Richard Silverstein

Israel Facing a Harsher, Less Predictable World

Israel Facing a Harsher, Less Predictable World

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: There are forces out there seeking to capitalize on the Arab Spring: It’s s a different world Israel is facing. A harsher world, one more difficult to control.

 Francis Matthew

Romney: A Return to a Black and White Foreign Policy

Romney: A Return to a Black and White Foreign Policy

FRANCIS MATTHEW: US Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is suggesting a dangerous return to a simplistic foreign policy in which foreigners are divided simply into friends and foes.

 Richard Silverstein

Israel’s Lack of Respect for the US Equals Disaster

Israel’s Lack of Respect for the US Equals Disaster

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: An Israeli leader who neither respects nor fears an American president is a recipe for disaster both for Israel and America. Obama has yet to find that out.

 Richard Silverstein

Crossing the Line: Level of Settlement Spend Revealed

Crossing the Line: Level of Settlement Spend Revealed

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: The document, prepared for the U.S. government (which deducts from foreign aid expenditures monies spent by Israel on settlements), has so far been kept a secret…

 Juan Cole

Romney: Hapless in London, Insulting in Israel

Romney: Hapless in London, Insulting in Israel

JUAN COLE: The trip of Republic Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney to Israel is in bad taste for lots of reasons. Here are just 10 reasons as to why…

 The View From Fez

Women’s Health in Morocco: Huge Advances Made

Women’s Health in Morocco: Huge Advances Made

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: A number of international programmes combined with improved education have led to significant improvements for Moroccan women

 Crossroads Arabia

Unholy ‘Ruckus’: Can Actors Play Islamic Figures?

Unholy ‘Ruckus’: Can Actors Play Islamic Figures?

CROSSROADS ARABIA: A row has broken out among various religious figures as to whether it’s permissible to portray Islamic figures in film.

 David Roberts

Syria in Balance: Broken Borders, Unbroken Alliances

Syria in Balance: Broken Borders, Unbroken Alliances

DAVID ROBERTS: Russia is unfazed about alienating swathes of the Middle East not to mention the majority of Syrians, believing in time their position can be reasserted

 Juan Cole

Bachmann: Muslim Brotherhood Secret Agent?

Bachmann: Muslim Brotherhood Secret Agent?

JUAN COLE: Could it be the ultimate double bluff? The woman who is charging that the U.S government is infiltrated by the MB could be an agent herself?

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Shakespeare Does Iraq: Watch The Audience

Shakespeare Does Iraq: Watch The Audience

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: A new version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ set in Iraq which is now playing in London is winning over Iraqis and non-Iraqis alike.

 David Roberts

U.S Power: The Ultimate Guarantor for Gulf States

U.S Power: The Ultimate Guarantor for Gulf States

DAVID ROBERTS: The Saudi authorities have been actively promoting a union of Gulf states but with little success. There’s a clear reason why.

 Francis Matthew

China’s Influence Based on ‘Failure to Engage’

China’s Influence Based on ‘Failure to Engage’

FRANCIS MATTHEW: Arab concerns are largely irrelevant to the Chinese as Beijing looks to reinforce its self-perception as the premier Asian power.

 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

Al Azhar University: The Strong Third Force in Egypt

Al Azhar University: The Strong Third Force in Egypt

COMMON GROUND NEWS: There is much discussion about the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists but there is another significant power in Egypt

 Juan Cole

Morsi’s To Do List: Egypt’s ‘Top Five’ Priorities

Morsi’s To Do List: Egypt’s ‘Top Five’ Priorities

JUAN COLE: The economic and social challenges facing Egypt today are immense. With the right approach, however, Muhammad Mursi can make real change happen

 Common Ground News Service

Movie Shows How Islamic Art Changed The World

Movie Shows How Islamic Art Changed The World

NAAZISH YARKHAN, CGNEWS: A newly released documentary gives a compelling overview of Islamic art’s effect on the wider world.

 Jonathan Cook

The God Complex: The West’s Right to War in the Middle East

The God Complex: The West’s Right to War in the Middle East

Jonathan Cook: If the West succeeds in its proxy intervention in Syria and disables yet another Arab state for refusing to toe its line, the stage will be set for the next target: Iran.

 Tabsir

When Will West Have Its ‘Road to Damascus’ Moment?

When Will West Have Its ‘Road to Damascus’ Moment?

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The only narrative seems to be ‘we can’t get involved in Syria because we’ll create another Iran’. There are alternative scenarios

 Richard Silverstein

Give Iran the Bomb to Give the Region Stability

Give Iran the Bomb to Give the Region Stability

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: “By reducing imbalances in military power, new nuclear states generally produce more regional and international stability, not less…”

 Juan Cole

Morsi Wins: Is Now The Rise of a Pluralist Egypt?

Morsi Wins: Is Now The Rise of a Pluralist Egypt?

JUAN COLE: One problem for Mursi is mollifying the Egyptians who are terrified of him, fearing he wants to turn their fun-loving country into a grim Saudi Arabia.