Middle East Experience

Nefesh B’Nefesh features a pre-Shavuot Zoom program. Watch live.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: New Olim and communal responsibility - watch now

US Africa Command says planes were 'repainted to camouflage' their origin as Moscow calls for immediate truce and talks..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: US says Russia sent advanced fighters to aid mercenaries in Libya

Checkmarx's CEO speaks with tech blogger Hillel Fuld about the company's $1.15 billion acquisition in a live event organized by Startup Grind.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: How Checkmarx was acquired for .15 billion during COVID-19 - watch

The ICC gave the PA until June 10 to respond and gave Israel until June 24 to respond.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: ICC asks PA, Israel to declare if Oslo still applies in war crimes debate

“At such a time, with the need to prepare for a second wave of the coronavirus and to place the health system as one of Israel’s top priorities, Prof. Chezy Levy is the right person for the job."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Barzilai Medical Center's Chezy Levy appointed next Health Ministry D-G

The Donald Trump administration is doubling down with a new arms deal for Saudi Arabia despite an investigation into last year’s $8 billion emergency weapons sale to Riyadh, a key Senate Democrat revealed in a CNN op-ed Wednesday.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Trump administration pursues new Saudi arms deal despite investigation

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian warned of the "Syrianization" of war-torn Libya.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intractable war in Libya risks becoming the next Syria: French foreign minister

While Egypt supports Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter against the Turkish-backed Government National Accord, it will refrain from interfering directly in the war.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: As Hifter loses ground in Libya, Egypt weighs options to support him

The United Arab Emirates saw a drop in its daily numbers on Thursday with 563 new coronavirus cases confirmed over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 32,532, according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention.Read the latest coronavirus updates in our dedicated section.The country had been recording around 700-900 new daily cases since the government eased restrictions earlier this month.Meanwhile, the number of recoveries continued to increase reaching 16,685, after the ministry confirmed an additional 314 people had recovered.The health ministry also announced the death of three people who had previously tested positive for the virus in the UAE. The relatively low death toll has reached 258.An additional 38,000 COVID-19 tests were conducted by the ministry over the past 24 hours as part of the country’s efforts in expanding the testing capacity. Over 2 million tests have been administered in the UAE so far. The country has a population of 9.63 million.Read more:Dubai government employees to fully return to offices from June 14UAE reports cleaner air with 30 pct reduction in nitrogen dioxideDubai to reopen gyms, cinemas, resume economic activities starting May 27UAE eases restrictions, resumes economic activitiesThe UAE has slowly been easing restrictions and lockdowns that were implemented to slow the spread of the deadly virus. Earlier this month, the government reduced a 24-hour lockdown that was part of a national disinfection program. Restaurants, malls and businesses were allowed to resume working hours as long as strict preventative measures were followed, including only being allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity in order to limit crowding.On Monday, Dubai announced it will gyms, cinemas and other business to reopen as well.The announcement came after a virtual meeting of Dubai's Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, headed by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, to evaluate the current health, economic and social situations that the emirate faces. The committee made the decision to allow businesses to resume operations without compromising strict precautionary and preventative measures implemented.All individuals will still be required to wear face masks as well as maintain social distancing requirements of no less than two meters while in public.The following business are included in the latest reopening stage: Retail and wholesale shops, education and training institutes, children training centers, sports academies, indoor gyms, fitness clubs, cinemas and various leisure and entertainment activities.Read more: Dubai outlines guidelines for malls reopening, including children banDubai sets new guidelines for government service centers to resume work
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE sees drop in daily numbers, records 563 new COVID-19 cases

Sudan’s former President Omar al-Bashir is in hospital with suspected coronavirus symptoms, according to a report by Sudanese media outlet Dabanga that cites the country’s Public Prosecution.The report also says that seven other members of al-Bashir’s regime - who have been detained in prison alongside al-Bashir since the regime fell in 2019 - are in hospitals in Khartoum as well. Three of them have chronic conditions, three are confirmed COVID-19 cases, and al-Bashir and one other have suspected symptoms, according to Dabanga.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.“In a statement on Wednesday, the Public Prosecutor confirmed that Ahmed Haroun, former Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Governor of North Kordofan, Abdelrahim Hussein, former Minister of Interior, Defence, and Governor of Khartoum, and Ali Osman Taha, former Foreign Affairs Minister and First Vice President, are being treated for Covid-19,” wrote Dabanga.Al Arabiya English could not verify the public prosecutor’s comments at the time of publication.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.Infected in prisonAl-Bashir and his regime were toppled in 2019 and have been detained in prison since. On Wednesday, authorities had announced that Taha, Haroun, and Hussein had all contracted COVID-19 in prison. The new government has decided that al-Bashir and his aides should stand trial in the International Criminal Court.Taha served as vice president under Bashir between 1998-2013, and was previously Sudan’s foreign minister.Hussein served in several positions including defense and interior minister. He was also assigned governor of Khartoum before Bashir’s ouster.Haroun served as minister of state for the interior, minister of state for humanitarian affairs, and governor of the conflict-ridden South Kordofan.All three were members of Bashir’s now-defunct National Congress Party.Read more:Coronavirus: Sudan says three jailed Bashir aides have COVID-19Netflix documentary criticized for saying Saudi Arabia gained independence in 1932Coronavirus: UAE sees drop in daily numbers, records 563 new casesAl-Bashir refused test: ReportA separate report from Arabic news outlet the Sudan Tribune said on Wednesday that al-Bashir had reportedly refused to be tested for COVID-19 while in prison.The report added that al-Bashir was rumored to be in a difficult pyschological state.“Former #Sudan prez #Bashir reportedly refused #COVID-19 testing. The prison time is also taking a toll on him with depression, aloofness, episodes of anger outbursts, rudeness to guards & insisting on being treated as president. I suspect not many in Sudan will be sympathetic...,” tweeted Wasil Ali, citing the report.With Reuters. Developing.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Sudan ex-President Omar al-Bashir in hospital with symptoms, says report