Iraq's Sadr Rebuilds Alliances, Holds Talks with Maliki

Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (AFP)
Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (AFP)
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Iraq's Sadr Rebuilds Alliances, Holds Talks with Maliki

Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (AFP)
Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (AFP)

Head of Iraq's Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr surprised his partners and rivals alike when he telephoned former Prime Minister and head of the State of Law coalition Nuri al-Maliki in an effort to ease the political impasse in the country.

Sadr had been adamant about refusing to work with Maliki even before he formed his alliance with the Sunni and Kurdish blocs after his parliamentary elections victory in October 2021. The former PM came second in the polls.

Sadr formed an alliance with Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and leading Sunni figure Khamis Khanjar soon after the polls.

The months after the elections witnessed disputes between Sadr and the Shiite Coordination Framework - a grouping of pro-Iran factions that were the greatest losers in the poll - over the formation of a new government and election of a president. The Coordination Framework had rejected the results of the elections as a sham and held several protests and filed several appeals in complaint.

As the disagreements persisted, Maliki appeared as the main obstacle in the Sadrists and Framework reaching an understanding.

Barzani sought to kick off an initiative aimed at persuading Sadr to lift his "veto" against Maliki so that they would go along with the election of his candidate as president. His initiative ultimately failed.

Sadr's call with Maliki therefore came as a surprise to the political powers.

A source close to Sadr told Asharq Al-Awsat that the cleric has "eliminated the role of the godfather, whether this was an internal or foreign player, who used to arrange affairs and then reach an agreement with all parties."

Sadr is now the one carrying out the negotiations and talks with various parties.

Asked about what prompted the call with Maliki, the source explained that several factors had emerged in recent weeks, including the deterioration of relations between the Sadrists and Barzani's Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP).

Relations have also soured between Sadr and the two other members of his alliance, Halbousi and Khanjar. He was particularly upset with the two officials' meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, revealed the source.

Amid these developments, the growing public anger over rising prices, the delay in the formation of a new government and failure to elect a new president, Sadr chose to "upend the equation and rebuild alliances."

"The telephone call was part of this new shift and this means that talks with the Coordination Framework will take a new path, which may perhaps lead to understandings," the source added.

He noted that Sadr had even proposed to Maliki the appointment of his nephew, Iraq's ambassador to London Jaafar Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr as prime minister.

Maliki informed Sadr that the naming of a premier would be discussed with his allies in the Coordination Framework.

The Framework, meanwhile, held a meeting to address the repercussions of the call between Sadr and Maliki. Several questions have been raised: Will Sadr pay a price for nominating his nephew as premier? In other words, would he be willing to relinquish parliamentary seats in favor of the PM in return for portfolios in the new government?

Sadr's response to this question will shape the coming phase in Iraq. The answer may lead to continued impasse that may even lead to the dissolution of parliament and holding new elections, or it could lead to a solution from which all parties come out with major losses and minor gains.



Hamas Hands Over Four Hostage Bodies to Red Cross as Palestinians Leave Israeli Prison

Among those leaving Israel early Thursday were 445 men, 21 teenagers and one woman who were all arrested after the Hamas attack - AFP
Among those leaving Israel early Thursday were 445 men, 21 teenagers and one woman who were all arrested after the Hamas attack - AFP
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Hamas Hands Over Four Hostage Bodies to Red Cross as Palestinians Leave Israeli Prison

Among those leaving Israel early Thursday were 445 men, 21 teenagers and one woman who were all arrested after the Hamas attack - AFP
Among those leaving Israel early Thursday were 445 men, 21 teenagers and one woman who were all arrested after the Hamas attack - AFP

An Israeli security official told AFP on Thursday that Hamas had handed over four bodies to the Red Cross, while a senior leader from the Palestinian movement said the bodies belonged to Israeli hostages.

"Four bodies transferred to the Red Cross from Hamas," the official said.

"The four bodies were handed over a short while ago and we are waiting for the release of Palestinian prisoners," the Hamas official said, referring to the remains of the hostages.

According to Reuters, a Red Cross convoy carrying dozens of released Palestinian prisoners left Israel’s Ofer prison. Crowds of cheering families, friends and supporters of Palestinian prisoners were gathered in Beitunia jostling for a glimpse of the bus that was on its way.
Israel had delayed the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it called the cruel treatment of hostages during their handover by Hamas. The militant group has called the delay a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and said talks on a second phase aren’t possible until the Palestinians are freed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had said Wednesday that the release of the bodies would be carried out without a ceremony, as opposed to past Hamas releases with stage-managed events in front of crowds. Israel, along with the Red Cross and UN officials, have called the ceremonies humiliating for the hostages.
Among those leaving Israel early Thursday were hundreds of detainees arrested from Gaza, held on suspicion of militancy after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, without charge for months. They include 445 men, 21 teenagers and one woman who were all arrested after the Hamas attack, according to lists shared by Palestinian officials that did not specify their ages.
Only around 50 Palestinians were being released into the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem in this round. Dozens sentenced to life over deadly attacks against Israelis will be exiled out of the Palestinian territories, taken to Egypt at least temporarily until other countries accept them.
The handover will complete both sides’ obligations under the ceasefire’s first phase, during which Hamas returned 33 hostages, including eight bodies, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.