Ruto says Kenya demos must stop, opposition urges ‘justice’

LONDON: Leaders of the British Jewish community expressed concern for Israel’s future in their first public letter opposing the resumption of military actions after 18 months of Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.

In an open letter published in the Financial Times, 36 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the UK’s largest Jewish representative body, said they could not “turn a blind eye or remain silent in the face of this renewed loss of life and livelihoods.”

“We write as representatives of the British Jewish community, out of love for Israel and deep concern for its future,” they wrote in the letter published on Wednesday.

They said the past 18 months of Israeli action in Gaza demonstrated that diplomacy was more effective in securing the release of 135 hostages captured by Hamas. In contrast, military action in Gaza resulted in the return of only eight hostages, with at least three being killed by Israeli forces.

The signatories noted that the Israeli government resumed its military campaign in Gaza in mid-March to fulfill far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir’s requirement for rejoining the ruling coalition, which allowed it to pass the budget and avoid an election.

They remarked that the Israeli government broke the ceasefire agreement with Hamas instead of engaging in a deal guaranteed by the US, Qatar and Egypt that would lead to the release of Israeli hostages.

“Since then, no hostages have returned. Hundreds and hundreds more Palestinians have been killed; food, fuel and medical supplies have once again been blocked from entering Gaza,” they wrote.

The Israeli war in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 50,000 people since late 2023, a situation that leading human rights groups are describing as genocide. In the UK, numerous national rallies were organized to express solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and call for a ceasefire.

The UK’s Jewish community has been adamant in supporting Israel since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. A small minority of British Jews oppose the war in the Gaza Strip, according to the FT.

The 36 signatories to the letter represent nearly 12 percent of the 300 members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. They are wary of the changes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is introducing to the country’s institutions, including the judicial system.

“The (Israeli) police increasingly resembling a militia and repressive laws are being advanced as provocative partisan populism is bitterly dividing Israeli society,” they wrote.

“Israel’s soul is being ripped out and we, members of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, fear for the future of the Israel we love and have such close ties to.”

The signatories said they stand against the war in Gaza, “acknowledge and mourn the loss of Palestinian life,” and yearn to see an end to the conflict.

JAKARTA: Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef held talks with his Indonesian counterparts in Jakarta on Wednesday, as the two countries explore cooperation in critical minerals and other key resources driving the global energy transition.

Indonesia is the world’s largest source of nickel and has rich deposits of other minerals, such as copper and bauxite. Its mining sector makes a significant contribution to the economy, accounting for about 11.9 percent of GDP in 2023.

Al-Khorayef arrived in the Indonesian capital for a three-day visit on Tuesday and his delegation is meeting both officials and top industry executives.

“We discussed ways to enhance industrial cooperation and expand partnerships between private-sector entities in the two countries, in addition to reviewing investment opportunities and the Kingdom’s goals to become an industrial and logistics hub in the region,” he said in a post on X, after talks with Indonesia’s Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.

Tohir also took to social media to highlight the focus of the planned partnerships.

“State-owned enterprises in mining, communications infrastructure, banking and renewable energy sources are the priority of our discussions and the cooperation we will forge,” he wrote on X.

Trade and investment relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have been on the rise. Non-oil trade was worth about $3.3 billion in 2024, showing a 14.5 percent increase compared to 2020.

“There’s still plenty of room for mutual growth. This is why the Indonesian government welcomes the rising interest of Saudi investors in Indonesia’s strategic sectors, including to strengthen the ecosystem of our national industries,” Kartasasmita said.

“Indonesia, with its huge potential in natural resources, market and workforce, and the government’s commitment to industrial downstreaming efforts, is opening up vast opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations,” he said.

Al-Khorayef’s visit was aimed at attracting more investment to the Kingdom and exploring mutual investment opportunities in mining, food, pharmaceuticals and auto parts industries, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

On his first day in Jakarta, he met Indonesia’s special envoy for energy and the environment, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, representatives from Indonesia’s state-owned mining industry holding company, MIND ID, and mineral mining company PT Vale Indonesia.

“Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are at a key point in redefining the mineral economy,” MIND ID CEO Maroef Sjamsoeddin said.

“We are ready to explore cooperation opportunities, knowledge exchange and transformational innovation (projects),” he said.