Links

September 24-30, 2012 Links

Last week stories you may have missed from the Middle East and beyond:

“Protesters Burn Bangladesh Buddhist Temples” Al-Jazzera
“Qatar Urges ‘Arab Intervention’ in Syria” The Sydney Morning Herald
“Egypt Mulling Qatari Proposal for Arab Intervention in Syria: Morsi Aide” Ahram Online
“Turkey’s Kurdish Calculus” Wall Street Journal
“Israel Finance Minister Says Iran Economy ‘on Verge of Collapse‘” Reuters
“Arab Spring Affects Countries Differently, Says King” Jordan News Agency
“Many Egyptians Fear Morsi May be an Autocratic Leader Who Replaced Another” Washington Post

Links

September 11-18, 2012 Links

I was recently interviewed on Greek TV to discuss the Syrian conflict and Russia’s role in vetoing U.N. resolutions which would sanction the Assad regime. Russia has clearly sided with Damascus in its crackdown against anti-regime protestors which has gone on for 18 months and has caused at least 20,000 deaths and tens of thousands of refugees. This has been extremely frustrating for Western powers, Turkey and some Gulf states which want the Syrian dictator to step down. Continue reading “September 11-18, 2012 Links” →

Links

September 5-10, 2012 Links

I wanted to focus specifically on the recent events in Israel and the West Bank. For economic reasons, most Palestinian protestors are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad although some have called for President Mahmoud Abbas to step down. Some analysts surmise that the “Arab Spring” has now reached the West Bank. The immediate anger is directed against Palestinian leaders. However it remains to be seen if they can satisfy protestor demands through economic incentives like the Gulf regimes or if they will divert attention toward Israel and incite a third intifada.

“Palestinians Seek to Amend Economic Accord with Israel” Reuters
“We Are Not Scared: Mahmoud Abbas Tries To Quell A Palestinian Arab Spring” IBT
“Fayyad: Protests Prove PA Committed To Freedom of Expression” Ma’an News
“Mofaz: Bi-National State More Threatening Than Iran” The Jerusalem Post
“Palestinian Price Protest Turns Violent in West Bank” Reuters
“Palestinians Blame Israel for Dire Economic Situation in West Bank” Israel Hayom
“Ramallah Protestors Call on Abbas to Resign” Ma’an News

Links

August 22-27, 2012 Links

“Attacks Raise Specter of Radical Islam In Russia” NPR
“Settler Violence Against Palestinians Raises Alarm In Israel” Washington Post
“Hamas Declines Invite To Iran Summit, Citing Palestinian Unity” Reuters
“This Week In History: The Arab League’s Three No’s” Jerusalem Post
“Palestinians From Syria Twice Displaced” Voice of America
“Syrian Spillover Violence In Lebanon Rattles Residents” PBS
“France Says It Would Recognize Provisional Syrian Government” New York Times
“Visit By Egypt’s Morsi To Iran Reflects Foreign Policy Shift” Washington Post