Middle Orient

Emirates advances 2021 plan to invest $10 billion in Israel

With a new Israeli government that is stable and committed to the Abraham Accords, the Emiratis are moving forward on their 2021 pledge to invest $10 billion in the country. When former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was supposed to visit the Emirates after the signing of the Abraham Accords, the …

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Biden says ISIS leader Quraishi killed in Syria raid

The world is now a “safer place” after the killing of Islamic State leader al-Qurayshi, according to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The leader of Islamic State died in a US Special Forces raid in northern Syria on Thursday when he detonated a bomb that killed him and family members, US …

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A few hundred kms from Iran, Israel sends message with Gantz’s visit to Bahrain

The defense minister is visiting Bahrain where the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding. A mere 200 kilometers away from Iran, Israel’s defense minister Benny Gantz made a clear statement: We are building bridges with your neighbors and we are here to stay. Gantz was in Bahrain for a …

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In Ukraine, Erdogan emphasizes agreements with Moscow

Striking a different tone from many of his Western counterparts, the Turkish president’s remarks in Kyiv reflect a position that factors in Moscow’s demands on the Ukraine standoff. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan underscored the role of existing agreements for a “peaceful and diplomatic solution” in the Ukraine standoff during …

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Turkish inflation hits two-decade high, inches toward 50%

With annual producer inflation reaching 93.5%, further price increases appear in store for Turkish consumers in February and March after consumer inflation sets a two-decade record in January. Turkey’s consumer prices rose 11.1% in January, bringing annual inflation to 48.7%, the highest rate in two decades, data released Thursday by …

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Raid on ISIS leader’s home in Syria meant to capture him alive, reduce civilian harm, Pentagon officials say

The pre-dawn raid Thursday by U.S. special operations forces in northeastern Syria was designed to capture the leader of the Islamic State group, who instead blew himself up along with members of his family rather than be taken alive, top Pentagon officials said. Elite American troops spent months planning and …

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Deteriorated Situations

US/Russia Diplomatic row between Moscow and Washington over Russian military build-up in Ukraine and European security more broadly escalated. As U.S. and Russia continued negotiations during month, notably in swiss city Geneva 10 Jan, Moscow continued to demand legally binding guarantees from U.S. and NATO against Ukraine’s accession to NATO …

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Amnesty International Wants to End the Jewish State

Unfortunately for the inveterate peace-processors and their followers, the Arab world has moved on from their own opposition to Israel. They see the country for what it is: a source of stability and prosperity in the region. They understand the dangers of continuing Palestinian intransigence and animosity and have denied …

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Saving Lebanon can help prevent Iran’s web of terror from spreading in region, activists argue

Lebanon will be “another Iran-dominated, corruption-riddled failed state” if critical steps are not taken soon to end government corruption in the country, tackle the economic challenges it is facing and address the “crippling” issue of Hezbollah’s violence. This is the conclusion of a report published on Tuesday by two leading …

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Iran says conditions present for ‘win-win’ agreement with US

Though direct talks with the United States remain a non-starter, Tehran’s top nuclear negotiator has shared some hope with Iranian lawmakers. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani spoke Feb. 1 at a session of the parliament’s powerful National Security and Foreign Policy Commission at which he answered questions about …

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