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☆ What's the Israel-Palestinian conflict about and how did it start?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The conflict pits Israeli demands for security in what it has long regarded as a hostile region against Palestinian aspirations for a state of their own. Palestinians who stayed put in the war today form the Arab Israeli community, making up about 20% of Israel's population. Israel has occupied the West Bank, Arab East Jerusalem, which it captured from Jordan, and Syria's Golan Heights ever since. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarised so as not to threaten Israel. Jerusalem - Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which includes sites sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians, to be the capital of their state.

Persons: David Ben, Gurion, Israel, Golan, Yasser Arafat, Mohammed Salem, Yitzhak Rabin, Arafat, David, Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Jerusalem, Trump, Edmund Blair Organizations: Israel, West Bank, Palestinian, REUTERS, Oslo Accords, U.S, Refugees, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, British, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, East Jerusalem, U.S, Egypt, Arab East Jerusalem, Suez, Golan, Gaza City, Oslo, Israeli, Palestinian, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Jerusalem

☆ A Brief History of Gaza's 75 Years of Woe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Hamas formedTwenty years after the 1967 war, Palestinians launched their first intifada, or uprising. It began in December 1987 after a traffic accident in which an Israeli truck crashed into a vehicle carrying Palestinian workers in Gaza's Jabalya refugee camp, killing four. Israel stopped tens of thousands of Palestinian workers from entering the country, cutting off an important source of income. Israeli air strikes crippled Gaza's only electrical power plant, causing widespread blackouts. Israel took revenge, hammering Gaza with air strikes and razing entire districts in some of the worst blood-letting in the 75 years of conflict.

Persons: shutdowns, Yasser Arafat's, Arafat, Israel, Israel evacuates, Mahmoud Abbas, Abdel Fattah al, Stephen Farrell, Nidal, Rosalba O'Brien, Chris Reese Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, UNRWA, West Bank, Hamas, Brotherhood, Fatah, Palestine Liberation Organization, Oslo Accords, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Gaza International Locations: Gaza, Ottoman Empire, British, Palestine, Israel, Sinai, Ashkelon, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israeli, Gaza's Jabalya, Oslo, Palestinian, Jericho, Authority, United States

☆ A brief history of Gaza's 75 years of woe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Persons: shutdowns, Yasser Arafat's, Arafat, Israel, Israel evacuates, Mahmoud Abbas, Abdel Fattah al, Stephen Farrell, Nidal, Rosalba O'Brien, Chris Reese Organizations: United Nations, UNRWA, West Bank, Hamas, Brotherhood, Fatah, Palestine Liberation Organization, Oslo Accords, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Gaza International, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ottoman Empire, British, Palestine, Israel, Sinai, Ashkelon, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israeli, Gaza's Jabalya, Oslo, Palestinian, Jericho, Authority, United States

☆ Do not get involved in Israel crisis, top U.S. general warns Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Brown, Jr. attends the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of General Milley and an Armed Forces Hail in honor of General Brown, at Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, U.S., September 29, 2023. Asked what his message for Iran was, General Charles Q. "We want to send a pretty strong message. "It sends a very strong message of support for Israel. But it's also to send a strong message of deterrence to contain broadening this particular conflict," Brown said.

Persons: Charles Q, Brown, Jr, General Milley, General Brown, Evelyn Hockstein, Israel, it's, Idrees Ali, Sandra Maler, Jamie Freed Organizations: Joint Chiefs, Armed Forces, Joint Base Myer, Henderson, REUTERS, U.S, United, Monday, White, Hamas, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Palestinian, Pentagon, Israel, Islamic, U.S . Central Command, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, United States, Iran, Israel, Palestinian, Lebanon, Gaza, Lebanese, Brussels

☆ Hamas and Iran are longtime allies. Did Tehran help with its attack on Israel?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s something that we’re going to keep looking at closely.”Yet Iran’s evolving relationship with Hamas and its Palestinian militant partners, the Islamic Jihad, is well documented. Israel says Iran supports Hamas to the tune of some $100 million dollars a year. (Much of the Western world and some Arab countries consider Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be terrorist groups.) Therefore Iran is an asset for Hamas and Hamas is an asset for Iran,” Michael said. In April, Hamas’ senior political leader Ismail Haniyeh visited the Lebanese capital for meetings with Nasrallah.

Persons: Jon, ABC’s, Jihad –, Bashar al, Assad, Israel, Hezbollah –, Kobi Michael, ” Michael, Saleh Al, Ziad al, General Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Nasrallah, Haniyeh, Marwan Naamani, “ Christian, ”, Khaled Elgindy, ” Elgindy Organizations: CNN, United Nations, –, US State Department, Hezbollah, Palestinian, Islamic, Tel, for National Security Studies, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Gaza, ”, United Arab, Revolutionary Guards, East Institute, Palestinian Affairs, Lebanese Locations: Israel, Iran, Tehran, United States, Jihad, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Lebanon, Lebanese, Sidon, Jerusalem, Hamas, Islam, Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Yemen, Palestine

REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said part of the motivation for Hamas' latest attack on Israel may have been disrupting a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties and said Washington will announce new assistance for Israel on Sunday. The United said on Sunday that Saudi-Israel normalization efforts should continue despite the latest attack. The secretary of state said details of new U.S. assistance for Israel will be made public later, as he labeled the attack on Israel as a "terrorist attack by a terrorist organization." I think you're likely to hear more about that later today," Blinken told CNN. He added that there was not yet any evidence seen by the United States of Iran being behind the latest attack in Israel but he noted the long-standing ties between Iran and Hamas, which governs Gaza.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, Washington, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jon, We're, Kanishka Singh, Susan Heavey, Joey Roulette, Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Hamas, White, REUTERS, Rights, Israel, Sunday, CNN, U.S, Deputy National, Fox News Sunday, Thomson Locations: Israel, Washington , U.S, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Egypt, Syria, Yom, East, Saudi, GAZA, United States, Washington, Israeli, Iran

Israel battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza on Sunday, with hundreds reportedly killed on both sides. Austin also added that the United States will provide munitions to Israel, and that its security assistance will begin moving on Sunday. Austin said he ordered moving a carrier strike group closer to Israel, which includes the Ford carrier and ships that support it. The United States on Sunday said that Saudi-Israel normalization efforts should continue despite the latest attack. Blinken labeled the attack on Israel as a "terrorist attack by a terrorist organization."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, Lloyd Austin, Israel, Austin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gerald R, Ismail Haniyeh, Jerusalem's Al, Netanyahu, Jon, We're, Blinken, Kanishka Singh, Idrees Ali, Steve Holland, Susan Heavey, Joey Roulette, Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker, Mark Porter Organizations: Hamas, White, REUTERS, Rights, Defense, Pentagon, Israeli Defense Forces, Ford, Ford Carrier Strike Group, CNN, Saturday, West Bank, U.S, Deputy National, Fox News Sunday, Thomson Locations: Israel, Washington , U.S, United States, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Egypt, Syria, Yom, Jerusalem, Aqsa, East, Saudi, GAZA, Israeli, Iran

☆ Mali in meltdown as militants advance and U.N. withdraws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Edward Mcallister | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] A man walks toward Sankore mosque, also known as the former University of Sankore, in Timbuktu, Mali September 25, 2023. "This conflict is escalating fast," said Ulf Laessing, the Bamako-based head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer foundation. Back in 2012, French forces and the U.N. intervened to halt the advance in Mali. In Mali, fighting began in August between the army and an ethnic Tuareg group called the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) around a base vacated by the U.N. "The problem is Mali has too few troops and too little mobility," said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies consultancy.

Persons: Stringer, Sory Touré, jihadists, Ulf Laessing, Konrad Adenauer, Russia's Wagner, Jama'at Nusrat al, Michael Shurkin, Iyad Ag, Shurkin, Mohamed Massaya, Salaha, Aicha Sababou, Edward McAllister, Alexandra Zavis, Edmund Blair Organizations: University of Sankore, REUTERS, U.N, United Nations, Islamic, Reuters Graphics, CMA, Ghali, Transitional Council, Reuters, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Sankore, Timbuktu, Mali, DAKAR, jihadists, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West, Burkina Faso, Niger, Bamako, France, U.S, Sahara, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Al Qaeda, Gao, Dakar

☆ Iran's Khamenei says normalising Israel ties is a losing bet - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting with commanders and a group of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Tehran, Iran August 17, 2023. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that countries seeking to normalise relations with Israel "are betting on a losing horse", state media reported on Tuesday. Khamenei did not identify the countries, but expectations that Israel might normalize ties with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, the home of Islam's two holiest shrines, have been ratcheted up this month. "The definite position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalisation with Israel will lose. Four Arab states have formalised ties with Israel in pacts known as the Abraham Accords -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran hasn't, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Israel, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Alex Richardson, William Maclean Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, West Asia News Agency, REUTERS, Rights, Iran's, Israel's, Abraham Accords, Saudi, MbS, U.S, United Arab, Dubai Newsroom, Thomson Locations: Tehran, Iran, Rights DUBAI, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic, Israeli, Saudi, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco

☆ Rahile Dawut: US condemns China's reported life sentence of Uyghur scholar
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The United States has condemned China’s reported sentencing of prominent Uyghur academic Rahile Dawut to life in prison, calling for the immediate release of the scholar known for documenting folklore and traditions of the Muslim minority in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region. A renowned scholarRahile Dawut is known as a foremost scholar of Uyghur culture, who focused her work on folklore and religious anthropology, including documenting Uyghur pilgrimage to religious shrines throughout Xinjiang. Through her collaborations with international researchers, guest lecturing and teaching, she is credited by international academics with fostering a greater global understanding of Uyghur culture and making key contributions to preserving and documenting Uyghur heritage and architecture. In 2007, Rahile Dawut founded a center focused on folklore at Xinjiang University, where she was a professor. According to San Francisco-based Dui Hua, Rahile Dawut was tried in 2018 of for “splittism” or political separatism – a crime of endangering state security.

Persons: China’s, Dawut, Rahile Dawut, ”, Rahile, Matthew Miller, “, Dawut’s, San, Hua, –, Rahile Dawut’s, Ilham Tohti, OSUN Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Hua Foundation, Rights, United Nations, UN, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC, People’s, The State Department, Xinjiang University, American Anthropological Association, Beijing’s Minzu University, Open Society University Network Locations: United States, China’s, Xinjiang, China, People’s Republic of China, San Francisco, ”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives U.S. President Joe Biden at Al Salman Palace upon his arrival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2022. Washington could also sweeten any deal by designating Saudi Arabia a Major Non-NATO Ally, a status already given to Israel, the U.S. source said. "Saudi Arabia supports a peace plan for the Palestinians, but this time it wanted something for Saudi Arabia, not just for the Palestinians." SEEKING ISRAELI COMMITMENTSIsrael's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed the possibility of a "historic" peace with Saudi Arabia, the heartland of Islam. Yet, even if the U.S, Israel and Saudi Arabia agree, winning support from lawmakers in the U.S. Congress remains a challenge.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Joe Biden, NATO Ally, Biden, Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Jamal Khashoggi, China, Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie, Dan Williams, Ali Sawafta, Aziz El Yaacouby, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Patricia Zengerle, Edmund Blair Organizations: Al, Saudi Royal Court, REUTERS Acquire, Defence, NATO, Saudi, U.S, U.S . Navy Fifth, Saudi Arabia, U.S . State Department, U.S . Atomic Energy, Israel's, MbS, Fox, Israel, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, West, Biden's Democratic Party, Washington Post, Congress, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Bandar, Bahrain, Washington, Israel, United States, U.S, Riyadh, Iran, Tehran, Japan, Egypt, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Yemen, Beijing, Dubai, Jerusalmen

☆ Swiss accuse daughter of ex-Uzbek president of running a criminal organisation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gulnara Karimova (C), daughter of Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov, takes a video with an Ipad as her father dances during an Independence Day celebration in Tashkent August 31, 2012. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsZURICH, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Switzerland's federal prosecutor said on Thursday it has filed an indictment against the daughter of Uzbekistan's former president, accusing her of taking bribes and running an elaborate criminal organisation known as "The Office". Huge sums were involved, with more than 340 million Swiss francs ($370.25 million) already confiscated with a view to being returned to Uzbekistan. The case has been filed to the Swiss Federal Criminal Court. ($1 = 0.9183 Swiss francs)Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Rachel More, Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gulnara Karimova, Islam Karimov, Shamil Zhumatov, Uzbekistan's, Karimova, John Revill, Rachel More, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Karimova, United Nations, Swiss Federal, Court, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, Uzbek, Russian, Geneva, Swiss

☆ Displaced Afghan women athletes defy Taliban at Asian Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Now in Hangzhou, they yearn to give hope to the hopeless - the women athletes left behind in their homeland. "Nowadays, they are looking for hope," Mursal Khedri, a Pakistan-based, 24-year-old member of the volleyball team, told Reuters. They play their first group match against Kazakhstan when the women's volleyball tournament starts on Saturday. For the Afghanistan women in Hangzhou, it is a thrill to compete at a high level but there are also nerves. They are unlikely to attend competition venues to cheer on the women's volleyball team or other Afghan women athletes due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Persons: Nasrin Khazani, Khushal Malakzai, Malakzai, Yousofi, John Quinn, Ian Ransom, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Asian, Olympic, Tokyo, Reuters, Kazakhstan, Games, Thomson Locations: HANGZHOU, China, Hangzhou, Afghanistan, Asia, Pakistan, Iran, hijabs, Melbourne, Australia

☆ Putin ally Ramzan Kadyrov released a video of his 15-year-old son beating up a prisoner, saying he's 'proud' of him for showing 'honor' and 'dignity'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Monday that he's "proud" of his son for beating a prisoner. He published a video of Adam Kadyrov, 15, punching, kicking, and slapping a cowering man. Kadyrov published a video of the beatdown on Telegram, writing that he was "proud" of his son's actions. "He beat him, and he did the right thing," Kadyrov wrote, per a translation by Reuters. In his commentary, Kadyrov said the attacker was his 15-year-old son, Adam Kadyrov, and that the teenager had attained "adult ideals of honor, dignity, and defense of his religion."

Persons: Ramzan Kadyrov, Adam Kadyrov, —, Islam, Kadyrov, Nikita Zhuravel, Zhuravel, Tatyana Moskalkova, Kadyrov's, Moskalkova, Adam Delimkhanov, Delimkhanov Organizations: Service, Reuters, Moscow Times, United States Commission, International, Human, Zhuravel, Chechen Locations: Volgograd, Chechen Republic, Chechnya, Ukraine, Russia

Details of how the Taliban intend to expand and manage mass surveillance, including obtaining the U.S. plan, have not been previously reported. "At the present we are working on a Kabul security map, which is (being completed) by security experts and (is taking) lots of time," he said. The Taliban strongly denies that an upgraded surveillance system would breach the rights of Afghans. A July U.N. monitoring report said there were up to 6,000 Islamic State fighters and their family members in Afghanistan. The Afghan "home base" locations of Islamic State fighters are in the eastern mountainous areas, said Schroden.

Persons: Ali Khara, Abdul Mateen Qani, Washington, didn't, Qani, Amrullah Saleh, Saleh, Jonathan Schroden, Matt Mahmoudi, ETIM, ETIM couldn't, Afghanistan Thomas West, Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte, Jonathan Landay, David Kirton, Liz Lee, Katerina Ang Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, Huawei, U.S, of Interior, Reuters, U.S.A, U.S State Department, RIC, Bloomberg News, Foreign Ministry, NATO, Center for Naval, Protect Journalists, Taliban, Amnesty International, East Turkestan Islamic, Security, Special, State, Ece Toksabay, Thomson Locations: China, Kabul, Afghanistan, Rights KABUL, Islamic State, —, Turkey, Turkish, Pakistan, United States, East Turkestan, Xinjiang, State, Russian, Charlotte Greenfield, Islamabad, Washington, Shenzhen, Beijing, Ankara

☆ Iran says it defused 30 bombs in Tehran, detained 28 people, Tasnim reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Authorities in Iran have neutralised 30 bombs meant to go off simultaneously in Tehran and detained 28 terrorists linked to Islamic State, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, citing the intelligence ministry. "Some of the members are of Islamic State (IS) and the perpetrators have a history of being affiliated with Takfiri groups in Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Kurdistan region of Iraq," Iran's intelligence ministry added in a statement. The militant group has claimed several attacks in Iran, including deadly twin bombings in 2017 that targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. More recently, IS claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shia shrine last October, where 15 people were killed in the southwestern city of Shiraz. Reporting by Dubai Newsroom Editing by Peter Graff and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ruhollah Khomeini, Peter Graff, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Islamic, Islamic State, Dubai, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, Islamic State, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kurdistan, Iraq, Shiraz

☆ Iran's Raisi Says Israeli 'Normalization' Deals Will Fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said in a U.S. television interview on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize Israeli relations with Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success". In an interview with CNN, Raisi also said Iran had not said it does not want nuclear inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in the country. Raisi has said Iran has no issue with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspection of its nuclear sites, days after Tehran barred multiple inspectors assigned to the country. Israel has moved closer to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco following a U.S.-driven diplomatic initiative in 2020 which pushed for normalization of relations. Commenting on Iran's nuclear programme, Raisi said:"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't, Rami Ayyub, Peter Graff, David Holmes Organizations: WASHINGTON, CNN, United Nations, United Arab, Israel, Islamic Locations: U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ Iran's Raisi says Israeli 'normalization' deals will fail
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a press conference concluding his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said in a U.S. television interview on Sunday that U.S.-sponsored efforts to normalize Israeli relations with Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success". In an interview with CNN, Raisi also said Iran had not said it does not want nuclear inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog in the country. Raisi has said Iran has no issue with the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspection of its nuclear sites, days after Tehran barred multiple inspectors assigned to the country. Commenting on Iran's nuclear programme, Raisi said:"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Shannon Stapleton, Raisi, Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't, Rami Ayyub, Peter Graff, David Holmes Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, CNN, United Nations, United Arab, Israel, Islamic, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco, Islamic Republic of Iran

☆ Netanyahu says Israel is edging 'closer' to normalization deal with Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sana Noor Haq | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it is “likely” Israel will reach a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, in what would mark a seismic foreign policy shift for both countries as they edge closer to reaching a deal mediated by the US. Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in an interview on Friday, Netanyahu touted the potential pact as “a quantum leap” in the region. Saudi Arabia, like many Arab states, does not currently recognize Israel; such a deal would have potential to enhance Israel’s acceptance in the Muslim world, particularly considering Saudi Arabia’s role as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites. Netanyahu has made tightening relations with Saudi Arabia a linchpin of his premiership, although it is unclear what kind of concessions toward Palestinians would be allowed by his right-wing coalition. Israel says the raids are intended to prevent or punish Palestinian militant attacks on Israeli civilians because the Palestinian Authority is failing in its security obligations.

Persons: Kaitlan Collins, Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Netanyahu, ”, Israel, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bin Salman, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Collins, “, Mahmoud Abbas, ” Abbas Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United, United Arab Emirates, Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s Crown, Fox News, Assembly, Reuters, UN, Palestinian, West Bank, Israel, Palestinian Authority Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Asia, Jordan, United Arab, Riyadh, New York City, New York

☆ Can Meat From a Lab Be Kosher or Halal? Some Say Yes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Rebecca Carballo | More About Rebecca Carballo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The companies that grow meat from cultured cells present their offering as an environmentally friendly and ethical alternative to consuming protein from slaughtered chickens, cows and other farm animals. And as they look to appeal to followers of Islamic and Jewish traditions, they are also trying to make the case that the cultivated meat can be halal and kosher. Strictly observant Muslims and Jews will not eat food without those religious certifications. For example, the animals must be slaughtered in specific ways and the meat must contain no trace of blood. GOOD Meat, a California-based cultivated meat producer, commissioned three of Shariah scholars to determine if lab-made meat could be halal, and the group came to the conclusion earlier this month that it was possible.

Locations: California

☆ Saudi crown prince says normalization with Israel gets 'closer' every day
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) said that his country was moving “closer” each day toward reaching a normalization deal with Israel, the first time he has publicly acknowledged the process. We’re gonna see how it goes.”The Biden administration has for several months been in talks with Saudi Arabia on the matter, according to US officials. Saudi Arabia has been strengthening its ties with China as Washington’s rivalry with the Asian nation heats up. “We are the biggest buyer of American armored manufacturing,” he said, adding that Saudi Arabia is “critical” to US arms exports. Saudi Arabia is in the process of changing laws to make them “more realistic” for Saudis, he said.

Persons: UAE CNN — Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ”, Biden, don’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Fox News ’ Brett Baier, ” BRICS, BRICS, Jamal Khashoggi, Khashoggi Organizations: UAE CNN — Saudi Arabia’s Crown, Fox News, Saudi, MBS, ”, West Bank, Wednesday, CNN, Fox, White, America, CIA Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, ”, Iran, Tehran, China, Beijing, Gulf, America, Arabia, West, Russia, Istanbul

☆ Congo Army Seeks Insight Into Islamist Militants From Women Held Captive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Since then they have pledged allegiance to Islamic State and maintained their insurgency, attacking civilian and military targets in both Congo and Uganda. Congo army spokesperson Antony Mwalushay told Reuters that after sometimes lengthy spells in the camps, the women can have valuable insight on the group's operations that helps counter-insurgency efforts. So far this year the army has questioned around 425 women, who had been freed or escaped from rebels since January, including Mariam, Mwalushay said. Speaking to Reuters in the yard of the centre, Mariam described how she was coerced into moving to the rebel camp. Another 22-year old woman who ended up in an ADF camp when her husband signed up, said she was surprised by the strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Persons: Yassin Kombi, Muiysa, Mariam, Antony Mwalushay, Mwalushay, Sonia Rolley, Alessandra Prentice, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Congolese, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic, Reuters, ADF Locations: Muiysa BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan, Islamic State, Uganda, Congo, Beni

Paris CNN —Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla will finally arrive in France for a state visit Wednesday, six months later than initially planned. The packed royal itinerary for the rescheduled three-day visit to Paris and Bordeaux, ending Friday, is largely unchanged save for a few additions. One new engagement will see Charles and Camilla rub shoulders with top athletes at an event highlighting the advantages of sports for young people. France's President Emmanuel Macron was forced to postpone the original royal state visit back in March. Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty ImagesFurssedonn-Wood agreed that the public can expect “a bit of substance” from the royal visit in France.

Persons: Paris CNN — Britain’s King Charles, Queen Camilla, Emmanuel Macron, Charles, Camilla, Brigitte Macron, Macron, ”, Queen Elizabeth II, French King Louis XIV, Ludovic Marin, reigniting, Christine Ockrent, Charles ’, ” Charles, Camilla’s, French –, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, ” Sunak, Nathan Laine, Chris Fitzgerald, Elizabeth II, Christian Poncelet, Eric Fefeberg, Scott Furssedonn, Wood, Craig Prescott, Prescott, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, Elke Budenbender, Ronny Hartmann, it’s, they’re, “, They’ll Organizations: Paris CNN, Rugby, Bibliotheque Nationale de, Mirrors, France, Getty, CNN, UK, ’, European Union, Bloomberg, French, Getty Images, British, Royal Holloway, University of London, “, CNN’s Royal Locations: France, British, Germany, Paris, Bordeaux, Franco, Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Ukraine, Sahel, Elysee, of Versailles, Versailles, “, AFP, French, New Delhi, Berlin, Salle, United Kingdom, Barbados, Eastern Caribbean, Europe, Royal

☆ Israeli-Palestinian violence surges ahead of Netanyahu-Biden meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Gunmen hold weapons during the funeral of Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli raid, in Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank September 20,2023. REUTERS/Raneen Sawafta Acquire Licensing RightsJENIN, West Bank, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed a 19-year-old Palestinian during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, medics and residents said, as violence surged ahead of a first meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden. The Palestinian killed near the town of Jericho was shot as troops faced off with stone-throwers, according to residents, though his family said he had not taken part. He was the sixth Palestinian killed in confrontations with Israel since Tuesday. Israel's U.S. ally is troubled by his judicial overhaul plans and Jewish settlement of the West Bank.

Persons: Raneen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, Dan Williams, Ali, Gareth Jones Organizations: West, REUTERS, West Bank, U.S, Security, General, Thomson Locations: Jenin, JENIN, West, Palestinian, Jericho, Israel, U.S

The Old City of Jerusalem and its walls were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981, but UNESCO doesn't list it under Israel or Palestine. Whereas other sites are listed by country, UNESCO lists the site separately, under "Jerusalem (Site proposed by Jordan)." Source: Screenshot from UNESCOIsrael, which joined UNESCO in 1949, has nine sites named to the list, including Masada, the Old City of Acre and the "White City" of Tel Aviv. A backdrop of political alliancesUNESCO's decision to add Tell es-Sultan/Jericho to its World Heritage Site has angered Israeli officials, with Israel's foreign ministry releasing a statement Sunday calling it a "cynical" ploy by the Palestinians to politicize UNESCO. Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral is now on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.

Persons: Archivio J, Lange, De Agostini, Mounir, Jordan, Masada, Anastas, Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv's, Kyiv's Saint Sophia, Pollex Organizations: UNESCO, Getty, Bank, Saudi Press Agency, The, City of, UNESCO Israel, politicize UNESCO, Saudi, U.S, Biden, United, UNESCO —, World, Saint Locations: Jericho, Palestine, Old City, Jerusalem, City, City of Jerusalem, Israel, Acre, Tel Aviv, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Mecca, Medina, Saudi, United States, Ukraine, Lavra, Kyiv, Pechersk, Lviv, Kyiv's Saint

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