Middle East

By Dina Matar | Al-Shabaka | via Ma’an News Agency | – – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently claimed in a video posted on his Facebook page that the Palestinian demand to dismantle illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) constitutes an act of “ethnic cleansing” against Israeli Jewish settlers. The term, […]

Iraq

Mosul: ISIL Scorched Earth Tactics put Civilians in Crossfire

contributors

Special Correspondent* | Niqash.org | Baghdad | – – Mosul Locals Explain Extremists’ Desperate Tactics Mosul locals, some of whom have escaped the extremists and some who are still under their control, describe the Islamic State group’s desperate tactics. They will fight to the death, trapped locals warn. A month has passed since Iraqi pro-government […]

Israel/ Palestine

Progressive Young Jews Protest AIPAC, Occupation of Palestine

contributors

TeleSur | – – Protesters gathered under the banner, “Jews won’t be free until Palestinians are, reject AIPAC, reject occupation.” Jewish protesters marched Sunday outside the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington as they slammed the lobbying firm for its support for policies of the right-wing Israeli government. Protesters held a banner saying, […]

Cats

Video of Day: Kitten tempted by Iran New Year Goldfish

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | (Video Clip) | – – March 21 was the Persian New Year (Now Ruz), marking also the first day of spring (the vernal equinox). In Iran on that day it is a custom to set out a table top with 7 things on it, the names of which […]

Displaced and Refugees

After Trump Massacres in Mosul, Campaign against ISIL Halted

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Candidate Donald Trump called last year for carpet-bombing of Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) in Iraq and Syria. It is possible that Trump has loosened the rules of engagement for the US Air Force, which is providing air support to the Iraqi Army. Looser rules could well be […]

Authoritarianism

In Erdogan’s Turkey, an Artist is Jailed for Painting Reality

contributors

TeleSur | – – A Turkish court has handed down a two-year, nine-month and 22-day jail sentence to a Kurdish artist because of her painting of a Kurdish village being razed by Turkish security forces. Turkish Artist Zehra Doğan Sentenced to Prison for Painting of Kurdish Town Attack — Alexander Rubinstein (@AlexR_DC) March 24, 2017 […]

Israel/ Palestine

Palestine slams Israeli Database Targeting Israelis Who Support Boycott

contributors

IMEMC | – – On March 21st, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Gilad Erdan, announced that his ministry seeks to create a new database of Israeli citizens who support the grassroots Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement to secure Palestinian human rights. In response, Mahmoud Nawajaa, the General Coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), […]

Displaced and Refugees

Top 5 Lessons Saudi should learn from its Failed Yemen War

contributors

By Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | – – Top 5 Lessons Saudi Arabia Learns from the Yemen War Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war has reached a dead end. Launched in late March 2015 to restore President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power, either by subduing or by eliminating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies, […]

Iraq

Did Trump loosen Rules? Charges that US Airstrikes Kill 230 Iraqi Civilians in Mosul

contributors

TeleSur | – – “Finding survivors is very difficult because the area is completely destroyed,” an authority told reporters. “It’s a very big disaster, indeed we can describe it as a disaster.” Dozens of residents were buried in collapsed buildings in the Iraqi city of Mosul after a U.S. airstrike Wednesday as rescuers tried to […]