Without a clear transitional justice mechanism, these political prowesses, and this posture of alliance with the different communities, will not be enough to calm the pain and anger still brooding under the rubble. 9/9
An article to read on L'Orient Today:
today.lorientlejour.com/article/1452...
The government, on its end, has launched a vast operation to appease the population: creating a commission of inquiry into the massacres, offering condolences to the bereaved families, and signing a five-year temporary constitution with an article on respect for minorities... 8/9
Will the Sunni, pro-revolution majority, also be able to self-criticize on the bloodiest episode in post-Assad Syria? A difficult task as the motivations are many, ranging from criminal (Abu Amsha) to religious (those who killed Alawites because they are "kuffars"). 7/9
All of this has triggered a desire for revenge among the Sunni community. Fadel Abdul Ghany, head of an ONG that meticulously documents extrajudicial executions since 2011, has received a "torrent of insults," including from friends and family, for denouncing the atrocities against Alawites. 6/9
"What is related to extermination, Sednaya, the chemical attacks, and the aerial bombardments, most Alawites don't see it. Or they feel they are not concerned by it," Hamza Esmili adds. 5/9
"Alawites often don't perceive the regime in the same way (as the Sunni majority). They complain about Assad as an economic predator, and they understand the liberation as simply the fall of a corrupt regime," anthropologist Hamza Esmili brilliantly explains.
4/9
"When there were rumors that Maher al-Assad was going to return, people in Lattakia and Tartous burst into joy. And parents of soldiers from the 4th Division demand that their children be recognized as martyrs. It's a lack of respect for the blood of Syrians," a student in Damascus tells me. 3/9
First, there is a deep resentment toward the Alawite community, widely perceived to have collaborated, directly or indirectly, with Bashar al-Assad's regime. And the Alawites are criticized for not engaging in self-criticism. 2/9
"I refuse to see innocent Alawites, the elderly, and women killed. I can't bear it when it's done in the name of my religion."
In Syria, many in the Sunni, pro-revolution majority, express their horror at the massacres, but put them into perspective. There are several reasons for this. 🧶 1/9
Super, la nouvelle série signée @amelzac.bsky.social pour @lesjours.fr : l'autre révolution syrienne, celle des journalistes. Ça démarre à Sana, l'agence de presse officielle désormais sous la tutelle de ceux qu'elle qualifiait il y a trois mois de terroristes.
lesjours.fr/obsessions/s...
Y'a jamais rien de mieux que le bon gros dub pour se replonger dans l'histoire des services secrets d'avant guerre.
Pour le Nachrichtendienst de 1914 et la Sektion IIIb je recommande Mafia&Fluxy
open.spotify.com/intl-fr/trac...
Overton Window shifts fast in Isratine. Cleaning out entire populations is apparently routine practice now:
“Defence Minister Israel Katz said the camps in Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams were now ‘empty’ and would be occupied by the Israeli military for the coming year.”
www.bbc.com/news/article...
On Israeli views of Assad: In the 2010s, of course, Israel was explicitly pro-regime. It wanted Bashar to stay in power because he was the devil they knew, the leader of a regime which (despite its rhetoric) had kept the border quiet for decades. 🧵 www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...
Very timely private visit.
Following Assad’s call with Mohammed bin Zayed yesterday, Emirati FM Abdullah bin Zayed spoke today with his counterparts in Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt about the situation Syria. Readout notes Abu Dhabi’s support for “brotherly Syria in confronting extremism and terror.” www.aletihad.ae/news/%D8%A7%...
An enormous toll for Hezbollah: "One source said the Iran-backed group may have lost up to 4,000 people - well over 10 times the number killed in its month-long 2006 war with Israel." www.reuters.com/world/middle...
(4/4) Their insistence that Hezbollah publicly hand over its weapons to the Lebanese army under the supervision of the monitoring commission headed by an American general.
(3/4) Their request that the withdrawal of Hezbollah begins in the first days of the ceasefire, before the start of the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Southern Lebanon.
(2/4) Their insistence on obtaining freedom of action in Lebanese territory in the event of violation of the agreement, with an American guarantee.
(1/4) According to information obtained by L’Orient-Le Jour’s Mounir Rabih, one of the reasons that pushes Lebanon to worry about the post-ceasefire period is the fact that the Israelis leaked three important points that could cause the deal to collapse:
LOrient-Le Jour obtained full text of ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon (13 points): 1701 UN res, right to self defense, monitoring committee at the border…
Netanyahu said security cabinet approved it. Now has to be voted by full Israeli cabinet
today.lorientlejour.com/article/1437...
After posting humiliating videos on social media, Israeli soldiers now mock villages they destroyed in South-Lebanon on Google Maps, complaining about "only rubble", "too many rats", or a hospital being "too full".
www.lorientlejour.com/article/1436...
Yes but when? No high chances for a deal until Hezbollah is "annihilated" it seems. Also Netanyahu might want to keep a Lebanon deal as a gift to Trump, hoping for his green light to West Bank annexation
In 2021 Saudi PIF invested 2 billion in Jared Kushner’s new private fund. On October 24, the head of US Senate Finance Committee (Dem) requested to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate on Kushner possibly acting as a foreign agent for Saudi Arabia.
today.lorientlejour.com/article/1433...
Happy to be added too, if possible!