an update on the still-delayed US decision on whether any Israeli security force units should be barred from receiving U.S. assistance:

The FT Weekend festival is back this Saturday at the Kennedy Center ! Register here to see Jake Sullivan, Lael Brainard, Nancy Pelosi speak live on stage with FT journalists usftweekendfestival.live.ft.com

My behind-the-scenes look with James Politi at the months-long campaign by intelligence chiefs, White House officials, European diplomats — and maybe most importantly, Ukrainian evangelicals — to persuade Mike Johnson to hold a vote on Ukraine:

ft.com/content/842cd9… via @ft

Israel has begun preparations for a Rafah operation, including 'humanitarian enclaves' to evacuate civilians which is 'weeks away.' Safe zones will be 'geographically close' to Rafah.

More info in Financial Times story w James Shotter Felicia Schwartz Henry Foy ft.com/content/9b37ab…

'Now we need to move fast' - Pentagon rushes $1bn in weapons to Kyiv after Biden signs aid bill - Felicia Schwartz and me ft.com/content/34ea3d… via @ft

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is in custody on espionage charges, makes a heart-shaped gesture behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants as he attends a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, April 23, 2024. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

Good insights from Dana Stroul

Italian FM Tajani tells reporters at the G7 in Capri that Israel informed the US before its overnight Iran attack:

'The United States were informed the last minute but there was no involvement on the part of the United States, it was simply information that was provided.'

US allies urge Iran not to retaliate against Israel ft.com/content/015cee…

“I’m here to offer my opinion, to meet with anyone who wants to talk to me about it” - Felicia Schwartz and Lauren Fedor on Cameron's US lobbying for Ukraine aid
ft.com/content/a92a52… via @ft

My worlds collide

Confirming our Financial Times scoop last month Ben Hall Christopher Miller Myles McCormick on.ft.com/49tg5Fi

Per Trump spox: Trump & Cameron had dinner last night, discussed 'US and UK elections, policy matters specific to Brexit, the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements, & ending the killing in Ukraine'

& their 'mutual admiration' for Queen Elizabeth.

New detail in this story from me and Felicia Schwartz - Cameron said he was flying to Washington to meet Mike Johnson and urge him to pass more Ukraine aid. But now people familiar with the matter say there are no plans for the two to meet...

US Secretary Antony Blinken used meetings in Europe this week to warn allies of “concerning scale” of Chinese support for Russia, particularly in weapons production and the space industry

ft.com/content/ba5244… @ft w brilliant Felicia Schwartz Demetri & Claire Jones

scoop w/ Henry Foy — in meetings in Europe this week, Blinken warned Beijing was assisting Moscow “at a concerning scale”, and providing “tools, inputs and technical expertise” particularly in optics, propellants and space cooperation ft.com/content/ba5244… via @ft

Scoop via Financial Times ⁦Felicia Schwartz⁩ on the Biden considering labeling goods from settlements to ramp up pressure on Israel
on.ft.com/3TJggGB

SCOOP: US weighing plans to label goods from Jewish settlements in occupied West Bank ft.com/content/f0df1d…

👀 White House shared the readout of Biden-Netanyahu call today to the “political strategy” mailing list.

Reader, who shared email, said this seems to be first time the office sent out a foreign policy related call readout ⬇️

Asked by Hugh Hewitt about the reaction to his Israel/Gaza comments, which some took as dovish, Trump says he stands with Israel 100%:

'They’ve got to finish what they finish. They have to get it done. Get it over with, and get it over with fast, because we have to, you have to…