International
WATCH: Jewish worshippers pray for Pres. Trump at the Western Wall
In the holiest city for the three monotheistic religions, Rabbis and Jewish worshippers prayed for President Donald Trump’s health amid his battle with COVID-19, as seen in a video posted to Twitter.
President Trump was diagnosed with the virus late last week and has been receiving treatment just outside of Washington at Walter Reed Medical Center since then.
The group recited the Jewish prayers of healing at the Western Wall, where Jews from all over the world come to pray. The site, also known as the “Kotel,” is the only remaining retaining wall that surrounded the First and Second Temples.
The prayer took place during Sukkot, when Jews gather traditionally in the thousands to recite the “Birkat Kohanim,” also known as the “Priestly Blessing.”
“The Birkat Kohanim written in the Torah contains a promise to safeguard from harm and bring peace to Israel. In these hard times, we need that blessing even more,” Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, said, according to Christian Broadcasting Network.
“Unfortunately, this special event was held this year in a different format, without the participation of thousands of Jews. We upheld the tradition in a limited format while abiding by regulations, connecting the entire Jewish nation from Israel and the diaspora,” Rabinowitz added.
Watch here:
Although Israeli citizens are in their second COVID-19 lockdown, Israelis are rallying around the President and First Lady Melania Trump. In fact, a billboard in Tel Aviv was erected to show support for the President and First Lady amid their diagnoses.
International
Iran and Iraq sign controversial five-year contract to continue export of natural gas
Despite the Biden administration having ‘strongly suggested’ that Iraqis find other ways solve their production problems, they have signed a new deal with Iran. Iraq’s ministry of electricity announced a finalized agreement on Wednesday, of which the Iran regime has signed a five-year contract to continue the export of natural gas for use in Iraq’s power generating plants.
Iraq will import up to 50 million cubic meters per day of the vital fuel; prior, Iraq had been procuring approximately half of that amount from Iranian suppliers, according to The Foreign Desk News.
The outlet notes this relationship between American adversaries has often brought criticism from Washington because the imports and their payments are subject to U.S. sanctions. The government in Baghdad must ask for waivers from the State Department to complete their purchases.
The Foreign Desk News goes on to explain:
Iran’s national gas company has been provisioning their neighbor for the last 10 years, as Iraq has long suffered domestic production problems due to corruption and inadequate infrastructure.
Most of the natural gas that Iraq imports is used to produce power for an unstable and maintenance-prone electrical grid. Service outages are common amid the country’s growing consumption and many residents frequently must rely on private generators during times of disruption.
Including the electricity that Iraq directly purchases from Iran, the Islamic republic is reported to be responsible for supplying nearly a quarter of the country’s total power use.
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