Foreign Policy Blogs

Middle East

Yemen Casts its Vote

Yemen Casts its Vote

Following much anticipation, Yemenis this Tuesday headed towards the polling stations in the tens of thousands, with lines extending endlessly in the streets of the capital, Sana’a. And if so far the mood is festive, with men and women congratulating one another on what they hope …

read more

Al Qaeda in Iraq… in Syria?

Al Qaeda in Iraq… in Syria?

Interesting news from Iraq… the Christian Science Monitor is reporting that violence has dropped precipitously as al-Qaeda affiliates quit the field to battle President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The effects of egress have been most pronounced in Nineveh Province – the Iraqi governate borders Syria and once served as served …

read more

A Safe Economic Bet?

A Safe Economic Bet?


Even as the European and U.S. economies slid over the past few years, Israel’s financial footing remained fairly stable. In fact, last year protests erupted to lower housing prices in the Gush Dan area, even though prices reflected demand for Tel Aviv residencies.
Today’s paper includes two …

read more

Harvard Hosts Forum on Islam and the West

Harvard Hosts Forum on Islam and the West


 
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation and Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, Vice-Chair woman of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, hosted an historic gathering of leading scholars on Islam and the West at The Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program …

read more

In Memoriam: Anthony Shadid

In Memoriam: Anthony Shadid

On behalf of all Middle East writers at Foreign Policy Association, I am writing to extend our heart-felt condolences on the passing of Anthony Shadid, a true Middle East expert and a great source of inspiration for many of us here at FPA Blogs.
As we mourn Anthony’s loss, we hope …

read more

Understanding Israel: The New Palestinian Unity Government

Understanding Israel: The New Palestinian Unity Government

Last week Palestinian officials from Gaza and the West Bank met in Qatar to form a unity government.  Since 2007, Hamas has ruled Gaza and Fatah the West Bank.  While there  have been several attempts in the past to form a unity government, none have been succssful.
In this episode of …

read more

China’s Olympic Promise on Press Freedom

China’s Olympic Promise on Press Freedom


The Chinese government has sentenced writer Li Tie to 10 years imprisonment for his online articles, in which he urged respect for ordinary citizens, called for democracy and political reform, and urged basic human rights. Journalists around the world have noted with sorrow — but not …

read more

Arab Revolutions: Remembering The First Days

Arab Revolutions: Remembering The First Days

The great transformation taking place in the Arab World is long overdue. What’s happening is not a freak moment in history but is rather a natural reaction to what has been a long suppression of Arabs by other fortunate Arab oligarchs and bands of opportunists. Leaders, …

read more

Greetings

Greetings

Dear FPB Readers,
My name’s Adil Elassali and I just like to take a quick moment to announce my return from my long absence. I am happy and excited to resume blogging again along with my colleagues for the Middle East region.
This world is changing, resistance is …

read more

The Syrian Spiral

The Syrian Spiral

As I write these words, demonstrations are unfolding in the public squares of Syrian cities and towns, as they have done every Friday for the last eleven months, since the people of Dir’a first took to the streets to manifest their discontent at the indignities imposed upon them by the …

read more

Carnegie Endowment to Host Iraq Forum

Carnegie Endowment to Host Iraq Forum

Mere days after sobering official ceremonies marked the end of the U.S. mission in Iraq, America’s most dubious partner – Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki – charged his Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi with aiding and abetting terrorism and sought to remove his Deputy Prime Minister, Saleh al-Mutlaq from office. …

read more

Yemen’s Presidential Elections, the Proof is in the Pudding

Yemen’s Presidential Elections, the Proof is in the Pudding

A couple of weeks shy of the scheduled presidential elections, Vice-President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi announced in an official ceremony that he would run for president, adding that he hoped Yemenis would entrust him with the responsibility of running the affairs of the state.
On Tuesday, Yemenis …

read more

Understanding Israel: Cyber Warfare

Understanding Israel: Cyber Warfare

This is the first episode of a new video blog that I am starting, “Understanding Israel.”
Over the last month and a half Israel has found itself in an emerging cyber war with individuals from its neighboring countries.  In this video, I speak with Jerusalem Post reporter Yaakov Lappin about the …

read more

The State of Haredi Education in the State of Israel

The State of Haredi Education in the State of Israel

There is currently a bill before the Knesset that seeks to offer financial assistance to Haredi youth leaving the ultra-Orthodox world. The proposed law would offer them the same sort of assistance that is currently offered to new immigrants. These benefits can cover everything from tax breaks on homes and …

read more

Hate Speech and Turkey’s Islamist Media Problem

Hate Speech and Turkey’s Islamist Media Problem

A textbook case of hate speech in Turkish media: The story, entitled ‘Mishcon Indecency,’ suggests that “Zionists, who have been doing ethnic cleansing in Palestine for over a century” show that “they have no limit to indecency (or moral corruption)” because some members of the Israeli lobby in the United States supported …

read more

Senior Blogger

Reza Akhlaghi
Reza Akhlaghi

Born in Tehran Iran and based in Toronto, Canada, Reza Akhlaghi is a senior writer at FPA Blogs, presiding over the Middle East page and individual Middle Eastern country pages.

Reza holds a Double Major BA Honors in English Literature and Communication Studies from York University in Toronto; an MA degree in Communication Studies from University of Calgary in Alberta; and an MBA from Schulich School of Business at York University.

Reza is fluent in Persian, Turkish, and English, and has working knowledge of Korean.