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WORLD NEWS Friday 3 November 2023

Opposition mounts in Arab countries that normalized relations with

Israel

By SAM METZ spiraling inflation.
Associated Press Large protests against the
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Israel-Hamas war have not
Arab nations that have erupted in Sudan or the
normalized or are consider- United Arab Emirates.
ing improving relations with A highly sought-after
Israel are coming under agreement between Israel
growing public pressure to and Saudi Arabia has be-
cut those ties because of come less likely due to the
Israel’s war with Hamas. war and regionwide pro-
Tens of thousands of people tests, Steven Cook, a senior
have taken to the streets of fellow for Middle East and
Rabat and other Moroc- Africa Studies at the Coun-
can cities in support of the cil on Foreign Relations,
Palestinians. In Bahrain a told The Associated Press in
country that almost never October.
allows protest police stood “I think this dynamic of nor-
by as hundreds of people malization will likely slow
marched last month, wav- down or come to a halt, at
ing flags and gathering in least for a period of time,”
front of the Israeli Embassy Cook said.
in Manama. Opponents of normaliza-
The demonstrations, which tion say the protests make
mirror protests across the Thousands of Moroccans take part in a protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and against clear the governmental
Middle East, present an un- normalisation with Israel, in Casablanca, Morocco, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. Associated Press wins that resulted from the
comfortable dilemma for accords did little to move
governments that have en- In Morocco and Bahrain, military cooperation with led the U.S. and eventually public opinion.
joyed the benefits of closer the public anger has an Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan Israel to recognize its au- “Hamas isn’t terrorists. It’s
military and economic ties additional dimension; ac- and the United Arab Emir- tonomy over the disputed resistance to colonization.
with Israel in recent years. tivists are demanding the ates starting in 2020. Their Western Sahara. Moroc- Imagine someone enters
In Egypt, which has had reversal of agreements autocratic rulers as well as co’s Foreign Ministry did not your house. How would you
ties with Israel for decades, that formalize ties with Is- American and Israeli offi- respond to questions about behave? Smile or make
protesters rallied in cities rael, underscoring discord cials continue to frame the the agreement or protests. them leave by force?” said
and at universities, at times between the governments deals as a step toward a “ The accords also led Wash- Abouchitae Moussaif, the
chanting “Death to Israel.” and public opinion. new Middle East “ in which ington to remove Sudan national secretary of Mo-
A parliamentary commit- The U.S.-brokered Abraham closer ties could foster from its list of state spon- rocco’s Al Adl Wal Ihsane,
tee in Tunisia last week ad- Accords, aimed at winning peace and prosperity. sors of terrorism, presenting a banned but tolerated Is-
vanced a draft law that broader recognition of Isra- The accords marked a ma- a lifeline for the ruling mili- lamist association that has
would criminalize normal- el in the Arab world, paved jor diplomatic victory for tary junta fighting a pro-de- long supported the Pales-
ization with Israel. the way for trade deals and Morocco because they mocracy movement and tinian cause.q

Putin signs a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear

test ban treaty

MOSCOW (AP) — President bans all nuclear explosions the treaty was never fully to the U.S., it has yet to be ternational arms control re-
Vladimir Putin on Thursday anywhere in the world, but implemented. In addition ratified by China, India, gime.”
signed a bill revoking Rus- Pakistan, North Korea, Isra- “Russian officials say Rus-
sia’s ratification of a global el, Iran and Egypt. sia’s planned move to with-
nuclear test ban, a move There are widespread con- draw its ratification does
that Moscow said was cerns that Russia may re- not mean that it will resume
needed to establish parity sume nuclear tests to try to testing, and we urge Mos-
with the United States. discourage the West from cow to hold to those state-
Putin has said that rescind- continuing to offer military ments,” Blinken said.
ing the ratification of the support to Ukraine. Many Putin has noted that some
Comprehensive Nuclear Russian hawks have spoken experts argue for the ne-
Test Ban Treaty, also known in favor of a resumption of cessity of conducting nu-
as the CTBT, would “mir- the tests. clear tests, but said he had
ror” the stand taken by the U.S. Secretary of State not formed an opinion on
U.S., which has signed but Antony Blinken said that the issue.
not ratified the nuclear test Russia’s move “represents Russian Deputy Foreign
ban. a significant step in the Minister Sergei Ryabkov
Both houses of the Rus- wrong direction, taking us said last month that Mos-
sian parliament voted last Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he speaks to further from, not closer to, cow would continue to
month to revoke Moscow’s Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema entry into force. Russia’s respect the ban and will
Mbasogo during their talks in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov.
ratification of the bill. 2, 2023. action will only serve to set only resume nuclear tests if
The CTBT, adopted in 1996, Associated Press back confidence in the in- Washington does first.q