he would be the first to join a regional NATO, intensified the debate around this issue even further, and the Arab and international press published numerous items about it.

However, as the Jeddah summit approached, Arab countries began to clarify – either officially and explicitly or via articles in the press – that they had no intention of joining a regional military alliance against Iran. For example, before he left for the summit, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said that Iraq "is not party to any alliance or coalition in the region," and that it "maintains a balanced policy toward its neighbors and its surroundings."[2] Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE president, explained that his country would not join such an alliance and that it was in fact considering sending an ambassador to Iran. Reports indicate that in the days leading up to the Jeddah summit, Egypt and Jordan also conveyed secret messages of reassurance to Iran, via Iraq and Oman, in which they stressed that they would not join a regional alliance against it and that they were not interested in escalating the conflict with it.

Eventually, the Jeddah summit indeed concluded with no mention of a regional alliance, either with or without Israel. Moreover, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan declared at the close of the summit that "dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to deal with the Iranian nuclear [program]" and that Saudi Arabia extends its hand to Iran.

It appears that, even if at some point several Arab countries had considered forming a regional alliance against Iran, a series of considerations and insights led them to discard the idea and to stress that they do not seek a military confrontation with this country. The main consideration is their understanding that the Biden administration is committed to achieving a nuclear agreement with Iran and that it views diplomacy as the best option, if not the only option, for contending with Iran’s nuclear program. Therefore, these countries assess that they cannot depend on the U.S. to protect them from Iran, and fear that the U.S. will not come to their aid in the event of a military confrontation with it, just as it did not come to the aid of Ukraine when it was attacked by Russia.

Moreover, Arab countries apparently fear that the U.S. will sign a new nuclear agreement with Iran which will not address their concerns regarding the conduct of Iran and its militias in the region, and have therefore deemed it prudent to open a direct channel of communication with Iran, rather than move toward military escalation with it. It appears that these countries have taken a strategic decision to maintain calm relations with Iran and seek dialogue with it. In fact, in recent months five rounds of talks, mediated by Iraq and Oman, have been held between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The UAE is likewise maintaining contacts and dialogue with this country, and, as mentioned, Egypt and Jordan have done the same in the recent weeks.
Iranian mother sentenced to 100 lashes for protest against murder of son
Iran’s clerical regime last week sentenced Mahboobeh Ramezani to 100 lashes for her reported peaceful protest as part of the "Mothers of Justice" campaign against the murder of her son by the Islamic Republic and her opposition to the mandatory hijab.

The "Mothers of Justice" campaign
Ramezani has been tirelessly campaigning to secure justice for her son Pejman Gholipur, who was killed by the theocratic state in 2019 for his role in nationwide demonstrations against rising fuel prices.

Mahboubeh Remezani said to the regime: "You know well that you are demolished by Aban and Aban [movement] continues, unless you kill all of the Aban families, just like what you did to our children."

Aban refers to the Iranian calendar month of November in which the elimination of regime opponents, protestors, and dissidents took place in 2019.

Mina Bai, an Iranian-Norwegian columnist, and the Iran-based journalist Hossein Ronaghi posted messages on Twitter about the dire plight of Ramezani, with a picture of the mother.




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