Discussion on confederation
By Daoud Kuttab following appeared in the Jordan Times, Dec 19, 2012 Abdel Bari Atwan is well-known to Arab audiences. The editor of the London-based Al Quds Al Arabi is known for his fiery patriotic and anti-Western interviews on major satellite televisions. A major supporter of the Arab revolutions, Atwan lived up to his no-nonsense […]
824 candidat Electoral System clearly needs reform
By Daoud Kuttab King Abdullah’s wishes that Jordan will have three political parties (right center and left) will most certainly be dashed once he hears from the registration results independent election’s commission.  Sixty one parties and lists featuring 824 candidates (among them only 88 women) will be competing for mere 27 national seats in the […]
The competing narratives for the liberation of Palestine
By Daoud Kuttab Two narratives are competing for the hearts and minds of Palestinians, regarding the best way to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine: one military, the other nonviolent. Two narratives are competing for the hearts and minds of Palestinians, regarding the best way to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine: one military, the […]
Constitutional rights vs. legislation
By Daoud Kuttab Freedom of expression is guaranteed and will be practiced in accordance to the law. Freedom of religious practice is safeguarded and will be regulated by law. Citizen are equal regardless of religion, gender or background and this equality will be exercised through law. Elections are free and fair and shall be guaranteed […]
Jordanian Cabinet Fumbles Time Change Challenge
By Daoud Kuttab The Jordanian Cabinet’s decision to scrap wintertime came at the most difficult time: one day before a long holiday and also one day before the original plan to start wintertime. Furthermore, the rationale for the decision was never fully discussed and defended by those taking it. For years, Jordanian governments determined the seasonal time […]
Did Gaza Save Jordan?
By Daoud Kuttab The Israeli onslaught on Gaza this week coincided with one of the worst periods in Jordan’s history.Protesters, angry with the price hike of energy products, were more violent and protests larger and more widespread than the Kingdom ever witnessed. Faced with these unprecedented and extensive demonstrations, Jordan’s security personnel were spread very […]
The Case for Palestine
By Daoud Kuttab Nowhere are the grievances that perpetuate violence and war more evident than they are in Palestine today. But the world’s politicians continue to dance around the problem, rather than confront it. The recent deadly violence in Gaza is only the latest proof that people living under occupation and siege need a political […]
Gaza’s Bloodshed Now Demands Unity of Fatah and Hamas
By Daoud Kuttab The asymmetrical violence against the people of Gaza has again forced regional and international players to consider what to do about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. When Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, and his wife visited a Gaza hospital with Arab ministers, they were confronted with the arrival of families whose loved ones […]
Obama II Has a Rare Opportunity to Forge Mideast Peace
By Daoud Kuttab A real possibility exists for a Middle East peace in President Obama’s second term. Palestinians and Arabs are ready to make major concessions and the Israelis know that time is not on their side if they still want a democratic state with a Jewish majority. The world had an exaggerated expectation of […]
Will Unshackled Politicians Deliver Peace in Palestine?
By Daoud Kuttab Reelected U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be able to conduct policy with much more vigor. While on domestic and economic issues he will need to work with a Republican House (the Senate will be Democratic), foreign relations is where the executive branch (the White House and the State Department) has […]