UAE announces arrest of ex-Interpol official over global corruption case
The UAE Ministry of Interior has announced the arrest of Vitalie Pîrlog, a Moldovan national, wanted in a major international corruption case.
Pîrlog was arrested on June 15 following an active Red Notice issued by INTERPOL at the request of the French authorities.
He is the former chairperson of the Interpol Commission for the Control of Files (CCF), and faces charges including forgery, offering and mediating bribes and fraud.
French authorities have praised the UAE's professionalism and swift action, calling it a strong example of effective global coordination in maintaining international security.
Ministry of Interior announces arrest of fugitive Vitalie Pîrlog over cross-border corruption case #WamNews https://t.co/CUQTNNnhv9 pic.twitter.com/Tv7c0rzaxr
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) June 19, 2025
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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Macron's plan to recognise a Palestinian state was doomed from the start
On 9 April, French President Emmanuel Macron made the surprise announcement that Paris could recognise the state of Palestine at a UN conference due to be held in New York on 17-20 June, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia to revive the 'two-state solution'. The move - already made by 148 countries out of 193 - was hailed as a long-awaited constructive sign after years of despair and destruction. Macron had repeatedly said that he was waiting for the 'right time' to make this political gesture, meaning that he wanted it to be a transformative step towards peace, and a leverage to restore French diplomatic influence in the Middle East. It seems that, so far, he has failed to reach both goals. The conference was postponed after Israel's attack on Iran, and France, along with most Western countries, proclaimed Israel's 'right to defend itself'. The 'two-state solution' appeared, once more, swiped off the agenda. The French president has reportedly not given up his project and is believed to be keeping it for more favourable circumstances. However, even if he managed to get the UK and Canada - as well as other European countries - on board, it is doubtful that the dynamic that he hopes to impulse can convince Israel to change its policy. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Macron's proposal immediately hit the wall of Israeli and US rejection. Tel Aviv slammed it as a 'crusade against the Jewish state' and the French president as an 'antisemite' - an accusation the latter has himself abundantly used since 7 October to disqualify voices critical of Israel. 'They will recognise a Palestinian state on paper, while we will build the Jewish Israeli state on the ground,' Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed, warning against threatening his country with sanctions. The Unites States also put pressure against the move. US President Donald Trump warned that he would consider a recognition of a 'conjectural' Palestinian state a hostile act and made clear his response would be harsh. The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, even ironically suggested that France could 'carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state'. Illusion of the 'two-state solution' Israel and the US have their own plan for the region, and it is not a 'two-state solution'. On 18 July 2024, the Knesset passed a resolution stating that a Palestinian state would pose 'an existential danger to the state of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilise the region'. The massacre of the Palestinian people in Gaza and their concentration into small areas of the destroyed enclave ahead of their planned deportation are steps in this blood-paved track. The annexation of the largest part of the occupied West Bank is now written down in law. The judaisation of East Jerusalem meets no obstacle, and Al-Aqsa Mosque is in the crosshairs of messianic groups who dream to build the 'third Temple' there. Israel and the US have their own plan for the region, and it is not a 'two-state solution' Meanwhile, the annexation of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights has been recognised by the US. Israeli troops are settling in Lebanon on the south bank of the Litani River, and are pushing their pawns in Syria. Trump is more prosaic than his evangelical Christian supporters who pray for the final battle of Armageddon to come. He dreams of changing Gaza into 'the Riviera of the Middle East' and a lucrative business opportunity, similar to Netanyahu's 'Gaza 2035' project. Huckabee proposes to create a Palestinian state elsewhere in the Muslim world. In other words, US and Israeli leaders are working to achieve the so-called 'voluntary transfer' of Palestinians and the 'Greater Israel' the Zionist founding fathers have long dreamed about. The gap between the reality on the ground and the so-called 'two-state solution' is now too wide and deep, unless the balance of power dramatically changes - which does not seem close to happening. A recognition under Israeli conditions Hoping to curb these projects saturated with Jewish messianism and Christian millenarianism, and brutally carried out with a shameless disrespect for international law, French diplomats worked for weeks to convince Israel the conference was actually intended to help it. The recognition of a Palestinian state, they explained, would come under an array of conditions that would meet Israelis demands. They include the release of the hostages kept in Gaza, 'a reform of the Palestinian Authority [PA] and the establishment of governance in Gaza under its authority, excluding Hamas, which must be disarmed'. The French also required that the PA commits to stop 'terror salaries', in reference to the financial aid to the families of Palestinians killed, injured or imprisoned by Israel, as well as so-called 'incitement against Israel' in textbooks. UK and France abandon plans to recognise Palestinian state at conference Read More » The objective, recalled Macron, is 'a demilitarised Palestinian state which recognises Israel's existence and security, backed by an international stabilisation mission'. Paris assured that the Arab countries which had planned to participate in the conference agreed to lend their support to these demands. Even PA President Mahmoud Abbas sent Macron what the French president called 'a letter of hope, courage and clarity' in which he expressed the PA's 'readiness to assume sole governance and security responsibilities in the Gaza Strip' and 'the need for Hamas to hand over its weapons and military capabilities'. In addition, Macron suggested that French recognition of the Palestinian state should be linked to a 'reciprocal' normalisation of Arab states' relations with Israel, starting with Saudi Arabia. But none of these attentions assuaged Israeli and American hostility. Eventually, France reportedly abandoned the idea to recognise the Palestine state during the conference, which would instead focus on 'steps towards recognition'. Once more, Palestinians are expected to wait for their existence to be recognised and to rely on an uncertain peace process to have their rights granted, while Israel continues to transform the reality on the ground to its advantage. A Palestinian bantustan The most striking element in this scheme is what remains untold. In 2002, the Arab League offered to normalise Arab countries' ties with Israel in return for a full withdrawal from the occupied territories, a "just settlement" of the Palestinian refugee issue, and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. What Macron expects from the Arabs states is to offer the last card in their hand for free, without the slightest guarantees from Israel about settlements and borders, the preservation of the Palestinian character of East Jerusalem, the release of the thousands of administrative detainees, the economic viability of a future Palestinian state, the free movement of Palestinian citizens, etc. The very word 'self-determination', a right which should suffer no condition, appears nowhere. Macron wants to offer Israel control over a 'Palestinian state' deprived of sovereignty and call that 'peace' All these basic conditions of sovereignty are therefore left to the goodwill of the Israelis. However, history teaches us that Israel, in such situations, always takes what is offered and never gives what it vaguely promised in return. France did not give any indication on how it would pressure Israel to 'end its illegal settlement activity, which compromises the viability of a Palestinian state', as it acknowledged. It also failed to ask Israel to comply with the obligation 'to end its unlawful presence, policies in occupied Palestinian territory within one year', as stated by the UN General Assembly in September following an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) saying Israel's occupation was unlawful. If nothing happens to alter the current dynamic, a Palestinian state would be established on a territory fragmented by Israeli settlements and bypass roads, squeezed into a few urban centres isolated from each other, and suffocated by a total economic dependence on Israel. Its capital would be the remote suburb of Abu Dis, which is separated from Jerusalem by a wall. Its borders would be under Israeli control. It would have no military force to oppose the Israeli army's operations. And it would be ruled by a Palestinian Authority which has become a corrupt police regime, subjugated to Israeli security requirements. There is a precedent for such a state, in apartheid South-Africa: it is called a Bantustan. Trump's Gaza plan: The century-old Zionist illusion of 'voluntary' emigration of Palestinians Read More » In other words, Macron wants to offer Israel control over a 'Palestinian state' deprived of sovereignty and call that 'peace'. This is the cruel outcome of years of impunity which allowed Israel to methodically destroy the material basis for a Palestinian state. Europeans bear a heavy responsibility in this disaster. Macron's plan is therefore too little too late. Still, even this is too much for Israel and the US, whose President Donald Trump urged countries to skip the UN conference, before it was eventually cancelled. Israel's logic has remained unchanged for decades: it wants to 'spirit across the border' the non-Jewish presence on the 'promised' land, as suggested by the father of Zionism, Theodor Herzl. It wants to be the only military power in the Middle East and expects unconditional support from the world. In its vision, Arabs and especially Palestinians have no choice but to accept their defeat. They have to bear the brunt of European guilt for its antisemitic past - and be accused of antisemitism if they resist their dispossession and erasure. As long as France is not ready to fight this logic and make Israel accountable for its violations of international law, its diplomatic efforts towards a just peace will remain a hypocritical show, only aimed at keeping an illusion of morality. 'Israelisation' of French politics France does nothing to stop a genocide Macron even refuses to name. It does nothing to break the humanitarian blockade of Gaza. It keeps on selling arms to Israel, muzzles as too 'radical' those who dare speak of 'colonialism' and 'apartheid', and criminalises anti-Zionism as antisemitism. When Israel illegally launched its attack on Iran, Macron stuck to the Israeli script: Iran is a threat for the region and should never get the nuclear bomb, Israel is entitled to conduct 'preemptive' strikes, etc. The bottom line of the whole sequence is that France has lost its diplomatic influence in the Middle East. The bottom line of the whole sequence is that France has lost its diplomatic influence in the Middle East Since the 1960s, French diplomacy had followed the tradition of President Charles de Gaulle, whose cardinal rule was independence. After the 1967 war, Paris played a leading role in shaping a political solution to the conflict. It advocated for the self-determination of the Palestinian people, promoted the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) as their representative, convinced PLO leader Yasser Arafat to opt out of the armed struggle and recognise Israel. However, since the end of the Cold War and the first war on Iraq in 1991, the US has taken the lead. Between hyper America and intransigent Israel, France, bound by a divided European diplomacy, has no leeway anymore. Since the 9/11 attack, most of the French political and media elite has fully endorsed the Israeli narrative and its endless 'war on terror'. Besides, the domestic obsession about 'Islamism' and immigration interferes more and more with France's Middle East policy. This 'Israelisation' of French politics reached a paroxysmal level after the attack of 7 October 2023. In such a framework, Macron's initiative was doomed to fail, as it is flawed by a total lack of understanding of the Palestinian experience and history, and by a denial of the colonial nature of the situation. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Sharjah 24
4 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
China's top diplomat visits Europe pitching closer ties
Wang Yi's tour will take him to the European Union's headquarters in Brussels as well as France and Germany as China seeks to improve relations with the bloc as a counterweight to superpower rival the United States. But deep frictions remain over the economy, including a yawning trade deficit of $357.1 billion between China and the EU, and Beijing's close ties with Russia despite Moscow's war in Ukraine. "The world is undergoing an accelerated evolution of a century-old change, with unilateralism, protectionism and bullying behaviour becoming rampant," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday, a thinly veiled swipe against the United States under President Donald Trump. In that context, Guo said, Beijing and the European bloc must "keep the world peaceful and stable, safeguard multilateralism, free trade, international rules, fairness and justice, and act firmly as anchors of stability and constructive forces in a volatile world". Brussels' talks Wang will meet with his EU counterpart, Kaja Kallas, at the bloc's headquarters in Brussels for "high-level strategic dialogue". In Germany, he will hold talks with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on diplomacy and security -- his first visit since Berlin's new conservative-led government took power in May. And in France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March. The war in Ukraine will likely be high on the agenda, with European leaders having been forthright in condemning what they say is Beijing's backing for Moscow. China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia's more than three-year war with Ukraine. But Western governments say Beijing's close ties have given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support, and they have urged China to do more to press Russia to end the war. Trade tensions Ties between Europe and China have also strained in recent years as the EU seeks to get tougher on what it says are unfair economic practices by Beijing. After the European bloc placed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, China retaliated with its own duties, including on French beverages. An agreement on beverages has been reached with Beijing but not formally approved by the Chinese commerce ministry. Finalisation was partially linked with the EU's ongoing negotiations over EVs. Tensions flared this month after the EU banned Chinese firms from government medical device purchases worth more than $5.8 million, in retaliation for limits Beijing places on access to its own market. The latest salvo in trade tensions between the 27-nation bloc and China covered a wide range of healthcare supplies, from surgical masks to X-ray machines, that represent a market worth 150 billion euros in the EU. In response, China accused the European Union of "double standards". Rare earths Another sticking point has been rare earths. Beijing has since April required licences to export these strategic materials from China, which accounts for almost two-thirds of rare earth mining production and 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy Agency. The metals are used in a wide variety of products, including electric car batteries, and there has been criticism from industries about the way China's licences have been issued. China has proposed establishing a "green channel" to ease the export of rare earths to the EU, its commerce ministry said this month.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
Prospects for stopping the financing of extremist groups in Europe
29 June 2025 18:41 By Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali*Since its ouster from power in several Arab countries, the Muslim Brotherhood has faced a string of crises. Yet, it continues to operate in Europe, hiding under various names and receiving direct or indirect support. This persists despite the consensus on the need to counter the spread of extremist Islamist currents across societies, whether in the Middle East, Europe, or the entire world. In this context, TRENDS Research & Advisory, in cooperation with French Senator Nathalie Goulet, is organising a symposium at the French Senate titled "Stopping the Financing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe" to address the challenges involved and the mechanisms required to stop such Muslim Brotherhood has long exploited Europe's open and free environment to spread its ideology and manage extensive financial networks. This tactic is not new; it has been used for decades, starting with the establishment and control of Islamic centres across Europe, followed by deep infiltration into charitable and humanitarian organisations and other forms of civil society institutions. The group operates through multiple organisational structures, effectively diverting attention away from the true nature of these entities, many of which receive European funding without recognising that these organisations follow the Brotherhood's ideological design. These institutions often serve as arms of the Brotherhood, active around the world in promoting extremist ideologies, soliciting donations, and channelling them into activities that threaten national security and deepen radicalisation in situation is made worse by the fact that the Brotherhood, which has been designated as a terrorist group in several Arab countries and its original home of Egypt, still has representative branches in dozens of countries worldwide. Some branches operate openly, while others disguise themselves as charitable, civil society, or even human rights organisations. In recent years, Europe has become a safe haven for the Brotherhood. Its affiliated organisations and institutions continue to pursue their agendas across the continent through a vast and multifaceted network that includes investment portfolios, banking operations, civil society work, the halal trade, and offshore business some European governments have tried to target the group's activities and place restrictions on prominent and well-known members. However, firm, coordinated crackdown measures have not been taken, probably because of the close links that some leaders of the international organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood have in European countries. Nevertheless, a confrontation is inevitable, as the Brotherhood actively works to establish hotbeds of extremism wherever it goes. Strict oversight in Europe is necessary to expose the extent of its activities, as is rigorous monitoring of its funding sources and connections to global terrorist networks. Ultimately, this could pave the way for the Brotherhood to be designated as a terrorist organisation, rather than waiting until it succeeds in expanding ideological infiltration across Europe and triggering social unrest and clashes with state countries have already begun rethinking their position on the Brotherhood. Growing security concerns about the group's influence on European societies, its promotion of hate speech, separatist ideologies, and religious extremism have led to concrete action. Austria, for example, banned the Muslim Brotherhood under anti-terrorism laws, while France has been closely monitoring the group's activities and assessing its infiltration into social, political, and even governmental structures. However, the absence of a unified European stance on designating the Brotherhood as a terrorist group continues to provide it with loopholes, enabling it to shift operations from one country to another and interact, remotely, with communities that have rejected its presence, while using European platforms to propagate a discourse of extremism and the lack of coordinated European action, there is consensus regarding the risks posed by the Muslim Brotherhood's activities in Europe. There is an urgent need to confront ideological projects that aim to undermine the foundations of the modern state, especially given that groups like the Brotherhood exploit the margins of freedom of expression to gradually build influence, infiltrate political and local institutions, reshape societal cultures, and exert pressure on national structures, including the European Union itself. This is often done through a number of transnational European organisations that share the same intensive activity of Brotherhood-affiliated entities in Europe is aimed at influencing national policies. Some of these groups appear to have developed working relationships with figures in finance and politics. They operate through networks that undermine the integration of minority communities, fuel ethnic tensions, promote hatred, and maintain ties to global terrorist groups. Confronting the dangers of such activity requires an intellectual response to extremist ideologies, the promotion of values of tolerance and coexistence, and the strengthening of international cooperation, particularly between Europe and the Middle East. It is equally important to review the sources of financing and both direct and indirect support provided to civil society organisations to ensure that such resources do not fall into the hands of extremist groups like the Brotherhood, which could ultimately turn those resources against our societies in the form of radicalisation and Research & Advisory has played a leading role in combating extremist ideologies and Islamist movements, with a particular focus on the Muslim Brotherhood. The centre's efforts are dedicated to dismantling the narratives of terrorist thought, challenging anarchic doctrines, exposing doctrinal distortions, and countering radical methods of spreading extremism. Through a diverse range of publications, TRENDS explores various aspects of these groups across the Middle East, Europe, and the world and works with governments, decision-makers, and parliamentarians to lay the groundwork for effectively confronting the threat of extremist organisations in order to build societies based on peace, dialogue, and shared values. *The writer is the CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory
