Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Samira Shackle
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How do you solve a problem like ISIS?
When huge swathes of Iraq were taken over by the militant jihadist group ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known simply as the Islamic State), the Iraqi government wasted no time in calling for foreign assistance. The weakness of the state – which is wracked by...
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Calls for end to Gaza blockade gain international momentum
Israel’s blockade of Gaza was put in place shortly after Hamas won the Palestinian election in 2006. The following year, Hamas took control militarily after fighting with a clique within rival faction Fatah which was funded by the US and Israel to stage a coup against the government; shortly...
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Warsi's resignation may spark opinion and policy shift on Palestine
Since the current conflict in Gaza began, nearly 2,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians. Hundreds of children are among the dead. The targets hit by Israel, which wants to destroy Hamas infrastructure, have included numerous UN schools where refugees were sheltering, and a market place full...
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The west's abandonment of Libya is irresponsible
When western powers decided to give their support to the rebels in Libya, back in 2011, the move was met with international approval. The UN approved the decision to impose a no-fly zone over the country. The Misrata rebels were empowered; the Libyan army was hammered by western firepower;...
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Israel's claims are difficult to justify
The crisis in Gaza is now in its 24th day; the longest conflict between the Israeli military and Hamas fighters. So far, more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed and 58 Israelis. The vast majority of the Palestinian deaths have been civilians, while the vast majority of Israeli deaths...
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Mutual suspicion between Egypt and Hamas stalls diplomatic progress
In the eleven days since Israel launched its ongoing operation on Gaza, at least 259 Palestinians have been killed, a death toll which is rising every day and looks set to rise further. Despite talk of a ceasefire earlier this week, Israel has announced that it will expand its...
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Egypt’s emerging position as regional policeman is fraught with danger
Egypt has always been an important regional power. During the three decades that Hosni Mubarak was in power, it was a key ally of the west in the Middle East, helping the United States with counter-terrorism and its diplomatic wrangling. The country had a peace deal and unofficial alliance...
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Is Iraq sleepwalking to partition?
When large swathes of land in Iraq were seized by the Sunni militant group, ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham), many analysts predicted that it could spell the break-up of Iraq. Events since then appear to support this prediction; despite the grave threat to Iraq’s security, there...
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Al-Sisi's economic medicine denigrates quality of life
Given that Egypt has now been mired in political instability for more than three years, it is perhaps little surprise that the economy is floundering. The country has seen not one but two uprisings since 2011. Ongoing unrest and state violence – most recently by the military-backed regime against...
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Kurdish independence and the break-up of Iraq
Ever since Saddam Hussein was ousted during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, there has been sporadic talk of dividing the country. The nation is wracked by sectarian divisions between Shia, Sunni, and Kurds; tensions which were exploited and worsened by Saddam to cement his own grip on power....
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Violence in the West Bank began long before the kidnappings
Ever since three Israeli teenagers disappeared from a settlement in the West Bank on 12 June, there has been intense anxiety about the repercussions of the event. The search for Naftali Frankel, 17, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19 – known as Operation Brother’s Keeper – saw more...
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US and Iran in Iraq: parallel action but still no coordination
The sheer speed with which ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham) took control of swathes of Iraq left domestic and foreign observers reeling. In the weeks that have passed since the group seized the city of Mosul and surrounding territories, western powers have been uncertain about how...
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Libya poll fails to halt slide towards civil war
On 21 and 22 June, voting took place in Libya’s general election. The poll to elect a new national parliament went ahead despite the fact that much of the country is in the grip of the worst violence since the 2011 uprising. The election was seen as a chance to...
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Punishing a whole population is not the answer
On Thursday 12 June, three Israeli teenagers disappeared from a hitchhiking post in a bloc of settlements south of Jerusalem. It has been assumed that Eyal Yifrach, 19, Naftali Frankel, 16, and Gil-ad Shaar, 16, were kidnapped, although no group has come forward to make demands or claim responsibility....
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Military strikes are always a temporary solution
If anything is guaranteed to court controversy, it is Tony Blair expressing his views on the Middle East. The former prime minister’s time in office is largely defined by his decision to join the US in invading Iraq in 2003, based on the later disproved assertion that Saddam Hussein...
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It will take more than military force to save Iraq
Perhaps the most shocking element of the seizure of huge swathes of Syria and Iraq by militants is the sheer speed at which it was carried out. A group called ISIS (The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or Levant) has, over the last year, made major gains of...
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Peace with the Palestinians a low priority at Herzliya Conference
Israel’s annual Herzliya Conference sees national policy articulated by the country’s military, political, and security elite. The issues raised at the conference reflect public debate, and go on to shape that debate for the year ahead. In the past, the government has adopted numerous Herzliya Conference reports and recommendations...
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The EU's willingness to work with Egypt undermines its condemnation of human rights abuses
When Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s democratically elected president, was ousted in July 2013, the European Union – along with other western powers – was unsure how best to respond. During the months that have passed, it has retained a cautious tone: condemning human rights abuses, while also tentatively praising aspects...
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Using elections to assert guaranteed victories in Egypt and Syria
In recent weeks, two elections have taken place in the Middle East. The first was in Egypt, where polling took place between 26 and 28 May; the second was in Syria, where voting began on Tuesday. There are obvious differences between the two polls. Syria is in the throes of...
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In a rogue state, land document forgery is hardly surprising
In December 2013, a court in Israel ruled that a synagogue built in the Givat Ze’ev settlement must be demolished. The reason was that it had been illegally built on privately owned Palestinian land after the purchase deeds were forged by Israeli settlers. The synagogue – and the entire...
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International doubts persist over Egypt's controversial elections
On the 26th and 27th May, Egypt will go to the polls to vote in a controversial presidential election. There are only two candidates: former Field Marshall Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi and underdog liberal candidate Hamdeen Sabahi. Al-Sisi, who left his post as head of the army in March so that...
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Israel's countdown to another war on Gaza
As the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) highlights the human cost of Operation Cast Lead (War Diaries), Israel has during the last two weeks intensified its air strikes at civilian targets in the Gaza Strip, once again killing a number of Palestinians and causing extensive damage to properties. Media and...
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Media Fact Sheet on Viva Palestina
URGENT MEDIA FACT SHEET BREAKING NEWS ON VIVA PALESTINA Friday, 8th January 2010 The Viva Palestina Convoy left London on 6th December 2009 to deliver humanitarian to Gaza ; travelling through Europe, Turkey , Syria , Jordan and Egypt. The Middle East Monitor (MEMO) sent two officials to cover the journey. This...
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Summary of Spinwatch Report: The Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre: Giving peace a chance?
Preface – The national interest, pro-Israel advocacy and anti-Semitism BICOM and its staff/donors are part of the British establishment, notably the right of the Labour Party. The interests of the individuals and groups involved are more relevant than Israel’s “national interest”. No group is all powerful, but lobbying involves ties between...