Middle East

(Informed Comment) – The US-Iranian relations remain conflictual forty years after the revolution and with an uncertain future. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement that Poland will host an international conference on Iran in February has angered Iranian officials, prompting foreign minister Javad Zarif’s tweeting the upcoming summit as America’s anti-Iran “circus.” Secretary […]

Israel

Gantz Targets Netanyahu in Israeli Election: ‘Ridiculous’ for Indicted PM to Serve

AFP

By Laurent Lozano | – Jerusalem (AFP) – A picture taken on January 29, 2019, shows the podium where former Israeli chief of staff Benny Gantz delivered his first electoral speech Bullish on security, conservative in diplomacy — ending weeks of silence, retired Israeli general Benny Gantz has launched his campaign to become prime minister. […]

Israel/ Palestine

Palestinians need Int’l Protection until Israeli Occupation Ends: PLO

Maan News Agency

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Secretary General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, Saeb Erekat, said that the people of Palestine need international protection until the end of the Israeli occupation, in response to Israel’s decision not to extend the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH). Erekat said in a statement “We […]

Feminism

Social Media Ridicule: Emirates’ Gender Equality Award Winners All Men

TeleSur

The award was meant to promote female participation in government, however, this year only men were honored. A storm of tweets bombarded the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after it was clear women had been completely excluded from this year’s gender-equality awards ceremony. “Gender balance has become a pillar in our governmental institutions,” said UAE vice […]

Iran

Syria and Iran Sign Strategic Economic Plan, including Tartus Naval Base

AFP

Damascus (AFP) – Syria and Iran signed 11 agreements and memoranda of understanding late Monday, including a “long-term strategic economic cooperation” deal aimed at strengthening cooperation between Damascus and one of its key allies in the civil war that has torn the country apart. The agreements covered a range of fields including economy, culture, education, […]

Bahrain

Defying US, Bahrain Affirms Life Sentence against Shiite Leader “farcically” charged with Spying

Natacha Yazbeck

Dubai (AFP) – A Bahraini court on Monday upheld a life sentence for opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman for spying for Gulf rival Qatar, a ruling his party slammed as “political revenge”. Salman, who headed Al-Wefaq, a now-banned Shiite movement, was convicted by an appeals court in November in a decision rights groups called a […]

Israel/ Palestine

One Dead as Israeli Squatter Mob Shoots Palestinians in Occupied West Bank

Middle East Monitor

Hamdi Taleb Na’asan, a 38 year old farmer, was killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of al-Mughayer. Israeli settlers shot and killed a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Palestinian officials and the Israeli military said. The incident followed a confrontation between settlers and Palestinians near the city of […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel pushes European Union to cease Funding NGOs backing BDS (Boycott)

Maan News Agency

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry accused the European Union of funding organizations that support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to the tune of millions, urging Brussels to make any financial aid to NGOs contingent on an explicit commitment to opposing boycotts of Israel. According to Hebrew-language news outlets, Israel’s Ministry of […]

Syria

Damascus Condemns Turkey Presence in North Syria as Violation of Deal

AFP

Damascus (AFP) – The Syrian government on Saturday condemned Turkey’s military presence in northern Syria as a violation of a 1998 protocol between the two countries. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted the Adana Protocol gives his country the right to intervene militarily in the neighbouring country. Turkey and its Syrian rebel proxies control […]