Libya at the Crossroad of Election or War

Iran’s Missiles on Erbil

A Weekly Political News Magazine

Naguib Mahfouz AwardWinning Reem Bassiouney Speaks to Majalla

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Alexander Lukashenko: Putin’s Closest Ally, Europe’s Last Dictator

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Libya at the Crossroad of Election or War

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Editorial Four weeks into the Russian war on Ukraine, the news of the deadly battles is overshadowing long-raging conflicts in the Middle East. For many years, such conflicts have triggered international concerns, and seen involvement of major world powers, mainly Russia and western powers who are currently consumed by the threats of a full-fledged war at the NATO’s borders and major economic clashes that would change the world as we knew it.

Precursors of standoff between Russia and western countries definitely include their involvement in the regional conflicts whether in Libya, Syria or Iran’s nuclear deal. Now, the peak of their confrontation is taking place in a region that is geographically distant, but the countries of the Middle East and North Africa region are expected to be directly affected by the security and economic consequences of the RussiaUkraine war.

This week, Dalia Ziada discusses the turmoil in Libya which is “on the brink of a slowly brewing civil war,” in light of frequent clashes and delay of the internationallybacked elections. The two sides of conflict in eastern and western territories try to obliterate the UN-backed political solution process, abusing the fact that their regional and international backers are busy with the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war.

On another side, Jassim Mohamad highlights the implications of the Iranian strikes on Erbil, Iraq last week.

He states that the recent attacks are remarkable indication of Iran’s behavior. Iran previously relied almost entirely on its proxies to carry out its missions, but for the first it explicitly claims responsibility of strikes. Discussing Tehran’s aim in carrying out its own attacks, Mohamad suggests that it wants to deliver a two-folded direct message to the both the Iraqi government and international players, while it is few steps away from reviving its nuclear agreement with the U.S. 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

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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

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A Weekly Political News Magazine

36 Dark Stores Apps Flourish, Transform Saudi Shopping Scene

Issue 1896- March- 18/03/2022

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Tales on Sidelines of RussianUkrainian War

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Are Americans Frustrated

by War?

52 Surreal

58 Hike Your Way to Better Health

48 Dancing to the Tunes of Willpower

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napshot

Beijing Paralympic Closing ceremony Artists form hearts with their hands as they perform in the colors of Ukraine during the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, China, 13 March 2022 )EPA Photos(

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napshot

Dubai Boat Show People visit the 28th edition of Dubai Boat Show, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 11, 2022. After almost three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, sea and boat lovers will be able to see the latest products of 54 countries and 800 brands of boats and sea products )AP Photos(

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SAU

LEBANON.

EGYPT

The IMF will send staff to Lebanon and Tunisia this month to further discussions on new financial aid programs for the countries, a fund spokesman said Thursday.

The governments have been seeking support for their troubled economies for months but have yet to reach an agreement with the Washington-based crisis lender.

Talks with Lebanon on aid to address the severe financial challenges are “progressing well,” IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters.

The commander of all US military forces in the Middle East said the Biden administration plans to approve Egypt’s years-old request to buy F-15 fighter jets, despite almost certain opposition among lawmakers due to Cairo’s human rights abuses.

“In the case of Egypt, I think we have good news, in that we’re going to provide them with F-15s,” Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee today.

McKenzie said the approval process “was a long, hard slog” and added that Egyptian officials "felt it took too long.”

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Saudi Arab Salman, str maintainin kingdom's balanced a Thursday w Fumio Kish

UDI ARABIA

bia's crown prince, Mohammed bin ressed the importance of ng the OPEC+ agreement and the keenness on keeping oil markets and stable, in a phone call on with the Japanese prime minister, hida, Saudi state media reported.

UAE Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince spoke with Japan's prime minister about the Ukraine crisis and assured him that the United Arab Emirates is keen to maintain energy security and keep global markets stable, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also told Prime Minister Fumio Kishida that his country is keen on boosting relations with Japan in the energy field.

QATAR Qatar's central bank said on Thursday that it will reduce the amount allocated for the zero rate repurchase window to 25 billion Qatari riyals starting April 1.

It also raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 1.25% after taking into account the evolving domestic and international macroeconomic developments, the banking watchdog said on Thursday.

IRAN Iran has released British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from house arrest at the end of her five-year prison sentence, but she has been summoned to court again on another charge, her lawyer said on Sunday.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at a Tehran airport in April 2016 and later convicted of plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who served out most of her sentence in Tehran's Evin prison, was released last March during the coronavirus pandemic and kept under house arrest, but her movements were restricted and she was barred from leaving the country.

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A WEEK ACROS CUBA.

U.S. Russia warned the United States on Thursday that Moscow had the might to put the world's pre-eminent superpower in its place and accused the West of stoking a wild Russophobic plot to tear Russia apart.

Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president from 2008 to 2012 and is now deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, said the United States had stoked "disgusting" Russophobia in an attempt to force Russia to its knees.

"It will not work - Russia has the might to put all of our brash enemies in their place," Medvedev said.

Cuba's Supreme Court sentenced more than 100 protesters in Havana to prison terms that ranged between four and 30 years for violence committed during demonstrations last year, it announced Wednesday in a statement.

"The citizens are accused of committing and provoking serious disturbances and acts of vandalism, with the purpose of destabilizing public order, collective security and citizen tranquility," the Supreme Court said.

Last July, hundreds of Cubans across the country defied the government and took to the streets against chronic shortages and lack of basic freedoms.

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,

LIBYA.

The crisis over control of executive power in Libya could lead to instability and parallel governmen the U.N. political affairs chief told t Security Council on Wednesday.

"Libya is now facing a new phase o political polarisation, which risks dividing its institutions once again and reversing the gains achieved o the past two years," Rosemary DiCa said.

SS THE WORLD

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nts, the

of

n over arlo

RUSSIA. Invoking the fall of the Berlin Wall, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday urged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to tear down what he called a wall between "free and unfree" Europe and stop the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to the Bundestag by videolink, Zelenskiy appealed to Scholz to restore freedom to Ukraine, tapping Germany's collective memory with reference to the historic 1948-1949 Berlin Airlift and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Zelenskiy described a new wall "in the middle of Europe between freedom and unfreedom", which he said Germany had helped build, isolating Ukraine with its business ties to Russia and its previous support for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

JAPAN.

INDIA.

An Indian court upheld on Tuesday a ban on wearing of the hijab in classrooms in the southern state of Karnataka, a ruling that could set a precedent for the rest of the country which has a big Muslim minority.

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A powerful earthquake off Japan's northeast coast left thousands of homes without water and power on Thursday and forced factories to suspend operations, adding to supply chain woes for makers of smartphones, electronics and automobiles worldwide.

The magnitude 7.4 tremblor struck just before midnight on Wednesday east of the Fukushima prefecture, the same area that suffered Japan's biggest quake 11 years ago.

At least two people died and 161 were injured in the latest quake, according to government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno, whereas thousands perished in the 2011 disaster, when a magnitude 9.1 magnitude quake also triggered a tsunami and caused a meltdown at a nuclear power plant.

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Libya at the Crossroad of Election or War

A Possible Civil War Threatens MENA region’s Immediate Future While the international community is hyper-focused on Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, Libya is on the brink of a slowly brewing civil war, that will be awfully difficult to control this time and its consequences will be suffered by the countries of the Mediterranean and North Africa.

By Dalia Ziada

In a scene that is very reminiscent of Khalifa Haftar’s attempt to seize Tripoli, in 2019, an armed clash between the proBashagha and the pro-Dbeibeh militias was miraculously con-

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trolled at last minute, last week on the 10th of March. A number of militias from the cities of Misrata, Tarhuna, and Zliten tried to penetrate into Tripoli by force, attacking from various points at the southern and northwestern borders of the Capital City. Their goal was to force the existent UN-recognized interim Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, to step down and hand power to their master, Fathi Bashagha, who was named by the Tobruk-based parliament, in February, as the head of a new interim government.

Fortunately, the militias’ attack was deterred before it turns into an actual combat, as quick actions were taken from the Tripoli-based government and the representatives of the United Nations and the international community in Libya. First, the GNU’s security forces blocked the roads leading to Tripoli making it difficult for the militias to proceed and thus forced them to split into smaller groups. In parallel, some powerful militias in the cities of Al-Zawiya and Tripoli, who favor the GNU, warned that they would engage if the outsider militias moved further towards Tripoli.

People wave Libyan national flags from a bus during a parade in the coastal Libyan city of Tajura, east of the capital Tripoli on February 25, 2022, as they commemorate the anniversary of a demonstration that took place on the same day from Tajura to Tripoli in 2011 during the uprising that toppled longtime strongman Muammar Kadhafi. (Photo by Mahmud Turkia / AFP)

The halted clashes mark a peak point of the political conflict that has been going on for about two months between the GNU and the members of the political elite. Ironically, the two sides of conflict in eastern and western territories, who had been dragging Libya into political crises and civil wars that killed hundreds of innocent civilians, in the past few years, are miraculously cooperating to obliterate the UN-backed political solution process, abusing the fact that the regional and international backers of the contending parties are busy with handling the consequences of the RussiaUkraine war.

DESPERATE INTERNATIONAL MEDIATIONS Immediately after this failed attempt of seizing Tripoli, the U.S. Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, contacted Bashagha and other involved politicians to stress the importance of preserving calm and stability in the country. Meanwhile, Stephanie Williams, the Special Adviser on Libya for the UN Secretary-General, made a statement urging restraint and the need to “abstain from provocative actions, in word and deed, including the mobilization of forces.” The quick involvement of

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The two sides of conflict in eastern and western territories try to obliterate the UN-backed political solution process, abusing the fact that their regional and international backers are busy with the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Norland and Williams in rejecting the employment of militias, cornered Bashagha, who had to respond with a public statement confirming that he will try once again to enter Tripoli “by law not by force.”

One week before the militias attack Tripoli, Stephanie Williams offered a solution out of the political stalemate created by the Parliament’s insistence on installing a new interim government, parallel to the existent GNU. Williams’ initiative is about forming a supreme committee of twelve members – six from the parliament and six from the High Council of State – to work on preparing the political and legislative contexts for the parliamentary and presidential elections, in June.

Like most domestic and international observers and decision-makers, Williams sees no good reason for installing another interim government, during this narrow window of time between two endeavors to hold the long-awaited elections; stressing that “the solution to Libya’s crisis does not lie in forming rival administrations and perennial transitions.” Although all the political factions inside Libya welcomed Williams’ initiative, none of them took an actual step towards helping her put it into action, up till this moment. That further complicates the potential of holding the elections as scheduled in June, which is in less than three months from now.

In a public statement, on March 15, Norland joined Williams on pressing for holding elections without further delay, as the only way out of the current political crisis and the tense situation in Libya. “The US supports the efforts of the UN Advisor, Stephanie Wil-

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liams to hold the elections. The UN is the body that can effectively facilitate this process;” Norland noted. He, also, proposed holding talks between all the involved members of the political elite, and stressed that regional and international allies of the United States, including the most active players in Libya, such as Egypt, Turkey, France, and Italy, have agreed that holding elections should be the top priority right now.

KEEPING POWER BY RECREATING THE POLITICAL CRISES Ironically, the political elite on both sides of the con-

As grieve and miserable as it is, the Russia-Ukraine war holds a lot of opportunities for Libya.

But, the unending conflicts between the political elite are hindering Libya’s potential to seize the momentum.

flict in Libya, are not keen on holding the elections as Stephanie Williams and Richard Norland are. The political rivals, in the eastern and western territories, are cooperating for the first time, not with the purpose to end the misery of the Libyan people, but to abolish the Government of National Unity, which is determined to hold the elections. They played a clear role in pushing the first endeavor to hold the elections, in December 2021, to failure. Now, through manipulating the outdated constitution and the laws of their own creation, they are trying to cease the new attempt of holding the elections, in June, which is in less than three months from now.

On the morning of February 10th, a few hours after the GNU Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, survived an assassination attempt, the Libyan parliament announced the installation of a new interim government, to be headed by Fathi Bashagha, who had previously served as a Minister of Interior in the former interim Government of National Accord (GNA). However, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh insisted on holding on to his position until the political solution process is accomplished by convening the presidential and parliamentary elections in June.

Dbeibeh, also, attacked the parliament for solely making the decision to dissolve the GNU, without a public referendum or even consulting with the United Nations Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Libyan

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Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah speaks after submitting his candidacy papers for the upcoming presidential election at the headquarters of the electoral commission in Tripoli, Libya November 21, 2021. REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed/File Photo

Fathi Bashagha, designated as prime minister by the parliament, delivers a speech at Mitiga International Airport, in Tripoli, Libya February 10, 2022. Picture taken February 10, 2022.

REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed

Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). In fact, the parliament’s uninvited and unwelcome decision dropped as a surprise to almost all concerned parties, on the local, regional, and international levels. The GNU’s term of eighteen months has not ended, yet, and the country is already preparing for a presidential and parliamentary elections in June, in compliance with the political solution process, which was endorsed by the 75 members of the LPDF under the UN supervision, in late 2020.

The parliament speaker, Aguila Saleh, justified the decision by holding Dbeibeh, exclusively, guilty for the country’s failure to hold public elections in December.

That is despite the fact that, all the active players inside Libya, including the parliament itself, participated in making the decision of postponing the elections under the claim of “force majeure.” Even more, Aguila Saleh claimed that Dbeibeh lost his legitimacy by running for president, in the postponed elections. However, in fact, Dbeibeh was not the only state official, on duty, to run in these elections. Fathi Bashagah, and Aguila Saleh himself, are competing over the presidential seat, too.

Despite the lack of political logic or legal justification to designating another interim government at this time, the parliament proceeded with the process of approving Bashagha’s government. On the first week of March, while all eyes were directed to the Ukraine, the Libyan parliament swore in Bashagha and endorsed his government. Some local politicians, including members of

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Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh insisted on holding on to his position until the political solution process is accomplished by convening the presidential and parliamentary elections in June. parliament, accused Aguila Saleh of manipulating their votes. A few days before that the parliament tried to endorse the Bashagha government, but most members of parliament declined to attend the voting session.

THE QUESTION OF LEGITIMACY The biases of Aguila Saleh and some members of the parliament that he leads, since 2014, should make us question the true intentions behind such a decision.

Aguila Saleh is a strong supporter of Khalifa Haftar, who leads the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces in the eastern territories of Libya. He has always been using his power, as the parliament speaker, to push the parliament to make decisions that enhances Haftar’s escalation against the legitimate UN-recognized governments that work from Tripoli.

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When the GNU took power, via the LPDF, in March 2021, Haftar and Saleh congratulated the move; especially Haftar who had high hopes to be appointed as Minister of Defense in the GNU, and then as a president of state later. The GNU Prime Minister, Dbeibeh, decided to keep the seat of the defense minister empty until the Military Committee (5+5) comes to an agreement about unifying the armed forces in Tripoli and Benghazi under one national flag.

Haftar and his ally Saleh started to level economic and security pressures on Dbeibeh and the GNU. For example, the parliament has been declining to approve the government budget, since last June, and Haftar launched more than one military action in the south, including closing Libyan borders with Algeria, against the will of the legitimate government and the Presidential Council in Tripoli.

Despite that, Dbeibeh was able to navigate through all the hardships thrown on his way by the eastern rivals and bring the country to a state of relative stability, that allowed organizing for holding elections in December. However, only three days before the voting is due, the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), announced its inability to proceed with holding the elections due to a persistent state of “force majeure.”

On the morning of the same day when the decision was made to postpone the elections, Fathi Bashagha and Ahmed Maiteeq, two officials from the former GNA, visited Benghazi and held reconciliation meet-

Many facts should put the legitimacy of the decisions of the parliament in question. In fact, the legitimacy of the parliament itself as a representative to the will of the Libyan people is also in question.

ings with Haftar and Saleh. It was surprising to see them together, at that particular day because, for years, the animosity between the GNA officials and eastern politicians had been very intense; it was not only limited to political rivalry but also reached the verge of a violent civil war.

The results of their meetings manifested, one month later, in the form of a flawed decision by Aguila Saleh’s parliament to dissolve the GNU and put Bashagha in the Prime Minister’s seat. Both Bashagha and Haftar has an interest of pushing Dbeibeh out of the political scene, as his popularity among the public has been increasing.

All these facts should put the legitimacy of the decisions of the parliament in question. In fact, the legitimacy of the parliament itself as a representative to the will of the Libyan people is also in question.

SURVIVAL AND WASTED OPPORTUNITIES It is hard to predict what could happen with Libya, next. That is not only because the Libyan politics is highly unpredictable, but mainly because the interest of the international community and the active regional powers is shrinking, while the world is busy with the war in eastern Europe. As grieve and miserable as it is, the Russia-Ukraine war holds a lot of opportunities for Libya. But, the unending conflicts between the political elite are hindering Libya’s potential to seize the momentum.

On one hand, Russia has been moving its affiliated mercenaries, including those working with the Wagner Group, outside of Libya to fight in Ukraine. This should give Libya a huge security relief and encourages the government to control local militias and focus on unifying the military forces. However, this is not even a possibility right now, as the growing conflicts among the political elite feeds the arms and pockets of the militia.

On the other hand, Europe is looking for Libya as one of the best alternative resources for crude oil and natural gas, due to its high volumes of proven reserves of both products and its geographic proximity to the

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Youths hold signs depicting the crossedout face of Aguila Saleh Issa, speaker of Libya’s Tobruk-based parliament, with a caption in Arabic reading “Noooo to extension” during a a parade in the coastal Libyan city of Tajura, east of the capital Tripoli on February 2022 ,25, as they commemorate the anniversary of a demonstration that took place on the same day from Tajura to Tripoli in 2011 during the uprising that toppled longtime strongman Muammar Kadhafi. (Photo by Mahmud Turkia / AFP)

southern shores of Europe. Yet, the political instability resulting from having two interim governments, at the moment, is minimizing the possibility of Libya being a main energy supplier to the thirsty Europe. The energy sector in Libya is struggling due to lack of budget and disturbed decision-making.

In the middle of this gloomy scene, the Libyan people are hopelessly trying to get their voices heard through protesting and rallies that usually ends with undesired clashes. As the U.S. Special Envoy previously noted, holding the elections is the best way out of the current political stalemate in Libya. However, holding parliamentary and presidential elections, under the current conflicts, sounds like miracle.

Can the UN Advisor, Stephanie Williams, create another miracle, similar to the one she created in 2020 when she brought all the conflicting Libyan factions

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Through manipulating the outdated constitution, Libyan political rivals try to cease the new attempt of holding the elections. in one room to design a political solution and choose a new government? I believe she can. * Dalia Ziada is an Egyptian author and Director of the Liberal Democracy Institute. Her work covers military affairs, political Islamism, and geopolitics in the Middle East and North Africa. Tweets at @daliaziada.

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Tales on Sidelines of Russian-Ukrainian War Russian Schoolchildren Returning to Soviet Traditions

By Samy Amara The war returned to impose its standards and laws that have long defined the features and faces of societies wherever they are and whenever they are confronted.

Russia and Ukraine were no exception to this rule. What we are witnessing today in Russia of hustle and bustle at all levels, and what creeps in from them, whether in the form of opposition movements, or what is closer to a collective escape, is also not an exception.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that in Russia, during the

years of the last century, no one was able to inflict military defeat on Russia from outside even if many succeeded in provoking a lot of trouble and unrest aimed at undermining society from within.

It is not understandable that the former Soviet Union witnessed shocks since the mid-1980s, which practically ended with its downfall, and the ensuing confusions that almost toppled all of Russia in the 1990s.

These are stations in the history of Russia, each of which has its own features that vary as much as the circumstances

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and requirements of the stage, including what it witnessed during recent years, which derive its beginnings from the initial outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis in February 2014 and the subsequent series of sanctions and pressures against Russia.

Despite their severity, they did not lose much of their stability. Here is a new station whose features seem more severe than its counterparts in the recent past, and the “devastating” effects and consequences related to it in some aspects.

It was expected that in light of the restrictions that are increasing day by day since the outbreak of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, many foreign websites and electronic networks will be subject to blocking and liquidation decisions.

Therefore, it was not surprising that the Russian Federal Service for Oversight, Information Technology and Media rushed, and in contrast to the interests and desires of millions of Russian citizens and guests, to block Facebook sites as of March 4, 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) attends a wreathlaying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden of the Moscow’s Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 23 February 2022, during the national celebrations of the Day of Defender of the Fatherland. The Defender of the Fatherland Day is annually celebrated in Russia on 23 February.

EPA/ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/ KREMLIN POOL/ SPUTNIK

Sources of the Russian Federal Service for Oversight, Information Technology and Media say that they had earlier requested Meta that owns Facebook to remove the restrictions that prevent access to the sites of the Russian channel Russia Today and Sputnik on social networks, after they were imposed in Europe, which was not responded to.

This came at a time of the closure of a number of radio stations and television channels, including Radio Echo of Moscow amid many internal disputes for the stars of the Russian media scene, whose struggles and verbal battles intensified against a background that varied between support and opposition to President Putin’s decisions.

Among these differences, there is something close to settling personal accounts that intertwine so that the public mingles with the private. But the most exciting thing in this regard is the conflict that rages between the poles of the media scene, most of whom belong to the Jewish sect, with which the old Arab saying “In their disagreement there is mercy” is true.

It is also an additional source of clarification and exposing hidden information. Among them is Alexei Venediktov, editor-in-chief of Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy which announced the end of its activity in Moscow after a period of widespread reach for more than 30 years.

The Ukrainian-Jewish journalist Dmitry Gordon and other well-known faces have long dominated various talk shows as well as news and even cultural and artistic events in

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It was expected that in light of the restrictions that are increasing day by day since the outbreak of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, many foreign websites and electronic networks will be subject to blocking and liquidation decisions. each of the two countries.

If media professionals and men of culture and arts make up the cultural scene in Russia and Ukraine today, the disputes that raged between them have become an entertaining material filled with many elements of excitement as well as a source not only for amateurs who follow artistic ideas, but perhaps also for the relevant agencies, whether political, financial, security and intelligence.

This is at a time when these people split into what is closer to the two opposing sides due to the fall of a number of symbols of art, culture, and media into the trap of siding with the Western point of view even if there seemed to be a consensus on the necessity of stopping the war and moving towards settling the situation through diplomatic and political methods. This is what Russian official sources and decision makers in the Kremlin do not reject, provided that there is response to the proposals and fears that Moscow puts forward.

It is worth noting that what is happening today was witnessed by Russia nearly eight years ago, in March 2014, when Putin made his decision to annex Crimea based on the results of a popular referendum in which the overwhelming majority said to unilaterally separate from Ukraine and join Russia similar to previous referendums that took place in the 1990s. We note that some Russian artists expressed their objection to the annexation of Crimea, although the number at that time was very small, in addition to the fact that the famous of them were not of significant weight in the Russian art scene.

In response to the opposing voices and the movements that the Russian street is witnessing, we are reminded in this regard of what was previously said by Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the Duma, who declared his “well-known”

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saying in a closed meeting of the International Forum.

“There is Putin. There is Russia and if there is no Putin, there is no Russia,” which was quoted by others as saying “Russia is Putin and Putin is Russia.”

has long witnessed the inculcation of many ideals of patriotism in the hearts of young people since childhood during the years of the former Soviet Union.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Volodin and also from his position as Speaker of the Duma, returned to the same meaning when discussing changes to the Russian Constitution, which would ensure that Putin would remain in power until 2036.

This is what many schools in many Russian regions and districts have recorded in dedicating lessons in which young children record their attitudes towards the heroism of the young people participating in the war, through letters “To the Unknown Soldier” by name and with a wellknown stance and heroism.

At that time, Volodin surprised his listeners by developing what he had previously said about the link between Russia’s presence and Putin,” by saying: “Russia’s wealth is not oil and gas, Putin is the (real) wealth of Russia!”

In these letters, they express their admiration for his bravery and their hopes he returns home as a hero crowned with laurel wreaths after achieving victory, along with the symbolic gifts they send.

On a related level, many people in Russia stop at attempts to revive many of the traditions of the Soviet past, which

This is similar to what was previously recorded by parents and grandparents during the years of the Great Patriotic War, which is the name given by the Soviet leadership to World War II.

Many in Russia stop at attempts to revive the traditions of the Soviet past, which has long witnessed the inculcation of patriotic ideals in children during the years of the former Soviet Union.

Against the backdrop of the youngsters’ positions, official circles record what they described as the low behavior of many adults who tried to register their objections and protests against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

From this perspective and commenting on these behaviors and attitudes, including the flight of some artists and symbols of Russian culture abroad, Duma Speaker Volodin returned to developing his aphorisms, expressing a new position he wanted to legally document by issuing a decree from the Duma to punish every artist who takes an oppo-

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Russian President of the Duma (Lower House of Parliament), Vyacheslav Volodin, speaks during a conference at the Nicaraguan National Assembly in Managua, on Fbruary 24, 2022. - Volodin arrived in Nicaragua on Thursday after visiting Cuba, at a time when Russia is carrying out a military offensive against Ukraine. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

Russian anchor Ksenia Sobchak said she did not flee from Russia.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Russian broadcaster RT and the Rossiya Segodnya media group, attends a session of the St. Petersburg June 3, 2021. REUTERS

site position on Putin’s policies.

the situation in Ukraine.”

Commenting on the flight of a number of artists and cultural icons abroad, and their declaration of their opposition to what they described as the invasion of Ukraine, Volodin says on his Telegram page that each of them should make his own decision regarding the events in Ukraine and determine their positions on sanctions against Russia.

In this regard, Volodin referred to the mayor of Munich’s decision to dismiss the international Russian musician and maestro Valery Gergiev, conductor of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, from his post because he “did not specify his position on the situation in Ukraine.”

“Today: The moment of truth. Everyone must understand: Either we will rally around the country and overcome challenges, or we will lose ourselves,” he stated. “In this regard, it would be right for all fans of foreign approaches and standards, including directors, actors, technicians, working in show business in Russia, to decide on a clear stance on

Volodin drew attention to the statements made by representatives of artistic circles and cultural figures, who he said had achieved, thanks to state television channels, a lot of fame and money This in essence seems closer to the content of what the authorities of European countries requested from Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, about the need to define his position.

Russia is doing a “special military operation”, following the recognition of the republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Volodin suggested stripping all those who object to Moscow’s policies and official positions, of all the rewards and privileges that were conferred on them.

In this regard, we will stop to refer to the strange and controversial “decision” taken by Margarita Simonyan, editorin-chief of Russia Today channels, who jumped from a mere reporter for one of the state television channels, to the position of editor-in-chief of the largest network of stateoriented channels in the history of Russia. She was not over twenty-five, which at the time aroused a lot of astonishment, filled with untold condemnation.

She decided to celebrate President Putin’s decision to start

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the military operation in Ukraine, by announcing her official marriage contract, after she was in a relationship with her current husband for more than ten years and gave birth to their children. It is also strange that she took advantage of the most official Russian news channels to announce the “auspicious marriage registration”.

Similarly odd is the escape of the famous Russian singer Alla Pugacheva, who is over seventy years old and is known to be addicted to marrying men decades younger than her.

Pugacheva and her young husband, Maxim Galkin, quickly fled abroad without announcing their destination with their two children although Galkin pre-empted the flight by writing on his social media page, “There is no justification for this war.” It is worth noting that Pugacheva was the last artist to whom former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev bestowed the title of “People’s Artist of the Soviet Union” a few days before his fall, at the insistence of her, as was said at the time.

With Pugacheva, not a small number of famous people in the media and art scene also rushed to leave Russia, including Russian anchor Ksenia Sobchak, who until recently enjoyed personal patronage on the part of President Putin, in honor of the memory of his teacher, former mayor of Saint Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak who was the first to introduce Putin to “big politics.” In recent years, Sobchak has been publicly criticizing Putin’s policies through her television programs, whether through opposition channels or via YouTube. Rather, it was against the list of opposition candidates who fought in the last presidential election in 2018, rivals to Putin, and won an advanced position on the list of losers.

However, there are statements from Sobchak saying that she did not flee from Russia and that her trip abroad was due to the desire to spend her son’s school holiday outside the country.

Zelensky announced that the only way to resolve the current conflict between his country and Russia lies in a direct dialogue with Russian President Putin and to reach “compromise solutions.”

Russia had witnessed a number of limited moves declaring opposition to the continuation of the war, under slogans, some of which exceeded the limits of the “common”. That required the reaction of the concerned security services, including what was revealed by a number of members of the Federation Council and the Duma in their criticism of such opposition visions.

They announced their condemnation of the opposition’s double standards that have long ignored the practices of NATO and its bombing of the Balkans in the nineties of the last century, while it is now rising to condemn the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Hence, the Federation Council and the Duma have labeled cultural figures opposing the operation in Ukraine as traitors, at a time when they do not have the courage to refuse the material and moral privileges they receive, according to some deputies of the Federation Council and Duma.

Perhaps all of this could be an explanation for the call by Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s official spokesman, to rally around President Putin. He pointed out at the same time that there are many in Russian cultural circles who support Russia’s actions in Ukraine, although he also pointed to those who misunderstand the essence of what happens.

Peskov emphasized: “Yes, in fact, there are heated debates between representatives of culture. There are many of those who support the president, sincerely support the president ... Now is the time for all of us to unite and be together. Of course, let’s unite and rally around our president.”

This came as an indirect response to the call of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a congressman from South Carolina 17 years ago, to “kill President Putin, in a perfidious manner as they assassinated the famous Caesar of Rome, Julius Caesar, on March 15, 44 BC.” This is what Kremlin spokesman Peskov commented: “It is very difficult to find words. Of course, these days not everyone manages to maintain a sober mind. I would even say a sound one. Therefore, unfortunately, not many can in such a very tense atmosphere maintain their mental integrity.”

As for the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, he was satisfied with saying: “Graham’s statement is unacceptable,” noting at the same time that “The US fear of Russia and hatred to Russians have gone beyond their usual range.”

He added, “It is impossible to believe that a senator preach-

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Russian and Ukrainian officials take part in the talks in the Brest region, Belarus March 3, 2022. Maxim Guchek/ BelTA/Handout via REUTERS

es his moral values as a guide for all humanity and can call for terrorism and murder as a way to achieve Washington’s goals on the international scene.”

At a time when all this news, which is characterized in large part by being “absurd” and “unreasonable”, recurs, many in the Russian arena stop at the hesitation of the Ukrainian leadership and what mars the credibility of its statements about its desire to negotiate.

That was represented in Ukraine’s many delays regarding the rounds. The three rounds of talks, which took place with the Russian side in Belarus, only resulted in reaching relative solutions regarding the provision of safe corridors for the exit of civilians, according to statements by many officials in Moscow.

This is what prompts many people to cling to the results of officials’ talks while looking at the repeated offers of Ukrainian President Zelensky to his Russian counterpart Putin to negotiate. Zelensky had announced that the only way to resolve the current conflict between his country and Russia lies in a direct dialogue with Russian President Putin and to reach “compromise solutions.” In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Zelensky replied to questions about the possibility of recognizing the Donetsk and Lugansk republics and Crimea’s affiliation with Russia. He said, “The question is not what I can do. In any talks, my goal is to end the war with the Russian Federation. And for that I am ready for certain steps, ready for negotiations and ready

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Duma Speaker stated, “Today: The moment of truth. Everyone must understand: Either we will rally around the country and overcome challenges, or we will lose ourselves.” for compromise. But it cannot be a betrayal of my people.

The other side must also be ready for compromise.”

Zelensky added: “This is the only way out of this situation for us. It is very difficult and premature to talk about details.

So far, there has been no contact between the two presidents, and this war can only be ended through direct negotiations between the two presidents.”

This is what senior diplomats in the Russian capital commented with a lot of irony, given the recent discussions between the Russians and Ukrainians in Belarus over the past few days, which indicated the attempts of the Ukrainian side at gaining time, pending possible reactions from the parties that the Ukrainian leadership counts on their aid.

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Iran’s Missiles on Erbil Warning Messages to Baghdad and Int’l Players

By Jassim Mohammed - Bonn The timing of the Iranian bombing of what Tehran considered Israeli “strategic targets” in the city of Erbil raises a number of questions about the content of the message that Tehran wanted to convey as well as the domestic and international dimensions and implications.

This comes at a time particularly charged with conflict and international tension that the world has not witnessed since World War II. It is necessary to read the event from several angles.

BALLISTIC ATTACK At 01:20 local time on March 13th, up to a dozen short-range

ballistic missiles, most likely the Fateh110-, were launched from Iran›s Tabriz region toward the densely populated Erbil.

The missiles traveled about 275 kilometers, and each carried more than 1,100 pounds of explosives.

Most of the projectiles accurately hit a luxury villa owned by Baz Kareem, a prominent businessman associated with the Barzani family who are KDP leaders.

At least one hit a nearby K24 television station, which is owned by Barzani. Fortunately, there were no fatalities perhaps because of the late hour or because the targeting was accurate.

However, the risk of collateral damage was high, and Iran accepted this risk by firing large missiles at long range to the city.

In a departure from Tehran›s practice of exercising military

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In this file undated photo released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on August 2010 ,25, allegedly shows the test firing of Iran›s home-built surface-to-surface Fateh 110 missile. (Photo by IRANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY / AFP)

pressure through armed factions acting on its behalf, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced targeting what it said were Israeli «strategic centers» operating secretly from Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, “It is absolutely not acceptable for one of our neighbors, with whom we have deep relations at various levels, to turn into the focus of a threat to Iran whether by counter-revolutionary terrorist groups or other terrorist groups or by the Zionist entity operating in the region.»

A set of justifications was offered by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and its propaganda channels in Iran and Iraq, including that Tehran was retaliating for the February 14th attack by Israeli drones on an Iranian drone base in Kermanshah province.

Iranian sources say that the drone attack was launched from an Israeli base in Erbil, an incident that the Iranian regime blamed on Israel.

The missile attack also came just days after an Israeli air strike on March 7 in Syria killed two IRGC colonels, Ehsan Karbalaeipour and Morteza Saeed Nejad, prompting the IRGC to threaten retaliation the next day.

The United States› confiscation of an Iranian oil tanker in the Bahamas and its refusal to release it despite Iranian demands increased the anger of the Revolutionary Guard leaders toward Iranian intelligence officials, which was the main motive for the escalation, according to one of the officials.

The recent Erbil incident is the first of its kind that Iran has publicly and explicitly claimed to implement since the attack on the American base of Ain al-Assad, which was clearly a sham attack to save face after the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

But what prompted Iran to change the method of its attacks in Iraq? It previously relied almost entirely on its proxies to carry out its missions, namely the “armed Shiite factions” that all joined in the popular mobilization and launched dozens of attacks in Baghdad and the Iraqi provinces in recent years.

The attacks targeted military bases in which the American forces are located, the headquarters of the American diplomatic missions in Baghdad and Erbil, in addition to the logistical support columns of the international coalition forces.

As for Iran’s messages from the attack, the aim of Tehran’s resorting to carrying out its own attacks this time may be to deliver a two-folded direct message to the both the Iraqi government and international players.

One is that Iran is not afraid to launch a direct strike on its own inside Iraq and bomb any target it wants and announce that it does not need proxies, and this is undoubtedly a remarkable change and development in the method of Iranian attacks.

The second is that Iran, by striking Erbil, confirms that its national security interest is above all Iraqi political considerations and that its security is a red line. Moreover,

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Iran previously relied almost entirely on its proxies to carry out its missions, namely the “armed Shiite factions” that launched dozens of attacks in Baghdad and the Iraqi provinces in recent years.

Iran will not allow any future Iraqi rapprochement with Israel or whomever Iran sees as its enemy, like some Arab and Western countries, and that ballistic missiles will be used to destroy any site that Tehran sees as a threat.

As for the hypotheses put forward to explain the reasons for Iran targeting the American consulate in Erbil, they can be addressed in two dimensions, an international regional dimension, and an internal Iraqi dimension.

INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL DIMENSIONS What is remarkable about the Erbil attack is that it came during the last few meters that separated the Americans and Iranians from reviving the nuclear agreement after 11 weeks of hard negotiations in Vienna.

But in recent days the talks have seen Russian obstruction, with Moscow demanding that the Americans ensure that sanctions imposed on it for its invasion of Ukraine do not undermine its trade relations with Iran.

It seems that the Iranians are trying to heat up the scene and put pressure on Washington at a moment when it does not seem willing to engage in any military confrontation at all.

Rather, it is rushing to conclude understandings with Iran to reinstate the nuclear agreement for domestic reasons, including making an achievement that the Biden administration needs now, as well as international reasons, including devoting themselves to confronting the repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis.

Here, too, Iran sends messages to Washington that it will not abandon its armed arms in the region, a US demand that Tehran refused to include in the ongoing nuclear negotiations in Vienna.

From time to time, Iran creates bargaining chips in its negotiations with the major powers in Vienna to put an end to its nuclear program. However, this time the card is the security of the city of Erbil, which includes the American consulate and an American military base as well.

On the other hand, the reason for the great Iranian escalation is coupled with the distraction of American focus towards

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what is happening in Ukraine. To some extent, this helps the Russians, Iran’s ally who is fighting a military war in Ukraine, a war that is not taking place according to their plans due to the depletion of Russia’s military and economic capabilities.

Iran sought, through its ballistic attacks on Erbil targeting the vicinity of the American Consulate, to deliver urgent and quick messages to Washington that it and its arms in Iraq are capable of a threat to Washington›s interests if the latter insists on continuing to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.

There is also the potential export of natural gas from the Kurdistan region to Europe via Turkey. This could give the European Union an alternative source of gas to reduce dependence on Russia.

Thus, the logic of the attacks includes «an intersection between Russian and Iranian (or Revolutionary Guards) interests.»

The Iranian attack targeted the home of the owner of the Kar

Erbil incident is the first of its kind that Iran has publicly and explicitly claimed to implement since the attack of Ain al-Assad base, which was a sham attack to save face after the assassination of Soleimani.

oil company, which controls the oil sector in the Kurdistan region and is the one who is extending the Kurdistan gas pipeline to the Turkish border with plans to export the region›s gas to Turkey, all of which contradicts Iranian interests.

INTERNAL DIMENSIONS: IMPOSING THE WILL OF TEHRAN›S ALLIES Despite Tehran›s claim that the bombing came in response to the killing of two Iranian leaders in Syria, it can be described as a direct entry into the Iraqi crisis of forming a government.

After excluding the pro-Iranian factions from the negotiations to form the next coalition government, Iranian intervention was required to counter this plan.

The results of the Iraqi elections in October 2021 witnessed major changes, as the militia blocs loyal to Iran lost the majority of their parliamentary seats, and those elections gave a victory to the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shiite leader who opposes Iranian influence and also opposes the main competitor of his sect, who is allied with Iran.

Al-Sadr threatened to exclude Iranian-backed groups from the government and established an alliance with the Kurdistan Democratic Party that governs Erbil, as well as with Sunni Arab groups, most notably Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi. Additionally, al-Sadr announced that he would nominate his cousin Jaafar al-Sadr to be the Iraqi ambassador to Beirut.

This pushed factions supporting Iran to stir up escalation during the past months in an attempt to return political

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Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi inspects the site of a damaged building a day after a missile attack, in Erbil, Iraq, March ,14 2022. Iraqi Prime Minister Media Office/Handout via REUTERS

View of a damaged building in the aftermath of missile attacks in Erbil, Iraq March ,13 2022. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari/File Photo

understandings about the next government to the context of consensus and quotas once again.

Iran, through its proxies, failed to dismantle the tripartite alliance between the Democratic Party, the Sadrist movement and Al-Halbousi, or to obtain guarantees from this alliance regarding the future directions and strategies of any Iraqi government that may be formed in the near future. He is accused by Iranian circles of contributing to the dispersal of the Shiite House by excluding Iranianbacked parties in the next government.

ASSESSMENT The unusual direct strike coincides with a potential turning point in the balance of power in the Middle East, at a time when talks to revive the Iranian nuclear deal face the specter of collapse and the risks of war in the Gulf region are rising, while Iraqi leaders in Baghdad attempt to form a new government free of Iranian influence.

Tehran fears the throes of a new political system in Iraq that carries a desire to dismantle the Iraqi power centers loyal to Iran, especially the armed ones. Therefore, it seeks to send a message that is perhaps more clear and violent than the latest one - that a diminished Iranian influence will never happen and the coalition’s insistence on such must be broken.

In the past, it sent some drones from inside Iraq and concealed the identity of the perpetrator, but today it launches ballistic missiles from outside the borders.

The Iranian missile strike confirms a number of facts

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that were the subject of analysis and comment, including Iran’s continued use of Iraq as a land for settling scores.

This strike also indicates that the administration of US President Joe Biden encouraged Tehran to take this approach, after Biden slackened in applying sanctions on Iran, and lessened the maximum pressure exerted by his predecessor Donald Trump. That reduced the value of negotiating with Iran about its nuclear program.

It can be considered that Iran’s missiles are a clear message to al-Sadr, who is still facing difficulties in forming a government. Iran’s missiles are a warning message to the Kurdistan region that supports al-Sadr.

What Tehran wants is to neutralize the political blocs supporting al-Sadr and thus try to thwart his attempts to form the anticipated government.

Iran›s missile attack came in conjunction with Al-Sadr›s announcement of the nomination of Jaafar Al-Sadr as Iraq›s ambassador to Lebanon, and this may prove to be a reason for the timing of the Iranian attack. The attack also came at the end of the deadline set for forming the Iraqi government, which is scheduled to expire within days, after which there is no option for Iraq other than forming an emergency government from which al-Sadr is excluded. * Jassim Mohamad is a researcher who focuses on international security & counter-terrorism; his work covers Europe, Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Libya, Iran and Yemen), and African Sahel. He is the Head of the European Center for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies ECCI.

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11 Years of Syrian Political Impediment

Head of “Syria First” to Majalla: Solution to Current Crisis Linked to Int’l Consensus Not Reached Yet

By Jiwan Soz – Qamishli Syria welcomed the 11th anniversary of the outbreak of the March popular protests with some shocking statistics, as the latest figures indicate that around seven million have been displaced within the Syrian territory, distributed among its various cities and countryside. Moreover, there is approximately the same number of refugees in the countries neighboring Syria

and other countries around the world. These numbers indicate that more than half of the country’s population, which stood at more than 21 million in 2011, was affected by the war that followed the popular protests that demanded the overthrow of the Syrian regime and the departure of its president, Bashar al-Assad.

The reconciliations and settlements that took place in a number of Syrian regions under the auspices of Russia, Turkey

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and Iran during the Syrian war led to a major demographic change, which prevented many of those internally displaced from returning to their homes. Moreover, the military operations pushed a large number of residents to flee their cities, towns and villages. This was the case when Turkey launched its military offensive inside the Syrian territories between 2016 and 2019.

Even though 11 years have passed since the popular protests in Syria and the war that followed - which saw the participation of regional and international parties - the situation in Syria has not changed and is still “very bleak” and “extremely difficult,” using the terms of the Syrian politician who leads the “Syria First” party.

Salman Chebib, who heads Syria First, told Majalla in a lengthy interview over the phone that there is a “solid political impediment. All political means are blocked and suspended and no serious breakthrough has taken place so far. Therefore, the ability of the Syrians to influence the determination of their destiny and their future is waning day by day, in favor of various regional and international powers. The internationalization of the current crisis has had dangerous repercussions that deepen every day and that intertwine any solution to this crisis with the existence of international and regional agreements, which are difficult, if not impossible, to reach within the current international milieu.”

Syrian demonstrators wave flags during a demonstration against the Syrian regime on the 11th anniversary of the Syrian Revolution.

15 March 2022, Syria, Idlib City. Photo: Anas Alkharboutli/dpa

DE FACTO PARTITION AND FAINTHEARTED ARAB NORMALIZATION He added, “There is also a de facto enforced division in the country that is protected by the military presence of the armies of major and regional countries and dozens of organizations and militias, some of which have been classified as terrorist organizations by the international community, such as Jabhat al-Nusra (the arm of al-Qaeda in Syria) and ISIS, which some parties are trying to revive. Additionally, the political track for a peaceful resolution, namely, the Geneva process and Resolution 2254, is completely halted. Even the parallel peace initiatives that were attempted, such as Astana, have had their power and purposes exhausted.”

He continued, “The attempts at Arab normalization with Syria are still hesitant and faint-hearted, and linked to complex and intertwined international and regional considerations. These attempts have coincided with the Russian-Ukrainian war and the violent and dangerous international clash taking place there.

This has added a new layer of complexity to the Syrian crisis and caused the possibility of its solution to inevitably require international agreements, especially between Russian and USA. The possibility of such agreements has also faded to a large extent, and therefore there is a serious threat that the Syrian territories will turn into a new confrontation field among these parties, 11 years after the popular protests.”

Amidst these political and military complications taking their toll on the Syrian crisis, the Syrian Constitutional Committee

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“The reconciliations and settlements that took place in a number of Syrian regions under the auspices of Russia, Turkey and Iran during the Syrian war led to a major demographic change” - which includes representatives of the Syrian government, the opposition and civil society, and officially started its work in Geneva on October 30, 2019 - continues to draft a new constitution to advance the peace process in the country. However, despite holding six rounds, it has still not made any progress.

Nonetheless, it will continue to hold its sessions in Geneva again this March. Jennifer Fenton, a spokeswoman for the office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, announced in a press conference weeks ago the “confirmation of the logistical arrangements” related to the seventh session, which is scheduled to be held on March 20. She added, “The eighth and ninth rounds of the committee will supposedly be held in May and June this year.”

In this regard, Chebib assured that “all the political movements related to the Syrian crisis, the efforts of all international envoys, and the work of the Constitutional Committee which was formed several years ago, during which only six rounds were held, have had zero, and even sub-zero results. The only outcome that has not been announced so far is the death of the political process in Syria, as the role of the Constitutional Committee survives on confirming the existence of a political path.”

THE CRISIS IS NOT CONSTITUTIONRELATED Chebib added, “It is not possible to expect a serious breakthrough and tangible results regarding the work of this committee, especially if we take into account the mechanism of its formation and its method of work. The issues discussed during the previous sessions were not related to the committee’s tasks, which prompted the international envoy to work according to a side track that represented his plan, which he called the “step for step” method. Therefore, the chances of the success of this committee seem slim, especially since the crisis in Syria is not primarily a constitutional crisis. I also do not think that finding a new constitution or amending the existing one can be an entry point for a proper solution.”

Chebib also believes that “the lack of seriousness among all parties, including the internal and external, to reach a solution, or even to lay a real basis for a solution, stands in the way of

any peaceful resolution. All parties and countries in the Syrian crisis always say and repeat that there is no solution in Syria except a political one. However, they are not working seriously to reach this solution, as they announce their commitment to the articles of UN Resolution 2254, but at the same time they are trying to invent other paths to circumvent this Resolution.”

He continued, “All parties affirm their commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria and signed the statements to that effect. The practices and behavior of many of them on the ground completely contradict such words. As a result, if the previous six rounds, which were held amidst better international conditions, did not yield any results, the new round will certainly not be better. The Syrians in the first place have lost interest in this committee and lost hope in the results of its work.”

NO ALTERNATIVE FOR THE SOLUTION BETWEEN DAMASCUS AND AUTONOMOUS ADMINISTRATION In conjunction with the intermittent sessions held by the Con-

“The results have started to take shape in horrific, strange crimes, unprecedented in the history of Syrian society as a result of the increasing poverty and hunger among the population.”

stitutional Committee, the government in Damascus failed to reach solutions with the “Autonomous Administration” of northern and eastern Syria. The administration includes parts of the Aleppo and Deir Ezzor governorates, in addition to the entirety of Raqqa and Hasaka, with the exception of two areas controlled by the Turkish army since the beginning of October 2019.

The head of the Syria First party stressed that “the Syrian government and the Autonomous Administration have no choice but to reach an agreement, no matter how late it is and no matter how much the two sides try to evade this requirement. In my opinion, solutions to all the existing problems between these two entities can be reached when there is a will and a serious desire to do so, and when the two sides proceed from Syrian national interests and refrain from bullying or threatening each other with foreigners. The Syrians, despite their differences, are in one boat tossed by the waves, and therefore have no choice but to effect a collective rescue or die together.”

He added, “The two parties can conclude a national agreement away from the others, which in turn can solve all existing problems, such as the issue of administrative divisions and the issue of integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces, the military faction of the Autonomous Administration, into the National Army through appropriate arrangements. There are international experiences that can be beneficial in this regard. Syria needs a final solution that achieves the interests of all its components through a national partnership within its territorial integrity.”

With the failure of the talks between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration, the government has been trying with Russia’s support to impose its control militarily over most parts of the country, including the Idlib governorate, which has been out of its control for years. Will the Russian military operation in Ukraine affect the progress of the government forces inside

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Syrian demonstrators hold a banner in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their war against Russia during a demonstration against the Syrian regime on the 11th anniversary of the Syrian Revolution.

15 March 2022, Syria, Idlib City. Photo: Anas Alkharboutli/dpa

“With the failure of the talks between Damascus and the Autonomous Administration, the government has been trying with Russia’s support to impose its control militarily over most parts of the country, including the Idlib”

Salman Chebib

feed them. As the crisis continues, the system of societal values is undergoing a major disintegration process. The results have started to take shape in horrific, strange crimes, unprecedented in the history of Syrian society as a result of the increasing poverty and hunger among the population. This is especially the case in light of the absence of reasonable work opportunities amidst the destruction that has affected the entire productive structure in the country.”

the Syrian territory?

IDLIB ISSUE IS MORE POLITICAL THAN MILITARY Answering these questions, Chebib said, “The issue of Idlib and other occupied areas controlled by terrorist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda, and those supported by the Turkish army, can be resolved militarily. The Syrian army, with the support of Russia, can resolve this matter within a short period.

The huge military buildup and integrated equipment to achieve this are all in place. However, the actual Turkish military presence on the ground, the understandings between Moscow and Ankara, and the network of intertwined interests between them have hindered this process.”

He pointed out that “the intersection of Russian-Turkish interests and the arrangements between the two sides deem the issue of the government’s re-imposition of its control over Idlib and other areas to be more political than military. Therefore, it is largely linked to a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis with its complex regional and international dimensions. Accordingly, the Russian military operation in Ukraine, will have a direct and early effect on the situation in Idlib and the Syrian crisis as a whole.”

The Syrian war caused a major economic crisis in the country, with more than 90% of the population living below the poverty line, according to statistics by international organizations that stressed the urgent need for aid. The head of Syria First described this situation as “tragic and extremely harsh.”

He also said that “the reality on the ground is more bleak than international reports picture it. The economic and humanitarian situation is extremely harsh and is constantly becoming more difficult. Some may find it difficult to believe that there are families who abandon their children because they are unable to

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STATE SERVICES DECLINED AND POVERTY RATES ROSE Chebib also revealed that “the massive decline in the level of the Syrian family’s income, accompanied by a continuous rise in the requirements for securing the minimum living standards - such as the prices of basic materials, especially food, following the continuous devaluation of the national currency - in addition to the inability to provide electricity and fuel and the lack of job opportunities, contributed to the high rates of poverty among the population. These factors have put Syrians in the face of catastrophic humanitarian conditions.”

He indicated that “there is a clear decline in the level and work of the health sectors, including hospitals and clinics, as a result of the decline in the state’s capabilities because of the current war. Add to that the international siege imposed on the country, as well as Western sanctions, especially the US Caesar Act, which aggravated the sufferings of Syrians.

The Act created a suitable environment for the thriving of looting and corruption, which took its toll on the poorest classes, making life in Syria almost impossible. Millions of young people were therefore haunted by semi-suicidal options, such as emigrating in any way possible, no matter how high the risks are. Such thoughts unfortunately were behind the drowning of many Syrians who were fleeing in illegal immigration boats. Not to mention, unfortunately, that a large number of these refugees turned into mercenaries taking part in the wars of others, on multiple fronts, such as Libya, Armenia, and lately Ukraine.”

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Are Americans Frustrated by War? US Commentators Debate What their Country Should Do in the Ukraine War

By Mohammad Ali Salih – Washington In a leading editorial on Tuesday the Washington Post wrote about a new attitude in the US about the war in Ukraine as it entered its second month: frustration, if not fatigue. “Frustration is understandable, but now is not the time for the US to pivot,” the paper wrote.

The problem, besides the realization that the war is not going to be a short one, is that nobody knows how it is going to end.

The end will be one of two things: First, military defeat of the Russians at the hands of Ukraine, without direct NATO involvement, albeit with an enormous cost in civilian life.

Second, military victory for the Russians that “seems all too conceivable as well, even if stable Russian political control thereafter is not,” according to the Post.

The frustration in the US seems to reflect an attitude that had already started in Europe, particularly because long before the war some Europeans in France and Germany wondered about the wisdom of pushing Russia to invade.

The US had played a major role in rejecting Russian demands for a specific guarantee that Ukraine would not join NATO. Among the Americans, the minority view, mostly academic, that the US was to be blamed for decades of pushing NATO into East Europe, closer to Russian borders, does not have popular support.

The magazine continued: “You can understand why the White House would welcome a new Reuters poll finding more than three in five Americans say they’d ‘willingly’ pay more at the gas pump to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. Of course, Americans also say they plan to exercise more (and) eat more vegetables …”

The Post said that “the frustration is growing, understandably, among many in the United States and Europe, who wonder why, in addition to the military assistance for Kyiv and sanctions against Russia, the West is not doing more.”

Although on the same day the newspaper’s headline across the front page was about the US warning China not to help Russia, the newspaper’s editorial wondered about the expansion of such dangerous outshoots of the war in Ukraine.

Following are two different opinions about the frustration, if not the fatigue of the war, from each writer’s tweets, websites and statements in the media: On one side, Matt Bai, a journalist who worked with the New York Times, Newsweek, Yahoo News and, now the Washington Post. He authored two books: “The Argument” and “All the Truth is Out.’’ On the other side, Joe Scarborough, a TV host who anchors “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, with his wife Mika Brzezinski, daughter of Polishborn former national security expert Zbigniew Brzezinski.

MATT BAI: INSPIRATION, BUT FOR HOW LONG?

But according to Politico magazine, the American public has shown over decades that it could sway this way and that, sometimes in a contradictory manner. Last week, the magazine headline was: “Polls Show the Public Is Willing to Sacrifice for Ukraine. History Suggests Biden Shouldn’t Count On It”.

“If we expect the war in Ukraine to end with Russia’s surrender and President Biden

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basking in praise from Congress and foreign capitals, we might want to revisit Cold War history.

In disputes between nuclear powers, the cause might be clear and just. The resolution generally isn’t …

At this point, Russian President Putin’s unprovoked war has provided the United States — and the world — with a simple narrative and uncontroversial choices. Russia, the behemoth, is isolated from the world and reeling from resistance. Plucky Ukraine stands its ground and pleads for help amid mounting casualties.

But this period of easy choices and simple story lines is coming to an end.

We’re reaching the phase of the crisis where the interests of Ukraine and the United States are no longer perfectly aligned, and the balance will be hard to navigate.

Like any capable leader in his situation, Ukrainian President Zelensky wants to repel the invaders and keep his country whole. His best (and probably only) hope for driving the Russians out is to draw NATO deeper into the war.

And so Zelensky pleads movingly with the West for leftover Russian-made fighter jets and a no-fly zone over Ukraine. If he’s going to hold out indefinitely, he needs the United States and Europe to do more than sanction Russia and ferry weapons across the border.

People protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine outside of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 2022 ,26. (AP Photo/ Jose Luis Magana)

The United States, however, has a different bottom line, as it did throughout the 40-year Cold War: to avoid a shooting war with a country that keeps nuclear missiles aimed at U.S. cities.

This might mean pressuring Zelensky to accept a negotiated solution that is patently unjust — if it’s even possible.

“No one wants to say it now, but America would sooner see Ukraine cede some territory than risk all-out war. It would be an imperfect solution, but one in which we’d all live to fight another day …” – US Journalist range of issues … Now, 3 in 4 Americans support a nofly zone over Ukraine. European allies have flexed their military and economic might in a way not seen since World War II. These dramatic changes allow the U.S. president to respond more aggressively to the war crimes being committed against Ukrainians.

Biden should stop telling Putin the following: First, what he will not do, to avoid a confrontation.

Second, what weapons he will not send to Ukraine.

Third, where U.S. troops will not be used.

Biden shouldn’t react to Putin; he should take the initiative, if for no other reason because Putin keeps moving the goal post.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: ENOUGH MR. PUTIN

At the beginning, Putin claimed that the trigger would be acceptance of Ukraine into NATO. Then he added the introduction of peacekeeping troops into western Ukraine. Then the transfer of Polish jets across the border. And then the shipment of defensive weapons. And then he moved the line again, declaring to young flight attendants bearing flowers that even economic sanctions against Russia were tantamount to war …

“Three weeks ago, only 1 in 4 Americans supported significant U.S. involvement in the war.

European allies were wary of confronting Putin on a

It is as if Putin expects Americans to forget the body bags flown to Dover Air Force Base because of decades of Russian proxy wars fought against U.S. soldiers.

Simply put, an alliance that caves to Putin’s nuclear blackmail today would be forced to respond to his chemical weapons attacks tomorrow.Enough.”

No one wants to say it now, but America would sooner see Ukraine cede some territory than risk all-out war. It would be an imperfect solution, but one in which we’d all live to fight another day …”

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E

conomy

Dark Stores Apps Flourish, Transform Saudi Shopping Scene Double & Triple-digit Growth Achieved amid Heated Competition

By Motasem Al Felou – Jeddah “From time to time, my wife surprises me with a shopping list a few minutes before I leave the office. It’s hassling to drop by the supermarket in the rush hour. I resort to grocery and supermarket dark store apps to get things de-

livered before or a little after I get home,” said Abdulla in a discussion with his friends on the different ways of grocery shopping. More and more Saudi and non-Saudi couples and individuals, both males and females, who are getting involved in the local labor market find that the luxury of time is not as available as before.

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“For me, dark store apps are the best solution. I have been witnessing more branded stores that don’t cater to the public, but exclusively to online shoppers. The industry is booming while the competition is heating up,” Abdulla added.

Dark Store and Physical Store When we order from Amazon, for instance, we get our goods packed, shipped and delivered from dark stores to our registered address. Dark stores or warehouses cater to people whose lifestyles do not allow time for physical shopping, so they order the daily groceries, electronics, furniture, and food online.

“My mom was cooking lunch, and suddenly she realized she had a missing ingredient. She couldn’t leave my little sisters alone, so she picked up her phone and ordered salt and bread. Everything was ready before we all got home,” said Maysa, a young digital marketer.

“The business model of dark stores or dark supermarkets appeared in Europe a little over a decade ago. It started with supermarkets dedicating ghost stores that catered exclusively to online shoppers. After the outbreak of Covid-19, shoppers relied heavily on dark stores apps to get their groceries and everything they needed to live under lockdown. Now, although life is 95% back to normal, this consumer behavior continues. There are millions of daily orders that are being handled by smart phone apps, from food to groceries, and from electronics to cars,” she added.

GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE AND BRAND PROMISE The dark stores help customers with the stress caused by longer rides, parking availability, etc. )(Photo: Pixabay

With more investments that are attracted by seeding and bridge rounds, new startups in the field of dark stores are raising funds to expand in major cities. Riyadh is the focal point amid the unprecedented expansion of Riyadh in preparation for Saudi official plans to make the capital city one of the top 10 world’s biggest economies by 2030 while raising the population to around 15 to 20 million from 7.5 million currently.

The dark store-based apps are flourishing under a bigger umbrella called “e-commerce,” which is a key driver of growth that reached around USD 16 billion according to data collected from a variety of Saudi sources. Saudi has international companies such as Amazon, iHerb as well as Saudi local dark store-based brands including Noon, Talabat and Nana. The latter recently raised USD 50 million in a bridge round, having reached a total of USD 80 million in funds according to the company’s announcement in LEAP, a conference that celebrates digital transformation achievements which was held last February in Riyadh.

“This kind of business is expanding with double or triple-

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The dark store-based apps are flourishing under a bigger umbrella called “e-commerce,” which is a key driver of growth that reached around USD 16 billion according to data collected from a variety of Saudi sources. digit growth in transactions, orders, revenues, and expenses as well. More money is invested in branding, and rebranding with brand promises of delivery within 15-30 minutes.

If dark store apps want to continue to compete, they need to play on a couple of factors: speed and service fees. Techsavvy online customers look for added values and peace of mind,” said Elias Wessam, 28, an observer of the dark store trend in Saudi, who believes that more and more applications of the dark store concept will be set up to cover the F&B sector through cloud kitchens.

Elias believes that a cloud or dark or even a ghost kitchen, which is a cooking area that caters exclusively to online orders without any physical presence or dining-in experience, is trending in the Kingdom, or “booming” as he prefers to call it. Foods and beverages are prepared and handed to delivery drivers, called “captains” in Saudi, to be at customer’s doorstep as fast as possible. “The concept of ghosting is setting the trend for a heated competition,” he added.

BEATING TRAFFIC The bigger the cities, the more traffic jams they have. The dark stores help customers with the stress caused by longer rides, parking availability, etc. However, people still prefer the real shopping experience, especially when it comes to fresh vegetables and fruits. Some believe that shopping in malls is good as a physical activity. However, with the growing population of the Kingdom, growth of sales for both actual stores/supermarkets and for dark store platforms will continue. Some customers order online but can also be found in malls and shopping centers.

“Convenience is what customers look for. This includes SKU availability, hygiene, offers, and commitment to delivery time. This is the recipe of success for the dark store industry,” concluded Elias.

B

ook Reviews

Freud’s Trap

A Century of Sexual Relations Between Patients, Therapists in Freudian Psychiatry Clinics

By Majalla «Freud›s Trap: A Century of Sexual Relations Between Patients and Therapists in Freudian Psychiatry Clinics” is a recently published book

by Mamdouh Al-Sheikh.

At the beginning of the book, we find a quote

by Irvin D. Yalom, founder of Existential Psychotherapy saying, «I›ve been sexually aroused by female patients, and by every therapist I know.»

To realize the true scale of the disaster, we should mention a survey indicating that 70 percent of the therapists in the sample said that they knew at least one patient who was sexually involved with a previous therapist.

By calculating the probabilities, and based on the available surveys, America alone, may have between 400,000 and 1,200,000 female victims of sexual assault in trusting relationships, including psychotherapy.

Based on interviews with hundreds of women, about 80 percent of the women reportedly had sexual contact with a man who was their treating physician, and 20 percent of them each knew 2 or 3 other women with similar stories.

BETRAYAL OF A TRUST RELATIONSHIP When we mention “honesty” in “Psychoanalysis,”

we remember the words of Mikkel BorchJacobsen, one of the authors of “The Black Book of Psychoanalysis”.

He who studies the concepts and techniques of “psychoanalysis” must “understand that he is about to enter a strange world governed by secrecy, rumors and manipulation of information.

The book analyses the issue of the moral responsibility of therapists, for the relationship between physician and patient is considered a “sacred” trust derived from the traditional attribution of “priestly qualities” to the role of the physician.

This fact opens the door to a great possibility of patient manipulation and exploitation. Since the time of the ancient Greeks, physicians have been entrusted with a sacred duty: The Care of the Health and Welfare of the Sick.

It may come as a surprise to the modern reader that Book: Freud’s Trap A century of sexual relations between patients and therapists in Freudian psychiatry clinics Author: Mamdouh Al-Sheikh Publisher: Eshraqa Publishing House - Egypt Publication date: 2022 Size: 182 pages

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Highlighting the prevalence of sexual contact in therapy has sparked fiery debates, disbelief and denial, as well as more collaborative and unified research efforts on the topic of physical contact in therapy in Freudian «psychoanalytic» clinics. only as a pioneer in the history of psychology, but also as the third leg in the triangle of the makers of the modern mind: Nicolas Copernicus and Charles Darwin.

The truth is more important. During the past five decades, Western culture has seen a major trend towards reconsidering the «Freud legacy».

Book Cover

the Hippocratic Oath, was written in the fourth century B.C. It was adopted as the document that began, and continues to inspire, concepts of ethical medical practice, This section contained a strict prohibition of «sexual contact between physician and patient.»

The presence of this clear ban in the department indicates that some doctors have violated sexual boundaries with patients since ancient times, a violation that a worrying number of health professionals have continued to commit more than two thousand years later.

In the clinics of Freudian medicine, the problem later evolved from a sexual relationship between a «therapist» and a «female patient», to include a sexual relationship between a “a female therapist” and a “male patient” or a homosexual relationship between a “male therapist” and a “male patient” or a “female therapist” and a “female patient” or group sex events.

In the history of modern medicine, Sigmund Freud marks the beginning of a new - unprecedented stage in the history of psychotherapy, despite the aura of reverence that surrounds Freud›s name, not

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ON FREUD›S SOFA The «Freud sofa» that he used in «psychoanalysis» was an important entry into this world full of what is shocking, and recent studies trace an important tributary in the history of psychoanalysis, in thought and practice, which is the effect of the «One Thousand and One Nights» novel with its erotic atmosphere.

Does the Freudian Consultation Room offer a scene of continuity between psychoanalysis, Scheherazade, and the traditions of Arab fantasy?

Freud used physical intimacy, such as massage, early in his career, and “there is a lot of literature on the need for abstaining from sexual intercourse at work.”

Yalom, founder of Existential Psychotherapy, on a visit to Copenhagen, addressed taboo sexual feelings in therapy by directly publicizing his experience: «I›ve been sexually aroused by patients, and similarly every therapist I know did.»

It is a striking fact that a study conducted in

B

ook Reviews

America in 1979 indicated that even sexual intercourse between teachers and students in “psychoanalytic” training programs is increasing, as %25 of the female graduates surveyed have experienced sexual intercourse compared to %5 of those 20 years ago.

Highlighting the prevalence of sexual contact in therapy has sparked fiery debates, disbelief and denial, as well as more collaborative and unified research efforts on the topic of physical contact in therapy in Freudian «psychoanalytic» clinics.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s a major ethical dilemma was: What kind of tactile interaction would be appropriate and ethical, and where should the line be drawn?

DOCTORS ON THE CONFESSION CHAIR The author says that the scheme of the book began to become clear in his mind after reading a research paper published in one of the specialized American journals (Journal of Clinical Psychology), in the year 2013.

The authors of the journal wrote that they studied love and sexual feelings between the therapist and the patient.

The book relied on a large number of qualitative

The famous British psychoanalyst David Mann made a genius remark when he noted that Freud “attempted the impossible: he based psychoanalysis on the universal nature of sexual desire or the command of the mind’s sexual instincts.”

and national surveys conducted in America, Britain and Australia, surveys whose dates span many years.

They studied sexual relations between doctors and patients (and sometimes patients) from all perspectives, and were subjected to multiple analyses, as well as the academic, ethical and professional discussions raised by the numbers.

One of the most dangerous explanations for studies of sexual abuse is the assumption by many researchers that “there is a link between sex addiction and the occurrence of abuse,” and that “sex addiction is a form of vulnerability similar to alcohol dependence.” Other researchers have considered sexual abuse akin to «rape or incest, and pedophilia».

The list of eminent psychoanalysts who, from an early age, had sex with or married patients, is long. It includes: Carl Jung Sándor Ferenczi Erich Fromm Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Wilhelm Reich The “confession” is a means of contracting at the intersection of several phenomena that contributed to the catastrophe of sexual abuse in clinics, and the idea of the “pathogenic secret” spread widely among the clergy and ordinary people in the eighties and nineties of the nineteenth century.

The author of “Freud’s Trap” has already glimpsed “structural” similarities between the role of the psychoanalyst and the “priest,” and the famous British psychoanalyst David Mann made a genius remark when he noted that Freud “attempted the impossible: he based psychoanalysis on the universal nature of sexual desire or the command of the mind’s sexual instincts.”

At the same time, he tried to reduce the presence of excitement in the therapy room, especially in the therapist. «Trying to get rid of sexual

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Sigmund Freud (Photo via Wikime)dia Commons

arousal ... ... is similar to some of the myths of parthenogenesis,» Mann adds.

abuse was closely integrated into the fabric of the history of «psychoanalysis»!

IS FREUDIAN A SEX THERAPY?

In numerical indicators, the «downward trajectory» of the presence of psychoanalysis in psychiatric clinics can be summarized:

Columbia University researchers Richard C. Friedman and Jennifer I. Downey, state that «psychoanalysis began as a deep psychology, based largely on sexual experience».

In a phrase that captures the magic of historical records of a century spanning a century, Dr. Judith L. Albert, a faculty member at Columbia University sums up the hidden tragedy in the title of her research paper: “Sexual Boundary Violations: A Century of Sexual Abuse in the Time of Psychoanalysis,” emphasizing that sexual

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In 1917, the percentage of American psychiatrists who practiced “psychoanalysis” was %8.

By 1941, the percentage had risen to %38.

In 1970, it reached %66.

Today, there is practically no psychiatry department headed by a doctor who works in «psychoanalysis»!

A Weekly Political News Magazine

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Issue 1896- March- 18/03/2022

Alexander Lukashenko: Putin’s Closest Ally, Europe’s Last Dictator

www.majalla.com

C

ulture

Naguib Mahfouz Award-Winning Reem Bassiouney Speaks to Majalla

“I always care about the human side of my characters. It is the great essence of literature highlighting our connections as humans together” Interviewed by Sarah Gamal Egypt holds among its folds a unique elite of writers and novelists who have composed great works that are immortalized in history. These works will inspire a generation that has recently begun an awaited journey towards reviving the luster of reading and its great impact on building minds and life.

Standing out among those writers is the novelist Reem Bassiouney whose works were able to stimulate society and take an interesting journey towards the secrets and mysteries of history, and to attract readers towards her wonderful novels.

Reem Bassiouney, Professor of Linguistics at the American University and novelist, was born in Alexandria in 1973. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in the Department of English at Alexandria University and was appointed to its faculty. She later attended Oxford University in Britain and obtained a master’s in linguistics and a doctorate in “political discourse.”

She taught in some American universities on Arab thought, culture and literature, and worked for a short time in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States and teaching at Georgetown University. Dr. Bassiouney currently works as a professor at the American University in Cairo.

Despite all the hardships she has gone through, she is still dreaming and searching the history papers, researching, checking and drawing with her imagination dialogues be-

tween people who once lived in order to restore to their history some fairness, add color to their world and bring it into the present age.

Her heroes live their full experiences without fear, and the heroines of her tales are strong and active, looking for their freedom in order to prove themselves. Women in her novels believe that their freedom is the freedom of mind and heart, in which the body is freed from its overseers, and the homeland is liberated from all of its occupiers.

Fifteen years or more have passed since the first novel was published by the international novelist, who has translated many of her fictional works into English, Spanish and Greek, and has won many Arab and international awards, including Egypt’s most prestigious literary award, the Naguib Mahfouz Prize for Literature, for the “Mamluk Trilogy” as well as the King Fahd Prize for the translation of her novel “The Pistachio Seller” in 2009.

Her study of English literature was a journey to complete her hobby and pursue her novelist’s dream of studying English literature and delving into Arabic literature and history outside the walls of the university curriculum, until she fell captive to a love of history, especially the history of the Mamluks.

Bassiouney’s writing style is simple, very clear, and her language is fresh and easy. She uses simple vocabulary and expressions in her writing in order to be able to convey her deep thoughts to the reader in a very smooth and fluid manner. Her novels are also characterized by excitement and suspense, and we often finish reading them in one sitting.

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“Despite all the hardships she has gone through, she is still dreaming and searching the history papers, researching, checking and drawing with her imagination dialogues between people who once lived in order to restore to their history some fairness, add color to their world and bring it into the present age.”

Egyptian Author and Professor Reem Bassiouney. (Courtesy: Reem Bassiouney)

The novels of Reem Bassiouney do not lack anything but the realization that you are part of this narration. Do not worry, it will undoubtedly happen, or perhaps you will imagine yourself in one of your reading sessions mystically unleashing your imagination to conjure up characters who emerge from between lines that are engraved on walls from a time that is long gone, but whose remnants still survive in the sublime places of Blessed Egypt.

It is within this framework that Majalla had an interesting interview on literature and culture with writer and novelist Reem Bassiouney: Q: You specialize in linguistics, what prompted you to write novels, especially in Arabic?

A: I always wanted to become an author and this was my dream since I was 12. I joined the English department because of my love of literature and then from there I got specialized in linguistics. So it was destiny that I never stopped writing since I was 12.

Q: You studied and lived in the UK but you write in Arabic, does that connect you to your identity?

A: It is really strange that I write my fiction in Arabic only and my academic books in English. I have nine novels and nine academic books. It seems that I cannot be honest about feelings and vulnerabilities except in my mother tongue.

Q: In light of the complexity of the problems of reality,

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the fierceness of its concerns and the ferocity of its challenges, the resort to literature for history seems to be a kind of escape and regression. What do you think?

A: Historical Fiction for me is liberating. It gives my imagination more freedom to rein. I like to do research, so to be able to use my skills as a researcher to also write fiction is a win-win situation. I also feel it is my mission to show people the beauty I discovered in historical monuments and stories.

Q: Why did you choose to write about the Tulunid State?

What do you mean by linking the Egyptian identity with the Tulunid State?

A: The Tulunid state is the first independent state of Egypt under Islamic rule. It is the first time that Egypt has an army with Egyptians in it since ancient Egypt. So it is a very critical and formative period in Egyptian history, and feelings of pride and achievement soared during this time. Also, the mosque of Ibn Tulun is the oldest mosque in Egypt in terms of how it was preserved in its original condition.

Q: Why did you care about highlighting the human side of Ibn Tulun?

A: I always care about the human side of my characters. I feel this is the great essence of literature highlighting our connections as humans together. So this is essential in my writing. The problem is that in most historical works the historical figures are not human. They are good or evil, but this is not realistic.

Q: What really inspired you to write “The Mamluk Trilogy” (Awlad El Nas), and what was the process

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ulture

of writing it?

A: I was inspired to write “Awlad El Nas” after visiting the mosque of Sultan Hassan for the first time in 2013.

I was so impressed by the architecture that I wanted to study Mamluk Egypt and this led me to a grand journey of discovery into Islamic civilization.

Q: What is the secret of your choice of the Mamluk era to be the scene of the events of your trilogy?

A: I started by writing about how the mosque was built

“Writing a book of 800 pages is a challenge but I could not help writing it. It was like a call from inside me urging me to continue the story. I did not expect any great success. However, the novel was on the best-selling list for three consecutive years.”

and the story of the architect. Then I found myself writing the second part about what happened to the mosque 80 years later. I continued my Trilogy with the war between Mamluks and Ottomans and the end of a crucial era for Egypt.

Q: Do you not think that the rhythm of the times can no longer bear the idea of the trilogy? How did you gain the courage to author a prolonged trilogy in the face of a bored reader? How did you overcome this challenge?

A: Writing a book of 800 pages is a challenge but I could not help writing it. It was like a call from inside me urging me to continue the story. I did not expect any great success. However, the novel was on the best-selling list for three consecutive years.

Q: Why do you link your novels with mosques? What is the reason for your keenness to be with the readers in the mosques of Ibn Tulun and Sultan Hassan?

A: Visiting the sites of my novels is like a continuation of the story. I felt the need to share with my readers my passion for the places and what they mean to me.

Q: Why did you rely on Al-Ghazali’s questions in the novel “Fountain of drowning: The Path of Land & the Sea”?

A: Al-Ghazali is one of my favorites. As a Sufi scholar he understands the essence of life so deeply that it humbled

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Sultan Hassan Mosque.

Award-winning novelist and AUC Professor of Applied Linguistics Reem Bassiouney. (Courtesy: Reem Bassiouney)

us all. He is worth writing about.

Q: In your historical novels “The Mamluks Trilogy,” “Awlad al-Nas,” “Al-Qata’i: Ibn Tulun’s Trilogy” and “Fountain of drowning: The Path of Land & the Sea,” the women were women in history who stood behind the man and stood with him to fight the British and stood against society in order to go to school to learn. How strong is

your belief in the role of women in Arab societies?

A: Women had a major role in our societies. They were not just fighting for freedom. They were fighting for freedom over the colonizers. They fought for humanity at large, not just for themselves.

Q: How do you see the effect of receiving an award bearing the name Mahfouz?

A: I am honored to have an award with Mahfouz’s name.

He is a deep author who captures the essence of humanity.

Q: What is the subject that catches your eye the most but that you have been dreading so far?

A: Ancient Egypt. I wish I could write about it. But I am intimidated by how much knowledge I need before even starting.

Q: What is the work closest to your heart?

A: “Awlad El Nas” is very close to my heart because it introduces a wider readership to my work and now bears the honor of an award of Mahfouz.

Q: What do you want the reader to come out with from your books?

A: I want the readers to think deeply about human experience, to be less judgmental and more accepting and more tolerant and understanding.

AUC Professor of Applied Linguistics Reem Bassiouney. (Courtesy: Reem Bassiouney)

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F

eature

Dancing to the Tunes of Willpower Meet the First Blind Zumba Instructor in Egypt

By Salwa Samir

optic nerve inflammation. When I turned 15, I couldn›t distinguish between light and dark,” Although she is now 25, Noha Gamal has Gamal recalled. experienced many painful lessons in life that taught her a lot. Gamal is the first blind Zumba During these years, Gamal didn’t attend school. instructor in Egypt. Her story can be an inspiration After the trauma of losing her sight, she was shocked, sad, and was frustrated for a long period. to many.

Gamal was normal until she was 11 and a student at a primary school.

“My sight was 6/6. One day, I woke up suffering from a painful headache and couldn›t see my hand clearly, as if there were a mist,” Gamal told Majalla.

“If I were born blind the matter would have been easier for me. But I was deprived of it gradually and felt helpless. It was very painful.”

Her family helped her overcome the ordeal.

Gamal is now in her third year of studies in the psychology department, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University.

Her condition was diagnosed as extreme uveitis in her right eye first, then it appeared in the left “My mother and family members help me a lot one. Her eyes were injected with cortisone and in studying. Before I learned Braille, they read and recorded the curriculum and I listened to it.” she underwent eye surgeries for three years.

“My sight was improving, but suddenly I suffered

“Last year I received an award for excellence at

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On her first day as a Zumba instructor, the trainees stood in front of her, looking at her, rather than standing behind her to imitate her instructions, wondering how a blind woman would dance Zumba. attend concerts and rehearsals to enjoy listening to the music. She went just to listen, not to learn.

At one of the rehearsals, a maestro was playing and saw a blind girl reacting with her hands to the rhythms.

“I caught his attention. He asked me to imitate the melodies which he was playing on the music keyboard. I did it,” she said, happily.

He was proud and surprised by her talent. He advised her mother to develop this talent and to buy a keyboard for her to practice. She learned to play different types of songs and music, even the difficult ones.

She then took part in many competitions in Mansoura and won first place.

Gamal used to go to gyms when she was taking cortisone to treat the extreme uveitis, as she put on extra weight. She went to the gym to do aerobic exercises to get fit. She succeeded.

Noha Gamal performing Zumba. (Photo Courtesy of Noha Gamal)

college,” said Gamal, who hails from Mansoura, One day, when she was doing exercises at a gym, the trainer taught Zumba to the exercise class. about 120 km northeast of Cairo.

“I listened to songs well but I wasn›t able to see how the instructor dances,” Gamal said, adding After Gamal lost her vision, she was thinking about that she returned home, sad and frustrated. how to manage her life with this overwhelming Her mother was there for her help. She kept fact. At first, she found the solution in music. watching Zumba instructions on the internet and She used to go to culture centers in Mansoura and taught her daughter in stages how to do it.

THE JOURNEY TOWARDS ZUMBA

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eature

“My mom found that I quickly learned some difficult steps that can only be done when a person sees them. She was astonished. I did it,” she says with a smile.

know if they follow my instructions or not?” she asked herself.

Her concern was valid. On her first day as a Zumba instructor, the trainees stood in front of her, looking at her, rather than standing behind her to imitate her instructions, wondering how a blind woman would dance Zumba.

Gamal joined the Zumba classes at the gym along with her sighted counterparts. The gym’s owner saw her while practicing Zumba and admired her talent. She contacted Gamal to be a Zumba “I told them my story. I told them how Zumba is very important to their fitness and health. They instructor at the gym. were happy and proud of me. They told their “This news made my day,” she said. “But I was friends from other gyms to join my classes,” she afraid about how I could teach people. How can I said.

She created her own dancing style. She expresses the words of the songs by her hands, body and legs moving to the rhythms of the songs.

She created her own dancing style. She expresses the words of the songs by her hands, body and legs moving to the rhythms of the songs.

Gamal will soon open her first gym which she rents for three days a week. She dreams of reaching people in many governorates, starting from the Egyptian capital.

She hopes one day that Zumba will join other sports in championships like gymnastics. «I will fight to make this happen,” she said.

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Noha Gamal teaching Zumba to a number of young people. (Photo Courtesy of Noha Gamal)

Noha Gamal playing on musical keyboard. (Photo Courtesy of Noha Gamal)

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A

rt

Surreal

In Moments of Cerebral Weakness, Surrealists Often Displayed a Soft Spot for the Soviet Union

By Bryn Haworth Back in the Sixties, it took footage shot from the surface of the moon for the world to see itself as a single, isolated entity. People watched the Earth rise above the lunar horizon and saw for the first time what they had hitherto dimly perceived, that we were all on the same rotating ball, and that this ball was predominantly blue.

Because this was the Sixties and sex was still a new thing – according to the poet Philip Larkin, it had only been invented a few years before – John Lennon got very excited about those pictures.

He declared that the roundness of the world turned him on. He also claimed that, because the sky was blue, it made him cry.

That was the Beatles for you, always emoting over one thing or another. As a species, we’ve long since been there, done that and got the wet T-shirt, but at the time the moon landing was a big thrill. If, as seems likely, the Earth reminded John of a human breast, we now know (more certainly than ever) that it is a lone breast. It was Melanie Klein who spoke about the ‘good’ breast and the ‘bad’ breast. If there is another Earth, this one’s twin, somewhere out there in the universe, it’s clear we will only ever get to inhabit this one, and it seems increasingly obvious we ended up with the bad ’un. This being the case, the existence or nonexistence of a good breast is somewhat academic. As Peter Cook once said, tragically I was an only twin. No matter how many exoplanets and alien civilisations there might be across the universe, they are all stubbornly out of reach, separated from us by a practically infinite cleavage. * * * * * Recently, life on the wrong orb has become a play in two acts.

Over the past five years, the world has gone from being menaced with the threat of nuclear destruction brought about by an American president, to being menaced with the threat of nuclear destruction brought about by a Russian one, with an extended interlude for pestilence.

It’s a difficult drama to sit through, like an ancient Greek blood-

bath without the masks and with no prospect of a denouement any time soon, unless it involves the most disastrous resort to audience participation in the history of pantomime. In the meantime, we are kept on the edge of our seats, wondering what the director might define as ‘worse to come’. People often refer at such times to Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, of which one critic complained that nothing happened. Twice. These days, that would qualify as a rave review.

At the time of writing, anyone who cannot bear to watch is under no illusion that, just because they opted to wait it out in the theatre bar, the play is not continuing, inexorably, in their absence.

Waiting for No Tomorrow is not just the only show in town. The entire town is in the show. We’re all part of its captive audience.

The bad, scarcely rational actor in the Kremlin – the one making angry faces as if he was in a silent movie – is a throwback. He’s transitioning. When he first made his name on the silent screen he was often reduced to melodramatic gestures, but now he’s making a late career foray into talkies. He writes his own script, apparently, casting himself as the sadistic history teacher whose monologue is so dull the world keeps wanting to nod off, or chat amongst themselves, only to be jolted to attention after he hurls whatever comes to hand at our heads.

It’s a surreal situation. To be precise, it’s the situation in Luis Buñuel’s Exterminating Angel, a genuinely surreal predicament as it was invented by a genuine surrealist, only this time the people inexplicably trapped are not the toffs at a dinner party, but every living thing.

This is what Godot looks like, updated for our very own century: in a theatre that has all the sinister opulence of Buñuel’s mansion, we find ourselves effectively powerless to leave while the performance continues. We were also powerless to leave during the interlude, but the interlude had one thing going for it: no one wanted to leave, as leaving could have meant certain death. Now the play has resumed. It’s definitely the same play, just with a different lead actor. Or is it perhaps the case that in the first act, the first president was a ventriloquist’s dummy, voiced in reality by the second president, called Vladimir – there is actually a char-

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This is what Godot looks like, updated for our very own century: in a theatre that has all the sinister opulence of Buñuel’s mansion, we find ourselves powerless to leave while the performance continues.

Apollinaire, drolly sketched by Picasso

acter with that name in the original play – who now dominates the second act?

The confusion in this regard only adds to our discomfort. We are sitting ducks. The very same immobility that saved us in the interlude, now threatens to be our undoing, and no amount of activity makes us any less immobile. We move about, yes, sometimes frenetically, but all the time we are like a mouse frozen in the hawk’s glare. You can go where you like, you can head for the proverbial hills, you can live on the run in Patagonia, but the hawk knows your whereabouts. One day, the ice pick will slay Trotsky. One day, the history teacher will smite you with his board rubber. And one day the bomb will land on your head. This is the emotion that unites the world in the spring of 2022: a fear of sudden annihilation.

Like I said, surreal. * * * * * The word ‘surreal’ has come to mean just about anything that’s out of the ordinary. When they win a medal at the Olympics, athletes fresh from the podium invariably describe the feeling as ‘surreal’. I wonder, back in the days of the moon landings, did people continually describe the sight of astronauts planting flags as surreal? Probably, it’s just that I was too young at the time to

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notice.

The word was coined by Apollinaire as early as 1917, then basically nicked by the surrealists and repurposed. Apollinaire was dead by the time this happened and consequently had no say in the matter, which seems a little unfair. He was shabbily treated

by Picasso as well, when he was accused of having stolen the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Picasso had indeed ‘borrowed’ some Iberian statues, apparently, and was on the verge of dumping the incriminating evidence in the Seine. When his poet friend went on trial, Picasso sobbed in court and denied ever knowing him.

In fact, it has for a long time struck me that Apollinaire cut a rather pitiful figure, kind of the Fatty Arbuckle of modernism.

Spookily, both Apollinaire and Arbuckle were acquitted for things they didn’t do. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Still, Apollinaire – or so I felt – had always been shabbily treated by his ‘mates’. That was the view I held onto for years after reading a biography of Picasso, yet it turns out accounts differ – according to Wikipedia, it was Apollinaire who implicated Picasso, and there was only an arrest involved, no trial. The moral of this tale is: Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.

Ironically, it was a ballet produced by Cocteau and designed by the decidedly Cubist Picasso that first inspired Apollinaire’s use of the word. (On an earlier occasion, Apollinaire had coined the word ‘Cubism’ – he was basically a one-man Parisian equivalent of the Royal Mint). Called Parade, the ballet in question encumbered its dancers with stiff cardboard outfits. Apollinaire called it all ‘surreal’ – or maybe this was in reference to Satie, whose score they used. The word appeared in the programme for the performance, but he had already used it in a letter to Paul Dermé, preferring it to the word ‘supernatural’ to describe the alternative, mysterious reality that the poet Rimbaud had searched for. At this point, the trail goes cold; I have tried following Rimbaud before, only to end up in a one hyena town in Ethiopia.

The early surrealists drew on the inspiration of Dada and picked up a lot of its zany humour, but they also wanted to be taken seriously as an art movement, deeply learned in the new psychology of dreams that Freud had made available and aware of the polarised social conditions of interwar Europe. It was André Breton who wrote their best manifesto, but exactly like the manifestoes of political parties, writing the damn thing was the easy part. It

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proved harder for him to control the surrealists than it would have been to herd cats. Oddly, they didn’t take kindly to toeing the line. Political parties employ whips for the purpose, though with varying success. In Breton’s case, a parliamentary whip would have been as much use as the one Nietzsche suggested taking along with you if you were meeting a woman. At some point in the proceedings, your lady friend (let’s call her Lou AndreasSalomé, the proto-surrealist Nietzsche so adored) would always get the whip off you, as illustrated in this photograph from the time: Lou Andreas-Salomé demonstrates the hazards of taking a whip along on a date.

Ah, what an evening that was! But I digress. Reading about Surrealism can have this side effect. To sum up, the problem with surrealists was that they were really very independent-minded and not the ideal personalities to knock on doors and ask “Can I depend on your vote?”

Of course, actual parliamentary politics was anathema to Breton as well. Being French, he much preferred the idea of revolutions.

However, even when you’re John Lennon, revolutions seldom start from your bed. Some element of concerted action, and some modicum of organisation, were required in order to get stuff done. This was where the surrealists, with their feline tendencies and penchant for daydreaming, parted company with Breton. It wouldn’t prevent them from changing the world, but not quite in the programmatic way poor old André had intended.

Here, for instance, is one very surrealist way of changing the world. The method is handy for any surrealist who finds himself unavoidably delayed by a glass of absinthe, say, at a Dada reunion. With the aid of a humble pencil (borrowed from an obliging waitress) and a common-or-garden napkin, the worldchanging surrealist can bring down whole empires, erase international borders and generally set the world to rights in a manner still honoured in the snugs and saloon bars of the English public house, though the scarcity of napkins means all is forgotten by the morning.

Tate Modern has taken the trouble to select a surreal scrawl, written in French on one such napkin of the mind, and greatly expanded it to decorate the entrance to its exhibition Surrealism Beyond Borders.

Sadly, the map is very faint, and the anonymous surrealist has been careless at times in their improvement on Mercator, but the general drift of this napkin is that the map is centred on the Pa-

This is the emotion that unites the world in the spring of 2022: a fear of sudden annihilation. Like I said, surreal.

cific – no doubt evidence of the abiding influence of Gauguin – and to the left of a much-diminished South America, it shows Easter Island as perhaps three times the land mass of Australia.

The map is a thought experiment, really, if not the kind of hallucination excessive use of absinthe is known to induce. Thus, the imperial countries are reduced in size, in the case of the USA to nothing (Alaska was yet to become the forty-ninth state), but so are some of the colonised countries, notably the African ones. In an Anglophobic fit, the surrealist has reduced Britain to a dot and drawn Ireland the size, roughly, of India.

But what really renders the map obsolete is its flattering exaggeration of the already massive dimensions of Russia. In moments of (cerebral) weakness, surrealists often displayed a soft spot for the Soviet Union. Alas, the gallery curators were not to know that future events would add a certain topical poignancy to this vision from a hundred years ago. We have always known that the navel of the world was located in Greece. What the curators weren’t to know, was that the world’s rectum would soon be definitively tracked down to Moscow. * * * * * It has been a long time since I thought about the surrealists, but now I start to wonder why. After all, the sheer profusion and variety of absurd, surreal situations over the past few years ought to have prompted me to go back to them. I was one of their adherents in my youth. As usual, I was somewhat late to the party. It had been the same with the Sixties: while other people were busy pursuing psychedelic and erotic thrills like never before, I was running around playgrounds in short trousers, not succeeding at kiss-chase. I got to watch the moon landings cross-legged on the floor of the assembly room, my wide-eyed excitement tempered

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Roscoe Conkling «Fatty» Arbuckle, also very droll

With the aid of a humble pencil and a common-or-garden napkin, the world-changing surrealist can bring down whole empires, erase international borders and generally set the world to rights.

Lou Andreas-Salomé demonstrates the hazards of taking a whip along on a date

by a sore behind.

In the case of Surrealism, I wasn’t even around at the time, but the spirit of the thing was just as alluring if you had some serious adolescent angst to offload, and I reckon no one has ever had more of that than I had. So much of the stuff, the supply lasted well into my thirties. Helpfully, there was an amenable species of surrealism abroad at the time, in the form of posters for bedrooms or gatefold album covers for ‘concept’ albums. People even hung it on the walls of their suburban houses. It was not the kind of thing to disturb their suburban bliss, though. I vaguely recall a lot of swans were involved. Needless to say, there were no unpleasant visions of masturbators covered in ants, or even of watches flopping over crutches. Least not as I remember. Naked ladies were in the mix somewhere, and of course there was Terry Gilliam on the box, but I think my real introduction to surrealism came through the Thames & Hudson series, books that were filled to the brim with images and very little in the way of text. A young man can be very excitable. I was just as excited by Salvador Dalí or Max Ernst as I was by, say, the more exotic accounts in my parents’ copy of Havelock Ellis.

It›s a long time ago. When Adrian Searle, art critic for the Guardian, expressed his weariness with the familiar stuff, I naturally concluded that he had experienced the Seventies much as I did, exposed to the surreal as a kind of onanistic hobby bequeathed by a weird Spaniard with a silly moustache and immense ego, going by the anagram of ‘Avida Dollars’ (Breton’s nickname for Salvador Dalí) due to his other dirty habit, the accumulation of filthy lucre. Thus Searle, in his review of Surrealism Beyond Borders, audibly sighs: “Along the way more familiar works remind us of the wearily

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familiar surrealist canon – Salvador Dalí’s telephone with a lobster for a hand-piece and Magritte’s locomotive in the fireplace, Picasso’s Three Dancers (to my mind, barely a surrealist painting at all),” Adrian Searle, The Guardian, 22 February 2022.

Honestly, call me jaded, but one is oh so over the surrealists.

Of course, this is a travesty of what Searle actually said, but he reserved his weariness for the art objects that were too successful for their own good, i.e. (dread word) the ones that were ‘iconic’.

I’m not saying the rest of the exhibition was second rate. Simply that, with the possible exception of Leonora Carrington, it wasn’t very familiar. It would have helped if Ted Joans’s jazz music, dinning through at least three of the rooms, hadn’t been so jangling. It made just looking difficult if you were within earshot, as you had to be when looking at Wilfredo Lam’s representation of Venus: Err, Venus?

Having only recently examined, with minute attention to detail, the Botticelli version of this subject, I was immediately drawn to this bizarre depiction. However, I was also unable to hear myself think. I couldn’t even decide if the jazz was the cause of my befuddlement, or whether I would have been befuddled anyway that a man, in the entire history of humankind, could have thought this was a representation of ideal beauty. What a pity, as subsequently, in the sepulchral tranquillity of my studies, I have learnt a lot about this artist, how he lived in Cuba, in Spain, in Italy; how he melded the styles of Cubism and Surrealism with the African religion still surviving in his native land. His picture entitled The Jungle is a masterly fusion of all these influences. In short, Wilfredo Lam is fascinating.

To be fair, Ted Joans wasn’t solely to blame. Fact is, it had taken me a long while to get to the exhibition, and coffee and cake on arrival had not entirely restored my energies. Would more cake have helped? I had digested the portion of cake effortlessly, owing no doubt to its meagreness (these are inflationary times), but the miles I’d trudged to get here, coupled with the copious amounts of detailed information that confronted me, made me sympathise on a visceral level with the suffering Adrian, who confessed he had found the whole thing ‘indigestible’. He was not wrong. It’s going to take me more than one article to digest even half of it.

Maybe Searle would have done better to stick to the familiar stuff, as I did. The familiarity of names, even, was a comfort.

A piece by Duchamp involving a small cage full of sugar cubes made no sense in relation to the Duchamp I thought I knew, but at least I could dispense with another account of his life. I felt I knew enough already, what with the urinals signed Mutt and the chess playing with topless women. I have also come to like things

by Dalí that I wasn’t so impressed with back in my teenage years.

His lobster cheered me up, even without being told by the Tate that its sexual organs were located next to the mouthpiece. And I would have paid good money to sit on his sofa shaped like Mae West’s lips. Or any sofa, come to that. The choice of artefact may have changed, yet the preference for the familiar artist stays the same. But then, full-blown adolescence and the onset of senescence have so much in common.

The thing is Surrealism, like anything else, can go in and out of fashion till the cows come home, and oddly enough (like the infinitely various Bard) the ways it is seen by one generation become in turn old hat for the next, so the idea of a surreal swan and na-

The word ‘surreal’ has come to mean just about anything that’s out of the ordinary.

When they win a medal at the Olympics, athletes fresh from the podium invariably describe the feeling as ‘surreal’.

ked lady on a suburban wall in the Seventies is weirdly more oldfashioned than André Breton’s 1924 manifesto, of which more in my next piece. It’s the iteration of the surreal that dates worst, rather than the thing held roughly by its ankles, still bloody from the womb, screaming the ward down while it is spanked by, of all people, the Virgin Mary, as witnessed by the original surreal crew in a painting by Max Ernst.

So yes, I confess, I was a surrealist in my time. I penned surreal things in little autograph books (see note at bottom of this article), I even attempted larger surreal things in paint, and I carried a skull I found in the art department around with me, primarily because it was said to have belonged to a girl. I may as well have done an updated de Nerval and dragged a lobster telephone around on a leash. But, sad to say, that may not have been my most surreal phase. This could be. This strangely decrepit state, with a mind still full of soft watches, lobsters, ants. Or is it just full of naked ladies?

It was a drizzly day in the megapolis, that surreal day I was reacquainted with Surrealism. I got on the train from the sticks, only to be informed by the conductor that ‘owing to industrial action’ there would be no underground trains in London. It would be nice, and surreal, to report that the respectable members of the bourgeoisie assembled in the carriage reacted to this intimation with fury and that a small riot ensued, but nothing of the kind occurred. Instead, we all kept our counsel, no doubt cursing inwardly. I was cursing inwardly, that much I can testify. My humble intention had been to visit Sotheby’s where they were about to auction a painting by Magritte, called ‘L’Empire des Lumières’, and had even redecorated the exterior of the building to mark the occasion. Now, without the tube, I would have to walk there, knowing little of the bus routes and having been assured by the conductor that the buses would be packed anyway.

What rotten luck!

So that was what I did, I trekked up Charing Cross Road and al-

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Surreal world 1929 (artist unknown)

I approached Sotheby’s house at an oblique angle, managing somehow to avoid photographing the expensive car parked outside it.

most missed the turning for Oxford Street, then on arrival at Bond Street tube station, I went in search of Sotheby’s. I shall not, for fear of being considered a complete fool, dwell on the fact that I was wandering about on the wrong side of Oxford Street for a full fifteen minutes. At last, owing to the good offices of some ladies in the School of Philosophy and Economic Science, I was able to retrace my weary steps back to Oxford Street and off in the direction of that august auction house.

As I finally approached my destination, I was accosted by a wildeyed beggar with flailing arms who crossed the street to demand my assistance. I gave him a pound coin, the only cash I happened to have, and received a disdainful sniff. Then I approached the house at an oblique angle, managing somehow to avoid photographing the expensive car parked outside it.

Behold, the outward manifestation, in real time and space, of immeasurable affluence, like a legendary trove guarded by besuited goblins. Actually, I’m being rude, the guards at Sotheby’s bear no resemblance to goblins. Indeed, nothing is as it appears. They would not have dared eject the beggar, had he stopped flailing his arms for long enough to show an interest in crossing the threshold. Money doesn’t have to wear a suit or even trim its finger nails. There is a utopian equality here, based on the worldly assumption that – regardless of appearances – anyone might be Croesus.

So it was that I was able to cross the threshold unopposed. However, this was not to be the end of my travails, for imagine my chagrin when, having failed to track down the Magritte, I was told that it had been removed for inspection, and was shown a patch of light on the wall where it was supposed to be. I was

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flustered, I don’t mind admitting. Sadly, I did not have the presence of mind to take a photograph of said patch of artificial light, which would have served as an ironic substitute for a painting entitled ‘The Empire of Light’. Instead, much rattled, and still facing the prospect of another, far longer trek to Tate Modern which must inevitably follow this delayed viewing, I resigned myself to waiting on a bench in front of the wrong picture. Behind me, to one side, an anxious conversation was in full spate between three people, a woman and two men, about Ukraine. I decided to walk around for a while and return to the bench when they’d gone.

Imagine my chagrin when, on my return to the bench, I found that the same people were still there, that the topic was unchanged, and that two burly fellows were manhandling the painting off the wall. This was the second painting I’d managed to miss in just five minutes. My chagrin was fast becoming unimaginable. However, to my huge relief the same burly individuals returned with the painting some minutes later, the conversation behind me moved on – not to another topic necessarily, but physically moved on, like some corporate being – and I was sufficiently rested to attempt a viewing of the Magritte. The big question remained, whether it had been returned to its place. These old auction houses are the opposite of museums; they are full of objects in an unpredictable state of flux. On the way, I paused to look at the painting that had been so carelessly wrested off the wall by the burly fellows. It was a very delectable Bonnard.

When I had climbed a few flights of stairs and finally reached the room dedicated to the Magritte, I was almost shocked by it.

Well, not by it, you understand, so much as by its reappearance in its allotted place. A few people were huddled around the painting, eyeing it up. Everyone knew it might be carried off at any moment, and that soon it would disappear altogether. Like a man hungry for aesthetic excitation, I hovered nearby, waiting for their interest to subside. Then, having gained access to the canvas, I noted its rather uninspired brushwork, typical of Magritte. I found the signature in the bottom right-hand corner, barely discernible to the naked eye. And I tried in vain to find the image interesting.

But hey, I know what it’s like, Adrian, I feel your pain: how sick at heart I found I had become of the ‘wearily familiar surrealist canon’.

At last, sated and distinctly underwhelmed, I turned away from the famous surreal object and headed back to where I’d encountered the sniffy beggar.

The picture sold next day for some £59.4 million, making it the most valuable piece of art ever sold at auction in Europe. It might have fetched even more had a Russian oligarch been bidding, though (apparently) they much prefer Francis Bacon. Still, not bad for a few square feet of uninspired brushwork. *Surrealism Beyond Borders is at Tate Modern till 29 August 2022. **For anyone curious to see what I once penned in autograph books, you can follow me on Instagram under the pseudonym ‘caveman with a brush’.

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Hike Your Way to Better Health A Jaunt Through the Woods Can Boost Your Fitness, Your Balance, and Your Mood

By Kelly Bilodeau Walking is great exercise, but sometimes you need a break from your usual neighborhood loop or the monotony of the basement treadmill.

Head out for a hike instead. It›s similar to walking but can give you a fitness boost along with a dose of novelty and adventure.

And not only is hiking great exercise, it›s a COVID-safe activity that doesn›t require much equipment.

REAPING PHYSICAL BENEFITS Navigating a winding, wooded trail can help your body build endurance, strength, and coordination, says Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

Hiking over uneven terrain requires more energy than walking on a level surface, so it burns more calories. If you are hiking uphill, your body has to work even harder, he says. A rigorous

hike may offer many of the same physical benefits as interval training, which alternates low- and high-intensity exercise to increase cardiovascular fitness. During a hike, your heart rate goes up as you move up an incline and drops when you head downhill.

Traversing an irregular landscape can also build strength.

«You are using different muscles when you climb and descend,» says Dr. Phillips.

If you haven›t gone for a hike lately, you›ll probably feel it in your hips and buttocks when you climb and in your thighs on the way down.

«Descending works the muscles in the fronts of your thighs, which need to function like a brake to keep you stable,» he says.

Finding your footing on a rutted trail can help you become steadier on your feet.

«When you challenge your body, it will adapt. For example, if the terrain puts your balance to the test, it will push your internal balance system to improve,» says Dr. Phillips.

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IS IT A HIKE OR A WALK? It›s not always clear precisely where a walk turns into a hike, says Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. But there are some clues to help you distinguish between the two, he says.

Your footwear. «One way to tell the difference is to think about your footwear. If you instinctively grab a pair of sneakers, chances are you›re going on a walk. If you find yourself anticipating the need for a sturdier shoe to navigate more challenging terrain, you›re probably on track for a hike,» he says.

The terrain. Most people consider it a walk when you›re on a smooth surface, such as a road, a sidewalk, or a trail with few obstacles to navigate. «If the route is more difficult and brings you from lower to higher ground, it›s probably a hike,» says Dr. Phillips.

The duration. Most walks tend to be quick, typically less than an hour. But a hike will usually last much longer. Being out for more than an hour at a time on a hike isn›t unusual.

IMPROVING MIND AND MOOD Photo Credit: Harvard Health

Hiking›s benefits aren›t only physical; they›re mental as well.

Humans thrive when they are out in a natural setting, says Dr. Phillips. Simply being among the trees may improve a number of health indicators. Research has shown that the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku («forest bathing»), which encourages a slow enjoyment of nature, produces measurable physical changes.

A 2019 study in the International Journal of Biometeorology found that the practice reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood. A 2011 study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology noted its beneficial effects on blood pressure and potentially blood sugar levels.

Being out in nature also exposes you to new sights and experiences. The view from the same trail changes throughout the year as the trees grow or shed their leaves.

«Even when I think I know my way on a familiar path, I see something I›ve never seen before or haven›t noticed, or something that has changed with the seasons,» says Dr. Phillips.

The best thing about hiking is that it often doesn›t feel like exercise.

«Some people who eschew exercise will gladly go for a hike,» says Dr. Phillips. And because they enjoy it, they›re more likely to stick with it.

Some trails even provide their own motivation to keep you going.

«If you ever want to hook someone on hiking, go to Acadia National Park in Maine. An hourlong hike there can take you up 400 feet to a peak where you get a panoramic view of the ocean below,» says Dr. Phillips.

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A rigorous hike may offer many of the same physical benefits as interval training, which alternates low- and highintensity exercise to increase cardiovascular fitness.

A destination hike like this allows you to earn a reward, in the form of a sight that you might otherwise not have gotten to see.

HOW TO GET STARTED While hiking can be safely adapted to many fitness levels, there are some things you should do to prepare before you head out, says Dr. Edward Phillips, assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School.

Start slowly. If you›ve never hiked before, don›t attempt to trek up a steep mountain. Flat trails pro-vide a great starting place. Look for local rail trails, which are level paths of stone dust or another soft surface. They run along old railway beds where tracks used to be. These are a great place for beginners that still get you out in nature. You can also use a smartphone app or online trail guide to find local routes that suit your ability level.

Bring a buddy. It›s safer to hike with a friend, ideally someone who knows the area.

Do your research. Plan your route and know what terrain to expect before you leave. Also, make sure your cellphone will work in the area you choose so you can get emergency help if you need it.

Stop halfway. When you›re hiking, only go about half as far as you want to hike. Don›t forget, you still need to travel all the way back to your starting place.

Bring the right supplies. Ensure that you have sturdy footwear, and bring a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun, enough water to stay well-hydrated, insect and tick repellent, and a small first-aid kit.

Be flexible. Don›t feel you need to achieve a certain hiking speed or distance goal. Rather, adapt your outing for the conditions you encounter on the trail.

Bolster your balance. If you need a little extra balance support, hiking poles can be a great solution, says Dr. Phillips. They cost around 20$ at most outdoor supply stores and can give your arms a mini-workout while you walk.

This article was originally published by Harvard Health.

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Alexander Lukashenko: Putin’s Closest Ally, Europe’s Last Dictator

By Majalla Illustration by Jeannette Khouri The scene of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is filled with many political and military faces, after the crisis attracted various countries of the world and Europe in particular, and while the names of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy are considered the most widely circulated in the media, the names of leaders and other personalities play a role in the events.

Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian president, who has been attacked by the West for years because of internal conditions, is seen by European countries, the United States and Japan as being involved in the war in Ukraine for hosting Russian forces in his country. He has been subject to western sanctions mainly for his alliance with Putin, and his permission to use the territory of Belarus to attack Ukraine.

Since the arrival of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to power in Belarus in 1994, he has been going against the tide. He carried the banners of communism as it breathed its last in the Soviet space, and rejected the privatization programs and the transition to individual ownership, when the “Market’s Economy” was invading the tired legacy of decades of state control over all the affairs of the country.

He fought his opponents vigorously and imprisoned them, ignoring the winds of change and democracy that swept the region around him. Hence, he maintained the firm grip of the monstrous KGB - refusing even to change its name - while his neighbors masterfully demonstrated their determination to get rid of everything linking their

country to the recent Soviet past.

The stubborn farmer rode the wave of fighting corruption, organized crime and “mafias” that nearly devastated the body of Belarus, to seize control of the reins of power, and turn it in a quarter of a century into what looks like a miniature Soviet republic that is almost self-sufficient, but isolated.

The story of Lukashenko’s rise to power in Belarus begins in 1990. At the time, he was in his late 30s and was a promising young military man who had just won an election to a parliamentary seat in the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Lukashenko held posts in the Soviet Army and membership in the Soviet communist youth wing.

In 1993, he was named head of the Belarusian parliament’s anti-corruption commission.

Lukashenko revealed early on his views and ambitions, although at that time they were controversial and conflicting. He did not hesitate to publish a remarkable article in 1991 under the title “Dictatorship: The Belarusian Option”, which was transformed into a “manifesto” or a “road map” that he was able to implement over subsequent years.

He was the only deputy in the Belarusian parliament that voted against the “December 1991” agreement, which formed the legal basis for the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the “Commonwealth of Independent States” on its ruins. Since he contributed to the founding of a parliamentary bloc called “Communists for Democracy”, it was clear that he chose the most difficult path, but he remained consistent with his ideas, which were later reflected in all his policies throughout his tenure in power for five consecutive presidential terms.

In return for the tense relationship with the West over many years, Lukashenko maintained close

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ties with the “big brother” Russia, and in 1996 signed an agreement to establish a union between the two countries. However, the agreement remained locked up for three years, due to the categorical rejection by the Belarusian president of Moscow’s demands to open the basic economic sectors in his country to privatization processes that would allow the entry of major Russian companies into them.

On more than one occasion, Lukashenko drew comparisons with the “disastrous results” of the “random privatization” that Russia experimented with in the early 1990s and vowed that “he will never allow thieves to plunder the wealth of his country,” referring to the money whales who accumulated fabulous fortunes in Russia, and set their eyes on the neighboring country later.

This knot constituted one of the problems that brought the union between Russia and Belarus into a stalemate. But at the same time, the two countries maintained a kind of “special relationship” that was prompted by the strategic need of each side, whereas Russia is the most important gateway to the world for Belarus, which is isolated and surrounded by many restrictions, and Belarus is for Moscow the “barrier wall” separating it from Europe in conditions of deteriorating relations, strengthening militarism policies and mobilizing energies on both sides of the border.

“My life, just like the lives of other presidents, is very busy. You wake up and keep running. What does it feel like to be on the run for 25 years? I got used to it. This hamster wheel keeps spinning, and there is no escaping it. If you stop, it will keep moving and throw you back. This is a mode of life. I am used to it.” says a quote from Lukashenko displayed on his official online biography.

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pinion

When the Soviet Union Disintegrated

Gamal Abdul-Mabud

History has a particular hidden feature, unknown to many, and that is that history’s path is not always guaranteed or even straight .

Politics is the offspring of history, and history is the offspring of geography. The latter, however, stands unchanged, a fact that the Ukrainian President had not been aware of. He thought, with some encouragement from the West, that he is safe from the claws of the Russian bear. When the West gave up on Ukraine, he realized that geography was the only truth.

It was not only Ukraine that made the grave miscalculation. The West is no different, by still believing in the theory on the end of history put forward by the US Political Science Professor Francis Fukuyama. His theory grew popular for a while after the fall and disintegration of the Soviet Union – when the Russian bear got lost in Siberia’s frost, left along to lick its wounds and to witness its prowess shrinking.

Nonetheless, the former Soviet Union countries kept orbiting around Russia for countless reasons that included force, geography, friendship or treaties. Take Ukraine for example, it gained independence from the Soviet Union and gave up its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Treaty of December 1994, in exchange that the USA and Britain guarantee its protection and independence. Therefore, the nuclear weapons were in exchange for independence. As the poem goes, that the wolves have always encroached on those who have no dogs, Ukraine inevitably attempted to coexist with the Russians in a political manner that guarantees the independence of Ukraine and reassures the Russians.

However, the eruption of the Orange Revolution began and the attempts to form an anti-Russian government provoked Moscow, but not to the extent of war. Then came the current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who tried his luck with the Russian roulette, thinking he had the support of the West. He now stands with burnt fingertips having lost his country, and as a million Ukrainian refugees are heading for the hills.

Zelensky did not comprehend that his country is Russia’s backyard. His request to join the NATO was the straw that broke the Russian bear’s back and had it bare its fangs, pushing it to carry out an invasion similar to the US invasion of Grenada (Spice Islands).

The invasion took place in October 1983, and it was carried out by a government loyal to Cuba and Russia.

Despite the absence of a land border between the two countries, the USA used force majeure to preserve its vital space, and did the same in Afghanistan, Iraq and Panama. The world today stands on the edge of a nuclear war, all because of vague promises to join the NATO. Such a fruitless request, considering that the organization has turned into a semi-social club

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fit for toasts only. There are no longer alliances that can match it, like back in the days of the Communist Warsaw Pact. Most of its members failed to pay their due fees because of the economic crises and under the impression of the impossibility of another world war in ratification and application of the theory of the end of history.

History has a particular hidden feature, unknown to many, and that is that history’s path is not always guaranteed or even straight. Most of its premises do not indicate its results, especially in the case of unintentional mistakes that end up with mostly dangerous results that change the historical course, and sometimes, but rarely, with beneficial results, such as Alexander Fleming’s discovery of the antibiotics by pure chance.

However, as aforementioned, the catastrophic results are the most prevalent. The world after such incidents is no longer the same. Breeds grow extinct, and empires fall while others rise. The err may be the result of arrogance such as the Third Reich and Hitler’s adoption of the theory of racial purity. There is also Japan’s belief that its emperor is the descendant of the sun gods. Accordingly, these two countries were marginalized in World War II. Other times, the wrong decision could be taken at the wrong time, like in the case of Akhenaten›s persecution of the priests of Amun for the sake of the sun god Aten, so Akhenaten and Aten left, and Amun and his priests remained.

Take also Alexander’s mistake in not naming an heir to his empire, so his possessions were distributed among the tribes and they were gone with the wing.

There is also the attack by the Crusader Arnat of the convoy of Muslim pilgrims, which included the sister of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. The result was the battle of Hattin, which was the beginning of the end for the Crusaders. Breaking the rules is another factor, like in the case of Henry VIII when he asked for a divorce, so northern and western Europe adopted the Protestant doctrine, which is against the authority of the Pope of the Vatican.

The aforementioned examples surely do offer a sigh of relief on the situation in Ukraine. An unintentional mistake can alone ignite a war whose end only God knows. Ukraine will be the hot spot over which elephants fight to break the weeds. This is all because of the inexperience of the Ukrainian president and the West’s attempt to antagonize Russia, thinking that Moscow would stand still. They forgot to recall the betrayal and humiliation that Putin felt on the night of the disintegration of the Soviet Union.