Middle East

British Pathe | — “Footage from 1915 of Constantinople, in the Ottoman empire (now Istanbul, Turkey), as the allies approach the city during World War One. Tracking shot on the water (Bosporus straits), moving to left. We pass many old buildings, Hagia Sophia, as well as other churches and mosques with domes, minarets, etc. Low […]

Israel

New Economic Pogrom: Israeli squatters uproot 5000 olive tree saplings In Palestinian West Bank

contributors

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Jewish settlers have uprooted more than 5,000 olive tree saplings in agricultural lands east of the town of Turmusayya in the central West Bank north of Ramallah, locals said Thursday. One of the owners of the lands targeted, Awad Abu Samra, told Ma’an that in the last week settlers have repeatedly raided […]

al Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula

President Obama’s Biggest Mideast Policy Challenges, 2015

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — Barack Obama wanted to be the president who got the US out of Afghanistan and Iraq, and turned America’s diplomatic energies to the more promising Pacific Rim. 2014 was the year in which he failed decisively at these objectives. He has had to keep 10,000 US military personnel […]

Israel

U.S. Twists Arms to Help Defeat Resolution on Palestine

contributors

By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The United States re-asserted its political and economic clout – and its ability to twist arms and perhaps metaphorically break kneecaps – when it successfully lobbied to help defeat a crucial Security Council resolution on the future of Palestine this week. Nadia Hijab, executive director of Al-Shabaka: The […]

Apartheid

Israel War Crimes Trial in 2015? Palestinians sign up to join International Criminal Court

contributors

RT | — “Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has signed up to join International Criminal Court, paving the way for the investigation on Israel’s possible war crimes in the West Bank. It’s in the wake of the latest Palestinian statehood resolution being rejected by the UN Security Council – where it fell short by a single […]

UAE

2015 New Year Fireworks: Burj Khalifa, Dubai

Juan Cole

2015 Fireworks: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (New Year Fireworks)

Featured

Palestinians ready next Move as UNSC rejects end of Occupation

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — The UN Security Council yesterday voted down an Arab League resolution on Palestine that would have called for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within 3 years and a return to 1967 borders. Similar resolutions were passed by the UN Security Council in past, but this […]

Egypt

Egypt’s 2014 Thermidor: The Counter-Revolution Wins Out

contributors

By Simon Mabon and Lucia Ardovini | (The Conversation) — It was a year of huge transition for Egypt. Gone was the Muslim Brotherhood, in both word and deed, while the military regime of Abdel Fatah al-Sisi strengthened its control across the state. Despite facing numerous challenges – political, economic, secessionist and security related – […]

al Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula

Yemen in 2014: 1500 Killed as Extremist Shiites took over Gov’t, battled al-Qaeda: What Next?

contributors

SANAA, December 2014 (IRIN) — After a negotiated transfer of power agreed in early 2012, the annual death toll dropped to about 1,100 and nearly halved again in 2013 to fewer than 600, according to the International Crisis Group. The uptick in violence in 2014 is the result of a number of distinct but inter-related […]