News

Currently, Israeli “Security services prohibit non-Muslims from praying or engaging in other forms of worship on the site [The Temple Mount], claiming such activity triggers Palestinian violence” (Jerusalem Post, March 3, 2015).  But, in a court ruling last month in favor of one man’s right to prayer on the Temple Mount, “Activists hailed what they labeled as an historic victory… after the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court issued a ruling ostensibly backing claims

As a 10-nation, Saudi-led coalition carried out air strikes against Yemeni rebels over the weekend, another group of Arab leaders met in Egypt. “The heads of Arab League countries meeting in Egypt have agreed to create a joint Arab military force” (BBC, March 29, 2015). Although details are yet to be determined, “The Arab League will work with military representatives of its members to organise what has been described as a voluntary force.

“Argentina’s rhetoric over the Falklands has been getting increasingly hostile” with reports that they are “planning to lease 12 long-range bombers from Russia” (The Guardian, March 24, 2015).

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti warned that France’s central involvement with the EU will continue to weaken it.  He observed: “In the last few years we have seen France receding in terms of actual economic performance, in terms of complying with all the European rules, and above all in terms of its domestic public opinion which is turning more and more against Europe” (March 21, 2015).

“Arab countries will take necessary measures to protect the region against ‘aggression’ by Yemen’s Iranian-allied Houthi group if a peaceful solution cannot be found to that country’s turmoil, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Monday” (Reuters, March 23, 2015).