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☆ Biden's $1 billion weapons package to Israel is coming back to haunt him
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewAhead of Israel's assault on Rafah, President Joe Biden issued several stark warnings to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A $1 billion arms dealThe statement suggests Biden will continue to move forward with a $1 billion weapons package to Israel. As BI previously reported, the weapons deal could be seen as an attempt to heal Biden's relationship with Netanyahu and to halt accusations that the US is emboldening Iran. For instance, Biden previously withheld a shipment of bombs before announcing that the planned weapons deal would go ahead.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, Matt Miller, Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Andrew Payne, Payne, Dave Harden Organizations: Service, CNN, Business, MSNBC, Gaza Health Ministry, IDF, Associated Press, State Department, Wall Street Journal, Getty, Washington Post, City University of London, Trump ., US Agency for International Development, West Bank, BBC Locations: Rafah, Israel, Gaza, Tal al, Anadolu, Iran

☆ Opinion | Do Not Allow Putin to Capture Another Pawn in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Serge Schmemann | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The law has drawn stiff rebukes from the United States and Europe. The State Department has announced visa restrictions on officials behind the foreign-agent law and Congress has threatened further sanctions. The clash over the foreign-agent law in a small country nestled in the Caucasus Mountains has been largely overshadowed by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Georgia, in fact, was the first neighboring country invaded by Russia post-Soviet Union, in 2008, to block its westward drift. Now the ruling party, Georgian Dream, seems to share Russia’s goal, though it has generally avoided openly siding with Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili —, Russia —, Ivanishvili Organizations: Russian, The State Department, European Union Locations: Republic of Georgia, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, United States, Europe, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Soviet Union, Georgian, Tbilisi, ”

☆ Bipartisan congressional delegation visits Taiwan following days of Chinese military drills around island
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Avery Lotz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on Sunday following the election of the island’s new president and after days of Chinese military drills. The US will continue to stand by our steadfast partner and work to maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. US officials condemned the drills, with the State Department urging the Chinese to “act with restraint.”Two years ago, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island, marking the first time a US House speaker had traveled to Taiwan in 25 years. Her visit was met with days of large-scale military drills and warnings of a “severe impact” on US-China relations from the Chinese government. In April 2023, then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy similarly defied threats from China, presenting a united front with then-President Tsai Ing-wen in a California meeting.

Persons: Michael McCaul, Lai Ching, China’s, Putin, Xi, ” McCaul, Xi Jinping, ”, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Tsai Ing, “, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN — House Foreign, Communist Party, US, Taiwan, House Foreign Affairs Committee, ” CNN, State Department Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, Ukraine, Israel, Iran, “ Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, America, Asia, China, California

☆ El Nini: Top Mexican cartel criminal, once among America’s most wanted, extradited to the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-25 | by ( Lauren Koenig | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A top Mexican cartel member known as ‘El Nini,’ who was one of America’s most-wanted criminals for his alleged role in the fentanyl trade, has been extradited to the United States. Biden has previously described El Nini as one of America’s most-wanted criminals. The US State Department offered a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest and he was detained in Mexico in November of last year. The State Department also said Pérez Salas was responsible for the security apparatus of Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa cartel. “I am grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending and extraditing El Nini,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland’s office said in a statement.

Persons: El, ’, Joe Biden, El Nini –, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas –, ” “ El Nini, ” Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas “, ”, Biden, El Nini, Pérez Salas, Oscar Noé Medina González, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, Joaquín, Guzmán, “, extraditing El, General Merrick Garland’s, ” CNN’s Evan Perez, Zoe Sottile Organizations: CNN, Saturday, United, US Department of Justice, US State Department, State Department, The State Department, Department Locations: United States, Mexico, Sinaloa

☆ Israel’s seizure of AP equipment shows its hostile posture toward the free press
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Benjamin Netanyahu-led country on Tuesday took the outrageous step of seizing a camera and other video equipment used by The Associated Press to broadcast a live feed of Gaza — a decision the country only reversed amid severe backlash from free press advocates and following a White House request. And on Tuesday, it used that same law to target the AP, ostensibly confiscating its equipment because it provided its video feed to Al Jazeera, one of its thousands of global clients. A screenshot taken from AP video showing a general view of northern Gaza as seen from Southern Israel, before it was seized by Israeli officials on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. While Israel bowed to pressure on Tuesday and returned the AP’s equipment, the government notably offered no public apology to the renowned wire service. As the AP noted after its equipment was returned Tuesday, the underlying issues are still unresolved.

Persons: New York CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Adrienne Watson, Watson, “, Israel, Shlomo Karhi, Al Jazeera, ” Organizations: New York CNN, The Associated Press, White, State Department, Government, Israel, National Security, AP, Qatari, Al, AP Israel, Israel’s Locations: New York, New York CNN — Israel, Gaza, Israel, Al Jazeera, Southern Israel

☆ Inside the White House, a Debate Over Letting Ukraine Shoot U.S. Weapons Into Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( David E. Sanger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since the first American shipments of sophisticated weapons to Ukraine, President Biden has never wavered on one prohibition: President Volodymyr Zelensky had to agree to never fire them into Russian territory, insisting that would violate Mr. Biden’s mandate to “avoid World War III.”But the consensus around that policy is fraying. Propelled by the State Department, there is now a vigorous debate inside the administration over relaxing the ban to allow the Ukrainians to hit missile and artillery launch sites just over the border in Russia — targets that Mr. Zelensky says have enabled Moscow’s recent territorial gains. The proposal, pressed by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken after a sobering visit to Kyiv last week, is still in the formative stages, and it is not clear how many of his colleagues among Mr. Biden’s inner circle have signed on. It has not yet been formally presented to the president, who has traditionally been the most cautious, officials said. The State Department spokesman, Matthew A. Miller, declined to comment on the internal deliberations over Ukraine policy, including Mr. Blinken’s report after his return from Kyiv.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Antony J, Matthew A, Miller, Blinken’s Organizations: State Department, The State Department Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv

☆ A Microsoft under attack from government and tech rivals after 'preventable' hack ties executive pay to cyberthreats
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Trevor Laurence Jockims | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The decision by Microsoft to link executive compensation to successful cybersecurity performance is another is prompting discussions at other firms. One change the tech giant is making in response: linking executive compensation more closely to cybersecurity. In recent years, many Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, have added bonus pay tied to ESG metrics. The conversations about cybersecurity-linked executive pay have started taking place at other companies since Microsoft made its move, according to Aalap Shah, managing director at executive compensation consultant Pearl Meyer. Madnick's research shows that gaps in corporate culture are often culprits in high-profile hacks, not just the Microsoft example.

Persons: Brad Smith, Charlie Bell, Aalap Shah, Pearl Meyer, It's, I've, Shah, —, Stuart Madnick, Madnick, Ryan Kalember, unavoidability, Jen, Kalember, ransomware, Mike Doonan, Doonan Organizations: Microsoft, U.S, Hill, Google, U.S . Department of Homeland, Initiative, Microsoft Security, Team, Companies, Fortune, Apple, MIT, Infrastructure Security Agency, CNBC, Technology, State Department Locations: China, Russia, cybersecurity, U.S

☆ What Donald Trump might do if he wins a second term in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Read previewIn January 2025, Donald Trump may be sworn into office as the 47th President of the United States. Another Trump term, on the other hand, would likely entail a radical reversal from not just the previous four years, but even from Trump's first term in office. While not exhaustive, here's just some of what to expect in a second Trump administration. Miller told The New York Times that a second Trump administration would build "vast holding facilities that would function as staging centers" on "open land in Texas near the border." According to Bloomberg, Trump wants to extend those cuts in a second term.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, Trump's, That's, mifepristone, Stephen Miller, Miller, Alex Wong, Nixon, shouldn't, he's, Israel, there's Organizations: Service, Business, Trump, The New York Times, Heritage Foundation's, Senate, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Reserve, Congress, TIME, Republican, National Guard, United, Department of Justice, Capitol Police, Atlantic Treaty Organization, State Department, Pentagon, Bloomberg, American, Security, Social Security, CNBC Locations: United States, Texas, CPAC, China, Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, Europe, Washington ,

☆ Arab and Palestinian Americans frustrated, left without commitments to policy change after meeting with Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Khalil Abdallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Arab and Palestinian American leaders requested the meeting, which included the heads of five national organizations: the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Arab America, the Arab American Institute, and the US Palestinian Council. They went into the meeting already frustrated by the “callous neglect” they say the Arab American community has received from the Biden administration. “I think the administration has ample chances to make real change … and I have not seen change, real change in policy. Elnajjar helped organize for the Biden campaign in 2020 as part of the Arab Americans for Biden. Attendees at the meeting with Blinken made the point that it is not just Arab Americans who Biden is losing, but also allies from other ethnic backgrounds who are standing in solidarity with Arab, Palestinian and Muslim Americans.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Biden, ” Bilal Hammoud, ”, John Dabeet, “, ” Dabeet, ” Hammoud, ” Bilal, Ghada Elnajjar, Elnajjar, she’s, Blinken Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, American Arab Chamber of Commerce, White, Muslim, US Palestinian Council, American Federation of, Arab American Institute, The State Department, Biden Locations: Israel, Gaza, Arab, Palestinian, American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, Arab America, Rafah, American, Palestinian American

☆ Israel Resists Grand Bargain as U.S. and Saudis Work on Security Pact
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Edward Wong | Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two years into President Biden’s term, his aides began negotiating with Saudi leaders to have the kingdom establish diplomatic relations with Israel. But when the Israel-Hamas war began last October, the talks withered. American and Saudi officials have tried to revive prospects for a deal by demanding more from Israel — a cease-fire in Gaza and irreversible steps toward the founding of a Palestinian nation. Now those officials say they are close to a final agreement on the main elements of what the Saudis want from the deal: a U.S.-Saudi mutual defense pact and cooperation on a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom. And Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is expected to follow up when he goes to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend.

Persons: Biden’s, Israel —, Antony J, Blinken, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Saudi, Hamas, State Department, White House Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, U.S, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

☆ After traveling to over 40 countries around the world, I think everyone should visit these 5 underrated spots
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Melissa Noble | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Colombia offers lush scenery and vibrant architecture. Visiting the colorful city of Cartagena, Colombia, was one of the highlights of our trip. Although we loved all of those places, we were also pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed Colombia, with its warm people, lush scenery, and vibrant architecture. But the colorful city of Cartagena was by far one of the highlights of our South American adventure. Wherever you travel, it's important to stay up to date on the latest conditions, which often vary even within countries.

Persons: Jess Kraft, Shutterstock, Salar de, couldn't Organizations: State Department Locations: Colombia, Cartagena, South America, Rio de Janeiro, Picchu, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, Cocora Valley

☆ House to vote on bill to prevent Biden from withholding weapons to Israel as GOP ramps up pressure on Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Clare Foran | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The House vote has seemingly been partly designed to put pressure on Democrats and is expected to expose divisions within the party over the issue. The bill is unlikely to be taken up in the Democratic-led Senate and the White House has said that Biden would veto the bill if Congress passed it. The Biden administration on Tuesday began the early stages of a process to move ahead with a new $1 billion arms deal for Israel, according to two congressional sources. The move comes as the Biden administration has paused the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs and 500-pound bombs to Israel, citing opposition to the weapons being used in the densely populated areas of Rafah. Biden has come under extraordinary pressure, including from some members of his own party, to limit shipments of arms amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel ”, Adam Smith, “, ” Smith, ”, Kevin Liptak, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Congress, State Department, Defense Department, National Security Council, Democratic, White, Tuesday, House Democratic, Hamas, Israel, ” Democratic, House Armed Services Committee Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Rafah

At least some of the workers are described as North Korean nationals in the indictment. Some of these IT workers work closely with North Korean hackers, who are also a rich source of revenue for the regime, according to experts. A previous CNN investigation found that the founder of a California-based cryptocurrency startup had unwittingly paid tens of thousands of dollars to a North Korean engineer. And North Korean illustrators and graphic designers appear to have helped produce work for US animation studios unbeknownst to those companies, independent researchers told CNN last month. The researchers discovered a trove of cartoon sketches on an open computer server on the North Korean portion of the internet.

Persons: Christina Chapman, Chapman, ” Organizations: CNN, Court, District of Columbia, North Korean, State Department, cyberattacks, White Locations: Arizona, Valley, Pyongyang, Korean, California, North Korean

☆ Americans keep getting arrested on a Caribbean island after forgetting they've left bullets from home in their luggage
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A fifth American tourist was arrested in Turks and Caicos for possessing ammunition. Two have already pleaded guilty, and others have said they forgot they had the bullets in their bags. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA fifth American tourist has been arrested on suspicion of possession of ammunition in a small Caribbean territory, CBS News reported. Such arrests have been making local headlines in Turks and Caicos, a British Overseas Territory with a population of around 50,000.

Persons: — Organizations: State Department, Service, CBS News, Royal, Caicos Police, CBS, British Overseas, Business Locations: American, Caicos, Caribbean, Royal Turks, British Overseas Territory

☆ Biden administration begins early stages of process toward new $1 billion arms deal for Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Biden administration on Tuesday began the early stages of a process to move ahead with a new $1 billion arms deal for Israel, according to two congressional sources. There is no set timeline for when Congress would officially be notified of the sale, setting into motion a clock for its approval. The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the administration’s discussions with Congress about this sale. “We are continuing to send military assistance, and we will ensure that Israel receives the full amount provided in the supplemental. We have paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs because we do not believe they should be dropped in densely populated cities.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Jake Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Tuesday, State Department, House Foreign Affairs, Foreign, Congress, Pentagon Locations: Israel, Rafah, Israel imminently

☆ Biden Administration Advances $1 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Robert Jimison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration has told Congress that it intends to move forward with a plan for the United States to sell more than $1 billion in new weapons to Israel, according to three congressional aides familiar with the deal. The notification of the sale, which would include new tactical vehicles and ammunition, comes as President Biden has withheld a shipment of bombs to Israel, hoping to prevent U.S.-made weapons from being used in a potential invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The potential arms transfer illustrated the narrow path the Biden administration is walking with Israel, trying to prevent an assault on Rafah and limit civilian casualties in Gaza but continuing to supply a longtime ally that the president has said has a right to defend itself. One congressional aide said Congress had been aware of the arms deal for months, and suggested that the administration had simply waited for a foreign aid package with more aid for Israel to pass before moving forward with the required congressional notification process. When asked about the package, which was reported earlier by The Wall Street Journal, the State Department referred to recent comments from Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, citing a continued commitment to supply Israel with military assistance to defend itself from threats in the region.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Wall Street Journal, State Department, White House Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, Rafah

☆ No 'credible plan': U.S.' Blinken issues harshest criticism yet of Israel's Gaza operations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"One, you have to have a clear, credible plan to protect civilians, which we haven't seen. Second, we also need to see a plan for what happens after this conflict in Gaza is over, and we still haven't seen that." The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 34,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities in the besieged enclave. We're seeing parts of Gaza that Israel has cleared of Hamas where Hamas is coming back, including in the north, including in Khan Younis," Blinken said. Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in eastern Rafah, Gaza on May 07, 2024.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Mike Herzog, Evelyn Hockstein, Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden, Ashraf Amra, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khan Younis, Abed Rahim Khatib, We've Organizations: Ben, Reuters U.S, CBS, Israel, Administration, Anadolu, Getty, Hamas, State Department, NBC Locations: U.S, Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Deir, Balah, Palestinian, America, Egypt

☆ US assesses Israel has amassed enough troops to launch full-scale incursion into Rafah, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If Israel were to proceed with a major ground operation into Rafah, it would be going against months of warnings from the US to forego a full-scale offensive into the densely populated city. Going “headlong into Rafah” could have dire consequences, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday. “They couldn’t launch an attack of that scale today.”“Their weapons production factories underground have been eliminated. However, the Biden administration has been ramping up the pressure on Israel to start focusing much more in earnest on post-war Gaza plans – so far, to little effect. Blinken publicly called on Israel to engage more seriously on developing a plan for post-war Gaza over the weekend.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Jake Sullivan, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Antony Blinken, “ Israel’s, ” Blinken, Israel, Matt Miller, “, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel, White, State, NATO Youth Summit, Aspen Institute, Press, Hamas, CBS Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel

CNN —President Joe Biden is facing backlash from lawmakers in both parties over his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons. “So if you’re worried about Palestinian casualties, the stated policy here actually doesn’t make a ton of sense,” Vance said. The president’s announcement amounted to a turning point in US-Israeli ties since the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October. Still, the president’s aides said the message shouldn’t have been a surprise to their intended recipients in Israel given repeated warnings to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think President Biden has taken forceful action – so much so there’s been a lot of blowback for his recent public statement.”CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “, Republican Sen, JD Vance, CNN’s Dana, ”, Biden, ” Vance, Benjamin Netanyahu, Burnett, Israel, Lindsey Graham of, Graham, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Israel ”, Josh Gottheimer, Adam Smith, Erin Burnett, –, Netanyahu, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Bash, Murphy, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Chris Van Hollen, Margaret Brennan, Van Hollen, ” Van Hollen, ” Murphy, ” Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, Van Hollen’s, there’s, ” CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Union, Hamas, Fox News, Democrats, House Democrats, Rep, Congress, Democratic, Connecticut, “, CBS, Ministry, Health, State Department, ” Democratic Locations: Rafah, Ohio, “ State, Israel, Rafah —, Gaza, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida, New Jersey, Washington, ”, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Maryland, Chris Coons of Delaware

☆ US officials continue to warn against invasion of Rafah, even as Israel presses ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Blinken and Sullivan both said Biden made the determination because he didn’t want American weapons used in what he estimates would be a bloody, ill-advised operation. At the same time, they sought to rebut claims from Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats that Biden was leaving Israel to fend for itself. Despite American warnings dating back months about the wisdom of a ground invasion into Rafah, Israel appears poised to continue advancing on the city and has issued evacuation orders for some of the 1.4 million civilians estimated to be sheltering there. That is partly why Biden determined that American weapons should not be used in a Rafah offensive. We treat Israel, one of our closest allies and partners, just as we would treat any other country,” Blinken said on NBC.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Blinken, Sullivan, Biden, didn’t, Israel, ” Blinken, “ Israel’s, ” Sullivan, ” “, doesn’t, “ We’ve, we’ve, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, that’s Organizations: CNN, Top, White House, Israel Democrats, Hamas, CBS, Ministry, Health, Press, State Department, NBC, Israeli Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel

☆ U.S. energy secretary to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE next week, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates next week to work on "climate co-operation" and other issues, two Biden administration officials told Reuters on Friday. The visit will run from Tuesday through Thursday, with Granholm visiting the UAE first, one of the officials said. "Specifically, for the Department of Energy, it will move forward work both countries are doing on climate cooperation and to diversify the energy economy." Saudi Arabia and UAE are both members of OPEC, which is debating whether to extend output cuts. Those talks are being led on the U.S. side by White House officials and the State Department, but not Granholm.

Persons: Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Biden Organizations: Energy, Natural Resources, U.S . Department of Energy, . Energy, United Arab Emirates, Biden, Reuters, UAE, U.S, Department of Energy, Zero, White House, State Department Locations: Saudi Arabia, U.S, Qatar, UAE, Israel, Saudi, East

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Criticizes Israel for Failure to Protect Civilians in the Gaza Conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

The report also did not find that Israel had intentionally obstructed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Such a finding would have triggered a U.S. law barring military aid to countries that block such assistance. They argue that Israel has indiscriminately killed civilians with American arms and intentionally hindered U.S.-supplied humanitarian aid. Either would violate U.S. laws governing arms transfers to foreign militaries, as well as international humanitarian law, which is largely based on the Geneva Conventions. The United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid, and Congress last month approved an additional $14 billion in emergency funding.

Persons: Biden, Israel “, —, President Biden, Israel, Israel’s, Israel ”, Brian Finucane, Finucane, “, Chris Van Hollen, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, ” “, ”, Josh Paul, Biden’s, John F, Kirby Organizations: State Department, Israel Defense Forces, President, Crisis, United, U.S ., Biden Administration, Israel, The State Department, Central Kitchen Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, U.S, Rafah, Congress, Geneva, Maryland, ”

☆ U.S. Criticizes Israel for Failure to Protect Civilians in the Gaza Conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration believes that Israel has most likely violated international standards in failing to protect civilians in Gaza but has not found specific instances that would justify the withholding of military aid, the State Department told Congress on Friday. Even so, the report — which seemed at odds with itself in places — said the United States had no hard proof of Israeli violations. The report, mandated by President Biden, also makes a distinction between the general possibility that Israel has violated the law and any conclusions about specific incidents that would prove it. The conclusions are unrelated to Mr. Biden’s recent decision to delay the delivery to Israel of 3,500 bombs and his review of other weapons shipments. The president has said those actions were in response to Israel’s stated plans to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Persons: Biden, Israel “, —, President Biden, Israel, Israel’s Organizations: State Department, Israel Defense Forces, President Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, U.S, Rafah

☆ Biden admin says it’s ‘reasonable to assess’ Israel used American weapons in Gaza in ways ‘inconsistent’ with international law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Biden administration said Friday that it is “reasonable to assess” that US weapons have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways that are “inconsistent” with international humanitarian law but stopped short of officially saying Israel violated the law. Although the report does not find Israel in violation of either of the terms of the memorandum, it is sharply critical of the toll of Israel’s military campaign. The findings of the report mark another stark moment in US-Israeli relations in the same week President Joe Biden threatened to restrict weapons transfers if Israel goes ahead with a major offensive in Rafah. The administration was required to make a determination on those two matters under a February national security memorandum, which Biden issued under pressure from Democratic lawmakers. That official said the report would be shared with the Israeli government.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, “, Joe Biden, Israel, ” Organizations: CNN, State Department, USG, Hamas, Capitol, Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah

☆ Biden administration says Israel is not violating U.S. weapons terms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Julia Jester | Zoë Richards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden departs the White House in Washington, U.S., for a campaign fundraiser in California, May 9, 2024. The Biden administration said Friday that it was "reasonable to assess" that Israel has violated international law in Gaza, but that it hasn't violated terms of U.S. weapons agreements. "Although we have gained insight into Israel's procedures and rules, we do not have complete information on how these processes are implemented," the report noted. "Israel has not shared complete information to verify" whether certain weapons provided by the U.S. had been used in incidents that allegedly violated international humanitarian law. The report also did not find that the Israeli government is blocking the transport or delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Israel Organizations: State Department, Foreign Assistance, Israel Defense Forces, U.S, The State Department Locations: Washington , U.S, California, Israel, Gaza, U.S, United States

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