International

Israel and the United Nations

by Karin Leukefeld,* Germany/Syria

(16 November 2023) Israel has problems with the United Nations. When it comes to the country’s conflict with Palestine, Israeli diplomats quickly are out of control and challenge the world organisation and its member states. The ongoing bombardment of the population in Gaza, of densely populated neighbourhoods, refugee camps, schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure, journalists and their families show that Israel is ignoring central agreements of international law.

The great Chinese realignment

by Guy Mettan,* Geneva

(16 November 2023) Responding to a Chinese invitation, I participated for around eight days in various meetings organised on the “Third New Silk Roads Summit” which was held in Beijing on October 17 and 18. By its scale, this forum was the largest international event since the Winter Olympic Games were held in February 2022. More than 130 countries, dozens of heads of state, prime ministers, and ministers from all backgrounds and all obediences were to be seen there, with the notable exclusion of Westerners and the G7, only represented by neighbouring Japan and a few leaders from the Balkans.

Middle East

ICRC: “We are on the brink of collapse”

Further escalation in Gaza will claim incredible human toll

Interview with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger conducted by Gordana Mijuk (NZZ am Sonntag)

(9 November 2023) Interview with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger conducted by Gordana Mijuk (NZZ am Sonntag)

Middle East

October 2023 – News from the war

by Karin Leukefeld,* Syria/Germany

(1 November 2023) Little is known these days about what is happening to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. The news is dominated by Israeli or US sources; voices from Gaza or the West Bank hardly appear.

Genocide against the Palestinians – Craig Mokhiber steps down

by Alfred de Zayas, Geneva

(1 November 2023) Craig Mokhiber has the courage that every international civil servant should have. He has stepped down from his post as Chief of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in protest against the failure of the United Nations to stop the genocide being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians.

Middle East

No takers for a West Asian war but war seems inevitable

by M.K. Bhadrakumar,* India

(31 October 2023) There is no question that smart power enhances foreign policy. Since the notion of “smart power” entered international diplomacy some two decades ago, a major regional power, Iran, is applying it to an actual conflict situation.