Jordan's King Abdullah II: “The Danger of People Starving to Death Is Greater than the Danger from the Virus”
#International #World #Coronavirus #MiddleEast #Jordan

Jordan is concerned about the security of the country's food supplies in the crisis triggered by the coronavirus․ In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, King Abdullah II discusses the pandemic and warns U․S․ President Donald Trump against trying to implement his peace plan for the Middle East․

Israeli Annexation Plans: The West Bank Faces a New Reckoning
#International #World #Israel #MiddleEast #MiddleEastPeaceProcess

Beginning July 1, the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, could begin the process of annexing parts of the West Bank, despite this being a violation of international law․ For many inhabitants of the region, their future is at stake․

Lebanon: End of the Illusion - The Inexorable Collapse of Lebanon
#International #World #Lebanon #Coronavirus #MiddleEast

Once celebrated as the Switzerland of the Middle East, Lebanon is facing a severe crisis․ Its economy is collapsing, while electricity and adequate medical care are hard to find․ The state has completely failed its people․

Deeply Wounded City: A Portrait of Beirut After the Explosion
#International #World #Lebanon #MiddleEast

Following the devastating explosion in the port, anger with the political elite is growing in Beirut․ People there are trying to pick up the pieces, but many of them have nothing left to lose․

Yemen’s Houthi Rebel Leader: “The Americans Label Anyone Who Opposes Their Policy as Terrorists”
#International #World #Yemen #MiddleEast

The United States may soon classify the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organization, in part because of their ties to Iran․ Their leader, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, 41, expresses defiance in an interview with DER SPIEGEL, arguing Washington should settle its score with Iran, not Yemen․

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan: "India Is a Fascist State, Inspired by the Nazis"
#International #World #Pakistan #AfghanistanWar #MiddleEast

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks about his country's role in global politics, his admiration for the Chinese leadership and the similarities he shares with U․S․ President Donald Trump․

Germany's Foreign Minister on the Future of Trans-Atlantic Relations
#International #Germany #GermanForeignPolicy #TransAtlanticRelations #Iran #Russia #MiddleEast #Israel

Relations between Germany and the United States suffered under President Trump․ In an interview, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas discusses his hopes for an improved atmosphere under incoming President Joe Biden, but also the challenges posed by China, the Middle East and the Russian pipeline project․

Voices from Gaza: "No Place Here Offers Protection"
#International #World #Israel #IsraeliSettlements #GazaStrip #WestBank #MiddleEastPeaceProcess #MiddleEast

The Palestinian terror organization Hamas has launched rockets at cities in Israel from Gaza, and the counterattacks have made a bad situation even worse for the demoralized people of Gaza․ Only very few, though, dare criticize their leadership․

Escalation in the Middle East: "It’s the First Time I Have Been Afraid of my Neighbors"
#International #World #Israel #IsraeliSettlements #PalestinianTerritories #MiddleEast #WestBank

A new Gaza war appears to be developing in the Middle East․ But this one isn't just pitting the Israeli military against the militants from Hamas․ Hostilities have also erupted between Jewish and Arab Israelis․

Vicious Cycle: Middle East Crisis Ratchets Up Anti-Semitism in Germany
#International #Germany #AntiSemitism #Israel #PalestinianTerritories #MiddleEast #Racism

The effects of the renewed violence in the Middle East can be felt in Germany․ In the past several days, anti-Semitism has spilled out into the open․ What can be done about it?

Witness, Defendant, Deserter: Case in Germany Raises Questions about How to Try Assad's Atrocities
#International #World #Syria #WarCrimes #HumanRights #MiddleEast #SyrianCivilWar

The crimes committed by Bashar al-Assad's power apparatus are finally getting the legal attention they deserve as a trial for crimes against humanity in Syria comes to a close in Germany․ But there's an important hitch: The men being tried actually deserted from the regime․

The Women of Iran Have Had Enough: Anatomy of an Uprising
#International #World #Iran #IranNuclearProgram #IranSanctions #MiddleEast #GenderEquality

The death of university student Jina Mahsa Amini has triggered a wave of protests across Iran․ For the last five weeks, the women of the country have been leading the way, but people from all walks of life have joined them․ Are they the force that could bring down the regime?

Israel's Crisis of Democracy: "Netanyahu's Party Consists Primarily of Extremist Ideologues"
#International #World #Israel #TheHolocaust #MiddleEast

Israel's new right-wing government has plunged the country into its deepest crisis since its founding, argues sociologist Eva Illouz․ She says it is time for the world to take notice and act․

Interview with Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi: "Russia in Syria Is a Stabilizing Factor Compared To the Alternative"
#International #World #Jordan #MiddleEast #MiddleEastPeaceProcess #Israel #PalestinianTerritories

The Arab League is coming to terms with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad despite all the atrocities committed in his country's civil war․ In an interview, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, 61, discusses the delicate balancing act in an explosive region․

The Iran Protests One Year Later: "Like They Had Buried Me With Her"
#International #World #Iran #HumanRights #MiddleEast

Hundreds of protesters have likely been killed since the most recent wave of demonstrations began one year ago․ The daughter of one victim cut off her hair, and the image went viral․ She immediately had to leave Iran and now lives in exile in Britain․