PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 4:04 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation arrests a young man and detains others south of Nablus

Today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested a young man and detained others, south of Nablus .


According to local sources, those forces arrested a young man - whose identity has not yet been known - and detained others on the road between Hawara and Qalqilya, near the entrance to the "Yitzhar" settlement, which was established on the citizens' lands.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 3:26 pm - Jerusalem Time

19 Arab prisoners in the occupation prisons

Today, Saturday, the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said that about (19) Arab prisoners are still languishing in the occupation prisons , and that all of them are Jordanians, some of whom hold Jordanian nationality, while others are of Palestinian origin and have Jordanian national numbers.


In a statement, the Commission stated that among the Jordanian prisoners are (9) prisoners serving life sentences (for life) for one or more times, and (5) prisoners serving sentences ranging from 20-36 years, and (3) other prisoners. They are serving sentences ranging from 10 to less than 20 years, in addition to another prisoner serving a 5-year prison sentence, in addition to an administrative detainee, and among these prisoners are those who have been detained for more than 20 years, respectively.


And it showed that these Jordanian prisoners are distributed in several prisons of the Israeli occupation, namely: "Raymon", "Nafha", "Eshel", "Gilboa", "Negev", "Eshel", "Ofer" and "Megiddo". ".


The Commission stated that they receive the same harsh treatment and are subjected to the same Israeli violations and crimes, and that the prison administration has never distinguished in its dealings and repression between a Palestinian prisoner and an Arab prisoner, and perhaps the suffering of Arab prisoners exceeds that of Palestinian prisoners because the vast majority of them are denied family visits.


The Commission called on all concerned institutions and the various media to give them more attention and shed light on their case and their worsening suffering, and to constantly seek to guarantee their freedom and the freedom of all prisoners in the Israeli occupation prisons.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 3:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Preparations for the evacuation of our nationals from Khartoum have begun

Today, Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said, "The State of Palestine has begun its preparations to evacuate its citizens and students from Khartoum ."


A central crisis cell was formed for this purpose, in full partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, the General Intelligence Service, Military Intelligence, the Ministry of Interior, and other relevant ministries and institutions.


It also formed a crisis cell in Khartoum to follow up on all arrangements and details related to evacuation, working around the clock to count the numbers of those wishing to leave Khartoum in preparation for their evacuation in the near future, in full coordination with Sudan, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

ARAB AND WORLD

Sat 22 Apr 2023 2:29 pm - Jerusalem Time

A year after his election, Emmanuel Macron hopes for a new start

By announcing a period of one hundred days for a new start after a stumbling block, French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledges the political impasse he has reached a year after his re-election.


On April 24, 2022, the 44-year-old president was re-elected, defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round, just as he had done five years earlier.


This is an achievement under the Fifth Republic outside the period of coexistence, on the part of the person who caused a surprise in 2017 by positioning himself in the middle to dismantle the old political divisions.


But the launch of this second term, which will be the last according to the constitution, immediately lost its momentum.


The election campaign was affected by the war in Ukraine, and then the legislative elections deprived him of an absolute majority in the National Assembly.


Finally, the controversial pension reform, which raised the retirement age to 64, caused a major political and social crisis.


The result was a head of state who seeks to find a way to continue reform and finds himself forced to achieve a majority according to the texts.


And for a period of time he succeeded in achieving this goal.


The executive reminds everyone that before the retirement age of 64 was finally imposed without a vote thanks to the controversial Article 49.3 of the Constitution, more than two dozen other texts were passed with votes from the right and sometimes the left — from renewable energy to nuclear to purchasing power.


Macron asserts, "We are progressing with difficulty," while positively evaluating "the outcome of six years" in the presidency.


Macron's great frustration is the vociferous public anger whose "successes" marginalize low unemployment, the beginning of the country's re-industrialization, and shields to partially protect the French from skyrocketing prices.


In fact, Emmanuel Macron is not very popular, as it has recorded its lowest levels since the beginning of the “yellow vests” crisis, the protest movement that emerged at the end of 2018 against the backdrop of discontent with fuel prices.


"The reform of the pension system is behind the decline in its popularity," said Celine Braque, general director of the Odoxa pollster. She told Agence France-Presse that she reinforced the most negative features of his image, such as his "contempt for the French" and he is often criticized for it.


During a speech on Monday to try to put an end to three months of protests over the pension system, Macron announced a "gift of 100 days" and "work" and set a date for July 14, National Day, for a "preliminary assessment".


Meanwhile, after staying out of the limelight since the beginning of the year, he resumed his field visits. He visited Alsace on Wednesday, where he was booed.


The Elysee Palace described what happened as a "collective outlet for anger."


"It is an essential stage for reopening the papers" and "obtaining a truce," said one of the president's confidants.


Through his plan, he hopes that "it will be difficult at first" before "things will gradually improve" according to "the theory of throwing punches and getting up after each blow."


"The 100-day period announced by Emmanuel Macron is a way of saying (...) + there was a failure in the launch and there was a misunderstanding between us and we are starting from scratch +," said Philippe Moreau-Chevole, professor of political sciences at Sciences Po University.


According to him, the president will try to "make something new every day" by making field visits, and by renewing union calls in May.


The executive authority did not solve the parliamentary equation.


For her part, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne failed to "expand" the majority in the National Assembly. But due to the lack of an alternative, according to many sources close to Macron, the president has now decided to install the government and has renewed his confidence in it, albeit reluctantly.


During downtime, the prime minister should present a roadmap on Wednesday but she doesn't really know at this point how the most divisive texts, starting with immigration, will be adopted.


Celine Braque warns that "any major reform will face obstacles at the present time," and believes that the president "will be forced to practice politics on a small scale," contrary to "the initial promises made by Macron."

Sat 22 Apr 2023 2:27 pm - Jerusalem Time

German magazine editor sacked over fake interview with Schumacher

The editor-in-chief of the German magazine "Die Actuelle" has been sacked after publishing a mock interview conducted with artificial intelligence techniques with seven-time former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher , the Funke media group announced Saturday.


Anne Hoffmann sparked a storm of controversy when the magazine published on Wednesday an alleged interview with Schumacher, his first since he suffered a serious brain injury in a 2013 skiing accident in the French Alps.


The interview included quotes attributed to Schumacher, in which he discussed his family life since the accident and his health.


A spokesman for the Schumacher family, which has been keen to keep the case of the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver secret, confirmed that the latter plans to take legal action during the interview with "ISBN".


Bianca Pullman, director of the Funke media group, apologized to the Schumacher family on Saturday.


"The article was in poor taste and misleading and should never have appeared," Pullman said in a statement.


She added that the interview "in no way met the standards of journalism that we and our readers would expect from a group like Funke."


"The editor-in-chief of d'Actoile Anne Hoffmann has been relieved of the position she has held since 2009, with immediate effect," she added.


The interview included quotes attributed to Schumacher, in which he discussed his family life since the accident and his health.


Schumacher, 54, has not been seen in public in the 10 years since his injury, with little information provided publicly about his condition.


Reports indicate that Schumacher has been suffering from memory, movement and speech problems since the accident and is being cared for at his home near Geneva.


"Privacy is privacy, as he always said," Corina, Michael's wife, said in a documentary film broadcast on the "Netflix" platform in 2021. "Michael always protects us, and now we protect Michael."


Schumacher won seven Formula One titles (2 with Benetton and 5 with Ferrari), before equaling his British record with Lewis Hamilton. The German has achieved 91 class 1 victories, behind Hamilton (103).


Mick (24 years) continued his father's track career, where he participated for two years with the Haas team, and he is currently serving as a reserve driver with Mercedes and McLaren teams.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 2:25 pm - Jerusalem Time

Police seize a piece of firearm in Hebron

Today, Saturday, the police arrested a person for his involvement in a number of shooting and bullying crimes in the town of Tarqumiya, west of Hebron .


The media spokesman for the police, Colonel Louay Arziqat , explained that this person was wanted for justice after his participation in a number of quarrels and acts of bullying in which he used firearms, as the General Investigations managed to arrest him and seized a firearm in his possession.


Arziqat emphasized the reservation of the arrested person to duly complete the legal procedures against him.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 2:18 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation forces stormed Bab al-Rahma chapel and cut off the electricity

Today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces stormed the Bab al-Rahma chapel located in the eastern region of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.


These forces cut off the electricity lines, removed the gates, and vandalized the contents of the chapel, taking advantage of the people's preoccupation with Eid al-Fitr.


The occupation is trying to impose its sovereignty on the blessed mosque.


PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 1:03 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation tightens its military measures in the vicinity of Nablus

Today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces continued to tighten their measures at the military checkpoints deployed in the vicinity of Nablus .


Our correspondent reported that the occupation forces continue to close a number of checkpoints surrounding the city, search vehicles, and check citizens' cards.


He added that the Hawwara and Za'tara checkpoints, south of the city, witnessed closures from some sides on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, while the Surra and Deir Sharaf checkpoints witnessed a traffic crisis, due to the occupation's obstruction of citizens' movement through them in both directions.

ARAB AND WORLD

Sat 22 Apr 2023 12:43 pm - Jerusalem Time

The battles in Sudan are entering their second week in Sudan

The fighting entered its second week in Sudan , and the sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard again on Saturday morning in the Sudanese capital, after a decrease in the intensity of the fighting at night, following the announcement of a temporary truce between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.


The battles during the past week have caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.


The violent explosions that rocked the city in recent days stopped on Friday night after the two sides accepted a truce on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. But on Saturday morning the shooting resumed.


Violence erupted on April 15 between forces loyal to army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti and his sworn enemy.


The two former allies seized full power in a coup in 2021, during which they removed civilians who shared power with the military from power. However, the differences and the struggle for power soon began between them, although they remained latent in the first period.


On Friday, the army announced that it had "agreed to a three-day ceasefire" on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which was called for a day earlier by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.


Dagalo said in a statement that he "discussed the current crisis" with Guterres and "focused on the humanitarian truce, safe passages and the protection of humanitarian workers."


It is very difficult to know the details of field developments in light of the danger of movement, and each of the two parties asserts its superiority on the ground, which cannot be verified. It is also not possible to know who controls what in the capital, whose streets have been deserted by civilians.


In Khartoum , a city with a population of five million, the conflict upended the lives of civilians who were sheltering in terror in their homes without electricity in scorching heat.


A number of them venture out to get urgent food or flee the city.


Resident Sami al-Nur told AFP that the holiday should be "with sweets and pastries, with happy children and people greeting relatives", but instead there is "gunfire and the smell of blood around us".


Khartoum witnessed very violent battles during the past days, as combat aircraft launched air strikes on several locations, while tanks roamed the streets and fired bullets and artillery in densely populated areas. But violence exploded across the country as well.


Late Friday, the army accused the RSF of carrying out attacks in the twin city of the capital, Omdurman, where they released "a large number of inmates" from a prison. But the RSF denied this.


And battles broke out in the Darfur region in western Sudan, where the Doctors Without Borders organization in the city of El Fasher said that the situation was "catastrophic", and "there are not enough beds to accommodate the huge number of wounded", including a large number of children.


Several parties are preparing plans for the evacuation of foreign nationals, while the United States, South Korea and Japan have deployed forces in neighboring countries, and the European Union is considering a similar move.


The US State Department said Friday that the situation remains dangerous for the embassy staff to be evacuated.


Subsequently, the RSF said it was ready to open "partially all airports" in Sudan for the evacuation of foreigners, although it is not possible to know which airports are controlled by these forces.


The World Health Organization said 413 people were killed and 3,551 wounded in the fighting across Sudan, but the actual death toll is believed to be higher, as many of the wounded could not reach hospitals.


The Doctors Syndicate said more than two-thirds of hospitals in Khartoum and neighboring states have now "stopped working". Others were looted and at least four hospitals bombed in North Kordofan state.


The World Food Program said the violence could drive millions more to starvation in a country where 15 million people - a third of the population - need help.


Analysts fear that countries in the region will be drawn into the conflict. The International Crisis Group stressed the need to take urgent steps to stop the slide into "all-out civil war".


The dispute between Al-Burhan and Daglo centers on the plan to integrate the Rapid Support Forces into the army, which is a prerequisite for an agreement aimed at resuming democratic transition in Sudan.


The army overthrew President Omar Al-Bashir in April 2019 after mass popular demonstrations against him, and after he ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades.


Al-Burhan and Daglo allied in October 2021 to overthrow a civilian government that was formed after the fall of Al-Bashir, which obstructed the transition to internationally supported democracy.


Dagalo later said the coup was a "mistake" and did not lead to change, while al-Burhan asserted that it was "necessary" to get more parties involved in politics.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 12:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Hackers penetrate two Israeli websites for the Electricity Company and Lod Airport

Hackers managed, on Saturday, to penetrate two Israeli websites, one for the Electricity Company, and the other for Lod Airport, Ben Gurion.


According to the Hebrew website Ynet, the hackers, who are called "Anonymous Sudan", were able to penetrate the website of the Israeli Electricity Company, before it returned to work after a short time, after the attack was repelled by specialists.


The hackers took down the site of Lod Airport, "Ben Gurion", amid attempts to restore it by those in charge of it.


PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 12:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Prisoner Adnan continues his hunger strike for the 77th day

The prisoner, Khader Adnan (44 years), from the town of Arraba, south of Jenin, continues his open hunger strike for the 77th day in a row, in refusal of his arrest.


The Captive Club warned of the death of prisoner Adnan, who is being held in the "Ramla Prison Clinic" and is facing a very serious health condition.


He said, in a statement, that the prisoner Adnan has reached a very dangerous stage, and he is at risk of martyrdom at any moment, especially since the occupation authorities, to this day, refuse to deal with his demand, and he refuses to take aids and conduct medical examinations.


The prisoner, Adnan, announced his open hunger strike from the moment of his arrest on the fifth of last February, after the occupation forces stormed his house in Arraba, and wreaked havoc on it before arresting him.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 12:36 pm - Jerusalem Time

Gaza: 37 injuries occurred during traffic accidents last week

On Saturday, the Gaza Traffic Department announced the registration of 37 injuries during 85 traffic accidents last week (from 15 to 21 April).


According to the statistics, among the injuries, 5 were serious, 20 were in moderate condition, and 12 were in minor condition.


114 vehicles sustained material damage and damage, according to the statistics.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 12:27 pm - Jerusalem Time

Will China enter the Palestinian-Israeli mediation line to revive the peace process?!

The Hebrew website Ynet said, on Saturday, that China has achieved diplomatic and intellectual success in the Middle East, and has become an important player in the region after it succeeded in renewing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran after a long rupture.


According to the Hebrew site, China seems to be trying to be on the way to resolving the decades-old conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.


The site indicated that last Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Chen Gang spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, and that the latter's ministry statement did not refer to addressing the file of the conflict with the Palestinians, and that the Iranian nuclear file was discussed, while the ministry in Beijing indicated that its minister He spoke with Cohen and the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad Al-Maliki, and focused on the fear of escalation in the Palestinian territories, and his country's support for the resumption of peace talks between the two parties.


After the success in renewing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Beijing is heading to try to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: "It is never too late. The recent agreement was an example of overcoming differences." Netanyahu said he was unaware of the initiative, which is a signal to the Chinese that Israel is committed to the United States - and called on Washington to: "increase involvement in the Middle East."


According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement at the time, Gang informed the Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers that China was ready to assist in the talks between the two parties, and even stressed that the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran is a good example of overcoming differences through dialogue, and that Beijing encourages showing political courage and moving towards Resumption of dialogue between the two parties.


A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, a day after that conversation, that his minister, Chen Gang, told Ministers Cohen and Al-Maliki, "It is not yet time to do the right thing." Resolve the conflict in the short term.


Against the background of Chinese activity in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked a few days ago in an interview with the American CNBC channel about this, and he said, directing his message to the Saudis after the agreement with Iran mediated by China, "95% of the problems in the Middle East stem from Iran, and the evidence for that The misery of the countries that are close to Iran, including Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq.


He believed that this deal has more to do with the war in Yemen, and that Saudi Arabia understands that Israel is a necessary partner for it, he said.


He added, "We respect China, and we do great business with it, but we have a necessary alliance with our great friend the United States .. Israel is not alone, most countries in the Middle East welcome greater American participation in the Middle East, and it is very important for the United States to be clear about its commitment." towards regional issues.


Ron Ben-Yishai, a military and security commentator for Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, says that the worrying thing is that China is strengthening its grip on the Middle East, as a result of renewing these relations at the expense of the United States, which is the sponsor of Israel in the region, pointing to the decline of the American role in the region in exchange for the rise of the main Chinese competitor.


Tommy Steiner, director of policy at the Chinese-Israeli Global Network and Academic Leadership (Signal), says that the meaning of Netanyahu's statements is that his government has begun to understand that Chinese interference in political and strategic affairs in the Middle East can harm Israel, which must act wisely towards what is happening.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 11:53 am - Jerusalem Time

Settlers destroy agricultural crops south of Hebron

Today, Saturday, a group of settlers , under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, destroyed agricultural crops east of Yatta town, south of Hebron .


According to local sources, the settlers released their livestock into the farmers' fields, on an area of five dunams, which led to the destruction of agricultural crops (wheat, barley, alfalfa, and squash) belonging to the Al-Zuwaidin family.



PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 11:06 am - Jerusalem Time

10,849 departures and 19,123 arrivals through the Beit Hanoun crossing last week

The General Authority for Borders and Crossings stated, on Saturday morning, that the total departures through the Beit Hanoun port in the northern Gaza Strip during the past week amounted to 10,849 departures, while the number of arrivals reached 19,123.


The authority stated in its statistics that the departures were divided into 10,774 citizens, 53 foreigners, and 22 Palestinians from the interior.


While I mentioned that the number of arrivals to Gaza through the Beit Hanoun crossing was distributed among 18,998 citizens, 63 foreigners, 58 Palestinians from the interior, and 4 deaths from those who were receiving treatment in the West Bank and the occupied interior.

ARAB AND WORLD

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:59 am - Jerusalem Time

The death toll from a landslide at a border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan rises to eight

The death toll from a massive landslide earlier this week that buried a fleet of trucks waiting to cross from Pakistan to Afghanistan has risen to eight, officials said Saturday.


The landslide occurred before dawn on Tuesday at the Torkham border crossing, the most used between the two countries, as more than 100 trucks were waiting to cross.


"So far we have recovered seven bodies," said Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the Pakistani rescue services, adding that "an operation is underway to recover an eighth body" from under the rubble.


Twenty trucks were buried in the accident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, while rescue services initially reported two deaths.


Most of the landslide occurred about 120 meters from the main border crossing, causing fires as drivers cooked meals on gas stoves before the daytime fast during Ramadan.


"Our workers are close to the eighth body and can see it," Faydi said, adding, "We removed 60 percent of the rubble, but another landslide occurred yesterday in the same area, which delayed the rescue operation."


The district's deputy commissioner, Abdul Nasir Khan, confirmed the death toll and said traffic had resumed on Thursday.


The cause of the landslide was not immediately clear, but one of the officials said on Tuesday that heavy machinery had been used for months in an expansion project in the hills around the border crossing, adding that heavy rain overnight may have contributed to it.

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:53 am - Jerusalem Time

Omicron's new variant, XBB.1.16, is spreading in the United States

A new Omicron variant is spreading in the United States and makes up nearly 10 percent of new weekly COVID-19 cases reported across the country, according to data updated Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


The new mutant called ′′ Arcturus ′′ also known as XBB. 1.16 of the sub-strain of the ′′ Omicron ′′ mutant was added by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to its tracker. Experts have warned that the percentage is expected to rise in the coming weeks and it could become the next dominant strain in the country.


The agency's data showed that the highly transmissible sub-mutant XBB.1.5 from Omicron remains the dominant strain in the United States, accounting for about 73.6 percent of new COVID-19 cases this week.


The World Health Organization is monitoring XBB.1.16, which has contributed to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in India.

ECONOMY

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:51 am - Jerusalem Time

Zelensky urges the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to accelerate projects in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged visiting European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Odile Reynaud-Basso to speed up the implementation of the bank's projects in Ukraine, Zelensky's press office reported on Friday.


"Speed today, in conditions of war and urgent reconstruction, is a very important element," Zelensky said during his talks with Renault-Basso in Kiev.


Zelensky said that the EBRD's investments in the private sector and development projects in Ukraine, especially the housing sector, are a priority for Kiev, expressing his thanks to the EBRD for its support to Ukraine and the implementation of important projects during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.


The EBRD said earlier that it is committed to providing financing of 3 billion euros (about 3.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022-2023 to help keep Ukraine's business and economy functioning.


Last year, the Bank allocated 1.7 billion euros ($1.87 billion) to support Ukraine.


In addition, the bank has mobilized 200 million euros ($220 million) directly from partner financial institutions.

ARAB AND WORLD

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:50 am - Jerusalem Time

Battles recede in Khartoum on the first day of Eid al-Fitr

On Friday, Khartoum witnessed violent battles during the day between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, before the sounds of explosions stopped in the evening in some neighborhoods of the Sudanese capital on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, amid increasing calls for a truce for civilians and to allow the exit of foreigners.


After a seventh day of clashes that, since April 15, have left 413 dead and 3,551 wounded, according to the World Health Organization, international calls were issued for a truce on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.


In the morning, the Rapid Support Forces, led by Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, announced their agreement to this truce, but similar to what they do daily, the army and support forces exchanged accusations of violating it on Friday.


At night, witnesses reported that the sounds of explosions had stopped in several neighborhoods of the capital.


It is not clear whether calm is spreading throughout Khartoum.


In a statement posted online, Dagalo said he "discussed the current crisis" with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who "focused on the humanitarian truce, safe passages and the protection of humanitarian workers."


On Thursday, Guterres and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for a ceasefire during the three days of Eid "at least".


US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, "It seems clear that the clashes are continuing and that there is no trust" between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.


In the evening, the US State Department announced that "due to the unstable security situation in Khartoum and the closure of the airport, it is not safe at this time for the US government to conduct a coordinated evacuation."


The Rapid Support Forces quickly announced on social networks their readiness to partially open all Sudanese airports to air traffic to enable brotherly and friendly countries that wish to evacuate their nationals to leave the country safely.


Seven days ago, the two camps asserted control of many strategic facilities, including the airport, but the intensity of air strikes, exchanges of fire, and battles makes it impossible to verify on the ground the validity of what each side declares.


Washington announced the deployment of military personnel in the region in anticipation of any possible evacuation, and South Korea and Japan announced the dispatch of aircraft.


And on Friday, an official in the European Union announced that the bloc is preparing plans for possible evacuations of its nationals from Khartoum, if the security situation permits.


The Sudan Doctors Syndicate said that new hospitals were severely damaged in Khartoum, and four hospitals were hit in El Obeid, 350 km south of Khartoum.


In order to help civilians, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called for "immediate access to humanitarian aid as hostilities continue in Sudan."


The international body called on "the parties once again to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law."


The ongoing confrontations broke out for seven days, in Khartoum and in Darfur (west) in particular, between the regular army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is considered the de facto leader of Sudan since the 2021 coup, and the Rapid Support Forces led by Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo.


A power struggle that had lain for weeks between the two senior officers turned into a pitched battle.


A doctor from Doctors Without Borders said the "situation is catastrophic" in Darfur, which is one of the poorest regions in Sudan.


"There are so many patients that they are being treated on the floor in the corridors, simply because there are not enough beds," he added from Darfur.


The Air Force, which targets the bases and positions of the Rapid Support Forces deployed in residential areas, does not hesitate to drop bombs.


The Doctors Syndicate stated that "seventy percent of 74 hospitals in Khartoum and the areas affected by the fighting have stopped working," either because they were bombed, due to a lack of medical supplies and staff, or because fighters took control of them and expelled paramedics and the wounded.


The World Health Organization added early Saturday that it had "verified 11 attacks on healthcare facilities since the start of the conflict," with facilities in affected areas "almost non-functional due to staff exhaustion and lack of supplies."


Meanwhile, diplomatic contacts intensified in an effort to silence the guns. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Friday that he cut short his visit to the Asia-Pacific region for several days "because of the situation in Sudan."


Sami al-Nour, who lives in Khartoum, regretted that Eid al-Fitr came in the midst of battles and the "smell of death" that smelled instead of sweets and a joyful family atmosphere.


Ibrahim Awad, also a resident of Khartoum, said that confrontation was "inevitable" and that a country with two leaders and two armies "could not move forward".


Lieutenant General Al-Burhan delivered a speech on state television to the Sudanese on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, in his first appearance since the start of the fighting, without mentioning the possibility of declaring a truce.


Al-Burhan, who appeared in a military uniform, said, sitting in an office between Alamein, to Sudan, "Our country passes this year on the occasion of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr, and our country was hit by a very serious wound."


For its part, the United States announced Thursday that it is deploying troops in East Africa in anticipation of a possible evacuation of US embassy staff in Sudan.


South Korea and Japan will also send planes, while Khartoum airport remains closed since Saturday.


The battles broke out after al-Burhan and Daglo failed to reach an agreement on the conditions for integrating the Rapid Support Forces into the ranks of the regime army, in order to complete the political agreement regarding the return of civilians to power.


Large numbers of people, the majority of them women and children, scurry along the roads among the checkpoints and dead bodies, in order to flee. The United Nations stated that between ten thousand and twenty thousand people, especially women and children, went to neighboring Chad.


Most humanitarian organizations have had to suspend their aid, which is essential in a country where more than one in three people go hungry in normal times.


And the International Organization for Migration announced Friday that one of its employees was killed in the fighting in the city of El-Obeid in southern Sudan, after his vehicle got caught in an exchange of fire.


The International Crisis Group think tank warned that "neither Al-Burhan nor Dagalo seems to want to surrender, so the situation may get worse."


He added that "a long-term conflict would be devastating for Sudan," the third largest producer of gold in Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world.

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:47 am - Jerusalem Time

Google temporarily halted the construction of a huge site in Silicon Valley

Google has temporarily halted construction of a huge site in San Jose, in Silicon Valley , as part of its plan to cut costs, CNBC reported Friday.


And the "Alphabet" group, which owns Google, announced early this year that it would cut about 12,000 jobs worldwide, justifying this with a challenging economic reality.


Alphabet reported lower-than-expected revenue and profits in the last three months of last year, as difficult economic conditions lead to a decline in its advertising business.


A site in San Jose has been cleared for the Downtown West project, with construction expected to begin by the end of this year, according to a CNBC report.


The report quoted unnamed people as saying that the project was temporarily halted, without notifying the contractors about the date of its resumption.


The 80-acre (32-hectare) site includes offices, residential units and public gardens, according to CNBC.


The cut in Alphabet's budget follows a massive hiring wave during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by internet companies scrambling to meet the growing demand for their services during lockdowns.


On the other hand, the Google search engine found itself under pressure with the advent of Microsoft's generative Chat GPT program, which interacts with humans and can produce all kinds of texts on demand.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:42 am - Jerusalem Time

Iran calls for greater unity among Islamic countries in support of the Palestinians

On Thursday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian called for greater unity among Islamic countries in support of the Palestinian cause .


Raisi's invitation came during a phone call with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , during which the two leaders also discussed bilateral and regional issues.


Raisi condemned the recent "crimes" committed by Israel against Palestinian worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, pointing to the need for greater "solidarity and coordination" among Islamic countries to prevent Israelis from committing such acts.


The Iranian President stressed that strengthening relations with neighboring countries is a priority in Iran's foreign policy, explaining that ensuring development in the region depends on dialogue, interaction and cooperation between the countries of the region.


For his part, the Emir of Qatar stressed his country's "steadfast" position in supporting the "oppressed" Palestinian people and condemning the Israeli "aggression" on it.


In another phone conversation that took place on Thursday also between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, Amir Abdollahian stressed the need for unity of the Muslim world to confront Israel and protect the rights of the Palestinian people.


Amir Abdullahian praised Jordan's support for the Palestinians and the holy sites in Jerusalem, saying that Israel is the "biggest threat" to the region and the Muslim world.


The two ministers also expressed their willingness to expand the scope of bilateral relations.


Earlier this month, the Israeli forces launched attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for two consecutive days, during which they fired tear gas and sound bombs to disperse the Palestinian worshipers.


Those attacks drew condemnation from countries in the Middle East, and at the same time resulted in an escalation of conflict along the Israeli border.

PALESTINE

Sat 22 Apr 2023 10:38 am - Jerusalem Time

Occupation forces arrest a young man in Ramallah

At dawn today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested a young man from the town of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah .


According to local sources, these forces arrested Moataz Abdel Basset Al-Barghouti (22 years old) after they raided and searched his family's house.


Clashes broke out in the town, without any injuries reported.

PALESTINE

Fri 21 Apr 2023 10:07 pm - Jerusalem Time

"Israel" confiscates half a million shekels for the "Hamas" movement in Gaza

The Hebrew website Ynet reported, this evening, Friday, that the so-called "anti-terrorism" office for economic affairs in the office of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant , has issued funds amounting to more than half a million shekels in digital currencies .


According to the Hebrew-language Ynet website, more than 80 digital accounts of exchange companies working to serve Hamas in the Gaza Strip were seized, including the Dubai Exchange Office, Al-Tadamon Company, and Al-Wefaq Company.


He pointed out that these companies launder money and transfer it to the Hamas movement in Gaza, noting that the money was transferred to the Israeli treasury after its seizure.


The site says that although this is not a large amount, it indicates the expansion of the economic war against exchange institutions, including in separate countries that have relations with money changers linked to Hamas in Gaza.

PALESTINE

Fri 21 Apr 2023 9:57 pm - Jerusalem Time

No injuries.. A bus fell into holes in Gaza

The traffic police reopened, this evening, Friday, Salah El-Din Street in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, after a self-driving accident occurred.


The accident occurred as a result of part of an empty passenger bus falling into a ditch.


There were no injuries as a result of the accident.

PALESTINE

Fri 21 Apr 2023 8:37 pm - Jerusalem Time

A defector from the popular... Life sentence in absentia for the perpetrator of an attack against a synagogue in France 43 years ago

France's Special Criminal Court sentenced Lebanese-Canadian Hassan Diab , the sole suspect in the attack on a synagogue on Copernic Avenue in Paris on October 3, 1980, to life imprisonment after being tried in absentia.


The prosecution had requested this maximum punishment, which is the only "reasonable" punishment against this 69-year-old academic, saying there was "no doubt" that he was the perpetrator of this anti-Semitic attack that claimed the lives of four people nearly 43 years ago.


This attack, which targeted the Jewish community in France for the first time since the end of World War II, was attributed by investigators, based on intelligence, to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Special Operations, a splinter group from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.


After a long pause in the investigation, intelligence information revealed in 1999, that is, 18 years after the facts, the names of the supposed members of the group that carried out the attack, including Diab as the one who made the explosive device and loaded the motorcycle with ten kilograms of explosives that exploded in front of the synagogue.


The court only has black and white photos of this accused at different ages in his life and compares them with photos of the man who bought the motorcycle used in the attack, photos drawn based on witness statements in the 1980s.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 21 Apr 2023 8:33 pm - Jerusalem Time

Who are the two conflicting parties in Sudan?

The Sudanese army, led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan , and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Lieutenant General Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti", have been fighting bloody battles in Khartoum and other cities since April 15th.


The clashes killed more than 400 people and injured more than 3,500, in a toll that is expected to rise.


Who are the two conflicting parties, and what are the goals of each?


According to the "Military Balance Plus" base for military data and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the number of the army is estimated at 100,000, while the support forces include 40,000.


However, some experts estimate the support forces to be around 100,000, but they maintain the numerical superiority in favor of the army.


After nearly a week of fierce battles, it does not seem that any side has achieved significant field progress at the expense of the other.


Alex de Val, a researcher on African affairs, believes that the two sides have "the same size and the same fighting ability."


The fighting erupted against a background of a discrepancy between the two military commanders over the method of integrating the Rapid Support Forces into the armed forces, knowing that thousands of "support" members were among groups accused of committing abuses known as the "Janjaweed" formed by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was overthrown by a military coup in 2019. .


Al-Burhan wanted the merger process to take place within two years, and the criteria for recruitment into the army would be adopted. For his part, Daglo pushed for a ten-year extension, with the dead keeping their ranks after the merger.


While the army and support forces used to be "comrades in arms" against rebel groups in the governorates of Sudan, the current battles pit them not only against each other, but also in a field they do not fully know: Khartoum.


Ali Faraji, a researcher at the Rift Valley Institute, believes that both sides of the current confrontation "seem unwilling to back down."


He considers that the Rapid Support Forces "wants to prolong the conflict" in order to deplete the limited capabilities of the army's air force and thus disarm a basic weapon from the hands of the opposing side, which is control of the skies.


On the other hand, the army - according to the researcher - wants to "weaken the Rapid Support Forces as soon as possible," considering that "if the army relieves pressure, the support forces can hold out for a longer period."

Jihan Henry, an American lawyer defending human rights and following up on the Sudan file, warns of more than one "catastrophic scenario".


Among these scenarios is "the army's victory and Al-Burhan and his comrades reinstalling the Islamists of the previous regime," and international pressure ignored them, as the military had previously done during the years of siege during the era of Al-Bashir, who established an Islamic-military regime until his overthrow.


And Henry believes that they can resort to "flimsy appearances, such as appointing some civilians allied with them."


As for the other possible scenario, it is that the Rapid Support Forces will not be handed over "easily, and they will be able to prolong the conflict by allying with other armed groups in provinces far from Khartoum."

Many regional and international roles have intersected in the decades-old crises that Sudan has witnessed, and diplomatic missions and international organizations have organized discussions, sometimes between Khartoum and southern Sudanese fighters to divide the country, and at other times between civilians and the military to share power after the overthrow of Bashir.
The current crisis is no exception.


The northern neighbor, Egypt, which has a strong influence, "supports the army and has interests in Sudan, especially with regard to the Nile waters and the agricultural sector," according to Henry.


As for the southern neighbor, Ethiopia, "it has its own interests, including confronting Egypt," and may therefore choose to side with the Rapid Support Forces, according to the same analyst.


Henry also notes that the UAE, "which supports Daglo because he participated in the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia (and which included Abu Dhabi) in Yemen, may have provided the RSF with weapons."


To the west, the deserts of Chad and Libya, which border the stronghold of Dagalo, the Darfur region, are potential passages for ammunition and mercenaries.


And the research "International Crisis Group" warned that "even if the army eventually regains control of the capital and Dagolo withdraws to Darfur, a civil war may break out," and with it "the possibility of destabilization in neighboring countries: Chad, the Central African Republic, Libya and South Sudan, which are already affected at various levels." of violence."

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 21 Apr 2023 8:31 pm - Jerusalem Time

A Danish youth tries to set himself on fire in front of the US Embassy in Copenhagen


An 18-year-old Danish man tried to set himself on fire Friday in front of the US embassy in Copenhagen , according to what the Danish capital's police announced.


After a call from embassy staff, the rescue teams were able to put out the fire, and the young man remained "conscious."


Copenhagen police said on Twitter that the young man, who was hospitalized, was not in "a serious condition".


The authorities declined to speak about his motives.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 21 Apr 2023 6:59 pm - Jerusalem Time

The International Organization for Migration announces the killing of one of its employees in Sudan

The International Organization for Migration announced that one of its employees was killed in the fighting in the city of El Obeid, in South Sudan, on Friday, after his vehicle was caught in the middle of a crossfire.


This employee is the fourth employee of the United Nations to be killed since the start of the conflict in Sudan on Saturday, as three employees of the World Food Program were killed in the state of North Darfur in eastern Sudan.


"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the death of a dedicated IOM staff member in Sudan this morning (Friday) after the car he was traveling in with his family got stuck south of El Obeid city amid an exchange of fire between two warring parties," said the head of the organization, Antonio Vitorino, in a statement.


"I am deeply saddened by the death of our fellow humanitarian worker, and I share with his wife, newborn baby, and our mourning staff in Sudan," he added.


The employee was a 49-year-old Sudanese national who was driving his own vehicle, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration told AFP.


Vitorino stressed that the safety of staff is his top priority and that he is ready to cooperate with other UN agencies to update their security response.


"The recent outbreak of violence has forced the International Organization for Migration to suspend its humanitarian operations in Sudan," he said, adding, "All parties must ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and allow their unfettered access so that they can assist the most vulnerable."


He pointed out that about 3.7 million people have been internally displaced in Sudan and that before the recent outbreak of violence, 15.8 million people (one-third of the population) were in need of humanitarian assistance.


The clashes left more than 400 dead and 3,500 wounded, according to a new toll reported by the World Health Organization.

PALESTINE

Fri 21 Apr 2023 6:36 pm - Jerusalem Time

Injuries in Jenin and Hebron and clashes in Sheikh Jarrah

A child was injured by the occupation bullets, and dozens suffocated, on Friday, in separate incidents that took place in Jenin and Hebron .


According to Al-Quds.com correspondent, the child Muhammad Talal (12 years old) was slightly wounded by the occupation forces' bullets while he was near the apartheid wall near the lands of Al-Arqa village, south of Jenin.


A number of civilians suffocated as a result of inhaling the toxic tear gas fired by the Israeli occupation forces at citizens' homes in Beit Ummar , north of Hebron.


And?The occupation forces closed the entrance to the town and prevented citizens from moving.


Meanwhile, the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem witnessed limited confrontations between many young men and the occupation forces.

PALESTINE

Fri 21 Apr 2023 6:21 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation decides once and for all to demolish the homes of a martyr and a prisoner

On Friday, the so-called Israeli army commander in the West Bank, Yehuda Fox, signed an order to demolish two homes for the families of a martyr and a prisoner from Ramallah and Nablus .


According to a statement by the occupation army in Arabic, it was decided to demolish the house of the Moataz al-Khawaja family in Ni'lin , Ramallah district, who carried out a shooting attack on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv on the ninth of last March, which led to the death of an Israeli.


It was also decided to demolish the house of the prisoner Osama Al-Taweel from Nablus, on the pretext of his participation in the killing of an Israeli soldier in October 2022, near the Shavei Shomron settlement checkpoint.