Middle East

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have won the Israeli national elections, securing a record fifth term in office despite having to run against popular rival Benny Gantz, the country’s three main television channels said on Wednesday. With 97 percent of the votes counted, none of the candidates’ parties had captured a ruling majority, but […]

Israel/ Palestine

Should Palestinian-Israelis Boycott Today’s Elections? A Debate

Al-Shabaka

In this roundtable debate, Al-Shabaka Analyst Nijmeh Ali and Al-Shabaka Palestine Policy Fellow Yara Hawari argue against and for the boycott, respectively. What do Palestinian citizens of Israel gain by participating in the Israeli elections? By boycotting them? Nijmeh Ali: Participating in the elections allows Palestinians to organize themselves internally, conduct political debates, and lobby […]

Israel/ Palestine

Dem Pres. Hopeful Beto: “Netanyahu is Racist, siding with far right party”

Middle East Monitor

US presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke has slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called him a racist just days before the Israeli general election. In a campaign speech at the University of Iowa, the former Texas congressman said: “The US-Israel relationship is one of the most important relationships that we have on the planet.” “And […]

Featured

Would-be Assassin brands Rep. Ilhan Omar as “Muslim Brotherhood,” aping Milstein of Canary Mission

Juan Cole

A man from Addison, New York, was arrested after he made a menacing phone call to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s office, speaking with staff. The FBi says that the man told the staffer, “Do you work for the Muslim Brotherhood? Why are you working for her, she’s a fucking terrorist. I’ll put a bullet in her […]

Israel/ Palestine

PPS: Israeli Forces detained over 6,000 Palestinian children since 2015

Maan News Agency

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained more than 6,000 Palestinian children since 2015, according to the Palestine Prisoner’s Society (PPS), on Sunday.PPS said in a statement marking the Palestinian Children’s Day, that 98% of the children held had been subjected to psychological and/or physical abuse while in Israeli custody. PPS said Israeli forces detained dozens […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israeli PM Netanyahu vows to usurp much of Palestinian West Bank

Middle East Monitor

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he would annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins another term in office, a last-minute pre-election promise likely to enrage Palestinians and the Arab world. In an interview with Israeli Channel 12 News three days ahead of the 9 April poll, Netanyahu […]

Israel/ Palestine

South Africa Embassy in Israel downgrades Relations over Apartheid

Middle East Monitor

South Africa has downgraded its embassy to Israel, the first phase in reducing diplomatic relations between the two countries at the request of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. In this first phase, South Africa’s formerly full-service embassy in Tel Aviv has been downgraded to a liaison office, a diplomatic mission with limited […]

Libya

Gen. Hiftar’s Drive to Take all of Libya Raises Atrocity Concerns

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch – (Tunis) – All forces taking part in fighting around Libya’s capital, Tripoli, should take all necessary action to minimize civilian harm and abide by the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today. Armed groups loyal to both sides have a record of abusing civilians. Fighters led by General Khalifa Hiftar, […]

Israel/ Palestine

Why the Palestinians’ Gaza Protests Won’t Stop

Human Rights Watch

By Abier Almasri | – ( Human Rights Watch) – On Saturday, Palestinians in Gaza will head to the fences with Israel that effectively serve as their prison wall– as they have done for over a year, since they began weekly demonstrations against Israel’s more than decade-long closure of Gaza. I’ve spent much of the […]