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Jackson Richman

“Anti-BDS legislation is about commercial activities, not about people’s ability to speak,” says the 33-year-old. “People are free to criticize Israel; that is a protected right. But organized boycotting and divestment with the support of state, local or federal government is not acceptable.”
One of the biggest challenges Patrick Shanahan will likely continue to face is the shift in the Trump administration’s focus from non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, to threats from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
“This shouldn’t surprise anyone following the Turkish purchase of the Russian defense systems,” said Diliman Abdulkader, director of the Kurdish Project at the Endowment for Middle East Truth. “The U.S. warned Turkey time and time again to cancel the purchase and abide by its NATO obligations. Turkey is choosing to play hardball.”
That could add to the estimated 22,000 U.S. military personnel already in several countries in the region, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to the Pentagon.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaking to the Iranian American community in California on July 22, 2018. Screenshot: YouTube.
Pompeo to meet with Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations
The report did not specify the topics to be discussed, though the development comes amid increased tensions between America and Iran, and ahead of a Mideast peace plan workshop set for Bahrain.
In an email to staff, executive director of Al Jazeera’s digital division Yaser Bishr said that employees would undergo a mandatory sensitivity and bias training program.
The letter went on to describe the threats posed by groups, including ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Iranian proxies such as Hezbollah.
The Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act would allocate $75 million annually for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
“There’s little doubt that Israel is fighting efforts by Iran to be a hegemonic power in the Middle East. They’re certainly seeking to attack Israel on a regular basis. You want to help your friends fight your enemies.”