A conflict is escalating between Israel and its long time enemy Sweden… What?!?!?! A previously irrelevant Swedish newspaper published an article last week accusing the Israeli military of harvesting Palestinian organs. The Israeli government condemned the publication as antisemtic and requested an apology from the Swedish government alongside a formal censure of the article. Many […]
President Ahmadinejad’s cabinet picks are both progressive and hard-line. His choices upset both the clerics and the West. On one hand, Ahmadinejad is breaking a taboo by appointing three women ministers to the cabinet. On the other hand, he is continuing the same anti-West attitude by appointing a minister accused of bombing a Jewish center […]
The mediating role of the United States in the Israel-Palestine peace plan seems to -slowly- be picking up steam. President Obama met with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Following the latter meeting, Obama called Jordanian King Abdullah and now sent the U.S. regional envoy George Mitchell […]
A man closely linked with the group Fatah al-Islam has been recaptured by Lebanese authorities after a day on the run. According to the Associated Press, “Eight members of an Islamic militant group sawed bars off their cell windows in a high-security Lebanese prison on Tuesday, scaled down the building using blankets tied together, then […]
Since the election of both President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the debate on the downfall of the Israel-U.S. alliance re received significant media attention. Particularly following the U.S. Administration’s insistence of an Israeli freeze on settlements, pundits heightened concerns that the strategic alliance between the two countries was reaching its end. […]
Iranian former President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani is best remembered for his Friday prayer sermon on July 17th 2009, which gave the reform movement a “powerful boost”. In his sermon, he criticized the government for losing the trust of many Iranians, and called for the release of the protesters arrested since the election. As the highest-ranking […]
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Islamic holy month Ramadan when Muslims around the globe fast from dawn until dusk. In an effort to show respect for religious Muslims, IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered soldiers to follow etiquette and refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking around Palestinians during […]
As the month of Ramadan starts, here is President Obama’s message to Muslims all around the world: [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/1R4KfYuDrvU” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /]
Iran allowed inspectors from the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the nuclear reactor at Arak for the first time in a year and has also granted them greater monitoring of uranium-enrichment facility at Natanz. The accord breaks a months long impasse between Iran and the IAEA. As reported in the Wall Street […]
A recent comment by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, during his visit to the United States, has caused an outrage among some Iranian officials, once again highlighting the tense relationship shared between the two countries. According to the Fars News Agency, addressing Jewish leaders in a closed meeting in Washington, President Mubarak said, “There is […]
Israeli military technology firm Rafael will sell the Indian army $1 billion worth of anti-aircraft systems with a range of 45 kilometers, making Israel the largest military supplier to India. The technology is capable of destroying aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Last year, India bought $270 million worth of the technology. Previously, Russia provided […]
The State Department issued the following statement on the new Palestinian Authority-only travel visas: We are aware that the Government of Israel has recently begun employing restrictive measures for people entering the West Bank via Allenby Bridge, such as the use of a Palestinian Authority only stamp. We have included information on this new policy […]
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak travelled to Washington this week to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama to discuss the Israel-Arab peace process, Palestinian faction reconciliation, and attempts to secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Preceding the meeting, Mubarak granted numerous interviews with the U.S. media, most notably with PBS anchor Charlie Rose. Mubarak’s talks with Obama are significant because […]
[kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DigrJOaQ0EI” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Looks like a documentary worth watching on Iran. The film unfortunately has not come out on netflix, but hopefully one of these days.