Yale Zussman's Latest Recommendations May 28, 2020

Hi Folks,

Here are my latest recommendations for following the issues of the Middle East.  There is no coverage of Israel's internal politics, which can require daily updates.  Rather, the focus is on looking back and looking forward, and some clues that the future may look better than the present.

Israel-China Ties: The ‘Sticking Point’ with the US?
BY TYLER KOTLER
JULY 11, 2019

https://honestreporting.com/israel-china-ties-the-sticking-point-with-the-us/

Note the date.  SARS-COV-2 will complicate this situation even further because Chinese aid includes large numbers of Chinese nationals coming and going on a fairly regular basis. It is believed that this is how the virus came to Iran.
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San Remo: The original ‘deal of the century’
YISHAI FLEISHER
April 26, 2020

https://www.jns.org/opinion/san-remo-the-original-deal-of-the-century/

Contrasts the visions of the San Remo agreement, the 1947 Partition resolution, and current discussion about a "Two-state" solution.
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Saudi Opposition to a Palestinian State
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger
May 17, 2020
https://bit.ly/2ZnY231

The Saudi leadership and public are largely fed up with the Palestinians, and have moved on.
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Israel’s Control of Judea & Samaria -- a Prerequisite for Security
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger
May 21, 2020
https://bit.ly/2LPFZKZ

Provides a strategic rationale for Israeli annexation of certain parts of Judea and Samaria.
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Israel: The Settlements Are Not Illegal
The annexation of lands in Judea and Samaria is not contrary to international law
by Michael Calvo
May 19, 2020

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16032/israel-settlements-not-illegal

Focuses on the political and propagandistic claims about settlements rather than the actual legal issues.  (The article of the Geneva Convention generally cited as prohibiting the settlements actually addresses establishing concentration camps in occupied territories.  Also included in the Convention are sections seeking to enable commerce to continue during wartime.  There is no section addressing real estate deals, which is basically what the settlement issue is about, i.e., international law doesn't address the issue at all.)
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Video on life in Gaza

https://unitedwithisrael.org/life-in-gaza-the-video-israels-haters-tried-to-hide/

It's not a ZOOM, thank G-d, but may be useful as background material.

Moadim L'Simcha to my Jewish readers,

Until next time, stay safe, stay well,

Yales