NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 11/20/2019

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY)

An attempt to form a new government in Israel has failed with Blue and White Party leader former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz returning his mandate to form a new government to President Reuven Rivlin Wednesday evening.

    Late night talks Tuesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to achieve a breakthrough in forming a "unity government" embracing the two major parties that command a majority in the parliament.

A key player in promoting a "unity government" Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) Party, said a clash of personalities prevents the formation of a new government and that both major parties are to blame....LINK

Israel appears headed for the its third election in a row since last spring.

There is still a 21-day period for any member of the parliament to find a government with support of a majority of members (61) to form a new government.

Israel's left-leaning "Haaretz" reported earlier this week that the plans of Israel's Attorney General's office in the coming days including the postponement of a prosecutor's meeting points to indictments against Prime Minister Netanyahu in three corruption cases this coming Sunday or Monday.

AT LEAST 11 ARE REPORTED DEAD IN SYRIA FOLLOWING DOZENS OF ISRAELI ATTACKS EARLY THIS MORNING.   ISRAEL SAID THOSE ATTACKS WERE IN RESPONSE TO FOUR MISSILES FIRED TOWARDS ISRAEL 24 HOURS EARLIER DURING AN ISRAELI STRIKE ON A TARGET IN DAMASCUS.

MORE FROM "YNET" IN ISRAEL.....LINK

(COMMENT-ANALYSIS)

Is someone trying to provoke a response from Iran with the two nights in a row of attacks on Iranian targets in Syria?

Its a very sensitive moment on the Israeli side with no permanent government, new elections and indictment of Prime Minister Netanyahu all in the cards.

On Tuesday the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln traveled through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf just south of Iran.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has proclaimed victory over protests opposing last Friday's gasoline price hike in the country which he blamed on foreign forces.

Meanwhile, Iran is protesting to the United States over what it says is US interference in the country's internal affairs.

The Swiss Ambassador, who represents US  interests in the country, summoned to Iran's foreign ministry today.

More from Iran's "Press TV"......LINK

THE POLITICAL DRAMA IN WASHINGTON TODAY WITH US AMBASSADOR TO THE EU GORDON SONDLAND TESTIFYING USING THE WORD 'QUID PRO QUO' AT THE 'IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY'.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AGAIN PUBLICLY STATING THERE WAS NO 'QUID PRO QUO' IN REGARDS TO US MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE.

MEANWHILE THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DEMOCRAT ADAM SCHIFF ADDING THE WORD 'BRIBERY' TO HIS COMMENTS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT AT THE 'INQUIRY'.

ALSO, THE FBI WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE 'WHISTLE BLOWER' WHOSE COMPLAINT SPARKED THE 'IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY'.    THE MAN IS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION BUT THE FBI SAYS IT WANTS TO TALK WITH HIM.

In Zimbabwe, police using batons, tear gas and water cannon to break up a rally by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.     Crowds had gathered outside MDC headquarters in the capital city of Harare to hear a speech from its leader Nelson Chamisa.

Chamisa says today's action proves the government is afraid of the people .   The MDC says the new government of President Emerson Mnangagwa is using the same tactics as predecessor, Robert Mugabe.

Reuters and Associated Press reports published by Canada's "Globe and Mail".......LINK

The timeline of Prince Andrew's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has come into question.    The Duke of York traced it to the late 1990's in his BBC interview broadcast last weekend.

But a letter written by Buckingham Palace to the "Times" in 2011 points to the relationship starting earlier than that.

More from the BBC......LINK

Word later in the day today that Prince Andrew intends to step back from his royal duties.    More from the BBC.....LINK

And Google will restrict political advertising worldwide in terms of how people are targeted and also in terms of content if the ads are considered to be "misleading".

Twitter already banning political ads completely but Facebook saying it will not get involved in "fact checking" political ads.

And for now that's the way it really is Wednesday November 20th, 2019.