Middle East & North Africa

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Without a clear path for jumpstarting peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, President Joe Biden offered American money as a balm while visiting a local hospital on Friday.

“Palestinians and Israelis deserve equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity and dignity,” he said at the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which serves Palestinians. “And access to healthcare, when you need it, is essential to living a life of dignity for all of us.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reputation as a brazen leader who has ruthlessly silenced critics and dissent will cast a shadow over his meeting on Friday with U.S. President Joe Biden.

14 July 2022; MEMO: The president of the BRICS International Forum expects Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to join the group "very soon". In an interview with Russia's Izvestia, Purnima Anand said that China, Russia and India discussed this issue during the 14th BRICS Summit, which was held online last month.

BEIRUT, Jul 14 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese President, Michel Aoun, yesterday said, he hoped the UN Security Council would extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is expected to end on Aug 31, 2022.

“Lebanon appreciates the important role of the UNIFIL in maintaining security and stability in the southern county,” Aoun said in a statement, released by Lebanon’s Presidency.

JERUSALEM, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed a joint pledge on Thursday to deny Iran nuclear arms, a show of unity by allies long divided over diplomacy with Tehran.

The undertaking, part of a "Jerusalem Declaration" crowning Biden's first visit to Israel as president, came a day after he told a local TV station that he was open to "last resort" use of force against Iran - an apparent move toward accommodating Israel's calls for a "credible military threat" by world powers.

DUBAI, July 14 (Reuters) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Thursday that the Islamic Republic will have a "harsh and regrettable response" to any "mistake" committed by Washington or its allies.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed a joint pledge on Thursday to deny Iran nuclear arms, a show of unity by allies long divided over diplomacy with Tehran.

CAIRO (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Libya voiced concern on Thursday over the struggle for control of Libya’s oil corporation after its chairman was sacked by one of Libya’s two rival governments.

The embassy tweeted that U.S. officials are following the developments with “deep concern.” It added that The National Oil Corporation has preserved its political independence and worked effectively under Chairman Mustafa Sanalla, in a sign of U.S. support for him.

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday discussed Iran’s rapidly progressing nuclear program, with the Israeli leader vowing afterward that “there will be no nuclear Iran.”

The U.S. president, who is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday, said he also stressed to Lapid the importance of Israel becoming “totally integrated” in the region.

14 July 2022; MEMO: Speaking after his arrival in Israel yesterday, US President Joe Biden lauded the "ancient land" he'd arrived in and stressed "you need not be a Jew to be Zionist."Biden was welcomed at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, his deputy Naftali Bennett and President Isaac Herzog, according to the Times of Israel.

Repeating past comments he's made about Israel, he said: "You need not be a Jew to be Zionist."

13 July 2022; MEMO: The Freedom Initiative has called on US President Joe Biden to demand real progress on human rights from Egypt and Saudi Arabia during his visit to the Middle East.

Biden is making his first visit to the region as president, arriving today in Israel as his first stop before meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in the occupied West Bank.