Finally, a move looking to deescalate tensions between Middle Eastern nations. Israel is removing metal detectors from a holy site in Jerusalem and will use less obtrusive surveillance instead. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet voted for the move early on Tuesday. Tensions rose after two Israeli policemen were killed on 14 July at the site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. The UN’s Middle East envoy had warned the tensions risked spreading “well beyond” the ancient city.
Over in Mosul, the government is looking to commemorate the death of Rudaw reporter Shifa Gardi and others by turning Khasfa pit, a mass burial site south of the city, into a monument. The Khasfa pit, or Death Valley, 20 kilometers south of Mosul was used as an open mass grave by the Islamic State, where a large numbers of civilians were killed and dumped into the sinkhole. In order not to forget what the terror group did to the people of Mosul, the city’s Governor said they will turn the spot into a symbol and protect it.
Lastly, a new documentary has been released to mark the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy,” an intimate look back at her life with Princes’ William and Harry, who were just 15 and 12 when they lost their mother, participating in the documentary. The 65-minute documentary aired on Monday.
