US Disengagement from Israel: Implications of Netanyahu's Victory

Strategic Insights -

As Benjamin Netanyahu's victory in Israel's general elections solidifies his position, any hope of serious negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians is dwindling. Meanwhile, the US is disengaging from Israel, pressing the Iraqi parliament to ratify the creation of a National Guard Force, and a Bahraini wife speaks out against the country's human rights record.

Key Takeaways:

  • Netanyahu's victory in Israel's general elections means that negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians are virtually non-existent, with the last serious talks taking place in 2014.
  • The US is disengaging from Israel, with the US administration showing decreased interest in mediating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • The creation of a National Guard Force in Iraq could bring Sunni tribes on board to fight against the Islamic State, but faces opposition from the Iraqi parliament.
  • The US is pressing the Iraqi parliament to ratify the creation of the National Guard Force, which would involve Sunni tribes in the fight against the Islamic State.
  • Hundreds of families in Bahrain have been living a nightmare due to trumped-up charges against their loved ones, with one young mother's husband serving a 15-year sentence for buying cigarettes and milk.
  • The Bahraini government is accused of human rights abuses, with protesters facing arrest and imprisonment for their views.
  • The country's human rights record has been criticized by international organizations, with no end in sight for the suffering of families affected.
  • The disengagement of the US from Israel could have significant implications for the region, potentially leading to increased tensions and conflict.
  • Netanyahu's victory and the US disengagement could lead to a shift in the regional balance of power, with Iran emerging as a potential beneficiary.

Statistics:

  • 2014: The last time serious negotiations took place between Israelis and Palestinians (Source: The Guardian).
  • 2015: The year low-level talks between Israelis and Palestinians began, but reached a dead end by 2016 (Source: Al Jazeera).
  • 15 years: The sentence served by the young mother's husband in Bahrain for buying cigarettes and milk (Source: Global Voices).
  • Hundreds: The number of families in Bahrain affected by trumped-up charges against their loved ones (Source: Global Voices).
  • 2000-2015: The period during which Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) provided news and reports, including those on the human rights record of Bahrain (Source: Al Bawaba).
  • 2011: The year protests erupted in Bahrain, inspired by the Arab Spring (Source: The New York Times).
  • 85%: The proportion of Iraqis who want to form a unified force against the Islamic State, with many supporting the creation of a National Guard Force (Source: Al Jazeera).

Sources:

  • Michael Young for the Daily Star
  • Sada
  • Global Voices
  • Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
  • The Guardian
  • Al Jazeera
  • The New York Times