Latest news with #Arar
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Arab News
Saudi traditional container keeps its cool — and makes a cultural comeback
RIYADH: As part of Saudi Arabia's Year of Handicrafts, a traditional handmade leather container used to store food before the advent of refrigeration is making a comeback in the Northern Borders region. For generations, Al-Samil played a vital role in desert life as a simple storage container for food and water. Now the traditional items are being celebrated as a lasting emblem of Bedouin heritage, Saudi Press Agency reported. Al-Samil is handmade from tanned livestock skin using time-honored methods, and can preserve the quality and taste of ghee, yogurt, and water for extended periods without the need for cooling. At Arar's traditional market, local artisans display Al-Samil alongside other crafts, including sadu weaving, spinning tools, and embroidered garments. More than just functional, Al-Samil reflects a self-sufficient way of life and craftsmanship passed down through generations. Today, interest in Al-Samil is being reived at heritage festivals and handicraft exhibitions held across cities and governorates in the region. The container is still valued for storing wild ghee and fermented yogurt, with the leather adding a distinct flavor. Many rural homes and farms still use it. At Arar's traditional market, local artisans display Al-Samil alongside other crafts, including sadu weaving, spinning tools, and embroidered garments. The market has become a key attraction for both residents and tourists looking to experience the region's cultural heritage firsthand, the SPA reported.
Arab News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Iranian consul general commends Saudi Arabia for smooth pilgrim departure
RIYADH: Consul General of Iran in Jeddah Hassan Zarnegar praised the organization and facilities provided to Iranian pilgrims during their departure via Arar airport and the Jadidat Arar border crossing in the Northern Borders region. He said the smooth procedures reflect the care for pilgrims by the Kingdom and its leadership, and demonstrate attention to pilgrims from all countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. Zarnegar added: 'The streamlined procedures — from disembarkation and swift passport processing to organized bus transfers — reflect efficient pilgrim management.' He said that the services provided to Iranian pilgrims confirm the Kingdom's consistent respect for all nations. He added that Saudi-Iranian relations are rooted in religious and neighborly ties, and the care shown to Iranian pilgrims reflects this spirit of brotherhood. On behalf of himself and the Iranian ambassador, Zarnegar expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their care and support, provided as part of an integrated system. Meanwhile, Director General of the Border Guards Maj. Gen. Shaya Al-Wadaani inspected the work of personnel at the Jadidat Arar border crossing and monitored services supporting pilgrims' departure after Hajj. Al-Wadaani reviewed the procedures facilitating Iranian pilgrims' exit, following directives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to ensure proper services and support. He confirmed that the Border Guard has mobilized all resources, in coordination with relevant authorities, to deliver the best services and ensure a smooth departure process.
Al Arabiya
16-06-2025
- Al Arabiya
Iranian Hajj pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia begin return home
A group of Iranian Hajj pilgrims who have been stranded in Saudi Arabia after Iran's airspace was closed began departing the Kingdom in batches under a joint air-and-land travel program, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday. 'The first group of Iranian pilgrims arrived today at Arar Airport, as part of ongoing efforts led by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in coordination with relevant authorities, to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Iranian pilgrims,' the news agency said. For more news on Saudi Arabia, visit our dedicated page. The initiative comes as part of directives by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to ensure Iranian Hajj pilgrims are 'provided with comprehensive services and care until they return safely to their homeland and families,' the report added. The first group of Iranian pilgrims arrived today at Arar Airport where they were received by officials from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and partner agencies, who coordinated logistical support for their departure via the Jadidat Arar Border Crossing to Iran. Ministry field teams began immediate operations to streamline the pilgrims' transfer, implementing a comprehensive joint plan with the Iranian side to ensure a smooth, dignified, and prompt departure, in line with the requests of the Iranian official mission. The first batch of pilgrims departed on Sunday as part of the phased implementation of the ministry's return plan, according to SPA. A dedicated operations room closely monitored the process, ensuring all necessary services and support were provided up to the moment of departure.
Jordan Times
05-05-2025
- General
- Jordan Times
Arar House Museum: Living tribute to Jordan's national poet
IRBID — Nestled in the heart of Irbid lies a powerful monument to one of Jordan's most celebrated literary figures, Mustafa Wahbi Al Tal, widely known by his pen name, Arar. Today, his family home has been transformed into the Arar House Museum, preserving his legacy as both a poet and patriot. The museum honours not only Arar's poetry but also his deep connection to Irbid. The house itself, which dates back to the British Mandate era, once belonged to Arar's family and was the place where he spent his childhood and early adult years. Built in the Damascene architectural style, the home carries the spirit of the past, complete with a century-old mulberry tree that still shades its courtyard. Arar (1899–1949), also known as 'The Poet of Jordan', was a pioneering literary figure whose poetry not only shaped modern Arabic verse but also reflected his deep commitment to Arab nationalist causes — foremost among them the Palestinian cause — and his solidarity with the poor and marginalised. He also worked as a teacher, lawyer, and administrative governor during his lifetime. Speaking with The Jordan Times, Director of Irbid's Culture Directorate Sultan Zghoul, said: 'Mustafa Wahbi Al Tal was chosen as the Arab Cultural Icon of 2022 by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation [ALECSO], a well-deserved honour that reflects his regional influence and poetic legacy.' According to Zghoul, the museum hosts a collection of historical photographs and personal belongings of Arar — including his study desk and rare images with King Abdullah I, the founder monarch of Jordan. 'In 1989, Arar's remains were relocated into the house, and it was transformed into a museum. Since then, it has received hundreds of visitors annually, becoming a unique cultural destination in northern Jordan,' he added. 'The museum attracts a wide spectrum of visitors — from students and families to intellectuals and ambassadors,' said Zghoul. 'We have also developed a long-term plan to host and receive a variety of cultural events here — including poetry evenings, heritage exhibitions, visual art shows, lectures, art workshops, and heritage festivals.' The director noted that the house is frequently visited by Arab poets and writers, who see it as a 'living tribute' to a man who helped shape Jordan's literary consciousness. Among the visitors was Bdour Sami, who described the museum as a 'cultural treasure.' 'I love this place — it is perfect for children and for anyone who appreciates poetry and culture. It is an important symbol of Irbid,' she said. Though modest in size, Arar House is rich in meaning — a space that offers more than historical insight; it continues to celebrate Jordan's cultural identity. As Zghoul put it: 'This is not just a museum. It is a living space for culture.'
Al Jazeera
24-04-2025
- Al Jazeera
At least 59 Palestinians killed as Israel escalates Gaza bombardment
At least 59 people, including children, have been killed in a barrage of Israeli attacks across the besieged Gaza Strip, medical sources told Al Jazeera. Rescue teams and medics in the enclave said at least 12 people belonging to the same family were among those killed on Thursday when their home in northern Gaza's Jabalia was targeted. Six members of another family – a couple and their four children – were killed when an air strike levelled their home in Gaza City, the civil defence said in a statement. Ahmed Arar, a first responder in Gaza City, said there were 'large quantities of body parts and remains', including those of many children, after the attack. 'There are only hands, legs, and heads. They are all severed and torn,' Arar told Al Jazeera. Another 10 people were killed and several others wounded in a strike on a former police station in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, according to a statement from the Indonesian Hospital, where the casualties were taken. 'Everyone started running and screaming, not knowing what to do from the horror and severity of the bombing,' 23-year-old Abdel Qader Sabah, from Jabalia, said of the attack that hit the station that is located near a market. Israel's military said it struck what it described as a Hamas 'command and control centre' in the Jabalia area, without clarifying if it was targeting the police station. The army has previously used similar justifications in attacks that hit hospitals and numerous shelters housing displaced Palestinian families. At least 26 people were killed in other Israeli attacks across the territory, according to medics and the civil defence agency. Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said there is 'an ongoing surge in the rate of Israeli attacks on the entire Gaza Strip'. He said that civil defence crews are still working to dig through the rubble at the scene of the latest attack in Jabalia. He cited one rescue worker as saying many of the victims have sustained burn wounds. Israel resumed its military assault on the Gaza Strip on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had brought a temporary halt to fighting in the blockaded territory. The military is continuing to seal vital border crossings for the eighth week in a row, denying the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid, including medical supplies and fuel, worsening an already deep humanitarian crisis amid relentless bombardment. Israel's army chief, visiting troops in Gaza on Thursday, threatened a 'larger' offensive if captives seized in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, are not freed. 'If we do not see progress in the return of the hostages in the near future, we will expand our activities to a larger and more significant operation,' Eyal Zamir said. The Israeli military, meanwhile, ordered Palestinians living in the northern areas of Beit Hanoon and Sheikh Zeid to evacuate in advance of an attack. The United Nations has warned that Israel's expanding evacuation orders across Gaza are resulting in the 'forcible transfer' of people into ever-shrinking areas. Aid agencies estimate that the vast majority of Gaza's 2.4 million residents have been displaced at least once since the war began. Also on Thursday, the Gaza Health Ministry said the Durra Children's Hospital in Gaza City had become nonoperational, a day after an Israeli strike hit the upper part of the building, damaging the intensive care unit and destroying the facility's solar power panel system. Gaza's health system has been devastated by Israel's 18-month-old military campaign, putting many of the territory's hospitals out of action, killing medics, and reducing crucial supplies. Efforts by key mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have so far failed to produce a lasting ceasefire. Since Israel resumed its assault, at least 1,978 people have been killed in Gaza, raising the overall death toll to at least 51,355 since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The military said Thursday that Israeli tank fire killed a UN worker in the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah last month, according to an investigation's initial findings. It had initially denied operating in the area where a Bulgarian employee of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was killed on March 19. The findings come after the military on Sunday reported on a separate probe into the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza. It finally admitted that operational failures led to their deaths, and said a field commander would be dismissed.
