Nawaf Salam

Apocalypticism and War Ending 

The paradoxes of the Islamic summit are blatant and quite equivocal. One wonders what elicited this mobilization after two years of apathy and diplomatic inaction. An early summit could have spared Gaza and its population the tragedies brought about by the apocalyptic vision of Hamas, the cynicism of its handlers and leaders and their ruinous ...

The Deception of the Obstructionist Axis: Did You Say ‘Resistance’?

A textbook example of deceit and blatant bad faith — that’s how one could describe the speech delivered late last week by Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem. With a straight face, he called on Saudi Arabia to “open a new page in its relations with the resistance,” and he added, almost innocently, that “the weapons of the ...

Syria to Select New Parliament on October 5

Syria is set to hold the selection process for a transitional parliament on October 5, in accordance with a constitutional declaration announced earlier this year, the electoral commission said Sunday. The People's Assembly of Syria was dissolved by the country's new Islamist authorities, who seized power after ousting longtime ruler Bashar ...

The Path to Peace Is Underway

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration on Sunday that peace with Lebanon and Syria is now “possible” may be the most consequential statement on regional diplomacy in years. Coming after decades of hostility, wars, and missed opportunities, the prospect of reconciliation with Israel’s northern neighbors is ...

Five Dead in Israeli Drone Attack on Southern Lebanon

Five people were killed and two others wounded on Sunday in an Israeli drone strike on Bint Jbeil, the latest in a string of attacks in south Lebanon in recent days. The strike which targeted a motorcycle, also hit a car that was passing by killing and wounding its passengers, a family of six. Three children are among the dead. According to Saudi ...

Ben Gvir and Smotrich Urge West Bank Annexation as Western Countries Recognize Palestinian State

Two Israeli far-right ministers on Sunday called for the annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank following the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state. "The recognition by Britain, Canada, and Australia of a Palestinian state... requires immediate countermeasures: the swift application of sovereignty in ...

Peace with Syria and Lebanon Is on the Way...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah has created the opportunity of peace with Lebanon and Syria. “Our victories in Lebanon against Hezbollah have opened a window of opportunities that was unimaginable before our recent operations; there is a possibility of peace with our ...

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Heads to US to Address UN General Assembly

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa departed for the United States, state media reported Sunday, on a landmark trip that will see the former jihadist address the United Nations General Assembly. State television said Sharaa was en route "to the United States of America to participate in the affairs of the 80th session of the United Nations General ...

Two Killed, 11 Wounded in Israeli Strikes on South Lebanon

Two people were killed and eleven others wounded in two Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday. The first strike targeted a car at the entrance of the Tebnine Governmental Hospital, in the Bint Jbeil district, killing Hussein Hassan Ramadan, a native of Taybeh in the Baalbek district. The raid was followed by another strike that ...

Russian FM Lavrov to Meet Rubio at UN Next Week

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet US counterpart Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week, Russian state media cited Moscow's UN envoy as saying Friday. US President Donald Trump has expressed mounting frustration at Moscow, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in particular, for not having struck ...

Iran Withdraws Draft Resolution to Ban Attacks on Nuclear Facilities

Iran late Thursday withdrew a draft resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog that called to ban attacks against nuclear facilities after its war with Israel, citing reported US pressure for the last-minute change. In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that saw Israeli and US strikes on ...

Israel Army says will Use 'Unprecedented force' in Gaza City

The Israeli military warned on Friday it will operate with "unprecedented force" in Gaza City, urging residents to flee southwards while announcing the closure of a temporary evacuation route opened 48 hours earlier. Israel's bid to capture Gaza City has sparked international outrage, with the territory already devastated by nearly two years of ...