News & Analysis (8/1/16)

The president authorized strikes on Sirte, Libya after the UN-backed government requested help:

• U.S. Warplanes Launch Bombing Campaign on Islamic State in Libya – PM (Reuters)

Israel–already the biggest recipient of US foreign aid by far, is set to receive even more, in a 10 year plan:

• As Israel Prospers, Obama Set to Give Billions More in Aid While Netanyahu Demands Even More (Intercept)

In an act of solidarity, Muslims visited Churches on Sunday to show their respect to their Christian brothers and sisters:

• Muslims Attend Catholic Mass Across France in Powerful Show of Unity (Huffington Post – World Post)

“41 prominent French Muslims issued … [a call] for ‘a cultural battle against radical Islamism among the youth’ … [that would] include transparent funding of mosques, proper training and salaries for imams and theological work”:

• France Seeks More Influence over Mosques to Stop Jihadists (BBC)

“The pope’s comments came hours after Muslims throughout France attended a Catholic Mass following the [murder] of 85-year-old Father Jacques Hamel … [for which Daesh] has claimed responsibility”:

• Pope Francis Says It Is Wrong To Identify Islam With Violence (NPR)

Norway has established a mandatory class for refugees and migrants who are Muslim, on how women ought to be treated in the West, but the students think the teachers are equally ignorant of Muslim culture:

• Norway’s Muslim Immigrants Attend Classes on Western Attitudes to Women-Video (Guardian)

Jeta Luboteni