PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 3:32 pm - Jerusalem Time

Dozens of injuries as a result of the occupation's suppression of the weekly marches in the West Bank

Dozens of citizens were injured today, Friday, as a result of the Israeli occupation forces’ suppression of the weekly marches in the West Bank .


The occupation forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the citizens participating in the demonstrations, condemning the settlement and the continuous Judaization of their land.


Clashes erupted in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, Beit Dajan in the east, the Zawiya area in Hebron, and the town of Kafr Qaddum in Qalqilya.


In Qalqilya, six young men were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets today, Friday, as a result of the Israeli occupation forces suppressing the weekly anti-settlement march in Kafr Qaddum.


Local sources reported that the occupation soldiers assaulted the participants in the march using metal bullets and tear gas canisters, wounding six young men with metal bullets, one of whom was transferred to a hospital in Qalqilya, in addition to the injury of dozens of suffocation, who were treated in the field.


The march began after Friday prayers, with the participation of dozens of villagers and a number of foreign solidarity activists, amid chanting slogans calling for an escalation of popular resistance.


In Tubas, a young man was wounded by Israeli occupation forces' bullets, today, Friday, in Wadi al-Fara'a, south of Tubas.


According to medical sources, a young man was wounded with live bullets in the left shoulder, and was subsequently transferred to Tubas Turkish Governmental Hospital.


And local sources stated that the young man was injured while he was stopping on the side of the road to repair a malfunction in his vehicle, coinciding with the occupation forces storming the area, and clashes broke out.


In Nablus, a number of citizens suffocated, as a result of the Israeli occupation forces suppressing the weekly anti-settlement march in Beit Dajan, east of Nablus.


The occupation forces fired bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at the participants in the march, as a result of which 10 civilians suffocated. They were treated in the field.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 07 Apr 2023 2:47 pm - Jerusalem Time

The UAE refused South Africa's request to extradite the Gupta brothers

The South African government announced on Friday that a court in the United Arab Emirates had refused its request to extradite the Atul and Rajesh Gupta brothers, who are at the center of a wide government corruption scandal involving former President Jacob Zuma.


Justice Minister Ronald Lamula said the government had been informed Thursday evening of a decision by a Dubai court not to allow the extradition of the two brothers, who were arrested in the same city in June.


"We learned with astonishment and disappointment that the extradition session was held in a court in Dubai on February 13, 2023, and that our extradition request was rejected," Lamola said in a statement.


The Gupta brothers and their third brother, Ajay, are of Indian origin and are major businessmen. They are accused of plundering state coffers in collusion with Zuma during the nine years of his rule (2009-2018).


South Africa had applied for the extradition of the two brothers in July, shortly after their arrest in Dubai.


The three brothers fled South Africa shortly after the establishment of a commission headed by Judge Raymond Zondo in 2018 to investigate state corruption.


The extradition request includes a questionable government contract case worth 1.5 million euros and forms only a fraction of the charges against the Gupta brothers.


Lamola said that the UAE court considered that it had the jurisdiction to look into the money laundering incidents of which the Brotherhood is accused because it took place in the country itself and in South Africa.


On charges of fraud and corruption, the court decided to cancel the arrest warrant, the Minister of Justice said, explaining that "the reasons given for rejecting our request cannot be explained."

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 2:39 pm - Jerusalem Time

Updated | Settler attacks in separate areas of the West Bank

Today, Friday, settlers attacked citizens' vehicles in separate areas of the West Bank.


In Ramallah, dozens of settlers gathered near the military checkpoint established at the northern entrance to the city, under the protection of the occupation army forces, and threw stones at the citizens' vehicles, adding that the occupation forces closed the checkpoint in both directions.


In the Jordan Valley, settlers attacked citizens' property in Khirbet Humsa al-Tahta in the northern Jordan Valley.


And local sources reported that settlers set fire to parts of a plastic house belonging to Abdel Basset Bisharat.


In Bethlehem, settlers attacked citizens' vehicles in Taqu' town, southeast of Bethlehem.


Local sources reported that settlers gathered at the entrance to the "Taqwa" settlement, which is located on citizens' lands, near the main street, and threw stones at citizens' vehicles, which damaged a number of them.


Settlers closed the southern entrance to Al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and gathered at Al-Nashash area, closed the entrance to citizens' movement, and attacked their vehicles.


In Nablus, settlers burned plastic houses in Furush Beit Dajan, northeast of Nablus.


Local sources reported that a number of settlers attacked the village's perimeter and burned plastic houses belonging to citizens Fadi Kanaan and Amid Shaker.


The settlers burned quantities of metal wire, intended for carrying out the work of the fence, belonging to Abdel Basset Bisharat.


Meanwhile, Israeli forces stormed the village of Al-Bathan, northeast of Nablus, and seized surveillance camera recordings from some of its shops.


PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 2:17 pm - Jerusalem Time

130,000 perform the third Friday prayer of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Tens of thousands of worshipers performed the third Friday prayer of the month of Ramadan at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque .


And the Islamic Endowments Department reported that 130,000 worshipers performed the third Friday of the month of Ramadan in the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the occupation’s restrictions on worshipers, by closing the main road axes, and the deployment of more than 2,300 occupation soldiers at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the gates of the Old City.


The occupation forces closed the Qalandia military checkpoint, in front of citizens’ vehicles, and prevented those under the age of 55 from entering Jerusalem to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque. Iron barricades were also erected at Bab Al-Amoud, Al-Zahira, and the Prophets and Salah Al-Din Streets, among others.


The Israeli occupation police attacked, at dawn today, dozens of worshipers, who tried to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, to perform the Fajr prayer.


Eyewitnesses said that the occupation police prevented young men under the age of forty from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, and beat them at the door of Hatta, one of the mosque's gates, as well as the owners of stalls and vendors present at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 2:14 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Israeli army claims to have arrested the perpetrator of the Jerusalem operation last night

On Friday afternoon, the Israeli army claimed that it had arrested the perpetrator of a shooting attack last night near Jerusalem, which moderately wounded a soldier.


According to an Israeli military spokesman, the perpetrator was pursued after the operation, arrested and transferred for investigation.


The operation took place at the Jaba'/Adam junction, northeast of occupied Jerusalem .


The Israeli army indicated that it had arrested 3 other Palestinians from separate areas.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 1:50 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Israeli army decides to mobilize reserve forces in light of the security situation

On Friday afternoon, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army , Herzi Halevi , ordered the mobilization of reserve forces in light of the current security tensions.


According to an Israeli military spokesman, it was decided to focus on strengthening elements of the reserve forces from the air defense formations and the air force.


This came after an evaluation session that Halevy held with his senior officers.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 1:33 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation tightens its military measures in the vicinity of Nablus

Today, Friday, the Israeli occupation forces tightened their military measures in the vicinity of Nablus .


Local sources reported that the occupation forces have tightened their procedures at Hawwara checkpoints, south of Nablus, and Beit Furik , in the east. They have also set up a checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Aqraba, south of Nablus, and are checking citizens' identities and searching cars passing through the checkpoints.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 07 Apr 2023 1:07 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Pentagon is investigating the leak of classified documents on Ukraine

The US Department of Defense is trying to determine the source of the leak of classified documents detailing the strategy of the United States and NATO to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion, published last week on social media, according to the New York Times.


In response to a question, the US Department of Defense said it was investigating the matter. "We are aware of press information regarding messages posted on social media and the department is looking into the matter," a Pentagon spokeswoman said.


These documents, dating back to early March, include, according to the American newspaper, the frequency with which Ukrainian forces use ammunition for HIMARS missile launchers and the timetable for the delivery of weapons and training provided by the West to the Ukrainian army.


The newspaper quoted experts as saying that the documents appear correct, but some amendments were made to reflect a better picture of the Russian situation, especially by minimizing the size of Russian losses.


According to these leaks, Kiev is about to form 12 new brigades, including nine trained and equipped by the United States, according to the New York Times.

Fri 07 Apr 2023 12:14 pm - Jerusalem Time

Auction of 1,400 Hollywood items, most notably Travolta's costume on "Saturday Night Fever"

The famous costume worn by American actor John Travolta in the movie "Saturday Night Fever" during the seventies of the twentieth century, in which he played the role of a disco star, will be the most prominent piece in an auction that will be held this April in California.
The three-part costume is part of a collection titled Hollywood: Classic and Contemporary, which Julian's Auctions will be on sale April 22-23 in Beverly Hills.


"When it comes to disco, the movie 'Saturday Night Fever', the 'Bee Gees' and John Travolta come to mind," said general manager Martin Nolan.


The price of the suit, which recalls the famous song "Staying Alive", was estimated at about $ 200,000, with the voice of the "BJ" band Barry Gibb, but Nolan did not rule out that the outfit consisting of wide "Elephant Man" pants at the bottom and a shirt Wide collar at a higher price.


This costume is among more than 1,400 items offered at this auction that have been used in blockbusters over the past 100 years.
No less attention will be given to other pieces, such as Charlie Chaplin's cane, the hoverboard from Back to the Future 3 and the original headdress worn by Theda Bara in the 1917 film Cleopatra.


Harry Potter fans will also be able to bid on a number of magic wands and pieces used in the Wizard Boy series. Costumes from the films "John Wick", "Batman", "Iron Man" and "Star Wars" are also offered.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 12:10 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Israeli army: We used 50 tons of bombs in Gaza

On Friday morning, the Israeli army said that it used 50 tons of explosive bombs, last night, in a series of raids that targeted 10 targets inside the Gaza Strip .


According to a statement by the Israeli army, its forces destroyed sites for the production of weapons, missiles, explosive devices, and others, in addition to an important research and military development target in the Jabalia area, and tunnels close to the border fence.


And he indicated that more than 44 missiles were launched, of which 12 fell into the sea, 8 were intercepted, and 14 fell in open areas.


He pointed out that his forces attacked 3 Hamas targets in southern Lebanon from the area from which the rockets were launched towards the Galilee.

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:59 am - Jerusalem Time

An overdose of fentanyl was behind the death of American rapper Coolio

It was found that an accidental overdose of fentanyl in 2022 was behind the death of American rapper Coolio , who became famous for his famous song "Gangstas Paradise" in 1995, according to a medical source on Thursday.


The Grammy-winning musician, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivy Jr., died last September at the age of 59 at a friend's house in Los Angeles.


The coroner's report, released Thursday by Los Angeles County authorities, said the rapper died of an overdose of fentanyl, adding that the musician had asthma and heart problems. He also took, shortly before his death, the narcotic phencyclidine (or PCP), which may cause serious psychological or emotional disorders, according to the same source.


Jarez Busey, the singer's friend and business manager, told the TMZ website, which specializes in celebrity news, that Colio was found unconscious in a friend's bathroom, and his death was confirmed immediately.


Coolio started his career in California in the late 1980s, but gained stardom with the 1995 song "Gangstas Paradise", which was included in the soundtrack to the movie "Dangerous Minds".


In this song, Coolio used the refrain to the music of "Pastatime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder (1976).


Millions of copies of "Gangstas Paradise" have been sold worldwide, reaching top sales in some countries.


Overdose deaths in the United States set a record, exceeding 100,000 in one year (from April 2020 to April 2021). These deaths are often caused by fentanyl, a powerful and dangerous synthetic opioid, sometimes mixed with heroin or cocaine. And a mixture of this kind previously led, on September 6, 2021, to the death of American actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his role as Omar Little in the hit series "The Wire".

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:56 am - Jerusalem Time

SpaceX is preparing for the first orbital test flight of its giant rocket, "Starship".

SpaceX announced that it intends to conduct a public rehearsal next week for the launch of its giant rocket, "Starship", which is intended to transport humans to the Moon and Mars, in preparation for a test orbital flight that it may carry out the following week.


The Aerospace Industries Company stated on Twitter that "Starship" has become "complete", and attached the tweet with pictures of the missile showing all its layers, noting that the first and second of them have only conducted separate test flights so far.


She added, "The team is working on a launch rehearsal next week, followed by the first integrated test flight of + Starship + after about a week, pending regulatory approvals."


SpaceX needs a green light from the US Civil Aviation Regulatory Authority before the flight can take place.


Last February, SpaceX passed an important milestone in the development of its giant rocket by completing, at its base in Boca Chica, in the far south of Texas, a remarkable experiment on the ground of the thirty-three “Raptor” engines in the first layer of the rocket called “Super Heavy”, which is 69 meters high. .


As a result, 31 of the 33 engines succeeded in operating for a few seconds, according to what Elon Musk, the company's president, wrote on Twitter, who continued, saying, "But this number of engines is sufficient to reach orbit."


Only the Starship, the second class of the rocket, has conducted suborbital space flights, many of which ended in huge explosions.


Starship was chosen by NASA to transport its astronauts to the Moon during the Artemis 3 mission, which is officially scheduled to be launched in 2025.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:55 am - Jerusalem Time

The foreign ministers of France and Iran met Thursday in Beijing

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna , who is accompanying President Emmanuel Macron on his visit to China, met her Iranian counterpart , Hossein Amir Abdollahian , in Beijing on Thursday, during which she demanded the release of Frenchmen detained in Iran.


The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that the minister "had talks yesterday (Thursday) with her Iranian counterpart," who was in Beijing to meet his Saudi counterpart.


The statement added that Colonna "renewed its urgent demand for the immediate release of the six Frenchmen arbitrarily detained by Iran."


The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and the Iranian, Hussein Amir Abdollahian, met in Beijing on Thursday, as part of the recent rapprochement, sponsored by China, between their two rival countries in the region.


More recently, Beijing has established itself as a major new diplomatic player in the Middle East.


According to the French statement, the meeting between Colonna and Abdullahian "also dealt with the situation in Iran, all regional issues and the Iranian nuclear program."


"The minister expressed France's concern about the position of the Iranian authorities on these various issues," the French Foreign Ministry added in its statement.


Iran is holding dozens of Westerners whose countries say they are innocent, and Tehran uses them as pressure and bargaining chips in its international relations.


The Islamic Republic and major Western powers are trying in vain to revive the agreement concluded in 2015 on the Iranian nuclear file.


In addition to the dispute between the West and Tehran over the nuclear file and the issue of detainees, the West imposed a series of sanctions against officials involved in suppressing the popular protest movement that erupted in Iran to protest the death of the young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in September after the morality police stopped her for violating the strict dress code.

ECONOMY

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:48 am - Jerusalem Time

World food prices fell by 20.5%.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “FAO” announced on Friday that global food prices, although still “very high”, fell for the twelfth month in a row, recording a decrease of 20.5% in March 2023 compared to the same month in 2022 when The markets were witnessing the first aftermath of the war in Ukraine.


The FAO stated that "the available abundance, weak demand for imports, and the extension of the initiative on Black Sea grain (the agreement that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain) contributed to this decline," noting that prices are still burdening importing countries with difficult economic conditions.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:45 am - Jerusalem Time

Updated 1 || Two female settlers were killed in a shooting attack near Jericho

It was announced, before noon on Friday, that two settlers were killed and a third seriously wounded, as a result of a shooting attack that took place at the Hamra intersection near Jericho .


According to the Hebrew channel Reshet Kan, the two dead were sisters, while their mother was critically wounded, and all of them were residents of the Efrat settlement near Bethlehem.


According to preliminary investigations, two Palestinians carried out the operation after they opened fire from a passing vehicle at the settlement vehicle, despite this, one of them continued to drive the vehicle and tried to escape. Zero distance.


It indicated that 22 Kalashnikov bullet cartridge cases were found at the site.

ECONOMY

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:14 am - Jerusalem Time

PalPay and SOS sign an agreement to benefit from electronic payment services

PalPay, the leading company in electronic payment solutions in Palestine, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Children's Villages Organization "SOS" - Palestine, allowing villages to benefit from the electronic payment services provided by the company, with the aim of enabling the organization to transfer its aid to its beneficiaries in various programs, as well as Enabling citizens and institutions to provide financial assistance for the benefit of the organization, easily and safely.


The agreement was signed at the headquarters of the Children's Villages Foundation, where it was signed by Thaer Hamayel, General Manager of "PalPay" company, and Ibrahim Faltas, National Director of the "PalPay" company, in the presence of Shafiq Bali, Director of Marketing and Sales Department in the company, Natalie Zain from the Marketing Department and Youssef Zaid, Director of Customer Relations in the company, in addition to To Ghada Hazrallah, Director of Finance and Control, and Yasser Issa, Head of the Accounting Department in the organization.
Under the agreement, the Children's Villages will be able to transfer aid to its beneficiaries electronically through the use of the "PalPay My Wallet" electronic wallet with ease. The agreement also provides the possibility of transferring aid through payment centers approved by the company, which are spread across all governorates of the country, in addition to transferring through the internet banking service and banking applications provided by banks contracting with PalPay.
During the signing ceremony, Hamayel expressed his pride in signing this partnership with SOS Children's Villages, which would enable the organization to develop its programs and provide all the requirements for a decent and warm life for children benefiting from its programmes, hoping that the agreement would contribute to supporting the organization's efforts and what surrogate mothers offer. In order to protect children, embrace them and provide them with the various necessary needs to ensure their upbringing in a healthy psychological and physical upbringing so that they may be effective in the future in the process of construction and development in Palestine.
Hamayel stressed that the agreement is in line with PalPay's strategy represented in promoting the culture of electronic payment, contributing to economic development and enabling community services and programs through the latest technologies and secure electronic payment channels, pointing to the role of financial technology in bringing about a significant and influential qualitative leap in terms of changing the course of financial transactions. , especially facilitating individuals and institutions to complete various financial transactions.
For his part, Faltas expressed his happiness with this partnership and the encouragement of high-quality electronic payment services provided by PalPay. He pointed to the importance of the agreement, which stresses the need to employ technology in order to serve community and humanitarian issues, thus contributing to facing many challenges and advancing our society.
Faltas confirmed that the agreement will contribute significantly to facilitating the process of providing financial assistance to the organization's beneficiaries, enabling it to develop its programs and provide the best services to children within the SOS villages.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 11:11 am - Jerusalem Time

Hebron: Two young men were wounded by the occupation bullets, and four civilians were arrested

Today, Friday, two young men were injured by Israeli occupation forces ' bullets, during clashes that erupted in the town of Beit Ummar , and four others from Hebron governorate, south of the West Bank, were arrested.


Local sources stated that large forces of the occupation army stormed the areas of "Khilat Al-Ain and Al-Tarbiqa" in the town of Beit Ummar, and raided a number of citizens' homes, searched them and tampered with their contents, and arrested the freed prisoners Allam Youssef Zaqeq and Firas Ibrahim Abu Maria after brutally assaulting him in front of his family.


Violent confrontations erupted between the youths and those forces, during which live bullets and tear gas canisters were fired at the citizens, wounding two young men (24 years old) with live bullets in the pelvis and the right thigh. The injured were transferred to Hebron Governmental Hospital. The injuries were described as medium to serious .


In the same context, local sources reported that the occupation forces also arrested Youssef Badr Awad, from Beit Ummar, and Ihab Hisham Abu Zahra, from the town of Yatta, south of Hebron.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 07 Apr 2023 10:40 am - Jerusalem Time

The army dismantles new missiles that were not launched from southern Lebanon, hours after the Israeli raids

On Friday morning, the Lebanese army announced that it had found a launcher containing a number of missiles that did not launch in the southern border area, hours after Israel launched raids in response to the missiles it targeted, accusing Palestinian groups of standing behind them.


The army said in a statement that one of its units "found in the Marjayoun Plain a rocket launcher containing a number of missiles that did not launch, and work is underway to dismantle them."


The army posted on Twitter pictures showing the launcher placed inside an olive field, and inside it were six missiles out of a total of 12 that did not launch.
On Thursday, the army dismantled rockets that were ready to be launched, and they were found in the vicinity of the towns of Qalila and Zibqin in the Tire district, which is the area from which barrages of rockets were launched towards Israel. No party has claimed responsibility for that.


Israel counted at least 34 rockets launched from southern Lebanon at it, five of which fell in residential areas, causing one injury. It accused Palestinian factions of standing behind it, likely to be Hamas or Islamic Jihad, and at the same time ruled out any role for Hezbollah, its archenemy backed by Iran.


The Israeli army carried out raids at dawn on Friday in the Tyre area, which it said hit "targets, including terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization."


This is the first time that Israel has launched raids on Lebanon since the summer of 2021, noting that the number of missiles launched at it on Thursday is the largest since 2006.


The Israeli missiles landed in open agricultural lands. One of them caused damage to the roof of a house belonging to a farmer and his family in an orchard near the Rashidieh refugee camp, located south of Tire and close to the area from which the rockets were launched towards Israel.


Another missile landed near a banana grove in the town of Qulaila, destroying a main electricity pole, leaving a deep hole in the ground, according to what an AFP photographer saw.


"We were in the village and people were waiting for the Israelis to respond because rockets were fired from the area at them in response to the acts of violence and beatings of worshipers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque," a resident of the town, Muhsin Nasr al-Din Murtada, told AFP.


He added, "There are no military sites here for Hezbollah, Hamas, or the Palestinians. This is evidence of the weakness of the Israeli, who is venting his anger (by targeting) banana orchards."


In a statement at dawn on Friday, the United Nations Interim Force in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) urged a halt to the escalation across the border, and quoted the two sides as saying, "They do not want war."


Israeli fighters launched a series of raids on targets in the Gaza Strip at midnight Thursday-Friday, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources, following the launch of a barrage of missiles from Lebanon.


This came after the Israeli police stormed the Temple Mount from Tuesday night until Wednesday, and arrested about 350 Palestinians who had barricaded themselves there, describing them as "troublemakers."


The confrontations come in an atmosphere of increasing tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians, especially during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims usually retreat to Al-Aqsa Mosque and perform night prayers there.

ARAB AND WORLD

Fri 07 Apr 2023 10:10 am - Jerusalem Time

The United Nations begins the operation to rescue the tanker "Safer" and prevent an oil spill disaster off the coast of Yemen

The United Nations announced that a giant tanker dedicated to removing oil from a stranded ship off the Yemeni coast sailed from China Thursday on its way to Yemen, describing it as an "important" step in efforts to prevent a major spill.


In March, the United Nations Development Program bought the tanker "Nautica" to remove more than a million barrels of oil from the stranded ship "FSO Safer".


This was an unusual step taken by the UN organization, and was welcomed as a major advance in efforts to avert a potentially catastrophic oil spill.


Since the outbreak of Yemen's devastating civil war in 2015, Safer has been left deserted off the rebel-held port of Hodeidah, an important gateway for shipments into a country that relies heavily on emergency foreign aid.


The United Nations Development Program said in a statement that the Nautica left port on Wednesday after undergoing routine maintenance in Zhoushan, China.


A UN spokesperson said the vessel, which was bought by the major tanker company Euronav, is expected to reach its destination in early May and will make a stop on its way to make further technical adjustments.


"The departure of Nautica, and its voyage to the Red Sea, constitute an important next step in the complex operation of withdrawing oil from Safer," said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.


He called for urgent contributions to finance the operation, which still has a gap of about $34 million in its $129 million budget. The United Nations has launched a crowdfunding page that aims to raise $500,000.


"We are in a race against time. I urge government leaders, corporate CEOs and anyone in a position to contribute to come forward to support us in continuing to keep this process on track as it has quickly reached a critical point."


The statement cited "rising costs" for VLCCs such as Nautica due to the war in Ukraine.


"We have the best technical expertise available and the political support from all sides," said David Gresley, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen.


"We just need the last bit of funding this month to ensure success" and prevent "catastrophe," he added.


The Safer tanker's load of 1.1 million barrels of oil is four times what was leaked in the "Exxon Valdez" disaster in 1989, which is considered the worst environmental disaster in the world, according to the United Nations.


An environmental catastrophe could also close the Bab al-Mandab Strait between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, which would cause great damage to the global economy by closing the Suez Canal.

Fri 07 Apr 2023 10:06 am - Jerusalem Time

Protesters set fire to Macron's favorite restaurant in Paris

Protesters set fire to one of French President Emmanuel Macron 's favorite restaurants in Paris during clashes Thursday with riot police on the left bank of the Seine River.


Staff rushed to the restaurant "La Rotonde" in the Parisian district of Montparnasse to extinguish the fire that broke out in the canopy of the restaurant, where Macron celebrated the success of his 2017 election campaign.


An AFP reporter saw a group of men dressed in black firing firecrackers and throwing stones at the restaurant.
Fireworks thrown on the canvas awning caused a fire that required the presence of firefighters to put it out.


Riot police cordoned off the restaurant to protect it on the 11th day of national protests and strikes against Macron's project to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.


The restaurant "La Rotonde", with its red velvet seats and dim lights, which Picasso was one of the pioneers, has long been a favorite place for Macron and his wife Brigitte to eat even after he came to power.


In a decision his opponents criticized as elitist at the time, Macron used La Rotonde to host staff and political allies after he topped the first round of voting in 2017.


The restaurant was previously targeted because of its association with the 45-year-old president.


And in 2020, during violent anti-government protests organized by the "yellow vests", an arson attack destroyed the entrance to the building where the restaurant is located.


"When there are rallies and so on, you hear people saying death to La Rotonde, death to Macron," Gerard Tavanel, owner of the bistro with his brother Serge, told AFP at the time.


"It happens all the time: anonymous phone calls, people walking in in the middle of the day saying 'Death to Macron'," he added.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 6:27 am - Jerusalem Time

Hebrew channel: 40 rockets were launched from Gaza

On Friday morning, Reshet Kan TV reported that about 40 rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip during the night hours.


The channel claimed that half of those missiles that were fired towards populated areas were intercepted by the Iron Dome system.


She indicated that the other half fell in open areas.


It indicated that damage was caused to a house in the old neighborhood of Sderot , without causing any injuries.


In the context, the Israeli army claimed that it had damaged Hamas' military capabilities after it destroyed 3 tunnels and 5 sites for the production of weapons and missiles in response to the rocket fire tonight and in the past two days.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 6:06 am - Jerusalem Time

Hamas condemns the Israeli raids on Gaza and Lebanon

Hamas condemned, at dawn on Friday, the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon .


In two separate statements, Hamas held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the dangerous escalation and blatant aggression against the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, and for the situation in the region.


Hamas said, "The brutal aggression against Gaza, and the continuation of the occupation's violations against Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, will not achieve security for the occupation, nor will it make it a victory or a right to our land, Jerusalem, and Aqsa, without which there is joy and lives."


She added, "The Zionist aggression against Jerusalem and Gaza will not weaken our rebellious youth and our valiant resistance, which vowed to remain a shield and a sword to protect our people, Jerusalem, and Aqsa," calling on the Palestinians, in all their places of existence, forces and factions, to move unified in an open battle to confront the occupation and its herds. settlers and to thwart their plans to Judaize Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.


In another statement, the targeting of the vicinity of the city of Tire in southern Lebanon was considered as "reflecting the state of brutality of the fascist occupation leadership, and its policies that threaten security and peace in the region by violating the sovereignty of brotherly Arab countries and the sanctity of Islamic and Christian sanctities, foremost of which is the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque." According to the text of its statement,


And it held the occupation and its leadership fully responsible for the repercussions of this dangerous escalation, affirming its stand and solidarity with Lebanon and its people, calling on the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations to take urgent action to stop the occupation’s crimes, arrogance and violations that exceeded all limits.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 5:56 am - Jerusalem Time

Health in Gaza condemns the damage to Al-Durra Hospital as a result of the Israeli aggression

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip denounced, at dawn on Friday, the Israeli attacks that caused damage to the Al-Durra Children's Hospital, east of Gaza.

The ministry said in a statement that the bombing caused a state of confusion and fear among the medical staff and the child patients and their companions.


She added: The bombing is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention, which provides for the protection of health institutions and neutralizes them from military targeting.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 5:03 am - Jerusalem Time

Settlers attack citizens' property in Kafr Qassem

Settlers attacked, at dawn on Friday, the citizens' property in the town of Kafr Qassem , in the occupied interior .


According to the reporter of the Hebrew Maariv newspaper, a group of settlers called "price tag gangs" burned several vehicles and wrote racist slogans, including "Death to the Arabs" inside the town.


The Israeli police opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 4:56 am - Jerusalem Time

Israeli raids on southern Lebanon

At dawn on Friday, Israeli warplanes launched raids on targets in southern Lebanon .


According to Lebanese sources, the shelling targeted the Qlaila Plain, from which rockets were launched from Lebanon towards the Galilee yesterday afternoon.


It stated that the Israeli planes fired about 6 missiles at targets in the vicinity of the Lebanese city of Tyre.


An Israeli military spokesman claimed that his forces attacked targets for the infrastructure of the "Hamas" movement in southern Lebanon, blaming it for the rocket fire.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 2:36 am - Jerusalem Time

The occupation arrests 12 young men from the occupied interior

At midnight, the Israeli police arrested 12 Palestinian youths from the occupied territories, during limited confrontations that broke out in separate areas for the second night in a row.


According to the Hebrew website Ynet, the arrests took place in Umm al-Fahm, Sakhnin, Kafr Manda and Nazareth.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 2:14 am - Jerusalem Time

The Cabinet approves a series of resolutions, and Netanyahu and Galant threaten Hamas in Lebanon

The Israeli cabinet, the Cabinet , announced that it had approved a series of decisions related to responding to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon .


The Cabinet did not provide details about these decisions, saying only that they were made on the recommendation of the Israeli army and security agencies.


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the meeting, "We responded tonight and then it will cost our enemies a heavy price."


While Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, "Our forces are ready to deal with all scenarios and on all fronts, and we will know how to confront any threat."


In the context, the Hebrew channel Reshet Kan reported that the cabinet focused in its discussions on the Lebanese arena and the scope of the response there, and everyone agreed on the necessity of responding and directing it against Hamas in Lebanon and those behind the rocket fire.


According to the channel, the bad economic situation in Lebanon and Hezbollah's message through mediators that it has nothing to do with the rockets were a decisive element in the cabinet's decision to determine the response against Hamas in Lebanon and those behind the rocket fire.


An Israeli political official told Ynet after the cabinet meeting: "Israel will also respond to firing from Lebanon... We will impose a price on those responsible in Gaza and Lebanon, and we will respond to specific targets. It is not expected that the Israeli response will lead to war."

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 1:42 am - Jerusalem Time

Injured by the occupation bullets in Bethlehem

A young man was wounded, at midnight, by Israeli occupation forces, in Husan town, Bethlehem district.


According to the Ministry of Health, the young man was injured in the thigh, and was taken to Beit Jala Governmental Hospital for treatment.


Clashes took place between young men and the occupation forces in that area, while a settler bus was pelted with stones.

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 12:35 am - Jerusalem Time

Updated 2 || Damages due to Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip, and the resistance responds by bombing

Israeli warplanes launched, Thursday evening and Friday dawn, massive air raids targeting targets in different areas of the Gaza Strip .


Al-Quds.com correspondent in Gaza reported that the raids targeted several sites of the resistance, agricultural and empty lands in different areas of the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip.


He pointed out that large explosions rocked various areas of the Strip.


He pointed out that the resistance fired several anti-aircraft missiles.


The bombing of an empty land, east of Gaza City, caused the collapse of a small house in Al-Shujaia neighborhood, without causing any injuries.


Another bombing also caused damage to the homes and properties of the citizens and the Martyr Muhammad al-Durrah Hospital, east of Gaza City, after the bombing of a resistance site.


The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip denied any injuries that reached its hospitals as a result of the Israeli raids.


A spokesman for the Israeli army claimed that its forces targeted in two phases, 3 tunnels, and 5 weapons production sites, and that this came in response to rocket fire from Gaza in the last two days, as well as tonight.


In response to the Israeli raids, the resistance responded by firing a barrage of rockets at the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip.


According to the Hebrew channel Reshet Kan, 40 rockets were launched from the Strip during the night hours, half of them were intercepted according to the interception policy followed, while a number of others fell in open areas.


Damage was caused to a house in the town of Sderot, with no injuries reported, according to the claim of a municipality spokesman in the town.


// He follows //

PALESTINE

Fri 07 Apr 2023 12:00 am - Jerusalem Time

Resistance in Gaza: We are ready to respond to any aggression

The Joint Chamber of the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip affirmed, this evening, Thursday, its readiness to respond with all force to any aggression and to defend the Palestinian people in all their places of residence.


In a brief statement, the resistance said: "The criminal enemy must stop its barbaric aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the worshipers and seclusion in it, and it must stop the farce of exporting its internal crises towards our people and our sanctities." according to its text.