This Week in the Middle East: Walid Jumblatt is the luckiest man alive, your new iPhone6 is on backorder thanks to the Beirut airport, and sure the Muslim call to prayer can get annoying at the crack of dawn, but banning it 60 times in one month is a tad bit excessive, don’t you think? Read on to find out what you missed this week.
It’s Gonna Take More Than Bombs to Satisfy These Rebels (Image via Al Monitor)
Rebels in Aleppo say they are unsatisfied with air strikes mean to target the Islamic State in Syria. Though the US, UK, France, Australia, and even the Gulf are pitching in, Yahya Hafez, a field officer in Jaish al-Mujahideen, said: “The alliance’s strikes have not yet affected our fronts in the northern Aleppo countryside because these strikes were neither focused nor painful. The air raids alone won’t be effective. It will be enough if the international community just supports the rebels and offers them sufficient aid and weapons to annihilate IS mobs in Syria.”
Israel Proves It Still Doesn’t Want Peace (Image via Daily Star)
The European Union this week condemned an Israeli plan to build 2,610 new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem, calling it “highly detrimental” to diplomatic efforts for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Turkey Wants To Save World With Islamic University (Image via Al Monitor)
Turkey’s top cleric, Mehmet Gormez,unveiled a new project earlier this week. Turkey’s about to have an International Islamic University. Gormez said that Islamic universities in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran and Malaysia were “unable to find solutions to problems in the world.”
Syrians: No Place is Safe For You (Image via Daily Star)
The Lebanese Army recently raided several areas near Beirut including Nahr el Kalb and Zghorta, arresting five Syrians who weren’t carrying an ID card and confiscating two motorcycles. They said the Army sealed off the Nahr al-Kalb seaside road near the Golden Beach Hotel around 7:00 a.m. as troops carried out the raids.
The army reopened the road some 30 minutes later. Sources did not say how many people were arrested in total.
Your New iPhone 6 Is Now On Backorder (Image via Daily Star)
-“Excuse me sir, but we need to check that 129 Kg bag you’re carrying.” -“What? No, it’s just underwear.”
I imagine that’s how the conversation went before authorities at Beirut’s airport uncovered 750 iPhone 6 phones that were being smuggled into the country.
Walid Jumblatt is the Luckiest Man Alive (Image via Al Bawaba)
Walid Jumblatt along, along with Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk and MP Marwan Hamade will head to the UK on October 23 for a dinner to celebrate the recent marriage of Lebanese-British human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin and actor George Clooney.
The couple dominated world headlines last weekend in a lavish Venice affair that included a secret wedding ceremony at one of the famed city’s luxurious hotels.
Lebanon: 1, Global Warming: 0 (Image via Ramia Tawk)
Everyone agrees that last year’s snow season was completely unsatisfactory, let’s hope for the a better one this year. the early snow fall seems to be a positive omen.
The Washington Post Fails to Explain Complexity of the ME (Image via Washington Post)
“The Middle East is complicated,” is a perfect summary to The Washington Post’s review of its favorite memes, maps and other broad generalizations to explain the complexity of the region. Check out the 9 attempts here.
The Call to Prayer Can Get Annoying But This Is Not Ok (Image via alicemalaisie.blogspot)
