Kategorie: Naher Osten

Ruf nach Einhaltung von Völkerrecht in Palästinensergebieten

Dutzende frühere französische und britische Diplomat:innen haben ihre Regierungen dazu aufgerufen, in den Palästinensergebieten das Völkerrecht zu verteidigen. Das Engagement Frankreichs und Großbritanniens sei angesichts der historischen Rolle der beiden Länder im Nahen Osten und ihres Status als ständige Mitglieder im VN-Sicherheitsrat unverzichtbar, erklärten die 102 Unterzeichner.

Hier der englische Text, die französische Fassung erschien in der Zeitung Le Monde (Bericht in Haaretz und ORF)

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,
10 Downing Street

Saturday 22 August 2026

Dear Prime Minister,

Upholding international law: France and the UK should act together on Palestine. The United Kingdom and France share values and an international outlook. As permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations, with a commitment to uphold international law, our two nations believe that those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held to account. Only then can our governments rebut the accusation of double standards.

Our countries played a decisive role in the shaping of the Middle East. They should make common cause over the region’s fundamental faultline: equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians. Peace stems from equality.

In 2025, France and the UK recognised the State of Palestine. This overdue step needs to be made real by urgent action to safeguard the Palestinian right to self-determination, as the Israeli Government seeks to destroy any prospect of an independent Palestinian state, showing contempt for the law, the rulings of the International Court of Justice and countless UNSCResolutions.

Our governments care about the security of the Israeli people, just as they are appalled by the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation. Hamas committed heinous crimes on 7 October 2023, but nothing justifies Israel’s systematic policy of destruction of Gaza and its population. Mr Netanyahu’s assertion that Israel must live by the sword is morally wrong and counterproductive. It imperils Israel’s security and leaves no room for negotiation. As a result, the world no longer sees Israel as a genuine democracy – there is nothing democratic about depriving others of their rights and land.

In Gaza, two million Palestinians are kettled into 30% of their devastated land, hungry, lacking medicine and housing. Over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the so-called ‚ceasefire‘. In East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, Palestinian house demolitions and rampant settler violence – with the connivance of the Israeli army and police – amount to ethnic cleansing. Palestine is being erased before our eyes. This policy of occupation and destruction extends to Lebanon – where many villages have been razed – and Syria. It is a stain on the conscience of humanity, requiring the UK and France to act.

Palestinians have to ensure that the state recognised by over two thirds of the world is democratic and law-abiding, despite the occupation. Gaza and the West Bank need to be reunited politically, administratively and economically. Palestine’s political leadership is unrepresentative and dysfunctional. The elections in November must lead to democratic renewal.

While our two Governments can do much to help Palestine to be a fully functioning democratic nation, our focus needs to be on Israel’s determination to prevent that outcome.

We make these policy recommendations for joint action:Uphold the decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court

Suspend the EU Israel Association Agreement and the UK/Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement for breach of human rights provisions

Suspend arms transfers to and from Israel and all bilateral military cooperation

Insist on unrestricted aid access to Gaza, led by UNRWA, other UN agencies and international NGOs, with consequences for non-compliance; access too for journalists, diplomats and Parliamentarians

Ban all trade with settlements, including goods, investment, insurance and other financial services

Warn potential bidders for the ‚red line‘ E1 settlement (east of Jerusalem) or other settlement financing/construction that their interests in and with our countries will suffer

Make it an offence for our citizens to buy property on stolen Palestinian land and remove charitable status from ‚charities‘ funding settlements.

These actions, imposing penalties for law-breaking, safeguard the rule of law and show that there is an alternative to violence: equal rights, justice and mutual security with international guarantees. Whatever comes of elections in Israel and Palestine, the asymmetry of power between them imposes a duty on us to uphold the rule of law.

France and the UK should give a lead to the like-minded in Europe, the Middle East, the Global South, la Francophonie and the Commonwealth. These proposals reflect our shared values – international law and equal rights – which are in our interest. Where there is no law, none of us is safe.

A copy of this letter goes to Ed Miliband, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary.

British signatories

Sir Vincent Fean, former Consul-General, Jerusalem
Sir Jeremy Greenstock, former Ambassador to the UN
Sir William Patey, former Ambassador to Afghanistan
Ann Grant, former High Commissioner to South Africa
Sir Emyr Jones Parry, former Ambassador to the UN
Sir Tony Brenton, former Ambassador to Russia
Sir David Blatherwick, former Ambassador to Egypt
John Buck, former Ambassador to Portugal
Sir Colin Budd, former Ambassador to the Netherlands
Anthony Cary, former High Commissioner to Canada
John Casson, former Ambassador to Egypt
Edward Chaplin, former Ambassador to Italy
Alan Charlton, former Ambassador to Brazil
Sir Dominick Chilcott, former Ambassador to Turkey
Sir Edward Clay, former High Commissioner to Kenya
Peter Collecott, former Ambassador to Brazil
Sir Richard Dalton, former Ambassador to Iran
Alan Goulty, former Ambassador to Tunisia
Sir Richard Gozney, former Ambassador to Indonesia
Frances Guy, former Ambassador to Lebanon
Sir James Hodge, former Ambassador to Thailand
Henry Hogger, former Ambassador to Syria
Michael Hone, former Ambassador to Iceland
Nicholas Hopton, former Ambassador to Iran
Rupert Joy, former EU Ambassador to Morocco
Peter Jenkins, former Ambassador to the UN (Vienna)
Robin Kealy, former Ambassador to Tunisia
Stuart Laing, former Ambassador to Kuwait
Robin Lamb, former Ambassador to Bahrain
Anthony Layden, former Ambassador to Libya
Richard Lyne, former High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands
Sir David Madden, former Ambassador to Greece
Richard Makepeace, former Ambassador to the UAE
Mark Matthews, former Ambassador to Chad
Boyd McCleary, former High Commissioner to Malaysia
Peter Millett, former Ambassador to Jordan
Colin Munro, former Ambassador to Croatia
Patrick Nixon, former Ambassador to the UAE
Richard Northern, former Ambassador to Libya
Sir Kieran Prendergast, former Ambassador to Turkey
Thom Reilly, former Ambassador to Morocco
Sir David Richmond, former Director General, FCO
Christopher Segar, former Ambassador to Iraq
Sir John Shepherd, former Ambassador to Italy
Adrian Sindall, former Ambassador to Syria
Duncan Taylor, former Ambassador to Mexico
Richard Thomas, former Ambassador to Bulgaria
Sir Harold Walker, former Ambassador to Iraq
David Warren, former Ambassador to Japan
James Watt, former Ambassador to Egypt

French signatories

Charles-Henri d’Aragon, former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Bruno Aubert, former Ambassador to Iraq
Yves Aubin de la Messuzière, former Ambassador and Director, Middle East and North Africa
Bernard Bajolet, former Ambassador to Jordan
Frederic Balcine du Laurens, former Ambassador to Argentina
Richard Barbeyron, former Ambassador to Surinam
Marc Barety, former Ambassador to Egypt
Denis Bauchard, former Ambassador and Director, Middle East and North Africa
Malika Berak, former Ambassador to Oman
Patrice Bergamini, former European Union Ambassador
Alain du Boispean, former Ambassador to Malaysia
Gilles Bonnaud, former Ambassador to Qatar
Christian Connan, former Ambassador to Mali
Gerard Cros, former Ambassador to Mozambique
Brigitte Curmi, former Ambassador to Syria
Serge Degallaix, former Ambassador to Tunisia
Frederic Desagneaux, former Consul-General, Jerusalem
Jean Michel Despax, former Ambassador to Jamaica
Martine Dorance, former Ambassador to Malaysia
Yves Doutriaux, former Ambassador to the OSCE
Pierre Duquesne, former Ambassador to the OECD
Jean Felix-Paganon, former Ambassador and Director, Middle East and North Africa
Michel Foucher, former Ambassador to Lithuania
Jean-Michel Gaussot, former Ambassador to the Netherlands
François Gauthier, former Ambassador to Uzbekistan
Gilles Gauthier, former Ambassador to Yemen
Stephane Gompertz, former Ambassador to Austria
Henri Jacolin, former Ambassador to Bosnia
Daniel Jouanneau, former Ambassador to Lebanon
Christian Jouret, former European Union Ambassador
Gabriel Keller, former Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Regis Koetschet, former Consul-General, Jerusalem
Jean-Loup Kuhn-Delforge, former Ambassador to Greece
Stanislas de Laboulaye, former Consul-General, Jerusalem
François Laumonier, former Ambassador to Lithuania
Eric Lavertu, former Ambassador to Sri Lanka
Patrick Leclercq, former Ambassador and Director, Middle East and North Africa
Daniel Lequertier, former Ambassador to Portugal
Jean Mendelson, former Ambassador to Cuba
Jean Musitelli, former Ambassador to UNESCO
Patrick Nicoloso, former Ambassador to Mauritania
Nicolas Normand, former Ambassador to Senegal
Patrice Paoli, former Ambassador and Director, Middle East and North Africa
Andre Parant, former Ambassador to Lebanon
Michel Prom, former Ambassador to Surinam
Alain Remy, former Consul-General, Jerusalem
Dominique Renaux, former Ambassador to Gabon
Christine Robichon, former Ambassador to Sudan
François Senemaud, former Ambassador to Iran
Christian Testot, former Ambassador to Bahrain
Jean-Paul Veziant, former Ambassador to Ukraine
Thierry Viteau, former Ambassador to Thailand

Eine Ära der automatisierten Gewalt

Gihan AbouZeid beschreibt auf Qantara.de, wie KI-Überwachungstechnik das Erleben des Kriegs verändert hat

Taha Muhammad Ali – eine Erinnerung

Ein Beitrag von Yahia Lababidi auf der Seite von World Literatur Today (- auch ein Blick nach Nazarteh heute)

Auch wenn dies nicht sein Laden in Nazareth war, aber ganz dicht dabei …

Und etwas von ihm:

Protection Cannot Wait

Statement to the International Community – It Is Time for an International Protection
Force in the West Bank — From: A Land for All: Two States, One Homeland

For the safety, security, and dignity of every human being between the river and the sea

A Land for All calls on the international community to act immediately, concretely, and without further delay to protect Palestinian communities in the West Bank from settler violence.

Protecting civilians is not an act of goodwill – it is a legal obligation under international law. History will not ask what the nations of the world said in these days; it will ask what they did.

Read the full statement:
https://lnkd.in/dhv6RS8N

Der Kampf mit oder für Windmühlen?

Die Massada Annual Lecture at Worcester College von Fania Oz-Salzberger in Oxford 2026

Fania Oz-Salzberger argues against the false dichotomy between pro‑Israel and pro‑Palestine. She argues that ‘the idea that Israel and Palestine form a zero‑sum conflict—that one people’s gain must be the other’s destruction—is both intellectually flawed and politically dangerous. It traps us in a logic where only total victory or total defeat seem imaginable.’

This was originally given as a speech at the Massada Annual Lecture at Worcester College, University of Oxford in early summer 2026, organised by Dr Naomi Rokotnitz.

Über die vielen Brüche ‚unseres‘ Blickes nach ‚Westasien‘

Ein Beitrag von Dastan Jasim auf dem Blog emanzipation & frieden

Wie der Westen lernte, die Sprache des arabischen Nationalismus zu sprechen

Antikurdische Gewalt durch Regime, Ideologien und politische Bewegungen in arabischen Ländern ist für Dastan Jasim Ausdruck eines geteilten rassifizierenden Verständnisses der kurdischen Präsenz als unvereinbar mit politischer Ordnung. Zugrunde liegt ihr eine pseudoantiimperialistische Lesart der Geschichte des Nahen Ostens, in der Araber:innen als das einzig wahre indigene politische Subjekt gelten. Westliche Länder haben diese Lesart übernommen.

UNESCO: Gefährdetes Welterbe

Im Eilverfahren sind auf der 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan (Südkorea) fünf Burgen im Südlibanon und Sebastia (nördlich von Nablus) zum Teil des Weltkulturerbes erklärt worden.

Aufgrund der militärischen Situation in der Region beschloß der Ausschuß bei seinem Treffen die beiden Stätten künftig zudem als gefährdetes Weltkulturerbe zu betrachten.

Berichte: AP News – Deutsche Welle (Englischer DIenst) – Yahoo – WTVBan.com – Zum Hintergrund: +972mag

Die ablehnende Haltung der israelischen Regierung findet sich hier.

Who Rebuilds Gaza?

Indigenous Reconstruction and Resistance

Nour Joudah und Dena Qaddumi auf der Seite von Al-Shabaka

Introduction

After Hamas’s recent announcement that it will hand over governing authority in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), urgent questions about who will shape Gaza’s future and on whose terms have reemerged. These questions are particularly salient given that the NCAG’s framework reflects the same technocratic and externally imposed logic that has come to characterize the dominant international proposal for Gaza’s reconstruction: one that treats it as a technical exercise in disaster management, sidelining Palestinian sovereignty, return, and self-determination.

In contrast, this roundtable asks what it means to understand Gaza as an Indigenous region rather than simply a besieged strip or humanitarian space. Nour Joudah and Dena Qaddumi explore how Indigenous frameworks reshape prevailing understandings of urbanism, reconstruction, and governance; why reconstruction must begin with Palestinian agency and reclamation rather than externally designed colonial master plans; and how rebuilding is already taking place through everyday forms of Indigenous endurance, social organization, and spatial resistance under conditions of ongoing genocide. 

This roundtable is adapted from a conversation recorded on May 21, 2026. It has been edited for publication.

Halachic Left

Peter Beinart im Gespräch (in Englisch), Juli 2026

100 Jahre Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache

Über den Sommer hinweg gelegentlich einmal einen Hinweis eher am Rande unseres Kernthemas …

Im mythologischen Saal des Neuen Museum zeigen das Ägyptische Wörterbuch und das Ägyptische Museum ab Juni eine Ausstellung zum 100. Geburtstag eines für die Ägyptologie bis heute unverzichtbaren Werkzeugs – dem ägyptischen Wörterbuch.

2026 jährt sich zum einhundertsten Mal das Erscheinen des ersten Bandes des ägyptischen Wörterbuchs. Adolf Erman und sein Team begannen im Jahre 1897, im Neuen Museum, mit der Arbeit. Dabei wurden die bekannten ägyptischen Texte abschnittsweise auf Zettel geschrieben und diese vervielfältigt. So entstand in kürzester Zeit eine „Datenbank“ mit mehr als einer Million Zettel. Dieses „Zettelarchiv“ bildet die Grundlage für das Wörterbuch. Es ist alphabetisch geordnet und zeigt uns die einzelnen Worte jeweils im Zusammenhand des jeweiligen Textes.

Aufgrund des ersten Weltkriegs und der galoppierenden Inflation war an eine Drucklegung eines mehrbändigen Wörterbuchs nichtzu denken. Doch die Verbindung von amerikanischen Schülern zu A. Erman vermittelte im Jahr 1924 eine finanzielle Zuwendung von J. D. Rockefeller jun., die schließlich die Weichen für den Druck stellte. A. Erman, zusammen mit seinen Schülern Kurt Sethe und Hermann Grapow, erarbeitete dann die Druckvorlage des Wörterbuchs, welche von Wolja Erichsen geschrieben wurde.

Der Weg von den ägyptischen Texten zum fertigen Wörterbuch wird in der kleinen Ausstellung anhand von Objekten aus dem Archiv des Wörterbuchs veranschaulicht.

Monatlich werden an einem Mittwoch jeweils 17 Uhr Führungen zum Thema „100 Jahre Wörterbuch“ angeboten.