Syria’s regional policy ought to be grounded in respecting the national and security interests of other Arab states, particularly the Gulf states. It is in Syria’s interest if its foreign policy is based on pursuing diplomacy, dialogue and common interests to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships with the countries of the region.  

Gulf states can play a critical role in helping to resolve Syria’s crisis. Several recent developments show that the Syrian people could also begin to experience more stability, security and economic development. 

For example, the Arab League recently readmitted Syria, which ended a more than decade-long suspension. According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the Arab League foreign ministers “consulted and exchanged views on the efforts made to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that ends its repercussions and preserves Syria’s unity, security, stability, and Arab identity; returns it to its Arab surroundings, to achieve the good of its brotherly people.”  

Other important developments include the phone call between UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Syrian President Bashar Assad on bilateral ties between the two nations. In addition, Saudi Arabia has made an important decision to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria. 

Syria’s readmission to the Arab League, in addition to the latest diplomatic rapprochements between Damascus and the Gulf states, is most likely going to be just the start of a long process that will hopefully help to resolve the crisis in the country. This goal was also acknowledged by Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. 

The Arab League, a 22-member organization founded in 1945, can play a critical role in discussing and resolving Syria’s underlying problems, as the organization is one of the most influential and powerful intergovernmental bodies in the world.  

It was established with the purpose of strengthening relations between Arab states, safeguarding their sovereignty and addressing general concerns about the affairs and interests of member nations.  

The Arab League’s primary role is to coordinate the political, cultural, economic and social programs of its members, as well as to mediate disputes between them. 

In addition, the Arab League is a key international player that has the capability to pave the way for tremendous social, economic and political changes. It can also push for specific measures and policies to be considered by other international organizations. For instance, the Arab League has successfully urged the UN to adopt resolutions that have had significant positive impacts on regional peace and security.  

However, it is critical to note that Syria’s crisis is multifaceted and complex. The economy is crippled after years of conflict, which has inflicted an unimaginable degree of devastation. Syria’s gross domestic product has more than halved and its currency has lost a significant portion of its value, leading the World Bank to rank it as a low-income country.  

Damascus needs to make it a priority to improve its economy and, more importantly, the living standards of its people. 

Prior to 2011, when Syria’s economic and political relationships with the Gulf states were amicable, its economy was improving thanks to these bilateral ties and tourism. 

But after the civil war began, sanctions on the regime changed the situation and left Syria with “a limited national budget to subsidize commodities such as bread and fuel … Displaced families and other vulnerable households are caught in the middle of a financial crisis caused by a rapidly depreciating currency and lack of available jobs. This means it is incredibly hard for Syrian families to provide for themselves, particularly amid growing food insecurity. Reports … describe families waiting for hours in bread lines, causing children to miss school or caregivers to miss work in order to find loaves of bread,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 

The second issue is related to enhancing the security of the country in a way that ensures safety and stability for the Syrian people, protecting them from the threats posed by militia and terror groups. 

The Gulf states are skilled in adopting modern counterterrorism strategies and in establishing institutions that promote an alternative and moderate ideology, while educating and raising awareness about extremist ideologies online. Examples include Saudi Arabia’s setting up of the Ideological Warfare Center, the Digital Extremism Observatory, the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue and the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. The Kingdom aims to challenge the messages of extremist groups through these initiatives. 

If Syria’s economic crisis is adequately addressed, security will likely be enhanced in the country as well.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

If Syria’s economic crisis is adequately addressed, security will likely be enhanced in the country as well, due to the fact that poverty and conflict-stricken states can often be ripe places for terror and militia groups to grow, gain power and inflict damage on the country and broader region.  

Finally, the largest refugee crisis in the world belongs to Syria. This has impacted neighboring countries economically and politically. By addressing the nation’s security and economic issues, the refugee crisis will gradually see signs of improvement as well.  

Syria’s crisis is deep and complex, but the region can play a key role in resolving it. The latest diplomatic initiatives between Damascus and the Gulf states have the potential to bring more stability, safety, security and economic development to the Syrian people. This requires that the Syrian government seize the opportunity by respecting the national and security interests of the Gulf states, while grounding its foreign policy in diplomacy, dialogue and shared interests.  

By  Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh 

L’article Analysis. Syria needs Gulf states for stability and security est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

China brokering a deal between longtime Gulf rivals is ‘a broader sign of a changing global order’, analysts say.

China’s efforts in brokering a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been seen by analysts as broader signs of a “changing global order”.

Joint Trilateral Statement by the Kingdom of #Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of #Iran, and the People’s Republic of #China. pic.twitter.com/MyMkcGK2s0

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) March 10, 2023

During talks in Beijing on Friday, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies within two months. The agreement also stipulated affirming “the respect for the sovereignty of states and the non-interference in internal affairs of states”.

Saudi Arabia cut ties in January 2016 after demonstrators stormed its embassy in Tehran following Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.

Tensions between the Sunni and Shia-led neighbours have since often been high.

Iranian state media posted images and video of Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, shaking hands with Saudi national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban, with Wang Yi, China’s most senior diplomat, standing in between.

China’s role as a mediator in resolving longstanding issues between the regional foes had not been made public prior to the announcement.

Wang reportedly said China will continue to play a constructive role in handling hotspot issues and demonstrate responsibility as a major nation. He added that as a “good-faith” and “reliable” mediator, China has fulfilled its duties as a host for dialogue.

‘Low risk, high reward for China’

The two Gulf countries severed ties in 2016 when Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shia Muslim scholar, triggering protests in Iran with protesters attacking its embassy in Tehran.

Previous attempts at reconciliation have been unsuccessful, but on Friday the two countries said they would reopen embassies within two months. They will also re-establish trade and security relations.

The US cautiously welcomed the announcement. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the administration supported “any effort to de-escalate tensions in the region”. But he added: “It really does remain to be seen if Iran is going to meet their obligations.”

UN chief Antonio Guterres thanked China for brokering the deal.

The secretary-general is ready to help efforts “to ensure durable peace and security in the Gulf region”, his spokesman said.

Israel, which has called for maximum pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme, has not commented.

World Opinions -Agencies

L’article Analysis. Iran and Saudi Arabia to renew ties after seven-year rift est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

Le président chinois Xi Jinping est arrivé mercredi à Riyad pour une visite de trois jours pendant lesquels il doit enchaîner des rencontres avec les dirigeants du Golfe. L’énergie devrait dominer les discussions entre l’Arabie saoudite, plus grande exportatrice mondiale de pétrole brut, et la Chine, plus grande importatrice d’or noir.

#VIDEO: #China’s President Xi Jinping arrives at #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/4hOstT683G

— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) December 7, 2022

Des drapeaux chinois et saoudiens flottaient, mercredi 7 décembre, le long des avenues de Riyad pour accueillir le président chinois Xi Jinping, en visite en Arabie saoudite pour des rencontres avec les dirigeants de la région dominées par les questions énergétiques, en pleine crise liée à la guerre en Ukraine.

Le dirigeant de la deuxième puissance économique mondiale a atterri à Riyad, la capitale de la riche monarchie pétrolière du Golfe. La photo de Xi Jinping dominait les unes des quotidiens locaux, qui soulignent les bénéfices économiques potentiels de la visite.

Des rencontres bilatérales et deux sommets

Le géant asiatique et le pays du Golfe, son principal fournisseur en pétrole, semblent vouloir renforcer leurs relations dans un contexte d’incertitudes économiques et de réalignement géopolitique.

Il s’agit du troisième déplacement de Xi Jinping à l’étranger depuis le début de la pandémie de Covid-19 en 2020 et son premier en Arabie saoudite depuis 2016.

Au cours de ce voyage de trois jours, des réunions bilatérales sont prévues avec le roi Salmane et le prince héritier Mohammed ben Salmane, dirigeant de facto du royaume. Un sommet doit également se tenir vendredi avec les six pays du Conseil de coopération du Golfe (CCG) et un autre avec des leaders arabes, ont indiqué les médias d’État saoudiens.

Il s’agit de “la plus grande activité diplomatique entre la Chine et le monde arabe depuis la création de la République populaire de Chine”, a affirmé mercredi la porte-parole du ministère chinois des Affaires étrangères, Mao Ning.

Pékin, premier partenaire commercial des pays du Golfe

L’énergie devrait dominer les discussions entre le plus grand exportateur mondial de pétrole brut et la Chine, le plus grand importateur d’or noir.

Le G7 et l’Union européenne ont instauré vendredi dernier un plafonnement du prix du pétrole russe à l’export à 60 dollars le baril, dans l’objectif de priver Moscou des moyens de financer la guerre en Ukraine, créant de nouvelles incertitudes sur le marché mondial.

Dimanche, l’Organisation des pays exportateurs de pétrole, menée par l’Arabie saoudite, et leurs alliés, menés par la Russie (Opep+), sont convenus de garder le cap décidé en octobre d’une réduction de deux millions de barils par jour jusqu’à la fin 2023.

L’ordre du jour de la visite n’a pas été communiqué, mais Ali Shihabi, un analyste saoudien proche du pouvoir, dit s’attendre à ce qu’un “certain nombre d’accords soient signés”.

Au-delà de l’énergie, les discussions pourraient porter sur l’implication des entreprises chinoises dans les mégaprojets portés par le prince héritier saoudien.

Ces projets comprennent une ville futuriste de 500 milliards de dollars appelée Neom, qui exploitera la reconnaissance faciale et d’autres technologies de surveillance, largement utilisées en Chine.

Selon l’agence de presse saoudienne SPA, l’Arabie a attiré plus de 20 % des investissements chinois dans le monde arabe entre 2002 et 2020, ce qui est en fait le plus grand récipiendaire de la région.

Le secrétaire général du Conseil de coopération du Golfe, Nayef al-Hajraf, a souligné pour sa part l’importance du sommet vendredi avec les six pays du Golfe, affirmant que la Chine était leur premier partenaire commercial.

Le bloc régional veut “renforcer la coopération” dans les domaines de l’économie, du développement et du commerce, entre autres, a-t-il ajouté.

Une visite scrutée par Washington

La visite de Xi Jinping sera sans doute suivie de près par les États-Unis, partenaires stratégiques des pays du Golfe, en particulier de l’Arabie saoudite.

La relation entre les deux pays, souvent décrite comme un accord “pétrole contre sécurité”, a été scellée après la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

La baisse de la production décidée en octobre par les pays exportateurs de pétrole a toutefois ulcéré Washington, qui a dénoncé un “alignement avec la Russie”.

De son côté, Riyad a par le passé reproché à Washington de ne pas remplir sa part du contrat, notamment après les attaques sur le royaume menées par des rebelles houthis depuis le Yémen voisin, en septembre 2019.

Mais même si l’Arabie coopère avec la Chine sur les ventes et la production d’armes, Pékin ne peut pas lui fournir les mêmes garanties de sécurité que Washington, estiment les analystes.

Mais les Saoudiens pourraient chercher à “à obtenir davantage de garanties de sécurité de la part des États-Unis” en montrant “la possibilité de renforcer leurs liens avec la Chine”, souligne Torbjorn Soltvedt, de la société de conseil sur les risques Verisk Maplecroft.

World Opinions – France 24 – AFP

L’article Le président Xi Jinping en Arabie saoudite pour sceller un rapprochement sino-arabe est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

The US leader will visit Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia during July 13-16.

Joe Biden has landed in Tel Aviv in Israel on his first visit to the Middle East as president of the United States.

Biden is due to make brief remarks on Wednesday at an arrival ceremony, before receiving a briefing from Israeli defence officials on the US-supported Iron Dome system and a new laser-enabled system called Iron Beam.

He will also pay his respects at Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to Holocaust victims of World War II.

The US leader will spend two days in Jerusalem on talks with Israeli leaders, including interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before meeting Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in the occupied West Bank.

He will then take an unprecedented direct flight from Israel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – as the kingdom does not recognise Israel’s existence – for talks with Saudi officials and to attend a summit of Gulf allies.

“It’s an honour to once again to stand with friends and visit the independent state of Israel,” said Biden in his opening remarks.

“You do not need to be a Jew to be a Zionist. Every chance to visit this great country, where the ancient roots of the Jewish people date back to biblical times, is a blessing.

“The connection between the Israeli and American people is bone deep. Generation after generation our connection grows. We invest in each other. We dream together. I am proud to say that US relations with Israel are deeper and stronger than they have ever been.

“With this visit, we are strengthening our connections even further. We have reaffirmed the unshakeable commitment of the United States to Israel’s security, including partnering with Israel on the most cutting-edge technology,” said Biden.

“We will continue to advance Israel’s integration in the region. Expand emerging forms and engagement.. to deepen our economic cooperation between the Middle East and Indo-Pacific,” he added.

Reporting from West Jerusalem, Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker pointed out how there was virtually no mention of the Palestinians during Biden’s address.

“I don’t think he mentioned the word Palestinian or Palestinians. It was very much addressed to an Israeli and domestic audience. It was all about Israel, his long history with Israel and how connected he is with Israel.

“He did mention that the only solution was the two-state solution but did not mention the Palestinians by name.

“Usually the narrative in the past was that there would be no normalisation with Israel until there was a Palestinian state and sovereignty but it seems we have moved way beyond that these days,” she added.

Israel, which is mired in political gridlock before a November 1 election, says it is raising 1,000 flags across Jerusalem to welcome the US leader, who has not reversed former President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognise the city as the capital of Israel.

Palestinians see occupied East Jerusalem as their capital and, before the visit, have accused Biden of failing to make good on his pledge to restore the US as an honest broker in the conflict.

“We only hear empty words and no results,” said Jibril Rajoub, a leader of Abbas’s Fatah movement.

Biden will meet Abbas in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday, but there is no expectation of bold announcements towards a fresh peace process, meaning the visit may merely deepen Palestinian frustration.

“The PA is continuing to bet on the Americans and the delusion that Biden’s visit will present something to the Palestinians,” Palestinian political and civil society leader Khalida Jarrar told Al Jazeera.

“This ensures that there is a large rift between the Palestinian people and their aspirations, and the actions of their leadership.”

The talks will mark the highest level of face-to-face contact between US and Palestinian officials since Trump adopted a number of policies in favour of Israel after taking office in 2017.

US-Palestinian ties have also been strained recently by the killing in May of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American. The veteran reporter was shot by Israeli forces while reporting on Israeli raids in Jenin.

The United Nations has concluded Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli fire, something a Washington review found was likely but said there was no evidence the killing was intentional.

Abu Akleh’s family has voiced “outrage” over the Biden administration’s “abject response” to her killing and accused the US of providing impunity for Israel. They have asked to meet Biden during his trip but the White House has not commented on the request.

The White House spokesperson John Kirby said National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan misspoke on Wednesday when he told reporters that the United States wished for a Palestinian consulate in East Jerusalem.

Kirby said there was no change in US policy regarding the consulate.

The United States wants to reopen its consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem, located in the west of the city, which was closed by former US President Donald Trump in 2019.

Meanwhile, four US Senators have sent a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, demanding answers about the review of the killing of Abu Akleh.

Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, Chris Murphy, Patrick Leahy and Dick Durbin said the review did not live up to Blinken’s call for an independent and credible investigation.

Reporting from West Jerusalem, Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker said the Palestinian issue was “a footnote” to Biden’s trip, which appeared to be “more about the bigger geopolitics than the Palestinians”.

“He’s not coming with anything concrete when it comes to reviving long-stalled peace talks,” Dekker said.

“What he’s going to do is carry out a historic visit to a Palestinian hospital in occupied East Jerusalem. This is the first time that a US president is going to venture away from the Old City, going further into East Jerusalem.

“He’s going to be announcing about $100m in aid and is going to ask Gulf countries to match this for hospitals in occupied East Jerusalem, but Palestinians will tell you this is really just paying lip service,” she added.

“Palestinians have lost trust in the Americans, not just since the Trump administration but recently also because of the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh.”

World Opinions / AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

L’article Joe Biden arrives in Middle East on first trip as US president est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

The UN has condemned an airstrike on a detention centre in northern Yemen as the death toll rose to more than 80.

The airstrike in the rebel-held Sa’ada province on Friday morning followed a Houthi drone attack on the United Arab Emirates on Monday that killed three people. It marks an intensification of violence in the seven-year civil war between the government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Iranian-backed rebels.

Hundreds of people were injured in the attack on the detention centre. Médecins Sans Frontières reported that al-Gumhourriyeh hospital in Sa’ada had taken in about 200 wounded patients was unable to provide care for any more.

MSF also said 82 deaths had been confirmed, citing figures from the health ministry in Sana’a. At least 266 people had been injured, it said.

The Saudi-led coalition denied reports that it had bombed the prison in a statement on Saturday morning.

“The coalition will inform the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the facts and details,” the official Saudi news agency said, citing a coalition spokesman. The coalition also said the prison had not been on a no-targeting list agreed with the UN and and had not been reported by the Red Cross.

The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said in response to Friday’s attacks that the “escalation needs to stop”. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, he said the airstrikes, which included other parts of the country, had resulted in child casualties, and he reminded all parties that “attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, are prohibited by international humanitarian law”.

A separate strike in the port city of Hodeida hit a telecommunications centre, reportedly killing three children playing in a football field and downing the country’s internet access.

Hundreds also wounded as Saudi-led coalition denies reports it bombed detention centre in Sa’ada

MSF’s head of mission in Yemen, Ahmed Mahat, said: “There are many bodies still at the scene of the airstrike, many missing people. It is impossible to know how many people have been killed. It seems to have been a horrific act of violence.”

The strikes on rebel-held parts of Yemen came after a drone attack on Monday in Abu Dhabi for which the Houthi leadership claimed responsibility.

The UN security council condemned the Houthi attack, which killed three people and wounded six, in a statement on Friday: “The members of the security council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday 17 January, as well as in other sites in Saudi Arabia,” it said.

“The members of the security council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”

The UN estimates that the war in Yemen had killed 377,000 people by the end of 2021, both directly and indirectly through hunger and disease. Millions more have been displaced. It said earlier this week that the level of violence this month could soon surpass that witnessed in December, because of the number of airstrikes, drones and rockets launched, with an alarming number used against civilians and non-military targets.

World Opinions – theguardian.com

L’article UN condemns airstrike in Yemen that leaves more than 80 dead est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

An annual Ramadan appeal to help displaced refugees receive lifesaving support and aid has seen people across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia make the highest number of donations in the region, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has told Al Arabiya English

For the third year, the UNHCR launched the ‘Every Second Counts’ fundraising campaign as the Islamic world marks the holy month of Ramadan.

The UN agency launched the campaign while calling for greater support for millions of refugees and internally displaced persons in low-income countries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Houssam Chahine, UNHCR’s chief of private sector partnerships in MENA, told Al Arabiya English that the campaign has seen a flood of generosity from residents across the GCC.

“Every year, UNHCR appeals to the public during the month of giving and generosity to help raise awareness and funds for refugees and internally displaced people in need,” he said.

“The ‘Every Second Counts’ campaign focuses on the incredible impact individuals can create within seconds, in the lives of refugee and displaced families whose lives turned upside down within moments and who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety.”

The campaign aims to raise funds through donations including Zakat and Sadaqah, to help provide lifesaving support such as shelter, food, clean water and monthly cash assistance, to the most vulnerable refugee and internally displaced families from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nigeria, countries in the Sahel region, and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

In the Muslim faith, Zakat is the obligatory annual payment required of every Muslim, while Sadaqah is a kind gesture made with the intention of helping others.

“We are grateful to the outpouring of support shown by the people of the UAE and KSA, with those who have been forcibly displaced,” said Chahine.

“People in the UAE, followed by KSA, rank highest in the number of donations made to UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund, which is testament to their empathy and generosity, and trust in our ability to deliver 100 percent of their Zakat contributions to eligible displaced families.”

COVID-19 worsens refugee crisis

Chahine said COVID-19 has created a new emergency – on top of existing ones – for the millions of refugees around the world.

“The pandemic has compounded existing challenges for displaced people, such as poverty, food insecurity, discrimination, border closures, protection risks such as domestic violence and sexual abuse, and access to livelihoods and education.”

A Syrian refugee receives the Coronavirus vaccine, at a medical center in the Zaatari refugee camp, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Jordanian capital Amman on February 15, 2021. (File photo: AFP)

“The COVID-19 induced recession is expected to push between 88 million and 115 million people into extreme poverty. While precise measures are difficult, estimates by the World Bank and UNHCR point to a large and disproportionate impact on already vulnerable people, such as the forcibly displaced.”

In September 2020, a UNHCR assessment among 1,579 refugee and asylum-seeker households of different nationalities in Egypt showed that 42 percent of the respondents had lost their job and 98 percent reported lack of financial means to access basic hygiene items.

In Jordan, about four out of five Syrian refugees (close to 80 percent) were living under the national poverty line even before the pandemic, surviving on about $3 a day or less. While new assessments are currently underway, the impact of the pandemic on refugees in terms of loss of income and taking on debt was clearly severe.

The situation is even more difficult for female-headed households in Lebanon: A far higher proportion of female-headed households (68 per cent) than male-headed households (13 per cent) are using coping strategies categorized as “crisis level” or “emergency level.”

Syrian children play in the Zaatari refugee camp, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Jordanian capital Amman on February 15, 2021.

Crisis coping strategies include marriage of children under the age of 18, selling productive assets, withdrawing children from school, and reducing expenditure on education and health. Emergency coping strategies include begging, accepting high-risk jobs or sending children to work.

“The donations received will help UNHCR in providing lifesaving support to vulnerable refugees and displaced families through the distribution of cash assistance and goods, allowing them to address basic needs including shelter, food, education, healthcare and debt repayments,” said Chahine.

In 2020, the fund has helped 2.1 million beneficiaries in 13 countries including Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Mauritania, Niger, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, through Zakat & Sadaqah donations.

Despite the growth that the Refugee Zakat Fund has witnessed due to generous contributions by individuals and institutional partners, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap between the needs of displaced families and funds received, said Chahine.

“Ramadan is a time of reflection and generosity, and a great opportunity to show solidarity with the world’s forcibly displaced especially during a time where it is needed more than ever,” said Chahine. “We are always surprised by the incredible outpouring of support and kindness that people have towards refugees, and more so during this Holy month and ask people to continue standing with refugees and internally displaced people during these difficult times. No donation, or act of solidarity is too small.”

Zakat and Sadqah donations to refugees in urgent need can be given now via zakat.unhcr.org and UNHCR’s newly launched Zakat mobile application “GiveZakat”.

World Opinions News – Al Arabiya English

L’article UAE, Saudi Arabia lead fundraising effort in Ramadan refugee appeal: UNHCR chief est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

Loujain al-Hathloul, 31, has already been in a maximum security prison for two and a half years.

#SaudiArabia: Conviction and 5yrs 8 month sentence handed down to prominent women’s rights campaigner #LoujainAlHathloul, already arbitrarily detained for 2 ½ years, is also deeply troubling. We understand early release is possible, and strongly encourage it as matter of urgency.

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) December 28, 2020

She and other activists were detained in 2018 on charges including contacts with organisations hostile to Saudi Arabia.

International human rights groups have repeatedly called for her release.

But on Monday, the country’s Specialised Criminal Court, which was set up to try terrorism cases, convicted her of various charges including trying to harm national security and advance a foreign agenda.

It sentenced her to five years and eight months in prison. Two years and ten months of the sentence are said to have been suspended.

She and her family have denied all charges. They have also said that she has been tortured in jail – accusations the court dismissed.

Hathloul was detained just weeks before Saudi women were finally allowed to drive in 2018 – the cause she championed.

Saudi officials insist her detention has nothing to do with that issue.

Hathloul’s family says she was held incommunicado for three months following her arrest, and that she was subjected to electric shocks, whippings, and sexual harassment. They also allege that she was offered freedom if she agreed to say she was not tortured.

Human rights experts have said her trial did not meet international standards.

In November, Amnesty International condemned her transfer to the Specialised Criminal Court, saying it exposed “the brutality and hypocrisy” of Saudi authorities.

The case is seen as further damaging the reputation of Saudi Arabia’s controversial de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, known as MBS.

He has led a programme of reforms, including lifting the ban on women driving, in a bid to open up the conservative kingdom to investment.

But he has also been condemned for the continued crackdown on rights activists, as well as the Saudi authorities’ role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

World Opinions News – agencies

L’article Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi woman activist jailed for five years est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has denied reports that a meeting took place between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli officials on Sunday.

“I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo. No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Israeli media reported earlier that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held secret talks in Saudi Arabia on Sunday with Crown Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS.

The reports by Israeli public broadcaster Kan and other outlets came weeks after Israel reached deals to establish relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.

I have seen press reports about a purported meeting between HRH the Crown Prince and Israeli officials during the recent visit by @SecPompeo. No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi.

— فيصل بن فرحان (@FaisalbinFarhan) November 23, 2020

The deals were brokered by the administration of United States President Donald Trump, who leaves office in less than two months.

There has been widespread speculation, within Israel and the US, that Washington may push for other Arab states to follow suit before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was in Israel last week, was also at the reported talks, according to Kan’s diplomatic correspondent.

Pompeo has confirmed he was in Neom on the Red Sea as part of a Middle East Tour and met MBS.

Netanyahu’s office, US State Department and the US embassy to Israel had not commented on the reports.

Saudi stance

Publicly, Saudi Arabia has said it would stick to the decades-old Arab League position of not having ties with Israel until the Jewish state’s conflict with the Palestinians is resolved.

The Palestinians have condemned the normalisation deals as “a stab in the back”, urging Arab states to hold firm until Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian territory and agrees to the creation of a Palestinian state.

In late August, Netanyahu said Israel was holding “unpublicised meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to normalise relations with the state of Israel”, without naming any countries.

But, amid speculation that smaller Arab states, such as Oman, were also interested in a deal, Saudi Arabia has stood out as the key target for Israel, given the kingdom’s wealth and influence.

Sunni Arab states, and especially Israel, worry that Biden may seek to revive the Iran nuclear deal agreed between Tehran and world powers during Barack Obama’s presidency, which was scrapped by Trump.

Trump’s administration has also downplayed the importance of human rights issues in international diplomacy and was particularly cautious about criticising Saudi Arabia’s rights record, notably about the murder by Saudi agents of prominent journalist and Saudi royal critic Jamal Khashoggi.

SOURCE : AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

L’article Saudi Arabia denies meeting between MBS and Israeli officials est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.