The Islamic Resistance Movement in Palestine - Hamas - has issued a statement today describing Hezbollah's military intervention in Syria as contributing to the worsening climate of sectarian polarisation in the region. Hamas called on Hezbollah to withdraw its forces and urged it to maintain the compass of resistance only in the direction of the Israeli occupation. Read more
The newly elected Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, said on Monday during his debut speech that he intends to maintain relations with the international community built on mutual respect. He also pledged to continue his country's uranium programme and ruled out its suspension. Read more
The Palestinian Bar Association (PBA) has announced that industrial action will take place on Monday and Tuesday in protest against an attack on one of their colleagues in Bethlehem. All work in all Palestinian courts, public prosecutions and all related official and non-official institutions will be suspended. In a statement published on its website, the PBA said that all advocates will gather i... Read more
A UN organisation has highlighted the plight of small Palestinian farming communities in the hills to the east of Jerusalem which are at risk of forced displacement due to a "relocation" plan advanced by the Israeli authorities. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Occupied Palestinian Territory (UNOCHA) said that the Israelis try to justify their plan on the grounds that ... Read more
The Israeli cabinet decided on Sunday not to designate as terrorists the extremist "Price Tag" settlers' group, reported Haaretz. The group is responsible for many attacks against Palestinians, their properties and their holy places in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deal with this group "more flexibly", claims the newspaper. Recommendations... Read more
13 Jun 2013 | Politics
Ramona Wadi
Richard Falk has long been deemed controversial in circles conforming to imperialist policies. Vilified for contradicting mainstream propaganda emanat... Read more
10 Jun 2013 | Lifestyle
Ahmad Abu R'tema
One of the most spectacular gifts that any of us may be granted by God during our lives is that you become acquainted with a brother not born of your ... Read more
10 Jun 2013 | Lifestyle
Amelia Smith
For the past three months pop-star hopefuls from across the Middle East have assembled in MBC's Beirut studios to compete for the title of Arab Idol. ... Read more
The Islamic Resistance Movement in Palestine - Hamas - has issued a statement today describing Hezbollah's military intervention in Syria as contributing to the worsening climate of sectarian polarisation in the region. Hamas called on Hezbollah to withdraw its forces and urged it to maintain the compass of resistance only in the direction of the Israeli occupation.
However well intentioned, the gathering of a number of Islamic scholars and preachers at a conference in Cairo which addressed the conflict in Syria between 13-15 June ended up as an exercise in irresponsibility. I say this not only as a supporter of the Syrian uprising, but also as a supporter of the professed Islamic nature of many of the revolutionaries and the call to re-establish an Islamic caliphate that a section of the uprising has explicitly adopted.
Reports that the Emir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, will shortly hand-over power to his son and heir, Shaikh Tamim, are no surprise. Sources close to the family confirmed that this has been known for quite some time by relatives and close friends.
In a region where rulers usually only depart when they die or are ousted, the Emir's decision is unprecedented. In the grand scheme of things this could well set the stage for others to follow.
The newly elected Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, said on Monday during his debut speech that he intends to maintain relations with the international community built on mutual respect.
He also pledged to continue his country's uranium programme and ruled out its suspension.
In the eyes of many Westerners, Gaza is a dangerous and war torn place. Even activists, including myself, often imagine Gaza primarily as a place of suffering, and one that has unfairly come to eclipse the affliction of all of Palestine. But while Israel's wars of aggression against the people of Gaza, as well as its brutal siege, have cost many lives and inflicted countless casualties, Gaza today is a remarkably calm, protected and beautiful place where everyday lives go on, despite the continued suffering of its people. Indeed, Gaza is a place where the heart and soul flourish even if the body is ailing; where people and community are so alive and resilient that it rekindles one's hope in humanity.
As was widely predicted, reformist candidate Hassan Rouhani won the first round of the Iranian presidential election, gaining more than half of the votes cast. This outcome was not surprising given the disarray of the conservative trend, which fielded five candidates; Rouhani was the only reformist candidate. Some forecasts had predicted that he would need a second round of voting to get an overall victory but he won outright in the first.
What must be noted here is that Rouhani's result does not reflect the popularity of the reformist trend on the Iranian street. If the winner was Mir Hassan Mawlawi, for example, the result would have been much clearer in his favour. Rouhani is not classified fully as a reformist, even though he is seen as being very close. Some media sources have referred to him as a moderate conservative candidate rather than reformist.
The Palestinian Bar Association (PBA) has announced that industrial action will take place on Monday and Tuesday in protest against an attack on one of their colleagues in Bethlehem. All work in all Palestinian courts, public prosecutions and all related official and non-official institutions will be suspended.
In a statement published on its website, the PBA said that all advocates will gather in front of the Palestinian Police headquarters in Ramallah on Tuesday at 11am before holding a press conference.
A UN organisation has highlighted the plight of small Palestinian farming communities in the hills to the east of Jerusalem which are at risk of forced displacement due to a "relocation" plan advanced by the Israeli authorities. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Occupied Palestinian Territory (UNOCHA) said that the Israelis try to justify their plan on the grounds that the residents do not "possess title over the land". Around 80 per cent of the people affected are refugees who were forced from their original lands in the south of the country in the early 1950s.
The Israeli cabinet decided on Sunday not to designate as terrorists the extremist "Price Tag" settlers' group, reported Haaretz. The group is responsible for many attacks against Palestinians, their properties and their holy places in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deal with this group "more flexibly", claims the newspaper.
Recommendations for Price Tag to be declared "terrorists" were made by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Abramovich and the Shabak Intelligence Services. Netanyahu has rejected this move and decided instead to label them as a "forbidden organisation". His move is a result, it is believed, of pressure from settlers' leaders and his Jewish Home coalition partner. A vote on the issue would have provoked a crisis in the government.
However well intentioned, the gathering of a number of Islamic scholars and preachers at a conference in Cairo which addressed the conflict in Syria between 13-15 June ended up as an exercise in irres... Read more
Reports that the Emir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, will shortly hand-over power to his son and heir, Shaikh Tamim, are no surprise. Sources close to the family confirmed that this has ... Read more
In the eyes of many Westerners, Gaza is a dangerous and war torn place. Even activists, including myself, often imagine Gaza primarily as a place of suffering, and one that has unfairly come to eclips... Read more
As was widely predicted, reformist candidate Hassan Rouhani won the first round of the Iranian presidential election, gaining more than half of the votes cast. This outcome was not surprising given th... Read more
The Arab League's agreement to the idea of a land swap between the Palestinian Authority and Israel as part of any possible peace agreement between the two has prompted a number of reactions. Most wer... Read more
There are no short cuts to freedom, justice and dignity
Palestine was shaken by a number of diplomatic tremors this week. The aftershocks were felt as far away as Washington, forcing US Secretary of State John Kerry to postpone his next visit to the region indefinitely. The epicentre was the public declaration by Israel's deputy defence minister, Danny Danon, that his government is "staunchly opposed to a two-state solution and would block the creation of a Palestinian state if such a proposal ever came to a vote." In the real world, this remark would be enough to put an immediate end to the fraudulent peace process and its "two-state solution", which Danon concedes is an illusion. Read More
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