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In brief: Biden targets torturers in first sanctions imposed on Iran

Posted 10 March, 2021 in Analysis, Iran, Middle East
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons The Biden administration targeted two Revolutionary Guard interrogators as it imposed its first set of sanctions on Iran this week. The secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, announced that two men - Ali Hemmatian and Masoud Safdari - would be banned from entering the United States. The State…

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In Brief: Hamas Gaza chief Sinwar flounders in bid for re-election

Posted 10 March, 2021 in Analysis, Hamas, Palestinian Territories
Photo: Orthuberra, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas in Gaza, appears to be floundering in his bid for re-election after three rounds of voting in a highly secret ballot on Tuesday produced no clear winner. Sinwar has held the post since 2017, making him the defacto ruler of the coastal…

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In brief: Few Israelis expect election to end deadlock as campaign draws to close

Posted 10 March, 2021 in Analysis, Israeli Politics
Photo: Crown Copyright, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The vast majority of Israelis think this month's general election will not end the political deadlock which has gripped the country for the last two years, according to a new poll. The survey from the Israel Democracy Institute showed only 29 percent of voters expect the 23 March election will…

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Analysis: Israel hits 5 million vaccine shots and reopens economy

Posted 10 March, 2021 in Analysis, Israel
CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Israel delivered its five millionth vaccine jab on Monday as the country began a significant easing of covid-19 restrictions ahead of this month’s general election. This week also saw the official start of a programme to vaccinate 120,000 Palestinians who work in Israel. The…

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In brief: Abbas decrees lead to rising hopes Palestinian elections will go ahead

Posted 2 March, 2021 in Analysis, Palestinian Territories
Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons A series of decrees issued by Mahmoud Abbas has raised hopes that Palestinians will get to vote in their first elections in 15 years this spring. On Monday, the Palestinian president (pictured) released a decree establishing an elections court which, it is planned, will arbitrate disputes between Abbas'…

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In brief: PA tightens West Bank lockdown as more vaccine doses expected in days

Posted 2 March, 2021 in Analysis, Palestinian Territories
CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons The Palestinian Authority announced a 12-day tightening of the West Bank's coronavirus restrictions on Saturday, but also said a $10m batch of vaccine doses would be arriving this week. The new measures will see the closure of nurseries and schools as well as an…

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In brief: European plans censure motion as Iran rejects offer of nuclear deal talks

Posted 2 March, 2021 in Analysis, Iran
July 2015 Iran nuclear deal: agreement in Vienna. From left to right: Foreign ministers/secretaries of state Wang Yi (China), Laurent Fabius (France), Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Germany), Federica Mogherini (EU), Mohammad Javad Zarif (Iran), Philip Hammond (UK), John Kerry (USA). (Photo: Dragan Tatic, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons) Britain, France and Germany are planning to use a…

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Analysis: Bye-bye Bibi: Could this month’s poll bring down Netanyahu?

Posted 2 March, 2021 in Analysis, Israeli Politics
Photo: Crown Copyright, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Israel votes in its fourth general election in under two years later this month – with the latest polls suggesting Benjamin Netanyahu’s long premiership may be drawing to a close. But Israel’s longest-serving prime minister may get a reprieve thanks to the divided and ideologically diverse nature of the opposition…

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Analysis: Biden offers olive branch as Iran curtails inspections

Posted 23 February, 2021 in Analysis, Iran
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons In a carefully choreographed series of steps, the Biden administration has edged towards re-engaging with Iran – nearly three years after Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 accord which is designed to limit the Islamic republic’s nuclear ambitions. The moves came as Iran partially pulled back from…

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In Brief: Israel starts jabs for East Jerusalem Palestinians as Gaza drive begins

Posted 23 February, 2021 in Analysis, Israel
CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Israeli Magen David Adom paramedics today began vaccinating Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Those targetted for the covid jabs - which are being carried out at the Qalandiya crossing - are residents of Israel but live beyond the security barrier which cuts through the eastern…

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