Middle East Experience

When President Isaac Herzog visited the UAE last week, he brought along Knesset members from the coalition and opposition who head the Israel-UAE friendship group.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: UAE parliamentarians to visit Knesset in Israel

Mohammad El Halabi, who worked for World Vision and has been accused of helping Hamas, has been on trial for over five years.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US State Dept. closely monitoring World Vision case verdict

Iran said on Monday removal of US sanctions is Tehran's red line in nuclear talks with world powers in Vienna to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman told a news conference, adding that talks will resume on Tuesday.On Friday, the United States restored sanctions waivers allowing international nuclear cooperation with Iran on projects designed to make it harder for Iran’s nuclear sites to be used to develop weapons, although a senior State Department official said that was not a signal Washington was on the verge of reaching an agreement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The issue of removal of sanctions and Iran benefiting from it is Iran’s red line in the talks,” Saeed Khatibzadeh said.“Washington has decided to take a step which has no impact on Iran’s economic situation... a responsible (US) government should return to the deal and fulfill its obligations,” he said.Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Sunday described the US move as “good but insufficient.”Iran, which denies ever seeking a nuclear bomb, has gradually violated nuclear limits of the nuclear pact in reaction to then-US President Donald Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the pact between Tehran and six powers and reimposing of crippling sanctions on Iran.Tehran and Washington have held eight round of indirect talks since April in Vienna aimed at reinstating the deal, under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for removal of international sanctions that have squeezed its oil exports.The talks paused on January 28 as top negotiators returned to their respective capitals for consultations. US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley on Sunday revealed he would soon return to Vienna, insisting the pact could still be revived.Khatibzadeh said Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani would return to Vienna on Tuesday, when the talks will resume.Read more: US grants sanctions relief to Iran as nuke talks in balance
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Removal of US sanctions is its red line for revival of 2015 deal, says Tehran

Iran has shut down a news website after it published an image of a man holding what was said to be the head of his wife in his hand, the state-run Iran newspaper reported on Monday.According to the report, a media supervisory board on Sunday decided to close Rokna website because of its continuing to “publish images and issues that violate public decency.”For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Authorities have arrested the man who is accused of killing his wife on Saturday in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.The photograph, in which the man holds a large knife in the other hand, has had tens of thousands of views on social media. The case is under investigation. Rokna was started in 2016 and has more than 20,000 subscribers on Telegram, a free social instant messaging service that provides video calling, file sharing and other features.Iran has had a long history of closures of media outlets. In 2020, authorities shut down Jahan-e Sanat newspaper after it quoted a former member of the national coronavirus taskforce as saying that the country’s death toll from the pandemic could be 20 times higher than officially provided figures.Read more: Iraq court suspends Hoshyar Zebari from presidential raceRemoval of US sanctions is its red line for revival of 2015 deal, says TehranUS grants sanctions relief to Iran as nuke talks in balance
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran shuts down news website over image of decapitated woman in Ahvaz city

Tunisian police have locked the doors of the Supreme Judicial Council, which President Kais Saied dissolved on Sunday, and have stopped staff from entering, the head of the council told Reuters on Monday.Saied’s announcement has raised fears for the rule of law in Tunisia after his seizure of almost total power last summer in a move his critics call a coup, with judges associations accusing him of an illegal act that undermines judicial independence.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Tunisia's association of judges said on Sunday that President Kais Saied's decision to dissolve the North African country's supreme judicial council was a dangerous and unprecedented retreat from constitutional gains it had made.Saied's overnight decision is the latest step in a consolidation of power after he dismissed parliament and sacked the prime minister in July, promising to remake Tunisia's democratic constitution, which his critics have termed reminscent of a coup.Read more:Tunisian judges say dissolving judicial council is a dangerous retreatTunisian president dissolves Supreme Judicial CouncilEconomic pain threatens social and political chaos in Tunisia
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Tunisian police lock doors of Supreme Judicial Council offices

Three thieves were recently arrested in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh after targeting shops and vehicles, a spokesperson for Riyadh’s police force said in a statement carried by SPA on Monday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Police seized money and 26 stolen vehicles from the criminals, who are Saudi nationals.The trio were arrested and referred to the public prosecution for further legal action.There were 37,764 thefts recorded in Riyadh for the Islamic year 1441, corresponding to 2019/20 – according to the latest available data published by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior.In that same year, 2,569 robberies (involving the use of force) were reported in Riyadh.Throughout the whole country, 118,840 thefts and 4,808 robberies were entered into the system.The population of Riyadh was 8.2 million in 2017, split between 3.6 million expatriates and 4.6 million Saudi nationals, according to information from the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics.Read more: Saudi Arabia, UN Office on Drugs and Crime sign MoUSaudi Arabia is keen to combat cross-border crimes: Attorney GeneralSix men arrested in Saudi Arabia for harassing female tourist: SPA
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Police arrest thieves in Riyadh, seize 26 stolen vehicles and money

Dozens of decapitated skeletons were among 425 bodies uncovered by HS2 archaeologists in a Roman cemetery during excavation works in southern England, Britain’s high-speed rail link revealed in press release.Many of the 40 beheaded skeletons had their skulls either positioned between their legs or next to their feet, according to the statement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The remains were uncovered by a team of about 50 archaeologists during excavation works at Fleet Marston, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, along the route of the high-speed rail link, which is currently under construction.The discovery will help archaeologists understand more about life in Roman Britain 2,000 years ago. According to archaeologists, one explanation for the beheadings is that these individuals could have been criminals or outcasts.Beheadings were quite common elsewhere and seem to have been a normal practice, however, they were not a typical burial ritual during the late Roman period, HS2 noted.Commenting on the excavations, Helen Wass, head of heritage at HS2 Ltd, stated: “All human remains uncovered will be treated with dignity, care, and respect and our discoveries will be shared with the community.”In addition to the bodies discovered, the team also found more than 1,200 coins, indicating commercial and trade activities in the area. Other objects were also discovered, such as metal spoons and pins, as well as dice and bells, a possible indicator of gambling and religious activities.The Romans ruled Britain from 43 AD to 410 AD.Richard Brown, senior project manager for COPA JV that is working on behalf of HS2’s Enabling Works Contractor Fusion JV, said the discoveries are significant in terms of learning more about Roman towns and their population during that period.“The excavation is significant in both enabling a clear characterization of this Roman town, but also a study of many of its inhabitants. Along with several new Roman settlement sites discovered during the HS2 works, it enhances and populates the map of Roman Buckinghamshire,” Browan insisted.Fleet Marston is one of more than 100 archaeological sites which HS2 has studied since 2018 between London and Birmingham, HS2 said, adding that examining these sites provides “a detailed insight” into Britain’s rich history.The recent discovery at Fleet Marston will be further studied and examined over the next few years in order to learn more about the lifestyles, habits and beliefs of inhabitants and towns during the Roman period, HS2 stated.Read more:Saudi Arabia: 4,500 year-old ‘funerary avenues,’ burial monuments discovered in AlUlaArchaeologists in Saudi Arabia excavate forgotten kingdomsArchaeologists discover oldest bone tools for clothes-making in Morocco
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Archaeologists discover 40 beheaded Roman skeletons with skulls between their legs

The emirate of Dubai announced Monday it would begin charging a fee on plastic bags used in Dubai, with an aim of outlawing them entirely in two years over environmental concerns.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A statement from the government-run Dubai Media Office said a 25-fils (6 cent) charge would start July 1.“Sustainability has now become an imperative at the global level, reinforced by changing the behaviors of society in a way that reduces the environmental footprint of individuals,” the government said.The government said the ban was necessary as both camels and turtles had died from the plastic.Already, some grocery stores in the skyscraper-studded city have been encouraging the public to bring reusable bags when shopping.Read more:Dubai plans to cut carbon emissions 30 pct by 2030: Media officeSpain and the UAE to form strategic partnership to improve stability and human rightsDumping plastic in waterways is ‘criminal,’ pope says in TV interview
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai to charge for plastic bags, aims to outlaw in two years

The Kurds of northeastern Syria dreamed of establishing an autonomous, multiethnic and gender-equal utopia. Instead, their breakaway region has been engulfed in conflict since its creation..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Syria’s Kurds Wanted Autonomy. They Got an Endless War.

The Kurdish Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria controls a third of Syria, but is not recognised by anyone. Attacks by Turkey, a threatened takeover by the Assad regime, dealing with tens of thousands of IS supporters and international isolation complicate people's daily lives. Kristin Helberg reports for Qantara.de from Qamishli..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Kurdish autonomy in northeast Syria: Between Assad and Erdogan