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Russia's Putin, France's Macron Call for Libya Ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. (Reuters)
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Russia's Putin, France's Macron Call for Libya Ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. (Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and French counterpart Emmanuel Macron called on Friday for a ceasefire in Libya and a return to dialogue, the Kremlin said in a statement following a phone call between the two leaders.

On Thursday, France, Germany and Italy called on forces in Libya to cease fighting and for outside parties to stop any interference in a bid to try and get political talks back on track.

“In light of the growing risks of a deterioration of the situation in Libya ... France, Germany and Italy call on all Libyan parties to immediately and unconditionally cease fighting,” the countries said in a joint statement.

“They also urge foreign actors to end all interference and to fully respect the arms embargo established by the United Nations Security Council.”

Ties between NATO allies France and Turkey have soured in recent weeks over the Libyan conflict.

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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)
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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”.