arliament on Tuesday extended a law to deploy troops to Libya for another 18 months.
The bill renewed a one-year mandate that came into force in January following a security and military agreement with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord in western Libya.
Tuesday s
decision comes in the wake of a UN-brokered cease-fire in Libya that was declared in October, that calls for the departure of all foreign forces and mercenaries within three months.
Opposition parties voted against the extension, but the combined votes of Turkey’s ruling party and its nationalist allies allowed the bill to pass.
Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
0 shares
Nikolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaks during a press conference at the UNESCO headquarters in Gaza City, September 25, 2017. (AFP/MOHAMMED ABED)
CAIRO, Egypt Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has turned down an offer to lead the UN mission in conflict-stricken Libya, according to a UN spokesman.
Mladenov told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday that he would not take up the position of special envoy for the North African country “for personal and family reasons,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday.
Mladenov’s term as Middle East peace envoy is set to expire at the end of the year and he’ll be replaced by Norway’s Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, according to the UN secretary-general.
Some Likud lawmakers are calling for party primaries to shake up Benjamin Netanyahu’s party slate ahead of the March elections, following the defection of several Likud members to Gideon Sa’ar’s new party, New Hope.
MKs Nir Barkat, Eli Cohen and Shlomo Karhi, express support for the move in interviews with Army Radio. Karhi says the internal vote is needed to “restore the trust of its voters,” while Cohen says a final decision will be made next week.
Sa’ar quit Likud earlier this month to form New Hope and challenge Netanyahu from the right in the upcoming vote. He was joined by Likud MKs Michal Shir and Sharren Haskel.
1,509 shares
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweets a chart from Our World In Data showing Israel to be the current world leader in administering COVID-19 vaccines to its population, surpassing the UK.
“Tremendous success!” he tweets, alongside the chart showing Israel at the top of the list (0.83 per 100 people). Israel began its drive on Sunday, while Britain started on December 8.
The data for the UK and the US, however, was last updated on Monday, while Israel’s appears to be up-to-date.
הצלחה אדירה! ישראל במקום הראשון בעולם לחסן את אזרחיה נגד הקורונה ???????? pic.twitter.com/9Qx28qq7qA I m proud to work at The Times of Israel
I’ll tell you the truth: Life here in Israel isn’t always easy. But it s full of beauty and meaning.
UN pick for Libya throws in the towel | Middle East Confidential me-confidential.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from me-confidential.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.