Today’s Top Stories
1. US National Security Adviser Susan Rice confirmed that Iran a cut a side deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Besides agreeing to discuss the past military dimensions of its nuclear program, Iran struck a deal with the IAEA on inspections at the Parchin military base, one of the most sensitive sites discussed in the U.S.-led international talks.
2. EU officials moved quickly to distance themselves from an influential European think tank report recommending sanctions against Israeli financial institutions with ties to the West Bank. More at Globes and YNet. The latter writes:
“We have no intention of imposing restrictions on Israeli banks that do business in the settlements. This entire issue is complete nonsense. This issue has never been considered,” the diplomat said . . .
The release of the report caused panic in the stock market and led to a drop in Israeli banks’ stocks.
3. Iran has executed nearly 700 people, according to an Amnesty International report picked up by the BBC.
This is equivalent to executing more than three people per day.
4. When Anonymous Washington Sources Sling Mud At Israel:US officials discredit Israeli concerns behind Haaretz’s shield of anonymity.
Israel and the Palestinians
• AFP: Palestinians laid the first brick for Gaza reconstruction that Hamas failed to divert to the tunnels.
Until now the only repairs have been to homes which were partially damaged, while 18,000 totally destroyed houses remain in ruins.
• Reporter Kevin Connolly of the BBC takes a closer look at the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Iranian Atomic Urgency
• Nuclear experts talking to the New York Times dispute White House assertions that the deal’s inspection regime is airtight.
“If it is on a small scale, they may be able to clear it out in 24 days,” Mr. Albright said in a telephone interview. “They are practiced at cheating. You can’t count on them to make a mistake.”
• When Arab leaders agree with Israel, pay attention. I’m glad the Daily Telegraph did.
• The Washington Post filed a UN petition seeking the immediate release of its Tehran correspondent, Jason Rezaian. A dual US-Iranian citizen, Rezaian was arrested a year ago on charges of espionage. His trial is being held behind closed doors, and after a year of incarceration in the notorious Evian prison, there are fears for Rezaian’s health.
Mideast Matters
• Who’d have thought we’d see a headline like this?
• Iranian officers interrogated Yemeni government loyalists in Houthi detention, according to Asharq al-Awsat.
Commentary/Analysis
• In the best response to the Iran deal I’ve yet seen, Michael Oren clearly articulates A) how the agreement gives Iran two pathways to a nuclear bomb, B) what a realistic alternative deal would look like, and C) that war isn’t inevitable.
• According to Elliott Abrams, the EU’s new effort to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is going to fail.
Moreover, there is no reason whatsoever to think that the two parties are any closer together on basic issues such as refugees and Jerusalem. Some things have changed in the last few years, of course, but all of them will make an agreement even harder to reach. The growth of terrorist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda makes an Israeli military withdrawal from the West Bank even more dangerous to Israel and Jordan- and to the Palestinians. Abbas’s advanced age makes it ever less likely that he will take a leap and sign any agreement, and as the years pass since the last Palestinian elections (Abbas was elected to a four year term in 2005) he has less and less legitimacy to make such decisions.
So the European decision to turn its efforts to insisting on a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are foolish and will lead nowhere. With one exception, perhaps: it seems likely that they will blame Israel for their failure, so perhaps the effort will lead to more criticism of Israel from EU governments.
• Ari Briggs and Nasser Nawaja square off over plans to demolish an illegal Palestinian encampment near the West Bank community of Susiya.
• Short of a conspiracy theory? You can always blame the Jews.
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Ari Shavit: The Iran deal: From thriller to horror story
– Emmanuel Navon: Iran deal: Israel’s leaders have it all wrong
– Steven Rosen: Obama gave Europe control of sanctions’ ‘snap back’ mechanism
– William Galston: US needs a two-track strategy on Iran (via Google News)
– Wall St. Journal: The Iranian inspections mirage (staff-ed, via Google News)
– Stephen Bryen: The Iran deal will help Russia have a stealth air force
Featured image: CC BY-NC flickr/Azizul Hadi with additions by HonestReporting; Rice CC BY-NC-SA flickr/David Seaton; Washington CC BY flickr/Zaheer Mohiuddin with modifications by HonestReporting; peace CC BY flickr/normanack;
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