NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 11/17/2019

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin says there's still a chance for a unity government.    The disagreements between the Blue and White leader Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud over who should lead such a government have been prominent in the wrangling following Israel's second election this year.

Rivlin urging the leaders to come together ahead of this week's deadline for Mr. Gantz to form a government.   Mr. Netanyahu earlier failed to establish one.

Rivlin saying in part:

"I believe its possible to form a government.   The gaps are more personal than they are ideological, conceptual, political or to do with the needs of the state.  Israel's leaders must understand that the people of Israel come first."

A story from "Israel National News".....LINK

The deadline for Gantz to form a new government is Wednesday.

President Trump tweeting a message to North Korea's ruler Kim Jong-un today starting with an allusion to recent propaganda but ending with a call for a deal on North Korea's nuclear program:

"Mr. Chairman, Joe Biden may be Sleepy and Very Slow, but he is not a "rabid dog",    He is actually somewhat better than that, but I am the only one who can get you where you have to be.  You should act quickly, get the deal done.    See you soon!"-LINK

Earlier Sunday the United States and South Korea announced that they were postponing a joint military exercise criticized by North Korea as provocative.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his South Korean counterpart announcing the decision in Thailand Sunday.   Esper called the move a "good faith effort" to "enable peace".

North Korea recently rejected going back to talks on de-nuclearization until the US changes its approach.

More from the "Voice of America".....LINK

PROTEST CONTINUING IN HONG KONG  OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO MONDAY.    ON SUNDAY A BIG FIGHT AROUND A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS WHERE PROTESTERS ARE BASED THAT INCLUDED A NEARBY HIGHWAY TUNNEL.

TEAR GAS AND WATER CANNON USED BY THE POLICE.   THE WATER CANNON FIRING A CORROSIVE BLUE DYE.   AN ARROW BECAME EMBEDDED IN A POLICE OFFICER'S LEG DURING THE CLASHES.

POLICE AND PROTESTERS ENGAGED IN A FIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING AT THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.     THIS IS LIVE VIDEO AS OF 115 PM EASTERN TIME....LINK

AS OF MONDAY MORNING HONG KONG TIME POLICE LAYING SIEGE TO THE COLLEGE CAMPUS WHERE STUDENT PROTESTERS ARE HOLED UP INSIDE WITH MAKESHIFT WEAPONS PREPARED TO RESIST.   THE LATEST LIVE VIDEO FROM THE AREA AT 1130 PM EASTERN US TIME SUNDAY, 1230 PM MONDAY HONG KONG TIME....LINK

In Iran the internet reported shut down amid protests against higher gasoline prices and rationing imposed Friday that have included the torching of banks in the country.

Iran under pressure from the United States massive sanctions regime, a regime comparable if not worse than the sanctions imposed on Japan prior to the opening of World War 2 hostilities in December of 1941.

Iran under condemnation from US officials over how its  handling the protests.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appearing live for a speech Sunday blaming foreign forces to instigating the protests.

He said in the speech that "sabotage and arson is done by hooligans not our people".

The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also addressing the situation Sunday as reported by Iran's "Press TV"....LINK

A southern Iranian border crossing with Iraq reported shut down after the protests began.

From Iraq, protesters taking over a third bridge in the center of Baghdad Sunday with additional protests blocking highways in the central and southern parts of the country.

More details from the Associated Press published by "Stars and Stripes".....LINK 

"Macron destroys France and your rights.  We're here for you"

That's the translation of a protest sign held in Paris today as a peaceful gathering of hundreds of people commemorated the first anniversary of the Yellow Vests protest movement in Paris.

In Sri Lanka the younger brother of a former president who spearheaded military operations against the extremist Tamil Tigers a decade ago is the winner of the presidential election.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa expected to win an outright majority of the popular vote over his main rival Sajith Premadasa.

The victory of Mr. Rajapaksa who is called "Terminator" comes seven months after the Islamic terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka that killed 269 people.

The lawyer for a woman who says she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times when she was underage says he should be talking to the police and be interviewed under oath instead of the media.

Those comments from Jack Scarola who represents Virginia Roberts Guiffre.

In a BBC interview this weekend the Duke of York categorically denied any relationship with Guiffre and said it can't be proven that the picture of him with  his arms around her waist is real.    He said he has '"no recollection" of meeting her.

The prince said he should have broken off his relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein in the interview.

The "Daily Mail" has more......LINK

And that's the way it really is for this Sunday November 17th, 2019.