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Egypt Hosts African Officials

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meets with Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan for Economic Affairs James Wani Igga and the accompanying delegations (Egyptian Presidency)
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meets with Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan for Economic Affairs James Wani Igga and the accompanying delegations (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt Hosts African Officials

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meets with Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan for Economic Affairs James Wani Igga and the accompanying delegations (Egyptian Presidency)
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi meets with Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan for Economic Affairs James Wani Igga and the accompanying delegations (Egyptian Presidency)

Officials from major African countries and institutions have held talks in Cairo with their Egyptian counterparts on bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

The meetings included a high-level delegation from South Sudan, led by its Vice President for Economic Affairs, James Wani Igga, and the Prime Minister of Congo, Sama Lokonde Kenji, and President of the African Finance Corporation well as Samila Zubayro.

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Igga and the accompanying delegation in the presence of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Director of the General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel, and several ministers.

An Egyptian presidential statement said that Sisi appreciated the close relations with the President of South Sudan, embodied in his visit to Juba last November.

Sisi welcomed the first session of the joint higher committee between the two countries in Cairo, which confirms both sides' shared interest in strengthening and advancing bilateral relations in various fields.

"These relations, in turn, would set an example for a strategic development partnership to follow among the Nile Basin countries."

The President also affirmed Egypt's determination to continue providing technical support to South Sudan at all levels, especially in development, to benefit from its experience in agricultural production, irrigation, health and education.

Egypt is keen to provide South Sudan with economic support, in light of its financial integration process in several areas such as investment, trade exchange, energy, infrastructure, and petroleum.

Igga expressed his country's great appreciation for Egypt, its people, and its leadership.

He praised the continuous development in bilateral relations between the two countries, representing a fundamental pillar of development, construction, and progress in South Sudan.

Igga also expressed gratitude to the Egyptian government and people for providing humanitarian aid to the citizens of South Sudan, especially amid the recent crises that hit Juba- the floods, locust infestation, coronavirus outbreak, and the difficult economic conditions.

"This aid reflects the strong ties between the two brotherly countries," read the statement.

Meanwhile, officials held the preparatory meetings for the Egyptian-South Sudanese High Committee in Cairo at the ministerial level.

Madbouly met with his Congolese counterpart Sama Lukonde Kyenge on Tuesday to discuss means to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The Egyptian prime minister praised the developments in bilateral cooperation, lauding the coordination between the two political leaderships.

Kyenge expressed hope to obtain Cairo's support for the new Kitoko city project by benefiting from Egypt's experiences in implementing the new administrative capital project.

Furthermore, the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla, met with the President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Samaila Zubairu, and the accompanying delegation to discuss cooperation opportunities, the ministry said in a statement.

During the meeting, Molla highlighted the recent success stories in the oil and gas industry and the ongoing and the targeted projects in petroleum infrastructure, petrochemicals, and mining.

Molla expressed the sector's keenness to establish a successful partnership with AFC and work together for constructive cooperation in the new projects and contribute to achieving its objectives and investment plans.

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Arab World

Report: Alleged Spy’s Escape in Lebanon Exposes Israel’s Shadow War on Hezbollah

People gather at the site of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs, Sept. 29, 2024 (AP/File photo)
People gather at the site of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs, Sept. 29, 2024 (AP/File photo)
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Report: Alleged Spy’s Escape in Lebanon Exposes Israel’s Shadow War on Hezbollah

People gather at the site of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs, Sept. 29, 2024 (AP/File photo)
People gather at the site of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s Southern Suburbs, Sept. 29, 2024 (AP/File photo)

As Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs last March and residents fled in panic, one man found his opportunity.

Amid the chaos, he slipped out of his imprisonment in a Hezbollah cell and made his way to Baabda, the green, upscale diplomatic district overlooking the Lebanese capital, where he disappeared behind the gates of the Ukrainian Embassy.

His whereabouts remain unclear, according to The Associated Press, in a case that has become part of a broader intelligence battle as Hezbollah tries to identify alleged Israeli operatives they believe are linked to Israel.

The man identified by Lebanese officials as Khaled al-Aydi is said to be a Palestinian refugee from Syria who also holds Ukrainian citizenship.

He had been detained by Hezbollah in the Beirut suburbs and accused by Lebanese officials of being part of a thwarted Israeli intelligence plot to carry out bombings and assassinations.

Details of al-Aydi's escape and a Lebanese military court's case against him were provided by three judicial officials and two senior security officials in Lebanon who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. A senior political official in Hezbollah also provided details.

Al-Aydi's disappearance could have political implications for the Lebanese government, which has largely remained silent about the case.

If evidence were to emerge that al-Aydi escaped Lebanon with help from the government, it could inflame tensions with Hezbollah's base. The government already faces scrutiny for directly negotiating with Israel, which has been engaged in fierce fighting with Hezbollah since the early days of the Iran war.

The Ukrainian Embassy asked Lebanese authorities in March to facilitate al-Aydi’s departure from the country after he escaped Hezbollah detention, according to a Lebanese official document obtained by The Associated Press. But Lebanon’s General Security agency refused, saying a judicial warrant for his arrest had been issued earlier, according to the document.

A Ukrainian official with knowledge of the case said al-Aydi is not in the Ukrainian Embassy or its compound in Lebanon. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, would not say where al-Aydi is — and out of concern for the security of the embassy and its personnel, would not say whether al-Aydi was ever in the embassy, or whether Ukraine helped him escape.

Using human and high-tech surveillance, Israel has cultivated far-reaching intelligence networks in Lebanon. That has helped it carry out dramatic operations against Hezbollah.

In the most elaborate example, Israel infiltrated Hezbollah’s supply chain and sent the party thousands of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies. Israel remotely detonated the devices in September 2024, killing tens of people. Also, Israel's intelligence within Hezbollah allowed it to hit the group's senior leaders and field commanders “with relative ease,” analysts said.

In return, Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have stepped up efforts against alleged spy networks.

Lebanese judicial officials said dozens of suspects have been convicted and are serving sentences, while others remain under investigation.

Cases filed in Lebanon’s military court describe operatives being paid to provide intelligence on Hezbollah weapons depots and political offices. Many of the alleged agents were recruited by Israeli handlers through social media, judicial officials said.

Other suspects are charged with providing the Mossad with maps and coordinates of key Hezbollah sites later struck in Israeli operations.

“It’s ironic that they (Hezbollah) were spending a lot of time accusing their opponents of being Israeli spies, and it turns out that the spies were actually from within the organization and its support base,” said Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.

Al-Aydi’s Disappearance Complicates Situation

Conflicting reports emerged about the whereabouts of al-Aydi. Some security officials said the man is believed to have left Lebanon. It remains unclear whether he crossed into Syria or any other country.

The disappearance comes as relations between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah are at a low point.

The government was angered by Hezbollah’s unilateral decision to enter another war with Israel, while the party is furious the government has chosen to negotiate a ceasefire and potentially wider security and political agreement directly with Israel.

Al-Aydi’s escape could exacerbate tensions and put the Lebanese state in a difficult situation.
If Lebanese authorities refused to let al-Aydi leave the country, the US and Ukraine were “well-positioned to exert significant pressure” to secure his release, said Hage Ali.

On the other hand, if the state is seen to have let al-Aydi escape, it would inflame internal tensions, he said.

Arab World

Arab Parliament Speaker Condemns Knesset Approval of Bill on Palestinian Tax Revenues

One of the meetings in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) (Knesset website)
One of the meetings in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) (Knesset website)
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Arab Parliament Speaker Condemns Knesset Approval of Bill on Palestinian Tax Revenues

One of the meetings in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) (Knesset website)
One of the meetings in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) (Knesset website)

Arab Parliament Speaker Mohamed Al-Yamahi condemned the Israeli Knesset's approval of a bill allowing broader seizure of Palestinian tax revenues, saying the move violates international law and signed agreements and reflects Israel's continued use of collective punishment against the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Al-Yamahi said the continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues constitutes a direct violation of the economic rights of the Palestinian people and a deliberate attempt to weaken the Palestinian National Authority and undermine its ability to fulfill its basic obligations.

He called on the international community, the United Nations Security Council, and regional and international parliaments to take urgent action to pressure Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Palestinian tax funds.

He also urged efforts to hold them accountable for repeated violations of international law and international legitimacy resolutions and to suspend the Knesset's participation in international parliamentary forums.

Arab World

Israeli Settlers Impeded Firefighting Near West Bank Village, Palestinians Say

Smoke rises after Israeli settlers reportedly set fire to agricultural fields surrounding the village of Taybeh, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 10, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises after Israeli settlers reportedly set fire to agricultural fields surrounding the village of Taybeh, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Israeli Settlers Impeded Firefighting Near West Bank Village, Palestinians Say

Smoke rises after Israeli settlers reportedly set fire to agricultural fields surrounding the village of Taybeh, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 10, 2026. (AFP)
Smoke rises after Israeli settlers reportedly set fire to agricultural fields surrounding the village of Taybeh, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 10, 2026. (AFP)

Israeli settlers obstructed Palestinians putting out a large blaze near a Christian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank late on Tuesday, a local priest and Palestinian civil defense firefighters said.

The incident comes amid rising strife in the West Bank, where some Western countries announced sanctions on settler groups this week over violent Israeli attacks on Palestinians.

Father Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest of Taybeh, said settlers had shot firearms and surrounded people trying to take a water tanker to the site to fight the fire.

The Israeli military also temporarily stopped firefighters reaching the blaze while they arranged security coordination, Palestinian Authority Civil Defense spokesperson Nael ‌al-Azza said.

The firefighters were ‌eventually able to reach the fire and put it out, ‌though ⁠settlers continued trying ⁠to obstruct them, Fawadleh and Azza said.

Israel's military did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the incident.

'ONGOING PATTERN OF INTIMIDATION'

Reuters visited the village on Wednesday and smoke was still rising from a large area of burned hillside.

Fawadleh said he believed the fire was a result of arson, but he did not say who he thought was responsible.

"What we are experiencing is not a series of isolated incidents, but an ⁠ongoing pattern of intimidation and unjustified violence that undermines our ‌fundamental right to safety, security, and dignity," he said ‌in a statement.

The West Bank and Jerusalem are home to around 50,000 Palestinian Christians, members ‌of a religious community there stretching back to antiquity in a region that is ‌home to many of the faith's most important holy sites.

Taybeh is one of the only Christian villages remaining in the West Bank and was visited last year by the Greek Orthodox patriarch and the Roman Catholic cardinal of Jerusalem.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 3.4 million Palestinians ‌in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part ⁠of a future ⁠state.

A UN inquiry released on Tuesday found that Israeli authorities were directly involved in settler attacks that have killed, injured and displaced Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israel's mission in Geneva rejected that report's findings. Israel says its military and police maintain security in the West Bank and condemn any forms of violence.

Governance in the West Bank has been split since the 1993 Oslo Accords into different zones delineating Israeli military and Palestinian Authority control.

Parts of Taybeh are located in Area B, where the PA runs civil administration but where security control must be coordinated with Israeli authorities.

The movement and deployment of Palestinian emergency responders into Area B generally requires coordination with Israeli security bodies, Palestinians say.

Although the PA has a Civil Defense center in Taybeh, the Israeli military prevented them accessing the site of the fire until the security coordination was complete, Azza said.