foreignpolicy--2020-06-09--America Has a National Guard. France Has National Riot Police.

As the United States tries to prevent public protest following the killing of George Floyd from spiraling into further violence , it ’ s tempting to think of French policing as an example to be followed .
France ’ s long history of street protest , from the ritual to the insurrectional , dovetails with its history of developing police units devoted to maintaining public order under chaotic conditions .
The country now has , on average , 10 political marches every day ; that makes about 3,600 events requiring crowd control a year—or double that if you add official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matches .
Nobody in France ever imagines calling for the military to patrol these events .
Instead , they are overseen by dedicated French riot units especially trained for policing instances of civic unrest .
These units ’ origins trace back 99 years ; today there are two separate national forces of riot police , together 26,000 strong , and several city-based forces to supplement them .
There are lessons to be learned from France ’ s long experience with riot police .
Not all of those lessons , however , are positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , big and small , in France for more than two decades , I can attest that French riot police are more professional , more restrained and less violent , and more diverse , in gender and ethnicity , than ever .
But they are struggling to cope with new challenges and changed times .
France ’ s methods of public order policing were much criticized , at home and abroad , during the yellow vest protests in 2018 and 2019 , which caused over 4,000 injuries to police and protesters .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cities across France—very big protests at the start , tiny by the end—not one demonstrator was killed by police action .
But even President Emmanuel Macron was forced to admit that he had been shocked by some of the injuries—including two dozen lost eyes—caused by controversial , nonlethal police weapons .
Mathieu Zagrodzki , a sociologist who has studied policing in both France and the United States , said : “ The French police injure a lot of people , but they kill very few.
” In the extensive 2005 riots against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the multiracial inner suburbs ) , there were only three deaths .
Nevertheless , French tactics and training have failed to adjust to more unpredictable and violent types of rioting , beyond the ritualized confrontations of the past in which rules of engagement were understood on both sides .
Their new weapons , intended to reduce direct contact with protesters , such as rubber bullets and stun grenades , have proved more dangerous than their old truncheons and staves .
Tellingly , the two main bodies of French riot police have refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best practice for defusing anger on the streets .
It ’ s fair to wonder why France requires two separate national forces of riot police in the first place .
If you attend a demonstration or a riot in France these days , the defenders of the state resemble medieval knights in armor with a variety of uniforms and a rainbow of helmet colors—black with yellow bands , light blue , darker blue , or white .
This multiplicity of forces is unique to France .
Other EU countries have a single , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are historical reasons for this bureaucratic overlap .
After several bad experiences with using troop or temporary units of gendarmes for crowd control in the early 20th century , France set up a permanent squad of riot police in 1921 .
By 1926 , they had expanded into the Mobile Republican Guard , attached to the Gendarmerie , the paramilitary force that polices rural areas .
This unit evolved over the years into the Mobile Gendarmerie Squadron , now 12,800 strong , divided into 109 squadrons and 18 groups and scattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent , as needed , in fleets of buses and vans to police demonstrations and state occasions .
They wear light blue helmets .
The other nationwide French police force , the civilian National Police , which operates in cities and big towns , had long wanted a riot force of its own .
In 1944 , with German soldiers still on French soil , Charles de Gaulle , fearful of a Communist uprising , gave the National Police the Companies for Republican Security ( CRS ) .
The CRS is now 13,100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly housed in French cities .
These companies perform exactly the same roles as the mobile gendarmerie , but they have a different style of armored uniform and wear black helmets with yellow bands .
The CRS , once a byword for brutality , has become much more disciplined in recent years .
It has also—and the two may be connected—recruited women for the first time .
By my observation , 1 in 10 CRS police nowadays , including many senior officers , are women .
In 2003 , Nicolas Sarkozy , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local “ security and intervention companies ” to deal with riots and other public order offenses in the poor multiracial suburbs .
They wear dark blue helmets .
There are also , in Paris alone , the Intervention Companies ( navy helmets with light blue bands ) and Violence Suppression Brigades ( white helmets ) .
Other , plainclothes police units in jeans , leather jackets , and motorcycle helmets of many colors frequently attend the biggest demonstrations .
Confusing ?
Yes—for the French police as well as for the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing political or social protest in France has also grown more complicated .
There used to be an unofficial working manual for French demonstrations , observed by all sides save a fringe of violent troublemakers ( known as “ casseurs ” or “ smashers ” ) .
The protesters—steelworkers , wine-growers , students , lawyers , chefs—would agree to an itinerary .
They would provide their own security staff .
They would march on the agreed route .
They would throw a few missiles at the police .
The police would respond , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baton charges .
Sometimes , with the more radical protests , there would be serious scuffles or hand-to-hand fighting .
In the last 15 or so years , two rules-free forms of protest have emerged .
First , there is the fast-moving urban—or in France , suburban—riot , in which there are no clear battle lines .
These are comparatively rare and happen mostly at night .
They involve gangs of youths .
Cars and public buildings are burned .
Shops are looted .
Second , there are street marches that refuse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itineraries .
Groups break away and attack buildings or shops or cars or the police .
This was the pattern of the most violent yellow vest demonstrations , which began as a peaceful protest by the provincial working and lower-middle class against fuel taxes and the urban elite .
They were hijacked by a violent , angry fringe of yellow vests and then hijacked again by organized radical anarchist and anti-capitalist groups—the so-called “ black blocs.
” The present tactical doctrine of the French riot police , of all stripes and helmet colors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest public buildings .
Tear gas , rubber bullets , and stun grenades are to be used to keep the crowds at bay—and on their declared routes .
Riot police are trained to act only in groups and only on direct orders .
They have , in theory , no right of individual action or initiative .
They are supposed to aim their nonlethal weapons below the waist and not use stun grenades in densely packed crowds .
The more radical yellow vest protesters and allies overwhelmed those tactics , burning cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and March 2019 .
After that , the police tactics became more aggressive—sometimes overaggressive .
For weeks , the different police and gendarmerie units shifted between defensive and aggressive tactics without finding the right balance .
In my experience , police attacks on peaceful demonstrators were rare to nonexistent , but less violent yellow vest demonstrators often found themselves injured in the crossfire .
What the French police rarely did—unlike their German , Dutch , and British counterparts—was to find ways of defusing the tension or anger .
Some of the yellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no interest in talking .
But French police hardly attempted de-escalation .
In neighboring Germany and the Netherlands , police have developed noncoercive crowd control ideas , such as giant screens to keep protesters informed of police intentions .
France has specialized in crowd control tactics that are nonlethal , but it would be a mistake to think of them as nonviolent .
France , for all its experience , is ultimately not an ideal model for the United States to follow .
In part , that ’ s because of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that French riot police , perhaps because of their long tradition , have neglected techniques to de-escalate , rather than simply subdue , civic unrest .
More importantly , there are serious social differences between Europe and the United States that make an American gendarmerie difficult to imagine .
America is a heavily armed country .
France is not—which is why , perhaps in part , its police forces feel they can focus their attention on nonlethal tactics .

As the United States tries to prevent public protest following the killing of George Floyd from spiraling into further violence, it’s tempting to think of French policing as an example to be followed. France’s long history of street protest, from the ritual to the insurrectional, dovetails with its history of developing police units devoted to maintaining public order under chaotic conditions. The country now has, on average , 10 political marches every day; that makes about 3,600 events requiring crowd control a year—or double that if you add official visits and other troublesome occasions like football matches.
As the United States tries to prevent public protest following the killing of George Floyd from spiraling into further violence, it’s tempting to think of French policing as an example to be followed. France’s long history of street protest, from the ritual to the insurrectional, dovetails with its history of developing police units devoted to maintaining public order under chaotic conditions. The country now has, on average, 10 political marches every day; that makes about 3,600 events requiring crowd control a year—or double that if you add official visits and other troublesome occasions like football matches.
Nobody in France ever imagines calling for the military to patrol these events. Instead, they are overseen by dedicated French riot units especially trained for policing instances of civic unrest. These units’ origins trace back 99 years; today there are two separate national forces of riot police, together 26,000 strong, and several city-based forces to supplement them.
There are lessons to be learned from France’s long experience with riot police. Not all of those lessons, however, are positive. Having covered examples of public disorder, big and small, in France for more than two decades, I can attest that French riot police are more professional, more restrained and less violent, and more diverse, in gender and ethnicity, than ever. But they are struggling to cope with new challenges and changed times.
France’s methods of public order policing were much criticized, at home and abroad, during the yellow vest protests in 2018 and 2019, which caused over 4,000 injuries to police and protesters. During 71 consecutive weekends of yellow vest protest in cities across France—very big protests at the start, tiny by the end—not one demonstrator was killed by police action. But even President Emmanuel Macron was forced to admit that he had been shocked by some of the injuries—including two dozen lost eyes—caused by controversial, nonlethal police weapons.
Mathieu Zagrodzki, a sociologist who has studied policing in both France and the United States, said: “The French police injure a lot of people, but they kill very few.” In the extensive 2005 riots against police violence in the French banlieues (the multiracial inner suburbs), there were only three deaths.
Nevertheless, French tactics and training have failed to adjust to more unpredictable and violent types of rioting, beyond the ritualized confrontations of the past in which rules of engagement were understood on both sides. Their new weapons, intended to reduce direct contact with protesters, such as rubber bullets and stun grenades, have proved more dangerous than their old truncheons and staves. Tellingly, the two main bodies of French riot police have refused to join a European Union-wide police debate on best practice for defusing anger on the streets.
It’s fair to wonder why France requires two separate national forces of riot police in the first place. If you attend a demonstration or a riot in France these days, the defenders of the state resemble medieval knights in armor with a variety of uniforms and a rainbow of helmet colors—black with yellow bands, light blue, darker blue, or white. This multiplicity of forces is unique to France. Other EU countries have a single, dedicated corps of riot police or none.
There are historical reasons for this bureaucratic overlap. After several bad experiences with using troop or temporary units of gendarmes for crowd control in the early 20th century, France set up a permanent squad of riot police in 1921. By 1926, they had expanded into the Mobile Republican Guard, attached to the Gendarmerie, the paramilitary force that polices rural areas. This unit evolved over the years into the Mobile Gendarmerie Squadron, now 12,800 strong, divided into 109 squadrons and 18 groups and scattered all over provincial France. They are sent, as needed, in fleets of buses and vans to police demonstrations and state occasions. They wear light blue helmets.
The other nationwide French police force, the civilian National Police, which operates in cities and big towns, had long wanted a riot force of its own. In 1944, with German soldiers still on French soil, Charles de Gaulle, fearful of a Communist uprising, gave the National Police the Companies for Republican Security (CRS). The CRS is now 13,100 strong, divided into 60 companies, mostly housed in French cities. These companies perform exactly the same roles as the mobile gendarmerie, but they have a different style of armored uniform and wear black helmets with yellow bands. The CRS, once a byword for brutality, has become much more disciplined in recent years. It has also—and the two may be connected—recruited women for the first time. By my observation, 1 in 10 CRS police nowadays, including many senior officers, are women.
In 2003, Nicolas Sarkozy, then interior minister, added a series of local “security and intervention companies” to deal with riots and other public order offenses in the poor multiracial suburbs. They wear dark blue helmets. There are also, in Paris alone, the Intervention Companies (navy helmets with light blue bands) and Violence Suppression Brigades (white helmets). Other, plainclothes police units in jeans, leather jackets, and motorcycle helmets of many colors frequently attend the biggest demonstrations.
Confusing? Yes—for the French police as well as for the country’s citizens. Meanwhile, the business of policing political or social protest in France has also grown more complicated. There used to be an unofficial working manual for French demonstrations, observed by all sides save a fringe of violent troublemakers (known as “casseurs” or “smashers”). The protesters—steelworkers, wine-growers, students, lawyers, chefs—would agree to an itinerary. They would provide their own security staff. They would march on the agreed route. They would throw a few missiles at the police. The police would respond, usually halfheartedly, with tear gas or baton charges. Sometimes, with the more radical protests, there would be serious scuffles or hand-to-hand fighting.
In the last 15 or so years, two rules-free forms of protest have emerged. First, there is the fast-moving urban—or in France, suburban—riot, in which there are no clear battle lines. These are comparatively rare and happen mostly at night. They involve gangs of youths. Cars and public buildings are burned. Shops are looted.
Second, there are street marches that refuse to accept, or stick to, agreed itineraries. Groups break away and attack buildings or shops or cars or the police. This was the pattern of the most violent yellow vest demonstrations, which began as a peaceful protest by the provincial working and lower-middle class against fuel taxes and the urban elite. They were hijacked by a violent, angry fringe of yellow vests and then hijacked again by organized radical anarchist and anti-capitalist groups—the so-called “black blocs.”
The present tactical doctrine of the French riot police, of all stripes and helmet colors, is to stand back and protect the biggest public buildings. Tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades are to be used to keep the crowds at bay—and on their declared routes. Riot police are trained to act only in groups and only on direct orders. They have, in theory, no right of individual action or initiative. They are supposed to aim their nonlethal weapons below the waist and not use stun grenades in densely packed crowds.
The more radical yellow vest protesters and allies overwhelmed those tactics, burning cars and buildings around the Champs-Élysées in December 2018 and March 2019. After that, the police tactics became more aggressive—sometimes overaggressive. For weeks, the different police and gendarmerie units shifted between defensive and aggressive tactics without finding the right balance. In my experience, police attacks on peaceful demonstrators were rare to nonexistent, but less violent yellow vest demonstrators often found themselves injured in the crossfire.
What the French police rarely did—unlike their German, Dutch, and British counterparts—was to find ways of defusing the tension or anger. Some of the yellow jacket protesters, it is true, had no interest in talking. But French police hardly attempted de-escalation. In neighboring Germany and the Netherlands, police have developed noncoercive crowd control ideas, such as giant screens to keep protesters informed of police intentions. France has specialized in crowd control tactics that are nonlethal, but it would be a mistake to think of them as nonviolent.
France, for all its experience, is ultimately not an ideal model for the United States to follow. In part, that’s because of some of France’s own weaknesses—the ways that French riot police, perhaps because of their long tradition, have neglected techniques to de-escalate, rather than simply subdue, civic unrest. More importantly, there are serious social differences between Europe and the United States that make an American gendarmerie difficult to imagine. America is a heavily armed country. France is not—which is why, perhaps in part, its police forces feel they can focus their attention on nonlethal tactics.


foreignpolicy--2020-06-09--The Coronavirus Isn’t Going Away

The Coronavirus Isn’t Going Away

The Coronavirus Isn ’ t Going Away Here is today ’ s Foreign Policy brief : WHO records the highest daily number of coronavirus cases to date , intra-Afghan talks are possible later this month , and Russia dismisses a U.S. plan to extend an arms embargo against Iran .
If you would like to receive Morning Brief in your inbox every weekday , please sign up here .
As dense crowds of protesters gather around the world , and New Zealand announces a return to life as usual , it ’ s easy to forget that a pandemic is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months into the pandemic , this is not the time for any country to take its foot off the pedal , ” World Health Organization ( WHO ) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said .
On Monday , the WHO recorded the largest daily increase in new coronavirus cases since the pandemic began , 136,000 in total ; 75 percent of new cases came from just ten countries , mostly in the Americas and South Asia .
Brazil ’ s statistics go down the memory hole .
One of those ten struggling nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a health minister ( following a sacking and a resignation ) and where coronavirus data has become a political tool .
Local health authorities are now the best source of historical data on Brazil ’ s coronavirus outbreak , as the federal website now only shows daily figures .
Federal numbers were also in question over the weekend as the health ministry released two sets of contradictory data—a release it later said was a mistake .
The perceived lack of transparency has led to criticism from Brazilian lawmakers .
“ By changing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sun with a sieve , ” Rodrigo Maia , the speaker of the lower house , said on Twitter .
“ The credibility of the statistics needs to be urgently recovered .
A ministry that manipulates numbers creates a parallel world in order not to face the reality of the facts.
” The knock-on effect for the rural poor .
As Western countries largely emerge from lockdowns , ongoing social distancing in the world ’ s poorest countries could have damaging effects .
Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak , writing in Foreign Policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on countries with large rural populations dependent on crop cycles and migrant labor .
In such areas , hunger and malnutrition could increase even more than is typical during the lean season—and linger long after the coronavirus is conquered .
Afghan negotiations in June ?
Peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban could begin as early as this month , according to Reuters .
The news comes a day after U.S. envoy for Afghanistan , Zalmay Khalilzad , met with Taliban representatives in Doha and visited Pakistani officials in Islamabad .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in violence has created a momentum for the talks to begin soon and the government is fully ready , ” a spokesperson for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said .
And nuclear arms talks , too .
Negotiations between the United States and Russia have been set for Vienna on June 22 , according to a State Department official quoted by Bloomberg .
The official said that an extension of the New START treaty was possible , as long as Russia “ commits to three-way arms control with China and helps to bring a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billingslea , the special presidential envoy for arms control who will lead the talks in Vienna , has left the door open for China to join , although there has been no response from Beijing .
China has dismissed previous offers of talks , pointing to its relatively low number of nuclear weapons compared to those held by Washington and Moscow .
Russia rejects Iran embargo .
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has called for “ universal condemnation ” of the U.S. campaign to pass a permanent arms embargo on Iran through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , Lavrov called the U.S. attempt to hold Iran to the confines of the Iran deal while the United States had already broken the deal was “ ridiculous and irresponsible.
” U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook will speak today at the Heritage Foundation on the subject .
Korea hotlines cut .
North Korea plans to sever communications hotlines with South Korea in a dispute over defectors sending leaflets and other material to the North , according to Pyongyang ’ s state news agency KCNA .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them , as they have only aroused our dismay , ” the KCNA report said Ehtiopian lawmaker resigns .
The speaker of Ethiopia ’ s upper house , Keria Ibrahim , has resigned over the postponement of parliamentary and regional elections previously set for August .
The elections have been postponed due to coronavirus fears , but no new date has been decided .
“ I can ’ t be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a dictatorial government is being formed , ” Ibrahim said .
“ I have resigned not to be collaborator [ with ] such a historical mistake.
” Cuba almost coronavirus free .
Cuba—a country that prides itself on its health system—has almost vanquished its coronavirus epidemic , according to official data .
It has recently averaged less than ten cases per day and on Monday went nine consecutive days without a reported death from COVID-19 .
“ We could be shortly closing in on the tail end of the pandemic and entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said over the weekend .
Retweets do equal endorsements , according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , as he addressed U.N. staffers frustrated that the organization restricts them from joining worldwide protests against racism , FP ’ s Colum Lynch reports .
Guterres has stopped short of allowing staff to voice their support for protests , offering a compromise solution .
“ There is one thing we can all do , which is to retweet , to spread the U.N. messages that have been issued already in relation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be done by everybody and multiply and amplify those messages that are messages against racism , that are messages against police brutality , that are messages against inequalities and discrimination , ” Guterres said .
Some in the U.N. hierarchy found the response insufficient .
“ While I understand the need to ensure the impartiality of its international civil service , it is clear that internal U.N. rules can not override broad international human rights norms applied in every nation , ” Clément Voule , the U.N. special rapporteur on rights to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a statement .
For more from FP , visit foreignpolicy.com , subscribe here , or sign up for our other newsletters .
Send your tips , comments , questions , or corrections to morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .

Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: WHO records the highest daily number of coronavirus cases to date, intra-Afghan talks are possible later this month, and Russia dismisses a U.S. plan to extend an arms embargo against Iran .
Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: WHO records the highest daily number of coronavirus cases to date, intra-Afghan talks are possible later this month, and Russia dismisses a U.S. plan to extend an arms embargo against Iran.
If you would like to receive Morning Brief in your inbox every weekday, please sign up here.
WHO Issues Warning As Daily Caseload Grows
As dense crowds of protesters gather around the world, and New Zealand announces a return to life as usual, it’s easy to forget that a pandemic is still raging.
“More than six months into the pandemic, this is not the time for any country to take its foot off the pedal,” World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
On Monday, the WHO recorded the largest daily increase in new coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, 136,000 in total; 75 percent of new cases came from just ten countries, mostly in the Americas and South Asia.
Brazil’s statistics go down the memory hole. One of those ten struggling nations is Brazil—a country that is still without a health minister (following a sacking and a resignation) and where coronavirus data has become a political tool. Local health authorities are now the best source of historical data on Brazil’s coronavirus outbreak, as the federal website now only shows daily figures. Federal numbers were also in question over the weekend as the health ministry released two sets of contradictory data—a release it later said was a mistake.
The perceived lack of transparency has led to criticism from Brazilian lawmakers. “By changing the numbers, the Ministry of Health covers the sun with a sieve,” Rodrigo Maia, the speaker of the lower house, said on Twitter. “The credibility of the statistics needs to be urgently recovered. A ministry that manipulates numbers creates a parallel world in order not to face the reality of the facts.”
The knock-on effect for the rural poor. As Western countries largely emerge from lockdowns, ongoing social distancing in the world’s poorest countries could have damaging effects. Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, writing in Foreign Policy, warns of the unintended consequences of lockdowns on countries with large rural populations dependent on crop cycles and migrant labor. In such areas, hunger and malnutrition could increase even more than is typical during the lean season—and linger long after the coronavirus is conquered.
What We’re Following Today
Afghan negotiations in June? Peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban could begin as early as this month, according to Reuters. The news comes a day after U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, met with Taliban representatives in Doha and visited Pakistani officials in Islamabad. “The ceasefire, prisoners release and reduction in violence has created a momentum for the talks to begin soon and the government is fully ready,” a spokesperson for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said.
And nuclear arms talks, too. Negotiations between the United States and Russia have been set for Vienna on June 22, according to a State Department official quoted by Bloomberg. The official said that an extension of the New START treaty was possible, as long as Russia “commits to three-way arms control with China and helps to bring a resistant Beijing to the table.” Marshall Billingslea, the special presidential envoy for arms control who will lead the talks in Vienna, has left the door open for China to join, although there has been no response from Beijing. China has dismissed previous offers of talks, pointing to its relatively low number of nuclear weapons compared to those held by Washington and Moscow.
Russia rejects Iran embargo. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has called for “universal condemnation” of the U.S. campaign to pass a permanent arms embargo on Iran through the United Nations Security Council. In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Lavrov called the U.S. attempt to hold Iran to the confines of the Iran deal while the United States had already broken the deal was “ridiculous and irresponsible.” U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook will speak today at the Heritage Foundation on the subject.
Keep an Eye On
Korea hotlines cut. North Korea plans to sever communications hotlines with South Korea in a dispute over defectors sending leaflets and other material to the North, according to Pyongyang’s state news agency KCNA. “We have reached a conclusion that there is no need to sit face to face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them, as they have only aroused our dismay,” the KCNA report said
Ehtiopian lawmaker resigns. The speaker of Ethiopia’s upper house, Keria Ibrahim, has resigned over the postponement of parliamentary and regional elections previously set for August. The elections have been postponed due to coronavirus fears, but no new date has been decided. “I can’t be an accomplice when the constitution is being violated and a dictatorial government is being formed,” Ibrahim said. “I have resigned not to be collaborator [with] such a historical mistake.”
Cuba almost coronavirus free. Cuba—a country that prides itself on its health system—has almost vanquished its coronavirus epidemic, according to official data. It has recently averaged less than ten cases per day and on Monday went nine consecutive days without a reported death from COVID-19. “We could be shortly closing in on the tail end of the pandemic and entering the phase of recovery from COVID,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said over the weekend.
Odds and Ends
Retweets do equal endorsements, according to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as he addressed U.N. staffers frustrated that the organization restricts them from joining worldwide protests against racism, FP’s Colum Lynch reports. Guterres has stopped short of allowing staff to voice their support for protests, offering a compromise solution. “There is one thing we can all do, which is to retweet, to spread the U.N. messages that have been issued already in relation to [the protests], and this can be done by everybody and multiply and amplify those messages that are messages against racism, that are messages against police brutality, that are messages against inequalities and discrimination,” Guterres said.
Some in the U.N. hierarchy found the response insufficient. “While I understand the need to ensure the impartiality of its international civil service, it is clear that internal U.N. rules cannot override broad international human rights norms applied in every nation,” Clément Voule, the U.N. special rapporteur on rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, said in a statement.
That’s it for today.
For more from FP, visit foreignpolicy.com, subscribe here, or sign up for our other newsletters. Send your tips, comments, questions, or corrections to morningbrief@foreignpolicy.com.


foreignpolicy--2020-06-08--U.N. Reverses Ban on Staff Participation in Anti-Racism Protests

The United Nations instructed its staff members last week not to participate in public demonstrations sweeping the world in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd , on the grounds that public displays of support for the protest movement would undermine the world body ’ s reputation for impartiality , according to a copy of an internal circular the U.N. ethics board sent to U.N. staff last week .
But the U.N. Secretary General António Guterres reversed course Tuesday , informing U.N. staffers by email that there is “ no ban on personal expressions of solidarity or acts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are carried out in an entirely private capacity.
” Speaking to U.N. staffers at a virtual town hall meeting last week , Guterres had acknowledged that many U.N. colleagues “ would like to be more vocal and active ” in response to the popular protests against racism and police brutality in New York and beyond , according to a video recording of the event obtained by Foreign Policy .
But he said they would have to restrain themselves .
“ We are all shocked by the brutality of the murder of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognize that at the center of [ this crisis ] there is a serious question of racism , ” he said .
But he cautioned that U.N. staffers ’ status as international civil servants placed “ limitations ” on their freedom to speak out or act .
U.N. workers who wished to express support for the protesters would have to limit their activities to reposting U.N. press releases and social media posts by the U.N. chief and other senior U.N. officials , he said .
“ There is one thing we can all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread the U.N. messages that have been issued already in relation to [ the protests ] , and this can be done by everybody and multiply and amplify those messages that are messages against racism , that are messages against police brutality , that are message against inequalities and discrimination , ” Guterres said .
But the decision faced pushback among U.N. staffers and independent U.N. human rights advocates , who claimed the restrictions abridged the rights of individuals to free speech and peaceful assembly , which are enshrined in the U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Political Rights .
“ While I understand the need to ensure the impartiality of its international civil service , it is clear that internal UN rules can not override broad international human rights norms applied in every nation , ” Clément Voule , the U.N. special rapporteur on rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association , said in a statement .
“ The issues at the heart of the protests that have unfolded since the killing of George Floyd are the same fundamental issues that the UN has been fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Togolese lawyer , wrote .
“ The UN has been at the forefront of the fight against racism and discrimination .
This is the reason why people have taken to the streets and why UN staff should be able to join them.
” The ethics board circular—which ordered U.N. officials to avoid protests and observe curfews in New York City and other American cities—followed weeks of mass demonstrations against police brutality across all 50 states .
The protests—triggered by the video of a Minneapolis police officer asphyxiating Floyd with his knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
“ Participation in public demonstrations in the current circumstances may not be consistent with the independence and impartiality required of us as international civil servants , ” according to the circular , which was initially endorsed by Guterres .
“ Thus , staff members should consider the consequences of participating in public demonstrations given the public health orders during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic to maintain social distancing , to avoid large gatherings and to practice other public health measures that may be incompatible with participation in mass protests.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public protests is detailed in a series of staff guidelines and regulations aimed at excluding U.N. officials in political activities .
“ While staff may have political views , their status as impartial international civil servants never ceases while in service , and expression of a particular political opinion or opinion about a particularly sensitive political matter in public may not be compatible with that status , ” according to a 2016 bulletin by the U.N. secretary-general .
“ In New York City or other locations in which curfews have been imposed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar public orders , ” according to the ethics board circular .
“ Insofar as some of the protests have given rise to violence and property damage , the risk that a United Nations staff member could be swept up in an uncontrolled demonstration , including facing arrest or detention , could bring substantial disrepute to the Organization.
” On Tuesday , Guterres told staff that the ethics office guidance was not intended to prohibit U.N. staffers from participating in peaceful demonstrations , but to “ emphasize the need to balance such activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international civil servants and our official duties.
” He also released a “ rough transcript ” of his June 4 town hall address , which he said had highlighted “ the plague of racism , prompted by a murderous act of police brutality that has lead to widespread protests in the United States , and now , cities around the world.
” The move comes as the families of victims of police violence , including Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Michael Brown , and Philando Castile , on Monday issued a call for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special session to investigate the violent police repression of protests in the United States .
The American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) , Black Lives Matter , the NAACP , and hundreds of other rights groups have joined in the appeal .
“ I want people across the world and the leaders in the United Nations to see the video of my brother George Floyd , to listen to his cry for help , and I want them to answer his cry , ” Philonise Floyd said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help him .
Help me .
Help us .
Help black men and women in America.
” “ It is time the United States face the same scrutiny and judgment it is quick to pass on to other countries , ” Jamil Dakwar , the director of the ACLU ’ s human rights program , added in a statement .
Since its founding in 1945 , the U.N. has sought to strike a careful balance between deferring to member states to manage their internal politics and championing the principles of the U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights , in the dignity and worth of the human person , in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.
” The U.N. Staff Union acknowledged that U.N. staffers need to abide by the principle of the U.N. Charter and comply with the standards of conduct expected of international civil servants .
But it also recommended that U.N. workers be granted greater freedom to decide how to respond .
“ Around the world , people have poured out into the streets to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to life and rejecting senseless violence .
Many of us are moved by the desire to take action , ” the Staff Union said in a statement .
“ We trust your good judgment in finding the right balance , in avoiding negative comments and in keeping your statements and posts forward-looking and constructive.
” “ We are well placed at the UN to answer these questions , through the required conversations may not be easy .
Our unparalleled diversity is our greatest strength , ” the union added .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , utilizing our shared knowledge and our shared experiences to foster inclusion and respect diversity.
” It is not the first time that the U.N. has been confronted with the moral dilemma of engaging in peaceful public dissent .
During the civil rights movement in the 1960s , Ralph Bunche , an African American who won a Nobel Peace Prize as the United Nations ’ Middle East mediator , marched arm in arm with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma , Alabama , and other cities .
In Tuesday ’ s letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s history of fighting discrimination .
“ The United Nations has a proud record of fighting racism and all forms of discrimination , from our leading role in the struggle against apartheid to the welcome extended to Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr .
Indeed , our own illustrious former colleague — Ralphe Bunche — was the first person of color to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and a front-line figure in the civil rights struggle , ” he wrote .
Guterres has been leery of taking steps that might provoke controversy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers .
But he told U.N. staff during the town hall meeting that addressing the issues raised by protesters—including racism , inequality , and discrimination—remained central to U.N. aspirations to meet its own development goals over the coming decades .
Guterres , who opened the meeting with a call for a moment of silence for victims of racism , expressed general support for the protests .
“ There are grievances , and those grievances have at least the legitimate rights to be expressed in societies , and so demonstrations are something that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ask demonstrators to be peaceful and at the same time to ask authorities to listen to their grievances and for police forces and others to be restrained in the way they handle these situations.
” Police brutality , he added , is simply a symptom of racism and a broader inability to deal with the challenges of managing a diverse society .
Guterres urged staffers to reach out to the U.N. leadership in the event that they are subject to racial profiling in New York City , noting that “ at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city might be stopped or whatever because of a profiling situation.
” Guterres recalled that during previous visits to the United States as the U.N. high commissioner for refugees , his Pakistani chief of staff routinely encountered extra checks at the airport .
“ He was always selected by the random system of additional security , and I was never selected by the random system of additional security.
” Guterres said the U.N. itself is not immune from charges of discrimination , noting that 60 percent of the jobs in the U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Westerners .
He said he has sought to begin an internal debate about the state of racism within the organization and to come up with a plan of action to confront it .
“ If racism exists everywhere , racism also exists within the United Nations , ” he said .
“ We need to have within the U.N. an honest conversation on racism.
” This story has been update to reflect the U.N. ’ s reversal of its prohibition on U.N. staff participation in anti-racism protests .

The United Nations instructed its staff members last week not to participate in public demonstrations sweeping the world in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, on the grounds that public displays of support for the protest movement would undermine the world body’s reputation for impartiality, according to a copy of an internal circular the U.N. ethics board sent to U.N. staff last week.
The United Nations instructed its staff members last week not to participate in public demonstrations sweeping the world in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, on the grounds that public displays of support for the protest movement would undermine the world body’s reputation for impartiality, according to a copy of an internal circular the U.N. ethics board sent to U.N. staff last week.
But U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres reversed course on Tuesday, informing U.N. staffers by email that there is “no ban on personal expressions of solidarity or acts of peaceful civic engagement, provided they are carried out in an entirely private capacity.”
Speaking to U.N. staffers at a virtual town hall meeting last week, Guterres had acknowledged that many U.N. colleagues “would like to be more vocal and active” in response to the popular protests against racism and police brutality in New York and beyond, according to a video recording of the event obtained by Foreign Policy. But he said they would have to restrain themselves.
“We are all shocked by the brutality of the murder of George Floyd. … It’s important to recognize that at the center of [this crisis] there is a serious question of racism,” he said. But he cautioned that U.N. staffers’ status as international civil servants placed “limitations” on their freedom to speak out or act.
U.N. workers who wished to express support for the protesters would have to limit their activities to reposting U.N. press releases and social media posts by the U.N. chief and other senior U.N. officials, he said. “There is one thing we can all do, which is to retweet, to spread the U.N. messages that have been issued already in relation to [the protests], and this can be done by everybody and multiply and amplify those messages that are messages against racism, that are messages against police brutality, that are message against inequalities and discrimination,” Guterres said.
But the decision faced pushback among U.N. staffers and independent U.N. human rights advocates, who claimed the restrictions abridged the rights of individuals to free speech and peaceful assembly, which are enshrined in the U.N. Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “While I understand the need to ensure the impartiality of its international civil service, it is clear that internal UN rules cannot override broad international human rights norms applied in every nation,” Clément Voule, the U.N. special rapporteur on rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, said in a statement.
“The issues at the heart of the protests that have unfolded since the killing of George Floyd are the same fundamental issues that the UN has been fighting for since its establishment,” Voule, a Togolese lawyer, wrote. “The UN has been at the forefront of the fight against racism and discrimination. This is the reason why people have taken to the streets and why UN staff should be able to join them.”
The ethics board circular—which ordered U.N. officials to avoid protests and observe curfews in New York City and other American cities—followed weeks of mass demonstrations against police brutality across all 50 states. The protests—triggered by the video of a Minneapolis police officer asphyxiating Floyd with his knee on his neck—have inspired similar ones around the world.
“Participation in public demonstrations in the current circumstances may not be consistent with the independence and impartiality required of us as international civil servants,” according to the circular, which was initially endorsed by Guterres. “Thus, staff members should consider the consequences of participating in public demonstrations given the public health orders during the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic to maintain social distancing, to avoid large gatherings and to practice other public health measures that may be incompatible with participation in mass protests.”
The U.N. policy on staff participation in public protests is detailed in a series of staff guidelines and regulations aimed at excluding U.N. officials in political activities. “While staff may have political views, their status as impartial international civil servants never ceases while in service, and expression of a particular political opinion or opinion about a particularly sensitive political matter in public may not be compatible with that status,” according to a 2016 bulletin by the U.N. secretary-general.
“In New York City or other locations in which curfews have been imposed, staff members must observe such curfews and similar public orders,” according to the ethics board circular. “Insofar as some of the protests have given rise to violence and property damage, the risk that a United Nations staff member could be swept up in an uncontrolled demonstration, including facing arrest or detention, could bring substantial disrepute to the Organization.”
On Tuesday, Guterres told staff that the ethics office guidance was not intended to prohibit U.N. staffers from participating in peaceful demonstrations but to “emphasize the need to balance such activities with one’s best judgment as international civil servants and our official duties.” He also released a “rough transcript” of his June 4 town hall address, which he said had highlighted “the plague of racism, prompted by a murderous act of police brutality that has lead to widespread protests in the United States, and now, cities around the world.”
The move comes as the families of victims of police violence, including Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Michael Brown, and Philando Castile, on Monday issued a call for the U.N. Human Rights Council to convene a special session to investigate the violent police repression of protests in the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Black Lives Matter, the NAACP, and hundreds of other rights groups have joined in the appeal.
“I want people across the world and the leaders in the United Nations to see the video of my brother George Floyd, to listen to his cry for help, and I want them to answer his cry,” Philonise Floyd said in a statement. “I appeal to the United Nations to help him. Help me. Help us. Help black men and women in America.”
“It is time the United States face the same scrutiny and judgment it is quick to pass on to other countries,” Jamil Dakwar, the director of the ACLU’s human rights program, added in a statement.
Since its founding in 1945, the U.N. has sought to strike a careful balance between deferring to member states to manage their internal politics and championing the principles of the U.N. Charter, which commits governments to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.”
The U.N. Staff Union acknowledged that U.N. staffers need to abide by the principle of the U.N. Charter and comply with the standards of conduct expected of international civil servants. But it also recommended that U.N. workers be granted greater freedom to decide how to respond.
“Around the world, people have poured out into the streets to express their solidarity, reaffirming the fundamental right to life and rejecting senseless violence. Many of us are moved by the desire to take action,” the Staff Union said in a statement. “We trust your good judgment in finding the right balance, in avoiding negative comments and in keeping your statements and posts forward-looking and constructive.”
“We are well placed at the UN to answer these questions, through the required conversations may not be easy. Our unparalleled diversity is our greatest strength,” the union added. “We can be a true engine of change, utilizing our shared knowledge and our shared experiences to foster inclusion and respect diversity.”
It is not the first time that the U.N. has been confronted with the moral dilemma of engaging in peaceful public dissent. During the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Ralph Bunche, an African American who won a Nobel Peace Prize as the United Nations’ Middle East mediator, marched arm in arm with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, and other cities.
In Tuesday’s letter to staff, Guterres highlighted the U.N.’s history of fighting discrimination. “The United Nations has a proud record of fighting racism and all forms of discrimination, from our leading role in the struggle against apartheid to the welcome extended to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indeed, our own illustrious former colleague — Ralphe Bunche — was the first person of color to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and a front-line figure in the civil rights struggle,” he wrote.
Guterres has been leery of taking steps that might provoke controversy with the United States or other big powers. But he told U.N. staff during the town hall meeting that addressing the issues raised by protesters—including racism, inequality, and discrimination—remained central to U.N. aspirations to meet its own development goals over the coming decades.
Guterres, who opened the meeting with a call for a moment of silence for victims of racism, expressed general support for the protests. “There are grievances, and those grievances have at least the legitimate rights to be expressed in societies, and so demonstrations are something that are perfectly normal. It is our role to ask demonstrators to be peaceful and at the same time to ask authorities to listen to their grievances and for police forces and others to be restrained in the way they handle these situations.”
Police brutality, he added, is simply a symptom of racism and a broader inability to deal with the challenges of managing a diverse society. Guterres urged staffers to reach out to the U.N. leadership in the event that they are subject to racial profiling in New York City, noting that “at the present moment colleagues in certain areas of the city might be stopped or whatever because of a profiling situation.”
Guterres recalled that during previous visits to the United States as the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, his Pakistani chief of staff routinely encountered extra checks at the airport. “He was always selected by the random system of additional security, and I was never selected by the random system of additional security.”
Guterres said the U.N. itself is not immune from charges of discrimination, noting that 60 percent of the jobs in the U.N. chief’s executive office were held by Westerners. He said he has sought to begin an internal debate about the state of racism within the organization and to come up with a plan of action to confront it.
“If racism exists everywhere, racism also exists within the United Nations,” he said. “We need to have within the U.N. an honest conversation on racism.”
Update, June 9, 2020: This story has been updated to reflect the U.N.’s reversal of its prohibition on U.N. staff participation in anti-racism protests.


foreignpolicy--2020-06-10--Europeans Pushing to Boycott Israel Over Annexation Should Think Twice

Europeans Pushing to Boycott Israel Over Annexation Should Think Twice Israel ’ s new government , led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz , may soon declare Israeli sovereignty over roughly 30 percent of the West Bank , including major Israeli settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley .
Some European governments are reportedly pushing the European Union for a tough response against Israel , including economic sanctions .
European governments should reject these ideas—not just because they ’ re wrong , but also because they carry significant risks for European companies and economies .
An Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War would do little to change the facts on the ground in the decadeslong Arab-Israeli conflict .
Some argue that it could even bring Israel closer to making territorial concessions to the Palestinians , with Israelis feeling more secure in the long-term vision of a demilitarized Palestinian state in which Jewish population centers in the West Bank become part of Israel and Israel maintains security control over the Jordan Valley .
Indeed , the prospect that incorporating a large part of the West Bank into Israel proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the rest is already drawing concern from Netanyahu ’ s right flank.In Britain , 127 members of Parliament urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose sanctions should Israel proceed with a West Bank sovereignty declaration .
Israel , of course , is a democratic ally that enjoys strong relations with Europe , including in trade and tourism .
It aligns with Europe in the post-World War II international order more than any other Middle Eastern country .
But in lockstep with Palestinian leaders , the governments of France , Belgium , Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU as a bloc to adopt punitive measures against Israel .
Josep Borrell , the European Commission ’ s vice president and foreign-policy chief , warned that any steps to annex Palestinian territory would “ not pass unchallenged.
” In Britain , 127 members of Parliament urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose sanctions should Israel proceed with a West Bank sovereignty declaration .
That some European governments would threaten sanctions against Israel while refusing to impose sanctions on Iran and Hezbollah is disappointing .
If they ’ re serious , these European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies will pay the price .
Three-fifths of the 50 U.S. states have already adopted laws prohibiting boycotts of Israel .
Most prohibit government contracts with companies that engage in a broad range of boycott-related activities .
Florida , Illinois , New Jersey , Texas , and eight other states mandate the divestment of public pension funds from such firms .
New York is considering doing the same .
Typically , these states publish lists of restricted companies .
Illinois ’ s list , for example , includes companies found to engage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are intended to penalize , inflict economic harm on , or otherwise limit commercial relations with the State of Israel or companies based in the State of Israel or in territories controlled by the State of Israel.
” This definition of boycotting Israel would apply to firms that comply with such a boycott recommended by the United Nations Human Rights Office and by a proposed boycott law in Ireland .
The potential financial impact of divestment by U.S. states on European businesses and economies is substantial .
A review of annual financial reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with divestment laws revealed total holdings of international equities amounting to at least $ 170 billion , much of it in European companies .
With the proposed bill in the state of New York , this total could increase to more than $ 200 billion .
One Illinois pension fund alone listed the European multinationals Roche , Nestle , Novartis , Allianz , and Enel among its top direct holdings in international equities .
Undisclosed holdings in European companies via private equity funds account for billions more .
If a company is found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these states ’ pension systems are required to divest its shares and warn fund managers against including the company in indirect investments , including index and private equity funds .
The laws don ’ t just affect companies found to be boycotting Israel directly .
Any company that uses socially responsible investing criteria for its own portfolio investments or corporate pension fund is also at risk of U.S. state blacklisting if these criteria contribute to anti-Israel boycotts .
Several European firms can already attest to the risks of these laws .
Major European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank and the Dutch pension fund PGGM were blacklisted by the state of Illinois as Israel boycotters based on publicly available information .
( Both companies denied the accusation ; Danske Bank said its own blacklisting of several Israeli companies was due to investment criteria barring certain investments in areas on conflict that aren ’ t specifically aimed at Israel . )
To be removed from the blacklist , the firms were required to sign legal affidavits affirming that they do not engage in boycotts of Israel .
These companies expended considerable time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid divestments .
Airbnb , the online home rental service , had its own lamentable experience with U.S. state laws relating to Israel boycotts .
In 2018 , the company decided to boycott listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank , but it had little choice but to reverse its decision after Illinois , Texas , and Florida took steps to blacklist Airbnb from future investment .
Had Airbnb remained on these blacklists , fund managers and private equity firms with state pension business would have been required to steer clear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds and any future initial public offering .
Airbnb was also forced to settle multiple lawsuits filed in the United States alleging that the company was engaging in discriminatory practices , given that it did not apply its policy to all disputed territories such as Western Sahara and Northern Cyprus .
The United States has federal laws , too , that were adopted in response to the Arab League ’ s boycott of Israel in order to deter state-sponsored boycotts of Israel .
The Trump administration could raise the ante by issuing an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against foreign firms that boycott Israel—as an economic security umbrella to defend one of the closest U.S. allies .
As European governments , companies , and nongovernmental organizations consider gearing up to challenge a possible decision by Jerusalem to extend Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank , they may wish to think twice before playing hardball .
With companies throughout Europe reeling from the economic effects of the novel coronavirus , now is not the time for additional financial risks .
Intense diplomacy is certainly expected , but sanctions on Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons than one .

Israel’s new government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, may soon declare Israeli sovereignty over roughly 30 percent of the West Bank, including major Israeli settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley. Some European governments are reportedly pushing the European Union for a tough response against Israel, including economic sanctions. European governments should reject these ideas—not just because they’re wrong, but also because they carry significant risks for European companies and economies.
Israel’s new government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, may soon declare Israeli sovereignty over roughly 30 percent of the West Bank, including major Israeli settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley. Some European governments are reportedly pushing the European Union for a tough response against Israel, including economic sanctions. European governments should reject these ideas—not just because they’re wrong, but also because they carry significant risks for European companies and economies.
An Israeli declaration of sovereignty over parts of the territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War would do little to change the facts on the ground in the decadeslong Arab-Israeli conflict. Some argue that it could even bring Israel closer to making territorial concessions to the Palestinians, with Israelis feeling more secure in the long-term vision of a demilitarized Palestinian state in which Jewish population centers in the West Bank become part of Israel and Israel maintains security control over the Jordan Valley. Indeed, the prospect that incorporating a large part of the West Bank into Israel proper might be a prelude to Palestinian statehood in the rest is already drawing concern from Netanyahu’s right flank.In Britain, 127 members of Parliament urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose sanctions should Israel proceed with a West Bank sovereignty declaration.
Israel, of course, is a democratic ally that enjoys strong relations with Europe, including in trade and tourism. It aligns with Europe in the post-World War II international order more than any other Middle Eastern country.
But in lockstep with Palestinian leaders, the governments of France, Belgium, Ireland, and Luxembourg are reportedly pressing the EU as a bloc to adopt punitive measures against Israel. Josep Borrell, the European Commission’s vice president and foreign-policy chief, warned that any steps to annex Palestinian territory would “not pass unchallenged.” In Britain, 127 members of Parliament urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to impose sanctions should Israel proceed with a West Bank sovereignty declaration.
That some European governments would threaten sanctions against Israel while refusing to impose sanctions on Iran and Hezbollah is disappointing. If they’re serious, these European governments should be on notice: Their companies will pay the price.
Three-fifths of the 50 U.S. states have already adopted laws prohibiting boycotts of Israel. Most prohibit government contracts with companies that engage in a broad range of boycott-related activities. Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, and eight other states mandate the divestment of public pension funds from such firms. New York is considering doing the same.
Typically, these states publish lists of restricted companies. Illinois’s list, for example, includes companies found to engage in “actions that are politically motivated and are intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or otherwise limit commercial relations with the State of Israel or companies based in the State of Israel or in territories controlled by the State of Israel.” This definition of boycotting Israel would apply to firms that comply with such a boycott recommended by the United Nations Human Rights Office and by a proposed boycott law in Ireland.
The potential financial impact of divestment by U.S. states on European businesses and economies is substantial. A review of annual financial reports of public investment funds in U.S. states with divestment laws revealed total holdings of international equities amounting to at least $170 billion, much of it in European companies. With the proposed bill in the state of New York, this total could increase to more than $200 billion. One Illinois pension fund alone listed the European multinationals Roche, Nestle, Novartis, Allianz, and Enel among its top direct holdings in international equities. Undisclosed holdings in European companies via private equity funds account for billions more.
If a company is found to be engaged in boycotting Israel, these states’ pension systems are required to divest its shares and warn fund managers against including the company in indirect investments, including index and private equity funds.
The laws don’t just affect companies found to be boycotting Israel directly. Any company that uses socially responsible investing criteria for its own portfolio investments or corporate pension fund is also at risk of U.S. state blacklisting if these criteria contribute to anti-Israel boycotts.
Several European firms can already attest to the risks of these laws. Major European companies such as Denmark’s Danske Bank and the Dutch pension fund PGGM were blacklisted by the state of Illinois as Israel boycotters based on publicly available information. (Both companies denied the accusation; Danske Bank said its own blacklisting of several Israeli companies was due to investment criteria barring certain investments in areas on conflict that aren’t specifically aimed at Israel.) To be removed from the blacklist, the firms were required to sign legal affidavits affirming that they do not engage in boycotts of Israel. These companies expended considerable time and resources to restore their reputations and avoid divestments.
Airbnb, the online home rental service, had its own lamentable experience with U.S. state laws relating to Israel boycotts. In 2018, the company decided to boycott listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but it had little choice but to reverse its decision after Illinois, Texas, and Florida took steps to blacklist Airbnb from future investment. Had Airbnb remained on these blacklists, fund managers and private equity firms with state pension business would have been required to steer clear of the company’s most recent funding rounds and any future initial public offering. Airbnb was also forced to settle multiple lawsuits filed in the United States alleging that the company was engaging in discriminatory practices, given that it did not apply its policy to all disputed territories such as Western Sahara and Northern Cyprus.
The United States has federal laws, too, that were adopted in response to the Arab League’s boycott of Israel in order to deter state-sponsored boycotts of Israel. The Trump administration could raise the ante by issuing an executive order threatening a menu of sanctions against foreign firms that boycott Israel—as an economic security umbrella to defend one of the closest U.S. allies.
As European governments, companies, and nongovernmental organizations consider gearing up to challenge a possible decision by Jerusalem to extend Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, they may wish to think twice before playing hardball. With companies throughout Europe reeling from the economic effects of the novel coronavirus, now is not the time for additional financial risks. Intense diplomacy is certainly expected, but sanctions on Israel should be off the table for more reasons than one.


foreignpolicy--2020-06-10--Will There Still Be a Taliban To Negotiate With?

Will There Still Be a Taliban To Negotiate With ?
Here is today ’ s Foreign Policy brief : Infighting within the Taliban threatens Afghan peace talks , the U.S. Federal Reserve announces rate decision , and Brazil resumes regular coronavirus reporting .
We welcome your feedback at morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .
As peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban become more concrete , internal divisions within the militant group could undermine any hopes for a resolution .
On Sunday , sources told Reuters that talks could begin this month , and President Ashraf Ghani was bullish on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The ceasefire , prisoners release and reduction in violence has created a momentum for the talks to begin soon and the government is fully ready , ” a presidential statement said .
U.S .
Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad , fresh from meeting Taliban leaders in Doha and the Pakistani government in Islamabad , has now traveled to Kabul .
The purpose of his meetings , according to a U.S. State Department release , is to “ obtain agreement between the Afghan parties on the practical next steps necessary for a smooth start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a future without the United States as an occupying force becomes possible for the first time in almost two decades , the question of whether the Taliban will transform from an insurgent group to a political player is far from settled .
A report of splinter groups among senior Taliban figures outside Afghanistan suggests the possibility of a unified front is under threat heading into any negotiations .
Radio Free Europe reported the emergence of a group called Hezb-e Walayat-e Islami , or Party of Islamic Guardianship made up of senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the United Nations Security Council by a monitoring team stated that “ at least one group of senior Taliban ” had “ formed a new group in opposition to any possible peace agreement.
” Coronavirus comes for the Taliban .
As Lynne O ’ Donnell and Mirwais Khan report in Foreign Policy , a succession battle is also looming within the Taliban after the apparent death of Supreme Leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada from COVID-19 .
The Taliban have publicly denied Akhunzada ’ s death .
Meanwhile , Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob—the ambitious son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving to consolidate power while other senior leaders are stricken with the coronavirus .
A Taliban weakened by infighting could be a boon to the Afghan government , but not if it means it doesn ’ t know who to negotiate with .
“ We need one united Taliban , ” said one Afghan government official .
“ But the real problem now is that until two years ago , in the central leadership , it was all about jihad , about getting rid of the ‘ occupiers , ’ about religious principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Who gets what .
It comes down to money and power.
” Powell ’ s comments .
The U.S. Federal Reserve will release its decision today on whether to raise , lower , or maintain interest rates , followed by a press conference with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell .
Powell ’ s comments should indicate how much more liquidity the central bank plans to pump into the U.S. economy .
Interest rates are not expected to change , as the Fed said it would keep in rates in place until the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who killed Olof Palme ?
Swedish prosecutors will today announce the findings of an investigation into the 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme .
Many explanations have emerged since Palme ’ s murder , including the theory that it was perpetrated by South Africa ’ s intelligence services , given that Palme was a vocal opponent of the apartheid regime .
South African intelligence officials met Swedish investigators in March to discuss the case .
Brazilian government ordered to resume publishing coronavirus statistics .
Brazil has resumed publishing complete data on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes .
For the past few days , the health ministry website has only shown the number of new cases per day , and not total figures .
Some Brazilian states plan to begin relaxing social distancing restrictions this week , even though the number of new daily cases has yet to fall .
Burundi ’ s president dies .
The outgoing president of Burundi , Pierre Nkurunziza , has died according to a statement by the government .
The statement said the president had fallen ill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital but “ surprisingly , on the morning of Monday June 8 , 2020 , his health suddenly deteriorated and he had a heart attack.
” Some observers suspect he was suffering from COVID-19 , given the absence of a lockdown during Burundi ’ s recent election campaign and his wife ’ s reported travel to Kenya for coronavirus treatment .
Before his death , Nkurunziza was due to step down in August and take on a ceremonial role .
Evariste Ndayishimiye—the winner of May ’ s presidential election—is expected to succeed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution , the position will be held in the interim by Pascal Nyabenda—the president of the national assembly and an ally of the deceased president .
“ Free and fair ” elections ?
Georgia was the latest U.S. state to experience long voting lines and other obstacles to voting in its primary election on Tuesday , where polling places have been reduced and understaffed due to coronavirus fears .
Voters reported requesting mail-in ballots that never arrived as well as malfunctioning voting machines .
The primary is seen as a dry run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where Georgia could emerge as a key swing state .
IBM out of facial recognition .
IBM said it will stop building and selling facial recognition technology , in the latest sign of the tech sector ’ s reckoning with race and law enforcement .
“ We believe now is the time to begin a national dialogue on whether and how facial recognition technology should be employed by domestic law enforcement agencies , ” CEO Arvind Krishna wrote in a letter sent to U.S. lawmakers .
Big tech still holds deep ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnerships with at least 400 police forces in the United States to share images captured by the doorbell replacement device .
Ring has denied reports that it will soon add facial recognition to its service .
The United States is capable of launching rockets into space , but has proven less adept at launching its new Space Force and has now found itself behind a Netflix show of the same name .
“ Space Force , ” the Netflix comedy series starring Steve Carell , has moved quickly to lock in trademark rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe—potentially setting up a conflict with the U.S. military branch if the two were to compete on merchandise , for example .
As Foreign Policy reported in 2013 , the U.S. Department of Defense set up its own trademark and licensing office in 2007 that has since proved lucrative : U.S. merchandise sales increased from $ 5 million to $ 50 million between 2007 and 2011 .
For now , the U.S. military does not seem worried .
“ At this time , we are not aware of any trademark conflicts with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” an Air Force spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter .
“ We wish Netflix and the show ’ s producers the best in their creative depiction of our nation ’ s newest branch of the military.
” Perhaps the U.S. military believes its new outfit can outlast the TV show , which has currently garnered only a 41 percent rating on the film critics ’ aggregator Rotten Tomatoes .
For more from FP , visit foreignpolicy.com , subscribe here , or sign up for our other newsletters .
Send your tips , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morningbrief @ foreignpolicy.com .

Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: Infighting within the Taliban threatens the Afghan peace talks, the U.S. Federal Reserve announces an interest rate decision, and Brazil resumes regular coronavirus reporting.
Here is today’s Foreign Policy brief: Infighting within the Taliban threatens the Afghan peace talks, the U.S. Federal Reserve announces an interest rate decision, and Brazil resumes regular coronavirus reporting.
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As Peace Talks Loom, The Taliban Could Fracture.
As peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban become more concrete, internal divisions within the militant group could undermine any hopes for a resolution.
On Sunday, sources told Reuters that talks could begin this month, and President Ashraf Ghani was bullish on an imminent dialogue with the Taliban. “The ceasefire, prisoners release and reduction in violence has created a momentum for the talks to begin soon and the government is fully ready,” a presidential statement said.
U.S. Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, fresh from meeting Taliban leaders in Doha and the Pakistani government in Islamabad, has now traveled to Kabul. The purpose of his meetings, according to a U.S. State Department release, is to “obtain agreement between the Afghan parties on the practical next steps necessary for a smooth start to intra-Afghan negotiations.”
Not a shura thing. As a future without the United States as an occupying force becomes possible for the first time in almost two decades, the question of whether the Taliban will transform from an insurgent group to a political player is far from settled.
A report of splinter groups among senior Taliban figures outside Afghanistan suggests the possibility of a unified front is under threat heading into any negotiations. Radio Free Europe reported the emergence of a group called Hezb-e Walayat-e Islami, or Party of Islamic Guardianship made up of senior Talban members. A June 1 report to the United Nations Security Council by a monitoring team stated that “at least one group of senior Taliban” had “formed a new group in opposition to any possible peace agreement.”
Coronavirus comes for the Taliban. As Lynne O’Donnell and Mirwais Khan report in Foreign Policy, a succession battle is also looming within the Taliban after the apparent death of Supreme Leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhunzada from COVID-19. The Taliban have publicly denied Akhunzada’s death. Meanwhile, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob—the ambitious son of the Taliban founder Mullah Omar—is reportredly moving to consolidate power while other senior leaders are stricken with the coronavirus.
A Taliban weakened by infighting could be a boon to the Afghan government, but not if it means it doesn’t know who to negotiate with. “We need one united Taliban,” said one Afghan government official. “But the real problem now is that until two years ago, in the central leadership, it was all about jihad, about getting rid of the ‘occupiers,’ about religious principles. Now it is purely about power. Who gets what. It comes down to money and power.”
What We’re Following Today
Powell’s comments. The U.S. Federal Reserve will release its decision today on whether to raise, lower, or maintain interest rates, followed by a press conference with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. Powell’s comments should indicate how much more liquidity the central bank plans to pump into the U.S. economy. Interest rates are not expected to change, as the Fed said it would keep in rates in place until the U.S. economy has returned to better health.
Who killed Olof Palme? Swedish prosecutors will today announce the findings of an investigation into the 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Many explanations have emerged since Palme’s murder, including the theory that it was perpetrated by South Africa’s intelligence services, given that Palme was a vocal opponent of the apartheid regime. South African intelligence officials met Swedish investigators in March to discuss the case.
Brazilian government ordered to resume publishing coronavirus statistics. Brazil has resumed publishing complete data on its coronavirus epidemic after an order from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. For the past few days, the health ministry website has only shown the number of new cases per day, and not total figures. Some Brazilian states plan to begin relaxing social distancing restrictions this week, even though the number of new daily cases has yet to fall.
Burundi’s president dies. The outgoing president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, has died according to a statement by the government. The statement said the president had fallen ill on Sunday night and was taken to hospital but “surprisingly, on the morning of Monday June 8, 2020, his health suddenly deteriorated and he had a heart attack.” Some observers suspect he was suffering from COVID-19, given the absence of a lockdown during Burundi’s recent election campaign and his wife’s reported travel to Kenya for coronavirus treatment.
Before his death, Nkurunziza was due to step down in August and take on a ceremonial role. Evariste Ndayishimiye—the winner of May’s presidential election—is expected to succeed him. However, according to the Burundian constitution, the position will be held in the interim by Pascal Nyabenda—the president of the national assembly and an ally of the deceased president.
Keep an Eye On
“Free and fair” elections? Georgia was the latest U.S. state to experience long voting lines and other obstacles to voting in its primary election on Tuesday, where polling places have been reduced and understaffed due to coronavirus fears. Voters reported requesting mail-in ballots that never arrived as well as malfunctioning voting machines. The primary is seen as a dry run for the November U.S. presidential and legislative elections, where Georgia could emerge as a key swing state.
IBM out of facial recognition. IBM said it will stop building and selling facial recognition technology, in the latest sign of the tech sector’s reckoning with race and law enforcement. “We believe now is the time to begin a national dialogue on whether and how facial recognition technology should be employed by domestic law enforcement agencies,” CEO Arvind Krishna wrote in a letter sent to U.S. lawmakers. Big tech still holds deep ties to law enforcement: Amazon-owned Ring has partnerships with at least 400 police forces in the United States to share images captured by the doorbell replacement device. Ring has denied reports that it will soon add facial recognition to its service.
Odds and Ends
The United States is capable of launching rockets into space, but has proven less adept at launching its new Space Force and has now found itself behind a Netflix show of the same name. “Space Force,” the Netflix comedy series starring Steve Carell, has moved quickly to lock in trademark rights to the name in countries across the globe—potentially setting up a conflict with the U.S. military branch if the two were to compete on merchandise, for example.
As Foreign Policy reported in 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense set up its own trademark and licensing office in 2007 that has since proved lucrative: U.S. merchandise sales increased from $5 million to $50 million between 2007 and 2011.
For now, the U.S. military does not seem worried. “At this time, we are not aware of any trademark conflicts with the fictional program Space Force produced by Netflix,” an Air Force spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. “We wish Netflix and the show’s producers the best in their creative depiction of our nation’s newest branch of the military.” Perhaps the U.S. military believes its new outfit can outlast the TV show, which has currently garnered only a 41 percent rating on the film critics’ aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
That’s it for today.
For more from FP, visit foreignpolicy.com, subscribe here, or sign up for our other newsletters. Send your tips, comments, questions, or corrections to morningbrief@foreignpolicy.com.