Written by: Dr. Emad Afif Al-Khatib

At the end of the seventies of the last century, most of the successive American administrations persisted in proposing special initiatives to solve the "Arab-Israeli conflict," starting with the "Framework for Peace in the Middle East" initiative within the Camp David Accords (1978), then the Ronald Reagan initiative (1982) that formed the ground For a Jordanian-Palestinian dialogue that culminated in a joint agreement (1985) with a joint initiative for a peaceful settlement. These initiatives did not have references or clear implementation mechanisms that would do justice to the Palestinian people. Until the national uprising broke out at the end of 1987.

And with the beginning of the implementation of the US administration's policy to reshape the political geography of the region, which brought with it woes, the US administration held the "Madrid Conference" in 1991 in the presence of the various parties to the "conflict." With the acceleration of events, the Declaration of Principles (Oslo) was signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli government, and it became clear later that the adopted reference is the “Framework for Peace in the Middle East” initiative, that is, a transitional self-rule for the Palestinians.

The Bill Clinton administration’s “prize” for the Israeli government in the 1992 elections was the promise that the administration would “support Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.” Later, in 1995, Congress passed the “ Jerusalem Embassy Act,” which stated that “ Jerusalem must be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel,” and that "The American embassy should move to Jerusalem within five years."

Since that date, successive US administrations dealt with the decision by signing a six-month postponement of its implementation, until Donald Trump declared that " Jerusalem is the capital of Israel" in November 2017. Although US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later indicated that the president's statement "did not refer to Any final status of Jerusalem, including borders, and that this will be left to the two parties to negotiate and decide on.” However, the “decision” represented a “slap” to all international obligations and treaties regarding determining the final status of the city of Jerusalem .

For us, it represented a similar "promise" to the infamous "Balfour Declaration" made nearly 100 years before the "Trump Declaration." As for those who received the "insult", it was the United Nations system, which failed on December 7, 2017 to condemn Trump's decision due to the US veto. Israel."

And with the current US administration headed by Joe Biden, we must make sure, and “admonish,” that it will not be able to change in our favor, even if it wanted to. And because we have to “admonish,” what is required is to work not to “exaggerate the rosary” and lose the diplomatic action on the issue of Jerusalem , as its precursors began from countries that are motivated by their interests and do not care about “legitimate rights,” especially when they see that a regime that represents the United Nations is unable to implement a decision One that could be in our favour, as the Palestinian president always points out.

In December 2016, the Security Council adopted Resolution No. 2334, which considered, in clear language, that “Israeli settlements are illegal, including those in East Jerusalem ,” and added that the illegality of settlements “applies to all settlements established since 1967. "

The Security Council resolution was based on its relevant resolutions: 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), and 1850 (2008), guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, on the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force. What is required is to work in parallel with other efforts, to re-consider an intense international effort for our just cause after drawing lessons from what happened and is happening.

TUNIS - (Xinhua) - Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Said, considered (Tuesday) that Tunisia no longer has other options but to implement the economic reform program submitted to the International Monetary Fund.

The official Tunisian news agency quoted this evening, Saeed, as saying during his participation in an international symposium organized by the Confederation of Citizenship Institutions (Connect) on the issue of internationalizing the activities of institutions, “We presented a detailed reform program because we lost our credibility with the International Monetary Fund over the past years, and this time we will commit to implementing it.” Otherwise, the future of her children will depend on it," he said.

He explained that the financial agreement with the International Monetary Fund, amounting to $1.9 billion, will be disbursed over a period of 48 months, and will be withdrawn in several installments, according to the progress of the reform program.

In this context, he considered that "the disbursement of the loan according to a system of installments ranging between 180 and 200 million dollars will ensure the implementation of reforms, and that the government will implement it within the framework of complete transparency with the International Monetary Fund."

On the other hand, the Tunisian minister affirmed that the International Monetary Fund "did not impose any dictates on Tunisia, and that the only recommendation issued by it is the need to support social security, and we can only appreciate this recommendation."

On October 15, the International Monetary Fund announced that it had reached a preliminary agreement at the expert level with Tunisia to grant it a $1.9 billion loan to support its economic policies.

And he considered that this loan, which will be repaid over four years, "remains linked to the approval of the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund, which is scheduled to discuss Tunisia's request next December."

Last July, Tunisia began negotiations with the International Monetary Fund in an effort to reach an agreement with it on a loan ranging between two billion and four billion dollars.

Translation by "Jerusalem" dot com - Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, Thursday, that Nablus poses a greater security challenge than Jenin due to the attacks that are carried out from there, especially in light of the direct friction with the Palestinians in that area.

In the same context, Gantz confirmed, during an interview with the Hebrew website Ynet Studio, that Jenin also represents a challenge, noting that his forces are currently focused on thwarting the attacks.

And he indicated that the forces had been increased in Nablus and intelligence, offensive and defensive efforts had been increased, saying: "In the end, we will get our hands on these terrorists.. This is a group (the lions' den) of about 30 people, we need to know how to hit them and this group will end one way or another and I hope soon Available time".

Regarding the possibility of the Palestinian Authority succeeding in including the "Lions' Den" elements in its security services, Gantz said: "The people who have blood on their hands must be tried... If we can stop them, then so be it, and if not, we must thwart them (assassinate them)."

He stressed that "Israel" refuses to protect the authority of any of those "whose hands are stained with blood," and that their fate is imprisonment or death, and there is no other option.

Regarding the events in Jerusalem yesterday, the Israeli army minister described them as "dangerous at this very sensitive time," stressing that his forces did not lose control, and that there was no need for the hysteria that some such as Itamar Ben Gvir were trying to create.

Gantz said, "The situation has become complicated, and we are carrying out offensive activities in Nablus, Jenin, and anywhere else that requires that."

Regarding the Palestinian Authority, Gantz said that its apparatus needs to increase its activities to protect itself and preserve its rule, and not in order to protect Israel, which does not leave its security in the hands of the Authority.

He renewed his statements that his meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are a common interest, for the security of the Israelis.

A translation of "Jerusalem" dot com - The Hebrew website Ynet reported, on Wednesday, that there is an unusual state of diplomatic tension between Israel and its close friend Canada , due to the latter's baffling decision to reduce the level of security at the Israeli embassy in the capital, Ottawa, despite the security threats.

According to the site, officials at the Israeli embassy talked about the existence of a risk of "terrorist" attacks, but the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country's security services refuse to increase security at the embassy despite repeated requests from Tel Aviv in this regard 3 years ago.

The site indicated that, unusually, the Israeli embassy in Canada took the initiative to publish the story and informed the Canadian media about the matter.

The Canadian authorities refuse to comment on the case, stressing that this is linked to measures taken continuously by the concerned security authorities according to concrete threats.

Amman - (AFP) - Five Pakistanis, a father, a mother, and their three children, died in a fire that broke out in their tent in the Karak governorate, in the center of the kingdom, according to a Jordanian security source.

And a statement quoted the spokesman for the Public Security Directorate, Amer Al-Sartawi, as saying, “The fire and ambulance teams of the Karak Civil Defense Directorate (118 km south of Amman) put out a fire today (Tuesday) that broke out in two tents in the Ghor Al-Mazraa area, which resulted in the death of five people of an Asian nationality as a result of the fire.” They suffer severe burns."

A security source, who preferred not to be identified, told AFP that the victims were of Pakistani nationality and worked in agriculture.

For his part, the director of forensic medicine in the southern region, Dr. Hassan Hawari, said, "The bodies of five people arrived at the forensic medicine office as a result of their exposure to charred burns that led to their death."

He added, "The bodies belong to a father (34 years old), a mother (31 years old), and three daughters (6 years, 8 years, and 9 years)."

Al-Sartawi confirmed that the security services "opened an investigation to find out the causes of the fire."

The source of the fire is not yet known, but primitive and cheap heating methods usually lead to such fires, especially since the Kingdom is exposed to a cold wave accompanied by rain.

Thousands of Pakistanis work in Jordan , especially in agriculture, and most of them live in tents erected near the farms where they work.

On December 20, 2021, four Pakistanis, a father, a mother, and their two children, died in a fire that broke out in their tent in Al-Balqa Governorate, 30 km west of Amman.

DOHA, (Xinhua) -- FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized today (Saturday) the campaigns against Qatar and FIFA due to the Gulf state's organization of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Infantino said today at a press conference attended by more than 500 media professionals from around the world, a day before the start of the tournament, "We have recently received moral lessons from a high platform ... We accept criticism, but we do not bow to pressure because this is not fair in reality."

He added that the slogans and ethical lessons promoted by the media and Western officials reflect hypocrisy, noting that the conditions of workers in the State of Qatar are better than those of immigrants in Europe, and the standards of workers' rights in Qatar are similar to the standards of workers' rights in Europe.

And he went on to say, "When I look at what we Europeans have done over the past 3,000 years, I see that we must apologize for the next 3,000 years before we begin to provide moral lessons to the rest of the world."

"Since 2014, more than 25,000 immigrants have died to Europe for various reasons... Change in Europe took hundreds of years, while the West demands that this happen in a few years in the Arab world," he said.

And he added, "Today I feel that I am Qatari, Arab and African... I feel like myself and people with special needs... I feel like a migrant worker," referring to the issues that have sparked controversy since Qatar won the right to organize the World Cup.

He stressed that Qatar welcomes everyone, regardless of their orientation, and that more than 11,000 fans from Tel Aviv will attend trips that include Palestinians and Israelis together to Doha, in an achievement that FIFA is proud of, pointing out that everyone is in Qatar in order to make this tournament a success, which will be the best. It will contribute to introducing the West to the Arab world.

He stressed that Qatar is a sovereign country and does not need advice or interventions regarding workers' rights, explaining that he does not defend Qatar because it can defend itself, but he defends right and justice because the criticism of this country is unfair, as he put it.

He stated that every decision taken in this edition of the World Cup is a joint decision between Qatar and FIFA, and that the decision to ban alcoholic beverages in the vicinity of the World Cup stadiums was also taken in coordination with FIFA, and the company concerned understood the matter because it relates to the safety of the masses, and that the ban is only related to the three hours. for matches.

He said in this context, "This decision was taken in coordination with FIFA, and European countries such as France and Spain have previously taken a similar decision, but when this happens in an Arab country, there is a problem ... I think you can survive without drinking alcohol 3 hours a day." .

He stated that the rights to broadcast the current version of the tournament increased by 200 million dollars compared to previous tournaments, and that the World Cup in Qatar is expected to achieve commercial profits for FIFA that exceed the World Cup in 2018 by 600 million euros, thanks to the close distance and the short time for transportation between stadiums.

In conclusion, the FIFA President demanded that everyone's customs be respected, that the tournament participants be allowed to focus on football and for the fans to enjoy this event that only comes once every four years.

The FIFA World Cup will be held for the first time in Qatar and in the Middle East, from November 20 to December 18, with the participation of 32 teams, amid expectations that the Gulf country will receive approximately 1.5 million fans from all over the world. /ts/

Paris - (AFP) - Qatar , the small desert Gulf state neighboring the giant Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has succeeded in becoming a major player on the international scene in three decades, by pursuing a simple but effective strategy of buying influence in all fields based on the proceeds from the sale of gas.

From economic investments abroad to sports and good diplomatic endeavors, Qatar provides no way to increase its influence in the world and to be present in an Arab-Iranian milieu shaken by crises.

"There is a desire among them to be present on the world map, to have weight, to be friends with everyone, and to talk to people Others don't talk to them."

He added that they "knew how to make themselves essential".

"They are not dogmatic, they are pragmatic. They think about their strategy very carefully in general with a central idea that says 'who finances influences' and this leads to a tendency to buy off a lot of people, sometimes with questionable means from a legal point of view," Malbrunot said.

This largesse is currently the focus of a resounding corruption scandal in Brussels, where it is suspected that a number of members of the European Parliament, including its vice-president - Greek Socialist Representative Eva Kaili - received large sums of money from Qatar to defend its interests.

Qatar, which has been ruled by Al-Thani for decades, does not enjoy a large size in the rankings of global statistics, as its population is less than three million people and its area does not exceed 11,500 square kilometers, which is slightly larger than the island of Corsica.

This small country, a close ally of the United States and France, which embraces a very conservative Islam, depends to a large extent on its vast oil and gas resources.

"They have become useful and many countries consider them as such," a former French ambassador to Qatar told AFP. "Of course it is useful to have money, but it's not just that, they have a unique sense of opportunity and they know how to negotiate," said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified.

The first successful blow to Qatari leaders dates back to the 1990s with the launch of Al-Jazeera TV, which aspired to give voice to all the sensitivities of the Arab world for the first time. The channel broadcasts in a number of languages with 80 bureaus around the world, and is sometimes described as "CNN Arabia".

It was especially the voice of the Arab Spring movements, although its critics considered that its editorial line was excessively supportive of the Islamists, and they sometimes see it as a tool in the service of Qatari diplomacy.

Added to all this is a very effective "sports diplomacy", especially through the organization of major international competitions - the latest of which is the World Cup in football - and the launch of the famous sports channel "beIN" in the first decade of the current century, or even the purchase of world-class football clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain.

The emirate may be a candidate to host the 2036 Olympics.

At the same time, the gas-rich country has invested in major international groups (Volkswagen, Vinci, Hapag-Lloyd, Barclays...) or in real estate, often through its sovereign fund, Qatar Investment, one of the most important investment funds in the world.

All this is in addition to financing at least 140 projects in recent years for mosques, schools and Islamic centers in Europe, for the benefit of associations often linked to the controversial Muslim Brotherhood movement, as revealed by the book "Qatar Documents".

But Qatar's influence in the diplomatic arena may be the greatest.

"They decided to talk to everyone, the United States, Iran, Israel, Hamas and the Taliban, because they seek to consolidate their position as a major player and mediator in the region," said Emma Soubrier, associate researcher at the Institute for Peace and Development at the University of Côte d'Azur in Nice.

In the Qatari capital, Doha, for example, Washington and the Taliban negotiated the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, and the dialogue continues between the United States and the country's new rulers.

Doha was also the logistical base from which Westerners and some Afghans were evacuated from Kabul after the victory of the Taliban.

Emma Sobrier told AFP that Qatari diplomacy falls especially within the framework of "an increasingly intense competition with the United Arab Emirates, which is very bold in influence operations on a global level, and to a lesser extent with Saudi Arabia."

And this competition turned into a crisis. For more than three years from June 2017 to the official reconciliation in January 2021, the Qatari economy was affected by embargoes imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt.

These countries accused Doha, despite its denials, of supporting extremist groups and drawing close to Shiite Iran, Saudi Arabia's major rival in the region.

Washington - (AFP) - The United States announced on Tuesday that it had killed Maher al-Akal, the leader of the " Islamic State" organization in Syria , today, Tuesday, in a strike carried out by an American drone.

A statement from the Pentagon 's Central Command said that Maher al-Akal, described by the US Department of Defense as "one of the five most prominent leaders of the Islamic State", was killed while on a motorcycle near Jandris in Syria, and one of his senior aides was seriously wounded.

A spokesman for the Central Command, Colonel Joe Buccino, confirmed that Al-Akal was tasked with developing ISIS networks outside Iraq and Syria, stressing that the elimination of these organization leaders "will impede the terrorist organization's ability to prepare and launch attacks around the world."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the death of Al-Akal, "along with another person who was with him, after they were targeted by a missile from an American march... (in) Jenderes in the countryside of Afrin, northwest of Aleppo."

The White Helmets Association (Civil Defense in areas outside the control of the Syrian regime) reported that one person was killed and another wounded in a strike targeting a motorcycle in the vicinity of Aleppo, but without specifying the identity of the two victims.

Not much information was reported about Al-Akal, but the Observatory identified him as the "Wali of Levant" within the Islamic State.
The strike came five months after the killing of the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi, by US special forces in Atmeh, Idlib Governorate (northwest).

US officials said al-Qurashi blew himself up to prevent US forces from apprehending him.

On Tuesday, Farhad Shami, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Kurdish-Arab factions backed by Washington, said that the two men belong to the "Ahrar al-Sharqiya" faction, which Washington imposed sanctions on last July.

The faction, which is active in areas controlled by the Turkish forces in northern Syria, and the majority of its members are from Deir ez-Zor Governorate (east), includes former members of the Islamic State, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The faction was accused of killing the Kurdish leader, Hevrin Khalaf, after removing her from a car she was carrying in October 2019, in a crime that sparked international condemnation and amounted to a "war crime."

The US forces succeeded in several operations in Idlib Governorate, the most prominent of which was the killing of the two leaders of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in October 2019, and then Abu Ibrahim Al-Qurashi on February 3 in their hideouts.

In June, US forces arrested Hani Ahmed al-Kurdi, a prominent leader of the Islamic State, in an area under the control of pro-Ankara factions in northern Aleppo province.

The American forces are pursuing leaders of the Islamic State organization in hideouts in which they sought refuge in several areas in eastern, northern and western Syria, including Idlib and its environs, especially after the defeat of the organization three years ago.

Seoul - (AFP) - North Korea warned Tuesday that it would consider any interception of its missiles during tests over the Pacific Ocean as a "clear declaration of war", as confirmed by the sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong , who enjoys wide influence.

"It will be considered a clear declaration of war against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) if a military response takes place such as an interception (of our missiles) during strategic weapons tests," North Korea's official news agency KCNA quoted Kim Yo Jong as saying.

And she warned that "the Pacific does not belong to the United States or Japan," as the United States and South Korea prepare to hold the largest joint military exercises in five years.

She added that North Korea is "always ready to take appropriate, swift and sweeping measures at any time".

The statement comes after Washington and Seoul announced Friday that they will hold the largest joint military exercises since 2018 this month to improve their response to a possible North Korean nuclear attack.

In another statement, the North Korean Foreign Ministry on Tuesday accused the United States of deliberately escalating tensions in the region.

"The recent joint air exercises... clearly show that the US plan to use nuclear weapons against the DPRK is being pushed forward at the level of an actual war," KCNA quoted the ministry as saying.

In addition to the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" maneuvers between the US and South Korean forces, which will begin on March 13 and last at least 10 days, Washington and Seoul this week conducted joint air exercises with the US B-52 strategic heavy bomber.

Jerusalem - Pal Sport Agency / Jerusalemite basketball coach Tawfiq Richard Rafidi successfully completed and excelled the nine-month basketball coaches course, at the hands of Euroleague coaches and orange ball legends in the European League.

The course was held in the Turkish city of Antalya over the course of nine months, "in front of me and through the Zoom technology". The course came according to the European basketball system and was supervised by European coaches, including the coach of the Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Al-Rafaidi confirmed in his interview with PAL Sport, saying: The European Basketball Coaches Program is considered one of the best coach development programs in the world, and it is supervised by the European Basketball Coaches Council and the University of Belgrade Department of Physical Education. Which includes a wide range of subjects such as biomechanics, nutrition, special physical preparation in basketball players, advanced behavioral thinking and strategies, and others.

As for the second section, which is the most important part of the course, where we meet the Euroleague coaches personally in the stadium and learn about the most important developments, play strategies, advanced and different thinking in the world of orangery, and how to deal with different situations and others, especially in different situations in training and matches, in addition to gaining experience from well-known coaches. For them on the Arab or European entertainment scene, they came to benefit and expand their experiences. This part consists of the most intensive 40 hours.

It should be noted that more than 30 trainers from around the world participated in the course, including 4 Arab trainers, and Al-Rafaidi was one of them. The participation came at the participants' personal expense and at a high financial cost.

Rafidi aspires to contract with one of the European or Arab teams that are at an advanced level in order to gain experience.

Washington, 1-30-2023 (AFP) - Memphis police announced Monday the dismissal of a sixth element, in connection with the severe beating of black youth Tyree Nichols, whose death shocked the United States in a case in which five elements were charged with murder.
Memphis Police spokeswoman Kim Elder said in a statement that Officer Burston Hemphill "was relieved of duty at the beginning of the investigation into the death of Tyree Nichols along with other officers."

Hemphill joined the service in 2018, and Elder said he has been suspended "pending the results of the ongoing investigation."
Memphis police opened an investigation into the circumstances of Nichols' death, 29, three days after he was arrested on January 7 for reckless driving near his place of residence.

A long video clip captured by police cameras and a street surveillance camera shows the five police officers arresting Nichols and beating him, kicking and punching him, while he groans in pain and calls out to his mother.

Nichols died three days later in hospital. He is scheduled to be buried Wednesday in Memphis.

Last week, the five officers, all black, were charged with second-degree murder for the assault on Tyree Nichols.

And on Saturday, the Memphis police disbanded the Scorpion unit, to which the five elements belong, and which was formed in November 2021 with the aim of reducing illegal activities in troubled neighborhoods by deploying more police officers in them.

"It is in everyone's interest to permanently disband the Scorpion unit," a police statement said, adding that "the police officers in the unit agreed without reservation."

بيروت، برشلونة – “القدس” دوت كوم- جابت مسيرة حاشدة، الثلاثاء، شوارع العاصمة اللبنانية بيروت، تضامناً مع مدينة القدس وتنديداً بالعدوان على غزة وتأكيداً على الوقوف إلى جانب الشعب الفلسطيني.

وشارك في المسيرة التي انطلقت من أمام مخيم مار الياس، وجابت شوارع بيروت، وصولاً الى وسط المدينة الأمين العام للتنظيم الشعبي الناصري النائب اللبناني أسامة سعد، وأمين سر حركة فتح وفصائل منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية في لبنان فتحي أبو العردات، وأمين عام الحزب الشيوعي اللبناني حنا غريب، وممثل منظمة العمل الشيوعي، ورئيس حزب طليعة لبنان العربي حسن بيان، وممثلو الأحزاب اللبنانية والفصائل الفلسطينية، والمؤسسات الاجتماعية والتربوية والصحية، والنقابات العمالية، والجمعيات والروابط الأهلية الفلسطينية والبيروتية، وأشبال وزهرات والكشافة والفرق الموسيقية التابعة لحركة فتح في بيروت.

وانتهت المسيرة باعتصام حاشد تخلله القاء العديد من الكلمات التي حيت شعبنا الفلسطيني المنتفض والمقاوم في كل فلسطين، وأكدت ان شعبنا هو شعب واحد في الداخل والشتات موحدٌ في ميادين الكفاح.

ووجه المتحدثون التحية إلى أرواح شهداء فلسطين ولبنان، والى المنتفضين في مناطق الـ48 والصامدين في غزة والضفة والقدس، مؤكدين أن القضية الفلسطينية تجمع كل الشرفاء من حولها وهي وحدت شرفاء الأمة من مسلمين ومسيحين.

وشهدت مدينة برشلونة مسيرة تضامنية مع الشعب الفلسطيني، ندد فيها المشاركون باستمرار العدوان الإسرائيلي على قطاع غزة والقدس والضفة وأراضي 48.

وشارك في المسيرة عدد من أبناء الجاليات الفلسطينية والعربية والمتضامنين ومناصري فلسطين.

وأدان المشاركون العدوان الإسرائيلي المتواصل على قطاع غزة، والمجازر بحق الأطفال والمدنيين الأبرياء، ورددوا هتافات تطالب بالحرية لشعبنا، وبوقف العدوان الإسرائيلي فوراً.

Nablus - "Jerusalem" dot com - Imad Saadeh - The Civil Defense reported that about 30,000 poultry birds had died due to the fires set up by settlers during their attack on the town of Qusra last night.

The Civil Defense added, in a statement, that its crews in Burin and Balata centers, with the support of the townspeople, were able to control the fires that led to the burning of a poultry farm completely and a second partly damaged, while a third farm was protected from burning, while a vehicle that was near these farms was also burned. .

He pointed out that his crews faced difficulties and obstacles along Hawara Street before arriving at the scene and putting out the fire.

It is noteworthy that the settlers' attack on the town of Qusra resulted in the wounding of two young men from the town.

Translation by "Jerusalem" dot com - The Israeli Public Prosecutor filed, on Thursday, an indictment against two boys from Ramallah , on charges of throwing stones at settler vehicles.

According to the website of the Hebrew Maariv newspaper, the two boys (16 years old) threw stones at settler vehicles while they were driving on settlement road 446, near Beit Sira.

Bangkok - (AFP) - The Royal Thai Navy announced that it had found six more bodies on Saturday, bringing its number to 12, six days after its ship sank, while 17 crew members are still missing.

The warship "HTMS Sukhothai" sank on Sunday night, about thirty kilometers off the coast of Pang Sapan (south), which launched a massive rescue operation, during which 76 crew members were rescued.

The Royal Navy said in a statement that it had recovered six bodies during the day on Saturday, which showed "preliminary data" that they were members of the crew, to be subjected later to a DNA analysis.

Last week, the bodies of six crew members were recovered.

The Navy added that several warships, patrol planes and helicopters have been deployed to the search area with the support of local agencies, volunteers and the private sector.

Admiral Chonlates Navanoograha said Tuesday that the incident was "one of the worst tragedies" in the history of the navy.

The rampage of the sea and the height of the waves, "three meters high", according to one of the survivors, contributed to damaging the ship's electrical system and making it "out of control" of the crew, according to the navy.

The crew tried to pump water out of the ship, but the flow was too strong, causing the ship to sink at a depth of 40 metres.

The US-made HTTPS Sukhothai was commissioned in 1987, according to the US Naval Institute Research Center.

غزة-دخل المنتخب الوطنيّ للكرة الشاطئيّة مرحلة جديدة من الإعداد والتحضير بقيادة المدير الفنيّ الوطنيّ عماد هاشم، تشمل تكثيف التدريبات التي تجري على ملاعب نماء الترابيّة شرقي غزة، وخوض مباريات تجريبية، للوقوف على قدرات اللاعبين ومستوياتهم، عقب اختيار 16 لاعباً للمشاركة في بطولة غرب آسيا التي تستضيفها المملكة العربية السعودية، منتصف أيار المقبل.

وذكر هاشم أنّ الفريق سيخوض خلال الشهر الجاري 4 مباريات أمام لاعبين نخب يمثلون تجمعات أندية، كلٍّ من الشمال، وغزة، والوسطى، والجنوب موضحاً أنّ هذه المباريات تهدف إلى إكساب اللاعبين المزيد من الخبرة وحُسن التصرف داخل الميدان الصغير، وبناء الهجمات من الخلف والجانبين، وكذلك لرفع منسوب اللياقة البدنيّة، والقدرة على التحمل خاصّة مع ارتفاع درجة الحرارة الذي يناسب أجواء السعودية. وأضاف أنّ سيركز في تدريباته، أيضاً، على جانب الخطط في الميدان، في خطوة لتحقيق نتائج إيجابية في البطولة، والعودة بإنجاز جديد، لإسعاد الجماهير، بخلاف ما حدث مع باقي المنتخبات، وأخرها الخروج من بطولة غرب آسيا التي جرت مؤخراً في الإمارات، حيث احتل الفريق امركز الأخير في مجموعته. وقد أجرى الفريق تدريبات متتابعة على مدار يومين سيتخللها راحة سلبية على أن يعود من جديد إلى تدريبين يومياً في ساعات النهار، وتحت الأضواء الكاشفة.

يذكر أنّ الجهاز التدريبي يضمُّ إلى جانب هاشم، سامي سالم مساعداً، وطلعت النمس مدربا لحراس المرمى، وباسل عوكل مديراً إدارياً.

Cairo - (AFP) - An Egyptian court sentenced, on Monday, three years in prison to the young Egyptian researcher, Ahmed Samir Sentawy, on charges of "publishing false news," according to human rights organizations.

The Association for Freedom of Thought and Human Rights Expression in Egypt wrote on its official Facebook page that it "condemns the ruling issued today by the Emergency State Security Court for misdemeanours, imprisoning Ahmed Samir Sentawy, researcher and master's student at Central European University in Austria, for a period of three years."

The Foundation called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to "cancel this unjust sentence and release Sentawy unconditionally."

The researcher was arrested in February 2021 during a family visit to Egypt, and in June of the same year he was sentenced to four years in prison, but the sentence was overturned and it was decided to re-try him before another court, so he was again convicted of “spreading false news,” which is a common accusation among many. Of those arrested on charges of opinion.

Annemarie Schlack, executive director of Amnesty International in Austria, where Samir University is, believes that the case is "just one example of the Egyptian government's violations" of human rights.

It called for the "immediate and unconditional release of all those imprisoned solely for exercising human rights."

Egypt is the largest Arab country in terms of population, with 103 million people, and human rights organizations estimate the number of political prisoners in it at about 60,000, and accuse Cairo of violating human rights in all fields, but Sisi always denies this.

Since the end of April, Egypt has witnessed a wave of releases of dozens of political activists, especially after Sisi reconfigured the presidential pardon committee, which raised expectations of the release of a large number of prisoners of conscience.

This week, the "national dialogue" that Sisi called for in order to coordinate and agree between the various political forces begins, although some are skeptical about this initiative.

Egyptian historian Khaled Fahmy wrote in a tweet on Twitter, Monday, "The verdict on Ahmed Samir Sintawy to 3 years in prison because of a post on Facebook ... If only people who are enthusiastic about national dialogue would wake up and understand the limits of dialogue that the regime is prepared to accept: we speak and you keep silent."

Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Monday ordered the allocation of 20 billion riyals (5.1 billion euros) to provide direct cash aid to low-income families and citizens to help them cope with the repercussions of inflation, in addition to increasing the kingdom's stocks of basic materials, according to the statement. What was reported by the official news agency "SPA".

Wass said that the royal order stipulates the allocation of financial support in the amount of 20 billion riyals to face the repercussions of rising prices globally, of which 10.4 billion riyals are direct cash transfers to support beneficiaries of social security, the citizen account program, and the program to support small livestock breeders, provided that the rest of the amount is allocated to increase stocks. The strategy for basic materials and ensuring their availability.

And Saudi Arabia , the largest oil exporter in the world, suffered from inflation to a much lesser degree than many other countries. Indeed, the Kingdom benefited from the huge rise in the prices of black gold since the Russian army began invading Ukraine.

And in April, the International Monetary Fund expected the Kingdom's GDP to rise by 7.6% this year.

In the Kingdom, especially through electronic space, the voices of many protesting against the high prices were raised, and some of them called for a boycott of eggs and the products of a famous company for the production of poultry and dairy.

In May, the consumer price index in the Kingdom increased by 2.2%, after food and beverage prices increased by 4.4%, and transport prices increased by 4%.

Taipei - (AFP) - The Taipei Zoo said that a male giant panda , presented by China to Taiwan fourteen years ago as a symbol of the warm relations between them at the time, died Saturday after suffering a series of strokes.

"Our medical team has confirmed that Tuan Tuan's heart stopped beating at 13:48 (0548 GMT)," the zoo said in a brief statement, which did not mention the cause of death.

Earlier Saturday, a separate statement said the panda's condition had reached a "point of no return" and he could no longer "live the good life".

Veterinarians first noticed in August that 18-year-old panda Tuan Tuan was ill when he began having seizures, appearing increasingly agitated and lethargic.

Medical examinations showed that he was suffering from a brain ailment, and he was given anti-convulsant medication.

Last month, the zoo suspected Tuan Tuan had a brain tumour, and transferred him for palliative care.

Tuan Tuan and his breeding mate Yuan Yuan were given to Taiwan by Beijing in late 2008, at a time when relations between them were friendlier.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, and has previously pledged to return the self-governing democratic island to its sovereignty, by force if necessary.

In reference to this goal, the names of the two pandas mean "reunion" or "unity".

China uses pandas as gifts to strengthen relations with other countries, the so-called "panda diplomacy".

Washington - (AFP) Washington imposed economic sanctions on Iran 's public prosecutor Wednesday for his role in the violent crackdown on protests, as well as on a number of officials and a company that makes equipment for the country's law enforcement agencies.

The five people targeted by these sanctions are involved in "continuing violence against demonstrators."
The US Treasury Department said in its statement that Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Jaafar Montazeri is "the senior official overseeing the trials of the demonstrators."

"At the end of September, he directed the courts to act 'decisively' and impose harsh penalties on the many people arrested during the demonstrations," the ministry added.

The United States is also targeting him with sanctions for his role in "the use of torture by the Iranian authorities during investigations to extract a confession."

The economic sanctions imposed by Washington mean that his assets in the United States are frozen, and that anyone who makes a financial transaction with him is also subject to the same sanctions.

"We condemn the Iranian regime's escalating use of violence against its own people who are defending their human rights," Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in the statement.

And at the beginning of December, Mohammad Jaafar Montazeri announced the abolition of the morality police, which was established in 2006 and concerned specifically with the application of wearing the veil.

Iran has been witnessing demonstrations since the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, 22, on September 16, three days after she was arrested by the morality police for violating the strict dress code in the Islamic Republic.

Since then, hundreds of people have been killed, thousands arrested and two 23-year-old men executed.

Ramallah - "Jerusalem" dot com - The Independent Commission for Human Rights "Board of Grievances" considered, on Sunday evening, the continued detention of citizen Musab Shtayyeh , despite the issuance of a judicial decision to release him, as "arbitrary detention and constitutes a clear violation of the law."

In a statement, the Commission demanded, after an urgent visit to Shtayyeh, his immediate release.

The authority confirmed that Shtayyeh is currently in Jericho Governmental Hospital, and his visit is a researcher from the authority to check on his health condition.

She indicated that the information available to her is that he is on a hunger strike and refraining from taking medicine, noting that he needs medical care, and is demanding his release in response to the court's decision.

It is noteworthy that the Magistrate's Court in Jericho had issued a decision to release Musab Shtayyeh, who was pursued by the occupation, but it was not implemented.

بكين - (شينخوا) قال بيان صدر على الموقع الإلكتروني لوزارة الخارجية الصينية اليوم الثلاثاء إن الصين ستلغي اختبارات الحمض النووي للقادمين من الخارج اعتبارا من يوم 8 يناير القادم.

وقال البيان إنه من الأفضل للمسافرين القادمين إلى الصين إجراء اختبار الحمض النووي في غضون 48 ساعة قبل مغادرتهم، ويُنصح الأشخاص الذين تأتي نتائجهم للاختبار إيجابية بتأجيل رحلاتهم حتى تكون نتائجهم للاختبار سلبية.

وليس من الضروري للمسافرين التقدم بطلب للحصول على رمز صحي من البعثات الدبلوماسية والقنصليات الصينية، وسيعلنون عن حالتهم الصحية من خلال ملء نموذج الإعلان الصحي لدى البطاقات الجمركية الصينية، وفقا للبيان.

وقال البيان إن مَن يفصحون عن حالة صحية غير طبيعية أو أعراض حمى سيتلقون اختبار المستضدات في الجمارك، مضيفا أنه سيتم نصحهم بالعزل الذاتي في المنزل حتى الشفاء أو العلاج في المستشفى، حسب ظروفهم الصحية.

Ramallah - "Jerusalem" dot com - Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh briefed the US Special Envoy for Palestinian Affairs, Hadi Amr, on the violations and unilateral measures taken by the new extremist Israeli government against the Palestinian people immediately upon assuming power.

"The US administration is required to move urgently to put an end to the unilateral Israeli measures and threats that undermine the national authority, and systematically end the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state," the Prime Minister said, upon receiving the US envoy, today, Thursday, in Ramallah, in the presence of the head of the Palestinian Affairs Unit, George Noll. .

He stressed the need for the upcoming visit of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to the region to carry a message of hope for the Palestinian people, and a clear statement to the Israeli government of the need to stop violations and unilateral measures and oblige it to respect international law and signed agreements.

The prime minister called for real American pressure on the Israeli government to stop all violations and release the Palestinian money that it deducts illegally and illegally, whether in exchange for allowances for martyrs and prisoners, or the departure tax paid by the Palestinian citizen when he travels, or unaudited bills from any party.

Shtayyeh said, "The Palestinian people and their leadership will not accept the fait accompli, and we will move forward in the popular, political, diplomatic and legal struggle in the face of the Israeli measures."

رام الله- “القدس” دوت كوم- عماد ابو الجدايل- ر.ع ملتحقة في كلية الطب بسنتها الدراسية الاخيرة ، وخلال الشهر القادم ستتقدم لامتحاناتها النهائية التي تفصلها عن التخرج ، ورغم الوضع المادي الصعب التي تمر به العائلة وحصولها على تقدير جيد جدًا لم تتمكن من تسديد رسومها المطلوبة على الفصل الدراسي الثاني.

الطالبة من عائلة بسيطة ، الاب منفصل عن العائلة ولا يفي بالتزاماته تجاه العائلة ، والدتها تعمل موظفة وتتقاضى شهريا ٣ الاف شيقل بالكاد تستطيع توفير مصاريف البيت الاساسية من مأكل ومشرب، حظيت الطالبة بالسابق على دعم من اهل الخير ومنحة جزئية ساعدتها في الوصول الان الى فصلها الاخير.

العائلة تعيش الكثير من القلق بعد ان وجهت الجامعة رسالة لابنتهم بانه ان لم تقم بتسديد الرسوم المطلوبة البالغة 7560 شيقل خلال هذا الشهر ستحرم من تقديم امتحاناتها النهائية وهذا يعني ان يتأخر تخرجها الى العام القادم.

لم يبقى امام الطالبة اي امل سوى مناشدة أهل الخير في مساعدتها حتى لا تحرم من التخرج مع زملائها هذا الصيف.

ولتقديم المساعدة والاستفسار يرجى الاتصال على الرقم 0597032595 مع الشكر.

Dubai - (AFP) - An advertisement inviting Emiratis to apply for the job of "sandwich maker" sparked outrage and some considered it an insulting attempt to provide job opportunities, prompting the authorities to open an investigation.

And the Federal Prosecution Office for Combating Rumors and Cybercrime in the UAE announced on Saturday that it had initiated "an investigation with officials of a private sector company for publishing an advertisement for non-skilled jobs for UAE nationals in violation of the regulations for nationalizing jobs," considering that the advertisement contained "exciting propaganda that would incite public opinion."

The Public Prosecution did not specify the name of the company or its manager, but its statement came after an advertisement appeared for the Kamal Jamjoom Group for the position of “sandwich maker” in a Subway branch. The announcement stated that the step comes "in support of the state's efforts to nationalize jobs."

The advertisement, which was later removed, comes weeks before the expiry of a deadline given to private companies in the UAE that employ more than 50 people to ensure that at least 2% of their employees are UAE nationals, under penalty of fines.

"This is a mockery," one Twitter user wrote about announcing the vacancy at Subway.
And another wrote in a tweet that was re-published by hundreds of accounts, "Lack of administrative, financial and technical jobs, bringing the matter to + prepare sandwiches +!!???!!!! Oh, time."

Emirati academics also got involved in the discussion.

"This post-oil period seems difficult," said Emirati researcher Mira Al-Hussein.

Others considered that there is no shame in such jobs, as one Emirati pointed out on Twitter that billionaire Jeff Bezos began his career as an employee of McDonald's.

The Kamal Jamjoom Group apologized for the announcement, explaining that a "translation error" led to the wrong wording.
According to the International Labor Organization, more than 90% of the workforce in the private sector in the UAE is composed of foreigners.

The international organization notes that Emirati nationals mainly work in stable and relatively well-paid jobs in the country's vast public sector.

As part of a drive to boost Emirati employment, the UAE government this year launched a mandatory "Tawteen" campaign that requires most large private sector companies to hire Emiratis for skilled jobs.

And as of January 1, 2023, non-compliant companies face fines of up to 6,000 dirhams ($1,633) for each job not held by an Emirati citizen within the percentages set by the government.

Jerusalem - "Jerusalem" dot com - The people of Shuafat camp and the town of Anata, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, announced Thursday evening that they will continue their civil disobedience against the siege imposed on them by the Israeli occupation for the sixth day in a row.

Representatives of the people of the camp and the town confirmed in a press conference that they will continue the civil disobedience until Friday prayers, when the place of its residence will be announced at the appropriate time, after which the continuation of the disobedience will be announced or suspended according to field and legal developments.

They issued a general call to the youth of the area in the Shuafat and Anata camps to clean the internal streets, and not to disturb public and private property.

They also stressed the suspension of public transportation in the region, and the non-direction of workers to their work, while allowing the resumption of domestic and commercial life in all its forms within the region.

And they called on the masses of our people in occupied Jerusalem and inside the lands of 1948 so that tomorrow, Friday, will be a day of support for their besieged families in Shuafat camp and the town of Anata, in order to end the Israeli siege.

Washington - (AFP) - From the United States to Brazil, via Israel, disinformation campaigns marked the elections that were organized in 2022, although many voters were not drawn into these tactics aimed at sowing doubt about democratic paths.

Fake news has swept Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube with edited images intended to manipulate voters as well as deepfake videos, an artificial intelligence technique that replaces one face with another. Various platforms are accused of failing to combat these threats.

Many American candidates have resorted to Donald Trump's anti-democratic tactics, such as assertions of electoral fraud without providing evidence. But contrary to the expectations of the Republicans, who were counting on a "red wave" in the mid-term elections, the majority of the candidates supported by the former president were severely defeated.

Mike Caulfield, a researcher at the Center for an Informed Public Opinion at the University of Washington, told AFP that Republican leaders "seem to have become convinced that the adoption of the conspiracy theory has led to poor choices of candidates, limited mobilization of voters, and sowing mistrust among them." and many other pests.

"Many people will now try to distance their supporters from conspiracy theories about electoral fraud," he added.

In Brazil, where the second round of the presidential elections witnessed a competition between the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and the left-wing candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the election campaign was replete with disinformation, as the outgoing president, like Donald Trump, denounced electoral fraud without presenting any evidence.

Lula eventually won, while opinion polls show that the majority of Brazilian voters still trust electronic voting. However, analysts warned that combating disinformation still requires vigorous efforts.

In Israel, too, the Likud Party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a "stop the fraud" campaign as soon as it announced new elections.

The party and its supporters have repeatedly emphasized these accusations to improve the chances of victory, according to analysts.

Ashiya Shatz of the anti-disinformation group "Fake Reporter" says, "Likud has promoted allegations that the polls are rigged and that the electoral commission in Israel is controlled by the 'deep state'," meaning that senior officials secretly control the levers of government.

Likud and its right-wing allies won the majority of seats in parliament, opening the door to a possible return to power for Netanyahu. Netanyahu did not object to the outcome of the vote.

Donald Trump's spectrum also hangs over politics in Hungary, where the former US president backed far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of April's election, which was marred by massive disinformation.

A study by the Hungarian think tank "Political Capital" said that Viktor Orban Fidesz's party "has made maximum use of its control over the media to spread untrue or deceptive allegations and accusations against its opponents."

Ahead of the vote, Viktor Orban, a senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserted without any evidence that his opponents had "made a deal with the Ukrainians" to provide them with weapons and aid if they won. Fidesz won a landslide victory.

The world in general is witnessing an increasing propensity for media misinformation regarding elections, which reduces public opinion's confidence in democratic institutions and may lead to chaos, as some may seek to manipulate the results.

In the Philippines, disinformation via social media reached "unprecedented" levels during the presidential elections in May, says Rachel Khan of the fact-checking network Tsik-F.

She expresses her regret that fact-checking the news "doesn't have much effect," noting that there is a "competency problem in the media. Even those who say they know how to detect media disinformation don't know that."

In Kenya, the two front-runners in the presidential elections, William Ruto and Raila Odinga, have been accused of hiring digital "fighters". False news began to spread about a year before the elections last August, especially "deep fake" videos.

Kenya's High Court confirmed William Ruto's election, but many Raila Odinga supporters remain convinced of fraud.
Elections are due next year in Nigeria and similar tactics are already emerging on social media.

In the United States, analysts have warned that campaigns that sow doubt about the integrity of the electoral process may revive with the approach of the 2024 elections, especially after Donald Trump announced his candidacy.

"Disinformation remains a potent tool and will continue to be used by all parties who do not recognize the results of an election they do not win," said Pamela Smith of the independent Verified Voting group.

Ramallah - "Jerusalem" dot com - Today, Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates considered the Israeli government's policy of intensifying and escalating the demolition of Palestinian homes and facilities, an attempt to cancel the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, and in general areas classified as "C", and to empty it of its inhabitants, the owners of the land, and allocate it As a strategic depth for settlement.

In a statement, the ministry warned of the catastrophic dangers resulting from the demolition of Palestinian homes and facilities, and the unprecedented escalation in its commission, as a "war crime" and a "crime against humanity."

It described these violations as the worst forms of ethnic cleansing committed by the Israeli government and its various arms on a daily basis in the occupied Palestinian territory in a quiet and gradual manner, so that the international community does not feel it.

The Ministry considered that the accumulations of ongoing demolitions are frightening and widespread, and lead to the displacement of Palestinian families, including children, women, the elderly, and the sick, and leave them in the open without shelter, in gross and flagrant violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the Israeli government fully and directly responsible for the results and repercussions of this crime on the conflict arena, and its negative repercussions on the relationship between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

It also held the international community responsible for its suspicious silence regarding this ongoing crime, and for its contention with some lackluster reactions, which do not constitute any pressure on the Israeli government to stop it.

Qalqilya - "Jerusalem" dot com - The Israeli occupation authorities informed the family of the young prisoner Younes Jalal Hailan ( 19 years) to vacate their house, in the village of Hajjah, east of Qalqilya, within three days, in preparation for its demolition.

It is noteworthy that in mid-November 2022, the occupation forces raided the village and took its measurements, as their son, "Younes", allegedly killed a settler in the hotel town, east of Qalqilya, in October of last year.