
Jordanian FM affirms Jordan's security priority, two-state solution key to peace
AMMAN (WAM)Ayman Safadi, Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs, affirmed that safeguarding Jordan's national interests, security, and citizens remains the government's top priority.In a statement carried by Jordan News Agency (Petra), Safadi underscored that Jordan 'will not serve as a battleground for any external conflict', reiterating that Jordan's sovereignty is non-negotiable. "We've told both Israel and Iran, 'Do not breach our airspace."Safadi called for an immediate halt to the war on Gaza and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe. He warned against illegal Israeli escalations in the West Bank, saying they risk triggering an explosion in the occupied territory and undermining all prospects for a just and lasting peace.He also stressed the need for a genuine political horizon leading to a two-state solution, which he described as the only viable path to peace. Safadi also confirmed ongoing coordination with France and Saudi Arabia to convene an international conference on the two-state solution.He pointed to the Arab Peace Initiative as a viable offer for a comprehensive peace that includes a sovereign Palestinian state.On Syria, he said, 'Stability in Syria is essential for the stability of the region.' He voiced full support for Syria's reconstruction, saying the Syrian people deserve peace and dignity after years of war.Regarding the Jordan-US relations, Safadi described them as "strategic and historic," noting strong bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism and economic support.
On Iran, he stated that although Jordan supports de-escalation efforts in the region, it will continue to address direct concerns with Iran, including weapons and drug smuggling. "We want good relations with all neighbours, including Iran, but such ties must be based on mutual respect and non-interference."
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Middle East Eye
17 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
World Central Kitchen founder faces backlash for handshake with Israeli president
World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder Chef Jose Andres is facing mounting criticism after meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to discuss Israel's seven-month blockade that has cut off aid to Gaza. Andres visited Gaza for the first time since the Israel's genocide began, sharing pictures and videos of the decimation and WCK's work along the way. After leaving the Strip, Andres posted that he met with Herzog on Sunday to discuss Israel's aid blockade, which Amnesty International has recently described as a deliberate campaign of starvation. "We talked in detail about how to flood Gaza with food and medicine so there is no hunger and no looting, so we can start rebuilding with hope and humanity," Andres wrote on X. "That means full permits and access for all NGOs who can help end the despair and suffering of Palestinians... they were committed to help all they can with the release of the hostages, end of the war, providing all humanitarian aid necessary and the reconstruction for Gaza." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Herzog's X post about the meeting, praising WCK and featuring photos with Andres, became the flashpoint of the backlash. I was pleased to meet today with @ChefJoseAndres, founder and head of the world renowned aid organisation, @WCKitchen which has worked with dedication to help provide food to those in need in Israel and in Gaza - and indeed all over the world. True humanitarian assistance comes… — יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) August 17, 2025 Critics slammed Andres after seeing the post, saying the meeting amounted to condoning Israel's actions, including the targeting and killing of seven WCK international aid workers in April 2024. An Israeli air strike killed an additional three workers from the international NGO in November. Middle East Eye reached out to WCK for a response to the criticism they're facing, but did not receive a reply in time for publication. "He accepted a medal from the man who supplied the bombs that killed his @WCKitchen workers," one X user wrote, referencing President Biden awarding Andres the Medal of Freedom earlier this year. "Now he shakes hands with the man directing their murders." Israel murdered 7 of his employees and now he's doing photo ops with them. @chefjoseandres disgraceful. — B L A K E L E Y™℠©® LLC (@_iamblakeley) August 18, 2025 "The people you're shaking hands with have the blood of tens of thousands of Palestinians on their hands, the very people you claim to be helping," journalist Leyla Hamed posted on X. "And let's not forget: they also killed 7 members of your own NGO. Yet you still shake their hands. Disgraceful @chefjoseandres." Greater good? Others countered these criticisms by arguing that meetings like this are a part of Andres's role, and that it is necessary to help the humanitarian crisis Israel has manufactured in the Gaza Strip. "I hate that Herzog gets a photo-op with him (at least it's not you know who), I hate that this can be seen as disrespectful to the murdered WCK members, but if it gets food to the Gazan people, I can see why he would make the sacrifice," one user argued on a Reddit thread. "He's done far more for the Palestinian people, and suffering people worldwide, than I ever have, and I'm not going to hold him in judgement over this." Another user replied to this post, arguing that after two years of Israel's genocide in Gaza, it is natural for people to be sceptical of organisations or figures that Israeli officials publicly support. People are criticizing Chef José Andrés for visiting the Israeli President, etc. I'm obviously not in his head, but I think it's admirable that he is keeping his eye on *one* ball: to feed as many people in Gaza as possible. If it takes an annoying meeting, so be it. Life first. — Ami Dar (@AmiDar) August 18, 2025 "If this does lead to more food getting into Gaza without any conditionals, then fine. I'm willing to live with this compromise even if I think it's still fair to call out the hypocrisy," the user wrote. "However, we've also seen the past few months what it looks like when Israel coordinates efforts to let aid into Gaza between the GHF [Gaza Humanitarian Foundation] and the air drops leading to more deaths. I think it's more than a little right to be skeptical about an Israeli official suddenly being fine with aid given how they've weaponized it the past 4 months." Scrutiny over WCK's ties to Israel, which has publicly lauded the group's work, deepened after Israel banned the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa) – which is the primary source of humanitarian support for Palestinians across the Middle East – from operating in all of occupied Palestine in January. "No one other than World Central Kitchen has been allowed by Israel to bring aid in by sea, and in the past Israel has attacked and massacred civilian groups attempting to do so," Palestinian journalist Ali Abunimah wrote in the Electronic Intifada last year. "And such a 'venture' or 'pilot project' only makes sense in a context where Unrwa is being eliminated." Israel's inconsistent treatment of WCK compared to other international NGOs, along with Herzog's public praise for Andres, has led to the current backlash. The consistent message in the critics' posts of the meeting between the chef and the president is about the concern that Israel, and the US, are potentially using influential figures like him to "'whitewash" their image. "Israel murdered the workers of his NGO, but the chef forgives: he whitewashes the US and places the 'charity of the sandwich' wherever it benefits his business," one angered user posted on X. "May this photo haunt him wherever he goes."


Al Etihad
42 minutes ago
- Al Etihad
UAE launches first 'Youth Social Mission' under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3
AL ARISH (WAM) The Federal Youth Authority has announced the launch of the first group of participants in the 'Youth Social Missions Programme,' within the 'Humanity Track,' to take part in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Al Arish, Arab Republic of Egypt, as part of the UAE's ongoing support for the Palestinian people. The first group was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day. The minister met the participating youth in the field, commending their high spirit and readiness to contribute to humanitarian efforts representing the UAE in one of the world's most crisis-affected regions. Speaking in Al Arish, Al Neyadi said, "The UAE believes humanitarian work must be instilled in younger generations, embodied by the leadership's vision of empowering youth to be ambassadors of giving and global peace. Through initiatives such as the Youth Social Missions Programme, we aim to prepare Emirati cadres capable of representing the nation's values and providing support to communities worldwide in a sustainable and humanitarian manner, reflecting the UAE's image and international standing." He added, 'Emirati youth in this mission are a shining example of a generation carrying a profound humanitarian responsibility, embodying the UAE's values of solidarity and giving. Their participation in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 demonstrates their readiness to stand at the forefront in supporting the Palestinian people and delivering aid to those most in need, with a spirit of initiative, responsibility and true belonging to their homeland and its enduring humanitarian principles.' Director of Empowerment at the Federal Youth Authority, Rashid Ghanem Al Shamsi, said that launching the first group of the Youth Social Missions Programme reflects ongoing efforts to build an integrated framework for empowering youth in humanitarian, development and cultural fields. He noted that the initiative provides practical tools and real field experiences to enhance their capabilities and enable them to contribute effectively across various areas that bring positive impact and prosperity to communities worldwide. He added that the participation of Emirati youth in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 represents a milestone in empowering them for international relief work. Their field tasks include preparing relief shipments, packaging and distributing food, medical and water supplies, supporting logistics teams, and following up on the UAE Lifeline pipeline that delivers water to around 600,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This experience offers youth a genuine opportunity to understand the challenges of humanitarian work firsthand and contribute effectively to alleviating suffering in crisis areas. The first group's field missions also include distributing food and medical aid, providing psychosocial support, and contributing to direct relief efforts in coordination with official entities engaged in the humanitarian operation in Gaza. The initiative aims to develop the skills of Emirati youth, broaden their awareness of global issues and growing humanitarian needs, and open avenues for participation in international initiatives that support the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforce the UAE's role as a leader in humanitarian action. The Youth Social Missions Programme is one of the flagship national initiatives launched by the Federal Youth Authority under the 'Society and Values' pillar of the National Youth Agenda 2031. It aims to prepare Emirati youth to participate in humanitarian, development and cultural missions, thereby enhancing the UAE's global presence and training a new generation of ambassadors for humanitarian work.


Khaleej Times
42 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
S&P affirms 'AA+' credit rating for US, cites impact of tariff revenue
S&P Global on Monday affirmed its "AA+" credit rating on the US, saying the revenue from President Donald Trump's tariffs will offset the fiscal hit from his massive tax-cut and spending bill. Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" into law in July after it was passed by the Republican-controlled Congress. The bill, which delivered new tax breaks, also made Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent. "Amid the rise in effective tariff rates, we expect meaningful tariff revenue to generally offset weaker fiscal outcomes that might otherwise be associated with the recent fiscal legislation, which contains both cuts and increases in tax and spending," S&P said in a statement. "At this time, it appears that meaningful tariff revenue has the potential to offset the deficit-raising aspects of the recent budget legislation." The U.S. reported a $21 billion jump in customs duty collections from Trump's tariffs in July, but the government budget deficit still grew nearly 20% in the same month to $291 billion. Interest on the public debt also continued to grow, hitting $1.013 trillion in the first 10 months of the fiscal year, an increase of 6%, or $57 billion, over the prior-year period due to slightly higher interest rates and increased debt levels. Since returning to power in January this year, Trump has launched a global trade war with a range of tariffs that have targeted individual products and countries. The Republican president has set a baseline tariff of 10% on all imports to the U.S., as well as additional duties on some items and trading partners. IMPACT OF TARIFFS S&P, which became the first ratings agency to cut the pristine U.S. government rating in 2011, said the outlook on the U.S. rating remains stable. The ratings agency said it expects the Federal Reserve, which Trump has criticized this year for not cutting interest rates, "to navigate the challenges of lowering domestic inflation and addressing financial market vulnerabilities." It projected the country's general government deficit to average 6.0% of GDP during the 2025-2028 period, down from 7.5% in 2024 and from an average 9.8% of GDP in 2020-2023. S&P said it could lower the rating over the next two to three years if already high deficits increase. "The ratings could also come under pressure if political developments weigh on the strength of American institutions and the effectiveness of long-term policymaking or independence of the Federal Reserve," it said. SP, however, said it could raise the U.S. rating in the event of sustained economic growth and adjustments to the U.S. fiscal profile that would diminish recent increases in the country's debt burden. There was no reaction in markets on Tuesday to SP's credit rating affirmation, which follows a U.S. sovereign credit downgrade by Moody's in May, when that ratings agency cut the triple-A U.S. rating by one notch, citing rising debt levels. The U.S. national debt load surged above a record $37 trillion last week. James Ragan, co-chief investment officer and director of investment management research at D.A. Davidson, said the SP rating affirmation was an acknowledgment of the meaningful tariff revenue generated so far. "That's all good revenue (coming) in, but that's also a drag on the economy, so I think we don't know the impact of that going forward," he said.