Jamal Khashoggi’s US lawyer sentenced to three years following detention in UAE
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President Joe Biden’s trip to the Middle East came to an end with yet more controversy after it emerged that an American lawyer who previously represented murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been detained in the UAE.
US citizen Asim Ghafoor was detained at Dubai airport on Thursday while travelling to Istanbul for a family wedding and was held on charges related to an in absentia conviction for money laundering. Mr Ghafoor reportedly had no prior knowledge of any conviction.
UAE state media said on Saturday that the attorney had been sentenced to three years in prison.
On Saturday, Mr Biden met with UAE President Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and invited him to visit the US before the year is out.
He was one of multiple Middle Eastern leaders Mr Biden met in Saudi Arabia on Saturday before leaving aboard Air Force One.
New details also emerged about Friday’s controversial meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – the man US intelligence found responsible for ordering the Khashoggi’s murder.
When Mr Biden confronted MBS about the killing – after a friendly fist-bump – he denied the accusation and fired back about the US’s own controversies.
Jamal Khashoggi’s American lawyer sentenced to three years in UAE prison following detention at airport
MBS fired back at Biden with US controversies after confrontation over Khashoggi’s murder, says report
Biden poses for ‘family photo’ with Saudi Crown Prince MBS after clash over Khashoggi murderJoe Biden fist-bumps Saudi crown prince after vowing to make him ‘a pariah’ in 2019
Ilhan Omar on Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia: ‘It sends the wrong message to everyone who cares about human rights’
Biden’s emphasises return to diplomacy with Iran
In his remarks, President Joe Biden says that while Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon, he continues to believe diplomacy is the best way to achieve this outcome, even as he vows to help Israel counter Iranian terrorism and ballistic missiles.
He continues by saying that as Israel and the US move forward together, partners in both security and innovation, their defence sectors will cooperate and the new high-energy laser weapon systems that can defend Israel — the Iron Beam.
On the Iran nuclear deal, Mr Biden says: “We are not going to wait forever.”
Biden praises progress of the Abraham Accords
President Biden also praised the Abraham Accords, brought about by the efforts of the previous administration, and reaffirmed the US’s commitment to building on them.
“Tomorrow I’ll be the first American president to fly from Israel directly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. That represents important progress.”
“When I see the Saudi leadership tomorrow, I’ll be carrying a direct message,” the president says, adding it will be a message of peace and extraordinary opportunities in a more stable region.
Biden asked about raising Khashoggi murder with Saudis
Asked about bringing up the murder of Jamal Khashoggi with the Saudi leadership, President Biden does not commit to directly raising the topic but notes his “I always bring up human rights. I always bring up human rights. but my position on Khashoggi has been so clear, if anyone doesn’t understand it in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else, then they haven’t been around for a while.”
Biden: US ‘not going to wait forever’ for Iran to reenter nuclear agreement
US President Joe Biden on Thursday warned that the negotiations meant to bring Iran back into the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Mr Biden was asked if he’d set a deadline for when he might walk away from the talks, which the US is hoping will re-start the agreement which former president Donald Trump walked away from in 2018.
“We’ve laid out for the people for the leadership of Iran, what we’re willing to accept in order to get back to the JCPOA,” Mr Biden said. “We’re waiting for the response. When that will come, I’m not certain. But we are not going to wait forever”.
Biden says US ‘not going to wait forever’ for Iran to reenter nuclear agreement
Mr Biden says curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions is ‘a vital security interest to both Israel and the United States and ... the rest of the world’
I2U2: India, Israel, UAE, and US convene first leaders meeting
As part of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel, he and Prime Minister Yair Lapid were joined via video conference by their Indian and Emirati counterparts — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The group, named I2U2, is seen as a companion project to the Quad — Australia, India, Japan, and the US — as a way of countering China’s influence across the Middle East and South Asia.
In the group’s first joint statement, the four leaders said: This unique grouping of countries aims to harness the vibrancy of our societies and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle some of the greatest challenges confronting our world, with a particular focus on joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
Biden’s visit taking place against chaotic backdrop of Israeli politics
President Joe Biden, facing his own set of challenges back in Washington, will spend Thursday navigating Israel’s chaotic politics as he meets with the country’s leaders to bolster cooperation with the United States and other nations.
Biden played down the political uncertainty in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 that aired Wednesday.
“We’re committed to the state, not an individual leader,” he said.
Israeli politics a chaotic backdrop for Biden's visit
President Joe Biden will seek to bolster cooperation between the United States, Israel and other countries during his first full day in the Middle East
Biden ‘would not be disappointed’ by Trump 2024 rematch
US president Joe Biden has expressed confidence about a possible rematch with Donald Trump in 2024 and said he would not be “disappointed” if that were to happen.
“I’m not predicting, but I would not be disappointed,” Mr Biden said in an interview with Israeli television outlet Channel 12 on Wednesday.
Biden meets with President Herzog
President Joe Biden’s next stop on his visit to Israel is the presidential residence in Jerusalem, where he was greeted by President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog.
Biden shares Israeli president’s ties to Ireland
President Joe Biden noted Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s ties to Ireland, where his father was the chief rabbi.
“He was the Sinn Fein Rabbi,” Mr Biden joked.
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