The New York Times reports that the Kurds in Iraq have approved a constitution (two weeks ago) that lays claim to the disputed and oil-rich Al-Ta'mim province (home to Kirkuk). This basically stomps right through quiet negotiations that had apparently started recently between Kurdish and Iraqi lawmakers, organized by the United Nations and United States.
As Joe Biden lands in Israel, the Israeli government -- obviously keen to demonstrate that it's serious about restarting peace talks -- announced Monday that it will violate its West Bank settlement freeze and build 112 new homes in Beitar Illit, a settlement west of Bethlehem.
A handful of insurgent attacks around the country killed two dozen people, but Iraqi security forces seemed generally confident; the vehicle ban in Baghdad, scheduled to last all day, was lifted before noon. Anecdotal reports suggest a strong turnout across the country.
Iraq's campaign season wrapped up today, 48 hours ahead of the election, as soldiers and medical personnel voted early. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police will be on duty Sunday for the general election, when millions of Iraqis will vote at some 10,00 polling centers around the country (and abroad).
- Zulqarnain Majid commented on Tantawi takes aim at the niqab
- lubnani commented on GOP senators to Obama: No Syria ambassador
- Siro commented on "Economic peace" is easier than a settlement freeze
- Spencer Ackerman commented on Short-term fixes, long-term consequences
- abrar commented on Short-term fixes, long-term consequences
Bloggers
- Abu Muqawama
- All Things Counterterrorism
- Arab Media & Society
- Attackerman
- Baghdad Bureau
- Baghdad Observer
- Black Iris of Jordan
- Blogging the Casbah
- Boursa Exchange
- Checkpoint Jerusalem
- Foreign Policy Watch
- George Packer
- Inside Iraq
- Jihadica
- Institute for War & Peace Reporting
- Marc Lynch
- Middle East Strategy
- Musings on Iraq
- Newshoggers
- Nukes and Spooks
- Registan
- Syria News Wire
- Talking Points Memo
- Tehran Bureau
- The Arabist
- The Middle East Blog
- Waq al-Waq