July, 2021

• 13 July

  Lapid meets top EU diplomat in Brussels as Israel looks to improve ties

  

  Israel’s foreign minister is slated to address the 26 EU foreign ministers who make up the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with Josep Borrell, the European Union’s high commissioner for foreign affairs, during a visit to Brussels on Sunday as Israel looks to boost relations …

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• 13 July

  Algérie : « Le soutien de la France au gouvernement est aussi une forme d’ingérence »

  

  Dans un entretien à JA, Laurence Rossignol, vice-présidente du Sénat regrette le silence des autorités françaises face à la répression en Algérie. «Monsieur le ministre, que pouvons-nous faire pour garantir [les libertés fondamentales] en Algérie ?». Le 26 mai dernier, la sénatrice française Laurence Rossignol a interpellé Jean-Yves Le Drian, …

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• 13 July

  Lebanon implements ration card program as economic crisis worsens

  

  The Lebanese parliament approved a law to fund ration cards for the most vulnerable families, while ending subsidies. The Lebanese parliament approved a ration card law on June 30 by injecting $556 million exceptional credit in cash assistance to support the most vulnerable families, replacing the current subsidies system. The …

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• 13 July

  Islamic State uses hit-and-run tactics in Iraq

  

  Islamic State cells continue to target Sunni areas while armed groups thought to be close to Iran step up attacks on facilities hosting international coalition forces. Islamic State (IS) remnants continue to make their presence known in mostly Sunni-majority areas in Iraq, including an attack earlier this month on fishermen …

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• 13 July

  Confrontation between US, pro-Iranian groups in Syria and Iraq poses challenges for Russia

  

  While Moscow does not yet have the resources to eliminate Iranian influence in Syria, it would be in its interests to at least prevent the expansion of the activities of pro-Iranian paramilitary structures. On the evening of June 27, the United States launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on targets …

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• 13 July

  America’s Afghan War Is Over, So What About Iraq – and Iran?

  

  At Bagram air-base, Afghan scrap merchants are already picking through the graveyard of U.S. military equipment that was until recently the headquarters of America’s 20-year occupation of their country. Afghan officials say the last U.S. forces slipped away from Bagram in the dead of night, without notice or coordination. The …

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• 13 July

  EU and Russia’s Fraught Relationship – A Timeline

  

  Russia and Europe share strong historical and cultural ties from time immemorial. But these ties did not translate into amicable trade relations between the two. The Russian Federation and the European Union both came into existence in the early 1990’s. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the …

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• 13 July

  Will Turkey use Syrian mercenaries in Kabul?

  

  Turkey is allegedly planning to use Syrian fighters in its proposed mission to guard and run Kabul’s airport, but this time recruitment is expected to proceed via private security firms. Turkey’s government appears to have learned little from the troubles it has faced for deploying Syrian fighters in the wars …

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• 13 July

  Israeli authorities seize cryptocurrency transfer from Hamas

  

  The sum which was seized reportedly included funds meant for, but not limited to, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades (the Hamas military wing). Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBCTF) last week released information regarding the seizure of cryptocurrencies which had been transferred to the Hamas organization. The report detailed …

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• 13 July

  Diplomatic push is on to prevent another Israel-Hamas war in Gaza

  

  Imports of medical equipment, fishing equipment, raw materials for industry and textiles will be permitted through Gaza crossing. There is a diplomatic push to find a resolution to prevent another Gaza escalation, or even war, by removing some of the points of conflict between Israel and Hamas. As a sign …

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