https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 13:13:14 +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/20230518-human-rights-group-concerned-over-rising-disappearance-of-unaccompanied-asylum-minors-in-europe/ Thu, 18 May 2023 19:17:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637891 A new report by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med Monitor) has revealed a significant disparity in the treatment of unaccompanied minors of asylum seekers compared to the accompanied ones in Europe. This included depriving the unaccompanied minors of legal protections, detaining them, and the insufficiency of services provided to them in several European countries. On Thursday, the Euro-Med Monitor released a comprehensive report titled "Happiness, Love and Understanding: The Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in the 27 EU Member States." A copy of this report was forwarded to the Arabi21 website, and it highlighted various shortcomings in reception procedures and protection offered to unaccompanied minor asylum seekers across the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). The report evaluates […]]]> 637891 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230405-unhrc-adopts-two-resolutions-on-palestinian-rights-israel-settlements/ Wed, 05 Apr 2023 10:25:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=626678 The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted two resolutions on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the illegality of the Israeli settlements established in 1967 in the Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday. In its 52nd session convened in Geneva and under agenda item 7, the UNHRC adopted by an overwhelming majority a draft resolution on the inalienable, permanent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including their right to live in freedom, justice and dignity and the right to their independent, the ministry said. Forty-one UNHRC member states voted in favour of the resolution, while Cameroon, Lithuania and Romania abstained, and Czech Republic, the United States and […]]]> 626678 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230127-teacher-revives-art-of-letter-writing-to-connect-students-across-the-world-with-children-in-gaza/ Fri, 27 Jan 2023 17:16:07 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=609748 Before this digital age of social media texts and direct messages, it was commonplace to receive heartfelt handwritten letters from a pen pal, a postcard from overseas or annual colourful festive cards. It is an experience the Berkeley, California-based teacher, Heather La Mastro, aimed to rediscover with her students at the Jewish Community Centre of the East Bay in 2018. The letters, she revealed to them, will be addressed to children in Gaza. "It was a sweet moment. I had let them know of an opportunity to connect with children who are living in a war zone leading difficult lives and gave all 15 of them an individual choice to take part," explained Heather. "I pulled out 15 yeses from […]]]> 609748 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221222-morocco-becomes-first-african-country-to-provide-military-aid-to-ukraine/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 15:20:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=602355 Morocco is set break its perceived neutrality over the conflict in Ukraine, becoming the first African country to provide military support to Kyiv. According to a report by Le Journal de l'Afrique, at the request of the US, the Moroccan government has agreed to transfer spare parts for T-72 tanks to the Ukrainian military. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces have several dozen T-72B/BK-type tanks purchased from Belarus between 1999 and 2001. It wouldn't be the first time that the kingdom has cooperated militarily with Ukraine. In July 2015, the Ukrainian state-owned arms supplier Ukroboronservice asked Morocco for spare parts for its T-72 tanks. Military Africa also reports that in addition to the provision of spare parts, Moroccan T-72B battle tanks are being modernised by Czech company Excalibur Army, to be diverted to Ukraine as […]]]> 602355 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221214-czech-republic-to-move-israel-embassy-to-jerusalem/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:30:22 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=600753 The President of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, on Monday asked Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, to move the country's embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Ynet News reported yesterday. Zeman asked Fiala to approve the relocation of the embassy before his term ends next March and suggested that he and Fiala visit Israel for the opening. When he was a member of the opposition, Fiala signed a petition calling for the transfer of the embassy. However, he is currently facing several obstacles, including a lack of support from the Czech coalition and dependence of Prague on the EU, which opposes the move. The US, under the administration of former President Donald Trump, moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, after recognising the holy city as the undivided capital of Israel, despite its […]]]> 600753 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221027-czech-republic-opens-embassy-in-qatar-amid-growing-energy-needs/ Thu, 27 Oct 2022 19:06:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=589952 The Czech Republic has opened its embassy in Qatar, as the two nations develop growing ties especially amid the looming energy crisis in Europe. Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, today concluded his two-day working visit to Qatar, in which he first took part in the ceremonial opening of the first Czech embassy in the capital, Doha. Lipavsky also met with his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, as well as with the Energy Minister and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Sharida Kaabi, to discuss energy security. According to a statement by the Czech Foreign Ministry, the main purpose of this visit was to support trade and cooperation between Prague and Doha, particularly in the field of energy. The situation in Ukraine and the ongoing Russian […]]]> 589952 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221014-award-winning-egypt-lawyer-banned-from-travel-ahead-of-aurora-prize-ceremony-in-italy/ Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:16:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=586280 Award-winning Egyptian lawyer Mahienour El-Massry has been informed that she has been banned from travelling, despite being told a month ago that she was not. Mahienour was informed about the travel ban just as she was about to travel to the Aurora prize ceremony in Italy for which she has been nominated. The Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity is given annually to an individual who has "had an exceptional impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes," according to their website. Mahienour was arrested during the September protests in 2019 having been detained several times before for her activism. She was released in July 2021. The human rights lawyer organises peaceful protests, defends political prisoners in court and organises […]]]> 586280 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221006-qatar-to-open-embassy-in-czech-republic/ Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:59:34 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=584751 Qatar will open an embassy in the Czech Republic in the coming months, Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani said in a joint press conference with Czech President Milos Zeman yesterday. Al Thani, who is on an official visit to Prague, said he is looking forward to Zeman's visit to Doha, which is preparing for the launch of the FIFA World Cup next month. He added that he discussed with his Czech counterpart the development of mutual economic relations. Al Thani reiterated Qatar's clear position to resolve all disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. Al Thani is currently on a state visit to Prague where he is meeting not only with Czech leaders but also several other European representatives on […]]]> 584751 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220913-morocco-army-chief-given-official-reception-in-israel/ Tue, 13 Sep 2022 08:50:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=579297 Morocco's army chief Lieutenant General Belkhir El-Farouk started an official visit to Israel today to participate in a military conference in Tel Aviv. An official reception ceremony was held upon El-Farouk's arrival and he was welcomed by Israeli army chief Aviv Kochavi. For the first time in history, we welcomed the Inspector General of the @MoroccanArmed Forces, LTG Belkhir El Farouk, to Israel today. The IDF Chief of the General Staff led an honor guard as LTG El Farouk arrived for the International Operational Innovation Conference. ???? pic.twitter.com/v5QCOR2Qpi — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 13, 2022 El-Farouk will take part in the Israeli army's International Operational Innovation Conference along with military leaders from other countries including Finland, India, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, […]]]> 579297 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220905-russia-journalist-faces-24-year-prison-term-for-revealing-2bn-moscow-cairo-arms-deal/ Mon, 05 Sep 2022 10:22:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=577484 The verdict on whether a Russian journalist will receive a 24-year prison sentence for high treason will be delivered by a court today. Ivan Safronov was arrested in July 2020 and has been held in pretrial detention since then accused of passing on state secrets to German and Czech intelligence between 2015 and 2017. At the end of August, a government prosecutor argued that following his release, Safronov should be sentenced to two years of restricted freedom and fined over $8,000. A former military correspondent for Kommersant and Verdomosti, a Russian business daily, Safronov turned down an offer by a prosecutor who asked him to plead guilty in exchange for a shorter sentence of 12 years. Analysts say there is […]]]> 577484 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211013-hungary-asks-eu-to-drop-artificial-political-preconditions-on-funding-egypt/ Wed, 13 Oct 2021 12:22:55 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=501079 Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told attendants at the V4 summit that the EU cannot cope without Egypt it's most obvious, external ally. Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger agreed that "Egypt was one of the most important partners in the Middle East" in terms of fighting terrorism and stopping migration. Orban told leaders from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic that it is in the EU's best interest to help strengthen Egypt's defence including border controls reports Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram. Orban also called on the EU to adopt Egypt's list of terrorists and terrorist organisations and lift restrictions in place on equipment for Egypt for border protection. READ: Egypt businessman's death in detention 'premeditated murder', ENHR says Egypt regularly […]]]> 501079 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211006-czech-republic-buys-israel-air-defence-system-for-360-million/ Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:49:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=499590 The Czech Republic has signed a major deal to purchase a new air defence system from Israel, in an effort to modernise and strengthen its armed forces. According to an announcement by the Czech defence ministry yesterday, the 13.7 billion Czech korun ($630 million) deal will enable Prague to acquire the Spyder air defence system produced by the Israeli state-run defence company, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. The delivery of the four short-range air defence batteries — which aims to protect against attacks by bombers, aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles on important military and civilian sites throughout the country — is set to be completed by 2026. The move is the latest attempt by the Czech Republic to modernise and […]]]> 499590 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210924-number-of-first-time-asylum-seekers-in-eu-doubles/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 13:19:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=496677 The number of first-time asylum seekers to the European Union has more than doubled over the spring months, Reuters said a report released today by the bloc's statistics office revealed. Nearly 103,900 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in EU countries between April and June of this year, according to Eurostat, up 115 per cent compared to the same period of 2020. Over the three months, Syrians represented around a fifth of first-time applicants – by far the largest group – followed by Afghans at 13 per cent and Pakistanis at four per cent. The number of unaccompanied children applying for asylum also rose, up by nearly a fifth year-on-year to reach 4,240, with most minors applying for entry to Belgium, […]]]> 496677 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210518-czech-envoy-apologises-for-posting-picture-of-israel-flag/ Tue, 18 May 2021 12:15:05 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=471759 The Czech Ambassador to Kuwait, Martin Dvorak, yesterday apologised for publishing the Israeli flag on his official Instagram account as an expression of his solidarity with the occupation state. The Czech embassy in Kuwait published the ambassador's apology on Twitter. "I am extremely remorseful for placing the Israeli flag on my private profile and, in so doing, inspiring understandable outrage and indignation among many people with regards to the current, deeply dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip," said the envoy's post on Twitter. By no means did he want to change the embassy's view of the current deplorable situation in Palestine,where innocent people are dying.The Czech Republic has repeatedly called on both parties of the conflict to start negotiations on […]]]> 471759 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210314-arab-league-and-palestinians-condemn-opening-of-czech-jerusalem-office/ Sun, 14 Mar 2021 14:15:31 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=461126 The Palestinian Authority and the Arab League on Saturday condemned the Czech Republic's opening of a diplomatic office in Jerusalem as a violation of international law, reported Reuters. Prague opened a Jerusalem branch of its Israel embassy, which is located in Tel Aviv, on Thursday. The inauguration was attended by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, two weeks after Israel sent 5,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Czech Republic under a "vaccine diplomacy" programme that later came under legal scrutiny and was frozen. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called Prague's move "a blatant attack on the Palestinian people and their rights, a flagrant violation of international law," and said it would harm peace prospects. In Cairo, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul […]]]> 461126 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210309-israel-seeks-diplomatic-allies-against-the-icc/ Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:39:53 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=460490 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is counting upon the diplomatic route against the International Criminal Court's decision to investigate war crimes alleged to have been committed by his country. Israel will not be short of supporters. Predictably, the US has already clarified its "complete opposition to the decision of the prosecutor" to investigate war crimes allegations. Germany, Hungary, Uganda, Australia, the Czech Republic, Canada, Austria, and Brazil have also expressed their opposition to the ICC decision, furthering Israel's claims of political manipulation at The Hague. For all the media frenzy over the ICC decision, the impending investigations do not appear to be a deterrent for Israel's ongoing war crimes schedule. Settlement expansion is one of the areas that international law […]]]> 460490 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210224-israel-gives-countries-that-recognise-jerusalem-as-its-capital-covid-vaccine/ Wed, 24 Feb 2021 14:03:49 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=457862 Israel is to send covid vaccines to the occupied West Bank and a number of countries who have improved their relations with the occupation state, Haaretz has reported. It is unknown how many doses of the vaccine Tel Aviv plans to distribute, but the recipients are expected to be the Czech Republic, Hungary, Guatemala and Honduras, the occupied West Bank and one other unnamed country. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Guatemala and Honduras have all recognised occupied Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital. "In light of the successful vaccination campaign in Israel, the leading country in the world in inoculating the population, Israel has received many requests from the countries of the world to assist with the supply of vaccines," a statement by the Prime Minister's Office said. However, Meretz […]]]> 457862 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201202-czech-republic-adds-diplomat-in-jerusalem-office/ Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:38:19 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=438377 The Czech Republic said on Wednesday it would add a diplomatic presence to its Jerusalem office next year in what the foreign ministry called a move to boost services for Czech citizens in Israel and not a new embassy, Reuters reports. The central European country has long been one of Israel's steadiest supporters in the European Union and its president, Milos Zeman, has backed the idea of relocating the Czech embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. However, no steps have been taken. Israel, which welcomed the Czech announcement, regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, although that is not recognised by most countries. Palestinians seek the city's east, which Israel captured in a 1967 war, as capital of a future […]]]> 438377 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201130-mankinds-greatest-peace-project-needs-turkey-says-ambassador/ Mon, 30 Nov 2020 10:16:04 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=437774 Of all Turkey's strained relations in recent years – its disputes with the United States, conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean and military confrontations in Syria and Libya – the most significant and impactful has probably been its link with the European Union. Relations between Turkey and Europe will be scrutinised and discussed at the next EU summit on 10 December. In anticipation that Turkey will be a divisive issue on the agenda, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week called on the EU to respect its promises of cooperation with Turkey. "We don't see ourselves elsewhere but in Europe," he stressed. Building a future with Europe has been a key objective of Turkey for the five decades that it has sought […]]]> 437774 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201029-czech-republic-designates-hezbollah-a-terrorist-organisation/ Thu, 29 Oct 2020 11:49:36 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=431329 The Czech Republic agreed to designate the whole of Lebanese Hezbollah a terrorist organisation yesterday, becoming the latest European Union (EU) member to break away from the bloc's partial classification. The Czech Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the parliament in Prague, voted 63-7 to adopt the resolution calling for a terrorist designation for the Lebanese group. The Czech Republic does not have its own list of terrorist organisations, but the resolution passed yesterday calls on the government to establish one and put Hezbollah on it. The motion said the Iranian-backed Shia militia, which has a military and a political arm, "an indivisible whole and a terrorist organisation that significantly destabilised the Middle East region and, through its global […]]]> 431329 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200928-czech-republic-to-purchase-israel-air-defence-systems/ Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:16:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=425014 The Czech Republic has signed a deal to buy an Israeli anti-aircraft missile system in a deal worth an estimated $450 million, Israel's Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, SPYDER is a low to high-altitude surface-to-air missile system designed to protect against fighter aircraft, helicopters, other missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the Times of Israel, the Czech Republic intends to purchase four SPYDER batteries. Czech Defence Minister Lubomir Metnar said on Friday that the system will be a key component in modernising the Czech military. He added the military had analysed nine systems from seven producers before deciding on the Israeli one. Jedním z klíčových modernizačních projektů naší armády je protiletadlový raketový systém. Je nejvyšší čas […]]]> 425014 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200215-israel-mobilises-support-in-the-hague-germany-after-czech-republic/ Sat, 15 Feb 2020 12:37:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=386822 On Friday Germany submitted a demand to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, that it be a "friend of the court" in the procedures relating to examining the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in the investigation of cases connected with the Gaza Strip. This follows the announcement by the prosecutor of the court, Fatou Bensouda, in December of last year, that she intends to investigate Israeli war crimes. This is considered a step by Germany to support Israel, after the Czech Republic took a similar step on Saturday. Germany had announced, following the recommendation of Bensouda to open an investigation into Israeli war crimes, that: "We are confident that the court will resolve the raised issues, […]]]> 386822 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191220-palestine-and-the-stifling-status-quo/ Fri, 20 Dec 2019 00:50:34 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=377089 "All attempts at trying to limit UNRWA's mandate or defund it or attack it have failed, and we hope that the international community will continue to come to the rescue." These were the words of senior Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official, Dr Hanan Ashrawi, in response to the news that the United Nations has voted to extend the mandate of the agency responsible for the welfare of Palestinian refugees. It is easy to fall into the trap of celebrating the American-Israeli defeat and the supposed triumph of the international community following the overwhelming vote – 169 in favour, 9 abstentions and with the US and Israel voting against it – on December 13. After all, the US and Israel have […]]]> 377089 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191210-recent-european-policy-reversal-spells-danger-for-palestine-in-the-un/ Tue, 10 Dec 2019 00:48:30 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=375568 On 3 December 2019, 11 European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, broke away from existing European consensus and voted against a resolution at the United Nations, renewing the mandate of the United Nation's Division of Palestinian Rights. The agency, which operates within the UN Secretariat, is primarily concerned with both the monitoring and evaluation of developments on the ground and with organising international meetings and conferences pertaining to salient issue areas concerning Palestine. The agency also organises the annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on 29 November, and helps to develop and maintain the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL). The decision made by the European countries to vote […]]]> 375568 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191206-israel-czech-republic-sign-125m-missile-defence-deal/ Fri, 06 Dec 2019 11:30:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=375200 The Israeli government yesterday signed a deal with the Czech Republic to sell radar systems used in the Iron Dome missile defence system. The deal, inked by the two country's respective defence ministries, is worth an estimated $125 million, reported AFP, with delivery set for 2021-2023. According to the report, "the radars will be integrated into the Czech air defence system which will use Prague's own rocket launchers." In addition, the radars "will be interoperable with Czech and NATO command and control systems." Czech Defence Minister Lubomir Metnar described the acquisition as one his government's "key modernisation projects" for the country's armed forces. READ: Germany among 13 countries who switch their vote at UN in favour of Israel  He added […]]]> 375200 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190527-palestine-welcomes-czech-move-on-jerusalem/ Mon, 27 May 2019 11:00:31 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=345366 The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Monday welcomed the Czech Republic's rejection to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry lauded the Czech "commitment to international resolutions and international law". On Saturday, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis reiterated rejection to relocate his country's embassy in Israel, citing that the move would contradict with the stances of the EU and UN. READ: Palestine condemns forsaking of Muslims at Al-Aqsa  Last year, Czech President Milos Zeman promised a relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem during a speech before the Israeli Knesset (parliament). Israel has been trying to convince world countries to transfer their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. So far, the U.S. and Guatemala […]]]> 345366 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190208-the-week-in-pictures-194/ Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:25:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=327599 ]]> 327599 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181126-czechs-right-wing-president-calls-on-israel-to-abandon-two-state-solution/ Mon, 26 Nov 2018 15:12:53 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=316566 Czech President Milos Zeman has asked his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin to see plans for a one-state solution after admitting that he no longer believes in a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Zeman, who arrived in Israel yesterday for an official state visit to open "Czech House" cultural centre in Jerusalem, told Rivlin he was looking forward to ideas for a "one-state with two nations" while asserting that he did not envision the Gaza Strip as part of an independent Palestinian state, Israel's i24 news reported. "I do not see how an independent state can be created in Gaza because Hamas promotes a state of terror," Zeman said. Rivlin feted the pro-Israeli far-right president describing him as as "one […]]]> 316566 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181115-erekat-slams-czech-fm-visit-to-jerusalems-old-city/ Thu, 15 Nov 2018 11:13:35 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=315207 Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erekat yesterday criticised the visit of the Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Peteicek to the Old City of East Jerusalem, accompanied by Israeli officials. Erekat called in a statement on the Czech Republic to abide by international law and the European Union's position and not to contribute to the "illegal Judaisation and recognition of Jerusalem" as the capital of Israel. "In a precedent for a European Union minister, the Czech foreign minister violated the position of the Czech Foreign Ministry, which affirmed its unequivocal commitment to the international consensus on East Jerusalem as an occupied city since 1967 and blatantly violated the rules of international law and legality," Erekat said. He added that "the […]]]> 315207 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180807-europe-cannot-tackle-migration-without-the-african-union/ Tue, 07 Aug 2018 11:05:45 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=301214 On 28 June, European Union leaders gathered in Malta for a summit specifically to come up with some policy or agreeable solution to stem the flow of migrants and asylum seekers, particularly those coming from Libya, just a short flight away. So far this year, over 100,000 migrants and asylum seekers, mostly from Sub-Saharan African countries, have crossed the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety and a better life. At the end of two days of marathon talks, EU leaders agreed on two measures: establishing asylum seeker processing centres, preferably outside the EU and thus easing the burden on Italy, the usual first point of entry for those coming out of Libya; and transferring more migrants to more EU members. […]]]> 301214 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180709-netanyahu-forms-alliances-against-the-eu-to-block-european-support-for-the-palestinian-cause/ Sun, 08 Jul 2018 23:45:50 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=296897 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to get closer to countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In so doing the Israeli prime minister is seeking to form a pro-Israel alternative to the European Union, which includes countries that traditionally supported Israel but criticized its settlement policy in Palestinian occupied territories. Netanyahu officially launched his plan a year ago, last July, when he was speaking at a meeting in Budapest, which included the Prime Ministers of Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. At the time, it was not clear whether it was intended or deliberate that the microphone remained open in the presence of journalists before cutting it off, according to a report published by Haaretz on Sunday. Netanyahu told […]]]> 296897 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180516-pa-recalls-envoys-to-4-european-countries/ Wed, 16 May 2018 13:35:46 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=289810 The Palestinian Authority today recalled its envoys to Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria after their ambassadors attended a reception to mark the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. A statement from the PA's foreign ministry said the EU nations' ambassadors had attended the Israeli sponsored event on Sunday, a day before the US opened its Israel embassy in Jerusalem. The ministry "sees this participation as a grave breach of international law and United Nations resolutions which confirm that Jerusalem has been occupied since 1967 and ban countries from moving their embassies there," the statement said. READ: Turkey asks Israel envoy to leave country "The recalls are to consult with our ambassadors to these states about their positions and […]]]> 289810 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180423-czech-republic-withdraws-decision-to-move-embassy-to-jerusalem/ Mon, 23 Apr 2018 11:52:44 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=286706 The Czech Republic has withdrawn its previous decision to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city of Jerusalem, Israel Hayom newspaper reported. "The Czech Republic; a close friend of Israel in the European Union, was forced to abandon its decision to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but is considering the transfer of some of its sections," the paper said. According to the paper, which is close to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prague's decision came as a result of pressure exerted by EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and some key EU countries including Germany and France, as part of attempts to prevent the collapse of EU policy which does not recognise […]]]> 286706