Lebanon's Judge Resumes Investigation into August 4 Beirut Port Blast, Sparks Turmoil in Judiciary
Lebanon's Judge Resumes Investigation into August 4 Beirut Port Blast, Sparks Turmoil in Judiciary
Plus: Italy Looks to Become Energy Hub with Algeria's Help, EU Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran Over Protest Crackdown, Finland Lifts Arms Embargo on Turkey, Moves Closer to Joining NATO.
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Lebanon's Judge Resumes Investigation into August 4 Beirut Port Blast, Sparks Turmoil in Judiciary
On Monday, January 23, Judge Tarek Bitar resumed the investigation into the August 4, 2020, Beirut port blast, which had been stalled for 13 months.
The decision came after Bitar saw no progress in his own suspension, which was due to unresolved dismissal requests filed against him by politicians implicated in the case.
However, the move sparked significant controversy and a battle within the judiciary. While Bitar ordered the release of five detainees, he also initiated proceedings against eight political, security, administrative, and judicial officials.
Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat disagreed with Bitar's move and ordered the release of all detainees and charges against Bitar for "rebelling against the judiciary" and issued a travel ban on him.
Victims' families have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest and have intensified their protest following Oweidat's counterattack against Bitar.
The investigation into the explosion is crucial for the country's history as it contains the significant issues that led the country to meltdown in the last three years, such as impunity, lack of the rule of law, and corruption, which are the major elements that led to an economic crisis that eroded the Lebanese society.
Italy Looks to Become Energy Hub with Algeria's Help
Earlier this week, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to establish economic ties between the two countries.
Algeria's energy company Sonatrach will study joint projects to improve the north African country's energy export capacity with the help of ENI, Italy's energy company.
Rome aims to become a bridge for African trade with Europe by increasing its energy imports from Algeria and acting as a hub for supplies between Africa and northern Europe in the coming years.
The agreements between Italy and Algeria are part of a bigger plan designed by Italy to establish a strong presence in the African continent and make Italy an energy hub for Europe.
Ms. Meloni mentioned a contemporary version of the "Mattei Plan" for Africa, referencing the effort by Enrico Mattei, the founder of ENI who died in a plane crash in 1962, who aimed to aid African nations in utilizing their natural resources to boost economic growth and secure Italy's energy independence.
The Mattei Plan, believed to be crucial for ensuring full energy supplies in the future, would also be useful for the EU to fill the "vacuum" in Africa, which has been filled in recent years by Russia and China, and contain their presence.
EU Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran Over Protest Crackdown
EU foreign ministers approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iranian individuals and organizations.
Some 37 Iranian individuals and organizations will be banned from traveling to the EU and subject to an asset freeze.
The move is the EU's fourth round of sanctions on Iran since widespread protests emerged after 23-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the so-called morality police last year.
The protests against her death soon evolved into wider anti-government demonstrations, to which authorities have responded with a brutal crackdown, including executions.
Previous EU sanctions targeted 146 individuals and 12 organizations, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in response to the police crackdown on protesters and subsequent executions.
Finland Lifts Arms Embargo on Turkey, Moves Closer to Joining NATO
Finland has lifted a three-year arms embargo on Turkey, which was put in place in 2019, in an effort to facilitate their entry into NATO.
This move allows Finland to resume steel exports to Turkey, which are used in the production of military equipment armor.
The decision to lift the embargo is a reversal of the 2019 decision when Finland stopped issuing licenses for military exports to Turkey in response to Turkey's military operation against Syrian Kurdish groups.
Meanwhile, Sweden's bid to join NATO is more complicated as relations with Turkey are tense. Both Finland and Sweden announced their official bids to join NATO last February after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey has been stalling the expansion, citing security concerns, but Finland and Sweden pledged to address them last June.
The alliance's expansion is pending Turkey and Hungary's approval, with Hungary expected to ratify it next month.
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About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, a freelance journalist. I am interested in human rights and international news focusing on the MENA region.
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Cover photo: HUSSEIN MALLA | AP