RAMALLAH — Dozens of Palestinian protesters were injured during clashes with Israeli soldiers in several West Bank cities and villages. Among the injured were three shot by live ammunition and nine by rubber bullets, while the others inhaled teargas fired by Israeli soldiers, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement on Friday. In […]
Middle East
Palestinian schools in Jerusalem shut doors to protest Israel-imposed textbooks
RAMALLAH — Some 150 Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem have closed down to protest against attempts of the Israeli government to censor textbooks and impose the Israeli curriculum. About 100,000 students on monday refrained from going to their schools in compliance with the strike, a warning step after the Israeli government began taking punitive measures […]
Saudi Arabia arrests Yemeni man over Mecca pigrimage for Queen Elizabeth-II’s tribute
RIYADH — Saudi police arrested a Yemeni man this week after he advertised on social media his pilgrimage to Mecca, where he paid tribute to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II. The pilgrim, who was not identified by name, had posted footage earlier this week that showed him holding a banner honouring the late queen […]
171 killed by explosive war remnants in Syria so far in 2022: Monitor
DAMASCUS — A total of 171 civilians have so far been killed in 2022 by explosions of landmines and other ordnance left uncovered in previous war zones across Syria, a war monitor reported. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Sunday said that 171 civilians, including 86 children, have been killed and 251 people, including […]
Saudi Arabia amends tourist visa policy for GCC, other countries’ residents
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has announced an amendment to its tourist visa policy for residents of other Arab countries and the US, UK and the European Union (EU). Under the policy, residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, along with their close relatives and domestic workers, can now apply for an e-visa online, reports […]
Israeli missile strikes hit Syria’s Aleppo int’l airport
DAMASCUS — An Israeli missile strike hit the international airport of Syria’s northern city of Aleppo, causing material damage, a Syrian military statement said. Local news websites on Wednesday said the missiles came from over the Mediterranean, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said Israel fired […]
Former imam of Mecca’s Grand Mosque jailed for 10 years
RIYADH — A Saudi court has sentenced a prominent former imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca to 10 years in prison, Middle East Eye reported. The Specialised Criminal Appeals Court in Riyadh sentenced Sheikh Saleh al Talib to prison after overturning a previous acquittal, US-based rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) […]
Haramain Sharifain strongly condemns Raja Singh’s remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
RIYADH — Haramain Sharifain on Tuesday strongly condemned the controversial remarks made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s MLA Raja Singh against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Haramain Sharifain in a statement on Tuesday condemned the blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by the Goshamahal MLA, a member of India’s ruling BJP. Haramain called upon international […]
Hamas, Islamic Jihad meet in Gaza, vow resistance to Israeli occupation
GAZA — Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) on Monday held a joint meeting in the Gaza Strip weeks after deadly Israeli strikes against the PIJ in the Palestinian enclave, vowing to support each other’s resistance against the Israeli occupation. The meeting, attended by members of the two factions’ political and military leaders, was […]
Saudi police arrest man who helped non-Muslim Israeli journalist enter Mecca
RIYADH — A Saudi who allegedly helped a non-Muslim enter the holy city of Mecca has been arrested, police in the kingdom said on Friday, after online backlash against an Israeli journalist. The journalist, Gil Tamary of Israel’s Channel 13, on Monday posted to Twitter video of himself sneaking into Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, in […]