Analysis, Side Feature

Views on the News – 16 June 2017

Headlines:

  • Isolation of Qatar continues
  • Palestinian Authority works with Zionist Entity
  • UK Snap Election Delivers blow to Prime Minister

 

Isolation of Qatar continues

Over the past week, more countries have joined a Saudi led boycott of Qatar with it becoming increasingly clear that it was initiated by the USA. This was confirmed by a series of tweets by US President Donald Trump citing the support of terrorists as a trigger for the boycott. What is ironic however, that such support for “terrorists” initially came from the USA but has been blamed on Qatar. For instance, it was under US instructions that the Taliban were allowed to establish an embassy and partake in talks with the US. The claims against Qatar have no backing and all this only shows that regardless of the reason, the US wishes to threaten Qatar and bring it into complete line with its policy.

 

Palestinian Authority works with Zionist Entity

The Zionist entity has agreed to cut down its electricity supply in the Gaza Strip, at the behest of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), the Jewish entity’s officials said. According to Yoav Mordechai, the entity’s head of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), President Mahmoud Abbas requested the Jewish entity to stop supplying electricity to Gaza back in April. Which means that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will have access to only 4 hours of electricity a day. Khalil Shaheen, a Ramallah-based political analyst, said the PA was applying heavy pressure on the Hamas government to relinquish its control over the Gaza Strip. He stated, “The PA is trying to whip up public anger from Gaza residents towards Hamas by various means.” A senior official in the Fatah-led government said last month that the objective behind the PA’s move was to “dry up Hamas’ financial resources”. PA’s willingness to work with an entity that occupies the majority of Palestine is nothing short of treason, for their own political gain they would sacrifice the safety of their people, despite claiming that the interests of the Palestinian people are their primary concern.

 

UK Snap Election Delivers blow to Prime Minister

The Conservatives have lost their Commons majority, albeit the Tories are still the largest party in a hung Parliament. Prime Minister Theresa May says she will form a government and work with the 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs, after going to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen. The Conservatives plus 10 DUP MPs have 328 seats – more than the other parties put together. Labour have also swept the nation with great surprise as they end with an even greater number of seats that they started with and in some instances stealing from the Conservative Party. Jeremy Corbyn has become an overnight sensation, particularly after his own party have attempted to remove him from the head of their party. However, despite the rise in the left and the current trend within the United Kingdom, the politics between political parties should not distract us from the systemic issues that exist within the United Kingdom. In fact, regardless of the outcome, the UK will continue to be as it is; on a slow and painful decline in political relevance – feeding off the public as it has done for years, lurking in the shadows of those more powerful than them.