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Tunisia to Reopen Mosques on Monday

Members of the Tunisian security forces stand guard on Habib Bourguiba avenue in the capital Tunis on October 29, 2020, after new security measures were taken by the authorities in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. / AFP / FETHI BELAID
Members of the Tunisian security forces stand guard on Habib Bourguiba avenue in the capital Tunis on October 29, 2020, after new security measures were taken by the authorities in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. / AFP / FETHI BELAID
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Tunisia to Reopen Mosques on Monday

Members of the Tunisian security forces stand guard on Habib Bourguiba avenue in the capital Tunis on October 29, 2020, after new security measures were taken by the authorities in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. / AFP / FETHI BELAID
Members of the Tunisian security forces stand guard on Habib Bourguiba avenue in the capital Tunis on October 29, 2020, after new security measures were taken by the authorities in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. / AFP / FETHI BELAID

The Tunisian Minister of Religious Affairs, Ahmed Adhoum, announced during a press conference that mosques will reopen starting Monday, November 23.

He further called for full compliance with protective measures to stem the spread of the pandemic.

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of five religious officials, while 105 contracted the virus, the minister said.

Tunisia has more than 81,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with above 56,000 recoveries and 2,445 deaths. A total of 1,542 were admitted to hospitals, of which 272 in ICU and 138 patients on ventilators.

In the same context, Health Minister Fawzi al-Mahdi said that the authorities will lend an ear to the concerns of several social and economic sectors including restaurants, cafes, and mosques.

The health minister noted that a full lift of the extraordinary health restrictions is unlikely in the meantime.

The scientific committee to combat the coronavirus revealed that restrictions could be eased in case of achieving slight progress. The committee will carry out an assessment after two weeks and will take the necessary decisions based on the outcome.

Dr. Zakir Laheeb stated that Tunisia has witnessed progress in its fight against the pandemic, lauding the prompt measures taken by the Tunisian authorities. Tunisia saved the lives of at least 3,000, according to Laheeb.

The country was recording 50-60 deaths on a daily basis in Oct. but this caseload dropped to half, he added.

Tunisia introduced new COVID-19 restrictions in a bid to slow the rate of new cases from Oct. 29 until Mid-Nov. It extended these measures for three more weeks.

Among the procedures are night-time curfew and a ban on inter-region travel. Cafes and restaurants are to shut from 4:00 pm, and gatherings of more than four people are banned in public spaces, excluding on public transport.

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Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
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Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

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 Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

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)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.