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Israel and Middle East News Update

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Israel and Middle East News Update Israel and Middle East News Update Tuesday, June 15 Headlines: ● New Israeli Gov't Approves Nationalist March in Jerusalem ● Gantz Pushes for Meron Probe Rejected by Previous Gov't ● Center-Left Coalition Seeks Ahmad Tibi's Help ● Lapid Vows to Rebuild Intl Ties After ‘Reckless’ Last Gov't ● Hamas Leader Haniyeh to Visit Lebanon, Iran ● PA Perturbed About Egypt-Hamas Rapprochement ● UAE, Bahrain Welcome New Israeli Government ● Erdogan Meeting With Biden Was 'Fruitful, Sincere' Commentary: ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “Lapid’s Package of Benefits’’ - By Amihai Attali ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “The Restart Government’’ - By Raanan Shaked S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 1725 I St NW Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts June 15, 2021 Reuters New Israeli Gov't Approves Nationalist March in Jerusalem Israel's new government approved a Jewish nationalist march in Jerusalem, a step that risks inflaming tensions with Palestinians hours after Benjamin Netanyahu handed over power to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. In the flag-waving procession, far-right groups will march in and around East Jerusalem's walled Old City, where tensions have remained high since 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas in May. Palestinian factions have called for a "day of rage" against the march, with memories of clashes with Israeli police still fresh in the contested city's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and in a neighborhood where Palestinians face eviction in a court dispute with Jewish settlers. After meeting with the police chief and other security officials, newly sworn-in Internal Security Minister Omer Barlev approved the march and said police were well-prepared, according to a statement. Dig Deeper ‘‘IDF Ups Alert Among Iron Dome Batteries Ahead of Jerusalem Flag March’’ (Jerusalem Post) Ynet News Gantz Pushes for Meron Probe Rejected by Previous Gov't Defense Minister Benny Gantz sent the Cabinet Secretariat a proposal for the creation of a state commission of inquiry into a stampede at a Lag B'Omer celebration in April in which 45 people were killed and some 150 others injured. The previous government had refused to approve an investigation into the events on Mount Meron during the predominantly ultra-Orthodox celebration, claiming that an internal probe by the Religious Affairs Ministry would be sufficient. Gantz’ proposal calls for the government to establish a commission with full authority to investigate the stampede that is believed to have occurred due to poor planning at the event. The coalition agreement stipulates that the new government will approve the commission. Dig Deeper ‘‘Gantz Meets With US Diplomat, Discusses Gaza and Regional Stability’’ (Jerusalem Post) Israel Hayom Center-Left Coalition Seeks Ahmad Tibi's Help A member of the new center-left government informed Ahmad Tibi the coalition would need his party's help, the Ta'al party chairman said. Despite reports in recent weeks Ta'al lawmakers Tibi and Osama Saadi were contemplated voting in favor of the so-called "pro-change" coalition, both Ta'al members, along with the entire Joint Arab List faction of which Ta'al is a member, voted against the center-left government of Prime Minister Bennett and Prime Minister-designate and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. According to the Joint Arab List official, it would have been "totally realistic" for those Ta'al members to vote in favor of the coalition because he said Tibi and Saadi are both pragmatists who have already spoken of the need for the Joint Arab List "to take an active and central part in the political field." Dig Deeper ‘‘Participation in Israeli Coalition Government Opens New Chapter for Arab Parties’’ (Al-Monitor) 2 Times of Israel Lapid Vows to Rebuild Intl Ties After ‘Reckless’ Last Gov't Incoming Foreign Minister Lapid vowed to repair ties between Israel and “angry” Democrats in the US, saying Israel’s standing in the West had taken a beating under former prime minister Netanyahu. Speaking at a ceremony where he took over the foreign minister role from Blue & White’s Gabi Ashkenazi, Lapid accused Netanyahu of abandoning the diplomatic corps and leaving it in shambles, while also committing to push ahead with two of the former premier’s landmark projects: opposing the nuclear deal with Iran and forging ties with Arab states under the Abraham Accords. Lapid, who will become prime minister in 2023 as part of a rotational deal with new prime minister Naftali Bennett, focused on Netanyahu’s moves to seemingly align closely with the Republican Party, which critics say degraded the bipartisan support Israel once enjoyed in Congress. Dig Deeper ‘‘Israel’s Lapid Enthusiastic to Take On Foreign Affairs Portfolio’’ (Al-Monitor) Israel Hayom Hamas Leader Haniyeh to Visit Lebanon, Iran Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is planning a trip to Lebanon and Iran to meet with top officials, Lebanon's Al-Akhbar newspaper reports. Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, is currently on a diplomatic visit to the Egyptian capital Cairo where he arrived last week to discuss the terms of a long-term truce with Israel, including a potential prisoner exchange. While in Lebanon, he is expected to meet with Palestinian faction leaders and Hezbollah members, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. During the Iran visit, Haniyeh will meet with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, and senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Dig Deeper ‘‘Hamas Warns of Response to Jerusalem Flag March’’ (I24 News) Jerusalem Post PA Perturbed About Egypt-Hamas Rapprochement The Palestinian Authority is unhappy with the recent rapprochement between Egypt and Hamas, Palestinian sources said. The PA is also worried about Egypt’s continued support for deposed Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan, an archrival of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the sources said. The Egyptians, on the other hand, are said to be outraged by Abbas’s alleged attempt to obstruct Cairo’s effort to contribute to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of last month’s fighting between Israel and Hamas. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has pledged $500 million to help rebuild the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. He has also dispatched dozens of engineers, bulldozers and cranes to the Gaza Strip to assist in the reconstruction effort. “Egypt is working behind our back,” said a senior Palestinian official in Ramallah. “The Egyptians are working directly with Hamas on the reconstruction effort, ignoring the role of the Palestinian Authority.” The official denied claims that Abbas was working to hinder Egypt’s efforts in the Gaza Strip. The tensions between Ramallah and Cairo were also related to the PA’s demand to supervise the entry of Qatari cash grants into the Gaza Strip, The New Arab online news site reported. Dig Deeper ‘‘Egypt Relies on Reconstruction of Gaza to Consolidate Its Influence’’ (Israel Hayom) 3 Times of Israel UAE, Bahrain Welcome New Israeli Government The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain welcomed the new Israeli government, indicating that the historic normalization deals forged by former prime minister Netanyahu and the Trump administration would flourish beyond the change in leadership. UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed spoke with new Foreign Minister Lapid, discussing “mutual cooperation and Abrahamic Accords,” the Emirati Foreign Ministry said in a tweet. “I had the great pleasure of speaking to the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates this evening and I look forward to working with him to build on the warm and unique relations between our two countries for the benefit of our peoples and the entire Middle East,” Lapid said. Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a statement congratulating Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Lapid on the formation of a new government. “The crown prince expresses his sincere wishes that the newly formed government will enhance development, stability, and peace in the region and the world,” the statement said. Dig Deeper ‘‘UAE Among 5 New Nations Voted to Un Security Council’’ (I24 News) I24 News Erdogan Meeting With Biden Was 'Fruitful, Sincere' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he held a "fruitful and sincere" meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. "We believe there is no problem that cannot be resolved in Turkey-US relations," Erdogan added after holding his first meeting with Biden. Relations between the two NATO allies plummeted after Turkey's purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system that the US believes can be used to spy on Western defenses. Erdogan announced no progress on the S-400 dispute. Washington imposed sanctions on Turkey's military procurement agency for the purchase last year. "On the issue of S-400s, I told (Biden) the same thing I had in the past," Erdogan said. Biden has also made a point of highlighting Turkey's deteriorating record on human rights and took three full months after his swearing in ceremony before placing his first call to Erdogan. Erdogan raised the possibility ahead of the meeting that the two sides could cooperate on Turkey's potential role securing the international airport in Kabul after the US completes its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. He announced no firm deal on the airport but said Turkish forces might work jointly in Afghanistan with those of Pakistan and NATO member Hungary. Dig Deeper ‘‘Erdogan’s Meeting With Biden More Spin Than Substance’’ (Al-Monitor) 4 Yedioth Ahronoth – June 15, 2021 Lapid’s Package of Benefits By Amihai Attali ● A lot of people had to make concessions in order to establish the government that was sworn in on Sunday. High on the list are Benny Gantz and Gideon Saar, as well as others who made smaller concessions, such as Merav Michaeli and others.
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