Middle East & North Africa

UN Security Council unanimously extends Yemen mission for 1 year

13 July 2022; MEMO: The UN Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday to extend the international community's special political mission in Yemen, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The authorities were set to expire 15 July, but the vote extends the UN Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) for one year.

Israel sells drones, anti-drone system to Bahrain

13 July 2022; MEMO: Bahrain will be purchasing drones and anti-drone systems from Israel, reported The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing an unnamed senior Bahraini official.

The report did not specify what type of drone or defence equipment would be in the deal.

Israeli Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, revealed last week that Israel has signed arms deals worth more than $3 billion with countries in the region since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020 with Arab countries.

US calls for 'accountability' in Abu Akleh case ahead of Biden Middle East visit

13 July 2022; MEMO: The United States called on Wednesday for "accountability" over the death of Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, whose killing during an Israeli West Bank raid is expected to be a major issue during President Joe Biden's Middle East visit, Reuters reports.

Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist working for the Al Jazeera network, was shot in the head on 11 May, while reporting on an Israeli raid in the town of Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Gaza calls for justice for slained journalist Abu Akleh as Biden lands in Israel

13 July 2022; MEMO: As US President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on the first leg of his Middle East tour, the Palestinian Media Forum organised an event on the ruins of the destroyed Al-Jalaa Tower in Gaza City, to demand justice for Palestinian-American journalist Sherine Abu Akleh, and calling to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for her assassination.

Israel raises price of bread by 20%

14 July 2022; MEMO: In light of the global food crisis which has resulted from the Russian war on Ukraine, Israel announced yesterday that the price of regulated bread would rise by 20 per cent, the Economy and Industry Ministry said.

The decision is due to be approved today by the Finance Ministry's Price Committee and will come into effect on Sunday.

UAE President, in first address, stresses support for energy security, friendly relations

13 July 2022; MEMO: The President of the United Arab Emirates said, on Wednesday, the Gulf OPEC producer would continue to support global energy security as a main driver of global economic growth, ahead of a US-Arab summit in neighbouring Saudi Arabia this week, Reuters reports.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in his first televised address since becoming President in May, also said the UAE would extend a "hand of friendship" to all countries that share values of peaceful co-existence and mutual respect.

Israel, Poland begin normalising ties after halt over Polish Holocaust law

13 July 2022; MEMO: Poland and Israel have begun the process of normalising their diplomatic relations after a halt for nearly a year over a Polish Holocaust-related law, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced yesterday.

The remarks came in a press conference after he met with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, in the Polish capital city of Warsaw.

Biden arrives in Israel at start of Mid-East tour

13 July 2022; MEMO: US President Joe Biden landed at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday at the start of his Middle East tour, Anadolu Agency reports.

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 newspaper.

Biden will visit the West Bank as part of his tour, where he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Iran Criticised Western Countries’ Centuries-Long History Of Environmental Destruction

TEHRAN, Jul 13 (NNN-IRNA) – Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, yesteday slammed Western countries, for having played a major role in global environmental destruction over the past centuries.

“The hegemonic approach of Western governments during the past centuries and their unlimited encroachment on natural resources … has been one of the main factors of environmental problems,” Raisi said, at a regional meeting on environmental issues held in the capital, Tehran.

White House would like a consulate in East Jerusalem, adviser says

JERUSALEM, July 13 (Reuters) - The White House would like to see a U.S. consulate for the Palestinians open in east Jerusalem, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday as President Joe Biden made his way to the region.

"Our position is that we would like a consulate in East Jerusalem. Obviously that requires engagement with the Israeli government. It requires engagement with the Palestinian leadership as well. And we will continue that engagement on this trip," Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force 1.

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