Common Ground News Service

Morocco ‘An Example of Jewish, Arab Co-Existence’

Morocco ‘An Example of Jewish, Arab Co-Existence’

ADINA FRIEDMAN: The richness of Morocco’s Jewish history comes as a surprise to many but it could provide a template for the region.

 Common Ground News Service

Arabic Chat: An Encounter With Hatred On a Train

Arabic Chat: An Encounter With Hatred On a Train

MORIEL ROTHMAN, CGNEWS: Two obviously Jewish people speaking Arabic in a public place was sure to cause a reaction.

 Steve Royston

Hitler, Friend of the Arabs? Twisted History in the Region

Hitler, Friend of the Arabs? Twisted History in the Region

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s not just the Second World War that has been warped by teachers, politicians and others for their own purposes.

 mai abdul rahman

‘Child Soldiers’ or ‘Cadets’. No Label, Respect Children.

‘Child Soldiers’ or ‘Cadets’. No Label, Respect Children.

MAI ABDUL RAHMAN: On occasion depending on the nature of the particular conflict a discussion fires up related to child soldiers. With Mali it’s here again.

 James M. Dorsey

Port Said Verdict: Who Was Really Responsible?

Port Said Verdict: Who Was Really Responsible?

JAMES DORSEY: The belief among many people in Port Said is that its fans, team and city have been ‘thrown to the wolves’.

 Tabsir

‘You Have Two Cows…”: Alternative Take on Region

‘You Have Two Cows…”: Alternative Take on Region

KARIM SADJAPOUR, TABSIR: Politically correct it may not be but the ‘Two Cows’ version of today’s Middle East is certainly fun.

 Mondoweiss

Israeli Election Upset: Good News for Peace? Ah, No.

Israeli Election Upset: Good News for Peace? Ah, No.

MONDOWEISS: The surprising blow to Netanyahu suggests good news for Israeli-Palestinian relations. Let’s look at Yair Lapid’s statements on the issue.

 David Roberts

The Kingdom of Surprises: Engaging With Saudis

The Kingdom of Surprises: Engaging With Saudis

DAVID ROBERTS: It’s a while since I’ve left Qatar but the differences between the tiny peninsula state and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are striking

 Common Ground News Service

‘Be Optimistic for Egypt’: The Glass Is Half-Full

‘Be Optimistic for Egypt’: The Glass Is Half-Full

MOUSTAFA MENSHAWY, CGNEWS: You can find dozens of reasons to despair at the state of Egypt but if you look hard enough there are reasons to be cheerful

 Common Ground News Service

‘Civil Initiatives’ vs ‘Politics’: Lebanese Youth Decide

‘Civil Initiatives’ vs ‘Politics’: Lebanese Youth Decide

NADA AKL, CGNEWS: Many young Lebanese people from all sides are disillusioned with sectarianism and violence. The recent bomb proved a catalyst for change

 Francis Matthew

Flexibility: Islamists First Great Test in the Face of RealPolitik

Flexibility: Islamists First Great Test in the Face of RealPolitik

FRANCIS MATTHEW: Now that they have been elected into power they are being forced to demonstrate their commitment to pluralism. This is a challenge they did not plan for.

 Common Ground News Service

Is Laughter the Best Medicine For Egypt?

Is Laughter the Best Medicine For Egypt?

CG NEWS: That Egyptians are funny is a well-known Arab stereotype. Egyptians are said to be khafiift id-damm (light of blood) — able to turn almost anything into a joke.

 Richard Silverstein

Sheldon Adelson: Buying Politics, and U.S. Allegiance to Israel

Sheldon Adelson: Buying Politics, and U.S. Allegiance to Israel

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” Sheldon Adelson may not have breasts, but he sure has the money and the power.

 Common Ground News Service

‘Gender Parity’: Major Strides Being Made in Algeria

‘Gender Parity’: Major Strides Being Made in Algeria

N. HAFID, CGNEWS: Women now make up almost a third of deputies to the Algerian parliament, up from 8 percent five years ago.

 Common Ground News Service

Women ‘Taking the Lead’ In Tunisian Politics

Women ‘Taking the Lead’ In Tunisian Politics

SANA SBOUAI, CGNEWS: More than a quarter of deputies to parliament are women. But that only tells part of the story.

 James M. Dorsey

The $750,000 Guantanamo ‘Pitch’ to Cooperate

The $750,000 Guantanamo ‘Pitch’ to Cooperate

JAMES M. DORSEY: The $744,000 pitch outside a $39 million penitentiary-style building is intended to reward the most cooperative of the 120,171 inmates.

 The View From Fez

Making Mischief: The Great Moroccan Sex-Shop Mystery

Making Mischief: The Great Moroccan Sex-Shop Mystery

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The mixture of sex, politics and conspiracy is a heady one. It’s sent Casablanca a-buzz.

 Steve Royston

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

STEVE ROYSTON looks at the arts, society, education, politics, business, technology and the environment as we move into 2012, the Year of Fear’.

 Steve Royston

Kingmakers, Invention of the Modern Middle East

Kingmakers, Invention of the Modern Middle East

STEVE ROYSTON: Book Review: Here you’ll find the Britons and Americans – proconsuls, agents provocateurs, spies, politicians – that shaped the Middle East.

 Juan Cole

Arab World Democratists, Meet Thomas Jefferson

Arab World Democratists, Meet Thomas Jefferson

JUAN COLE: I am hopeful that the book will find an eager reception in Egypt, Tunisia and other countries yearning for democracy in the Arab world.