Archive for June, 2003

Jun 30 2003

Ibn Khaldoun center reopened in Cairo

Published by under Articles

Cairo- Three years after the arrest of human rights activists Saaed Eddine Ibrahim and the shut down of his center, the Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development reopened its doors Monday in a festive event.

Local Egyptian supporters and human rights activists as well as Arab and foreign experts and dignitaries crowded the center located in a crowded Cairo suburb of Muqatam. The center and its founder have become a symbol for Egyptian and Arab civil society movement. Continue Reading »

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Jun 26 2003

The real meaning of Hudna

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

The Palestinian leadership showed political creativity when they introduced the Arabic term hudna when speaking about the ceasefire agreement that was being worked out with the Islamic and radical Palestinian guerilla movements. By using a term used more than once by the Prophet Muhammad, the Palestinian Authority succeeded in providing the Islamic movements with an ideological ladder to climb down from. Continue Reading »

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Jun 14 2003

Strong International Military Involvement is needed

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

The struggle in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resembles two sluggers in a never-ending duel. Both parties exhausted and unable to finish off the other, yet both refusing to give up the fight nor accept a draw.

The witnesses to this terrible fight have so far refused to get too involved. Other than words of advice between rounds and general blueprints of how to end this fight, no one has agreed to get deeply involved. Continue Reading »

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Jun 11 2003

A dangerous Israeli pattern

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

The escalation of violence in the Middle East has been so predictable it is sad. No Palestinian or Israeli needed to lose their lives. More lives on both sides could be saved if Israel simply agrees on a bilateral ceasefire instead of its persistent attempts to force the Palestinians to cease-fire while it retains the right to attack and assassinate Palestinians at will. Over the years an Israeli pattern of assassinating Palestinian leaders as they are preparing to agree on a unilateral ceasefire has consistently derailed such an attempt for quiet. Continue Reading »

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Jun 09 2003

Richard Gere Visits Palestine

Published by under Articles

Ramallah — The scene at the Qalandia check point between Jerusalem and Ramallah was surreal. Hollywood superstar Richard Gere riding in a white Ford van attempting to cross an Israeli check. On the other side of the checkpoint a huge host of television and still cameras. Continue Reading »

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Jun 03 2003

Package deal (agreed in secret) can lead to Peace

Published by under Articles,US-Middle East

Ramallah- The high level involvement of the United States government in the Middle East conflict presents a unique and rare opportunity for dramatically positive movement in the peace process. But for the Bush administration to succeed where others have faltered, a new direction is needed. The new direction must be based on a comprehensive approach, possibly reached in secret talks, and not the step-by-step time based process. Continue Reading »

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