Regions
Middle East
Nidaa Tounes Drifting Apart?Omar Belhaj SalahA disillusioned faction within Nidaa Tounes is drawing on distrust of leftist and conservative leadership to seek more influence within the governing party. Read More
Iran is drama, but Iraq is destinyRami G. KhouriTheir cooperation with American and Iranian elements suggests that Iraqis are determined to keep trying to work together for the common good of their united, pluralistic country, rather than to fight each other for the right to rule small ethnic provinces. Read More
U.S. and Iran: Overcoming a Hard LegacyJohn LimbertWith the announcement of a nuclear deal in Vienna, a three-decade freeze in relations between the U.S. and Iran is beginning to break. A former American diplomat with a deep knowledge of Iran, John Limbert explains the way forward. Read More
ISIS Is Weak, but so Are Arab StatesRami G. KhouriThe political and sectarian problems that prevent military coordination also plague the constructive political development of countries like Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, Lebanon, Palestine and others. Read More
The Brotherhood’s Post-Pacifist ApproachAbdelrahman AyyashThe Muslim Brotherhood’s current leadership is neither able nor willing to find political alternatives to what the young propose: “smart violence.” Read More
Why Arabs Are Concerned About the Iran Nuke BargainNabil FahmyThe proposed nuclear deal with Iran is far from sufficient. It delays, but does not close the door on potential Iranian breakout. There is profound concern among Arab leaders, and for good reason. Read More
Hillary Clinton should stop lyingRami G. KhouriThe BDS movement that includes divestment and boycott moves by leading American churches and European banks and even some governments is not trying to delegitimize Israel. Read More
Dark Geopolitics of the Middle EastHooshang AmirahmadiThe region’s autocrats and foreign intruders created growing disorder. Democratic reform is needed to spare the region from a future of failed states, popular revolts, and religious extremism. Read More
Egypt, ISIS, Elvis and other inspirationsRami G. KhouriAnniversaries this week that inspire liberty, human rights, and the enjoyment of life. Read More
What Goes UnsaidMarda DunskyAmerican media coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict is more even-handed than critics claim, but key contextual factors go unreported or underreported. Among them: the impact of U.S. policy on the conflict. Read More
Dining with DariusRachel LaudanThe tale of the Persian empire is one of vast farms, game reserves, and fisheries, elaborate kitchens staffed by thousands, and power. Centuries later, nations are still engaging in culinary politics. Read More
How to Feed EgyptPerrihan Al-RiffaiA country with a bulging population faces crippling food security challenges. A high-level government commitment must address the availability of and access to food. Read More
Letter from ChinaJohn BattersbyThe Beijing regime is nervous that digital technology in the form of social media and other tools is chipping away at the Communist Party’s authoritarian system of control. Read More
Foreign Policy, InterruptedLauren E. BohnTo respond to a stark gender disparity in foreign affairs, a new non-profit works to get more women miked, quoted, and bylined. Read More
Oriental Hall, Etc.Frank E. Bartscheck II, Salma AbdallahHappenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo. Read More
Everyday HeroesFrank E. Bartscheck IIA psychologist, known for his study of evil, is fascinated by what was good in the Arab Spring. Read More
Egyptian Reporters ReloadedAmir-Hussein RadjyMada Masr, a progressive online news organization, is pushing against the shrinking space for political debate. Read More
After Ramadi, Militias in the LeadKirk H. SowellThe fall of Ramadi on May 17 has had two key repercussions, neither of which will be reversed by simply retaking lost ground. Read More
Reflecting on a Week of TerrorRami G. KhouriIdentifying more honestly the combination of reasons that drive ordinary citizens into the arms of killers has stumped Arab and Western authorities for decades, though any Arab teenager could probably explain in five minutes what ails them, and channels some of them into criminal acts. Read More
Netanyahu and the Iranian ThreatOwen AltermanSome say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is obsessed with the Iranian nuclear issue. Some say he just cares deeply about it. Owen Alterman reflects upon how Jewish history influences the leader's policies today. Read More
How a Nuclear Deal Helps Democracy in IranNader HashemiThe debate on the Iran nuclear deal has largely ignored the effects that an accord might have on politics and society within the country. An Iranian scholar considers what the future might hold. Read More
Signs of a more effective Palestinian strategy?Rami G. KhouriTwo initiatives this week may well point the way towards a more effective path of political and diplomatic struggle that could overcome the constraints now suffered due to Palestinian fragmentation. Read More
How Iraq is Driving Itself to HungerHadi FathallahThe fight against the Islamic State has disrupted food production in Iraq, but the Iraqi government is in no shape to fill the food gap. Read More
Good Grief: ISIS Cannot be Fought with Facebook LikesRami G. KhouriISIS and Al-Qaeda can only be fought by cutting out from beneath their feet the combination of policies and conditions in the Arab region that deeply offend and threaten ordinary citizens, and ultimately turn a very small number of them into ISIS recruits. Read More
To Obey the Law or Continue Criminal Actions? Rami G. KhouriFour very different approaches on to how to resolve situations of violence, atrocity, and occupation. Read More
Ending the Iranian-Saudi Cold WarReza MarashiRenewed diplomacy between two regional powers is critical to building durable security in the Middle East. Read More
The U.S. Supreme Court Wisely Upholds the LawRami G. KhouriThe Supreme Court's recent decision could prove consequential in the years ahead, as the political battle between Israelis and Palestinians continues to find its way into American courts. Read More
The Brotherhood's Changing ApproachAbdelrahman YoussefThe Brotherhood’s youth wing is pushing the group toward confrontation with the Egyptian state. Read More
Iran's Stakes in Syria's EconomySalam al-SaadiAlthough political considerations are the main drivers of Iran’s policy toward Syria, economic interests are playing an ever greater role. Read More
The Spirit Lives, in Gdansk and BeirutRami G. KhouriRemembering the life and work of the late Samir Kassir, who was assassinated ten years ago in Beirut. Read More
Hamas's Islamic State WoesBenedetta BertiThe rise of the latest manifestation of the Salafi-jihadi camp in Gaza is politically worrying for Hamas. Read More
ISIS Attracts Because Arab Systems RepelRami G. KhouriAlong with strong military actions, the Arab world must take parallel political steps to defeat ISIS. Read More
A New Role for the UN in Western SaharaJacques RoussellierIn the absence of open dialogue on the Western Sahara issue, the United Nations is pursuing a middle-of-the-road approach to accommodate the demands of both Morocco and the Polisario. Read More
The Moroccan Left's DilemmaImad StitouAlthough the Moroccan far left recognizes that boycotting elections will marginalize them further, their anticipated participation is unlikely to secure them any gains. Read More
Egypt's Liberal Economic AgendaDavid ButterEgypt is back in the favor of global business, but will it be able to sustain that interest? Read More
Attack ISIS' Drivers to Defeat ItRami G. KhouriIt’s not the war against ISIS that is “long,” it’s rather the conditions of inequity, oppression, imperial reach, state violence, and mass deprivation that have gone on for so long that they have finally erupted in the form of the terrible revenge called ISIS. Read More
Gulf Countries Shape a New Political OrderTarek OsmanWith its financial leverage and soft power, the Gulf has become an important orchestrator of the pace and direction of change in the Arab world. Read More
Narrow Ethno-nationalism Plagues All in the Middle EastRami G. KhouriThe Middle East continues shifting toward increasingly narrow state identities and government policies that are defined by a combination of narrow ethnicity, increased militarism and religious conservatism. Read More
Postcard From IranAnn M. LeschIranians are hopeful for a finalized agreement between Iran and the United States that will renew relations between the two countries. Read More
Egypt, 1984Laila El BaradeiToday's Egypt looks troublingly similar to Orwell's dystopia. Read More
Vulnerable, Abused Citizens Lead to Unstable StatesRami G. KhouriArab societies are brittle, volatile, violent and fragmenting in many cases because there is no effective check on the exercise of power by indigenous or external powers, which leaves average Arab citizen totally exposed and helpless. Read More
Grasp This Window to Hold Killers AccountableRami G. KhouriA UN report that addresses the actions of Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza war is an opportunity to dare to move towards holding chronic killers accountable. Read More
The Rise of Iraq's Militia StateKirk H. SowellAmid the fight against the Islamic State, Iraq is witnessing another struggle for power between Abadi’s nationalist Shia factions and Iranian-backed militias. Read More
Threats and Responses in the GCC's New MilitancyRami G. KhouriWill the GCC’s new militarism respond to the long list of perceived troubling regional threats as well as it already responds to the GCC’s need to safeguard its own national interests? Read More
A Struggle for the Soul of IslamTarek OsmanIn the post-revolution MidEast, Islam isn't only a refuge in a world in which all ideologies and systems have been crumbling, it's also a powerful cause to be defended. Read More
Our Homemade Weapons of Our Own Mass DestructionRami G. KhouriWildly flashing red lights telling us to stop building one-way highways to hell for tens of millions of our children who are denied the most important opportunity of their lives. Read More
Judicial Reforms in TunisiaSarah MerschLong-needed reforms to Tunisia’s judiciary may soon emerge, but structural reforms are just one of the many daunting tasks ahead of the branch. Read More
A Question About Policy in YemenRami G. KhouriAmerica’s top officials seem comfortable continuing an approach in Yemen even though in the same breath they acknowledge its dangerous consequences for the Arab world. Read More
Iran Accord Could Spark Momentous Regional ChangesRami G. KhouriThe consummation of a full, multi-decade agreement on Iran’s nuclear program is likely to have monumental consequences across the entire Middle East. Read More
Rare Courage, Respect, Reciprocity Drove Iran DealRami G. KhouriThe agreed deal on Iran’s nuclear program that was reached Thursday represents a monumental achievement that affirms the power of reason and diplomacy over the ravages of fear and warfare. Read More
Keeping Egypt's Lights OnAlfred Jasins, Brendan MeighanTo address the country’s growing energy needs, the government is granting the private sector a leading role. Read More
Yemen's War is Debatable, but Probably HistoricRami G. KhouriSimultaneous adjustments at national, regional and global levels have been taking place across the Middle East region since the end of the Cold War. The Saudi-Yemen situation is important because it captures developments at all three levels. Read More
City of LiesHolly DagresA study of love, sex, and death in Tehran Read More
Noble Jews and Bloodthirsty ArabsMatthew BerkmanA dehumanizing portrait of Palestinians from an Israeli LiberalRead More
The United States and PalestineRashid KhalidiDespite direct and continuous American diplomacy for decades, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has raged on and on. A Middle East scholar deconstructs seven decades of failed American policy. Read More
America's Middle East ChallengeSeyed Hossein Mousavian, Mehrdad SaberiWashington’s foreign policy rests on shaky ground due to longstanding mistrust by Arabs and Iranians alike. To ease tensions and fight terrorism, the United States should support a new order based on cooperation among regional powers. Read More
Egypt's Leaderless RevolutionDavid Ottaway, Marina OttawayThe January 25 Tahrir Square uprising raised high hopes for change after years of dictatorship. But the failure of revolutionaries to organize and unite doomed the prospects for democracy. Read More
Arab PeacemakerCairo ReviewLakhdar Brahimi is the Middle East’s elder statesman. He speaks about the impact of colonialism, the rise of political Islam, and his life as a United Nations diplomat. Read More
Media Policy and Freedom of ExpressionNabil FahmyDiscussing “freedom of expression” in the same conversation with “media policy” may imply that they are mutually exclusive concepts, but that is a false premise. Read More
Oriental Hall, Etc.Owain RichardsHappenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo. Read More
Schooling EgyptSarah El-ShaarawiThe country faces an education crisis of what may well be historic proportions. Read More
Four Active Arab Wars Stem from a Common MalaiseRami G. KhouriYemen is not really about the legally authorized use of force to ensure a calm Arab future. Rather, it is mainly a testament to the marginalization of the rule of law in many Arab countries in our recent past. Read More
The Islamic State's Strategy in LibyaKevin Casey, Stacey PollardLacking close ties to Libyan social groups, the Islamic State’s strategy focuses on accelerating state collapse rather than acquiring territory. Read More
The United States Should Now Respond to the Arab Peace PlanRami G. KhouriThe Obama administration is doing something that no other American administration has ever dared to do, which is to confront and challenge Israel in public on the core issue in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Read More
One Arena and Two PlayersRami G. KhouriAfter a strong victory by Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party and a consolidation of rightwing sentiments, Israeli-American relations is the critical arena, and the European and Palestinian leaderships are the two pivotal actors to watch. Read More
What's Next for Netanyahu?Lisa GoldmanRecent Israeli elections may spell victory for the prime minister, but his pre-election moves could create challenges for his government. Read More
Four Middle East Cities Today Might Define Our FateRami G. KhouriThe fate of this region remains in the hands of its people. How current events in Tikrit, Cairo, Tel Aviv and Tehran play themselves out will shape our fate for generations to come. Read More
The Challenges of Mobilizing Sunni Tribes in IraqRaed El-HamedIf Iraqi parties cannot agree on a unified vision for the National Guard, options will remain limited for the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State. Read More
Syria Reflects Wider, Older Arab TroublesRami G. KhouriThe Middle East is likely to endure many years of dislocation and violence until local authorities re-establish order that is based on a more credible social contract among citizens who feel they belong to a state. Read More
Will the March Investment Conference Launch Egypt’s Economic Recovery?Amr AdlyEgypt’s leaders hope that foreign investors, led by the Gulf states, will provide much-needed capital. But the fall in oil prices may make it difficult for them to help. Read More
Drama Becomes Farce in U.S.-Israeli TiesRami G. KhouriNetanyahu just tore up the rulebook, and nobody is quite sure what will happen next in U.S.-Israeli relations. An unsanctioned, thriving Iran that is not a nuclear threat would force a new balance of power in the Middle East. Read More
Sisi's Parliamentary FearsMohamed El-ShewyDriven by its distrust of organized political groups, Sisi’s regime has gone to considerable lengths to depoliticize the parliament and the country’s new “political” elite. Read More
Another Blow to the Farcical 'Peace Process'Rami G. Khouri All concerned should be braced for some bad things to happen in the arenas of security, political rhetoric, administration, finances and economy, and physical and psychological well-being of citizenries on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Read More
Netanyahu's Grand Speech, to Uncertain EffectOwen AltermanThe Israeli Prime Minister's speech to the United States Congress stole the show in American media, but it will likely have little impact on policy or Israeli elections. Read More
The Battle Forces Against ISIS Remain IncompleteRami G. KhouriIf ISIS and other such movements are to be defeated, we need to see tangible signs of change in the way Arab societies are governed. Read More
The Egyptian Pope's Risky PartisanshipJohannes A. MakarPope Tawadros II, the main political voice of the Coptic community, has seemingly allied with President Sisi, but this comes at the expense of defending Coptic rights. Read More
A Milestone in United States-Israel RelationsRami G. KhouriThe fact that we now see strong, public criticisms of Netanyahu from the belly of the Israel-loving beast that is the U.S. Congress suggests that a significant political and historical marker has been passed. Read More
Kurds' Electoral GambleMustafa GurbuzKurds will benefit from the HDP’s decision to run as a party in Turkey’s parliamentary elections, but the party will bear most of the risk. Read More
Sisi's Joint Arab Military Idea is Stunningly IdioticRami G. KhouriThe idea of joint Arab action for common security needs is a good one in principle, but given the legacy of Arab military actions at home and abroad, it makes no sense whatsoever, on many counts. Read More
Honesty and Dishonesty in Fighting Violent ExtremismRami G. KhouriUnusual for American senior officials speaking about the Middle East or Arab-Islamic dynamics, a case of refreshingly accurate, honest and relevant talk from a U.S. president. Read More
Only Fools Confuse Religion with CriminalityRami G. KhouriDeclaring that Islam is at war with itself, or that we witness a battle for the soul and heart of Islam, is vulgar, reductionist and essentialist. Read More
An Interview on Moroccan Salafi-JihadistsMohammed HakikiMohammed Hakiki talks about Morocco's efforts to crack down on recruitment networks for ISIS in the country.Read More
Rep. John Yarmuth Matters and Deserves Our RespectRami G. KhouriThe American representative will not be attending Netanyahu's speech to the U.S. Congress. It's worth understanding his reasons. Read More
The Fight for Mosul: Learning from the PastRenad MansourThe Islamic State will only be ousted from Iraq’s second largest city if Sunni tribal forces join the fight. That will require rebuilding their trust in Baghdad. Read More
Tunisia's Majority Unstable GovernmentSarah MerschTunisia’s new coalition cabinet is hardly a beacon of stability, confronting ideological differences between four different parties. Read More
How to Innovate Islamic ThinkingTarek OsmanThe solution is for religious institutions to widen their scope of research, limit their scope of social supervision, and open their doors. Read More
Yemen and the Agony of the Modern Arab EraRami G. KhouriWhile Yemen is a telling lesson in how not to practice stable statehood, it also requires more urgent attention because it poses real and major danger to others in the region and the world. Read More
Saudi Troubles in SanaaKhaled FattahTo protect its security interests in the long term, Riyadh may have little choice but to engage with the Houthis. Read More
Syrian Refugees and Regional SecurityBenedetta BertiThe international community has heavily invested in the armed forces of Syria’s neighbors, but hard security cannot be achieved without more robust humanitarian aid. Read More
Jordan Today Reflects Arab Strengths and WeaknessesRami G. KhouriJordan’s dilemma, which is on full display today, is that its strengths are also its weaknesses.
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Tunisia, Bahrain, Egypt Offer Real ChoicesRami G. KhouriTunisia, Bahrain and Egypt show us the options we face. I honor and choose Tunisia, as I suspect do most of the 360 million Arabs who can speak freely, if they are not in jail and have not had their citizenship revoked. Read More
A Generational Battle Among BrothersMostafa HashemYouth members are now assuming a more active role in Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, pushing the group to escalate its call for revolutionary action against President Sisi. Read More
Limitless Ambitions of Yemen’s HouthisNabeel KhouryThe first of the Houthi wars started, in 2004, while I was the chargé at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa. A decade later, the Houthis have taken over Yemen’s capital, pushing the fragile country toward an uncertain fate. Read More
No Succession Drama, But Plenty of Regional DramaRami G. KhouriRegional and foreign policy is the arena where traditional conservative Saudi values and operating methods run up against the challenges of modern geopolitics and aggressive initiatives by many other states and non-state actors. Read More
After King Abdullah, ContinuityFrederic WehreyDespite the speculations over the effects of Saudi succession, the kingdom’s foreign policies are likely to remain unchanged and have been remarkably consistent since the reign of King Fahad bin Abdul Aziz. Read More
Egypt’s Two-Faced Policy on Human RightsSherif MansourEgypt’s attempted reconciliation with the international community and securing of foreign support, investment, and aid are not possible as long as Egypt holds at least 12 journalists behind bars. Read More
Israel vs. Hezbollah-Syria-IranRami G. KhouriBecause of the tangled dynamics of Hezbollah’s relations inside Lebanon and around the Middle East, the Israeli attack in Syria — an almost routine event in the last few decades, sadly — actually hit three targets in one, namely Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. Read More
The Libya ConundrumKarim Mezran , Tarek RadwanWhat is happening in Libya? And how will Egypt react? Read More
Should We Welcome, Fear or Ignore the Quartet?Rami G. KhouriThe Quartet was a good idea that initially aimed to expand the circle of major parties that lent their weight to achieving a negotiated peace. That never happened for several reasons. Read More
Tests for Egyptian JournalistsNaomi SakrDespite hopes for greater press freedom after the 2011 uprising, Egypt today is one of the most dangerous places in the world for reporters. Battling censors and evading detention is all in a day’s work. Read More
Dangerous OccupationJoel SimonDigital technology is enabling the spread of news and information across borders and around the world on an unprecedented scale. Yet, the challenges and risks facing professional journalists have never been greater. The executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists tells the story. Read More
Barack Obama's Lost PromiseMagda ShahinWithout a more consistent and effective implementation of the policy, the promise of a better American relationship with the Muslim World will remain elusive.Read More
Arab World on the PrecipiceNabil FahmyNow more than any time in recent memory, the Arab World as a political entity is confronted with ominous threats and hair-raising domestic and regional challenges. Read More
Oriental Hall, etc.Rozina Ali, Owain RichardsHappenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo. Read More
CandygirlJonathan Guyer, Sarah El-ShaarawiMohamed Tawfik is the Egyptian ambassador to the United States. Literature, as much as diplomacy, is Tawfik’s passion. Read More
A Better CitizenRozina AliMahmoud El-Gamal will be forever nostalgic about his days as an economics undergraduate at the American University in Cairo. In July, he became the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. Read More
The Charlie Hebdo Dilemma and Islamic Institutions Tarek OsmanIn the vagueness of their response, Islamic leaders are missing an opportunity to lead the global conversation. Read More
Problems in Paris and KhartoumRami G. KhouriA bad week in the continuing saga of an Arab world in search for decency, democracy and development, which remain elusive despite the proven thirst for these things across the region. Read More
Egypt-Gulf Ties and a Changing Balance of Regional SecurityKristian Coates UlrichsenIn the volatile post-Arab Spring landscape, Gulf Cooperation Council states have sought to influence developments in Egypt through aid and diplomacy. Read More
Time for Serious Palestinian LeadershipRami G. KhouriSerious issues of national fate require serious leadership, and Abbas does not fit that bill any longer.
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A Moment to Recall the Corrosion that Threatens EgyptRami G. KhouriThe Al-Jazeera journalists must be freed, but so also must the Egyptian and Arab people be freed from the crippling, deadly grip of military rule. Read More
What to Watch for at the UN Security CouncilRami G. KhouriAn important debate will soon take place at the UN Security Council on draft resolutions to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We should pay attention.
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How Fares the Global War on Terror? Rami G. KhouriThe more the GWOT continues, the greater seems to be the expansion and impact of the very terror groups it seeks to defeat, with ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra being the most recent examples. Read More
The Angels and Devils of Our Last Four YearsRami G. KhouriWe know today about both our angels and our devils, and they will battle for our souls for some years to come. We have become normal countries, in the early years of our painful birth. Read More
The Case Against an Alliance with AssadHeiko Wimmen Realpolitik, rather than ethics, provides the most powerful arguments against the growing calls to forge a deal with the Syrian regime. Read More
Imperial Crimes in the United States and the Middle EastRami G. KhouriIs the United States the shining republic, or just another banana republic? Is this a moment of pride or shame for Americans? Right now, it seems to be a bit of both, but how it emerges in the longer term remains to be seen. Read More
Libya’s Southern RivalriesRebecca MurrayRival factions in Libya have allied themselves with groups in the south, intensifying local conflicts and disrupting security in the border zone. Read More
More Simplistic Nonsense from the United States GovernmentRami G. KhouriUntil Arab, Western and other foreign rulers accept that their policies were the main underlying reason that allowed ISIS and other such movements to come into being, statements such as John Kerry’s this week will only meet with ridicule and disbelief. Read More
Sinai Campaign a Boon to the Islamic StateMostafa HashemSupport for the Islamic State in Sinai and across Egypt has risen as youth grow convinced that the state’s violence can only be met with counter-violence. Read More
Egypt is Sad, But Still Hard to ReadRami G. KhouriThe acquittal of former President Hosni Mubarak last weekend marks a symbolic nail in the coffin of the uprising and revolution that overthrew his government in February 2011. It is tempting but reckless to make definitive judgments about the meaning of the extraordinary stages of Egyptian political life since then.Read More
Obama’s Dangerous Embrace of WarRami G. KhouriIgnoring the US public’s sentiments, presidents continue to use the country’s enormous capabilities to wage war around the world at will — usually create more havoc and generating new dangers that did not exist previously.Read More
Imagining a New Arab OrderTarek OsmanThe Arab World is witnessing ideological, sectarian, and ethnic conflicts. A new Arab order will emerge out of these ruins, but it will take time. Read More
Important Lessons from the Iran NegotiationsRami G. KhouriDecisive yet sensible leadership among those involved in the talks has been able to triumph over extremist ideological positions of domestic foes, and scare tactics of perturbed foreign parties like Israel and Saudi Arabia. Read More
Only Active Citizens Can Save Their Precarious StatesRami G. KhouriThe precarious status of half a dozen countries, which run the risk of collapsing or fragmenting into smaller units, is a defining issue of the Arab world today. Read More
A New Sectarian Force for IraqRaed El-HamedPlans to build a national guard force risk widening sectarian divisions in Iraq and pushing more Sunnis toward the Islamic State. Read More
Algeria’s Police RiotsAbdallah Brahimi The power struggle between the Algerian presidency and DRS prevents any fundamental reforms that could address the underlying demands of police protesters.Read More
Is Jerusalem the Last Battle?Rami G. KhouriLiving in a political vacuum, Palestinians in Jerusalem have only themselves to rely on to defend their lands and rights, and in cases of extreme threats and violence used against them, they resort to violence such as we are witnessing these days. Read More
Brotherly Love in the GCCSuliman Al-AtiqiRenewed high-level diplomatic activity between Qatar and Saudi Arabia may end their historic row as the GCC seeks policy alignment, particularly on security issues. Read More
President Rivlin’s Important, Intriguing Gesture Rami G. KhouriOne of the few times in recent memory that a senior Israeli official makes a personal gesture that touches the core of Palestinian pain.
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Houthis on the Rise in YemenMareike TransfeldAlthough the Houthis are well-poised to acquire new territories and increase their influence within Yemen, neither development will bring about peace or prosperity for the country. Read More
Egypt Follows U.S. and Israeli Failed Strategies Rami G. KhouriWhen heavy-handed anti-terror actions demean, kill, injure or ruin the lives of civilians, some of these civilians end up joining the militant groups, simply to exact revenge against those who attacked them. Read More
President Al-Sisi's WorldviewMarc J. SieversA former senior official at the U.S. embassy in Cairo describes how Al-Sisi's background is shaping his approach to domestic politics, counterterrorism, Israel, and other issues. Read More
Lessons from the Historic Tunisian ElectionsRami G. KhouriThe Tunisian elections were the most significant domestic and national political development in the history of the modern Arab world since its creation a century ago.
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The Challenges of Rebuilding GazaMohammed SamhouriGaza cannot be rebuilt in a political vacuum; and conditions alone placed on international funding of Gaza’s reconstruction are not likely to work. Read More
Egypt’s 1984Sharif Abdel KouddousPresident Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s steps to quash dissent exceed the Mubarak era’s in scope and intensity. Read More
ISIS is the Latest of Many Different IslamismsRami G. KhouriISIS, like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah, Hamas, Gamaa Islamiya, non-violent Salafists, militant Salafist-Takfiris, Al-Qaeda and others before it, is a symptom of, and a reaction to, deeper ailments in Middle Eastern society. Read More
The Mideast: More Explosive than EverTarek OsmanThe Middle East’s strategic landscape has been changing at a rapid pace. Two recent events are noteworthy. Read More
New Hare-Brained American Ideas in the Middle EastRami G. KhouriWhy does the United States repeatedly discard the relevance of human nature and history when it unleashes its guns and goes into action around the world? Read More
What Lies Ahead for Algeria?Sada DebatesAlgeria’s future is filled with confusion and concern. Four experts on Algeria take an in-depth look at the changes to come. Read More
Refugees Themselves Can Crack This Tough Nut Rami G. KhouriAn ICG report, “Bringing Back the Palestinian Refugee Question,” is a timely and convincing reminder of why the Palestinian refugees must be central actors in the quest for a negotiated resolution of their conflict with Israel.
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In Vienna, U.S. and Iran Working to Beat the ClockReza MarashiThousands of miles away from the spin factories in Washington and Tehran, negotiators are working diligently to seal the deal. To hear the Europeans tell it, a deal is within reach. Read More
Three Questions to Ask before Unleashing the MilitaryRami G. Khouri
If any foreign power asked about the legitimacy, the efficacy, and the consequences of its military involvement in other countries before actually launching such militarism, it might be possible to minimize the negative consequences that we have experienced in the Middle East in recent decades.
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Maher-Affleck Debate: An Islamic ViewTarek OsmanBill Maher’s assertion that Islam inspires conflict is wrong. But Ben Affleck’s impassioned defense—that most Muslims just want to live peaceful lives—also ignores the fact that today the Islamic world is extremely violent. Read More
Tunisia’s Uncertain ElectionsSarah MerschTalk of Tunisia’s elections has focused on parties and individuals, not issues, leaving many citizens unsure for whom to vote. Read More
How to Assess Fragmenting Arab StatesRami G. KhouriSeven issues gauge the real power and longevity of non-state actors, alongside the dilution of state authority. These seven are Identity, Sovereignty, Territoriality, Service-delivery, Legitimacy, Nationality, and Statehood. Read More
Turkey’s Waiting Game on the Syrian borderNabeel KhouryAfter three years of hesitation, Turkey has signaled its readiness to play a more active role in Syria and to join the recently formed coalition against ISIS. Read More
Desperate Netanyahu Sticks to Old LiesRami G. KhouriThe repeated mistake Netanyahu makes—or perhaps it is a deliberate lie—is to see any movement or rhetoric in the Middle East that references Islamic values as a dangerous threat.Read More
What’s at the Heart of Lebanon’s Troubles?Sada DebatesFour experts on Lebanon take an in-depth look the country’s stability. Read More
Palestine’s Moral Force Needs Diplomatic Power Rami G. KhouriAbbas is making decisions on his own without consulting widely among all Palestinians, and he is using the ICC as a threat, when it should be a central component in any Palestinian strategy that seeks to hold Israel accountable to the international rule of law.
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An Arab Revolution, Born from RuinsTarek OsmanAt a private gathering last week, the Middle East editor at one of the world’s leading newspapers described the Arab world as “a comprehensive mess.” Is it? Read More
Scramble for IraqNabeel KhouryAmerica’s toppling of Saddam Hussein unleashed new forces in the Middle East. The latest fallout: the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Read More
Foreign Policy MessCairo ReviewLawrence Wilkerson, who was chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, is a harsh critic of the Bush administration he served from 2001 to 2005. The retired U.S. army colonel discusses the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the end of the American Empire. Read More
Back to the FutureLaila El BaradeiI have to wonder if we Egyptians are traveling backwards in a time capsule. Lately, we seem to have arrived in the 1960s. Read More
Oriental Hall, Etc.Rozina Ali, Aaron T. RoseHappenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo. Read More
Architecture for AllFernanda Uro AboitesMagda Mostafa, an architecture professor at the American University in Cairo, is a pioneer in practical solutions to the challenges of living with autism. Read More
The Man Behind "Unmanned"Robert GreenwaldA Hollywood director tells how he tracked down an American drone pilot and Pakistani victims of drone strikes to make the powerful documentary film Unmanned: America’s Drone Wars.Read More
Creating or Evading the Gates of Hell?Rami G. KhouriThree principal developments in and around the Arab world: The combined American-Arab Gulf states air strikes in Syria, the control of the Yemeni capital by Houthi rebels, and the meeting in New York between the Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers. Read More
Shameful Hamas-Fateh Behavior Must StopRami G. KhouriThat Hamas and Fateh do not consummate a unified Palestinian government does not only reflect irresponsibility and incompetence on their part, but in view of the difficult context for Palestinians as a whole it is nothing less than a crime. Read More
The Reluctant PosseRami G. KhouriIt is not surprising that when the threat becomes really serious, Arab leaders wait for the United States to save their skins. Read More
How to Defeat ISISTarek OsmanThe Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, is the first jihadist group to control a major area at the heart of the Islamic and Arab world. But the group’s real novelty and peril lie elsewhere: in the sophistication of its operations. Read More
Liberty and Security in TunisiaOmar Belhaj SalahThe increased role of Tunisia’s security apparatus is generating fears of a potential return of the police state. Read More
President El-Sisi Faces the World Nabil FahmyI invite President El-Sisi to deliver a historic speech in front of the United Nations General Assembly appropriate for the magnitude of the challenges and the occasion—and Egyptian prestige. Read More
The War about The WarMark PerryIsrael’s public strategy has come in for widespread scrutiny, both during and after Operation Protective Edge. After Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, the criticism continued to mount. Read More
Reactionary Satire in an Egyptian Zombie FlickMeir R. Walters A recent zombie film illustrates how such pro-regime messaging is making its way into commercial entertainment; it satirizes Islamists and leftists and glorifies the military. Read More
Turks and ArabsTarek OsmanThe eastern Mediterranean, the region that separates Turkey from North Africa and the Gulf, is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. Read More
Polarization and Solidarity Coexist in Arab SocietiesRami G. KhouriWhy is it that otherwise rational men and women cannot sit down together and hammer out agreements on fair power-sharing, representation, decision-making, and accountability?Read More
Hard to Be Confident in the Coalition-to-ComeRami G. KhouriSeveral troubling aspects of the American-led military plan to defeat the “Islamic State”
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Confronting the Islamic StateHassan HassanAirstrikes against ISIS will provide the Syrian opposition an opportunity to work alongside countries that long doubted its ability to rule a post-Assad Syria. Read More
We Do Not Need a Rerun of the War on TerrorRami G. KhouriThe GWOT, with its armed invasions, regime changes, drone fleets and other means, has only sustained and even expanded the Al-Qaeda/“Islamic State” phenomenon, because the twin drivers of Arab-Asian autocracy and foreign aggression remain virtually untouched. Read More
The Islamic State and the Cost of GoverningMona Alami Although the Islamic State gained access to significant resources in Syria and Iraq, budgetary constraints will hinder the group’s expansionist aims.Read More
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Palestinian InitiativeRami G. KhouriAbbas is behaving more like a parent who promises his or her children a birthday surprise than a responsible leader who has been handed responsibility for the fate of some eight million Palestinians entering their fourth generation of exile, occupation and refugeehood. Read More
Panic or a Coming of Age in the Gulf?Rami G. KhouriThe UAE air attack in Libya clarifies a major shift underway in the worldviews and self-perceived roles of leading Arab states, who now throw their weight around the Middle East in a direct manner they never did previously.Read More
The Riddle of Citizen Views on Arab StatehoodRami G. KhouriCitizens will rebel against their central state if they do not feel that their needs are being met equitably, or that they are being mistreated by the government and its military forces.
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Mubarak’s Last WordTarek OsmanThe real value of Mubarak's trial lies in the debate it has unleashed among Egyptians—especially young Egyptians—concerning their attitude toward authority.Read More
Israeli Propaganda Starts to Wear Thin Rami G. KhouriMore and more governments and observers around the world have realized that Hamas and Hezbollah have nothing to do with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, rejecting Israeli propaganda. Read More
An Alternative to IntifadaHugh LovattFor Palestinians, this is a period of frustration over the status quo, limited political horizons, and the hollowing out of Palestinian democratic institutions. Read More
Iraq Is the New Proving Ground for Arab StatehoodRami G. KhouriIslamic State-type rule has no more chance of giving Arabs a decent life than did the centralized police state or the corrupt sectarian state that Arabs have endured for decades. Iraq is the place now where this issue will be put to the test.Read More
Debating a Kurdish StateSerhun AlProspects for an independent Kurdish state are hampered by security challenges, internal competition, and insufficient international support. Read More
Either the U.S. defeats ISIS, or Iran doesNabeel KhouryThe Obama administration’s current efforts against ISIS are of a tactical nature and will not serve to defeat or dislodge it from the areas it now occupies. Read More
Letter from El-SahelTarek OsmanSince the mid-1990s, El-Sahel’s 250-kilometer strip has become the prime summer destination of Egypt’s upper classes. Read More
Zionism vs. Arabism, Not Hamas in GazaRami G. KhouriIt is easier for American-Israeli propagandists to highlight Hamas’ militancy rather than to grapple with the fact that all Palestinians — and most of the world, actually — support the demands that Hamas has articulated and that have been negotiated by the all-inclusive Palestinian delegation in Cairo.Read More
Revived PLO Is Now a Top PriorityRami G. KhouriThe most important political action the Palestinians should take now is to rapidly reconstitute the institutions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), so that Palestinians speak with one voice and benefit from the total backing of the eight million or so Palestinians around the world. Read More
The Islamists Ahead in MoroccoMaâti MonjibWith the exception of the Islamists, Morocco’s political parties have failed to take advantage of the post-2011 openings in political space. Read More
A Ceasefire Would Beckon Real Leaders to ActRami G. KhouriIf any real leaders and statesmen and women exist out there who can respond to this challenge, now is the time to stand up and act.Read More
Sisi’s DilemmaScott WilliamsonAs long as Sisi remains heavily dependent on the military and other state institutions, he can neither push too hard against their interests nor count on them to always back his policies.
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From Biblical Wars to Justice for AllRami G. KhouriThis round of attacks by Israelis and Palestinians may prove to be most significant for pushing all concerned to seek a permanent resolution of this conflict, rather than letting it fester in 19th Century colonial mode. Read More
Legitimizing Crackdown on Dissent in JordanDavid BishopProposed amendments to Jordan’s anti-terror law threaten free expression and may exacerbate the very problem they are hoping to address. Read More
Washington Absurdity, Arab HelplessnessRami G. KhouriWashington’s quest for a ceasefire in Gaza while wholeheartedly supporting and arming Israel’s onslaught against Palestinian civilians reflects the frightening extent of bankrupt Arab diplomacy and the true nature of the US government siding with Israel.
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Islamic State in Syria, Back With a VengeanceHassan HassanThe Islamic State is trying to consolidate its presence in Syria and gain territory using new strategies during its latest push. Read More
A Century of Zionist-Palestinian Wars Rami G. KhouriExiled and subjugated communities like the Palestinians behave in ways that seem strange to middle class consumers in faraway lands. This can only be understood by appreciating the nature of “resistance” and the allure of “liberation.” Read More
Lessons from the Renewed Attacks in Palestine and IsraelRami G. KhouriThis is the tragedy of what happens when determined warriors and mediocre political leaders on all sides meet in the arena of clashing nationalisms. Read More
Hamas and Israel at the BrinkBenedetta BertiA mutual desire to show strength has escalated the conflict, and although neither side wants another war, it may already be too late to pull back. Read More
Local Sentiments, As Always, Will Shape the Middle EastRami G. KhouriThis eclectic, unpredictable, wildly gyrating human will to survive that treats borders, invading armies and local rulers as just one more threat to resist or one more party with which to make a deal. Read More
America and Iran Face the Future—in IraqReza MarashiAfter eleven years of pursuing zero-sum security strategies in Iraq, both Tehran and Washington are slowly admitting that they have badly overreached. Read More
The Struggle for Iraq’s FutureRozina AliDoes the rise of Islamic extremism prove that Iraqi democracy was doomed to fail?Read More
After the Iran Nuclear DealSeyed Hossein MousavianThe P5+1 talks are not just about Tehran’s atomic program. A comprehensive agreement should serve as a model for negotiations on a Middle East Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. Read More