Obama's UN Code

I was puzzled by President Obama's plea for Arab states to push for peace without any feedback from Israel on the long standing Arab League Peace Plan.  Haaretz provided an answer.

Member states of the United Nations nuclear watchdog narrowly rejected an Arab-sponsored resolution on Friday calling on Israel to join a global anti-atomic weapons treaty in a diplomatic victory for the United States.

Washington had urged countries to vote down the symbolically important although non-binding resolution, saying it could derail broader efforts to ban nuclear warheads in the Middle East and also send a negative signal to the relaunched Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Obama's speech missed the numerous times the United States failed to prevent nuclear proliferation, India, Israel and Pakistan.  Israel spoke strongly on the Arab resolution:

"Adopting this resolution will be a fatal blow to any hope for future cooperative efforts toward better regional security in the Middle East," Israel's IAEA envoy Ehud Azoulay said, shortly before the vote. 

Fatal blow?  The U.S and Israel sat on the Arab League Peace Plan for eight years.  Peace already looks like a corpse.   Obama may be a war president (of his initiation) come 2012.


Update:  Hillary Clinton scrambled to keep PA President Mahmoud Abbas at the negotiating table.  An Arab League representative warned of a Middle East arms race if Israel keeps nuclear weapons.

Libya's Arab Summit: Abbas Favors War

In March Palestinian Authority Chair Mahmoud Abbas spoke to the Arab League. He said:

"If you want war, and if all of you will fight Israel, we are in favor. But the Palestinians will not fight alone because they don't have the ability to do it.”

Egypt and Jordan have peace treaties with Israel, so not all Arab nations will fight. The Arab League has an Israeli peace plan on the table, where it lingered since 2002. While Abbas postures on war, peace withers further. That didn't prevent the U.S. and Tony Blair from pushing economic peace with Fatah or approving direct war with Hamas.

Colonel Muammar Gadhafi hosted the Arab League gathering. American branded mulit-nationals salivate over opportunities in Libya, North Africa and the Middle East. Gadhafi also heads the African Union. He aspires to make it an economic union, much like the European Union (EU) or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Which way will Arab and African states cooperate, on war or their economies? Their partners in either case are global greed & power players. The release of the Lockerbie bomber provides a glimpse into that world.

Update: Egypt's Hosni Mubarek tried to push Abbas-Netanyahu together. AP reported "Mubarak received a message Sunday from President Barack Obama and a telephone call from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging a swift move to direct peace talks." That's a big change in four months, from favoring war to direct peace negotiations.

Fine Wine & Cheese Middle East Peace Plan

Israeli President Shimon Peres gushed over the Arab League Peace plan at the recent Saudi inspired UN Interfaith gathering. Apparently peace plans grow more desirable as they age. The Arab League first offered the plan in 2002. They blew the dust off last year by reiterating the proposal.

"These expressions in the Arab peace initiative are inspirational and promising - a serious opening for real progress," President Peres said. "We cannot change the past," he said. "However, we can shape our future."

Haaretz noted President Obama's support for the Arab League initiative.

A senior adviser quoted Obama as telling Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: "The Israelis would be crazy not to accept this initiative. It would give them peace with the Muslim world from Indonesia to Morocco."

Guess what was on the same page? A piece titled, "U.S. study urges Obama to press Israel over nuclear program." It said:

The Institute for Science and International Security, headed by David Albright, one the world's top experts on nuclear weapons and the prevention of nuclear proliferation, recently released its report urging president-elect Barack Obama to take a number of measures to avoid such an outcome, including convincing Israel to halt production of its nuclear weapons.

From today's Haaretz, a reader could conclude Barack Obama implied Israeli's are crazy as the plan languished for six years. They could decide Obama wants to take away Israel's overwhelming defense capabilities, even their Sampson option.

Why are Israeli newspapers painting Obama as pro-Arab, as weak on challenging Iran? The man hasn't taken office yet. Is there another agenda?

Freedom to Be Confused in the Middle East

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal confirmed Saudi Arabia will "cut off any finger" raised against it.  Prince Faisal referenced Iranian foreign interference in Shiite citizen protests, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. 

U.S. President Obama, encouraged citizen protests in Iran.  Prince Faisal had this to say about Iranian protests:

"As for Iran, we hope that it deals with the demonstrations that are taking place in its own country." He added "In Saudi Arabia we don’t have any demonstrations such as those in Iran, and I reiterate what I said before, we will not tolerate any interference in our internal affairs by any foreign party…and if we find any foreign interference, we will deal with this decisively." 

Iran perpetrates violence on demonstrators, as does Saudi Arabia, which opened fire to disperse a protest.  The Prince stressed "reform does not come via protests and [the clerics] have forbidden such protests since they violate the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet."

"Change comes via the citizens of this country, not in accordance with the dictates of foreign parties" stressing that "our people have been living in this country since the time of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and they know their interests and requirements and how to reach their objectives. We aim to protect their independence and interests." 

How does change come via citizens in Saudi's monarchy, especially if they have no right to be heard?   Longtime Middle East tamperer Ryan Crocker weighed in on the protests, using a medical analogy:

“I think every country in the region has had or will have demonstrations.  It’s like hay fever; it’s everywhere, it’s pervasive.”

Speaking out against heavy handed, corrupt rulers is like hay fever?  Ryan Crocke should know.  His career in the Bush administration focused on delivering medicine in the form of business to politically connected Western companies.  The Obama team continued Bush's "economic freedom" mantra, sending Treasury's Neal Wolin scampering across the Middle East.

Prince Faisal offered a domestic version of "economic freedom" to quell the masses.  However, the Saudi carrot comes with a stick:

Last month, the ultra-conservative government announced an unprecedented economic package worth an estimated $36 billion that will give Saudis interest-free home loans, unemployment assistance and debt forgiveness. It also has reiterated that demonstrations are forbidden in the kingdom because they contradict Islamic laws and society's values and said security forces were authorized to act against anyone violating the ban.

Aren't Iran and Libya Islamic?  Why would the Saudi's, guardians of Mecca, act like demonstrations elsewhere are OK?  Here's Prince Faisal's take on Egypt:

"The relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt is a close and strategic one, [it is] a fraternal relationship, and therefore the internal [political] developments in Egypt will not affect our relations. We will stand by and engage with any leadership selected by the Egyptian people, and we will continue our strong relationship with Egypt which is in the interests of both of our countries and peoples, as well as in the best interests of the region and the Arab and Islamic world."

On Libyan unrest and the call for a no-fly zone:

The Saudi Foreign Minister said that this issue will be decided by the Arab League. He added that the most important thing is "to stem the bloodshed" in Libya and protect the country's unity. 

How will the Arab League handle leaders who fire on their citizens?  They have a long list in their midst.  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may provide a clue.  It recently weighed stability aid to Bahrain and Oman. Disturbing video from Bahrian (added 3-17-11):



Did Neal Wolin push the GCC to offer money instead of freedoms?

It's clear economic freedom has the upper hand amongst Middle Eastern leaders.  Who wants access to Libya's cheap oil, which CNBC reported costs $1 per barrel to produce?  With oil over $100 a barrel, that's one Golden Goose.  We're back to square one, enrichment of leaders and corporations, the very thing that incensed the populace.  

Manipulating forces remain and they'll say or do anything to get their way.  It can be as maddening and obfuscating as the official Saudi or U.S. government line.  

Update 3-12-11:  The Arab League asked the United Nations to impose a no fly zone over Libya.  President Obama hailed the request.

Arab League Will Declare Palestinian State

The Arab League's long standing peace offer to Israel comes with an expiration date. If an agreement isn't reached by September, The Arab League will ask the UN Security Council to declare an independent Palestinian state. Talk of peace usually grows in direct relation to the threat of war.

Where's Congress in War with Libya?

The U.S. military struck Libya, alongside allied nations.  They sent over 100 cruise missiles on the basis of Arab League and United Nations resolutions.. That foundation is already fracturing.  WaPo reported:

The Arab League secretary general, Amr Moussa, deplored the broad scope of the U.S.-European bombing campaign in Libya on Sunday and said he would call a new league meeting to reconsider Arab approval of the Western military intervention.

Doesn't the Congress declare war under the U.S. Constitution?  The Guardian reported the U.S. position:

Admiral Mike Mullen, who we reported talking earlier to NBC, has made more comments now to CBS on what the outcome could be in Libya to CBS.

He says it's a possibility the situation could end up in a stalemate with Gaddafi clinging on to power. Mullen said the air mission in Libya was "clear and limited in scope" but said the future was "very uncertain".

The chair of the joint chief of staffs, said on NBC's Meet the Press that he recognised the possibility that Gaddafi could stay on, adding "It's very uncertain on how this ends."

He later told CNN's State of the Union programme that the operation "isn't about seeing him [Gaddafi] go".

Mullen acknowledged he didn't have a definitive answer on the political situation but said Gaddafi was more isolated than after the no-fly zone and an arms embargo were enforced. He said Gaddafi was "going to have to make some choices about his own future."

An interesting aside, the following nations were identified as hostile to the U.S. by the Project for the New American Century:  North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Syria. Obama has one PNAC adviser, Dennis Ross.

What are America's criteria for intervening in the Middle East-North Africa, given numerous dictatorial regimes with spotty human rights records?   Once intervention is decided, what's the aim, from a militarily, political, economic and human rights standpoint?  How can those be achieved while minimizing death and suffering caused by war and internal conflict?  Maybe, Congress will answer these questions, when they get around to approving the war.

Update 3-22-11:  The Constitutional question over authority to declare war is the subject of a NYT piece.

Update 1-10-16:  While Congress was left out of the war declaration process, Tony Blair and Hillary Clinton were in the know. The West wanted Gadhafi's gold and to stop his plans for an African union with a dinar based currency, backed by gold.

McCain to Continue Bush's Disastrous Foreign Policy

President Bush endorsed Republican Presidential nominee John McCain at the White House earlier today. During his remarks Bush said of the newly knighted McCain:

"he's not going to change when it comes to taking on the enemy. He understands this is a dangerous world, and I understand we better have steadfast leadership who has got the courage and determination to pursue this enemy, so as to protect America."

Bush's divide and conquer policies pit sectarian groups, even whole countries against each other. The Middle East fractured deeper under George's seven years of tampering, frequently characterized by generous arms aid. According to the CIA both the number and depth of America's enemies has grown. Weapons of mass destruction remain a clear and present danger as Bush tries to keep a nuclear free Middle East.

The Arab League put a chink in Bush's armor with their new position on the nuclear proliferation treaty. Haaretz reported the Arab League announced "Arab countries will walk away from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty if Israel ever officially acknowledges it has nuclear weapons." So keep on keeping on John. Bush has it all under control...

Arab League Peace Plan to Close After 7 Year Window

Israel faces an ultimatum, accept the Arab League Peace Plan or it will be withdrawn. Middle Eastern countries placed the plan on the table in 2002. For seven years it lingered. During that time Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2008-09.

If history is a guide, parties will get to the brink and walk away from peace.

Bush's Surge Success Implodes

The troop escalation was supposed to make way for political reconciliation between contentious parties in Iraq. However, the latest is a violent Shi'ite rift between the Iraqi government led by Nouri al-Maliki and renegade religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr. The surge got its success, in part, due to a cease fire ordered by al-Sadr. That's out the window.

The AP reported al-Sadr had the "liberation" of Iraq as his militia's chief goal. The radical Shiite cleric also said the impact of the U.S. presence on Iraq was more negative than that of Saddam Hussein's Baath party, ousted in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Al-Sadr alleged that the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a fellow Shiite, was as "distant" from the people of Iraq as Saddam's Sunni-led regime. The government, he said, was "looking after its own interests, not those of the people."

Over on Juan Cole's Informed Comment, a post implied al-Sadr's people had been communicating with leaders in the Sunni Awakening Councils, who also have American forces leaving their country as a high priority. They drove al Qaeda out so the U.S. would no longer have a reason to stay. I wonder how a John McCain 100 year commitment went over to these groups? Politicians can't restrict their words just for domestic consumption, as much as they'd like.

One commenter, Greg Gordon on today's IC post had this to say. I found it most thought provoking, even if only "opinion":

Has there ever in the history of man been a policy more incoherent than this one? We back a government that is essentially a proxy of our regional arch-enemy, Iran. Our Sunni "Awakening" allies, largely composed of the Baathists we removed from power in the first place, hate this government and would love to overthrow it. Our Kurdish allies are composed of two decidedly undemocratic rival mafias, at least one of which is quite friendly to our enemy Iran, and at least one of which is carrying on a low-level war with our ally Turkey. Meanwhile, the most popular political movement in the country shares our stated goal of a democratic, unified Iraq and therefore must be crushed.

Democracy with us, good. Without us, bad. I guess it comes back to "you're either with us or against us." Democracy may have nothing to do with it. Of course, V.P. Dick Cheney just visited, applying a large dose of freedhem. It seemed to engorge the already inflamed.

Do Muqtada's words mean the cease fire is dead? He said, "I call on the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the United Nations to recognise the legitimacy of the resistance."

One of his assistants added, "Moqtada al-Sadr asks his followers not to deliver weapons to the government. Weapons should be turned over only to a government which can expel the (U.S.) occupiers."

Now the long list of Middle East leader no shows at the Arab League is beginning to make sense. What else do V.P. Dick Cheney, President George Bush, and Israeli leader Ehud Olmert have up their sleeve? More divide and conquer?

Obama's Three Days: From MLK to War

President Obama's nightmare for the world continues, as the U.S. prepares to attack Syria, possibly over the Labor Day weekend.  The Obama team is calling an attack the responsibility of the international community with widespread support.

International support for an attack is down to the U.S. White House and the French Prime Minister.  Neither the U.S. Congress nor the French Parliament have voted to support an attack.  The UN hasn't taken up the issue and the Arab League will meet Sunday.  Britain's House of Commons voted against an attack, preventing Prime Minister David Cameron's hands from acquiring more blood.

Three days ago President Obama spoke from the Lincoln Memorial, the site of Reverend Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

The White House has indicated it does not believe it needs the backing of Congress, nor the support of traditional allies, before taking action against Assad.

Obama 's unilateral global parent-policeman is a feature of the Unitary Executive, something candidate Obama ran against.  Secretary of State John Kerry and Pentagon Chief Chuck Hagel gave the world wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as U.S. Senators. 

Kerry wrote of his 2002 vote for the Iraq war resolution, “There’s nothing -- nothing -- in my life in public service I regret more, nothing even close.”

In November 2005, Hagel defended his criticism of the Iraq war, stating "To question your government is not unpatriotic — to not question your government is unpatriotic."

The United Nations team investigating the chemical attacks won't have a report for two weeks.  President Obama won't wait for the report or any legitimate international body to support his violence.

Jimmy Carter urged the White House to seek UN backing. “A punitive military response without a UN mandate or broad support from NATO and the Arab League would be illegal under international law and unlikely to alter the course of the war,” he said.

President Obama, global parent, believes whatever the Unitary Executive does is legal.  That's the kind of organizational hubris and arrogance that makes others second class citizens.

Reverend Martin Luther King said "violence of war is so self defeating."  The British public felt it and responded.  Nobel Peace Prize winner Obama left the site of King's spiritual vision, intent on adding to darkness and hate.

Update:  After Obama called for "limited, narrow" strikes the WSJ reported contingency plans are under way for the collapse of the Syrian regime. "Planning Under Way for Possible Syrian Collapse: U.S., Allies and Syrian Opposition Discuss Plans at Meeting in Istanbul."  Does that mean the U.S. is targeting Syrian President Assad?  If he's killed by a drone attack does that make it a double international crime?

Update 2:  President Obama will deliver a statement on Syria from the Rose Garden at 1:15 Eastern. It's now 1:45 Eastern and Obama is yet to speak.

Quartet to Dust Off Arab League Peace Plan

A senior member of the Obama administration said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will announce the start of direct peace negotiations with Israel in only "a matter of days." Was that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel?

The Quartet will call for will call for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders within a year or two. If that sounds familiar, it should. The Arab League proposed such a peace in 2002.

Israel remains aloof, according to Haaretz:

Israeli officials are trying to show toughness regarding preconditions. "Israel is not willing to agree to any preconditions from the back door via a Quartet announcement that will serve as a basis for the negotiations."

Yet, the rush to the negotiating table implies something. Israel has a history of tying up its neighbors prior to making war in the region. Quartet envoy Tony Blair has a history of spilling the beans. My guess is they have him muzzled.

Israel's Shining Democracy

The shining democratic star in the Middle East dimmed and not because it entered Day 18 of its pummeling of Gaza. Other news caused the Israeli star to wane.

IDF uses live ammo to break up West Bank protests

Palestinians and Israeli left-wing activists claim that in the wake of Operation Cast Lead, the Israel Defense Forces has reintroduced the use of a semiautomatic rifle that uses live ammunition to disperse crowds that was banned after the second Intifada.

Breaking up democratic protests with .22 caliber ammunition? That's Israel. What else?

Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections

The Central Elections Committee (CEC) yesterday banned the Arab parties United Arab List-Ta'al and Balad from running in next month's parliamentary elections amid accusations of racism from Arab MKs.

How many shots at free speech will Israel take? As for the racist charge, the State Department identified Israel as discriminating on housing and jobs against Arab citizens. It took a few years for George W. Bush to scrub this language from State Department reports.

Israel's democratic credentials are worthy of question. Bush said "Democracies don't war." Israel regularly takes up arms against its neighbors. The viable Arab League Peace Plan was offered in 2002. Israel apparently wants peace in a piecemeal, but violent way.

Freedom to Say No to Peace

The Middle East's shining democracy of Israel is free to say no. Consider a few of the Jewish state's concerns. They are deeply concerned about peace with their Arab neighbors. Israel is worried about the dangers from a nuclear armed Iran. And on both issues they've said no.

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney made his second war tour through the Middle East in March. He noted that Israel would surely agree to peace with their neighbors if any reasonable offer hit the table. Well, for six years the Jewish state said no to an Arab League plan. Here's how the the Foreign Policy Adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah put it:

ANNOUNCER: According to the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Adel Al-Jubeir, the Saudis are puzzled by Israel’s perceived reluctance to accept the Saudi peace initiative.

ADEL AL-JUBEIR: “The initiative has everything that Israel has ever wanted – recognition of Israel as a Jewish State, peace treaties between Israel and the Arab countries – everything that the Israelis have sought over the past 50 years is on the table. It’s mind boggling that they cannot take yes for an answer.”

At least we're used to senior Bush officials giving "their version" of reality. While I can lament the loss of six years of possible peace, the present finds the world facing a possible joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran looming. News from Israel shows their military training for a pre-emptive strike. Their media emphatically states Mahmoud Ahmadinejad = Adolf Hitler and the Jewish people face imminent genocide.

American neo-cons spread myths on the airwaves that Arab countries would secretly love more conflict in the region. The war mongers also blame the "weaker" party for any future attack. President Bush would need to take action before a wimp took office and Neville Chamberlained all over the Oval Office.

It's sad that people with balls, like Bush and Olmert, can't take responsibility for their own aggression.

America's Proxy Effort Against Mehdi Army in Iraq?

What if Iraq's effort to disarm Muqtada is both a proxy battle to gauge regional feedback and a head fake to Iran? Taking on a huge Shi'ite group in Iraq could gauge any backlash from attacking Shia Iran. Most of the Sunni Arab leaders didn't pack their suitcase for the trip to Damascus and the annual meeting of the Arab League. If those Middle East hot spots stay quiet for the al-Sadr engagement, that bodes well for a green light on Iran.

And where in Iraq are the Sadrists? In the south, close to Iran. The movement of large numbers of American troops and equipment could occur under the cover of controlling outlaw militias. They would be in place for whatever mischief V.P. Cheney and Israeli P.M. Ehud Olmert planned, just after the recent military dress rehearsal between their two countries.

Balderdash? What have you been smoking? Well, the Russians took in the same foul air.

Russian military intelligence services are reporting a flurry of activity by U.S. Armed Forces near Iran's borders, a high-ranking security source said Tuesday.

The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran," the official said, adding that the Pentagon has probably not yet made a final decision as to when an attack will be launched.

He said the Pentagon is looking for a way to deliver a strike against Iran "that would enable the Americans to bring the country to its knees at minimal cost."

Now that sounds familiar. Cakewalk, anyone?

Obama's Odd UN Speech

President Obama gave an odd talk at the United Nations.  He continued the U.S. call on freezing settlement expansion, at least a decade in running.  Israel ignored these pleas with no apparent consequences..

Obama moved on to elements of the Arab League Peace Plan, put on the table in 2002 and recently cited by Hillary Clinton as a remarkable document.  He failed to mention Israel's lack of response to the plan.  Instead, the President encouraged Arab states to implement their part.

Israel's Nine Year Window for Peace with Arab Neighbors

Egypt and Saudi Arabia encouraged President Obama to put a two year window on peace in the Middle East. The Arab League Peace plan was introduced in 2002. By 2011, Israel will have had nine years to reach peace in its neighborhood.

WEF becomes War Equity Forum

The World Economic Forum is tackling more than global financial system reform. It hosted a panel on Israel-Gaza's impact on Middle East non-peace. Even that session was contentious. The Jerusalem Post reported the current middleman, Turkish Prime Minister, left the stage in a huff.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he left not because of a dispute with Israeli President Shimon Peres, but because he was not given time to respond to the president's remarks. Erdogan also complained that Peres had 25 minutes while he was only given 12 minutes.

Peres's defense was prompted by harsh criticism leveled at Israel not only by Erdogan, but also by the two other panelists, Arab League head Amr Moussa and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Israel had a seven year window for peace with neighboring Arab countries. It chose war. The global power boys are happy to sell arms to Israel, much of that provided and paid for by American taxpayers.

The WEF tackles global change. Private equity and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds plan to keep their preferred, unregulated status. Israel and the U.S. continue to tamper with countries in the Near East. What will happen after this round of WEF professional wrestling in Davos? The big money, heavy handed, power boys remain in charge.

Rahm, Rahm, Rahm, Rahm on Iran

The Jersualem Post reported on a private session Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel held with major AIPAC donors. The report stated:

The task of forming an international coalition to thwart Iran's nuclear program will be made easier if progress is made in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has said, according to sources in Washington.

Israeli TV stations had reported Monday night that Emanuel had actually linked the two matters, saying that the efforts to stop Iran hinged on peace talks with the Palestinians. The remarks were reportedly made in a closed-door meeting previous day with 300 major AIPAC donors on Sunday.

Iranian negotiations will go nowhere, in light of each country's official positions. To sell another war, the world needs to see leaders collaborating toward peace.

Recall Rahm is the politician who won't let a crisis go to waste. Forget the Arab League peace plan sat on a shelf gathering dust since 2002.

Will the next crisis be fueled by influential AIPAC funders? What about the over half of Congress that attended AIPAC's Monday night Gala? What will their role be? What about neocon Dennis Ross, the Special Adviser for the Persian Gulf? He continues his tour of the Middle East.

Preparing for More Violence

The United States and Israel attacked four areas since the New Millennium, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza. The heavy handed pair prepares for more wars. The Jerusalem Post reported:

Defense Ministry Director-General Pinchas Buhris was scheduled to travel to the United States on Monday for talks at the Pentagon about the F-35.

Buhris will also seek to receive assurances from the new administration that the US will continue to fund the development of the Arrow 3 missile defense system.

More planes and missile defense for the most powerful military in the Middle East? It makes more sense to work on peace, which Israel clearly does not want. The Arab League Peace Plan gathered dust on a shelf since 2002. And there will be more wars led by Israel and the United States...

Israel Attacks Qatari Capital

Israel attacked a residential area of Doha, Qatar with the intent of assassinating members of Hamas.  A Hamas negotiating team is in Doha.   

Middle East Eye reported "around 12 air strikes struck residential buildings in Doha around 4pm local time."  The strikes were carried out by the Israeli Air Force.

I imagine the Arab League's patience is growing thin given Israel's repeated and gross violations of international law. 

Reports indicate Trump II was aware of the planned strike.