I begin with comparing Putinâs announcement on Syrian troop withdrawal with Pentagonâs notice that the US has 2000 troops illegally in Syria instead of 500 as Obama had told the public.
Then, I quote from Gideon Levyâs biting analysis of Trumpâs recognition of Jerusalem as the game changer, praising it for tearing the mask off the notion that the US could ever be an honest broker, that it didnât, in fact, support continued Israeli occupation, and putting an end to the two state delusion.
I then quote from a Palestinian poll taken in the West Bank and Gaza right after Trumpâs announcement which reveals depth of opposition to Abbas but fear of speaking publicly against the Palestinian Authority, of popularity of Marwan Barghouti, of opposition to having any more to do with the US, support of going to the International Criminal Court, growing support for armed struggle, and that in an election, Hamasâs Hanieyh would defeat Abbas while Barghouti, now in prison, would defeat both.
I conclude by noting a NY Times report that the US missile defense program employed by Saudi Arabia, the same which South Korea against possible missile attack from North Korea, massively failed to stop an older Scud missile launched by the Houtis against the Saudi airport in Riyadh, countering an initial report that the missile had been successfully intercepted.