Simon Speakman Cordall

Tunis

Senior Producer at AJE Digital. Gentleman explorer and noted raconteur. Currently banned in Israel. Bylines in: lots of stuff.

Articles

How does Israel restrict its media from reporting on the Iran conflict?

1 week ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

The Israeli government has issued new directives restricting how its media covers its current war with Iran. On Wednesday, a circular from Israel's military censor, Brigadier General Kobi Mandelblit, announced new rules on what Israeli media organisations and journalists within the country can - and cannot - publish about the effect of Iranian strikes. The legal underpinnings of censorship in Israel are older than the country itself.
Iran war gives Netanyahu political breathing room in Israel

1 week ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

Two confidence votes, each fewer than seven days apart, tell much of the story of Israel's political transformation since it launched attacks on longstanding regional nemesis Iran on Friday. Early on Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government narrowly survived a vote that ensured its continuation after an 11th-hour deal was reached with ultra-Orthodox parties who are a key force within it.
What is behind Israel's decision to attack Iran?

2 weeks ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

Israel has begun its long-signalled attacks on Iran with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying they would continue "as long as necessary". The attacks, which began early on Friday, appear to have been carefully planned, hitting military and government targets and killing several senior military leaders - including the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, and the chief of staff of the armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri.
Is Israel planning to strike Iran, or is it bluffing?

2 weeks ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

Israel has been pushing to strike Iran for months, if not years. Signs this week that an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities was potentially imminent have ratcheted up fears of a regional conflict, particularly in light of the US withdrawal of some diplomatic staff and their dependents from Iraq and the wider region. US President Donald Trump's comments have added to the sense that a military confrontation is coming, saying on Thursday that a strike "could very well happen".
Gaza's first fisherwoman inspires solidarity mission

3 weeks ago | aljazeera.com | Maram Humaid |Simon Speakman Cordall

Gaza City - As the Madleen sails towards Gaza to try to deliver life-saving aid to its people, little is known about the woman the boat was named after: Madleen Kulab, Gaza's only fisherwoman. When Al Jazeera first met Madleen Kulab (also spelled Madelyn Culab) three years ago, she had two children, was expecting her third and lived a relatively quiet life in Gaza City with her husband, Khader Bakr, 32, also a fisherman.
Divided Israel faces internal unrest amid escalating Gaza conflict

4 weeks ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

As Israel's devastating war on Gaza grinds on, pushed forward by a prime minister insistent that a goal of total military victory be met, the divisions within Israeli society are growing increasingly deeper. In the last few weeks, as Israeli peace activists and antiwar groups have stepped up their campaign against the conflict, supporters of the war have also increased their pressure to continue, whatever its humanitarian, political or diplomatic cost.
Storey photography exhibition highlights the plight of thousands trapped in North Africa

4 weeks ago | lancasterguardian.co.uk | Simon Speakman Cordall

A new exhibition of original photography aims to tell the story of the tens of thousands of refugees, asylum seekers and irregular migrants from across Africa trapped in Tunisia. Hundreds of people enter Tunisia every day, many fleeing wars, others the complete break down of law and order, some the collapse of the climate that supported them and their families.
Israel's anti-war protests small, but growing

1 month ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

"One of the guards came up to me and asked if I was there to save Gaza's children, then he punched me in the stomach," Alon-Lee Green said, recounting his experience in an Israeli prison this week. Green and eight others were arrested on Sunday for protesting with about 600 others along Israel's border with Gaza, spending two nights and almost three days in prison before being placed under house arrest.
Israeli speculation mounts over potential rift between Trump and Netanyahu

1 month ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has often tried to paint himself as a close friend of United States President Donald Trump, but the relationship has rarely been as straightforward as the Israeli premier has portrayed it. And recently, speculation across the Israeli media that the relationship between the two leaders, and by extension, their countries, has begun to unravel is becoming unavoidable.
Refugees run out of options in Tunisia

2 months ago | aljazeera.com | Simon Speakman Cordall

Patricia is sobbing over the phone. About a dozen Tunisian policemen came to her camp this morning to tell her and the other refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants living rough in the olive fields outside of Sfax, a coastal city in Tunisia, that they had to leave. Recommended Stories They gave them 48 hours.