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☆ Modi’s ‘divine India’ vision threatens to marginalize millions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“(Today) is the beginning of a new time cycle,” Modi said at the new temple honoring Hindu deity Lord Ram. “After centuries of waiting, our Ram has arrived.”Modi’s vision of a “divine India” is a far cry from the ideas of the modern country’s founding fathers. “India becomes a de facto Hindu nation, where the task of building national Hindu religious symbols falls to the state. And he reiterated his party’s desire to build the Ram Temple on the contested holy site. Hindu groups have for decades claimed the Mughals destroyed Hindu temples, building mosques and other monuments in their place.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, ” Modi, Lord Ram, “, Ram, ”, Gilles Verniers, officiates, ‘, Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Modi’s, ” Modi fasted, ” Narendra Modi, Prakash Singh, Pratishtha ”, –, Sunita Viswanath, “ Modi, tramples what’s, Ravi Agrawal, it’s, Babar, Douglas E, Curran, ” Agrawal, Ritesh Shukla, Aurangzeb, “ Aurangzeb, Policy’s Agrawal, Gilles Organizations: CNN, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Centre for Policy Research, Bloomberg, Getty, Indian, Human Rights, India’s, Ram Locations: Ayodhya, “, India, New Delhi, Babri, Delhi, India’s, Jammu, Kashmir, South Asia, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Varanasi

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will resume a long-suspended Peace Corps program in the North Pacific island of Palau as the Biden administration continues moves to counter growing Chinese influence in the region. “Volunteers will live and work side-by-side with community partners to improve childhood literacy and math and science skills, along with teaching English as a foreign language,” Peace Corps director Carol Spahn said in a statement. Palau’s president, Surangel Whipps, said the return of the Peace Corps reflects the strong relationship between his nation and the United States. Peace Corps officials said they hope that with congressional funding the Palau reopening will be the first of several new programs it will restart in the Pacific. The Peace Corps, a creation of the John F. Kennedy administration, currently has Pacific island programs in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Persons: Biden, Carol Spahn, Surangel Whipps, “, ” Whipps, John F, Kennedy, Didi Tang Organizations: WASHINGTON, Peace Corps, “ Volunteers, Peace, Corps, Pacific, Marshall, Associated Press Locations: United States, North, Palau, Taiwan, Federated States, Micronesia, China, Marshall Islands, Beijing, U.S, Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

☆ Ukraine’s army chief: The design of war has changed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Opinion Valerii Zaluzhnyi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Editor’s Note: Valerii Zaluzhnyi has been Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2021. It is well known by now that a central driver of this war is the development of unmanned weapons systems. The challenge for our armed forces cannot be underestimated. Join us on Twitter and FacebookCreating a system to provide our armed forces with high-tech assets. And mastering new combat capabilities as soon as possible.

Persons: Zaluzhnyi, Read, Valerii Zaluzhnyi Organizations: Armed Forces of, CNN, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Top general says Ukraine must adapt to distracted partners and the possibility of less support and look to technology
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen. Valery Zaluzhny said Ukraine must adapt to challenges with partners and improve technology. While US aid is stalled in Congress, Zaluzhny says Ukraine needs to reinvent the military with a focus on technology. AdvertisementGen. Valery Zaluzhny, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, says that his country must adapt to the possibility of decreased support from distracted partners and look for opportunities in technology. Further American support for Ukraine has been delayed in Congress due to contention among Republican and Democrat lawmakers. With the stalling of billions of dollars of aid in Congress, Ukraine is facing shortages.

Persons: Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhny, — Organizations: Service, CNN, Russia, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Congress, East

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine's army chief reportedly about to be sacked; Putin pins plane crash blame on U.S. Patriot system
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi attends a ceremony marking the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 28, 2023. Ukraine's army chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi is expected be dismissed from his post by the end of the week, news outlet CNN reported Wednesday, citing sources. Zaluzhnyi reportedly refused a request from Zelenskyy to step down earlier this week and remains in post for now. Defense analysts point out that it's standard practice for military commanders to be replaced during times of war, if new strategy and vision are deemed necessary. Ukraine's forces are seen to be making little headway in reclaiming Russian-occupied territory, instead having adopted a more defensive stance to retain the positions held.

Persons: Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskyy, Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Ukrainian Armed Forces, Ukrainian, CNN, Ukraine's Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

RIYAK, Lebanon (AP) — Britain’s top diplomat said Thursday that his country could officially recognize a Palestinian state after a cease-fire in Gaza without waiting for the outcome of what could be years-long talks between Israel and the Palestinians on a two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, has publicly rejected the creation of an independent Palestinian state after the war, and has even boasted in recent weeks that he was instrumental to preventing Palestinian statehood. A move by some of Israel’s key allies to recognize a Palestinian state without Israel’s buy-in could isolate Israel and put pressure on it to come to the table. Hamas has so far taken the position that its leaders would not leave the enclave as part of a ceasefire deal. The plan would include Britain training Lebanese army forces to carry out more security work in the border region, he said.

Persons: — Britain’s, David Cameron, “ can’t, ”, Cameron, ” Cameron, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Associated Press, Palestinian, United Nations, Hezbollah Locations: RIYAK, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, United, British, Britain, U.S, Palestinian, Hamas, Lebanese

Nearly half the hostages were released during a weeklong November cease-fire in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. In December, Israeli forces mistakenly killed three hostages who had escaped and were waving a white flag. HAMAS WANTS THE WAR TO ENDHamas has refused to release more hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraws from Gaza. The group's top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Tuesday that its priority is the “full withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza. These include high-profile militants involved in attacks that killed Israeli civilians.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Israel, ISRAEL'S NETANYAHU, Netanyahu, “, Ismail Haniyeh, Biden Organizations: Health Ministry, Hamas, West Bank, Gaza, —, Democratic, Palestinian Authority Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, U.S, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian

☆ Israeli Forces Kill 3 Gunmen in West Bank Hospital, Army Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed three Palestinian gunmen in a hospital in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, the army said, adding that one had been suspected of planning an imminent attack like Hamas' Oct. 7 cross-border rampages from the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate Palestinian confirmation of their identities. Voice of Palestine radio reported the killing of three Palestinians at the hospital. The West Bank, among areas where Palestinians seek statehood, has seen a surge of violence since the Oct. 7 attack triggered the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Tom Hogue)

Persons: Ibn Sina, Ali Sawafta, Nadine Awadalla, Tom Hogue Organizations: West Bank, Reuters, Islamic, Palestine, Hamas Locations: RAMALLAH, West, Gaza, Jenin, Islamic Jihad, Israel

☆ Hungary Far-Right Would Lay Claim to Neighbouring Region, if Ukraine Loses War
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday. "Regarding the war in Ukraine, our message is very simple: immediate ceasefire, peace and a resolution through talks," Toroczkai said in a video posted on his party's website, calling for autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. "If this war ends up with Ukraine losing its statehood, because this is also on the cards, then as the only Hungarian party taking this position, let me signal that we lay claim to Transcarpathia," he said, drawing applause from the crowd. Budapest has clashed with Kyiv over what it says are curbs on the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native tongue. Last month all European Union states except Hungary, which is also a member of NATO, agreed to start EU accession talks with Ukraine.

Persons: Laszlo Toroczkai, Toroczkai, Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Peter Szijjarto, Dmytro Kuleba, Denys Shmyhal, Boldizsar Gyori, William Maclean Organizations: Homeland, Dutch Forum for Democracy, Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Ministry, Hungarian, Union, NATO Locations: BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Budapest, Hungarian, Hungary

☆ Explainer-What Is the Two-State Solution to the Israel-Palestinian Conflict?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +10 min

Obstacles have long impeded the two-state solution, which envisages Israeli and Palestinian states alongside each other. Advocates of the two-state solution have envisaged a Palestine in the Gaza Strip and West Bank linked by a corridor through Israel. As the two-state solution has floundered, talk of a one-state solution has risen. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a Jan. 23 speech, said the two-state solution remained the only way to address the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians. He criticised "clear and repeated rejection of the two-state solution at the highest levels of the Israeli government".

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, Rabin, Bill Clinton, Arafat, Ehud Barak, Camp David, Jerusalem, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah al, Abbas, Mahmoud Abbas, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu, Abbas's Fatah, Biden, Osama Hamdan, General Antonio Guterres, Nidal al, Ali Sawafta, Maayan Lubell, Dan Williams, Ari Rabinovitch, Tom Perry, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, Arab League, Israel, West Bank, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Palestinian Authority, Israeli, Bank, Geneva Accord, Finance Locations: Washington, Gaza, Palestinian, Jordan, Jerusalem, Palestine, Europe, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Egypt, U.S, Oslo, Israeli, West Bank, Jordanian, Oslo Accords, U.N

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as Gaza death toll rises
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 25,000 people since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave said Sunday. Israel's military said Sunday that military activities in Gaza were continuing, with "dozens of terrorists eliminated and large quantities of weapons located." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would not accept Hamas' demand for an end to the war in exchange for the release of hostages held in Gaza. International reaction: Biden has indicated he still believes Netanyahu can be convinced of a two-state solution to the conflict as the two remain at odds over plans for post-war Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called opposition to a two-state solution "unacceptable," while UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called Netanyahu's comments "disappointing."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Grant Shapps Organizations: CNN, Sunday, UK Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Here's, Jordan, Palestinian, UN

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Israel to Make Case for War Before E.U. Amid Growing Criticism
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Peter Baker | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“My insistence is what has prevented — over the years — the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement in Hebrew on Sunday. While there was no indication that Mr. Netanyahu would ease his strenuous opposition, which is popular with his fragile right-wing political coalition, Mr. Biden had expressed optimism that they might yet find consensus. President Biden and his top diplomat, Antony J. Blinken, have urged Israeli officials to move toward the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the idea of the authority returning to the enclave. Analysts pointed out that Mr. Netanyahu’s willingness to undermine his American counterpart was becoming routine.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden, “, —, ” Mr, Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu’s, ”, Grant Shapps, Shapps, ” António Guterres, Guterres, Antony J, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ” Khaled Elgindy, Peter Baker Organizations: Mr, White House, Sky News, ” Palestinian Authority, West Bank, American, Middle East Institute Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, ”, Washington

☆ US Seeks Probe Into West Bank Death of US Teenager
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday called for an investigation and for accountability "as appropriate" following the West Bank death of a 17-year-old Palestinian American, who Palestinian health officials say was killed by Israeli security forces. Speaking at a regular briefing, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the United States had called for an urgent investigation in to the death of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar on Friday. Palestinian health officials said the American-born youth was killed by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank. "We are devastated about the killing of 17-year-old U.S. citizen Tawfic Abdel Jabbar in the West Bank," Patel told reporters, saying the United States was working with Israel to get information about his death. "We have called for an urgent investigation to determine the circumstances of his death and accountability ... as appropriate," he added.

Persons: Vedant Patel, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, Patel, Simon Lewis, Ismail Shakil, Arshad Mohammed, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Bank, State Department, West Bank Locations: United States, American, Israel, Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza's reconstruction without a credible pathway to a Palestinian state. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's remarks in an interview with CNN broadcast late Sunday were some of the most direct yet from Saudi officials. It puts them at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected Palestinian statehood and described plans for open-ended military control over Gaza. In September, Netanyahu had said Israel was “at the cusp” of such a deal, which he said would transform the Middle East. Israel has only successfully rescued one hostage, while Hamas says several have been killed in Israeli airstrikes or during failed rescue operations.

Persons: Prince Faisal bin Farhan's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, “ CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, ”, ” Prince Faisal, “, Prince Faisal, we’re, NETANYAHU, —, ___ Shurafa Organizations: JERUSALEM, CNN, Israeli, Palestinian, West Bank, Hamas, Health Ministry Locations: Saudi, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, GAZA, U.N, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Deir, israel

European foreign ministers pressed their Israeli counterpart on Monday to agree to the creation of a Palestinian state, in a meeting that left European diplomats bewildered about postwar Israeli plans for the Gaza Strip and reinforced the deep disconnect between Israel and much of the world. The two sides appeared to be having two different conversations. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Union’s top diplomat, said after the meeting in Brussels that European nations were resolute that “sustainable, lasting peace” must include Palestinian statehood, an option that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has doubled down on opposing in recent days. Israel’s foreign minister, Yisrael Katz, presented to the Europeans a plan involving an artificial island off Gaza’s coast — a plan that did not address the future governance of the territory, according to officials in the meeting. While the diplomats talked past each other, heavy fighting intensified in southern Gaza on Monday, with medical personnel reporting major exchanges of gunfire and a surge of Israeli tanks and troops into areas around hospitals.

Persons: Josep Borrell Fontelles, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Yisrael Katz Organizations: Gaza Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Brussels, Gaza

☆ UN's Guterres Condemns Israel for 'Heartbreaking' Killings in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Elias BiryabaremaKAMPALA (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday denounced Israel for the "heartbreaking" deaths of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and called it unacceptable to resist statehood for the Palestinian people. "Israel's military operations have spread mass destruction and killed civilians on a scale unprecedented during my time as secretary-general," Guterres said at the opening of a summit of the G77+China in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The Middle East is a tinder-box, we must do all we can to prevent conflict from igniting across the region." Israel's campaign has killed more than 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities on Sunday, and displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million people from their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on Saturday to push back against U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks about Palestinian statehood after the war against Hamas ends.

Persons: Elias Biryabarema, António Guterres, Israel, Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Biden, Netanyahu, Frances Kerry Organizations: Elias Biryabarema KAMPALA, United Nations, Hamas, U.S, Aligned Movement, NAM Locations: Gaza, China, Ugandan, Kampala, Israel, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, Cuba, India, Vietnam

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday rejected calls for Palestinian sovereignty following talks with US President Joe Biden on post-war Gaza. Netanyahu said Israel’s need for security control over all territory west of Jordan is incompatible with the existence of a Palestinian state. Biden administration officials have recently been engaged in discussions about a future demilitarized Palestinian state, an idea the US president finds “intriguing,” the source said. It remains an open question how post-war Gaza will be governed but Netanyahu has had long-standing objections to a two-state solution. He and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sparked anger when advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Israel’s, ” Netanyahu, Jack Guez, Critics, Gadi Eisenkot, Biden, “, ” Biden, Samuel Corum, Antony Blinken, —, General Antonio Guterres, ”, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Twitter, West Bank, Hamas, Getty, Saturday, Biden, UN, White, National Locations: Gaza, Jordan, Palestinian, “, Israel, AFP, Tel Aviv, East

☆ Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Conditions for Hostage Deal Which Include 'Outright Surrender'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Emily RoseJERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected conditions presented by Hamas to end the war and release hostages that would include Israel's complete withdrawal and leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. "I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas," Netanyahu said. Since then, Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure to secure the release the 136 hostages who remain in captivity. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarized government. "My insistence is what prevented for years the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have posed an existential danger to Israel," he said.

Persons: Emily Rose JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Khan Younis, Sami Abu Zuhri, Netanyahu, Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, Joe Biden, Biden's, Biden, Emily Rose, David Brunnstrom, Giles Elgood, Richard Chang Organizations: Israeli, Reuters, Forum Locations: Gaza, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Palestinian, Israel, Washington

☆ Biden says Netanyahu not opposed to all two-state solutions for Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Biden's call with Netanyahu was the first in nearly a month, the White House said, noting the discussions focused on Israel's ongoing strikes in Gaza. Asked if a two-state solution was impossible while Netanyahu was still in office, Biden said, "No, it's not." Speaking to reporters after a meeting with U.S. mayors, Biden said Netanyahu was not opposed to all two-state solutions, and there were a number of types possible, noting that some United Nations members do not have military forces. Biden was asked if he would reconsider conditions on Israel aid given Netanyahu's comments rejecting a two-state solution. Netanyahu had said in a press conference that he told Washington he objected to any Palestinian statehood that did not guarantee Israel's security.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, John Kirby, Biden, Washington, Biden's, Israel, Khan Younis, Kirby, We're Organizations: U.S, Israeli, White, United Nations, Hamas, Red, International, Court, Israeli Defense Forces, West Bank Locations: Israel, Washington, Gaza ., Gaza, Jordan, That's, Khan, Mexico, Chile, United States

☆ Israel’s Netanyahu rejects any Palestinian sovereignty in post-war Gaza, rebuffing Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

US President Joe Biden (L) meets with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. The families want the government to take bold steps to free the hostages, fearing that Israel's military activity in Gaza further endangers their lives. Health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza say Israel's offensive has killed nearly 25,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. As part of its search for the hostages, Israel's military dropped leaflets on Gaza's southernmost town of Rafah. Israel's military didn't immediately comment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Netanyahu, Biden, Gaza hasn't, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Gadi Eisenkot, We've, Yuval Bar, Keith Siegel, Eli Shtivi, Majd, Khan Younis, Halima Abdel, Rahman, Tawfiq, Hafez Ajaq Organizations: Israel's, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S, Israel, Health, United Nations, Police, Iranian, Revolutionary Guard, National News Agency, Associated Press, West Bank, . Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, United States, Uganda, Israeli, Caesarea, pita, Haifa, Rafah, Iranian, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Lebanese, Tyre, Jabaliya, Bani Suheila, Khan, Ramallah

☆ Netanyahu Told Biden Gaza Plans Clash With 'Palestinian Sovereignty', Statement Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on Saturday to push back against U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks about Palestinian statehood after the war against Hamas in Gaza ends. Biden on Friday said he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarized government. Asked to clarify whether Netanyahu is opposed to any kind of Palestinian statehood, his office did not immediately respond. Asked if a two-state solution was "impossible" while Netanyahu was in office, Biden said, "No, it's not." Netanyahu has stopped short of outright and explicit rejection of Palestinian statehood.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Biden, Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Miller, Israel, Maayan Lubell, Dan Williams Organizations: U.S, West Bank, . State Department Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, That's, U.S, Palestinian, East Jerusalem

Friday's phone call came one day after Netanyahu said that he has told U.S. officials in plain terms that he will not support a Palestinian state as part of any post-war plan. But the regular cadence of calls between Biden and Netanyahu, who have had a hot-and-cold relationship for over three decades, has slowed considerably. And in late 2019, during a question and answer session with voters on the campaign trail, Biden called Netanyahu an “extreme right” leader. Netanyahu argues that a Palestinian state would become a launchpad for attacks on Israel. They hold out hope Israel could eventually come around to accepting a Palestinian state that comes with strong security guarantees for Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, Biden's, ”, John Kirby, Eytan Gilboa, “, Donald Trump, Trump, hasn't, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Michael Koplow, Ron Dermer, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Brett McGurk, Amos Hochstein, ” Blinken, Barack Obama, —, Israel, ” Netanyahu, Daniel Kurtzer, Bill Clinton, George W, Bush, Julia Frankel, Ellen Knickmeyer, Seung Min Kim, Colleen Long Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israeli, U.S, Security, Democrat, Islamic, Israel’s, Ilan University, Israel, Netanyahu, Key Democratic, Biden, Economic, Middle, ” Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Palestinian Authority Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, United States, U.S, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Davos, East Jerusalem, ”, Jordan, Egypt, Jerusalem, Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taiwan’s top diplomat in Washington has a message for both the island's Chinese adversaries and its American friends: Don’t worry that Taiwan’s new president-elect will worsen relations with Beijing and possibly draw the U.S. into a conflict. But Yui said Lai is willing to engage with Beijing, even as the island seeks to strengthen its unofficial ties with Washington for stability in the region. Shortly after Taiwan's election, Biden told reporters that his administration does not support Taiwan’s independence. Yui said it is incumbent upon both Beijing and Taipei to keep the Taiwan Strait peaceful. Before he came to Washington, Yui briefly served as Taiwan's representative to the European Union and Belgium.

Persons: — Taiwan’s, Lai Ching, Alexander Tah, Ray Yui, Lai, Yui, ”, Taiwan's, Tsai Ing, Tsai, he’s, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Biden, Scott Kennedy, “, Kennedy, we're, We're, Mike Johnson, Sen, Ben Cardin, ” Yui, Hsiao Bi, Hsiao Organizations: WASHINGTON, Associated Press, AP, Democratic Progressive Party, ”, Washington, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Republican, Republicans, Democrats, U.S . Congress, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations, M University, European Union, Cultural Locations: Washington, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, U.S, Taiwan, United States, China, Nauru, “ Beijing, Taipei, Panama, Texas, Paraguay, Belgium

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — South Korea called on the divided U.N. Security Council on Thursday “to break the silence” over North Korea’s escalating missile tests and threats. South Korea is serving a two-year term on the council. In a message clearly aimed at the United States and South Korea, Zhang expressed hope that while attention is mainly on North Korea, “other countries are also responsible to avoid further escalation.”France’s U.N. And he called it “a shame” that Russia is violating Security Council resolutions by “buying military stuff that they use in Ukraine" from North Korea. South Korea’s Hwang said all 15 members of the Council are worried that North Korea’s rhetoric and actions are “getting more and more serious.”But how to break the council’s silence and inaction?

Persons: “, Hwang Joonkook, —, Kim Jong, Kim, Robert Wood, ”, U.N, Zhang Jun, Zhang, France’s U.N, Nicolas De Riviere, ” De Riviere, Korea’s Hwang, Hwang Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Security, U.N, North, South Locations: South Korea, Korea, China, Russia, U.S, North Korea, South, America, “, United States, Ukraine

☆ Netanyahu rebuffs U.S. calls to start working toward Palestinian statehood.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Thursday appeared to rule out a postwar peace process that would lead to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, rebuffing calls from the United States to start working toward that ultimate goal. President Biden and his top diplomat, Antony J. Blinken, have urged Israeli officials to move toward the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. But Israeli officials have repeatedly dismissed such calls, saying they are focused on the war in Gaza. On Thursday, Mr. Netanyahu told reporters he had rebuffed the latest exhortations. “I told this truth to our friends, the Americans, and I also blocked the attempt to impose a reality that would harm Israel’s security,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Jordan, ” Mr, Netanyahu, ”, Biden, Antony J, “, Mr, Isaac Herzog, —, ’, Herzog, ” Matthew Miller Organizations: “, Biden, ” Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Economic, State Department, United Locations: Palestinian, United States, Israel, Gaza, ”, Davos, Switzerland, “, Iran

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