Middle East

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 […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel demolishes al-Araqib Bedouin village for 142nd time

Maan News Agency

NEGEV (Ma’an) — Israeli bulldozers demolished the unrecognized Bedouin village of al-Araqib in the Negev desert in southern Israel for the 142nd time, on Thursday. Locals reported that Israeli bulldozers, escorted by Israeli police forces, demolished residential structures and tents of al-Araqib villagers, leaving women, children and the elderly without a shelter. Villagers said that […]

Featured

Congress Slaps down Trump-Saudi War on Yemen

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The House of Representatives voted Thursday 247 to 175 to end the US involvement in supporting the Saudi-led war effort in Yemen. 16 Republicans voted with the Democratic majority. The Senate had already passed the act, invoking the War Powers act for the first time since it was enacted in […]

Israel/ Palestine

Sharp Rise in Number of Palestinian Children Killed by Israeli Military in 2018

Maan News Agency

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in 2018 increased sharply from the previous year and reached 57 compared to 15 in 2017, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report published on Thursday marking Palestinian Child Day, which coincides on Friday. The PCBS report said that […]

Algeria

Arab Spring Pt. 2? Massive Crowds forced out Bouteflika, but What Next for Algeria?

Brian Whitaker

Algerians who have been demonstrating on the streets for more than a month appear to have achieved their primary goal of toppling President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. On Monday the official news agency reported that the 82-year-old president will resign “before 28 April” – the date when his current mandate expires. [Update: Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday April […]

Featured

Senators Grill Rick Perry on Transfer of Nuclear Info to Saudi Arabia Despite “Troubling Actions”

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Timothy Gardner at Reuters reports that senators on Tuesday sent a sharp letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry about the Part 810 approvals he secretly gave US businesses to provide sensitive nuclear specifications to Saudi Arabia. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) insisted that Perry inform them […]