doc18 May 2016
download 
Report Transcription
18 May 2016
MIDDLE EAST DAILY BULLETIN 18 MAY 2016 NO: 2163 1. IRAQ, .................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Another bloodbath in Iraq ............................................................................................................4 Iraq: UN envoy condemns string of terrorist bombings targeting crowded Baghdad markets ...4 Migrant smuggling a $5-6 billion business, says Interpol.............................................................4 Iraqi forces fight IS in Anbar to reopen road to Jordan ................................................................4 'Drastic' rise in Iraqi refugees returning home .............................................................................5 Iraq announces obtaining loan of $13 billion from IMF ...............................................................5 Democracy US justification to commit crime in ME .....................................................................5 Three bombings in Baghdad kill 77 ..............................................................................................5 Kurdish parties in N. Iraq ink political, economic deal .................................................................6 A century on: What remains of Sykes-Picot .................................................................................6 Sadr’s ‘Peace Brigades’ prepares for Mosul offensive .................................................................6 Independent Kurdistan for Peace and Co-existence ....................................................................7 Kurdish Peshmerga repels Islamic State offensive near Mosul....................................................7 Carnage in Baghdad; 184 Killed in Iraq, including Australian .......................................................7 Deadly bomb attacks in Baghdad show disgraceful disregard for human life .............................8 Interpol issues red corner notice against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar ...................8 Iraq's Shi'ite rivalries risk turning violent, weakening war on Islamic State ................................8 SYRIA .................................................................................................................................... 8 Saudi Arabia warns of ‘Plan B’ for Syria while US calls on all sides to work together .................8 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s right-hand man killed by Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor ...............................9 PYD modelling autonomous region in N. Syria, have links to PKK, Robert Ford says ..................9 Russian Defense Ministry denies setting up military base in Palmyra .........................................9 Syrian government, rebels swap dozens of prisoners in southern Aleppo ............................... 10 Nusra commander dies in Turkey.............................................................................................. 10 Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets with Russian Foreign Minister............................................. 10 Syrian Army takes full control of Tel Haddadah, northern Latakia after 3 months of violent battles ................................................................................................................................................ 10 3. IRAN ....................................................................................................................................11 Zarif: Military Solution in Syria an ‘illusion’ ............................................................................... 11 Iranian, Pakistani cities to restart rail freight transport ............................................................ 11 China to Develop Two of Iran's Big Oil Fields: IranianOfficial ................................................... 11 Iran MPs Want US to Pay Damages for ‘hostile action’ ............................................................ 12 Maldives Sides with Saudi Arabia, Cuts Ties with Iran .............................................................. 12 Iranian Cars to Enter North African Market .............................................................................. 12 Iran signs oil sales deal with Sinopec ........................................................................................ 12 Iranian Women arrested for posting 'vulgar' photos on Instagram without wearing headscarves ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Abbott: Texas Will Not Be an Accomplice in Supporting Iran's Terrorist Activity ..................... 13 4. ISRAEL – PALESTINE..............................................................................................................13 Sayfa 1 Report: Netanyahu, Herzog may plan joint trip to Cairo for Sisi meeting ................................ 13 PM: Israel ready to work with Arab states on peace process ................................................... 14 Likud warns Netanyahu to stop talks with Herzog .................................................................... 14 Anti-Zionist Rabbis Stress Continued Campaign against Israeli Regime until Demise .............. 14 Unity talks hung up on a unilateral division of Jerusalem ......................................................... 14 Israeli Forces Open Fire on Palestinians along Gaza Borderline, Man Injured ......................... 15 Israel-Palestine peace conference postponed .......................................................................... 15 Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem's Old City ........................................ 15 Fatah, Hamas welcome President Sisi’s call for solution to Palestinian-Israeli conflict ............ 15 Israeli Forces Arrest Hamas-Linked Lawmaker in Occupied West Bank ................................... 16 JORDAN and LEBANON.........................................................................................................16 Jordanian Minister of Energy for strengthening cooperation relations with Algeria ............... 16 European Parliament’s Delegation Visits Jordan, Lebanon to Assess Syrian Refugees’ Support16 Jordan hit hard in all aspects due to Syrian refugee crisis ........................................................ 17 King, Queen start state visit to Belgium .................................................................................... 17 Jordan urged to ease entry restrictions for Gaza Palestinians: HRW........................................ 17 Hariri visits president Hollande in France ................................................................................. 17 Report: Franjieh Not Part of Future Presidential Elections Phase ............................................ 18 France denies planning conference to resolve Lebanon's political crisis.................................. 18 Hariri, Hollande discuss local, regional affairs........................................................................... 18 Lebanon’s Central Bank Says Must Comply with U.S. Hezbollah Law ....................................... 18 ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA ....................................................................19 Amnesty accuses Yemen rebels of 'brutal' campaign against foes ........................................... 19 Yemen Government Suspends Participation in Peace Talks ..................................................... 19 Oman, UK sign defence pact ..................................................................................................... 19 UAE, Saudi to set up Co-ordination Council .............................................................................. 20 Hawk trainer to enhance defence ties with UAE, Oman ........................................................... 20 Premier receives delegation from Standard Chartered Bank ................................................... 20 Suspects in Oman rice scandal point finger at bosses .............................................................. 21 Kuwaiti women key in development: Sheikh Ali – Kuwait marks Kuwaiti Women’s Day ......... 21 Kuwait jails six stateless activists over protest .......................................................................... 21 Oman’s Current Financial Situation ‘Unsustainable’, say Experts............................................. 22 UN warns of imminent famine in war-torn Yemen ................................................................... 22 Religious scholars can no longer be active in politics: Bahrain ................................................. 22 EGYPT ..................................................................................................................................22 Two-state solution gives hope to Palestinians, security to Israelis: Egypt's President Sisi ....... 22 Egypt’s Sissi: Egypt will make ‘every effort’ to help Israel, Palestinians make peace ............... 23 Court adjourns session on lawsuit to abolish demarcation deal to 7 June ............................... 23 June 14 set for trial of 67 over top prosecutor assassination ................................................... 23 Egypt court postpones case against controversial border demarcation agreement ................ 24 African Refugees’ Home Away from Home in Egypt ................................................................. 24 Herzog: Egypt's call for peace 'a rare opportunity' ................................................................... 24 Egypt Cracks Down on Free Speech with Arrests and Prison Terms ......................................... 24 Hamas claims Fatah planned to target Egypt’s national security ............................................. 25 5. 6. 7. Sayfa 2 The US Isn't Making Sure Its Military Aid to Egypt Stays Out of the Wrong Hands .................. 25 Egypt’s giant Middle Finger to America .................................................................................... 25 Syrians in Egypt: A haven despite the hardships ....................................................................... 26 Italy deports 50 Egyptians after arrested over illegal entry ...................................................... 26 Renewed real estate property confidence forecast in Egypt .................................................... 26 Sisi inaugurates 1,000MW-power plant in Egypt's Asyut.......................................................... 26 NORTH AFRICA.....................................................................................................................27 Algeria, Serbia ink two MoUs, MoC and cooperation programme ........................................... 27 Algeria, Iran Agree On Energy Efficiency Partnership ............................................................... 27 Algeria, Jordan 'sign export deals' ............................................................................................. 27 ‘Scandalous invention of lies’: Morocco goes ballistic over US human rights report ............... 28 Sultan bin Hamdan visits Tan-Tan Moussem Festival, hails UAE-Morocco relations ............... 28 Libya says it wants planes to fight IS ......................................................................................... 28 Libya: ISIS Executed Dozens in Newest Stronghold................................................................... 28 Italy, Libya discuss investment in return for migration control ................................................ 29 Pope questions Western model of democracy for Libya .......................................................... 29 Qatar and Tunisia set to boost bilateral ties; Qatari businessmen invited ............................... 29 UK committed to boosting military co-operation with Tunisia ................................................. 30 Juvenile justice discussed as Mansour meets Canada’s ambassador ....................................... 30 Drones and robotics: UAE and Morocco lead ‘Smart’ MENA activities .................................... 30 US Military Prepared to Support a Train and Equip Mission in Libya ....................................... 30 Serbian president wraps up official visit to Algeria ................................................................... 31 AFGHANISTAN – PAKISTAN ..................................................................................................31 8. 9. One killed, 17 injured in twin blasts in Peshawar ..................................................................... 31 U.S. drone strike kills 4 militants in Afghanistan ....................................................................... 31 PPP, PTI question PM's assembly address in explosive NA session .......................................... 31 NDS busted the most dangerous kidnapping gang in Herat province ...................................... 32 The TV Serial That Got Pakistan Talking About Child Abuse ..................................................... 32 Afghan Pres. Due in Tehran concurrent with Indian PM Visit ................................................... 32 China releases Rs33bn tranche for train project ....................................................................... 33 China promises to support ANSF as Afghanistan urges help .................................................... 33 Study finds earthquake threat from Riasi fault in Himalayas.................................................... 33 Afghan Program That Pays Reformed Militants Suspended Amid Concerns About Peace Talks34 Taliban Attack On Uruzgan, Dehrawod District Bazaar ............................................................. 34 PTI to demostrate muscle power in Muzaffarabad today ........................................................ 34 As Afghan insecurity deepens, can Ghani government fight back? .......................................... 34 Pakistan Supreme Court to consider case of juvenile facing hanging ....................................... 35 10. TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST ............................................................................................35 Erdogan urges Syria safe zone amid Kilis rocket attacks ........................................................... 35 10 PKK militants killed in operations in Turkey’s southeast, northern Iraq .............................. 35 Sayfa 3 1. IRAQ, Another bloodbath in Iraq Deadly violence continues in the capital Baghdad with more than 70 people killed in three separate bombings. At least 70 people were killed and more than 140 wounded by three bombings in Baghdad, extending the deadliest spate of attacks in the Iraqi capital so far this year. More Details: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2016/05/bloodbath-iraq-160518041724264.html Iraq: UN envoy condemns string of terrorist bombings targeting crowded Baghdad markets The United Nations Envoy for Iraq has strongly condemns a series of terrorist suicide bombings today that targeted busy markets in Baghdad’s northeastern Shaab neighbourhood, Sadr City and the southern neighbourhood of Al-Rasheed, killing or wounding many civilians, including women and children. According to a statement from the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq, more terrorist attacks were reportedly foiled by security forces. More Details: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53957#.VzwpQfl95dg Migrant smuggling a $5-6 billion business, says Interpol Smuggling migrants across borders is a multi-billion dollar business bringing in $5-6 billion in 2015 and is “one of the main profit-generating activities for organized criminals in Europe,” found a joint Europol-Interpol investigation. “As vulnerable persons set out on perilous journeys from across the globe – Africa, the Middle East and Asia – criminals are ready and waiting to exploit their need for assistance and their dreams for a better life,” states Jürgen Stock, Interpol Secretary General in the Migrant Smuggling Networks report released today. More Details: http://rudaw.net/english/world/17052016 Iraqi forces fight IS in Anbar to reopen road to Jordan Iraqi security forces on Wednesday continued their fight against Islamic State (IS) militants to reopen the international road between Baghdad and Amman after liberating a town in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a provincial security source told Xinhua. The troops and allied paramilitary Sunni Sayfa 4 tribal units started their advance on the road in the early morning toward Trebil border crossing point with neighboring Jordan, the source said on condition of anonymity. More Details: http://www.china.org.cn/world/2016-05/18/content_38480927.htm? 'Drastic' rise in Iraqi refugees returning home Thousands of people will try to reach Europe this year from countries like Syria and Iraq. But a growing number of people are returning home to northern Iraq, as Jim Muir reports from Irbil. More Details: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36319343 Iraq announces obtaining loan of $13 billion from IMF On Tuesday, an informed source announced, that Iraq obtained a loan of 13 billion US dollars from the International Monetary Fund. The source said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “Today, Iraq obtained a loan of 13 billion US dollars from the International Monetary Fund, with an interest rate of 1.5%.” More Details: http://www.iraqinews.com/business-iraqi-dinar/iraq-announces-obtaining-loan-13-billion-imf/? Democracy US justification to commit crime in ME An American writer, journalist and political analyst said the US abuses 'Democracy promotion in Middle East' as a pretext for all types of murder and mayhem it has perpetrated against the people of Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc. Regarding the recent ruling by the United States Supreme Court sentencing Iran to pay nearly $2 billion to American victims of terrorist attacks, Iranian officials and media condemned the act calling it a mockery of international law and a new threat to any improvement with relation to the implementation of JCPOA. More Details: http://en.mehrnews.com/news/116483/Democracy-US-justification-to-commit-crime-in-ME? Three bombings in Baghdad kill 77 At least 77 people were killed and more than 140 wounded by three bombings in Baghdad on Tuesday, extending the deadliest spate of attacks in the Iraqi capital so far this year and driving Shi’ite fighters into the streets to defend some areas. Powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr blamed the Sayfa 5 government for failing to provide security and hundreds of militiamen loyal to him deployed in Sadr City and five other mainly Shi’ite areas where the worst of the recent violence has been centered. More Details: http://en.alalam.ir/news/1819320 Kurdish parties in N. Iraq ink political, economic deal Representatives of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdish Gorran movement met Tuesday in Erbil, the Kurdish Regional Government's (KRG) administrative capital, where they signed an agreement touching on a host of political and economic issues. The 25-article agreement between the two parties, both of which have large blocs in the Kurdish parliament, is ostensibly aimed at promoting cooperation between the two signatories. More Details: http://aa.com.tr/en/world/kurdish-parties-in-n-iraq-ink-political-economic-deal/573931? A century on: What remains of Sykes-Picot In 2014, when The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) blew up border posts between Iraq and Syria, it declared an "end to the Sykes-Picot era". The 100-year agreement, widely perceived as the root cause of ethnic, sectarian and political conflicts in the Middle East today, has echoes that still resonate. More Details: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/century-remains-sykes-picot-160516070206616.html? Sadr’s ‘Peace Brigades’ prepares for Mosul offensive Muqtada al Sadr, the radical Shia cleric who battled US forces during the Iraqi occupation, is preparing his militia to participate in an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul from the Islamic State. The US military is preparing to aid the Iraqi government in liberating Mosul, but has insisted that the operation will not include the Shia militias. Two recent statements on the website of Saraya al Salam, or the Peace Brigades, Sadr’s official militia, said that “preparations are underway” to participate in the fight to wrest Mosul from the grip of the Islamic State. Mosul, the Islamic State’s defacto capital in Iraq, fell to the jihadist organization along with much of northern, central, and western Iraq after the Iraqi military was routed in June 2014. More Details: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/05/sadrs-peace-brigades-prepares-for-mosuloffensive.php? Sayfa 6 Independent Kurdistan for Peace and Co-existence Today most experts agree that the current state system in the Middle East that has been created since World War One is not sustainable. For almost one hundred years, the state system delivered massacres, genocides, deportations, global discrimination, and poverty for Kurdistan. In addition, this failed Middle East state system in last 40 -50 years has generated terrorism, radicalism and instability on a global scale. During this time the level of severity of conflict has systematically increase to the point that some people and states actually see Al Qaida in Syria as less radical compared to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) which is very dangerous attitude. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace 2015 Global Peace Index; the world is increasingly becoming les peaceful and the Middle East and North Africa is the worst particularly since 2008. More Details: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/independent-kurdistan-peace-co-existence/? Kurdish Peshmerga repels Islamic State offensive near Mosul Mosul: Islamic State (IS) insurgents carried out an unsuccessful offensive in northern Iraq against Kurdish Peshmerga forces who inflicted the jihadists with heavy damage in a counterattack. Early morning on Wednesday, Peshmerga forces on the Kaske frontline, western bank of Tigris river in northern Mosul, strongly repelled an assault by IS and killed scores of jihadists. International coalition warplanes backed the Peshmerga in the counterattack. 11 dead bodies of insurgents are now left on the battlefield after the extremists fled the battle. According to Peshmerga officials, IS militants have been extremely weekend in their positions of northern Iraq, and they resort to suicide attacks, car bombs and IED plantation while their jihadists frequently give up the group and surrender to Peshmerga forces.basnews.com More Details: http://ekurd.net/iraqi-kurdistan-news-in-brief-may-18-2016-2016-05-18 Carnage in Baghdad; 184 Killed in Iraq, including Australian An Australian man was killed on Tuesday in Daquq when the mine he was trying to defuse exploded. He was working for the non-profit Swiss Foundation for Mine Action. He is the second Australian killed in Iraq this month. Security forces easily entered Rutba today, and have liberated the strategic town near the Syrian and Jordanian borders. More Details: http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2016/05/17/carnage-baghdad-184-killed-iraq-includingaustralian/? Sayfa 7 Deadly bomb attacks in Baghdad show disgraceful disregard for human life Today’s multiple bombings in Baghdad, in which media agencies have reported the deaths of at least 63 people and injuries to at least 90 others, are the latest in a horrific spike in deadly attacks that have hit the country over the past week, Amnesty International said today. “The spike in deadly bomb attacks across Baghdad, in predominantly Shia areas, will outrage anyone who places value on human life,” said James Lynch, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. More Details: http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/deadly-bomb-attacks-in-baghdad-showdisgraceful-disregard-for-human-life Interpol issues red corner notice against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar Interpol on Tuesday issued a red corner notice (RCN) against militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and his brother for their alleged involvement in the Pathankot air base attack earlier this year, Times of India reported More Details: http://www.dawn.com/news/1259121/interpol-issues-red-corner-notice-against-jaish-emohammed-chief-masood-azhar? Iraq's Shi'ite rivalries risk turning violent, weakening war on Islamic State A power struggle within Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority has intensified as attempts to form a new government flounder, threatening to turn violent and ruin U.S.-led efforts to defeat Islamic State. For the first time since the U.S. withdrawal at the end of 2011, Shi'ite factions came close to taking arms against each another last month, when followers of powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stormed the parliament in Baghdad's Green Zone. More Details: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-politics-idUSKCN0Y825W 2. SYRIA Saudi Arabia warns of ‘Plan B’ for Syria while US calls on all sides to work together While the world powers that gathered in Vienna on Tuesday to discuss the Syrian peace process stressed that all parties to the conflict should make peace a priority, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister warned that time may be coming for “Plan B” in Syria. “It was made clear that Bashar al-Assad has Sayfa 8 two choices – either he will be removed through political process or he will be removed by force,” Adel al-Jubeir told reporters after the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting co-chaired by Russia and the US. More details: https://www.rt.com/news/343370-saudi-syria-plan-force/? Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s right-hand man killed by Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor On Monday, the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham’s (ISIS) self-proclaimed “caliph”, Ibrahim Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, received news that his right-hand man, Tarek Khalaf ‘Abdullah, was reportedly killed by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the Deir Ezzor Governorate. Also known by his nom de guerre “Abu Hatem Albu ‘Umar”, Tarek ‘Abdullah was one of the Islamic State’s most prominent field commanders inside Syria. More details: http://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2016/05/18/754942/story.html? PYD modelling autonomous region in N. Syria, have links to PKK, Robert Ford says A former U.S. ambassador to Damascus said Tuesday that the PYD group wants to create its own state in northern Syria, noting its links to the terror organization PKK. "The YPG [armed wing of the PYD], the militia that the U.S. is supporting, is absolutely affiliated with the PKK," Robert Ford said at a Senate panel on Syria while noting the militant group's separatist motivations in Syria. More details: http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2016/05/18/pyd-modelling-autonomous-region-in-n-syria-havelinks-to-pkk-robert-ford-says? Russian Defense Ministry denies setting up military base in Palmyra Media claims that Russia is allegedly establishing a military base in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra are false – there is only a temporary camp for sappers, who are involved in mine clearing in the city, there, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday, according to Russian news agency TASS. In this way the general commented on AP's reports citing a U.S. cultural heritage protection organization that Russia's military are building a new military base in Palmyra, as well as on the publication of a satellite image of a military town in close proximity to the cultural facilities, TASS wrote. More details: Sayfa 9 http://www.unian.info/world/1348356-russian-defense-ministry-denies-setting-up-military-base-inpalmyra.html? Syrian government, rebels swap dozens of prisoners in southern Aleppo Syrian rebels and government forces exchanged prisoners and dead fighters Tuesday near the divided city of Aleppo, the scene of some of the country's fiercest fighting in recent months. Rebels released 25 prisoners and handed over 70 bodies to government forces in exchange for 12 prisoners and 11 bodies, in a deal arranged by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, activists said. More details: http://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2016/05/18/754949/story.html? Nusra commander dies in Turkey The "emir" lost his life while receiving treatment in a hospital. A military commander in the AlQaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front has died in Turkey, according to an NGO monitoring developments in war-torn Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Wednesday morning that the insurgent leader—one of Nusra’s emir’s in Idlib’s Jabal al-Zawiya—was injured in “past clashes” between regime forces and rebels south of Aleppo. Corroborative sources told the NGO that the Nusra official “lost his life while receiving treatment in a hospital within Turkish territory.” More details: https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/567002-nusra-commander-dies-in-turkey-monitor? Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets with Russian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmad Al-Jubeir, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met here yesterday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of International Support for Syria. During the meeting, they discussed issues pertaining to the Syrian crisis, including finding a solution for the crisis, cessation of hostilities and ensuring delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Syria. More details: http://sites.alriyadh.com/en/article/1152844/Minister-of-Foreign-Affairs-Meets-with-RussianForeign-Minister? Syrian Army takes full control of Tel Haddadah, northern Latakia after 3 months of violent battles The Syrian Arab Army’s 48th Special Forces Brigade – backed by the National Defense Forces (NDF), Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), and Syrian Marines – imposed full control over Tal Haddadah in Sayfa 10 northern Latakia after a violent battle with Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Jaysh AlTurkmen, and the Free Syrian Army’s “1st Coastal Brigade.” More details: http://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia/archive/2016/05/18/754965/story.html? 3. IRAN Zarif: Military Solution in Syria an ‘illusion’ Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said a military solution to the conflict in Syria is nothing but an “illusion”. Zarif made the remarks after arriving in Vienna late on Monday to take part in the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting, Press TV reported. "We are going to continue to insist on the need for a comprehensive cease-fire, of course excluding terrorist groups,” Zarif said. More details: http://www.iran-daily.com/News/151568.html Iranian, Pakistani cities to restart rail freight transport Iran and Pakistan have agreed to resume rail freight transport between the provincial capitals of the two neighbors’ border regions. The agreement was reached during a trip by the regional director of Iran’s Rail Transportation Co., Seyyed Mostafa Davoudi to Pakistan. The two sides agreed to recommence rail freight transport between Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran’s southeast and Quetta, the main city in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan Province. More Details: http://www.iran-daily.com/News/151605.html China to Develop Two of Iran's Big Oil Fields: IranianOfficial Iranian Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh on Monday said that Chinese companieswill develop phase II of North Azadegan and Yadavaran oil fields, according to the Iranianministry's official website. The statement came after Bijan Zangeneh held talks with Zhang Yuqing, DeputyAdministrator of National Energy Administration of China, in his Tehran office onMonday. During his interview after the meeting, he said that the North Azadegan oil fieldwill be developed by PetroChina and Yadavaran by Sinopec. More details: Sayfa 11 http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0518/c90000-9059078.html? Iran MPs Want US to Pay Damages for ‘hostile action’ Iran’s parliament on Tuesday voted through a law obliging the government to demand damages from the United States for 63 years of “hostile action and crimes,” state television reported. “The government has the duty to take the necessary measures seeking compensation for material and moral damages caused by the United States” to the country and Iranians over the past 63 years, the text reads. More details: http://gulftoday.ae/portal/c934d0bf-9285-4f17-a051-8a27f5a96059.aspx? Maldives Sides with Saudi Arabia, Cuts Ties with Iran The Maldives has joined its key financial backer Saudi Arabia in cutting diplomatic ties with Iran, accusing it of undermining peace and security in the Gulf region. The Maldives Foreign Ministry said policies that Iran were pursing in the Middle East were "detrimental to peace and security in the region", without giving details. More details: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/maldives-sides-with-saudi-arabia-cuts-ties-with-iran? Iranian Cars to Enter North African Market The Islamic Republic of Iran and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria have signed over a dozen memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on the production of Iranian vehicles in the North African state. The MoUs were penned in Tehran on Tuesday May 17 in the presence of the Iranian Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines, Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and Algerian Minister of Industry and Mines Abdeslam Bouchouareb. More details: http://iranfrontpage.com/news/business/transportation/2016/05/iranian-cars-to-enter-northafrican-market/? Iran signs oil sales deal with Sinopec National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed a new crude and condensate sales agreement with Sinopec of China, a report said. "Oil sales to Chinese firms was not halted even during the years of sanctions and negotiations are underway to increase crude oil sales and exports to the East Asian country,” NIOC's executive director for International Affairs Mohsen Qamsari was quoted as saying in Sayfa 12 the Iran Daily report, which cited Mehr News Agency. "Accordingly, crude oil will be supplied to four or five subsidiaries of the Chinese firm,” he added. "Current Iran exports more than 500,000 barrels per day to China and this figure is likely to increase further in 2016." More details: http://www.tradearabia.com/news/OGN_307077.html? Iranian Women arrested for posting 'vulgar' photos on Instagram without wearing headscarves Eight women have been arrested in Iran as part of a crackdown on women posting photographs online without wearing the compulsory headscarf. Among them was Elham Arab, a model known for her distinctive blonde hair and wedding dress portraits, who was made to issue a public apology in footage broadcast on state television. Questioned by Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi, the prosecutor general of Tehran, she was accused of “promoting western promiscuity” on Monday. More details: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/iranian-women-arrested-for-posting-vulgarphotos-on-instagram-without-wearing-headscarves-34725382.html? Abbott: Texas Will Not Be an Accomplice in Supporting Iran's Terrorist Activity Texas Gov. Greg Abbott explained his decision to maintain economic sanctions against Iran despite the Obama Administration's request to lift them. Abbott says he will seek new legislation to strengthen existing sanctions against the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. He said On the Record tonight that maintaining the sanctions is the right thing to do stand with Israel. More details: http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/05/17/abbott-texas-will-not-be-accomplice-supporting-iransterror-activity? 4. ISRAEL – PALESTINE Report: Netanyahu, Herzog may plan joint trip to Cairo for Sisi meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) may be planning a joint trip to Cairo for a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that is aimed at jump-starting the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process. More details: Sayfa 13 http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Report-Netanyahu-Herzog-planningjoint-trip-to-Cairo-for-Sisi-meeting-454220 PM: Israel ready to work with Arab states on peace process Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel is ready to engage with Arab states to advance a peace deal with the Palestinians. Netanyahu “welcomed” remarks by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who said in a live televised statement earlier in the day that he saw a “real opportunity” for an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement that would also lead to warmer ties between Egypt and the Jewish state. More details: http://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-israel-ready-to-work-with-arab-states-on-peace-process/ Likud warns Netanyahu to stop talks with Herzog Likud members from Judea and Samaria issued a joint letter on Wednesday morning, demanding that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu desist in his talks with the leftist Zionist Union party that aim to bring it into a unity government. More details: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212447#.VzwczDZJkaI Anti-Zionist Rabbis Stress Continued Campaign against Israeli Regime until Demise "Our members in the occupied territories (of Palestine) refrain from taking Israeli ID cards and they are everyday hurt by the racist Israeli regime," Neturei Karta Leader Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss said during the meeting in Tehran on Monday. During the meeting which was also participated by Canadian Rabbi Yeshaye Rosenberg, the two Rabbis underscored their irreconcilable fight against the Zionist regime until its collapse. More details: http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950228000992 Unity talks hung up on a unilateral division of Jerusalem Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Opposition head MK Yitzhak Herzog (Zionist Union) are continuing their talks to bring Herzog's leftist party into the coalition, but as of Wednesday morning there have yet to be any breakthroughs on a unity government. The core sticking point between the sides remains the diplomatic policies that a joint government would pursue. More details: Sayfa 14 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212445#.VzwfRzZJkaJ Israeli Forces Open Fire on Palestinians along Gaza Borderline, Man Injured A Palestinian Wednesday was shot and injured by Israeli forces’ fire to the east of al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza city, according to WAFA correspondent. Israeli soldiers deployed and stationed in military watchtowers along the border to the east of Gaza city reportedly opened live fire on Palestinian farmers and nearby homes, shooting and injuring a Palestinian in his foot. More details: http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=m2Lvupa35583189411am2Lvup Israel-Palestine peace conference postponed French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday an international conference due in late May in Paris to relaunch peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis had been postponed but would take place this summer. With U.S. efforts to broker a two-state accord in tatters and Washington focused on its November presidential election, Paris has lobbied countries to hold a conference before then to get Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table. More details: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/francois-hollande-postpones-israelpalestine-peaceconference-to-summer/article8612280.ece Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem's Old City Israeli forces demolished two homes on Tuesday morning in the al-Suwwana neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem near the eastern wall of the Old City, leaving 23 Palestinians homeless. The houses, belonging to the Tutanji and Ghanim families, were demolished despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly suspending the demolition order last month, Arif Tutanji, the owner of one of the homes, said. More details: http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=771548 Fatah, Hamas welcome President Sisi’s call for solution to Palestinian-Israeli conflict The mainstream Palestinian Fatah movement has hailed a recent call by Egypt’s President AbdelFattah El-Sisi on Palestinians and Israelis to reach a peaceful settlement to the decades-long conflict. Osama Al-Qawasmi, spokesperson for the Fatah movement of the Western-backed President Sayfa 15 Mahmoud Abbas, expressed his movement’s “complete readiness to respond to every initiative that contributes to the achievement of national unity…to reach freedom and independence." More details: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/217057/-.aspx Israeli Forces Arrest Hamas-Linked Lawmaker in Occupied West Bank Palestinian security sources said Israeli troops raided Abd al-Jaber Fuqaha’s house in the al-Masyoun neighborhood of Ramallah and arrested him early on Tuesday. The sources said that Israeli troops “aggressively” beat up Fuqaha during the raid, Press TV reported. Israeli forces have detained Fuqaha on multiple occasions in the past. The Palestinian lawmaker drew international attention in 2004 when he took part in a mass prisoner hunger strike to protest his detention. More details: http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/05/17/1077912/israeli-forces-arrest-hamas-linkedlawmaker-in-occupied-west-bank 5. JORDAN and LEBANON Jordanian Minister of Energy for strengthening cooperation relations with Algeria In a statement to APS following his talks with Energy Minister Khebri, the minister said that "the Algerian minister visit aims at reinforcing the bilateral cooperation relations," calling for enlarging cooperation to all the fields of common interest. About the Memorandum of the Understanding signed by the two countries, in terms of energy cooperation, the Jordanian official said that "it aims at giving the Algerian companies access to the Jordanian market through calls of invitation which will be launched shortly by Jordan willing to buy gas." More details: http://www.aps.dz/en/economy/12659-jordanian-minister-of-energy-for-strengtheningcooperation-relations-with-algeria European Parliament’s Delegation Visits Jordan, Lebanon to Assess Syrian Refugees’ Support Brussels-The European Parliament in Brussels said that a delegation, including MPs from Budgets Committee have kicked off their visit to Lebanon and Jordan on Monday that will end on Thursday. The visit aims at reporting on EU funding for both countries to help them cope with the refugee crisis and foster development cooperation and European Parliament support for UNRWA. Sayfa 16 More details: http://english.aawsat.com/2016/05/article55350992/european-parliaments-delegation-visits-jordanlebanon-assess-syrian-refugees-support Jordan hit hard in all aspects due to Syrian refugee crisis The Syrian crisis placed heavy pressure on all aspects of life and economic sectors in Jordan, which forced Jordan to regulate and to some extent reduce the entry of Syrians into the country. However, Jordan's Minister of State Mohammad Momani said there is no change in the kingdom's policy towards the Syrian refugees and stressed that the borders will remain open to those fleeing the conflict in their country. More details: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/17/c_135366043.htm King, Queen start state visit to Belgium Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Tuesday arrived in Brussels for a several-day state visit upon an invitation from King Philippe of Belgium, according to a Royal Court statement. More details: http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/king-queen-start-state-visitbelgium#sthash.OCFyPhcM.dpuf Jordan urged to ease entry restrictions for Gaza Palestinians: HRW Human Rights Watch has called on the Jordanian government to lift the restrictions imposed based on issuing “non-objection papers” to Palestinians from Gaza who travel through the country. Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of HRW sent a letter to the Jordanian Prime Minister, which read: “Since August, residents of Gaza have found it increasingly difficult to obtain permission to transit via Jordan in order to travel abroad. I respectfully request that you look into the matter and take steps to facilitate such transit.” More details: http://www.albawaba.com/news/jordan-urged-ease-entry-restrictions-gaza-palestinians-hrw841270 Hariri visits president Hollande in France Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday. A statement issued by Hariri's press office said that the meeting will highlight the Sayfa 17 situation in Lebanon and the region but did not disclose further information. Earlier in the day, French Ambassador to Lebanon Emmanuel Bonne denied that his country is preparing to hold a conference on Lebanon that aims at ending its power vacuum that in May entered its third year More details: http://www.albawaba.com/news/hariri-visits-president-hollande-france-841622 Report: Franjieh Not Part of Future Presidential Elections Phase Lebanon's presidential elections is approaching a new phase amid reports claiming that the chances of MP Suleiman Franjieh to reach the top state post are dimming, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday. The daily quoted unnamed sources as saying that Hizbullah did not take in the initiative of Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri to elect Franjieh, because Tehran has rejected the offer and considers it a Saudi Arabian maneuver against it in Lebanon.” More details: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/209516-report-franjieh-not-part-of-future-phase-inpresidential-elections France denies planning conference to resolve Lebanon's political crisis French Ambassador to Lebanon Emmanuel Bonne denied Tuesday the media reports about Paris planning on holding an international conference to resolve Lebanon's political crisis. Bonne told the LBCI TV that a "misunderstanding" had occurred over the issue. More details: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/18/c_135366846.htm Hariri, Hollande discuss local, regional affairs Former Lebanese PM and Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri held talks on Tuesday with French President Francois Hollande in Paris to discuss the latest local and regional development, Hariri’s press office stated. More details: http://yalibnan.com/2016/05/17/hariri-hollande-discuss-local-regional-affairs/ Lebanon’s Central Bank Says Must Comply with U.S. Hezbollah Law The United States has put more than 100 individuals and entities affiliated with Hezbollah onto sanctions lists since 2001, under existing anti-terrorism funding legislation. Today, Lebanon’s central Sayfa 18 bank governor stated that Lebanese banks ought to comply with a new U.S. law targeting Shi’ite group Hezbollah’s finances. More details: http://english.aawsat.com/2016/05/article55350996/lebanons-central-bank-says-must-comply-u-shezbollah-law 6. ARABIAN PENINSULA AND THE GULF OF BASRA Amnesty accuses Yemen rebels of 'brutal' campaign against foes Amnesty International Wednesday accused Yemeni rebels of carrying out a "brutal" campaign of arbitrary arrests and torture of opponents since they seized the capital Sanaa in 2014. Shiite Houthis, who are backed by troops loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, have "carried out a wave of arrests of... opponents, arbitrarily seizing critics at gunpoint and subjecting some to enforced disappearance," the rights watchdog said. More details: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/May-18/352668-amnesty-accuses-yemenrebels-of-brutal-campaign-against-foes.ashx Yemen Government Suspends Participation in Peace Talks Yemen's government suspended its participation in talks with Iran-backed rebels Tuesday for the second time this month, the foreign minister said, in a new setback to the U.N.-backed peace process. Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi said on Twitter that the Huthi Shiite militia which controls the capital had "torpedoed the talks completely," by backtracking on their commitments after a month of negotiations. More details: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/209461-yemen-government-suspends-participation-in-peacetalks Oman, UK sign defence pact London: Oman and UK on Tuesday signed an annex of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed in 1994. It pertains to defence cooperation between the two countries. It was signed by Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs and Michael Fallon, UK Secretary of State for Defence on behalf of the two sides. The annex represents a framework regularising mechanisms and procedures pertaining to the status of their forces and procedures of the judicial authority in the two countries on the basis of reciprocity. The two parties Sayfa 19 are given the same legal status for their visiting forces in the two friendly countries. The two sides also reviewed areas of existing military cooperation and exchanged viewpoints on issues of common concern between the two friendly countries. More details: http://timesofoman.com/article/84006/Oman/Government/Oman-UK-signed-an-annex-of-thememorandum-of-understanding UAE, Saudi to set up Co-ordination Council The UAE and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to establish a co-ordination council between the two countries. The signing ceremony for setting up the Saudi-UAE Coordination Council, which was held on Monday at the Peace Palace in Jeddah, was attended by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and by the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. More details: http://www.emirates247.com/news/government/uae-saudi-to-set-up-co-ordination-council-201605-17-1.630222 Hawk trainer to enhance defence ties with UAE, Oman The proposed official trip of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to UAE has been delayed due to certain scheduling issues and he will now travel to Oman on May 20 and then to the Emirates Until recently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) planned for the possibility of United Arab Emirates (UAE) supplying up to a squadron of F-16 fighters to boost the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in an Indo-Pakistan conflict. Now, dramatically signalling the transformed relationship between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, an IAF contingent returning to India next month from the on-going Red Flag exercise in the US will train with the UAE air force. Its pilots fly the world's most potent F-16s, the Block 60 version, superior even to US Air Force F-16s and to the Block 50/52 version that Washington supplies Pakistan. More details: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/hawk-trainer-to-enhance-defence-tieswith-uae-oman-116051800054_1.html Premier receives delegation from Standard Chartered Bank His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa underlined Bahrain's standing as a financial hub thanks to its economic policy and advanced investment climate. He was speaking Sayfa 20 as he received today a delegation from the regional executive directorate of Standard Chartered Bank on the occasion of their visit to Bahrain to hold the bank's periodic regional meeting in Bahrain. More details: www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/727811 Suspects in Oman rice scandal point finger at bosses Suspects believed to be involved in the rotten rice scandal that shocked Omanis last week stood before Barka Primary Court on Monday and accused their bosses of complicity. The accused admitted that supervisors in the major supplying food company knew that they had tampered with the expiry dates of the rice and that they had stored rice in poor conditions that posed a threat to the health of the consumers, reported Atheer website. More details: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/suspects-in-oman-rice-scandal-point-finger-at-bosses1.1829569 Kuwaiti women key in development: Sheikh Ali – Kuwait marks Kuwaiti Women’s Day Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah stressed on the important role played by Kuwaiti women in the country’s development. “Kuwaiti women have outstanding achievements in different fields and are worthy of having their full rights on all levels,” said Sheikh Ali on the sidelines of a ceremony to celebrate Kuwaiti Women’s Day. The event was held by the Cabinet’s Women Affairs Committee yesterday under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. More details: http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/kuwaiti-women-key-development-sheikh-ali-kuwait-markskuwaiti-womens-day/ Kuwait jails six stateless activists over protest Kuwait’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld a one-year jail sentence against leading stateless rights activist Abdulhakeem Al Fadhli and five others for demonstrating. The six men were convicted of illegal assembly, defying orders and assaulting police, according to the court ruling which also states they will be deported from the Gulf state after serving the jail term. More details: http://gulftoday.ae/portal/48af338a-5fd1-4fb1-92a4-e999a1d40702.aspx? Sayfa 21 Oman’s Current Financial Situation ‘Unsustainable’, say Experts Experts said at a Majlis A’Shura meeting on Monday that the current financial situation is unsustainable. They said the country needs to find a way to balance a decline in oil revenues with rising government expenditures. The Shura hosted the meeting, ‘Comprehensive Economic Policies Towards the Decline in Oil Prices’ to help formulate a plan. With oil prices still comparatively low, officials spoke of ways to increase non-oil revenues and reduce government spending in the civil service More details: http://www.muscatdaily.com/Archive/Oman/Oman-s-current-financial-situation-unsustainable-sayexperts-4plk#ixzz48zpD7kHx UN warns of imminent famine in war-torn Yemen The UN has voiced alarm over severe food shortages across war-torn Yemen amid relentless Saudi attacks, saying the country is “one step” from famine. Over 10 million Yemenis need basic healthcare and over 7.6 million “are severely food insecure,” said John Ging, director of operations at the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Tuesday. More details: http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/05/18/466176/Yemen-UN-Ging-food-shortages-Saudi-Arabia Religious scholars can no longer be active in politics: Bahrain Bahraini legislators yesterday agreed to separate religious scholars from political works after a prolonged discussion in the presence of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa. Majority of MPs passed a proposal to amend some of the articles of Law 26 of the year 2005 in regards to political societies. More details: http://www.newsofbahrain.com/viewNews.php?ppId=20711&TYPE=Posts&pid=21&MNU=2&SUB= 7. EGYPT Two-state solution gives hope to Palestinians, security to Israelis: Egypt's President Sisi During a speech inaugurating eight power stations on Tuesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also addressed Israeli’s leaders and Egypt’s Palestinian neighbours, stressing that peace, prosperity and cooperation will only take place if both parties are able to reach a two-state solution. "I call on our Sayfa 22 Palestinian brothers to unite their various factions so as to be able to reach a real reconciliation," ElSisi said. More Details http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/217024/Egypt/Politics-/Twostate-solution-giveshope-to-Palestinians,-secu.aspx Egypt’s Sissi: Egypt will make ‘every effort’ to help Israel, Palestinians make peace gyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi offered his support for the French peace initiative, saying that Egypt is prepared to “make every effort” to contribute to an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.The announcement on Tuesday came hours after French President Francois Hollande said a summit of representatives of 20 countries that had been scheduled for May 30 would be postponed because U.S. More Details http://njjewishnews.com/article/30902/egypts-sissi-egypt-will-make-every-effort-to-help-israelpalestinians-make#.VzweFtSLRkg Court adjourns session on lawsuit to abolish demarcation deal to 7 June The administrative court at the State Council adjourned on Tuesday the session on the lawsuit to abolish the Egyptian–Saudi maritime demarcation agreement which transferred sovereignty of Tiran and Sanfir islands to Saudi Arabia to 7 June. The lawsuit was filed by prominent rights lawyers Khalid Ali and Tarek Al-Awady, as well as the now jailed Malek Adly, who were joined in the court room by other lawyers who demanded to be added as plaintiffs in the case along with dozens of citizens who attended the session as contestants. More Details http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/05/17/court-adjourns-session-on-lawsuit-to-abolishdemarcation-deal-to-7-june/ June 14 set for trial of 67 over top prosecutor assassination Judge Ayman Abbas, head of the Cairo Appeal Court, set June 14 for the first session in the trial of 67 defendants accused of assassinating former top prosecutor Hesham Barakat. The trial will be overseen by judge Hassan Farid. More Details http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/june-14-set-trial-67-over-top-prosecutor-assassination Sayfa 23 Egypt court postpones case against controversial border demarcation agreement Egypt's administrative court postponed on Tuesday a trial over a controversial demarcation agreement requiring the country to hand over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The court adjourned the trial until June 7 to look into a number of lawsuits filed against the agreement, which was signed by the government in April but has yet to be ratified by the parliament. More Details http://en.aswatmasriya.com/news/details/16921 African Refugees’ Home Away from Home in Egypt Over the course of the past five years, the international community has turned its attention to the Syrian refugee crisis, which has been escalating until it reached its peak in 2015. In the meantime, however, the African war-torn countries have neither come any closer to peaceful resolutions, nor have the African refugees found true sanctuary in the neighboring countries. More Details http://egyptianstreets.com/2016/05/17/african-refugees-home-away-from-home-in-egypt/ Herzog: Egypt's call for peace 'a rare opportunity' Zionist Union chairman and opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog on Tuesday night linked his desire to join Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition with the statement by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi calling for a peace agreement between Israel and the PA. The speech by President AlSisi in Egypt today is a speech which I define as historic and revolutionary, ‘’Herzog said in a video posted to his Facebook page. More Details http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/212433#.VzwcO9SLRkg Egypt Cracks Down on Free Speech with Arrests and Prison Terms A criminal court in Egypt's capital Cairo sentenced journalist Ali Abdeen to two years in jail for covering massive protests against the government over granting control of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, various news outlets reported Tuesday. But Abdeen is among 50 other people sentenced to prison terms on charges of inciting illegal protests and allegedly publishing false news, although he did receive the harshest sentence. More Details Sayfa 24 http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Egypt-Cracks-Down-on-Free-Speech-with-Arrests-andPrison-Terms-20160515-0001.html? Hamas claims Fatah planned to target Egypt’s national security Official Hamas Spokesman Salah al-Bardaweel reportedly said that Hamas has seized a cell planning to target Egyptian officials run by members of Fatah Central Committee and Tawfiq al-Tirawi, former commander of the Palestinian Authority (PA) security services in the West Bank. In an interview with Gaza based Palestinian newspaper Al-Resalah, Al-Bardaweel said that Hamas is due to handover documents regarding the cell, which he says planned to target Egypt’s national security, to the Egyptian authorities and other regional and international parties. More Details https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20160517-hamas-claims-fatah-planned-to-target-egyptsnational-security/? The US Isn't Making Sure Its Military Aid to Egypt Stays Out of the Wrong Hands The US pours around $1.3 billion into the Egyptian military each year, financing its massive arsenal of US-made weapons: F-16s, Apache helicopters, M1A1 tanks, and a flood of small arms, missiles, and equipment. Strict requirements are in place to keep tabs on where exactly such aid goes and to make sure weapons don't fall into the hands of human rights abusers. But the State Department and the Department of Defense don't have a fully functioning systems to track the flow of weapons, according to a report released to the public last week by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that examines the past five years of US security support for Egypt. More Details https://news.vice.com/article/the-us-isnt-making-sure-its-military-aid-to-egypt-doesnt-end-up-inthe-wrong-hands? Egypt’s giant Middle Finger to America In the center of Cairo stands a 614-foot-tall tower. The concrete structure is the tallest building in North Africa and cuts an imposing presence over the city’s low skyline. But it also represents an American government bribe gone wrong — an architectural middle finger to a meddling CIA.Late one night in the office of deposed King Farouk, Egyptian military leader and soon-to-be president Gamal Abdel Nasser met with U.S. More Details http://www.ozy.com/flashback/egypts-giant-middle-finger-to-america/69659 Sayfa 25 Syrians in Egypt: A haven despite the hardships It was 8pm. Silence reigned in our area of Nasr City outside Cairo when a 50-something woman speaking a non-Egyptian dialect broke the silence and knocked on our door. “I need a job,” she said. The fair-skinned, black-clad, heavily wrinkled woman turned out to be a Syrian refugee seeking assistance. “I lost my husband and two of my children in the war in Syria and came to Egypt as a refugee,” she said in a submissive tone. “I swear to God I have not had any food in my home for two weeks now, and I need a job, any job, just to survive.” More Details http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/151/217025/-.aspx? Italy deports 50 Egyptians after arrested over illegal entry Cairo International Airport has received 50 Egyptians who were deported from Italy after they were arrested last week while trying to illegally enter Italian territories in fishing boats, Youm7 reported Tuesday. Earlier this month, the deportees were sailing in fishing boats from Egypt and Libya to Italy when they were detained by Italian coastal guards, added Youm7. More Details http://thecairopost.youm7.com/news/208431/news/italy-deports-50-egyptians-after-arrested-overillegal-entry Renewed real estate property confidence forecast in Egypt Despite political and economic headwinds, Egypt’s real estate sector remains strong, according to latest Cityscape report, with last year’s announcement of the Cairo Capital City mega project and the completion of the new Suez Canal expansion. Ian Albert, regional director at Colliers International MENA, who put out the report, said: “sentiment in the Egyptian real estate market has remained cautiously optimistic and we are starting to see an improvement in the performance across all asset classes.” More Details http://saudigazette.com.sa/business/renewed-real-estate-property-confidence-forecast-egypt/? Sisi inaugurates 1,000MW-power plant in Egypt's Asyut Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated Tuesday a 1,000MW-power plant in Upper Egypt governorate Asyut in the attendance of Premier Sherif Ismail and Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker. The President also reviewed the mechanism of executing New Asyut barrage project and its hydroelectric power plant that targets improving irrigation in five governorates. Sayfa 26 More Details http://amwalalghad.com/en/investment-news/industry-trade/46084-sisi-inaugurates-1000mwpower-plant-in-egypts-asyut.html? 8. NORTH AFRICA Algeria, Serbia ink two MoUs, MoC and cooperation programme Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs), a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) and a cooperation programme have been signed Tuesday in Algiers between Algeria and Serbia, during the State visit of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic to Algeria. The cooperation programme, which is on the field of culture for 2016-2018, was inked by Culture Minister Azzedine Mihoubi and Serbian Minister of Economy Zeljko Sertik. More Details: http://www.aps.dz/en/economy/12667-algeria,-serbia-ink-two-mous,-moc-and-cooperationprogramme? Algeria, Iran Agree On Energy Efficiency Partnership Algeria and Iran will launch a partnership project to assist Algeria in the field of energy efficiency, notably in the conversion of vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), says Algerian Industry and Mining Minister Abdessalem Bouchouareb. Speaking after meeting Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh here Monday, Bouchouareb told APS that he broached the possibility of creating a partnership with Iran, which has succeeded in converting 1.7 million vehicles to run on CNG, to assist Algeria do the same as part of its national energy efficiency programme. More Details: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/wn/newsworld.php?id=1246455 Algeria, Jordan 'sign export deals' Algeria has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Jordan to supply the Arab nation with oil, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. Under the deal - discussed during the second Jordan International Energy Summit - Algeria's state-run Sonatrach will start exports in September, according to reports. More Details: http://www.upstreamonline.com/incoming/1432754/algeria-jordan-sign-export-deals? Sayfa 27 ‘Scandalous invention of lies’: Morocco goes ballistic over US human rights report The Moroccan Interior Ministry has expressed outrage at the US State Department’s report on human rights in its country, which it says is based on unreliable sources and contains outright “lies.” The North African US ally warns it is “prepared to go to the end” to defend its record. The American report “went from approximation of information to pure and simple invention, from erroneous appreciation to lies,” the state MAP agency cited the Interior Ministry as saying. More Details: https://www.rt.com/news/343384-morocco-slams-us-human-rights-report/? Sultan bin Hamdan visits Tan-Tan Moussem Festival, hails UAE-Morocco relations Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President and President of the Emirates Camel Racing Federation, has visited the UAE Pavilion at the 12th session of the Tan-Tan Moussem Festival in Morocco, which is being held under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. More Details: http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395295576702.html? Libya says it wants planes to fight IS Libya's unity government called Tuesday for warplanes and helicopters to fight jihadists as it hailed international support for granting it an exemption to a longstanding embargo on weapons sales. On Monday, the United States, Italy and Libya's allies and neighbours agreed in Vienna to arm the UNbacked Government of National Accord (GNA) to confront the threat from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group. More Details: http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/1028331.html? Libya: ISIS Executed Dozens in Newest Stronghold The extremist armed group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has unlawfully executed at least 49 people in its Libyan stronghold of Sirte since February 2015, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Those killed, by means such as decapitating and shooting, include captive fighters, political opponents, and people ISIS accused of “spying,” “sorcery,” and “insulting God.” The 41-page report, “‘We Feel We Are Cursed’: Life under ISIS in Sirte, Libya,” also finds that ISIS is inflicting severe hardship on the local population by diverting food, medicine, fuel, and cash, along with homes it seized from residents who fled, to fighters and functionaries it has amassed in the Sayfa 28 Mediterranean port city. As the de facto government in Sirte, ISIS has the duty to ensure that all residents are able to exercise their basic human rights, including the rights to food and health. More Details: https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/18/libya-isis-executed-dozens-newest-stronghold? Italy, Libya discuss investment in return for migration control Italy and Libya discussed on Tuesday renewing a 2008 accord under which Italy pledged billions of dollars in investments in return for energy contracts and controlling illegal migration from North Africa, Italy's foreign ministry said. The original deal was struck by then-Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi before Gaddafi was ousted and the country plunged into chaos. More Details: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-italy-libya-idUKKCN0Y82IU?rpc=401 Pope questions Western model of democracy for Libya The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has questioned the way the West was trying to export its model of democracy to Libya saying that it had not respected the country’s political ways of life. Its involvement in Irqa, too, was criticised. “Faced with current Islamist terrorism, we should question the way a model of democracy that was too Western was exported to countries where there was a strong power, as in Iraq, or Libya, where there was a tribal structure,” he said. More Details: https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/05/17/pope-questions-western-model-of-democracy-for-libya/? Qatar and Tunisia set to boost bilateral ties; Qatari businessmen invited The current visit of Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi to Qatar is expected to boost relations between the two countries, especially in the labour sector, according to Zied Ladhari, Minister of Employment and Training of Tunisia. Essebsi arrived here yesterday on a three-day official visit. He was received at the Hamad International Airport by the Minister of Finance H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi, Qatar’s Ambassador to Tunisia Abdullah bin Nasser Al Humaidi and Tunisian Ambassador to Qatar Salah Al Salhi. Several new agreements in economic, security and other sectors are expected to be signed during the visit. More Details: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/qatar/382309/qatar-and-tunisia-set-to-boost-bilateral-tiesqatari-businessmen-invited? Sayfa 29 UK committed to boosting military co-operation with Tunisia Military co-operation and ways to bolster it were under focus as Defence Minister Farhat Horchani met, on Tuesday, with ambassador of the United Kingdom in Tunis Hamish Cowell. Cowell affirmed his country’s willingness to support Tunisia in its efforts to counter terrorism, through co-operation in the training field. More Details: http://www.tap.info.tn/en/index.php/politics2/35856-uk-committed-to-boosting-military-cooperation-with-tunisia? Juvenile justice discussed as Mansour meets Canada’s ambassador Canada’s experience in juvenile justice was discussed at a meeting Tuesday between Minister of Justice Omar Mansour and Mrs. Carol McQueen, Canada’s ambassador in Tunis. Tunisia wishes to learn from compared experiences in ways to deal with juvenile delinquency, the minister was quoted as saying in a press statement from the Justice Department. More Details: http://www.tap.info.tn/en/index.php/politics2/35869-juvenile-justice-discussed-as-mansour-meetscanada-s-ambassador Drones and robotics: UAE and Morocco lead ‘Smart’ MENA activities Market research firm Euromonitor International released a white paper discussing the MENA region’s efforts in applied technology and the approach to “Smart” cities, highlighting the different efforts applied by countries of the region. The paper, whose lead analyst was Kinda Chebib, highlighted the United Arab Emirates as one that “outpaces other MENA countries in terms of “Smart”. More Details: http://ameinfo.com/technology/innovation/drones-and-robotics-uae-and-morocco-lead-smartmena-activities/? US Military Prepared to Support a Train and Equip Mission in Libya The U.S. military is "prepared to support" a train-and-equip mission to fight the thousands of Islamic State militants in Libya when the Libyan government is ready for it, the head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Tuesday. AFRICOM commander General Rodriguez added that Libya's internal politics have made it unclear which armed groups are fighting alongside the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), leaving the U.S. "really dependent" on the Libyan interim government to determine "who is with them and who is moving over to them." Sayfa 30 More Details: http://www.voanews.com/content/us-military-prepared-to-support-train-and-equip-mission-inlibya/3335188.html? Serbian president wraps up official visit to Algeria Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic met with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers on Tuesday. The two presidents discussed prospects for improving the bilateral cooperation, notably economic ties, and ways to strengthen the presence of Serbian and Algerian companies in the global market through joint projects, the president's press office said. More Details: http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2016&mm=05&dd=18&nav_id=98037 9. AFGHANISTAN – PAKISTAN One killed, 17 injured in twin blasts in Peshawar A constable was killed and 17 other people injured when two remote-controlled bombs detonated one after another in Peshawar’s Mithra area on Wednesday morning. According to police, unidentified men had placed improvised explosive device (IED) near Professor Dr. Akbar’s residence. More Details: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/05/18/national/one-killed-17-injured-in-twin-blasts-inpeshawar/? U.S. drone strike kills 4 militants in Afghanistan Some four militants had been killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz, a local official said on Wednesday. "On late Tuesday, an unmanned plane of the coalition forces conducted an airstrike on a running vehicle in Bajawori area of Dasht-e-Archi district, causing four militants aboard the vehicle killed," district governor Nasruddin Nazari told Xinhua. More Details: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/18/c_135368392.htm? PPP, PTI question PM's assembly address in explosive NA session Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Khurshid Ahmed Shah said on Wednesday, while addressing a packed lower house, that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had no need to address the Sayfa 31 assembly if his name was not mentioned in Panama Papers. "By addressing the assembly, the premier raised many more questions, and did not answer the seven questions we had put forth," said Shah. More Details: http://www.dawn.com/news/1259117/pm-should-not-have-addressed-assembly-if-his-name-wasnot-in-panama-papers? NDS busted the most dangerous kidnapping gang in Herat province The Afghan intelligence operatives busted one of the most dangerous kidnapping gangs in western Herat province of Afghanistan. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said the gang consisted of 16 kidnappers and was led by Ghulam Farooq who is also famous as Abdul Ghafar. More Details: http://www.khaama.com/nds-busted-the-most-dangerous-kidnapping-gang-in-herat-province-0977? The TV Serial That Got Pakistan Talking About Child Abuse Udaari, a popular new Pakistani television drama serial that highlights a pressing social issue, child abuse, was recently served a notice by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) this month for its “unethical” and “offensive” scenes. A collaboration between a well-known private channel, HUM TV, and a local microfinance institution, Kashf Foundation, the TV serial was initiated with the main aim of educating audiences about the prevalence of rampant child abuse in a country that has continued to turn a blind eye towards the deep-rooted social evil. More Details: http://www.forbes.com/sites/sonyarehman/2016/05/18/the-tv-serial-that-got-pakistan-talkingabout-child-abuse/#772707783905 Afghan Pres. Due in Tehran concurrent with Indian PM Visit Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, will visit Tehran in the near future for the signing of a trilateral MoU with Iran and India, an informed source at Iran’s Embassy in Kabul said on Wednesday.The anonymous source at Iran’s Embassy in Kabul said the exact date of President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Iran has not been yet determined, but since schedules have been set so as to have both President Ghani and Prime Minister Modi of India simultaneously in Tehran for the signing of a trilateral MoU regarding Iran's Chabahar Port, it is likely that Ghani’s visit will take place some time in late May. More Details: Sayfa 32 http://en.mehrnews.com/news/116675/Afghan-Pres-due-in-Tehran-concurrent-with-Indian-PMvisit? China releases Rs33bn tranche for train project The Exim Bank of China has released the first tranche of US $331.08 million (Rs33 billion) for the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project. “The Exim Bank of China has released the first tranche of US $331.08 million (PKR 33 billion) for the under-construction Lahore Orange Line Metro Train Project which shows trust and confidence of the Chinese government in the leadership of Pakistan’s prime minister and chief minister,” CM’s adviser Khawaja Ahmad Hassaan told a press conference on Tuesday. More Details: http://www.dawn.com/news/1259087/china-releases-rs33bn-tranche-for-train-project? China promises to support ANSF as Afghanistan urges help The Afghan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah has met with the President of China Xi Jinping during his three-day visit from China, the Office of the CEO said on Wednesday. According to the statement released, both leaders have discussed the historic relations between the two countries, Afghanistan’s historical role in facilitating regional trade, construction of the Silk Road also called as “One Road, One Belt” and the active role of China in Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meetings aimed to revive the stalled peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban militants. More Details: http://ariananews.af/latest-news/china-promises-to-support-ansf-as-afghanistan-urges-help/? Study finds earthquake threat from Riasi fault in Himalayas The Riasi fault in the Himalayas could pose a major earthquake threat to 1 million people in parts of Kashmir currently controlled by Pakistanand India, researchers at a U.S. university have found. In a study accepted for publication by the Geological Society of America Bulletin and published online, the researchers with Oregon State University (OSU) said the Riasi fault has been building up pressure for some time and when it does release or "slip," the resulting earthquake may be large, as much as magnitude 8.0 or greater. More Details: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/18/c_135368391.htm? Sayfa 33 Afghan Program That Pays Reformed Militants Suspended Amid Concerns About Peace Talks A program that pays reformed Islamic militants in Afghanistan to lure others from the fight has been suspended amid concerns over Taliban leaders avoiding peace talks and as parts of the country drift further into extremist ideology. "If the government stops paying, these people will find another way to get money, and negotiations will fail," Faridoon Hanafi, a former Taliban commander in eastern Afghanistan, told The Washington Post. More Details: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/afghan-program-pays-reformed/2016/05/17/id/729321/ Taliban Attack On Uruzgan, Dehrawod District Bazaar Taliban started attacks on Dehrawod district bazaar of Urozgan province yesterday. Aminullah Khaliqi Dehrawod district governor of the province told BNA, dozens of attackers attacked from several parts on Dehrawod district bazaar aimed to capture military and government installations, and militaries are trying to push pack their attack. More Details: http://www.bakhtarnews.com.af/eng/security/item/22700-taliban-attack-on-uruzgan-dehrawoddistrict-bazaar.html? PTI to demostrate muscle power in Muzaffarabad today Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is going to hold its next political power show in Muzaffarabad on Wednesday (today). PTI Chairman Imran Khan and other important party leaders will address the participants of the rally. PTI is holding the rally amid tension with the government over Panama Papers probe, calling upon the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ensure a transparent and large-scale judicial probe into the scandal that involves his family’s offshore assets. More Details: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/05/18/national/pti-to-demostrate-muscle-power-inmuzaffarabad-today/? As Afghan insecurity deepens, can Ghani government fight back? Sayed Jan carries with him fresh mementoes of the stepped-up war in Afghanistan: His scarf is riddled with bullet holes. There’s the healing wound on his neck from the masked gunmen who shot up his truck cab. And his orange mobile phone carries the chaotic video of the full Taliban ambush that blew up tankers in his fuel convoy. “There are always rumors of attack, but our armed escorts Sayfa 34 will never tell us,” says Mr. Sayed about the attack on his convoy in northeast Kunar province. “After the fighting starts, then we know.” More Details: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2016/0517/As-Afghan-insecurity-deepenscan-Ghani-government-fight-back? Pakistan Supreme Court to consider case of juvenile facing hanging Judges will tomorrow [Thursday 19 May] consider the case of a prisoner who could be hanged at as little as three days’ notice, despite evidence that he was arrested as a child. Muhammad Anwar was arrested when he was just 17 years old, and subsequently sentenced to death on murder charges. Although his birth certificate shows that he was a juvenile when arrested, he continues to be held under sentence of death, in violation of both Pakistani and international law. More Details: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/press/pakistan-supreme-court-to-consider-case-of-juvenile-facinghanging/? 10.TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST Erdogan urges Syria safe zone amid Kilis rocket attacks President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his calls Tuesday for a safe zone in northern Syria to protect civilians from airstrikes as the Turkish border town of Kilis has been hit with constant rocket attacks by the terrorist group Daesh. "There’s not a single door left that we have not knocked on [regarding] developing a safe zone on our southern borders to protect the innocent people in Syria," Erdogan said in Istanbul during the third Islamic conference of ministers responsible for water. More details: http://aa.com.tr/en/turkey/erdogan-urges-syria-safe-zone-amid-kilis-rocket-attacks/573845? 10 PKK militants killed in operations in Turkey’s southeast, northern Iraq Ten outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were killed in a two-day operation in the Dağlıca district of the southeastern province of Hakkari and northern Iraq, the Turkish General Staff has announced. Turkish warplanes hit mortar positions belonging to the PKK in rural Dağlıca on May 16 as simultaneous air operations continued for a second day in the region to destroy targets, the General Staff said in a statement. More Details: Sayfa 35 http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/10-pkk-militants-killed-in-operations-in-turkeys-southeastnorthern-iraq.aspx?pageID=238&nID=99323&NewsCatID=341 *This media summary is prepared by ORSAM Middle East Research Assistant Firuze Yağmur Gökler. It covers news and commentaries as reported by the national media sources publishing in the Middle Eastern countries. The views expressed are not those of ORSAM and their inclusion does not imply factual accuracy. *Bu bülten ORSAM Ortadoğu Uzman Yardımcısı Firuze Yağmur Gökler tarafından hazırlanmaktadır. Bülten Ortadoğu ülkelerinin yerel haber kaynaklarından derlenmektedir. Belirtilen görüşler bölge ülkelerinin haber kaynaklarına ve ismi geçen yazarlara ait olup ORSAM’ın görüşünü yansıtmamaktadır. Sayfa 36
Similar documents
Untitled
Hamas: ‘Palestinians will continue to spearhead the liberation of Palestine’ .......................... 18
5. JORDAN and LEBANON........................................................................
