Dive into the archives.
- The Only Democracy in the Middle East
Thus, Nawi’s conviction points to a relatively recent development regarding the restriction of resistance, to extremely passive modes of protest. And, in some cases, even these kinds of protests are prohibited, as in Sheikh Jarrah where activists are repeatedly arrested simply for demonstrating against the seizure of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. (full article…)
- Amira Hass on Israeli “Democracy”
I mean, I read the article [by HRW founder Richard Bernstein]. The word “occupation” does not appear there even one time. He says that Israel is a democracy of seven-million-point-something Israeli citizens. He forgets four million Palestinians, who have to be registered in the Israeli population registry in order to exist. All the Palestinians are [...]
- Famous Last Words
“Nothing will be easy,” he added. “But I will always be honest and upfront with the Greeks.” (full article…)
- Surprising… But You Wouldn’t Realize This By Reading the NYT
Most Iranians express acceptance of the outcome of the Presidential election. Eighty-one percent say they consider Ahmadinejad to be Iran’s legitimate president, and 62 percent say they have a lot of confidence in the declared election results, while 21 percent say they have some confidence. Just 13 percent say they do not have much confidence [...]
- Criminalizing Dissent
Criminalising dissent is not unique to Israel. Many oppressive states, such as apartheid South Africa, have used it to de-legitimise parties, ideas and activities disliked by ruling elites and security apparatuses. Furthermore, persecution on grounds of “security” creates an immediate divide between Arab and Jewish citizens. In 2007, the head of Shabak, the Israeli general [...]
- Oh Really, Just Like the Election of Hamas Was Recognized?
And yet if [Salam Fayyad] is to retain his legitimacy for any length of time, he will eventually need some sort of mandate from ordinary Palestinians. “In the end,” Tony Blair told me, “it all has to be endorsed in an election. Ultimately, the only legitimacy can come from democracy.” (more…)
- The Western Press Justifies the Overthrow of Democracy
But as his presidency progressed, Zelaya veered to the left and was in constant conflict with business groups, lawmakers from his own party, the news media and the army.”Over the last year, Zelaya’s positions moved to the left. He pushed social programs and more attention for the poor who have no work,” said Giuseppe Magno, [...]
- The Western Press Justifies the Overthrow of Democracy
They removed him over fears that he was trying to undermine the Constitution and extend his tenure. (more…)
- The Western Press Justifies the Overthrow of Democracy
Mr. Zelaya, who took office in 2006, has moved steadily to the left during his presidency, railing increasingly against the country’s elite, who he says have opposed his politics of inclusion. Critics accuse Mr. Zelaya, who comes from a well-off family of landowners, of blatant populism and of doling out cash to try to solidify [...]
- Friedman Pulls Facts Out of Thin Air (Again)
Hamas is facing an energized Fatah in the West Bank and is increasingly unpopular in Gaza. (more…) I know it may come as a surprise to Thomas Friedman but unpopular as Hamas may be, Abu Mazen and Fatah are even more unpopular. Friedman’s use of the word “energized” simply means “U.S./Israeli-trained proxies”. But that doesn’t [...]
- Western Primer on Elections in Developing Countries
Some Western principles in assessing elections in developing countries: 1. When the favored candidates win, the elections are free and fair. And when they lose, elections are certainly unfree and stolen. 2. Violent protests against elections that produce winners favored by the west, are to be strictly condemned and protesters are to be called terrorists, [...]
- Obama’s Speech
Bahaieddin Hasan, head of the Cairo Centre for Human Rights Studies, described the address as “superficial” and devoid of details. “There didn’t appear to be any concern for either democratic reform or human rights,” he was quoted as saying in the Friday edition of independent daily Al-Dustour. “This came as a major disappointment.” (more…)
- Joke of the Day
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we always raise democracy and human rights. It is a core pillar of American foreign policy. And I think that there is a great awareness on the part of the Egyptian Government that with young people like this and with enhanced communications, it is in Egypt’s interest to move more toward democracy [...]
- We All Know How Seriously Israel Regards Democratic Values
Ministers Meridor, Begin, Eitan ask government secretariat to quash motion calling to ban marking of Nakba Day by law, say it goes against Israel’s democratic values (more…)
- The Jewish/Democratic Oxymoron
The bill, proposed by MK Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) would prescribe up to one year in jail for anybody who published calls to deny Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state, or words “that will bring about an act of hate, degradation or lack of loyalty to the state or to government [...]
- Mark Lynch on Obama’s Upcoming Speech
So what’s wrong with Cairo? Let me count the ways… The main problem, of course, is Mubarak’s repressive regime. It’s difficult to stomach rewarding a regime which has been systematically rolling back its limited democratic opening of a few years ago. The choice of Cairo is already being interpreted by many Arabs and Egyptians as [...]
- Joke of the Day
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke of the Bush administration’s goal to promote freedom in the Middle East at the American University in Cairo in June 2005. “For 60 years, the United States pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the Middle East — and we achieved neither,” Rice said. “Now, we are [...]
- Joke of the Day
Barack Obama has impressed the whole world with his trek to the White House, his ability to inspire his nation and the entire world,” Olmert said. “I am sure that close ties between the US and Israel will get stronger. The values of democracy, fraternity and freedom that are the cornerstones of American society are [...]
- Israeli Democracy is Rotting
Meanwhile, Israeli police admitted they arrested about 600 people involved in protests against the Gaza offensive, some of them for stone-throwing. Adalah lawyers said more than 200 people, most of them Arab, were still in jail. “We’re talking about mass arrests,” said Abeer Baker, adding that Israel was exploiting a 30-day window before an indictment [...]
- This is Zionism
Israel on Monday banned Arab political parties from running in next month’s parliamentary elections, drawing accusations of racism by an Arab lawmaker who said he would challenge the decision in the country’s Supreme Court. (more…)
- How Quaint
“I strongly disagree with the assessment of our moral standing has been damaged – people still understand America stands for freedom” (more…) Even as he spearheads the undermining of democracy in Palestine and provides unqualified support to Israeli slaughter in Gaza, he believes that America still stands for freedom…? How quaint. How precious.
- Voting the ‘Wrong’ Way
A million and a half Palestinians are learning the hard way that democracy isn’t so good if you vote the wrong way. In 2006, they elected Hamas when the US and Israel wanted them to support the more-moderate Fatah. As a result, having long ago lost their homes and property, Gazans have endured three years [...]
- Bush Plan Eliminated Obstacle to Gaza Assault
Until mid-2007, there was a serious political obstacle to a massive conventional war by Israel against Hamas in Gaza: the fact that Hamas had won free and fair elections for the Palestinian parliament and was still the leading faction in a fully legitimate government. (more…)
- Armchair Democracy
The older the democracy, the less there seems to be now of freedom of expression and right to information, according to a new study by the London-based group Article 19. (more…)
- Noam Chomsky: On The Economy, Democracy and the American Presidential Elections
Assaf Kfoury: The economic crisis is felt acutely in the US, but has now spread to the entire world, even to countries (in South America, for example) that initially thought they would be spared. And the American presidential campaign and elections cannot but concern people everywhere, given the dominant role of the US globally. The [...]
- Noam Chomsky: What Next? The Elections, the Economy, and the World
Well, let’s begin with the elections. The word that the rolls off of everyone’s tongue is historic. Historic election. And I agree with it. It was an historic election. To have a black family in the white house is a momentous achievement. In fact, it’s historic in a broader sense. The two Democratic candidates were [...]
- Why I Plan To Boycott the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election
It has come as a surprise to many of my friends to hear that I have decided not to vote. Some people have sent me messages begging me to cast a vote, some of them aggressive and condescending, others desperate… so I will try to clarify my views to those among you who consider voting [...]
- Eyad Sarraj
In the Gaza Strip, there are a vast number of inspiring individuals prepared to put their personal reputation (and even their own physical well-being) on the line for matters of conviction. Dr. Eyad Sarraj is one of the more prominent of these figures and I was fortunate enough to speak with him on several occasions [...]
