Israel minister: Muslim country in Asia could soon recognise Israel, but it is not Pakistan
Israeli minister Ophir Akunis, 4 September 2018 [Wikipedia] December 24, 2020 at 12:30 pm
An Israeli cabinet minister has confirmed that there is a fifth Muslim-majority country in Asia that could soon normalise relations with Tel Aviv, but clarified that it is not Pakistan.
Speaking to the Israeli news outlet
Ynet TV, Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis acknowledged that there is a potential for two more countries to normalise relations with Israel. He predicted that there will be an American announcement about another country that is going public with the normalisation of relations with Israel and, in essence, with the infrastructure for an accord a peace accord.
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Asked if a fifth country could sign up before Trump steps down on January 20, Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis told Ynet TV: We are working in that direction. There will be an American announcement about another country that is going public with the normalization of relations with Israel and, in essence, with the infrastructure for an accord – a peace accord, he said.
He declined to name the country but said there were two main candidates. One is in the Gulf, he said, giving Oman as a possibility while adding that Saudi Arabia is not.
Is Pakistan moving towards Chinese model of internet censorship?
What do the new rules say?
The new rules, titled Removal and Blocking of Unlawful Online Content (Procedure, Oversight and Safeguards) Rules 2020, were framed under the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Under the new regulations, social media companies or internet service providers face a fine of up to $3.14 million (€2.57 million) for failure to curb the sharing of content deemed to be defamatory of Islam, promoting terrorism, hate speech, pornography or any content viewed as endangering national security.
The companies are required to remove or block any unlawful content from their websites within 24 hours after being reported by Pakistani authorities.
December 20, 2020
With Turkey and Israel set to overcome their differences and get their ties back on track, experts believe that Pakistan would be watching anxiously as Israel and its key ally India having already pulled Islamabad’s strongest ally – the UAE and Saudi Arabia on its side would be gunning for Turkey?
Israel has started to be recognized by prominent Islamic nations including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, while it has stuck a partial deal with Morocco with the help of Donald Trump. Many experts believe that once Saudi Arabia joins the list, it could open doors for more Islamic nations to join in including Pakistan.
Pakistan starts process for former leader’s extradition
UK NEGOTIATIONS: The country’s former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has been living in London since seeking medical treatment there last year
AP, ISLAMABAD
Pakistan’s information minister on Friday said that Islamabad has started the legal process to reach an extradition treaty with the UK that would pave the way for London to hand over former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
The development comes after a top Pakistani court earlier this month declared Sharif, who lives in self-imposed exile in London, a fugitive from justice for failing to return home to face additional corruption charges.