In 1994, Yasser Arafat, the PLO leader, arrived in the Palestinian Territories for the first time in decades and declared that he would turn Gaza into the Singapore of the Middle East. Fifteen years later it couldn’t be more different. Arafat’s prediction of Gaza being used as an example will certainly come true, but not in the way he envisioned. Read more »
Hamas must step down as Gaza’s keeper
Regardless of the outcome of Israel’s barbaric “Operation Cast Lead,” one thing is certain: It is high time for Hamas to step down as keeper of Gaza. Read more »
The land of two steps forward and one step back
The case of the Saudi judge upholding the marriage of an eight-year-old girl to a man 50 years her senior is so very wrong on innumerable levels and is a step back in the otherwise forward progress of the Kingdom. Read more »
Arab journalists in name, poles apart in practice
It is high time that we ceased to glorify individuals who disguise themselves as journalists and allow their emotions to seep through their reporting. Read more »
What if the Israelis were to bomb Iran?
Baghdad, Friday, June 31, 2011, almost ten months in the future, and Israel has attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. What might the consequences be? Read more »
Imagine if Dubai had been too timid to build…
While many observers seem to be preoccupied with the future of Dubai and the UAE, it might be prudent to draw their attention to where the country actually stands today. The credit crunch, in fact, serves as a perfect opportunity for us to show the world that our ambitions were well placed and that many of the developments undertaken were not only very well timed but, it could even be argued, may even have been rather restrained. Read more »