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Libya Eases Coronavirus Restrictions, Reopens Border with Tunisia

Libyans wait to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Tripoli last Wednesday. (AFP)
Libyans wait to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Tripoli last Wednesday. (AFP)
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Libya Eases Coronavirus Restrictions, Reopens Border with Tunisia

Libyans wait to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Tripoli last Wednesday. (AFP)
Libyans wait to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Tripoli last Wednesday. (AFP)

Libya has started relaxing the coronavirus-related restrictions. The Government of National Unity announced that land crossings will reopen and air travel with Tunisia will resume as of Thursday.

However, it urged the people to continue to comply with preventative precautions to fight the pandemic.

Authorities stated that the epidemic situation in the country is reassuring following a decline in infections.

Official figures, however, showed that more than 2,000 cases were being recorded daily.

Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Adel Gomaa directed Minister of Transportation Muhammad Salem Al-Shahoubi and Minister of Interior Khaled Mazen to reopen the border crossings with Tunisia.

Libya closed land and air borders with its neighbor in July in an effort to limit the spread of the virus.

Libya registered 2,325 coronavirus new cases and 12 deaths, said the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 289,000 and 209,000 recoveries.

Malta and Greece have respectively sent 40,000 and 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Libya. A total of 890,000 people have so far been inoculated.

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EU’s Borrell Urges Israel to Accept Lebanon Ceasefire ‘Today’

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
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EU’s Borrell Urges Israel to Accept Lebanon Ceasefire ‘Today’

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell gives a statement to the media after his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

The European Union's foreign policy chief urged the Israeli government on Tuesday to back a proposed ceasefire deal in Lebanon which he said has all the necessary security guarantees for Israel.

Speaking at a G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy, Josep Borrell said there was no excuse for not implementing the deal with Iran-backed Hezbollah, adding pressure should be exerted on Israel to approve it immediately.

"Let's hope that today (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu will approve the ceasefire agreement proposed by the US and France. No more excuses. No more additional requests," Borrell said, criticizing hard-line Israeli ministers who have spoken against the deal.

Israel looks set to approve a US plan for a ceasefire with Hezbollah on Tuesday, a senior Israeli official said.

Borrell, who said he discussed prospects for a deal in a recent trip to Lebanon, said one of the sticking points was whether France should be included in a committee monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire, which the US is due to chair.

He said the Lebanese have specifically asked for France's involvement, but the Israelis have misgivings.

"This is one of the points that are still missing," he said.

Borrell also criticized what he saw as Western double standards on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense chief, and a Hamas leader, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

"You cannot applaud when the court goes against (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and remain silent when the court goes against Netanyahu," he said, urging European Union member states to support the ICC.

Italy, which holds the G7 presidency, said on Monday it was trying to broker a common position for the group on the ICC decision, but progress is hard since the US has said it does not recognizethe jurisdiction of the court and opposes the arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

The G7 comprises the US, Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Canada and Japan.