Middle East News For The Perplexed

Defense secretary Mattis says US policy against Isis is now 'annihilation'

Retired general indicates aggressive turn in Iraq and Syria, saying ‘intention is that foreign fighters do not survive’ and ‘civilian casualties are a fact of life’<p>Secretary of Defense James Mattis said on Sunday the US had “accelerated” its tactics against the Islamic State, moving from a policy …

Dems to tie Russia to Iran on sanctions

A well-placed Senate Democratic aide emails this tip: "Expect many Senate Dems to push for the Senate to not do Iran sanctions without Russian …

Egypt's answer to latest attack reflects despair, resolve

Comments<p>Your feedback is important to us!<p>We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article.<p>Disclaimer: Comments …

Palestinian Prisoners End Hunger Strike For What?

Today’s Top Stories1. Palestinian prisoners ended their hunger strike. This came after the International Red Cross agreed to resume facilitating an …

Iraq Mosul offensive: Civilians 'in grave danger' - UN

<b>Civilians are being hit hardest as Iraq's military assault on Mosul enters its final phase, the country's UN humanitarian relief coordinator says.</b><p>Lise Grande told the BBC residents were in grave danger as so-called Islamic State (IS) was directly targeting families.<p>Many people in the city are …

Weeds on the Temple Mount in 1967

This photo of the Temple Mount from 1967 was published this week in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem:<p>The …

Israeli government admits: UN has broken the law in Jerusalem

After repeated delays, the state finally responded Sunday to the request for an interim injunction filed by Regavim against the illegal construction …

Do the Europeans want to squeeze out Tsipras?

For Greece, last week was a bad week. First, the government could not secure an agreement on a relief of its huge debt in a meeting with finance …

Linda Sarsour is only the symptom of a much bigger illness | Europe Israel News

Fred Maroun is a Canadian of Arab origin who lived in Lebanon until 1984, including during 10 years of civil war. Fred supports Israel’s right to …

Syrian Kurdish official says visit to Japan aimed at discussing Rojava situation, war on ISIS

ARA News<p>Hediya Yousef, co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Federal System of Northern Syria, confirmed in an exclusive interview …

[VIDEO] Stranded at Kiev airport by Erdoğan’s long reach abroad

A Turkish family with children has been detained for three days without explanation by Ukrainian security officials at the international airport in …

Syria’s Kurds struggle for unity

ARA NewsThe Chancellor of Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC), Masrour Barzani, told an audience at the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday that the …

Iran follows Russia’s lead in backing Syria safe zones

Author: Week in Review<p><b>Iran, Russia move closer over Syria safe zones proposal</b><p>Summary Russia’s proposal legitimates Iranian military role in Syria; …

Terra Incognita: The myth of ‘American Jewish liberalism’

The American Jewish community is outwardly liberal in surveys, but like others who claim to be left-wing, that liberalism is often only skin deep.

Anger over Corbyn’s attendance at ceremony for Munich massacre terrorist

Angry Jewish community leaders have demanded answers after it was reported Jeremy Corbyn attended a wreath-laying ceremony honouring one of the …

UK's Corbyn paid tribute to PLO official said behind Munich massacre: report

Backlash against British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's remarks that the UK's involvement in foreign wars has invited terror attacks such as the …

UAE minister warns Gulf Arab alliance faces a major crisis

A United Arab Emirates government minister on Sunday warned that an alliance of Gulf Arab states was facing a major crisis and he said there was an …

Governor of Turkish resort area invites Israeli tourists to return

Why aren’t “known wolves” stopped? Because there are 100,000+ of them

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN<p>Why wasn’t Salman Abedi stopped before the Manchester bombing? Many are asking this question and have pointed out he was a “known …

ISIS: Weakened But Still Potent

There are two schools of thought about the nature of the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Some experts say the group is …

Art is therapy for girls at Abu Dhabi juvenile detention centre

ABU DHABI // Art is being used as behavioural therapy for a group of Emirati teenaged girls at a juvenile detention centre.<p>Fourteen girls, aged 12 to …

'Sorted' by MI5: How UK government sent British-Libyans to fight Gaddafi

The British government operated an “open door” policy that allowed Libyan exiles and British-Libyan citizens to join the 2011 uprising that toppled …

How Nationalism Can Solve the Crisis of Islam

Paris<p>Last Sunday President Trump stood before Muslim leaders in Riyadh and declared: “America is a sovereign nation, and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture. We are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how …

Trump's anti-ISIS war keeps killing huge numbers of civilians

The Trump administration has a civilian casualties problem.<p>It’s becoming clear that the Pentagon has a civilian casualties problem. Two recent events make that fairly evident, andit’s showing the problems the anti-ISIS coalition has to keep bystanders off the coroner’s table.<p>In the midst of Trump’s …

Turkish mothers take up civil disobedience

Anyone who dares protest Erdogan is branded a dangerous terrorist and subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, even elderly mothers.

Iraq's Iran-backed paramilitary force advances towards Syrian border

Iraq's Iran-backed Shia paramilitary force said on Sunday it had dislodged the Islamic State (IS) group from several villages west of Mosul, making …

The Over-Dramatization of Israel's "Dilemma"

Remote sensing map of West Bank, image by CIA via Wikipedia Commons<p>BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 479, May 28, 2017<p><b>EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:</b> <b>Israel is</b> …

Europe, France plan active Middle East policy

Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron wants France to take a central role in international diplomacy and in resolving the …

"You Tricked Me" - Trump Reportedly Rages At Palestine's Abbas For 'Lying To Him'

by TDB - May 28, 2017 11:58 AM<p>The former President of Catalonia defied the Spanish government when he held a referendum to form a new country of …