From Iron Dome to supply chains, US Christian group quietly shaping US-Israel ties

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Israel caught between rock and hard place on Russia - analysis - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

AS MUCH as the US wants to see its close ally taking a tough position on Russia, Israel has its own considerations. It also needs to maintain its unique relationship with Russia, including coordination in Syria, explains Dan Arbell, scholar-in-residence at the Center for Israeli Studies at American University. Arbell previously served as deputy chief of mission at the Israel Embassy in Washington, and has been a diplomat for over 20 years.
“Israel cannot ignore the increasing Russian involvement in the Middle East, its presence in Syria, and its global influence, he says. “On top of that, the countries have vibrant trade relations.
“For these reasons, it is essential for Israel to maintain open lines of communication with Moscow, and to avoid a rift with the Kremlin – even more so, when taking into account the different positions that the countries hold on Iran, its regional proxies and the JCPOA, and Jerusalem’s desire to have [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s ear on these issues,” Arbell says.

[Glorify Him]

There is a lot said in those few sentences. I have to wonder if we had a different president in the US if any of this would have needed to be said.

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Coordination with Gulf increases as US, world powers align focus on Iran nuclear deal | Al Arabiya English

This announcement is the latest in a series of increasing coordination between the US and the Gulf when it comes to the Vienna talks to revive the abandoned 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The GCC has long believed it necessary to be included in nuclear talks because they directly affect the region.

The Gulf officials’ meeting with Malley comes a few days after the US official met with Prince Abdullah to update him on the latest developments of the Vienna talks.
Gulf countries have long said Iran needed to stop its malign activities in the region through providing financial and military support to its network of proxy militias across the Middle East, including in countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz recently listed what the Gulf considers are Iran’s offenses: “The formation and support of sectarian and armed militias, the systemic deployment of its military capabilities in regional countries and its failure to cooperate with the international community regarding its nuclear program and the development of ballistic missiles.”

UAE forces arrive in Saudi Arabia to take part in GCC security exercise

Brig. Gen. Salem bin Abdullah Al-Habsi, a member of the Command and Control Committee, said the participants are prepared for the exercise, which aims to enhance coordination and field cooperation, and develop capabilities for dealing with crises and emergencies.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/g...n-nuclear-deal

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reminder

Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, days after the leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine said the USSR no longer existed.

"How can one count on equal relations with the United States and the West in such a position," Gorbachev told state news agency RIA Novosti on the eve of the anniversary of his resignation as the leader of the USSR.

He said there was a "triumphant mood in the West, especially in the United States" after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"They grew arrogant and self-confident. They declared victory in the Cold War," said the 90-year-old.

He insisted Moscow and Washington were "together" in pulling the world out of confrontation and the nuclear race.

"No, the 'winners' decided to build a new empire. Hence the idea of NATO expansion," Gorbachev added.

Russia tells NATO to leave Eastern Europe, stay out of former USSR - Millennium Weekend Ministries

This has been brewing for years. Since the fall of the USSR but as the new order is getting so close and the new order Russia bought into, wasn't what they got.... Over the years Putin has stated this, including at the UN a few years ago.
Important note imvho
However the west was promised both would remain democracies when they promised equal partners.

Petraeus: World order under 'unprecedented threat' - Millennium Weekend Ministries
02/01/17

EU's Tusk calls on Europe to rally against Trump threat

European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump has joined Russia, China and radical Islam among threats to Europe and called on Europeans to stick together to avoid domination by three other continental powers.

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Iran sees ties with Russia as 'new Middle East' - analysis

These are important talks. Russia is calling on the US to not supply weapons to Ukraine, and Turkey is offering to host Russia-Ukraine talks. This means that Iran’s visit is part of a larger Russian policy that stretches from Europe to the Middle East. Tehran sees Moscow as a key partner along with Beijing in its quest for more power.

“The visit may become a turning point in political, economic and trade relations between Iran and Russia, and it may also be effective in ensuring security, economic and trade relations in the region,” an Iranian news agency quoted the Iranian president as telling journalists at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport. “This trip is conducted at the invitation of Mr. Putin, and during this visit efforts will be made to promote the policy of good-neighborliness in the region.

More powerful ties with Russia could mean that Iran’s enemies will have less influence over the Islamic Republic, he said. In a sense, this is an invitation for more Russian influence in the Middle East. Iran calls this the “new Middle East” according to Sajjadi and Fars News – and it believes that the Russia-Iran role in Syria could be an example of this new Middle East.
This new Middle East will include closer work with China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as cooperation with Russia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. These were key points in the Fars News discussion.
He also mentioned that Russia could help bring peace to Yemen, Iraq and Syria alongside Iran. It’s not clear how much of this thinking is just speculation on a former ambassador’s part, but it is clear that Iran thinks the trip to Moscow is important.

Iran sees ties with Russia as 'new Middle East' - analysis - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

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Important note
The article above is dated today this article was dated yesterday

Iran, Russia, China to hold joint drills in Persian Gulf - Mehr News Agency

RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia's Pacific Fleet as saying that Iran, China, and Russia are scheduled to hold a joint naval exercise.

The Russian source did not provide the exact time and further details of the joint naval drill.

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The Iranian side confirmed the visit, saying Raisi would leave Wednesday for a two-day trip to Russia together with the country’s oil, foreign and economy ministers.

A Russian lawmaker told reporters that Raisi would speak at the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, on Thursday, while TASS news agency cited a source as saying he would meet with religious leaders at Moscow’s main mosque.

Putin to host Iran's Raisi in Moscow amid nuclear talks | The Times of Israel

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Reports: Israeli delegation lands in Sudan for meeting with ruling general | The Times of Israel

Kan added that according to the Saudi Al-Arabiya news outlet, the “Israeli military delegation” was slated to meet with Sudan’s top general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who seized power in a coup last year.

A Sudanese military source told Al-Jazeera the Israeli delegation was greeted by the second-in-command of the Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese paramilitary force that took part in the coup.

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side note
This happen under Netanyahu

The latest revelations alleging that the Israel Police used a notorious, powerful cyberweapon made by Israeli company NSO against civilians, politicians, and activists without proper legal oversight expose an organization that has a habit of overreaching and believes it is above reproach, privacy experts told The Times of Israel this week, adding that this approach has no place in a democratic country.

Privacy experts slam police 'abuse of power' in alleged use of spyware on civilians | The Times of Israel

Shocking revelation: Israel Police reportedly used Pegasus spyware to spy on citizens

Tracking technology typically used on terror suspects was allegedly tracking leaders of anti-Netanyahu protests, government employees and anti-LGBT activists

“These tools have also enabled foreign governments to conduct transnational repression, which is the practice of authoritarian governments targeting dissidents, journalists and activists outside of their sovereign borders to silence dissent. Such practices threaten the rules-based international order,”

However, in practice the police spying scandal, coupled with a new law that enables police officers to enter private homes without a warrant, signals a legal system in crisis, inviting serious infringements on fundamental human rights.

It is not the first time that Israeli authorities find themselves in the midst of allegations of power abuse. Approximately 400,000 Israelis were wrongly quarantined in 2020, because of Shin Bet’s controversial contact tracing of Israeli citizens at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The idea of a government watching its own citizens – this closely should ring the alarm. This is against the foundations of democracy. You can’t just give up on democracy during a crisis,” Maya Fried, a spokeswoman for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, said last January about COVID tracking.

Shocking revelation: Israel Police reportedly used Pegasus spyware to spy on citizens | All Israel News

Rosenberg has been a big supporter of Netanyahu.

But also in today's news..
State to expand subsidized medications, to total NIS 550 million | The Times of Israel

Health minister says ‘super advanced drugs and technologies’ to be added, including treatments for transgender individuals

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Could Moroccan-Israeli military cooperation ignite war with neighboring Algeria? - All Arab News

Algeria fears that its balance of power with Morocco would shift if Morocco were to form a military alliance with Israel, according to unnamed Algerian source

The power struggle is growing.

New China-Iran strategic partnership gives China a stronger position in the Middle East - All Arab News

Iran will allegedly receive $400 billion from China in next 25 years, supports Beijing Olympics; China supports Iran’s position on nuclear deal

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Sudan’s new military ruler hosts Israeli delegation

Visit possibly confirms Israel’s commitment to continue normalization efforts despite regime change

Sudan's new military ruler hosts Israeli delegation - All Arab News

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Israel weighing options amid deepening Russia-Ukraine crisis - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

As long as the situation is unclear, the world will accept Israel’s neutrality, Svetlova said.

“The moment of truth is coming, and Israel has to think about what it’s doing,” she said.

Pressure on Israel to take a side would likely be both international and domestic, Svetlova said.

“If there is a war, with civilians killed, there will be pressure from the US and the very large Ukrainian community in Israel,” she said. “Many thousands of Israelis have family in Ukraine, and they are preparing to hold protests.”

Israel will have to maintain a very delicate balance if it chooses to make a public statement about the tensions, Svetlova said.

“We have almost total dependence on cooperation with the Russians on our northern border,” she said. “Israel may have to condemn [Russian actions against Ukraine], but in a delicate way that won’t reach the point of summoning ambassadors.”

That Germany and other European actors are not totally aligned with Washington against Moscow helps Israel maintain its ambiguity and allows it to take a softer line if it speaks out against Russia, Svetlova said.

If Russia invades Ukraine, thousands of Ukrainian Jews or descendants of Jews may choose to immigrate to Israel, Svetlova said, calling on the Aliyah and Integration Ministry to prepare for their arrival.

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Israel said preparing for potential need to evacuate Ukrainian Jews in case of war

The Israeli government is preparing for the possibility that thousands of Ukrainian Jews will want to immigrate to Israel in the event of a Russian invasion of the country, according to a report Sunday night.

The report said some 75,000 people living in eastern Ukraine are believed eligible for Israeli citizenship.

Israel said preparing for potential need to evacuate Ukrainian Jews in case of war | The Times of Israel

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Israel, China convene joint committee on innovation for first time since 2018 | The Times of Israel

The meeting is part of a series of events marking 30 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and China.

“The Chinese, like Israelis, aren’t afraid of new ideas,” said Lapid at the meeting’s outset. “There’s a built-in curiosity in the character of our two peoples. Give us a new and exciting idea, and we’ll gather around it, discuss it enthusiastically , and immediately examine its origin and how it can be improved.”
Representatives of a number of Israeli government ministries and offices participated in the meeting, including Science, Technology and Space Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen and senior officials from the Health, Environmental Protection, Culture, Agriculture, and Economy ministries, as well as the Innovation Authority and Patent Office.

As Russian forces amass on Ukraine border, NATO deploys ships and fighter jets | The Times of Israel

NATO said that it’s beefing up its “deterrence” presence in the Baltic Sea area. A number of members of the 30-country military organization have offered troops and equipment.

Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and deploying F-16 war planes to Lithuania. Spain is sending ships to join NATO’s standing maritime force and considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria. France stands ready to send troops to Bulgaria, NATO said.

“All members of the European Union are united. We are showing unprecedented unity about the situation in Ukraine, with the strong coordination with the US,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Brussels

Two US carriers enter S. China Sea, to 'counter malign influence' - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

Two US aircraft carrier groups have entered the disputed South China Sea for training, the Department of Defense said on Monday as Taiwan reported a new Chinese air force incursion at the top of the waterway including a fearsome new electronic warfare jet.

US tells diplomats' families to leave Ukraine, weighs troop options - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

"Military action by Russia could come at any time," the US Embassy said in a statement.

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re post 26 and the scandal
Amid NSO scandal, minister says wiretap laws must be 'adapted to the 21st century' | The Times of Israel

Public Security Minister Barlev calls current legislation ‘old’; Knesset committee opens discussion on claims that police used Pegasus spyware to track civilians without oversight

“The existing legal arrangements regarding wiretapping and search operations as part of police enforcement operations are old,” said Barlev. “There is justification for examining whether to update the arrangements in light of the technological developments we have witnessed in recent years and for the adaptation of legislation to the 21st century.”