LONDON: US President Joe Biden held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Monday to discuss urgent aid and reconstruction in Gaza.
Egypt brokered a truce that brought to an end days of Israeli bombardment of the territory that killed 252 Palestinians including 66 children. Twelve people were killed in Israel by rockets fired from Gaza.
Biden and El-Sisi discussed ways to consolidate the cease-fire that was backed by the US and ways to revive the peace process, an Egyptian presidential spokesman said.
During the call, Biden said Washington was determined to work to restore calm and coordinate efforts with all international partners to support the Palestinian Authority.
The US president said Washington appreciated Egyptian efforts to reach the cease-fire, and that he would continue consulting with El-Sisi.
The two leaders also discussed the political process in Libya with the aim of holding elections at the end of the year.
Biden and El-Sisi also agreed to strengthen joint efforts to reintegrate Iraq into the region.
The spokesman said the leaders exchanged views on a giant dam project underway in Ethiopia, which Egypt and Sudan say threatens their water security.
El-Sisi said Egypt sought a fair and binding legal agreement over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam that includes clear rules for the process of filling and operating the dam.
Biden said Washington intended to make efforts to ensure Egypt’s water security, and they agreed to strengthen diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement that preserves water and development rights for all parties.
US and Egyptian presidents hold talks on Gaza, Libya
https://arab.news/gs9t5
US and Egyptian presidents hold talks on Gaza, Libya
- Biden and El-Sisi discussed ways to consolidate the Gaza cease-fire
- They also agreed to strengthen joint efforts to reintegrate Iraq into the region
Lebanese authorities arrest journalist at Hezbollah-run channel
- Aly Berro is accused of sharing social media videos insulting President Aoun and PM Salam and defending Hezbollah weaponry
BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities on Friday arrested Aly Berro, a journalist working for Al-Manar TV, which is affiliated with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, state media reported.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that authorities arrested “Al-Manar TV correspondent Aly Berro this evening, based on a warrant issued against him by the Attorney General Judge Jamal Hajjar.”
The NNA added that Hajjar instructed the security forces’ information branch “to begin questioning Berro in the presence of his lawyer, and a decision regarding his case will be made based on the interrogation.”
Berro shared many videos on social media over the past months in which he criticized Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and defended Hezbollah’s weaponry, often using offensive language.
Hajjar issued an arrest warrant for him in October, after he failed to appear for questioning three times over accusations that included insulting Salam, according to a judicial official.
On Monday, the Lebanese government banned Hezbollah’s military activities after it launched rockets on Israel to avenge the death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, pulling Lebanon into the Middle East war.
Last year, after Hezbollah was weakened by its 2024 war with Israel, Beirut committed to disarming the group.
Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender its weapons.
