You break it, you keep it

Israel, Palestine, the Caucasus, the US, Japan, and Venezuela.

Gaza, David Roberts, 1839, colour lithograph, Cleveland Museum of Art, Ohio.

Hello,

Here are the five things you need to know today:

• ISRAEL. PALESTINE. Netanyahu takes his biggest gamble yet.

• THE CAUCASUS. Trump lands on the Belt and Road.

• UNITED STATES. Monetary policy gets MAGAed.

• JAPAN. Ishiba is grilled on tariffs and leadership.

• VENEZUELA. A reward for Maduro’s arrest covers for a deal.

And don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn.

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ISRAEL. PALESTINE. No returns

Netanyahu takes his biggest gamble yet.

Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday to occupy Gaza City and take over aid delivery. Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel didn't "want to keep it". The opposition said the move was a "disaster that will lead to many more disasters."

INTELLIGENCE. Netanyahu bowed to coalition hardliners, despite opposition from the IDF. Donald Trump may have also played a role, allegedly yelling at the prime minister to end the starvation. Replacing a broken delivery system, occupation may fix the humanitarian crisis but at great diplomatic and military cost. International observers slammed the move. Australia hedged closer to future Palestinian recognition, though the Netherlands ruled out such a decision.

FOR BUSINESS. With the courts staying attempts to sack the attorney general, who is pursuing a range of corruption cases against him, Netanyahu has incentives beyond coalition politics to keep the war going. He will at least be cheered that the neighbours have shrugged. Egypt has agreed to a $35 billion gas export deal. Jordan has been muted. Trump has called on "all Middle Eastern countries" to join the Abraham Accords, though the chances of this are slim.

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THE CAUCASUS. Power TRIPP

Trump lands on the Belt and Road.

Donald Trump said the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan would sign a peace deal at the White House Friday. Officials said this would involve rights for the US to run a cross-border "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity".

INTELLIGENCE. The route, normally known as the Zangezur corridor, would connect