Worldwatch, May 11, 2015

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Greece’s stock market fell on Monday as expectations remained slim that a deal would be reached between Greece and its European creditors. Greece is facing a cashflow crisis, and it needs to secure this deal to get a bailout loan worth 8 billion U.S. dollars. The bailout money has been withheld for months pending discussions. Without a bailout, Greece faces the prospect of defaulting on its debts and going bankrupt within weeks. This would introduce controls on the free flow of capital, and could even force Greece to exit from Europe’s shared currency, the euro.

The Israeli President spoke out against racism and anti-semitism during a visit to Berlin on Monday. Reuven Rivlin was met by German Federal President Joachim Gauck at the presidential office in Berlin ahead of a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the victims of the holocaust on the 70th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany. The German president said that Germany and Israel are “connected with each other forever” because of the Holocaust. President Rivlin spoke about the increase in anti-Semitism. He said, “It is our duty together, as Israelis, as Germans, as democracies, as a significant part of humanity to stand firmly and forcefully against such crimes.” Tomorrow Rivlin will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Israel is to purchase 4 new naval vessels from Germany, the Israeli Defense ministry announced on Monday. Worth 480 million US dollars, the deal was made between the German Shipmaker tkms and the Israeli Government. The deal will see four Corvette-type patrol boats arrive in Israel in the next five years. According to the Israel Defense Force, the boats will be used to defend Israeli gas and drilling rigs in the Mediterranean as well as bolster search and rescue efforts. The signing of the contract coincided with the arrival in Israel of German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen for an official state visit.

The European Union is seeking a United Nations mandate to patrol Libyan waters in an effort to curb the surge of migrants to its southern coast. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is due to present the draft to the UN today. In its current form, the mission would allow EU naval forces to penetrate Libyan territorial waters and neutralize identified trafficking ships. The draft is also believed to call for the use of all means necessary to destroy the business model of the traffickers. Six EU nations have committed to taking an active role in the mission. All 28 member-states support the proposal.

Cuban president Raúl Castro visited Pope Francis at the Vatican on Sunday. He praised the pope for helping to broker the breakthrough thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations last year. Castro told Francis that he has been so inspired by his pontificate that he is considering becoming a Catholic once again. “I will go back to praying,” Castro said, and “go back to church,” if Francis keeps leading the church as he has been. Castro also said he would give Francis a warm welcome in Cuba in September.

Newly installed King Salman of Saudi Arabia will skip the Camp David Summit between the United States and Gulf nations, Saudi officials announced Sunday. The king’s absence means 4 out of 6 heads of state from the Gulf Cooperation Council will not attend the Summit. Instead, lesser gcc representatives will fill the seats. The Camp David Summit was due to reassure gcc nations of the United States’ commitment to their protection, even while it pursues a nuclear deal with Iran. Analysts believe the snub is another sign of the lack of trust that now exists between President Obama and the Gulf nations.

French President Francois Hollande arrived in Cuba late Sunday. He is the first French leader to visit Cuba since it gained independence in 1898. France is looking to bolster diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba. Bilateral trade between the two countries currently stands at 388 million dollars per year. Hollande is due to meet with Cuban President Raúl Castro later today. Hollande has said he is available to meet with Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro, but Cuba has not confirmed if the meeting will happen. Hollande is the first European leader to visit Cuba since the United Sates normalized ties with Cuba in December.