Middle East

No, Obama couldn’t have settled the Syrian civil war and prevented Iranian breakout

Britain may join US strikes against Syria if chemical weapon use proven

Middle East Monitor | – – UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told BBC radio “If we know that it has happened, and we can demonstrate it, and if there is a proposal for action where the UK could be useful then I think we should seriously consider it.” Britain would consider joining US military strikes […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel takes steps to Criminalize Criticisms of Israeli Military

contributors

Telesur | – – “The only way to stop us is to end the occupation,” said the group being targeted, Breaking the Silence. The Israeli Knesset approved the first reading of a bill that would prohibit organizations from being critical of the Israeli Army Monday. The bill, which passed by 35-23 votes, was proposed by […]

Featured

Saudi High Command fired by King over Yemen Quagmire

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Saudi cabinet, chaired by King Salman, on Monday evening fired army chief of staff and several prominent officers, forcing them into retirement. The government offered no explanation for the seismic upheaval in the Saudi officer corps, but it was widely believed that the palace is […]

Donald Trump

The “Iran deal”: when American and Iranian arch-conservatives are on the same side

contributors

By Kourosh Ziabari | (OpenDemocracy.net) The domestic critics of the Iran deal and its Republican misanthropists in the United States are making a similar mistake. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran Deal, is a UN-endorsed agreement that caps Iran’s nuclear activities, subjects them to the full safeguards of the International […]

Displaced and Refugees

Anger as Israel begins deportation of African Refugees

contributors

By Tanja R. Müller | (The Conversation) | – – Around 20,000 Israelis and African migrants took to the streets in Tel Aviv on February 24, protesting against a government policy of detaining and deporting African asylum seekers who refuse to leave the country. A few days earlier, a group of Eritrean asylum seekers held […]

European Union

Europe’s big Plans for Iran Trade announce Independence from Trump’s Washington

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Despite the significant economic problems Iran faces, and despite the real problems in unequal income distribution, Iran’s economy is seeing bright spots that the Western press rarely admits. In the year after international sanctions were lifted on the signing of the nuclear accord, spring 2016-spring 2017, […]

Christianity

Priests close Church of Holy Sepulchre over Israeli “attack on Christians”

contributors

Middle East Monitor | – – Church leaders in Jerusalem shut the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday in protest at a new Israeli tax policy and a proposed land expropriation law which they called a “systematic and unprecedented attack against Christians in the Holy Land”. Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian church leaders […]

Featured

UN Security Council calls for 30-Day Ceasefire in Syria’s East Ghouta

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The United Nations Security Council finally passed a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire between the Damascus government and the al-Qaeda-dominated guerrillas in Eastern Ghouta. UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminded all sides of their absolute duty in international law to safeguard the life of innocent noncombatants. […]