White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Tony Blinken met with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi last week to discuss the potential opening of Omani airspace to Israeli airlines and other issues, U.S. and Israeli officials said.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia in July gave Israeli airlines permission to use its airspace for eastbound flights to India and China. This was a significant step on the path toward normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel and one of the achievements of President Biden’s trip to the kingdom.
The Biden administration has made it clear to Iraq's new prime minister that it will not work with ministers and senior officials who are affiliated with Shiite militias the U.S. has designated as terrorist organizations, two sources briefed on the issue told me.
Why it matters: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani became the prime minister after he was endorsed by the pro-Iranian factions in the Iraqi parliament, known as the Coordination Framework. These factions include some Shiite militias on the U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organizations list.
The White House and the State Department told the Israeli government they were not behind the FBI decision to open an investigation into the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, three Israeli and U.S. officials told me.
Why it matters: The FBI decision is unprecedented and it has led to a bilateral crisis between the Biden administration and the Israeli government.
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed during ongoing coalition talks to commit to passing a law that would allow the government to bypass Supreme Court rulings, according to the incoming coalition.
Why it matters: Such a law could significantly erode the court's independence and its ability to block laws or government decisions it deems unconstitutional or in violation of human rights.
Incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to keep Israel's ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, in his position even though he was appointed by the previous government, two Israeli and U.S. sources told Axios.
Why it matters: The ambassador to Washington is always a critical post for Israel, and the job is only expected to get harder once the new government is in place.
Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced Brazil's return to climate diplomacy after outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro spurned the UN process, and drove up Amazon deforestation.
Driving the news: Lula got a rock star welcome at COP27 in Egypt and forcefully addressed several critical negotiating sticking points, including climate damages.
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily stayed a decision that would block the Biden administration from expelling migrants without the chance for asylum under the Title 42 policy.
The latest: The Department of Justice filed a stay motion on Tuesday night requesting a five-week delay before ending the use of Title 42.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday that the explosion that killed two people near the country's border with Ukraine appears to be an "unfortunate accident," not an "intentional attack."
The big picture: Duda said it was "very likely" the explosion was caused by Ukrainian air defenses. The missile "unfortunately fell on Polish territory" as Ukraine defended itself against Russian strikes, he said.
BALI, Indonesia — The G20 group of world powers agreed to a joint communiqué at the close of their summit in Indonesia this week that states that "most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine," but "there were other views" as well.
Why it matters: The G20 includes the U.S. and its allies in Europe and Asia who have condemned and sanctioned Russia, as well as countries like China, India, Saudi Arabia and South Africa that have been reluctant to do so. Russia itself is also a member.
President Biden said he and the leaders of eight allied countries had agreed during an emergency meeting to support Poland's investigation into the explosion that killed two people near the border with Ukraine and wait for more information before determining their next steps.
What he's saying: Biden did not attribute any blame for the explosion, but said in response to a reporter's question that it was "unlikely" the projectile that caused it was fired from Russia due to its trajectory.
A "Russian-made missile" landed in Poland near its border with Ukraine on Tuesday and killed at least two people, the Polish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
State of play: Russia has denied any responsibility for the explosion in the Polish village of Przewodów, saying "no strikes were made against targets near the Ukrainian-Polish state border by Russian means of destruction," according to state media.
