Middle East

By Al Jazeera Staff in Middle East on May 16th, 2012
An anti-government protester wears face mask that reads 'Ready to Die for Bahrain'[Reuters]

One year after the pro-democracy uprising began on February 14, protests against the ruling al-Khalifa monarchy continue across Bahrain. 

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By Al Jazeera Staff in Middle East on May 16th, 2012
Hundreds of unarmed UN observers have been deployed to Syria [Reuters]

Protests in Syria have escalated into what some are calling a burgeoning civil war, and the United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed since the uprising began in March last year. The government blames "terrorists" and "armed gangs" for the unrest and says more than 2,500 members of its security forces have been killed.

We bring you the latest news from various sources.

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For more news and in-depth coverage, visit our Syria Spotlight page and watch Al Jazeera's weekly programme Inside Syria.

By Imran Khan in Middle East on May 16th, 2012

Majid Jamali Fashi was 24 years old when he was hanged in Evin prison here in Tehran on Monday.

The Iranians say he was a spy working for and trained by the Israeli spy agency Mossad. He was convicted for the August 2010 killing of a nuclear scientist. 

As the news broke on Monday I watched the Iranian Press TV to try and gauge reaction to the hanging. But beyond the news, there was nothing. It seemed the hanging of a spy was not worth much analysis.

I can't quarrel with another news channels editorial, it's not my place. But I did wonder what Iranians made of the affair. 

It didn't take long to find out.

In one of the many coffee shops that dot this city I sat and nursed a cup of tea and opened up one of the surprisingly many English-language newspapers. 

By Al Jazeera Staff in Middle East on May 15th, 2012
A Palestinian man hold holds a key symbolising the right of return of refugees [EPA]

Latest developments as Palestinians mark "Nakba Day", or the "day of catastrophe", commemorating Israel's declaration of statehood in 1948 and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

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By Al Jazeera Staff in Middle East on May 14th, 2012
An Egyptian expatriate living in Libya casts her ballot at a polling station at the Egyptian Consulate in Tripoli [Reuters]

Al Jazeera staff and correspondents update you on important developments in Egypt.

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Tags: Cairo, Egypt
By Sherine Tadros in Middle East on May 11th, 2012
Posters for Egyptian presidential candidates Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh in Cairo [Reuters]

In an election race that’s increasingly become more about labels than policy, the tactics used by the two front running candidates on Thursday night was no surprise.  

Amr Moussa, who served a decade under former President Hosni Mubarak, was painted by Abol Fotouh as a remnant of the old regime who has nothing new to offer the country.  

Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, once a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was painted by Amr Moussa as an untrustworthy closet hardliner who flip-flops on policies in order to capture the young, secular vote. 

Both men played to the well known fears of the electorate and as a result both will have failed to tap into the others support base. Perhaps this was too much to ask given how wide the gap is between the two candidates. 

In the end, Thursday night came down to a battle of old versus new. 

By Jane Arraf in Middle East on May 8th, 2012
Hashemi is accused of "guiding and financing terrorist attacks" during Iraq's two-year-long civil war [Photo: Reuters]

Iraq’s long-running and lethal political drama spilled out beyond its borders Tuesday with an Interpol notice calling for the arrest of Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi.

The global organisation said it was acting on the request of the Iraqi government in issuing an alert for al-Hashemi “on suspicion of guiding and financing terrorist attacks” in Iraq. 

“If you have any information please contact your local or national police,” reads the Interpol listing for him on its ‘wanted persons’ list.

But Hashemi is no ordinary wanted man.

He has become a symbol of Sunni dispossession, a window into Iraq’s violent political culture and lately, a useful pawn in regional politics.  

By James Bays in Middle East on May 8th, 2012
Photo by James Bays

In more than a year of fighting, there have been so many conflicting things written about the Free Syrian Army (FSA). What started as a peaceful protest has become an armed struggle against the military might of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The aim of our trip was to see FSA up close, and work out exactly who they are and what they want.

I can't reveal how we got into Syria. We agreed not to divulge any details. Routes into the country are not only used by journalists, they are a humanitarian lifeline. But I can tell you it was difficult, and very dangerous process, involving considerable risk.

We had arranged to travel to Al Qusayr, an important strategic town, close to Lebanon.

It is less than 30km from Homs, and many of its fighters were involved in the battles when the forces of regime launched their major offensive in the province three months ago.

By Teymoor Nabili in Middle East on April 23rd, 2012
EPA photo

"if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."
George Orwell.

"we create our own reality of sorts. [...] We are history's actors because we have the courage to do what's necessary."
Adviser to G.W. Bush, quoted by journalist Ron Suskind

Recently, Israel's minister of intelligence and atomic energy made an unexpected admission.

By Al Jazeera Staff in Middle East on April 21st, 2012
Photo by Reuters

Bahrain now has its first protester death of the F1 weekend.

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