Senior Israeli officials said holding a virtual meeting is a way for Netanyahu to "save face" and have a discussion with the White House about Rafah without sending a delegation to Washington. A senior Israeli official said a second meeting, in person, is planned to take place as soon as next week (Read more at Axios).
The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, said the sources, who confirmed a report in the Washington Post. Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel, its longtime ally (Read more at USNews).
However, hours after Biden's Friday statement, the Washington Post reported that his government had signed off on additional bombs and warplanes for Israel in recent days worth billions of dollars. Biden also said Arab Americans have been a target of hate crimes while noting the fatal October stabbing of 6-year-old Palestinian American in Illinois, the November shooting of three students of Palestinian descent in Vermont, and the February stabbing of a Palestinian American man in Texas (Read more at USNews).
The meeting would mark the warming relations between the nations, after a period of strained ties. A U.S. official said Washington sees the meeting as an opportunity for Erdoğan to agree to a full ban on the transshipment via Turkey of dual-use goods that it says Russia uses in its war effort in Ukraine (Read more at duvarenglish).
Cairo wants help through funding and equipment if an Israeli operation into Rafah sends Gazans fleeing to its border. The Egyptian requests come as American officials deliberate with their counterparts in Qatar, Egypt and Israel to iron out a roadmap that will eventually lead to a pause in fighting (Read more at Politico).
For more than six weeks, there have been no attacks by Iran-allied militias against U.S. forces in Iraq or Syria. What really shook them up was the targeted killing of the logistics commander in Baghdad. The strike, he says, was proof of exceptionally precise locational intelligence. There are definitely calls for targeted strikes on Houthi leaders in Washington. The U.S. Air Force can do more damage in one hour than the Saudi Air Force can do in eight years (Read more CSMonitor).
Israelis are keenly aware that the close bond between their country and the U.S. is fraying over a war that they in their large majority support. Many are quick to echo Mr. Netanyahu by insisting Israel is ready to “go it alone” to “finish the job in Gaza” if need be. There is a growing sentiment that the widening breach with the U.S. is not based on a legitimate critique of the war, but on U.S. domestic politics (Read more at CSMonitor).
The contract will cover 50 System Enhancement Package 3 (SEP v3) variant tanks equipped with M240 Coaxial 7.62mm machine guns. Supporting capabilities included in the order are M88A2 HERCULES Combat Recovery Vehicles and M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicles. Maintenance, training, and other logistics services will also be provided by the US (Read more at Defense Post).
19 senators encourage Joe Biden to 'publicly outline a path' for US to recognize 'nonmilitarized' Palestinian state. The senators said they have been "particularly disappointed" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to engage on a path to a Palestinian state (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).
That proposal would see Israeli forces working to curb Hamas militants’ ability to smuggle weapons into Rafah, choking off their capacity to wage further war against Israel. It’s unclear for how long Israel would stay on the border along the eight-mile stretch. Egypt have lobbied Washington to urge Israel not to invade Rafah. They worry the operation would push Gazans, including Hamas militants to flee across the border into Sinai (Read more at Politico).
Although a Washington–Ankara rapprochement is still in its nascent stage, recent developments reveal the old allies are on a positive trajectory to repair bilateral relations after a period of strained diplomatic ties. While the Turkish president is stepping up anti-Zionist rhetoric on his domestic front, his administration maintains substantial economic ties with Israel. It makes clear Turkiye's shift toward prioritizing strategic interests over ideological ones (Read more at The Cradle).
Jared Kushner, former US President Donald Trump's son-in-law suggested that Israel should remove Palestinian civilians from Gaza while it "cleans up" the territory. This sheds light on potential future implications for Gaza under a Trump presidency amidst Israel's ongoing conflict (Read more at Jordannews).
Blinken has arrived in Saudi Arabia as part of a regional tour, his sixth since the start of the war. The State Department has announced that Blinken will cap his tour by visiting Israel. He is expected to be in Tel Aviv on Friday (Read more at Aljazeera).
This is a signal that both Biden and Netanyahu are trying to avoid a public clash. Biden told Netanyahu that while he shares the goal of destroying Hamas, there must be a coherent strategy to do that. "We want to have a strategic discussion about how to defeat Hamas in a way that will be long-term. There are ways to defeat Hamas without smashing into Rafah," Sullivan said (Read more at Axios).
A day after UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini publicly complained that Israel blocked him, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel, defended the need for him and his staff to visit Gaza. Senator Chris Van Hollen, in a CBS News interview Sunday, said that Israeli charges that UNRWA is a proxy for Hamas were "flat-out lies" aimed at getting rid of the agency (Read more at Barron's).
The Biden administration sincerely wants to help ease the suffering. But he refuses to use US leverage with Israel, providing billions of dollars in weapons and other assistance. The problem is that the Israeli government knows that Biden and Congress will not withhold serious amounts of funding and therefore does not need to heed US requests (Read more at Arabnews).
Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement, “Given ongoing hostilities in Gaza, the Israeli government’s assurances to the Biden administration that it is meeting US legal requirements are not credible.” (Read more at Aljazeera)
The issue is expected to lead the discussions in upcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister to Washington. Unlike hardline Shiite militias, security officials and some politicians have voiced concern that Iraq can’t afford a complete and abrupt withdrawal of US troops from the country, even though there is a feeling today that their presence at this time causes more problems than solutions (Read more at The National).
He will visit the Middle East this week and meet senior leaders in Saudia Arabia and Egypt to "discuss the right architecture for lasting regional peace". "We've also impressed upon Israel the imperative of having a plan for Gaza for when the conflict ends, which we hope will be as soon as possible, consistent with Israel's needs to defend itself and make sure Oct. 7 can never happen again," Blinken added (Read more at USNews).
Netanyahu told lawmakers on Tuesday he had made it "supremely clear" to the U.S. president "that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there's no way to do that except by going in on the ground" (Read more at USNews).
In a meeting with American Jewish organization executives on Tuesday, Schumer defended his call for an election and the stance that Netanyahu is a danger to Israel. Schumer only shared the content of his speech with a small circle of staff members and his wife. He alerted the White House the day before — just to ensure it wouldn't interfere with negotiations (Read more at Axios).
Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry said, "It is not enough for rhetoric, it is not enough to state opposition, it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected" (Read more at The Cradle).
The first case, Defense for Children International – Palestine v Biden, alleged that Biden Administration, has “actively abetted” Israel to commit genocide. The case was dismissed. In another case, US District Judge in Amarillo, Texas rejected the Biden administration’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit, that alleges Biden Administration put US visitors to Israel under increased risk of harm by providing economic aid to the West Bank and Gaza (Read more at Aljazeera).
During the military drill, an air landing by US and British enemy forces on a Yemeni village was simulated. Popular groups arm themselves to resist the invasion until the arrival of the Yemeni Armed Forces (Read more at The Cradle).
Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks, and denounced Schumer’s comments as inappropriate. “We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen,” he said (Read more at Yahoo News).
Kirby, White House National Security Communications Adviser, said Biden "understands that that's up to the Israeli people" concerning whether they hold new elections. He added, the U.S. doesn't "agree with everything" Israel does, but elections up to them (Read more at Axios).
The Sinn Fein leader, who was in Washington for a St Patrick's Day reception, says we're at a tipping point and big decisions now need to be made by the United States. Ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority (Read more at Skynews).
This sea route will be the first passage in or out of Gaza in more than 75 years not controlled by either Israel or Egypt. That also opens a window of opportunity for establishing links with an EU member state and, potentially, trade ties with the rest of this powerful economic and political union. It is a clear sign that the Biden administration is recognizing and internalizing the need to take a different approach to the war (Read more at Arabnews).
Questions include who will provide security for the US soldiers erecting the pier, who will distribute the aid, and whether building the pier is necessary. Some US officials say it is redundant, as Morocco has opened a land corridor to deliver aid by truck. It is also unclear how the causeway will be anchored to the shore, as US soldiers will be forbidden from setting foot on Gazan soil (Read more at The Cradle).
Panama is the largest ship registration hub in the world. Over 8,000 vessels sail under its flag, representing about 16 percent of the global fleet. Abram Paley, the US Deputy Special Envoy for Iran said that six vessels that violated US sanctions have flown the Panamanian flag since the start of this year. In January last year, the Panamanian maritime authority withdrew its flag from over 130 Iranian-linked vessels at Washington’s request (Read more at The Cradle).
The talks underline how the Biden administration is using diplomatic channels with its foe, alongside military deterrents, in a bid to de-escalate a wave of regional hostilities involving Iranian-backed militant groups. US officials acknowledge that military action alone will not be enough to deter the Houthis, and believe that ultimately Tehran will need to pressure the group to curb its activities (Read more at Financial Times).
“Mahmoud Abbas doesn’t tolerate succession planning,” the former official, who has met with Abbas said. “He believes in perpetual resurrection.” A poll late last year showed 90 percent of Palestinians want Abbas to resign. The reason the US doesn't know who will succeed Abu Mazen is because Abu Mazen doesn't know (Read more at Middle East Eye).
"The president was very clear that the US would continue to support Israel and to assist Israel to defend itself, so I don't think that's going to change," Varadkar said after their Oval Office meeting. "But I think none of us like to see American weapons being used in the way they are. The way they're being used at the moment is not self-defense." (Read more at NewArab)
The U.S. has yet to confirm that missiles have moved from Iran to Russia. But U.S. officials are alarmed by comments by Iranian officials that suggest that a deal is imminent. One action that the Group of Seven countries are mulling is to prohibit Iran Air, the country’s national air carrier, from flying to Europe (Read more at ABCNews).
Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said in a statement that Lebanon was facing “great instability.” (Read more at Arabnews).
Biden, who said that Schumer contacted his staff in advance of making the speech Thursday, said he wouldn't elaborate further on the comments. "I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans," Biden said. (Read more at NBCNews)
He said, "I can tell you is we're working intensively with Israel, with Qatar, with Egypt, to bridge the remaining gaps and to try to reach an agreement". When asked about a possible Israel military offensive on Rafah, Blinken said the US had not seen such plans, reiterating that Washington wants a "clear and implementable plan" to ensure civilians are "out of harm's way". (Read more at Barron's)
Some have called into question whether its impact could boomerang into a boost for Mr Netanyahu's far-right coalition as it continues to wage war in Gaza. Benny Gantz, a political rival of Mr Netanyahu, said the US senator had “erred in his remarks” and that “external intervention” was “counterproductive and unacceptable.” (Read more at The National)
The CFO of McDonald’s announced that the boycott’s impact on sales in the arab region and the Islamic world. McDonald's shares plummeted by over 3 percent, heading towards recording its biggest daily loss in five weeks (Read more at Jordannews).
Evangelicals, long Israel’s among greatest supporters in the U.S. and abroad, are traveling there as war volunteers, providing extra hands for farms struggling to harvest. Propelled by faith, the “voluntourists” say they hope to show solidarity (Read more CSMonitor).
The Biden administration asked Israel to provide the signed letter of assurances by mid-March. The Israeli war cabinet gave Gallant the green light to sign the letter of assurances (Read more at Axios).
Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in US history, in his most strident criticism of Israel, has declared that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an obstacle to peace, too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, and endorsed Israel hosting new elections to oust his right-wing government. He also said “There needs to be a fresh debate about the future of Israel after October 7.” (Read more at Aljazeera)
Biden has begun a tricky maneuver: breaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Gaza war strategy — while sticking with Israel and its fight against Hamas. U.S. intelligence services expect large protests demanding Netanyahu's resignation and new elections in the coming weeks and months and A different, more moderate government is a possibility (Read more at Axios).
He was one of six Americans still considered held hostage in Gaza. 19-year-old Itay Chen was killed in action on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants crossed into Israel and attacked his base. His body was then taken by Hamas militants to Gaza (Read more at Axios).
8 senators, led by Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of preventing US-funded aid from reaching the Gaza Strip's civilian population “in a safe and timely manner (Read more at Al Monitor).
Facing budget caps and new procurement delays, the Navy plans to decommission a total of 13 ships in fiscal year 2025, including ten before the end of their expected service life, for a total overall fleet of 287 ships in fiscal year 2025 (Read more at Stripes).
The airdrops were “a good way of showing to Democratic Party voters that the US cares about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel is not anymore under pressure to open its border with Gaza. While Israel was considering arming some Palestinian individuals or clans in Gaza to provide security protection for aid convoys after the fighting ends, 99 percent of the time, food that’s airdropped over Gaza gets immediately collected by civilians (Read more at Arabnews).
It also suggests that Israel will fail to achieve its aim in the Gaza war of completely eliminating Hamas. It appeared unusual for American spy agencies to offer their analysis of an allied leader’s political prospects in an unclassified document (Read more at Politicalwire).
US forces said they destroyed an underwater drone and nearly 20 ballistic missiles in a series of strikes against Yemen's Houthi group. The US Central Command said in a statement Monday night that the strikes were carried out after the Houthis fired two missiles towards a Singaporean-owned, Liberian-flagged merchant ship called the Pinocchio (Read more at NewArab).
He said a pending hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas which will initially allow a temporary ceasefire and enable people to get the much-needed humanitarian aid has "great value.” (Read More at TRTWorld)
It includes mainstream left-wing groups, more than 20 advocacy groups as well as organisations focused on Palestinian rights. They claim that AIPAC is readying a $100m offensive through its electoral arms (Read more at Aljazeera).
US arms sale to Israel since Oct 7 includes tens of tonnes of 155mm shells, tens of thousands of guided bombs, air-to-ground missiles of the ‘Hellfire’ model, and drones, roughly 21,000 precision-guided munitions, thousands of bunker-buster munitions, and 200 kamikaze drones. On the other hand, the US and Israel have concluded a massive arms deal that includes the supply of F-35 and F-15 fighter jets to Tel Aviv (Read more at Jordan News).
In 100 secret operations since the start of the war, this bridge involved at least 100 flights originating from US bases worldwide and hundreds of flights operated by air and sea shipping companies. Joe Biden chose not to inform Congress about these operations (Read more at Jordan News).
He said, "to Muslims across our country, please know that you are deeply valued members of our American family. To those who are grieving during this time of war, I hear you, I see you, and I pray you find solace in your faith, family, and community." He added Islamophobia has absolutely no place in the country (Read more at Anadolu Ajansı).
The U.S., France, and others have recently floated plans that would rely on the LAF and UNFIL to take a greater role in southern Lebanon. Yet more of the same is not the answer. The United States must acknowledge reality: its Lebanon policy is failing. And the dire consequences are coming into view (Read more at Providence).
Rather than aim to “de-escalate”—the aim should be for “stability”— a return to peace on just terms. And for decades, maintaining the peace has required the United States’ ability and will to escalate. The United States has the might to crush the Houthis. The United States can convince Iran to end these terror attacks against civilian international shipping (Read more at Providence).
Muslim organisations in New York are calling on their local mosques and spaces this Ramadan to not invite - or decline invitations from - any elected official who has not called for a ceasefire in the war on Gaza (Read more at Middle East Eye).
A day after President Biden asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu dismissed that contention as “wrong.” Mr. Netanyahu said his policies represented the “overwhelming majority” of Israelis (Read more at Nepal Page).
The White House claims it wishes to build the port to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, but the port would take at least 60 days to build and that "charities have said those suffering in Gaza cannot wait that long. This military tactical port will receive Israeli approval because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been seeking this idea since the beginning of the war (Read more at The Cradle)
The officials said the administration “has yet to see any kind of humanitarian or evacuation plan from the Israeli government that seeks to ensure the safety of civilians in Rafah before launching a military operation there” (Read more at Aljazeera).
The Emirati government reportedly threatened to suspend work on an Arab–Israeli land route if aid does not reach Gaza. US plans to construct a temporary port on the shores of Gaza are reportedly the result of Emirati pressure on Washington (Read more at The Cradle).
"We are looking at the possibility of hundreds of thousands of children starving to death. The United States of America cannot be complicit in this mass slaughter of children," Sanders said. "You can't beg Netanyahu. You have to tell him 'if you want any money, you have to change your policy," he continued (Read more at Axios).
A Palestinian aid worker employed at a US charity has been killed in an Israeli attack on his shelter in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah. This is the fifth member of a US humanitarian aid group killed in the war on Gaza (Read more at Aljazeera).
Biden said, “The defence of Israel is still critical, so there’s no red line [where] I’m going to cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them. But there’s red lines that if he crosses them…”, Biden said without finishing his chain of thought, adding that his administration “cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead.” (Read more at Aljazeera)
CENTCOM and coalition forces determined that the the "large-scale" drone attack "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels, US Navy and coalition ships in the region" (Read more NewArab).
Fidan said Turkey maintained its position on Syria and over the F-35s, saying Ankara was owed jets for the payment and work it did as a manufacturer. He said Turkey was open to discussing the matter but Washington needed to be "open minded" (Read more at USNews).
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fear their US patrons will abandon them in favor of closer relations with Turkiye. Turkiye has escalated its airstrikes on areas in northeast Syria occupied by the SDF in recent months. SDF would simply have to cut a deal with Damascus if the US pulls out, returning northeast Syria and its oil and wheat resources to Syrian government control (Read more at The Cradle).
He changed only rhetorically. But he has not backed away from the two pillars of President Biden’s position on the October 7 terrorist attacks: Israel has a right to defend itself and Hamas must be destroyed. There is one area where the president has changed: Prior to the war, he evinced little or no interest in a two-state solution. He has now put his administration squarely behind this idea (Read more at CFR).
In his last State of the Union address before the November elections, US President Joe Biden reiterated his administration's commitment to a two-state solution. However, Biden said that “Israel has a right to go after Hamas” for the Oct. 7 massacre and resisted calls from the progressive wing of his party to restrict US military assistance to Israel or cut off its diplomatic protection at the United Nations (Read more at Al Monitor).
An international relations and media lecturer at Israel’s Hebrew University, believes the historically close relationship between the two countries will supersede the relationships between individual administrations. I don’t remember another war that Israel fought where it received so much support from a U.S. administration. The airlifting of U.S. military equipment to Israel occurred almost immediately. It never stopped (Read more at CNBC).
he U.S. port system being envisioned for Gaza involves two separate components, the first being construction of a floating, offshore barge that would be able to accept aid deliveries. The U.S. military would then move aid from there to a floating, 550 meter causeway anchored to the shore. It may involve more than 1,000 American troops and would allow delivery about 2 million meals to Gazans daily (Read more at USNews).
The White House is seeking a full accounting of the government's weapons assistance to Israel as criticism and pressure grow across the political spectrum of U.S. support for Israel in the war in Gaza (Read more at Axios).
William Burns secretly arrived in Egypt yesterday and headed to Doha today for a meeting with Qatar’s prime minister. He will next travel to Israel (Read more at Aljazeera).
Mike Pompeo said that the Palestinian aid packed in Joe Biden's State of Union speech was to appeal to pro-Hamas democrats who wish to see Israel fail and Hamas succeed. He believes that aid will end up in the Hamas's hands (Watch the interview at Hudson).
"We believe we have come to the point that we and the broader international community must consider anew how to respond to Iran's continued stonewalling," the United States said in a statement to the Board meeting. "We cannot allow Iran's current pattern of behavior to continue." (Read more at USNews).
he U.S. Mission in Türkiye brought international education and innovation expert Geoffrey Watson to Ankara and Istanbul this week as part of its ongoing efforts to promote U.S.-Turkish cooperation in higher education and educational technology. Watson is the President and Chief Business Officer of the Minerva Project, a San Francisco-based startup that aims to revolutionize higher education (Read more at DailySabah).
The operation will not require that American troops be on the ground to build the pier. The U.S. military has "unique capabilities" and can do things from "just offshore (Read more at DailySabah).
The meeting also highlighted the necessity for the Ukraine war not to prolong further, and emphasized that the resolution should be within the "territorial and political integrity of Ukraine." He also urged the U.S. to sever its ties with the PKK's affiliated terrorist groups (Read more at DailySabah).
Council on American-Islamic Relations calls for federal investigation into a real estate event which advertised properties in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. They are deemed illegal under international law. The event's website advertises properties located in several Israeli cities. It also lists the following Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank: Neve Daniel, Efrat, Ma’ale Adumim (Read more at Middle East Eye).
US activist, academic and presidential candidate Cornel West said, "I stand in deep solidarity with my Palestinian brothers and sisters." (Read more at NewArab)
Former president’s rhetoric shows voters seeking to punish Joe Biden for backing Israel face dilemma in upcoming election. Donald Trump has voiced explicit backing for Israel’s war on Gaza, suggesting that he supports the goal expressed by the hardline government in Tel Aviv of continuing the assault until “total victory” (Read more at Aljazeera).
The United States on Tuesday revised language in a draft United Nations Security Council resolution to back "an immediate ceasefire of roughly six-weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages. The third revision of the text - first proposed by the US two weeks ago - now reflects blunt remarks by Vice President Kamala Harris (Read more at TBS News).
She called for Hamas to accept terms for an immediate ceasefire. In a post on X, Ms Harris said she "reiterated" support for Israel's "right to defend itself" and discussed the need to increase the flow of aid into Gaza (Read more at Skynews).
The strong messages Gantz received in private, signal the White House has lost its patience and is ratcheting up pressure on the Israeli government. Gantz, who is considered a more moderate member of the Israeli war cabinet, tried to reassure Harris and Sullivan that Israel won't go into Rafah without evacuating the civilian population and stressed Israel has ways to do it, but also realized the White House doesn't believe the previous assurances received from Netanyahu about this issue (Read more at Axios).
Hamas says Israel does not want a ceasefire deal, and it is up to the US to pressure Tel Aviv to agree to end the fighting in Gaza. Israel says it is interested only in a temporary truce. Hamas says it wants any deal to lead to a permanent end to the war, the release of Palestinians held captive in Israeli jails, and all Gaza residents be allowed to return during the truce. (Read more at The Cradle).
Speaking before his meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the State Department, the top U.S. diplomat also said there was an opportunity right now to achieve an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war but that the onus was on the Palestinian militant group to engage in those talks (Read more at USNews).
Three Houthi drones and a missile fired towards a US destroyer in the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage to the ship (Read more at The National).
The US administration’s decision to host war cabinet minister Benny Gantz is a calculated step aimed at “strengthening the moderate axis” in the Israeli governmen. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is upset about the visit (Read more at Aljazeera).
Since the end of the Vietnam War, every US presidency has been shaped by conflict in the Middle East and viewed it solely through the lens of Israel. Donald Trump accepted Israel’s annexation of “East Jerusalem” and the Golan Heights. This led some Arab states to move to establish ties with Israel in an effort to forestall further moves towards annexation. Israel, emboldened by its support from Washington, remained intransigent (Read more at The National).
Although she urged Hamas to accept a deal, she directed the bulk of her comments at Israel in what appeared to be the sharpest rebuke yet by a senior leader in the U.S. government over the conditions in the coastal enclave. Her comments reflected intense frustration, if not desperation, within the U.S. government about the war, which has hurt President Joe Biden with left-leaning voters as he seeks re-election this year (Read more at USNews)..
Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker said that he believed the timing of his visit pointed to progress in efforts to secure a Gaza truce "within the next few hours or days". Lebanon's caretaker prime minister said that a halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip as early as this week would trigger indirect talks to end hostilities along Lebanon's southern border with Israel (Read more at USNews).
The war has also reignited previously-dormant advocacy groups such as Pro-Israel America. It’s also supercharged fundraising on all sides of the conflict. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the nation’s only federal Palestinian-American lawmaker, raised a staggering $3.7 million in the final three months of 2023, her largest-ever single quarter fundraising haul (Read more at Politico).
For example, Israel lists a number of fundraising campaigns hosted by Michigan-based LaunchGood, a nonprofit that crowdsources funding for some of the largest Muslim charities in the world and the U.S. hasn’t taken action against any of the campaigns or charities on the fundraising platform. They have undergone scrutiny by the Western governments that regulate them (Read more at MSN).
The approximately 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulphate fertiliser that the vessel was carrying presents an environmental risk in the Red Sea (Read more at The National).
A senior US official said on Saturday that Israel had broadly accepted the plan and it was now up to Hamas to agree to release captives for the deal to take effect. In addition to halting Israel's war, Hamas wants new truce terms to ensure immediate humanitarian relief for Gazans, an Israeli withdrawal and the return of Gazans displaced from the north (Read more at Al Ahram).
An American convict who has spent 40 years behind bars worked in prison for over a month, earning a total of $17.74 and selflessly donated to the people of Gaza. He worked as a janitor for a mere 13 cents per hour, accumulating around this small amount for his 136 hours of labour. His altruistic gesture captured the hearts of people globally through a social media post, resulting in a tremendous outpouring of support and assistance from the community (Read more at TRTWorld).
The talks, first reported by Reuters, are expected to span topics including reducing Palestinian civilian casualties, securing a temporary ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza and increasing aid to the territory, a White House official said (Read more at USNews).
The Houthi Transport Ministry in Yemen said on Saturday there had been a "glitch" in undersea communication cables in the Red Sea as a result of actions by U.S. and British naval vessels (Read more at USNews).
The U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement the entities - a subsidiary of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an organization affiliated with Russia's military intelligence agency (GRU) - aimed to "stoke socio-political tensions and influence the U.S. electorate during the 2024 U.S. election" (Read more at Reuters).
US drone activity spans Baghdad, as well as provinces like Anbar, Nineveh, Erbil, and northern Babylon, despite a temporary cessation of attacks by Iraqi armed factions. the continued US drone operations pose a challenge to the Iraqi government's efforts to ease tensions with armed factions (Read more at NewArab).
The US claimed that it did not 'have all the facts on the ground' concerning the massacre on Palestinians queueing for aid by the Israeli military. The US was the only country out of 15 to not back Algeria's statement on the massacre in Al-Rashid Street that killed at least 112. US deputy ambassador Robert Wood said that he wanted the wording to reflect "the necessary due diligence with regards to culpability." (Read more at NewArab).
The US normally does airdrops in hostile environments, not in areas occupied by allies. The move to drop aid from the skies signals Biden can’t persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do more for suffering Palestinians. The U.S. has many ways to influence Israeli actions, not least of which is to consider conditioning military aid for the country (Read more at Politico).
One of them said, "I don’t even care if Trump wins or loses. I just don’t want Biden to win. I don’t want to bubble Biden on my ballot in November. I will vote for Trump because I can." Another one said, "I will vote for Trump not because he’s amazing - because he is not. But because 30,000 innocent people didn’t die under his watch." (Read more at Middle East Eye)
The C-17 and C-130 are best suited for the job. The wind plays a large role in ensuring that they land where they should. There is no guarantee that the aid will not end up in the hands of Hamas. President Joe Biden told reporters that the U.S. was also looking at the possibility of a maritime corridor to deliver aid into Gaza. One possible option is shipping aid by sea from Cyprus (Read more at USNews).
According to observers, Barzani’s visit marks a shift in the Biden administration’s policy and a desire to push for a more active US engagement with Erbil. The United States is hoping to transform Kurdistan into a major centre of gravity for American influence in Iraq, where the government is working to end the mission of US-led forces there (Read more at The Arab Weekly).
The Senate voted 79 to 13 against a resolution of disapproval of $23 billion sale of 40 Lockheed Martin F-16s and nearly 80 modernization kits to Türkiye, introduced by Republican Sen. Rand Paul. Before the vote, Paul criticized Türkiye's government and said allowing the sale would, what he called, embolden its "misbehavior." Backers of the sale said it was important for Washington to keep its word to a NATO ally (Read more at Daily Sabah).
Both presidents stressed the need to avoid the expansion of the conflict in the region. Egypt urged the UNSC member States to provide protection for the Palestinian people. Biden praised Egypt's intense political efforts to reach a truce and its pioneering role in providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. They also discussed strengthening the strategic bilateral partnership (Read more at Al Ahram).
The congressional leaders cited a recent poll from Data For Progress that found 77 per cent of Democrats, 69 per cent of Independents and 56 per cent of Republicans wanted "a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza". Not only is a ceasefire good policy, it is good politics (Read more at The National).
The Pentagon said Mr Austin was quoting Hamas numbers and that the US is not keeping track of Gaza casualty figures. Pentagon press secretary Maj Gen Pat Ryder said that absent being on the ground in Gaza, the Pentagon has no way to corroborate tolls given by Israel or Gaza authorities (Read more at The National).
Biden walked back his previous remarks about a possible ceasefire in Gaza by Monday. White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton said the U.S. asked the Israeli government to thoroughly investigate the aid convoy incident. USAID Administrator Samantha Power said two crossings is not enough and we need more crossings into Gaza so that vitally needed humanitarian assistance can be dramatically surged (Read more at Axios).
The US urged Israel to allow Muslims to worship at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem during Ramadan after a far-right minister proposed barring Palestinians from the occupied West Bank from praying there (Read more at Al Ahram).
This move underscores the growing concern within the White House about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The administration was skeptical of such an idea early in the war, but support for it has been growing (Read more at Axios).
The Biden administration gave Israel until mid-March to sign a letter that gives assurances it will abide by international law while using U.S. weapons and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. If the assurances aren't provided by the deadline, U.S. weapon transfers to the country will be paused (Read more at Axios).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday pushed back against President Biden's recent warning that Israel will lose support worldwide if its "incredibly conservative" government continues down its current path. Netanyahu cited a recent Harvard-Harris poll that found more than 80% of those surveyed in the U.S. supported Israel more than Hamas in the current conflict. But a recent AP/Norc poll showed that 50% of U.S. adults surveyed in January said they believed Israel's actions had gone too far (Read more at Axios).
During a guest appearance on Late Night With Seth Myers on US TV, US President took the opportunity to say that he was a Zionist. He did so several times before: During a Senate debate in 1986, he said "were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interests in the region". Last year, during his visit to Israel he said: "I don't believe you have to be a Jew to be a Zionist, and I am a Zionist" (Read more at NewArab).
The testimony from Shapiro and Tim Lenderking, the US envoy for the conflict in Yemen, marked the first congressional testimony by US officials since President Joe Biden ordered strikes against the Houthis last month. This was the most detailed public accounting of the airstrikes so far (Read more at YahooFinance).
Israel's plan to add thousands more homes in the occupied West Bank was the final push the Biden administration needed to declare them "inconsistent" with international law. Since January 2021, the Biden administration has come close a few times to restoring the language to the pre-Trump era, but each time the move was set aside largely due to a failure to secure a green light from all of the senior members of the administration. The Oct. 7 Hamas attack had temporarily halted plans for such a change (Read more at USNews).
The United States has been carrying out near-daily strikes against Houthis. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said, "Trying to re-establish deterrence, I don't think you're going to do it if the 200 strikes become 400 strikes, 800 strikes, 1,200 strikes." U.S. Special Envoy Tim Lenderking told lawmakers during the hearing that China should be "more engaged" in international efforts to halt the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping (Read more at AOL).
Israel’s war on Gaza has not been a centerpiece of Trump’s attacks on Biden. He said if he was in charge he would go after Iran and its proxies and would argue that he would have secured the release of American hostages held by Hamas. He may decide that America has had enough of the Middle East and should focus on its real rival, China, instead (Read more at Arabnews).
Israel's killing thousands of Gaza citizens became a reminder of how invisible they sometimes feel in America. For example, Schools rarely allow students to choose their racial identity as Arab American on information forms. Biden's early support for Israel's assault on Palestinians in Gaza was simply a tipping point for many Arab Americans who helped him achieve a critical win the state in 2020 (Read more at Axios).
The United States targeted Iranian and Houthi commanders and a vessel that shipped more than $100 million in Iranian commodities to businesses in China in sanctions announced on Tuesday (Read more at USNews).
"Blocking West Bank residents from working in Israel, it has a very significant negative effect on incomes in the West Bank. And Israel is also dependent on that labor force," Yellen said, adding that labor shortages were also hurting Israel's economy (Read more at USNews).
Türkiye, in October 2021, requested 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft and 79 modernisation kits from the US to upgrade its remaining F-16s to Block 70 level (Read more at TRTWorld).
Machine-learning algorithms that can teach themselves to identify objects helped to narrow down targets for more than 85 US air strikes on February 2. AI systems have also helped identify rocket launchers in Yemen and surface vessels in the Red Sea (Read more at theNational).
He added that he was leading the effort in Congress to make sure that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't get the US funds that he needs to continue his war against the Palestinian people (Read more at NewArab).
His steadfast support of the Gaza war effort is angering young people and Arab Americans in an election year. But any change risks alienating Jewish voters. Mr. Biden needs the war to end, so he can reassemble the coalition that got him elected in 2020. But Mr. Netanyahu wants it to continue until the complete rout of Hamas, to stave off his own political reckoning from an angry electorate — and potentially help Donald J. Trump, his ally, return to power (Read more at NYTimes).
Mohammad Shtayyeh announced the resignation of his government. The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack. He said, "the next stage and its challenges require new governmental and political measures that take into account the new reality in the Gaza Strip" (Read more at Barrons).
Sandvine, which has been accused of helping facilitate surveillance on Egypt's opposition, supplies what is known as "deep packet inspection technology" which examines and manages network traffic. U.S. companies are effectively barred from shipping goods and technology to Sandvine with its addition to the list (Read more at USNews).
A 25-year-old US airman of San Antonio, Texas filmed himself repeatedly yelling yelling “Free Palestine". He then put his phone down, doused himself over the head with a liquid from a water bottle, and then set himself ablaze. The Israeli Embassy said none of its staffers were injured. In December, a person self-immolated outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta and used gasoline as an accelerant. A Palestinian flag was found at the scene. (See his Linkedin page).
The Biden administration asked Israel to stop targeting members of the Hamas-run civilian police force who escort aid trucks in Gaza. Gaza is turning into Mogadishu" as a security vacuum and desperation have opened the door for armed gangs to attack and loot aid trucks. Many of the trucks that have recently entered Gaza have been overrun by criminal gangs (Read more at Axios).
It includes the release of several hundred Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of killing Israelis and serving long sentences, in exchange for Hamas freeing 35 to 40 Israeli hostages. Israel would agree to a day of ceasefire for each hostage, a limited return of Palestinian citizens to the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and a significant increase in the scope of humanitarian aid that would enter the Gaza Strip. It only mentions general principles for the next phases of the deal and the release of soldiers and an exchange of bodies (Read more at Axios).
The world's most influential Sunni institution urged the world to intervene to stop the rivers of blood in Palestine, put an end to this savage aggression, and halt the massacres and daily crimes (Read more at Al Ahram).
It’s bad for many partners, but especially Turkey. While Ankara may favor a future US withdrawal from Syria, it desires US coordination. An uncoordinated withdrawal leaves the country alone against Tehran, Moscow, Damascus, and the YPG. They would probably aim to expel Turkey from Syria (Read more at Atlantic Council).
One expert expects that Erdogan will pay a visit to the White House in the near term as the two parties bridge key differences. The decision by Turkey to appoint a career diplomat as the country's top envoy in the US capital reflects its desire to maintain the current upward trajectory of their relations (Read more at Al Monitor).
U.S. Secretary of State Antony said the United States has become "disappointed" in Israel's announcement of plans for building new housing in the occupied West Bank because it is 'inconsistent' with international law. In 2019, Trump's Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington no longer viewed Israel's settlements on West Bank captured in the 1967 as "inconsistent with international law." (Read more at USNews).
He is a graduate of international relations at Ankara University and had represented Ankara in New York from 1998 to 2002. He then assumed the role of Counselor at the Embassy of Türkiye in Tehran from 2002 to 2005. He has been Türkiye's permanent representative to the UN in New York since February 2023 (Read more at TRTWorld).
Even longtime supporters of a two-state peace, and opponents of Mr. Netanyahu, appear unready or unable to look beyond their own pain, the fate of the hostages still in Gaza, and the need to hit back hard in response to the Hamas attack. In these circumstances, Washington’s main task will be getting them even to listen (Read more at CSMonitor).
In the intermediate term, Israel wishes to “maintain its operational freedom of action in the entire Gaza Strip, without a time limit,” as well as to retain a security buffer within the besieged territory. Any reconstruction can only begin after “de-radicalization” and demilitarization. Israel also requests a “southern lock” on the border between the Gaza and Egypt (Read more at ABCNews).
Of the new entities listed, 4 from the UAE, 16 from Turkey, 63 were from Russia, and 8 from China. The action taken one day before the 2nd anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine means banning U.S. shipments to them (Read more at USNews).
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Iran has been sending “significant numbers” of drones, guided aerial bombs and artillery ammunition to Russia, and the US is closely monitoring whether Iran has transferred any close-range ballistic missiles”. He added, "I can assure you that the response in the international community will be swift and it will be severe.” (Read more at The National).
The nuclear materials came from Myanmar, with defendant Takeshi Ebisawa accused of selling them to a US undercover agent. The nuclear material came from an unidentified leader of an "ethnic insurgent group" in Myanmar who had been mining uranium in the country (Read more at Skynews).
The US intelligence report highlighted that Israeli bias against the UN aid agency impacted the quality of Israel’s assessments (Read more at New Arab).
But it’s not the Houthis who will face the worst of the effects of the designation. The Houthis being placed back on the US “terror” list will cut off the flow of humanitarian to the country (Read more at Aljazeera).
Any movement towards Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza requires consideration of Israel’s very real security needs on October 7 (Read more at Aljazeera).
He talks with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials for at least a six-week pause in fighting. The main sticking point centers on differences over the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released and how the list will be determined for the first stage of what could be a three-phase deal (Read more at Axios).
“The next few weeks are a real hinge point — for Gaza, for Israel, for Lebanon, for the Red Sea, for Iraq,” said Senators Chris Coons. “It could create that window of 45 days, during Ramadan for a full implementation of UNSC resolution 1701,” he said. Senators Chris Coons and Richard Blumenthal told Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri that Israel “is not bluffing” about an offensive (Read more at Arabnews).
Senator Lindsey Graham: “We are in a religious war here. I am with Israel. Do whatever the hell you have to do to defend yourselves. Level the place.” (Read more at Aljazeera).
Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Coons who held talks with Israeli and Arab leaders said yesterday that they were hopeful a deal could be struck allowing a humanitarian pause in the war in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (Read more at USNews).
Democratic Senator Chris Coons is headed for Beirut in what some observers comment is a show of US support for Lebanon at a time of ongoing crisis (Read more at Al-Monitor).
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim said: Very, very unfortunate that Putin has not reciprocated President Erdogan’s goodwill, and that grain initiative has now become defunct. We know that Erdogan has a special place in his heart for the Tatar community in Crimea, and we hope that he will continue to coordinate closely with us (Read more at TRT World).
It happened at the home of Israeli American media mogul Haim Saban. War in Gaza has divided California Democrats. A super PAC supporting former President Trump, ran digital ads targeting social media users in Saban’s ZIP Code that focus on White House officials’ meeting with Osama Siblani, a Michigan newspaper publisher who has previously praised Hamas and Hezbollah (Read more at LA Times).
Blinken’s first trip as secretary of state to Brazil comes more than three years into his tenure. The Biden administration had limited interest in dealing with Lula’s predecessor, the far-right Jair Bolsonaro. The Brazilian leftist president, on a trip to Ethiopia, said that what was happening in the Gaza Strip “isn’t a war, it’s a genocide.” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said We have been quite clear that we do not believe that genocide has occurred in Gaza (Read more at Arabnews).
Thirteen council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted text. Britain abstained. It demanded for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire (Read more at Arabnews).
Unmanned surface and subsurface vessels are likely more difficult to detect and destroy than aerial drones and anti-ship missiles. They are adjusting their strategy, apparently because they haven't been successful in striking a U.S. naval vessel. "If one or more of these weapons get through and kill U.S. sailors, Iran should expect to be held directly responsible" ABC News national security and defense analyst Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon official and CIA agent, said (Read more at ABCNews).
They say the U.N. Security Council never authorized military action against Yemen. Russia says the root cause of the current situation is Israel’s military offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7 (Read more at ABCNews).
Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, Yemen's Houthi rebels remain capable of launching significant attacks. For Washington, “deterrence options” are getting narrower. Houthis and allied tribes in Yemen amount to 20,000 fighters (Read more at ABCNews).
Brett McGurk is expected to visit Israel and Egypt this week for talks on the possible Israeli military operation in Rafah and efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Isrealis stressed they won't operation in Rafah without coordinating with the U.S. and Egypt. Israeli and U.S. officials have admitted that it would take many weeks before an operation in Rafah could go forward — possibly only in mid-April after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is over (Read more at Axios).
The U.S. executive order in December did not explicitly target energy but it has complicated some Turkish payments for Russian crude as well as Russian payments for a broader range of Turkish exports. A source with a Russian oil major said Russian oil exporters have not received payments from Turkey for two to three weeks (Read more at USNews).
But it says "as soon as practical" and based on the formula of all hostages being released” while also “lifting all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale” in Gaza. The US draft also warns Israel not to launch a ground offensive in Rafah where more than 1.4 million of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza have sought shelter. This is the first time the US is proposing the word ceasefire, while it has twice vetoed Security Council resolutions. Something very clearly has changed in Washington in the last 24 hours (Read more at Aljazeera).
This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in October 2023. Centcom identified the anti-ship cruise missiles, unmanned underwater vessel and the unmanned surface vessel in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region (Read more at The National).
"It's definitely a high operations tempo," the VAW-123 squadron leader said. "We're on call 24/7." They have minutes, sometimes just seconds, to react to a possible incoming threat. Rear Admiral Marc Miguez tells us that "numerous strikes" on Houthi positions from the Eisenhower and other ships in Carrier Strike Group Two are successfully degrading the Houthis' capabilities to launch their attacks (Read more at ABCNews).
But an official told ABC News that the White House and the intelligence community remains unconvinced that the response will persist, even as some State Department officials say it may take a generation to rebuild U.S. standing in some countries (Read more at ABCNews).
Algeria put forward an initial draft resolution more than two weeks ago. But U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield quickly said the text could jeopardize "sensitive negotiations" aimed at brokering a pause in the war (Read more at USNews).
The commander, Esmail Qaani, met representatives of several of the armed groups in Baghdad airport less than 48 hours after Washington blamed the groups for the killing of three U.S. soldiers at the Tower 22 outpost in Jordan. Qaani, whose predecessor was killed by a U.S. drone near the same airport four years ago, told the factions that drawing American blood risked a heavy U.S. response, 10 of the sources said. Since Feb. 4 there have been no attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria (Read more at Reuters).
Community leaders ask administration officials to allow 50,000 Palestinians to come to US under humanitarian parole programme. However, it is likely to face severe resistance from Mr Biden's Republican rivals, who are likely to bring up issues of vetting and security. (Read more at The National).
It reverses one of the first foreign policy decisions carried out by President Joe Biden after he took office. The decision to restore only the SDGT designation came after the State Department, USAID and Democrats in Congress objected to reapplying the FTO designation, which critics have said would do more to hinder humanitarian access than the SDGT designation alone (Read more at Al-Monitor).
She had said, "If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I'm sorry, my friends, there would be no Canada the next day." Later she apologized for her "poor choice of words." the governor added, "While I have been clear in my support of Israel's right to self-defense, I have also repeatedly said and continue to believe that Palestinian civilian casualties should be avoided." (Read more at USNews)
Tony Blinken-Secretary of State, Lloyd Austin-Secretary of Defense, Jake Sullivan-National Security Adviser, Jon Finer-Deputy National Security Adviser, Bill Burns-CIA Director, Avril Haines-Director of National Intelligence, David Satterfield-Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, Brett McGurk-NSC Coordinator for the Middle East, Kamala Harris-Vice President, Phil Gordon-National Security Adviser to the VP, Roger Carstens-Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Gen. Erik Kurilla-CENTCOM Commander (Read more at Axios).
Various geopolitical disruptions can remind both sides of the added value they generate from working in harmony. The US withdraw from Afghanistan is one such example, where Türkiye and the United States quickly saw merit in cooperating to boost security at the Kabul airport. The war in Ukraine is another example ranging from the grain deal to Black Sea security. The same could happen in the context of the war in Gaza (Read more at Carnegie).
Lebanon foreign minister continues, the US should pressure Israel. Washington remains Israel’s primary foreign backer, sending it roughly $4 billion annually in military aid, which constitutes about 16% of Israel’s defense budget (Read more at CNBC).
An American soldier standing guard at Tower 22 in the Jordanian desert cannot simultaneously watch over the NATO border in Estonia, the demilitarized zone on the Korean peninsula or Philippine shoals in the South China Sea (Read more at Bloomberg).
It took place on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference and would be linked to the normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, according to diplomats and officials (Read more at Middle East Eye).
The proposed arms delivery includes MK-82 bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions that add precision guidance to bombs, and FMU-139 bomb fuses (Link)
This may be due to the lack of experience of Biden’s administration and the failure to withdraw from the region. America returned with its largest presence since World War II. After Hezbollah carried out more than a thousand military operations against Israel, it established a buffer zone inside enemy territory, when the settlers fled the border areas that became the target of resistance strikes (Link).
Analysts say the current escalation is dangerously prone to overreach and miscalculation that could lead to a direct U.S.-Iran conflict. American troops number 2,500 in Iraq and 900 in Syria. About the proxies, Renad Mansour, head of the Iraq Initiative at the Chatham House says, “The word ‘proxy’ here is difficult, because it implies just working entirely on behalf of someone else. These groups have their own interests.” (Link)
Protesters carrying banner saying ‘Cultural workers stand with Gaza’ call for lifting of blockade in Gaza, end to ‘artistic collaboration’ with Israel (Link).
The cyberattack took place a week ago as part of a government response to a drone attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan late last month and wounded dozens of others. It is said that the ship had been collecting intelligence on cargo vessels (Link).
The planning group envisions a unified Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza coupled with a Saudi-Israel normalization deal. However, the plan is premised on Israel ceasing its counteroffensive against Hamas before taking Rafah. Such a step would deny Israel the ability to complete its objective of dismantling Hamas (Link).
The president of MIT said "We need to keep the community safe.” 13 student organizers had individually been threatened with permanent suspension from MIT. The president didn't address such disciplinary action against student organizers in her video messages (Link).
Territory cannot be acquired by force, the far right in Israel must be shunned, and there must be genuine reform of the Palestinian National Council (Read more at Carnegie).
Baghdad and Washington have held at least two rounds of talks since late last month to end the mission in Iraq of the US-led international coalition formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. The US has 2,500 troops in Iraq and a US withdrawal would probably increase concern in Washington about the influence of Iran over Iraq's ruling elite (Link).
The move grants "deferred enforced departure" to an estimated 6,000 Palestinians for the next 18 months (Link).
On Jan. 28, over 200 packages containing medium-range ballistic missile components, explosives, unmanned underwater/surface vehicle (UUV/USV) components, military-grade communication and network equipment, anti-tank guided missile launcher assemblies, and other military components were discovered on board, it said (Link).
Jeff Flake welcomes Congress' green light for F-16 sales to Türkiye as an opportunity to revitalise bilateral relations between the NATO allies (Link).
Number of American Jews who say they feel less secure in the US has jumped 22 percent from last year’s survey (Link).
I've been to Israel on numerous occasions. But this visit has been the most poignant and the most heartbreaking. What happened on October 7th was so shocking and so sadistic that the trauma is felt constantly, everywhere by everyone (Link).
The onset of the conflict in Gaza has further estranged Erdogan from Washington. He reacted indignantly to the U.S. deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean and suggested that the United States has no business sending the carriers or playing a role in this conflict (Read more at CFR).
But he also made clear what he had said to me before, which is that in order to do that, two things will be required -- an end to the conflict in Gaza, and a clear, credible timebound path to the establishment of a Palestinian state (Link).
