Excerpts: All Hezbullah support comes from Iran. Israel,Turkey normalization
talks. Iraq screens to stop ISIS militants. Kerry, Netanyahu to meet in
Rome. Russia's 'strategic partnership' with China. Automatic blocking of
extremist videos June 26, 2016
+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya News 26 June ’16:”In first, Hezbollah confirms all
financial support comes from Iran”, Special to Al Arabiya by Dr.Majid
Refizadeh
SUBJECT:All Hezbollah support comes from Iran
QUOTE:”Nasrallah: “We are open about the fact that Hezbollah’s budget, its
income, its expenses, everything it eats and drinks, its weapons and
rockets, come from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
FULL TEXT:In a speech broadcast on Friday[24 June], Hassan Nasrallah, the
leader of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah scoffed at the recent US
sanctions stating that these sanctions will not impact his group whatsoever
due to the fact that Hezbollah receives full financial and arms support from
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He pointed out that “We do not have any business projects or investments via
banks…” Nasrallah added that “We are open about the fact that Hezbollah’s
budget, its income, its expenses, everything it eats and drinks, its weapons
and rockets, come from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and he emphasized that
his group “will not be affected” by any fresh sanctions.
Speaking in a speech to mark 40 days after the death of a high level
Hezbollah commander Mustafah Bedreddine in the Syrian capital Damascus,
Nasrallah stated that: “As long as Iran has money, we have money… Just as we
receive the rockets that we use to threaten Israel, we are receiving our
money. No law will prevent us from receiving it…”
First public confirmation
It has been long known to political observers that the Islamic Republic
played a key role in giving birth to the Lebanese Shiite militant group in
1982. For over three decades, Iran’s financial, military, intelligence,
logistical, and advisory assistances to Hezbollah have been well known. The
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its elite force, the Quds
force, transformed Hezbollah to be one of Iran’s most important and powerful
regional and international proxies.
Nevertheless, what highlights the significance of Nasrallah’s speech is the
fact that this is the first time in which he is announcing and publicly
confirming that his group is receiving full monetary and arms support from
the Iranian government.
The United States has long listed Hezbollah as a global terrorist group
(since 1995) and accused it in several attacks such as the 1983 Beirut
barracks bombing, that killed 241 US marines, the April 1983 US embassy
bombing, and the 1984 US embassy annex bombing.
On Dec. 18, 2015, the US president signed the Hezbollah International
Financing Prevention Act. The US Congress voted to impose fresh sanctions on
Hezbollah by targeting those banks that are “knowingly facilitating a
significant transaction or transactions for" Hezbollah and those financial
institutions that "knowingly facilitating a significant transaction or
transactions of a person identified on the List of Specially Designated
Nationals and Blocked persons."
Nasrallah pointed out in his recent speech: “We totally reject this [United
States] law until the Day of Judgment ... Even if the law is applied, we as
a party and an organizational and jihadist movement, will not be hurt or
affected,” He added: "We have no money in Lebanese banks, neither in the
past nor now … We don't transfer our money through the Lebanese banking
system."
How this plays out in Washington
On the other hand, since Hezbollah is receiving full funding and arms
support from Iran, according to Nasrallah, the US is now seemingly playing a
critical role in assisting and facilitating the ways through which Hezbollah
receives this significant aid from the Iranian government.
The Obama administration and Hassan Rowhani’s government were two key
players in getting the nuclear agreement signed. When the nuclear terms
started being implemented, the Obama administration began immediately
transferring billions of dollars to Iran's Central Bank. One of the payments
included 1.7 billion dollars transferred, in January 2015.
Two of the major primary beneficiaries of these sanctions reliefs and flow
of money are Hezbollah and the IRGC. Iran also immediately increased its
military budget by $1.5 billion from $15.6 billion to $17.1 billion. Iran
also began witnessing the flow of money due to the lifting of international
sanctions.
Nasrallah’s speech also indicates that the US money transfer to Iran’s bank
and the sanctions reliefs appear to have empowered and emboldened both the
Iranian government and the Hezbollah leader.
Previously, when sanctions were imposed on Iran, Tehran had to reduce
Hezbollah and its TV’s (Al-Manar channel) funding from the approximately
$200 million a year. However, thanks to Washington, the money that Iran is
receiving from the US or the market is again going on its way to Hezbollah,
the major benefactor.
President Obama had given hope to world powers that engaging with Iran and
the nuclear deal with Tehran would more likely force the Iranian government
to moderate its behavior. Obama pointed out in an interview with NPR’s Steve
Inskeep that as a result of the nuclear agreement Iran would start
“different decisions that are less offensive to its neighbors; that it tones
down the rhetoric in terms of its virulent opposition...”
Hezbollah’s confirmation of receiving money and arms from Iran is
intriguing. Almost all signs indicate that the continuation of sanctions
relief, and US transfer of billions of dollars to Iran militarily and
financially assisting and ending up in the hands of Iran’s primary proxy,
Hezbollah as well as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Quds force.
+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya News 26 June’16:”Israel and Turkey to hold
normalization talks”,by Agence France Presse
SUBJECT:Israel,Turkey normalization talks
FULL TEXT:Israeli and Turkish negotiators will meet on Sunday[26 June] in
Rome aiming to reach an agreement on normalizing relations after the two
countries fell out six years ago, sources said.
Previously, the discussions had been expected to take place in Turkey.
If an agreement is reached, it would go before Israel's security cabinet for
approval on Wednesday[29 June], according to media reports and an Israeli
official who requested anonymity.
Analysts say it is very likely that an agreement will be concluded on
Sunday[29 June].
Once tight relations between Israel and key NATO member Turkey were
significantly downgraded after Israeli commandos staged a deadly pre-dawn
raid on a six-ship flotilla in May 2010 as it tried to run the blockade on
Gaza.
Two of Turkey's key conditions for normalization -- an apology and
compensation -- have largely been met, leaving its third demand, that Israel
lift its blockade on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, as the main obstacle.
According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet, the two sides have reached a
compromise whereby Turkey would send aid for Palestinians via the Israeli
port of Ashdod rather than directly to Gaza.
A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary
of State John Kerry is also expected on Sunday[26 June] in the Italian
capital to discuss the state of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
SOURCE: Al Arabiya News 26 June’16:”Iraq screens 20,000 to stop ISIS
infiltrators”,by Agence France Presse
SUBJECT:Iraq screens to stop ISIS militants
EXCERPTS:Iraq is screening 20,000 people leaving the Fallujah area to stop
militants of the ISIS escaping among civilians displaced by fighting, the
army said on Saturday[25 June].
Tens of thousands of people have fled as government forces fight to oust
ISIS from Fallujah, a city 50 kilometers west of Baghdad.
Some of those screened have accused security forces of beating and torturing
them.
Of those detained, 2,185 were suspects based on testimonies or other
information, while 11,605 were released and about 7,000 were still being
checked, said a spokesman for Iraq's Joint Operations Command.
When fleeing civilians reached government forces, teenage boys and men were
screened separately, with some being released after a few hours while others
underwent more thorough interrogation.
Relatives mobbed Iraqi officials at a camp for displaced last week to ask
about the fate of hundreds of missing males……….
……..
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office previously said that he had issued
"strict orders" for prosecutions in the event of any abuses.
ISIS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in June 2014, but Iraqi
forces have since regained significant ground from the militants, who now
hold only one major city in the country.
+++SOURCE: Al Arabiya News 26 June’16:”Kerry in Rome for tense Netanyahu
meeting”,by Agence France Presse
SUBJECT:Kerry,Netanyahu to meet in Rome
QUOTE:”publication of an international report expected to criticize Israeli
settlement building”
[IMRA: Many of the Palestinian structures being demolished are new
structures in Israel controlled Area C financed by the EU in their efforts
to create unauthorized Palestinian facts on the ground.]
FULL TEXT:US Secretary of State John Kerry left Washington on Saturday[25
June] to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the publication of
an international report expected to criticize Israeli settlement building.
Kerry was flying to Rome to meet the Israeli leader on Sunday and
Monday.26,27 June] Some reports have suggested he will use the meeting to
assess the possibility of reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
But US officials have been careful not to predict any breakthroughs and the
meeting is likely to touch on the imminent release of a report by the
Quartet, which is seeking to foster a "two-state" solution to the conflict.
This diplomatic group -- the United Nations, the European Union, the United
States and Russia -- is concerned that Palestinian violence and Israel's
building on occupied land is pushing the prospect of peace further away.
This week, ahead of Kerry's trip, his spokesman John Kirby said: "There are
plenty of issues coming up that merit Israel and the United States's
discussion."
Kirby said the Quartet's report "will include recommendations that will help
inform international discussions on the best way to advance a two-state
solution."
The document will "largely" reflect the Quartet's previous statement in
September last year, he added.
The September report cited Israel's "ongoing settlement activity and the
high rate of demolition of Palestinian structures" as "dangerously
imperiling the viability" of a two-state deal.
Washington, the traditional mediator in Middle East peace efforts, has not
taken the lead in recent months, concerned that the situation is not
promising and that another round of failed talks would only further embitter
both parties.
But France has launched a diplomatic initiative to build international
pressure on both sides.
The United States gave the French move a cool reception, but Kerry attended
its inaugural meeting in Paris and has called on both sides to take
"affirmative steps" to calm tempers and preserve the possibility of peace.
On the ground, however, the situation remains fraught and sporadic violence
since October has killed at least 210 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, two
Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese.
Most of the Palestinians were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming
attacks, according to Israeli authorities.
On Thursday[23 June], in an address to the European Parliament, Palestinian
president Mahmud Abbas accused a group of Israeli rabbis of urging their
government to poison Palestinian water supplies.
Netanyahu in turn furiously accused his opponent of resurrecting the ancient
"blood libel" against Jews, a charge Abbas denies.
+++SOURCE:Naharnet(Lebanon)26 June’16:”Russian President Putin Meets with
Chinese Leaders, by Associated Press
SUBJECT:Russia’s ‘strategic partnership’ with China
FULL TEXT:President Putin praised what he calls calls Russia's
"all-embracing and strategic partnership" with China, at the start of a
visit to Beijing that comes against the background of a drop in trade and
lingering mistrust.
Putin told Chinese Premier Li Keqiang that ties were based firmly on common
economic interests, a reference to Russian hopes for Chinese investment and
purchases of its oil, gas and other natural resources.
Leaders in both countries have extolled the blossoming strategic partnership
between the former communist rivals, despite a major shrinkage in two-way
trade and a slew of ambitious projects that have remained largely on paper.
Observers attribute the slow progress to Beijing's hard-nosed bargaining
position and the Kremlin's deep-seated suspicions about the growing power of
its mighty partner.
+++SOURCE:Jordan Times 26 June ’16:”Google, Facebook quietly move towards
automatic blocking of extremist videos”,by Reuters
SUBJECT:Automatic blocking of extremist videos
FULL TEXT:SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON — Some of the Web’s biggest destinations
for watching videos have quietly started using automation to remove
extremist content from their sites, according to two people familiar with
the process.
The move is a major step forward for Internet companies that are eager to
eradicate violent propaganda from their sites and are under pressure to do
so from governments around the world as attacks by extremists proliferate,
from Syria to Belgium and the United States.
YouTube and Facebook are among the sites deploying systems to block or
rapidly take down Daesh videos and other similar material, the sources said.
The technology was originally developed to identify and remove
copyright-protected content on video sites. It looks for “hashes”, a type of
unique digital fingerprint that Internet companies automatically assign to
specific videos, allowing all content with matching fingerprints to be
removed rapidly.
Such a system would catch attempts to repost content already identified as
unacceptable, but would not automatically block videos that have not been
seen before.
The companies would not confirm that they are using the method or talk about
how it might be employed, but numerous people familiar with the technology
said that posted videos could be checked against a database of banned
content to identify new postings of, say, a beheading or a lecture inciting
violence.
The two sources would not discuss how much human work goes into reviewing
videos identified as matches or near-matches by the technology. They also
would not say how videos in the databases were initially identified as
extremist.
Use of the new technology is likely to be refined over time as Internet
companies continue to discuss the issue internally and with competitors and
other interested parties.
In late April, amid pressure from US President Barack Obama and other US and
European leaders concerned about online radicalisation, Internet companies
including Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube, Twitter Inc., Facebook Inc. and
CloudFlare held a call to discuss options, including a content-blocking
system put forward by the private Counter Extremism Project, according to
one person on the call and three who were briefed on what was discussed.
The discussions underscored the central but difficult role some of the world’s
most influential companies now play in addressing issues such as terrorism,
free speech and the lines between government and corporate authority.
None of the companies at this point has embraced the anti-extremist group’s
system, and they have typically been wary of outside intervention in how
their sites should be policed.
“It’s a little bit different than copyright or child pornography, where
things are very clearly illegal,” said Seamus Hughes, the deputy director of
the George Washington University’s Programme on Extremism.
Extremist content exists on a spectrum, Hughes said, and different web
companies draw the line in different places.
Most have relied until now mainly on users to flag content that violates
their terms of service, and many still do. Flagged material is then
individually reviewed by human editors who delete postings found to be in
violation.
The companies now using automation are not publicly discussing it, two
sources said, in part out of concern that terrorists might learn how to
manipulate their systems or that repressive regimes might insist the
technology be used to censor opponents.
“There’s no upside in these companies talking about it,” said Matthew
Prince, the chief executive of content distribution company CloudFlare. “Why
would they brag about censorship?”
The two people familiar with the still-evolving industry practice confirmed
it to Reuters after the Counter Extremism Project publicly described its
content-blocking system for the first time last week and urged the big
Internet companies to adopt it.
Wary of outside solution
The April call was led by Facebook’s head of global policy management,
Monika Bickert, sources with knowledge of the call said. On it, Facebook
presented options for discussion, according to one participant, including
the one proposed by the non-profit Counter Extremism Project.
The anti-extremism group was founded by, among others, Frances Townsend, who
advised former president George W. Bush on homeland security, and Mark
Wallace, who was deputy campaign manager for the Bush 2004 re-election
campaign.
Three sources with knowledge of the April call said that companies expressed
wariness of letting an outside group decide what defined unacceptable
content.
Other alternatives raised on the call included establishing a new
industry-controlled nonprofit or expanding an existing industry-controlled
nonprofit. All the options discussed involved hashing technology.
The model for an industry-funded organisation might be the nonprofit
National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which identifies known
child pornography images using a system known as PhotoDNA. The system is
licensed for free by Microsoft Corp.
Microsoft announced in May it was providing funding and technical support to
Dartmouth College computer scientist Hany Farid, who works with the Counter
Extremism Project and helped develop PhotoDNA, “to develop a technology to
help stakeholders identify copies of patently terrorist content.”
Facebook’s Bickert agreed with some of the concerns voiced during the call
about the Counter Extremism Project’s proposal, two people familiar with the
events said. She declined to comment publicly on the call or on Facebook’s
efforts, except to note in a statement that Facebook is “exploring with
others in industry ways we can collaboratively work to remove content that
violates our policies against terrorism”.
In recent weeks, one source said, Facebook has sent out a survey to other
companies soliciting their opinions on different options for industry
collaboration on the issue.
William Fitzgerald, a spokesman for Alphabet’s Google unit, which owns
YouTube, also declined to comment on the call or about the company’s
automated efforts to police content.
A Twitter spokesman said the company was still evaluating the Counter
Extremism Project’s proposal and had “not yet taken a position”.
A former Google employee said people there had long debated what else
besides thwarting copyright violations or sharing revenue with creators the
company should do with its Content ID system. Google’s system for
content-matching is older and far more sophisticated than Facebook’s,
according to people familiar with both.
Lisa Monaco, the senior adviser to the US president on counterterrorism,
said in a statement that the White House welcomed initiatives that seek to
help companies “better respond to the threat posed by terrorists’ activities
online
=================
Sue Lerner - Associate, IMRA
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