Competition in the Arctic is just one aspect of the tense U.S.-Russia relationship, but it’s an increasingly important one. The Arctic Council‘s charter says it is to stay out of military matters, but Moscow is blurring the lines between military and economic issues with its active economic and security moves in the increasingly accessible region. U.S. officials accuse Russia of, among other things, routinely breaking international law by regulating the movement of ships through the Northern Sea Route and attempting to charge fees for ships passing through international waters.
Russia also is dramatically ramping up its military presence in the region, suggesting it intends to use its time as head of the council to strengthen its grip on the Arctic and set the agenda in the scramble to influence at the top of the world.
BICOM
19th May 2021
The UK media continues to cover the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
BBC News reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has “set Hamas back by many years”.
The Guardian reports that France and Egypt have increased pressure on the US to demand a ceasefire. France called for a UN Security Council resolution to address the escalation, but the US has so far blocked efforts for a joint statement calling for the fighting to end.
The Independent reports that more than 52,000 Palestinians have been displaced by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
A trio of progressive Congress members is about to propose a resolution to block a $735 million weapons sale to Israel over concerns about its actions in Gaza, Jewish Currents reported, citing an early draft of the resolution.
The sponsors of the legislation targeting the transfer of precision-guided missiles to Israel are Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, all Democrats.
The arms deal has made headlines as Israel and Hamas exchange fire in a round of fighting that started 10 days ago and has left hundreds dead, mostly Palestinians living in Gaza.
“At a time when so many, including our president, support a ceasefire, we should not be sending ‘direct attack’ weaponry to prime minister Netanyahu to prolong this violence,” says an email obtained by Jewish Currents that was sent out by Ocasio-Cortez’s office to ask other lawmakers for support. “It is long past time to end the US policy of unconditiona
Three congressional Democrats introduce resolution calling for halt to arms sale to Israel haaretz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from haaretz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A group of 10 pro-Palestinian Democrats introduced legislation on Wednesday to block the arms sale after Gregory Meeks of New York, the House foreign affairs committee chairman, ultimately declined to ask the Biden administration to halt the sale.
The legislation was introduced by left-wing firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who defeated the House’s number three Democrat and staunch Israel defender Joseph Crowley in 2018.
“For decades, the US has sold billions of dollars in weaponry to Israel without ever requiring them to respect basic Palestinian rights,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez said when introducing the bill.
“In so doing, we have directly contributed to the death, displacement and disenfranchisement of millions.”