carnegie logo

Babylon & Beyond

Observations from Iraq, Iran,
Israel, the Arab world and beyond

EGYPT: Day of anger suggests a new protest scene driven by youth, free of ideology

January 28, 2011 |  1:15 am

Egypt-mubarak

 The Egyptian protests on Tuesday were extraordinary.

The geographic extent of the popular protests—unprecedented since the 1970s—and the sheer number of participating citizens made it a critical day.

Carnegie logo There are five simple factors that distinguish the Egyptian “Day of Anger” from any other day of protest.

First, the timing was inspired by the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia. The unrest in Tunisia prompted citizens in other Arab countries, such as Algeria, Jordan, and Yemen, to take to the streets demanding their economic, social and political rights. There was an expectation that the uprising might loosen the grip of security apparatuses on the citizens of other Arab countries, and this became a reality as the Egyptian protests emerged as the most profound byproduct of the great Tunisian revolution.

Continue reading »

WEST BANK: More document leaks show U.S. pressure, Palestinian frustrations

January 27, 2011 | 10:08 am

Al Jazeera's latest leak of hundreds of secret Palestinian negotiating papers is providing the kind of fly-on-the-wall insights to Mideast peace talks that usually only emerge many years later in the autobiographies of politicians and diplomats.

Though some of the initial coverage and spin by Al Jazeera and other organizations has been inaccurate or out of context, the documents themselves offer a treasure trove of detailed information about Palestinians' internal strategy and tactics. Most of the documents were produced by the Palestinian Authority's own attorneys, advisors and negotiators and include transcripts of private strategy sessions and internal talking points. It's a bonanza for Israel, which can get a peek into the Palestinian thought process as recently as last year.

One December 2009 document discusses "Palestinian Messaging and Implementation." Another lays out the legal risks of a premature declaration of statehood. An internal summary of where peace talks last broke down reveals that Palestinians were prepared in 2008 to limit the number of returning refugees to 15,000 a year for 10 years, or 150,000.

Continue reading »

JORDAN: King calls for political, economic reforms after weeks of demonstrations

January 27, 2011 |  9:18 am

_42484171_jordan_king_rania_afp203 Following two weeks of demonstrations in various cities across Jordan against high commodity prices and government policies, the country's ruler King Abdullah II said on Wednesday that it's time to bring about more political and economic reforms in the desert kingdom.

"Abdullah II insisted on the need to move forward with clear and transparent programmes of political and economic reform, which will allow the kingdom to overcome the economic challenges, and assure Jordan and Jordanians the decent future they deserve," the royal palace reportedly cited the king as saying in an apparent bid to connect with disgruntled Jordanians.

But the country's main political opposition group, the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, has called for fresh rallies on Friday, and previous pledges by the Jordanian government this year to create more jobs and control rising commodity prices have not stopped demonstrators from taking to the streets.

"We are at a sensitive moment in Jordan," Dr. Mustafa Abou Rumman, a political researcher at the Center for Strategic Studies at Jordan University, told Babylon & Beyond. "It's a very important and very big [protest movement]. They think this government doesn't have the credibility in political reform ... they want the king to push harder against corruption. They want to make a turning point in the political life here."

Continue reading »

EGYPT: Stock market stumbles amid nationwide turbulence

January 27, 2011 |  7:07 am

Image 

Days of unrest and protests forced a temporary suspension of trading in Egypt's stock market on Thursday, as the nation's index EGX30 hit its lowest level in more than six months.

"The situation is a direct result of the ongoing protests, as retailers panic and start reacting to political unrest," Wael Ziada, head of research at EFG-Hermes for Investment banking and securities brokerage, told the Los Angeles Times. "These type of events spread in the market like a contagion, and the situation is most likely to stay the same as long as the situation remains influx."

The index had already fallen by 6% to reach 6,138 points when trading ended Wednesday before closing at a 10.52% slide Thursday, a decrease which is the lowest since last July.

Continue reading »

IRAN: Islamic Republic apparently uninvited to annual forum in Davos

January 26, 2011 |  2:40 pm

Iran-khatami davos In contrast to previous years, Iran has not been invited to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the Iranian Labor News Agency, or ILNA, reported, citing no named source. 

ILNA says that no Iranian diplomats or officials will take part at the four-day high-power gab fest, which began Wednesday.

This year’s agenda is “shared norms for a new reality” and will be discussed by about 30 heads of state and government and more than 1,000 executives at big companies. 

ILNA added that there was no clear explanation for the absence of Iranian officials in Davos and speculated that it may be due to the standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

Iran has participated in the forum for the last five years, including in 2007, when former President Mohammad Khatami spoke.

-- Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran

Photo: President Mohammad Khatami speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2007. Credit: Wikimedia Commons


WEST BANK: Palestinian Authority versus Al Jazeera: Damage control seems to be working

January 26, 2011 | 12:24 pm

The Palestinian Authority has mobilized its forces, hidden and otherwise, to head off serious fallout from the publication of secret negotiation documents leaked to Qatar's Al Jazeera. The satellite TV station has been broadcasting rigorous coverage and analysis of the leaked documents.

The intensity of the coverage by the widely watched Al Jazeera and claims that the documents show the Palestinian Authority made serious concessions to Israel -- on issues including Jerusalem and refugees --  and had collaborated with Israel to get rid of Palestinian fighters even by killing them have seriously alarmed Palestinian officials as high up as the president.

The Palestinian Authority was caught off-guard by the Al Jazeera revelations but quickly rebounded from the initial shock and went on the offensive, accusing Al Jazeera -- as well as the emir of Qatar -- of plotting to undermine the Palestinian struggle for independence.

For the Arab world, working against the Palestinian struggle is taboo, and targeting the movement's leaders at what is considered a critical time in the fight for independence is also taboo.

The Palestinian public in general is divided over what Al Jazeera has revealed. Although the majority of Palestinians respect the TV station and its coverage of their cause, many say it has exaggerated its coverage of the documents, known as the Palestine Papers.

Discussions back and forth on the social networks show Palestinians divided between supporters of Al Jazeera and supporters of the Palestinian Authority.

“This is not the time to have internal fighting,” said Ahmad Saleem, a university student majoring in business who came to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ headquarters in Ramallah on Tuesday, along with thousands of other people, to show support for Abbas following the Al Jazeera reports.

“Our leadership made mistakes," he said, "but we can see it did not compromise on anything; otherwise, why isn’t there an agreement signed with Israel yet?”

Saleem believes Al Jazeera did not report on the documents in an objective way.

He said he did not see of himself as a strong supporter of Abbas but that Al Jazeera had made it a personal issue with Abbas and Palestinians in general. Therefore, he said, he decided to join the thousands who had come to show support for the Palestinian leader.

-- Maher Abukhater in Ramallah, West Bank


LEBANON: Journalists bear brunt of Hariri's 'day of rage'

January 26, 2011 |  7:41 am

Lebanon-jazeera

Press advocacy groups have joined politicians and others in condemning Wednesday's attacks on journalists after a national "day of rage" organized by former prime minister and Washington ally Saad Hariri spiraled out of control.

The largest riots took place in the northern city of Tripoli, where an angry mob set fire to a satellite truck belonging to the pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera. The news crew, which was reporting from the roof of a nearby office, took refuge in the building along with reporters from the local Lebanese station New TV until they were evacuated by the Lebanese army, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists and others.

By all accounts, Hariri's supporters made life a nightmare for journalists trying to cover one of the biggest international news stories so far this year. 

Continue reading »

WEST BANK: Leaks from peace talks don't show Palestinians making shocking concessions

January 24, 2011 |  9:40 am

If there’s a lesson from Sunday's leak of alleged meeting minutes from 2008 Mideast peace talks involving Palestinian, Israeli and U.S. officials and from the previous WikiLeaks dump of U.S. diplomatic cables, perhaps it's this: Governments needn't be so afraid of having their private business aired in public.

After the initial U.S. embarrassment from the WikiLeaks disclosures, many came to believe that the cables actually showed U.S. diplomats to be rather astute and well-informed. In the same way, Palestinians so far don't really seem to have anything to be ashamed of in the leaks from the 2008 talks. Despite the spin by Al-Jazeera and critics of the Palestinian Authority, the documents released don't show Palestinian negotiators giving away the store.

To the contrary, they're depicted as taking a surprisingly hard-line stance against giving up massive West Bank settlements such as Maale Adumim, Givat Zeev, Har Homa and Ariel, which most experts have long presumed would be retained by Israel with little fuss or cost.

Continue reading »

ARAB WORLD: Human rights group criticizes 'soft' approach to repressive Middle East regimes

January 24, 2011 |  8:48 am

Benalihosp

If it's true that the recent unrest in Tunisia is prompting Western leaders to rethink their support for conveniently placed dictators, they would do well to read the newest annual report from the New York-based Human Rights Watch, which slams the international community for "soft-talking" some of the world's most egregious abusers.

Although HRW was particularly critical of the European Union for its alleged double standards when it comes to enforcing human rights, the report also had some harsh words for Americans.

"U.S. President Barack Obama increased his focus on human rights in his second year in office, but his eloquent statements have not always been followed by concrete actions," read a statement released by HRW. "Nor has he insisted that the various US government agencies convey strong human rights messages consistently, with the result that the Defense Department and various US embassies –- in Egypt, Indonesia, and Bahrain, for example –- often deliver divergent messages."

The 649-page report summarizes the human rights practices in over 90 countries around the world, including the Middle East and North Africa, where some of the most repressive governments are also Washington's closest allies.

Continue reading »

LEBANON: Showdown between Hezbollah and Hariri expected over naming of premier

January 23, 2011 |  1:28 pm

Byebyelebgov
Following a week of twists and turns in Lebanon's unfolding political crisis over a United Nations-backed tribunal, feuding Lebanese parties are heading for a showdown as scheduled talks to pick a new prime minister threaten to stall once again.

On Sunday night, Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah took to the airwaves to say that his group and its political allies would decide "in the coming hours" whether talks could take place on Monday as scheduled.

According to Lebanon's confessional political system, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim, but Hezbollah and its main Christian ally have flat-out rejected the reelection of current caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Hariri is a Washington favorite and leader of the movement championing the tribunal, which is currently reviewing indictments thought to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of Saad Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“Our initial response was to topple the government, which was unable to protect Lebanon and face the repercussions of the [tribunal]," said Nasrallah, referring to the mass walkout of opposition lawmakers last week that led to the collapse of the government.

"If [Hariri and his allies] want to use this stage to pressure us, my response is that after the release of the indictment, we will not yield to anything that has been imposed on us," he said without elaborating.

Continue reading »

ARAB WORLD: Protests in Algeria and Yemen draw inspiration from Tunisia uprising

January 23, 2011 |  1:12 pm

Activists in Yemen, Jordan, Algeria and even Albania  took to the streets this weekend demanding democratic reforms in their countries.  

Some expressed explicit support for the Tunisian people, calling for similar uprisings in their own countries. Others were more reserved. Jordanians directed their anger at the prime minister rather than trying to oust the royal family.

The popular demonstrations drew comparisons to the Tunisian protest movement that has captivated the world. But opinions remain divided on whether these events constitute a real threat to the ruling powers in those countries.

"The regime will always look strong until the day it collapses," Nadim Shehadi, from the London-based think tank Chatham House, told Babylon & Beyond. "It cannot look weak, because the minute it looks weak it is dead already."

Continue reading »

ISRAEL: Sonia Peres, wife of President Shimon Peres, dies at 87

January 20, 2011 |  7:18 pm

The security guard downstairs noticed she hadn't come down to pick up the newspapers Thursday morning, but didn't want to violate her privacy by going up.

A grandson who stopped by to visit later learned why. Sonia Peres, 87, had died in her sleep, as privately as she had lived her life despite decades of sharing it with one of the nation's most public figures, President Shimon Peres.

That morning, Peres was meeting with French Foreign Minister Michel Alliot-Marie to discuss strategic bilateral relations and the peace process, the usual big things on the elder statesman's mind.

Continue reading »




Advertisement

About the Contributors




Archives
 


The latest in daily news developments from around the globe.
See a sample | Sign up