By Prof. Eytan Gilboa, May 11, 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Data and analysis of surveys of American public opinion on three issues—views of Israel vs. the Palestinian Authority, sympathies with the two sides, and support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state—reveal that from 2000 to 2020, Americans have consistently viewed Israel favorably and the Palestinian Authority unfavorably and shown much more sympathy for Israelis than for Palestinians. They are increasingly supportive of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, a trend that might have resulted from the inclusion of a Palestinian state in President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
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The political fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the feasibility of a national unity government are now in the hands of the Israeli Supreme Court.
Editorial of The New York Sun | May 1, 2020
https://www.nysun.com/editorials/israel-back-to-the-future/91113/
Israel and Hezbollah attempt to maintain the status quo that has kept them from conflict despite recent military activity between the two.
Former Blue and White partners Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid are now officially rivals for the same center-left electorate.
The failed attempts by Israel's center-left to adopt the strategy of Kadima under Ehud Olmert to win election and form a government could be opening the door to the possible establishment of a Jewish-Arab party.
If only they had felt such shame 10 months earlier, perhaps Israel would have been spared two unnecessary elections and too many months of embarrassing, petty political haggling.
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Israeli President Reuven Rivlin notified opposition leader Benny Gantz Thursday morning that he was transferring the mandate to form a new government to the Israeli parliament. Despite assurances they were close to a breakthrough, Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to reach an agreement by the Wednesday night deadline set by Rivlin. After three inconclusive elections, a unity deal between the two rivals would have given Israel its first stable government since December 2018. The Knesset will now have 21 days to propose a majority-supported candidate or Israel will face a fourth round of voting.
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al-monitor.com
Even if Blue and White's Benny Gantz fails in his attempt to form the next Israeli government, he could emerge from the effort looking like the adult in the room and the person who put the interest of the state above his own.
Anthony H. Cordesman writes: Accordingly, a meaningful strategic dialogue between the United States and Iraq must address all three of these sets of issues – or ghosts – politics and governance, economics, and security. It cannot continue to be focused on security, and particularly on ISIS. Iraq must find its own answers in each case, and the United States cannot help an Iraq that cannot unite or act to the point where it can help itself. At the same time, the United States must decide whether it will commit itself to a sustained effort to help Iraq emerge as a nation that is unified and strong enough to prevent further civil conflict and act independently of Iranian pressure and threats. – Center for Strategic and International Studies
On April 8, 2020, the League of Revolutionaries, a recently formed Iraqi group that appears to be an Iranian proxy, released an approximately two-minute video threatening U.S. troops in Iraq. – Middle East Media Research Institute
After five days with no talks over an emergency, power-sharing government in Israel, the Likud and Blue and White parties resumed negotiations Sunday night. Earlier that day, President Reuven Rivlin rejected a request by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to extend his mandate to form a government, which is due to expire tonight at midnight. After the March 2 elections, Gantz was tapped by 61 lawmakers as their preferred choice to form the next government, but he currently does not have the majority needed to do so.
The High Court rejected on Sunday evening a petition filed that morning seeking to disqualify Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government due to his upcoming corruption trial. The court ruled that the petition was premature, since the president had not tasked Netanyahu with forming the next government.
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American Jews protesting the prospect of Israeli action to formalize its hold on territory aren’t defending chances for peace or a realistic plan to achieve it.
JONATHAN S. TOBIN
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blew up coalition talks following right-wing attacks against him for letting Blue and White control the committee that appoints Supreme Court justices.
Haaretz
March 31, 2020
https://www.meforum.org/60661/netanyahu-won-but-israel-right-wing-lost
Talks between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White head Benny Gantz on an emergency government have hit an impasse over the Likud's priority of annexing the West Bank.
The left-wing camp is disappointed after perceiving Blue and White leader Benny Gantz as a 2020 model of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
By Dmitri Shufutinsky, March 29, 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Turkey’s invasion of Syria to protect Idlib will bog it down in a war it cannot win. At the same time, it severely weakens the Assad regime and could help oust Iran from Syria.
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Ignoring Israel’s laws and rules and in order to avoid complying with the High Court’s directives, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein chose to resign.
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Blue and White leader Benny Gantz slammed the door on his anti-Netanyahu partners to join a unity government with the Likud, but will he ever occupy the Prime Minister's Office?
Editorial of The New York Sun | March 27, 2020
https://www.nysun.com/editorials/israel-maybe-the-dog-will-talk/91065/
Anthony H. Cordesman writes: It should be stressed that all of the current trends in both Iran’s missile forces and in the speculation regarding its efforts to develop and deploy weapons of mass destruction continue to assume that the Iranian regime will give priority to military forces over civil needs in spite of the steady hardening of U.S. sanctions and the growing impact of the Coronavirus. – Center for Strategic and International Studies