Kushner’s Sazan Plan: Barefoot Self-discovery or Modern Land Grab?| Soumaya Ghannoushi | MEE Opinion

Jun 9, 2026 | Soumaya Ghannoushi, a writer and expert in Middle East politics, argues that Jared Kushner's multi-billion-dollar plan to build a luxury resort on Sazan Island exposes a significant disconnect between elite privilege and the real-world implications of sovereignty.

Ghannoushi points out that what Ivanka Trump describes as an innocent "barefoot discovery" of an untouched "mysterious Mediterranean paradise" is actually a calculated venture supported by foreign sovereign wealth funds and facilitated by local authorities that are compliant with these plans.

She argues that Kushner is attempting to reduce sovereign geography to merely a picturesque backdrop, drawing a troubling parallel to his controversial real estate ambitions regarding the "waterfront potential of Gaza" during Israel’s genocidal war on the besieged strip.


This is a fantastic synopsis. Bravo! — Mark

« La prochaine crise sera celle de l’obéissance » : l’armée israélienne de plus en plus influencée par les mouvements messianiques

Cette capture d'écran provient de cet article. | Des étudiants israéliens ont récité une prière à l’académie de Torah pré-militaire Elisha, près de Ramallah, en Cisjordanie, le mardi 26 mai 2026. Kobi Wolf/Le Figaro
LE FIGARO : ENQUÊTE - Dans les académies prémilitaires nationales-religieuses, les écoles d’enseignement hébraïque et le rabbinat militaire, un courant radical a patiemment gagné du terrain. Pour les soldats qui en sont issus, la guerre, la terre et les missions de combat ont un sens religieux. Au point de parfois contester le commandement de Tsahal.

Dans les collines du centre de la Cisjordanie occupée, le rabbin Yitzhak Nissim reçoit avec un sourire affable. Depuis vingt-huit ans, il dirige la méchina Elisha, une académie prémilitaire nationale-religieuse où de jeunes Israéliens se préparent à intégrer des unités combattantes de Tsahal. L’entraînement physique y est quotidien, mais l’essentiel se joue dans les salles de cours : sionisme religieux, Talmud, halakha... « Notre rôle est de fournir un enseignement religieux et idéologique », assume-t-il.

Sur les murs, les portraits des rabbins Abraham Isaac Kook et Haïm Druckman rappellent la filiation idéologique de l’école : un sionisme religieux pour lequel le retour des Juifs sur la terre d’Israël, l’État et l’armée s’inscrivent dans un processus divin. Ici, le soldat ne se contente pas de défendre l’État. Il prend place dans une histoire religieuse, où la souveraineté juive, l’armée et la conquête de la terre participent d’un même processus de rédemption. « Nous réalisons aujourd’hui ce que nos pères ont rêvé. Ce n’est pas notre seule vision, c’est celle du peuple juif », argumente le rabbin Nissim. » | Par Stanislas Poyet à Jérusalem, Tel Aviv, Neve Tsuf (Cisjordanie occupée) | lundi 1 juin 2026

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Trump Hits the Stalemate Phase of His International Interventions, and It Stings

THE NEW YORK TIMES: In Ukraine, Gaza and now Iran, President Trump’s early declarations of easy wins have given way to harsh reality.

President Trump likes his military and diplomatic victories quick, clean and decisive.

On his desk in the Oval Office, he keeps models of the B-2 bombers that took out three Iranian nuclear sites in one night, not quite a year ago. In the opening weeks of the Iran conflict this year, he talked often about replicating his success in Venezuela — “the perfect scenario,’’ he said — shorthand for overthrowing a troublesome leader with one quick commando raid, and replacing him with a pliant, American-friendly successor.

But now, Mr. Trump has hit the stalemate phase of his presidency.

The war with Iran is clearly at that stage. When he declared a cease-fire on April 7, Mr. Trump said on social media that the end of combat operations would be conditional on “the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.” It wasn’t. Even if commerce now resumes across the strait under a memorandum of understanding still under negotiation, it will still leave the future of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs exactly where they were in February: stuck in a further negotiation that the administration insists will be “time limited,” probably to 60 days.

But the Iranians sense Mr. Trump’s deep reluctance to restart combat operations that are deeply unpopular in the United States, and most Iran experts say they expect Tehran to try to stretch the negotiations for months or years — as they have with past administrations. » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents over four decades at the Times, and writes often on the revival of superpower conflict, the subject of his latest book. | Sunday, May 31, 2026

Jüdische Festwagen von Pride Parade ausgeschlossen

Dieser Screenshot stammt aus diesem Artikel. | Die Pride-Parade in Rom im Sommer 2025: Palästinerflaggen und Regenbogenflaggen werden geschwenkt. dpa
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE: Vor der Roma Pride im Juni gibt es Streit. Mitmachen darf nur, wer den „Genozid in Gaza“ verurteilt. Jüdische Aktivisten beklagen Antisemitismus.

Der Ausschluss von Festwagen der jüdischen LGBTQ-Organisationen Keshet Italia (Regenbogen Italien) und Keshet Europa von der römischen Pride Parade am 20. Juni hat die Debatte um den wachsenden Antisemitismus in Italien neu befeuert. Zur Begründung des Ausschlusses der jüdischen Festwagen erklärten die Veranstalter von Roma Pride auf ihrer Facebook-Seite: „Jeder, der die Grundwerte unserer Bewegung und unserer Community teilt, kann sich uns auf der Straße anschließen. Die Teilnahme eines Festwagens an der Roma Pride setzt aber – unabhängig von der sexuellen Orientierung, Identität, Religion, ethnischen Zugehörigkeit oder Nationalität der Beteiligten – eine klare und unmissverständliche Verurteilung des vom israelischen Regime verübten Völkermords voraus.“ » | Von Matthias Rüb, Rom | Donnerstag, 28. Mai 2026

With No Medicine and No Escape, Gaza’s Cancer Patients Watch Their Tumours Grow

THE TELEGRAPH: Aid blockades and Israeli evacuation restrictions leave Gazans stranded with inadequate healthcare

Minutes after Najat al-Loh learnt that the 7cm lump in her right breast was cancer, her oldest son Atta died from wounds sustained in an Israeli bombardment.

“As I stood there talking to the doctor, I received the news,” she said. “I collapsed entirely, not just emotionally but physically. My daughter was screaming.”

Nine months on, the 48-year-old now has five more lumps across her chest and under her arms, some the size of tennis balls.

Her face is riven with exhaustion and despair as she hands over the chaotic bundle of medical papers to Khaleel, her 13-year-old son, to see whether he can make sense of them.

The war in Gaza ended just a few weeks after her diagnosis on Aug 17, thanks to Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan that promised to flood the benighted strip with food, medicine and life-saving equipment. Yet in that time, Ms Loh has had access to only the most rudimentary cancer care, allowing the disease to spread far beyond the point of a cure.

She is one of an estimated 13,000 cancer patients who are trapped in a territory with virtually no specialist services left and – save for a lucky few – unable to leave to get the treatment they need.

Both Israeli blockades, which started in the early 1990s but intensified after the war in Gaza started in 2023, and foot-dragging by other countries, including Britain, are responsible.

With Hamas refusing to hand over its weapons, Israel is reportedly contemplating tightening aid deliveries further and US attention diverted by Iran, the situation seems likely to worsen. » | Henry Bodkin Jerusalem Correspondent. Nedal Hamdouna in Gaza | Sunday, May 31, 2026

If this isn't CRUELTY, what is? And we ALL know WHO is RESPONSIBLE for it! — © Mark Alexander

Gaza : le « Conseil de paix » créé par Donald Trump n’a reçu aucun financement, selon le Financial Times

LE FIGARO : Créé de toutes pièces en janvier par le président américain, censé le diriger personnellement y compris lorsqu’il aura quitté la Maison Blanche, le Conseil n’a pas reçu le moindre dollar, selon le quotidien, citant quatre sources proches du dossier.

Le « Conseil de paix » créé par Donald Trump pour la reconstruction de Gaza est empêtré dans des problèmes juridiques et ne dispose d'aucun financement malgré des promesses atteignant des milliards de dollars, affirme le Financial Times . Créé de toutes pièces en janvier par le président américain, censé le diriger personnellement y compris lorsqu'il aura quitté la Maison-Blanche, le Conseil n'a pas reçu le moindre dollar, selon le quotidien, citant quatre sources proches du dossier. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 27 mai 2026

Sanders Shocks Senate: “Stop Funding Netanyahu!” Fiery Speech Goes Viral | Times Now World

April 16, 2026

Bernie Sanders - Senate Showdown: Should the US Keep Funding Israel’s War?

Apr 17, 2026 | Bernie Sanders address two Senate votes that could determine whether the United States continues funding Israel’s military campaign under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and took hostages, Israel had the right to respond. But that response, critics argue, has violated international law. In Gaza, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of the territory destroyed, including homes, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Severe blockades have caused widespread hunger. Violence has also escalated in the West Bank, where over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since then.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.

Bernie Sanders: No More Arms Sales to Israel

Apr 15, 2026 | No more taxpayer dollars to support Netanyahu and his extremist Israeli government.

Why Spain Is Opposing Israel and the US over Gaza and Iran | Explained

Apr 15, 2026 | Spain has recognised Palestine, restricted ties with Israel and blocked US flights linked to Iran, setting it apart from its Western allies. Why is Spain taking this position?

The answer lies in its history: from the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship to the 2004 Madrid train bombings that reshaped its foreign policy and public opinion on war.

Benyamin Netanyahou accuse l'Espagne d'« hostilité » et l'exclut du mécanisme de surveillance de la trêve à Gaza

LE FIGARO : «L’Espagne a choisi d’être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l’État d’Israël au lieu de s’en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l’avenir de la région», a déclaré le premier ministre israélien.

Le premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou a accusé vendredi l'Espagne d'« hostilité » envers son pays et a annoncé l'exclusion de Madrid du mécanisme de surveillance international de la trêve dans la bande de Gaza. « L'Espagne a choisi d'être contre Israël de façon répétée (...) Ceux qui attaquent l'Etat d'Israël au lieu de s'en prendre aux régimes terroristes ne seront pas nos partenaires pour façonner l'avenir de la région », a déclaré Benyamin Netanyahou dans un message vidéo.

Il a accusé Madrid, avec qui Israël entretient des relations exécrables, de faire preuve d'« hypocrisie » et d'« hostilité », et de « diffamer les soldats de l'armée israélienne ». « J’ai donc ordonné aujourd'hui d'exclure les représentants espagnols du centre de coordination de Kiryat Gat », mis en place sous supervision américaine pour surveiller le cessez-le-feu entré en vigueur le 10 octobre entre Israël et le mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas à Gaza. Le Centre de coordination militaro-civile (CCMC) est un organisme de surveillance sous supervision américaine de la fragile trêve. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 10 avril 2026

Iran and Gaza Are Only the Beginning | Chris Hedges at Princeton

March 27, 2026

Chris Hedges’ independent journalism can be supported here.

Why Israel Wants a War with Iran (w/ Gideon Levy) | Chris Hedges Report

Mar 28, 2026 | Gideon Levy believes Israel’s rampant militarism has infected the minds of its entire population. Without an impossible reversal, the Jewish state's destructive warpath will rage on.

Democracy Now! Sarah Leah Whitson on Israel, Gaza & Trump-MBS Meeting

Nov 26, 2025 | Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire went into effect, Israel has killed more than 342 civilians, including 67 children. To talk about all of this and Trump's controversial Oval Office meeting with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman we are joined by Sarah Leah Whitson, the executive director of DAWN, an organization working to reform U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. She is co-author of the new book, "From Apartheid to Democracy: A Blueprint for Peace in Israel-Palestine"

"Fire in Every Direction": Palestinian Author Tareq Baconi on Gaza, Zionism & Embracing Queerness

Nov 6, 2025 | Palestinian writer Tareq Baconi joins us to discuss his new memoir, Fire in Every Direction, a chronicle of his political and queer coming of age growing up between Amman and Beirut as the grandson of refugees from Jerusalem and Haifa. While "LGBTQ+ labels have also been used by the West as part of empire," with colonial projects seeking to portray Native populations as backward and in need of saving, "there's a beautiful effort and movement among queer communities in the region to reclaim that language," says Baconi. "I identify as a queer man today as part of a political project. It's not just a sexual identity. It expands beyond that and rejects Zionism and rejects authoritarianism, and that's part of my queerness."

Baconi also comments on the so-called ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the election of Zohran Mamdani in New York City. "Palestinians are the ones that have to govern Palestinian territory, not this international force that comes in that takes any kind of sovereignty or agency away from the Palestinians," he says.


Democracy Now! can be supported here.

Ceasefire on the Brink: Israel Launches New Strikes on Gaza after Truce Violations.

Oct 29, 2025 | In a dramatic escalation, Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered “powerful strikes” in response to alleged Hamas ceasefire breaches. The attacks hit multiple neighborhoods, including near Al-Shifa Hospital, killing several civilians and reigniting fears of renewed full-scale war. This report breaks down the events leading to the strikes, the political pressure driving Netanyahu’s decision, and the fragile U.S.-brokered truce that now hangs in the balance.

‘We Need to Have the Right of Self-determination and Freedom’, Says Former Palestinian Activist

Oct 22, 2025 | We spoke to Hanan Ashrawi, former spokesperson for the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

We asked her if the reason the US hadn't set a deadline for Hamas to disarm was because of the risk of both sides walking away from the peace deal. We also asked Hanan Ashrawi what she thought of Sir Tony Blair being in charge of Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

Sir Tony has said the plans were "the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering and I thank President Trump for his leadership, determination and commitment"

Israel maintains that it is adhering properly to the ceasefire terms and strenuously denies any accusation of ethnic cleansing in the Palestinian territories.

What Trump's Middle East "Peace" Really Means | A Conversation with ‪Katie Couric‬

Oct 16, 2025 | While Trump is being hailed as a peacekeeper, the situation in Gaza is far from settled. Steve Schmidt sits down with ‪Katie Couric‬ to discuss the recent ceasefire and why Trump's relationship with Netanyahu is as corrupt as it gets.

War Could Return to Gaza as Israel Sets Impossible Ceasefire Conditions: Analysis

Oct 16, 2025 | Hamas return the remains of two more Israeli captives but admits that it will need specialised equipment and assistance to locate bodies still buried beneath the rubble.

Israel says there will be no advance to next phase of Gaza peace plan until Hamas returns the remains of all 28 captives.

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged the challenges of finding the remaining bodies and has spoken about the difficulty of retrieving the bodies from destroyed areas in Gaza, calling it a “gruesome process”.

Middle East and Gulf politics analyst, Luciano Zaccara, warns Israel's ceasefire terms are impossible, risking renewed Gaza war as Trump faces a credibility test in Middle East.

Trump’s “Peace” in Gaza: Can the Ceasefire Last? Israel’s Aid Cuts, Hamas Delayed Return of Hostages

Oct 15, 2025 | Donald Trump is celebrating his Gaza ceasefire as proof he’s the world’s greatest dealmaker — but as aid stalls, bodies remain unreturned, and tensions rise, his so-called peace plan looks more like political theater than actual diplomacy.

ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.