Category: General

The Union for the Mediterranean and the Union of Arab Banks marked International Women’s Day by co-hosting Closing gender gaps in the MENA financial sector: towards women-led business development, a 2-day conference in the Egyptian capital aimed at reducing the high levels of entrepreneurial inequality between men and women. The first joint event since the signing of a cooperation agreement a month prior, the institutions worked hand in hand to bring together 100 public and private sector participants, highlighting initiatives and best practices that encourage female entrepreneurship and therefore promote more equitable regional growth.

Senior bankers, entrepreneurs, and other attendees took part in six panel discussions and roundtable talks on gender disparities in access to finance for business creation and development, the role of financial institutions and banks in promoting gender equality, the MENA female angel investment scene as well as on the role of fintech in bridging the gender gap, innovative pr
actices to boost women’s financial inclusion, and accelerating the role of women in international trade.

The OECD’s Middle East and Africa Division took advantage of the event to present a pound 5m programme for the financial and digital inclusion of MENA women entrepreneurs, helping them overcome unfair lending practices, a lack of collateral, and insufficient financial knowledge. Meanwhile, the UfM, UAB and DG- NEAR announced the new Gender Lens in Fintech Award to showcase and support gender-sensitive initiatives in the fintech sector, with a first-ever ceremony set for the end of this year.

Mona Fattouh from Conyworld (Egypt) scooped the $1000 first-place award for innovative startups as part of a pitching contest organised by the MENA Women Business Club, an initiative launched by the UfM and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in 2021 that facilitates members’ access to an extensive ecosystem of entrepreneurs, lawyers, consultants, executives, and investors. Guadaluna Chaer
from LUXEED Robotics (Lebanon) came in second, winning $750, while third-place winner Fella Bouti from Ecotashira (Algeria) earned $500. All three women will have the chance to benefit from Plug and Play incubation and acceleration programmes in either Egypt or Morocco. The MENA Women Business Club also chaired a matchmaking session for women-led startups and investors on the second day, bringing the conference to a close.

‘Our gathering in Cairo is not a celebration, but rather a call to action. The gender gaps in the MENA financial sector are stark as less than 5% of businesses are women-led, far below the global average of 23% to 26%, while the losses incurred due to the lack of female economic participation amount to $575 billion annually. These facts alone demonstrate the urgent need to further include women in the labour market, an issue that is at the heart of the UfM’s mission,’ Union for the Mediterranean Secretary General Nasser Kamel said.

‘In collaboration with UfM, we proudly lead the organisat
ion of this event, showcasing our joint commitment to narrowing the gender gap in the MENA financial sector. Our shared goal is to foster an empowering environment for women, propelling them towards successful business development. I am genuinely excited about the potential impact of this event, anticipating positive transformations in our industry and beyond,’ said Union of Arab Banks Secretary General Fattouh Wissam. ‘I eagerly anticipate the collaborative strides we will take towards a future that champions equality and empowerment for women in the financial sector.’

Promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality is one of the UfM’s main priorities, in line with the 2022 UfM Ministerial Declaration in Madrid on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society. Beyond initiatives such as the MENA Women Business Club, the UfM is also behind the launch of the first-ever Intergovernmental Monitoring Mechanism on Gender Equality. The next biennial High-Level UfM Conference on Women for regional stakeholders will
take place in Nicosia, Cyprus this May.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

RAMALLAH: Spain has joined France, Britain, Canada, and the United States in imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank due to acts of terrorism against Palestinians. Meanwhile, discussions are underway within the European Union to make similar decisions in the near future.

On February 2, the U.S. administration imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers, followed by Canada imposing sanctions on another four, and two weeks later, Britain imposed sanctions on four more settlers. Subsequently, France barred 28 settlers from entering its territory. Last Thursday, Spain announced sanctions on 12 Israeli settlers in the first batch due to their attacks on Palestinians.

Observers consider these sanctions a precedent, the first of its kind, coming after a remarkable rise in settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. However, questions have arisen about the impact of these measures on the settlers’ behavior and whether they will deter their assaults.

To the east of the city of Nablus, in the Al
-Atmawiya area of the Central Jordan Valley, it seems that the echo of these sanctions has not reached settler Moshe Sharvit yet. His name was included among the four settlers on the British sanctions list for threatening, harassing, and attacking Palestinian shepherds and their families in the Jordan Valley.

In October 2023, Sharvit forced a community of 20 Palestinian families to evacuate after assaulting them and giving them a 5-hour ultimatum to leave, according to the British Foreign Ministry.

Yacob Abu Kabash, one of the 60 Palestinians living in the community, tells WAFA that Sharvit, whose attacks were limited to expelling shepherds and assaulting them before the sanctions, has escalated his attacks noticeably and criminally.

“Today, we cannot reach pastures just 20 meters away from our tents. Sharvit closed all pastures to us. Every day, he and his gangs enter the gathering with hilltop youth riding horses from 9 am to noon, engaging in violence against the residents,” adds Abu Kabash.

He points
out that over the past week, Sharvit’s attacks and his colonial gangs against the community’s residents have escalated. Not a single night passes without their raids on the gathering and directly launching illumination bombs towards the tented homes with the intention of burning them.

Abu Kabash emphasizes, “We can’t do anything. For seventy years, we’ve been living in this community, and what’s happening in the Jordan Valley is very dangerous, a confiscation of lands and closure of pastures. The goal is to force us to leave and look for other places. There must be urgent international and local action to stop what is happening in the Jordan Valley.”

Sharvit, listed for sanctions, established a farming center named Moshav Moshe in 2020 in the Central Jordan Valley. He faced charges of committing two attacks against Bedouin communities in the region, preventing Palestinian shepherds from herding their livestock, according to the settlement affairs official in Tubas and the Northern Jordan Valley, Mutaz Bisha
rat.

Daniella Weiss, a veteran settler leader, holds an Israeli flag during a scouting mission to find new hilltops to settle near the Israeli settlement of Kokhav Hashahar, in the occupied West Bank (6 November 2022)

Sharvit and his associates from the settlers of Moshav Moshe are accused of carrying out stone-throwing operations, threatening with stabbing, beating, and burning, threatening with dogs, driving vehicles into herds, nightly raids on shepherd communities, and carrying out attacks against human rights activists accompanying the shepherds.

Bisharat says that settler Sharvit erected tents with his family in the colonial center when it was established, gradually turning the tents into ready-made rooms. He expanded after joining hilltop youth gangs and the Regavim organization, with unlimited support from the settlers’ council and members of the Knesset and the far-right government. Eventually, he took control of 12,000 dunums, preventing Palestinians from entering and grazing their livestock.

He
notes that four citizens were injured in Sharvit’s attacks on Palestinian shepherds, three of them after the war on Gaza. Also, 13 sheep were attacked.

Sharvit and his gangs carry out 4-5 attacks on Palestinian farmers in the area daily, ranging from attacks on shepherds to nighttime invasions of citizens’ homes,” confirms Bisharat.

He points out that the attacks intensified after the British sanctions were imposed on Sharvit. Since October 7th, 138 attacks have been carried out, including 46 attacks after sanctions were imposed, especially after receiving support from members of the Israeli Knesset and the head of the settlers’ council. They openly expressed that the sanctions were insignificant and would not affect their plans. They encouraged him to continue his attacks.

In the northern Jordan Valley, settlers from the colonial gangs, numbering about 300 settlers aged between 15-21, established six new centers. They committed severe violations and attacks against Palestinian residents, closed the area t
o Palestinians, estimated at 85,000 dunams, took control of most springs, renovated and fenced them, turning them into tourist parks off-limits to Palestinians.

An article by independent journalist Zack Beauchamp in The Guardian describes the imposition of U.S., British, French, and Spanish sanctions on over 30 Israeli settlers for committing violence and incitement against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as a historic step.

However, the writer believes that these sanctions on a few settlers will not solve the fundamental problem, as they are part of a long-term systematic policy of the Israeli government aiming to expel Palestinians from their lands to expand settlements. He describes it as a flawed policy that only produces corrupt individuals.

Amir Dawood, the documentation director at the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, believes that the American, British, French, and Spanish positions imposing sanctions on settlers are important and unprecedented. He sees potential for accumulation an
d future investment in these decisions, confirming that this is the first time such resolutions have been taken.

He explains that the sanctions targeted 47 settlers involved in serious attacks and violations against Palestinians. Although a small number, he considers this a decision that can be invested in. However, the authority estimates that more than 20,000 settlers have committed crimes against Palestinian communities.

Dawood confirms that settler attacks, especially those subjected to sanctions, have escalated after their imposition. This is a clear challenge to the world under an extreme right-wing government protective of colonial projects and settlers. It also emphasizes to the world that sanctions will not deter the audacity of the settlers.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA

Aqaba: Aqaba has garnered international recognition for its commitment to sustainability, clinching third place as the best sustainable green destination worldwide during the ITB Berlin Convention 2024.

According to a statement by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) on Thursday, Aqaba’s achievements were underscored by its remarkable progress across various criteria, notably its exemplary performance within the Aqaba Bird Observatory. Recognized as a vital eco-tourism asset teeming with biodiversity, the observatory has pioneered innovative initiatives such as wastewater reclamation, addressing water scarcity challenges prevalent in many parts of the world.

Furthermore, Aqaba’s dedication to sustainable tourism standards has propelled it into the ranks of the top 100 tourist destinations worldwide renowned for its climate and environmental stewardship.

The city has also secured a spot among the six best stories of sustainable tourist destinations globally, reaffirming its commitment to enviro
nmental conservation and community engagement.

Chairman of ASEZA, Nayef Fayez, signed an agreement with Green Destination to lay the groundwork for Aqaba to strive for top honors as an international tourist destination, leveraging its adherence to rigorous sustainability standards outlined by Green Destinations. The agreement signifies a strategic partnership aimed at implementing a green growth strategy, empowering the ASEZA to chart a roadmap towards world-class sustainable tourism.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Minister of Labor, Nadia Rawabdeh, said supporting women’s engagement and contribution in Jordan’s various economic fields and valuing their achievements is “a basic and urgent” necessity for achieving sustainable development.

In a dialogue session Thursday entitled “Supporting Change Makers for a Women-driven Economy,” organized by JoWomenomics, Rawabdeh noted the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV) presented by the government focused on “increasing” women’s participation in the labor market to achieve economic growth.

The EMV, she affirmed, called for improving the environment that allow women to obtain a “better” job opportunity and double their participation in economic life to 28% over the next ten years.

Rawabdeh said the ministry aims to contribute to increase women’s participation in the Kingdom’s labor market through the National Employment Program, eyeing to make 35% of its target beneficiaries countrywide from women with various academic qualifications.

The minister added that Productive
Branches Initiative has so far launched 28 offices nationwide that contributes to women employment, as the rate of female workers in these branches during the past year reached about 82%.

Through the Development and Employment Fund, she said the ministry provided funding to support women’s projects within “Women Empowerment” Program to enable them establish their own new project to contribute to improve their living standard and economic independence.

This effort, she said, aims to encourage women work “independently” to achieve self-employment and increase the percentage of female entrepreneurs.

At the opening of the session, Rawabdeh greeted Jordanian women on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which falls March 8.

She indicated that this occasion signals “respect and appreciation for women’s efforts throughout the year to serve their family, their community, and their country.”

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: Jordanian National Centre for Epidemics and Communicable Diseases Control (JCDC) released the final report results of the national project to survey and review Jordan’s policies, strategies, legislation, guidelines and standard operating procedures for prevention of pandemics, communicable and common diseases, and environmental threats within One Health approach.

According to a statement on Thursday, JCDC Head, Dr. Adel Belbisi, hailed efforts and cooperation of the main partners in various relevant institutions and bodies, which were the “closest” entities to deal with the potential sources of pandemics and “constantly” monitor and follow up on the surrounding environmental factors.

During a workshop held to publish the report’s results, he said the JCDC was “keen, since the beginning of the survey, to coordinate to set work mechanisms and methodology to achieve the survey goals, in cooperation with the national implementing body, Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC).

Within scope of its first
strategy for the years 2023-2025, he said the center adopted a “strategic” approach that emphasizes its role as a “leading” national public health institution, aimed to assist national efforts to ensure preparedness, detect, prevent, combat, and reduce health threats.

Additionally, Belbisi praised the HCAC’s role for its “remarkable” effort in implementing this survey, lauding partners who played a “major” role in technical support for this effort.

Source: Jordan News Agency