Middle East

Mar 9, 2013 3:14 PM CST

Egyptian Court Ruling Sparks Fatal Riot

Soccer fans outraged over death sentences

(Newser) - An Egyptian court today confirmed the death sentences against 21 people for taking part in a deadly soccer riot but acquitted seven police officers for their alleged role in the violence. The verdict enraged fans in Cairo, prompting them to torch the soccer federation headquarters and a police club in...

Of Dozen People With New SARS-Like Virus, 6 Dead

Feb 19, 2013 9:57 AM CST

Of Dozen People With New SARS-Like Virus, 6 Dead

But threat remains low even after death of UK patient

(Newser) - A UK patient has died after being infected with a SARS-like virus, meaning 50% of the known victims of the disease have now died. But the BBC reports that even with the staggering mortality rate, the novel coronavirus isn't considered a major threat because it doesn't easily move...

Egypt's Morsi Declares
Emergency, Curfew

Jan 27, 2013 3:27 PM CST

Egypt's Morsi Declares Emergency, Curfew

President almost screaming in televised address

(Newser) - Egypt's president declared today a 30-day state of emergency and night curfew in the three Suez Canal provinces hit hardest by the wave of violence that has left more than 50 dead in three days. Angry and almost screaming, Mohamed Morsi vowed in a televised address that he would...

Israel Evicts 200 in
Palestinian 'Peace Camp'

Jan 13, 2013 3:28 PM CST

Israel Evicts 200 in Palestinian 'Peace Camp'

Conflict over settlements continues in E1 corridor

(Newser) - The battle over proposed Jewish settlements heated up today as Israeli forces uprooted Palestinian activists who had staked tents on a hillside east of Jerusalem, the Guardian reports. The activists say a military force encircled their camp at about 3am and arrested all 200 of them, injuring six in the...

Abbas: We Won't
Allow Israeli
Settlements

Dec 22, 2012 4:06 PM CST

Abbas: We Won't Allow Israeli Settlements

Netanyahu: 'I don't care what the United Nations says'

(Newser) - With tensions rising over new Israeli settlement plans , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said today that he will not allow settlements in a highly sensitive area bordering Jerusalem, reports the Jerusalem Post . Building plans in the 5-square-mile E1 corridor are "a red line and we will not allow it to...

Turnout Low, Official Resigns in Egypt Constitution Vote

Turnout Low, VP Quits in
Egypt Constitution Vote

Dec 22, 2012 3:38 PM CST

Turnout Low, VP Quits in Egypt Constitution Vote

Vice President Mahmoud Mekki steps down, but it's not clear why

(Newser) - Egyptians voted today in the second and final phase of a referendum on an Islamist-backed constitution that has polarized the nation, with little indication that the expected passage of the charter will end the political crisis in which the country is mired. Voter turnout was low, the Guardian reports, but...

Egypt's Morsi
Preps Decree
for Martial Law

Dec 8, 2012 9:00 AM CST

Egypt's Morsi Preps Decree for Martial Law

Military warns of 'disastrous consequences'

(Newser) - With thousands of protesters still crying for his ouster on Cairo's streets, President Mohamed Morsi has prepared a decree to impose martial law, according to Egyptian media. Morsi hasn't issued it yet, but the order comes on the heels of the military warning of "disastrous consequences" if...

Hamas Will Keep Arming Itself: Deputy Leader

Nov 24, 2012 2:44 PM CST

Hamas Will Keep Arming Itself: Deputy Leader

Militant group rejects Gaza arms halt

(Newser) - Gaza's ruling Hamas will not stop arming itself, the No. 2 in the Palestinian group told the AP today, signaling tough challenges ahead for indirect negotiations between Israel and the Islamist militants on a new border deal for Gaza. The talks are being brokered by Egypt, which also helped...

Why Syria Is
More Important
Than You Think

Condoleezza Rice

Nov 24, 2012 1:50 PM CST

Why Syria Is More Important Than You Think

Condoleezza Rice: The Mideast 'as we know it' is at stake

(Newser) - Syria isn't just another domino in the Arab Spring revolution, and its civil war presents far more than a humanitarian crisis for the world, writes Condoleezza Rice in the Washington Post . What's happening there jeopardizes the entire "Middle East as we know it," she argues. If...

West Bank
Protests Show
Support for
Hamas, Not
Abbas

Nov 19, 2012 8:28 PM CST

West Bank Protests Show Support for Hamas, Not Abbas

34 killed in Gaza; Israel considers latest ceasefire offer

(Newser) - Daily demonstrations in the West Bank show increasing support for Hamas and appear to undermine the more moderate power of the Palestinian Authority, the New York Times reports. "Strike a blow on Tel Aviv!" declared a pop song playing from stores during a protest today. "Don’t...

How Israel Can
'Win' This War

opinion

Nov 19, 2012 3:58 PM CST

How Israel Can 'Win' This War

Peter Beinart: A 'unity' deal is the best solution

(Newser) - "Hamas forced Israel’s hand" by firing more rockets into Israel with each passing year, writes Peter Beinart at the Daily Beast . The question is why, and how can that answer help both sides achieve peace? Beinart looks back to when Hamas took power in Gaza in 2006: Washington...

Israel: We're
'Ready for
a Ground
Operation'

Nov 18, 2012 4:29 PM CST

Israel: We're 'Ready for a Ground Operation'

Hamas rep says peace talks have failed

(Newser) - With Israeli air strikes raining down on Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he would only stop the attacks if Hamas halted its rocket fire, Ynet News reports. Netanyahu added that Israel is looking for "a way to meet the operation's objectives without a ground offensive,"...

McCain's Pick for Middle East Negotiator: Bill Clinton

talk show roundup

Nov 18, 2012 12:18 PM CST

McCain's Pick for Middle East Negotiator: Bill Clinton

Highlights from the Sunday talk shows

(Newser) - John McCain has an idea for finally negotiating peace in the Middle East: Send in Bill Clinton. "The United States should obviously be as heavily influential as they can," McCain said on CBS's Face the Nation today when asked about the Israel-Gaza conflict. Thus Clinton, "a...

Israel Shells Gaza,
Shoots Down Rocket

Nov 17, 2012 2:50 PM CST

Israel Shells Gaza, Shoots Down Rocket

Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip hit by 300 air strikes

(Newser) - Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with about 300 airstrikes today and shot down a Palestinian rocket fired at Tel Aviv, the military said, widening a blistering assault to include the Hamas prime minister's headquarters, a police compound, and a vast network of smuggling tunnels. The Israeli attacks, which...

Gulf States: We
Support Syria's
New Opposition

Nov 12, 2012 6:32 PM CST

Gulf States: We Support Syria's New Opposition

The Gulf Cooperation Council backs newly forged group

(Newser) - The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council recognized the new broad-based Syrian opposition group today as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people, the first formal endorsement of the opposition group that seeks to topple President Bashar Assad. Syrian anti-government groups struck a deal yesterday after more than a week of meetings...

Drone Retaliation:
Israeli Jets Buzz
Lebanon

Oct 7, 2012 3:00 PM CDT

Drone Retaliation: Israeli Jets Buzz Lebanon

Lawmaker accuses Hezbollah of launching Iranian drone

(Newser) - Israeli fighter planes flew low over Lebanese towns today in apparent retaliation for a mysterious drone that crossed Israel this weekend, the AP reports. The military didn't directly blame Hezbollah—a powerful Shiite group in Lebanon—for the drone, but Haaretz pointed a finger at them and an Israeli...

Google to Users: Watch Out for State-Sponsored Attacks

Oct 3, 2012 1:03 PM CDT

Google to Users: Watch Out for State-Sponsored Attacks

New warnings from Google pop up for thousands of users

(Newser) - The next time you log in to Gmail or run a Google search, don't be surprised if you see a warning that "state-sponsored attackers may be attempting to compromise your account or computer.” The search engine giant is issuing the messages to tens of thousands of users...

More Romney Video: Peace
in Middle East Impossible

Sep 18, 2012 7:59 AM CDT

Is This the Moment for a Greater Kurdistan?

Unrest in Syria strengthening Kurds position around region

(Newser) - With Syria mired in civil war, Iraq still unstable, and Iran and Turkey watching warily, could this be the last, best chance for a "Greater Kurdistan?" asks Pepe Escobar at al-Jazeera . The two major Kurdish parties in Syria have already come together to run the country's northeast, in...

Netanyahu:
Iran's Nukes
'Dwarf' Other
Threats

Aug 13, 2012 3:57 AM CDT

Netanyahu: Iran's Nukes 'Dwarf' Other Threats

Experts divided whether Netanyahu posturing

(Newser) - Syria descending into civil war, the Arab Spring, instability in Egypt—the Middle East is full of uncertainties that threaten Israel, but all of them are "dwarfed" by Iran's nuclear threat, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night, reports Reuters . Netanyahu's comments were broadcast live by...