Israeli government continues to block the sale of Boeing AWACS to Turkey

The sale is part of a $1.6 billion Boeing contract with Turkey.  

Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hearings on Hezbollah

Witnesses inclue: Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman, Counter-terrorism Coordinator Daniel Benjamin, Amb. Ryan Crocker, Danielle Pletka of AEI, and yours truly.

Stephen Walt on the skillful use of pressure vis-a-vis Israel

If President Obama is serious about reaching a two-state solution, he will need to demonstrate U.S. seriousness.  As Walt understands, Obama does not need a sledgehammer to drive home his message. Instead, carefully calibrated messages will be "read" astutely by Israeli-insiders.

I am confident that a recalcitrant right-wing Israeli government will reliably and frequently demonstrate its obduracy.  It is in the U.S. interest to highlight that obduracy and to subtly demonstrate that non-cooperation has non-trivial costs.  Walt's essay is a helpful guide to some of the cues and signals that the Obama administration might employ to let Israeli decision-makers know that the U.S. expects cooperation, if not from the Netanyahu government then the government that replaces it.

Amnesty calls for ban on arms transfers to Israel and to Hamas--report details abuses by each side

Foreign-supplied weapons used against civilians by Israel and Hamas | Amnesty International

Link to report.

Massive U.S. arms shipment for Israel put on hold

This shipment is purportedly intended to add munitions a stockpile of U.S. arm that is maintained in Israel. I suspect that there is an agreement that permits Israel to draw from these stocks, so the decision to hold the shipment should be understood as a signal from Washington. In any case, you may be sure this decision was not made without high-level, meaning White House consultation. Haaretz reported earlier this week that a tender for a smaller arms shipment from Greece has been cancelled. A long item that is also of interest.

Very Important story that raises obvious questions about the Kurdish game plan in Iraq

Syria seeks arms deal with Russia

A comment on this will be posted later today.
Syria eyes an edge amid Russia-U.S. rift | csmonitor.com

Also relevant is the Jewish Telegraph Agency piece.

Iranian military convoy rocked by mystery explosion

Is there more to this story?
Iranian military convoy rocked by mystery explosion - Telegraph