Middle East
All countries-
Forget the Abraham Accords
The Gaza war may radicalise the Gulf
Amidst the growing appeal of religious militancy among local populations, state-led efforts to suppress domestic dissent and maintain ties with Israel could ultimately backfire
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The role of UNRWA in Gaza
UNRWA and the day after in Gaza
Defunding UNRWA will not only worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but also have long-term implications for Palestinian self-governance
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Migration and the white majority
Racism can make you sick
If you've experienced racial discrimination, you'll know how it feels. Racism can cause high blood pressure, excess weight and mental health problems
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Israel, Hamas and the war in Gaza
Seven uncomfortable truths
Anyone wanting to fully understand the current Middle East crisis must face up to realities on the ground. For many, however, this is at odds with the schematic picture they have in their heads. Here are seven uncomfortable truths crucial to de-escalating the situation and finding a solution
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Holocaust researcher Omer Bartov
"Germany could help Israel and Palestine on the path to reconciliation"
In interview with Qantara.de, leading Holocaust researcher Omer Bartov talks about the indictment against Israel at the International Court of Justice, the instrumentalisation of anti-Semitism and Germany's possible role in a two-state solution
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Israeli author and peace activist David Grossman
"I believe what Hamas says"
Israeli author David Grossman still holds fast to the two-state solution, even in the wake of the October 7 massacres. The Israelis are fated to do business with Hamas, he says
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Bowing to Israeli pressure
No more German money for Palestinian human rights NGOs
Despite no signs of funding misuse, Germany has terminated a significant proportion of its co-operation with Palestinian civil society. A long-standing dispute between Israel and Germany was one reason for the move. A report from Ramallah and Tel Aviv
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750th anniversary of Rumi’s death – Part 7
"Light your beacon!"
In Rumi's lifetime, too, people were frightened by war and uncertainty. His poetry has much to teach us about human nature
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Marriage, religion and love in Egypt
The long road to modernising marriage
American historian Kenneth M. Cuno talks to Qantara.de about the decline of polygamy in Egypt, the emergence of love when choosing a marriage partner, and what role Muhammad Abduh and Qasim Amin played in promoting new ideas about marriage and the family
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German academia and the war in Gaza
Universities must remain places of dialogue
Discussions about the Middle East conflict naturally tend towards polarisation. In Germany, showing empathy for victims of political violence in Israel while drawing attention to the suffering of Gazan and West Bank Palestinians, who bear the brunt of any major confrontation, is a tricky balancing act
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Interview with Islam expert Felix Koerner
The Pope and the Muslims
Will Pope Francis still be travelling to Riyadh? What will be the outcome of his planned visit to Indonesia? How important is his friendship with Grand Sheikh al-Tayyeb? Interview with Islamic scholar Felix Koerner, five years after the Abu Dhabi document "on human fraternity"
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Germany's position on the Gaza war
Far from the straight and narrow
The German government's barely audible criticism of Israeli's handling of the war in Gaza is inflicting substantial damage on its foreign and security policy, weakening democracy not only in Germany, but worldwide. A change of course is urgently needed