Massive Cement Walls Make Good Neighbors!
From Issandr El Amrani: First there was the West Bank wall, then the Gaza wall, then the Israeli-Egyptian wall in Sinai — and now the Egyptian government is building a wall outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo to protect it from protests. It may be a necessary thing — all countries have a responsibility … Read more
The Mavi Marmara (Palmer) Report from the United Nations Critique
Anyone who has been seeing the news the past 20hrs or so sees an interesting headline on the major media outlets. It reads something like this “UN report says Israeli blockade is legal.” So far I have found minor variation from the major media outlets and I would like to commend the New York Times … Read more
Legal Implications on the Palestinian Bid in September and More…
As has been discussed by me in two parts (here and here) the Palestinian move at the UN in September is more a showcase than a real thought out political move. Each side has its reasons discussed in the two articles so I will not reanalyze these, but just add a few points. The first … Read more
More Thoughts on the Palestinian Bid in September
As I was reviewing news this morning, I came across an article that I felt is important to my article yesterday. The point of my article yesterday essentially was that there is an attempt on each side, in the leadership, to achieve a specific goal and control the narrative. The Palestinian leadership wishes to maintain … Read more
Thoughts on the Palestinian Bid in September
There are many potential narratives already being conjured up for the Palestinian bid for recognition in September at the United Nations. The Palestinian leadership is going around the world asking for states to vote in favor of recognition with the rights that come with it. The Israelis are doing whatever they can to stop this … Read more
Dear Mahmoud Abbas, Here is a Better Plan for September
Mahmoud Abbas in his infinite wisdom is still due to ask the United Nations and its member states to recognize Palestine as its 194th country. As has been said before, this is not the platform at this present time to discuss exactly what legally should happen. Instead I wish to dwell on something Mahmoud Abbas … Read more
Dear Israeli Tent Movement, You are not Tahrir Square
It has been said lately by Western media outlets that the tent movement going on in Israel is a ‘revolution‘ or ‘Israeli Arab Spring.’ This could not be any more disingenuous, incorrect, or belittling of the Arab Spring movements. Israelis are mostly protesting about prices, specifically for homes and necessary goods. This is the one and only … Read more
Michael Young: Blame Egyptians for Mubarak’s Crimes
As the former head of Egypt sits in front of a judge, behind bars and on a bed in an Egyptian courtroom, the Egyptian people are finally able to celebrate some concrete results of the revolutionary movement that took down the despot. Of course, Egypt has a long way to go before the revolution can … Read more
IMPOSING SECURITY SERVICES BY ANY OTHER NAME, CON’T
Right after posting a call for security sector reform in Egypt, read a post on Foreign Policy by Ty McCormick highlighting just how closely the new state security structure resembles the one that terrorized Egyptians under Mubarak. McCormick’s piece underlines just how necessary it is for SCAF to push forward meaningful reforms in this sector … Read more
Imposing Security Services By Any Other Name
Almost six months after the Egyptian people shocked the world by forcibly ending the 30 year reign of Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian revolution is still murky and far from complete. Indeed, the removal of Mubarak from power was only the beginning of the struggle for the Egyptian people. Currently, the Supreme Council of the Armed … Read more
