Israel Says Will Continue to Attack Syria Despite Return to Arab League

An Israeli raid on Syria targeting the sites of the regime forces and Iranian militias (File photo: AFP)
An Israeli raid on Syria targeting the sites of the regime forces and Iranian militias (File photo: AFP)
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Israel Says Will Continue to Attack Syria Despite Return to Arab League

An Israeli raid on Syria targeting the sites of the regime forces and Iranian militias (File photo: AFP)
An Israeli raid on Syria targeting the sites of the regime forces and Iranian militias (File photo: AFP)

Syria's return to the Arab League will not affect Israel's action inside Syrian territory, according to an Israeli official.

The official confirmed that his government had conveyed clear messages to the international community, stating that Syria's legitimacy would not prevent Tel Aviv from attacking it and would not affect Israel's actions.

The Israeli security establishment expressed concerns about Syria's readmission into the Arab League after 12 years of suspension.

Ynet Hebrew website reported that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with senior security officials last week to assess Syria's return to the Arab League.

Sources said Israel is waiting to assess the situation, but its policy would not change.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad participated in the 32nd Arab summit held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday after the Arab League announced the participation of Syrian delegations in its meetings and affiliated bodies and organizations as of May 7.

Israel regularly raids Syrian territories and targets Iranian sites in Syria.

Syrian media accused Israel about two weeks ago of an attack in Aleppo, killing a Syrian soldier and injuring several others, including civilians.

Last Thursday, Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets over the Quneitra area, warning Syrian army commanders to cooperate with Hezbollah.

The flyers warned the Syrian regime against cooperating with the Iranian-backed group, saying that regime forces procure security passes at checkpoints for Hezbollah elements threatening Israel.

Israel also called on the regime to change its policy of tolerating Hezbollah's presence in the region.

Earlier, the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, praised the remarkable defense progress of Hezbollah, which now possesses advanced technologies.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran is preparing for possible new attacks against Israel.

The report said that the commander of the al-Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, held a series of meetings in recent weeks with leaders of armed groups across the region, including groups fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Qaani urged them to take quick action, adding that Iran would provide the necessary tools to carry out attacks to deter Israel from making its strikes.

Israel says it is ready for a multi-front confrontation.



Tunisia Groups Urge Inclusion of Rejected Candidates in Poll

FILE PHOTO: Tunisian President Kais Saied attends a signing ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 31, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tunisian President Kais Saied attends a signing ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 31, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo/File Photo
TT

Tunisia Groups Urge Inclusion of Rejected Candidates in Poll

FILE PHOTO: Tunisian President Kais Saied attends a signing ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 31, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tunisian President Kais Saied attends a signing ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 31, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Pool/File Photo/File Photo

A petition signed by prominent Tunisians and civil society groups was published on Saturday urging that rejected candidates be allowed to stand in the October 6 presidential election, Agence France Presse reported.

Signed by 26 groups including Legal Agenda, Lawyers Without Borders and the Tunisian Human Rights League, it welcomed an administrative court decision this week to reinstate three candidates who had been disqualified.

They are Imed Daimi, who was an adviser to former president Moncef Marzouki, former minister Mondher Zenaidi and opposition party leader Abdellatif Mekki.

The three were among 14 candidates barred by the Tunisian election authority, ISIE, from standing in the election.

If they do take part, they will join former parliamentarian Zouhair Maghzaoui and businessman Ayachi Zammel in challenging incumbent President Kais Saied.

Saturday's petition was also signed by more than 180 civil society figures including Wahid Ferchichi, dean of the public law faculty at Carthage University.

It called the administrative court "the only competent authority to adjudicate disputes related to presidential election candidacies.”

The petition referred to statements by ISIE head Farouk Bouasker, who on Thursday indicated that the authority will soon meet to finalize the list of candidates, "taking into consideration judicial judgements already pronounced.”

This has been interpreted as suggesting the ISIE may reject new candidacies if they are the subject of legal proceedings or have convictions.

The administrative court's rulings on appeals "are enforceable and cannot be contested by any means whatsoever,” the petition said.

It called on the electoral authority to "respect the law and avoid any practice that could undermine the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.”