January, 2021

• 2 January

  Ethnic Parties Reassert Grip on Bosnia’s Mostar at Landmark Election

  After a 12-year gap caused by an ethnically-driven political dispute, municipal elections were finally held in the divided city of Mostar, but they failed to deliver the expected shift away from the main Bosniak and Croat ethnic parties.

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December, 2020

• 25 December

  Turkish Parliament extends troop deployment to Libya

  The measure, which extends Turkey’s presence in Libya by 18 months, had the backing of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party. The Turkish Parliament voted Tuesday to extend the deployment of Turkish troops in war-torn Libya who are fighting on behalf of the internationally recognized government.

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• 25 December

  PKK remains thorn in side of Turkish-Iraqi relations

  The Iraqi government needs Turkey to counterbalance Iran and help alleviate Baghdad’s economic problems, but the Kurdish issue, which has long strained bilateral ties, might further snag progress in economic and strategic projects.

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• 25 December

  Qatari government 'funded Houthi drones'

  US contractors to cite senior officials’ involvement in shipments and cash transfers Qatar will be implicated in funding and enabling shipments of drone components from China and Europe to Yemen’s Houthi Rebels.

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• 25 December

  Kushner to lead maiden flight from Israel to Morocco

  Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner announced Monday that he will join an Israeli delegation on the first direct flight to Morocco to celebrate the U.S.-brokered agreement establishing ties between the two Mideast countries. The flight, set to depart Tuesday, marks the fourth diplomatic pact brokered by the Trump administration …

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• 25 December

  Israeli submarine reportedly crosses Suez Canal in ‘message’ to Iran

  Vessel said to have surfaced and faced Persian Gulf, in show of force amid threats over killing of nuclear scientist; in similar move, US sub crosses Straight of Hormuz An Israeli submarine openly crossed the Suez Canal last week, in a show of force against Iran, the Kan public broadcaster …

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• 25 December

  Germany against arms embargo on Turkey

  Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says embargo not correct strategically since Turkey is NATO member Germany is against Greece’s demands of imposing an arms embargo on Turkey due to tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, the German foreign minister said Tuesday.

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• 25 December

  Russian, Palestinian leaders discuss Israel-Palestinian peace process

  Russia has voiced willingness to mediate between Israel and Palestine in its capacity as a member of the Middle East Quartet. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone Tuesday to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Kremlin said in a press release.

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• 25 December

  Israel's Sephardic chief rabbi returns from Emirates

  Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef paid a historic visit this weekend to the United Arab Emirates, inviting several ministers to visit Jerusalem. Israel’s Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef visited the United Arab Emirates this weekend. The rabbi traveled to the Emirates on Thursday and spent the Sabbath there, …

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• 25 December

  KRG asks US forces to deploy along Kurdish-controlled part of Iraqi-Syrian border

  In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s deputy chief of staff outlined why the Kurdish region’s government wants US forces stationed in and around the Fish Khabur border crossing. The Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq has formally asked the US-led coalition to deploy observers to patrol …

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