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☆ Biden tries to lay to rest age concerns, but may have exacerbated them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —A probe that spared President Joe Biden from criminal charges paradoxically dealt him a threatening political blow. The president’s defenders often get frustrated when the political conversation is dominated by Biden’s age – rather than Trump’s repeated challenges to the rule of law. In another CNN poll last week, 46% of Democrats were concerned about Biden’s age. Hur’s report rebuked Biden for willfully retaining classified information, including top secret documents after he left the vice presidency. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis was kinder but his comments over Biden’s age were also cutting.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur’s, Biden, ” Biden fumed, Donald Trump’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, “, ”, Hur, Beau’s, ” Biden, he’s, Trump, Kamala Harris, —, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi —, he’d, Trump’s, Hur’s, ” Hur, Beau, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, North Carolina Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, I’m, ” Tillis, “ I’m, …, I’ve, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, Republican, Biden, Republicans, GOP, Twitter, North Carolina Republican Locations: Egypt, Mexico, America, Washington, Ukraine, Gaza, Lago, Afghanistan, Maryland, Florida, Arizona

☆ Biden Sharpens Criticism of Israel, Calling Gaza Response ‘Over the Top’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Peter Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden sharply escalated his criticism of Israel’s approach to the war against Hamas on Thursday, calling military operations in Gaza “over the top” and saying that the suffering of innocent people has “got to stop.”Mr. Biden, who has strongly supported Israel’s right to retaliate for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas that killed an estimated 1,200 people, exhibited growing impatience with the scale and duration of Israel’s response during a nighttime meeting with reporters at the White House. “I’m of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the response in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, has been over the top,” Mr. Biden said in response to questions at the end of the rowdy session, meant to address a special counsel report on his handling of classified documents. “I’ve been pushing really hard, really hard, to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” he added. “There are a lot of innocent people who are starving. There are a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying.

Persons: Biden, Mr, “, “ I’ve, it’s Organizations: Hamas, White Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Mexico

☆ Biden Calls Israel’s Response in Gaza ‘Over the Top’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Victoria Kim | More About Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

President Biden criticized Israel’s response in the Gaza Strip as “over the top” on Thursday, while defending U.S. efforts to broker a cease-fire and increase the amount of humanitarian aid reaching the territory. In remarks that were overshadowed by questions over his memory and his mistakenly referring to the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, instead as the president of Mexico, Mr. Biden appeared to describe Israel’s war in Gaza as disproportionate. More than 27,000 people have been killed in Gaza four months of war, and most people are facing starvation and disease in addition to the continual airstrikes. The president has previously been critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying in December that the country was engaged in “indiscriminate bombing” as the United States and other allies were pushing for more targeted approaches to limit civilian deaths. He said at the time that Israel’s conduct in the war was eroding international support for its position in the conflict.

Persons: Biden, Abdel Fattah el, ”, it’s, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken Organizations: White Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Mexico, Rafah, United States, Washington, Israel

☆ The US risks joining a long list of powers that tried and failed to stop the Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. But while the US enjoys overwhelming military superiority over the Houthis, defeating this tribal movement would be a nightmare. Case in point: Egypt tried to suppress the Houthis in the 1960s. Today's Houthis are attacking ships in the Red Sea – and hurling ballistic missiles at Israel – ostensibly in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza. Indeed the rebellion eased Israel's lightning victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, a fact that the Houthis have chosen not to publicize.

Persons: —, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Jesse Ferris, Nasser's Gamble, Nasser, quagmire, Islam –, Yemen —, Ferris, Mohammed Hamoud, Israel –, Israel, Lawrence Organizations: Service, Business, Broadway, Israel Democracy Institute, Palestine, US, Royalists, British, Yemeni Locations: Yemen, Egypt, Vietnam, British, Zaidi, Islam, Arab, Soviet, Russia, America, Afghanistan, Gaza, Saudi, Britain, Israel, Iran

But no deal has been struck, and it is not clear how Israel will respond to Hamas’s counterproposal. “The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive,” he said. He declined to offer further details, but said the counteroffer had been delivered to Israeli officials. “We are optimistic,” Sheikh Mohammed said. Mr. Blinken said that he planned to discuss Hamas’s response with Israeli leaders on Wednesday.

Persons: Hamas’s, Israel, Antony J, Blinken, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, ”, ” Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Abdel Fattah el Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Doha, Thani, Qatar, Cairo

☆ Middle East Crisis Israel Awaits Hamas Response to Cease-Fire Plan as Blinken Returns to Mideast
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A broadcaster affiliated with Hamas, Al-Aqsa, reported on Sunday that Hamas was still holding consultations on the proposal, a week after it was formulated. Leaders of the group had previously signaled that substantial gaps remained between the two sides, even as representatives from the United States, Egypt and Qatar sought common ground. Mr. Blinken, who was set to visit Saudi Arabia first, is hoping to advance talks on a series of interlocking deals to end the war in Gaza, and a deal for a hostage release will be central to that effort. Other Iran-backed militants have launched attacks against U.S. bases in the region, including one recently that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. Top U.S. national security officials said on Sunday that further retaliation against Iran-backed militias was still planned.

Persons: Israel, Antony J, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, CBS’s, ”, “ We’re, Mr, Sullivan, Jordan, “, NBC’s “ Organizations: Hamas, U.S, United, Iranian, Top U.S, Press Locations: Gaza, Al, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, court, Israel, East, Lebanon, Yemen, Suez, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Iraq

☆ IMF, Egypt Agree on 'Main Policy Elements' of Economic Reform Programme
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it had agreed with Egypt on the key policy components of an economic reform programme, in a further sign that a final deal to augment the country's $3 billion loan is nearing completion. Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, the IMF mission chief for Egypt, said both sides had made "excellent progress" on the discussions of a comprehensive policy package that could kickstart long-delayed reviews of the country's economic reform programme. "To this end, the IMF team and the Egyptian authorities have agreed on the main policy elements of the program. The authorities expressed a strong commitment to act promptly on all critical aspects of Egypt's economic reform program," Hollar said in a statement. The Egyptian pound, fixed at 30.85 to the dollar since then, has been trading on the black market as low as 71 pounds.

Persons: Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, Hollar, Kristalina Georgieva, Hatem Maher, Jacqueline Wong, Leslie Adler Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Cairo

☆ Egypt is renovating one of its ancient pyramids using granite, and some experts are horrified
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | Reem Makhoul | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Egypt's antiquities chief announced a project to restore an ancient pyramid's granite cladding. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA restoration project to cover one of Egypt's most iconic pyramids with granite cladding has produced a decidedly mixed reaction among heritage experts and social media users. The strong reactions have caused Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities to call for a pause to reexamine the project's feasibility, according to the Telegraph.

Persons: —, Mostafa Waziri, Khufu, Waziri, Khaled Desouki, Monica Hanna, Hanna, Hussein Bassir, Salima, Egypt's Organizations: Service, Egypt's, of Antiquities, Facebook, Independent, The Telegraph, Independent Arabia, Biblioteca, American University, Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities Locations: Giza, Cairo, Independent Arabia, Suez, Pisa, France

☆ Napoleon stranded a bunch of scientists in Egypt and now we have modern archaeology
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Napoleon Bonaparte brought engineers, architects, and scientists when he invaded Egypt. In three stages, these "savants" meticulously illustrated the ruins of ancient Egypt. But one of his lesser-known offenses — abandoning a crew of scholars and scientists in Egypt — led to the unexpected byproduct of formal archaeology as we know it today. AdvertisementIt divided Egypt into ancient and modern times, and launched the modern vision of ancient Egypt as we know it today. The structures, symbols, and images of ancient Egypt became fashionable features of European art and architecture.

Persons: Napoleon Bonaparte, —, Egypt —, Ridley Scott, Napoleon, Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Nina Burleigh, Dominique, Vivant, Denon, savants, Napoleon's savants, Burleigh Organizations: Service, Scientific, Art Media, Egyptian Ministry of Tourism Locations: Egypt, France, Upper Egypt, Kings, Luxor, Karnak, Thebes, Edfu, Upper, Lower Egypt, Egyptian, Europe

☆ Qatar Hopes US Retaliation Won't Undercut Hostage Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Qatar's prime minister on Monday said he hoped U.S. retaliation for an attack that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan would not undercut progress toward a new Israel-Hamas hostage release deal in weekend talks. According to Israel, some 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted in the attack, which sparked Israel's war to eliminate Hamas. In a major escalation, three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants on U.S. troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrianborder, U.S. officials said on Sunday. Speaking at Washington's Atlantic Council think tank, the Qatari prime minister said U.S. retaliation "will definitely have an impact ... One way or another it will definitely have an impact on regional security and we hope things get contained." (Reporting by Jonathan Landay, Arshad Mohammed and Andrew Mills; Editing by Ros Russell)

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin, al, William Burns, Sheikh Mohammed, Joe Biden, Jonathan Landay, Arshad Mohammed, Andrew Mills, Ros Russell Organizations: WASHINGTON, Qatari, CIA, Israel, Yemen's, Washington's Atlantic Council Locations: Jordan, Israel, al Thani, Washington, Iran, Qatar, United States, Gaza, East, Yemen's Iran, Red, U.S, Syrian

☆ White House Calls Talks on Hamas Hostage Deal Constructive, Promising
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that talks to secure a new release of hostages held by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza were constructive and promising but there was still a lot of work to be done. "I think it's fair to describe them as constructive," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on CNN. That could really make a difference in terms of getting more hostages out, getting more aid in and actually getting the violence to come down." "But we feel pretty good about the discussions and where they're going and the promise of something potentially pretty significant. "Some 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted in Hamas' cross-border rampage on Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials.

Persons: William Burns, Brett McGurk, John Kirby, Joe Biden, Burns, Kirby, We're, Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey, Mark Heinrich Organizations: WASHINGTON, Palestinian, Hamas, CIA, U.S . Middle East, House, CNN, Israel, Yemen's Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, East, Yemen's Iran, Red, Iran, Jordan, Syrian

☆ Hamas Studies Ceasefire Proposal After Deadly Israeli Hospital Raid in West Bank
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

By Raneen SawaftaWEST BANK/GAZA/DOHA (Reuters) -Hamas said on Tuesday it would study a new ceasefire proposal in the war with Israel in Gaza, hours after Israeli commandos killed three Palestinian militants in a raid on a hospital in the occupied West Bank. The raid underscored the risk of the Gaza war spreading to other fronts, while Israeli forces fought new battles with Hamas fighters in the Palestinian enclave. The Israeli undercover squad broke into the hospital, headed to the third floor and killed them using silenced pistols, hospital sources said. Since then, 26,751 Palestinians have been killed and 65,636 wounded by Israeli actions in Gaza, the Gaza health ministry said. TANKS IN ACTIONIsrael mounted a new push in northern Gaza after earlier reporting successes against Palestinian militants there.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, William Burns, Qatar's, Islamic Jihad, Ibn Sina, Mohammad, Najy Nazzal, Mai Alkaila, Mohammed Jalamneh, Israel, Christian Lindmeier, Alkaila, Al Shifa, Khan Younis, Crescent, Ari Rabinovitch, Daniel Williams, Nidal Al Mughrabi, Ali Sawafta, Emma Farge, Angus MacSwan, Timothy Heritage, Gareth Jones Organizations: BANK, Reuters, West Bank, CIA, Islamic, Hamas, Basel Al, Palestinian Health, United Nations, World Health Organization, WHO, Nasser, Health, Palestinian, Residents, Deir Al, Al, Amal Locations: GAZA, DOHA, Israel, Gaza, Paris, Cairo, Ibn Sina, Jenin, Basel, Geneva, Beach, Al, Israeli, Kuwaiti, Gaza City, Deir, Jerusalem, Doha, Ramallah, Clauda, Dubai

☆ Israeli PM's Office Says 'Gaps' Remain After Meeting on Hostage Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Talks held on Sunday initiated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt to broker a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas were "constructive" but meaningful gaps remain, the Israeli prime minister's office said. "There are still significant gaps in which the parties will continue to discuss this week in additional mutual meetings," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns and the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence service, David Barnea, met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, along with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, the statement said. Some 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted, according to Israeli officials. The U.S. and Israeli intelligence chiefs have previously met with Qatari and Egyptian officials, helping to broker a short-lived truce in November that saw more than 100 hostages freed.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, William Burns, David Barnea, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Abbas Kamel, Joe Biden's, Emily RoseEditing, Jane Merriman, Frances Kerry Organizations: . Central Intelligence Agency, Qatari Prime, Hamas Locations: JERUSALEM, Qatar, United States, Egypt, Israel, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Europe, Gaza, U.S

U.S. officials said Israel’s apparent willingness to agree to a cessation of hostilities in return for the release of more hostages being held in Gaza has created a new opening for negotiations. Any new deal would likely include phased releases of hostages, though the White House is hoping that a more ambitious one, possibly leading to the release of all of the remaining hostages, might be possible. The talks were mediated by Qatar, which was negotiating with Hamas, as well as by Egypt. At least some of the officials last met in Warsaw in December, but those discussions stalled over Hamas’s insistence that the remaining hostages be released in exchange for a permanent cease-fire and larger prisoner releases. Israel rejected any permanent cease-fire and was pushing for a shorter pause in fighting.

Persons: William J, Burns, David Barnea, Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Abbas Kamel, Israel Organizations: Qatari, Hamas Locations: Europe, United States, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Thani, Warsaw

☆ French Warship Treats Around 1,000 Injured Gazans off Egyptian Shore
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Dixmude, a French helicopter carrier, has been docked in the Egyptian port of al-Arish, 50 km (30 miles) west of the Gaza Strip, since November. Israel has targeted the largest remaining hospitals, saying Hamas fighters are operating there, something Hamas denies. Those lucky enough to cross into Egypt, like 16-year-old Ahmed Abu Daqqa, who was injured on Nov. 1, faced long waits for medical care. Doctors in Gaza "took out the shrapnel and put in two rods, but a month later they discovered more shrapnel in my knee. He and others on board the French ship were awaiting further transfers to hospitals in Egypt or abroad.

Persons: Alexandre Blonce, Gazans, Israel, Ahmed Abu Daqqa, Ahmed Fahmy, Mohamed Abdelghany, Nafisa, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Hamas, World Health Organization Locations: ARISH, Egypt, Gaza, French, al, Arish, Palestinian, Italy

☆ My kids don't remember the traveling we did when they were younger, but I treasure the memories for them
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Sarah Seefeldt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

My husband and I have been traveling with our four kids since they were young. AdvertisementTheir memories from our trips aren't quite what I'd hoped they'd beFrom our trip to Petra, the two older kids remember riding a donkey and riding a horse. At first, I was disappointed they didn't remember more from our family vacations. I wondered if it was a waste of time and effort if they didn't remember. Courtesy of the authorDespite what they remember, my memories are still pricelessMy kids are a little older now, and the trips we take stick in their memories a little better.

Persons: —, it's, I'd, they'd, Sarah Seefeldt's, they've, I've Organizations: Service Locations: United States, Amman, Jordan, Petra, Lebanon, Byblos, Jeita, Europe, London, Egypt, Red, America

☆ Sen. Graham says he has ‘lost all confidence’ in Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Avery Lotz | Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday called Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “naive” for believing further civilian casualties in Gaza could produce even more insurgents and said he has “lost all confidence” in him. “He’s so naive, I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Graham told CNN’s Dana Bash, adding later, “This is a radicalized population. And if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat,” Austin said. Graham, on “State of the Union,” disagreed: “Strategic defeat would be inflaming the Palestinians? “No Republican is telling Israel to change your military tactics.”

Persons: GOP Sen, Lindsey Graham, Defense Lloyd Austin “, “, ” Graham, CNN’s Dana Bash, Austin, ” Austin, Graham, ”, US Central Command “, Ashraf Al, Stanley McChrystal, Kamala Harris, Jordan, ” “, Harris Organizations: CNN, GOP, Defense, Reagan National Defense, West Bank, Union, South Carolina Republican, Army, US Central Command, Israel, Hamas, of Health, United Arab, Republican Locations: Gaza, Israel, “ State, Austin, saidSaturday, ”, Dubai, Egypt, United Arab Emirates

☆ Harris Says U.S. Strongly Opposes ‘Forced Relocation of Palestinians From Gaza’
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Michael D. Shear | More About Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vice President Kamala Harris said on Saturday that the United States fiercely opposes forcibly relocating Gaza residents outside the enclave as Israel resumes its bombardment of Hamas terrorists, or in the days and weeks after the war eventually ends. In a statement after meeting with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt in Dubai, officials said Ms. Harris rejected the idea of moving Palestinians into Egypt or refugee camps elsewhere and offered her strongest statement to date urging Israel to reduce harm to civilians in its war campaign. “The vice president reiterated that under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank,” the statement from the White House said. She also rejected an idea suggested recently by some Israeli officials that the borders of Gaza could shrink after the war is over to accommodate a security “buffer zone” between the interior of Gaza and Israel. The statement said the United States would not permit “the redrawing of the borders of Gaza.”

Persons: Kamala Harris, Abdel Fattah el, Harris, “, ” Organizations: United, West Bank, White Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Dubai

☆ 7 scientific breakthroughs that resulted from Napoleon's invasion of Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Then, after a series of defeats in Egypt, Napoleon returned to France in 1799 and left many of the scientists stranded. At the time of Napoleon's invasion, travelers had long known of Alexandria, Cairo, and other parts of Lower Egypt. Just 21 and a botanist by training when he arrived in Egypt, Savigny collected invertebrates like worms, bees, spiders, snails, and flies. The Rosetta Stone helped Champollion discover how to decipher hieroglyphsFor centuries, no one could read hieroglyphs, the pictorial writing that covered many Egyptian monuments. When the French found the Rosetta Stone during their invasion, they knew it could serve as a kind of translation key.

Persons: Napoleon, —, Napoleon Bonaparte, Egypt that's, Claude, Louis, Berthollet, natron, Werner Forman, savants, Sand, Dominique, Vivant, Denon, Karnak, he'd, Savigny, Jules, César Savigny, De Agostini, Getty Images Savigny, Etienne Geoffroy Saint, Hilaire, Geoffroy, Charles Darwin, Evon Hekkala, Crocodylus, John Vetch, Vetch, Rosetta Stone, Champollion, Rosetta, Jean, François, Nicolas, Jacques Conté Organizations: Service, Institut, West, Universal, Egypt wasn't, Art Media, Getty Images, Getty, Science, Society Picture Library, Europe, France's, British Museum, Fox, Cairo . Science Locations: Egypt, Cairo, France, Natron, Limestone, Wadi El Natrun, Upper, Lower Egypt, Alexandria, Edfu, Thebes, Esna, Paris, Egpyt, Europe

☆ Harris says the US will ‘under no circumstances’ permit the forced relocation of Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris said in a meeting Saturday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that Washington will not allow for the forced relocation of Palestinians or any redrawing of the current border of the Gaza Strip. “Under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the besiegement of Gaza, or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza,” Harris said, according to a statement from the vice president’s office. However, regional leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah II have expressed concerns that Israel could use the conflict to seize parts of Gaza or expel its Palestinian residents. It’s unclear what role Israel plans to play after the conflict ends. During their meeting, Harris and Sisi discussed “ideas for post-conflict planning in Gaza including efforts on reconstruction, security, and governance,” the statement said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Abdel Fattah el, ” Harris, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris, Sisi, “, Joe Biden, Biden, CNN’s Shania Shelton Organizations: CNN, United, West Bank, United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority, White Locations: Washington, Gaza, United States, Dubai, Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Israel, Qatar

☆ Negotiators pushing for new two-day extension of Gaza truce - Egyptian statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict lies in ruin, amid a temporary truce between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip November 29, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Egyptian and Qatari negotiators are pushing for a new two-day extension to the truce in Gaza along with more prisoner releases and an increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid, a statement from Egypt's state media body said on Thursday. The efforts follow the last-minute extension of the truce for a seventh day on Thursday. "Egypt will continue to exert its utmost efforts to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid to the north and south of the Gaza Strip," the statement said. Reporting by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Diaa Rashwan, Aidan Lewis, Alex Richardson Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Qatari, Thomson Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, Rights CAIRO, Egypt

☆ War-Inflicted Slowdown Ends Robust Year for Tourism in Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Christine Chung | More About Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted in early October, has halted international tourism to Israel and severely blunted travel to neighboring countries in a ripple effect spreading across the entire Middle East. While the slowdown in international visitors is only one of the war’s economic repercussions in the region, it poses a significant threat to the economies of Egypt, Jordan and other nations heavily dependent on tourism and has swiftly reversed a banner year of travel in the Middle East. The war has affected all segments of the travel industry, with international travel operators scaling back or postponing excursions, cruise lines redeploying ships and airlines dramatically reducing service. And many travelers, heeding government warnings and their own worries, are increasingly wary about visiting the region, prompting waves of cancellations. “We foresaw the Middle East evolving into the ‘New Europe’ with the Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement and Saudi Arabia’s integration into the tourism system,” said Khaled Ibrahim, a Cairo-based consultant for Amisol Travel Egypt and a member of the Middle East Travel Alliance.

Persons: ”, Khaled Ibrahim, —, Hussein Abdallah, hasn’t Organizations: Amisol Travel, East Travel Alliance, UNESCO Locations: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Europe, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Cairo, Amisol Travel Egypt, Lebanon, Beirut, Baalbek

☆ How Qatar swayed Israel and Hamas to make a truce work
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

It was necessary to clarify all the points in the agreement and make sure they meant the same thing to Israel and Hamas, a source briefed on the negotiations said. Qatar's foreign ministry told reporters that Hamas and Israel negotiated in Doha until "the early morning" of Nov. 23 and agreed on a plan to implement the truce deal the next day. Qatari negotiators shepherded Israel and Hamas to agree on exactly where in Gaza Israeli tanks would be stationed during the truce. Israel vets all financial transfers Qatar makes to Palestinians in Gaza, Qatari sources have said. Despite proximity to Hamas officials, Qatari negotiators did not speak directly to the group's leaders in Gaza, but through its representatives based in Doha.

Persons: Qatar’s, Abdullah Al Sulaiti, Imad Creidi, Qatar's, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Sheikh Mohammed, David Barnea, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, shepherded Israel, Al Shifa, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Joe Biden, Sheikh Tamim, Mehran Kamrava, We've, Al Sulaiti, I've, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Matt S, Dan Williams, David Gauthier, Frank Jack Daniel Organizations: Hamas, National Command Centre, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Qatari, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S . Department of State, U.S, Gaza, Bild, Palestinian, Georgetown University, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Doha, Qatar, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, Gaza, Moscow, London, Hamas, U.S, Russia, Gulf, Berlin, Syria, Qatari, Cairo, Washington, Jerusalem

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Weeks of heavy aerial bombardment and a ground invasion have demolished vast swaths of northern Gaza and killed thousands of Palestinians. With information hard to come by, authorities have only given approximate counts of the number of hostages held in Gaza. Another 21 hostages — 19 Thais, one Filipino and one Russian-Israeli — have been released in separate negotiations since the truce began. Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one.

Persons: Yehya Sinwar, Biden, Israel, ” Martin Indyk, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Israel's, ”, Omar al, Dr, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ___ Magdy Organizations: —, Health Ministry, Hamas, World Health Organization Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Israel, Israeli, United States, U.S, Egypt, Qatar, Brussels, GAZA, Al, Aqsa, Cairo, Lidman, Jerusalem, israel

☆ Rosalynn Carter Funeral Family of Former First Lady Says Goodbye in Her Georgia Church
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Jacey Fortin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Some two decades after leaving the White House, Rosalynn Carter reflected on the criticism she generated for expanding the role of a first lady. “The first lady role has changed,” she observed. Mrs. Carter pushed the boundaries that had constrained most of her predecessors. Nancy Reagan recalled in her memoir a “chill in her manner” when Mrs. Carter showed her around the White House following the 1980 election when Ronald Reagan defeated Mr. Carter. Dr. Biden “isn’t an activist first lady” in the way that Mrs. Carter was, said Mr. LaRosa, the former aide to the current first lady.

Persons: Rosalynn Carter, ”, “, Carter, Anita B, McBride, Laura Bush, —, Mrs, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jimmy Carter, “ Rosalynn, David, Anwar el, Sadat of, Menachem Begin, Camp David, Michael LaRosa, Jill Biden, “ Eleanor, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Stanly Godbold, Bird, Dawn Porter, Julia Sweig, Lyndon, Melanne Verveer, Clinton’s, Verveer, ” Michelle Obama, “ I’ll, . Cook, Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan, Mr, Barbara Bush, Nancy, Bush, Biden, Dr, . Biden, Biden “ isn’t, LaRosa, “ Hillary, ” Ms Organizations: White, Israel, Camp, Getty, Hulu, Associated Press, White House Locations: Plains , Ga, Israel, Egypt, Sadat of Egypt, Georgia, Washington, Northern Virginia

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