TEL AVIV: Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests across the country on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bitterly disputed plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court.
The planned overhaul, which would give the government control over naming judges to the Supreme Court and let parliament override many rulings, was paused after opponents organized some of the biggest street protests ever seen in Israel, now in their 18th consecutive week.
The government accuses activist judges of increasingly usurping the role of parliament, and says the overhaul is needed to restore balance between the judiciary and elected politicians.
Critics say it will remove vital checks and balances underpinning a democratic state and hand unchecked power to the government.
Five months into the far-right coalition’s term, 74 percent of Israelis think the government is functioning poorly, according to a poll released by the Israeli public broadcaster on Friday.
Crowds gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday in a show of defiance against plans which they see as an existential threat to Israeli democracy.
Israel’s Channel 12 estimated 110,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv alone, with other demonstrations held in cities across the country.
“I’m very worried for my country,” protester Bental Shamir, a 60-year old teacher told Reuters in Tel Aviv. “I don’t want a corrupted country.”
The planned overhaul has been put on hold in an attempt to give time for Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who plays a largely ceremonial role, to broker a compromise between the coalition and opposition which could see the legislation softened, but so far compromise talks have not born fruit.
“I’m sure that we are closer than we can imagine,” lawyer Dor Lasker, 35, told Reuters regarding the compromise talks. “I’m positive that it could happen.”
Protesters waved the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests over the past three months.
A statement from the Israeli president’s office said King Charles III greeted Herzog after the coronation ceremony in London and commended him for his mediation efforts.
Israelis protest against judicial reforms for 18th week
https://arab.news/gbf77
Israelis protest against judicial reforms for 18th week
- Crowds gather in Tel Aviv against government's plan to tighten controls on top court
- Israeli government accuses activist judges of increasingly usurping parliament's role
UAE FM meets UN secretary general on sidelines of UNGA assembly
- Discussions focused on partnerships in humanitarian aid, renewable energy, climate action
LONDON: UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Emirates News Agency reported.
Discussions focused on UAE-UN partnerships in a variety of sectors, including humanitarian aid, renewable energy, climate action and sustainable development.
Sheikh Abdullah and Guterres reviewed the outcomes of the UAE’s membership of the UN Security Council from 2022 to 2023, as well as its contributions to international peace and security, and humanitarian response operations and initiatives aimed at tackling global challenges.
The meeting discussed the UAE’s preparations for hosting the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in November in Dubai.
Sheikh Abdullah said that the UAE recognized the need to expedite the global response to climate change to achieve peace and security, and that the country looked forward to leveraging climate challenges into opportunities that drove sustainable and economic development.
The two officials also addressed developments in the Middle East, exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest, as well as challenges to international peace and security.
Guterres thanked the UAE for its strengthened engagement with the UN and its hosting of COP28.
The meeting was attended by several UAE officials, including Reem bint Ibrahim Al-Hashimy, minister of state for international cooperation, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, permanent representative to the UN, Mohamed Issa Abu Shehab, deputy permanent representative to the UN, and Majid Al Suwaidi, special representative of COP28.
All 120 workers rescued after Nile cruise ship accident in Egypt
- There were no guests on board the ship, which was heading to Luxor Governorate in the south of Egypt
CAIRO: All 120 workers on board a Nile cruise ship that partially sank after it collided with a bridge have been rescued.
The collision caused a hole in the lower right side of the Tivoli Nile ship in Minya Governorate in Upper Egypt, officials said.
There were no guests on board the ship, which was heading to Luxor Governorate in the south of Egypt.
The Public Prosecution is investigating the incident.
Authorities said they were working with the company that owns the floating hotel, while Mohammed Amer, head of the Department of Hotel Establishments, Shops, and Tourist Activities at the ministry, said the ship’s tourism operating license expired last May and had not been renewed.
It was recently at a workshop in Helwan, south of Cairo, for necessary repairs and maintenance work to allow it to operate during the upcoming winter season, starting next month.
Amer said that, after completing all maintenance work, the management of the vessel obtained a passage permit from Cairo to Luxor for the necessary inspections by Ministry of Tourism officials to renew its license in preparation for the start of October.
The River Transport Authority said that it granted a temporary permit for the ship to leave the repair shop to its own berth on Aug. 23 until it obtained the rest of the necessary licenses from the other relevant authorities.
Jordan, UK delegations review bilateral cooperation
- Jordanian MPs advocated for increasing British investment in Jordan, medical tourism promotion
LONDON: The Jordanian-British Parliamentary Friendship Association met a UK delegation of Conservative MPs on Sunday in Amman to discuss opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, Jordan News Agency reported.
Dina Bashir, the association’s president, emphasized the strength of Jordanian-British relations, which she attributed to the country’s respective leaderships.
Bashir underscored Jordan’s commitment to political, economic and administrative modernization under the leadership of King Abdullah II, with the goal of improving Jordanians’ lives in a range of sectors.
Bashir expressed Jordan’s position on the Palestinian cause while applauding the king’s efforts to resolve the conflict on local, regional and international levels. She also emphasized the importance of Jordanian custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem in sustaining the historical coexistence of Muslims and Christians.
Highlighting Jordan’s long-standing tradition of welcoming refugees, Bashir noted the influx of Syrian refugees and its impact on the host country’s infrastructure. She urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities toward Jordan so it could continue to play its humanitarian role.
Bashir campaigned for the expansion and marketing of Jordanian products in the UK, as well as boosting economic and tourism collaboration.
Several Jordanian MPs also advocated for increasing British investment in Jordan, medical tourism promotion, and British tourists visiting the country.
The UK delegation highlighted the need to strengthen bilateral ties in the economic, commercial, agricultural and tourism sectors. They also acknowledged Jordan’s critical role in the refugee crisis as well as its efforts to ensure regional security and stability.
Egypt, Jordan and Iraq FMs discuss economic, political ties
- Tripartite cooperation includes agreements in the energy, health and education sectors, as well as coordination on Middle East issues
CAIRO: The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq on Saturday discussed ways to activate cooperation between the three countries in several economic and political fields.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Sameh Shoukry hosted Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Al-Safadi, and Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the UN in New York on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
The Egyptian foreign ministry said on Sunday that this was the follow-up to a summit in Baghdad in June 2021.
During the meeting on Saturday, topics agreed on included the importance of completing projects proposed among the countries.
Initiating the introduction of new ideas and projects in electrical connectivity, renewable energy, communications, trade, industry, transportation, health, pharmaceutical industries, housing and construction were discussed, as well as in culture, tourism, youth and sports, and in the areas of security and defense cooperation.
The ministers also discussed the political situation in the region, stressing the importance of achieving security and stability there.
They touched on many issues, notably the Palestinian issue in the context of the importance of restoring inalienable Palestinian rights.
Ministers also discussed efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, especially through the work of the Arab Ministerial Contact Group, in a way that achieved the interests of the Syrian people and ended their suffering.
The foreign ministers agreed to continue coordination among themselves to prepare for the tripartite summit scheduled to be held in Cairo.
Tripartite cooperation between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq includes agreements in the energy, health and education sectors, as well as political coordination on Middle East issues.
UN has ‘moral duty’ to solve Palestine question: Omani FM
- ‘Like all peaceful nations,’ Gulf country believes in two-state solution, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi tells UN
- Minister says incitement of violence, hatred poses national security risk and requires criminalization
NEW YORK CITY: The UN has a “moral duty” to resolve the Palestine question through a two-state solution, Oman’s foreign minister has told the UN.
Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi was speaking at the 78th UN General Assembly in New York City on Saturday.
The minister described the Palestinian issue as “an injustice which has lasted more than 70 years.”
He added: “The Palestinian people, however, stand firm in their conviction and determination vis-a-vis the brutal Israeli occupation, the embargo and abuses and violation of international law, and Security Council resolutions.”
Oman’s belief in justice, equity and respect of the UN Charter means that “like all peaceful nations,” the country sees no other solution to the Palestine question than the two-state solution, Al-Busaidi said.
He appealed to all countries to “stay attached” to the UN system in settling disputes and resolving conflict, adding that the UN has a duty “to put an end to the painful suffering of the Palestinian people.”
This can only happen through Israel’s withdrawal to the June 1967 borders and the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, Al-Busaidi said.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has also caused “painful humanitarian consequences,” the Omani minister said.
The war has presented a “significant challenge to international peace and challenge to the proper functioning of supply systems worldwide,” Al-Busaidi said.
He appealed for dialogue and peace negotiations between the two sides “on the basis of the principle of harming no one” as well as state sovereignty and good neighborliness.
The foreign minister outlined the sultanate’s green targets that are part of the Oman 2040 Vision.
The country is aiming for net-zero by 2050, and will take part in the UAE-hosted COP28 later this year as part of a “national approach to promote sustainable development.”
Oman’s Vision 2040 also views modernization of education systems as “key,” Al-Busaidi said.
The minister highlighted the sultanate’s hosting of a global ministerial meeting on health preparedness as part of a post-pandemic strategy.
“One of the most important lessons drawn (from the pandemic) was that which relates to early preparation,” he said.
“The goal is to reduce increasing danger to public health,” Al-Busaidi added, inviting other states to take part in joint research to develop anti-pandemic measures.
Oman has “serious aspirations” to bolster and “promote the instruments” of human rights in order to promote an international community that respects human dignity, the minister said.
He condemned the incitement of violence and hatred as a breach of that principle and called for the adoption of “clear and categorical legislation” that criminalizes such behavior.
Discrimination based on religion, creed or race poses a threat to social peace and security, and even the “national security of states and societies,” Al-Busaidi said.
The Omani foreign minister ended his address by calling on the “family of nations” to “uphold peace and justice.”
He said: “We are grappling with complex challenges worldwide. These global challenges include climate change, the spread of epidemics, and trafficking of drugs and human beings. And to that list, we should add conflicts of various types.
“As a result, we would invite the family of nations to uphold the principles of peace and justice, and to implement the principles of international law without any double standards, so that confidence can prevail, and build trust between states and so that there will be prosperous partnerships between peoples.”
