Has Palestine Had Enough of Fayyad?
Salam Fayyad, the western-educated economist/Prime Minister of the West Bank, has been the point man for western backed development efforts throughout Palestine. Fayyad’s institution-based approach to development and his unwavering support for peace with Israel has won over many converts throughout the United States and Europe who have made a habit of promising (and occasionally … Read more
Fayyad unable to pay PA employees because of Israel’s withholding of due funds
It was reported today that Salam Fayyad the Palestinian Prime Minister will be unable to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority workers (viewed here) at their full wage for this month. This is a result of Israel’s withholding of Palestinian taxes due to them under the conditions of Olso and can be viewed here. As the article explains … Read more
Is the Hamas-Fatah Reconciliation as threatening as the Israeli Government makes it out to be?
With the buzzing news surrounding the reconciliation deal struck between Fatah and Hamas there seems to be the usual nay-sayers to a just peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. These nay-sayers include the US Congress, Lieberman, Netanyahu, and Barak, or simply the US and Israeli governments. After the signing of the unity agreement Lieberman pronounced … Read more
Abbas Warns US About Obstructing UN Statehood Declaration?
It seems Mahmoud Abbas is trying to rally the world behind his unilateral declaration of statehood idea by visiting and discussing the issue with world leaders. He has succeeded in persuading a good amount of countries, including EU countries, to the case for his unilateral decision but the most important state actor the United States … Read more
Book Review “Gaza in Crisis” by Ilan Pappe and Noam Chomsky
I completed this book yesterday so I figured I would give a review to people who like to read books about the Middle East and Palestine in particular. It takes two prominent authors Ilan Pappe (author of A History of Modern Palestine, the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, etc) and Noam Chomsky (Hegemony or Survival, Manufacturing Consent, … Read more
A Third Palestinian Intifada?
I will be honest, as a Marxist who believes in revolution (not by violent means) my leftist antenna goes up every time I hear the word Intifada not used in a context of ways to achieve some form of parity with the Israelis. Within Hebrew University, and it seems Israel at large, the two Intifadas are treated … Read more
Egyptian Waves in Palestine
The democratic tsunami in the Middle East that started in Tunisia and gained incredible momentum in Egypt is now inundating the cities of Sudan, Algeria, Yemen, Iran, Bahrain, and Jordan. Is it possible that the revolutions and protests that are “plaguing” the Middle East will reach Palestine? The Palestinian Authority, much like Israel, was initially very … Read more
Abbas: The New Mubarak?
The clashes in Tahrir Square over the past 24 hours are a clear sign of the desperation of a faltering, falling regime. Pro-government ‘protesters’ arrived at Tahrir Square yesterday and initiated clashes with the protesters demanding Mubarak’s resignation. The pro-Mubarak forces apparently rode in on camels and horses, wielding sticks, rocks, knives and swords, attacking … Read more
The Meaning of the Palestine Papers
Yesterday, Al Jazeera revealed nearly 1,700 confidential documents pertaining to the Israeli Palestinian negotiations throughout the last ten years. While I made some brief remarks last night, it is clear that the largest document dump in the conflict’s history is going to give the entire conflict a new face lift. The effects of this release … Read more
Wikileaks Shows the Real Face of the PA
11:38 – Revelations damage credibility of US as honest broker and PA as representatives of Palestinian people 11:37 – Reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah were already very troubled, but “the impact of these revelations…will add fuel to the fire” 11:36 – Hamas – PA officials should be ashamed and hide themselves from public. PA … Read more
