Middle East & North Africa

22 June 2022; MEMO: As Israel's parliament, the Knesset, starts to dissolve itself today, opinion polls suggest that the country is likely to face another political deadlock, with no faction able to get clear victory in the General Election later this year that enables it to form a government. The polls predict that neither the current government alliance nor that of opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu will control a majority of 61 seats in the 120 seat parliament.

22 June 2022; MEMO: A new joint venture into Africa between the UAE and Israel has been agreed in a deal that will see Tel Aviv reap further rewards from the Arab country's normalisation with the apartheid state.

22 June 2022; MEMO: Sheikh Raed Salah yesterday denied being shot and wounded, saying he held the Israeli occupation responsible for any harm that may come to him, Safa news agency reported.

This came following reports that he was seriously wounded during gunfire in Arab-Israeli city of Umm Al-Fahm.

In a statement, Sheikh Salah said he held the Israeli occupation responsible for any harm that might come to him as a result of its continuous incitement against him.

22 June 2022; MEMO: Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Wednesday arrived in the capital, Ankara, on an official visit to Turkiye.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to receive the Crown Prince with an official ceremony at the presidential complex.

Ahead of an official dinner, the two leaders will hold one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings.

Erdogan earlier said they would discuss ways to take bilateral relations to a much higher level during the Prince's official visit.

22 June 2022; MEMO: Jordan is to buy water from Israel in a bid to ease shortages in the Hashemite Kingdom. Moreover, explained Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammed Al-Najjar, the government will not expropriate land on which illegal wells have been sunk.

"Many wells are located in remote areas," Al-Najjar was quoted as saying by the Jordan News. "If they had been close to the water networks, though, we would have taken possession of them."

22 June 2022; MEMO: A Russian military base in the north-east Syria province of Raqqa has been attacked by unknown armed militants, the Kurdish news website basnews has reported. According to anonymous sources, no casualties have been reported and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Ain Issa.

The Syrian Democratic Forces mobilised in Tal Al-Samman and set up checkpoints in the area as part of the search for the perpetrators of the attack.

22 June 2022; MEMO: The Israeli Minister of Interior, Ayelet Shaked confirmed Tuesday her country's support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

This came in a press statement she made after her talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, which was published by the Maghreb Arabe Press.

"Israel confirms its support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara," Shaked said.

22 June 2022; MEMO: Morocco and the US kicked off the annual African Lion military exercises on Monday, which will last until the end of the month.

The exercises include 7,500 personnel from ten nations, among them Brazil, France and Britain. Observers from NATO will also be present, and for the first time, officials from Israel.

The military manoeuvres kicked off in Agadir and will also take place in Kenitra, Tan Tan, Taoudant and Mahbes.

22 June 2022; MEMO: Israeli archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a mosque in the Naqab desert city of Rahat which is believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Officials from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said that it sheds light on the region's transition from Christianity to Islam.

According to the Times of Israel, the remains of the mosque, which is thought to be more than 1,200 years old, were discovered during works to build a new neighbourhood in Rahat.

23 June 2022; MEMO: Israeli media have reported that Defence Minister Benny Gantz called yesterday on Knesset members from his Blue and White party alliance not to be tempted by the opposition to join a Likud-led coalition in a bid to avoid a snap election. With the collapse of the latest coalition government in Israel, the country is facing its fifth General Election in less than four years.