July 28, 2020

Daily News Brief

July 28, 2020

Top of the Agenda

Israel, Hezbollah Clash Over Alleged Border Incursion

Israel’s military accused Lebanon’s Hezbollah of launching a raid (Al Jazeera) across the countries’ shared border, prompting Israeli forces to open fire. Hezbollah denied the infiltration, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the group is “playing with fire” (WaPo).

The conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah erupted after the group said it would avenge one of its fighters (Times of Israel) allegedly killed by an Israeli air strike last week. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon is working to de-escalate tensions. Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab accused Israel (Times of Israel) of violating a UN resolution with a “dangerous military escalation.”

Analysis

“[The United States has] always had a strong relationship with Israel, [and] I think we have to sustain that. They do continue to be under threat. Hezbollah has tens of thousands of missiles there in Lebanon and essentially can reach any part of Israel at this point,” CFR President Richard N. Haass said in a CFR virtual meeting with Robert M. Gates.

“[Hezbollah] denied that they did anything this time round and therefore they reserve the right—and even have an obligation—to respond in the future,” the American University of Beirut’s Karim Makdissi told Al Jazeera. “They’ve gotten good at this brand of psychological warfare—saying to the Israelis that they should wait, with the knowledge that a response will eventually come.”

This CFR Backgrounder explains Hezbollah.

Pacific Rim

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Convicted of Corruption

A Malaysian High Court judge found former Prime Minister Najib Razak guilty of abuse of power (Straits Times), criminal breach of trust, and money laundering in connection with a scandal involving state-owned wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The court handed Najib a twelve-year jail sentence in the first of his five trials related to 1MDB.

North Korea: Leader Kim Jong-un called North Korea’s nuclear weapons a “reliable, effective” way to prevent future wars (AP), signaling that Pyongyang is unlikely to resume nuclear talks with Washington anytime soon.

This CFR timeline chronicles the history of nuclear negotiations with North Korea.

South and Central Asia

China Threatens India for Banning Mobile Apps

China rebuked India (Mint) for banning another group of Chinese mobile applications. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said China would enact countermeasures to safeguard its companies’ interests. India banned fifty-nine Chinese apps, including popular video-sharing platform TikTok, last month. 

Pakistan: Ahead of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s most important festivals, Pakistani officials urged citizens (Reuters) to purchase sacrificial animals online or while wearing masks. They worry preparations for the holiday could cause an uptick in coronavirus cases, which are declining.

Middle East and North Africa

Iraqi Officials Investigate Protester Deaths

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi demanded an investigation (Al-Monitor) into the deaths of two protesters killed Sunday during demonstrations in Baghdad over electricity shortages. Security forces reportedly fired live ammunition (Reuters) during the protests. Kadhimi demanded that the inquiry’s findings be released within seventy-two hours.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Zimbabwean Officials Threaten to Eject U.S. Ambassador

Zimbabwe’s ruling party threatened to expel the U.S. ambassador (CBS) if he continues “mobilizing and funding disturbances, coordinating violence, and training insurgency.” The threat comes days before planned anti-government protests that Zimbabwean officials have accused Western governments of supporting.

Mali: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) unveiled a plan (Al Jazeera) to resolve Mali’s political crisis, calling for respect for the country’s constitution, the resignations of over thirty lawmakers, and an investigation into recent protester deaths. The group called for the plan to be implemented within ten days and could sanction those who oppose resolving the crisis.

Europe

U.S., Russia Launch New Round of Arms Control Talks

U.S. and Russian officials will resume discussions (RFE/RL) on nuclear arms control after wrapping up talks on space security yesterday. The countries are working to replace the New START Treaty, which limits their use of long-range nuclear warheads and is set to expire in February.

CFR’s Brian L. Sittlow discusses the New START Treaty.

Malta: Maltese authorities rescued ninety-five migrants (NYT), reportedly from Eritrea, from a dinghy in the Mediterranean Sea after delaying the rescue for more than thirty hours, sparking criticism from activists and nongovernmental groups.

Americas

Analysts: Mexico’s Economy to Shrink by Historic Margin

Mexico’s seasonally adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) could drop nearly 18 percent in the second quarter of 2020, according to analysts surveyed by Reuters, after coronavirus control measures hamstrung the country’s economy. The Mexican economy has not seen such a plunge since 1993.

Peru: Since mid-March, more than nine hundred women and girls have gone missing and are feared dead, authorities announced (MercoPress). Authorities say coronavirus-related lockdowns have escalated already-rampant violence against women in the country.

CFR’s Caroline Bettinger-Lopez and Alexandra Bro look at domestic violence in the age of coronavirus.

United States

City, Federal Officials Clash Over Protest Response

The Donald J. Trump administration began sending more federal forces (WaPo) to Portland, Oregon, in a bid to quell protests over police brutality. Democratic mayors, including Portland’s, called on Congress (BBC) to prevent such deployments to their cities, calling them illegal. Attorney General William Barr is expected to defend the administration’s crackdown (NYT) on protests today.

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