Daoud Kuttab

Palestine, media, Jordan, community radio, online journalism

  • Jordanian Diplomacy and Public Protests Produces Results in Protecting Al Aqsa

    Following appeared in the Jordan Times By Daoud Kuttab Jordan succeeded this week to force the Israeli Knesset to cancel a discussion planned for Tuesday regarding Al Aqsa Mosque. The public debate was initiated by the deputy speaker of the Israeli legislature, Moshe Feiglen, and was intended to focus on the issue of sovereignty over the third holiest…

  • Public apathy may help Israeli-Palestinian peace

    By Daoud Kuttab Palestinian and Israeli negotiators might have stumbled across two powerful weapons that could help them convince their publics to support a compromise peace agreement — political exhaustion and apathy. While the issues surrounding the peace talks, such as refugees and Jerusalem, are emotional triggers that easily move public opinion, the parties to…

  • Abbas delivers message of peace to Israeli students

    By Daoud Kuttab When Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas met with 300 Israeli university students in Ramallah on Feb. 16, he accomplished more than one goal. He simultaneously sent a powerful message of peace to the Israeli public while indicating to his own people, and the region as a whole, the areas where Palestinian negotiators are willing to compromise. The…

  • Abbas considers sacking Palestinian prime minister

    By Daoud Kuttab Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah’s days in office are numbered, according to reliable sources in the Muqata (headquarters). The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Al-Monitor that for a convergence of reasons they expect Hamdallah to be replaced by President Mahmoud Abbas within a month. The addition…

  • Kerry Peace Plan Shakes up Jordanian-Palestinian Relations

    By Daoud Kuttab The seriousness of the U.S.-initiated framework for a possible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian problem appears to have shaken dormant relations in the region, including in Jordan. The Palestinian-Jordanian relationship, which is experiencing its highest degree of cooperation and mutual trust, is being put to the test. The challenges facing this important relationship…

  • Jordanians demanding transparent discussions on nuclear plans

    By Daoud Kuttab Heated discussions today in Jordan are not about political reform or media policy, but about an issue that is even more relevant to every citizen: the nuclear energy programme. A debate held last Saturday at the Parliament by Radio Al Balad revealed some of the deep-seated emotions on both sides of the argument. A…

  • Jordan and Palestinian Refugees

    By Daoud Kuttab An interesting development is taking places in Jordan: Forty years after the Rabat Summit, which declared the PLO as the “sole legitimate representative” of the Palestinian people, one aspect of representation is being challenged. Jordanian officials, including the prime minister, the speaker of the Parliament and the foreign minister, were recently quoted…

  • PA’s Abbas moves toward creating vice presidency

    By Daoud Kuttab The most essential role of the position of a vice president is to allow for a smooth transition in case the president becomes incapacitated. In many autocratic systems, presidents are afraid to appoint a vice president precisely for that reason. Palestine had not been an exception to this, until now. Abbas was elected Palestinian president in…

  • Palestinian foreign minister open to Iran visit

    By Daoud Kuttab Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki is willing to visit Iran if he receives an official invitation. In an exclusive interview, he told Al-Monitor: “If an official invitation is directed to me, I will accept it. If they choose to invite the president, I would go and prepare for such an official visit.” Concerning…

  • Egyptian Revolution Will Fail if the Press Is Not Free

    By Daoud Kuttab I was part of a delegation of the International Press Institute that visited the Egyptian capital last week to try and plead the case of some 12 Egyptian and foreign journalists who are being held behind bars. The new powers in Egypt seem to have very little tolerance for anyone with an opinion that is not…