From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
In Israel, is Scott Walker sidestepping foreign policy talk?
When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker went to London in February, he declined to answer all questions journalists posed about foreign policy. Wisconsin governors, which Scott Walker is, do not need to know loads about foreign policy. But presidential candidates, which Scott Walker wants to be, do.
Now, Google “Scott Walker” and “London,” and it doesn’t look too great.
So when Walker went to Israel, he made sure there were no reporters.
Instead, his host, the Republican Jewish Coalition, is providing a filtered social media account of his trip.
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From Ynet News
Last-minute political circus delays Knesset vote on government
Senior Likud MKs Erdan and Shalom remain without portfolio as narrow coalition forced to postpone swearing in ceremony; Rivlin returns home after arriving to empty Knesset. The expected swearing in ceremony for Israel’s 34th government was delayed at the last minute on Thursday evening, with Prime Minister Netanyahu still to finish appointing ministers from within his own faction.
The day, intended as a celebration of democracy at work, devolved into a political circus as two key Likud politicians – Gilad Erdan and Silvan Shalom – have yet to receive a portfolio fitting to their experience in government.
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From Ynet News
Hamas says Islamic State has no foothold in Gaza Strip
Group says IS exists ‘only on the Internet’ in Gaza, while Israeli official says it is unclear whether IS has a presence in the Islamist-rule enclave. Islamic State sympathizers in the Gaza Strip are making their presence felt on social media, but the enclave’s Hamas rulers said on Thursday the group has no real foothold in the Palestinian territory.
Statements signed “Supporters of the Islamic State” have appeared recently on Twitter and several websites, accusing the Islamist group Hamas of arresting dozens of jihadists and threatening attacks in Gaza unless they are released.
Hamas said it had detained what it described as “lawbreakers” after an explosion last
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From Ynet News
Netanyahu makes Regev culture minister, Steinitz energy minister
PM still looking for position for senior Likud member Gilad Erdan; Katz, Ya’alon to remain in their roles; Stenitz appointed energy minister; Regev made culture and sport minister, Haim Katz to serve as welfare minister.
While the clock runs down to the swear-in ceremony for Israel’s 34th government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still unveiling the list of ministers.
The first woman on the Likud list, MK Miri Regev, will be appointed to a ministerial position for the first time and serve as the culture and sport minister. Haim Katz, meanwhile, was appointed welfare minister and Danny Danon was appointed the minister of science, technology and space. Yariv Levin was appointed tourism minister and the liaison between the Knesset and government. Tzipi Hotovely will serve as deputy foreign minister, and received a promise to serve as a minister in the future.
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From The Times of Israel
Gulf leaders gather in Washington to push Obama on Iran
Despite allies’ skepticism, little expected to change concerning US-led nuclear deal after White House, Camp David meetings
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gulf nation leaders joined President Barack Obama at the White House Wednesday to warn of the risks of completing a nuclear deal with Iran. Obama was seeking to convince his counterparts of the potential benefits for the region.
But when two days of talks wrap up on Thursday, it’s unlikely much will have changed. The Gulf’s skepticism of Iran is deep-seated and extends far beyond its nuclear pursuits. Obama, meanwhile, has invested too much in the Iran negotiations to let Gulf concerns upend his legacy-building bid for a deal.
“My guess is that the summit is going to leave everybody feeling a little bit unsatisfied,” said Jon Alterman, the Middle East director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The White House is expected to offer the Gulf nations more military assistance, including increased joint exercises and coordination on ballistic missile systems. But Gulf requests for a formal defense treaty already have been denied by the U.S., in part because of the difficulty of getting such an agreement approved by Congress.
Obama met separately Wednesday with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The president had planned to meet with Saudi King Salman, but the kingdom abruptly announced over the weekend that the monarch would no longer travel to Washington and would instead send the lower ranking, but highly influential princes.
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From The Times of Israel
PM decries ‘resurgent’ anti-Semitism, from Toulouse to Tehran
Netanyahu pans Iran for criticizing Israel’s aid team to Nepal, not sending its own; says anti-Jewish hatred won’t be defeated, must be fought
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced a resurgence in anti-Semitism both in the Middle East and in the West, in a speech on Tuesday before a forum about the phenomenon.
“Today there is no doubt that we are living in an age of resurgent anti-Semitism,” Netanyahu said at the opening of the fifth Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism.
“Jews everywhere are once again being slandered and vilified,” he said.
“This is taking place in the intolerant parts of the Middle East but it’s also taking place in what otherwise would be expected to be the tolerant parts of the West.
“It’s taking place in Beirut, in Damascus, in Tehran. But it’s also taking place, violently so, in Toulouse, in Paris, in Brussels,” said the prime minister.
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