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US and Israeli Officials Discuss Tensions at the Israel-Lebanon Border

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel bordering Lebanon shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment of a southern Lebanese area on September 4, 2024. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel bordering Lebanon shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment of a southern Lebanese area on September 4, 2024. (AFP)
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US and Israeli Officials Discuss Tensions at the Israel-Lebanon Border

This picture taken from a position in northern Israel bordering Lebanon shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment of a southern Lebanese area on September 4, 2024. (AFP)
This picture taken from a position in northern Israel bordering Lebanon shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment of a southern Lebanese area on September 4, 2024. (AFP)

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer held a virtual meeting Wednesday to discuss the ongoing tensions at the Israel-Lebanon border, according to a US official familiar with the matter.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said that senior White House national security officials Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein also took part in the discussions about concerns that the tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah could cause the war in Gaza to spread into a regional conflict.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said White House officials on Wednesday continued conversations with Israeli officials in hopes of sealing a cease-fire deal.
US officials also spoke with Egyptian and Qatari officials, who have served as intermediaries for Hamas. But Kirby declined to confirm that Sullivan and other senior White House officials spoke with Dermer on Wednesday.

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Arab World

Sisi, Erdogan Affirm Egypt-Türkiye Alignment on Regional Issues

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency)
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Sisi, Erdogan Affirm Egypt-Türkiye Alignment on Regional Issues

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkish Presidency)

Egypt and Türkiye have confirmed their agreement on key regional issues, including a ceasefire in Gaza, delivering humanitarian aid, and ensuring Palestinians can establish a state with East Jerusalem as its capital, while opposing Israeli actions that block this solution.

Talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Wednesday— in Sisi’s first visit to Türkiye since 2014—showed common ground on issues like Gaza, Israeli violations of Palestinian rights, and conflicts in Syria, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa.

There were minor differences on Libya, especially regarding foreign forces and militias.

At the first High-Level Strategic Council meeting, Sisi and Erdogan oversaw the signing of agreements in energy, industry, transport, trade, investment, finance, and defense.

At a joint press conference with Sisi, Erdogan affirmed they had discussed enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, and industry.

He called his February visit to Cairo a “turning point” in their relations, noting that since then, dialogue and cooperation have continued at the highest level.

Erdogan added that economic ties have grown, with Turkish businesses investing in Egypt, and encouraged Egyptian investors to explore opportunities in Türkiye.

He also mentioned the strong Egyptian interest in Turkish culture and language, highlighting that next year marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Erdogan expressed confidence that improving ties with Egypt would also boost tourism.

“We want to expand cooperation in natural gas, nuclear energy, and renewables,” he said, noting that several agreements had been signed to strengthen relations after his visit to Cairo. He added that Egypt is one of Türkiye’s top five trade partners, and they are working to increase trade further.

On regional matters, Erdogan highlighted the need for Egypt and Türkiye to collaborate for peace and stability.

“We discussed regional issues and agreed to keep consulting,” he said, with a focus on the Palestinian situation.

Both leaders called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.

“We share the same position and are closely coordinating on this,” affirmed Erdogan.

The Turkish leader also noted that his country had provided 32% of the aid sent to Gaza and thanked Sisi for his role in ensuring aid delivery.

On his part, Sisi highlighted the growing ties between Egypt and Türkiye in recent years, particularly through tourism, trade, and investment. He noted the steady increase in Turkish investments in Egypt, especially in manufacturing.

“We signed several memorandums of understanding today during the Strategic Cooperation Council meeting,” Sisi said, adding that the agreements aim to enhance cooperation in investment, trade, transport, agriculture, and tourism.

These deals, he explained, will create a new framework for relations between the two nations.