After Military Victory, Iraq Chases ISIS Intellectually, in the Media

Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP)
Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP)
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After Military Victory, Iraq Chases ISIS Intellectually, in the Media

Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP)
Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP)

The “Third International Conference Against Fighting ISIS Propaganda” kicked off in Baghdad on Wednesday, less than a week after Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced the military defeat of ISIS in Iraq.
 
Over 120 international experts and advisors, representing 42 countries, are taking part in the conference, which would witness ten 10 discussion sessions on how to counter ISIS activities in the information technology and globalization environment and invest the declaration of victory over ISIS to promote international peace and security.
 
The first day events included an opening session attended by senior officials and military leaders, as well as academics in various fields.
 
In a speech delivered on the occasion, Iraq’s Deputy National Security Adviser Safaa Sheikh talked about the nature of military operations launched by Iraqi forces against ISIS, since the beginning of the confrontation towards the end of 2014 until the announcement of the final victory last Sunday.
 
Sheikh called for further promoting international cooperation, strengthening information exchange and intensifying scientific efforts to combat the propaganda of ISIS.
 
For his part, Conference Spokesman Dr. Haider Al-Aboudi told Asharq Al-Awsat that although ISIS no longer represents an imminent military threat, It still poses intellectual and media dangers, which require steady efforts and efficient methods to counter such threats.
 
“The broad participation in the conference, especially by the American and British embassies and the International Alliance, highlights the support for Iraq in the various areas to confront ISIS at the intellectual and media levels,” he said.
 
He also noted that the frameworks of Wednesday’s sessions were information operations and how to combat the propaganda activities of ISIS, especially in cyberspace, as well as the need to invest the Iraqi victory in the promotion of international peace and security.
 
In an address to the conference, the US Charge d'Affaires in Baghdad, Joey Hood, said that his country, with the participation of the international coalition, continues to support Iraq.
 
He pointed out that the US has destroyed many of the sources of funding used by terrorists, revealing that an operation executed by the United States with “social networking companies has led to the closure of thousands of promotional pages for terrorists.”



‘No One Dares’ … First Palestinian Response to Israeli Plan to Separate Hebron from PA

Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
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‘No One Dares’ … First Palestinian Response to Israeli Plan to Separate Hebron from PA

Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Israeli settlers tour in the Palestinian side of the old city and market of Hebron in the occupied West Bank on July 5, 2025. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP)

A report published by The Wall Street Journal, and promoted by Israeli media on Sunday, has renewed focus on an Israeli plan dating back more than 60 years aimed at pushing for the creation of “emirates” or entities independent from the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The report focused on the Palestinian city of Hebron, and cited what it claimed were “21 tribal elders from Hebron,” who allegedly sent a letter in Hebrew to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for negotiations with them to join the Abraham Accords and consequently abandon the “two-state solution,” which Palestinians rely on to establish their state.

However, a Palestinian security source, in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, said: “What is happening is yet another Israeli attempt to weaken the Palestinian Authority.”

“This is a failed plan,” he said: “No one here would dare take this step and say: I am the spy... I am the alternative to the Authority ... Those who tried that are known and represent no one.”

Reportedly, the elders included a detailed proposed timetable for talks to join the Abraham Accords and for “a fair and decent arrangement that would replace the Oslo Accords, which only brought damage, death, economic disaster and destruction.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, the initiative was helmed by Wadee al-Jaabari, who local city residents and its political leadership claim is unknown to them, and backed by "four other leading Hebron sheikhs.”

Palestinian city residents, including Jaabari's extended family members, condemned the proposal, saying that its authors do not represent them.

Israeli sources said that Economy Minister Nir Barkat stands behind the letter, which was allegedly sent to him. Barkat met at his home with al-Jaabari and the other sheikhs; he has held more than 12 meetings with them since February, The Wall Street Journal said. They asked him to forward the letter to Netanyahu and are now waiting for his response.

The sheikhs reportedly proposed that Israel grant work permits to 1,000 workers from Hebron on a trial basis, and then extend this to another 5,000.

According to Maariv newspaper, the Israeli government is “seeking to promote this plan to destroy the Palestinian Authority and the establishment of a Palestinian state.”