Middle East Experience

Social media users took aim at Gal Gadot once again this week after….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Outrage as Israeli actress Gal Gadot cast for historical epic on Egypt's Queen Cleopatra

No confidence motion brought by opposition voted down.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: ‘Gunpowder in the air’ says Rivlin, demanding gov't pass budget

Schools in many areas across Lebanon started in-class learning Monday, in the midst of a surge in coronavirus infections in the country..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon schools reopen in midst of COVID-19 surge

Former Lebanese Prime Minister and leader of the Future Movement Saad Hariri will begin a series of consultations today that will take him to Baabda Palace and Ain al-Tineh, where he will meet President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss his conditions for forming a new government..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Hariri pursues more talks with Aoun, Berri on cabinet formation

The background of Israeli arms sales to Azerbaijan relates to complex geopolitics relating to Iran – which it borders – and Israeli oil needs.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: High Court rejects ban on arms sales to Azerbaijan as lacking evidence

Oman will impose VAT for the first time from 2021 due to the economic downturn caused by coronavirus and low oil prices, becoming the fourth GCC state to do so..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Oman to bring in five-percent VAT for first time

Mark Zuckerberg said he has long struggled with finding the balance between freedom of speech and the harm of Holocaust denial.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Facebook to remove Holocaust denial content from social media platform

Different officials in the Health Ministry have given varying estimates for when children will be able to go back to school.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: As gov't debates, experts warn of harm of keeping children out of school

Turkish police detained dozens of people on Tuesday in a search for 167 suspects, many of them active duty soldiers, in a move against supporters of a Muslim preacher the government accuses of organizing a failed coup in 2016, state media reported.The detentions were the latest in a four-year-old crackdown targeting the network of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He denies involvement in the July 2016 putsch, in which some 250 people were killed.Authorities launched an operation from the coastal province of Izmir in search of 110 suspects, including 16 pilots, colonels, and lieutenant colonels, across 26 provinces, broadcaster TRT Haber said. It said 89 suspects had been detained.In a separate operation targeting Gulen’s followers, police sought 57 other suspects across 15 provinces, the state-owned Anadolu news agency said, adding that 32 people had been detained.Police spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.Since the abortive putsch, some 80,000 people have been held pending trial and about 150,000 civil servants, military personnel and others sacked or suspended. More than 20,000 people had been expelled from the Turkish military.Rights groups and Turkey’s Western allies have criticized the scale of the crackdown, saying the government was using it as a pretext to quash dissent.The government has denied the accusation, saying the measures are necessary for national security.Read more:Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?Turkey arrests 60 lawyers, 44 soldiers allegedly affiliated with Gulen movement
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Turkey detains over 160 individuals for suspected Gulen links

The Islamic pilgrimage of Umrah will open to as many as 250,000 pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia beginning October 18.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.The move will mark the second phase of the gradual resumption of the pilgrimage, which takes place in Mecca and Medina, following its temporary closure due to coronavirus.Hani al-Omairi, a member of the National Committee for Hajj and Umrah, announced the policy and other changes to the pilgrimage on Tuesday.Worshippers will be allowed to visit the Rawdah – the chambers where the Prophet Muhammad was buried – and the old mosque area at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Hani al-Omairi told Saudi newspapers on Monday.More than 600,000 people will also be granted permits to pray at the Grand Mosque, he said.Pilgrims will need to register for a permit on the Eatmarna application to perform Umrah and visit the Grand Mosque and Rawdah.So far, only nationals and residents in Saudi Arabia have been allowed to visit the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina. However, al-Omairi confirmed the previous announcement that foreign pilgrims will be allowed to visit starting from November 1.Authorities are expected to announce which countries will be allowed to send pilgrims to perform Umrah soon, he added.The gradual resumption of Umrah comes as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak during pilgrimage, which sees hundreds of thousands of visitors each day.Only 6,000 pilgrims have been allowed to perform Umrah each day under the first phase currently in place.Each small group of pilgrims is only given three hours to complete the ritual, and no one is allowed to approach the Kaaba and the Black Stone.The Grand Mosque is also sterilized 10 times every day and Zamzam water is being distributed in packaged bottles.Zamzam water comes from a well located around 20 meters away from the Kaaba.Medical teams are stationed in several areas around the courtyard and an isolation and medical check-up room has been designated in case of a suspected coronavirus case.Read more:No coronavirus cases recorded among Umrah pilgrims so far: OfficialsWatch: First group of pilgrims perform Umrah in Mecca amid coronavirus precautionsSaudi Arabia allows Umrah in different stages amid COVID-19 pandemic
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Up to 250,000 pilgrims allowed to perform Umrah from Oct. 18