Middle East & North Africa

Turky temporarily suspends food exports to avoid shortages

20 April 2022; MEMO: Turkiye suspends the export of butter and cream to meet increased food demand in the summer, a time of increased tourism, Anadolu News Agency reports.

According to the report, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry suspended the export of butter and cream to avoid shortages.

Israel occupation forces storm Al-Aqsa Mosque again and attack worshippers

21 April 2022; MEMO: Large groups of Israeli occupation police stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque this morning in advance of mass incursions by groups of illegal Jewish settlers. Muslim worshippers in the Noble Sanctuary, men, women and children, were attacked brutally by the police.

According to the Red Crescent Society, twenty Palestinians were injured as a result of Israel's suppression of protests against the settler incursions.

Lebanon: ‘We found nothing:’ Thousands of IS victims still missing

BEIRUT (AP) — For journalist Amer Matar, a decade-long search for his younger brother has defined him and changed the course of his life, now dedicated to researching and documenting crimes committed by the Islamic State group in Syria.

His brother, Mohammed Nour Matar, vanished in Syria’s northern city of Raqqa in 2013 while reporting on an explosion that hit the headquarters of an insurgent group. His burnt camera was found at the scene of the blast, and his family soon after got word he was in an IS prison. But there has been no other sign of him since.

Sudan: social media video of ousted president in hospital sparks anger

21 April 2022; MEMO: A video of ousted Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir walking around a hospital ward yesterday sparked a wave of anger on social media, Reuters has reported.

The news agency quoted sources as saying that Al-Bashir was transferred to a hospital from his cell on the grounds of his "severe illness". It also pointed out that some of the social media comments "voiced their support" for the ex-president.

UAE, Saudi FMs unable to attend emergency meeting on occupied Jerusalem

21 April 2022; MEMO: Jordanian media outlets reported today that "three Arab ministers are unable to attend today's Arab Ministerial Committee emergency meeting charged with international action to confront illegal Israeli policies in occupied Jerusalem."

Jordan's Madar Al-Sa'a website reported that "the Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, said he was unable to attend the meeting for medical reasons, instead sending his country's Arab League representative to attend the meeting in his place."

Israel: Gaza violence intensifies as Jerusalem clashes resume

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s air force and Palestinian militants traded fire across the Gaza frontier early Thursday as clashes erupted again at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, worsening an escalation that has been eerily similar to the lead-up to last year’s Israel-Gaza war.

Iran announces arrest of suspected Mossad spies

21 April 2022; MEMO: Iranian authorities announced the arrest of three individuals suspected of being agents of the Israeli intelligence agency – Mossad, according to reports by Iran's Fars news agency today.

The Iranian intelligence agencies stated that three suspects were arrested in the city of Zahedan, in the southern part of the country.

It was reported that the three individuals had sent secret documents to the Israeli intelligence.

US delegation in Jordan, discuss de-escalation in Jerusalem

21 April 2022; MEMO: A State Department delegation has arrived in Jordan to discuss ways to stop the tensions escalating in occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu reported.

The delegation is visiting Amman as part of a tour that also includes Israel, the occupied West Bank and Egypt, the State Department said in a statement.

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