Welcome again to World Temporary, the place we’re Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting the White Home, the United States issuing new commerce threats, and Poland reinstating non permanent border controls.
Sweetening the Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touched down in Washington on Monday to debate U.S. diplomatic efforts within the Center East, together with Israel-Hamas cease-fire negotiations and techniques to counter Iran’s nuclear program. The journey’s centerpiece might be a night assembly with U.S. President Donald Trump on the White Home—their third such face-to-face discuss since Trump returned to workplace in January.
Welcome again to World Temporary, the place we’re Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting the White Home, the United States issuing new commerce threats, and Poland reinstating non permanent border controls.
Sweetening the Deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touched down in Washington on Monday to debate U.S. diplomatic efforts within the Center East, together with Israel-Hamas cease-fire negotiations and techniques to counter Iran’s nuclear program. The journey’s centerpiece might be a night assembly with U.S. President Donald Trump on the White Home—their third such face-to-face discuss since Trump returned to workplace in January.
The dialog is anticipated to concentrate on cementing a cease-fire and hostage launch deal in Gaza. Beneath the newest U.S.-backed proposal, Israel and Hamas would abide by a 60-day truce, throughout which Israeli troops would partially withdraw from Gaza, Hamas would launch 10 residing and 18 deceased hostages in trade for some variety of Palestinian prisoners launched by Israel, and Israel would permit extra humanitarian support into the territory. Greater than 57,000 individuals have been killed in Gaza for the reason that warfare started in October 2023, in keeping with the Gaza Well being Ministry.
“We’re working to attain this deal that’s being talked about,” Netanyahu mentioned on Sunday earlier than departing for america, including that Trump “can positively assist advance this consequence, which all of us hope for.” Trump appeared to agree with this evaluation, saying on Sunday, “We’re near a deal in Gaza.”
Final Wednesday, Israel agreed to the proposal in precept, and on Friday, Hamas mentioned it had responded to the deal in a “constructive spirit.” Nevertheless, a number of sticking factors stay unresolved. Hamas has mentioned that it needs the United Nations to supervise support supply into Gaza as an alternative of the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis. The group has additionally demanded that Israeli forces retreat to the boundaries established from earlier than the final cease-fire collapsed in March and urged either side to comply with a everlasting finish to the warfare. However Israel maintains its demand that a few of its troops should stay within the territory, and it mentioned that Israel would solely agree to finish the battle if Hamas absolutely disarms and dismantles, which the militant group refuses to do.
A separate Israeli negotiating staff traveled to Qatar on Sunday for oblique talks with Hamas. Netanyahu mentioned he instructed his delegates to attain a cease-fire deal underneath the phrases that Israel has agreed to, however Reuters cited unnamed Palestinian sources in Doha who mentioned Israel’s refusal to permit humanitarian support to freely and safely enter Gaza is holding up progress.
U.S. officers are hoping to sweeten the cease-fire deal by linking the tip of the warfare to a broader set of agreements that might additionally see Saudi Arabia and probably different nations within the area set up formal diplomatic ties with Israel, in addition to a management overhaul throughout the Palestinian Authority, which governs components of the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution. Normalizing relations with Arab states, notably Saudi Arabia, is a key aim of Netanyahu’s, and the White Home has prompt {that a} everlasting finish to the warfare might persuade Arab nations to take action. In accordance with White Home envoy Thomas Barrack Jr. final week, america is already mediating “significant” talks between Israel and Syria.
Such sweeteners might assist Netanyahu promote a cease-fire deal to his right-wing coalition—notably his far-right cupboard ministers who’ve pushed in opposition to ending the warfare. This is a chance “to increase the circle of peace far past what we might have imagined,” Netanyahu mentioned on Sunday.
Netanyahu and Trump are additionally anticipated to have fun their joint army efforts in opposition to Tehran’s nuclear program whereas discussing methods to transfer ahead from final month’s 12-day Israel-Iran battle. “We’re engaged on a whole lot of issues with Israel, and one of many issues might be a everlasting cope with Iran,” Trump mentioned on Sunday whereas reiterating the demand that Tehran should quit its nuclear ambitions. Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment work is for civilian functions.
Immediately’s Most Learn
The World This Week
Tuesday, July 8: French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day journey to the UK.
Wednesday, July 9: Malaysia hosts a three-day overseas ministers’ assembly of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations.
Taiwan begins a weeklong annual army train simulating a Chinese language invasion.
Thursday, July 10: Equatorial Guinea hosts the two-day African Union overseas ministers’ assembly.
The European Parliament holds a no-confidence vote for European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.
Monday, July 14: China hosts the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Group overseas ministers’ assembly.
What We’re Following
Commerce letters. Trump signed letters to 12 nations on Monday outlining varied tariff threats that they may face if they don’t come to an agreeable commerce cope with america by Aug. 1. The letters are a part of Trump’s bigger commerce warfare that kicked off in April, when he issued a ten % baseline obligation on nearly all buying and selling companions; extra greater tariffs that had been scheduled to enter impact on April 9 had been suspended for 90 days to permit time for negotiations.
Among the many nations to obtain the letters had been Japan and South Korea, which had been informed that they may face a 25 % tariff beginning subsequent month. Within the letters, footage of which Trump posted to his Reality Social account, he warned, “If for any purpose you determine to lift your Tariffs, then, regardless of the quantity you select to lift them by, might be added onto the 25% that we cost.” He added that Washington would solely contemplate adjusting these quantities if the nations eradicate their commerce surpluses with america.
A day earlier, Trump threatened to impose an additional 10 % tariff on “Any Nation aligning themselves with the Anti-American insurance policies of BRICS.” The bloc of growing nations—which incorporates China, Russia, India, and Brazil, amongst others—has championed an alternate imaginative and prescient to the U.S.-led worldwide order. On Sunday, the bloc raised “critical considerations” about Trump’s warning, saying that raised tariffs might “scale back world commerce, disrupt world provide chains, and introduce uncertainty.”
Proscribing Schengen’s borders. Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on Monday for 30 days to discourage asylum-seekers from getting into the nation. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk introduced the measures final week in response to allegations from far-right Polish protesters that Berlin was transporting migrants into the nation, which Germany denies. The transfer is a part of an ongoing effort to mood far-right considerations which have hindered Tusk’s authorities and led to the defeat of his most well-liked, centrist candidate within the nation’s June 1 presidential election.
Poland, Germany, and Lithuania are all a part of the Schengen Zone, a visa-free journey space that permits residents in most EU nations to maneuver simply throughout a lot of the continent. Earlier this 12 months, although, Berlin reimposed non permanent border restrictions to curb asylum-seekers, prompting worries from its neighbors that such controls might turn into extra widespread.
“Such measures should undoubtedly be non permanent and should obtain outcomes as shortly as attainable and be terminated,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda mentioned on Sunday, including that his nation is getting ready for attainable site visitors jams alongside their shared border.
Lethal flooding. Flash flooding throughout Pakistan has killed greater than 70 individuals and injured roughly 130 others, native authorities reported on Monday. Even with emergency companies on most alert since final month and the nation’s Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority warning vacationers to keep away from affected areas, the aftermath of 10 days of heavy monsoon rains continues to devastate communities throughout a number of provinces.
The most recent wave of maximum climate started on June 26 and gained worldwide consideration when flooding within the northwest Swat River swept away 17 vacationers from the identical household; solely 4 family members had been rescued alive. Now, officers are warning that they can’t rule out a possible repeat of Pakistan’s 2022 superflood, which killed greater than 1,730 individuals and inundated a 3rd of the nation.
In the meantime, search-and-rescue efforts in central Texas continued on Monday after weekend flooding killed greater than 80 individuals, together with greater than 27 individuals at an all-girls Christian camp on the Guadalupe River, and left dozens of others lacking. The devastating flooding is among the many worst in america’ historical past, and consultants warn that extra is probably going nonetheless to return.
Odds and Ends
Even the pope deserves paid day without work from time to time. On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV journeyed to the Italian city of Castel Gandolfo for a two-week summer time trip, restarting a greater than 400-year-old custom that his late predecessor, Pope Francis, deserted throughout his 12-year tenure. Leo has determined to not keep on the conventional papal residence on the town. However native officers are nonetheless hoping that his return might reignite tourism to the lakeside getaway.
