ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Washington estimates the wealth of the Assad family at between one and two billion dollars

Washington - (AFP) - The US State Department announced Thursday that the net worth of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family is estimated at between one and two billion dollars, despite US efforts to isolate him because of his role in the war in his country.



The ministry said in a report it prepared at the request of Congress and published part of it Thursday, while keeping the rest secret, that it can only provide an “inaccurate estimate” of this wealth because it believes that the Assad family owns assets under fictitious names or through vague real estate deals.


According to the public part of the report, "estimates based on open source information generally place the net worth of the Assad family between $1 and $2 billion."
The ministry added, citing non-governmental and media reports, that the Assad family runs a "complex sponsorship system that includes front companies and front companies that the regime uses as a tool to access financial resources."


She explained that this wealth is owned by the Syrian president, his wife, brother, sister, cousins, aunts and uncles, and most of them are subject to US sanctions.


She added that she did not have enough information about the net worth of the three sons of the Syrian president, the youngest of whom is 17 years old.
The US Congress imposed sanctions on Assad and his family members to prevent them from conducting financial transactions, at a time when the Syrian regime regained control of most of the country after a decade-long war that left nearly half a million people dead.


The United States called for Assad and the pillars of his regime to be held accountable, but the Syrian president is gradually regaining his place in the region, especially since the United Arab Emirates received him in March on his first official visit to an Arab country since the outbreak of war in his country.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Twitter is a very important platform for political activists

Paris - (AFP) - From the "Arab Spring" uprisings to the feminist "MeToo" movement to expose perpetrators of sexual harassment against women, Twitter has proven its position and role as an ally of political activists and opposition groups, thus becoming a platform that is difficult to replace.


The number of users of other social media platforms may be greater, but the network now owned by billionaire Elon Musk dominates global communication, despite the ambiguity surrounding its fate.


"It is clear that (the platform) Twitter is very influential in obtaining the attention of the media and officials. It has a very special and unique place in this regard," said Mahsa Ali Mardani, a researcher at the human rights NGO "Article 19".


Ali Mardani explained in a statement to Agence France-Presse that the tweets "help the Iranians" during the anti-government protests that Iran has been witnessing for months, in documenting "the pain and struggles of their citizens," and also help the world document what is happening.


Twitter is a lifeline with the outside world, especially in countries that restrict independent journalism and foreign correspondents.


This week, posts from inside the Chinese iPhone factory operated by Foxconn showed workers rebelling against the lockdown imposed to contain Covid, undermining the government's attempts to suggest calm prevails amid major efforts to contain the virus.


"It is very important not only to draw information from international media, but also to document human rights violations and atrocities," said Markus Mikkelsen, a researcher who specializes in digital activities under authoritarian regimes.


At the end of June, the number of daily Twitter users reached 237 million, a number far below that of TikTok and Facebook. The number of daily users of the first platform is one billion, and the second two billion.


But the short and simple formula makes the network a force beyond its size in the hands of opposition groups, as anyone can become a "citizen journalist" who instantly publishes images that the government authorities do not want to be published.


Nadia Edel, an Egyptian-British activist who participated in the Tahrir Square uprising in Egypt in 2011, said anti-regime tweets across the Middle East had encouraged people, showing them that they were not alone.


And she added, "Its (the platform's) ability to spread this event widely and the number of activists who were tweeting in English" moved the scene abroad.


With tweets that have gone viral and sparked international outrage, foreign governments can sense domestic pressure to act or at least condemn the repressive authorities.


Even in democracies where Twitter serves as a digital space for communication between officials and members of society, the platform can provide activists with a means to spread their views on a scale previously unattainable.


In the last decade, the "Black Lives Matter" hashtag has become synonymous with the movement that was launched to highlight racism and police violence in the United States against African Americans, which put under the microscope discriminatory practices that often went unreported.


"They use the features of Twitter and social media to create a protest identity, to create a common sense within the movement," Mikaelsen said.


"They know that they can reach more and more directly to journalists and decision-makers than, for example, Instagram."


Since the turmoil caused by Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, many have abandoned the platform due to concerns that platform officials will stop sufficient scrutiny of what is published to remove misleading or provocative content.


Activists warned that if Twitter were to disappear, the world would lose a very important historical record of protest movements that would not have gained momentum without digital documentation.


Ali Mardani said, "Twitter constituted an archive for a very large number of movements and events... So the loss of this archive will be a great loss, as it is a somewhat historical record."


Charles Lister, a political scientist at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that repressive regimes or terrorist groups will be the only beneficiaries of the demise of a platform capable of exposing their behavior.


In his research on the war in Syria, Lister said Twitter has been "vital" to documenting war crimes and providing aid.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Statistics: 20 children were killed, 170 were injured, and 23 were arrested from the Gaza Strip during 2022

Gaza - "Jerusalem" dot com - Human rights statistics showed, on Sunday, that the Israeli occupation forces killed 20 Palestinian children from the Gaza Strip during the year 2022.


According to the statistics prepared by Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the occupation forces injured 170 children during their repeated aggression against the Strip, their military operations and incursions near the borders, and other aggressions.


The statistics indicated that the occupation forces arrested 23 children during the year 2022, either through their attempt to infiltrate the borders, or while they were working in different professions near the wall.


The repeated Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip damaged two schools and targeted 69 housing units. 322 civilians, including 110 women and 111 children, were exiled.


And regarding the denial of treatment, the occupation measures and the continuation of the blockade on the Strip led to the death of 3 children after they were prevented from obtaining permits to reach hospitals in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the interior.


Al-Mezan Center received 300 complaints related to children and their denial of treatment, indicating that it facilitated the travel of 144, while 15 were unable to do so.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

A stand in Bethlehem in support of the striking prisoners against their administrative detention

بيت لحم- “القدس” دوت كوم- شارك العشرات من أبناء شعبنا، في وقفة إسنادية أمام مقر الصليب الأحمر في بيت لحم، اليوم الخميس، مع الأسرى المضربين عن الطعام في سجون الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، رفضا لاعتقالهم الإداري.

وقال مدير عام نادي الأسير عبد الله زغاري، إن 10 أسرى يواصلون إضرابهم المفتوح عن الطعام ضد سياسة الاعتقال الاداري التي يتبعها الاحتلال بحق نحو 600 أسير فلسطيني.

وأضاف ان الاحتلال الإسرائيلي يواصل سياسته الانتقامية بحق الأسرى بشكل واضح، من خلال ارتفاع أعداد الأسرى الإداريين وتجديد الاعتقال الإداري للعشرات منهم.

بدوره قال منقذ أبو عطوان خال الأسير الغضنفر أبو عطوان المضرب عن الطعام منذ 45 يوما، إن الحالة الصحية للأسير تدهورت بشكل ملحوظ، مشيرا إلى أن الغضنفر يشكل حالة وطنية، وهو من أسرة مناضلة فعمه الشهيد باجس أبو عطوان وخاله منيف المحكوم بالسجن المؤبد خمس مرات، ووالده ووالدته أسيران محرران، مضيفا ان هذا الاعتقال الخامس له.

وناشد أبو عطوان بضرورة تدخل المجتمع الدولي ومؤسسات حقوق الإنسان لإنقاذ حياة الأسرى، خاصة المرضى منهم.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Venezuela deplores the losses caused by US sanctions

(Xinhua) - The Venezuelan Foreign Minister said on Tuesday during the 52nd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that the US sanctions have cost Venezuela about 232 billion US dollars in losses.


Secretary of State Evan Gill said the sanctions, also known as unilateral coercive measures, imposed by the United States are a "crime against humanity" and were denounced by Venezuelan authorities three years ago at the International Criminal Court.


"My country has been the target of 927 unilateral coercive measures and other criminal, illegal, direct and indirect rulings," he added at the hearing in Geneva, Switzerland.


Gill stated that the sanctions aim to "impose regime change in flagrant violation of international law," noting that they have not succeeded.


And he added that the "dominant countries" use sanctions as "political and economic weapons" against countries and destinations that do not share their "expansionist goals."


He also condemned the "politicization and double standards" applied to human rights issues.


Gil said Venezuela would continue to promote human rights "while respecting the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states."

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Abu Sneineh told Al-Quds: 73 children were injured in the city of Hebron due to stray dogs last year

Hebron - exclusive to "Al Quds" dot com - Mayor of Hebron Tayseer Abu Asniyeh revealed, on Sunday evening, that 73 children were injured as a result of the bites and attacks of stray dogs on them in the city of Hebron, which is a matter of concern due to the increasing spread of these dogs.


Abu Sneineh said in an interview with Al-Quds.com: “The phenomenon of stray dogs is a very disturbing and dangerous matter, as 73 children under the age of 12 were injured last year, with bites, cuts and scratches, after the stray dogs attacked them, and one of the children had his hand completely shattered. What needs to be treated for a long time.


Regarding his launch last year, an initiative to shoot these dogs for 20 shekels, Abu Sneineh said: "I meant by those statements not to launch a campaign with the concept of the campaign, but rather I wanted to provoke institutions and animal rights organizations to take their role, to solve this disturbing phenomenon."


Abu Sneineh indicated that his statements a few months ago received violent reactions, and some understood the intent of the statements, when he called and learned about the seriousness of the stray dog phenomenon, and that its aim was to move matters to a solution, and to find a center to deal with the dangerous phenomenon.


Abu Sneineh noted that the Hebron municipality does not have the ability to build centers for dogs and provide operating expenses for them, calling on the relevant institutions to take their role in this, especially animal rights and care associations, to solve the phenomenon of stray dogs not only in Hebron, but in the entire West Bank.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:42 pm - Jerusalem Time

Civilians were shot and dozens suffocated in clashes in Hebron and Bethlehem

Hebron - "Jerusalem" dot com - Two citizens were injured by bullets and others suffocated, this evening, Tuesday, during clashes that erupted with the Israeli occupation forces in the town of Beit Ummar, the Al-Aroub camp, and the village of Kharsa, in the Hebron governorate, and several others were injured in the village of Hawasin, west of Bethlehem .


The occupation forces stormed the "Asida" and "Beit Za'ta" areas in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, which led to clashes with the citizens. Two civilians were injured by rubber bullets and others suffocated. They were treated in the field.


In Hebron, clashes broke out with the occupation forces in Al-Aroub camp in the north, and in the village of Kharsa, southwest of Hebron, during which a number of citizens suffocated as a result of inhaling the toxic gas fired by the occupation soldiers at them.


In Bethlehem, a number of civilians suffocated during clashes with the Israeli occupation forces in Husan village, west of Bethlehem.


The confrontations were concentrated in the "Al-Shurafa" and "Kroum Al-Sharqa" areas, during which the occupation soldiers fired bullets, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs at the citizens, which led to the injury of a number of them, who were treated in the field.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Biden prioritizes competition with China, despite the "dangerousness" of Russia

Washington - (AFP) - The United States confirmed Wednesday that it will prioritize superiority over China , which it considers its only global competitor, at a time when it is also working to rein in "dangerous" Russia .


The White House declared in its national security strategy, whose publication was delayed due to the conflict in Ukraine, that the 2020s will be a "critical decade for America and the world" in order to reduce conflicts and confront the major common threat of climate change.


"We will prioritize maintaining a lasting competitive advantage over the People's Republic of China while constraining Russia, which remains very dangerous," the strategy said.


"The most pressing strategic challenge to our vision comes from the forces that combine authoritarian rule with a revisionist foreign policy," the report stated.


He added that Russia under President Vladimir Putin "poses a direct threat to the free and open international order, and today it recklessly violates the basic laws of the international system, as demonstrated by its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine."


As for China, "in contrast, it is the only competitor that has the intention to reshape the international order and (has) increasing economic, diplomatic, military and technological strength to achieve this goal."


The strategy is largely consistent with the interim directives set by the US administration shortly after Biden took office in January 2021, even as it has focused most of this year on rallying allies against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and supplying the latter with billions of dollars in weapons.


"I don't think the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Joe Biden's approach to foreign policy, which he adopted long before he became president," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.


"But I think it illustrates the core elements of our approach - the focus on allies, the importance of strengthening the democratic world, and standing up for friendly democracies and democratic values," he told reporters.


The strategy shows the United States' willingness to work even with competitors to achieve common interests, amid climate change talks the Biden administration is conducting with China, the largest emitter of carbon emissions.


She described climate change as "the existential challenge of our time".


But the White House stressed the dangers from China, warning that its rapid technological progress aims to shape the world order in a way that supports its "authoritarian model".


Despite Beijing's repeated denials that it seeks hegemony, the US strategic document considers that China has "ambitions to create an enhanced sphere of influence in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and to become the leading power in the world."


The White House also linked a rising China to Biden's pledges to prioritize the middle class in the United States, saying Beijing seeks to make the world dependent on its economy while limiting access to its market of more than a billion consumers.


The strategy pledges to make major investments at home, two months after Biden signed a $52 billion package to improve US semiconductor capacity, but also stressed that the US seeks "peaceful coexistence" with China and "responsibly" manages competition with it.


Jake Sullivan continued, "We do not seek to turn the competition into confrontation or a new Cold War, and we do not consider any country as a mere proxy battlefield."


The release of the strategy comes as Joe Biden vows to reassess ties with decades-old U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, which has moved to cut oil production — benefiting energy exporter Russia and potentially raising fuel prices for American consumers weeks before midterm congressional elections.


Under reconciliation between Israel and Gulf Arab states, the strategy called for a "more integrated Middle East" that would reduce in the long run the "resource demands" of the United States that have protected oil-producing countries for decades.


Sullivan said that Biden, who made a controversial visit to Saudi Arabia in June, will question whether the nature of the relationship with the kingdom "serves the interests and values of the United States" and whether changes should be made to it.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The continued deterioration of the health condition of prisoner Khaled Al-Nawabit

Ramallah – “Jerusalem” dot com – The Prisoner’s Club said, “The prisoner Khaled Al-Nawabit (44 years), from the town of Barqa / Ramallah, is facing a continuous deterioration in his health condition, and the emergence of new health symptoms, which are severe pains in the extremities and knees in particular. ".


And the club stated in a statement that, in addition to the new symptoms that he began to suffer from, the prisoner Al-Nawabit suffers from severe heart problems, and he needs intensive health care and follow-up.


And he confirmed that the occupation prisons administration transferred the prisoner, Al-Nawabit, yesterday, from (Ofer) prison to (Ramle prison clinic), due to the continued deterioration of his health condition.


It is noteworthy that the occupation authorities arrested Al-Nawabit on November 22 of last year, as he was scheduled to undergo an open-heart surgery before his arrest.


PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Bethlehem Governorate and the Ministry of Labor discuss the reality of employment and its impact during the Corona pandemic

بيت لحم – “القدس” دوت كوم- نجيب فراج -استقبل محافظ محافظة بيت لحم اللواء كامل حميد امس، في مكتب وكيل مساعد وزير العمل رامي مهداوي ومدير عام مكتب الوزارة في بيت لحم أيمن عودة ونائب المدير العام سوزان الجعبري بحضور مدير عام التخطيط والتنمية ومدير عام الشؤون الادارية ومنسق المجلس التنفيذي ورئيس وحدة العلاقات العامة والإعلام في المحافظة.
و رحب المحافظ حميد بالوكيل المساعد والوفد المرافق مشيراً إلى أهمية دور وزارة العمل وطواقمها في متابعة القضايا العمّالية وجهودها خلال جائحة كورونا رغم الضغوطات والتحديات التي تواجه الشعب الفلسطيني.
وناقش الاجتماع العديد من المواضيع الهامة المتعلقة بالقضايا العمّالية وآليات تفعيل الدور الرقابي
لمتابعة معايير التشغيل وعقود العمل لدى العديد من الشركات الخدماتية والمؤسسات .
وأكد المحافظ حميد على ضرورة الاهتمام بالخريجين وتدريبهم وتوفير فرص العمل لهم ضمن مشاريع وزارة العمل ومجلس التشغيل المحلي.
وضرورة دعم العاملين في قطاع السياحة واستهدافهم ببرامج وخطط وزارة العمل نظراً لتضرره الكبير خلال الفترة السابقة.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Awartani: The next academic year will be divided into four periods instead of two semesters

Ramallah - “Jerusalem” dot com - Minister of Education Marwan Awartani said that the next academic year will be divided into four periods, instead of two semesters.

Awartani added, in an interview with the “Today’s File” program on Palestine TV: “Next year will not include two semesters, but rather we will adopt a new system, in which the academic year will be divided into four periods between each period and another, a vacation of 7-10 days, the first of which is the olive vacation after exams are submitted. The first period, and exams for each period will be during the class.

With regard to the general secondary exams in the homeland and the diaspora, Awartani indicated that they will be unified and simultaneous, indicating that the preparation of the exams took place according to dealing with the existing challenges and the discrepancy between the number of face-to-face hours that the students took.

He pointed out that the date for high school results will be at the beginning of August.

Awartani indicated that Tawjihi students, at the moment of announcing their high school results, can view their grades list without the need to go to school.

He stressed moving forward in cooperation with international partners and Arab funds in order to complete the restoration of schools that were damaged by the Israeli aggression before the start of the new academic year, pointing out that the total cost of this is estimated at five million five hundred thousand dollars.

SPORT

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

What is the truth about Cristiano Ronaldo moving to the Saudi victory?

Doha - (AFP) - The Saudi club Al-Nasr is in contact with the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently separated from Manchester United, to join his ranks, but nothing was signed until Monday, according to what Agence France-Presse learned from sources within the capital club.


And the Spanish newspaper “Marca” claimed on Monday that Ronaldo will play with Al-Nasr starting in January, after he was left without a team after his separation from United, due to his public criticism of the club and its Dutch coach, Eric ten Hag.


An official at Al-Nasr Club revealed to France Press, on condition of anonymity, that the 37-year-old "did not sign."


In the middle of last week, another source inside the Saudi club confirmed the fact that there were "serious negotiations", and even indicated the possibility of the signing taking place in Doha, where the World Cup finals will be held, in which "CR7" will participate with his country's national team.
But this source added that there are still points to be settled "on the issue of image rights".


And on November 23, in the midst of the Qatar World Cup finals, the decision was made to separate Ronaldo and United by "mutual agreement."


The Portuguese star returned to the “Red Devils” in 2021 to go through his second experience with him, after a first that extended from 2003 to 2009, before leaving him to join Spanish Real Madrid, where he won all possible titles, including four in the Champions League.


The only player to score in five consecutive editions of the World Cup, on Tuesday, will play the World Cup final price match against Switzerland against Switzerland.
Eba-e-t/a-h/jash

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Chinese Defense Minister arrives in Tehran

طهران- (د ب أ)- وصل وزير الدفاع الصيني وي فنج خه صباح اليوم الأربعاء إلى العاصمة الإيرانية طهران، لإجراء محادثات مع مسؤولي القوات المسلحة الإيرانية.


وتتضمن زيارة الوزير الصيني لإيران إجراء مباحثات مع وزير الدفاع وإسناد القوات المسلحة الإيراني محمد رضا آشتياني، وجمع من كبار المسؤولين في البلاد.


وتركز الزيارة على بحث آخر التطورات الدولية والإقليمية، والسبل الكفيلة بتعزيز التعاون بين القوات المسلحة في البلدين، ورفع مستوى العلاقات الثنائية والقضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Tourism and Antiquities launches two projects to support the tourism sector

بيت لحم- “القدس” دوت كوم – أطلقت وزارة السياحة والآثار، مشروعين لدعم القطاع السياحي، وذلك ضمن خطتها لدعم عودة هذا القطاع للحياة والعمل، بالتعاون مع الوكالة الألمانية للتعاون الدولي (GIZ).

وأكدت وزيرة السياحة والآثار رولا معايعة خلال احتفال أقيم في مقر الوزارة بمدينة بيت لحم، اليوم الخميس، إن المشروع الأول يتمثل بتدريب كوادر القطاع السياحي، اما الثاني هو لإعادة التوظيف مع دعم الأجور.

وقالت إن الهدف من خطة إنعاش القطاع السياحي في إنتاج واعتماد بروتوكولات صحية سياحية بمعايير عالمية، إضافة لرفع كفاءة العاملين في القطاع السياحة خاصة ما يتعلق بالعناية والوقاية والسلامة العامة وإيجاد فرص عمل للمتعطلين عن العمل، وتجهيز المنشآت السياحية فضلا عن التوعية والترويج السياحي لفلسطين.

بدوره، تحدث رئيس مكتب الممثلية الألمانية في فلسطين كريستيان كلاغيس، عن أهمية الشراكة التي حققتها مؤسسة “GIZ” والقطاع الخاص، مع وزارة السياحة والآثار للخروج في هذين المشروعين المهمين، مؤكدا ضرورة استمرار العمل المشترك لما فيه خدمة للطرفين.

من جانبه، قال محافظ بيت لحم كامل حميد، إن ما تم إنجازه في هذه المحافظة من عمل ساهم في التخفيف من بعض الآثار السلبية لجائحة “كورونا”، لتكون محافظة بيت لحم مثال لفلسطين على الإجراءات الصحية والبروتوكولات الصحية للخروج من جائحة “كورونا”.

وأضاف ان بيت لحم الآن جاهزة وآمنة لعودة السياحة لها، وهو ما توضحه المعطيات والاحصائيات على الأرض، فمنذ أيام لم تسجل حالات إصابة بـ “كورونا”.

من جانبه، تحدث وكيل مساعد وزارة العمل رامي مهداوي، عن أهمية هذه البرامج للخروج من الآثار السلبية التي انعكست على سوق العمل، مؤكدا اهمية الشراكة مع الوزارة للخروج بحلول لمساعدة العاملين في القطاع السياحي ممن تضرر عملهم نتيجة الجائحة.

وتحدث مدير عام التسويق السياحي في وزارة السياحة والآثار، مسؤول ملف انعاش القطاع السياحي ماجد اسحق عن الخطة الوطنية لإنعاش السياحة الفلسطينية بعنوان “جاهزين”، وحول برنامج التدريب بهدف التوظيف الذي سيوفر دورات تدريبية افتراضية عدد 6 تتناول مجالات سياحية متنوعة وهي: “الإرشاد السياحي، والطعام والشراب، والفندقة، ومتاجر التحف الشرقية، والباعة المتجولون، وإدارة النقل السياحي، وإدارة المواقع السياحية”.

وقال “يهدف البرنامج الى رفع قدرات العاملين في مجال السياحة، وتستهدف الدورة 1150 شخصا ممن كانوا يعملون في السياحة قبل وأثناء الجائحة، يتم منح كل شخص شهادة ومبلغا ماليا بقيمة 1200 شيقل لمرة واحدة عقب انتهاء الدورة.

وأضاف اسحق، “برنامج إعادة التوظيف مع دعم الأجور يستهدف المنشآت السياحية التي ترغب في توظيف متعطلين عن العمل في منشآتهم حسب شروط سهلة أعدها البرنامج، بحيث يتم تقديم حوافز مالية للعمال بواقع الحد الأدنى للأجور للأشهر الثلاثة الأولى، ونصف الحد الأدنى للأجور للشهرين الرابع والخامس، بهدف إعادة فتح المنشآت السياحية وتوظيف العاطلين عن العمل مع تقديم حوافز مالية لهم.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation releases 3 brothers from Hebron

الخليل- “القدس” دوت كوم- أفرجت سلطات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، اليوم الخميس، عن ثلاثة أشقاء من بلدة صوريف شمال الخليل بعد قضائهم خمس سنوات في الأسر.

وأفاد مراسلنا، بأن قوات الاحتلال أفرجت عن الأشقاء علاء ورافع ورفعت أبو فارة، في الثلاثينيات من أعمارهم، من سجن النقب الصحراوي، بعد قضائهم خمسة أعوام في الأسر، وكان في استقبالهم على حاجز الظاهرية جنوب الخليل، أهلهم وأقرباؤهم وحشد من المواطنين، وممثلو نادي الأسير وهيئة شؤون الأسرى، إضافة لعدد من ممثلي المؤسسات والفعاليات في بلدة صوريف.

وأقامت حركة فتح وأهالي البلدة حفل استقبال جماهيري للمحررين في ساحة نادي صوريف الرياضي.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Ministry of Education participates in the work of the 86th session of the Council of Educational Affairs for the Children of Palestine

Cairo - "Jerusalem" dot com - The Ministry of Education participated in the work of the 86th session of the Council of Educational Affairs for the Children of Palestine , represented by the Advisor to its Minister, Assistant Undersecretary Tharwat Zaid, at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, where the session discussed the reality of education in Palestine, in terms of achievements And the challenges, the practices of the Israeli occupation and its repeated aggression against the right to education, and its violation of all charters and norms.


The discussion focused on the impact of these violations in all of the Palestinian land, especially what the Holy City is exposed to in terms of attempts to capture education and impose the occupation’s curriculum, in addition to the repeated attacks on schools, students and educational staff.


Zaid said that all those gathered appreciated the Ministry's role in its steadfastness and its work in providing quality education and learning for the people of Palestine, noting the achievements made at all levels, and its emphasis on the sovereignty of the curricula.


The meeting stressed the importance of Arab and Islamic countries, institutions and organizations supporting the Ministry of Education, in order to maintain the continuity of providing educational services to Palestinian children. They recommended the need to support education, especially in Jerusalem. In a way that enhances the steadfastness of its people in light of the continuous occupation attack.


The meeting agreed to hold the next session in the State of Palestine next December, which coincides with the Palestinian Teacher's Day, as it represents solidarity with the protection and advocacy of education in Palestine.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Fatwa Council calls on Arabs and Muslims to defend their Prophet and their sanctities

القدس – “القدس” دوت كوم – قال مجلس الإفتاء الأعلى في فلسطين، إن التطاول على الرسول الكريم محمد عليه السلام وشتمه من قبل المستوطنين خلال تنظيمهم “مسيرة الأعلام” العدوانية في مدينة القدس المحتلة، انتهاك سافر وعنصري.

ودعا المجلس خلال جلسة عقدها اليوم الخميس، برئاسة المفتي العام للقدس والديار الفلسطينية، رئيس مجلس الإفتاء الأعلى محمد حسين، تخللتها مناقشة المسائل الفقهية المدرجة على جدول أعمالها، العرب والمسلمين في أرجاء المعمورة إلى الدفاع عن نبيهم محمد عليه السلام ومقدساتهم.

وحمل سلطات الاحتلال عواقب هذا العدوان، الذي يتم بحمايتها، مضيفا ان هذا الاعتداء ليس جديدا على المستوطنين، وإنما قاموا بمثله في أكثر من مكان وزمان دون رادع.

وفي السياق، حذر المجلس من تداعيات قرار الاحتلال هدم حي البستان في بلدة سلوان جنوب المسجد الأقصى، وتحويله إلى حديقة توراتية لصالح مشاريع ومخططات تهويدية، ما سيفضي إلى تهجير عشرات العائلات وتشريدهم، جراء هدم عشرات المنازل.

وشدد على أن هذه الخطوة تشكل سابقة خطيرة في تاريخ القدس، وبداية لهدم أحياء بأكملها، وترحيل جماعي، بهدف تفريغ المدينة من سكانها الأصليين، حيث تعتبر بلدة سلوان الحامية الجنوبية للمسجد الأقصى المبارك ومحرابه، وتحاول سلطات الاحتلال اقتلاع السكان العرب منها من خلال الاستيلاء على الأراضي والبيوت، أو هدمها، وإحلال المستوطنين فيها.

ورحب المجلس بصمود المواطنين في حي الشيخ جراح، وبطن الهوى في سلوان، لافتا إلى أن الاحتلال من خلال نظامه العنصري ضد شعبنا، والاستيلاء على أراضه، وتهجيره من بيوته، يعمل على طمس كل ما هو عربي وإسلامي بالقدس، بهدف تهويدها، داعيا إلى ضرورة ملاحقة الاحتلال في المحافل الدولية.

وأدان المجلس الهجمة الاستيطانية الشرسة التي يقوم بها قطعان المستوطنين بدعم من سلطات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، التي من ضمنها زيادة عدد الوحدات الاستيطانية، وتوسيعها في الأراضي الفلسطينية جميعها، وخاصة في جالود وترمسعيا وبيتا وحزما والأغوار، داعيا إلى دعمهم ومساندتهم بالإمكانات والوسائل المتاحة.

وأدان المجلس تجديد سلطات الاحتلال منع تلفزيون فلسطين من العمل في مدينة القدس المحتلة، مبينا أن الاحتلال يحاول إسكات الصوت الفلسطيني، الذي يفضح انتهاكاته في القدس وسائر الأراضي المحتلة، من خلال تضييق الخناق على الصحفيين الفلسطينيين.

وبين أن صورة الاحتلال انكشفت للعالم أجمع، ولم تعد روايته وأكاذيبه تنطلي على أحد، مشيدا بعمل وسائل الإعلام الحرة في بيان الحقائق، ومنددا بهذا الصدد بالاعتداء على الصحفيين واعتقالهم، بهدف ثنيهم عن كشف عنصريته.

وحمل سلطات الاحتلال المسؤولية الكاملة عن حياة الأسرى المضربين عن الطعام في سجونها، داعيا إلى ضرورة تلبية حقوقهم الإنسانية، مطالبا الجهات الدولية والمؤسسات الإنسانية بضرورة التحرك لمحاسبتها على جرائمها واعتداءاتها على الأسرى.

وأكد المجلس ضرورة رص الصفوف، ونبذ الفرقة بهدف التوحد وتغليب المصلحة الوطنية على المصالح الحزبية الضيقة، وإعادة جوهر القضية الفلسطينية إلى الواجهة من جديد، مشددا على أهمية الوحدة والتماسك على درب إنهاء الاحتلال، وإقامة الدولة الفلسطينية المستقلة وعاصمتها القدس.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation demolishes two houses near Jenin

Jenin - "Jerusalem" dot com - Ali Samoudi - The Israeli occupation forces demolished, on Wednesday morning, two houses in the village of Jalboun, near the apartheid wall in Jenin.


Eyewitnesses told Al-Quds.com that the occupation forces, accompanied by two bulldozers, stormed their lands and proceeded to demolish the homes of citizens Khaled Abu Al-Rub and Amir Abu Seif.


The occupation forces notified 11 citizens of demolishing their homes in Jalboun several months ago.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The European Union presents a "final text" on the Iran nuclear deal

Vienna (AFP) - The European Union has presented a "final text" in negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal , a European official said Monday, expressing hope that an agreement would be reached "within a few weeks."


"We worked for four days, and today the text has been put before the senior delegates. The negotiations have ended and this is the final text. It will not be renegotiated," the source told reporters, on condition of anonymity.


After a months-long stalemate, diplomats from all the signatories (Iran, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and France) returned to Vienna last Thursday in an effort to salvage the 2015 agreement.


The 2015 agreement made it possible to lift sanctions against the Islamic Republic in return for reducing its nuclear activities and ensuring the peacefulness of its program.


However, the United States unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 during the era of its former president, Donald Trump, re-imposing harsh economic sanctions on Iran, which responded by gradually retracting most of its obligations under it.


Iran and the powers participating in the agreement began talks to revive it in April 2021 in Vienna, with the indirect participation of the United States and the facilitation of the European Union.


The European official said, "The ball is now in the court of the (concerned) capitals, and we will see what happens," adding that "a person will not remain in Vienna" for any additional negotiations.


While stressing the "quality" of the text, he said "we very much hope it will be approved" and that an agreement will be reached "within a few weeks".


A major hurdle remains, as Iran is calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency to "completely" end the case of finding traces of nuclear material at undeclared Iranian sites.


Commenting on the matter, the European official said that this issue "has nothing to do with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the official name of the nuclear deal). Meanwhile, Iran insists that it is essential. I hope Iran will reach an agreement (in this regard) with the IAEA." Atomic energy, as this will facilitate many things.


Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday, "We believe that the IAEA should fully resolve the remaining (nuclear) safeguards issues by adopting a technical path and distancing itself from politically deviant and non-constructive issues."

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The People's Party expresses its concern about the growing phenomenon of violence against women

غزة- “القدس” دوت كوم- أعربت الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين، اليوم الخميس، عن قلقها من تنامي ظاهرة العنف ضد النساء في المجتمع الفلسطيني وتزايد حالات القتل، وذلك بعد مقتل امرأتين في غضون أيام قليلة في قطاع غزة.

ودعت الجبهة في بيان لها، إلى الضرورة الملحة والعاجلة لاتخاذ جملة من الإجراءات التي تضمن توفير الحماية الكاملة للمرأة من العنف الذي تتعرض له، وأهمية تعديل القوانين والتشريعات الفلسطينية لضمان تغليظ وتشديد العقوبات الرادعة بحق مرتكبي هذه الجرائم.

وشددت الجبهة على مسؤولية الجميع من جهات رسمية وقوى ومؤسسات مجتمعية ونسوية وعائلات في البحث الجدي والمشترك عن آليات عملية هدفها حماية المرأة ووقف ظاهرة العنف المستشري ضدها، وما يتطلبه ذلك من إطلاق حملة توعية مركزة في المجتمع الفلسطيني للتأكيد على حقوق المرأة ورفض ظاهرة العنف ضدها، وتقديم كل أشكال الدعم القانوني والنفسي لضحايا العنف، وخلق بيئة مناسبة لتعزيز مبدأ المساوة بين الرجل والمرأة، ومساعدتهن بالاندماج في المجتمع وضمان حقهن بالعمل والميراث، وهذا يستوجب أولاً مواجهة العادات والتقاليد البالية التي وضعت المرأة بشكل دائم في مرمى العنف الدائم والاستهداف المتواصل وحتى القتل. كما جاء في بيانها.

وقالت “إن الوفاء لروح الشهيدة الدكتورة مي عفانة والتي قتلت بدمٍ باردٍ على أيدي جنود الاحتلال، وللمغدورة استبرق بركة التي قتلت على أيدي زوجها ولمواطنة أخرى قتلت أمس بحي الصبرة بغزة تستوجب التصدي بضراوة وفي كل المحافل لجرائم الاحتلال بحق شعبنا وخصوصًا المرأة الفلسطينية كمهمة ملحة، مع أهمية أيضًا مواجهة كل أشكال العنف ضد المرأة بالمجتمع الفلسطيني”.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The condition of an 83-year-old woman who was pulled by Chinese and Turkish rescuers from the earthquake ruins in Malatya, Turkey, is stable.

MALATEYA, Turkey - (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Turkish rescuers rescued an 83-year-old woman from the rubble of the earthquake in Malatya, southern Turkey, on Saturday, and her condition was confirmed in hospital.


A Turkish rescue team and the "Blue Sky Rescue" team, a search and rescue organization from Chongqing, southwestern China, cooperated in retrieving and rescuing the woman, about 125 hours after the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey last Monday.


Yang Yi, a member of the Chinese rescue team, said the survivor remained under the rubble of a seven-storey building without water or food until she was rescued.


This survivor is the third person to be rescued by the Chinese rescue team after two earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday. Tens of thousands of people were killed or injured by these devastating earthquakes.

OPINIONS

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Terrorism has no nationality, race, or religion.... Fethullah Gulen's organization threatens humanity

Written by: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
On the evening of July 15, 2016, the "Fetullah Terrorist Organization" staged a coup attempt against the people and government of Turkey. Their goal was to establish a radical, extremist regime loyal only to their leader, Fethullah Gulen. Units of the Turkish army affiliated with the Fethullah terrorist organization left military headquarters with the aim of controlling key sites in the country, such as the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, and fighter jets and attack helicopters bombed strategic targets including the parliament headquarters, the presidential complex, and army and police headquarters; Thousands of civilians took to the streets to stop the coup attempt. They killed 251 innocent civilians and injured thousands. That night the Turkish people defended democracy. This heroic response was something the conspirators did not expect.
To understand what happened that night, we must understand the truth about the Fathullah terrorist organization, which was founded in the late 1960s on the basis that it was a religious movement, under the guise of promoting education and interfaith dialogue, and managed to cover its malicious intentions.
Members of the Fathullah Terrorist Organization infiltrated widely with the help of the army, police, judiciary and ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs many years ago, and their plans were implemented on the night of July 15, 2016.
Had their attempted coup succeeded, Turkey would have become a very different country than it is today. If democracy would not exist, and basic rights and freedoms would be suspended indefinitely, Turkey would have fallen into the hands of an extremist government.
The Fethullah Terrorist Organization controlled a large number of educational institutions and financial institutions, they were financially supported and money transferred to their bank accounts by prominent members of the Gulen Organization, who lured innocent civilians by manipulating them to join their organization.

In the aftermath of the bloody coup attempt of July 15, 2016, Turkey began a resolute purge of government sectors, including ministries and the army, as well as the private sector of all individuals and companies affiliated with the FETO. Some of the prominent conspirators were arrested, and others were able to escape from justice and flee to foreign countries. The head of the FETÖ terrorist organization, Fethullah Gülen, still resides in the United States. Our government has been calling for years to extradite Gülen to Turkey, and to extradite members of the FETÖ organization living in Europe. , but unfortunately, these requests have not yet been met.
The nature and scope of Turkey's fight against the FETÖ is not different from that of other countries against organizations that carry out terrorist acts against their own citizens and officials alike, and that endanger democratic values, basic rights, and freedoms.
What Turkey is doing against the Gulen Organization is the same thing that those countries have done in their wars against terrorism, and all that Turkey is doing is in accordance with the law.
Terrorism has no nationality, race or religion. This danger threatens humanity. Therefore, the response to this threat must be unified and firm. No country has the luxury of distinguishing between terrorist organizations, and no terrorist organization can be classified as "useful" according to personal interests.
The FETÖ is responsible for killing hundreds of lives and serious crimes against the Turkish people. Six years after their coup attempt, Turkey continues its resolute war against the FETÖ, just as it continues its war against other terrorist organizations such as the PKK, the People's Protection Units, and the DFLP. Revolutionary People's Liberation and ISIS.
We expect the international community to stand in solidarity with Turkey in its fight against terrorism.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Canaan Palestine Foundation inaugurates the first wheat festival in Bayader Al-Jalama

 جنين- “القدس” دوت كوم- علي سمودي- افتتحت مؤسسة كنعان فلسطين اليوم، مهرجان ” القمح الأول ٢٠٢١” تحت عنوان ( قمح وزيت عمار البيت ) في بيادر قرية الجلمة، بحضور رئيس الغرفة التجارية ، وممثلين عن المؤسسات الرسمية والأهلية ووفد من داخل أراضي ٤٨، والمزارعين ومحافظ جنين .

وأوضح الدكتور ناصر أبو فرحة مدير المؤسسة، أن فكرة المهرجان بدأت قبل 5 سنوات ، بعدما توجهت المؤسسات لفكرة العمل في انتاج القمح والمفتول والفريكة العضوية.
وقال ” خلال العمل، وجدنا ان السلاسلات المستخدمة بين المزارعين، غالبها مستحدثة وصعب زراعتها بالطريقة العضوية التقليدية البعيدة عن الاسمدة والمبيدات، فتوجهنا لاستعادة السلاسلات الفلسطينية الاصيلة “.

وقال ” جمعنا بعض المزارعين الذين يملكون السلالات الاصيلة في الوديان والجبال وغيرها، وكاثرنا هذه السلاسلات ثم ارجعناها للمزارعين، وبدانا بالزراعه منها، لانها أنجع وبطرق بدون استخدام مواد مدخلات سامة”.
وتابع: “اكتشفتا ان مسألة إستعادة السلاسلات الاصيلة، أدخل في صحة الانسان والاستقلالية الغذائية وعدم تبعية المزارع لشركات، فأسسنا برنامجا متكاملا لاستعادة سلالات القمع الفلسطينية الاصيلة، وبعد نجاحنا اطلقنا مهرجان القمح الاول لما فيه من تراثنا من رونق أخاذ، خاصة وان هذا التراث اساس لفلكورنا “.

وذكر ابوفرحة، ان المهرجان يشمل معرض للسلالات الاصيلة من القمح التي زرعت، وبيادر القمع وماكيناته، وعرض لكيفية عمل الفلاح وطرق زراعته في عدة مناطق كمرج ابن عامر ومرج صانور والوديان والجبال، اضافة لمأكولات شعبية مثل السليقة والفريكة والتي جرى تحضيرها خلال المهرجان .

وأكد أبو فرحة، على أهمية المهرجان على الصعيد الوطني لانه يركز على التراث الذي يشكل أساس العلاقة بيينا وبين الارض والتي يجب ان تكون حقيقية، وأن نشكل وعيا لتراثنا واصالته والقيمه المجتمعية والفكرية .

واضاف ” كل شيء في مجتمعنا نستمده من اصول زراعية بما فيه فلكورنا، وعلينا تثبيتها بطريقة صحيحة لتنعكس على المجتمع وسلوكة الصحيح الذي يبني المتانة والقوة المجتمعية .
وتابع: ” قمح وزيت عمار البيت، هذا عنوان المهرجان كنعان التي حمت المزارعين في محصول زيت الزيتون ، واليوم نشق طريقنا لاعادة استنهاض محصول القمح الاصيل “.

وتخلل المهرجان، عدة انشطة ثقافية وفنية من التراث الوطني شاركت بها عدة جمعيات وفرقة الكمنجاتي والفناة حنة الحاج حسن والعديد من الزجالين والشعراء الشعبيين .

وأشاد محافظ جنين اللواء أكرم الرجوب، بدور المؤسسات الرسمية والأهلية التي تقدم كافة الامكانيات المتاحة للمزارع الفلسطيني رمز الصمود في الحفاظ على أرضه وثباته، في مواجهة خطط الضم والإستيطان التي شرع فيها الإحتلال منذ أن احتل أرضنا .

وبين الرجوب في كلمة له، إن ما تقدمه مؤسسة كنعان فلسطين للمزارع الفلسطيني له دلالة واضحة بأنها تسعى بكل إمكانياتها في دعم المزارعين وتمكينهم للإستمرار في خدمة الأرض وترسيخ القيم والموروث الثقافي للنشاط الزراعي للحفاظ عليه .

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Launching the Freedom is a Right campaign to support the re-arrested prisoners after their liberation in the Shalit deal

غزة – “القدس” دوت كوم -أُطلق اليوم الخميس، حملة “الحريق حق” بهدف إسناد الأسرى الذين أعادت قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي اعتقالهم بعد تحريرهم ضمن صفقة الجندي الإسرائيلي جلعاد شاليط “وفاء الأحرار” التي تمت في أكتوبر/ تشرين أول 2011.

جاء ذلك في مؤتمر صحفي بالتزامن ما بين قطاع غزة والضفة الغربية، بحضور شخصيات وطنية وممثلين عن الفصائل والقوى وكذلك أسرى محررين.

وقال رئيس هيئة شؤون الأسـرى والمحررين قدري أبو بكر، خلال مؤتمر من رام الله، إن الاحتلال باعادة اعتقال الأسـرى المحررين في صفقة شاليط ينتهك بشكل واضح وصريح البنود المتفق عليها في الصفقة، وهذا دليل على ضربه بعرض الحائط جلّ الاتفاقيات التي تتم برعاية دولية وأممية.

وطالب أبو بكر المؤسسات الدولية ومنظمات حقوق الإنسان أن يكون لها موقف جاد وحازم في إلزام الاحتلال بالاتفاقيات الموقعة وعلى رأسها بنود صفقة شاليط.

من جهته قال زكي دبابش منسق لجنة الأسرى والقوى الوطنية في قطاع غزة، إن الحملة تهدف لإسناد الأسرى الذين أعيد اعتقالهم بعد تحررهم بصفقة “وفاء الأحرار”، وتجديد الاحتلال الأحكام السابقة بحقهم في انتهاك واضح وفاضح لاتفاق وبنود الصفقة التي تمت برعاية دولية ووساطة مصر وبإطلاع المؤسسات الدولية المعنية بشؤون الأسرى.

وناشد دبابش الجهات الدولية الراعية للاتفاق وخاصة مصر، بالضغط على دولة الاحتلال وإلزامها باحترام حقوق الإنسان وتطبيق صفقة التبادل التي أطلقت بموجبها المقاومة سراح الجندي شاليط.

وبين أن الحملة تهدف إلى تعرية الرواية العنصرية للاحتلال حول الأسرى الفلسطينيين وفضح جرائمه في انتهاك الاتفاقيات الدولية وحقوق الإنسان، إلى جانب نشر الوعي حول الأسرى والمعتقلين الفلسطينيين وهم الضحية الحقيقية التي تنزف دمًا بين أنياب الجلاد في ظل التقصير الدولي والعدالة الدولية والإنسانية. كما قال.

وأضاف “نسعى من خلال الحملة إلى تحويل قضية المحررين الذين أعيد اعتقالهم لقضية رأي عام دولي ومعركة سياسية سينتصر فيها الكف على المخرز”.

وتابع “نهدف إلى إثارة هذه القضية العادلة والمقدسمة على كل منصات التواصل والمنابر الإعلامية”، داعيًا الصحفيين ووسائل الإعلام للمساهمة في تسويق الرواية الفلسطينية وكسر كل الشعارات العنصرية في مساواة الضحية بالجلاد.

ولفت دبابش إلى أنه سيتم تسليم رسائل للمنظمات الدولية والإنسانية وممثلي الاتحاد الأوروبي بغزة حول قضيتهم وتجديد الأحكام السابقة بحقهم وعلى رأسهم الأسير المحرر نائل البرغوثي الذي أعيد اعتقاله في يونيو/ حزيران 2014.

وأشار إلى أنه سيتم تنظيم ورشة عمل الاثنين المقبل حول هذه القضية بمشاركة مختصين وممثلين عن مؤسسات دولية للضغط على الاحتلال للإفراج عنهم.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

The United States says it is still open to talks with North Korea, despite the new "provocations".

Washington (AFP) - The United States said Tuesday it remains open to talks with North Korea, despite leader Kim Jong-un's "provocations" by vowing to accelerate his country's nuclear activity.


US State Department spokesman Ned Price said, "We remain open to engaging in diplomacy and dialogue with North Korea" on ending its nuclear program.


"But we also have an obligation to deal with the recent provocations that we have seen from North Korea, including the recent launches of two intercontinental missiles," he told reporters.


And the US official considered that the speech that Kim made on Monday night during a military parade in Pyongyang confirms the validity of "our assessment that North Korea poses a threat to international peace and security and to the international order regarding the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons."


Kim pledged to work to "strengthen and develop" his country's nuclear arsenal, in a speech he delivered while attending a military parade in Pyongyang that included a display of intercontinental missiles, state media reported Tuesday.


Despite being subject to severe sanctions, North Korea has accelerated efforts to modernize its military capabilities, and conducted tests on banned weapons this year, ignoring US offers for talks, at a time when observers warned that the Stalinist regime might resume its nuclear tests.


In his speech, Kim said, "We will continue at the fastest pace to take steps to enhance and develop our country's nuclear capabilities."


He added, "Nuclear force, the symbol of our national strength and the core of our military power, should be strengthened in terms of quality and scale."


And while the North Korean leader stressed that "the primary mission of our nuclear weapons is deterrence, but our nuclear weapons cannot be limited to a single mission that is deterrence," he threatened that "if a force attempts to rob our country's basic interests, our nuclear power will have no other choice but to complete its second mission." .

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

South Sudan.. a decade of bloodshed

باريس- (أ ف ب) -يحيي جنوب السودان ذكرى مرور عشر سنوات على استقلاله في التاسع من تموز/يوليو. في ما يلي لمحة عن أول عقد دامٍ عاشته الدولة الأحدث في العالم وشهد حربا أهلية أودت بحياة 380 ألف شخص.

في التاسع من تموز/يوليو، أعلن جنوب السودان استقلاله عن السودان بعد ست سنوات من الحكم الذاتي وعقدين من الحرب.
تولى الرئاسة سلفا كير وعيّن رياك مشار نائبا له. تزّعم الخصمان المنتميان إلى قبيلتين مختلفتين “الحركة الشعبية لتحرير السودان” التي قادت التحرّك من أجل الاستقلال.
واستحوذ جنوب السودان على ثلاثة أرباع احتياطات النفط التابعة للسودان بينما حافظت الخرطوم على سيطرتها على جميع أنابيب النفط ومنشآت التصدير.
وكانت من بين القضايا الشائكة مسألة ترسيم حدود جديدة ووضع مناطق متنازع عليها غنية بالنفط مثل أبيي.
بين آذار/مارس وأيار/مايو، دارت مواجهات بين البلدين على خلفية حق استغلال حقول النفط المحيطة ببلدة إهليلج الحدودية والواقعة ضمن أراضي السودان.
احتلت قوات جنوب السودان لمدة وجيزة المنطقة التي تساهم في نصف إنتاج الخام.
واندلع سجال بشأن تكاليف مرور خط النفط فيما صادر السودان ملايين البراميل من خام جنوب السودان.
توقف جنوب السودان عن الإنتاج في كانون الثاني/يناير لأكثر من عام، متهما الخرطوم بسرقة نفطه.

في 23 تموز/يوليو، أقال كير نائبه مشار وجميع وزراء الحكومة ونوابهم وعددا من ضباط الشرطة.
واتّهمه مشار بالتصرّف “بدكتاتورية”.
بعد ليلة من القتال في العاصمة جوبا، أكد كير في 16 كانون الأول/ديسمبر بأن قواته أحبطت محاولة انقلاب نفّذها مشار، والذي نفى بدوره الأمر.
اشتبكت وحدات عسكرية متخاصمة داخل الجيش في جوبا واتسع نطاق القتال ليتجاوز العاصمة، إذ غذّته الخصومة بين قبيلة الدنكا التي يتحدّر منها كير والنوير التي ينتمي إليها مشار.
أطلق ذلك العنان لمجازر متبادلة بين الطرفين تحوّلت إلى حرب استمرت ست سنوات.

في آب/اغسطس 2015، وقّع مشار وكير على اتفاق سلام ينص على إعادة تعيين الأول نائبا للرئيس. وعاد إلى جوبا وتم تنصيبه في 26 نيسان/أبريل 2016.
لكن اندلع القتال مجددا بين أنصار الزعيمين في تموز/يوليو، ليهرب مشار من البلاد متهما كير بالسعي لقتله.

في 20 حزيران/يونيو، التقى كير ومشار لأول مرة منذ عامين.
في 12 أيلول/سبتمبر، وقعا على اتفاق سلام جديد لإنهاء الحرب التي أودت بأكثر من 380 ألف شخص وأدت إلى نزوح نحو أربعة ملايين.
مهد ذلك لتأسيس حكومة تتقاسم السلطة أخيرا في آذار/مارس 2020، ليتولى مشار مجددا منصب نائب الرئيس.

لكن النزاع المسلّح تواصل. ومددت الأمم المتحدة مهمة السلام مرّات عدة كما الحظر على الأسلحة.
في حزيران/يونيو 2020، اتفق كير ونائبه مشار على مسألة السيطرة على ولايات البلاد العشر، والتي كانت من أبرز النقاط الخلافية.

حذّر تقرير للأمم المتحدة في نيسان/أبريل من أن بطء تطبيق اتفاق السلام يعرّض البلاد إلى خطر الانزلاق في “نزاع واسع النطاق”.
في الثامن من أيار/مايو، وبعد تأجيل لأكثر من عام، أفسح كير المجال للنواب المعارضين للانضمام إلى برلمان جديد.
في 25 أيار/مايو، بدأت صياغة المسودة النهائية للدستور.
وما زالت قضايا أخرى واردة في اتفاق السلام، مثل تشكيل جيش وطني موحد، بانتظار حلّها.

ECONOMY

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Jordan and Qatar agree to liberalize air transport and remove restrictions on capacity and flights

Amman -(Xinhua) Haitham Misto, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority, and the President of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Muhammad Faleh Al-Hajri, agreed to liberalize direct air transport between the two countries.


The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority said in a statement today, Wednesday, that the Jordanian-Qatari agreement took place during bilateral discussions in the field of air transport today between the delegations of the Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority in Jordan and Qatar, as it removed the restrictions imposed on capacity and the number of flights operated between the two countries (passengers). And goods and mail) and the type of aircraft operating.


According to the statement, the meeting, in the presence of representatives of Royal Jordanian Airlines and Qatar Airways, discussed bilateral relations in the field of air transport, including the liberation of direct air transport between the two countries, as a continuation of the procedures for signing the updated air services agreement between the two parties on March 14.


The statement quoted the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority as saying that the results of these discussions are fruitful and will have significant positive repercussions on the overall economic, investment and trade exchange, and an increase in the volume of air transport between the two brotherly countries, especially as it includes the liberation of direct air transport, both passengers and freight, in a manner consistent with The policy of gradual liberalization of air transport adopted by the Jordanian government through the National Air Transport Strategy.


On March 14, the two countries signed an air services agreement, which comes within the framework of linking the two countries with air services agreements that open the way for the national carrier in both countries to expand its network of destinations and reach more global destinations.

PALESTINE

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Settlers leveling lands south of Nablus

Nablus - "Jerusalem" dot com - In the early hours of Monday morning, settlers leveled lands in the town of Qusra , south of Nablus.


According to local sources, settlers' bulldozers stormed the lands adjacent to the "Magdolim" settlement and swept large areas of it.

SPORT

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Star Uday al-Dabbagh contributes to his team's victory in the Portuguese League, Arouca

ساهم نجم منتخبنا الوطني عدي الدباغ، في الفوز الكبير الذي حققه فريقه آروكا على ضيفه فاماليكاو بأربعة أهداف لهدف ضمن منافسات الأسبوع التاسع من الدوري البرتغالي الممتاز لكرة القدم.


مرة أخرى استطاع النجم تسجيل هدف لفريقه، رغم دخوله بديلا، حيث سجل الهدف الرابع قبل النهاية بست دقائق من تسديدة قوية زاحفة من خارج صندوق الجزاء، ليرفع فريقه آروكا رصيده إلى 12 نقطة في المركز الحادي عشر، فيما تجمد رصيد فاماليكاو عند 7 نقاط في المركز الخامس عشر.


ولا يلعب الدباغ كثيرا هذا الموسم، حيث لم يلعب أكثر من 60 دقيقة خلال الجولات الـ9 الماضية، ومع ذلك كان قد ساهم بتسجيل هدف التعادل في اللقاء السابق أمام باكوس دي فيريرا.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 15 Mar 2023 9:41 pm - Jerusalem Time

Two Koreans arrested in South Korea for leaking military secrets

Seoul - (AFP) - Two South Koreans, one of whom is an army captain, have been arrested for stealing military secrets with the aim of sending them to a North Korean agent in return for payment in cryptocurrency, Seoul police said Friday.


One of the spies, a 29-year-old army captain, is suspected of having sent a North Korean agent information allowing access to the South Korean military's internal communications network.


The second is a 38-year-old businessman who owns a virtual portfolio management company. It is suspected that, at the request of a Pyongyang agent, he provided the first suspect with a bracelet equipped with a hidden camera so that he could collect intelligence information more easily.


The second suspect is also accused of having bought and collected parts of a "USB" device that allows hacking a computer quickly, with the aim of gaining access to the South Korean military communications system.


"The two men have been arrested on charges of violating the national security law," a South Korean national police official told AFP.
According to Seoul police, the businessman began communicating with the North Korean client six years ago, through a virtual group dedicated to cryptocurrency. The suspects were communicating via Telegram.
The businessman is suspected of receiving about $600,000 in cryptocurrency, and the military about $38,000, from a Pyongyang agent in return for their services, according to police.