By Michael Toole, Burnet Institute | – (The Conversation) – As war continues to devastate Gaza and its people, we learnt last week that a variant of poliovirus has been detected in the region. The virus was isolated in six sewage samples collected in late June from Khan Younis and Deir al Balah. Most infections […]
Can Israel and Hezbollah be pulled back from the Brink of War?
By Amin Saikal, Australian National University | – (The Conversation) – The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in intense diplomacy to persuade the protagonists to pull back from the brink. But US efforts have […]
As Hamas War drags on, Israeli Democracy Craters
By Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch, Suffolk University | – (The Conversation) – As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to address a joint session of U.S. Congress on July 24, 2024, the nation he leads continues its slide away from democracy. Even before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the country was engulfed by an […]
US pays Lip Service to a Palestinian State — But Blocks it in Practice
By Dennis Jett, Penn State | – Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024, bringing the total number of countries that do so to 144. The United States is not one of them. The U.S. has officially favored a two-state solution, meaning both Israel and a Palestinian state would be recognized […]
Massive IT Outage spotlights major Vulnerabilities in the global information Ecosystem
By Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County | – (The Conversation) – The global information technology outage on July 19, 2024, that paralyzed organizations ranging from airlines to hospitals and even the delivery of uniforms for the Olympic Games represents a growing concern for cybersecurity professionals, businesses and governments. The outage is emblematic of […]
Lebanese Society is Split over a Potential War with Israel
Rola El-Husseini, Lund University | – (The Conversation) – Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians shortly after the start of the war in Gaza. These attacks prompted skirmishes along the border that have escalated and spread further into the territory of both countries. On July 10, for example, the Israeli […]
Hopes for Gaza Ceasefire Fade Again
Sam Phelps, The Conversation | – Northern and central Gaza have been hit by Israeli airstrikes this week as troops return to battle Hamas fighters in areas they claimed to have cleared many months ago. The intensified military offensive unfolded just days after mediators thought they were making headway in negotiations for a ceasefire. On […]
‘One inch from a potential civil war’ – near Miss in Trump shooting is also a close call for American democracy
By Arie Perliger, UMass Lowell | – With an assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, the U.S. experienced another violent episode in its increasingly polarized politics. Former President Trump, who’s about to formally become the GOP nominee for president in the 2024 election, survived the attempted assassination […]
How Israel has brought the Palestinian Authority to the Brink of financial Collapse
By Dalia Alazzeh, University of the West of Scotland and Shahzad Uddin, University of Essex | – (The Conversation) – Israel’s ultranationalist finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced in May that he would be witholding tax revenues earmarked for Palestine. The decision was made in response to Spain, Ireland and Norway’s recognition of a Palestinian state. […]