Middle East

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The United Nations Security Council on Friday passed a resolution with 14 member states in favor and 1 abstaining (the US), condemning Israeli government support for Israeli squatters who steal Palestinian land and squat on it in the Palestinian West Bank. Since Israel is in severe […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israeli forces suppress Bethlehem’s ‘Santa Claus march’ with tear gas, rubber bullets

contributors

By Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces Friday suppressed Bethlehem’s “Santa Claus March,” shooting tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at participants, with many suffering from tear gas inhalation. A number of demonstrators, including five journalists and foreigners, participated in a march near the Israeli checkpoint 300 in the north […]

Bahrain

With Fall of Aleppo, will a Russo-Iranian Middle East challenge Trump?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – On Thursday, the Syrian government announced that the last of those who wanted to be evacuated from the East Aleppo pocket had been bused out, and that the Bashar al-Assad regime had reestablished complete control over the entire city of Aleppo. Bashar al-Assad in his remarks […]

Donald Trump

Why Trump’s nominee for envoy to Israel is Setting off Alarm Bells

contributors

By Mitchell Plitnick | Foreign Policy in Focus | Originally published in Lobelog | – – David Friedman’s approach to the issue of peace is clear enough: Whatever Israel’s right-wing government wants, the United States should give. With his nomination of attorney David Friedman as the new United States Ambassador to Israel, President-elect Donald Trump […]

Israel/ Palestine

Stifling the debate on Israel

contributors

By Ramzy Baroud | (Ma’an News Agency) | – – The British government of Theresa May officially adopted on Dec. 12 a new definition of anti-Semitism that includes legitimate criticism of Israel. The definition was adopted earlier in the year by a pro-Israeli group IHRA, although it was considered but abandoned by the European anti-racism […]

Haredim

Can Israeli institutions include both more Women and more Gender-Segregating Orthodox?

contributors

Shulamit Almog | (The Conversation) | – – In one sense, women are making great strides in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). In October, the army declared it was examining the possibility of allowing women to serve in new combat positions, including in tank crews. In the same month, Major Reut (whose last name is […]

Featured

Why do they Hate Putin’s Freedoms? Russian Ambassador assassinated in Turkey

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – It is not entirely clear why Mevlut Altintas, a young policeman in, ironically, a counter-terrorism unit in the Turkish capital of Ankara, shot Andrei Karlov– the Russian ambassador to Turkey– in the back on Monday. Was he a lone wolf? Part of a far-right Muslim vigilante […]

Israel Lobbies

Jewish Students and Scholars Object to US Bill Banning Criticism of Israel

contributors

By IMEMC | – – Jewish scholars and students have released statements urging the US House of Representatives and President Obama to reject the controversial “Antisemitism Awareness Act”. In a recent initiative by US based organization Jewish Voice for Peace, Jewish scholars and students signed statements urging both the House of Representatives, as well as […]

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Admits to Using Illegal UK Cluster Bombs in Yemen

contributors

TeleSur | – – “If Saudi forces are prepared to use cluster bombs, then why is the U.K. continuing to arm and support the regime?” a campaigner asked. Saudi Arabia admitted Monday it used illegal U.K.-made cluster bombs in Yemen as the Gulf state continues its aggressive air campaign there, backed with the help of […]