Britannia Radio

November 29, 2010 Media Analysis Initial editorial comment on WikiLeaks revelations downplays Arab fears One of the most noteworthy revelations to emerge from the WikiLeaks release of secret US diplomatic messages was that several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, had encouraged the US to use military force to halt Iran's nuclear programme. Having been the first broadsheet to break the story in the UK, The Guardian also led in editorial coverage of the leaked discussions about Iran. Despite a leading article on the leaked cables, and a special multi-authored comment piece specifically on the Middle East angle, there was no acknowledgement that the privately-expressed fears of states such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan suggested that Israel's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme are well founded. Instead, the issue was downplayed, and Israel was painted as the primary antagonist in the area... Read more >> The Wire US embassy cables reveal Arab call to bomb Iran Mon. 29 Nov. 2010 @ 12.00 - Publication of a tranche of US diplomatic correspondence reveals Arab pleas for US bombing of Iran. The release last night of over 200 messages from US embassy staff via the WikiLeaks website highlights an otherwise under-reported aspect of Iran's nuclear ambitions: the Arab position. Usually, Israel is depicted as the sole Middle Eastern opponent to a nuclear Iran... Read more >> Towards Palestinian Statehood Portland Trust: Foreign investment and aid top economic gains in Palestine The Portland Trust, a London-based foundation that promotes economic development in the Occupied Territories, has just released itsEconomic Bulletin for November, which highlights some of the material gains that have been registered in Gaza and the West Bank for the previous month. Chief among the bulletin's findings are anincrease in foreign investment between 2008 and 2009, from $1.34bn to $1.58bn, an 18% rise. However, despite this improvement, Palestinian investment abroad is still three times greater than the amount invested in the territories themselves: $5.43 bn. According to Dr. Jihad Al Wazir, governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA), political instability in the territories is the main cause of preferred overseas investment, although he told the bulletin that that percentage of Palestinian banks that kept their assets abroad has dropped markedly a historic high of 65% to 47% today... Read more >> Special Event and