Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 23, 2017

Israeli border police officers stand guard as Palestinians pray at Lions' Gate, the entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, in protest over Israel's new security measures at the compound housing Al-Aqsa mosque, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sharif) and to Jews as the Temple Mount, July 20, 2017. (photo by REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

Osama Al Sharif, Al-Monitor: Jordan, Israel trade barbs as tension over Al-Aqsa continues

Anyone following Jordanian reaction to Israeli measures imposed at the Haram al-Sharif (which Israel calls The Temple Mount) in the Old City of Jerusalem following the deadly July 14 attack could be forgiven for thinking that Jordan and Israel were still at war. Israel closed the compound that includes Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest shrine, preventing prayer there after three Arab-Israelis opened fire on Israeli guards near a gate leading to the shrine. Two policemen were killed before the assailants were shot dead. It was the first time that Israeli authorities had closed the compound since 1969, triggering angry reactions on both sides of the Jordan River.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 23, 2017

The death of the caliphate: Why ISIS’s huge territorial setbacks in Syria and Iraq are so devastating to the terrorist group -- Simon Cottee, NYDaily News

Qatar’s diverse $335 billion in investments around the world -- Amrank

Hanoi is choking on the fumes of 5m motorbikes, but can ban break its habit? -- Kate Hodal, The Guardian

Kenya’s Upcoming Elections Should Worry the World -- Patrick Gathara, Wash Post

Angela Merkel’s Turkish roulette: Berlin’s patience with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has run out. -- Matthew Karnitschnig, Politico

Estonia: A NATO Ally in Peril -- Jüri Toomepuu, Small Wars Journal

Divided UK, inconclusive election could put brakes on Brexit -- Jill Lawless, AP

Russia on Europe’s Gas Supply: Tough Talk, But No Teeth -- Agnia Grigas, RCW

How Kaczynski Is Driving Poland Away from Europe -- Jan Puhl, Spiegel Online

European Disunion: What the rise of populist movements means for democracy -- Yascha Mounk, New Republic

Putin’s Hackers Now Under Attack—From Microsoft -- Kevin Poulsen, Daily Beast

Colombia's New Cocaine Problem -- Ben Grenrock, Roads and Kingdoms

Trump’s 'Axis of Adults' Is Breaking Apart -- Eli Lake, Bloomberg

Alliances Are More Than Balance Sheets -- Jacob Parakilas, Newsweek

Are America's Overseas Security Commitments Worth It? -- RAND