Middle East Experience

Several Arab countries are in different stages on the way to relations with Israel, said UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash on Thursday, exactly one week after the country’s historic agreement with Israel.“There are several Arab countries that are on this scale in different stages,” said Gargash during a virtual talk with US think tank the Atlantic Council.“The region does need a strategic breakthrough,” he added.The UAE’s relationship with Israel going forward will be a “warm peace,” according to Gargash.“This is going to be a warm peace. Because unlike Jordan or Egypt, we have not fought a war with Israel,” said Gargash.Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt in 1979, and with Jordan in 1994.Gargash added that any UAE embassy in Israel “will be in Tel Aviv” - not Jerusalem. US President Donald Trump moved the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018, essentially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.Israel considers all Jerusalem its undivided capital but the Palestinians see the eastern part, home to 360,000 Palestinians, as the capital of their future state.Israel's suspension of annexation of Palestinian land, which was part of the agreement, was “critical in our thinking,” according to Gargash.“The UAE saw an opportunity because we’ve always been urged…by the Palestinians to help us in stopping annexation...by linking it to the suspension of annexation, we came out with a good deal,” he said.Gargash said the UAE is “very encouraged” by the bipartisan support for the agreement in the US. Republican President Donald Trump took an active role in the agreement and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has expressed his support.“We expect our strategic relationship with the United States…will actually develop much further” following the deal, Gargash said.This week has seen major developments in UAE-Israel relations. On Tuesday, UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Yossi Cohen, head of Israel's foreign intelligence, the Mossad.The two discussed bilateral cooperation in several fields, according to state news agency WAM.On Monday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin invited Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Jerusalem.Rivlin expressed the invitation in a letter, written in Arabic.“I'm full of hope that this step will contribute to building and strengthening the mutual trust between us and the region's nations,” said Rivlin in the letter.The UAE confirmed on Sunday that a phone link had been set up with Israel, unblocking phone calls between the countries.UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi “inaugurated a phone link between the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel following the historic Peace Accord,” said UAE Director of Strategic Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hend Al Otaiba in a post on Twitter on Sunday.Read more:Dubai’s Emirates waiting for approval to start Israel flights after peace deal: COOIsrael likely won’t stamp passports of UAE tourists: Israeli foreign ministry‘Great news for peace’: Former Israel, US officials react to historic UAE-Israel deal
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Several Arab countries on way to relations with Israel: UAE Minister Gargash

Security and economic bonds mean that Islamabad’s recent disputes with Riyadh are unlikely to impact overall bilateral ties.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Despite dispute with Riyadh over Kashmir, Saudi-Pakistan ties remain strong

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said Thursday that Turkey’s interference in Iraq was unacceptable, ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington.In June, after separate military operations, Baghdad summoned the Turkish and Iranian ambassadors targetted Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. Iraq said the attacks were an attack on the country’s sovereignty. Nevertheless, Turkey continues its military operations for what it says are security purposes.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. “We will not accept it ... and Iraq’s constitution states that our lands will not be [open for confrontation],” Kadhimi told reporters ahead of a closed-door meeting with Trump.Kadhimi said Iraq was open to US investments. This comes after Iraq and US companies signed more than $8 billion in deals on Wednesday, including energy and oil agreements.Read more: Turkey deploys special forces against Kurdish fighters in Iraq: AnkaraFive American companies signed deals with Iraqi officials in the Oil and Electricity Ministries worth over $8 billion, according to a statement from the US Department of Energy. Among the new agreements is a deal between Iraq and the US’s General Electric worth more than $1 billion.For his part, Trump said Thursday that the US would stand by Iraq’s side and reiterated previous comments of his will to see US troops completely withdraw from Iraq. But the US president said American forces were present to confront any Iranian threats.Read more: Saudi Arabia condemns Turkish-Iranian assault in northern Iraq
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iraq PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi says Turkish interference is unacceptable

Although six Jews have been arrested in Belarus due to the unrest, three of whom were beaten, Belarus Chief Rabbi says Jewish community faces same circumstances as rest of country
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jews in Belarus feel 'relatively secure' despite political turmoil

A total of 25 people are facing charges over the August 4 blast that killed more than 200 people, but many are calling for more accountability..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon judge orders more arrests over Beirut explosion

President Donald Trump said Thursday that US companies were involved in many prospects in Iraq's oil business, as Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi declared his country open for American business and investment..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraq is open for US business, prime minister says

Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi is expected to soon unveil the makeup of his government to President Kais Saied, respecting the August 24 constitutional deadline to form the new cabinet..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tunisian PM preparing to announce cabinet makeup to a country in crisis

While no one really knows how long the trial will run, senior legal officials estimate that it will carry on until at least the middle of 2022 and possibly even longer.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: What is Netanyahu really nervous about? Spoiler: It’s not the state budget

Despite the fact that bodybuilding is frowned upon in Palestinian society for women, some girls and women in the Gaza Strip have become interested in this sport.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Women in Gaza turn to bodybuilding

Your eco business was already running on a dream and a prayer. How can you make it sustainable and secure as any other kind of business?.
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: 3 Options for Protecting Your Business During the Pandemic