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Is Mofaz-Netanyahu Deal Really Good for Peace?
By Daoud Kuttab Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stunned Israelis Tuesday morning with a political shocker. He convinced his largest opposition leader, Shaul Mofaz, to join the coalition, thus cancelling early elections scheduled for September. Speaking to the media, Netanyahu said that the coalition agreement (called by some in the Israeli media a stink bomb) is good…
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Is Mideast Peace Around the Corner or Far Away?
By Daoud Kuttab The question seemed simple. A European official wanted to know if the peace was just around the corner, or far away. On the surface of it, one can tick off a number of positive signals. Palestinian and Israeli negotiators recently exchanged letters outlying their various political positions as to the best way…
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Searching for the Perfect Arab Democratic Model
By Daoud Kuttab For years the Arab world has been searching for the perfect Arab democratic model. Progressive young Arabs want a Western-style democratic model, but older democrats argue that we have to discover our own model, not copy and paste models from this or that country. Islam, of course, confused this search. Islamists appeared…
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Nonviolent and Community Action Produces Results in Mideast
By Daoud Kuttab This week, two totally different cases saw real progress towards resolution due to persistence, focus on achievable results and the use of nonviolent means. Palestinian prisoners and supporters of their just and reasonable requests in Palestine, the Arab world, and the international community saw a successful resolution of their demands.
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Rev Alex Awad reflections on Divestment vote
Methodist Voices that Prevailed May 3, 2012 In describing the trial of Jesus before Pilate, Luke the Evangelist brilliantly described the mood of the crowd when he wrote, “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.” (Luke 23:23 NIV)
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Why the Sudden Interest in East Jerusalem?
by Daoud Kuttab A flurry of visits by Arab and Islamic officials to East Jerusalem in the past few weeks has left Palestinians wondering what is happening. Prince Hashem visited Jerusalem followed by a joint visit of Prince Ghazi and Mufti of Egypt Ali Gomaa. The head of Jordan’s security service, Hussein Majali, was the…
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To be trusted, Mofaz should begin dismantling the occupation
this was published on bitterlemons.com To be trusted, Mofaz should begin dismantling the occupation by Daoud Kuttab Israeli politicians are very good at negotiating with themselves. Shaul Mofaz is not much different. The Mofaz plan that apparently helped propel him to the top of the Kadima party suggests that Israel would cede some ten percent…
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President Abbas’s letter to Netanyahu
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu State of Israel H.E. Prime Minister Netanyahu: In 1993, the Palestine Liberation Organization signed the Declaration of Principles (The Oslo Accords) and exchanged letters of mutual recognition with the Government of Israel. The Declaration of Principles defined its aim as the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 which…
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Palestinians Surprised by GOP Congresswoman
By Daoud Kuttab Easter is celebrated in Jerusalem and surrounding Palestinians cities both religiously and culturally. Children wave beautifully weaved palm leaves on Palm Sunday, Boy Scout-led marches celebrate Sabt el Noor (Holy Fire), when the light comes out of the Church of the Holy Seplechure and is welcomed with marching bands in towns with…
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Small Step Towards Multiparty Rule in Jordan
By Daoud Kuttab The Jordanian government presented the draft elections law to Parliament. It is sure to garner much discussion before it is finally approved and published in the Official Gazette. For starters, this would be one of the times an election law is actually debated in Parliament and not issued as a temporary law based…