Daily News Brief - 17/08/2022
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Please find below today’s daily news brief.
Bahrain | Jordan: Ministers of foreign affairs meet in Amman to discuss international and regional issues
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani met on Tuesday with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman al-Safadi in Amman to discuss international and regional issues such as the situation in Palestine, the war in Yemen, the Iranian nuclear program, the war in Ukraine, and the global food security and energy crisis. Alzayani also met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II later on Tuesday.
Iran: Lawmaker accuses Western spies of collecting soil samples for nuclear testing
Esmail Kowsari, a member of Iran parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general stated on Tuesday that Western countries instructed several individuals “to collect soil from some places they thought to be suspicious so that it could be tested.” The statement comes after, in early July, the IRGC announced that it detained several foreign diplomats who were collecting soil samples deep inside the Kerman desert where a missile drill had just been conducted. The IRGC said at the time that, among those arrested is also the British deputy ambassador to Iran.
Iran | US: Washington is studying Tehran’s comments on an EU-proposed nuclear deal
After Iran submitted its official response to the EU’s proposal, the US Department of State said on Tuesday that it was studying Tehran’s comments and will share its views with the EU. Russia’s top diplomat in Vienna stated that Iran’s comments were “very businesslike” and “reasonable.” On Monday, Iran’s foreign minister stated that there were “three issues that if resolved, we can reach an agreement in the coming days.”
Iraq: Leaders of rival political alliances to meet on Wednesday for negotiations to end the country’s political crisis
The leader of the Sadrist Movement, Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and the representative of the Coordination Framework, a pro-Iran alliance, Hadi al-Ameri are expected to meet on Wednesday despite al-Sadr’s initial refusal throughout Tuesday. The meeting was called by Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi who invited the two political leaders to attend a national dialogue at the government’s palace in Baghdad’s Green Zone. Al-Kadhimi’s effort to mediate between the two political coalitions is meant to end the political deadlock that generated massive protests in the capital over the last weeks.
Israel | Palestine: Palestinian president causes outrage with Holocaust remarks in Germany
During a joint press conference with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded to a question from a journalist regarding whether he plans to apologize for the killing of Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972 by Palestinian militants, on the occasion of the incident’s 50th anniversary, by saying that “from 1947 to the present day, Israel has committed 50 massacres in Palestinian villages…50 massacres, 50 Holocausts.” His response triggered angry reactions from Israeli leaders, who dismissed Abbas’ comment as a “disgrace” and “a monstrous lie.” Others, such as Israel’s Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman called Abbas “a terrorist.” In an official statement on Wednesday, the Palestinian president retracted his response, saying that he did not intend to deny the singularity of the Holocaust.
Israel | Turkey: Reports say that the two countries will soon announce a resumption of relations and reopen embassies
Reports from Israeli media claim that Turkey and Israel will announce the renewal of their relations which will include the reopening of the embassies in Tel Aviv and Ankara. The report added that the announcement may be made later on Wednesday.
Jordan: Armed clashes occurred during a drug operation in Zarqa
Armed clashes between security forces and drug dealers took place on Wednesday in the al-Hallabat area in the city of Zarqa. According to authorities, large quantities of narcotics and illegal substances were seized during the operation. One wanted man has been wounded. The incident comes as the kingdom steps up its efforts to combat drug dealing and consumption as well as cross-border trafficking in illegal substances.
Lebanon: Prime minister and the president meet to discuss government formation
Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and President Michel Aoun met on Wednesday at the presidential palace to discuss a cabinet line-up that the prime minister submitted in June. After the meeting, Miqati stated that “there will be another round of talks.” Disagreements emerged after the line-up submitted by the prime minister, which was leaked to the press, was not convenient to the president’s party, the Free Patriotic Movement.
Lebanon | Israel: US envoy reacts to reports on ‘negative atmosphere’ in maritime demarcation talks and says he will visit Israel soon
US envoy Amos Hochstein, tasked with mediating between Lebanon and Israel on the maritime border delimitation issue, rejected media reports according to which the “negative atmosphere” in the negotiations comes from the Lebanese side. He added that he will visit Israel in the coming days and that he had agreed with Prime Minister Yair Lapid on “a positive framework.”
Saudi Arabia | Germany: Crown prince receives a phone call from the German chancellor to discuss bilateral ties
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman discussed bilateral ties on the phone with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholtz on Wednesday. The two explored opportunities for joint cooperation and addressed the latest regional and international developments.
Tunisia: The country’s new constitution has come into effect after the announcement of the referendum’s final results
Tunisia’s electoral commission announced on Tuesday the final results of the July 25 constitutional referendum, which show overwhelming approval for the document proposed by President Kais Saied. With a low turnout of 30.5 percent, 94.6 percent of those who voted approved the new constitution that officially came into effect yesterday. The new text gives Saied greater power, putting him in command of the army and allowing him to appoint a government without parliamentary approval, among others.
Turkey | Syria: Eleven killed in Turkish strike on a Syrian military post
Eleven Syrian fighters were killed in a Turkish airstrike on a Syrian border post run by regime forces. According to Kurdish sources, Ankara “conducted 12 airstrikes against positions of the Syrian army deployed on the border west of Kobane.” It comes after the regime in Damascus deployed additional forces in areas controlled by Kurdish fighters near the border with Turkey to stem an eventual cross-border operation by Ankara.