February 2011

Libya's tragedy, Gaddafi's farce

Nouri Gana 22 February 2011


If you think Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is stupid, much less crazy, think twice. He was the first to sense and assess correctly the ripple effects of what happened in Tunisia on 14 January 2011. He was fully cognizant and apprehensive of its implications for Libya and, above all, for his 42-year record of autocratic rule. Nouri Gana comments for The Electronic Intifada. 

Interview: Jordan revoking citizenship from Palestinian refugees

Hazem Jamjoum 27 February 2011


Palestinians in Jordan constitute both the majority of the kingdom’s population, and the largest Palestinian refugee community in the world. EI contributor Hazem Jamjoum spoke to Anis F. Kassim, an international law expert and practicing lawyer in Jordan to clarify what is known about the situation of Palestinian citizenship rights in Jordan. 

Al-Tuwani children's struggle to go to school

Samuel Nichols al-Tuwani 21 February 2011


On the afternoon of 7 February 2011, masked Israeli settlers from Havat Maon outpost chased a group of twelve Palestinian schoolchildren who were walking home from school in al-Tuwani village in the occupied West Bank’s South Hebron Hills. The Israeli military had failed to arrive to escort the schoolchildren, forcing the children to take a longer path without the army’s escort. 

Egypt-Israel "peace treaty" brought more war than peace

Richard Irvine 21 February 2011


In the wake of Egypt’s revolution, Israeli and Western commentators have called the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty “cornerstone” of regional peace and stability. That Israel always viewed the treaty as a blank check for war, however, is evident both in its behavior and in fears that the abrogation of the treaty might mean Israel will have to curtail its military interventions. Richard Irvine comments for The Electronic Intifada. 

Activism roundup: Bilin commemorates six years of protest

18 February 2011


The Electronic Intifada brings you this roundup of recent activism news from across the globe, including disruptions by university students of speeches by an Israeli soldier and a politician in Massachusetts and in Scotland, a move to challenge Seattle’s violations of free speech rights and a Palestinian youth group’s demonstration against a settler-only marathon in the occupied West Bank. 

The moderate obstacle

Paula Rosine Long 15 February 2011


Today, the American arena of the human rights struggle exemplified by Martin Luther King, Jr. has arguably shifted from Birmingham to Arizona, but the greatest worldwide arena is undoubtedly Cairo. And as in Dr. King’s time, the greatest stumbling block is the “moderates.” Paula Rosine Long comments for The Electronic Intifada. 

Egypt's revolution and Israel: "Bad for the Jews"

Ilan Pappe 14 February 2011


The view from Israel is that if they indeed succeed, the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions are very bad. They make the Israeli occupation and apartheid policies in Palestine look like the acts of a typical “Arab” regime. Ilan Pappe examines how the Israeli establishment sees regional events and argues that the Arab uprisings offer hope for reconciliation built on the Palestinian right of return and universal principles. 

Egyptian activist Mona Seif: It's a revolution, and it's not over

Matthew Cassel 13 February 2011


11 February 2011 will forever be an historic day for Egypt. It was then that weeks of protests around the country finally forced Hosni Mubarak, the US-backed president of the country for the past 30 years, to leave office. On 12 February, EI’s Matthew Cassel spoke with blogger and activist Mona Seif about the revolution, how it began, and what it means for Egypt’s future. 

Egyptian labor joins the uprising

Cam McGrath Cairo 11 February 2011


CAIRO (IPS) - Hosni Mubarak’s speech Thursday night in which he refused to quit only provoked anger and sparked further unrest. Massive demonstrations, and pitched battles between pro-democracy protesters and the regime’s security forces, have already been intensifying in every corner of the country. 

Muslim-Christian unity characterizes Egypt's uprising

Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani 9 February 2011


CAIRO (IPS) - Over recent years, Egypt has witnessed mounting tension between its Muslim majority and its sizeable Coptic Christian minority. But in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the site of ongoing mass protests against the ruling regime, members of both faiths chant in unison “Muslim, Christian, doesn’t matter; We’re all in this boat together!” 

Meet the Lebanese Press: the end of Hariri or of Harirism?

Hicham Safieddine and Cynthia Issa 11 February 2011


While all eyes are on the people’s revolts in Tunisia and Egypt, ongoing efforts to form a new government in Lebanon have garnered little media attention. But the collapse of the Hariri government in Lebanon was another major blow to US interests and the standing of its long-time Israeli and “moderate” Arab allies. 

The ascent of the Palestinian pharaoh

Abdaljawad Hamayel 9 February 2011


Economic dependency and an oppressive security state is the recipe that many dictatorial, one-person, or one-party regimes apply across the region. This model was followed by the once American-supported, and then American-deposed Saddam Hussein, to Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi, who was first a pariah in the West and then became its darling, to Tunisia’s Zine El Abedine Ben Ali who was overthrown by his people, among others. While the Egyptian people stand steadfast in an effort to overthrow their own Pharoah, a similar “pharoah regime” is steadily being built for Palestinians in the West Bank. 

Refuge and return

Lamya Hussain Borj El Barajneh refugee camp 8 February 2011


“Where would you like to go?” asks a taxi driver a little older than my father, his thick Lebanese accent I barely understand. I reply politely, “Off the airport road to Bourj al-Barajneh.” “The refugee camp? No, I don’t go there,” he replies. 

Family of Amr Qawasme, murdered in his bed, seeks accountability

Charlotte Silver Hebron 3 February 2011


On 7 January, five Israeli soldiers invaded Subhya Qawasme’s home. Her husband, Amr, was shot to death while he was sleeping in their bed as Subhya prayed beside him. Amr Qawasme was 66 years old. He was a former construction worker, a father of 12 and a grandfather of 37. Charlotte Silver reports for The Electronic Intifada. 

An Egyptian revolution, unplugged

Aprille Muscara 1 February 2011

WASHINGTON (IPS) - Despite the Hosni Mubarak regime’s attempts at muzzling communication and dissent, and the reportedly government-sanctioned shutdown of Egypt’s last standing Internet service provider to individual users Monday, Egyptians are still managing to get their voices heard and mobilize – both through advanced technical workarounds and older, traditional technologies. 

Egypt's revolution inspires Gaza's youth

Mohammed Rabah Suliman 1 February 2011


The revolution underway in Egypt is being closely watched by Gaza’s youth who see it as a source of empowerment and inspiration. It has stirred our sentiments and has moved us to take to the streets to show our solidarity with our neighbors in Egypt. We attempt to absorb every minute event so as to carry it through the years when we will be able to tell our children how proud we were to have lived through one of the greatest and most inspirational events in the history of the Arab world.