Surf Arab States

Arab States Weekly Review 24th – 30th September 2011

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas lodged an application for full membership of the UN, despite the Americans and Israelis urging him to hold back.

Israel went ahead with plans to build another 1,100 homes in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as their future capital.

Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh unexpectedly returned home, promising to arrange an orderly handover of power.

Forces fighting for Libya’s new government tightened their grip around Bani Walid and Sirte, the last two strongholds under Colonel Qaddafi’s control. The port of Sirte was said to be in the hands of rebel forces.