A New Capital? Palestinians say Abu Dis is No Substitute for East Jerusalem

A New Capital? Palestinians say Abu Dis is No Substitute for East Jerusalem

From the offputting concrete edifice that confronts a visitor to Abu Dis, the significance of this West Bank town – past and present – is not immediately obvious. The eight metre-high grey slabs of Israel’s separation wall silently attest to a divided land and a quarter of a century of failed attempts in the Middle…

Israeli Forces Storm Al-Aqsa, Fire Sound Bombs at Worshipers

Israeli Forces Storm Al-Aqsa, Fire Sound Bombs at Worshipers

Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem via the Moroccans Gate and heavily fired sound bombs at Palestinian worshipers following Friday payers. A Ma’an reporter said that dozens of heavily armed Israeli soldiers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and spread out across the compound and on the way leading to the Chain…

What’s in Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’? The Answers Are in Plain Sight

What’s in Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’? The Answers Are in Plain Sight

There are mounting signals that Donald Trump’s much-delayed Middle East peace plan – billed as the “deal of the century” – is about to be unveiled. Even though Trump’s officials have given away nothing publicly, the plan’s contours are already evident, according to analysts. They note that Israel has already started implementing the deal –…

Gaza Massacre: This Alliance of Israeli and American Extremism will Spark Cycle of Revenge

Gaza Massacre: This Alliance of Israeli and American Extremism will Spark Cycle of Revenge

Words are almost impossible to describe the surrealism of Monday’s developments in Jerusalem and Gaza. On the one hand, US President Donald Trump, speaking by video from the White House, his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner led the American dedication of the “new” American embassy in the holy city. They were accompanied by two Christian…

Shut the Door: How World Should Respond to Trump’s Jerusalem Policy

Shut the Door: How World Should Respond to Trump’s Jerusalem Policy

In a speech that was long on hyper-inflated rhetoric and short on policy prescriptions, US President Donald Trump outlined his national security vision earlier this week. Americans learned essentially that the Cold War had resumed with Russia and China and that the president would make America great again not just domestically, but abroad as well….

It’s Personal: How Trump Betrayed Both Abbas and Abdullah of Jordan

It’s Personal: How Trump Betrayed Both Abbas and Abdullah of Jordan

On 21 August 1969, an Australian citizen called Denis Rohan set fire to an 800-year-old wooden pulpit, a gift to al-Aqsa mosque from the Islamic hero Saladin (1137-1193), who led the military campaign against the Crusaders. Apart from being considered mentally ill, Rohan thought he was acting on divine instructions. These were to enable the…