2021.10.28 國際新聞導讀-阿富汗想與全世界對話、塔利班政府以工代賑亂取未脫膜小麥、黎巴嫩基督教馬龍派部長支持真主黨打擊沙烏地之說法已引起沙烏地關切、以色列商業航班可飛越沙烏地

蘇老師講解國際新聞、中東與中亞歷史、中國事務、太空知識的頻道。 Diplomat's daily news review and history research on Middle East and Central Asia, China Affairs and Space Exploration

2021.10.28 國際新聞導讀-阿富汗想與全世界對話、塔利班政府以工代賑亂取未脫膜小麥、黎巴嫩基督教馬龍派部長支持真主黨打擊沙烏地之說法已引起沙烏地關切、以色列商業航班可飛越沙烏地
中國部長稱塔利班渴望與世界對話
沒有在阿富汗打過仗的中國，自8月美軍撤出阿富汗後重新掌權以來，就一直向塔利班伸出橄欖枝。
通過路透
2021 年 10 月 27 日 13:43
中國外交部長王毅週三表示，塔利班渴望與世界其他地區對話，國際社會應幫助阿富汗發展。
在通過視頻鏈接向伊朗會議發表的講話中，王說北京準備主持阿富汗與其鄰國之間關於該國未來的進一步會談。
“塔利班渴望與世界對話……中國將在適當的時候舉辦第三次阿富汗鄰國會議，”王在伊朗國家電視台現場直播的評論中說。
阿富汗和鄰國的會議由巴基斯坦，塔吉克斯坦，土庫曼斯坦和烏茲別克斯坦外長親自參加，以及中國和俄羅斯參加的視頻鏈接。
會談是在巴基斯坦於 9 月主辦的類似阿富汗鄰國參加的會議之後舉行的，會議旨在在阿富汗建立持久和平。
中國外交部長王毅上個月在北京出席了以“中國與聯合國：50年及以後的合作”為主題的蘭亭論壇。(來源: TINGSHU WANG/REUTERS)
沒有在阿富汗打過仗的中國，自8月美軍撤出阿富汗後重新掌權以來，就一直向塔利班伸出橄欖枝。
美國和其他西方國家正在尋求與塔利班接觸並確保人道主義援助流入該國的方法，但並未給予他們所尋求的合法性。
美國官員和塔利班代表本月在卡塔爾討論了對阿富汗的人道主義援助，但華盛頓表示，這些會議並不等於承認塔利班。
美國和其他西方國家不願向塔利班提供資金，直到伊斯蘭激進運動保證將維護人權，特別是婦女的權利。
據國家電視台報導，在周三在伊朗舉行的會議上，伊朗外交部長侯賽因·阿米拉卜杜拉希安支持在阿富汗組建一個包容性政府。他的言論呼應了伊朗的官方立場。
幾十年來，什葉派穆斯林伊朗一直是強硬的遜尼派穆斯林塔利班的敵人，但在過去幾年裡，它一直在公開會見塔利班領導人。7 月，德黑蘭主辦了阿富汗政府代表和塔利班高層政治委員會的會議。伊朗批評八月份控制阿富汗的塔利班將少數民族排除在政府之外。
Taliban are eager for dialog with the world, Chinese minister says
China, which has not fought in Afghanistan, has been holding out an olive branch to the Taliban since they regained power in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US forces in August.
By REUTERS
OCTOBER 27, 2021 13:43
Taliban delegates arrive to meet with US and European delegates in Doha, Qatar, last week.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
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The Taliban are eager to have dialog with the rest of the world, and the international community should help Afghanistan with its development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.
In an address delivered by video link to a conference in Iran, Wang said Beijing was ready to host further talks between Afghanistan and its neighbors on the country's future.
"The Taliban are eager to have dialog with the world … China will host the third Neighbours of Afghanistan meeting at the appropriate time," Wang said in comments broadcast live by Iranian state TV.
The meeting of Afghanistan and neighboring countries was attended in person by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and China and Russia participated by video link.
The talks followed a similar conference involving Afghanistan's neighboring countries that was hosted by Pakistan in September, and are aimed at establishing durable peace in Afghanistan.
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER Wang Yi attends a Lanting Forum with the theme ‘China and the UN: Cooperation in 50 Years and Beyond,’ in Beijing last month. (credit: TINGSHU WANG/REUTERS)
China, which has not fought in Afghanistan, has been holding out an olive branch to the Taliban since they regained power in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US forces in August.
The United States and other Western countries are seeking ways to engage with the Taliban and ensure humanitarian aid flows into the country, without granting them the legitimacy they seek.
US officials and Taliban representatives discussed humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan this month in Qatar but Washington said the meetings did not amount to recognition of the Taliban.
The United States and other Western nations are reluctant to provide the Taliban with funds until the Islamist militant movement provides assurances that it will uphold human rights, and in particular the rights of women.
At Wednesday's conference in Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian backed the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, state television reported. His remarks echoed Iran's official stance.
Shi’ite Muslim Iran has been a foe of the hardline Sunni Muslim Taliban for decades, but for the past few years it has been openly meeting Taliban leaders. In July, Tehran hosted a meeting of then Afghan government representatives and a high-level Taliban political committee. Iran has criticized the Taliban, which took control over Afghanistan in August, for excluding ethnic minorities from the government.
隨著資金減少，塔利班政府為阿富汗人提供小麥工作
週日，官員們宣布了一項公共工程計劃，根據該計劃，將向工人分發 66,000 噸小麥，繞過接近崩潰的金融體系。
通過路透
2021 年 10 月 27 日 16:30
2021 年 10 月 3 日，阿富汗喀布爾，塔利班部隊成員乘坐一輛裝有武器的皮卡車。
（圖片來源：路透社/JORGE SILVA）
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自從失去市場交易員的工作後，喀布爾的短工汗阿里 (Khan Ali) 的生活變得如此艱難，以至於他接受了資金短缺的塔利班政府的提議，用小麥而不是當地的工資支付給他。阿富汗貨幣。
“現在這很好，至少我們不會餓死，”這位 43 歲的老人告訴路透社。
在一個聯合國機構估計只有 5% 的家庭有足夠日常飲食的國家，政府每天給他 10 公斤（22 磅）未碾磨的小麥，用於加強城市的供水和排水系統。
“當然這還不夠，但在這種所有阿富汗人都抱怨缺乏工作和貧困的情況下，這很好，”前市場交易員阿里說，他被迫將他在喀布爾主要市場使用的手推車作為阿富汗的經濟危機惡化。
2021 年 9 月 7 日，在阿富汗喀布爾舉行的反巴基斯坦抗議活動中，塔利班士兵走在抗議者面前。（圖片來源：WANA（西亞新聞社）VIA REUTERS）
8 月塔利班戰勝西方支持的阿富汗政府後，國際援助基本上消失了，銀行外排起了長隊。
對於那些有銀行賬戶和錢的人來說，提款被限制在每週 20,000 阿富汗尼或 200 美元，以幫助管理不斷減少的貨幣供應。
官員們週日繞過了一個接近崩潰的金融體系，宣布了一項公共工程計劃，根據該計劃，將向工人分發 66,000 噸小麥，填補 44,000 個工作崗位/44,000 名工人。
大部分工作將涉及針對雨季困擾喀布爾的山洪暴發進行防禦，並挖掘溝渠將水引入其嚴重枯竭的地下水位。
'剩下的就是生存'
鄰國捐贈了數千噸小麥，以幫助阿富汗應對正在失控的人道主義危機，但使用小麥作為支付手段突顯了經濟崩潰的程度。
大約 90 億美元的中央銀行儲備被凍結在國外，主要的貿易過境點已被封鎖數週，打擊了出口並剝奪了政府數百萬美元的海關收入。
“阿富汗的生活已經沒有大的希望了，”另一位名叫阿卜杜勒的人說，他也找到了用小麥支付的工作，但不願透露全名。“無論如何，我們的世界都被摧毀了，現在留給我們的只有生存。”
雖然他對塔利班政府駕馭危機的能力幾乎沒有信心，但他也認為自己是幸運者之一。
他說：“像我這樣的人有成千上萬，正在等待機會擁有我擁有的這項工作。”
“貧困、失業和絕望已經嚴重打擊了我們的人民。天知道會發生什麼，我認為未來將是非常艱難的日子。”
Taliban government offers Afghans wheat for work as money dwindles
Officials on Sunday announced a public works program under which 66,000 tons of wheat will be distributed to laborers, bypassing a financial system that is close to collapse.
By REUTERS
OCTOBER 27, 2021 16:30
Members of Taliban forces ride on a pick-up truck mounted with a weapon in Kabul, Afghanistan, October 3, 2021.
(photo credit: REUTERS/JORGE SILVA)
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For Kabul day laborer Khan Ali, struggling to feed a family of six since losing his job as a market trader, life has become so hard that he jumped on an offer by the cash-strapped Taliban government to pay him in wheat rather than the local afghani currency.
"For now this is good, at least we will not die of hunger," the 43-year-old told Reuters.
In a country where UN agencies estimate only 5% of households have enough to eat on a regular basis, the government is giving him 10kg (22lb) of unmilled wheat a day to work on strengthening the city's water and drainage systems.
"It is not enough of course, but in this situation where all Afghans are complaining about lack of work and poverty this is good," said Ali, a former market trader who was forced to sell the handcart he used at Kabul's main market as Afghanistan's economic crisis worsened.
Taliban soldiers walk in front of protesters during the anti-Pakistan protest in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 7, 2021. (credit: WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
International aid has largely disappeared following the Taliban's victory over Afghanistan's Western-backed government in August, and long queues form outside banks.
For those with bank accounts and money in them, withdrawals have been rationed to 20,000 afghani or $200 a week to help manage a dwindling money supply.
Bypassing a financial system that is close to collapse, officials on Sunday announced a public works program under which 66,000 tons of wheat will be distributed to laborers filling 44,000 jobs/44,000 laborers.
Most of the work will involve building defenses against the flash flooding that plagues Kabul in the rainy season and digging ditches to channel water into its badly depleted water table.
'ALL THAT'S LEFT IS SURVIVAL'
Neighboring countries have donated thousands of tonnes of wheat to help Afghanistan deal with a humanitarian crisis that is slipping out of control, but the use of wheat as a means of payment underlines the extent of the economic meltdown.
Some $9 billion in central bank reserves are frozen outside the country and key trade crossings have been blocked for weeks, crushing exports and depriving the government of millions of dollars in customs revenues.
"There is no big hope left for life in Afghanistan," said another man, Abdul, who had also found work paid for in wheat but who preferred not to give his full name. "Our world is destroyed anyway, now all that's left for us is survival."
While he has little faith in the Taliban government's ability to master the crisis, he also counts himself among the lucky ones.
"There are thousands like me, waiting for an opportunity to have this work I have," he said.
"Poverty, unemployment and hopelessness has already hit our people hard. God knows what will happen, I think very tough days are ahead."
伊朗網絡攻擊：4,300 個加油站中斷，Raisi 譴責企圖擾亂秩序
雖然最近加油站網絡攻擊的起源尚不清楚，但有人推測這是由美國、以色列或伊朗當地反政府組織造成的。
通過路透社，耶路撒冷郵報STAFF
2021 年 10 月 27 日 15:50
伊朗國家通訊社 IRNA 透露，伊朗全國約有 4,300 個加油站因週二的網絡攻擊而癱瘓，直到週三汽油分配恢復正常。
據美聯社報導，伊朗總統易卜拉欣·賴西表示，網絡攻擊旨在製造混亂，並指出“網絡戰領域應該認真做好準備，相關機構不應該讓敵人遵循他們不祥的目的來製造問題。 ”
網絡攻擊中斷了整個伊斯蘭共和國的大量補貼汽油的銷售，Raisi 週三表示，這旨在製造“混亂和破壞”。
虛擬空間監管最高委員會秘書 Abul-Hassan Firouzabadi 告訴 IRNA，襲擊的細節及其來源正在調查中。
雖然襲擊的起因不明，但有人推測是由美國、以色列或伊朗當地的反政府組織造成的。
據伊朗新聞媒體 SHANA 報導，石油部表示，只有使用智能卡銷售更便宜的配給汽油才會受到干擾。
在德黑蘭抗議燃油價格上漲後，被毀壞的汽油泵被拍到在加油站。（信用：路透社）
六個月前，伊朗的塔斯尼姆新聞 (Tasnim News) 聲稱美國的燃料網絡遭到大規模網絡攻擊，黑客在該網絡中獲取了100 GB 的網絡信息。
Yonah Jeremy Bob 和 Seth J. Frantzman 為本報告做出了貢獻。
Iran cyberattack: 4,300 gas stations disrupted, Raisi decries attempted disorder
While the origin of recent gas station cyberattacks is unknown, some have speculated that it was caused by the US, Israel or local Iranian anti-regime groups.
By REUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
OCTOBER 27, 2021 15:50
Around 4,300 gas stations across Iran were disabled by Tuesday's cyberattack, it was revealed by Iran's state news agency IRNA, lasting until Wednesday when gasoline distribution returned to normal.
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi stated that the cyberattack was meant to create disorder, according to the Associated Press, stating that “there should be serious readiness in the field of cyberwar and related bodies should not allow the enemy to follow their ominous aims to create problems.”
The cyberattack disrupted the sale of heavily subsidized gasoline across the Islamic Republic, which Raisi said on Wednesday was designed to create "disorder and disruption."
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The details of the attack and its source are under investigation, Abul-Hassan Firouzabadi, Secretary of the Supreme Council to Regulate Virtual Space, told IRNA.
While the origin of the attacks is unknown, some have speculated that it was caused by the US, Israel or local Iranian anti-regime groups.
The Oil Ministry said that only sales with smart cards used for cheaper, rationed gasoline were disrupted, Iranian news outlet SHANA reported.
Destroyed petrol pumps are pictured at a gas station, after protests against increased fuel prices, in Tehran. (credit: REUTERS)
Six months ago, Iran’s Tasnim News claimed there was a massive cyberattack on a US fuel network, where hackers seized 100 gigabytes of network information.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.
伊朗準備與歐洲核協議各方舉行直接會談
4 月，伊朗與世界六國開始談判，以恢復美國前總統唐納德特朗普於 2018 年退出並重新實施削弱伊朗經濟的製裁協議。
通過路透
2021 年 10 月 27 日 13:52
2021 年 3 月 24 日，歐盟旗幟在比利時布魯塞爾的歐盟委員會總部外飄揚
（圖片來源：REUTERS/YVES HERMAN）
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伊朗準備與歐洲各方就2015 年核協議進行直接會談，伊朗新聞電視台週三援引未具名消息人士的話說，德黑蘭最高核談判代表訪問布魯塞爾，討論恢復陷入僵局的核談判。
“伊朗已正式表示準備與核協議的三個歐洲締約方進行直接會談，”消息人士告訴新聞電視台。“伊朗邀請這三個國家訪問德黑蘭，或提出前往三國首都進行此類會談，但迄今為止沒有收到任何回應。”
4 月，伊朗與世界六國開始談判，以恢復美國前總統唐納德特朗普於 2018 年退出並重新實施削弱伊朗經濟的製裁協議。
自強硬派神職人員易卜拉欣·賴西( Ebrahim Raisi ) 當選伊朗總統兩天后，談判自 6 月以來一直擱置。
由於擔心伊朗的核進展，西方大國敦促德黑蘭重返維也納談判。德黑蘭表示支持以結果為導向的談判，但尚未宣布何時恢復談判。
美國總統唐納德特朗普於 2018 年在白宮舉行了一項公告，宣布他打算將美國從伊朗核協議中撤出。（來源：JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS）
自 2019 年以來，伊朗逐漸突破了核協議施加的限制，但表示如果美國總統喬拜登解除其國家對伊朗的所有製裁，其核步驟是可逆的。
伊朗最高核談判代表阿里·巴蓋里·卡尼本月將在布魯塞爾與歐盟官員恩里克·莫拉舉行第二次會晤，後者負責協調德黑蘭與六國之間的核談判。
Iran ready to hold direct talks with European parties to nuclear deal
In April, Iran and six world powers started negotiations to revive the agreement which former US President Donald Trump quit in 2018 and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.
By REUTERS
OCTOBER 27, 2021 13:52
European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2021
(photo credit: REUTERS/YVES HERMAN)
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Iran is ready to hold direct talks with European parties to a 2015 nuclear pact, Iranian Press TV quoted an unnamed source as saying on Wednesday as Tehran's top nuclear negotiator visited Brussels to discuss a resumption of stalled nuclear talks.
"Iran has formally voiced preparedness for direct talks with the three European parties to the nuclear deal," the source told Press TV. "Iran invited the three states for visits to Tehran or offered trips to the trio’s respective capitals for such talks, but it has received no response so far."
In April, Iran and six world powers started negotiations to revive the agreement which former US President Donald Trump quit in 2018 and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.
The talks have been on hold since June, two days after hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi was elected Iran's president.
Concerned about Iran's nuclear advances, Western powers have urged Tehran to return to negotiations in Vienna. Tehran says it backs result-oriented negotiations, but has not announced when it will return to the talks.
US president Donald Trump holds up a proclamation declaring his intention to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear agreement, at the White House in 2018. (credit: JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS)
Since 2019, Iran has gradually breached limits imposed by the nuclear deal but says its nuclear steps are reversible if US President Joe Biden lifts all his country's sanctions on Iran.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, is in Brussels for a second meeting this month with Enrique Mora, a European Union official who coordinates nuclear talks between Tehran and six powers.
約旦正在分崩離析，以色列本可以提供幫助 - 意見
以色列錯失了與約旦合作並為整個地區樹立了和平如何造福所有人的巨大機會。
作者：MARK LAVIE / THE MEDIA LINE
2021 年 10 月 27 日 23:41
喬丹有麻煩了。它面臨著內部、外部、部落和經濟的動盪。阿卜杜拉國王對他的土地的控制正在搖擺不定。
在以色列邊境的另一邊，官員和專家們正在嘰嘰喳喳地嘰嘰喳喳，為哈希姆王國的淪陷對以色列意味著什麼制定總體計劃。這不是以色列的錯——但它本可以如此不同。
以色列錯過了與約旦合作並為整個地區樹立榜樣的巨大機會，讓人們了解和平如何造福於所有人，例如與新工廠、基礎設施、住房或農業的聯合項目。
1994 年 10 月 26 日，也就是 27 年前的本週，這是阿拉瓦沙漠中一個溫暖、陽光明媚的日子。我們記者坐在離以色列總理伊扎克·拉賓和約旦國王侯賽因率團參加和平條約簽署儀式的講台不遠的看台上，靠近即將首次開放的兩國邊境口岸。
當我為一家美國廣播網絡進行現場直播時，一名報紙記者扇了我一巴掌。他說他聽不到儀式。我只是繼續廣播。
1994 年 10 月 26 日，約旦國王侯賽因在以色列-約旦和平條約簽署儀式上發表講話後，伊扎克·拉賓總理和美國總統比爾·克林頓向他表示祝賀。（圖片來源：REUTERS）
事件的意義是顯而易見的。在以色列與巴勒斯坦人簽署第一份協議一年後，約旦在經過多年的安靜合作後加入了官方和平遊行。巴勒斯坦人必須是第一，因為約旦不夠強大，無法單獨行動。
它仍然不是。面對以“喬丹必須……”開頭的專家分析，這是要記住的關鍵事實。
到條約簽署時，我已經在約旦出差了幾次。我會飛到塞浦路斯，把我的以色列護照放在我小手提箱的假底里，然後從那裡飛到約旦首都安曼。
低溫鋁藥芯焊條，無電焊機，快速焊接各種金屬，外觀美觀超方便！由金屬至今新科技贊助
我毫不懷疑約旦官員確切地知道我是誰。我在以色列廣播電台用英語廣播新聞的 14 年時間剛剛過去幾年，它的發射器非常強大，可以在南歐清晰地接收到，更不用說隔壁的約旦了。我開玩笑說你可以在那裡用電動剃須刀收聽以色列電台。
但只要我守規矩，遵守規則，他們就不會惹事。
條約簽署後，我去約旦的旅行變得更加例行。有一次，在邊境，一名約旦海關官員仔細檢查了我的tallit（祈禱披肩）和tefillin（護身符），這是我每天早上無論身在何處都會使用的猶太宗教物品——但出於好奇，而不是出於敵意。
有一種善意的感覺。我的一個新朋友是 Metri，他是一名旅行社，由於支持以色列及其頂級籃球隊特拉維夫馬卡比而成為名人。Metri 在安曼洲際酒店為遊客和記者主持每週一次的測驗，每個人都玩得很開心。
一對著名的喜劇演員在他們的素描中包括了以色列，這讓他們的觀眾感到高興。
人們認為這是一個美妙聯盟的開始。以色列將介入並幫助約旦實現經濟現代化，減少失業併升級其通訊。甚至不需要付出太多努力——根據國內生產總值，以色列 1994 年的經濟規模是約旦的 13 倍。即使以色列不得不
補貼一些項目幾年或更長時間，收益也將是天文數字。
想像一下：約旦在以色列的幫助下將自己轉變為一個高效、現代的西式國家——與附近的其他國家形成鮮明對比，例如敘利亞。雖然有些人談到和平的代價，但這本來就是和平的獎品。但它從未發生過。
拉賓基本上無視約旦，將注意力轉回到巴勒斯坦人身上。我的書架上有一份長達 314 頁的“以色列-巴勒斯坦關於約旦河西岸和加沙地帶的臨時協議”，該協議於 1995 年 9 月 28 日在華盛頓簽署，即以色列-約旦條約簽署一年後。
現在我們知道那很少了。想像一下，如果以色列付出那麼多努力發展與約旦的關係，該地區可能會發生怎樣的變化。
但不是。漸漸地，在以色列的不注意下，約旦的好感逐漸被侵蝕，然後蒸發。特拉維夫馬卡比的粉絲 Metri 被排斥。兩位喜劇演員離開了這個國家。
拉賓被暗殺。他的繼任者本傑明·內塔尼亞胡（Benjamin Netanyahu）並沒有像拉賓那樣關注喬丹。然後侯賽因國王去世了。
由於缺乏父親的魅力和支持，阿卜杜拉國王一直在努力保持權力。在一個以巴勒斯坦人佔多數的縣，他採取了公開嚴厲批評以色列的路線，同時保持著安靜的合作。以色列人取笑國王，問他為什麼不像君主那樣行事並改變他的政策。
為什麼？因為他不能。他沒有資源，也沒有權力。已經手頭拮据，他的政權背負著來自敘利亞內戰的數十萬難民。他的小國必須在地區阿拉伯大國——沙特阿拉伯和伊朗——之前隨風搖擺，並駕馭俄羅斯處於優勢地位而美國正在撤退的新現實。阿卜杜拉麵臨著幾乎不可能的平衡。
來自以色列智庫的分析告訴我們，阿卜杜拉遇到了真正的麻煩：伊斯蘭極端分子可能會接管，巴勒斯坦人可能會壓倒他的政權——然後以色列將面臨新的局面。
相反，想像一下，在那天在阿拉瓦簽署和平條約 27 年後，如果以色列跟進它，幫助將約旦變成有益和平的燈塔，情況會怎樣。
Jordan is Falling Apart and Israel Could Have Helped - opinion
Israel missed a huge opportunity to team up with Jordan and set an example for the whole region about how making peace can benefit everyone.
By MARK LAVIE / THE MEDIA LINE
OCTOBER 27, 2021 23:41
Jordanian riot police stand guard in front of a Jordanian flag.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
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Jordan is in trouble. It’s facing internal, external, tribal and economic turmoil. King Abdullah’s hold over his land is wobbling.
Across the border in Israel, officials and experts are tsk-tsking, tut-tutting and making general plans for what the fall of the Hashemite kingdom would mean for Israel. This is not Israel’s fault – but it could have been so different.
Israel missed a huge opportunity to team up with Jordan and set an example for the whole region about how making peace can benefit everyone, such as joint projects with new factories, infrastructure, housing or agriculture.
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It was a warm, sunny day in the Arava desert on Oct. 26, 1994, 27 years ago this week. We reporters were sitting in a grandstand not far from the stage where Israel’s Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan’s King Hussein led delegations in the peace treaty signing ceremony next to the border crossing between the two countries, about to be opened for the first time.
A newspaper reporter slapped me on the back of the head as I was broadcasting live for an American radio network. He said he couldn’t hear the ceremony. I just kept on broadcasting.
Prime ministers Yitzhak Rabin and US president Bill Clinton congratulate Jordan’s King Hussein after his speech at the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty signing ceremony on October 26, 1994. (credit: REUTERS)
The significance of the event was clear. A year after Israel signed its first agreement with the Palestinians, Jordan joined the official peace parade after years of quiet cooperation. The Palestinians had to be first, because Jordan wasn’t strong enough to go it alone.
It still isn’t. That’s the key fact to remember in the face of expert analyses beginning with “Jordan has to… .”
By the time the treaty was signed, I’d been in Jordan a few times on assignment. I would fly to Cyprus, put my Israeli passport in a false bottom of my small suitcase, and fly from there to Amman, Jordan’s capital.
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I have no doubt that Jordanian officials knew exactly who I was. I was just a few years removed from a 14-year stint broadcasting the news in English on Israel Radio on a transmitter so strong that it could be received clearly in southern Europe, much less Jordan next door. I joked that you could pick up Israel Radio there on an electric shaver.
But as long as I behaved myself and followed the rules, they weren’t going to make any trouble.
After the treaty signing, my trips to Jordan were more routine. Once, at the border, a Jordanian customs official carefully inspected my tallit (prayer shawl) and tefillin (phylacteries), Jewish religious objects that I use every morning no matter where I am – but out of curiosity, not hostility.
There was a feeling of goodwill. One of my new friends was Metri, a travel agent who became a celebrity because of his support for Israel and its top basketball team, Maccabi Tel Aviv. Metri emceed a weekly quiz for tourists and reporters at Amman’s Intercontinental Hotel, and everyone had a good time.
A pair of well-known comedians included Israel in their sketches, to the delight of their audiences.
It was assumed that this was the start of a wonderful alliance; that Israel would step in and help Jordan modernize its economy, reduce unemployment and upgrade its communications. It wouldn’t even have taken much effort – based on gross domestic product, Israel’s economy in 1994 was 13 times the size of Jordan’s. Even if Israel had to
subsidize some of the projects for a few years, or longer, the benefits would have been astronomical.
Picture it: Jordan transforming itself, with Israeli help, into an efficient, modern, Western-style nation – a contrast to others nearby, like Syria, for example. While some talked of the price of peace, this would have been the prize of peace. But it never happened.
Largely ignoring Jordan, Rabin turned his attention back to the Palestinians. On my shelf is the 314-page “Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip,” signed in Washington on Sept. 28, 1995, a year after the Israel-Jordan treaty was signed.
Now we know that little came of that. Imagine how the region might have been transformed if Israel had put that much effort into developing its relations with Jordan instead.
But no. Gradually, with Israel’s inattention, Jordan’s goodwill eroded and then evaporated. Metri, the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan, was ostracized. The two comedians left the country.
Rabin was assassinated. His successor, Benjamin Netanyahu, paid no more attention to Jordan than Rabin did. Then King Hussein died.
Lacking his father’s charm and support, King Abdullah has been struggling to stay in power. In a county where a majority of the people are Palestinians, he has adopted a public line of harsh criticism of Israel, while maintaining the quiet cooperation. Israelis make fun of the king, asking why he doesn’t act like a monarch and change his policies.
Why? Because he can’t. He doesn’t have the resources or the power. Already strapped for cash, his regime is saddled with hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria’s civil war. His little country must sway in the wind before the regional Arab powers – Saudi Arabia and Iran – and navigate a new reality in which Russia is on the ascendancy and the US is pulling back. Abdullah faces a near-impossible balancing act.
Learned analyses from Israeli think tanks tell us that Abdullah is in real trouble: Islamic extremists might take over, Palestinians might overwhelm his regime – and then Israel would be faced with a new situation.
Imagine instead what the situation could have been, 27 years after the peace treaty was signed that day in the Arava, if Israel had followed it up by helping turn Jordan into a beacon of beneficial peacemaking.
民意調查發現，以色列的姿態提高了法塔赫在巴勒斯坦人中的受歡迎程度
民意調查結果顯示，對法塔赫的總體支持率有所增加，現在高於哈馬斯的支持率。
由哈利·阿布·托梅
2021 年 10 月 27 日 23:06
馬哈茂德·阿巴斯總統於 2020 年 8 月 18 日在以色列佔領的約旦河西岸的拉馬拉舉行的一次會議上做手勢。
（圖片來源：路透社/穆罕默德·托羅克曼）
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週三公佈的一項民意調查顯示，由巴勒斯坦權力機構主席馬哈茂德·阿巴斯領導的執政法塔赫派在巴勒斯坦人中的地位有所提高，這顯然是與以色列建立信任措施的結果。
由設在拉馬拉的巴勒斯坦政策和調查研究中心進行的這項民意調查將法塔赫受歡迎程度的上升歸因於以色列在過去幾週採取的一系列措施，包括批准家庭團聚和增加巴勒斯坦人被允許在以色列工作。
該中心上個月公佈的一項民意調查顯示，大多數巴勒斯坦人支持與以色列建立信任的措施。
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週三的民意調查於 10 月 14 日至 23 日進行，涉及 1,800 名巴勒斯坦人，誤差率為 3%。
民意調查結果顯示，對法塔赫的總體支持率有所增加，現在高於哈馬斯的支持率。
2021 年 5 月 22 日，巴勒斯坦哈馬斯武裝分子在加沙城參加反以色列集會（圖片來源：REUTERS/MOHAMMED SALEM）
然而，兩黨之間的差距，即支持法塔赫的 5 個百分點，比 3 月份佔優勢的 13 個百分點要小。
該中心表示：“與 2021 年 6 月的調查結果相比，目前的調查結果對法塔赫來說是一個巨大的進步，當時兩者之間的差距有 11 個百分點，有利於哈馬斯。”
然而，該中心指出，法塔赫繼續遭受過去六個月事態發展的後果，包括取消巴勒斯坦大選、以色列-哈馬斯戰爭以及被毆打的反腐敗活動家尼扎爾·巴納特 (Nizar Banat) 被殺。 6 月被巴勒斯坦權力機構安全人員殺死。
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民意調查結果表明，與之前的調查結果相比，對兩國解決方案的支持顯著增加。對兩國解決方案概念的支持率為 46%，而上個月為 36%。此外，對以色列“武裝鬥爭”的支持率從 48% 下降到 44%。
民意調查還發現，74% 的巴勒斯坦人希望阿巴斯辭職。上個月，要求阿巴斯辭職的人數為 78%。
如果今天舉行新的總統選舉，三名候選人參加競爭——阿巴斯、哈馬斯領導人伊斯梅爾·哈尼耶和被判入獄的法塔赫領導人馬爾萬·巴爾古提——巴爾古提將獲得最高票數。
民意調查顯示，如果競爭是在阿巴斯和哈尼耶之間進行，那麼哈馬斯領導人將獲得 55% 的選票，而巴勒斯坦權力機構主席將獲得 39% 的選票。
Israeli gestures boost Fatah's popularity among Palestinians, poll finds
The findings of the poll show that overall support for Fatah has increased and is now higher than that of Hamas.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
OCTOBER 27, 2021 23:06
President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a meeting in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank August 18, 2020.
(photo credit: REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN)
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The ruling Fatah faction headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has improved its standing among Palestinians, apparently as a result of confidence-building measures with Israel, according to a public opinion poll published on Wednesday.
The poll, conducted by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, attributed the rise in Fatah’s popularity to a series of measures taken by Israel in the past few weeks, including the approval of family reunifications and the rise in the number of Palestinians allowed to work in Israel.
A poll published by the center last month showed that a majority of the Palestinians supported the confidence-building measures with Israel.
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Wednesday’s poll, conducted between October 14 and 23, covered 1,800 Palestinians and has a 3% margin of error.
The findings of the poll show that overall support for Fatah has increased and is now higher than that of Hamas.
黎巴嫩新聞部長以胡塞的言論激怒阿聯酋和沙特阿拉伯
新聞部長喬治·科達希 (George Kordahi) 就也門胡塞武裝發表的聲明令阿聯酋和沙特阿拉伯感到不安。
作者：SETH J. FRANZMAN
2021 年 10 月 27 日 14:44
2019 年 10 月 4 日，在也門薩那，一名男子和胡塞運動的支持者一起參加集會，慶祝該組織在與沙特阿拉伯接壤的邊界附近取得軍事進展。
（圖片來源：MOHAMED AL-SAYAGHI/REUTERS）
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黎巴嫩總理在接受采訪時拒絕了新聞部長喬治·科爾達希的評論，他在採訪中似乎支持伊朗支持的也門胡塞武裝。科達希的言論激怒了阿聯酋和沙特阿拉伯。
黎巴嫩總理納吉布·米卡蒂 (Najib Mikati) 在最近發表的聲明中說：“喬治·科爾達希最近的言論並未表達政府在也門問題上的立場。黎巴嫩致力於與阿拉伯國家的關係，我的政府渴望與沙特建立最好的關係。”阿拉伯。”
據報導，科達希出現在半島電視台附屬的青年節目中。報導稱，正是在那裡，“他被問及黎巴嫩真主黨激進組織與也門胡塞武裝之間的區別。”科爾達希回答說，胡塞武裝是在自衛。他們用導彈和無人機襲擊了沙特阿拉伯。利雅得乾預了也門與阿聯酋和其他國家一起阻止胡塞武裝接管該國。真主黨支持胡塞武裝。
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Al-Arabiya 說，這是黎巴嫩官員第二次對沙特阿拉伯和其他海灣國家發表有爭議的言論。“5 月，時任外交部長的 Charbel Wehbe 發表電視講話，暗示海灣國家支持 ISIS 的崛起，並將敘利亞戰爭歸咎於他們，從而加劇了緊張局勢。Wehbe 很快辭去了他的職務。”
Kordahi 以過去曾支持真主黨而聞名。2018 年，有人問他誰是他的“年度人物”。他任命真主黨秘書長哈桑·納斯魯拉、敘利亞總統巴沙爾·阿薩德和俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾·普京為 2018 年的國際人物。
根據阿聯酋國民報的簡介，信息部長以前是一位重要的電視人物。“作為馬龍派基督徒，科達希先生在貝魯特北部的凱瑟萬山區長大。他於 1970 年代在黎巴嫩公共電視台 TeleLiban 開始了他的記者職業生涯，然後轉到了蒙特卡洛廣播電台。”
但他是真主黨和敘利亞政權的支持者。科達希在接受真主黨的 Al Manar 電視台採訪時說，阿薩德“證明他是一個完全不同的人”。“作為一個阿拉伯人，作為一個黎巴嫩人，我告訴你：如果這個人沒有抵抗，敘利亞將不復存在。黎巴嫩將不復存在。約旦和海灣地區都沒有。”
Kordahi 因主持阿拉伯版的《誰想成為百萬富翁？現在他又回到了熱水中。
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伊朗當然很高興。網上有報導和謠言稱，伊朗伊斯蘭革命衛隊聖城旅負責人電子郵件加尼本週將訪問黎巴嫩。這是否屬實還有待觀察。但 Kordahi 確實處於熱門位置。
伊朗的塔斯尼姆消息稱，“不幸的是，黎巴嫩媒體部長在貝魯特的這一職位不被視為言論自由，一些黎巴嫩團體立即發起了反對[科達希]的政治和媒體運動。” 一些人認為這可能會損害與利雅得和阿布扎比的關係。
2021 年 7 月 26 日，領先的商人納吉布·米卡蒂在黎巴嫩巴卜達的總統府做手勢。（圖片來源：MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS）
但黎巴嫩已經與沙特阿拉伯有很多問題，沙特阿拉伯已經退出了之前在黎巴嫩的角色。據報導，Kordahi 說：“我無意以任何方式侮辱沙特阿拉伯和阿聯酋。很明顯是誰發起了這些針對我的運動，他們一直指責我自成立以來就來鎮壓媒體。政府，”他聲稱。
Lebanon information minister angers UAE, Saudi Arabia with Houthi comments
Information Minister George Kordahi's statements on Yemen's Houthi have upset the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
OCTOBER 27, 2021 14:44
A man chants slogans as he and supporters of the Houthi movement attend a rally to celebrate following claims of military advances by the group near the borders with Saudi Arabia, in Sanaa, Yemen October 4, 2019.
(photo credit: MOHAMED AL-SAYAGHI/REUTERS)
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Lebanon’s prime minister has rejected comments by Information Minister George Kordahi in an interview in which he had appeared to support the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. Kordahi's statements angered the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
“George Kordahi’s recent comments do not express the government's position on the Yemeni issue," Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in statements released recently. "Lebanon is committed to its ties with Arab countries and my government is keen to have the best relations with Saudi Arabia.”
Kordahi appeared on an Al Jazeera-affiliated youth show, according to reports. It was there that "he was asked the difference between the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group and the Yemeni Houthis,” reports say. Kordahi replied that the Houthis were acting in self-defense. They have attacked Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones. Riyadh intervened in Yemen alongside the UAE and others to prevent a Houthi takeover of the country. Hezbollah backs the Houthis.
This is the second time a Lebanese official has made controversial comments toward Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, Al-Arabiya says. “In May, then-foreign minister Charbel Wehbe stoked tensions with televised remarks that suggested Gulf states had supported the rise of ISIS and blamed them for the war in Syria. Wehbe quickly stepped down from his role.”
Kordahi is known for having backed Hezbollah in the past. In 2018 he was asked who is his “man of the year.” He named Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the international personalities of 2018.
According to a profile in The National in the UAE the information minister was previously an important TV personality. “A Maronite Christian, Mr. Kordahi grew up in the mountains of Keserwan, north of Beirut. He began his career as a journalist in the 1970s at TeleLiban, Lebanon’s public TV station, before moving on to Radio Monte Carlo.”
But he is a backer of Hezbollah and the Syrian regime. Assad “proved he is a man cut from a different cloth”, Kordahi told Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV in an interview. “As an Arab man, as a Lebanese, I tell you this: had this man not resisted, Syria would no longer exist. Lebanon would no longer exist. Jordan and the Gulf neither.”
Kordahi became famous for hosting an Arab version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Now he is in hot water again.
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Iran, of course, is happy. Reports and rumors online say that Iran’s IRGC Quds Force head Email Ghaani is visiting Lebanon this week. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen. But Kordahi is indeed in the hot seat.
Iran’s Tasnim news says that, “unfortunately, this position of the Lebanese Minister of Media in Beirut was not considered as freedom of expression, and some Lebanese groups immediately launched a political and media campaign against [Kordahi].” Some think this could harm relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
Leading businessman Najib Mikati gestures at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon July 26, 2021. (credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)
But Lebanon already has many problems with Saudi Arabia, which has stepped back from its previous roles in Lebanon. “I did not intend to insult Saudi Arabia and the UAE in any way," Kordahi has reportedly said. “It is clear who launched these campaigns against me, and they have been accusing me of coming to suppress the media since the formation of the government,” he claimed.
黎巴嫩總理稱部長對沙特的批評不是政府立場
前黎巴嫩外交部長謝貝爾·韋赫貝就海灣國家如何應對伊拉克和敘利亞伊斯蘭國的崛起發表評論時，沙特和黎巴嫩的關係受到了考驗。
通過路透
2021 年 10 月 27 日 09:29
2021 年 7 月 26 日，領先的商人納吉布·米卡蒂 (Najib Mikati) 在黎巴嫩巴卜達的總統府做手勢。
（照片來源：穆罕默德·阿扎基爾/路透社）
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黎巴嫩總理納吉布·米卡蒂週二晚間表示，他的一名內閣成員批評沙特對也門的軍事干預的言論並不反映內閣的立場。
“黎巴嫩渴望與沙特阿拉伯保持最佳關係，並譴責對其內政的任何干涉”，米卡蒂說。
黎巴嫩新聞部長喬治·科爾達希 (George Kordahi) 週二晚間表示，他在加入米卡蒂內閣之前在 8 月接受采訪時發表了關於也門戰爭的評論，這些評論於週二開始在社交媒體上流傳。
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今年早些時候，沙特和黎巴嫩的關係受到考驗，當時黎巴嫩前外交部長謝貝爾韋貝在接受電視採訪時談到海灣國家應該為伊拉克和敘利亞伊斯蘭國的崛起負責。Wehbe 在 5 月份因這些評論而辭職。
4 月，沙特阿拉伯禁止從黎巴嫩進口水果和蔬菜，聲稱這些貨物用於走私毒品。該禁令對在現代最嚴重的金融危機中苦苦掙扎的黎巴嫩經濟造成了沉重打擊。
沙特阿拉伯阿西爾地區 Al-Soudah（來源：marviikad，CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0，來自 Wikimedia Commons）
週二晚些時候，內政部長巴塞姆·毛拉維也在對科達希的言論引起爭議後發表聲明，強調兩國之間的牢固關係，隨後外交部長發表聲明，他也支持與沙特的關係。
海灣合作委員會秘書長在周三的一份聲明中表示，他拒絕了科達希的評論，並補充說這些評論反映了對也門事件的理解不足和膚淺的解讀。
迄今為止，一直向黎巴嫩提供資金的海灣君主國一直不願在黎巴嫩經濟崩潰的情況下出手救援，他們對伊朗支持的什葉派真主黨組織的影響力不斷上升感到震驚。
Lebanon PM says minister's criticism of Saudi is not gov't position
Saudi and Lebanese relations were tested when former Lebanese foreign minister Cherbel Wehbe made comments about how Gulf states were to blame for the rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
By REUTERS
OCTOBER 27, 2021 09:29
Leading businessman Najib Mikati gestures at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon July 26, 2021.
(photo credit: MOHAMED AZAKIR/REUTERS)
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Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati said late on Tuesday that comments made by a member of his cabinet who criticized the Saudi military intervention in Yemen did not reflect the cabinet’s position.
"Lebanon is keen on having the best relations with Saudi Arabia and condemns any interference in its internal affairs", Mikati said.
Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi said late on Tuesday that comments he made around the Yemen war, which started circulating on social media on Tuesday, were made in an August interview before he joined Mikati's cabinet.
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Saudi and Lebanese relations were tested earlier this year when former Lebanese foreign minister Cherbel Wehbe made comments in a television interview about how Gulf states were to blame for the rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Wehbe resigned over the comments in May.
In April, Saudi Arabia banned the imports of fruit and vegetables from Lebanon claiming shipments were used for drug smuggling. The ban weighed heavily on a Lebanese economy struggling with the worst financial crises in modern times.
Al-Soudah, Asir Region, Saudi Arabia (credit: marviikad, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Late on Tuesday, Interior Minister Bassem Mawlawi also made a statement, after the controversy over Kordahi’s comments, emphasizing the strong relations between the two countries followed by a statement by the foreign minister, who also supported Saudi ties.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council said in a statement on Wednesday he rejected Kordahi’s comments adding they reflected little understanding and superficial reading of the events in Yemen.
Gulf monarchies, who have traditionally channeled funds into Lebanon, have been loathe to come to its rescue amidst its economic meltdown so far, alarmed by the rising influence of the Iran-backed Shi’ite Hezbollah group.
以色列首架公共航班降落在沙特阿拉伯
在沙特領空開放之前，El Al 的飛機不得不沿著一條漫長而曲折的航線飛往孟買，以避開沙特領空。
通過耶路撒冷郵報STAFF
2021 年 10 月 27 日 10:25
El Al 波音 777 258 ER
（圖片來源：維基共享資源）
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據KAN 新聞報導，一架以色列私人飛機於週二早上降落在沙特阿拉伯利雅得，這是以色列的公共航班首次降落在沙特阿拉伯王國。
這一消息是在從沙特阿拉伯起飛的首架航班降落在以色列的一天后發布的，一架阿聯酋 737 皇家噴氣式飛機週一晚上降落在本古里安機場。
這是以色列改善地區關係的最新舉措：自 2020 年亞伯拉罕協議簽署以來，與阿聯酋、巴林、摩洛哥和蘇丹這四個國家的關係正常化的協議已經實現。
雖然沙特阿拉伯和以色列之間仍然沒有商業航班，因為兩國沒有正式關係，但這些航班是沙特與以色列關係的重大進展，因為兩國終於在去年才相互開放領空。
在過去與以色列發生衝突的國家周圍，免費航空旅行在以色列並不是理所當然的事情。隨著 2020 年與巴林、蘇丹、摩洛哥和阿聯酋的關係正常化，以色列航班開放領空，並宣布直飛迪拜、摩洛哥和巴林。
9 月 1 日在阿布扎比舉行的以色列阿聯酋正常化談判結束時，阿拉伯聯合酋長國代表向即將起飛的 El Al 飛機揮手致意（圖片來源：EL AL）
在沙特領空開放之前，為了避開沙特領空，El Al 的飛機不得不沿著一條漫長而曲折的航線飛往孟買，這使從特拉維夫的行程增加了大約兩個小時，並使以色列航空公司在競爭對手面前處於巨大劣勢，誰被允許直接飛行。類似的例子使得飛往本古里安以外某些地區的航班難以導航並且存在潛在危險。
空域一直是以色列及其對手之間爭論的焦點。以下國家繼續禁止往返以色列的直航和飛越交通：阿富汗、阿爾及利亞、孟加拉國、文萊、伊朗、伊拉克、科威特、黎巴嫩、利比亞、馬來西亞、摩洛哥、阿曼、巴基斯坦、卡塔爾、沙特阿拉伯、索馬里、敘利亞、突尼斯、也門。
First public Israeli flight lands in Saudi Arabia
Prior to the opening of Saudi airspace, El Al’s planes had to follow a long, winding route to Mumbai in order to avoid Saudi airspace.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
OCTOBER 27, 2021 10:25
El Al Boeing 777 258 ER
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
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An Israeli private jet landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning, per KAN news, marking the first time a public flight from Israel has ever landed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The news comes just a day after the first flight from Saudi Arabia landed in Israel, as an Emirati 737 Royal Jet landed in Ben-Gurion airport Monday evening.
This is the latest among improving regional ties for Israel: agreements to normalize ties with four nations — UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan — Have been realized since the 2020 Abraham Accords.
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While there remain no commercial flights between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as the two states share no official relations, the flights are a considerable advancement in Saudi-Israeli relations, as both nations finally opened their airspaces to each other just last year.
Surrounded by nations that have clashed with Israel in the past, free air travel is not something that is taken for granted in Israel. Along the 2020 normalization of ties with Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and the UAE was the opening of airspaces to Israeli flights, along with announcements of direct flights to Dubai, Morocco, and Bahrain.
United Arab Emirates delegates wave to the departing El Al plane at the end of IsraelUAE normalization talks in Abu Dhabi on September 1 (credit: EL AL)
Prior to the opening of Saudi airspace, El Al’s planes had to follow a long, winding route to Mumbai in order to avoid Saudi airspace, adding roughly two hours to the trip from Tel Aviv and putting the Israeli carrier at a huge disadvantage to competitors, who are allowed to fly direct. Similar examples make flights to some locales out of Ben-Gurion difficult to navigate and potentially dangerous.
Airspace has always been a point of contention amongst Israel and its adversaries. The following countries continue to ban both direct flights and overflying traffic to/from Israel: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen.
Palestinian Hamas militants take part in an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City May 22, 2021 (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMMED SALEM)
However, the gap between the two parties, five percentage points in favor of Fatah, is smaller than the one that prevailed in March, which stood at 13 percentage points in favor of Fatah.
“The current findings represent a huge improvement for Fatah compared to the findings of June 2021, when the gap between the two stood at 11 percentage points in favor of Hamas,” the center said.
The center noted, however, that Fatah continues to suffer the consequences of the developments of the past six months, including the cancellation of the Palestinian general elections, the Israel-Hamas war and the killing of anti-corruption activist Nizar Banat, who was beaten to death by PA security officers in June.
The results of the poll indicated a significant rise in support for the two-state solution compared to previous findings. Support for the concept of the two-state solution stands at 46% compared to 36% last month. Additionally, support for “armed struggle” against Israel declined from 48% to 44%.
The poll also found that 74% of Palestinians want Abbas to resign. Last month, demand for Abbas’s resignation stood at 78%.
If new presidential elections were to take place today with three candidates competing – Abbas, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti – Barghouti would receive the highest number of votes.
If the competition was between Abbas and Haniyeh, the Hamas leader would receive 55% of the votes as opposed to 39% for the PA president, according to the poll.
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