4/5/19

* Israeli Candidate Calls to Build Temple Now For the first time ever, an Israeli politician has had the temerity to publicly declare what, for more than 2,000 years, the Jewish people have prayed for: build the Temple now.

* Experts: Russia, China Expanding Influence in Middle East as U.S. Steps Back America's strategic adversaries Russia and China are trying to fill the power and security vacuum in the Middle East left behind by the United States by "exploiting the real and imagined U.S. absence for their own gains," analysts testified before a House panel Wednesday.

* 'Security risk & lawbreaker': German MP says 70yo NATO should retire German lawmaker Alexander Neu lambasted NATO for conducting aggressive wars and raking up defense spending, suggesting Germany should quit its military command, and the bloc be dissolved altogether.

* Turkey's Elections: What Do They Mean for Turkey and Erdogan? The election results in Istanbul, now disputed by the AKP, put the opposition candidate into the lead by a margin of 23,000 votes in a city with 10.5 million voters.

* The Importance of the Golan Heights Analysis: Jerusalem is likely to keep treating Syria as an extension of Iranian territory.

* Iraq fears bevy of levees will mean parched years ahead Although water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have been rising as torrential rains fill some of the largest dams in Iraq, the threat of drought persists.

* Israeli polls see Netanyahu ahead, but many still undecided Last authorised opinion polls suggest PM Benjamin Netanyahu heading for next term in office.

* Report: 'Deal of the Century' to be presented on May 15 Arab site reports that US diplomatic plan will be presented on May 15. Participating countries: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

* Brexit: UK asks EU for further extension until 30 June Theresa May has written to the European Union to request a further delay to Brexit until 30 June.

* Moscow Positions Itself as 'Final Judge' in Syria Amid Israel-Iran Tensions Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been engaged in a flurry of discussions recently, at least some of which are likely tied to Iranian activities in Syria.