Israel and the US talk as if they’ve won a victory, but the reality is that world opinion has turned decisively against the Israeli regime, says RAMZY BAROUD

THE growing prospect of escalating war in the Middle East is the product of a policy of imperialist war, intervention, and national oppression which has been followed by successive British governments.
The immediate cause is Israel’s war on Gaza and its recent assassinations of leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas. The latter targeting of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, when he was visiting the new president of Iran, was a deliberate provocative attack which was certain to draw Iran into retaliation.
He was also one of the main negotiators for a ceasefire in talks which have been going on in Qatar for months. Netanyahu knew exactly what he was doing with both the assassinations.

While Trump praises the ‘successful’ attack on Iranian nuclear sites, the question arises as to the real motives behind this escalation. MARC VANDEPITTE explores the issues


