Erstellt am: 22. 7. 2014 - 13:58 Uhr

Friends and Enemies

Reality Check: an increasingly isolated Russia still has some very big friends and the search for truth as age-old enemies call each other out on lies and fabrication.

APA/EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT

A Malaysian expert checks one of the two black boxes of the crashed Malaysian Air airliner MH17 after being handed over to his delegation by pro-Russian separatists during a press conference in Donetsk, Ukraine, earlier today.

Malaysia Airline Tragedy

The black boxes have been handed over to the responsible authorities. The bodies are being moved to a morgue.
The latest developments in the Malaysia Airline tragedy are unfolding while Ukrainian forces have taken full control of Donetsk airport as they continue to fight pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Ukraine city.
Russia has blamed Kiev's resumption of military operations against the rebels at the end of June for the tragedy, while the U.S. has accused Russia of supporting the rebels that Washington believes fired the missile.
International condemnation on Russian President Putin’s handling of the downed commercial flight has been loud and clear. While Putin enjoys a fourteen year high in popularity polls at home, the rest of the world isn’t so convinced. Except for India and China. How could their alliance with Russia, at this crucial point during the Ukraine crisis/ Russia's annexation of Crimea, affect what happens next? That's what international security expert Paul Rogers expands on plus, Tony Cheng is in the region and he gives us his insight there.

APA/EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Palestinian women and children flee from their houses in the Al Shejaeiya neighbourhood, during an Israeli military operation in the east Gaza City.

Gaza/Israel Crisis

While an animated short video depicting the Middle East Conflict through the ages has become a social media ‘hit’, the real-life (and death) current situation defies true comprehension.
Who to believe? Israel says Hamas hides its rockets in hospitals and schools and that Hamas uses civilians as human shields hence the (ever increasing) high death toll of Palestinians.
Hamas says Israel is purposely targeting civilians and that rockets fired from Gaza are no match for Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and military might.
The definition of genocide is being debated. Tweets from all sides proclaim all sorts of ‘facts’.

APA/EPA/ABIR SULTAN

A pregnant woman puts her head down as she takes cover in the Tel Aviv main shopping mall, as a multiple warning siren from incoming rockets sound around city of Tel Aviv, Israel

Peter Bouckaert is Human Rights Watch's emergencies director and an expert in humanitarian crises. His job entails neutrality and this is his take on the latest developments in the seemingly endless saga of Palestine vs. Israel.