Middle East & North Africa

Russia slams NATO chief's response to burning copy of Holy Qur'an in Sweden

24 Jan 2023; MEMO: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, criticised, on Tuesday, the NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg's comments on burning a copy of the Holy Quran by Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist, Stram Kurs Party leader, Rasmus Paludan, in the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

Israel President warns: political division may wreak havoc in Israel

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, warned Tuesday that political differences and division may lead to an "explosive" internal conflict.

In statements reported by the Israeli Ynet news site, Herzog called on all political parties to strive to reach broad agreements to end differences.

Netanyahu pledges to maintain status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Tuesday to maintain the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jordanian media and Israeli officials have reported. Netanyahu made the promise in a meeting in Amman with Jordan's King Abdullah II, who had stressed the importance of "respecting the historical and legal status quo" at the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa.

Israel demolishes Palestine Bedouin village of Al-Araqeeb for 212th time

24 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Israeli Forces demolished, on Tuesday, the Palestinian Bedouin village of Al-Araqeeb, in the Negev region in southern Israel, for the 212th time, Anadolu News Agency reported, citing local sources.

Eyewitnesses said Israeli bulldozers, under police protection, stormed the village and forced the villagers out of their tin houses and tents, before demolishing them for the 212th time.

Kuwait: 41 MPs call to boycott Sweden over extremist's burning of Holy Qur'an

24 Jan 2023; MEMO: As many as 41 Kuwaiti lawmakers condemned, on Tuesday, the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist Stram Kurs Party leader, Rasmus Paludan, in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, and called to boycott all countries that do not respect Muslims sanctities, Kuwaiti Al-Anbaa newspaper reported.

The lawmakers said, in a joint statement, that these practices provoke the feelings of Muslims around the world.

Israel: Netanyahu says his government will not allow Palestinians to build in Occupied West Bank Area C

24 Jan 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his government will fight against Palestinian construction in Area C of the Occupied West Bank.

"We came to power with a clear promise to change course and fight illegal Palestinian construction," Netanyahu said, while chairing a meeting of the Likud bloc.

"This does not mean that we will allow illegal Israeli construction, and there is a comprehensive agreement on these two points".

Algeria witnesses rare snowfall

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Algeria witnessed rare snowfall on Tuesday in a number of desert areas in the south-west of the country. Images published by the Bechar province authorities on Facebook showed "Beni Ounif in white" as sand dunes acquired a blanket of snow.

This was the first heavy snowfall in the area since 2012. Happy local residents have been sharing their own photos and video clips on social media.

Jordan: protesters burn Swedish flag in front of embassy

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Dozens of Jordanians protested in front of the Swedish Embassy in Amman on Monday evening and condemned Sweden for allowing a far-right extremist to burn a copy of the Holy Qur'an on Saturday in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, Al-Quds Al-Arabi has reported. The protesters set fire to the Swedish flag and images of the extremist, Rasmus Paludan, and insisted that attacking items held sacred by others is not "freedom of expression" as has been claimed.

Jordan: King Abdullah meets Israel PM Netanyahu in surprise Jordan visit

25 Jan 2023; MEMO: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a surprise trip to Jordan on Tuesday for talks with King Abdullah, who the Royal Court said underlined the need for Israel to respect the status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Reuters reports.

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