Middle East

By Kristine Beckerle, Finberg Fellow | ( Human Rights Watch) | – – Every year, the United Nations secretary-general releases a “list of shame” of government forces and armed groups that have committed grave violations against children during armed conflict. This year, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen was listed for the first time, identified […]

Iraq

How The US, Iraqi Army And Shiite Militias United – Then Split – In Fallujah

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – Anti-extremist forces have been fighting in Fallujah for a week. But before they began, there were serious negotiations between the partners-in-battle. And the negotiations continue on the front lines. On May 23, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appeared near an Iraqi army camp near the […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel’s future is terrifying: Moshe Yaalon and Harbingers of Extremism

contributors

By Ramzy Baroud | (Ma’an News Agency) | – – Israeli society is constantly swerving to the right and, by doing so, the country’s entire political paradigm is redefined regularly. That Israel is now ruled by “the most extreme right-wing government in its history” has grown from being an informed assessment to a dull clich […]

Featured

Baghdad advances on Fallujah but “slows down” for fear of Civilian Casualties

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi said Thursday that his troops were in position to move into the city of Fallujah from the south, after advances made during the past two days, but that he would “slow down” the assault for fear of civilians trapped in the […]

Featured

As US/ Kurdish force Moves on ISIL at Manbij, Turkey goes Ballistic

contributors

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The left-leaning Beirut daily al-Safir (Ambassador) points out that less than two weeks after the Syrian Democratic Forces announced their campaign against al-Raqqa, the capital of the phony caliphate of Daesh (ISIS, ISIL), the SDF instead has veered off to the west in a bid to […]

Israel/ Palestine

The Gaza Strip: The Political Economy of De-development: Sara Roy

contributors

Paige Brownlow | (Institute for Palestine Studies) The Gaza Strip: The Political Economy of De-development Third and Final Edition by Harvard Scholar, Sara Roy “The De-development of the Gaza Strip has arguably reached its logical conclusion with the current, increasingly distorted, reconfiguration of economic activity,” says renowned political economist and Harvard scholar, Dr. Sara Roy. […]

Featured

ISIL counter-attack in Fallujah: can Iraqi Forces maintain momentum?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The London pan-Arab daily al-Hayat [Life] reports that Iraqi troops are advancing on Fallujah despite facing fierce resistance from Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) . At the same time, fear is mounting abot the fate of the tens of thousands of non-combatants inside the city who are caught […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Let’s Fight ISIL, but Without Help of Any Kurds: Turkey to US

contributors

Via TeleSur | – – Ankara is angered by Washington’s support for Kurdish fighters in Syria in the fight against [the so-called] Islamic State group [IS]. Turkey is offering to “join forces” with Washington for a special operation inside Syria on the condition that the United States does not include the latter’s closet ally against […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israeli cabinet confirms far, far Right Lieberman as minister of defense

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Israeli Cabinet unanimously confirmed the appointment of far-right politician Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister on Monday, the Israeli prime minister’s office reported in a statement. Lieberman, who formerly served as foreign minister, has advocated policies ranging from the overthrow of the Palestinian Authority to the […]