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Israeli occupier attacks threaten historic Christian presence in West Bank town

In Taybeh, one of the few Palestinian communities with a Christian majority in the occupied West Bank, fears are growing that Israeli occupier attacks on farmland and property could push more families to emigrate, threatening the town’s demographic character and historic Christian presence. Local officials and clergy warned of the impact of rising violence by Israeli occupiers, which has coincided with worsening living and economic conditions in the town. Taybeh, east of Ramallah, is one of the few Palestinian towns in the West Bank that still has a Christian majority, according to church and local accounts. Residents say the town’s Christian roots go back thousands of years. Residents say the attacks have deepened fears in the town, even as they stress their determination to remain on their land. Also Read: Pakistan raises red flag over illegal settlements in West Bank, calls for Israel accountability In recent years, Israeli occupiers have established several ill...

Saudi Arabia announces revisions to Umrah visa rules

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced new regulations that shorten the validity period of Umrah visas before entry into the Kingdom, in a move aimed at improving crowd management during the peak pilgrimage season. According to Al Arabiya, Umrah visas will now be automatically cancelled if the holder does not enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of the visa being issued. Previously, the pre-entry validity period was three months. The revised policy is expected to come into effect next week. However, the duration of stay allowed for pilgrims inside the Kingdom remains unchanged at three months, once they arrive. Ahmed Bajaeifer, adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, said the decision is part of preparations for an anticipated rise in the number of pilgrims as temperatures in Mecca and Medina fall and travel typically increases. “The aim is to better manage crowds and prevent overcrowding in the two holy cities,” he told Al Arabiya. The Kingdom has already issued more than 4 million Umrah visas since the start of the new season in early June, marking what officials describe as a record pace of arrivals compared to previous years. Authorities expect the number to continue rising significantly in the coming months, prompting measures to ensure smoother crowd control, accommodation capacity, and transport flow within the holy sites. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has been implementing a series of administrative and digital reforms in recent years to streamline visa processing, improve pilgrimage services, and enhance the overall experience of visitors to Mecca and Medina.

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