News and Analysis (6/2/19)

Jewish law prohibits Jews entry to the Holy of Holies, but the Israeli police would rather provoke a Palestinian riot at the end of Ramadan than obey Jewish law:

• Clashes Erupt on Temple Mount as Jews Mark Jerusalem Day in Final Days of Ramadan (Haaretz)

Funded by the State Dept. to expose pro-Iranian propaganda, the Iran Disinformation Project has instead engaged in disinformation against the Iran treaty, even attacking a journalist Iran detained for a year and a half …

• US Suspends Funding for Iran Twitter Account that Trolled Critics (France24)

… Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ CEO Mark Dubowitz denies suspicions of collaboration with the disinformation project the as work of “‘conspiracists’ [who] see ‘FDD’s hand in everything’”:

• FDD Aligned with State Department to Attack Supporters of Iran Diplomacy (Lobe Log)

In his “forty hadith” inspired work, “the Hunter S. Thompson of Islamic literature [includes] …canonical as well as … marginalized sources” from “queer theology, feminist commentary and core Islamic teachings”:

• ‘Muhammad: Forty Introductions’ Is a Soul-stirring Primer on Islam (Chicago Tribune)

“Cuccinelli has a history of anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant rhetoric and positions” and Gabriel’s “long history of anti-Muslim statements” includes the claim that “a practicing Muslim … cannot be a loyal [U.S.] citizen”:

• Potential DHS Immigration Director Ken Cuccinelli Praised Diatribe from Anti-Muslim Leader Brigitte Gabriel (Media Matters)

“Aufa … sees her faith as uplifting and liberating, not confining” and Ghufron “the Quran … says to … search for the signs that God has placed around. So … appreciating the beauty of flowers is part of my religion”:

• Muslim Siblings Promote Diversity with Fashion and Flowers (Japan Times)

Rouhani says Iran will negotiate if America just shows respect; Khamenei doesn’t actually contradict him, he just says America is incapable of abandoning bullying:

• Rouhani Says Iran Will Not Be ‘Bullied’ into US Talks (Al-Jazeera)

Netanyahu’s claim that the British-appointed mufti of Jerusalem “urged Hitler to annihilate the Jews” distorts history and fails to mention that had no influence on the{Palestinian] public …[who] didn’t see him as a leader”:

• 12,000 Palestinians Fought for U.K. in WWII Alongside Jewish Volunteers, Historian Finds (Haaretz)

“While he didn’t get much eye contact from some of the leaders gathered around the GCC table, [Qatar’s representative Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser] al-Thani did back the Saudi monarch” …

• Saudi Arabia United the Arab World Against Iran. That Means Conflict Could Be One Step Closer (CNN)

… but Gulf and Middle East analyst Abdullah Baaboob says, “This strategy from the GCC states is flawed … because they don’t want to sit at the table … and sort out all the issues… The GCC is not united and it is fragmented”:

• Mecca Summit Supports Palestinians, Backs Saudis in Iran Standoff (Al-Jazeera)