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CNN —Israel’s government has approved a large land seizure in the occupied West Bank – the biggest since the 1993 Oslo Accords set out a path for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, according to the Israeli rights group Peace Now. The declaration covers a 1,270 hectare (3,138 acre) section of the Jordan Valley in the eastern West Bank near Jericho, the document from the Civil Administration shows. Once land is designated as state land, Israel no longer recognizes it as privately owned by Palestinians. Smotrich spoke about preventing the occupied West Bank from becoming a part of an independent Palestinian state, according to leaked audio of a speech he gave in June. On Sunday, Israel sparked condemnation after the finance minister announced plans to legally recognize five unauthorized Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Persons: CNN —, wasn’t, ”, Bezalel Smotrich, Smotrich, Israel Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Civil Administration, Israel, Israel’s Civil Administration, Peace, Planning, Israel’s, Defense Ministry, Higher Planning Locations: Oslo, Israel, Jordan, West Bank, Jericho, Palestinian

CNN —Israel has sparked condemnation after the finance minister announced plans to legally recognize five unauthorized Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. As CNN has reported, the Israeli government has been looking to “strengthen” Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank after several countries unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority, which administers some areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, told CNN on Sunday that it has not yet received the funds from Israel. He has long advocated for the building of settlements, pointing to them as a means of preventing the West Bank becoming part of such an independent state. Such settlements are considered illegal under international law and by much of the international community.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, Amir Cohen, Peter Stano, “, Smotrich Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Israel, Israeli, Reuters, Union, Oslo Accords Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Oslo

☆ Iran Warns Israel Against War in Lebanon Against Hezbollah: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Illegal Israeli settlements in the Gush Etzion settlement block in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2020. But after the first Arab-Israeli war, Jordan took control of the West Bank, and Jerusalem became divided between Israel and Jordan. In the 1967 war, Israel annexed East Jerusalem and occupied the West Bank, which it says is disputed territory whose fate should be determined in negotiations. That appears to be the goal for Mr. Smotrich, who adamantly opposes Palestinian statehood. In a social media post on Thursday, Mr. Smotrich indicated that the latest settlement legalization was a response to those decisions.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Smotrich, Ammar Awad, Evyatar Borovski, Givat, Assaf Hershkovitz, Sde Ephraim, Jordan, Amit Elkayam, Volker Türk, Tor, “ We’ll, ”, Yehuda Fox, “, ” Aaron Boxerman Organizations: West Bank, Authority, Palestinian, Reuters, West, Peace, United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Security Council, International Court of Justice, Bank, Geneva Convention, Criminal Court, United Nations, International Court of, The New York Times, East Jerusalem —, Mr, Israel’s, Command Locations: Gush Etzion, Bank, Israel, Jerusalem, Jabal Subeih, Nablus, West, Givat Assaf, West Bank, Ras Karkar, Ramallah, Settlers, Hebron, Bethlehem, Jordan, East Jerusalem, Palestinian, Oslo, Evyatar, Beita, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, Armenia

☆ Opinion: Biden and Trump’s presidential debate performance rated by champion debate coach
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Opinion Todd Graham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In the first 2024 presidential debate in Atlanta on Thursday night, the performances of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump failed to live up to that expectation. Former President Donald Trump's presentation fared better than his substance, says champion debate coach, Graham Todd. In that regard, Trump failed. I don’t know more about Trump’s position and solution to the war in Gaza than I did before the debate. And Biden didn’t help himself out by overextending his answers to the point of confusion.

Persons: Todd Graham, he’s, I’m, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, Graham Todd, Will Lanzoni, Trump, “, didn’t, Biden “ Brandon, Biden, “ Let’s, ” Trump, Graham, Austin Steele, CNN BIDEN, I’ve, Todd Graham Both Trump, Biden rambled, Gish, Biden didn’t, overextending, trillionaires Organizations: Southern Illinois University, CNN, CNN TRUMP, Trump, Paris Climate, Putin Locations: Atlanta, Gaza, Afghanistan, America, Paris, Paris Climate Accords

☆ Opinion | President Biden and Donald Trump, Some Tough Questions for Each of You
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

So as a way to frame the choice before voters, I offer these foreign policy questions for President Biden and Donald Trump in the debate on Thursday:President Biden, for months you called on Israel to refrain from invading Rafah and to allow more food into Gaza. Mr. Trump, the Abraham Accords you achieved among Israel and several Arab countries were a legitimate foreign policy success, but you largely bypassed Palestinians. Mr. Trump, you’ve suggested that Israel is taking too long to finish the war in Gaza. Are you saying that Israel should use more 2,000-pound bombs to level even more of Gaza and kill many more civilians? Or are you saying that Israel should cut a deal that leaves Hamas in place and then pull out?

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu —, Trump, Abraham, it’ll, you’ve Organizations: Senate Republicans, Abraham Accords, Abraham, Embassy Locations: Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Jerusalem, America, Lebanon, Iran

☆ Warnings signs for Biden’s Jewish support as war in Gaza drags on and antisemitism rises
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Still, conversations about a possible drift toward Donald Trump, though, are evident in the several Jewish elected Democratic leaders who grimaced and ducked when asked by CNN to discuss their sense of Jewish support for Biden. Talking with Jewish voters in Michigan, “I’ve had a couple of people say point blank, ‘How could any Jew vote for a Democrat?’” said Troy Zukowski, the West Michigan chair of the Michigan Jewish Democrats. The president does have some key Jewish voices of support in important places. Trump’s support among Jewish voters in 2020, at 30% according to Associated Press exit polls, was the highest for a Republican presidential candidate in decades. The expected central theme of that effort, according to one of the people involved, will be: As a Jewish American, do you feel safer than you did four years ago?

Persons: Joe Biden’s, –, Biden, Joe ”, Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Donald Trump, grimaced, megadonor Haim Saban, “ I’ve, ’ ”, Troy Zukowski, “ I’m, I’m, Alejandro Mayorkas, Neera Tanden, Jon, John Kirby, Kirby, Joe Biden, ”, Josh Shapiro, “, Shapiro, Pharaoh, Hitler, Kim Jong, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Emhoff, Ben Stiller, chitchatting, Alex Edelman’s, Israel, sickening ”, Trump, Morgan Ortagus, Haile Sofer, Jake Sullivan, Netanyahu, Lee Zeldin, ” Zeldin, Rashida, Harris, Biden “, ” Emhoff, who’s, antisemites, Andrew Weinstein, it’s, “ He’s, I’ve, Joe Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Jewish, Democratic, White, Biden, Democrat, Michigan Jewish Democrats, Trump, Homeland, National Security, Justice, NSC, Pennsylvania, American, Israel, Nova Music, Wing, House, Jewish voters Trump, State Department, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Associated Press, Republican, United Arab Emirates, Capitol, GOP, Democratic Party, Biden ’, Republican Jewish Coalition, Naval Observatory Locations: Israel, Pennsylvania , Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, West Michigan, Palestine, president’s State, Jerusalem, Gaza, Lower, Manhattan, Brooklyn, America, Charlottesville , Virginia, Germany, Washington, Bahrain, New York, Detroit, American, Charlottesville, ”, Florida

☆ Far-right Israeli minister sets out plan to prevent West Bank from becoming part of a Palestinian state
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Lauren Izso | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has spoken about preventing the occupied West Bank from becoming a part of an independent Palestinian state, according to leaked audio of a speech he gave earlier this month. Smotrich, a leading far right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, said the way to prevent a Palestinian state that would endanger the state of Israel was to develop Jewish settlements. Israel’s Supreme Court defines Israeli control over the West Bank as a temporary military occupation rather than the annexation of territory under a civilian administration. But Smotrich, who lives in a settlement himself, has opposed the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The official position of the government is that the status of the West Bank is subject to future negotiations.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Smotrich, ” Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, West Bank, Ministry of Defense, Directorate, Ministry, Defense Ministry, Oslo Accords Locations: Israel, State, Judea, Samaria, Oslo, Gaza

☆ Opinion | Why Israel Is in Existential Danger Today
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On Nov. 4, 2022, just after the current far-right Israeli government coalition won election, I wrote a column with this headline: “The Israel We Knew Is Gone.” It was meant to be a warning flare about just how radical this coalition is. I believe events have proved them wrong — and the situation is now even worse: The Israel we knew is gone, and today’s Israel is in existential danger. Israel is up against a regional superpower, Iran, that has managed to put Israel into a vice grip, using its allies and proxies: Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Shiite militias in Iraq. Right now, Israel has no military or diplomatic answer. But Israel is led by a prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has to stay in power to avoid potentially being sent to prison on corruption charges.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, — Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Authority Locations: Israel, Iran, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, Oslo, Jordan

☆ Israel’s Offensive in Southern Gaza Strains Ties With Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Vivian Yee | Emad Mekay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

That would deal a further blow to a relationship that Israel’s military offensive in southern Gaza had already brought to its lowest point in decades. For Israel, too, more than four decades of a so-called “cold peace” with Egypt has proved to be an essential pillar of national security. Egypt’s patience with Israel’s military moves is wearing dangerously thin, as it has repeatedly made clear. That border point, the main conduit for aid and other supplies during the war, lies between Egypt and Gaza but was recently occupied by Israel, drawing public outrage in Egypt. Egypt has refrained from taking more serious steps to respond to Israel’s moves, such as withdrawing its ambassador from Tel Aviv.

Persons: mouthpieces, Israel, Egypt’s, Gazans, Camp David, ” Ahmed Moussa, Moussa, ”, Mr, ” Isabel Kershner Organizations: Egyptian, International Court, Camp, Camp David Accords, Al, Egypt’s, Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas Locations: Egypt, Gaza, Cairo, Israel, Rafah, Tel Aviv, ”

☆ Vietnam’s vintage 1960s steam locomotives are back on the rails
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Train enthusiasts and history buffs alike will soon have a new Southeast Asian destination to visit, as Vietnam prepares to unveil a revamped pair of vintage steam locomotives from the 1960s. The two Revolution Express locomotives are the last working steam trains in Vietnam, dating from when the country was still a French colony, according to hospitality brand Wafaifo Optimisers, which is managing the project. In recent years, the trains have been slowly restored to working condition using original parts, and crafted by the last remaining steam engineers working for the national railway system. Wafaifo & Revolution ExpressVietnam declared its independence from France on September 2, 1945 – a claim that neither France nor the United States recognized. By 1954, Vietnam signed the Geneva Accords – splitting the country into two halves, the Communist-led north and US-supported south, and kicking off the bloody Vietnam War, which would last nearly two decades.

Persons: Wafaifo Optimisers, Wafaifo, ”, Michael Gebbie Organizations: CNN, Revolution, Lang Co, Indochina Rail Tourist Service, Revolution Express, Geneva Accords, Communist, UNESCO Locations: Vietnam, Da Nang, Hue, Lang, Lang Co, Indochina, Revolution Express Vietnam, France, United States, Saigon, Chi Minh City

☆ Spain, Norway and Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state is likely to have little impact on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Europe has struggled over the Middle East for a very long time. The decision by Ireland, Spain and Norway to recognize a Palestinian state tells us more about the domestic politics of those countries than anything else. In Ireland, Spain and Norway, support for a Palestinian state chimes with the broader electorate and is unlikely to receive any political blowback. European countries simply do not have a huge amount of influence in this area. That isn’t to say Europeans didn’t care about the Middle East, specifically the Palestinian cause.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel – Organizations: CNN, Israel, European Union, European Commission, European, EU Locations: Europe, Ireland, Spain, Norway, Israel, Palestinian, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Palestine, Oslo, European Union

☆ Opinion | Bibi Is Choosing Stefanik and Trump. President Biden, Don’t Be Fooled.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Gantz said he would leave the government if there was no plan by June 8. Here are the stakes for America in what these ministers are saying: Netanyahu has become a radical actor, undermining key U.S. interests and Arab allies, and becoming the gift that keeps on giving for Iran. Just look at the policy choices Netanyahu has made and tell me with a straight face that he has not let Israel be completely outmaneuvered by Iran. All of this has happened on Bibi’s watch. But now Netanyahu is busy doing something even more dangerous for Israel’s future — and for America.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Yoav Gallant, Benny Gantz —, Netanyahu, Gantz, Israel Organizations: —, America, Muslim, Palestinian Authority, West Bank Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran, Oslo Accords

“I have been clear at home, and I will be clear here,” Ms. Stefanik is expected to say in her speech, according to a prepared version of her remarks reviewed by The New York Times. “There is no excuse for an American president to block aid to Israel.”Her remarks also appear designed to curry favor with former President Donald J. Trump, who has mentioned Ms. Stefanik, a former George W. Bush White House aide and staunch defender of Mr. Trump, as a potential vice-presidential candidate. Ms. Stefanik has positioned herself as one of Mr. Trump’s most loyal defenders in Congress, a role she first staked out during his first impeachment in 2019. Her prepared remarks for Sunday mention Mr. Trump by name three times while highlighting several of his administration’s accomplishments, including a package of Middle East deals known as the Abraham Accords and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. “We must not let the extremism in elite corners conceal the deep, abiding love for Israel among the American people,” Ms. Stefanik plans to say.

Persons: Ms, Stefanik, ”, Donald J, Trump, George W, Bush, Stefanik’s, Trump’s, Abraham, “ Organizations: The New York Times, House, Abraham Accords Locations: Israel, U.S, Jerusalem

☆ Jimmy Carter: Grandson says former president is ‘coming to the end’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Jimmy Carter’s grandson said Tuesday that the former president is “coming to the end” in a brief update about the 39th president’s health. “(My grandfather) is doing OK,” Jason Carter said at a mental health forum named in honor of his grandmother, the late former first lady Rosalynn Carter, at the Carter Center. “My grandmother’s passing was a difficult moment for all of us, including my grandfather,” Jason Carter said Tuesday. In 1977, Carter made it her signature cause, notably through the creation of the President’s Commission on Mental Health. Her efforts resulted in increased research funding, broader treatment access and innovative approaches to mental health care.

Persons: Jimmy Carter’s, Jason Carter, Rosalynn Carter, I’ve, there’s, Jimmy Carter, George H.W, Bush, “, ” Jason Carter, ” Rosalynn Carter, America’s, Carter, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin Organizations: CNN, Carter, Mental Health, Atlanta Braves, CBS, Accords, Israeli, Democrat Locations: Georgia, Pa, United States

☆ Opinion | On the World Stage, Trump Likes to Occupy Two Places at Once
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Curt Mills | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Love it or hate it, the United States has an imperial presidency, and in his first term, Donald Trump demonstrated a record of using such powers with noted relish on the world stage. Bush before him, Mr. Trump enjoys engagement with foreign policy. Mr. Trump’s approach to America’s place in the world is pragmatic or unpredictable or both, and it could offer surprising opportunities for peace. If Mr. Trump re-enters the Oval Office, he may seek to surprise in his final act, perhaps inspiring parallels, in its unpredictability and volatility, with Nixon and his “madman” foreign policy. In Mr. Trump’s first term, his results in foreign affairs have generally been underrated.

Persons: Donald Trump, Richard Nixon, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Trump, Trump’s, Nixon, Abraham Organizations: Office Locations: United States, George H.W ., Israel, China

☆ Opinion: Netanyahu and his extremist allies are endangering Israel’s long-term security
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Opinion Richard J. Davis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“My commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad. The former was appointed finance minister and was given responsibility for West Bank settlements. After the October 7 terrorist attack, Netanyahu had an opportunity to remove Smotrich and Ben Gvir from their posts when the first offer from the opposition for a unity government involved their elimination from the cabinet. It also gives license to followers of these extremists to, as we have seen, attack Palestinians in the West Bank and even to attack a Jordanian aid convoy. At the same time, Israel has continued with significant expansion of settlements on the West Bank.

Persons: Richard J, Davis, Joe Biden, “, ”, Richard Davis, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Ben Gvir, Yitzhak Rabin, Netanyahu’s Organizations: Treasury, CNN, US, Capitol, West Bank, New York Times, Israeli Defense Forces, Twitter, Facebook, United Locations: Carter, Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Oslo Peace, Jordanian, United States

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long sought relations with Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest sites, as the move could domino across the wider Muslim world. The first component includes a package of agreements between the US and Saudi Arabia, another component has the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and a third component for a pathway to a Palestinian state. The subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, which has left the enclave in ruins and killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, may have changed the parameters of the deal for Saudi Arabia, analysts say. However, there has been no indication that the Biden administration would opt to bypass Congress for the bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia to pass. Saudi Arabia is rich in uranium deposits and has insisted on being able to enrich it domestically, which would be a first for an Arab state.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Antony Blinken, ”, Blinken, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Netanyahu, Biden, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Israel, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Firas Maksad, “, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, Crown Prince, Karen Young, Edward J, Markey Organizations: CNN, State, Saudi, State Department, Abraham Accords, Israel, MBS, Saudi Foreign, Republican, Senate, Bahrain, Biden, Strategic Outreach, Middle East Institute, Washington DC, Congress, Washington Post, Crown, Columbia University’s Center, Global Energy, Neighboring United, Democratic, Nuclear Weapons, NATO Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, Israel, Iran, Russia, China, Palestinian, Gaza, ”, Riyadh, Saudi, Washington, Turkey, “ Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Bahrain, U.S

☆ Hamas officials say group willing to disarm if Palestinian state is established
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Abbas Allawati | Abbas Al Lawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Palestinian militant group has long called for the Jewish state to be destroyed. Basem Naim, an Istanbul-based member of Hamas’ political bureau, told CNN on Thursday that the group would agree to disarm if an independent Palestinian state was established. Hamas has traditionally rejected a two-state solution that would see a Palestinian state established alongside Israel and has instead advocated the creation of a Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine that today encompasses Israel, the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza. Barghouti said Hamas indicated as far back as 2007, when it led a Palestinian national unity government, that it is willing to accept a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said at a news conference in the Qatari capital Doha that Hamas is willing to function solely as a political party once a Palestinian state is created, citing meetings between the group and Turkish officials.

Persons: Basem Naim, Al Qassam, ”, Mustafa Barghouti, Efraim Inbar, Israel ”, Israel “, Netanyahu, Khalil al, Hayya, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hayyah, Barghouti, Naim, Hakan Fidan, “ Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Israel, West Bank, Palestinian National Initiative, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, Security, Associated Press, AP, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Oslo Accords, Turkish, Qatari Locations: Israel, Gaza, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Palestinian, Palestine, East Jerusalem, United States, Israeli, Oslo, Doha, Turkish

Sitting together last month, Graham and MBS spoke with Trump for roughly five minutes, two people familiar with the call told CNN. The call encapsulates how Trump looms over an agreement that US, Israeli and Saudi officials all see as vital to achieving lasting stability in the Middle East. Graham informed Biden officials of the call between MBS and Trump and says they understand why he wants to keep Trump in the loop. With the election looming and the region engulfed by turmoil over Israel’s war in Gaza, the window of opportunity is rapidly shrinking, people involved in the negotiations told CNN. “I think President Trump understands this is building on what he did,” Graham told CNN.

Persons: South Carolina Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, — Donald Trump, Graham, Joe Biden, Salman, Biden’s, Trump, Abraham, Biden, Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Evan Vucci, ”, ” Trump, “ They’re, That’s, “, ” Graham, Jamal Khashoggi, Sen, X.com Graham, Bibi Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Jake Sullivan, Amos Hochstein, Antony Blinken, Jake, ” CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: CNN, South Carolina Republican, Biden Administration, Trump, Saudi, Abraham Accords, Saudi Crown, White, MBS, New York Times, Biden, Republican, Graham, Saudi Press Agency, Israel, President’s National, US Locations: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Saudi, Palestine, Bahrain, UAE, Washington, Gaza, Riyadh, NATO, Palestinian

Their friendship was tested in 2017 when then President Trump supported a blockade of Qatar led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Before the Oct. 7 attack, the Saudis were in serious talks, led by the United States, to recognize Israel. 8 of 12 Israel has a major incentive to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, for its part, would benefit from direct access to the Israeli military and technology sector. In March 2023, China brokered a breakthrough, re-establishing ties between two of the region’s heavyweights, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, brandished, Jake Sullivan, —, frenemies, Israel, Netanyahu’s, Trump, Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Prince Mohammed, Bashar al, Assad, Saddam Hussein, Jordan —, hesitantly, Abraham Organizations: of Friends, General Assembly, U.S, America, Hamas, United, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Crown, Arab League, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea, Iranian, Abraham Accords, United Arab, Palestine Liberation Organization, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, The, Trump, Biden, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations, New York, Facebook Locations: India, Persian, Israel, Europe, Iran, United States, U.S, East, China, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Turkey Syria Lebanon Afghanistan Israel Iraq Iran Pakistan Egypt India Qatar Saudi Arabia Sudan Oman, Israel Yemen Turkey Syria Lebanon Afghanistan Israel Iraq Iran Pakistan Egypt India Qatar Saudi Arabia Arabian, Sudan, Sea Oman, Israel Yemen Ethiopia Turkey Syria Lebanon Afghanistan Israel Iraq Iran Pakistan Egypt India Qatar Saudi Arabia Arabian, Sudan Oman, Israel Yemen Ethiopia, Gaza, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Saudi, Tehran, Iraq, Assad, Lebanon, Lebanese, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Fatah, Israeli, Turkey, America

☆ U.S. Vetoes Palestinian Bid for Recognition as Full U.N. Member State
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Yonette Joseph | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United States blocked the U.N. Security Council on Thursday from moving forward on a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member state at the United Nations, quashing an effort by Palestinian allies to get the world body to back the effort. The vote was 12 in favor of the resolution and one — the United States — opposed, with abstentions from Britain and Switzerland. The United States, along with the four other permanent members of the Council, can veto any action before it. Full Palestinian membership in the U.N. would be an important if largely symbolic victory for the Palestinian Authority, which has long sought a nation-state. In 2007, the militant group Hamas drove the Palestinian Authority, which President Mahmoud Abbas leads and which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, from power in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: United States —, Riyad Mansour, Mr, Mansour, ”, Israel Katz, Vedant Patel, ” Mr, Patel, Israel’s, U.N, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas Organizations: . Security, United Nations, Terrorism, Security, State Department, Palestinian, General Assembly, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Hamas Locations: States, United States, Britain, Switzerland, Palestine, Washington, U.S, Israel, Palestinian Authority, France, Russia, China, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Oslo Accords, Lebanon, Iran

☆ NASA's chief says China is being 'very, very secretive' and pretending its space projects aren't linked to the military
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NASA chief Bill Nelson accused China on Wednesday of secretly working on military projects in space. Nelson told lawmakers that NASA believes Beijing is masking these projects as civilian efforts. "We believe that a lot of their, so-called civilian space programs is a military program," Nelson continued. Related storiesThe NASA chief alluded to the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the South China Sea claimed by several nations. Meanwhile, China has repeatedly denied that it intends to establish any military presence in outer space.

Persons: Bill Nelson, Nelson, —, Artemis Organizations: NASA, China, Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, South China, Artemis Accords, Alxa League, Inner, Getty, UN, Embassy, Business Locations: Beijing, China, Spratly Islands, South, Russia, Alxa, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Washington , DC

☆ Arab states unexpectedly helped Israel fight off Iran's attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jordan shot down an Iranian missile, and other Arab states may've provided intel. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored ties with the help of China, agreeing to reopen embassies in their respective capitals. AdvertisementHowever, according to reports, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are willing to continue discussions with Israel once fighting in Gaza has abated. There is a risk for Arab states though in being seen to come to Israel's aid, Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, told Business Insider. AdvertisementAs the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, Arab states face a tough choice between their security priorities and addressing public anger over Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Jordan, may've, —, Samih, Marj Al, Yasmine Farouk, Farouk, Abraham, Trump, Israel's, Giorgio Cafiero Organizations: intel, Service, Deutsche Welle, St, Anadolu, Getty, Israel, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, New York Times, Abraham Accords, Analytics Locations: Iranian, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Jordan, Gaza, Jordanian, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Gulf, Marj, Amman , Jordan, China, Bahrain, Amman

☆ Vessel seized in Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions, shipping firms say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A vessel has been seized by "regional authorities" between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, maritime security agencies said on Saturday, days after Iran warned it could close the area to sea traffic. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel had been seized 50 nautical miles (92 km) northeast of the Fujairah, an area close to the Strait of Hormuz that forms the entrance to the Gulf. Marine tracking sites said the vessel was the MSC Aries of Zodiac Maritime, an international shipping company partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Reuters could not immediately confirm that and UKMTO said it could not provide more information when asked if the regional authorities were Iran and if the seized vessel was MSC Aries. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Persons: Eyal Ofer, UKMTO, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Alireza Tangsiri, Abraham, Joe Biden Organizations: United Arab, Maritime Trade Operations, ., MSC Aries, Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac, MSC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Israel, Abraham Accords, Revolutionary Guards Locations: United Arab Emirates, Iran, Hormuz, U.S, UAE, United States, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Syria's, Damascus, Tehran, Yemen's Iran, Britain

☆ Iran seizes cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz, Israel goes on high alert
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Blaming Israel — which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility — Iran vowed retaliation. Jordan on Saturday declared its airspace closed, in a possible precautionary move given the likelihood of its territory being overflown by any missiles exchanged by Iran and Israel. On Friday, Biden warned Iran against attacking Israel but said such a scenario could be imminent. On Tuesday, the Revolutionary Guards' naval head, Alireza Tangsiri, said the force could close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, if necessary. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.

Persons: Israel —, Zodiac, Eyal Ofer, Israel Katz, Joe Biden, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Alireza Tangsiri, Abraham, Hasan Alhasan Organizations: Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hamas, Jordan, Saturday, Guards, Aries, MSC, Gortal Shipping, Zodiac Maritime, House, Iran, U.S . Defense, Pentagon, State, Revolutionary Guards, United Arab, Israel, International Institute for Strategic Studies, MSC Aries, Maritime Information Center Locations: Iranian, Syria's, Damascus, Strait, Hormuz, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Tehran, Iran, Iran's, State, United States, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Britain

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