Come Monday, June 15th, the world could look a lot different than it does today. There are at least 3-4 big issues that will have an impact on the balance of the year. Friday, it's the elections in Iran, Saturday it just may be another nuclear test by North Korea, and Sunday Israel gives it's response to Obama's Palestinian state wishes. And then who know what else may come along?
North Korea may be preparing for its third nuclear test, a show of defiance as the United Nations considers new sanctions on the dictatorship for conducting an underground nuclear explosion in May, according to a U.S. government official. North Korea conducted an underground explosion on May 25, its first since a 2006 atomic test. The official, who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the unreleased information, would not provide details regarding the assessment.
A draft U.N. resolution proposed Wednesday would impose tough sanctions on North Korea's weapons exports and financial dealings and allow inspections of suspect cargo in ports and on the high seas. North Korea has threatened to retaliate if new sanctions are adopted. North Korea already is a pariah to many countries and has been under tough economic sanctions for years. Last month's reported test defied a Security Council resolution adopted after the North's first underground atomic blast in October 2006.
Who knows? We'll just wait and see.
Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to endorse a “two-state solution” in a much-heralded speech this weekend, but he may stall on American demands to freeze Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Feeling the squeeze between the US Administration, which wants a moratorium on settlement growth and a commitment to a Palestinian state, and his national-religious coalition, which favours neither, the Israeli Prime Minister appears likely to try to steer a middle course.
Iranians vote in an election that could decide whether the country opens up to the West or deepens its isolation. Four candidates are running but the race is between the hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi. Picking a winner is very difficult and the vote is likely to go to a run-off election next week.
Thus what happens in Israel and Iran over the weekend could very likely have a major impact on where the Mid-east goes for the rest of the year.