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Balkans: Israel deepens ties with Bosnian Serb separatists through Banja Luka trade office
Middle East Eye·1 hour agoPolitics
Balkans: Israel deepens ties with Bosnian Serb separatists through Banja Luka trade office Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Sat, 09/05/2026 - 22:20 Israel is deepening ties with Bosnian Serb separatists as international isolation over its Gaza genocide pushes it to seek allies on the fringes of Europe Israeli Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania Galit Peleg (L), Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli (C) and Milorad Dodik attend the inauguration of the Israel Chamber of Commerce representative office in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, September 3, 2026. (Social media/X/Milorad Dodik) Off Israeli officials opened an Israeli Chamber of Commerce office on Thursday in Banja Luka, the seat of Republika Srpska. The nationalist leadership of the Serb-dominated entity has pursued an increasingly separatist agenda threatening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s unity while fostering closer relations with Israel.
White House weighs replacing Pentagon number two as post-Iran war turmoil deepens
Middle East Eye·7 hours agoPolitics
White House weighs replacing Pentagon number two as post-Iran war turmoil deepens The White House is considering possible replacements for US Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg as the Pentagon grapples with unusually high staff turnover, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the discussions. The administration began reviewing candidates in June and consulted senior senators to assess whether its preferred nominees could secure confirmation, according to two sources. One said the process remained under way in late August.
Iran urges regional nations to build 'homegrown' security architecture
Middle East Eye·18 hours agoPolitics
Iran urges regional nations to build 'homegrown' security architecture Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has said that China’s emphasis on fostering common security “reflected a principle long championed” by Iran, urging regional nations to build a "homegrown" security architecture. In a post on X, Ghalibaf said: “Regional countries must be taking their future into their own hands, and true stability can only come through a new security architecture that is homegrown. Iran stands ready.
Naftali Bennett urges campaign against Qatar, calls it 'enemy' again
Middle East Eye·21 hours agoPolitics
Naftali Bennett urges campaign against Qatar, calls it 'enemy' again Former Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, has once again branded Qatar an "enemy," repeating his call for Israel to take action against it. "I’m not talking about tomorrow bombing Qatar, but you gather intelligence. It’s an enemy and we start working on it," Bennett said in an interview.
Jewish groups back stronger measures on Israel in letter to Andy Burnham
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
Jewish groups back stronger measures on Israel in letter to Andy Burnham Leading members of Jewish civil society groups have written to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to adopt stronger measures on Israel and "oppose any further attempts to muzzle the Palestine marches". This comes as the Burnham government prepares to announce a raft of new measures on the occupied West Bank, including a ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements. Major British Jewish organisations, including the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, urged the government not to impose a ban on settlement goods earlier this week and met Burnham in Downing Street.
Why did Trump meet members of an anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish group?
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
Why did Trump meet members of an anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish group? Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 18:35 Critics of Israel lauded the meeting, highlighting inroads to be made given that many conservatives now question the US-Israel relationship Aaron Teitelbaum, the chief rabbi of the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel, New York, sits directly across from Donald Trump in White House as he leads a delegation of Haredi Jews on 3 September 2026 (Rabbi Moishe Indig/X) Off US President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted Haredi Jewish leaders, some of whom are best known outside their communities for holding anti-Zionist positions, at the White House ahead of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. Photographs later shared on social media by attendees and their allies showed something far beyond the usual religious holiday receptions held by most administrations.
US Congress passes bill punishing universities that boycott Israel
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
US Congress passes bill punishing universities that boycott Israel The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-led bill that aims to penalise universities that engage in boycotts of Israel or attempt to prevent students from participating in exchange programmes in Israel. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed by 237 to 169 votes. The act would solely apply to universities that are part of federal student aid programmes.
US Congress passes bill punishing universities that boycott Israel
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
US Congress passes bill punishing universities that boycott Israel Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 18:28 The legislation threatens to cut federal aid to universities that engage in any form of boycotts against Israel A pro-Palestinian rally in New York City on 4 October 2025 (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images via AFP) Off The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican-led bill that aims to penalise universities that engage in boycotts of Israel or attempt to prevent students from participating in exchange programmes in Israel. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed by 237 to 169 votes. The act would solely apply to universities that are part of federal student aid programmes.
Jewish groups back stronger measures on Israel in letter to Andy Burnham
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
Jewish groups back stronger measures on Israel in letter to Andy Burnham Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 14:46 Letter to the PM, seen by MEE, argues there is 'a wide diversity of views on Israel among Jewish people in the UK' Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets with Jewish community leaders inside 10 Downing Street in central London on 3 September 2026 (AFP) Off Leading members of Jewish civil society groups have written to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham urging him to adopt stronger measures on Israel and "oppose any further attempts to muzzle the Palestine marches". This comes as the Burnham government prepares to announce a raft of new measures on the occupied West Bank, including a ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements. Major British Jewish organisations, including the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, urged the government not to impose a ban on settlement goods earlier this week and met Burnham in Downing Street.
She was asked to defend America's Gaza policy to Arabs. She quit instead | Hala Rharrit
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
She was asked to defend America's Gaza policy to Arabs. She quit instead | Hala Rharrit Submitted by Mohamed Hashem on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 15:45 'Nothing for me is worth selling my soul. ’ Hala Rharrit spent 18 years as a US diplomat, most recently serving as the State Department's Arabic language spokesperson.
Top Reform officials filmed allegedly plotting to break law on foreign donations
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
Top Reform officials filmed allegedly plotting to break law on foreign donations Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 11:49 Two senior Reform officials have stepped down pending an investigation, while party leader Nigel Farage says no rules were broken Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks during a tribute to the late Ann Widdecombe on the second day of the annual Reform UK party conference at the NEC in Birmingham, central England, on 4 September 2026 (AFP) Off Reform UK has suspended two senior party figures after they were filmed appearing to try and skirt electoral law to secure a foreign donation of £500,000 ($680,000) for the party. Party leader Nigel Farage's senior aide Dan Jukes and Reform's head of policy James Orr, an associate professor at the University of Cambridge, stepped down from their roles on Friday morning pending the outcome of an internal party investigation. This comes on the first full day of Reform's annual party conference in Birmingham.
Iran's Araghchi blasts Jordanian counterpart
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
Iran's Araghchi blasts Jordanian counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has blasted his Jordanian counterpart for criticising Iran's retaliatory strikes on countries in the region. In an Arabic-language post on his X account on Friday, Araghchi responded to comments by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who claimed that Iran had attacked Jordan and other countries in the region only two hours after the start of the war on Iran, arguing that the Iranian attack therefore could not be considered a response. "How much time does the Jordanian foreign minister believe Iran should wait before responding to an aggressor that respects neither Arab sovereignty nor Iranian sovereignty?
Witkoff and Kushner to visit Russia and Ukraine at weekend, says Tass
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
Witkoff and Kushner to visit Russia and Ukraine at weekend, says Tass US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia and Ukraine on Saturday and Sunday, Russian news agency Tass reported, citing a source. There was no immediate confirmation. Witkoff and Kushner last visited Moscow in January, when they held four hours of late-night talks with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, Reuters reported.
US House approves law penalising higher education institution for Israel boycotts
Middle East Eye·1 day agoPolitics
US House approves law penalising higher education institution for Israel boycotts The US House of Representatives approved a Republican-backed bill that would penalise universities participating in boycotts of Israel as well as those restricting students from travelling there. The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act passed 237-169, with the bill set to move to the Senate. "The antisemitic rot that has corroded college campuses must be eradicated," Republican congresswoman Virginia Foxx said.
Adam Telle appointed as acting US Army Secretary, Trump says
Middle East Eye·2 days agoPolitics
Adam Telle appointed as acting US Army Secretary, Trump says US President Donald Trump said that he was appointing Adam Telle, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, as the acting US Army Secretary. This came after the White House confirmed earlier this week that former army secretary, Dan Driscoll, submitted his resignation. Driscoll’s departure came following reports of increasing tensions with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as well as signs of unease in the Pentagon over how the Trump administration is prosecuting the war on Iran.
Vance says US not talking to Iran unless they stop shooting at ships
Middle East Eye·2 days agoPolitics
Vance says US not talking to Iran unless they stop shooting at ships US Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that the United States does not plan to hold talks with Iran unless Tehran stops attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. "They've got to stop. It's that simple," he said.
Opinion: Palestine will outlast Blair and his grotesque 'Board of Peace'
Middle East Eye·2 days agoPolitics
Opinion: Palestine will outlast Blair and his grotesque 'Board of Peace' Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s latest reported intervention in the Middle East would be astonishing coming from any supposed mediator. Coming from Blair, it feels almost grimly on brand. Jeremy Greenstock, Britain’s former ambassador to the United Nations, says he learned from a ministerial-level source that Blair asked the Palestinian Authority (PA) to remove references to “ Palestine ” from its school curriculum.
Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries
Middle East Eye·2 days agoPolitics
Rights groups press lawmakers to scrap provision to merge US and Israeli militaries Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 09/03/2026 - 18:07 The controversial defence bill measure would permanently integrate US and Israeli military tech advancements Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on 28 July 2026 (Israeli Government Press Office/AFP) Off On Thursday, 56 civil rights and advocacy groups urged Congress to scrap a defence bill provision that would strengthen US-Israeli military technology ties, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Section 219 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) intends to insitute frameworks for joint ventures, licensing agreements and US-based co-production partnerships. It passed in the House of Representatives in July and is pending Senate approval.
Palestine will outlast Blair and his grotesque 'Board of Peace'
Middle East Eye·2 days agoPolitics
Palestine will outlast Blair and his grotesque 'Board of Peace' Submitted by Soumaya Ghannoushi on Thu, 09/03/2026 - 16:23 As Gaza reconstruction stalls, the former UK prime minister stands accused of attempting to rewrite the country's history Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, pictured in 2023, has denied a report that he sought to have the word ‘Palestine’ removed from Palestinian textbooks (Charles McQuillan/AFP) Off Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s latest reported intervention in the Middle East would be astonishing coming from any supposed mediator. Coming from Blair, it feels almost grimly on brand. Jeremy Greenstock, Britain’s former ambassador to the United Nations, says he learned from a ministerial-level source that Blair asked the Palestinian Authority (PA) to remove references to “ Palestine ” from its school curriculum.
Blair Institute denies former UK PM asked PA to remove 'Palestine' from school textbooks
Middle East Eye·2 days agoPolitics
Blair Institute denies former UK PM asked PA to remove 'Palestine' from school textbooks Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 09/03/2026 - 11:03 Former UK prime minister's institute denies MEE report that Trump's Board of Peace sent Blair to make request US President Donald Trump (R) and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair pose during a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh on 13 October 2025 (Yoan Valat/AFP) Off The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) has denied an exclusive Middle East Eye report that the former UK prime minister asked the Palestinian Authority (PA) to remove any mention of " Palestine " from school textbooks. In an interview with MEE, Jeremy Greenstock, who was the UK 's ambassador to the UN between 1998 and 2003, said that US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace had sent Blair to ask the PA to replace "Palestine" with the Jewish designation of "Samaria". Blair was appointed to the founding executive board of the Board of Peace for Gaza by the Trump administration in January.

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