Middle East & North Africa

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired a key Cabinet ally on Sunday, heeding a Supreme Court ruling commanding him to do so and deepening a rift over the power of the courts.

Netanyahu announced he was firing Aryeh Deri, who serves as Interior and Health Minister, at a meeting of his Cabinet. Israel’s Supreme Court decided last week Deri could not serve as a Cabinet minister because of a conviction last year over tax offenses.

22 Jan 2023; MEMO: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday warned Europe against making a "mistake" by listing the elite force as a terrorist group, reports Anadolu Agency.

"We are never worried about such threats or even acting on them, because as much as our enemies give us a chance to act, we act stronger," IRGC chief Major General Hossein Salami said in statements cited by the Mehr news agency.

"We advise the Europeans not to repeat their mistakes," he added.

22 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Syrian regime has reportedly agreed to allow the import of goods from Saudi Arabia after a decade-long trade suspension, amid reports of increasing reconciliatory relations between the two Arab nations.

21 Jan 2023; MEMO: Turkiye has cancelled the Swedish defence chief's visit after the Swedish authorities permitted a planned burning of the Quran. The response comes after Rasmus Paludan, a leader of the Danish far-right party Stram Kurs (Hard Line), was permitted to burn the Quran near the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm.

DUBAI, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Iran's troubled currency fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Saturday amid the country's increasing isolation and possible Europe Union sanctions against Tehran's Revolutionary Guards or some of its members.

Ties between the EU and Tehran have deteriorated in recent months as efforts to revive nuclear talks have stalled. Iran has detained several European nationals and the bloc has become increasingly critical of the violent treatment of protesters and the use of executions.

ISTANBUL, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that he hoped Swedish authorities would not allow a protest that includes burning the Koran.

"This permission is granted to this person, despite all our warnings. This vile act will take place at around 1600 Turkish time (1300 GMT), I hope Swedish authorities will take necessary measures until then and will not allow this," Cavusoglu said to reporters.

Cavusoglu also said the protest could not classified as freedom of expression.

BEIRUT, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warned on Friday against conducting any works or activities that could lead to tension near the Lebanese-Israeli borders, the National News Agency reported.

The UN agency's spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said that "UNIFIL peacekeepers are on the ground at the works site to monitor if there is any violation of the Blue Line, reduce tension and prevent misunderstandings."

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Palestinian militant allegedly tried to stab an Israeli in the occupied West Bank on Saturday and the Israeli shot and killed the Palestinian.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the Palestinian man as Tariq Maali, 42, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group later claimed him as a member. The health ministry said he was shot northwest of the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

21 Jan 2023; MEMO: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit Algeria early next week to ensure the continuation of the flow of gas. European countries are now preferring to rely on bilateral relations with Algeria after the failure of the agreement between Algeria and the European Union (EU).

21 Jan 2023; MEMO: Qatar's Foreign Minister said his country should not be dragged into a corruption scandal at the European Parliament with investigations still ongoing, rejecting allegations of Doha's involvement as having "no basis".