The protest statement signed by 27 Israeli airmen could go a long way in unlocking the puzzle that has kept the Middle East violence from abetting. By publicly stating their opposition to air strikes against Palestinian civilian targets and their refusal to carry out such missions, these brave Israelis can make a key contribution to reaching a lasting cease fire, an important step on the way to reaching a comprehensive peace. Much regional and international support will be needed to reach this important goal but the airmen’s protest could help close a missing piece of the puzzle. Continue Reading »

Ten years ago I had the honor of being the first Palestinian journalist to interview Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, for the leading daily Al Quds. “Mr. Prime Minister,” I asked him, “what is your vision for the future of the Palestinians in 10 or 15 years?”

“I believe that the future of the Palestinians must be somehow connected with Jordan,” Rabin answered, after a short pause. Continue Reading »

Jerusalem — In the presidential and parliamentary elections that took place in 1996, I remember clearly my pride in participating in those first-ever Palestinian elections. US president Carter and others were among the many observers who monitored the elections and concluded that these elections were free and fair. Continue Reading »

The new Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei has a daunting challenge ahead of him. He needs to walk between the rain drops of continued Israeli military actions against Palestinians, US ambivalence and lack of real support for the peace process and militant Palestinian groups who want to carry out acts of revenge every time one of their leaders is assassinated. Continue Reading »

The sickening cycle of violence in the Palestinian Israeli conflict has become so predictable that any observer can estimate the next moves or actions. As sad as this is, understanding this predictability can become the way out of this unnecessary quagmire . Continue Reading »

For most teenagers, the world over, the age of sixteen is supposed to be a happy one. This is supposed to be a year of care free fun and enjoyment as they celebrate their sweet pre- adult sixteenths birthday.

Reaching 16, for Palestinians, especially those living in East Jerusalem, however, is not much fun. This is the age that they are supposed to start carrying the dreaded identification card and in turn the soldiers (not much older than them) can take pot shots at them without much concern or worry. Any young Palestinian that looks anywhere close to 16 better have an ID or a birth certificate showing that he/she are under this bitter/sweet age.  Continue Reading »

East Jerusalem- The road map for peace in the Middle East is off to a good start now that the Palestinian militant groups have adhered to their self-declared hudna. More than a month of quite from the Palestinian side has been registered since that truce declaration. But for this hudna or truce to take root and become the basis for successful peace talks, much more work is still needed. While commitment to carry the various clauses of the road map are essential, what is also needed is a strong measure of goodwill in order to win over public support. Continue Reading »

Much has been said of late as to the reason for the internal Palestinian conflict, especially the struggle between Arafat and Abu Mazen. While personality issues should not be discounted from any political struggle, one has to look much deeper in order to understand what lies behind it. Continue Reading »

The recent positive changes on the Palestinian-Israeli front promise the beginnings of a political process that will lead, if President Bush means his words, to a viable Palestinian state in 2005. Clearly the region has lately made an important shift, which requires a review of the past two-and-a-half years. We must learn the lessons of the past and make appropriate adjustments. Continue Reading »

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 »