In The News

Reuters: Israeli Forces Kill 41 in Gaza Protests

Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell May 14, 2018
In December, US President Donald Trump announced relocation of the US Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, angering Palestinians and triggering protests against Israeli occupation since. Protests intensified for opening day, and Israeli forces responded, with more than 40 Palestinians killed and 900 wounded. Previous US presidential administrations had opposed embassy relocation before...

The Economist: Syria Is Erasing the Palestinians’ Largest Refugee Camp

May 14, 2018
Recent bombing by Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and its Russian allies devastated Yarmouk camp, located on the southern edge of Damascus. The camp was once the Palestinians’ “largest and liveliest refugee camp, sheltering displaced Iraqis and Syrians too.” However, war, attacks by extremists and bombing have resulted in the violent displacement of 350,000 people who once called Yarmouk home....

Financial Times: Europe to Seek Exemptions From US Sanctions on Iran

Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, Michael Peel and Tobias Buck May 9, 2018
European leaders met with Donald Trump, detailing their opposition to US exit from the Iran nuclear deal, contending that the agreement was working and that adjustments could be made. Regardless, Trump exited the deal and promised sanctions on countries that do business with Iran. Europe could stand to lose the most from the new sanctions. “EU leaders said they would press Washington to exempt...

The Guardian: Egypt to Fine People Who Pester Tourists

Ruth Michaelson May 7, 2018
The Egyptian parliament has approved a law ahead of the summer tourism season seeking to clamp down on alleged harassers. As Ruth Michaelson observes for the Guardian, the law allows “authorities to fine up to EGP 10,000 (about £405) anyone found to be pestering tourists ‘with the intention of begging or promoting, offering or selling a good or service.’” Ultimately, this measure intends to...

Economist: Saudi Arabia Push Out Foreigners to Make Local Jobs

May 7, 2018
Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s is implementing an economic restructuring plan to create more jobs for locals. “Finding jobs for young Saudis – around half of whom are unemployed – is critical for Prince Muhammad, who is the power behind the throne,” notes the Economist. Heretofore, the Saudi state has relied on cheap, foreign labor with about half of young Saudis unemployed. Saudi...

Reuters: What Could Iran Do if US Drops Nuclear Deal?

Babak Dehghanpisheh May 3, 2018
Reuters reports that US President Trump is expected to pull the United States out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. The move could signal that democracies are not reliable long-term partners. Babak Dehghanpisheh lists scenarios by which Iran could make trouble for US interests in the Middle East in many ways. Iranian-supported militias fighting extremists in Iraq and Syria could target US...

Haaretz: Netanyahu Says Iran Nuclear Deal Is Based on Lies

Noa Landau May 1, 2018
With a document release, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that Iran has deceived the world about its ambitions for nuclear weapons. “Netanyahu referred to a secret Iranian nuclear project, codenamed ‘Amad, which he said had been shelved in 2003, though he said work in the field had continued,” reports Noa Landau for Haaretz. In a news conference, he claimed Iran lied about...