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How football's governing bodies support illegal Israeli settlement clubs

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How football's governing bodies support illegal Israeli settlement clubs Submitted by Mahmoud Elsobky on Tue, 08/25/2026 - 13:25 While Palestinian facilities are either destroyed or crippled by Israeli checkpoints, Fifa and Uefa are continuing to prop up Israeli settlement teams Israeli players from the Ironi Ariel football club attend a training session at their stadium in the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank on 21 September 2016 (Jack Guez/AFP) Off Football in the occupied West Bank has been brought to a near standstill since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza . Palestinian players struggle to reach training grounds, matches are routinely cancelled because of checkpoints and military closures, and hundreds of sports facilities have either been damaged or destroyed. But in illegal Israeli settlements, Israeli football teams are thriving, with players continuing to train and compete while clubs expand their facilities. An investigation by Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) and Bridges Investigations for Middle East Eye has found that illegal settlement-based clubs are participating in Israeli domestic competitions with the backing of the Israel Football Association (IFA), while Fifa and Uefa continue to recognise and financially support the IFA. According to the investigation, Fifa, which formally says it is committed to respecting internationally recognised human rights through its statutes and strategic goals, has not only declined to take action against settlement clubs; its Fifa+ platform also broadcasts their matches. For Palestinian players, the consequences have been felt every time they try to train or travel to a match. Mahdi al-Assi, a goalkeeper for the Palestinian youth team, knows this well. Getting to the pitch can mean hours spent at checkpoints, while training itself can be disrupted by raids and teargas, he says. "More than once, I've set off three or four hours before training, only for them [Israeli soldiers] to turn us back at the checkpoint for no reason at all," he told MEE. Meanwhile, just a few kilometres from where al-Assi plays, the floodlights are on at a football pitch inside the Israeli settlement of Givat Ze'ev. Here, the Beitar Givat Ze'ev team trains on land that international law classifies as occupied Palestinian territory. A journey of checkpoints and closures Al-Assi said that routine travel between Palestinian cities has become a gruelling ordeal because of Israeli military checkpoints. Restrictions have grown since Israel's last elections in 2022, and since October 2023, when Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza . According to al-Assi, Israeli forces also disrupt sporting activities by storming pitches. Since Israel launched its war on Gaza, 292 sports facilities have been completely or partially destroyed in the besieged enclave and the occupied West Bank, according to data obtained from the Palestinian Football Association. The association's league has also been suspended. 'We can't schedule the league, the gates could be shut at the time of a match' – Susan Shalabi, Palestinian Football Association "It became too dangerous to keep the league going," said Susan Shalabi, vice-president of the Palestinian Football Association. "There are more and more checkpoints, and towns are sealed off by electronic gates, trapping people inside." According to Shalabi, it has become virtually impossible to arrange matches: "We can't schedule the league; the gates could be shut at the time of a match, so it gets cancelled." According to al-Assi, after the league was cancelled he was no longer able to train regularly, so he turned to a private coach. "Because of the war, there are no games being played now. But playing matches is a basic element in a footballer’s development, so I’m training with a private coach." This poses an additional financial burden, but he remains determined to continue playing, in the hope of representing his country in international competitions. Football and settlement expansion The situation is markedly different for clubs operating in the hundreds of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The settlement of Ariel was established in 1978 on land Israel seized from Palestinians in the area of Salfit. Last year, the mayor of Ariel, Yair Shatbon, launched a long-term plan to allocate a large budget to the development of the sports sector. This included a new stadium on Efrata Street and more football pitches and sports facilities throughout the settlement. Why does Fifa refuse to sanction Israel? Read More » Shatbon also announced a project to modernise the main pitch of FC Ironi Ariel, including replacing the turf with artificial grass that meets Fifa standards. According to Shalabi, the issue of settlement clubs dates back to 2013, when their details appeared on the official website of the IFA, before later being removed as international attention grew. "Fifa didn't take any position on clubs, so their numbers went from five to around nine today," she said. "Fifa just tells you to go back to the UN, and what does the UN say? It says these are occupied territories," she said. Ironi Ariel is one of nine football clubs associated with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Some play directly within settlements, while others are based there or use their facilities. A 2016 report by Human Rights Watch criticised Fifa for funding matches held within settlements, describing them as "illegal under international humanitarian law". Article 49, paragraph 6 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War states: "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” Broadcasting matches The relationship between Fifa and settlement football extends beyond the IFA's participation in domestic competitions. Fifa+ has also carried matches played at a ground in occupied East Jerusalem. On 1 June 2026, Inside World Football reported that Fifa+ had broadcast and archived matches from the Har Homa settlement and shared links to them on DAZN. This screengrab shows the Fifa+ website carrying matches played at the Har Homa stadium in occupied East Jerusalem in early January 2026 (Fifa+) The broadcasts took place while the participation of settlement clubs in Israeli competitions was being challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Israel Youth League page on Fifa+ includes replays of Nordia Jerusalem matches played at the Har Homa ground. The IFA's page on the platform also features live matches and replays from its competitions, including matches played at the same ground. Legal experts tell Fifa Israel is breaking international law as it considers sanctions Read More » DAZN says it provides Fifa+ content on demand and describes itself as "the new home of Fifa+". According to the advocacy group Scottish Sport for Palestine, Fifa+ generates revenue through advertising and sponsorship, as well as commercial expansion and an increasing audience base. Matches involving clubs linked to settlements may therefore bring revenue to Fifa while providing a platform for showcasing the clubs and their players. Fifa's budgets consolidate financial data in a way that makes it difficult to track revenue generated by its digital platforms. Revenue from digital broadcasting is consolidated within the federation's overall budget, which stands at nearly $13bn for the current financial cycle, 2023-2026. The budget shows that television broadcasting revenue alone amounted to $3.092bn from matches in 2026. MEE reached out to Fifa for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. Fifa declines to act In March 2026, Fifa's Disciplinary Committee responded to a complaint by the Palestinian Football Association over the participation of settlement clubs in the Israeli league. The complaint had been submitted during the 74th Fifa Congress in May 2024. The committee said it would not take any action against the clubs because of what it described as “the unresolved legal status of the West Bank under public international law". It did, however, fine the IFA 150,000 Swiss francs ($190,000) for "committing grave and systematic abuses relating to discrimination and racism; tolerance of politicised and militaristic messages; and exclusion of Palestinians from sports infrastructure in the West Bank". Steve Cockburn, the head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, described Fifa's decision as "a failure to enforce Fifa's own rules". 'Fifa had a clear opportunity to both defend the rights of Palestinians and uphold international law. But… it has shamefully chosen to abandon both' – Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International "The decision is also a flagrant violation of international law. Fifa had a clear opportunity to both defend the rights of Palestinians and uphold international law. But by taking this decision, it has shamefully chosen to abandon both," he said. "The International Court of Justice has stated quite clearly that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, and that settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal," he added. Amnesty wrote to both Fifa and Uefa on 1 October 2025, more than a week before the so-called ceasefire took hold in Gaza, and called on them to suspend the IFA from their competitions until clubs based in illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land are barred from the Israeli football leagues. Omar Shaker, who handled the Occupied Territories and Israel at Human Rights Watch before resigning in February, said: "Some of the land on which these stadiums are built is owned by families of players who can't get into them or play there." Shaker pointed out that Fifa's regulations are clear: "You cannot play matches on the territory of any member state without obtaining its explicit permission." Sajed Karakra, the coach of the Palestinian Under-20 national team, echoed this view and said he saw the participation of settlement clubs in the Israeli league as part of a wider policy. "The participation of these sports teams is aimed at strengthening and supporting settlements," he said. Karakra also condemned the paralysis of the sports system in the West Bank. He said the contrast between the state of the game before and after 7 October 2023 points to an undeclared strategy to undermine local football and deprive Palestinian players of the physical and technical preparation they need. Before the war, Karakra said, between 70 and 80 percent of regular sporting activity went ahead despite restrictions, and the Palestinian Football Association successfully ran a regular league under the auspices of the Asian and international federations. Sports infrastructure in illegal settlements ARIJ's investigation also found that sports infrastructure in settlements has expanded through projects supported by Mifal HaPais, the Israeli National Lottery. An active member of both European Lotteries (EL) and the World Lottery Association (WLA), Mifal HaPais' board includes mayors, Likud Party leadership figures and members of settlement councils. 'The building of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories constitutes a war crime' – Michael Lynk, former UN special rapporteur on Palestine The current chairman is Itzik Larry, a former chief executive of Toto, the body which handles sports betting in Israel. Other figures involved in its management include Haim Bibas, the mayor of Modiin-Maccabim-Re'ut, and Benjamin Biton, the mayor of Dimona. Mifal HaPais declares that it is owned by local authorities. Its governance page states that local government figures hold positions within its management structure, and that the mayor of Ma'ale Adumim, Benny Kashriel, was a member of its board. Data published by the foundation shows that about 46 percent of lottery profits go directly to local authorities, without distinguishing between those in Israel and those in settlements. Mifal HaPais also invests 51 percent of its profits in building and developing sports facilities. One major project funded by Mifal HaPais was the Sababa Sports Centre in the settlement of Efrat, which includes a near-Olympic-size swimming pool. According to Mifal HaPais, the centre opened on 14 January 2026, as part of a partnership with the Efrat Settlement Council. Official data shows that the project received 15.7 million shekels ($5.234m) in direct investment from Mifal HaPais for sports infrastructure. An additional three million shekels ($1m) came in a grant earmarked to cover the deficit and support operations, according to the minutes of the Efrat council for February 2026. MEE reached out to Mifal HaPais, the EL and the WLA for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. European football funding Settlement clubs continue to participate in the Israeli league, even though their official addresses place them in occupied Palestinian territory. The IFA, meanwhile, continues to receive funding from both Fifa and Uefa as a member of the two governing bodies. Human Rights Watch reported in 2016 that, based on financial records, Fifa and Uefa had transferred millions of shekels annually to the IFA. The report argued that by allowing the IFA to stage matches in Israeli settlements, Fifa was engaging in commercial activity that supported those settlements, despite its stated human rights commitments. That financial relationship has continued. According to an Amnesty International report published in March 2026, both Fifa and Uefa continued to provide funding to the IFA after Israel launched its war on Gaza in 2023. One of the main funding mechanisms is Uefa's HatTrick programme, which redistributes more than half of the net revenues from the European football championships among its member national associations. Why one of Europe's most famous football clubs chose to stand with Palestine Read More » Funding is divided into three streams: investment funding, given as a one-off grant of up to €5m to each association for strategic projects; annual solidarity payments of around €1m to cover operating costs; and annual incentives of up to €2m to encourage implementation of Uefa programmes. These include women's football programmes and training, referee development, youth programmes and governance. Funds are paid to national associations, such as the IFA, rather than directly to individual clubs or local projects. Uefa's allocations and funding to the IFA under the HatTrick programme between 2024 and 2028 totalled €17m ($17.3m), a 21 percent increase on the previous funding cycle. Each national association that is a member of Uefa receives the same amount. The UEFA Foundation for Children, chaired by Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin, also financed the Neighbourhood League project, implemented by Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem or its supporters' association, Katamon Madunim Ohadim. According to the foundation's website, it gave around €320,000 (approximately $370,000) to the project between 2020 and 2023. At the same time, Hapoel matches were being held in Israeli settlements until 2025, and the association that received the funding is registered at an address in the Har Adar settlement. MEE reached out to Uefa and the European Union for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. From Ma'ale Adumim to Madrid The relationship between European football and settlement clubs extends beyond funding. In March 2023, Spanish football organisations and the Spanish Football Federation hosted a delegation from Beitar Ma’ale Adumim, a club based in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank. The delegation visited La Liga's headquarters and Atletico Madrid's facilities, as well as Spanish clubs and sporting organisations including Getafe and Rayo Vallecano. The director of Beitar Ma'ale Adumim, Osnat Kaduri, said Atletico Madrid had hosted the delegation and officials from La Liga had accompanied them throughout the visit. According to Scottish Sport for Palestine, the visit integrated a club operating within an Israeli settlement into European football activities and institutions despite its location in territory considered occupied under international law. The visit came months after Fifa and Uefa suspended Russian clubs from competitions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Michael Lynk, a former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, describes the difference as "double standards". "There is no fundamental difference between Russia's illegal invasion and Israel’s ongoing 58-year-long effort to occupy and annex the Palestinian territories," he said. The European Commission says Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to peace and the two-state solution. EU member states are committed to not recognising changes to the 1967 borders, including in Jerusalem, and to ensuring their bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to the settlements. Lynk maintains that "the building of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories constitutes a war crime". This conclusion, he said, is based on the 1998 Rome Statute and repeated resolutions issued by the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council. Consequently, Lynk says football clubs in these settlements "are an extension of this practice, which is illegal under international law and even under Fifa’s own regulations". Political pressure grows Political pressure is also growing against international sporting bodies. At an Irish parliamentary session on 9 June, MPs called for Israel to be suspended from international sporting organisations, citing its continued violations and the presence of at least 10 Israeli clubs in the occupied Palestinian territories. 'I try to train and I push myself, despite the circumstances' – Mahdi al-Assi, goalkeeper for the Palestinian youth team Sporting bodies have often argued that "sport must remain separate from politics". But Lynk rejects that position. "Sport is big business," he said. "To say that sport is separate from politics flies in the face of what’s happened in sport over the last 45 years." James Dorsey, a researcher in international football policy, similarly describes sport and politics as "inseparable twins". Mark Doidge, an academic and researcher in the sociology of sport, also rejects the principle of neutrality invoked by Fifa and Uefa when faced with political disputes. "Neutrality is never neutral. It always goes along with the powerful," he said. While the debate over the role of international sporting bodies continues, settlement sports infrastructure is expanding. Between December 2025 and February 2026, the Israeli government approved construction of a corridor linking the Ma’ale Adumim settlement to East Jerusalem. The area is home to three settlement clubs affiliated with the IFA: Beitar Ma’ale Adumim, Beitar Givat Ze’ev and Ironi Yehuda. The plan reflects a position expressed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said that the expansion of Ma’ale Adumim reinforces his conviction that “there will never be a Palestinian state”. For Al-Assi, however, the focus remains on continuing to train and play despite the restrictions. "I try to train and I push myself, despite the circumstances," he said. "They can't easily stand in our way." This investigation was produced in partnership between ARIJ and Bridges Investigations. Occupation News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

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Israeli forces and settlers storm villages across occupied West Bank

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Israeli forces and settlers storm villages across occupied West Bank Israeli forces and settlers stormed villages and attacked Palestinians across the West Bank, occupied Palestine, on Friday, Wafa news agency reported. According to Wafa, hundreds of settlers protected by the Israeli military stormed a town near Nablus at dawn, and turned one of the houses into a military barrack. East of Nablus, settlers stopped Palestinians from attending Friday prayers at local mosques, while around 50 settlers east of Bethlehem began attacking these Palestinians in the area, Wafa correspondents stated. Wafa also reported that Israeli forces raided a town near Tubas and stormed the Qalandia camp, where they arrested at least one young man.

military · geopolitical

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Mecca Agreement gives Turkey new leverage and risk in equal measure

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Mecca Agreement gives Turkey new leverage and risk in equal measure The defence pact signed by Turkey , Saudi Arabia and Pakistan , known for now as the Mecca Agreement , has laid down a firm statement of political intent: to sharpen regional deterrence, and to put the burden of the region's security back in the hands of the region itself. Yet the collective defence promise at the heart of the pact raises as many questions as it answers. Its central clause, that an attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all, has fuelled expectations that the three countries could build a Nato-style deterrent of their own. But the structure is still in its infancy, and much remains unclear: how far it will hold up on the ground, how durable the political trust between the parties will prove, and how military, intelligence and technological capabilities are to be pooled. Read more: Mecca Agreement gives Turkey new leverage and risk in equal measure

military · geopolitical

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Iran presses other countries to refrain from implementing US sanctions

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Iran presses other countries to refrain from implementing US sanctions Iran’s Foreign Ministry said all countries were obliged to refrain from implementing US sanctions against Tehran, adding that participation in them amounted to complicity in imposing one state’s unlawful will on independent states. In a statement published on its X account on Friday, the ministry described new US economic measures as illegal and reprehensible "state terrorism" and a crime against humanity, saying they put the health and livelihoods of millions of civilians at serious risk. It called on the international community to uphold the rule of law and said Tehran would use all its capabilities to defend itself against what it called a combined US-Israeli military and economic assault. Reporting by Reuters

military · geopolitical

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Chinese military unveils AI system to plan and coordinate mass air strikes

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The Chinese air force is using an AI-enabled system to draw up battle plans for operations involving more than 100 units, according to a state television documentary. The “intelligent strike planning system” was designed to help commanders and pilots by prioritising targets, coordinating attack waves and allocating specific tasks to units, the CCTV programme broadcast on Sunday said, adding that it had been used “multiple” times. The rare insight into the use of AI highlights Beijing’s efforts...

military · geopolitical

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US, Japan Warn of More Yen Action If Needed; Oil Falls on US-Iran Optimism |Bloomberg Brief 08/03/26

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The yen swings after US and Japanese officials signal they are committed to defending the currency following their first joint intervention in 15 years. Oil falls after President Trump called off military strikes in the Middle East and said US-Iran talks are set to resume. Rebecca Walser of Walser Wealth Management discusses the implications of Fed Chair Warsh mulling changes to the frequency and timing of Fed meetings. Massimo Battaini, CEO of Prysmian, discusses the company's all-cash deal to acquire US electrical parts manufacturer Atkore, in an exclusive interview. (Source: Bloomberg)

military · geopolitical

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How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust

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How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust When Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Kuwait of being “part of the fire of the wicked” on social media last week, it was apparent that the previously amicable relationship between the two countries had now soured. “Iran has always adhered to good neighbourliness, but the smoke of ingratitude and the absence of foresight will blind the eyes of the ungrateful,” Baghaei warned . His comments were a reference to the support Iran lent Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-91), and were made as American military bases in Kuwait came under fire by Iranian missiles. Since the start of this year’s aggression, American bases across the Gulf have been targeted by Iran, which has long preferred asymmetrical warfare to direct confrontation, and have been significantly damaged as a result. Kuwait has denied that the USA has launched strikes from air bases on its territory, and its defence ministry spokesperson described Iran’s actions as “criminal aggression". Before recent tensions, relations between the two states had been tested over the decades. They took a downward turn when Kuwait aligned itself with Iraq after President Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980, but became more cordial in the aftermath of the Gulf War. Iran and Kuwait had long maintained diplomatic, commercial and cultural ties, but Saddam’s war on Iran (1980-88) changed that. Read more: How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, 24 June 2026 (Eric Lee/Pool/AFP)

military · geopolitical

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How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust

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How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust Submitted by Amara Sophia Elahi on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 09:55 From hosting Kuwaiti refugees during the Gulf War to exchanging accusations over US military bases, the relationship has undergone repeated shifts US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, 24 June 2026 (Eric Lee/Pool/AFP) Off When Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Kuwait of being “part of the fire of the wicked” on social media last week, it was apparent that the previously amicable relationship between the two countries had now soured. “Iran has always adhered to good neighbourliness, but the smoke of ingratitude and the absence of foresight will blind the eyes of the ungrateful,” Baghaei warned . His comments were a reference to the support Iran lent Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-91), and were made as American military bases in Kuwait came under fire by Iranian missiles. Since the start of this year’s aggression, American bases across the Gulf have been targeted by Iran, which has long preferred asymmetrical warfare to direct confrontation, and have been significantly damaged as a result. Kuwait has denied that the USA has launched strikes from air bases on its territory, and its defence ministry spokesperson described Iran’s actions as “criminal aggression". Before recent tensions, relations between the two states had been tested over the decades. They took a downward turn when Kuwait aligned itself with Iraq after President Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980, but became more cordial in the aftermath of the Gulf War. Iran and Kuwait had long maintained diplomatic, commercial and cultural ties, but Saddam’s war on Iran (1980-88) changed that. Kuwait provided financial and logistical support for the Iraqi president’s war efforts against Iran, offering billions of dollars in loans, and allowing its port to be used to transport Iraqi weapons and supplies. "They had concerns about Revolutionary Iran," Dr Alam Saleh, a lecturer at the Australian National University, told Middle East Eye. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, Kuwaiti leaders feared that Iran’s new government might gain dominance over the Persian Gulf region. They also worried that Iran might incite Kuwait's sizeable Shia population to revolt against the Al-Sabah monarchy. During the 1980s war, Iran was blamed for attacking Kuwaiti oil ships and targeting the US and French embassies, Kuwait International Airport, and the hijacking of Kuwait Airways flights. “Direct Iranian state responsibility for these attacks has never been conclusively proven,” Saleh observed. Forever wars In August 1990, just two years after the end of the Iran-Iraq War, Saddam invaded Kuwait, allegedly because the Gulf state was overproducing oil by using American technology to drill in Rumaila, southern Iraq. This had led to a global slump in oil prices and damaged Iraq’s fragile economy, which was already in debt from war with Iran. Israeli attacks reawaken Gulf war trauma as Iranians attempt to flee Tehran Read More » Days before the invasion, Saddam held a meeting with the US Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie, who seemingly implied that America would not intervene in Arab regional conflicts. Saddam viewed this as a green light to invade Kuwait, a territory he had previously claimed belonged to Iraq. America did end up becoming involved, however, and led a coalition of 42 countries to fight by air and on the ground against Saddam’s forces. The war created a humanitarian crisis, with over a million people in Kuwait fleeing to neighbouring countries. Iran welcomed thousands of refugees, including foreign nationals who had been working in Kuwait, people who were stateless, and Iraqi nationals. Mobile camps in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, on the border with Iraq and Kuwait, were set up providing food, shelter and safe passage, and the Iranian government granted political asylum and organised flights for people stranded by the conflict. UK MPs who visited the camps commended Iran’s efforts to help refugees from Kuwait, according to records from the time. During a parliamentary debate in 1991, Michael Jopling, then a Conservative MP, observed: “My impression of the camps was that things were going reasonably well. “The Iranians seemed to be dealing adequately with the massive crisis which confronted them.” Burning oil wells Before Iraqi troops were forced to retreat in Kuwait by American-led coalition forces, Saddam commanded them to sabotage key infrastructure, including electrical grids, water systems, civilian buildings, and its oil industry. Not only did they blow up refineries, storage tanks and pumping stations, but they also dumped millions of barrels of oil into the Persian Gulf, causing an unprecedented environmental disaster and the largest marine oil spill in history. Blair urged Kuwait to buy UK arms in 'recognition' of Gulf war support, memos show Read More » Furthermore, Iraqi forces deliberately ignited over 600 oil wells in Kuwait, resulting in crude oil leaking out and producing toxic plumes of smoke and black rain that travelled as far as Iran. "The smoke from the oil wells spread into southwestern Iran, causing air pollution, health concerns, and environmental damage,” Saleh explained. As a result, Iran assisted with international efforts to extinguish the burning oil wells by sending a team of 47 oil industry experts and engineers to Kuwait, in what was the largest oil firefighting operation in history. "They had gained extensive experience repairing oil facilities and extinguishing fires during the Iran-Iraq war after repeated Iraqi attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure,” Saleh said. The Iranian team was assigned to Burgan in the southeast of Kuwait, where the country’s largest and most heavily damaged oil field was located. After shipping their own machinery and equipment to Kuwait, they successfully managed to cap 28 oil wells, whilst working in dangerous conditions including being surrounded by unexploded Iraqi landmines. The operation was considered a diplomatic gesture of goodwill by Tehran towards its Gulf neighbour, as both countries now shared a common enemy in Iraq, and it helped to improve relations between them over the subsequent decade. "Throughout the 1990s Iran and Kuwait expanded diplomatic dialogue, trade and security cooperation while managing their differences pragmatically,” Saleh explained. US expansion In the aftermath of the Gulf War, the US began establishing military bases in the region, and over the decades expanded its presence there. There are 19 US bases across the Middle East today. Kuwait hosts five of them, the largest number of any Middle Eastern country, where 13,500 American troops are stationed. Iran hits US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan after 10 nights of US attacks Read More » Some analysts have suggested that America was deliberately luring Iraq to invade Kuwait so that it had a legitimate reason to permanently deploy American troops into the Persian Gulf and control regional oil production. Iran has always viewed US presence in the Middle East as a threat to its sovereignty and a symbol of imperialism. "Iran opposes all long-term US military bases in the Persian Gulf, arguing that they undermine regional security, but generally separates this issue from its bilateral relations with Kuwait” according to Saleh. Kuwait claims it does not use its territory, airspace or waters for offensive operations, contrary to media reports. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Kuwait, along with Bahrain, secretly dispatched military jets to attack drone and missile storage depots in Iran earlier this month. "Kuwait has served as an important US logistics and command hub,” Saleh said. “Public evidence suggests its facilities have supported regional military operations.” Furthermore, President Trump has publicly thanked Kuwait and other Gulf states for backing his war on Iran, which has been viewed as complicity by Iranian analysts such as Hassan Ahmadian, Professor of West Asian Studies at the University of Tehran. New defence pact This week, Kuwait ratified a five-year defence pact with Pakistan , the country chosen to act as a mediator in Iran-US negotiations, which has led to some Iranian observers raising concerns that this may complicate Islamabad's position as a negotiating partner. Kuwait and Pakistan had already signed a defence partnership in 2023, but recent talks have focused on military training as well as sharing personnel, intelligence and technology. Some analysts have observed that while the pact itself is unremarkable, the timing is not, and that it points to a change in how Kuwait is thinking about regional security, in light of the current war. “Iran will monitor the agreement but is unlikely to oppose it unless it is used against Iranian interests,” Saleh observed. “Since Pakistan has also acted as a mediator, Tehran is expected to maintain constructive relations with both countries while closely watching developments in the Persian Gulf.” Inside Kuwait News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

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'They want to make us leave': Israel destroys West Bank wells serving Palestinian herders

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'They want to make us leave': Israel destroys West Bank wells serving Palestinian herders Submitted by Mojahid Nawahda on Mon, 08/03/2026 - 11:13 Residents of Ras al-Ahmar say the destruction of their main water source follows months of settler attacks Families haul water after wells in Ras al-Ahmar were destroyed (Mojahid Nawahda/MEE) Off As first light reaches the scattered tents and animal pens of Ras al-Ahmar in the northern Jordan Valley, the silence is broken only by the cries of thirsty livestock waiting for water that no longer comes. Days after Israeli forces destroyed three of the Palestinian community's main water wells, residents are scrambling to secure enough water for their families, crops and animals in one of the occupied West Bank's driest regions. For 60-year-old Ali Bani Odeh, the destruction of the wells was more than merely the loss of infrastructure. A father of four and grandfather of 14, he has spent decades farming and raising livestock to support his family in Ras al-Ahmar. Now, like dozens of other families, he is uncertain how long they can continue living on the land without a reliable water supply. "Water is everything for us," Ali told Middle East Eye. "Without water, we cannot live. We need it for our families, our sheep and our crops. Since the wells were destroyed, we have been forced to bring water from town at a much higher cost, and even then, we're not always allowed to pass." Families must now haul water from distant towns at far greater expense, while military checkpoints and movement restrictions frequently delay or prevent tankers from reaching the village. 'The wells were the lifeline of this community' – Abdullah Bisharat, head of the village council According to Ras al-Ahmar village council head Abdullah Bisharat, the three destroyed wells supplied more than 47 Palestinian families, serving over 600 people and irrigating around 7,500 dunams of farmland. The wells also sustained thousands of sheep and goats, the main source of income for many families. "The wells were the lifeline of this community," Bisharat said. "Their destruction has affected every aspect of daily life, from drinking water and agriculture to livestock, leaving dozens of families struggling to meet their most basic needs." Settler attacks Residents say the destruction marked the worst escalation in a months-long water crisis caused by Israeli settler attacks. They say settlers repeatedly cut the pipelines supplying the community, forcing families to rely on costly water tankers. This time, however, the wells themselves were destroyed, eliminating the community's main source of water. Ali's son, Obeida Bani Odeh, fears the loss of the wells threatens not only his family's livelihood but also their future in Ras al-Ahmar. How Israeli settler terrorism threatens the basics of Palestinian survival Read More » "We cannot survive here without water," Obeida said. "For months, the pipelines supplying our community were repeatedly cut, and we had to bring water from nearby towns, often at three times the usual cost. "Now the wells have been destroyed, and there is no reliable source of water left for our families or our livestock." He said the challenges extend beyond water shortages. Settler attacks and movement restrictions have made it increasingly difficult to bring in water, animal feed and other essential supplies. "The settlers attack everyone, from the young to the old," Obeida said. "They want to make people afraid and force them to leave. But we have been living on this land for generations." The three destroyed wells supplied more than 47 Palestinian families, around 600 people (Mojahid Nawahda/MEE) Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem across roughly 300 settlements and outposts. The settlements are regarded as illegal under international law, according to the International Court of Justice . Settler attacks on Palestinian herding communities have increased sharply in recent years. Between January 2023 and April 2026, at least 5,910 Palestinians were internally displaced due to settler violence in the West Bank, according to UN data. ‘A silent war’ Aref Daraghmeh, a human rights activist, says the destruction of water infrastructure in Ras al-Ahmar reflects a broader struggle over control of natural resources in the Jordan Valley. "Water has become a silent war against Palestinians in the Jordan Valley," Daraghmeh told MEE. "The occupation has taken control of many Palestinian water sources, while the water available to Palestinian communities is insufficient for agriculture and sustaining life on the land." ‘Policy to displace us’: How settler attacks are drying up the West Bank Read More » Daraghmeh said restrictions on water access have contributed to the decline of Palestinian agriculture, making it increasingly difficult for farmers and herders to sustain their livelihoods. As water becomes harder to access, he argues, communities face growing pressure to leave their land while settlement agriculture continues to expand across the Jordan Valley. He added that movement restrictions have compounded those challenges. "The Jordan Valley is effectively under closure," Daraghmeh said. "Military checkpoints control movement, roads are restricted, and residents often have to wait for hours before they can enter or leave their communities." For farmers and herders, those restrictions make it harder to reach grazing land and transport livestock, produce and agricultural supplies, adding to the pressures already created by limited access to water. But for Ali Bani Odeh, leaving Ras al-Ahmar is not an option. Displaced from his home as a child, he says he will not leave again. "I have left before, but I will not leave this place," Ali said. "If we leave, they will take over the land. We are staying because this is where our lives and our history are." Occupation Teebah Assi Ras al-Ahmar, occupied Palestine News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

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Why Israel is a friend of budding autocrats around the world

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Why Israel is a friend of budding autocrats around the world Submitted by Antony Loewenstein on Wed, 07/29/2026 - 21:27 As global public opinion turns against Tel Aviv, the Netanyahu regime is ramping up its electoral meddling, from Europe to South America Presidential hopeful Flavio Bolsonaro appears with his wife, Fernanda, during the launch of his candidacy in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 25 July 2026 (Nelson Almeida/AFP) On I have spent more than a decade investigating the Israeli arms and surveillance industries, and have always understood that the Israeli state is far more involved than it publicly admits. The revolving door between the public and private sector is well-known , but how exactly did some of the biggest Israeli companies achieve such incredible access to governments around the world, from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia? Beyond Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spyware diplomacy - a highly effective way to make friends, by offering sophisticated tools to spy on perceived enemies, journalists, human rights workers and even friends - there were always gaps in our knowledge. But a recent revelation provides a window into how it happened. In 2013, Shalev Hulio - one of the founders of NSO Group, which developed the phone spyware Pegasus - travelled to Panama on an Israeli diplomatic passport and stayed at the Israeli embassy. The vital reporting by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and two other media outlets found that Hulio was central to NSO Group’s sale of Pegasus to Panama in 2012, and that he signed the contract with the Panamanian government. “Panamanian migration records obtained by reporters show Hulio arrived at Tocumen airport in Panama City from the U.S. on a Copa Airlines flight on December 3, 2013, and used a diplomatic passport to enter the country. The records state Hulio’s visit was for ‘recreation’ and list his profession as ‘diplomat,’” the report notes. This piece of the puzzle confirms part of a story that has been hard to pin down with documents, and not just conjecture: NSO Group and many other Israeli arms and surveillance firms operate as an arm of the Israeli state, advancing its interests, biases and agendas - and operating with its full protection. Political leverage The vast treasure trove of information that has been gathered by NSO Group and other like-minded firms is incalculable, as they are the ones extracting data from mobile phones (as opposed to the paying clients). It’s thus inevitable that NSO Group, and by extension the Israeli government, have gathered information and secrets that could be used for political leverage on any number of countries. This is one way that Israel maintains such significant diplomatic leverage. The story about spyware and hacking battles over the last decade, and Israel’s central place within them, has not gone away. Israeli spying tools continue to be used against unsuspecting politicians, journalists and activists. A rampaging Israeli government wants to make friends in the international community, as public opinion turns against it in an unprecedented way From the European Parliament to Russia , the lack of regulation in the industry has allowed it to metastasize without restraint. But the threat of cyber-tools like Pegasus seems relatively minor when compared with the explosion of Israeli election interference around the globe. From Scotland to France , and Colombia to Honduras , Israeli companies are deploying the dark arts to push for pro-Israel candidates to win. This includes massive bot farms, spreading disinformation about pro- Palestinian candidates, and manipulating social media. As with the spyware industry, the world responds with paralysis and fear. This is an issue that goes to the heart of democracy and the viability of its existence. Israeli electoral manipulation services are for sale to the highest bidder, and they’re already twisting what we know and understand about the very essence of free and fair elections. Destabilisation campaigns Take Latin America, a region that’s experiencing a wave of Israeli-led disruption campaigns. Earlier this year, a story surfaced about alleged collaboration among the Trump administration, the Netanyahu regime, and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was sentenced in the US in 2024 on massive drug-related charges - and pardoned the following year. The plan? Destabilise “unfriendly” governments and aim to install pro-Israel and pro-US elements to undermine left-wingers, from Colombia to Mexico (the former campaign has already been successful, with the recent win of president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella). Brazil may be next, with presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro - son of the previous president, Jair Bolsonaro - launching his campaign with an endorsement from Netanyahu. How Israel sabotages democracy in the Middle East Read More » It’s fair to presume that Israeli electoral hackers will be working night and day to assist the Bolsonaro campaign and sabotage Brazilian President Luiz ‌Inacio Lula da Silva in the run-up to the October general election. Honduras once again appears to be a central point around which Israeli and American far-right pressures are being applied; the country is reportedly willing to give control of military bases and special economic zones to Israel and the US. All of this is occurring while Israel is experiencing its biggest collapse in support in its history. This is a historic change - one that could well impact western politics in the coming years. But right now, Palestine is being trampled and erased, from Gaza to the occupied West Bank . It’s hard to convey the scale of the displacement, violence and fear among Palestinians. This is the Israeli state on steroids, sensing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to remove as many Palestinians from their land as possible, making way for a truly Jewish supremacist and rabbinical state. In this context, it makes sense that a rampaging Israeli government wants to make friends in the international community, as public opinion turns against it in an unprecedented way. Electoral manipulation might seem like a desperate move from a nation on the edge, but in reality it represents an acceleration of Israel as a reliable, autocratic ally - one that proudly discriminates against minorities and Palestinians, and inspires the surging far right in the process. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Inside Israel Opinion Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

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‘She is alive’: Myanmar’s Suu Kyi meets Red Cross official in first post-coup visit

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Myanmar’s detained democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi met the nation’s Red Cross representative on Monday, the president’s office said, the first publicised meeting between her and a foreign official since she was ousted in a 2021 coup. The military deposed Suu Kyi in February 2021, jailing the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and triggering an ongoing civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people on all sides. The coup leader and former junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, was installed as civilian...

military · geopolitical

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Israeli forces drop missiles, phosphorus bombs on southern Lebanon

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Israeli forces drop missiles, phosphorus bombs on southern Lebanon Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes launched missile attacks on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa at around 1am local time (10pm GMT), causing loud reverberating explosions that were heard in nearby towns. Elsewhere in the town of Yaroun, Haroun and Bint Jbeil, the state agency reported that phosphorus bombs were dropped, resulting in large fires in the areas' olive and pine groves. Later in the day, Israeli troops opened fire using machine guns towards Wadi Hamoul, near Naqoura.

military · geopolitical

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Philippines eyes Ukraine’s drone know-how for South China Sea

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Ukraine’s use of cheap, adaptable drones to slow Russia’s military advance has become a model for countries looking to modernise their armed forces, with the Philippines the latest to explore what defence lessons it can learn from Kyiv. Some analysts see a proposed drone partnership with Ukraine as a potential game changer for Manila, offering a short cut to more agile, asymmetric capabilities as tensions persist in the South China Sea. Others are more cautious, urging the Philippines to first...

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