For today, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scoll or down.  LEBANON 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Lebanese PM tells U.S. delegation ‘no justification’ for Israeli occupation. From the Cradle. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met a delegation from the U.S. Congress today in Beirut, urging Washington to pressure Israel to fully withdraw its forces from the country. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to four reports: from Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  WEST BANK 2-20-25 entry is HERE or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israeli forces kill 13-year-old Palestinian child in the occupied West Bank. From Middle East Eye. Israeli forces shot and killed 13-year-old Ayman Nassar al-Haimoni in the Hebron area of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Earlier today . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for related report.

–   –   –

Netanyahu invades Palestinian home, orders ‘expanded’ West Bank raids. From the Cradle. Israeli forces “will launch additional operational activity against terror centers,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saidtoday during a military briefing inside the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.

.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and Common Dreams; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. GAZA 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Netanyahu decries release of wrong body as a ceasefire violation. Hamas pledges to investigate, by Areej Hazboun | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed revenge today for what he described as a “cruel and malicious violation” of the ceasefire agreement after authorities determined that a body released by Hamas was not an Israeli mother of two small boys, as the militant group had promised. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

Trump is abandoning Europe. Europe should abandon its appeasement of Israel, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  First came King Abdullah of Jordan. Now British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 18  Why Trump’s plan for Gaza is so dangerous, by Ramzy Baroud | Common Dreams / Consortium News  What makes U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about taking “long-term ownership” of Gaza to “clean out” the “mess,” dangerous is . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to nine reports: from Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date and a MEDIA entry are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  UKRAINE 2-20-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM   

–   –   –

NEWER  Russia could concede $300 billion in frozen assets as part of Ukraine settlement, sources say. From Reuters. MOSCOW — Russia could agree to using $300 billion of sovereign assets frozen in Europe for reconstruction in Ukraine but will insist that . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

–   –   –

Trump adviser says he expects Zelenskiy to sign minerals agreement, by Steve Holland and Doina Chiacu | Reuters  WASHINGTON — White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said today he expects Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

–   –   –

Trump envoy Witkoff says he met with Putin during trip to Russia. From the Moscow Times. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East confirmed in a video that he met with Russia’s Vladimir Putin during a recent trip to Moscow, where he secured the release of an American prisoner. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Trump’s attempts to denigrate Zelenskyy have led to a surge in Ukrainian unity, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Days before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainians are as somber and tense as they were right before Moscow launched the war. Only now, they aren’t just worried about their longtime enemy. Ukraine’s stunning new threat . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

In U.S. reversal, President Trump attacks Zelenskyy and blames Ukraine for war. Reported by Greg Myre and Steve Inskeep | NPR  President Trump has recently made a series of statements in which he sounds more aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin than with Ukraine. So what is Trump’s ultimate goal? Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 20  Breaking down the political tension between the U.S. and Ukraine. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Greg Myre | NPR  For three years, the U.S. has been Ukraine’s leading supporter in its war with Russia. Yet with a series of stunning moves, President Trump is now sounding more aligned with Russia than with Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Russian troops liberate seven communities in Ukraine operation over week. From Tass. MOSCOW, February 21. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), the Kharkov and Kursk Regions over the week of February 15-21 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from MintPress News and National Public Radio; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE or scroll up.  MEDIA 2-8-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 18  USAID’s giant network of ‘independent’ media, by Alan MacLeod | MintPress News / Consortium News  The Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. Agency for International Development funding has plunged hundreds of so-called “independent media” outlets into crisis, thereby exposing a worldwide network of thousands of journalists, all working to promote U.S. interests in their home countries. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 20  Americans are reading fewer books for less time. People want to know why. Reported by Ailsa Chang and Brittany Luse | NPR  According to a Gallup survey from 2022, Americans are reading fewer books per year than ever before. And the time that people spend reading has dropped over the years, too. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from the Cradle and Al Mayadeen; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (SYRIA, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  LEBANON 2-19-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israeli settlers reluctant to return to north. From the Cradle. Israeli settlers are still reluctant to return to the northern settlements near the Lebanon border, which were evacuated as a result of Hezbollah’s pro-Palestine operations. Yedioth Ahronoth correspondent Yair Kraus reported . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Al Mayadeen.

.

For today, links to reports from the Cradle and Middle East Eye, and to a map from mapsland.com; others are accessible by clicking on their names or addresses as highlighted. (LEBANON, WEST BANK, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.  SYRIA 2-19-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  U.S.-backed SDF ready to ‘integrate’ into new Syrian army. From the Cradle. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Tueday that key agreements had been reached among stakeholders in northern and eastern Syria “to enhance cooperation and stability in Syria.” READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  Over a million Syrians return home, but major challenges lie ahead, by Nader Durgham | Middle East Eye  BEIRUT — The United Nations said on Tuesday that more than one million people have returned to their homes in Syria since former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December, including 800,000 internally displaced Syrians and 280,000 Syrians who . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

   .

For today, links to a report from Middle East Eye and to commentary from Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (LEBANON, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  WEST BANK 2-19-25 entry including a map is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Israeli settlers escalate attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank, by Fayha Shalash | Middle East Eye  RAMALLAH — Israeli settlers have carried out several of assaults against Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank over the past week, in a major escalation of settler violence in Palestinian villages. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 18  The PA’s delusions are dangerous for Palestinians, by Ramona Wadi | Middle East Monitor  Last month, the Palestinian Authority did its utmost to suppress news of its crackdown on the Palestinian resistance in Jenin. Now that 26,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israel from Jenin . . . READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to seven reports: from National Public Radio, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, and the Associated Press, and to two articles of commentary from Middle East Eye (with video) and Consortium News; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 2-19-25 entry including a map is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

–   –   –

Hamas releases the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including mother and young sons. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf and Daniel Estrin | NPR  TEL AVIV — Hamas has handed over what it said are the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two young sons who had become a symbol in Israel of the plight of hostages held in Gaza. The bodies will undergo forensic testing in Israel to confirm their identity. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE, HERE and HERE (scroll down in this last link) for reports from Reuters, Anadolu Agency and Middle East Eye.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  Israel killed the Bibas children, but is using the tragedy to derail Gaza ceasefire, say observers. From Middle East Monitor. The deaths of the Bibas children, killed by Israeli bombing in Gaza over a year ago, are being exploited in an attempt to derail the current ceasefire agreement, say observers. Israel and its allies are pushing a false narrative . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Timeline: Trump’s remarks on plan to take over Gaza and displace Palestinians. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — On Jan. 25, President Donald Trump first proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza while also suggesting a permanent displacement of Palestinians from the enclave. The plan has been condemned globally. Following is a timeline showing how Trump’s comments have evolved. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  Netanyahu appoints an adviser with Trump ties to lead ceasefire talks. From AP. An Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close confidant, U.S.-born Cabinet minister Ron Dermer, to lead negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire with Hamas. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  Opposing Trump’s Nakba plan for Gaza is the only way for Jordan and Egypt to survive, by Raja Abdulhaq | Middle East Eye  Within 24 hours of U.S. President Donald Trump meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the White House released a recorded video of Trump praising the king after a humiliating exchange in front of the media. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 18  Trump’s vision for Gaza, by As`ad AbuKhalil | Special to Consortium News  The idea of ethnic cleansing has been at the heart of the Zionist project since its inception. You won’t find one Zionist leader who did not refer in his or her published writings or diaries to the expulsion of Palestinians. READ MORE . . .

.

For today, links to seven reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and MintPress News, and to commentary from ScheerPost and Consortium News; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON, SYRIA, WEST BANK and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up. UKRAINE 2-19-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

–   –   –

NEWER  A news conference between Zelenskyy and Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy is canceled at U.S. request. From AP. KYIV — A planned news conference after talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, was canceled today as political tensions deepened between the two countries over . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent. 

–   –   –

Trump official tells Ukraine to ‘tone down’ criticism. From AFP. Ukraine’s criticism of the United States is “unacceptable,” Donald Trump’s top security advisor said Thursday, urging Kyiv to cool its rhetoric and quickly sign a minerals deal pushed by the White House.”We’re getting all this pushback,” said U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz they need to tone it down and take a hard look and sign that deal,” told Fox News shortly before . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. envoy meets Zelenskiy after Trump slams Ukraine, by Olena Harmash and Tom Balmforth | Reuters  KYIV — U.S President Donald Trump’s envoy met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv today but there was no immediate word on whether their talks had helped smooth over an unprecedented wartime rift between the once firm allies. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ceasefire likely in 2025, Ukraine’s spy chief says, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov believes that Ukraine and Russia will reach a ceasefire this year, he said in an interview published on Tuesday. He described the situation as “paradoxical” since . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 18  USAID’s giant network of ‘independent’ media, by Alan MacLeod | MintPress News / Consortium News  The Trump administration’s decision to pause U.S. Agency for International Development funding has plunged hundreds of so-called “independent media” outlets into crisis — critically in Ukraine, where Oksana Romanyuk, the director of Ukraine’s Institute for Mass Information, revealed . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  Trump 2.0 crosses the Atlantic, by Patrick Lawrence | Original to ScheerPost  Trump began his second term not quite a month ago, having promised throughout his political campaign to end Biden’s proxy war in Ukraine within a day of assuming office. And it is already . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 19  End in sight for Ukraine war after Riyadh meeting, by Joe Lauria | Special to Consortium News  The Ukrainian war, which began in 2014 as a civil conflict and led to Russia’s intervention in February 2022, appeared headed to a resolution after top U.S. and Russian officials met in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday, incensing . . . READ MORE . . .