Common Ground News Service

The Ongoing Battle Against ‘Honour Killings’

The Ongoing Battle Against ‘Honour Killings’

RASHA DEWEDAR, CGNEWS: It’s an issue that faces women throughout the Arab world but progress, it appears, is being made in some countries to protect women.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Jordan: Where Wounds Get Deeper and Deeper

Jordan: Where Wounds Get Deeper and Deeper

NASEEM TARAWNAH: The recent protests in Jordan appear to have attracted attention only because of the number of journalists who were attacked. It offers, however, more evidence of a deeply divided nation.

 Naseem Tarawnah

‘At least we’re not…’ Jordanians Compare Poorly

‘At least we’re not…’ Jordanians Compare Poorly

NASEEM TARAWNAH: We Jordanians have a problem. We’re always comparing ourselves to others but using the worst of the region as our benchmark.

 Crossroads Arabia

Soap Operas: The New Front on the ‘War on Syria’

Soap Operas: The New Front on the ‘War on Syria’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Syrian soap operas have eclipsed Egyptian productions in popularity across the Arab world.

 Naseem Tarawnah

‘Casinogate’: An Unwelcome Distraction

‘Casinogate’: An Unwelcome Distraction

NASEEM TARAWNAH: On and on it goes with no end in sight. Some are calling it a ‘test of democracy’. Really? There are a lot more pressing issues facing the Jordanian people.

 Naseem Tarawnah

The Muslim Brotherhood & Democratic Reform

The Muslim Brotherhood & Democratic Reform

NASEEM TARAWNAH: There seems to be a desire to ‘craft’ an acceptable democratic transition in Jordan. The lesson of history is that democratic transition tends to be a little ‘messy’.

 Common Ground News Service

Women Must Claim Their Place in ‘Arab Spring’

Women Must Claim Their Place in ‘Arab Spring’

NATANA J. DELONG-BAS, CGNEWS: They have confronted Western stereotypes and achieved much – but will they actively participate actively in emerging democracies?

 Naseem Tarawnah

‘Royal Vision’: Deja Vu Meet Groundhog Day

‘Royal Vision’: Deja Vu Meet Groundhog Day

NASEEM TARAWNAH: There was mention of ‘an elected government’ but apart from this vague aspiration the speech by King Abdullah stuck to familiar themes.

 Steve Royston

Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?

Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?

STEVE ROYSTON: There are many reasons why the ‘Arab Voice’ is so weak in the United States. But that doesn’t give leaders and opinion formers an excuse.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Dumb, and Dangerous: “Jordan Equals Palestine”

Dumb, and Dangerous: “Jordan Equals Palestine”

NASEEM TARAWNAH: 6,000 idiots from 69 countries around the world have signed a petition calling Jordan the alternative homeland for Palestinians?

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

What Kind of Leader Do Young Arabs Want?

What Kind of Leader Do Young Arabs Want?

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Whether it’s Mubarak, ben Ali or bin Laden it’s clear what sort of leadership Arabs don’t want. It’s far less clear however what they are looking for in their leaders.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Living in My Jordanian ‘Bubble’: Lessons Learned

Living in My Jordanian ‘Bubble’: Lessons Learned

NASEEM TARAWNAH: So Jordan’s Independence Day has come and gone. It’s a good time perhaps to reflect on some of the lessons I’ve learned.

 Mondoweiss

Masterful Obama Delivers Rebuke to Jewish Lobby

Masterful Obama Delivers Rebuke to Jewish Lobby

PHILIP WEISS, MONDOWEISS: A visibly angry Barack Obama, fresh from yet another humiliation at the hand of Benjamin Netanyahu, delivered a stinging rebuke to the Jewish lobby at the AIPAC conference.

 The Moor Next Door

Obama’s Speech: The Key Points Made

Obama’s Speech: The Key Points Made

THE MOOR NEXT DOOR: There was little new in Obama’s ‘Arab Spring’ speech. Nervous light criticism of Bahrain, no reference to Gulf allies and a minor poke of Israel.

 Mondoweiss

An Inconvenient Truth: Ehud Barak Off Message

An Inconvenient Truth: Ehud Barak Off Message

MONDOWEISS: If Iran ever acquired nuclear weapons would it launch an attack on Israel? “Not on us and not on any neighbor.” The speaker? Ehud Barak…

 Alexander McNabb

For Real News Tweet All About It…

For Real News Tweet All About It…

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Presumably GN felt it couldn’t use the word ‘Jewish’, but I do feel misled… Context and analysis? I’d rather trust Twitter…

 Sultan Al Qassemi

GCC: Muslim Brotherhood Fears Over Arab Spring

GCC: Muslim Brotherhood Fears Over Arab Spring

SULTAN AL QASSEMI: UAE national observers commented in private that many names on the UAE petition calling for an elected parliament were UAE members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

 American Bedu

How do you Accurately Define a Muslim?

How do you Accurately Define a Muslim?

AMERICAN BEDU: It’s a topic that seems, more often than not, to generate more heat than light but here’s my attempt to define a Muslim.

 Omar al-Issawi

Israel Irked as Palestinians Move to Reconcile

Israel Irked as Palestinians Move to Reconcile

OMAR AL ISSAWI: That the PA recognizes Israel will not have escaped the attention of either Netanyahu, or for that matter Hamas.

 Juan Cole

Top Ten Arab Spring Advances this Week

Top Ten Arab Spring Advances this Week

JUAN COLE: The Arab Spring is still producing some positive reforms and questioning of past corrupt practices, and even major governmental change.