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At least 60,430 Palestinians killed and 148,722 wounded since Gaza war began
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Zawya
11 minutes ago
- Zawya
Trump eyes bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian nations into Abraham Accords, sources say
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump's administration is actively discussing with Azerbaijan the possibility of bringing that nation and some Central Asian allies into the Abraham Accords, hoping to deepen their existing ties with Israel, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter. As part of the Abraham Accords, inked in 2020 and 2021 during Trump's first term in office, four Muslim-majority countries agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel after U.S. mediation. Azerbaijan and every country in Central Asia, by contrast, already have longstanding relations with Israel, meaning that an expansion of the accords to include them would largely be symbolic, focusing on strengthening ties in areas like trade and military cooperation, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Such an expansion would reflect Trump's openness to pacts that are less ambitious than his administration's goal to convince regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to restore ties with Israel while war rages in Gaza. The kingdom has repeatedly said it would not recognize Israel without steps towards Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state. A soaring death toll in Gaza and starvation in the enclave due to blockage of aid and military operations by Israel have buoyed Arab fury, complicating efforts to add more Muslim-majority countries to the Abraham Accords. The war in Gaza, where over 60,000 people including tens of thousands of women and children have died according to local health authorities, has provoked global anger. Canada, France and the United Kingdom have announced plans in recent days to recognize an independent Palestine. Another key sticking point is Azerbaijan's conflict with its neighbor Armenia, since the Trump administration considers a peace deal between the two Caucasus nations as a precondition to join the Abraham Accords, three sources said. While Trump officials have publicly floated several potential entrants into the accords, the talks centered on Azerbaijan are among the most structured and serious, the sources said. Two of the sources argued a deal could be reached within months or even weeks. Trump's special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, in March to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Aryeh Lightstone, a key Witkoff aide, met Aliyev later in the spring in part to discuss the Abraham Accords, three of the sources said. As part of the discussions, Azerbaijani officials have contacted officials in Central Asian nations, including in nearby Kazakhstan, to gauge their interest in a broader Abraham Accords expansion, those sources said. It was not clear which other countries in Central Asia - which includes Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan - were contacted. The State Department, asked for comment, did not discuss specific countries, but said expanding the accords has been one of the key objectives of Trump. "We are working to get more countries to join," said a U.S. official. The Azerbaijani government declined to comment. The White House, the Israeli foreign ministry and the Kazakhstani embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Any new accords would not modify the previous Abraham Accords deals signed by Israel. OBSTACLES REMAIN The original Abraham Accords - inked between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan - were centered on restoration of ties. The second round of expansion appears to be morphing into a broader mechanism designed to expand U.S. and Israeli soft power. Wedged between Russia to the north and Iran to the south, Azerbaijan occupies a critical link in trade flows between Central Asia and the West. The Caucasus and Central Asia are also rich in natural resources, including oil and gas, prompting various major powers to compete for influence in the region. Expanding the accords to nations that already have diplomatic relations with Israel may also be a means of delivering symbolic wins to a president who is known to talk up even relatively small victories. Two sources described the discussions involving Central Asia as embryonic - but the discussions with Azerbaijan as relatively advanced. But challenges remain and there is no guarantee a deal will be reached, particularly with slow progress in talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two countries, which both won independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, have been at loggerheads since the late 1980s when Nagorno-Karabakh - an Azerbaijani region that had a mostly ethnic-Armenian population - broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook Karabakh, prompting about 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia. Both sides have since said they want to sign a treaty on a formal end to the conflict. Primarily Christian Armenia and the U.S. have close ties, and the Trump administration is wary of taking action that could upset authorities in Yerevan. Still, U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump himself, have argued that a peace deal between those two nations is near. "Armenia and Azerbaijan, we worked magic there," Trump told reporters earlier in July. "And it's pretty close." (Reporting by Gram Slattery in Washington; Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, Emily Rose in Jerusalem and Nailia Bagirova in Baku Editing by Humeyra Pamuk and Deepa Babington)
The National
41 minutes ago
- The National
Why Lebanon needs closure on the Beirut port blast
On this day five years ago, Lebanon experienced a traumatic event that arguably became the defining moment for an entire generation. Although the country is no stranger to tragedy, the detonation of nearly 3,000 tonnes of improperly stored ammonium nitrate at Beirut port continues to cast a shadow over Lebanon and its people. The blast, which killed more than 220, injured thousands more and flattened large parts of the capital, continues to stir up painful feelings and visceral reactions among many Lebanese and those who love Lebanon. Although the country has gone through the anguish of foreign occupation, Israeli bombardment and civil war, the explosion of August 4, 2020, remains unique in its significance. This is because it sums up so much of the Lebanese experience in recent times: chronic mismanagement; a lack of transparency; poor governance; a cavalier attitude to citizens' well-being as well as attempts to achieve accountability being hampered by obfuscation and delay. Five years on from one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, no high-ranking officials have been convicted in connection with the blast. The failure to prosecute those responsible for such a catastrophe has repercussions that reach far beyond the frustration of the victims' families. A pervasive sense that the country is on the wrong path led many young Lebanese to reluctantly pack their bags and leave for opportunities abroad. One of them, architect Grace Dergham, recently told The National how, when she left in July 2001, she did so to support her parents because she was 'starting to lose hope in the country'. This is not to overlook the efforts currently under way to put the country on the right path. On Friday, The National reported that tighter regulations concerning the shipping, handling and storage of goods have been introduced in Lebanon to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. That the country now has a functioning presidency and parliament is also an important step forward. And despite many setbacks – including political interference, legal challenges and the removal of lead investigators – a judicial investigation into the blast is continuing. Five years on from one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, no high-ranking officials have been convicted in connection with the blast Nevertheless, much remains to be done. Beirut port, which suffered extensive damage, has not resumed full operations. Housing, transport and cultural assets, including many religious and archaeological sites and national monuments, remain badly affected. And other issues have emerged to compound these challenges, such as the overspill from the Gaza war and a persistent financial crisis. But there are also faint signs that things may be slowly improving; a World Bank report released on June 19 found that Lebanon's real gross domestic product was projected to grow by 4.7 per cent this year 'supported by anticipated reform progress, a recovery in tourism and consumption and limited capital inflows'. What shines through is the spirit of the Lebanese people, who have demonstrated resilience and determination despite the physical and emotional hurt stemming from the blast and its aftermath. But they should not have to be so resilient. What they want – a better future and a fair, functioning country – is right and just. Therefore, it is the job of the government, the judiciary as well as Lebanon's political and business classes to draw a line under the devastating 2020 explosion by achieving accountability and rebuilding trust in the country's institutions. A failure to do so will dog Lebanon's leaders for years to come and take away the opportunity to meet its people's aspirations.
Zawya
41 minutes ago
- Zawya
SEWA implements Al Dhaid natural gas network connection project
SHARJAH: In implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA) has begun implementing the first phase of the natural gas network connection project for Al Dhaid City. The current completion rate has reached 46%, and this phase is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2026, according to the approved timetable. Engineer Ibrahim Al Balgouni, Director of the Natural Gas Department at the authority, explained that the first phase includes extending the natural gas pipeline to the Jabal Omar and Tal Al Zafran neighbourhoods, extending 83 kilometres at a total cost of AED14 million. He noted that the project will serve approximately 989 residents in the area. Al Balgouni emphasised that the authority is continuing its efforts to develop a modern and sustainable infrastructure and expand the natural gas network across the Emirate of Sharjah, in support of the vision of the wise leadership to achieve comprehensive development and community well-being. The project to connect natural gas services to the city of Dhaid represents a qualitative leap in the quality of services, given the high standards of safety and security of the implemented networks. It also represents an economical alternative to the use of traditional gas cylinders, contributing to an improved quality of life and fostering the growth of the city's residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
