IPS correspondents bring you independent perspectives on what is happening in Iran, Iraq and across the Middle East.

MIDEAST: Raze Illegal Buildings – Unless They Are Jewish
By Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler
SILWAN, Occupied East Jerusalem (IPS) – Backed by armed security men, the municipal inspectors race their jeeps through the narrow alleyways and up a hillside crowded with buildings.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50202

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MIDEAST: Pro-Israel Lobbies Work on Europe
By David Cronin
BRUSSELS (IPS) – Defenders of Israel?s aggressive stance have for many years been recognised as a powerful force shaping United States foreign policy. A less well-known fact is that the pro-Israel lobby has been making a concerted effort to strengthen its presence in Europe.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50190

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MIDEAST: Corrupt Arab Regimes – Who is to Blame?
Analysis by Mel Frykberg
RAMALLAH (IPS) – The Mideast continues to be plagued by autocratic Arab regimes where human rights, democracy and freedom of speech are a pipe dream for the average citizen. But who is to blame and what can be done to amend this situation?
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50189

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IRAQ: Agility Attempts to Vault Fraud Charges – Part 1
By Pratap Chatterjee*
WASHINGTON (IPS) – Agility, a Kuwait-based multi-billion-dollar logistics company spawned by the U.S. invasion of Iraq, is scheduled be arraigned on Feb. 8 on criminal charges of overbilling U.S. taxpayers for food supply contracts in the Iraq war zone that were worth more than 8.5 billion dollars.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50185

IRAQ: Allegations of Fraud Scheme at Agility of Kuwait ? Part 2
By Pratap Chatterjee*
WASHINGTON (IPS) – The Sultan family of Kuwait runs a variety of businesses alleged to be at the heart of a scheme to overcharge the U.S. military by as much as a billion dollars over the last seven years. The company is currently scheduled to face criminal arraignment on Feb. 8 in Atlanta, Georgia.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50191

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JORDAN: Palestinians Unfairly Stripped of Citizenship – Report
By Charles Fromm
WASHINGTON (IPS) – The Jordanian government should halt the arbitrary revocation of nationality from its citizens of Palestinian origin, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released Monday.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50183

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MIDEAST: Helpless in Gaza
By Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler
JERSUALEM (IPS) – Scores of Palestinian women and their children carefully sift through the desert sands. They are looking for hard nuggets.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50179

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Q&A: ‘’Hamas Accepts Existence of Israel Within 1967 Borders’’
Mel Frykberg interviews MAHMOUDI RAMAHI, secretary-general of the Palestinian Legislative Council
RAMALLAH (IPS) – Palestinian politics are at an impasse. The four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) ended on Jan. 25 with no new elections planned. Presidential elections, meant to be held last year, were also postponed indefinitely.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50152

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MIDEAST: Clean Energy Faces Tough Financial Climate
By Cam McGrath
CAIRO (IPS) – Renewable energy projects in the Middle East could be scaled back or scuttled unless fresh sources of financing are found.
www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50143

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IPS launches year of reporting on the World Social Forum

Ten years ago the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre burst onto the world stage giving social movements and civil society the space to challenge the orthodoxies symbolised by the World Economic Forum. Visit the IPS TerraViva World Social Forum 2010 site for independent news, analysis and commentary on up to 35 WSF events that will take place on every continent in 2010. What are the continuing challenges that drive social movements, and will the WSF stay relevant and innovative? Read IPS TerraViva to find out.
www.ips.org/TV/wsf2010/

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SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE NEW IPS GenderWire:

Only about 22 percent of the voices you hear and read in the news are women?s. You can change your perspective – Read the new IPS Gender Wire.
ipsnews.net/_newsletter/genderwire.asp

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DON’T MISS IPS EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

U.S. President Barack Obama has inherited wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a tanking economy, and global crises like climate change. IPS reports on the implications of the new administration not just for U.S. citizens, but for the world.
www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/us_elections2008/index.asp

For more IPS reporting on the Middle East – www.ipsnews.net/middle.asp

Iraq: Beyond the Green Zone – www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/iraq/

Iran: The Parthian Shot – www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/iran/

Holy Land/Unholy War – www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/israel_palestina/

Afghan Divide – www.ipsnews.net/afghanistan/

Bush?s Legacy – www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/warII/

IPS coverage of terrorism – www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/terrorism/

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