“Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns presented a new proposal
here to help advance a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the six-month war
in Gaza and release remaining hostages. Under the plan, presented Sunday night,
Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 captives still held in Gaza in
return for the release from Israeli prisons of 900 Palestinian
prisoners—including 100 convicted of terrorism charges—over the course of a
six-week cease-fire in Gaza, Arab mediators said. The U.S. also proposed to
allow civilian Palestinians to return without restrictions to northern Gaza
from the south, where they have been displaced since the conflict began in
October. Israel has been reluctant to allow that for fear that Hamas militants
would mix in with the civilian population and return to areas that Israel says
it has already cleared. Israeli negotiators had previously offered to allow
60,000 Palestinians to return there. Under the plan, those Palestinians allowed
back would be granted free movement along two main north-south roads, with
Israeli forces repositioned nearly a third of a mile away from the routes.”











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Eye on Extremism



April 9, 2024



The Wall Street Journal: U.S. Makes Fresh Cease-Fire Proposal For War In Gaza
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“Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns presented a new proposal
here to help advance a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the six-month war
in Gaza and release remaining hostages. Under the plan, presented Sunday night,
Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 captives still held in Gaza in
return for the release from Israeli prisons of 900 Palestinian
prisoners—including 100 convicted of terrorism charges—over the course of a
six-week cease-fire in Gaza, Arab mediators said. The U.S. also proposed to
allow civilian Palestinians to return without restrictions to northern Gaza
from the south, where they have been displaced since the conflict began in
October. Israel has been reluctant to allow that for fear that Hamas militants
would mix in with the civilian population and return to areas that Israel says
it has already cleared. Israeli negotiators had previously offered to allow
60,000 Palestinians to return there. Under the plan, those Palestinians allowed
back would be granted free movement along two main north-south roads, with
Israeli forces repositioned nearly a third of a mile away from the routes.”



The Times Is Israel: ‘Qatar Does Not Pay Hamas’: Doha Hits Back At GOP
Lawmaker’s Claim
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“Qatar’s Embassy in Washington hits back at US House Oversight Committee
chairman Rep. James Comer who issued a statement earlier today asserting that
Doha has paid the Hamas terror group $30 million per month since 2018. “Qatar
does not pay Hamas,” the embassy says in a tweet. “In full coordination with
the Government of Israel, Qatar has contributed humanitarian assistance in Gaza
since 2018.” It points to two forms of assistance — “fuel purchases from Israel
to supply a Gaza power station to generate electricity in Gaza, under the
supervision of the United Nations Office of Project Services. The Israeli
Government controlled all fuel transfers at the Gaza border.” The second form
has been payments since 2021 administered by the World Food Program providing
$100 million per month to poor families in Gaza in stipends overseen by Israel.
The Qatari aid was sought and appreciated by Israel in the decade leading up to
Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught, documents obtained by The Times of Israel
last month showed.”



CEP Mentions



UnHerd: The Khan Review Proves Britain Has A Blasphemy Problem
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“Thanks to the newly published Khan review, we now have the clearest picture
to date of what actually happened in Batley in March 2021, when a schoolteacher
was forced into hiding after showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. The
review clearly lays out the personal impact that the saga had on this innocent
man, something which was sorely lacking in investigations and reviews at the
time, as well as in the statements of key local leaders — which focused almost
entirely on the supposed offence caused. This is symptomatic of the guiding
principles and priorities of too many institutions, which privilege “local
dynamics” and “community relations” at the expense of the overall health of
British democracy. Usually, attempting to “sooth community tensions” just means
cowing to the loudest voices of self-appointed community leaders. It also means
that, elsewhere, religious institutions with clear extremist tendencies
continue to receive funding and photo ops with local politicians, because
maintaining the relationship with that institution and its proclaimed access to
the nebulous “community” is more important than anything else.”



United States



Voice Of America: US Warns Of Possible Attacks On 'Multiple Locations' In
Mogadishu
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“The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi says it has received information about threats
to multiple locations in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. One of the locations
identified as a possible target for the threat is the city’s main airport, the
Aden Adde International Airport, which also serves as a base for the African
Union mission in Somalia and multiple embassies, including the United States
and other Western countries. “All movements of U.S. Embassy personnel have been
canceled for Tuesday, April 9, 2024,” the security alert said. The alert added,
“The U.S. Department of State level-four travel advisory (“do not travel”) for
Somalia remains in effect due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues,
kidnapping, and piracy.” U.S. citizens have been urged to take several measures
including reviewing their personal security plans and avoiding large crowds,
gatherings and demonstrations, among other steps, to ensure their safety. The
United States did not specify where the threat is coming from, but the
al-Shabab militant group has been carrying out attacks against the Somali
government, African Union forces and other nations supporting Somalia.”



Voice Of America: US Forces Hit Houthi Missile System In Yemen
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“The U.S. military said late Monday it destroyed a Houthi missile system in
Yemen and an aerial drone launched by the militants over the Red Sea. U.S.
Central Command (CENTCOM) said the first strike hit two Houthi missiles that
were ready to launch, as well as a ground control station. No injuries or
damage to ships in the region were reported. CENTCOM also said an anti-ship
ballistic missile was launched Sunday in the direction of the Marshall
Islands-flagged, U.K. owned, Italian operated cargo ship M/V Hope Island as it
was being escorted by a coalition ship in the Gulf of Aden. No injuries or
damage were reported with that incident. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade
Operations agency said it received a report Sunday of a missile landing in the
water close to a vessel in the same area. The Houthis have launched numerous
attacks targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in a campaign they
say is in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israeli-Hamas war in the Gaza
Strip.”



Iran



Associated Press: Iran’s Foreign Minister Accuses US Of Giving Israel ‘Green
Light’ To Attack Consulate In Syria
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“Iran’s foreign minister Monday accused the United States of giving Israel
the “green light” for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed
seven Iranian military officials including two generals. Hossein
Amirabdollahian reiterated Tehran’s vows that it will respond to the attack,
widely blamed on Israel, that appeared to signify an escalation of Israel’s
targeting of military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups
fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon. Hezbollah leader
Hassan Nasrallah in an address Monday reiterated the Iran-backed group’s
support for a Tehran military response to the attack that killed Gen. Mohammad
Reza Zahedi, a senior military official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s
Quds Force, and worsened fears of the war spiraling into the rest of the Middle
East. Since the war in Gaza began six months ago, clashes have increased
between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Hamas, which rules Gaza and attacked
Israel on Oct. 7, is also backed by Iran, as well as an umbrella group of Iraqi
militias targeting U.S. military bases and positions in Syria and Iraq.”



Lebanon



Associated Press: Cyprus President And Lebanese Caretaker Premier Urge EU
Financial Aid To Curb Migration From Lebanon
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“The Lebanese caretaker prime minister and the Cypriot president are calling
on the European Union to provide financial support to help cash-strapped
Lebanon stop migrants from reaching European shores. President Nikos
Christodoulides’ visit to Beirut Monday, alongside his country’s interior and
foreign ministers and army chief, came after he urged the EU last week to
intercede with Lebanese authorities to help stop boatloads of Syrian refugees
from heading to the east Mediterranean island nation. Migration in recent years
has become a priority issue between the two countries. Najib Mikati said the
Lebanese military and security agencies have been doing their utmost to curb
migration, but the situation was so dire that it needed “a framework agreement”
with the EU. He was referring to already sanctioned migration-linked European
financial packages with cash-strapped Mediterranean countries Tunisia and
Egypt. Christodoulides agreed with Mikati on the importance of reaching a
similar agreement with Lebanon as Cyprus, along with other European countries,
has been witnessing a spike in migrant arrivals.”



Middle East



Associated Press: The Latest | Netanyahu Vows To Carry Out Rafah Invasion,
Which Us Says Would Be A Mistake
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“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has escalated his pledge to
invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is filled with around 1.4 million
Palestinians, most of whom are displaced from other parts of the Gaza Strip.
“It will happen. There is a date,” Netanyahu declared in a video statement
Monday, without elaborating. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has said
a ground operation into Rafah would be a mistake and has demanded to see a
credible plan to protect civilians. Netanyahu spoke as Israeli negotiators are
in Cairo discussing international efforts to broker a cease-fire deal with the
Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israeli troops withdrew Sunday from Khan
Younis, another city in southern Gaza, ending a key phase of the war. Defense
officials say they’re regrouping ahead of a push into Rafah. Palestinians who
visited Khan Younis on Monday say the city is now unlivable, offering them
little immediate chance to return. Many have been sheltering in Rafah.”



Reuters: Hamas Says Israeli Proposal Is Under Review
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“Hamas said early on Tuesday Israel's proposal that it received from Qatari
and Egyptian mediators did not meet any of the demands of Palestinian factions.
However, the group added in a statement it would study the proposal, which it
described as “intransigent”, and deliver its response to the mediators. A Hamas
official told Reuters on Monday that the group has rejected the Israeli
ceasefire proposal made at talks in Cairo, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah, Gaza's last refuge for
displaced Palestinians. Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt on Sunday for
talks that included Qatari and Egyptian mediators as well as CIA Director
William Burns. Burn's presence underlined rising pressure from Israel's main
ally the U.S. for a deal that would free Israeli hostages held in Gaza and get
aid to Palestinian civilians left destitute by six months of conflict. But
senior Hamas official Ali Baraka told Reuters: "We reject the latest Israeli
proposals that the Egyptian side informed us of. The politburo met today and
decided this."”



Bloomberg: Israeli Officials Express Optimism Over Cease-Fire Talks With Hamas
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“Senior Israeli officials said progress has been made in negotiations for a
cease-fire in Gaza that would include the release of hostages and Palestinian
prisoners, a move that drew criticism from far-right ministers who threatened
to bring down the government. “We’ve reached a critical point,” Foreign
Minister Israel Katz told Army Radio on Monday. “If matters work out, a large
number of hostages will return home and then, in stages, everyone. But remember
that we are dealing with Hamas and there is not a lot of time. I am more
optimistic than I was.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told military recruits
that progress in the war has allowed Israel “to make difficult decisions to
return the hostages. I think we are at an appropriate point.” The comments were
the most positive in months from top officials on the talks between Israel and
Hamas, which have been mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar. Just last week,
Israeli officials said large gaps remained between the two sides, with the
Iran-backed militant group demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops
from Gaza before any hostages would be freed.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Several Al-Shabaab Militants Killed In Somalia
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“Security forces in Somalia have killed several Al-Shabaab militants in
central regions, authorities said, making a significant comeback in the fight
against the group which had intensified attacks throughout the holy month of
Ramadan. According to reports, the security teams mobilized against Al-Shabaab
in the Barag Garguurte area just near Harardhere in Mudug, before waging an
airstrike. It not clear who fired the drone strike but the US Africa Command
usually conducts aerial bombardments against the group. The airstrike hit the
remote village which is exactly 20 kilometers from Harardhere, a town that is
frequently under Al-Shabaab attacks. The town was recently retaken by the
militants after Somali National Army withdrew from the area. A statement from
the federal government confirmed the airstrike on Monday, noting that the
militants had been gathering within the area potentially to plan an attack
against security forces and innocent civilians in the region.”



Germany



Bloomberg: Musk Magnifies Focus On Extremist Who Used Banned Nazi Slogan
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“Just months after enduring a firestorm over anti-Semitism, Elon Musk
appeared to be courting another one when he amplified comments from a
right-wing German extremist on the social media platform he owns. Bjoern
Hoecke, an influential regional figure in the far-right Alternative for Germany
(AfD) party, wrote a post to Musk’s X over the weekend in which he complained
he was being tried for using a proscribed Nazi slogan. “What did you say?”
asked Musk in reaction to Hoecke’s tweet which was — unusually for the
politician — formulated in English. According to prosecutors, the AfD’s leader
in the East German state of Thuringia had at a 2021 campaign event used a
slogan associated with the military arm of the Nazi dictatorship, which is
illegal under German law. The former history teacher has long courted
controversy for views deemed too extreme even by some in his own party. As
recently as 2019 a German court judged that describing Hoecke as a fascist
could not be ruled libelous. “Why is that illegal?” Musk asked, in a follow-up
to the politician’s post.”



Europe



Reuters: Spain's Top Court Summons Catalan Separatist Leader To Testify
Remotely In Terrorism Case
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“Spain's Supreme Court has summoned Catalan separatist leader Carles
Puigdemont to testify remotely in June over his links to a group accused of
breaching terrorism law over protests following the region's failed 2017 bid
for independence. The investigating magistrate set tentative dates for the
remote hearing between June 17 and 21 and issued a European Investigation Order
to ascertain Puigdemont's whereabouts and legal address, the court said in a
statement on Monday. Puigdemont lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium. The
case concerns protests by a secretive Catalan group, Democratic Tsunami, which
organised mass demonstrations including sit-ins in 2019 that caused
cancellations of flights at Barcelona's airport and blocked a highway to
France. The group, which does not identify its leaders, says its actions were
peaceful and the use of terrorism legislation is inappropriate. Puigdemont
denies having any links to the group, and calls the case an example of
political persecution. The court issued the same summons for Ruben Wagensberg,
a member of Catalonia's regional parliament for separatist party ERC who moved
to Switzerland in January.”



Associated Press: Nicaragua Urges Top UN Court To Halt German Military Aid To
Israel Because Of Its Assault In Gaza
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“Nicaragua called on the United Nations’ top court on Monday to halt German
military aid to Israel, arguing that Berlin’s support enables acts of genocide
and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza The case at the
International Court of Justice is against Germany, which is the second-largest
supplier of arms to Israel after the U.S., but it also indirectly takes aim at
Israel’s 6-month-old military campaign, which has left tens of thousands of
Palestinians dead and devastated Gaza. Nicaragua’s allegations represent the
latest legal attempt by a country with historic ties to the Palestinian people
to stop Israel’s offensive, after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at
the court late last year. They also come amid growing calls for Israel’s allies
to stop supplying the country with weapons — and as some supporters, including
Germany, have grown more critical of the war. Nicaragua’s Ambassador to the
Netherlands, Carlos José Argüello Gómez, told the 16-judge panel that “Germany
is failing to honor its own obligation to prevent genocide or to ensure respect
of international humanitarian law.””



Associated Press: EU Red Sea Navy Mission Commander Hopes For More Ships To
Repel Houthi Attacks
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“The commander of a European Union naval mission in the Red Sea wants to
significantly increase its size to better defend against possible attacks by
Houthi rebels based in Yemen, as just four warships are patrolling an area
twice the size of the 27-nation bloc. The EU mission — dubbed Aspides, from the
Greek for “shield” — has escorted 68 ships and repelled 11 attacks since it was
established less than two months ago. It only defends civilian vessels and does
not take part in any military strikes. The southern part of the Red Sea is
deemed a high-risk zone. “Just a single transit of one of our ships between the
two larger distances to the area might take about 10 days, and also to cross
the high-risk area takes almost two days,” Greek navy Rear Admiral Vasilios
Gryparis, the commander of the mission, told reporters in Brussels on Monday.
He said the high-risk zone “has seen multiple attacks in the past months”
ranging from threats and intimidation to “complex attacks” using “shore, air
and sea-based assets, drones and ballistic missiles.” No one has been hurt.”



China



Reuters: Russia, China To Talk About Deeper Security Co-Operation In Eurasia,
Lavrov Says
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“Russia and China have agreed to discuss ways to deepen security co-operation
across Europe and Asia to counter attempts by the United States to impose its
will on the region, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday after talks
in Beijing. China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February
2022 when President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent
tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in
Europe since World War Two. Lavrov, after talks with Chinese counterpart Wang
Yi, said that Putin had suggested strengthening Eurasian security and that
China and Russia had agreed to "start a dialogue with the involvement of our
other like-minded people on this issue". "For a long time, there was a
Euro-Atlantic security structure in the form of NATO, of course, as well as the
OSCE, but it is striking itself out from the list of relevant structures within
which it is possible to conduct meaningful negotiations and agree on something
based on a balance of interests," Lavrov said.”



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