Wednesday, July 26, 2023

07/26 Links Pt1: Despite Widespread Protest and Controversy, Israeli Democracy Endures; PLO calls to disrupt Tisha B'Av services; The Malley Investigation, Explained

From Ian:

Despite Widespread Protest and Controversy, Israeli Democracy Endures
On Monday, the Knesset passed an amendment to Israel’s Basic Law stating that courts cannot countermand a ministerial decision or override a ministerial appointment on grounds of unreasonableness. The measure has set off intense protests in Israel, as well as condemnations and expressions of concern from Democratic politicians in the U.S. The editors of the New York Sun comment:

President Biden’s reaction—to lecture the Israeli leader that a measure of such magnitude shouldn’t be allowed to squeak by—is condescending nonsense, particularly from a president who gained passage of his own economic program by slim votes.

The most impressive thing about the drama unfolding in Israel, though, is Israel’s democracy itself. The protests have gone on, the press is at full tilt, and the scene in the Knesset was as raucous as could be.

In other words, democracy is functioning as it should. No mass arrests. No one is being “disappeared.” Democracy is often messy, and one could say the more turbulent, the more democratic. Yet, save for some isolated incidents, there has been little violence over this in Israel.

The truth is that what we’re seeing in Israel is what one would expect from any healthy democracy or any country of laws. And why not? This is a fight over laws that are being made or reformed. Those refusing to defend the county or those physicians who protest by betraying the Hippocratic oath will, if there are violations for civil disobedience, be held accountable by the laws of the country. They are unlikely to have a major impact on the outcome.
Alan Dershowitz: If you truly love Israel, it’s time to compromise
Protesters claim that this judicial reform, especially if followed by further weakening of the Supreme Court, will end Israeli democracy. They are categorically wrong. As President Isaac Herzog told a combined session of the US Congress, democracy is in Israel’s DNA, and it will remain there forever. The best proof that this is true is both the frequency of Israeli elections and the intensity of the recent protests on both sides. These are not symptoms of a weakening of democracy; they are evidences of a strong democracy at work.

Even if all of the so-called reforms were to be enacted— which I would strongly oppose — Israel would become more like Great Britain and the United States than like Hungary or Poland. Indeed, some European democracies have little or no judicial review of the decisions and actions of the elected branches, and they continue to be vibrant democracies.

The most disturbing aspect of this controversy is that it has become internationalised. Judicial reform is a domestic issue, whether in the United States, in India or in Israel. Other countries should butt out of this entirely domestic issue. It does not affect the United States, Great Britain, the European Union or the United Nations.

But Israel has always been subjected to a double standard of super-scrutiny with regard to its domestic concerns. This internationalisation of a purely domestic issue is partly a result of that double standard, but it is also the responsibility of some of the Israeli protesters who have sought help from outside the country. In doing so, they are deliberately weakening the Israeli economy, just as the refusal of soldiers to serve is weakening Israel’s military capacity.

The extremes on both sides of this debate are overreacting and harming Israel in the process. The controversy over judicial reform requires moderate compromises from both sides. This is not happening because extremists are benefiting from the controversy by pandering to their bases and exaggerating the implications of enacting or failing to enact judicial reform.

Those who love Israel, whether inside or outside the nation-state of the Jewish people, must pull back from extreme measures and advocacy and follow President Isaac Herzog’s lead in seeking a compromise that is acceptable even if not preferred, by the majority of Israelis who favour a middle ground.
Israel’s judicial reform of its courts’ unchecked power is not as radical as activists would have you believe
The new legislation is extremely modest.

It leaves reasonableness review intact except where used to second-guess the decision-making of elected officials.

Israel’s high court remains the most powerful administrative-law court in the Western world.

The importance of the reasonableness amendment right now is largely political.

It will prove significant only if Israel’s parliament adopts the remainder of the reform without excessive delay.

The new law brings the center of the debate over judicial reform from the streets back to where it ought to be — the chambers and hallways of the elected legislature.

The prime minister has asked opposition leaders to join him in hammering out a compromise version of judicial reform that can enjoy broader public support.

One can only hope opposition leaders rise to the occasion.

The fear now is that Israel’s Supreme Court will declare it can ignore the legislation and continue to exercise “reasonableness” review, enacted law be damned.

Israel, of course, has no constitution, and there is no legal precedent for such an action by the court.

It’s hard too to ignore the questions of legitimacy raised by a court declaring itself above the law to aggrandize its already-excessive authority.

Unfortunately, Israeli Supreme Court decisions, particularly in recent years, have exhibited neither moderation nor restraint.

The political chaos that will follow the court’s overreach could be devastating.


Israel needs a constitution to avoid crisis - analysis
Some may argue that this can never happen, that if the country could not agree on a constitution when it was much smaller, less diverse, and the rifts perhaps not as significant as they are today, then there is no way that the country can agree now.

While it is true that such a task would be gargantuan, the current turmoil and mayhem demonstrate the danger that Israel faces if it does not come to an agreement that will prevent fundamental issues from popping up every few months that could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Why might efforts to reach a consensus on a constitution that will prevent further fragmentations succeed now when they have consistently failed in the past? Because of everything that has transpired here over the last few weeks.

Don’t take my word for it; listen to what Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday: “Israel was once thought of as a regional power that can’t be beaten, and regional countries accepted its threat as a fact that can’t be removed… its trust, awareness, and self-confidence have deteriorated into the crisis it is experiencing today. ‘This day, in particular [Monday], is the worst day in the history of the entity, as some of its people say. This is what puts it on the path to collapse, fragmentation, and disappearance, God willing.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in words to the nation on Monday evening that following the passage of the reasonableness clause, his door is open to the opposition parties to agree on the other issues in the judicial overhaul plan -- the judicial override clause, the method for selecting judges, the role of the legal advisers—within four months.

Assume for a minute that this is actually possible, that a consensus could be reached on these issues; while positive, it would solve some of the problems of checks and balances in this country, but leave other fundamental issues —such as the role of religion in the state and the core obligations of its citizens—to the whims of changing political fortunes. Something more significant is needed than a mere bandaid to cover a particular political blister.

Israel is undoubtedly in a crisis. But every crisis has within it the seeds of opportunity. The opportunity here could be for the country to realize that things are not working and that changes in the country’s organizational principles are needed. Drawing up such a document would be a long, hard road, but recent events demonstrate that starting this journey is essential because Israel will continue kicking this can of self-identity down the road at its own peril.
Constitutional crisis looms after reasonableness bill passed Neve Pinhas, Carrie Keller-Lynn and Prof. David Enoch debate the ramifications of Israel's controversial reasonableness standard bill, limiting Supreme Court power.



Alan Dershowitz: Why French (and US) protests are so much more violent than Israel’s
In Israel, they cross ethnic, religious and even political lines.

Although many of the protesters are secular, Ashkenazi (of European heritage), residents of Tel Aviv and anti-Netanyahu, a considerable number are religious, Sephardi (of Middle Eastern heritage), residents of Jerusalem and conservative.

Brothers, sisters, neighbors and friends are on different sides of the protests and counterprotests.

In France, and to a somewhat lesser degree in the United States, the protesters tended to be members of disaffected minority groups with grievances against the country as a whole and its institutions.

“Their goals are to destabilize our republican institutions and bring blood and fire down on France,” the interior minister said of a previous protest this year, while “Burn it all down!” has been a frequent slogan at US demonstrations.

Most of the Israeli protesters, on the other hand, are Zionists who love their country and are trying to prevent policies they believe will damage their beloved Israel.

The last thing they want to do is harm their country, though some of the protesters have advocated mischief that would hurt the high-tech economy and even the military.

Whatever the reasons, there are no justifications for the violence of the French and some American protests.

The three great democracies — the United States, Israel and France — are increasingly fractured and divided along political, religious and racial lines.

There will be more protests as the divisions get worse and as often-unpredictable events serve as provocations.

The democratic world should learn from Israel that protests can be an important aspect of democratic governance — as long as they remain nonviolent.
Israel's enemies see opportunity in its crisis
The crisis sweeping Israel has become a focal point for its enemies across the Middle East who have convened top-level meetings to weigh the turmoil and how they might capitalise on it, sources familiar with the discussions say.

Foes including Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah have been crowing at the sight of Israel fractured by the crisis ignited by government moves to overhaul the judiciary, especially threats by reservists to stop showing up for military service.

Away from the propaganda being broadcast by groups eager to see Israel's demise, these factions have also been devoting special attention to the crisis at closed-door meetings, perceiving this as a potential turning point for Israel.

The subject was discussed at a three-hour meeting last week involving a senior commander from Iran's Quds Force, the arm of its Revolutionary Guards that funnels military support to Tehran's allies, two Iranian security officials and officials from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, an Iranian diplomat said.

After concluding that the crisis had already weakened Israel, they agreed they should refrain from any "direct interference", believing this could give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the chance to shift blame to foreign adversaries.

A Hamas source declined to comment on the account, saying there are ongoing discussions between Hamas, Iran and the Quds Force "over the whole situation and to discuss ways to upgrade the work of resistance".
Israel's foes eye crisis

US State Department: Judicial reform will not affect Israel aid
The U.S. State Department stressed on Tuesday that the Biden Administration has no intention to slash aid to Israel following the passing into law by Israel’s coalition of key judicial reform legislation.

Responding to a leading question by Said Arikat, who reports for a Palestinian paper and has a history of anti-Israel attacks disguised as questions, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel reiterated that Jerusalem’s move would not harm the special relationship between the two countries.

“There is not going to be any cut or stoppage of military aid, and that is because our commitment to Israel and our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. Our decades-long partnership with Israel is ironclad,” said Patel.

“We understand that the talks on attempts at a compromise on judicial reform will continue in the coming weeks and months with the aim of reaching a consensus through dialogue. I am not one to speculate about the success of the talks, but there are internal talks, in order to reach a broader consensus,” the spokesperson added.


Israel Judicial Reform limits power of courts to overturn decisions: Glick On Tuesday's "The Chris Salcedo Show," Caroline Glick explains what was passed by the Israeli Parliament to reform the judiciary.

Watch NEWSMAX, an independent news network with a conservative perspective, available in 100M+ U.S. homes.

Netanyahu nixes proposed Basic Law on Torah study
A bill proposed on Tuesday to define Torah study as a “core state value” is “off the table and will not be advanced,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party, after members of the government came out against tabling the bill.

The coalition’s United Torah Judaism Party had proposed the passage of a quasi-constitutional Basic Law in a bid to effectively place Torah study on par with military service and thus codify in perpetuity exemptions for haredim from the Israel Defense Forces.

“The State of Israel as a Jewish state views the encouragement of Torah study and Torah students to be of utmost importance, and regarding their rights and duties, those who dedicate themselves to studying Torah for an extended period should be viewed as having served a significant service to the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” read the bill.

“Torah study is a fundamental principle in the heritage of the Jewish people,” it continued.

The legislation was immediately denounced by members of Netanyahu’s party, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing military service as the “highest civic duty.”


Times of Israel Clarifies Clip of Pilots Refusing to Save Judicial Overhaul Supporters Is Staged
In response to communication from CAMERA’s Israel office, Times of Israel has commendably clarified headlines which failed to make clear that a clip of Israeli pilots opposed to the government judicial overhaul refusing to extend help to soldiers supporting the plan was staged.

Referring to Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, the misleading headlines had originally stated “Ben-Gvir refuses to delete clip of pilots not helping troops who back overhaul” and “IDF pans clip shared by minister showing pilots refusing to help overhaul-backing troops.”

Editors agreed with CAMERA’s Jerusalem staff that the headlines required improvement, and accordingly amended them to state: “Ben-Gvir refuses to delete staged clip of pilots not helping troops who back overhaul” and “IDF plans staged clip shared by minister showing pilots refusing to help overhaul-backing troops.”


Daniel Greenfield: NYT Admits the Problem Isn’t Israel’s Judicial Reform, It’s That the Right is Doing It
This is a really extraordinary article.

All of these months the Israeli Left and the media have been howling that judicial reform which means rolling back the unlimited authority of the country’s Supreme Court, was a coup and a threat to democracy. Mostly the media and politicians in this country have echoed those lies.

Here the New York Times breaks from that narrative, admits that judicial reform makes sense, and that the only problem is who’s carrying it out. In their details, the judicial changes that Israel’s Parliament passed yesterday sound like something that liberals in the U.S. and democracy advocates around the world might support.

Israel reduced the power of its Supreme Court judges, who until now could use the vague standard of “reasonableness” to overturn policies enacted by government ministers. Going forward, democratically elected leaders will have more power, and unelected judges will have less. Conceptually, the policy is not so different from changes that many Democrats would like to implement in this country.

This is exactly what I and the remaining sane people have been saying. The “reasonableness” standard is a blank check for unelected and self-selected judges to rule in place of democratically elected governments.

And Democrats who keep talking about packing the Supreme Court in this country rant that Israel’s government checked some of the unlimited power of its court.

The New York Times starts out by admitting this basic reality, judicial reform is legitimate, and goes even further by admitting that the only issue is that conservatives are doing it.


PreOccupiedTerritory: Omar Vows To Block Runway If Jordan Extradites Sbarro Bomber (satire)
A Minnesota Congresswoman warned the Biden administration not to seek justice in the 2001 murder of an American teenager in Jerusalem, declaring today that if the woman who delivered the suicide bomber to the Jerusalem pizzeria, and who currently enjoys celebrity status in the Hashemite kingdom despite a treaty with the US, is sent stateside to face trial, she will prevent the aircraft carrying the terrorist from landing.

Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called the pursuit of justice for American fifteen-year-old Malkie Roth – one of sixteen deaths in the bombing of the Sbarro shop, all civilians – a miscarriage of justice.

“Ahlam Tamimi is a heroine,” stated Omar, referring to the woman who scouted the bombing target and drove the suicide bomber there. “We should be honoring her, not trying to put her behind bars. Israel already put her behind bars, and that’s more than enough.”

Israel arrested, tried, and imprisoned Tamimi for her role in the attack, which also injured 130. She showed no remorse, even expressing joy at the death toll and disappointment that it was not even higher. Tamimi was released in 2011 with 1,026 other terrorists in an exchange for the return of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. She lives a privileged life in Jordan, where she glorifies Palestinian violence at public expense.

Jordan signed an extradition treaty with the US decade ago, but now claims it was never ratified. Malkie Roth’s parents and numerous other Americans have spent years urging successive US governments to press Jordan, a recipient of significant US aid, to extradite Tamimi, so far to no avail. Recent involvement of prominent American Jewish organizations may alter that trend, and the prospect has Congresswoman Omar worried.

“Yeah, she’s a somebody who did something,” acknowledged the Somali-born lawmaker. “But that something was a long time ago. Lots of somebodies did somethings back in 2001, so why are we making a big deal out of it now, anyway? I think it’s Islamophobic to keep harping on it like it means something important.”


The Israel Guys: Is Israel Headed For Civil War? Mass Protests in Jerusalem Say Otherwise. . .
Israel passed a piece of legislation in the Knesset this week that some are saying is their most important step in more than 5 decades. On the opposite side, a former Israeli prime minister who spent time in prison for bribery told Britain’s Channel 4 that Israel is descending into civil war, even hinting that he would support such a thing. US President Joe Biden said he was disappointed that this piece of legislation passed with such a slim majority of Israel’s parliament, even though it received 100% of the votes of the governing coalition.

What is actually going on? Let’s find out.


PLO calls to disrupt Tisha B'Av services
The PLO in Jerusalem announced a "Night of Rage" on Wednesday this week that will take place all over "occupied Jerusalem".

In a published message, the organization called on Muslims to come and stay at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and hold prayers there on the night when the Jews mark Tisha B'Av, which marks the mourning for the destruction of the Temple.

The Muslims who will come to Al-Aqsa Mosque were also called to oppose the expected "invasion" of Jews visiting the Temple Mount on Thursday, during the fast.

The organization emphasized that Israel's attempt to damage the sanctity of Jerusalem will bring nothing but disaster and humiliation in calling for Palestinian youth to confront the "occupation" in every street and square.

At half past nine on the evening of Tisha B'Av there will be a reading of the scroll of Lamentations in front of the Western Wall, and the following morning a visit by many Jews to the Temple Mount is expected.


Brother of teen terrorist “Martyr”: “He asked for Martyrdom and achieved it… Today is his wedding day”
Brother of terrorist Bader Al-Masri: “Whenever the [Israeli] army entered [Nablus], Bader [Al-Masri] (i.e., terrorist) would go once, twice, 10 times. We tried to prevent him… He told us: “I want Martyrdom.” He asked for it and achieved it. He wanted this, and we rejoice in his joy. Like he wanted to rejoice at my wedding, I will rejoice at his. Today is his wedding day.”
[Official PA TV, Palestine This Morning, July 20, 2023]

A Martyr's funeral is considered his wedding to the 72 Virgins in Paradise in Islam

Bader Sami Al-Masri – 19-year-old Palestinian terrorist and member of the independent terror cell “the Lion’s Den” who, together with other terrorists, shot and threw explosives at Israeli civilians and soldiers at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus on July 20, 2023. The soldiers returned fire, killing Al-Masri.


Turkish President Erdogan Hosts PA, Hamas Leaders for Palestinian ‘Reconciliation’ Talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hosted his Palestinian Authority counterpart Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh for a joint meeting in Ankara on Wednesday, in a signal that the sixteen-year-old rift between the two Palestinian factions may be on the cusp of healing.

Although Erdogan’s office confirmed that the meeting took place behind “closed doors,” local media outlets reported that Hamas and the Fatah-dominated PA — bitterly divided since the civil war in Gaza in 2007 that drove the PA’s officials out of the territory — had agreed to unity talks. On Tuesday, Erdogan held separate talks with Haniyeh, who divides his time between Qatar and Turkey, at which the Hamas leader reportedly agreed to a conference of Palestinian factions in Cairo at the end of July to explore reconciliation. A statement from Hamas after the meeting restated the Islamist organization’s view that “resistance is the most efficient way to confront the (Israeli) occupation.”

At a joint press conference following Wednesday’s talks, Erdogan pledged that Turkey would “continue to support the Palestinian cause in the strongest way possible.”

“We are deeply concerned about the violence of illegal settlers,” Erdogan declared. “We cannot tolerate any acts attempting to change the historical status quo of holy places, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque [in Jerusalem]. The unity and reconciliation of the Palestinians are key elements in this process.”

The Turkish leader added that “the only way to a just and lasting peace in the region is to defend the vision of a two-state solution.”

Erdogan’s initiative comes less than one year after Israel and Turkey restored full diplomatic relations following a rupture in 2018 that was triggered by clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians on the border between Gaza and Israel in the wake of the US decision to move its embassy in the Jewish state from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
PMW: PA embraces Russia and China; rejects US, West and attacks Zelensky
Russia and China can “build a new world free of chaos and terror” – official PA daily

China isnot “subjugating states and peoples, taking control of and dominating their resources, and stealing their natural resources” whereas “large European states and the US” have a “complex of racial superiority” and are seen “as opponents of morality” – official PA daily

US is responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “to preserve its global position, defend the unipolar system, and stop the waves of change in the global system” – official PA daily

Zelensky also responsible due to his “blind subordination to the plan of Washington, which entangled him in its proxy wars at the expense of the Ukrainian national interests – and caused the outbreak of a war with Russia… the Biden administration is attempting to entangle him more and more in the furnace of war” - official PA daily

Abbas trusts China and the communist party “as a world power”because of “the courage of the Chinese leadership, the capability of China and other states in the world to oppose hegemony and double standards” – senior Fatah official

Abbas’ visit to China was “the crowning glory of the strategic historical ties between Palestine and China” – senior Fatah official


PMW: PA summer camps teach of a world in which Israel no longer exists
Every summer the Palestinian Authority summer camps actively indoctrinate children with the PA's hate and terror messages. One of the fundamental motivations for Palestinian hate and terror has always been Palestinian denial of Israel's right to exist. Even after the Oslo Accords, to its own people, the PA presents all of Israel as “occupied Palestine,” Israeli cities as “Palestinian cities” and the PLO/PA map of the world in which “Palestine” replaces Israel as an achievable goal.

This summer, non-recognition of Israel's existence in any borders and anticipating a world without Israel, is a major theme of PA summer camps.

Anticipating a world without Israel
The PA summer camps present children with a future world without Israel in many ways:
Displays of the map of “Palestine” that erases Israel and replaces it with a state of “Palestine” - symbolized by the colors of the PA flag covering all of Israel.
The children participate in activities where they themselves draw this map of a world without Israel.
Images of the map are painted onto children's faces and arms.
Arts and crafts with the map, and more.

To make sure that the message is perfectly clear, all the following Israeli cities are named and presented as “Palestinian” cities: Haifa, Jaffa, Tiberias, Acre, Ashkelon, Lod, Beit Shean, Safed, Nazareth, Be’er Sheva, Jerusalem, Ramle, and the Negev.

The following are examples of visuals used in the PLO summer camps that the PA uses to create an atmosphere of a world without Israel:
65,000 Palestinian kids taught terrorists are “moons” in this year’s PA summer camps
Director-General of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports’ General Administration of Youth Affairs Muhammad Sbeihat: “This [summer camp] program is being implemented for the 7th consecutive year… It takes care of an age group that we call the young pioneer group, aged 13-17. This program was launched in 650 summer camps this year [2023], which is a record number. These camps are taking in 65,000 young male and female pioneers, and this is also a record number… Among the most important messages of this [summer camp] program is the national message. Therefore we always give a general slogan with a national aspect to all the camps ... This year [2023], we gave the slogan “Moons and Not Numbers”, in a clear reference to the Martyrs (i.e., dead terrorists), and especially to the cause of the Martyrs whose bodies are being held [by Israel]… This is not just spreading slogans but rather part of the camp program in all the camps: A fixed part of the program is instilling knowledge about the cause of the Martyrs whose bodies are being held, their number, their burial sites, and all the details... It is very important to instill knowledge into this generation.”
[Official PA TV, Palestine This Morning, July 13, 2023]

The reference to “Martyrs” not being “numbers” refers to Israel burying dead terrorists in numbered graves:




US says drone flying over Syria was damaged by Russian fighter jet
A Russian fighter jet flew within a few meters of a US drone over Syria and fired flares at it, striking the American aircraft and damaging it, the US military says, the latest in a string of aggressive intercepts by Russia in the region.

A senior Air Force commander says the move on Sunday was an attempt by the Russians to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky and came just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region, jeopardizing the lives of the four Americans on board.

“One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, says in a statement describing the latest close call. “We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior.”

Grynkewich says one of the crew members operating the drone remotely kept it in the air and flew it back to its home base.
The Malley Investigation, Explained
In mid-May, a group of senators began quietly asking questions after the Biden administration’s Iran envoy Robert Malley was a no-show at a classified briefing on negotiations surrounding a revamped Iran nuclear deal.

As the top diplomat involved in talks with Tehran, Malley’s failure to appear before Congress drew questions from lawmakers and senior staffers. At the time, Biden administration officials told lawmakers that Malley was on extended personal leave, sources say.

Just a month later, it became clear that Malley was the subject of an investigation into his alleged mishandling of classified information, a charge so serious that the probe was later handed off from the State Department office responsible for diplomatic security to the FBI. Washington’s national security rumor mill has been swirling ever since, though details about Malley’s alleged transgression remain unclear.

What are the possibilities? The Washington Free Beacon spoke with a half-dozen current and former national security officials to shed light on the situation.

Leaking Classified Material to Foreign Adversary
The most serious possibility is that Malley intentionally passed classified materials to Iran or another foreign nation.

Iranian press reports indicate that Malley was holding secret talks with Iranian diplomats at the United Nations, perhaps without authorization from the State Department. Malley, in fact, has a history of holding unsanctioned meetings with America’s enemies, including in 2008, when he was fired from the Obama campaign for conducting talks with the Iranian-backed terror group Hamas. In addition to mishandling classified information, officials can have their security clearances revoked if they fail to disclose contacts with foreigners.

The Tehran Times, a pro-regime mouthpiece, claimed earlier this month that Malley engaged in "suspicious interactions with unofficial advisors of Iranian descent," and that his security clearance was initially pulled in late April. The disclosure of these details in the Iranian press indicates that sources in Tehran may know more about the situation than those in the American media.
Washington names itself 'custodian' of Iraqi debt payments to Iran via Oman
The US government says it will retain control of a portion of Iraq's debt with Iran over natural gas deliveries after confirming that Oman is the third-party country that will receive these payments.

“We thought it was important to get this money out of Iraq because it is a source of leverage that Iran uses against its neighbor. So, this money will be held in a fund or an account in [Oman] … but will still be subject to the same restrictions as when the money was held in accounts in Iraq, meaning that the money can only be used for non-sanctionable activities such as humanitarian assistance and that all the transactions need to be approved by the United States Treasury Department in advance,” US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters on 24 July.

The news comes one week after Washington issued a new sanctions waiver to allow Iraq to deposit payments for Iranian natural gas into non-Iraqi banks, a decision made in response to criticism that the White House's anti-Iran policies are responsible for rolling blackouts at the height of Iraq’s blistering hot summer.

Iraq heavily depends on Iran for natural gas to produce some 40 percent of the country’s electricity. For years, the US Treasury has only allowed Baghdad to deposit payments to Iran in restricted accounts at the Iraqi Trade Bank. Furthermore, Iraq can only send payments in US dollars to Iran with the approval of the US Treasury.

Washington's draconian policies led to about $11 billion earmarked for Iranian gas payments to remain in restricted accounts. This situation forced Iran to cut gas shipments to Iraq earlier this month, leading to widespread outages.


MEMRI: Afghan Taliban Defense Minister: We Call On Countries Not Under U.S. Thumb to Recognize the Taliban
In a July 21, 2023 interview with Al-Arabiya Network (Dubai/Saudi Arabia), Afghan Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, who is the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, called upon all the countries that are not “under the thumb” of America to recognize the Taliban government, and he accused the U.S. of invading Afghanistan’s airspace with drones in violation of the Doha Agreement. Mujahid said that the Taliban had no information about Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri’s whereabouts, and the fact that he was ultimately found in Afghanistan does not indicate that the Taliban is in contact with Al-Qaeda or that it cooperates with it. He also said that ISIS suffered more severe blows in Afghanistan than anywhere else.






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