Middle East Experience

Lebanon is an important country, and our friends in the Gulf care about what happens in Beirut.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: A stable Lebanon is in Israel's interests - editorial

Herzog says Abraham Accords are “really an amazing achievement and a key to a better future in our region.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Ambassador Herzog says Israel maintains freedom to act apart from Iran deal

Following a crackdown on the independent press in Morocco, human rights activists face increased repression and extended prison sentences..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Escalating Repression in Morocco

The Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is expected to generate $246 billion in revenues this year, organizers of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai said in a statement on Tuesday.The total contribution of the travel and tourism industry to the GDP of Middle Eastern countries is expected to reach around $486.1 billion by 2028, with governments across the region attracting hefty investments into the industry.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Bahrain in 2020 attracted $492 million of tourism capital investment while Saudi Arabia earmarked $1 trillion to its travel and tourism sector through 2030.As tourism destinations in the Middle East continue to widen their appeal and extend offerings to attract more foreign direct investment, global ministers of tourism convened at the Middle East Tourism Investment Summit on the Arabian Travel Market Global Stage on Monday to shed light on access to project finance post-COVID and to discuss investment opportunities and challenges associated with destination tourism in the Middle East.Hosted jointly by ATM and the International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC), the summit began with a Ministerial Roundtable which included the participation of United Arab Emirates Minister of State for entrepreneurship and SMEs and Chairman of Emirates Tourism Council Dr. Ahmed Belhoul al-Falasi, and Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef al-Fayez.“For the UAE hospitality accommodation sector, investment in rooms and keys remains a primary focus as evidenced by a 5 percent growth in the number of rooms compared to 2019 levels, with a variation of service levels and accommodation type,” said al-Falasi in a roundtable discussion at the Dubai-based event.“… big-ticket FDI will continue to grow in terms of rooms, from the service side, we see a lot of venture capital deployed on technological solutions for tourism. As the customer demand for elevated tourism experiences continues to evolve, we see technology as an important investment area in the future,” he continued.Running for four days this year, ATM 2022 will conclude on Thursday.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s AlUla welcomed over 146,000 visitors in 2021 aloneSaudi Red Sea Project will open to visitors in 2023, showing new side of the KingdomArabian Travel Market to shine spotlight on future of intl travel, tourism
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Middle East travel and tourism sector expected to generate 6 billion in 2022

The US still considers Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist group, State Department Spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday.“You’ve heard from the Secretary [of State Antony Blinken] that the IRGC has conducted terrorist attacks. Clearly, we’re concerned by the threat that the IRGC poses,” Price told Al Arabiya in an interview from the State Department.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Reports have suggested that one of the major sticking points that has prevented a return to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the West has been Tehran’s demand to have the IRGC’s terror designation revoked.Price suggested that steps taken by the State Department proved that the Biden administration was working to counter threats by the IRGC.“Of the 107 sanctions that this administration has imposed on Iran since January 2021, until the present, 86 of them have been on the IRGC or its affiliates,” Price said. “We are working closely, using our own authorities, also with partners in the region, to counter the IRGC and the threat it poses potentially to our personnel and to our partners in the region as well.”Nevertheless, the US is still hoping to reach a deal with Iran to revive the deal.Biden administration officials believe a return to the deal would “verifiably and permanently” prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.And despite a weekslong halt to the talks, the US still thinks a deal is in its best interests.“As of May 2022, we continue to believe that if the restrictions that the nuclear deal imposed were re-imposed on Iran, Iran’s nuclear program would be put back in a box, that breakout time that now stands at weeks would be lengthened significantly,” Price said.He added: “It’s unacceptable that the breakout time is so low. President Biden has a commitment that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon.”Price also said that a return to the so-called JCPOA would be one way to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.But he also said that the US and its allies would “pursue other means,” if needed, to ensure this would never happen.The US has been discussing alternative plans with partners and allies in the event that no deal is reached.“It was never certain, it was never clear to us whether we’d be able to achieve a mutual return to compliance, so we’ve always been engaged in contingency planning with our partners,” Price said.Asked about comments by the UN nuclear watchdog chief that Iran was not forthcoming on past nuclear activities, Price said the US would be in close touch with the agency on the matter.“But either way, we’re going to continue to partner very closely with the IAEA to make sure that Iran is complying with its commitments, or alternatively, to make sure that Iran is not able to acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said.Read more: Frustration growing among US diplomats at the State Department
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US still considers Iran’s IRGC a terrorist group: State Department official

Elon Musk on Tuesday said he would lift Twitter’s ban on former US President Donald Trump if Musk’s deal to buy the global messaging platform is successful.“I would reverse the ban,” the billionaire said at a Financial Times conference, noting that he doesn’t own Twitter yet, so “this is not like a thing that will definitely happen.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Tesla chief’s $44-billion deal to buy Twitter must still get the backing of shareholders and regulators, but he has voiced enthusiasm for less content moderation and fewer bans.Read more:US primaries set fresh test of Trump’s popularityMusk, Twitter are sued by shareholder over $44 billion takeoverTrending Trump says he won’t return to Twitter despite Elon Musk deal
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Elon Musk says he would lift twitter ban on former US President Trump

Ukraine has killed between eight and ten Russian generals during the ongoing conflict, the head of the US Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier said on Tuesday.During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Republican Senator Tom Cotton asked: “Does the fact that Russia is losing all these generals suggest to you that these generals are having to go forward to ensure their orders are executed?”Berrier replied: “Yes.”The DIA chief said: “I think the Ukrainians have it right in terms of grit and how they face the defense of their nation.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He added: “I’m not sure that Russian soldiers from the far-flung Russian military districts really understand that.”Last month, Russia promoted a new war commander to take control of the Ukraine operations as Moscow struggled to achieve its goals since it launched the “special military operation” – the description it labelled its invasion of Ukraine – on February 24.US officials, however, said that the change in command did not erase the “strategic failure” Russia faced in Ukraine amid a strong resistance put up by Kyiv and the support it received from the US and EU.Read more:Over 40 bodies found under rubble of destroyed building in east Ukraine: OfficialsPutin ‘likely’ to impose martial law in Russia to support war: US intelligence chiefKyiv says over 1,000 Ukraine fighters still in Azovstal plant
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ukraine has killed 8 to 10 Russian generals: US Defense Intelligence Agency

Two US Senators said on Tuesday they will be introducing a resolution to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism over its war on Ukraine, calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a terrorist.“Last week, the Ukrainian parliament took a vote urging the US Congress to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. So, we heard their plea and we're answering their request. Today we will be introducing a resolution urging the Secretary of State and the Biden administration to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism because they are,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said at a press conference.He added: “The hope is that we can take this resolution and put it in the Ukraine supplemental, because I think it does two things. It sends a strong message to the people of Ukraine, we listen to you, and we agree that the person who is destroying your country, who's murdering, raping and killing your citizens runs a nation that is a state sponsor of terrorism. And we're also letting the Russian people know that our fight is not with you, but is with Putin.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said: “If there is anybody who embodies terrorism and totalitarianism and torture, it is Vladimir Putin. And Russia, unfortunately, is in his hands. And so, this resolution is absolutely appropriate and it will put Russia outside the pale of civilized nations.”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked US President Joe Biden to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in mid-April.The US currently designates four countries as state sponsors of terrorism: Iran, Syria, North Korea and Cuba.Graham added: “Putin has challenged the world. He's put in question everything we believe in. If he's still standing when this is over and he's not labelled a state sponsor of terrorism, we've missed a mark. Every law on the books regarding war crimes have been violated. Every international norm has been turned upside down. For 20 years, he's literally gotten away with murder. Now it's time to designate him in a fashion befitting his conduct. He is a terrorist and Russia is in the hands of a terrorist state run by Putin.”Read more:US considering listing Russia as state sponsor of terrorism over Ukraine war: BlinkenFighters appeal for evacuation of wounded from Mariupol millUkraine has killed 8 to 10 Russian generals: US Defense Intelligence AgencyPutin ‘likely’ to impose martial law in Russia to support war: US intelligence chief
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US Senators to introduce resolution to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

“She was a fearless reporter,” said one of her colleagues. “She never hesitated to go to places where clashes were taking place. She loved her work.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Shireen Abu Aqleh: The Palestinians’ voice and face to the Arab world

Around 23.5 million tickets were sought in the latest sale for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which takes place in the country in November..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: First arrests over fake FIFA World Cup 2022 merchandise