Displaying items by tag: national emergency

US extends national emergency for Lebanon citing Hezbollah 'threat'

The order, renewed by every president since 2007, alleges that Hezbollah remains an 'extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy' of the US

US President Donald Trump has renewed a 13-year national emergency order over the political situation in Lebanon, citing Iran's "ongoing" weapons transfers to Hezbollah.

The order ensures the legal grounds for the US president to levy sanctions and "to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States" due to Hezbollah's presence in Lebanon, a statement released by the White House on Wednesday said.

The administration said "certain persons" - alluding to members of Hezbollah and its allies - were seeking to undermine the Lebanese government.

Lebanon has been dealing with several crises during the past year, from the coronavirus pandemic to a plummeting economy and recent skirmishes with the Israeli army on its southern border.

Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group, is a major political party in Lebanon and consolidated its influence in the state's affairs in 2018 after winning, along with its allies, a small majority in national elections. The US designated Hezbollah a "foreign terrorist group" in 1997.

Despite Hezbollah's growing influence within the Lebanese government, the White House's order alleged "certain persons" were deliberately working to "break down" the rule of law in Lebanon "through politically motivated violence and intimidation".

"Certain ongoing activities, such as Iran's continuing arms transfers to Hizballah - which include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems - serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to [US] national security and foreign policy," the White House said. 

Washington is particularly concerned by those allegedly seeking to "reassert Syrian control or contribute to Syrian interference in Lebanon", the order said.

The annual move, entitled "Continuation of National Emergency with Respect to Lebanon", has been renewed every year since it was declared by former President George W Bush in 2007.

Bush's order said the United States would freeze the property and assets of anyone trying to undermine Lebanon’s democratically elected government. The order, renewed by every presidential administration since, was seen as a sharp warning to Hezbollah and its allies in Syria.

Wednesday's order reiterates the same concerns the Bush administration issued 13 years ago, with an increased concern over Iran, given its recent tensions with Washington. 

The US currently has 35 ongoing "national emergencies", seven of which have been declared by Trump. The orders range from sanctions against foreign entities and governments, to the White House's emergency declaration at the US southern border.  At least nine of the orders name specific countries or groups in the Middle East and North Africa.

Hezbollah says all-out war with Israel is unlikely in coming months despite rising tensions https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hezbollah-dismisses-prospect-all-out-conflict-israel-despite-increasing-tensions

More at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-extends-national-emergency-for-lebanon-citing-hezbollah-threat

We are asked to pray for the Prime Minister and all Ministers in Lebanese Government at this critical time and for the nation.  Here are some guidelines provided by our colleagues at Prayer Strategy as to what we can pray for

1. Pray for their salvation.
2. Pray for them for pure lives and good wisdom.
3. Pray that God reveals His truth and opens their eyes to run this nation with integrity and respect.
4. Pray to Break the strongholds of the Evil One in politics and in individual’s lives.
5. Pray that leaders will realise that they were appointed by God and that He gave them authority so that they will act responsibly and that they will they will have to
give account to God of everything that they do.

Many of the ministers are listed here, with brief profiles: https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/who-are-the-ministers-in-lebanons-new-government-1.69174412  

President Trump has declared a national emergency to protect US computer networks from ‘foreign adversaries’. He has barred US companies from using foreign telecoms believed to pose national security risks. The order does not name any company, but is believed to target Huawei, who said that restricting its business in the US would only hurt American consumers and companies. The move is likely to worsen tensions between the US and China, which escalated this week with tariff hikes in a trade war. Huawei may not need the US market, but it certainly needs the key components that it gets from the US. On 14 May, Huawei’s chairman said that Huawei was ‘willing to sign no-spy agreements with governments’, as concerns over the security of its products used in mobile networks continues to grow. See also article 6 in the UK section.

President Trump declared a national emergency to fund a US/Mexico border wall after failing to secure $5.7bn through a 35-day government shutdown. Concerned Republicans say, ‘We have a crisis at our southern border, but no crisis justifies violating the constitution’. Democrats issued stronger condemnations and intend to mount legal challenges for his abuse of power by declaring a national emergency when there is none. The ‘emergency’ allows $8bn military funds to be diverted to the project. Many believe this declaration shows an alarming disregard for democratic norms; Trump’s conviction that, as president, he should be able to impose his own will, at whatever cost, is dangerous. The American Civil Liberties Union said, ‘There is no “national emergency” at the border, and Trump’s declaration is illegal.’ See