Middle East

WASHINGTON, Jul 23 2013 (IPS) – There is a real opportunity for peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians, even though the obstacles are more formidable than in the past. That was the assessment of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, speaking…

By Ryan Crocker* The awful conflict in Syria grinds on, with more than 100,000 dead and no end in sight. The calls to “do something” – anything – become louder: arm the rebels, enforce a no-fly zone, send in the…

On the first day of Ramadan, many young people in Damascus started a volunteer initiative to feed the poor people in the city, victims of the internal war. In one day 750 meals were cooked and distributed. A restaurant owner…

Freedom and democracy. How I have come to loathe this phrase. Two-lofty-words-and-a-conjunction bandied around by handmaidens of Empire: verbal grenades that can gut entire nations. When I hear “freedom and democracy” I instinctively look for cover – just as “Allahu…

Follow Democracy Now! Live Updates “The head of Egypt’s armed forces has announced the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi and the suspension of the constitution. Backers of Morsi have described the move as a “military coup.” For minute-by-minute coverage of…

Trumped up chemical weapons charges against the Syrian government this month failed to produce evidence to convince a skeptical global community of any direct linkage. And the US’s follow-up pledge to arm rebels served only to immediately underline the difficulty…

We are in a very dangerous period in world history as the old power structure collapses and the US dominance begins to wane.  But the empire strikes back.  By Mazin Qumsiyeh The US and Israel try to strength neoliberal governments that depend on…

Dear friends, The latest news from Turkey is that in many cities in Turkey now the people are standing still, without moving, also in Ankara and Istanbul, in squares, in streets, in malls, in courts and all kind of other…

I am sitting drinking tea with friends in the Cafe Grand Boulevard in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul. It is evening and the place is busier than usual. We are sat so close together all our knees are touching. Regular…

The news coming out from Istanbul via news services such as Al Jazeera show a lot of violent action from the side of the police and their allied security forces. Update – from Ankara. Listening to the speeches of the…