Middle East & North Africa

02 Oct 2020; MEMO: During a meeting held in the West Bank and headed by President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday, the Fatah Central Committee approved agreements reached with the rival Hamas movement, Arab48.com reported.

The Central Committee listened to a report read by Secretary-General of Fatah’s Executive Committee Jibril Rajoub, and senior Fatah members Rawhi Fatouh and Azzam Al-Ahmed.

02 Oct 2020; MEMO: Asaf Zamir, Israel’s tourism minister, resigned from the post on Friday citing a lack of trust in the country’s premier Benjamin Netanyahu, Anadolu Agency reports.

Zamir is a member of the Blue and White party led by Benny Gantz, who is the country’s defense minister and the alternate prime minister.

03 Oct 2020; MEMO: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad stressed the importance of the role played by Russian military bases in ensuring security and stability in Syria and fighting global terrorism.

ANKARA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 2,500 people, including those who violated COVID-19 isolation rules and who were not able to properly self-isolate, are under mandatory quarantine across Turkey, a Turkish official said on Friday.

"As of Oct. 1, a total of 2,474 people are under mandatory self-isolation in dormitories and hostels across the country," Turkish Interior Ministry Spokesperson Ismail Catakli told reporters at a press conference.

Turkey's COVID-19 patients increased by 1,442 on Friday to a total of 321,512, the Turkish Health Ministry announced.

RABAT, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and the United States on Friday signed a 10-year defense cooperation road map, said diplomatic sources.

The agreement was signed in the capital Rabat by Morocco's Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

According to diplomatic sources, the agreement will improve defense cooperation, partnerships and interoperability between the two countries.

Esper's visit to Morocco, which will conclude on Saturday, is the final stop on his North African tour including Tunisia and Algeria. 

BEIRUT, Oct 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lebanon and Israel have agreed to a framework for U.S.-mediated talks aimed at ending a long-running dispute along the border between the two nations that have fought several conflicts.

Still in a formal state of war, Lebanon and Israel have contested their land and maritime borders for decades, namely over an area in the sea on the edge of three Lebanese offshore energy blocks. Israel said the talks would cover the sea border.

Washington has mediated between the two sides.

02 Oct 2020; MEMO: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been fined $400,000 by the US Transportation Department for violating a ban on flying in Iranian airspace, including areas over the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, which was introduced during heightened political tension between Washington and Tehran last year.

Half of the fine will be waived if Emirates airline avoids similar violations for a year.

02 Oct 2020; MEMO: Sudan’s Islamic governmental authority yesterday announced its opposition to Khartoum normalising ties with Israel.

Local media reported that an Islamic Fatwa –  a legal opinion based on Islamic law – was issued amid imminent reports that the two countries are due to sign agreements to establish normal relations, according to official sources.

02 Oct 2020; MEMO: Whistleblower Mohamed Ali, backed by Egyptians, is calling for a second Friday of rage in continuation of the protests that have taken place in the country for almost two weeks.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's Wealth Fund is in talks to provide emergency funding to flag carrier Turkish Airlines THYAO.IS, one of the country's hardest-hit companies when the coronavirus pandemic halted nearly all flights, four sources told Reuters.

The sources close to the matter said the company, which flies to more destinations worldwide than any other airline, could receive capital or financing support as part of the programme, though nothing had yet been finalised.