Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Badr Mohammed Badr
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Gaza’s will to survive against all odds
Our neighbour’s small clay oven is now serving an entire neighbourhood in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza; you bring your dough, they will turn it into bread. It is one of the ways people in the besieged Strip are coping without electricity, fuel or cooking...
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From Scratch: ‘Greater Israel’
As Israeli leaders are becoming increasingly and publicly dismissive of the notion of an independent Palestinian state and the rights of Palestinians to their lands, and as illegal Jewish-only settlements continue to swallow Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, is the pursuit of a Greater Israel, whether explicitly...
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While the focus is on Gaza, Jewish settler violence escalates in the occupied West Bank
The relatives of Ahmed Dawabsheh, a Palestinian boy whose mother, father and 18-month-old baby brother were burned to death by illegal Jewish settlers in 2015, describe the escalating Jewish settler violence in the occupied West Bank as like “living in a ring of fire” At a time when all...
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Why do descendants of Jews humiliated by Nazis now humiliate Palestinians?
Humiliation is one of the most powerful human emotions, causing intense feelings of shame in the victim. To humiliate someone means to violate their dignity by disregarding their basic human rights. That’s how the Encyclopaedia of the Holocaust at the Holocaust Museum in Washington describes the public humiliation of...
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‘They see us as human animals,’ says Palestinian journalist with 21 family members killed by Israel
Death, pain and devastation are all there is in the Gaza Strip today. Everyone has their story of loss and grief as the death toll of Israel’s incessant attacks rises by the hour. It is the same for Ahmed Alnaouq, a man who is grieving the death of 21...
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Is there any chance for peace in Sudan?
Four decades ago, Marina Peter, a German expert on intercultural education and a teacher of German language and history, did not know much about Sudan, except for its hot weather and its refugees. However, after she got a job with a German agency working in Sudan, she began an...
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Rising death toll & unsettling alliances: Italy’s alarming response to migration crisis
2023 has been the deadliest year for migrants crossing the Mediterranean since 2017. In 2022, more than half of those that took on the world’s most treacherous migration route departed from Libya, a country that has been embroiled in conflict and civil war for nearly a decade, and about...
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The Rwandan tragedy must not be repeated in Sudan
Rwanda witnessed unrest, political divisions and violent and bloody internal conflicts, to the point of civil wars, for many years. From 1991 to 1994 the violence culminated in the Rwandan genocide, one of the most heinous crimes in contemporary history. In just 100 days, cruelty and brutality killed more...
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Who is the man leading the Sudanese army against the RSF?
Sudan is in turmoil. Clashes erupted across the country on 15 April as the Rapid Response Forces (RSF), a powerful Sudanese paramilitary organisation, and the Sudanese army exchanged heavy fire in an attempt to capture key government buildings and establish military dominance. The army is led by General Abdel...
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Explained: The power struggle behind fighting in Sudan
Sudan’s residents woke up on Saturday 15 April to the sounds of gunfire and explosions as intense fighting broke out in several parts of the country between its two most powerful military components, the Sudanese army and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Two military men lie at...
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What now, a month after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank?
As soon as news emerged that Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the 16th-largest lender in America, with about $200 billion in assets, had collapsed, a dark cloud loomed over the international financial sector. Even when the initial shock started to wear off following swift action from central banks, the dust...
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The fall of Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist government looks inevitable
The indicators are that the extreme far-right Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu is going to fall; that it is inevitable, given the degree of opposition it is facing in the settler-colonial state. Such opposition is reflected overseas, especially in the US, where it is embarrassing the Biden administration...
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Where has Iraq’s oil wealth gone?
Iraq is the second-largest crude oil producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia. Yet despite the country’s vast oil wealth and significant revenues from crude oil exports, Iraq imports some 40 per cent of its gas from Iran and is still struggling to meet the basic energy needs of its...
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On China and debt distress
Without China’s participation in joint efforts in debt restructuring, it is not possible to quickly ease the burden on many debt-distressed countries. However, even if not impossible, it is a difficult task. Some may think that the debt default of Sri Lanka is a far-flung problem in a distant...
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Is the Maldives an example of Asian democracy in the current world challenges?
The Maldives, the friendly holiday destination that everyone loves. Maldivians, in general, have been people who are very friendly towards those they meet from around the world. As a Maldivian, I can say, generally, our character is based on being polite and ready to help others. Our people are...
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The Mediterranean: A sea of blood
With silent gestures, everyone enters the cafeteria. It looked like their bodies were still asleep. We would gather in the kitchen to prepare a quick coffee before the meeting. The crew of the ship consisted of 25 people, including volunteers and contractors. We would sit around tables and the...
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Sanctions or Assad: What is blocking aid from entering northern Syria?
As the death toll from the earthquakes which rocked Turkiye and Syria continues to rise, many are questioning whether sanctions on Syria are preventing aid from reaching the war-torn country. After 12 years of civil war, most of Syria is once again under the control of the Assad regime,...
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Netanyahu’s coup over Israel’s judiciary explained
A wave of massive demonstrations has taken Israel by storm. Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets for weeks on end to protest against a proposed judicial reform plan put forward by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned to power for a sixth...
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What can we expect from this year’s World Economic Forum?
Our world is increasingly plagued by war, famine and poverty. Political and other leaders will meet during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos between 16 and 20 January to discuss existing predicaments and suggest solutions. However, experts doubt whether action will result. The past year witnessed numerous adverse...
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A new order: What we should learn from COP27 and the G20 Summit
The COP27 and the G20 Summit took place at an important juncture. They occurred in tandem with important international developments: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lula’s election in Brazil, Xi’s third term, the US restrictions on semiconductor exports to China and the US midterm elections. As such, both the COP27...
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Morocco v France: the battle against colonialism reaches the football pitch
The Moroccan national team have made history as the first Arab or African football team to reach the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup. On the way Morocco has beaten Spain and Portugal, as well as Belgium, reviving memories of colonial rivalries. Now, Morocco faces France in the semi-final,...
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All Israeli settlements violate international laws and conventions
All Israeli settlements violate Article 49, paragraph six, of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. They are, therefore, considered to be war crimes, according to Article 84, paragraph four of the additional first protocol of 1977; an annex to the 1949 Geneva Convention; and Article 8 of the 1998...
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Morocco v Spain is more than football rivalry, it exposes historic tension
The Morocco national football team is due to play against Spain today at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. If Morocco wins, it will be the first Arab football team to reach the quarter finals in the tournament’s history. However, football rivalry is not the only thing at stake...
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What will become of the American-Saudi review in relations?
The Wall Street Journal reported Saudi officials privately saying that the kingdom could sell US Treasury bonds held by Riyadh if Congress passed legislation against OPEC. While American newspaper the New York Times revealed the details of a secret deal between Washington and Riyadh last May to increase Riyadh’s...