Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 14 december 2017
Israel intercepts 2 rockets launched from Gaza Saudi king pushes

economic reforms
By ILAN BEN ZION Palestinian militants have strikes on a Hamas military The area has been largely for upcoming year
Associated Press fired about a dozen rockets compound in Gaza in re- calm since the 2014 Israel-
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Is- at Israel in the week since sponse to rocket fire late Hamas war, but the week By A. AL-SHIHRI
raeli military said it inter- President Donald Trump Tuesday. No casualties since Trump’s statement AYA BATRAWY
cepted two rockets fired recognized Jerusalem as were reported. has seen violent protests Associated Press
from the Gaza Strip into Israel’s capital. Hamas The bombardment came by Palestinians and the RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP)
southern Israel on Wednes- called for a new armed after a rocket fired toward most intensive exchange of — Saudi King Salman deliv-
day in the latest barrage uprising against Israel in re- Israel’s southern coastal cross-border fire since the ered a speech on Wednes-
by Palestinian militants. sponse to Trump’s declara- city of Ashkelon was inter- 2014 conflict. day outlining his govern-
The army said in a state- tion. cepted by the anti-missile Palestinians have clashed ment’s priorities for the
ment that the Iron Dome Israeli strikes on Gaza in re- Iron Dome defense system. with Israeli troops across the coming year, urging citi-
missile defense system sponse to rocket fire over Israel typically responds West Bank and along the zens to support economic
downed the rockets as they the weekend left at least to each Gaza attack and Gaza border since Trump’s reforms and the govern-
headed toward Israel. A two Palestinians dead and holds Hamas responsible, announcement on Dec. ment’s anti-corruption
third projectile hit an open several others wounded. even though other armed 6. At least two Palestin- drive.
area in southern Israel. No Earlier on Wednesday, Is- groups in the territory fire ians have been killed and In early November, the
injuries were reported. rael carried out retaliatory rockets. scores wounded.q king’s son and heir, Crown
Prince Mohammed bin
Under Putin, Russia increases clout in the Middle East Salman, oversaw the un-
precedented arrest of top
princes, businessmen and
By V. ISACHENKOV officials allegedly involved
Z. KARAM in corruption. Many have
Associated Press agreed to pay undisclosed
MOSCOW (AP) — When sums in exchange for their
Russia launched a military release.
campaign in Syria two “We are determined to
years ago, President Vladi- confront corruption fairly
mir Putin sought to save and firmly,” the king said.
his ally from imminent col- The king, 81, delivered
lapse and break Russia’s his annual 7-minute-long
international isolation over speech before the consul-
a crisis in Ukraine. tative Shura Council. Also
He achieved that and in attendance were the
more, emerging as a key crown prince and Saudi
stakeholder in the Middle Arabia’s top cleric, Grand
East who has brokered Mufti Abdulaziz Al Sheik.
deals with many of its key The crown prince, backed
players — from Iran to Sau- by his father, has pushed
di Arabia to Turkey and Is- through a number of dra-
rael. It’s a regional footprint matic social reforms this
that comes with a degree year, including a decision
of clout that even the Sovi- to allow women to drive
et Union, which depended next year, lifting a ban on
on a handful of Arab allies, movie theaters and grant-
couldn’t dream of during Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands ing girls access to physical
the Cold War era. after a press conference during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring education and sports in
And it was accomplished a victory against “terrorists” in Syria, Putin earlier on Monday visited a Russian military air base in public schools. These are
the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.
with limited resources and (Alexei Druzhinin/Pool Photo via AP) all moves that had been
a lot of audacity. criticized in the past by
“Vladimir Putin is deter- Barack Obama steered March. man Recep Tayyip Erdo- the grand mufti and other
mined to restore a greater clear of military engage- Speaking to Russian troops gan on key issues, includ- ultraconservative Saudi
role for Russia as a global ment and found itself in a on the tarmac at Hemei- ing opposition to Trump’s clerics. King Salman em-
power ... and the Middle series of acrimonious dis- meem air base in Syria, Pu- recognition of Jerusalem as phasized in his speech that
East is really the main area putes with key allies, includ- tin declared victory over the capital of Israel, which Saudi Arabia will not con-
where Russia has that po- ing Israel and Saudi Arabia. the Islamic State group sparked outrage across the tradict the principles of its
tential, in part because the Under the vastly incon- and Syrian rebels and an- region. faith as it “moves forward
Soviet Union played that sistent policies of Donald nounced he had ordered The Russian president was on the path of develop-
role in the Soviet period,” Trump, and in an era of a scaling down of the Rus- frequently derided for ment and modernization.”
said William Courtney, an an inward looking, Ameri- sian contingent in Syria. In his penchant for a 19th His speech comes as the
adjunct senior fellow at ca-first U.S. policy, Russia’s Egypt, he signed a deal for century-style Realpolitik country prepares to dis-
RAND Corporation. maneuvers became all the construction of a nu- characterized by cynical tribute cash assistance to
With just a few dozen jets the more poignant on the clear reactor on the coun- political calculus. But Pu- low-income families as part
and several thousand global stage. try’s Mediterranean coast tin’s approach paid off in of a new welfare system
troops, Russia waded into Putin’s success in the region and sought to strengthen Syria, where he managed ahead of more subsidy
Syria’s war and stubbornly was on full display Mon- his relationship with a key to play on the conflicting cuts to drive down govern-
pressed its campaign de- day, with the confident regional power that has in interests of regional powers ment costs in the face of
spite international scorn and upbeat leader moving the past three years bought and strike deals with vari- sustained lower oil prices.
and an outcry over result- between Syria, Egypt and billions of dollars in Russian ous players. When Putin de- Ali Rajhi, general manager
ing civilian casualties. Turkey in a whirlwind tour weapons. And in Turkey, a cided to intervene in Syria, of the welfare program
Russia’s bold intervention a week after announcing NATO member, the Russian President Bashar Assad was called “Citizen’s Account,”
in Syria came as the Unit- he will seek re-election for leader appeared to be on on the verge of collapse, his said in a press conference
ed States under President another six-year term in the same page with strong- forces losing on all fronts.q aired on Saudi TV.q