Middle East Experience

Experts believe that there is a Turkish plan to seize gas production in northern Iraq in coordination with the Kurdistan Democratic Party..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkey continues to exploit Iraq crises to create safe zone

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed hopes for deeper US counter-terrorism ties during talks with a top American general on Monday, following a deadly weekend attack by militants in the Sinai peninsula, a US military official said on Monday.The attack was claimed by ISIS and killed 11 Egyptian troops. Militants descended on a checkpoint at a water pumping station, striking with an explosive-rigged vehicle and firing heavy weapons from pick-up trucks, Egyptian security sources said.It was one of the most deadly attacks in recent years in the northern Sinai.US Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, who oversees US forces in the Middle East, said following Monday's talks in Cairo that the attack underscored the persistent threat from extremists.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“I offered my condolences and my view of the ISIS threat,” said Kurilla, head of US Central Command.Sisi's office said in a statement following his meeting with Kurilla that terrorism was the foremost challenge to Egypt's security and stability and required “collective efforts to combat it.” Since 2018, the Egyptian military has expanded its control over populated coastal areas of Northern Sinai between the Gaza Strip in the east and the Suez Canal in the west, allowing for a return of some civilian activity and the development of some infrastructure.However, sporadic attacks have continued with militants seeking refuge in desert expanses south of the coast and using different tactics such as sniping or planting explosives.The latest attack took place on Saturday morning on the road leading east from the Suez Canal to Hasanah in the center of Northern Sinai, Egyptian security sources said.A senior US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Sisi and other Egyptian officials sought a deeper counter-terrorism relationship in meetings with Kurilla on Monday.The US military official added that Kurilla offered to send US Rear Admiral Mitchell Bradley, who leads US special operations forces in the Middle East, to Egypt to offer “guidance and additional assistance.” Biden slashes military aid Kurilla's visit, his first since taking the helm of US Central Command in April, comes less than four months since President Joe Biden's administration announced it would cut $130 million in military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns.The rare US censure of a geostrategic ally that controls the Suez Canal followed Egypt's failure to address specific human rights-related conditions, which have never been publicly detailed by Washington.Activists have said those US conditions included the release of people seen as political prisoners.US officials have said the American relationship with Egypt is complex. The most-populous Arab country is a vital ally and key voice in the Arab world. US military officials have long stressed Egypt's role expediting the passage of US warships through the Suez Canal and granting overflight for American military aircraft.Kurilla told reporters traveling with him that the US-Egypt relationship was critical and that his visit gave him “a new appreciation for Egypt's prominent role in the Middle East.”“This strategic partnership is important to me, the US, and CENTCOM,” he said, using an acronym for Central Command.Despite deep ties to the US military, Egypt has moved to diversify its sources of arms since then-US President Barack Obama in 2013 froze delivery of some military aid to Egypt after Mursi's overthrow.Egypt's imports of arms from Russia, France, Germany and Italy have surged, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Still, Kurilla's predecessor in the post, Frank McKenzie, a now retired four-star Marine general, told Congress in March that he believed the US would provide Egypt with F-15 aircraft, manufactured by Boeing.That sale has not yet been formally announced.Read more:ISIS claims attack that killed 11 Egyptian troopsUS imposes sanctions on ISIS financial network
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Egypt, US eye counter-terrorism ties in wake of deadly Sinai attack

The company should be careful to not let “free speech” become a cover for antisemitism, as well as racism, hatred and other extremism that goes hand in hand with anti-Jewish hate.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Elon Musk's Twitter challenge: Dealing with extremists - editorial

Taliban forces had taken the Afghan capital. Crowds of panicked people thronged the airport. And a young man who had worked as a subcontractor for the US military faced a terrible choice.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Hasibullah Hasrat, after having navigated the chaotic streets and Taliban checkpoints to make it inside the airport, could either go back for his wife and two young children or board an evacuation flight and get them later. Not taking the flight likely meant none of them would get out of Afghanistan.Hasrat’s decision haunts him. He is in the US, one of more than 78,000 Afghans admitted into the country following the US troop withdrawal in August that ended America’s longest war. But his family hasn’t been able to join him.They’re still in Afghanistan, where an economic crisis has led to widespread hunger and where Taliban repression is on the rise.“My wife is alone there,” he said, his voice breaking as he describes nightly phone calls home. “My son cries, asks where I am, when am I coming. And I don’t know what to say.”It’s a reminder that the journey for many of the Afghans who came to the United States in the historic evacuation remains very much a work in progress, filled with uncertainty and anxiety about the future.Afghan refugees, some of whom faced possible reprisals for working with their government or American forces during the war with the Taliban, say in interviews that they are grateful to the US for rescuing them and family members.But they are often struggling to gain a foothold in a new land, straining to pay their bills as assistance from the government and resettlement agencies starts to run out, stuck in temporary housing, and trying to figure out how to apply for asylum because most of the Afghans came under a two-year emergency status known as humanitarian parole.“We are not sure what may happen,” said Gulsom Esmaelzade, whose family has been shuttled between hotel rooms in the San Diego area since January, after spending three months at a New Jersey military base. “We don’t have anything back at home in Afghanistan and here we also don’t have any future.”It’s taken a toll. Esmaelzade said her mother has had to be rushed three times to the emergency room when her blood pressure shot up to dangerous levels. The younger woman attributes it to the stress of their lives.Then there are more mundane challenges that are nonetheless daunting for many Afghans. They include learning English, navigating government bureaucracies and public transportation, and finding a job.There is also the isolation for those, like Hasrat, who came alone. “I don’t know anyone here,” he said in the apartment outside Washington he shares with two other evacuees. “I have no friends, no family, no relatives. I just live with my roommates and my roommates are from other parts of Afghanistan.”Some have managed to get established. “But there are many more who are not doing fine than are doing well,” said Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant & Refugee Outreach Center in McLean, Virginia.The experience of the evacuated Afghans is not unlike what refugees have historically faced in coming to the United States.In some ways it’s a preview for the up to 100,000 Ukrainians who President Joe Biden says will be welcomed, also in many cases on two years of humanitarian parole.Afghans on humanitarian parole must apply for a way to stay in the country such as through asylum.It’s a time-consuming process that typically requires finding an immigration attorney, at a cost of thousands of dollars not readily available to most refugees unless they can find someone to do it pro bono.The Department of Homeland Security says about half of the 78,000 likely will ultimately qualify for the special immigrant visa, or SIV, program.It grants permanent residency to people, along with their immediate family, who worked for the US government. Hasrat hasn’t been able to secure an SIV, at least not yet, despite his work as a subcontractor setting up transmission lines for the US Army.Congress could resolve the situation by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would enable evacuees to apply for permanent residency after a year in the country, similar to relief granted in the past to people from Iraq, Cuba and Vietnam.Biden recently gave the effort a boost when he endorsed the idea of adding it to an upcoming Ukraine aid bill, a move welcomed by a coalition that includes veterans, religious organizations and resettlement agencies.“They are facing a ticking time bomb of what happens if they don’t get SIV or asylum status,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. “Do they get deported back to Afghanistan and into harm’s way?”In the meantime, Afghans are trying to stitch together new lives as public attention has shifted to Ukraine and other matters.At a recent job fair in Alexandria, Virginia, there were hundreds of evacuees, including Arafat Safi, a former senior official in Afghan’s foreign affairs ministry who came to the US with his wife, four children and mother.He’s hoping to land a job in project management or international development, to use an education that includes a master’s degree from the UK So far, he’s landed a position as a Pashto-English interpreter and is delivering packages for Amazon on the side while his wife, Madina, works in the bakery section of a supermarket.Safi said he still hopes to find a better job and is eager to get permanent residency. But he never complained in a lengthy interview at the family’s apartment in Alexandria. An intricate and vibrant Afghan rug — the only possession the family brought from home — occupies a prominent place in the living room.“I’m very lucky to be here, to be welcomed by the US society. I met a lot of friends here who are checking on me almost every day,” said the 35-year-old Safi. “And it’s amazing. But there’s a small part of me that misses Afghanistan and that misses my people.”Hasrat said he has little time to think about anything other than his family back home and the danger they face from the Taliban. A 29-year-old former competitive boxer, he rides a bike to his job as an administrative assistant at a medical office.After taxes and the money he sends home, he barely has enough to pay his bills. His roommates, who are still learning English, have even less and have trouble making the rent.Most nights, Hasrat waits until it’s late enough to have a video chat with his family. On one recent call, he tried to join the celebration of his kids’ birthdays but was sad to realize his daughter doesn’t even know him.“I am telling them that, ‘yeah, I am happy,’ because if I told them my situation here they will be sad,” he said. “But if no one is there to take care of your wife, how can you be happy?”Read more: Norway slams Afghan Taliban edict demanding women cover up head to toe in publicAs Iran-Taliban tensions rise, Afghan migrants in tinderboxAfghan evacuees fleeing Taliban face months more limbo in UAE: US official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: New life, new struggles: Afghans still adjusting to US

Iran’s foreign ministry denied early on Friday what it described as “reports of an assassination attempt” on Qatar’s ambassador to Tehran.In a statement carried by state news agency IRNA, Iran’s foreign ministry denied “reports of an assassination attempt on the Qatari ambassador to Iran” and called on media outlets to be “careful” in their reporting.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.No further details were provided.The current Qatari ambassador to Tehran is Mohammed bin Hamad al-Hajri.Iran and Qatar share good relations. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Doha in February where he met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad. The two countries signed several bilateral cooperation deals during Raisi’s visit.Read more:Tehran’s envoy says 28 Iranian prisoners in Qatar to be transferred to IranQatar’s Emir says discussed Vienna nuclear talks with Iranian president
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran denies ‘reports of an assassination attempt’ on Qatar’s ambassador in Tehran

Everyone who goes on a diet does it to lose weight, but what if as a bonus you can also prolong your life?
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Introducing the diet that can lengthen your lifespan

The Maldives, Mauritius, Dubai, Bangkok, Cairo, Paris, and London are the top travel destinations booked by Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) residents for Eid al-Fitr this year, according to travel agencies.“Eid holiday is a popular time to travel for UAE nationals and residents. Many people start planning their trip and looking for getaway deals during the second week of Ramadan. Thankfully, the pandemic is not the same disease as it was last year and the year before,” Saleem Sharif, Deputy Managing Director of United Arab Emirates-based travel agency ATS Travel, told Al Arabiya English.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Sharif added that the subsiding effects of the pandemic have led to a “considerable increase” in flight bookings during this period, with the average Eid holiday duration being four to five days.London, Switzerland, Paris and various US cities were among the top destinations booked through ATS for Eid this year by Saudi and UAE nationals.Emirates, Dubai-based airline, told Al Arabiya English in an email that most of its Saudi-based customers will be venturing to Dubai, the Maldives, Paris, Bangkok, Mauritius, Manila and Los Angeles for the Eid holiday.Popular destinations for Kuwaiti travelers booked via Emirates this year also include Dubai, the Maldives, Manila, Bangkok, London, Mauritius and Paris. To cater to this uptick in travel demand, Emirates said it will be operating eight additional flights served by its Boeing 777 during Eid.The most popular destinations for UAE travelers via Emirates during this period include London, Istanbul, Manila, Cairo, Paris, Casablanca, New York and Los Angeles.“These destinations have been the top destinations for travel pre and during the pandemic, and we are seeing a further surge in demand due to the relaxation of travel restrictions,” Emirates said in an email.“All of the destinations have long been top destinations for travel [in the region] but the pandemic has definitely increased the potential for the Maldives and Mauritius, among our other Indian Ocean destinations. Also, Thailand is a new destination for Saudi Arabia with the easing of restrictions to travel there,” the Dubai-based carrier added.SAUDIA Airlines, the Kingdom’s national carrier which serves over 50 international airports and operates more than 8,000 flights, said that the top three international flight routes during this period are: Cairo to Jeddah, Dubai to Jeddah, and Dubai to Riyadh.“There’s definitely a positive change in the demand and there are new trends shaping up the post-pandemic world for the travel sector,” said Sharif. “The Indian Ocean Islands were among the first destinations to open their doors for tourism after the lockdown. This, in addition to other factors like air connectivity helped keep these destinations quite popular.”Echoing his sentiment, Emirates said, “We have seen a major step-up of demand across GCC markets, which were largely closed until late last year, as many travelers are considering travel again due to the relaxation in [COVID-19] restrictions in the GCC and abroad.”AlUla, an ancient Saudi Arabian city that dates back to over 200 thousand years of unexplored history, is emerging as one of the region’s new up-and-coming destinations, attracting travelers from all over the world. After officially opening up to the world last year, it has since expanded its flight services, operating flights from various airlines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s budget airlines FlyDubai.“New destinations are becoming popular for luxury adventure and customized tourism such as Uganda and AlUla in Saudi Arabia, among other destinations,” Sharif said.Home to UNESCO World Heritage site Hegra, AlUla is hosting special packages for Eid this year, alongside its many other travel packages which include luxury resort experiences and tours through its Old Town and historical heritage sites.“Mauritius is also considered by many a good choice for an affordable luxury tourism. Zanzibar, Georgia, and Jordan are popular destinations for affordable travel packages and more of a relaxing travel experience,” Sharif added.Read more:‘Wings of Vision 2030’: SAUDIA airline carried over 5 mln guests in 2022 so farDubai Airports confirms capacity shift from DXB to DWC airport amid runway closureEmirates introduces 23 new flights for Eid
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Maldives, Mauritius, Dubai among top destinations booked for Eid al-Fitr in GCC

Labor leader: Reform is not a slur
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Lapid, Michaeli lament lack of progress at Kotel

Moscow denies committing war crimes in Ukraine or targeting civilians during a war that has killed thousands.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: UK to send war crimes investigators to Ukraine

Russian ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov left the Knesset plenum after MKs began criticizing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Russian ambassador storms out of Knesset over Ukraine war criticism