News and Analysis (6/3/2010)

After parliamentary election irregularities, including one candidate shot by police as he entered a polling place, the Muslim Brotherhood backs ElBaradei’s call for reforms that would allow him to run for president:

• Egyptian Group to Back ElBaradei (Al Jazeera)

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior US official admits a policy shift on the Gaza blockage is in the initial phase …

• New Israeli Tack Needed on Gaza, U.S. Officials Say (NY Times)

… Meanwhile, the process maybe expedited with a US citizen confirmed among those killed:

• Fatalities on Gaza Flotilla Said to Include U.S. Citizen (NY Times)

An admission with major implications for the US/Israeli relationship…

• Mossad Chief: Israel Gradually Becoming Burden on U.S. (Haaretz)

… Further emphasizing the growing rift between US policy and Israeli action:

• U.S. Urged Israel to Use Caution and Restraint with Aid Boats Heading to Gaza (Washington Post)

The U.N.’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings questions whether the right of self-defense extends to “countries where links to the [9/11] attacks are more remote [than Pakistan], such as Yemen or Somalia”:

• U.N. Report Faults Prolific Use of Drone Strikes by U.S. (LA Times)

With Christians generally receiving more support than other Iraqi ethnic groups in resettling abroad, many Iraqi Christians fear that could bring the end to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world:

• Iraqi Christians: Better Off Than Other Iraqi Refugees? (Christian Science Monitor)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant