Foreign Ministers from Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to meet at Antalya forum Top diplomats from Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are set to hold a critical meeting at the annual Antalya Diplomatic Forum today, according to Al Jazeera. Today's meeting, the third round of such talks, is aimed at preserving the existing ceasefire, paving the way for a permanent resolution, and also preparing for the future of the region after the war, Al Jazeera reported.
Pakistani prime minister welcomes ceasefire announcement Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon “facilitated through bold and sagacious diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump,” via a statement on X. Sharif added that “Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and will continue to support all efforts aimed at lasting peace in the region. ” The prime minister is currently on a diplomatic tour of the Middle East, following the first round of US-Iran talks hosted in Islamabad last week.
Trump says he hopes Hezbollah 'acts nicely and well' US President Donald Trump said that he hopes Hezbollah "acts nicely and well" during the 10-day ceasefire reached between Lebanon and Israel. "I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. "It will be an [sic] GREAT moment for them if they do.
Democrats join Republicans to block limits on US arms sales to Israel Several pro-Israel Democrats have joined Republicans to block efforts to halt US weapons sales to Israel, voting down measures that critics say would have limited arms used in attacks on Palestinians. The Senate rejected a resolution led by Senator Bernie Sanders that aimed to stop the sale of military bulldozers, with seven Democrats siding against it in a 40–59 vote. Those voting to block the measure included Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Kirsten Gillibrand, Jacky Rosen and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Saudi Arabia pressed US to secure a Lebanon ceasefire to preserve Iran negotiations, sources say Saudi Arabia pushed the US to prioritise securing a ceasefire in Lebanon in order to sustain talks with Iran, as the kingdom shifts to mediation efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, multiple US, western, and Arab officials told Middle East Eye. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed US President Donald Trump on the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon in a private phone call on Wednesday, the Arab and western officials told MEE. Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday afternoon, which several of the officials attributed to the kingdom’s lobbying.
Trump expects Israel, Lebanon leaders at White House after ceasefire US President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun could visit the White House in the coming days, following the announcement of a ceasefire. "As of two hours from now, we have a ceasefire with Israel and Lebanon. And that'll be great.
Trump says Iran agrees to hand over enriched uranium as deal nears US President Donald Trump says Iran has agreed to hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, adding that the two sides are close to reaching a deal to end six weeks of fighting. Trump's version of the deal could not be immediately confirmed by Iran. "They've agreed to give us back the nuclear dust," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Saudi Arabia pressed US to secure a Lebanon ceasefire to preserve Iran negotiations, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 17:33 A private call between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came the day before the Lebanon ceasefire Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, greets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before their meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 15 April 2026 (Handout/Pakistani prime minister's office) Off Saudi Arabia pushed the US to prioritise securing a ceasefire in Lebanon in order to sustain talks with Iran, as the kingdom shifts to mediation efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, multiple US, western, and Arab officials told Middle East Eye. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed US President Donald Trump on the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon in a private phone call on Wednesday, the Arab and western officials told MEE. Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday afternoon, which several of the officials attributed to the kingdom’s lobbying.
Saudi Arabia pressed US to secure a Lebanon ceasefire to preserve Iran negotiations, sources say Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 17:33 A private call between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took place the day before the Lebanon ceasefire Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, greets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before their meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 15 April 2026 (Handout/Pakistani prime minister's office) Off Saudi Arabia pushed the US to prioritise securing a ceasefire in Lebanon in order to sustain talks with Iran, as the kingdom shifts to mediation efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, multiple US, western, and Arab officials told Middle East Eye. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed US President Donald Trump on the importance of a ceasefire in Lebanon in a private phone call on Wednesday, the Arab and western officials told MEE. Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday afternoon, which several of the officials attributed to the kingdom’s lobbying.
Gulf and EU leaders believe that at least six-months is needed for a US-Iran deal: Report Gulf Arab and European leaders believe a US-Iran agreement could take up to six months, and are urging both sides to extend the current ceasefire to cover that period, Bloomberg reported from speaking to unamed officials familiar with the discussions. They are also pushing for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to restore energy flows, warning privately that disruption could trigger a global food crisis if it continues into next month. Despite this, regional leaders broadly oppose a return to fighting and are pressing Washington to prioritise diplomacy.
Trump set to invite Israel and Lebanon leaders for White House talks US President Donald Trump says he will invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for talks. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the meeting would focus on "meaningful talks" between the two countries.
Zionist militia frequently contacted Nazi Germany, Israeli documents reveal Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 15:34 Declassified files reported by Haaretz shed further light on relationship between the Stern Gang and Hitler's government A picture dated 1947 of a placard issued by the British police in Palestine showing 18 wanted Jewish activists from Irgun Zvai Leumi and the Stern Gang (AFP) Off Recently declassified Israeli archive documents have shed further light on attempts by a Zionist militia to forge a relationship with Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s. The documents, reported by Haaretz , reveal that Avraham Stern and other members of his Stern Gang made several attempts to forge a partnership with Nazi Germany, based in part on shared opposition to the British , who were then occupying Palestine , where the Zionist movement hoped to create a Jewish state. Naftali Lubenchik, a Stern Gang member, was sent to meet with German representatives.
Hezbollah MP: Lebanon's direct negotiations with Israel a 'grave error' Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Hajj Hassan told AFP on Thursday that the Lebanese government's decision to hold direct negotiations with Israel was a "grave error", urging Beirut to stop making concessions to Israel and the United States. "Direct negotiations with the enemy are a grave sin and a grave error... and serve no interest for the country," Hajj Hassan said from his parliamentary office, urging authorities to halt "this series of useless concessions".
Iran war: Hegseth reads fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction during Pentagon sermon Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 13:31 Hegseth adapted a monologue from the Quentin Tarantino film which purports to be from the Bible but is made up US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Air Force One on 7 March (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/AFP) Off US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth read a fake Bible verse from Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult classic film Pulp Fiction on Wednesday, during a Christian prayer and worship service at the Pentagon. Addressing a large Christian congregation at the Pentagon's headquarters, Hegseth, who is facing multiple impeachment charges tabled by House Democrats, claimed the prayer was passed to him by a lead mission planner involved in the rescue operation for two US Air Force crew members who were recently shot down in Iran . Before reciting the prayer, Hegseth said it was titled "CSAR 2517", alluding to the Biblical verse Ezekiel 25:17.
US: Hegseth reads fake Bible verse from Pulp Fiction during Pentagon sermon Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 13:31 Secretary of War adapted a monologue from the Quentin Tarantino film which purports to be from the Bible but is made up US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Air Force One on 7 March (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images/AFP) Off US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth read a fake Bible verse from Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult classic film Pulp Fiction on Wednesday, during a Christian prayer and worship service at the Pentagon. Addressing a large Christian congregation at the Pentagon's headquarters, Hegseth, who is facing multiple impeachment charges tabled by House Democrats, claimed the prayer was passed to him by a lead mission planner involved in the rescue operation for two US Air Force crew members who were recently shot down in Iran . Before reciting the prayer, Hegseth said it was titled "CSAR 2517", alluding to the Biblical verse Ezekiel 25:17.
Lebanon's Aoun will not hold a call with Israel's Netanyahu in the near future: officials Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun will not hold a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the near future, three Lebanese officials told Reuters on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump said leaders of both countries would speak. Two of the Lebanese officials said that the Lebanese embassy in Washington had informed the US administration before a call between Aoun and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday that Aoun would not speak to Netanyahu.
Why do Lebanese leaders keep courting Israel? Submitted by Joseph Massad on Wed, 04/15/2026 - 13:46 Direct talks in Washington for the first time in 30 years continue a long history of overtures that predate resistance and persist despite repeated Israeli attacks on civilians Lebanese protesters gather in Martyrs' Square in Beirut to reject direct negotiations with Israel, expressing opposition to normalisation and diplomatic engagement, on 13 April 2026 (Abdul Kader Al Bay/ZUMA Press Wire) On Since Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam assumed office in early 2025, mere weeks after the November 2024 ceasefire between the Lebanese resistance and the genocidal state of Israel , the new leadership, under strong US and Saudi advice, moved urgently to offer friendship and full cooperation to Israel. Not only did they fail to protest the more than 10,000 ceasefire violations that Israel committed over the 15 months leading up to the US-Israeli aggression on Iran in late February 2026 - including thousands of air strikes, drone attacks and ground incursions that killed more than 500 people, most of them civilians - but they went as far as offering, even pleading, for direct negotiations to achieve permanent peace with the Jewish settler-colony.
Pakistan: Second round of US-Iranian talks to take place soon The US and Iran are willing to hold talks again soon, but so far no date has been set, according to Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also reiterated that Lebanon remained part of the two-week ceasefire currently in effect in the region. “Peace in Lebanon is essential for peace talks,” it said.
How Jewish heritage projects in Morocco are being used to push pro-Israel politics Submitted by MEE correspondent on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 09:14 Amidst worthy projects to preserve and promote Morocco’s Jewish identity, organisations linked to Israel seek to dilute the pro-Palestine sympathies of Moroccan youth Moroccans stand under the main gate at the memorial site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp in Oswiecim, Poland, in a trip organised by Israeli NGO Sharaka (Sharaka) Off Morocco is home to around 2,500 Jews - the largest remaining Jewish community in North Africa - and has long recognised and promoted its Jewish identity. The kingdom officially enshrined its “Hebraic tributary” in its 2011 constitution to legally protect and preserve Jewish presence in Moroccan society. Meanwhile, a wide variety of projects aimed at safeguarding Jewish history and culture are being implemented in the country.
Netanyahu to speak to Lebanon's Aoun, Israeli minister claims Gila Gamliel, Israel's science and technology minister, has claimed Benjamin Netanyahu will speak to Lebanese President Josph Aoun. Gamliel, who belongs to Netanyahu's Likud party, told Army Radio the contacts would take place "after so many years of disconnect between the countries". "Lebanon needs assistance at this time because it lacks the necessary capabilities, and with the involvement of the United States and Israel, it will ultimately be possible to meet the need to disarm Hezbollah," she said.
