Abbas: “The Palestinian Spring Is Here”
Upon his return to Ramallah after asking the U.N. to recognize Palestinian statehood on Friday, President Mahmoud Abbas told a crowd of supporters that "the Palestinian spring is here. A popular spring, a populist spring, a spring of peaceful struggle ...
September 26, 2011
Category: Featured, Mideast Peace Plan, Palestine, Political transition, United Nations, US foreign policy
Senate Releases State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S.1601, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2012 and its accompanying report. The press release noted the committee’s difficult task of funding more with less, including “responding to the turbulent events in the Middle East and North Africa,” with a total budget of $44.64 billion, which is $6.15 billion below the President’s request. On the Middle East and North Africa: ...
September 23, 2011
Category: Congress, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Hamas, Jordan, Lebanon, Legislation, Palestine, Political transition, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy
“Obama’s UN Address and the Bahrain Exception”
Writing for The Atlantic, Max Fisher challenges President Obama's rhetoric regarding Bahrain, stating that "the change in Obama's language and tone when his speech moved from Iran, Syria, and Yemen to Bahrain was difficult to miss." He noted ...
September 22, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Military, Monarchy, Political transition, Protests, United Nations, US foreign policy, US politics
Obama Praises Libyan Successes at U.N.
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama met with several leaders in New York at the United Nations General Assembly. The first of these meetings was with TNC Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil. Following this meeting, Obama addressed a wider audience, expressing his ...
September 20, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Government, Human Rights, International Law, United Nations
Clinton Emphasizes Women’s Political Participation at UN Event
At the end of yesterday's UN Women event on Women's Political Participation, representatives signed a joint declaration affirming that "women’s political participation is fundamental to democracy and essential to the achievement of sustainable development and peace. " The declaration also ...
September 20, 2011
Category: Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Featured, Freedom, International Law, Libya, Political transition, Reform, Tunisia, United Nations, US foreign policy, Women, Women's Rights
POMED Notes: Congressional Hearing on U.S. Assistance to the PA
On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on the issue of U.S. financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority and more broadly, to the United Nations. For full event notes, continue reading. Or, click here for the PDF. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) chaired the committee hearing and opened the hearing with an opening statement. Ros-Lehtinen stated that the purpose of the hearing was to “address the troubling turn of events ...
September 17, 2011
Category: Committee Meetings, Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Foreign Aid, Palestine, United Nations, US foreign policy, US politics
Jordan: Protests Reveal Rift over Palestinian Issue
The protests planned via Facebook for Thursday evening outside the Israeli embassy, which prompted the early departure of the Israeli diplomatic mission in Amman, drew a turnout of 200 mostly young protesters. The discussion of the Palestinian bid for ...
Dep. Secretary Burns Visits Saudi Arabia and UAE
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is visiting Saudi Arabia and the UAE this week to meet with top officials. After his Tuesday meeting with Assistant Minister of the Interior Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Burns met with King Abdullah ...
September 15, 2011
Category: Diplomacy, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UN Security Council, US foreign policy
September 14, 2011
Category: Arab League, Featured, Human Rights, International Law, Multilateralism, sanctions, Syria, United Nations
POMED Notes: “The Arab Uprisings and the United Nations”
On Tuesday, the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and the National Security Network (NSN) hosted a panel discussion with Dr. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, Geneive Abdo, fellow at the Century Foundation and the National Security Network, and Ted Piccone, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. The event was moderated by Heather Hurlburt, executive director at NSN, with a welcome by Stephen McInerney, executive director ...
September 14, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Egypt, Events, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Iran, Israel, Political transition, Reform, Syria, United Nations, US foreign policy
Yemen: Widespread Demonstrations Protest Saleh’s Announcement
"Hundreds of thousands" of Yemeni protesters took to the streets throughout the country chanting "No deal. No maneuvering. The president should leave." The demonstrations came as a response to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's Monday announcement that he had
September 13, 2011
Category: Civil War, Featured, Gulf Cooperation Council, Human Rights, Political transition, Protests, UN Human Rights Council, United Nations, Yemen
POMED Notes: USIP Sustaining America’s Global Leadership: US Priorities at the UN
On Wednesday, the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a discussion with Dr. Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, moderated by Dr. Abiodun Williams, Vice President of the Center for Conflict Management at the U.S. Institute of Peace, with a welcome by Dr. Richard Solomon, President of the U.S. Institute of Peace. For full event notes, continue reading. Or, click here for the PDF. On Wednesday, the U.S. Institute ...
September 10, 2011
Category: DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Events, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, United Nations
POMED NOTES: Rebuilding Libya
On Wednesday, the Middle East Institute (MEI) partnered with International Relief and Development (IRD) to hold a discussion on the current status of humanitarian issues in Libya. U.S. Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz delivered the keynote address. Following Amb. Cretz's address, Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin moderated a question and answer session as well as a panel discussion. The panel included Mark S. Ward, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau of Democracy, ...
September 9, 2011
Category: DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Event Notes, Libya, NATO, Political transition, United Nations, US foreign policy
Upcoming Event: The Arab Uprisings and the United Nations
POMED and the National Security Network will be co-hosting a panel discussion on Tuesday, September 13th, called "The Arab Uprisings and the United Nations." The event will be from 10am-11:30am at the Center for American Progress (1333 H St NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20005). We're excited to have Dr. James Zogby (President, Arab American Institute), Geneive Abdo (Fellow, the Century Foundation and the National Security Network), and Ted Piccone (Senior Fellow, ...
Syrian Government Delays Arab League Visit as Violence Escalates
Citing "circumstances beyond our control," the Syrian government has delayed the visit of Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi till Saturday. The delay comes at a time of increased violence throughout Syria. Security forces have besieged the central city of ...
Algerian Government Grants Sanctuary to Gadhafi Family
Colum Lynch argues the Algerian government's decision to provide refuge to Muammar Gadhafi's wife and children would appear "at first glance to constitute a clear-cut violation of a U.N. measure banning travel by the Libyan leader and members of ...
Ros-Lehtinen Introduces Bill to “Slash” U.N. Funding
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, introduced a bill to cut U.S. contributions to the U.N. if certain major changes are not made. The announcement was made ahead of the planned vote for Palestinian statehood, a vote Ros-Lehtinen opposes. Her spokesperson Brad Goehner said, "Chairman Ros-Lehtinen felt it was important to introduce the bill, which includes a title withholding U.S. funding to U.N. entities which ...
Bahrain: U.N. Shows Concern Over Human Rights Violations
The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights released an update on the situation in Bahrain highlighting that there are currently, 264 cases pending before a military trial. Thousands of others individuals are jobless due to accusations that they ...
August 30, 2011
Category: Civil Society, Featured, Government, International Law, Middle Eastern Media, Protests, Syria, UN Security Council, US foreign policy