Obama: Criticism of the President’s Handling of Human Rights in His First Year
January 21st, 2010 by Maria
President Obama’s first year in office has many offering an analysis of the administration’s peaks and lows throughout the past year. Many are paying particular attention to the president’s foreign policy strategy and are criticizing his performance on human rights issues.
Independent Minds has an piece by Kate Allen, the UK Director of Amnesty International, who writes that the president’s first year has been one where “the rhetoric and value statements have been fine” but “the reality has been anything but,” claiming that the U.S. has been “far too muted” in its advocacy for democratic freedoms around the world. Joe Stork echos these thoughts in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s recent Arab Reform Bulletin. He says President Obama used all the right words to encourage human rights and freedom in the Middle East in his June, 2009 Cairo speech, but that the administration’s “promotion of human rights with abusive Middle Eastern governments, however, has been ambiguous and, in some cases, negligent, raising concerns that the U.S. is still operating under a universe of double standards…” Several news sources are also citing an interview the president gave earlier this week, where he says reviving peace talks in the Middle East have been “really hard” and admits his administration might have overestimated its ability to persuade meaningful conversation in the region.
As criticism over the administration’s treatment of human rights issues surfaces, Democracy Digest is reporting on Human Rights Watch’s annual report which indicates that authoritative regimes “have deliberately targeted and intensified attacks against human rights and democracy advocates over the past year.” The report cites several Middle Eastern countries accused of these violations including Iran, Egypt and Afghanistan.
Posted in Afghanistan, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Mideast Peace Plan, US foreign policy | Comment »
Saudi Arabia: Long War on Yemen Border
December 23rd, 2009 by Zack
Saudi officials have reported that 73 Saudi soldiers have been killed, 470 wounded, and 26 are still missing since fighting against Houthi insurgents in Yemen began in November. Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan claims that the majority of fighting is now over, and he gave remaining Houthi rebels 24 hours to surrender before the Saudis destroy the border village of Al-Jabiriyah, which remains under Houthi control.
However, Reuters reports that diplomats and analysts believe Saudi Arabia “faces a long mountain war” with the Houthis. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is primarily concerned with al-Qaeda attacks originating from Yemen. While the Houthis have no known connections with al-Qaeda, the fighting with the Houthis may make it easier for terrorists to enter Saudi territory. For example, the fighting has made it more difficult to build a planned fence along the border to prevent terrorist infiltration.
Posted in Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, al-Qaeda | Comment »
Egypt: Moussa Won’t Run for President
December 23rd, 2009 by Jason
In an interview (Arabic) with al-Masry al-Youm, Arab League head Amr Moussa announced he will not run for president in Egypt’s 2011 elections. He explained, “The question is, is it possible? And the answer is, the road is closed.” The current constitution makes it nearly impossible for an independent candidate to run for president, and Moussa refuses to join a political party for pure “political opportunism.”
Meanwhile, President Mubarak met with King Abdullah in Riyadh today before heading on to Kuwait. They discussed the Middle East Peace Process and the Houthi insurgency in Yemen. Al-Masry al-Youm reports that the newly elected members of the MB Guidance Bureau swore fealty to General Guide Mahdi Akef yesterday. Sources within the MB suggest a new general guide will be named within two days.
Abdel-Rahman Hussein and Sarah Carr contend Egypt’s opposition groups are “blighted by internal divisions.” They observe that the Muslim Brotherhood has endured “heavy blows from the regime” as the media focused on the Brotherhood’s internal rifts. Meanwhile, Ayman Nour has been physically attacked, disbarred, and legally prohibited from running for office. While opposition groups banded together in October to campaign against the succession of Gamal Mubarak, the Kefaya movement has already withdrawn its support. Now Kefaya is left “trying to prove that it is still relevant” as it clamors for the election of an “alternative president” separate from the regime.
Babylon and Beyond delves deeper into the Muslim Brotherhood’s recent election, which resulted in a victory for the conservative faction. According to MB analyst Abdul Rehim Aly, “hard-liners couldn’t accept the presence of reformers within the group itself, so how can anyone expect them one day to have a dialogue with other people belonging to different religious and cultural backgrounds?”
Dalia Rabie explores several moral controversies of 2009, including the Ramadan arrests, the niqab ban and virginity kits, that “highlighted the conflict between Egypt’s so-called secular government and its age-old traditions.”
Posted in Arab League, Diplomacy, Elections, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Kuwait, Middle Eastern Media, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Palestine, Political Islam, Saudi Arabia, Secularism, Women | Comment »
Lebanon: Contesting Hezbollah’s Arms
December 23rd, 2009 by Zack
The Daily Star reports that the Phalange party is filing suit with the Constitutional Court contesting the legitimacy of article six of the Cabinet policy statement that upheld the right to Resistance. Hezbollah MP Nawaf Moussawi rejects the suit and claims that the party’s right to maintain an arsenal “is part of the national charter; thus we do not need approval from this side or another.”
At the same time, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is calling for a “psychological war” against Israel designed to counter recent Israeli maneuvers aimed at convincing the region of the Israeli army’s invincibility. In response, The Daily Star editorial staff contends that while Nasrallah is well-intentioned, he seeks to draw the entire country into Hezbollah’s camp. Instead, the paper pushes for a national diplomatic-defense initiative to build trust in the nation.
Posted in Freedom, Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Political Parties, Reform | Comment »
Palestine: Abbas Remains President
December 16th, 2009 by Zack
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has extended until further notice the tenure of President Mahmoud Abbas. The term of the Legislative Council, which hasn’t met since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, was also extended until elections could be scheduled. The PLO also refused to resume negotiations with Israel until settlement construction is permanently frozen.
Jonathan Tobin argues that such preconditions for dialogue are a stall tactic employed by the Palestinians to avoid internal conflict, while the world continues to condemn Israeli PM Netanyahu as the roadblock to negotiations. Evelyn Gordon concurs and believes this tactic has been constantly successful for the PLO.
Ray Hanania recommends two new strategies for the peace process: immediately declare a Palestinian state alongside Israel and establish a “Settler-Refugee Exchange Program” that would return most settlements to Palestine and exchange land for those settlements Israel wishes to keep. In exchange, Palestinians would surrender their Right of Return. Mustafa Barghouthi also supports definitive action as he calls on the European foreign minister to press Palestinian rights immediately and for non-violent Palestinian movements to receive better support from the West. He argues that the collapse of a two-state solution will “only lead to a new struggle for equal rights, within one state […] There comes a time when people cannot take injustice any more, and this time has come to Palestine.”
At BitterLemons, Yossi Alpher argues that Abbas should recognize the validity of the settlement freeze to enter immediate peace negotiations and to pressure Netanyahu to make real long-term concessions to the Palestinians. Ghassan Khatib, however, sees the settlement freeze as a public relations gimmick that offers no real progress and he calls on the international community to pressure Israel for change, both politically and through efforts such as Britain’s attempt to label products from settler communities.
Aluf Benn writes in an op-ed that President Obama has adopted a “realist manifesto” that informs his belief in a gradual peace process, will push him to go beyond his insistence on a settlement freeze, and will eventually lead him to support direct dialogue with Hamas.
Posted in Diplomacy, Elections, Hamas, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, Public Opinion, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Palestine: PLO to Extend Abbas’ Term
December 15th, 2009 by Jason
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced he will seek a U.N. resolution defining the Palestinian territories based on the 1967 borders. Rejecting a return to violence, Abbas also said he would resume peace talks if Israel institutes a settlement freeze “for a specific period” and recognizes the 1967 borders as the outline for a Palestinian state. His speech came at the launch of a two-day meeting of the PLO, which will likely result in the extension of Abbas’ presidential term in lieu of cancelled elections.
Hamas has declared any extension illegitimate. In fact, yesterday Hamas celebrated the 22-year anniversary of its founding. During the festivities, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya declared “We will never give up on Palestine from the river to the sea.”
Posted in Diplomacy, Elections, Hamas, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, Political Parties, United Nations | Comment »
Lebanon: Sleiman Meets with Obama
December 15th, 2009 by Jason
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman met with President Obama yesterday. Obama affirmed “we want to do everything we can to encourage a strong, independent and democratic Lebanon” while also expressing concerns over weapon smuggling. In addition, the two presidents discussed U.N. Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Both Israel and Lebanon blame the other side for failing to implement the resolution’s measures. Sleiman also met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Biden.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hariri visited Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, discussing the need for enhanced bilateral ties. At the same time, The Daily Star reports that Lebanese politicians “flocked” to Syria to offer their condolences following the death of President Assad’s brother, Majd.
Finally, The Daily Star also summarizes the findings on Lebanon by a recent report by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies report’s (see our post here). The report focuses on this year’s political stalemate, Lebanon’s freedom of assembly, and Lebanon’s ratification of the Optional Protocol of the U.N. Convention Against Torture.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Hezbollah, Human Rights, Israel, Lebanon, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Saudi Arabia, Syria, US foreign policy, United Nations | 1 Comment »
Turkey: Subtle Shifts and Kurdish Tension
December 14th, 2009 by Zack
Claude Salhani comments that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent condemnation of Israeli action in Gaza and the AKP’s shift away from Euro-centric foreign policies “come as no surprise” in light of Europe’s continued position of stringing along E.U. accession. For Salhani, this shift is eroding Turkey’s viability as a partner to negotiate a Middle East peace plan.
David Kenner at Foreign Policy reiterates Erdogan’s resentment towards the E.U. in a speech he gave at SAIS. At the same time, the article sees a genuine admiration for President Obama by Erdogan for his ability to adapt quickly to Turkish dynamics.
Michael Allen writes about Erdogan’s assertion that Turkish policy is not undergoing a “reorientation from the democratic West to Eurasian and Middle East states.” At a meeting in Washington, Erdogan downplayed reports of attacks on press freedom. However, Allen goes on to cite recent commentary that illustrate Erdogan’s inability to tolerate criticism, his support for the Iranian elections as democratic, and the sense that Turkey has lost much of its democratic momentum.
BitterLemons-International has released its latest edition discussing the relationship between Turkey and the Kurds. Saad Jawad traces the strained relationship between Turkey and the Kurds in northern Iraq, arguing that Turkey will not support an independent Kurdish region, perhaps to point of attacking the region and bringing Turkey into conflict with the U.S. Ibrahim Kalin, however, notes an accelerating rapprochement between the two parties initiated by the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Kalin believes the success of the newly burgeoning diplomatic ties will be determined by four principles that Turkey outlines with all of its neighbors: security for all, territorial integrity, economic integration, and deepening social relations among the people. Lastly, Khaled Salih writes that the Erdogan government is serious about dialogue with the Kurds as part of a movement to build a strong, new vision for Turkey. Currently, it appears the country will “likely adopt a combination of democratization and decentralization” that will recognize group identities and Salih argues that Erdogan could adapt elements from the British, Spanish, and Belgian systems in this pursuit.
In Turkey, AFP reports that Kurdish parliamentarians are debating a decision to withdraw from Parliament as the The Democratic Society Party (DTP), the largest Kurdish party, has been outlawed by the constitutional court on grounds it is linked to the PKK.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Freedom, Iraq, Islam and Democracy, Kurds, Middle Eastern Media, Mideast Peace Plan, Turkey, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Event: U.S. Military Assistance: Obstacle or Opportunity for Reform?
December 13th, 2009 by Zack
POMED and the Heinrich Boll Foundation hosted a panel discussion to discuss the role of U.S. military assistance in America’s attempt to maintain strategic interests without undermining democracy promotion and human rights. The event was the third in a series examining U.S. credibility on human rights and featured both Steven Cook, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy, and Emile Hokayem, a non-resident Research Fellow with the Henry L. Stimson Center’s Southwest Asia/Gulf program and Politics Editor of the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National. The event was moderated by Sebastian Graefe, Program Director for Foreign and Security Policy and Transatlantic Issues at the Heinrich Boll Foundation. Grafe opened by clarifying the focus of the event by asking several pointed questions: does military assistance undermine U.S. credibility? Are existing mechanisms sufficient to monitor human rights abuses? Are the provisions that govern assistance in need of updating?
Follow the break to read POMED’s notes.
Or click here for a .pdf version
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Afghanistan, DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Event Notes, Events, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Iraq, Jordan, Legislation, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Pakistan, Reform, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Future of US-Egypt Relations: A View from the Next Generation”
December 13th, 2009 by Zack
The Hollings Center, in coordination with the Woodrow Wilson Center, hosted a panel to present findings from a conference hosted over the summer by the Hollings Center and Egypt’s International Economic Forum in Istanbul that convened a select group of 25 Egyptians and Americans from their late 20s to early 40s for a unique dialogue on how each country perceives the other and how to strengthen the relationship in the coming decade. The panel featured Amy Hawthorne, Executive Director, Hollings Center for International Dialogue, Ashraf Swelam, Acting Director General, Egypt’s International Economic Forum, Lara Friedman, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Americans for Peace Now, and Norann Zaghloul, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and former Vice President, Egyptian American Cultural Association. The event was moderated by former ambassador Nicholas Veliotes, Chair of the Hollings Center Board of Directors.
Follow the break to read POMED’s Notes
Or click here to download a .pdf version
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Islamist movements, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs, Political Parties, Reform, Turkey, US foreign policy, US politics, Women | 2 Comments »
POMED Notes: “Gulliver’s Troubles: The Obama Administration and the Middle East”
December 11th, 2009 by Jason
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a lecture by Aaron David Miller on the Obama administration and the Middle East. Miller served as a Middle East adviser to six secretaries of state and currently works as a Public Policy Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center. Miller defined the purpose of government as an instrument to find solutions to problems. But in order for government to be successful, it must accurately assess the world and develop sufficient understanding. Unfortunately, the United States has not only failed to accurately comprehend the world abroad, but it has also misunderstood its role within that world.
To read POMED’s full notes of the event in PDF, please click here. Otherwise, continue reading below the fold.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Afghanistan, Congress, DC Event Notes, Diplomacy, Elections, Iraq, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, US foreign policy | Comment »
Palestine: Jerusalem as Dual Capital
December 9th, 2009 by Zack
Laura Rozen reports that foreign ministers in Europe have issued a joint statement saying that “a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states,” calling on the Israeli government to “to cease all discriminatory treatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem.” However the move did drop a Swedish proposal that explicitly supported East Jerusalem as a Palestinian capital (see our post). Al-Arabiyya goes on to explain that Europeans will not “recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders,” thereby refusing to recognize Israel’s right to occupy the area.” The Arabist has a post detailing the political wrangling that went on in order to soften the statement about Jerusalem.
Foreign Policy relays an Israel official’s response to the idea: “The peace process in the Middle East is not like IKEA furniture.” But the magazine argues the Swedish draft was not taken directly from the Fatah platform, but is a composition of ongoing efforts. At the same time, Al-Arabiyya writes that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is disappointed about the watered down language, arguing that “the Swedish draft was a good draft because it put in clear cut terms the issue of East Jerusalem. Then came the final, vague form.”
MotherJones has run an article chronicling a non-violent resistance movement in the West Bank village of Jayyous, where the Israeli separation barrier has cut off the village from much of its agriculture.
In Lebanon, Abbas underscored the idea that Palestinian refugees are subject to Lebanese laws and explained that “If Hamas persists in its refusal to allow the [presidential and parliamentary] polls to take place in Gaza, I will not agree to the vote in the West Bank.”
Posted in Diplomacy, EU, Elections, Hamas, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine | Comment »
Lebanon: Hezbollah’s Role
December 9th, 2009 by Zack
In the Christian Science Monitor, Mohamad Bazzi writes that despite the formation of a new U.S.-backed coalition government, “Hezbollah remains the dominant military and political force. It holds the key to both domestic and external stability in Lebanon.” The greatest concern is that Hezbollah could drag all of Lebanon into a war with Israel over isolated border incidents that threaten to spiral out of control. Bazzi argues that the U.S. must maintain its support for Saad Hariri’s government, leverage its influence with Syria to limit Hezbollah’s activities, and press Israel not to overreact to future incidents along the border.
Responding to similar assessments (see our post) and ahead of a national dialogue session to form a national defense strategy, Maronite Patriarch Sfeir has stated that Lebanon does not have two armies, urging Hezbollah to transfer its weapons to the Lebanese Army.
The Daily Star has an editorial decrying both Lebanon’s lack of a state infrastructure and the recent cabinet statement that puts forth no real ideas about to build one. The people and the government are asking “where is the state?” while the government spins its wheels on political matters such the Taif agreement. The editorial calls for a coherent and feasible plan of action and argues that “it’s not enough to spend most of the time asking, ‘where is the state?’, especially when it’s your job to shape it and run it.”
Posted in Diplomacy, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Legislation, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Political Parties, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Egypt: U.S. Democracy Promotion
December 9th, 2009 by Jason
In the latest issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Shadi Hamid argues the U.S. must reconsider its long-held understanding with Egypt that “in return for supporting American interests in the region, Washington would turn a blind eye to Egypt’s authoritarian practices.”
In recent years, the U.S. has failed to rhetorically support democracy and the Obama administration has made “drastic cuts in democracy assistance to Egypt.” To pave the way for Gamal Mubarak’s succession to the presidency through “an orchestrated show of constitutionalism,” the government has embarked upon an “unprecedented crackdown on political groups” while forcing through “constitutional amendments that nullify political freedoms.” Yet, while Egypt has debatedly helped serve America’s interests, “instability in Egypt - turning it inward - will imperil any increased role it still has the potential to play.”
While President Obama has correctly emphasized the role of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict towards generating Arab anger, Hamid observes the anger also stems from the broader narrative, true or false, that the U.S. “is not a force for good, or even a burdened, yet flawed, protector of the international system, but rather an actor that has worked, in remarkably consistent fashion, to suppress and subjugate the people of the region.” Therefore, seeking to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the expense of promoting Egyptian democracy may be self-defeating.
At the same time, Hamid contends a regional peace would “facilitate internal change, and presumably democratization,” because it would limit the government’s justification for maintaining a large military apparatus and ability to scapegoat outsiders for internal problems. Therefore, instead of mulling the “false choice” between supporting democracy or supporting regional peace, the U.S. must instead consider the “complex interplay between peace and democracy [that] can help us make better choices and balance sometimes competing priorities.”
To best support democracy in Egypt, Hamid proposes the U.S. should rhetorically support democracy, provide positive incentives to the Egyptian regime to reform, and engage with Egypt’s Islamists who renounce violence and commit to democratic principles. Unlike other countries in the region, “Egypt is an intuitive candidate for a strategic reorientation in U.S. policy [because it has] an educated urban population, a degree of political institutionalization, a legacy of parliamentary politics, and an active, occasionally assertive, civil society.” Furthermore, as a regional leader, “a thriving and successful Egypt is critical to a thriving, successful Middle East.”
In the end, Hamid worries that progressives have over-learned the lessons of the Bush administration’s aborted attempts to promote democracy in the Middle East. He concludes pragmatism “is not a substitute for well-considered policy. Nor should it obscure deeply held principles and ideals, principles that, sadly, we have so often failed to uphold in the Middle East.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Iraq, Islam and Democracy, Legislation, Mideast Peace Plan, Muslim Brotherhood, Neocons, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Lebanon: Debating Hezbollah
December 8th, 2009 by Zack
Elaheh Khayyat, the pen name of a Lebanon-based journalist and human rights activist, argues in the Guardian that Lebanon needs to stand up to Saudi Arabia in the case of Ali Sibat. Sibat, a Lebanese self-styled psychic that often appeared on Lebanese television to offer psychic advice, has been sentenced to death by the Saudi moral police after being arrested while on a pilgrimage more that a year ago. Khayyat states that Sibat has in no way harmed anyone and this incident underscores Saudi Arabia’s vague and arbitrary penal system, arguing that “the Lebanese government, which itself has introduced a moratorium on capital punishment, should stand up to Riyadh and demand that Sibat’s senseless sentence be overturned.”
The Daily Star reports that Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar has publicly committed to reforming and rebuilding the Lebanese judiciary. In an interview he explained that “the Constitutional Council could not interpret the Constitution since this was the task of the Parliament” and that the country needs “courageous and honest judges.” At the same time, civil society officials have launched a report, “Invisible Citizens: Legal Study on Statelessness in Lebanon,” that claims nearly 80,000 Lebanese are “stateless,” living without legal status, excluding the 3,000 - 5,000 Palestinian refugees in the country. According to Bema Habib of the NGO Frontiers Ruwad Association, stateless people are those not considered citizens of any state, or those who “have citizenship but are unable to prove it.” The report calls on Lebanon to develop a legal body that can adjudicate citizenship issues and allow people to apply for nationalization.
Despite reports that most Palestinian refugee in Lebanon are living a subsistence lifestyle with little hope escaping their overcrowded and dreary camps, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, following a meeting with Lebanese President Sleiman, asserts that Palestinians in Lebanon are under the complete governance of the Lebanese government and that “There are no legions under the command of the Palestinian authority in refugee camps.” Abbas said the status of these refugees will remain unchanged until there is a comprehensive peace agreement and that the Palestinian Authority will help extend Lebanese laws into the refugee camps. Abbas also met with parliament speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to discuss bilateral ties.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has made a speech arguing that Hezbollah is becoming the de facto Lebanese military and that, as the Lebanese government and Hezbollah become more intertwined, the government becomes more responsible for “any attack on Israel.” Netanyahu also stated that he is willing to resume peace negotiations with Syria without any reservations. Eyal Zisser argues that, from an Israeli perspective, the Lebanese government is a fragile balance between Hezbollah and its opponents, but that the political system has not addressed underlying hostilities and as such conflict, both internal and with Israel, could erupt at any time.
Babylon and Beyond reports that Washington is also displeased with the unity cabinet’s decision to gloss over Hezbollah’s arsenal and to assert the group’s right to resist. According to a State Department official, Washington will not cooperate with Hezbollah lawmakers and Nicole Shampaine, head of the department’s Office for Egypt and the Levant questions whether the statement “helps progress toward peace and security in the region.”
Posted in Diplomacy, Hezbollah, Human Rights, Israel, Judiciary, Lebanon, Mideast Peace Plan, Political Parties, Syria | 1 Comment »
Palestine: Committed to Two States
December 3rd, 2009 by Zack
In a letter for International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon writes that the U.N. is committed to working towards a two-state solution. Ban voiced his concern over the stalled negotiations, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the importance of resolving the Jerusalem issue through negotiations. He called for a Palestinian unification and pledged U.N. pressure for previous Security Council resolutions.
The NY Times reports that Israeli has made its first arrests against settlers as part of a settlement freeze issued by PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the freeze is designed to prohibit new housing construction for 10 months in an attempt to resume peace negotiations. Lastly, President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit top Lebanese officials on Monday to discuss the right of return, rejection of naturalization and the civil and social rights of Palestinian refugees.
Posted in Diplomacy, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, United Nations | Comment »
Palestine: Jerusalem Divided?
December 2nd, 2009 by Zack
Haaretz has obtained a draft statement on the Middle East peace process put together by Sweden, the nation currently holding the E.U. presidency. The document calls for the division of Jerusalem between Israel and a Palestinian state and implies the E.U. would recognize a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood. The European proposal does not recognize changes to pre-1967 borders, pledges economic support for a Palestinian state, promotes a continued settlement freeze, calls for Gaza to be reopened, asks “all Palestinians to promote reconciliation behind President Mahmoud Abbas,” and requests that all involved actors recommit to the peace process.
Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni has condemned Sweden for its attempt to dictate the status of Jerusalem. While defending Israel’s fear of a Palestinian state, Carlo Strenger writes on the irony that 61 years ago Israel’s independence was declared despite Arab opposition and that now the situation may reverse. He argues that E.U. recognition and capital support could, in fact, reignite the peace process.
Alex Fishman argues that Abbas’ position in the PA “must be saved” and he sees the settlement freeze as an Israeli lifeline to maintain Abbas as the chief Palestinian force within negotiations. Mashe Arens shares that belief and goes further to claim that Palestine’s fractured leadership and demographics have pushed dreams of statehood further away than ever.
Posted in Diplomacy, EU, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, Reform | Comment »
Palestine: Building a State and Religious Tolerance
November 25th, 2009 by Zack
Ha’aretz reports Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to announce that the country will institute a 10-month freeze on settlement building. At the same, time the paper reports that Marwan Barghouti intends to run in the next Palestinian election. He also stated that the abduction of Gilad Shalit has brought Hamas more political progress than any negotiations could ever achieve, commenting “maybe Israel will finally understand that Hamas’ demands cannot be ignored.”
In an editorial for The Washington Times, Louis Rene Beres argues that the Palestinian attempts to declare a state are “absurd” and any state would negatively impact U.S. strategic interests, particularly the development of a comprehensive nuclear strategy and a conventional war strategy, ultimately impacting unfavorably on world peace and security.
Lastly, the Daily News Egypt has two pieces on reducing religious prejudices. The first, by Fr. Jamal Khader, tells of Bethlehem University’s religious education program designed to allow students to express their faiths while educating them about other traditions in the hope of creating greater tolerance. Muli Peleg argues that freedom of religion in “Israel and Palestine is not merely a democratic perk or a liberal indulgence but a prerequisite for the survival of both peoples in this troubled land.” While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict stemmed from politics, religion has come to dominate and fuel the situation. Peleg argues the two groups must “defuse the ticking bomb by legitimizing greater choice of religious convictions” within their territories.
Posted in Diplomacy, Hamas, Israel, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Lebanon: Working Towards Ending Confessionalism
November 23rd, 2009 by Jason
This weekend, President Sleiman called for the creation of a committee to work towards the abolition of confessional politics in Lebanon. He also urged for “changing the electoral law relating to general elections in order to obtain better representation and restore to expatriates their rights.” Meanwhile, the Lebanese Forces-Phalange Party alliance beat the Free Patriotic Movement-Marada alliance in a landslide, securing 29 of 33 seats in the Notre Dame University student elections. University elections are largely viewed through the lens of sectarian power struggles in Lebanon.
Rami Khouri urges the new Lebanese cabinet to address the issue of Palestinian-Lebanese relations. The dialogue between Lebanese and Palestinians largely stalled after the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, the subsequent political paralysis, and the fighting in Nahr al-Bared. However, Khouri argues now the time is ripe to settle outstanding issues of Lebanese sovereignty and Palestinian dignity.
Finally, Peter Berkowitz in the Weekly Standard contends that, for Hezbollah, resistance does not just refer to Israel, but “a fight to the death against the claims of liberty and democracy in Lebanon.” Therefore, the U.S. should deemphasize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, support civil society, limit Iran’s ability to finance Hezbollah, and engage Syria to convince them to stop serving as a supply line between Iran and Hezbollah.
Posted in Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Hezbollah, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Israel, Lebanon, Mideast Peace Plan, Political Parties, Sectarianism, Syria, US foreign policy | Comment »
Senate and U.N. Condemn Iran
November 23rd, 2009 by Jason
Iran launched a series of war games this weekend as the international community expressed their frustration over troubled nuclear negotiations.
The Senate passed a resolution (S.R. 355) by unanimous consent condemning Iran for its multiple human rights violations. The bill was cosponsored by Carl Levin, John McCain, Bob Casey, Lindsey Graham, Bill Nelson, Bob Corker and Joe Lieberman. In response, the head of the National Iranian American Council, Trita Parsi, welcomed the resolution, explaining that “a U.S. approach to Iran that is singularly focused on the nuclear issue and neglects the human rights abuses in Iran will have limited success.” The United Nations also passed a resolution condemning Iran for its human rights abuses. While similar resolutions have passed for 15 consecutive years, this resolution focused the crackdown since the election this summer.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Journalism, Judiciary, Kurds, Legislation, Mideast Peace Plan, Military, Multilateralism, NGOs, Oil, Terrorism, US foreign policy, US politics, United Nations, sanctions | Comment »
