James M. Dorsey

Syrian Football Victory ‘a Unifier’? Afraid Not

Syrian Football Victory ‘a Unifier’? Afraid Not

JAMES M. DORSEY: This weekend’s Syrian victory over Iraq in a soccer match is being seized by the regime as ‘a great national achievement’.

 Jonathan Cook

The Interview That Spoke Volumes About Gaza Attack

The Interview That Spoke Volumes About Gaza Attack

JONATHAN COOK: CNN was determined to follow the script of ‘equivelance’ when broadcasting an interview with a Gazan and an Israeli. Events took over, though.

 Syria News Wire

Syrian Opposition ‘Finally Gets Its Act Together’

Syrian Opposition ‘Finally Gets Its Act Together’

NEWS FROM SYRIA: The discredited SNC has finally been subsumed by an organisation that has genuine potential to shape a new Syria

 Crossroads Arabia

Counter-Intuitive: Saudi Women Welcome ID Cards

Counter-Intuitive: Saudi Women Welcome ID Cards

CROSSROADS ARABIA: An issue that usually raises the strongest opposition among liberals – ID Cards – has seen Saudi women take a divergent view

 James M. Dorsey

Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi: Pressures for Reform

Jordan, Bahrain and Saudi: Pressures for Reform

JAMES M. DORSEY: Sharp sectarian divides between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in the Middle East constitutes the Achilles heel for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan.

 Mich Cafe

Two Syrian Female Activists Receive Global Recognition

Two Syrian Female Activists Receive Global Recognition

MICH CAFE: One is a lawyer and human rights activist the other is a leading author but the bravery of both women has been acknowledged by a wider audience

 Common Ground News Service

Activist Success: Civic Groups ‘Thrive’ in New Tunisia

Activist Success: Civic Groups ‘Thrive’ in New Tunisia

INES ZGUIDANE, CGNEWS: A new sense of civic engagement has taken root in Tunisia with individuals working together to deal with major societal issues

 Richard Silverstein

Rachel Corrie – Not the First, Probably Not the Last

Rachel Corrie – Not the First, Probably Not the Last

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: The IDF (and Border Police) are murderers. They kill civilians. Unarmed civilians. Who protest for justice and human rights. This is no defensive army.

 Jonathan Cook

Israel’s Systematic Destruction of Palestine’s Mosques

Israel’s Systematic Destruction of Palestine’s Mosques

JONATHAN COOK: Proof that Israel has been engaging in a proactive campaign to destroy Islamic places of worship under its control is there for all to see.

 Common Ground News Service

Egyptian Women ‘Fighting Hard’ For Rights

Egyptian Women ‘Fighting Hard’ For Rights

RANDA EL TAHAWY, CGNEWS: Women across the political spectrum in Egypt are refusing to be sidelined or misrepresented.

 Common Ground News Service

Hunger Strike Success: Victory for Non-Violence

Hunger Strike Success: Victory for Non-Violence

DAWOUD ABU LEDDEH, CGNEWS: The recent hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners marked a sea-change in opposition to occupation.

 Common Ground News Service

Is Laughter the Middle East’s ‘Best Medicine’?

Is Laughter the Middle East’s ‘Best Medicine’?

SADIA ASHRAF, CGNEWS: What impact have the group of Arab comedians who emerged post 9/11 really had?

 Mich Cafe

Hunger for Freedom: It’s Time to Act on Khader Adnan

Hunger for Freedom: It’s Time to Act on Khader Adnan

MICH CAFE: He has been fasting for more than nine weeks so the opportunity to avert disaster is ebbing by the hour.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Dangerous Tightrope that Saudi Women Walk

The Dangerous Tightrope that Saudi Women Walk

ROB L. WAGNER: There is no proscription in the Quran of women in the workplace but the existing guardianship laws are a major obstacle.

 Ahmed-Al-Omran

Strands of Hair: Halal in Paris, Haram in Riyadh?

Strands of Hair: Halal in Paris, Haram in Riyadh?

AHMED AL OMRAN: The fallout from the ‘Marriott Foyer Incident’ continues. Is such debate an unnecessary diversion from the real issues facing the Kingdom?

 Mondoweiss

Warmth and Hospitality: My Memory of Tamimi Family

Warmth and Hospitality: My Memory of Tamimi Family

ALEX KANE, MONDOWEISS: The killing of Mustafa Tamimi by IDF troops has shocked ‘the unshockable’ population of Palestine, as well as the wider world at large.

 Common Ground News Service

Egyptian Women Continue the Fight

Egyptian Women Continue the Fight

CG NEWS, SALLY ZOHNEY: Radio host and activist Bothaina Kamel, is breaking new ground becoming the first woman in Egypt to run for president.

 Common Ground News Service

Saudi Women: The Power & Limitation of Social Media

Saudi Women: The Power & Limitation of Social Media

MAHA AKEEL, CGNEWS: It’s clearly enabled women in the Middle East in particular to express their views more vocally but there are limits to what social media can achieve in effecting real change.

 Rob L. Wagner

The Saudi Arabian Electoral ‘Experiment’ Continues

The Saudi Arabian Electoral ‘Experiment’ Continues

ROB L. WAGNER: There has been a lot of criticism of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming municipal elections. Some groups, however, know how best to work the system.

 Common Ground News Service

Women in Saudi: The Drive for Rights Continues

Women in Saudi: The Drive for Rights Continues

NATANA J.DeLONG-BAS, CGNEWS: The campaign to improve women’s rights in the Kingdom has focused on the issue of driving but progress is being quietly made in other areas of Saudi life.