Film star helping make the world a better place to live in
I first met Richard Gere about six months ago. I was scheduled to take him on a tour of Ramallah, when that same morning, the Israeli army unexpectedly declared curfew on the Palestinian city. To his credit and despite strong objection from his handlers and bodyguards, the American movie star insisted on going ahead with […]
Saddam and Palestine
There is no doubt that the arrest of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein marks an important turning point for Iraq and the American led occupation of this strategic Arab country. But the question that needs to be answered is how will this important event affect the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Needed: Palestinian Leaders with a political backbone
The last minute confusion on the Palestinian side prior to the signing of the Geneva initiative has once again revealed a major weakness in the Palestinian political position. An absence of a political backbone. Yaser Arafat, the Palestinian president is known to have been a major supporter of the initiative which has been spearheaded by […]
Conditions for a successful Mideast Democracy
Behind much of the recent anti-American statements and comment many Arabs are genuinely hoping for US President Bush to succeed in his vision for a more democratic Middle East. Nevertheless there are many reasons for this high level of scientism. US foreign policy in general and American policy towards the Middle East in particular has […]
‘The best answer is Arab nationalism’
US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has publicly asked for help by calling for ideas to defeat the enemies of America. Here is one idea: Arab nationalism accomplished through democracy. We all know what the US is against in the Middle and Far East. What we are not sure of is what it is in […]
Protesting Pilots Key to Mideast
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 […]
Israeli Double-Talk of Peace
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 […]
If Palestinian independence is threatened, we Are All Arafat
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.
The Challenges Facing the New Palestinian Prime Minister
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 […]
Mideast violence might be predictable, it ought not be inevitable
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 .