Middle East

Channel deaths of Middle Easterners: the UK has clear legal responsibilities towards people crossing in small boats

By Mariagiulia Giuffré | – At least 27 people have drowned in the English Channel attempting to cross in a small boat. There were three children, seven women, one of whom was pregnant, and 17 men. Although a joint search and rescue operation was seemingly launched in the narrow maritime area between the UK and […]

Authoritarianism

As Climate Emergency Shakes Iran, Government Attacks, arrests Water Protesters at Isfahan, wounding 3

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – After two weeks of protests by thousands of farmers in the dry riverbed of the historic Zayandeh Rud river in Isfahan, the police have struck back. According to AFP, thousands of people gathered to protest on Friday, when the police attacked them with bird shot and tear gas. Three were […]

Israel/ Palestine

74 Years ago, the UN General Assembly overstepped and stole the Palestinians’ Country from Them

Middle East Monitor

By Sayid Marcos Tenório | – On 29 November, 1947, the newly-created United Nations (UN) approved the Palestine Partition Plan and started the Nakba process. Nakba, meaning “catastrophe”, is an Arabic word used to describe the tragedy that followed, and is still ongoing. The infamous partition made Palestine the only state destroyed with the support […]

Corporate Surveillance

Is Big Brother Israel a ‘stalker state’?

Michael Jansen

( Jordan Times) – In an interview with The Washington Post, Israel’s Breaking the Silence, an ex-soldiers rights organisation, has highlighted Israel’s comprehensive surveillance of Palestinians living under occupation. Breaking the Silence, which collects testimonies of abuses reported by soldiers, points out that Israel’s employment of advanced techniques amount to “massive escalation in Israel’s pursuit […]

Banking

The Collapse of Turkey’s Currency fuels Power Struggle

Middle East Monitor

By Bakr Sidqi | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – On what was called “Black Tuesday” in the media this week, the value of the Turkish lira against foreign currencies declined sharply, bringing the exchange rate to 13.5 Turkish liras to the US dollar. While experts on the matter in Turkey and elsewhere are […]

Belgium

Belgium has decided to Label Squatter-Settler goods from Occupied Palestine as Not from Israel — Will it start a Wave?

Ramona Wadi

( Middle East Monitor ) – Labelling Israeli settlement products “strengthens extremists, does not help promote peace in the region, and shows Belgium as not contributing to regional stability,” according to Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll. He lashed out at Belgium’s announcement that it would start applying more restrictive measures on goods produced by […]

Iran

Having Left the Iran Nuclear Deal, can the US revive it with the seventh round in Vienna?

Middle East Monitor

By Hani Habeeb | – ( Middle East Monitor) – While the American Special Representative to Iran, Robert Malley, surprised observers of the nuclear file by saying that the point of no return for this file is approaching, Israel is escalating its tone, especially in the context of its dispute with the US over this […]

censorship

Apple Sues Israeli gov’t-backed NSO Spyware Company: “Notorious Hackers – Amoral 21st C. Mercenaries”

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Apple is suing the NSO group, which produced the spyware that Israel uses to keep under surveillance the 5 million Palestinians it holds in thrall to its Occupation. The NSO group is believed to be close to the Israeli state. They have sold their hacking tools to repressive governments around […]

Iran

‘It’s My Decision’: Iran’s New Population Law Blasted For Restricting Access To Contraceptives, Abortions

Golnaz Esfandiari

By Golnaz Esfandiari and Elahe Ravanshad | – ( RFL/RE ) – Authorities have approved new legislation that imposes further restrictions on abortions, bans the free distribution of contraceptives by the public health-care system, and provides added state benefits to families with more children. The new law is an attempt by authorities to boost flagging […]