Israel to shut missions around world, says embassy in Sweden
Israel's embassy to Sweden said on Friday that Israel would close its diplomatic missions around the world in light of recent developments, and that consular services would not be provided.
It did not say how long the missions would be closed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Putin, Trump discuss Iran-Israel situation by telephone, Kremlin aide says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump discussed hostilities between Iran and Israel in a new telephone call on Saturday, Russian news agencies quoted top Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov as saying. Ushakov, quoted by the agencies, said Putin condemned Israeli attacks on Iran and the two leaders did not rule out returning to discussions on Iran's nuclear program. Ushakov was also quoted as saying that Putin confirmed Russia's readiness to press on with negotiations with Ukraine. The agencies quoted Ushakov as saying the two presidents spoke for about 50 minutes. He described the talk as meaningful and useful.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
The Way to End the Israeli Palestinian Conflict
This conflict cannot be resolved with a two-state solution. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed this point recently, warning the Security Council that hope for a two-state solution may dissipate entirely. This conflict cannot be settled through perpetual war and the firepower of the Israeli occupation that is seeking endless annexation, gulping up more and more land through the expansion of settlements. For decades, those of us who follow Palestinian have been asking when this conflict will come to an end? This question seems to be on United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis's mind. He recently said that the conflict would not end until the Israelis and Palestinians are able to live side by side in their two sovereign and independent states, in peace, security, and dignity. It is time, then, to put an end to Israel's effort to change the demography of Palestinian territories. Indeed, it has been seven decades since the UN General Assembly first called for a two-state solution, and the world's commitment to this goal has been reaffirmed by numerous UN Resolutions. The pioneering role that Saudi diplomacy has played in this regard stands out. Saudi Arabia has long insisted that the first step to regional peace is recognizing an independent Palestinian state. This is not a symbolic concession but a strategic necessity that requires actions, not words, to ensure that our shared principles are practiced. One could ask: What if Israel had accepted the Arab Peace Initiative back in 2002? How would the course of the past two decades in the Middle East have been different if Israel had? On the French front, President Emmanuel Macron considers the recognition of Palestine both an ethical duty and a political demand. Paris has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the two-state solution. It also insists that there is no other viable path to peace. It seems that Paris believes this is the right time to build an international coalition that sets a concrete roadmap for arriving at a two-state solution. France, the beating heart of European politics, believes the moment has arrived. It is pursuing three key tracks to move closer to an independent Palestinian state: One: Ending the war in Gaza, ensuring the unconditional release of all hostages, and allowing the people of Gaza full access to aid. Two: Push political solutions to the forefront, above the alternatives that experience and common sense tell us are futile. Three: Ending settlement expansion, settler violence, and the campaign to weaken the Palestinian Authority. A close and thorough examination of the Palestinian question shows that we cannot kick the can down the road indefinitely. It is among the oldest items on the United Nations' agenda, and it has real implications for global peace and security. Anyone sensible can understand that Palestinian land, with its history, sanctity, and religious significance, is above ideological disputes and relative political conflicts. Its repercussions are felt in all four four corners of the earth. Accordingly, establishing a Palestinian state is crucial for regional stability, and its positive impact would extend far beyond the Middle East. It would potentially reinforce peace around the globe, and failing to establish it would undermine peace everywhere. It also has major implications for the consolidation of development and human rights, as failing the Palestine people has long been fueling a tragic cycle of resentment and violence across the globe. Every person with a sound conscience finds the status quo in Palestine intolerable: the occupation is deepening its roots and crushing of the land's indigenous inhabitants through crimes that violate holy and secular laws. A different path must be pursued. Peace must be achieved and the conflict must end. A timescale must be set for a solution that is founded on international law, human rights, the United Nations Charter, and the shared interests of all the region's inhabitants. There are no stop-gap solutions or alternatives to a negotiated two-state settlement that gives rise to a viable, independent Palestinian state. However, Guterres's words have been blowing in the wind of global diplomacy. We are at a historic crossroads- a juncture that will test the world's conscience. Will it wake up after its long slumber?
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Sunday's US-Iran nuclear talks cancelled, says mediator Oman
The latest round of US-Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Sunday in Muscat will not take place, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on X on Saturday. Oman has been mediating the talks. Albusaidi's statement came a day after Israel launched a sweeping air offensive against Iran, killing commanders and scientists and bombing nuclear sites in a stated bid to stop it building an atomic weapon.
