US: ISRAEL - Likud Responds To Schumer Speech: "Israel Is Not A Banana Republic"
Mar-14 17:01
Likud, the party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has responded to a speech by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) which attacked "far-right extremists" in the government and called for new elections.
- Likud: "Israel is not a banana republic but an independent and proud democracy that elected Prime Minister Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu leads a determined policy that is supported by a huge majority of the people.
- "Contrary to Schumer's words, the Israeli public supports a complete victory over Hamas, rejects any international attempts to dictate the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state, and opposes the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. A Senator is expected to respect Israel's elected government and not undermine it. This is always true, and even more so in wartime."
- Schumer's speech was immediately criticised by a raft of Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who claimed that Schumer was calling for "regime change" in a democratic ally.
- Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog said in a statement: "Israel is a sovereign democracy. It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally. It is counterproductive to our common goals."
- White House National Security Council Comms Advisor John Kirby told reporters that the White House was aware the Schumer would be making a speech but were not informed of the substance.
Want to read more?
Find more articles and bullets on these widgets:
Historical bullets
US STOCKS: Equities Update: Weaker, Off Lows Following January CPI Rise
Feb-13 16:57
- Stocks remain weaker, but are gradually climbing off lows ahead midday. Broad based risk-off followed after higher than expected January CPI data weighed on stocks and rates as hopes of rate cuts this year withered. Currently, the DJIA is down 436.35 points (-1.12%) at 38359.49, S&P E-Minis down 59 points (-1.17%) at 4981.75, Nasdaq down 210.7 points (-1.3%) at 15730.87.
- Laggers: Real Estate and Utilities sectors underperformed in the first half, estate management shares weighed on the former: CBRE Group -3.59%, CoStar Group -2.64%. Independent power and water companies weighed on the Utilities sector: AES Corp -5.75%, American Water Works -3.1%.
- Leading gainers: Health Care and Energy sectors outperformed in the first half, equipment and services companies buoyed the former: McKesson +1.865. Molina Healthcare +1.19%, Dexcom +1.17%. Oil and gas shares supported the Energy sector early Tuesday: Phillips-66 +0.87%, Marathon Petroleum +0.53% while Targa Resources gained 0.34%.
- Looking ahead: corporate earnings expected after the close: Welltower Inc, Robinhood Markets, GoDaddy Inc, AIG, Airbnb, MGM Resorts, Zillow, Lyft, Topgolf Callaway.
US-RUSSIA: RTRS-Putin Offers Ceasefire Talks, US Rejects w/o Ukraine Inclusion
Feb-13 16:52
Reuters is reporting that according to its sources in Russia, the suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine made by President Vladimir Putin was rejected by the United States. In reponse, an unnamed US official claims that there had not been any official contact between the two sides, and that the US would not take part in any talks that did not include Ukraine.
- RTRS: "Putin was proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia, but the signal offered what some in the Kremlin saw as the best path towards a peace of some kind."
- The story comes hours after the passage of the National Security Supplementary in the Senate that could see USD60bn for Ukraine, if it makes it to President Biden's desk. The talk of ceasefires could give impetus to Trump-aligned Republicans to argue that the bill is not required, and that Russia is willing to halt the war if only Washington would push Kyiv towards negotiations.
- Nevertheless, the comments in the story - even comming from unnamed sources - could indicate a concerted Russian effort to solidify its gains in Ukraine. With Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy having recently replaced the head of the armed forces, the Kremlin could see this as a good point to cement the country's occupation of the four Ukrainian oblasts at a time when the Ukrainian leadership is percieved as weakened and key Ukraine allies are vaccilating on further support.
PIPELINE: $750M EBRD 4Y SOFR Priced
Feb-13 16:35
- Date $MM Issuer (Priced *, Launch #)
- 2/13 $750M *EBRD 4Y SOFR+33a
- 2/13 $Benchmark Bristol-Meyers Squibb investor calls
