Malaysia envoy summoned by US over Israel stance The US State Department summoned the Malaysian ambassador to Washington in order to explain Kuala Lumpur's position on Israel, state news agency Bernama reported. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob told the State Department that the country's longstanding policy of not recognising Israel was not new. "It has always been Malaysia's policy.
Eight Muslim countries condemn mass Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa Submitted by Mera Aladam on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 01:22 The statement follows a mass raid on the holy site by thousands of ultranationalist Israelis on Thursday Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, amongst other officials, leading a mass ultranationalist raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, on 23 July, 2026 (Reuters) Off The foreign ministers of Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have denounced recent Israeli settler incursions at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque as "illegal and extremist acts". In a statement posted by Qatar's foreign ministry on X on Thursday, the ministers stressed that the storming of the holy sites constitute a "flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historic and legal status quo at the holy sites in Occupied East Jerusalem". "The ministers condemned in the strongest terms, in a joint statement, the illegal and extremist acts represented by incitement and calls to mobilise incursions, as well as acts of violence committed by Israeli ministers and extremist groups," they added.
Normalisation not discussed during months of Saudi-US nuclear negotiations, sources say Since November 2025, the US and Saudi Arabia have been hashing out a civilian nuclear agreement, but in dozens of exchanges between officials, Riyadh’s diplomatic recognition of Israel never once came up, one current and one former US official familiar with the talks told Middle East Eye. “Normalisation was never listed as a condition,” one of the sources told MEE. “Not once.
Normalisation not discussed during months of Saudi-US nuclear negotiations, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 07/23/2026 - 20:17 A deal that Saudi Arabia welcomed as a testament to the kingdom's autonomy is now conditional, again, on Israel US President Donald Trump, left, greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the White House's South Lawn in Washington, DC, on 18 November 2025 (Saul Loeb/AFP) Off Since November 2025, the US and Saudi Arabia have been hashing out a civilian nuclear agreement, but in dozens of exchanges between officials, Riyadh’s diplomatic recognition of Israel never once came up, one current and one former US official familiar with the talks told Middle East Eye. “Normalisation was never listed as a condition,” one of the sources told MEE. “Not once.
Saudi and UAE showcase public display of unity after months of strained relations Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/23/2026 - 18:36 Despite very public rifts, officials from both countries put out simultaneous statements on social media highlighting their close relationship This handout picture shows Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bidding farewell to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, on 5 September 2025 (Abdullah al-Bedwawi/UAE Presidential Court/AFP) Off Senior Saudi Arabian and United Arab Emirates officials on Tuesday published simultaneous social media statements affirming their deep-rooted fraternal ties and “wise leadership”, a move that comes after months of tensions between the two Gulf monarchies. The X posts by Saudi Minister of Media Salman al-Dosary and chairman of the UAE National Media Authority Abdulla bin Mohamed Alhamed were both released at 7:00 pm Riyadh time. “The relationship between the Kingdom and the Emirates is a relationship between two peoples united by a shared history and heritage,” wrote Dosary.
Opinion: How Israel's dream of being the Middle East's trade hub is unravelling The India -Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has died at its Israeli end. Gulf states and their allies are now racing to build rival lines. In June, the Saudi and Turkish transport ministers signed memoranda to revive the Ottoman-era Hejaz railway as a corridor connecting their nations via Jordan and Syria - routed deliberately around Israel.
IAEA says its awaiting US-Saudi request on nuclear deal verification The UN nuclear watchdog is aware of a US-Saudi plan to ask it to carry out verification work in relation to the nuclear cooperation deal they are discussing, but has yet to receive a request from them, it said on Thursday. "We look forward to receiving the request for such verification and to working with the U. S.
The Karim Khan saga: a timeline Submitted by Sondos Asem on Thu, 07/23/2026 - 14:09 How allegations against the ICC’s chief prosecutor became entangled with pressure over his pursuit of Israeli officials, culminating in a vote that could reshape the court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on 14 March 2025 (AFP/file photo) Off Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are due to vote at the United Nations' headquarters in New York on Friday on whether to remove the court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, from office – a first in the court’s 24-year history. The vote caps a saga stretching back more than two years, spanning sexual misconduct allegations Khan has consistently denied, a UN-led investigation, a judicial panel that unanimously cleared him, and a bureau that chose to override that finding and press ahead regardless. The case has unfolded alongside a separate campaign of pressure on Khan and the court over his pursuit of war crimes warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders, from a threat by Britain's then foreign secretary to defund the ICC, to sanctions imposed on Khan and dozens of ICC officials by the Trump administration, to the US secretary of state's public vow to "dismantle" the court.
How Israel's dream of being the Middle East's trade hub is unravelling Submitted by Ahmed Alqarout on Wed, 07/22/2026 - 15:45 Gulf powers are working out new corridors that would bypass the need to engage with Tel Aviv A ship docks at the Emirati port of Jebel Ali on 18 June 2020 (Karim Sahib/AFP) On The India -Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has died at its Israeli end. Gulf states and their allies are now racing to build rival lines. In June, the Saudi and Turkish transport ministers signed memoranda to revive the Ottoman-era Hejaz railway as a corridor connecting their nations via Jordan and Syria - routed deliberately around Israel.
Israel says Saudi Arabia joining Abraham Accords would be 'historic' The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Saudi Arabia's joining of Abraham Accords as a "historic leap forward. " "The joint American and Israeli military action against the genocidal regime in Teheran and Israel's crushing of Iran's terror axis have created the possibility to expand the circle of peace," the office said in a post on X. The Prime Minister’s Office: The joint American and Israeli military action against the genocidal regime in Teheran and Israel's crushing of Iran's terror axis have created the possibility to expand the circle of peace.
Trump backtracks on Saudi nuclear deal, demands Israel normalisation Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/23/2026 - 13:21 Earlier this week Trump has reportedly approved a 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia Off US President Donald Trump appeared to backtrack on the Saudi nuclear deal on Thursday by making it conditional on Riyadh normalising ties with Israel. “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material! )...
Trump says US-Saudi 'civil' nuclear deal conditional on joining Abraham Accords The American President Donald Trump announced that the US-Saudi "civil" nuclear deal is conditional on the Kingdom joining the Abraham Accords. “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material! ) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones that Iran and UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Khan faces historic removal vote as critics warn ICC process has been politicised Submitted by Sondos Asem on Tue, 07/21/2026 - 17:41 ICC states set to vote on Karim Khan’s removal over misconduct claims Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan poses for a picture at the ICC headquarters in The Hague on 27 May 2022 (John Thys/AFP) Off Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) are set to gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for a controversial vote which could see the court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan dismissed from his job over alleged misconduct claims. It will be the first time in the ICC's 24-year history that member states have been asked to decide whether to remove a sitting chief prosecutor from office. The Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the court’s governing body that is made up of its 125 members, will vote by secret ballot requiring an absolute majority of 63 states to remove the prosecutor.
Iraq's prime minister arrives in Iran In his first official visit to Iran, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Tehran to conduct talks with Iranian officials. "We will meet with senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran to discuss issues of mutual interest, bilateral cooperation, regional developments, and ongoing efforts to consolidate security and stability across the region," the prime minister's office announced in a post on X. Today, we are heading to Tehran on an official visit.
UN secretary-general race: What it takes to be the world’s top diplomat Submitted by Sondos Asem on Mon, 07/20/2026 - 12:27 The organisation is about to get a new leader as it comes under renewed criticism from the US and Israel The UN will decide on a new secretary-general to replace Antonio Guterres, pictured here at UN HQ in New York in September 2024 (AFP) On They command no army, run no country and cannot force a government to take action - but the role of secretary-general of the United Nations is still one of the most important on the world stage. Successive occupants of the post have helped avert wars, shaped peace agreements and defined how the world responds to humanitarian crises. Current incumbent Antonio Guterres , a former Portuguese prime minister, completes his second five-year term on 31 December.
How Israel used Venezuela earthquake response for propaganda in Caracas Submitted by Ana Maria Monjardino on Tue, 07/21/2026 - 09:23 The country has been accused of humanitarian whitewashing while committing genocide in Palestine A Venezuelan flag flies over the rubble of collapsed buildings as a rescue worker stands in Caraballeda after an earthquake, 20 July 2026 (Federico Parra/AFP) Off On 24 June 2026, a deadly twin earthquake spread havoc across Venezuela, destroying 80 percent of buildings in the coastal state of La Guaira alone. Multiple reports put the death toll above 5,000 amid widespread devastation across the nation. The international response was prompt, with aid packages, engineers and rescue workers arriving from many countries.
US says it reached nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia The US and Saudi Arabia have reached a nuclear cooperation agreement, the US Energy Department said on Wednesday. The two countries have also signed an accompanying bilateral safeguards deal, the Energy Department said.
UK evacuates embassy staff from Iran The UK has temporarily withdrawn its embassy staff from Iran due to the security situation, while the embassy continues to operate remotely, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on Wednesday.
Why Turkey's new opposition party is both good and bad news for Erdogan Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Wed, 07/22/2026 - 14:35 The new party could surpass the ruling AKP in polls, but opposition divisions may give Erdogan a path to victory In a handout photo on 11 June 2024, then-leader of the Republican People's Party, Ozgur Ozel, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) shaking hands in Ankara (AFP/Turkish Presidency Press Service) Off Turkish opposition leader Ozgur Ozel announced on Tuesday that he will launch a new political party after a court removed him as chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in May, deepening a split within the country's main opposition. The announcement follows months of prosecutions targeting the CHP through a series of investigations that have led to the arrest of 26 opposition mayors on corruption charges, including Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu . A separate case alleged that Ozel was elected party chairman through bribery and irregular lobbying.
Israeli press review: US-Saudi nuclear deal slammed as Netanyahu's 'failure' Anger and fear swept Israel on Wednesday after the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported that the US had agreed to provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear programme. According to the reports, US President Donald Trump approved one of the landmark policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, granting Riyadh a 30-year civilian nuclear deal that could allow uranium enrichment in the kingdom. Israeli politicians took to social media to voice their concerns regarding the agreement, with some stating that it harms Israel's security interests and signals yet another failure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
