By Mian Iftikhar Ahmad From Code 100 to Doomsday? Iran, America, and Israel Face to Face: Shadows of Danger over the Strait of Hormuz, a New Alignment in the Gulf, and a Stern Test for Pakistan. The Middle East once again appears to be standing at such a delicate juncture where a minor military step could push the entire region toward a wider war. Reports of Iran’s armed forces adopting an extremely sensitive state of readiness called “Code 100,” U.S. President Donald Trump’s sudden return from Camp David, Israeli Prime…
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Trump Envoy Jared Kushner Arrives in Israel for Gaza Peace Talks
JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Jared Kushner has arrived in Israel and is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, as diplomatic efforts to advance a US-backed Gaza peace plan continue. Kushner’s visit comes shortly after he held rare discussions with representatives of Hamas to discuss the implementation of the proposed Gaza peace framework. The talks reflect renewed US efforts to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas and move negotiations toward the next stage. The diplomatic push follows an announcement by Trump’s Board of Peace…
Read MoreIsrael Approves Funding for 34 New West Bank Settlements
Israel’s security cabinet has approved 1.3 billion shekels ($434 million) to establish 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move likely to intensify international criticism and further complicate prospects for a future Palestinian state. Israel’s security cabinet has approved a 1.3 billion shekel ($434 million) budget to build 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The announcement marks another major expansion of Israeli settlements in the territory and is expected to increase tensions with Palestinians and draw renewed international scrutiny.…
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