News and Analysis (12/28/19)

Both within and outside of the Muslim world the plight of Muslims is bad:

• The World’s Muslims Are Facing Unprecedented Repression (Axios)
• Opinion: The Muslim World’s Nightmare Decade (Buzzfeed)

“To date, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that Israeli soldiers have shot 50 men, women, and children in the eye since the weekly demonstrations began last March, leaving many permanently blind”:

• ‘Blinding the Truth’: Israeli Snipers Target Gaza Protesters in the Eyes (If Americans Knew)

McBath denied that his belief that Muslims should never be trusted would prevent him from treating one fairly if one appeared before him in court:

• Former Judicial Candidate Who Said ‘Never Trust a Muslim’ Disciplined (Tampa Bay Times)

Israel’s Army Chief said Iran is the main threat against Israel and that military friction between the two is possible …

• Israeli Army Chief Made It Clear: A Collision With Iran Is Almost Inevitable (Haaretz)

… while Brom, Shlomo and Stein remark that conflict with Iran goes against Israeli interest, but Netanyahu is using the tension as a strategy to run his third election campaign:

• Netanyahu Should Not Be Allowed to Start a War With Iran to Save Himself (Haaretz)

Women in Iran are breaking boundaries as they took charge on both sides of the camera:

• In Iran, Women Break Boundaries in Movies (Wall Street Journal)

“China has separated nearly half a million children from their families in Xinjiang, aiming to instill loyalty to party and” state over religion:

• ‘Block the Impact of Religion’: China Sends Muslim Children to Boarding Schools (NY Times)

Australia rejects the effort of the International Criminal Court to probe Israel for war crimes in Palestinian territories, while Berlin reiterates its support for the court:

• Australia Rejects ICC Palestine Probe; Germany Warns Against Politicization (Times of Israel)

While Palestinian Tourism authority aim to increase the number of tourists in the holy places, access to Palestine remains controlled by Israel, which restricts and obstructs any progress …

• Tourists Mean Hope for Palestine (Project Syndicate)

… and Palestinians reject a land registration scheme they see as “a step toward annexing the occupied territory known as Area C that makes over 60 percent of the area of the West Bank”:

• Newspapers Review: Palestinians Condemn Israeli Plan to Officially Steal Their Occupied Land (WAFA)

Amid heightened tension between Iran and the United States, Iranian spokesman says Iran will hold a joint four-day drill with China and Russia in the northern part of the Indian Ocean …

• China, Russia and Iran to Hold Joint Naval Drills from Friday (Reuters)

… while Japan will do its own intelligence gathering in the Gulf rather than participate in the U.S.-led coalition:

• Japan’s Naval Dispatch to Middle East a ‘Product of Compromise’ Between Iran and U.S., Experts Say (Japan Times)