Middle East

By Ari Heistein | (Informed Comment) — A 2014 al-Monitor headline declared “Yemen’s Houthis Proxy, not Ally for Iran” but then neglected to explain the difference. It is certainly unlikely that the Iranian-Houthi relationship is as strong as the U.S.-Israel or U.S.-Saudi relationship. Why then are the Houthis Iranian proxies but Israel and Saudi Arabia […]

Featured

Yemen: Fierce fighting in Lead-up to Saudi Ceasefire, Children at risk of Starvation

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – Heavy fighting continued in Yemen on Monday and Tuesday, despite the agreement reached between Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia that a five-day ceasefire would begin on Tuesday at midnight. Humanitarian organizations have high hopes in the ceasefire as a time when aid can be gotten to the […]

Children

Now Yemen’s Houthi Rebels are forcing Children Into Battle

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – (Beirut) – The Houthi armed group in Yemen has intensified its recruitment, training, and deployment of children in violation of international law. Since September 2014, when the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, they have increasingly used children as scouts, guards, runners, and fighters, […]

Apartheid

Israel plans forced evacuation of Bedouin families east of Jerusalem

contributors

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – Dozens of Palestinian families living in the Bedouin Abu Nuwwar village to the east of Jerusalem will be forced from their land in less than a month, locals told Ma’an on Saturday. Israeli authorities are evacuating the families to clear way for the expansion of the illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, […]

Apartheid

Hanan Ashrawi: New Extremist Israeli Gov’t generates a Culture of Hate

contributors

By IMEMC | – PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi stated: “Such a coalition betrays the true nature of the Israeli political system and promotes an anti-peace agenda and the language of racism, extremism and violence; it will further increase the isolation and deligitimization of Israel. In addition to the extremism in the Likud […]

Education

What makes one Palestinian Village School one of the Best in the Middle East?

contributors

World Bank | – “Amid widespread dissatisfaction with public services in the Arab world, a new report identifies local success stories that could point the way to solutions.” World Bank: ” What Makes this Palestinian School a Top Performer?”

Barack Obama

Saudi Arabia as the Incredible Hulk: King Salman snubs Obama’s Gulf Summit

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Watching Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia nowadays, is like Kremlin-watching in the old days of the Cold War. It is not as if most Western journalists have a really good idea of the maneuverings inside the Saudi palace or know why exactly things happen. Since King Salman […]

Democracy

Lurch to Far Right keeps Netanyahu in power, but for how long?

contributors

By Luisa Gandolfo | (The Conversation) | – Only weeks after Israel’s snap Knesset elections, the Likud party was bluntly reminded that winning the most seats does not guarantee an easy ride. It met its latest challenge with a series of coalition-saving deals with the HaBayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) party, whose leader Naftali Bennett agreed […]

Arab World

Egypt: Mubarak, Sons, given 3-year Wrist Slap for Massive Corruption

contributors

Reuters | — “Hosni Mubarak and his two sons are sentenced to three years in jail without parole in the retrial of a corruption case. Nathan Frandino reports.” Reuters: “Egyptian court sentences Mubarak, sons to 3 years in jail”