Middle East

By Sam Heller | ( RFE/RL) | – – As the extremist group Islamic State (IS) and its rival Al-Qaeda have captured pieces of Iraq, Syria, and other countries in the region, they have had to balance their global aims with the specific local concerns of the communities under their control. Al-Qaeda’s latest attempt to […]

Israel/ Palestine

Is Greece about to recognize Palestine?

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Syriza, the ruling party in the Greek parliament, told Palestinian lawmakers Saturday that the government was set to officially recognize the state of Palestine, according to a statement by the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Ma’an News Photos A Greek delegation from the Syriza party reportedly met […]

Iraq

Abuses of Fallujah Sunnis Raise Question: Does Iraq Gov’t Control of Shiite Militias

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – (Beirut) – The announced investigation into allegations of abuse of civilians around Fallujah by Iraqi government forces is a test for the government’s ability to hold abusive forces accountable. Judicial officials should conduct this investigation transparently and impartially, assess command responsibility, and ensure protection for victims and witnesses. Ahead […]

Featured

Is Tel Aviv Mayor Right that Israel is unique in Occupation & denying Civil Rights?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv, reacted with enormous sadness to Thursday’s terrorist attack on the Sarona Market restaurant district in Tel Aviv, which left 4 dead, committed by a teenagers from the Occupied Palestinian West Bank. But he then went on to put the […]

Israel/ Palestine

Under Israeli Blockade and Running out of Water, Gaza turns to Solar

contributors

AJ+ | (Video News Report) | – – “People are struggling to find clean drinking water in Gaza, but one resident has a solution. Fayez al-Hindi has built a solar power system to purify water. According to municipalities, it’s working.” AJ+: ” In Gaza, One Man Wields Solar Power To Purify Water”

Iraq

Suicide Bombers + Secret Tunnels: ISIL Tactics On Fallujah’s Front lines

contributors

Mustafa Habib | | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – The battle for Fallujah will be long and hard. The Islamic State has prepared for a siege, is relying on foreign fighters and is spreading lies to persuade locals to fight. NIQASH spoke to those on the front line. In the Nuaimiya area, south of […]

Displaced and Refugees

Besieged Syrian Town Gets First Food Aid Since 2012

contributors

TeleSur | – – “We call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to all people in need,” said a U.N. spokesperson. An international aid convoy reached Daraya—a Syrian town under siege by government forces—in the middle of the night, delivering food supplies for the first time since 2012, a U.N. spokesman said on Friday. Trucks […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel’s Continuous Implementation of Apartheid Policies in Hebron

contributors

IMEMC | International Solidarity Movement | al-Khalil Team For more than seven months, Israeli forces have kept a staircase leading to Qurtuba school and the surrounding neighbourhood in occupied al-Khalil (Hebron), under closed military zone (CMZ) orders, blocking access for Palestinians only. Despite the lifting of the closed military zone (CMZ) in the Tel Rumeida […]

Featured

World More violent in past Year, but Middle East drives Deterioration

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The 2016 Global Peace Index has been released, with the bad news that the world is slightly more violent this year than last. But much of the increase of violence happened in the greater Middle East, in Syria, Libya, Turkey, etc. If you subtracted the Middle […]