ARABINFOCUS

          SPAIN ISOLATED FROM THE WORLD DUE TO COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE For three days, Spain and Portugal have been completely isolated from the world due to an incredible failure in all communications. Telephones, the Internet, the Intranet, Wi-Fi, and all personal and professional networks have disappeared. Communications within or outside the Iberian Peninsula have been shut down. Communications returned to normal this Wednesday, thus putting an end to the despair of citizens. The governments of Madrid and Lisbon stated that they are trying to determine the origin of this total communications failure; something unprecedented. How is it possible that Spain, an industrialized country with a high level of growth, could become a third-world nation? In government circles in Madrid, this true catastrophe is attributed to an act of sabotage, but no one believes it is possible to sabotage all the communication networks of two entire countries. Without communications, ...

 

                                         A SOME OPTIMISM ABOUT THE GAZA WAR Once again, a climate of optimism has emerged regarding the end of the Gaza war, following statements made by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman. It should not be forgotten that Doha is the first negotiator in a bloody conflict that seeks to move toward peace and a final end to the conflict. This optimism is not the first time it has reappeared and then vanished for a short time. The Qatari Prime Minister asserted that there is a "good climate" after the meeting between the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, the main Israeli intelligence service, and the Prime Minister. The two met last Thursday. If everyone had the will to stop the attacks of the Jewish armed forces (IDF) against the Gazan population, the forces could enter a final phase. That is also the desire of President Donald Trump a...

                                               SPAIN CANCELS ARMS SALES TO ISRAEL The Spanish government has decided to cancel arms sales to Israel, amid its criticism and condemnation of the genocide carried out in Gaza by the Jewish state; a decision also supported by various international organizations. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, relations with Israel are going through a period of great tension. The most important event, among others, was Madrid's recognition of the State of Palestine. A decision shared by Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway. In total, 88 countries recognize Palestine as an independent state. In May last year, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albares, argued that "this is an act of justice towards the Palestinian people, an essential measure to guarantee Israel the security it rightfully demands and the only viable path...

                                    JORDAN DISSOLVE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD Jordan's King Abdullah II has decided to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood sect; a dangerous decision for the Hashemite kingdom, given the movement's influence in the Islamic world. The decision was announced by Interior Minister Mazen Faraya. The Muslim Brotherhood movement has always had problems with Arab leaders: it had them with Nasser and his successor, Mubarak. However, it held power in Egypt until one of its supporters, Mohamed Morsi, was overthrown and imprisoned by Marshal Al Sisi, the current president. Morsi, who had been democratically elected, died in June 2019. His death confirmed the army's preeminence in power, something that had been the case since Nasser's time. Jordan has justified the dissolution of the sect "for security reasons." The Muslim Brotherhood emerged from among the Sunni followers, founded in Ismai...

                                                              THE PEOPLE'S POPE Pope Francis, who died this Monday at the age of 88, will be remembered for his ongoing fight against poverty and his defense of the dispossessed; his support for illegal emigration in the process of expulsion; and for all those who could be described as Victor Hugo's "miserables." For all these reasons, he is considered "The People's Pope." Francis criticized the wealthy for not doing enough to alleviate poverty. At the same time, he lamented the people forced to sleep on the streets; those who lack courage have to search for food in garbage containers. On another note, Francis was willing to reform the Roman Curia and some of the foundations of the Church. He favored welcoming homosexuals within it; and he also favored ending the celibacy imposed under t...

                       POPE FRANCIS WORKED FOR COEXISTENCE WITH ISLAM Pope Francis, who died today at the age of 88, will be remembered, among other works as Pontiff, for his efforts to strengthen coexistence between Christians and Islam. he Pope traveled to various Arab countries and held meetings, including with the Dean of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the most highly regarded university for Muslims worldwide. Francis was the first Pope from Latin America and acceded to the Pontificate when the German-born Pope, Benedict XVI, resigned. Pope Francis has had to be hospitalized on numerous occasions, including for colon surgery in July 2021, after abdominal hernia surgery in June 2023, and most recently for bronchitis in February 2025. The Pope deeply believed that the three monotheistic religions should be united by their belief in the one God, cooperating with each other. He made his affection for Muslim believers clear on seve...

                                                   THE DEATH OF A FAMILY IN GAZA This isn't the first time this has happened, and unfortunately, it could still happen. An entire family of 10 people lost their lives at dawn this Friday in an Israeli bombardment in the Khan Yunis region, south of the Palestinian enclave, one of the hardest hit since the war in Gaza began. The Barak family, who were living sparsely in a tent, were completely eliminated in this attack by the IDF armed forces, while 15 other people were seriously injured. The total number of Palestinian deaths between Thursday and today rises to 35, according to a Palestinian health source. Remember, for example, the death of the family of Al-Jazeera correspondent Wael al-Dahdouh when the car in which they were traveling during the day to visit relatives was bombed. All the occupants of the vehicl...

                                 ALGERIA EXPELS TWELVE FRENCH AGENTS Relations between Algiers and Paris have been experiencing a period of tension dating back to French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Morocco in October of last year. Last week, Algiers expelled 12 French agents believed to be members of the intelligence services. There is no connection between Macron's visit to Rabat and the expulsion of the 12 agents. They are two separate issues. The problem lies in Paris's announced decision to respond by expelling Algerian agents from France. There is a great deal of effort to soothe the tension between Paris and Algiers. Recently, sources likely connected to Rabat announced that the Algerian army would participate for the first time in the upcoming "Lion 25" military exercises. These maneuvers are held annually and are organized by the United States and the Alaouite Kingdom, with the purpose ...

                                        THE EU AND CHINA CONFRONT TRUMP    The European Union (EU) and China have reached a historic agreement to jointly oppose US President Donald Trump on tariffs and other economic issues. The two sides will meet in July. Europeans and China have always been rivals, with vast differences in export values, although tax rates are of little importance.     This explains, for example, why in the smallest Spanish town, there is a Chinese market with a multitude of goods. But now the problem is far-reaching. It is about countering the enormous tariffs that the US wants to impose on China, above all. Trump has provisionally reversed himself for 90 days, assuring that he will continue with his tariff policy.       For example, he wants...

                                        ISRAEL CONTINUES TO KILL JOURNALISTS The presence of press correspondents and envoys in Gaza troubles Israel. The proof is that since the war began, 209 of them have been killed in airstrikes, missile fire, and artillery shelling by the so-called "Israeli Defense Forces." The latest journalist to lose his life last Sunday was Yousef Al-Khozindar, 27, who worked as a news anchor for the NBC television network. The journalist and six other colleagues had set up a tent near a hospital, where they had taken shelter. Despite the fact that the "PRESS" sign had been placed on the tent, an Israeli plane dropped a bomb on it, killing Yousef and seriously wounding his colleagues. It is clear that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu does not want the presence of independent journalists who could describe what is really happening in the Palestinian enclave. It is ...

                                        WHEN ISRAEL KILLS DOCTORS AND NURSES The story unfolded on March 23rd, but it was only this week that details emerged of a massacre committed against doctors and nurses in Gaza, in which 15 of them were murdered, without the slightest justification. Various Arab and foreign media outlets reported on this massacre this Saturday, but certain details that have only just been revealed were unknown. The medics were traveling in two vehicles marked as belonging to a medical corps. They also wore reflective tape to confirm that they were medical personnel. It is a blatant lie to claim, as the Jewish armed forces did, that they belonged to a terrorist group. The United Nations General Security Council recovered a cell phone video of a medic who died in the attack, although he was able to film some scenes before he died. This murder of 15 medical workers lac...

                                          AL ANDALUS IN THE HEART OF RIYADH These were splendid centuries for the Arabs; golden centuries that should never be forgotten. Al Andalus led the world in several disciplines: mathematics; medicine; astronomy; but there were more. Associations promoting dialogue among civilizations held a tribute to Al Andalus in Riyadh at the end of March. Among other aspects, Al Andalus became the capital of mathematics in the world. A number of experts in algebra (al-djabr); number theory; arithmetic; and geometry stood out there. But it would be a mistake to speak only of them, since the list of inventors is quite considerable. But why are the Spanish interested in the past of Al Andalus? Because it represents the Age of Enlightenment, as Alejo Carpeentier would say. A time of conviviality and discoveries that live on in the memory. The choice of Riyadh...