Sectarian Division Undone: Army Unifies Lebanese People
NADA AKL, CGNEWS: There have been consistent attempts by some individuals to drive wedges through Lebanese society. But we are resisting the sectarian clarion call
‘We Can Matter’: Young Israeli Addresses Arab Idol Winner
NATAN ODENHEIMER, CGNEWS: In an open letter a former IDF soldier praises Mohammed Assaf and spells out how he believes he can help unite the two communities
Oman’s ‘Extraordinary Women’ Conference: No Ordinary Event
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: The conference certainly had an intriguing title but what would it actually deliver?
Wasted Opportunities: Brotherhood Is ‘Egypt’s Tea Party’
JUAN COLE: President Morsi has no one to blame but himself. By imposing a ‘Brotherisation’ of Egyptian politics he has forced the opposition onto the streets.
Better Than The West: An Immigrant’s View of Saudi Arabia
ABU MOHAMMED: Sometimes life in the Kingdom can be more than a little testing but it has unqualified advantages.
Scratch, Scratch: The Western Itch To Intervene Is Insatiable
RAMZY BAROUD: You can be sure that whatever turmoil is happening in the Middle East the hands of the West will be present
The Dubai Book Club War: Curbed In the Nick of Time
ALEXANDER MCNABB: A new regulatory authority for social clubs in Dubai has appeared. So is the humble book club included?
In Saudi Restaurants ‘A Woman’s Place Is In The Kitchen’
At least in restaurants in Saudi Arabia, that’s where women ‘belong’. Arab News reports that the Ministry of Labor still bans women from working as waitresses or cashiers in restaurants, permitting them only to work in kitchens. The reason, of course, is to prevent the ‘mingling’ of the sexes in the workplace. It’s easy to […]
Millitant Football Fans To The Fore Again in Egypt Protests
JAMES M. DORSEY: Militant football fans are arguably Egypt’s largest civic group. They’re preparing to confront President Morsi as they previously did Mubarak
Children’s Puppet Show: A Threat to Israeli Public Security
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Children’s puppets represent a new target for the Israeli authorities.
Violence: The Cancer At the Heart of Tunisian Society
MOHAMMED MESSAI, CGNEWS: Rather than being a last resort the lure of the gun is proving irresistible to all across the political spectrum
‘A Step Backwards?’ Bahrain Set to Curb VoIP Services
STEVE ROYSTON: The reason for the crackdown is predictably ‘security’. The impact on much-needed inward investment may, however, be profound.
Qatar’s Surprise Abdication: So What Happens Next?
DAVID ROBERTS: Once again Qatar has caught the world by surprise with an abdication which has resulted in one of the world’s youngest leaders coming to power.
Satire in the Arab World: Getting to the Crux of Issues
TABSIR: Jon Stewart’s recent appearance on Bassem Youssef’s Egyptian show underscores the power that satirists have to unsettle holders of power
A Happy Accident: The Undiscovered Joy of Doha
SARAH WALTON: If you happen to find yourself in Doha by accident, and a lot of people do, here’s a guide to the high-spots.
Child Labour: It’s a Human Blight That Shames All of Us
Last night at the hotel lobby of an Arab Gulf country, a family walked in aiming for the westernized café that sells everything but Arabic coffee. The mother seemed distant as she pressed buttons on her smart phone. The father looked tired as he buffed away on his cigarette, and a whole band of children […]
Grilled Loin of Hyena: A Surprising Saudi Delicacy
CROSSROADS ARABIA: It may not feature high on the menu at many restaurants around the world but Saudis have a taste for hyena
‘A Difficult Neigbourhood’: How Qatar Manages Its Relations
DAVID ROBERTS: The Qatari authorities have a very difficult diplomatic tightrope to walk and they have to play their hand with consistent skill
Rouhani’s Election: Clock’s Ticking on Golden Opportunity
AMBASSADOR WILLIAM GREEN, CGNEWS: I’ve been involved in negotiatons with Iran for more than fifty years. I believe we need to capitalise quickly on the new situation
‘The Devil’s Fire’: Syria’s Unique Blend of Pure Horror
STEVE ROYSTON: The situation in Syria is so desperate, so serious and so wide-ranging that it has the potential to affect every individual living in the region
