Vijay Prashad, professor at Trinity College, Hartford, CT, USA comments on the latest developments in Yemen where unpopular ruler Abdullah Saleh has maintained his grip on power through recourse to support from Saudi Arabia. He also comments on US president Barack Obama's latest speech on the Arab Spring and the supposed "differences" between Israel and the United States following the Hamas-Fatah accord.

The Israeli regime has now agreed to lift partially the blockade of Gaza: potato chips, mattresses, washing machines, honey – all of which were banned earlier can now enter Gaza. Predictably, the US and EU Governments have welcomed this Israeli step, without questioning the military significance of the earlier banning potato chips. Nor have these leaders of the “civilized world”, continuously teaching the virtues of human rights and democracy to their more “backward brethren” in the global south, questioned what is the military significance of banning Gaza exports and preventing exit of students to study in the West Bank? How do Gaza’s exports affect Israel’s security? How do preventing Gaza students from studying in the West Bank increase its security?

The Dubai assassination of a senior Hamas figure has created a diplomatic embarrassment for Israel. Curiously enough, it is not on whether targeted assassination as a part of state policy is acceptable or not. Britain, Germany and Ireland have gone public with their displeasure that the assassins used their country’s passports. Assassinations are ok, forging passports are not.