Middle East Experience

Children and adults around the country are getting sick as it usually happens in the winter, experts say.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: COVID-19 might be over, but viral infections in Israel are surging

Lebanon registered 165 COVID-19 cases and three deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry reported Thursday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon registers 165 new coronavirus cases, three deaths

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s pick, Ebrahim Raisi, is likely to win * Low turnout expected, as low as 30%-40% compared to 70% in 2017.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Iran's presidential election begins

Representatives quizzed Thomas-Greenfield, focusing on the UN bias against Israel, particularly at the UNHRC.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US envoy Thomas-Greenfield balks at calling UNHRC antisemitic

The letter was spearheaded by the Philos Project, an American nonprofit based in New York City that seeks to promote Christian engagement in the Near East.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: More than 80 Christian leaders bless Bennett, express support for Israel

The answer to that question could decide who replaces Netanyahu as Likud leader, no matter whether it will be in a matter of months or years.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Is mother-tongue English now a prerequisite for prime minister? - analysis

The US House of Representatives has passed a measure to repeal a 2002 law authorizing the president to use military force against Iraq.

Introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the bill to repeal the authorization passed 268-161 with 49 Republicans joining a large majority of Democrats. Only one Democrat opposed the repeal.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq war authorization

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cast his ballot in Tehran Friday for the presidential election, officially opening the polls, an AFP reporter said.Nearly 60 million eligible voters can cast their ballots by midnight (1930 GMT), and possibly for two hours longer, with results expected around noon Saturday, authorities say.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iranians began voting on Friday in a presidential election likely to be won by a judge fiercely loyal to the religious establishment, although many people are expected to ignore the vote due to discontent with economic hardship and hardline rule.With uncertainty surrounding Iran’s efforts to revive its 2015 nuclear deal, and growing poverty at home after years of US sanctions, the turnout for the vote is being seen by Iranian analysts as a referendum on the leadership’s handing of an array of crises.“Each vote counts ... come and vote and choose your president ... this is important for the future of your country,” said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after casting his vote in the capital, Tehran.State television showed long queues outside polling stations in several cities.Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, 60, a close ally of Khamenei, is favorite to succeed the incumbent Hassan Rouhani, forbidden under the constitution from serving a third four-year term.A win for the Shi’ite cleric would confirm the political demise of pragmatist politicians like Rouhani, weakened by the US decision to quit the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions in a move that stifled rapprochement with the West.But it would not disrupt Iran’s bid to revive the agreement and break free of tough oil and financial sanctions, Iranian officials say, with the country’s ruling clerics aware their political fortunes rely on tackling worsening economic hardship.“Raisi’s main challenge will be the economy. Eruption of protests will be inevitable if he fails to heal the nation’s economic pain,” said a government official.Khamenei appealed on Wednesday for a large turnout, saying such a show of strength would ease foreign pressure on the Islamic Republic.Official opinion polls suggest turnout could be as low as 41 percent, significantly lower than in past elections. Read more:Iran urges voters to set aside grievances, take part in presidential electionKhamenei says Iran elections are democratic, berates media in ‘some countries’Iran election: Khamenei says high turnout would reduce external pressures
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran Supreme Leader casts first ballot in presidential election

Abu Dhabi will temporarily suspend the use of the green pass on the Alhosn application, which permits vaccinated individuals entry into public places, after several reports of technical issues, the emirate’s Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee announced on Friday. For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The committee said the app had stopped working due to a surge of new users, adding that its technical team was working to fix the issue as soon as possible. “Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee has reviewed the causes of technical issues faced by some Alhosn app users, resulting from a surge in new subscriptions, and has overseen efforts by the app’s team to restore the service to all users as quickly as possible,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Twitter. The suspension of the green pass will continue until all app services resume, according to the committee. For individuals who want to enter Abu Dhabi, only a text message that shows they have a negative PCR test result is enough for those facing technical issues on the app to be granted entry.On June 15, the United Arab Emirates’ capital city announced that individuals who want to visit public places will have to prove they have been vaccinated or have recently tested negative through the country’s Alhosn COVID-19 app. The app displays a user’s vaccination and testing history, granting them a “green pass” to places such as shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, gyms, hotels and their facilities, public parks, beaches, swimming pools, entertainment centers, cinemas, and museums.Read more:UAE’s Abu Dhabi receives first shipment of COVID-19 medication SotrovimabAbu Dhabi approves pilot of advanced scanners to identify potential COVID-19 casesChildren of Abu Dhabi ruling family part of UAE vaccine trial for adolescents
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Abu Dhabi suspends Alhosn app for COVID-19 vaccine pass due to technical issues

Israel said Friday it will transfer around 1 million doses of soon-to-expire coronavirus vaccines to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for a similar number of doses the Palestinians expect to receive later this year.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Israel, which has reopened after vaccinating some 85 percent of its adult population, has faced criticism for not sharing its vaccines with the 4.5 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.The agreement was announced by the new Israeli government that was sworn in on Sunday. It said it would transfer Pfizer vaccines that will expire soon, and that the PA would transfer a similar number of vaccines when it receives them from the pharmaceutical company In September or October.Israel has carried out one of the most successful vaccination programs in the world, allowing it to fully reopen businesses and schools. This week, authorities lifted the requirement to wear masks in public, one of the last remaining restrictions.Rights groups have said that Israel, as an occupying power, is obliged to provide vaccines to the Palestinians. Israel denies having such an obligation, pointing to interim peace agreements reached with the Palestinians in the 1990s.Those agreements say the PA, which has limited autonomy in parts of the occupied West Bank, is responsible for health care but that the two sides should cooperate to combat pandemics.The PA has said it is acquiring its own supplies through agreements with private companies and a World Health Organization program designed to aid needy countries. It was not immediately clear whether the expected Pfizer doses are being supplied through that program, known as COVAX, or a private arrangement.Read more:Gaza gravediggers, medics stretched as COVID-19 cases surge during RamadanCharity raises alarm as West Bank, Gaza ‘overwhelmed’ by second COVID-19 waveColorful decorations up in Jerusalem as Palestinians prepare amid COVID for Ramadan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel says will transfer 1 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses to Palestinian Authority