TUNIS: The European Union on Sunday said it is considering more than one billion euros in aid to boost crisis-hit Tunisia’s economy and reduce the flow of irregular migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.
The North African country, highly indebted and in talks for an IMF bailout loan, is a gateway for migrants and asylum-seekers attempting the dangerous voyages to Europe.
The EU is ready to offer Tunisia 900 million euros in long-term aid plus 150 million euros in immediate support in a bid to “strengthen our relationship,” European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on a joint visit with the Italian and Dutch prime ministers.
The aid would be contingent on approval of the nearly $2 billion loan currently under negotiation with the International Monetary Fund, according to a document posted on the European Commission’s website.
But Tunisian President Kais Saied again on Tuesday rejected what he termed the “diktats” of the Washington-based lender.
Aside from trade and investment, the EU package would help Tunisia with border management and to combat human trafficking, with support worth 100 million euros this year, von der Leyen said.
“We both have a vast interest in breaking the cynical business model of smugglers and traffickers,” she said. “It is horrible to see how they deliberately risk human lives for profit.”
She said other joint projects with the bloc would help Tunisia export clean renewable energy to Europe, and deliver high-speed broadband, all with the aim of creating jobs and to “boost growth here in Tunisia.”
Von der Leyen, after the four-way talks with Saied, said she hoped an EU-Tunisia agreement could be signed before the next European summit later this month.
She stressed that the EU is Tunisia’s top trade and investment partner and had “supported Tunisia’s path to democracy” since it became the birthplace of the Arab Spring popular revolts in 2011, describing it as “a long and difficult road.”
Von der Leyen visited Tunisia with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte for talks with Saied, who has assumed near total governing powers over the country since 2021.
EU governments, under pressure to reduce migrant arrivals, last week agreed on steps to fast-track migrant returns to their countries of origin or transit countries deemed “safe,” including Tunisia.
Italy’s far-right premier, Meloni, on her second Tunisia visit within a week, said she was “satisfied” with the EU offer of “a real partnership to face the migratory crisis and the question of development” in Tunisia.
Tunisia lies less than 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, and has long been a departure point for migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries.
According to the UN’s refugee agency, 51,215 migrants have arrived illegally by sea in Italy so far this year, up more than 150 percent from last year, and nearly 1,000 have died or disappeared at sea.
An increasing number of the migrants hail from Tunisia, whose tourism-based economy was hit hard by the Covid pandemic and is now marked by high inflation and unemployment.
Tunisia reached an in-principle deal last year for an IMF bailout loan of around $2 billion.
But talks have since stalled over the reforms demanded by the fund, especially on state-run enterprises and the scrapping of state subsidies on basic goods.
EU considers aid to Tunisia to boost economy, reduce migrant flows
https://arab.news/b3mrx
EU considers aid to Tunisia to boost economy, reduce migrant flows
- Aside from trade and investment, the EU package would help Tunisia with border management and to combat human trafficking
Microsoft’s ties to IDF deepened during Gaza war, investigation reveals
- US tech giant provided Israeli military with computing, cloud services as demand surged
- Air force unit also used Microsoft services to develop databases of potential targets
LONDON: The Israel Defense Forces’ reliance on Microsoft cloud technology deepened at the height of its invasion of Gaza, an investigation has revealed.
Leaked documents viewed by The Guardian, Israeli-Palestinian publication +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call show that Microsoft’s business ties with the IDF surged after Oct. 7, 2023.
The US tech giant supplied the IDF with greater computing and cloud services, artificial-intelligence technologies and thousands of hours of technical support.
The Gaza offensive brought new demands for data storage and computing power, with several sources in the Israeli defense community saying the IDF had become dependent on Microsoft, Amazon and Google.
Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform was used by Israeli units across air, sea and ground forces to support combat and intelligence activities.
Staff from the tech giant also worked closely with members of Unit 8200, an IDF intelligence unit that develops cutting-edge espionage technology.
Microsoft’s technology was also used by the IDF to operate Rolling Stone, a system used to manage the population registry of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The system is capable of tracking the movement of its subjects.
Ofek, an Israeli air force unit, also used Microsoft services to develop “target banks.” The large databases included potential airstrike targets in Gaza, and were used by IDF personnel during the height of the bombing campaign.
Between October 2023 and June 2024, the Israeli Defense Ministry bought 19,000 hours of engineering support and consultancy services from Microsoft, which was awarded about $10 million in fees as a result of the sales.
The leaked documents reportedly show that the IDF’s average monthly consumption of Azure cloud services in the first six months of the war was 60 percent higher than in the four months preceding it.
The IDF also used technologies from Microsoft’s competitors. Google’s cloud division provided the Israeli military with access to AI-based services, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
Use of OpenAI’s GPT-4 also surged during the first six months of the war, though the service was made available through Microsoft’s Azure.
Turkiye attacking Kurds in northern Syria will be dangerous, Iraqi FM tells Davos
- Attacking Kurdish forces in northern Syria would create more refugees, Hussein told WEF
DAVOS: Turkiye attacking Kurdish forces in northern Syria would be dangerous and would create more refugees in neighboring Iraq, said Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s foreign minister, at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
Middle East leaders at Davos: Sustainable peace must be homegrown, not imposed
- Middle East leaders at Davos emphasized the need for homegrown solutions, urging international partners to support—not impose—peace efforts in the region
- Discussions focused on addressing root causes of instability, with calls for sustainable peace, lifting sanctions, and preventing renewed violence in hotspots like the West Bank and northern Syria
DUBAI: Sustainable peace solutions demand leadership from within the region, emphasized leaders during a high-profile panel discussion titled ‘How to Lower the Temperature in the Middle East’ at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi made a strong appeal for empowering Middle Eastern nations to take the lead in resolving their own crises.
“In the region, we are ready to do the heavy lifting to resolve our crises. We need our partners, but we also need them to understand that we know our region well. We know what it takes to achieve peace, and we need the space to offer our solutions. Most importantly, we need to be listened to—not talked at—as we address these challenges,” Al-Safadi said.
The panel explored the complex and interconnected challenges in the Middle East, including the ongoing war in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon, political transitions in Syria, and rising tensions in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa. The panelists emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, diplomacy, and addressing root causes of instability.
West Bank Tensions
Al-Safadi also warned of the dangers of neglecting the situation in the West Bank, describing it as “extremely dangerous.” He highlighted that while Gaza is seeing a degree of calm after intense fighting, escalating tensions in the West Bank could reignite violence.
“If that happens, we’ll find ourselves trapped in the same cycle all over again,” he said.
Israel’s military operation in the West Bank’s Jenin entered its third day on Thursday, coming shortly after a ceasefire agreement was reached in Gaza.
The raid has forced hundreds of residents to flee the refugee camp, with Israeli forces applying tactics previously used in Gaza. At least 10 Palestinians have been killed during the “Iron Wall” campaign, which Defense Minister Israel Katz described as a shift in Israel’s military strategy in the West Bank.
Varsen Aghabekian, the Palestinian National Authority’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, called for a durable peace process that prioritizes Palestinian rights.
“We hope this ceasefire becomes a permanent one. The US has proven it can play a key role, as we’ve seen in the past week, but durable peace must go beyond past frameworks and address the realities on the ground. The status quo in the Middle East cannot continue,” she said.
Syria: Sanctions and Stability
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hasan Al-Shaibani echoed the call for regional collaboration, emphasizing the need for international support.
“We bring hope to all Syrians by working to restore stability and security. What we seek from our international partners is support for Syria’s political process and a new path for the country’s future,” he stated.
Al-Shaibani also called for lifting sanctions on Syria, describing them as a significant barrier to the country’s development and stability.
Northern Syria and Regional Security Risks
Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein highlighted the risks posed by any renewed fighting in northern Syria, warning that it could lead to a surge of refugees into Iraq and pose security threats to both nations.
“Fighting in that area threatens the prisons holding thousands of Daesh and Al-Qaeda terrorists. Imagine if they are freed—what would that mean for Syrian and Iraqi security?” Hussein said.
Hussein also addressed the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, noting that Iraq is directly affected by this strained relationship.
“We hope both sides choose different approaches,” he said, adding that while Iran has signaled a willingness to negotiate, the US has not yet shown readiness.
Jordan’s crown prince meets Bahrain, Kurdistan leaders in Davos
- Crown Prince Hussein seeks to boost cooperation in the region
- Joins session on artificial intelligence, global skills development
DUBAI: Representing King Abdullah at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah held meetings recently with regional leaders to reinforce Jordan’s commitment to fostering cooperation and addressing pressing challenges in the region.
The crown prince met with Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, head of Bahrain’s delegation, to discuss ties between the two nations, according to reports.
Their talks focused on enhancing economic and technological cooperation and advancing training programs to help young people prepare for the workplace.
In addition, they reviewed regional developments, stressing the importance of sustaining the Gaza ceasefire and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.
In a separate meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the discussions focused on relations between Jordan and Iraq.
The officials also spoke about boosting collaboration, especially in economic and technology fields, and addressing key regional issues.
The crown prince also participated in a session on enhancing the skills and productivity of people in the age of artificial intelligence.
The session addressed the WEF’s 2020 initiative to train 1 billion people globally by 2030, which is aimed at closing skill gaps and preparing workers for rapid technological advancements.
The participants at the 55th WEF, held under the theme “Cooperation for the Smart Age,” include heads of state, global CEOs and entrepreneurs, who have gathered to discuss strategies for growth, investing in people, and managing challenges in the energy sector and beyond.
The crown prince was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s Ambassador to Switzerland Nawaf Al-Tal, and Director of the Office of the Crown Prince Dr. Zaid Al-Baqain.
Palestinian official says hundreds leave Jenin as Israel presses raid
- “Hundreds of camp residents have begun leaving after the Israeli army … ordered them to evacuate the camp,” said Jenin governor Kamal Abu Al-Rub
- “There are dozens of camp residents who have begun to leave,” Jenin resident Salim Saadi said
JENIN, Palestinian Territories: A Palestinian official said hundreds of people began leaving their homes in a flashpoint area of the West Bank on Thursday as Israeli forces pressed a deadly operation there.
The Israeli military launched this week a raid in the Jenin area, a hotbed of Palestinian militancy, days into a ceasefire in the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the objective of the operation, dubbed “Iron Wall,” was to “eradicate terrorism” in the area.
He linked the operation to a broader strategy of countering Iran “wherever it sends its arms — in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen” and the West Bank.
The Israeli government has accused Iran, which supports armed groups across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza, of attempting to funnel weapons and funds to militants in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Hundreds of camp residents have begun leaving after the Israeli army, using loudspeakers on drones and military vehicles, ordered them to evacuate the camp,” Jenin governor Kamal Abu Al-Rub told AFP.
The Israeli army told AFP that it was “unaware of any evacuation orders for residents in Jenin as of now.”
Since it began on Tuesday, the operation has killed at least 10 Palestinians and injured 40 more in the Jenin area, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
“There are dozens of camp residents who have begun to leave,” Jenin resident Salim Saadi said.
“The army is in front of my house. They could enter at any moment.”
Israeli forces have also detained several Palestinians from the Jenin area, with an AFP photographer seeing a row of blindfolded men in white jumpsuits being transported out of the West Bank.
Palestinians had already begun fleeing the Jenin area on foot on Wednesday, with AFPTV images showing a group of men, women and children making their way down a muddy road, the sound of drones buzzing above them clearly audible.
The Israeli military said Thursday it killed two Palestinian militants near Jenin during the night, accusing them of murdering three Israelis.
In a statement, the military said that Israeli forces found the two militants barricaded in a house in the village of Burqin.
“After an exchange of fire, they were eliminated by the forces,” it said, adding one soldier was injured in the gunfight.
The two men were wanted for the killing of three Israelis and wounding of six others in a January 6 an attack on a bus in the West Bank.
Violence has surged throughout the occupied West Bank since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023 with Hamas’s attack on southern Israel.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 850 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began.
During the same period, at least 29 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations in the territory, according to official Israeli figures.
The Jenin raid began days after a truce took effect in Gaza on Sunday, after 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had killed a militant in Gaza from the Hamas-allied movement Islamic Jihad, the first such reported death since the start of the truce.
The military said it was abiding by the terms of the ceasefire, saying it was “determined to fully maintain the terms of the agreement in order to return the hostages.”
The ceasefire followed months of fruitless negotiations mediated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt.
