Political Lens

With elections one month away, the media discourse in Israel has narrowed in on one question about one man: What did Benjamin Netanyahu know before October 7? The prime minister is suing the Israeli newspaper that reported the claim, while the right-wing Channel 14 insists none of it matters. Missing from the coverage is any reckoning with what Israel has done in Gaza.

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Washington's sanctions came hours after a former International Criminal Court judge, Navi Pillay, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The ICC prosecutes war crimes, crimes against ​humanity and genocide. It issued arrest warrants against more than 70 people, including Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and Russia's Vladimir Putin. The US has denounced the court in the past, especially after it issued warrants for Israeli officials. But the latest move seeks to cripple the operations of the court, according to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. What's behind the escalating measures against the ICC? And will Europe defy Washington and defend it?

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Two years ago – One year into Israel's war on Gaza – The Listening Post investigated the inner workings of Western media’s reporting on the genocide. Based on interviews with more than a dozen insiders, it lifts the curtain on the inner workings of agenda-setting outlets like CNN, the BBC and The New York Times. Original air date: 05 October 2024.

Zionism should be treated as any other form of racism. That's what members of the Green Party have agreed at their annual conference in the UK. The resolution also expresses support for a, quote - 'single democratic state throughout historic Palestine'. Israel has condemned the decision, calling it antisemitic So, what's the motivation? And what impact will the Greens' new policy have on British politics and beyond?

With elections one month away, the media discourse in Israel has narrowed in on one question about one man: What did Benjamin Netanyahu know before October 7? The prime minister is suing the Israeli newspaper that reported the claim, while the right-wing Channel 14 insists none of it matters. Missing from the coverage is any reckoning with what Israel has done in Gaza.

India’s Cockroach Janta Party is calling for another senior official to resign. In July, protests by the youth-led movement saw the education minister quit. Now, it wants the chief of the election commission to step aside. Critics say he's overseeing an unfair review of the electoral roll. The revisions have led to the removal of tens of millions of eligible voters. The commission says reform is long overdue — and necessary to weed out duplicate entries. Protesters say it’s an assault on democracy and designed to benefit the governing BJP. So, will the Cockroach movement be successful again?

Within days of renewed confrontations between the Ethiopian military and an alliance of armed groups, fears are growing that the conflict could spread across the region. The government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing the opposition coalition. Khartoum and Cairo have denied any involvement. And following reciprocal diplomatic moves, Asmara and Addis Ababa have severed ties. The tensions reflect decades of mutual distrust between Ethiopia and the three countries. What could this mean for the region?

Unacceptable. That was the immediate reaction from the US President Donald Trump to Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran says it's still awaiting what it called a "definitive response" from Washington through mediators. But Trump has said Iran needs a deal because, in his words, it's "losing badly." So, is his rejection of the proposal an effort to pressure Tehran for more concessions?

Multiple attacks on multiple fronts, but no-one is calling it 'war'. Europe says it's facing wide-ranging attacks, from explosive-laden drones and sabotage, to political meddling and cybertargeting. It blames Russia, as its war with Ukraine drags on. But Russia says it's innocent. So how is a 'hybrid war' different from military conflict? And how do countries fight back?

Already war-torn and under blockade for more than a decade, Yemen risks descending into another civil war. The Ansarullah Houthis have tightened their grip on islands in the Red Sea -- giving them control over a vital global shipping route. The fighting has unravelled a shaky ceasefire that had largely held since 2022. It comes as the Iran war has disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. So, what does it mean for this volatile region?