EU urges US to join new Israeli-Palestinian peace push, rejects Trump plan

European Union foreign ministers on Monday urged the United States to join a new effort to breathe life into long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, but they rejected US President Donald Trump’s Middle East plan as the basis for any international process.

Trump Administration Removes Transgender Health Discrimination Protections

The US Department of Health published a new rule Friday asserting that protection against “sex discrimination” in health care applies only to people who are biologically male or female. Focussed on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, the final rule rolls back an Obama-era regulation which had added “gender identity” as grounds under which a person could suffer health care discrimination. Religious and conservative groups have welcomed the rule as protecting freedom of conscience and allowing federally funded medical practitioners and insurance companies to refuse the provision or coverage of transgender treatments. However, human rights groups are concerned the rule will leave trans-Americans without access to standard needed health care that is unrelated to sex change.

North Korea Firing ’Warning Shots’ At U.S.

North Korea has fired diplomatic warning shots at the United States saying their relationship “shifted into despair” and suggesting it may launch nuclear-capable missiles.

US May Approve Unilateral Israeli Annexation of a Few Settlement Blocs in West Bank

Given Palestinian rejection of the Trump peace plan, the US may support Israel in the unilateral annexation of a few settlement blocs in the West Bank, World Israel News (WIN) reported Thursday. Under the Israeli coalition government agreement, Prime Minister Netanyahu can ask the Knesset to vote on annexation proposals starting July 1. However, the agreement stipulates that any such proposal must have US backing.

U.S. Senate Panel Approves Subpoenas In Russia Probe

The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee has approved subpoena power for a politically charged congressional investigation of the Justice Department’s probe into Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and its contacts with Russia.

Netanyahu vows all settlements will be annexed July 1, but other lands may wait

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told settler leaders on Sunday that he still intends to annex all West Bank settlements on the July 1 date that is the earliest allowed by his coalition deals, but he acknowledged that annexing other lands allocated to Israel under the Trump peace plan will likely take more time, several participants in the meeting told The Times of Israel.

WH: Trump ‘Appalled’ by Democrats’ Call to Defund the Police

Efforts by Democrats to dismantle and defund the police department represents a “rolling back” of the “protective layers that protect Americans in their homes and places of business,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Monday.

Former Dubai Police Chief: Arab Nations Should Normalize Ties with Israel

A former police chief of Dubai has controversially called for all Arab states to normalize relations with Israel. On Twitter this weekend, Khalfan Tamim said: “Israel wants long-term peace and security. I support that.” Moreover, Tamim said: “From the moment that the Gulf States normalize their ties with Israel, Qatar’s job as a proxy state for terror organizations will end,” Israel Hayom reported.

Iran Closer Than Ever To Nuclear Weapon, U.N. Report Suggests

With much of the world in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, Iran rushed to increase its stockpiles of enriched uranium and has come closer than ever to develop a nuclear weapon, findings by the United Nations watchdog showed.

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