Saudi Arabia’s terror-teaching textbooks

SAUDI ARABIA: Studying Saudi textbooks, used not only in Saudi Arabia but throughout the Muslim world, ought to be required reading for officials signing off on billions in weapons sales to the Sunni power. In congressional testimony this week, Hudson Institute senior fellow Nina Shea highlighted the controversial texts, which include: “The Apes are the people of the Sabbath, the Jews; and the Swine are the infidels of the communion of Jesus, the Christians.”

Shea also described endemic delays by Saudi Arabia to reform the texts and State Department acquiescence. Incredibly, the State Department refused to release sought-after textbooks to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom or to the public.

RUSSIA: The U.S. Treasury Department has fined ExxonMobil $2 million for violating Russia sanctions while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was CEO of the oil giant.

The U.S. special counsel investigating possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia in last year’s election is examining a broad range of transactions involving Trump’s businesses, as well as those of his associates.

ISRAEL: Clashes are reported this morning in Jerusalem as Israeli police continue to restrict Muslim access to the Temple Mount and al-Aqsa Mosque. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has requested U.S. help to quell tension from last week’s shooting of two Israeli police officers in the Old City.

BRITAIN: Eleven-month-old Charlie Gard’s parents are back in court today in the ongoing quest to convince authorities to let their son live.

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