Middle East

By Silvia Boarini | — JERUSALEM (IPS) – There was a symbolic dimension to a recent four-day march from the periphery of Israel to the corridors of power in Jerusalem to seek recognition for Bedouin villages. The march, which began in the unrecognised Bedouin village of Wadi Al Nam in the Negev desert in southern […]

Displaced and Refugees

Hamas forces join fight against ISIL in Damascus refugee camp

contributors

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — An official in the support network for the Palestinian refugee camps in Syria said Sunday that a Hamas-affiliated group is fighting the Islamic State in Damascus’ Yarmouk refugee camp. Ayman Abu Hashem told Ma’an that the Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdes group was fighting IS despite a decision by PLO factions to remain neutral […]

Israel

Religion in Israel: It’s the Government’s Business

contributors

By Shalom Goldman | (ISLAMICommentary) – Shalom Goldman Surveys of religious affiliation in the U.S. reveal that more than 25% of American have joined a faith other than the one in which they were raised. And if we factor in movement from one Protestant denomination to another, we find that 45% of Americans are affiliated […]

Featured

Yemen: Russia, Red Cross Demand halt to Bombing to Avert Humanitarian Catastrophe

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – The Red Cross and the Russian Federation are both demanding a temporary cease-fire in the aerial bombardment of Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition, to allow delivery of needed humanitarian goods. Two weeks of bombing have left some 500 Yemenis dead and 1700 more wounded. Dozens of the killed […]

Barack Obama

US Arms Hypocrisy in Egypt: Obama’s New Beginning that Never Started

contributors

By Marwa Fikry Abdel Samei | (Informed Comment) – “To the people of Egypt, particularly the young people of Egypt: I want to be clear: We hear your voices. I have an unyielding belief that you will determine your own destiny and seize the promise of a better future for your children and your grandchildren.” […]

GCC

Saudi-led attacks in Yemen demonstrate the Gulf’s new assertiveness

contributors

By James M. Dorsey | ( Your Middle East ) – “Everything is underground, nothing is public.” The current Saudi-led intervention in Yemen designed to prevent Iranian-backed forces from gaining power symbolises the Gulf’s new assertiveness. This is unfolding as the various Gulf states seek to hedge their bets with different strategies that complement rather […]

Christianity

Palestinian Christian leaders criticize Israeli restrictions on Easter celebration

contributors

By Celine Hagbard | (IMEMC News) – The archbishop of the Sebastian Greek Orthodox Church, Atallah Hanna, addressed crowds in the town of al-Ezzariya (Lazarus) on Saturday, condemning the Israeli restrictions on Easter celebrations, and calling on Christians around the world to pray and to voice their support for their Christian brethren in Palestine. The […]

Featured

What if US & UN Sanctioned Israel over its Nukes as they did Iran over Enrichment?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – There is a lot of talk about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and the ways in which an Iranian bomb would provoke Saudi Arabia and others to acquire nuclear warheads of their own. But for decades, the primary impetus to a nuclear arms race in the region […]

Iran

How are Iranians reacting to Nuclear Deal?

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari and Farangis Najibullah | (RFE/RL) – Iranian supporters of the framework nuclear deal announced on April 2 describe it as a historic achievement that will offer a better future for the people of Iran and improved ties with the world. Hard-liners, however, say the deal is a disaster that achieves “nothing” for […]