Sudan: How the South was Lost
OSAMA AL SHARIF: The modern history of Sudan is dominated by immature political and religious agendas that ignored the country’s racial, religious and economic complexities.
Building Entrepreneurship in the Middle East
STEVE ROYSTON: Creating an entrepreneurial culture in a country, as Professor Daniel Isenberg pointed out, requires determination, and a lot of money
Declaration of Palestine: Revisiting Hope & Failure
RAMZY BAROUD: The Palestinian leadership needs to embrace partners of old, from the time before Oslo, the “peace process”, the Roadmap and all the other broken promises…
Oil Price Rise means a Happy 2011 in Tehran
JUAN COLE: While U.S consumers bemoan oil price rises it’s smiles all round in Iran. The OPEC chair is in no hurry to do anything about spiraling costs.
Conspiracy, Stupidity Hovers over Iran, Egypt
MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: There’s nothing the Israelis can do to appease this stupidity. They are hated in part because the people who hate them are mad.
Gaza Two Years Later: How I Loved My Roof
SARA ALI, MONDOWEISS: BANG..BANG.. the tank is not leaking anymore. It’s not even there. The lawn slowly dies. I desperately need to go irrigate it.
Religious Strife, a Huge Win for Arab Enemies
OSAMA AL SHARIF: Christians are not the only victims of sectarian terror: Mosques, shrines, religious parades have been targeted indiscriminately, affecting Sunnis, Shias and other sects…
Ten 10 Predictions for Digital in the MidEast, 2011
CARRINGTON MALIN: Some of our predictions may seem a little obvious and some may seem a little extreme, but all should provide food for thought.
New Labour Laws a Powerful Boost for the UAE Economy
DAVID WESTLEY: The new labour laws have come out in a drip feed, enough to get you interested, guaranteed to leave you wanting more detail.
The Wait is Over: New Saudi Online Law Unveiled
AHMED AL OMRAN: The wording may be clunky but the intent is clear. The Ministry of Culture and Information is looking to extend its control.
Ibn ‘Big Ben’ Casts its Shadow over Mecca
DANIEL MARTIN VARISCO: One understands the need to provide hotel rooms for the faithful, but Gucci bags?
Breaking News: Explosions in Egypt – Updated
ZEINOBIA, BREAKING: Huge explosion heard, according to early media reports it took place in front of the All saints church at the Khalil Hamda street. Many dead – media reports.
Hope in 2011: People and Civil Society Stand Tall
When the Iraqi army fell before invading US and British troops in 2003, the latter’s mission seemed to be accomplished. But nearly eight years after the start of a war intended to shock and awe a whole population into submission, the Iraqi people continue to stand tall. They have confronted and rejected foreign occupations, held […]
God-TV helps Israel oust Bedouins
JONATHAN COOK: The involvement of extremist Christian groups like God-TV will turn this into a religious confrontation – much harder to resolve…
Familiar Enemies: Entwined Lives of Israelis & Palestinians
JOHARAH BAKER: We know what buttons to press to evoke an immediate reaction from each other. Proximity and hostility does strange things.
Democracy Performance Review : Could do Better
STEVE ROYSTON: The concept of government for the people and by the people – is as far from a reality at the end of 2010 as it ever was.
Christmas: Making Bonds through Celebrations
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: And in the carol O Come all Ye Faithful, I changed the words “Christ the Lord” to “Allah the Lord”. No harm done, eh? I didn’t mean any disrespect, I simply loved the togetherness of it.
An Iraqi Christmas In Amman
NASEEM TARAWNAH: The photo is a reminder of the difficulties of this region. Of conflict. Of safe havens. Of wars. Of truce. Stripped of politics, it is free…
A Desecration of Jewish Values: Racism in Israel
RABBI DAVID ROSEN: Eliahu claims to have “evidence” that Islamist forces are providing money for Arabs to buy up property to promote an Arab demographic takeover of the country.
2010: a Year of Failings and Frustrations
OSAMA AL SHARIF: 2010 has established that the region has failed to learn from its past. Failing to resolve conflicts does not mean that they simply go away.
