by Karin Leukefeld,* Syria/Germany
(1 November 2023) Little is known these days about what is happening to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. The news is dominated by Israeli or US sources; voices from Gaza or the West Bank hardly appear.
by Alfred de Zayas, Geneva
(1 November 2023) Craig Mokhiber has the courage that every international civil servant should have. He has stepped down from his post as Chief of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in protest against the failure of the United Nations to stop the genocide being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians.
by M.K. Bhadrakumar,* India
(31 October 2023) There is no question that smart power enhances foreign policy. Since the notion of “smart power” entered international diplomacy some two decades ago, a major regional power, Iran, is applying it to an actual conflict situation.
by Guy Mettan,* Geneva
(25 October 2023) Geneva readily positions itself as an international city, a humanitarian city, and a city of peace. Unfortunately, its commitment and tradition have been undermined since Switzerland decided, at the end of February 2022, to break its tradition of neutrality and move closer to NATO.
(25 October 2023) The hostilities that broke out Saturday 7 October are at a level that we have not seen in many years. They have the potential to cause even more suffering to civilians on both sides.
(25 October 2023) (Cairo, 19 October 2023) With essential supplies running out in Gaza, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday appealed for humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.