Morocco's King Mohammed VI formally appointed on Friday the members of his country's new government, led for the first time in its history by a woman prime minister, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.

Her centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) came out on top in September elections, and has entered into a coalition with the right-wing Istiqlal party and two smaller left-wing parties. Together they hold 210 of the parliament's 395 seats.

Thirteen out of 31 ministers from the previous government were retained in the incoming cabinet, including Nasser Bourita as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Abdelouafi Laftit as Minister of the Interior.

PAM newcomer Fouzi Lekjaa -- a budget minister in the outgoing government better known as the head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation -- has been promoted to economy minister.

The new government also includes seven women, counting the prime minister, as did the previous one.

Following her royal audience on Friday, Mansouri touted an "ambitious government programme that can meet citizens' expectations".

September's vote, which saw the lowest turnout in nearly 20 years, was marked by concerns about the cost of living, employment and inequality.

The incoming government will have to address those concerns while also preparing for the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Spain and Portugal.

Israeli settlers on Friday attacked an American photojournalist working for The Washington Post while she was covering violence against Palestinian olive farmers in the occupied West Bank.

Heidi Levine, a veteran photographer, was taken to hospital in Ramallah following the attack, with photos showing her lying on a gurney with injuries to her leg and hand.

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, days ahead of elections in which he is seeking settlers' support, insisted the circumstances behind the incident were unclear, in contrast with the full-throated condemnation offered by his chief rival.

The attack comes 10 days after settlers beat an AFP photographer covering the West Bank olive harvest, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, leaving him also requiring hospital treatment.

Speaking to journalists from her hospital bed, Levine said that "more than 50" masked settlers holding sticks suddenly attacked her while she was working near the Palestinian villages of Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya in the central West Bank.

"All of a sudden they jumped me and I luckily had my helmet and flak jacket on and I... kept my face to the ground to try to protect my face," she said.

"They just kept kicking me and kicking me," she added.

After receiving initial care in Ramallah, Levine was transferred to Israel's Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, where doctors found she had suffered four broken vertebrae and would need surgery.

The Washington Post said Levine had been wearing a flak jacket clearly marked "Press".

"We are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities," Matt Murray, the paper's executive editor, said in a statement.

'No mercy'

Netanyahu's office said Levine had been "allegedly assaulted", adding that the circumstances were "unclear and are under investigation".

"Those responsible will be held accountable," it said in an X post, giving a version of events in which "some 200 Arabs and far-left activists confronted approximately 40 Israeli youths", with both sides throwing objects at the other.

Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu's main rival in the upcoming polls, blamed Friday's "unacceptable" attack on a "handful of rioters" whose actions, he said, "stain an entire nation".

A US State Department official said it condemned "criminal violence by any party in the West Bank" and called for "legal accountability for those responsible".

The official added the department had "reached out to the Washington Post to offer consular assistance".

AFP news agency reported that a journalist working for the agency reported witnessing Palestinian medics tending to someone in the area and Israeli soldiers pushing away journalists trying to approach.

The Israeli military said troops and border police forces were deployed to the area "following a report of a violent confrontation".

"A female journalist had been injured during the confrontation," it said, adding the circumstances would be examined.

"Attacks and violence against innocent civilians are grave and unacceptable acts," the military said.

The Israeli police said it had opened an investigation into incidents in Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya.

"We were on our land, picking olives, and suddenly the settlers came down on us and started hitting us, throwing stones," said Mukhlis Zuhdi, a farmer from Abu Falah.

"There was even a foreign journalist whom they beat. These people have no mercy or compassion in their hearts," he told AFP.

'Brazen violence'

The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said the settlers stole Levine's passport, phone, wallet and equipment.

"This is the latest in a long line of violent attacks by Israeli settlers against journalists and other civilians in the occupied West Bank," it said.

Reporters Without Borders said it strongly condemned the attack and called on Israeli authorities to "put an end to this impunity and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous assault".

"This brazen violence... is evidence of the impunity with which extremist Jewish settlers operate, often under the protection of Israeli armed forces," added the advocacy group, known by its French initials RSF.

Violence has flared in recent months in the West Bank, with near-daily attacks, thefts or vandalism by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

Excluding east Jerusalem, around three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, alongside more than 500,000 Israelis residing in settlements considered illegal under international law.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia was "let go" from the role, a White House official said on Friday, after President Donald Trump said he had told her to reconsider the job following public scrutiny.

"I told her: 'I think you're better off being happy, and I'm not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff.' There's nothing easy about this stuff," Trump told reporters while departing the White House.

He added: "I said to her honestly, 'If I were you, I'd reconsider... think about it. But I would reconsider.'"

Fox News, citing a White House official, later reported that Zacharia was "transitioning" out of the role of press secretary.

Zacharia started the job on Monday and held her debut White House briefing on Tuesday.

She had said she received a call about the role of press secretary last Wednesday and got offered the job to succeed Karoline Leavitt last Friday.

Trump later announced her appointment. In his announcement, he described her an attorney.

Zacharia got off to a rocky start with her first press room briefing Tuesday.

It lasted less than 15 minutes, starting with a remarkably slow reading out of what she said were Trump's many accomplishments -- then taking just three questions from journalists.

Over the last week, the issue of whether Zacharia, a graduate of California's Pepperdine University law school, had actually passed the bar - making her an attorney - came under fire.

On Friday, during a Fox News interview on Thursday, Zacharia said she did not pass the bar. Anthony Scaramucci served director of communications for 10 days during Trump's first administration.

Zacharia further stirred controversy on Thursday when she disparaged China, whose leader Xi Jinping was recently Trump's guest in a pomp-filled Washington visit.

The press secretary recalled the perception in 2016 was that China would soon overtake the United States.

"I remember this very distinctly, having just come from China, thinking, 'How is China the next country on the horizon? They don't even have proper toilets,'" she told right-wing influencer Jack Posobiec in an interview.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded Friday that Zacharia should "visit China more often."

The kerfuffle is a distraction for 80-year-old Trump as he flies around the country trying to boost Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 congressional midterm elections, with polls predicting a drubbing.

Civil war has returned to Yemen.

The ceasefire of 2022 is over and open warfare has returned to the country. The Iran-backed Houthis have ceased large areas of the western coast and are encircling the city of Taiz. The Saudi-backed government has now launched its counteroffensive, but can they defeat the Houthis?

This week on The New Arab Voice podcast, we explore the recent clashes between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia and what impact the war will have on the country. Can either side win on the battlefield? What effect are the Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia having? And will the two sides be willing to negoiate?

Joining us to explain what the Houthi are doing and why, we speak with Maysaa Shujaa al-Deen (@maysaashujaa), senior researcher at the Sanaa Centre (@SanaaCenter). 

And to tell us the story of Saudi thinking and calculations we speak with Allison Minor (@AllisonMinor_) senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (@CSISMidEast) and the former U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Yemen. 

This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge (@hugogoodridge).

Theme music by Omar al-Fil with additional music from Audio Network.

To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TNAPodcasts or email podcast@newarab.com

Lebanon’s Central Bank has revoked the licence of one of Iran’s largest banks that operated in the country, amid intensifying US pressure on countries to sever financial and commercial ties with Tehran.

Central Bank Governor Karim Souaid told Bloomberg that the decision to revoke Bank Saderat Iran’s licence, taken earlier this week, demonstrates Lebanon’s determination to protect its banking sector from possible US sanctions.

One of Iran’s oldest and largest commercial banks, Bank Saderat operates several branches overseas. In Lebanon, however, it did not operate as a full-scale commercial bank or offer the extensive retail services typically provided by major Lebanese lenders. Its operations were largely confined to facilitating certain financial services linked to specific networks or entities.

Speaking on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings in Bangkok, Souaid stressed that Lebanon could not afford not to take such measures. He said that while some decisions may be politically sensitive, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah, protecting Lebanon’s banking sector from foreign sanctions must remain a priority.

Limited impact on Lebanon

Financial analyst Mounir Younes said the revocation was unlikely to have a significant impact on Lebanon’s economy or banking sector, as Lebanese banks had historically avoided dealing with Bank Saderat because of the sanctions imposed on Iran.

"The impact on the local market and the Lebanese banking sector is close to zero," Younes told The New Arab. "Historically, including during the tenure of former central bank governor Riad Salameh and throughout successive rounds of sanctions, the Lebanese banking sector avoided any dealings with Bank Saderat Iran. The same was true of Lebanese customers, speaking of the wider public."

He said the bank’s customers in Lebanon were likely limited to a small number of people or entities with links to Hezbollah, the Iranian embassy in Beirut or the Iranian community in Lebanon, including both security personnel and civilians.

"The impact is therefore extremely limited on this small segment, which is the one targeted by US sanctions. The effect on the Lebanese economy and banking sector is consequently close to zero," he added.

Younes said any impact would be confined to the relatively few individuals or entities that dealt with the bank, whether through trade credits between Lebanon and Iran or transfers designed to circumvent US sanctions. He added that Bank Saderat did not have correspondent banking relationships outside Iran, with its only correspondent bank based inside the country.

Slow pace of reforms

Souaid also stressed the need for Lebanon to secure its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) grey list, saying illicit funds and money-laundering operations must be rooted out of the Lebanese economy.

He added that the central bank had hired a specialised US firm to map Lebanon’s cash economy and identify suspicious financial activity, according to the governor.

A cash economy has flourished in Lebanon since the 2019 financial collapse, and the country remains on the FATF grey list and an EU list of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing measures.

The seven-year financial crisis has seen the banking sector collapse and the local currency lose more than 95 percent of its value, locking millions of depositors out of their accounts.

Legislation to restructure the banking sector and unlock deposits has slowly been passed. Talks with the International Monetary Fund to secure a support package have been conditional on the country cracking down on illicit financial activity and passing sweeping reforms, which the government has promised to deliver.

But major hurdles remain, with the country’s ruling political and banking elite widely seen as resisting reforms that could undermine their influence or leave them liable for the cost of restructuring.

Revoking the licence of Bank Saderat Iran in Lebanon came following similar steps taken by other countries in the region. Last month, Turkey’s banking regulator revoked the operating licence of Bank Mellat’s Istanbul branch, while the UAE Central Bank barred all branches of Bank Melli Iran from conducting financial transactions to or from Iran, including transfers and trade finance.

Questions over legal status of Al-Qard al-Hassan

Beirut has also been under pressure from Washington to take action against institutions linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah, including the group’s financial arm, Al-Qard al-Hassan. In July last year, the Lebanese central bank issued a directive banning financial institutions from dealing with the association.

Washington has continued to pressure Beirut to shut down the institution.

Operating outside Lebanon’s formal banking sector, Al-Qard al-Hassan provides interest-free Islamic loans, often secured against gold. Critics have accused it of functioning as a shadow bank for Hezbollah, with some calling for its closure or integration into the regulated financial system. Human Rights Watch noted in October 2024 that the association provided collateralised loans despite lacking a central-bank licence to operate as a financial institution.

Younes said that, although Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar had asked the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation to open an investigation into Al-Qard al-Hassan, the judiciary was still waiting for information from the central bank.

"The Public Prosecution at the Court of Cassation says it is waiting for information from the central bank," he said. "For an investigation to be opened, the central bank would need to file a complaint or provide information indicating that Al-Qard al-Hassan is violating Lebanon’s banking regulations or the rules governing the sector’s operations."

Younes said that because Al-Qard al-Hassan accepts deposits and provides loans, its activities could be considered banking operations. The judiciary therefore needs information from the central bank indicating that the association is breaching banking regulations or compliance standards on combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

He added that the central bank considers the question of Al-Qard al-Hassan’s licensing to fall under the responsibility of the Interior Ministry, which granted the association its licence as a charitable organisation.

He also pointed to the role of the Special Investigation Commission at Lebanon’s central bank, which is responsible for investigating suspected money laundering and terrorist financing. However, he said, the commission had not taken action in the matter so far, to his knowledge.

Hezbollah has been significantly weakened by three years of conflict with Israel, with its weapons stockpile degraded and many of its financial and military supply routes disrupted. The US Treasury has imposed extensive sanctions on the group, and individuals it says are linked to it.

Despite this, Hezbollah has refused to disarm while Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and carry out strikes and demolitions, despite a June framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

The Syrian government has accused Israel of exploiting the Druze community in the southern province of Suweida for political and electoral purposes, and of arming a militia in the area.

In a statement on Thursday evening carried by Syria’s state-run news agency, a government source said the Druze community in Suweida "has been and will remain an integral part of the national fabric of the Syrian Arab Republic," rejecting what it described as attempts to draw the community into Israeli political campaigning.

The statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had spoken by phone with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the violence in Suweida in July 2025.

Addressing an election campaign gathering of Druze citizens in the northern Israeli town of Yarka, Netanyahu described the call as "short and very sharp" and claimed he had helped stop a massacre.

"We took down the Ministry of Defense [headquarters] in Damascus, just like that, it’s gone. We struck inside the [Presidential] Palace compound, and I made a phone call to Sharaa. It was a very brief, very sharp conversation, and the massacre stopped," Netanyahu said.

Damascus has neither confirmed nor denied that the call took place.

The Syrian government source said Israel had played a "major and deliberate role" in undermining civil peace in Suweida in July 2025, accusing it of arming an outlawed militia to foment unrest and create a pretext for drawing Syria into a wider war. The source also said the government had thwarted those efforts and was monitoring what it described as continued Israeli attempts to destabilise the province.

The source said US mediation had led to a halt in Israeli airstrikes in July 2025, which it claimed had prevented the Syrian government from intervening to end the clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups.

It also said Damascus was continuing to work with the United States and Jordan to implement a joint roadmap for Suweida, aimed at reintegrating the province under a national framework that safeguards residents’ rights and promotes security and stability.

In September 2025, Syria, Jordan and the United States announced the roadmap, which included commitments to rebuild trust, promote community reconciliation, investigate violations and hold those responsible to account, as well as facilitate humanitarian aid and restore essential services. It remains unclear how far these commitments have been implemented.

A ceasefire has been in place in Suweida since July 2025, following deadly clashes that began between Bedouin tribes and Druze groups before escalating with the intervention of government forces and tribal fighters who arrived in the province to support the Bedouin side.

The fighting involved grave human rights abuses against Druze civilians, including summary executions, according to reports documenting the violence.

A Syrian investigative committee said in March that 1,760 people from all sides had been killed and 2,188 injured. Other monitoring groups have reported higher death tolls.

Suweida remains largely outside central government control. Some factions aligned with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri have called for Israeli protection or closer ties with Israel, while other Druze religious figures, activists and armed groups have rejected Israeli intervention and called for the province to remain part of a unified Syria.

Israel currently occupies parts of southwestern Syria, which Israeli forces stormed in December 2024 following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Damascus has repeatedly called on Israel to withdraw from these territories and return to the 1974 disengagement agreement.

The Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights are also home to a Druze community. Israel has occupied the territory since 1967 and later annexed it, a move recognised by the United States and Colombia but rejected by most of the international community.

Syria is emerging from a brutal 14-year civil war, and the new government has struggled to reassert central authority across the country amid continuing security, social and economic challenges.

The Israeli settlement movement Nahala announced on Friday that it had attempted to establish a new settlement outpost near the fence separating Israel from the Gaza Strip, naming it “Pioneers of Gaza”.

The move was intended to pressure the Israeli government into allowing settlements to be re-established inside the enclave. Israeli police intervened to disperse the settlers, while the Israeli military closed roads leading to the area and declared it a closed military zone to prevent them from returning or attempting to cross the border into Gaza.

In a post on X, the settler group said it had established the outpost overnight with the participation of more than 700 people, including bereaved families, wounded Israeli soldiers, rabbis, members of the Knesset and public figures. It added that participants had erected structures and laid basic infrastructure near the border fence, in an area opposite Gaza City, in preparation for moving the outpost into the Strip.

Nahala called on the Israeli government to immediately approve the transfer of the outpost to the buffer zone occupied by the Israeli military in northern Gaza, urging it not to yield to external pressure. The movement claimed that “Gaza is an inseparable part of the Land of Israel” and argued that taking control of territory and establishing settlements were the means to impose defeat on the Palestinians.

It also called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza, the repeal of the Disengagement Law and the encouragement of Palestinian emigration to be included among the core principles of the next Israeli government.

The movement said that Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, a member of Likud, had participated in the settlement activity overnight. In a video recording, he was seen saying: “One more step forward; we are getting closer and closer to the desired goal,” referring to the re-establishment of Israeli settlements inside the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew-language news website Walla reported that Israeli police had dispersed settlers who attempted to establish the outpost in Simhoni Forest, located between the Israeli settlements of Nahal Oz and Kfar Aza and the border fence with Gaza. It added that the military had closed roads leading to the area and declared it a closed military zone, fearing that settlers might bypass the barriers, reach the border fence or cross into the Strip.

The website quoted Israeli military sources as saying that around 50 settlers had actually been present at the site, contradicting Nahala’s announcement that more than 700 people had participated in the operation. It explained that the settlers had erected structures in the area between Israeli communities and the border fence but had not entered the Gaza Strip during this attempt.

For its part, the Hebrew-language newspaper Israel Hayom reported that Nahala had established the outpost as a first step towards moving settlers into the Strip. It noted that the organisers were demanding that the government adopt a decision permitting the establishment of settlement communities in Gaza. The Israeli government has not announced its approval of the outpost’s establishment or its transfer into the Strip.

This latest attempt is part of a series of initiatives led by the Nahala movement, whose prominent leaders include settler activist Daniella Weiss, to re-establish settlements in the Gaza Strip since the war began in 2023.

In January 2024, the movement organised a conference in Jerusalem in cooperation with other settlement groups, under the title “Victory Conference”. The event called for the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza and the northern West Bank and was attended by Israeli political figures, including 10 ministers from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and members of the governing coalition in the Knesset. Among them were National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

 

Mike Tyson's legal team have accused streetwear brand Supreme of breaching an agreement after removing an Israeli flag from a remake of a vintage designed hoodie featuring the former boxer.

The hoodie, which was produced in collaboration with designer Martine Rose, was pulled from sale earlier this week after fans noticed the change.

The original design featured an image of Tyson standing against a backdrop of a globe, featuring a number of flags, including Israel's. In the design produced by Supreme and Rose, the Israeli flag was replaced with that of Palestine.

“Mike Tyson collaborated with Supreme and Martine Rose on a collection honoring his boxing legacy. His team approved artwork inspired by his iconic Jeff Hamilton jacket solely to celebrate boxing history," read a statement shared with Rolling Stone by Tyson's legal team.

“Without authorization, Supreme altered the approved design, embroiling Mr. Tyson in an unrelated political crisis. This modification constitutes a material breach of contract. With Supreme ignoring repeated demands, Mr. Tyson’s legal counsel will take all necessary action to protect his name, likeness, and legacy.”

This is not the first time that Tyson has caused controversy in relation to Israel.

In November 2023, photos surfaced on the internet showing the former heavyweight champion attending a Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces fundraising event in Florida. The fundraiser, which raised $10 million for the Israeli army, took place in the early weeks of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.

Amid social media backlash over the move, Tyson released a statement denying that he had made any donations.

"I want to clarify the recent portrayal of an event I attended," Tyson said in a statement at the time. "Invited for a casual evening out by a friend, I was unaware of the arranged fundraiser and no donations were made by me or on my behalf."

FIFA has fined world champions Spain $20,000 over Islamophobic chants by supporters during a friendly against Egypt earlier this year.

The chants were heard during Spain's 0-0 draw with Egypt at Espanyol's RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on 31 March.

Sections of the crowd chanted "Whoever doesn't jump is Muslim", while Egypt's national anthem was also jeered before kick-off.

Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, condemned the chants after the match as disrespectful and intolerable.

"Using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you look ignorant and racist," he said.

FIFA said its appeals committee had upheld the sanction following an earlier ruling by its disciplinary committee.

The Spanish Football Federation has been ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and must also close at least 15% of the seating at Spain's next home friendly.

FIFA said the affected seats could instead be allocated to groups including families, students and anti-discrimination organisations.

The governing body's disciplinary judges said "harsh sanctions were necessary", while acknowledging that it was the Spanish federation's first offence and that officials had acted quickly after the chants began.

Stadium announcements were made during the match calling on supporters to stop discriminatory behaviour.

The Spanish federation also condemned the chants and co-operated with authorities seeking to identify those responsible.

Spanish police opened an investigation the following day into what they described as "Islamophobic and xenophobic" chanting.

The incident came amid wider debate over racism and discrimination in football. FIFA's current anti-racism framework includes a crossed-arm gesture allowing players and officials to report racist abuse during matches.

FIFA rejected the Spanish federation's argument that the word "Muslim" was not inherently insulting, ruling that otherwise neutral language can become discriminatory when used as a taunt or marker of inferiority.

The federation said on Friday that it considered the punishment disproportionately severe and would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

FIFA has also imposed sanctions elsewhere this year for breaches of anti-discrimination rules, including a fine against the Israeli Football Association over its handling of racist behaviour by Beitar Jerusalem supporters.

The March incident came before Spain went on to win the 2026 World Cup, defeating Argentina in the final in July.

The Egypt match had already drawn wider attention to anti-Muslim sentiment in European football, an issue TNA has examined in the context of the growing far-right backlash against Muslim players and supporters.

Palestinian academic Ghada Karmi has called the Green Party’s Zionism is Racism motion "a beacon of light" in a press conference hosted by Greens for Palestine on Friday.

The motion was passed on 4 October with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against.

Born in 1939, Karmi, who came to London in 1949 after her family was forcibly expelled from Palestine in the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe), said the motion is “the best thing that’s happened to me, personally, since 1948.”

The motion has been met with backlash both from political opponents and from within the party.

Green MP Adrian Ramsay said he was "deeply upset" after the motion passed.

Lawyer Adam Wagner, who has previously represented the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said the motion may violate the Equality Act of 2010 because it "will discriminate against and harass people who hold Zionist beliefs and Jewish people more generally."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, said in a statement, “antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct.”

"No-one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship."

Karmi, who thanked both Polanski and Lubna Speitan, who proposed the motion, responded to the criticism, saying, “I don’t know what the fuss is about; of course it’s racist.”

"The essence of this is really nothing to do with being Palestinian. It's to do with being non-Jewish," she said.

"We're the wrong ethnicity, and that's why we're being prosecuted. If that's not racist, I don't know what is," she continued.

The motion states that Israel is an "apartheid," "ethnonationalist" state, and calls for the establishment of a single Palestinian state "with equal rights for all."

An amendment which would have removed the call for a single Palestinian state was voted down, as was one which would have prevented people from being disciplined by the party for membership of Jewish institutions with a Zionist stance, including synagogues. 

Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded by ruling out a future coalition with the Green Party as long as the motion stands.

In September, Labour’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced limited sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but the Labour government has continued to arrest protesters supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action.

Speitan, who proposed the motion, said at the press conference that she hopes other organisations, including trade unions and political parties, will adopt the stance that Zionism is racism.

Iran has managed to export some liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel since July, despite a US naval blockade, shipping intelligence showed and people involved in security said.

Tehran has in recent weeks been concealing such cargoes among a growing volume of ship-to-ship transfers by other Gulf producers off Oman, news agency Reuters reported- citing four people in maritime security who track Gulf oil movements.

The Iranian exports and methodology are reported for the first time here. While a fraction of its former energy exports, the cargoes are rare evidence of petroleum products getting through a blockade that has halted Iran's crude exports.

Analysis by US advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic using ship and satellite tracking, shows at least eight gas tankers carrying Iranian LPG have left the Gulf of Oman since mid-July.

Another tanker carrying Iranian jet fuel reached Myanmar in September, additional satellite imagery and analysis by maritime intelligence group SynMax show.

The US imposed targeted sanctions in 2023 on Myanmar's jet-fuel industry, citing military airstrikes on civilians that the United Nations says have killed thousands of people. Myanmar's military government has repeatedly denied targeting civilians, saying its operations are directed against armed groups.

Six of the eight gas tankers and the jet fuel tanker are under US sanctions for transporting Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products, a Reuters analysis of the vessels and sanctions imposed on ships by the US Treasury showed.

"What we have seen passing is a handful of tankers carrying Iranian LPG, but the overwhelming majority of tankers laden with Iranian products have been redirected by US forces," said Jemima Shelley, senior research analyst with UANI.

Shelley said some Iranian LPG tankers transferred cargoes near the Omani coastal towns of Shinas and Sohar, while others waited in the Gulf of Oman before heading past the US blockade, which US Central Command has said sits across the Gulf of Oman near the Iran-Pakistan border.

The total amount of these LPG cargoes was estimated at 4.1 million barrels, Shelley said.

Shelley said the shipments were driven "more by opportunism" than showing a new trend of Iran trying to export its oil and petrochemicals by using smaller ships.

Most of the cargoes sailed to Malaysia's Eastern Outer Port Limits to conduct further STS transfers for likely destinations in China, Shelley said, based on UANI's analysis.

The Iranian government did not respond to a request for comment. Myanmar's military-backed government did not respond to a request for comment on whether the country had received Iranian jet fuel.

US MILITARY SAYS BLOCKADE 'IRONCLAD'

The US military's Centcom said its naval blockade, which was first imposed on Iran-related oil exports on April 13, is "ironclad". The blockade was lifted in June after the US reached a draft understanding with Iran, but it was reimposed on July 14 following the collapse of the agreement.

Reuters reports, citing a US military official, that the passage of a vessel does not necessarily mean it had evaded the blockade.

Every ship was assessed individually, including through a review of its papers, and some vessels could be allowed through for humanitarian reasons, the official added.

The official said the appearance of a vessel on US sanctions lists is not the only factor to make it subject to the blockade, adding that US forces are also closely monitoring some ships without taking action against them for operational reasons.

Centcom said in an update on October 13 that during the three months of the latest blockade, four commercial vessels had been disabled and 135 ships had been turned around by US forces.

The US military has turned around ships from Asia and also seized some tankers, previous Centcom statements said.

Washington has coupled its blockade with a sanctions campaign aimed at severing Iran's remaining financial links and depriving it of revenue. Last week, it imposed fresh sanctions on 17 vessels involved in transporting Iranian crude, petrochemicals and petroleum products.

A US Treasury spokesperson questioned shipping data suggesting vessels had evaded the blockade, saying ships could spoof their locations or use false identities when loading.

Such data "should be taken with a grain of salt", the spokesperson said.

The Treasury spokesperson said Operation Economic Outcast, together with the blockade, was "suffocating the Iranian regime".

Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said although there was no sign of Washington easing its blockade, worsening economic conditions in Iran could push Tehran to take greater risks.

"If Iran can move product tankers through, even in small numbers, jet fuel may be a good option. Iran's aviation industry is under increasing pressure from US sanctions, with a growing number of planes grounded, and a potential surplus of jet fuel at Iranian refineries," Soltvedt added.

Iranian crude exports fell to zero in September, according to Kpler, the first month without a shipment since the analytics firm began tracking the producer in 2013.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the blockade prevented most Chinese purchases of Iranian oil and left Iran unable to deliver crude to customers.

Israeli settler terrorists set three vehicles belonging to Palestinians alight early on Friday morning in the occupied West Bank, amid fierce attacks on farmers in their olive groves.

The settlers descended on the villages of Turmus Ayya, Abu Falah, and Deir Jarir early in the morning, with local sources stating that they also beat farmers during olive harvesting season.

Video footage circulating of the attack showed the cars completely engulfed in flames, with emergency services grappling to put out the fire between plumes of dark smoke.

One of the cars burned belonged to Palestinian civil defence teams, local media reported.

At least four people were also wounded in a settler attack on residents picking olives in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah.

The Red Crescent Society confirmed its crews received four people who were wounded, who were later transported by the Deir Dibwan ambulance to the hospital.

It added that one of the victims was a 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man.

A photojournalist was also wounded in attacks by settlers in a raid on the village of Abu Fallah, northeast of Ramallah.

Settlers further burned olive trees while under the protection of Israeli forces, with the latter firing live ammunition and tear gas at Palestinians to force them away from their land.

A 70-year-old Palestinian man was among those attacked by settlers in the village of Burham, causing him fractures and injuries across his body.

The mayor of the village of Abwein, Mahmoud Dheeb Hamad, said that settlers attacked locals and farmers, seized their harvest and two cars, before vandalising the property of Palestinians and pushing them out of their land.

The string of violent attacks comes after settlers on Thursday evening stole a tractor from an area northwest of Nablus, belonging to a Palestinian man identified as Hossam Saif.

The Palestinian Authority’s Commission against the Wall and Settlements said earlier this week that it had documented at least 136 attacks since the start of the olive harvesting season, which commenced in October.

The commission noted that the attacks comprised of beatings, forced expulsions, intimidation, shooting, tear gas, arrests, and the stealing of harvests and equipment.

Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli settlers and forces have ramped up their attacks targeting Palestinians and their property.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also said in September that over 1,600 settler attacks had been recorded from the start of this year until 14 September, with at least 275 Palestinian communities affected.

Netflix is preparing to release a new Kuwaiti psychological horror series, Al-Nafs Al-Mutma'inna, as part of its Halloween line-up.

The series, known in English as Obsess, will premiere on 30 October and is set in Kuwait during the 1980s.

It follows a man who returns home following his father's death, only to find himself drawn back into what Netflix describes as a cursed and obsessive relationship.

The supernatural thriller blends psychological horror with demonic themes, exploring the boundaries between desire, guilt and forces that may be beyond its protagonist's control.

Lebanese director Said El Marouk directs the series, which stars Haya Abdel Salam, Yagoub Alfarhan and Layla Abdallah.

The cast also includes Hussein Al-Mansour, Asmahan Tawfiq, Ibrahim Al-Harbi, Ghada AlMulla, Hussain Al-Haddad, Abdullah AlBloushi and Sara Salah.

Netflix has classified the show as Kuwaiti and Middle Eastern horror, describing it as ominous, psychological and suspenseful.

The series arrives as part of the streaming platform's Halloween 2026 slate, alongside titles including Below, Haunted Hotel and Balaraw: Blood Island.

Its release also marks a relatively unusual addition to Arab television, where horror has traditionally been produced less frequently than drama, comedy and romance.

Netflix has increasingly invested in Gulf productions, including the Kuwaiti romantic comedy Honeymoonish, released in 2024.

Arab filmmakers have nevertheless returned to supernatural stories periodically over the decades.

Egyptian films such as Al-Ins wal-Jinn and Al-Ta'weeza became prominent early examples of the genre, while Tunisia's Dachra, released in 2018, brought North African folk horror to a wider audience.

Netflix itself has previously experimented with Arabic-language supernatural drama.

Its 2019 Jordanian series Jinn followed teenagers confronting supernatural forces in Petra and became controversial in Jordan over its portrayal of sex, drinking and drug use.

The series was Netflix's first Arabic-language original from the Middle East, with the platform saying at the time that it planned to continue investing in Arabic-language productions.

Netflix has since expanded its regional catalogue considerably, with global titles such as Stranger Things also attracting large audiences across the Middle East.

The company's Gulf output has meanwhile included a growing number of Kuwaiti series and films, with Kuwaiti drama already forming part of Netflix's Arabic catalogue before its more recent push into locally produced originals.

Obsess now brings that approach to horror, combining a recognisably Gulf setting with psychological and supernatural themes.

The United States is stepping up pressure on Lebanon to repeal or amend laws criminalising contact with Israel, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio raising the issue directly with President Joseph Aoun.

Rubio discussed Lebanon's 1955 Boycott of Israel law during a phone call with Aoun on Thursday, according to a statement from the US embassy in Beirut.

He described the legislation as "impractical" and said it was being used in politically motivated prosecutions that obstructed efforts towards peace.

Rubio also urged Lebanon and Israel to establish direct military-to-military communication to reduce the risk of clashes and help implement a US-backed framework agreement between the two countries.

The renewed pressure follows controversy over a legal complaint against Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad.

The complaint was filed after Lebanese and Israeli media reported that Moawad had contacted Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter following an attack in the occupied West Bank in which his son was injured.

Moawad did not publicly confirm or deny the reports.

The complaint was referred to Lebanon's military judiciary, prompting a strong response from Washington.

The State Department said it was "shameful" for a military court to consider a complaint against an ambassador "simply for implementing her legitimate government's policy and participating in US-led negotiations".

Judge Claude Ghanem, the government commissioner at the Military Court, closed the case on Wednesday after finding insufficient evidence that Moawad had violated Lebanon's boycott legislation.

President Aoun also defended the ambassador, saying the alleged contact had not taken place.

"If the aim of those doing this is to target the path we have taken to end the state of war and save Lebanon, then they are committing a crime against the country," he said.

The case has nevertheless brought Lebanon's anti-normalisation legislation back to the centre of political debate.

The 1955 Boycott of Israel law prohibits Lebanese individuals and companies from entering into agreements or transactions with Israeli entities or people based in Israel.

Lebanon's Penal Code also criminalises certain forms of contact with an enemy state, with some offences classified as treason.

Although Lebanon and Israel remain formally in a state of hostility, they began direct US-mediated negotiations in April and signed a framework agreement in Washington on 26 June.

US officials now argue that Lebanon's existing laws are incompatible with that diplomatic process.

Sources told The New Arab that US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa has been pressing Lebanese political figures, particularly MPs opposed to Hezbollah, to support changes to the legislation.

Washington reportedly sees repeal or amendment of the laws as part of a broader package of demands on Beirut.

These include accelerating efforts to disarm Hezbollah, reforming the Military Court and implementing financial, monetary and political reforms.

US officials have also expressed frustration at what they see as slow implementation by the Lebanese government.

The pressure comes as Lebanon and Israel prepare for another round of US-sponsored negotiations, expected to take place in Florida later this month.

The legal debate has grown as direct contact between Lebanese and Israeli officials becomes increasingly routine under US mediation.

Some Lebanese legal experts argue that the existing framework has effectively become harder to enforce as official negotiations expand.

Lebanese media outlets have also increasingly interviewed Israeli officials and journalists, while contacts once considered politically or legally taboo have become more common.

Washington's latest intervention is likely to intensify a wider domestic debate over whether Lebanon can continue formal negotiations with Israel while retaining legislation that criminalises many forms of contact with it.

A series of statements by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has raised questions over whether the former military general will step down when his current term ends in 2030.

Speaking at the 44th Armed Forces Educational Symposium on Wednesday, Sisi reaffirmed that Egypt's constitution would remain protected and unchanged, remarks that were welcomed by supporters but also drew scepticism.

The president said the constitution would remain untouched, and warned against attempts to incite unrest in Egypt.

“There is a constitution for this state, there is a constitution that we approved for this state, no one will touch it … no one will touch it," Sisi reiterated.

The remarks have sparked debate in Egypt, with some interpreting them as a sign that he does not plan to pursue constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power for longer.

Here, The New Arab takes a closer look at what the constitution states and what his comments could be hinting at. 

What does the constitution say?

Egypt's 2014 constitution, prior to being amended in 2019, stipulated in Article 140 that the country's president is elected to serve a four-year term, with the possibility of re-election only once.

In 2019, an amendment that maintained the two-term limit but extended each term to six years forwarded by a pro-government bloc, was approved by parliament.

The amendment was later approved in a public referendum which saw 88.8 percent of voters vote in favour and 11.1 percent against, with a turnout of 44 percent.

Rights groups and monitors warned at the time that the moves would entrench repression in Egypt, with reports of intimidation of referendum voters and journalists, arrests of opponents of the amendments, and vote buying by state-aligned entities.

Why is Sisi making these statements now?

Sisi's latest statements come amid calls from supporters for him to extend his rule over the country, including the launch of an online petition calling for the president to stay in his post until 2050.

This, however, has prompted widespread backlash, as many have decried it as undemocratic and have cited Sisi's crackdown on dissent. 

Saeed Sadek, a professor of political sociology, told The New Arab that the president's statements appear to be aimed at closing the door to speculation about his political future. 

The comments also come at a time when Egypt is facing several challenges, particularly from upheaval in the region and a sustained domestic economic crisis.

Sadek added, however, that the statement raises the political cost of any attempt to amend the constitution in the near future, though it does not completely shut the door to changes.

The constitution, he highlighted, contains mechanisms for amendments which can be activated with the necessary political will and backing of parliament.

Sadek notes that Sisi had made similar statements prior to the 2019 amendments.

What has been the response?

While Sisi did not explicitly say he would step down or rule out standing for re-election in 2030, his words have sparked some optimism for many.

Hamdeen Sabahi, Karama Party founder and former presidential candidate who stood against Sisi in 2014, described the president's comments as the "best of words", and expressed his hope that they would be followed up by the "best of actions".

In statements to the press, Sabahi expressed hope that Sisi would hand over power in 2030, paving the way for a new era in Egypt.

Amr Hashem Rabie, an expert at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, also told The New Arab that Sisi's statements indicate that Egypt is heading towards the election of a new president in 2030, unless unforeseen circumstances alter this course.

He added that some political parties, such as Nation's Future Party, Homeland Protectors, and the National Front Party, might push for street rallies to demand the president's continued rule, in addition to the role of some media figures who might promote the idea that there is no viable alternative to the president.

Sisi's remarks were also welcomed by Justice Party leader Abdel Moneim Imam, who similarly expressed hope for a peaceful transfer of power.

Egypt's Civil Democratic Movement was among those who welcomed the remarks, though cautioned that the constitution should not be subject to amendment according to circumstances or individuals.

Many Arabic-language reports from outside of Egypt have further expressed skepticism about the president's remarks, given that he holds such a tight grip on the state's institutions.

Sisi took power after removing Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohamad Morsi, in 2013, and has led a crackdown on dissent within Egypt. By 2030, the former military general would have served as Egypt's president for 16 years.

The Trump administration is backing efforts to form a broad Israeli unity government after this month's election that could keep Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister for up to two years before handing power to opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, according to an Israeli media report.

The proposal would exclude far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and bring together Netanyahu's Likud party with Eisenkot's Yashar party, Israel Hayom reported on Friday.

The newspaper cited unnamed US and foreign political officials familiar with the discussions. Neither Washington nor the Israeli parties involved have publicly confirmed an agreed plan.

Israel is due to hold a Knesset election on 27 October.

Polls have suggested neither Netanyahu's right-wing bloc nor the fragmented opposition is guaranteed a stable governing majority, raising the possibility of prolonged coalition negotiations.

According to Israel Hayom, the US and regional governments believe a broad coalition would be better placed to make major decisions on ending regional conflicts and advancing President Donald Trump's wider Middle East agenda.

One unnamed foreign official quoted in the report said a fragile minority government would be unable to make the "major and decisive political decisions" the region required.

The proposed arrangement would allow Netanyahu to remain prime minister for up to two years before Eisenkot succeeded him, according to the report.

During that period, the government would be expected to work towards ending wars on multiple fronts and reaching political agreements with regional states, particularly Saudi Arabia.

The Trump administration has been pushing Riyadh to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel.

Washington has linked that effort to other parts of the US-Saudi relationship, including F-35 fighter jets and a civilian nuclear programme.

Saudi officials have repeatedly said, however, that normalisation with Israel would require meaningful progress towards Palestinian statehood.

The issue has also become entangled with Washington's proposed nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which Trump has said would depend on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords.

According to Israel Hayom, Saudi Arabia is also seeking a different political configuration in Israel before moving forward.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has recently met several senior Israeli politicians, including Eisenkot, the report said.

The contacts were said to have been handled carefully because of concerns over perceptions of US interference in the election.

But Israeli politicians were reportedly told that Washington and other governments would welcome a broad and stable coalition without far-right parties.

Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief, has emerged as one of Netanyahu's principal challengers in the election and leads the centrist Yashar party.

The proposed government would also seek to address domestic issues that have deeply divided Israeli politics.

These include demands for an official inquiry into the failures surrounding the 7 October 2023 attacks, disputes over the judiciary and the continuing row over exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has denied reports that he is directly involved in efforts to engineer a unity government.

He has nevertheless said he wants to avoid repeated elections and see a stable government formed after the vote.

The reported US effort comes as Israel's election remains highly fragmented, with Palestinian parties potentially playing a decisive role if neither major bloc secures a governing majority.

This week on The New Arab Weekly podcast, we discuss the Houthis advances in Yemen and their attacks on Saudi Arabia, the decision by PA President Mahmoud Abbas to cancel the elections in Palestine, and the rising tension in the Horn of Africa between Ethiopia and its neighbours.

Picks of the Week

⁠As Trump mulls new strikes on Iran, what options does he have?⁠

⁠The US is withdrawing from Iraq. Who could fill the void?⁠

⁠Israel's 2026 election: What will it mean for the Middle East?⁠

Featured on this episode are Jon Cole and Louay Faour.

Hosted and produced by Hugo Goodridge.

Filmed and edited by Sohaib el-Nahla.If you have any questions for the panel, or any stories that you'd like us to cover, you can email the team podcast@newarab.com.

Qatar on Friday announced plans to invest in Lebanon’s electricity sector and help address the country’s chronic power crisis, including through the development of a solar power plant.

During his visit to Lebanon, where he met with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the two sides held "lengthy discussions" on an energy project that Doha had been discussing with Beirut for years.

"Now, thank God, we see this project getting closer to becoming a reality," he said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Salam at the Grand Serail, Al Thani said the two countries had agreed to establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation in the energy sector and provide integrated solutions through a major investment project that would benefit Lebanon’s economy.

Salam said Lebanon and Qatar were close to reaching an agreement on a joint project to rehabilitate, develop and modernise the country’s electricity generation infrastructure.

He said the comprehensive project would cover various sources of energy production and the infrastructure required to support them, with the aim of providing a more reliable electricity supply at a lower cost.

Salam said the project would follow a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, under which Qatari entities would finance, build and operate the infrastructure before transferring it to the Lebanese state. He stressed that Lebanon’s treasury would bear no upfront investment costs.

He said he hoped to present the project to the Lebanese cabinet soon, adding that it should be prepared with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and adhere to the highest standards of transparency, governance and financial viability.

Salam said the aim was not to add another promise to the many previously made about the electricity sector, but to establish a sustainable solution by increasing generation, lowering costs, diversifying energy sources and improving management.

Al Thani also said QatarEnergy had agreed with TotalEnergies to jointly develop a solar power plant in Lebanon. He described this as an initial project, saying the two countries were now working towards a broader framework for energy cooperation.

He said Qatar hoped to see an agreement take shape soon, allowing Qatari institutions to work alongside their Lebanese counterparts.

Salam said his government did not want to add "another promise to the many that the Lebanese have heard" about the electricity sector, but instead hoped to establish the foundations for a practical and sustainable solution based on increasing generation, lowering costs, diversifying energy sources and improving management.

"Reliable electricity at an affordable cost is essential to reviving the economy, encouraging investment, restarting productive businesses and easing the burden on citizens," he said.

Lebanon’s Energy Minister Joe Saddi recently announced that he would no longer take part in cabinet sessions, citing what he called a lack of seriousness in dealing with the crisis and saying he refused to be held responsible for the lack of progress in the sector.

Saddi and fellow ministers from the Lebanese Forces party walked out of a cabinet session on Thursday over the issue.

Years of blackouts

Lebanon has suffered a decades-long electricity crisis which saw the emergence of an unofficial and largely unregulated network of private generators across the country. These generators typically run on fuel oil, contributing significantly to poor air quality in cities, while charging consumers high prices.

The energy sector virtually collapsed following Lebanon’s 2019 financial collapse, with the national grid barely keeping the lights on for two hours a day. Before this, Beirut, where many of Lebanon’s government institutions are located, had up to 20 hours of electricity a day, with rotating blackouts in the rest of the country.

Much of Lebanon has gradually moved to renewable energy alternatives, relying on solar panels to manage their electricity needs, although this option remains somewhat limited in larger cities like Beirut due to restricted rooftop space in residential buildings.

There has been an outcry among generator subscribers this year, with bills reaching hundreds of US dollars a month in some areas. Operators, many of whom control supply in particular neighbourhoods and are linked to sectarian political parties, have attributed rising costs to higher global fuel prices as a result of the Middle East war.

Lebanon’s electricity sector is estimated to have cost the country more than $40 billion since the end of its 1975-1990 civil war, largely because of heavy subsidies and the cost of importing fuel for ageing power stations. These costs account for a substantial share of the treasury’s losses.

Iran will retaliate against any US threats to its energy infrastructure, Acting Oil Minister Hamid Bovard has warned.

Bovard said Tehran would respond to threats against its energy facilities with “precise, appropriate retaliatory measures at the right time”.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on the international community “to pay more serious attention to the environmental impacts of military conflicts”, warning that future generations would bear the consequences.

This comes as President Donald Trump said the US may have to target Pickaxe Mountain, a site linked to Iran's nuclear program, as he aims to ensure Tehran does not get a nuclear weapon.

In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday night, Trump also said he would not use a nuclear weapon in the war on Iran, which began in February with US-Israeli strikes.

Separately, Iran’s navy reported that an oil tanker had caught fire in the Sea of Oman after allegedly switching off its tracking systems and attempting to enter a restricted area.

The navy described the vessel as a “violating tanker” but did not provide further details about the cause of the fire.