The U.N. Human Rights Council voted on Friday for a mission to be sent to Syria to investigate claims of human rights violations by the Syrian government against civilians.  Twenty-six of the Council's forty-seven member states called for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to dispatch the mission while nine states voted against.  The Council requested a preliminary report and oral update to be submitted to its 17th session ...

On Thursday, top representatives of U.S. non-governmental democracy assistance associations held a briefing on Capitol Hill entitled, “What is Democracy Assistance? What does it really accomplish? How does it further US national interests?” The panel discussion featured: Lorne Craner, President, International Republican Institute; Ken Wollack, President, National Democratic Institute; Paula Schriefer, Director of Advocacy, Freedom House; May T. Kosba, Atlas Corps Fellow and Egyptian activist; David J. Kramer, Executive ...

Khaled Elgindy, writing at Foreign Policy, argues that the Palestinian reconciliation will pose “serious political, diplomatic, and legal challenges for U.S. policymakers,” but that American opposition at this time would “be both futile and counterproductive.” Elgindy argues: “the agreement is a major breakthrough for the Palestinians, whose four-year split has paralyzed domestic politics, hindered peace efforts, and demoralized ordinary Palestinians.” Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s denunciation of the deal, Elgindy ...

Security forces opened fire on protesters in Latakia on Friday wounding at least five people. About 1,000 people are reported to have turned our for demonstrations in the city against the Assad regime.  Other demonstrations were reported in Banias and Qamishli.  The government had warned against protests saying it had not granted permission for Friday demonstrations and claimed that such protests harmed Syrian security and stability.  Many of the protests were ...

This week, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) released its second briefing paper on Egypt which provides an overview of the measures that have been implemented since President Hosni Mubarak stepped down and discusses the referendum.  The report also addresses the issues that need to be addressed prior to the upcoming elections such as the establishment of  independent and transparent supreme judicial bodies to supervise elections, enforce election laws ...

Writing at Foreign Policy, former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Dore Gold argues that the recent Fatah-Hamas unity deal makes permanent peace with Israel, less, not more likely.  Gold states that the reconciliation is part of Mahmoud Abbas's push for recognition of Palestinian statehood at the U.N. General Assembly in September but says such efforts suffer from a "fundamental misconception."  Gold reiterates that the General Assembly has no power or ...

On Friday, protesters in Oman continued their sit-ins in the southern towns of Salalah and Sur.  Nearly 1500 people took place in the rally in Salalah, during which protesters called for freedom of expression and greater reform following the blockade of sites by local telecom operators.  Demonstrators have also demanded a probe into corruption by high level officials.  Protests in Oman began in January and led to Sultan Qaboos Bin ...

Writing at his CFR blog, Steven Cook discusses the Bahraini government's unwillingness to enact serious political reform.  He notes that the promulgation of a new constitution in 2002 and the consequent reinstatement of parliament did not lead to substantial reform.  Cook points to the banning of political parties (although "political societies" have been permitted) and the harassment and arrest of human rights activists as evidence.  He notes however that the ...

  Photo courtesy of BBC Arabic.

Photo courtesy of Haaretz.

David Pollock, writing for the Washington Institute of Near East Policy (WINEP), discusses the dichotomous news coverage by Al Jazeera English and its Arabic counterpart.  With the increased publicity that Al Jazeera has received over the past few months, Pollock argues that many have praised Al Jazeera's broad based coverage, but failed to address the selectivity of the same coverage.  Pollock states: "Al Jazeera's reformist reputation does not hold up ...

    In an interview with CNN, Sheikh Fahad Al Salem, a member of Kuwaiti royal family, stated that he has been calling on Arab leaders to listen to its people for years.  "If we don't start the change in a peaceful way in this very fast moment now, we will have chaos," he said. Al Salem has also called for reform in Kuwait stating that "if the way of dealing does not ...

During a short briefing with the Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah,  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the two would discuss not only U.S. relations with Oman but also the recent events in the Middle East.  The minister noted the importance of U.S.-Omani relations and expressed his belief that the country and the region needs to promote "our younger generation, which is now is, in ...

On Tuesday, the United States Institute of Peace, the National Democratic Institute, the Solidarity Center, and Human Rights Watch hosted a live video-conference with senior representatives of the Bahraini opposition including: Khalil Almarzooq, a leading member of the Al Wefaq Islamic National Society and its bloc’s official spokesperson; Dr. Muneera Fakhro, parliamentary member and senior leader of the leftist Wa’ad party; Mohammed Al Maskati, head of the Bahrain Youth Center ...

In an op-ed piece for Foreign Policy, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) criticizes President Barack Obama's "hesitancy" to weigh in on the government crackdown on protesters in Syria.  Rubio said that Obama's lack of actions "has been mistaken for indecision at best and indifference at worst. The president needs to speak directly to the Syrian people to communicate American support for their legitimate demands."  Calling Obama's decision to restore ties with ...

In response to Wednesday violence in which plainclothes gunmen killed 12 anti-government protesters in Sana'a, Yemeni opposition said it may back out of the GCC deal it had previously agreed to if the government continued to use violence against protesters.  In a statement directed at President Ali Abdullah Saleh the opposition coalition said: "In the event of your inability to protect protesters, we will find ourselves unable to pursue ...

Hugh Macleod and an anonymous correspondent, writing for Al Jazeera, outline the tense and terrifying atmosphere in Deraa, currently under Syrian military siege.  They describe the city as a veritable ghost town as military tanks patrol the streets and snipers shoot at anyone daring enough to venture outside.  All modes of telecommunications, including internet, have been cut entirely.  Families stuck inside their homes are running low on water and food.  ...

The New York Times reports that the agreement reached by Fateh and Hamas to form a unity government was influenced by regional changes created by the Arab Spring. Specifically, unrest in Syria may deprive Hamas of its external headquarters; while, a new Egyptian regime may open the Gaza-Sinai border. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has argued that unity was needed to give legitimacy to Palestinian Authority's push for statehood before the ...

The Economist writes that the resignation deal for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, will be signed on May 1st.  The deal requires  Saleh to hand over power to his vice president who will run a unity government for one month before Saleh officially resigns. After his resignation new presidential elections will be held in 60 days time.  The deal, which was ...