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Israeli decision to legalize West Bank settlements ‘illegal’: Saudi foreign minister


Israel’s decision to legalize nine settlements in the occupied West Bank is an “illegal” move that will further instigate tension, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Monday.
“This announcement by Israel of the annexation of these nine settlements, [is] a blatantly illegal act which will only serve to further increase [and] inflame tensions and complicate the situation,” the minister said.
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Prince Faisal was speaking during a joint news conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in Brussels.

“The announcement by #Israel of the annexation of these nine settlements, a blatantly illegal act which will only increase inflame tensions.”
– HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan at the Press conference with High Representative @JosepBorrellF and Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. pic.twitter.com/vKJxlkXqMz

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 13, 2023

In addition to tackling Saudi ties with the EU, the meeting focused on the recent Israeli announcement and ways to revive the peace process in the Middle East in line with the Arab Peace Initiative.
The Arab Peace Initiative, which Saudi Arabia drew up in 2002, is a proposal to end the Arab–Israeli conflict. The Arab League endorsed the peace plan at the Beirut Summit that same year.
Over the weekend, Israel announced that it will legalize nine West Bank outposts and reported plans to move ahead with the construction of 10,000 settlement units.
The Israeli move follows tension between Israel and Palestine and comes after a number of attacks in east Jerusalem.
Prince Faisal said that the tripartite meeting comes at a “very important time given the dangerous developments that we are seeing in Palestine recently and especially this announcement by Israel.”
The foreign minister stressed that it was essential to continue focusing on finding a “pathway to peace,” adding that he thanked the EU for its efforts and commitments to the peace process and to Palestinians’ rights.
The Saudi foreign ministry also issued a statement Monday, reaffirming the Kingdom’s rejection of the settlements plan while underscoring the “importance of the Israeli authorities’ commitment to international resolutions and not taking any unilateral measures that would undermine the chances of reviving the peace process.”
The news conference also touched on the massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria and left over 35,000 people dead. The earthquake caused major devastation in both countries and prompted international support and aid to be sent to the quake-hit regions.
The Kingdom has sent several rescue teams to the earthquake-hit regions after Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) launched its aid program last week.

“The Kingdom has responded through sending aid & relief teams to Syria and Türkiye and it is necessary that aid arrives and reaches all parts of both countries”.
– HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan at the Press conference with H/R @JosepBorrellF and Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. pic.twitter.com/iWGPlJF2nn

— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 13, 2023

“This tragedy in Turkey and Syria is immense and it deserves an adequate response, and the Kingdom has responded through sending aid and relief teams to both Syria and Turkey,” Prince Faisal said.
“We discussed… in our bilateral meeting the fact that it is absolutely necessary that aid reaches all parts of Turkey, but of course also Syria and that we make sure that the humanitarian suffering and the huge humanitarian burden that is now on the Syrian people is lifted. Therefore, we are fully supporting as much as we can the delivery of aid to all parts of Syria.”

Read more:

Soaring demolitions of Palestinian homes must stop: UN experts
Saudi aid plane lands in Syria’s quake-stricken Aleppo
UAE opens largest field hospital in earthquake-hit Turkey

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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

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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.

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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

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