What happened in Gaza and Ramallah during the past few weeks has left many people perplexed. How much was genuine and how much was contrived? And if it was set up, who set it up? For what reason? And for whose benefit? Who are the key players in this political play? Continue Reading »

Like many other Palestinians, I was glad to hear the news that Ghazi Jabali, director of the Palestinian police, was fired on Saturday. I never met the man, but I did speak to him by phone, and it was not a pleasant conversation. He wanted to talk to me as I was being released in 1997 after seven days of detention in a Palestinian police lockup. Continue Reading »

It seems, more and more now, that Palestinian municipal elections will take place some time this fall. This was the conclusion stated by Amal Khreisheh, one of the members of the independent elections commission.

The press in Palestine this week was full of reports about the postponement of municipal elections. Khreisheh insists that this is not the case. “No doubt was declared for us to have postponed it,” she said. The Palestinian National Authority had stated, some six months ago, that the municipal elections will take place sometime this summer, but no specific date was set and therefore there is no postponement, she insists. Continue Reading »

It can be predicted as accurately the Jordan Valley’s summer heat. Every year the Jordan River crossing point turns into one big human tragedy. And families with children are at the center of this suffering.

My 15 year old son and his cousin spent 11 hours this week just trying to cross into Palestine with the Israelis the major culprits of this unnecessary delay. Much has been written about the Israeli side of this tragedy. It is high time we also face the self inflicted wounds caused by the Jordanian government and its outdated rules and regulations that are causing hardships rather than providing badly needed relief. Continue Reading »

The Jerusalem-Ramallah road is no longer the same once you get to Dahiyat Al Barid. The return lane is all dug up and huge cement slabs fill the area. For the people of the East Jerusalem suburbs of Al Ram and Dahiyat Al Barid the reality of the Wall has become very concrete. The 30,000 Jerusalemites living in this area have just realized that they are on the other side of the WALL. Their trips to school, business, hospital or to pray in the old city of Jerusalem will now become a major ordeal. Continue Reading »

The latest World Bank report about the situation in Gaza is worthy of close attention and scrutiny. While the concentration has been correctly focused on the importance of the Israeli withdrawal and dismantlement of their illegal settlements, many more issues are clearly in need of attention. A World Bank official once told me that the main obstacle preventing Gaza and the West Bank from reaching economic prosperity is bureaucracy. He said he had never seen in any country in which he had served so many bureaucratic restrictions that have such a direct negative effect on the economy. Continue Reading »

The determined decision by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to go through with his plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip mandates a second look at the concept of “unilateral.”

Unilateralism has properly been painted in a negative light. Negotiations between enemies should lead the way out of conflict. However, if either  party refuses to negotiate, as the position of Israel has been, other options must be explored. Continue Reading »

The persistent decision by the Israeli leader Ariel Sharon to go through with his plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip dictates that a second look at the concept of unilateralism.

Unilateralism has properly been painted negatively. Negotiations even between enemies have been and should be the way out of conflict. Nevertheless, if either of the parties refuses to negotiate, as the position of Israel has been, other options must be found. Continue Reading »

As a regular traveler across the Jordan River crossings, I feel bound to inform the rest of the world which rarely makes this dreadful journey of what happens to thousands of Palestinians who have no choice except to make this short but difficult trip.

The King Hussein Bridge, which constitutes the shortest distance between Amman and Jerusalem, is quickly becoming the all-day difficult affair it used to be in the 1970s and 80s. Continue Reading »

There is no doubt that Israel plans to withdraw completely and totally from the Gaza Strip. What remains to be answered is when and how. But until the withdrawal actually takes place, many more will die, more hardship, anger and hatred will take place. Israelis and Palestinians will undoubtedly see bad days. Why? Continue Reading »