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In a landmark decision, the United Nations Security Council voted on Thursday to lift sanctions imposed on Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and key members of his government. This move comes just days before al-Sharaa’s scheduled visit to the White House, marking the first time a Syrian president will visit Washington since Syria’s independence in 1946. The U.S.-backed resolution, which removes sanctions linked to al-Sharaa and Syria’s Interior Minister Anas Hasan Khattab due to their former ties to al-Qaida, was passed with 14 votes in favor and China abstaining. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz hailed the decision as a recognition of Syria’s transition into a new era following the ousting of longtime autocrat Bashar Assad in December 2024. Syria’s foreign ministry welcomed the vote, calling it a diplomatic victory that underscores international confidence in al-Sharaa’s leadership. However, China expressed skepticism, with Ambassador Fu Cong criticizing the U.S. for pushing the resolution without addressing all parties’ counterterrorism concerns. The visit is expected to solidify Syria’s participation in the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition, a key component of President Donald Trump’s strategy to rebuild relations with Syria after decades of conflict. While the U.N. sanctions have been lifted, stringent U.S. sanctions under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act remain in place, requiring congressional action for removal. Bipartisan support in the Senate signals potential progress toward Syria’s economic reconstruction, which is crucial after a devastating civil war that claimed nearly half a million lives and displaced millions.

In a significant development, Israeli police conducted a raid on the offices of the Histadrut, Israel’s oldest and most prominent labor union, labeling it as one of the largest public corruption scandals in the country’s history. The operation, carried out on Monday morning, led to the arrest of several senior union members, including its chairman, Arnon Bar-David. The individuals are suspected of involvement in bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. At the heart of the scandal is Ezra Gabay, an insurance agent who allegedly used his government connections to appoint Histadrut committee heads to positions in government companies in exchange for personal favors. Additionally, senior Histadrut officials are suspected of planning to sell some of the organization’s assets, worth millions of shekels, for personal profit. The investigation is expected to involve over 300 senior officials, including union heads from major institutions like El Al Airlines and the Jewish National Fund, as well as public officials and mayors. Culture Minister Miki Zohar, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, is also set to be questioned due to his close ties with some of the suspects. The Histadrut, historically aligned with the left-wing Labor Party, has seen increasing influence from Likud in recent decades. The scandal has drawn criticism from various quarters, with the left-wing Hadash party accusing Bar-David of having direct ties with the government and supporting Netanyahu’s policies. Meanwhile, the Israeli parliament has given preliminary approval to a controversial bill aimed at limiting press freedom, sparking concerns about the erosion of democratic values. The bill, proposed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, seeks to impose political control over broadcasting authorities and remove restrictions between commercial interests and news broadcasts. Critics, including opposition MPs, have likened the bill to tactics used by Viktor Orban in Hungary to suppress media freedom. In a separate development, Israeli journalist Almog Boker, known for his controversial statements about Gaza, received an award for excellence in media coverage, further fueling debates about media ethics and objectivity in Israel.