By Nijmeh Ali and Yara Hawari | – (Al-Shabaka) – Palestinian citizens of Israel earlier this year organized a campaign to boycott the April Knesset elections. Under the banner of the “Popular Campaign for the Boycott of the Zionist Elections,” the campaign called on Palestinians to refuse participation in the Israeli general elections so as […]
Archives for September 2019
‘Emperor has no Clothes:’ Trump asked of Egypt’s al-Sisi, ‘Where’s my Favorite Dictator?’
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Trump has long been accused of having a soft spot for dictators, but now he has admitted it, even if only in the form of a jest. Nancy Youssef, Vivian Salama, and Michael Bender at the Wall Street Journal report that at the recent G7 meeting where Trump saw a […]
Donald Trump: The Face of Israeli PM Netanyahu’s Campaign
From my point of view, the world was humming along pretty nicely until about 1981 when Ronald Reagan became US President, while Menachem Begin and Maggie Thatcher became Prime Ministers in Israel and Great Britain. Suddenly, all three Western powers took a sharp tack to the far-far right. Though there was a recovery period in […]
Islam, the Oud and American Jazz Prodigy Ahmed Abdul-Malik
(Informed Comment) – On John Coltrane’s breakthrough album Live at the Village Vanguard album (1961) there were many musical innovations, and the sound of an instrument new to jazz, the oud. The oud, staple of Middle Eastern music – and ancestor of the lute and guitar – was played by Coltrane’s bassist, Ahmed Abdul-Malik. Just […]
China is positioned to lead on climate change as the US rolls back its policies
By Kelly Sims Gallagher and Fang Zhang | – As the effects of climate change become more widespread and alarming, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has called on nations to step up their plans for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Every country has a part to play, but if the world’s largest emitters fail to meet their […]
Iran: After barred woman Fan sets herself Alight, Soccer Star Condemns Female ban at Stadiums
(RFE/RL) -The captain of Iran’s national soccer team has renewed his criticism of a ban on female spectators following reports a young Iranian woman set herself alight after being sentenced to prison for trying to attend a men’s soccer match. Masoud Soleimani Shojaei — who is considered a national hero — said on September 6 […]
How TV cameras influence candidates’ debate success
By Patrick A. Stewart | – As the Democratic Party continues to winnow its field of candidates to challenge President Donald Trump, it’s important to remember that the way candidates are covered on TV can influence public opinion. That’s become increasingly apparent in today’s media landscape, with several candidates jockeying for coverage during their party’s […]
Israel caught by FBI electronically Spying on Trump, White House
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Daniel Lipmann at Politico dropped the bombshell that mysterious electronic spying devices placed throughout Washington, D.C. and close to the White House and the Capitol were traced by the FBI to Israel. The Israelis deployed StingRay mobile identity-catchers, devices that are mistaken for cell towers by cell phones, allowing them […]
Trump v. Climate Emergency: A Formula for Catastrophe in the Arctic
By Michael T. Klare | – Donald Trump got the headlines as usual — but don’t be fooled. It wasn’t Trumpism in action this August, but what we should all now start referring to as the Pompeo Doctrine. Yes, I’m referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and, when it comes to the Arctic region, […]