Saudi Charge d’Affaires to Asharq Al-Awsat: Positive Developments Expected in Beirut-Riyadh Ties

Saudi Charge d'Affaires Walid al-Bukhari holds talks with Speaker Nabih Berri. (NNA)
Saudi Charge d'Affaires Walid al-Bukhari holds talks with Speaker Nabih Berri. (NNA)
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Saudi Charge d’Affaires to Asharq Al-Awsat: Positive Developments Expected in Beirut-Riyadh Ties

Saudi Charge d'Affaires Walid al-Bukhari holds talks with Speaker Nabih Berri. (NNA)
Saudi Charge d'Affaires Walid al-Bukhari holds talks with Speaker Nabih Berri. (NNA)

Saudi Charge d’Affaires in Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari assumed his duties on Tuesday by meeting with senior officials.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Saudi-Lebanese ties are at their best.”

He predicted that they will witness “more positive developments,” reiterating the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s stability and prosperity and constant support to its people and state institutions.

Bukhari was reinstated to his position as Charge d’Affaires on Monday after Saudi Ambassador Walid al-Yaacoub was withdrawn from Beirut over “personal reasons.” He has since returned to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

Bukhari said that the withdrawal was a “procedural” measure and there should be no more speculation over the development than what was already announced.

The Charge d’Affaires held talks on Tuesday with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

After meeting Berri, he said that they discussed bilateral ties and regional developments.

He stressed to the speaker Saudi Arabia’s support to preserving Lebanon’s security and stability.

Bukhari is scheduled to travel to Rome on Wednesday to attend Thursday’s conference on supporting Lebanon’s military and security forces.



EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
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EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)

The European Union on Monday condemned new Israeli measures to tighten control of the West Bank and pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, AFP reported.

"The European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel's security cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. This move is another step in the wrong direction," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists.


Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

 

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

 

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

 

 

 

 


Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.