World

Some Israeli army reservists rule out call-up if judiciary weakened

A senior Israeli intelligence officer has spent 28 years as an army reservist, sometimes leaving his family at a moment’s notice to go on duty overseeing classified projects out of love for his country. Now, he’s had a change of heart.

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“I’ve told the army that if the judicial reform passes (in parliament) I won’t continue to come,” Colonel N told Reuters, asking not to be further identified. “I understand that I will face the consequences, but I think it's the right thing to do.”
Mass protests have gripped Israel over a planned overhaul of the judiciary which would give the hard-right nationalist government decisive sway in picking judges and limit the Supreme Court’s power to strike down laws. Critics say it would weaken Israeli democracy and give unchecked powers to any government.
In a letter circulated to the Israeli media on Sunday, hundreds of protesters describing themselves as volunteer reservists said they were now refusing call-ups in response to the planned legislation.
The increasing numbers of reservists declaring they may refuse to train or serve underlines the deep splits opened up by the judicial overhaul plans in Israel, where the military holds a hallowed place in society.
Most Israelis are conscripted into the military for 2-3 years, and some continue as reservists into middle age. While reservists have helped Israel prevail in a string of wars, the army has relied recently on standing forces.
But reservists are seen as especially valuable to the armed forces given their maturity and accrued skills. They can be punished for ignoring a call-up, though this rarely happens.
Government leaders have said refusing military service is a red line, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 6 it would “threaten the existential foundation” of Israel.
Israel faces enemy entities on several fronts. There have been periodic flare-ups of fighting with the Palestinian Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip. Violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has surged over the past year as Israel has stepped up raids in response to a spate of deadly Palestinian attacks.
But some reserve officers say that if the government can henceforth disregard judicial oversight, they may be forced into an invidious choice between obeying orders to take part in a military operation and heeding any legal ruling against it.
Colonel N said he had been in many situations when state officials favored an air strike or ground raid on an alleged Palestinian militant target but the judiciary blocked it ongrounds that the security threat was not proven. Civilians have often been killed or injured in such strikes.
He worries that such judicial oversight would in future be ignored and “(I) don’t want to be in the room when that happens.” He added: “A reform that makes it possible to ignore legal advice, and selects submissive judges, will result in permanent violations of the law.”

‘Huge damage’

Experts warn the Israeli military could be weakened by reservists rejecting call-ups.
“This definitely inflicts huge damage on the capability and capacity of the Israeli forces,” Israel Ziv, a former head of army operations, told Reuters. He said he expected most reservists would serve in an emergency but even missing military exercises could erode the military’s “ability to function.”
Israeli air force reservists are required to fly as often as once a week to maintain operational readiness yet are designated as volunteers, with no legal obligation to attend training.
Colonel E, an F-16 fighter pilot, said that serving in the air force wasn’t just a job but rather woven into his entire patriotic identity and personal life, yet he could not fly if judicial oversight was vitiated.
“There’s nothing I want more than to fly (but this is) much bigger than what I do and bigger than what my squadron does – it’s about the identity of our country,” Colonel E said.
“This impacts me in the cockpit. I need to know that a Jewish and democratic state will be fulfilled completely and without that I cannot fly,” he told Reuters.
Israeli military law requires officers and soldiers to refuse an order that courts declare unlawful, and military experts warn the judicial overhaul could place those in the highest ranks in difficult situations.
“This is what we call a ‘Black Flag’,” Ziv said, saying that officers would be obliged to refuse an order for a military strike if, for example, they believed it derived purely from political rather than security calculations.
Israeli soldiers could become more exposed to possible prosecution by international courts if the judiciary is weakened and leaves them effectively immune from domestic prosecution over war crimes allegations, Ziv added.
However, not all protesting reservists agree that refusing to serve is merited at this stage.
“We still aren’t calling for people to stop coming to reserves because we still aren’t living in a dictatorship,” said a spokesman for Brothers in Arms, a reservists protest movement.

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World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM