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.

Obama's November Surprise; Victory or a Syrian Bust; The Selfie Statue; Fish Know Faces; and Robobee

Israel

[OPINION] Obama’s November surprise for Israel? jpost

Word is going around in diplomatic circles that the Obama administration is planning a November surprise for Israel. Here’s what is said to be going on.

Israeli officials and Jewish communal leaders have told me that they expect that the Obama administration will not veto the [(possible United Nations Security Council Resolution condemning Israel)] at the UNSC. Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, will not exercise the American veto.