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Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Israeli President Discuss Cooperation, Regional Developments

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (WAM)
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (WAM)
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Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Israeli President Discuss Cooperation, Regional Developments

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (WAM)
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (WAM)

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed with Israeli President Isaac Herzog aspects of cooperation under the Abraham Accords, signed by the two nations in 2020, and several regional and international issues of interest.

Herzog arrived Sunday on an official visit to the UAE and was received by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

An official reception was held for Herzog at the Qasr al-Watan in Abu Dhabi, where he met the Crown Prince.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed Herzog and expressed his hope that this visit would advance the relations between the two countries to a higher level for the good of their peoples and the region.

The two sides also reviewed the prospects of growing cooperation at all levels, especially in the economic, trade, investment, development, technology, health, and other fields.

The meeting dealt with several regional and international issues of common interest, especially the efforts made to achieve peace, stability, and development in the Middle East.

Sheikh Mohammed thanked Herzog for Israel's position regarding the recent attacks on civil facilities in the UAE.

"Your position embodies our common vision toward the necessity of addressing the sources of threats to regional stability and peace, foremost of which is the militia and terrorist forces, and the importance of adopting a firm international stance against them," WAM quoted Sheikh Mohammed.

Sheikh Mohammed indicated that the successive visits of Israeli officials to the UAE confirm that the relations are moving forward, and there is a common and strong will to strengthen them.

He added that the Abraham Accords is a significant turning point in history that embodies the UAE's belief in peace and opens fresh prospects for establishing bilateral partnerships, especially in technology, innovation, health, energy, and other fields.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his confidence that the two countries can present the region with a practical model of peace, and utilize resources and capabilities to create a better future for all.

The Crown Prince noted that Israel's participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai is one of the gains of this peace that will help deepen cooperation and partnership and identify mutual opportunities between Israel and the UAE.

"Our region is one of those that has suffered the most from wars and conflicts. Through peace, we, in the UAE, Israel, and the entire region, can direct resources and energies to serve our peoples and pave the way for a better tomorrow,” said the Crown Prince.

He stressed that reaching a permanent settlement for the Palestinian cause would represent a strong impetus for peace in the entire region, enhance cooperation in facing common challenges, and block the way for extremists and advocates of eternal conflict.

For his part, the Israeli President expressed his delight on his first visit to the UAE and meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince.

He lauded the level of cooperation between the two countries and the advanced steps they are taking to build on the Abraham Accords.

Herzog noted that this visit means a lot to him and the people of Israel, who look forward to promoting peaceful coexistence and the peace agreement.

The President added that his visit is reflective of the vision toward peace that he's carrying forward to the entire region.

"We are both two successful countries; we have developed our nations and become a global model for success in many fields, foremost of which is how to lead and develop a country with an ambitious vision for the future," the Israeli President said.

He added that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundation for a bright future for the UAE.

"You [Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan] are following in his footsteps by continuing his legacy in a way that delivers a message to the entire region that there is an alternative, which is peace, coexistence, and cooperation for the higher good of mankind,” said Herzog.

"I fully agree with Your Highness that the message of peace is the cornerstone of our relationship and that we must strive for peace to achieve a better life, hope, and a peaceful future for the benefit of all in the region," he added.

He expressed Israel's keenness in developing cooperation with the UAE in all fields to serve their mutual interests and contribute to achieving stability and development for the peoples of the entire region.

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Gulf

World Defense Show Ends in Riyadh with 220 Deals, 60 Arms Contracts

Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries says show drew 137,000 visitors (World Defense Show)
Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries says show drew 137,000 visitors (World Defense Show)
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World Defense Show Ends in Riyadh with 220 Deals, 60 Arms Contracts

Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries says show drew 137,000 visitors (World Defense Show)
Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries says show drew 137,000 visitors (World Defense Show)

Engineer Ahmad Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, said the third edition of the World Defense Show was the product of two years of coordinated work by government entities and private sector partners to deliver what he described as a landmark event.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Malham, north of Riyadh, Al-Ohali said the exhibition was held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, with the follow-up and supervision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and inaugurated under the patronage of Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman.

The authority organizes the show every two years as part of its mandate to build and support the military industries sector, he said, in a drive to boost military readiness, advance self-sufficiency, and meet Saudi Vision 2030’s target of localizing more than 50 percent of military spending by 2030.

Held under the theme “Future of Defense Integration,” the exhibition showcased what Al-Ohali described as a shift toward a fully integrated defense ecosystem rooted in partnerships, innovation, technology transfer, stronger supply chains, and the development of national talent.

This year’s edition, he said, stood out for its local innovations, the Defense Industry Lab, Saudi capabilities and homegrown talent, alongside closer alignment between education, training and sector needs.

Saudi Arabia has made what Al-Ohali called a historic leap in localizing military spending, rising from 4 percent in 2018 to 25 percent by the end of 2024, a fourfold increase in eight years.

The national workforce in the sector grew from 25,000 in 2020 to 34,000, an increase of about 40 percent, with Saudis now accounting for 63 percent of total employees.

He said the gains reflect a structural transformation since the authority’s establishment in 2018, with the sector moving from full dependence on imports to building an integrated and sustainable national industrial base.

“This is still the beginning,” he said, reaffirming the goal of surpassing 50 percent localization and achieving high local content by 2030.

Al-Ohali said 26 government entities backed the preparation and execution of the show. Over five days, the third edition set records, attracting 1,486 local and international exhibitors from 89 countries, including the world’s top 10 defense companies.

The event hosted 513 official delegations representing 121 governments and attracted 137,000 visitors. Exhibition space expanded to more than 272,000 square meters, up 58 percent from the previous edition, with four halls compared with three in earlier editions.

One of the region’s largest specialized aerial and static displays featured 63 static aircraft and 25 aircraft in live air shows, including F-16, F-15, F-35, and Typhoon jets, with participation from the Saudi Falcons and South Korea’s Black Eagles.

The static display area included around 700 military assets. A dedicated naval platform featured participation from 10 countries, alongside an outdoor platform for unmanned systems and a zone for live land demonstrations.

Al-Ohali said the exhibition generated 73 memorandums of understanding and 220 agreements in total, including 93 intergovernmental deals and 127 agreements between companies. Sixty arms procurement contracts were signed, totaling 33 billion riyals, exceeding the totals recorded in the two previous editions.

He said the agreements, memorandums, meetings, and contracts were central to the exhibition’s objectives. The strong turnout, he added, signaled international confidence in Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner and an attractive destination for defense investment, reflecting growing trust in the Kingdom’s investment environment, particularly in military industries.

Planning has already begun for the next edition in 2028, Al-Ohali said, adding that the third edition demonstrated the sector’s ability to deliver results.

The exhibition is no longer just a display space, he said. It has become an active platform to shape the future of defense integration, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as an international hub for integrated defense industries.

He said the Kingdom will continue strengthening its standing among nations that manufacture and develop military technologies, aiming to become a regional and global center in this strategic field.

Gulf

UNRWA’s Lazzarini Warns Ignoring Gaza Risks New Generation of Anger

Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Photo: Turky Alagili
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Photo: Turky Alagili
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UNRWA’s Lazzarini Warns Ignoring Gaza Risks New Generation of Anger

Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Photo: Turky Alagili
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Photo: Turky Alagili

Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, says UNRWA’s future cannot remain “hostage indefinitely” to the absence of a political solution, as he prepares to leave his post next month.

In a wide-ranging interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Lazzarini called for a gradual shift in how services are delivered, allowing Palestinian institutions to eventually build the capacity to take over.

At the same time, he warned that abandoning nearly 2 million people in Gaza, half of them children, to trauma and hopelessness risks sowing the seeds of new generations of anger.

Strong backing from Saudi Arabia

Lazzarini said UNRWA’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia is “strong,” both financially and politically.

Riyadh, he said, is deeply engaged in the political process and works with the EU under the umbrella of the “Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” where UNRWA has been invited to be part of the broader discussions.

For Lazzarini, sustainable access to essential services must rest on a clear political framework. Saudi Arabia and other partners in the alliance have helped provide that framework and voiced firm political support for the agency during what he described as a challenging period.

He said the Kingdom’s level of political engagement and the initiatives advanced within the alliance left a strong impression. Inviting a humanitarian-development agency such as UNRWA into discussions about the future of Palestinian institutions, he said, reflects the seriousness of that partnership.

A funding squeeze and a “silent war”

UNRWA is also battling a chronic funding crisis. After a year of austerity, Lazzarini said he was forced weeks ago to cut services by around 20%, including health care and education, affecting beneficiaries directly.

Beyond Gaza, he warned of what he called a “silent war” in the occupied West Bank, overshadowed by events in the enclave.

Over the past two years, developments there have come “close to de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank,” he said. Settlement expansion has accelerated. Settler violence has risen “with little accountability.” Large-scale security operations, especially in Jenin and Tulkarm, have emptied camps and displaced large numbers of residents.

Palestinian refugee children are seen at a camp in Gaza city. Reuters

Gaza pushed beyond the brink

What has happened in Gaza, Lazzarini said, “defies description.” The suffering, he added, is “unbearable.”

Once described as an open-air prison, Gaza has, after more than two years of unrelenting war, become a landscape of daily atrocities carried out almost around the clock, before the eyes of the world.

Between 80% and 90% of the territory has been destroyed, he said, leaving behind a “post-catastrophic” environment. The population is in constant flight. More than 70,000 people have been killed, according to estimates, not counting those still buried beneath the rubble.

He described systematic starvation driven by political decisions and efforts to make life in the enclave untenable, pushing residents toward departure.

More than 380 UNRWA staff members have been killed, he said. Others were detained and tortured. Agency facilities were struck. The violations of international law, he added, have gone largely unpunished, deepening what he called a climate of impunity.

Political targeting and pressure

Lazzarini said he himself faced “political and diplomatic targeting” during his tenure, tied not to his person but to his office and what UNRWA represents.

After his first visit to Gaza, he was declared persona non grata and barred from returning, with instructions issued not to engage with him.

The targeting was not directed personally as much as at the function and the symbolism of UNRWA, he said. Some Israeli officials, he noted, have openly stated that their objective is to end the agency’s role, seeing it as perpetuating the refugee issue.

UNRWA’s 75-year existence, he argued, does not explain the problem. Instead, it reflects the international community’s failure to reach a just and lasting political solution.

The two-state solution

Lazzarini reaffirmed that the two-state path remains “a fundamental option,” but warned that developments in Gaza and the West Bank are pushing any serious political horizon further out of reach.

The events after Oct. 7, he said, should have been “a wake-up call.” This conflict, he stressed, cannot be left unresolved.

Nearly 2 million people in Gaza, half of them children, are living in profound trauma with no clear future. Ignoring that reality, he warned, means planting anger in a new generation, with consequences for the region’s stability.

He also voiced concern that solidarity and compassion are no longer driving international responses as they once did. In both Gaza and Sudan, he said, he sensed “a great deal of indifference” toward vast humanitarian crises.

Yet he insisted the core lesson is to hold fast to humanitarian values, however bleak the circumstances. The alternative, he warned, is a world stripped of standards and restraint, ruled by the law of the jungle rather than international law.

For Lazzarini, sustainable access to essential services must rest on a clear political framework.

Rethinking UNRWA’s future

Looking ahead, Lazzarini said UNRWA cannot continue indefinitely in its current form.

He called for a phased transition in service delivery, enabling Palestinian institutions to build capacity to assume those responsibilities over time.

The agency must remain the custodian of the refugee cause until a just solution is achieved, he said. But the mechanics of delivering services should not remain frozen, waiting endlessly for a political breakthrough.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Issues Royal Orders Appointing New Ministers, Governors

File photo of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz - SPA
File photo of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Issues Royal Orders Appointing New Ministers, Governors

File photo of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz - SPA
File photo of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz - SPA

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a series of Royal Decrees on Thursday including a decree appointing Fahd Al Saif as the new investment minister, replacing Khalid Al-Falih.

Al Saif was previously head of the PIF's investment strategy and economic insights division. Al-Falih has instead been appointed as a Minister of State and a member of the cabinet.

Other Royal Decrees were also issued as follows:

Abdullah Al-Maghlouth shall be appointed Vice Minister of Media.
Abdulmohsen Al-Mazyad shall be appointed Vice Minister of Tourism.
Khalid Al-Yousef shall be appointed Attorney General.
Sheikh Ali Al-Ahaideb shall be appointed President of the Board of Grievances.
Faihan Al-Sahli shall be appointed Director General of the General Directorate of Investigation.
Abdulaziz Al-Arifi shall be appointed Governor of the National Development Fund.
Haytham Al-Ohali shall be appointed Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission.
Fawaz Al-Sahli shall be appointed President of the Transport General Authority.