At a joint summit in Riyadh on Saturday (Nov 11), Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza.

The countries also condemned Israel for its counter-offensive and declared that Tel Aviv bears responsibility for "crimes" against Palestinians.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, gathered Arab and Muslim leaders for the summit as the kingdom exercised its impact to push the United States and Israel for an end to the conflict in war-torn Gaza.

Leaders including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attended the summit.

<h2>Condemn war against our brothers in Palestine, says Prince Mohammed</h2>

Prince Mohammed said the kingdom substantiates its "condemnation and categorical rejection of this barbaric war against our brothers in Palestine".

"We are facing a humanitarian catastrophe that proves the failure of the Security Council and the international community to put an end to the flagrant Israeli violations of international laws," he said in an address to the summit.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-chief-brad-smith-says-russia-spreading-disinformation-about-israel-hamas-war-657561">Microsoft chief says Russia spreading 'disinformation' about Israel-Hamas war</a>

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinians were facing a "genocidal war" further calling on the US to end Israeli "aggression".

<h2>Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi hails Hamas</h2>

Voicing support for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas for launching unprecedented attacks against Israel, Raisi urged Islamic countries to impose oil and goods sanctions on Tel Aviv.

"There is no other way but to resist Israel, we kiss the hands of Hamas for its resistance against Israel," he said in his address.

On his first visit to Saudi Arabia, after the two countries agreed to mend ties in March, Raisi said Islamic nations should designate the Israeli army a "terrorist organisation" for its conduct in Gaza.&nbsp;

The two leaders, Prince Mohammed bin and Raisi also held their first meeting on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Summit.

The official Saudi Press Agency, taking to its X account, shared a picture of the two leaders saying, "HRH the #Crown_Prince meets with the president of the Islamic Republic of #Iran on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit. 
#SPAGOV."&nbsp;

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HRH the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crown_Prince?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crown_Prince</a> meets with the president of the Islamic Republic of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPAGOV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SPAGOV</a> <a href="https://t.co/JfJlCFztGI">pic.twitter.com/JfJlCFztGI</a>
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) <a href="https://twitter.com/Spa_Eng/status/1723351060956213729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Countries reject Israel's 'self-defence' claim</h2>

The final declaration rebuffed Israeli claims that dubbed its counter-offensive an act of "self-defence", calling the United Nations Security Council to adopt "a decisive and binding resolution" to halt Israel's "aggression".&nbsp;

It also disregarded out of hand any future political resolution to the war that would keep Gaza separate from the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

(With inputs from agencies)

At a joint summit in Riyadh on Saturday (Nov 11), Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza. The countries also condemned Israel for its counter-offensive and declared that Tel Aviv bears responsibility for "crimes" against Palestinians.

At a joint summit in Riyadh on Saturday (Nov 11), Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza. The countries also condemned Israel for its counter-offensive and declared that Tel Aviv bears responsibility for "crimes" against Palestinians. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, gathered Arab and Muslim leaders for the summit as the kingdom exercised its impact to push the United States and Israel for an end to the conflict in war-torn Gaza. Leaders including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attended the summit. Condemn war against our brothers in Palestine, says Prince Mohammed Prince Mohammed said the kingdom substantiates its "condemnation and categorical rejection of this barbaric war against our brothers in Palestine". "We are facing a humanitarian catastrophe that proves the failure of the Security Council and the international community to put an end to the flagrant Israeli violations of international laws," he said in an address to the summit. Also read: Microsoft chief says Russia spreading 'disinformation' about Israel-Hamas war Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the Palestinians were facing a "genocidal war" further calling on the US to end Israeli "aggression". Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi hails Hamas Voicing support for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas for launching unprecedented attacks against Israel, Raisi urged Islamic countries to impose oil and goods sanctions on Tel Aviv. "There is no other way but to resist Israel, we kiss the hands of Hamas for its resistance against Israel," he said in his address. On his first visit to Saudi Arabia, after the two countries agreed to mend ties in March, Raisi said Islamic nations should designate the Israeli army a "terrorist organisation" for its conduct in Gaza. The two leaders, Prince Mohammed bin and Raisi also held their first meeting on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Summit. The official Saudi Press Agency, taking to its X account, shared a picture of the two leaders saying, "HRH the #Crown_Prince meets with the president of the Islamic Republic of #Iran on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit. #SPAGOV." HRH the #Crown_Prince meets with the president of the Islamic Republic of #Iran on the sidelines of the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/JfJlCFztGI — SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) November 11, 2023 × Countries reject Israel's 'self-defence' claim The final declaration rebuffed Israeli claims that dubbed its counter-offensive an act of "self-defence", calling the United Nations Security Council to adopt "a decisive and binding resolution" to halt Israel's "aggression". It also disregarded out of hand any future political resolution to the war that would keep Gaza separate from the Israeli-occupied West Bank. (With inputs from agencies)

Arab countries condemn Israel for 'barbaric war' against Palestinians in Gaza

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, has named his son Sheikh Khaled as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the nation's capital and an important player in the region and the Gulf Arab state that is a member of OPEC, state media reported on Wednesday (March 29).

Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi and is known by his initials MBZ, named Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to serve as vice president of the UAE alongside Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reported Reuters.

He designated Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan as deputy rulers of Abu Dhabi.

In May, upon the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, who had ruled Abu Dhabi, MBZ assumed control of the emirate and assumed the presidency of the UAE, which unites the seven rulers of the UAE federation.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;Gravitas: Will Saudi Arabia pull out of the Yemen War? Is China behind the big decision?

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Years of MBZ's power behind the scenes resulted in a new anti-Iran axis with Israel and a reconfiguration of the Middle East.&nbsp;

Abu Dhabi, which oversees a number of sovereign wealth funds and is one of the richest state investors in the world, announced a leadership change for its two largest state funds earlier this month.

As chairman of Mubadala, Abu Dhabi's second-largest sovereign wealth fund, MBZ was also replaced by Sheikh Mansour, owner of Manchester City football club.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, has named his son Sheikh Khaled as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the nation's capital and an important player in the region and the Gulf Arab state that is a member of OPEC, state media reported on Wednesday (March 29).

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, has named his son Sheikh Khaled as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the nation's capital and an important player in the region and the Gulf Arab state that is a member of OPEC, state media reported on Wednesday (March 29). Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi and is known by his initials MBZ, named Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to serve as vice president of the UAE alongside Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, reported Reuters. He designated Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan as deputy rulers of Abu Dhabi. In May, upon the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, who had ruled Abu Dhabi, MBZ assumed control of the emirate and assumed the presidency of the UAE, which unites the seven rulers of the UAE federation. ALSO WATCH: Gravitas: Will Saudi Arabia pull out of the Yemen War? Is China behind the big decision? Years of MBZ's power behind the scenes resulted in a new anti-Iran axis with Israel and a reconfiguration of the Middle East. Abu Dhabi, which oversees a number of sovereign wealth funds and is one of the richest state investors in the world, announced a leadership change for its two largest state funds earlier this month. As chairman of Mubadala, Abu Dhabi's second-largest sovereign wealth fund, MBZ was also replaced by Sheikh Mansour, owner of Manchester City football club. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

UAE president names son Sheikh Khaled as next crown prince of Abu Dhabi

Tech companies were urged by Human Rights Watch (HRW)&nbsp;to do more to safeguard LGBTQ communities against "digital targeting" by government officials in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iraq.

The Middle East has a pervasive problem with discrimination against LGBTQ people, and even in countries where homosexuality is not legally forbidden, it is frequently penalised under ambiguous laws that forbid "debauchery," "prostitution," or "cybercrime."

The New York-based rights group documented instances of security forces' online entrapment in a 135-page study, which resulted in the "arbitrary detention and torture" of LGBTQ people in the area.

"The authorities in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia have integrated technology into their policing of LGBT people," Rasha Younes, senior researcher at HRW, told AFP on Tuesday (February 21).&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/facebook-parent-company-meta-to-launch-paid-subscription-service-563726">Meta to launch its blue verified subscription service for Insta and Facebook</a>

Digital platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram), and Grindr, according to the research, "are not doing enough to protect individuals exposed to digital targeting."

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Major global tech firms going for job cuts: Ericsson to cut 1,400 jobs

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HRW advised "human rights due diligence" and more Arabic content control.

A method known as "catfishing" was used in 20 incidents of "online entrapment by security personnel" in Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, according to the study.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tech companies were urged by Human Rights Watch (HRW) to do more to safeguard LGBTQ communities against "digital targeting" by government officials in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iraq.

Tech companies were urged by Human Rights Watch (HRW) to do more to safeguard LGBTQ communities against "digital targeting" by government officials in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iraq. The Middle East has a pervasive problem with discrimination against LGBTQ people, and even in countries where homosexuality is not legally forbidden, it is frequently penalised under ambiguous laws that forbid "debauchery," "prostitution," or "cybercrime." The New York-based rights group documented instances of security forces' online entrapment in a 135-page study, which resulted in the "arbitrary detention and torture" of LGBTQ people in the area. "The authorities in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia have integrated technology into their policing of LGBT people," Rasha Younes, senior researcher at HRW, told AFP on Tuesday (February 21). ALSO READ | Meta to launch its blue verified subscription service for Insta and Facebook Digital platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram), and Grindr, according to the research, "are not doing enough to protect individuals exposed to digital targeting." ALSO WATCH | Major global tech firms going for job cuts: Ericsson to cut 1,400 jobs HRW advised "human rights due diligence" and more Arabic content control. A method known as "catfishing" was used in 20 incidents of "online entrapment by security personnel" in Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, according to the study. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta, Grindr 'not doing enough' to safeguard LGBTQ people: Human Rights Watch

Egypt, a country where only 14.3 per cent of women are formally employed, has now marked another milestone with the Cairo Metro recruiting the country’s first female train drivers to expand its services to a population of nearly 20 million people. To safeguard women from sexual harassment, the Cairo Metro offers reserved carriages for those who do not want to travel with men.

Cairo Metro, launched in 1987, being the oldest in the Arab world, falls behind the other Arab countries in providing job opportunities for women.

According to its two pioneers, women have already taken control of the drivers' cab since April, offending many, from raising eyebrows to making faces of disgust. Egyptian women have had the right to vote and stand for office since 1956, but patriarchal laws and a predominately male culture have severely restricted personal freedoms.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/howard-carter-stole-treasure-from-tutankhamuns-tomb-in-egypt-claims-new-book-506797">Howard Carter stole treasure from Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, claims new book</a>

Hind Omar, a business graduate, and mother of two, rushed to apply to be a train driver. She said, "I have several thousand lives in my hands every day." The 30-year-old woman, proudly wearing her neon jacket and her black and white hijab, said that her family has always been supportive.

Omar further claimed that the tests for women aspiring to be train drivers had been difficult and required the applicants to exhibit their ‘attention span’ and ‘endurance.’ She further claimed that women need to be watchful for long hours during the six-day working week.

Another woman qualified to be train driver,&nbsp;Suzanne Mohammed, 32, recounted reaction on initially seen sitting on the driver’s seat by the passengers on the platform.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egyptian-court-demands-that-femicide-executions-be-televised-live-500325">Egyptian court&nbsp;demands that femicide executions be televised live</a>

She further stated that in a country where women have restricted access to numerous careers, people were astonished. In conversation with AFP, she said that there were several passengers who were afraid and doubted her skills, and felt they were not safe with a woman in control.

The Cairo Metro is planning to add three new lines.&nbsp;Omar said, "pave the way for other women," encouraging them to be train drivers, and there are many waiting to be one.

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Egypt, a country where only 14.3 per cent of women are formally employed, has now marked another milestone with the Cairo Metro recruiting the country’s first female train drivers to expand its services to a population of nearly 20 million people.

Egypt, a country where only 14.3 per cent of women are formally employed, has now marked another milestone with the Cairo Metro recruiting the country’s first female train drivers to expand its services to a population of nearly 20 million people. To safeguard women from sexual harassment, the Cairo Metro offers reserved carriages for those who do not want to travel with men. Cairo Metro, launched in 1987, being the oldest in the Arab world, falls behind the other Arab countries in providing job opportunities for women. According to its two pioneers, women have already taken control of the drivers' cab since April, offending many, from raising eyebrows to making faces of disgust. Egyptian women have had the right to vote and stand for office since 1956, but patriarchal laws and a predominately male culture have severely restricted personal freedoms. Also read | Howard Carter stole treasure from Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, claims new book Hind Omar, a business graduate, and mother of two, rushed to apply to be a train driver. She said, "I have several thousand lives in my hands every day." The 30-year-old woman, proudly wearing her neon jacket and her black and white hijab, said that her family has always been supportive. Omar further claimed that the tests for women aspiring to be train drivers had been difficult and required the applicants to exhibit their ‘attention span’ and ‘endurance.’ She further claimed that women need to be watchful for long hours during the six-day working week. Another woman qualified to be train driver, Suzanne Mohammed, 32, recounted reaction on initially seen sitting on the driver’s seat by the passengers on the platform. Also read | Egyptian court demands that femicide executions be televised live She further stated that in a country where women have restricted access to numerous careers, people were astonished. In conversation with AFP, she said that there were several passengers who were afraid and doubted her skills, and felt they were not safe with a woman in control. The Cairo Metro is planning to add three new lines. Omar said, "pave the way for other women," encouraging them to be train drivers, and there are many waiting to be one. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'I have several thousand lives in my hands every day': Egypt's first woman Metro train driver

Pakistan has been slowly slipping from the good books of the Arab nations, especially Saudi Arabia — the de facto leader of the Islamic world. This can be proved through the dissection of two high-profile and very similar visits that stand as proof of the Saudi-Pakistan breakup that also reaffirm how Saudi Arabia along with the UAE &nbsp;is increasingly leaning towards India.

In August, the Pakistan army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa travelled to Riyadh. The visit followed weeks of posturing by Islamabad on Kashmir. Bajwa went there expecting the sheikhdom to take a firmer line against India's policies in Kashmir. In fact, the Saudi crown prince was expected to give the Pak army chief an audience, a loan concession and a medal. However, all he received was a royal snub as the Saudis changed their mind and he didn't get to meet Mohammed Bin Salman. This also meant there was no loan concession and obviously no medal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-army-chief-naravane-meets-top-saudi-generals-349638">WATCH|</a>

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General Bajwa, much to his dismay, had to settle for customary meetings with the Saudi officials and he returned to Islamabad empty-handed.&nbsp;

Now, four months later, the Indian army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane has embarked on a six-day long tour of West Asi, making it his third foreign tour this year and the first visit by an Indian army chief to this part of the world. The purpose of the visit was to create a military alliance with the two gulf powers.&nbsp;

On Friday, General Naravane received a guard of honour at the headquarters of UAE's land forces. During his trip, he also held talks with the commander of land forces, Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Al Ameri and discussed defence cooperation between India and UAE. The army chief also visited the land forces institute and its infantry and armour schools.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-india-saudi-arabia-defence-partnership-349798">WATCH|</a>

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On Sunday, he arrived in Saudi Arabia and visited the ministry of defence in Riyadh where he received a guard of honour by the royal Saudi land forces and met top Saudi generals such as Saudi Arabia's chief of staff General Fayyad Bin Hamid Ruwaili and the commander of Saudi Arabia's joint forces General Mutlaq Bin Salim Bin Al-Azima. The discussions largely revolved around ramping up defence cooperation in strategic areas.

&nbsp; 
The stark contrast between these two visits of India and Pakistan is clearly visible where Pakistan's General receives a royal snub and a red carpet is rolled out for the Indian General. This contrast proves that New Delhi has not only managed to delink Islamabad from the Arab world but is set to become a major security partner of the Gulf powers.

Reports around General Naravane's visit to the gulf have highlighted a potential sale of the Brahmos missile. Both, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have reportedly shown interest in buying the Indo-Russian missile system. A number of other proposals are also on the table such as joint military exercises.

In recent years, the Indian navy has held drills with UAE and Saudi Arabia. In March 2018, India and the UAE conducted their maiden naval exercise "Gulf star 1" and in 2019, India and Saudi Arabia announced their first joint naval drills — which were delayed to the coronavirus pandemic. General Naravane's visit could lead to a rescheduling of these drills.

Reports also indicate that Indian contingents could soon be sent to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the protection of the house of Saud. Over the years, thousands of Pakistani troops have been sent to the royal kingdom. Elite Pakistani commandoes have been tasked with guarding the royal family in Riyadh but Islamabad has refused to allow Pakistani troops to join Saudi and Emirati troops in Yemen.

Reports say the Gulf powers now want India to be on board in Yemen. Indian contingents could be sent to join troops in Yemen as Islamabad is made to pay back its loans.

Pakistan's Geo news carried out a report on Monday titled, "china bails out Pakistan to replay $1 billion Saudi debt". Pakistan has been forced to pay another tranche of a $3 billion loan it borrowed from the sheikhdom, and much like last time, China has again come to Pakistan's rescue.

Pakistan has been slowly slipping from the good books of the Arab nations, especially Saudi Arabia — the de facto leader of the Islamic world. This can be proved through the dissection of two high-profile and very similar visits that stand as proof of the Saudi-Pakistan breakup that also reaffirm how Saudi Arabia along with the UAE is increasingly leaning towards India.

Pakistan has been slowly slipping from the good books of the Arab nations, especially Saudi Arabia — the de facto leader of the Islamic world. This can be proved through the dissection of two high-profile and very similar visits that stand as proof of the Saudi-Pakistan breakup that also reaffirm how Saudi Arabia along with the UAE is increasingly leaning towards India. In August, the Pakistan army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa travelled to Riyadh. The visit followed weeks of posturing by Islamabad on Kashmir. Bajwa went there expecting the sheikhdom to take a firmer line against India's policies in Kashmir. In fact, the Saudi crown prince was expected to give the Pak army chief an audience, a loan concession and a medal. However, all he received was a royal snub as the Saudis changed their mind and he didn't get to meet Mohammed Bin Salman. This also meant there was no loan concession and obviously no medal. WATCH| × General Bajwa, much to his dismay, had to settle for customary meetings with the Saudi officials and he returned to Islamabad empty-handed. Now, four months later, the Indian army chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane has embarked on a six-day long tour of West Asi, making it his third foreign tour this year and the first visit by an Indian army chief to this part of the world. The purpose of the visit was to create a military alliance with the two gulf powers. On Friday, General Naravane received a guard of honour at the headquarters of UAE's land forces. During his trip, he also held talks with the commander of land forces, Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Al Ameri and discussed defence cooperation between India and UAE. The army chief also visited the land forces institute and its infantry and armour schools. WATCH| × On Sunday, he arrived in Saudi Arabia and visited the ministry of defence in Riyadh where he received a guard of honour by the royal Saudi land forces and met top Saudi generals such as Saudi Arabia's chief of staff General Fayyad Bin Hamid Ruwaili and the commander of Saudi Arabia's joint forces General Mutlaq Bin Salim Bin Al-Azima. The discussions largely revolved around ramping up defence cooperation in strategic areas. The stark contrast between these two visits of India and Pakistan is clearly visible where Pakistan's General receives a royal snub and a red carpet is rolled out for the Indian General. This contrast proves that New Delhi has not only managed to delink Islamabad from the Arab world but is set to become a major security partner of the Gulf powers. Reports around General Naravane's visit to the gulf have highlighted a potential sale of the Brahmos missile. Both, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have reportedly shown interest in buying the Indo-Russian missile system. A number of other proposals are also on the table such as joint military exercises. In recent years, the Indian navy has held drills with UAE and Saudi Arabia. In March 2018, India and the UAE conducted their maiden naval exercise "Gulf star 1" and in 2019, India and Saudi Arabia announced their first joint naval drills — which were delayed to the coronavirus pandemic. General Naravane's visit could lead to a rescheduling of these drills. Reports also indicate that Indian contingents could soon be sent to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the protection of the house of Saud. Over the years, thousands of Pakistani troops have been sent to the royal kingdom. Elite Pakistani commandoes have been tasked with guarding the royal family in Riyadh but Islamabad has refused to allow Pakistani troops to join Saudi and Emirati troops in Yemen. Reports say the Gulf powers now want India to be on board in Yemen. Indian contingents could be sent to join troops in Yemen as Islamabad is made to pay back its loans. Pakistan's Geo news carried out a report on Monday titled, "china bails out Pakistan to replay $1 billion Saudi debt". Pakistan has been forced to pay another tranche of a $3 billion loan it borrowed from the sheikhdom, and much like last time, China has again come to Pakistan's rescue.

Indian Army General Naravane's Saudi visit sheds light on Pak's break-up with Arab world

During his visit to the United Arab Emirates, the White House Adviser Jared Kushner said that he is hoping other Arab nations would normalise their relations with Israel. So far no Arab country other than UAE has discussed any measures to normalise ties with Israel.

White House Adviser Kushner visited UAE on a diplomatic tour

Israel is in secret talks with several Arab states on establishing ties, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, ahead of the Jewish state's first commercial flight to the UAE following a normalisation accord.

"There are many more unpublicised meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to normalise relations with the state of Israel," the prime minister said, without naming any countries.

A US-brokered agreement between the Jewish state and Dubai to normalise ties was announced on August 13, making the UAE the first Gulf country and only the third Arab nation to establish relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.&nbsp;

The first-ever commercial flight from Israel to the UAE will on Monday morning carry a US-Israeli delegation led on the American side by White House advisor Jared Kushner, who stood next to Netanyahu during the Israeli premier's remarks on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Today's breakthrough will become tomorrow's norms," Netanyahu said.&nbsp;

"It will pave the way for other countries to normalise their ties with Israel."

Netanyahu's office said last week that National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat will lead the Israeli delegation.

The talks in Abu Dhabi will seek ways to boost cooperation in areas including aviation, tourism, trade, health, energy and security, Netanyahu's office said.

Since the agreement between the UAE and Israel was unveiled, there have been frequent bilateral phone calls between ministers and the signing of commercial contracts.

On Saturday, the Emirates repealed a 1972 law &nbsp;boycotting Israel.

"It will be permissible to enter, exchange or possess Israeli goods and products of all kinds in the UAE and trade in them," read a federal decree issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

<h2>'New sense of optimism'</h2>

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week undertook a regional tour, which took him to Sudan, Bahrain and Oman, in the hope of convincing other countries in the region to follow the Emiratis.&nbsp;

"While this peace agreement was thought to be impossible, the stage is now set for more," Kushner said of the Israel-UAE accord on Sunday.

"What I felt over the last couple of weeks is a new sense of optimism, and we must seize that optimism and we must continue to push to make this region achieve the potential that it really has."

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who also met with Kushner on Sunday, called on "other Arab and Muslim states to follow this path of friendship and to establish full and warm relations with the State of Israel –- peace between nations and peoples, peace for peace."

As part of the normalisation agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, Israel agreed to suspend planned annexations in the occupied West Bank, although Netanyahu quickly insisted the plans remained on the table in the long-run.

The Palestinians dubbed the UAE's agreement with Israel a "stab in the back", as it opens the Arab world to the Jewish state while their own conflict remains unresolved.

Saudi Arabia, in keeping with decades of policy by most Arab states, says it will not follow the UAE's example until Israel has signed a peace deal with the Palestinians establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Israel is in secret talks with several Arab states on establishing ties, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, ahead of the Jewish state's first commercial flight to the UAE following a normalisation accord.

Israel is in secret talks with several Arab states on establishing ties, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, ahead of the Jewish state's first commercial flight to the UAE following a normalisation accord. "There are many more unpublicised meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to normalise relations with the state of Israel," the prime minister said, without naming any countries. A US-brokered agreement between the Jewish state and Dubai to normalise ties was announced on August 13, making the UAE the first Gulf country and only the third Arab nation to establish relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan. The first-ever commercial flight from Israel to the UAE will on Monday morning carry a US-Israeli delegation led on the American side by White House advisor Jared Kushner, who stood next to Netanyahu during the Israeli premier's remarks on Sunday. "Today's breakthrough will become tomorrow's norms," Netanyahu said. "It will pave the way for other countries to normalise their ties with Israel." Netanyahu's office said last week that National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat will lead the Israeli delegation. The talks in Abu Dhabi will seek ways to boost cooperation in areas including aviation, tourism, trade, health, energy and security, Netanyahu's office said. Since the agreement between the UAE and Israel was unveiled, there have been frequent bilateral phone calls between ministers and the signing of commercial contracts. On Saturday, the Emirates repealed a 1972 law boycotting Israel. "It will be permissible to enter, exchange or possess Israeli goods and products of all kinds in the UAE and trade in them," read a federal decree issued by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. 'New sense of optimism' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week undertook a regional tour, which took him to Sudan, Bahrain and Oman, in the hope of convincing other countries in the region to follow the Emiratis. "While this peace agreement was thought to be impossible, the stage is now set for more," Kushner said of the Israel-UAE accord on Sunday. "What I felt over the last couple of weeks is a new sense of optimism, and we must seize that optimism and we must continue to push to make this region achieve the potential that it really has." Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who also met with Kushner on Sunday, called on "other Arab and Muslim states to follow this path of friendship and to establish full and warm relations with the State of Israel –- peace between nations and peoples, peace for peace." As part of the normalisation agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, Israel agreed to suspend planned annexations in the occupied West Bank, although Netanyahu quickly insisted the plans remained on the table in the long-run. The Palestinians dubbed the UAE's agreement with Israel a "stab in the back", as it opens the Arab world to the Jewish state while their own conflict remains unresolved. Saudi Arabia, in keeping with decades of policy by most Arab states, says it will not follow the UAE's example until Israel has signed a peace deal with the Palestinians establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Israel PM says 'many more' secret talks with Arab leaders

Roiling more than a dozen major cities, young Iranians are protesting against the country&rsquo;s government. They appear to be particularly angered by the country&rsquo;s funding of wars in Arab countries, such as Yemen and Syria, as Iranian citizens slide towards poverty. In the city of Kerman, demonstrators chanted that the &ldquo;People are living like beggars, the Leader is behaving like a God&rdquo;, and in Khuzestan, protesters reportedly called out &ldquo;death to Khamenei&rdquo;, Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader. Something profound is happening &ndash; and it could have major implications for the Middle East as a whole.

On the face of it, this is reminiscent of the huge protests that followed the 2009 election, known as the Green Movement or Green Revolution. But these latest protests are all round very unlike the Green Movement in their implications, their size, and their demographics. In 2009, protesters mainly came from a young and educated middle class; this time, the protests started in the north-western city of Mashad, traditionally a religiously conservative place, and those taking to the streets come from a far wider variety of backgrounds.

Alas, much as happened in 2009, the latest protests in Iran face a severe government crackdown. The first deaths at the hands of security forces were reported in Dorud, and more than 20 casualties have now been counted. And yet the protesters continue to stand up against the government&rsquo;s iron-fisted approach. So what&rsquo;s driving them?

Besides the protesters&rsquo; explicit antipathy toward Iranian foreign policy in the Arab world, the protests also have a distinctively Arab dimension. In Ahwazi, a majority Arab region in Iran&rsquo;s south-west, protests have been going on for weeks, with people taking to the streets to rail against the Iranian government&rsquo;s repression and its confiscation of Ahwazi land and water. Thousands of Arab Iranians took to the streets when an Iranian parliamentarian, Qassem al-Saeedi, slammed the Iranian government&rsquo;s discriminatory policies, even comparing the Iranian regime&rsquo;s anti-Arab policies to those of Israel.

Lending support

Then there&rsquo;s the matter of Syria. Since the beginning of the Syrian uprisings in 2011, Ahwazi Arab Iranians have stood in solidarity with their counterparts on the Syrian streets, while Syrian pro-democracy protesters have waved the Ahwaz flag in their protests against Bashar al-Assad&rsquo;s regime. Small wonder then that today&rsquo;s Syrian anti-regime revolutionaries and activists are standing in solidarity with the Iranian protests.

Abdelaziz al-Hamza, a Syrian pro-democracy activist from Raqqa and active member of the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, advised the Iranian protesters not to reveal their identity, not to carry any ID documentation, and to use removable memory cards in the devices they use to document the protests. He also strongly advised them to use nicknames for their Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, and to communicate via encrypted apps.

Many Syrian opposition activists hope that the Iranian protests will start a domino effect that eventually affects Iranian foreign policy towards Syria. In recent years, the Iranian government has spent billions of dollars annually supporting the repressive Syrian regime. Iran&rsquo;s powerful military chief, General Qasem Soleimani, has been leading the Iranian military operation inside Syria. If the current protests lead to some sort of revolutionary change, Iran&rsquo;s strong financial and military support to active actors in the Syrian war &ndash; among them Hezbollah and the Assad regime&rsquo;s army &ndash; could suddenly shrivel up. This will also have major implications for Arab countries where Iran is playing a military role, not least Yemen.

If anything is to be learned from the Syrian uprisings, it&rsquo;s that protests such as these can take on a life of their own in ways no one anticipated. There is a significant chance that the Iranian regime will be every bit as brutal in its crackdown as the Assad regime. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy; hundreds of protesters have been arrested, and the head of Iran&rsquo;s Revolutionary Court warned that some will receive death sentences.

The prospect of major bloodshed at the hands of the state looms large &ndash; and if that happens, the ensuing domino effect could create yet another volatile and explosive situation in an already stormy and dangerous region.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The </a>Conversation. Read the original article.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Many Syrian opposition activists hope that the Iranian protests will start a domino effect that eventually affects Iranian foreign policy towards Syria.

Roiling more than a dozen major cities, young Iranians are protesting against the country’s government. They appear to be particularly angered by the country’s funding of wars in Arab countries, such as Yemen and Syria, as Iranian citizens slide towards poverty. In the city of Kerman, demonstrators chanted that the “People are living like beggars, the Leader is behaving like a God”, and in Khuzestan, protesters reportedly called out “death to Khamenei”, Iran’s supreme leader. Something profound is happening – and it could have major implications for the Middle East as a whole. On the face of it, this is reminiscent of the huge protests that followed the 2009 election, known as the Green Movement or Green Revolution. But these latest protests are all round very unlike the Green Movement in their implications, their size, and their demographics. In 2009, protesters mainly came from a young and educated middle class; this time, the protests started in the north-western city of Mashad, traditionally a religiously conservative place, and those taking to the streets come from a far wider variety of backgrounds. Alas, much as happened in 2009, the latest protests in Iran face a severe government crackdown. The first deaths at the hands of security forces were reported in Dorud, and more than 20 casualties have now been counted. And yet the protesters continue to stand up against the government’s iron-fisted approach. So what’s driving them? Besides the protesters’ explicit antipathy toward Iranian foreign policy in the Arab world, the protests also have a distinctively Arab dimension. In Ahwazi, a majority Arab region in Iran’s south-west, protests have been going on for weeks, with people taking to the streets to rail against the Iranian government’s repression and its confiscation of Ahwazi land and water. Thousands of Arab Iranians took to the streets when an Iranian parliamentarian, Qassem al-Saeedi, slammed the Iranian government’s discriminatory policies, even comparing the Iranian regime’s anti-Arab policies to those of Israel. Lending support Then there’s the matter of Syria. Since the beginning of the Syrian uprisings in 2011, Ahwazi Arab Iranians have stood in solidarity with their counterparts on the Syrian streets, while Syrian pro-democracy protesters have waved the Ahwaz flag in their protests against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Small wonder then that today’s Syrian anti-regime revolutionaries and activists are standing in solidarity with the Iranian protests. Abdelaziz al-Hamza, a Syrian pro-democracy activist from Raqqa and active member of the group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, advised the Iranian protesters not to reveal their identity, not to carry any ID documentation, and to use removable memory cards in the devices they use to document the protests. He also strongly advised them to use nicknames for their Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts, and to communicate via encrypted apps. Many Syrian opposition activists hope that the Iranian protests will start a domino effect that eventually affects Iranian foreign policy towards Syria. In recent years, the Iranian government has spent billions of dollars annually supporting the repressive Syrian regime. Iran’s powerful military chief, General Qasem Soleimani, has been leading the Iranian military operation inside Syria. If the current protests lead to some sort of revolutionary change, Iran’s strong financial and military support to active actors in the Syrian war – among them Hezbollah and the Assad regime’s army – could suddenly shrivel up. This will also have major implications for Arab countries where Iran is playing a military role, not least Yemen. If anything is to be learned from the Syrian uprisings, it’s that protests such as these can take on a life of their own in ways no one anticipated. There is a significant chance that the Iranian regime will be every bit as brutal in its crackdown as the Assad regime. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy; hundreds of protesters have been arrested, and the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Court warned that some will receive death sentences. The prospect of major bloodshed at the hands of the state looms large – and if that happens, the ensuing domino effect could create yet another volatile and explosive situation in an already stormy and dangerous region. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Protests in Iran could spell trouble for the Middle East

In Jammu and Kashmir, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today with traditional religious gaiety and fervour, as lakhs of Muslims will be attending congregational Eid prayers in Eidgahs, Masjids and shrines across the Indian state.&nbsp; 
 
Eid-ul-Fitr, is the festival of thanksgiving and celebrated after the culmination of holy month of Ramadan.With the sighting of Shawaal Crescent late last evening, the Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today across Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
This is for the first time in the past many decades that Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated on the same day in Arab countries, Pakistan and JK. 
 
The biggest Eid prayer gatherings will be held at historical Eid Gah Ground, Hazratbal Shrine, Polo Ground and other places in summer capital Srinagar. Similar gatherings will be held in Jammu city and district headquarters in all the three regions of the state, including Kargil and Leh districts. 
 
Men, women and children across state were seen walking towards Eid Gah grounds, mosques and other religious places to offer Eid congregational prayers.The state administration has made adequate arrangements for the facilitation of the devotees and security arrangements have also been made to maintain law and order.&nbsp; 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

This is for the first time in the past many decades that Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated on the same day in Arab countries, Pakistan and JK

In Jammu and Kashmir, Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today with traditional religious gaiety and fervour, as lakhs of Muslims will be attending congregational Eid prayers in Eidgahs, Masjids and shrines across the Indian state. Eid-ul-Fitr, is the festival of thanksgiving and celebrated after the culmination of holy month of Ramadan.With the sighting of Shawaal Crescent late last evening, the Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated today across Jammu and Kashmir. This is for the first time in the past many decades that Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated on the same day in Arab countries, Pakistan and JK. The biggest Eid prayer gatherings will be held at historical Eid Gah Ground, Hazratbal Shrine, Polo Ground and other places in summer capital Srinagar. Similar gatherings will be held in Jammu city and district headquarters in all the three regions of the state, including Kargil and Leh districts. Men, women and children across state were seen walking towards Eid Gah grounds, mosques and other religious places to offer Eid congregational prayers.The state administration has made adequate arrangements for the facilitation of the devotees and security arrangements have also been made to maintain law and order. (ANI)

Amid traditional religious gaiety, Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations begin in J&K

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