According to the prevailing wisdom in the West, the Ukraine crisis can be blamed almost entirely on Russian aggression. Russian President Vladimir Putin, the argument goes, annexed Crimea out of a long-standing desire to resuscitate the Soviet empire, and he may eventually go after the rest of Ukraine, as well as other countries in eastern Europe. In this view, the ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014 merely provided a pretext for Putin’s decision to order Russian forces to seize part of Ukraine. But this account is wrong: the United States and its European allies share most of the responsibility for the crisis.

Since the mid-1990s, Russian leaders have adamantly opposed NATO enlargement, and in recent years, they have made it clear that they would not stand by while their strategically important neighbor turned into a Western bastion.

Internet: <http://www.foreignaffairs.com/> (adapted).

The primary cause for the Arab-Israeli conflict lies in the claim of two national movements on the same land, and particularly the Arab refusal to accept Jewish self determination to hold part of that land. Furthermore fundamentalist religious concepts regarding the right of either side to the entire land have played an increasing role, on the Jewish side particularly in the religious settler movement, on the Palestinian side in the Hamas and similar groups. But whereas the settlers received a blow when they failed to prevent the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Hamas won the Palestinian elections, and after their breakup with Fatah and their take-over of the Gaza Strip, they remain a dominant force capable of blocking any peace agreement.

The Arab-Israeli conflict is further complicated by preconceptions and demonizing of the other by both sides. The Israelis see around them mostly undemocratic Arab states with underdeveloped economies, backward cultural and social standards and an aggressive religion inciting to hatred and terrorism. The Arabs consider the Israelis colonial invaders and conquerors, who are aiming to control the entire Middle East.

Since the Oslo peace process however, a broad consensus has been formed that an independent Palestinian Arab state should be established within the areas occupied in 1967. Polls on both sides show that majorities among Israelis and Palestinians accept a two-state solution, but Palestinians almost unanimously stick to the right of return of the refugees to Israel, and most Israelis oppose a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem.

Internet: <http://www.israel-palestina.info/> (adapted).

The primary cause for the Arab-Israeli conflict lies in the claim of two national movements on the same land, and particularly the Arab refusal to accept Jewish self determination to hold part of that land. Furthermore fundamentalist religious concepts regarding the right of either side to the entire land have played an increasing role, on the Jewish side particularly in the religious settler movement, on the Palestinian side in the Hamas and similar groups. But whereas the settlers received a blow when they failed to prevent the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Hamas won the Palestinian elections, and after their breakup with Fatah and their take-over of the Gaza Strip, they remain a dominant force capable of blocking any peace agreement.

The Arab-Israeli conflict is further complicated by preconceptions and demonizing of the other by both sides. The Israelis see around them mostly undemocratic Arab states with underdeveloped economies, backward cultural and social standards and an aggressive religion inciting to hatred and terrorism. The Arabs consider the Israelis colonial invaders and conquerors, who are aiming to control the entire Middle East.

Since the Oslo peace process however, a broad consensus has been formed that an independent Palestinian Arab state should be established within the areas occupied in 1967. Polls on both sides show that majorities among Israelis and Palestinians accept a two-state solution, but Palestinians almost unanimously stick to the right of return of the refugees to Israel, and most Israelis oppose a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem.

Internet: <http://www.israel-palestina.info/> (adapted).

Médecins Sans Frontières

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) est une association sans but lucratif qui a été fondée en France par des médecins et des journalistes en 1971. Aujourd’hui, elle est devenue une organisation médicale humanitaire internationale, qui apporte une assistance à des victimes de conflits armés, mais aussi d’épidémies ou de catastrophes naturelles.

MSF a reçu le prix Nobel de la Paix en 1999 et mène des projets dans plus de 60 pays. MSF est une organisation indépendante et autonome. Nos actions sont guidées par l’éthique médicale et les principes de neutralité et d’impartialité sans aucune discrimination. « C’est pour cela que je travaille avec MSF. Je crois profondément qu’il devrait exister une justice sociale dans le monde, une sorte d’égalité. Les personnes que j’aide appartiennent à la race humaine; j’estime que nous sommes tous les mêmes. J’accepte de risquer ma vie pour soigner les malades d’Ebola, une maladie infectieuse gravissime », affirme la volontaire Cokie Van der Velde.

La garantie de l’indépendance de l’association se base sur son financement, assuré à 90% par la générosité des donateurs privés, car MSF ne reçoit que les dons privés et n’accepte jamais les fonds des parties directement impliquées dans un conflit.

Internet: <http://www.msf-azg.be/fr> (texte retiré de l’Intérnet en 2014 et adapté).

The primary cause for the Arab-Israeli conflict lies in the claim of two national movements on the same land, and particularly the Arab refusal to accept Jewish self determination to hold part of that land. Furthermore fundamentalist religious concepts regarding the right of either side to the entire land have played an increasing role, on the Jewish side particularly in the religious settler movement, on the Palestinian side in the Hamas and similar groups. But whereas the settlers received a blow when they failed to prevent the disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Hamas won the Palestinian elections, and after their breakup with Fatah and their take-over of the Gaza Strip, they remain a dominant force capable of blocking any peace agreement.

The Arab-Israeli conflict is further complicated by preconceptions and demonizing of the other by both sides. The Israelis see around them mostly undemocratic Arab states with underdeveloped economies, backward cultural and social standards and an aggressive religion inciting to hatred and terrorism. The Arabs consider the Israelis colonial invaders and conquerors, who are aiming to control the entire Middle East.

Since the Oslo peace process however, a broad consensus has been formed that an independent Palestinian Arab state should be established within the areas occupied in 1967. Polls on both sides show that majorities among Israelis and Palestinians accept a two-state solution, but Palestinians almost unanimously stick to the right of return of the refugees to Israel, and most Israelis oppose a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem.

Internet: <http://www.israel-palestina.info/> (adapted).