NICOSIA: Cyprus on Thursday rejected as “groundless” allegations by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement that airports on the east Mediterranean island might be used by Israeli warplanes if the Israel-Hamas war spreads.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a televised address on Wednesday threatened Cyprus in the event that total war erupts in the region.
“Opening Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot government is part of the war, and the resistance will deal with it as part of the war,” he said, referring to Hezbollah.
The government in Nicosia swiftly denied any Cyprus military involvement in Israel’s war against Hezbollah ally Hamas.
“Cyprus is not involved, nor will it become involved, in any military conflicts,” government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis told state radio on Thursday.
He called Nasrallah’s comments “not pleasant,” adding that “all necessary diplomatic steps will be taken.”
The island is home to two British military bases, but these are on sovereign UK territory and not controlled by the Cyprus government.
The British Akrotiri air base on the south coast has been used by the Royal Air Force which has joined the US Air Force in targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen who have attacked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis say they are doing so in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Over the past decade, Cyprus has built stronger ties with Israel, particularly in the search for new energy sources and in tourism.
Cyprus is the European Union’s easternmost member, and is less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Lebanon.
President Nikos Christodoulides has denied there has been any Cypriot involvement in the Israel-Hamas war except as “part of the solution” as a staging post for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via a maritime corridor.
“Cyprus is not part of the problem. As it is widely acknowledged, its diplomatic footprint is part of the solution,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis added in a separate written statement on Thursday.
“Any public allegations that refer to an involvement of Cyprus through its infrastructure or its territory in the event of a confrontation that relates to Lebanon are totally groundless,” the statement said.
“Cyprus has never facilitated and will not facilitate any aggressive action or attack against any country.”
On the street, reactions to the Hezbollah leader’s remarks were mixed.
“It’s a very tense moment all over the world,” Brazilian tourist Glaussia, 54, told AFP, not giving her last name.
She added that it was important that “everybody make an effort for peace.”
Nicosia resident Costas stressed that his country’s only involvement in the current conflict was to provide “humanitarian help to the people over there.”
He said the government would not become involved in the war in any military capacity.
“Cyprus is a credible enabler of stability, and an acknowledged regional hub for humanitarian operations, based on excellent relations with all the countries in the region,” government spokesman Letymbiotis said in his statement.
Cyprus rejects Hezbollah claim on Israel and airports
https://arab.news/63yfk
Cyprus rejects Hezbollah claim on Israel and airports
- “Cyprus is not involved, nor will it become involved, in any military conflicts,” government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said
- He called Nasrallah’s comments “not pleasant,” adding that “all necessary diplomatic steps will be taken“
Reform challenges on agenda for new Egyptian government
- Country ‘must continue on the path of economic reform,’ economist says
- New leadership ‘could lead to tangible changes on the ground,’ researcher says
CAIRO: The new Egyptian government, which is expected to announce its Cabinet members soon, faces numerous challenges, experts and analysts say.
The recent announcement about changes to the government has sparked optimism and anticipation among Egyptians. People are hopeful of seeing improvements, including better living conditions and enhanced economic prospects.
Experts agree that economic reform is the most difficult challenge facing the government.
These challenges could help reshape and redefine current policies, which are crucial in setting the government’s direction.
This alignment must consider the domestic developments, global economic crises and the deep geopolitical tensions and conflicts surrounding the country externally.
Economist Mohamed Sayed Gamal said: “The state must continue on the path of economic reform, focusing on attracting and increasing local and foreign investments, encouraging private sector growth and making every effort to curb rising prices, inflation and regulate markets.”
The new government must aim to reduce inflation to its lowest levels by the end of 2026, he said.
“A primary goal is to reduce the overall budget deficit and public debt while achieving a surplus by maintaining balanced financial stability amid the current crisis. This includes supporting productive sectors and those most affected by economic crises, improving infrastructure quality, and maintaining fair pricing policies for goods and services.”
Gamal Abdel Hamid, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Studies, said: “Injecting new blood into the Egyptian government could lead to tangible changes on the ground, positively impacting citizens and increasing public support.”
The most critical challenge was national security, he said.
“The Egyptian state is committed to maintaining its national security amid regional and international challenges, focusing on combating terrorism and ensuring stability.
“The new government should continue to engage with the issues previously tackled by the former government, including the recent Gaza conflict, where Egypt played a crucial role as a trusted mediator through its diplomatic mechanisms and relevant state institutions.”
Another significant challenge was human development, Abdel Hamid said.
It tops the new government’s priority list as per President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi’s directives, especially in the health and education sectors.
Abdel Hamid said the new government “must continue to exert more effort to implement developmental projects to improve health, educational and social infrastructure and enhance service delivery mechanisms to meet the population’s growing needs.”
Samira Al-Adl, a researcher at the Family Development Center, said: “One of the important challenges for the upcoming government is building a fair, cohesive society characterized by equality in economic, social and political rights and opportunities, with the highest degree of social integration.
“This can be achieved by enacting laws that establish and expand social protection, empowering the most marginalized groups.”
She referred to plans for a new personal status law ensuring justice for women, and suggested other legislation that combat discrimination and violence against women, such as the early marriage law, in addition to amendments to labor laws.
Sheikh Fath Al-Qadi, an imam at the Ministry of Religious Endowments, said: “I believe that renewing religious discourse is a priority for the next government.
“This can be achieved by increasing interest in initiatives related to creativity and culture and renewing the discourse to combat extremist ideologies and destructive thoughts while harnessing the broad youth base that makes up the majority of the population by training and qualifying them and enhancing the concept of patriotism among them.”
No progress in Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel, says Hamas official
- The Palestinian group is still ready to “deal positively” with any ceasefire proposal
- Hamdan also blamed the US for applying pressure on Hamas to accept Israel’s conditions
BEIRUT: A senior official of the militant Islamist group Hamas, Osama Hamdan, said on Saturday there has been no progress in ceasefire talks with Israel over the Gaza war.
The Palestinian group is still ready to “deal positively” with any ceasefire proposal that ends the war, Hamdan told a news conference in Beirut.
Arab mediators’ efforts, backed by the United States, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire. Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, is eradicated.
Hamdan also blamed the United States for applying pressure on Hamas to accept Israel’s conditions.
“Once again, Hamas is ready to deal positively with any proposal that secures a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from Gaza Strip and a serious swap deal,” said Hamdan, referring to a potential swap of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
When Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7 they killed around 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The Israeli offensive in retaliation has so far killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and has left the heavily built-up coastal enclave in ruins.
Iran warns Israel of ‘obliterating’ war if Lebanon attacked
- Comment comes amid fears of a wider regional war involving Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah movement
- Fears of regional war also soared in April, after an air strike that levelled Iran’s consulate in Damascus
TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday warned that “all Resistance Fronts,” a grouping of Iran and its regional allies, would confront Israel if it attacks Lebanon.
The comment from Iran’s mission to New York comes with fears of a wider regional war involving Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. The two sides have engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire since the war in Gaza began.
Such exchanges have escalated this month, alongside bellicose rhetoric from both sides. Israel’s military said plans for a Lebanon offensive had been “approved and validated,” prompting Hezbollah to respond that none of Israel would be spared in a full-blown conflict.
In a post on social media platform X, the Iranian mission said it “deems as psychological warfare the Zionist regime’s propaganda about intending to attack Lebanon.”
But, it added, “should it embark on full-scale military aggression, an obliterating war will ensue. All options, incl. the full involvement of all Resistance Fronts, are on the table.”
The war in Gaza began in October when Hamas Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel.
Iran, which backs Hamas, has praised the attack as a success but has denied any involvement.
Alongside Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel, Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have repeatedly struck commercial ships in the Red Sea area in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Iran also backs other groups in the region.
The Islamic republic has not recognized Israel since the 1979 revolution that toppled Iran’s United States-backed shah.
Fears of regional war also soared in April, after an air strike that levelled Iran’s consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.
Iran hit back with an unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13-14.
Iran’s state media later reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan as US media quoted American officials saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.
Tehran downplayed the reported Israeli raid.
Egypt launches new phase of ‘100 Million Trees’ initiative
- Government allocates $62.5 million and targets around 9,900 locations for campaign
- The Environment Ministry is stepping up preparations for the initiative’s second phase this week
CAIRO: Several Egyptian ministries have initiated the “100 Million Trees” campaign across the country in response to its climate challenges and rising population, as part of a nationwide strategy to increase per-capita green space.
The project involves “reviewing and monitoring new tree plantings, tracking existing plantings, and creating a detailed plan for the types of trees planted in each governorate based on their unique characteristics,” according to a statement. Tree species with high economic value that promote investment in green projects are being targeted by the program.
The Environment Ministry is stepping up preparations for the initiative’s second phase this week. Omar Rayan, an official at the ministry, told Arab News that the second phase would be implemented in cooperation with ministries including Local Development, Housing, Water Resources and Irrigation, Agriculture, and Higher Education.
Rayan highlighted the government’s commitment to criminalizing encroachment on agricultural land and to implementing several afforestation initiatives nationwide.
According to the Egyptian prime minister’s website, the initiative will cost 3 billion Egyptian pounds ($62.5 million). It targets around 9,900 locations, and covers areas totaling 6,600 acres to be developed as forested areas or gardens utilizing treated wastewater.
The Ministry of Local Development is responsible for planting 80 million trees over the seven-year period from 2022 to 2029, while the Ministries of Environment and Housing are responsible for the remaining 20 million.
Ahmed Al-Fakharany, an official at the Ministry of Local Development, told Arab News that the second phase will see 15 million trees planted by the ministries of Agriculture, Environment, and Housing.
He said governorates were preparing reports on the number and types of trees required for this phase.
“The role of the Ministry of Local Development is to arrange for the supply of trees, study locations for new gardens in cities and districts, and ensure local units and directorates plant trees that enhance aesthetic appeal and environmental conservation, carefully selecting species that meet the specifications,” Al-Fakharany said.
He added that Cairo leads the governorates in the initiative so far, having planted 1.5 million trees.
“Giza, south of Cairo, is in second place with 585,000 trees, followed by Sohag in Upper Egypt with 404,000 trees, and Sharqia in northern Cairo with 393,900 trees,” he said.
EU chief in Egypt for joint investment conference
- The conference comes after a 7.4 billion-euro ($7.9 billion) EU funding package was signed in March to support Egypt
CAIRO: European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was in Cairo on Saturday to kick off a two-day investment conference, where deals potentially worth over $42 billion are expected to be signed.
“At this conference, European companies are signing over 20 new deals ... which are worth over 40 billions euros,” von der Leyen said at the meeting in the Egyptian capital.
The conference comes after a 7.4 billion-euro ($7.9 billion) EU funding package was signed in March to support the indebted North African country.
The strategic partnership deal provides the financial support in exchange for boosting energy sales to Europe and stemming migration.
“Today, we sign the first one billion euros in macrofinancial assistance,” the EU chief said, referring to the initial tranche of the funding package.
Macrofinancial aid, a series of medium and long term loans, “constitutes the large majority of the 7.4 billion euros in EU financial support under the partnership,” von der Leyen said.
Another 1.8 billion euros in European investments are hoped for as part of the deal, she added.
Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous nation, is in dire need of financial help as it weathers a severe economic crisis marked by rapid inflation.
In his opening remarks, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said the conference aimed to “enable European companies to benefit from investment opportunities in Egypt.”
The event’s agenda would focus on “employment, economic growth, green and renewable energies,” he said.
Through March’s aid deal, Egypt is betting on its natural gas reserves to gain access to foreign currency, while the EU has sought alternatives to Russian gas since the war in Ukraine.
The EU chief said “Egypt has the ambitious goal of becoming a clean energy hub and this is in Europe’s interest too.”
Human rights groups have criticized the migration conditions of the EU-Egypt partnership, which follows several controversial deals with Libya, Tunisia and Mauritania to stem the flow of irregular migrants across the Mediterranean Sea.
US-based Human Rights Watch labelled the agreement part of “the EU’s cash-for-migration-control approach,” saying it “strengthens authoritarian rulers while betraying human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and activists whose work involves great personal risk.”
Amnesty International on Wednesday said the EU deal “must depend on human rights reforms.”
Egypt’s stability and prosperity are “essential for an entire region,” added von der Leyen, as war embroils neighboring Gaza and Sudan.
