2/27/21

 * Netanyahu's Purim Warning to Iran: Like Haman, Your Plot to Annihilate Us will Fail too As US president Joe Biden is expected to renew the Iran nuclear deal and remove the sanctions placed upon it, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Tuesday to what he says is the Islamic Republic’s efforts to obtain nuclear weapons reports 0404.

* Iran’s Next President Is Almost Certain To Be A Hardliner, Making Biden’s Outreach To Tehran Tougher President Joe Biden’s aim of reviving the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal that his predecessor Donald Trump worked so assiduously to scupper could get harder later this year, following Iran’s own presidential election in June.

* Why Iran Considers Biden a 'Weak' President It is only one month into his term in office, and US President Joe Biden is already facing criticism from Arabs over his administration's soft policy toward Iran.

* US airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in Syria kill at least one fighter The strikes appeared to be limited in scope, potentially lowering the risk of escalation.

* PA libel: “Al-Aqsa in danger of being bombed” A so-called Israeli affairs “expert” explained to viewers of official PA TV that the “true and serious Zionist threat” is Israel's “plan” to empty Jerusalem of Christian and Muslim holy sites.

* David vs. Goliath: Israel is the Middle East’s Military Superpower Built on a foundation of pre-independence militias, supplied with cast-off World War II weapons, the Israel Defense Forces have enjoyed remarkable success in the field.

* Pope Holds "Sons of Abraham" Prayer Event at Ancient Iraqi site of Child Sacrifice - with no Jewish Representation On March 5, Pope Francis will make history as the first pope to visit the country of Iraq.

* Palestinian Islamic scholar: ‘If Muslims want peace, they must get rid of the Jews’ Muslims will experience a golden age “after the Jews are killed, in the time of Jesus,” says Mraweh Nassar, secretary-general of the Jerusalem committee of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.

* Blinken speaks to Ashkenazi, touts Biden support for 2-state solution Third conversation this month between top diplomats; US says resolution only way to ensure Israel remains both democratic and Jewish; statement makes no mention of Iran.

* EU aims for meeting on Iran nuclear deal with U.S., official says The European Union is working on organizing an informal meeting with all participants of the Iran nuclear deal and the United States, which has already signaled willingness to join any gathering, a senior EU official said on Friday.

* Germany: Covid-19 Triggers New Wave of Anti-Semitism The number of anti-Semitic hate crimes in Germany surged to a two-decade high in 2020, according to new statistics released by the German government.

* China Boasts of Military Buildup While Pushing ‘Dialogue’ with U.S. Chinese state media boasted of China’s massive military buildup over the weekend while simultaneously claiming Beijing wants nothing more than to renew friendly dialogue with the United States under the Biden administration.

2/26/21

 * Coalition chair Miki Zohar: 'High chance of new elections' 'Government is a sick government, Blue and White didn't see us as partners,' Coalition chair MK Zohar says.

* US airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in Syria kill at least one fighter The strikes appeared to be limited in scope, potentially lowering the risk of escalation.

* US attack in Syria: Why now? What can be learned? Experts weigh in “The strike was limited but showed we would use force and clearly could do much more,” said Dennis Ross, “we will see if the Iranians get the message.”

* Explosion hits Israeli-owned cargo ship in Gulf of Oman, no injuries Maritime intelligence firm says blast likely stemmed from ‘asymmetric activity by Iranian military’; ship identified as MV Helios Ray owned by Israeli shipping magnate Rami Ungar.

* Israel's Strategy To Stop Iran's Existential Threats Israel is willing to take action to prevent Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said this week.

* US Intelligence and the Dilemma of Iran The rogue regime in Tehran is the primary source of turmoil and instability in the Middle East.

* Khamenei: ‘Islamic thought and principles’ stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons, not the ‘Zionist clown’ Khamenei is the embodiment of Islamic supremacism. And Iran also possesses a doomsday theology, which conflicts with the “restraint” that Khamenei is boasting about in the name of Islam.

* WATCH: Israel in talks with Gulf States to form defense alliance Israel is currently in talks with the kingdoms of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in establishing a defense alliance against the Iranian threat, according to an exclusive i24NEWS report.

* ‘Everyone Agreed’ on Vaccine Passports, Says Merkel at EU Coronavirus Summit German Chancellor Angela Merkel claimed that there is a unanimous agreement within the European Union on implementing a coronavirus vaccine passport, during a virtual meeting of EU member states on Thursday.

* Is the U.S. Arming an Adversary, China, Intent on Overpowering Us? China's greatest financial weakness remains its continued dependence on Western capital markets, crucial for a growing economy...

2/25/21

 * Netanyahu's Purim Warning to Iran: Like Haman, Your Plot to Annihilate Us Will Fail Too As US president Joe Biden is expected to renew the Iran nuclear deal and remove the sanctions placed upon it, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Tuesday to what he says is the Islamic Republic’s efforts to obtain nuclear weapons reports 0404.

* IDF prepared to take action to stop Iran from obtaining nukes - Gantz Foreign Ministry: “Without supervision, Iran will continue to act in the dark to promote its nuclear plan.”

* The Iran nuclear deal: A springboard for a new Middle East security architecture Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy suggests that the Iran nuclear deal can act as a springboard for UN-based discussions on a new Middle East security architecture that is more inclusive and better prepared to address challenges.

* Iran’s Next President Is Almost Certain To Be A Hardliner, Making Biden’s Outreach To Tehran Tougher President Joe Biden’s aim of reviving the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal that his predecessor Donald Trump worked so assiduously to scupper could get harder later this year, following Iran’s own presidential election in June.

* Israel's red line: 1,000 precision missiles in Hezbollah's hands Senior defense officials divided on whether Israel should set red lines for Hezbollah's precision weapons project, or 'exploit opportunity' for a limited escalation on the northern border to target Hezbollah's precision capabilities.

* Secretive Israeli nuclear facility undergoes major project A secretive Israeli nuclear facility at the center of the nation's undeclared atomic weapons program is undergoing what appears to be its biggest construction project in decades.

* Biden: It's Okay to Finance China's Military Wall Street wants to finance the enemy, and the Biden administration is opening the door wide.... Beijing views the U.S. financial community as its channel to influence the highest levels of the American political system.

* U.S. puts Jerusalem consulate issue off until after Israel's election The State Department is putting plans to reopen the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem on hold until after Israel's March 23 elections, sources familiar with the matter tell me.

* Why doesn’t the EU hit Russia harder? Earlier this week the European Union agreed to slap sanctions on a handful of senior Russian officials over the jailing of top Putin critic Alexei Navalny.

* Rabbis blast US ‘Equality Act’ for calling Bible ‘bigoted’, attacking religious values “It is outrageous that Congress would declare us bigoted for simply maintaining our time-honored traditions,” said Rabbi Avrohom Gordimer, chairman of the CJV Rabbinic Circle.

2/24/21

 * Pope Holds 'Sons of Abraham' Prayer Event at Ancient Iraqi Site of Child Sacrifice... with no Jewish Representation On March 5, Pope Francis will make history as the first pope to visit the country of Iraq.

* China says Iran nuclear issue at 'critical point' Developments surrounding Iran's nuclear program are at a “critical point” and lifting sanctions on the country is key to breaking the deadlock, China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

* Netanyahu’s biblical Purim message to Iran’s ‘delusional’ rulers Netanyahu warns Iran that Israel will not sit idly by as the ayatollahs threaten to destroy the Jewish State.

* PA libel: “Al-Aqsa in danger of being bombed” Israel will destroy Jerusalem’s Christian and Muslim holy sites – PA libel repeated by Israeli affairs “expert”.

* 'It Was Like Magic': Iraqis Visit Babylon And Other Heritage Sites For 1st Time On a mild winter weekend, the sun pours down on the yellow archways of the reconstructed palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II at the site of the ancient city of Babylon.

* Germany: Covid-19 Triggers New Wave of Anti-Semitism German police reported a total of 2,275 anti-Semitic hate crimes — an average of six per day — in 2020, according to preliminary data provided by the federal government.

* Key Jewish Groups Ask Joe Biden To Revoke Trump’s Parting Gift For Israel’s Netanyahu HuffPost obtained a private request for the president to stop a plan to label goods from the occupied West Bank as “Made in Israel.”

* Why Is the Pope Going to Iraq Just as COVID and Rocket Attacks Are Surging? Like people in the rest of the world, Pope Francis is clearly going a little stir-crazy staying cooped up at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

* Islamic scholar: Muslims must ‘get rid’ of the Jews, once the world is ‘cleansed’ of Jews, there will be prosperity Nassar’s hatred and paranoia are seismic in scope. Note also that he is no “extremist.” He quotes the Qur’an and Hadith.

* 1 in 6 Americans under 23 say they’re LGBTQ, as more people in the US than ever identify as non-heterosexual More Americans than ever identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) according to a survey of sexuality, with one in six people under 23 saying they are something other than heterosexual.

2/23/21

 * China Boasts of Military Buildup While Pushing ‘Dialogue’ with U.S. Chinese state media boasted of China’s massive military buildup over the weekend while simultaneously claiming Beijing wants nothing more than to renew friendly dialogue with the United States under the Biden administration.

* Netanyahu after Iran strategy meeting: Nuclear agreement is worthless "With or without an agreement, we will do everything so Iran isn’t armed with nuclear weapons.”

* Israel Policy in the Biden Administration The Obama administration negotiated a nuclear deal (JCPOA) with the Iranian mullahs that was bad for the U.S. (which found it had only legitimized the regime that the U.S. Department of State called the "world's worst state sponsor of terrorism") and bad for Israel (the deal would allow Iran, after a few years, to become a full-blown nuclear power).

* Blinken speaks to Ashkenazi, touts Biden support for 2-state solution Third conversation this month between top diplomats; US says resolution only way to ensure Israel remains both democratic and Jewish; statement makes no mention of Iran.

* David vs. Goliath: Israel is the Middle East’s Military Superpower Built on a foundation of pre-independence militias, supplied with cast-off World War II weapons, the Israel Defense Forces have enjoyed remarkable success in the field.

* How much did the Palestinian Authority spend in terror salaries in 2020? The PA doled out 517 million shekels in reward money to terrorists last year, but are stymied in 2021 thanks to Israel’s new pay-for-slay law.

* What India’s Relationship with Iran Means for America No matter how warm relations between Washington and Delhi become, history shows that some level of non-alignment will always be part of India’s policies.

* EU agrees to plan sanctions against Russia The EU is set to sanction the authorities responsible for the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Russia, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

* Biden gives ‘exactly the speech that many Europeans wanted to hear,’ rejects ‘America First’ policies Biden’s speech represents the death knell of the Trump slogan: “Make America Great Again,” and a dismissal of the concerns of American patriots.

* Yellen Signals Interest in Backing Digital-Dollar Research Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen signaled the Biden administration supports research into the viability of a digital dollar, a shift from the lack of enthusiasm shown for the concept under her predecessor, Steven Mnuchin.

2/22/21

 * Why Iran Considers Biden a 'Weak' President The Arabs say they are worried because Iran sees Biden as a "weak" president, and that is why the mullahs in Tehran and their proxies in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon have increased their terrorist attacks in the Middle East.

* Biden’s Policy of Weakness Toward Iran President Biden, who has made no secret of his desire to reenter the Iran nuclear deal, continues to send Tehran the wrong message.

* Between Biden call and ballot, Netanyahu seeks Iran consensus with rivals Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened cabinet rivals on Monday for their first discussion of Israeli strategy against the Iranian nuclear programme since U.S. President Joe Biden took office pledging to pursue diplomacy with Tehran.

* ‘Palestinian' Islamic Scholar: 'If Muslims want peace, they must get rid of the Jews' The world must be “cleansed” of Jews before Muslims can have true peace, said Palestinian Islamic scholar Mraweh Nassar in a recent interview.

* Iran talks 'avert' impact of nuclear inspection deadline Iran and the global nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, have agreed to temporary measures to offset Iran's decision to restrict access to inspectors.

* When Syria Erupted Into War, Russia’s Military Saw an Opportunity Much as the Spanish Civil War served as a testing ground for Stukas and mechanized warfare tactics, the Syrian conflict was also exploited as a live-fire testing range for a new generation of Russian weaponry and operational methods.

* EU aims for meeting on Iran nuclear deal with U.S., official says The European Union is working on organising an informal meeting with all participants of the Iran nuclear deal and the United States, which has already signalled willingness to join any gathering, a senior EU official said on Friday.

* Can Turkey fit into the Biden administration’s Syria policy? The gnarliest problem: Pentagon report says Syrian, Iranian proxies are "most significant" threats to US mission, but the Islamic State isn’t dead yet, and Turkey and the United States still disagree on the Kurds.

* China pins hopes on Balkans as gateway to Europe but faces growing scepticism Beijing sees the region as a gateway to the EU, but the eagerness for Chinese cash is tempered by growing caution about whether it can fulfil its promises.

* Pope's visit to Iraqi Ziggurat to bring together several faiths - and hopefully lure more visitors Pope Francis is due to hold an inter-religious prayer service at the ancient Mesopotamian site of Ur when he visits Iraq next week - an event local archeologists hope will draw renewed attention to the place revered as the birthplace of Abraham.

2/20/21

 * In message to Hezbollah, IAF practices striking 3,000 targets in 24 hours The drill involved the entire Air Force, including technicians, ammunition officers, and reservists who were called up from home to participate.

* Purim directive: Parties and processions forbidden Purim holiday mandates presented to coronavirus cabinet includes ban on parties, holiday meal only with nuclear family, Rashbi's tomb closed.

* Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Joe Biden after long delay “The two leaders noted their personal ties of many years and said they will work together," Netanyahu's office said.

* Iran could deploy 200 missiles in Iraq to attack Israel Iranian rationale for missile deployment in Iraq: Launch against Israel to prevent direct IDF retaliation against targets in Iran territory.

* Dept of Defense: "Real Possibility" of Nuclear War with China The head of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), who is tasked with overseeing U.S. nuclear operations, cautioned earlier this month that there is a “real possibility” of nuclear conflict with China or Russia.

* How Iraq Is Becoming the Next Theater for Israeli-Iranian War Israeli F-35s have allegedly already flown over Iraqi air space.

* Israel hints it may not engage Biden on Iran nuclear strategy Israel held out the possibility on Tuesday that it would not engage with U.S. President Joe Biden on strategy regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, urging tougher sanctions and a “credible military threat” against its arch-enemy.

* US Embassy in Jerusalem gets further construction approval The plans have been in the works for two years.

* China overtakes US as EU's biggest trading partner China bucked a wider trend, as trade with most of Europe's major partners dipped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

* Nasa Mars rover: Perseverance robot all set for big test The six-wheeled robot is fast approaching the end of its seven-month journey from Earth and will very shortly plunge into the atmosphere of Mars.

2/19/21

 * Palestinian Authority Ministry of Religious Affairs top dog: Jews ‘descendants of the apes and pigs’ Good thing Biden’s handlers are going to start sending these good people billions of taxpayer dollars, eh?

* Palestinians: EU Facilitating Hamas Victory Facing pressure from the European Union, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas last month set dates for holding general elections for the first time in 15 years.

* Biden called Netanyahu amid White House flurry over US Iran stance at Munich President Joe Biden made his first phone call to PM Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday night, Feb. 17 amid intense White House preparations for the president’s first multilateral appearances on his administration’s foreign policy.

* U.S. rescinds Trump White House claim that all U.N. sanctions had been reimposed on Iran The United States on Thursday told the United Nations Security Council it was rescinding a Trump administration assertion that all U.N. sanctions had been reimposed on Iran in September.

* US says it’s ready to restart talks with Iran on its nuclear program State Department says it will accept invitation from European Union to meet with deal’s original participants, including Tehran; US reportedly told Israel of move ahead of time.

* Israel: US paving path to Iranian nuclear bomb with push to rejoin JCPOA "Israel believes that going back to the old agreement will pave Iran’s path to a nuclear arsenal."

* US-Saudi alliance: Major reset under way This week President Joe Biden's administration has given a further indication of how it plans to distance itself from the Middle East policies of his predecessor, President Donald Trump.

* NATO to Send 3,500 More Troops to Iraq Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), announced on Thursday that another 3,500 troops will be sent to Iraq, joining 500 NATO forces already in the country.

* Mary, A Model For Faith And Life For Christianity And Islam Starting on February 18, ten weekly conferences will be given jointly by Catholic and Muslim speakers who will seek “dialogue, knowledge and cooperation” regarding themes such as “Mary, a woman of faith,” “God who is love and faith,” prayer, purity, hospitality and non-violence, fasting and penitence, fraternity and citizenship.

* NASA's astrobiology rover Perseverance makes historic Mars landing "Touchdown confirmed," Swati Mohan, the lead guidance and operations specialist announced from the control room. "Perseverance safely on the surface of Mars."

2/18/21

* Nasa Mars rover: Perseverance robot all set for big test The stakes could not be higher for the US space agency's Perseverance rover. 

* Hezbollah Chief Threatens Israel with ‘Events Not Seen Since 1948’ Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah declared on Tuesday that if “war erupts, Israelis will see events they haven’t witnessed since 1948.”

* Gantz: Ground in Lebanon will shake in future war with Israel “Facing that type of threat, the IDF is prepared to use whatever force necessary. Hezbollah would take a serious hit, and Lebanon would feel it.”

* Iran: The Mullah's Pursuit of Obtaining Nuclear Weapons The IAEA at first did not take these reports of a secret Iranian atomic warehouse seriously. This should not be surprising: the IAEA has a long history of misreporting the Iranian regime's compliance with the deal and declining to follow up on credible reports about Iran's illicit nuclear activities.

* EU has role in salvaging Iran deal, says Tehran UN envoy Hopes that the Iran nuclear deal could be revived were buoyed after the election of Joe Biden as US President, his predecessor Donald Trump having pulled out of the accord in 2018.

* Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Joe Biden after long delay “The two leaders noted their personal ties of many years and said they will work together," Netanyahu's office said.

* Europe funds what could be most vicious smear against Israel yet In its research, NGO Monitor discovered that the groups are working together an an agenda whose goal is to besmirch Israel with false charges.

* The Truth About Financial Aid to the Palestinian Authority A dramatic letter written by a former terrorist who is running for president of the Palestinian Authority reveals the extent to which the budgets funneled to the PA from Israel and the world fuel death and terror.

* U.S., Iran Both Lean on Europe As Iraq Attack Sharpens Nuclear Deal Standoff President Joe Biden vowed to revitalize American alliances and put diplomacy back at the heart of U.S. foreign policy, repairing the damage he and his allies said was done to American global leadership under former President Donald Trump.

* ICC tries to insert wedge between Israel and its allies Netanyahu had declared the ICC decision “pure antisemitism,” adding that he viewed the institution as being politicized in the strongest terms.

* Russia to present new concept of national digital currency – Central Bank After discussing the launch of the digital ruble with local banks, the country’s financial watchdog says it will present a more detailed concept for the national digital currency by summer.

2/17/21

 * Israeli air drill tackled just one dimension of a potential war with Hizballah In a surprise three-day exercise, the Israeli Air Force demonstrated its ability in a full-scale war to target Hizballah’s entire missile arsenal in one day, while also activating an upgraded missile defense system for the home front.

* Hezbollah leader threatens Israel Hassan Nasrallah: If war is imposed on us, the Israeli home front will see things it has not yet seen.

* White House: Netanyahu to be first Middle East leader Biden will call “Israel is a country where we have an important strategic security relationship, and our team is fully engaged—not at the head-of-state level yet but very soon,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

* Saddam’s Iraq Showed Us How North Korea Would Fight a Missile War The failure to destroy the launchers highlights how easy it can be to overestimate damage inflicted upon an enemy, and how difficult it is to hunt down an opponent intent on using hit-and-run tactics.

* How Iraq Is Becoming the Next Theater for Israeli-Iranian War An Israeli strike in Iran would be risky even with F-35s, given distance to the target – about a thousand miles from Tel Aviv to Tehran -- Iranian air defenses (including Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles) and potential Iranian retaliation. But Tel Aviv to Baghdad is less than 600 miles.

* U.N. Palestinian Schools Continue to Glorify Terror Despite Promise Otherwise Palestinian schools run by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees — to which the Biden administration has promised to restore funding — still teach inciteful content against Israel.

* Iran's Khamenei demands 'action, not words' from Biden to revive nuclear deal Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States if it wants to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, the latest challenge to new President Joe Biden to take the first step towards a thaw.

* U.S. and Israeli national security advisers hold call on Iran Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben Shabbat discussed Iran with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on a secure video call on Thursday, according to two Israeli officials.

* China overtakes US as EU's biggest trading partner China is now the EU's biggest trading partner, overtaking the US in 2020.

* The Great Atlantic Schism is here: Between US and China, Europe will choose its own path The US used to hold almost absolute sway over the EU’s global politics. Now, on the issue of China, Europe is slipping from Washington’s grasp as it realizes it’s better off building that relationship on its own terms.

2/16/21

 * In message to Hezbollah, IAF practices striking 3,000 targets in 24 hours The drill involved the entire Air Force, including technicians, ammunition officers, and reservists who were called up from home to participate.

* Report: Iran and Russia begin joint naval drill Iran's state TV says the Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security of maritime trade in the region.

* NATO to agree larger Iraq training force as violence rises NATO defence ministers are set to expand the military alliance’s training mission in Iraq once the coronavirus pandemic eases, senior officials and diplomats said, potentially cementing a broader role for the Atlantic alliance in the Middle East.

* ‘Gearing up for Gog and Magog': Iran and North Korea Resume ICBM Nuke Cooperation A report submitted to the United Nations Security Council revealed that North Korea and Iran have resumed cooperating on their missile programs which include developing nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

* Iran could deploy 200 missiles in Iraq to attack Israel Iranian rationale for missile deployment in Iraq: Launch against Israel to prevent direct IDF retaliation against targets in Iran territory.

* Palestinians: What Real Education Means The result of the 2006 election showed that a majority of Palestinians fully supported Hamas's call for ending corruption in the Palestinian Authority, imposing Islamic law and, most importantly, continuing the armed struggle against Israel.

* Is the Phrase “State of Palestine” Catching On? In 2013, Mahmoud Abbas proclaimed that henceforth the Palestinian Authority would be called the “State of Palestine.”

* Terrorist prisoners are “soldiers” who “fought according to instructions” from the Palestinian leadership says head of PA-funded Prisoners’ Club Palestinian terrorist prisoners are viewed by the Palestinian Authority as “soldiers” who carried out orders from the PA leadership.

* Why the ICC’s Claim of Jurisdiction Over Israel and Palestinians for War Crimes is Disturbing In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel (chosen from the 18 members of the ICC) has concluded that the claims of the International Criminal Court to have jurisdiction to open a criminal investigation of possible war crimes that may have been committed by Israel or the Palestinians during Operation Protective Edge, which was fought in Gaza in 2014.

* Israel hints it may not engage Biden on Iran nuclear strategy Israel held out the possibility on Tuesday that it would not engage with U.S. President Joe Biden on strategy regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, urging tougher sanctions and a “credible military threat” against its arch-enemy.

2/15/21

 * IDF launches surprise IAF exercise to prepare for war with Hezbollah "Vered Hagalil" drill focused on improving the IAF's readiness for combat in the North.

* Dept of Defense: “Real Possibility” of Nuclear War With China The head of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), who is tasked with overseeing U.S. nuclear operations, cautioned earlier this month that there is a “real possibility” of nuclear conflict with China or Russia.

* From Israeli prison, Barghouti mulls presidency bid, turning up heat on Abbas Abbas confidant Hussein al-Sheikh visits popular former terror chief in jail, where he’s serving multiple life terms for murder, in reported attempt to convince him not to run.

* Reported Israel air strikes keep up pressure on Iranian targets near Damascus Israel is said by Syria to have conducted a series of missile attacks on “targets near Damascus from the Golan Heights and Galilee,” late Sunday, Feb. 14.

* US Embassy in Jerusalem gets further construction approval The Jerusalem Regional Planning Committee approved plans to expand the US Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday.

* Is This Why Biden Hasn’t Called Bibi? Earlier this week, we became aware of an op-ed article in which the author sought to clear the air over a 2010 scandal that he feared was still creating tension between Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden.

* The Return of ISIS is a Challenge Biden Must Not Ignore A recent United Nations Security Council report concluded that ISIS currently controls more than 10,000 fighters, organized in small cells in Syria and Iraq.

* Palestinians: More Corruption as Biden Resumes Financial Aid The assumption that renewed financial aid would lead the Palestinian leadership to make "concessions" has proven, over the past three decades, to be completely baseless.

* Purim directive: Parties and processions forbidden Purim holiday mandates presented to coronavirus cabinet includes ban on parties, holiday meal only with nuclear family, Rashbi's tomb closed.

* Is the Phrase “State of Palestine” Catching On? In 2013, Mahmoud Abbas proclaimed that henceforth the Palestinian Authority would be called the “State of Palestine.” It is worth noting how successful he has been in popularizing the phrase, and among whom.

2/13/21

* Blinken supports Israel holding Golan, but backs off recognizing sovereignty Top US diplomat questions legality of Trump’s deeming strategic plateau part of Israel, but says there’s nothing to talk about with Assad and Iran.

* Biden hasn't called Israel's Netanyahu yet, raising fears of a frosty four years to come President Joe Biden has made a flurry of phone calls to American allies around the world. There has been one notable omission.

* Joe Biden Calls Chinese Communist Party Leader Xi Jinping President Joe Biden called the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping Wednesday, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, according to the White House.

* Khanna: Biden Will ‘Radically Reset Relations’ with Israel, They’ll ‘Have to Recognize Palestinian Statehood’ On Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated that President Joe Biden will “radically reset relations” with Israel, and Israel will “have to recognize Palestinian statehood. They can’t be having new settlements. They can’t be burning down Palestinian villages.”

* Israeli commander says Hamas has amassed vast arsenal The Hamas militant group ruling Gaza has replenished its arsenal since a 2014 war with Israel and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles, and drones, a senior Israeli military commander said Thursday.

* Palestinian elections: Hamas will promise Islamic law, change and reform Hamas, of course, is also convinced that many Palestinians will vote for its candidates because they identify with the Islamist movement’s ideology.

* Is Palestine a State? The highly politicized International Criminal Court just declared statehood for Palestinians.

* Russia warns EU it could cut ties over sanctions Russia is ready to sever ties with the EU if the bloc imposes new, economically painful sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says.

* China bans BBC World News from broadcasting China has banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country, its television and radio regulator announced on Thursday.

* China Is Creating a New Master Race Bing Su, a Chinese geneticist at the state-run Kunming Institute of Zoology, recently inserted the human MCPH1 gene, which develops the brain, into a monkey.

2/12/21

 * Israeli commander says Hamas has amassed vast arsenal The Hamas militant group ruling Gaza has replenished its arsenal since a 2014 war with Israel and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles and drones, a senior Israeli military commander said Thursday.

* Biden to speak with Israel's Netanyahu soon, White House says U.S. President Joe Biden plans to speak with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu soon, the White House said on Thursday without providing a date.

* Palestinians: More Corruption as Biden Resumes Financial Aid The assumption that renewed financial aid would lead the Palestinian leadership to make "concessions" has proven, over the past three decades, to be completely baseless.

* France warns Iran against further nuclear breaches, jeopardising diplomacy France’s foreign ministry warned Iran on Thursday against taking further measures that could breach the 2015 nuclear accord with world powers and as a result jeopardise a diplomatic window opened with the arrival of a new U.S. administration.

* Iran Courts China, Russia As New Nuclear Deal With 'Declining' U.S. Stalls Iranian officials are continuing to build stronger ties with Russia and China as Tehran faces what could be a prolonged standoff with President Joe Biden over any possible revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.

* Russia warns EU it could cut ties over sanctions Russia is ready to sever ties with the EU if the bloc imposes new, economically painful sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says.

* France, Germany seek Russia sanctions over Navalny, diplomats say The European Union is likely to impose travel bans and asset freezes on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly as soon as this month, after France and Germany signalled their willingness to move ahead, three diplomats said.

* Call the Houthis What They Are Yemen’s Houthi rebels are Iran-backed terrorists. Why is the Biden administration pretending otherwise?

* Secretive int’l banking group may enforce Great Reset ‘green’ agenda on world The U.S. Federal Reserve has recently joined a little-known international conglomerate of central banks, all fundamentally committed to enforcing the “green,” eco-friendly dictates of the anti-life, global governance Paris agreement, in line with the Great Reset.

* Iran's Revolutionary Guard begins drill near Iraq border The drill, dubbed the “great prophet,” will make use of drones and helicopters.

2/11/21

 * Iraqi reports: Israel carries out 'rare' strike against vehicle in eastern Syria Reports said no casualties or injuries known in attack near Syrian-Iraqi border.

* Israel warns it will ‘not hesitate’ to uproot Iran’s ‘entrenchment’ near Israeli border Trump made no secret of his support, commitment and loyalty to Israel, which sent a message to Israel’s enemies in the region. That support is now in question.

* An Unintended Syria Air Clash Could Pull Biden Into Conflict Involving Russia, Israel The conflict in Syria has seen the convergence of multiple, sometimes opposing forces in the skies over a near-decade-long civil war that today threatens to draw the United States' foreign policy resources back into the quagmire, one in which its closest ally, Israel, and a leading rival, Russia, are among those operating in dangerous proximity.

* Biden hasn't called Israel's Netanyahu yet, raising fears of a frosty four years to come President Joe Biden has made a flurry of phone calls to American allies around the world. There has been one notable omission.

* Joe Biden Calls Chinese Communist Party Leader Xi Jinping President Joe Biden called the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping Wednesday, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, according to the White House.

* Iran's Revolutionary Guard Is Radicalizing Young Men Across the Middle East. The U.S. Needs a Counterinsurgency Strategy Like his six predecessors as president, Joe Biden enters office with the challenge posed by Iran’s regime high on his to-do list.

* Teaching hate: Iran textbooks push anti-Semitism, say COVID hyped to harm regime ADL, in 1st report on Tehran curriculum in half a decade, finds it replete with hate and conspiracies; kids taught to chant ‘Death to Israel,’ seek Jewish state’s elimination.

* Blinken ‘non-committal’ on East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital In an interview to CNN, US secretary of state refused to commit to East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

* The International Criminal Court Threatens Middle East Peace The International Criminal Court (ICC) has long had its sights on what it no doubt considers an unholy trinity: Israel, the US and Britain.

* German foreign minister warns scrapping Nord Stream 2 pipeline would cut Russia loose from obligations to Western Europe One of the world’s largest gas pipelines, currently under construction, is good for more than just cheap fuel, the German Foreign Minister has said. It’s also one of the last remaining political ties between Russia and the West.

2/10/21

 * Iranian FM warns Biden the ‘window for cooperation is closing rapidly,’ as Tehran threatens to deviate further from nuclear pact Iran’s foreign minister has warned that Tehran is willing to take further action and reduce cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors if the US and European powers fail to comply with the nuclear pact.

* Biden says he’ll return to nuke deal if Iran reverses ‘nuclear steps,’ Khamenei demands immediate end of sanctions Biden says he “will seek to revive the nuclear deal, but insists that Iran must first reverse its nuclear steps.”

* IDF intelligence: Iran at least two years from nuclear bomb Officer says Tehran sees 2015 nuclear deal as only exit point from its severe situation.

* Iran, Russia, China to conduct joint naval exercise in Indian Ocean Russia continues to seek opportunities to expand its influence in the Middle East, the head of CENTCOM said Monday.

* Netanyahu Rejects Biden's Ambiguity: 'The Golan Was and Will Remain Part of Israel' After only three weeks, it is already clear that Israel, the most faithful ally of the US in this part of the world, cannot expect the same consideration for its security concerns as it received from President Trump, even in critical areas like the Golan Heights.

* Israel: IDF holds 'Lightning Storm' drill on Lebanon border 'The IDF will continue to prepare and improve its readiness along the border with Lebanon,' army says.

* Crises allowed China and Russia to pursue Middle East power and influence, warns US general General Kenneth McKenzie says America faced diplomatic, military and economic competition in the volatile region after perceived decrease in US engagement.

* Top EU diplomat to propose new sanctions against Russia The European Union's foreign policy chief is urging the bloc to take a firm stance in its future relations with Russia, including through the use of new sanctions, in the wake of the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

* Morocco tells Arab states: Embrace diplomacy with Israel Moroccan foreign minister tells Arab League members to drop their traditional opposition and engage with Israel.

* China Is Creating a New Master Race "U.S. intelligence shows that China has conducted human testing on members of the People's Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities," wrote then Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, in a December 3 Wall Street Journal op-ed titled "China Is National Security Threat No. 1."

2/9/21

 * Netanyahu after Blinken remark: Golan will remain Israeli Blinken: "As a practical matter, the control of the Golan in that situation I think remains of real importance to Israel’s security."

* Blinken supports Israel holding Golan, but backs off recognizing sovereignty Top US diplomat questions legality of Trump’s deeming strategic plateau part of Israel, but says there’s nothing to talk about with Assad and Iran.

* Iran may pursue nuclear weapon, intel minister warns West Iran’s intelligence minister has warned the West that his country could push for a nuclear weapon if international sanctions remain in place.

* Iran Is Close To Getting An Atomic Bomb—But It Could Still Choose To Stop Iran is one technical step away from producing enriched uranium that could allow it to build its first nuclear warhead.

* Is Israel’s Chief of Staff Calling for a Preventive War with Hezbollah? Kochavi conveyed that Israel now possesses new technologies that enable the IDF to hit Hezbollah across Lebanon effectively, rapidly, and in a widespread manner.

* Jerusalem and the new US Administration Supporters of a united Jerusalem must adopt strategies to ensure that rusty, failed and dangerous narratives are not reintroduced. Opinion.

* Is Palestine a State? The highly politicized International Criminal Court just declared statehood for Palestinians.

* As Netanyahu waits for Biden to call, some fear four years of busy signals After nearly 3 weeks, the question is whether the US president’s decision to not call Israel’s leader is a petty snub or a sign of how the administration will approach the region.

* Fear of the Covid Vaccine Could Keep Muslims Off Temple Mount Channel 11 Kahn News reported on Monday that Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion warned that he would order the Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount to be closed unless the Muslim residents of East Jerusalem agreed to be vaccinated in more significant numbers.

* Russia, China, and Iran to hold joint naval drills in Indian Ocean soon The three countries held similar naval drills in the Indian Ocean in December 2019.

2/8/21

 * Will the Trump Successes in the Middle East Survive? The Abraham Accords -- between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain -- will lead to billions of dollars of investment and trade between Israel and its partners in peace.

* EXPLAINER: Israeli settlements may face new scrutiny Israel’s ongoing building of settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem would likely be more vulnerable to prosecution than its military actions against Palestinians — if the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor decides to open a war crimes investigation.

* Khanna: Biden Will ‘Radically Reset Relations’ with Israel, They’ll ‘Have to Recognize Palestinian Statehood’ On Friday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “All In,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) stated that President Joe Biden will “radically reset relations” with Israel, and Israel will “have to recognize Palestinian statehood.

* Hague Green-Lights Prosecution of Israel: 'Zechariah's Prophecy Coming to Fruition' In a move that was clearly timed to coincide with President Trump’s White House departure, the ICC released a “judgment” declaring their intent to try Israel for war crimes while at the same time establishing “Palestine” as a legitimate nation.

* ‘What do you think we are going to do, pray?’: Israeli cabinet minister fires warning on Iranian threat in interview with German outlet “We are going to defend ourselves in any way that will be effective,” Hanegbi said.

* Palestinian elections: Hamas will promise Islamic law, change and reform Hamas, of course, is also convinced that many Palestinians will vote for its candidates because they identify with the Islamist movement’s ideology.

* Opinion: Russia rejects EU's olive branch After his trip to Moscow, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell believes ties between Europe and Russia have hit a new low.

* Donald Trump’s Revolutionary Foreign Policy Former US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy legacy was, on the whole, a major success. From Asia to Europe and through the Middle East, he managed to achieve many notable “firsts.”

* Erdogan: ‘Attacks on Muslims’ sacred values are persistently disregarded under the pretext of freedom of thought’ Well, yes, Tayyip. A society can either protect Muslims’ sacred values by laws restricting what is considered offensive to those values, or can protect the freedom of thought, which will mean that various groups will have to put up with being offended.

* U.S. Set to Reverse Trump Move and Rejoin China, Russia at U.N. Human Rights Council Self-anointed guardians of human freedom China, Russia, Cuba, Eritrea, and Venezuela may soon have the company of the U.S. at the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) if the Biden administration’s rush to rejoin the globalist body is a success.

2/6/21

 * What is Iran's mega-missile and what does it mean for nuclear deal? Tal Inbar: Recent launch was Iran signaling its missile program is off the table for Iran deal discussions.

* Gantz: Israel will take military action against nuclear Iran if needed Defense minister tells Egyptian TV any future war would involve Hezbollah and Hamas targeting Israeli cities, and Israel in turn hitting missile stores in civilian areas.

* Does Israel feel compelled to launch a strike at Iran’s nuclear sites? And if so, when? Israel may have to go it alone against a nuclear-armed Iran, said senior minister Tzachi Hanegbi on Tuesday, Feb. 2, because, je said, he can’t see the US taking such a military initiative.

* Former Shin Bet chief calls for Israel to ‘initiate military operations against Iran’ Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Avi Dichter says the lack of a U.S. response to the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities showed Iran there would be no price to pay for ramping up aggression.

* US Senate approves amendment to keep embassy in Jerusalem The three opposing votes were Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Tom Carper of Delaware.

* White House Can’t Explain Why Biden Hasn’t Called Netanyahu In First 2 Weeks White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Tuesday that President Joe Biden had not yet spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first two weeks of his administration — but could not explain why he had not done so.

* Mahmoud Abbas is threatening to kill anyone who might oppose him The Palestinian attempt to appease the Biden administration by holding Palestinian elections threatens to reveal the flabbiness and collapse of Fatah, which lies at the heart of the Palestinian Authority.

* Europeans created Zionism “to get rid of the Jewish problem in its lands” – op-ed in official PA daily One of the fundamental tenets of Palestinian Authority ideology is that the Zionist movement was not an authentic Jewish movement but rather a colonialist movement that took advantage of the Jews.

* Biden Allows LGBT Flags to be Raised Over US Embassies Worldwide The Biden administration proudly announced a commitment to public displays of “gay pride” when newly appointed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken lifted a ban on rainbow “gay rights” flags being displayed at US embassies.

* Elections: Polls Show Pro-3rd Temple Politicians Becoming Lawmakers Two separate right-wing parties in Israel, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) and the National Union, were each expected to receive roughly two Knesset seats in Israel’s current election according to most polls.

2/5/21

 * Former Shin Bet chief calls for Israel to ‘initiate military operations against Iran’ Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Avi Dichter says the lack of a U.S. response to the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities showed Iran there would be no price to pay for ramping up aggression.

* Avi Benlolo: Biden's roadmap to peace in the Middle East Instead of recognizing that this is one area in which Trump made some historic gains, Biden has begun wavering on his Mideast policy.

* Biden's UN pick passes through Senate Foreign Relations Committee The top Democrat on the committee said he trusts Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Iran and Israel, but his Republican counterparts were more critical.

* Palestinian pay-for-slay stands in the way of renewing ties with Biden administration Palestinian policy of paying reward money to convicted terrorists stands between renewing ties with the Biden administration.

* Europe and Iran: What Comes Next? | Opinion The Iranian nuclear program has caused alarm within the European Union and particularly in France.

* Human Rights Violations No One Talks About On January 3, 2021, the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Land Authority (PLA) in the Gaza Strip "removed" three houses -- one of which had been inhabited by a family of three -- and bulldozed about 30 dunums (7.4 acres) of agricultural land in the as-Salam neighborhood west of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

* Biden’s Assistant Secretary of State Urged Negotiations with Hamas President Joe Biden’s choice for Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel-Palestine, Hady Amr, has urged including the terrorist organization Hamas in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

* How China’s rise in the Middle East can inform US policy under Biden China is cementing its position in the US sandpit. As the Biden administration re-evaluates US foreign policy, and its China policy in particular, one region that demands a closer look is the Middle East.

* Xi Jinping looks at the Western cultural revolution and smiles Cancel culture wants turn our story into a blank page so the young know nothing of what the West has given to humanity. Mao laughs. Op-ed.

* Senate votes overwhelmingly to keep US embassy in Jerusalem Senate votes 97-3 to approve. Senator Inhofe: “It’s an important message that we acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

2/4/21

 * Alleged Israeli airstrike reported in southern Syria The airstrike comes after two flights of airlines allegedly used by the IRGC to transfer weapons to Syria and Lebanon were reportedly spotted en route to Damascus.

* Syria says it responded to ‘Israeli aggression’ Syrian state news agency says Israel carried out missile attack in Quneitra province but it intercepted most of them.

* Why Israel Should Accept a New - Better - Iran Deal The many people anxiously waiting to hear whether -- or really, how --- the Biden Administration plans to reenter the Iran Deal, scrapped by President Trump, got a hint last Wednesday from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

* Nikki Haley accuses Biden of 'snubbing' Israel, 'cozying up' to Iran: 'I really don't understand the logic' Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley accused the Biden administration Wednesday of "snubbing Israel" and "cozying up to Iran" in the two weeks the 46th president has been in office.

* ELECTIONS: Polls Show Pro-3rd Temple Politicians Becoming Lawmakers Two separate right-wing parties in Israel, Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) and the National Union, were each expected to receive roughly two Knesset seats in Israel’s current election according to most polls.

* Joe Biden’s Foreign Policy: A Preliminary Assessment The Biden administration’s foreign policy is rapidly coming into view. Despite rhetoric designed to mollify Middle Eastern allies, the trajectory of decisions clearly favors a return to the Obama policy of elevating Iran at the expense of Israel and Sunni states.

* Biden’s arrival pushes Jordan toward political reform Amman — After a complicated relationship with the Trump administration, Jordan now has the opportunity to strengthen relations with the U.S. — but it will not come for free.

* Scoop: Sisi conditions Netanyahu visit to Egypt on support for two-state solution Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to visit Cairo, but Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has a condition: Netanyahu must make a positive statement on the Palestinian issue, such as re-committing to the two-state solution, Israeli sources tell me.

* Middle East: Are people losing their religion? Recent surveys indicate strongly that across the Middle East and Iran, almost half the population is loosening their ties to Islam.

* China ready to ‘respond to all threats and provocations at any time’ as US warship crosses Taiwan Strait Beijing has said it continues to monitor US military maneuvers near the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, warning that China is ready to respond to American threats and provocations.

2/3/21

 * What is Iran's mega-missile and what does it mean for nuclear deal? Tal Inbar: Recent launch was Iran signaling its missile program is off the table for Iran deal discussions.

* Does Israel feel compelled to launch a strike at Iran’s nuclear sites? And if so, when? Israel may have to go it alone against a nuclear-armed Iran, said senior minister Tzachi Hanegbi on Tuesday, Feb. 2, because, je said, he can’t see the US taking such a military initiative.

* Israel is right to doubt new negotiations with Iran will work Advocates of a new diplomatic path need to prove that somehow Iran is changed. There is little or no evidence this is the case. Opinion

* Palestinians: No to Normalization with the 'Zionist entity' The anti-normalization campaign, which is also waged by Palestinians, means that any Palestinian leader or negotiator who is seen sitting with an Israeli will be condemned by Palestinians and possibly other Arabs as a traitor.... and accused of committing treason.

* White House Can’t Explain Why Biden Hasn’t Called Netanyahu In First 2 Weeks White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Tuesday that President Joe Biden had not yet spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first two weeks of his administration — but could not explain why he had not done so.

* How Russia is Helping Syria Take Back Its Airspace From Israel It appears the air defense batteries were overwhelmed by a saturation attack.

* Biden’s Pledge to ‘Rebuild Alliances’ Really Means Practically speaking, deference to Europe equals deference to Russian, Chinese, and Iranian interests.

* Belt and Road: Romania Set to Ban Chinese Companies from Infrastructure Projects The Romanian government has introduced a memorandum that would see Chinese companies barred from securing infrastructure projects, amid claims of unfair competition and shoddy workmanship.

* Pope Francis Warns of Globalization Becoming New ‘Colonialism’ Pope Francis warned Tuesday that globalization risks creating a stultifying uniformity in the world if it fails to respect local diversity and individuality.

* Biden Allows LGBT Flags to be Raised Over US Embassies Worldwide The Biden administration proudly announced a commitment to public displays of “gay pride” when newly appointed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken lifted a ban on rainbow “gay rights” flags being displayed at US embassies.

2/2/21

 * Israel’s Defense Ministry demands special funding for attack on Iran The Defense Ministry made its demand in the background of Iran’s growing nuclear threat.

* Wide alarm: Iran presumed just weeks away from a nuclear weapon Attention was drawn to Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism by the explosion outside the Israel embassy in Delhi on Friday, Jan. 29 – without, however, detracting from the Biden administration’s first priority – dealing with Tehran’s rapid advance to a nuke.

* The IDF Must Be Ready to Prevent Iran’s Nuclearization Ensuring the necessary capabilities to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons should political efforts fail to achieve this goal must be the IDF’s top priority.

* Iran blinks again and again on 'redlines' - analysis In a Monday night interview with CNN, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif made his latest shift.

* What next as Israel steps up attacks on Iranian forces in Syria? A spate of deadly Israeli air raids and other attacks have created a conundrum for Iran and its intentions in Syria.

* UAE ambassador: ‘Abraham Accords were about preventing annexation’ Envoy also confirms Netanyahu trip to Abu Dhabi next week, says bad blood between Emiratis and Palestinians can be overcome with show of good faith from Ramallah.

* Tensions rise as Biden admin. changes Middle East dynamic The commander of U.S. Central Command is in Israel now, the first high-level visit by a top American official since Biden's inauguration.

* Syria: Pro-Assad Forces Clash with Kurdish Security A militia loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad attacked the Kurdish Asayesh security forces in Hasaka, in the northeast of the country, on Sunday, breaking a longstanding, tense lull in hostilities between the two sides.

* The US Will Need Turkey to Counter Russia If President Biden is serious about containing Russia through reinvigorating NATO, he will need Turkey’s geopolitical standing as well as its military and political clout.

* Mahmoud Abbas is threatening to kill anyone who might oppose him The Palestinian attempt to appease the Biden administration by holding Palestinian elections threatens to reveal the flabbiness and collapse of Fatah, which lies at the heart of the Palestinian Authority.