The Paris Conference, Israel, Palestinians, and the Pope

With the Paris Conference set for tomorrow (Sunday, Jan 15th) in Paris, France, I've decided to only post articles today that revolve loosely around Israel and that conference.

Paris Meeting

Paris meeting marks end to Obama’s failed Mideast diplomacy timesofisrael

At a time when President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is promising a fundamental shift toward Israel, the State Department said Kerry was only participating in the French-hosted event to ensure America’s interest in a two-state solution to the conflict is preserved. The blunt statement reinforced the dwindling hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough.

Israel Settles, Paris Summits; Holy Land Polygamy; Mount Synagogue; China Takes a Sail; India's Even Bigger Statue; and The Year Ends with a Ban

Israel

Israel plans more settlements; Abbas looks to Paris summit usatoday v

The developments came just days after the United States broke with past practice and allowed the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a “flagrant violation” of international law.

Russian Pause Push; Closed Amnesty; Netanyahu's Rhetorical Question; Hamas Courts PLO; Going South in Korea; Underground Sharia; SCOTUS Considering Sister Wives; and 200k Eggs/Hour

Syria

Aleppo: Russia announces ‘humanitarian pause’ as residents fear devastating ‘final push’ from Putin and Assad independent.co.uk

The break in hostilities is planned for daylight hours on Friday, with two corridors opened for rebels, whom are allowed to take their arms, and six others for civilians and the wounded.

Also see Russia calls for 10-hour ‘humanitarian pause’ in Aleppo timesofisrael

Drug Addict Slaughter; Cold Shake; Kashmir Concerns; Golf Missile; Ironclad Flaky Relationship; Bank In Deutsche; Science Isn't Subjective Enough; Judge Judged a Hater; EU Fast Track to Save the World; Teaming with Creepy Critters; World Watches Rosetta Die; SpaceX's Entry into the Impossible Dream; Yuan in the Basket; Dark Lights; and NASA's Gecko

Philippines

Rodrigo Duterte Condemned After Comparing Philippine War on Drugs With Holocaust wsj

“Hitler massacred three million Jews,” Mr. Duterte told reporters in Davao upon his return from a visit to Vietnam Friday. “Now, there are three million drug addicts [in the Philippines]…. I’d be happy to slaughter them.” In fact, historians estimate that the Nazis murdered six million Jews across Europe in the Holocaust during World War II.

Also see Duterte, Citing Hitler, Says He Wants to Kill 3 Million Addicts in Philippines nytimes

Enemy of the State; Plan D(ie); Welcoming Evangelicals; Bad Hair Scene; Light Sound; Abbas the KGB Spy?; Father Russia Welcomes Peace Talks; Humanless Driverless Cars; Chosen for Alien Hunting Abilities; and 3D Printing Milk

Society

How A Cakemaker Became An Enemy Of The State thefederalist

...those 30 seconds [when Phillips declined to participate in celebrating the wedding of David Mullins and Charlie Craig] were clarifying in many other ways. It showed us that most of the media are incapable (or unwilling) to lay out the debate over religious freedom in an honest or enlightening way. It’s shown us that many of those who praise the diversity of American life have, in reality, lost their compassion and the ability to tolerate anyone who disagrees with their worldview.

It's All Israel's Fault; Nuclear-Loaded Border; Russia is Closer; Spy Satellite Reveal; Puerto no es Rico; Capitalism Plus Marxism; CA Requires Abortion Coverage; CRISPR Questions; Contagious Cancer Cellfish; Hearts Made in Space; Human Ethics for Robots; Domesticated Robot; and Ken's Ark

The Brexit vote is today (over now - results starting to come in). The market is betting on a Remain vote, but pre-voting polls were neck and neck. We should see the reaction to the vote in tomorrow's US market but, no matter the outcome, expect about half of Britain to be upset! Meanwhile, check out Abbas' gall when he said the Israel 'occupation' was the source of terrorism in the entire world...and the EU Parliament who applauds the crazy man :)

Peace

If occupation ends, so will terror worldwide, Abbas tells EU timesofisrael

“We are against terrorism, in whatever form it may take, and whoever carries it out,” Abbas told members of the European Parliament to a resounding applause. “Once the occupation ends, terrorism will disappear, there will be no more terrorism in the Middle East, or anywhere else in the world,” he said.

See also EU to Back Mideast Peace With 'Unprecedented' Support