Daily Archives: 11. April 2023
US officially designates journalist Evan Gershkovich as ‘wrongfully detained’ by Russia
The State Department on Monday officially designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained” by Russia, nearly two weeks after he was arrested.
The designation, made by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, follows a process conducted within the State Department and officially transfers responsibility of the case to the State Department’s Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
Hundreds Protest Netanyahu’s Speech Blaming Opposition for Israel’s Flare-up; PM Confirms Defense Minister Won‘t Be Fired
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he walked back his decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at a press conference on Monday, where he also blamed the opposition for Israel’s terror wave and deteriorating security situation.
Shortly after Netanyahu finished his speech, hundreds of people took to Tel Aviv’s streets to protest his remarks. Eight people were arrested as protesters blocked the central intersection at Kaplan street in the city center, as well as the Ayalon highway.
Israeli troops kill Palestinian teen in raid as settlers march through West Bank
The Israeli army said its troops were operating in the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp next to Jericho in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 15-year-old Mohammed Balhan was killed by army fire.
The army gave no further details.
Netanyahu‘s cabinet member joins settlers‘ march for reopening of illegal West Bank outpost
Far-right Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined thousands of Israeli settlers who staged a march demanding the reopening of Evyatar, an illegal settler outpost in the occupied West Bank. CNN‘s Frederik Pleitgen reports.
In mass rally, Israeli settlers march to West Bank outpost
The march to Eviatar, an unauthorized settlement outpost in the northern West Bank that was evacuated by the previous Israeli government in 2021, was being led by hard-line ultranationalist Jewish settlers.
Daniella Weiss, another settler leader, told Kan public radio that the ministers‘ participation in the march could be a “therapy for the government to free yourselves from the dictates of the U.S. and Europe” concerning West Bank settlement.
Questions remain concerning the Israel elements of the CIA leak | Haaretz Today
Pentagon documents leak a risk to US national security, officials say
The format of the documents is similar to that „used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates,“ Mr Meagher added.
The Pentagon first became aware of the document leak last week, with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin first briefed on the matter on 6 April, he said.
Mr Meagher said that the document leak has prompted US officials to reassure its allies „of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships“.
Saudi delegation in Yemen for peace talks with Iran-backed Houthi rebels
Houthi media showed the group‘s political leader, Mahdi al-Mashat, shaking hands and meeting with Saudi officials including the kingdom‘s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber.
The Saudi officials are „in Sanaa to discuss moving forward to create peace in Yemen,“ said a Yemeni diplomat based in the Gulf region, information that was confirmed by a second diplomat.
Europe must resist pressure to become ‘America’s followers,’ says Macron
ABOARD COTAM UNITÉ (FRANCE’S AIR FORCE ONE) — Europe must reduce its dependency on the United States and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the U.S. over Taiwan, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview on his plane back from a three-day state visit to China.
Speaking with POLITICO and two French journalists after spending around six hours with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip, Macron emphasized his pet theory of “strategic autonomy” for Europe, presumably led by France, to become a “third superpower.”