Pro-Heftar Forces Attack Islamist Militias in Benghazi

Libyan army troops aligned with former General Khalifa Heftar have intensified a ground assault and airstrikes against a coalition of Islamist militias in the eastern city of Benghazi. The offensive has come a day after Heftar vowed to "liberate" Benghazi in a televised address following an attack by militants from Ansar al-Sharia on one of the last army bases controlled by government forces in the city. The Associated Press reported two Egyptian officials said Egyptian warplanes were attacking Islamist militias in Libya, though Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi denied the report. Egypt has pledged to train Libyan soldiers, and in Heftar’s address Tuesday, he thanked countries that had helped in his fight against what he referred to as "terrorism."

Syria-Iraq

U.S.-led airstrikes and Kurdish forces are continuing to push back Islamic State militants from the predominantly Kurdish Syrian town of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab), near the border with Turkey. As of Wednesday, coalition forces had conducted over 100 strikes around Kobani, which the Pentagon reported had killed several hundred Islamic State fighters. A Kurdish official reported militants are retreating from parts of the town, though U.S. military officials cautioned Kobani could still fall to the Islamic State group. Additionally, the retired general leading the coalition, General John Allen, noted Islamic State militants have made "substantial gains" in Iraq’s western Anbar province, despite U.S.-led airstrikes. He mentioned, however, that coalition forces had pushed militants back in other areas of Iraq.

Headlines

• Iranian and U.S. officials noted progress in talks in Vienna over Tehran’s nuclear program, though the United States has remained firm on the Nov. 24 deadline for an agreement.
• Houthi fighters are advancing on an al Qaeda stronghold in the southern Yemeni city of Ibb following clashes in the Bayda province town of Radaa.
• A Bahraini judge has ordered the detention of activist Zainab al-Khawaja after accusations she insulted King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa after tearing up his photo during a court hearing.
• Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is expected to nominate a candidate from the Iranian-backed Shiite militia the Badr Corps as interior minister.

Arguments and Analysis

‘Islamists and their charities‘ (Marc Lynch, The Washington Post)

"What do we really know about the provision of social services by Islamist movements? It’s hard to find a popular article about groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood or Hezbollah that doesn’t reference their ability to win popular support by providing social services through their extensive network of charities, clinics and community centers. Most observers have long believed that these charitable activities played a key role in Islamist outreach and organization, built their reputations for honesty and efficacy, conferred a significant political advantage, and helped to promote the Islamization of society.

A recent wave of scholarship has challenged many of the prevailing assumptions about the nature and significance of these social services, however. Evidence for the scope, superiority or political utility of these charitable activities has proved elusive. Volunteers in the Islamic charitable sector profess a far wider set of motivations for their participation than just political rewards. The rise of non-governmental charities – and not only Islamic ones – seems to be driven at least in part by neoliberal reforms and the broader structural changes in the region’s political economy. What’s more, whatever explained the patterns and effects of social service provision in the past may no longer apply. Major changes on the ground such as the crushing of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and the dramatic move into service provision by jihadist groups raise serious questions about how these dynamics might play out in the future."

‘The Reconstruction of Gaza and the Peace Process: Time for a European "Coalition of the Willing"‘ (Yezid Sayigh, Carnegie Middle East Center)

"For once, the Europeans could make a modest, but useful difference. They need not adopt the Palestinian approach wholesale, but supporting the bid for increased recognition for the State of Palestine offers them a low-cost means to infuse political energy back into the peace process without challenging the fundamental principles of reaching a two-state solution through direct negotiation between the parties. Not all EU member-states will endorse this approach, but the opportunity is there for a ‘coalition of the willing’ among them to take a diplomatic lead."

‘Tunisia’s 2014 Elections: The Search for a Post-Transitional Order‘ (Haykel Ben Mahfoudh, Atlantic Council)

"Tunisia’s struggle today is less about ideology or changing the social model. The real question is how, rather than who will govern the country. Over the next five to ten years, efficiently meeting social needs will take priority and have the most impact on the new government’s legitimacy. As such, a new political dynamic will need to be created. In accordance with the constitution, the party with the largest number of votes will form the government. With no clear majorities, Tunisia’s political class must create multi-party coalitions-a most likely scenario. Such a dynamic will no doubt impact the ability to deliver security, economic growth, social justice, etc. If the same leaders who engaged in partisan bickering become reelected, then the governance deficit will remain. Real change will compel a balance between pursuing national priorities and identifying opportunities amid shifting public needs, requiring project coordination and alignment with reform priorities. Partisan voters, however, always vote for their preferred candidates, not necessarily those best prepared to govern."

— Mary Casey