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Resources updated Thursday, October 11, 2018

October 11, 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations

"...As in other areas of foreign policy and national security, Trump has completely reversed the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama. From the beginning of his tenure in the White House, Trump has shown little respect for the Security Council, the UN General Assembly, and several other UN and international agencies. He views them as highly politicized, corrupt, ineffective, and anti-American.
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In his speech to the 2018 UN General Assembly (his second to the body), Trump clarified a doctrine he often repeated during the 2016 presidential campaign and has continued to emphasize since becoming president: The US is a sovereign state and will determine its functions in world affairs solely on the basis of its national interests. 'America is governed by Americans,' he said. 'We reject the ideology of globalism and accept the doctrine of patriotism.'

Trump has consistently applied this doctrine to multiple international organizations and processes. When the US decided to leave the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained, 'Too many commitments have gone unfulfilled. President Trump wants to move the ball forward. From day one he has called out institutions or countries who say one thing and do another, and that's precisely the problem at the Human Rights Council.'

In June 2018, the US left the UNHRC. Ambassador Haley said that for almost a year, she had demanded reforms to the Council's operations to no avail. 'Regrettably,' she said, 'it is now clear that our call for reform was not heeded. Human rights abusers continue to serve on, and be elected to, the Council.'...

In October 2017, the US withdrew from UNESCO. The US is now an 'observer state,' with no dues payable and making no contribution to the running of the organization... Palestine has not been granted full membership at the UN, but did receive full member status at UNESCO. This violates a congressional law that bans US funding of any international organization that recognizes Palestinian statehood in the absence of a peace agreement with Israel.
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The ICC, the Hague-based world court, was Trump's next target... In September 2018, he called the Court 'unaccountable' and 'outright dangerous' to the US, Israel, and other allies. 'For all intents and purposes, the ICC is already dead to us,' he told the conservative Federalist Society in Washington. 'If the Court comes after us, Israel, or other US allies, we will not sit quietly.' Bolton threatened the ICC with sanctions..."

Trump Stands Firm Against Bias and Abuses at International Organizations Article

A fire in Israel caused by a Palestinian incendiary device

Palestinian Arson Attacks from Gaza Cause 1,053 Fires in Israel in Six Months Document

The scene following the stabbing attack

Two people were injured in a stabbing attack outside an army base in the northern West Bank on Thursday, the army said.

An Israeli soldier was moderately hurt, sustaining stab wounds to the face and upper body. A civilian woman, 26, was lightly injured by a ricochet from shots fired at the assailant, who fled the scene.

"IDF troops are searching for the terrorist," the army said.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., the stabber attacked the Israeli soldier, a 30-year-old reservist, with a knife, outside the Shomron Regional Brigade headquarters in the northern West Bank, near the Itamar settlement, the Israel Defense Forces said. He then ran away.

Other IDF soldiers on the scene opened fire at the assailant. Shrapnel from the shots struck the woman in the leg.

The two victims were taken to Petah Tikva's Beilinson Hospital for treatment.

The reservist sustained stab wounds to the face and upper body. He was fully conscious when he was brought into the hospital, according to his doctors.

On Sunday, a Palestinian terrorist shot and killed two of his coworkers - Kim Levengrond Yehezkel and Ziv Hajbi - and wounded a third, Sara Vaturi, in the northern West Bank's Barkan Industrial Park where he was employed.

The suspect, Ashraf Na'alowa, fled the scene and has eluded capture, according to the Israeli military. The hunt for the suspected terrorist entered its fifth day Thursday.

On Thursday, Na'alowa's sister Fayrouz was arrested at her home in the West Bank city of Nablus in connection with the manhunt for her brother, the Shin Bet said. Fayrouz had previously been questioned by Israeli forces, but was released. Na'alowa's brother was arrested the day after the attack.

The Shin Bet refused to say on what grounds Fayrouz was arrested. Na'alowa's mother and other sisters were also detained and brought in for questioning following the attack, but were later released.

Officials reportedly believe that Na'alowa, who is said to have left a suicide note before the attack, is preparing to engage troops when they close in on him in a firefight that could turn deadly.

2 Israelis hurt in West Bank stabbing attack Document