Latest news

The Israel-Hamas war|The attacks

New York Times review: Israel stopped wiretapping Hamas a year before the attack

Israel's signals intelligence service Unit 8200 stopped listening to Hamas' handheld radio transmitters a year before the attack on Israel. The reason was that it was seen as a "waste of resources", reports the New York Times.  

On the same night that the attack took place, the assessment was made that Hamas was preparing a smaller attack. The anti-terrorist group "Tequila" was sent to the border, but it took almost until the start of the attack before it was considered worth waking up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, three Israeli defense sources said.  

The soldiers in the "Tequila" group had no chance against the great onslaught. Over 1,400 people were killed. If you had listened to the radio, the assessment could have been completely different that night, notes the newspaper, which thinks the decision indicates "hubris" and "underestimation".  

The newspaper's review shows that years of misjudgment and bad decisions contributed to the attack.   

***************************

The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Russia begins recruiting women into the fighting  

A Moscow-funded private military company has taken on the task of recruiting female snipers and drone operators for the war in Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense writes in an update on X.  

In March 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that 1,100 women were deployed in Ukraine, representing only 0.3 percent of the total force. These women have rarely participated in the fighting on the front line, but instead worked to provide care and food, according to the British analysis.

"It is still unclear whether official Russian defense forces will try to follow suit and offer more combat roles for women," the ministry writes. 

In the ad from the military company Redut, women are offered a six-month contract and military training in Donetsk, writes the Ukrainian daily Kyiv Post. 

*********************

The future of free trade 

Negotiations at a standstill – Australia disses the EU's proposal  

The EU's proposal for a free trade agreement may be rejected by Australia, reports Reuters. Thus, a potential agreement is likely several years away.  

The two sides have been negotiating since 2018. Australia is eager to expand its agricultural exports to Europe while the EU has its sights set on Australia's critical minerals industry. But now Australia says no to the EU's offer.  

- We simply cannot see that the EU has increased its bid for beef, lamb, dairy products and sugar enough for us to see that this deal is in Australia's national interest, says Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.  

Australia's farming organizations stand behind their government. They argue that the EU's offer will only benefit competitors in New Zealand, Canada and South America, which have greater access to EU markets. 

*******************************

The change of leadership in NATO 

Mark Rutte: Was very interesting to become NATO chief  

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is interested in taking over the job of NATO Secretary General.  

In an interview with the Dutch radio channel Den Haag FM this weekend, Rutte says that the job would be "very interesting" and that he could add something. In the interview, he says that there are only a few roles he would be interested in, but he is also modest about his own chances. He notes that there is a "very big chance" that the job goes to a European woman, considering that many countries have expressed support for it.  

- But if the opportunity arises, even in a few years, I am open to it.  

Jens Stoltenberg has been NATO chief since 2014 and has been mandated to continue until October next year. Rutte leaves the job as prime minister after the election in November. 

****************************

Climate threat Climate meeting COP28  

Man behind the Paris Agreement: Everyone must compromise  

The shaky global situation will likely make already divided climate talks even more difficult, writes AFP.  

Former French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who played a crucial role in bringing the Paris Agreement to port in 2015, underlines the importance of all countries feeling inclusive and able to compromise. According to him, there is no point in arguing over details because lengthy negotiations are a waste of precious time.  

China is one of the countries that sat in the middle of the negotiations, among other things regarding the contribution to a climate fund for poorer countries. China's climate envoy Xia Yingxian believes that the summit must "respect different starting points and conditions in different countries". 

- Empty and unrealistic slogans may seem ambitious, but they damage the multilat