PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:36 am - Jerusalem Time

Makdisi was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 6 others were released

On Tuesday morning, an Israeli court issued a 10-month actual prison sentence against Ihab Abu Sneineh from occupied Jerusalem , and a fine of 1,200 shekels.


According to the Prisoners' Affairs Authority, the court issued a decision to release 6 young men who were detained on Friday, and they are: Musa Tarshan, Omar Kabha, Faisal Kabha, Ahmed Kabha, Mahdi Kabha, and Amir Kabha.


They will be released under restrictive conditions, the most important of which is banishment from Al-Aqsa Mosque for a period of 30 days.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:35 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation postpones the trial of journalist Lama Ghosheh

On Tuesday morning, an Israeli court postponed the trial of the Jerusalemite journalist , Lama Ghosheh, until June 13.


The court had postponed Ghosheh's trial several times.


Ghosheh has been under house arrest for more than 6 months, after being arrested for several days.

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:33 am - Jerusalem Time

American parents show increased concern about gun violence

A US survey said social pressures, bullying, and the curriculum are all things generations of American children have had to worry about, but today, parents of kids say there's another worry most of them have as well: the possibility of gun violence .


"Increasingly, it's on parents' minds, too," CBS News reported Sunday, citing a new poll the network and YouGov jointly conducted April 12-14. Americans are higher now than they were last summer."


"Today, 77 percent of parents are at least somewhat concerned. Last year it was actually as high as 72 percent. Six out of 10 parents say their children express concern about gun violence, often or sometimes," the report said. .


The report stated that Americans generally report feeling "frustrated" by the political debate over guns, adding that gun violence in particular is a very important issue for nearly two-thirds of Americans.


"This frustration may be due in part to the fact that most Americans do not see either political party as particularly effective at protecting people from gun violence," he added.

ARAB AND WORLD

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:28 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation foreign minister heads an economic delegation to Azerbaijan

On Tuesday morning, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen headed to Tel Aviv, heading an economic delegation that includes businessmen to Azerbaijan with the aim of promoting trade between the two sides.


According to the Hebrew website Ynet, Cohen will meet with the Azerbaijani president, foreign and economy ministers and other personalities, and will discuss with them the strategic relations between the two sides.


Cohen will also discuss with officials in Azerbaijan regional challenges in the areas of security, economy and energy.


Representatives of 20 Israeli companies from the fields of cybersecurity, water management and agriculture will participate in the economic delegation.

ARAB AND WORLD

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:27 am - Jerusalem Time

Netanyahu vows to continue the "battle" to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed Monday that his country will continue its "fight" to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, during a memorial ceremony for the victims of the Holocaust attended by Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Iran .


Referring to his recent visit to Berlin, Netanyahu said that since Nazi Germany, "the world has changed, but calls for our annihilation have not stopped, and today they are being launched by the terror regime in Tehran."


"We are firmly fighting against any nuclear agreement with Iran that paves the way for it to acquire nuclear weapons," the Israeli prime minister said in a speech on the eve of the Holocaust.


"For the same reason, we are resolutely waging a battle against the terrorist agents around us," Netanyahu continued in his speech at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, warning of Israel's "crushing response" to any hostile approach.


The ceremony was attended by Reza Pahlavi, son of the Shah of Iran who was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution in 1979.


Prior to the ceremony, Pahlavi, who arrived Monday in Israel on his first visit to the Jewish state at the invitation of Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel, said that the current Iranian regime does not represent the Iranian people.


"Today, when we have a regime that denies the Holocaust at all, it is my duty to be here representing my countrymen, to honor the victims of the Holocaust and pay my respects," he told reporters.


Negotiations aimed at reviving the landmark agreement concluded in 2015 between Tehran and the major powers (Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States), officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, have reached an impasse and have been stalled since last year.


The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to gradually backtrack from its commitments.


In February, a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency indicated that it had discovered particles of uranium enriched to 83.7 percent, just under the 90 percent needed to produce an atomic bomb, at the underground Fordow plant, 100 kilometers south of the capital, Tehran.


Iran denies that it is seeking to acquire atomic weapons, stressing that it has never attempted to enrich uranium by more than 60 percent.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:25 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation forces continue to tighten their measures at the Hamra checkpoint in the Jordan Valley

The Israeli occupation forces continue to tighten their military measures at the Hamra checkpoint in the northern Jordan Valley , for the eleventh day in a row.


According to local sources, these forces stopped citizens' vehicles and searched them thoroughly, and checked the identity cards of their passengers, which impeded their access to their places of work and farms.


The occupation forces set up the Hamra military checkpoint at a crossroads linking the cities of the West Bank with the central, southern and northern Jordan Valley.


It is noteworthy that the occupation authorities have imposed, for more than ten days, a siege on the Jordan Valley, closing most of the roads leading to communities and agricultural lands, in addition to tightening military measures at the Hamra and Tayaseer checkpoints, and impeding the movement of citizens and farmers.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:21 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation forces assaulted a citizen during his detention, north of Jericho

Last night, the Israeli occupation forces assaulted a citizen after stopping his vehicle near the "Tayar" checkpoint, north of Jericho .


According to local sources, these forces suddenly stopped the vehicle of Abdul Qadir Masharqa (41 years old), and searched it while he was on his way to his workplace.


She also severely beat him, took him to Hawara camp in Nablus, and held him for hours, before he was later released.

ECONOMY

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:19 am - Jerusalem Time

The Secretary-General of the United Nations calls for efforts to renew the international financial architecture

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called for global participation and support to renew the international financial architecture, which he said was created for a world that "no longer exists".


Guterres made the remarks at the opening of the Financing for Development Forum, which will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from April 17 to 20.


He warned that due to a crisis with multiple dimensions, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals are turning into a "mirage of what could have been", as societies and governments struggle to meet urgent needs.


He said that inequality within some countries was declining towards levels of the early twentieth century, a time before women were allowed to vote and before the concept of social protection was widely accepted.


According to Guterres, the United Nations proposed a SDG stimulus plan to expand affordable long-term financing to all countries in need, with the aim of boosting investments that will help achieve the SDGs, reduce the debt burden of developing countries and improve access to financing.


"In the long term, we are not going to solve today's challenges by relying on the financial system that made them happen," he noted.


Guterres said the international financial architecture was created for a world that no longer exists, adding that it "cannot meet the challenges that developing countries face today" and "has failed countries at a time when they need it most."


He said it is now widely recognized that the world needs a coherent and coordinated economic system that reflects today's global economic realities, one that supports stable economic conditions and helps countries invest in the sustainable development goals.


"We need participation and support from all over the world to renew the international financial architecture and make it able to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow," Guterres said.

ARAB AND WORLD

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:11 am - Jerusalem Time

Pakistan welcomes the Saudi-led peace efforts in Yemen

Pakistan has welcomed Saudi Arabia's efforts to bring peace to conflict-torn Yemen , Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.


"Pakistan welcomes the recent dialogue and diplomatic engagement towards achieving peace in Yemen, with special reference to Saudi Arabia's role and endeavors in strengthening the efforts of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen," the foreign ministry statement said.


The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Saudi Arabia's efforts to reach an amicable solution to the Yemeni crisis come at the right time and would enhance peace, stability and development in the region.


Pakistan also affirmed its principled support for a political solution to the Yemeni crisis through dialogue and consultation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Tue 18 Apr 2023 10:05 am - Jerusalem Time

The World Health Organization warns of the spread of "m-box" in Europe with gay festivals

Nearly a year after an outbreak of ambox (monkeypox) disease in the European region, the World Health Organization on Monday urged caution in Europe about the disease ahead of the festival season.


The WHO regional office in Europe said in a press release that a new campaign is being launched as Europe approaches the spring and summer seasons, when a number of (gay) pride festivals are scheduled to take place across towns and cities.


He said the aim of the campaign was to reinforce the message that "m-box is still with us and continued vigilance is still required".


The "Get Ready for It" campaign was launched despite a significant drop in the number of cases of smallpox amoxicillin in recent months, due to concerns from the World Health Organization in Europe about the possibility of more arrivals outside the region, either from endemic areas or newly affected countries.


The campaign urges the most vulnerable and sexually active groups who will attend events and festivals across Europe this spring and summer "to be aware of the symptoms of ambox disease, to undergo examinations, and to refrain from sexual activity if they develop symptoms."


According to WHO Europe, the campaign will coincide with the publication of a new Mbox disease strategy that will outline the steps that Member States in the region must take in preparation for the spring and summer seasons, as well as the measures needed in the medium to long term to stop the ongoing transmission of the disease from person to person.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 9:39 am - Jerusalem Time

Two settlers were injured in a shooting attack in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied Jerusalem

Two settlers were injured, this morning, Tuesday, as a result of being shot at by a young man in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem.


According to the Hebrew website Ynet, the injured were in a parked vehicle when a Palestinian youth overtook them and opened fire at them, injuring them with moderate and minor injuries.


The site indicated, quoting the Israeli police , that the perpetrator of the attack fled the area and a large pursuit operation is underway for him, as Carlo's weapon used in the operation was found.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:54 am - Jerusalem Time

Pictures || About 300,000 worshipers celebrate the twenty-seventh night of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque

About 300,000 worshipers revived the twenty-seventh night of the blessed month of Ramadan in Al-Aqsa Mosque .



Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and the occupied interior, and the city of Jerusalem and its environs, flocked to Al-Aqsa Mosque.



And the imams of the mosque focused during the prayer by praying for the liberation of Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque from the defilement of the occupation.


PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:39 am - Jerusalem Time

Resuscitation of a foreign serum in Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Red Crescent crews in Jerusalem were able, at dawn on Tuesday, to resuscitate the heart and lungs of a worshiper in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque .


The Red Crescent clarified that the worshiper, of a foreign nationality, was celebrating the night of the twenty-seventh of the month of Ramadan in Al-Aqsa Mosque.


She indicated that all urgent medical first aid was provided to him and he was transferred to the hospital to complete treatment.

SPORT

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:27 am - Jerusalem Time

UEFA Champions League: Real and City are closest to a fiery confrontation in the semi-finals

Real Madrid, Spain, and Manchester City, England, appear to be the closest candidates for a fiery confrontation in the semi-finals of the European Champions League football competition, when they visit Chelsea, England, and Bayern Munich, Germany, on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, in the second leg of the quarter-finals.


The two royal clubs, the holder of the title and record in the prestigious continental competition, and Al-Samawi, won the second leg matches at home, with the first defeating its London guest 2-0, and the second beating its Bavarian giants, 3-0.


The draw had drawn the winner from the Real and Chelsea confrontation with the winner from the Bayern and City confrontation, provided that the second semi-final match brought together the winner in the Italian confrontation with Napoli and Milan with the winner with the confrontation of their compatriot Inter and Benfica of Portugal.


What raises the shares of Real Madrid and Manchester City is the shaky morale of their opponents. Chelsea lost the third match in a row, led by its interim coach Frank Lampard, successor to Graham Potter, who was dismissed from his post due to the negative results when he fell to his guest Brighton 1-2 in the domestic league on Saturday.


It seems that the dismissal was not feasible, but rather exacerbated the situation. Chelsea did not win in the last six matches in various competitions, and its last victory dates back to March 11, when it beat its host Leicester City 3-1.


The boos at the final whistle, something that has become almost familiar at the end of Blues' home matches, were directed at the players, management and even Lampard who had been greeted by the fans with banners two hours earlier "Welcome back Super Frankie".
Lampard said after the match, "I will not try to embellish anything. There must be a sense of pride when you defend the colors of Chelsea. In order to restore our reputation and our balance, we need new energy. You must restore it."


However, the task will not be easy tomorrow against Real Madrid, who consider winning the competition title a main goal for him this season, especially after his chances of defending the La Liga title faded.


The Royal Club prepared well for tomorrow's match, with a deserved victory over its host, Cadiz, 2-0, on Saturday, in a meeting in which Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti rested his main pillars, most notably Brazilian Vinicius Junior and German Toni Kroos.


When Lampard took over the Chelsea training mission for the second time, Chelsea fans dreamed of the story of his former player, Roberto Di Matteo, who took over the team’s training at the end of the 2011-2012 season and led him to overturn his loss by two goals (1-3) against Napoli, Italy, in the first leg of the final price, to his victory 4- 1 after the extension back, and then to the first title in its history in the prestigious continental competition.


Lampard remembers it well as he scored that evening. "In football, we can change history very quickly," Saturday said. "We will need a lot of desire to achieve (this feat) and it will be a different game. We have to ignite the atmosphere in the stands."


In turn, Bayern Munich, led by its new coach Thomas Tuchel, successor to Julian Nagelsmann, is suddenly dismissed from his post.
The Bavarian giants achieved two wins against two losses and drew once in five matches, with the last of them stumbling in front of modest Hoffenheim 1-1 in a rehearsal for its upcoming summit against City, during which it needs a miracle to dissolve the three-goal difference.
Tuchel said he was surprised by Bayern's poor performance against Hoffenheim and his neglect of "a great opportunity to create an atmosphere for us and our fans and raise their confidence in our ability to turn the tables" on Manchester City.


"There is obvious disappointment for us in the result and in the way we played. We only had very rare moments of good play. In some moments we made six or seven passing errors in 60 seconds in the first half."


He continued, "We played with little energy, little spirit, a slight change in rhythm, lack of conviction, and little confidence," noting that he was "very surprised" compared to what his team showed in Freiburg last week in the league and for 70 minutes in Manchester in the first leg of the quarter-finals.


On the other hand, City enters the match with high spirits after narrowing the gap to four points from Premier League leaders Arsenal by beating Leicester City 3-1, including a brace for Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, who was relieved by Spanish coach Josep Guardiola after the end of the first half.


It is certain that Haaland will be among the deadly weapons that Guardiola possesses and relies on in the face of his former team to continue his career with City in the hope of fulfilling the dream of his Emirati owners to win the title for the first time in the club’s history.
But Guardiola was careful after the first leg, and said, "I expect anything (forth). The players on and off the field saw Bayern's performance, so there is no need to alert them. They are good and performed wonderfully from the group stage to here..." referring to his lead in the role. The groups scored the full mark, and then the star-studded French Paris Saint-Germain was eliminated from the final price.


Inter Milan is seeking to turn the page on its disappointments in the domestic league and focus on hosting Benfica on Wednesday to confirm its 2-0 win outside its home bases and book its ticket to the semi-finals for the first time in 13 years, specifically since 2010 when it won the third title in its history after 1964 and 1965.


Inter has been suffering recently and achieved one victory in its last eight matches in various competitions, and it was at the expense of Benfica (2-0) last Tuesday, when it fell to a draw three times compared to four defeats, the last of which was against its guest Montsa (0-1) Saturday in the league.


Inter coach Simone Inzaghi expressed his dissatisfaction, especially since his team "did everything in the match: control, possession and chances, but we failed to score."


He added, "It is no coincidence that the goalkeepers of our rival teams are chosen as the best in matches. We must be more effective in attack and this is what we talk about every day, and I am confident that we will succeed in that."


On Tuesday, all eyes will be on the "Diego Maradona" stadium in Naples, where the third summit between the owner of the land and Milan in three weeks.
This is the first Italian confrontation in the knockout stages since the Milan Derby in the 2005 semi-finals.


Milan came out victorious in the previous two confrontations, 4-0 in Naples in the league, and 1-0 in San Siro in the first leg of the Champions League.
Napoli and Milan prepared for the upcoming confrontation, with two disappointing draws on Saturday against Hellas Verona, 0-0, and Bologna 1-1, respectively, in the thirtieth stage of the league.


Napoli restored the services of its Nigerian top scorer, Victor Osimhen, after recovering from an injury during his participation with his country in the international match window at the end of last month, which kept him out of the last three matches, and he will be a lethal weapon in tomorrow's match.


Spalletti confirmed that Osimhen, who entered in the last quarter of an hour, will start Tuesday. enthusiasm for it."

SPORT

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:25 am - Jerusalem Time

England Championship: Liverpool breaks its fast by winning six against Leeds

Liverpool ended a series of five matches, during which it did not taste victory, by dropping its host Leeds United 6-1, on Monday, at the end of the 31st stage of the England Football Championship .


And he took turns scoring Liverpool's six, Dutchman Cody Khakpo (35), Egyptian Mohamed Salah (39 and 64), Portuguese Diogo Jota (52 and 73), and Uruguayan substitute Darwin Nunes (90).


He scored for the Colombian loser, Luis Fernando Sinistera (47).


And the eighth Reds, with 47 points, no longer have the luxury of wasting points if they want to reserve a seat in the Champions League competition next season, as they are 9 points behind Newcastle, who finished fourth and last, qualifying for the main continental competition.


Liverpool broke its fast from winning against Leeds after its last five sterile matches in various competitions, as it drew 0-0 against Chelsea and Arsenal 2-2 and lost to Bournemouth and Real Madrid with the same result, 0-1, and Manchester City 1-4.


Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp renewed confidence in the squad that drew against Arsenal in the last stage.


"It's the best game we've played this season in every aspect," said Klopp after the win.


He continued, "My favorite part was in the 92nd minute when we continued our pressure on Leeds. The counter-press was the best, I want to say, in decades!"


On the other hand, Spanish Leeds coach Javier Garcia made two changes to the squad that lost to Crystal Palace 1-5 in the last stage, after he had won twice and tied once.
Liverpool had 75 percent possession of the ball in the first half, but it opened the scoring with two quick attacks within 5 minutes, beginning with Dutch Khakpo, who followed a ball into the empty net after a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold (35), then Salah with a shot from his left foot ( 39).
And Liverpool almost fell into the trap after Leeds narrowed the difference in the second half through Sinistera after a mistake by French defender Ibrahima Konate, so the Colombian pounced on him and confronted Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson and deceived him by putting the ball into the net (47).
However, Liverpool quickly restored the difference to two goals, thanks to Jota, who followed a pass from Curtis Jones with a shot from a touch past French goalkeeper Ilan Millier (52).
Salah added the fourth goal for his team and the second personal for him from the fourth shot at the opponent's goal, after a joint game between Jota and Scotsman Andrew Robertson, the ball reached Khakpo at the edge of the penalty area to pass it to the Egyptian international striker without any control on the right side, to shoot into the net (64) .
Jota continued the offensive show for the Reds, scoring his second personal and fifth for his team, after a cross from captain Jordan Henderson that Salah missed to reach the Portuguese, who hit it with his right foot from outside the area into the net (73).
Salah came out after in the 81st minute, and Nunes replaced him, who scored sixth after a deep pass from Alexander-Arnold, so that the Uruguayan striker broke the offside trap, entered the area and fired into the net (90).
Leeds, whose balance is frozen at 29 points in the sixteenth place, is only two points ahead of Nottingham Forest, the first to go down, while 4 points separate it from the nineteenth Leicester City.

SPORT

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:24 am - Jerusalem Time

Italian Championship: A disappointing tie between Atalanta and Fiorentina

Atalanta returned to the sixth Italian Football League, with a disappointing 1-1 draw from the backyard of Fiorentina, on Monday, at the end of the thirtieth stage competitions.


Although he ranked ninth in the standings with 42 points, the stubborn Fiorentina did not taste defeat this season in 14 matches in various competitions.


Fiorentina has not lost since February 12, as its last fall against Juventus, zero-1, in the league.


Atalanta opened the scoring through Danish Joachim Miley in the first half (37), before Brazilian Arthur Cabral equalized from a penalty kick for Fiorentina in the second (56).


Atalanta, who lost to Bologna 0-2 in the last stage, wasted a golden opportunity to narrow the screws on Milan, who finished fourth and last, qualifying for the Champions League competition, as it is behind in sixth place, 4 points behind the defending champion (53 vs. 49).

SPORT

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:23 am - Jerusalem Time

FIFA agrees that Argentina will host the Under-20 World Cup instead of Indonesia

FIFA agreed on Monday to transfer the Under-20 World Cup, scheduled for May 20 to June 11, to Argentina instead of Indonesia , after it was stripped of the honor of hosting it after refusing to welcome the Israeli national team.


"FIFA" said after a meeting of its board office that the tournament will bring together 24 teams, "and Argentina will replace Indonesia as the host country."


Argentina won the title six times, which is a record in the history of the tournament that it had previously organized in 2001.


The authority added that the draw for the Under-20 World Cup will take place on Friday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.


Hours before the approval decision, Argentina officially confirmed that it was ready to host the U-20 Men's World Cup, after Indonesia was stripped of the honor of hosting, following its objection to the participation of the Israeli national team.


Economy Minister Sergio Massa and Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia have signed the financial and administrative guarantees "asked by FIFA so that we can host" the U-20 World Cup, Tapia said.


And the head of the local association for the game added, in a brief video issued by the Ministry of Economy, that a “technical visit” by the committee from the International Federation was scheduled to end on Monday to supervise the stadiums in which the matches will be held, as well as the training camps.


Several cities in Indonesia were scheduled to host the Under-20 World Cup, but at the end of March, FIFA stripped Indonesia of the honor of hosting due to a political dilemma that prevented the draw. FIFA did not initially provide a more precise explanation than the "current context" and mentioned possible "sanctions" against the Indonesian Football Association.


The announcement came after the decision to cancel the lottery, due to a call from two district referees to exclude Israel from the tournament. Israel qualified for the Under-20 World Cup for the first time. There is no official diplomatic relationship between the two countries, and support for the Palestinian cause in the largest Muslim-majority country has raised tensions over hosting Israel.


In the days after Indonesia was stripped of hosting, Argentina applied to organize the finals, and Swiss-Italian FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke of a "very strong candidacy" for the South American country. He commented at the time, "It is the country that won the World Cup."


Ironically, the Argentina under-20 national team, coached by former "Albi Celeste" star Javier Mascherano, failed to qualify for the finals, but will now participate as a host country after FIFA agreed to organize the World Cup in Argentina.

SPORT

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:16 am - Jerusalem Time

Amani Darwazah gets the international blue badge in table tennis arbitration

The international referee, Amani Darwazah, obtained the international blue badge in table tennis arbitration, after her success in the exam for the International Federation of the game, which was held on the sidelines of the French International Championship.


Darwazah participated in the exam along with 12 international referees, and succeeded in passing the exam requirements to be the first Palestinian international referee to receive the blue badge, which qualifies her in the future to obtain the golden badge to become a general international referee.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:10 am - Jerusalem Time

Ambassador Mansour sends three identical messages to two nations about the occupation's violations

Yesterday, Monday, the Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the United Nations , Minister Riyad Mansour , sent three identical messages to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the Security Council for this month (Russia), and the President of the United Nations General Assembly.


The messages dealt with the occasion of the Palestinian Prisoner's Day , which is celebrated by the Palestinian people on April 17 of each year, noting that Israel, the occupying power, has arrested more than 800,000 Palestinians since its aggressive military occupation of the Palestinian land in 1967, and that to this day, there are Approximately 5,000 Palestinians, including 31 women and 170 children, are arbitrarily and illegally detained in Israeli prisons and subjected to the worst forms of inhumane treatment, including violent interrogation, administrative detention, physical and psychological ill-treatment, and solitary confinement, in addition to unsanitary conditions, medical neglect, collective punishment, and torture. .


In this context, Mansour stressed the need for urgent attention to the plight of Palestinian prisoners, including those on hunger strike and the sick, calling on the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to assume their responsibilities to ensure that Israel, the occupying power, respects its obligations in this regard. connection, reiterating his call for the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by the Israeli occupation.


Mansour also indicated that Israel continued to suppress Palestinian worshipers and violate freedom of religion, as the Israeli occupation forces obstructed the peaceful celebrations of Easter in occupied Palestine, and brutally beat Palestinian worshipers and Christian believers while they were trying to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in occupied East Jerusalem to celebrate the Holy Saturday, violating Once again the historical and legal status quo in the Holy Places of Jerusalem. In addition to revoking the permits granted to 700 Palestinian Christians from Gaza to attend the Easter celebrations in Jerusalem, and imposing access restrictions that church leaders considered "unreasonable and unprecedented", in addition to vandalizing and damaging the property of churches and Christian cemeteries, and insulting nuns, clergy and worshipers. Christians by extremist Israeli groups.


Mansour also referred to the continuation of the Israeli occupation forces’ attacks on Muslim worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Noble Sanctuary, noting that the escalation of attacks and repression against Palestinian Muslims and Christians in the city reveals Israel’s agenda to Judaize the city, exclude other religions, and change the demographic composition, status and character of occupied East Jerusalem, with the aim of imposing its sovereignty by force over the city it illegally occupies.


Mansour also noted that extremist settlers continue to raid Palestinian cities and villages, intimidate and attack Palestinian civilians, including children, and destroy Palestinian property, agricultural crops and orchards.


In conclusion, Mansour stressed that the international community must demand that Israel stop its attacks and assaults on Palestinian civilians, including worshipers, and stop its military raids, including on our holy places, and stop settler violence and terror, and renewed his call to the Security Council and all countries to work urgently to protect The Palestinian people and take effective accountability measures to press for an end to this illegal colonial occupation and apartheid regime, and to ensure the Palestinian people realize their right to self-determination and all their inalienable rights.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:06 am - Jerusalem Time

A citizen was injured as a result of settler attacks south of Nablus

On Monday night, a woman was injured after the vehicle she was traveling in was attacked with stones by settlers south of Nablus .


The official in charge of the settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Douglas, said that settlers attacked citizens’ vehicles with stones on the road linking Ramallah and Nablus, near the town of Turmusaya , which resulted in the injury of Areen Haj Muhammad from the town of Awarta, south of Nablus, and she was taken to the hospital.

PALESTINE

Tue 18 Apr 2023 5:05 am - Jerusalem Time

Netanyahu: We will continue to fight Iran's proxies around us

Last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government will not allow Iran to acquire any nuclear weapons, and will continue vigorously to fight its proxies around the borders of "Israel".


"Those who threaten us will face a crushing response, and our enemies will find that we stand together, side by side, and they will discover the strength of our unity," Netanyahu added, in a speech during the " Holocaust " commemoration ceremony attended by the son of the Iranian Shah, Reza Pahlavi .


He accused Iran of seeking to destroy Israel, stressing the need to "rein in the forces of evil" and for the Jewish state to ensure that it has the strength to defend itself by itself against any enemy and against any threat... The victory of the past alone does not guarantee the victory of the future, which requires continuous determination and war without relentless against anyone who threatens us.” According to him.



ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 11:35 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Syrian Foreign Minister arrives in Tunisia on an official visit to strengthen bilateral relations

The Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates , Faisal Mekdad, began today (Monday) an official three-day working visit to Tunisia , which is the first for a high-ranking Syrian official since relations between the two countries were severed in 2012.


The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a brief statement published this evening on its official Facebook page that Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar "received today Faisal Mekdad, the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, who is on a working visit to our country during the period from 17 to 19 April 2023." ".


Faisal Al-Miqdad arrived this evening in Tunis from the Algerian capital, his second stop as part of an official working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. He was received at Tunis-Carthage International Airport by his Tunisian counterpart, Nabil Ammar, and a number of senior officials in the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


During this visit, the Syrian foreign minister will meet "within the framework of keenness to restore bilateral relations between Syria and Tunisia," according to a previous statement by the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tunisian President Kais Saied, during which he will also hold talks with his Tunisian counterpart, Nabil Ammar.


Tunisian Parliament Speaker Ibrahim Bouderbala welcomed this visit, as he said in a statement broadcast earlier today by the local Tunisian radio station, Shams FM, that "the visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to Tunisia is a positive step."


He stressed that Syria is one of the founding Arab countries of the League of Arab States, and it is a country that confronts Israel and cannot be outside the Arab ranks.


Faisal al-Miqdad's visit to Tunisia, which is part of a tour that also included visits to Saudi Arabia and Algeria, comes amid extensive political and diplomatic movements in preparation for Syria's return to the Arab embrace.


Tunisia severed its diplomatic relations with Syria in February of 2012 by a decision of former President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, which sparked at that time widespread political controversy in the country.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 11:32 pm - Jerusalem Time

The US military announces the elimination of a leader of the Islamic State organization in northern Syria

On Monday, US forces announced that they had killed a leader of the Islamic State in northern Syria , who was responsible for planning attacks in the Middle East and Europe .


The Central Command of the US Army, "Centcom", said in a statement that it "killed at dawn on the seventeenth of April Abd al-Hadi Mahmoud al-Haj Ali," noting that he was "responsible for planning terrorist attacks in the Middle East and Europe."


In its statement, the Central Command confirmed that it launched the operation by helicopters in northern Syria, noting that the operation left "two other armed men dead" at the site.


In a previous statement, the commander of the Central Command, Michael Korella, suggested that the targeted person had been killed.
Kurella said in the statement that the jihadist organization "is still capable of launching operations in the region" and also has a desire to launch attacks "outside the Middle East."


The operation did not result in the death or injury of any American soldier or civilians, according to Centcom.
The operation took place, according to an AFP correspondent and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in the village of As-Suwayda, near the border city of Jarabulus, in an area controlled by Syrian factions loyal to Ankara.


The Observatory reported that clashes broke out in the area during the operation, during which the building in which the leader was residing was targeted with two missiles.


Residents of the area and the Observatory told AFP that the targeted jihadi leader, who was previously detained by Kurdish fighters, moved to the village of As-Suwayda six months ago. They reported that he was killed and his body was handed over to his brother.


The Observatory stated that the operation also resulted in the death of two members of the "Suqur al-Shamal" faction during the clashes during the operation, referring to information about a fourth person who was "taken with them by the American forces," and it is not clear whether he was killed. The Observatory had previously suggested his death.
The Northern Falcons faction confirmed the killing of two of its fighters, indicating that they were killed while they were inspecting what was happening.


"Many of the organization's former fighters have joined the ranks of pro-Ankara factions" in northern Syria, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.


Since the announcement of the elimination of the "Islamic Caliphate" in 2019, US forces and the international coalition led by Washington have pursued the organization's leaders. From time to time, raids, raids, or airdrops are launched against suspected members of the organization.


These operations are repeated in areas where the organization's members hide in Deir ez-Zor Governorate (east), areas controlled by the Ankara-loyal factions (north), and Idlib Governorate, which is controlled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra).


And on April 4, Centcom announced the death of a senior ISIS leader who was responsible for planning attacks in Europe and Turkey in an airstrike in Idlib.


The US forces succeeded in liquidating or arresting leaders in several operations, the most prominent of which was the killing of the leaders of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi in October 2019, and then Abu Ibrahim Al-Qurashi in February 2022 in Idlib Governorate.


At the end of November, the extremist organization announced the killing of its leader, Abi al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi, in battles whose date was not specified, and it later became clear that they took place in Daraa Governorate in the south in October, in which local fighters participated with the support of the Syrian regime forces.


Despite the strikes targeting its leaders, movements, and locations, the organization is still able to launch attacks and carry out sporadic attacks, especially in eastern and northeastern Syria, and in the vast Syrian desert.


On Sunday, more than 40 people were killed in two separate attacks in the center and east of the country, launched by gunmen believed to belong to the Islamic State.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 11:24 pm - Jerusalem Time

Tunisian security forces arrested the head of the opposition Ennahda Movement, Rashid Ghannouchi

The Tunisian opposition movement, 'class='highlighted-tag'>, announced that its president , Rashid Ghannouchi , was arrested on Monday evening by a security unit that raided his house in the capital and took him to an "unknown destination."


The party said in a statement on its Facebook page that "a security squad raided the home of Professor Rashid Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda Movement, and took him to an unknown destination without respecting the most basic legal procedures."


Ghannouchi is one of the most prominent opponents of President Qais Saied , who has monopolized power in the country since 2021. The leader of Ennahda was the speaker of Parliament, which Saied dissolved in 2022.


The judicial authorities in Tunisia did not comment on the reasons for this arrest, which comes after statements attributed to Ghannouchi by local media at the end of last week, in which he said that "Tunisia without political Islam is a civil war project."


In its statement, Ennahda described the arrest of its leader as a "very dangerous development," calling for "the immediate release of Professor Rashid Ghannouchi, and an end to the permissiveness of opposition political activists."
It called on the movement to "stand together in the face of these repressive practices that violate rights, freedoms, and honor of opposition politicians."


Ghannouchi, 82, was repeatedly brought before the judicial pole to combat terrorism as part of his investigations in several cases related to terrorism and corruption.


In previous statements, Ghannouchi said, "Our opponents were unable to confront us through democratic means, so they resorted to using the judiciary."


He added, "There is political targeting of the opposition and it is done with empty files. Fabricated trials and files... targeting the opposition with empty files... to camouflage and divert attention from the real problems of Tunisia."


In November 2022, Ghannouchi was brought before an investigative judge specializing in terrorism cases for interrogation in a case related to charges of "traveling jihadists" from Tunisia to Syria and Iraq.
Ghannouchi was also summoned last July 19 for interrogation in a case related to money laundering and corruption, on charges that Ennahda denied.


Since the beginning of February, at least ten personalities, most of them opposition figures belonging to the Ennahda Party and its allies, have been arrested, in addition to Noureddine Boutar, director of a large private radio station and an influential businessman.


President Saeed described the detainees as "terrorists" and accused them of "conspiring against the internal and external security of the state."


The non-governmental organization Amnesty International considered that this campaign of arrests is "a deliberate attempt to stifle the opposition, especially criticism of the president," and urged Saeed to "stop this campaign, which has political considerations."


Since July 25, 2021, Saied has seized power and amended the constitution to establish a presidential system at the expense of Parliament, which no longer has actual powers.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 10:53 pm - Jerusalem Time

About a hundred civilians have been killed in the ongoing battles in Sudan since Saturday

About a hundred civilians were killed in Sudan , where battles continued, especially in Khartoum, on Monday, in the third day of fighting between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.


At least two hospitals in the capital were evacuated after "bullets and shells penetrated their walls," according to doctors who said they also no longer had blood bags or medical supplies to treat the injured.


The smell of gunpowder has spread since Saturday in the capital, and columns of thick black smoke rise in the sky. Residents stayed in their homes, amid power and water cuts in a large number of homes.


On Monday, the independent and pro-democracy Sudan Doctors Syndicate announced the killing of at least 97 civilians, 56 of whom were killed on Saturday and 41 on Sunday, about half of them in the capital.
The union said in a statement that "365 people were wounded."


The Syndicate had previously indicated that the death toll among the fighters was "dozens", but neither side had announced its human losses.
Fighters in military uniforms, heavily armed, are deployed in the streets of the capital, which are also filled with military vehicles.


Tension had been lurking for weeks between al-Burhan and Daglo, known as "Hemedti", who together removed civilians from power during a coup in October 2021, before their political dispute over power in particular turned into confrontations on Saturday.


Battles with heavy weapons continue in several regions of the country, while the Air Force regularly intervened even inside Khartoum to bomb the headquarters of the Rapid Support Forces, the force that was known as the "Janjaweed" during the era of Omar al-Bashir and fought alongside his forces in the Darfur region.


Later, the Janjaweed militias turned into a regular paramilitary force under the name of the Rapid Support Forces. After the overthrow of al-Bashir, they participated in power-sharing between the military and civilians.


On Twitter, Hemedti's forces wrote in English, "Al-Burhan is bombing civilians from the air, and we are continuing to fight and we will bring him to justice."


It is difficult to diagnose the situation on the ground. The Rapid Support Forces announced that they had taken control of Khartoum International Airport on Saturday, which the army denied. She said that she entered the presidential palace, but the army also denies this and confirms that it controls the general headquarters of its general command, one of the largest complexes of power in Khartoum.


As for state television, each of the two parties asserts control over it. However, residents in the vicinity of the TV headquarters confirmed on Monday that the fighting continues in the area, while the station broadcasts only patriotic songs, as happened during the 2021 coup.


With no ceasefire in sight, doctors and humanitarian workers sounded the alarm. Some neighborhoods in Khartoum have been without electricity and water since Saturday.


And the few grocery stores still open warned that they would not last more than a few days if the supply trucks did not enter the capital.


Doctors confirmed that the power was cut off in the surgical departments, while the World Health Organization stated that "a number of the nine Khartoum hospitals that receive injured civilians suffer from depletion of blood units, blood transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies."


The Sudan Doctors Syndicate said that the patients, including children and their relatives, do not have access to water or food, noting that the wounded who were treated cannot be removed from the hospital due to the security situation, which leads to overcrowding that hinders the provision of care to all.


Two Greeks were injured in Khartoum, while there are about 15 others inside the Orthodox Church in Al-Kudaima, and they cannot leave it because of the fighting.


The "humanitarian corridors" announced by the warring parties for three hours on Sunday afternoon failed to change the situation, as gunfire and explosions continued to be heard in Khartoum.


On Monday, the UN envoy to Sudan, Volker Berthes, expressed his "extreme disappointment" at the violations of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces of the humanitarian truce they had agreed to.


"The cessation of hostilities for humanitarian purposes, which the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces committed to, was only partially fulfilled yesterday (Sunday), and the clashes intensified this morning (Monday)," he said in a statement.


And the World Food Program decided to suspend its work in Sudan after the killing of three workers in the program in the Darfur region of western Sudan on Saturday, while more than a third of the country's population of 45 million needs humanitarian assistance.


On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities, re-establishment of calm, and engagement in dialogue to resolve the crisis" in Sudan.
"I strongly condemn the outbreak of fighting in Sudan," Guterres said, warning that "any further escalation" of the conflict between the army and paramilitary forces "could be devastating for the country and the region."


The Secretary-General called on "all those who have influence over the situation to use it in the path of peace."
He added, "The humanitarian situation in Sudan was already fragile and has now become catastrophic."


"It is the first time in Sudan's history since independence (1956) that this level of violence has been recorded in the center, in Khartoum," Kholoud Khair, who founded the Confluence Advisory think tank in Khartoum, told AFP.


The expert added, "Khartoum is the historical center of power and has always been the safest region in Sudan during the wars against the rebels" in Darfur and other regions at the turn of the millennium.


"Today, battles are taking place all over the city," and in densely populated areas, "because each of the two sides thought that the high human cost might deter the other. We now realize that the struggle for power at any cost prevailed."


Calls have intensified since Saturday for a halt to the fighting.


The US and British foreign ministers called on Japan on Monday for an "immediate halt" to the violence.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after a meeting with his British counterpart James Cleverly that there was agreement on the need for "an immediate ceasefire and a return to talks".


The League of Arab States and the African Union held emergency meetings to demand a cease-fire and a return to a political solution.


The UN Security Council will hold a closed meeting on the situation in Sudan on Monday.

PALESTINE

Mon 17 Apr 2023 10:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Despite the occupation measures... 280,000 worshipers celebrate Laylat al-Qadr in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque

280 thousand worshipers revived Laylat al-Qadr (the twenty-seventh night of the month of Ramadan ), in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque .


And the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported that about 280,000 worshipers flocked to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to celebrate the Night of Power, amid strict measures imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on the holy city.


The courtyards and chapels of Al-Aqsa Mosque were crowded with worshipers who came from the West Bank and the city of Jerusalem, and from the 48 territories, despite the restrictions and barriers of the occupation.


It is noteworthy that the Israeli occupation forces have tightened their procedures around the city of Jerusalem and set up many barriers, as well as their procedures in the Old City, in an attempt to impede the arrival of worshipers to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 10:20 pm - Jerusalem Time

Russia announces thwarting an attempt to infiltrate Ukraine into its territory

Russia confirmed on Monday that it had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to infiltrate its territory through the Bryansk border region, ten days after announcing a similar incident.


"The infiltrator exploded at a mined defensive line established by the Russian armed forces to prevent infiltration into Russian territory and ensure the safety of residents of the border areas," said the region's governor, Alexander Bogomaz , via Telegram.


He denounced Ukraine 's "illegal attempt" to "penetrate" Russia's borders.
In recent weeks, the Russian authorities have announced several attempts by "terrorists" to infiltrate from Ukraine to the border areas, which are also regularly subjected to artillery shelling and drone attacks.


On April 6, Bogomaz confirmed that border guards had "thwarted" an attempt to infiltrate "20 men" from Ukraine by "shooting at the enemy."


For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the security forces to "do everything possible to ensure the safety of the population" both in Russia and in the Ukrainian territories it controls, where several pro-Moscow officials have been assassinated in the past months.


Ukraine does not officially acknowledge carrying out "sabotage" operations on Russian soil, and it has especially denied any connection to the attack that destroyed part of the Crimean bridge last fall.


But in early March, hundreds of Ukrainians attended a funeral in Kiev for fighters from a volunteer battalion killed during a "sabotage" mission in Russia.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 9:51 pm - Jerusalem Time

Italy lifts the ban on arms exports to the UAE after the situation in Yemen improved

The Italian government announced on Monday that the arms embargo on the UAE , which it imposed in 2021 due to Abu Dhabi's participation in the Yemeni conflict, had been lifted after the situation in Yemen improved.


In January 2021, Italy permanently withdrew permissions to export missiles and bombs to Saudi Arabia and the UAE due to the participation of these two countries in the Yemeni conflict, pursuant to a 1990 law that prohibits the export of weapons to countries engaged in armed conflicts.


"The scenario continued to develop positively: since April 2022, military activities in Yemen have slowed down and diplomatic activity has witnessed a strong acceleration," the Italian government said in a statement issued after a government meeting.


And while the statement noted the UAE funding granted to Yemen "to achieve stability and reconstruction," it made it clear that the Italian government had decided not to consider the UAE a country involved in an armed conflict and therefore able to obtain Italian weapons.


However, the Italian government did not mention in its statement Saudi Arabia, which has been targeted by the ban since January 2021.


And Yemen, the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, has been witnessing a war since 2014 between the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, and forces loyal to the internationally recognized government, which is supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.


And on Monday, three planes transferred about 100 prisoners who were being held by the Riyadh-led coalition to Yemen, the day after a major prisoner exchange operation that lasted for three days and included about 900 prisoners from both sides of the Yemeni conflict, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the coalition.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 9:10 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Emir of Kuwait dissolves the National Assembly and calls for the organization of new elections

The Emir of Kuwait , Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, dissolved Parliament on Monday, calling for the organization of new elections in the wealthy Gulf state, which has been witnessing recurring political crises for years.


And last March, the Constitutional Court ruled that the legislative elections that took place last year and won by the opposition were invalid, on the back of appeals that questioned the validity of the constitutional decrees related to them, and ruled in favor of restoring the previous parliament.


Kuwait's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, said in a speech delivered on behalf of the Emir of the country, "In accordance with the constitution, we have decided to dissolve the 2020 National Assembly, which was restored by the ruling of the Constitutional Court, and return to the people in new elections during the coming period."


On April 9, a new government, the seventh in three years, saw the light, headed by Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, less than four months after the resignation of the previous government following a political crisis with Parliament.


Unlike other countries in the region, Kuwait enjoys an active political life and its parliament, whose members are elected for a four-year term, enjoys wide legislative powers and often witnesses heated debates.


The country, located near Iran and Iraq, is shaken by frequent political crises related to the government, figures from the ruling family, and the parliament, which has been dissolved several times.


The reason behind these crises is often the demands of deputies to hold ministers from the princely family accountable over issues including corruption.

ARAB AND WORLD

Mon 17 Apr 2023 8:26 pm - Jerusalem Time

Slovakia bans the import of Ukrainian grain

On Monday , Slovakia banned the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products , following the example of Poland and Hungary .


Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and the Russian forces cut off the traditional export routes across the Black Sea, Ukrainian grain is exported through the European Union to other countries.


But due to logistical problems, the grain has stocked up, driving down prices, sparking protests from local farmers who also expressed concerns about food safety.


"Today, the government approved a proposal to ban the import of agricultural products and certain foodstuffs from Ukraine," Agriculture Minister Samuel Falkan told reporters.


He said the ban, which goes into effect on Wednesday, aims to protect the local agricultural sector as well as consumer health.


Last week, the ministry said that it had analyzed a sample of Ukrainian grain, and that the results of the analysis showed "the presence of an unauthorized pesticide in the European Union that negatively affects human health."


The ban covers various products including cereals, sugar, fruits, vegetables, wine and honey.


Falkan stressed that the ban will not apply to Ukrainian products that pass through Slovakia for export to the markets of other countries.


On Saturday, Poland and Hungary, both members of the European Union, banned imports of grain and other food from Ukraine.