Author: Anadolu Agency

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued a strong warning in response to countries recognizing Palestinian statehood. He threatened to establish a new settlement for each country that acknowledges Palestine as a state, stating that this would help thwart the idea of a Palestinian state that poses a threat to Israel’s existence. Last week, the Israeli Cabinet approved plans to legalize five settlement outposts in the West Bank, which was seen as a direct response to the recognition of Palestine by five nations including Spain, Ireland, and Norway. Smotrich, who leads the extreme Religious Zionism Party, aims to solidify…

In a bold statement, the president of the Kurdish Independence Movement condemned the PKK/YPG terrorists’ planned municipal elections in Syria as illegal and lacking legitimacy, highlighting the group’s disregard for the wishes of Kurds and Arabs. Redif Mustafa emphasized that the PKK/YPG are merely extensions of the PKK terror organization, aiming to replicate their tactics in Syria. He also criticized their efforts to create a pseudo-legal framework to legitimize their rule in occupied territories and highlighted their ties to Qandil terrorists. Constitution Matters Mustafa stressed that only the national administration or the Syrian people should draft the Constitution, dismissing the…

China has responded to NATO’s actions with a call to stop spreading misinformation and nuclear threats, as tensions rise globally. The Defense Ministry spokesman criticized NATO for discussing plans to counter threats from Beijing and Moscow, urging them to stop the false narratives and nuclear coercion. The outgoing NATO chief had warned of a growing threat from Russia and China, suggesting the placement of missiles on standby. China refutes claims about their nuclear capabilities, accusing NATO of enhancing nuclear weapons and increasing the risk of a nuclear arms race. In the face of these accusations, China stands firm against NATO’s…

Several countries have issued travel advisories urging their citizens to leave Lebanon due to escalating violence with Israel. The Dutch Foreign Ministry advised its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon and encouraged those already there to leave as commercial flights are still available. Germany also issued a travel warning, urging its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately due to the tense situation at the border with Israel. Canada and North Macedonia have also asked their nationals to leave Lebanon as soon as possible, citing security concerns amid the escalating tensions in the region. Adding to the list, Kuwait…

The United States has scrapped a crucial meeting with Israel due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s critique of the Joe Biden administration. Netanyahu denounced the administration for withholding weapons and ammunition from Israel in recent months, a move that led to the cancellation of the scheduled meeting in Washington, where discussions were supposed to center on Iran’s nuclear program. Instead of the planned delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, there will only be a meeting between National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. This decision comes after Biden paused certain arms shipments…

Israel’s deadly offensive on Gaza continues as another journalist, Salim al-Sharafa, was killed by Israeli forces, bringing the total number of Palestinian media workers’ deaths to 152 since October 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) have both raised concerns over the alarming rate of journalist deaths in Gaza, calling it the deadliest conflict for journalists in decades. Despite international condemnation, Israel has ignored a U.N. Security Council resolution for an immediate cease-fire, leading to over 37,000 Palestinian deaths and 85,000 injuries in Gaza. The region suffers from widespread destruction and a…