Storm of the nations
Israel, Palestine, Canada, Venezuela, South Korea, and Thailand.
The five things you need to know today:
ISRAEL. PALESTINE. Netanyahu starts new domestic battles while he still can.
CANADA. Carney has momentum, and tariffs, on his side.
VENEZUELA. Maduro tries to get US relations back on track.
SOUTH KOREA. The first of three crucial cases is decided.
THAILAND. Thaksin continues to be the Voldemort of Thai politics.
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ISRAEL. PALESTINE. War on all fronts
Netanyahu starts new domestic battles while he still can.
Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet unanimously voted Sunday to proceed with a no-confidence motion against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. A draft budget was sent to the Knesset. Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s support.
INTELLIGENCE. Netanyahu is facing a showdown with the High Court over Baharav-Miara and sacked Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. He is also fighting a rearguard action against ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers (hence his careful cultivation of the hard right) and needs to pass the 2025 budget by 31 March lest new elections be called. The war in Gaza and allegations of rocket fire from Hezbollah ahead of border negotiations with Lebanon will be the least of his worries.
FOR BUSINESS. Having largely beaten Hamas and Hezbollah, and ensnared several US administrations, Netanyahu faces his greatest foe in Israel’s secular and centre-left establishment, which if it doesn’t jail him first, may win the next election. He’ll be glad the White House is so far blaming Hamas for the failed ceasefire in Gaza and looking the other way on West Bank settlements. A second US aircraft carrier being deployed to the Red Sea will help as well.
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CANADA. Snap before breaking
Carney has momentum, and tariffs, on his side.
Mark Carney called a snap election Sunday for 28 April, saying Donald Trump “wants to break us so America can own us.” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith denied she had urged the US to interfere in the election in an interview with Breitbart.
INTELLIGENCE. Carney's Liberals are leading the Conservative opposition in most polls. That lead is being helped by