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☆ How the Russian prisoner swap that freed Evan Gershkovich unfolded over two years
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Carol-Lee-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Carol E. Lee | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The effort took on extra urgency in March 2023, when the Russians arrested Gershkovich, a senior administration official said. Days later, NBC News reported that a deal that could have sprung Navalny, Gershkovich and Whelan had been in the works. After Biden and Scholz met on Feb. 9, Scholz told Biden he was on board. Vice President Kamala Harris also discussed the prisoner swap with Scholz, telling him that Krasikov was a critical component of getting a prisoner swap with Russia, a White House official said. That was when he called the Slovenian prime minister to make sure his country was ready to release the Russian in their custody.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, Brittney Griner, Biden, Viktor Bout, Paul Whelan ’, Whelan, Paul Whelan, Antony Blinken, “, ” Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, Gershkovich, Blinken, Lavrov, ” Lavrov, ”, ” Gershkovich, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, Vadim Krasikov, Zelimkhan, Olaf Scholz, Krasikov, Griner, Whalen, Joe Biden, Scholz, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, Elizabeth Whelan, Sullivan, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kurmasheva, ” Biden Organizations: Wall Street, Marine, AP, NBC News, Berlin, White, Biden Locations: Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Berlin, Moscow, Germany, Chechen, Russian, U.S, Nevada, Slovenian

☆ Videos show the moment Americans were freed from Russian captivity after high-stakes prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewNew video footage reveals the moment that Russia freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former US Marine Paul Whelan, and others in a massive prisoner swap that took place in Turkey on Thursday. Gershkovich, Whelan, and 14 others were released as part of a historic and high-stakes exchange with Russia that marked the most complex prisoner swap since the Cold War. Russia's Federal Security Service, more commonly known as the FSB, released several videos of the tense prisoner exchange at an airport in Turkey. AdvertisementThe Russian FSB released a video showing prisoners from the Russian side being loaded onto a plane bound for Turkey for a prisoner exchange. AdvertisementWhite House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that he could confirm there was no money exchanged or sanctions loosened to facilitate the prisoner swap.

Persons: —, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Gershkovich, Whelan, Joe Biden, Rico Krieger, — Hanna Liubakova, we've, Biden, Evan Greshkovich, eason, hite, J ake S ullivan, ould Organizations: Service, Wall Street, Business, Russia's Federal Security Service, RIA Novosti, FSB, Russian Federal Security Service, lsu Locations: Russia, Turkey, Russia's, Moscow, Ankara, Belarus

☆ WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, ex-Marine Whelan released in U.S., Russia prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowWall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan were released Thursday by Russia as part of a major, multi-nation swap of two dozen prisoners. "All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia," President Joe Biden said in a televised address from the White House, where he was flanked by their family members. Eight Russians, including the spy and convicted hitman Vadim Krasikov, are being returned to Russia from the United States, Slovenia, Norway, Poland and Germany. "The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy," Biden said in a statement released by the White House, where Biden planned to meet family members of the released Americans. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the release of Americans detained in Russia during brief remarks from the White House in Washington, U.S., August 1, 2024.

Persons: Evan Gershkovich, U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Joe Biden, Vadim Krasikov, Paul Whelan, Krasikov, Gershkovich, Whelan, Kurmasheva, Kara, Biden, we've, Jake Sullivan, " Sullivan, Nathan Howard, Reuters Gershkovich, Dieter Voronin, Kevin Lick, Rico Krieger, Patrick Schoebel, Herman Moyzhes, Ilya Yashin, Liliya, Kseniya Fadeyeva, Vadim Ostanin, Andrey Pivovarov, Oleg Orlov, Sasha Skochilenko, Artem Viktorovich Dultsev, Anna Valerevna Dultseva, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, Pavel Alekseyevich Rubtsov, Roman Seleznev, Vladislav Klyushin, Vadim Konoshchenock Organizations: Wall Street, U.S . Marine, White, Biden, National, Reuters Locations: Russia, American, Russian, Turkey, United States, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Germany, Chechen, Berlin, Washington , U.S, Moscow

The Russian officials took the proposal back to Moscow. It was a remarkably swift conclusion to years of painstaking negotiations between the US and more than half a dozen countries. Key to the deal was President Biden’s ability to persuade German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to release Krasikov, the Russian prisoner most keenly sought by Putin. Officials worked quietly throughout this year to get the German government to agree to release Krasikov — including entreaties from both Biden and Harris. President Biden sent a letter to Scholz in April, and the Germans at last agreed to release Krasikov in early June.

Persons: CNN —, Vadim Krasikov, who’d, who’s, Vladimir Putin, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Bill Burns, Gershkovich, Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Kurmasheva, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Serdar Ozsoy, Biden’s, Olaf Scholz, Putin, Krasikov, Brittney Griner, Burns, –, Viktor Bout, Alexey Navalny, Brendan Smialowski, Antony Blinken, James Rubin, Blinken, Annalena Baerbock, Jake Sullivan, Harris, Scholz, “ Chancellor Scholz, “, Jake, ‘, ’, Sullivan, Navalny, Paul, Evan, ”, Ronald Wittek, Kara, Robert Golob, Kurmasheva’s, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Carstens, Jeff Flake, ” Flake, Flake, ” Sullivan Organizations: CNN, CIA, Wall Street, White, Base Andrews, Aircraft, Ankara Esenboga Airport, US Marine, WNBA, State Department, National Security Council, Krasikov, Getty, German, National, Biden, Munich, Conference, US, Munich Security, Aspen Security, Street, Hostage Affairs Locations: Eastern, Russia, Russian, Berlin, Moscow, American, Turkey, Ankara, Chechen, Slovenia, Norway, Poland, Washington , DC, AFP, Germany, ”, Munich, Washington, Slovenian, Mordovia, “

☆ Video: Jake Sullivan chokes up announcing deal to free Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Jonathan Steinmetz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Fact check: Trump, who approved multiple prisoner exchanges, falsely claims he gave up ‘nothing’ to get Americans back
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

After President Joe Biden proved the claim wrong on Thursday by securing the release of Gershkovich and others in a multi-country prisoner exchange, Trump posted a series of skeptical questions on social media. Among other things, Trump wrote: “Are we releasing murderers, killers, or thugs? FactCheck.org debunked this Trump claim about his record on securing the release of American prisoners abroad when he previously made it in 2022. Trump acknowledged at the time that this was a prisoner exchange, telling reporters in 2019: “Yeah, we’re very happy to have our hostage back. And there was a one-on-one hostage swap.”Federal prosecutors also dropped charges against the Iranian scientist’s two co-defendants soon after the prisoner exchange.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evan Gershkovich, Joe Biden, Gershkovich, Trump, ’, Jake Sullivan, FactCheck.org, –, Xiyue Wang, Kevin King, Timothy Weeks, Michael White, Sandra Loli, Mikael Gidada, Turkey Trump, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Andrew Brunson, Erdogan, Brunson Organizations: Washington CNN —, Wall Street, Biden White House, Trump, Republican, Princeton University, Navy Locations: Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Oman, Turkey, Israel, Turkish

☆ Harris navigates Biden and Netanyahu as she considers her stance on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Up until now, Harris has been defined by working for President Joe Biden, arguably the most explicitly pro-Israel American president, even though his relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu has frayed. “President Biden brought to the White House a lifelong relationship with Bibi Netanyahu and a very mature history on the US-Israel relationship,” Murphy said. “The vice president has been a strong and longstanding supporter of Israel as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people. “One can criticize specific policies of the government of Israel while still strongly supporting the state of Israel and the people of Israel. Soifer said she is satisfied that Harris remains committed to Israel — even after being read the indirect answer about whether the vice president considers herself a Zionist.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Harris didn’t, she’s, Netanyahu, ”, Richard Haass, George W, “, Israel —, hypotheticals, Donald Trump, Doug Emhoff, Kamala, that’s, ” Emhoff, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Bibi Netanyahu, ” Murphy, It’s, Israel, Harris ’, Dean Lieberman, Phil Gordon, Obama, Gordon, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, She’ll, Harris –, Netanyahu –, Israel ’, Ritchie Torres, Trump, Abraham, Abbas Alawieh –, –, ” Alawieh, —, Israel ”, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Jason Miller, Emhoff, He’s, Halie Soifer, Soifer Organizations: CNN, Israel American, Democratic, White, Foreign Relations, Bush’s State Department, Biden, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Jewish, Senate Intelligence, Israel, Council, ”, West Wing, New York Democrat, Iron, Michigan Democratic Party, Republican Jewish Coalition, Republican, Naval Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Indiana, Connecticut, Israeli, United States, Iran, U.S, America, Gaza, North Carolina, Ohio, Jerusalem, California, Los Angeles

☆ China and Philippines already at odds over South China Sea deal to ease Second Thomas Shoal tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The dilapidated BRP Sierra Madre ship of the Philippine Navy is anchored near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea. Beijing claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the 1.3 million-square-mile South China Sea, and most of the islands and sandbars within it, including many features that are hundreds of miles from mainland China. Under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, the Philippines has taken increasingly assertive steps to protect its claim to shoals in the South China Sea, leading to several confrontations off the Philippine islands. The US is not a claimant to the South China Sea, but says the waters are crucial to its national interest of guaranteeing free passage through seas worldwide. A close up view taken on March 29, 2014 of the BRP Sierra Madre beached near the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Shoal, Ren’ai Jiao, ”, Mao Ning, pushback, Ritchie, Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Marcos, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Thomas Shoal, Erik de Castro, Gregory Poling, “, ” Derek Grossman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, BRP Sierra Madre, Foreign Ministry, The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, BRP, Philippine Navy, coastguard, US Navy, Aspen Security, US National, Reuters, Transparency Initiative, RAND Corporation Locations: Hong Kong, South, Manila, Beijing, Philippine, Spratly, Philippines, China, Palawan, Madre, South China, Second, The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, The Hague, Scarborough, BRP Sierra Madre, Washington, United States, Sierra Madre, BRP Sierra, Asia

☆ Optimism increases about prospects for a Gaza ceasefire deal, but families of hostages remain concerned ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Alex Marquardt | Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

For the families of the hostages held more than nine months in Gaza, there is no time to wait. The Israeli prime minister wants to meet with Biden before the Israeli delegation formally transmits its response to the mediators, the source said. US officials have been sensitive to the Knesset recess as they remain convinced that politics are at play for Netanyahu back in Israel. US officials believe it is possible that Israelis are seeking to put maximum pressure on Hamas ahead of a deal. US and Egyptian officials have begun preparing the flood of humanitarian aid that would enter Gaza if a ceasefire deal goes into effect.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, “ It’s, ”, Netanyahu ‘, ’ Aviva Siegel, Keith, Netanyahu “, They’ve, I’ve, Siegel, “, Jon Polin, Hersh Goldberg, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Harris, Netanyahu doesn’t, Jonathan Dekel, Chen, Sagui Dekel, Satan, ” Netanyahu, Daniel Neutra, Omer, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, There’s, Israel, –, Jake Sullivan, ” Blinken, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Hamas, Democratic, Monday, US State Department, Government, Biden, UN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Locations: Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Washington, Rafah, Egyptian, el, Arish

☆ Israeli former national security officials and business leaders blast Netanyahu ahead of his speech to Congress
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of senior Israeli figures including former national security officials, academics and business leaders have sent US congressional leadership a blistering letter accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to speak to Congress on Wednesday, of threatening both Israeli and American national security. “Netanyahu severely harms the US national security interests through his approach to this war, which adversely impacts American policy in the Middle East and beyond and further endangers Israel,” it continues. The Obama White House had been blindsided by Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress after another invitation from a Republican House speaker, John Boehner. Typically, a vice president, in their role as president of the Senate, would attend and sit prominently on the dais. However, Vice President Kamala Harris will also miss Netanyahu’s Wednesday speech due to travel, which Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday he did not expect to be a repeat of 2015.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, he’s, Tamir Pardo, Aaron Ciechanover, Avishay, Carmi, Morris Kahn, Jeremy Levin, “ Netanyahu, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Pardo, disinvite Netanyahu, ”, Alon Pinkas, “, Biden, –, Pinkas, ” Benjamin Netanyahu, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Schumer, Joe Biden, Biden’s, Obama, John Boehner, Kamala Harris, Jake Sullivan, they’re, ” Sullivan, ’ Organizations: CNN, Israeli, American, Ben Gurion University, Republican, ”, Obama White, Aspen Security, White, Gaza . Senior, Gallup Locations: Gaza, Israel, New York, Washington, Iran, Gaza .

☆ A top JP Morgan strategist predicted in January that Biden would drop out. Here's what else was in that analyst's list of top 10 'surprises' to look out for in 2024.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewJPMorgan Asset Management strategist Michael Cembalest was right on the money when he predicted that President Joe Biden would drop out from the 2024 presidential race. Cembalest, who chairs the company's market and investment strategy, made the prediction in his list of "top 10 possible surprises for 2024." "President Biden withdraws sometime between Super Tuesday and the November election, citing health reasons. Biden passes the torch to a replacement candidate named by the Democratic National Committee," Cembalest wrote. For one, Cembalest wrote in his list that "the driverless car backlash is coming."

Persons: —, Michael Cembalest, Joe Biden, Cembalest, Biden, Kamala Harris, Harris, Jake Sullivan, Christopher Cavoli, Cavoli Organizations: Service, Management, Business, Super, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Democratic Party, EV, Elon, Russia, US, Armed, Committee, Cembalest, JPMorgan Asset Management, BI Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ Blinken Says Gaza Cease-Fire Deal Is ‘Inside the 10-Yard Line’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( David E. Sanger | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Friday that an agreement to free hostages held in Gaza and establish a cease-fire was close, as administration officials prepared for what they expected to be a tense visit to Washington next week by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Blinken, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, said that the talks were “inside the 10-yard line.” Hours later at the same conference, Mr. Sullivan said there was no expectation that an agreement would be reached before Mr. Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, a speech some American officials fear could throw up new obstacles to an agreement with Hamas. Mr. Sullivan said Mr. Biden would “focus his energy” in his meetings with Mr. Netanyahu “to get this deal done in the coming weeks.”“We are mindful that there remain obstacles in the way,” Mr. Sullivan said, “and let’s use next week to try to clear through those obstacles.”

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Israel’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sullivan, Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu “, ”, ” Mr Organizations: Aspen Security, Mr Locations: Gaza, Washington, Colorado

☆ The End of a Strategic Deployment
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower sailed toward Norfolk Harbor, a small cargo plane landed on the flight deck amid swirling wind and rain. After the plane jerked to a halt, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, and top Navy officials disembarked. While the sailors cheered, the chief of naval operations recounted the strike group’s achievements. The Eisenhower set sail from Norfolk a week after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, and its six-month deployment had been extended three times. Image The national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, spoke to sailors aboard the Eisenhower on Saturday.

Persons: Dwight D, Eisenhower, Jake Sullivan, Julian E, Barnes, Sullivan, Biden Organizations: ., The New York Times, Oval Locations: Norfolk, Israel

☆ U.S. Officials See Hopeful Signs in Gaza Cease-Fire Talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Julian E. Barnes | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some American officials have grown more optimistic that a deal to release Israeli hostages held in Gaza in return for a cease-fire is at hand. But people briefed on the talks say it will be days until it is clear whether a breakthrough has been achieved because of difficulties in communication between Hamas officials in Qatar and the group’s leaders in Gaza. Other officials said that previous moments of hope about an agreement had been dashed by both the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hamas. “There’s still miles to go before we close if we are able to close,” Mr. Sullivan told reporters on Thursday. I’m determined to get this deal done and bring an end to this war which should end now.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Jake Sullivan, “, ” Mr, Sullivan, it’s, Biden, ” Organizations: White House, NATO, Washington , D.C Locations: Gaza, Qatar, Washington, Washington ,

☆ Zelenskyy says the problem with the coming F-16 fighter jets is the same one Ukraine had with the Abrams tanks
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWestern-provided F-16 fighter jets are on their way to Ukraine and set to start flying missions later this summer. But they may not yet be enough to make a difference on the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated in a discussion this week on what Ukraine needs, comparing the jets to the US-made Abrams tanks that Ukraine got last fall. "The problem with F-16," the Ukrainian president said, "is the number and the dates." The US sent only 31 M1A1 Abrams in total, and they were delivered to Ukraine months after British and German tanks. For comparison, Ukraine received about 300 US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, nearly ten times more than the number of Abrams sent.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Abrams, Bret Baier, Zelenskyy, Derek Seifert, Zelenskky, haven't, Michael Currie, Antony Blinken's, it's, Zachariah Lopez, Jake Sullivan Organizations: Service, Business, Fox News, Reagan Institute, Abrams Ukraine, NATO, Egyptian, Force, US Air Force, US, Abrams, Bradley, Getty, Ukraine —, Ukrainian Air Force, Osan Air Base, US Air Force Tech, White, National Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Washington , DC, Russia, Egypt, Denmark, Netherlands, Soviet, South Korea

☆ NATO just accused China of enabling Russia's invasion of Ukraine for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNATO on Wednesday accused China of being "a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine" and demanded that it stop aiding Moscow's military or face the consequences. In the alliance's Washington Summit declaration, published before a White House dinner with its leader, it called on China "to cease all material and political support to Russia's war effort." The strongest rebuke yetJens Stoltenberg, NATO's secretary-general, described the language as the "strongest message NATO allies have ever sent on China's contributions to Russia's illegal war against Ukraine." In response, China has said it is not a party to the Ukraine war and that there should be no interference with trade between China and Russia. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jin said "NATO hyped up China's responsibility" in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to Reuters.

Persons: —, Natalie Sabanadze, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's, Lin Jin, Lin, Alexander Stubb, Xi Jinping, Stubb, Jake Sullivan, Biden Organizations: Service, Wednesday, Business, Chatham House, New York Times, NATO, Ukraine, Reuters, The Times, Bloomberg Locations: China, Ukraine, Washington, Russia, Europe, London, Beijing, NATO, United States

☆ Pentagon to Dismantle Temporary Pier Built for Gaza Aid Operation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration will soon permanently shut down the star-crossed $230 million temporary pier that the U.S. military built to rush humanitarian aid to Gaza, American officials said on Thursday. “I do anticipate that in relatively short order, we will wind down pier operations,” Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters. On Wednesday, personnel from the military’s Central Command attempted and failed to reattach the makeshift pier to the beach in Gaza after rough seas forced operators to remove the structure several days ago to avoid damage, the Pentagon said. In a statement, Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said the latest effort to re-anchor the pier failed because of “technical and weather-related issues,” recurring problems that The New York Times identified last month when it reported that military officials had warned aid organizations that the project could be dismantled as early as July.

Persons: Biden, “, ” Jake Sullivan, Patrick S, Ryder Organizations: ., military’s Central Command, Pentagon, New York Times Locations: Gaza

☆ Opinion | Jake Sullivan: You Can Count on a Strong NATO
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Jake Sullivan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

They know that these relationships make us stronger and help us build a world that is free, independent, prosperous and secure. Twenty-three NATO members, out of 32, are expected to meet or exceed that target in 2024, compared with just nine in 2020, and five in 2016. This year alone America’s NATO partners — Canada and 30 European nations — will spend an estimated $506.7 billion on defense. That is an increase of $181 billion from 2020, compared with an increase of $70 billion from 2016 to 2020, during the previous administration. In 2023, defense expenditures of NATO nations in Europe and Canada grew by 8 percent.

Persons: Biden Organizations: NATO, — Canada Locations: Washington, Crimea, Europe, Canada

☆ Israel-Hamas War in Gaza: Latest News and Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Image Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, center, has threatened not to renew the provision, which makes it easier for Israeli banks to work with Palestinian banks. But many called the West Bank’s current economic predicament the most difficult yet. Before the war, Mahmoud Abu Issa, 53, was earning over $2,000 a month — an enviable salary in the impoverished West Bank — as a construction worker in Israel. If Palestinian banks want to offer shekel accounts, they must maintain links with Israeli banks and rely on them to process shekel transactions. Since 2017, Israel’s Finance Ministry has issued the waiver indemnifying the Israeli banks, according to Lilach Weissman, a spokeswoman for the ministry.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Smotrich, Israel, Biden, Mr, Smotrich —, —, Menahem Kahana, Mahmoud Abu Issa, “, Abu Issa, Mohammad Rabee, Shadi Abu Afifa, ”, Abu Afifa, Jake Sullivan, Lilach Weissman, Akram Jerab, Eytan Fuld, Azzam, Shawwa, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Agence France, Mr, Palestinian Authority’s Finance Ministry, Israel’s Finance, Quds Bank Locations: Gaza, Bank, U.S, Israel, Hebron, ”, Palestinian, Palestine

☆ Biden aims to paint Trump as a man whose foreign policy makes him too dangerous to be in the Oval Office
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Mj Lee | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy positions have sometimes seemed like an afterthought in an election with domestic concerns at its heart. One campaign official told CNN that if and when foreign policy issues come up Thursday night, the contrast that Biden will try to paint could not be starker. “President Biden stands up to dictators and defends freedom – Trump is a loser who is too dangerous and reckless to ever be anywhere close to the Oval Office again,” the official said. One potential difficulty for Biden and his advisers might be identifying Trump’s positions on several foreign policy areas. And on Trump, Biden is expected to deploy a broad accusation: That Trump abandoned US allies, cozied up to dictators and generally made the world less safe.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, –, Trump, Biden, Jake Sullivan, David, “, – Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin’s, Kim Jong, Donald Trump, ”, he’s, Netanyahu, Volodymyr Zelensky, ‘ Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, Republican, Democratic, CNN, Oval, North, Trump, ”, NATO, Republican Party, Ukrainian, Group Locations: Atlanta, Europe, Gaza, Ukraine, China, Beijing, North Korean, ” Russia, “, Israel, Kyiv, Italy, United States

☆ Biden administration moving towards allowing American military contractors to deploy to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is moving toward lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, four US officials familiar with the matter told CNN, to help the country’s military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems. The change would mark another significant shift in the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, as the US looks for ways to give Ukraine’s military an upper hand against Russia. The policy is still being worked on by administration officials and has not received final sign-off yet from President Joe Biden, officials said. Allowing experienced, US government-funded American contractors to maintain a presence in Ukraine means they will be able to help fix damaged, high-value equipment much faster, officials said. The discussions follow a series of decisions the US has made in recent months to try to help Ukraine beat back the Russians.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, “, ”, Jake Sullivan, Alex Vindman, Donald Trump’s, Vindman, ” Vindman Organizations: CNN, Biden, Russia, ”, Pentagon, State Department, Administration, Ukraine, National, European Affairs, Donald Trump’s National Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Poland, Romania, Kharkiv, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Middle East Crisis Israeli and U.S. Defense Chiefs to Discuss the Conflicts With Hamas and Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Ephrat Livni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. and Israeli defense chiefs, Lloyd J. Austin III and Yoav Gallant, at a December news conference in Tel Aviv. Mr. Gallant is meeting with Mr. Austin on his third day of talks with senior Biden administration officials. Mr. Gallant and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met in Washington on Monday. That was a recurring theme in American officials’ talks with Mr. Gallant this week. On Monday, Mr. Gallant met with William J. Burns, the C.I.A.

Persons: Lloyd J, Austin III, Yoav Gallant, Gallant’s, Patrick S, Ryder, Mr, Gallant, Austin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Matthew Miller, “, Khan Younis, ”, Antony J, Blinken, Miller, ’, “ We’ve, General Ryder, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein, Netanyahu, William J, Burns, Jake Sullivan Organizations: U.S, Pentagon . Defense, Pentagon, Defense Department, Biden, American, State Department, Hamas, Mr, Lebanese, Israel Locations: Tel Aviv, Washington, Gaza, Lebanon, “, Israel, Gen, United States, Rafah, Gaza City, Jerusalem, Beirut

Washington CNN —American officials are hoping to gain a better understanding of Israel’s war plans in meetings this week with the country’s defense minister, who arrived in Washington as the rift widened between the Biden administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will not end the war until we return all of our hostages – 120 hostages, the living and the deceased. Netanyahu said that once the “intense phase” of the Gaza conflict is over Israel will continue “mowing the grass” in Gaza, which US officials oppose. But Netanyahu ignored the demand from his defense minister, refusing to make such a public statement. And former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who resigned from a unity government with Netanyahu two weeks ago, accused Israel’s longest-serving leader of putting political considerations ahead of a post-war strategy.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ”, —, that’s, Matt Miller, Gallant, Bill Burns, Amos Hochstein, ” Gallant, Benny Gantz, Israel’s, Israel, Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Miller, “ vexing, “ Organizations: Washington CNN —, Biden, CIA, Defense, National, State Department, White, Washington Locations: Washington, Gaza, Israel, United States, ”, Lebanon

☆ 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

☆ US offers assurances to Israel this week in the event of full-blown war with Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

They discussed a wide range of topics including the situation on Israel’s northern border, Iran and the ceasefire and hostage negotiations, sources said. Since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, Hezbollah’s provocations against Israel have continued – and escalated in recent weeks. If Hezbollah were to significantly expand the scale of its attacks on Israel, resulting in the deaths of Israelis, US officials expect Israel to respond with full force. As CNN reported, US officials have serious concerns that in the event of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group could overwhelm Israel’s air defenses in the north — including the much-vaunted Iron Dome air defense system. In this week’s meetings, US and Israeli officials discussed possible “off-ramps” to try to lower the temperature along the so-called Blue Line that separates Lebanon and Israel, the senior administration official said.

Persons: Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, Tzachi Hanegbi, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Brett McGurk, Israel, Amos Hochstein Organizations: CNN — Senior, Hezbollah, Top, Strategic, Biden, White, CNN Locations: Washington, Israel, Iran, Lebanon

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