https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:49:55 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230808-is-there-anything-new-on-turkiyes-path-towards-europe/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 08:16:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658629 As usual, Turkish President Recep Tayyeb Erdogan has made another political U-turn with his country's foreign policy. After stressing repeatedly just a few days before the NATO summit in Lithuania last month that Sweden has still not done all that is required of it to Turkiye's satisfaction as agreed (along with Finland) in June last year, and criticising the Swedes for allowing protesters to burn copies of the Holy Quran, Erdogan has agreed to proceed with the country joining NATO. Following a meeting between Erdogan, the Swedish Prime Minister and NATO's secretary-general, the organisation's closing statement included Turkiye's agreement to refer Sweden's NATO accession to the parliament in Ankara. In return, Sweden made certain commitments, including cooperation with Turkiye to […]]]> 658629 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-uk-government-divided-over-labelling-irans-revolutionary-guards-terrorist-group/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 14:09:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658326 The UK government is divided over designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists, the Financial Times has reported. Disagreement between Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on labelling Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group is said to be causing tension within the government. Braverman is increasingly alarmed by alleged plans of Iranian agents to target British citizens. However, Cleverly and officials at the Foreign Office are hesitant to classify the Revolutionary Guards as terrorists, fearing that such a move could be counterproductive. READ: UK security minister labels Iran-funded mosque a 'vile threat' to the country Labelling the armed force of another nation as terrorists is quite unusual for the UK, officials in the Foreign Office have argued. There are […]]]> 658326 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-algeria-eu-call-for-return-of-constitutional-order-in-niger/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:38:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658155 Algeria and the EU have called for unifying political and diplomatic pressures to ensure a return of the "constitutional order" in Niger, Anadolu reports. This came during a phone call between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and EU foreign policy chief, according to a statement issued by the Algerian Foreign Ministry. The duo discussed developments in Niger and exchanged views on the threats they pose to both Niger and the entire region. READ: Algeria warns against foreign military intervention in Niger Meanwhile, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution in Niger, saying: "We call for the restoration of constitutional legitimacy, and if they seek assistance from Algeria in this matter, we would gladly welcome it." On July […]]]> 658155 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-eu-views-reckless-quran-burnings-in-denmark-sweden-as-individual-provocations/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 19:01:24 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657952 Recent "reckless" attacks on Islam's holy book, the Quran, in Denmark and Sweden are "individual" provocations, the EU said on Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. "The EU has always been clear that manifestations of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Europe," Nabila Massrali, the EU spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said at a press conference. Responding to reporters' questions, Massrali said such actions are incompatible with the values ​​upon which the EU was founded, which include respect for religious communities. "These reckless acts committed by individual provocateurs only benefit those who want to divide us and our societies," she added. She reiterated that the EU attaches "great importance" to promoting religious freedom or belief for Muslims […]]]> 657952 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-time-place-of-meeting-of-russia-turkiye-presidents-to-be-set-via-diplomatic-channels-kremlin/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:59:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657878 The details of a meeting between the Russian and Turkish presidents, including the time, place and date, will be coordinated via diplomatic channels, a Kremlin spokesman said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. "In general, the presidents confirmed their intention to meet soon" during a Wednesday phone call between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing in Moscow. "But the venue of the meeting and the timing of this meeting will continue to be agreed through diplomatic channels." Peskov also decried remarks by top EU diplomat, Josep Borrell, who accused Russia of trying to create dependence on its grain among developing countries. "This is absolutely not the case. Russia has always been, and remains – with known […]]]> 657878 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-rights-groups-urge-independent-impartial-probe-into-greek-migrant-shipwreck/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:51:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657872 Human rights groups, on Thursday, underlined the need for an "independent and impartial investigation" into a migrant shipwreck off the coast of Greece in June that left more than 80 irregular migrants dead and hundreds of others missing, Anadolu Agency reports. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, in a joint statement, expressed concern over conflicting accounts from the Greek coastguard and survivors and underscored "the urgent need for an effective, independent and impartial investigation." On 14 June, a 30-meter-long fishing boat, "Adriana", capsized and sank about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Greece's southern coastal town of Pylos, with the majority of people on board from Pakistan, Syria and Libya. There were 104 survivors, with 82 bodies recovered out of 400-700 […]]]> 657872 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-israel-is-an-apartheid-state-so-why-did-an-eu-diplomat-refuse-to-say-so/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:12:26 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657865 Outgoing EU Envoy to the occupied West Bank and Gaza Sven Kuhn Von Burgsdorff attracted the wrong sort of attention when he paraglided off Gaza's coast last month, purportedly promoting a promise of freedom even as the EU persists in the moribund two-state narrative. Israel described the stunt as provocative, while for Palestinians, the distinction between diplomats' freedom and the annihilation of their own freedom of movement was made all too apparent. Palestinians can do the same, said the EU envoy, when they are free. He knows full well that the Palestinian people's freedom is not on the international political agenda. His stunt simply served to demonstrate the EU's diplomatic conceit. In an interview with the Times of Israel, Von […]]]> 657865 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-geopolitical-realities-in-the-middle-east-and-the-political-mandate-of-the-iaea/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:45:44 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657382 Geopolitical events in the Middle East, as well as the recent visit of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, to Iran for nuclear programme talks, contribute to how quickly the world is changing. With rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia brokered by China, undermining US influence, new geopolitical realities are being created in the region. Having received funding from the UN, the IAEA has decided to take on a political mandate. Although Iran has never been charged with breaking the law, there is a widespread assumption in the West that this may be the case. Uncertainties result from this deficit of trust. During discussions between 2002 and 2018, Iran committed to stick to several […]]]> 657382 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-are-un-resolutions-effective/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 15:35:00 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657087 On 25 July, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution titled "Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech" which lists and condemns a number of religion-related acts of violence and hatred. In particular, the text "Strongly deplor[es] all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their religious symbols, holy books, homes, businesses, properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship, as well as all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines in violation of international law." This follows a similar text adopted earlier in July by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that "call[ed] upon States […]]]> 657087 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-greece-and-cyprus-welcome-eu-bid-to-re-engage-with-turkiye-but-urge-caution/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:15:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656736 Greece and Cyprus, on Monday, welcomed moves by Turkiye to boost relations with the European Union, but said rapprochement should be gradual and not unconditional, Reuters reports. European Union foreign ministers said, on 20 July, they were ready to re-engage with Turkiye, but stopped short of offering Ankara a clear resumption of membership talks. Turkiye has been a candidate for EU membership for more than two decades, but talks stalled in 2016 over the bloc's concerns over the rule of law and human rights in the country. The division of Cyprus between its Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations, a source of friction between Greece and Turkiye, has also been an impediment. READ: Turkiye rescues 45 migrants pushed back by Greece Greek Prime […]]]> 656736 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-eu-irregular-arrivals-up-10-in-first-half-of-2023/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:22:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656680 Irregular immigration into the European Union rose ten per cent in the first half of 2023 compared to a year ago, the bloc's border agency said today, with Mediterranean routes accounting for most of the arrivals. Frontex reported 132,370 attempts to get into the EU outside of regular border crossings from the start of the year until the end of June, saying that was ten per cent more than the same period in 2022. It said central Mediterranean crossings were up more than a third and accounted for half the overall number as arrivals from Tunisia to Italy grew. Traffic on all the other routes into the EU was down from the first half of 2022. Earlier this month, the […]]]> 656680 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-is-the-west-turning-against-kosovo-to-appease-the-serbs/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:04:55 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656663 In a globalised world where a largely stable international order of nation states with agreed-upon boundaries is in place, borders contested by rival nations are few and far between. Those who grow up in the Western world in particular are generally unaware of such places, or at least ignorant of how they operate. Yet as I made my way from Serbia into Kosovo in early July, I was reminded that the border is one of those that remain contested. Having come from the steadiness of quiet Zagreb and then into the bustling energy of cosmopolitan Belgrade, I was woken up to the reality that is the former Yugoslavia as I passed under numerous bridges and signs proclaiming "Kosovo is Serbia". […]]]> 656663 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-freedom-flotilla-boat-heads-to-german-port-of-hamburg/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:31:48 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656618 Handala, the Freedom Flotilla boat which hopes to break the siege of Gaza, yesterday left the Netherlands city of Rotterdam heading for Hamburg in Germany, a statement said. Head of the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza, Zaher Birawi, said: "This stage of Handala's journey is core in the creation of a state of international solidarity with Palestine." It "is turning the eyes of the Europeans towards the suffering of the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinians due to the Israeli siege that has been imposed on Gaza for more than 16 years," he continued In his statement, Birawi said: "The Israeli siege imposed on Gaza amounts to a violation of international laws and is a flagrant violation […]]]> 656618 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-italy-and-turkiye-join-forces-in-effort-to-host-euro-2032/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:25:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656101 UEFA confirms that it has received a request from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to merge their individual bids into one joint bid to host UEFA EURO 2032, Reuters reports. According to the report, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has announced that their bid to host Euro 2032 will now be a joint bid along with Turkiye. In 2021, UEFA initiated a bidding process for the hosting of two consecutive editions of its European Championship, in 2028 and 2032. TFF entered the process for both editions, while FIGC decided to bid only for the 2032 edition. A joint bid to host the 2028 edition has also been placed by five associations: England, Northern Ireland, […]]]> 656101 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-new-momentum-turkiye-and-the-eu-are-an-inseparable-duo/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:29:19 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656075 Turkiye and the EU are facing a positive turn in their otherwise bumpy diplomatic relations. A recent EU Council conclusion calls for a more geopolitical and positive outlook toward Turkiye, while the Vilnius NATO summit resulted in a warm welcome by everyone of Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's surprise decision to give a green light to Sweden's NATO membership. In the media, President Erdogan's move has been linked both to the sale of American F-16 fighter jets, as well as Sweden's commitment to improve intelligence cooperation, namely surrounding the PKK terrorist organisation, and unblocking Turkiye's bid to join the EU. F-16 technology is a crucial and long-standing demand from Turkiye, but the honest truth remains that independent Swedish courts do […]]]> 656075 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-the-pros-and-cons-of-israel-recognising-moroccos-sovereignty-over-the-western-sahara/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:00:32 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656042 Following the Israeli recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara, Israeli voices are still raising more questions about the feasibility of this step, and whether it will be beneficial, or if it will be followed by greater harm, especially since such a step may face criticism on the international scene. This may be added to the criticisms the Occupation State is already facing regarding its behaviour in the Palestinian arena. While this step is consistent with Israel's stances towards the Palestinians, it contradicts international resolutions issued by the UN and EU, which may raise many questions related to annexation and occupation. The first Israeli benefit from this step is that it will gain broader control in Africa. There is […]]]> 656042 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230726-eu-watchdog-opens-probe-into-role-of-frontex-in-boat-sinking-off-greece/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 13:09:49 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655181 The EU's watchdog said, Wednesday, that it had opened a probe in the role of the bloc's Border Agency, Frontex, in last month's capsizing of a migrant boat off Greece, with hundreds likely drowned, Anadolu Agency reports. "While we understand the role of the Greek authorities is under investigation at the national level, Frontex's role in search and rescue operations also needs to be clarified," said the EU watchdog in a statement. EU ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, said they will inspect a wide range of documents concerning Frontex's responsibilities and reports of other recent incidents with loss of life in the Mediterranean, as well as last month's incident, which sent shockwaves through the bloc. "It has been reported that, in this […]]]> 655181 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-jordan-army-shoots-down-drone-carrying-drugs-from-syria/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 20:11:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655109 The Jordanian military shot down a drone carrying narcotics from Syria, in the third such incident in recent weeks. According to the Jordanian Army, it intercepted a drone carrying two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine yesterday, shooting it down on Jordan's side of its border with Syria. The incident came a day after Army and intelligence chiefs from Jordan and Syria met to discuss the combating of the ongoing drug smuggling operations that take place over their common border. Captagon, a lucrative and addictive amphetamine, has flooded the Middle East region and beyond in recent years, appearing in countries throughout the Gulf, North Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe. After initial speculation that the Daesh terror group was responsible for the drug's […]]]> 655109 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-qurans-burnt-in-front-of-egypt-turkiye-embassies-in-denmark/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:26:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655020 A small group of anti-Islam activists set fire to Qurans in front of the Egyptian and Turkish embassies in Copenhagen on Tuesday, after similar protests in Denmark and Sweden over recent weeks that have enraged Muslims, Reuters reports. Denmark and Sweden have said they deplore the burning of Islam's Holy Book but cannot prevent it under rules protecting free speech. Last week, protesters in Iraq set the Swedish embassy in Baghdad ablaze. Tuesday's demonstration in Copenhagen by a group called "Danish Patriots" followed Quran burnings the group staged on Monday and last week in front of the Iraqi embassy. Two such incidents have taken place in Sweden over the past month. Iraq's Foreign Ministry on Monday called on authorities of EU […]]]> 655020 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-migrants-at-greater-risk-of-abuse-after-ill-judged-eu-tunisia-deal-experts-warn/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 18:30:24 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654843 In mid-July, the EU finalised a much-anticipated agreement with Tunisia to cooperate on curbing a surge in migration flows to Europe's Mediterranean shores, but international law experts and humanitarian groups warn that the €1 billion ($1.11 billion) deal could lead to severe rights violations instead of helping solve complex issues. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – signed after a crucial meeting between EU Commission head, Ursula von der Leyen, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Tunisian President Kais Saied – Brussels agreed to give Tunis financial and technical support to "deter" Europe-bound migration, which has been increasingly originating from Tunisian shores. According to the few details made public, the deal aims to prevent migrants […]]]> 654843 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-jordan-syria-army-intelligence-chiefs-discuss-combating-of-drug-smuggling-over-border/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:14:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654845 Jordanian and Syrian army and intelligence chiefs met yesterday to discuss the ongoing smuggling of drugs over the Syria-Jordan border, in the first of a series of meetings to resolve the issue. In a statement by Jordan's Foreign Ministry, it said that a meeting headed by Jordanian Army chief, Lieutenant-General Yousef Hunaiti and Syrian Defence Minister, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, was held to discuss the trafficking of narcotics over their countries' common border, with the Jordanian and Syrian intelligence heads both present. "The meeting discussed cooperation in confronting the danger of drugs, its sources of production and smuggling and the groups that are organising and supervising the smuggling operations across the border to Jordan", the statement said. It added that "They […]]]> 654845 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-did-sweden-get-into-nato/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 13:50:05 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654835 "But don't let appearances fool you. There's always only one reality." (Haruki Murakami) In the coming weeks and months, I imagine that Europeans and North Americans who concern themselves with international politics will experience conversations along the following lines: Person 1: "… so when Sweden joins NATO, Europe will have a unified deterrent against Putin." Person 2: "Wait, I thought Sweden was in NATO?" Person 1: "Not exactly. The Turkish Parliament still needs to approve their accession." Person 2: "But I thought Sweden was accepted to NATO during the Vilnius conference?" Person 1: "Not exactly. The press and most NATO officials tried to make it look like that, but actually Sweden was not accepted to NATO. In fact, not much […]]]> 654835 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230723-tunisia-migration-deal-a-model-for-others-eus-von-der-leyen-says/ Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:53:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654646 The European Union's pact with Tunisia can serve as a model for other countries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday, as the EU struggles to stem unauthorised flows of migrants across the Mediterranean, Reuters reports. The EU and Tunisia last week signed a "strategic partnership" deal that includes cracking down on human traffickers and tightening borders. Europe also pledged 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in aid to help Tunisia with its battered economy and rescue state finances. "We want our agreement with Tunisia to be a template. A blueprint for the future. For partnerships with other countries in the region," von der Leyen told a conference in Rome. She said the EU should offer a legal […]]]> 654646 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230723-italy-pm-meloni-says-illegal-migrant-flows-damage-all-nations/ Sun, 23 Jul 2023 12:47:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654644 Illegal flows of migrants are damaging all countries across the Mediterranean, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday, as she called on nations to fight together against human traffickers, Reuters reports. In contrast with her past hard-line rhetoric, Meloni told an international conference in Rome that her government was open to taking in more people through legal routes as "Europe and Italy needed immigration." "Mass illegal immigration harms each and every one of us. No one benefits from this, except criminal groups who get rich at the expenses of the most fragile and use their strength even against the governments," she said. Earlier this month, Italy pledged to issue 452,000 new work visas for non-EU nationals from 2023 to […]]]> 654644 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-many-may-die-warns-un-after-end-of-black-sea-grain-deal/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:44:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654438 A spike in grain prices since Russia quit a deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain "potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people," the United Nations' Aid chief told the Security Council on Friday, Reuters reports. "Some will go hungry, some will starve, many may die as a result of these decisions," Martin Griffiths told the 15-member Council, adding that some 362 million people in 69 countries were in need of humanitarian aid. Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, saying that demands to improve its own food and fertiliser exports had not been met, and that not enough Ukrainian grain had reached the poorest countries. US wheat futures in Chicago rose over 6 per cent […]]]> 654438 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-italy-migration-conference-aims-to-stem-flows-by-helping-africa/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:52:18 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654398 Mediterranean and Middle East countries will meet in Rome on Sunday to boost efforts to stem illegal migration flows, with Italy saying the aim is to help countries in Africa in order to reduce the impetus for migrants to reach Europe, Reuters reports. The meeting will focus on building partnership for projects in sectors including agriculture, infrastructure and health, an Italian government statement said on Friday. "The conference aims to govern the migration phenomenon, combat human trafficking and promote economic development according to a new model of cooperation between states," the statement said. Planned participants include Tunisia, Turkiye, Libya, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates, along with the European Union and the IMF, Italian officials told Reuters. However France, a […]]]> 654398 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-turkiye-working-against-end-of-black-sea-grain-deal-and-resulting-fallout-president/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:40:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654342 Ending the Black Sea grain deal as announced this week would hit hard in numerous ways, warned Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that Turkiye is already working to prevent this, Anadolu Agency reports. "The termination of the Black Sea grain initiative will have a range of (harmful) effects, ranging from raising global food prices, in some regions to famine and then new waves of migration. We do not hesitate to take the initiative to prevent this," Erdogan told reporters on Thursday on the presidential plane returning from a three-nation Gulf tour. "I believe that by discussing the issue in detail with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, we will ensure the continuation of this humanitarian movement," he added, hinting at Turkiye's […]]]> 654342 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-fire-breaks-out-in-syrian-refugee-camp-in-lebanon/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:27:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654242 A huge fire broke out in a camp for displaced Syrians in the town of Hanine, in northern Lebanon, destroying a large number of tents. Firefighters rushed to the scene and there were no reports of casualties, RT Arabic reported. The presence of Syrian refugees in Lebanon has become a contentious issue with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib warning that "the Syrian displacement file has begun to pose a threat not only to the Lebanese social structure and economic stability, but also to the continued existence of Lebanon as an entity." He added that Lebanon is not a country of asylum. Commenting on the EU's new 16-point resolution on Lebanon, which says "the conditions required for a voluntary and dignified return of [Syrian] […]]]> 654242 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-eu-ready-to-re-engage-with-turkiye-but-sets-conditions/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:42:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654217 European Union foreign ministers agreed, on Thursday, that the bloc should re-engage with Turkiye, but set some conditions and did not endorse Ankara's calls to revive its moribund membership bid, Reuters reports. Turkiye has been an official candidate to join the EU for 24 years, but accession talks have stalled since 2016 over the bloc's concerns about human rights violations and respect for the rule of law. But on 10 July, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in an unexpected move, called for a re-opening of Ankara's accession talks, linking the idea to Turkiye's approval of Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance. "We discussed how to re-engage with Turkiye," EU Foreign Policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in a press conference […]]]> 654217 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-turkiye-hopes-black-sea-grain-deal-will-continue-national-defence-ministry/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:46:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654143 Thought it expired on Monday, Turkiye is still working hard to ensure the continuation of last year's landmark Black Sea grain deal, the country's National Defence Ministry said on Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. "The whole world attaches great importance to maintenance of the grain deal. It is clear that the agreement, which was established through joint efforts, plays a vital role in tackling the global food crisis," a National Defence Ministry official told reporters at a background briefing in the capital, Ankara. Russia, on Monday, suspended its participation in the deal, which it signed last July along with Turkiye, the UN and Ukraine to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in […]]]> 654143 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-jordan-ex-prime-minister-calls-for-end-to-soft-diplomacy-with-israel/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:27:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654076 Former Prime Minister of Jordan Ali Abu Al-Ragheb has called for an end to the Hashemite Kingdom's "soft diplomacy" approach towards Israel in order to suppress what he called the aspirations of the "ruling trinity" of the occupation state — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — even if it leads to war. Abu Al-Ragheb made his comment during a programme organised by the Amman Group for Future Dialogues titled "Developments of Events in the Occupied Territories and their Impact on Jordan". His speech focused on the potential for Israel to continue its ethnic cleansing of occupied Palestine and forcibly displace Palestinians across the border into Jordan. "We have to strengthen […]]]> 654076 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-unemployment-among-palestinian-refugees-in-lebanonrises-to-80/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 07:38:34 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654054 Palestinian rights activist Hassan al Saida has warned of disastrous consequences of high the unemployment rate among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Quds Press reported yesterday. Al Saida said that unemployment rate among the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is currently between 80 and 90 per cent. This, he explained, means that they live in abject poverty, noting that this will lead to despair and lack of hope mainly among the young refugees. READ: World Bank says more than half of Palestinians suffer from depression  "The Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are experiencing the worst economic conditions in decades," the rights activist told Quds Press, warning that the lack of potential solutions for this problem might push young refugees to migrate to Europe. A […]]]> 654054 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-turkiye-nato-agenda-sweden-bid-f-16s-and-war-mediation/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 19:00:15 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653785 Last week was, by all standards, a historical turning point for the relationship between Turkiye and its NATO allies. Three important developments were witnessed at the Vilnius summit. First, there was the long-awaited breakthrough in negotiations, which allowed Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to finally approve Sweden's membership. Secondly, the US had finally agreed to the sale of its F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye and, finally, Turkiye's offer to play a greater mediating role in the Ukraine-Russia was welcomed. Sweden's bid After more than a year of negotiations, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, agreed to endorse Sweden's entry into NATO. Ankara had blocked Stockholm's membership bid over accusations that the Swedish government supported PKK terrorist groups and allowed Islamophobic campaigners to desecrate […]]]> 653785 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-hrw-eu-should-suspend-migration-funding-for-tunisia-until-human-rights-assessment/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 12:11:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653659 Human Rights Watch has said that the EU should suspend migration control funding to Tunisian security forces until a human rights impact assessment has been carried out. In July, Tunisian police and military rounded up black Africans in the country and dumped them on the border with Libya and Algeria. Two bodies were recovered and videos of people with broken ankles, begging for food and water, circulated online. HRW documented abuses including beatings and the use of excessive force, theft of belongings and money and in some cases torture. Despite this, the EU has offered Tunisia an aid package including over €100 million ($112.2 million) if Tunisia agrees to help stop migrant boats crossing the Mediterranean and heading for Europe and facilitate the […]]]> 653659 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-turkiye-uk-agree-to-update-free-trade-agreement/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 10:00:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653436 Turkiye and Britain have agreed to start talks to update their free trade agreement (FTA), Anadolu news agency reported. Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat commented on the step saying it aims to "modernise" the FTA in order to broaden the market opportunities available to Turkish exports and products. For his part, the British Ambassador to Ankara, Jill Morris, said the updated FTA will double the volume of trade between the two countries, which last year amounted to £23 billion ($30.7 billion). The British ambassador described the two countries as "partners and allies", adding that updating the FTA was "very exciting". The deal would replace the existing UK-Turkiye FTA, which was rolled over from when the UK left the European Union and doesn't […]]]> 653436 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230717-tunisia-and-eu-sign-partnership-memorandum-of-understanding/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:32:40 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652879 Tunisia and the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday for a strategic, comprehensive partnership covering trade, investment and irregular migration. The value of the agreement exceeds €750 million. The details were announced by the Tunisian presidency after a meeting at the Carthage Palace in Tunis between President Kais Saied and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. It was said to be opening a "new chapter" in relations between the EU and Tunisia. "Rapprochement between people will be the best outcome of the MoU," explained Saied in a joint press conference. "There will be a summit-level conference on migration that will bring together all the countries […]]]> 652879 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230714-spain-court-halts-probe-into-spyware-due-to-israel-lack-of-cooperation/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:44:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652357 A Spanish judge investigating the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware used against top politicians, including Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has halted the case due to a "complete" lack of cooperation from Israel, a court statement announced on Monday. According to The Times of Israel, the Audiencia Nacional, Spain's top criminal court said Jose Luis Calama had sent a formal letter to the Israeli government more than a year ago requesting information about the software made by Israeli firm, NSO Group, but never received a response. "This silence clearly shows an absolute lack of legal cooperation on the part of the government of Israel. This leads us to presume that the judicial request in question, which has been sent four times, will never […]]]> 652357 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230714-un-scrambles-to-save-black-sea-grain-deal-with-eu-help-ahead-of-monday-deadline/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:34:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652355 The European Commission is helping the United Nations and Turkiye try to extend a deal allowing the Black Sea export of Ukraine grain and is open to "explore all solutions", a European Union spokesperson said on Thursday, ahead of the deal's possible expiration on Monday, Reuters reports. The UN and Turkiye brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by Moscow's invasion and blockade of Ukrainian ports. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's leading grain exporters. The EU is considering connecting a subsidiary of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the international payment network SWIFT to allow for grain and fertiliser transactions, sources familiar with discussions told Reuters […]]]> 652355 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230714-eu-has-concrete-plans-to-combat-anti-muslim-hatred-official/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:54:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652337 The European Union has concrete plans to combat Islamophobia, Marion Lalisse, the new EU coordinator on combating anti-Muslim hatred, said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. Lisse, who was appointed to the position on 2 February, held a press conference in Brussels and answered questions from journalists. She highlighted that the Muslim community in Europe is the largest religious minority, with diverse numbers, percentages and origins among member countries of the Union. "However, the key point is that the Muslim community in the EU is an integral part of our society," said Lisse. "We proposed the preparation of a document by mapping the phenomenon of hatred against Muslims." Asked about concrete plans to combat Islamophobia, referring to the Quran burning incidents in Sweden, […]]]> 652337 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230714-europe-calls-on-pa-to-hold-free-inclusive-elections/ Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:32:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652313 The European Parliament has called on the Palestinian Authority to hold "free, credible, inclusive, transparent and fair" parliamentary and presidential elections without any further delay in order to strengthen its legitimacy. This came in a set of recommendations to the European Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on relations with the Palestinian Authority issued on Wednesday. The Parliament reiterated the EU's "unwavering support" for the two-state solution, as the only viable solution to the conflict, with the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living democratically side by side in peace, complete with guaranteed security, mutual recognition under the 1967 borders, mutually agreed-upon equivalent land swaps and Jerusalem as […]]]> 652313 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-jenins-marginalisation-in-international-rhetoric/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 18:00:13 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652129 Reiterating the obvious is one prerequisite for being a diplomat. With the Jenin refugee camp becoming the latest attraction for the international community's humanitarian agenda, the grotesque statements are paying more attention to Israel's security narrative than the ongoing Nakba (Catastrophe) of the Palestinian people. An international delegation led by the EU's representative to the occupied Palestinian territories, Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, put forth the following generalisation. "We are concerned about the deployment of weaponry and weapons systems which question the proportionality of the military during the operation," said von Burgsdorff, while calling the military incursion "a violation of international law." Why is the EU representative concerned about the deployment of weapons and not about Israel's qualitative military edge, though? […]]]> 652129 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-eu-helping-un-turkiye-in-bid-to-extend-black-sea-grain-deal/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:24:10 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652171 The European Commission is helping the United Nations and Turkiye try to extend a deal allowing the Black Sea export of Ukraine grain – that could expire on Monday – and is open to "explore all solutions", a European Union spokesperson said on Thursday, Reuters reports. The EU is considering connecting a subsidiary of the Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the international payment network, SWIFT, to allow for grain and fertiliser transactions, sources familiar with discussions told Reuters on Wednesday. UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, proposed in a letter to Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday that Moscow allow the Black Sea grain deal to continue for several months to give the EU time to connect a Rosselkhozbank subsidiary to SWIFT, two of […]]]> 652171 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-eu-meps-voice-support-for-palestine-with-call-to-back-icc-israel-probe/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:30:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652088 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voiced their strong support for a Palestinian state yesterday in a set of recommendations while deploring Israel's continued violations of international law. European lawmakers also gave their backing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) probe into alleged Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity and called on the European Union (EU) to commit to helping ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan. MEPs reiterated their unwavering support for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as the capital shared with Israel. The parliamentarians called on the EU and its member states to support in principle recognition of Palestinian statehood in accordance with the parameters of the July 2014 European Council conclusions. These reaffirmed the […]]]> 652088 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-we-need-to-hold-britains-racist-banking-system-to-account/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:15:34 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652019 If you live in the Middle East, Asia or Africa you've probably never heard of Nigel Farage; if so, count yourself lucky. He is a prime example of white privilege; a truly obnoxious individual whose hateful words whip up racism across Britain. My enduring memory of this repugnant, right-wing politician is of him grinning like a village idiot in front of a giant mobile advertising hoarding showing a bleak photograph of desperate, olive-skinned refugees bearing the headline "BREAKING POINT, The EU has failed us all". The inference was that these refugees were heading for Britain but the problem would disappear overnight if the UK left the European Union. For many people, Farage was Mr Brexit. Grinning like the fictional Cheshire […]]]> 652019 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230712-russia-turkiye-should-have-no-illusions-over-its-eu-bid/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 10:15:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651624 Turkey should be under no illusion that it might one day be allowed to join the European Union, the Kremlin said yesterday, as Moscow stressed its desire for strong relations with Ankara despite existing disagreements between them, including over the growth of NATO, Reuters reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question about NATO member Turkiye's decision to lift its opposition to Sweden joining the alliance on the eve of a two-day NATO summit in Lithuania. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to maintain cordial ties with both Moscow and Kyiv during the 16-month war in Ukraine. He has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia following the invasion and has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Turkiye […]]]> 651624 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230711-indonesia-seizes-iran-flagged-tanker-suspected-of-illegal-oil-transfer/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:20:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651573 Indonesia's coastguard said, on Tuesday, it seized an Iranian-flagged super tanker suspected of involvement in the illegal trans-shipment of crude oil, and vowed to toughen maritime patrols, Reuters reports. The "MT Arman 114" was carrying 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil, valued at 4.6 trillion rupiah ($304 million), when it was seized last week, the Indonesian authorities said. The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was suspected of transferring oil to another vessel without a permit on Friday, the South-east Asian nation's maritime security agency said. The vessel was captured after being spotted in Indonesia's North Natuna Sea, carrying out a ship-to-ship oil transfer with the Cameroon-flagged "MT S Tinos", the agency's chief, Aan Kurnia, said. "MT Arman was spoofing […]]]> 651573 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230710-greek-pm-says-not-fair-to-manage-eu-migration-problem-alone/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:47:47 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651091 Greece should not be burdened with the task of managing migration for the European Union, or be accused of not saving people at sea, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday, a month after a deadly shipwreck, Reuters reports. The Greek coast guard rescued 104 people but hundreds of migrants drowned after an overloaded boat capsised and sank in international waters off Greece's Pylos on 14 June, in one of Europe's deadliest shipping disasters in recent years. The causes of the shipwreck are still being investigated. Survivors have said that the ship capsised after a disastrous towing attempt by the Greek coast guard, which Greece denies. READ: Tunisia: 1 migrant dead, 10 rescued, 11 missing after boat sinks in Mediterranean Sea Mitsotakis, who won an […]]]> 651091 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230709-boat-sinking-off-tunisia-leaves-one-dead-at-least-10-migrants-missing/ Sun, 09 Jul 2023 12:33:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650656 At least 10 Tunisian migrants were missing and one died after their boat sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said on Sunday, reports Reuters. Tunisia is facing an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as a main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe. The latest tragedy raises the number of dead and missing off the North African country's coasts to more than 600 in the first half of 2023, far more than in any previous year, according to figures compiled by Reuters. Tunisia's coastguard rescued 11 people from the boat, which set off from the […]]]> 650656 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230709-pope-francis-migrant-deaths-at-sea-a-shame/ Sun, 09 Jul 2023 12:31:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650635 Pope Francis said on Saturday that it was a "shame" that irregular migrants trying to reach Europe for a safe and better life were dying at sea, reports Anadolu Agency. In a letter to the archbishopric of the Italian island of Lampedusa, Francis said tragedy had befallen migrants many times recently in the Mediterranean Sea. "In these days when we are witnessing the repetition of serious tragedies in the Mediterranean, we are shaken by the silent massacres in front of which we still remain helpless and astonished," said the letter, marking the 10th anniversary of the pontiff's first visit to the island, a frequent destination for migrants using the Central Mediterranean route from North Africa. READ: Rights group urges Tunisia […]]]> 650635 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230709-turkish-president-urges-unity-against-growing-islamophobia-in-western-countries/ Sun, 09 Jul 2023 09:53:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650623 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the need for collective action Saturday to address escalating Islamophobia and xenophobia in Western nations, reports Anadolu Agency. "The vile attack on our sacred book, the Quran, in Sweden on the first day of Eid al-Adha reveals the terrifying dimensions of Islamophobia," he said in a video sent to the Gala Dinner of the 46th Annual Convention of the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA). Erdogan emphasized the responsibility of all Muslims to prevent a recurrence. "All of us, all Muslims, have a great responsibility to ensure that such acts, to which we react very strongly in Turkiye, do not recur. If we act as one heart and one wrist, […]]]> 650623