Daily Brief: Tensions High Ahead of UN Jerusalem Vote

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. December 21, 2017 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA Tensions High Ahead of UN Jerusalem Vote The UN General Assembly is expected today to pass a resolution opposing any change to Jerusalem's status. The vote has prompted tense statements from global leaders, including U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who threatened to cut U.S. aid to countries that vote against the U.S. position. The draft resolution reaffirms a UN position dating back five decades, which calls for the city's status to be decided in direct negotiations (Guardian) between Israelis and Palestinians. In 2012, 138 countries voted to grant UN non-member status (Al Jazeera) to Palestine. Analysts say a similar number are expected to vote in favor of the resolution on Thursday. Ahead of the vote, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the United Nations (Haaretz) as a "house of lies." ANALYSIS "Trump argued that recognizing the city as Israel's capital was 'a long overdue step to advance the peace process and the work towards a lasting agreement.' More and more it appears that Trump's move will have just the opposite effect," CFR President Richard N. Haass writes for Project Syndicate. "Accepting Jerusalem, holy to three monotheistic religions, as Israel's capital sends the message to Israel and the world that 'might is right' and that the United States accepts that Israel can use force whenever it wishes to expand its borders," Diana Buttu writes for the Washington Post. "Israelis find it insulting that the legitimacy of their country is constantly tied to Palestinian independence. This is not to say the issue is not important, and most Israelis agree that a solution to the conflict is essential. Nevertheless, certainly to the Jewish world, Israel's existence and legitimacy must be treated as a stand-alone issue," Dan Feferman writes for Haaretz. Pivotal Elections of 2017 This slideshow recaps consequential elections around the world in the past year, while CFR's James M. Lindsay previews ten elections to watch in 2018.   PACIFIC RIM Myanmar Blocks UN Human Rights Investigator The Myanmar government said on Wednesday it will not cooperate with UN human rights envoy Yanghee Lee nor grant her access to the country to investigate rights abuses there (DW), calling a statement she made in July biased. In Foreign Affairs, Sally Kantar discusses the Myanmar military's legacy of impunity. AUSTRALIA: The family of an Australian woman shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer (BBC) in July said on Thursday they are concerned that an investigation into her death was not properly handled. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA U.S., Uzbek Leaders Talk Regional Security Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke with President Trump this week to discuss the U.S. war in Afghanistan (RFE/RL) and Uzbekistan's role in supporting U.S. strategy in Central and South Asia, according to the White House. The Uzbek president's office said Trump commended the country's "new stage of democratic changes and economic reforms." KAZAKHSTAN: The Bank of New York Mellon has reportedly frozen $22 billion in assets held by Kazakhstan (Reuters) over a lawsuit by a Moldovan businessman and his son against the government. The men allege they were subject to harassment by the state.  MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Investigation Raises Mosul Civilian Death Toll The Iraqi government and the U.S.-led coalition fighting the self-proclaimed Islamic State were responsible for at least 3,200 civilian deaths (AP) during the nine-month battle to regain control of Mosul, according to a new Associated Press report. The coalition has acknowledged responsibility for 326 deaths. Benjamin Bahney and Patrick B. Johnston discuss the future of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Uganda Scraps Presidential Age Limit The Ugandan parliament voted on Wednesday to do away with an age limit for presidential contenders (DW), a move that will allow President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for thirty-one years, to run again in 2021 elections. ZIMBABWE: In his first State of the Nation address since taking office last month (VOA), President Emmerson Mnangagwa vowed to open the country to foreign investment and hold free elections next year. EUROPE Catalans Vote in Regional Election Voters in Spain's Catalonia return to the polls on Thursday for a regional election that will indicate whether they continue to back independence from Madrid (FT) or seek reconciliation with the central government. Madrid called for the election after it stripped the regional government of its powers (Guardian) following an independence referendum. UKRAINE: The United States has approved an export license for Ukraine to buy small arms from U.S. manufacturers (RFE/RL), though it did not approve the sale of larger weapons, such as anti-tank missiles. AMERICAS Canada's Trudeau Broke Ethics Rules, Watchdog Says Canada's ethics commissioner said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated conflict-of-interest rules (Guardian) when he accepted trips to a private Bahamian island owned by spiritual leader and philanthropist Aga Khan, whose foundation is registered as a lobby.   UNITED STATES U.S. Life Expectancy Declines for Second Year Americans' life expectancy dropped in 2016 for the second consecutive year, according to new government figures, as drug overdose deaths increased 21 percent to reach 63,600 (AP). The last such decline was during a 1962–63 flu epidemic (WaPo). This CFR Backgrounder looks at the U.S. opioid epidemic. The United States imposed sanctions on Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov (DW), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday for human rights abuses including torture and murder.  GLOBAL Cost of Disasters in 2017 Jumps 63 Percent Insured losses from disasters this year cost an estimated $306 billion (BBC), the third-highest toll on record, according to a new report by the insurer Swiss Re. The company attributed the spike to wildfires and hurricanes in the Americas.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: December 21, 2017 at 10:50PM