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Saba Yemen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
France & Netherlands call for review of European partnership with Israeli occupation
Paris - Saba: The French and Dutch foreign ministers called for a review of the partnership agreement between the European Union and the Israeli occupation, given its continued genocide in the Gaza Strip and its prevention of aid from reaching the population of the territory. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said in an interview with France Inter that the partnership agreement between the European Union and Israel must be reviewed, taking into account Israel's position on Gaza. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Mint
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Sanctions Risk Pushing Russia Away From Talks, Rubio Says
President Donald Trump thinks Russia will likely walk away from Ukraine peace talks if the US threatens more sanctions, according to his top diplomat, supporting the White House's decision not to pressure Moscow despite its resistance to a ceasefire. 'If you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday. 'And there's value in us being able to talk to them and drive them to get to the table.' Rubio's comments came when pressured by Senator Chris Coons, Democrat from Delaware, on whether the administration plans to slap more sanctions on Russia or send more arms to Ukraine. Trump's efforts to push President Vladimir Putin to a ceasefire took a hit Monday after a direct phone call between the two leaders resulted in the US stepping back from direct engagement and signaling the White House wasn't ready to slap new sanctions on Moscow. The outcome disappointed many European allies, who had expected Washington to take a harder line after Trump in recent weeks demanded a 30-day ceasefire and threatened further actions. That could include allowing passage of a bipartisan bill prepared by Senator Lindsey Graham that would enact 'bone-crushing' new sanctions. 'It would be helpful if the United States slammed its fist on the table — if that much-discussed sanctions package presented by the senators could be adopted,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with France Inter earlier Tuesday. 'Everyone understands that he will pursue his colonial war to the very end unless we put a stop to it,' he said, referring to Putin. On Tuesday, the European Union approved its latest sanctions package against Russia, targeting nearly 200 shadow fleet ships as well as addressing hybrid threats and human rights. 'More sanctions on Russia are in the works,' the bloc's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on X. 'The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response.' To be sure, Rubio told senators Tuesday that Trump is 'fully aware' that he has sanctions options he can still pursue. 'The president is very committed to ending the dying, ending the bloodshed, and he wants to preserve as long as he possibly can the opportunity to influence both sides,' he said. Later in the day, during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee meeting, Rubio said he expects Russia to present a broad 'term sheet' as soon as this week, which the administration will then determine is 'realistic' or not. Asked about further sanctions during an Oval Office event on Tuesday, Trump said: 'That's going to be my determination. That's going to be nobody else's determination.' 'We'll see how Russia behaves,' he said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
France 24
20-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
EU to review cooperation deal with Israel over Gaza
France renewed its commitment to recognise a Palestinian state, a day after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu angrily hit back at Britain, France and Canada for threatening action over his country's military offensive and blockade of Gaza. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said "a strong majority" of the 27 member states at a foreign ministers' meeting backed the move in a bid to pressure Israel. "Countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable, and what we want is to really help the people, and... to unblock the humanitarian aid so that it will reach the people," Kallas told journalists. Momentum to re-examine the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which forms the basis for trade ties, has grown since Israel resumed a military offensive in Gaza after a ceasefire expired. Diplomats said 17 EU states pressed for the review under an article of the agreement that calls for a respect for human rights, with the Netherlands spearheading the latest push. Divided EU acts The EU has long been divided between countries backing Israel and those considered more pro-Palestinian. In a sign of the splits, in a separate move, Hungary blocked imposing more sanctions on Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Belgium's foreign minister Maxime Prevot said he had "no doubt" about the violation of rights in Gaza, and the review could lead to the suspension of the entire deal. Britain meanwhile suspended free-trade negotiations and summoned Israel's ambassador. Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Netanyahu's government of "egregious actions and rhetoric" over its expansion of military operations in the Palestinian territory. Lammy told the British parliament that the government was imposing new sanctions on individuals and organisations involved in West Bank settlements. "The world is judging, history will judge them. Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop," he said. He said Britain would be "reviewing cooperation" with Israel under a so-called 2030 roadmap for UK-Israel relations. The "Netanyahu government's actions have made this necessary," Lammy said. Israel responded by saying "external pressure" would not stop the country "defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction". "If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy -- that is its own prerogative," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said in a statement. France also renewed its diplomatic criticism of Israel, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reaffirming a commitment to recognise a Palestinian state. "We cannot leave the children of Gaza a legacy of violence and hatred. So all this must stop, and that's why we are determined to recognise a Palestinian state," Barrot told France Inter radio. French President Emmanuel Macron joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a rare joint statement on Gaza on Monday that angered Israel. The three threatened "concrete actions" if Israel continued to block aid. Netanyahu said the statement was a "huge prize" for Hamas, which set off the Gaza war with its October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
El Chorouk
20-05-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
Paris Foreign Minister Renews Appeal to Algeria in Sansal Case
While the French side insists, each time, that the French judiciary is sovereign and the executive authority has no influence over it, officials in Paris find no embarrassment in violating this principle, which is customary in democratic countries, by attempting to interfere in the affairs of the Algerian judiciary when it comes to France's interests. The latest chapter in this equation is what was issued by the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, on Tuesday, April 20, 2025, where he did not hesitate to delve again into the case of the Franco-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, which is considered among the issues that have exacerbated relations between the two countries. In an interview with Radio France Internationale 'France Inter', the head of French diplomacy expressed hope that the Algerian authorities would take a 'humanitarian gesture' in favor of the Algerian-French writer Boualem Sansal. It was notable in his speech that he spoke of 'the Algerian authorities', which is usually understood as a reference to the political decision-makers in the country. The French official's statement came on the occasion of the start of the first sessions of the trial of the Franco-Algerian writer, who is accused of undermining the territorial integrity of the country, at the level of the Algiers Judicial Council, which decided to postpone the trial until June 24, with the verdict to be announced on July 1, 2025. Jean-Noël Barrot said: 'I am very concerned about his health. He is an elderly and frail man,' and he went on to comment: 'For this reason, I hope that he will be tried as soon as possible, and if possible in the next few days, so that after this ruling, a humanitarian gesture can be made towards him, a gesture that we have called on the Algerian authorities to make.' This is not the first time that such statements have been issued by French officials, from the highest official, represented by the master of the Elysée Palace, Emmanuel Macron, to his Prime Minister, François Bayrou, and his Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, and officials and deputies in both houses of parliament. However, the Algerian side has not responded to these demands, but rather considered them a blatant interference in the judicial affairs of a sovereign state. The Algerian judiciary had sentenced Boualem Sansal, who has been imprisoned since mid-November, to five years in prison on March 27, following statements Sansal made to the far-right channel 'Frontières'. These statements were interpreted by the Algerian judiciary as causing serious harm to the territorial integrity of the country, in addition to being contrary to historical truth and the reality on the ground. They were also severely criticized by the French historian, Benjamin Stora, who refuted them with irrefutable and undeniable evidence. The French minister's statements came in the context of an unjustified French escalation regarding this issue. On May 6, the French National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) adopted a parliamentary resolution calling for the 'immediate release' of the Franco-Algerian writer. The deputies also urged, through that resolution, the European Union to pressure Algeria to release Boualem Sansal, and also urged Brussels to condition any cooperation with Algeria on the release of the convicted writer. According to observers, the French foreign minister's statement will have no effect on the case of the Franco-Algerian writer, as long as Paris continues its provocations against Algeria, by targeting its consular interests (kidnapping and imprisoning consular officials outside diplomatic norms and the provisions of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations), in addition to violating bilateral agreements in the diplomatic field, not to mention the continuous harassment of the Algerian community.
Leaders
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
France 'Determined' to Recognize Palestinian State, PM Says
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that France was 'determined' to recognize a Palestinian State, according to France 24. Barrot also condemned Israel's 'indefensible' situation in Gaza caused by its heavy airstrikes and blockade of humanitarian aid. Recognizing Palestinian State 'We cannot leave the children of Gaza a legacy of violence and hatred. So, all this must stop, and that's why we are determined to recognize a Palestinian state,' Barrot told France Inter radio. In this regard, he also emphasized that Paris supported a Netherlands-led initiative for a review of the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Israel. 'And I am actively working towards this, because we want to contribute to a political solution in the interest of the Palestinians but also for the security of Israel,' he added. Joint Statement Barrot's statement came after French President Emmanuel Macron joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a rare joint statement that made Israel very angry. The participating states said that they would not stand by, 'further concrete actions' if Israel continued to block aid. Furthermore, they stressed their commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state. Macron Accuses Israel of Shameful Actions French President Emmanuel Macron Macron also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of committing 'shameful and disgraceful,' actions in Gaza. In a special television appearance broadcast on the TF1 channel, Macron noted that it is not for Netanyahu to decide whether this constitutes genocide, but rather for historians. 'What Benjamin Netanyahu's government is doing today in Gaza is unacceptable. It is shameful and disgraceful,' Macron said. During the interview, Macron stated that he was 'one of the few leaders who visited the Egypt-Gaza border.' He also described the situation as 'one of the most distressing sights I've ever witnessed.' Condemning Blockade of Humanitarian Aid Macron criticized Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid causing the suffering of thousands in Gaza. 'There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in,' Macron added. 'We need the United States. President [Donald] Trump has the levers. I have had tough words with Prime Minister Netanyahu. I got angry, but they [Israel] don't depend on us, they depend on American weapons,' he added. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed at least 53,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 118,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Baghdad Declaration: Arab Leaders Firmly Reject Palestinian Displacement Macron Accuses Israel of Committing 'Shameful and Disgraceful' Actions in Gaza Spanish PM: Israel Should Be Eliminated from Eurovision Short link : Post Views: 134
