LIBYA’S BURGEONING DEMOCRACY
The Libyan election commission has announced that 62% of registered voters turned out for what were the country’s first fully-free parliamentary elections since 1952. Of the hundred parties who competed in the election, the National Forces Alliance, led by ex-interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, fared best, winning 39 out of 80 seats reserved for political parties. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Justice and Construction Party also did well, gaining 17 seats. In addition to the 80 seats reserved for political parties, the General National Assembly also consists of 120 seats reserved for independent candidates. It will largely depend on the allegiance of these independent members (unknown at present) to determine the overall orientation of the assembly. It is unclear what role the assembly will have in drafting the new constitution but it is expected to at least a one year term and possess some legislative powers. (BBC—July 18, 2012)
BLAST KILLS HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS IN DAMASCUS
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Liwa al-Islam—an Islamist rebel group— both claimed responsibility on July 18 for an explosion that struck the National Security building in Damascus during a meeting of cabinet ministers and senior security officials. The blast was the most deadly assault on government officials to date, reportedly killing Syria’s Defense Minister General Rajha, Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, President Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, deputy Vice-President General Hassan Turkmani and wounding many others. The attack came on the fourth straight day of fighting between the FSA and Syrian forces. Qassim Saadedine, an FSA spokesman, told reporters that “this [attack] is the volcano that we talked about...We have just started.” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the bombing and has urged the Security Council to take collective and effective action to stop the violence. (AlJazeera—July 19, 2012)
THE PA RECEIVES $100 MILLION FROM SAUDI ARABIA
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has announced that it expects an imminent cash transfer of $100 million from Saudi Arabia. The transfer is not enough to cover the full range of government expenditures for this month, which amount to $300 million, but it would at least allow the PA to pay the salaries of its public sector employees. The PA remains reliant on foreign aid for basic government functions. With the downturn of Western-backed donations (of the $1.1 billion expected in 2011, less than $750 million was received) the PA is hoping that an infusion from Saudi Arabia will set an example for other Arab States to increase their donations. (YNetNews—July 15, 2012)
SINAI RISKS BECOMING HOTBED FOR EXTREMISTS
Bedouin elders and security experts have noted that in recent months there has been an influx in the amount of extremist militants operating in the Sinai desert and that they are setting up training camps and launching attacks near the Israeli border. It is purported that the militants fought in Afghanistan and Pakistan or were released from prison after the fall of the Mubarak regime. The Egyptian government’s failure to stop the bombings, kidnappings, drug running and human smuggling in the Sinai has unnerved Israel, leaving some residents of the Sinai worried that Israel will respond unilaterally. Nassar Abu Akra, a merchant and elder, worries that the rise of a “violent militant movement could spark a crushing response from Israel,” and warns that “if Israel responds to protect its land, it would be a disaster—a massacre. Even normal people, not just jihadis, would fight and die if Israelis came back.” (The Seattle Times—July 14, 2012)