Analyst Notes The New Age of Pan-Arabism
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
Writing at Foreign Policy, Parag Khanna notes the new age of Pan-Arabism that is characterized by societies demanding good governance and an inclusive political process. He states that the anti-authoritarian revolutions are “truly borderless” following Al Jazeera’s shaming of Arab autocrats — with the exception of Bahrain — and young activists training together across the region. Khanna also highlights the Arab League’s backing of a no-fly zone in Libya and considerations of peacekeeping forces for Palestine and Lebanon as “examples of a meaningful transnational Arab political sphere coming into being.” Khanna states that “the next great step toward a new Arab renaissance will come through physically overcoming the region’s arbitrary political borders” following the model of the European Union which has moved towards investing in cross-border infrastructure. He states that the Gulf countries could easily finance projects such as the Palestinian Arc project and trans-Arab transport corridors.
Posted in Arab League, Bahrain, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, EU, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Gulf, Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Protests, Qatar, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Youth | Comment »
Scholars Discuss the Arab Spring in the Context of Lebanon’s 2005 Emancipation
April 21st, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy hosted an event entitled, “Lebanon Today: Internal Politics and the Arab Spring.” Speaking at the event were May Chidiac, president of MCF Media Institute; Michael Young, opinion editor for the Beirut Daily Star; Hisham Melhem, Washington bureau chief of Al-Arabiya; and Michael Doran, visiting professor at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.
May Chidiac noted how protests in the Arab world echo “the spirit of the Lebanese model” as they abandoned anti-Israel and anti-West rhetoric for legitimate demands of good governance, economic opportunities and political freedom. Chidiac also called for the U.S. and international community to support the March 14th movement. Michael Young discussed three lessons for the Arab Spring from Lebanon: first, that foreign intervention is often necessary for liberation movements to succeed; second, the liberation may clash with Western interests; and third, the importance of luck. Young discussed how many in the Arab world fail to acknowledge the importance of the 2005 emancipation as they see a weak Syria as advantageous to the West and Israel. Hisham Melham stated that the Arab Spring differs from the events in Lebanon in 2005 as they represent a social and political revolution rather than an emancipation from foreign occupation. He also notes the reversion to sectarianism in Lebanon. Melham also called on the Obama Administration to take a stronger stance on the situation in Syria. Melham along with Michael Doran argued that regime change in Syria could benefit the U.S. as it would improve dynamics with Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Iraq.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Freedom, Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Military, Palestine, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
Palestine: Gazan Youth Promote National Reconciliation
April 20th, 2011 by Alec
Young, educated, and tech-savvy activists in Gaza are helping organize the self-named March 15 movement seeking to promote Palestinian national reconciliation between the rival Hamas-Fatah. On March 15th, youth activists protesting in Gaza City clashed violently with Hamas police who attacked protesters on motorbikes. One of the activists, Asma al-Ghoul, a local feminist and journalist in Gaza City, says that the “fear inside the people” is dissipating. As the movement begins to gain momentum she says she no longer feels alone. March 15 activists say that ultimately, they are seeking an end to Israeli occupation but see reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah as a necessary prerequisite. One of the movement leaders, nicknamed Abu Yazan, also reiterated that most Palestinians in Gaza were looking for a peaceful way to end the occupation and oppose Hamas’ missile launches at Israel. Members of the movement have met with Hamas officials to discuss their greivances but have received mixed messages. While some officials have expressed sympathy for the activists, Hamas has stated it will not tolerate protests in the strip. Says Ebaa Rezeq, another March 15 activist: “We have started something and we are not finished. We are fighting for a cause, not for a movement.”
Posted in Hamas, Israel, Palestine, Protests | Comment »
Ambassador Verveer To Travel to Egypt, Israel, West Bank
April 14th, 2011 by Naureen
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanie Verveer will travel to Egypt, Israel and the West Bank from April 15th through April 22nd. During her visit, the ambassador will meet with government officials, political party representatives, civil society leaders and the media to discuss the need for inclusion of women in the political process and their role as peace builders. She will also meet with business leaders, youth organizations and women’s NGOs to highlight their women’s empowerment initiatives.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Freedom, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, NGOs, Palestine, Protests, Women, Women's Rights | Comment »
Clinton, Kerry Offer Middle East Policy Remarks at Brookings Conference
April 13th, 2011 by Ali
Tuesday marked the opening of the U.S.-Islamic World Conference hosted by the Brookings Institution, the Qatari Government and the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech that emphasized U.S. commitment to cooperating with Middle East countries to achieve shared interests in values. Clinton said the region-wide uprisings have exposed the myth that “Arabs do not share universal human aspirations for freedom, dignity, and opportunity.” The Secretary gave particular attention to women’s rights, which she viewed as important to democratic consolidation. She noted that the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation will provide up to $2 billion to encourage private sector investments to the Middle East and North Africa, and encouraged closer economic integration across the region. She also called upon President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen to resolve the political crisis in his country in a orderly and peaceful manner and condemned the violence of the Syrian government in its crackdown on protests.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) spoke in a panel discussion moderated by Newsweek editor and CNN host Fareed Zakaria. He said that worries over Libya are unjustified given Mummar Gadhafi’s military and economic position. He counseled patience over increased military action, recommending more focus on Egypt’s transition. The Senator also hinted at a renewed push by the Obama administration for the Middle East peace process. He argued that it was counterproductive of the administration to publicly pursue the settlement issue and that a new dialogue should focus on borders.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Human Rights, Israel, Libya, Military, Multilateralism, NATO, Palestine, Protests, Qatar, Reform, US foreign policy, US politics, Women's Rights | Comment »
Palestine: Statehood or Elections?
April 11th, 2011 by Ali
The IMF and World Bank will present reports at a Palestinian Authority donors conference in Brussels this week in which they pronounce Palestinian institutions ready for statehood. This underscores Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s running two-year promise to pronounce a Palestinian state by September of this year at the UN General Assembly. In spite of progress, the report cites the repercussions of stalled negotiations as an obstacle to continued growth.
Israeli President Shimon Peres argued that the UN should not “impose a Palestinian state on Israel” if it cannot guarantee Israel’s security. Two months ago, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared that reconciliation with Gaza would be a prerequisite to elections. However, Elliott Abrams argues that a unity government with Hamas will undermine peace negotiations, and hence the drive for statehood.
Posted in Elections, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine | Comment »
POMED Notes: “SFRC Nomination Hearing”
April 5th, 2011 by Kyle
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held an open nomination hearing to confirm the appointments of Mara E. Rudman, to be Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development for the Middle East, and Robert Patterson, to be Ambassador to Turkmenistan. Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA) presided over the nomination hearing.
For full notes, continue below or click here.
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Posted in Civil Society, Congressional Hearing Notes (Senate), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Hezbollah, Human Rights, Lebanon, Palestine, Protests, Reform, Yemen | Comment »
POMED Notes: “How Should the U.S. Respond to the Prospect of Islamist Governments?”
March 25th, 2011 by Kyle
On Friday, the Hudson Institute hosted an event focused on the transitional government processes taking place in Egypt and Tunisia as well as the unrest in the region and the role that Islamists will play, entitled, “How Should the U.S. Respond to the Prospect of Islamist Governments?” The event was moderated by Nina Shea, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute. The panel of speakers consisted of: Ed Husain, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Hedieh Mirahmadi, President of the World Organization for Resource Development; and Hillel Fradkin, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World at the Hudson Institute.
For full notes continue below, or click here.
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Posted in al-Qaeda, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Military, Pakistan, Palestine, Political Islam, Protests, Reform, Turkey | Comment »
The Guardian’s Map of the Arab Spring
March 22nd, 2011 by Kyle
Click on image for hyperlink.
Posted in Algeria, Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Events, Human Rights, Iran, Iraq, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Israel, Jordan, Journalism, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Military, Morocco, Multilateralism, Muslim Brotherhood, NATO, Palestine, Political Islam, Political Parties, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, United Nations, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
POMED Notes: ““Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities and Needs amidst Economic Challenges in the Middle East”
March 10th, 2011 by Kyle
The House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held an open hearing on U.S. policy in response to the political unrest across the Middle East as well as to discuss the economic issues facing the region, the committee – chaired by Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) and with ranking member Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY) in attendance – requested the testimony of two individuals: Jeffrey D. Feltman Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and Mr. George A. Laudato Administrator’s Special Assistant for the Middle East at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
For full notes continue below, or click here for pdf.
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Posted in Civil Society, Congress, Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Multilateralism, North Africa, Palestine, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Revolution in the Middle East: A Trip Report by Senator John McCain and Senator Joseph Lieberman”
March 6th, 2011 by Kyle
On Thursday the Brookings Institute hosted an event focused on the recent trip of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) to the Middle East entitled: “Revolution in the Middle East: A Trip Report by Senator John McCain and Senator Joseph Lieberman.” The event was opened by Strobe Talbott, President of the Brookings Institute and moderated by Robert Kagan, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute.
For full notes, continue below. Click here for pdf.
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Posted in al-Qaeda, Bahrain, Civil Society, Diplomacy, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Hezbollah, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mideast Peace Plan, Muslim Brotherhood, North Africa, Palestine, Political Islam, Protests, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
The Palestinian Authority Should Dissolve
February 28th, 2011 by Naureen
In response to calls for elections by Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas, Ali Abunimah argued that the Palestinian Authority should be dissolved. Although Abbas has called for elections, Abunimah believes that this does not restore legitimacy to the PA because of the unresolved conflict between the PA and Hamas which has led to a “crisis of leadership.”
Posted in Elections, Palestine | Comment »
U.S. Agrees to Rebuke Israel in Security Council
February 17th, 2011 by Naureen
On Tuesday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan E. Rice informed Arab governments that the U.S. will support a U.N. Security Council statement reaffirming that the council “does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity.” Colum Lynch writing at the Foreign Policy blog, Turtle Bay, states that this was a move aimed at avoiding the prospect of having to veto a stronger Palestinian resolution which call the settlements illegal. Palestinians have, however, rejected the U.S. offer after a meeting of Arab representatives on Wednesday and plan to press for a vote on its resolution on Friday, which will likely be vetoed. Lynch argues, however that this marks the U.S.’s “willingness to seek a way out of the current impasse, even if it requires breaking with Israel.” In exchange for “scuttling the Palestinian resolution,” the U.S. will support the council statement, consider supporting a U.N. Security Council visit to the Middle East and commit to supporting strong language criticizing Israel’s settlement policies in a future statement to be drafted by the Middle East Quartet. According to council diplomats, the U.S. shift in rhetoric comes as the 14 other members prepare to support the Palestinian resolution.
Addressing a question on the settlement statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, “Our focus is on doing what is best to advance negotiations between the parties that will lead to a two-state solution…we are working with our partners in the Security Council, with our friends in the region, to find a consensus way forward that is consistent with our overall approach.”
Posted in Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, United Nations | Comment »
January Marks Shift in Issues Central to the Middle East
February 1st, 2011 by Kyle
Elliott Abrams wrote at his blog that the opportunity for Gamal Mubarak to succeed his father has passed. He states: “Efforts to cram him into that position would give rise to public discontent far greater than we are seeing already,” thus succession in Egypt is uncertain. Abrams also highlights that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict issue is no longer central in the Middle East in light of recent uprisings across the region, stating, “What unites these events is their relationship to the democracy deficit and to internal social and economic problems, not to Israel.”
Posted in Egypt, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, Protests | Comment »
In Response to Egyptian Unrest Palestine Calls for Elections
February 1st, 2011 by Kyle
The Palestinian Authority has not held elections since 2006, which has left President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in power beyond their elected terms. Seemingly in response to the current unrest in Egypt, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s Cabinet said Tuesday it would set election dates during its next session, which will most likely occur next week. The Palestinian Authority has canceled elections in the past that have allowed for their leaders to stay in power beyond their originally stated term lengths.
Posted in Egypt, Elections, Palestine | Comment »
POMED Notes: “A Statesman’s Forum with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh”
January 26th, 2011 by Alec
The Brookings Institution hosted a forum on Monday with moderator Martin Indyk, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy program at Brookings and featured speaker Foreign Minister Nasser S. Judeh. Martin Indyk made brief introductory remarks acknowledging the presence of the ambassadors from Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority in the audience.
To read full notes continue below, or click here for pdf. For full audio, click here.
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Israel, Jordan, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine | Comment »
“Party Building in the Middle East”
December 22nd, 2010 by Jason
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has released a new article titled “Party Building in the Middle East.” Written by Les Campbell, NDI’s senior associate and regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, the article seeks to “enumerate some of the key achievements of democracy assistance in the Arab world over the past decade; describe the strategies democracy assistance practitioners employ in their work; and explain, through four case studies and the voices of recipients, how specific interventions have contributed to the advancement of democracy in the Middle East and north Africa.” The case studies include Yemen, Morocco, the West Bank and Gaza, and Egypt.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Morocco, NGOs, Palestine, US foreign policy, Women, Yemen | Comment »
Palestine: HRW Criticizes Detention of Blogger
December 6th, 2010 by Evan
Human Right Watch released a statement Sunday calling for the release of Palestinian blogger Walid Hasayin, who was arrested by the Palestinian General Intelligence Services on October 31, 2010. Hasayin has not been charged with a crime, but is suspected of posting statements on his blog criticizing Islam and other religions. Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said “The Palestinian authorities’ claim that Hasayin offended Muslims is no excuse for arbitrarily detaining him. The Palestinian judiciary should demonstrate its integrity by protecting the right to free expression and ordering Hasayin’s release and his safety.”
Posted in Journalism, Judiciary, Palestine, Technology | Comment »
POMED Notes: “A Changing Middle East: Iran, Turkey, and Prospects for Peace”
November 16th, 2010 by Jason
On Monday evening, as part of the 2010 Foreign Policy Initiative Forum, a panel discussion was held titled “A Changing Middle East: Iran, Turkey, and Prospects for Peace.” The discussants were Elliot Abrams, of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Eric Edelman, of the Foreign Policy Initiative and Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Reuel Gerecht of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The discussion was moderated by Lee Smith of the Weekly Standard.
(To read full notes, continue below the fold or click here for pdf.)
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islamist movements, Israel, Middle Eastern Media, Palestine, Political Parties, Reform, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »
Palestine: Reconciliation Talks Continue, U.S. Boosts Aid for PA
November 10th, 2010 by Anna
Hamas and Fatah representatives met for a second round of reconciliation talks in Damascus yesterday, focusing on issues regarding control of the Palestinian security and governance apparatus. A Fatah authority said: “We realize that reconciliation is a national Palestinian interest.”
Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the U.S. will give the Palestinian Authority an additional $150 million in aid. The increased funding is an apparent effort to boost the PA’s budget. She added that a “positive outcome” is still possible in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, in spite of a recent deadlock.
Posted in Foreign Aid, Hamas, Palestine, Political Parties | Comment »
