Middle East & North Africa

Palestine: Church leaders denounce 'illegal' takeover of property by 'extremist' settlers

30 March 2022; MEMO: Palestinian Greek Orthodox Church leaders have denounced the "illegal" takeover of church property in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli "extremists", highlighting once the again the "threat of extinction" from "radical" Israeli groups which was issued by Christian groups earlier this year.

Palestine cars vandalised by Israel settlers

31 March 2022; MEMO: Last night, Israeli settlers vandalised dozens of Palestinian cars across the occupied West Bank, reported Wafa news agency.

According to local Palestinians, a group of settlers hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles travelling near the entrance of Rameen village, north of Tulkarm, causing damage to a taxi with passengers inside.

Israel raids West Bank refugee camp, Palestinian killed

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces raided a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank early Thursday, setting off a gun battle in which a Palestinian teenager was killed and several others were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Videos circulated online showed smoke rising from the center of the Jenin refugee camp as gunfire echoed in the background. Others appeared to show Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen moving through the narrow streets.

Jordan, Saudi Sign Agreements To Boost Cooperation Across Sectors

AMMAN, Mar 30 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan and Saudi Arabia, yesterday signed cooperation agreements, in the fields of trade, financial markets and transportation, said Jordanian Ministry of Industry and Trade Spokesperson, Yanal Barmawi.

The deals, in addition to two agreements in media and youth cooperation, were signed during meetings of the Jordanian-Saudi Joint Committee, held in Amman, Barmawi said.

Jordan’s King Urges Respecting Muslims’ Right To Worship At Al-Aqsa Mosque

AMMAN, Mar 30 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordanian King, Abdullah II, yesterday told visiting Israeli defence minister that, maintaining calm requires respecting the rights of Muslims to worship at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

During the meeting with Benny Gantz, King Abdullah called for stronger efforts, to restart serious and effective peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel, to achieve peace on the basis of the two-state solution, the Royal Hashemite Court said in a statement.

Jordan and Israel leaders urge calm after historic meeting following spike in violence

AMMAN, March 30 (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah called for calm following a historic summit with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday after the sharpest spike in street violence in years stoked fears of a wider escalation ahead of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Abdullah told Herzog after receiving him in the Husseiniya Palace in the first official visit by an Israeli head of state that peace was more pressing now to end a conflict that he said had "lasted too long".

FIFA, Qatar prepare for unprecedented World Cup finals draw

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — A World Cup like no other in its 92-year history will take shape this week at an unprecedented tournament draw.

When FIFA and host nation Qatar stage the draw ceremony show Friday, three of the 32 entries will be placeholders because the three-year qualifying program was delayed and is still ongoing.

A once-in-a-century global health crisis and the war in Ukraine made sure of that.

It means 37 nations will be involved on Friday, including five which will ultimately not play in November when the first “winter” World Cup kicks off.

Israeli forces arrest 5 in connection with deadly shooting

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli forces operating in the West Bank on Wednesday arrested five Palestinians allegedly involved in a deadly shooting attack in central Israel, where a Palestinian gunman used an assault rifle to kill five people.

Police identified the shooter as Diaa Hamarsheh, 27, from the Israeli-occupied West Bank village of Yabad. Police shot and killed him late Tuesday, putting an end to the shooting rampage.

Indian PM's daily to-do list includes raising fuel prices, showing 'hollow' dreams of jobs: Rahul

New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said his daily to-do list includes raising petrol, diesel and gas prices, making farmers more helpless and showing "hollow dreams" of employment to the youth.

Gandhi used the hashtag "RozSubahKiBaat" with his tweet attacking the prime minister on a range of issues.

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