OIC condemns Netanyahu's comments on Golan Heights

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has condemned the Israeli prime minister’s comments about the occupied Golan Heights as a violation of international law. Benjamin Netanyahu had said Golan will remain in Israel’s hands forever. Israel captured the region from Syria in 19-67 and annexed it in 19-81.
• Iran’s president has reiterated Tehran’s support for the Iraqi government and nation in battling Daesh terrorists. Hassan Rouhani made the comment in a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. He said certain countries are supporting the militants and that they’re not serious in fighting terrorism.
• The U-S Supreme Court has ruled that almost two-billion dollars of Iran’s frozen assets must be given to American families of marines killed in the 19-83 Beirut attack blamed on Iran. Tehran has long rejected the allegations of involvement in the Beirut bombing.
• The Syrian ambassador to the U-N says the so-called High Negotiations Committee receives instructions from Saudi and Turkish intelligence services and does not represent the Syrians. Bashar Ja’afari said H-N-C’s withdrawal from the Geneva talks could in fact pave the way for a peaceful solution to the Syria conflict.
• Russia has accused the Saudi-backed opposition of blackmail by pulling out of the Syria peace talks in Geneva. The Russian foreign ministry says the withdrawal of the High Negotiations Committee, H-N-C, indicates that the group is incapable of being the sole representative of the opposition.
• Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has sent a delegation to Kuwait to join the delayed UN-backed peace talks with Saudi Arabia and loyalists of the former Yemeni regime. Ansarullah says it decided to attend the talks after receiving assurances from the U-N envoy for Yemen that the ongoing ceasefire will be respected.
• US President Barack Obama is in Saudi Arabia to attend a summit of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council being held in Riyadh. Upon arrival, Obama held talks with the Saudi King. The trip comes amid Washington-Riyadh row over a congressional bill that would allow Americans to sue Saudi Arabia for nine-eleven attacks.
• The French government is seeking to extend a state of emergency imposed after the Paris terror attacks in November. Prime Minister Manuel Valls says the measure is aimed at providing security cover to the Euro 2016 football tournament. The proposed two-month extension will require a parliamentary approval.

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