The LA Times had a piece yesterday on Lebanon’s thriving banking system. Riad Toufic Salame, the central bank’s governor, imposed very tight regulations on Lebanese banks during his tenure, and made it illegal for the banks to invest in mortgage-backed securities. Staying away from those investments has made Lebanon a safe investment – a pleasant […]
While the Christians felt the Syrian regime hassle and abuse, the Sunnis minded their own business and the Shias had to deal with Israeli aggressions and the lack of state involvement in their areas. That was the general framework and things moved within this paradigm for too many years. In 2005 it was Sunnis turn […]
Alexandria is truly something special. Egypt’s finest national museum is housed in a villa there, nearby a stunning opera house nestled almost imperceptibly between courtyards of the city’s streets. The seaside cafes serve the best cappuccinos in the country and the no-frills fish restaurants need no enhancement. Alexandria marks itself with tasteful elegance. Add to […]
Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, tapped last week to attempt and form a coalition, met with Kadima Chairman Tzipi Livni and reportedly offered her party two top portfolios. He supposedly even offered Livni “full partnership” in the government including input on the government’s policy statements. However, Netanyahu said that he would not be “bullied” into a […]
A rocket fired from Lebanon landed in northern Israel overnight, with the IDF returning fire and holding the Lebanese government responsible for the blasts. The attack comes approximately a week after the anniversary of the assassination of Hizballah military chief Imad Mugniyah, citing in Israeli security circles as a reason to elevate caution and expect […]
The State Department spokesman said, regarding the completion of plenary events for Durban II to which the U.S. delegation attempted to address concerns of anti-Semitism: “I believe the meetings have ended now in Geneva. Part of our delegation is – of course, is based in Geneva and part of the delegation is on its way […]
It may not be as far-fetched an idea as it sounds. FP’s Elizabeth Dickinson discusses tourism potential in Iraq.
Ayman Nour, the former leader of Egypt’s al Ghad party, was released from jail on Wednesday. He was initially sentenced to five years in 2005 for forging documents to obtain legal status for his party; many, including Nour, suspect that this charge was fabricated in order to punish him for running against Egypt’s current President, […]
Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu officially received a mandate from President Shimon Peres to form the next government. While Peres urged the creation of a broad national unity government, Netanyahu and Kadima Chairman Tzipi Livni intend to discuss a coalition on Sunday. However, Kadima officials persistently send mixed messages regarding the party’s intention to join a […]
The Obama Administration faces its first truly divisive decision regarding its relationship with Israel and promises for a changed U.S. posture towards the Arab World. Delegates from the U.S. Department of State attended this week preparatory and planning sessions for the second antiracism Durban Review Conference in April, a forum largely heralded as a platform […]
Yesterday Ayman Nour was released from prison. Mr. Nour, Egypt’s most famous secular opposition politician, was imprisoned several years ago after performing a bit too well in the first multi-party presidential elections. Ostensibly jailed for forging a few hundred petition forms supporting his candidacy, Mr. Nour’s arrest effectively dampened a cautiously optimistic mood amongst established […]
“It is better to start building a popular secular base, which starts with non-sectarian gatherings in schools and universities in all regions and builds up to civil society, and then we can begin to change the laws and system of the country,” said Greek Catholic Bishop Gregoire Haddad. Wise man! One of Ziad Baroud’s smart […]
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, due to try the suspected killers of ex-Premier Rafiq Hariri, it will open in a suburb of The Hague on March 1 reported NAHARNET. More here.
Shimon Peres intends to stress the importance of a moderate unity government with Kadima Chairman Tzipi Livni and Likud Chairman Benyamin Netanyahu tomorrow. Netanyhu is slowly solidifying a coalition that now includes Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who backed Likud yesterday. Due to this rightwing partnership, Kadima has virtually no viable coalition partners, leaving Livni […]
Martin Indyk of the Brookings Institution and, formerly, the Clinton administration echoes the widely held sentiments that 1. now is the time to advance a sustainable solution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and 2. Barack Obama is the best man for the job. (You can also read this article at Time Magazine if you prefer red […]