Arabic press review: UAE covert actions on Yemen coast revealed

UAE operations in Yemen revealed

Al Jazeera has broadcast exclusive documents and videotapes which it says confirm the UAE's involvement in illegal movements in Yemen, including the use of commercial aircraft for arms transfers, and the use of charities as a facade for intelligence and political work.

The investigation by the Qatari broadcaster covered the Emiratis' expansion on the Yemeni coast and focused on the Abu Dhabi-backed troops present in the coastal area. 

The report revealed the transformation of Al-Mokha port, which is famous for the export of Yemeni coffee around the world, into a hub for the landing and loading of weapons, and its use as a military base. 

The port is only about 40 nautical miles from Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and about 100km from the city of Taiz.

The investigation also indicated that the UAE used the Emirati Red Crescent as a front for intelligence operations on Yemen's west coast. 

Al Jazeera said the documents show that the UAE also established detention facilities on Perim Island, Zuqar Island and Bab al-Mandeb, noting that a special unit has been supervising these facilities.

Morocco bans anti-normalisation protest

Local sources have said that Moroccan authorities in the capital Rabat refused to authorise an anti-normalisation demonstration scheduled for Monday in front of parliament, Al-Quds Al-Arabi has reported.

Six Moroccan associations have issued a joint statement describing the move as a "dangerous development".

The associations said they considered that “the official Maghreb, Arab and African regimes are providing free services to the Zionist entity (Israel) at a time when it should have become necessary to impose international sanctions and isolate it”. 

On Thursday, Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced that official bilateral ties and diplomatic relations with Israel were to be established “as soon as possible,” according to a statement issued by the royal court. 

The monarch stressed that this “does not in any way affect the permanent and sustained commitment of Morocco to advocate for the just Palestinian cause, and its constructive engagement for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East”. 

Algeria belatedly criticises Morocco-Israel deal

After several days of silence, Algeria has announced its opposition to Morocco's establishment of relations with Israel and criticised US President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported.

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said that "Algeria was being targeted in particular" as "challenges are surrounding the country,” adding that there was a "real will" from foreign operations "that want to hit the country's stability". 

The prime minister also referred to some parties’ intention to spread chaos in Algeria by "the arrival of the Zionist entity (Israel) near the borders”.

Djerad's comments follow Trump's surprise announcement on Thursday of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moroccoo and Israel, Washington's decision to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over the occupied Western Sahara, and the opening of a US consulate in Dakhla, the second largest city in the Sahara region.

However, observers noted that Algeria did not summon the US ambassador in Algeria to protest against the US consulate opening as it did with some African countries who had taken the same decision during the last few months, the newspaper said.

Jordan bill expected to ban import of Israeli gas

Jordanian MP Saleh al-Armouti has said that the country's parliament is expecting to receive a draft law from the government banning the import of Israeli gas, after the House of Representatives rejected a gas agreement signed between the two countries.

Armouti told Al-Ghad newspaper that the termination of the agreement would not cost the state treasury any losses, despite claims from the Ministry of Energy. 

Armouti said that while the government had completed the extension work of the gas pipeline and acquired the lands allocated for its passage, he did not know whether any gas supplies had so far entered Jordan.