Aid, Bombs and Uranium

Sunday night, 20 people were wounded and one killed from an explosion in Hussein Square, Cairo. The terrorists attack was in a popular tourist area of the city, the victim killed was a 17-year-old French girl apart of a group trip. Five suspects were detained- three men and two women. The attacks came at a point of growing escalation with the recent tensions in Gaza between Israelis and Palestinians (New York Times 22 February 2009). No one has claimed responsibility for the event, but it is likely that the attack was not by a purely Egyptian group- maybe affiliated with Al Queda or sympathizer with the global terror network. The tourism sector is a direct blow to the state because it is where most of its revenue and employment are from (Al Jazeera 23 February 2009).

BBC reported that Iran plans to test its Bushehr nuclear reactor on Wednesday. The Iranian government claims it has entirely peaceful intentions for testing and there will be no nuclear fuel added for the testing.

In the recent Israeli elections, the Kadima party narrowly beat out the Likud party led by Tzipi Livni. Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Kadima party has six weeks to form a coalition government. The Labor party disagreed to Netanyahu's invitation to join the coalition. It's leader, Ehud Barak and Livni both said they would rather "head into opposition before legitimizing a government that includes elements of the far right" (New York Times 24 February 2009).

Talks led by Egypt to broker a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel have been put on hold after the current prime minister, Ehud Olmert, suspended a senior official in the Defense Ministry (New York Times 23 February 2009). Amnesty International accused Israel and Hamas of misusing foreign-supplied (mostly from the US) weapons to kill civilians in the recent 22-day war over Gaza. The statement was ignored by both Hamas and Israel, and obviously the US, who was asked to suspend military aid to Israel (New York Times 23 February 2009).

Haaretz reported that the US relationship with Israel is "special" and will "remain strong." The State Department pledged $900 million in humanitarian aid relief that will not be funneled directly to the Hamas administration because it is suspected to be a terrorist-sympathizing government. The US recognizes the Abbas- led government in the West Bank who often receives aid from the Us, who led directly deposits aid into Gazans' accounts. US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is planned to have a permanent office in Jerusalem.