Middle East Experience

Oravax Medical is gearing up to commence clinical trials at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel to become first in world to test Oravax oral COVID-19 vaccine

Britain, Turkey, Cyprus, and Georgia to enter the list of banned countries, but vaccinated travelers returning to Israel won’t need to isolate any more.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Coronavirus: Cabinet okays green pass, exempts children under 12

The United Nations said Thursday that it was doing all it could to help Lebanon, but that ultimately “the responsibility for salvaging Lebanon lies in the hands” of the country’s leaders.Speaking at the annual review on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) Joanna Wronecka called for the immediate formation of a government in Lebanon to put the country on the path to recovery.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The United Nations is doing what it can to mitigate the situation, but ultimately the responsibility for salvaging Lebanon lies in the hands of Lebanon’s leaders,” Wronecka said.Resolution 1701 put an end to the July 2006 war between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel. It called for a full cessation of hostilities, including attacks by Hezbollah and all offensive military operations by Israel.The goal of the resolution was to enhance Lebanon’s security, state authority and sovereignty, Wronecka noted.As a result, she said, she hoped for a real commitment to implement the resolution in its entirety.The UNSCOL also praised the role of the Lebanese Army and called for continued support to “this key institution.”Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to the UN sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “urging them to condemn Hezbollah,” according to the Times of Israel.During the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in May, rockets were fired into Israel multiple times. Contrary to previous rocket attacks, Hezbollah denied being behind the latest moves.In the Israeli letter to the UN this week, Israel’s top diplomat to the UN said the incidents “provide another example of the volatile situation within UNIFIL’s Area of Operation and constitute clear evidence of the existence of unauthorized weapons and ammunition in the area.”This comes ahead of the annual UN session next month to discuss the renewal of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL).Tel Aviv has consistently criticized UNIFIL, claiming that the peacekeeping force is not aggressive enough against Hezbollah.UNIFIL troops are prohibited from entering private property without prior approval. Hezbollah has been accused of storing weapons in private residences and businesses near the Lebanese border with Israel.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UN hits out at Lebanon’s ‘leaders’ during hearing on Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire

The US and Iraq are expected to formalize the end of Washington’s combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year and continue the transition toward training and advising Iraqi forces, US officials said on Thursday.There are currently 2,500 US troops in Iraq focusing on countering the remnants of Islamic State. The move is not expected to have a major impact since the US has already moved toward focusing on training Iraqi forces.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.But the announcement, set to come after President Joe Biden meets his Iraqi counterpart in Washington next week, will be at a politically delicate time for the Iraq government and could be seen as a victory domestically in Baghdad.“The key point that you’re going to hear conveyed and I think is just incredibly important, is that the Biden administration wants to stay in Iraq because the Iraqi government has invited us and requested that we continue to do so,” a senior defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.“The mission doesn’t change ... how we support the Iraqi security forces in the defeat ISIS mission is what we’re talking about,” the official added.The official said there would be a focus on logistics, maintenance of equipment and helping Iraqi forces further develop their intelligence and surveillance capabilities.At home, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi faces increasing pressure from Iran-aligned parties and paramilitary groups who perceive him as siding with the US.Read more:Russia’s Lukoil may reduce its stake at Iraqi West Qurna-2 oil field, says CEO
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US set to formalize readjustment of troop role in Iraq

Protests sparked by a water crisis in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province continued for an eighth consecutive night on Thursday, spreading to the neighboring Lorestan province, videos posted on social media showed.The protests, which began on July 15, were initially concentrated in Arab majority areas in oil-rich Khuzestan, which is home to ethnic Arabs who have long complained of discrimination in Iran. But the demonstrations have since spread to more cities in Khuzestan, as well as to the western Lorestan province.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Protests broke out in the city of Aligudarz in Lorestan with demonstrators shouting slogans against Iran’s highest authority, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a video shared on social media showed. Security forces opened fire on protesters in the city, according to another video.“This is Aligudarz … security forces are shooting ordinary people,” a man was heard saying in one video circulating on social media.In Khuzestan province, the epicenter of the protests, demonstrations continued in multiple cities and towns, including the provincial capital Ahwaz and the port city of Mahshahr. Security forces opened fire on protesters in Mahshahr, videos shared online showed.Al Arabiya English could not independently verify the videos’ authenticity.There was a notable decrease on Thursday in the number of videos shared online from Khuzestan compared with previous days. Activists have attributed this to authorities disrupting internet access in the region.Global internet monitoring firm NetBlocks said on Wednesday mobile phone internet service in Iran had been disrupted from July 15, the first day of the protests.“Network data from NetBlocks confirm a significant regional disruption to mobile internet service in Iran beginning Thursday 15 July 2021, ongoing almost a week later as of Wednesday 21 July 2021,” it said.The effects represent “a near-total internet shutdown that is likely to limit the public’s ability to express political discontent or communicate with each other and the outside world,” NetBlocks added.In November 2019, Iran shut down access to the internet for several days amid widespread anti-government protests.Iran has so far confirmed the death of two young men and a police officer in violence connected to the protests, blaming the three deaths on unknown “rioters.”Activists said the two young men, as well as more protesters, were killed by security forces.Iranian officials, who typically use the term “rioter” to refer to protesters, have blamed deaths in past protests on protesters.The Ahwaz Human Rights Organization, which monitors human rights abuses in Khuzestan, on Friday named seven citizens it said were killed by security forces in protests across the province. The rights group named 16 others it said were arrested in Khuzestan in connection with the protests.Iran’s outgoing President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday “people have the right to protest the current situation.”“Having to deal with water shortages and heat above 50 degrees Celsius is very difficult and exhausting, and people have the right to protest the current situation,” the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, who will take over from Rouhani on August 5, said on Thursday Khuzestan had been neglected and added that he will appoint a governor with “special powers” for the province to address its problems more effectively, IRNA reported.The water crisis has devastated agriculture and livestock farming in Khuzestan and caused power outages in other parts of the country, which sparked protests in several cities earlier this month.Authorities have blamed the water shortages on a severe drought, but protesters say government corruption and mismanagement, as well as “discriminatory” policies aimed at changing the region’s demography, are to blame.The protests in Khuzestan come as thousands of workers in Iran’s key energy sector have launched strikes for better wages and working conditions.Iran’s economy has been hit hard since 2018 when former US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed sweeping sanctions on the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the country’s economic problems.Read more:Water crisis protests persist in Iran, with chants in Tehran: ReportsIran opens new oil export terminal bypassing StraitIranian police officer killed in unrest amid water protest: State media
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Protests in Iran’s Khuzestan continue, spread to neighboring Lorestan

Iran is using unlawful and excessive force in a crackdown against protests over water shortages in its oil-rich but arid southwestern Khuzestan province, international rights groups said on Friday.Amnesty International said it had confirmed the deaths of at least eight protesters and bystanders, including a teenage boy, as the authorities resorted to live ammunition to quell the protests.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iranian media and officials have said at least three people have been killed, including a police officer and a protestor, accusing “opportunists” and “rioters” of shooting at protesters and security forces.“Iran’s security forces have deployed unlawful force, including by firing live ammunition and birdshot, to crush mostly peaceful protests,” Amnesty International said.Analysis of video footage from the protests and eyewitness accounts “indicate security forces used deadly automatic weapons, shotguns with inherently indiscriminate ammunition, and tear gas,” it said.Human Rights Watch meanwhile said in a separate statement that Iranian authorities appeared to have “used excessive force against demonstrators” and the government should “transparently investigate” the reported deaths.“Iranian authorities have a very troubling record of responding with bullets to protesters frustrated with mounting economic difficulties and deteriorating living conditions,” said HRW’s Iran researcher Tara Sepehri Far.Rights groups have accused Iran of launching a ferocious crackdown against 2019 nationwide protests over fuel price rises that, according to Amnesty, left at least 304 people dead.“Iran’s authorities have a harrowing track record of using unlawful lethal force. The events unfolding in Khuzestan have chilling echoes of November 2019,” said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa.Amnesty said the teenage boy, Hadi Bahmani, was killed in the town of Izeh.Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on rioters and Amnesty noted that the Fars news agency published interviews with relatives of two of the men killed distancing themselves from their actions.But Amnesty cited a source as saying that one of the families had been visited by plain clothes agents and “coerced them into reciting a pre-prepared script on camera”.Human Rights Watch said there had also been reports of internet shutdowns in the area, noting that “over the past three years, authorities have frequently restricted access to information during protests.”Khuzestan is Iran’s main oil-producing region, but has been struggling with an intense drought since March.The province is home to a large Arab minority, and its people regularly complain of being marginalized by the authorities.Read more:Protests in Iran’s Khuzestan continue, spread to neighboring LorestanWater crisis protests persist in Iran, with chants in Tehran: ReportsIranian police officer killed in unrest amid water protest: State media
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran using unlawful force in water protest crackdown: Rights groups

Israeli critics of settlement policy view decision by ice cream company as positive.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israeli Left, Arab Joint List welcome Ben & Jerry's decision to end sales in West Bank

One person was shot dead when rioting erupted in western Iran late Thursday in sympathy with the drought-hit province of Khuzestan which has seen a week of protests, state television reported.Two people also suffered gunshot wounds in the rioting in the town of Aligudarz in Lorestan province, which neighbors Khuzestan, the Irib news broadcaster reported on its website.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“Yesterday evening, rioting broke out for several hours in some streets in Aligudarz,” it said, adding that people had taken to the streets “on the pretext of the water problems in Khuzestan.”“Shots were fired by unknown elements,” the broadcaster said, adding that the security forces had been deployed to tackle the rioters.It was the first time state media had reported protests or casualties outside Khuzestan since protests broke out there over the drought, which has gripped the province since March.At least three people have been killed, including a police officer and a protestor, according to Iranian media and officials, who have accused “opportunists” and “rioters” of shooting at protesters and security forces.Farsi-language media based abroad have broadcast videos they said were of protests in several towns and cities, showing hundreds of marching people, chanting slogans against authorities, while surrounded by anti-riot police.AFP could not verify the authenticity of the videos.President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Thursday that Iranians have “the right to speak, express themselves, protest and even take to the streets, within the framework of the regulations”.Admiral Ali Shamkhani, secretary general of the Supreme National Security Council, said “the security forces had been ordered to immediately release those detained during the recent incidents in Khuzestan, who had not have committed a criminal act”.Khuzestan is Iran’s main oil-producing region and one of its wealthiest.But it is also home to a large Arab minority, and its people regularly complain of being marginalized by the authorities.In 2019, the province was a hotspot of anti-government protests that also shook other areas of Iran.Over the years, blistering summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from Saudi Arabia and neighboring Iraq have dried up Khuzestan’s once fertile plains. Scientists say climate change amplifies droughts.Read more:Iran using unlawful force in water protest crackdown: Rights groupsProtests in Iran’s Khuzestan continue, spread to neighboring LorestanWater crisis protests persist in Iran, with chants in Tehran: Reports
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: One dead in ‘riot’ in western Iran: State TV

Fresh refugee influx from Afghanistan to Turkey has stoked political and social tensions in the country where the refugee crisis is becoming more politicized. 
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Afghan refugee influx stokes tensions in Turkey 

Now that Israel is joining the African Union as an observer state, African countries hesitant to normalize ties with it could come around.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s AU observer status paves way for normalization with African states