Middle East

Algiers (AFP) – Algeria’s ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced Monday he is dropping his bid for a fifth term in office, scrapping the upcoming elections altogether after weeks of protests against his candidacy. “Peacefully, we have overthrown the puppet!” people sang in Algiers following the president’s decision. Celebratory honking of car horns rang out in […]

Iran

Iran’s Rouhani outflanks Trump in Baghdad, Slams US for “Bombs dropped on People”

Ali Choukeir

By Ali Choukeir | – Baghdad (AFP) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani hit back Monday against pressure from the “aggressor” United States on Iraq to limit ties with its neighbour, during his first official visit to Baghdad. Shiite-majority Iraq is walking a fine line to maintain good relations with its key partners Iran and the […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel was already Throttling Palestinians’ Water; Now Global Heating is Piling On

Al-Shabaka

By Zena Agha | – (Al-Shabaka) – Climate change is among the greatest threats currently facing human life. Its effects are global, wide-ranging, and unequally distributed. Despite Palestinians and Israelis inhabiting the same physical terrain, Palestinians under occupation will suffer the effects of climate change more severely. The single greatest non-environmental risk facing Palestinians in […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Even after Trump’s Announced Withdrawal, US & Kurdish Allies Still Assaulting last ISIL Redoubt in Syria

Rouba El Husseini

co-author: Tony Gamal-Gabriel Syria (AFP) – US-backed forces said Sunday time was up for Islamic State group jihadists hunkering down in their eastern Syrian holdout and resumed their assault on the pocket. The extremists once ruled over millions in a swathe of Syria and Iraq, but they have since lost all that land except for […]

Iran

Could Trump try to Save himself by Wagging the Dog with an Iran War?

Tomdispatch

By Bob Dreyfuss | – (Tomdispatch.com) – Here’s the foreign policy question of questions in 2019: Are President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, all severely weakened at home and with few allies abroad, reckless enough to set off a war with Iran? Could military actions designed […]

Israel/ Palestine

As Boycott over Apartheid Spreads, South Africa to Downgrade Israel Diplomatic Mission

Middle East Monitor

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that his government is planning to downgrade its diplomatic mission to Israel. This, he said, comes in response to recommendations from the National Conference of the National African Party which was held more than a year ago, Safa news agency reported yesterday. Speaking before the parliament, Ramaphosa said […]

Russia

Despite Pentagon Threats, Turkey’s Erdogan Set on Russian S-400 Anti-Aircraft Batteries

Juan Cole

Ankara (AFP) – Turkey’s deal to buy Russian S-400 missile defence systems had “nothing to do” with the security of the US, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday after a Pentagon warning. He was speaking a day after Washington warned Ankara of “grave consequences” should the deal go ahead. “It is very clear why Turkey […]

Israel/ Palestine

In Weekly Gaza Fish-in-Barrel Shoot, Israeli Army Kills One Youth, Injures 48 (15 Children)

Maan News Agency

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israeli forces shot and killed at least one Palestinian and injured 48 others, including four paramedics and two journalists, as they suppressed “The Great March of Return” weekly protests across the eastern border fence of the besieged Gaza Strip, on its 50th Friday. Spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in […]

Israel/ Palestine

Forgotten Palestinian Women of Jerusalem Struggling for their Rights as World Commemorated Women

Middle East Monitor

On International Women’s Rights Day, which falls on 8 March every year, we need to take a moment to look at whether all women are able to exercise all of their rights around the world. Are women’s rights limited to specific countries, while those elsewhere continue to suffer from oppression and discrimination? Are there women […]