Month: June 2009

Israel Cracks Down on Minority Rights

RAMALLAH – Three bills recently making the rounds in the Israeli parliament have caused outrage among Israel’s Arab minority. "They reveal an obscene and dangerous targeting of the individual and collective rights of Palestinian citizens," the independent BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights in Israel said in a press release. One bill … Continue reading “Israel Cracks Down on Minority Rights”

How Not to Support Democracy in the Middle East

President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo to the Muslim world marked a welcome departure from the Bush administration’s confrontational approach. Yet many Arabs and Muslims have expressed frustration that he failed to use this opportunity to call on the autocratic Saudi and Egyptian leaders with whom he had visited on his Middle Eastern trip to … Continue reading “How Not to Support Democracy in the Middle East”

Iranians Keen on Improved Ties With US

More than three out of every four Iranian citizens favor improved relations with the United States, according to a major survey [.pdf] conducted less than one month before this Friday’s presidential elections in Iran by a U.S. non-governmental organization, Terror Free Tomorrow (TFT). Just over half (52 percent) of the pool of 1,001 respondents also … Continue reading “Iranians Keen on Improved Ties With US”

Monday: 13 Iraqis Killed, 30 Wounded

Updated at 7:58 p.m. EDT, June 8, 2009 Although there were few attack reports today, one bombing in Baghdad created a significant number of casualties. Overall, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and 30 more were wounded across central and north Iraq. Meanwhile, the Wartime Contracting Commission released a 111-page report on the mishandling of contractor funding in Iraq. Also, Shi’ite political parties are looking to reform a coalition that might antagonize the Sunnis.