FOREIGN SERVICE UPDATES

Anti Benjamin Netanyahu protest: 35,000 -- #Israel Tel Aviv's Rabin Square Saturday 35,000 - anti #NETANYAHU rally reckon ignoring domestic / obsessed with Iran Dissenters say Bibi focus on Iran = avoiding Palestine issue also 'ISIS excuse' >made the security of Israel hostage settlers Issues raised by speech-makers: >peace with Palestine >occupation >economy >housing crisis >damage to relations with USA Ditch Ron Dermer Writer suggests #Netanyahu get rid of 'political hack' at embassy - Ron Dermer  presumably -  replace with competent and professional ambassador http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/political-insider/israel-wants-change -- Israel - Non-residents Voting - General Election Israel elections limited absentee votes for citizens abroad mainly for diplomats & other official emissaries Israel - other citizens return to Israel to vote / civic commitment driving force Israel - Woman interviewed says overseas voters not fair having say a on issues affecting her & other permanent residents. Well, yeah, I'd be complaining about that as well ... if it's people that have been away for ages. http://www.jewishaz.com/us_worldnews/israel/for-some-israelis-abroad-cost-and-distance-no-barrier-to/article_7c6104a8-c777-11e4-a102-8f52dd54429f.html -- LatAm  Venezuela Following US sanctions, Venezuela demand: Washington cut embassy staff from about 100 to 17 {same number Caracas is allowed in WA} LatAm Venezuela vehemently criticised new US sanctions. Washington goal:  for new govt to be installed. LatAm Venezuela US = Venezuela top trading partner Venezuela in 2014 = 4th largest oil supplier to USA *trade unaffected by sanctions row http://www.spyghana.com/venezuela-vents-her-anger-on-new-us-sanctions/ --- Rev. Hyeon Soo Lim, 60, #Canada detained #NorthKorea in Feb. #Sweden embassy mediating for US (US = no ties) http://www.christiandaily.com/article/canada.church.prays.for.pastor.detained.in.north.korea/49931.htm #Indonesia #auspol Jakarta = abt 10 death row prisoners to finish legal appeals before setting a date for executions  http://www.echo.net.au/2015/03/sukumaran-paints-jokowi-portrait/ #India Delhi Police baton charged & detained exiled Tibetans staging a protest outside #Chinese Embassy. #Tibet March 10 Tibetan National Uprising Day (1959) http://www.newkerala.com/news/2015/fullnews-29562.html Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between #EU & #KoreaSouth is in effect South Koreans want to suspend NorKs nukes program Bilateral buddies #Latvia  #Latvia   http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=103532 -- Said it before and I'll say it again:  look how buddied up the Swedes are with the US, standing in for the US in negotiations with North Korea.