The Evening: Violent Surges in Israel, UK Huawei, Marley's 75 and More

February 7, 2020

Violent Surge in Israel

A Palestinian driver rammed a car into a group of Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem, injuring 14 people, and clashes in the West Bank left two Palestinians dead, one of them a security officer, a week after President Trump unveiled his peace plan for the region, as the WSJ’s Dov Lieber reports.

Trump Angry Over UK Huawei Deal

The FT’s Sebastian Payne and Katrina Manson report that President Trump vented “apoplectic” fury at British PM Boris Johnson in a tense phone call over Britain’s decision to allow Huawei a role in its 5G mobile phone networks and that today at CSIS attorney general William Barr suggested that the U.S. should consider buying a controlling stake in Ericsson and Nokia to help build a stronger international competitor.

In a separate piece, the FT reports further on Barr’s remarks at CSIS.

Dive Deeper: Read a transcript of Attorney General Barr’s full remarks today at CSIS here.

Chinese Doctor Dies from Coronavirus

A doctor in central China who was among the first to warn about the coronavirus outbreak, only to be silenced by the authorities has died after becoming infected with the virus, as the NYT’s Chris Buckley reports.

Climate Check

The United Kingdom announced today it is moving up its petrol and diesel car sales ban to 2035. The policy changed in the wake of criticism that the original target year, 2040, was too late to meet the United Kingdom's stated goal of zero-carbon by 2050.

Video Shorts

Check out CSIS’s new series of video shorts: “Testify,” "What's Happening," "Preview," and “High Resolution.” And don’t forget to subscribe to the CSIS YouTube Channel!

In That Number

$75 Billion

China said it would slash tariffs on $75 billion of U.S. imports in half as part of its efforts to implement a recently signed trade agreement with Washington.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Critical Quote

“The whole country has responded…starting a people’s war for epidemic prevention and control.”

— Chinese President Xi Jinping on coronavirus

iDeas Lab

China has the most active and diverse ballistic missile development program in the world, upgrading its missile forces in number, type, and capability. CSIS's Missile Defense Project explores the the treat this program poses to U.S. and allied forces in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and video.

Optics

Attorney General William Barr spoke at CSIS today about U.S.-China technological and economic competition.

Recommended Reading

“Getting to Less? The Minimal Exposure Strategy,” by CSIS’s Kathleen Hicks, Joseph Federici, Seamus Daniels, Rhys McCormick, and Lindsey Sheppard.

This Town Tomorrow

At 10:00 a.m., Brookings will hold an event exploring Air Force modernization and budget priorities and how it is innovating the carry out the vision of the National Defense Strategy.

Later, 10:30 a.m., the Atlantic Council will host a fireside chat with Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette to discuss international cooperation in energy security.

Also, at 11:45 a.m., the Hudson Institute will host Mircea Geoană, deputy secretary general of NATO, for a discussion on NATO's effectiveness in a changing geopolitical landscape and how the alliance is delivering on burdensharing.

Video

CSIS today hosted FBI director Christopher Wray and Attorney General William Barr to discuss issues regarding the Department of Justice’s efforts to counter Chinese espionage activities challenging U.S. technological and scientific leadership. Watch the event here.

Podcasts

CSIS's Heather Conley joins the Trade Guys to discuss UK-EU trade negotiations and a potential U.S.-UK trade deal and how it all affects consumers and businesses.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Today would have been Bob Marley’s 75^th birthday. Marley’s biographer, the late Timothy White wrote that “he was a man with deep religious and political sentiments who rose from destitution.” This song’s lyrics are drawn from a speech made by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I before the United Nations General Assembly in October of 1963.