Middle East

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Iran has for weeks been in the midst of an energy crisis. It may seem paradoxical given that it has some of the biggest oil and gas fields in the world. Some 70% of Iran’s electricity is generated by fossil gas. Power blackouts have inflicted billions of dollars of losses […]

Israel/ Palestine

“Jewish Chronicle” under Fire over Article claiming Palestinian Solidarity is anti-Semitic

Middle East Monitor

( Middle East Monitor ) – The Jewish Chronicle, Britain’s oldest Jewish community newspaper, has come under fire for publishing an article by controversial commentator Melanie Phillips which claims that any support for Palestinians amounts to anti-Semitism. Concerns have been raised over subsequent undisclosed edits to both the headline and content. The article, initially published […]

Israel

How will the new Syria handle its Greater Israel Problem?

Middle East Monitor

By Muhammad Hussein | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – When Israel’s far-right extremist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged in October his aim for a Jewish state that encompasses not only all of the Palestinian territories, but also extends to Syria, some speculated about how such a goal would be achieved. In Israel’s classic […]

Featured

With Israel’s Destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital, UN Rapporteur calls for Global Medical Boycott

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Israeli-Occupied Palestinian Territories, reacted forcefully to the complete destruction by the Israeli military of Kamal Adwan Hospital at Beit Lahia in northern Gaza and the arrest and abuse of its patients and its director. She called for a world-wide medical boycott of […]

Israel/ Palestine

Letters from Gaza: Praise God, We are not OK

Ramzy Baroud

( Middle East Monitor ) – Over the past 14 months, I have received hundreds of messages from family members throughout the Gaza Strip. The nature of the messages often conveyed a sense of urgency and panic but, at times, contentment in God’s will. Some of those who wrote these notes have been killed in […]

Iran

Syria’s De Facto Leader Wants To Maintain ‘Respectful’ Ties With Iran, Russia

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty

( RFE/RL ) – New Syrian de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa told the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television channel that he wants relations with Iran and Russia, but he insisted any ties must be based on mutual “respect.” Russia and Iran were major allies of Syria under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad until the totalitarian […]

Bashar al-Assad

What is the Drug Captagon and how is it Linked to Syria’s Fallen Assad Regime?

The Conversation

By Nicole Lee, Curtin University (The Conversation) – After the fall of the al-Assad regime in Syria, large stockpiles of the illicit drug captagon have reportedly been uncovered. The stockpiles, found by Syrian rebels, are believed to be linked to al-Assad military headquarters, implicating the fallen regime in the drug’s manufacture and distribution. But as […]

Israel/ Palestine

The War on Gaza Crystalizes Israel’s Image

Yakov M. Rabkin

( Russia in Global Affairs ) – Modern Israel attracts much attention from analysts and the public but our ability to understand it is hindered by ideology, prejudice, and myth. Many tread carefully when discussing Israel lest they be accused of antisemitism. In an earlier article, I explained what distinguishes anti-Zionism from antisemitism. However, the […]

Climate Crisis

Egypt opens 500 MW Solar Plant, Plans Factory with Sweden to Manufacture Photovoltaic Panels

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Egypt is perfect for solar power, even though the country has not implemented much of it yet. The Egyptians had installed 1.8 gigawatts of solar by the beginning of this year, most of it at the Benban Solar Park some 400 miles south of Cairo in the Aswan Governorate. But […]