Tuesday's global agenda: Israeli elections hold key to Obama's second term

By Julian Pecquet - 01/22/13 09:53 AM ET

Your morning global affairs speed-read

Today's elections in Israel are widely expected to return Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power, albeit with a weakened majority that will require him to form a broader governing coalition. If he turns to right-wing nationalists opposed to the two-state solution with the Palestinians, Netanyahu could end up colliding head-on with a newly elected Barack Obama, who has no desire to make history as the U.S. president on whose watch the Middle East process drew its last breath.

Russia is evacuating its citizens from Syria, the latest sign that the Kremlin might be giving up on Bashar Assad.

In other news:

Algeria defends tough response to hostage crisis. [The New York Times]

U.S.-backed troops from Uganda killed one of Joseph Kony's top generals in the jungles of the Central African Republic. [The Wall Street Journal]

Weapons looted after the U.S.-backed intervention in Libya were confirmed to have been used in the attack in Algeria. [The Wall Street Journal]

Global Affairs news you might have missed:

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Obama avoids national security details in inaugural address

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