Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United Arab Emirates was postponed in early January because of Emirati concerns that it would cause regional tensions with Iran, three Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the issue told Axios.
Why it matters: The new details about the trip's cancellation partially dispute what officials told reporters at the time.They also shed light on where the two countries, which forged diplomatic relations more than two years ago, differ when it comes to their public posture toward Iran.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's call for the Palestinian village of Hawara to be wiped out by the Israeli government is "irresponsible, repugnant and disgusting," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Smotrich, a far-right Israeli settler known for his Jewish supremacist rhetoric, is also the minister in the Ministry of Defense in charge of civilian affairs in the West Bank. Many, including opposition leader Yair Lapid, have accused Smotrich of inciting "war crimes" over his comments and actions related to the violence in Hawara.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to arrive in Israel next Wednesday for a two-day visit,two Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Austin will arrive as the U.S. continues its efforts to de-escalate tensions in the occupied West Bank to avoid further violence during the historically sensitive period around the holy month of Ramadan and Passover.
Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi are expected to visit Washington early next week for meetings with senior Biden administrationofficials that will focus on Iran, two Israeli and U.S. officials said.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Israel are highly concerned about the unprecedented advancement of Iran's nuclear program.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told Axios in an interview after his recent trip to Jerusalem that the Israeli government’s plan to weaken the Supreme Court is an internal Israeli matter and the U.S. should not intervene.
Why it matters: McConnell’s comments often set the tone for many Republican lawmakers who, unlike several Democrats, haven't expressed public opposition to the judicial overhaul plan.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedmanused a recent conservative conference in Tel Aviv to express concern and push back against the Netanyahu government’s judicial overhaul plan, according to two people with direct knowledge of the issue.
Why it matters: Friedman was one of former President Trump’s close confidants and remains close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His support is incredibly important to the Israeli right.
At least 43 people were killedand dozens of others were injured in northern Greece on Wednesday local time after a passenger train collided with an oncoming freight train, AP reports.
The big picture: Multiple train cars derailed and caught fire near the city of Larissa, about 235 miles north of Athens in the deadliest train crash in Greece's history.
The legacy of the 118th Congress — even amid its high-profile divisions — is set to be defined by an unprecedented focus on the threat emanating from the Chinese government.
Why it matters: With President Biden wielding a veto and Republicans prioritizing sweeping investigations, China is the only issue positioned to pierce Capitol Hill's bitter partisan bubble on a consistent — and meaningful — basis.
Americans, including millions of Latinos, who receive Medicaid and SNAP benefits are facing two looming deadlines that advocates say could have a major impact.
Belarus' President Aleksandr Lukashenko will visit Beijing this week, on the heels of China's announcement of its proposed peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine war.
Why it matters: Welcoming a close Putin ally, while ignoring Ukraine's repeated requests for dialogue, suggests China's leaders will prioritize Moscow's interests over Kyiv's as they advocate for a cease-fire.
In a proposed global security framework unveiled last week, the Chinese government called for expanded training with security forces from other developing countries, a strategy that has alarmed the West.
Why it matters: Terrorism and transnational crime are complex problems that require global cooperation. But critics worry that China's deepening security cooperation with other countries could extend Beijing's authoritarian reach into strategically important regions.
The State Department's 2021 report on terrorism, published on Monday, concludes that Israeli security forces often did not prevent violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and almost never held violent settlers accountable.
Why it matters: This is the most serious determination made in an official and public State Department report regarding the issue of settler violence against Palestinian civilians.
Latinos and Black Americans have been linked in U.S. history for centuries, from the Underground Railroad to Mexico to modern-day struggles for civil rights.
Through the lens: For Black History Month, Axios Latino has chosen these photos to show how connected Latinos are to crucial moments of Black history.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky exhorted American businesses to begin investing in the country's reconstruction, even before its war with Russia is over.
Driving the news: Zelensky made his remarks Tuesday morning to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) board in a live speech listened to exclusively by Axios.
One year in, attention to stories around the war in Ukraine has mostly flatlined in the U.S., suggesting Americans are no longer gripped by the storylines that shocked them at the war's outset last February.
Why it matters: The interest from Americans mirrors the progress on the ground in Ukraine, where Russian forces continue to bombard the eastern part of the country, but to no clear end.
China's Foreign Ministry claimed on Tuesday that the country has been "open and transparent” about its efforts to trace the origins of COVID-19 and accused the U.S. of politicizing the issue.
Driving the news: News reports emerged over the weekend that U.S. Department of Energy concluded in a "low confidence" assessment that the pandemic most likely started from a laboratory leak.
