Arab World

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In Iraq on Tuesday, Iraq militias and the Iraqi military launched a counter-attack on Falluja with the ultimate aim of driving Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) out of al-Anbar Province. The operation follows the successful liberation of Tikrit, north of Baghdad, from Daesh by these same forces. In […]

Israel

The Netanyahu Effect? Declining Support for 2 State Solution among Israelis, Palestinians

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) –Support for the two state solution decreased among both Palestinians and Israelis over the past year with just 51 percent of both populations vouching support, a recent poll reported. Compared to June 2014, support for the two-state solution decreased among Israelis from 62 percent to 51 percent […]

Apartheid

Video: Israeli Officer shoots protesting Palestinian Teen, Leaves him to Bleed Out

contributors

AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “17-year-old Mohammed al-Kusbah was killed by an Israeli officer after throwing a rock at a military SUV. The officer claimed his life was in danger, but a video has now been released that appears to dispute that.” AJ+ | “Video Shows Palestinian Teen Killed By Israeli Officer”

Children

Gaza breakdancers perform to express themselves against war

contributors

Lizzie Phelan | (RT Video Report) | – – “It’s a year and a day since Israel unleashed a devastating 7-week bombing campaign in Gaza – in a bid to stop cross-border rocket fire from Hamas. With much of the region in rubble, and thousands of Palestinians still homeless, locals are raising their spirits any […]

Egypt

Egypt: ISIL claims Massive Blast at Italian Consulate that Kills 1, wounds 4

contributors

Times of India | (Video Report) | – – “At least one person was killed and four others injured today in a powerful explosion outside the Italian consulate in the Egyptian capital.” (Update: “ISIS Claims Deadly Car Bomb Blast At Italian Consulate In Cairo” The Times of India: “1 Killed, 4 Injured in Blast at […]

Children

For Gaza Children, Returning to School reminder of Dead, Wounded Classmates

contributors

Fred Abrahams | (Human Rights Watch) | — The fighting began one year ago and lasted for 51 days. In Gaza, Israeli attacks from land, air, and sea killed 551 children and injured 3436, ten percent of them suffering a permanent disability. In Israel, one child was killed by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire; dozens […]

Druze

How the Washington Post got Taken in by Syria’s Taliban

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) Making alliances of convenience is a perennial temptation in Washington, where policy-makers often have more ambition than ethics or common sense. Thus, the Washington Post just published a slick op-ed by a representative of the Islamic Movement of Syrian Free Men (Ahrar al-Sham) claiming that the group is “moderate” […]

Iraq War

George W. Bush Started War, then Charged $100,000 to Help US Veterans Charity

contributors

Brian Ross | (ABC News Video) | – – ““It’s not right,” says wounded Marine hero.” ABC News: “George W. Bush Charged $100,000 to Help US Veterans Charity” Estimates of US troops wounded in Bush’s illegal war of aggression range from 32,000 to 100,000

Featured

Iraq: As Battle Royale to take Falluja from Daesh/ ISIL Looms, Fears for Civilians

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Falluja is surrounded and under siege by the Iraqi Army and its Shiite militia auxiliaries, as these pro-Baghdad forces make plans to take the city back away from Daesh (ISIS, ISIL). The militias call the looming operation “Cutting off the head of the Snake.” Some 20,000 […]