MUSLIM WORLD 12-February 2023

US President Joe Biden emphasised US support for Jordan’s custodianship of holy sites in Jerusalem and discussed efforts to reduce tensions in the occupied West Bank on February 2, during a meeting at the White House with Jordanian King Abdullah II. The meeting marked King Abdullah’s second visit to the White House in less than…

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US PREZ REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR JORDAN’S CUSTODIANSHIP OF AL-AQSA

US President Joe Biden emphasised US support for Jordan’s custodianship of holy sites in Jerusalem and discussed efforts to reduce tensions in the occupied West Bank on February 2, during a meeting at the White House with Jordanian King Abdullah II. The meeting marked King Abdullah’s second visit to the White House in less than a year and the third since Biden took office. Biden, the king, and Crown Prince Hussein had a private lunch in which the US president “reaffirmed the close, enduring nature of the friendship between the United States and Jordan”, the White House said. Biden also underlined his support for the legal “status quo” of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque complex and recognised Jordan’s “crucial role as the custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem”. The Hashemite royal family of Jordan are custodians of both the Muslim and Christian holy sites in the city of Jerusalem, going back to an agreement dating to the time of the British mandate of Palestine.

 

ILHAN OMAR REMOVED FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee for her comments criticising Israel in 2019, which she has since long apologised for.

The vote, in which 218 Republicans voted to remove her and 211 Democrats voted no, took place on February 1. It was an effort led by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who accused Omar of antisemitism. “My leadership and voice will not diminish if I am not on this committee for one term,” Omar said on the House floor prior to the voting. Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American policies?” she said. The Democratic Congresswoman, re-elected in November, came under fire from lawmakers, for a February 2019 tweet that said US support for Israel among politicians was “all about the Benjamins”. She has also opposed US military aid to Israel and is a frequent critic of Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank.

 

MYANMAR JUNTA DECLARES MARTIAL LAW IN 37 MORE TOWNSHIPS

Amid ongoing clashes between government and resistance forces, the Myanmar military junta declared martial law in 37 more townships across the country, local media said on Friday 3. The military junta ordered on February 2 to impose martial law in areas where fighting between the Burma Army and resistance forces has intensified, local media outlet Democratic Voice of Burma reported. Tanintharyi Region, five townships of Bago Region, Ye Township of Mon State, Kyainseikgyi and Kawkareik townships in Karen State, four townships in Karenni State, five townships of Magway Region, 10 townships in Sagaing Region, and seven townships in Chin State are among the new areas where martial law has been imposed. The latest development came just a day after the military junta extended the state of emergency for another six months on February 1, citing the law and order situation in the country. On February 1, 2021, the military imposed martial law in Mandalay and Yangon Regions following overthrowing of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in a military coup after her National League for Democracy party won national elections in November 2020.

 

HAMAS CONDEMNS ISRAEL SETTLER ATTACK ON JERUSALEM CHURCH

Hamas on February 2 strongly condemned the storming of the Prison of Christ Chapel and the acts of vandalism by a group of Zionist settlers in occupied Jerusalem’s Old City. In a statement Hamas described the settlers’ attack on the church as a “fascist and racist demeanour that contradicts international law and religious values.” The Palestinian movement stressed that the attack is part of “Israeli crimes against Palestinian holy places, historic churches, and cemeteries,” adding that such crimes “aimed to Judaise the city and change its Arab and Palestinian features.” The movement renewed its call to the international community and human rights bodies and institutions to “work towards holding the Israeli settlers accountable for their crimes and violations at international courts.”

 

TÜRKIYE SUMMONS 9 WESTERN ENVOYS OVER SECURITY ALERTS

Türkiye summoned ambassadors of nine Western countries, including the United States and Sweden, on February 2 to criticise their decision to temporarily shut diplomatic missions and issue security alerts following Quran-burning incidents in Europe, reports said. The envoys of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Britain were also summoned, according to Foreign Ministry sources in Ankara. Over the last two weeks, far-right activists burned copies of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, acts that prompted Türkiye to halt negotiations meant to lift its objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu, accused the embassies of waging “a new psychological war” against Türkiye. Over the last week, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States were among those issuing warnings to their citizens of an increased risk of attacks in Türkiye, particularly against diplomatic missions and non-Muslim places of worship.

 

Image with caption:Israeli protesters at a rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu government plans to give lawmakers more control of the judicial system, February 4

ISRAELIS TAKE TO STREETS FOR WEEKS OF PROTESTS AGAINST NETANYAHU GOVT.

Tens of thousands of Israelis braved heavy rain on February 4 for a fifth week of protests against judicial reform plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government that critics say threaten democratic checks on ministers by the courts. The plans, which the government says are needed to curb overreach by judges, have drawn fierce opposition from groups including lawyers, and raised concerns among business leaders, widening already deep political divisions in Israeli society. Crowds carrying blue and white Israeli flags marched along Tel Aviv’s central Kaplan Street, with signs labelling the new government a “threat to world peace”. Another sign read “Save Israel’s democracy from Netanyahu”. The protesters say Israeli democracy would be undermined if the government succeeds in pushing through the plans, which would tighten political control over judicial appointments and limit the Supreme Court’s powers to overturn government decisions or Knesset laws. Local media reported that protests were held in 20 cities across the country, and said tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv alone.

 

PAK’S FORMER MILITARY RULER GEN. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF PASSES AWAY

Pakistan’s former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf passed away after a protracted illness in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates on February 5, family and local media reported. He was 79. Musharraf, who ruled the South Asian nation from 1999 to 2008, was under treatment at American Hospital in Dubai. He was suffering from amyloidosis – a rare disease that causes organ damage – and was unlikely to recover. He left his widow, a son, and a daughter to mourn. His body will be brought to Pakistan for burial, reports said. He had long been bedridden and wheelchair-bound, with inexorable weight loss. On October 12, 1999, four months after the Kargil war ended, Musharraf in a coup ousted and arrested then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif amid high drama. A year earlier, Sharif had personally promoted him to the rank of the army chief, superseding two senior generals.