International

Between war and war

Israel urges the US to attack, the Arab Gulf states vacillate

by Karin Leukefeld,* Beirut

(27 February 2026) For the sixth time in a year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to Washington to dissuade US President Donald Trump from reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme. The hasty day trip did not produce the result Netanyahu had hoped for, according to the internet platform “Al Monitor”, quoting the US President after the nearly three-hour meeting between the two.

Iran’s comprehensive peace proposal to the United States

by Jeffrey D. Sachs* & Sybil Fares**

(20 February 2026) The Middle East stands at a crossroads between endless war and comprehensive peace. A framework for peace does exists. Will the US finally seize it?

The US keeps openly admitting it deliberately caused the Iran protests

Trump administration's policy violates international law

by Caitlin Johnstone,* Australia

(13 February 2026) Speaking before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explicitly stated that the US deliberately caused a financial crisis in Iran with the goal of fomenting civil unrest in the country.
Hungary

Additional funding for Ukraine only possible through tax increases and austerity measures

from “Hungary today”

(6 February 2026) (CH-S) The EU Commission is acting dictatorially. It wants to incur debts for the war in Ukraine, which current and future generations of EU member states will have to pay off. Hungary is even receiving instructions from the EU Commission on which social benefits to cut and where further savings should be made. This report on the news portal “Hungary today” is documented by “Swiss Standpoint”.

The US-Israel hybrid war against Iran

Jeffrey D. Sachs* & Sybil Fares**

(6 February 2026) The question is not if the US and Israel will attack Iran, but when. In the nuclear age, the US refrains from all-out war, since it can easily lead to nuclear escalation. Instead, the US and Israel are waging war against Iran through a combination of crushing economic sanctions,1 targeted military strikes, cyberwarfare, stoking unrest, and unrelenting misinformation campaigns. This combination strategy is called “hybrid warfare.”

Peace in the Ukraine conflict?

Why efforts to date have not been enough

by Ralph Bosshard,* Switzerland

(30 January 2026) (CH-S) The association “Swiss Standpoint” invited Ralph Bosshard to speak and participate in discussions at its New Year’s conference (2–4 January 2026). The article below picks up on current developments and links them to the central themes of his presentation.