Middle East Experience

Steinitz, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urged US President Joe Biden to put "enormous pressure" on Iran to change its behavior and dismantle its nuclear program.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Any nuclear deal with Iran should be 'improved' - Israel Energy Minister

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused prosecutor Fatou Bensoda of hypocrisy and anti-Semitism for investigating Israel for war crimes.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Netanyahu slams ICC probe against Israel

The oil spill caused massive amounts of tar to be washed ashore and is thought to be responsible for the death of a young whale and other marine life.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Ship behind oil spill found, environmental protection minister says

The reopening is part of the Global Ireland initiative to increase the country's global impact..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Ireland to reopen embassy in Iran by 2023

The gambling industry, which thrives on air travel and large groups of people in close proximity, has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Sheldon Adelson's Vegas casino shuts its doors

Dolly Parton revealed that she received the Covid-19 vaccine – courtesy of her friend, a Lebanese-American doctor..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: 'Vaccine! Vaccine!' Dolly Parton receives Covid-19 vaccine from Lebanese-American doctor friend

This is the third year that Sheba Medical Center made the list. Last year, it was No. 9.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel’s Sheba named among top 10 hospitals in the world

Turkey’s President Erdogan announced on Tuesday that his government would work towards improving its human rights record, just days after 170 lawmakers from both major parties in the US Congress signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to pressure the Turkish leader over past abuses.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.But what caused the strain between these two NATO allies?Human rightsErdogan’s government has taken steps to sideline opposition parties and remove institutional checks on power, in what New York-headquartered NGO Human Rights Watch calls an “assault on human rights and the rule of law”.Journalists, activists, and opposition politicians are targeted by the authorities under wide-ranging anti-terrorism laws – particularly those linked to the Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and the Gülen movement, the latter blamed by the government for a 2016 coup attempt. The US has since given refuge to Fethullah Gülen, the movement’s leader.Turkey is also one of the world’s worst offenders for persecuting and imprisoning journalists, according to US non-profit Committee for Protecting Journalists (CPJ). The CPJ counts more than 100 news organizations as having been shut down by the government, and 37 journalists jailed in 2020.Erdogan’s government cracked down on student protests in early February over the appointment of Melih Bulu, an academic and former political candidate, as rector of Istanbul’s Bogazici University.Authorities detained at least 165 protesters, with several jailed pending charges, prompting concern from the US.Weapons purchaseTurkey raised the ire of the US in 2019 when it purchased an S-400 missile defense system from Russia, after failing to agree to terms with the Obama administration over the purchase of US Patriot air defense system usually favored by NATO member states.The US eventually sanctioned Turkey in December 2020 over the purchase after kicking Ankara out of its F-35 joint strike fighter program.Going back on the deal would be “problematic,” said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar in January. He added: ”We invite (the US) to distance themselves from threatening language such as sanctions.”Pressure from CongressA letter made public on Monday revealed that 170 US congressmen and women urged Biden to pressure Erdogan over Turkey’s human rights record.“We ask that you aim to address the troubling human rights abuses taking place under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey has long been a key US ally. Unfortunately, President Erdogan has strained the relationship between our nations,” said the letter, dated February 26.On Wednesday, Erdogan put forward an “action plan” saying that his government would strengthen rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression.The plan would improve Turkey’s judicial system, which has been criticized its lack of independence, and form the first step towards a new constitution, he said.Biden administrationThe Biden administration has signaled its commitment to maintaining a tough stance on Turkey’s weapons purchase.“Our position has not changed,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters in early February. “We urge Turkey not to retain the S-400 system.”Erdogan appeared willing to mend relations with the US on February 20, saying: “We want to strengthen our cooperation with the new US administration in the long-term on a win-win basis.”But Biden has not contacted his Turkish counterpart yet, nor has Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to Turkey’s foreign minister since taking office.Read more:170 lawmakers write to Biden: Press Turkey on rights, Erdogan strained ties with USTurkey’s Erdogan says he wants a ‘win-win’ relationship with US under BidenTurkey says turning back on S-400 purchase ‘problematic’, willing to work with US
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Explainer: What caused the strain in US-Turkey relations?

Taking a COVID-19 vaccine will not break a Muslim’s fast during Ramadan, British Islamic medical groups said after concerns were raised ahead of the holy month.“Taking the COVID-19 vaccines currently licensed in the UK does not invalidate the fast, as per the opinion of Islamic scholars. Individuals should not delay their COVID vaccinations on the account of Ramadan,” the British Islamic Medical Association said in a statement.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“Subcutaneous, subdermal, intramuscular, interosseous, or intra-articular injections for non-nutritional purposes whilst fasting does not invalidate the fast, regardless of the injected content entering the blood circulation. These routes are not classed as entry sites that would invalidate the fast. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as an intramuscular injection, the only route for the vaccines currently available, therefore does not invalidate the fast,” the medical association added in its statement.Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and is expected to run from April 12 until May 12 this year. More than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world will mark the month, during which believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having marital relations from dawn until sunset. They also try to avoid evil thoughts and deeds.Fasting during the month of Ramadan is also one of the five pillars of Islam. It is followed by the Eid al-Fitr holiday.The NHS Race and Health Observatory’s director, Dr Habib Naqvi, told The Independent newspaper said there were some concerns for Muslims taking the vaccine during the daytime and feeling unwell after being vaccinated, with some concerns being raised about taking pain relief medication post-vaccination.“We need to tackle and address early concerns raised by Muslim communities who may be offered their vaccinations whilst fasting and working in frontline and supporting roles. There is no reason why a first or second dose vaccine cannot be administered during Ramadan. The content is halal, and receiving it will not invalidate the Ramadan fast, as per the opinion of Islamic scholars,” Naqvi told The Independent.In December, the United Arab Emirates’ Fatwa Council, the country’s highest Islamic authority, issued a ruling allowing Muslims to receive coronavirus vaccines even if they contain “non-halal ingredients” such as pork gelatin.“Coronavirus vaccination is classified under preventive medicines for individuals, as recommended by the Islamic faith, particularly in times of pandemic diseases when the healthy happen to be prone to infections due to the high risk of contracting the disease, therefore posing risk to the entire society,” the council said at the time.Spokespeople for Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have said that pork products are not part of their COVID-19 vaccines. But limited supply and preexisting deals worth millions of dollars with other companies means that some countries with large Muslim populations, such as Indonesia, will receive vaccines that have not yet been certified to be gelatin-free, according to the Associated Press.Read more:
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: COVID-19 vaccine does not break Ramadan fast, UK-Muslim medical experts urge

In its struggle against all of the odds, Iran’s Reform movement says it is learning lessons from the past to avoid losing its last trench of power in the June presidential election.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Will Iran’s Reformists ‘hire’ a candidate for presidency?