Tag Archives: middle-east

Morsi’s Pyrrhic Victory

Posted on December 25, 2012 by nervana111

I wrote this piece for Egypt Source, Atlantic Council. Here it is, in case you missed it. Following weeks of tension and violence over Egypt’s divisive draft constitution, the second round of voting in the referendum is complete. The unofficial results indicate a … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Morsy’s stepchildren

Posted on December 5, 2012 by nervana111

I wrote this piece for the  Daily News Egypt just before yesterday protest in front of  the presidential palace. The way President Morsy ignored the crowd yesterday reaffirm my views.  They went out in the thousands; Egyptians from every walk of … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Era of Sadat

Posted on November 20, 2012 by nervana111

Jerusalem, 20th of November, 1977:  After prayers at the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Egyptian President Sadat addressed a special session of the Knesset. President Sadat spoke in Arabic: “If God … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Gaza, Israel | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Escalation in Gaza: Update 2

Posted on November 18, 2012 by nervana111

The frantic diplomatic efforts are ongoing in Cairo and all players are present. From the Palestinian side, Meshaal and Abu-Marzook ( Hamas), Ramadan Shalah ( Islamic Jihad) and Nabil Shaath ( Fatah). Israeli TV channel two has announced that an … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Gaza, Israel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Escalation in Gaza: Update 1

Posted on November 17, 2012 by nervana111

In a previously undeclared summit, on Saturday Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi will meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Hamas leader Khaled Meshal and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Cairo to discuss ways to manage the Gaza crisis. Sources … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abu Mazen Pressured By New Hamas Alliances

Posted on November 10, 2012 by nervana111

I wrote this piece for AlMonitor. The Pulse of the Middle East It may be subtle, it may be slow, but undoubtedly the uprisings in the Arab world — particularly in Egypt — have resulted in new dynamics on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Palestine | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will Bombing Iran Help Arab States?

Posted on November 6, 2012 by nervana111

This piece was intially published in The Daily Beast  In an interview with the French magazine Paris Match, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “A military strike on Iran and neutralizing its nuclear threat would benefit the Arab states in the Middle East and … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Israel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Is Turkey immune from radical Salafism?

Posted on November 1, 2012 by nervana111

This piece initially published in The Daily News Egypt Turkey is a unique Muslim nation with a distinct history, geography, and political progression. It has never been occupied, and its contemporary path has evolved differently than that of its Muslim neighbors. … Continue reading →

Posted in Turkey | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Our Own Mongols

Posted on October 18, 2012 by nervana111

(photo CNN) In 1258, under the leadership of Hulagu Khan, Mongol forces invaded Baghdad, massacred its inhabitants, burned its prestigious library (the House of Wisdom), and used the books to literally form a bridge across the Tigris River. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Libya, Mali, Tunisia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Turkey and the pitfalls of the Ottoman revival

Posted on October 9, 2012 by nervana111

It smelt of Ottoman, it tasted of Ottoman, and it certainly looked like Ottoman. During my recent visit to Istanbul, I could feel the growing sense of pride among many Turks regarding their past and their desire to revive it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Syria, Turkey | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments