Iraqi MP Arrested Over Bribery Chargers

Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
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Iraqi MP Arrested Over Bribery Chargers

Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

Delivering a severe blow to Iraq’s legislative body, the country’s Commission of Integrity (COI) announced arresting MP Mahmoud Mulla Talal on bribery charges.

This comes one day after the rescheduling of the parliamentary session in which the Minister of Industry Saleh al-Jubouri was supposed to be grilled by the arrested deputy.

Talal is suspected to have received bribery from the minister or a third party, as reported by the Commission.

It is worth noting that the Iraqi parliament has recently lifted immunity off lawmakers accused of bribery or other crimes.

No clarification was given by either parliament or the bloc to which the accused deputy belongs, the Wisdom Bloc.

“MP Mahmoud Mulla Talal will be released in the case truth is revealed,” Wisdom Bloc spokesperson MP Assaad Al-Murshidi said, pointing fingers at Jubouri for allegedly fabricating the charges against the arrested MP.

The COI also announced the issuance of arrest warrants for former Minister of Health Adela Humood Alaboudi, two current deputies, and former governors as part of its major campaign against corruption.

In the same context, the COI in Karkh issued an arrest warrant for MP Ahmed al-Jubouri.



EU Tells Israel to Reverse Move to Cut Off Palestinian Banks

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, 11 January 2023. (EPA)
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, 11 January 2023. (EPA)
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EU Tells Israel to Reverse Move to Cut Off Palestinian Banks

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, 11 January 2023. (EPA)
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich holds a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (not pictured) at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, 11 January 2023. (EPA)

The EU on Wednesday urged Israel to undo a move by a far-right minister that threatens to paralyze Palestinian financial institutions.

Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Tuesday that Israel had cancelled a waiver allowing its banks to work with Palestinian ones.

"The European Union is deeply concerned by the instruction by Israel's finance minister Smotrich to cancel the waiver on cooperation with Palestinian banks, which could cut them off from the Israeli financial system, devastate an already crippled Palestinian economy, and may lead to the collapse of the Palestinian Authority," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.

"The EU calls on Israel to revert this decision immediately and to refrain from any action that could lead to the collapse of the Palestinian authority."

The Palestinian financial and banking system is dependent on the regular renewal of the Israeli waiver.

It protects Israeli banks from potential legal action relating to transactions with their Palestinian counterparts, for instance in relation to “financing terror”.