Even as the European and U.S. economies slid over the past few years, Israel’s financial footing remained fairly stable. In fact, last year protests erupted to lower housing prices in the Gush Dan area, even though prices reflected demand for Tel Aviv residencies. Today’s paper includes two more items that reflect positive growth in the […]
On behalf of all Middle East writers at Foreign Policy Association, I am writing to extend our heart-felt condolences on the passing of Anthony Shadid, a true Middle East expert and a great source of inspiration for many of us here at FPA Blogs. As we mourn Anthony’s loss, we hope his legacy will remain […]
“It turns out societal fault lines, interpersonal rivalries, and long suppressed power centers do not move at Internet speeds,” Sarwar Kashmeri observes in a new article in the Huffington Post commemorating the first anniversary of Egypt’s uprisings. Americans and local revolutionaries must be patient about the revolution’s transition to governance in Egypt. In fact, Kashmeri […]
Last week Palestinian officials from Gaza and the West Bank met in Qatar to form a unity government. Since 2007, Hamas has ruled Gaza and Fatah the West Bank. While there have been several attempts in the past to form a unity government, none have been succssful. In this episode of Understanding Israel, Israeli Major (res.) […]
As I write these words, demonstrations are unfolding in the public squares of Syrian cities and towns, as they have done every Friday for the last eleven months, since the people of Dir’a first took to the streets to manifest their discontent at the indignities imposed upon them by the Asad regime. Grainy scenes of […]
A couple of weeks shy of the scheduled presidential elections, Vice-President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi announced in an official ceremony that he would run for president, adding that he hoped Yemenis would entrust him with the responsibility of running the affairs of the state. On Tuesday, Yemenis across the country woke up to find that […]
This is the first episode of a new video blog that I am starting, “Understanding Israel.” Over the last month and a half Israel has found itself in an emerging cyber war with individuals from its neighboring countries. In this video, I speak with Jerusalem Post reporter Yaakov Lappin about the cyber war’s ramifications, how […]
There is currently a bill before the Knesset that seeks to offer financial assistance to Haredi youth leaving the ultra-Orthodox world. The proposed law would offer them the same sort of assistance that is currently offered to new immigrants. These benefits can cover everything from tax breaks on homes and cars to tuition remission for […]
A textbook case of hate speech in Turkish media: The story, entitled ‘Mishcon Indecency,’ suggests that “Zionists, who have been doing ethnic cleansing in Palestine for over a century” show that “they have no limit to indecency (or moral corruption)” because some members of the Israeli lobby in the United States supported a U.S. House of Representatives Resolution that […]
With sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran gaining greater momentum and the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran looming large in the global economy, a key question remains whether or not the Islamic Republic will ink a deal to extricate itself from increasingly biting sanctions and ensure its survival, […]
At a time when all of the continent’s and indeed the world’s sporting attentions should be focused on the African Cup of Nations being played in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon instead they have to look away toward Egypt where unimaginable tragedy has struck. Scores have died and hundreds have been injured in a clash between […]
Here are a few stories that have caught my eye of late, with brief commentary as apt: In an interesting (but probably passing) change of direction, China is putting pressure on Sudan “to seek urgently the release of 29 Chinese workers held by rebels in the border state of South Kordofan.” China traditionally sees national […]
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