Middle East

AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “17-year-old Mohammed al-Kusbah was killed by an Israeli officer after throwing a rock at a military SUV. The officer claimed his life was in danger, but a video has now been released that appears to dispute that.” AJ+ | “Video Shows Palestinian Teen Killed By Israeli Officer”

Iran

Would Iran reformers gain upper hand with UNSC Nuclear Deal?

contributors

By Golnaz Esfandiari | ( RFE/RL) For Iranian President Hassan Rohani, a nuclear deal with global powers would be a double-edged sword. An agreement to restrict Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief would bolster Rohani’s reputation among Iranians who want better ties with the world and allow him to claim credit for the […]

Featured

No, Mr. Netanyahu, Iran isn’t trying to Take over the world & it isn’t ISIL

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanahu charged last week that Iran was the major sponsor of terrorism in the world and that it wants to take over the whole world. He also likened Iran to the faux caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Iran is not trying to […]

Children

Gaza breakdancers perform to express themselves against war

contributors

Lizzie Phelan | (RT Video Report) | – – “It’s a year and a day since Israel unleashed a devastating 7-week bombing campaign in Gaza – in a bid to stop cross-border rocket fire from Hamas. With much of the region in rubble, and thousands of Palestinians still homeless, locals are raising their spirits any […]

Barack Obama

Iran Deal can only Succeed with the Support of Civil Society

contributors

By John Robert Kelley | ( Euractiv) | – – . . . [T]he key to success in the Iran nuclear deal lies in its implementation, and that should be everyone’s business. Diplomacy is not just for elites anymore. Success will require total cooperation throughout the societies of parties to the deal, and this applies […]

Egypt

Egypt: ISIL claims Massive Blast at Italian Consulate that Kills 1, wounds 4

contributors

Times of India | (Video Report) | – – “At least one person was killed and four others injured today in a powerful explosion outside the Italian consulate in the Egyptian capital.” (Update: “ISIS Claims Deadly Car Bomb Blast At Italian Consulate In Cairo” The Times of India: “1 Killed, 4 Injured in Blast at […]

Children

For Gaza Children, Returning to School reminder of Dead, Wounded Classmates

contributors

Fred Abrahams | (Human Rights Watch) | — The fighting began one year ago and lasted for 51 days. In Gaza, Israeli attacks from land, air, and sea killed 551 children and injured 3436, ten percent of them suffering a permanent disability. In Israel, one child was killed by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire; dozens […]

Druze

How the Washington Post got Taken in by Syria’s Taliban

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) Making alliances of convenience is a perennial temptation in Washington, where policy-makers often have more ambition than ethics or common sense. Thus, the Washington Post just published a slick op-ed by a representative of the Islamic Movement of Syrian Free Men (Ahrar al-Sham) claiming that the group is “moderate” […]

Apartheid

Israel to Destroy Homes of 40 Bedouin Families

contributors

By IMEMC | – – Israeli administration has delivered notices for the demolition of dozens of makeshift Bedouin homes of Abu Nawar village, east of Jerusalem. Accordig to the PNN, the notices of demolition delivered by Israeli administrative staff were of two parts. The first part was an order for house owners to halt the […]