Director of Communications & Congressional Liaison
May 6, 2024
Boycotts on Tunisia’s Elections
On Tuesday, April 30, Tunisia’s main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, issued an announcement “reject[ing] participation in any electoral charade due to the absence of conditions for fair and democratic elections.” The Front and its parties, including Ennahdha, will not nominate any candidates for the presidential election and demand the release of imprisoned politicians, among other requests.
More than 20 political opponents have been charged or imprisoned since Tunisian President Kais Saied’s centralized power and suspended the parliament in 2021. Saied is expected to run in the presidential elections later this year.
On Wednesday, May 1, the Economy Middle East Summit 2024, themed “Accelerating Future Growth,” was held at the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The agenda evaluated “key challenges and opportunities in banking and finance, technology, hospitality, tourism and the future of mobility,” with conversations regarding the region’s digital financial services and broader technology landscapes.
At the summit, Emirati Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri asserted that, as a result of economic diversification, the UAE’s non-oil sector now accounts for 74% of the country’s total GDP.
On Wednesday, May 1, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria that targeted a senior al-Qaeda leader, though the outcome of the operation and the name of the individual were not released.
On Thursday, U.S. Central Command released that “a U.S. airstrike in Syria in May 2023 that was targeting an al-Qaida leader killed an innocent civilian instead.” The investigation was reportedly completed in November 2023 but was not shared with the public until last week.
These developments follow an announcement from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the country’s intelligence forces killed Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, the suspected leader of ISIS. Local sources cite the raid location as near the northern Syrian town of Jinderes, and residents confirmed “that an operation had targeted an abandoned farm that was being used as an Islamic school.”
On Sunday, May 5, Israeli and Hamas officials blamed each other for the lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas’ “demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power.” Alternatively, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh faulted Netayahu for “sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has warned of coming operations in Rafah and other locations across Gaza.
On Friday, May 3, Lebanese officials received an amended French proposal to prevent further escalation between Israel and Lebanon. The proposal outlines meetings held in Lebanon and Israel by French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne and “aims to ensure the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 with the aim of resolving the war that year between Israel and Hezbollah.”
France’s efforts coincide with increasing tensions and cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, though Lebanese officials stated that there has been “a lot of progress” in regard to the proposals.
Sources indicate that Lebanese officials have prepared a response and are awaiting the Israeli response.
Director of Communications & Congressional Liaison
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May 6, 2024
Boycotts on Tunisia’s Elections
On Tuesday, April 30, Tunisia’s main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, issued an announcement “reject[ing] participation in any electoral charade due to the absence of conditions for fair and democratic elections.” The Front and its parties, including Ennahdha, will not nominate any candidates for the presidential election and demand the release of imprisoned politicians, among other requests.
More than 20 political opponents have been charged or imprisoned since Tunisian President Kais Saied’s centralized power and suspended the parliament in 2021. Saied is expected to run in the presidential elections later this year.
An article in Middle East Policy by Lacin Idil Oztig studies the political transitions in Tunisia in the years since the Arab Spring.
Economy Middle East Summit 2024
On Wednesday, May 1, the Economy Middle East Summit 2024, themed “Accelerating Future Growth,” was held at the Abu Dhabi Global Market. The agenda evaluated “key challenges and opportunities in banking and finance, technology, hospitality, tourism and the future of mobility,” with conversations regarding the region’s digital financial services and broader technology landscapes.
At the summit, Emirati Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri asserted that, as a result of economic diversification, the UAE’s non-oil sector now accounts for 74% of the country’s total GDP.
A Middle East Policy article by Sherko Kirmanj and Ranj Tofik examines the primary motivations behind the UAE’s foreign policy agenda.
Counterterrorism Operations in Syria
On Wednesday, May 1, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in northwest Syria that targeted a senior al-Qaeda leader, though the outcome of the operation and the name of the individual were not released.
On Thursday, U.S. Central Command released that “a U.S. airstrike in Syria in May 2023 that was targeting an al-Qaida leader killed an innocent civilian instead.” The investigation was reportedly completed in November 2023 but was not shared with the public until last week.
These developments follow an announcement from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the country’s intelligence forces killed Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, the suspected leader of ISIS. Local sources cite the raid location as near the northern Syrian town of Jinderes, and residents confirmed “that an operation had targeted an abandoned farm that was being used as an Islamic school.”
An article in Middle East Policy by Saban Kardas and Bulent Aras analyzes the process of Syria’s normalization with Arab states.
Ongoing: The Gaza War
On Sunday, May 5, Israeli and Hamas officials blamed each other for the lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas’ “demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power.” Alternatively, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh faulted Netayahu for “sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has warned of coming operations in Rafah and other locations across Gaza.
Middle East Policy covers the range of issues contributing to the ongoing war in Gaza, with analyses on Hamas, the West Bank, Israeli strategy, and more.
French Proposal for Lebanon & Israel
On Friday, May 3, Lebanese officials received an amended French proposal to prevent further escalation between Israel and Lebanon. The proposal outlines meetings held in Lebanon and Israel by French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne and “aims to ensure the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted in 2006 with the aim of resolving the war that year between Israel and Hezbollah.”
France’s efforts coincide with increasing tensions and cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, though Lebanese officials stated that there has been “a lot of progress” in regard to the proposals.
Sources indicate that Lebanese officials have prepared a response and are awaiting the Israeli response.
A Middle East Policy article by Daniel Sobelman explores Hezbollah’s influence on a maritime dispute between Israel and Lebanon.
Also Check Out
Middle East Policy’s Spring 2024 issue is free to read until May 15, exploring the rise of China in the Middle East, its rivalry with the U.S., and bilateral ties across the region.
Turkey says it halts trade with Israel over Gaza aid access | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502391
Turkey police arrest 210 at Istanbul May Day protests | Protests News | Al Jazeera
Jordanian-Iraqi economic forum begins at Dead Sea resort | Arab News
Rival Palestinian groups meet in China to discuss political reconciliation (voanews.com)