What Does Jordan need to do with its Syrian refugees
By Daoud Kuttab As the international community struggles with the Syrian refugee crisis, many are looking at Jordan’s courageous position in absorbing as many as a million and a half Syrians as guests of the Kingdom. While this hospitality has been duly recognized and rewarded, the longevity of the Syrian conflict is forcing all players […]
How Palestinian security forces are cracking down on their own people
By Daoud Kuttab It began as a demonstration against Israel on Sept. 18 following the recent incidents at Al-Aqsa Mosque, but it soon became an internal Palestinian problem that gripped the political and security leadership in Bethlehem. Â The Palestinian police order to quell the protests against Israel suddenly became the focus of public attention because […]
Israel attempts to redefine terrorism, but is its definition too broad?
By Daoud Kuttab A troubling anti-terrorism law to replace the 1945 Defense (Emergency) Regulations passed its first reading in the Israeli Knesset by an overwhelming 45-14 vote on Sept. 2. The 100-page piece of legislation had been opposed by the left-wing Meretz Party and the predominantly Arab Joint List, but appears to have the support of the two […]
Response to Israeli provocations should be Palestinian unity
His Majesty King Abdullah was correct in calling what was happening in Jerusalem this week a provocation. After all, the Israelis had made clear promises to His Majesty to ensure the continuation of the status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque, which led to the return of Jordan’s ambassador to Tel Aviv. Two of the understandings […]
Double victory for Palestine in FIFA qualifying match
By Daoud Kuttab A scoreless soccer game can hardly be considered a victory, but for the Palestinian national team, tying the powerful team from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Palestinian soil was a double victory. Even the leading newspaper in the UAE, The National, described the match as such. On Sept. 8, the Abu Dhabi daily called the […]
Abbas big loser in Palestinian National Council postponement
By Daoud Kuttab The lead story Sept. 9 in the Ramallah-based pro-PLO daily Al-Ayyam summarized what had been happening since the unexpected Aug. 22 resignation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and nine members of the PLO’s Executive Committee. In short, the article detailed the increasing calls to postpone the planned Sept. 14 meeting of the Palestinian National Council, […]
Palestinian President Playing Musical Chairs
By Daoud Kuttab Mahmoud Abbas holds many titles. He is the head of the Fateh movement, chairman of the PLO’s executive committee and president of the state of Palestine. Technically and legally, the Palestine Liberation Organization is superior. The state of Palestine, declared a non-member state in the UN in 2003, is subservient to the […]
News stories one may have missed
By Daoud Kuttab Unless one is a news junky and follows all local news religiously, one probably missed three important issues related to the media freedoms in Jordan. They include the three main media stakeholders, the government, media owners and the public. I will leave the juiciest story last. The prime minister issued a memo […]
Christians demonstrate against wall in Beit Jala
By Daoud Kuttab The picture posted by Deacon Fadi Abu Sa’ada on his Facebook page Aug. 30 spoke volumes, and the image of medics helping a nun injured by Israeli tear gas raised anger among Palestinians. Demonstrations after Sunday mass have become the norm in this Bethlehem-area town. The anti-Israel rallies are a protest against […]
Palestinian National Council gets new life in Amman
By Daoud Kuttab AMMAN — The man sitting outside the plush villa in west Amman looks like an old fighter. Security does not appear to be of much concern in Deir Ghbar, a stable Amman suburb and location of several embassies and diplomatic residences. The chain-smoking guard waves visitors through, into the house of Salim Zanoun, speaker of the Palestinian […]