In The News

Secret Nuclear Power Work in Saudi Arabia: Reuters

Timothy Gardner March 29, 2019
The US Department of Energy has approved authorizations for companies to sell nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, reports Timothy Gardner for Reuters. The companies requested anonymity, and the ultimate plan is to build two nuclear power plants. “Perry’s approvals, known as Part 810 authorizations, allow companies to do preliminary work on nuclear power ahead of any deal but not ship equipment...

Netanyahu Should Step Down: Economist

March 23, 2019
Recent charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust against Binyamin Netanyahu have drawn the Israeli prime minister into tangled public controversy as opponents and critics call for his resignation. As a recent article for the Economist observes, “Netanyahu refuses to go.” From all indications, he has no intentions to resign and still hopes to be re-elected. He helped engineer an electoral...

US Golan Heights Decision: Middle East Eye

Mohsen Abu Ramadan March 22, 2019
Israel has occupied large sections of Palestinian territory for more than 50 years, and the US president suggested on Twitter: “it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability.” The stance reinforces policies of Israel’s prime minister before a...

Joint Operation Against PKK: Anadolu

Hatice Ozdemir Tosun March 18, 2019
Turkey and Iran launched a joint attack against the Kurdish group PKK – the far left Kurdistan Workers Party – on Turkey’s eastern border, reports Anadolu Agency, adding Turkey for the first time has confirmed a raid. Turkish security forces have often clashed with PKK members and the country regards PKK as a terrorist group. The two sides came close to negotiating a peace deal, and PKK...

Turkey, Iran to Target Kurds: Al Jazeera

March 6, 2019
Kurdish fighters were key in defeating the Islamic State in Syria. The ethnic group represents 10 percent of the population in Iran and Syria, and up to 20 percent in Turkey and Iraq, and it’s no secret that many prefer autonomy and even a country of their own. As the war in Syria winds down, Turkey’s interior minister announced a joint operation with Iran against Kurdish rebels, but offered no...

Turning to Asia: Al-Ahram

Abdel-Moneim Said February 28, 2019
Populism divides democracies of the West, leading to the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and election of Donald Trump. Such trends also hamper relations with the Middle East. An example of such difficulties includes a February conference in Warsaw on Iranian aggression and working around US withdrawal from a nuclear agreement with Iran. “Washington’s poor coordination with friends and allies...

Saudi Nuclear Bomb Ambitions: New Europe

February 21, 2019
US Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette assured European allies at the Munich Security Conference that the US does not support development of a nuclear bomb by Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia has refused to rule out weapons-grade uranium enrichment, saying the Kingdom may need to consider its own nuclear weapons programme in order to counter its arch-enemy, Iran’s, perceived nuclear ambitions...