Middle East & North Africa Archives - Page 143 of 633

It’s All About Israel

by Jim Lobe | Feb 2, 2013

If former Defence Secretary-designate Sen. Chuck Hagel’s lacklustre performance at his confirmation hearing Thursday heartened neo-conservatives and other hawks opposed to his nomination, those who argued that the Israel lobby has been exerting too great an influence on U.S. foreign policy were ecstatic. In fact, the degree to which Israel and the threat posed to it by Iran dominated the hearing was somewhat understated: The full transcript revealed that Israel was brought up no less than 178 times, followed closely by Iran with 171 mentions.

Setbacks Push Mideast Peace to Back Burner

by Mitchell Plitnick | Feb 1, 2013

Speculation that President Obama might put significant effort into Israel-Palestine peace was fueled by his nominees for two key Cabinet posts: John Kerry for secretary of state and former Senator Chuck Hagel for secretary of defence. Since Obama’s re-election, however, there has been considerable debate in the U.S. media about whether he would re-engage in peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians.

Egyptian Protesters Eat Their Own

by Russ Wellen | Feb 1, 2013

Egyptian protesters are forced to waste precious resources policing each other.

Non-nuclear Weapons States Forget How Much Power the NPT Affords Them

by Russ Wellen | Jan 29, 2013

The NPT — a treaty in name only.

The In Amenas Fiasco Throws Cold Water on the Algeria-U.S.-France Love Fest (Part One)

by Rob Prince | Jan 28, 2013

Algeria intended to send a message to the United States and France s that Algeria can handle domestic terrorism.

The Dreams and Dilemmas of Iraqi Kurdistan

by Giorgio Cafiero | Jan 24, 2013

Today, Iraqi and Syrian Kurds enjoy unprecedented autonomy from Baghdad and Damascus, and the prospects of an independent Kurdish state are real. Despite the Kurds’ gains, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), led by President Massoud Barzani, finds its semi-autonomous state in northern Iraq at several geopolitical fault lines. Barzani must tread carefully in this volatile region to safeguard the Iraqi Kurds’ interests while pursuing independence from central Iraq.

Africa to the World: “Don’t Tell Us Who We Are or What To Do”

by Kwei Quartey | Jan 22, 2013

Africa will no longer accept being treated like a second-class continent.

Syrian Citizens Stuck Between the Regime’s Rock and the Rebels’ Hard Place

by Ali Younes | Jan 21, 2013

The Syrian regime is supported by China, Iran, and Russia, the rebels by the United States and its Arab allies, and Europe.

Tunisia Two Years On: The Crisis Deepens

by Rob Prince | Jan 18, 2013

The country’s post-Ben Ali economic program is no different than the last two decades of the dictator’s rule.

Putting Bibi in a Corner

by Leslie Garvey | Jan 18, 2013

With the January 22 general elections only days away in Israel, the majority of polls and media sources concede that Benjamin Netanyahu is on track to be elected for his third term as prime minister. However, few would truly consider this a triumph for the Likud prime minister, who has been overshadowed by the charismatic Naftali Bennett, a rising star on Israel’s far right.