Happy New Year!

2009 has been an amazing year for us, with EA gaining readership and recognition beyond our wildest imaginings. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers for a great year- you've provided us with twelve months of news, thought-provoking discussion, and inspiration- and to give special thanks to everyone who's supported us with generous donations. We wish everyone the best for 2010.

Happy New Year!

Obama & The Terrorism Scare: Scott Lucas on BBC Radio 5

I followed BBC correspondent Gordon Corera this morning in discussing the significance of President Obama's statement last night that there had been "systemic failure" leading to last week's attempt to blow up an airliner flying from Amsterdam to Detroit. The item begins just after the 2:07:00 mark in the programme.

Today on EA - 29 December 2009

Iran: Two days after Ashura and the Iranian Government is desperately trying to reestablish some form of control.

The list of Ashura detainees continues to grow and now includes the sister of Nobel Peace Prize holder Shirin Ebadi, many eminent journalists and the brother of Mir Houssein Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard.

We're still adding to our video collections from the Ashura protests. Set three is here. Previous sets are here and here. We also have video analysis from Karim Sadjadpour and Trita Parsi.

America's President Obama addressed the nation on the attempt to blow up a commercial jet on Christmas Day. We have the video, a transcript and our analysis on his take on anti-terrorism and the Iran protests.

All the latest news is, as always, in our liveblog.

Israel: Israel has announced it will build a further 700 apartments in East Jerusalem, despite US objections.

Israel/Palestine: On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Lieberman said he saw no chance for a comprehensive Israel-Palestine agreement in the next 10 to 20 years.

Today on EA (28 December 2009)

Iran: The situation remains tense today. As we follow events and consider long-term significance,  we have an interim assessment: has Iran reached a point of no return? This follows Scott Lucas' five-minute, five-point reaction, given last night to an Italian journalist.

Demonstrations continued well into the night: we've posted the most recent clips we've received. And we now have the video of President Obama's statement this evening on Iran.

Josh Shahryar, who also live-blogged Ashura, concludes that, for the first time in 200 days, Iranians decided "enough was enough". His overall assessment, "Iranians are not punchbags", offers provocative thoughts on non-violence and self-defence.

As always, all the news as we hear it, can be found in our live weblog.

Palestine: EA's Ali Yenidunya reviews Mahmoud Abbas' interview last week with the Wall Street Journal, where he promised "No Third Intifada".

Israel/Palestine: EA's Ali Yenidunya analyses the anniversary of the Gaza War and asks "Who Won" after operation Cast Lead?

Britain/Israel: The controversy over the arrest warrant for former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni continues: the head of Britain's Muslim Council has written to the British Government criticising Foreign Secretary Miliband's statement on the need to change British law to prevent any further warrants.

Today on EA (27 December 2009)

Iran: On the holy day of Ashura, coinciding with the 7th day of mourning for Ayatollah Montazeri, thousands of protesters are on the streets of Tehran and other cities throughout Iran. Amidst clashes with security forces, five demonstrators have been killed.

Today's videos are already coming through and we are adding to them continuously, now starting a second set (and now set #3). There is also a link to a detailed map of Tehran to help follow events.

We have a video special on the attack on the Jamaran memorial and the Khatami speech yesterday (26 December).

EA's Scott Lucas has written an open letter to the columnist Charles Krauthammer, saying thanks for his "concern" but "Now Go Away": the people of Iran can manage without "false friends".

We have uncovered a top secret relationship between US President Obama and Ahmadinejad! (but please note we have at times been known to have a joke with our readers).

All the latest news can be read in our live weblog .

Israel: A few days after Israeli PM Netanyahu announced that he would break-up Kadima unless Tzipi Livni joined a national unity government, Haaretz's Nehemia Shtrasler has responded by accusing him of being being "corrupt".