Congressional Briefing On US Envoy Malley Reveals Little
A classified briefing Friday at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee by administration officials did not reveal the reasons for the suspensions of US Iran envoy Rob Malley.
A classified briefing Friday at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee by administration officials did not reveal the reasons for the suspensions of US Iran envoy Rob Malley.
The Jewish Insider reported that committee Chairman Michael McCaul said officials had not been able to offer details on Malley’s status regarding an investigation over his security clearance.
Iran International first reported June 29 that Malley’s security clearance had been suspended and he has been under investigation related to his handling of classified documents. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reportedly involved in the investigation, although until now no official details have been announced, except that Malley is on “unpaid leave.”
Chairman McCaul (R-TX) had threatened the Biden administration with subpoena if they failed to brief his committee on Malley’s status. While he had been suspended perhaps as early as April, the administration did not inform Congress about it.
“We don’t really have any details” on the Malley investigation “because it’s an ongoing investigation,” McCaul said according to the Insider. He also said that the administration will likely not be able to provide a full briefing until the investigation ends.
A spokesperson from the Committee told Iran International that officials refused to provide any significant new information, including the reason Malley's security clearance was revoked, citing the Privacy Act, but the Committee will try again to obtain more information.
McCaul was quoted by the Insider as saying, “They couldn’t get into the details,” adding, “the question is, is the FBI involved because if they are, then that’s a national security problem.”
Malley who was chief US nuclear negotiator with Iran has been replaced by Abram Paley as acting envoy.
Major-General Tomer Bar said his forces needed to remain "vigilant and prepared" after parliament Monday passed the first of Netanyahu's widely contested changes, removing the Supreme Court's authority to void what it deems "unreasonable" decisions by government and ministers.
"It is possible that at a time like this they (Israel's enemies) will try to test the frontiers, our cohesion and our alertness," Bar said in an address to his forces, according to a statement released on Friday. He did not elaborate.
Reuters reported this week that Iran’s IRGC and security officials held a three-hour meeting last week with the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas to see how they can take advantage of Israel’s internal problems.
The overhaul pursued by Netanyahu and his right-wing government has sparked a seven-month crisis, spurring unprecedented protests, opening up a deep social divide and shaking the commitment to call-up duty of some army reservists.
As the crisis escalated following Monday's vote, Israel's Ynet news said Netanyahu received at least four letters from Military Intelligence warning of serious security ramifications arising from the judicial overhaul.
According to the report, senior intelligence officials said Israel's enemies, particularly Iran and its heavily armed proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, view the crisis as a historic low point in the country's history.
A spokesperson for the prime minister declined comment.
Iranian government media and those of his proxies have been highlighting Israel’s political crisis, claiming that end of the Jewish state is near.
A poll conducted by Maariv, one of Israel's leading newspapers, found that 58 percent of Israelis feared civil war, and 36 percent thought the right thing to do is for government to stop the judiciary legislation immediately, compared to 22 percent who said it should be promoted unilaterally.
Protesters say growing numbers of military reservists have decided to stop serving to express their opposition to the overhaul. The military has acknowledged an increase in requests to abstain from service, and said that damage would be done, gradually, to war-readiness if the no-shows proved protracted.
Netanyahu has argued that the change made this week is “a minor” issue and it is “silly” to say Israel will no longer be a democracy.
Political watchdog groups have appealed to the Supreme Court to strike down the new law, paving the way to a showdown among branches of government when it hears the arguments in September.
The legal tussle could begin next Thursday when the top court will hear an appeal against a coalition bill ratified in March that limited conditions for removing the prime minister from office.
Israel's democratic foundations are relatively fragile, and the Supreme Court is seen as crucial for protecting civil rights and the rule of law. The country has no constitution, the government holds a 64-56 majority in the one-chamber Knesset and the president's office is ceremonial.
Netanyahu says the changes will balance government branches. He casts the protests as a bid to thwart his democratic mandate.
His plans have hit the economy, triggering foreign investor flight. Deepening domestic political uncertainty will reduce economic growth this year, S&P Global Ratings said in a report.
The judicial reform drive, along with an expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied land where Palestinians seek to establish a state, have also weighed on relations with Israel's most important ally the United States.
(With reporting by Reuters)
