Strong US-Saudi ties will weather JASTA impact: Fahad Nazer

September 30, 2016

Jeddah, Sep 30: A leading Washington-based analyst feels that firmly rooted Saudi-US ties will weather all possible consequences of Wednesday’s passage of the controversial 9/11 bill, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).

fahad nazerFahad Nazer, a non-resident fellow with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW), told Arab News that the current state of Saudi-US relations is strong and solid.

“Their close cooperation on counterterrorism, the continued Saudi preference for American weapons, the important role that Saudi Arabia plays in stabilizing international energy markets and the $70 billion worth of annual trade between the two countries will sustain the relationship for the foreseeable future,” he said.

In addition, he said, one should certainly not underestimate the massive soft power of “the thousands of Saudis who have studied in the US and the thousands of Americans who have made a living in Saudi Arabia over the years — they have all played an important role in building a level of trust and familiarity between Saudis and Americans.”

Having said all that, he admitted that it would be difficult to argue that the relationship has not experienced strain.

“JASTA’s becoming the law of the land is clearly troubling to Saudi officials,” said Nazer. “Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif reiterated Saudi Arabia’s concern for the implications of the legislation and the principle of sovereign immunity. This concern was made clear in his address to the UN General Assembly last week.”

The Saudis have repeatedly said that the legislation could have an adverse impact on the way that international relations are conducted and that the US could leave itself open to similar measures by other countries which would make American diplomatic and military personnel vulnerable to prosecution.

“This is the same argument that senior US administration officials, including President Barack Obama himself and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, have made on multiple occasions,” said Nazer. “The legislation goes beyond straining US-Saudi relations.”

According to Nazer, although Saudi officials are clearly frustrated by the continuing accusations that they are to blame for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, US government investigations have concluded that there is no evidence to support these allegations.

“It appears that Saudi officials take some solace in the fact that many US security and counterterrorism officials give Saudi Arabia high marks for the measures it has taken to counter Daesh and other terrorist groups,” he said.

“Yes, JASTA is now a serious concern, but Saudi officials are well aware that the US administration shares some of the same concerns,” said Nazer. “I think they understand that the American government and public are not monolithic.”

That can also be said of the US Congress, he said, pointing out that there is a stark contrast between the views of Senators John McCain and Rand Paul as far as relations with Saudi Arabia are concerned.

“The defeat of Sen. Paul’s measure that would have blocked $1.5 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia last week suggests that some of the pillars of this relationship, including military purchases and training, remain strong,” he said.

“If one takes into account the administration’s position and various Congressional leaders’ public pronouncements, it appears that a majority of American officials in both parties still appreciate and support strong US-Saudi relations,” added Nazer.

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News Network
March 9,2020

Riyadh, Mar 9: Schools and universities will be closed in Saudi Arabia from Monday to control the spread of coronavirus.

The Saudi Ministry of Education said the “preventive and precautionary” measures were recommended by the health authorities and are designed to protect students and staff.

The decision covers all educational institutions, including public and private schools, and technical and vocational training institutions.

“The Minister of Education directed that virtual schools and distance education be activated while the schools are closed to ensure that the educational process continues in an effective and quality manner,” the ministry said.

The Kingdom's Education Minister, Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, confirmed that the decision was a precautionary step and said that they are conducting daily and weekly evaluations before returning to school.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, confirmed that there have been no coronavirus cases in any educational facility in the Kingdom.

“Thank God, the situation is reassuring, and there has been no case in any educational facility. However, the increasing cases in countries have made us keen to enhance the safety of our sons and daughters. So we coordinated with the Ministry of Education to close the schools temporarily,” he said in a tweet on Sunday.

The education ministry has set up supervision offices to help coordinate the distance learning, and respond to parents’ inquiries.

A new committee set up by the ministry will also ensure the virtual schools are functioning through the distance learning methods provided by the ministry.

These include the virtual school platform (Vschool.sa) and mwterials available from the Apple and Android stores.

It will also provide lessons through the “Ain” TV channeland as well as on YouTube via this link: www.youtube.com/dorosien.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque also said on Sunday that it will suspend the visitation programs in its external facilities as part of recommended precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and ensure the safety of visitors.

The facilities include the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Covering of the Holy Kaaba, the Gallery of the Two Holy Mosques, and the Library of the Holy Mosque of Makkah.

“The presidency has taken a series of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, by intensifying sterilization work that is taking place around the clock, and has been keen on coordination and joint cooperation with all relevant government sectors,” it said in a statement issued on SPA.

It added that these preventive efforts come within the procedures that are being implemented by the Saudi government seeking to combat the spread of the new virus, to protect the people of the Two Holy Mosques in particular, and citizens and residents in the Kingdom in general.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

Beirut, Aug 4: A massive explosion has shaken the Lebanese capital of Beirut, with a very high number of casualties expected.

A warehouse at the Beirut Port caught fire on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a huge explosion, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Several smaller explosions were heard before the bigger one occurred.

Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanon’s General Security, said that “highly explosive materials” confiscated earlier had been stored at the site.

Footage shared on social media captured the moment of the bigger explosion, with a colossal shock wave seen traveling fast across several hundreds of meters and shrouding the area in thick smoke.

The blast left enormous material damage to the surrounding buildings and structures. But it was not immediately known how big an area was affected.

There was also no immediate casualty count. Graphic amateur video from the scene showed bodies strewn on the ground, with their clothes blown off.

The NNA said rescue operations were underway. Ambulances were seen heading toward the scene in central Beirut.

Lebanese LBC television channel quoted Lebanon’s Health Minister Hamad Hasan as saying that the blast had caused a “very high number of injuries” and “extensive damage.”

Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud said an unspecified number of firefighters dispatched to extinguish the initial fire had been killed in the explosion.

“As they were putting out the fire, the explosion took place and we’ve [lost them],” he said, breaking down on live TV.

The explosion comes at a time when the Arab country is passing through its worst economic and financial crisis in decades, and amid rising tensions with Israel.

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News Network
April 5,2020

Ajman, Apr 5: A bakery worker in Ajman has been detained for spitting in the bread dough as he prepared bread at the bakery, police said.

The General Command of Ajman Police arrested the Asian worker in coordination with Ajman Municipality after investigators suggested that he intentionally spat in the dough while preparing bread at a bakery which is located in Ajman.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Mubarak Al-Ghafli, Director of Al-Jarf Al-Shamel Police Station, said a team from police had immediately gone to arrest the worker after receiving a report from the municipality confirming that the man spat in the bread dough.

Officials said a customer had filmed the Asian as he spat in the dough while preparing the bread at the bakery during the evening.

The customer then filed a complaint to the municipality with the supporting evidence of a video as the worker was doing the buzzer act.

Police said the man was taken for for psychological examination as he's being prepared to be referred to the public prosecution.

Meanwhile, the bakery has been shut down by the municipality for violating food hygiene and public health rules.

Lt. Col. Al-Ghafli has appealed to the public to report persons or any acts that could harm the health and safety of the public.

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