Kuwait’s emir discusses ties with UAE national security adviser

RIYADH: Japan at an event in Riyadh on Monday finalized an agreement to grant 642 million yen ($4.29 million) to improve children’s education in Yemen.

The two-year project will prioritize rehabilitating educational infrastructure and providing psychosocial support in Yemen’s Taiz Governorate.

The agreement was signed by Yoichi Nakashima, Japan’s ambassador to Yemen, and Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Yemen.

The ceremony was also attended by Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan and Yemeni Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Noman.

In a speech Nakashima underscored the urgency of the initiative, stating that the ongoing war in Yemen has created a dire humanitarian situation, leaving nearly 3.2 million children unable to attend school.

He elaborated on Taiz’s critical needs in an interview with Arab News: “This program, through UNICEF, addresses the unique challenges caused by the war as Taiz has been at the forefront of conflict zones.”

Nakashima added that their project targets those outside the formal system while supporting facility rehabilitation and teacher training.

“This project includes the renovation of many educational facilities, support for at-risk, school-age children, and enhanced teacher training, with a focus on psychological care,” Nakashima added.

He emphasized that Taiz’s families are “deeply committed to learning despite years of instability,” noting the region’s historical significance as a cultural and academic hub.

Hawkins highlighted the long-term vision, telling Arab News the agreement would equip children with “fundamentals like numeracy and literacy” to pursue formal education or build livelihoods.

Yemen’s education system has faced severe disruption due to the war, with infrastructure damage and economic instability exacerbating dropout rates.

Hawkins said that life skills training would empower children to “find their avenue forward,” emphasizing sustainability beyond immediate interventions.

LONDON: EU officials must condemn Israeli atrocities and violations of international law at the EU-Israel Association Council meeting on Monday, Human Rights Watch has urged.

The meeting will be led by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

Kallas will be joined by EU foreign ministers. Together, they should “signal an end to the bloc’s reluctance to acknowledge and address Israel’s war crimes, crimes against humanity — including apartheid — and acts of genocide,” HRW said.

Last February, Spain and Ireland requested a suspension to the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to Israel’s grave abuses of its human rights obligations. The request has yet to be answered by the EU.

The Association Council is the EU’s top-level bilateral meeting with Israel, held as part of the agreement.

The last meeting took place in October 2022 following a 10-year pause initiated by Israel over discontent with the EU’s condemnation of settlement-building in the Occupied Territories.

Claudio Francavilla, associate EU director at HRW, said: “There can be no business as usual with a government responsible for crimes against humanity, including apartheid, and acts of genocide, and whose sitting prime minister is wanted for atrocity crimes by the International Criminal Court.

“The only purpose of this Association Council meeting should be to call out those crimes and to announce long overdue measures in response.”

More than 100 civil society organizations, including HRW, urged the EU in a letter to center discussions with Saar on the potential suspension of the agreement.

Article 2 names human rights and democratic principles as “essential elements” which, if violated, can lead to the suspension of the treaty.

HRW has documented extensive abuses by Israel during the conflict in Gaza, including war crimes, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.  

The EU has yet to adopt any “concrete measure to press Israeli authorities” to halt these abuses, HRW warned. Any move by the bloc requires unanimous approval by its 27 members.

Several EU foreign ministers have criticized the International Criminal Court’s issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The EU approved two rounds of sanctions against Israeli settlers who had committed abuses in the West Bank, but fell short of punishing the authorities who have enabled them, HRW said.

EU states also continue to export weapons to Israel despite the risk of complicity in war crimes.

A smear campaign led by Israel also saw the EU and its member states pause, and in some cases fully end, support for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides vital services to Palestinian refugees.

Francavilla said: “Europe’s reluctance to condemn and address Israel’s atrocity crimes has fueled them and given rise to well-grounded accusations of EU double standards.

“Unless the EU drastically changes course, it will provide a blank check for further abuses and continue to undermine the EU’s stated commitment to human rights and the rules-based international order.”