Middle East & North Africa

14 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israel's President Isaac Herzog said on Monday evening that the situation in the country is "very serious" and may have political, economic, social and security consequences, Israel Today has reported. He was speaking in light of the ongoing protests against the coalition government's plan for "judicial reform" which have seen tens of thousands of Israelis taking to the streets for the past ten weeks.

14 Mar 2023; MEMO: Likud MK Danny Danon described the demonstrators who are opposed to the judicial overhaul in Israel as "extremists" who are trying to drag Israel into a civil war, local newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

14 Mar 2023; MEMO: The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has approved the first reading of the Basic Law: The Government Bill, which aims to prohibit the suspension of the prime minister from office and declaring him or her to be incapable of performing their duties. The first reading of the bill was passed by a majority of 61 in favour, with 51 MKs opposing it.

A special committee in the Knesset had approved the bill earlier on Monday in preparation for putting it to a vote before the Knesset.

Egypt’s authorities refused to issue or renew passports, birth certificates and other documents for more than two dozens journalists, critics and lawyers living abroad, a leading rights group said Monday.

The U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch said the refusals are a sign that Egypt is widening its clampdown on dissent. “The government is ramping up efforts to punish and silence those abroad,” said Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is seeking a third consecutive term in office in elections in May, marks 20 years in power on Tuesday.

The 69-year-old, who served as prime minister from 2003-2014 and as president thereafter, started as a reformist who expanded rights and freedoms, allowing his majority-Muslim country to start European Union membership negotiations.

He later reversed course, cracking down on dissent, stifling the media and passing measures that eroded democracy.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament on Tuesday advanced a bill that would let lawmakers pass laws that the Supreme Court cannot overturn — a key piece of legislation in Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies’ proposed judicial overhaul that has divided the country.

Netanyahu’s governing coalition of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties has pressed ahead with its legislative blitz despite calls for compromise and demonstrations that have drawn tens of thousands of Israelis to the streets over the past two months.

TEHRAN, Mar 13 (NNN-IRNA) – At least seven people were killed and five others were injured, as three residential buildings collapsed entirely yesterday, due to an explosion in the north-western Iranian city of Tabriz, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The explosion, which occurred at 03:00 a.m. local time (2330 GMT), in a two-story building, completely levelled the building and two neighbouring ones, said Mohammad-Baqer Honarbar, director general of East Azarbaijan province’s Crisis Management Organisation.

RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM, Mar 13 (NNN-WAFA) – Three more Palestinians were killed yesterday, by Israeli soldiers, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Palestinian medics, as well as, Israeli sources said.

Three Palestinian men were shot dead, after they opened fire at an Israeli army force near Nablus, according to separate statements by the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Israeli army.

A fourth Palestinian was arrested, after he surrendered and handed himself over to the Israeli force, added the sources.

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: Recent poll shows massive support for reservists' refusal of military service in protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, Quds Press reported yesterday.

The poll, whose results were published by Ynet News, showed that 70 per cent of the opposition supported reservists who refuse military services in protest against Netanyahu's judicial changes.

12 Mar 2023; MEMO: Iran has signed an agreement to build 50 passenger ships for the Ivory Coast, in its latest deal struck with a West African nation.

The Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex (ISOICO) signed on Wednesday the memorandum of understanding to build 50 sea taxis for the Ivory Coast.