Three people were killed and several others were injured on Monday in two separate explosions in the United Arab Emiratesâ capital Abu Dhabi and its tourism hub Dubai, the police and local media said. The Abu Dhabi government media office said two people were killed in the blast in the …
Read More »Official: Syria donors conference pledges 6.9 billion euros
Almost 7 billion euros were pledged today to support war-torn Syria at a donor conference in Brussels. Around 60 countries and international agencies gathered to drum up financial aid for the Arab nation as the corona-virus and economic chaos wreak even more havoc in a country shattered by a conflict …
Read More »US to discuss West Bank annexation with Israelis
U.S. officials will gather this week to discuss whether to give Israel a green light for its plan to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuâs target date of July 1 approaches. A senior administration official said on Monday that the U.S. ambassador …
Read More »UN raises alarm about police brutality in lockdowns
The U.N. human rights office voiced concern on Monday about more than a dozen countries that have declared states of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic where police have arrested or detained hundreds of thousands of people and killed others. âEmergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield …
Read More »Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre at International Astronautical Congress 2020
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) revealed the winning logo from the design competition held for the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2020. IAC, which will be hosted in Dubai for the first time in the Arab world, is a global event that brings together leading space specialists and decision-makers …
Read More »Expo Centre Sharjah completes Midest tours
The Expo Centre Sharjah recently concluded its visit to Egypt and Jordan where it explored prospects of future cooperation and joint coordination in the sector of international exhibitions and conferences, to promote the interests of the Arab economy. The Expo delegation was headed by Saif Mohamed Al Midfa, Expo Centre …
Read More »UAE-Jordan begin joint military manouvers
The UAE and Jordan today started joint military drills in demonstration of the robust cooperation ties between the two countries. Titled “Bonds of Strength”, the exercises are part of the ongoing military collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries to improve their fighting capabilities and combat readiness in …
Read More »ADFD establishes Petroleum Storage Facilities project in Jordan
A high-level delegation from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, today participated in the inaugural ceremony of the AED771 million (US$210 million) Petroleum Storage Facilities project in Jordan. Fully financed by ADFD, the funding was made as part of the UAE governmentâs contribution of AED4.6 billion ($1.25 billion) in 2013 …
Read More »Jordan to receive emergency relief from UAE over floods
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday ordered an emergency airlift of humanitarian aid to help those affected by the devastating floods in Jordan. A 747 jumbo jet and a C130 Hercules transport carrier took off from Dubai during …
Read More »Jordan seeks to end Israel land lease
Jordan says it plans to end a lease of two areas of land to Israel that was agreed in annexes to the 1994 peace treaty between the two countries. The areas are Naharayim in the north and Tzofar in the south, known as Baqura and Ghamr in Arabic. The lease …
Read More »Palestine Considers Confederation With Jordan Meaningless Now – Ambassador
The Palestinian authorities believe that a confederation with neighboring Jordan, proposed by US President Donald Trump as a solution for peace, would be meaningless before a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with eastern Jerusalem as its capital is established, the country’s ambassador to Russia, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, told …
Read More »The Slipup of the Century: Flights of Fact and Fancy in Israeli Strategic History
By Emad El-Din Aysha, PhD The Israelis just passed a âJewish nation stateâ bill meant to do away with what little progress has been made when it comes to using Arabic names, as well as pushing for yet more settlement building while calling for Jerusalem as the countryâs âwhole …
Read More »Mohammad arrives in Saudi Arabia for Jordan meeting
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAEÂ and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday arrived in Jeddah. He is heading a UAE delegation to the quartet meeting called for by King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, to discuss ways to support …
Read More »A New History of Arabia, Written in Stone
By Elias Muhanna On a small rock found in Jordan, Ahmad Al-Jallad, a linguistics professor in the Netherlands, discovered text that he thought could be the oldest known record of literary expression in Arabic. Afew years ago, Ahmad Al-Jallad, a professor of Arabic and Semitic linguistics at Leiden University, …
Read More »The Present Absentees, The Suffering of Palestinians living within the Green Line, Rola Ghanemâs (The Green Line)
By: Wasan Abu-Baker  Dr. Rola Ghanem is a Palestinian novelist from the city of Tulkarem, she tells the story of her father through this novel which resembles the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation and reveals the struggle of generations. In the novel, she highlighted the importance of education …
Read More »Not enough quality Arabic childrenâs literature â Emirati author
There is a serious lack of quality Arabic literature for children, which needs to be addressed quickly, renowned childrenâs authors said during an interactive session at the 10th Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on Wednesday. Speaking during a session titled âWhat Children Want to Read,â Emirati childrenâs author Marwa Al …
Read More »BOOK REVIEW – Back to the Future: Ahmed Al-Mahdi Charts a Course through the Arabic Winter of Discontent!
If you remember, Ahmed Salah Al-Mahdi wrote a stunning post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel called Malaaz: City of Resurrection. Now heâs written the long anticipated prequel, The Black Winter (2018), launched at the Cairo international book festival â and with the help of Amna, a Jordanian publishing house no less. To add …
Read More »Without UNRWA I wouldnât be alive today
By Mohamed Mohamed It is regrettable that the most basic human needs of millions of Palestinian refugees are now being used as a weapon in the Trump administrationâs political assault on Palestinians. On January 16, the administration decided to withhold $65 million of a planned $125 million in US funding for the …
Read More »US orders extra air cargo screening for flights from Mideast
The US aviation security agency has issued an emergency order requiring additional screening of cargo on flights departing for the United States from five Mideast countries. It says the steps are aimed at preventing terrorist attacks. The Transportation Security Administration said in a statement that the order was prompted by …
Read More »Jordanâs king delivers pointed remarks to Pence on Jerusalem
In pointed public remarks, Jordanâs King Abdullah II told Vice President Pence on Sunday that he had repeatedly warned Washington about the risks of recognizing Jerusalem as Israelâs capital and that he hoped the United States would now âreach outâ and find the right way to move forward. At a …
Read More »Pence to visit Egypt, Jordan, Israel in January: White House
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel from Jan. 20 to 23, the White House said on Monday, embarking on a tour originally planned for last month after President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Pence will hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel …
Read More »Arab League to lobby U.N. to recognise Palestinian state
Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war, Jordanâs Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Six Arab foreign ministers met in Amman on Saturday to …
Read More »US-Jerusalem shift puts counter-terror efforts at risk
The recognition by US President Donald Trump of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has triggered more than just criticism from America’s allies. Here in Bahrain, at the annual Manama Dialogue security conference, there is an almost universal concern that the announcement will be a gift to the region’s twin adversaries – …
Read More »Jordan’s King joins criticism over Trump’s Jerusalem decision
Jordan’s King Abdullah voiced his concern Wednesday over US President Donald Trump’s plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the US embassy there, saying the city is key to regional stability. Trump’s expected announcement has prompted a chorus of criticism and concern from regional and world figures — …
Read More »Michael Flynn’s role in Middle Eastern nuclear project could compound legal issues
In June 2015, retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn took a little-noticed trip to Egypt and Israel, paid for by a U.S. company he was advising. The company hoped to build more than two dozen nuclear plants in the region in partnership with Russian interests. Flynn’s quiet involvement in that project – and …
Read More »Jordan seeks more security guarantees in south Syria truce
Jordan hopes a cease-fire it helped negotiate in neighboring southern Syria will eventually lead to a secure border, the reopening of a vital trade crossing and a gradual return home for Syrian war refugees who sought asylum in the kingdom. For now, these goals seem out of reach as key …
Read More »Syrian army, allies seize more of Jordanian frontier: report
The Syrian army and its allies seized control of nine positions at Syriaâs border with Jordan, expanding their control at the southern frontier, a military news outlet run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Saturday. The captured border positions were located to the southeast of Damascus, the report said, …
Read More »Israeli PM prevents border ‘punch-up’ between firebrand MPs
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intervened to prevent a possible fistfight between an outspoken MP and his Jordanian counterpart. The pair had arranged to meet on the border between their countries after exchanging insults on social media. A violent clash was widely expected. But at the last moment Mr …
Read More »Israeli concern about the outcome of the Arsal Battle
By Dr. Haytham Mouzahem* Â What are the reasons for Israeli silence regarding the battle to liberate the mountains of Arsal and the West Qalamoun? How does Israel view the growing military capabilities of Hezbollah and its enhanced combat profile in Syria? Israelâs noteworthy silence over the battle of the Arsal …
Read More »Jordan: Attack at Israeli embassy in Amman
An attack has taken place at the Israeli embassy in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with casualties reported. A BBC reporter at the scene says the immediate vicinity has been locked down but authorities have not released details. Media reports citing security sources say one Jordanian was killed and one Israeli …
Read More »U.S., Russia and Jordan Reach Deal for Cease-Fire in Part of Syria
The United States, Russia and Jordan have agreed to foster a cease-fire in a limited area of southwestern Syria that will begin at noon on Sunday, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson said on Friday after the first face-to-face meeting between President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. …
Read More »Fighting “Islamic State” on several fronts
By David Ignatius for Stars and Stripes — U.S. special operations forces working with a widening array of partners are slowly tightening their squeeze on Islamic State group fighters in eastern Syria â moving toward an eventual assault on the jihadisâ self-declared capital of Raqqa. The Pentagonâs top priority in …
Read More »Did ISIS Shoot Down a Fighter Jet?
Source: http://www.thedailybeast.com/ – The Islamic State, or ISIS, claims it has shot down a Jordanian fighter jet and captured its pilot. Will this undermine the kingdomâs bedrock role as an ally in the war? Islamic militants scored a significant propaganda coup today, displaying the captured pilot of a Jordanian warplane …
Read More »Jordan charges top Brotherhood figure over anti-UAE comments
Reuters – Jordan on Monday charged a top member of the Muslim Brotherhood with “souring ties with a foreign country” by criticizing the UAE after it designated his group as a terrorist organization. Zaki Bani Rushaid, deputy leader of the Jordanian branch of the Brotherhood, was arrested last month after …
Read More »Extremist minority have hijacked Arabsâ identity, says Queen Rania
THE LEVANT – Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said it was time to reclaim the identity of the Arab world from a minority of extremists who have filled screens with images of violence and destruction. âThese images don’t represent me anymore than they represent you,â said Queen Rania, in …
Read More »Fearing backlash, Jordan asserts Al-Aqsa custodianship
THE LEVANT – Jordan’s tough stance towards Israel over Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque reflects a determination to preserve its custodianship of the flashpoint site as well as its own stability, analysts say. By recalling its ambassador to Israel, the Hashemite kingdom sent a message that deploying police inside the mosque compound …
Read More »Jordanians demonstrate in solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosque
THE LEVANT – Thousands of Jordanians took to the streets on Friday and called for the government to cancel the peace agreement with Israel in response to the escalation of violence in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, Arabs48 website said. Demonstrators chanted “death to Israel” and called for the closure of the Israeli …
Read More »Analysts: Jordanâs King Abdullah rebalances discourse on terror
THE LEVANT – By Raed Omari – Recent remarks by Jordanâs King Abdullah about Islam and Zionism have addressed double standards on terrorism and extremism, analysts say. His message was that radicalism is not the embodiment of Islam, but a phenomenon that exists in all religions and ideologies, including Zionism, …
Read More »Palestinians call on UN – Do something!
THE LEVANT – Jordan told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that it was ready to take measures to stop Israeli attacks on the Al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem after Israeli forces stormed the compound. “Jordan considers such serious and outrageous actions by Israel an unprecedented escalation,” said Ambassador Dina …
Read More »Jordanian court frees radical cleric Abu Qatada
THE LEVANT – A Jordanian court acquitted radical cleric Abu Qatada of terrorism charges and immediately freed him on Wednesday, ending more than a decade of legal cases against the firebrand preacher. Abu Qatada, who was deported from Britain last year, was found not guilty of conspiring to attack tourists …
Read More »Jordan Arrests IS Affiliates Preparing Terrorist Attack In Kingdom
THE LEVANT – Jordanian security authorities arrested several militants associated with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Sunday. The detainees confessed to having connections with the groupâs commanders in Syria, and said they were entrusted with carrying out terrorist operations in Jordan targeting …
Read More »Jordan bank goes on trial for “financing terrorists”
THE LEVANT – Jordan’s Arab Bank went on trial Thursday in New York accused of aiding terror by transferring support funds to the families of Palestinians who died in the conflict with Israel. The families of several Americans killed in early 2000s attacks by the Islamic movement Hamas said the …
Read More »Professional associations raise medical aid worth $1m for Gaza
THE LEVANT –Â The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) on Sunday received medical supplies to Gaza worth more than $1 million from the professional associations. Jordan Medical Association President Hashem Abu Hassan said the aid includes medical equipment and medicines, noting that association will continue to collect donations for Palestinians in …
Read More »Prince AL Hassan bin Talal launches water initiative
PRESS RELEASE â New study to pinpoint causality between water scarcity and unrest in the Middle East. HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal has announced a new initiative to help buildpeace and security in the Arab world through regional cooperation on water conservation and management. HRH will assume the chairmanship of …
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