Algerian President in Italy Discusses Energy, Renewed Clashes in Libya

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
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Algerian President in Italy Discusses Energy, Renewed Clashes in Libya

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune (APZ)

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune discussed in Italy the European need for gas, the renewed clashes in Libya, illegal migration, the instability in the Sahel region, and the war on terrorism.

Earlier, Tebboune announced that his country was determined to adopt the Italian experience to establish small and medium enterprises.

The Algerian presidency had announced in a statement that Tebboune would start a three-day state visit to Italy on Wednesday at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella.

"This visit is of paramount importance to the historical friendship relations and the development of bilateral ties in various fields, particularly business cooperation. The visit is also part of the new vision of the two heads of state and their willingness to give a fresh impetus to dialogue and strategic cooperation between the two neighboring and sisterly countries," said the statement.

It also aims to create a new dynamic for dialogue and strategic cooperation between the two neighboring and friendly countries.

The statement did not refer to the matters discussed between Tebboune and Italy’s President and Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

However, diplomatic sources confirmed that several issues would be addressed, namely the partnership with Italy to transfer its experience in small and medium enterprises.

Algeria wants SMEs as a pillar for its economic launch after it pledged to supply all of Rome's gas needs to replace Russian gas that was suspended due to the Ukraine crisis.

Furthermore, the sources highlighted that both Algeria and Italy are concerned about the situation in Libya and the return of hostilities between the warring parties.

They agreed on the need to hold general elections as the only solution to restore stability in the country.

On the issue of illegal migrants, the two sides explained that Algeria wants to boost its cooperation with Italy to stop the flow of illegal migrants, which has become a source of great concern for the two governments.

Meanwhile, the Italian Ambassador to Algeria, Giovanni Polizzi, stressed the importance of Tebboune's visit to Italy, noting that the intensity and frequency of bilateral visits at the highest level certainly reflect the excellent level of bilateral relations between Italy and Algeria.

In an interview with the El-Khabar newspaper, Polizzi recalled many important examples of Italian investments in Algeria.

"There are important examples of Italian investments in Algeria: I am naturally thinking of the hydrocarbons sector (with the main role of Eni), but also of the steel industry, defense, or, more recently, renewable energies," said the ambassador.

Polizzi added that Italy is committed to increasing the volume of investments and that Rome follows with interest the developments after implementing the new investment law, hoping to improve the business climate.



Israeli Cabinet Approves Expansion of Gaza Offensive

Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
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Israeli Cabinet Approves Expansion of Gaza Offensive

Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Israeli soldiers walk in the grounds of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim attacked by Palestinian Hamas group earlier this month, close to the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet has approved a gradual expansion of the offensive against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Monday, citing sources with knowledge of the details.

The Israeli military has already begun issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for its reserve forces, looking to expand the Gaza campaign, army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement on Sunday.

In a video message posted on X on Sunday, hours after part of a missile launched from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia fell close to Israel's main gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu said he was convening the security cabinet to discuss "the next stage" of the war in Gaza.

"We are increasing the pressure with the goal of returning our people (hostages) and defeating Hamas," Zamir told troops, according to the statement from the army.

Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza in March after the collapse of a US-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months, Reuters said.

The security cabinet also approved a new plan for aid distribution in Gaza, Israel’s Ynet news website reported on Monday, though it was unclear when supplies would be let in to the enclave.

Israel is in control of around a third of Gaza's territory and has faced growing international pressure to lift an aid blockade that it imposed in March.

Israel has defended the blockade by saying that Hamas has seized aid intended for civilians and kept it for its own fighters or sold it, charges that Hamas has denied.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas attack on Oct 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza in the deadliest day for Israel in its history.

The campaign has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities and devastated the Gaza Strip, leaving its 2.3 million population depending on aid supplies that have been dwindling rapidly since the blockade.