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NL Opinion: Even if relocation of the Dutch embassy to Jerusalem does not go ahead, damage has already been done
Former Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting in Jerusalem - ANP / EPA This opinion piece originally appeared in the Volkskrant Contradiction, chaos, contradiction, and fierce (internal) discussions are by now familiar to our current cabinet. The cabinet's decision, at the insistence of PVV leader Geert Wilders, to remove the Dutch embassy in Israel [...]
Elections in Jordan: new reforms, anger over Gaza and economic concerns
Photo: cityscape Jerash, city north of Amman - Flickr On 10 September, Jordan held its first parliamentary elections since major reforms in the electoral system and also since the start of the current Israel-Gaza conflict. As a neighbouring country, Jordan has been diplomatic towards both sides, but the situation in the region has both social [...]
Outcry in Iraq: meeting rule of law and religion about to legalise child marriages
Photo: the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad - Flickr A new proposal for a law change in Iraq harbours the chance of legalising child marriages. It concerns the ''Personal Status Law'' No 188 from 1959 that regulates matters surrounding marriage, custody and general family law in Iraq. The proposed amendment to the law will require married couples to obtain a [...]
Rivals Hamas and Fatah strike deal: what does it mean for Palestine?
Photo: Palestinian flags at the grave of Yasser Arafat, co-founder of Fatah - Flickr On Tuesday 23 July, 14 Palestinian parties, including the rival factions Hamas and Fatah, signed an important declaration of 'national unity' in Beijing. This agreement, which was brokered by China, calls for a unity government to rebuild Gaza [...]
Western Sahara: British MPs embrace Moroccan plan, but at what price?
Photo: A Sahrawi with the flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic - Wikimedia Commons On 25 May, 30 British MPs, mostly from the ruling Conservative Party, called on the British government to support Morocco's proposal for Western Sahara governance. This so-called Moroccan autonomy plan, proposed in 2006, offers Rabat control over [...]
Kuwait in political fray: emir dissolves parliament and grabs authority
Photo: First session of the Kuwaiti parliament after elections on 2 February, 2012 - Flickr In an unprecedented move, the emir of Kuwait, Mishal al-Ahmed Al Sabah, dissolved the country's parliament for a period of no less than four years. He also invalidated several articles of the Constitution. As a result, [...]
Opinion: Better late than never: Netherlands should really restore UNRWA support now
Photo: A Palestinian woman and children check the rubble of a building hit overnight by an Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 20 April 2024 - Arab News This opinion piece originally appeared on Joop - BNNVARA Between October 2023 and February 2024, the war [...]
War in Gaza: how does the region now view the West?
Photo: People with Palestinian flags protest on the streets in Rabat, Morocco - Pexels As the war in Gaza unfolds and human suffering increases, there is still no unequivocal call from the international community for a ceasefire. The Middle East is observing this development with increasing amazement. It is easy to get lost in the [...]
Oppression of Tunisian political dissidents: opposition leader sentenced to three years in prison
Photo: Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party - Flickr On 31 January, Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouci was sentenced to three years in prison. Ghannouci, who is 82, is the leader of Tunisia's largest opposition party, the Ennahda Party. Ghannouci received this sentence over allegations that Ennahda received illegal foreign contributions. The [...]
Israel-Lebanon: a second front?
Photo: Meeting during Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's speech in November - Wikimedia Commons Hamas' attack on Israel, on 7 October, has caused increasing tensions and risk of escalation in the region, including in the Israel-Lebanon border region. (Air) attacks back and forth are claiming lives of soldiers and innocent civilians. Hezbollah [...]
