This week has seen a number of events unfold in the Middle East and North Africa. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers rampaged through Palestinian villages, leaving one dead and hundreds injured. The violence was met with condemnation from Israeli officials, though some ministers backed the actions of the settlers. Meanwhile, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has been receiving visitors from several Arab states, as the country continues to recover from a devastating civil war and recent earthquakes. In Tunisia, President Kais Saied has been accused of racism for his comments about African migrants, while in Turkey, Besiktas fans donated teddy bears to child survivors of the earthquakes.
In Sudan, this week marks 20 years since the start of the war in Darfur. The conflict has resulted in 300,000 deaths and 2.5 million displacements, and despite a peace agreement in 2020, violence still continues. Meanwhile, in Iran, the death of an Asiatic cheetah cub named Pirouz has sparked a wider discussion about environmental issues and mismanagement in the country.
In conclusion, this week has seen a number of events across the Middle East and North Africa, with violence in the West Bank, diplomatic overtures in Syria, racism in Tunisia, and environmental issues in Iran all coming to the fore. As we look ahead to the coming weeks and months, it is important to remember that these issues are all interconnected, and that they will continue to have an impact on the region for years to come.