Skip to main content

Featured

US and India Seal Major Trade Pact as Tariffs Fall and Energy Ties Shift

                                      US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi  The United States and India have reached a significant new trade agreement that lowers U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, marking a major step toward easing recent economic frictions. In a reciprocal move, India has agreed to phase out its purchases of Russian oil, a longstanding point of tension in its relations with Washington. The deal signals a strategic realignment for both nations. India, one of the world’s largest energy importers, will begin redirecting its oil sourcing toward alternative suppliers, including the United States. Meanwhile, reduced tariffs are expected to boost Indian exports and strengthen commercial ties between the two economies. The announcement has already generated optimism among investors and industry groups, who anticipate smoothe...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Israel Approves New Parcel of West Bank Land for Settlement

 

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declared 800 hectares in the occupied West Bank as state land. This move aims to facilitate the use of the ground for settlement building. The announcement comes on the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Despite growing international opposition, the Israeli government remains determined to press ahead with settlement construction in the West Bank.

The designation of 1,976 acres of land in the Jordan Valley as state land follows a similar decision regarding 300 hectares (740 acres) in the Maale Adumim area of the West Bank. The latter area is crucial to the Palestinians’ vision of a future independent state.

Last month, the United States stated that Israel’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank was inconsistent with international law, aligning with the global consensus that considers these settlements illegal. Israel, however, disputes this view, citing historical and Biblical ties to the land. Meanwhile, the Palestinians view the expansion of settlements as a deliberate Israeli policy aimed at undermining their aspiration for an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this latest move, describing it as “a continuation of the extermination and displacement of our people from their homeland.”

Despite the controversy, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s declaration underscores the government’s commitment to settlement building in the West Bank. The situation remains highly contentious, with implications for regional stability and peace efforts.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment