Israel settlements
Israel is expected to announce plans to build up to 2500 more illegal settlement houses in the occupied West Bank according to a local NGO, Peace Now. The Israeli High Planning Committee of Civil Administration, which is a military authority on the governance of occupied territories, is alleged to be meeting to promote the settlements building. The Israelis feel that they were actually under pressure from a ‘hostile’ Obama administration, but have appeared to have become more confident with Donald Trump backing them in spite of Trump asking Netanyahu to hold back on settlements during their first meeting in Washington.
Afghanistan crisis
Plagued by over a decade-long insecurity, the people of Afghanistan are no stranger to violence. But a recent deadly terror attack, claimed by Daesh, in the capital Kabul seems to have made the Afghans’ blood boil.Since Wednesday’s bombing, Kabul has been the scene of anti-government protests which turned ugly on Friday when a number of demonstrators were shot dead. The protesters are now demanding President Ashraf Ghani’s resignation and argue that his government is incapable of reinforcing . The growing discontent at the government comes after sixteen years since the US and its NATO allies invaded the country under the pretext of fighting the Taliban. Not only the military intervention failed to dislodge the militants, but it gave rise to the Daesh terrorist group.