Indonesian clerics issue fatwa boycotting Israel-linked firms
New Age Islam News Bureau
11 November 2023
-------------
·
America's 'blind support' encouraging Israel in
committing genocide: Palestinian envoy
·
Yemen’s Huthi rebels seek legitimacy with Israel
attacks, say analysts
·
Pro-Palestinian march organizers say it will be one of
UK’s biggest-ever protests
·
PM to represent Pakistan at OIC Summit in Riyadh today
·
Afghan community in Austria hold protest against
Pakistan's inhuman treatment of Afghan refugees
·
Israel faces pressure over Gaza deaths as fighting
rages near hospitals
·
Indonesian clerics issue fatwa boycotting
Israel-linked firms
Compiled By New Age Islam News Bureau
India
·
Back humanitarian pauses, need to prevent spread of
Gaza conflict: Indo-US statement
·
US Asks India to Join Canada’s Probe, Both Jointly
Express Support For Israel
·
Blinken in India for talks on China, Israel
·
‘The idea that Buddhism is a branch of Hinduism began in
late 1800s’: Writer-historian
·
Supreme Court Criticizes Uttar Pradesh Government's
Handling Of Muslim Boy Slapping Case
·
'Jai Siya Ram' Finest Example Of Love And Unity: Javed
Akhtar
------
North America
·
If you kill children in Gaza, you create more Hamas
members: Musk
·
No chance Biden gets votes from Muslims after Gaza
‘genocide’: Council on American-Islamic Relations chief
·
Biden administration privately warned by American
diplomats of growing fury against US in Arab world
·
Why Israel-Palestine war is a setback for economic
corridor connecting India to Europe
·
US think tank shows generation gap in opinions toward
Israel
·
Columbia University suspends groups protesting
Israel-Hamas war
·
Santa Clara County Authorities Release Suspect and
Vehicle Description in Stanford Hit-and-Run of Muslim Student
-----
Arab World
·
Crown prince at Saudi-African Summit reiterates
Kingdom’s condemnation of Israel’s Gaza violations
·
Riyadh to host Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza on
Saturday: Saudi foreign ministry
·
Saudi FM holds preparatory meeting ahead of OIC summit
·
Saudi Arabia attends Paris International Conference to
help civilians in Gaza
·
Riyadh festival taking visitors on world culinary
journey
·
Second Saudi relief plane to help Palestinians in Gaza
arrives in Egypt
·
Madinah airport deports Pakistani travelers for
forging biometric data
-------
Europe
·
Russia and Turkey send another humanitarian aid to
Gaza
·
Saudi ambassador and other Arab envoys discuss Gaza
conflict with speaker of Irish Parliament
·
UK health care workers hold vigil to demand cease-fire
in Gaza
·
France expels Palestinian activist to Egypt
·
Macron calls on Israel to stop bombing Gaza civilians
·
Beware Suella Braverman and all the other vultures
bent on exploiting Jewish and Muslim pain
·
Tensions running high at New England campuses over
protests around Israel-Hamas war
·
Teen behind bars after Muslim mass murder plot at
Bradford mosques
-----
Pakistan
·
President Alvi retracts controversial remarks on
Palestine
·
Amnesty urges Pakistan to halt ‘deportation,
detention, harassment’ of Afghan refugees
·
PM expresses Pakistan's firm solidarity with Palestine
·
LHC seeks report on Elahi’s plea for facilities in
jail
-----
South Asia
·
Pakistan to deport Afghan migrants with documents:
Balochistan official
·
Iron mining operations commence in Ghourian, Herat
·
Khorog Afghan Consul Operates Under Taliban’s Foreign
Affairs
·
Raisi at ECO Calls for Economic Support for
Afghanistan, Inclusive Govt
-------
Mideast
·
Iranian President to travel to Saudi Arabia to attend
OIC Summit on Gaza crisis
·
Gazans sheltering at Al-Shafaa hospital face
‘unbearable’ conditions
·
Turkish President Erdogan heads to Riyadh for joint
Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza
·
'While Israel is refraining from harming civilians,
Hamas is using them as human shields': Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
·
Lebanese delegation, led by PM Mikati, participates in
joint Islamic-Arab summit
·
OIC summit on Gaza war litmus test for Muslim body’s
credibility, relevance
·
Gaza’s health system ‘on its knees,’ WHO chief warns
·
Jerusalem Hospital in Gaza to cease operations in 3
hours: Palestine Red Crescent
·
Israel restrict Palestinians from Al Aqsa Mosque for
fifth week
·
UN rights chief calls for probe, rights groups sue
Israel at ICC for Gaza ‘genocide’
------
Southeast Asia
·
Israel boycott: Don’t let innocent M’sians suffer,
says ex-MCA veep
·
PM extends Deepavali greetings to M’sian Hindus
·
Retired soldier in Sabah gets 20 years, six strokes
for sexual assaults against niece, aged 12
·
M'sia sends second shipment of aid to Palestine
·
Electricity at Indonesian hospital in Gaza cut off
------
Africa
·
Over half of Sudan’s population needs humanitarian aid
after nearly 7 months of war, UN says
·
Again, terrorists attack Maulud procession in Katsina,
kill one, abduct many
·
Edo Muslim community lauds Gov Obaseki’s giant strides
·
Tinubu assures Saudi investors of safe, high returns
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
-----------------
Indonesian clerics issue fatwa boycotting Israel-linked firms
10 Nov 2023
Indonesian
activists hold posters during a rally supporting the Palestinian people,
outside the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. - AP
----------
JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesia's top Islamic clerical body issued a fatwa on Friday calling for a boycott of goods and services from companies that support Israel in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.
The religious edict by the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, said Muslims in the country must support the Palestinians' struggle against "Israeli aggression", while also declaring that support for Israel or its supporters is "haram", or against Islamic law.
"MUI call on every Muslim to avoid as much as possible transactions and use of Israel products and those that affiliated with Israel, as well as those who support colonialism and Zionism," Asrorun Niam Sholeh, an executive of the council, told reporters Friday.
"We cannot support the party that is at war with Palestine, including using products whose proceeds actually support acts of murder of the Palestinians."
MUI's latest fatwa comes with a campaign spreading in the Middle East calling for boycotts of Western brands that have shown support for Israel in its war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Israel launched an offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters poured across the militarised border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostages.
Vowing to destroy the militants, Israel retaliated with bombardment and a ground campaign that the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip says has killed more than 10,800 people, mostly civilians and many of them children.
Fatwas have no legal force and are aimed at encouraging the devout in world's most populous Muslim-majority country against taking a certain course of action.
Indonesia, a staunch supporter of Palestinian independence, has called for a resolution to the conflict based on internationally agreed parameters set by the United Nations, which include a two-state solution. – AFP
Source: thestar.com.my
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https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/11/10/indonesian-clerics-issue-fatwa-boycotting-israel-linked-firms
-----
"Revenge
On Kafirs": Suspected ISIS Terrorists Planned Pan-India Attacks
November
11, 2023
Aditi Gautam
ISIS
Module Case: They wanted to engineer violence and terror in the country (File)
-------------
New
Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against
seven suspected ISIS terrorists for allegedly planning attacks across the
country.
The
chargesheet said that investigations had revealed that the accused raised funds
to promote the activities of ISIS on the directions of their handlers.
They
wanted to engineer violence and terror in the country, NIA sources said.
All the
accused were educated and technically sound, the chargesheet stated, adding
that they held several meetings in Maharashtra's Pune and made plans to recruit
more members through WhatsApp groups.
They
used code words such as vinegar or sirka for sulphuric acid, rosewater for
acetone and sherbat for hydrogen peroxide to buy chemicals for IEDs.
"The
investigation has revealed a complex network of individuals committed to
propagating the extremist ideology of ISIS within India," officials said.
The
probe agency has also seized a set of documents titled - "Revege on
Kafirs", that details their strategy to further ISIS activities in
India. "They wanted to take revenge
on alleged atrocities on Muslims by Kafirs (non-Muslims), officials said,
The
accused travelled to various states, including - Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa,
Telangana and Kerala to identify potential targets to carry out the blasts,
officials said.
The NIA
has also alleged that the accused were in touch with foreign handlers who were
updated about the progress in their plans.
Source: ndtv.com
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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/isis-islamic-state-pune-isis-module-kafirs-revenge-on-kafirs-alleged-isis-terrorists-planned-pan-india-attacks-4566381
--------
America's
'blind support' encouraging Israel in committing genocide: Palestinian envoy
11 November 2023
Palestinians
search for casualties under the rubble in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in
Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 14, 2023. (Photo by Reuters)
----------------
The
Palestinian envoy to the United Nations Office in Geneva has lashed out at the
US for its "blind support" for the Israeli regime amid Tel Aviv's
ongoing genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.
Addressing
a UN gathering in Geneva on Friday, Ibrahim Khraishi said the American support
served to encourage the regime to behave as if it was "above the
law."
"The
real friend of Israel," he said, referring to Washington, "should
raise the red flag in front of their face and tell them you have to stop."
More
than 11,000 Palestinians, including 4,506 children, have been killed, and
27,490 others sustained injuries since October 7, when the occupying regime
started the war against the besieged coastal sliver in response to an operation
staged by the territory's resistance groups.
The US,
Israel's biggest and oldest ally, has backed Tel Aviv's ferocious attacks on
the Palestinian territory as "self-defense," and has provided the
regime with thousands of arms consignments since the onset of the war.
Washington
has also been casting its veto against the United Nations Security Council's
resolutions that call on the regime to cease its aggression.
Iran
says the US is actively contributing to the genocide of the Palestinian nations
at the hands of the Israeli regime.
Khraishi
insisted that what was taking place was "not a war between Israel and the
fighters of [the Gaza-based resistance movement of] Hamas. It is a
genocide."
And
"the genocide is taking place in full view of the whole world, on TV screens,"
he added.
The
envoy, meanwhile, slammed shocking "double standards" in the
international response, contrasting Western countries' total condemnation of
Russia's war in Ukraine with the refusal by many to condemn the Israeli
regime's bloodletting in Gaza.
"This
is something that humanity should be ashamed of," he said.
The
meeting saw dozens of ambassadors observing a minute of silence for the
thousands killed in the war raging in Gaza.
A
diplomatic cable obtained by CNN says the continued support the United States
gives Israel is enraging the Arabs.
Some 40
ambassadors, mainly from Muslim countries, also signed a joint call demanding
that the international community take urgent action to halt the bloodshed and
address the dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/10/714380/Palestine-Israel-United-States-war-Gaza
--------
Yemen’s
Huthi rebels seek legitimacy with Israel attacks, say analysts
November
11, 2023
Huthi
soldiers salute next to a missile during a parade in Sanaa in September. —
AFP/File
---------------
DUBAI:
Drone and missile attacks by Huthi rebels in Yemen have barely troubled Israel
but the Iran-backed group´s overriding target is strategic rather than
military, analysts say.
A series
of launches over most of the Arabian Peninsula targeting Israel from war-torn,
impoverished Yemen have either been shot down by missile defences or fallen
short. However, experts say the Huthis, who seized the capital Sanaa in 2014
and control much of country, have a different goal in mind: regional and
domestic legitimacy.
“The
group seeks strategic objectives through their involvement in a regional
conflict, including securing political influence in Yemen and the broader
region,” Mohammed Albasha, a senior Middle East analyst for the US-based
Navanti Group, told AFP.
They are
“seeking recognition and legitimacy as a significant player”, he said, adding
that such attacks “also aim to rejuvenate and mobilise their support base” at
home. The attacks, triggered by Israel´s war on Hamas, follow more than eight
years of fighting a Saudi-led coalition at home.
The
Huthis have declared themselves part of Iran´s “axis of resistance” which
includes Shiite groups in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. Similar attacks on Israel
have been launched from Syria and Lebanon.
Israel
vowed to root out and destroy Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, after the
Palestinian militants killed 1,400 people and took 240 hostages, according to
Israeli authorities, in a major attack on October 7.
Over
11,000 people have since died in retaliatory strikes in Gaza by Israel,
according to the territory´s Hamas-run health ministry. The Huthis have
previously launched attacks on Saudi Arabia, Yemen´s northern neighbour, and
the United Arab Emirates, both key foreign players in the civil war.
But the
surprise launches at Israel are their most significant military action since a
six-month ceasefire last year heralded a period of calm for a country brought
to its knees by years of fighting. To inflict any damage on Israel, the Huthi projectiles
must travel at least 1,600-kms to hit its southernmost tip.
The
rebels have ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones capable of
traversing that distance, according to Fabian Hinz of the International
Institute for Strategic Studies.
But given
their inaccuracy, “there is no major threat to the Israeli mainland from the
Huthis”, Hinz told AFP. “It´s possible they will get a lucky shot,” he
explained, but “there´s very little risk involved”.
This
week, they shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen that
they said was spying on the country as part of US support for Israel.
According
to Majid Al-Madhaji, a researcher at the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies
think tank, the Huthis are also trying to strengthen their hand in peace talks
with Saudi Arabia, which is looking to negotiate an exit from Yemen´s war.
They are
looking to bolster “their negotiating position” with Riyadh by attacking Israel
and US assets in the region, Madhaji said. The “calculated strategy” is aimed
at “putting pressure on the Americans and the British” by threatening their
interests in the region to “accelerate an agreement with the Saudis,” he told a
virtual panel.
The
Huthis also know they don´t need to hit mainland Israel to have an impact. Nasr
al-Din Amer, a Huthi official, told AFP they have “wider, bigger, deeper
options and in multiple directions”.
One
theatre of escalation could be the Rea Sea, a vital channel for global trade,
including the Middle East oil that travels to the Mediterranean and beyond via
the Suez Canal.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1127912-yemen-s-huthi-rebels-seek-legitimacy-with-israel-attacks-say-analysts
-----
Pro-Palestinian
march organizers say it will be one of UK’s biggest-ever protests
November
11, 2023
More
than half a million people are expected to take part in what the organizers of
a pro-Palestine march believe will be England’s largest mass protest, in London
on Saturday’s Armistice Day. (AFP/File)
---------------
BEIRUT:
More than half a million people are expected to take part in what the
organizers of a pro-Palestine march believe will be England’s largest mass
protest, in London on Saturday’s Armistice Day.
Ben
Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the march’s
organizers, says he expects people to be traveling from all over the UK to
march from Park Lane toward the US Embassy in southwest London, The Guardian
reported on Friday.
Jamal
said: “We think it is going to be huge.”
A PSC
statement said: “More than 500,000 people are expected to converge on London,
making it one of the largest political marches in British history.”
PSC said
it “reasserts its concerns at the disgraceful remarks by Home Secretary Suella
Braverman,” as “she has sought to delegitimize the call for a cease-fire, which
is supported by the vast majority of the British public, smear those marching
for peace and stir up public unrest.”
Jamal
said: “Contrary to the disgraceful rhetoric of Suella Braverman and other
political leaders, hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, will
come to London to march for peace, for a cease-fire, and for the rights of the
Palestinian people to be respected.
“They
reject a narrative that seeks to dehumanize Palestinians and their legitimate
struggle for freedom, they are appalled by the mass killing of Palestinians
including 4,500 children, and they want an end to British complicity in
supporting Israel’s decades-long violations of international law.”
He
added: “They reject all forms of racism and believe that consistent antiracism
means opposing in word and deed the imposition upon the Palestinian people of a
system of apartheid. They march as well to affirm the right to protest, now
under its most severe attack by a Home Secretary who has shown herself to be
wholly unfit for office.”
The
decision to avoid the center of London and Whitehall over the weekend was made
by the organizers many weeks ago and agreed with the police, PSC said.
“Braverman
was fully aware of this fact, as was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, when they
issued statements suggesting that the march was intended to disrupt
preparations for Remembrance Sunday. As a result, they have caused, we believe
intentionally, public concern and greenlit far-right activists who have
declared their intention to come to London ‘to protect the Cenotaph’.”
This has
created additional unnecessary challenges to the Police and the march
organizers to ensure public safety in stewarding many hundreds of thousands of
people throughout the march, PSC said.
“We
reject the attempts by political leaders, opposed to the call for a cease-fire,
to defame those marching as hateful, antisemitic and intent on causing
disorder,” it added.
The
Metropolitan Police Service said policing on Armistice Day would be “far
greater and more complex than we’ve delivered before,” and that officers would
draw on “an extensive set of powers to prevent any disruption whatsoever,” with
tight controls put on the movements of protesters.
Speakers
are set to include Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader; actors Juliet
Stevenson and Maxine Peake; Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission
to the UK; and others, who will deliver their speeches from a special stage.
There
are some concerns that certain groups may cause disruption, and that some
far-right elements may seek to exploit the occasion.
Police
on Thursday were reported to have refused a request from the organizers for two
end points of the march which would have alleviated pressure on stewards,
officers maintaining that they remained confident the event would be peaceful.
Metropolitan
Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was keeping a close watch for any
fresh intelligence in relation to the march. Any protesters who diverge from
the agreed route from Hyde Park could be liable to a fine of up to £2,500
($3,000).
The
Cenotaph area is to have a dedicated 24-hour police presence across the
weekend, while protesters will not be allowed close to the US Embassy, nor to
gather in the streets around the Israeli Embassy in South Kensington.
The Met
said: “Anyone who does not disperse from key central London locations,
including Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, will be liable to be
arrested.”
UK Prime
Minister Rishi Sunak has said he has been assured by Rowley that the Met will
be able to prevent “serious public disorder.”
In
addition to the PSC, the pro-Palestine march is being organized by the Muslim
Association of Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Palestinian Forum in Britain, the
Stop the War Coalition, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Chris
Nineham, from the Stop the War Coalition, will be directing a team of 500
volunteers on Saturday.
He said:
“This will be far and away the biggest of these series of demonstrations.
“I know
it’s going to be a lot bigger. Just one coach agency in the north of England
has booked 250 coaches for the demo. That’s just one agency.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2406791/world
------
PM to
represent Pakistan at OIC Summit in Riyadh today
November
11, 2023
Prime
Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will represent Pakistan at the Extraordinary
Summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Saudi capital Riyadh today.
This
Extraordinary Summit has been convened at the request of the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, the current Chair of the Islamic Summit, in response to the serious
developments facing the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
It aims
to come out with a joint Islamic position and action in the face of the brutal
and ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, and the
deteriorating humanitarian situation as a result of the war crimes and brutal
massacres committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/11-11-2023/pm-to-represent-pakistan-at-oic-summit-in-riyadh-today
-----
Afghan
community in Austria hold protest against Pakistan's inhuman treatment of
Afghan refugees
Nov 11, 2023
VIENNA:
The Afghan community in Austria staged a protest in front of the Pakistan
Embassy in Vienna against the continued inhuman treatment of Afghan refugees by
the Pakistan government, according to the Afghan Diaspora Network.
After
Pakistan announced a deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country,
around 2,00,000 Afghans have returned home via the Torkham border, The News
International reported.
The rise
in repatriations comes after the Pakistan government ordered 1.7 million
Afghans, "living illegally" in the country, to leave or face
deportation, Dawn reported.
The
protest was organized by the Afghan Cultural Association, known as AKIS and was
supported by multiple Afghan Diaspora organizations.
Around
80 members of the Afghan diaspora community participated in the protest and
raised slogans against the deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan, the
Afghan Diaspora Network reported.
Additionally,
they also held banners opposing Pakistan's action and further highlighted the
role of Pakistan in interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan.
Many
prominent Afghans from Austria, including Abdul Malyar and Fazel Rahman,
chairman of the various Afghan cultural associations in Austria, and Stoorai
Khan of the PTM wing of Austria, spoke during this protest and strongly
criticized the actions of Pakistan.
They
further urged the international community to pressurize Pakistan to stop the
forced return of Afghans who have been living in Pakistan for several years,
the Afghan Diaspora Network reported.
Moreover,
they stressed that the Pakistan Army is only responsible for the terror attacks
in their country as they have been nurturing these terror organizations during
their initial years, and have supported them with arms and ammunition.
Pakistan
is paying the price for its own actions, and it cannot shift the blame to
Afghans who migrated to Pakistan long ago, the officials added.
Malyar,
who has been living in Austria for over 40 years, stated that this forceful
deportation by Pakistan is a mechanism to interfere in the internal affairs of
Afghanistan and also with the elections around the corner in Pakistan, to
divert the attention of the Pakistanis from the core issues in Pakistan.
Moreover,
with the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, it has also planned to use this
issue to attract more international aid in the name of refugees, Afghan
Diaspora Network reported citing officials.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/afghan-community-in-austria-hold-protest-against-pakistans-inhuman-treatment-of-afghan-refugees/articleshow/105139755.cms
-----
Israel
faces pressure over Gaza deaths as fighting rages near hospitals
November
11, 2023
GAZA:Israel
faced mounting international pressure, including from its main ally the United
States, to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza as the death toll
rose and fighting intensified near and around hospitals.
The
number of Palestinians killed during the bombardment of the coastal enclave in
the past five weeks rose above 11,000, as Israeli forces waged war on Hamas
resistance fighters who carried out the October 7 rampage in southern Israel.
In his
strongest comments to date on the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire,
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on a visit to India on
Friday: "Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have
suffered these past weeks."
But
Blinken reaffirmed the US’ support for Israel's campaign to ensure that Gaza
can no longer be used "as a platform for launching terrorism".
French
President Emmanuel Macron, in a BBC interview published late on Friday, said
Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians. France, he said,
"clearly condemns" the "terrorist" actions of Hamas, but
that while recognising Israel's right to protect itself, "we do urge them
to stop this bombing" in Gaza.
In
response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said world leaders should
be condemning Hamas, and not Israel. "These crimes that Hamas (is)
committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and
anywhere in the world," Netanyahu said.
Israel
has said that Hamas, who are holding as many as 240 hostages of different
nationalities taken in last month's attack, would exploit a truce to regroup if
there were a ceasefire.
Saudi
Arabia will host an extraordinary joint Islamic-Arab summit in Riyadh on
Saturday, the Saudi foreign ministry said. The joint meeting "will be held
in response to the exceptional circumstances taking place in the Palestinian
Gaza Strip as countries feel the need to unify efforts and come out with a
unified collective position," it said.
Overcrowded
hospitals hit by explosions, gunfire
Fighting
intensified overnight into Saturday near Gaza City's overcrowded hospitals, hit
by explosions and gunfire.
"Israel
is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals," said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah,
director of Al Shifa hospital.
He said
later that at least 25 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Al-Buraq school
in Gaza City, where people whose homes had been destroyed were sheltering.
Gaza
officials said missiles landed in a courtyard of Al Shifa, the enclave's
biggest hospital, in the early hours of Friday, damaged the Indonesian Hospital
and reportedly set fire to the Nasser Rantissi paediatric cancer hospital.
Israel's
military said later that a misfired projectile launched by Palestinian
militants in Gaza had hit Shifa.
The
hospitals, filled with displaced people as well as patients and medical staff,
are in northern Gaza, where Israel says Hamas fighters are concentrated.
Israeli
government spokesperson Eylon Levy claimed the Hamas headquarters was in Shifa
hospital's basement, which meant the facility could lose its protected status
and become a legitimate target.
Israel
alleges that Hamas hides weapons in tunnels under hospitals. Charges Hamas
denies.
World
Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that
health workers the group was in contact with at Shifa had been forced to leave
the hospital in search of safety.
"Many
of the thousands sheltering at the hospital are forced to evacuate due to
security risks, while many still remain there," Tedros wrote on social
media.
'No one
is safe'
Gaza
health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said Israel had bombed Shifa hospital
buildings five times.
"One
Palestinian was killed and several were wounded in the early morning
attack," he said by phone. Videos verified by Reuters showed scenes of
panic and people covered in blood.
Israeli
tanks have taken up positions around the Nasser Rantissi hospital as well as
the Al-Quds hospital, medical staff said earlier.
The Palestinian
Red Cross said Israeli forces were shooting at Al-Quds hospital, and there were
violent clashes, with one person killed and 28 wounded, most of them children.
Israeli
army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said at a briefing the army
"does not fire on hospitals. If we see Hamas terrorists firing from
hospitals, we'll do what we need to do. We're aware of the sensitivity (of
hospitals), but again, if we see Hamas terrorists, we'll kill them."
Israel's
UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said Israel had created a taskforce to establish
hospitals in southern Gaza. On October 12, Israel ordered some 1.1 million
people in Gaza to move south ahead of its ground invasion.
Palestinian
officials said on Friday that 11,078 Gaza residents had been killed in air and
artillery strikes since October 7.
Israel's
Foreign Ministry said around 1,200 people had been killed in the Hamas attack
on October 7, a revision of the earlier death toll, although it added that
might change again once all the bodies are identified.
Israel
has also said 39 soldiers have been killed in combat since October 7.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2445865/israel-faces-pressure-over-gaza-deaths-as-fighting-rages-near-hospitals
-----
India
Back
humanitarian pauses, need to prevent spread of Gaza conflict: Indo-US statement
Shubhajit
Roy
November
11, 2023
S.
Jaishankar, rajnath singh, Antony Blinken, Lloyd J Austin, Hamas Israel
conflict, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza Palestine, Israel and Palestine, Israel
Palestine conflict, Israel Palestine relations, Israel-Palestine talks,
Palestine-Israel relations, India news, Indian express,US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, India's Foreign Minister
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh leave after
participating in a family photo as part of the so-called "2+2
Dialogue" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Sushma Swaraj Bhavan (SSB)
in New Delhi, India, November 10, 2023. REUTERS
As
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
hosted visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary
Lloyd J Austin for the Indo-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue, the two sides
discussed Friday China’s behaviour in the region, the contentious row between
India and Canada, the implications of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the
upcoming elections in Bangladesh – a range of issues on which Delhi and
Washington agree and disagree at many levels.
India
signed off on the joint statement expressing “support for humanitarian pauses”
in the Gaza war and to “prevent the conflict from spreading” in the Middle
East. Underlining that the two countries “stand with Israel against terrorism”,
the statement called for the release of people taken hostage by Hamas on
October 7.
There
were also conversations on bilateral defence cooperation, space as the next
area of collaboration, and semiconductors as the next growth area between India
and the US.
Blinken
and Austin also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on their
discussions, highlighting progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation,
including defence, semiconductors, emerging technology, space, health in the
follow-up to the PM’s State Visit to the US in June this year and the meeting
between Modi and President Joe Bident on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New
Delhi.
“PM
expressed satisfaction at the deepening cooperation in all areas and noted that
the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US is
anchored in democracy, pluralism and respect for rule of law,” a PMO statement
said.
“They
also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest,
including the ongoing developments in West Asia. They emphasised the need for
continued close coordination between India and the US on these issues. PM
conveyed warm greetings to President Biden and said that he looked forward to
continued exchanges with him,” it said.
At the
end of the 2+2 dialogue, Jaishankar described the talks as “substantive”. “Our
agenda covered advancing our strategic partnership, including elevating our
defence ties, moving forward in space & tech, future logistics cooperation
and people to people contacts,” he said in a post on X.
“Also
exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, South Asia, West Asia and Ukraine
conflict. Reaffirmed our commitment to our collaboration in the multilateral
arena and engaging the Global South,” he said.
In his
opening remarks at the beginning of the talks, Jaishankar said the dialogue was
an opportunity to advance the vision of Prime Minister Modi and President Biden
to build a forward-looking partnership and construct a shared global agenda.
Blinken
said the US and India have a robust partnership and both sides are deliberating
on matters with implications for the future.
“We are
bolstering the partnership in international peace, security and specifically
working to promote rules-based order, and uphold principles of sovereignty,
territorial integrity and independence. Our defence cooperation is a key pillar
of that work,” he said.
“We are
promoting a free and open, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific,
including by strengthening our partnership through the Quad with Japan and
Australia,” Blinken said.
Foreign
Secretary Vinay Kwatra, briefing reporters on the meeting, was upfront when he
said “China’s conduct and behaviour was discussed” during the meetings in a
“detailed manner”.
Asked
about the India-Canada row, Kwatra said, “As far as Canada is concerned, we
have been having very consistent conversations with all our friends and
partners… the thrust of conversation with our partners… is that we have core
security concerns, and I am sure you all are aware of the recent video that has
surfaced from one such individual which causes problems, which presents a very
serious security concern for the Indian interest and we have made our position
very, very clear to our friends and partners and I think they understand and
appreciate that, that sense of where India comes from.”
He was
referring to the calls for violence against India by a Khalistan separatist
based out of US and Canada.
On the
ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Foreign Secretary reiterated India’s position on
the conflict: “We have always stood for a two-state solution and early
resumption of dialogue. You are also aware, very early on, when the current
hostility started, India put out a tweet condemning the horrific terrorist
attacks on Israel on October 7. We have always advocated zero-tolerance for
terrorism.”
Besides,
he said, “there is also the angle of humanitarian assistance… India has already
sent about 38 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to the region to address this
humanitarian situation. We have asked for strict observance of international
humanitarian law, de-escalation of the situation and of course, also condemned
the civilian casualties, where they have occurred.”
The
joint statement expressed “support for humanitarian pauses” and underlined the
need to “prevent the conflict from spreading” in the Middle East.
“Noting
horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, the Ministers reiterated that India
and the United States stand with Israel against terrorism and called for
adherence to international humanitarian law, including with regard to the
protection of civilians. They called for the immediate release of all remaining
hostages,” the joint statement said.
“The
Ministers committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region on
humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians in
Gaza. They expressed support for humanitarian pauses and committed to continue
close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to
prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and
work toward a political solution and durable peace,” it stated.
On the
elections in Bangladesh which are due early next year, Kwatra said: “As far as
Bangladesh is concerned, we shared our perspective very, very clearly. It is
not our space to comment on the policy of a third country. I think when it
comes to developments in Bangladesh, elections in Bangladesh, it is their
domestic matter, it is for the people of Bangladesh to decide their future. As
a close friend and partner of Bangladesh, we respect the democratic processes
in Bangladesh, and will continue to support that country’s vision of a stable,
peaceful and a progressive nation that the people of that country seek for
themselves.” This is a clear backing of the Sheikh Hasina government in the
face of challenges like pro-Islamist groups and Opposition parties in
Bangladesh.
Rajnath
Singh said the India-US bilateral relationship has seen a growing interest of
strategic convergence and that defence remains one of the most important
pillars of the ties.
“In
spite of various emerging geopolitical challenges, we need to keep our focus on
important and long-term issues. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a
free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region,” Singh said.
“We look
forward to closely working with the US across the domains of defence for
capability building and for abiding partnerships which can address emerging
challenges,” he said.
Austin
said in the face of urgent global challenges, it is more important than ever
that the world’s two largest democracies exchange views, find common goals and
“deliver for our people”.
“We have
made impressive gains in building our major defence partnership over the past
year, and that will help us contribute even more together to the cause of peace
and stability,” he said.
“We are
integrating our industrial bases, strengthening our interoperability, and
sharing cutting-edge technology. The scope of our cooperation is vast. It
stretches from the seabed to space,” he said.
“The
strength of our partnership is rooted in the people-to-people ties that are the
heart of our long-standing friendship together. Our diplomats, entrepreneurs,
and students are expanding our partnership in new domains, including clean
energy, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors,” he said.
Austin
said the increasingly strong US-India ties “give us all hope for the future of
this partnership and for our common efforts toward a more secure world”.
Jaishankar
said both sides are exploring cooperation in domains such as critical technologies,
civil outer space and critical minerals even while consolidating engagement on
established areas.
Kwatra
highlighted the cooperation on “semiconductors”, which is “actually relatively
new” but “very promising and very extensive”.
On space
cooperation, the Foreign Secretary said a working group would be constituted.
The other area of partnership, he said, where discussions have taken place in
recent months is “our engagement on the human spaceflight programme for the
International Space Station”.
Source: indianexpress.com
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US Asks
India to Join Canada’s Probe, Both Jointly Express Support For Israel
Nov 10,
2023
Devirupa
Mitra
New
Delhi: Even as both countries reaffirmed their solidarity with Israel against
terrorism, the United States urged India to cooperate with Canada on its
investigation of the killing of a Sikh Canadian citizen, while New Delhi
asserted that it had “core security concerns” about separatist activities
during bilateral talks held on Friday (November 10).
The
fifth edition of the ‘2+2’ foreign and defence ministerial meeting was held on
Friday in the Indian capital, with US secretary of state Anthony Blinken and
secretary of defence Lloyd Austin heading the US delegation, while India was
represented by Union external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Union defence
minister Rajnath Singh.
For the
first time, there was no joint press conference addressed by all four ministers
after the end of the ‘2+2’ discussions. India’s foreign and defence secretaries
addressed the media, while Austin and Blinken had separate briefings with their
travelling media.
With
discussions ranging from China to South Asia and West Asia to Ukraine, the two
sides had a lot to talk about, besides the usual bilateral agenda of
strengthening cooperation in defence and a host of other sectors.
However,
it was particularly noteworthy that Blinken chose to directly address the
Canadian issue during a separate bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart
Jaishankar preceding the talks on Friday morning.
India’s
relations with Canada had nosedived after Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau publicly accused unnamed Indian government agents of being implicated
in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen described by India
as a Khalistani terrorist.
From the
beginning, the United States has consistently urged India to participate in the
Canadian investigation, a sentiment reiterated by Blinken during his visit to
New Delhi on Friday.
“As a
friend of both, we think it’s very important that India work with Canada on its
investigation, and that they find a way to resolve this difference in a
cooperative way,” he told reporters.
Following
a reciprocal expulsion of one diplomat each by Canada and India, an additional
41 Canadian diplomats departed when New Delhi insisted on downsizing Ottawa’s
diplomatic presence in the Indian capital.
India
had also stopped visa services for Canadian nationals, a restriction that was
partially lifted after approximately three weeks.
Canadian
officials said that the downsizing of their staff in India would increase the
overall visa processing time for Indian nationals. Photo: Krokodyl/CC BY-SA
3.0.
India’s
foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra reiterated that New Delhi remained concerned
about security implications from the threats made by Khalistani separatists
against Indian diplomats.
“We have
made our concerns very, very clear,” he told reporters on Friday. “We have core
security concerns and I am sure you are all aware of a recent video that has
surfaced from one such individual.”
Canadian
officials reportedly intercepted communications among Indian diplomats
suggesting India’s involvement in Nijjar’s death, but New Delhi has reiterated
that it has not received any evidence from Ottawa about the killing.
US
ambassador to Canada David Cohen had said that “shared information” from the
Five Eyes intelligence alliance had informed Trudeau’s decision to go public
with the allegations.
Incidentally,
the joint statement released following the conclusion of the discussions
emphasised the two nations’ shared commitment to “advance democracy, human
rights, and pluralism”.
Notably,
the phrase ‘human rights’ was included in this statement, distinguishing it
from the joint statement issued after the ‘2+2’ talks in 2022, which only
mentioned democracy and pluralism.
Barring the
differences over Canada, India and the US were upbeat that they had reached
strategic alignment on several crucial areas.
India
and the US are also working on deals for the former to buy armed drones made in
the US. Photo: United States Air Force/Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.
Using
blunt language, Singh asserted that both India and the United States were in
agreement when it came to addressing the challenges posed by China.
“We
increasingly find ourselves in agreement on strategic issues, including
countering China’s aggression, promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, and
addressing regional security challenges,” said Singh at the start of his
bilateral talks with Austin.
India is
currently in the midst of a military stand-off with China on the Line of Actual
Control that began in April-May 2020. While several of the friction points have
witnessed de-escalation, the two strategic areas of Depsang and Demchok
continue to show no sign of resolution.
Incidentally,
the United States has been actively pursuing a meeting between President Joe
Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco this month.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has decided to skip the summit despite a standing
invitation extended to him during Biden’s visit to India for the G-20 summit.
Speaking
with the media, US defence secretary Austin said that the talks did cover the
“threat posed by China”, but noted that entire dialogue was not spent just
discussing the Asian giant.
Along
with China, the joint statement on the ‘2+2’ talks demonstrated their similar
position on the Israel-Hamas war.
“Noting
horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, the ministers reiterated that India
and the United States stand with Israel against terrorism and called for
adherence to international humanitarian law, including with regard to the
protection of civilians,” said the bilateral document.
Also
Read: By Siding With Israel, India Is Jettisoning Decades of Middle East
Statesmanship
Calling
for the immediate release of all hostages, the joint statement further stated
that the two sides were committed to “continue coordinating with partners in
the region on humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Palestinian
civilians in Gaza”.
India
and the US reiterated their support for “humanitarian pauses”. This is a day
after Israel agreed to allow the halting of fighting for four hours every day.
“They
expressed support for humanitarian pauses and committed to continue close
diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent
the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work
toward a political solution and durable peace,” said the joint statement.
Immediately
after the October 7 attack by Hamas, Modi had expressed “solidarity” with
Israel.
However,
a week later, India had to balance Modi’s statement by reaffirming support for
the “Palestinian cause” and the two-state solution.
Despite
this, India abstained from a resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for
humanitarian pauses, arguing that it should also have condemned the October 7
attack that resulted in the death of 1,400 people.
Blinken
said that Israel’s action to allow for ‘humanitarian pauses’ was positive but
not enough.
“Much
more needs to be done to protect civilians and to make sure that humanitarian
assistance reaches them,” he told reporters in New Delhi on Friday, at the end
of his nine-day sojourn through the Middle East and Asia.
Gaza’s
health ministry has said that over 11,000 Palestinians were killed in Israeli
counter-strikes. Photo: Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in
contract with APAimages/Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0.
He
continued: “Far too many Palestinians have been killed, far too many have
suffered these past weeks, and we want to do everything possible to prevent
harm to them and to maximise the assistance that gets to them.”
According
to Gaza’s health ministry, the death toll among Palestinians in Israeli
counter-strikes has exceeded 11,000 people.
Absence
of Pakistan in the joint statement
Although
both nations expressed solidarity with Israel against terrorism, this year’s
joint statement notably omitted any mention of Pakistan or “cross-border”
terrorism, a departure from previous editions.
At the
inaugural ‘2+2’ joint statement in 2018, the four ministers had “called on
Pakistan to ensure that the territory under its control is not used to launch
terrorist attacks on other countries”.
It had
also denounced the use of “terrorist proxies in the region”.
Similarly,
the joint statements of the second, third and fourth ‘2+2’ ministerial
dialogues had explicitly named Pakistan and referred to the need to stop
“cross-border” terror attacks.
But
there is no mention of Pakistan in the 2023 joint statement. There is not even
an oblique reference to the South Asian country through the euphemistic term
‘cross-border’ terror.
In 2022,
the joint statement had talked about exchanging information about the
“cross-border movement of terrorists” in the same sentence about the need for
implementing sanctions against terror groups, countering violent radicalism and
use of the Internet for terrorist purposes.
Also
Read: Pakistan Is Stuck and India Is Stuck Next to It
This
year, the negotiated joint statement stated that the ministers “condemned
terrorism and violent extremism, and the use of terrorist proxies and
logistical, financial or military support to terrorist organisations, which
could be used to launch or plan terrorist attacks, including international
attacks”.
It
reiterated the need for justice for the 26/11 and Pathankot terror attacks, as
well as the need for action against UN proscribed terror groups “such as
Al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed”, but without
any explicit mention of Pakistan, for the first time since the start of the
ministerial-level dialogue.
Bangladesh
also featured in the India-US ministerial talks, highlighting the differing
approaches between India and the US in the lead-up to the general elections
there next year.
The
Bangladeshi opposition has threatened to boycott the elections if a caretaker
government is not established. The US has started to impose visa restrictions
on members of the ruling establishment for allegedly being complicit in
undermining free and fair elections.
Foreign
secretary Kwatra said that India shared its perspective on Bangladesh clearly.
“It is not our space to comment on the policy of a third country … the election
in Bangladesh is their internal matter and it is for the people of Bangladesh
to decide their future,” he stated.
Bangladesh’s
main opposition party, the BNP, has held large protests in recent months in the
country. Credit: Jubair Bin Iqbal/CC-BY-SA-4.0.
Disagreeing
with the American approach, the senior Indian diplomat added that as a “close
friend”, India “respect[s] the democratic process in Bangladesh and will
continue to support the country’s vision of a stable, peaceful and progressive
nation”.
A day
earlier, the spokesperson for the Indian external affairs ministry had declined
to censure the Bangladesh government for the arrest of senior opposition
leaders ahead of the polls.
Earlier
this week, an Awami League leader had threatened to “beat up” US ambassador to
Dhaka Peter Haas, which was criticised by the State department.
On the
defence front, Austin reiterated the importance of the co-production of an
armoured vehicle.
The two
countries also agreed to set up “new liaison positions to facilitate seamless
communication and cooperation between their armed forces”.
The
visitors called on Modi together on Friday evening, before departing from New
Delhi.\
Source: thewire.in
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Blinken
in India for talks on China, Israel
November
11, 2023
NEW
DELHI: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold talks late on Friday in
New Delhi seeking to bolster India as a regional counterweight to China and win
backing for its position on Israel´s war with Hamas.
Blinken
and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin will join foreign minister
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh for annual
“two-plus-two” talks India has said will focus on “defence and security
cooperation”.
Delhi is
part of the Quad alliance alongside the United States, Australia and Japan, a
grouping that positions itself as a bulwark against China´s growing
assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Washington
hopes a tighter defence relationship will help wean India off Russia, New
Delhi´s primary military supplier. “Our intention is to encourage more
collaboration to produce world-class defence equipment to meet Indian defence
needs and contribute to greater global security,” Donald Lu, the top US
diplomat for South and Central Asia, said ahead of the trip.
“The
Indian government was direct in its condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attack
and has also joined a chorus of nations, including the United States, that have
called for sustained humanitarian access to Gaza,” Lu said.
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi said he stood “in solidarity with Israel”, and last
month India airlifted aid to Egypt for Palestinian civilians from the besieged
Gaza Strip.
The
conflict in Gaza poses a major challenge to hopes of a key trade and transport
route linking Europe, the Middle East and India, unveiled during G20 talks in
Delhi in September. “With India, we share the goals of preventing this conflict
from spreading, preserving stability in the Middle East, and advancing a
two-state solution”, Lu added.
India
has a long-running border dispute with northern neighbour China, with a deadly
Himalayan clash in 2020 sending diplomatic relations into a deep freeze. Their
3,500-kilometre shared frontier remains a long-running source of tension.
“We will
be interested to hear how India´s discussions with China are going related to
border issues,” Lu said. “One of the many discussion points will be our
cooperation with India to keep the Indo-Pacific free, open, prosperous, and
secure,” he added.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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‘The
idea that Buddhism is a branch of Hinduism began in late 1800s’:
Writer-historian Douglas Ober
Uma
Chakravarti
Nov 10,
2023
I have
been studying the social dynamics of ancient Buddhism for decades now. This
religion has irrevocably shaped the shared history and social structures of
this subcontinent in ways we haven’t yet been able to fully grasp. In this
context, reading Douglas Ober’s Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in
Modern India, was a revelation. We often think that we have a more
straightforward understanding of the modern story of our world. Ober, whose
book was shortlisted for the 2023 Cundhill History Prize, busts these easy
assumptions and shows us how the Buddhist revival in India over the past two
hundred years has a much more complex history than we knew. I conducted this
interview with him over email:
Dust on
the Throne pursues a most unusual line of enquiry or so it seems to me as a
scholar of early Buddhism who was interested in its social dimensions,
including the origins of the Buddha’s followers, which is not a subject most
scholars are really interested in. You tell the story from the nineteenth
century onwards which is very valuable. How and why did you undertake this line
of inquiry during a time when interest in Buddhism in academic circles seems to
have declined in India?
There
wasn’t really a defining moment but I suppose it emerged out of two separate
but related developments. First, long before I started my PhD, I had spent a
lot of time in South Asia, mostly in Nepal, Bhutan, northern India, Pakistan,
Afghanistan, and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. In those days, I was quite
interested in Buddhist practice and history so I often sought out sites where
there were either Buddhist communities or traces of a Buddhist past. Those
experiences centred my understanding of Buddhism – seeing it as something that
was transnational, grounded in everyday lives, and connected deeply to the
past.
The
second development occurred when I started my PhD at the University of British
Columbia. It began as a project on the history of Tibetan refugees and
Himalayan Buddhists. But as I began digging deeper into that past, I realised
there was a large gap in the historical narrative, from the time that Buddhism
supposedly disappeared from India in the 12th to 14th centuries to its modern
revival with Ambedkar’s conversion in 1956 and the arrival of thousands of
Tibetan Buddhist refugees just three years later. I had read a lot about the
British discovery of Buddhism in colonial India but it seemed to me that
something was missing in that story.
Was the
“revival” of Buddhism a consequence of the search for what I might call an
oppositional imagination, another way of being, another way to shape the future
of India from the stultifying society it seemed to have become? Did your
research lead you to see the revival of Buddhism as a recognition of the search
for an alternative imagination?
Yes,
absolutely. The way in which Buddhism came to be re-imagined in the colonial
era was a stark contrast to the way that it had been remembered by previous
generations in India. After Buddhism’s decline, the memory of it was preserved
in oral traditions, manuscripts, and art, but so much of this memory was
conditioned by a kind of Brahmanical disdain, or at best ambiguity towards the
Buddhist past. While the influence of these Brahmanical views varied from
region to region and community to community, they coloured the views of many
people.
That
changed in the 19th century when Indians of all walks of life encountered the
Buddhist past through archaeological and textual sources. As Indians
re-discovered the lost grandeur of the Ashokan pillars, read little-known Buddhist
texts, and travelled to ancient Buddhist sites like Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar –
where Buddhists from across the globe were also beginning to once again
congregate – they began scrutinising the past and what they had been taught
about it. It reminded people that time is not linear, but instead a fluid
continuum, where the past, present, and future coexist. As all of this unfolded
– and as it continues to for many people today – it sparked new imaginations of
the past.
Your
first chapter opens with the re-discovery of the Vajrasuci, the Buddhist
polemical text on caste which is a strong critique of the Brahmanical position
on caste hierarchy. The insistence of the Brahmin, translation-collaborator
Subajee Bapu that his rebuttal of the Vajrasuci must accompany the text
indicates clearly that Brahmins knew of the dangers of publishing this text and
how it would lead to debates on caste in the future. Yet the elites who were
very invested in treating Buddhism and Hinduism as one came to dominate the
public imagination, especially in the writings of S Radhakrishnan, Annie
Besant, and luminaries of the Buddhism revival project including the radical
Anagarika Dharmapala. Did all this come as a surprise to you during your
research process?
So much
surprised me in researching this book. I had not anticipated the ways figures
like Radhakrishnan, Besant, Gandhi, and others appropriated Buddhism. For
Dharmapala, it’s unclear what he really felt about the relationship between
Hinduism and Buddhism. His goal was to gain Buddhist control over the Maha
Bodhi Temple complex and he played the political winds as he saw fit,
presenting a different Buddhism for almost every constituency. Sometimes he
argued Buddhism was a part of Hinduism. On other occasions, he argued the opposite.
But from an early period, he threw his hat in with Hindu elites (mostly
Bengalis) as he was convinced that their growing enthusiasm for the Buddha
would lead to a common cause. This enabled Dharmapala’s Maha Bodhi Society to
gain recognition and support from many of the country’s nationalist elite but
it also alienated the growing masses of oppressed castes that would eventually
gather around leaders like Iyothee Thass or Ambedkar.
Vice
President S Radhakrishnan (left) with Buddhist relics at the New Delhi Buddha
vihara, 1956. Radhakrishnan was among those who peddled the view that Buddhism
was a subset of Hinduism. | Image credit: Navayana.
Did you
find that the re-discovery of Buddhism also consciously becomes the mythos of
the reforming strand of Indian elites’ claim for a modernising impulse and
thereby a claim about the greatness of India’s past?
Yes,
many Indian elites saw Buddhism as a system of ethics and morality that could
help usher India into the modern era. It was envisioned as an important part of
India’s civilisational heritage that needed to be recovered. All nations need a
past, and as the modern Indian nation began to take a more cohesive form, many
elites were quite proud to call the Buddha their own. He was, in their view,
the first great ethicist and someone whose teachings were more philosophy than
religion, more science than dogma. They were proud of the fact that an Indian
dharma had so profoundly shaped the history of Asia. There were some important
exceptions to this though. The reform-minded Arya Samaj, for instance, was
fervently anti-Buddhist in its first several decades and only in the early
1900s did it begin to soften its position and begin speaking of it as part of a
glorious Indian past. The All-India Hindu Mahasabha, which included both
Sanatan and reform-minded Hindus, was equally ambivalent about Buddhist ethics
but it had no problem claiming the Buddha as a Hindu reformer.
How
significant do you believe were the archaeological findings of the colonial
government in the “re”discovery of Buddhism in the 19th century?
Their
importance can hardly be overestimated. I think that too much emphasis has
often been placed on the textual reconstruction of Buddhism undertaken by
pandits and Orientalists. This is not to say that it was insignificant but in
an era in which empiricism reigned, there was a real scholarly deference for
the geographical sites where the Buddha was believed to have walked himself.
Literary traditions spoke of these sites but it was archaeology and its related
fields that lent a tangible ground to the events, locales and memories
contained in these traditions. This is what gave archaeology its prestige, for
without it, myth and history can be difficult to separate. Just as importantly,
archaeology rooted Buddhism in the landscape, marking the territory of the
modern nation as synonymous with the karmabhoomi of the Buddha. We all know how
critical land and territory is to nation-states and this helped cement
Buddhism’s place in the nation.
One of
the most fascinating parts of your book is the section that explores the
provincial, almost subaltern, interest in Buddhism and its revival among
figures like Mahavir Singh, the akhara wrestler from Bihar who becomes a huge
champion of the revival of Buddhism. Mahavir’s investment in the revival of
Buddhism adds an unknown dimension to this history. How did you find Mahavir
and what do Indian elites need to take away from this account in your book?
What drew these homegrown characters to be drawn to the seductive power of the
Buddha and to throw themselves into the project of its revival?
Mahavir
Singh is an intriguing character and his full story is yet to be told. There
are several short biographies of him in Hindi but there are also competing
accounts in Burmese, especially among the Rakhine, who claim him as a
Maramagyi/Barua. He also appears in the diaries of Dharmapala and in the travel
memoirs of Dharmanand Kosambi and Rahul Sankrityayan, as well as in multiple
archaeological survey reports and in (at least) a few Bengali-language sources.
Basically, he was everywhere, but in official history, he is nowhere.
There
were many individuals like him who have essentially been erased. Part of this
stems from the simple fact that he didn’t leave his own written record. History
privileges the written word so he just disappears. But it’s also a shortcoming
of the Anglo-centric nature of so much scholarship on Buddhist modernities.
Studies of a more “vernacular” Buddhism are badly needed. When we miss someone
like Mahavir, we miss a key thread in the re-establishment of Buddhism in
India. Not only was Mahavir’s Buddhism a product of a regimented, monastic
world in Sri Lanka and Burma – and not of Orientalist scholarship – but he also
holds a major place in modern Buddhist history. After all, his primary disciple
was U Chandramani (1875-1972), the Arakanese-Burmese bhikkhu who presided over
Ambedkar’s conversion in Nagpur in October 1956. That alone is something worth
investigating.
Mahavir
Singh, the wrestler who became a bhikkhu. | Image credits: Navayana.
Another
riveting part of your book is an account of explicit tensions between the
revivalist and reformist groups in southern India, Sri Lanka, the Theosophical
Society, and the Maha Bodhi Society. Given the emergence of radical “low” caste
groups in Tamil Nadu, how do you see the carefully crafted position that
Buddhism and Brahmanism were not opposed to each other successfully emerging in
the 19th century?
It’s a
complicated narrative to be sure. As I already mentioned, I think Dharmapala’s
position in the Maha Bodhi Society was one where he aligned himself with the
Bengali bhadralok in the hopes that they would support his cause to reclaim the
Maha Bodhi Temple. As a result, he distanced himself from figures like Thass
and the Shakya Buddhist Society because their anti-caste commitments were too
threatening to his core constituency and patrons. The feeling was mutual and
Thass publicly lambasted the Maha Bodhi Society in Tamil for its casteism.
Henry Olcott was more eager to spread Buddhism in southern India among
so-called low caste groups. We should remember that Olcott had arranged for
Thass and his companions to travel to Ceylon to take deeksha with the Sinhalese
master, Hikkaduve Sumangala.
But
Olcott’s role as President of the Theosophical Society also created challenges
since officially, he was forbidden from proselytisation of that sort and he had
to carefully navigate the complex social terrain. Of course, by this time
Olcott and Dharmapala had already had their falling out and after Olcott died
in 1907, the Theosophical Society’s propagation of Buddhism took a backseat
under the influence of Annie Besant. Besant had no interest in Buddhism and she
had many terrible things to say about the Depressed Classes, even arguing that
they needed to be controlled and forced to do labour. As all of this unfolded,
the Maha Bodhi Society began to work more closely with the Hindu right although
there always remained anti-caste radicals within the organisation who were
deeply critical of these relationships.
There’s
a missing element in this story of revival, which is the presence of women in
the revivalist project. Given that rich women /widows in Calcutta-funded
temples sometimes outbid the men, their absence from the revivalist project is
striking. Is this because there were no women, rich or otherwise, in this
project? Or have we failed to find them? Given the manner in which Sujata is
retrieved in Bengali literature or that Tagore wrote Chandalika on the low
caste woman converted by Ananda to become a bhikkhuni, this is lacunae in our
retrieval of Buddhism. I know from anecdotal evidence that Therigatha was being
read by a self-taught woman in the salt pans in Tamil Nadu in the early 1940s.
Is there a missing story here?
This is
the missing story and as I state in the book, what I’ve produced is in many
ways yet another male history of Buddhism. There were women but in the archives
that I explored, they rarely appear, except as subjects being described and
defined by men. We know from Bengali, Malayalam, and Tamil records that women
were active in many of these movements but in my own research, I was unable to
discover more about them. I think this would be a great project for someone to
undertake.
Ambedkar
and his wife Savita being administered the Three Refuges and Five Precepts by
Bhikkhu U Chandramani during the historic mass conversion ceremony in Nagpur,
14 October 1956. Ambedkar (to the right), Savita (far right), Chandramani
(seated, far left), and Devapriya Valisinha (to Chandramani’s left). | Image
credit: Navayana.
The last
part of the book dwells on an important dimension of the collapsing of Buddhism
into Hinduism as a project that seems to succeed thanks to the power of capital
of Hindu/Marwari businessmen, such as the Birlas whose spree of temple-building
places the Buddha next to Vishnu/Laxmi Narayana. How successful was this
venture?
I think
it was immensely successful. You would know better than me but in my own
experiences travelling in India over the past twenty-plus years or in
conversation with Hindus from across the globe – of all walks, liberals,
conservatives, orthodox, secularists – I regularly encounter the argument that
the Buddha was born, lived, and died a Hindu and that Buddhism is just a branch
of Hinduism. You just don’t come across that idea until the late 1800s and only
with more regular frequency after the Birlas and the Hindu Maha Sabha get
involved. Of course, the Birlas can’t take all the credit for this.
There
were also Vivekananda, Radhakrishnan, Gandhi, and numerous other public figures
who built up this argument. But the Buddhist temple-building activities of the
Birlas certainly illustrate the wider dynamics at play. Like the dozens of
other temples they built, they aimed to re-envision the subcontinent’s past as
part of a singular Hindu landscape. Their own engagement with Buddhists and
Buddhist history effectively remapped the legacy of the Buddha within a Hindu
nationalist vision of India.
The most
dramatic response to this collapsing of Buddhism into Brahmanism comes with
Ambedkar whose public declarations cannot reconcile the opposing imaginations
of the two when he states publicly that though born a Hindu, he will not die as
a Hindu and then leads a massive conversion ceremony. In a sense we come full
circle: Subajee Bapu’s polemic against the Vajrasuci failed to retain
Brahmanism sections of the Indian population who were victims of caste
inequality and who chose to follow Ambedkar’s interpretation of the meaning of
Buddhism. In this context, what is the legacy of Buddhism in India as we enter
a new millennium?
I think
history shows that Buddhism resonates with people for very different reasons.
At its centre is the fact that despite being centred on fundamental human
experiences – suffering the origin of suffering, and the eradication of
suffering – Buddhist teachings have been profoundly adaptable in disparate
social, cultural, and even individual settings. This has given it a wide appeal
but it also makes it incredibly difficult to generalise about its
2,500-year-old legacy. It has many variations and many strands, not all of
which connect to its modern-day re-envisioning. Just like its modern revival,
it was never a singular monolithic movement.
Source: scroll.in
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Supreme
Court Criticizes Uttar Pradesh Government's Handling Of Muslim Boy Slapping
Case
10 NOV
2023
The
Supreme Court, dissatisfied with the Uttar Pradesh government's failure to
comply with its directives, rebuked the state on Friday in connection to the
incident involving a Muslim boy and his classmates. The students were allegedly
prompted by their teacher to slap the boy for not completing his homework, with
additional accusations of communal slurs against the victim, PTI reported.
Highlighting
the "total non-compliance" by the state government, Justices Abhay S
Oka and Pankaj Mithal directed the principal secretary of the state's school
education department to virtually attend the next hearing to avoid potential
strong actions by the court.
In
response to the lack of proper counseling, the Supreme Court appointed the Tata
Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, to recommend suitable methods for
counseling the child and his classmates involved in the incident. Expressing
dismay at the state government's approach, the court emphasized the need for
effective counseling and tasked TISS with suggesting expert child counselors in
the state to oversee the process.
Expressing
disappointment in the state government's affidavits regarding counseling
efforts, the court mandated the submission of a report by TISS before December
11, the next hearing date. The apex court directed the UP government to provide
necessary support to TISS and urged the Principal Secretary of the Education
Department to personally ensure compliance.
The
Muzaffarnagar Police had previously registered a case against the teacher for
alleged communal remarks and instigating physical harm against the Muslim boy,
leading to a notice being served to the school by the state's education
department.
In
response to a video showing the teacher instructing students to slap the Class
2 boy and making communal remarks, the court had previously directed the Uttar
Pradesh government to facilitate the boy's admission to a private school. The
case was brought before the court through a plea filed by Tushar Gandhi,
Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, seeking a prompt investigation.
The
court had earlier instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to promptly decide on
granting sanction to prosecute the school teacher and acknowledged the severe
trauma experienced by the victim. Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj was
directed to explore the availability of expert agencies like NIMHANS and TISS
for counseling purposes in the victim's village.
Source: outlookindia.com
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'Jai
Siya Ram' Finest Example Of Love And Unity: Javed Akhtar
November 11, 2023
Mumbai:
Veteran Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar, who is known for his outspoken views
on religion and politics, on Friday said 'Jai Siya Ram' is the "finest
example" of love and unity. Mr Akhtar also added that Lord Ram and Sita
are the "ideal" husband and wife.
Mr
Akhtar's remarks came at a Deepotsav event organised by Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in Mumbai.
"There
are many deities, but when we talk about the ideal husband and ideal wife, Ram
and Sita come to mind... 'Jai Siya Ram' is the finest example of love and
unity," Mr Akhtar said.
He also
stressed the cultural importance of Hinduism and raised concerns about the
dwindling freedom of expression.
"There
are some people who have always been intolerant. Hindus are not like that. Their
specialty is that they are generous and large-hearted. This is Hindu culture,
this is civilisation. It has taught us democratic attitudes. That's why there
is democracy in this country. Thinking that we are right and everyone else is
wrong is not the work of Hindus. Whoever taught you this is wrong," Mr
Akhtar said.
The
lyricist added that Lord Ram and Sita are not only Hindu gods and goddesses but
the cultural heritage of India.
Source: ndtv.com
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North America
If you
kill children in Gaza, you create more Hamas members: Musk
November
11, 2023
WASHINGTON:
In a YouTube podcast interview, Elon Musk has finally spoken about the
Israel-Hamas war.“How do you hope the current war in Israel and Gaza comes to
an end? What path do you see that can minimise human suffering in the long term
in that part of the world?” Podcaster Lex Fridman asked Elon Musk in a YouTube
interview video.
Musk
responded by saying that there is no easy answer but if you create more Hamas
members than you kill you’ve not succeeded. It’s safe to say that if you kill
somebody’s child in Gaza, you’ve made at least a few Hamas members.
“The
goal of Hamas was to provoke a reaction from Israel,” said Musk. “They wanted
to commit the worst atrocities that they could in order to provoke the most
aggressive response possible from Israel,” he added.
Musk
says the thing that should have been done is that Israel engages in the most
conspicuous acts of kindness possible. “That is the actual thing that will
thwart the call of Hamas”, believes Musk.
The
interviewer asks him if this is a turn-the-other-cheek philosophy that Musk has,
but he says that it is “appropriate” for Israel to find the Hamas members and
either kill them or incarcerate them.
“That’s
something that has to be done because they will keep coming otherwise,” he
said. But he adds that Israel needs to do whatever it can to provide mobile
hospitals and make sure that there is food, water, and medical necessities, and
all these amenities should be provided in a very transparent manner so it can
not be seen as a trick. Israel must show “conspicuous acts of kindness,” Musk
says.
Musk
adds that Israel really believes in the “whole eye-to-eye thing” but “if you
are not going to just outright commit a genocide, which will and should
obviously not be acceptable by anyone, then you are going to leave a lot of
people alive who subsequently hate Israel”.
Then he
goes on to ask, “The real question is, for every Hamas member you kill, how
many did you create? And if you create more than you kill, you’ve not
succeeded”. He goes on to say, “And it is safe to say that if you kill somebody’s
child in Gaza, you have made at least a few Hamas members who will die just to
kill an Israeli.”
Coming
back to the question of achieving long-term peace, Musk says, “One has to look
at this from the standpoint of a time when there are more or fewer terrorists
being created”.
This is
not the first time Musk has spoken in favour of Gaza. Last month, Musk
announced that SpaceX’s Starlink would provide communication support in Gaza
for “internationally recognised aid organisations.” This announcement led
Israel’s communication minister to declare opposition to the initiative.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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No
chance Biden gets votes from Muslims after Gaza ‘genocide’: Council on
American-Islamic Relations chief
November
10, 2023
WASHINGTON
: US President Joe Biden has “ignored our people” during the ongoing Gaza
crisis and “we’re going to ignore him” in next year’s presidential election,
the head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has said.
“We told
him directly, in our personal capacities, that if you do not call for an
immediate cease-fire, you will not get our votes in 2024,” Nihad Awad, CAIR’s
executive director and co-founder, told Anadolu in a video interview.
“There’s
no possibility for us to vote for him or give him any support.”
Awad’s
remarks came shortly after Biden, responding to a question as he departed for a
trip to the state of Illinois, said there is “no possibility” of a cease-fire
in the Gaza Strip, where relentless Israeli attacks have now killed nearly
11,000 Palestinians, including more than 7,300 children and women.
“The
Biden administration, in our view, has been betraying American Muslim voters
and the pro-Palestine movement, who were promised that he would center human
rights in his policies, both domestic and foreign,” Awad said.
“What we
see is a total violation of human rights, dignity and equality for people
abroad, especially for Palestinians.”
He said
when people voted for Biden, they were expecting to see a leader who would
bring “peace, tranquility and justice for all people.”
“What we
see from him is completely one-sided support for the state of Israel,” he said,
accusing the administration of giving a “green light” to Israel’s atrocities
against Palestinians with “American-supplied weapons, American taxpayers’
dollars, and American political support.”
On a
meeting at the White House between senior officials and representatives of
Muslim and Palestinian American groups, he said major Muslim or Palestinian
organizations were not invited.
Awad
said he spoke to some of the individuals who were part of the discussions,
describing the meeting as a “disappointment.”
Biden
‘partnering’ in genocide against Palestinians
There
has been a “rampant surge” of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim
political rhetoric, as well as “dehumanization” of Palestinians and Muslims in
the US, according to Awad.
“That
led to a huge number and spike in attacks against American Muslims, acts of
discrimination, bullying, censorship and hate crimes,” he said, citing the
brutal murder of Wadea Al Fayoume, a six-year-old Palestinian boy who was
stabbed 26 times in Chicago.
He said
this “unprecedented” situation is “due to this administration’s policy that’s
fueling Islamophobia.”
“Not
calling for a cease-fire is a continuation of dehumanizing Palestinians and
Muslims and those who support them in the US,” said Awad.
He
stressed that American Muslims, Arab Americans and Palestinians are “very
frustrated with this administration.”
“It’s a
shameful experience to see this president … not only being complicit in the
atrocities, but partnering in the atrocities and genocide against the
Palestinian people,” he added.
He
pointed out that Biden’s “numbers and favorability rate is dropping seriously
and severely.”
“Now he
feels that he is going to, if this continues, to lose the elections, and his
party is going to lose the election in 2024,” said Awad.
“He
ignored our people and we’re going to ignore him in the elections. No money and
no votes for Biden or the Democratic Party.”
Support
from Jewish Americans
Awad
said many Jewish partners and colleagues have been joining pro-Palestine
demonstrations in the US, including protests outside the Congress and White
House.
“They
have been participating in civil disobedience actions, protests, disrupting
hearings in the Congress and the US Senate because they believe that Israel does
not represent them,” he said.
They
also believe that the US is “a partner with the state of Israel in committing
war crimes against the Palestinians,” he said.
“We
cherish these people and their number is growing,” he added. — AA
Source: muslimmirror.com
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Biden
administration privately warned by American diplomats of growing fury against
US in Arab world
November
10, 2023
WASHINGTON
— The Biden administration has received stark warnings from American diplomats
in the Arab world that its strong support for Israel’s destructive and deadly
military campaign in Gaza “is losing us Arab publics for a generation,”
according to a diplomatic cable obtained by CNN.
The
cable underscores profound concern among American officials about the growing
anger against the United States that erupted soon after Israel launched its
operations against Hamas, following the militant group’s attacks in Israel on
October 7 that left over 1,400 Israelis dead.
“We are
losing badly on the messaging battlespace,” reads a Wednesday cable from the US
Embassy in Oman, citing conversations with “a wide range of trusted and
sober-minded contacts.”
The
robust US support for Israel’s actions is being seen, the cable warns, “as
material and moral culpability in what they consider to be possible war
crimes.”
The
cable from the embassy was written by the second-highest US official in Muscat
and sent to, among others, the White House’s National Security Council, the CIA
and the FBI. While it’s just one cable from a regional embassy, it provides a
private snapshot of the alarm over the growing anti-US wave sweeping the Middle
East.
Another
cable obtained by CNN from the American embassy in Cairo relayed back to
Washington the commentary in a state-run Egyptian newspaper that “President
Biden’s cruelty and disregard for Palestinians exceeded all previous US
presidents.”
President
Joe Biden has been under growing pressure domestically and abroad over US
support of Israel amid images of destruction in Gaza and the dire humanitarian
crisis in the region. While the administration has resisted calls for a
ceasefire, officials have worked to ramp up aid going into Gaza and pushed for
humanitarian pauses to allow more assistance to flow into the enclave and to
allow civilians to flee away from the fighting.
In
recent days, US allies in the Arab world have made clear their deep anger at
the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Last
weekend, Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a summit convened by the
Jordanian foreign minister that was attended by the top diplomats from Egypt,
Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the secretary
general of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
At the
summit, the Arab leaders called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza while
Blinken reiterated US opposition, arguing that it would give Hamas time to regroup
and launch another attack on Israel.
The
White House said Thursday that Israel had agreed to move forward with daily
four-hour pauses of military operations in areas of Northern Gaza.
Blinken
had an agreement in principle on the pauses after his meetings in Israel last
week, even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came out against the idea
of humanitarian pauses on Friday, US officials told CNN. That was seen as the
Israeli prime minister playing to his coalition, and the officials noted it was
similar to when the Israeli government opposed humanitarian aid getting into
Gaza before deciding to allow it.
Although
Israel had already been instituting such pauses, American officials see this
agreement as progress because the Israelis are using the language of “pauses,”
which is something the US believes it can build on.
Still,
within the administration, concerns have grown over US support for Israel.
CNN
previously reported that some senior officials privately say there are aspects
of Israel’s military operations they simply cannot stomach defending; calls for
the US to back a ceasefire are growing among government employees; and others
are distraught by the incessant images of Palestinian civilians being killed by
Israeli airstrikes.
Biden
has also been confronted by the frustration growing domestically.
The
president was confronted by a protester calling for a ceasefire at a private
fundraiser last week; pro-Palestinian protests have been a daily occurrence
near the White House compound; and this week, one of the entrances near the
West Wing was covered in bright-red handprints – meant to mimic blood – and
words like “genocide Joe.” — CNN
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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Why
Israel-Palestine war is a setback for economic corridor connecting India to
Europe
November
11, 2023
WASHINGTON:
On September 10, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan,
Israel and the European Union signed an agreement to develop an economic
corridor connecting India with Europe through the Middle East. The deal
co-authored by the United States and India was clinched on the sidelines of the
G20 Summit in New Delhi.Not short on ambition, the economic corridor, once up
and running, promises to be a force multiplier in a region which - excluding
Europe – accounts for the fastest-growing economies in the world, which also
have the most fractious geographies.
The
corridor’s promise to help resolve historic wrinkles in relations between key
countries of the Middle East suffered a rude jolt on October 7 when Hamas, the
militant organisation governing Gaza, launched a deadly attack on Israel.
While
this casts a shadow over the region as a whole and this project in particular,
India is holding up its end of the bargain by announcing the rollout of
investments related to the so-called India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor
(IMEEC).
The
IMEEC is a futuristic plan that is overflowing with ambition, particularly in
its effort to overcome conventional fault lines in the region. It proposes to
connect India to the UAE by sea. From Jebel Ali, where goods sent from India
arrive, they will be transported by rail to Haifa, Israel. Thereafter, the
goods will be transported by sea to Europe. Strategically the corridor opens up
an alternative to the route using the Suez Canal and, by some assessments,
could make trade between India and Europe 40 percent faster.
This
idea did not emerge in a vacuum. It was preceded by efforts to create an
architecture that will make it more amenable to implementation. The Abraham
Accords, a series of US-brokered agreements seeking to normalize several Arab
nations’ relationships with Israel, are a key element of making the IMEEC
viable.
The
Abraham Accords made possible the establishment of the I2U2 grouping of India,
Israel, UAE and the United States. The group aims to create a synergy between
member countries to jointly address global challenges, especially with respect
to fostering investments in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and
food security.
Separately,
over the last decade India has stepped up efforts to restore its historic
relationship with the Middle East, which is home to millions of Indian
expatriates. To make up for the diplomatic neglect, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi visited the UAE in 2015 – the first trip by an Indian PM in 34 years – and
has since become a regular visitor to the region.
This, in
turn, paved the way for a new turn in their relationship, culminating in the
India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. India is exploring
similar deals with other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia.
The
IMEEC builds on the new diplomatic buzzword, friendshoring – a trade practice
wherein supply chain networks are strung across countries considered to be
political and economic allies.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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US think
tank shows generation gap in opinions toward Israel
November
11, 2023
WASHINGTON:
Nearly a month into the war that began with the Hamas invasion of Israel,
overall public opinion in favor of the United States’ support of Israel remains
strong. But as recent demonstrations on college campuses around the country
indicate, there is a generational divide, according to the Brookings
Institution, a US think tank.
Even
before the Hamas invasion, there were distinct generational differences in
Americans’ attitudes towards Israel. These differences are mirrored by
divergences between older and younger Jewish Americans. There are signs that
these gaps have widened since the current conflict began.
As the
following polling from 2022 shows, older Americans have more favorable
attitudes towards Israel than younger ones. A 2022 Pew survey found that 55% of
Americans had a favorable view of Israel, while 41% had an unfavorable view.
But a breakdown of these results reveals key generational and partisan
differences. For example, only 41% of those aged 18-29 had a favorable view of
Israel, compared to 69% of those aged 65 or older. Among those aged 30-49, 49%
held a favorable view of Israel, and among 50–64-year old’s, 60% held a
favorable view. Moreover, 71% of Republicans hold a favorable view of Israel,
compared to only 44% of Democrats. In March of 2023, Gallup found that
Democratic sympathies in the Middle East now lie more with the Palestinians
than the Israelis, 49% versus 38%. There was a clear generational gap. Israel
saw a net positive sympathy level of +46% among baby boomers (born 1946-1964),
and +32% among Generation X (born 1965-1979). However, there was a massive
drop-off among millennials (born 1980-2000) where net sympathy for Israel
versus Palestinians was -2%.
In 2022,
Pew found that among U.S. adults, opinions of the Israeli and Palestinian
people scored significantly higher than the opinions of their governments. For
example, a majority of those polled (52%) held a positive opinion of the
Palestinian people, while only 28% held a positive opinion of the Palestinian
government. A similar gap in support was seen for Israel as well with 67%
holding a positive opinion of the Israeli people and 48% feeling the same way
about their government. Here as with other questions, generational differences
were significant. Sixty-one percent of those aged 18-29 held a positive view of
the Palestinian people, compared to 56% who were favorable towards the Israeli
people. Among 30–49-year old’s, 65% felt favorable towards the Israeli people,
compared to 55% towards the Palestinians. Among 50–64-year-olds, 68% felt
positively about the Israeli people, and 45% felt positively about the
Palestinian people. Finally, among the oldest demographic, those 65 and older,
78%, felt positively about the Israeli people, compared to 47% in that
demographic feeling favorably towards the Palestinians.
Among
those aged 18-29, 11% said they viewed the Israeli people favorably and the
Palestinians unfavorably, compared to 17% who viewed the Israeli people
unfavorably and the Palestinian people favorably. By contrast, among those in
the 65+ demographic, 37% feel favorably towards the Israelis and not the
Palestinians, while only 6% express the opposite sentiment. Pew’s findings from
2020 among U.S. Jews continue the pattern seen from overall U.S. polling.
Sixty-seven percent of U.S. Jews aged 65 or older said they felt “very/somewhat
attached to Israel,” compared to only 48% of those aged 18-29 who felt such a
connection. A survey commissioned by the Jewish Electorate Institute, a group
led by prominent Jewish Democrats, found that 34% of Jewish respondents agreed
that “Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is similar to racism in the United
States,” 25% agreed that “Israel is an apartheid state,” and 22% agreed that
“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.” When broken down by
age, 43% under 40 agreed that “Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is similar to
racism in the United States,” among 40-to-64-year old’s 32% agreed with the
statement, and among those over 64, 27% agreed. When prompted with the
statement “Israel is an apartheid state,” 38% under 40 agreed, compared to 23%
of those 40-64, and 13% of those over 64. Finally, the statement “Israel is
committing genocide against the Palestinians” resulted in 33% of those under 40
agreeing, in contrast to 18% of those aged 40-64, and 15% of those over 64.
Additionally, the poll found that 9% of Jewish voters agreed with the
statement, “Israel doesn’t have a right to exist.” Among voters under 40, that
proportion was higher with 20% agreeing. The JTA survey found that 61% of
Jewish voters want a Jewish State of Israel alongside an independent
Palestinian State, and the remaining two-in five are evenly split between a
one-state solution (20 percent) and annexation (19 percent). Interestingly, 62%
of Jewish voters support the U.S. sending aid to the Palestinian people while
only 28% oppose it, apparently demonstrating widespread acknowledgement of the
plight of many Palestinian civilians.
Given
this background, how might these findings change as the war progresses? A
NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll of 1,000 registered voters was conducted on
Oct. 23 and 24, just over two weeks after the Hamas invasion. It found that
nearly half of Americans have more sympathy for Israel compared to just under
10% who felt more sympathy for the Palestinians. However, the picture is less
clear when looked once more at the age gap. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted
between Oct. 21 and 24 demonstrates this. Somewhat more people in the youngest
group, aged 18-29 sympathize with the Palestinians than with the Israelis
(28%-20%), far different than among those 65 and over who support the Israelis
by a margin of 65% to 6%. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist National poll from October
11 had similar findings. Only 48% of Millennial and Gen Z’ers said the U.S.
government should support Israel, compared to 83% of baby boomers and 86% from
the Silent and Greatest Generations. In a recent poll, Quinnipiac University
found while Americans 65 and older support sending more military aid to Israel
by a margin of 46 points (69 to 23%), younger Americans are almost as strongly
opposed, with only 29% in favor and 65% opposed. Similarly, Republicans support
aid by a margin of 35 points (65 to 30%) while Democrats do so by only 6 points
(49 to 43%). The Quinnipiac poll found that 84% of the public — from young to
old and from Democrats to Independents and Republicans — fears that the United
States will be drawn into a war in the Middle East. It remains to be seen how
this concern will find political expression if the conflict continues for more
than a few more weeks. While some younger Americans are increasingly aware of
the hardships that many Palestinians have had to endure, others are echoing
long-standing anti-colonial narratives popular on the far left and calling, as
does Hamas, for the outright destruction of Israel. At the same time, some
young Jewish Americans feel distant from the story of Israel’s founding and the
Jewish struggle to gain the recognition of a homeland, while also having to
cope with a historic explosion of anti-Semitism
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Columbia
University suspends groups protesting Israel-Hamas war
Nov 11, 2023
A
prestigious US university said Friday it suspended two student groups that
organized protests on the Israel-Hamas war that "included threatening
rhetoric and intimidation."
Gerald
Rosberg, Columbia University's chair of the special committee on campus safety,
said Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace would be
suspended throughout the fall semester.
"This
decision was made after the two groups repeatedly violated University policies
related to holding campus events, culminating in an unauthorized event Thursday
afternoon that proceeded despite warnings and included threatening rhetoric and
intimidation," he said in a statement.
Rosberg
said the suspension would only be lifted if the two groups showed they were
willing to comply with campus regulations.
"This
ensures both the safety of our community and that core University activities
can be conducted without disruption" during what Rosberg described as
"charged time," with protests in the United States -- including some
involving college students -- having turned violent.
Hundreds
of Columbia students had walked out of lectures on Thursday, US media reported,
to attend a protest organized by the two groups in which they called on
Washington to push for a ceasefire in Israel's assault on the Palestinian
militant group Hamas, which launched a deadly cross-border raid on Israel on
October 7, killing some 1,200 people.
The
Israeli operation to destroy Hamas has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians,
according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry.
Some
media reports said students at the Thursday protest called for the school to
label Israel's assault on Gaza a "genocide," and demanded the
university boycott and divest from Israeli institutions.
The
Middle East conflict has seen young Americans taking sides on the issue, and
groups including Israeli universities and US Republicans have accused many US
campuses of becoming hotbeds of anti-Semitism.
At
Harvard, Stanford and New York University, bitter clashes involving students,
professors and administrators have blown up into viral debates on social media
and charges of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and threats to free speech.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/israel-hamas-war/news/gaza-spotlight-arab-muslim-blocs-meet-saudi-3466886
-----
Santa
Clara County Authorities Release Suspect and Vehicle Description in Stanford
Hit-and-Run of Muslim Student
10
NOVEMBER 2023
After a
Muslim student was injured in a hit-and-run on the Stanford campus last Friday,
the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office has released a suspect sketch and a
vehicle description in the incident they’re calling a hate crime.
We
learned last weekend that a Muslim student of Syrian descent was injured in an
apparent targeted hit-and-run at at Campus Drive and Ayrshire Farm Lane last
Friday afternoon, with the driver yelling “Fuck you and your people” as he fled
the scene. A late Thursday night report from KGO identified the victim as
Abdulwahab Omira. That report picked up a Thursday statement from the Santa
Clara County Sheriff’s Office calling the incident “a hate crime,” as the
victim says he was targeted for wearing a shirt that said “Damascus” in Arabic.
KTVU adds
that the sheriff's office report also contained a sketch of the suspect and
vehicle description, both of which are seen above. The suspect is described as
an unshaven white male in his mid-20s, with round glasses and wearing a gray
top at the time of the incident last Friday.
We
should note that the car pictured is not the car used in the attack, it’s just
the same make, model, and color. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office
describes the vehicle as a “ a black Toyota SUV with a tire mounted on the rear
of the vehicle,” and notes there would likely be damage to the passenger-side
front bumper from this collision. The Chronicle’s report on the incident adds
that the vehicle is a “black Toyota 4Runner, 2015 or newer, with California
plates,” and that the tire mounted on the rear of the vehicle has a Toyota
logo.
According
to KRON4, the victim Omira was taken to Stanford Hospital and treated for
non-life-threatening injuries. KGO is reporting that Omira had been active in
protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict “for about three weeks.”
NBC News
got a statement from Omira this past weekend.
“As I lay in my hospital bed, grappling with a reality I had never
imagined, I reflect on the importance of spreading love, kindness, and
compassion in a world that seems to be steadily succumbing to hatred and
prejudice,” he said. “This ordeal has solidified my resolve to advocate for
love, understanding, and inclusivity.”
Anyone
with information on the incident is asked to call the Santa Clara County
Sheriff’s Office at (408) 808-4500, or the Sheriff’s Office Investigative
Services anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431.
Source: sfist.com
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Arab World
Crown
prince at Saudi-African Summit reiterates Kingdom’s condemnation of Israel’s
Gaza violations
November
10, 2023
RIYADH:
The leaders of 50 nations from across the Middle East and Africa gathered in
Riyadh on Friday for the inaugural Saudi-African Summit.
The
event, which followed the Saudi-Arab African Economic Summit on Thursday,
sought to enhance political coordination between African nations and the
Kingdom. It addressed regional security threats, championed economic
transformation through new partnerships and research, and boosted local
development for new energy solutions and investment cooperation.
At
Thursday’s meeting, the Saudi Fund for Development announced it would sign
agreements worth 2 billion riyals ($533 million) with African countries.
In his
opening remarks on Friday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated the
Kingdom’s “condemnation of the Israeli occupation authorities’ violation of
international humanitarian law in Gaza.”
He
continued: “We stress the necessity of stopping this war and forced
displacement, and creating the conditions for the return of stability and
peace.”
His
words were echoed by several African leaders.
Pravind
Kumar Jugnauth, the prime minister of Mauritius, said: “We also reaffirm our
support for a two-state solution, which is the only way forward to lasting
peace in the region.”
Before
making his speech, Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby asked for a moment of
silence to remember the Palestinian victims of the conflict.
“Despite
this summit being held during a troubling time, we must nonetheless seek to
buttress the cooperation and enhance our partnerships to face these challenges
at a time of human loss,” he said.
“I call
upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and African nations to support development for
the mutual benefit of all countries and forge partnerships based on mutual
interests and respect of all parties in various areas, whether these be
political, economic, trade, humanitarian or environmental.”
Other
leaders expressed their nations’ desire to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
that would end the humanitarian suffering and work toward establishing peace.
Deby
said also he was “saddened” by the war in Sudan, which he said had “greatly
affected the economic and social situation in Chad.”
“I take
this opportunity to mention that there are a lot of displaced citizens of Sudan
(in Chad) and we have called multiple times to resolve the issue and Chad is
providing the necessary support.”
Besides
the conflict in Gaza, the Saudi-Africa Summit took place against the backdrop
of several global and regional challenges, including climate change, the
aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, the wars in Sudan and Ukraine, inflation,
water scarcity and food security.
Several
leaders spoke of the partnership and friendship between Saudi Arabia and the
African continent, which dates back to a period between the 1950s and 1970s
when several African nations gained their independence.
Ethiopian
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, whose country continues to face unrest a year
after the end of the Tigray War, highlighted the importance of Saudi-African
relations and the potential for future collaborative endeavors.
He
praised the Kingdom’s commitment to investing in Africa, especially in sectors
such as renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and education
and expressed Ethiopia’s eagerness to continue fostering economic relations
that contribute to the social development of African nations.
Ethiopia
is one of the region’s fastest-growing economies but also one of its poorest.
Between 1995 and 2021, the value of Saudi exports to Ethiopia grew by about 33
percent to $174 million.
Abiy
spoke to the crown prince on the sidelines of the summit.
Nigeria’s
President Bola Tinubu, whose reforms in recent decades have been well received
overseas, said his country was keen to attract further foreign direct
investment to support infrastructure development.
He also
noted the potential of an enhanced diplomatic and economic relationship with
Saudi Arabia.
On the
sidelines of the conference, the Kingdom’s Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Burundi’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Chingyor.
The
success of the Saudi-African Summit depends on its ability to strengthen the
historical and economic ties between the two sides.
Abdel
Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, said:
“Sudan will always be a supporter of the Saudi-African partnership, benefiting
from its geographical location that links the continent of Africa with the Horn
of Arabia, and we are happy for the partnership and look forward to its
success.
“We
desire to be a bridge between the African continent and the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.”
At the
end of October, Sudan’s warring parties resumed talks in the Kingdom to end a
conflict that has raged for more than six months and left thousands dead.
Source: arabnews.com
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------
Riyadh
to host Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza on Saturday: Saudi foreign ministry
November
11, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia will host an Arab-Islamic summit on Saturday focused on the
situation in Gaza, the Foreign Ministry said late on Friday.
The
conference, which is a result of consultations between the Kingdom, Arab
league, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will be held in the Saudi
capital.
Saudi
Arabia has consistently called for an end to the bloodshed in the occupied
territories.
In his
opening remarks on Friday at a Saudi-African Summit, Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman reiterated the Kingdom’s “condemnation of the Israeli
occupation authorities’ violation of international humanitarian law in Gaza.”
This
week, the Israeli army advanced into Gaza City in the north of the Strip,
resulting in a deluge of civilians flooding to the south of the enclave, where
Israel promised they would be safer.
Gaza’s
health ministry said 11,000 people have been killed since the war began, and
27,000 have been injured. Israel has conducted a massive military operation
into the occupied territory after Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis living
near Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.
The
World Health Organization said on Friday that Gaza health services were at a
breaking point. Hospitals are are nearly out of crucial medical supplies and
lack of water and electricity are hampering their work. Doctors are treating
patients without anesthesia.
Israel
has imposed a blockade as part of its campaign limiting the number of
humanitarian supplies entering Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
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------
Saudi FM
holds preparatory meeting ahead of OIC summit
November
11, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Friday chaired a preparatory
meeting in Riyadh of foreign ministers of Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) countries participating in its eighth extraordinary summit this weekend,
Saudi Press Agency reported.
The
extraordinary summit will be held on Saturday to discuss Israeli aggression on
the Gaza Strip and to seek a resolution aimed at an immediate cessation of
military operations, providing civilian protection, releasing hostages and
prisoners and stopping the forced displacement of the Palestinian people.
During
the meeting, the agenda of the emergency summit and the draft final statement
were also discussed.
The
Kingdom’s delegation participating in the meeting included the deputy minister
of foreign affairs, undersecretary for multiple international affairs, as well
as the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the OIC.
Source: arabnews.com
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-----
Saudi
Arabia attends Paris International Conference to help civilians in Gaza
November
10, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia on Thursday took part in the Paris International Humanitarian
Conference, organized on the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron to
help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The
Kingdom’s delegation was led by Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor general
director for planning and development at the aid agency KSrelief, the Saudi
Press Agency reported.
In his
speech Al-Ghamdi thanked France for organizing the conference and the countries
and organizations taking part for their efforts to ease the suffering of those
living in Gaza by establishing mechanisms to speed up the supply of food aid,
medical supplies and energy.
“Today,
we gather to revive hope in the souls of our affected brothers in the Gaza
Strip who have endured the bitterness of pain over an entire month during which
their tragedy has surpassed the limits of humanity, and to share the burdens of
our legal and moral responsibilities dictated by our humanitarian values and
principles by providing urgent humanitarian support to the Palestinian people,”
he said.
Since
the start of the crisis, Saudi Arabia, working with the UN and global aid
organizations, had implemented 274 humanitarian projects worth a combined $5.19
billion, of which 112 projects, worth almost $370 million, had been carried out
by KSrelief, Al-Ghamdi said.
Also, a
campaign, launched under the directive of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman, to collect donations from Saudi citizens to support the Palestinian
people had so far raised more than $115 million, he said.
Saudi
Arabia would continue to call for intensive efforts to alleviate the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, lift the blockade, open crossings, deliver aid and
implement international humanitarian law, Al-Ghamdi said.
Source: arabnews.com
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-----
Riyadh
festival taking visitors on world culinary journey
November
10, 2023
RIYADH:
The Food Culture Festival in Riyadh is giving visitors a taste of cuisine and
culture from more than 35 countries around the world.
The
five-day event, organized by the Culinary Arts Commission at Grassy Park in the
Diplomatic Quarter, celebrates food and culture, offering an educational experience
to visitors.
Countries
taking part include China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, France, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Nepal and Armenia.
The
carnival-inspired culinary festival includes street food, an exhibition area
with booths featuring restaurants from various countries and 10 stores selling
international food products.
“You
need to come here hungry; there are too many options to choose from; I liked
the momos from the Nepal booth, which are steamed dumplings filled with
vegetables and meat,” said Sara Thomas, a visitor from the UK.
She
added: “It is nice to see how different dumplings are made in other countries,
with the different flavors and sauces used to distinguish them.”
Visitors
with a sweet tooth can enjoy a range of chocolate and pastries. In the Belgium
booth, crowds wait for waffles stuffed with chocolate, which pair well with the
coffee served at the nearby Austrian booth.
Sweets
can also be found in other booths, including the Switzerland section, which offers
freshly made crepes with a range of toppings. There are also Turkish delights
from Istanbul in the Turkish booth.
For meat
lovers, the festival has a mixture of flavors, culinary creativity and ambiance
with its live grilling stations. Visitors can learn meat-cooking techniques
from countries including Brazil, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Lebanon and Egypt.
The most
popular booths include Peru, China, Spain and Palestine. The first is a
favorite of children, who have taken a liking to the large stuffed animal
alpaca and handmade dolls made from cruelty-free alpaca fur.
The
Chinese booth offers ramen, soups and dumplings. The most popular dumpling is
filled with pumpkin, meat and a vegetable filling.
The
Spanish booth sells a popular seafood paella, providing visitors with a taste
of authentic Spanish cuisine.
The
Pakistani booths are also proving to be some of the most popular food hotspots
at the festival by celebrating the diversity and richness of culinary
traditions in the South Asian country.
Pakistani
Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmed Farooq attended the first day of the festival
and inaugurated his country’s booths.
“I think
it is a wonderful initiative by the Culinary Arts Commission and by the
Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia to organize this food festival,” said
Farooq.
He
added: “I think food is the best way to bring people together, and Pakistan and
Saudi Arabia share a lot of things, so food is one of those items that we
thought we would introduce here to the Saudi public and others as well.”
On Nov.
11, the Pakistani booths will host live cooking demonstrations featuring
renowned chefs including Naureen Ansari.
There
are also interactive workshops and a display of home-cooked delights, Pakistani
products and organic Pakistani-sourced items, including Sidr honey, which is
produced from trees in the mountainous regions of Pakistan.
Other
organic sourced items include pure Pakistani ghee, which offers a unique nutty
flavor.
Other
South Asian countries have also left a strong impression on visitors.
The Sri
Lankan booth hosted a stunning live dance performance, which drew large crowds
to the performance stage.
The
country’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Pakeer Mohideen Amza, inaugurated his
country’s booth and wished good luck to the young dancers.
“It is a
privilege to be part of this Food Culture Festival. We are so happy to be part
of it because it is an opportunity for us to show our food culture, and Sri
Lankan food culture,” said Amza.
He
added: “We will also be taking part in the demonstration of the Sri Lankan food
items starting from today, with tea. As you know, Sri Lanka is the best place
for finding tea in the world.”
The
dance performance was one of many scheduled for the festival, with a range of
countries showcasing their history of performance and traditional attire.
Animated
performances are held every hour in alleys around the festival site.
The
Riyadh event includes a designated area for children with games, competitions,
cooking workshops, a playground, a cupcake coloring and decoration booth and
face painting, among other activities.
The
festival is organized in collaboration with the Royal Commission of Riyadh City
and is supported by the Quality of Life Program, part of the Kingdom’s Vision
2030.
Tickets
for the festival, which opens from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. until Nov. 12, can be
purchased at dc.moc.gov.sa.
A
portion of the proceeds from food sales will be donated to the King Salman
Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to assist people in Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
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-----
Second
Saudi relief plane to help Palestinians in Gaza arrives in Egypt
November
10, 2023
RIYADH:
The second Saudi relief plane arrived at El-Arish International Airport in
Egypt on Friday, carrying on board 35 tons of relief and humanitarian aid
including food and shelter items for the people in Gaza strip.
This aid
is part of the Saudi popular campaign to help the Palestinian people in Gaza
and was launched under the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime
Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
The aid
is in keeping with the historical role of the Kingdom in supporting
Palestinians in times of crises and tribulations.
Source: arabnews.com
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------
Madinah
airport deports Pakistani travelers for forging biometric data
November
10, 2023
MADINAH
— Two Pakistani passengers attempting to enter Saudi Arabia with forged
biometric features were returned from Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz
International Airport in Madinah.
The two
passengers violated residency and work regulations earlier, leading to the
completion of legal procedures against them.
In
another development, the General Directorate of the Border Guard, participating
in the Ministry of Interior's mobile exhibition across the Kingdom, warned
against aiding border security violators. The exhibition showcased modern
technologies used to monitor border security violators and the penalties for
those facilitating their entry, movement, shelter, or providing them with any
form of assistance or service.
Security
authorities urged citizens and residents to report any information about violators
of residency and border security regulations or any activities related to drug
smuggling or trafficking, emphasizing the complete confidentiality of all
reports.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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-----
Europe
Russia
and Turkey send another humanitarian aid to Gaza
November
10, 2023
Moscow :
Russia on Friday sent another cargo plane containing 25 tons of humanitarian
aid for the people of the besieged Gaza Strip.
The
Il-76 cargo plane departed from southwestern Russian city of Kazan, and will
land in Egypt, where humanitarian assistance will be transferred to the
Egyptian Red Crescent Society, which will then deliver it to the Gaza Strip,
the Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement.
The
shipment was prepared at the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin,
and includes food, clothing, personal care products, blankets, and portable
ovens, the ministry noted.
Last
week, the Ministry of Emergency Situations sent two special flights carrying 60
tons of humanitarian assistance, including food and personal care items, to the
people in Gaza.
Turkey
A ship
carrying life-saving humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza
Strip from Türkiye left from the Aegean province of Izmir early Friday.
Medical
supplies and ambulances were loaded onto the cargo ship, which anchored at Izmir’s
Alsancak Port late on Thursday.
After
the loading was completed, the ship left port to head to Al Arish, Egypt, close
to Egypt’s Rafah border crossing into the embattled enclave.
Nearly
500 tons of aid equipment, including medicine, medical devices, eight field
hospitals, 20 ambulances, and medical consumables, will be delivered to the
Gaza through Egypt, as previously announced by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
Already
hit by a 16-year Israeli blockade, since the start of the current conflict over
a month ago, Gaza has been cut off from water, electricity, and fuel supplies,
with many hospitals having to shut down as a result.
This
situation makes aid deliveries from countries like Türkiye a critical lifeline
to the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless attack by Israel since Oct.
7, in the wake of an attack by Hamas on Israel. — AA
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/eng/russia-and-turkey-sends-an
----
Saudi ambassador
and other Arab envoys discuss Gaza conflict with speaker of Irish Parliament
November
11, 2023
LONDON:
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Ireland, Nail Al-Jubeir, and other Arab envoys to
the country met the speaker of the Irish Parliament, Sean O Fearghail, the
Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Their
discussions included the continuing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, and the
envoys called on Ireland, in keeping with the principles and norms of
international humanitarian law, to join international efforts to halt the
military operations, protect civilians, secure the release of hostages and
prisoners, and end the forced displacement of Palestinians.
The
ambassadors also stressed the important need to enable the safe delivery of
urgent relief aid and medical supplies, without restrictions, to the territory
to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe that is claiming the lives of innocent
people, including women and children, and could have grave consequences for
security and stability in the wider region.
More
than 11,000 Palestinians, nearly half of them children, have been killed in the
Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli assaults since Hamas launched a surprise
attack on Israel on Oct. 7, according to figures from the Gazan Health
Ministry.
On Thursday,
Al-Jubeir and his fellow Arab envoys held similar talks with Irish President
Michael Higgins. During that meeting they told him the only way to ensure
security and stability in the region is through a just and comprehensive peace
that ensures all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the SPA
reported.
They
also discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and called on the
international community to take effective, urgent and necessary measures to
halt the Israeli aggression and lift the blockade on the besieged territory.
They warned that the conflict could have dangerous consequences not only for
the Palestinian people but for the wider region, and undermine the chances of
achieving lasting peace.
Source: arabnews.com
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-----
UK
health care workers hold vigil to demand cease-fire in Gaza
11.11.2023
Burak
Bir
Health
care workers in London held a vigil outside of the Prime Minister's Office to
demand an urgent cease-fire in the Gaza Strip where the death toll has climbed
to more than 11,000.
Demonstrators
held the names of colleagues killed in Gaza during the vigil organized by Gaza
Medic Voices (GMV) -- a social media platform that publishes first-hand
accounts from health care workers in Gaza.
Pediatric
neurologist Omar Abdel-Mannan read an open letter written to Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak on behalf of GMV.
"We
call on you, the British government, to demand an immediate cease-fire,"
said the letter, citing the death toll, two-thirds of which are women and
children.
Touching
on Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities, including hospitals, humanitarian
shelters and ambulances, the letter said 192 health care workers have been
killed, 16 while on duty.
Meanwhile,
70% of primary healthcare centers and 39% of hospitals are now out of service
due to damage, insecurity and lack of fuel.
"Through
its persistent attacks on Palestinian health care, Israel is flouting international
law and endangering the health of 2.2 million people in Gaza," it said.
The
group expressed solidarity with colleagues in Gaza, who are "overwhelmed,
exhausted and scared, working in the most abject conditions” and said the
British government must help bring these horrors to an end.
The
letter concluded by asking the government to demand, "an immediate
cease-fire" in Gaza, uphold the rule of international law by condemning
the killing of health care staff and attacks on health care and civilian objects,
and demand unfettered humanitarian aid into Gaza.
You will
never take our dreams
Some
health care professionals made brief speeches, sharing their experiences and
thoughts.
Izzeldin
Abuelaish, a professor of Global Health at Dalla Lana School of Public Health
in Toronto said: "Palestinians' lives matter as everyone else on
earth."
During
an Israeli attack in 2009, Abuelaish lost three daughters and a niece.
He said
that Palestinians have freedom as everyone in the world.
"Our
dignity, freedom is essential, crucial our dignity to be fully human. And the
world is not free as long as Palestinians are not. The world is not equal, as
long as we are not,” he said.
Abuelaish
stressed that Palestinians will never give up their rights and one day they
will celebrate.
He said
he is waiting for the moment to go to his home in the Jabalia Camp in Gaza, and
visit his daughters and niece and say to them: "We will never forget you.
You are in our hearts, our minds, in our souls."
"I
lost faith in humanity at that time. But I will never lose faith in our people
and our lives in our world and the good people who are supporting our
cause," he said. "You can destroy but you will never take our dreams
and our goals from our minds, from our hearts, from our children.”
'Scene
of massacre'
Pediatric
intensive care doctor in Toronto and member of the Doctors Without Borders
(MSF), Tanya Haj-Hassan, read messages from health care staff in Gaza, which
she said were personal messages GMV received in the last month.
We need
you to reach out to your colleagues to reach our scene of massacre to all the
world. We trust you, please be our voice," an early message by a senior
pharmacist a month ago, said Haj-Hassan
Another
message by a consultant surgeon at the Al-Shifa Hospital said everything is
running out and the hospital is nearly "a trauma hospital" with no
other specialties, not even close to enough.
"It
is the worst war and we are heading towards a very dark end," read another
message received from a consultant surgeon in Gaza one month ago.
A
message from a physician at the Kuwaiti Hospital in southern Gaza described the
scenes as "intolerable." It said: "I wish no one have to live
these atrocities. Our hearts are shattered."
Later,
after performing a minute of silence for health care workers in Gaza who were
killed, the group chanted slogans, calling for a "Cease-fire now."
Jeremy
Corbyn, former leader of the main opposition Labour Party, was among attendees,
who later wrote on X: "Survivors know they may die, but have stayed behind
to care for their patients. They haven’t given up on the Palestinian people.
Neither should we. Ceasefire now."
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/uk-health-care-workers-hold-vigil-to-demand-cease-fire-in-gaza/3050389
-----
France
expels Palestinian activist to Egypt
November
10, 2023
PARIS:
France on Friday expelled a Palestinian activist to Egypt after a protracted
court battle over her presence, police said.
Mariam
Abu Daqqa, 72, is a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine (PFLP) which is considered a “terrorist” organization by the European
Union.
She was
detained by police on Wednesday night after the State Council, France’s highest
administrative court, overturned a lower court ruling that had suspended an
interior ministry expulsion order.
Abu
Daqqa had a 50 day visa to visit France to take part in conferences on the
Middle East conflict. The ministry said that her presence was a risk after the
deadly October 7 Hamas attacks against Israel.
She took
part in two conferences that had been banned while in France.
Reached
by phone at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport as she awaited a flight to Cairo,
Abu Daqqa slammed her expulsion as “an attack against the right of Palestine to
have a state, an identity, an existence.”
“The
process that I have undergone is not worthy of a democratic government,” she
said.
Her
lawyers, Elsa Marcel and Marie David, told AFP they would launch further appeals
and even take the case to the European Court of Human rights.
France,
which has large Jewish and Muslim populations, has seen a spike in tensions
amid the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2406761/world
-----
Macron
calls on Israel to stop bombing Gaza civilians
Nov 11, 2023
French
President Emmanuel Macron called Friday on Israel to stop bombing civilians in
Gaza, saying there was "no justification" and the deaths were causing
"resentment".
In an
interview with the BBC, Macron said Israel had the right to protect itself
after the October 7 Hamas attacks, but he added: "These babies, these
ladies, these old people are bombed and killed.
"So,
there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So, we do urge Israel to
stop."
Macron
said France "clearly condemns" the unprecedented cross border attacks
by the Palestinian militant groups that Israel says left 1,200 dead, mainly civilians,
with 240 others taken hostage.
The
Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says that more than 11,000 people, mainly
civilians, have been killed in Israel's air and ground assault since.
"We
do share [Israel's] pain. And we do share their willingness to get rid of
terrorism," Macron said in the interview on the fringes of an
international peace forum in Paris.
"We
know what terrorism means in France." But he insisted there was "no
justification" for the bombing of civilians.
"It's
extremely important for all of us because of our principles, because we are
democracies. It's important for the mid-to-long run as well for the security of
Israel itself, to recognise that all lives matter," he added.
Macron
said that all governments and aid agencies at a humanitarian aid conference in
Paris on Thursday had agreed that a "humanitarian pause" followed by
a "ceasefire" was the only way to protect Gaza's civilians.
When
asked whether Israel had breached international law, Macron replied: "I'm
not a judge. I'm a head of state" who sought to be "a partner and a
friend" to Israel.
The
French leader added that he disagreed that the best way for Israel to
"protect [itself] is having a large bombing of Gaza".
This was
creating "resentment and bad feelings" in the Middle East, he said.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
Macron
is among western leaders who have visited Israel since the attacks to show
solidarity.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/israel-hamas-war/news/macron-calls-israel-stop-bombing-gaza-civilians-3466881
-----
Beware
Suella Braverman and all the other vultures bent on exploiting Jewish and
Muslim pain
10 November 2023
Jonathan
Freedland
There is
a special place in hell reserved for people who exploit the pain of others –
and it’s becoming very crowded. It’s filling up with those who look at the war
between Israel and Hamas, and the grief and fear it prompts in the hearts of
Jews and Muslims especially, and see not tragedy but opportunity – a chance to
advance their own interests.
Early to
rush in was Suella Braverman, who is determined to be the hard right’s
candidate to succeed Rishi Sunak. Her chosen playbook is the one authored by Donald
Trump and Steve Bannon, the tactic simple: pick a culture war issue that drives
people apart, and crown yourself as head of one of the two warring camps.
That’s why she said multiculturalism had failed, that Britain faced a
“hurricane” of migration and that homelessness was a lifestyle choice – each
one of those provocations designed to make her the standard-bearer of
nationalist populism in the UK.
Accusing
the Metropolitan police of being too woke and leaning on the commissioner to
crack down on this weekend’s Gaza marches is, for Braverman, just another salvo
in that campaign to win the leadership of her party. She doesn’t care that in
the process she tramples on the principle that, in a democracy, policing – and
the entire criminal justice system – has to be operationally independent of
government. Like Trump, she is happy to tear down any democratic guardrails
that stand in her way.
But nor
does she care whether she ignites a tinderbox. British Jews have been in a
state of anxiety and fear since the brutal murders committed by Hamas in
southern Israel on 7 October. Antisemitic incidents have surged by more than
500% compared with the same period last year, each day bringing word of more.
In Manchester, the proprietor of a takeaway threw cups and plates at customers,
shouting: “We do not serve Jews.” In Hertfordshire, a man barged past a group
of girls walking home from their Jewish school, saying: “What is this, a Jewish
walkway? Free Palestine, you cunts.” In a primary school, a Jewish boy was told
by his classmate: “I support Palestine, I want to kill all the Jews.”
Islamophobic
attacks have risen by a similar proportion, with red paint thrown at a mosque
in west London three times in a fortnight, a pig’s head dumped at the site of a
proposed mosque in a Lancashire market town and a headscarfed woman being told
in the street that she doesn’t “belong here”.
In this
atmosphere, the job of the home secretary is to calm tensions, not inflame
them. Yet in her Times article this week Braverman pitted one community against
another, praising Jewish vigils – whose focus is the return of the 240 hostages
held by Hamas – as “dignified” and those calling for an immediate ceasefire in
Gaza as “mobs” and “hate” marchers.
Now, it
is certainly true that pro-Palestinian marches have included hateful messages –
and that “from the river to the sea” is a slogan that literally allows no room
for Israel, home to the world’s largest Jewish community, and so is heard by
many Jews as a chilling call for elimination. For those reasons, there will be
some Jews currently feeling so beleaguered that they will be grateful for
Braverman’s apparent support. But it is a poisonous gift. For it identifies
British Jews with a widely despised government, and as being against free
speech.
What’s
more, the home secretary’s suggestion that police are failing to do their job
invites others to step in. Sure enough, assorted elements of the white far
right have promised to come to London and do some policing of their own. Like
Braverman, the founder of the English Defence League, who calls himself Tommy
Robinson, has clocked the fear and tension – and spotted an opening.
In
service of the cynicism and the exploitation is the distortion of the
Israel-Palestine conflict, forcing it into a pre-existing ideological frame. In
this field, Braverman has company. Witness the associate editor of the
Spectator, Douglas Murray, who has long railed against what he sees as the
threat that Islam and Muslims pose to Europe and the west. He is using the
current crisis to press that case, telling one US interviewer this week that
Humza Yousaf has “infiltrated our system”, and that he is not really first
minister of Scotland, but rather “first minister of Gaza”. Murray has thoughts
too on the future of Gaza, writing that “it could be a good time … to clear all
the Palestinians from that benighted strip”.
The
pro-Palestinian left will look on all this and rightly be appalled. And yet the
left is not free of its own tendency to flatten and squeeze Israelis and
Palestinians into a shape that fits its worldview, even if that means riding
roughshod over some pretty elementary facts.
Activists
from the Black Lives Matter movement have been quick to identify
Israel-Palestine as simply another front in the battle for civil rights, one
that can be smoothly mapped on to the racial politics of the US. Put aside that
such thinking led the Chicago branch of BLM to tweet a message that could only
be read as support for the Hamas butchers of 7 October, complete with an image
of a paraglider, just like those that descended on the 260 young Israelis
murdered at the Nova music festival. It also rests on an assumption that
Israeli lives are “white lives” – when in fact about half of all Israeli Jews
are not white by any definition, but Mizrahi, with roots in north Africa and
the Arab world, most of them the descendants of refugees pogromed out of their
homes in Iraq, Yemen, Morocco or beyond in the aftermath of Israel’s creation
in 1948.
That’s
one reason why seeing Israel as a construct of European imperialism doesn’t
work. But how many of those now branding Israel as a settler-colonialist entity
– the better to fit their ideology – know that by the late 1940s, the push for
Israel’s establishment came in armed defiance of the British empire, to the
extent that plenty of British leftists and anti-imperialists were marching back
then not against Zionism but for it? How many know that far from enabling the
creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine, as it had promised in 1917,
the British empire did much to thwart it, all but blocking Jewish emigration to
Palestine in 1939, at precisely the time it was needed most – when Jews were
desperate to flee Nazi-occupied Europe?
The
point is, this conflict has its own complex history and its own shape. It
should not be bent and twisted to fit the doctrinal dogmas of others, and it
should not be used by politicians and hucksters to push an agenda, build a
brand or pursue their own selfish ambition. There are too many people grieving
on the ground there and racked by fear here for that. If you’re looking for
fuel to feed your own hellfire, back off – and find some other agony to
exploit.
Source: yahoo.com
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/beware-suella-braverman-other-vultures-172723989.html
-------
Tensions
running high at New England campuses over protests around Israel-Hamas war
November
11, 2023
BOSTON:
Administrators of MIT suspended a number of students Thursday from the
prestigious technology school after Israel-Hamas war protesters took over a
prominent building for much of the day and then some refused to leave by a set
deadline.
It was
far from the only disruption at college campuses in recent days over the war.
Brandeis University banned a pro-Palestinian student group this week, while
nearly two dozen students were arrested over a protest at Brown University. On
Friday, Columbia University announced it was suspending Students for Justice in
Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace as official student groups through the end
of the term. It accused both of repeatedly violating campus policies including
an unauthorized event Thursday.
The
range of responses to these protests show that college administrators are
struggling to address protests that have gotten heated and turned once-quiet
spaces on campus into places where some students say they don’t feel safe.
At MIT,
Sally Kornbluth, the school’s president, sent a letter to all students
outlining the “boundaries of protest on campus” during a pro-Palestinian
demonstration that she described as “disruptive” and “loud.” The protest in the
building called Lobby 7 lasted much of the day and attracted counterprotesters.
When
some protesters refused to leave after a deadline was set, the school said it
would suspend them. But after hearing concerns including visa issues, Kornbluth
said they would be “suspended from non-academic campus activities.” It was
unclear how many students would be affected and when that would happen.
“After
exhausting all other avenues for de-escalating the situation, we informed all
protesters that they must leave the lobby area within a set time, or they would
be subject to suspension,” Kornbluth wrote. “Many chose to leave, and I
appreciate their cooperation. Some did not.”
People
on both sides criticized the response.
“Our
love and fight for the people of Gaza will not be swayed by the
administration’s fear tactics,” MIT-wide Coalition for Palestine organizer
Mohamed Mohamed said in a statement. “While the administration may possess the
means to send letters and emails to all students, staff, faculty, and workers,
we possess something even more potent — a just cause and the collective voices
of thousands in the MIT community who remain committed to advocating for an end
to the genocide and an end to the occupation.”
At the
same time, the MIT Israel Alliance criticized the university for not
academically suspending any of the protesters, whom they accused of preventing
students from attending classes.
“Instead
of dispersing the mob or de-escalating the situation by rerouting all students
from Lobby 7, Jewish students specifically were warned not to enter MIT’s front
entrance due to a risk to their physical safety,” the group said in a
statement. “The onus to protect Jewish students should not be on the students
themselves.”
The
latest war began with an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas militants who targeted
towns, farming communities and a music festival near the Gaza border, killing
at least 1,200 people. Israel has responded with weeks of attacks in Gaza,
which have killed more than 11,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health
Ministry — most of them Palestinian civilians.
On
Wednesday, Brandeis University President Ron Liebowitz put out a statement to
the school community saying it no longer recognized the Brandeis chapter of the
National Students for Justice in Palestine. It made the move over what the
university said was the group’s support of Hamas and its “its call for the
violent elimination of Israel and the Jewish people,” he wrote.
Brandies
was founded in 1948 by the American Jewish community.
The
group, according to The Boston Globe, was sent a notice Monday that its status
as an official student group had been rescinded.
“All
students, faculty, and staff are welcome here, and encouraged to participate in
the free exchange of ideas,” Liebowitz wrote. “To promote such free exchange,
we must not and do not condone hate, the incitement of violence, or threats
against or harassment of anyone, be they Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist,
Hindu, Israeli, Palestinian, or any other religion or ethnicity.”
The
Brandeis chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine could not be
reached for comment. But the Globe reported that the group, in an October
statement after Hamas attacked Israel, said it was a “moral imperative to
recognize and support the resilience of the people who have endured 75 years of
oppression, displacement, and the denial of their basic rights.” That included
“armed resistance.”
On
Wednesday in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University’s Department of Public
Safety arrested 20 students who refused to leave a campus building during a
sit-in. The students, with the group BrownU Jews for Cease-fire Now, posted on
X that they were calling on the university to promote an “immediate cease-fire
and a lasting peace” as well as the divestment of its endowment from companies
that “enable war crimes in Gaza.”
In a
statement, the university said it repeatedly warned students they were
trespassing before arresting them.
“At
Brown, we recognize our responsibility for being an educational institution
that manages challenging discussions in a way that remains true to the
fundamental principle of freedom of expression while emphasizing the importance
of safety for all community members,” Brown said in a statement. “Brown leaders
have met with many student groups in recent weeks to listen to and address
concerns, and we will continue to do so moving forward.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2406876/world
-----
Teen
behind bars after Muslim mass murder plot at Bradford mosques
10 NOV 2023
Megan
Banner
A
Bradford teenager has been jailed for 10 years after he plotted to disguise
himself as an armed police officer and kill Muslims worshipping at nearby
mosques. Joe Metcalfe, 17, researched how to carry out the brutal attack in
imitation of the mass shootings in Christchurch New Zealand in 2019 and Buffalo
in 2022.
The
teenage right-wing extremist was jailed for 10 years at Leeds Crown Court today
(November 10) and six years on extended licence after being found guilty after
trial of preparing to commit an act of terrorism, having already pleaded guilty
to encouraging others to commit terrorism, disseminating terrorist
publications, and possessing a bladed article. He was also sentenced after he
was convicted at a separate trial for charges of multiple rape, coercive and
controlling behaviour against a teenage girl.
Nick
Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said:
“Although Joe Metcalfe spent time watching and sharing violent, racist,
homophobic and anti-Semitic videos, these were not idle fantasies. He made a
detailed plan to murder Muslims at a nearby mosque while disguised as an armed
police officer, record the killings and escape.
Read
more: 'Our hearts are broken' as tributes paid to Ayesha Hussain hit by BMW
"He
stole his father’s car to carry out a reconnaissance mission, contacted a gun
seller to try and secretly ship a weapon to the UK, and but for apprehension,
intended to carry out the attack.
“Despite
his young age, his beliefs and willingness to take violent action to propagate
them are a threat to our society, and it is right that he has been sentenced
today for those crimes."
The CPS
worked closely with Counter Terrorism Policing North-East, whose officers
investigated the case before the CPS authorised charges and brought the
prosecution. Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter
Terrorism Policing North- East, said: “We are satisfied that this individual
acted in isolation and our quick response prevented this escalating further.
“We have
successfully worked alongside partners to ensure that this individual has been
brought to justice. I hope this provides yet another example of how robustly we
will deal with this type of behaviour and these actions. It will not be
tolerated."
Source: leeds-live.co.uk
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https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/teen-behind-bars-after-muslim-28086105
------
Pakistan
President
Alvi retracts controversial remarks on Palestine
November
11, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Indicating a major policy shift, the presidency on Friday suggested “one-state
solution” to the Palestine issue, but in a sudden change of heart back-pedalled
his remarks after a few hours.
The
presidency had issued a statement quoting President Dr Arif Alvi to have
suggested “one-state solution” to the conflict during his telephonic talk with
Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.
“If two
states solution was not acceptable to Israel then one state solution was the
only way where Jews, Muslims and [a] good percentage of Christians could live
to exercise equal political rights,” the previous press release had quoted Dr
Alvi to have told the Palestinian president.
Almost
all the news TV channels ran the president’s previous statement which was also
released by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.
Talks to
President Abbas on telephone
Meanwhile,
a senior official of the Foreign Office, when contacted for comment, said
Pakistan had an unwavering commitment to a fair and enduring resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, founded on the two-state solution, leading to the
establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state with Al Quds Al
Sharif as its capital, along borders that existed prior to 1967 as enshrined in
several resolutions adopted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The FO
official said that the same position had been reiterated by caretaker Prime
Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar during his meeting with Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh on Friday.
Prime
Minister Kakar has travelled to Saudi Arabia for participating in the OIC summit
that has been convened to discuss the Gaza situation.
The
presidency’s revised statement said President Arif Alvi had assured his
Palestinian counterpart that Pakistan would continue its support for resolving
the Palestinian dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
In his
telephonic contact with President Abbas, Mr Alvi expressed his heartfelt
sympathies and grief on behalf of the people and the government of Pakistan
over the atrocities being committed by Israel against the people of Palestine.
He
deplored the situation in Gaza, terming it “very painful” and said the entire
Pakistani nation was deeply saddened by the brutalities and reign of terror
unleashed by the Israeli security forces.
Mr Alvi
strongly condemned the massive bombing by Israel which did not even spare
schools and hospitals.
The
barbaric actions, he said, resulted in the killing of thousands of
Palestinians, including women and children, healthcare workers, journalists
and UN aid workers.
President
Alvi said the current situation in Gaza was a reaction to decades of apartheid
and unjust policies of Israel.
He
condemned Israel for ethnic cleansing of Muslims and pushing them out of their
territories.
He
regretted the lack of action on part of the international community to stop
Israel from its murderous campaign against the people of Gaza.
President
Abbas said Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. He called for stopping
Israel from fighting across the Palestinian territory.
He also
demanded the opening of a corridor to Gaza to ensure the delivery of
humanitarian assistance as there was no food, medicine and electricity
available for the people of Gaza.
President
Abbas thanked Pakistan for supporting the Palestinian cause and sending
humanitarian assistance.
Israel
launched an offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters poured across the
militarised border on Oct 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and taking
around 240 hostages.
Vowing
to destroy Hamas, Israel retaliated with bombardment and a ground campaign that
the health ministry in the Gaza Strip says has killed more than 11,000 people,
mostly civilians and many of them children.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1788312/president-alvi-retracts-controversial-remarks-on-palestine
------
Amnesty
urges Pakistan to halt ‘deportation, detention, harassment’ of Afghan refugees
November
10, 2023
Amnesty
International on Friday urged the federal government to “immediately halt the
continued detentions, deportations and widespread harassment” of Afghan
refugees.
From Nov
1, the government initiated a nationwide operation to deport illegal foreign
nationals, the majority of whom were Afghans, after the deadline to voluntarily
leave the country had expired.
Last
month, the government had given an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants to
leave Pakistan by October 31 or risk imprisonment and deportation to their
respective countries. The government decided to keep foreign nationals residing
in the country without identity documents in “holding centres” before deporting
them to their respective countries.
In a
press release issued today, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director
for South Asia Campaigns Livia Saccardi said that thousands of Afghan refugees
were being used as “political pawns” to be returned to Afghanistan where their
“life and physical integrity could be at risk amidst an intensified crackdown
on human rights and an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe”.
She
stressed that “no one should be subjected to mass forced deportations, and
Pakistan would do well to remember its international legal obligations,
including the principle of non-refoulement.”
The
principle of non-refoulement suggests that a person should never be expatriated
to a state where he or she faces the risk of political persecution.
Saccardi
said if the government did not halt the deportations immediately, “it will be
denying thousands of at-risk Afghans, especially women and girls, access to
safety, education, and livelihood.”
“Pakistan
must fulfil its obligations under international human rights law to ensure the
safety and well-being of Afghan refugees within its borders and immediately
halt deportations to prevent further escalation of this crisis.
“The
government, along with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, must
expedite the registration of applicants seeking refuge in Pakistan,
particularly women and girls, journalists, and those belonging to minority and
ethnic communities as they face heightened risks,” the press release quoted her
as saying.
The
statement highlighted Amnesty International’s concerns regarding the “complete
lack of transparency, due process, and accountability in the detentions and deportations
over the last week”.
It said
the situation was “exacerbated by increased incidents of harassment and
hostility against Afghan refugees in Pakistan”, adding that many incidents of
harassment were reported during which at least 12 people with valid Afghan
citizen cards were detained on Nov 1 in Nishtar Colony and Garden Town Police
Stations of Lahore without any first information report lodged against them.
“On Oct
24, Afghan traders in Akbari Mandi in Lahore were searched for documentation by
individuals in plain clothes claiming to be police officials who confiscated
Rs500,000 in cash,” the press release said.
Amnesty
also raised issues about the holding centres, saying they were not constructed
under any specific law and were being run parallel to the legal system.
“Amnesty
International has verified that in at least seven detention centres, no legal
rights are extended to detainees such as the right to a lawyer or communication
with family members. Such centers are in violation of right to liberty and a
fair trial. Also, no information is made public, making it hard for families to
trace their loved ones,” the human rights watchdog claimed.
It
further said that it had “confirmed with journalists across Pakistan that the
media was not given access to these centres”, adding that this raised questions
of transparency.
Plight
of Afghan refugees
The
statement quoted an Afghan refugee as saying: “We live in constant anxiety.
There is a sense of fear among the Afghan community. We lock our doors as soon as
we hear any police cars in the area.”
The
press release said he was detained for more than four hours in an Islamabad
holding centre on Nov 3, adding that there were hardly any translators who
could communicate in Dari or Pashto.
It also
narrated the plight of an Afghan journalist who has been hiding in Pakistan
since the Taliban takeover in 2021. “Even though I entered Pakistan on a valid
visa and have applied for renewal, I do not have anything to show the
authorities if they turn up at my doorstep. I have stopped sending my children
to school for the past two weeks.
“I am on
several lists maintained by the Taliban and I am certain I will be killed if I
go back,” the journalist said.
The
statement shed light on Afghan refugees who were part of religious minorities
and faced “intersectional challenges amid deportations with the double threat
of persecution upon their return”.
“An
activist working with Christian refugee communities in Islamabad, Chaman, and
Quetta, shared that a shelter housing a dozen Christian refugee families was
forced to shut down after police raids,” the press release said.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1788194/amnesty-urges-pakistan-to-halt-deportation-detention-harassment-of-afghan-refugees
------
PM
expresses Pakistan's firm solidarity with Palestine
November
11, 2023
Prime
Minister Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar has expressed unflinching solidarity of Pakistan
with the Palestinian people.
He
conveyed this resolve while talking to President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The two
leaders are attending the Extraordinary Summit of the OIC convened to discuss
the dire situation in occupied Palestine resulting from the Israeli aggression.
The Prime
Minister underscored Pakistan's unwavering commitment to a fair and enduring
resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, founded on the two-state
solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian
state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital, along borders that existed prior
to 1967 enshrined in several OIC resolutions.
Anwaar-ul
Haq Kakar strongly denounced the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli
occupation forces and bombing of hospitals, refugee camps, schools and residential
buildings, resulting in the loss of more than ten thousand precious lives and
forced displacement of Palestinian families.
President
Abbas appreciated Pakistan's expression of solidarity in this difficult time
and its principled stance on the right of self-determination of the Palestinian
people.
The two
leaders emphasized the urgency of an unconditional ceasefire, end to the siege
of Gaza and smooth delivery of vital humanitarian aid and medical assistance to
the affected population.
They
underlined the need for international collaboration to stop Israel from further
bloodshed.
Prime
Minister Kakar and President Abbas noted the timeliness of the Extraordinary
Summit of the OIC and appealed to the global community, particularly the United
Nations and its pertinent organizations, to take resolute measures to uphold
principles of justice and humanity and end the carnage of the Palestinian
people.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/11-11-2023/pm-kakar-expresses-pakistans-unflinching-solidarity-with-palestinians
-----
LHC
seeks report on Elahi’s plea for facilities in jail
November
11, 2023
RAWALPINDI.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench sought a detailed report within
one week from the Punjab home secretary and the superintendent of Adiala Jail
on a plea by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Pervaiz Elahi seeking
directives for authorities to provide entitled facilities in the jail.
Justice
Sadaqat Ali Khan of the LHC passed the order and directed the officials
concerned to come up with the reply within a week time. Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi
filed the plea through his counsel Abdul Razzaq Khan and alleged mistreatment
and denial of basic amenities during his incarceration at Adiala Jail.
The
counsel argued that given his political and social standing, the former Chief
Minister was entitled to better class facilities in the prison. Instead, he
claimed that Pervaiz Elahi was facing mistreatment. During the proceedings,
Abdul Razzaq Khan brought to light instances of purported illegal interference
during family and lawyer meetings. He emphasized that lawyers were not allowed
to carry pens, and exchange notes. Additionally, conversations are allegedly
being recorded without consent. Furthermore, he asserted that Pervez Elahi,
being a heart patient, had been advised by doctors to adhere to a specific
diet. However, he alleged that permission for home-cooked meals was being
denied, resulting in frequent instances of food poisoning and stomach issues
due to jail food.
Highlighting
the lack of provisions for essential healthcare, Razzaq Khan pointed out the
absence of facilities for physiotherapy to address Pervaiz Elahi’s reported
back pain. A report presented in the court indicated that the matter had been
brought to the attention of the Home Secretary of Punjab, with ongoing
consideration.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1127938-lhc-seeks-report-on-elahi-s-plea-for-facilities-in-jail
-----
South Asia
Pakistan
to deport Afghan migrants with documents: Balochistan official
Fidel
Rahmati
November
10, 2023
The
Minister of Information for Balochistan has announced that Pakistan will expel
not only “illegal” immigrants but also immigrants with legal documentation.
Jan
Achakzai stated that this decision is a response to the use of Afghan soil by
hostile elements for terrorist activities in Pakistan. However, the current
administration of Afghanistan rejects these allegations.
In a
press conference in Karachi, the interim Minister of Information for
Balochistan stated that Pakistan intends to initiate a similar process of
expelling immigrants with legal documents living in the country.
This
Pakistani official also emphasized that the process of expelling “illegal”
refugees will continue even after Pakistan’s upcoming elections in February
next year.
Jan
Achakzai said, “No one should make a mistake. This decision is made by an
‘independent government’ to repatriate all illegal immigrants. Therefore, any
government that comes into power after the elections will continue this
policy.”
He
claimed that “terrorists” use Afghan territory to target Pakistan’s security
forces. Therefore, Pakistan has decided to send back “illegal” immigrants to
their country of origin.
The
Minister of Information for Balochistan clarified that six “terrorists” killed
in the city of Zhob in Balochistan last week were Afghan citizens.
This
Pakistani official once again stressed that with the Taliban’s takeover of
Afghanistan, terrorist attacks in Pakistan have increased.
Achakzai
noted that the Balochistan government blocked around one hundred thousand fake
Pakistani national identity cards, with an additional twenty thousand blocked
in Sindh.
The
Minister of Information for Balochistan stated that 80,000 Afghan migrants have
been expelled from the province, with plans to accelerate this process.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that a UN High Commissioner for Refugees delegation
postponed their trip to Khyber due to perceived threats prompted by a warning
from Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-to-deport-afghan-migrants-with-documents-balochistan-official/
-----
Iron
mining operations commence in Ghourian, Herat
Fidel
Rahmati
November
10, 2023
The
authorities of the de facto administration that iron mining has commenced in
the Ghoryan District of Herat Province.
The
Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of the Islamic Emirate announced in a
newsletter that the mining operation was officially inaugurated on Thursday,
the 18th of Scorpio, by Shahabuddin Delawar, the acting head of the ministry.
The head
of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of the Islamic Emirate stated that over
30 years, this mine will be extracted by four domestic and foreign companies
and processed within the country.
According
to a press release from the Media Office of the Islamic Emirate in Herat
Province, Mr. Delawar stated that $5,570,000,000 has been invested in this
mine.
The head
of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of the Islamic Emirate added that the
majority of Afghanistan’s needs will be met through this mine, ensuring
economic progress for the country.
Sheikh
Shahabuddin Delawar further mentioned that with the oil and gas reserves in
Herat, the country’s situation will change, and the people of Afghanistan can
be confident that their economy will advance.
Meanwhile,
Noorahmad Islamjar, the governor of Herat Province in the Islamic Emirate,
stated that with the start of iron ore mining in Ghoryan, the residents of
Herat will be employed.
It
should be noted that the contract for the extraction of iron ore in Ghoryan,
Herat, was signed on the 9th of September of this year with four domestic and
foreign companies.
According
to reports, the first block of this mine’s contract has been awarded to
“Watan-e-Darakhshan” company, the second block to “Sahel Sharq-e-Middle East”
company, the third block of the Ghoryan iron mine to the national company
“Shamsh” and the fourth block’s extraction contract to “Bakhtar Steel” company.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/iron-mining-operations-commence-in-ghourian-herat/
------
Khorog
Afghan Consul Operates Under Taliban’s Foreign Affairs
Fidel
Rahmati
November
10, 2023
After
the Afghan Ambassador to Tajikistan tore up the introduction letter of a
Taliban diplomat, Naqibullah Dehghanzada, the acting head of the Afghan
consulate in the city of Khorog, Tajikistan, stated that this consulate
directly operates under the protection and supervision of the Taliban’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Zia
Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson of the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, on Thursday, shared a video of Naqibullah Dehghanzada on the social
media platform X, stating that the Afghan consulate in the city of Khorog
operates under the supervision of this group.
In a
recorded video, Naqibullah Dehghanzada, the acting head of the Afghan consulate
in Khorog, Tajikistan, addressed recent statements by Zaher Aghbar, the Afghan
Ambassador to Tajikistan.
Mr.
Dehghanzada considered Zaher Aghbar’s statements “irresponsible and devoid of
truth.” He clarified that the Afghan consulate located in Khorog, Tajikistan,
operates directly under the protection of the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and conducts its activities following its legal principles and
competencies.
The
Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently appointed an individual named
Faizullah as the first secretary at the Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan. Following
the introduction of this Taliban diplomat to the Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan,
Zaher Aghbar tore up the introduction letter during a press conference on
Tuesday.
Zaher
Aghbar stated that he would protect the Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan until a
legitimate government in Afghanistan is established. He called this embassy the
“trust of the Afghan people.”
Source: khaama.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/khorog-afghan-consul-operates-under-talibans-foreign-affairs/
-----
Raisi at
ECO Calls for Economic Support for Afghanistan, Inclusive Govt
Fatima
Adib
November
10, 2023
Ebrahim
Raisi, the president of Iran, called on ECO members to support economic
improvement and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
Speaking
at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Raisi said Iran is ready to
facilitate transit for any kind of humanitarian assistance to the people of
Afghanistan.
He also
stressed the need for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
“I want
to refer to Afghanistan, which is an important country in the neighborhood of
the Islamic Republic of Iran and also a main member of ECO,” Raisi said. “We
are still waiting for [the formation of] an inclusive, responsible, and
responsive government with effective existence of all ethnic groups in
Afghanistan. Of course, as we announced before, the ECO organization has to
attend to a supportive program for Afghanistan to help the noble people of the
country and to help with the reconstruction and economic development of that
country.”
Meanwhile,
speaking at the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Pakistan's caretaker
prime minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar highlighted the significance of Afghanistan
for regional connectivity and the execution of regional projects like
CASA-1000, the Trans-Afghan Railway and TAPI.
“We are
all aware of the fact that Afghanistan plays a critical role in regional
connectivity. Connectivity projects such as CASA-100, Trans-Afghan railways,
TAPI and others,” he said.
The
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, also stressed the importance of
stability in security in Afghanistan.
He also
said that Ankara had sent a shipment of 510 tons of food, health and clothing
materials to Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185968
-----
Mideast
Iranian
President to travel to Saudi Arabia to attend OIC Summit on Gaza crisis
Nov 11, 2023
TEHRAN:
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi will travel to Saudi Arabia to attend the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, where the issue of the
Palestine and Gaza crisis will be discussed, Islamic Republic News Agency
(IRNA) reported.
He will
depart for Saudi Arabia on Saturday to participate in the OIC summit in Riyadh.
The summit addressing the conflict between Israel and Hamas is set to take
place on Sunday, according to IRNA report.
The
Iranian foreign ministry has sent a team of experts to Saudi Arabia that will
assess a document set to be released at the OIC Summit on the Gaza crisis.
Iran's Ambassador
to Riyadh Alireza Enayati said that the Iranian team has arrived in Riyadh,
IRNA reported. Taking to X, Enayati stated that the officials will assess the
document of the OIC's extraordinary meeting. The OIC meeting will take place
based on proposals made by several Islamic nations, including Iran. The OIC
held its ministerial meeting in Gaza on October 18, 11 days after Israel began
its counter-offensive against Hamas.
Earlier
on November 9, Iran president Ebrahim Raisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep
Tayyip Erdogan held talks on the Gaza crisis. The two leaders met on the
sidelines of the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in
Uzbekistan's Tashkent on Thursday.
Raisi
and Erdogan agreed that effective and practical decisions need to be made to
help resolve the Gaza crisis when the OIC will meet in Riyadh on November 11 to
discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The two
leaders said that the Israeli bombardment of Gaza should be immediately
stopped. Raisi stressed that the issue of Palestine and crimes committed by
Israel against people in Gaza are the most important concerns of Iran, Turkey
and the Islamic world.
Follow
Israel-Hamas war live updates
According
to IRNA report, Ebrahim Raisi and Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about bilateral
relations between Turkey and Iran, with Raisi describing them as developing.
Earlier
this week, Iran foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian wrote a letter to the
BRICS countries, including India, urging them to call for a halt in the attacks
on the Gaza strip. The countries that are part of the bloc are Brazil, Russia,
India, China, and South Africa.
Iran was
admitted to the group during the Brics summit in South Africa in August this
year, along with five new members from 2024 onwards: Argentina, Ethiopia,
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The
ministry of foreign affairs of Iran stated in a news release, "Iran's
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, sent separate letters to
the foreign ministers of the Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and
South Africa), expressing deep concern over the atrocities committed by the
Zionist regime in Palestine."
"He
urged for proactive and constructive intervention by the Brics member countries
to halt the attacks in the Gaza Strip, prevent crimes against humanity, and
hold the aggressors accountable," the release added.
In the
letters sent by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to the Brics countries, he has called
the Israeli retaliatory actions "part of the crimes committed against the
oppressed Palestinian people."
"The
letters highlighted the illegal usurpation of Palestinian lands, mass killings,
destruction of homes and farms, assaults on medical facilities, as well as the
arrest, torture, and humiliation and attacking the dignity of men, women, and
even children by the occupying regime. Amirabdollahian stressed that these
actions are part of the crimes committed against the oppressed Palestinian
people," Iran Foreign Ministry release read.
Calling
for prioritisation of situation in Gaza, Iranian foreign minister emphasised
the role of Brics and other significant post-western alliances like the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Eurasian Union, SICA, Asean, and others.
Amirabdollahian urged these organisations to prioritize the dire situation in
Gaza.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/iranian-president-to-travel-to-saudi-arabia-to-attend-oic-summit-on-gaza-crisis/articleshow/105139523.cms
------
Gazans
sheltering at Al-Shafaa hospital face ‘unbearable’ conditions
November
11, 2023
GAZA:
Al-Shafaa Medical Complex in the Gaza Strip has become a refuge for more than
50,000 displaced Palestinians. Many of them are in makeshift tents outside,
others have squeezed into the corridors and waiting rooms, even though the
hospital is a target for the ongoing Israeli onslaught that started over a
month ago.
Al-Shafaa,
the largest medical center in Gaza, has been stretched to the limit. Doctors
are battling to treat thousands of serious injuries despite severe shortages of
medical resources, clean water and power.
The
situation is exacerbated by the Israel Defense Forces’ repeated bombardment of
the hospital and its ambulances under the pretext of eradicating Hamas. The
most recent attack took place early on Friday, targeting the outpatient clinic,
the obstetrics department, and the courtyard, leaving several Palestinians dead
or injured.
Israel
has claimed Hamas is using Al-Shafaa as its main command center, but the
militant group denies that it uses hospitals for military purposes.
The IDF
has also bombed several other hospitals in Gaza in recent days, including
Al-Nasr Children’s Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital.
Displaced
Palestinians at Al-Shafaa are finding the situation unbearable. They have been
battling harsh conditions due to overcrowding, a lack of basic necessities
including clean water, and power shortages. The medical center relies on weak
solar-powered generators.
Abu
Mohammad Al-Mallahi, who has been staying in a makeshift tent with his family
outside the hospital, told Arab News that clean drinking water is hard to come
by, and families have not been receiving any food parcels.
“Gaza
has been divided into three parts, and we are in the area where there are no
vegetables at all,” he said. “Even flour and bread — basically everything — is
hard to obtain.”
People
are taking life “one day at a time,” he added, wondering during the day if they
will make it until nighttime, and knowing at night that they might not wake up
in the morning.
“We are
innocent civilians, and there are children and women here,” he said. “We call
on the United Nations to come to our aid.”
The
water shortage has forced people to drink seawater, putting thousands at risk
of dehydration and disease.
Abu
Mahmoud Hanniyyeh, whose family has also sought refuge outside Al-Shafaa, told
Arab News they have resorted to drinking seawater.
“There
is no drinking water, no food, no telephone or internet connection, and no
access to social media,” he said.
Umm
Rami, a displaced Gazan mother, said she has been craving a glass of clean
water, and that young children have been drinking salty water. She also
complained of a lack of medication and of food for children.
“Ill
people cannot receive treatment,” she told Arab News. “I could not receive any
(medical) treatment since midday yesterday.”
She
added: “Death is more merciful than this life.”
At least
10,800 Palestinians have been killed, and many more wounded, since Israel’s
assault began on October 7, when Hamas fighters carried out a surprise
incursion into Israel. More than 2,650 remain missing.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2406891/middle-east
------
Turkish
President Erdogan heads to Riyadh for joint Arab-Islamic summit on Gaza
Zafer
Fatih Beyaz
11.11.2023
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday headed to the Saudi capital Riyadh
for an extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit to discuss the situation in the
Gaza Strip.
His
plane took off from the Esenboga Airport in Ankara at 9:30 a.m. local time.
Erdogan is accompanied by Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, National
Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Chief Advisor to the
President Ambassador Akif Cagatay Kilic.
The
oil-rich kingdom was scheduled to host two summits of the Arab League and the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Erdogan
will attend the 8th Extraordinary Islamic Summit to discuss Israel's attacks on
the occupied Palestinian lands, especially Gaza, and the Palestinian people.
Representatives
of the Islamic world will exchange ideas about concrete steps to be taken
regarding the recent developments.
He is
also expected to hold bilateral meetings with the participating leaders.
For
days, the Israeli army has been escalating its attacks against hospitals in the
Gaza Strip, launching violent raids that led to deaths and injuries, in
addition to great concern about the fate of the displaced people in those
hospitals.
On
Friday evening, Israeli aircraft intensified their attacks against hospitals in
the Gaza Strip. They continued their raids in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa
Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, Al-Quds Hospital and
Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital.
Israel
has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip – including
hospitals, residences, and houses of worship – since a cross-border attack by
the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.
At least
11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women.
The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,200, according to official
figures.]
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-president-erdogan-heads-to-riyadh-for-joint-arab-islamic-summit-on-gaza/3050429
------
'While
Israel is refraining from harming civilians, Hamas is using them as human
shields': Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
Nov 11,
2023
TEL
AVIV: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to French president
Emmanuel Macron's call for Israel to stop attacking the civilians in Gaza,
Netanyahu said that Hamas is responsible for these deaths, and not Israel, The
Times of Israel reported.
He
further said that Israel is doing everything possible to avoid harming Gazan
civilians, whereas, Hamas is doing everything to prevent them from leaving for
safe zones.
"While
Israel is doing everything to refrain from harming civilians and calling on
them to leave areas of fighting, Hamas-ISIS is doing everything to prevent them
from leaving for safe areas and is using them as human shields," Netanyahu
said in a statement.
Israel-Hamas
war: Follow live updates
Israeli
PM added that Hamas is "cruelly holding our hostages - woman, children and
the elderly - in a crime against humanity" and "uses schools, mosques
and hospitals as terror command centres."
Moreover,
he said that today Hamas is committing crimes in Gaza, tomorrow it will spread
such attacks in other nations as well, according to The Times of Israel.
"These
crimes that Hamas-ISIS is coming today in Gaza, will tomorrow be committed in
Paris, New York and everywhere around the world. World leaders must condemn
Hamas-ISIS and not Israel," Netanyahu added.
Reportedly,
the IDF's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee on Friday shared a post on X,
stating that the rocket that hit Al-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip, which
left many dead and injured, was caused by a "failed launch by the
terrorist organizations that tried to fire at Israel", adding,
"According to IDF systems, rocket-propelled grenades hit the
hospital."
The IDF
also gave an operational update saying that the 401st Brigade had eliminated
approximately 150 terrorists and gained control over Hamas terrorist
strongholds in northern Gaza. The targets included, Arms production site
Launching stations and an underground network.
Meanwhile,
on Friday, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat revised its death toll
of last month's Hamas attacks to nearly 1200, reported The Times of Israel.
Israel
has revised the death toll of last month's Hamas attacks from 1400 to roughly
1,200, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat tells The Times of Israel.
However,
he refused to explain the reason behind the updated death toll.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/while-israel-is-refraining-from-harming-civilians-hamas-is-using-them-as-human-shields-israeli-pm-benjamin-netanyahu/articleshow/105138213.cms
------
Lebanese
delegation, led by PM Mikati, participates in joint Islamic-Arab summit
2023-11-11
Lebanon's
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to
participate in the extraordinary joint Islamic-Arab summit held Saturday in
Riyadh.
He was
received at King Khalid International Airport by the Deputy Governor of Riyadh
Region, Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to
Lebanon Walid Bukhari, and Lebanon's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Fawzi Kabbara.
The
Lebanese delegation to the summit includes Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib,
Agriculture Minister Abbas Al Haj Hassan, Lebanon's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Fawzi Kabbara, and Lebanon's Ambassador to Egypt and the Arab League, Ali
al-Halabi.
Source: lbcgroup.tv
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the full text of the original
https://www.lbcgroup.tv/ne
------
OIC
summit on Gaza war litmus test for Muslim body’s credibility, relevance
11 November 2023
As the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid the Israeli regime’s genocidal campaign
assumes alarming proportions, Muslim nations are increasingly facing pressure
to act fast and stop the Zionist killing machine in the besieged coastal
territory.
Israel’s
continuous bombardment of the strip since October 7, the crippling siege placed
on the territory and its ground offensive has already killed more than 11,000
Palestinians, mostly women and children.
While
Western officials have come out ferociously in defense of the child-murdering
regime, Muslim leaders, especially those who have in recent years opened
channels of communication with Tel Aviv, have found themselves at a crossroads
– whether to defend the indefensible or take the right path.
Many
countries have called on the Israeli regime to immediately end its aggression
and to allow humanitarian aid to reach the blockaded territory, but the regime
has rebuffed the calls and continued the slaughter of Palestinians.
Amid the
extraordinary situation that is emerging, the Jeddah-based Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is set to hold a summit of the heads of state on
Sunday to discuss the brutal Israeli assault on Gaza and ways to put an end to
it.
The
57-member bloc has frequently spoken out against attacks on civilians in Gaza.
Last month, it held an extraordinary meeting on the crisis, which called for an
immediate halt to Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians.
This
week, the OIC lashed out at a recent threat by an extremist Israeli minister to
use nukes against the Gaza Strip, saying it reflects “organized terrorism and
the crime of genocide committed daily by the Israeli occupation.”
The
world has so far failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with the conflict,
as reflected by the US vetoing the UN Security Council resolution calling for
an end to Israel’s attacks, effectively green-lighting more atrocities by the
regime.
In the
absence of a functional global body reining in the regime, the onus lies on
organizations like the OIC to mount pressure on Israel to end the bloodletting.
Why is
it a make-or-break moment?
ost of
the 57 members of the organization are expected to attend the meeting, with
many heads of state having already arrived in Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s
President Ebrahim Raeisi is also attending the summit. It will be the official
visit to the Arab kingdom by an Iranian head of state since 2012, further
consolidating the China-brokered normalization agreement between Tehran and
Riyadh signed in March.
Nearly a
month ago, the Israeli war on Gaza was also the topic of the first phone
conversation between Raeisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, in
which they discussed the need to put an end to Israeli war crimes.
Iran was
the first country to call for the OIC summit to discuss the Israeli onslaught
on Gaza, with both President Raeisi and Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian raising the matter with leaders of the regional and Muslim
countries.
The
meeting will also be attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who
might want to use the opportunity to reassert Saudi Arabia’s role in the region
and the Muslim world.
Amid
Israel’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip, governments around the world are
waking up to the reality of the apartheid and severing ties or recalling their
envoys to Tel Aviv.
Also in
attendance will be Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has recently hit
out at Israel in the wake of the developments in Gaza despite his country
becoming a close ally of the Tel Aviv regime in recent years.
Expectations
of the meeting are high. President Raeisi has called for “effective action” by
the OIC to halt Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip immediately and to provide
humanitarian aid to the crisis-hit region.
In a
meeting with Erdogan on Thursday, the Iranian president warned that if the OIC
summit fails to help the Palestinian people, the war will expand to the region
as people would realize there is no other option but to take action themselves.
Erdogan,
for his part, urged OIC member states to raise voices on Gaza and expressed
hope that the decisions of the OIC summit could be a major step towards ending
Israel's aggression.
“I attach
great importance to the OIC summit. In Riyadh, we will both push for a
ceasefire and carry out preliminary work regarding procedures and principles,”
The Turkish leader said.
What are
the options on the table?
OIC
members differ on the ultimate solution to the Palestine conflict, but they are
on the same page about what should be done urgently, which is a ceasefire.
Saudi
Arabia still advocates its 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which purportedly offers
a “peace deal” under which all Arab states would recognize Israel in return for
a Palestinian state created along the 1967 borders.
Iran
doesn’t believe the Arab Peace Initiative is a viable solution to the conflict
and instead has proposed a referendum on the fate of the Palestinian lands
involving all the original inhabitants of those lands and their descendants,
stressing that this would allow people to enjoy their right to
self-determination.
Turkey
has talked of a multilateral security arrangement for Palestine and the
creation of an international protection force to guarantee the rights of the
poor nation and is likely to push for its initiative in the meeting.
But what
practical measures the Muslim leaders are likely to agree on to address the
crisis?
Iran has
already urged OIC members to impose an oil embargo on Israel, as well as other
sanctions. Earlier this month, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei called on governments to stop the exports of oil and other
commodities to the usurping regime.
This
proposal has an important precedent. Fifty years ago, in 1973, Muslim nations
imposed an oil embargo on the US and its allies, which placed heavy pressure on
the regime and its Western backers.
Interestingly,
OIC member countries Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan supply a big portion of Israel’s
energy consumption. Egypt, Jordan and Turkey are among other Muslim countries
that have close economic ties with the regime.
While
the Western states continue to turn a blind eye to the Israeli regime’s
genocidal campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip, some world leaders have
unequivocally condemned it.
Also,
there’ve been calls for OIC countries to sever relations with the regime and
expel all Israeli ambassadors.
The
Hamas operation temporarily pushed Saudi Arabia away from the Israeli regime,
disrupting the so-called normalization talks brokered by the US.
Some
countries have called for the UN and the International Criminal Court (ICC) to
investigate war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza and to prosecute Benjamin
Netanyahu and his military aides.
This
will significantly raise the cost of such atrocities for the regime, deterring
similar crimes in the future.
Are
Muslims ready to pay a cost?
There’s
no stronger factor than Palestine uniting the Muslim world, and Israeli
atrocities have reached almost unprecedented levels. Can Muslim nations agree
on some serious action forcing a change in the regime’s tack?
The OIC
has played a role in international conflicts, notably over Bosnia in the 1990s,
when it threw its weight behind Muslims who were under attack by Serbian forces
and helped save their lives.
In the
present context, stopping the bloodshed would save thousands of Palestinian
lives and also mean the victory of the Palestinian resistance, which would in
turn push Israel to stop its genocidal attacks and admit defeat.
At the
same time, OIC member states might have political, economic or strategic
reservations over the proposals, particularly considering the influence the
West wields over them. Notably, Saudi Arabia would likely be curbed by its desire
to protect its relations with the US.
But if
they announce unflinching support for Palestine and express readiness to pay
the cost of practical measures against Israel, it can pave the way towards a
fair and lasting settlement of the long-running conflict, in favor of
Palestinians.
That
normalization deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia helped promote stability in
the region, the OIC meeting can serve as another step towards further
consolidation of that rapprochement and further easing of tensions in the
region.
Such a
deal would also restore OIC’s credibility and allow it to gain a stronger
international foothold to be able to do what it was established for.
The
OIC’s establishment in 1969 was triggered by an arson attack against the
Al-Aqsa Mosque, and now the conflict over the third most important holiest site
in Islam can again unite the Muslim world around the Palestinian cause and be a
turning point in the history of the Palestine conflict.
The
Sunday summit could help the OIC return to its role as a robust political and
economic bloc that was established to protect the interests of Muslim nations.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/11/714395/oic-summit-litmus-test-muslim-body-credibility-relevance
-------
Gaza’s
health system ‘on its knees,’ WHO chief warns
November
11, 2023
UNITED
NATIONS, US: The health care system in the Gaza Strip is “on its knees,” the
head of the World Health Organization warned Friday, noting that half of the
territory’s 36 hospitals are no longer functioning.
Speaking
to the Security Council, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation on
the ground as desperate: “Hospital corridors crammed with the injured, the
sick, the dying; morgues overflowing; surgery without anesthesia; tens of
thousands of displaced people sheltering at hospitals.”
“The
health system is on its knees, and yet somehow is continuing to deliver lifesaving
care,” he said.
Tedros
said there had been more than 250 attacks on health care — such as strikes on
hospitals, clinics, ambulances and patients — in Gaza and the West Bank, and 25
such attacks in Israel in the conflict triggered by Hamas’s shock October 7
assault.
“The
best way to support those health workers and the people they serve is by giving
them the tools they need to deliver that care — medicines, medical equipment
and fuel for hospital generators,” he said, calling for an increase in aid
trickling in through the Rafah crossing with Egypt and repeating the UN’s call
for a cease-fire.
“I
understand what the children of Gaza must be going through, because as a child,
I went through the same thing,” said the WHO chief, who is from Ethiopia’s
Tigray region.
“The
sound of gunfire and shells whistling through the air; the smell of smoke after
they struck; tracer bullets in the night sky; the fear; the pain; the loss —
these things have stayed with me throughout my life.”
He also
denounced the “horrific, barbaric and unjustifiable attacks” carried out by
Hamas fighters, and demanded the release of hostages held by the militant
group.
The head
of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Marwan Jilani, addressed the Security
Council by video, calling on members to “do all you can to spare further deaths
and sufferings.” The council is divided on the war and has failed to issue a
resolution on it.
He
highlighted the dire situation at the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, which the
Red Crescent said was fired on Friday by Israeli snipers.
“Our
utmost concern is the direct threat to the lives of all those wounded and sick,
together with tens of thousands of civilians, including thousands of children,”
Jilani said.
“They
are looking at you, imploring you to act to stop another possible massacre
unfolding.”
The
Security Council started its meeting with a minute of silence to honor the
victims of the Hamas assault, the civilians killed in Israel’s retaliatory
strikes on Gaza, as well as the journalists and UN personnel who have died in
the war.
The
International Committee of the Red Cross said that its teams in recent days had
distributed critical supplies to medical structures across Gaza, and had seen
“horrendous images that have now gotten worse due to sharpened hostilities.”
This was
severely affecting hospitals and ambulances and taking a heavy toll on
civilians, patients, and medical staff, it said in a statement.
“Overstretched,
running on thin supplies and increasingly unsafe, the health care system in
Gaza has reached a point of no return.”
Medical
facilities and personnel across Gaza have repeatedly come under attack since
Israel’s war with Hamas erupted just over a month ago.
Such
attacks have dealt “a heavy blow to the health care system in Gaza, which is
severely weakened after more than one month of heavy fighting,” ICRC said.
“The
destruction affecting hospitals in Gaza is becoming unbearable and needs to
stop,” William Schomburg, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gaza, said in
Friday’s statement.
“The
lives of thousands of civilians, patients and medical staff are at risk.”
The ICRC
pointed out that children’s hospitals had not been spared from the violence,
including the Al Nasser Hospital, which had been heavily damaged by hostilities
and Al Rantisi Hospital, which had been forced to cease operations.
“Our
partner the Palestine Red Crescent Society or PRCS, has been working
relentlessly to continue operating the Al-Quds Hospital, as it desperately runs
out of the necessary means amidst increasing hostilities,” it said.
Gaza’s
largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which was hit by a strike on Friday, is meanwhile
not only overwhelmed with patients but also now hosting thousands of displaced
families.
“Any
military operation around hospitals must consider the presence of civilians,
who are protected under international humanitarian law,” ICRC said.
“The
rules of war are clear. Hospitals are specially protected facilities under
international humanitarian law,” it said.
The
protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers and medical personnel,
“is not
only a
legal obligation but a moral imperative to preserve human life in these
terrible times.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2406821/middle-east
------
Jerusalem
Hospital in Gaza to cease operations in 3 hours: Palestine Red Crescent
Gulsen
Topcu
11.11.2023
The
Palestine Red Crescent said Friday that all services at the Jerusalem Hospital
in the northern Gaza Strip will cease within three hours because of a lack of
fuel, which it attributed to the Israeli blockade.
A
statement emphasized that in such a situation, 500 patients and the injured
would be deprived of health services. It said patients in intensive care, as
well as babies in incubators, would lose their lives.
The
Palestine Red Crescent had previously reported that gunfire had been directed
at the intensive care unit of the Jerusalem Hospital.
Israel
has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip -- including
hospitals, residences, and houses of worship -- since a cross-border attack by
the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.
At least
11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women.
The
Israeli death toll is nearly 1,400, according to official figures.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/jerusalem-hospital-in-gaza-to-cease-operations-in-3-hours-palestine-red-crescent/3050366
------
Israel
restrict Palestinians from Al Aqsa Mosque for fifth week
November
10, 2023
Israeli
authorities continue to impose strict restrictions on Palestinians, banning
them from entering Al Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem for Friday
prayers for the fifth consecutive week.
However,
an official with the Waqf Department in Jerusalem told Anadolu that only 4,000
Palestinians, the majority of whom were elderly, had managed to reach Al Aqsa
Mosque to perform the Friday prayers.
The official,
who preferred not to be named, added that the mosque appeared to be empty due
to strict Israeli control of the streets.
Since
early Friday morning, Israeli forces have been heavily deployed across occupied
East Jerusalem, particularly in the Old City and the entrances leading to the
mosque.
Hundreds
of Palestinians were forced to perform Friday prayers in the streets near the
Old City area after being barred from entering Al Aqsa Mosque.
Hundreds
of Palestinians had no choice but to perform their Friday prayers on the
streets due to Israeli restrictions. / Photo: AFP.
The
Israeli side did not comment on the reasons for restricting Muslims’ access to
Al Aqsa Mosque for prayers.
The
Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the besieged Gaza, which
has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas on
October 7.
At least
10,812 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women.
The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official
figures.
Source: trtworld.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/israel-restrict-palestinians-from-al-aqsa-mosque-for-fifth-week-15767483
----
UN
rights chief calls for probe, rights groups sue Israel at ICC for Gaza
‘genocide’
11
November 2023
The
United Nations human rights chief has called for an investigation into Israel's
use of "high-impact explosive weapons" in the Gaza Strip as the
regime presses ahead with its brutal onslaught against the besieged area for
more than a month.
Volker
Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, made the call in a
news conference during a visit to Jordan's capital of Amman on Friday and said
the high-impact explosive weapons used by Israel had caused indiscriminate
destruction in the Gaza Strip.
"The
extensive Israeli bombardment of Gaza, including the use of high-impact
explosive weapons in densely populated areas ... is clearly having a
devastating humanitarian and human rights impact," Turk told reporters in
Amman, without specifying what weapons he was referring to.
"The
attacks must be investigated ... We have very serious concerns that these
amount to disproportionate attacks in breach of international humanitarian
law."
Israel
waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Palestinian resistance groups launched
the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories in response
to the Israeli regime’s intensified crimes against Palestinians.
The
Palestinian resistance movements of Hamas and Islamic jihad fired about 5,000
missiles at the occupied territories, killing at least 1,400 Israeli troops and
settlers, also taking captive some 250 Israelis during their attack.
Since
then, the occupying regime has embarked on an incessant bombardment of the Gaza
Strip, with the Gaza-based health ministry announcing on Friday that 11,078
people, including 4,506 children, have been killed, and 27,490 others have
sustained injuries.
The Tel
Aviv regime has also blocked access to water, food, and electricity in Gaza,
plunging the coastal area into a humanitarian crisis.
Amid a
relentless Israeli war, the International Committee of the Red Cross says the
Gaza Strip
Israel
must protect Palestinians in West Bank
Speaking
at the news conference, Turk called on the Israeli regime to take immediate
action to safeguard Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as they face
ramped-up violence in the wake of the occupying entity’s ongoing onslaught on
the besieged Gaza Strip.
"I
also appeal, as a matter of urgency, for Israeli authorities to take immediate
measures, to take steps to ensure the protection of Palestinians in the West
Bank, who are being on a daily basis subjected to violence from Israeli forces
and settlers, ill treatment, arrests, evictions, intimidation and
humiliation," Turk told reporters.
Highlighting
the grim statistics, the UN human rights chief said 176 Palestinians, including
43 children and one woman, had lost their lives in incidents involving Israeli
security forces since October 7, when the regime launched a bombardment
campaign against Gaza.
At least
eight Palestinians fell victim to violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers.
Turk
underlined Israel's responsibility to thoroughly investigate all incidents of
violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank promptly and
effectively, providing victims with the remedies they deserve.
The UN
human rights chief condemned the prevailing impunity for such violations by the
Israeli regime, denouncing it as "unacceptable, dangerous, and a clear
violation of Israel's obligation under international human rights law."
The
escalating violence in the occupied West Bank has raised concerns that the
region could evolve into a broader conflict as the Israeli regime has for the
past 35 days been pounding the besieged Gaza Strip with missiles.
At least
50 people were killed after Israeli missiles and artillery hit a school in the
north of the Gaza Strip that was sheltering internally displaced people.
Palestinian
rights groups submit anti-Israel lawsuit at ICC
In
another development on Friday, three Palestinian rights organizations filed a
lawsuit in the International Criminal Court (ICC) and called on the institution
to probe Israel for enforcing an apartheid system and committing genocide in
Gaza.
Lodged
by Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the lawsuit
stressed the need for immediate “attention to the continuous barrage of Israeli
air strikes on densely populated civilian areas within the Gaza Strip.”
The
legal document also urged the ICC to broaden its ongoing investigation into war
crimes by examining issues such as “the suffocating siege imposed on [Gaza],
the forced displacement of its population, the use of toxic gas, and the
deprivation of essential necessities like food, water, fuel, and electricity.”
These
actions, as asserted in the lawsuit, constitute “war crimes” and “crimes
against humanity,” encompassing allegations of “genocide.” Moreover, the three
organizations called for the issuance of arrest warrants targeting Israel’s
President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Military Affairs
Minister Yoav Gallant.
Since
2021, the ICC has been investigating Israel’s violations of international law
in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly looking into the
occupation’s possible war crimes and crimes against humanity from 2014 onwards.
Israel
is not a member of the ICC and rejects the court’s jurisdiction. The illegal
entity has previously refused to formally engage with the international
tribunal’s investigations.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/11/714393/United-Nations-Volker-Turk-Palestinians-West-Bank
-------
Southeast Asia
Israel
boycott: Don’t let innocent M’sians suffer, says ex-MCA veep
11 Nov
2023
PETALING
JAYA – The effects of the boycott against products and goods with alleged ties
to Israel have caused great distress and suffering to innocent victims, said
Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.
He said
it was time for Malaysians to look at the bigger picture and the adverse impact
it has on fellow citizens who have become innocent victims.
“Muslim
businessmen, employees, and related industry workers and their families are
made to suffer or are punished.
“We
cannot continue to be blind as to how badly this is impacting our own people on
the home front,” he said in a statement.
Ti said
the inflammatory attacks and hate speeches are getting more vicious, toxic, and
hateful, and social media has unfortunately aggravated the situation.
“Feeling
helpless and frustrated, some individuals and organisations are reacting
actively or violently by hitting out at perceived and reachable targets without
consideration for fairness to their targets.
“Politicians
and politicians ‘wannabes’ are riding on the bandwagon of a global movement to
boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel.
“Local
workers at McDonald’s are also indirect victims of the Israel-Gaza war as they
have been subjected to mental and emotional abuse.
“They
have been harassed, verbally insulted, and even been called Jews,” said the
former MCA vice-president.
He
pointed out that the local McDonald’s franchise holders were 100% Muslim-owned,
while a majority of the affected employees are Muslims too, some of whom are
deaf or disabled and have families that are dependent on their income.
Several
reports had recently surfaced over how the boycott against products and
services linked to Israel has impacted locals, especially those working as Grab
delivery riders, and employees of McDonald’s, Starbucks and Burger King.
Delivery
riders claimed that their income had dropped drastically due to the boycott,
while several reports claimed that part-time staff at McDonald’s were asked to
stop working due to a drop in business.
“Where
is the humanity in us when we are indirectly punishing our own people and
industries which are totally innocent and unconnected to the conflict?
“Are we
going to continue punishing our people for something that is totally beyond
their control and not their doing?” asked Ti.
He said
that while he fully supports the peace process, Malaysians should not act
irrationally and let their anger and emotions take over, causing fellow
citizens to suffer. – The Vibes, November 11, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99905/israel-boycott-dont-let-innocent-msians-suffer-says-ex-mca-veep
------
PM
extends Deepavali greetings to M’sian Hindus
10 Nov 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today extended Deepavali
greetings to Hindus, who will celebrate the festival on Sunday.
He said
the Deepavali celebration is one of the paths to developing a Madani Malaysia
through mutual respect and harmonious ties among races.
The
cultural diversity in this country must continue to be defended and protected,
he said.
“Any
attempt to weaken this pillar of society must be thwarted with high values and
morals,” he said in a statement.
The
prime minister also said that the unity government will ensure the
socioeconomic development of all citizens, more equal wealth distribution and
assistance to the needy be delivered accurately and efficiently.
Anwar
said he will also ensure the welfare and standard of living of the people,
especially the Hindu community, continue to be improved and protected in
ensuring that the prosperity of the country is enjoyed fairly and equitably by
the people.
The
prime minister also quoted a line from the “Thirukural” (Tamil classical text):
“Happiness that stems from ethics or good governance is a true blessing, and
joy caused by an unethical attitude is suffering or does not bring sustainable
happiness.”
He said
Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Lights, signifies the triumph of good
over evil, light over darkness, and power of knowledge over ignorance and
arrogance.
“Happy
Deepavali to all Malaysian Hindus,” he added. – Bernama, November 10, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99901/pm-extends-deepavali-greetings-to-msian-hindus
------
Retired
soldier in Sabah gets 20 years, six strokes for sexual assaults against niece,
aged 12
11 Nov
2023
KOTA KINABALU,
Nov 11 — A retired soldier was jailed for a total of 20 years and ordered to be
whipped six times by the Sessions Court here yesterday for two counts of
committing sexual physical assaults against his little niece.
Judge
Amir Shah Amir Hassan imposed the sentence on the 57-year-old accused after he
admitted to both the changes under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences
Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 14 and read together with
Section 16, both of the same Act.
On the
first to the second counts, the accused was sentenced to eight years’ jail plus
one stroke of the cane each.
The
court also imposed additional jail sentences of two years and two strokes of
the rattan for each of the charges.
Both the
jail terms and the additional jail sentences are to run consecutively.
However,
the jail terms for both the charges are to be served concurrently from the date
of arrest which means that the accused will serve 10 years’ jail only.
The
accused, who was unrepresented, admitted to touching the
12-year-and-two-month-old victim’s breasts and private parts at a gravel road
near a village in Papar in August.
He is
facing another rape charge of raping the victim at the same place and day.
The case
will be mentioned back on December 12.
The
court heard that the victim had sought help from her teacher to send her home
after school as she was afraid to follow his uncle (the accused), who was
supposed to fetch her.
She
confided to her teacher that his uncle, who had been fetching her from school
since early this year, had touched her body.
The
teacher had brought up the matter to the village head and the victim’s mother
was informed.
A police
report was lodged by the victim’s mother against the accused, who is the brother
of her late husband. — Borneo Post Online
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/11/retired-soldier-in-sabah-gets-20-years-six-strokes-for-sexual-assaults-against-niece-aged-12/101481
------
M'sia
sends second shipment of aid to Palestine
11 Nov
2023
SEPANG:
Malaysia’s second shipment of humanitarian aid for Palestinians through Ops
Ihsan departed for El-Arish International Airport, Egypt via a special chartered
cargo flight on Friday (Nov 10) night.
The
cargo plane carrying 20 tonnes of medical supplies and goods for babies took
off at about 11 pm from the Cargo Terminal of Kuala Lumpur International
Airport (KLIA) here.
The
first shipment involving goods weighing 20 tonnes was made on Nov 3, and the
shipments are part of 50 tonnes of goods totalling more than RM7 million
collected through Ops Ihsan.
The
remaining 10 tonnes of goods are expected to be delivered soon.
Once the
aid arrives in Egypt, it will be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent
Society, acting as a partner to bring them into Gaza through the Rafah border.
Deputy
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof who witnessed the sending-off,
expressed his appreciation to the people of Malaysia, non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), airlines and logistics personnel who made the
humanitarian aid mission a success.
Meanwhile,
he said Malaysia is ready to send more rubber gloves to the medical teams in
the Gaza Strip.
"We
(Malaysia) were informed that they are in urgent need of rubber gloves and we
are still waiting for confirmation of the actual amount they need,” he told
reporters.
Ops
Ihsan is an initiative launched by the Foreign Ministry together with more than
50 NGOs including Global Peace Mission Malaysia, Mercy Malaysia, BeVital,
MyAqsa Defenders, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), Persatuan Wadah
Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia (WADAH), Cinta Gaza Malaysia and Malaysian Relief
Agency (MRA). – Bernama
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/11/m039sia-sends-second-shipment-of-aid-to-palestine
------
Electricity
at Indonesian hospital in Gaza cut off
November
11, 2023
GAZA
CITY: The electricity was cut off at the Indonesian Hospital in the Jabalia
region in northern Gaza, where thousands of displaced Palestinians, as well as
the wounded and sick, are taking shelter.
The
generators stopped running due to a fuel depletion and the hospital was plunged
into darkness, Anadolu Agency cited the Health Ministry.
Meanwhile,
displaced Palestinians have cited humiliation from Israeli forces as they fled
south amid an ongoing military assault on the Gaza Strip.
Thousands
of Gazans moved south along Salahuddin Road out of Gaza City, the only passage
for civilians escaping a massive Israeli bombardment on the Palestinian
territory. Most fled on foot, carrying what they could.
"We
were asked to raise white flags as we walked," a woman, who declined to
give her name, told Anadolu.
"We
were mocked at and humiliated by Israeli forces, who opened fire toward
us," she said.
She said
several young Palestinians were detained by Israeli forces as they moved south.
The
Palestinian woman said her husband was injured when an Israeli missile struck
nearby as they went south.
"We
do not know where to go. We are a family of 40 people. Among us is a kidney
patient. She is usually treated at Al-Shifa Hospital. She can't go there due to
the Israeli bombardment, which puts her life in danger," she added
One
migrant termed the situation "disastrous."
"Our
situation is very tragic," he told Anadolu.
Israel
has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip – including
hospitals, residences, and houses of worship since Oct 7.
At least
11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women.
– BERNAMA-ANADOLU
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2023/11/977308/electricity-indonesian-hospital-gaza-cut
----
Africa
Over
half of Sudan’s population needs humanitarian aid after nearly 7 months of war,
UN says
11th
November 2023
UNITED
NATIONS: Almost seven months of war between Sudan’s military and a powerful
paramilitary group have left a wave of destruction with over half the
population in need of humanitarian aid and raised fears of a repeat of the
deadly ethnic conflict in Darfur 20 years ago.
“What is
happening is verging on pure evil,” the United Nations humanitarian coordinator
in the African nation said Friday.
Sudan
has fallen out of the spotlight since it was engulfed in chaos starting in
mid-April, when simmering tensions between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah
Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Gen. Mohamed
Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open warfare.
But
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the resident UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan,
told a United Nations news conference that “the situation is horrific and grim”
and “frankly, we are running out of words to describe the horror of what is
happening.” She stressed that “the Sudan crisis has few equals.”
Fighting
is continuing to rage despite the warring parties signing a statement after
peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, pledging to protect civilians and provide
unimpeded humanitarian access to the 25 million people who require assistance,
she said. The warring generals made a commitment to establish a Humanitarian
Forum, with UN participation, Nkweta-Salami said. And after its launch on
Monday, the UN hopes that their commitments in Jeddah will be implemented.
She said
the decimated health sector — with more than 70% of health facilities in
conflict areas out of service — was extremely worrying giving outbreaks of
cholera, dengue, malaria and measles; reports of escalating violence against
civilians; and fighting spreading to Sudan’s breadbasket.
“What we
see is rising hunger,” the humanitarian coordinator said, and high levels of
malnutrition among children.
The UN
is targeting about 12 million people for aid — about half those in need. But
its appeal for $2.6 billion for the 2023 humanitarian response in Sudan is just
over a third funded, and Nkweta-Salami urged donors to provide additional
money.
She
stressed that access to things like hotspots along with protection of civilians
are key challenges.
Nkweta-Salami
was asked about her comment that “what is happening is verging on pure evil,”
and whether she was worried that ethnic-based violence in Sudan’s vast western
Darfur region would lead to a repetition of the conflict there in 2003.
It began
when rebels from Darfur’s ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community
launched an insurgency, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated
government in the capital, Khartoum. The government responded with a
scorched-earth campaign of aerial bombings and unleashed militias known as the
Janjaweed, who are accused of mass killings and rapes. Some 300,000 people died
in the Darfur conflict, 2.7 million were driven from their homes, and Darfur
became synonymous with genocide and war crimes, particularly by the Janjaweed.
Nkweta-Salami
said the UN is very worried about fighting in Darfur today and continues to
raise the alarm and engage the warring parties to uphold their obligations
under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.
“We will
continue to hope that we don’t find ourselves treading down the same path,” she
said.
But
fears are mounting that the horrors of Darfur 20 years ago are returning, with
reports of widespread killings, rapes and destruction of villages in the
region.
Nkweta-Salami
said she was particularly alarmed by violence against women, “and in some cases
young girls being raped in front of their mothers,” as well as the harrowing
stories about attacks and human rights abuses from refugees who fled Darfur to
neighboring Chad.
The UN
has heard of crimes against Darfur’s Masalit ethnic community, which “are
really egregious violations of human rights,” she said, “and it must stop.”
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Again,
terrorists attack Maulud procession in Katsina, kill one, abduct many
11
November 2023
Daredevil
terrorists have attacked another Maulud procession in Katsina State, killing
one person and injuring many others.
The incident,
which occurred yesterday early morning at Zagami village in Faskari Local
Council of the state, also saw several people abducted by the terrorists.
A
source, who asked not to be named, said many residents of the community had
gathered at an open space and started the Maulud procession without hitches.
He said
the procession was peaceful until past midnight when they suddenly heard
gunshots from several directions.
“Most of
us ran for our dear lives, and several people were unfortunate to sustain injuries
while trying to escape.
“One
person was killed while several others sustained gunshot wounds. The bandits
abducted several people but I’m not sure of their number,” he said.
It was
gathered that among those kidnapped were women, children and a Muslim cleric
from Ghana who had come to participate in the procession.
At time
of filing this report, spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, ASP
Abubakar Aliyu, was yet to respond to The Guardian’s inquiry about the
incident.
Meanwhile,
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has tasked the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on
increasing aerial surveillance to fight Boko Haram terrorists operating in his
state.
Buni, in
a statement by his spokesman, Mamman Mohammed, yesterday, in Damaturu, urged
the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, to sustain aerial
surveillance on terrorists’ hideouts and camps in the river basins and border
areas.
Mohammed
said that the governor’s visit to the CAS was to discuss areas of improvement
on sustained aerial surveillance to protect lives and property in the areas
occupied by the terrorists.
“The
recent attacks on soft targets in the border areas of the state calls for
improved surveillance,” the governor said.
He added
that the state shares local and international borders with some Nigerian states
and Niger Republic, stressing that this makes aerial surveillance inevitable to
improve security of lives and property, especially along the Kumadugu/Yobe
riverbanks and border areas with Niger Republic.
Buni
lamented terrorists’ recent infiltrations of the border communities resulting
in the loss of many lives and property.
He
listed the affected communities to include Geidam, Yusufari and Yunusari,
including the fisher-folk’s settlements along the riverbanks.
He, therefore,
assured of the readiness of his administration to partner with the security
agencies to fortify the state and deal with any possible threats.
Responding,
Abubakar promised the governor that the NAF was committed to safeguarding the
lives and property of every Nigerian.
According
to him, NAF has upscaled its operations in the state and the North East in
general to improve security in the region.
He,
therefore, called on the people to cooperate with security operatives for
collective and pragmatic approaches to overcome security challenges in
communities.
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://guardian.ng/news/again-terrorists-attack-maulud-procession-in-katsina-kill-one-abduct-many/
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Edo
Muslim community lauds Gov Obaseki’s giant strides
Idahosa
Moses
November
10, 2023
Muslim
community in Edo heas expressed appreciation to Governor Godwin Obaseki-
administration for its socio-economic and infrastructural development in Edo
during the past seven years.
The
Muslim faithful gave the commendation during the Alaghodaro Ju’maat Prayer at
the Benin Central, shortly before Friday Ju’maat Service
It would
be recalled that the 2023 Alaghodaro Summit, christened “The Edo Story:
Creating Shared Opportunities into the Future” is aimed at marking Obaseki’s
seven years of administration in the State.
Muslims
who spoke at the prayer session include Abdul-Fatai Enabulele, the Chief Imam
of Benin Central Mosque, and Zubairu
Dada Abubakar, Edo State Commissioner
for Youths and Humanitarian Affairs.
Others
are Sheik Ibrahim Oyarekhua, Chairman, Edo State Pilgrims Welfare Board,
Bashiru Kadiri, retired Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and
Natural Resources, and Tajudeen Suleiman, Chairman, Akoki-Edo local government
council among others.
Alhaji
Enabulele, while enumerating the several socio-economic and human-oriented
policies and programmes of the governor, maintained that the governor, no doubt
deserves more accolades.
He
prayed for a good successor of the governor who according to him would
consolidate on Obaseki’s laudable policies and programmes.
While
appealingly to the governor not to relent in his development strides in the
remaining part of his administration, the Chief Imam, however, prayed for the
governor’s good health for him to finish well.
On his
part, Ibrahim Oyarekhua, Chairman, Edo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, noted that
Muslims in the state must be grateful to the Governor for the support towards
Islamic activities in the state.
Alhaji
Oyarekhua said that apart from the governor’s good works that are visible for
the people to see, Governor Godwin Obaseki has also done a lot to make Muslims
in Edo happy.
“It is
on record that it is during the present government of Governor Godwin Obaseki
that the world-class Muslim Hajji camp was built and commissioned in the State.
“He has
never closed his eyes against anything that has to do with Islam activities.
“He is
the only governor who won an award recently as the best serving governor and
best friendly governor to Hajj management in Nigeria and in the whole of
Southern states.
“The
governor was honoured with the award by an independent body known as
Independent Hajji Reporters in Abuja.
“No
governor both in the past and present has won the award before. If he was not
doing well, the body wouldn’t have given the award. He won it for fourth time,”
Oyarekhua stated.
He
assured that Muslims in the state will continue to give the governor the needed
spiritual and moral support to finish strongly as well as whoever will succeed
him.
Also,
speaking, Zubairu Dada Abubakar, Edo State
Commissioner for Youths and Humanitarian Affairs, commended the Muslims
in the state for their support towards the state government.
He,
however, urged them not to renege in their support for the government,
particularly in the remaining one year of the administration for Obaseki to
produce a worthy successor that would consolidate on policies and programmes.
Bashiru
Kadiri, the former permanent secretary of the state said the government has
done a lot in the areas of agriculture and other sectors
He noted
that in years to come agriculture which had been the mainstay of the country’s
economy will again replicate itself in Edo.
He said
it would go a long way in boosting the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and
the internal revenue.
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
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https://tribuneonlineng.com/edo-muslim-community-lauds-gov-obasekis-giant-strides/
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Tinubu
assures Saudi investors of safe, high returns
11
November 2023
President
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured potential investors that their investments are
safe in Nigeria.
Speaking
at the Saudi-Africa Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday, President Tinubu
said Nigeria is ready for business, while assuring investors of some of the
world’s highest returns on investment.
The
President said Nigeria is desirous of enhancing collaboration with the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia on combating terrorist organisations such as Boko Haram,
Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and other violent extremist
groups, which have been terrorising the Lake Chad and Sahel regions.
President
Tinubu said: “Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed a special relationship
at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. Within the past six decades, our
bilateral cooperation, which was initially hajj-centric, has witnessed
diversification to cover a number of areas of common interest. It is delightful
to note the presence in this great Kingdom of a large number of our compatriots
and professionals, including highly-skilled medical practitioners and
professional football players.
“As
members of several international organizations, including the United Nations
(UN), the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the
International Energy Forum, the G77, the Islamic Development Bank, the Digital
Cooperation Organisation among others, our two nations have effectively used
these and other platforms to enhance close interaction and coordination. I am
confident that our joint positive disposition within these platforms will
continue to be demonstrated as we seek to advance our mutual interests.
“Nigeria,
like the Kingdom, is diversifying her economy away from oil dependence to
promote sustainable development. My administration has undertaken bold economic
reforms by removing wasteful subsidies on petroleum and the merging of our
foreign exchange market, among other incentives aimed at improving the ease of
doing business in Nigeria.
“I also
wish to assure all potential Saudi investors of the safety of their investments
based on the sanctity of the rule of law and good returns on their investments
in the largest economy in Africa. In this regard, the benefit attached to the
early inauguration of the Nigeria-Saudi Business Council can not be
over-emphasized.”
The
President thanked the Kingdom for the various humanitarian interventions in
Nigeria through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
Speaking
on climate change and how it affects Africa, President Dinuba said climate
change had led to an expedited rate of desertification and incessant flooding
in Nigeria and many other countries of Africa.
He
commended the efforts of the Kingdom for its various initiatives to fight the
effects of climate change, adding that ‘’Nigeria is also working on a number of
initiatives to fight the effects of climate change and energy poverty.’’
“Recently,
we launched a data-driven Energy Transition Plan, which sets forth a clear carbon
reduction policy and targets net-zero emissions by the year 2060 while also
setting out our plans for industrialization using new energy systems and
universal access to modern energy services.
“Mr.
Chairman, let me also use this opportunity to reiterate Nigeria’s full support
for the Kingdom’s bids to host the 2030 World Expo in Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA
Senior Men’s World Cup, the latter of which is now all but guaranteed to
succeed,” the President said.
On the
situation in the Middle East, particularly in Palestine, the President
reiterated Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire and the pursuit of a
peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Meanwhile,
the Government of Saudi Arabia has pledged to invest in the revamp of Nigeria’s
refineries, as well as provide financial support to sustain the government’s
foreign exchange reforms.
Saudi
Crown Prince, HRH Mohammed bin Salman, made these pledges at a bilateral
meeting with President Tinubu on the sidelines of the Saudi-Africa Summit in
Riyadh.
To
support the Central Bank’s ongoing reforms of Nigeria’s foreign exchange
regime, the Saudi Government will make available a substantial deposit of
foreign exchange to boost Nigeria’s forex liquidity, a statement yesterday by
the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris,
disclosed.
Prince
bin Salman commended the economic reforms being implemented by President
Tinubu, and expressed the commitment of the Saudi Government to supporting
these reforms, and enabling Nigeria to reap the full benefits.
According
to him, Saudi Arabia is very eager to see Nigeria thrive under President Bola
Tinubu, and realise its full potential as the economic giant of Africa.
In
addition to these, Prince bin Salman also highlighted Agriculture and Renewable
Energy as areas of investment interest for Saudi Arabia, in Nigeria, to help
the country attain food and energy security, respectively.
The
Crown Prince hinted that the refinery investments in Nigeria will be led by the
Saudi state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, with the revamp to be completed
within a two- to three-year timeframe.
The
Crown Prince also expressed appreciation to Nigeria for its active
participation in, and support for OPEC+.
Source: guardian.ng
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https://guardian.ng/news/tinubu-assures-saudi-investors-of-safe-high-returns/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/indonesian-fatwa-boycot-israel-linked-firms/d/131095