The US Defence Department announced on Friday that it would include close ally Israel in the area covered by its Middle East-focused Central Command.
In another sign of the rapprochement brokered by President Donald Trump between Israel and Arab countries, the Pentagon said US military dealings with Israel would no longer be handled by its European Command.
"We structure boundaries to best mitigate risk and protect US interests and partners," the Pentagon said in a statement.
"The easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours subsequent to the Abraham Accords has provided a strategic opportunity for the United States to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East."
That was mainly a reference to Iran, which the US, Israel and Arab countries view as the leading security threat to the region.
For decades at odds with its Arab neighbours over its treatment of Palestinians, Israel has over the past year broken barriers on open co-operation and communications with Gulf countries under the Trump-fostered Abraham Accords.
Moving Israel under the Central Command potentially makes security co-operation with the United States on regional matters easier, and could bring Israeli military officials in closer proximity to those of Gulf neighbours.
But it could also complicate Centcom co-operation with Iran allies like Iraq, where the US retains 2,500 troops.
"Israel is a leading strategic partner for the United States, and this will open up additional opportunities for co-operation with our US Central Command partners, while maintaining strong co-operation between Israel and our European allies," the Pentagon said.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
THREE
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
The%20Roundup
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
