Middle East & North Africa

Tunisia: EU support conditional on returning to democracy

9 April 2022; MEMO: The European Union (EU) has said that its continued support for Tunisia is dependent on it returning to the democratic course and constitutional institutions. Meanwhile, the opposition expressed its rejection of the system of voting for individuals during the parliamentary elections.

Hacker group launching 'sophisticated' catfish operation against Israel officials

9 April 2022; MEMO: A number of Israeli officials are being targeted in a catfishing campaign by a hacker group allegedly affiliated with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, in what is reported to be the latest politically-motivated cyber espionage operation used against prominent targets in Israel.

Iran will not leave Vienna talks amid stalemate: Raisi

10 April 2022; MEMO: Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said Saturday his county has not left the Vienna talks and will not end its participation, asserting that his government seeks to secure the rights of the Iranian people through the deal, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking at an event to mark Iran's Nuclear Technology Day, Raisi said his government follows the strategy outlined by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the nuclear program.

Turkey FM: Canada may follow UK in lifting ban on arms exports amid Ukraine war

10 April 2022; MEMO: Canada may move to lift its ban on arms exports to Turkey after the UK's decision to do so, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said, as the war in Ukraine continues and Turkey's role in representing the NATO alliance in the region grows more prominent.

Ethiopia repatriates 100 children from Saudi Arabia

ADDIS ABABA, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia repatriated 101 children from Saudi Arabia on Friday as it continued a campaign to return tens of thousands of its nationals from the country.

Many of the Ethiopians from the Middle Eastern country are undocumented migrant workers who have been detained in squalid conditions.

More than a week since the drive began close to 5,000 migrant workers have been returned, according to a statement from Ethiopia’s women and social affairs ministry.

Hamas, Fatah Reject Israeli Threats To Storm Palestinian Cities In Northern West Bank

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Apr 9 (NNN-WAFA) – The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party, yesterday rejected Israeli threats, to storm Palestinian cities and towns, in the northern West Bank.

The two groups’ rejection came, after the Chief of General Staff of the Israeli army, Aviv Kochavi gave instructions to intensify preventive measures, in the northern West Bank and strengthen defence efforts in the area.

Jordan's King Abdullah to undergo surgery in Germany for slipped disc

AMMAN, April 9 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah will go to Germany on Sunday to undergo urgent surgery for a slipped disc in the back, the royal palace said.

A palace statement said the operation in a specialist hospital in Frankfurt will require a week of rest before the monarch can return to Jordan.

Iran imposes sanctions on 24 Americans as nuclear talks stall

DUBAI, April 9 (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it had imposed sanctions on 24 more Americans, including former Army Chief of Staff George Casey and former President Donald Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani, as months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal have stalled.

Almost all the people named were officials who served during Trump's administration, which imposed sanctions on Iranian officials, politicians and companies and withdrew the United States from Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers.

President Raisi says Iran will not retreat from 'nuclear rights'

DUBAI, April 9 (Reuters) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday Tehran would not give up its right to develop its nuclear industry for peaceful purposes, and all parties involved in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear accord should respect this.

Eleven months of indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Vienna have stalled as both sides say political decisions are required by Tehran and Washington to settle the remaining issues. 

Israeli forces kill Palestinian militant in West Bank clash

JENIN, West Bank, April 9 (Reuters) - Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian militant in the occupied West Bank on Saturday during a raid in the hometown of a gunman who had carried out a deadly shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

Israeli-Palestinian tensions have soared in the run-up to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with both sides warning against escalation. Deadly incidents have since surged.

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