Middle East Experience

Jordan will follow the UAE and open a consulate in the Western Sahara region of Morocco..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Jordan to open consulate in Western Sahara following UAE move

All forms of assisted death are particularly sensitive in Germany due to the legacy of the Holocaust.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: German doctor arrested on suspicion of killing coronavirus patients

The United States will not stand idle if Iran or any of its terrorist activities kill American citizens, a senior US diplomat told Al Arabiya English, warning Tehran not to test Washington’s resolve.“If Iran and its proxies engage in military activities and terrorist activities that kill Americans, they’re going to be sorry,” Special Representative to Iran Elliot Abrams said.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Abrams was speaking after a trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for talks on Iran and its destabilizing behavior in the region.Although Abrams said the US was not seeking conflict with any country, the US diplomat warned that any attack on Americans would result in a “very strong US reaction.”Any US reaction will be “entirely dependent on the conduct of the Islamic Republic,” he said.The Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign will continue in the final weeks and months of the US president’s term in the White House.“The sanctions program will generally speaking continue. We never announce sanctions in advance, but this is the maximum pressure campaign … There will be more sanctions coming in November and December, so you can expect that, yes,” Abrams said.As for a new Iran nuclear deal, Abrams warned against losing momentum built up as leverage by the Trump administration, which withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal signed by Iran and the P5+1.“If you try to go back to the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and simply throw away all that leverage, the outcome would be really, very unfortunate for the United States and for all of our friends and partners in the region and all of Iran’s neighbors.”Abrams was referring to US President-elect Joe Biden’s previous comments that he intended to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal.“So, our view is that the leverage is there, and the United States should use it to get a much better agreement than the JCPOA,” Abrams said.Ties between Iran and al-QaedaFollowing a New York Times article that cited intelligence officials revealing an operation to kill al-Qaeda’s deputy leader in Iran last August, Abrams said Tehran had an interest in working with the terrorist group.He said he was not surprised that there were ties between Iran and al-Qaeda.“I remember years ago in the Bush administration, a lot of people saying, ‘Oh, that’s impossible. It’s impossible because al-Qaeda is Sunni and the Islamic Republic is obviously Shia so they can’t possibly have any relationship.’”But Iran has an interest in working with al-Qaeda, Abrams said. “Iran seems to want to make sure that al-Qaeda does not disappear because some of the countries and people that al-Qaeda attacks are people that Iran likes to see attacked.”
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran will be ‘sorry’ if it attacks or kills Americans, senior US official warns

Turkey’s continued cold war with the Saudi bloc is adding fuel to the brewing conflict in Western Sahara between Algeria and Morocco.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Western Sahara conflict tests Turkey-Algeria ties

Qatar has signed an agreement with the Tripoli-based Libyan government to build and train military forces in what some see as an attempt to undermine the current progress toward a political solution in Libya.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt accuses Qatar of undermining peace talks via support for Libyan government

Egypt seeks to check Turkish influence in North Africa and the Horn, while its priority remains Nile Dam talks with Ethiopia.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Biden will face matrix of conflicting influence campaigns in Africa, Mideast

The memorandum of understanding is the latest development in UAE-Israel ties following the normalization agreement.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: El Al, Etihad pledge further air travel cooperation

The Trump administration, the Biden Campaign and the United Nations also expressed concern about the arrests.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt criticized for arrests of human rights advocates

Saudi Arabian aircraft flew over the capital Riyadh to mark the launch of the G20 Leaders' Summit on Saturday.Seven Saudi Hawks and three civilian aircraft from Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) conducted the flyover, trailing the Kingdom's national white and green colors.The Saudia aircraft delegation featured an Airbus A320, a Boeing 787-9, and a Boeing 777-300ER, all adorned with the G20 Presidency logo.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia has held the presidency of the G20 this year and is hosting the virtual Leaders' Summit over Saturday November 21 and Sunday November 22.This year also marked Saudia's 75th anniversary.Read more: G20 showed strength, ability in efforts to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic: King Salman
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabian Hawks, Saudia planes fly over Riyadh to mark G20 summit

The coronavirus pandemic has been an unprecedented shock for the world in an extraordinary year, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz said during his G20 Riyadh Summit opening remarks, which he delivered virtually on Saturday evening.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented shock that affected the entire world within a short period of time, causing global economic and social losses,” King Salman said, adding, “Our peoples and economies are still suffering from this shock. However, we will do our best to overcome this crisis through international cooperation.”He emphasized the need for cooperation and to “give a strong message of hope and reassurance to our people through adopting policies to mitigate this crisis.”The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also said that despite the world being optimistic about the progress made toward the development of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and tests, “we must work to create affordable and equitable access to these tools for all.”To mitigate challenges brought on by the pandemic, G20 countries have provided emergency support to developing countries, including the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for low-income countries, the King added.He also called for reopening borders and economies in order to continue supporting the global economy.The G20 countries will work to overcome the coronavirus crisis through “international cooperation,” according to Saudi Arabia’s King.SustainabilityThis year’s G20 summit is not just addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, but also aims to build a sustainable future.King Salman said G20 countries must lead the international community in preserving and conserving the environment.“We also need to create the conditions for a more sustainable economy,” he said. “We have advocated the Circular Carbon Economy as an effective approach for achieving our climate goals and ensuring cleaner, more sustainable, and affordable energy systems. We advocate the need to combat land degradation and conserve coral reefs and biodiversity to send a strong signal about our commitment to safeguard our planet,” the King added.King Salman pointed out that the G20 leaders first met 12 years ago in a response to the financial crisis.“The outcomes achieved are ample proof that the G20 is the most prominent forum for international cooperation and for tackling global crises,” he said.Saudi Arabia’s King Salman concluded his speech by saying he is confident that the G20 Leaders’ Summit this year “will deliver significant and decisive results and will lead to adopting economic and social policies that will restore hope and reassurance to the people of the world.”The summit is usually held in person, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year it will instead take the form of online sessions on pressing global issues, ranging from climate change to growing inequality.Discussions are expected to be dominated by the pandemic's implications and steps for reviving the global economy.Saudi Arabia is the first Arab nation to host a G20 summit.With AFPRead more:G20 showed strength, ability in efforts to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic: King SalmanG20 world leaders emphasize need for unity, solidarity to overcome coronavirus impactSaudi Arabian Hawks, Saudia planes fly over Riyadh to mark G20 summit
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia's King Salman urges G20 cooperation on COVID-19 crisis, sustainability