A constitutional leadership crisis is looming over the Palestinian Authority as Jan. 9 – the date that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' term officially ends – draws near.
Lebanese leaders have been eyeing the present conflict in the Gaza Strip with apprehension for fear it would spread to Lebanon.
OPINION
It may be somewhat early to discuss a comprehensive solution for the future of the Palestinian state on the one hand and to predict the way the global war with terrorism will end on the other hand. But it is urgent to remember the intentions of the Iranian and Syrian regimes and their proxy, Hezbollah, when thinking in terms of saving the civilian populations of Gaza from war, shielding the Israeli populations from rockets and avoiding an escalation of violence that could engulf the entire region.
In recent times the United Nations has become the target of criticisms, particularly in the United States. However, the failure of the United States to pay its dues to the organization has considerably hindered its work and reduced its effectiveness. The election of a new U.S. president is a unique chance for improving the United Nations and to make it even more responsive to the needs of people around the world.
