Happy Passover to all our readers celebrating the holiday. However, the inability to eat bread represents the least of the worries on many Israelis’ minds. With the recession still devastating the global economy, many local businesses delayed layoffs until after the end of the holiday, as is the custom in Israel as to avoid ruining the […]
With Iran still advancing its nuclear program, the Israeli government tested its ballistic missile interceptor, the Arrow 2. The recent test coupled the rocket with a new radar system and should successfully intercept an Iranian missile, according to the military after testing the system with a dummy missile fired from an Israeli aircraft. Another group of […]
In an interview with Middle East Progress, Robert Drumheller, vice president of structured finance for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation that works with the Palestinians, discusses the importance of a viable economy for the success of the peace process. Many analysts contend that many issues, such as the right of return, would no longer be relevant […]
… is that not funny? Johann Hari of the UK Independent has an investigative journalism piece at the Huffington Post (are those two things a contradiction in terms?) that points out the flaws in Dubai’s sustainability long-term (or even medium-term). It’s a little melodramatic in its language, but raises some important points, primarily about the […]
Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party announces its support for amending Egypt’s personal status laws and instituting a quota for female MPs.
Obama surprised the US troops in Iraq this morning with a visit and a speech. He arrived at Camp Victory this morning, seemingly out of the blue, near the Baghdad International Airport and spoke with top US commander of Iraq, General Raymond Odierno. He’s also set to meet with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki later today. […]
President Obama’s visit to Turkey has inspired some internal reflection on the phrase “moderate Islamic republic” and Turkey’s sometimes confounding internal diversity.
A new INSS publication describes Israel-Palestinian relations with the backdrop of the two intifadas. Notably, the author concludes the following: “One essential condition to settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the willingness of both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to accept ideological, political, and territorial compromise. A second essential condition is the acceptance by both the […]
For those in and around Providence, Rhode Island, the Avon Cinema will host a Palestinian Film Festival April 9-15. The event will include films from approximately the last 5 years, including original works as well as documentaries.
President Barack Obama intends on visiting Israel this summer to meet with members of the new Israeli government along with officials of the Palestinian Authority. The announcement comes as Obama reiterated his support for a two state solution in a speech before the Turkish Parliament yesterday. According to reports, he does not oppose the inclusion […]
The Associated Press has all but declared today’s much anticipated April 6 Youth Movement general strike a failure. The movement had been hoping to stage numerous protests and demonstrations in the wake of last year’s April 6 strike, which led to the death of three Egyptians, the wounding of dozens, and hundreds of arrests. As […]
Reuters reported this morning that President Obama has relaxed the Pentagon ban on media coverage of casualties of war returning to the US. Now, instead of forbidding pictures of returning coffins, the family is allowed to choose whether or not to allow cameras upon arrival. The ban began in 1991 during the first Gulf War, although […]
Future Movement leader Saad Hariri declared his platform of disarmament of all resistance groups in Lebanon. At the party’s rally Sunday night, Hairi declared, “The arms of the Lebanese state should triumph over all other arms. The dialogue table should tackle the issue of the resistance’s arms while discussing means by which Israeli offensives against […]
Controversial Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for the “reconsideration” of the Oslo Accords, days after his installation ceremony when he made dismissive comments regarding the Annapolis summit. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged Israel to promptly accept a two-state solution. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues to increase rhetoric on Middle Eastern Peace, this time lauding […]
During the 2009 Arab League summit in Doha last weekend, there was much clamor made in support of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and his continued defiance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant in his name. Bashir is wanted by the ICC for his alleged role in the genocide taking place in the Darfur […]