Al-Nawawi and “Hajj Airlines” are two Saudi demands that occupy Israel, and “Ibrahimiya” is on its way to the “Negev” : Saudi Arabia

After a few weeks carrying headlines referring to contacts for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, high-ranking Israeli figures have recently made it clear that contacts are still far from maturity. A number of issues weigh on the possibility of a breakthrough, including Saudi Arabia's demand to establish a civilian nuclear program, which raises great suspicions in Israel and the United States. There is hope that steps to build confidence will precede a major agreement, such as the opening of a direct flight line between Israel and Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season for Israeli Muslim pilgrims, which may not be achieved this year.

A high-ranking Israeli source who spoke to Haaretz indicated that there are basic difficulties in communication stemming from Saudi Arabia's desire to obtain advanced American weapons, as well as the demand for a green light to build a civilian nuclear reactor. These items may be problematic for Israel: the first, due to the erosion of Israel's qualitative military superiority in the Middle East, and the second, due to the inherent possibility that a civilian nuclear reactor will be transformed in the future into a base for developing nuclear weapons in Saudi Arabia, which will put an end to the nuclear monopoly attributed to Israel in the region. “Joe Biden wants to reach an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia to present the matter as an international achievement in his election campaign next year, but he will have a problem if the price is a nuclear reactor in Saudi Arabia,” said the senior Israeli source.

The head of the National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, said yesterday to “The Voice of the Army” that “Saudi Arabia’s requests are from the United States, and the United States is ready to pay them in return for the agreement, and this is an American dilemma.” He added: “We do not realize what is happening in the corridors of Saudi Arabia-America. There are issues that need the approval of the US Congress, and we have nothing to do with it. Hanegbi said in the nuclear context, “The Americans will not advance this issue before Saudi Arabia without making close contacts with us. There is a problem if a particular country wants a civilian nuclear reactor because it is interested in exploiting it in favor of achieving a military capability.” Israel estimates that it will need at least a few months to find a solution to these issues.

Last month, the Director General of the Foreign Ministry, Ronen Levy, who has held a key position in recent years in Israel's relations with the Arab world, visited Washington. Levy, the largest Israeli figure, visited the US capital recently, against the backdrop of US President Joe Biden's refusal to invite Netanyahu. In the meetings that Levy held with the leadership of the US State Department, the possibility of offering gestures of goodwill between Israel and Saudi Arabia was raised for discussion even before seeking to reach a comprehensive normalization agreement between the two countries. A major part of Levy's visit was devoted to discussing the possibility of launching a direct airline between the two countries next month, aimed at serving civilian Muslims who want to perform Hajj in the coming period. Israel expressed optimism about the idea, but Hanegbi said in an interview yesterday that the short timetable that remained until the pilgrimage season in mid-June prevents its implementation in the current year.

Another reason for skepticism about hajj flights is the fact that most of the Israeli citizens who want to go on hajj this year have bought tickets via Jordan at this point. It is estimated that about 5,000 Arab citizens will participate in the Hajj season this year. A source involved in organizing Hajj trips to Makkah said that it is not clear the benefit of launching a direct flight at this late stage of preparation for the trip. One possibility is that the launch of the line, if it happens, will be symbolic and advertising, with only one or two flights.

Levy spoke this week at a conference held by the Institute for National Security Research on the subject of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and said that in addition to the desire to advance a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia, Israel should focus on the potential for reaching agreements with some smaller countries. Recently, joint Israeli-American efforts are being made to add an Islamic country in Africa that does not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel, to the upcoming conference, the Negev Forum, which is expected to be held at the end of June in Morocco.

The senior source who spoke with Haaretz said, “An initiative of this kind does not spark the imagination like peace with Saudi Arabia, but it is more realistic in the short term.” - Amir Typhon et al

Le Figaro published : These are Erdogan's challenges in the next five years

Paris - Turkey, Erdogan’s challenges for the next five years,” the French newspaper “Le Figaro” said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was re-elected by 52% and whose Justice and Development Party and its ally, the National Movement Party, achieved parliamentary victory, now enjoys all the freedom necessary to consolidate his power . , And to remove more of the legacy of Ataturk's secular republic as it approaches its centenary.

At the end of a polarizing and unbalanced campaign, dreams of a return to the rule of law fueled by the opposition have now faded , as Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's election was a democratic opening. In his programme, it was about the reintegration of dismissed civil servants. “It was a great hope for the thousands of teachers who were purged after the failed coup in 2016,” Zeynep Gambiti, a retired professor from the University of Bosphorus, said.

And “Le Figaro” considered that instead of playing the appeasement card, once he was reappointed, Recep Tayyip Erdogan preferred to ignore requests for the release of political prisoners, as he again criticized during his victory speech last Sunday his opponents by booing against the Kurdish leader Salahuddin Demirtas, imprisoned for six years.

The newspaper went on to say that the Turkish president, who has strengthened his position through the good results he achieved in central Anatolia and in the areas affected by the February 6 earthquake, has only one obsession: the restoration of the capital, Ankara, especially Istanbul. This prompts him to expect dark months for the independent press, activists, the Kurds, and any hostile force that tries to obstruct his goal […] For him, it is a cultural war between two opposing sections of society. The same applies to his relationship to religion. If he is taxing alcohol, he is not banning it, just as he is not in favor of lowering the marriage age for girls, which some AKP members have called for.

Erdogan realizes that cultural diversity in Turkey is the engine of its tourism, and a primary source of income in the midst of the financial recession, according to Turkish historian and researcher Howard Eisenstat.

Le Figaro explained that after two decades in power, the economy is the biggest project awaiting Erdogan, despite the populist obstacles in recent months (wage increases, early retirement and social assistance), the crisis affecting citizens is stark: accelerating inflation, rising unemployment and the decline of the Turkish lira – On Monday, May 29, the day after the second round, it fell to a historic low (1 euro for 21.60 TL). The mistake, according to experts, lies in the policy of reducing interest rates, contrary to all economic logic.

Contrary to Erdogan's beliefs, low interest rates did not prevent inflation nor stimulate investment and job creation. On the contrary, annual consumption has increased by 22 percent over the past two years, and thus imports, by widening the trade balance deficit, notes Irinc Yıldan, professor of economics at Kadir Has University.

And “Le Figaro” considered that to avoid bankruptcy, austerity measures are inevitable. The central bank is running out of reserves, and Erdogan has no choice but to cut interest rates: a decision he will blame on the global economic crisis. And since he finds himself in a position of strength after his re-election, he will have no problem "selling" this program to his base, under the guise of a collective sacrifice on behalf of the great Turkish nation, the economist continues.

In Erdogan's Turkey, economics goes hand in hand with geopolitics. No doubt it will continue to tip his balance when it comes to diplomacy. Depending on Moscow for gas consumption (the bills have not been paid for a year), the country should not see any major change in its relationship with Russia - which has just opened its first nuclear power plant in Turkey. At the same time, the Turkish president intends to reassert his role as a mediator between Moscow and Kiev, providing him with combat drones.

And the thaw that began a few months ago with the countries of the region — Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and to some extent Syria — will also continue, Le Figaro says, noting that during a phone call on Monday, Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart had already agreed to strengthen relations and exchange ambassadors, after years of negotiations. Tension after the overthrow of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

And Turkey, as a core member of NATO, could return to the negotiating table to bring Sweden into NATO — a topic raised at the beginning of the week between Erdogan and Joe Biden during a congratulatory call from the US president on his victory.

The Washington Post published : Erdogan won the Turkish presidency, so what will the West do now?

London – The “Washington Post” newspaper published an editorial commenting on the results of the Turkish presidential elections and saying, “Erdogan won in Turkey, what will the West do now?” She added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who won another five years at the end of the week, is “an ally that Washington and its Western allies wish they could work without , and this is no longer an option, but the United States and European partners have some cards with which they can nudge the Turkish president from some of his harmful policies.” .

The newspaper commented that Erdogan is a strong man who weakened democracy and civil rights in his country and lined up with Moscow in exchange for billions of Russian dollars to support the faltering Turkish economy, and “Erdogan will remain a problem that must be dealt with” and managed.

She said tough diplomacy, muscle-flexing and contractual relationships have brought Erdogan benefits, but remain the key to minimizing the problems he causes. She indicated that Erdogan continues to stand against Sweden's accession to NATO, for its refusal to take harsh steps, including the deportation of Kurdish activists whom Erdogan considers terrorists.

According to the newspaper, Erdogan opposed the Western sanctions imposed on Russia and opened a corridor through which Moscow was able to import some goods that the United States and Europe prevented from exporting there. Erdogan has a great demand from the United States, and perhaps more as the Turkish economy continues to collapse. For more than a year, he has been trying to buy F-16 fighters at a value of $20 billion, along with equipment to upgrade his old fighters. Biden supports the sales deal, but congressional leaders angry at his obstruction of Sweden's accession to NATO have put the deal on hold. The newspaper says that obstructing Swedish membership is a gift to Vladimir Putin, but remains symbolic at the present time because NATO integrates Swedish forces into its military structure without giving security guarantees.

In this confrontation, the United States has a card of influence over Turkey through the F-16 deal, and congressional leaders must act wisely before opening the way for the deal. And the Biden administration must obtain more concessions from Turkey that prevent Russian oligarchs from using Turkey as a base for their operations and a place for tourism, as previous pressures from America were partially effective, and prompted Turkey to prevent the transfer of goods prohibited from trading with Russia, and American officials must use firmness and punish Turkey-based entities that do sanctions-breaking.

Russian financial support remains vital in preserving the Turkish economy, as Western sanctions continue to put pressure on Russia's oil resources. But with Russia's military deficit in Ukraine and oil resources declining due to sanctions, it should be a clear message to Erdogan that his warm relations with Putin will not bring him much support.

It is true that the West will not be able to stop Erdogan's steady creep away from democracy, but his electoral victory is linked to his repression of electronic media, his imprisonment of the opposition, his cruel manipulation of state institutions and resources, and his atrocious human rights record, all of which were important in maintaining his power.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration and its European allies must continue to speak out for the core European values ​​Erdogan has trampled on, even as they face the fact that he is protected by one of Europe's most privileged institutions.

KSA : The population of Saudi Arabia exceeds 32 million, and the majority of them are young people

The population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reached 32 million, 58.4% of which are Saudis, and the majority of the population is male, while the average age of the Kingdom's population is 29 years.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics announced on Wednesday that the population of the Kingdom exceeded 32 million, according to the 2022 census.

According to the Authority's data, the population of Saudi Arabia has reached 32,175,224 people, 58.4% of whom are Saudis, and 41.6% are non-Saudis. The number of Saudis reached 18,800,000 people, while the number of non-Saudis reached 13,400,000.

And at the gender level: the vast majority of Saudi society is male, at 61% of the population, and their number reached 19,700,000 people, while the number of females reached 12,500,000, or 39%.

The Saudi society was distinguished by its youthful composition, as the average age of the population reached 29 years, while the average age of Saudis reached 25 years, while the percentage of Saudis under the age of 30 reached 63%.

The Kingdom's population grew from 24 million in 2010 to 32.2 million in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 2.5%, according to the Authority's data.