Middle East
Middle East
Fair Observer provides inclusive, insightful and contextual analysis of the Middle East with its manifold cultures and civilizations.
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360° Analysis / Amman / Arab Spring / Jordan / King Abdullah / Politics / Middle EastDespite facing serious political and economic problems, Jordan is not on the verge of regime change. Divisions within the opposition and an interest in reforming the current political system prevent a fundamental challenge to Amman's Hashemite monarchy. Many observers comment that Jordan may be about to experience the same popular upheaval that swept away ruling regimes in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen during the Arab Spring, and which currently threatens Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Syria. It is indisputable that Jordan faces severe political and economic problems, which mirror the grievances that motivated mass uprisings elsewhere in the region. However, the chances for regime...
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360° Analysis / Israel / Israeli Elections / Israeli-Palestinian / Netanyahu / Palestine / Politics / Middle EastBy Bilal AhmedThe real winner of the recent parliamentary elections is the Israeli military occupation of Palestine, argues Bilal Ahmed. The Israeli elections on January 22, 2013 have surprised many analysts. Results point to a polarized electorate, with the Knesset split between centre-left and right-wing parties. Far-right politician Naftali Bennett's The Jewish Home had predictably favorable results, resulting from the enthusiastic and youthful supporters that make him a rising star in Israeli politics. The Israeli right ultimately posted a slim victory (61-62 combined seats in the 120 seat Knesset) for Binyamin Netanyahu and the Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu coalition. Despite this pivot away from the...
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360° Analysis / Chokri Belaid / Politics / Revolution / Tunisia / Middle East / AfricaRegardless of their views on the An-Nahda led-government, most Tunisians agree on one thing: that the country is experiencing a counter-revolutionary moment. The tragic assassination of leftist politician and human rights defender Chokri Belaid in Tunis is one of a series of incidents of political violence to hit the country in recent months. Belaid’s assassination has left the nation reeling, and the political scene more polarized than ever. With a general strike recently called by the country's largest labour union, ongoing protests across the country, including one organised by the ruling An-Nahda party, and calls for the military, which already has looming presence in post-...
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360° Analysis / Arab Uprisings / Lebanon / March 14 / March 8 / Politics / Middle EastLebanon’s entrenched sectarian-based civil society and political system present severe challenges to the state of social reform in the country. Lebanon has not had the same experience of the Arab Uprisings as have other nations in its region. Instead, some Lebanese, particularly those that support the anti-Assad March 14 coalition, argue that Lebanon had its “Beirut Spring” and “Cedar Revolution” with the withdrawal of the occupying Syrian military forces from the country in 2005. The intervening years since then have witnessed the entrenching of pan-sectarian political coalition blocs against one another. This is, ironically, an evolution of Lebanon’s...
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360° Analysis / Arab Uprising / economy / Iraq / MENA / Noam Chomsky / Politics / United States / Middle East / AfricaBy Noam Chomsky[Note: This piece is adapted from “Uprisings,” a chapter in Power Systems: Conversations on Global Democratic Uprisings and the New Challenges to US Empire, Noam Chomsky’s new interview book with David Barsamian (with thanks to the publisher, Metropolitan Books). The questions are Barsamian’s, the answers Chomsky’s.] Does the United States still have the same level of control over the energy resources of the Middle East as it once had? The major energy-producing countries are still firmly under the control of the Western-backed dictatorships. So, actually, the progress made by the Arab Spring is limited, but it’s not insignificant. The...
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360° Analysis / Israel / Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process / Palestine / Politics / United States / Middle EastThe essentiality of US mediation in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is an unchallenged axiom in most Washington policy circles. US leadership has been central to negotiations in the past, and the US may continue to be the only actor that can bring both parties to the table and enforce concessions once they get there. A negotiated peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians is in the strategic interest of the United States. Such an agreement would contribute to regional stabilization and resolve a major source of resentment of US policy across the Middle East. This resentment is not only fodder for terrorist recruiters, but it hinders, harrows, and constricts US regional policy....
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By Omar ShabanThough peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians started nearly 20 years ago, a permanent and lasting peace has failed to materialize. This lack of progress has created an environment for violence, radicalism and disparity by both sides. There are multiple reasons behind the lack of success in reaching a final peace agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Declaration of Principles (Oslo) 1993 came as a result of talks between the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to end decades of confrontation and conflict. The aim was mutual recognition, along with peaceful, fair and permanent compromise, and "historic reconciliation" as stated in...
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360° Analysis / Berlin Wall / Canvas / Graffiti / Palestine / Street Art / Vandalism / Europe / Arts & Culture / Middle EastYessi Bello explores the premise that graffiti is a valid form of political activism as opposed to a form of vandalism. The article outlines the reasons why graffiti should be considered as an art form serving as a political commentary of the time, using the Berlin Wall as a case study. This article the second of a three part series. Read part one here. Graffiti on the Berlin Wall An examination of the Wall’s graffiti enables us to discern the themes and messages of its graffiti. Most images reflected individual experiences, whilst some embodied political caricatures. In general, however, the graffiti highlighted the absurdity of the Wall’s existence. The graffiti on the...
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360° Analysis / Arab Spring / Arab Uprisings / Book / Politics / Middle East / AfricaThe following is the last of a series of excerpts that Fair Observer will be featuring from its first book, The Arab Uprisings: An Introduction. Read the first excerpt here. As the Arab Uprisings enter their third year, the face of the region, marred by political and economic decay, is slowly changing. What is most surprising about the revolts is that the protests had no leaders, no real agenda other than the overthrow of the existing regimes, and only a vague aspiration for economic and political reform. “Mobilization and communication took place in diverse ways through the Internet and cell phones, not through political manifestos.” The ultimate success of the Arab Uprisings...