Discovering MENA and other thoughts

Abbas and Meshal meet (a step forward Palestinian Reconciliation?) Palestinian Authority under threat because of economic hardship What America should do concerning the MEPP Moving article on the surfers in Gaza Brave Malala left hospital Iraqi poetry describing the disintegration of the country A precious cooperation between Spain and Lebanon may be under threat Mubarak asked about media gifts A great article on the Jewish minority in Egypt New leader for the Salafists Avaaz petition to ask the EU to help saving Egypt The Arabist's view on Egypt's cabinet reshuffle Great article: wasn't there a revolution in Egypt? Brilliant article on why the MB are afraid of "Les mille et une nuits" Egyptians pay price for tumultuous year (the title says it all) How to lie and remain pure , by the great Al-Aswany The decline and fall of the MB A first for KSA: women in a representative body Does Israel have a corruption problem? Will Israel build a f...

Syrian vice president admits neither side can win Syrian regime bombs Palestinian camp  ( and a bakery full of starving people ) The Syrian regime has been buying a huge amount of weapons Brahimi went to Syria and urged change The man in charge of stopping defections... defects Preventing the use of chemical weapons in Syria UN denounces violation of children´s rights in Syria The struggle of Aleppo´s inhabitants Netanyahu met Jordanian King (again) for talks on Syria Al Ahram's special on the Referendum What happened to Ramses? More on the difficult links between Morsi and the Army Morsi´s first address to the nation after the approval of the Constitution  ( where he admits making mistakes! ) We have to read all types of opinions, even if we don't agree at all with them... On the "real Sabbahi" Germany called for suspension of aid directed to Egypt RIP Samer Soliman El-Erian appointed chairman of super powerful Shura Council Irani Government fir...

Friedman on Egypt Albert Saber will be jailed FT Baradei's article (also on FT, Morsi´s betrayal ) Dismantling the MB revolutionary image (must read) Egypt's future will surely shape the Arab world  (I could not agree more) A concise analysis for amateurs on what is happening in Egypt  ( another one in Spanish ) Outrageous testimonies about MB's violence outside the Palace Spain does not want to extradite Mubarak's friend Do the poor in Cairo care about politics? A choice between two tyrannies Controversial stipulations of the draft constitution Who's the real threat to democracy? Useful comparison of both constitutions Reading Egypt's Constitution Resignation of presidential aides  (wonder why...) Egypt makes its case in DC Morsi's akward tax U-turn (are you admitting something's not going right, Mr President? Cause the IMF is to decide on its badly needed loan next week) US recognizes Syrian opposition as legitimate representatives...

A change of tide? Israel's ambassadors summoned after announcement of settlements' building How the "war in Gaza" was also fought in the net Magnificent speech by Turkish Foreign Minister on Palestine before the UN General Assembly  (no Arab country dared saying anything, though) Abbas: "You are stronger than the occupation" (in French) Israel is actually comfortable enough with the current situation Jordan's king to visit Gaza (trying to appease your own population, Your Majesty?) Words of support are not enough: Gaza needs money to start rebuilding Merkel and Netanyahu "agree on their disagreement" (big up!) One of the best articles I've read so far on Egypt's situation (thanks, Matteo!) Ahhh! Egypt's conspiracy theories! Baradei, Moussa and Sabahi are spies now Bloodshed around the Presidential Palace  (heroes like him died there) What about the protests outside Cairo? Media on strike in Egypt Great headline: M...

Video of UN vote on Palestine A good editorial on this issue (in French) On how Israel is losing international support Israel is already retaliating First claim Palestine could issue before the ICC  (remember Arafat's body was exhumed this week) Egypt's Constitutional Referendum to be held on 15 December Pro-Islamists demonstrate too Nervana Mahmoud on Morsi's power grab Al Aswany's take Egypt's artists have a say, too What has Abul-Fotouh been doing? Morsi's four-page interview  ( do you think he is the "man of the year"? ) Anonymous has something to say to Egypt Talks on the ceasefire kick off in Cairo Ignoring the ceasefire could be "sinful" , beware! On a strange letter to South Africa about the conflict in Gaza Elections were held yesterday in Kuwait (background here ) The Syrian regime is using cluster bombs targeting children Death hasn't stopped in Lebanon (the spillover continues) Breathtaking article o...

   Only time (hours? days? weeks? months? hopefully years!) will tell... Apparently, one Palestinian has already been killed . Maybe it was just a matter of hours... Meanwhile, there go several links which may help us building a more comprehensive analysis (Plus the ones I posted before the ceasefire ) Lluis Basset's assesses the agreement's regional consequences (El Pais - in Spanish) NYT 's main article (and its Editorial ) How Hamas won the war  (FP) also here (Haaretz)  Or not? (Al Ayyam) also here  (Foreign Affairs) Half victory, half defeat  (Al Ayyam) Israel's gamble (Foreign Affairs) More on the winners and losers of the conflict (Le Monde - in French) The Economist's forecast Al Jazeera's coverage Has Israel been talking to all the region?  (Al Monitor) Same text, different result?  (Haaretz) The day after  (Haaretz) Insightful background of the negotiations (Al Hayat) Bibi'...

It's that time of the week! I of course welcome any additional link. Links on the conflict in Gaza The new Rais' Constitutional Declaration  (text and related here )  Egyptian judges have accused him of putting in jeopardy balance of power , even though some don't quite agree with this accusation His controversial Revolution Protection Law may fail ME nuclear talks won't take place soon Arafat's body will be exhumed on Tuesday (introduction here ) Iran warns the U.S. Karzai starts setting the tone for the handover of power Charges against the Christian girl in Pakistan have finally been dropped , even though her and her family are still at risk (I talked about it here ) Courageous youth in Iran Additional burdens for Saudi women Syrian refugees gear up for a dire winter Turkey and the EU: irreconcilable differences? Syria's unveiled woman's huge controversy Extremism is Egyp's real main challenge Egypt's "new/old" role in...

I have promised myself I won't write about what's currently happening in Gaza. Too many emotions, too many friends I love and respect, too afraid to say something that could be missunderstood. Those of you who know me, know how I feel towards the occupation. I don't think I should state it or post it on my FB wall. I will however post several links I've found most interesting. Please feel free to add more. Sami Nair's take (in Spanish): he is so good, it may deserve a translation Other (journalist, therefore much more reliable than me) friends' takes: Ismael Monzón  Francesca Cicardi Ricard Gonzalez Conflict in Gaza tests alliances Morsi's little room for maneuver   Running an errand during a ceasefire can be dangerous Jebari's killing from a brave neutral point of view The conflict' effect on Morsi's clout regarding Israel Hamas in jeopardy?  Where do the missiles come from?  + another take  (in Spanish) On the Iro...

Operation Cast Lead 2.0 in Foreign Policy A custom-made war for both Bibi and Hamas (in Spanish) by Jose Ignacio Torrenlanca, a real genius

More articles on the serious issue of sexual harassment Women are people, too (the title says it all) Landmark sentence in Egypt (hopefully, the first among many) More on the new Syrian opposition Composition of the SNC About the SNC's new President A Syrian dissident's take Reform in Saudi Arabia? Saudis face "seeds of discord" trial The younger generation at last ? Obama's reelection and the Middle East : great piece by The Arabist's Issandr El Amrani Also on The Arabist, IDEA's pundit's take on the Egyptian Constitution in the offing (great podcast!) The future of Middle East regionalism  by The Internationalist North Korea attempted to provide the Syrian regime with weapons : a new "evil axis"? 14 March's members and relatives of Shia hostages hand in hand : beautiful story showing Lebanon's potential for peace and understanding The pyramids in danger?  No comment on that, just look at what they have ...

It looks this particular "evil axis" is not so united, after all:  Hamas relations with Iran sour due to Syria But Iran has apparently nothing to loose...  Iran said to send troops to bolster Syria The Economist's approach to Egypt's Foreign Policy (undoubtedly, much better than mine!):  Independent - or not? More on that New Egypt leader steps out on world stage seeking "balance" Egypt's Morsi steps out onto world stage Realistic? blueprint for a peaceful transition in Syria:  The Day After » Supporting a Democratic Transition in Syria How should the West react after the "Arab Spring"?  Un nuevo paradigma