Le pire accord de l’histoire ? Trump veut faire de Jérusalem la capitale d’Israël

Middle East Eye 6/12/2017 Année terrible pour les Palestiniens, 2017 pourrait s’achever sur une note encore plus amère puisque Trump s’apprête à offrir Jérusalem à Israël sur un plateau Les Palestiniens espéraient que l’année 2017, qui marque le centenaire de la déclaration Balfour, les 70 ans de la Nakba et les 50 ans de l’occupation de la …

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A tale of two embassies and the ‘ultimate deal’

First published in the Arab Weekly on 3/12/2017 The continuing discussions on moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem raise serious doubts with the Palestinians.  Risks ahead. The exterior of the US Embassy building in Tel Aviv. (AFP) US Vice-President Mike Pence recently confirmed that “President Donald Trump is actively considering when and how to move …

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Interview: Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Israel

I was interviewed by RT on 25/11/2017 https://youtu.be/d5VzeauL6Ks

How long before the Israeli flag flies over Riyadh?

First published by the Middle East Monitor on 22/11/2017 A general view from the Arabic Islamic American Summit at King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 21 May, 2017 [Bandar Algaloud/Anadolu Agency] At a recent MEMO conference entitled “Crisis in Saudi Arabia: War Succession and Future”, I asked Professor Madawi Al-Rasheed of the London …

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Who sets US policy on Israel and Palestine?

First published by the Arab Weekly on 15/10/2017 With Trump, Tillerson, Trump’s advisers and his ambassador seemingly working in an uncoordinated manner, it may be a case of too many cooks spoiling the peace broth. The president of the United States normally sets the broad objectives of the country’s foreign policy, which largely fol­low his …

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The US kicks the Israeli-Palestinian peace deal into the long grass

First published by the Middle East Eye on 30/8/2017 #Occupation Just days after a US delegation visit to Israel and Palestine, Netanyahu declares that Israel will no longer uproot settlements. Any dreams of peace anytime soon are a long way off   Say what you want about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he doesn’t …

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What better offer does Israel have than the Arab Peace Initiative?

First published by the Arab Weekly on 20/8/2017The last serious, sus­tained effort to bro­ker a deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians was made during the Obama administra­tion by then-US Secretary of State John Kerry. He tried over nine months to advance peace talks but his efforts met with failure and the breakout of the …

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Mahmoud Abbas has led the Palestinians to a dead end. He must go 

First published by the Middle East Eye on 29/6/2017 The president has hit a new low, cutting the salaries and electricity of Palestinians in Gaza. The next intifada will be against the Palestinian National Authority and this should worry Israel and Abbas Photo: A photo of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from 2016 (AFP) The embattled …

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Every picture tells a story; can the Palestinians expect any justice from this bunch?

First published by the Middle East Monitor on 23/6/2017 Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with Jared Kushner (3rd L) in Jerusalem on 21 June 2017 [Handout / Amos Ben Gershom / GPO] Throughout his first trip abroad as US president, during which he visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Donald Trump expressed …

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When Congress celebrates the illegal occupation of Jerusalem, it defiles and redefines US values

First published by the Middle East Monitor on 13/6/2017 The American people missed a major incident in the US Congress last week which should have worried them immensely. Their elected representatives celebrated an illegal act on their behalf. Yes, the US Congress celebrated the 50th anniversary of the illegal occupation of East Jerusalem by Israel, …

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