The following article was written by Chelsi Mueller, a junior research fellow in the Center for Iranian Studies and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Middle Eastern and African History at Tel Aviv University. by Chelsi Mueller As Arab leaders’ private statements about Iran began to pour forth from Wikileaks, Iranian leaders strove to […]
Last fall, an article by the Economist praised the consolidation of railway companies in the former Yugoslavia as a development that will ease the movement of freight from Turkey to Central Europe. The Economist went on to argue that a future rail tunnel under the Bosporus and plans between Turkey and China to link Beijing […]
After several months of bidding wars, ArcelorMittal has beaten out Nunavut Iron Ore Acquisition to acquire a majority of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation’s shares, thereby winning control of the Mary River iron ore deposits on Baffin Island, in Canada’s Eastern Arctic (map). The world’s largest steelmaker will control 70% of the shares, while Nunavut will […]
As my fruit salesman on the market at Barbès (an Arabic neighbourhood in the North of Paris) proclaimed with a wide smile this morning pointing to the Tunisian flag his stand boasted ‘C’est la revolution! On voit la vie en rose maintenant.’ (It’s a revolution! We see life through rose-colored glasses now.) Evidently this Jasmine […]
In a recent turn of events that could be both good and bad news for India-China relations, China has issued stapled visas to two men from Arunachal Pradesh (AP). While this could be construed as an insult to India, it should also be noted that China had so far refrained from issuing visas to anyone […]
Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is reported to have fled the country, a country he ruled for 23 years, amid anti-govt riots over soaring unemployment and corruption. His whereabouts is still unknown, but (as usual) I am suspecting that he may be headed for Europe. Ordinarily I am not a fan of this […]
Stalemate and tension continue to characterize the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, where incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has been unyielding in holding power despite a near-universal belief that his opponent, Alassane Ouattara, won the 28 November election. Gbagbo has access to and the loyalty of men with guns, who are working to isolate and seal off […]
Former Labor party leader Amir Peretz intends on joining the centrist Kadima party, according to reports. The left-wing Labor party, currently headed by embattled Defense Minsiter Ehud Barak, has been rife with internal strife and could continue crumbling unless the party finds its voice and reclaims grassroots support, especially as the politics of the Israeli […]
President Obama has extended a national emergency in effect for 15 years due to continued threat of terror attacks that could thwart the Middle East peace process. The extension of this national emergency exemplifies several points: the peace process is integral to U.S. interests, mandating that the White House declare an emergency due to efforts […]
Sudan has become synonym of the atrocities that took place in Darfur over the years. But on Sunday, January 9th, a new page could be written as the independence’s referendum will decide on the future status of Southern Sudan. It is difficult to believe that the current violent regime in Khartoum will comply in accordance […]
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently traveled to China in hopes of lowering tensions and reestablishing high level bilateral military ties between China and the United States. This comes on the heels of increasing border tension between China and its neighbors. One of those neighbors , America’s strongest ally in the region, is Japan. The […]
The decision by the Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament to depart the coalition could spell either disaster or serendipity for Israel, as fears of a 2011 war that could devastate Tel Aviv are at the forefront of security fears. An upcoming Hariri government-backed tribunal is expected to indict top Hezbollah members in the death of former […]
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