Middle East

Australia will formally recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced. The decision, revealed during a news conference in Canberra, aligns Australia with countries like Canada, France, and the United Kingdom, which are also preparing to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UNGA. Albanese described the […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa has expressed deep concern over the United States military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling for the United Nations to lead peace efforts between Washington, Tehran and Tel Aviv. President Cyril Ramaphosa had hoped President Donald Trump would use American influence to promote dialogue rather than military action. The strikes targeted […]

Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced the G7’s statement on the Israel-Iran conflict Tuesday, accusing world leaders of ignoring what it called Israel’s “blatant aggression” against Iranian nuclear facilities and civilian targets. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the G7 statement “revealingly disregarded” Israeli attacks on Iran’s “peaceful nuclear infrastructure” as well as “indiscriminate targetting of residential […]

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa condemned Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Friday that killed at least 78 people, calling the attacks a violation of international law and sovereignty. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) expressed “profound concern” about attacks on military areas, nuclear facilities and civilian infrastructure on June 13. The […]

DOHA, Qatar – President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his proposal for the United States to take control of Gaza Strip, telling business leaders in Qatar the territory should become a “freedom zone” under American administration, despite widespread international criticism calling the plan ethnic cleansing. “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very […]

In 1976, as Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin hosted South Africa’s Prime Minister John Vorster at Jerusalem’s Holocaust memorial, a far more significant partnership was taking shape behind closed doors. The two nations had already begun a clandestine nuclear collaboration that would reshape the military landscape of the twentieth century. Recently declassified documents reveal the […]

South Africa has expressed “grave” concern over the escalating military action in the Middle East involving Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran. The country’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has called for restraint from all parties to avoid further escalation in the region. Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said: “The continued occupation of Palestine has […]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday gave his full backing to the United States and President Donald Trump for killing Iranian top commander Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike in the early morning hours.   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right. Qassem […]

Turkish newspaper Sabah reported, citing unnamed sources that Jamal Khashoggi’s body was dismembered and subsequently put into five suitcases after he was strangled inside the Saudi Consulate General in Istanbul on October 2. The suitcases were then reportedly taken to the Saudi consul’s residence near the consular premises. Neither Turkish, nor Saudi authorities have commented […]

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, reportedly told the White House that Jamal Khashoggi was a dangerous Islamist in a phone call days after the journalist was murdered.  Mohammed bin Salman told Donald Trump’s son-in-law and John Bolton, the president’s national security advisor, that Mr Khashoggi was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. So far Saudi […]