Middle East Experience

Eliezer Goldberg was a state comptroller and public complaints commissioner as well as a judge in the High Court of Justice.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Former High Court judge Eliezer Goldberg passes away at 90

Blue and White MK Alon Tal, a former deputy chairman of KKL, said the entire system in the organization is broken.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Aryeh Deri's brother quits KKL co-chair job

The NGO said that taking into account ethnicity as a basis of interfering with marriage and citizenship issues has been rejected since World War II, even by apartheid South Africa in 1980.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: NGO asks High Court to declare family reunification bill unconstitutional

Cities around Israel were scored out of 100 on their enlistment data and split according to size and men and women.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: IDF enlistment data shows most soldiers are not from the periphery

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday that Russia would pay a “severe price” if it launched a chemical weapon attack on Ukraine, and added that Moscow’s “escalating level of rhetoric” is an “indicator” Russians are preparing to use chemical weapons and “pin the blame” elsewhere.“We can't predict a time or place. All we can say is that there is an escalating level of rhetoric on the Russian side trying to accuse the Ukrainians and the US of potentially using chemical or biological weapons…That's an indicator that in fact, the Russians are getting ready to do it and try and pin the blame elsewhere, and nobody should fall for that,” Sullivan said in an interview with CNN’s “Face the Nation”.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“And as the [US] president said on Friday, if in fact the Russians do use chemical weapons in Ukraine, they will pay a severe price,” Sullivan added.“The use of weapons of mass destruction would be a- a shocking additional line that Putin is crossing in terms of his assault on international law and international norms. His assault on the human rights and human dignity of the people of Ukraine.”Russia has recently been accusing the US of operating biowarfare labs in Ukraine. Washington denied the claims and said that Moscow is likely laying the groundwork to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine.Read more:US warns UN that Russia may use biological, chemical weaponsPoland says NATO will have to think seriously if Russia’s Putin uses chemical weaponsNATO chief Stoltenberg says Russia may use chemical weapons
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US: Russian use of chemical weapons in Ukraine would cross ‘shocking additional line’

Iraq demanded a “frank and clear explanation” from Iran regarding the ballistic missile attack on its Kurdish regional capital of Erbil, the Ministerial Council for National Security said on Sunday.“Iraq has requested, through diplomatic channels, frank and clear explanation from the Iranian side, and is awaiting a stance from the Iranian political leadership in rejecting the aggression,” the council said, according to state news agency INA.Earlier on Sunday, Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region security forces announced that a “dozen ballistic missiles” targeted Erbil, including the US consulate under construction, causing damage but without any major casualties.The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed the attack which they said targeted Israeli “strategic centers” in Erbil.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The attack on Erbil comes after the IRGC announced last Tuesday that an Israeli strike killed two of its members in Syria, vowing to take revenge.The Iraqi council said: “Iraq had previously announced its refusal to violate its sovereignty and use its lands to settle scores between states and parties, stressing its stance of rejecting the use of its lands to attack neighboring countries.”The US condemned the missile strike on Erbil. State Department Spokesman Ned Price said: “The strikes were an outrageous violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. No US facilities were damaged or personnel injured, and we have no indications the attack was directed at the US. Iran must immediately cease its attacks, respect Iraqi sovereignty, and halt its interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.”Locations of American forces and contractors in Iraq have been regularly targeted with missile attacks. The attacks have been claimed by groups that both US and Iraqi officials have described as smokescreens for well-known Iran-aligned armed factions in Iraq.Read more:Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim responsibility for missile attack on Iraq’s ErbilMissile strike on Iraq’s Erbil creates risk for Iran talks: FranceMissiles launched from Iran targeted new US consulate in Erbil: Report
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iraq demands “clear explanation” from Iran regarding IRGC missile attack on Erbil

US President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports during an announcement made Tuesday, but warned Americans that they would suffer as a result of the move.“The United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy. We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at US ports and the American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin,” Biden said in remarks from the White House.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He said the move was made “in close consultation” with allies.“The US produces far more oil domestically than all of Europe combined. We’re a net exporter of energy, so we can take this step when others cannot,” he added.Biden’s announcement came shortly after the United Kingdom said it would phase out Russian imports of oil and oil products by the end of the year.But the US president warned American families that they would be negatively impacted by the decision and would see a rise in gasoline prices. Saying he would do what he could to mitigate the impact on Americans, Biden warned gas companies against price gouging.“There will be cost as well here in the United States. I said I would level with the American people from the beginning, and when I first spoke to this, I said defending freedom is going to cost; it’s going to cost us as well in the United States.”Putin will not win in UkraineBiden also warned Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, that they would not win in the war on Ukraine. “Russia may continue to grind out its advance at a horrible price but this much is already clear, Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin,” Biden said.“Putin may be able to take a city, but he’ll never be able to hold the country.”Read more: UK to phase out Russian oil imports by end of 2022
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Biden bans all Russian oil imports to the US, but warns ‘it will cost us’

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is no longer pressing for NATO membership for Ukraine, a delicate issue that was one of Russia's stated reasons for invading its pro-Western neighbor.In another apparent nod aimed at placating Moscow, Zelenskyy said he is open to “compromise” on the status of two breakaway pro-Russian territories that President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent just before unleashing the invasion on February 24.“I have cooled down regarding this question a long time ago after we understood that ... NATO is not prepared to accept Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in an interview aired Monday night on ABC News.“The alliance is afraid of controversial things, and confrontation with Russia,” the president added.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Referring to NATO membership, Zelenskyy said through an interpreter that he does not want to be president of a “country which is begging something on its knees.” Russia has said it does not want neighboring Ukraine to join NATO, the transatlantic alliance created at the start of the Cold War to protect Europe from the Soviet Union. In more recent years the alliance has expanded further and further east to take in former Soviet bloc countries, infuriating the Kremlin.Russia sees NATO enlargement as a threat, as it does the military posture of these new Western allies on its doorstep.Shortly before he shocked the world by ordering the invasion of Ukraine, Putin recognized as independent two separatist pro-Russian “republics” in eastern Ukraine -- Donetsk and Lugansk -- that have been at war with Kyiv since 2014. Putin now wants Ukraine, too, to recognize them as sovereign and independent.When ABC asked him about this Russian demand, Zelenskyy said he was open to dialogue.“I'm talking about security guarantees,” he said.He said these two regions “have not been recognized by anyone but Russia, these pseudo republics. But we can discuss and find the compromise on how these territories will live on.”“What is important to me is how the people in those territories are going to live who want to be part of Ukraine, who in Ukraine will say that they want to have them in,” Zelenskyy said.“So the question is more difficult than simply acknowledging them,” the president said.“This is another ultimatum and we are not prepared for ultimatums. What needs to be done is for President Putin to start talking, start the dialogue instead of living in the informational bubble without oxygen.”Read more:NATO is being cowed by Russia: Ukraine’s FMNATO rejects calls for no-fly zone over UkraineUkraine’s Zelenskyy waiting for positive signals on EU bid
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: In nod to Russia, Ukraine says no longer insisting on NATO membership

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Ukraine said on Tuesday it was closely following up with the Ukrainian authorities the case of a Saudi citizen detained by Kyiv on security grounds.The Kingdom’s embassy said it was in constant contact and coordination with the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the safety of the Saudi citizen.The embassy confirmed that it continued to work intensively to implement the plan to evacuate Saudi nationals stuck in Ukraine under the guidance and continued follow-up of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.The Saudi embassy in Kyiv added that work was underway to evacuate the remaining number of Saudi nationals, and coordination continued with the Ukrainian side to find out the safe corridors through which citizens can cross from conflict areas to neighboring countries. The Kingdom’s missions in those countries were coordinating with the concerned authorities to facilitate their entry and departure to the Kingdom as soon as possible.Read more:Saudi Crown Prince affirms to Zelenskyy support to Ukraine crisis de-escalationSaudi Arabia asks citizens in Ukraine to contact embassy, arrange immediate departureIn nod to Russia, Ukraine says no longer insisting on NATO membership
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Kyiv: Closely following case of detained citizen in Ukraine

Russia said it is ready to provide humanitarian corridors on Wednesday for people fleeing Kyiv and four other Ukrainian cities, as the number of refugees created by the biggest assault on a European country since World War Two surpassed 2 million.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia’s National Defence Control Centre, was quoted as saying by the Tass news agency that Russian forces would “observe a regime of silence” from 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) to ensure safe passage for civilians wishing to leave Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol.It was unclear if the proposed routes would pass through Russia or Belarus, conditions previously opposed by the Ukrainian government.Civilians fled the besieged city of Sumy on Tuesday in the first successful “humanitarian corridor” opened since Russia’s invasion. Ukraine accused Russian forces of shelling another evacuation route, from Mariupol in the south of the country.A US ban on imports of Russia’s oil sparked a further increase in the oil price. Prices have surged more than 30 percent since Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24.Russia - the world’s second-largest exporter of crude - has warned the cost will skyrocket further if the West implements bans.Despite the prospect of higher household bills, US President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin needed to face consequences for the assault.“The American people will deal another powerful blow to Putin’s war machine,” he said.The Kremlin describes its actions as a “special operation” to disarm Ukraine and unseat leaders it calls neo-Nazis. Ukraine and Western allies call this a baseless pretext for a war of choice that has raised fears of wider conflict in Europe.Adding to Russia’s global isolation, McDonald’s, a symbol of capitalism that opened in Russia as the Soviet Union fell, and coffeehouse chain Starbucks will temporarily close stores, while Pepsi will stop selling its soft drink brands and Coca-Cola is halting business in the country.Western countries are walking a fine line between using harsh sanctions to stop the war as quickly as possible, while also protecting their fragile economies from rising inflation.The conflict and ensuing sanctions have played havoc with global supply chains, sending prices soaring not only for food and energy but also key raw materials like aluminium and nickel.The London Metal Exchange was forced to halt trading in nickel - crucial for making stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries - on Tuesday as prices doubled to more than $100,000 per tonne due to worries about Russian supply.Britain said it would phase out the import of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022, while the European Union published plans to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two thirds this year.Polish planesAs Western military aid poured into Ukraine over the Polish and Romanian borders, the United States turned down a surprise Polish offer to transfer MiG-29 fighter jets to a U.S. base in Germany to help replenish Ukraine’s air force.The prospect of flying combat aircraft from NATO territory into the war zone “raises serious concerns for the entire NATO alliance,” the Pentagon said.In the seaside Ukrainian town of Mariupol, people were fast running out of electricity, heat, food, and drinking water after more than a week of bombardment, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.“The situation in Mariupol is apocalyptic,” Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said.Many tried to leave on Tuesday along a safe corridor but Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Russian forces violated a ceasefire and shelled it.Moscow denies targeting civilians.Russia opened a separate corridor out of the eastern city of Sumy. Buses left for Poltava further west, only hours after a Russian air strike which regional officials said had hit a residential area and killed 21 people. Reuters could not verify the incident.Residents were also leaving Irpin, a frontline Kyiv suburb.Elsewhere, Ukrainian troops repulsed a Russian attempt to enter the eastern city of Kharkiv on Tuesday and foiled a planned operation by 120 Russian paratroopers near the border, regional Governor Oleh Synehubov said.Five people, two of them children, were killed late on Tuesday when Russian planes attacked the town of Malyn, northwest of Kyiv, and destroyed seven houses, the state emergency service said. Reuters was unable to corroborate.Ukraine’s defence ministry said Vitaly Gerasimov, first deputy commander of Russia’s 41st army, was killed on Monday, the second Russian major general killed during the invasion. Russia’s defence ministry could not be reached for comment.Within Russia, the war has led to a severe new crackdown on dissent, with the last remaining independent media largely shut last week and foreign broadcasters banned.Read more: Ukraine foreign ministry claims Russian forces are shelling Mariupol evacuation routeIn nod to Russia, Ukraine says no longer insisting on NATO membershipTop US intelligence officials warn of ‘ugly next few weeks’ in Ukraine
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Russia promises ‘silence’ for Ukrainians to flee battered cities