Tag Archives: Israel

Politics: Foreign Affairs Magazine- January 2024

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Foreign Affairs (December 13, 2023): The new January/February 2024 issue features ‘The Self-Doubting Superpower’ – America shouldn’t give up on the World It Made; The Middle East Remade; Why Israel Slept; Hamas’s Advantage, and more….

The Self-Doubting Superpower

America Shouldn’t Give Up on the World It Made

By Fareed Zakaria

Most Americans think their country is in decline. In 2018, when the Pew Research Center asked Americans how they felt their country would perform in 2050, 54 percent of respondents agreed that the U.S. economy would be weaker. An even larger number, 60 percent, agreed that the United States would be less important in the world. This should not be surprising; the political atmosphere has been pervaded for some time by a sense that the country is headed in the wrong direction. According to a long-running Gallup poll, the share of Americans who are “satisfied” with the way things are going has not crossed 50 percent in 20 years. It currently stands at 20 percent.

Why Israel Slept

The War in Gaza and the Search for Security

By Amos Yadlin and Udi Evental

In a barbaric surprise attack launched by Hamas on October 7, more Jews were slaughtered than on any day since the Holocaust. Thousands of elite Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip infiltrated small communities and cities in southern Israel, where they proceeded to commit sadistic, repulsive crimes against humanity, filming their vile deeds and boasting about them to friends and family back home.

News: Qatar-Israel-Hamas Bribe Scheme; Rwanda Migrants, Liz Cheney & GOP

The Globalist Podcast (December 13, 2023) – We examine Benjamin Netenyahu’s alleged scheme to bribe Hamas through Qatar.

Also, Tim Bale explains how, in the UK, Tory factions are pulling the strings on Rwanda; Liz Cheney’s message to the GOP; and film critic Karen Krizanovich reveals how Japan is breathing life into the US box office.

The New York Times — Wednesday, Dec 13 2023

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Biden Warns Israel It Is ‘Losing Support’ Over War

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, at his office in Jerusalem this week.

The president’s words exposed a widening rift between his administration and that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as casualties rise in Gaza.

Harvard’s Board Unites Behind Its President, but Its Campus Remains Splintered

Claudine Gay, president of Harvard University, testifying before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in Washington.

Harvard’s governing body said it stood firmly behind Claudine Gay as the university’s president, a stance both praised and condemned by students, faculty and alumni.

Biden Says Russia Is Celebrating U.S. Divisions Over Providing Aid to Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine traveled to Washington to make a last-ditch appeal for more help to fight Russia. But Republicans said they wouldn’t act without a border deal.

How Africans Are Changing French — One Joke, Rap and Book at a Time

More than 60 percent of French speakers now live in Africa. Despite growing resentment at France, Africans are contributing to the evolution and spread of the French language.

News: Zelensky In The U.S. For Aid Talks, Hong Kong ‘Patriots Only’ Elections

The Globalist Podcast (December 12, 2023) – We examine Volodymyr Zelensky’s efforts to bolster unity amid a rift between the Ukrainian leader and his top general.

Also, pro-democracy activist Nathan Law unpacks Hong Kong’s “patriots only” elections, a flick through today’s papers and a look at Swarovski’s new flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

The New York Times — Tuesday, December 12, 2023

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As Fighting Rages in Gaza, Israel Issues Warnings on Another Front

Smoke billowing above badly damaged buildings.

Top Israeli officials hinted at a powerful response to attacks by Hezbollah across the northern border with Lebanon, as to the south Israeli troops wage street battles against Hamas in Gaza.

Is Anti-Zionism Always Antisemitic? A Fraught Question for the Moment.

Supporters of Israel in Los Angeles last month.

From the halls of Congress to America’s streets and universities, a once largely academic issue has roiled national discourse, inciting accusations of bigotry and countercharges of bullying.

To Revive Portland, Officials Seek to Ban Public Drug Use

State and local leaders are proposing to roll back part of the nation’s pioneering drug decriminalization law and step up police enforcement.

Record Rent Burdens Batter Low-Income Life

More tenants than ever spend half or more of their income for shelter, leaving less for everything else, taking an emotional toll and leaving some without a place to call their own.

News: Israel-Hamas War In South Gaza, Egypt’s Sisi To Win The Presidential Vote

The Globalist Podcast (December 11, 2023) – The latest on the war between Israel and Hamas, examine the results of Egypt’s presidential election and debate Japan prime minister Fumio Kishida’s uncertain political future.

Also, the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela over Essequibo, art news and a dispatch from the Monocle Christmas Market.

The New York Times — Monday, December 11, 2023

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Gazans Mass at Border for Safety, but Find Only More Peril

Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis toward Rafah passing a crater caused by strikes on Sunday.

As Israeli forces pound Gaza, the area where Palestinians can seek shelter is shrinking, raising concerns that they could be forced into Egypt.

As Fury Erupts Over Campus Antisemitism, Conservatives Seize the Moment

Harvard was one of three universities last week whose presidents testified in Washington at a hearing on antisemitism.

Republicans have been attacking elite universities for years. After a tense congressional hearing last week, many on the left are joining them.

To Handle a Surge of Illegal Crossings, Border Officials Stop Legal Ones

Some border communities in the U.S. and Mexico are suddenly cut off from each other after a border crossing closed to cope with large numbers of migrants.

Gaza War Has Buoyed Egypt’s Leader Ahead of Presidential Vote

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt grew increasingly unpopular amid a deep economic crisis. But the war in neighboring Gaza has given him a vital role on the international stage.

Sunday Morning: Stories And News From London

Monocle on Sunday, December 10, 2023 – Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, is joined by Emma Nelson for a festive show during our Christmas market at Midori House, London. Andrew Tuck, Nina dos Santos and Charles Hecker complete the panel.

The New York Times — Sunday, December 10, 2023

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Fears of a NATO Withdrawal Rise as Trump Seeks a Return to Power

Former President Donald J. Trump has made it clear that he primarily sees NATO as a drain on American resources.

Current and former European diplomats said there was growing concern a second Trump presidency could mean an American retreat from the continent and a gutting of NATO.

Penn’s Leadership Resigns Amid Controversies Over Antisemitism

The University of Pennsylvania’s president, M. Elizabeth Magill, during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

The president, Elizabeth Magill, and the chairman of the board of trustees, Scott L. Bok, are leaving after intense pressure from donors, politicians and alumni.

Hong Kong Wants More Tourists, but Mostly ‘Good Quality’ Ones, Please

The return of budget tour groups from mainland China is sparking frustrations — and a dose of snobbery — in a city starved for business.

Tiny Electric Vehicles Pack a Bigger Climate Punch Than Cars

Two- and three-wheeled vehicles, used by billions of people, are moving away from fossil fuels to batteries faster than cars in countries that have made the energy transition a priority.

Saturday Morning: News From London And Oslo

Monocle on Saturday, December 11, 2023: Emma Nelson and Yassmin Abdel-Magied review the week’s news and culture. Also, Monocle’s Oslo correspondent, Lars Bevanger, visits Ambassaden – the former US embassy, which has been transformed into a food-and-drink hub. Arts and culture specialist Issabella Orlando also joins the panel to talk about other heritage-inspired spaces around the world.