Afghanistan's President Explains His 'Two Minute' Trump Rule - Eric Fish (Asia Society)

 

Egypt Wants Hamas to Cut Ties with ISIS in Sinai - Alex Fishman (Ynet News) Cairo is hosting negotiations to renew the reconciliation process between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.    Meanwhile, Egypt isn't opening the Rafah crossing because it doesn't believe Hamas will cut its ties with the Islamic State in Sinai. The Egyptians not only want Hamas to close the tunnels to Sinai completely, they are also demanding real cooperation in turning in ISIS fighters from Gaza. Last week, 16 Egyptian policemen were murdered in Sinai and the fuel supply from Egypt to Gaza was stopped for three days.

 

'State of Palestine' admitted to Interpol as new member - Ed Adamczyk (UPI)

European Parliament Hosts Convicted Palestinian Terrorist (European Jewish Press) Leila Khaled, a Palestinian woman convicted of terrorism who has continued to advocate violence against Israelis, is slated to speak at the European Parliament about women’s rights.

 

From the frontlines of trauma in Iraq, one clinic’s challenges - Marina Zellner (Women's Media Project)

 

Why Are Middle East Girls Better in Schools Than Boys - Amanda Ripley (The Atlantic)

 

The Mysterious Death of Hizbullah Leader Nasrallah's Bodyguard - Yasser Okbi (Maariv Hashavua) Kuwait's Al-Jarida claimed that Musa Muhamad Wahabi, Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah's personal bodyguard, was assassinated last week because he knew too much about the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, which has been attributed to Hizbullah.

 

Chilling: the Palestinian terrorist who just killed 3 people near Har Adar was described by Israelis who knew him as “completely normal” and “good-natured.”

The Har Adar Attacker Became a Palestinian Hero and Secured PA Payments to His Family - Ron Ben-Yishai (Ynet News) 

Fatah: Munich Olympic massacre was "excellent operation" - Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

75 Palestinian Authority schools named after terrorists and Nazi collaborators and honoring Martyrs and Martyrdom - Itamar Marcus (PMW)

Son of Hamas Leader Delivers Plea for Palestinian Human Rights at UN   (UN Watch) Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas leader, slammed the Palestinian Authority for its human rights abuses at the UN Human Rights Council headquarters in Geneva on Monday.   "Finally, you use this platform to mislead the international community, and to mislead Palestinian society to believe that Israel is responsible for the problems you create." 

Senior Russian Diplomat and Hamas Delegation Hold Talks in Moscow  (Tass-Russia) Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, held a meeting in Moscow last week with a Hamas delegation led by political bureau member Mousa Abu Marzook.

Russian Jets Strike U.S.-Backed Forces in Eastern Syria - Erin Cunningham and David Filipov (Washington Post) The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Russian warplanes targeted SDF fighters in three locations in Deir al-Zour province Monday, including at a major gas field they had seized Saturday from militants. It was the second time this month that the SDF has been targeted by Russian strikes.

 

Religion And Nationalism: Is Southeast Asia Turning Into The Next Middle East? - Dominique Moisi  (Les Echos/World Crunch)

Phyllis Chesler, at war with the 'Faux Feminists' of the left - Richard Landes (Tablet)

Egypt to reorganize Libya's army - AbdulkaderAssad (Libya Observer)

Egypt's President Sisi Urges Palestinians to Co-Exist with Israelis  (Reuters-U.S. News)

 

Hezbollah’s New Strength Leaves Israeli Border Tense - Sulome Anderson (NBC News) Hezbollah is now playing a much larger role in Syria and Lebanon.... Three years after ISIS appeared on Lebanon’s northern border, Hezbollah has emerged from the morass of the Syrian conflict stronger and more powerful than ever, thanks to a steady stream of funds and advanced weaponry from its patron, Iran.

Israel Intercepts Iranian Drone Sent by Hizbullah from Syria - Anna Ahronheim (Jerusalem Post)

The Growing Power of Iran and Hizbullah (Economist-UK)

 

Revolution Unveiled: A Closer Look at Iran's Presence and Influence in the Middle East - Phillip Smyth, Tim Michetti, and Owen Daniels (Atlantic Council) Through four case studies of Iraq, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen, this report systematically examines new or less-known methods Iran employs to project its influence beyond its borders. The picture that emerges shows Iran as the preeminent state actor working to undermine U.S. policy in the Middle East and restructure the regional order to its liking. 

 

Palestinian Poll: 3/4 Support Abbas' Decision to Suspend Security Coordination with Israel - Dr. Khalil Shikaki (Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research)

Jerusalem Imam Issues Fatwa Against Muslims Studying Israeli Curriculum - Nasouh Nazzal  (Gulf News-Dubai)
Half of Jerusalem Arab Parents Want Israeli School Curriculum - Yori Yalon (Israel Hayom)

Fatah spokesman to Hamas:  Don't recognize Israel; Fatah doesn't and never will - Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW) Fatah and Hamas announced yesterday that they are moving ahead towards Palestinian reconciliation and possible national elections.

 

As Libyan Route Shuts Off, Migrants Turn To Tunisian Coast -  Giacomo Tognini (World Crunch)

 

Why Trump's Iran Posture May Be 'More Carrot Than Stick' to the Country's Hardliners (Asia Society)  Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal would, in fact, be detrimental to the political change there that he claims to advocate — and might embolden the very anti-American hardliners Trump decries.

U.S. Military Cedes Territory in Syria to Iranian Proxies - Thomas Gibbons-Neff (Washington Post)

 

UN says Americans unjustly held in Iran part of ’emerging pattern’ - Jon Gambrell (Times of Israel) Agency experts say Tehran increasingly targeting dual nationals in wake of 2015 nuclear deal with Western powers

9/11 & The Changing Face Of Islamic Terrorism - Charles Bybelezer (The Media Line)

Documentary Exposes Iranian Involvement in 9/11 (Al-Arabiya)

Textbook Featuring Israeli Flag Raises Ire in Egypt - Roi Kais (Ynet News) A textbook for eighth grade students showing Israel's flag on a map of the Middle East has raised ire in Egypt. The publisher said this was an error that would be rectified in future copies of the book.

French Police Discover Bomb Factory in Paris - Rory Mulholland (The Local-France)

Does Condemning Islamic State Jihadis Constitute "Hate Speech"? -Denis MacEoin (Gatestone Institute)

Spain, Morocco Bust Terror Cell Preparing Large-Scale Attacks (AFP)

ISIS Agent Told Undercover BBC Reporter to Attack London- David Brown and John Simpson (The Times-UK)

Not sure if this story goes under Europe, London, Myanmar? Weaponizing Myanmar to Bash Israel - Simon Plosker (Honest Reporting)

Video: Escaped ISIS Militants Regrouping in Northeast Iraq - Dilshad Anwar (VOA News)

Hamas Setting Up in Lebanon with Iran's Support - Judah Ari Gross (Times of Israel)

Hamas Rejects Red Cross Demand to Visit Israelis Detained in Gaza - Kifah Ziboun (Asharq Al-Awsat-UK)

Palestinians' War on Art- Bassa m Tawil (Gatestone Institute) related: PA Arrests Palestinian for Hosting Israeli MK during Holiday (Ma'an News-PA)

Governor of Ramallah is is an avid supporter of terrorist murderers - Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik (PMW)

Qatar Hires Public-Relations Firm to Court American Jews - Amir Tibon (Ha'aretz)

Israel Just Bombed a Chemical Weapons Factory that Syria Shouldn't Have Had - Alex Ward (VOX)

UN Panel: North Korea Suspected of Chemical, Missile Cooperation with Syria (Yonhap-Korea Herald)

Hundreds of ISIS Defectors Mass on Syrian Border Hoping to Flee - Martin Chulov (Guardian-UK) nearby Turkish border, 

U.S. to Return Jewish Artifacts to Iraq, Despite Protests - Josefin Dolsten (JTA)

While in Israel last week, I learned a new term: Deconfliction. It's used to describe the contact between Russia and Israel in Syria. It's a very tense time because of the expansion of Iranian influence near Israel's border with the apparent tacit approval of the USA and Russia. Israel is doing everything possible to stop this and not get into a war with Russia. As per David Lesch of the New York Times:  The Trump administration has so far seemed willing to cede Syria to Russia, but this really means ceding it to Iran.

Expert: Hizbullah Has Built Tunnels into Israel - David Schenker (Cipher Brief)

Hamas Leader: Iran Is Our Largest Backer Financially, Militarily (Asharq Al-Awsat-UK) with Iran's help, Hamas is accumulating military power in preparation for a battle for the liberation of Palestine.

Netanyahu Raising Alarm on Iran, Again - Ben Caspit (Al-Monitor)

Iran Commands 70,000 Combatants in Syria - Zvi Bar'el (Ha'aretz)   Iranian troops and militias have been given Syrian army bases and civilian facilities, like a university located between Damascus and the southern town of Sweida where the Iranians installed SAM-1 anti-aircraft batteries.

Hizbullah Has Been Active in America for Decades - Colin P. Clarke (National Interest)

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Canadian Groups Express Concern as UNRWA Boosts Funding to Palestinians - Paul Lungen (Canadian Jewish News)

 'A Weapon Against Its Neighbors': Former Al-Jazeera Bureau Chief Speaks Out Against Network- Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem Post) 

Al Jazeera Exposed: Blood Libels, Defamation and Lies - Daniel Pomerantz (Honest Reporting)

Opposing U.S., France Says No Need to Change UN Lebanon Force Mandate  (AFP) Anne Gueguen, France's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said Wednesday that France wants the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to stick to its current mandate, opposing U.S. calls to strengthen the force's authority to deal with arms movements by Hizbullah. France contributes 800 troops to UNIFIL's 10,500-strong force. A Security Council vote on renewing UNIFIL's mandate is expected on August 30.

Washington Institute Hires Fired WSJ Reporter - Michael Wilner (Jerusalem Post) Solomon, in a phone call, said that virtually every single missile system in the Arab world has some tieback to the regime in the North. He will also examine the DPRK’s role in developing the chemical and nuclear weapons programs in Syria and Iran.

PA: Israeli Cities of Jaffa, Haifa, Safed, Tiberias, and Acre Are All in "Palestine" - Itamar Marcus (Palestinian Media Watch)

Military Training in PA Summer Camps Run by Jibril Rajoub - B. Chernitsky and S. Schneidmann  (MEMRI)

How an Underground Wall Can Save Lives - HR in a Minute (Honest Reporting Video)

At the Golan border, I listened to one of the UN troops talking to tourists. He was stationed safely inside the Israeli border and his team was looking at Syria through a type of binocular. He made a point to say (with great disdain) that the Israelis are now advertising their assistance to Syrian refugees. Looking at his position, his tone was puzzling. 

Taking Israeli Aid, Syrian Rebel Says Crisis on Golan Overrides Old Hatreds - Judah Ari Gross (Times of Israel)
Israeli Doctors Treat Syrian Victims of the Civil War - Shlomo Maital (Jerusalem Post)

After summer vacation, Middle East gears up for conflict as usual- Avi Issacharoff (Times of Israel)  This week the United Arab Emirates made its first monthly transfer of $15 million to Hamas in Gaza in exchange for allowing Abbas' rival Mohammed Dahlan a foothold there.  The Emirates, never previously known for affection toward Hamas, offered the money to help Dahlan and, mainly, to weaken Qatar's influence upon Hamas.

Why President Trump's New Afghanistan Policy Is 'More of the Same' - Hassan Abbas (Asia Society)

There will be no Update next week as I will be traveling and have very limited internet access.

Hope you all have a fabulous Labor Day weekend.