Arab World

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – President Obama cut short his India trip to head off to Riyadh in the wake of the death last Thursday of King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia. Some 30 members of the Washington elite came along, of both parties, including Sen. John McCain and Rep. Nancy Pelosi. This love […]

Apartheid

Israel ‘systematically mistreats’ Palestinian children in custody

contributors

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an News Agency) — Some 700 Palestinian children per year are arrested and face “ill-treatment” by Israeli forces, according to a new report by a children’s rights group. (MaanImages/file) In the report, Child Rights International Network said that “during 2014, an average of 197 children were held in military detention every month, 13 per […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Kurds expel ISIL/Daesh from Syria’s Kobane after months of fighting

contributors

Rita Daou | Your Middle East Kurds expel Islamic State group from Syria’s Kobane after months of fighting Banner Icon War in Syria Kurdish fighters have expelled Islamic State group militants from inside the Syrian border town of Kobane, a monitor said Monday, dealing a key symbolic blow to the jihadists’ ambitions. The Syrian Observatory […]

Arab Spring

Egypt: 28 Protesters Killed Marking Revolution – Police & Excessive Force

contributors

Human Rights Watch | — (New York) – The death of at least 20 people in Egypt during clashes with security forces surrounding the commemoration of the 2011 uprising underscores the need for an independent investigation into the authorities’ excessive use of force.A woman and 17-year-old girl were killed ahead of the January 25 anniversary […]

Democracy

Egypt Cancels Revolution Fete to Mourn Saudi King who derailed Revolution

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) In a great irony, the Egyptian government attempted to cancel the commemoration of the January 25 revolution four years ago, on the grounds that the late King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia needed to be mourned. The Saudis played a sinister behind-the-scenes role in undermining budding Egyptian attempts at democracy, […]

Displaced and Refugees

Angelina Jolie in Iraq: Int’l Community Failing Refugees from ISIL Brutality

contributors

Associated Press | — “Actress and director Angelina Jolie is calling on the international community to do more to aid refugees displaced by fighting in Iraq and Syria. The UN special envoy for refugees visited a camp in Iraq Sunday, saying that despite good intentions, “the international community has failed …” Angelina Jolie Visits Refugees […]

US Foreign Policy

Can US can help Mediate Yemen Crisis? US Embassy Cuts Staff…

contributors

CNN | — “The United States struggles to maintain a sense of diplomacy in Yemen during political chaos.” CNN: “U.S. embassy cuts staff in Yemen”

Featured

Yemen Civil War? Masses Rally in Capital & South Secedes

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) — From 1967 to 1990, and again briefly in 1994, South Yemen was an independent country. In the first period, of some 23 years, it had a Communist government, the only one in the Arab world. Today, South Yemen is again an independent state. Since the resignation of united […]

Israel

Extremist Lieberman: Unified Palestinian-Israeli Party a threat to Israel as ‘Jewish State’

contributors

By IMEMC & Agencies Arab parties in Israel announced they would be running in the upcoming Israeli Knesset election, scheduled for March 17, in a unified list that could increase their representation from 11 to a minimum of 12-15 seats. The lists represents all parties, including Islamist and communist movements. The agreement came following negotiation […]