Dozens Dead in Gaza Protests | Iraq's Election | Trump and ZTE

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. May 14, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S. to Open Jerusalem Embassy Amid Gaza Violence At least thirty-seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces (Haaretz) during mass protests in Gaza as U.S. officials arrived in Jerusalem to inaugurate the new U.S. embassy. The Gaza Health Ministry reported more than 1,600 people have been injured in the Nakba Day demonstrations (WaPo), which are also protesting the U.S. move. Presidential advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will attend the opening (BBC) of the U.S. embassy, which was relocated from Tel Aviv. Most countries maintain their diplomatic presence in Israel (Guardian) in Tel Aviv. ANALYSIS "Sharp contrast between Israeli celebration of U.S. embassy move and deadly violence at Gaza border. This contrast captures the starkly different lives and world views of Israelis and Palestinians—a tale of two realities that is on an increasingly destructive path for both sides," says CFR President Richard N. Haass. "The Trump administration may feel that it has the backing of some Arab governments in this regard, but as we saw in December on Trump's initial Jerusalem announcement, that Arab backing will not tangibly materialize when it is rejected by the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah and while other Palestinians are dying at the Gaza-Israel demarcation line," Hady Amr writes for the Hill. "The U.S. no longer buys into the legal theory behind claims of Israeli 'occupation.' Other countries may soon follow, just as they are now announcing their intention to recognize Jerusalem," Eugene Kontorovich writes for the Wall Street Journal. This CFR Backgrounder looks at what's at stake with the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem. PACIFIC RIM Indonesia Bombings Enter Second Day Ten people were injured in an attack on a police headquarters (Jakarta Post) in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, on Monday. The incident comes after suicide bombings at three churches (NYT) that left at least seven dead and another explosion in a neighboring town, which appeared to go off prematurely, over the weekend. NORTH KOREA: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said U.S. private investment could help North Korea "create a robust economy" (CBS) if Pyongyang complies with Washington's demands for denuclearization. CFR's Patricia M. Kim discusses North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's mixed motives for negotiating peace. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Dozens Killed in Dust Storms Across India At least sixty-one people across four states were killed in severe storms (BBC) that saw strong winds and lightning down buildings on Sunday. Similar storms killed 134 people (Hindustan Times) in early May. SRI LANKA: A new office set up to investigate the disappearances of thousands of people (Al Jazeera) during Sri Lanka's civil war held its first public meetings over the weekend. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Coalition Backed by Shia Cleric Leads in Iraq Election A coalition backed by influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was leading in a preliminary vote count (WaPo) for Iraq's parliamentary election. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's coalition has not won any of the ten provinces (Rudaw) for which results have been announced; ballots are still being counted in another eight. IRAN: Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is on a three-stop tour to rally support for the 2015 nuclear agreement (Tehran Times) following a U.S. decision to pull out of the pact last week. After visiting China on Sunday, he is making stops in Moscow and Brussels. This CFR Backgrounder looks at the impact of the Iran nuclear agreement. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Burundi Holds Referendum to Extend Term Limits Burundians will vote in a referendum this week that could change rules on presidential terms to allow President Pierre Nkurunziza (Guardian), in power since 2005, to stay in office through 2034. Human rights violations have been reported ahead of the vote. SOUTH AFRICA: The government will take over administration (SABC) of the country's North West Province, a parliamentary spokesperson said, as local protests over corruption and poor public services (DW) have grown in recent weeks. EUROPE Turkey's Erdogan Meets With UK's May, Queen Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to London on Sunday (AP) for three days of meetings, including ones with Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II, to discuss issues related to the Middle East and Cyprus, as well as bilateral trade. GEORGIA: Hundreds of people protested in Tbilisi over the weekend against recent antidrug raids by police (RFE/RL) that demonstrators said involved excessive use of force. AMERICAS Nicaraguan Military Calls for Protests to End The military issued a statement calling for dialogue following weeks of anti-government demonstrations that have killed at least sixty people (AP). The wave of protests was set off by a now-canceled proposal to cut social security benefits and increase payroll taxes. COLOMBIA: Former President Alvaro Uribe is being investigated for his role in assisting a paramilitary group in the 1990s (Colombia Reports), local media reported over the weekend, though Colombia's supreme court denied the report on Twitter. UNITED STATES In Reversal, Trump Offers Relief to China's ZTE U.S. President Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping are working together to help ZTE (NYT), a Chinese telecommunications equipment maker, find "a way to get back into business" after the Commerce Department penalized the company for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions against countries including Iran and North Korea. CFR's Brad W. Setser discussed the U.S. bilateral trade deficit with China.         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: May 14, 2018 at 10:09PM