RAMALLAH: Activists in Palestine claim that last month’s blocking of Palestinian websites was carried out simply via a phone call from the office of President Mahmoud Abbas to local Internet providers.
The activists insist that the attorney general, who is officially and publicly referenced as having made the decision to block the websites, was only privy to the issue later and had to produce the needed legal cover for the decision made in the presidential headquarters.
Ammar Dwaik, director general of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, said the decision was most probably made by the people around Abbas and in his name, and the attorney general was asked to find legal cover for it.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a scenario,” Dwaik told Arab News, citing the establishment of the constitutional court with little discussion or debate. He said it was created to lift immunity from MP Mohammad Dahlan, a rival to Abbas, and a number of elected legislators close to him.
Sources in Ramallah said Abbas’ advisers are creating an atmosphere of paranoia, and are advising him to act against alleged conspiracies against him and the Palestinian people. The blocking of the websites was quickly followed by the enactment of the Cybercrime Law without discussion or public debate.
Dwaik said a look at the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting shows that approving the law was not on the agenda, “yet shortly thereafter, we were surprised by the law being signed by Abbas.” Dwaik said the erosion of the separation of powers has continued gradually in recent years. “During the last two years, the people around Abbas have been trying to control the judiciary,” he said.
Majed Aruri, executive director of the Civil Commission for the Independence of the Judiciary and Rule of Law, told Arab News that blocking the websites violates the Basic Law and the 2009 Telecommunications Law that was signed by Abbas. “If the affected websites challenge this order in court, they have a good possibility of winning,” Aruri said.
Ibrahim Barghouthi, legal and technical adviser for the Ramallah-based Musawa Center for the Independence of the Judiciary, told Arab News that what is happening constitutes a shift toward a totalitarian state. “We seem to be in a race for the world record for passing as many laws by presidential decree as possible,” he said.
“The number of laws signed as presidential decrees is more than twice that of all the laws passed by elected Palestinian legislatures since 1995. Using the very narrow provision that allows the president to enact laws, allowed by Article 43 of the Basic Law, has become the rule rather than the exception.”
Varsen Shahin, commissioner general of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, said: “Palestine has also witnessed security intervention in the judicial system… leading to a decline in judiciary authority and its independence, and the undermining of citizens. This violates the principles and provisions of the Basic Law, the rule of law and the principle of segregation of authorities. It reflects hegemony and individual opinion.”
Grant Rumley, co-author of the new biography “The Last Palestinian: The Rise and Reign of Mahmoud Abbas,” told Arab News: “In recent years, Abbas’ priorities have shifted to focusing on his survival and the continuation of his rule. He has consolidated his grip on his party, Fatah, through two conferences, and over the Palestinian Authority through kicking out those who disagreed with him, like Salam Fayyad. His recent decision to block websites of his rivals is more of the same. Ultimately, his increasingly autocratic style will only further alienate everyday Palestinians and fuel his rivals’ animosity toward him.”
Kamel Hawwash, vice chair of the British Palestinian Policy Society, wrote: “Whatever strategy Abbas has followed is unraveling. He is leading the Palestinians to further fragmentation and separation. It is time he admitted this and stood down. If not, then his own miscalculations could hasten the end of his rule. Even those around him that have benefited handsomely from his rule must now realize the game is up.”
Israeli military officials are also sounding the alarm. Abbas “is weak and is losing control and no longer represents all Palestinians,” said the former head of Israel’s Shabak internal intelligence agency. “I expect he’ll be leaving the political scene very soon.”
Dwaik said there appears to be a disconnect within the Palestinian governing structure. “The prime minister and government are much more transparent and liberal, and are attuned to international standards in democratic governance and the rule of law. But the results do not seem to be in sync with the policies of the government. There are clearly conflicting trends within the governing structure in Palestine.”
Are Mahmoud Abbas’ challenges to the judiciary exposing his weakness?
Are Mahmoud Abbas’ challenges to the judiciary exposing his weakness?
UAE foreign ministry says monitoring case of missing Moldovan citizen
- Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan citizen, was reported missing since Thursday
- Ministry says it is “in close contact with his (Kogan’s) family to provide them with all means of necessary support.”
RIYADH: The United Arab Emirate’s foreign ministry on Sunday said it is closely monitoring the case of Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan citizen who was reported missing since Thursday.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said it is “in close contact with his (Kogan’s) family to provide them with all means of necessary support.”
Majed Al Mansoori, MOFA director of foreign nationals affairs, was quoted in the statement as saying that the ministry was also in contact with the Embassy of Moldova in Abu Dhabi about the case.
Mansoori further said the Ministry of Interior “is implementing extensive measures in its search for the missing person, affirming that the relevant authorities in the UAE have initiated the search operations and investigations immediately following the receipt of the report.”
Wire agencies reported that the missing person was a rabbi who also held Israeli citizenship and that the Israeli prime minister’s office on Saturday night acknowledged Kogan’s disappearance, without elaborating.
The UAE has a burgeoning Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners.
However, Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza and increasing aggression against Lebanon have sparked deep anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals from other states and others living in the UAE.
Jordanian police cordon off area near Israeli embassy after gunshots heard, witnesses say
- The area near the heavily policed embassy is a flashpoint for frequent demonstrations against Israel
AMMAN: Jordanian police cordoned off an area in the vicinity of the Israeli embassy in the capital Amman after gunshots were heard, witnesses said on Sunday.
Two witnesses said police and ambulances rushed to the Rabiah neighborhood, where the embassy is located, after sporadic gunfire was heard.
Police called on residents to stay in their homes as security personnel conducted a search for the culprits, a security source said.
The area near the heavily policed embassy is a flashpoint for frequent demonstrations against Israel. The kingdom has witnessed some of the biggest peaceful rallies across the region as anti-Israel sentiment runs high over the war in Gaza.
Many of Jordan’s 12 million citizens are of Palestinian origin, they or their parents having been expelled or fled to Jordan in the fighting that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948. Many have family ties on the other side of the Jordan River.
Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel is widely unpopular among many citizens who see normalization of relations as betraying the rights of their Palestinian compatriots.
How should Arab Americans deal with Trump administration?
- Michigan-based businessman Ned Fawaz tells “The Ray Hanania Radio Show” the community should opt for engagement, not boycott
- Civil rights attorney David Chami sees a double standard that plays down anti-Arab racism while amplifying pro-Israel narratives
CHICAGO: A prominent Arab American businessman from Michigan has called on Arab and Muslim communities to abandon the boycott strategy they adopted during Donald Trump’s first presidency and instead engage with his administration to address pressing issues, including the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. However, an Arizona civil rights attorney cautioned that the plea coincides with what he views as a concerning surge in anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia.
Speaking on “The Ray Hanania Radio Show,” Ned Fawaz, president of the Lebanese International Business Council and founder of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce in Michigan; and David Chami, a civil rights attorney representing students sanctioned by Arizona State University for anti-Israel protests, urged the community to prioritize dialogue over boycotts. They acknowledged what they view as Trump’s polarizing reputation and pro-Israel cabinet appointments, and argued that there is a rising tide of hatred toward Arabs and Muslims, but also highlighted the importance of engagement to influence policymaking.
Fawaz said that dialogue is essential to influencing US policy. “It’s bad to boycott. After all, we’re American. We have issues (other than just) the Middle East as well. And I think we should all dialogue and talk, and be ready to communicate with the president, with any administration, because we cannot just sit aside and do nothing.”
He urged Arab Americans to seize “every opportunity” to push Trump to end the violence and foster a climate for lasting peace, including support for the two-state solution for Palestinians. “Yes, always, negotiation makes better sense than boycotting. We believe in evolution. We do not believe in revolution. So, that’s the way it should be,” Fawaz said, highlighting the importance of engaging with the US president regardless of who holds the office, to address issues affecting both Arab American citizens and the Middle East.
Trump, who defeated Democratic rival Kamala Harris in both the electoral college and by popular vote on Nov. 5, remains a controversial figure in the Arab American community. However, as suggested by a pre-election survey by Arab News, many view Trump as the leader best equipped to end the Gaza conflict, despite his perceived closeness to Israel.
During his first term, Arab Americans overwhelmingly supported Democrat Hillary Clinton during the election and grew frustrated with Trump’s policies in office, including his anti-immigration stances and strong backing of Israel. The community boycotted several key initiatives, such as the 2020 Peace to Prosperity Conference in Bahrain, organized by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and opposed the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and some Arab states like the UAE, Morocco and Bahrain.
Adding to an already complex geopolitical situation, on Thursday, after months of deliberation, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas official Mohammed Deif, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The charges stem from the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s extensive offensive in the Palestinian territory.
While the suspects are unlikely to appear before judges at The Hague — since Israel is not an ICC member — the announcement could influence the dynamics of the conflict. The full extent of its repercussions remains unclear.
In an almost bipartisan statement, the US strongly condemned the ICC’s decision, diverging from the more cautious responses of its allies. President Joe Biden called the arrest warrants “outrageous,” saying: “Let me be clear once again: Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” Mike Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, dismissed the ICC’s credibility, claiming its allegations had been refuted by the US government. “You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC and UN come January,” he said.
Fawaz, while analyzing Trump’s potential influence in the region, acknowledged the former president’s unwavering support for Israel and his close alliance with Netanyahu, describing it as a possible obstacle. However, he highlighted Trump’s personal connections to the Arab community, noting that his daughter Tiffany is married to Lebanese American Michael Boulos, whose father, Massad Boulos, was a vocal supporter of Trump and the Arab Americans for Trump group.
However, Fawaz acknowledged the significant challenges posed by Trump’s cabinet selections. Many of his appointees are staunchly pro-Israel and have made controversial statements about Palestinians. These include the former governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, nominated as US ambassador to Israel, who once claimed that “there is no such thing as Palestinians” and opposes the two-state solution. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, expected to serve as secretary of state, has openly supported Israel’s military actions in Gaza, opposing calls for a ceasefire while advocating for additional funding and weaponry for Israel.
“The secretary of defense also has an extreme Zionist position. I think, even with all of that, we must continue to negotiate, continue the dialogue, to interact with the administration,” Fawaz said, referencing the nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Iraq war veteran. “Hopefully there will (be) some people who are fair, who are good for the US government, they are good for the US people, good for the taxpayers and they see some fair issue,” he said. “They will not allow this kind of genocide that has taken place in Lebanon or in Gaza.”
Since the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023, the US administration has consistently voiced its support for Israel, which has drawn widespread criticism for what many experts describe as excessive use of force. In 14 months of conflict, about 44,000 people, including one-third of them children, have been killed in Gaza, while more than 3,500 deaths have been reported in Lebanon, many caused by US-made and supplied weapons.
Speaking on a separate segment of the show, attorney Ahmad Chami claimed that there has been a surge in anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia, which he said is not an aberration, but a continuation of systemic hostility toward Arab and Muslim Americans, exacerbated by Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. Chami criticized the inconsistent responses of US politicians, claiming they are quick to act against discrimination targeting other groups but hesitant to address anti-Arab racism or Islamophobia for fear of being labeled antisemitic.
“We are too easily the villains for our government and our media,” Chami said, citing the Arizona State University lawsuit as an example of the suppression of pro-Palestinian protests. “We’re so worried about the perception that this anti-Israeli policy protest is going to have on the poor innocent Jewish Americans that we are willing to suppress free speech, and pass bills, and attempt to pass bills labeling Students for Justice in Palestine as ‘terrorist sympathizers’.”
Chami described this as a double standard that minimizes public attention to anti-Arab racism while amplifying narratives that favor Israel, and pointed to a rise in hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims in the US — an increase of 71 percent in the first half of 2024, according to Chami — that has been “vastly underreported.”
Citing the recent attack by a 64-year-old Jewish woman in Downers Grove, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, who verbally and physically assaulted a Muslim man and his pregnant wife at a coffee shop because the husband was wearing a sweatshirt with the word “Palestine” on it, Chami argued that this atmosphere allows people to “feel protected and emboldened” to attack Arabs or Muslims with impunity.
“That is a systematic problem,” he said. “That is a problem with our government allowing these people to feel like, I can attack an Arab, I can attack someone I perceive as Muslim or even pro-Palestinian, and I’ll be fine.”
Chami linked this environment to political factors portraying Arabs and Muslims as terrorists, which he said devalues Arab and Muslim lives while elevating those of pro-Israel or Jewish individuals. Chami also revealed that documents from his lawsuit against Arizona State University suggest the Anti-Defamation League lobbied university officials to treat anti-Israel protests as acts of violence.
“They (ADL) call themselves a civil rights organization, but they’re very clearly, in my view, an organization that is a political organization that is intended to protect not only Jewish Americans, but more importantly, Israeli interests,” Chami said, accusing the group of pressuring institutions like the ASU to silence pro-Palestinian voices.
Fawaz echoed the need for change at both local and international levels, pointing to Trump’s administration as a potential avenue for such transformation. “Change is always possible,” he said, citing Trump’s frequent cabinet reshuffles during his first term. While Trump has yet to appoint Arab Americans to key roles, Fawaz said that there are many qualified individuals in the community. “There are some capable Arab Americans in politics, all over the US,” he said. “And he can select someone who is fair, who can be our voice.”
He also highlighted efforts by Massad Boulos to act as a liaison between Trump and the Lebanese community. “We hope Boulos succeeds and secures a position where he can make a difference,” he said.
Although Biden initiated outreach to Arab Americans during his first year in office and appointed two dozen Arab Americans to White House and State Department roles, Fawaz criticized the administration for curbing their influence by barring them from speaking publicly on Middle East issues. He expressed hope that this would change under Trump’s leadership, though, in this increasingly intricate political landscape, much remains to be seen.
Jordan slashes EV tax rates to boost green transition
- Fully EVs with customs value between JD10,000 and JD25,000 will be taxed at 20 percent, down from 40 percent
AMMAN: The Jordanian government on Saturday announced a reduction in special taxes on electric vehicles (EVs) until the end of 2024, in a move aimed at easing financial burdens on citizens and importers while encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly transportation.
Under the decision, fully electric vehicles with a customs value between JD10,000 ($14,100) and JD25,000 will be taxed at 20 percent, down from 40 percent, Jordan News Agency reported.
For plug-in hybrid EVs exceeding JD25,000, the tax rate will be reduced to 27.5 percent, compared to the previous 55 percent.
The policy, effective immediately and set to expire on Dec. 31, also includes provisions for retroactive refunds.
Owners who cleared EVs under the previous tax regime before this announcement will be eligible for reimbursement of the difference.
The decision, made during a Saturday cabinet session led by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, followed a two-month review involving experts and stakeholders.
It addresses concerns about EVs already stored in bonded warehouses or free zones before the decision was implemented.
“The government sought logical solutions to ease the burden on citizens and importers while enabling them to complete clearance procedures,” officials stated.
To further promote accessibility, the government confirmed that EVs with a customs value below JD10,000 remain fully exempt from taxes, aiming to make electric mobility affordable for middle-income families.
The reduction underscores Jordan's commitment to sustainable transport while balancing economic pressures on its citizens. However, the government emphasized that the exemption was non-renewable, marking the end of tax relief on Dec. 31.
Aid only ‘delaying deaths’ as Sudan counts down to famine: agency chief
- “We have the biggest humanitarian crisis on the planet in Sudan, the biggest hunger crisis, the biggest displacement crisis,” Norwegian Refugee Council chief Jan Egeland said
- “I met women barely surviving, eating one meal of boiled leaves a day“
CAIRO: War-torn Sudan is on a “countdown to famine” ignored by world leaders while humanitarian aid is only “delaying deaths,” Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) chief Jan Egeland told AFP on Saturday.
“We have the biggest humanitarian crisis on the planet in Sudan, the biggest hunger crisis, the biggest displacement crisis... and the world is giving it a shrug,” he said in an interview from neighboring Chad after a visit to Sudan this week.
Since April 2023, war has pitted Sudan’s regular army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing tens of thousands of people and uprooting more than 11 million.
The United Nations says that nearly 26 million people inside Sudan are suffering acute hunger.
“I met women barely surviving, eating one meal of boiled leaves a day,” Egeland said.
One of few organizations to have maintained operations in Sudan, the NRC says some 1.5 million people are “on the edge of famine.”
“The violence is tearing apart communities much faster than we can come in with aid,” Egeland said.
“As we struggle to keep up, our current resources are merely delaying deaths instead of preventing them.”
Two decades ago, allegations of genocide brought world attention to Sudan’s vast western region of Darfur where the then government in Khartoum unleashed Arab tribal militias against non-Arab minorities suspected of supporting a rebellion.
“It is beyond belief that we have a fraction of the interest now for Sudan’s crisis than we had 20 years ago for Darfur, when the crisis was actually much smaller,” Egeland said.
He said Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon and Russia’s war with Ukraine had been allowed to overshadow the conflict in Sudan.
But he said he detected a shift in the “international mood,” away from the kind of celebrity-driven campaigns that brought Hollywood star George Clooney to Darfur in the 2000s.
“More nationalistic tendencies, more inward-looking,” he said of Western governments led by politicians compelled to “put my nation first, me first, not humanity first.”
“It will come to haunt” these “short-sighted” leaders, when those they failed to assist in their homeland join the tide of refugees and migrants headed north.
In Chad, he said he had met young people who just barely survived ethnic cleansing in Darfur, and had made the decision to brave the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean to Europe even though they had friends who had drowned.
Inside Sudan, one in every five people has been displaced by this or previous conflicts, according to UN figures.
Most of those displaced are in Darfur, where Egeland says the situation is “horrific and getting worse.”
The North Darfur state capital of El-Fasher has been under siege by the RSF for months, nearly disabling all aid operations in the region and pushing the nearby Zamzam displacement camp into famine.
But even areas spared the devastation of war “are bursting at the seams,” Egeland said. Across the army-controlled east, camps, schools and other public buildings are filled with displaced people left to fend for themselves.
On the outskirts of Port Sudan — the Red Sea city where the army-backed government and UN agencies are now based — Egeland said he visited a school sheltering more than 3,700 displaced people where mothers were unable to feed their children.
“How come next door to the easiest accessible part of Sudan... there is starvation?” he asked.
According to the UN, both sides are using hunger as a weapon of war. Authorities routinely impede access with bureaucratic hurdles, while paramilitary fighters have threatened and attacked aid workers.
“The ongoing starvation is a man-made tragedy... Each delay, every blocked truck, every authorization delayed is a death sentence for families who can’t wait another day for food, water and shelter,” Egeland said.
But in spite of all the obstacles, “it is possible to reach all corners of Sudan,” he said, calling on donors to increase funding and aid organizations to have more “guts.”
“Parties to conflicts specialize in scaring us and we specialize in being scared,” he said, urging UN and other agencies to “be tougher and demand access.”
