Middle East Experience

TAU researcher: ‘Public is breaking apart - it’s dangerous’
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Gaza war, COVID-19 pandemic shattered Israeli resilience - study

What has riled these leaders is the modest proposals to reform religious life in Israel proposed by Yamina, as well as the more far-reaching plans of Yisrael Beytenu.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Will the ferocious haredi assault on Bennett hasten religious reform?

The Biden administration does not use the Trump-era name “Abraham Accords,” calling them “normalization agreements.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: US working on more normalization between Israel, Arab states - Ashkenazi

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham carried out a spate of arrests in several areas under its control in Idlib, targeting pro-Syrian government individuals who supported President Bashar al-Assad in the recent presidential elections, as well as members of the Islamic State.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham cracks down on Assad supporters in Idlib

Most experts believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not open a new military front just to avoid his downfall, but will use every dirty political trick in the book to stay in power.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Expect dirty tricks in Netanyahu's last battle for survival

Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Hassan Diab, asked the UN secretary general in a letter on Friday to urgently explore ways of financing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in light of funding difficulties.“The Government of Lebanon would be grateful to Your Excellency for urgently exploring different and alternative means of financing the Tribunal with the Security Council and Member States,” he said in the letter.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.An exclusive report by Reuters last week revealed that the UN tribunal, set up to prosecute those behind the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri had run out of funding amid Lebanon’s economic and political crisis, threatening plans for future trials.The tribunal, which is 51 percent funded by voluntary contributions and 49 percent by the Lebanese government, could close after July if the funding shortage is not resolved.On Thursday, judges at the tribunal scrapped a new trial against the man convicted of the 2005 Hariri assassination because of the expectations of a shut down.Lebanon is in the throes of a deep financial crisis that is threatening its stability.The crisis, which erupted in late 2019, has wiped out jobs, put more than half of the population under the poverty line and eroded about 90 percent of the value of the currency.“While we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the STL, we firmly believe that these financial difficulties should not hinder the completion of its work to the end,” Diab said.Read more: Lebanon: UN seeks funds to extend tribunal investigating Rafik Hariri assassinationInternational community welcomes ruling on Rafik Hariri killing at UN-backed tribunalThe Hariri Tribunal sentence is more valuable than it seems
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon asks UN chief to find ways to fund special tribunal on Hariri assassination

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is combing Yamina for defectors to kill the incoming coalition government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Netanyahu hunts for defectors from change bloc

Hundreds gathered Thursday for the first concert in the Saudi capital since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to watch performances by Syrian diva Assala Nasri and Kuwaiti singer Nabil Shuail.“This is the first concert to take place in Saudi for a very long time,” said one spectator at the concert, held in a restaurant of a large Riyadh hotel.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“We are delighted to come from Kuwait to attend the concert,” said a Kuwaiti tourist.Saudi Arabia has officially recorded more than 454,000 coronavirus infections, including 7,408 deaths.It was not the first concert -- Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang in April at the ancient Saudi city of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.Bocelli performed alongside his family members the site, a long-isolated area seen widely as an open-air museum.In February 2020, award-winning American singer-songwriter Lionel Richie performed some of his top hits to a sold-out crowd at the Winter at Tantora dfestival, also in Saudi Arabia’s al-Ula.The “Modern Legends” performances also saw British singer Craig David perform as a special guest.Both performed their songs at the newly created Maraya Concert hall in al-Ula, which has already seen Greek pianist, composer and music producer Yanni and Spanish opera legend José Carreras perform to their Saudi Arabian and regional fans.Saudi Arabia has splurged billions to develop sites like it in an attempt to build a tourism industry from scratch, as part of efforts to diversify its oil-reliant economy.Saudi Arabia has hosted international musicians –- from Janet Jackson to 50 Cent and Korean pop group BTS –- for concerts as part of the country’s ambitious push to revamp its global image and draw tourists.With AFPRead more:Lionel Richie performs top hits at Saudi Arabia’s Winter at Tantora festivalIranian singers perform at historic ‘Persian Night’ in Saudi Arabia’s al-UlaYanni performs again at Winter at Tantora festival in Saudi Arabia’s al-Ula
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia draws hundreds at first Riyadh concert since COVID-19 outbreak

Honduras follows the United States, Guatemala and Kosovo in opening an embassy in the contested holy city.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Honduras to open Israel embassy in Jerusalem

Amnesty International on Thursday urged Iraq to reveal the whereabouts of 643 Sunni Muslim boys and men abducted five years ago by Shia paramilitaries..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraqi militia urged to reveal whereabouts of hundreds of missing youths