Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has added his voice to the list of Labor party luminaries calling for Palestine's recognition.

In powerful comments, Rudd tells me his "deepest fear" is the disintegration of an independent Palestine, which he says would fuel new radicalisation in the Middle East. [My report/Fairfax Media]

The number of respected voices making this call is not just set against the backdrop of Israel's expansion of thousands of new settlements in the West Bank, but in fact directly linked to the provocative action.

And, of course, then there's Donald Trump's apparent comfort with either a one- or two-state solution, a major policy shift he announced in Washington during last week's visit by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Bibi is due in Australia this week. It is a historic occasion as no sitting Israeli PM has made the trip before. Given the nature of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, this was always going to be a controversial visit, but the new settlement approvals, along with a recently passed law legalising Israeli settlements on private Palestinian land, will make the trip even more contentious.

Partners: Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu with US President Donald Trump. Photo: Bloomberg

2. Australian politics

Photo: Bloomberg

The Liberals are planning to force the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), also known as the 'Green Bank' to invest in new coal power stations, via "clean coal." [Adam Gartrell/Fairfax]

You only need to look at the organisation's name to know this would be completely at odds with its mission, although Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg disputed this in true Kellyanne Conway fashion by saying "it's called the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, not the Renewable Energy Finance Corporation."  [ABC]

David Crowe reports the government won't even need to go to parliament for the changes as Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann can rewrite the mandate and replace a majority of the board's directors without permission. [The Australian]

Photo: Bloomberg

The CEFC, modelled on Britain's Green Investment Bank (GIB), was established to raise funding for clean energy projects the renewable sector wouldn't otherwise find. Britain's GIB began turning a profit in 2015 and is now up for privatisation. That has been the subject of a backlash in Britain, delaying the timetable for privatisation. The winning bidder is likely to be Macquarie, but a decision is due this week, reports Street Talk. [Financial Review]

Sydney Liberal MP John Alexander, a long-time campaigner for more affordable housing, says the government is still considering changing capital gains tax concessions. This is completely consistent with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull telling Question Time last Thursday "the government has no intention or plan to change capital gains tax or negative gearing. That is our position and has been our position." [Hansard]

As seasoned political journalists like to point out in these situations, plans change, but it's refreshing when a government MP is willing to spell it out for all. [Sky News]

George Christensen pictured for Good Weekend. Photo: Andrew Meares

George Christensen's Nationals colleagues are content with his attention-seeking ways, including his repeated threats to quit/defect/cross-the-floor/etc etc. [Matthew Knott/Fairfax]

The federal court has granted an injunction to stop Border Force officials confiscating the personal mobile phones of detainees in immigration centres. [Adam Gartrell/Fairfax]

3. Trump and Sweden

First Australia, now Sweden! Donald Trump's worldwide offence to cause offence to the least offending countries continues.

Sweden is demanding an explanation from the White House about exactly what Donald Trump was referring to when he said "last night in Sweden" at a rally in Florida.

"We're of course wondering [what he referred to]," Swedish government spokeswoman Catarina Axelsson is quoted as telling Swedish News Agency TT. [Louise Nordström/The Local]

"What has he been smoking," tweeted the former foreign minister Carl Bildt. [McClatchy/Fairfax]

It's not clear whether Trump has been watching his favourite news channel Fox, which on Friday aired a clip alleging a surge in gun violence and rape in Sweden as the result of an open-door refugee policy, or whether he mixed up Sehwan in Pakistan with Sweden. [BBC]

President Donald Trump with Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. Photo: AP

Trump's Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has distanced himself from Trump's attack on the press, (in his latest tweet he claims they are the enemy of the people.)

Mattis said "I don't have any issues with the press myself." [Washington Post]

4. Huge anti-Trump rallies planned for the UK

Photo: AP.

Protesting in Britain is serious business. Left-wing activists, including unionists and MPs, are pledging the biggest protests in UK history for Donald Trump's state visit to the UK later this year.

The Stop Trump Coalition has already hired a permanent staff member and crowdfunded £16,000 ($26,000). [Jessica Elgot/The Guardian]

5.  War in Mosul

​

An Iraqi soldier waves the national flag as security forces patrol on the eastern side of Mosul, Iraq, on January 18. Photo: PA

Iraqi government forces have seized several villages as they advance on Islamic State's final stronghold in Mosul. [BBC]

6. China stops taking North Korean coal

China has cut off all coal exports from North Korea, effectively cutting the rogue nation's exports in half, seemingly in response to Pyongyang's recent missile test. [Fairfax]

And that's it from me today – you can follow me on Facebook for more.

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