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Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Dec. 28

Xinhua,December 29, 2017 Adjust font size:

DAMASCUS -- Another batch of kidnapped people as well as others with tough medical conditions were evacuated from the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region of the capital Damascus overnight, state news agency SANA said Thursday.

The evacuation is a part of a deal that demands the rebels to release pro-government detainees in exchange for the government approval to grant access to the people with hard medical conditions into the capital's hospitals. (Syria-Evacuate)

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JERUSALEM -- Israel's parliament approved on Thursday a law banning the police from going public with their findings, a legislation sponsored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's faction as he faces corruption investigations.

The so-called "recommendations law" was passed in a final reading early on Thursday morning after 43 of filibuster speeches by opposition lawmakers. And 59 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, 54 against it, and seven abstained. (Israel-Law-Restriction)

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RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister Riad Malki said Thursday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) will urge in the upcoming Arab League (AL) summit to boycott countries that move their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem.

He said that the Palestinians will call on five Arab countries to implement the 1980 AL summit resolution to boycott those governments which relocate their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (Palestinians-Arab League-Jerusalem)

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ANKARA -- Turkey and the United States on Thursday announced that they allowed full resumption of visa services after three months of suspension caused by diplomatic crisis.

The U.S. embassy in Ankara first announced that the Department of State has resumed full visa services in Turkey. (Turkey-U.S.-Visa) Enditem