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☆ Biden looks to burnish foreign policy legacy at the UN as leaders grapple with a world on fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Sam Fossum | Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —After more than five decades at the forefront of United States foreign policy, President Joe Biden may have hoped to use his speech to over a hundred world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to burnish both his own legacy and the country’s leadership on the world stage. “The world has changed, and the world’s gotten more difficult in many ways,” one senior administration official said. Election loomingIn New York, world leaders will find themselves grappling with the growing list of global flashpoints – all while an election just weeks away looms over the US’ role as the democratic world’s champion, benefactor and leading arms supplier. While Biden will be formally representing the US at the table, former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are separately meeting with world leaders to bolster relationships and outline their own goals. This will be followed by a meeting focused on Ukraine reconstruction with world leaders – a critical topic ahead of Biden’s meeting with Zelensky later this week.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, ” –, Ukraine –, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, –, We’re, ” Ali Zaidi, Zelensky, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we’re, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Jon Alterman, ” Alterman, ” Thomas, “ Organizations: CNN, United, United Nations General Assembly, General, White House White, Global Coalition, United Nations, Hezbollah, UN Security Council, UN, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Biden Locations: United States, New York, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon’s, Russia, China, White, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Australia, India, Japan, Wilmington, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, “, Africa, Greenfield

☆ Foreign leaders jostle for meetings with Trump and Harris, even as Biden ramps up his diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Trump may hold meetings with world leaders that his campaign does not announce in advance, explained sources close to the campaign. “While President Biden will be there, he will be there as a lame duck. Since leaving office, Trump has held regular conversations with foreign leaders. Foreign leaders are among the most ardent consumers of American political news, looking for clues of what the future may hold through polls, private conversations and diplomatic information gathering. It’s not unprecedented for presidential candidates to line up meetings with foreign leaders ahead of an election.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, Trump, It’s, ”, Jon Alterman, “ It’s, ” Alterman, it’s, Mohamed bin Zayed, hasn’t, Zelensky, ’, He’s, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Narendra Modi, Modi, Trump’s, Andrzej Duda, Duda, Namaste Trump, Howdy Modi, Hillary Clinton, Shinzo Abe, Petro Poroshenko, Clinton, Abdel Fattah el, Barack Obama Organizations: Washington CNN —, United Nations General Assembly, White, UN, Trump, United, United Arab Emirates, Harris, Middle, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Indian, Japanese, Ukrainian Locations: Delaware, combatting, Washington, United Arab, New York, Switzerland, Michigan, India, Brazil, China, Pennsylvania, Doylestown, Gujarat State, Houston

☆ How Saudi Arabia's ruler used chaos in the Middle East to get what he wants from the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewPresident Joe Biden came to power having pledged to make Saudi Arabia's maverick new ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, a global pariah. Analysts say that MBS has navigated increasing regional and global chaos to emphasize Saudi Arabia's importance to Washington. Related storiesUS President Joe Biden gives a fist bump to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2022. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia's importanceBut global instability, economic change, and the war in Gaza have made clear to the White House Saudi Arabia's indispensability. Crown Prince Mohammed has condemned Israel's attack on Gaza but has not ruled out a normalization deal with Israel.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Mohammed bin Salman, Biden, Kamala Harris, Prince Mohammed, Crown Prince, Jamal Khashoggi, Giorgio Cafiero, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mohammed bin Salman's, Saad Hariri, Khashoggi, He's, Mohammed Hamoud, Trump, Abraham, Israel, Jon Alterman Organizations: Service, Business, Crown, Democratic, MBS, Saudi, Gulf, Analytics, Saudi Arabia's, Royal, Anadolu Agency, White, White House Saudi, Abraham Accords, Israel, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Saudi, November's, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Istanbul, Washington, Gaza, Israel, Iran, West, Riyadh, Lebanese, Russia, China, Beijing, Ukraine, UAE, Bahrain, Palestinian, United States, Red, Jeddah

☆ China just made another audacious bid to challenge the US as a key Middle East power broker
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewIn the nine-month war between Israel and Hamas, an unlikely nation has emerged as a key power broker in the Middle East: China. Reconciling the groups with an eye to building a postwar Palestinian government is a diplomatic coup for Beijing, after years of trying to position itself as a power broker in the Middle East. China challenges US might in the Middle EastIn the last few years, China has challenged US influence in the Middle East. In 2023, it helped broker a restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after decades of proxy conflict. "China also doesn't want to sacrifice much to advance any of its interests in the Middle East," Jon Alterman, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the US Congress in April.

Persons: —, Fatah, Wang Yi, It's, Ali Wyne, Aaron David Miller, Wyne, Jon Alterman Organizations: Service, Hamas, Reuters, Business, PLO, West Bank, Crisis, Palestinian, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Israel, East, China, Beijing, Gaza, Fatah, Washington, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, States

☆ When my husband lost his wedding ring, my son thought we were no longer married
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Liz Alterman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewOne autumn afternoon, while raking leaves, my husband, Rich, lost his wedding ring. We hoped the ring, possibly lost amid the browning landscape, would be shiny enough to catch our eyes. Our son thought we had splitWe'd been married for a decade by that point, and while it was odd to see my husband's ring finger bare after all that time, I didn't really give it much thought. AdvertisementOur middle son, Ben, a kindergartener at the time, and I were standing in the kitchen baking together months after the ring disappeared. "It's too bad Dad can't find his ring," Ben said.

Persons: —, Rich, Nat King Cole, Rich hadn't, we'd, hadn't, azaleas, we've, Ben, Wistfully Organizations: Service, Business

☆ When my husband was laid off, we tried to reassure our kids everything would be OK. Meanwhile, I wasn't so sure.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Liz Alterman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Unintentionally, they sat on the living room couch in order of age from left to right: Sam, Ben, Charlie. Sam and Charlie both had chocolatey brown hair like Rich and chestnut eyes while Ben was all vanilla with blond hair and light blue eyes. Our kids had a hard time understanding what had happened"So, wait, wait, Dad was fired?" "I just mean the group I was part of decided that they don't need as many people anymore," Rich said. Sam and Ben dashed to the kitchen with Charlie on their heels, ever the little brother.

Persons: —, Ben, Charlie, Rich, I've, Dad, Charlie giggled, Sam, he'd, I'd, who'd, they'd, He'd, dibs, Liz Alterman Organizations: Service, Business, Sad, Vine Leaves Press

☆ Saudi Arabia's oil giant boss speaks up for China, saying its massive production of solar panels and EVs helps affordability
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser praised China for making solar panels and electric vehicles affordable. Saudi Arabia is fostering closer ties with China and wooing Chinese investments and business partnerships. Unlike the West, Saudi Arabia is cozying up to China. "There are lots of opportunities for China to invest in Saudi Arabia," Alibrahim told the media outlet. In March last year, China brokered a détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran, prompting concerns over waning US influence in the Middle East.

Persons: Amin Nasser, Nasser, China's overcapacity, Janet Yellen, Olaf Scholz, China Nasser's, Faisal Alibrahim, Alibrahim, Jon Alterman Organizations: Saudi, Service, Saudi Aramco, World Energy, Financial Times, West, Nikkei, Aramco, Center for Strategic, International Studies, China Economic, Security Locations: China, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco, Saudi, Rotterdam, East Asia, Beijing, Saudi Arabian, Iran, United States

☆ When my son went to college, I wanted to track his phone, but my husband didn't. After a lot of fighting, we compromised.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Liz Alterman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWhen my oldest son, Sam, joined his high school baseball team, I began tracking his location through Find My Friends on my iPhone. my husband asked. AdvertisementI finally asked my son what he'd preferI realized I should've asked Sam how he felt about it first. I told Rich that if Sam didn't have a problem with it, neither should he. It's not something I check regularly, and if my son asked me to stop, I would.

Persons: —, Sam, hadn't, Rich, we'd, they'd, I'd, aren't, Life360, he'd, Sam didn't, He'd, didn't, he's Organizations: Service, Business

☆ U.S. officials expect Israel's response to Iran to be limited, according to NBC
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailU.S. officials expect Israel's response to Iran to be limited, according to NBCJon Alterman, Center for Strategic and International Studies director of Middle East program, joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to talk what to expect from the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and a recent report that Israel's promised response might be limited.

Persons: NBC Jon Alterman, Israel's Organizations: NBC, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Middle Locations: Iran, Israel

The US has in recent months carried out several strikes targeting Iranian proxies’ weapons depots in Iraq and Syria. To date, none of those strikes have deterred the militants, whose 165 attacks have injured over 120 US service members across the region since October. ‘We don’t seek a war with Iran’Still, striking Iran is one of the least likely options at this point, officials said. We’re not looking for a wider conflict in the Middle East,” John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, told CNN on Monday. Tehran has watched as anti-US and anti-Israel protests swept across the Middle East after the Israel-Hamas war started.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Mark Hertling, “, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Harakat, “ We’re, We’re, ” John Kirby, they’ve, ” Sabrina Singh, Jon Alterman, ” Alterman Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, National Security Council, Middle East, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Iran’s, American, Lebanon, Yemen, Tehran, United States, “, Israel, Russia, China

☆ US and Iraqi governments expected to start talks on future of US military presence in the country
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The US and Iraq are expected to soon begin talks on the future of the US military presence in the country, according to sources familiar with the matter, amid public calls from the Iraqi government for the US to withdraw its troops. US military officials and diplomats will be involved in the discussions, officials said. The talks about the future of the US’ military presence have now taken on a greater urgency amid the wider regional instability, and amid growing public calls by the Iraqi government for the US to withdraw its troops from the country. Part of the discussions will focus on whether and when it will be feasible to end the US military presence in Iraq. “The Biden administration is not considering a withdrawal of forces from Syria,” a senior US official told CNN.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ”, They’re, Mohammed Shia, Sudani, ” “, “, ” Jonathan Lord, Jon Alterman, it’s, Alterman, Elena Romanowski, Biden, CNN’s Haley Britzky Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, ISIS, Defense, ”, ISIS Coalition, Higher, Commission, Center for New American Security, Iraqi Security Forces, Middle, Center for Strategic, International Studies, “ Locations: Iraq, Iraqi, Iran, Syria, ”, Iranian, Baghdad, Israel

☆ Israel may try to drive Hamas out of its tunnels in Gaza by pumping them full of seawater: WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Israel has a plan to flood Hamas tunnels in Gaza using seawater pumps, per The Wall Street Journal. Israel's military said the tunnel system is used to transport Hamas weapons and militants. Hamas' tunnel system, known as the "metro," is believed to extend some 300 miles. AdvertisementWim Zwijnenburg, who works for PAX, a Netherlands-based peace organization, told the Journal that flooding the tunnels could exacerbate that pollution. He added that hazardous substances stored by Hamas in the tunnels could also seep into the ground.

Persons: —, Israel, Jon Alterman, Wim Zwijnenburg Organizations: Street, Service, Israel, Hamas, Wall Street, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Reuters, PAX, Business Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Netherlands

But whether Beijing will use it remains to be seen and experts say China may instead watch from the sidelines for a while longer. Blinken, during a whirlwind Middle East trip last week, spoke by phone to Wang and asked him to use Beijing's clout to ensure the conflict does not widen. On Wednesday, Xi said whether Washington and Beijing could establish the "right" way of getting along and managing their differences would be crucial to the world. U.S. and Chinese officials held a virtual meeting on Monday on macroeconomic developments, talks the U.S. called "productive and substantive" and China called "in-depth, frank and constructive." U.S. officials said Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, where they accused Beijing of "destabilizing and dangerous actions" against rival territorial claimants, would also be on the agenda.

Persons: Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Antony Blinken, Wang, Jon Alterman, WANG, BIDEN Shi Yinhong, Shi, Israel, Zhang Jun, Wang's, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Xi's, Yun Sun, Washington, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Laurie Chen, Trevor Hunnicutt, Josie Kao Organizations: State Department, . Security, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Renmin University of China, Reuters, White, PATH, BIDEN, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, China, Washington's, APEC, East China Seas, China's Global Times, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, BEIJING, Washington, China, Beijing, Iran, Israel, Taiwan, South, U.S, Gaza, Asia, San Francisco, Bali, China . U.S, East

☆ Mideast in Focus as US, China Meet to Pave Way for Biden-Xi Summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Laurie Chen WASHINGTON, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Antony Blinken, Wang, Jon Alterman, WANG, BIDEN Shi Yinhong, Shi, Israel, Zhang Jun, Wang's, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Xi's, Yun Sun, Washington, Laurie Chen, Trevor Hunnicutt, Josie Kao Organizations: State Department, . Security, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Renmin University of China, Reuters, White, PATH, BIDEN, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, China, Washington's, APEC, East China Seas, China's Global Times Locations: BEIJING, Washington, China, Beijing, Iran, Israel, Taiwan, South, U.S, Gaza, Asia, San Francisco, Bali, China . U.S, East

☆ I encouraged my son to apply to only 3 colleges even though his friends were applying to 12 to 15. He still got into his dream school.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Liz Alterman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

My son thought he had to apply to more than 10 colleges because everyone he knew was doing it. But he liked only three schools, so I encouraged him to apply to just those three. People were horrified he wasn't applying to more, but he got into his dream school anyway. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne afternoon in the spring of 2022, my son Ben, a junior in high school, and I got back in the car after touring yet another college. When I asked him why he would apply if he didn't want to attend, Ben told me everyone he knew was applying to 12 to 15 schools.

Persons: —, Ben, overachievers, couldn't, He'd, who'd, he'd, they'd Organizations: Service, Princeton

[1/4] A formation of Israeli tanks is positioned near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 21, 2023. Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, Rights DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

☆ Iran's Quandary: How to Stay Out of Israel's War on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. Khamenei, the supreme leader, has denied Iran was involved in the attack, though he praised the damage inflicted on Israel. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Arshad Mohammed DUBAI, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. "If the United States can effectively rally the world, it’s bad for them. SUPPORT FOR PALESTINEWhile the strategies of Russia and China in the Middle East are not fully aligned they have much in common. Russia said on Thursday it was coordinating Middle East policy with China. The United States has been trying, with limited success, to persuade the global south to rally behind Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Guneev, Israel, Wang Yi, Putin, Xi, Jon Alterman, Bashar al, Assad, Jean, Loup Samaan, Carice Witte, Alterman, Ma Xiaolin, Ma, James Pomfret, Guy Faulconbridge, Don Durfee, Robert Birsel Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, Rights, Initiative, Palestinian, Middle, Center for Strategic, International Studies, PALESTINE, Middle East Institute of, National University of Singapore, United, Ukraine, Israel, Zhejiang International Studies University, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Russia, Moscow, United States, Israel, States, East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Palestine, Washington, U.S, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong

☆ Trip to Israel Ties Biden and US to Any Gaza Offensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Biden is wagering that consoling, negotiating with and aiding Israel give him the most influence shaping their actions, he said. His plans to quickly push billions of dollars more in aid for Israel through Congress is likely to fuel debates on U.S. taxpayer funds. Biden said the U.S. would provide $100 million in new funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Already, the White House acknowledges it needs to better explain Biden's Israel policy at home. Biden will give a prime time White House address on Thursday, to "discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine," the White House said on Wednesday.

Persons: Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Biden, Jon B, Alterman, Israel, Abdel Fattah al, Ezra Cohen, Cohen, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Jarrett Renshaw, Nidal al Mughrabi, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Israel's, Center for Strategic, International Studies, West Bank, The United, Ukraine, White, Air Force, Biden, Hudson Institute, Republicans, Reuters Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza City, Gaza, Israel, U.S, The United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Tehran, Moscow, Beijing, Iran, Philadelphia

☆ Trip to Israel ties Biden and US to any Gaza offensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

U.S. President Joe Biden pauses during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Biden is wagering that consoling, negotiating with and aiding Israel give him the most influence shaping their actions, he said. Biden said the U.S. would provide $100 million in new funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Already, the White House acknowledges it needs to better explain Biden's Israel policy at home. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Tel Aviv, Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia and Nidal al Mughrabi in Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Miriam Alster, Biden, Jon B, Alterman, Israel, Abdel Fattah al, Ezra Cohen, Cohen, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Jarrett Renshaw, Nidal al Mughrabi, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Israel's, Center for Strategic, International Studies, West Bank, The United, Ukraine, White, Air Force, Biden, Hudson Institute, Republicans, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza City, Gaza, U.S, The United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Tehran, Moscow, Beijing, Iran, Philadelphia

Biden's travels will be rife with security concerns, and visits by other U.S. officials have been disrupted by rocket launches into Israel. ... And if we don’t, who does?”In Israel, Biden was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials before heading to Jordan. However, Abbas has withdrawn his planned participation because of the destruction at the hospital in Gaza. Abbas has been Palestinian president for nearly 20 years. Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 2,700 people and wounded more than 9,700, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Biden, Jordan, Ukraine —, Joe Biden, ”, Jon Alterman, There's, ” Alterman, Biden's, Antony Blinken, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah el, it's, Netanyahu, Abdullah II, — Biden, Richard Hecht, haven’t, Josh Boak, Josef Federman, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, Ministry, Palestinian, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Senate Foreign Relations, Hezbollah, Associated Press, Israel, Republicans, CBS, International Monetary Fund, Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations Locations: Israel, East, Gaza, Palestinian, Ukraine, United States, Iran, Southern Lebanon, “, The U.S, Tel Aviv, —, U.S, United States of America, Jordan, The Israel, Jordanian, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Washington, Jerusalem, Amman

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/TEL AVIV, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's White House is wrestling with thorny security and political challenges as officials consider a potential trip to Israel that may hold longer-term diplomatic advantages for Biden. A visit would, however, grant Biden fresh leverage to influence events on the ground and bolster his image at home. Highlighting the unique security risks facing a Biden trip, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Israel for meetings, was forced to take shelter in a bunker for five minutes with Netanyahu when sirens went off in Tel Aviv during their meeting. Forty-one percent of respondents said they agreed with a statement that "the U.S. should support Israel" in its conflict with Hamas, while just 2% said the U.S. should support the Palestinians. Biden has visited Israel 10 times, first as a senator in 1973, before the Yom Kippur War involving Israel, Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden's, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Netanyahu, Kirsten Fontenrose, Antony Blinken, Olaf Scholz, Jon Alterman, Alterman, Mahmoud Abbas, Alon Pinkas, Ehud Barak, Richard Nixon, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Israeli, General Assembly, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Biden, Israel, National Security, U.S, Atlantic Council, Presidential, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Service, Republicans, Reuters, Democratic, Gaza, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, TEL AVIV, Israel, Washington's, East, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, GAZA, Colorado, Egypt, Washington

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/TEL AVIV, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's White House is wrestling with a host of thorny security and political challenges as officials plot a potential trip to Israel that may hold longer-term diplomatic advantages for Biden. The White House declined to comment on any planning for the trip. Biden's trip could be interpreted as support for Netanyahu's political and military choices, but it could also give Biden fresh leverage to influence events on the ground. "It's very, very sensitive and the White House is working through very sensitive areas," Pinkas said. Biden has visited Israel 10 times, first as a senator in 1973, before the Yom Kippur War involving Israel, Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden's, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Netanyahu, Richard Nixon, Olaf Scholz, Jon Alterman, Alterman, Mahmoud Abbas, Alon Pinkas, Ehud Barak, Pinkas, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Israeli, General Assembly, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Biden, Israel, National Security, Ben, Presidential, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Democratic, Gaza, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, TEL AVIV, Israel, Washington's, East, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ben Gurion, Lebanon, Ukraine, Egypt, Syria, Washington

The surprise Hamas attack has dealt a blow to U.S. efforts to broker a landmark normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia and complicated Washington's approach toward Iran, Hamas' longtime benefactor. “Quite simply, all efforts at normalization are on hold for the foreseeable future,” said Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, contradicting the official U.S. government line. Khaled Elgindy, a former Palestinian negotiations adviser, accused the Biden administration of leading an Israeli-Saudi normalization process that mostly bypassed the Palestinians and their hopes of ending Israeli occupation. “That sort of neglect is part of why we're seeing what we're seeing,” said Elgindy, now at the Middle East Institute. The immediate challenge is preventing the war from spiraling into a broader conflict, administration officials say, especially preventing the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah from opening a second front on Israel's northern border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Israel, ”, Jon Alterman, John Kirby, “, ” Jonathan Panikoff, government’s, Khaled Elgindy, Elgindy, Panikoff, –, Netanyahu, Jake Sullivan, Biden’s, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland, Alexander Cornwell, Parisa, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Hamas, White, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Center for Strategic, International, White House National Security Council, Middle East Institute, Saudi, The Atlantic, Hezbollah, West Bank, Reuters, Atlantic Council, Thomson Locations: Israel, Washington , U.S, Saudi, Gaza, Ukraine, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Hamas, Tehran, Israeli, Riyadh, Washington, Lebanese, IRAN, Dubai

☆ CSIS' Jon Alterman discusses deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSaudi-Iranian deal: Saudis demonstrating they're 'in control of their own destiny,' think tank saysJon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies says for Saudi Arabia, not "hiding behind the United States … is part of a broader recalibration."

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