Israel’s Governing Coalition Announces Plan for New Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced that they plan to dissolve parliament (Times of Israel) and trigger new elections. It will be Israel’s fifth vote in less than four years.

Bennett and Lapid’s ideologically diverse coalition struggled to pass legislation (NYT) in recent weeks after losing its parliamentary majority in April. The eight-party coalition was formed in June 2021 and included the first Arab party to join an Israeli coalition. Lapid will serve as interim prime minister until new elections, which are expected to occur in the fall. Polls suggested that although former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party could be the largest in a new parliament, its allies will likely struggle to form a majority.

Analysis

“If the coalition does collapse, Israel will have nonetheless demonstrated that it can be governed through low-drama, pragmatic compromise and respectful disagreement, and that it is capable of setting a course toward better foreign relations,” Century International’s Dahlia Scheindlin writes for Foreign Affairs.

“Israeli society is exhausted. Its polity is fragmented, and the right, which Netanyahu still claims to lead, is splintered by infighting over ideological purity,” journalist Noga Tarnopolsky writes for the Atlantic Council.

Pacific Rim

China’s Chip Industry Is World’s Fastest Growing Despite U.S. Sanctions

Nineteen of the world’s twenty fastest-growing firms in the semiconductor industry over the past four quarters are from China, Bloomberg reported.

The Why It Matters podcast examined the importance of chips to the global economy, innovation, and security.

South Korea: The country successfully fired (Nikkei) its first domestically developed rocket into space eight months after the first launch failed. The launch is part of South Korea’s effort to establish an independent space program.

South and Central Asia

Sri Lankan Cabinet Approves Amendment to Limit Presidential Powers

Two-thirds of Parliament must approve the bill (Daily Mirror) for it to pass. It would give Parliament greater ability to check the president’s power.

Bangladesh/India: Over the past week, dozens of people have died (CNN) in landslides, flash floods, and lightning strikes across the two countries.

Middle East and North Africa

Report: Shot That Killed Palestinian-American Journalist Came From Approximate Location of Israeli Convoy

The New York Times investigation also found that there were no armed Palestinians near Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh when she was shot last month while covering an Israeli military operation.

Sub-Saharan Africa

East African Community Orders Troops to DRC

The regional force was ordered to stabilize (East African) the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the March 23 Movement (M23) militia group has recently resurged (AFP).

For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s Michelle Gavin looks at the East African Community’s challenges in the DRC.

Mali: The government said armed jihadi rebels killed 132 civilians (AP) in central Mali over the weekend.

Europe

European Commission Warns Against Fossil Fuel ‘Backsliding’ Amid Push for Non-Russian Energy

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said governments need to remain focused (FT) on investing in renewable energy after Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands signaled they would restart coal-fired power plants.

For Foreign Affairs, Jason Bordoff and Meghan L. O’Sullivan discuss how governments could transform energy markets in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Lithuania/Russia: Russia threatened to retaliate (BBC) after Lithuania blocked some goods from reaching the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which sits hundreds of miles west of the rest of the country between Lithuania and Poland.

Americas

Former Honduran Military Official Sentenced for Murder of Environmental Activist

Roberto David Castillo was sentenced to twenty-two years (The Guardian) in prison for ordering and planning the 2016 murder of environmentalist Berta Caceres, who opposed a dam being built by his company.

Brazil: The CEO of state oil company Petrobras resigned amid pressure (Brazilian Report) from politicians to control rising gas prices.

United States

Report: Uvalde Police Waited in School With Rifles For Nearly an Hour During Shooting

The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE are due to present new documentation (AP) of this information to the Texas State Senate today. The report comes amid criticism of law enforcement’s response to the May 24 mass shooting in an elementary school that killed nineteen children and two teachers.

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