Netanyahu’s speech: a tepid answer to Obama
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”...
Category: Middle East
Murder in the Name of Honour: interview excerpt
Please note that the full version of this particular column is hosted at ArabComment. The regular column will return later this month. When I first met Rana Husseini, I was struck by how forthright...
Obama promotes choice in Cairo
The ability to choose is paramount to the freedom and autonomy of women globally. Patriarchy has invested much in ensuring that women have reduced opportunities and are penalized severely should they...
Fear and loathing in Israel: the Nakba Bill and more
File this under either more evidence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a sleazeball who will never deliver peace to the Middle East, or as proof that Netanyahu’s hands are tied much more...
Obama meets and greets Netanyahu
...And? So? Or as they say here, nu? Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S.A. President Barack Obama have met. Pleasantries were exchanged, both said the other was a swell guy,...
Israel’s Troika: Barak is no Barack
In Israel, the peace process rests in the hand of the “troika”. With the first meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama looming (May 18th, saves the...
The monarchical democracy of Lebanon: excerpt
For those Arabs who believe in liberal democracy, the Lebanese election is a source of both inspiration and despair. For where else in the Arab world is there an election that will actually produce...
Why Iran is always irritated (and irritating)
O let me count the reasons! Modern Iran is in a geo-political and historical pickle, but still one of the first initiatives taken by the Obama administration was to send the Iranian Muslim Council...
The “joy” of flying El Al
With Passover just around the corner, Israel is traveling. While the country faces the economic crisis like any other country, this is still a time for seeing far-flung family or getting away from...
Not the Enemy: an interview and review
Writer Rachel Shabi was born in Israel to Jewish-Iraqi parents. She grew up in the United Kingdom. Before moving back to Israel, she reported on social issues for The Guardian. She is currently based...