The outgoing Trump administration appears to have made little if any progress in achieving its goal.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Can the US force Iran out of Syria? Not likely, former officials say
Christians in Gaza celebrate gloomy Christmas this year
Christians in the Gaza Strip will be celebrating Christmas at home this year in light of the lockdown and travel restrictions imposed to stem the skyrocketing number of coronavirus cases.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Christians in Gaza celebrate gloomy Christmas this year
Sisi brushes off possibility of military action in Libya
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stresses that Cairo seeks an all-inclusive political solution to the Libyan crisis, casting aside reports of a military confrontation against Turkey on Libyan soil.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Sisi brushes off possibility of military action in Libya
Israel-Turkey relations could be on the brink of full normalization: Reports
Strained relations between Israel and Turkey could be reversed with diplomatic ties potentially normalized by March, said Turkey’s presidential adviser on foreign affairs in a media report.For the latest headlines, visit our Google News channel online or via the app. The two countries’ defense and energy industries would benefit from a deal, Voice of America cited Mesut Casin as saying in a report published on Monday.“Turkey bought a lot of weapons from Israel. We can arrange this again. Turkey and Israel’s defense industries can go ahead together,” he said.“Secondly, energy resources. They [Israel] discover oil and gas. Okay, Israel is 8 million people. Where can they sell this oil and gas? The biggest market is Turkey, and Turkey will be via a pipeline, the corridor to the European Union market.”Turkey and Israel once enjoyed close relations, but the relationship has been strained by events including Israel’s 2010 raid of the Gaza-bound Mavi Mavara aid vessel in which nine Turkish nationals were killed.Read more: Turkey slams Arab ties with Tel Aviv despite being one of first to recognize IsraelIsrael shares Iran nuclear threat, Turkey aggression issues with Gulf states: GantzUAE says Israel deal not about Iran, rejects criticism from Turkey’s ErdoganMore recently, Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan publicly opposed the United Arab Emirates’ historic Abraham Accords deal, in which it became the first Gulf nation to normalize ties with Israel. Erdogan threatened to withdraw its ambassador from the United Arab Emirates over the move.Several key areas of dispute will likely have to be addressed before relations are restored.Erdogan, for example, opposes Israel’s push to have Jerusalem internationally recognized as its capital.Turkey also supports groups such as Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, which are considered terrorists by Israel.With Reuters
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Israel-Turkey relations could be on the brink of full normalization: Reports
Netanyahu sets new climate, renewable energy targets for Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets new, high targets for Israel on battling climate change; but can Israel really achieve these targets?
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Netanyahu sets new climate, renewable energy targets for Israel
US ‘remains ready’ to mediate Israel, Lebanon maritime talks: Pompeo
The United States “remains ready to mediate constructive negotiations” between the Israeli and Lebanese governments on their maritime boundary, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday.Washington encourages “both sides to continue discussions based on the respective claims they have previously deposited at the United Nations,” Pompeo added.For the latest headlines, visit our Google News channel online or via the app.Negotiations between the long-time foes began in October, with delegations meeting at a UN base to try to resolve a dispute about their maritime border.Disagreement over the sea border has help up oil and gas exploration near the disputed line.The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, which fought a month-long war with Israel in 2006, has said the talks are not a sign of peace-making with Israel. The group exercises significant influence in the state and backed the now caretaker government of Hassan Diab.With ReutersRead more:Lebanon says difficulties in sea border talks with Israel can be overcomeWhy Hezbollah is losing the support of Lebanon’s Shia community
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US ‘remains ready’ to mediate Israel, Lebanon maritime talks: Pompeo
Historic Israel flight arrives in Morocco amid normalization talks: US embassy
Israeli envoys arrived in Morocco on Tuesday to meet its king and hammer out an upgrade of ties that was forged by the White House in a parting foreign policy push by US President Donald Trump.Led by National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat, the Israeli delegation was accompanied by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and architect of pan-Arab rapprochement with Israel.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.They took El Al Israel Airlines in the first direct flight by a commercial plane from Tel Aviv to Rabat. Both countries anticipate a surge in tourism aboard such connections, mainly among the hundreds of thousands of Israelis of Moroccan descent.Morocco followed the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan in moving toward normal relations with Israel.As the Trump administration has sought to isolate Iran, the deals have been sweetened with promises of business opportunities or economic aid. Israel’s new partners have also enjoyed bilateral benefits from Washington - in Rabat’s case, US recognition of its sovereignty over the Western Sahara.“This type of agreement (with Israel) will help have a better interaction between communities and people,” Moroccan Tourism Minister Nadia Fettah Alaoui told I24 television.Read more:Israeli envoys head to Morocco to meet king in latest talks on US-brokered tiesIsrael, Morocco agree to normalize relations after US-brokered dealEl Al Airlines to operate first Israel-Morocco flight on December 22During the visit, Ben-Shabbat and Kushner will see Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, Israeli officials said. Moroccan and Israeli officials are also scheduled to sign accords on linking up aviation and financial systems, on visas and water management.The delegates’ plane, painted with the Hebrew, Arabic and English words for “peace” and a Maghreb good-luck talisman, had a low-key reception at Rabat airport. Moroccan officials describe their deal with Israel as a restoration of mid-level ties that Rabat cooled in 2000 in solidarity with Palestinians.Israel and Morocco now plan to reopen mutual “liaison offices”. Israel hopes these will be upgraded to embassies.Asked if the countries might establish full diplomatic relations before Trump steps down next month, Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen told Ynet TV: “My understanding is that the likelihood is not high.”
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Historic Israel flight arrives in Morocco amid normalization talks: US embassy
Coronavirus: Kuwait to receive first vaccine shipment, says border still closed
Kuwait is set to receive the first shipment of a coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, the country’s Ministry of Health announced in a statement on Tuesday, adding that a vaccination campaign will begin at the end of the week.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The campaign will be divided into four stages with medical professionals being prioritized first, as well as people above the age of 65 and frontline workers. The other three stages will include the general public, according to the ministry.So far, 73,700 people have registered to receive the vaccine, with hundreds more expected to register in the coming days, Minister of Health Dr. Basel al-Sabah said.The ministry is prepared to vaccinate a large number of the community, he added.Commercial flights continue to be haltedThe minister denied reports that Kuwait would be reopening its air and land borders for just 24 hours to allow stranded citizens abroad to enter the country.Authorities had announced on Monday evening that all flights would be suspended from 11 p.m. until January 1, 2021 to prevent the spread of the new mutated strain of the coronavirus.Neighboring Saudi Arabia also halted international flights and suspended entry through its land and seaports for at least a week, after the fast-spreading strain of coronavirus appeared in Britain.Read more:Kuwait to reopen air, land borders for a day for stranded citizensCoronavirus: Kuwait to close borders, suspend international flights until Jan. 1
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Kuwait to receive first vaccine shipment, says border still closed
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri arrives at Baabda Palace
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri arrives at Baabda Palace..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri arrives at Baabda Palace
'Normalisation flight': Kushner lands in Rabat on first Israel-Morocco direct commercial flight
US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner landed in Rabat on Tuesday on the first first direct commercial flight between Israel and Morocco..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: 'Normalisation flight': Kushner lands in Rabat on first Israel-Morocco direct commercial flight