Tag Archives: politics

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 →

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The End of Deterrence

Posted on November 16, 2012 by nervana111

I published this piece few days ago in The Daily Beast-Open Zion , only few hours before the recent escalation in Gaza. Now I added a postscript following the recent events. Hopefully Later I will write more about Gaza, Israel and Hamas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt, Gaza, Israel | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

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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 →

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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

Lebanon, Syria, and the Death of al-Hassan

Posted on October 20, 2012 by nervana111

(photo by Reuters) I’ve lost count – my bad math is not coping very well with the series of events that has been unfolding in Lebanon. Should I start from 2005 and the murder of the late Prime Minister Rafik … Continue reading →

Posted in Lebanon, Syria | 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

Saladin and the current Arab-Israeli Conflict

Posted on October 2, 2012 by nervana111

October 2, 1187: Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt and Syria, and leader of the Muslim forces battling the Crusaders in the Holy Land, captured the city of Jerusalem. Interestingly, this anniversary was only covered by two newspapers, Haaretz and al-Hayat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Palestine | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

President Morsi Shater Anan?

Posted on June 23, 2012 by nervana111

It is difficult to figure out what is really happening in Egypt. Amid a tsunami of rumors, accusations, and conflicting reports, finding the truth is a very hard task. First, let’s highlight some facts about the current four major players—the … Continue reading →

Posted in Egypt | Tagged , , | 5 Comments