Middle East & North Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Days of protests over rising fuel prices and a subsequent government crackdown have killed at least 106 people across Iran, Amnesty International said Tuesday, adding that the real figure may be much higher.

Iran’s government has not released a toll of those arrested, injured or killed in the protests that began Friday and spread quickly across at least 100 cities and towns. But it disputed Amnesty’s report through its mission to the United Nations, calling it “baseless allegations and fabricated figures.”

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said it struck dozens of Iranian targets in Syria in Wednesday, carrying out a “wide-scale” strike in response to rocket fire on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights the day before.

The military said its fighter jets hit multiple targets belonging to the elite Quds force, including surface-to-air missiles, weapons warehouses and military bases. After the Syrian military fired an air defense missile, the Israeli military said a number of Syrian aerial defense batteries were also destroyed.

SANAA, Nov 19 (NNN-SABA) – Yemen’s Houthi rebels said, they will release captured vessel, if it belongs to South Korea, but after legal procedures.

“Our forces are inspecting the seized ship, to make sure it belongs to the countries of aggression (Saudi-led coalition) or to South Korea … we will release the ship along with its crew, if it belongs to South Korea,” Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi revolutionary committee, said on Twitter.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 19 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, highlighted the necessity of the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons, saying, the US and Israel are the main obstacles to the establishment of such a zone.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remarks, in an address to the Conference on the establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction, in New York.

19 Nov 2019; MEMO: Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh condemned an announcement by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stating that Israeli settlements in the West Bank will no longer be viewed as illegal, as reported by Anadolu Agency. 

Boycott Campaign – Palestine (BCP) yesterday condemned Argentina and Uruguay for playing an international friendly match in Tel Aviv.

In a statement, the BCP said that the Israeli occupation state is trying to cover up its continuous “crimes” and “massacres” through such matches.

19 Nov 2019; MEMO: Chairman of the Palestinian Energy Authority, Zafer Melhem, said yesterday the Palestinian electric company is preparing to prosecute its Israeli counterpart over plans to cut electricity in the occupied West Bank.

Speaking to the Voice of Palestine radio, Melhem said that the complaint against the Israeli electric company would be filed in the Israeli and international courts.

19 Nov 2019; MEMO: Palestinian Authority (PA) said yesterday that the renewal of UNRWA’s mandate by the UN General Assembly is a slap in the face of the US.

Speaking to Palestine TV, Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said that this is a victory for Palestinian diplomacy led by PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

19 Nov 2019; MEMO: Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin has asked head of the Blue and White Party, Benny Gantz, not to form a government backed by the Arab-majority parties, Kan reported yesterday.

According to the Israeli broadcaster, Rivlin extended his request to Gantz during a meeting that took place on Saturday at the former’s residence.

ANKARA, November 19. /TASS/: Prosecutors in Izmir have issued an order on detaining 133 Turkish military as part of an operation against members of the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which Ankara blames for an attempted coup in July 2016, NTV reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, the Turkish security forces are carrying out an anti-terrorist operation simultaneously in 44 provinces across the country. Among the suspects 82 individuals are now serving in the army.