AboutArticles by Michael Jansen

‘Virus diplomacy’ by US, Iran can help save Iranian lives

22 Mar 2020

The United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar have wisely sent aid to Iran, this region’s coronavirus hub. ‘Wisely’ is the operative word because urgent action is essential for the health...

Sitting Ducks

19 Mar 2020

People living in coronavirus-quarantined communities around the world are now experiencing locked-ins similar to the situation in Gaza where two million Palestinians have been besieged and blockaded by Israel for...

Erdogan is vulnerable, but prefers destructive adventures

15 Mar 2020

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has backed down from a damaging confrontation with Europe by ordering thousands of migrants massed at the Greek border to return to their places of residence...

Gracious Hosts

12 Mar 2020

World Health Organisation Director Dr Tedros Adhanom is the focus of attention as the 2019 novel coronavirus advances across the globe. He has been criticised by some health professionals for...

Netanyahu panders to anti-Palestinian racism

08 Mar 2020

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is no longer “king of Israel.” The country’s third parliamentary election in 11 months has deprived him of his crown. During the latest campaign Netanyahu played...

Empire Rains Down

05 Mar 2020

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s mission is to “make Turkey great again” by restoring some of the Ottoman empire’s liberated territories and winning over populations in these lands by promoting...

Forest for the Trees

27 Feb 2020

Amazon’s hyper-billionaire Jeff Bezos has pledged $10 billion (Dhs36.7b) of his personal fortune to fight climate change by funding scientists, activists and non-governmental organisations searching for ways and means to...

Amid Turkey’s games, the fight for Syria continues

24 Feb 2020

The struggle for Syria continues unabated with Russia and Turkey as the chief external actors. In his book entitled, “The Struggle for Syria,” British journalist and historian Patrick Seale described...

Race Against Time

20 Feb 2020

Results of the state-by-state races for the Democratic Party’s nomination do not reflect the national ranking of remaining candidates. Last weekend’s vote in Nevada was the third contest for the...

Iran is surrounded by US-fuelled antagonism, thanks to Trump

16 Feb 2020

Iranians are set to vote on Friday in a parliamentary election which could empower the hardest of the hardliners and decide who will succeed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 80,...

Michael Jansen

The author, a well-respected observer of Middle East affairs, has three books on the Arab-Israeli conflict.