I Like / I Dislike Week 13

Every Monday, the Research Trainees of the CERESE assess the news of the previous week. You can read their opinions below:

I like the fact that for the first time an Israeli Foreign Minister visited Sudan. This visit marks an effort of diplomatic extraversion aimed at normalizing Israel’s relations with the Arab states. In addition, the two sides agreed to sign a peace treaty, which will enhance security and regional stability. At the same time, the multilateral cooperation agreements will be tools to build friendships. It is worth noting that in January 2021 Khartoum announced its accession to the so-called “Abraham Accords”, in which three other Arab countries formally recognized Israel.

I like that the US supports the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympics. More specifically, the United States noted that the athletes can participate under a neutral flag. The International Olympic Committee shares the same view. However, Estonia, Latvia, and Ukraine warned that if this happens, they will boycott the Games. Russia responded that its athletes should participate without any restrictions. Besides, firstly, the athletes should not be associated with their governments; secondly, a participant’s exclusion based on ethnicity does not correspond with democratic values.

I dislike the news that the Republican majority removed Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Omar reached the United States as a refugee from Somalia in 1990, and was one of the two first Muslim women elected in the House back in 2018, with her priority being to improve relations between the US and Africa. The Republican majority claims that her removal is a result of antisemitic comments she made in 2019, for which she has apologized. Omar’s removal from the powerful House committee is a worrying escalation, with the Republicans refusing to cooperate with the Democrats, even though they hold a small majority in the House of Representatives.

I dislike tthe publication of statistics showing that executions in Saudi Arabia have increased by 82% in the last six years. The average number of executions is 129 per year; in 2022, 147 convicts were executed, 90 of which were punished for non-violent crimes. In fact, executions doubled after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s de facto rise to power, making this six-year period the bloodiest in the country’s modern history.