Middle East

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Despite the announcement at Munich of a cessation of hostilities in Syria, to be implemented in the next week or so, all the major fighting forces in Syria have announced a determination to soldier on. According to the London pan-Arab daily al-Hayat [Life] , Russian foreign […]

Arab Spring

Despite Risks, Egypt’s Cartoonists Take on increasingly Authoritarian Regime of al-Sisi

contributors

By Mohamed Hassan | ( Global Voices ) | – – Cartoonist Islam Gawish. Photograph from his Facebook page. Photograph by Mostafa Darwish. Less than two weeks after the fifth anniversary of the January 25 revolution, Egypt is not showing any signs of improvement in its treatment of human rights advocates. On the evening of […]

Russia

The Costs That Come With Russia’s Gains In Syria

contributors

Charles Recknagel | ( RFE/RL | – – With Russia's monthslong air campaign in Syria now focused on a key rebel stronghold, Moscow can claim success in putting its stamp on the conflict and strengthening the hand of its ally, President Bashar al-Assad. Concentrated on the northern province of Aleppo, the bombing campaign launched in […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel: Former official Labeled Traitor for backing Vets Denouncing Occupation

contributors

By IMEMC | – – Former Israeli FM Director Vilified for Support of “Breaking the Silence” Attendees of an Israeli Knesset Education Committee meeting, on Tuesday, called for the dismissal of former Foreign Ministry director Alon Liel, after the official criticized the Israeli right and supported efforts to end Israel’s ongoing military occupation. Liel, also […]

Israel/ Palestine

A Bizarre Argument From a Conservative Israeli Lawmaker Against Palestinian Statehood

Nicholas Kolenda

Apparently, no ‘P’ means no state.

Iran

Russia and Iran are allied in Syria – but are they as close as they seem?

contributors

Marzieh Kouhi-Esfahani | ( The Conversation | – – After years of isolation, Iran is slowly coming back in from the cold after the deal to curb its nuclear programme. And as it starts to reassert itself more openly in the world order, it’s rekindling a stormy affair with an old flame: Russia. The two […]

Russia

Russia Warns of ‘World War’ as Saudi Plans Syria Intervention

contributors

TeleSur | – – Saudi Arabia’s decision to send troops to Syria is “final” and “irreversible,” Saudi military spokesman Ahmed Al-Assiri told reporters Thursday evening as he confirmed earlier comments about sending troops to the country. But Russia has warned the move could mark the beginning of a new “world war.” Assiri added that Riyadh […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel razes Over 40 Palestinian homes, buildings in Jordan Valley

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – TUBAS (Ma’an) — Israeli forces on Thursday destroyed over 40 Palestinian homes and structures in the Tubas district of the occupied West Bank as ongoing Israeli policies in the Jordan Valley continue to drive Palestinians out of their homes. A Palestinian official from the governor’s office in Tubas, Mutaz […]

Featured

Israel: Friedman of the NY Times surrenders to One-State Solution, sees ME Apocalypse

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Tom Friedman of the New York Times has completely given up on a two-state solution, forthrightly abandoning the polite fiction that there will ever be a Palestinian state alongside Israel, and ridiculing American presidential candidates for speaking as though it were still a possibility. In fact, […]