Monthly Archives: April 2019

The UAE’s seedy influence operations are a footnote in the Mueller Report

Helena · 3:34 pm · 04/25/2019 · Gulf balance, U.S. policy, U.S. thinktanks, UAE

Washington DC, April 23 — Last week, the redacted text of the Mueller Report dropped-into a Capitol Hill that will spend much of the rest of the present Congressional session dealing with its fallout. Robert Mueller’s investigation was into allegations only of Russian interference in U.S. politics. But at one point his report highlights some highly questionable … Continue reading The UAE’s seedy influence operations are a footnote in the Mueller Report →

Palestinian prisoners win a notable battle

Helena · 3:43 pm · 04/17/2019 · Human rights, Incarceration, International law, Israel, Palestine

Washington DC, April 16 — Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli jails won a small but significant victory April 15 when the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) agreed to several key demands voiced by 400 prisoners who had been on an open-ended hunger strike. Under the settlement, the IPS agreed to provide three-times-weekly access to (supervised) payphones so … Continue reading Palestinian prisoners win a notable battle →

Algeria’s ‘Revolution of Smiles’: Where will it lead?

Helena · 4:00 pm · 04/12/2019 · Algeria, Mass movements

Washington DC, April 12, 2019 — Every Friday since February 22, the cities and towns of Algeria have seen massive demonstrations that have brought women, men, children, and old people pouring into the streets, often in high spirits but always voicing pointed political demands. What had provoked the demonstrations was the announcement by the ageing, extremely non-functioning … Continue reading Algeria’s ‘Revolution of Smiles’: Where will it lead? →

Palestinian Jerusalem faces a ‘Fourth Wave’ of Israeli assaults

Helena · 4:05 pm · 04/03/2019 · Human rights, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine

This week, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro became the second prominent rightwing world leader to step up his support for Jerusalem being Israel’s capital, thus joining President Donald Trump in showering Benjamin Netanyahu with diplomatic gifts in the run-up to Israel’s April 9 election. Inside Jerusalem itself, the Israeli government’s push to encircle, suffocate, and expel the … Continue reading Palestinian Jerusalem faces a ‘Fourth Wave’ of Israeli assaults →