​​​​​​​Turkey escalates to cover new swap with Russia, Century Deal to public

The Arab newspapers touched on the situation in Idlib, Turkish-Russian agreements in addition to the Century Deal and the Turkish intervention in Libya. 

Al-Arab: Turkey promises al-Assad after the Syrian army’s domination on Ma’aret al-Numan

The Arab newspapers during the past week touched on several issues, the most prominent of which was the situation in Idlib. In this context, al-Arab newspaper said: "Turkey threatened the Syrian army on Tuesday to respond to any attack against its control points in Idlib because of its progress in the south of the governorate, its control of Ma’aret al-Numan city; the most important stronghold of the jihadist and fighting groups in that side, and its siege of a Turkish observation point southeast of the city."

On Tuesday, the Syrian army succeeded to extend its influence over the strategic city of Ma’aret al-Numan which is the second largest city in southern Idlib, and through which the international road of Aleppo_Damascus known as M5 passes.

Activists from the Syrian opposition say that the Turkish threat is only an attempt to pull the fleece over the eyes, as it is clear that the regime of the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has clearly abandoned Idlib within the framework of a new swap agreement with the Russian side.

One of the activists says: The Syrian regime does not intend to target the Turkish observation points as it has no interest to do that, and it understands that Ankara will be forced on its own to evacuate those points with the control of the President Bashar al-Assad’s regime over the entire province and its surroundings as there will be no reason for its remain.

Analysts say that Turkey is gradually losing its influence in Syria in light of its inability to match the Russian side, and straining its relationship with the United States.

Military experts point out that the military operation launched by the Syrian army with Russian support is very similar to those that took place in Eastern Ghouta and before that Aleppo. Its aim is to restore the entire province and its surroundings, contrary to the speculations of some who linked the escalation taking place since December to the desire of the Syrian government to extend its influence only on the international road M5.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Trump’s plan… New borders for Palestine and Israel

On the Palestinian issue, al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper said: "The US President Donald Trump announced yesterday his long-awaited vision for resolving the conflict in the Middle East which included, as expected, an acknowledgment of Jerusalem remaining undivided as the capital of Israel state, and the establishment of a geographically connected Palestinian state, but "demilitarized" and its capital is in parts of East Jerusalem."

Trump's announcement of his peace plan came at a press conference at the White House, in which the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several senior officials in US Administration, including the crew who worked for more than two years on preparing details of the plan led by Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and adviser.

 Some Arab ambassadors also attended the announcement at the White House according to what Trump announced.

This American vision of peace introduces new borders for the Israeli state (as a Jewish state) and the future Palestinian one, but it can be subjected to amendments in direct negotiations between the two sides, and the American president gave the Palestinians a deadline of 4 years to agree to his plan, saying: "The future Palestinian state will not be established except according to several conditions, including the explicit rejection of terrorism."

The plan adopts a two-state solution for the Palestinians and Israelis, and the plan calls for the establishment of an independent state for Palestine whose capital will be in parts of East Jerusalem (such as Abo Dis, Shuafat and Kafar Aqab), but within conditions, including the declaration of the Palestinian side to fulfill specific criteria and measures such as eradicating terrorism and stopping aid to the terrorists’ families."

The plan also provides for bartering and exchanging the lands, including the exchange of the land in the south of Gaza Strip and granting more lands to the Palestinians at the Egyptian border, but that will remain subjected to Israeli security control, and will give Israel in turn the right to sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, east of the West Bank.

Regarding the settlements, the plan calls for Israel to stop building any new settlements in the disputed zones for a period of 4 years, during which the details of a comprehensive agreement will be negotiated.

 In this context, Netanyahu rushed to declare that he would present a proposal to the Israeli cabinet during its next session to approve the validity of Israel's authority over the Jordan Valley, the north of the Dead Sea and the settlements of the West Bank.

Al-Bayan: Turkish aircraft overthrows truce’s conditions in Libya

About the Libyan issue, al-Bayan newspaper said: "The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has violated again his international obligations by sending more gunmen and mercenaries to the Libyan territory and carrying out raids using drones to overthrow the terms of the armistice, killing a number of members of the Libyan army in al-Haishah area east of Mesrata after targeting them by the Turkish drone, while a Syrian mercenary in Libya revealed that Erdogan had transported 3,000 people to Tripoli, the majority of whom were of Syrian poor, for a monthly salary of $ 2,000."

Military sources told al-Bayan that six soldiers from the 12^th Brigade, all of whom are from Murzeq city (southwest), were killed yesterday when they were deliberately bombed by a Turkish drone launched from Mesrata air base in an incident of the first of its kind since the armistice on January 12^th.

The sources confirmed that the Turkish bombing had toppled the terms of the armistice in Libya, especially as Turkish experts and military personnel were behind it in a brazen foreign intervention into the national army.

D.H