Latest news with #al-Sheikh
Egypt Independent
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
Photo: ‘7Dogs' teaser unveils its first look at Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ezz in action-packed thriller
Saudi General Entertainment Authority Chairman, Turki Al-Sheikh, has unveiled the first teaser poster for the upcoming film '7Dogs,' starring Egyptian megastars Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz. The poster features both actors in elegant black suits, holding weapons – signaling the film's action and crime elements. In the background, a famous painting of dogs playing poker is prominently displayed, accompanied by the intriguing tagline: 'Not All Dogs Stay Loyal', hinting that betrayal may be part of the plot. '7Dogs' is written by Mohamed al-Dabbah, with the story by al-Sheikh. It is directed by the internationally recognized duo Adel and Bilal, and produced by al-Sheikh. The film is set to be released in cinemas in 2025. With its substantial budget, it's widely anticipated to be one of the most powerful productions in Arab cinema in recent years. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
New York Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Israel Strikes in Syria, Intervening in Sectarian Violence
Israel launched airstrikes on Syria on Wednesday and threatened to strike government forces there if clashes persisted between pro-government fighters and militiamen from the Druse minority. Wading into the latest eruption of sectarian violence in the country, the Israeli military said its aircraft had struck a group of 'operatives' accused of having 'attacked Druse civilians' in spreading violence around the outskirts of the capital, Damascus. The Syrian governor of the area, Amr al-Sheikh, said in a news conference on Wednesday night that the airstrike had killed one member of the Syrian government's general security forces and one civilian. The Israeli military did not identify the 'operatives,' but forces aligned with the Islamist government have been locked in fierce clashes in the area with Druse militiamen for two days. Earlier, the Israeli government said its forces had targeted members of an unidentified 'extremist group' south of Damascus. Israel is home to a substantial Druse community, many of whom see themselves as loyal citizens and serve in the military. At least 39 people — including 22 on Wednesday — have been killed in two days of clashes between Syrians on the outskirts of Damascus, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war-monitoring group based in Britain. The Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday came after violent clashes broke out around the town of Ashrafieh Sahnaya, a largely Druse area south of Damascus. The attacks on areas around Damascus with large Druse populations began overnight Monday into Tuesday after an audio clip circulated on social media purporting to be a Druse cleric insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The cleric denied the accusation, and Syria's Interior Ministry said that its initial findings showed that he was not the person in the clip. The violence is stoking fears among Syria's diverse ethnic and religious minorities who have grown increasingly worried about persecution under the rule of Syria's new Islamist leaders, who overthrew the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. The latest wave of sectarian violence began in the predominantly Druse city of Jaramana. By the end of Tuesday, 17 people had been killed. The unrest spread into Wednesday to Ashrafieh Sahnaya, where Druse militia fighters battled 'forces affiliated to the ministries of defense and interior and other proxy forces' of the government, according to the war monitoring group. Mr. al-Sheikh, the area's governor, said in the news conference that members of 'outlaw groups' had attacked checkpoints staffed by government security forces in Jaramana on Tuesday and in Ashrafieh Sahnaya on Wednesday, prompting the government to cordon off both cities to protect them. He said clashes then erupted twice in Ashrafieh Sahnaya on Wednesday between government forces and the outlaws, killing 14 people on both sides before government forces took control. Mr. al-Sheikh did not identify the 'outlaw groups.' But in an apparent reference to Druse militias who appear linked to Wednesday's clashes, he repeated three times that 'weapons should be in the state's hands.' Syria's new leaders have struggled to integrate the complex web of armed groups operating across the country into the new state apparatus. Several of the strongest Druse militias are in talks with the government about their conditions for integrating into the army. Abu Hassan, a Druse militia commander in the southern Syrian city of Sweida who goes by a nom de guerre, painted a more sinister picture of the government forces Mr. al-Sheikh had said had been involved, saying foreign fighters and other extremist militants nominally affiliated with the government had been involved in the attacks on Druse areas. Abu Hassan also suggested that the audio clip had been a faked pretext for the violence, saying this was really about settling old scores in the aftermath of Syria's nearly 14-year civil war. The state news agency, SANA, said armed gunmen — an apparent reference to the Druse fighters — had attacked checkpoints and vehicles overnight on Wednesday belonging to government forces in Ashrafieh Sahnaya. An Interior Ministry official called the gunmen who attacked government forces 'criminals' and vowed that the government would strike back 'with an iron fist,' according to SANA. Israel's first airstrike on Wednesday was described as a warning against 'an extremist group' said to be preparing to attack Druse, according to a joint statement by the Israeli prime minister's office and the defense minister. Israel has offered to protect the Druse in Syria should they come under attack amid the tumultuous transition of power in the country. Many Syrian Druse have rejected that offer, however, denouncing what they consider potentially destructive foreign meddling. Syria is a predominantly Sunni Muslim nation, while the Druse are a religious group that practices a secretive religion rooted in Islam. The rebels who ousted Mr. al-Assad were led by a Sunni Islamist group once linked to Al Qaeda. They now run the government and the national military. Since Mr. al-Assad was ousted, Israel has carried out numerous incursions in Syria, raiding villages, launching hundreds of airstrikes and destroying military outposts. Israel says that it wants to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of hostile groups and that it does not want enemy forces to entrench themselves close to its borders. Sectarian violence has hit Syria several times since the ouster of Mr. al-Assad, stoking fears among many minority groups that the country's new leaders will marginalize or target them. Last month, a wave of sectarian killings spread across Syria's coastal region, home of the country's Alawites, the minority group that the Assad family belongs to.
Express Tribune
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appoints Hussein al-Sheikh as PLO deputy
Listen to article Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed his close aide, Hussein al-Sheikh, as the new vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The announcement was made on Saturday by Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee. Al-Sheikh, a senior leader in Abbas's Fatah movement, is now positioned to play a key role in the future of Palestinian politics. The creation of the vice presidency comes amid growing calls for reform within the PLO, which has faced years of international pressure. This new role is viewed as a significant step towards ensuring a smoother transition in Palestinian leadership, particularly as Abbas, 89, looks to cement his legacy and prepare for succession. The vice presidency position was established during the 32nd session of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah earlier this week. During the session, Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to initiating a "comprehensive national dialogue" aimed at fostering reconciliation among Palestinian factions and strengthening national unity. Abbas also addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stressing the need for a political process that would lead to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. In his remarks, Abbas outlined efforts to halt Israeli aggression, ensure the rapid entry of humanitarian aid, and restore Palestinian governance over Gaza. Hussein al-Sheikh, 64, has long been a trusted figure within the Palestinian Authority (PA) and a key figure in Abbas's Fatah movement. Al-Sheikh has held pivotal positions, including overseeing security coordination with Israel, a role that has earned him significant trust from Israeli officials. Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, noted that al-Sheikh has been "groomed for the past 18 years" in his relationship with Israel and Abbas, and is seen as someone who enjoys a high level of trust from Israeli authorities, even more so than Abbas himself. Analysts believe that the creation of the vice presidency and al-Sheikh's appointment signal preparations for a future transition of power. Aref Jaffal, director of the Al-Marsad Election Monitoring Center, remarked that these arrangements are likely a prelude to a leadership change, given the pressing needs of the Palestinian political system. The PLO, founded in 1964, represents the Palestinian people internationally and is responsible for negotiating treaties, while the PA oversees governance in parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. The PLO includes several factions but does not encompass groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. With al-Sheikh's appointment, the focus now shifts to his future role in both Palestinian governance and the broader political dynamics in the region.
Al Jazeera
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Who is Hussein al-Sheikh, the newly appointed deputy to PLO's Abbas?
Hussein al-Sheikh, a relatively unknown Fatah veteran and former prisoner in Israel, has been chosen as deputy chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and vice president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), positioning him as a potential successor to ageing President Mahmoud Abbas. The appointment of al-Sheikh to the two positions follows years of international pressure to reform the PLO and comes as Arab and Western powers envision an expanded role for the PA in the post-war governance of the Gaza Strip. Abbas had nominated al-Sheikh to the positions this past week, and the PLO Executive Committee officially approved the appointments on Saturday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Founded in 1964, the PLO is empowered to negotiate and sign international treaties on behalf of the Palestinian people while the PA is responsible for governing parts of the Palestinian territory, particularly the occupied West Bank. The PLO is an umbrella organisation comprising several Palestinian political factions. But it excludes Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, which are currently at war with Israeli forces in Gaza and are at odds with Abbas. Al-Sheikh, 64, is a veteran leader of Abbas's Fatah movement, which dominates the PA, and is considered close to the president. He spent more than 10 years in Israeli jails in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during which he learned Hebrew. In 2022, he was made the PLO Executive Committee's secretary-general and head of its negotiations department, a sensitive portfolio, demonstrating his close ties to Abbas. Abbas also recently appointed him as the head of a committee overseeing Palestinian diplomatic missions abroad. Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera's senior political analyst, said al-Sheikh has been 'groomed for the past 18 years' by Abbas. 'He [al-Sheikh] has been around since 2007 after Abbas took over after the split between Gaza and the occupied West Bank,' Bishara said, noting that the new deputy leader has been the main person coordinating with Israel on security matters. 'The Israelis know him and trust him, more than they know and trust Abbas.' Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri called for the creation of a vice presidential post within the PA itself. 'This is not a reform measure but rather a response to external pressure,' said Masri of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies. 'What is required is a vice president for the PA to whom the powers could be transferred,' he told the AFP news agency. Saudi Arabia welcomed the 'reform steps' taken by Abbas in appointing al-Sheikh as his deputy. According to Palestinian officials, in the event of Abbas's death or resignation, the vice president would be expected to become the acting head of the PLO and of the State of Palestine, which is recognised by nearly 150 countries. Concerns have been growing within the PLO that Israel might exploit Abbas's departure and a possible power vacuum. Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim gave the appointment of al-Sheikh a frosty reception. 'The Palestinian people are not a herd to be imposed upon leaders with dubious history who have tied their present and future to the occupation,' he said in a statement. 'Legitimacy is held only by the Palestinian people, and its tools are the rifle for resisting the occupation, and the ballot box. The guardianship over our people is long gone.'
NDTV
27-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Who Is Hussein Al-Sheikh, Front-Runner To Succeed Palestinian President Abbas
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday appointed his close aide, Hussein al-Sheikh, as the first-ever vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). While the appointment does not guarantee al-Sheikh's succession to the presidency, it positions him as the leading candidate among veteran politicians in the dominant Fatah party. Who is Hussein al-Sheikh? Hussein al-Sheikh was born in 1960 in Ramallah, Palestine, into a refugee family. Between 1978 and 1989, al-Sheikh was detained by Israeli forces for 11 years. During his imprisonment, he learned Hebrew. Al-Sheikh became a member of the Unified National Command of the First Intifada (1988). After the Oslo Accords, al-Sheikh served briefly as a colonel in the Preventive Security Division. He was later appointed as the Secretary-General of Fatah in the West Bank in 1999. In 2007, al-Sheikh became the head of the General Authority of Civil Affairs, a position he held until February 2025. He was responsible for managing civilian matters and coordinating with Israeli authorities. Al-Sheikh served as the Minister for the Coordination of Civil Affairs from 2013 to 2019, while retaining his ministerial rank after his term ended. After the 2014 Gaza war, he was appointed the Palestinian Authority's representative on the Gaza Reconstruction Committee, alongside Israeli and Egyptian representatives. Hussein Al-Sheikh was first elected to the Fatah Central Committee in 2009 and has been re-elected in 2016, where he has served as the official spokesperson for Fatah. In 2022, al-Sheikh became a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Later that year, he was appointed Secretary-General of the PLO and Head of the Negotiations Affairs Department. Al-Sheikh has represented President Abbas in international meetings, including with Gulf Arab countries and the United States. He met with Donald Trump's Mideast envoy earlier this year in Saudi Arabia, AP reported. In 2017, al-Sheikh became a member of the Palestinian National Dialogue Committee, specifically handling the file of reconciliation. He serves as the president of Al-Bireh's youth sports club since 2010. In 2012, he was voted "Best Palestinian Public Figure" in opinion polls.
