BBC News reports that a car bomb near Yemen’s Aden airport has killed nine people and injured 12 others. Eyewitnesses say women and children were among those killed. The attack coincided with the arrival of Aden’s former governor. Prime Minister Mueen Abdulmalek Saeed called it a “terrorist bombing”. No group has taken responsibility for the attack.

The Times writes that a shared history between the UK and Morocco will help forge several post-Brexit deals. This year the two countries are celebrating the 300^th anniversary of their peace agreement. The report notes: “Morocco was one of the first countries to reach an association agreement with the UK after Brexit, increasing its food exports to Britain by almost 40 per cent.”

The Financial Times reports on how Iraq has an opportunity to fight climate change. The paper says that “the country can generate green industries and sustainable energy to combat threat of drought and desertification”.

The New Statesman reports on the massive challenge Iraq faces with climate change, as oil provides 90 per cent of the country’s revenue. The piece notes: “Iraq is the world’s second worst offender when it comes to gas flaring after Russia, shows a recent World Bank report. Every year, the country’s flare stacks emit billions of cubic metres of carbon dioxide, polluting the local environment and making life miserable for people who live and work near the oil fields.”

The Independent reports on how millions of Syrians are threatened by a climate crisis in the “drought-ravaged north of the country”. Following a civil war which displaced half of the country, Syria is facing its worst drought in 70 years, which again threatens to displace millions more. The paper notes that “it is not just poverty, economic collapse and a decade of wars – including the battle against Isis and more recently Turkey’s incursion into the borderlands – that are threatening people’s lives: drought is the next disaster on the horizon”.

The Guardian reports that US President Joe Biden has said should the US return to the JCPOA nuclear deal, it will not leave unless Iran reneges on its commitments. A joint statement by the US, UK, France, and Germany read: “We welcome President Biden’s clearly demonstrated commitment to return the US to full compliance with the JCPOA and to stay in full compliance, so long as Iran does the same.”

Reuters reports on the meeting between US President Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the side-lines of the G20 summit in Rome. Turkey has been seeking to purchase F-16 fighter jets and following the meeting Erdogan said President Biden was “positive” towards the sale. A statement from the White House following the meeting read: “President Biden reaffirmed our defence partnership and Turkey’s importance as a NATO ally, but noted US concerns over Turkey’s possession of the Russian S-400 missile system.”

In the Israeli media, Yediot Ahronot quotes Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who left yesterday for the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, as saying: “For the first time, Israel is taking that issue [of climate change] seriously and is joining the developed countries in dealing with the subject. We are toeing the line with a target of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Fifty percent of that target will be achieved by means of technologies that haven’t been invented yet. We need to channel our spirit of innovation into that issue.” MK Professor Alon Tal (Blue and White), described as one of Israel’s top environmental experts, cited in an interview to Israel Hayom three areas in which Israeli innovation could be used globally to help counter climate change: afforestation, agrivoltaics and water. Agrivoltaics involves integrating solar fields in agricultural fields. Professor Tal said: “The agricultural creativity that is one of our traits is hardly inconsequential. The field of agrivoltaics can create additional revenues for farmers and can also improve certain crops by providing shade. We have advanced studies in that field, and there are quite a few countries that might take a great deal of interest in them.”

Defence Minister Benny Gantz submitted a motion to the cabinet secretariat yesterday to form a state commission of inquiry into the so-called submarines and naval vessels affair. According to Maariv, the cabinet is expected to vote on the motion after the state budget has been approved. The commission of inquiry will review the transactions and the purchasing processes that occurred between the years 2009 and 2016 to buy Saar six corvettes, six German Dolphin submarines, anti-submarine ships, as well as the decision to privatise the Israel Navy shipyards and Israel’s consent to sell advanced submarines to Egypt. Deputy Minister Yair Golan (Meretz) said: “A commission of inquiry into the submarine affair is critical for Israeli democracy. A state cannot be built on corruption and lies. The time has come for the corrupt to be punished.” Amos Gilad, the former director of the Political-Security Staff in the Defence Ministry, praises that decision in a column in Yediot Ahronot writing that it is “crucial that the government appoint a state commission of inquiry with broad powers and absolute independence to review the events and to ensure that in the future decisions about the IDF’s military acquisitions are made only in an orderly process that weighs all the threats and the response to them. That is imperative at this time”.

Israel Hayom follows comments made by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in an interview with Saudi news channel Al-Hadath that a Palestinian state with Eeast Jerusalem as its capital is a prerequisite for normalisation with Israel. Last week it was reported that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan discussed normalisation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month in Riyadh. Crown Prince Salman did not immediately reject the proposal to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, listing the steps needed to make the move, including improving the relations between the US and Saudi Arabia.

Haaretz writes that Defence Minister Gantz has decided to not approve an initiative by the defence establishment that would allow Jews to buy land in the West Bank privately. The move was made in order to avoid conflict with the Palestinian Authority, since the initiative would significantly accelerate building settlements in the West Bank. According to the law – still applied in the West Bank from the time it was under Jordanian rule – only Jordanians, Palestinians or “foreigners of Arab origin” are allowed to buy land in the West Bank. Last week, Gantz told the Supreme Court: “After having considered the issue at stake with the relevant parties, it was decided that, as of now, there is no room to make changes in Law no. 40\1953 of renting and selling real estate to foreigners.”

Israel has opened its borders for the first time since March 2020 to tourists who are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from the disease. However, Kan Radio reports that the renewed flow of incoming tourism is expected to hit several snags. The airlines only received a formal announcement from the authorities last night informing them that they are responsible for ensuring that arriving passengers meet Health Ministry requirements. The forms that the incoming tourists will have to fill out have not been printed yet either. These forms have to be filled out 24 hours before their arrival. Some flights may have to be cancelled.

Walla reports that Prime Minister Bennett expressed confidence the budget would be approved this week, despite “desperate” attempts by the opposition to prevent its passage and effectively topple the government. In a short address at Ben Gurion Airport on his way to Glasgow, Bennett said: “Here in Israel we expect a crazy week, which will get wilder every day as the vote on the budget gets closer. The moment the budget passes, it gives the government stability for several years.” Kan Radio adds that the United Arab List will vote unanimously in favour of the state budget. The party sent a clear message to the Likud that it would not get any help from its faction members. Coalition members are holding talks with the Arab Movement for Renewal faction in the Joint List to discuss the possibility that its two members, Ahmad Tibi and Osama Saadi, might abstain in the vote on the budget. However, Ayman Odeh of the Hadash faction in the Joint List said in an interview to Army Radio that all of the Joint List faction members would vote against the budget.