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Criminalizing Normalization: A Spectacle or An Attempt to Isolate Iraq?

A Weekly Political News Magazine

Syrians Worried Over Regime Selling Their Real Estate

A Weekly Political News Magazine

Issue 1907- June- 03/06/2022

Queen Elizabeth II: 70 Years of Changes

Issue 1907- June- 03/06/2022

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Israel’s Arab Citizens Weigh On Conflict www.majalla.com

Editorial The Israel Defense Security Forum (IDSF), known in Hebrew as Habithonistim, has released the findings of its National Survey. It examined the attitudes of Israel’s Arab citizens toward Israel in the wake of the May 2021 operation “Guardian of the Walls,” between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas. In the cover story, Suzan Quitaz said that in the survey a total of 1,068 Israeli citizens, both Jews and Arabs aged 18 and over, were asked questions in relation to their sense of security, governance and national loyalty. Some of the findings were already anticipated by the IDSF but others were both unexpected and new. The national survey found that a large majority of Arab Israelis are consistently conflicted by questions of identity and national loyalty. On the question of the Jewish people›s sovereign right to live in the Land of Israel, an overwhelming majority of %75 of Israel’s Arab citizens responded that Jews have no right to sovereignty in the Land of Israel. On April 23, Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist movement, announced the intention of his bloc and its allies to present a draft proposal to “criminalize” normalization with Israel for a vote in the parliament. Al-Sadr tweeted then, “One of the most important reasons that prompted me to involve the Sadrist movement in the electoral process again is the issue of normalization and the Israeli ambitions to dominate our beloved Iraq.” On May 26, in the presence of 275 deputies out of a total of 329 delegates, members of the Iraqi parliament unanimously voted in favor of the proposed law. The law indicates that it applies to all Iraqi citizens in the country and abroad, all state institutions, the governments of regions and governorates, the media and social media. In the politics section, Rawshan Qassem said that even though the parliament witnessed celebrations after the vote on the law, and videos circulated by Iraqis on social media showed the MPs celebrating the vote, the reactions and comments of Iraqi social media users varied between those who considered the legislation of the law a victory for the resistance, and those who were apprehensive about further restrictions on freedoms. In the politics section, Jiwan Soz also highlighted how hundreds of Syrian families in the countryside of Idlib and Hama are facing a new problem of selling and investing in their real estate through public auctions supervised by the government of President Bashar al-Assad. These regions have been under government control for nearly three years, following the withdrawal of the armed opposition from them in a large-scale ground military operation. The area was assaulted by Assad›s forces with air support from Russia. Although the owners of these properties refuse to sell them, the problem of confiscation began in the villages and towns located in the countryside of Idlib and Hama governorates after al-Assad forces took control of them in the summer of 2019 and early 2020, when the military operation was completed. In the Feature section, Salwa Samir delved into how the rice paper making is struggling to survive in Egypt. She talked about the story of Enas Khamis who thought of environment-friendly ways of making paper rather than cutting trees in the late 1980s, after her graduation from the Alexandria University’s Fine Arts Faculty. She found her way of using the plant refuse such as rice straw, which contributes to the overwhelming problem of black cloud that first appeared over the Nile Delta and Cairo in 1990s, due to its burning at the end of the harvest season in September and October. Every year, Egypt produces around 32 million tons of agricultural waste and 17 percent of this is rice straw. In the culture section, meanwhile, Sara Gamal speaks about Victoria College, which was founded in 1902 and bore the name of the Queen of Britain at the time. The college is located on the land of Alexandria, and has included within its walls dozens of artists, writers, and even kings of countries of which we are proud even today. Read these articles and more on our website eng.majalla.com. As always, we welcome and value our readers’ feedback and we invite you to take the opportunity to leave your comments on our website.

03/06/22

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Editor-in-Chief

Ghassan Charbel The Editor Mostafa El-Dessouki HH Saudi Research and Marketing (UK) Ltd 10th Floor Building 7 Chiswick Business Park 566 Chiswick High Road London W4 5YG Tel : +44 207 831 8181 Fax: +44 207 831 2310

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A Weekly Political News Magazine

03/06/22

A Weekly Political News Magazine

44 When Love and Death“ ”Have No Boundaries

Issue 1907- June- 03/06/2022

Drugs: Iran Has a New Artillery

34 Kissinger’s Ukraine Opinion Meets Opposition

Victoria College: The Incubator

46 of Kings, Celebrities

48 Falling Into Oblivion

A weekly review of screenings at

54 movie theatres around the world 5

03/06/22

58 Ready, Set, Hike!

napshot

Dubai Daily Life People make the most of the day in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 29 May 2022. The Dubai government’s tourism authority in May 2022 reported a total of 3.97 million international visitors for the first quarter of 2022, more than three times the number of 1.27 million for the same time span in the previous year. EPA

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napshot

Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum A security guard cleans the smeared cream from the glass protecting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum, in Paris, France, Monday, May 30, 2022. A man seemingly disguised as an old woman in a wheelchair threw a piece of cake at the glass protecting the Mona Lisa and shouted at people to think of planet Earth. AP

03/06/22

LEBANON

EGYPT A consortium of Abu Dhabi's Masdar and Egypt's Infinity Energy is set to buy a majority stake in Lekela Power from private equity house Actis, three sources directly linked to the sale said, in a deal that could be worth close to $1 billion. The sale, which would be one of southern Africa's biggest renewable energy deals, has attracted interest from across the world, including from Chinese state fund CNIC; Africa-focused power firm Globeleq, which is 70%-owned by UK development finance institution CDC Group; Chinese petroleum giant Sinopec; and South African coal firm Exxaro, among others.

Lebanon’s longtime parliament speaker who has held the post for 30 years, was re-elected Tuesday for a seventh four-year term with the minimum number of votes needed and despite multiple crises plaguing the nation. Still, the slim majority in favor of Nabih Berri was a reflection of a significant shift in public opinion in the crumbling economy on the verge of bankruptcy. His reelection was practically guaranteed — even though more than a dozen new lawmakers won seats running on a reform platform. The new legislature is being ushered in as Lebanon remains in the grip of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by the ruling class, which has been running the country since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.

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Israel and free trade kind that I country. The UAE a Israel in a the so-cal eventually Since then cooperatio “Israel & th Trade Agre signed be Prime Min

ISRAEL

the United Arab Emirates signed a e agreement on Tuesday, the first of its Israel has concluded with an Arab

agreed to normalize relations with U.S.-brokered deal in 2020, the first of lled Abraham Accords that Israel y concluded with four Arab nations. n, the two countries have boosted on in a number of economic sectors. he UAE just signed a historic Free eement - the first of this scope to be etween Israel & an Arab state,” Israeli nister Naftali Bennett tweeted.

UAE The UAE has achieved the desired goal of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign and announced the completion of 100 percent vaccination and immunisation of the target groups in the country. The campaign aimed to vaccinate and immunise front-liners, volunteers, community members of the age groups specified according to the type of vaccine, the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases whose health condition allows them to take the vaccine.

IRAQ At least five missiles hit a sprawling Iraqi army base hosting U.S. troops in the country’s western desert Monday, two Iraqi security officials said. The officials said the Grad missiles struck inside the Ain al-Asad base in Iraq’s western Anbar province and caused minor damages but no casualties. The officials said the missiles hit only a few meters (yards) from where U.S. forces are stationed. The officals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. The culprits were not immediately known, but the U.S. has previously accused Iran-backed Iraqi militia groups of targeting the American presence in Iraq, including the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

IRAN Iran’s health minister said Thursday the country has marked its first day after more than two years without a single COVID-19 death, lauding this as a significant milestone for a nation that long had the highest number of coronavirus cases in the Middle East. The ministry reported 175 new cases over the past day, bringing Iran's number of confirmed cases during the pandemic to more than 7,230,000. Iran's officially registered death toll stands at 141,318. “Iran has experienced the first day without a coronavirus death while America and Europe still have high casualty rates,” tweeted Health Minister Bahram Einollahi.

03/06/22

A WEEK ACROS MEXICO.

U.S. The U.S. and Germany pledged on Wednesday to equip Ukraine with some of the advanced weapons it has long desired for shooting down aircraft and knocking out artillery, as Russian forces closed in on capturing a key city in the east. Germany said it will supply Ukraine with up-to-date anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems, while the U.S. announced it will provide four sophisticated, medium-range rocket systems and ammunition.

The death toll caused by Hurricane Agatha in Mexico has risen to 11, with another 33 missing and heavy rains likely to continue, the governor of the southern state of Oaxaca said on Wednesday. Agatha made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Monday afternoon, touching down with 105 mile-per-hour winds (169 km per hour) near the beach town of Puerto Angel on the Pacific coast, before dissipating on Tuesday as it moved inland. Oaxaca governor Alejandro Murat said the tallies of dead and missing were preliminary, and urged people to remain alert.

27/05/22

TUNISIA.

Tunisia's President Kais Saied sacke 57 judges, the official gazette said, after he accused them of corruptio complicity and protecting accused persons in terrorist cases. Saied, who seized executive power last summer, dissolved parliament began ruling by decree in a move h opponents described as a coup, sa Wednesday in a cabinet meeting h will take a political decision to purg the judiciary.

SS THE WORLD

ed , on, d

r and his aid he ge

UKRAINE. CHINA.

Ukraine expects to receive more weapons from allies after a fresh U.S. pledge, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, as the battle for Ukraine's east raged 100 days into Russia's invasion. Moscow's forces now occupy about 20% of Ukraine's territory, according to Zelenskiy. Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces are focusing on the industrial Donbas region, comprised of Luhansk and Donetsk, in the hope of a high-profile victory. Three civilians were killed in Donetsk, including two in the coal-producing town of Avdiivka, and nine people were injured, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said late on Thursday.

INDIA. India's factory activity expanded at a better-than-expected pace last month as overall demand remained resilient despite persistently high inflation, encouraging firms to hire at the fastest rate since January 2020, according to a private survey.

27/05/22

China’s military on Wednesday said it had carried out “multi-service joint combat readiness patrols” near Taiwan while officials in Taipei made an effort to highlight their growing security ties with Washington, a set of moves that come amid growing fears of Chinese military action to take control of the island. In its statement, the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command said the patrols took place in the past few days as a response to what they claim is “U.S.-Taiwan collusion.” The command accused the U.S. of “instigating support” for Taiwanese independence forces and warned that it was pushing the island—which Beijing claims as part of its territory—into a “dangerous situation.”

over story

Views of Israel’s Arab Citizens Where We Go from Here

By Suzan Quitaz After months of polling, researching and analyzing collected data, the Israel Defense Security Forum (IDSF), known in Hebrew as Habithonistim, has released the findings of its National Survey. It examined the attitudes of Israel’s Arab citizens toward Israel in the wake of the May 2021 operation “Guardian

of the Walls,” between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas. On the sidelines of the war, violent riots broke out in mixed Jewish-Arab cities and towns, in which many people were injured, stores were looted and public properties were vandalized. IDSF-Habithonistim – Protectors of Israel, is a security-oriented movement consisting of over 4,200 retired and reserve officers, commanders, and soldiers from all branches of the IDF and the Israeli security

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and intelligence community. Or Yissachar, IDSF head of research, tells Majalla, that “the IDSF sees itself as a pan-Israeli, Zionist movement. 15% of our members belong to the Druze, Bedouin and Arab communities, all of whom are veterans including senior IDF officers such as Maj. Gen. (res.) Kamil Abu Rukun and Brig. Gen. (res.) Imad Fares.

Startling Findings

A soldier from the Israeli military’s Home Front Command walks outside a house in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon that had been struck by a Hamas rocket on May 2021 ,20. (Edi Israel/ FLASH90)

A total of 1,068 Israeli citizens, both Jews and Arabs aged 18 and over, were asked questions in relation to their sense of security, governance and national loyalty. The IDSF founder and CEO, Brigadier General (res.) Amir Avivi, explains the main purpose behind the survey: “We wanted to learn more about how people feel inside Israel after the attack that we saw last year, these pogroms we saw in the mixed cities…We understand that there’s an issue with personal security, sovereignty in the cities. We wanted to measure that. We wanted to really understand what’s going on in both the Jewish society and the Arab society.” Some of the findings were already anticipated by the IDSF but others were both unexpected and new. The national survey found that a large majority of Arab Israelis are consistently conflicted by questions of identity and national loyalty. On the question of the Jewish people’s sovereign right to live in the Land of Israel, an overwhelming majority of 75% of Israel’s Arab citizens responded that Jews have no right to sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Brig. Gen. Avivi says, “This is a huge number. It surprised us. We knew there was a problem. We didn’t realize that the problem is so big”. On the theme of “if Israel would be attacked by a neighboring country, whom would you side with,” the survey found that a large majority, 51%, responded that they would not support either side. About 23% said they will side with the attacking country, compared with 26% who would support Israel. Surprisingly, on the issue of public trust and faith in the police, the gap closed between all citizens of Israel: 66% of Israelis said they do not trust the police while among Israeli Arabs the number is 73%. The poll further showed that 71% of Arab Israelis said they have little or no sense of personal safety, while 44% of Jewish Israelis said the same. On the issue of public safety, i.e., the government of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s plan to establish a National Guard, the poll found that 66% of the general public support the move, including 44% of Arab Israelis, 37% of whom would be willing to join its

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A total of 1,068 Israeli citizens, both Jews and Arabs aged 18 and over, were asked questions in relation to their sense of security, governance and national loyalty. ranks in case of riots – within the Jewish sector, support for conscription to the national guard stands at about 54%. Asked about the 2021 riots and disruptions in Israel’s mixed cities, 53% of Arab Israelis and 88% of Jewish Israelis said the root cause stemmed from national and/or religious issues. This may be compared to 22% of Arab Israelis who said they believe the riots were fueled by socio-economic factors. Yissachar pointed out that IDSF’s finding is “simply laying the facts on the table: there are still profound and authentic gaps between the conflicting and overlapping narratives, the Jewish one and the Arab one. Many Israeli Arabs consider themselves as Palestinians and relate to the Palestinian cause, participate in rallies waving the Palestinian flags as we recently saw in Jerusalem, Lod and Tel Aviv, carry out terrorist attacks such as the ones in Beer Sheva and Hadera, and experience serious internal conflict regarding their Arab-Israeli identity.” However, Yissachar continues that the IDSF is not saying that “Israeli Arabs are all uniform, a large part of them just prefer to quietly live their lives in peace and security…There is a tendency to always blame the majority for the deeds of the minority, however violent and extremist they may be. Certainly, Israel has been debating on the way it regards its Arab population, but that is not because of the “tyranny of the majority,” but the opposition of the minority. Arab Israelis cannot “hold the stick on both ends” - subvert Israel’s identity and sovereignty while enjoying equal rights and fewer duties.”

Iran and Taking Advantage of Palestinian Cause According to the IDSF, “the biggest threat Israel is facing right now is being ill-prepared for a scenario in which there is a meeting of the two vectors representing the external and internal threats to its national security: an external attack with thousands of

over story

rockets, missiles and armed UAVs from Iran and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and even Iraq and Yemen, combined with high-intensity internal uprising and riots on the part of Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. Alongside that, Iran’s constant efforts to develop a nuclear weapon represent the largest existential threat to Israel’s national security. In that regard, the Abraham Accords certainly added to Israel’s strategic envelope and united the region under a likeminded coalition composed of an unprecedented Israeli-Arab coalition led by the United States,” explains Yissachar. Iranian support in the Palestinian arena is largely focused on: providing funds and armaments for military

On the question of the Jewish people’s sovereign right to live in the Land of Israel, an overwhelming majority of %75 of Israel’s Arab citizens responded that Jews have no right to sovereignty in the Land of Israel.

activates towards Israel; financing existing organizations like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); assisting in the formation of new armed cells; and, paying large sums of money to recruit suicide bombers and gunmen to carry out attacks against Israel. More or less, Iran mainly has two goals for the Palestinians by the continued arming of the various Palestinian militant groups. The first is to foment continued violence between the Palestinians and Israelis in order to prevent a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which would deprive Iran of a vehicle to export the Islamic Revolution. Second, arming the Palestinians enables Iran to play one faction against another, allowing Iran to maintain leverage over the various Palestinian groups and thereby the Palestinian nationalist movement as a whole, bringing them into line with its foreign policy objectives. In late 2017, Azzam Al-Ahmad, the head of Fatah’s reconciliation talks with Hamas, accused Iran and PIJ of intra-Palestinian disunity, saying Iran is “the number one sponsor of division…it seems that one of the conditions for the resumption of Iranian aid to Hamas is the continuation of the division.” In 2018, similar words were echoed by Fatah’s official spokesman, Osama Al-Qawasmi, who added, “Not a single Palestinian has seen or heard of Iranian support at all. We have not seen or heard of Iran’s trying to build a school, university, or hospital, or any development project. If some Iranians think that their support for a particular party constitutes support for the Palestinian people, that’s a big mistake. Iran,

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Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, Monday, May. ,10 2021. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

A firefighter extinguishes a burning vehicle in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon following a rocket attack fired from the Gaza Strip, on May 2021 ,16. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

by supporting Hamas, is not supporting the Palestinian people at all.” However, Iran has failed to gain any noticeable support within the Palestinian public both in the West Bank and inside Israel. But that hasn’t deterred Iran from seizing any opportunity to incite and inflame tensions between Palestinians and Israelis. As recently as Jerusalem Day on May 29, 2022, Iranianaffiliated Arabic-speaking media outlets were airing lies such as – Zionist settlers attempting to break into Al-Aqsa Mosque, mass Jewish prayers taking place at the Al-Aqsa compound and, the Israeli authority wants to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and build the Third Temple on top of it. Brig. Gen. Avivi, says, “We confront a worrisome reality – A lack of governance in the Negev, a divided public, a lack of a sense of security, an impending nuclear agreement and Hamas dispatching terrorist attacks from Judea and Samaria. These challenges require us to mobilize as security experts and understand the reality in order to act together as officers and security experts to reflect the worrisome reality and to take steps for a widespread mobilization, as we are doing within the Habithonistim Movement.” The Abraham Accords have created new defense, investment and political opportunities and brought together Israel and its Arab partners, resulting in a beneficial impact on the region as it faces enormous pressure by Iran and its army of proxies across the region. There is no doubt that, “Iran could not have

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Israeli Arabs are all uniform, a large part of them just prefer to quietly live their lives in peace and security. had a heavier headache than this united regional front against it. In large part, Iran was the unifying factor behind this step, a common threat leading to closer ranks,” adds Yissachar. However, Iran is continuing with its quest of taking advantage of the slightest conflict between Israelis and Palestinians to add more fuel to the fire. Using the words of Brigadier General Avivi it is a “worrisome reality,” and IDSF’s findings in themselves raise concerns not only about what the future may hold for Arabs and Jews in Israel, but also the wider ramifications on the region as whole. The findings of IDSF’s national survey, as Or Yissachar put it, “simply lay the facts on the table.” However, it begs the question, where we go from here and is the Israeli government going to take these findings seriously by addressing why its Arab citizens feel the way they do? Otherwise these findings are another opportunity for Iran and Hamas to use to fan the flames of discord and hatred.

olitics

Criminalizing Normalization: A Spectacle or An Attempt to Isolate Iraq?

Iran Blackmailing the World in the Iraqi parliament By: Rawshan Qassem Speaking of a taboo could be quite a risk and pure madness in a country governed by tempers that run the political scene. It is where enacting a law restricting freedom of opinion and expression is permissible for the greater sake of protecting the interest of the state. However, the fear arises that this would end up muzzling liberties and muffling mouths. As for the general tone, it seems that it is not interested in disturbing the moods of the rulers. In the end, they fight for their interests and hold agreements accordingly. The streets will not normalize, under any conditions, with whoever is responsible for its misery and its successive, sterile and chronic crises. They will not accept relations with a water crisis, or medicine shortage,

nor the budget crisis nor the government formation crisis. These are the words of Ali al-Hayani, a journalist from Al-Anbar, Iraq. He left his city and is currently living in one of the cities of the Kurdistan region. Ali is among the few journalists who prefer not to talk about a law that incorporated a previous law in order to evoke additional terror and pose threat to the powerless citizens. Ali told Majalla, “Iraq is experiencing many problems and crises, including the economic situation and the lack of a budget, as well as the delay in forming a government. The Iraqi parliament put these matters aside and was instead preoccupied with voting on a law criminalizing normalization with Israel. We agree that Israel is committing violations and crimes. However, Iraq must step aside in this conflict and distance itself.”

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Ali added, “There is actually a law that prevents normalization and bringing it up at the present time is a political bid by the party advocating for the issue. It is also a bid to please a neighboring country, Iran. There used to be Jews in Iraq, few of which remain today, and they are highly respected, as is the case with other religions. Therefore, peaceful coexistence must be preserved. As for the issue of normalization, it is nothing more than a political bid at the expense of the suffering and problems of citizens.” He continued saying, “The enactment of the law in this form is merely a restriction on freedom of expression. It is the right of any journalist to communicate with any other journalist, institution, or specific entity, to obtain information. This is a wellknown matter. For its part, social media has also bridged connecting with friends, regardless of their nationalities. Every Iraqi has the right to communicate with Israel, and not necessarily support or reject relations with it.

The Idea Behind the Law

Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold posters with his photo as they celebrate the passing of a law criminalizing the normalization of ties with Israel, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May ,26 2022. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

On April 23, Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist movement, announced the intention of his bloc and its allies to present a draft proposal to “criminalize” normalization with Israel for a vote in the parliament. Al-Sadr tweeted then, “One of the most important reasons that prompted me to involve the Sadrist movement in the electoral process again is the issue of normalization and the Israeli ambitions to dominate our beloved Iraq.” On May 26, in the presence of 275 deputies out of a total of 329 delegates, members of the Iraqi parliament unanimously voted in favor of the proposed law. According to the text of the law, dubbed “Law Criminalizing Normalization with the Zionist Entity,” it aims to “criminalize all forms of normalization with the occupying Zionist entity that has usurped Palestinian territories,” and “prevent the establishment of diplomatic, political, military, economic, cultural, or any other relations” with this entity. The House of Representatives had amended the law’s title from “Prohibiting Normalization with the Zionist Entity” to “Criminalizing Normalization.” On May 30, the Iraqi parliament sent the law to the president for approval. The law will not become effective unless the president ratifies it and sends it for publication in the government gazette within 30 days. The law indicates that it applies to all Iraqi citizens in the country and abroad, all state institutions, the governments of regions and governorates, the media and social media. The law includes prohibiting travel to “the territory of the Zionist entity, communicating by any means with it, promoting it or any Zionist ideas or principles, boycotting conferences and events that it organizes, and prohibiting the work of any companies or individuals subject to the Zionist government in Iraq.” It considers the violation of any of these prohibitions to deal with Israel “a crime punishable by death or life sentence and accusations of high treason would be charged. The penalty is death for the perpetrator of these prohibitions, whether he is the president,

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There is actually a law that prevents normalization and bringing it up at the present time is a political bid by the party advocating for the issue. It is also a bid to please a neighboring country, Iran. his deputies, the parliament speaker, his two deputies, the prime minister or his deputies, member of the House of Representatives, the minister or any official of their rank, the undersecretary of the ministry or any official of his rank, a general manager or any official of his rank.” The law stresses that the perpetrator of one of the stipulated crimes does not get to benefit from excuses and the mitigating circumstances from the laws on normalization. The law was approved despite the presence of a clear and explicit text in Article 201 of the Iraqi Penal Code that states that “whoever favors or promotes the principles of Zionism, including Freemasonry, or who is affiliated with any of its institutions or assists them financially or morally, or works in any way to achieve its purposes.” Iraq does not have any relations with Israel, and the government and most political forces refuse to normalize with it. Out of 22 Arab countries, six countries, namely Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, have announced normalization of relations with Israel.

Monitoring Even though the parliament witnessed celebrations after the vote on the law, and videos circulated by Iraqis on social media showed the MPs celebrating the vote, the reactions and comments of Iraqi social media users varied between those who considered the legislation of the law a victory for the resistance, and those who were apprehensive about further restrictions on freedoms. On the one hand, the leader of the Sadrist movement tweeted, calling on his supporters to take to the streets to celebrate the vote on the law. Hakim al-Zamili, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, shared a similar sentiment, as he tweeted saying that the law banning normalization received a unanimous vote and represented a true reflection of the people’s will, describing it as the first stance of its kind globally in terms of criminalizing relations with Israel. He also called on Arab and Islamic parliaments to issue similar legislation to meet the aspirations of their people. As for Qais al-Khazali, Secretary-General of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq,

he expressed his blessing of the vote, tweeting, “While some Arab governments are racing to normalize with the occupying Zionist entity, here is our distinguished parliament legislating its law in the name of this great people against the usurping entity and against normalization with it.” As for those opposing the euphoria surrounding victory, the tweets mocked a reality where one is burying his head in the dirt. Firas Elias, a researcher specializing in strategic affairs and international security, tweeted, “As the Iranian ambassador congratulated the Iraqi parliament’s decision to legislate a law criminalizing normalization with Israel, he forgot to mention the Irangate scandal in 1985 during the Iran-Iraq war, through which Iran imported thousands of missiles and weapons from Israel to strike Iraq.” For his part, Dr. Zaid Abdul-Wahhab al-Azami, an expert on Iraq affairs at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, said, “I was hoping that the law criminalizing normalization would include clauses condemning and holding accountable retroactively those parties that agreed and colluded with Zionism and cooperated in occupying Iraq, killing its people and destroying its institutions.” For his part, Deputy Faeq Sheikh Ali tweeted, “I have not found among the world’s politicians greater than Iraq’s. When the late

One of the most important reasons that prompted me to involve the Sadrist movement in the electoral process again is the issue of normalization and the Israeli ambitions to dominate our beloved Iraq.

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Tel Aviv in 1977, Iraqi leaders launched a campaign against Egypt to isolate it. Iraq was then plunged into wonderful wars!! #What_is_this and today Iraqi leaders have decided to criminalize normalization with Israel! He added, “Headers points: If you die, you will not be as hostile to Israel as Abu Odai was! ... If you commit suicide, the Palestinians will not go back to revolting against the Zionists ... because they sold the cause in return for shekels! ... No matter what you do, Khamenei will not retaliate against Israel and avenge his dead comrades from outside the corridors of the Iraqi parliament!” Normalization At Bottom of Iraqi Citizens’ List of Interests About this state of disparity, writer and political analyst Hilal Al-Obaidi said in an interview with Majalla that some issues in Iraq are classified as trivial issues, including the issue of normalization, most of the local forces, activists, intellectuals and elites. “Now, another main concern is normalization. There are more important issues related to the daily life of the citizen, related to the future of Iraq, the crisis of forming the government, rebuilding what these parties destroyed during 19 years, of 4 successive governments.” He added, “Today, there are issues more important than the subject matter which is normalisation and the enactment of the normalization law while neglecting the rest of the laws that concern the citizen, the elites, and the daily life of citizens.” Al-Obaidi added, “The enactment of the law at this time is a word of truth that is intended to be false. Today, there are urgent needs for important laws in a country where more than a million displaced and internally displaced persons are inside Iraq, and they are here.”

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He pointed out that “the country has been in a state of constant chaos since 2003 and nothing is going right, and then they come to criminalize normalization. This is not what the citizen is looking for. So, today it does not matter much to criminalize the normalization law or others, this is a mixture of papers.” He added that “the law criminalizing normalization existed even

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Illustrative: Session at a newly elected parliament during its first session in Baghdad, Iraq, September 2018 ,3. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

before 2003. So, what happened during the enactment of the law is a showmanship that does not really accuse the citizen, does not satisfy and does not enrich. The country is going through major crises, such as desertification, the water crisis and the economic crisis.” He stressed that the law “was used politically to install some parties, or to intimidate others, and then normalization with whom? “We do not even have a government so we can normalise ties. Then, this law comes as if it wants to hold people to account and not others, and to direct charges of normalization to some and not others.” He continued, “The law is not commensurate with the scale of the disaster or the situation in Iraq.” Many have followed the issue, as “the politician or parliamentarian does not want to be pointed to with the finger of accusation. This is the last of their political concerns in Iraq, so everyone supported the law because he does not want to be outside the flock. He does not want to be an anomaly in the Iraqi general situation and does not want to be a reason to bring charges against him and then hold him accountable, imprison him, execute him, etc.” He added, “We know that even the judiciary in Iraq is subject to political wills. That day, these parliaments raced to pass this law to get rid of suspicion or get rid of an accusation. It does not exist in Iraqi political life.”

A Deed of Innocence in Trap of Iranian Blackmail

In addition to what al-Obaidi mentioned, including the goals of the timing of the law’s enactment, it seems that there are direct goals related to Iranian messages to the Iraqi interior to impose more hegemony and consider the adoption of the law a guarantee to satisfy it and will reduce its accusations against the allies of the Sadrist movement, Kurds and Sunnis, that they have relations with Israel. Consequently, the enactment of the law may lead to the easing of Iranian opposition to the formation of a majority government, and Iran will consider the vote of political blocs accused of establishing relations with Israel, a temporary instrument of innocence,

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and this is what many observers mentioned. The state and its actions come to acquit the Kurds and Sunnis of the accusation against them not long ago, after voting on this law. Over the years, many Shiite Islamic parties and armed factions loyal to Iran accused the Kurdistan Regional Government of establishing secret relations with Israel, but officials in the region, as long as they denied the existence of any relationship between Erbil and Tel Aviv, given that the region’s foreign policy passes through the capital of Baghdad. Iraq does not have official relations with Israel and the absence of any sites used by Israel in the cities of the region, or the presence of any Israeli companies registered with the Ministry of Trade of the Government of Iraqi Kurdistan. However, in September 2021, tribal figures held a conference entitled “peace” in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, and called for normalizing relations with Israel. Agence France-Press quoted Joseph Braude, the American expert of Iraqi Jewish origin and founder of the Peace Communications Center that sponsored the conference, as saying that about 300 figures from Sunnis and Shiites met in Erbil from 6 governorates of Baghdad, Mosul, Salah al-Din, Anbar, Diyala and Babil and discussed the issue of peace with Israel. The Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq issued arrest warrants for 3 people, including a former deputy, who participated in the conference. The regional government, for its part, confirmed that “the meeting was held without the knowledge, approval and participation of the regional government, and it does not express in any way the position of the Kurdistan Regional Government, but this justification or argument will not be missed by Iran.” Tehran did not wait long. On March 13, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards targeted the city of Erbil with 12 ballistic missiles, and the Revolutionary Guards adopted the attacks, and said that they targeted what it described as “the strategic center of conspiracy and malicious acts of the Zionists.” After the attack, al-Sadr and the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani agreed to form a fact-finding commit-

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tee on the pretext of the presence of Israeli headquarters in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. It is noteworthy that, during the past months, Erbil had previously been subjected to many missile attacks using Grad missiles, and at that time the regional government accused the PMF militias loyal to Tehran of being behind them, with unknown factions claiming responsibility for these attacks. The Secretary of the Kurdistan Communist Party Kaveh Mahmoud explains the Kurdish point of view on the issue of normalization in an interview with Majalla, stressing that “most of the Christian forces, whether they are leftist forces, non-left forces, or moderate liberal forces, believe in a specific cause, which is the right of the people.” The Palestinian people have the right to exist and to have a state, just as the Israeli people have the right to have a state.” Mahmoud added, “We must not accept this ideological terrorism based on throwing Israel into the sea...This is kind of blackmail and ideological terrorism, because Israel is a state, and at the same time we also call for the Palestinian people to have their independent national state, and to solve the Palestinian issue a peaceful solution … a democracy built on the basis of two states, and on the basis of international resolutions on this one hand, and on the other hand what is related to the Kurdish issue. “It is always the problem of the world and the peoples of the world that they ask us for solidarity, and no one sympathizes with us. Solidarity from us, we do not stand in solidarity with them in return for solidarity with us. We are in solidarity with them from a principled position and we do not expect that their position in solidarity with us will be a reaction to our position, afterwards. “But it is in terms of justice, in terms of human rights, and in terms of peoples’ rights, then if we believe in the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people, and for the Palestinian people to have their own state, and we believe in this, we must also believe in the right of the Kurdistan people, the right to self-determination, and to have their independent national state.” The former Minister of Culture in the Kurdistan Regional Government said, “There is no interest in the Kurdish streets in this law, or this type of law. The lack of interest does not mean the illegality of the Palestinian cause, but there are many Kurdistan people who participated, not only as regular soldiers in the armies of the countries of the region, but they also participated as guerrillas, and they suffered with the Palestinian movements. “They were members of the Popular Front and the Democratic Front. The Kurdish liberation movement had struggle relations with the Pales-

The law indicates that it applies to all Iraqi citizens in the country and abroad, all state institutions, the governments of regions and governorates, the media and social media.

tinian movements, and some of the communist supporters, for example, participated in the siege of Beirut in the face of the Israeli occupation of Beirut, and they lost martyrs.”

Cause Trading

He stressed that “the justice of the Palestinian cause exists, but this trade in the cause through this type of laws affects the morale of the people, and the justice of the Palestinian cause necessitates the search for other forms, in order to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and with the justice of their cause. “I believe such laws only constitute Responding to a specific agenda for certain regional countries, and although many Palestinian factions welcome the enactment of this law and may consider it an achievement, but in fact it is not a form of real support, but rather enters into the calculations or interests of some regional countries only.” He also explained his opinion about the law, saying: “There is some confusion that causes confusion, there is confusion between the concept of Zionism and the concept of Israel .... Israel has become a state according to international law, and according to United Nations resolutions, and Israel is a member state of the United Nations, and the world recognizes Israel. It is a realistic issue as an international reality, as a political reality, whether we like it or not, it is a reality that exists.” Mahmoud added: “For us, we distinguish between the Zionist movement and other Israeli political forces. There are Israeli political forces that call for peace, and they call for a peaceful, democratic solution to the Palestinian cause on the basis of two states, and therefore dealing with these forces has nothing to do with what is called today the issue of normalization.” He asserted that “the issue of normalization is a political issue, and has become part of the regional political conflict, especially with regard to the remnants of the extremist Arab nationalist thought, and also related to the Iranian position, and therefore relations with the Israeli democratic forces, with the forces that believe in the justice of the Palestinian cause and a peaceful solution, are an ordinary issue and a legitimate issue from a political point of view”. He also noted that he meant “from a political ideological point of view, not from the point of view of the interests of states, and these interests transcend the national side, or the side of historical hostility. “There are large Arab countries that have close relations with Israel, so the relations between countries, practically, even exceeded the issue of normalization, or non-normalization, and the emphasis on non-normalization is also a political issue related to interests and political conflicts, and the issue of Iraq with normalization is an issue related to political conflicts.” He continued, “I believe that there is a deliberate mixing of papers, and in a way that expresses political interests and political positions, and there are also political parties working by proxy in order to pass this trend, and the agents of this conflict are a non-essential party in this conflict, and unfortunately this is the situation in Iraq.” He concluded by saying: “We support the right of peoples, because we are honest with ourselves and what we demand for ourselves. We also demand the liberation of all the peoples of the world, but some on the other side do not deal according to this principle and practice intellectual

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Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr hold a poster with his photo and wave an Iraqi flag as they celebrate the passing of a law criminalizing the normalization of ties with Israel, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 2022 ,26. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

terrorism in order to question the justice of the Kurdistan cause and the accusation that this cause is loyal to this side.” They also build a false perception that national security in the region and the Middle East is based only on the justice of a particular issue, general national security in the Middle East, and the security of peoples in the Middle East, is not only based on solving the Palestinian issue, so solving the Palestinian issue leads to a kind of peaceful coexistence which is part of the national security in the region, but there is also the Kurdish issue. Peace in this region will not be achieved, and security will not be established, without a peaceful and democratic solution to the Palestinian issue and the Kurdish issue, he added.

Variation of Positions

Between welcome, condemnation and warning, official reactions continued about the enactment of the law, as Iran was quick to welcome, on the lips of the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Mohamed Kazem Al Sadiq, who blessed the “representatives of the brotherly Iraqi people” for approving a law criminalizing the normalization of relations with Israel. He indicated in a tweet, that the law “formed a new link that causes pride in the series of proud and courageous stances of the Iraqi people towards the fateful issues of the Islamic nation.” While the Palestinians welcomed the adoption of the law, the head of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattuh, said in a statement that the honorable position “is not strange to Iraq, which is historically known for its political and economic support for the Palestinian people.” Fattuh called on Arab and Islamic parliaments to follow the example of the Iraqi parliament’s decision to criminalize normalization with Israel, which practices the “most heinous crimes” against the Palestinian people and their Islamic and Christian

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lands and sanctities. The Iraqi parliament’s move was also welcomed by other Palestinian factions, most notably the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). On the other hand, the Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned in a statement the decision, considering it to put Iraq and the Iraqi people on the wrong side of “history and in isolation from reality.” The statement stressed that it is the changes in the Middle East, peace agreements, and the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries that “will bring stability and prosperity to the peoples of the region, but rather the future of the Middle East.” The Israeli Foreign Ministry called on the Iraqi people “not to be drawn into extremist positions.” The US State Department expressed its great concern over the passage of the law, which “endangers freedom of expression and fosters an anti-Semitic environment,” according to a statement by spokesman Ned Price. He said, “The United States is deeply disturbed by the Iraqi parliament’s passage of a law criminalizing the normalization of relations with Israel. This law jeopardizes freedom of expression and fosters an anti-Semitic environment, and is in stark contrast to the progress made by Iraq’s neighbors by building bridges with Israel and normalizing relations with it.” “The United States will continue its role as a strong and steadfast partner in support of Israel, including through its support for expanding relations with its neighbors in pursuit of greater peace and prosperity for all,” he continued. Today, Friday, the Foreign Affairs spokesman in the British House of Representatives criticized the Iraqi parliament’s legislation to criminalize normalization with Israel, calling on his country’s government to deter Iraq from this “horrific” law.

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The spokesman for Foreign Affairs in the British House of Representatives, David Lammy, said in a press statement seen by Shafak News, “It is incredibly worrying that the Iraqi parliament has passed a law criminalizing and even threatening to kill those who have relations with Israel.”

It is mentioned in this regard that the original version of the law presented by the Sadrists to Parliament provided for the inclusion of foreign companies operating in Iraq that have relations with Israel, but after discussions this was amended to prevent “the establishment of any official relations or relations With Zionist companies or individuals.”

Preoccupied with Details of Incrimination

Isolation Law

It seems that the controversy started about the law inside Iraq, and crossed over to the countries of the region and to conflicting international positions, declared and undeclared. Although Iraq has never recognized Israel since its establishment in 1948, neither Iraqis nor Iraqi companies can visit Israel, and although the new law goes beyond that, especially criminalizing any attempt to normalize relations, but there is still talk in the corridors of Iraqi law and some Shiite factions about the existence of loopholes in the law. Even calls are sent through the communication platforms and websites affiliated with the loyalists to return it to Parliament and empower it more in the face of any loophole. It may turn into a channel that passes relations with Israel, as one of the provisions of the law was considered by some to “legitimize” normalization under the name of religious visits, as the law allowed it, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Interior. Some believe that the law did not clarify how to deal with Arab countries normalizing with Israel despite the demand of some parliamentary political blocs loyal to Iran to add paragraphs that have political consequences on the external level of the state, as they called for a boycott of dealing with Arab printing countries with Israel. But the law, in its last voted version, neglected to address how Iraq deals with the Arab states that normalize with Israel. Others believe that the law neglected dual nationals and did not refer to a treatment concerning them, and also in the second article, the law applies to private companies, foreign institutions and investors working in Iraq, as the law did not clarify how to deal with them if they signed long-term work or cooperation contracts and did not specify a mechanism.

As the Iranian ambassador congratulated the Iraqi parliament’s decision to legislate a law criminalizing normalization with Israel, he forgot to mention the Irangate scandal in 1985 during the Iran-Iraq war, through which Iran imported thousands of missiles and weapons from Israel to strike Iraq.

Talking about the repercussions of approving the law and the continuation of Iran’s loyalists in the womb of the Iraqi authority, the preoccupation with the details may turn out to be a demonstration movement into a scheme aimed at isolating Iraq and its implications and how it will reflect on Iraq and its foreign relations. Al-Alusi, the former parliamentarian and founder of the Iraqi Umma Party, said in an interview with Majalla, “There is a main point that I must mention at the beginning. There is the fact that the Iraqi people, in general, Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, go to the ideas of a new Iraq away from war, away from weapons, and far from Islamic or nationalist propositions.” He noted that 70,000 Iraqis register in an Israeli website in the Arab language and this number terrifies the Islamic parties, and terrifies the owners of other ideas. “There are messages, conferences, seminars and public talk from politicians and the public, from the Kurds, from the Sunnis, and from the secular Shiites. They talk about the necessity of an independent Iraqi foreign policy far from the hegemony of Iran.” Al-Alusi added, “These propositions terrify Iran’s followers in Iraq, and this increase in propositions and large numbers terrifies the Wali al-Faqih, and terrifies the militias. That made everyone in the militias, whether Muqtada al-Sadr or others, promote this fabrication, this open terrorism that everyone who communicates with Israel, everyone who goes to a site, everyone who buys goods, every company that has a relationship with Israel - this is terrorism to spill the blood of the Iraqis, and terrorize them to control them, after the Islamists’ control was broken and after they failed in the political system.” “This new one is one of the most important reasons,” he continued, “The second reason is that there is a reality that Israel, the Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, Qatar and Oman are also going in this direction. There is a reality if it begins to impose itself on the Islamists and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. “Thirdly, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard leads the idea of forming a block, any coalition of its supporters from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Syrian regime and the militias of the Syrian regime to the Iraqi regime and the militias of the Iraqi regime to Tehran. This is an alliance to confront the secular, civil liberal ideas that are creeping and dominating in the Gulf, dominating in other places, and encircling the Iranian regime. He pointed out that “this law is required to terrorize the public and, most dangerously, terrorize politicians who do not support it,” wondering “what will the president of the republic do now if they renew his mandate? He has to give promises that he will legislate this law because without the signature of the President of the Republic, this legislation has no value.” On the question of whether the law embarrassed both the President of

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Protesters chant slogans while burning representations of Israeli flags during a demonstration in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, May 2021 ,15 (AP photo by Khalid Mohammed).

the Republic, Barham Salih and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, especially after their efforts to build bridges of trust, understanding, and economic and political cooperation with Arab countries normalizing ties with Israel, namely Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain. He said, “Iran practices blackmail in the Iraqi presidencies, and therefore the statements were terrifying. The Iraqi presidencies declare that Qassem Soleimani has preference over Iraq... The Revolutionary Guards have preference over Iraq, but in fact he has preference over them and not over Iraq.” “He does not neglect the responsibility of the United States and Britain as both bear responsibility, and there is a moral responsibility and a strategic responsibility in partnership. I repeat, in the Iraqi-American partnership, America must now rise, because we cannot accept a democratic system with democratic mechanisms.”

Iranian Attempts to Blackmail Region

He stressed that there are “clear attempts to isolate Iraq, and Iran with this law. It says to the Emirates, it says to Kuwait, it says to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, we know Iraq is an influential country even if it is broken, affecting the volume of oil exports, the weight of its population, its historical weight, and the Gulf will be reckoned with.” “The Iraqis want to transcend the Iraqi-Gulf past, now and after the law is passed, Iran says to the Gulf states, Iraq is in my hands, and this monster that threatened Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and threatened the Gulf is in my hands. “In other words, Iran is now trying to blackmail the region through this alliance, and is blackmailing America and Britain through this alliance of Baghdad, Tehran, Damascus and Beirut. He stressed, “It is logical, and what is required is the fact that the US and the free Iraqi politicians who represent Iraq act. We represent Iraq. Iraq does not represent those who came with the

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Iranian Revolutionary Guard.“ He noted that the problem “in the Middle East is that there are countries that trade in issues far from their borders in order to control national failure or internal failure. I am surprised by the fact that a law has been enacted criminalizing peace or normalization, but not a law criminalizing 27,000 testimonies within the circles of the four presidencies. “Stealing public money is not a crime, forging certificates is not a crime, threatening and attempting to assassinate the Prime Minister is not a crime, bombing the Green Zone and Iraqi camps is not a crime, stealing Iraqi army weapons is not a crime.” “Iran is an aggressive country in the region, and it is the country with the most number of executions. Iran not only oppresses its own people, but even oppresses other peoples, and is trying to control the policy of iron and fire, and therefore it has fabricated and created militias, and has fabricated and created arguments in Kurdistan, and in Baghdad. “The US administration must bring about negotiations in us and the initiation of a regional alliance to control the coming danger and the destabilization coming from ISIS or the Shiite militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.” It reveals “a great movement among the Iraqi circles, but many of them are now waiting for the countdown to begin, in the direction of arrests, accusations and blackmailing politicians. “There has been an exchange of messages during the past few days, talking about Iraqi concern, and that Iraq is not concerned with the state of war declared by the militias and the Revolutionary Guards against Israel. “We want peace and seek to push the wheel of Iraqi politics towards logic, construction, reconstruction and peace and agreements with Israel,” he said. He added, “We are now supplying other successful countries while we are unsuccessful. This is the question of the Iraqi citizen and the questions of the Iraqi citizen.”

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Arab Countries, Israel Maintain Cooperation After Negev Summit, Says Official

Israeli Official Pays Fruitful Visit to Bahrain; Ties Flourishing By Mustafa El-Dessouki Following the signing of the Warm Peace Agreement in the Negev Summit, the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz paid a diplomatic visit to Bahrain. During the visit, the DG headed the Israeli delegation to the second session of the Bilateral Steering Committee and held a series of official meetings with the Bahrain leadership, including HRH the Crown Prince, the Foreign Minister and his Deputy Foreign Minister. During the Negev summit in March 2022, Israel and Bahrain signed a «warm peace agreement» between the two countries, which is a roadmap for the development of bilateral relations between the two countries over the next decade. Ushpiz said, “Relations with Bahrain are at the core of Israel›s political activity. The roadmap for developing relations between the countries is built step by step in practical terms that bear fruit for the benefit of both peoples.” “I am happy for the opportunity to chair the second session, which is intended to ensure that its products will form another pillar of Israel Bahrain relations, and will contribute to regional stability, including the continuation of the Negev Summit process.” In statements about the visit, Ushpiz said, “As with my previous visits to Bahrain, I am always happy to visit

here, both professionally and personally. I think that we have managed to build ties based not only on joint interests, but also on trust, friendship, and shared values of tolerance, coexistence, and peace.” Ushpiz added that he is proud that during his tenure as the Director General of the Foreign Ministry, he managed not only to forge ties, but also to form meaningful content for our peoples and children within this framework. The Israeli official also said that his country is striving to expand and deepen its ties with all the countries of peace in the region, and Bahrain is absolutely one of the main ones. “Economic agreements, beyond the fact that they develop commerce, also give our relations an additional and more tangible aspect that connects our peoples and gives them the opportunity to get to know one another, and forms strategic ties that bind the peoples and countries together,” he added. Ushpiz went on to say that peace and peace treaties do not have to be in title only. “Strategically, we believe that for peace to succeed and prosper, we must forge real content that emphasizes the benefits and gains for each party to the agreement. Both countries possess proven capabilities in the field of innovation and high-tech, as well as in the field of advanced medicine, and Bahrain has a significant role to play in the region’s economic growth and is an important bridge to other countries.”

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Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamed during his meeting with Israel’s Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz.

“Israel has proven capabilities in the fields of water management and combating desertification, issues that Bahrain is also grappling with, and I promise that we can achieve a great deal in these fields. This is also the vision and thinking that underpinned the joint “warm peace” strategy that prioritizes areas of common interest, including innovative systems, food security, water, sustainable energy, health, education, trade, and investments.“ He added, “The economic agreements we have signed are bridges which businessmen on both sides will use to promote ties between our countries. We are planning on reaching an investment agreement between Israel and Bahrain and establishing a mentoring program that will allow Bahraini youth to come to Israel long-term to discover Israeli high tech. “This private sector activity between our countries is of great importance, and there is a commitment on both sides to do more to increase trade volume,” he said. Ushpiz has been a strong supporter of Trump’s Abraham Accords peace plan that led to fascinating results on social, political, and economic levels. “If there is one thing I have learned during my years as a diplomat, it is that it is wrong to conduct Israel’s diplomatic work in the media. “Israel has always been open to peace with its neighbors, and this of course remains the situation today. The Negev

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“Relations with Bahrain are at the core of Israel›s political activity. The roadmap for developing relations between the countries is built step by step in practical terms that bear Summit showed that we and the countries of peace have common interests and threats to regional stability and prosperity and development, and that we can only benefit from cooperation. “The Negev Summit is not only a framework for intimate dialogue between leaders, but also a framework for presenting significant achievements for cooperation. Ushpiz added, “The same is true of other countries in the region, and I have no doubt that the ‘peace club’ will grow with additional countries from our region and beyond who will join the peace and normalization agreements. The idea of the Abraham Accords is that it be a living and breathing club to which new members can join.” “Bahrain, the UAE, and Morocco, as well as the United States, play a key role as a bridge connecting Israel to

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new partnerships.” Assessing the efforts made by the Israeli embassy in Bahrain six months after assuming its duties in Manama, Ushpiz said, “I believe that the fact that I’m here speaks for itself.” “Due to the importance that we attach to relations with Bahrain, we have ensured that only the best diplomats will be appointed to the embassy. Indeed, in the year and a half since ties were established, we have agreed on a “warm peace” strategy and signed forty joint agreements, as well as Memoranda of Understanding. “Senior Israeli officials have arrived to Bahrain, and senior Bahraini officials have visited Israel. Gulf Air flies from Israel to Bahrain, and there are many Israeli companies coming to Bahrain to do business. The Israeli Embassy in Manama also hosted the Israeli Independence Day reception on Bahraini soil for the first time in history.” “We have mutual ambassadors in both countries that are working hard to make this all happen,” he added. Talking about whether the Arab Israeli peace agreements will contribute to find the appropriate solution for the Palestinian cause, Ushpiz said that as Foreign Minister Lapid said during the Negev Summit, the summit and joint forum which was created is open to all, including the Palestinians. “All members of the peaceful states understand that we do not always agree on everything, but that does not mean that we cannot hold an ongoing dialogue between us on a wide range of issues, in the understanding that our relationship is important and beneficial to us and our peoples. “Something else that was very clear was the fact that all the leaders and countries that are members of the peace

“This private sector activity between our countries is of great importance, and there is a commitment on both sides to do more to increase trade volume.”

club are partners in the fight against extremism, and that we will not let them – extremists and terrorists – scare us. To the contrary.” He added, “We hope that the Palestinians will be able to come to the negotiating table without preconditions to advance peace between us and enjoy the fruits of peace in the region. The peace and normalization agreements, as well as the Negev Summit, are proof to the peoples of the region that there is another model, one in which governments and leaders work for their citizens.” Concerning the Iraqi parliamentary legislation that criminalizes the normalization and brings to death penalty those who seek peace, Ushpiz said, “I think that peace is a good and blessed thing, period. I think that any initiative, such as the Iraqi initiative, to punish dialogue and the desire to develop a discourse and promote peace is a bad thing. I think that the people of Iraq are interested in and understand not only the benefits of peace, but especially the benefits of peace with Israel.” He added, “We see this in real life every day. The Foreign Ministry has social media pages in a variety of languages, including Arabic, which has over half a million Iraqi followers. In 2018, we launched an official Facebook page called “Israel in the Iraqi Dialect” to serve as a kind of virtual embassy for building bridges and ties with the Iraqi people. That page now has over 600,000 followers, most of them from Iraq.

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Foriegn Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz attends a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, June 2021 ,9. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

“I must point out that, for the most part, reactions from the people of Iraq have had a positive and sympathetic sentiment in favor of relations with Israel and of cultural and social ties between the peoples.” Lapid previously said that deepening the relations between Israel and Arab States will help confronting Iran’s threats in the region. Commenting on his statement, Ushpiz said, “Israel and other countries in the region share similar fears and concerns over Iran’s intensification and conduct in the region, particularly the Iranian nuclear program and terrorist activities – whether carried out by government institutions or proxy terrorist organizations – which aim to sow destruction, terrorism, and instability in the region. “Israel and many other countries in the region share a common concern over Iran, and it is greatly important that the international community listen to our collective voice on this issue.” Talking about the development of Turkish-Israeli relations, Ushpiz said that relations between Israel and Turkey have been on a course of improvement for some time now, and it is important that we continue to examine, together with Turkey, the ways and means of gradually strengthening ties between us, including through the entire range of economic issues. “This was the essence of the important visit paid by the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, to Turkey in March, and the visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister to Israel a number of days ago. It is part of our ongoing dialogue with the Turks both at level of our foreign ministries, as well as between leaders. “It is clear that the question of the activity in Turkey of Hamas, a designated terrorist organization that espouses the murder of Jews and Israelis, is important and central both generally and within the framework of our relations with Turkey in particular.” Assessing the Biden administration›s performance towards the Arab-Israeli peace process, the Israeli official said that the United States is Israel’s central and most important ally. “Israel does not and has not had a close friend like the United States. I think that we both agree on a number of basic tenets in the Palestinian context, including Minister Lapid’s “Economy for Security” plan with regards to the Gaza Strip, which aims firstly to provide humanitarian reconstruction to Gaza in exchange for combatting the expansion of Hamas. “Lapid has stated several times that even if we cannot reach a political settlement with the Palestinians, Israel

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“Israel does not and has not had a close friend like the United States.” also has an interest in seeing the Palestinian economy and society prosper, as long as the security of Israel and its citizens is maintained,” he added. Some Arab media usually describe those who kill innocent civilians as martyrs. Ushpiz commented by saying, “I think that the media bears the responsibility not only to bring the accurate reality to light, but also to help build the right reality. “When discussing a terrorist incident in which a terrorist seeks to kill as many Israelis as possible, the incident should be treated as such: a terrorist attack whose entire purpose is to instill death, murder, and fear in the hearts of civilians. “Any other framing of reality not only violates the profession, but it encourages and enables the next terrorist attack against civilians. Extremists and terrorism have one goal, to kill and intimidate. To spread destruction and ruin. We must not allow them to do so.” Last March, the Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt met in the Negev with the Israeli Prime Minister last March. Ushpiz said that in a meeting with Foreign Minister Lapid, it was agreed to establish working groups in six areas common to all participants, whose goal would be to improve the daily lives of their citizens. “They spanned from regional security through to education, health, energy, tourism, food, and water. This means that in terms of work levels, the ties between the countries and collaborations are ongoing and permanent. “I think that this is one of the successes that came out of the Summit. This, and the fact that this is now a forum that is expected to convene regularly, ensures the deepening of the connection and dialogue between us, and this is of great importance to Israel and Minister Lapid.” “At the Negev Summit, we agreed with our partners on continuity, cooperation, and practical results. Now we are busy doing exactly that, including during my visit to Bahrain – building the mechanisms, guidelines, goals, and results, and I hope that we will convene soon to consolidate these elements,” he added.

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Syrians Worried Over Regime Selling Their Real Estate Regime Offers Properties in Public Auctions By Jiwan Soz – Qamishli

support from Russia. Although the owners of these properties refuse to sell them, Hundreds of Syrian families in the countryside of Idlib the problem of confiscation began in the villages and towns and Hama are facing a new problem of selling and invest- located in the countryside of Idlib and Hama governorates ing in their real estate through public auctions supervised after al-Assad forces took control of them in the summer by the government of President Bashar al-Assad. These of 2019 and early 2020, when the military operation was regions have been under government control for nearly completed. three years, following the withdrawal of the armed oppo- This came after Russian-Turkish understandings made in sition from them in a large-scale ground military opera- the Russian city of Sochi, but the properties, especially tion. The area was assaulted by Assad’s forces with air farms, orchards, and agricultural fields, are blown by the

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Public Auctions of Forcibly Displaced People’s Lands (AFP).

wind, after their owners were displaced from those areas as a result of military operations before the Assad forces and their allies took control of them. But what is new now? Between May 8 and 14, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment of the Syrian regime held a public auction to invest in orchards and agricultural fields in the countryside of Hama governorate, even though these properties actually belong to people who do not have access to them. In this regard, the owner of an agricultural field from the town of Morek, located in the countryside of Hama, confirmed that “the authorities have seized agricultural lands owned by me and my brothers, and I was recently surprised by the offer of investment from the Hama Governorate Council.” The 69-year-old added to Majalla, “This land is all that my family owned and we used to depend on it to secure our daily food, but the regime took control of it and did not allow us to return to our town under the pretext of our support for the opposition.” The old man continued recounting his story, saying: “Today, I live as a displaced person in the countryside of Idlib, and I moved here about three years ago when Assad’s forces were trying to control our town. I thought that I would only stay here for several months, but what happened was the opposite of my expectations.” He continued, “My children work here in the countryside of Idlib. My eldest son is a taxi driver and he suggested that I return to the town of Morek because I am old and this means that I will not be wanted by Assad’s forces. However, when one of my relatives in the center of Hama city tried to obtain a document proving that I am not wanted by the authorities, it turned out that I am wanted by the Political Security branch, and this was the reason for my refusal to return to Morek.” The elderly man’s refusal to return to his town for fear of detention caused him to lose control of his agricultural land, which was his only source of income, before he left the town against his will and headed to the countryside of Idlib governorate, adjacent to his town. When the Assad regime seizes the properties of the displaced, or offers them for sale or investment, it relies on a controversial law it issued in 2018, which is known as Law No. 10. The regime says it allows the establishment of organizational areas throughout Syria, which are designated for reconstruction. What is Law No. 10? This law has been criticized by several prominent international bodies, such as Amnesty International and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, but

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“Hundreds of Syrian families in the countryside of Idlib and Hama are facing a new problem of selling and investing in their real estate through public auctions supervised by Assad government.” the Assad regime continues to implement it since it was issued more than four years ago in early April 2018. Three lawyers from the Syrian capital of Damascus, said that “this law has caused thousands to lose their real estate, especially refugees and displaced persons, who no longer possess anything that confirms their ownership of these properties, lands and agricultural fields.” Another lawyer confirmed to Majalla that “Law No. 10 is vague and is applied randomly, as if its goal is to take revenge on absentee real estate and land owners who either fled outside the country or moved between Syrian cities as a result of the war that Syria has been ongoing for more than 11 years.” According to Amnesty International, this law does not specify clear criteria for classifying the area in which real estate will be reserved or whose lands will be offered for investment - as a regulatory area - and it does not provide a timetable for defining the areas, but rather defines the areas according to decrees issued subsequently. For example, within a week of the issuance of the decree to reconstruct an area, local authorities must request a list of property owners from government land registries operating in that area, and those registrars must submit the lists within 45 days of receiving the request from the local authorities. If the property owner’s does not appear on the list, he will be notified, and the owner will have 30 days to provide proof of ownership. If he fails to do so, he will not be compensated and the ownership of the property will revert to the town, district or city in which the property is located. But if the owner shows proof that he owns a property in the regulatory area within the specified period, he will obtain shares in the area, according to Law No. 10. The deadline of thirty days is the biggest obstacle faced by the owners of land and real estate controlled by Assad’s forces, especially with the presence of the largest number of owners outside or inside the country in areas where it is difficult to reach the regime’s territory, as is the case in the Idlib countryside and other areas under the control of the

olitics

armed opposition from Turkey. This law also obliges every person whose real estate was seized by the authorities to be given in exchange an amount of financial compensation from the authorities equivalent to the rental of an adequate house for two years. However, this provision was not applied in the countryside of Idlib and Hama, according to what four families confirmed to Majalla. The authorities seized their agricultural lands and orchards when their homes were located nearby. INK ON PAPER A real estate owner from the Hama countryside stressed to Majalla that “most of the provisions of this law, which seem to favor the property owners, have all remained ink on paper, and the authorities have not implemented any of them…Although I cannot secure a new home for my fam-

“This month the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment of the Syrian regime held a public auction to invest in orchards and agricultural fields in the countryside of Hama governorate”

ily after all my children migrated to Europe, the authorities have not yet provided me with financial compensation, even though they took control of my property about two years ago.” Indeed, Law No. 10 does not specify how the victim may obtain financial compensation or alternative housing, which was indicated by the owner of a property located in the countryside of Morek, near Hama governorate. A source from the European Union Mission to Syria, which is located in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, revealed to Majalla that “Brussels opposes the issue of reconstruction in Syria if the regime does not respond to a comprehensive political solution, such as confirming its commitment to UN Resolution 2254.” Although Law No. 10 authorizes the first degree relatives of the owners of these properties or their legal agents to pursue the issue of establishing their ownership of real estate offered by the authorities in a public auction, Majalla observed several cases in which the Hama Provincial Council refused to pursue relatives to establish the ownership of these properties on the pretext that the owners belong to terrorist organizations and reside in its areas of influence. The Hama Provincial Council’s refusal to follow up on the affairs of the relatives of the owners of these properties led to them losing the properties that were then offered in a public auction from which the relatives of the owners were forbidden to benefit under the basis of the relationship between them. Three people whose real estate and agricultural properties

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A Syrian displaced person in the open after his house was destroyed.

Confiscation of Syrian property is public theft (via Getty Images).

were offered in the town of Mhardeh, also in the countryside of Hama, in a public auction, appealed to the international committees to stand up for their problem and find a solution to it. One of them said, “My family lost all of the evidence confirming its ownership of these properties during the war, and this is not our problem alone. There are dozens of families who suffer from the same problem in this area, but I think that the authorities do not want to help us, they have records which they can easily locate to find out all the owners of those properties and real estate, but they do not do that.” He added that “government employees of the regime do not want to solve our problem, and they follow a mechanism that complicates our problem,” stressing that “civil society organizations must intervene to solve the problem of ownership and real estate that is offered in public auctions.” Although the war caused hundreds of thousands of people to lose their important paperwork, such as property documents, as a result of fleeing their homes during the military operations, the failure of the authorities to register about 50% of the land in their records further complicated this problem. Government records of the Assad regime show that only 50% of the lands were registered to it before the country was subjected to a violent war more than 11 years ago, in which international and regional parties subsequently intervened. According to international organizations, most notably Amnesty International, displaced people residing in op-

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“Government records of the Assad regime show that only %50 of the lands were registered before the eruption of civil war more than 11 years ago.” position areas are the most likely to have their property confiscated, which is evident through Majalla’s communication with dozens of displaced Syrian families in the Idlib countryside, who come from the countryside of Hama governorate. The displaced inside Syrian cities and refugees abroad lack basic documents confirming their ownership of their agricultural and residential properties. The number of those who owned residential and agricultural properties before the Syrian war and cannot confirm their ownership today is estimated at about 70% of the total properties that the regime may seize successfully, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. * Jiwan Soz is a researcher and journalist who focuses on Syrian and Turkish affairs and minorities in the Middle East. He is also a member of Syndicat National des Journalistes (National Syndicate of Journalists [SNJ]). He tweets at @JiwanSoz1

olitics

Kissinger’s Ukraine Opinion Meets Opposition

Senior statesman’s call for reconciliatory Ukraine is rebuffed by Ukraine President and By Mohammad Ali Salih – Washington On Monday, 25 of May, in New York, Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, and a prominent realist politician and academician, was dressed-up to attend a party celebrating his 99th birthday (he was born in 1923). but his health didn’t allow him. On that same day, he addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, in Switzerland, and caused an international and historical uproar because he called upon Ukraine to secede parts of its eastern region to Russia, so as to provide what he called a “historically strategic and realistic solution” to the war with Russia, now in its third month. Here in the US, Kissinger’s opinion caused a local uproar, dividing politicians, academicians and media commentators. So as not to miss a historical debate, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reached-out to the Americans. Not only did he oppose Kissinger politically and strategically, but, also, racially. He, a Jew like Kissinger, reminded him that “In the real year 1938, when Mr. Kissinger›s family was fleeing Nazi Germany, he was 15 years old, and he understood everything perfectly. And nobody heard from him then that it was necessary to adapt to the Nazis instead of fleeing them or fighting them”. Zelenskyy added: «Those who advise Ukraine to give something to Russia, these ‹great geo-political figures,› never see ordinary people, ordinary Ukrainians, millions living on the territory they are proposing to exchange for an

illusory peace …” Following are two American opposing opinions on the subject: On one side, Kissinger himself, in excerpts from his statements at Davos. On the other side, Cal Thomas, a leading conservative American author and columnist.

Kissinger: “Real-Politik”: “About eight years ago, when the idea of membership of Ukraine in NATO came up, I wrote an article in which I said that the ideal outcome would be if Ukraine could be constituted as a neutral kind of state, as a bridge between Russia and Europe rather than the front line of groupings (NATO) within Europe. … I think that opportunity could still be conceived as an ultimate objective. In my view, movements towards negotiations on peace need to begin in the next two months before it could create upheaval and tensions that will be ever-harder to overcome, particularly between the eventual relationship of Russia, Georgia and Ukraine towards Europe…. Ideally, the dividing line should return the status quo ante (as before). I believe joining the war beyond Poland would turn it into a war, not about the freedom of Ukraine, which has been undertaken with great cohesion by NATO, but against Russia itself. That, it seems to me, to be the dividing line ... I hope that the Ukrainians, who have shown ideal heroism

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Here in the US, Kissinger’s opinion caused a local uproar, dividing politicians, academicians and media commentators.

Henry A. Kissinger, Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc., USA, captured at the Opening Press Conference of the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 2008 ,23. Credit: World Economic Forum

in the war with Russia, will also show their wisdom for the balance in Europe, and in the world at large. I believe that Ukraine will probably be the strongest conventional power in Europe, if the situation is realistically solved. A neutral Ukraine will be a bridge -- not a gap -between West Europe and Russia. People have to look both at the relationship of Europe to Russia over a longer period, and in a manner that is separated from the existing leadership whose status, however, will be affected internally over a period of time by its performance in this period … Looked at from a long-term point of view, Russia has been, for 400 years, an essential part of Europe … European policy over that period of time has been affected, fundamentally, by its European assessment of the role of Russia. Sometimes in an observing way, but on a number of occasions as the guarantor, or the instrument, by which the European balance could be re-established. Current policy should keep in mind the restoration of this role is important to develop, so that Russia is not driven into a permanent alliance with China …”

Thomas: “Kissinger is Wrong”: «For the third time since becoming president, Joe Biden said, last week, that he would send US forces to defend Taiwan should mainland China launch an attack. But this is the same president who too rapidly withdrew US forces from Afghanistan. And promised not to send troops

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to Ukraine to help that government repel Russia’s invasion. The excuse given was that Russia is a nuclear power. So is China. What’s the difference? … Now, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger jumped into the fray. In an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Kissinger said Ukraine must give up some of its territory to Russia for the war to end and to avoid a wider conflict. Kissinger has it wrong. If Ukraine surrendered territory to Russia, it would likely invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to move against other countries once under control of the Soviet Union. Would he be OK with ceding those territories to Moscow to avoid global “destabilization” and a wider conflict? … If Ukraine surrenders, Putin will stop at nothing to invade more territories. If there was a side benefit to the Cold War, it was that Democratic and Republican administrations — along with most members of Congress — were consistent on their approach to Russia and Communism. Moscow knew where we stood, and that contributed to what President Ronald Reagan called ‹peace through strength›. It also led to the collapse of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe and freedom for millions of people ... I understand the feelings of those who say we can’t be the policemen of the world and with our 30$ trillion debt we can’t afford sending troops everywhere. But — and this is a large but — if evil is not opposed, it will spread. That is a lesson from history that will be repeated if it is not addressed. Doing nothing and turning a blind eye to evil is what allowed Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan to wreak havoc on the world. Exhausted by the carnage of World War I, the West was reluctant to fight again, and the consequence of that reluctance was more carnage that might have been reduced had we acted sooner. Turning a blind eye to evil is what precipitated Adolf Hitler’s rise to power …”

conomy

Secrets of China’s Economic Statecraft in Africa Chinese Soft Power Follows Effective Approach to Implement its Economic Priorities By Anzetse Were The role of African governments in the economic development of their countries is crucial, which is why they tend to be centered by foreign governments in strategies focused on economic issues. This article will look the economic

relationship between African and Chinese governments, contrast that with the style and approach of the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom, and share insights on the unique strengths of the Chinese approach to economic statecraft in Africa. Economic statecraft can be loosely defined as a construction

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend the 2018 Beijing Summit of The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation - Round Table Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September ,4 2018. (REUTERS/ File Photo)

of economic and financial strategies for securing national economic and financial interest in the international arena, as well as the execution of these strategies. To point out the obvious, the specific articulation of China’s economic statecraft in specific African countries differs, often informed by the economic structure of the country, political economy dynamics and the features/capabilities of the state in the host country. Secondly, the West is not a monolith, nor is even united or coordinated within itself. However, Western nations have tended to approach Africa in a similar fashion, with a “values” and aid-led style of engagement that is very distinct from China’s approach. I’ll start with providing an outline on how and why China became such a deep economic partner for African governments so quickly. First, China does not have the negative historical legacy with the continent that many Western nations have. The U.S. and European powers were responsible for the Transatlantic and East African slave trades; colonization; the manipulation of newly forming African states during the Cold War era, as exemplified by the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba; the devastation of the Structural Adjustment Programs; and inequitable globalization. Due to this historical stain, the West has a legitimacy problem in Africa that China largely doesn’t have. The West’s historical behavior in Africa has essentially delegitimized them as a “tried, true, and trusted” partner for Africa and created a serious trust deficit that China does not have at nearly the same scale. Interestingly, Western governments seem oblivious to the reality of these low levels of trust and still take the view that they should be listened to when they lecture African governments on governance or corruption or anything else. This leads to the next points, which are more directly linked to active statecraft by China. In general, China avoids lecturing or patronizing down-talk. It is aware of and responds to African government sensitivities to being treated with indignity. Beijing’s diplomatic framing and language lacks the paternalistic, self-righteous, and sometimes bigoted framing often found in communications from the U.S., U.K., and EU. Instead, China employs the language of

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The specific articulation of China’s economic statecraft in specific African countries differs, often informed by host country’s economic structure, political economy dynamics and capabilities. solidarity, compromise, and unity. China also seems to be the first economic superpower that has indicated it is listening to the call from African governments and stakeholders on the “Trade not Aid” agenda put forward in the 2010s. It is only now, over a decade later, that U.S., EU, and U.K. seem to have caught up to and are aligning with this preference. Because of China’s decision to listen, they have been better at centering and being responsive to African government priorities. As a result, from its inception the relationship has been focused on economic, financial, and commercial topics. It started with a focus on financing and addressing Africa’s infrastructure deficit, meeting a key African government priority that had fallen on deaf ears among other bilateral donors. The economic relationship now includes not only trade and investment ties, but deep Chinese private sector engagement that leverages African capabilities and advantages. China brought a fresh intellectual style and pragmatic approach that was welcomed in African capitals. This style seems to also be due to factors such as what I call economic proximity – namely, the fact that China was in a similar economic position to many African nations not too long ago – that seems to translate to a familiarity with how Africa works, a higher appetite for risk, a unique management style, and a nimbleness so often lacking in the Western approach. This all translates into advantages for China in Africa. In Africa, there are seven levers that external powers need to grasp in their execution of economic strategies – what I call the 7Cs of economic statecraft. The first is capacity, both

conomy

that of African governments and of the financiers and implementing partners of the economic program or deal. The second are the conditions (explicit and implicit) linked to financing and related projects. The third is the context of the African country in terms of peace and security, its form of governance, the stage in the electoral cycle, and general economic conditions (GDP growth, poverty rates, etc.). Fourth is the extent of corruption, expressed in terms of fiscal accountability, leakage, and mismanagement. Fifth is the competition both between and within African governments, and between and within external partners and creditors/financiers. Sixth is coordination – again, between and within African governments and between and within external partners and creditors. And the seventh and final lever is commitment to economic deals and partnership terms by different African administrations, and the commitment of external partners to different African governments. China has been effective, though not perfect, in managing these seven levers, given the traction that China’s economic partnership has received in African capitals. Add to this that the IMF is of the view that Chinese official assistance has had a positive effect on economic and social outcomes, but not on governance, albeit the negative effect here is negligible in size. This not to say the economic engagement has been perfect: key concerns with China’s style include fiscal opacity and contract secrecy, which raise questions about the over-accommodation of vested interests, hidden debts, and contingent

Western nations have tended to approach Africa in a similar fashion, with a “values” and aid-led style of engagement that is very distinct from China’s approach.

liabilities. Further, environmental and social concerns remain pressing, as well as poor project feasibility rooted in issues such as inadequate due diligence and poor financial modelling. But the economic dividends of China’s presence in Africa are also clear. Chinese projects reduce economic inequality within and between regions in Africa, while infrastructure projects reduce travel time and energy costs, create jobs, open trade channels, and foster the transfer of technology and knowledge, for example. More importantly for African governments, China’s lending has led to the more serious centering and consideration of Africa’s own economic priorities and vision. And these dynamics are playing out at the same time when the promise of liberal democracy and capitalism pushed by Western nations is decidedly tarnished. This model no longer seems to be delivering for the general welfare and prosperity of citizens of these countries, destroying the moral high ground on which Washington, London, and Brussels have stood in “instructing” Africa on how to develop. The U.S. has seen increases in economic inequality, a homelessness crisis, and serious issues with child poverty, for example. The U.K.’s child hunger crisis led to UNICEF feeding hungry British children in 2020, for the first time in its -70year history. African capitals observed the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack, and most recently the roll back in women’s reproductive rights. And the U.S., EU and U.K. all have increasing challenges with racially motivated aggression and violence. This doesn’t mean that China’s economic or governance model is perfect. It isn’t. But China’s intelligence has been that it has never told African governments that China has it all figured out, nor have they tried to force the hand of African leaders to follow their model, basing financial support on criteria such as governance style or adherence to certain “values.” There is deep irony in Western nations holding their countries up as examples of development when their model seems to be in such a state of disrepair. Thus, a Western economic statecraft approach premised on telling Africa to be more like the

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In this photograph taken on February 24, 2020 laborers work at a construction site on reclaimed land, part of a Chinese-funded project for Port City, in )Colombo. (Getty

West is impractical. Indeed, the American and European approach reflects a dated intellectual attitude and style that: 1) assumes their state of development is globally admired; 2) constitutes of bouquet of views that are often old-fashioned, out-of-touch, and seem to lack self-reflection; and 3) is premised on ensuring certain countries maintain or reclaim global power. The last point assumes that everyone thinks that the world is a better place if the Western powers remain “in charge.” But this view is not necessarily shared by everyone. Perhaps there is room to consider that the rise of China has created a counterpoint of power that creates the space for the expression of longstanding disgruntlement with a world order that prioritizes certain countries and sidelines others. It is not that China is “controlling” African players; the situation is not that simple. The presence of a power that is independent from the West creates room to communicate disenfranchisement and express pushback against what many view as a biased global order. This dynamic was perhaps most recently seen in differences in how African

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China started with a focus on financing and addressing Africa’s infrastructure deficit, a key African priority that had fallen on deaf ears among other bilateral donors. countries voted on the United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In closing, China’s big soft power ability has been a completely different intellectual approach and style in how it has implemented its economic priorities in Africa. And though not perfect, it has been effective given the scale of economic partnership China has developed with African governments in just two decades. This article was originally published by The Diplomat.

pinion

Drugs: Iran Has a New Artillery Back in the headlines is the issue of drug manufacturing and smuggling via Syria and Lebanon to Arab countries through the liaisons of Iran, Syrian Regime, and Hezbollah. A few days ago, the Jordanian army announced a qualitative operation on the Syrian-Jordanian border that ended in the killing of four smugglers.

by Alia Mansour

The Captagon industry is notoriously active in the areas controlled by Hezbollah in the border areas. The drug is transported between Lebanon and Syria and it is later smuggled to Jordan and other Arab countries. The latest fruits and vegetables shipments hiding Captagon pills that were seized in Saudi Arabia illustrate how such smuggling operations take place almost on a daily basis. From the Syrian side, Major General Maher al-Assad, brother of Bashar alAssad and commander of the Fourth Division in the Syrian army, is directly responsible for the manufacturing and export of Captagon. The funny thing is that not only is Maher responsible for drug trafficking, with the knowledge of his brother and blessing, but even the locations of Captagon laboratories have become known. If the Assad regime was truly a victim of this trade as it had deluded, it would have razed down those laboratories, knowing that nothing deterred its warplanes from bombing civilians. The reality, however, is that the 40

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Captagon laboratories are adorned with signs of a closed military zone and Assad’s soldiers protect them. This is not the first Jordanian’s army operation against smugglers on the borders with Syria. The shipment confiscated a few days ago was not the first and it will not be the last. Only last year, the Jordanian army announced that it had thwarted 361 drug infiltration and smuggling attempts, and confiscated more than 15 million Captagon pills. So how many smuggling operations succeeded? And how many Captagon pills managed to find their way through? Jordan is not the only victim of the Syrian regime and Hezbollah when it comes to drug trafficking. The Egyptian authorities have previously seized four tons of hashish packed in baby milk cartons belonging to a company owned by Rami Makhlouf, Assad’s cousin (before their dispute). The Saudi authorities also seized two shipments hiding 45 million pills in matte boxes, coming from Syria from a company owned by a member of the Assad family. There also the shipments that were seized in Greece, Italy, among other countries. The Syrian regime truly deserves the title of a “drug lord.” The French newspaper “Le Monde” previously revealed that the Assad regime has developed the Captagon industry to support its economy. A

A Saudi anti-narcotics officer arranges a display of Captagon pills and pomegranates shipped from Lebanon. (SPA file photo)

study issued by the Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR) described Syria as the “global epicenter of Captagon production” and revealed that Captagon exports from Syria reached a market value of USD3.46 billion. Probably part of why the Assad regime and Hezbollah are highly skilled in drug manufacturing and trafficking is to finance their operations, especially amidst the worsening economic sanctions against them. Many of their funding sources were dried up, knowing that Hezbollah was established in the nineties of the last century as a network for drug trafficking and money laundering. Imad Moghnieh founded it as an additional source of funding, in addition to the money the party received from Iran. Likewise, the Syrian regime’s drug activity dates back to more than thirty years.

However, is it only the need for money that drives Iran’s agents to flood Arab countries with drugs? Or are drugs also a weapon used by the Islamic Republic against the Arab countries that are not aligned with it? Drugs are as lethal as the militia artilleries that Tehran has deployed in the region. One day, Hassan Nasrallah, the SecretaryGeneral of Hezbollah, proudly bragged in front of the entire world that he is a soldier in the Wilayat al-Faqih party, and that the guardianship of his command and his party and the decision of war and peace are in the hands of the Wali al-Faqih. So, what is the head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, waiting to say the same? Knowing that he is the one who turned Syria into a corridor used by Iran to spread chaos, terrorism and drugs in the Arab countries. 41

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Probably part of why the Assad regime and Hezbollah are highly skilled in drug manufacturing and trafficking is to finance their operations, especially amidst the worsening economic sanctions against them

A Weekly Political News Magazine

Issue 1907- June- 03/06/2022

Queen Elizabeth II: 70 Years of Changes www.majalla.com

eport

“When Love and Death Have No Boundaries”

The Difficult Decision to Fulfill Someone’s Wish for Euthanasia It was a lovely, quietly warm summer evening in July 2021, in a small town in the south of Switzerland. Mark, a retired homeopathic doctor, and his long-term partner Frieda were enjoying their dinner on their terrace overlooking the city. Little did they know that their life as loved and known to them, would be abruptly taken from them within a few hours.

By Luisa Markides

Shortly afterwards, he was admitted to hospital due to acute pain. On his 73rd birthday, they would receive the devastating diagnosis that he has Stage 4 metastatic rectal cancer, which is known as the most severe stage of cancer.

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Their dreams were demolished. Their hope for survival was very low (according to medicinenet only 12% survival rate in stage 4 rectal cancer). Nevertheless, Mark decided to want to fight by undergoing all the aggressive suggested treatment options. He wanted to live. There was still so much the couple wanted to achieve and fulfil together. Frieda refers to Mark as her soulmate. After receiving the fatal diagnosis, it seemed that he was gradually losing his personality. It was as if chemotherapy was robbing him of his strengths. Every month that passed, it was as if his inner light was extinguishing his personality more and more. He used to be a man with a great charisma, with a very strong presence.

Getty

On his 73rd birthday, they would receive the devastating diagnosis that he has Stage 4 metastatic rectal cancer, which is known as the most severe stage of cancer.

He was incredibly generous, sensitive, tolerant, and caring, simply a very emotional person. He always acted out of his emotions. He always considered the well-being of others to be more important than his own. If he could help someone, he was always the first there and keen to seek solutions. He used to be flexible and adaptable to every life circumstance in which he would find himself. He was extremely knowledgeable and with a wide range of life experience.

When I asked Frieda what had changed emotionally in Mark in the nine months from the diagnosis to his death, she explained that “Mark became increasingly quiet and taciturn! He participated in the events of life less and less. He could hardly laugh anymore! Even smiling was foreign to him! That made me very sad! I knew that he was completely shut down to deal with his inner process! He slept more and more and required more rest!”

Despite his 73 years, his spirit seemed young and full of life… until that day at the end of July when everything changed and it would become his hardest chapter to conclude.

For Mark, it was nearly unbearable the thought, that his life has been cut short due to cancer. He couldn’t accept death until the very last moment. And yet, when the moment came that he passed away, there was a smile on his lips, as gently described by Frida.

As I have written in two previous columns about Palliative Care and Assisted Dying, I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to speak with two relatives of an Exit member about their own experience, namely, Frieda and her grown-up daughter Lily who have remained close to their beloved Mark until his last breath. I would like to convey their experience of their nine months, from diagnosis to death, what was of immense psychological pain for both sides. Frida recalled that dealing with the news of a malignant cancer stage 4 hit everyone very hard and it was extremely challenging to process the shock. Life suddenly stood still. After receiving the diagnosis, Mark was hospitalized for one week to assess all the future treatments. Meanwhile, Frida tried to find comfort by spending the whole time alone near a lake. To learn how to accept that she would have to spend the rest of her life without her partner, she would meditate frequently next to the shore of the lake. She could feel that there was no cure on this level of being but that the time will come soon that he will go into the light! Therefore, she had never held on to a false hope. She knew that she must turn now more within herself, to mobilize her psychic forces, in order not to break down while facing the painful time ahead of them, which had now begun.

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Frieda recalls that the potential of having to suffer, always scared Mark. The thought of becoming dependent on other people was very difficult for him. He felt it was a lack of dignity would he become always dependent on the help of others by no longer being able to do anything independently. That had been for him his main reason that he would never want that, but much rather end his life. He was a member of Exit since 1996. Also, his stepdaughter Lily feels that “I firmly believe that Exit was a big part of his existence and that he had prepared himself internally so that if it ever came to that, he would be ready. One of his last words in this regard was that he wanted to die with dignity. I think it would have been unbearable for him to see himself losing more and more strength, and things that seem so simple suddenly appear as great challenges”. As I have stated in a previous article, that assisted Dying might also prevent from active suicide, has been confirmed also by his partner Frieda. No one knows when the moment of natural death occurs. Therefore “where you do not know how long you have to endure this; the thought of Exit was his greatest support and help to be able to endure the situation. If he had not had the thought of Exit, knowing that he

eport

could leave at any time if he wanted, I do not know if he would not have committed suicide. One must be aware that the thought of Exit may have prevented him from actively committing suicide.” Mark imagined his own death of being quick and painless. That once his limit of sufferance would reach a limit where it is not bearable anymore, when his dignity would be affected and he would feel to be a too much burden, he would turn to assisted suicide. Frieda explains that “This was his main reason, should a life-threatening diagnosis occur. He wanted to decide himself when to leave. He was admittedly often someone who did not like to be confronted with difficult situations. Therefore, he preferred to run away than to directly confront it. That’s why it suited Mark to be able to just go with Exit”. During the first six month since his cancer diagnosis, Mark had undergone all available treatments and multiple cycles of Chemotherapy. The race against the tumor and the time had begun straight away last summer. Thus, he knew, that, with his failed attempts at chemotherapy, he would have no chance to fight his illness. In January 2022 he decided to stop all curative treatments and become a palliative care patient, approaching end of life care. It was extremely difficult for him to find acceptance in this change. How does someone prepare for his own death, I wondered? Frieda and Lily stated that “I would say that the preparations during the 9 months were immediate. We tidied up everything we could at home, we arranged everything I needed to know. I’ll put it this way: we have had these 9 months since the diagnosis. 9 months like in a pregnancy to birth. From light into matter and now during these 9 months back again from matter into light. It is like the cycle that closes again with these 9 months. Otherwise for us it was beautiful and healing that we still had this remaining time together. I wouldn’t have it any other way, although it was an immensely painful 9 months”. In February it was clear, that Mark would have entered the

“I firmly believe that Exit was a big part of his existence and that he had prepared himself internally so that if it ever came to that, he would be ready.”

so called “End Of Life Phase”. He contacted the organization Exit to finalize assisted dying when the moment arrives. It takes some time, often three months, until the legal requirements are in order. Mark wanted to know how assisted dying would be carried out, the logistics that led to it. Together with Frieda and Lily they planned the location (their home), who will be present in that moment and organized the funeral and what music to play. Mark’s illness progressed very rapidly and became increasingly complex and difficult to manage at home. Therefore, with heavy heart, a week before Easter, he had been admitted into a local hospice care. It was initially just thought, to give the couple time to finalize everything around EXIT. Assisted Suicide would have had to be carried out at home. Meaning that he would have had to be brought home from hospice care into his house to die on the given day. His psychological sufferance has become excruciating for him. He asked his partner and stepdaughter on multiple occasions to “let him go”. On Easter Sunday Frieda cooked and brought him his favourite chicken meal. They sat the three of them together in the small hospice room, enjoying what would have become his very last meal. After that, he asked to have EXIT called for Wednesday. Everything seemed to have been agreed and legally organized. The same evening, after his relative left, he fell in a deep coma, which would lead him eventually to a natural death three days later. In tears Frieda admits “I could stand behind Mark’s dying wish. I did everything until the last moment, gave him a sign that I totally support him and am there for him. That was enough for him. That’s why he could finally let go on Easter Monday and drift away. On Easter Sunday we had decided that we would do nothing more and that he could leave life with Exit on Wednesday. He could then die exactly on this Thursday morning by a natural death. The soul can control death. It showed me how much the soul can contribute, you say yes to 50% when you are ready to die”. Lily stats that she “suppressed the thought of Exit for a long time. I could not even remotely imagine the pressure it would put on me at that moment. As the moment approached, I tried to accept that in this case it was not about my own opinion but only about that of a loved one, and to accompany him in his decision as best I could. This was by no means easy for me, and yet I knew deep inside that he would have supported me in the same way if I had been in his place”. Frieda, who was herself against assisted suicide, out of love would have helped him to fulfil his wish until the very end. However, how it would have affected her if he really would

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have died with Exit, she does not know. “How I would have dealt with it at that moment, if he had really with Exit, I can’t say. However, it would have been horror, it is brutal to know in advance the exact death moment and time”. Also, Lily felt similarly:” It was like a ticking time bomb, when he decided the day for the exit and told us, I imagined all possible scenarios that would happen that day. It was a very anxious time. The relief that Mark fell into a coma and died naturally was indescribable huge. “I must say that we are incredibly grateful that it did not come to exit. I was totally relieved; a huge weight fell from my heart. I could only thank God that his soul was allowed to go before we had to go through Exit. I really don’t know how I could have endured that, how I could have done that. You can’t know that in advance. I just knew that I would have done it out of pure love, that’s what you do out of love for a person. How I feel is not important at that moment” even tough, the thought of Exit, was pure horror to me”. According to Lily, the most difficult part was “Letting go and accepting the things I can’t change. Knowing I couldn’t reach him on his journey”. It has been just over a month since Mark has died. When asking Frieda what gives her strengths, she said in tears “Now, a month after his death, it still hurts me incredibly. The whole process of letting go, the finality. Knowing that there is no going back and knowing that it is finally over. “I realized that one should be more conscious and grateful for being alive, every day. I have the deep knowledge that he has not really gone. It is like a curtain that has been

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For Mark, it was nearly unbearable the thought, that his life has been cut short due to cancer. pushed. A curtain that we pull or open and it is noticeable every moment. I am convinced of that. He has let me feel now for example again two miracles in my everyday life, where he has shown me that he is somehow energetically there. Of course, I wish him to be in the light, but I feel his constant presence again and again. That is WONDERFUL to know that there is not really a death. But rather a moving on to another sphere. The rest is our own human emotional process that we have to learn how to deal with. To be able to heal the emotions”. Lily ends with the words:” Through this valuable experience I learned that it is wonderful that life does not lead to infinity, and thanks to the fact that our lifetime is limited, we learn to appreciate life.” What better worlds than ending this so very intimate story of these two strong women, than with Frieda’s words: “My gratitude goes to the universe that guided everything to the good and he was allowed to fall asleep painlessly in a natural way!” and Lily adding that “ In the end, this was crucial to understand that he was ready to make peace with his fate.”

eature

Falling Into Oblivion

Egyptian rice paper making struggles to survive

By Salwa Samir In the late 1980s, after her graduation from the Alexandria University’s Fine Arts Faculty, Enas Khamis thought of environment-friendly ways of making paper rather than cutting trees. She found her way of using the plant refuse such as rice straw, which contributes to the overwhelming problem of black cloud that first appeared over the Nile Delta and Cairo in 1990s, due to its burning at the end of the harvest season in September and October. Every year, Egypt produces around 32 million tons of agricultural waste and 17 percent of this is rice straw. “Some people don›t know how to recycle the rice straw so they burn it causing the phenomenon of the black cloud,” Khamis told Majalla. “In the past, we had factories that turned rice straw into products, but unfortunately they were closed over time and thus the phenomenon of black clouds appeared,” she added. To learn more about the technique of rice paper making, Khamis obtained a grant from the Japan Foundation in the Cairo Office to travel to Japan for studying the process and techniques of producing paper from rice straw. “In Japan there are villages whose main industry is making paper,” Khamis said. “I learnt how to produce paper using rice straw in a simple workshop.” In 2001, Khamis and her family left Alexandria and settled in the Egyptian capital, where the black cloud happened, to spread the word about her paper making experience and to open her workshop of rice paper making.

In 2005, it was legally registered as a nongovernmental organization called “Elnafeza” (The Window) Foundation – a leading social organisation for its innovative solution to social problems and the potential to change patterns across society. She rented a workshop space in the Old Cairo area which is rich in related-pottery and crafts workshops. She then tried to reach people in her new area. “I invited the girls and women in the area to teach them the paper making technique,” Khamis, 59, said. “I started with 10 members. Then I collaborated with a foundation whose members are deaf and mute and let them join our team. The number of workers reached 35,” she added. In the beginning, she found difficulty to connect with

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Notebooks made out of rice straw. Photo by Salwa Samir

Every year, Egypt produces around 32 million tons of agricultural waste and 17 percent of this is rice straw.

Enas Khamis posing for a photo with some of her rice paper making products. Photo by Salwa Samir

the deaf and dumb members, but their relatives who could hear and speak helped her to communicate with them.

TECHNIQUE OF RICE PAPER MAKING 2019 A photo taken in March shows Egypt’s Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad (R) honoring Enas Khamis at one of the Ministry›s conferences for her role in preserving the environment. Credit: Enas Khamis

Khamis used to buy rice straw from a trader in Cairo, nearly every week. Then together with her team they put it in a big basin full of water for three or four days. “The longer it stays in water it will be better to soften it.” Then they remove it and put it inside boiling water for three hours to ripen. Later, they clean it

from impurities and put it in a grinder or mill for an hour. The next step is cleaning it again from any impurities, then they put it in basins of water in which there are frames of different sizes - A4 and A5. “We remove it after it has taken the shape inside the frame and put it on a flat surface such as a wall or wooden table and leave it until it dries,” she said, adding that they use it to mould into many shapes, add color and print on it using silkscreen. Khamis said she produces 150 products out of rice straw paper like frames, small gift boxes, lanterns, bookmarks and lighting fixtures. She participated in many exhibitions such as Turathna (Our Heritage), which is the largest exhibition for Egyptian handicrafts and local handmade art. This exposition is organized by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), where hundreds of craftsmen, artisans, and exhibitors display their products to the public under the sponsorship of President Abdel-Fattah ElSisi. She also participated in conferences held by the Ministry of Environment. She was awarded many times by the successive ministers of environment.

COVID’S IMPACT Before COVID19- that hit the world in 2020, Khamis’ products sold briskly. There were tourists coming specially for her. She even exported her products abroad, especially to Germany. The matter turned 180 degrees after COVID. She wasn›t able to export or even to sell products to locals in this area, which is considered one of the tourist sites. “These circumstances made me unable to pay for the workers whose number declined to three,” Khamis said bitterly. Recently, she has had issues with the administration of the place as she wasn›t able to pay the rent of her workshop, which adds more burden to her. “I›m in consultation to find a solution. I hope it will be soon,” she said.

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ulture

Victoria College: The Incubator of Kings, Celebrities A British-Style Public School Rooted in Egyptian Soil

By Sara Gamal - Cairo

and the destination of writers and poets, about which Ahmed Shawky said, “ Alexander the Great built for Throughout its history, Alexandria has been home to Egypt a city that kings and princes did not build, a many poets, artists, and kings, some of whom were country that people travel to and students and wise born there and others who grew up and were educated people make the pilgrimage to.” Victoria College, which was founded in 1902 and there. Alexandria is the city of “art and culture”, the bride bore the name of the Queen of Britain at the time, is of the Mediterranean, the home of writers and artists, located on the land of Alexandria, and has included within its walls dozens of artists, writers, and even

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Victoria College (Image Credit: Facebook)

kings of countries of which we are proud even today. Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer and British Consul-General of Egypt, had no idea that his approval to establish a school in the British education system for the children of Alexandria’s Jewish and English communities would make Victoria College an icon of the British education system in Egypt for the next 120 years. Baring founded the college in accordance with British educational standards, without regard for Islamic or Christian religious beliefs. At the beginning and during World War II, the class of kings in Egypt and even Europe, as well as many ruling families and children of wealthy families in Egypt and the Arab world, attended the college. Cromer’s approval was with the aim of erasing French education from Egypt and turning it into “English” education within the framework of abolishing its freeness and making it only for the elite. Cromer laid the cornerstone of the ancient school in the current “La Mazarita” or “Azarita” neighborhood in Shatby, facing the eastern port. Mr. Charles Lias, a graduate of King’s College, was brought in to become the school’s principal for 20 years, creating the school’s character and spirit that lasted for more than a century, after announcing the position in British newspaper the Times. Victoria College resembled the ancient English Eaton College, with a large resident department equipped to the highest level and administering the strict laws imposed by the English educational style. The school’s first students included 11 Jewish students, three Egyptians, three Greeks, and one British student, with the remainder being Shawam, including George Anthony, the first historian of Arab nationalism, and his brothers. The Egyptians were Hassan and Youssef Serry, sons of Ismail Bey Serry, who later became Minister of Public Works. After four years, and with an increase in the number of students, Victoria College moved to Al Seyouf, its current location on an area of 18 acres. Victoria College has a memorial marble plaque engraved in English in front of the spacious art education room and below the impressive laboratory building: “Victoria College... was built in memory of Queen Victoria to provide free education to the children of the Egyptian aristocracy or residents, and to qualify them for leadership positions in the country, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or nationality affiliations.”

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“Victoria College, which was founded in 1902 and bore the name of the Queen of Britain at the time, is located on the land of Alexandria, and has included within its walls dozens of artists, writers, and even kings of countries of which we are proud even today.” On Queen Victoria’s birthday, Lord Cromer laid the foundation stone for the new school in the presence of hundreds of distinguished guests. The Duke of Konoh, son of Queen Victoria, was present at the royal opening ceremony on March 27, 1909, along with his wife, the Duchess, and their daughter, Princess Patricia. The British authorities used Victoria College at the time to attract families involved in political work in Egypt, as well as Arab and African countries who could count on them to extend more of the British hegemony over the Empire on which the sun never sets. For admission to Victoria College, lists of children from senior families were prepared. After years of sending their sons to Victoria College and their daughters to the English College for Girls (EGC), Arab royal palaces turned to the college’s director, Mr. Ralph Reed, for advice on how to educate Arab princes and prepare them to become kings in the future. Victoria College was the only school in the Middle East that taught cricket to its students, as well as professional football, horseback riding, swimming, athletics, tennis, and a gymnasium, in addition to the skills of agriculture, carpentry, beekeeping and acting. Sports day in Alexandria was a memorable day, with prominent statesmen and consuls of countries competing and attending. It hosted the first scouting team in the Middle East in 1912, when Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the World Scout Movement, paid a visit. The sacred law of Victoria College forbade students from speaking Arabic in school, and this was

ulture

punished by writing a sentence 100 times. In addition to dress and grooming etiquette, the use of a necktie, bright shoes, carefully styled hair, the prohibition of perfuming with fragrant perfume or wearing jewelry whether gold or silver, clipped nails, as well as the athletic body and table manners were required for students in order to achieve the height of an elegance worthy of the sons of royal families and princes.

VICTORIA COLLEGE DETERIORATION AFTER NATIONALIZATION During World War II, the college was converted into a military barracks, but the administration was determined not to stop studies, so classrooms were temporarily relocated to the old San Stefano Hotel.

After nationalization, the school was transformed into a system of “national institutes” and the features of the English administration completely vanished with the Egyptian flag being raised in place of the British flag. Victoria College, like many other foreign institutions in Egypt, deteriorated gradually after its nationalization during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser. The school director was no longer English, and the strict system and school laws that applied to students disintegrated with no exceptions or distinctions between kings and ordinary students. The college admissions list was amended in 1967 when girls were accepted and it became a joint school. In the mid-1970s, theatrical cultural activity ceased, but later the Board of Trustees of Alexandria Schools in London contributed significantly to its revival. The

“While its influence and educational standards have may declined, Victoria College’s legacy lives on. During the early twentieth century, the school housed and raised a large number of alumni who went on to shape Egypt and the world.” 52

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Victoria College in Alexandria. (Supplied).

Edward Said (Image Credit: Ivy Style)

Omar Sharif (right) with classmates at Alexandria’s Victoria College. Alumni Inc. Youssef Chahine & Edward Said (Supplied).

girls’ admissions list was cancelled in the late 1980s, and Victoria College reverted to being a college for boys only. The college became a language school among the schools spread throughout Egypt, as well as a department for the American diploma. Victoria College established a Cairo branch in Shubra in 1948, before relocating to its current headquarters in Maadi in 1950.

NOTABLE KINGS AND CELEBRITIES WHO ATTENDED VICTORIA COLLEGE

King Hussein of Jordan (Image Credit: The Jerusalem Post).

While its influence and educational standards may have declined, Victoria College’s legacy lives on. During the early twentieth century, the school housed and raised a large number of alumni who went on to shape Egypt and the world. Simon II, the last king of Bulgaria, attended Victo-

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“Victoria College resembled the ancient English Eaton College, with a large resident department equipped to the highest level and administering the strict laws imposed by the English educational style.” ria College, as did Constantine, King of Greece and brother of Sophia, Queen of Spain, King Hussein bin Talal, the King of Jordan, Prince Abdul Ilah bin AlMalik Ali bin Sharif Hussein Al-Hashemi, who assumed guardianship of the Iraqi throne, and Sudanese leader Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi. In addition to the sons of Kuwait’s Al-Kharafi and Al Hamad families, the Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and Sheikh Kamal Adham, the founder of Saudi intelligence, the Bin Laden, Abdul Latif Al-Jamil, and Al Sharbatly families, and major families from Nigeria and Chad are among those involved. In addition, giants of Arab and international cinema also attended Victoria College such as international actor Omar Sharif, international director Youssef Chahine, star Ahmed Ramzy, international director and decorator Shadi Abdel Salam, great director Tawfiq Saleh, artist and media figure Samir Sabry, and among the media, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Kardani, Amr Adib and Osama Kamal.

Latest Movies

By Mohammed Rouda

A weekly review of screenings at movie theatres around the world SHOWING UP ★★★

LIGHTYEAR ★★★★

◆ Genre: Romance Drama [USA] ◆ Screening Worldwide

◆ Genre: Animation [US] ◆ Screening Worldwide

A new film from Pixar with high-quality implementation of its work. It is now the best graphic design firm in Western cinema. In the distant future, a man named Lightyear (voiced by Chris Ivans) works in the aerospace industry. He is asked to take a short trip into unknown space, but the journey is long and filled with difficulties and struggles, and he may not return. Despite the fact that the film is dominated by the usual Disney technique (the company that bought Pixar four years ago), the concept is executed with skill and precision. ◆ Final judgment: Worth watching for those who love these movies.

Mediterranean Fever ★★★★

Michelle Williams plays a figurine artist in this film. That’s ◆ Genre: Social Drama [Palestinian/Israeli] ◆ Screening: “Cannes” what we see her doing in the majority of the film’s scenes. She is dedicated and talented, and she wishes to say good-by to the collection of figurines she has nearly finished in the gallery. Her problem is that she is an aspiring but unknown artist in a medium rife with aspirants. The film’s events revolve around seven days, but we can’t call them events because they’re more like life paradoxes or lines on paper to draw the life of a woman in her thirties who doesn’t earn a living from what she loves to do. It’s a descriptive film about her case and the pain it causes. ◆ Final judgment: Good and appropriate for female viewers.

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Palestinian director Maha Al-Hajj won the Best Screenplay Award in “A Look 2022” in Cannes, whose work has recently been completed for this film that studies the details of social life in Palestine. Amer Hlehel is a novelist who quit his job to devote his time to writing. He is married to a nurse (Anat Hadid), and their life is strained as a result of the husband’s stubbornness and rejection of many of life realities. The film doesn’t talk about politics but remains true to its depiction of life under the status quo. ◆ Final judgment: A well-formed work as a drama with fun.

This film takes place near the India-China border. The setting and plot are particularly intriguing because Indian cinema has rarely addressed an explosive political situation involving India. The majority of its films in this genre have dealt with the relationship between India and Pakistan. There is that professional who is doing everything he can to prevent an actual war between the two countries, and there are those who oppose him because they want war. ◆ Final judgment: Worth watching for this genre enthusiasts.

HOLLYWOOD STARGIRL ★★

◆ Genre: Biography [France] ◆ Screening Worldwide

◆ Genre: Drama ◆ Screening Worldwide

Julia Hart, a new director, has almost succeeded in capturing the life of a girl who aspires to make a career in Hollywood. Her mother lives there and has wished for her for decades, only to learn that one day she will be designing production designs for a major Hollywood film. It’s unclear whether the mother’s success inspired her daughter Caraway (Grace VanderWaal) to leave the monotony of a small town in Arizona and relocate to Hollywood, or if it was her long-held dream. In any case, there is a lightness of treatment and an unbalanced attempt to mix reality and entertainment. ◆ Final judgment: A moral value rather than an artistic one.

ANEK ★★

◆ Genre: Action [India] ◆ Gulf Screenings.

EIFFEL ★★★

The story focuses on the architect Gustave Eiffel, who designed and oversaw the construction of Paris’ Eiffel Tower. The majority of the events take place in 1889, and the characters surrounding Gustav are mostly negative, with no faith in the project and no hope that it will come true. In addition to discussing an actual personal experience, the story sheds light on the general situation in France at the time. The film also pays close attention to the emotional relationship that led Gustav to betray his wife with the new woman he met. This is a French film worth watching, if only for the atmosphere. ◆ Final judgment: A good change away from the current mainstream.

Ratings: ★ Weak or average | ★★: Mediocre with merits| ★★★: Good | ★★★★: Excellent | ★★★★★: A masterpiece 55

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Queen Elizabeth II: 70 Years of Changes By Majalla Illustration by Jeannette Khouri Since her coronation, she has been an ‘anchor in the storm,’ facing innumerable crises both inside and outside the walls of her palaces. Queen Elizabeth II has become the keystone in the nation’s architecture, a solid and immovable piece holding the country’s image of itself in place as it celebrates her 70th year on the throne. In a speech commemorating her Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Queen stated that she saw her role as “guiding this kingdom through changing times.” “Change has become a constant, and managing it has become a growing discipline,” she admitted. These words represent the Queen’s challenge to herself: to make consistency and constancy the hallmarks of her reign, enhancing her image as a dependable and loyal monarch. When Elizabeth, now 95, was born on April 21, 1926, she was expected to live the life of a minor royal as the elder daughter of King George V’s second son. A country house, dogs and horses, a suitable match — a comfortable but uneventful life — appeared to be her future. Everything changed a decade later, when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth’s father ascended to the throne as King George VI, making the young princess heir apparent. Elizabeth followed in her father’s footsteps, joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service in early 1945, becoming the royal family’s first full-time active member of the armed forces. On her 21st birthday, she pledged her life to the country and the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of states that arose from the British Empire. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which

we all belong,” she said in a radio address broadcast around the world. In place of her ailing father, the young princess embarked on a Commonwealth tour in 1952. She was at a remote Kenyan lodge with her husband, Prince Philip, watching baboons from the treetops when she learned of her father’s death. She immediately returned to London, disembarking in black mourning robes to begin her reign as queen. She has reigned ever since, occasionally wearing a crown, holding a sceptre and carrying a simple handbag. In the seven decades since, the queen has met 14 prime ministers and 13 presidents of the United States. Britain’s longest-serving monarch, the only sovereign most Britons have ever known, has been a constant presence since the Suez Crisis of 1956, when Egypt’s seizure of the Suez Canal highlighted Britain’s declining power, through the 1980s labor strife and the 2005 terror attacks in London. In 1974, the year of the three-day week, raging inflation, two general elections, and an IRA bombing campaign on the British mainland, the Queen saw herself as comforter-in-chief once more. “We hear a great deal about our troubles, about discord and dissension and about the uncertainty of our future,” she said. “My message today is one of encouragement and hope.” The 95-year-old matriarch needed her words and actions to be perceived as neutral and impartial in the fractured Britain of the 1970s. As a result, she reached for the eternal values that anchored her philosophy. In the early 1990s, criticism of the monarchy grew in response to reports of the queen’s private wealth and concerns about the monarchy’s cost. In 1992, the queen agreed to pay for the majority of her family’s expenses and became the first monarch to pay income taxes since the 1930s.

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Tensions rose again in 1997, when the royal family’s silence following the death of Princess Diana, Prince Charles’ ex-wife, fueled the resentment of Diana’s many fans. Even now, the monarchy is struggling to distance itself from the scandal sparked by a sex abuse lawsuit filed against Prince Andrew, the Queen’s second son, as well as the fallout from two of the royal family’s most popular members, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, abandoning their royal duties and departing for California. It was a gamble that paid off. The Queen held an unrivalled position in the hearts of the British people by the time of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Throughout her reign, and even during the most difficult times for the Royal Family, republicanism had never received widespread support in the United Kingdom. Apart from traditional and ceremonial duties, Elizabeth is known to prefer simplicity in court life and to take a serious and informed interest in government business. She became a keen horsewoman in her spare time, keeping racehorses, frequently attending races, and visiting Kentucky stud farms in the United States. Her financial and real estate holdings have made her one of the world’s wealthiest women. People recognized in the Queen a consistency-based authenticity. Whatever difficulties and disappointments she faced, the Queen remained true to her values and principles. Her Majesty is now celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, the first and only monarch to do so. It is a historic moment for both her and the country. But the Queen will undoubtedly reflect on the timeless values that have underpinned her approach: the gentle, thoughtful, and reassuring presence she has been in the life of her nation, easing the process of change for ordinary citizens across the land.

ealth

Ready, Set, Hike! Hiking in Nature Moves Your Body and Refreshes Your Mind By Matthew Solan

more energy than walking on a level surface. Your body has to work harder, thereby increasing your heart rate, burning more calories, and improving cardiovascular fitIn 2020, when everyone was stuck in COVID lock- ness. down, hiking enjoyed a popularity boom. A report found that the number of hikes logged in 2020 was up 171% Finding your footing on a trail also gives you practice compared with 2019. The number of individual hikers at staying steady on your feet. This improves balance, a skill that protects against potentially life-threatening rose 135%. falls. “When you challenge your body, it will adapt,” “This makes sense, since hiking continues to be one of says Dr. Phillips. “So, if the hiking terrain puts your balthe safest activities during COVID, because it is done ance to the test, it will push your internal balance system outside and away from confined group settings,” says to improve.” Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. Hiking can improve your emotional health as well. Nu“Plus, what’s a better antidote for being cooped up than merous studies have found that older adults who regugetting outside for some therapeutic time with nature?” larly interact with nature have better sleep, less stress, lower anxiety levels, and fewer bouts of depression. It doesn’t matter if you hike alone or with others. Research MORE THAN A WALK has found that group nature walks are just as effective as Hiking is one of the best ways to boost body and soul. solo treks for improving mental outlook. For starters, it’s great for building muscles in the lower body. Hiking uphill works the muscles in your hips and HIT THE TRAIL buttocks, while going downhill works the quads (the With hiking, it’s best to begin small and build up. “Bemuscles in the fronts of your thighs). gin with easy, flat trails over a short distance like a mile, While walking is an easy way for people to exercise, it’s and see how you do,” says Dr. Phillips. “You can gradunot always the best for maintaining aerobic intensity. ally progress to more challenging trails with greater el“People often walk at a leisurely pace with many starts evations and longer distances as your fitness and hikand stops, which keep them from raising their heart ing skills improve.” When you are ready to take a hike, make sure you are well prepared. Here are some tips. rate,” says Dr. Phillips. However, hiking up and down uneven terrain requires Improve your walking. If your endurance needs some

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Group of people walking in mountain. (Pexels /Eric Sanman)

work, begin a walking program. For instance, walk daily for 10 to 20 minutes and build from there. “Another way to improve hiking endurance is walking on a treadmill at an incline to simulate hiking uphill,” says Dr. Phillips. Safety first. If you can’t hike with someone, let a friend or family member know where you plan to hike and for how long. Bring your cellphone and a local map, or use a hiking or GPS app (see “Trail markers”). Grab some poles. Using walking poles helps you navigate tricky terrain and support your knees by propelling your body forward as you stride. Poles also give you an added level of security against falling on uneven terrain.

Hiking up and down uneven terrain requires more energy than walking on a level surface. Your body has to work harder, thereby increasing your heart rate and burning more calories.

your hike. Set a timer on your phone or sports watch to remind you to drink regularly. Watch the weather. If you’re not sure about the forecast, wear layers that you can easily remove and wrap Walking poles have metal tips (for use on trails) and around your waist. Carry a rolled-up windbreaker, attachable rubber tips for asphalt or concrete surfaces. rain jacket, or poncho in a backpack. Most are adjustable and can collapse for easy storage in a backpack. Purchase them at a sporting goods or Support yourself. Invest in specially designed hiking camping store where staff can offer product advice, or trail shoes with good ankle support. Wear calfhelp you adjust the height, and give you a quick les- length socks to protect your legs from bites, scrapes, son on their use. and scratches. Stay hydrated. Drink water before, during, and after This article was originally published by Harvard Health.

03/06/22

pinion

Can we Really Harness the Power of the Markets?

By Saif Al-Abri

In modern times market agents such as consumers and firms only respond to incentives. Clearly articulated by Karl Polyani, we live in a time whereby social institutions are embedded in the market. As such, economists are trying to combat social and environmental issues by following market principles. The most significant innovation is the emission trade system introducing a carbon market implemented to combat climate change. It is often seen as an essential tool in the fight for zero carbon emission but is that the case. In economics, there’s a concept known as externalities; in our case, carbon emission, which happens because carbon is priced below what society deems to be optimal. This occurs because companies are not obliged to consider the impacts of its emission on society. The introduction of carbon markets put prices on these externalities -pricing carbon emission.

The by-product of such a system is that companies trying to reduce carbon by forest preservation can monetise their activities, or firms can plant trees to gain credit .

This is mainly done using a cap-and-trade model whereby the regulator sets the maximum emission, known as the cap and then auctions allowances to companies. The carbon market has been on a sharp rise; as reported by a The Economist, “By the end of 2021, more than %21 of the world’s emissions were covered by some form of carbon pricing, up from %15 in 2020… Investors are getting interested too: trading on these markets grew by %164 last year, to 760€b”.

seem to be realised is that trees don’t just make the carbon disappear; once the tree dies, the accumulated carbon is released back into the atmosphere as such; it only buys time. Another critique is that the amount of carbon firms is predicted to have absorbed through their activities is often overestimated. In a study conducted by Thales West, a scientist stated that Amazon›s schemas are constantly overestimating its emission reduction. In addition, an investigation by Greenpeace concludes that estimates that are used to issue carbon credit are based on a flawed system. Furthermore, Greenpeace attacks the carbon trade as it›s used as a ‘get out of jail free card for companies who want to greenwash emissions”. This is not to mention the amount of cheating whereby forests are destroyed as credit is generated; you can find out more here “why carbon credit for forest preservation may be worse than nothing”. To put the final nail in the coffin, a study by Stockholm environmental institute stated that %73 of credits issued are not likely to have led to any additional reduction in emission.

As seen, the current state of the carbon market is not looking very positive. If implemented correctly, the carbon market could play a very modest role in incentivising preservation programs and emission reduction. However, this will require a functional regulatory system “The by-product of such a system is that that doesn’t seem to exist. Furthermore, many companies trying to reduce carbon by forest countries rely on such programmes to meet preservation can monetise their activities, emission goals, which is a big mistake as, in or firms can plant trees to gain credit. The its current form, it will unlikely help. As stated champions of carbon markets label it as a way by Stockholm environmental institute, “global of “harnessing the power of market prices and CO₂ emissions would have been 600 million tons lower.” If they just used basic cut pollution market signals.” One of the main ways corporations gain emission schemes. It seems clear that we will not be able credit is by planting trees or preserving forests to meet climate targets by relying on carbon in developing countries. However, what doesn’t markets.

03/06/22