Archives for May, 2021

Youths dive into the water at the entrance of a canal near the Nile river delta barrages at the town of Qanater al-Khayreya north of the capital on May 3, 2021 during the holiday of Sham al-Nessim, a Pharaonic feast that marks the start of spring, which this year coincides with the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Can Egypt avoid being harmed by second filling of Nile dam?

Egypt’s foreign minister says Cairo can compensate for the second filling of Ethiopia’s controversial dam on the Blue Nile as a result of the projects the Egyptian government is implementing to confront water scarcity, but other officials beg to differ.

AMIT SHABI/AFP via Getty Images

Gaza war puts Netanyahu, Gantz back on same team

During Operation Guardian of the Walls, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz put aside their differences and bitterness.

Iraqi President Barham Saleh attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on Jan. 22, 2020.

Iraq unveils massive anti-corruption project

Iraq has lost $150 billion to corruption since 2003, according to Iraqi President Barham Salih.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Gilad Erdan (R), Jerusalem, May 25, 2021.

Netanyahu, Blinken discuss Israel’s security, Gaza reconstruction

Meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated US commitment for Israel’s security, and said the United States is committed also to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli farmer tries to extinguish a fire caused by inflammable material attached to a helium balloon flown by Palestinian protesters from across the border, in a wheat field near the Nahal Oz kibbutz, along the border with the Gaza Strip, Israel, May 15, 2019.

After cease-fire, Israel prepares for next round of Gaza conflict

Seniors in the political and security echelons are convinced that the current cease-fire with Hamas does not mean quiet for a very long time.

Palestinians sit in a tent that has been set up on top of the ruins of a building destroyed in recent Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, on May 24, 2021. A cease-fire was reached late last week after 11 days of deadly violence between Israel and the Hamas movement, which runs Gaza.

The heavy toll of Israel-Hamas war, by the numbers

A look at the destruction wrought by more than a week of fighting between Hamas and Israel.

Moroccans demonstrate, calling for an end to violence in Gaza and against the normalization with Israel, in the capital, Rabat, on May 16, 2021.

Moroccan PM congratulates Hamas for 'victory' against Israel

Saadeddine Othmani's support for the Palestinians during the recent conflict with Israel followed Morocco and Israel agreeing to normalize relations late last year.

A woman walks past the sign of the International Atomic Energy Agency ahead of a press conference by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, about the agency monitoring of Iran's nuclear energy program on May 23, 2021, in Vienna, Austria. The IAEA has been in talks with Iran over extending the agency's monitoring program. Meanwhile, Iranian and international representatives have been in talks in recent weeks in Vienna over reviving the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal.

Iran, IAEA extend inspection agreement by one month

Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency extend an understanding to keep the nuclear talks alive.

The Saudi Arabia's consulate is cordoned off by Turkish police in Istanbul on Oct. 15, 2018.

Turkish police detain top Islamic State leader in Istanbul

A senior Islamic State operative has been arrested in Istanbul following a tip from US intelligence services.

AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

Israeli soldier, civilian stabbed in east Jerusalem

Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian man after he allegedly stabbed a soldier and civilian in east Jerusalem Monday.

Senior US State Department official Joey Hood delivers a statement in Tripoli during a visit to Libya, in a show of support for the country's transitional government, May 18, 2021.

Turkey touts assassination of top PKK militant as retribution to US

The Turkish media has trumpeted the killing of a high-ranking PKK militant by Turkish security forces in northern Iraq as a reprisal of the US support of the Syrian Kurdish groups, while Turkey seems to be a major blockade before Syrian Kurds’ desire for political recognition.

Barnea, Netanyahu and Cohen of Israel's Mossad.

David Barnea to be nominated as next Mossad head

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that current Deputy Mossad Chief David Barnea will replace head of the espionage agency Yossi Cohen, who finishes his mandate at the beginning of June.

Activists camp outside the Oman Gulf state's consultative council as they continue a series of anti-corruption protests on March 3, 2011, in Muscat.

Protests in Oman over job losses, economy

Sultan Haitham has attempted to introduce economic and political reforms in the past year.

Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Blinken visits Middle East to bolster Israel-Hamas cease-fire

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman this week for discussions on maintaining the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

n Iraqi sits across graffiti reading in Arabic "Where's my killer?" and depicting renowned Iraqi anti-government activist Ihab al-Wazni (Ehab al-Ouazni), who was shot dead in an ambush earlier this month, in the shrine city of Karbala on May 23, 2021. A wave of deadly attacks on pro-democracy activists and journalists in Iraq has sparked mounting calls to boycott October parliamentary elections, as perpetrators go unpunished. Killings, attempted murder and abductions have targeted more than 70 activists sin

Iraqi activists worry about election security

Some parties that grew out of the October protests have withdrawn candidates from the upcoming parliamentary elections over security concerns.

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry speaks during a joint press conference following a meeting on the Middle East Peace process, at the quai d'Orsay, in Paris, on March 11, 2021.

Israeli-Egyptian cooperation grows following end of Gaza conflict

Israel has been quiet on its contacts with Egypt throughout the latest security crisis, but the agreement on the cease-fire with Hamas, Friday's phone call between the two foreign ministers and the reopening yesterday of two Gaza crossing points for humanitarian aid reflect growing cooperation between Jerusalem and Cairo.