Middle East

By IMEMC | – – The Jerusalem District Court, on Monday, convicted two of the three people accused in the murder of Muhammad Abu Khdeir. On July 2, 2014, Abu Khdeir, 16, was murdered by tree Israeli men in the neighborhood of Shuafat, in occupied East Jerusalem close to his home. He was driven to […]

censorship

Turkey’s Coup against Press, own Generals over Arms Supplies to Syrian Militants

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Turkey has jailed two very prominent journalists for publishing video last May of a January, 2014, Turkish intelligence convoy of weapons to Syrian militants. When I say prominent, I mean prominent. They are Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of the Cumhuriyet newspaper, and Ankara bureau chief Erdem Gul. […]

Israel/ Palestine

Angered that EU labels Squatter W. Bank Products, Israel suspends EU from “Peace Process”

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel said Sunday that it would suspend diplomatic contacts with European Union bodies involved in the Palestinian peace process, following an EU decision earlier this month to label goods produced in Israel’s illegal settlements. The Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement that Israeli Prime Minister […]

Economy

Turkey reels as Putin imposes Stiff Economic Sanctions

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Russian sanctions announced by President Vladimir Putin on Saturday could have a severe impact on the Turkish economy. It is not clear whether President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu did not expect this severe a reaction to the shoot-down of a Russian fighter […]

Russia

Are Putin’s Economic Sanctions on Turkey the end of a Golden Age in Moscow-Ankara Relations?

contributors

By Alexander Titov | (The Conversation) | – – In locking horns over Syria, Russia and Turkey are playing out the latest chapter in a rivalry that has spanned centuries. Since the 1600s the two have lurched between conflict and uneasy friendship. But the war of words that has erupted since Turkey shot down a […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israeli squatters in Palestine storm Palestinian activist center in Hebron

contributors

Ma’an News Agency Israeli settlers sitting at tables and chairs they brought into the garden of the Youth Against Settlements activist center. HEBRON (Ma’an) — Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the headquarters of the Youth Against Settlements activist group in central Hebron on Saturday and demanded its closure. Issa Amro, the head of the activist […]

Israel/ Palestine

Pres. Obama refuses to recognize new Israel Squatter Settlements on Palestinian Land

contributors

By IMEMC | – – In a press conference this week, the Obama administration rejected Israel’s government request to recognize the construction of new [illegal] settlements in the occupied West Bank. The issue over new Israeli illegal settlements emerged between Washington and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, according to the PNN, as US Secretary of State […]

Arab Spring

Annual Informed Comment Fundraiser: Support Indie Journalism

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – It is that fundraising time of year again, folks. This year everyone who contributes $100 or more to Informed Comment by Paypal will receive a signed copy of the paperback version of my recent book, The New Arabs. Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor has kindly agreed […]

Featured

As French Pres. Hollande meets Putin, France considers alliance w/ Syrian Army

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – French President Francois Hollande met Thursday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow, in his marathon search for a “Grand and Unique Coalition” against Daesh (ISIL, ISIS) in Syria. One of the sticking points between France and the US on the one side and Russia […]