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☆ Egypt warns Israel of ‘dire repercussions’ over Rafah operation in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The official said that coordination between the two countries on the Rafah operation, which Egypt has publicly opposed, “didn’t go well. The top diplomats in both countries traded blame over the closure of the Rafah crossing as aid deliveries through the key land crossing halted. Rafah had been the entry point for nearly a quarter of the relief entering the Gaza Strip before Israel’s operation. Videos released by the Israeli military last week showed Israeli flags raised on the Palestinian side of the frontier. It is unclear how many troops Israel now has stationed across the border in Rafah.

Persons: “ didn’t, Israel, ”, ” Israel, Israel Katz, David Cameron, Annalena Baerbock, Sameh Shoukry, Katz, ” Shoukry, Shoukry, Egypt didn’t, Fatah, Abdel Kareem Hana Organizations: CNN, ” CNN, Street, Palestinian, US State Department, Israeli, Foreign, German, AFP, Getty, Israel Locations: Egypt, Israel, Gaza’s, Rafah, Gaza, Cairo

☆ Activist Ancora wins three board seats at Norfolk Southern but falls short of ousting CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Norfolk Southern shareholders on Thursday voted to elect three of dissident Ancora's director nominees but fell short of ousting incumbent CEO Alan Shaw. Norfolk Southern's board had fought hard to stave off Ancora's biggest demand: firing current CEO Alan Shaw. The activist had argued that Norfolk Southern should adopt a model known as precision-scheduled railroading, or PSR, which has delivered impressive shareholder returns at other railroads. Government officials, who had previously voiced their support for Norfolk over Ancora, were momentarily silenced by the reversal. ISS recommended that shareholders support five of Ancora's seven picks but did not recommend electing Ancora CEO pick Jim Barber to the board.

Persons: Alan Shaw, William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Ancora, Glass Lewis, Jim Chadwick, Frederick DiSanto, Shaw, Ancora's, Jim Barber, Ancora's Chadwick, DiSanto Organizations: Norfolk Southern, Shareholders, Norfolk, ISS, PSR, Government, Labor, Cleveland Locations: . Norfolk, Ohio, Ancora

☆ ISS endorses most of activist Ancora's nominees for Norfolk Southern board
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Influential proxy advisory firm ISS recommended on Tuesday that Norfolk Southern shareholders support five of activist Ancora's seven board nominees, withholding an endorsement from CEO pick Jim Barber but describing him as a "credible director and CEO candidate nonetheless." Ancora is seeking to oust both current CEO Shaw and newly appointed COO John Orr. ISS recommends shareholders support Ancora nominees William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Allison Landry and John Kasich. "As board chair, Amy Miles arguably bears the most responsibility for this state of affairs," ISS' report read. WATCH: CNBC's full interview with NSC CEO Shaw on activist campaign

Persons: Jim Barber, Glass Lewis, Alan Shaw's, Barber, Amy Miles, Ancora, Shaw, John Orr, William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Allison Landry, John Kasich, Orr, Sen, Heidi Heitkamp, Richard Anderson Organizations: Norfolk, ISS, CNBC, Vanguard, BlackRock, Norfolk Southern, Delta Locations: Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, Norfolk

☆ Hamas to consider ceasefire-hostage release proposal that Israeli sources say could avert Rafah invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Becky Anderson | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

A working-level Israeli delegation of Mossad, Shin Bet and the Israeli military officials is expected to travel to Cairo on Tuesday, the Israeli source and another Israeli official said. Hamas has insisted that a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza should be part of the agreement. But Israeli sources have characterized the latest Egyptian effort to broker a deal as the last chance to avert that offensive. “The only chance to stop Rafah is a deal,” the Israeli source familiar with the negotiations said. Twenty people, including at least one infant and a toddler, died following an Israeli airstrike over Rafah, Gaza, overnight into Monday, according to hospital officials.

Persons: Shin Bet, Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, ”, Børge Brende, “, Sameh Shoukry, Israel, ” Shoukry, Blinken, John Kirby, Biden, we’ve, “ They’ve, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Mahmmoud Basal, Hijazi Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Mossad, Hamas, Economic, White, National Security Council, US, ABC, Israeli, Gaza Civil Locations: Riyadh, Jerusalem, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, United States, Cairo, Saudi, “, Israeli, Rafah “, Gaza City

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with Egypt's foreign minister on the war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with Egypt's foreign minister on the war in GazaEgypt's foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, speaks to CNBC's Dan Murphy at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh about cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas and Egypt’s humanitarian aid efforts.

Persons: Sameh Shoukry, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Economic Locations: Gaza, Riyadh, Israel

☆ Glass Lewis endorses 6 of activist Ancora's nominees for Norfolk Southern board
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Activist investor Ancora received a powerful endorsement in its efforts to secure a board change and to oust Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Monday, when proxy advisor Glass Lewis recommended the railroad's shareholders vote for 6 of Ancora's board nominees. "We believe Ancora has presented a compelling case for supporting a substantial overhaul of the Company's current leadership," Glass Lewis said in its report. Furthermore, Glass Lewis said Barber, Ancora's pick for CEO, and Jamie Boychuk, the activist's pick for COO, "have compelling credentials and track records." Ancora also seeks to install former CSX executive Boychuk as Barber's chief operating officer. Their support, coupled with Glass Lewis' endorsement, gives the activist powerful ammunition as it seeks to convince shareholders.

Persons: Ancora, Alan Shaw, Glass Lewis, Betsy Akins, Jim Barber, William Clyburn, Sameh Fahmy, Gilbert Lamphere, Allison Landry, Shaw, Amy Miles, Barber, Ancora's, Jamie Boychuk, Boychuk, John Orr Organizations: Norfolk Southern, Teamster, UPS, CNBC, CSX, Canadian National, CN, NSC, Norfolk Locations: Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, Norfolk

☆ Only the U.S. has the ability to break the cycle of violence in Gaza, Egyptian foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Emma Graham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called on the U.S. to leverage its influence over Israel to prevent further bloodshed in Gaza. Speaking to CNBC's Dan Murphy on Sunday at a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he said "only the United States has the overall ability to influence conditions, and to motivate all sides concerned to find the point of convergence, and to be able to break the cycle of violence." His words echoed other Arab leaders at the WEF meeting who believe that ending the war in Gaza falls on the United States. Shoukry pushed Washington to "leverage their ability to provide incentives, but also to indicate consequences for the lack of achievement or the lack of progress in the cessation of hostilities." Hamas is reportedly reviewing Israel's latest Gaza cease-fire proposal and a delegation from the group is scheduled to visit Cairo on Monday for talks, according to a Hamas official who spoke to Reuters.

Persons: Sameh Shoukry, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Shoukry Organizations: Egypt's, Reuters Locations: Israel, Gaza, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, United States, Washington, Cairo

(AP) — Rebuilding Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from 18 months to several years, experts say, while the cost could be at least $400 million — or more than twice that. Realistically, the project could take five to seven years, according to Ben Schafer, an engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University. “The lead time on air conditioning equipment right now for a home renovation is like 16 months, right?" But experts say it's better to look to more recent bridge disasters for a sense of how quickly reconstruction may happen. Hota GangaRao, a West Virginia University engineering professor, said the project could cost as little as $400 million.

Persons: Baltimore’s, Francis Scott Key, Ben Schafer, “, Schafer, they’re, Dali, Jim Tymon, ” Tymon, Tymon, Joe Biden, Minnesota Sen, Amy Klobuchar, ” Klobuchar, ” Badie, Badie, Hota, That’s, ” GangaRao, ” Norma Jean Mattei, ” Organizations: Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, Sunshine, American Association of State, Transportation, West Virginia University, The University of New Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Mississippi, Maryland, The University of New Orleans

☆ Netanyahu says he’s trying everything to get more aid to Gaza. Aid groups say that’s not true
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In his interview with CNN, Netanyahu made several claims about his country’s aid policy in Gaza. The Israeli leader’s claim contradicts statements he made previously, in which he boasted about permitting “minimal humanitarian aid” to enter Gaza. “We provide minimal humanitarian aid,” Netanyahu said at a press conference in January. The first 15 days of March saw an average of 165 aid trucks per day cross into Gaza, UNRWA reported Sunday. The UN and other aid groups have reported some of their aid trucks had been looted, but haven’t ascribed any blame for it.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, Netanyahu, Israel, ” Netanyahu, ”, Yoav Gallant, “, “ I’ve, Janti Soeripto, – we’ve, Martin Griffiths, Long, haven’t, Sameh Shoukry, Netanyahu lauds, Philippe Lazzarini, Israel hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United Nations, European Union, Children, ” Trucks, UN, Food Programme, Palestine, UNRWA, Amnesty International, Aid, Palestinian, CNN Sunday, Israeli Defense Force Locations: Gaza, United States, Territories, Rafah, Israel, Egypt, Arish, airdrops

☆ Talks on an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal appear on track after killings at Gaza aid site, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN has reached out to several Hamas officials about the potential deal but has not gotten a response. In the immediate aftermath of the deaths of dozens of Palestinian civilians in Gaza on Thursday, US officials said the chaotic scenes injected added urgency into the hostage and ceasefire talks. On Thursday, Biden said the deaths at the aid site could make the ceasefire talks more difficult. Technical teams have been working on the key components of a potential deal this week in Doha, officials familiar with the talks say. During a truce, negotiations would take place over more sensitive topics like the release of Israeli soldiers who are hostages, Palestinian prisoners serving longer sentences, the withdrawal of IDF forces and bringing a permanent end to the war alongside the so-called “day after” issues.

Persons: Ramadan, Joe Biden, “, ” Biden, Giorgia Meloni, Ramadan –, Biden, Majed al, Ansari, ” It’s, Barak Ravid, Sameh Shukri, ” Organizations: CNN, Doha, Italian, Israel, CNN Foreign Affairs, Axios, Antalya Diplomacy, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Paris, Qatar, Egypt, Rafah, Doha, Antalya, Turkey

☆ Israeli minister says ground offensive in Rafah will begin by Ramadan if hostages aren’t returned
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Mohammed Tawfeeq | Lauren Izso | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Israel will expand military operations in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah if hostages held by Hamas are not returned by the start of Ramadan, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has warned. Israel believes that 130 hostages remain in Gaza – 101 alive and 29 dead – following Hamas’ October 7 attacks, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel. The comments come amid stuttering talks aimed at securing the release of hostages and a longer-term ceasefire in Gaza. Egypt’s security buildup comes amid fears of the war spilling over into its territory should Israel begin its operation in Rafah. The Israeli military said it had credible evidence that Hamas had previously held hostages at the hospital, and that the bodies of deceased hostages may be at the medical complex.

Persons: CNN —, Benny Gantz, Ramadan, ” Gantz, “, Israel, ’, Israel’s, Israel –, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Martin Griffiths, Sameh Shoukry, ” Shoukry, Abed Rahim Khatib Organizations: CNN, Hamas, United Nations, Sunday, Sky News, Anadolu, Getty, Hospital Locations: CNN — Israel, Gazan, Rafah, Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, “, Nasser, Khan, United States, ”, Egypt

☆ Egypt Says Displacement Is Unacceptable, but Will Deal With Civilians Humanely
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's foreign minister said on Saturday that while his country would deal with civilians humanely, the displacement of Palestinians remained unacceptable. Reuters reported on Friday that Egypt was preparing an area at the Gaza border which could accommodate Palestinians in case an Israeli military offensive into Rafah prompts an exodus across the frontier. War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 ImagesEgypt has repeatedly denied making such preparations. The area being established includes parking areas for trucks, warehouses, administrative offices, and accommodation for drivers, the governor said. Egypt has repeatedly raised the alarm over the possibility that Israel's devastating Gaza offensive could displace Palestinians into Sinai - something Cairo says would be completely unacceptable- echoing warnings from Arab states such as Jordan.

Persons: Sameh Shoukry, Shoukry, Jordan, Jon Irish, Sarah El Safty, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Munich Security Conference, Reuters Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Gaza, Rafah, Israel, North Sinai, Sinai, Cairo

☆ Egypt Setting up Area at Gaza Border Which Could Be Used to Shelter Palestinians-Sources
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

One of the sources said Egypt was optimistic talks to clinch a ceasefire can avoid any such scenario, but is establishing the area at the border as a temporary and precautionary measure. War in Israel and Gaza View All 209 ImagesThree security sources said Egypt had begun preparing a desert area with some basic facilities which could be used to shelter Palestinians, emphasising this was a contingency step. Israel has said its army is drawing up a plan to evacuate civilians from Rafah to other parts of the Gaza Strip. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said: "The president has been clear that we do not support the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. The Gaza war has piled pressure on relations between Egypt and Israel, which signed a peace deal in 1979.

Persons: Jordan, Martin Griffiths, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Avi Dichter, Dichter, Al Mawasi, General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Sameh Shoukry, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair, Neil Fullick Organizations: Reuters, United, Egypt's, Service, Sinai Foundation, Human Rights, Israeli, U.S . State Department, ABC News, Israel's Army, Arab League Locations: Egypt, Gaza, Rafah, Cairo, Sinai, United States, Israel, ISRAEL, U.S, The U.S, Jordan

☆ Why only a trickle of aid is getting into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Getting any form of relief into Gaza is a long and arduous process, aid workers and the UN say. An average of 95 aid trucks per day entered Gaza between October 10 and February 1, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, down from 500 commercial and aid trucks a day before the war, when Palestinians weren’t facing mass displacement and starvation. Following pressure from the US, Israel began allowing aid trucks to pass through Kerem Shalom in late December. Protesters blocking trucksIsraeli protesters have more than once blocked trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza via Israeli crossings. Risk of bombardmentOnce relief enters Gaza, Israeli bombardment, damage to roads from airstrikes, communications blackouts and mass displacement impede distribution within the enclave.

Persons: Martin Griffiths, Yoav Gallant, Israel, Juliette Touma, Philippe Lazzarini, ”, ” Lazzarini, Kerem Shalom, Sameh Shoukry, Erez, Khan Younis, Belal Al Sabbagh, “, Griffiths, ” Touma, Khan, Abed Zagout, Touma Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Relief, UN, Palestinian, Palestine, UNRWA, Israeli Defense Forces, International Court of Justice, Getty, ” Trucks, Food Programme, IDF, United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, Food Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Territories, Egypt, Rafah, Khan, AFP, Kerem Shalom, Khan Younis, Anadolu, ”, Gaza City

☆ Activist Ancora may turn to a reliable tactic to enhance value at Norfolk Southern
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

When you see that in a railroad company, there is one key metric to look at, which drives railroad profitability and shareholder return: It's the operating ratio. The operating ratio is the company's operating expenses as a percentage of revenue. NSC's operating ratio is almost 69% and the right management team with the right strategy should easily be able to get the operating ratio down close to 60%. There is no need to reinvent the wheel here; the roadmap has already been drawn at Canadian Pacific and CSX. Inside the activist world, and among investors who were shareholders of Canadian Pacific and CSX, this is as sure of an activist strategy as there is.

Persons: Ancora, James Chadwick, Mantle, Hunter Harrison, Harrison, John Kasich, Sameh Fahmy, Jim Chadwick, Ken Squire Organizations: Norfolk Southern, Railroads, TCI, CSX, Pershing, Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, CP, PSR, Kansas City Southern, 13D Locations: United States, Ancora, Ohio

☆ Gaza mediators and others warn Israel of disaster if it launches a ground invasion on crowded Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Israel's neighbors and key mediators warned Saturday of disaster and repercussions if its military launches a ground invasion in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, where Israel says remaining Hamas strongholds are located — along with over half the besieged territory's population. There's even increasing friction between Netanyahu and the United States, whose officials have said a Rafah invasion with no plan for civilians there would lead to disaster. He fears even worse with a ground invasion of Rafah, and said the world's silence has enabled Israel to proceed. Later on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a home in Rafah killed at least 11 people, including three children, according to Ahmed al-Soufi, head of Rafah municipality. Two other strikes in Rafah killed two policemen and three senior officers in the civil police, according to city officials.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Sameh Shoukry, Read, Netanyahu, Annalena Baerbock, Khan Younis, Fadel, Ghannam, Ahmed al, Samir Abu Loulya, Ahmed Maghrabi, Ashraf al, Qidra, Herzl Halevi Organizations: Hamas, Associated Press, Nasser Hospital, Health Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Rafah, Gaza, Gaza's, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United States

☆ China Calls for Larger-Scale Peace Conference on Gaza Crisis -Wang Yi
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the war in Gaza continues to escalate and China is calling for a larger-scale, more authoritative and effective international peace conference and a concrete timetable to implement a two-state solution. Wang made the comments to reporters after talks with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, sharing his views on the Israel-Hamas war, according to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry late on Sunday. Wang, China's top diplomat, is currently travelling through Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and the Ivory Coast until Thursday. Wang said the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip has been completely destroyed, with millions struggling to survive. He said China has decided to provide a third tranche of emergency humanitarian assistance.

Persons: Wang Yi, Wang, Sameh Shoukry, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Bernard Orr, Sonali Paul, Michael Perry Organizations: China Foreign, Egyptian Foreign, League of, Xinhua, West Bank Locations: BEIJING, Gaza, China, Cairo, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Togo, Ivory Coast, League of Arab, East Jerusalem

All have been hit by a boycott campaign over Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip since the deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Western brands are feeling the impact in Egypt and Jordan, and there are signs the campaign is spreading in some other Arab countries including Kuwait and Morocco. Videos have circulated of what appear to be Israeli troops washing clothes with well-known detergent brands which viewers are urged to boycott. In Kuwait City on Tuesday evening, a tour of seven branches of Starbucks, McDonald's and KFC found them nearly empty. Previous boycott campaigns in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, had less impact, including those advocated by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Persons: Mohamed Abd, Reham Hamed, Ahmad al, McDonald's, Jordan, Hossam Mahmoud, Sameh El Sadat, executive's, Issam Abu Shalaby, Farah Saafan, Sarah El Safty, Mai ShamsElDin, Suleiman Al, Ahmed Hagagy, Jonathan Spicer, Aidan Lewis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Gaza, U.S, Kuwait City, McDonald's, KFC, McDonald's Corp, Reuters, BDS, Starbucks, TBS Holding, Malaysian, Cola, Nestle, Turkish, Israel, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Kentucky, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Cairo, CAIRO, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Amman, Rabat, BDS Egypt, Egyptian, Malaysia, Putrajaya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Khalidi, Danial Azhar, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Istanbul

BEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Arab and Muslim ministers called on Monday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as their delegation visited Beijing on the first leg of a tour to push for an end to hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian enclave. Saudi Arabia has sought to press the United States and Israel for an end to hostilities in Gaza, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, gathered Arab and Muslim leaders to reinforce that message. Gaza's Hamas-run government said at least 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments since then, including at least 5,500 children. 'BROTHER AND FRIEND'China's Wang said Beijing was a "good friend and brother of Arab and Muslim countries," adding it has "always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and interests." Reporting by Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Edmund Klamann & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Yi, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Israel, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sameh Shoukry, Beijing Irit Ben, Abba, China's Wang, COVID lockdowns, Xi, Wang, Zhai Jun, Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen, Edmund Klamann, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: . Security, of Islamic Cooperation, Saudi Foreign, Court, Hamas, Western, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Arab League, EU, Palestine, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Gaza, Beijing, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestine, Riyadh, Palestinian, United States, Israel, China, China's

☆ Jordan minister doubts Israel can wipe out Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Alexander Cornwell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi attends a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (not pictured), in Amman, Jordan November 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni/FIle Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMANAMA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Jordan's foreign minister said on Saturday that he did not understand how Israel's goal of obliterating the Palestinian militant group Hamas it is fighting in Gaza could be achieved. "Israel says it wants to wipe out Hamas. We'll do whatever it takes to stop it" said Safadi at the IISS Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain. The Israel-Hamas war has reawakened long-standing fears in Jordan, home to a large population of Palestinian refugees and their descendants.

Persons: Ayman Safadi, Antony Blinken, Sameh Shoukry, Al Sukhni, Jordan, Alexander Cornwell, Andrew Gray, Kim Coghill, Michael Georgy, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Jordanian, U.S, Foreign, REUTERS, Rights, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Amman, Jordan, Rights MANAMA, Gaza, Israel, Manama, Bahrain, The Israel

☆ Divides remain between US and Arab partners after Blinken meets counterparts in Jordan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Amman, Jordan CNN —Sharp divides persisted between the United States and its Arab partners on their response to Israel’s war against Hamas after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Middle Eastern counterparts in Amman, Jordan on Saturday. Blinken again called for Israel to “take every possible measure” to prevent civilian casualties – a message he had relayed in meetings in Tel Aviv on Friday. Still, following his meetings in Amman, Blinken sought to emphasize the points of common interest between the US and its regional partners. “I think we all share deep concern about the plight of civilians in Gaza – men, women and children,” he said. Although the US believes the current flow of 100 to 120 trucks a day into Gaza is sustainable, “it’s challenged by the environment on the ground in South Gaza,” Satterfield said.

Persons: Jordan CNN — Sharp, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Sameh Shoukry, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Blinken, “ We’ve, David Satterfield, Satterfield, it’s, ” Satterfield, “ That’s Organizations: Jordan CNN, Hamas, Saturday, Jordanian Foreign, United Arab, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Middle East Locations: Amman, Jordan, United States, Amman , Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Israel, Tel Aviv, Wadi Gaza, Rafah, ”, South Gaza

☆ Arab World, US Split on Gaza Ceasefire as Israeli Offensive Presses On
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli military said it was trying to stem violence and protect Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military said it would enable Palestinians to travel on a main Gaza highway, the Salah a-Din road, during a three-hour window on Saturday. Fighting was "fierce" near an Israeli outpost on the outskirts of Gaza City, CNN reported, saying Israeli soldiers were battling Hamas fighters hundreds of meters to the north and south. If we need to get inside Gaza house-by-house, it's exactly what's going to happen," one Israeli soldier told CNN.

Persons: Nidal, Simon Lewis, Suleiman, Khalidi, Antony Blinken, Israel, Blinken, WAFA, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Joe Biden, Biden, Ayman Safadi, Sameh Shoukry, David Satterfield, Salah, Nidal al, Suleiman Al, Dan Williams, Michael Martina, Jarrett Renshaw, Humeyra Pamuk, Paul Simao Organizations: Reuters, Israeli, Blinken, Israel Defence Forces, West Bank, Palestinian, Turkish, United Nations, Bank, CNN Locations: Al, Khalidi GAZA, AMMAN, United States, Gaza, Washington, Israel, Palestinian, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, London, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Jordanian, Jabalia, Ankara, GAZA, Amman, Gaza City, Khalidi, Jerusalem

NEW YORK (AP) — For what it's worth, CNN's best-known international journalist, Christiane Amanpour, also found it odd that she's had little visible presence on the company's North American network for the past several years. The London-based Amanpour envisions her show as a weekly letter to Americans about what is going on in the world and why it's important to them. Amanpour, 65 and celebrating her 40th year at CNN, was for a long time the face viewers were most likely to see reporting from the world's hotspots. That has primarily, although not always, been left to others since she began hosting the studio show “Amanpour” each weekday. I know we can live in a world that's not 100% tribalized.”Amanpour said she's optimistic about Mark Thompson, a fellow Brit who recently began as CNN's new chief.

Persons: Christiane Amanpour, Chris Wallace, Michael Smerconish, Victor Blackwell, Amanpour, ”, “ I've, I've, Yitzhak Rabin, Sameh Shoukry, Jane Hartley, Sir Robert John Sawers, —, ” Amanpour, Mark Thompson, Chris Licht's, Donald Trump, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN International, PBS, Associated Press, Brit, Columbia Journalism School Locations: London, United States, Israel, U.S, Britain

☆ To cease fire or pause? US, Russia poised for UN showdown on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But the U.S. has called for pauses to allow aid to enter Gaza, while Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire. A council resolution needs at least nine votes and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to be adopted. Twelve members voted in favor of the draft text on Wednesday, while Russia and Britain abstained. RUSSIA ALTERNATIVEBut Russia put forward its own alternative draft resolution on Tuesday after saying it does not support the proposed U.S. action. Russia last week failed to get the minimum nine votes needed for a draft resolution that called for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Washington's, Antony Blinken, Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, Sameh Shoukry, Michelle Nichols, Doina Chiacu, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: United Nations, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Israel, U.S, United, Security, Islamist, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, New York City, U.S, United States, Russia, France, Britain, China, Brazil, Iran, RUSSIA

[1/5] Smoke is rising after an Israeli strike on Gaza seen from a viewpoint in Southern Israel October 24, 2023. US, RUSSIA OFFER RIVAL PROPOSALSAt the United Nations, the United States and Russia put forward rival plans on humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians. Washington has called for pauses and Russia wants a humanitarian ceasefire. Arab states firmly back a call for a humanitarian ceasefire amid widespread destruction of Gaza's buildings in Israel's aerial bombardment. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last week called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Joe Biden, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Iran's U.N, Amir Saeid Iravani, Antony Blinken, Vassily Nebenzia, Sameh Shoukry, Antonio Guterres, Justin Trudeau, Nidal al, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, Michelle Nichols, Humeyra Pamuk, Grant McCool, Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, UN, Tuesday, Saudi Arabian Crown, White, West Bank, Washington, Security, United Nations, Palestinian, UNRWA, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Southern Israel, Iran, Israel, Russia, Saudi, GAZA, JERUSALEM, United States, Canada, Palestinian, Egypt, U.S, Lebanon's Iran, Lebanon, Iran's, RUSSIA, Washington, Ottawa, Gulf

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