Middle East Experience

Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi arrived in Cairo Sunday to discuss with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry the establishment of a “permanent ceasefire” between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Ashkenazi tweeted in Arabic, English and Hebrew that his Cairo trip is “the first formal visit of an Israeli FM in 13 years”.“We will discuss establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid & the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the intl. community,” he added.He also noted that his government was “fully committed” to repatriating Israeli prisoners held by Hamas.Egypt played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire earlier this month between the Israelis and Gaza’s Palestinian rulers Hamas, bringing an end to 11 days of fighting.Senior Egyptian security officials confirmed to AFP Sunday that Hamas’s leader Ismail Haniyeh would also be in Cairo for discussions but would not provide further details.Concurrently, Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel leading a high-level security delegation is expected in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, the officials added.“President (Abdel Fattah) al-Sisi instructed the general intelligence chief to discuss with the Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) and concerned authorities the fixing of a permanent ceasefire and the latest developments on the Palestinian front,” they said.Sisi, who has has restored his country’s role as a regional heavyweight, also tasked Kamel with ending political divisions between rivals Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank, the officials said.Palestinians have been politically divided between Hamas and its Fatah, but analysts say the latest escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has served to unite the geographically fragmented Palestinian community in a way not seen in years.The flare-up was the result of increased tensions in Jerusalem, including over Israeli security forces cracking down on Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest site, which is also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount.Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 254 Palestinians, including 66 children, health officials said.Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, medics said.Sisi has pledged $500 million to help reconstruction efforts in the densely populated enclave, which was pummel by Israeli air strikes.Read more: Israel’s attacks on Gaza may constitute ‘war crimes’: UN rights chiefEgypt’s intelligence chief to visit Palestine as FM meets Israeli counterpartEgypt’s FM to meet Israeli counterpart on Sunday
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel FM in Egypt for Gaza ‘permanent ceasefire’ talks, first visit in 13 years

A 'fake' hotel invoice allegedly suggesting that the Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh paid over one million dollars for his stay in Doha has circulated on social media in recent days..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Saudi, Emirati figures use forged document to slander Palestine's Haniyeh visit to Qatar – Doha News | Qatar

Egypt’s foreign minister in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday stressed the need to refrain from all practices that lead to escalation, especially in the Palestinian territories, the foreign ministry said in a statement.Sameh Shoukry told visiting counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi that Israel has to take into account the special sensitivity associated with East Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites, the statement added.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.It was the first public visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008, the Israeli Embassy in Cairo said. It wrote that the two ministers would discuss topics including the cease-fire and the release of Israeli soldiers and citizens being held by Hamas.“We will discuss establishing a permanent ceasefire with #Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid & the reconstruction of #Gaza with a pivotal role played by the intl. community,” Ashkenazi tweeted upon arrival in Cairo.Hamas is holding the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in a 2014 war. It also is holding two Israeli civilians who were captured after entering Gaza.As part of the cease-fire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Abbas Kamel, Egypt’s intelligence chief, in Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he had raised the issue of returning the remains of soldiers and the two civilians as well as Israeli demands to prevent Hamas from gaining strength or diverting resources meant for the civilian population.An Egyptian official said Kamel would also meet with Palestinian officials in the West Bank before heading to Gaza for talks with Hamas leaders. The intelligence agency, which is Egypt’s equivalent of the CIA, usually handles Egypt’s ties with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.MENA said Kamel would convey a message from el-Sissi to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, affirming “Egypt’s full support to the Palestinian people.”During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was seeking to bolster Abbas and weaken Hamas as part of the cease-fire efforts.Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Abbas’ forces in 2007, leaving the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in charge of administering autonomous zones in some 40 percent of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, is branded a terrorist group by Israel, the US and other Western countries.Discussions with Israeli officials have touched on a set of measures that would allow materials, electricity and fuel into the territory, as well as the possible expansion of maritime space allowed for Gaza fishermen, the Egyptian official said.“The role of the Palestinian Authority is central in the talks,” he said. “Egypt is seeking to have it deeply involved in the reconstruction process.”The Egyptian official, who had close knowledge of the proceedings that led to the cease-fire, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t allowed to brief reporters.The 11-day war killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused heavy destruction in the impoverished coastal territory. Preliminary estimates have put the damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Egypt was key in mediating a deal between the two sides.The official said Egypt has offered guarantees that rebuilding funds will not find its way to Hamas, possibly going through an international committee led by Egypt or the United Nations that would oversee the spending.Kamel has also discussed the situation in Jerusalem and ways to ease tensions in the holy city. That would include understandings at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police repeatedly clashed with Palestinian demonstrators, and how to prevent the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem, the official said.Egypt last week invited Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for separate talks in Cairo to consolidate the Cairo-mediated cease-fire and accelerate the reconstruction process in Gaza.Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is expected to visit Cairo this week, according to the group’s spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou, who also said Hamas is open to discussing a prisoner swap with Israel.Read more:Israel FM in Egypt for Gaza ‘permanent ceasefire’ talks, first visit in 13 yearsEgypt’s intelligence chief to visit Palestine as FM meets Israeli counterpart
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Egypt’s FM urges Israel to refrain from actions that lead to escalation

The plan will pave the way for a new phase that requires unprecedented levels of unified work and coordination, he said..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Dubai 2040 plan: Sheikh Hamdan says aim is to make city best in the world

An independent pro-Palestinian youth body in Qatar has urged football fans to apply pressure on their local clubs to Puma due to its involvement with Israel..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar football clubs urged to boycott Puma over Israeli violations – Doha News | Qatar

Qatar has condemned an attempted attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels as a violation of all international norms and laws..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatar condemns Houthi 'sabotage attack' on Saudi Arabia – Doha News | Qatar

Lebanon recorded 145 coronavirus cases and five deaths over the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry reported Sunday, with its stepped-up vaccination campaign having now partially or fully inoculated more than 10 percent of the population..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon COVID-19 infections drop as vaccinations exceed 10 percent

Egypt and Sudan started a new military exercise amid a dispute with Ethiopia over Addis Ababa’s plan to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water to the reservoir of its dam on the Blue Nile.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt, Sudan hold war games as Ethiopian dam dispute continues

Yamina leader Naftali Bennett announced yesterday that he intends to join Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to form a government of change that will end the yearslong rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s Naftali Bennett opts for ousting Netanyahu

While Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Tel Aviv with Egyptian intelligence service head Abbas Kamel.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s FM in Cairo discusses Gaza truce, possible prisoner exchange