Politics
Two royal decrees: Reconstitution of the Shura Council and the Council of Senior Scholars
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree today (Monday) to reconstitute the Council of Senior Scholars
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, issued a royal order today (Monday) to reconstitute the Council of Senior Scholars.
The royal decree included the reconstitution of the Council of Senior Scholars, effective from 1/3/1446, headed by the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, and with the membership of Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan bin Abdullah Al Fawzan, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdulrahman Al Turki, Abdullah bin Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al Manea, Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Hamid, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim bin Abdulaziz Al Issa, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Mutlaq, Dr. Saad bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Shathri, Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Kulayah, and Saud bin Abdullah bin Mubarak Al Muajab.
The board also includes in its membership Muhammad bin Hassan bin Abdulrahman Al Sheikh, Dr. Yousef bin Muhammad bin Abdulaziz bin Saeed, Dr. Muhammad bin Muhammad Al Mukhtar bin Muhammad Mazid, Dr. Jibril bin Muhammad bin Hassan Al Basili, Dr. Abdul Salam bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Sulaiman, Dr. Ghaleb bin Muhammad bin Abu Al Qasim Hamzi, Dr. Sami bin Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Suqair, Dr. Bandar bin Abdulaziz bin Siraj Balila, Abdul Baqi bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh Mubarak, and Dr. Abdul Ilah bin Muhammad bin Ahmed Al Mulla.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, also issued a royal decree to form the Shura Council.
The royal decree included the formation of the Shura Council, consisting of Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh as Chairman, and the following members, for a period of four Hijri years, starting from 3/3/1446 AH.
Dr. Meshal bin Fahm bin Mohammed Al-Salami (Vice President of the Shura Council), Dr. Hanan bint Abdulrahim bin Mutlaq Al-Ahmadi (Assistant President of the Shura Council).
And with the membership of Dr. Ibtisam bint Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Jubair, Dr. Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Hadithi, Dr. Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Qannas, Engineer Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Hadi Turki Al-Daghreer, Ahmed bin Saad bin Fahd Al-Kridis, Ahmed bin Abdulrahman bin Mashhan Al-Wardi, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Yahya, Ahmed bin Mabrouk bin Faraj Al-Hujaili, Dr. Arwa bint Obaid bin Hamoud Al-Rashid, Dr. Osama bin Hassan bin Ibrahim Aref, Osama bin Abdulaziz bin Saad Al-Rabeeah, Osama bin Yassin bin Ahmed Al-Khayari, Dr. Asma bint Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Muwaishir, Dr. Ishraq bint Ali bin Ahmed Rifai, Princess Dr. Al-Jawhara bint Fahd bin Khalid bin Muhammad Al Saud, Dr. Amal bint Yahya bin Omar Al-Sheikh.
The council also includes in its membership Dr. Amal bint Talaat bin Mahmoud Qattan, Dr. Amal bint Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Hazani, Dr. Amira bint Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al-Jaafari, Dr. Iman bint Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Jabreen, Dr. Basem bin Hamdi bin Hamed Al-Sayed, Major General Badr bin Musaed bin Abdulaziz Al-Shalhoub, Dr. Bushra bint Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Hammad, Dr. Bandar bin Muaid bin Muqad Al-Buqami, Dr. Turki bin Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Awad, Dr. Turki bin Mashhour bin Awijan Al-Anzi, Dr. Taqwa bint Yousef bin Mohammed Omar, Thamer bin Nabil bin Abdul-Ilah Naseef, and Dr. Hassan bin Hijab bin Yahya Al-Hazmi.
In addition to Dr. Hassan bin Salem bin Hassan Masloum Al Masloum, Dr. Hamad bin Hussein bin Mohammed Nami Balharith, Hanan bint Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Samari, Dr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Ruwais, Engineer Khalid bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Buraik, Dr. Khalid bin Abdulmohsen bin Mohammed Al Muhaisen, Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulmohsen Al Saif, Khalid bin Majid bin Saud Al Ghurair, Khalid bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Mohammed Abu Malha, Khalid bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Zoman, Dr. Khalid bin Mahmoud bin Omar Zubair, Dr. Dalal bint Mohiuddin bin Mohammed Ali Namnaqani, Raida bint Abdullah bin Rashid Abu Nayan, Dr. Rashid bin Musallat bin Abdullah Al Sharif, Dr. Reema bint Saleh bin Ahmed Al Yahya, Zaher bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Shehri, Ziyad bin Maashi bin Thawqan Al Atiyah, Dr. Sarah bint Suleiman bin Saleh Qasim, Dr. Salem bin Saif bin Saad Al Jarbu, Engineer Salem bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Shahrani, Dr. Salem bin Musfir bin Abdullah Al Fay’a.
The council includes the following members: Saad bin Salib bin Mutlaq Al-Otaibi, Dr. Saad bin Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Omari, Saad bin Muqbil bin Gharmallah Al-Maimouni, Salam bin Zaki bin Abbas Al-Khunaizi, Dr. Sultan bin Aqla bin Hamoud Al-Murshid, Major General Saleh bin Hamdan bin Yahya Al-Zahrani, Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Shamrani, Dr. Salah bin Khalid bin Khairallah Al-Talib, Dr. Tariq bin Saeed bin Huleil Al-Shammari, Tariq bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulqader Faqih, Dr. Aisha bint Hassan bin Ahmed Zakari, Dr. Aisha bint Ali bin Mohammed Hanash Arishi, Dr. Adel bin Siraj bin Saleh Mirdad, Dr. Asim bin Mohammed bin Mansour Madkhali, Dr. Atef bin Saad bin Atef Al-Shehri, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Hussain, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Suleiman bin Ibrahim Al-Sayari, Major General Dr. Abdulrahman bin Sanhat bin Abdullah Al-Harbi, Abdulrahman bin Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Sakran, Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Madi, and Dr. Abdullah bin Nidal bin Mohammed Addas, Abdulmohsen bin Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Touq, Dr. Othman bin Musa bin Othman Maqbool Hakami, Ajlan bin Abdulaziz bin Ajlan Al-Ajlan, Dr. Atiyah bin Mohammed bin Atiq Al-Atwi, Aqla bin Ali Al-Turki Al-Aqla, Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim bin Ali Al-Lahim, Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim bin Ali Hamed Al-Ghaban, Dr. Ali bin Saad bin Ali Al-Ali, Ali bin Ayedh bin Qaddah Al-Qahtani, Engineer Ali bin Ayedh bin Dhafer Al-Qarni, Major General Ali bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, Dr. Ali bin Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Shahrani, Major General Pilot Ali bin Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Asiri, Dr. Ahoud bint Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Shuhail, Lieutenant General Awad bin Eid bin Awda Al-Balawi, Dr. Issa bin Rifai bin Baddah Al-Otaibi, Dr. Ghada bint Talaat bin Abdulhadi Al-Hudhali, Ghanem bin Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al-Ghanem, Dr. Fares bin Abdullah bin Shafi Al-Osaimi, Fadl bin Saad bin Mohammed Bouhson Al-Buainain, Dr. Fahd bin Hassan bin Saeed Al-Aqran, Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Faisal bin Saad I.
In addition to Dr. Fahd bin Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Takhaifi, Dr. Fahd bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Tayash, Engineer Fahd bin Othman bin Mansour Al-Kaik, Faihan bin Abdulaziz bin Qunaifidh bin Labdah, Faisal bin Abdullah Fouad bin Abdulaziz Abubashit, Dr. Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Bawardi, Dr. Lubna bint Hussein bin Rashid Al-Ajmi, Dr. Latifa bint Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkarim, Dr. Laila bint Abdulghaffar bin Abdulsamad Fida, Dr. Mutaib bin Ayed bin Tala’ Al-Mutairi, Dr. Majdi bin Dhaifallah bin Aziz Al-Sulami, Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Suhaibani, Major General Mohammed bin Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Ajaji, Dr. Mohammed bin Hussein bin Mohammed Ashri, Mohammed bin Rashid bin Ibrahim Al-Humaidhi, Mohammed bin Saad bin Butti Al-Faraj Al-Subaie, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Shuaibi, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Jarba’, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Saleh, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Aqeel, and Dr. Mohammed bin Ali bin Khaloufa Congratulations to Dr. Musleh bin Mu'ayyad bin Hamdan Al-Harthi, Engineer Mutlaq bin Al-Asmar bin Muflih Al-Sharari, Dr. Mu'taz bin Tala'at bin Muhammad Bakhit, Dr. Ma'an bin Muhammad bin Abdul-Fattah Al-Madani, Dr. Mu'ayda bint Mu'ayyad bin Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Muflih bin Rabiaan bin Shiflut Al-Qahtani, Dr. Mona bint Abdul-Muhsin bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Fadhli, Major General Mansour bin Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Turki, Engineer Mahdi bin Nasser bin Jadie Al-Dossari, Nasser bin Muhammad bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Dughaither, Dr. Nasser bin Mansour bin Muhammad Tayran, Dr. Najwa bint Abdul-Karim bin Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, Dr. Nihad bint Abdullah bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Umair, Dr. Hani bin Muhammad bin Ahmed Abu-Ras, Dr. Hisham bin Kamal bin Muhammad Al-Faris, Dr. Hind bint Ibrahim bin Ayed Al-Khamash, Waleed bin Hassan bin Muhammad Amin Abdul-Shakour, Dr. Waleed bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Issa, Yasser bin Abdul-Rahman bin Mahmoud Hafez, Yahya bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al-Matroudi, and Yazid bin Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri.
Politics
Washington awaits a written response from Iran to avoid military confrontation
A US official confirms Washington is awaiting a written Iranian proposal following recent talks to avoid confrontation. Details of the US troop deployment and Marco Rubio's visit to Israel.
A senior US official revealed new developments in the strained relations between Washington and Tehran, confirming that the United States is currently awaiting a written proposal from the Iranian side. This anticipated proposal aims to establish clear and specific mechanisms for avoiding direct confrontation with the United States, as a follow-up to the recent US-Iranian talks, which sought to de-escalate tensions in the region.
In the context of military and security moves coinciding with the diplomatic track, the official explained that senior national security advisors held a crucial meeting in the White House Situation Room to discuss the details of the complex Iranian issue. Those present were informed of the necessity to complete the deployment of all US forces in the region by mid-March, reflecting a dual US strategy based on diplomacy backed by military readiness.
Regarding coordination with regional allies, the source, according to Reuters, indicated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio intends to make an important visit to Israel, where he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 28. This visit comes at a sensitive time for coordinating positions on regional threats and ensuring the security of allies.
Context of tension and historical background
These developments come against the backdrop of a long history of tension and strained relations between the United States and Iran, marked by decades of rupture and escalating conflict. The move to request a "written response" represents a significant shift in crisis management, as Washington seeks to move from verbal understandings, which are susceptible to misinterpretation or reneging, to documented commitments that guarantee de-escalation. The Iranian nuclear program and Tehran's regional influence have long been key points of contention that previous rounds of negotiations have failed to resolve definitively.
Strategic importance and international anticipation
This move is of paramount importance both regionally and internationally. On the one hand, setting a date for the completion of the US troop deployment sends a strong deterrent message, reaffirming Washington's commitment to protecting its interests and international shipping lanes. On the other hand, the anticipated coordination between Rubio and Netanyahu indicates that any agreement or understanding with Tehran will not be reached without addressing Israeli security concerns. Political circles are awaiting the written Iranian response, the content of which will determine whether the region will move toward a path of diplomatic de-escalation or witness a new chapter of escalation and confrontation.
Politics
Israeli restrictions on Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan: conditions and permits
Israel will limit entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque to only 10,000 worshippers from the West Bank during Ramadan, imposing age restrictions, security permits, and digital documentation, amid Palestinian warnings.
Israeli authorities announced on Wednesday new and stricter restrictions on the access of Palestinian worshippers from the West Bank to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. Under the new decision, the number of worshippers allowed entry will be capped at 10,000 Palestinians, and only after obtaining prior security permits. This move has drawn widespread criticism and raised concerns about escalating tensions in the holy city.
According to a statement issued by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), these measures followed a "security assessment of the situation," which resulted in the approval of daily permits exclusively for Fridays throughout the holy month. The age restrictions stipulate that entry is permitted for men aged 55 and over, women aged 50 and over, and children up to the age of 12, provided they are accompanied by a first-degree relative. All permits are subject to security approval.
In a procedural precedent, the statement indicated that worshippers are required to undergo "digital documentation" at crossings and military checkpoints, in order to guarantee and confirm their return to their places of residence in the West Bank at the end of the prayer day, adding a new procedural burden to the movement of people.
A huge gap between capacity and the allowed number
These restrictions create a massive gap between the capacity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the permitted number of worshippers. Estimates indicate that the Al-Aqsa compound can accommodate between 350,000 and 400,000 worshippers when all its courtyards and prayer areas are full, a scene familiar in previous years when hundreds of thousands of worshippers would flock to the site. Limiting the number to only 10,000 constitutes an unprecedented reduction that prevents the vast majority of Palestinians from practicing their religious rites during one of the holiest months for Muslims.
tense historical and political context
These measures are particularly sensitive given the spiritual significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first of the two Qiblas and the third holiest site in Islam. While Israel imposes security measures annually around East Jerusalem, the current restrictions come amidst complex regional circumstances. Palestinians and religious institutions in Jerusalem consistently warn that the intensification of these measures aims to alter the historical and legal status quo in the city and attempt to erase its Arab and Islamic identity.
It is worth noting that the international community does not recognize Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem in 1980 and considers it occupied territory since 1967, in accordance with international law. Palestinians maintain their claim to East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, asserting that freedom of worship and access to holy sites are fundamental rights guaranteed by international law and should not be subject to Israeli security considerations or used as a political bargaining chip.
Politics
An armed man in military uniform was arrested near the Capitol before the State of the Union address
Capitol Police arrested a young man armed with a rifle and military gear who attempted to approach the Capitol building, a week before President Trump's State of the Union address. Details of the incident are available here.
In a security incident that triggered a state of alert in the US capital, Washington, the Capitol Police announced the thwarting of a possible attempt to threaten security near the Congress building, where security personnel were able to arrest an armed young man who was carrying a rifle and military equipment, at a very sensitive time in the American political arena.
In details of the incident revealed by Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan, authorities arrested an 18-year-old man after he suddenly ran toward the Capitol building carrying a loaded rifle. Sullivan explained that the suspect arrived at the scene in a white Mercedes, which he parked near the Capitol complex before getting out and rushing toward the building. Fortunately, the incident resulted in no injuries, as the young man immediately complied with police orders to drop the weapon and surrender.
Initial investigations revealed disturbing details regarding the suspect's equipment; he was wearing a military jacket and gloves at the time of his arrest. A search of his vehicle uncovered additional gear, including a helmet and a gas mask, suggesting a possible premeditated plan or intent to escalate the situation. The ongoing investigation will determine the true motives behind this act.
This incident is particularly significant given its timing, coming just one week before President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his annual State of the Union address to Congress. This address is one of the most important political events in the United States, bringing together members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Supreme Court justices, and other high-ranking officials, which typically places the area around the Capitol under heightened security measures and exceptional protection protocols to ensure the safety of the nation's leaders.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in Washington, D.C., particularly around key federal buildings. For years, the Capitol Police have intensified their presence and defensive strategies to counter individual and organized threats, ensuring that security breaches that could jeopardize American democracy or the safety of lawmakers are not repeated. The swift response of security personnel in this incident highlights their high level of preparedness to address sudden threats.
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