2021.11.08 國際新聞導讀-伊朗在波斯灣沿岸進行軍事演習展示力量、11月29日伊朗回核武談判桌、衣索比亞內戰面臨首都保衛戰、摩洛哥向以色列購買鐵芎系統抵禦西撒哈拉獨立運動攻擊、伊拉克國會大選後卡迪米總理面臨不確定因素，卡達米昨日遭到自殺式無人機攻擊暗殺但沒有得逞

蘇老師講解國際新聞、中東與中亞歷史、中國事務、太空知識的頻道。 Diplomat's daily news review and history research on Middle East and Central Asia, China Affairs and Space Exploration

2021.11.08 國際新聞導讀-伊朗在波斯灣沿岸進行軍事演習展示力量、11月29日伊朗回核武談判桌、衣索比亞內戰面臨首都保衛戰、摩洛哥向以色列購買鐵芎系統抵禦西撒哈拉獨立運動攻擊、伊拉克國會大選後卡迪米總理面臨不確定因素，卡達米昨日遭到自殺式無人機攻擊暗殺但沒有得逞
伊拉克總理逃過刺殺 仍面臨不確定未來
黃啟霖採訪
2021年11月7日 週日 下午3:38·3 分鐘 (閱讀時間)
伊拉克總理哈德米(Mustafa al- Kadhimi)今天(7日)遭到無人機暗殺攻擊，所幸安然無恙，逃過一劫。然而，在上個月的國會大選之後，他正面臨不確定的未來。
反海珊的記者 成情報局局長
哈德米1967年出生於巴格達，在伊拉克研讀法律，後來為躲避伊拉克前獨裁者海珊(Saddam Hussein)的高壓統治，前往歐洲並擔任反對派記者。
在2003年美國為首聯軍入侵伊拉克推翻海珊之後，哈德米返國，協助成立伊拉克媒體網(Iraqi Media Network)、在伊拉克回顧基金會(Iraq Foundation Memory)收集前政權所犯罪行檔案，並作為一名人權倡議者。
在2016年伊拉克對抗恐怖組織伊斯蘭國(Islamic State)的緊要時刻，他獲得當時總理阿巴迪(Haider al-Abadi)拔擢，任命為伊拉克國家情報局(National Intelligence Service，INIS)局長。
長袖善舞 與各國打好關係
根據親近哈德米的人士表示，哈德米在擔任情報局長期間，與包括華府、倫敦和中東地區各主要國家的重要人物，都建立了密切的聯繫。
一位政治消息人士向法新社表示，哈德米心態務實，與伊拉克舞台上的主要人物都建立關係，跟美國也有良好關係，而且最近又將伊朗關係拉回正軌。
此外，哈德米也和沙烏地阿拉伯王儲薩爾曼親王(Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman)建立了特別密切的關係。
有一段影片顯示，哈德米在獲任命為總理後曾訪問沙國，受到沙烏地王儲的熱烈擁抱歡迎。
2020年1月，伊朗聖城部隊(Quds Force)指揮官蘇雷曼尼(Qassem Soleimani)和伊拉克民兵組織「人民動員」(Hashed al-Shaabi)次長穆罕迪斯(Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis)，在巴格達(Baghdad)遭到美國無人機刺殺，一些曾經反對哈德米接任總理的政治人物，指控哈德米涉及此案。
儘管如此，哈德米仍然透過當時伊拉克看守總理馬蒂(Adel Abdul Mahdi)具影響力的幕僚長哈希米(Mohammad al-Hashemi)，與伊朗及其在伊拉克的盟友修復了關係。
由於善用親伊朗的泛什葉派系，令哈德米與什葉派達成廣泛的共識，也讓他擁有比前兩任總理更好的機會。
伊拉克問題重重 哈德米面臨連串挑戰
然而，哈德米目前正面臨一連串挑戰，從伊拉克衰退的經濟到2019年冠狀病毒疾病(COVID-19)疫情。
為了回應民眾對貪污、失業和公共服務崩壞的反政府示威，哈德米將原定2022年舉行的國會大選提前到今年10月10日。
然而，這次大選的投票率只有41%，比2018年的歷史低點44.5%還要低，顯示伊拉克民眾越來越不信任政治領袖，不信任官方的改革承諾，也不信任2003年以美國為首聯軍入侵後帶來的民主體制。
大選結果只顯示，哈德米正面臨一個不確定的未來。
倫敦政治經濟學院(London School of Economics and Political Science)中東中心(Middle East Centre)主任道吉(Toby Dodge)表示，「哈德米是一位出色的談判者，也是一位非常精明的人物。」
不過，「伊拉克已經時日無多，而且賭注已經大幅拉高。」
伊拉克選後轉運希望渺茫 人民起義一場空
· 伊拉克大選
· 十月起義
· 時間：2021-10-10 22:00
· 新聞引據：中央社
· 撰稿編輯：新聞編輯
·
伊拉克10日提前舉行大選。(美聯社 / 達志影像)
伊拉克兩年前「十月起義」催生今天(10日)提前大選。分析預期，2003年後掌權的體制內精英會再度勝出；出身抗議浪潮的改革之士會繼續做政治局外人。伊拉克未來轉運希望渺茫。
2019年10至12月巴格達和南部城巿爆示威潮，為2003年美國為首西方聯軍入侵、推翻遜尼派暴君海珊(Saddam Hussein)政權以來，伊拉克最大規模抗爭。那場十月起義(Tishreen uprising)造成逾600人喪生，迫使前總理馬帝(Adil Abdul-Mahdi)辭職下台，國會也迅速通過新選舉法，承諾提前大選。
新選舉法將全國18個省劃分為83選區，此前每個省分別是一個獨立選區；並且一改過去類似「比例代表制」的選制，選民現在可以直接選人，把更具區域代表性的人選送進國會；同時分配女性名額，使得每個選區至少必須選出一名女議員。
今天的提前大選是海珊遭到推翻以來伊拉克第5場國會選舉。十月起義顯然已經推動巴格達政壇進行漸進式改革，但分析認為，選後伊拉克發生重大變化的可能性不高。
美國加州州立大學聖馬可分校(California State University San Marcos)中東史副教授馬拉希(Ibrahim al-Marashi)在獨立新聞媒體「中東之眼」(Middle East Eye)撰文指出，儘管部分抗議人士投身選戰，卻群龍無首，彼此無法結盟，甚至因為內部歧見而四分五裂。
馬拉希指出：「2003年後民族和宗教派系政黨精英很可能再度勝出。」但是恐怕沒有政黨在329席國會中過半，意味必須組成聯合政府。
2018年選後在國會分居一、二的什葉派教士薩德(Muqtada al-Sadr)的聯盟、與伊朗關係密切政治組織和軍事團體領導人阿米力(Hadi Al-Amiri)的聯盟，以及選後分別會與他們結盟的政治勢力，都會尋求繼續在政壇占有一席之地。這意味組成政府過程恐怕會相當冗長。
去年5月就任的總理哈德米(Mustafa al-Kadhimi)沒有自己的選舉聯盟。馬拉希認為，由於薩德主義者沒有眾望所歸的總理人選，可能會讓哈德米續任。
「然而，(過去一段時間)即使薩德主義者掌控國會而且由技術官僚內閣治國，哈德米還是無法改善伊拉克貪腐、失業、公共服務崩壞、民兵組織鎖定社運人士導致社會不安等問題。」馬拉希指出：「因此，伊拉克未來轉運希望渺茫。」
今天的大選本來應該是一場公民投票，選民將在自2003年掌權迄今、尋求維持現狀的體制內政治精英，以及出身抗議浪潮、尋求改革體制的政治局外人之間，作出抉擇。
十月起義本來似乎有催生一個跨民族、跨教派聯盟，動員伊斯蘭教什葉派、遜尼派和庫德族人的潛在可能性。然而，這次選舉結果將會證明，如此團結一致的伊拉克於2003年以後已不可企及。
伊朗是無人機襲擊伊拉克總理的幕後黑手嗎？- 分析
對伊拉克總理的襲擊是無人機戰爭的又一步，也是伊拉克親伊朗團體發出的信息，即總理不安全。
作者：SETH J. FRANZMAN
發佈時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 10:12
更新時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 16:33
2021 年 11 月 6 日，伊拉克什葉派武裝團體的支持者在反對選舉結果的抗議活動中焚燒了總理穆斯塔法·卡德米 (Mustafa al-Kadhemi) 和伊拉克安全官員的肖像。
（圖片來源：REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI）
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週日有報導稱，伊拉克總理穆斯塔法·卡迪米（Mustafa Al-Kadhimi）的住所遭到無人機襲擊，這標誌著該地區局勢的重大升級。
它代表了越來越多地使用無人駕駛飛行器，主要是由伊朗支持的團體在整個中東散佈恐怖活動。它還代表越來越多地使用無人機作為戰略武器，在這種情況下，目的是在安全部隊與親伊朗抗議者發生衝突幾天后恐嚇伊拉克總理。
這次襲擊很可能是親伊朗的民兵組織的，因為伊拉克可能沒有其他罪犯擁有可以或將要襲擊伊拉克總理的無人機。
雖然 ISIS 過去曾使用過無人機，但目前尚不清楚為什麼它們現在會突然出現以針對這位伊拉克領導人，這讓伊朗支持的組織牢牢鎖定在框架內。
雖然官方報告尚未具體說明襲擊背後的組織是什麼，也沒有人對此負責，但該地區此類襲擊的趨勢指向與伊朗有關聯的組織。
10 月，一架無人機被用來襲擊敘利亞坦夫的美國駐軍。7 月，一架無人機在阿曼灣被用來襲擊一艘商業油輪，造成兩名船員死亡。在這兩種情況下，美國和其他國家都將矛頭指向伊朗。
5 月，一架無人機從伊拉克或可能從敘利亞發射，在與哈馬斯的 11 天戰爭期間瞄準以色列。據信，伊朗也是這次襲擊的幕後黑手。
2021 年 11 月 7 日，伊拉克總理穆斯塔法·卡迪米（Mustafa Al-Kadhimi）在無人機襲擊伊拉克巴格達的住所後向全國發表講話，該靜止圖像是從視頻中獲得的。（來源：AL-IRAQIYA/REUTERS TV/VIA REUTERS）
多年來，伊朗一直在製造更先進的無人機，用於監視和神風式攻擊。無人機在導航和預先編程的飛行路徑，甚至實時情報收集方面變得更好。他們以一艘移動的船為目標的事實清楚地表明了這一點。
對卡迪米住所的襲擊也可能是伊拉克親伊朗團體發出的信息，即總理不能倖免。
據報導，伊拉克武裝部隊宣布開始調查，以發現以卡迪米為目標的誘殺無人機的發射地點。圖像顯示房屋受損，但尚不清楚是否發現了無人機碎片，將設計與任何單個國家或實體聯繫起來。
親伊朗團體——包括也門的真主黨、哈馬斯和胡塞武裝——使用無人機的原因之一是，一旦發射，就很難追踪他們的發射場並知道誰在背後支持他們。
以色列過去曾指責伊朗建立無人機培訓中心。來自伊朗的無人機和來自伊朗的技術是幫助胡塞攻擊沙特阿拉伯的關鍵。
自 1 月以來，伊拉克的親伊朗民兵越來越多地使用無人機瞄準美軍。這種情況甚至發生在埃爾比勒，親伊朗的民兵在 2021 年春天使用無人機瞄準美國媒體當時稱之為埃爾比勒機場的中央情報局機庫。親伊朗組織已經用無人機進行了遊行。
但是，用於攻擊伊拉克總理的無人機可能比一些神風無人機小，後者往往比人類大。
定位部分設備很重要，但伊拉克安全部門可能不會斷定伊朗或其任何代理組織是這次襲擊的幕後黑手。
被推薦
為什麼？因為在之前伊拉克總理對從事非法襲擊的親伊朗團體採取行動的事件中，他們成功地釋放了被監禁的成員。
現在，與議會中的法塔赫黨和準軍事組織 Hashd al-Shaabi 關係最密切的團體一直在靜坐，要求推翻最近的選舉結果。這種選舉抗議旨在加劇緊張局勢並向總理施壓。
伊拉克政府面臨的問題是，民兵往往與官方准軍事部隊聯繫在一起，因為伊拉克前總理海德爾·阿巴迪（Haider Abadi）推動賦予民兵合法的作用。
2014 年，民兵在一些現有親伊朗部隊的基礎上獲得了更大的權力，以打擊伊斯蘭國，但在對伊斯蘭國的戰爭結束後，民兵拒絕回家，而得到美國支持的阿巴迪賦予民兵權力。
他們很快開始接管敘利亞的阿爾布卡邁勒邊境地區，毗鄰伊拉克的 Al-Qaim，並將武器從伊朗輸送到真主黨。他們成為空襲的目標，其中一些是美國為報復他們的襲擊而實施的。
Is Iran behind the drone attack against Iraqi PM? - analysis
The attack on Iraq’s Prime Minister is another step in drone warfare and is a message by pro-Iran groups in Iraq that the prime minister is not safe.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 10:12
Updated: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 16:33
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite armed groups burn portraits of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi and Iraq security officials during a protest against the election results near the one of the fortified Green Zone entrances in Baghdad, Iraq, November 6, 2021.
(photo credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)
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Reports on Sunday of a drone attack on the home of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi represent a major escalation in the region.
It represents the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles, primarily by Iranian-backed groups, to spread terror throughout the Middle East. It also represents the increased use of drones as a strategic weapon, in this case, with the goal of intimidating the Iraqi prime minister just days after security forces clashed with pro-Iranian protesters.
It’s likely that the attack was carried out by pro-Iranian militias as there are probably no other culprits in Iraq who have drones that could or would attack the Iraqi prime minister.
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While ISIS has used drones in the past, it’s not clear why they would suddenly emerge now to target the Iraqi leader and that leaves Iran-backed groups firmly in the frame.
While official reports have not yet specified what group was behind the attack and no one has yet taken responsibility for it, the trend of such attacks in the region points to Iranian-linked groups.
A drone was used to attack a
US garrison
at Tanf in Syria in October. In July, a drone was used to attack a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman, killing two crew members. In both instances, the US and other countries have pointed the finger at Iran.
In May, a drone was launched from Iraq, or possibly from Syria, targeting Israel during the 11-day war with Hamas. It is believed that Iran was also behind this attack.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi addresses the nation following a drone strike targeted his residence in Baghdad, Iraq November 7, 2021 in this still image obtained from a video. (credit: AL-IRAQIYA/REUTERS TV/VIA REUTERS)
For years, Iran has been building more sophisticated drones for surveillance and kamikaze-style attacks. The drones have become better at navigation and pre-programmed flight paths, or even real-time intelligence gathering. The fact they have targeted a moving ship is a clear indication of this.
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An attack on the residence of Kadhimi is also a likely message by pro-Iran groups in Iraq that the prime minister is not immune.
Iraqi armed forces announced the start of investigations to discover the location of the launch of the booby-trapped drone that targeted Kadhimi, according to reports. Images showed the damage to the home, but it is unclear if drone fragments had been found that would link the design to any single country or entity.
One of the reasons pro-Iran groups — including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen — use drones, is that it is difficult to trace their launch site and to know who is behind them once they are launched.
Israel has, in the past, accused Iran of creating a drone training center. Drones from Iran and technology from Iran have been key to aiding Houthi efforts to attack Saudi Arabia.
Since January, the pro-Iran militias in Iraq have increasingly used drones to target US forces. This has occurred even in Erbil where the pro-Iran militias used a drone in the spring of 2021 to target what US media called, at the time, a CIA hangar at Erbil airport. Pro-Iran groups have done parades with drones.
But, the kind of drone used to attack the Iraqi premier may be smaller than some of the kamikaze drones, which tend to be larger than a human.
Locating parts of the equipment will be important, but Iraq’s security services may be reticent to conclude that Iran or any of its proxy groups were behind the attack.
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Why? Because in previous incidents where Iraq’s prime minister has acted against pro-Iranian groups engaged in illegal attacks, they succeeded in freeing their jailed members as a result.
Now, the groups, most linked to the Fatah party in parliament and the paramilitary Hashd al-Shaabi, have been conducting a sit-in to demand the overturn of recent election results. This kind of election protest is designed to raise tensions and pressure the prime minister.
The problem that Iraq’s government is facing is that the militias are often tied to official paramilitary forces because former Iraqi prime minister, Haider Abadi, pushed to give the militias a legitimate role.
The militias were given increased power in 2014, based on some existing pro-Iran units, to fight ISIS but after the war on ISIS ended, the militias refused to go home and Abadi, who was backed by the US, empowered the militias.
They soon began taking over the border area of Albukamal in Syria, next to Iraq’s Al-Qaim, and funneling weapons from Iran to Hezbollah. They have been targeted by airstrikes, several of which were carried out by the US in retaliation for their attacks.
伊朗在波斯灣口舉行軍演
· 伊朗核協議
· 制裁伊朗
· 伊朗軍演
· 時間：2021-11-07 20:43
· 新聞引據：採訪、路透社
· 撰稿編輯：黃啟霖
·
伊朗軍方在阿曼灣伊朗沿岸舉行年度軍事演習。(AP/達志影像)
伊朗國營電視台報導，伊朗軍方今天(7日)在波斯灣口附近舉行年度軍事演習，目前距離伊朗與國際列強恢復會談，以挽救伊朗核子協議，只有幾個星期。
這項「佐爾法卡-1400(Zolfaqar-1400)」軍演的發言人、海軍上將穆沙維(Mahmoud Mousavi)向伊朗國營電視台表示，「這項在阿曼灣(the Gulf of Oman)伊朗沿岸的軍事演習，在展示伊朗的軍事力量以及我們和敵人對抗的準備。」
報導指出，這項軍演涵蓋的範圍，從荷莫兹海峽(Strait of Hormuz)東部到印度洋北部和部分紅海。全球消費的石油中，大約五分之一是經由荷莫兹海峽運送，而這處海峽就位在波斯灣和阿曼灣之間。
美國前總統川普(Donald Trump)在2018年5月，退出伊朗和國際六強在2015年簽署的伊朗核子協議，並恢復對伊朗的經濟制裁，也導致伊朗從事違反協議規定的核子活動。從此之後，伊朗軍方和美國部隊就經常在灣區對立。
伊朗核子談判代表巴格瑞卡尼(Ali Bagheri Kani)在3日表示，伊朗將在這個月29日恢復與世界強國的談判，以挽救2015年核子協議。
摩洛哥有意購買以色列的鐵穹
國防工業消息人士稱，這樣的交易“不太可能”。
作者：安娜·阿羅海姆
發佈時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 11:57
更新時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 19:09
鐵穹
（圖片來源：國防部發言人辦公室）
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摩洛哥有興趣購買以色列的鐵穹頂以抵禦空中威脅，國防消息人士告訴耶路撒冷郵報不太可能很快簽署這項協議。
據法語Le Desk新聞網站報導，拉巴特已表示對拉斐爾先進防禦系統公司生產的用於攔截迫擊砲彈、火箭和無人機的系統感興趣。
報告稱，該系統“將確保更好地防禦撒哈拉沙漠的沙牆，以及敏感的民用和軍事區域”。
摩洛哥於 1980 年代在其南部省份建造了 2,700 公里長的城牆，以保衛該國免受阿爾及利亞支持的激進組織波利薩里奧（Polisario）的侵害，該組織一直在為從拉巴特獨立而戰。
這堵牆是用佈滿地雷的沙子建造的，它的高度各不相同，但很少超過三米。
2021 年 8 月 11 日，外交部長 Yair Lapid 與摩洛哥外交部長 Nasser Bourita 在摩洛哥拉巴特外交部。（圖片來源：SHLOMI AMSALEM/GPO）
波利薩里奧陣線尋求西撒哈拉的完全獨立，並於 11 月宣布 1991 年停火“無效”，因為摩洛哥軍隊打破了通往毛里塔尼亞的高速公路封鎖，該組織稱該封鎖違反了停火協議。
最近與阿爾及利亞的緊張局勢升級，該國於 8 月以摩洛哥的“敵對行動”為由斷絕了外交關係，後者否認了這些指控。
Iron Dome 可攜帶 24 磅炸藥，可以攔截 4 到 70 公里外來襲的砲彈。它可以計算火箭是否會落在空曠地區或平民中心，從而選擇是否攔截它們。
Iron Dome旨在擊落短程火箭，是以色列多層防禦系統不可或缺的組成部分，並已用於以色列與加沙地帶恐怖組織之間的幾場戰爭和數十輪衝突。
但消息人士告訴《華盛頓郵報》，向拉巴特出售這樣的系統“目前不太可能” ，以色列國防部和拉斐爾都沒有對該報導發表任何評論。
除了以色列是世界上唯一一個在作戰層面使用鐵穹的國家外，美國陸軍最近還在太平洋關島部署了兩個電池組，以進一步訓練和改進將在該地區配備的部隊的部署能力。系統。
美國陸軍於 2019 年 8 月從拉斐爾購買了兩塊現成的電池。
也有報導稱，在美國人從沙特拆除薩德和愛國者電池後，沙特阿拉伯對以色列製造的系統感興趣。
但摩洛哥與沙特阿拉伯不同，多年來與以色列保持著密切的經濟、外交和軍事關係，兩國最近根據亞伯拉罕協議與阿拉伯聯合酋長國、巴林和蘇丹重新建立了關係。
外交部長亞伊爾·拉皮德 (Yair Lapid) 於 8 月訪問了摩洛哥，並在拉巴特開啟了該國的使命。在為期兩天的訪問中，拉皮德會見了他的總統納賽爾·布里塔，並向他遞交了艾薩克·赫爾佐格總統的邀請，邀請國王穆罕默德六世訪問以色列。
10 月，《華盛頓郵報》報導稱，隨著兩國關係在去年 12 月關係正常化後加強，國防部長本尼·甘茨 (Benny Gantz) 將訪問北非國家。
儘管日期尚未確定，但據國外報導稱，甘茨將簽署國防合作協議，包括計劃發展國內工業生產遊蕩彈藥——可以在目標上空飛行的無人機。
據《國防新聞》和法國出版物《非洲情報》報導，兩國目前正在開發一個製造無人機的項目，以加強摩洛哥的空中力量。
報告稱，在以色列航空航天工業公司在去年與亞美尼亞的兩個月戰爭期間，在一次銷售宣傳中“強調”了阿塞拜疆廣泛使用該公司的 Harop 自殺式無人機之後，拉巴特開始對使用遊蕩彈藥產生興趣。
據《國土報》報導，以色列和摩洛哥之間的軍事關係主要涉及情報合作和武器貿易。
6 月，一架摩洛哥 C-130 降落在以色列參加國際演習，這是摩洛哥空軍平台首次降落在以色列。
2020 年 1 月，摩洛哥軍隊以 4800 萬美元的價格收到了三架以色列偵察無人機。兩國之間的交易於 2014 年簽署，並通過法國公司達索達成。
Morocco interested in purchasing Israel's Iron Dome
Defense industry sources say such a deal is 'unlikely.'
By ANNA AHRONHEIM
Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 11:57
Updated: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 19:09
Iron Dome
(photo credit: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE)
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Morocco is interested in purchasing Israel’s Iron Dome in order to defend against aerial threats, a deal that defense sources have told The Jerusalem Post is unlikely to be signed any time soon.
According to the French-language Le Desk news site, Rabat has expressed interest in the system produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for intercepting mortar shells, rockets, and drones.
The system “would ensure the better defense of the sand wall in the Sahara, but also of civil and military zones of a sensitive nature,” the report said.
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Morocco
built its 2,700-kilometer wall in its southern provinces in the 1980s in order to defend the country against the Polisario, an Algerian-backed militant group that has been fighting for independence from Rabat.
Built out of sand lined with landmines, the wall’s height varies, but it’s rarely higher than three meters.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at the foreign ministry in Rabat, Morocco, August 11, 2021. (credit: SHLOMI AMSALEM/GPO)
The Polisario front seeks full independence for Western Sahara, and in November declared a 1991 truce as “null and void” after Moroccan forces broke up a blockade of a highway toward Mauritania that the group said had violated the ceasefire agreement.
Tensions have recently risen with Algeria, which broke off diplomatic ties in August citing “hostile actions” by Morocco, which denied the charges.
The Iron Dome carries 24 pounds of explosives and can intercept an incoming projectile from four to 70 kilometers away. It can calculate if rockets will land in open areas, or civilian centers, and thus choose whether to intercept them.
Designed to shoot down short-range rockets, the Iron Dome is an integral component of Israel’s multi-layered defense system, and has been used in several wars and dozens of rounds of conflict between Israel and terror groups in the Gaza Strip.
But the sale of such a system to Rabat is “unlikely at this time,” sources told the Post, and neither Israel’s Defense Ministry nor Rafael had any comment on the report.
Apart from Israel, which is the only country in the world to use the Iron Dome on an operational level, the US Army recently deployed two batteries to the pacific island of Guam to further train and refine the deployment capabilities of troops that will be manning the system.
The US Army purchased the two off-the-shelf batteries from Rafael in August 2019.
There have also been reports that Saudi Arabia was interested in the Israeli-made system, after the Americans removed their THAAD and Patriot batteries from the kingdom.
But Morocco, unlike Saudi Arabia, has had close economic, diplomatic and military ties with Israel for years, and the two countries recently re-established ties under the Abraham Accords along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visited Morocco in August and inaugurated the country’s mission in Rabat. During his two-day visit, Lapid met with his counterpart Nasser Bourita and handed him an invitation from President Isaac Herzog for King Mohammed VI to visit Israel.
In October, the Post reported that Defense Minister Benny Gantz is set to visit the North African state as ties intensify after the two normalized relations last December.
Though no date has yet been set, Gantz will, according to foreign reports, sign defense cooperation deals including plans to develop a domestic industry to produce loitering munitions – drones that can stay airborne over a target.
According to Defense News and French publication Africa Intelligence, the two countries are currently working on the development of a project to manufacture the drones to strengthen Morocco’s air power.
Rabat, the report said, became interested in the use of loitering munitions after Israel Aerospace Industries “highlighted” in a sales pitch the extensive use of the company’s Harop suicide drones by Azerbaijan during the two-month war with Armenia last year.
According to a report in Haaretz, military ties between Israel and Morocco primarily involve intelligence cooperation and trade in arms.
In June, a Moroccan C-130 landed in Israel to take part in an international drill, the first time that a Moroccan air force platform landed in the Jewish State.
In January 2020, the Moroccan army received three Israeli reconnaissance drones in a deal worth $48 million. The deal between the two countries was signed in 2014 and closed via the French company Dassault.
在支持軍事行動的集會上，埃塞俄比亞人譴責美國
一些示威者譴責美國是一場長達一年的戰爭，隨著上週末叛軍的推進，這場已經造成數千人死亡的戰爭愈演愈烈。
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發佈時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 19:46
2021 年 11 月 7 日，在埃塞俄比亞亞的斯亞貝巴的梅斯克爾廣場，平民參加了一場親政府集會，譴責組織者所說的提格雷人民解放陣線 (TPLF) 和西方國家對該國內政的干涉。
（圖片來源：REUTERS / TIKSA NEGERI）
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數以萬計的埃塞俄比亞人周日在亞的斯亞貝巴集會支持總理阿比·艾哈邁德的政府，因為聯邦軍隊正在與威脅要進軍該市的反叛勢力作戰。
一些示威者譴責美國，美國是呼籲停火的外國列強之一，因為上週末叛亂分子的進攻加劇了一場已造成數千人死亡的長達一年的戰爭。
聯合國安理會、非洲聯盟以及肯尼亞和烏干達最近幾天也呼籲停火。
阿比政府已承諾繼續戰鬥。週五，政府表示有責任確保國家安全，並敦促外國勢力與埃塞俄比亞的民主站在一起。
一些聚集在亞的斯亞貝巴市中心梅斯克爾廣場的人披上了國旗。許多人把美國挑出來批評。
2021 年 7 月 10 日，埃塞俄比亞提格雷，村民們從市場返回提格雷中南部的耶奇拉鎮，走過數十輛被燒毀的車輛。（圖片來源：REUTERS/GIULIA PARAVICINI/文件照片）
美國總統喬·拜登 (Joe Biden) 政府週二指責埃塞俄比亞“嚴重侵犯”人權，並表示計劃將該國從《非洲增長與機會法案》(AGOA) 貿易協定中刪除。
“美國真丟臉，”一名示威者的標語上寫著，另一名則說美國應該停止“吸食埃塞俄比亞的血”。
其他示威者對美國要求政府和提格雷人民解放陣線（TPLF）開始談判表示憤怒。
該國北部的衝突始於一年前，當時忠於 TPLF 的部隊佔領了提格雷地區的軍事基地。作為回應，阿比派出軍隊，他們最初將 TPLF 趕出地區首府默克勒，但自今年 6 月以來面臨急劇逆轉。
“為什麼美國政府不與青年黨這樣的恐怖分子談判？” 37 歲的 Tigist Lemma 說，他指的是索馬里一個與基地組織有關聯的激進組織。
“他們想摧毀我們的國家，就像他們對阿富汗所做的那樣。他們永遠不會成功，我們是埃塞俄比亞人。”
亞的斯亞貝巴市長阿達內克·阿比貝在集會上發表講話，援引埃塞俄比亞抵抗殖民勢力的歷史來為這場戰爭辯護。
衝突已造成數千人死亡，超過 200 萬人被迫離開家園，提格雷有40 萬人面臨飢荒。
聯合國人道主義事務協調辦公室表示，聯合國援助負責人馬丁格里菲斯週日前往默克爾，會見了受戰鬥和人道主義合作夥伴影響的婦女。
“（他）與事實上的當局就在其控制的所有地區進行人道主義准入和保護平民的必要性以及對人道主義原則的尊重進行了接觸，”人道協調廳說。
埃塞俄比亞的一位人道主義消息人士和一位知情人士告訴路透社，非盟非洲之角特使奧盧塞貢·奧巴桑喬也在此行。
非盟發言人 Ebba Kalondo 沒有回應置評請求。TPLF 發言人 Getachew Reda 告訴路透社，Griffiths 和 Obasanjo 都訪問了 Mekelle。
政府發言人 Legesse Tulu 沒有回應對官員訪問發表評論的請求。
前線“沒有青年”
在亞的斯亞貝巴集會期間，流行音樂家 Tariku Gankisi 呼籲克制，他的歌曲呼籲所有埃塞俄比亞人團結起來。
“不讓年輕人上前線打架，讓長輩們捧著新鮮的草去求和解。”塔里庫在話筒被關掉之前對眾人說，還不清楚是誰說的。鮮草是該國和平的象徵。
在周二宣布的緊急狀態下，政府可以命令達到入伍年齡的公民接受訓練並接受軍事任務。
路透社無法獨立確認 TPLF 推進的程度。TPLF 及其盟友上週告訴路透社，他們距離首都 325 公里（200 英里）。政府指責該集團誇大其收益。
政府還抱怨外國媒體對沖突的報導，集會上的一些人舉著標語譴責埃塞俄比亞的“假新聞”。
Abiy 的發言人 Billene Seyoum 週六晚些時候在推特上說：“針對埃塞俄比亞的精心策劃的媒體宣傳正在升級……儘管埃塞俄比亞將克服一切！”
At rally to back military's campaign, Ethiopians denounce US
Some demonstrators denounced the United States as a year-long war that has killed thousands of people intensified amid rebel advances last weekend.
By REUTERS
Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 19:46
Civilians attend a pro-government rally to denounce what the organisers say is the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Western countries' interference in internal affairs of the country, at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 7, 2021.
(photo credit: REUTERS/TIKSA NEGERI)
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Tens of thousands of Ethiopians rallied in Addis Ababa on Sunday in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government as federal troops fight rebellious forces who are threatening to march on the city.
Some demonstrators denounced the United States, which is among the foreign powers that have called for a ceasefire as a year-long war that has killed thousands of people intensified amid rebel advances last weekend.
The UN Security Council, the African Union, and Kenya and Uganda have also called in recent days for a ceasefire.
Abiy's government has pledged to keep fighting. On Friday, the government said it had a responsibility to secure the country, and urged foreign powers to stand with Ethiopia's democracy.
Some of those gathered in Meskel Square in central Addis Ababa draped themselves in the national flag. Many singled out the United States for criticism.
Villagers return from a market to Yechila town in south central Tigray walking past scores of burned vehicles, in Tigray, Ethiopia, July 10, 2021. (credit: REUTERS/GIULIA PARAVICINI/FILE PHOTO)
US President Joe Biden's administration on Tuesday accused Ethiopia of "gross violations" of human rights and said it planned to remove the country from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade agreement.
"Shame on you USA," read one demonstrator's placard, while another said the United States should stop "sucking Ethiopia's blood."
Other demonstrators expressed anger at the US call for the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to begin talks.
The conflict in the north of the country started a year ago when forces loyal to the TPLF seized military bases in the Tigray region. In response, Abiy sent troops, who initially drove the TPLF out of the regional capital, Mekelle, but have faced a sharp reversal since June this year.
"Why does the US government not negotiate with terrorists like al Shabaab?" said 37-year-old Tigist Lemma, referring to an al-Qaeda linked militant group in Somalia.
"They want to destroy our country like they did to Afghanistan. They will never succeed, we are Ethiopians."
Speaking at the rally, Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abiebe invoked Ethiopia's history of resisting colonial power to justify the war.
The conflict has killed thousands of people, forced more than 2 million from their homes and left 400,000 people in Tigray facing famine.
UN aid chief Martin Griffiths traveled to Mekelle on Sunday and met women affected by the fighting and humanitarian partners, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
"(He) engaged with de facto authorities on the need for humanitarian access and protection of civilians through all areas under their control, and respect for humanitarian principles," OCHA said.
A humanitarian source in Ethiopia and one person familiar with the matter told Reuters that the AU's special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, was also on the trip.
AU spokesperson Ebba Kalondo did not respond to a request for comment. TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda told Reuters that both Griffiths and Obasanjo visited Mekelle.
Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu did not respond to a request for comment on the officials' visit.
'NO YOUTH' TO FRONT LINES
During the Addis Ababa rally, there was one call for restraint, from popular musician Tariku Gankisi, whose songs call for unity of all Ethiopians.
"Let no youth go to the front lines to fight, let the elders go holding the fresh grass and ask for reconciliation," Tariku told the crowd, before his microphone was switched off, it was unclear by whom. Fresh grass is a symbol of peace in the country.
Under a state of emergency declared on Tuesday, the government can order citizens of military age to undergo training and accept military duties.
Reuters has not been able to confirm independently the extent of the TPLF advance. The TPLF and their allies told Reuters last week they were 325 km (200 miles) from the capital. The government accuses the group of exaggerating its gains.
The government has also complained about foreign media coverage of the conflict and some people at the rally held signs denouncing "fake news" in Ethiopia.
Billene Seyoum, Abiy's spokesperson, said in a Twitter post late on Saturday: "Orchestrated media propaganda against Ethiopia is escalating … Despite it all Ethiopia will overcome!"
朝鮮軍隊上演炮火比賽
分析人士說，平壤正在尋求使其國防活動正常化，目的是最終贏得國際對其核武器和彈道導彈庫的接受。
通過路透
發佈時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 00:04
朝鮮朝鮮中央通訊社 (KCNA) 於 2020 年 3 月 22 日發布的這張照片中，疑似導彈被發射。
（圖片來源：朝中社/路透社）
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據官方媒體週日報導，朝鮮機械化部隊在周末舉行了一場火砲比賽，作為提高該國防禦能力的努力的一部分。
朝鮮中央通訊社稱，此次演習是在周六進行的，與此同時，朝鮮越來越多地抱怨它所認為的雙重標準，即其軍事活動招致國際批評，而韓國和美國的類似演習通常不會。
分析人士說，平壤正在尋求使其國防活動正常化，目的是最終贏得國際對其核武器和彈道導彈武庫的接受，這些武器和彈道導彈已得到聯合國安理會決議的批准。
朝鮮的大部分大型常規砲兵部隊都部署在與韓國的設防邊界沿線，在那裡他們的射程可以到達人口稠密的首都首爾。
據朝中社報導，此次演習“正值整個朝鮮人民軍（KPA）都熱衷於接受強化訓練，以在自衛的旗幟下迎來加強國家防禦能力的新鼎盛時期”。
朝鮮領導人金正恩在朝鮮平壤出席了一個項目第一階段的開工儀式，該項目最終將建造 50,000 套新公寓（圖片來源：朝中社/文件圖片來自路透社）
朝中社說，他們由朝鮮政治局常任委員會委員兼朝鮮勞動黨中央委員會書記朴正全監督。
朴槿惠長期以來被視為該國強大軍隊中的一顆冉冉升起的新星，也是其導彈計劃的主要參與者，他於 9 月升任現職。
朝中社說，朝鮮人民軍總參謀長林光日將軍和參與部隊的指揮官與朴一起觀看了演習。
報告說：“聯合部隊的指揮官一下達射擊命令，殲滅敵人的槍管就會競爭性地砲擊目標以準確擊中它。
North Korean troops stage artillery fire competition
Analysts say Pyongyang is seeking to normalize its defense activities, with the aim of eventually winning international acceptance of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile arsenals.
By REUTERS
Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 00:04
A suspected missile is fired, in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 22, 2020.
(photo credit: KCNA/ REUTERS)
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North Korean mechanized troops held an artillery fire competition over the weekend as part of efforts to boost the country's defense capabilities, state media reported on Sunday
The drills were conducted on Saturday, state news agency KCNA said, and come as North Korea increasingly complains over what it sees as a double standard where its military activities invite international criticism when similar exercises by South Korea and the United States usually do not.
Analysts say Pyongyang is seeking to normalize its defense activities, with the aim of eventually winning international acceptance of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile arsenals, which have been sanctioned by UN Security Council resolutions.
Much of North Korea's large conventional artillery force is deployed along the fortified border with South Korea, where they have the range to reach as far as the heavily populated capital city of Seoul.
The drills come "at a time when the enthusiasm to undergo intensive training prevails throughout the Korean People's Army (KPA) for ushering in a new heyday in strengthening the state defense capabilities under the banner of self-defense," KCNA reported.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ceremony to inaugurate the start of construction on the first phase of a project to eventually build 50,000 new apartments, in Pyongyang, North Korea (credit: KCNA/FILE PHOTO VIA REUTERS)
They were overseen by Pak Jong Chon, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Pary of Korea, KCNA said.
Pak is a general long seen as a rising star in the country's powerful military and a major player in its missile program who was promoted to his current positions in September.
General Rim Kwang Il, chief of the General Staff of the KPA, and commanders of the participating units, observed the drills with Pak, KCNA said.
"As soon as the firing orders were given by the commanders of the combined units, gun barrels to annihilate the enemy competitively shelled the target to accurately hit it," the report said.
阿布扎比根據家庭法改革允許非穆斯林民事婚姻
該報告將規範非穆斯林家庭事務的民法描述為世界上第一個“符合國際最佳實踐”的民法。
通過路透
發佈時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 12:05
從海洋看的阿布扎比​​天際線
（圖片來源：維基共享資源）
廣告
國家通訊社 WAM 稱，根據阿布扎比統治者周日發布的一項新法令，非穆斯林將被允許根據民法在阿布扎比結婚、離婚並獲得共同子女監護權。
這是阿拉伯聯合酋長國的最新舉措——與其他海灣國家一樣，該國關於婚姻和離婚的個人身份法一直基於伊斯蘭教法原則——以保持其作為區域商業中心的競爭優勢。
阿布扎比的謝赫哈利法·本·扎耶德·納哈揚 (Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan) 也是阿聯酋七個酋長國聯邦主席，該法令稱，該法律涵蓋民事婚姻、離婚、贍養費、共同子女監護權和親子關係證明以及繼承。
WAM 表示，它旨在“提高酋長國作為人才和技能最具吸引力的目的地之一的地位和全球競爭力”。
該報告將規範非穆斯林家庭事務的民法描述為世界上第一個“符合國際最佳實踐”的民法。
阿布扎比將設立一個處理非穆斯林家庭事務的新法庭，並以英語和阿拉伯語運作。
阿聯酋去年在聯邦層面引入了多項法律改革，包括將婚前性關係和飲酒合法化，以及取消處理所謂“名譽殺人”時的寬大處理規定。
這些改革以及引入長期簽證等措施，被視為海灣國家讓自己對外國投資、旅遊和長期居留更具吸引力的一種方式。
Abu Dhabi to allow non-Muslim civil marriage under family law shakeup
The report described the civil law regulating non-Muslim family matters as being the first of its kind in the world "in line with international best practices."
By REUTERS
Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 12:05
Non-Muslims will be allowed to marry, divorce and get joint child custody under civil law in Abu Dhabi according to a new decree issued on Sunday by its ruler, state news agency WAM said.
It is the latest step in the United Arab Emirates -- where personal status laws on marriage and divorce had been based on Islamic sharia principles, as in other Gulf states -- to maintain its competitive edge as a regional commercial hub.
The decree from Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan, who is also president of the UAE federation of seven emirates, said the law covers civil marriage, divorce, alimony, joint child custody and proof of paternity, and inheritance.
It aims to "enhance the position and global competitiveness of the emirate as one of the most attractive destinations for talent and skills", WAM said.
The report described the civil law regulating non-Muslim family matters as being the first of its kind in the world "in line with international best practices".
An illustration of a bride and groom during a Civil marriage outside the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, December 9, 2020. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90)
A new court to handle non-Muslim family matters will be set up in Abu Dhabi and will operate in both English and Arabic.
The UAE last year introduced a number of legal changes at the federal level, including decriminalizing premarital sexual relations and alcohol consumption, and cancelling provisions for leniency when dealing with so-called "honour killings".
These reforms, alongside measures such as introducing longer-term visas, have been seen as a way for the Gulf state to make itself more attractive for foreign investment, tourism and long-term residency.
以色列政府現在需要重新定義自己——分析
由於聯盟派系之間巨大的意識形態差異而被束縛，政府現在將關注什麼？
作者：HERB KEINON
發佈時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 19:27
更新時間： 2021 年 11 月 7 日 20:20
國防部長本尼·甘茨、外交部長亞伊爾·拉皮德、總理納夫塔利·貝內特和司法部長吉迪恩·薩爾於 2021 年 10 月 4 日在以色列議會舉行的冬季會議開幕式上。
（照片來源：OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90）
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如果有人在 2018 年 10 月像 Rip Van Winkle 一樣睡著，然後在周六晚上醒來，看到總理納夫塔利·貝內特、外交部長亞伊爾·拉皮德和財政部長阿維格多·利伯曼站在一起，他會難以置信地揉揉眼睛在新聞發布會上互相致意。
尤其是 Bennett-Liberman 的作品。因為當這個虛構的 Rip Van Winkle 人物在三年前打瞌睡時，時任該國教育部長的貝內特和國防部長利伯曼正在對以色列在加沙的政策進行惡毒的尖刻。
貝內特指責利伯曼在加沙問題上軟弱無力，而利伯曼——從不躺下接受侮辱——回應稱本內特是“救世主和民粹主義者”。
“貝內特不在乎——既不關心教育也不關心安全。，”利伯曼當時在接受電台採訪時說。“就我而言，該男子已被刪除；從明天開始，他根本就不存在。”
但在周六晚上，在政府成功通過預算後，利伯曼與他三年前“刪除”的人一起慶祝勝利圈。
2021 年 11 月 6 日，總理納夫塔利·貝內特、外交部長亞伊爾·拉皮德和財政部長阿維格多·利伯曼在聯合新聞發布會上（圖片來源：HAIM ZACH/GPO）
這一次，貝內特稱讚利伯曼和拉皮德做了“出色的工作”，利伯曼說他——曾在許多政府中擔任部長——永遠不會記得一個更和諧地哼唱的人。
令人震驚的 Bennett-Liberman 和解體現了本屆政府在其執政近五個月內所做的一切：接納意識形態上反對的人，或者彼此不那麼喜歡對方，或者兩者兼而有之，並成功讓他們工作一起。
讓這些不同黨派組成政府的動力是將本傑明·內塔尼亞胡從總理辦公室撤職並結束導致該國四次無結果選舉和政府癱瘓的政治僵局的強烈願望。
一旦實現了這個目標，並且建立了一個政府——儘管是一個狹隘的政府，它產生了從左派到右派的政黨，其中包括一個伊斯蘭主義者，以使聯盟達到 61 的神奇數字——下一個目標是獲得一個預算通過。不僅甚至主要是因為該國迫切需要預算——最後一項是在 2018 年通過的——而且因為如果政府沒有在 11 月 14 日之前通過預算，它就會自動下降，導致新的選舉。
結果，各方之間出現的分歧在內部進行管理，不允許演變成重大危機。聯盟中不時有人搖搖晃晃的船，但小心翼翼地從不翻倒。
停止定居點建設可能是梅雷茨的主要目標，而擴大定居點可能是新希望的一個同樣重要的目標；儘管兩國長期以來一直是工黨的號角，而貝內特的亞米納黨甚至不想談論這個想法——事實證明，確保政府不會垮台比這一切都更重要。
議會聯盟成員，2021 年 11 月 3 日。（圖片來源：MARC ISRAEL SELLEM）
但是現在呢？
政府的穩定已經在不久的將來得到了保證，那麼接下來會發生什麼呢？組成聯盟的八個政黨是否會繼續願意忽視分裂他們的大問題，並專注於他們可以達成一致但數量更多的小問題？
由於在處理與巴勒斯坦人、加沙和定居點的外交進程等重大問題上存在巨大的意識形態分歧，政府現在想要關注什麼？能否繼續將內部矛盾置於幕後？它的政策遺產是什麼？
貝內特在周六晚上的新聞發布會上給出了一些暗示。
“我們的下一個任務是利用這種穩定性，應對多年來被忽視的挑戰和問題，”他說，並引用了“住房成本、失控的交通擁堵、以色列臭名昭著的生活成本、人民面對猖獗的犯罪和內蓋夫的失控。毫不拖延，不提前絕望，即使任務艱鉅，即使需要時間，我們也會開始。”
貝內特因此設定了他的目標。對於一個永遠將國家安全和外交問題放在首位的國家來說，他的名單的驚人之處在於它完全是國內的。
為什麼？因為他的聯盟中的每個人，從左邊的梅雷茨到右邊的新希望，從拉姆到亞米納，都同意住房成本太高，因為道路堵塞，早上開車上班是一場噩夢，一切都太貴了，犯罪是壞事。只有當你超越這些問題，當你試圖解決耶路撒冷和巴勒斯坦外交進程等問題時，事情才會變得危險。
Bennett 的解決方案是：不要處理這些問題。
與他 9 月在聯合國大會上發表講話時的情況一樣，貝內特在新聞發布會上準備的評論中沒有提到巴勒斯坦人，他在那裡制定了進一步的目標。當被問及美國希望在耶路撒冷重新開設領事館為巴勒斯坦人服務時，他只提到了這些，並明確表示反對這一舉動。
他週六晚上的信息很明確：首先將政黨帶入聯盟並允許他們通過預算的公式將與他希望在未來採用的相同。如果各方可以就議程上的 70% 到 80% 的問題達成一致，那麼專注於這些問題並儘量忽略其餘問題。
然而，還有待觀察的是是否有可能忽略或避免處理其他 20%-30%。尤其是當政府之外的力量——反對派、巴勒斯坦人、國際社會的各個參與者——很可能會加班加點地把這些問題放在首位。
Israel's government now needs to redefine itself - analysis
With its hands tied because of the massive ideological differences between coalition factions, what will the government focus on now?
By HERB KEINON
Published: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 19:27
Updated: NOVEMBER 7, 2021 20:20
DEFENSE MINISTER Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar at the opening of the winter session at the Knesset, on October 4, 2021..
(photo credit: OLIVIER FITOUSSI/FLASH90)
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Had someone fallen asleep – Rip Van Winkle-like – in October 2018, and woke up on Saturday night, he would have rubbed his eyes in disbelief at the sight of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman standing together at a news conference exchanging compliments.
Especially the Bennett-Liberman piece. Because when this imaginary Rip Van Winkle figure dozed off three years ago, Bennett – then the country’s education minister – and Liberman, the defense minister – were exchanging vicious barbs over Israel’s policies in Gaza.
Bennett accused Liberman of being weak on Gaza, and Liberman – never one to take an insult lying down – responded by calling Bennett “messianic and populist.”
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“Bennett doesn’t care – neither about education nor about security. ,” Liberman said in a radio interview at the time. “As far as I’m concerned, the man has been deleted; starting tomorrow he simply does not exist.”
But on Saturday night, Liberman joined with the man he “deleted” three years ago to celebrate a victory lap, after the government succeeded in passing a budget.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman at a joint press conference, November 6, 2021 (credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)
This time Bennett praised Liberman, along with Lapid, for doing “outstanding work,” and Liberman said he – who has been a minister in many a government – never remembers one that has hummed along more harmoniously.
That astounding Bennett-Liberman rapprochement epitomizes what this government has been able to do in its nearly five months in office: take people who are ideologically opposed, or are not that personally fond of each other, or both, and succeed in getting them to work together.
The impetus for getting these disparate parties to form a government was a burning desire to remove Benjamin Netanyahu from the Prime Minister’s Office and put an end to the political impasse that led the country to four inconclusive elections and governmental paralysis.
Once that goal was met, and a government established – albeit a narrow one that spawned parties from the hard Left to the hard Right, with an Islamist one included to get the coalition to the magic number of 61 – the next goal was to get a budget passed. Not only or even primarily because the country desperately needed a budget – the last one being passed in 2018 – but because if the government did not pass a budget by November 14, it would automatically have fallen, leading to a new election.
As a result, differences that arose among the parties were managed internally and not allowed to mutate into major crises. From time to time someone in the coalition rocked the boat but was careful never to tip it over.
While stopping settlement construction might be a primary aim for Meretz, and expanding settlements might be an equally important goal for New Hope; though two-states has long been a clarion call for Labor, while Bennett’s Yamina Party doesn’t even want to talk about the idea – ensuring that the government would not fall proved even more important than all of that.
Coalition members at the Knesset, 3 November, 2021. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
But now what?
The stability of the government has been ensured for the immediate future, so what happens next? Will the eight parties that form the coalition continue to be willing to ignore the big issues that divide them and concentrate on the smaller, though far more numerous ones upon which they can agree?
With its hands tied because of the massive ideological differences on dealing with marquee issues such as the diplomatic process with the Palestinians, Gaza and settlements, what does the government now want to focus on? Will it be able to continue keeping its internal contradictions in the background? What will be its policy legacy?
Bennett gave some indication at Saturday night’s news conference.
“Our next mission is to utilize this stability and deal with the challenges and problems that have been neglected for years,” he said, citing “housing costs, the traffic jams that are out of control, Israel’s infamous cost of living, the helplessness of the people in the face of rampaging crime, and the loss of governance in the Negev. Without delay, without despairing in advance, even if the tasks are great, and even if they take time, we will get started.”
Bennett thus set down his goals. And what was striking about his list – for a country that forever has put national security and diplomatic issues at the forefront – was that it was entirely domestic.
Why? Because everyone in his coalition, from Meretz on the Left to New Hope on the Right, from Ra’am to Yamina, can agree that housing costs are too high, that it is a nightmare driving to work in the morning because of the clogged roads, that everything costs too much, and that crime is bad. It’s when you go beyond those issues, when you try to tackle issues like Jerusalem and the Palestinian diplomatic process, that things get dicey.
Bennett’s solution: just don’t deal with those issues.
As was the case when he addressed the UN General Assembly in September, Bennett did not mention the Palestinians in his prepared comments at the news conference where he laid down his further goals. He only mentioned them when he was asked about the US desire to reopen a consulate in Jerusalem to serve the Palestinians, and came out unequivocally against such a move.
His message Saturday night was clear: the formula that worked to bring the parties into the coalition in the first place, and allowed them to pass the budget, will be the same one that he hopes to employ going forward. If the parties can agree on 70% to 80% of the issues on the agenda, then focus on those issues and try to ignore the rest.
What remains to be seen, however, is whether it is possible to ignore or avoid dealing with the other 20%-30%. Especially when forces outside the government – the opposition, the Palestinians, various actors in the international community – may very well work overtime trying to bring those issues front and center.
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