Middle East Experience

Kohavi is right to reject the Supreme Court compromise because what is at stake here is not one officer’s future career, but whether the IDF – and specifically its top commander.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Kohavi is right to reject court compromise to allow Franken to remain in IDF - editorial

Emiratis will need a third dose of a coronavirus vaccine if they want to leave the country..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Covid: UAE bans foreign travel for citizens without booster jab

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and a group of “armed criminals” clashed in the southeast of the country, leaving three IRGC members dead in addition to six criminals, state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.The IRGC said in a statement they identified through their intelligence a hideout and headquarters of a number of well-known armed criminals.The clash between the IRGC and the criminals also lead to five other criminals being wounded and the destruction of their headquarters.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.According to the IRGC statement, the criminals used “human shields” in the clash, and that three local members of the Basij militia fighting along the IRGC were killed in the clashes.The clash took place in the predominantly Sunni Muslim Sistan-Baluchistan province near the border with Pakistan. The area has long seen clashes with drug traffickers, since it’s also near the border with Afghanistan where the trade of opium and heroin thrives.The Sistan-Baluchistan province has also long been plagued by Sunni militants fighting the Iranian regime’s Shia authorities, as many Sunni Iranians complain of discrimination, which Tehran denies.Read more:Iran: Two IRGC members killed in fire at research centerIran’s IRGC strikes ‘terrorists’ in Iraqi Kurdistan: Tasnim
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Clash in southeast of Iran kills three IRGC members, six ‘armed criminals’

Developing countries see the call for equal actions with their richer counterparts as serving the interests of the latter..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: The U.N. Climate Summit and Its Aftermath

The accommodations renew fears that the journalist’s murderers will never be held accountable for horrific crime..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Jamal Khashoggi’s Saudi Killers Reportedly Doing Easy Time In Security Compound

The United Arab Emirates’ mission to the United Nations has taken its seat on the UN Security Council for the first time since 1986.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The UAE was elected in June to serve on the council’s 2022-23 term along with Albania, Brazil, Gabon, and Ghana, whose representatives also took their seats Saturday.“Membership on the council is a privilege that comes with enormous responsibility, and the UAE’s term will be based on our firm commitment to peace, stability, and multilateralism across the globe,” the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN Lana Nusseibeh said in a statement posted on the UAE Mission to the UN’s Twitter feed.Since it was founded in 1971, the UAE has been a member of the UN.It launched a campaign in September of 2020 for a seat on the security council.The UN Security Council is one of the UN’s six primary bodies and aims to maintain international peace and security.It can resort to imposing sanctions to put pressure on states to comply with the council’s objectives, and can also authorize the use of force.The council is made up of 15 member states including five with veto powers: The US, China, Britain, France, and Russia.Its five newest members replaced Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam.They ran for the seats unopposed, and won the support of more than two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.The UAE has signed cooperation agreements with over 28 UN agencies covering some 80 consultancy and technical missions in the country, according to the official WAM news agency.The country also hosts the offices of a number of UN regional offices, including United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).The UAE has provided free office space and financial contributions to UN agencies and non-governmental organizations at the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, according to WAM.With ReutersRead more: UAE, Brazil, Albania, Gambia, and Ghana voted on to UN Security CouncilSaudi Arabia supports UAE non-permanent membership of UN Security CouncilUAE wins seat on UNESCO diversity committee
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE and four other countries take seats on UN Security Council

The Arab Coalition has carried out air strikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa, destroying four sites storing drones and launch pads, according to the official SPA news agency citing a coalition spokesperson on Sunday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Air strikes were carried out in line with international humanitarian law and the coalition took precautionary measures to spare civilians from collateral damage, the spokesperson said.Coalition attacks on targets in Sanaa have stepped up in recent months.On Saturday, December 25, a coalition strike killed three members of the Iran-backed Houthi militia traveling in a military vehicle northwest of the city.On Friday, December 24, the coalition said a Houthi projectile that hit the Saudi city of Jazan led to the killing of two civilians -- a Saudi national and a Yemeni resident.The Houthis have increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia, and other civilian targets as their offensive on the strategically-important city of Marib continues.A recent report from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the Houthis doubled their number of attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia during the first nine months of this year compared to the same period in 2020.Saudi Arabia along with other members of the Arab Coalition intervened in Yemen’s civil war in March 2015, after it broke out the previous year.Read more: Arab Coalition airstrikes destroy vehicle killing three Houthi militiaArab Coalition says destroyed drone targeting Saudi Arabia’s Abha airportSaudi defenses destroy two Houthi drones launched towards Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Arab Coalition carries out air strikes on four targets in Sanaa

Egyptian officials Sunday pushed for Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip to rein in hostilities and adhere to a cease-fire in place since the war in May.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Egyptian efforts came a day after Hamas militants launched rockets into the Mediterranean Sea off central Israel, prompting Israel to carry out airstrikes on militant positions in Gaza early Sunday. No casualties were reported.The Israeli military said it struck “a rocket manufacturing site and military posts” belonging to Hamas in the Gaza Strip overnight in response to Saturday’s rocket fire.“Whoever points missiles at Israel bears responsibility,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at the start of the government’s weekly Cabinet meeting.On Wednesday, Palestinian militants shot an Israeli contractor working along the border fence and Israel responded with tank fire at militant positions in what was the first exchange of fire in months.Egyptian officials called on Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza to stop their actions seen by Israel as “provocative,” and for Israel to accelerate arrangements agreed upon as part of the cease-fire, an Egyptian diplomat with knowledge of the ongoing efforts said. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.“Neither side wants a full-blown war,” the diplomat said. “They just want guarantees and steps on the ground.”The cease-fire, brokered by Egypt and other mediators, has been fragile but largely held since the 11-day war between Hamas and Israel in May. But the militant group says Israel has not taken serious steps to ease the blockade it imposed on Gaza with Egypt after the movement seized control of the coastal enclave in 2007.At the same time, the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group has threatened military action against Israel if a hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner dies. Hisham Abu Hawash, an Islamic Jihad member held by Israel under administrative detention, has staged a hunger strike for over 130 days.Israel’s controversial policy of administrative detention allows suspects to be held without charge indefinitely. Israel says the practice is necessary to keep dangerous suspects in custody without disclosing critical intelligence that could expose sources. Palestinians and rights groups decry the policy as a violation of due process.Read more: Rockets fired from Hamas-ruled Gaza land off central Israel’s coastQatar, Egypt agree to supply fuel and basic building materials to GazaIsrael to allow goods into Gaza in move to ease tensions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Egypt pushes for calm after flare-up in Gaza hostilities

The killing of former Chadian President Idriss Deby led to further unrest in N’Djamena. Qatar has reportedly offered to host conflict-resolution talks in Doha between Chad’s different warring factions, three political sources from the African country have told Russia’s Sputnik news agency. The sources stated that the the Chadian military refused to participate in meetings ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Heavyweight mediator Qatar seeks to host Chad political talks

Qatar’s housing market appears to be recovering with December seeing an increase in the amount of money spent on properties. The Planning and Statistics authority released its 95th issue of the Qatar Monthly Statistics bulletin where it tracked changes in different markets up to November 2021. It found that the total number of properties sold ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar sees monthly rise in value of real estate sold