The recent loan of $280 million given to Bolivia by the Iranian government serves as another example of Iran’s growing influence in Latin America. This loan is given to Bolivia in addition to 1.1 billion Euros that Iran pledged in August 2007 to invest in Bolivian agriculture, industry, energy and humanitarian affairs. Many leftists regimes […]
In a sign of growing cooperation between Iraq and Iran, the Iraqi armed forces took control of Mujahadeen-e-Khalq’s (MEK)- also known as People’s Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI)- main compound north of Baghdad, camp Ashraf. It is believed that a number of high-ranking officials and leaders of the MEK, including Ahmad Hanifnejad, brother of the founder […]
Two prominent publications ran op-eds on settlements, with one writer slamming the settler movement and another editorial board citing the Obama Administration for mismanagement of the issue. Tel Aviv University Professor Asher Susser wrote a damning op-ed in Haaretz today, condemning the settler movement for considering itself guardians of the State of Israel. The settlers […]
The Iranian and Russian governments pegged an upcoming military exercise as an anti-pollution and search and rescue operation. However, the joint maneuver, involving 30 naval units from the two countries, is likely a show of strength and joint cooperation in order to warn countries intending on striking either nation. Israel recently made its own overtures […]
Today both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times carried stories on the prison abuse going on in Iran. The New York Times reported: Some prisoners say they watched fellow detainees being beaten to death by guards in overcrowded, stinking holding pens. Others say they had their fingernails ripped off or were forced […]
Assumptions and a lack of patience have sunk prospects of obtaining a stable Middle East, according to a new book co-written by one of the architects of U.S. policy towards the region over the last 20-years. Myths, Illusions, & Peace, the sweeping Middle East analysis work released last month from White House Special Assistant Dennis […]
New York Times Correspondent Taghreed El-Khodary describes the current situation in the Gaza Strip in an interview with Middle East Progress. Her account provides an interesting look at the mentality of many Gazans, some of which remain pleased with the overall situation because of the infrastructure set up by Hamas to provide social services. However, […]
The images coming out of Iran -protests against the disputed presidential election and the brutal crackdown by the government forces- show the intensity and fervor with which Iranians are pursuing more freedom and democracy. These images also provide an important insight on the role Iranian women are playing. I thought this article published in the […]
Comparing a topographical map of Palestine in the early 1900s to a modern Google Map of Israel, one striking differences juts out. No, not the separation fence (wall, hedge, whatever you want to call it). The Dead Sea is shrinking at an alarming rate primarily due to over-mining from both Jordanian and Israeli companies. Even […]
The first Fatah conference in 25 years may cause significant tensions between the Palestinian Authority, Israel, the United States, and Egypt, according to a news report. Next week’s conference is expected to boost the legitimacy of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, but recent hurdles may torpedo the event while taking Abbas and the peace process with it. […]
I have to admit I have been a little taken back by the latest developments in the Iranian politics. I thought that the power struggle brewing between President Ahmadinejad and the hard-line politicians was now over with Mr. Mashaii’s resignation from the position of first Vice President. I was wrong. Ahmadinejad has now appointed Mashaii […]
The Israeli destruction machine has been ordered to demolish a Bedouin village in the Negev desert; the authorities issued a warning to the residents on June 15th, their presence in the desert was “unrecognized”. Under the current “co-existence laws”, Israel does not recognize the existence of about 75.000 Bedouins in the Negev Desert. Awaiting assistance […]
New figures from the Israeli Defense Forces estimate that over 300,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, with numbers increasing at a rate of 2.3 percent this year. The rate of growth is expected to inch higher due to family re-locations to the settlements during the summer. The figures do not include Jewish populations in East […]
Iranian clerical regime has one less controversy to deal with as Mr. Mashaii resigned from his post of first Vice President. As discussed in my previous post, Mr. Mashaii was President Ahmadinejad’s pick, but he was severely criticized by the clerical regime for stating in 2008 that Iranians are friends with Israelis. The resignation was […]
From the New York Times: The chief of United Nations peacekeeping forces, Alain Le Roy, has told the Security Council that a series of explosions in southern Lebanon on July 14 most likely came from an illegal Hezbollah arms cache. He gave a speech behind closed doors on Thursday, and reporters obtained copies on Friday. […]