
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel on Saturday of using the conflict in the Middle East as a pretext to "occupy more territories." Speaking at a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey, Fidan stated that Israel's government, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, is using security as an excuse for territorial expansion, rather than genuinely seeking its own security. He claimed that beyond Palestinian territories like the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem, Israel now aims to dominate areas belonging to Lebanon and Syria. Fidan described this as "continuous occupation and expansionism" that must cease, asserting that Israel has created an international illusion by claiming to only seek its own security. These remarks follow recent verbal exchanges between Turkish and Israeli leaders, including Fidan's accusation that Israel wants to make Turkey its "new enemy" after Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called Turkey a "paper tiger." Fidan also expressed regret that the Middle East conflict is hindering efforts, including those by Ankara, to end the war in Ukraine, stating it has "relegated the war between Russia and Ukraine to the background" and called for renewed efforts once calm returns to the Middle East.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Must ReadFormer President Macky Sall expressed gratitude to his supporters in Dakar following his return to Senegal. This message, shared on his social media, aligns with his efforts to secure support for his candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General. After his audience with the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, former head of state Macky Sall thanked the many activists and sympathizers of the Alliance for the Republic APR who welcomed him upon his arrival at L茅opold-S茅dar-Senghor Airport in Dakar. He simply wrote "Thank you!!" on his social media, accompanying his message with several photos showing a large crowd mobilized for his return to Senegal. This trip marked his first visit to the country since leaving power in April 2024.
Must ReadPresident Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sought an opinion from the Constitutional Council regarding the legal feasibility of holding early legislative elections and local elections concurrently. This move comes as the potential dissolution of the National Assembly by the end of November 2026 appears increasingly likely. According to Article 87 of the Constitution, the head of state can dissolve the National Assembly after consulting the Prime Minister and the President of the Assembly, provided the dissolution does not occur within the first two years of the legislature. With deputies installed following the November 17, 2024 elections, this legal window would open from late November 2026. If the Constitutional Council approves the possibility of combined elections, Senegal could, for the first time, organize early legislative and local elections simultaneously. Territorial elections are currently scheduled before the expiration of local executive mandates in January 2027. Such a scenario would significantly alter the electoral calendar and political dynamics leading up to 2027.
Must ReadFormer President Macky Sall returned to the Presidential Palace for his first meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye since the transfer of power in April 2024. Images released on Friday showed a cordial handshake between the two leaders before their discussions in the presidential palace's lounges. Sall's visit to Dakar, his first since leaving office, is part of his diplomatic campaign for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.