Israel Heads to Election as Netanyahu Fails to Form Government

JOSEF FEDERMAN and ILAN BEN ZION / The Associated Press May 29, 2019 Parliament's dramatic vote to dissolve itself sets up an unprecedented second snap election, with the longtime leader's future in turmoil. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Smells Like Regime Change (Update)

Staff / Truthdig Mar 28, 2011 Coalition jets appear to have given the Libyan rebels a big assist by bombing the birthplace of Moammar Gadhafi, a city called Sirte that is about halfway between Benghazi and Tripoli. Not to tell NATO its business, but how exactly does clearing a path for the rebels advancing toward Libya's capital fit the U.N. mandate to protect civilians? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq’s PM Heads to Iran for Advice

Staff / Truthdig Oct 18, 2010 Nouri al-Maliki is more than influenced by the Shiite clerics in Iran who have done so much for the troubled Iraqi prime minister. Maliki just schlepped over the border for a powwow with Iranian bigwigs. Tehran's spokesman said the PM was in town to exchange views, but for all we know he just needed a hug. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq’s Election Results Stand

Staff / Truthdig May 16, 2010 The Iraqi electoral commission has upheld the results of the country's parliamentary election after a partial recount demanded by the incumbent prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, whose coalition finished second in the voting. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

They Don’t Build Democracies Like They Used To

Staff / Truthdig Mar 30, 2010 Iraq’s recent election was supposed to remove Nouri al-Maliki from power, but the prime minister, sounding rather like a Bond villain, declared “the game is still very much on.” Now a governmental commission created to keep Baathists out of public life says that on the night before the election it banned six candidates who went on to win. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Allies in Europe Begin to Pull Back

William Pfaff / Truthdig Feb 24, 2010 The U.S. devotes large sums of money to subsidizing the participation in Afghanistan of small NATO countries and publicizing the affair as a true coalition operation, but NATO-nation political and public support for the war is faint and grudging because few believe the mission is realistic. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Labor Joins Israel’s Far-Right Government

Staff / Truthdig Mar 25, 2009 Israel's next government just got a little less ultraconservative, as Labor has agreed to join the coalition-in-progress of conservatives, nationalists and religious fundamentalists in exchange for a commitment to continue negotiations with the Palestinians. It remains to be seen, however, whether Labor's MPs can stomach the agreement. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel’s Right-Wing Government Takes Shape

Staff / Truthdig Mar 16, 2009 Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a step closer to the prime minister's office by signing a deal with ultranationalist Avigdor Lieberman, who will become Israel's foreign minister if Netanyahu is able to put the finishing touches on a governing coalition. The ascendancy of both men is a major blow to the peace process. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israel (Almost) Has a Woman Prime Minister

Staff / Truthdig Sep 18, 2008 Though it wasn't immediately official, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won control of the country's ruling Kadima party and, if she is successful in forming a governing coalition, will be the first woman prime minister in more than three decades. Livni is currently Israel's lead negotiator with the Palestinians and, according to the newspaper Haaretz, was seen as likelier to reach a deal than her party rivals. Update Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Israeli Right Sees Opening in Political Chaos

Staff / Truthdig Aug 1, 2008 As if the situation in the Middle East couldn't get any worse, this week's news that scandal-plagued Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will resign has been seized upon by right-wing Israeli politicians, who believe the parliamentary chaos caused by Olmert's departure will open the door for a return to hard-line, ultranationalist government. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Trading Spaces, Iraq Edition

Anna Badkhen / Truthdig May 15, 2008 Sectarian violence has driven millions of Iraqis from their homes. Now that the violence has abated in one formerly upscale Baghdad neighborhood, residents are returning to find squatters who refuse to leave and a government and occupying army unwilling to kick them out. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Musharraf Rivals Join Forces

Staff / Truthdig Mar 10, 2008 It wasn't a good Sunday for Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, as the leaders of Pakistan's two biggest opposition parties agreed to set aside enough of their differences to form a coalition. Their first order of business is to strip the president of a number of his powers. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )