Middle East & North Africa

02 July 2023; MEMO: Israel has approved the purchase of a third squadron of F-35 stealth fighter jets in a deal worth $3 billion, the Ministry of Defense said on Sunday, reports Reuters.

The additional 25 aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin LMT.N will bring the number of F-35s in Israel's air force to 75, the ministry said, adding that the deal will be financed through the defense aid package Israel receives from the United States.

02 July 2023; MEMO: Spain made a commitment to "promote EU-Turkiye relations with a positive agenda" as part of its presidency program, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, reports Anadolu Agency.

According to the EU Presidency Program released by the Spanish Foreign Ministry, the country aims "to foster mutually beneficial collaborations, including the resumption of EU and Turkiye High-Level Dialogue meetings, with a constructive approach towards Turkiye."

03 July 2023; MEMO: Jordan called on Monday for immediate action by the international community to halt the Israeli military operation in the Palestinian city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Six Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army earlier today, including five in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Twenty-seven Palestinians were wounded.

03 July 2023; MEMO: The Israeli occupation army raided houses in the Jenin camp, killing three  Palestinians, in the early hours of today.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the deaths of Samih Abu Al-Wafa, Aws Hani Hanou, and Hasim Abu Theeba, adding that 13 others were injured, three seriously.

03 July 2023; MEMO: Hundreds of former members of the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet) yesterday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of promoting the "conspiracy theory" that spread following the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, in his autobiography, and supporting the theory that the Shin Bet is responsible for inciting extreme right-wing elements which paved the way for the assassination.

03 July 2023; MEMO: Israel Police has received a request from the French police to help them deal with the protests that have swept the country since police shot and killed a 17-year-old French-Algerian boy at point blank range last week.

Deputy head of the Operations Division of the Israeli police, Shimon Nahmani, announced the request during a hearing of the National Security Committee in the Israeli Knesset.

03 July 2023; MEMO: Israeli occupation authorities have warned officials at Al-Aqsa Mosque against undertaking any restoration work inside the holy compound, the Palestinian Information Centre reported today.

Israeli police prevented the Al-Aqsa Reconstruction Committee from entering the mosque and carrying out work yesterday evening.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli drones struck targets in a militant stronghold in the occupied West Bank early Monday and hundreds of troops were deployed in the area, an incursion that resembled the wide-scale military operations carried out during the second Palestinian uprising two decades ago. Palestinian health officials said at least five Palestinians were killed.

RAMALLAH, Jul 2 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestine, yesterday, warned of the growing violence of the Israeli settlers in the West Bank, including increasing attacks on the Palestinians and their properties.

“During the past few weeks, there has been a growing and spreading violence of Israeli settlers all over the West Bank,” the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement, referring to Israeli settler attacks on unarmed Palestinian civilians, and their homes, vehicles and properties.

RAMALLAH, Jul 2 (NNN-WAFA) – Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, held a phone conversation yesterday, discussing the latest developments in the two countries, and ways to boost bilateral ties.

During the phone call, Putin extended Eid al-Adha greetings and wishes to Abbas and the Palestinian people, said the report.