Following appeared in the Jordan Times

The right to free movement
By Daoud Kuttab

In observing decades-old conflicts, political spin takes overrides reality. Facts are often replaced by claims and counterclaims leaving a neutral observer confused as to who is wrong and who is right. Sometimes, a new story is much more revealing than the tonnes of arguments and counterarguments.

This was the case when news of the failure of the prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, which would have released soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians, many held without trial or charge.
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A PALESTINIAN VIEW
Too good to last

by Daoud Kuttab

It was quite astonishing to hear world leaders so gushing in their praise for Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. The western-trained former World Bank official was variously described as “professional”, “transparent” and “effective”. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton managed to combine all these comments in her concluding press conference at the Sharm al-Sheikh donors’ conference, which raised more money than anticipated. “The presentation from Prime Minister Fayyad was as good as I’ve seen from anybody. I mean, that’s a presentation that should make every person proud, because it was so professional, so well thought out and it inspired confidence.”
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This appeared in the Huffington Post on January 7,2009
Arab Journalists and the war on Gaza

by Daoud Kuttab

This was a hard week for me being asked on more than one occasion to choose between being a professional journalist and being a patriotic Palestinian.

As a bilingual observer one is completely frustrated when following what is happening in our region on Arab and international television channels. Using sleep-deprived reports, Arab satellite stations have been continuously filling the airwaves with heart wrenching stories of Palestinians being violently assaulted with a seemingly endless and indiscriminate Israeli attacks.
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The following appeared in the Jordan Times and Huffington Post
It’s the occupation Stupid
by Daoud Kuttab

Following the words and efforts of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Sharm el Sheikh, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah one gets the feeling that she was on a hard-sell campaign trying to convince the majority of Israelis to accept the concept of the two-state solution. For now, Palestinians are more interested in the end of the decades-old occupation of their lands.
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By Daoud Kuttab

The United States Middle East policy appears to be slowly but gradually changing. US officials are beginning a charm offensive following a successful four day tour in the region for the new secretary of state.

In a briefing by Jeffery Feltman the newly appointed Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, it was clear that Washington’s tone has changed. Feltman listed all the public steps taken by President Obama since his first days in office. He called Arab leaders in the region (including King Abdullah of Jordan and President Abbas of Palestine) even before calling some of America’s European’s allies. On his first visit outside the White House he visited the state department and announced the appointment of George Mitchell as his special envoy to the region. His first interview was with an the Arab satellite station, Al Arrabiya.

Following the briefing with the US diplomat, Jordanian columnist Jamil Nimri was quick to reflect “there is a new tone coming out of Washington. The new tone coming out of Washington was more than symbolism. The visiting US official repeatedly state that President Obama has made it clear to all that he is “result oriented.” Obama has publicly said that people in the Arab and Islamic world should evaluate him on his deeds and not just his words. Feltman repeated that the new administration is totally and completely focused on the two state solution.
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By Daoud Kuttab / Sharm el Sheikh

The Gaza Reconstruction conference was a busy affair. Speakers gave talks governments and foundations made pledges and politicians debated all day. In the end it was left to the key players to tell the press about the results of the all day event. The Egyptian and Norwegian Foreign Ministers along with the Palestinian Prime Minister gave the press an accounting of the days work. Numbers were thrown, financing mechanisms were discussed and next steps were expounded on.

Next came the US Secretary of State, Hillay Clinton. She gave a short opening remark about how pleased she was to be in Sharm el Sheikh and how happy she was with the progress made at the conference. The question and answer period was short, I wanted to ask a question but was not picked on. The last question to Mrs. Clinton from an Egyptian journalist was a simple one. Do you believe that a Palestinian state will be declared within a year. She could have easily deflected the question but she didn’t instead she gave a passionate answer about how she entered politics because she believes in defending children and that she and her team will do everything possible to make sure that this dream does turn into a reality.

While the question and answer period was over, I was called on to meet privately with the Secretary. Before I got too excited, I was told that I could ask only one question ( I would have liked to ask the question in the press conference) but the idea of a private meeting with the secretary was welcomed and so I went.

After the US officials inviting me completed negotiating with the security people, I found myself alone with the secretary (well with about ten people not far waiting to see her as well). As soon as our eyes met, I shook her hand and I reminded her of an incident that took place 13 years earlier. I had been arrested by the Palestinian Authority after our television station in Ramallah broadcast a session of the Palestinian Legislative Council dealing with corruption. I said that you and Madeline Albright and White House Spokesman Mike McCurry had spoken out on my behalf. She remembered the incident and smiled.

I quickly realized that I should not waste my time with stories and must do the duty of a journalist and ask my question. So I asked her about the blockade on Gaza. My question focused on her interest in children and I asked her what is the fault of a Palestinian child to be taken hostage by politicians. Despite her earlier emotional plea for the children of Palestine, this question failed to move her and she began an often repeated routine of faulting the rockets for the Israeli attacks. Hamas actually provokes Israel to respond was the gist of what she was saying. I was unhappy with the answer but was aware that my time was out. I decided to make one more follow up. “But what is the fault of children to have this collective punishment to them, isn’t this what international law and treaties are supposed to protect against.”

The secretary tried to answer using the same logic of blaming Hamas on causing the Israelis to respond. I wasn’t convinced and I am not sure how convinced she was with this well used answer. Realizing that my time was over, I shook her hands, took a picture, and whispered in here ear that my daughter is a fan of hers, and then I left clutching on my notes and my camera and hoping that even though she might not have given me the answer I wanted, that she will think about that question in the months and years ahead.

By Daoud Kuttab/ Sharm el Sheikh

A resounding and unanimous international message of support was sounded in the Red sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh March 2 with the participation of world leaders. Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak along with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, UN Secretary General and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were joined with foreign ministers as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, and foundations.
Ironically two key groups were absent from the meeting. Israel and Hamas.
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By Daoud Kuttab
blogging with the US secretary of state’s press corps in Sharm el Sheikh

Despite the clarity of the conference title the US will provide far more help to the Palestinian Authority and the people of the West Bank than to the people of Gaza In a press briefing on the eve of the “International conference in support of the Palestinian economy of the reconstruction of Gaza” Robert Wood, the Acting US state department spokesman failed to convince the US traveling press corps and a Palestinian blogger that America is indeed coming to help the people of Gaza.
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