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☆ Jared Kushner expected to be pivotal to Trump admin’s Middle East efforts without taking a formal job
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is seen as being pivotal to the incoming administration’s Middle East efforts, even though he is not likely to take a formal job within it, regional diplomats and Trump allies told CNN. Trump’s Middle East team has been taking shape this week after he selected a former Republican governor and a close friend and real-estate developer to take on key roles. Since Trump left office in 2021, Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, have moved to Miami and largely exited politics. Kushner has also maintained relationships with key players in the Middle East, including Israeli officials and leaders in the Arab Gulf. That is the key question,” explained Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator at the State Department, referring to Trump’s longtime friend and real estate developer who will serve as his special envoy to the Middle East.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jared Kushner, Kushner, Trump, Jared, ”, –, ” Kushner, Abraham, Ivanka Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump’s, bin Salman, Israel, “, Kusher, Ghaith Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, Brian Hook, ” Hook, “ Kushner, Mike Huckabee, Steve Witkoff, Kushner –, Aaron David Miller, Rubio, ” Witkoff, Witkoff Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump’s, Republican, White, Abraham Accords, United, United Arab Emirates, Affinity Partners, Washington, Saudi Crown, MBS, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Harvard, Washington Institute, Israel, State Department, CNN International, Former Arkansas Gov Locations: Israeli, Israel, Isreal, United Arab, Gaza, Lebanon, Miami, Arab, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, New Jersey

☆ US has not assessed Israel is violating law on Gaza aid, will not change policy despite humanitarian groups’ findings
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The US statement comes in sharp contrast to the findings of humanitarian aid organizations, who say that “the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated to its worst point since the war began in October 2023.” The situation in northern Gaza in particular has been described as “apocalyptic,” with areas at “imminent” risk of famine. Section 620I of the US Foreign Assistance Act requires the US to halt security assistance to governments who restrict US humanitarian aid. “We, at this time, have not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of US law,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Tuesday. “Israeli forces repeatedly attacked humanitarian sites and frontline responders during the 30-day period,” the scorecard said. “There is no provision in US or international law that allows extra time to starve people,” said former top State Department official Stacy Gilbert.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, ” Blinken, Vedant Patel, Patel, “ We’ve, ”, they’ve, Kate Phillips, you’re, ” Phillips, Barrasso, Stacy Gilbert, CNN’s Michael Conte, Mick Krever, MJ Lee, Kylie Atwood, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Irene Nasser Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel, State Department, Defense, Biden, US Foreign, ” State Department, CNN, Anera, CARE International, Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International, UNRWA, UN, The State Locations: Gaza, ”, U.S, Austin, Gaza’s Beit, Israel, America, United States

CNN —Qatar announced Saturday that it has paused its role as a mediator for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas due to a lack of willingness by the sides to reach an agreement. After months of stop-and-go negotiations, efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal – a top priority for President Joe Biden – remain stalled. Officials in Doha have also decided to close Hamas’ political office in the Qatari capital, a diplomat familiar with the decision told CNN. In April, Doha made a similar move in temporarily closing the Hamas office. As talks faltered, the Biden administration and Israel asked Doha to bring them back, the diplomat told CNN.

Persons: Majed Al, Ansari, Joe Biden –, “⁠, “, ”, ’, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, Biden, CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman, Kylie Atwood, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN — Qatar, Qatari Foreign Ministry, Officials, CNN, ⁠ Doha, Qatar, White House National Security Council, “ Qatar, Qatari, Al, Israel Locations: Gaza, Israel, The State, Qatar, Doha, Cairo, Turkey

“Hamas is a terrorist group that has killed Americans and continues to hold Americans hostage,” a senior administration official told CNN. The final impetus for Qatar agreeing to kick Hamas out came recently after the death of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Hamas’ rejection of yet another ceasefire proposal. Exactly when Hamas operatives would be exiled out of Qatar – and where they would go – are unclear. One US official told CNN the group has not been given an extended amount of time to leave the country. Earlier this year, the Justice Department charged several senior Hamas leaders over the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden –, ”, “, Hersh Goldberg, Polin, Khaled Meshaal, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN, Qatar, Doha –, Qatari, Qatar –, Justice Department Locations: Qatari, Doha, Israel, Qatar, Turkey, Gaza

Kamala Harris supporters embrace as they watch poll results at the Harris-Walz watch party at Howard University in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesHarris campaign aides and allies are in a state of shock and disbelief the morning after Election Day, reeling from their candidate’s loss to Donald Trump. “Stomach in knots,” one source close to the campaign said. In the lead-up to election night, Harris campaign officials had projected confidence about the vice president’s standing, citing conversations with teams on the ground and internal data. “It was gloomy,” another source close to the campaign said, describing the mood among Harris campaign officials overnight.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Walz, Brandon Bell, Harris, Donald Trump, “, –, ”, Biden, Harris ’ Organizations: Harris, Howard University, Trump, New Jersey, Naval Observatory Locations: Washington ,, New Jersey, New, “ Pennsylvania

Transactional, personality-based and erratic, the Trump doctrine made for a chaotic four years that left both foreign leaders and seasoned American national security aides exhausted and jittery. World leaders are open to all options, including making trips to New York or Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, sources said. Foreign leaders are relying on their experience with Trump during his first presidency, when flattery and personal attention paid dividends, as they approach him following his win. And that, in the end, could sum up Trump’s foreign policy doctrine in a sentence. The first clues about Trump’s policy will be the appointments he makes to senior national security positions.”CNN’s Alayna Treene contributed reporting.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Trump’s, he’s, Joe Biden, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, “, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, Mark Rutte, he’d, Shinzo Abe, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin —, —, Dmitry Peskov, “ Let’s, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, Xi, Putin, It’s, Mike Pompeo, Keith Kellogg, Mike Pence, Richard Grenell, Brian Hook, John Herbst, United States — Putin, ” Herbst, Alayna Treene Organizations: CNN, Trump, American, NATO, Israeli, Saudi, CIA, Biden, State Department, Republican Party, Council’s Eurasia Center Locations: Paris, Jerusalem, Riyadh, Washington, Florida, —, Ukraine, North Korea, Iran, China, masse, Russia, New York, Lago, Trump, Taiwan, Beijing, Trump’s, Germany, “, United States, Europe

The West WingOne of Trump’s most important picks will be his White House chief of staff. Karoline Leavitt, who was Trump’s campaign spokeswoman, is being considered as White House press secretary – a job that typically is the most public-facing position in the White House. National security postsTrump has suggested his national security team would be tasked with reassessing the United States’ posture toward Ukraine and Russia, China, Iran, and the simmering conflict in the Middle East. The debate over a renewed Trump’s “America First” agenda is expected to pit Republican national security hawks against the party’s isolationist wing. Secretary of state and national security adviser will be among the most hard-fought positions to stand at the forefront of those shifts.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon, John McEntee, Cliff Sims, Ross Werner, Goldman Sachs, Trump’s, John Kelly, Susie Wiles, Wiles, Russ Vought, Brooke Rollins, Bob Lighthizer, Karoline Leavitt, –, Musk, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Elon Musk, helms, Kennedy, ”, Ken Paxton, Matt Whitaker, Jeff Sessions, Sen, Mike Lee of, of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Mark Paoletta, Kash Patel, Patel, Christopher Wray, James Comey, Jeffrey Jensen, Louis, Bill Barr, Jensen, Michael Flynn, Barr, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Tennessee Sen, Bill Hagerty, Richard Grenell, Grenell, ” Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton, Keith Kellogg, Ratcliffe, Gina Haspel, Cotton, Mike Waltz, Mike Pompeo, Elise Stefanik, She’s, Morgan Ortagus, David Friedman, Kelly Craft, Scott Bessent, “ He’s, MAGA, he’s, Elon, Hank Paulson, George, Jay Clayton, Lighthizer, McMahon, Doug Burgum, flinch, Jamieson Greer, CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Alayna Treene, Hannah Rabinowitz, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, Trump, White House, Heritage Foundation, White, Pentagon, West, America, Policy Institute, RFK Jr, SpaceX, Senate, Republicans, PAC, Department of Health, Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Justice and Homeland Security, of National Intelligence, Conservative, FBI, Republican, Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, New York Republican, House GOP, United Nations, UN, State Department, Soros, Goldman, George Bush’s, Department, Chinese Communist Party, Securities and Exchange Commission, Treasury, Commerce Department . North Dakota Gov, US Trade Locations: Trump, Central Park, Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Beach, St, United States, Ukraine, Russia, China, Iran, Florida, Tennessee, Japan, Germany, ” Arkansas, Barr, UN

CNN —In the closely watched battleground state of Michigan, election officials are under the microscope, with isolated mistakes or missteps serving as fodder for election deniers to lay the groundwork for widespread doubt of election results. Some of the confusion appears to have originated from a post on X by Matthew DePerno, one of the more high-profile election deniers in Michigan. DePerno has pleaded not guilty in the voting machines case. When it does happen, we take it extremely seriously,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit said in a statement. Despite the recent challenges, election officials in Michigan say they are confident that they are prepared to withstand efforts to undermine confidence in the results.

Persons: Lawrence Kestenbaum, “, Matthew DePerno, DePerno, Donald Trump, Lara Trump, Jocelyn Benson, ”, Ben Decker, Eli Savit, can’t, Kestenbaum, David Becker, Benson, Elon Musk, Dominion “, Joe Biden’s, ” he’s, ” Kestenbaum, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican National Committee, Democrat, Trump, Pundit, University of Michigan, Authorities, Department, Election Innovation, Research, Investigations, Michigan, Tech, Benson, The Michigan Department of State, of, “ Dominion, Dominion Locations: Michigan, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor, of Michigan, Barry County , Michigan

But during that time, Netanyahu was soliciting input from Trump, the Republican nominee. Trump claimed during a rally in Georgia that Netanyahu had called him at least twice in recent days. Trump’s allies also privately played up the Netanyahu-Trump phone calls as demonstrating that Netanyahu is seriously eyeing the possibility of a Trump victory. Still, the Biden administration is publicly signaling it hopes to advance efforts to bring the hostages home and to end a war that is threatening to tarnish Biden’s foreign policy legacy. Both Qatar and Egypt have reengaged with the group, which has not publicly named a new leader.

Persons: Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Netanyahu –, Biden, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, Trump, “ Bibi, ” Trump, “ We’re, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, “, Bibi, ”, Harris, stoke, Trump’s, Netanyahu didn’t, Biden demurred, ’, ” Biden, ” Blinken, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Sinwar, Khalil al, Khaled Mashal, Mousa Abu Marzook, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Trump, Republican, Democrat, White House, Netanyahu, East, Arab, CIA, Qatari Locations: Gaza, United States, Israel, Qatar, Doha, Washington , DC, Georgia, American, Washington, Michigan, Egypt

Yet days after Sinwar was killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, the fundamentals of the deadlocked talks remain unchanged. “Their internal dynamics will take some time,” a regional diplomatic official told CNN. The regional diplomatic source called it a “safe bet” that Sinwar’s brother Mohammed could take the lead for the hostages inside Gaza. To lead the overall organization, top Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, who is based in Doha, is getting backing from pro-Iran, pro-Gaza corners, the regional official said. Blinken is expected to meet with top Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, on Tuesday, amid tempered expectations he will return to Washington having made any significant progress on the hostage talks.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yahya Sinwar, Joe Biden, Sinwar, isn’t budging, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, ” Biden, Israel, ”, John Kirby, Mohammed, Mohammed Sinwar’s, it’s, Yahya Sinwar’s, “, ” Mohammed Sinwar, Mohammad Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Khalil al, Ismail Haniyeh, Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken’s, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israeli, Diplomats, Sinwar, National Security, UN Security Council, US, Saudi Crown Locations: Israel, United, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Doha, Cairo, Tehran, Qatar, Egypt, Washington, Tel Aviv, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Palestinian, Russia, United States

☆ Biden administration unaware of Trump-Putin calls, but top adviser says it ‘would raise red flags’ if true
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Betsy Klein | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“I do not know if that’s true or not,” Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One Thursday when asked about the calls. “Obviously,” Sullivan added, “That would raise red flags if it were true.”Asked by CNN whether the administration was trying to ascertain more details about those calls, the White House declined to provide specific information. Trump has denied having multiple calls with Putin, calling it “absolutely wrong” in an interview on Newsmax last week. Days later at the Chicago Economic Club, he declined to comment on whether the Putin calls had taken place, but said it would have been a “smart thing” if he had. The Harris campaign has seized on the reporting as it seeks to cast Trump as a friend to authoritarian figures.

Persons: Biden, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Trump, Bob Woodward, “, ”, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Sullivan, Putin, Harris, Kamala Harris, Tim Walz Organizations: CNN, ” Biden, Air Force, Newsmax, Chicago Economic Club Locations: Minnesota

☆ Lebanese nationals living in the US will be granted humanitarian relief as Israel-Hezbollah conflict continues
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Lebanese nationals residing in the United States will be granted a form of humanitarian relief, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday, citing ongoing armed conflict and conditions in Lebanon. White House officials have met with Lebanese Americans at least twice over the course of recent weeks, and there have been multiple virtual meetings and phone calls between Lebanese Americans and officials on VP Harris’ team where this issue has been raised, two Lebanese Americans familiar with the exchanges told CNN. In Michigan – where the Arab American community is a critical voting bloc – this move could boost Harris’ support, the Lebanese Americans familiar with the exchanges said. “TPS will allow us to protect Lebanese nationals who are already in the United States. Earlier this year, Biden granted Lebanese nationals in the United States temporary protections from deportation.

Persons: Biden, Kamala Harris ’, Harris, Alejandro Mayorkas, Alabas Farhat, ”, Joe Biden, Sens, Gary Peters, Dick Durbin, Ben Cardin Organizations: CNN, Department of Homeland Security, White, Lebanese, Homeland, TPS, Michigan –, “ TPS Locations: United States, Lebanon, Israel, Michigan, Lebanese

How to strike a hostage and ceasefire deal, and with whom, is now a matter of uncertainty for American officials, who spent the hours after Sinwar’s death trying to determine if he had a successor. But US officials stopped short of saying Thursday that his death will result in a deal overnight. For long stretches, American officials couldn’t even say definitively whether he was alive or dead. “By all accounts, Sinwar has been the biggest obstacle within Hamas to a ceasefire-hostage release deal in Gaza. Depending on who would take his place, Sinwar’s death could revive hope for an agreement to end the war.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Antony Blinken, Hamas —, ”, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Kamala Harris ’, Harris, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sinwar, “, Jonathan Panikoff, ” Panikoff, Aaron David Miller, Miller, ’ ” Sinwar, couldn’t, Andrew Miller, ” Biden, Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, US, Sinwar, State Department, “, Michigan Locations: Gaza, Israel, Sinwar, fatalistic, Palestinian, Lebanon

CNN —The Biden administration sent a letter to the Israeli government demanding it act to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next 30 days or risk violating US laws governing foreign military assistance, suggesting US military aid could be in jeopardy. The Sunday letter, jointly written by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, is addressed to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. It marks a significant new step by the US to try to compel Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The deadline falls after the US presidential election on November 5. This story is breaking and will be updated.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Ron Dermer, “, ”, ” Blinken, Austin Organizations: CNN, Defense, Strategic, US, US State and Defense Locations: Gaza, Israel, norther

☆ Putin hails ‘very close’ links with Iran at landmark first meeting with president, as Middle East tensions soar
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Iran has supplied thousands of “Shahed” attack drones to Russia, and according to US officials, built a drone factory in Russia. “We are actively working together in the international arena and our assessments of events taking place in the world are often very close,” Putin said during the landmark meeting, according to Russian state media outlet TASS. In a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Tehran last week, the Iranian leader called for accelerating joint projects. Meanwhile, Russia expressed interest in expanding trade and economic cooperation as well as diversifying its bilateral trade with Iran. “But, of course, the situation in the Middle East will not be ignored, it will also be on the agenda.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Masoud, “, ” Putin, ”, Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi, Bashar al, Assad, Bassiri Tabrizi, Ebrahim Raisi, Mikhail Mishustin, Pezeshkian, Dmitry Peskov, Viktor Bout, Brittney, Bout, ” CNN’s Gianluca Mezzofiore, Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, Central, Ukraine, Moscow, Analysts, Russian, TASS, Street, Chatham House Locations: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Iran, Ukraine, Russia, “, Moscow, Tehran, Syrian, Russian, Yemen

A major part of the fears is that the US’ influence with Israel has appeared to be steadily waning over the last year. Israel’s security cabinet has not yet reached a decision on how to proceed, an Israeli official told CNN on Friday. As of last week, Israel had not given any assurances that it would not target Iran’s nuclear facilities, CNN reported. Israel has for decades been planning attacks on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and just two years ago simulated striking them in a military exercise. ‘Our strike will be powerful’Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a strong warning to Iran about his country’s response on Wednesday.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Hassan Nasrallah, ”, “, Israel —, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Jordan, Abbas Araghchi, Al, Netanyahu “, Araghchi, it’s, Ben Gurion, CNN’s Kayla Tausche, Dania Karni, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: CNN, Israel, Wednesday, United Arab, US, Israel’s, Iran’s, Zionist Locations: Tehran, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Arab, Iran, Damascus, Gaza, Lebanon, Beirut, France, cyberattacks, Saudi Arabia, Jordanian, backchannels, Washington, Yom, Tel Aviv

Ukraine has asked for both systems repeatedly, another source familiar with their requests said. Cavoli’s list does not address why the US hasn’t provided systems that he assesses would be of value. Nearly three years into the war, the Ukrainians are still pleading with the US to provide more advanced weaponry and lift restrictions on how long-range missile systems provided by the US can be used. Biden, who has to date prohibited the Ukrainians from deploying the missile systems for deep strikes into Russia, was not entirely dismissive of the request, the sources said. Officials also argue that that the US’ limited supply of long-range ATACMS systems are better used against targets in Crimea.

Persons: Biden, Chris Cavoli, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Zelensky, “ Trump, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Putin “, Bill Burns Organizations: CNN, NATO, Biden, Joint, US, White House, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Pentagon, Kremlin, CIA Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Zelensky’s, Germany, Crimea, Sea Island , Georgia

☆ Israel has given no assurances it won’t target Iran’s nuclear facilities, top State Department official tells CNN
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Israel has not given assurances to the Biden administration that targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities is off the table in retaliation for the Iranian ballistic missile strikes earlier this week, a top US State Department official told CNN on Friday. The official added that it is “really hard to tell” if Israel will use the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7 attacks to retaliate. “We hope and expect to see some wisdom as well as strength, but as you guys know, no guarantees,” the official said when asked by CNN if Israel has assured the US that Iran’s nuclear sites are off the table. US officials have voiced support for Israel responding to Iran’s missile attack earlier this week, with multiple officials publicly saying there must be consequences. President Joe Biden said earlier this week the US would not support Israel targeting Iran’s nuclear program.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Bolton, Biden's, Israel, “, ”, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, ‘ let’s, ’ ” Campbell, CNN’s Nikki Carvajal Organizations: Washington CNN, US State Department, CNN, senior State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International Locations: Washington CNN — Israel, Israel, East, Iran, United States

It should be a proportional response,” Biden told reporters Wednesday following a virtual call with leaders from the Group of 7 industrialized nations. The administration currently assesses it’s unlikely Israel would target Iran’s nuclear sites, though one senior official said Israel still hasn’t decided on where it might strike. Biden said Wednesday he does not support an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. “The answer is no,” he responded when questioned about the prospect of Israel launching a retaliatory strike on sites related to Iran’s nuclear program. “Iran is a destabilizing, dangerous force in the Middle East, and today’s attack on Israel only further demonstrates that fact.”

Persons: Joe Biden, Israel, Biden, “, ‘, ’, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu “, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, ” Biden, hasn’t, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Hashanah, Kamala Harris —, —, Harris Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, West Bank, Hezbollah, Democratic Locations: Israel, retaliating, Iran, Lebanon, “ Iran, Gaza, United States, Isfahan

☆ Why America is looking increasingly powerless as Israel’s war expands
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And the US has incessantly pushed for a Gaza ceasefire that neither Netanyahu nor Hamas seems to want. For instance, the US and its allies helped repel a massive Iranian missile and drone attack against Israel in April. It has also killed other senior members of the two groups in strikes in Syria, Lebanon, Iran and in Gaza. And pro-Trump Republicans are goading him to go further — at least partly to weaken Biden and his chosen successor, Harris. This is just one of many reasons why Netanyahu is incentivized to expand his war no matter how powerless it makes America look.

Persons: CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, “, Netanyahu, Kamala Harris, Hassan Nasrallah, Biden, Antony Blinken, Nasrallah, dissed, CNN’s MJ Lee, Kylie Atwood, Jennifer Hansler, Cedric Leighton, Leighton, Israel, it’s, Ismail Haniyeh, Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, shuttler James Baker, —, Donald Trump, Harris, –, Trump Organizations: CNN, Monday, Israel Defense Forces, Democratic, Israel, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, US, Washington, ”, Hamas, Republicans, Trump Republicans, Democratic Party, Arab American Locations: Lebanon, ”, Washington, East Israel, Israel, Gaza, Iranian, Damascus, United States, Hezbollah, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Africa, Tehran . Israel, Israeli, China, Michigan

CNN —The US government is “intensely tracking” an ongoing threat by Iran against current and former US officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. Law enforcement officials have been concerned about the persistent threat of Iran potentially attempting to assassinate former Trump officials and the former president himself, multiple sources familiar with the matter have previously told CNN. US officials have not detailed the threats against current officials, and Blinken on Wednesday did not reveal further information. Congress is considering additional money for the Secret Service as part of its effort to keep the government funded ahead of a September 30 deadline. An additional $231 million for the Secret Service is included in a continuing resolution the House could vote on as soon as Wednesday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, NBC’s, ” Blinken, Trump, ”, ODNI, ” Trump, Qasem Soleimani, Kamala Harris, CNN’s Evan Perez, Zachary Cohen, Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood, Kristen Holmes Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Intelligence, Military, Truth Social, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Baghdad International Airport, Service Locations: Iran, United States, U.S, Baghdad

We’ve had challenges getting the prime minister across the line. “We stay up nights trying to figure out a way to get across the line on this ceasefire and hostage deal. And we have spoken out directly about our concern when we’ve seen the prime minister not take steps that we think are necessary to get to that deal,” he said. Vice President Kamala Harris has frequently cited the importance of reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal but hasn’t detailed any new approach in reaching an agreement. “Ultimately the thing that is going to unlock everything else in that region is getting this deal done,” she said last week.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, State James Baker, George Mitchell’s, “, ”, Bill Burns, Antony Blinken, Brett McGurk –, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, We’ve, we’re, Jake Sullivan, we’ve, Sinwar, they’re, it’ll, Kamala Harris, “ I’m, I’ve, Yahya Sinwar Organizations: CNN, Hamas, State, United Nations, State Department, CIA, MSNBC, UN Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, East, Northern Ireland, New York, Israel, United States, American, Saudi Arabia

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. But an escalation in what was already a major crisis in the Middle East means the world will be listening for short-term solutions on top of capstone remarks on how his presidency will be regarded by history. Senior administration officials acknowledge that Biden, both in his remarks to the General Assembly and in engagements with world leaders, must confront that reality as Israel carries out extensive military strikes across Lebanon that so far have killed hundreds, including children, according to the Lebanese health ministry. But “peace efforts” – in the Middle East with concerns about a full-scale war breaking out between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, on top of the conflict in Gaza, but also Ukraine – will take center stage, these officials say, highlighting the increasing instability that’s emerged in the last year. Read the full story.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, ” –, Ukraine – Organizations: United, United Nations General Assembly, General Locations: United States, New York, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Ukraine

Haiti clearly holds a place in the heart of Ohio’s Republican Gov. He’s been to the country at least 25 times with his wife, he said at a news conference Monday in Springfield. He respects the Haitians who have come to the US legally and found work in Springfield. Further, DeWine said the Haitians found Springfield because business owners there were having trouble finding workers after the Covid-19 pandemic. Like DeWine, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue has also tried very hard to correct the record on the role Haitians are playing in Springfield.

Persons: Mike DeWine, He’s, “, ”, DeWine, ” DeWine, Donald Trump, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Vance, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, ” Rue Organizations: Republican Gov, PBS, Republican, Ohio, Springfield Mayor Locations: Haiti, Springfield, Ohio, DeWine, Springfield , Ohio

☆ Israel notified US ahead of Tuesday’s Lebanon operation but gave no details of what was planned, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The fact no details about the operation were given meant US officials were in the dark until reports of hundreds of exploding pagers emerged a short time later, the sources said. Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon was injured by the exploding pagers, according to Iranian state media. The notification from Israel was far more generic and vague, leaving US officials with questions about what the operation could be, the sources said. Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israel has regularly carried out strikes in Lebanon in response to the launch of Hezbollah drones and missiles. The breadth of Israeli operations in Lebanon over the past 11 months added to the questions about what Israel could be planning.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel, It’s, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Gallant, Austin, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, …, ” Jean, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US, White Locations: Lebanon, Washington, Cairo, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Tehran

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