The identity of a former Israeli spy who was in charge of Palestinian agents in Gaza and was at one time Benjamin Netanyahu's point person for secret talks in the Arab world was revealed for the first time this week after he was appointed director general of the country's Foreign Ministry.
Why it matters: Ronen Levy's new role and past experience — under the alias "Moaz" — will give him an opportunity to try topush for normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries, mainly in Africa.
Brett McGurk, President Biden’s top Middle East adviser, visited Iraq this week to discuss security cooperation between the two countries with new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Iran are fighting for political influence in Iraq. McGurk is the most senior White House official to visit Baghdad since al-Sudani assumed office three months ago.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan landed in Israel on Wednesday for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Why it matters: The talks are primarily aimed at reaching understandings with the new Israeli government on its policies concerning the Palestinians, Iran, and the process to normalize relations between Israel and other countries in the region, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres slammed fossil fuel companies, singling out ExxonMobil, in a grim table-setting speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Wednesday morning.
Why it matters: Addressing the world's elite, Guterres elevated the findings of a study published last week in the journal Science, which showed that Exxon's own climate research accurately predicted the pace and severity of global warming. (Exxon disputed the findings.)
The Israeli Supreme Court in a 10-1 ruling revoked the appointment of Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party and a key ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as a senior minister in the government.
Why it matters: The decision could dramatically escalate the constitutional crisis in Israel and accelerate the government’s effort to push forward its plan for weakening Israel’s judicial system.
A helicopter carrying Ukrainian officials crashed near Kyiv on Wednesday, killing more than a dozen people, including Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky and three children, officials said.
The big picture: Monastyrskyi, who was in charge of the country's police and emergency services, is the highest-ranking government official to die since Russia's invasion began nearly 11 months ago.
DAVOS, Switzerland — The U.S. hopes to replicate the success of an e-governance app used in Ukraine in other countries, USAID Administrator Samantha Power told Axios on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.
Driving the news: Ukraine rolled out its Diia app in 2020 to allow citizens to access ID documents, register a business and obtain various government services from their smartphones. Since Russia's invasion began last year, the app has been expanded to include additional tools like reporting damage from Russian strikes.
The U.S. has in recent months transferred hundreds of thousands of artillery shells from its ammunition stockpiles in Israel to Ukraine, three current and former Israeli officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The ammunition that was transferred to Ukraine was part of a U.S. weapons stockpile that is pre-positioned in warehouses on Israeli soil as part of an agreement between the countries.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by police at a protest Tuesday in western Germany, but released following an identity check, multiple outlets reported.
Driving the news: Thunberg alongside other activists has been protesting the planned demolition of coal mining town Lützerath to make way for a coal mine expansion.
Driving the news: The Filipino American journalist was cleared of four counts of tax violations, charges filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte's government that Ressa said were politically motivated.
Ukrainian troops began training in Oklahoma on Tuesday, as top U.S. military official Gen. Mark Milley traveled to Poland, near the border with Ukraine.
Driving the news: Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, for the first time, signaling "unwavering support" during a critical time in Russia's war with Ukraine, per a Department of Defense spokesperson.
