Saudi Crown Prince calls for immediate end to Israel’s military aggression in Gaza, Lebanon
Riyadh: At the opening of a summit in Riyadh on November 11, 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) demanded that Israel halt its military actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Addressing leaders from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), MBS condemned the violence against Palestinians and Lebanese, calling it a “massacre.” He urged Israel to stop all acts of aggression and called on global nations to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, also criticised Israel's actions, stating that the violence was undermining peace efforts in the region. Lebanon's Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, highlighted the "unprecedented" existential crisis faced by Lebanon as Israel escalates its military operations against Hezbollah.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref condemned Israel's targeted killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders as "organised terrorism." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were among other prominent leaders in attendance.
In a joint statement, the summit leaders strongly condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, describing them as genocide and ethnic cleansing, particularly in northern Gaza. The statement reaffirmed Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem and rejected Israeli measures aimed at consolidating its occupation.
The summit also reflected concerns over the recent election of Donald Trump as US president, with regional leaders signalling their stance on US engagement in the Middle East, urging for dialogue and de-escalation.
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Vajpayee was 'second Nehru' of Indian politics: Sanjay Raut
Mumbai, Dec 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday described late BJP stalwart and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the "second Nehru" of Indian politics.
Talking to reporters here, Raut also said whenever "raj dharma" is under threat, the country will remember Vajpayee, whose birth centenary is being observed on Wednesday.
The Sena (UBT) leader said even though his party was not with the BJP, Vajpayee will always be remembered.
"The present day BJP may be maligning the legacy of (India's first prime minister) Pandit (Jawaharlal) Nehru, but Vajpayee was the second Nehru. He was the Nehru of non-Congress parties," the Rajya Sabha member claimed.
"Despite being a staunch Hindutvawadi, Vajpayee believed the country belongs to all. The BJP under Vajpayee was all inclusive and people believed the party wanted to keep India united and strong," he said.
Raut said even Pandit Nehru appreciated and blessed Vajpayee.
"(Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray had tremendous respect for Vajpayee and valued his word," he said.
"Whenever 'raj dharma' is under threat, the country will remember Vajpayee," Raut said.
Asked whether the Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest the local body elections independently, Raut said, "Let the poll schedule be announced, you will know...but we have begun the preparations."
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP).
Thackeray snapped ties with long-term ally BJP after the 2019 Maharashtra assembly polls over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.
In the last month's state polls, the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP, won 230 of the 288 assembly seats, while the MVA managed to secure only 46 seats.
Elections to various civic bodies in the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are overdue.
The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the cash-rich BMC for 25 consecutive years - from 1997 to 2022.
