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Yesterday, the UN General Assembly heard the voice of a man struggling to make himself sound relevant. Binyamin Netanyahu's speech, in the words of Haaretz writer Barak Ravid, was "a tour de force of déjà vu" or, as Chemi Shalev wrote:
"His delivery was… Read more
Among people in Iraq and Syria who are threatened with the loss of their homes or their lives, and in the eyes of millions watching from afar, ISIS is evil. Members of ISIS view it differently, however. As far as they are concerned, ISIS is on a humanitarian mission to rid the world of sin and is… Read more
LAST WEEKEND Houthi fighters took over key parts of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and celebrated with a massive fireworks display. Government security forces are now said to be cooperating with them in guarding the city.
This extraordinary turn of events has received scant attention from the media –… Read more
Yesterday's session of the UN General Assembly brought fine words from President Obama.
"Humanity’s future," he said, "depends on us uniting against those who would divide us along the fault lines of tribe or sect, race or religion". And yet, despite the noble sentiments, his speech only… Read more
By Anna Jacobs and George Bajalia
This article is re-posted from the Muftah website
The militarisation of border crossings throughout North Africa and the Sahel has intensified recently, as a result of security concerns over weapons smuggling, terrorist networks,… Read more
Egypt's growing moral panic
Campaigners in Egypt have called for two days of action through social media to protest at the latest wave of repression directed against LGBT people there.
Readers can support it by signing up to the Facebook event, Stop Homophobia and Transphobia in Egypt… Read more
Campaigners in Egypt have called for two days of action through social media to protest at the latest wave of repression directed against LGBT people there.
Readers can support it by signing up to the Facebook event, Stop Homophobia and Transphobia in Egypt. There is also more information on… Read more
Dennis Ross speaking at Emory University. Photo: Nrbelex.
Earlier this month the New York Times published a wildly misleading article by Dennis Ross, currently a "Distinguished Fellow" at the Washington Institute thinktank. Ross previously worked on Middle East issues at a senior level under four… Read more
Today in Scotland, voters are choosing between independence and remaining as part of the United Kingdom. I have been watching this process with half an eye on the Middle East where there are also a number of separatist movements – in southern Yemen and Western Sahara for example, plus the of course… Read more
Following their summit in Qatar last week, Arab Gulf states have been congratulating themselves on producing a document known as the “GCC Human Rights Declaration”. Headlines, at least in the Gulf media, have hailed it as a “forward leap for rights” and a sign of the GCC’s commitment to equality… Read more
ARAB ART ONLINE: Susan Hefuna: Al Sabr Gamil (Patience is Beautiful) 2007. Ink stained on wood 140 x 170 cm. More information | Click to enlarge
