Michael Horowitz

In Istanbul, Witkoff is also due to hold talks with Hamas' Khalil al-Hayya to discuss preserving the ongoing Gaza ceasefire and address US efforts to push Hamas toward disarmament

Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski says he hasdecided to withdraw consent for the functioning of Russia's last consulate in Poland, in Gdansk.

Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war "We feel the Russian position is really being heard," Russia's envoy told Axios.

US Secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war

www.axios.com/2025/11/19/u...

Drones over Europe In geopolitics, those who refuse to take risks can find themselves ruled by those who do.

What is Russia's goal in launching drone attacks over Europe?

Re-upping my previous analysis from October

atimeofmonstersmh.substack.com/p/drones-ove...

Spain will provide Ukraine with 40 missiles for IRIS-T, - Zelenskyy

"I can see that happening" says Trump, when asked whether the US will sign a civil nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia, though he says it isn't "urgent" given that Riyadh has plenty of oil

#Breaking | Trump: We reached an agreement on defense with Saudi Arabia

President Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The US and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce a deal on the fulfillment of $600-Billion-worth in Saudi investments pledges, via dozens of target investments, says a US official

Syria demands that the IDF pull out of areas it seized inside Syrian territory following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year. However, Israel is refusing to take such a step in exchange for less than a full peace deal with Damascus - which Damascus does not want to discuss.

Talks between Israel and Syria for a landmark security deal are currently have reached an impasse according to Kan, Israel's public broadcaster, citing unnamed Israeli sources.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy plans Turkey visit on Wednesday to revive negotiations - Reuters

China FM pledges support for Syria in ‘achieving peace’ BEIJING: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi pledged support for Damascus on Monday in “achieving peace at an early date,” as his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani made his first official visit to Beijing...

China's Foreign Minister met the new Syrian security chief in Beijing and pledged support for 'achieving peace' post-Assad

www.arabnews.com/node/2622930...

Hamas's Hamdan: Disarmament not part of negotiations | The Jerusalem Post The UNSC voted on Monday in support of Trump's Gaza peace plan and in favor of a UN mandate to establish the International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is expected to be deployed in Gaza.

Hamas rejected the disarmament clause in Trump’s Gaza peace plan, claiming that it was never part of the Sharm El-Sheikh ceasefire negotiations.
www.jpost.com/middle-east/...

MbS received a letter from the Iranian President, ahead of his visit to the US

President Donald Trump said he plans to approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia - just ahead of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit

Trump leaning toward supporting sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a senior White House official says.

The Billion-dollar Handshake: What MBS's White House Return Really Means From pariah to indispensable partner, MBS navigates Washington, Israel, and global tech ambitions in a high-stakes White House return.

The Billion-dollar Handshake: What MbS's White House Return Really Means

open.substack.com/pub/atimeofm...

MbS leaves Saudi Arabia for the US according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry

The IMF appears to be praising the new Syrian Transitional Government's economic policy after a staff visit to Damascus. Officials say Syria's economy is showing signs of recovery, and that Syrian authorities have been able to adopt a tight fiscal and monetary stance

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is hosting his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar for talks in Moscow.

#Breaking - Zelenskyy and Macron sign join strategic partnership to 'strengthen' Ukraine, French ties. A letter of intent was signed on the acquisition of French Rafale fighter jets, as the two leaders were visiting a military base in Villacoublay

Polish PM Tusk: Blowing up of the railway track on the Warsaw–Lublin route is an unprecedented act of sabotage aimed at the security of the Polish state.

The broader/longer-term catch is this: Hamas has never officially agreed to disarm. The ceasefire is holding, but Trump's plan frames this as a "pathway to Palestinian statehood" after PA reforms—language that will infuriate Netanyahu's coalition partners.

Details are vague and so far there isn't any sort of appetite for building the force, apart maybe from Indonesia (though I don't think Jakarta will be moved alone, without Arab partners), and Turkey (which Israel doesn't want along its border). Azerbaijan and Egypt are also in talks with the US.

The proposal faces a potential veto from either (or both) Russia and China - I will note the Bibi's recent call with Putin.

Crucial day for the Gaza ceasefire: Today, the UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on a United States-drafted resolution to establish an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and Board of Peace (BoP) in Gaza,

Ukraine has agreed a deal to receive gas imports from Greece to help cover its winter needs. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the deal on a visit to Athens on Sunday

🚀The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has published a video of the launch of "Bars" missiles for the first time.

Israel Modified AIM-9M Sidewinder Missile Seekers To Better Target Drones: Report Low and slow-flying long-range one-way attack drones are challenging enough to spot and track from the air, let alone attempt to intercept.

Israel Modified AIM-9M Sidewinder Missile Seekers To Better Target Drones: Report

www.twz.com/air/israeli-...