MESOPOTAMIA NEW INSIGHT : China, the United States, and Gaza Crisis: Israel for Xinjiang?
Eyal Propper – INSS Insight No. 1472, May 25, 2021 / ISRAEL
In the course of the recent campaign against Hamas, Israel found itself dragged into a greater struggle – between two superpowers. China used media photographs from Gaza as a tool against the United States, while siding with the Palestinians and accusing Washington of hypocritical policies. Will China continue to upset its ties with Israel as part of its struggle against the United States?
China identified the crisis between Israel and Hamas in Gaza as a political opportunity to bolster its national interests, particularly in the context of Xinjiang, through vehement opposition to the United States policy towards Muslims. As rotating UN Security Council president in May 2021, China sponsored a statement calling for an immediate halt in the violence against the Palestinian Muslims, while accusing the United States of thwarting a joint declaration through its one-sided support for Israel. At the same time, China claimed that the United States was acting hypocritically with false accusations against China regarding Chinese policy toward Muslims in Xinjiang.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : A MILITARY ASSESSMENT OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
by Grant Rumley and Neri Zilber PolicyWatch 3489 May 25, 2021
Both sides employed new methods in this round, and while Israel’s were more effective in military terms, the true measure of success will depend on how quickly Hamas can rebuild its warfighting capabilities and exploit any political gains.
After eleven days of fighting, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza under Egyptian auspices. By most measures, this round of escalation was the worst since 2014. Over 240 Palestinians and 12 Israelis were reportedly killed; the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also maintain that at least 200 Gazan militants were killed, including 25 senior Hamas commanders.
MESOPOTAMIA ANALYSIS : Operation Guardian of the Walls: Where Was Hezbollah?
Over the 11 days of Operation Guardian of the Walls, Nasrallah’s attention was focused on Gaza, where he saw what can be expected for Lebanon in the event of a conflict in the northern arena; he also gained an opportunity to consider how he should prepare for a future confrontation with Israel. From Israel’s perspective, the events in the northern arena during the operation show that the Shiite organization is still deterred, but prepared to take risks that could lead to escalation
Orna Mizrahi, Yoram Schweitzer – INSS Insight No. 1471, May 25, 2021
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS NEAR EAST VISIT : WHY BLINKEN WILL HAVE A TOUGH SELL
by David Makovsky Times of Israel May 25, 2021
The Biden administration cannot solve the Israeli-Palestinian problem today, but it can shrink the conflict by helping both sides take small steps toward a two-state solution.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel today. His visit comes on the heels of President Joe Biden’s successful behind-the-scenes US-led crisis diplomacy to end the 11-day Gaza War between Israel and Hamas.
Amid criticism at home and abroad, Biden effectively navigated political minefields in pursuing something he has favored throughout his half-century of political involvement on the national stage. He has always believed in personal relationships as the key to his involvement in foreign policy.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : JAKOBINISCHER KULTURKRIEG / ALLES BESEITIGEN & ALLES ÜBRIGE EINSCHWÄRZEN / ENGLAND
STREIT UM CECIL-RHODES-DENKMAL:Der Imperialist mit dem Rücken zur Wand
- EIN KOMMENTAR VON GINA THOMAS faz – 05.2021-08:50
Im Zickzackkurs: Um das Denkmal des Briten Cecil Rhodes an einem Oxforder College wird seit Jahren gestritten. Es müsse weg, sagen die einen, es solle bleiben, fordern die anderen. Nun ist eine Entscheidung gefallen.
Sechs Jahre sind vergangen, seitdem die Forderung laut wurde, das Denkmal des umstrittenen Imperialisten Cecil Rhodes von der denkmalgeschützten Fassade seines ehemaligen Colleges in Oxford zu entfernen. In der Zwischenzeit hat die „Black Lives Matter“-Bewegung den Bestrebungen der „Rhodes Must Fall“-Aktivisten frischen Rückenwind beschert.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS STRATEGY MID MEAST : GAZA-ISRAEL CONFLICT EXPOSES WEAKNESSES IN ARAB STRATEGY
Bottom Line Up Front: THE SOUFAN CENTER 25 May 2021
- The strategic weaknesses of several Arab states were exposed by the recent fighting between Israel and the Palestinians.
- Arab states were unable to prevent the conflict or contain further escalation, despite supposed leverage from recent agreements with Israel.
- Efforts by some Arab states to marginalize, or alternately build influence with, Palestinian Islamist movements were demonstrated as ineffective.
- The decision by some Arab states to normalize relations with Israel was tarnished by the fighting and resultant losses of life.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS INTEL : Belarussian spies were onboard commercial airliner diverted by force to Misnk !
MAY 25, 2021 BY JOSEPH FITSANAKIS – INTEL ORG
BELARUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS were allegedly onboard a commercial airliner that was en route to Lithuania, but was forcibly diverted to Minsk on Sunday, where a vocal Belarussian dissident was arrested. The dissident is 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, who is known as one of the most outspoken opponents of Belarus’ authoritarian President, Alexander Lukashenko.
Protasevich has been voicing his criticism of Lukashenko’s government on popular social-media outlets, such as Telegram. He has evaded charges of terrorism and incitement to violence in his home country by living in Poland, where he applied for political asylum in 2019. On Sunday, May 23, Protasevich was among the 171 passengers onboard Ryanair flight FR4978 from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania. However, while flying over Belarussian airspace en route to Vilnius, the commercial airliner was confronted by a Belarussian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet, while the pilots were told by Belarussian ground control that a bomb threat had been issued against the plane.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : THE REAL ANNALENA ! – Annalenas geheimes Tagebuch, Teil 3 und 4
Die Kanzlerkandidatin der Grünen, Annalena Baerbock, führt ein Tagebuch, dem sie sich täglich anvertraut. Unser Kollege Matthias Matussek hatte die Gelegenheit, es zu lesen, bevor es im Verlag von Apfel&Korn erscheint, mit einem Vorwort von Claas Relotius und Illustrationen von Konrad Kujau.
- Mai 21
Es ist total ungerecht, was mit mir veranstaltet wird. Ich wollte die Kohle für den gelungenen Wahlkampf wirklich anmelden, ich hab jetzt den Zettel wiedergefunden, unsere ältere hat ihn zum Malen benutzt (Windmühlen, Pferdchen mit ganz langen Wimpern!) Ich muss unbedingt ein ernstes Wort mit Daniel, meinem Ehehasen, reden, wenn das nicht geht, dass er auf die Kinder aufpasst, müssen wir wieder tauschen. Dann soll er antreten.
Auf jeden Fall steht da auf diesem Papier eindeutig unter 23.11.2018: „Mehl, Milch, Haribo, Sonderzahlung der Stufe 2 bei Parlament melden, Keksförmchen, Butter.“ Das kann alles nachgeprüft werden. Mein Gott, Leute, schließlich komme ich vom Völkerrecht her, und nicht von BWL.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS LATEST : Blinken visits Middle East to bolster Israel-Hamas cease-fire
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman this week for discussions on maintaining the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
Al-Monitor Staff May 24, 2021 – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is headed to the Middle East to build on a cease-fire that ended the worst fighting in years between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip.
“Following up on our quiet, intensive diplomacy to bring about a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, I have asked my secretary of state, Tony Blinken, to travel to the Middle East this week,” President Joe Biden announced in a statement early Monday morning.
The secretary’s trip, which includes stops in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo and Amman this week, will underscore “our ironclad commitment to Israel’s security,” Biden said, adding that Blinken will continue “our administration’s efforts to rebuild ties to, and support for, the Palestinian people and leaders, after years of neglect.”
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : NO MORE OIL REVENUES FOR PKK/PYD(SDF) KURDS – Biden administration poised to ax US oil company’s waiver for Kurdish-led northeast Syria
The decision to withdraw the waiver to produce and sell oil in Syria has been presented by administration officials as a policy correction, not a shift.
Amberin Zaman May 21, 2021 AL MONITOR – The Biden administration has decided to not extend a sanctions waiver granted by the Trump administration in April 2020 to a little-known American oil company to operate in northeast Syria, according to well-informed sources who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition they not be cited by name.
Delta Crescent Energy, whose waiver expired April 30, has been given a 30-day grace period to wind down its activities in northeast Syria. The US-protected area is governed by the Kurdish-run autonomous administration of northeast Syria, which is not recognized by Damascus.
The decision to withdraw the waiver to produce and sell oil in Syria, which remains heavily sanctioned under the Caesar Act, has been presented by administration officials as a policy correction, not a shift. As such, no other companies are likely to be granted waivers, either.
« neuere Artikel / next articles ältere Artikel / previous articles »