Middle East Experience

The Iranian crude oil that appeared to be imported by the United States in March was from tankers the US had previously seized, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.Confusion surrounded the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) publication of 1.033 million barrels of Iranian crude oil that appeared to be imported by the US earlier this year.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.But one of the sources told Al Arabiya English that the crude was from elicit tankers “commandeered by the US.”According to The Associated Press, the oil was from a ship seized in February by US forces near the UAE’s Fujairah.Al Arabiya English could not independently verify the origin of the crude, and the Department of Energy did not respond to requests for comment.Reuters initially reported that the March shipment was the first to be imported from Iran since 1991, and questions were asked whether the Biden administration circumvented US sanctions on Iran’s energy sector.However, the first source told Al Arabiya English that the Treasury Department took the cargoes, and no money was transferred to Iran.The US previously said that it sold over a million barrels of seized Iranian fuel last year.Meanwhile, media reports suggest Iran is currently sending two vessels towards Venezuela, one of which is a former oil tanker.US officials are closely monitoring the two vessels, sources told Washington-based Politico on Wednesday. But there are no plans to send US Navy ships to the Atlantic to confront the incoming vessels, the officials said.Read more: US sells over a million barrels of illicit Iranian fuel, another seized cargo on way
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Imported Iranian crude oil to US was from seized tankers: Sources

Israel’s opposition leader moved closer to unseating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday when he officially informed the country’s president that he has reached agreements with political allies to form a new government.About 30 minutes before a midnight deadline, the centrist Yair Lapid, according to a party statement, told President Reuven Rivlin in an email:“I am honored to inform you that I have succeeded in forming a government.” Rivlin, attending Israel’s soccer cup final at the time, congratulated Lapid by phone, according to his office.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Lapid’s main partner is nationalist Naftali Bennett, who would serve as premier first under a rotation between the two men with Lapid taking over after about two years.Their coalition government would comprise a patchwork of small and medium parties from across the political spectrum, including for the first time in Israel’s history a party that represents Israel’s 21 percent Arab minority.But the fragile new government, which would command a razor-thin majority in parliament, was only expected to be sworn in about 10 days from now, leaving slight room for Netanyahu’s camp to try and abort it by turning lawmakers over to their side and vote against it. Israeli political analysts widely expected Netanyahu to try every possible political maneuver to make this happen.During a 12-year run in top office, Israel’s longest serving leader has been an often polarizing figure at home and abroad. An end to his tenure may bring reprieve from domestic political turmoil, but major shifts in Israel’s foreign policy appear less likely from the staunch US ally. Lapid, a centrist, was given the task of forming a governing coalition after right-wing Netanyahu failed to do so in the wake of a March 23 election.“This government will work for all Israel’s citizens, those who voted for it and those who did not. It will respect its opponents and do all it can to unites and connect all parts of Israeli society,” Lapid said on Twitter.Read more:Labor veteran Isaac Herzog elected Israel’s 11th presidentIsrael’s Netanyahu challenge to legality of rival’s PM bid is rebuffed
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel’s Lapid set to unseat Netanyahu, form new government

The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday warned of “staggering health needs” in the occupied Palestinian Territories after last month’s conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas.“WHO is scaling up its response to provide health aid for almost 200,000 people in need across the occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT),” which includes the West Bank, WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean regional office said in a statement.“The situation is volatile. WHO remains concerned... and calls for unhindered access for humanitarian and development-related essential supplies and staff into Gaza and referral of patients out of Gaza whenever needed,” warned the WHO’s Rik Peeperkorn.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians spiraled into an 11-day exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and devastating Israeli air strikes last month.Israeli strikes on the enclave killed 254 Palestinians, including 66 children, as well as some fighters, authorities there say.Fire from Palestinian militants claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child, a teenager and an Israeli soldier.“Over 77,000 people were internally displaced and around 30 health facilities have been damaged” in the hostilities, the WHO statement said.Israel has enforced a land and sea blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized control in 2007 of the impoverished and densely populated territory that is home to about two million Palestinians.Egypt’s heavily secured Rafah crossing is Gaza’s only passage to the outside world not controlled by Israel.“Palestinians’ lives are deteriorating; many of the people affected by the conflict are in urgent need of aid and face other health threats like COVID-19,” Peeperkorn said.The global healthy body said that as of May 31, “337,191 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 3,765 deaths have been reported in OPT, with positive cases increasing in Gaza in recent weeks.”It said that last month it launched an appeal for $7 million to help shore up its health operations in the Palestinian Territories, but had only received $2.3 million.Read more:Arab Israeli party joins coalition aiming to oust Netanyahu: StatementIsrael-Hamas ceasefire holds, UN to launch Gaza aid appealAt least 2,000 Gaza housing units destroyed in Israel air raids: Palestinian official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Nearly 200,000 Palestinians need health aid after Gaza-Israel conflict, says WHO

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday and emphasized US commitment to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory and people, the Pentagon said.Austin and Prince Mohammed discussed regional security, particularly efforts to end the war in Yemen, and “ongoing bilateral efforts to improve Saudi Arabia’s defenses,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have controlled most of northern Yemen since 2014, have kept up cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and are pressing an offensive to seize Yemen’s gas-rich Marib region. An Arab Coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Houthis ousted the government from the capital Sanaa.Austin “noted Saudi Arabia’s recent successes in defeating Houthi attacks on the Kingdom” and thanked the crown prince for working with US special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking to end the Yemen war, Kirby said.Last month, Lenderking criticized the Houthis for not engaging seriously in stalled efforts to secure a ceasefire. He also urged the coalition to remove restrictions on all Yemeni ports and airports.More than 100,000 people have been killed in the war, most of them civilians, and millions of Yemenis rely on humanitarian assistance to survive.Read more:Saudi Arabia net foreign assets drop 1.9 percent to $436 bln in AprilSaudi minister defends order to turn down the volume on mosques
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US Defense Secretary, Saudi Crown Prince discuss regional security, Yemen war

Russia is working on expanding the Khmeimim air base in Syria to accommodate all types of aircraft.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Russia expands Syrian air base to boost regional presence

If the eight-faction change government succeeds in getting sworn in, this is how it will look like.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s new government explained

Jewish Agency head Isaac Herzog was chosen Israel’s new president only hours before Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announced the composition of a new government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel’s new president brings spirit of compromise

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, senior Likud members and settler leaders are calling upon legislators in Yamina and New Hope to defect from the change bloc.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Despite agreements, fate of Israel’s new government still uncertain

Renovation and conservation projects in Historic Cairo fall within a complex legal framework, which sometimes does more to hinder development than to promote it..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Regulating Change in Historic Cairo

The Palestinian American Community Center said that a caller told them to "go back where you came from" and threatened to sexually assault their staff.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: US lawmakers condemn threats to Palestinian community center in NJ