Middle East & North Africa

See All Press
Tripartite Summit: A Blow to Obama?
September 23, 2009 4 min. read

U.S. officials attempted to spin the tripartite meeting yesterday between President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as a success that managed to re-infuse urgency into a stalled peace process. Moreover, direct negotiations with no preconditions between Israeli and Palestinian officials may formally resume within the next couple of months. […]

Read more
INSS: Changes in Russia-Israel Relations
September 22, 2009 2 min. read

The newest INSS report examines the complex relationship between Israel and Russia alongside recent efforts for increased cooperation between the two countries. Russia, and previously the U.S.S.R., always sought a prominent role in the Middle East, at times forging alliances with Arab countries to counteract the U.S.-Israel relationship.  Further, as Russia attempts to regain its […]

Read more
News Update
September 22, 2009 5 min. read

Since Iran is such a vibrant country and is constantly in the news, there are plenty of news and analyses that I read while researching my blog but am unable to write about.  So here is my first installment of stories about Iran that “slip through the cracks” (yes- I am quoting Lewis Black from […]

Read more
The Newest Blood Libel
September 21, 2009 2 min. read

A recent op-ed in Al-Ahram is not notable for any intellect in the writing, unmatched analysis, or strong arguments proving any one particular point. Instead, the shear, unbridled hatred is the only noteworthy aspect of the article, which concludes that Israel perpetrated an unprecedented hoax during 9/11 to blame Islamic fundamentalists for the terror attacks and embed the United […]

Read more
Obama, Abbas, and Bibi to Meet
September 21, 2009 2 min. read

Even though Palestinian and Israeli officials announced their refusal to meet at this week’s United Nations General Assembly, the obstinate statesmen reluctantly agreed to tripartite talks between President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Special Envoy George Mitchell spent all of last week in negotiations in the Middle […]

Read more
Eid Mubarak!
September 20, 2009 1 min. read

Here is President Obama’s message to Muslims celebrating Eid all around the world: STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE OCCASION OF EID-UL-FITR As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion. Eid […]

Read more
Israeli Humor, Sort of
September 19, 2009 1 min. read

This video is pretty telling of Israeli humor. It’s more a combination of confusing and awkward as opposed to roll-on-the-floor laughing. The video mocks the recent diplomatic rifts between Israel and some northern European countries. Norway recently cut ties with an Israeli firm after objections to the border barrier (wall and fence) between mainland Israel […]

Read more
Hariri To Try Again
September 18, 2009 3 min. read

After briefly stepping down last week, Saad  Hariri has been reassigned the task of forming a new cabinet. Hariri had been trying since he was appointed prime minister back in June to come up with a cabinet  line-up that would suit the very fickle political tastes of Lebanon. Hariri submitted a list to the president […]

Read more
Happy New Year
September 18, 2009 1 min. read

Happy new year and hopes for a great holiday to everyone. Hopefully, this year will focus on peace and reconciliation, with prosperity and hope flourishing in both Palestinian and Israeli societies. Be-ezrat Hashem and Inshah Allah. Shanah tova and Ramadan kareem. Image taken from here.

Read more
Watch Out in India
September 18, 2009 2 min. read

Young Israelis often perform a mass exodus from the country upon completing compulsory military service in their early twenties. The Israel Defense Forces provide departing soldiers with a small stipend to supplement the meager pay they received while serving. Instead of saving the cash, many Israelis take a trip to South America, Thailand, or India […]

Read more
U.S. Officials with Concern on Goldstone Report
September 18, 2009 3 min. read

We’ve heard mainly groans from Israeli politicians on the recently released Goldstone report on alleged Israeli human rights violations in the Gaza Strip. However, U.S. officials began chiming in with criticisms of the document. Notably, U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary P.J. Crowley attempted to deflect discussion of the report at today’s press conference onto the […]

Read more
Can Sleep Peacefully Tonight
September 17, 2009 1 min. read

The Newsweek has published an article revealing that Iran has not restarted its nuclear-weapons development program.  According to the article: U.S. intelligence agencies have informed policymakers at the White House and other agencies that the status of Iranian work on development and production of a nuclear bomb has not changed since the formal National Intelligence […]

Read more

Popular from Press