Middle East Experience

“Most of the people returned to Russia for some time because the decision to come to Israel was urgent and not well-prepared.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: How sanctions made new Russian olim leave Israel

The Bedouin students' protest, which was defended by the university, was heavily criticized by the mayor of Beersheba and Education Minister Yifat Sasha-Biton.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Bedouin students wave Palestinian flags in Ben-Gurion University protest

The plan would satisfy concerns across the political spectrum on both sides by tackling the thorniest issues in new ways..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: An Israeli-Palestinian Confederation Is the Best Path to Peace

Israel's army said Monday that if an Israeli soldier fired the shot that killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, it did not appear that the soldier was guilty of criminal misconduct.“Given that Ms Abu Akleh was killed in the midst of an active combat zone, there can be no immediate suspicion of criminal activity absent further evidence,” said a statement citing Military Advocate Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.Tomer-Yerushalmi will ultimately be responsible for determining whether any individual soldier will face disciplinary action over the fatal May 11 shooting during clashes in the occupied West Bank flashpoint of Jenin.She stressed that Israel does not yet know whether Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American, was killed by stray Palestinian gunfire or by an Israeli bullet aimed at a Palestinian.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The army “is taking every effort to examine the circumstances of the incident in order to understand how Ms Abu Akleh was killed,” the statement said.Qatar-based Al Jazeera has accused Israel of killing Abu Akleh “deliberately” and “in cold blood”.Tomer-Yerushalmi restated Israel's request to examine the bullet extracted from the body of the reporter. The projectile is in the Palestinian Authority's custody. “The inability to inspect the bullet, which is being held by the Palestinian Authority, continues to cast doubt on the circumstances of Ms Abu Akleh's death,” the statement said. The army has said it had zeroed in on one incident where an Israeli soldier using “a telescopic scope” fired at a “Palestinian gunman”.That gunman “was near” to Abu Akleh, the army has said, adding that it wants to compare the bullet with the weapon fired in this incident. Israel has offered to conduct the ballistic examination with Palestinian and American experts present. By procedure, Tomer-Yerushalmi decides on next steps in the military probe based on the initial findings, known as a commander's inquiry. “A final decision as to whether a criminal investigation will be launched will only be made after further facts from the (army's) operational investigation and other sources are available,” the statement said.Read more:Independent probe points to Israeli fire in journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s deathUS, EU demand investigation into reporter Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing in IsraelPalestinian Authority refuses to hand over bullet that killed Abu Akleh
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel army: ‘No suspicion’ of crime in journalist Shireen Abu Akleh shooting

The lack of grain supplies from Ukraine is forcing Egypt to act. Now even the Toshka project is being revived to grow grain in the desert. Birgit Svensson travelled to see it..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Egypt's food crisis: Wheat from the desert?

Drug found to be effective on lab animals indicates findings are ‘scientific breakthrough’
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Mechanism of gene mutations linked to autism, Alzheimer's found by TAU

Governments must address the structural inequality hurting the region to avoid continuing to be at the epicenter of global disasters..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Latin America needs a human rights-based recipe for post-pandemic recovery

Settlement growth in the West Bank is a product of population pressure, not policy..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Blasting Israeli Settlement Construction Will Get Biden Nowhere

The US has over 100,000 troops in Europe, the Pentagon announced Monday, adding that the latest Ukrainian Defense Contact Group meeting resulted in new military aid from the international community.Five new countries joined the virtual meeting hosted by the Pentagon on Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Everyone here understands the stakes of this war,” Austin said during a briefing with reporters.The new countries that joined the second meeting of its kind were Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Ireland and Kosovo. That brought the number of participating countries to 47, according to the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley.Milley, the top US military general, revealed that the US has over 102,000 troops in Europe, an increase from the 78,000 soldiers last fall.Of the 102,000 troops, there are 15,000 sailors in the area and a dozen fighter squadrons in the air.Austin said Monday’s virtual meeting was “highly constructive.” He said it gave the participants a chance to hear what was needed from senior Ukrainian officials. A third meeting will be held on June 15 on the sidelines of the NATO ministerial conference in Brussels.Austin also commended a number of countries that pledged new arms packages for Ukraine as Russia continues its war on the neighboring country. He singled out Denmark for saying it would provide Harpoon Launcher and missiles to help Ukraine defend its coast.The Pentagon chief said the Czech Republic would give Ukraine attack helicopters, tanks and rocket systems.Asked about US troops being deployed to Ukraine, Milley said Washington was still “a ways away” from doing that.Read more: Blinken announces reopening of US embassy in Kyiv
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Pentagon reveals new int’l military aid for Ukraine, updated number of troops

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is chair of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Al Waleed sells 16% of shares to Saudi sovereign fund