Odyssey Dawn, a Homeric tragedy
Two games of domino are under way in West Asia and North Africa, one of mass struggle against U.S.-backed regimes, the other of military intervention aimed at co-opting or defeating … Continue reading
The Nobel and the audacity of hope-giving
The world is so accustomed to American presidents waging war that the first incumbent to promise diplomacy gets to win the Nobel peace prize regardless of what he does… 10 … Continue reading
The ICC should prosecute Israeli leaders for Gaza
With Palestine accepting the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction, Israel should realise there is a price to pay for committing war crimes… 9 February 2009The Hindu ICC should prosecute Israeli leaders … Continue reading
Gideon Levy on the pipeline of blood
And there lie the bodies By Gideon LevyHa’aretz The legend, lest it be a true story, tells of how the late mathematician, Professor Haim Hanani, asked his students at the … Continue reading
Why India and not Israel? Here’s why
‘Why India and not Israel?” asks Avner Cohen in today’s Ha’aretz: India’s exemption could become a precedent for a new approach to Israel’s nuclear question. For the first time, Israel … Continue reading
In Syria, a cautious balance between Pan-Arabism and Islamism
Diplomatic Notebook: India has a vital interest in the establishment of peace and stability in West Asia. It is time to step up our engagement. The two faces of President … Continue reading
The Assad interview transcript
The interview lasted more than 45 minutes and we covered a lot of ground — Syria’s indirect peace talks with Israel, Israel’s attack on a suspected ‘nuclear’ site in Syria, … Continue reading
Interview: ‘India can bring balance to Middle East peace process’
At 42, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria is the youngest head of state in West Asia and also one of its most influential. On the eve of his visit to … Continue reading
Dateline Damascus: ‘Rising India’ good for Middle East: Assad
It will help restore some “balance” in peace process, he says 12 June 2008The Hindu ‘Rising India’ good for Middle East: Assad Siddharth Varadarajan Damascus: Noting that the problems of … Continue reading
A defeat for Israel, but also for justice
The U.N. resolution is a consolation prize for the Olmert regime, whose failure in Lebanon throws the wider U.S.-Israeli game plan for the region into disarray. 14 August 2006The Hindu … Continue reading
Qana massacre and the Security Council
The primary role of any Chapter VII resolution or expanded U.N. peacekeeping force must be to protect Lebanon from Israeli aggression. 1 August 2006The Hindu Qana massacre and the Security … Continue reading
Beware the ‘new order’ Israel is imposing
No peace or stability can emerge in West Asia through occupation, subjugation, and the military slaughter of civilians. 29 July 2006The Hindu Beware the ‘new order’ Israel is imposingSiddharth Varadarajan … Continue reading
So southern Lebanon is now in Israel?
After first bombing a clearly-marked United Nations observation post at Khiyyam in southern Lebanon, killing four international observers from the UN Truce Supervision Organisation, Israel is now saying they will … Continue reading
Siddharth Varadarajan 