Middle East Experience

Some 40 Palestinians were injured when Israeli troops fired on a crowd of protesters attempting to breach the Gaza perimeter fence.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Palestinian dies from Israeli fire during Gaza border clashes

Iran’s parliament on Wednesday approved almost all President Ebrahim Raisi’s cabinet choices in an open session, enabling him to form a government after he was inaugurated earlier this month.Lawmakers approved one-by-one 18 out of 19 candidates chosen by Raisi for the ministerial posts, rejecting only the pick for the education portfolio, thus requiring the president to make another choice for that post. Developing
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iranian parliament approves Raisi’s government: AFP

The Taliban have asked Turkey for technical help to run Kabul airport after the departure of foreign forces but insist that Ankara’s military also withdraw fully by the end-August deadline, two Turkish officials told Reuters.The conditional request by The Taliban, who swept back to power in Afghanistan 20 years after they were ousted in a US invasion, leaves Ankara with a difficult decision over whether to accept a hazardous job, one official said.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Mainly Muslim Turkey was part of a NATO mission in Afghanistan and still has hundreds of troops at Kabul airport. The officials say they are ready to withdraw at short notice.But President Tayyip Erdogan’s government has said for months that it could keep a presence at the airport if requested. After the Taliban seized control of the country Turkey offered technical and security assistance at the airport.“The Taliban have made a request for technical support in running Kabul airport,” a senior Turkish official said, adding however that the Taliban demand for all Turkish troops to leave would complicate any prospective mission.“Ensuring the safety of workers without the Turkish Armed Forces is a risky job,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.Talks with the Taliban on the issue were ongoing and, in the meantime, preparations for a troop withdrawal had been completed, he said.It was unclear whether Turkey would agree to give technical assistance if its troops were not there to provide security.Another Turkish official said a final decision would be made by the Aug. 31 deadline for foreign forces to leave the country and end a 20-year military involvement in Afghanistan.Keeping the airport open after foreign forces hand over control is vital not just for Afghanistan to stay connected to the world but also to maintain aid supplies and operations.“It’s going to be a critical lifeline for the humanitarian action in Afghanistan,” Mary Ellen McGroarty, World Food program director in Afghanistan, said last week.Turkey has praised Taliban since they captured Kabul, and has said it is open to engaging with them once a new government is formed.Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday the group sought good ties with Ankara,“We want good relations with Turkey, the Turkish government and the Muslim people of the Turkish nation. As for Turkish forces stationed in Afghanistan, we are not in need of them in our country and once the evacuation is completed we will secure the airport by ourselves,” Mujahid said.Turkey had been responsible for securing Kabul airport under the NATO deployment and has been involved in evacuation efforts over the last two weeks.The US says it is coordinating with regional partners, as well as the Taliban, about the future operation of Kabul airport.“A functioning state, a functioning economy, a government that has some semblance of a relationship with the rest of the world, needs a functioning commercial airport,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday.“We are in discussions with the Taliban on this very front. They have indicated to us in no uncertain terms that they seek to have a functioning commercial airport.”Read more:Poland halts Afghanistan evacuations over safety concerns as deadline loomsUS evacuates 19,000 people from Afghanistan on August 24: White HouseAfghanistan's Panjshir Valley: Home of the anti-Taliban resistance
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Taliban ask Turkey for support to run airport, insist on full military withdraw

The explosion near the town of Hasano occurred as fighters were reportedly attending a training on mortars.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Blast at jihadist training camp in Syria's Idlib kills 10

Saudi Arabia, The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Arab League called for “dialog” Wednesday to resolve arguments between neighboring Algeria and Morocco.Algeria said Tuesday it had cut diplomatic relations with Morocco because of “hostile actions”, following months of resurgent tensions between the North African rivals.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The OIC “called for dialog to resolve any possible differences”, a statement from the Jeddah-based organization Wednesday said.Saudi Arabia called on both nations “to prioritize dialog” to help “achieve security and stability,” a foreign ministry statement read.Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit urged “both countries to exercise restraint and to avoid further escalation” in a statement late Tuesday.Algiers has long been at odds with Rabat -- particularly over the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony Morocco sees as an integral part of its territory, but where Algiers has supported the Polisario independence movement.Morocco’s foreign ministry bit back saying Algiers’ move was “completely unjustified”.Read more:Algeria to review ties with Morocco after ‘hostile acts’Algeria cuts diplomatic ties with neighboring MoroccoMorocco says Algeria’s decision to cut ties is ‘completely unjustified’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia, Arab League decry Algeria-Morocco diplomatic fallout

The decision by the head of the Ennahda movement to dismiss the executive committee of the Islamist party reflected desperate attempts by Rached Ghannouchi to delay the unavoidable unravelling of the party organisation, analysts said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Ghannouchi dissolves Ennahda’s executive body as party unravels

The Taliban have told Germany that Afghans with legal documents will be able to travel on commercial flights beyond the Aug. 31 cut-off date after which evacuations from Kabul airport will no longer be allowed, a senior German diplomat said on Wednesday.“Director Stanekzai assured me that Afghans with legal documents will continue to have the opportunity to travel on commercial flights after August 31,” Ambassador Markus Potzel, who is negotiating with the Taliban in Doha, said on Twitter.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The former German envoy to Kabul was referring to the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, whom he met for talks on Tuesday as Western governments scramble to evacuate citizens and Afghan staff from Kabul.“We talked about the urgent need for a functioning airport in Kabul as a prerequisite for (a) diplomatic & NGO presence” in Afghanistan, Potzel, who has been negotiating with the Taliban extensively in the past, added.The Taliban have asked Turkey for technical help to run Kabul airport after the departure of foreign forces but insist that Ankara’s military also withdraw fully by the end-August deadline, two Turkish officials told Reuters.Potzel noted that Germany has pledged to increase humanitarian aid for the Afghan people by 100 million euros but added that the “resumption of development cooperation will be dependent on conditions”, as had been the case with the Afghan government in the past.Read more:Poland halts Afghanistan evacuations over safety concerns as deadline loomsUS evacuates 19,000 people from Afghanistan on August 24: White HouseAfghanistan's Panjshir Valley: Home of the anti-Taliban resistance
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Afghans with legal papers will be able to travel beyond August 31:Taliban

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman: Stop talking about 4th lockdown and let economy work *Serological tests on children temporarily halted on Wednesday.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: COVID: Almost 10,000 cases for 2nd day in a row, serious patients plateau

Repeated statements about Iran call attention to the issue at a time when that attention is badly needed.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel presses Iran views ahead of Bennett-Biden meeting - analysis

“It’s clear that Bennett is trying to create confusion in order to influence the priorities of the US foreign policy with the purpose of marginalizing the Palestinian issue,” the ministry charged.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Palestinians: Bennett exposed his ‘anti-peace’ policy