Parliamentary Culture Committee Unveils Joint Plans to Attract Arab Tourists to Iraq
The Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Tourism, and Media announced on Friday that it has developed joint plans to leverage the Arab Summit to attract Arab tourists to Iraq.
Committee member MP Sameaa Al-Ghalab told The Iraqi News Agency-INA, "The committee continues to coordinate with the Prime Minister's Office and the High Committee for the Baghdad – Arab Capital of Tourism initiative, with the goal of ensuring the success of the Arab Summit, which will present a civilized image of Iraq to Arab and international delegations."
She added that "the committee has developed joint plans and programs in cooperation with executive bodies, particularly the High Committee, the Prime Minister's Advisor for Tourism Affairs, and the Tourism Authority, to make Iraq—and Baghdad in particular—a main destination for tourists."
Al-Ghalab pointed out that "development projects are currently underway at a number of archaeological and touristic sites, including upgrades to services that enhance aesthetic appeal and meet visitors' needs."
She emphasized that "the committee has spared no effort in closely following all aspects of this file."
She further explained that "the goal of these efforts is to deliver a clear message to the peoples of the world: Iraq remains proud and resilient, the cradle of ancient civilizations, and is reclaiming its standing through the Arab Summit and the events of Baghdad as the Arab Capital of Tourism."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Unidentified drone crashes in Duhok amid heightened security concerns
Shafaq News – Duhok An unidentified drone crashed Monday evening in the Bardarash district, north of Duhok in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, a security source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior reported. The source told Shafaq News that the drone went down in a remote area and that its origin remains unknown. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident caused any casualties or material damage. A local source said that security forces are investigating the crash and working to determine further details. The incident occurred just hours after Iraq's National Security Adviser, Qassem al-Araji, concluded a visit to the Kurdistan Region, where he emphasized that the Region's security is critical to Iraq's overall stability. His visit came amid growing concerns over recent drone strikes targeting the area. According to a statement from al-Araji's office, a joint security committee held meetings with officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and local security agencies in Erbil to review recent drone activity. Al-Araji also noted that coordination between Iraqi and Kurdish authorities remains ongoing, with technical teams continuing to analyze data related to the recent strikes.
Memri
9 hours ago
- Memri
Egyptian Journalist: The October 7 Attack Is The Reason For Gaza's Destruction; Hamas Rejects All Offers, Sacrifices The People Of Gaza To Survive As A Military Force
Egyptian journalist Ahmad Abd Al-Wahhab, deputy director of the editorial board at the Egyptian government daily Akhbar Al-Yawm, who also writes for the Saudi news website Elaph, recently published several articles in which he sharply criticized Hamas. He wrote this movement has brought disaster upon the people of the Gaza Strip by embarking on the "escapade" of October 7 at the expense of the Palestinian national interest, and that it therefore bears responsibility for the war being waged in Gaza today. Hamas, he added, uses the Gazans as human shields and ignores the large number of casualties in its effort to continue fighting and remain in control of Gaza at any price. As the result of this stubbornness, it has lost the trust of both the Gazans and of its former supporters, and thus can no longer present itself as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Abd Al-Wahhab concluded that Hamas must therefore cede power in Gaza and hand it back to the Palestinian Authority. Al-Wahhab's articles echo numerous voices in the Arab and Islamic world that have criticized Hamas' decision to attack Israel, claiming that this was an illegitimate and unjustified move in light of the heavy cost in lives and property. Some of these voices even urged Hamas to ceded power and disarm in order to save what can still be salvaged of Gaza.[1] Armed Hamas fighters (Image: March 20, 2025) The following are translated excerpts from Al-Wahhab's recent articles: Hamas Uses Gaza Civilians As Human Shields; What It Does Is Not Resistance In an article published on June 17, 2025, Al-Wahab wrote: "Hamas' rule over the Gaza Strip clearly caused it to feel that it could take on the occupation, and indeed, it planned the October 7 attack, which was a turning point in the [history of] the entire Middle East. The movement members perpetrated an attack that dominated global discourse, caused severe embarrassment to the Netanyahu government and exposed the fragility of the 'Iron Dome' [system] that Israel [considered] an impenetrable deterrence. "Hamas viewed the October 7 attack as a historic victory over the Israeli occupation without considering or preparing for the Israeli response… The blow Hamas dealt to Israel led the occupation government to shift from the notion of ruling over the Palestinian territories to an operation of systematic genocide… People are killed and wounded every day in the Israeli attacks [on Gaza] which directly affect civilians. [Yet,] faced with this torrent of Palestinian blood, Hamas has rejected all the mediators' ceasefire proposals and set conditions that are primarily intended to preserve its existence as a military [force] and to maintain its power in Gaza, regardless of the magnitude of the human price that has been paid since its barbaric October 7 attack… "Amid Hamas' position that calls to continue the fighting, the civilians became human shields that Hamas sacrifices in its war against the occupation, [a situation] that has provoked public fury among the people of Gaza… What Hamas is doing in Gaza exceed the boundaries of resistance. Given the scope of the destruction, it is legally and morally responsible [for the situation]. [Yet] the movement does not heed the increasing calls from the opposition [in Gaza] to agree to a period of calm under any conditions. On the contrary, it employs means of repression against anyone who opposes it. "Therefore, the responsibility for the harsh response of the occupation army to the October 7 attack lies with Hamas, which prefered its own interests and political achievements over the lives of the people. Today, if there remains even a sliver of hope to save Gaza, this movement must restore Gaza to the rule of the Palestinian Authority, so as to thwart the Israeli plan to eliminate the Palestinian cause through the Gaza gateway."[2] The Gazans Pay The Price Of Hamas's Mistakes In The October 7 Attack In an article published on June 8, 2025, Abd Al-Wahab wrote that Hamas' standing in the Arab world has taken a blow as a result of its insistence to continue the war with Israel at the expense of its people: "…There can be no doubt that [Hamas's] decision to carry out the October 7 [attack] is the main reason for the devastation of the Gaza Strip, and reflects Hamas' recklessness and its failure to anticipate the Israeli response Gaza was likely to face. This response arrived with brutal force, as though Israel was [just] waiting for Hamas to make a mistake so that it could carry out the largest invasion in history against an unarmed population, causing tremendous devastation in Gaza. The destructive Gaza war continues to claim victims and to immerse Gaza in further misery and hunger, but despite this Hamas, seemingly detached from reality. stubbornly clings to military options that have no impact on the occupation army, which enjoys the support of the U.S. "Hamas's increasing isolation is no longer just a political impression. It is an obvious fact that grows clearer each day in light of the international positions, the mediators' refusal to consider [Hamas's] proposals, and especially the decline of the Arab stance that used to politically cover for [Hamas]… Even countries that traditionally supported Hamas have begun to distance themselves from extending political or even humanitarian support for it. There has been a significant decline in the official Arab discourse [in support of] the movement, and an increasing support for the diplomatic efforts put forward by the Palestinian Authority. This shows that Hamas is losing its strategic depth, after it chose military escalation as the only option despite the warnings and despite the tremendous destruction caused by its October 7 escapade. "But gravest of all is the effect on the relationship between Hamas and the Gazans themselves. The civilians' daily suffering prevents any expressions of solidarity with the movement leadership. On the contrary, a deep rift has formed between what the people want – security, food, and an exit from the hell – and what Hamas insists on: militant slogans and positions that do not reflect any flexibility or any rethinking of its path. It appears that the movement's military and political leadership [lives] in a world of its own, publishing statements from underground while the people aboveground search for a crust of bread beneath the rubble to relieve the hunger of their children. "The insistence on fighting amid such devastation and isolation does not seem heroic. This is stubbornness at the expense of the national interest. It is worrying that the [Hamas] leadership sticks to the option [of fighting] in the field when it lacks any means [to do so], other than causing more pain. This leadership does not recognize that its first obligation to the [Palestinian] people is to protect them and not to drag them into a long-term campaign whose duration no one can predict. 'A movement that loses the trust of the mediators, is accused by the Gazans of incompetence, and loses its regional allies cannot continue to present itself as the representative of the Palestinian people. Legitimacy derives from serving the people and not from launching missiles from among the ruins, which leads to doom and destruction. If Hamas doesn't reexamine its positions and stop underappreciating the suffering of the civilians, it will not remain isolated on the international level, but will suffer internal isolation that is likely to cost it its very existence in the future Palestinian arena."[3] The Destruction In The Gaza Strip Stems From Hamas's Aspirations For Exclusive Control In a May 17, 2025 article, Abd Al-Wahab wrote: "Almost a year and a half has passed since the October 7 attack, which is the main reason for the chaos and destruction in the Gaza Strip. Hamas obviously knew that Israel would respond to the attack on its citizens, but [nevertheless] wanted to score a victory for 'the resistance' while ignoring the magnitude of the consequences that were likely to ensue. "Hamas knows well that the death of its senior officials in the war is the natural price of the resistance. But what is worse is that it applies the same logic to the people of Gaza, and, as a result, thousands of civilians have died in an unprecedented war that has been transformed Gaza into piles of rubble. "Hamas's coup against the Palestinian Authority and its seizure of exclusive power in Gaza caused a deep rift on the path of the Palestinian cause. The total destruction of all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip results from Hamas's bid for exclusive control without any thought for a political path or a solution to the conflict with Israel. "The political picture in Gaza has become more complicated, due to Netanyahu's desire to achieve a personal victory which he will use to deal with the tremendous pressure he is facing from the Israeli opposition and the families of the hostages held by Hamas. Hamas also understands that its fate is currently on the line, so it attempts to extricate itself from this crisis without risking its survival or its rule in Gaza… "[Stuck] between Netanyahu's loathsome ambitions and Hamas's ambition to remain in power, the people of Gaza remain the victims of the destructive war. This has sparked great fury among the Gazans, who have begun to understand that Hamas uses them as human shields against the Israeli aggression. Furthermore, they see no clear horizon for the future of Gaza, which remains threatened and uncertain – especially since the war will not end as long as both sides of the conflict cling to their ambitions."[4]
Memri
9 hours ago
- Memri
Macron's Palestine Gambit
Al-Quds Al-Arabi cartoon on France recognizing Palestine modeled on Delacroix's 1830 painting La Liberté Guidant Le Peuple To say that the reaction was mixed would be an understatement. While both the United States and Israel openly criticized and rejected it, the terrorist group Hamas "congratulated French President Macron's recognition of a Palestinian state." In his July 24 letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron said that he would make the formal statement at the UN General Assembly in New York this September.[1] France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting a high-level (although less high-level than the hosts wanted) UN conference in New York on July 28-29 on the "peaceful resolution of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of a two-state solution."[2] With the announcement, France became the first member of the G-7 group of advanced industrialized democracies to recognize a Palestinian state although a year ago European states Spain, Ireland and Norway took the same step (Sweden had been the first Western European state to do so back in 2014). It has long been the position of both the United States and Israel that any formal recognition of a Palestinian state is to be part of a bilateral peace process between the two sides – the culmination of a process, not its predecessor. France and the more than 140 countries that already have done so are recognizing a country with undefined borders and entirely hypothetical political and security dimensions. And while Macron said that "the state of Palestine must be established, its existence guaranteed, and through its demilitarization and full recognition of the state of Israel, allowed to contribute to the security of the entire region," neither demilitarization nor full recognition of the state of Israel are conditions that Hamas accepts. France is even trying to get condemnation of Hamas by Arab states at the upcoming UN Conference.[3] So why is Hamas pleased and why did Macron take this step? Obviously, for Hamas this European recognition is seen as a direct result of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel by Hamas. The recognition, despite any reservations or caveats attached by European diplomats, is seen as an advance for the Palestinian cause and justification or indirect approval that Hamas's action that day was not only warranted but yielded concrete international results, without Hamas having made any political concessions of any sort.[4] The Hamas feeling is that the Palestinian street will regard this French step as a clear Hamas success rather than as the result anything its rivals in the PLO have done. For Macron's France, the decision is a far cry from when France was an early supporter of the Jewish state. In the 1950s and 60s, France not only sold weapons to Israel, including the all-important advanced Mirage III fighter, but was a key partner in the Israeli nuclear program. Both states shared at the time concerns about Arab nationalism as Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser was a major supporter of Algerian insurgents waging guerrilla war against the French Army. When de Gaulle imposed an arms embargo only days before the Six Day War in 1967, he broke a military and security partnership that had lasted for almost 15 years. Some observers blame Qatar, the great Arab patron of Hamas, for Macron's decision.[5] They point to the February 2024 announcement that Qatar would invest ten billion euros in France between 2024 and 2030. Qatar has also been aggressive in pushing its agenda throughout Europe, by fair means or foul, including an initiative that was dubbed "Qatargate" as the wealthy emirate reportedly bribed deputies and staff at the European Parliament since 2019 to favor Qatari policies.[6] But while I am sure that many Europeans are susceptible to Qatari financial blandishments, there is a more plausible explanation for Macron's stance. Just days before the Palestine statement, an Institut Français d'Opinion Publique (IFOP) poll revealed that Macron's popularity had slumped to its lowest level since he was elected in 2017.[7] Only 19 percent supported him and the decline was particularly pronounced among those who re-elected him as president in 2022. The next French presidential elections are less than two years away, scheduled for April 2027. Macron's decision makes sense when one examines the deep changes occurring within the French – and indeed in other European countries – electorate.[8] The constant flood of migrants into Europe, many of them Muslims or Arabs (or both) particularly hostile to Jews, is changing the voting demographics of Europe. A rough division is slowly emerging: migrants (especially Muslims) generally support leftist political parties.[9] In the United Kingdom, Muslims tended to vote for Labour and leftist splinter parties, in Germany for Die Linke and other leftist parties, in France, they favor (74 percent) La France Insoumise (LFI) and other leftists. Throughout the continent one can see the hollowing out of supposedly centrist parties with a strengthening at opposite ends of the political spectrum: migrant/leftist coalitions versus native/rightist coalitions.[10] Macron's Palestine decision then seems the worst of both worlds for an ostensible centrist. It is an irritant to Israel and to the Americans while at the same time only whetting the appetites of the Islamo-Left. The decision not only helps Hamas in the Territories; it also empowers Islamists in Europe and in France. Ironically it is now the European Right that tends to be philosemitic or at least less hostile to the state of Israel. In France, of course, the nationalist space is dominated by Macron's great rival the National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen. Having demonized the political right for so long, it is hard for Macron and his ilk to move to the right too much. They have more space to the left and attempting to appease Muslim voters, with their deeply antisemitic worldview, is far easier than trying to please the (much smaller) Jewish electorate.[11] It is not that Macron is an antisemite, he is not, but that he and others in Europe are politicians who think they understand the demographic writing on the wall.[12] President Trump put it succinctly when he described Macron's decision this way: "Here's the good news. What he says doesn't matter."[13] That is mostly true when it comes to politics and diplomacy in the Middle East. But what does matter and extraordinarily dangerous is the demographic shift occurring in Europe and the political ramifications that it will have. This is not good news for Israel, that "the West" will become more hostile but the worst news will be to Western nations themselves. States and societies will be stressed and fractured as never before. Some talk alarmingly of civil war in France or the UK.[14] That may be a step too far but rather than posturing that they are trying to secure peace in the Holy Land, Macron or his successor may find himself/herself much more involved in trying to secure a shaky peace at home. Will that be a two or three or four state solution? *Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice President of MEMRI.
