[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, August 23, 2010

 

August 23, 2010 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Netanyahu Outlines Mideast Peace Demands - Iran Begins Fueling Bushehr Reactor - Pakistan Flooding Surges South - Pace of Eurozone Growth Slows Top of the Agenda: Netanyahu Outlines Mideast Peace Demands Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said reaching an agreement with the Palestinians through renewed Mideast peace talks (WSJ) would be "difficult" but "possible." Netanyahu outlined his demands at a cabinet meeting after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's announcement last week that direct peace talks would resume September 2 after having stalled for twenty months. Netanyahu's comments included few concessions, highlighting the difficulties ahead for negotiations. He restated his support for a demilitarized Palestinian state and demanded that Palestinians recognize Israel as the "national state of the Jewish people." He said the recognition would allow Palestinian refugees the right to return to a Palestinian state but not to Israel, a key Palestinian demand. Clinton invited Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and Jordan's King Abdullah to meet in Washington next week (CSMonitor). Analysts remain skeptical that Netanyahu and Abbas have the domestic political will to compromise on an agreement. Netanyahu and the United States must also decide on a settlement expansion policy (Haaretz) before the September 26 expiration of Israel's building moratorium in the West Bank, which Abbas warned could derail talks. Analysis: In the Washington Post, David Ignatius says Netanyahu did not affirm the principles set out by the United States, Russia, the EU, and the UN in agreeing to the Washington talks, leaving the terms ambiguous (WashPost). On ForeignPolicy.com, Stephen Walt says Israel and the Palestinians' agreement to talks is more hype than substance, and more inconclusive talks reinforce the "growing perception that the United States cannot deliver." Progress is possible in the newly announced Mideast talks, but the Obama administration will need to display deft leadership to overcome deep mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians, writes CFR's Robert Danin. Background: Read the August 20 statement by the Middle East Quartet. This CFR Crisis Guide examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. MIDDLE EAST: Iran Begins Fueling Bushehr Reactor Operations to load fuel into Iran's first nuclear power station (Guardian) began amid national celebration and assertions by Iran's atomic energy organization that the country's nuclear aims were peaceful. Sanctions have weakened Iran, but expert Hossein G. Askari says the country's leaders continue to muddle through, in part because of popular support for uranium enrichment--the cause of mounting global pressure. Pacific Rim: Australian Politicians Battle over Hung Parliament Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott are trying to secure crucial support from independents to form a government after weekend elections delivered the country's first hung parliament in seventy years (SMH). China: China urged the Philippines to rescue a group of Hong Kong tourists who were kidnapped in Manila (Xinhua) by a dismissed policeman Monday. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Pakistan Floodwaters Surge South Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from flood-threatened areas (Dawn) in southern Pakistan, as Pakistani authorities battle to save the city of Shahdadkot after a mass evacuation. Pakistan's floods spell setbacks for the U.S. fight against extremism and its war effort in Afghanistan, says CFR's Daniel Markey. He says beyond humanitarian aid relief, Washington must focus on boosting Pakistan's economy through greater trade opportunities. Afghanistan: Three $100 million U.S. air base expansions (WashPost) in southern and northern Afghanistan illustrate the Pentagon's plans to continue supporting increased U.S. military operations in the country. This Backgrounder examines Afghanistan's National Security Forces. AFRICA: U.S. Divided on Sudan Referendum The United States and U.S. advocacy groups remain divided over how to approach South Sudan's scheduled referendum (EastAfrican) on secession in January, and whether the United States should increase pressure on the Khartoum government. Somalia: Over a quarter of Somalia's population still needs humanitarian aid (Reuters) to combat the effects of a prolonged drought that began in 2009, according the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. AMERICAS: U.S. Coal Plants Proliferating According to U.S. Energy Department records, U.S. utilities are building dozens of traditional coal plants across the country (WashPost). The expansion will cement the coal industry's role as the primary greenhouse gas emitter for years to come and highlights renewed confidence among utilities that proposals to regulate carbon emissions will fail. Venezuela: Public debate over Venezuela's soaring crime rate (NYT) resurfaced after a Venezuelan court ordered a Venezuelan newspaper to stop publishing images of violence. EUROPE: Pace of Eurozone Growth Slows The eurozone's pace of growth slowed in August (FT), highlighting the economic union's dependence on strong German and French economies to make up for near stagnation of the other sixteen countries. Turkey: Rating agency Standard and Poor's questioned Turkey's future creditworthiness (WSJ) due to signs the government is expanding fiscal spending plans in the run-up to national elections likely to be held next summer.

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