Archive for March, 2011

Mar 31 2011

Jordan’s government and reformers at a crossroad

Published by under Articles,Jordan

After last Friday’s violent breakup of the Ministry of Interior Circle gathering, the question everyone is asking is where we go next.

Does the atmosphere of confrontation, suspicion about the other, dual narratives and competing claims of loyalty continue in the weeks ahead? Continue Reading »

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Mar 28 2011

Have Jordanian security forces lost their neutrality and credibility?

Published by under Articles,Jordan

Any country’s security force system is made up of various apparatuses that are unified at the top. Police, anti riot forces together with intelligence units are networked together to enforce a country’s overall security strategy. Uniformed and civilian dressed professionals are used as are various forms of hand equipment, sophisticated technologies, ground vehicles and air bound helicopters.

Continue Reading »

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Mar 24 2011

Hamas and Israel Are Responsible for Latest Escalation

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

 

Daoud Kuttab

Who is responsible for the sudden escalation of the situation in the Gaza Strip? All of a sudden rockets are coming out from Gaza after a period of calm and Israel tanks are shelling residential areas, which killed four members of the Helu family in the Shejaiya refugee camp in the Strip. This was followed by the bus bombing that killed an Israeli women and injured tens. Continue Reading »

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Mar 17 2011

Wanting an end to the split

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

By Daoud Kuttab

March 15 marked the launch of yet another Arab youth movement, following those in Egypt on January 25 and in Libya on February 17. The aim of this youth-led movement appears simple: end the split between Gaza and the West Bank and between the PLO and Hamas.

Popular uprisings are not new to Palestinians who introduced the term Intifada to the world in 1987. In fact many in Palestine feel that they broke the barrier of fear – a prerequisite for going out in the streets against brutal, violent crackdowns – long before the youth in Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain. Continue Reading »

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Mar 10 2011

Palestinian Authority recalibrating its strategy

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

For the first time in many months, Palestinian spokesmen appear to indicate a revisit of their political strategy towards liberation and independence.It is not clear what the new ideas are, but it is obvious that Palestinian plans focusing on a September landmark seem to be in question.

The present Palestinian strategy is based on the idea that by the fall of 2011, Palestine will be accepted in the United Nations as a full member. The date corresponds to the two-year plan launched by the Palestinian president. In August 2009, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced a unilateral plan to establish a de facto Palestinian state in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. following a two-year state-building process. The date was picked up by the US President Barack Obama in his speech at the UN General Assembly last fall, where he said that the United States hopes that Palestine will become a full member of the UN by the fall of 2011. Continue Reading »

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Mar 03 2011

What can Palestinians learn from Egyptian and Tunisian revolts

Published by under Articles,Palestinian politics

By Daoud Kuttab

Many activists in Palestine believe that they are the inventors of the concept of popular uprisings in the modern Arab history. After all, many say, the Palestinian Intifada has been hailed as a shining example of an entire people rising up in unison against a ruthless aggressor.Palestinians know very well what it means to break the barrier of fear and what it means to expose the bare chest to the live ammunition of an aggressive security regime. Clandestine youth leadership that works behind the scenes to organise and energise an entire population is something that has the signature of Palestine all over it. Continue Reading »

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Mar 01 2011

20 FAQs about demonstrations in Jordan

Published by under Articles,Jordan

By Daoud Kuttab

1.     Does the Jordanian regime risk falling as has been the case in Tunisia and Egypt?

No demonstrator has  publicly called for the end of the monarachy on the contrary many insist on it. Jordanians are generally supportive of the present monarchy and the King, however demonstrators are requiring reform and more political power to the people. Continue Reading »

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