Day: November 1, 2022

Aqaba, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan received here today Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard.

At the outset of the meeting, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the King, the government and the brotherly people of Jordan. In turn, the King of Jordan sent his greetings and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince, as well as the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, they discussed the solid historical relations that bind the two brotherly countries and peoples, as well as ways to strengthen them in all areas.

In addition to expressing his gratitude for the gracious welcome and hospitality, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar also expressed his admiration for what he had witnessed at the “SOFEX 2022” Exhibition in Aqaba, which was focused on the defense sector and special operations equipment.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

For the fifth time since 2019, Israelis were voting in national elections on Tuesday, hoping to break the political deadlock that has paralyzed the country for the past three and a half years.

Although the cost of living is surging, Israeli-Palestinian tensions are boiling over and Iran remains a central threat, the foremost issue in the vote once again is former leader Benjamin Netanyahu and his fitness to serve amid corruption charges. His main rival is the man who helped oust him last year, the centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Polls have predicted a similar result: stalemate. But a powerful new player is threatening to shake things up. Itamar Ben-Gvir, a leading far-right politician, has surged in opinion polls recently and will be seeking a harder line against the Palestinians if he helps propel Netanyahu to victory.

With former allies and proteges refusing to sit under him while he is on trial, Netanyahu has been unable to form a viable majority government in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. His opponents, an ideologically diverse constellation of parties, are equally hamstrung in cobbling together the 61 seats needed to rule.

That impasse has mired Israel in an unprecedented political crisis that has eroded Israelis’ faith in their democracy, its institutions and their political leaders.

“People are tired of instability, of the fact that the government is not delivering the goods,” said Yohanan Plesner, a former legislator who now heads the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank.

Buoyed by his followers’ almost cult-like adoration, Netanyahu, 73, has rejected calls to step down by his opponents, who say someone on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes cannot govern. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, but embarrassing details from his ongoing trial repeatedly make front page news.

In Israel’s fragmented politics, no single party has ever won a parliamentary majority, and coalition-building is necessary to govern. Netanyahu’s most likely path to the premiership requires an alliance with extremist ultra-nationalists and religious ultra-Orthodox parties.

These parties would demand key portfolios in a Netanyahu government, and some have promised to enact reforms that could make Netanyahu’s legal woes disappear.

The ultranationalist Religious Zionism party, whose provocative top candidate Ben-Gvir wants to deport Arab legislators and is a disciple of a racist rabbi who was assassinated in 1990, has promised to support legislation that would alter the legal code, weaken the judiciary and could help Netanyahu evade a conviction. Ben-Gvir, promising a tougher line against Palestinian attackers, this week announced he would seek the Cabinet post overseeing the police force.

Critics have sounded the alarm over what they see is a destructive threat to Israel’s democracy.

“If Netanyahu is triumphant,” wrote columnist Sima Kadmon in the Yediot Ahronot daily, “these will be the final days of the state of Israel as we have known it for 75 years.”

Netanyahu’s Likud party has tried to tamp down worries, saying any changes to the legal code won’t apply to Netanyahu’s case and that the extremist elements of his potential coalition will be reined in.

Netanyahu, currently opposition leader, paints himself as the consummate statesman and only leader capable of steering the country through its myriad challenges.

Polls say the race is too close to predict.

Netanyahu was ousted last year after 12 years in power by the diverse coalition forged by Lapid, Netanyahu’s main challenger.

The coalition, made up of nationalists who oppose Palestinian statehood, dovish parties that seek a peace agreement, as well as for the first time in the country’s history, a small Arab Islamist party, united over their distaste for Netanyahu but collapsed this spring because of infighting.

The centrist Lapid, a former author and broadcaster who became premier as part of a power-sharing agreement, has portrayed himself as an honest and scandal-free change from the polarizing Netanyahu.

In his short term as caretaker leader, Lapid welcomed President Joe Biden on a successful visit to Israel, led the country in a brief military operation against Gaza militants and signed a diplomatic agreement with Lebanon setting a maritime boundary between the enemy nations.

Still, Lapid’s chances to return to leadership are shaky. He is relying on voters from Israel’s Palestinian minority, who make up one fifth of the population. Their turnout is predicted to reach historic lows, but if they unexpectedly do come out to vote, that could slash the Netanyahu camp’s numbers.

After the votes are tallied, the parties have nearly three months to form a government. If they can’t, Israel heads to its sixth election.

Source: Voice of America

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared well-placed to return to power after exit polls following Tuesday’s election showed his right-wing bloc heading for a narrow majority lifted by a strong showing from his far-right allies.

Israel’s longest-serving premier, on trial over corruption charges that he denies, was poised to take 61-62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, according to Israeli television exit polls.

The early exit polls may differ from the final result of the election, which is not expected until later in the week. But the results pointed to a strong showing by the right, which had been seen falling just short of a majority.

“Of course I’m happy. I only hope it keeps rising,” said Likud lawmaker Dudi Amsalem. “We will strengthen Jewish identity, and we will strengthen law and order.”

Israel’s fifth election in less than four years exasperated many voters but turnout was nonetheless reported at the highest levels since 1999.

The campaign was shaken up by far-right firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir and his ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism list, now poised to be the third-largest party in parliament after surging in from the political margins.

Security on the streets and soaring prices topped the list of voter concerns in a campaign triggered by defections from centrist Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s unlikely ruling coalition of right-wing, liberal and Arab parties.

But policy issues have been overshadowed by the outsized personality of Netanyahu, whose legal battles have fed the stalemate blocking Israel’s political system since he was indicted on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges in 2019.

Netanyahu, 73, has been counting on support from Ben-Gvir and fellow far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich, who have moderated some extreme positions but still call for anyone deemed disloyal to Israel to be expelled from the country.

The prospect of a government including Ben-Gvir, a former member of Kach, a group on Israeli and U.S. terrorist watchlists, and who was once convicted for racist incitement, risks alarming allies including Washington.

The campaign, which opened weeks after a brief conflict with the militant Islamic Jihad group in Gaza in August, has also unrolled against a backdrop of increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, with near-daily raids and clashes.

Lapid, whose camp was poised to take 54-55 seats, according to the polls, had campaigned on his stewardship of Israel’s strong economy as well as diplomatic advances with countries including Lebanon and Turkey but it was not enough to stop the right.

Source: Voice of America

Manama, Northern Governor Ali Abdulhussein Al Asfoor received writer Abdulkarim Ismael who presented a copy of new book “Al Khalifa Al Saud – Exchanged Visits 1870-1990”.

He commended the author’s efforts in writing the book which documents long-standing historic relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Northern Governor stressed the importance of the book which represents a valuable source for writers and researchers, further enriching public and university libraries in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The author expressed thanks and gratitude to the Northern Governor, highlighting his efforts to compile photos and facts for the content of the book.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

MP Hassan Mrad met with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, whom he received at Dar al-Hanan Center in Bekaa.

“We believe in the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its keenness on the inter-Arab unity,” said the lawmaker, hailing the steps undertaken by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He also thanked Saudi Arabia for hosting a great deal of the Lebanese nationals.

Moreover, he stressed the necessity of committing to the implementation of the Taif Agreement.

Source: National News Agency