Middle East Experience

New Hope leader Gideon Saar decided not to recommend a candidate for composing the next government, thus opening the way for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the first crack at the mission.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Drama in Israel: Netanyahu tasked with composing next government

Egypt has raised concerns about a Libyan plan to integrate militias into its military establishment after unification, arguing that doing so could undermine security and stability in both countries.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt criticizes plan to integrate militias into Libyan army

Restaurants are opening at a high speed in opposition-held areas in the Aleppo countryside, making it tempting for capital owners to invest in this relatively safe service sector.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Trendy restaurants pop up in Syria’s Aleppo

People struggling with severe post-COVID-19 symptoms as Ramadan approaches are being advised not to fast this year by a United Arab Emirates respiratory system expert.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.A spike in cases in the UAE at the end of January has meant that more people are suffering health complications from ‘long COVID’ months later during Ramadan, according to pulmonologist Dr Mohammed Harris.People who suffered a “severe infection who are hospitalized and sick” should be “a little bit careful with fasting,” Dr Harriss told Al Arabiya English.For healthy people, however, fasting can actually improve immunity to the virus, he added.The Sharjah-based respiratory system expert does not expect COVID-19 numbers to increase sharply as they did during Ramadan 2020, which he chalked down to a general increase in case numbers worldwide.But he does stress the importance of abiding by restrictions on Iftar gatherings and maintaining a healthy diet while fasting in order to keep the virus from spreading.“Unlike last Ramadan, now we have a lot of patients post-COVID who are weak, immunity-wise,” he said.“They have lung fibrosis or some other problems in other organs of the body, so for such people, I think it's better not to fast, because they have problems with dehydration.”For healthy people though, “fasting, as such, should not increase susceptibility to infection, and fasting in some studies has shown that it improves immunity if we do it in a proper way,” Harriss said. This would involve increasing antioxidants intake by eating fruit and vegetables, and foods high in vitamin D, as well as avoiding binge eating, he said.Feeling optimistic about the way the UAE is handling the spread of the virus with its mass vaccination campaign, Dr Harriss expects Ramadan 2022 to be different.He said: “I feel like if the natural tendency of the infection goes on by next Ramadan, we will be much better positioned and almost back to our normal life.”Read more: COVID-19 vaccines ‘safe to use while fasting’ during Ramadan: UAE doctorsSaudi Arabia to grant Umrah permits during Ramadan for vaccinated peopleUAE records 1,988 new COVID-19 cases, four deaths
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Patients with ‘severe,’ long COVID-19 should not fast during Ramadan: UAE doctor

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to compose a majority-backed government, but he's also preparing to fight as leader of the opposition.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: As coalition talks take shape, Netanyahu preps Plan B

Saudi Arabia has banned iftars and suhoors from being held in mosques during the month of Ramadan amid the COVID-19 pandemic, official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The traditions of Islam’s holiest month Ramadan, estimated to begin on April 13 this year, are centered on group gatherings: communal taraweeh prayers, the evening meal of iftar in which Muslims break their fast together, and other religious and social events with family and friends.People also have a meal before dawn called suhoor in which they prepare to fast for the day.Prior to the pandemic, mosques worldwide hosted meals for worshipers to enjoy together during the holy month.No announcements were made in regard to taraweeh prayers, however, the ministry noted that more information on rules would be provided soon, according to SPA.Last year, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti announced taraweeh prayers were to be held at home due to the pandemic, one week before the start of the holy month. When praying in groups, Muslims line up, side-by-side, shoulders touching, also known as jamaa’a.Saudi Arabia had seen daily infections fall to below 100 in January from a peak of more than 4,000 in June. However, infections have once again spiked to over 700 in recent days, a trend authorities blame on people not abiding with preventative measures.Read more:Saudi Arabia to grant Umrah permits during Ramadan for vaccinated peopleSaudi Arabia records 728 new COVID-19 cases, highest daily toll in seven months
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia bans Ramadan iftars, suhoors in mosques amid COVID-19

European intermediaries began shuttling between Iranian and U.S. officials in Vienna on Tuesday as they sought to bring both countries back into full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that Washington abandoned three years ago.Iran has steadily overstepped the accord's limits on its nuclear programme in response to the United States' withdrawal from the accord under then-President Donald Trump in 2018 and its reimposition of sanctions that have crippled the Islamic Republic's economy.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.While Tehran has repeatedly rebuffed "direct and indirect negotiations" with its old foe, Washington said on Monday it expected the discussions to be difficult. Neither side expected any early breakthrough.Even without face-to-face talks, however, the presence of both Iran and the United States in the same location marks a step forward."We are confident that we are on the right track, and if America's will, seriousness and honesty is proven, it could be a good sign for a better future for this agreement," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters.The remaining parties to the deal briefly met at a Viennese hotel for preparatory talks in the Austrian capital, where the pact was originally reached in 2015.Russia's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mikhail Ulyanov, said after the meeting that the parties had tasked two expert-level groups on sanctions-lifting and nuclear issues to identify concrete measures to move forward.The experts were set to begin technical work later on Tuesday with the aim of marrying lists of sanctions that the United States could lift with nuclear obligations Iran should meet."The restoration of #JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or nuclear deal) will not happen immediately. It will take some time. How long? Nobody knows. The most important thing after today’s meeting of the Joint Commission is that practical work towards achieving this goal has started," Ulyanov tweeted. INTERMEDIARIESOfficials from Britain, France and Germany will act as intermediaries between Iran and the United States, shuttling between both delegations. Russia and China, also part of the accord, are present as well.The U.S. delegation, headed by special envoy Rob Malley and sanctions expert Richard Nephew, are based in a nearby hotel."This is going to involve discussions about identifying the steps that the U.S. has to take and identifying the steps that Iran is going to have to take," Malley told NPR radio on Tuesday morning.President Joe Biden's administration wants to revive the accord but says this requires negotiations. Tehran has dismissed any direct engagement for now in talks with Washington.Under the 2015 accord, U.S. and other economic sanctions on Tehran were removed in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme to make it harder to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran has long denied it is enriching uranium for any other purpose than civilian nuclear energy. CHALLENGESHighlighting the difficulties of getting a breakthrough, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran's envoy to the United Nations and a former nuclear negotiator, put the onus on Washington."The US has so far failed to honor @POTUS campaign promise to rejoin the JCPOA. So this opportunity shouldn't be wasted," he said on Twitter. "If US lifts all sanctions, Iran will then cease all remedial measures."Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters, has opposed any gradual easing of sanctions.Diplomats said the talks could continue for several days to resolve some of the less contentious issues before resuming in several rounds over the coming weeks.The objective is some form of an accord ahead of June's Iranian presidential election, an EU official said, although Iranian and U.S. officials have said there is no rush.The Biden administration has also said it wants to build a "longer and stronger agreement" that would deal with other issues, including Iran's long-term nuclear programme, its development of ballistic missiles, and its support for proxy forces across the Middle East."But we're much better off talking about all of that if we could at least put the current nuclear issue to the side and not have to worry every day about what the latest Iranian announcement will be," Malley told NPR.Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, dismissed that option on Twitter."Regardless of whether Europe has the will or ability to persuade #USA to lift all sanctions at once & Washington's return to its commitments, there will be no possibility for Iran entering talks in the new fields, more than JCPOA, under any circumstances."Read more:Factbox: Indirect US-Iran talks aim to chart way back to 2015 nuclear dealTop US diplomat on Iran to lead delegation for nuclear deal talks in ViennaUS ‘remains open’ to direct talks with Iran next week: State DepartmentUS, Iran to hold indirect nuclear deal talks in Vienna
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: World powers, Iran, US launch indirect talks to revive nuclear deal

A fugitive Hezbollah suspect convicted of the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafic Hariri cannot appeal against the verdict until he turns himself in, a UN-backed court said Tuesday.Salim Ayyash was found guilty in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment last year by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the Netherlands over the killing of Hariri in a suicide bombing in Beirut in 2005.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The 57-year-old Ayyash remains on the run, with Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, refusing to hand him over or to recognise the court's authority.Ayyash's defence team appealed against the decision in January but the court said on Tuesday that under its rules that he was not allowed to do so while still a fugitive from justice."The legal framework for in absentia proceedings at the STL does not contemplate a defence appeal in absentia," the court said in a statement on the decision by a majority of the court's judges."Counsel for Mr Ayyash have not been appointed nor accepted by Mr Ayyash, who absconded and has not been found. An arrest warrant against Mr Ayyash is outstanding."The court added that Ayyash under international law retained "the right to appeal the judgments if he appears, or request a retrial".Prosecutors have appealed against the acquittal of three other suspects -- also in absentia.Sunni billionaire politician Hariri was among 22 people killed in a huge truck bombing that also injured 226 others.Ayyash also faces a separate case at the tribunal for three attacks on politicians in Lebanon that is due to open in June.The United States in March offered a reward of $10 million to find Ayyash.The State Department said it would offer the reward for "information leading to the location or identification" of Ayyash or "information leading to preventing him from engaging in an act of international terrorism against a US person or US property." Read more:US offers $10 mln for info on Hezbollah man convicted of killing Lebanon’s HaririLebanon's top Christian cleric criticizes Hezbollah in leaked videoKiller of Lebanon’s Hariri sentenced to life in prison, remains at large: UN court
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Hezbollah fugitive can't appeal over Hariri murder: Court

An audio recording emerged on several social media platforms seemingly of a heated exchange between Jordan’s former Crown Prince Hamza bin Hussein and the country’s army chief, amid one of the worst crisis the Jordanian palace has seen in decades.According to the recording, chief-of-staff General Youssef Huneiti can be heard asking the Crown Prince to avoid posting on social media and avoid speaking publicly at social occasions, as that causes “people to talk.”Al Arabiya English could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio recording.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.However, the prince’s voice is recognizable, and the recorded exchange is in line with the video message Hamza released through the BBC on Saturday, in which he said he was under house arrest and had been told to stay at home and not to contact anyone.“I'm asking his royal highness starting from today to stop attending these events, stop meeting with these people... and stick to family visits, and that there be no tweets,” Huneiti said.Hamza is then heard asking for the men to bring around the army chief’s car.“You come to me, telling me what to do and what not to do… in my country. You’re coming to threaten me… What is this? You’re telling me not to go out to see people… Are the security services threatening me?” the prince said.Huneiti replied: “We are not threatening.”Hamza responded: “Mismanagement of the country is my fault? The failure taking place is my fault? … You come to my house to tell me the heads of security services are threatening me? Don’t leave your house, don’t see anyone but your family and don’t tweet?”“Sir, get in your car and leave,” he said.“Excuse me. I respect you and your organization. But you do not speak to me in this manner… Get in your car and get out of this house.”He added: “I am a free Jordanian, the son of my father (King Hussein). I have the right to mix with my people, people of my country, and to serve my country, as I promised him and swore to him when he was on his deathbed.”The Crown Prince asked the army chief: “Where were you 20 years ago? I was a Crown Prince by orders of my father, may he rest in peace. I vowed to him to continue serving my country and my people as long as I lived.”The army chief responded: “Sir, we are not threatening you. We’re telling you, you have crossed red lines.”"Next time, don't come and threaten me in my house. The house of Hussein. God help you," the Crown Prince ended the conversation saying.Hamza had said earlier in the week he was given a warning from the Chief of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, the Chief of Police, and the Chief of Security Services that he should not leave his house, that he could only visit family, that he could not tweet, and that he could not communicate with people.He also stressed that he was not part of any foreign conspiracy and denounced the ruling system as corrupt.The former Crown Prince had been told to halt actions used to target the country's "security and stability", the military said earlier on Saturday.In a statement published on the state news agency, it said this was part of a broader, ongoing security investigation in which a former minister, a member of the royal family and unnamed others were detained.Army chief Yusef Huneity denied reports that Prince Hamza had been arrested but said he was told to "stop activities that are being exploited to target Jordan's security and stability". He did not specify what such actions were.- With AgenciesRead more:Jordan's former Crown Prince Hamza says he is ‘under house arrest’ in videoPrince Hamza, other figures attempted to harm Jordan’s security: Deputy PMPrince Hamzah ‘stands’ with Jordan’s King Abdullah, vows to ‘follow constitution’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Recording emerges of heated exchange between Jordan’s Prince Hamzah and army chief

“As long as the R rate remains below 1, and even more so below 0.8, I do not think there is a reason to worry, and we can continue to open up our economy,” Public Health Services head said.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: COVID-19 ‘R’ rise might be due to technicality, health official says