Thursday, March 28

Middle East

The Middle East is a significant region. Countries include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. This region includes many of the “Arab Spring” countries, which underwent disruptive revolutions and protests in the 21st Century. It also includes Israeli-Palestinian relations.

The World Court Hears Case on Israel’s Occupation of the Palestinian Territories
International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East

The World Court Hears Case on Israel’s Occupation of the Palestinian Territories

February 23, 2024-It's day 5 of the hearings by the International Court of Justice on Israel's military occupation of the Palestinian territories. The hearings are an outcome of a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution requesting an advisory opinion. https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/2503451/sp/250345100/embedIframeJs/uiconf_id/43914941/partner_id/2503451?iframeembed=true&playerId=kplayer&entry_id=1_1pg5qd8i&flashvars[streamerType]=auto
EU’s Ceasefire Resolution Says Too Much, Not Enough
Europe, EU, Eurozone, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

EU’s Ceasefire Resolution Says Too Much, Not Enough

European Parliament Passed Non-binding Statement on the Israel-Gaza Conflict January 19, 2024—Israel's war with Hamas and its destruction of Gaza has divided the European Union. The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a watered-down resolution calling for a ceasefire, the dismantling of Hamas, and the unconditional release of the remaining hostages. The resolution is non-binding and largely symbolic. The Parliament passed it with 312 votes in favor, 131 against, and 72 abstentions. What's noteworthy is not the vote or the individual phrases in it. It is that the resolution is too long-winded to have an impact. It thwarts itself at every turn. It calls for a permanent ceasefire and then says Israel has "a right to defend itself." It calls on all parties to "distinguish b...
Iraqi PM Says Its Time For US Troops To Go Home
Arms Sales, Military Industry, Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Iraqi PM Says Its Time For US Troops To Go Home

January 6, 2024—As Israel and Hamas continue battling in Gaza, the conflict is having a destabilizing impact on the wider region. It is impacting Iraq and Syria, where the U.S. military has forces, as well as Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, and shipping in the Red Sea. This week Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is making it clear to the U.S. government that he is ready for the 2,500 U.S. troops stationed there to go home. The government started "setting the date for the start of the bilateral committee to put arrangements to end the presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq permanently," the prime minister's office said on Friday, according to a Reuters news report. "We stress our firm position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justi...
US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire
Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Videos, UN Security Council

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire

December 8, 2023--The United States vetoed another resolution in the UN Security Council regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting came as António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, invoked a rarely used tool in the UN Charter to call for a special meeting in the UNSC. Article 99 gives the Secretary-General the right to bring to the Security Council any matter that "may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.” It is the first time Guterres used it. Thirteen members of the Security Council voted for the resolution. The United Kingdom abstained. The United States voted against it, effectively vetoing it as one of the five permanent members. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2TrUKMw_6Q
Biden’s War Policy Clashes With Public Opinion
Middle East, Types of News: Videos

Biden’s War Policy Clashes With Public Opinion

November 20, 2023--As U.S. public support grows for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza War, President Biden says "no." He wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post suggesting that the war would "pursue our positive vision for the future."International calls grow louder. This week, Indonesian President Joko Widodo became the first leader to ask Biden to stop the "atrocities" during a televised White House meeting. That comes as five countries led by South Africa ask the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes. French President Macron is the first G7 leader to call for a ceasefire. https://youtu.be/H3hkK9d9jTo?si=Jc1zHdMbvwO7qU7E
G7 Foreign Ministers Call For Pauses In Gaza War
Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, Types of News: Brief

G7 Foreign Ministers Call For Pauses In Gaza War

November 8, 2023—A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a call by the U.S. and world leaders to pause the war, G7 foreign ministers called for "urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza." Specifically, the G7 statement called for the protection of civilians. "We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages. Foreign nationals must also be allowed to continue to depart. We underscore the importance of protecting civilians and compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law." The calls for a ceasefire or pause have only grown during the month-long war as civilian deaths and casualties have grown. G7 minis...
U.S. Artists Call for Immediate Ceasefire in Israel’s Assault on Gaza
Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Videos

U.S. Artists Call for Immediate Ceasefire in Israel’s Assault on Gaza

'All Life Is Sacred,' Letter Says This week, over 180 artists signed a letter to President Biden calling for a ceasefire and telling him that, "all life is sacred." As the Israel-Gaza war rages on, creating a humanitarian crisis that puts innocent lives at risk, many of us in safe parts of the world are feeling helpless as to how to help. I know I cannot turn away from the atrocities happening today. History itself is watching. Millions of people are marching in the streets. Others are raising their voices. Each person who speaks up gives another courage to voice support for human life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZymrk6sG2Q
WHO Issues Warning About The Middle East
Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Bit, Types of News: Brief

WHO Issues Warning About The Middle East

October 28, 2023—The World Health Organization issued a warning about escalating hostilities in the Middle East. Specifically, the conflict and deteriorating health conditions are not limited to the Gaza Strip but are also in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Syria. Furthermore, they pose a risk of "spilling over to other countries in the region, including Jordan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Iraq." Specifically, in Gaza, the situation is desperate: "The health system is on the verge of collapse and dwindling access to health services, clean water, food and fuel on top of an already weakened healthcare system risks further loss of civilian life. Massive displacement to shelters with inadequate resources will result in disease outbreaks." For more, see the Wor...
Western Leaders Release Statement On Israel
Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Western Leaders Release Statement On Israel

October 23, 2023—Leaders from six Western countries released a joint statement yesterday that supports Israel's war but urges the leaders to protect civilians. The leaders are U.S. President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians," the statement said. It appears the announcement about the statement is the statement itself. It comes a day after global leaders met at a Cairo Summit hosted by Egypt, where many regional leaders accused the We...

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