Last Friday, the Israeli government announced that it had suspended $6m in funding to the United Nations (UN), a move described as “an act of protest” against the recent Security Council resolution condemning illegal settlements. But is this just the opening salvo in what could be an unprecedented offensive? “Judging by how things are being handled in Israel at the moment, anything… Read more »
Approximately half a million Palestinians living in 100,000 homes in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem are at risk of having their homes demolished [Getty] Palestinian citizens of Israel have announced a nationwide strike after Israeli authorities demolished 11 Palestinian homes. “We condemn the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally for these crimes, that reflect his racist mentality and aim to divert attention… Read more »
The authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested two human rights activists so far this year, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say. Essam Koshak and Ahmed al-Musheikhis were summoned for questioning by police in Mecca and Qatif last week. Officials have not disclosed the reasons for the detentions. But HRW said they “fit a pattern of ongoing repression” against peaceful… Read more »
The flashpoint for Syria’s war, six years old this March, has in recent days taken the form of an elemental struggle over water. The drinking water supply to some 5 million residents in the Syrian capital, Damascus, was cut on 23 December by the Damascus Water Authority, who say rebels have contaminated it with diesel. Rebels deny this, saying bombing… Read more »
The announcement by the Iraqi military that its forces have reached the Tigris River for the first time in the battle for Mosul marks a significant moment in the 12-week campaign to recapture so-called Islamic State’s (IS) last major stronghold in the country. Lieutenant General Abdal-Amir al-Lami, the Iraqi deputy chief of staff for operations, confirmed on 8 January that… Read more »
Tehran has seen some of the biggest crowds on the streets since the 2009 “Green Movement” opposition demonstrations, as an estimated 2.5 million people gathered to bid farewell to Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the man universally known as “Hashemi”. An eyewitness told BBC Persian that the crowds were sharply divided between hardliners and moderates, but it was clear many people had… Read more »
They died in blasts at the governor of Kandahar’s guesthouse on Tuesday, where at least six others were killed including the deputy governor, two senior Afghan officials and two MPs. The governor and the UAE ambassador were among at least 18 wounded. The attack was one of several in Afghanistan on Tuesday. The Taliban admitted attacks in the capital Kabul… Read more »
The joint counter-espionage IDF Military Intelligence and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation against Hamas that was cleared for publication on Wednesday has revealed that the Gazan terror organization is now equipped with a cyber unit, which possesses considerable abilities. This Hamas cyber unit has been aided by foreign experts in the field. Hamas’s efforts to gain access to IDF… Read more »