Middle East Politics.Net » United States http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Israel and New Building Projects http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/09/08/israel-and-new-building-projects/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/09/08/israel-and-new-building-projects/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:46:09 +0000 davidhulme http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=4091 The White House has issued a statement (September 5) about the Israeli government’s latest building plans. Hoping to retain settler support and then follow up with a freeze on construction to meet US demands, PM Netanyahu announced the latest permissions–Helena Cobban comments.

David Hulme

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2009/09/08/israel-and-new-building-projects/feed/ 0 US Return to Damascus? http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/06/a-return-to-damascus/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/06/a-return-to-damascus/#comments Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:30:11 +0000 sanene http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3766 December 4th, even as difficulties have been fundamental in the relationship between the United States and Syria it appears the return of an American ambassador is not far away. President Assad said Thursday that because of improved relations, the return of an American embassy to Damascus was going to happen in early 2009, sending “clear signals’ to Damascus US efforts to improve relations between the two.

Samuel Anene

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/06/a-return-to-damascus/feed/ 0 US and Saudi Arabia Agree to Joint Research Project http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/05/united-states-and-saudi-arabia-agree-to-joint-research-project/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/05/united-states-and-saudi-arabia-agree-to-joint-research-project/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:27:36 +0000 Holly MacGillivray http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3748 The United States state Department announced a new plan of greater cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about a range of scientific research programs. The two nations will be cooperating and working together in the fields of plant genomics and biotechnology, health, agriculture, water purification and other areas. The memorandum was signed on Tuesday and is said by the State Department to support “greater agency to agency cooperation…formalizing a long-standing relationship between the two countries… involving cooperation between technical agencies, academic institutions, and private industry.” This agreement will allow scientists from both nations to have access to each other’s information and research on each field of study. As a part of the arrangement Saudi Arabia is planning on spending about $30 billion over 5 years to upgrade its science and technology infrastructure in the kingdom.

Holly MacGillivray

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/05/united-states-and-saudi-arabia-agree-to-joint-research-project/feed/ 1 Libya Accuses Israel of Piracy http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/libya-accuses-israel-of-piracy/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/libya-accuses-israel-of-piracy/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:25:39 +0000 rdickson http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3496 Libya went before the UN Security Council Wednesday, December 3, protesting Israel’s interception of one of its cargo ships attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.  Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi stated that Israel is guilty of “piracy in the high seas” and called for “effective action that will ensure compliance of Israel with international humanitarian law and law of the seas.”

Israel’s warship blockade prevented a Libyan vessel, carrying 3,000 tons of humanitarian aid for the destitute Palestinian territory, from reaching the Gaza strip.

Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gabriel Shalev, rejected Libya’s allegations of piracy, claiming that Libya is guilty of provocation.  Shalev stated that, “No member State of this Council, nor any other member of the United Nations, would allow a shipment originating from a hostile state towards a territory that serves as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against its civilians.”

US Deputy Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff also rejected Libya’s argument saying that it was “absurd to assert Israel committed an act of piracy” because no shots were fired, and the Libyan vessel was not boarded, while claiming that Libya’s attempt to breach the blockade was “dangerous and irresponsible.”

Roy Dickson

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/libya-accuses-israel-of-piracy/feed/ 0 Bush Request to Israel, Suspend All “Large Scale” Operations http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/01/bush-tells-israel-to-suspend-all-large-scale-operations/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/01/bush-tells-israel-to-suspend-all-large-scale-operations/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:28:34 +0000 rooparad http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3189 Time Magazine reports that the Bush Administration has requested Israel to refrain from any “large scale” operations (read, against Iran) within the last couple of weeks of President Bush’s presidency. President Bush also stated again that he does not want any fighting between those living in the Gaza Strip and Israel; however, tensions have already shown during the 5 month long truce between Hamas and Israel. Recently, Palestinians launched explosives at the Gaza-Israeli border and both sides had injuries.

The US has even gone so far as to use King Abdullah of Jordan as a mediator between Hamas and the US, so that the US can get Hamas to agree to stop the rising tension with Israel. Though US quietly acknowledges Hamas as Gaza’s leading party, they condemn the organization as a terrorist group and have little communication with them. Hamas has agreed with the terms that Jordan has relayed to them by the United States.

Roopa Radhakrishnan

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/01/bush-tells-israel-to-suspend-all-large-scale-operations/feed/ 0 Iran’s Navy Can Strike Well Beyond Coast http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/29/iran-says-navy-can-strike-well-beyond-its-coast/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/29/iran-says-navy-can-strike-well-beyond-its-coast/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:42:40 +0000 bjrussel http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3000 Iran’s Naval Commander Mahmoud Mousavi stated that his country’s naval capability now allows it to strike an enemy as far as the Bab al-Mandab, as well as to control the entrance to the strategic waterway along its coast, the Strait of Hormuz.  The commander stated Iran’s belief that control of the Strait was the deciding factor in any battle fought in the waters of the Gulf.  Iran has previously threatened that it could close the Strait to shipping (carrying 40% percent of the world’s globally traded oil), to which the United States responded that it would protect shipping routes. In addition, the United States continues to object to Iran’s nuclear program and has not ruled out military action, if diplomacy continues to stagnate. The United States has a naval base on the Arab side of the Gulf in Bahrain.  Iran’s recent statements regarding its enhanced naval capability may be associated with recent piracy in the Gulf of Aden, near to the Bab al-Mandab, in which Iranian commercial ships have been attacked.  While several international warships are already patrolling the waters in search of the Somali pirates, Iran has previously stated that it could use force when dealing with the hijackers.

Bridget Russell

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/29/iran-says-navy-can-strike-well-beyond-its-coast/feed/ 0 Qaddafi’s Son Plans on Investing in American Companies http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/26/qaddafis-son-plans-on-investing-in-american-companies/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/26/qaddafis-son-plans-on-investing-in-american-companies/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:35:21 +0000 rdickson http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2890 Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, son of Libyan leader Moammar al-Qaddafi, has said that Libya would like to begin a new chapter in relations with the United States by reaching into major government funds to invest in American businesses, while also sending thousands of Libyan students to American universities.

The leader’s son said that he is interested in investing Libya’s sovereign wealth fund, a government-owned investment fund with nearly $100 billion, in American businesses, despite the current international economic situation.

He is also promoting education links with the United States, and has hopes of signing a cultural and educational agreement by next month. He plans on sending thousands of students to America, and discussing the probability of establishing branches of American universities in Libya.

In an interview, he stated that he plans to move away from the one man rule of his father to a constitutional democracy as a part of Libya’s modernization process. He hopes for democratic elections as early as next September, on the 40th anniversary of the revolution that brought his father to power.

Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, having met with a variety of administrative officials including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has been a primary figure developing strong relations with the United States.

Roy Dickson

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/26/qaddafis-son-plans-on-investing-in-american-companies/feed/ 0 Gaddafi’s Son Meets with US Secretary of State http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/24/saif-al-islam-al-qadafi-meets-with-us-secretary-of-state-condolezza-rice/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/24/saif-al-islam-al-qadafi-meets-with-us-secretary-of-state-condolezza-rice/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:57:47 +0000 rdickson http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2805 Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadafi, Chairman of the Gaddafi Foundation, met with US Secretary of State Condolezza Rice on Thursday, November 20th. The two met at her office and held talks focusing on bilateral relations between the United States and Libya, indicating the growing relations between the former adversaries.

State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said, “They talked about the broad range of US-Libya relations. They also talked about developments within Libya itself.”

Earlier in the week Qadafi met with other White House senior officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Welch and the US National Security Adviser, signifying warmer ties between the two countries.

Roy Dickson

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/24/saif-al-islam-al-qadafi-meets-with-us-secretary-of-state-condolezza-rice/feed/ 0 Golan Heights Not Too High a Cost http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/golan-heights-not-too-high-a-cost/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/golan-heights-not-too-high-a-cost/#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:36:46 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2778 An Israeli government report has recommended pursuing peace with Syria, even at the cost of returning the Golan Heights. This has been a major sticking point in peace negotiations in the past, and should the government follow these recommendations, could be a promising lead to peace talks.

Turkey is currently serving as a mediator between the two countries, but an official has said that when Barack Obama is inaugurated as President of the United States, he should lead talks between the two countries.

President al-Assad has refused preconditions, which include ceasing support for Hamas and Hezbollah and cutting back ties with Iran.  However, negotiations always start from the extreme versions of demands, so many think that if a deal is close, al-Assad will agree to talk.  Barack Obama has also stated his support for talks before preconditions were met (but stated that he would ask for “preparations,” the semantic difference of which is not yet clear), so his involvement in these talks may indicate this will not be a problem.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/golan-heights-not-too-high-a-cost/feed/ 0 Still No Conclusion on Syrian Uranium Traces: IAEA http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/19/still-no-conclusion-on-syrian-uranium-traces-iaea/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/19/still-no-conclusion-on-syrian-uranium-traces-iaea/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:10:03 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2630 The International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) has reported that uranium traces found at the Syrian site bombed by Israel, provide inconclusive results.  Syria has said that the uranium was from the Israeli bombs, but the U.S. and Israel, whose intelligence collaborated on the conclusion that there was a nuclear reactor, have insisted that the presence of uranium justifies the Israeli attack.

The IAEA calls for cooperation with the Syrian government over the issue.  Syria points out that the uranium was not highly enriched, saying a reactor is not the only explanation for the finding.

Joshua Bark

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