38年前新總統與父親宣誓就職；里夫林：“以色列國第十一任總統萬歲。以色列國萬歲”

通過TOI人員今天，下午 6:26

艾薩克·赫爾佐格於 2021 年 7 月 7 日在耶路撒冷的以色列議會宣誓就任總統。 (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

前工黨領袖艾薩克·赫爾佐格週三就任以色列第 11 任總統，接替魯文·里夫林。

赫爾佐格在議會的一個節日儀式上宣誓就職，議員們高呼“[總統]萬歲”。他以擔任“全民總統”的承諾開始了他的七年任期，並努力平息該國的分裂言論。

在他的就職演說中，這位權力不大、由總理行使行政權力的新總統警告說，以色列的“共同精神和共同價值觀比以往任何時候都更加脆弱”。

“毫無根據的仇恨、兩極分化和分裂正在付出非常沉重的代價……最沉重的代價是侵蝕我們國家的韌性，”赫爾佐格說。

“我的使命，也是我擔任總統期間的目標，是盡一切努力重建希望，”他補充道。

赫爾佐格在講話中還強調了該國對其少數民族的義務，敦促政府打擊阿拉伯社區的犯罪活動。他還發誓要向國際社會堅定捍衛以色列的軍事記錄。

2021 年 7 月 7 日，新宣誓就任總統艾薩克·赫爾佐格（中）在耶路撒冷擁抱他的前任魯文·里夫林。 (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

“作為一個猶太民主國家，我們必須盡一切努力確保生活在我們中間的少數民族融入社會。我們必須盡一切努力減少每一種嚴重的現象，例如阿拉伯社區中可怕和兇殘的暴力，並縮小差距，”赫爾佐格說。

他宣誓就職時使用了一本在他的家族中有著悠久歷史的 107 年曆史的聖經——他的父親柴姆·赫爾佐格 (Chaim Herzog) 在 1983 年宣誓就任總統時使用的就是這本聖經。這本聖經在兩次世界大戰中倖存下來，並被在她的婚禮前夕，她的父親送給了他的祖母。

廣告

儀式還包括吹響號角，總統在演講後獲得起立鼓掌。

里夫林在繼任者宣誓就職後在議會的離別演講中敦促以色列人團結起來，克服他們的政治和宗教分歧，同時強調保持以色列作為一個猶太民主國家的重要性。

“猶太國家不是理所當然的。民主國家不是理所當然的。如果不是民主和猶太人，猶太人和民主，就沒有以色列，”即將卸任的總統說。

“只有當我們知道如何接受複雜性並拒絕總是如此誘人的簡單性時，我們才會獲勝……如果我們知道如何保持這種緊張關係，在其中找到平衡和妥協。只有這樣，我們才能保存這個奇蹟，我們的家，”他補充道。

廣告

新當選的以色列總統艾薩克·赫爾佐格於 2021 年 7 月 7 日在耶路撒冷的以色列議會宣誓就職。 (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

里夫林還敦促與以色列的區域合作夥伴就安全、經濟和政治問題進行接觸，並找到與水、食品和氣候變化相關的解決方案。他認為，猶太人和阿拉伯人在以色列的共存可以為更多地參與該地區鋪平道路。

“我相信，如果我們能夠在這里共同生活，猶太人和阿拉伯人，我們將找到在約旦河和大海之間以及整個地區共同生活的方式。”

里夫林敦促下一代以色列人“繼續創新。如果某些東西不起作用 - 改變它。不要認為事情是理所當然的，因為以色列國不應被視為理所當然。這是一個奇蹟，必須小心翼翼地守護奇蹟。”

“以色列建國時我九歲。我看到以色列國旗，藍白相間，飄揚在旗桿上。對我來說，以色列國永遠不會是我認為理所當然的事情。以色列第十一任總統萬歲。以色列國萬歲，”他總結道，贏得了全場起立鼓掌。

在議會向總統乾杯後，赫爾佐格前往總統官邸與里夫林舉行交接儀式。

里夫林在總統官邸對赫爾佐格說：“我毫不懷疑，你是正確的人，在正確的地點，在正確的時間。”

在總統辦公室的辦公桌上等待赫爾佐格的將是一封來自里夫林的私人信件。

“說實話，我有點羨慕你。在很短的時間內，你會發現自己擁有的巨大特權，”里夫林在信中寫道。

“在接下來的七年裡，你會遇到以色列公民。我已經告訴你了，你會想要擁抱他們，他們所有人。你會想和他們一起哭，也想和他們一起笑。對他們感到興奮，”里夫林寫道。

廣告

魯文·里夫林總統於 2016 年 1 月 3 日在幼兒園給孩子們讀一本書。 (Mark Neyman/GPO)

里夫林在2015 年的一次演講中表達了對以色列社會團結惡化的警告，他寫道：“在部落中，在爭議和裂痕的陰影下，你會發現勇敢的人不談論‘在一起’，他們只是活著。一天一天，一小時一小時。在他們的家裡，左右兩邊的人，猶太人和阿拉伯人，退伍軍人[公民]和新移民，宗教和傳統，年輕人和老年人。所有信仰、部門和種族的人。他們都是以色列人。美麗、有啟發性和慷慨。他們的心多好，無法用語言表達。”

里夫林也警告他的繼任者情緒損失，回憶起他的睡眠有時會被他遇到的那些面臨著某種形式的挑戰的人的想法所擾亂。

“你會驚訝的。愛上。值得驕傲。把事情放在心上，”里夫林寫道。

“很多時候，在旅途中，在會議上，我對自己想‘第一公民’的稱號誕生只是因為這是第一人。今天我確定，”里夫林總結道。

藝術家 Sigalit Landau 於 2021 年 7 月 5 日在總統官邸的總統大道上看到的魯文·里夫林總統的半身像（左）。（Haim Zach/GPO）

赫爾佐格是前猶太機構主席和工黨領袖，在 6 月初的選舉中贏得了以色列議會的選票——120 票中的 87 票，比該國歷史上的任何總統候選人都多。Miriam Peretz 是一位社會活動家和獲得以色列獎的教育家，他在以色列的戰爭中失去了兩個士兵兒子，在無記名投票中得到了 26 名立法者的支持。

儀式開始前，赫爾佐格週二在西牆祈禱，並在他留在牆縫裡的便條中寫道，他將致力於“我們人民之間的團結和對以色列的真愛”。

赫爾佐格曾是反對黨領袖、前總理本雅明內塔尼亞胡在 2015 年大選中的主要對手，他說他希望“能夠與任何政府和每一位總理合作”。

以色列總統在很大程度上是禮儀性的，但在決定誰獲得選舉後組建政府的授權方面發揮著關鍵作用。總統還有權赦免人民並給予寬大處理。

2021 年 6 月 2 日，赫爾佐格當選後，新當選的以色列總統艾薩克·赫爾佐格（左）與時任總理本傑明·內塔尼亞胡在議會中。（Yonatan Sindel/Flash90）

在 6 月投票前夕，赫爾佐格拒絕透露他是否會考慮赦免內塔尼亞胡，內塔尼亞胡正在接受三起腐敗案件的審判。

作為該國頂級公司之一（由他的父親創立）的專業律師，赫爾佐格的家族歷史與以色列皇室一樣接近。

他是以色列第一位德系猶太教首席拉比艾薩克·赫爾佐格（Isaac Herzog）的孫子，也是以色列國防軍前少將、時任總統哈伊姆·赫爾佐格的兒子。他的兄弟邁克爾是一名退休的以色列國防軍準將。他的姑姑蘇西是前外交部長阿巴·埃班的妻子。

在他的任期內，里夫林一直獲得很高的公眾支持率，他決心代表廣泛的以色列社區，他明顯的同情心引起了公眾的共鳴。

週三早些時候，里夫林的半身像在總統官邸的雕像花園揭幕。週一， 在里夫林完成七年任期的兩天前，這座雕塑 與里夫林的前任一起豎立起來。

在半身像下面的一塊牌匾上，引用了里夫林的一句話：“沒有傾聽的能力，就沒有學習的能力。沒有學習的能力，就沒有修復的能力。”

New president sworn in on same Bible as father 38 years ago; Rivlin: ‘Long live the eleventh president of the State of Israel. Long live the State of Israel’

By TOI STAFFToday, 6:26 pm

Isaac Herzog is sworn in as president at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

Former Labor party leader Isaac Herzog took office on Wednesday as Israel’s 11th president, succeeding Reuven Rivlin.

Herzog took his oath of office at a festive ceremony in the Knesset to cries of “long live [the president]” from its lawmakers. He kicked off his seven-year term with a pledge to serve as a “president for all” and work to tone down the country’s divisive rhetoric.

In his inauguration speech, the new president — who exerts little power, with the prime minister wielding executive authority — warned that Israel’s “common ethos and shared values are more fragile than ever.”

“Baseless hatred, polarization and division are exacting a very heavy price… the heaviest price is the erosion of our national resilience,” said Herzog.

“My mission, the goal of my presidency, is to do everything to rebuild hope,” he added.

During his speech, Herzog also stressed the country’s obligation toward its minorities, urging the government to battle crime in Arab communities. He also vowed to staunchly defend Israel’s military record to the international community.

Newly sworn in President Isaac Herzog, center, embraces his predecessor, Reuven Rivlin, in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

“As a Jewish and democratic state, we must do everything to ensure the integration of the minorities who live among us. We must do everything to reduce every serious phenomenon, such as the terrible and murderous violence in Arab communities, and reduce the gaps,” said Herzog.

He was sworn in on a 107-year-old Bible that has a long history in his family — the same one that his father, Chaim Herzog, used when he was sworn in as president in 1983. The Bible survived both world wars and was given to his grandmother by her father on the eve of her wedding.

ADVERTISEMENT

The ceremony also included a blowing of shofars, and the president received a standing ovation following his speech.

In his parting speech in parliament following his successor’s swearing-in, Rivlin urged Israelis to come together and overcome their political and religious differences, while stressing the importance of preserving Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

“The Jewish state is not something to be taken for granted. A democratic state is not something to be taken for granted. And there will be no Israel if it is not democratic and Jewish, Jewish and democratic, in the same breath,” said the outgoing president.

“We will prevail only if we know how to embrace complexity and reject the simplicity that is always so tempting… if we know how to hold that tension, finding within it the balances and compromises. Only then will we be able to preserve this miracle, our home,” he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Newly elected Israeli president Isaac Herzog is sworn in at the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/FLASH90)

Rivlin also urged engagement with Israel’s regional partners on security, economic and political matters and find solutions related to water, food and climate change. He argued that Jewish-Arab coexistence in Israel could pave the way for greater engagement in the region.

“I believe that if we are able to live here together, Jews and Arabs, we will find the way to live together between the Jordan River and the sea, and across the whole region.”

Rivlin urged the next generation of Israelis to “continue to innovate. If something isn’t working – change it. Don’t take things for granted because of the simple fact that the State of Israel isn’t to be taken for granted. It is a miracle, and miracles must be jealously guarded.”

“I was nine years old when the State of Israel was established. I saw the Israeli flag, blue and white, flying on the flagpole then. For me, the State of Israel will never be something I take for granted. Long live the eleventh president of the State of Israel. Long live the State of Israel,” he concluded, receiving a standing ovation.

Following a toast to the president at the Knesset, Herzog headed over to the President’s Residence for a handover ceremony with Rivlin.

“I have no doubt that you are the right man, in the right place, at the right time,” Rivlin told Herzog at the President’s Residence.

Waiting for Herzog on his desk in the president’s office will be a personal letter from Rivlin.

“The truth is I am a little envious of you. In a short time you will discover the tremendous privilege that has fallen to you,” Rivlin wrote in the missive.

“In the coming seven years you will meet the men and women who are citizens of Israel. I am already telling you, you will want to hug them, all of them. You will want to cry with them, and to laugh with them. To be excited with them,” Rivlin wrote.

ADVERTISEMENT

President Reuven Rivlin reading a book to children at a kindergarten, on January 3, 2016. (Mark Neyman/GPO)

Echoing themes he expressed in a 2015 speech warning against the deterioration of unity in Israeli society, Rivlin wrote: “Among the tribes, in the shadow of the controversies and rifts, you will find brave people who do not talk about the ‘together’, they just live it. Day to day and hour by hour. In their homes, those on the right and the left, Jews and Arabs, veteran [citizens] and new immigrants, religious and traditional, young and old. People of all faiths, sectors and ethnicities. All of them, Israelis. Beautiful, enlightening, and generous. And what a heart they have, beyond words.”

Rivlin warned his successor of the emotional toll too, recalling how his sleep was sometimes disturbed by thoughts of those he met who were facing challenges in one form or another.

“You will be surprised. Fall in love. Be proud. Take things to heart,” Rivlin wrote.

“Many times, on journeys, in meetings, I thought to myself the title ‘Citizen Number One’ was born simply because this is the number one people. Today I am sure,” Rivlin concluded.

A bust of President Reuven Rivlin, left, by artist Sigalit Landau seen in the Avenue of the Presidents, at the President’s Residence, on July 5, 2021. (Haim Zach/ GPO)

Herzog, a former Jewish Agency chairman and Labor party leader, won more votes in the Knesset — — 87 out of 120 — in the election in early June than any presidential candidate in the country’s history. Miriam Peretz, a social activist and Israel Prize-winning educator who lost two soldier sons in Israel’s wars, was backed by 26 lawmakers in the secret ballot.

Ahead of the ceremony, Herzog prayed at the Western Wall on Tuesday and in the note he left in the cracks of the wall, he wrote that he will devote himself to “unity among our people and true love for Israel.”

Herzog, who was opposition leader and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief opponent in the 2015 general elections, said he hoped “to be able to work with any government and every prime minister.”

Israel’s president is largely ceremonial but plays a key role in deciding who gets the mandate to form a government following elections. The president also has the power to pardon people and grant clemency.

Newly elected Israeli President Isaac Herzog (left) with then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset after Herzog’s election, June 2, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

In the run-up to June’s vote, Herzog refused to say whether he would consider pardoning Netanyahu, who is on trial in three corruption cases.

An attorney by profession at one of the country’s top firms (which was founded by his father), Herzog has a family history that is as close as one comes to Israeli royalty.

He is the grandson of Israel’s first Ashkenazi chief rabbi, Isaac Herzog, for whom he is named, and the son of former IDF major general and then president Chaim Herzog. His brother Michael is a retired IDF brigadier general. His aunt Suzy was the wife of former foreign minister Abba Eban.

During his term in office, Rivlin consistently scored high public approval ratings, with his determination to represent the broad spectrum of Israeli communities and his obvious compassion resonating with the public.

Earlier on Wednesday, a bust of Rivlin was unveiled in the statue garden of the president’s official residence. The sculpture was erected Monday alongside those of Rivlin’s predecessors, two days before he completed his seven-year term.

On a plaque beneath the bust is a quote from Rivlin: “Without the ability to listen, there is no ability to learn. Without the ability to learn, there is no ability to repair.”

埃及動用軍隊向新近和解的土耳其發出堅定信息

儘管兩個競爭對手之間進行了安靜的談判，但基地開放和軍事演習表明茜茜公主還沒有準備好接受埃爾多安的提議

通過拉扎爾·伯曼 今天，中午 12:01

埃及總統阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西參加 2021 年 Qader 軍事演習，2021 年 7 月 4 日（YouTube 屏幕截圖）

埃及本周向其地區競爭對手土耳其發出了堅定的信息，即使它採取措施平息兩個遜尼派大國之間的緊張局勢，也展示了其軍事實力。

埃及的信息旨在解決兩國之間的兩個主要衝突點。2014 年至 2020 年，開羅在利比亞與土耳其進行了代理人戰爭，並舉辦了一個區域天然氣論壇，旨在對抗土耳其在地中海東部的行動。

在過去十年的大部分時間裡，土耳其一直 與埃及展開激烈的競爭，這場競爭始於土耳其總統雷傑普·塔伊普·埃爾多安 (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) 在 2013 年茜茜 (Sissi) 接任後該組織在開羅下台後支持穆斯林兄弟會。

埃爾多安稱茜茜公主為暴君，並向聯合國安理會提交正式請求，要求承認他為戰犯。埃及驅逐了土耳其駐開羅大使，並從安卡拉召回了自己的大使。

遜尼派穆斯林勢力之間的競爭已經轉移到其他地區並分裂了中東，土耳其和卡塔爾領導了一個親伊斯蘭派系，而埃及則站在親西方陣營的沙特阿拉伯和阿聯酋一邊。

時事通訊電子郵件地址

註冊即表示您同意條款

在地中海，埃及與希臘和塞浦路斯結盟，後者指責土耳其在其專屬經濟區非法開採天然氣。與以色列一起，這些國家成立了東地中海天然氣論壇，總部設在開羅，並進行了聯合軍事演習。

自稱為東部利比亞國民軍 (LNA) 的特種部隊成員聚集在班加西市，據報導，他們在前往蘇爾特市西部前線支援利比亞國民軍戰友的途中，面對忠於聯合國認可的部隊民族團結政府 (GNA)，2020 年 6 月 18 日。（攝影：Abdullah DOMA / AFP）

週六，埃及總統阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西 (Abdel Fattah el-Sissi) 在地中海開設了一個戰略海軍基地，以“保護航線”。

該基地位於亞歷山大以西約 255 公里（160 英里）處，靠近利比亞邊境，埃及和阿拉伯聯合酋長國在該國都發揮了關鍵軍事作用，支持哈利法哈夫塔爾的利比亞國民軍。土耳其支持民族團結政府，這是 2014-2020 年內戰的對立方。

廣告

2018 年 1 月 5 日，法國總統埃馬紐埃爾·馬克龍（右）和土耳其總統雷傑普·塔伊普·埃爾多安在巴黎愛麗舍宮。（Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP）

並非巧合的是，阿布扎比強大的王儲謝赫·穆罕默德·本·扎耶德·阿勒納哈揚 (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan) 出席了儀式。

“這是埃及在地中海的最新軍事基地，將專注於保護該國北部和西部戰線的安全，”西西在一份聲明中說。

開幕恰逢茜茜公主領導軍事驅逐伊斯蘭總統穆罕默德·穆爾西八週年。

利比亞的代理人戰爭看起來似乎會演變成列強之間的直接對抗，當時茜茜公主將利比亞城市蘇爾特稱為“紅線”，並威脅說，如果土耳其支持的軍隊襲擊它，則直接使用軍事力量。

廣告

內戰於 2020 年 10 月以停火結束，土耳其和埃及都支持政治進程。

土耳其和埃及在地中海東部的資源控制上也存在分歧。安卡拉一直在積極維護其海洋權利，這得益於其對利比亞 GNA 的支持。2019 年，土耳其與利比亞政府簽署了海洋劃界協議，聲稱對塞浦路斯和希臘視為自己的水域的權利。

2020 年 9 月，安卡拉加大了賭注，派出一艘船隻在軍艦的陪同下前往希臘聲稱擁有主權的水域進行油氣勘探。據路透社報導，有一次，希臘和土耳其軍艦 相撞。

希臘、意大利、塞浦路斯和法國的軍艦於 8 月 26 日至 28 日在土耳其以南地中海東部參加聯合軍事演習，這是希臘國防部於 2020 年 8 月 31 日提供的照片。（希臘國防部通過美聯社）

作為回應，埃及和希臘簽署了一項被土耳其拒絕的海上邊界協議。

2020年，東地中海天然氣論壇正式啟動，其中包括以色列、希臘、塞浦路斯和法國等土耳其的競爭對手。EMGF 設在開羅，被理解為一個反土耳其聯盟。

卡德爾 2021

埃及本週的軍事演習旨在發出警告，提醒埃及準備捍衛其海上利益。

週日，埃及國防部發布了一段於 7 月 3 日在基地舉行的 Qader 2021 演習視頻。視頻強調，該基地幫助埃及保護其領海的自然資源，這是向埃爾多安傳達的明確信息。

向土耳其傳達的信息是，埃及擁有一支精幹、先進的軍隊，將捍衛其水域和成為區域能源中心的願景。

廣告

2020 年 1 月的卡德爾演習發生在埃爾多安宣布打算向利比亞派遣土耳其軍隊的一周後。

土耳其需要朋友

經過埃爾多安十年來的自信行為和言論，全球和地區的變化已經將安卡拉推到了牆角。它與歐洲和許多阿拉伯國家隔絕，面臨著不友好的白宮和一位個人不喜歡埃爾多安的美國總統，而其經濟繼續受到大流行的衝擊。

這張 2019 年 6 月 24 日在塞浦路斯附近地中海拍攝的照片顯示了土耳其部署的鑽井船 Fatih，用於在被視為歐盟國家專屬經濟區一部分的水域中尋找天然氣和石油。(法新社)

近幾個月來，土耳其的語氣和政策發生了變化，其中包括向埃及示好。雙方在情報和外交方面進行了安靜的會談，埃爾多安在3月份表示，他希望與埃及的和解進程更加強大，埃及和土耳其是天然的盟友。

與此同時，安卡拉要求土耳其的埃及反對派電視頻道淡化他們對茜茜公主和埃及政府的批評，以表明它渴望和解。

土耳其甚至在 6 月份保持沉默，當時埃及維持對 2013 年殺害抗議者的 12 名穆斯林兄弟會高級成員判處死刑。

另一方面，埃及則更加謹慎。埃及外交部長薩梅赫舒克里承認會談，但強調進展取決於“土耳其政策的真正變化”。

他告誡說：“光是說是不夠的，還必須行動起來。”

埃及仍未準備好接受土耳其的提議，而是以展示軍事力量進行反擊。

以色列也對土耳其重建關係的嘗試冷淡。隨著與阿拉伯國家建立新的外交和安全關係，以色列可能不會與土耳其接觸，直到安卡拉關閉哈馬斯在該國的活動，對其在東耶路撒冷的活動保持透明，並結束其嚴厲的反以色列言論。

Egypt uses military to send firm message to newly conciliatory Turkey

Despite quiet talks between the two rivals, base opening and military exercises show Sissi not ready to accept Erdogan’s overtures

By LAZAR BERMAN Today, 12:01 pm

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi attends the Qader 2021 military exercise, July 4, 2021 (YouTube screen capture)

Egypt sent a firm message to its regional rival Turkey this week, flexing its military might even as it engages in steps meant to calm tensions between the two Sunni powers.

Egypt’s message was designed to address both major flashpoints between the two countries. Cairo fought a proxy war with Turkey in Libya in 2014-2020, and hosts a regional gas forum designed to counter Turkish moves in the eastern Mediterranean.

For the better part of a decade, Turkey has been engaged in a bitter rivalry with Egypt that began when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan backed the Muslim Brotherhood after the group was ousted from power in Cairo when Sissi took over in 2013.

Erdogan called Sissi a tyrant and submitted a formal request to the United Nations Security Council to have him recognized as a war criminal. Egypt expelled Turkey’s ambassador in Cairo and recalled its own from Ankara.

The rivalry between the Sunni Muslim powers has metastasized into other areas and split the Middle East, with Turkey and Qatar leading a pro-Islamist faction, and Egypt siding with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a pro-Western camp.

Newsletter email address

By signing up, you agree to the terms

In the Mediterranean, Egypt has aligned itself with Greece and Cyprus, which accuse Turkey of illegally drilling for natural gas in their exclusive economic zones. Together with Israel, the countries formed the EastMed Gas Forum, headquartered in Cairo, and they have conducted joint military exercises.

Members of the self-proclaimed eastern Libyan National Army (LNA) special forces gather in the city of Benghazi, on their way to reportedly back up fellow LNA fighters on the frontline west of the city of Sirte, facing forces loyal to the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), on June 18, 2020. (Photo by Abdullah DOMA / AFP)

On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi opened a strategic naval base on the Mediterranean Sea to “secure shipping lines,” according to the presidency.

The base lies some 255 kilometers (160 miles) west of Alexandria, toward the border with Libya, a country in which both Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have played a key military role backing Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army. Turkey back the Government of National Accord, the opposing side in the 2014-2020 civil war.

ADVERTISEMENT

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Elysee Palace in Paris, January 5, 2018. (Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP)

The ceremony, not coincidentally, was attended by the powerful crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

“It is the latest Egyptian military base on the Mediterranean, and will be focused on securing the country’s northern and western front,” Sissi said in a statement.

The opening coincides with the eighth anniversary of Sissi leading the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The proxy war in Libya looked as if it could turn into a direct confrontation between the powers, when Sissi called the Libyan city of Sirte a “red line” and threatened direct military force if Turkish-backed forces attacked it.

ADVERTISEMENT

The civil war ended with a ceasefire in October 2020, and both Turkey and Egypt back the political process.

Turkey and Egypt are also at odds over resource control in the eastern Mediterranean. Ankara has been aggressively asserting its maritime rights, enabled by its support for the GNA in Libya. In 2019, Turkey signed a maritime demarcation agreement with the government in Libya, claiming rights to waters Cyprus and Greece see as their own.

In September 2020, Ankara upped the ante by sending a vessel, accompanied by warships, to survey for oil and gas in waters claimed by Greece. At one point, according to Reuters, Greek and Turkish warships collided.

Warships from Greece, Italy, Cyprus and France participate in a joint military exercise from 26-28 of August, south of Turkey in eastern Mediterranean sea, in this photo provided on August 31, 2020, by the Greek Defense Ministry. (Greek Defense Ministry via AP)

In response, Egypt and Greece signed a maritime border agreement that is rejected by Turkey.

In 2020, the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum was formally launched, which includes rivals of Turkey like Israel, Greece, Cyprus and France. The EMGF, hosted in Cairo, is understood as an anti-Turkey alliance.

Qader 2021

Egypt’s military exercise this week is designed to send a warning about Egypt’s readiness to defend its interests at sea.

On Sunday, Egypt’s Defense Ministry released a video of the Qader 2021 exercise, taking place at the July 3 base. The video stressed that the base helps Egypt protect its natural resources in its territorial waters, a clear message to Erdogan.

The message to Turkey is that Egypt has a capable, advanced military that will defend its waters and its vision of becoming a regional energy hub.

ADVERTISEMENT

The January 2020 Qader exercise took place a week after Erdogan announced his intention to send Turkish troops to Libya.

Turkey needs friends

After a decade of assertive behavior and speech from Erdogan, global and regional shifts have pushed Ankara’s back against the wall. Isolated from Europe and many Arab states, it is facing an unfriendly White House and a US president who dislikes Erdogan personally, while its economy continues to get buffeted by the pandemic.

This photo from June 24, 2019, in the Mediterranean Sea off Cyprus shows the drilling vessel Fatih, which was deployed by Turkey to search for gas and oil in waters considered part of the EU state’s exclusive economic zone. (AFP)

Turkey’s tone and policies have changed in recent months, which includes overtures to Egypt. The two sides have held quiet intelligence and diplomatic talks, and Erdogan said in March that he hopes the reconciliation process with Egypt grows much stronger, and that Egypt and Turkey are natural allies.

At the same time, Ankara asked Egyptian opposition television channels in Turkey to tone down their criticism of Sissi and the Egyptian government in a sign that it is eager for reconciliation.

Turkey even stayed quiet in June when Egypt upheld the death penalty for 12 senior Muslim Brotherhood members for the 2013 killing of protesters.

Egypt, on the other hand, has been more circumspect. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry acknowledged the talks but stressed that progress depends on “real change in Turkish policy.”

“Words are not enough, they must be matched by deeds,” he cautioned.

Egypt is still not ready to accept Turkey’s overtures, and is instead countering with displays of military force.

Israel, too, has been cold to Turkish attempts to rekindle ties. With new diplomatic and security relationships with Arab states, Israel likely won’t engage with Turkey until Ankara shuts down Hamas activity in the country, is transparent about its activities in East Jerusalem, and ends its harsh anti-Israel rhetoric.

在選舉推遲後，許多人認為他的統治是非法的；臨時總理宣布他負責，敦促冷靜，槍手說英語和西班牙語

通過AFP今天，下午 5:06

海地總統 Jovenel Moise 於 2020 年 1 月 7 日在太子港舉行的新聞發布會上發表講話。 (CHANDA KHANNA/AFP)

海地太子港——海地臨時總理宣布，海地總統喬維內爾·莫伊斯 (Jovenel Moise) 於週三早些時候在家中遭到武裝襲擊，被暗殺，他的妻子受傷。

克勞德約瑟夫說他現在負責這個國家，並敦促公眾保持冷靜，同時堅持警察和軍隊將確保人民的安全。

“總統在家中被會說英語和西班牙語的外國人暗殺，”約瑟夫說。

在 2018 年的立法選舉因爭議（包括他自己的任期何時結束）而推遲後，莫伊斯一直通過法令統治著美洲最貧窮的國家海地。

除了政治危機外，近幾個月來勒索贖金的綁架事件激增，進一步反映了武裝團伙在加勒比國家的影響力越來越大。

海地還面臨長期貧困和反復發生的自然災害。

總統面臨著大量認為他的授權不合法的民眾的強烈反對，他在四年內連續更換了七位總理。最近，前部長阿里爾·亨利 (Ariel Henry) 上任僅三個月後，約瑟夫應該在本週被取代。

除了總統、立法和地方選舉外，海地原定於 9 月舉行憲法公投，此前該公投因冠狀病毒大流行而兩次推遲。

廣告

在莫伊斯的支持下，旨在加強行政部門的憲法改革案文遭到反對派和許多民間社會組織的壓倒性反對。

目前生效的憲法是在杜瓦利埃獨裁政權垮台後於 1987 年制定的，並宣布“任何旨在通過公民投票修改憲法的全民協商都被正式禁止”。

批評者還聲稱，鑑於該國普遍不安全，不可能組織民意調查。

聯合國安理會、美國和歐洲呼籲在 2021 年底前舉行自由透明的立法和總統選舉。

現年 71 歲的亨利一直是海地冠狀病毒應對工作的一部分，曾於 2015 年和 2016 年在政府擔任內政部長，然後是社會事務和勞工部長。

他還在 2006 年 6 月至 2008 年 9 月期間擔任衛生部長內閣成員，之後成為參謀長，他於 2008 年 9 月至 2011 年 10 月擔任該職位。

莫伊斯曾責成亨利“組建一個基礎廣泛的政府”，以“解決不安全的突出問題”，並努力“舉行大选和公投”。

亨利與反對黨關係密切，但大多數反對黨並不歡迎他的任命，他們繼續要求總統下台。

Many had deemed his rule illegitimate after elections delayed; interim PM announces he is in charge, urges calm, says gunmen spoke English and Spanish

By AFPToday, 5:06 pm

President of Haiti Jovenel Moise speaks during a press conference in Port-au-Prince, January 7, 2020. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated and his wife wounded early Wednesday in an armed attack at their home, the interim prime minister announced.

Claude Joseph said he was now in charge of the country and urged the public to remain calm while insisting the police and army would ensure the population’s safety.

“The president was assassinated at his home by foreigners who spoke English and Spanish,” Joseph said.

Moise had been ruling Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, by decree, after legislative elections due in 2018 were delayed in the wake of disputes, including on when his own term ends.

In addition to the political crisis, kidnappings for ransom have surged in recent months, further reflecting the growing influence of armed gangs in the Caribbean nation.

表單的頂端

Haiti also faces chronic poverty and recurrent natural disasters.

The president faced steep opposition from swaths of the population that deemed his mandate illegitimate, and he churned through a series of seven prime ministers in four years. Most recently, Joseph was supposed to be replaced this week after only three months in the post by former minister Ariel Henry.

In addition to presidential, legislative, and local elections, Haiti was due to have a constitutional referendum in September after it was twice postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Supported by Moise, the text of the constitutional reform, aimed at strengthening the executive branch, has been overwhelmingly rejected by the opposition and many civil society organizations.

The constitution currently in force was written in 1987 after the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship and declares that “any popular consultation aimed at modifying the Constitution by referendum is formally prohibited.”

Critics had also claimed it was impossible to organize a poll, given the general insecurity in the country.

The United Nations Security Council, the United States, and Europe have called for free and transparent legislative and presidential elections to be held by the end of 2021.

Henry, 71, has been part of Haiti’s coronavirus response and previously held posts in the government in 2015 and 2016 as interior minister then social affairs and labor minister.

He was also a member of the health minister’s cabinet from June 2006 to September 2008, before becoming chief of staff, a post he held from September 2008 to October 2011.

Moise had tasked Henry with “forming a broad-based government” to “solve the glaring problem of insecurity” and to work toward “the holding of general elections and the referendum.”

Henry is close to the opposition, but his appointment was not welcomed by the majority of opposition parties, which have continued to demand the president step down.

--

Hosting provided by SoundOn