Xinhua: Middle East news at 2200 GMT, July 20 – Summary

Turkey will host separate visits from Israeli and Palestinian leaders next week, as announced by the Turkish presidency on Thursday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit Turkey on July 25 and meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency. (Turkey-Israel-Palestine Visits)

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There was a close encounter between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries on Thursday in the southern Lebanese border village of Kfarchouba, where both countries are undertaking construction work, as reported by the National News Agency (NNA).

Tensions were triggered by the village administration opening a motorway with a bulldozer parallel to Israeli bulldozing activity near the Blue Line, which demarcates the borders of Lebanon and Israel, as well as Lebanon and the Golan Heights, as per an anonymous local source interviewed by Xinhua. (Lebanon-Border Village-Tension With Israel)

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The Iraqi government has decided to expel the Swedish ambassador from Iraq and recall its charge d’affaires from Sweden as a form of protest against the planned burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in Sweden.

In response to the Swedish government’s repeated permission to burn the Quran, insult Islamic sanctities, and burn the Iraqi flag, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani issued these directives, according to a statement released by the government. (Iraq-Recalling Diplomat-Quran Burning)

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Turkey’s central bank has increased its benchmark interest rate from 15% to 17.5% on Thursday, aiming to combat high inflation and currency fluctuations.

The central bank’s monetary policy committee stated that this decision was made to establish a disinflation course as soon as possible, anchor inflation expectations, and control the deteriorating pricing behavior. (Turkey-Central Bank-Rate Hike)