French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during a phone conversation on Friday, turned the page on the recent diplomatic crisis between their two countries, stressing their desire to continue "strengthening bilateral cooperation," according to the Elysee.

The two presidents removed the "misunderstanding" related to the dispute over the French-Algerian activist Amira Bouraoui and "agreed to strengthen communication channels... to prevent the recurrence of this kind of unfortunate misunderstanding," the French presidency added in a statement.

Despite a decision banning her from leaving Algeria, Bouraoui entered Tunisia on February 3, before Tunisian security stopped her while she was trying to board a flight to Paris.

She was finally able to travel to France on February 6, despite the Tunisian authorities' attempt to deport her to Algeria.

Algeria considered that its arrival in France constitutes a "secret and illegal evacuation" that was carried out with the help of French diplomats and security personnel, and summoned its ambassador to Paris, Saeed Moussa, for consultations.

The Elysee stated in its statement, "President Abdelmadjid Tebboune informed the head of state of the return of the Algerian ambassador to France in the coming days," confirming a statement to this effect made by Tebboune this week.

And Amira Bouraoui, a 46-year-old doctor, was known in 2014 for her participation in the "Barakat" movement against the late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's candidacy for a fourth term.

She was imprisoned in 2020 on several charges and then released on July 2, 2020. She faces a two-year prison sentence for “insulting” Islam due to comments she made on her Facebook page.

After a sudden deterioration in relations in the fall of 2021, Paris and Algeria worked to improve their relations during the visit of the French President last August to Algeria, where he signed a joint declaration with Tebboune to advance bilateral cooperation.

According to the Elysee, the two presidents "talked about bilateral relations and the implementation of the Algiers Declaration signed during the President's visit to Algeria in August. They stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in all fields on the horizon of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's state visit to France."

The French presidency added, "The two presidents also discussed issues of regional stability, particularly combating terrorism in the Sahel region."

Whenever Thursday falls, the atmosphere of fear, anxiety and mobilization prevails in the city of Jenin and its camp, after the repeated occupation operations and massacres led and carried out by the special undercover units since the beginning of this year on this day, which has become a symbol and is considered for them as "black" and a symbol of "blood and aggression." and massacres.” After the recent assassination, the number of martyrs in Jenin governorate rose to 35, including an elderly woman and children.

Time and place ..

The special units determined the place and time, and when it reached 2:15, on the afternoon of Thursday corresponding to 16-3-2023, the undercover units carried out their new operation. Unusually, and with the repeated failure of their night and morning operations, they chose the peak time on the special day at the end of the week, which It is not expected by an ordinary citizen or a resistance fighter, as Jenin is witnessing a wide and large movement and human and traffic congestion to prepare everyone for the weekend and the Friday holiday. It also chose the most vital place in the city, the central area at the intersection between Abu Bakr Street and the Martyr Yahya Ayyash Circle, and did not take into account the presence of hundreds of civilians in A large commercial gathering, which appeared clearly in the videos documented by activists and published after the crime, and among its victims was the 13-year-old Omar Muhammad Awadin.

On that day, the two resistance fighters, Nidal Amin Khazim and Youssef Salih Shreim , from the Jenin camp, arrived at a barbershop in the center of the city, and after completing their haircut, they boarded the motorcycle owned and driven by Khazim, and set off on the way back to the camp, but they did not know that five undercover men in civilian clothes were They followed up and monitored their movements with a local car, so they fell into a tight ambush and were surrounded by bullets from all sides.

Martyrs recounted to the reporter of "Al-Quds" dot-com that while the bike was passing in front of the "Al-Nimr Mall" building, they heard the sound of gunfire, and soon the undercover men appeared in the place, heavily armed, terribly fast and swift, and according to witnesses, and video clips filmed by citizens, one of the undercover men He suddenly drew his weapon and fired bullets directly at the head of the resistance fighter Nidal from scratch, and although he fell to the ground covered in blood, the undercover soldiers surrounded him and one of them shot him directly in the head, and fired in the air to prevent citizens from approaching them and the body of the martyr whose body was torn apart by bullets.

As for the fighter Shreim, the witnesses mentioned that he jumped off the vehicle and tried to flee, but the undercover soldiers chased him and shot him until he was killed at the same moment when the news of the assassination spread, so that Jenin rose up at a time when the undercover seemed to withdraw towards their vehicle to flee quickly, but they fired profusely. To disperse the angry crowd, which exposed them, while the child Omar Awadin was riding his bicycle heading to his father's nearby shop, they hit him with a live bullet that killed him instantly.

The course of events that followed after the crime indicates that the undercover plan was to carry out the execution, and immediately withdraw from the crime scene before it was discovered, taking advantage of the crowded situation in the city, and using a Palestinian vehicle, but soon the events and the scene turned, as the people were able to identify the undercover people themselves And their clothes and vehicles, so that the streets of the city turned into an arena of violent confrontations, and according to witnesses, within minutes, clips of Al-Khazem’s execution and the undercover operation and their photos spread, so hundreds of young men rushed to chase them from one area to another, and their vehicle was attacked with stones and everything that fell on the hands of angry demonstrators, who were joined by resistance fighters who opened fire. However, it turned out that the occupation forces, as usual, prepared an evacuation plan and support for the undercover soldiers.

While the undercover men were trapped inside the vehicle, the occupation sent more than 40 military patrols to the streets of the city to rescue the undercover soldiers, who rushed to open fire abundantly. Witnesses say, "Every fetus rose up, men, children, women, and even the elderly. They chased the vehicle and threw everything at it to stop it, but the undercover soldiers opened the way with bullets." The neighborhood that rained heavily, which led to the martyrdom of the young man, Louay Khalil Al-Zaghair.

The bullets were the only way for the undercover soldiers to escape from Jenin's angry grip, which led to the fall of the wounded, whose number, according to the city's hospitals, reached 21, in addition to the martyr al-Zaghayer.

In the midst of the whistling of bullets, the undercover Arabs quickly stopped at the intersection of Abu Bakr Street leading to the Grand Mosque and the main roundabout, and managed to escape from the vehicle and take refuge in the Al-Omari Press, after their bullets destroyed the vehicles parked in the area and Al-Aqsa Restaurant, whose owner told Al-Quds.com that he was surprised by a car. The undercover men stopped in the middle of the street after they were unable to move in front of the crowded vehicles and the anger of the people, then they jumped from them in the midst of the gunfire and fled towards the neighboring printing house, after they inflicted losses on his restaurant and his vehicle, which showed traces of bullets clearly.

The owner of the Al-Omari printing press told Al-Quds.com that the undercover men quickly entered the back of his printing press, brandishing their weapons, immediately put on masks, then gathered all the workers and a Palestinian family with them from inside, including a child. They left their vehicle in the street for fear of bullets and took cover. Inside the printing press, he adds: "They detained us inside a small room belonging to the printing press, and prevented us from moving. They began to collect information about the location and send the coordinates to the army to locate them, but the bullets did not stop, and they exchanged fire from inside the printing press with the resistance fighters. They detained us for about two hours, during which time we exited to the entrance." They fired towards the outside, and prevented us from moving until a support force arrived and took them out.”

According to witnesses, the army surrounded the area where the undercover soldiers were besieged, and deployed reinforcements and patrols in all the main streets of the city leading to the area, amid violent armed clashes, and after the soldiers opened heavy fire, they were able to expel the undercover soldiers with their vehicle and withdraw from the city towards the Jalama checkpoint.

The Elysee Palace announced Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron will take advantage of his "state visit" to China from April 5 to 8 to "work" with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the "return to peace" in Ukraine .

The French presidency said in a statement that Macron's visit will lead him to Beijing as well as to Canton, stressing that he is "committed to maintaining a continuous and demanding dialogue with China."

Macron announced at the end of February that he would visit China in early April, but he did not reveal the exact dates and cities involved.

"The French and Chinese presidents will hold in-depth discussions about the war in Ukraine to work for the return of peace within the framework of international law, in particular Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Elysee said in its statement.

This week, Xi visited Russia, where he showed his strong support for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in confronting the West. And Beijing put forward proposals before that to settle the Ukrainian conflict.

France intends to push China, which has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to use its influence with Moscow to persuade Putin to sit down at the negotiating table with Kiev.

According to the French presidency, the talks at the beginning of April "will also focus on international crises in the Middle East and Africa and tensions in the Indian and Pacific region."

She added, "The reopening of China after the pandemic provides an opportunity to re-launch the dynamism of French-Chinese relations at all levels, at a time when international tensions and crises require more than ever before giving a horizon to this strategic partnership."

The Elysee said in its statement that the visit will include three main axes: strategic issues and international crises, cooperation in facing major global challenges, and economic relations.

Macron also announced at a press conference Friday in Brussels that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will accompany him "as part of the visit program" based on the principle of "European unity", which is "a prerequisite for building a balanced partnership with China."

And the Elysee added that the visit also aims to "give a new impetus to French-Chinese cooperation in facing global issues in which a strong commitment from China is necessary given the impact of its development on the rest of the planet," and among these issues are climate and biodiversity.

The Israeli "Peace Now" movement revealed that the Israeli occupation government has issued tenders to build 1,029 settlement units in the Palestinian territories .

The left-wing movement said in a statement it posted on its website, today, Friday, "Contrary to its commitment in the last meeting in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, the Israeli government published tenders for the construction of new settlement units ."

She added, "In all, the Israel Lands Administration published tenders for a total of 1,029 housing units in the West Bank and Jerusalem this week."

The report indicated that "the Israel Land Authority published, on Wednesday, tenders for the construction of 940 housing units in the settlements of Efrat (established on citizens' lands south of Bethlehem) and Beitar Illit (established on citizens' lands west of Bethlehem," noting that "747 settlement units, of which are in the settlement Beitar Illit and 193 units in Efrat settlement.

The report indicated that "the Israeli government published, on Tuesday, another tender for the construction of 89 housing units in the Gilo settlement in East Jerusalem."

"This is yet another harmful and unnecessary constructive initiative," Peace Now said in its report, stressing that "the most extreme right-wing government in Israel's history is not only trampling on democracy but also on the possibility of a future political agreement, and on our relations with the United States." and friendly countries.

And she warned that "lies and violations of commitments are a sure way to turn Israel into an isolated state."

Peace Now said, "After a meeting between Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and the United States on March 19 in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, it was decided to halt construction in settlements for a period of four months in an attempt to calm tensions in the region before Ramadan."

She added, "Despite Israel's commitments to its allies around the world, it appears that it continues to foster a construct that harms the chances of reaching a political agreement and increases tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the short and long term."

Source: Wafa Agency.

Hundreds of supporters of the Palestinian right demonstrated today, Friday, in the British capital , London , in conjunction with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .

A number of members of the Palestinian and Arab community, Britons, and Jews from the Neturei Karta movement, which opposes the occupation, participated in the demonstration.

The demonstrators raised Palestinian flags and banners denouncing the Israeli occupation and its crimes against our people, as well as banners reading that "Zionism is incompatible with Judaism," and that "the Jewish religion rejects the State of Israel and condemns its crimes and occupation."

An Israeli demonstration was also organized in front of the British government headquarters in Downing Street, during Netanyahu's meeting with his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak , to protest against the Israeli government's plan to weaken the judiciary, which a wide segment of Israelis considers "contrary to democratic standards."

Source: Wafa Agency.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called Friday in Brussels to support Tunisia , which is facing a serious financial crisis, expressing her fear that its difficulties could lead to "provoking an unprecedented wave of migration" towards Europe.

"I raised the issue of Tunisia before the European Council, because not everyone may be aware of the dangers posed by the situation in Tunisia and the need to support stability in a country suffering from major financial problems," she told reporters, explaining that she also raised the issue during the bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In response to a question about a possible Italian-French mission to Tunisia with the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Ylva Johansson, Meloni said, "Yes, there is a mission at the level of the two foreign ministers. Many are heading to Tunisia at the present time."

"If we don't deal with these problems appropriately, there is a risk of sparking an unprecedented wave of immigration," said the prime minister, whose far-right government tends to take an anti-immigration approach.

Georgia Meloni also discussed the situation in Tunisia with the European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, who "will go there in the coming days." And she stressed "the need to work at the diplomatic level to persuade the two parties, the International Monetary Fund and the Tunisian government, to conclude an agreement to achieve financial stability."

Tunisia has been negotiating for months with the International Monetary Fund to obtain a loan of about two billion dollars, but it seems that discussions between the two parties have stopped since the announcement of a preliminary agreement in mid-October.

For his part, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned Monday that the situation in Tunisia is "extremely dangerous," even pointing to the risk of "collapse" of the state, which is likely to "cause an influx of migrants towards the European Union and cause instability in the region." Middle East and North Africa".

Tunisia denounced Borrell's statements, saying they were "inappropriate" with the situation.

On Friday evening, large forces of the Israeli occupation police stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque , to remove banners supporting the resistance , which were hung by masked men in the mosque, after Friday prayers.

The occupation police arrested the young man who hung these banners.

A march took place after the Friday prayer, during which the Palestinian flags and banners were raised, and the organizers chanted slogans in support of the prisoners in the occupation prisons and in support of the Palestinian resistance.

The United Nations on Friday accused Ukrainian and Russian forces of carrying out dozens of extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Matilda Bogner, expressed "great concern" about the execution of "25 Russian prisoners of war" by the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as "the execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war" by the Russians.

Bogner confirmed that the United Nations documented these executions of Russians, which were carried out by Ukrainian forces "often ... immediately after their capture on the battlefield."

She added that the United Nations is aware of five investigations conducted by Kiev related to 22 victims, but "we have not been informed of any prosecution of the perpetrators" of these crimes.

As for the Russian armed forces' execution of 15 Ukrainian prisoners of war "soon after their arrest," the official said that 11 of these operations were carried out by the Russian armed Wagner Group.

Ukraine and Russia have been exchanging accusations since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 of mistreating prisoners, which constitute war crimes.

And the Wagner Group is on the front lines of the battle for control of the city of Bakhmut, the epicenter of the battles in eastern Ukraine.
In early March, a video appeared to show the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war by Russian soldiers, shocking Ukraine.

In November, the Kremlin denounced two videos that appeared to show the execution of about a dozen Russian soldiers after they surrendered to Ukrainian forces.

Hardly a day is devoid of an occasion for anyone, and sweets have become necessary and required, regardless of the social occasion that is based on more than one type of sweets, and since everyone loves sweets, old and young, Lynn Abdel Haq chose to establish her own project to produce sweets to work in what she loves and challenge unemployment .

Despite her studies of law at An-Najah University and her graduation, the specter of unemployment and the lack of job opportunities with her degree haunted her, but she decided to achieve her hopes and aspirations without standing on the sidewalk waiting for the job train to arrive, to create a field in which she finds her pleasure and passion in addition to her search for a job, and she chose industry Sweets, due to their many arts, whether in terms of taste or shape, were not satisfied with that, but rather decided to be distinguished from everything that exists in the market.

From talent to professionalism.

Lynn says: I graduated from the university, and I am the same as most of the young graduates in light of the unemployment the country suffers from. I found my passion and love for the confectionery industry, and I decided to work in it, but my information was very little in this field, as it is a wide sea and multi-fields, and I had to specialize in it and learn to master it to the fullest.

And she continued: The work started seriously a year ago, by learning to prepare Western sweets by joining a specialized course "Kitchen Club Academy" and obtaining an internationally accredited certificate as a pastry chef, which made me delve deeper into this field and search for all ways to learn and research in various means to be A bridge to build my own project that is in line with my desires, energies and potential.

professionalism, diversity,

Lean made sweets, and she is now the owner of leens bakery house, and about the story of this hand that practices her favorite hobby that she enjoys and how she went beyond her pleasure of eating what was delicious and expanded her horizons in the field of making sweets to share her creativity with others through her page on social networking sites.

Lynn says: My love for sweets and their manufacture is the secret of my beginning in the world of sweets. The duration of the course is eight months. I entered this world in detail, and I had many concerns about starting the project. Whenever I intend to progress, I retreat and fear, until I decided to open an online store and my own page on the communication site. Social media Instagram, and displaying the desserts that I make, whether people ask for them or not, people started watching the cakes that I make, and I started making the items that people know and desire without going to new and strange items that they may not accept because they are new and strange, I started with birthday cakes made of cream . In order to stand out from everyone else, I never went towards commercial cakes, and I used to put my academic experience and put it in my cakes, whether with internal fillings or coating them with cream on the outside so that their taste is completely different from any taste in the market, and I adopted butter cream, unlike what is used in the market, so that my work is distinctive and tastes awesome.

And she continued: Then I moved from making cakes with cream to work with sugar dough, and I had fears that I would not be able to shape it as I wanted, but upon experience, the verse turned and I realized that I could shape it as I wanted, so I began to read more about it and learn more through the Internet, and creativity and development became in the work Cakes and their formation are very clear, and I developed in sugar paste so that the principle of my page is cakes made of sugar dough, and I started having parties, occasions, birthdays, etc., so that people started asking me for additional sweets in addition to cakes, such as cookies, cupcakes, and others, and I started introducing these items to my work one after the other Until I decided to diversify more.

And she added: I tried to introduce new varieties such as brownies, and I made them with love, as if I were making them for myself, then I made stuffed dates covered with chocolate, and I began to innovate recipes, for example, such as ghuraiba, which is either plain or stuffed with pistachios, which is familiar when I buy it, but I decided to make it in a new and innovative way that tastes like pistachios and lotus. Paste in it and not stuffed with it, as well as nuts that are stuffed with caramel. I decided to change this taste and put various cheesecake fillings in it, and I found a great demand for it, although the project is young and still a year old, but I was able to build trust with customers and I was able to distinguish and make a name for me that became known to many.

Obstacles and ambition

The success of any project depends on the person's determination and desire to achieve himself with confident steps, and each of us must write his next success stories, regardless of the obstacles placed in front of him. Lynn defied the obstacles, and despite her hesitation and fear at the beginning, she took the step of opening her own project in addition to her quest to find a job as a lawyer, and although the road was not crowned with roses, she was patient and reaped the fruits of her patience with success and distinction.

And about the difficulties, she said: First of all, I work under the slogan that my sweets have a delicious taste away from everything that is commercial, especially since I make them with love and I am always keen to present everything that is distinctive and new, and not only in the attractive and strange shape with its shapes and preparation as well as the taste, so whoever tastes it once does not forget It never tastes, so I need a double effort so that the eye can taste it and the mouth does not forget it, and this is what makes me distinguished. However, I am a lawyer and I love my profession. I am still looking for a job besides my own project, and I am working on developing and expanding it. After a while, I aspire to have a small private workshop. I want to make my sweets away from home, then I take the next step by opening my own shop where I sell delicious and delicious sweets, and that it has branches in every place where everyone goes and searches for it.

As for the difficulties, I will summarize them, because the most prominent of them was marketing and prices. Some do not accept my prices, although my work is not commercial and most of the cakes that I make are sold at cost, even though I never use ordinary but excellent types, whether of cream or fillings. I make them from scratch myself. Because it takes me time and effort, some cakes need three days of work to four, especially the models, and yet I sell at very low prices without profit and this big dilemma facing me, some people still do not appreciate the value of home work and made with quality away from producing large quantities and with fewer products Quality and distinction. Also, when I buy raw materials, I do not buy large quantities. Therefore, the prices of raw materials are high, unlike the shops that sell sweets. In addition to the problem of delivery, I cannot send orders outside Nablus, because the cake does not arrive in the form in which it comes from me. Due to the lack of care of delivery companies and their attention to sweets, which makes the market limited.

Various items and new foods..

Lynn continues to add new recipes to her kitchen from time to time. This is the secret of her success and the way to continue her excellence in the future. She started with certain items to innovate and expand her desserts and items to include cold and baked cheesecake and San Sebastian, in addition to tiramisu, brownies and strawberries in the winter season with chocolate and stuffed and covered dates. In the month of Ramadan and holidays, in addition to the cookies stuffed and covered with sugar dough, and the ghorayeba with the taste of pistachio, lotus, and walnut with cheesecake fillings and the apple, walnut, cinnamon, carrot, walnut and cinnamon cakes, she works hard to introduce the new Western items that she learned at the academy, but she is still skeptical about introducing new and strange items. It is very expensive and its price is high, which scares her a lot and makes her hesitant.

She concluded her speech by saying: Although I did not participate in exhibitions because I was tired, and because I make sweets that need a certain atmosphere and temperature, since the beginning of my project until now, my circle of acquaintances and relationships has increased exponentially more than before, and I felt that my fatigue began to reap its results, so I will continue and strive until I achieve what I want. . And I send a message to everyone not to wait for the job in light of the deteriorating economic and political conditions we suffer from because of the occupation, and to start with his project and not hesitate as I did, but rather to start with what he loves. The beginning is difficult, but we must not despair and focus on our work and we will surely reach the end. It is an experience even if we fail. No one succeeds without failure. We just have to endure and be patient to reach excellence and the summit. I will strive for my sweets to be a prominent landmark for any visitor to the country, and tasting them will be on his agenda when he arrives here. I also work for my foods to be memorial signs and gifts. Used by lovers and parents between each other.

The story of the young woman Lynn Abdel-Haq, with its success and overcoming difficulties, carries in its content a message for the ambitious youth to create his opportunity with his own hands, taking advantage of the resources available to him, and to stand in the face of difficulties in order to achieve his ambitions and dreams.

Security sources told Reuters that a US air base in the Al-Omar oil field in Deir Ezzor Governorate, northeastern Syria, was bombed today, Friday.

And the spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, announced that the US military responded to the killing of an American contractor who killed and wounded five American soldiers in an attack by a kamikaze drone "of Iranian origin" on a base of the US-led coalition forces near Al-Hasakah in northeastern Syria.

Kirby added that the US Central Command responded by attacking facilities used by "groups affiliated with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard," which led to the killing of 11 Iranian-backed fighters and wounding six others.

The spokesman said, "The American forces are protecting their mission to support their allies in Syria," referring to the Kurdish "Qasd" forces.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said President Joe Biden ordered the strikes.

"The airstrikes are in response to today's attack, as well as a series of recent attacks against coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard," Austin said Thursday.

And US sources reported that the American strikes hit targets near Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bukamal, in eastern Syria.

It is believed that about 930 American soldiers are deployed in Syria.

On Friday , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, at the British government headquarters, in the vicinity of which hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest the project to reform the Israeli judicial system.

After Rome and Berlin, Netanyahu continues his diplomatic campaign in London in an attempt to convince Western countries to oppose returning to the agreement related to the Iranian nuclear file.

However, his visit to the United Kingdom coincides with a very tense atmosphere in Israel, amid divisions over the project to reform the judicial system, which limits the powers of the Supreme Court.

Since the project was announced in early January by the most right-wing Israeli government, massive demonstrations have been organized in the country every week.

In London, hundreds of people waving Israeli flags demonstrated in front of Downing Street Friday morning as Sunak greeted Netanyahu and booed.

"I think that Netanyahu is trying to dominate the Supreme Court to make Israel a dictatorship, and we have to object to that as forcefully as possible," said the 50-year-old Israeli Alon, who lives in London.

Dozens of other demonstrators raised Palestinian flags to protest against the Israeli "occupation" of the Palestinian territories.

Several Western countries, including the United States and Germany, expressed concern about the reform project, and the Israeli president warned last week of a "civil war".

The United Kingdom did not comment publicly on the controversial reform project, and on Tuesday it signed a "road map" to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the long term, especially in the technology and security sectors.

The successive crises related to banks that the world has witnessed in the past years, the most recent of which is the collapse of Credit Suisse and Silicon Valley banks, with the required government intervention, raise questions about the way banks work, which sometimes poses grave risks to the economy.

The giant Swiss bank and the local American bank faced severe criticism for their mismanagement as a factor exacerbating their problems.

The collapse of the two banks sparked panic in the banking sector and financial markets, and fears that the consequences would be reflected on the global economy at a time when it suffers from severe inflation and slow growth.

Two weeks after the first turmoil, US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday acknowledged the risks of "tightening lending conditions to households and companies" at a time when the central bank raised interest rates by a wide margin to tackle inflation, causing a slowdown in the economy.

Powell warned that this could "weaken demand, the labor market and inflation", while European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned on the same day of "new downside risks" in light of an already fragile economy.

However, the situation is still far from the storm that followed the collapse of the US giant Lehman Brothers 15 years ago.

But ratings agency Moody's warned in a note on Wednesday of "the risk that (the leaders) will not be able to stop the current turmoil without having lasting and potentially severe repercussions on the banking sector and beyond."
But the agency is betting on calming the situation.

"Confidence in the banking sector as a whole has not been shaken," Zsolt Darvas, an economist at the Bruegel Institute in Brussels and a former researcher at the Hungarian Central Bank, told AFP, explaining that he did not see major risks.

The authorities harnessed great means as soon as the signs of the problem appeared, so the US administration gave implicit guarantees to all bank depositors, while the Swiss government provided several guarantees to UBS in order to acquire Credit Suisse.

If this intervention was not a rescue, it raised questions. Eric Dorr, director of economic studies at the IESEG Trade Institute, said that "the demand for the intervention of public authorities is increasing" due to fears that a new banking crisis could turn into an economic crisis.

This also raises a broader question about the legitimacy of public support measures when banking crises are often caused by administrative problems.

"We wish we didn't have banks, those ironic and boring bodies that are neither really public institutions nor really private companies," Nicolas Ferron, a researcher at the Peterson Institute for Studies in Washington, told AFP.

He continued, "The reality is that we have not found a better system. We are still in a middle ground, between the nationalization of the banking system and a system that does not enjoy any guarantee from the state, which we know with certainty leads to completely destructive instability on the social level."

This prompted many calls in recent days to tighten controls on banks, whether from Jerome Powell or Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize winner in economics, or even the influential commentator in the Financial Times Martin Wolf, who called for considering banks as "public services."

"If we look at it like this, then it doesn't need to be very profitable, it has to ... be capitalized to allow it to survive the tough times, because that's the best it can do," he said in a podcast by the newspaper.

A parallel debate revolves around the possibility of keeping the funds of depositors from families and companies directly with central banks.

Then the banks will no longer be able to access the deposits of individuals and companies, which dispels the risks of depositors rushing to withdraw their money, as happened in the recent crisis.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for the trial of those responsible for the attack on the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary "Gethsemane" in occupied Jerusalem.

"Moscow expects the Israeli authorities to provide an unambiguous assessment of what happened against the Gethsemane Church in Jerusalem, and to take comprehensive measures to prosecute those responsible for the attack," said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the ministry.

“Such abusive behaviors cannot but cause deep concern,” she added, in a comment posted on the ministry’s website. “We note an alarming pace in the recent increase in the number of anti-Christian incidents. At the same time, churches and cemeteries of various Christian denominations, clergy and monks have become targets for attacks.” "We are convinced that there is no justification for such criminal acts. We hope that the Israeli authorities will provide an unequivocal assessment of what happened and take comprehensive measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent such incidents in the future."

On the nineteenth of March, two settlers stormed the church and tried to destroy its contents, inflict physical harm on clergy, and intimidate visitors and pilgrims.

This is the fifth attack of its kind against Christian places of worship in occupied Jerusalem by Jewish extremists since the beginning of this year. Prior to that, settlers stormed the building of the "imprisonment of Christ" church in the Old City of Jerusalem, broke and destroyed some of its contents, and tried to set it on fire. The cemetery of the Episcopal Church was also attacked, in addition to attempts to storm the Armenian Patriarchate, and racist phrases were written on its walls.

Utah has become the first US state to require communication sites to obtain parental consent before their children under the age of 18 use their accounts, which requires platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to verify the age of their users.

The law, which will enter into force in March 2024, comes in response to concerns about the increasing addiction of young people to the use of communication platforms, and to spread safety in the face of several risks such as bullying, exploitation, and the collection of children's personal data.

However, the law prompted technology companies and civil liberties advocates to warn that its implementation could limit the access of Internet resources to adolescents from marginalized groups, in addition to its long-term implications for freedom of expression.

"We are no longer willing to allow social media platforms to continue to negatively affect the mental health of our youth," tweeted Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who signed two related bills Thursday.

The two bills impose on communication sites to give parents full access to their children's accounts, and to adopt a default "ban" by which children are prevented from using accounts at night.

The two projects provide for fines against communication platforms in the event that they target users under the age of 18 with “addictive algorithms”, and also make it easier for parents to sue the designated companies for causing them financial, physical or emotional harm.

"We hope that this law will be a first step for several similar laws in various US states, and we look forward to the federal government taking decisions related to this issue," said Jordan Tuscher, one of the supervisors of the law.

Last month, President Joe Biden called on US lawmakers to impose restrictions on the way communication platforms resort to broadcasting advertisements directed to children and collecting data related to them, accusing major technology companies of adopting a “profit-making” experience on the young American group.

And the California authorities have already passed laws related to online safety, including what is related to imposing strict privacy settings on minors, but the Utah law goes further than that.

Representatives in other states, such as Ohio and Connecticut, are working on similar bills.

Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok provided parents with additional measures to control their children's accounts, such as restrictions on messaging and others related to the time spent by young people using their accounts.

North Korea confirmed Friday that it this week tested a submarine capable of launching a nuclear attack that can "cause a large-scale radiological tsunami" through an underwater explosion, while blaming the deterioration of regional security on joint military exercises of the United States and South Korea.

And North Korea's official news agency reported Friday that the North Korean army deployed and tested, during exercises that lasted from Tuesday to Thursday off South Hamgyong Province, a new weapon system whose mission is to "cause a large-scale radioactive tsunami" through an underwater explosion to destroy enemy ships and ports.

She indicated that this submarine "can be deployed on any coast or port and towed by a surface ship."

And the agency stated that the "secret weapon" was placed on Tuesday in the waters off South Hamgyong Province, and on Thursday it detonated an experimental warhead.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "directed" the exercise and said it should serve as a warning to the United States and South Korea to "realize the DPRK's unlimited deterrence capacity...", using North Korea's official name.

KCNA said Kim "expressed his desire to make the US imperialists and the puppet regime in South Korea sink into despair."

North Korea fired several cruise missiles on Wednesday, according to the South Korean military, which is currently conducting large-scale joint exercises with the United States.

However, analysts questioned North Korea's assertions.

Professor Lev-Eric Easley of Ewha University in Seoul said that the idea of Pyongyang possessing "a drone capable of carrying nuclear weapons should be met with skepticism."

"Pyongyang's assertions about a new weapons system are different from reliable proof of its capabilities," he added.

In a tweet, the American analyst, Ankit Panda, did not rule out that the test was "an attempted deception / psychological operation."

But despite everything, these assurances are "shocking", Xiong Seong-chang of Sejong Institute told AFP.

And if that is true, it would be difficult to know how Seoul would respond "to such a new North Korean weapon that (as it says) could completely destroy the main operating ports in the South."

The North's official KCNA news agency also said that "Pyongyang is more than ready to use its tactical nuclear weapons at any time," researcher An Chan-il told AFP.

Russia may also have developed a similar weapon -- the nuclear-capable Poseidon torpedoes -- but mastering the complex technology required for such weapons is still out of North Korea's reach, analysts say.

"For a submarine that cannot be detected, it requires advanced technology such as control sensors and radar," Sanji University military studies professor Choi Gi-il told AFP.

After a year that saw a record number of weapons tests and growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington stepped up defense cooperation and held the largest joint military exercises in five years from March 13 to 23, 2023.

North Korea regards the maneuvers as rehearsals for an invasion of its territory and has repeatedly warned that it will take "crushing" measures in response.

And described the North Korean news agency on Friday joint exercises between the United States and South Korea, which was called "Freedom Shield" (Shield of freedom) as a maneuver aimed at "occupying" North Korea.

The agency said that the "underwater nuclear attack" exercises conducted by Pyongyang were "with the aim of warning the enemy of a real nuclear crisis."

Kim Jong Un also noted that North Korea's nuclear capabilities are "enhancing at a faster rate," according to KCNA.

In the year 2022, North Korea has said its nuclear power status is "irreversible" and has conducted a record number of ballistic tests, in violation of UN resolutions. The North Korean leader recently called for a massive increase in the country's weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons.

For its part, Washington has repeatedly affirmed its "unwavering" commitment to the defense of South Korea, by using "the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear," and recently sought to reassure Seoul of its expanded deterrent capabilities with its allies.

This comes as South Korea seeks to reassure a somewhat anxious public about US commitments regarding the so-called extended deterrence that can prevent attacks against allies, thanks to US military means, including nuclear weapons.

Friday's statement comes a week after Pyongyang tested its most powerful missile, the Hwasong-17, in its second intercontinental ballistic missile test this year.

Governorates - "Al-Quds" dot com - Dozens of citizens were injured today, Friday, as a result of the Israeli occupation forces' suppression of the weekly marches in the West Bank.

The occupation forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the citizens participating in the marches, condemning the settlement and the continuous Judaization of their land.

Clashes erupted in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, Beit Dajan in the east, the Zawiya area in Hebron, and the town of Kafr Qaddum in Qalqilya.

A member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Chris Van Hollen, warned US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that President Joe Biden's administration appears weak due to its failure to hold Israel accountable for provocative steps and policies, in a public challenge to the US administration to take steps that show its willingness to hold Israel accountable.

This came during a hearing of US Secretary of State Blinken before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Senator Van Hollen asked the minister whether he supported what Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vedant Patel said in his press conference, strongly criticizing the Israeli move to lift the ban on the return of settlers. To four settlement outposts that Israel has designated as "illegal" in the occupied West Bank despite written commitments made to the United States since 2005.

Senator Van Hollen said in response to Blinken's unspecified answer regarding the need for both sides to pursue de-escalation measures: "I am pleased to see you support, and endorse the State Department spokesperson's statement, but it seems to me that we are showing that we are very weak when we continue to make statements without any kind of consequence." So I guess my last question to you is: What are we prepared to do — what is the Biden administration willing to do — if you see continued violations by either side of this agreement?”

Blinken responded that "at some point, if either or both sides don't do what we think is necessary to reach de-escalation, it's going to be difficult or maybe even counterproductive to do (on our end). But I also think it's important that everyone try to double down." necessary on trying to get there. Because it is not in the interests of Israel or the Palestinian Authority to see this cycle escalate.”

Senator Van Hollen was referring to what the State Department's Alternate Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, said on Tuesday: "The United States is deeply concerned that the Israeli Knesset has passed legislation reversing important parts of the 2005 Disengagement Act, including the ban on residence Settlements in the northern West Bank. At least one of these outposts in this area, Homesh, was built on private Palestinian land, which is illegal under Israeli law."

"It is even more concerning that such important legislation was passed with only 31 'yes' votes from a 120-member council. De-escalation and reduction of violence is in the interest of all parties, including Israel. The United States strongly urges Israel to refrain," the spokesperson added. about allowing the return of settlers to the area covered by the legislation, consistent with both former Prime Minister Sharon and the current Israeli government's commitment to the United States.” We have been clear that settlement expansion is an obstacle to peace and the achievement of a two-state solution. This certainly includes creating new settlements, building or legalizing outposts, or allowing construction of any kind on private Palestinian land or deep in the West Bank adjacent to Palestinian communities, all of which will be facilitated by this legal change.

"This action also represents a clear contradiction to the Israeli government's commitments to the United States nearly twenty years ago."

In a related issue, Senator Van Hollen later pushed Blinken during his questioning of the Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday to condemn Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's remarks describing the Palestinian people as illusory, highlighting his earlier statements calling for the destruction of the Palestinian village of Huwwara.

“I appreciate the statements made by Biden administration officials — I think Mr. Secretary it is also important for you personally to continue to speak out,” Van Hollen said, warning of actions by Smotrich and national security Itamar Ben Gvir, “which is directly inconsistent with” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim to have "his hands on the wheel".

It is noteworthy that a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy (from Connecticut), said in an interview with CNN last week that "the Biden administration should do more to pressure the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and it should not rule out steps such as stipulating Providing assistance to Israel and limiting visits by senior Israeli officials to the United States.

A few years ago, the Saudi Crown Prince considered the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran the "Hitler of the Middle East," but now he has given the green light to a surprising reconciliation deal with Tehran that is in keeping with a new era of regional rapprochement.

When he was only 29 years old, Prince Mohammed bin Salman , then Minister of Defense, launched a fierce attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, but the kingdom is now engaged in back-channel talks that may eventually lead to expelling Saudi forces from the war.

In recent years, he has also worked to mend bitter differences with his regional adversaries such as Qatar and Turkey, and even presented his country as a possible mediator for the war in Ukraine.

Analysts said that Prince Mohammed bin Salman has now shifted from an element of "instability" to an unprecedentedly pragmatic authority figure, even if it is too early to know whether his de-escalation measures will succeed.

Omar Karim, an expert on Saudi foreign policy at the University of Birmingham, said that the agreement with Iran in particular "represents a radical change in his political approach," indicating "a more realistic maturity and understanding of regional politics."

However, the transition process is not yet complete, as the agreement with Iran still needs to be implemented, as embassies are scheduled to reopen by the second week of May after seven years of diplomatic estrangement.

++ Saudi Arabia and Syria are holding talks regarding the resumption of consular services between the two countries, after a rupture that has been going on for years as a result of Riyadh closing its embassy in Damascus due to its anti-regime stance, according to a Saudi Foreign Ministry official Thursday.

++ The kingdom closed its embassy in Damascus and withdrew all diplomats and staff in March 2012, about a year after the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, where Riyadh supported groups opposing the regime and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Whatever happens next, Riyadh's agenda is clear: reduce unrest abroad to maintain a focus on economic and social reforms at home.

"Our vision is a prosperous Middle East, because without your region developing with you, there are limits to what you can achieve," a Saudi official said, days after the Iran deal was announced.

Social reforms at home helped burnish Prince Mohammed's reputation internationally.

Under him, the kingdom, which had been closed for decades, sidelined the religious police, allowed women to drive, reopened cinemas, and began issuing tourist visas.

The Public Investment Fund has made a series of costly investments in all sectors, from buying Newcastle United Football Club to investing in Nintendo, the electronic games company.

These large-scale investments have highlighted how the "Vision 2030" reform agenda can reduce the dependence of the world's largest crude exporter on fossil fuels.

There were widespread concerns about the escalation of repression against dissidents and rights activists, especially after the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in his country's consulate in Istanbul in 2018. But Saudi officials also realized how security threats, especially from Iran, threaten Prince Mohammed's grand plans.

These threats culminated in September 2019, with attacks on Saudi oil facilities in the east of the country that temporarily halved crude production, for which the Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility.

Riyadh and Washington accused Tehran of being behind the major attack, which the Iranians denied.

Analysts and diplomats said that this incident was a game changer, prompting Saudi Arabia to pursue a more conciliatory path.

Saudi officials were deeply disappointed by the tepid response from then-US President Donald Trump's administration, which they considered had undermined the "oil-for-security" theory that had defined the partnership between Riyadh and Washington for decades.

"The Saudis were shocked that the Americans did nothing to protect them," an Arab diplomat based in Riyadh told AFP.
A similar paradoxical scene unfolded last year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city on the Red Sea coast, when the Houthis bombed an oil facility near a Formula 1 racetrack while drivers were on the track.

“Saudi officials told us ‘we need to focus on megaprojects’,” the diplomat recalls, referring to the futuristic mega-city of NEOM and an emerging arts hub in the country’s northernmost city, Al-Ula.

"If one missile falls on Neom or Al-Ula, there will be no investment or tourism. The vision will collapse," he added.

In restoring his relationship with Iran, Prince Mohammed did not go it alone. Kuwait and the UAE restored full diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic last year.

But analysts said the Saudi-Iranian deal is more important because the two countries have found themselves on opposite sides of conflicts across the region, not only in Yemen but also in Lebanon and Iraq.

"Reducing tensions with Iran is a smart way to lower tensions across the region and de-escalate some of the proxy battles surrounding Saudi Arabia," said Anna Jacobs of the International Crisis Group.

The next step to implement the agreement will be a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries, the date of which has not been set yet.

Earlier this week, an Iranian official said that President Ebrahim Raisi had received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia from King Salman, the father of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but Riyadh has yet to confirm this.

These meetings will be closely watched amid concerns that the rapprochement remains fragile and could easily derail.
Jacobs noted "a deep mistrust between Saudi Arabia and Iran," adding, "Both sides will need to see positive signs from each other very soon to move forward with the agreement."

Factions loyal to Tehran of multiple nationalities on the one hand, and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, on the other hand, share control of the Deir ez-Zor governorate in eastern Syria , where Washington launched strikes Thursday night.

The region witnesses from time to time tensions and bombing, the latest of which was the strikes carried out by the Americans in response to the bombing of one of their bases in Al-Hasakah Governorate, which claimed the life of an American contractor. The strikes targeted groups that Washington said were affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, killing 11 of its members, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Friday.
What are the forces deployed in the province of Deir Ezzor, through which the Euphrates River passes?

The Syrian regime forces control the western bank of the Euphrates River, which is the most important area of influence for Iran and its loyal groups in Syria.

The Observatory estimates that there are about 15,000 fighters from Iraqi, Afghan and Pakistani groups loyal to Iran in Deir ez-Zor, specifically the area extending between the border cities of Al-Bukamal with Iraq and Deir ez-Zor, passing through Al-Mayadeen.

The pro-regime groups are:
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard: Thousands of fighters and military advisors from the Revolutionary Guard are deployed in Syria, but Tehran only talks about advisers who assist the government forces.

In August, Iranian official media announced the killing of a high-ranking officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards during a "mission as a military advisor" he was performing in Syria, without giving details.

Iraqi factions: Iraqi groups are fighting alongside the Syrian government forces at Iranian request. Today, they are mainly deployed on the border strip between Iraq and Syria, since the end of operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and then Syria. They are based in the city of Al-Bukamal.

Among the most prominent of these groups: "Hezbollah Brigades", whose spokesman says that its fighters are deployed in Syria as "advisers" to protect the Iraqi borders.

These battalions are the most prominent factions of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. Analysts consider it the third force in the axis led by Tehran in the region, after the Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Also among the Iraqi factions are the “Ka’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada,” the “Imam Ali Brigades,” and the “Hezbollah al-Nujaba Movement.”

- Lebanese Hezbollah: The party that has been fighting on the side of the Syrian regime openly since 2013, especially leaders in the Deir ez-Zor region. The number of its forces in Syria has decreased over the past two years with the decline in the intensity of the battles and the restoration of control over about two-thirds of the country by the regime forces.

- The Afghan "Fatemiyoun" Brigade and the Pakistani "Zainabiyoun" Brigade: The Iranian Revolutionary Guard established the two brigades from Afghan and Pakistani Shiite fighters. They participated in several battles in Syria, and today they maintain important sites in Deir ez-Zor, as well as other Syrian regions.

The Fatemiyoun Brigade, according to the Syrian Observatory, is one of the largest pro-Iranian factions in Syria.

Since 2019, Washington has imposed sanctions on the two factions.

In addition to foreign groups, the Iranians have established local groups in Deir ez-Zor, to which thousands of Syrian fighters now belong, who receive an attractive financial allowance.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, led by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units, are stationed on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

The Syrian Democratic Forces were able to control the entire area with the support of the international coalition to combat the jihadists led by Washington, following fierce battles with the Islamic State, the last of which took place in 2019 in the last stronghold of the organization in Syria in the border village of Al-Baghouz.

The Kurdish self-administration administers the region through local councils.

The international coalition forces, most notably the US forces, are deployed in the region, and are located at a base in the Al-Omar oil field, or what has become known as the "Green Zone", in addition to the Koniko gas field.

American forces are deployed in other bases in Syria in the province of Hasakah (northeast) and Raqqa (north), in addition to the al-Tanf base in the south, which was established in 2016, and is located near the Jordanian and Iraqi borders, and enjoys strategic importance as it is located on the Baghdad-Damascus road.

The most important Syrian oil fields are located in Deir Ezzor Governorate, and are controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, the most important of which is the Al-Omar oil field, which is the largest in the country, in addition to the Al-Tanak and Jafra fields. It also controls the Coneco gas field.

On the western side, there are oil fields controlled by the regime forces, including the fields of Al-Ward, Al-Taym, Al-Shoula and Al-Nishan.
This border area is an important route for the Iraqi Brigades and the Lebanese Hezbollah, as well as other pro-Iranian groups, for the transfer of weapons and fighters. It is also used to transport goods of all kinds between Iraq and Syria.

Over the years, trucks carrying weapons, ammunition, warehouses, and military sites belonging to these groups have been subjected to air strikes, especially in the area between Al-Mayadeen and Al-Bukamal. Some of them were adopted by the American forces, and others were attributed to Israel, which always affirms its determination to prevent "Iranian entrenchment" in Syria.

About 100,000 performed the first Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque , according to the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem.

Local sources said that thousands of our people from Jerusalem, the 48 territories, and various governorates of the West Bank, flocked since the early morning hours to perform the first Friday prayers of Ramadan in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation forces.

This morning, the occupation forces prevented dozens of our people from entering Jerusalem through the Qalandiya military checkpoint, to perform the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The occupation police also closed the intersections of streets and main roads with iron barriers, and deployed about 200 additional personnel in the streets and alleys of the Old City, and impeded the arrival of worshipers to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and launched a drone in its airspace, while its members climbed the roofs of buildings adjacent to the mosque.

Also, the occupation forces assaulted the family of Al-Maqdisi, Mohammed Al-Mazrawi, from Al-Issawiya town, while they were on their way to Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Friday prayers.

Last night, the Israeli occupation authorities notified the demolition of seven graves under construction in the village of Al-Burj, southwest of Hebron .

Local sources stated that the Israeli occupation forces raided the village cemetery and ordered the demolition of seven under-construction graves belonging to the Al-Talhameh and Al-Faqih families, under the pretext of building in Area C.

The sources added that the cemetery is built on lands belonging to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments, and citizens have been using it for several years to bury their dead, which raised a state of fear among the people that the occupation forces would demolish and desecrate the cemetery.

The Israeli occupation authorities hand over the bodies of three martyrs from Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron who are being held by them.

According to the Public Authority for Civil Affairs, the bodies of the two martyrs , Tariq Youssef Maali (43 years old), from the village of Kafr Nima in the Ramallah district, and the martyr Karam Ali Salman (18 years old) from the town of Qusin in Nablus, will be handed over.

She pointed out that on Sunday, the body of the captive martyr Ahmed Abu Ali (48 years) from Yatta in Hebron will be handed over.

On Friday, thousands of Palestinians performed the first dawn prayer of the first Friday in the holy month of Ramadan , despite the obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation forces.

Citizens flocked from different regions of Jerusalem and the occupied interior, and a few from the West Bank.

It is expected that tens of thousands will perform Friday prayers at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque , and that the people of the West Bank will flock to the mosque in large numbers.

The Israeli occupation forces will tighten their measures in Jerusalem, the Old City, and the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, in particular, hours before Friday prayers.

And those forces will deploy hundreds of its members in various regions, allegedly trying to prevent any unusual events.

On Thursday, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate strongly condemned the arrest and assault of colleague Hani Abu Rizk, correspondent of Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda newspaper, by the Gaza police during his filming of the atmosphere of the first days of the blessed month of Ramadan in Al-Saraya Square in the center of Gaza City.

The Syndicate said in a statement that it looks with great concern at the arrest and assault on him by the police in Gaza despite him introducing them to the nature of his journalistic work, holding the Gaza police fully responsible for this arrest and assault that contradicts the freedom of journalistic work and the prohibition of assaulting journalists or obstructing their work. according to the text of its statement.

The Journalists Syndicate demanded an apology to the press body for this brutal attack, which is considered an attack on the entire press body.

She confirmed that she would not accept such an attack and would take all trade union measures to ensure that this attack against colleague Abu Rizk would not be repeated, calling on all human rights organizations to denounce this attack and put pressure on Hamas to ensure that such attacks will not be repeated.

Subsequently, the media office of the Ministry of Interior in Gaza condemned what it described as "lies" published by the Journalists Syndicate, about the arrest of what it described as a "citizen" after he assaulted a traffic police officer while the latter was performing his work at the Saraya intersection in the center of Gaza City, prior to the sunset prayer today. Thursday.

The office said: The union's behavior constitutes a cover for practices and behavior that violate the law, and calls for disruption of order and the promotion of chaos.

He added: The competent authorities continue to take legal measures against anyone who violates the law or hinders the police and security agencies from carrying out their duties.

Today, Thursday, government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said, "The government decided to return the discounts to all teachers, and instructed the Ministry of Finance to make the necessary arrangements, starting next Sunday."

Melhem added, during a press conference, held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Ramallah, “The item related to the teachers’ allowance agreed upon will be implemented at a rate of 15%, provided that 5% is spent on the current month’s salary and the rest is paid in installments on the salary slip, provided that it is disbursed when capabilities become available and improvement.” Financial indicators as of 1-1-2023, according to the same mechanism that was agreed upon with all unions.

And he continued: "The value of the 5% bonus will be scheduled for the past January and February, starting from the next May and June."

Melhem confirmed that the government has responded to everything necessary to return school hours to normal, starting next Sunday morning, and the Ministry of Education has developed a program to compensate students for what they missed.

He said, "The government appreciates the announcement of the start of practical procedures for the elections of the Teachers' Union, after the proposed amendments to the internal system of the union were made last Tuesday, and that the Ministry of Education will provide everything necessary to hold the elections and complete the democratic process according to the schedule announced by the union."

He said, "We are very hopeful that teachers will respond to this initiative, so that we can contribute together to bridge the gaps in front of our enemy, who is lurking in our present and the future of our children on our land."

Melhem stressed that trade unions are a support for all the national struggle that we have been practicing for seventy years.

In turn, the teachers' movement announced its rejection of the government's announcement, and any initiative that does not include the full implementation of the demands, stressing that the abolition of previous penalties is not part of the movement's demands, and the continuation of the strike.

On Thursday evening, settlers destroyed agricultural crops for citizens under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, east of Yatta, south of Hebron .

According to local sources, the settlers destroyed agricultural crops and released their herds of livestock into the fields of citizens in the Al-Zuwaidin community in Masafer Yatta.

The occupation forces detained three of the owners of these fields: Fayez al-Ka'abneh, Ziyad al-Basita, and Hasan al-Basita, before they were later released.

On Thursday, an Israeli military court sentenced a soldier to 27 months in prison for leaking information that harms "state security."

According to an Israeli military spokesman, the soldier was serving in Israeli intelligence and leaked security information.

He indicated that it was forbidden to publish more details.

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated Thursday against the judicial reform that the government is discussing, and clashed with the police, who said they had arrested dozens of them.

The police explained that the arrests were made on charges of disturbing public order in Tel Aviv.

During the clashes, police used water cannons to disperse the crowds blocking Tel Aviv's Ring Road, an AFP journalist reported.

In Jerusalem, thousands gathered in front of the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Israeli media sources.

Other demonstrations were held in Haifa (north) and Beersheba (south).

However, the Israeli police did not provide an estimate of the number of demonstrators.

The organizers of the demonstrations on Thursdays have been carrying out what they call a "day of resistance" for more than two and a half months, after Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented the reform project, which is causing widespread controversy and internal divisions.

Opponents of the project consider that it aims to undermine the judicial authority in favor of the political authority, warning that it constitutes a threat to the democratic system.

As for Netanyahu and his allies, the amendment constitutes an essential step for them to restore balance to the branches of power, especially since they see that the Supreme Court judges are politicized and enjoy higher power than that of elected representatives.

The Israeli government rejected a settlement proposal presented by President Isaac Herzog.

Herzog's project maintained the government's argument to limit the Supreme Court's ability to strike down basic laws, but proposed amendments to controversial points in the reform.

Today, Thursday, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine affirmed that the occupation’s decision to build 1,200 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem, and the calls of the so-called “Temple groups” for extremists to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque and its courtyards, are a dangerous Israeli escalation, and open the door wide to a new confrontation that the occupation will not be able to control or control. stop its flames.

In a statement, the Front considered that these decisions are a practical and continuous implementation of the program of the successive occupation governments, which are based on killing, aggression, house demolitions, land confiscation, expulsion of the Palestinian population, and acceleration of settlement activity.

The front said: "The policy of confiscating Palestinian lands and building settlement units has not stopped. Although the step of announcing the construction of new settlements is an escalatory step in light of the aggressive occupation approach, in its general context it is expected and part of the comprehensive war waged by the occupation against the Palestinian presence."

She added, "However, it is surprising that some continue to bet on the American solution to the settlement, and on the possibility of the occupation agreeing to a solution that gives us our national rights."

The American news site "Axios" revealed, on Thursday, that a group of Jewish congressmen from the Democratic Party held a difficult meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, two weeks ago and expressed their deep concern about the Netanyahu government's plan to weaken the Supreme Court, according to the site.

The report indicates that this high-level private meeting reflected the concern felt by the members (who met with Herzog) who are staunch supporters of Israel and represent a large American Jewish fan base about the judicial reform plan and how it might affect the relationship between the United States and Israel.

The group also echoed similar concerns expressed by the Biden administration about what the plan could mean for Israel's democracy.

US President Joe Biden reportedly expressed similar concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call earlier this week.

The site says, "The judicial reform plan, presented by the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has deepened political divisions in Israel and sparked protests, including within the ranks of the Israeli army, against the Netanyahu government."

According to the report, “The meeting, which included more than 20 Democrats, included harsh criticism of the plan, according to Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the meeting.” One congressman who attended the meeting told Axios, “The discussion was “frank and transparent,” as all attendees expressed their concerns. It reflected what many hear from their Jewish constituents: "It was not polemical," the representative said.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois), who helped organize the meeting, called the meeting "emotional, and we've been raised with fear that some of the changes being discussed, if taken to extremes, could have a negative impact on Israeli democracy." , stressing that those who attended the meeting have a very close connection to Israel and a strong commitment to the relationship between the United States and Israel "because there is a special aspect to Israel as a Jewish, democratic state. And that has always had a special place in the relationship between the United States and Israel," the representative told Axios. .

Schneider is quoted as saying that members of Congress did not give the Israeli ambassador a "if, then" threat, but stressed that if the judicial reform plan is implemented without changes, it will be difficult to "talk about Israel in the same way."

Rep. Jake Auchinkloss (D-Massachusetts) confirmed during the meeting that he heard concerns from every corner of the Jewish community in his district and added that his constituents are worried about these reforms and their potential harm to Israeli democracy, a congressional aide with sociology said, who added that other lawmakers They expressed concerns that moving forward with these judicial reforms could have negative consequences for the relationship between the United States and Israel.

The site attributes to a member of Congress who attended the meeting saying, "The attendees expressed their fears that the judicial plan would impede the independence of the Israeli Supreme Court and, as a result, there would be less protection for the rights of minorities."

"The ambassador listened very carefully and committed that he would bring all of our concerns directly to the prime minister," the congressman told the site, and that "there were members in the room who represented ... a large number of the Jewish population within their districts and wanted to make sure that the prime minister understood that these were not just votes." are few and that many members of the Jewish community across the country are very concerned," the lawmaker said.

It is reported that the Netanyahu government announced on Monday that it will move forward with one of the main elements of the judicial plan, which includes changing the process for appointing judges and giving the government full control over appointments to the Supreme Court.

It is noteworthy that the US State Department summoned the Israeli ambassador, Herzog, on Tuesday, and reprimanded him for the judicial crisis and the statements of Finance Minister Israel Smotrich.

The ministry statement, a copy of which was received by Jerusalem, said that the Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, met with the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, on Tuesday in Washington, DC, where "the Deputy Secretary of State conveyed the concern of the United States regarding the legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset to cancel important aspects of the disengagement law." of 2005, including a ban on settlement construction in the northern West Bank. They also discussed the importance of all parties refraining from actions or rhetoric that could further inflame tensions leading up to Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.