ISRAEL 

Netanyahu backs U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem though signals no urgency

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support on Sunday for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem but mentioned no time frame, after a Republican activist accused Israel of pressing the Trump administration to delay the pledged step. In an interview with Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, Marc Zell, head of the Republicans Overseas Israel branch, said new U.S. President Donald Trump was “proceeding cautiously because of concerns raised by Israeli officials”. Trump’s team spoke often during the presidential campaign about shifting the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel’s self-proclaimed capital and a holy city at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But a week ago, Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer, lowered expectations of an imminent announcement about an embassy move that would anger the Arab world and possibly touch off violence.

• KNESSET TO APPROVE BILL LEGALIZING SETTLER HOMES ON PRIVATE PALESTINIAN LAND

WARS & RUMORS THEREOF  

Saudis, UAE Predictably Back Trump Syria Safe Zone Scheme

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates voiced support for President Donald Trump’s idea to establish safe zones in Syria, which comes as no surprise given it would boost Sunni extremists who want to topple President Bashar Assad’s secular regime. The White House, for its part, wants to bottle up refugees inside Syria to prevent Muslim blockade runners from reaching U.S. shores. However, instituting safe zones would require a costly military intervention and risks empowering the very jihadist forces Trump has vowed to defeat.

• Jordan welcomes Trump’s Syria ‘safe haven’ statement

US-China war increasingly a ‘reality,’ Chinese army official says

China is preparing for a potential military clash with the United States, according to an article on the Chinese army’s website. “The possibility of war increases” as tensions around North Korea and the South China Sea heat up, Liu Guoshun, a member of the national defense mobilization unit of China’s Central Military Commission, wrote on Jan. 20—the same day as President Donald Trump’s inauguration. “‘A war within the president’s term’, ‘war breaking out tonight’ are not just slogans, but the reality,” Liu said in the Chinese commentary piece. The commentary was first reported by South China Morning Post on Friday, and comes amid concerns about a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. There MIGHT be some warning shots between the US and Chinese navies or between their air forces, but the coming war with China will be more like a sudden nuclear strike. I doubt the Chinese will give Americans any warning at all. One minute, Americans will be going about their business, the next they will have been hit with several guided nuclear missiles.

WHITE HOUSE 

Trump travel ban: people’s stories from US and around the world

‘We’ll be tattooed and taken to camps … To those who say that’s impossible: we thought Trump winning was impossible’

We’ve had no written instructions yet from the US, at least not on the frontline, and the instructions that we have received don’t mention dual nationality or green cards – it’s very unclear what to do. Some people are being stopped, while others are being given the benefit of the doubt. So if, for example, a passenger is Syrian holding a US passport we’re turning a blind eye – we’re pretending we haven’t seen the Syrian passport. One passenger stuck in the airport here is a Syrian green card holder who was denied boarding. Her family, her job, her whole life is in the US and wen she asks us when we will allow her to go home, none of us know what to say. Unfortunately because she’s Syrian it’s difficult for her to get a visa for Dubai and it’s difficult for her to go elsewhere. At the moment her chances of getting into the US depend o which airport she goes to. Being tattooed and taken to camps can be avoided through proper vetting of all immigrants to America. Vetting is a good ‘ol American tradition. Remember Ellis Island?

• Trump’s executive order contains moderate refugee restrictions similar to those that have been implemented by President Obama

• German officials regret open borders policy 

  Except for Angela Merkel who said, “the global fight against terrorism was no excuse for banning refugees or people from Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States“, according to her spokesman.

• Canada’s Trudeau welcomes refugees; U.S.-bound passengers turned away

• Starbucks: We’ll hire 10,000 refugees …Because American citizens don’t need to work, but refugees do!

TRUMP TRAVEL BAN: HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS & MAKE ENEMIES

Trump’s latest executive order to ban Muslims who are deemed to be a terrorist threat is going quite well, according to Trump. It is bringing global chaos, according to others. The travel ban is succinctly stated: “To protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States.” That does not sound like a ban on Muslims until one looks at the list of seven countries from which travelers might be banned: Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Somalia. These are, indeed, terrorist manufacturing nations, but note that Trump’s Muslim ban excludes countries in which he has business ties.

• The United States Is On The Precipice Of Widespread Civil Unrest

ISLAM & NEW WORLD ORDER 

6 dead, 2 arrested after shooting at Quebec City mosque

Six people were killed and eight wounded when gunmen opened fire at a Quebec City mosque during Sunday night prayers, in what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a “terrorist attack on Muslims”. Police said two suspects had been arrested, but gave no details about them or what prompted the attack. 

• Six killed, eight wounded

• Canadian PM Trudeau calls Quebec City mosque shooting ‘terrorist attack on Muslims’

• TEXAS MOSQUE DESTROYED IN EARLY-MORNING BLAZE; CAUSE UNKNOWN