Terror Continues in Israel, Islamic State Executes 3, Rwanda Court Allows 3rd Term in Rwanda...

Terror stabbings targeting Israelis continue

Five more Israelis have been stabbed following a Palestinian terror attack that occurred Thursday. The assailant, who targeted several Israelis in a Tel Aviv neighborhood with a screwdriver, was shot dead. Israeli authorities are seeking to contain ongoing Palestinian unrest. The most recent attacks raise the number of incidents to ten since Saturday. The stabbing attacks began in the beginning of October when a Palestinian killed two Israelis in Jerusalem’s old city.

A second stabbing occurred in Jerusalem outside a police station. Special police captured the attacker, with one individual wounded.

Netanyahu has ordered a ban on visits to the Temple Mount by government ministers, worried that any high profile visits there could spark more violence. Netanyahu is likely concerned over the possibility of facing a third intifada that could lead to more casualties, particularly during a time when the U.S.-Israel relationship has been at one of its weakest periods.

The latest Israel-Palestinian conflict began three weeks ago when Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa mosque and began attacking police officers with stones, firebombs, and fireworks. Israel has increased security in Jerusalem, including setting up metal detectors at the entrance to Israel’s Old City. Jerusalem’s mayor, Nir Barkat, has recently spoken out, encouraging Israelis with gun licenses tocarry their weapons with them at all times. Barkat says that it is “imperative” that Israelis carry weapons, comparing it to a “military reserve on duty.” He has faced criticism following his decision to carry a rifle while visiting an Arab neighborhood in Jerusalem on Monday.

Islamic State kills 3 Assyrian Christian captives

IS jihadists have killed 3 Assyrian Christian captives; all part of a group of nearly 200 Christians captured in earlier in the year in northeastern Syria. The three men were killed late last month, but the news went unannounced until videos of their deaths were released this week. The men were supposedly killed two weeks ago on the Islamic holiday of Eid-al-Adha. IS abducted the Assyrian Christians in late February during conflict with Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in northeastern Syria.

IS has threatened to kill more of the hostages if their ransoms are not paid. The video released showed the three men in orange jumpsuits with one of the men announcing that IS will begin executing other prisoners if the militant’s demands are not met. Assyrian activists say IS has demanded a ransom of $100,000 for each of the captives.

Rwanda Supreme Court allows for Kagame to run for third term

Rwanda’s Supreme Court announced on Thursday that President Kagame could run for a third seven year term. This action blocked movement by the major opposition party to keep changes from occurring in Rwanda’s constitution. The motion for Kagame’s third run was made in July and was backed by parliament. Changes to the constitution must first pass through a referendum, although it is likely that they will fail. Kagame maintains control over the media and many aspects of public life and enjoys large popularity due to his work as a nation-builder following the 1994 genocide.

The opposition, Democratic Green Party, says that it will continue to push for strict constitutional term limits and that they are willing to appeal to the President. Kagame has not expressed explicit interest in running again, but has admitted that he is open to persuasion. International donors have criticized him for his suppression of dissent and any move to suppress the constitution. For years, Kagame had said that he would step down after two terms. However, recently he announced that term limits have nothing to do with democracy. The Green Party has been the only party to speak out and file suit against the third term.

Tensions with neighboring Burundi have increased as a Rwandan diplomat was recently expelled. Desire Nyaruhirira has been removed under the accusation of destabilizing the country. Last week, Burundi accused Rwanda of training rebels seeking to destabilize the country. About 70,000 Burundians are living in Rwanda following unrest. The Presidents were once on good terms, but this status changed in 2012, when the two disagreed over the M23 rebel group in the eastern D.R.C. The US has previously backed Kagame following his emergence as the face of a new generation of Africa leaders. They are now however warning that he faces instability and uncertainty if he pushes through with the planned changes to the constitution.

Navy will challenge Chinese territorial claims in South China Sea

The Navy is waiting to send a surface ship inside a 12-nautical-mile territorial limit that China claims for its man-made island chain. The action could take place within days but is awaiting final approval from the Obama administration. The plans for the warship have been rumored since May. It is assumed that the approval of the plan is imminent.

If approved it will be the first time since 2012 that the US navy has directly challenged China’s claim to the island’s territorial limits. The land reclamation project has been the focus on increasing tensions since reports began resurfacing in 2013. In September, David Shear, assistant secretary of defense for Asia- Pacific Security told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the US Navy had not steamed or flown within 12 nautical miles of the islands since 2012 before China’s island construction project began. An agreement was signed into effect last year that allows US forces to use Philippine military facilities has been a signature of the Obama administration’s relations with China.

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