Facts, News, Trends, Analysis
Religious leaders from all around Africa began a 4-day conference in Libya’s capital, Tripoli. The conference is being held in order to discuss the role of religion in creating a more peaceful Africa. Simultaneously, the African Council of Religious Leaders is holding its second general assembly.
Expected to open the event were past African state leaders. [...]
King Abdullah II of Jordan has strongly recommended that Israel stop its raids on the Gaza Strip to prevent an escalating military operation. This was discussed when the King spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Abdullah is concerned that any major action or operation taking place in Gaza will have significant effects on Jordan. [...]
The International Red Cross has announced that it expects to maintain its current presence in Lebanon for at least another year. “We have reached a level which permits us to intervene quickly in the case of a crisis,” stated incoming International Committee Red Cross head, Georges Comninos to the Daily Star of Lebanon. ”We have taken [...]
Turkey is beginning to play a significant role in the Middle East. One of the many ways this has been demonstrated recently is the signing of a peace accord with Lebanon. The two countries are to work together against terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. Turkey is also one of the main proponents of a [...]
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israeli leaders are giving serious thought to the 2002 Saudi peace plan. Because individual diplomatic negotiations with both Syria and Palestine have had little success, Barak says that perhaps a regional peace plan may be the best solution. Outgoing Prime Minister Olmert still wants to keep some of the [...]
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is looking into a possible treaty of ‘non-belligerence’ with Lebanon to prevent further fighting along the border. The agreement would also resolve some territorial conflicts including the Shaba Farms border area and Ghajar, a divided village. In exchange for fewer Israeli fly-overs into Lebanese air space, Israel is expected to ask [...]
October 15, 2008 was a historic day in Syrian and Lebanese history. Both nations enacted a statement of mutual sovereignty and independence. This momentous day was unexpected because of the history of mistrust and animosity over state boundary issues. One of the main points of discontent was the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister [...]
On September 14, King Abdullah II met with the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Javier Solana to discuss Middle East peace. The king expressed his belief in the importance of involvement by the EU in order for peace and stability to be achieved.
The focus was on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Kind Abdullah suggested that the EU [...]
According to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the nine months of peace talks with Israel have failed to reach any breakthroughs. The two sides had hoped to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year, but now that doesn’t seem probable. The core issues being discussed are the status of Jerusalem, the borders of [...]
Though relations with Russia cooled off after the end of the Cold War, Syria has maintained ties to the leader of the former ’second world.’ They have recently stepped up naval ties, with Russia now working on restoring a Syrian port for use by Russian vessels.
This is certain to cause rifts with Western powers, whose [...]