Israel had plan to shoot down passenger plane to kill Arafat, book claims
2018-01-25
Ariel Sharon allegedly told air force to attack planes if thought to be carrying Palestinian leader
From bad to worse? 5 things 2018 will bring to the Middle East
2018-01-08
Syrian Democratic Forces looking toward the northern town of Tabqa, Syria. Syrian Democratic Forces, via AP James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles It’s always dangerous to make predictions about the Middle East. After all, few experts foresaw Anwar al-Sadat’s trip to Jerusalem in 1977, which led to theRead More →
Why the UN is setting up a database of international businesses operating in Israeli settlements
2018-01-07
Valentina Azarova, Koç University Istanbul Hundreds of companies are doing business in around 250 illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, that are effectively subsidised and maintained by the Israeli government. In December, a United Nations’ database of businesses that operate in the settlements is due to be finalised. IsraelRead More →
Trump’s Threat to Cut Palestine Funding Could Inflict ‘Untold Suffering’
2018-01-04
US President Donald Trump is bringing a businesslike approach to negotiating on the international stage by threatening to cut funding to groups that don’t agree with his vision for a way forward. First, Trump axed more than $255 million in aid funding to Pakistan for its alleged harboring of terrorist groups who attack USRead More →
Israel, Palestine and the Greatest Deal Ever
2017-12-27
In order to get the Israelis and the Saudis on the same page in a united front against the Iranians, the Palestine question needs to be resolved. For Donald Trump, it was a carefully constructed and nuanced announcement: “I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem asRead More →
Palestinians Aren’t Surprised by US Jerusalem Move As World Already ‘Ignores Their Existence’
2017-12-13
US President Donald Trump’s declaration that the country would move its embassy in Israel to the city of Jerusalem was met with shock throughout the world. Among Palestinians, however, it was outrage mixed with a distinctive lack of surprise. Jerusalem is a controversial site of contention in the so-called Israeli-Palestinian peaceRead More →
Why Jerusalem Is the Capital of Israel – And Palestine
2017-12-13
by PATRICIA SOHN This week the U.S. officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the modern state of Israel. From my perspective, this is fantastic news. It reflects, I hope, the beginning of a new era in U.S. and other countries’ approaches to Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East in general, oneRead More →