US envoy: Syria shift could reshape Israel ties
(JNS) — This week’s visit by Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa to the White House marked a turning point for the region and could reshape Syria’s relations with Israel, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said on Thursday.
Barrack said discussions between U.S., Syrian and Turkish officials included “redefining Turkish-Syrian-Israeli relations, and advancing the alignment that underpins the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, as well as various Lebanese border issues.”
He described the talks as part of a broader effort to bring Syria from “a source of terrorism to a counterterrorism partner,” pledging Damascus would help confront and dismantle “the remnants of ISIS, the IRGC, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist networks.”
President Donald Trump hosted al-Sharaa at the White House on Nov. 10 for the first visit by a Syrian president to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
In an interview with The Washington Post published Tuesday, the Syrian leader said that Jerusalem needs to withdraw its forces in Syria to the positions they held before the Assad regime fell on Dec. 8, 2024, for a security agreement with Damascus to cross the finish line.
While the Damascus-Jerusalem security pact remains on hold, Syria agreed to join the U.S.-led coalition to combat ISIS following al-Sharaa’s White House visit, but without any “military components.”
BBC execs resign amid scandal over Trump interview edit and Gaza war coverage
(JTA) — The head of BBC and its top news executive have quit amid allegations that the network misled viewers in coverage of President Donald Trump and the Gaza war.
The BBC’s director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday after a leaked report by Michael Prescott, a former standards adviser to the broadcaster, who accused it of anti-Trump and anti-Israel bias. The memo was published in the right-leaning British newspaper The Telegraph last week.
Prescott accused the BBC of selectively splicing footage of Trump’s speech to supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, in an episode of its documentary show “Panorama.” He said the show patched together sections of the remarks to suggest that Trump said, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you, and we fight. We fight like hell.”
These words came from two parts of the speech spoken almost an hour apart, omitting a part in which Trump said he wanted supporters “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” After Trump’s speech on Jan. 6, in which he said the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, his supporters violently stormed the United States Capitol.
Prescott’s memo accused BBC Arabic of choosing to “minimize Israeli suffering” to “paint Israel as the aggressor” in Gaza.
Dominican Republic postpones Summit of the Americas due to ‘profound divergences’
(JNS) — B’nai B’rith International voiced concern after organizers delayed the 10th Summit of the Americas, which had been scheduled for Dec. 4-5 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The summit — traditionally hosted under the Organization of American States as a forum for leaders across the Western Hemisphere — was launched 30 years ago during the Bill Clinton administration.
The Dominican government announced on Nov. 3 that the gathering will be delayed until 2026, citing “profound divergences that currently hinder productive dialogue in the Americas.”
“Added to this situation is the impact caused by recent climatic events that have severely affected several Caribbean countries,” the announcement said.
“The postponement raises serious concerns that the summit may not be held at all,” BBI stated on Nov. 11, adding that they urge leaders “to recommit to constructive engagement and ensure that opportunities for collaboration are not lost.”
BBI represents constituents from 20 Latin American countries at the OAS.
“BBI’s agenda at the OAS has always addressed issues such as discrimination, terrorism, developing and fostering democracy in Latin America, combating poverty and social unrest and freedom of speech,” according to the organization’s website.
Taiwan seeks to deepen ties with Israel, FM says
(JNS) — Taiwan seeks to strengthen ties with Israel, which has shown support for Taipei unmatched by other Mideast countries, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung said on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
Taiwan will be “friendly to countries that are friendly to us,” he told reporters at a Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club meeting.
The island nation’s top diplomat pointed to Israel’s cross-party gesture last summer — when 72 Knesset members signed a declaration supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in key international organizations — as an example of the Jewish state’s backing.
“Palestine is very bad to Taiwan” because it aligns with Beijing’s “One-China” principle, Lin said, referring to China’s long-standing stance that the democratic island belongs to the Asian superpower.
Lin added that Taiwanese diplomats are instructed to avoid involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, except on humanitarian matters.
“We provide a lot of humanitarian aid to both sides, including the Gaza Strip and Palestine,” AP quoted Lin as saying.
Last month, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te’ remarked that “Israel’s determination and capacity to defend its territory provides a valuable model for Taiwan.”
IAEA: Iran blocking access to nuclear sites hit by US-Israeli strikes
(JNS) — Iran has yet to allow international inspectors access to nuclear sites bombed by Israeli and U.S. forces in June, according to a new confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report to member states, excerpts of which were published by Reuters on Wednesday.
“The Agency’s lack of access to this nuclear material in Iran for five months means that its verification … is long overdue,” according to the report.
“It is critical that the Agency is able to verify the inventories of previously declared nuclear material in Iran as soon as possible in order to allay its concerns … regarding the possible diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful use,” the IAEA report continued.
Tehran is required under the Non-Proliferation Treaty to submit a detailed report on these facilities “without delay,” but has yet to comply, preventing IAEA inspectors from resuming visits.
Before the bombing, Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, a quantity the IAEA says is potentially enough for 10 nuclear bombs if further refined.
The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said on Oct. 20 that the Islamic Republic had cancelled its inspection agreement with the IAEA.
