News and Analysis 4/29/21

On Thursday, the US shielded Israel from crimes of apartheid and thus itself for being complicit in those crimes, even denying that Israeli actions constitute apartheid …

• US Rejects Human Rights Watch’s ‘Israeli Apartheid’ Claim (Algemeiner)

… and even as it minimizes the pogroms in Jerusalem:

• The US Cannot Continue Ignoring Israel’s Crimes in Jerusalem (Aljazeera)

Biden’s declaration of Armenian Genocide reflects the United States greater policy towards Turkey and President Erdogan in recent years, demonstrating that the U.S  “no longer considers Turkey a valued ally to be shielded from criticism”:

• Biden’s Declaration on Armenian Genocide (Graham E. Fuller)

In a recent television interview, Saudi Crown Prince struck a conciliatory tone for the first time while speaking of Iran, stating “Iran is a neighbouring country, and all we aspire for is a good and special relationship with Iran”:

• Saudi Crown Prince Seeks ‘Good And Special Relationship With Iran’ (Middle East Eye)
• Why Mohammed bin Salman Suddenly Wants to Talk to Iran (Foreign Policy)
• Iran Welcomes Saudi Arabia’s ‘Change of Tone’ – Foreign Ministry (Reuters)

Iran’s president replaced “the head of a government think tank” after a leaked audio surfaced of the foreign minister discussing Iran’s current situation. The recording “exposed bitter internal divisions” with Iran, divisions that may threaten the ongoing Vienna talks:

• A Bombshell Recording in Iran Threatens to Complicate Nuclear Negotiations in Vienna (NBC)

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is currently meeting with visiting Mossad chief Yossi Cohen for “talks on Iran”:

• Blinken Meets Israel’s Mossad Spy Chief for Talks on Iran (US News/Reuters)

The move is hailed as “a step in the right direction toward creating a more inclusive police force and helping recruit more Muslim women to become officers”:

• Newark Police Change Rules to Allow Muslim Officers to Wear Hijabs on Duty (nj.com)

Abdullah Khan