DOCSLIB.ORG

Region Expects More Trying Times As Infection Cases Continue to Rise

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Region Expects More Trying Times As Infection Cases Continue to Rise UK £2 Issue 249, Year 5 March 22, 2020 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com UK’s closed Interview Saudi mosques Ghaith anti-graft al-Omari campaign Page 18 Page 15 Page 12 Iraq’s Region expects more trying times PM-designate faces resistance as infection cases continue to rise of Shia bloc There is concern that lack of testing means, among other factors, producing inaccurate counts of infection cases. The Arab Weekly staff Samir Wahbi raqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi faces a tough task in forming a new cabinet and se- Paris I curing parliamentary approval of his proposed government within s the number of confirmed 30 days. cases of the coronavirus Zurfi, 54, a former governor of Na- contamination climbs, there jaf, was asked to form a new govern- A are increasing concerns ment March 17 by Iranian President across the Middle East and North Af- Barham Salih after the two largest rica that more trying times are ahead. parliamentary blocs failed to nomi- Official figures indicate there are nate a candidate. As a senior figure 18,000 confirmed cases of corona- in the Nasr-led bloc of the Iraqi par- virus infection in the Eastern Medi- liament, led by former Prime Minis- terranean region — the Middle East, ter Haider al-Abadi, Zurfi must bring North Africa, Afghanistan and Paki- together Iraq’s fractured political stan — with more than 1,000 deaths scene. in seven countries, mostly in Iran. Zurfi has announced a 12-point The way of life to which the region plan, including promises for early had been accustomed has come to a snap elections, to address the coro- halt. Millions of students are out of navirus threat and secure Iraq’s school, airline travel is suspended 2020 federal budget. nearly everywhere and employees His pledges on foreign policy, par- are struggling to work from home, ticularly on “avoiding regional and when they can. international conflicts” and “seek- Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ing to open up to all neighbouring Al Saud said the kingdom would im- countries and the general interna- plement all needed measures to con- tional community, in a way that pre- tain the “difficult stage” of the coro- serves the independence of Iraq as a navirus crisis. However, he warned sovereign nation,” would gain him “the next stage will be more difficult support from Iraq’s Sunni and Kurd- at the global level in confronting the ish groups but could be a concern for rapid spread of the pandemic.” No social distancing here. A crowd of Iranians, some only wearing protective masks, at Tehran’s Iran-backed Shia groups. (AFP) There is fear among experts that grand bazaar, despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the actual number of virus infection his powerful Sairoon bloc may not be cases is higher than official figures. The ability to track the pandemic things even worse in the future. suspensions and quarantines, could inclined to back Zurfi, given his role A lack of testing kits amid a chroni- varies from country to country. In Most countries in the Arab world render life unbearable for vulnerable as Najaf governor during which he cally inadequate health structure in some Arab countries, the situation also lack ventilator-equipped in- segments of the population. fought against al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army many parts of the region along with is akin to that of sub-Saharan Africa tensive care units to cope with the There are those facing conditions and its rebellion against US troops in the possibility that many mild cases in the early weeks of the outbreak swelling numbers of those infected. of war or are displaced and with no 2004. The other powerful Shia bloc, are not being detected could produce when only two countries had out- To further compound the problem, access to reliable health systems. Fatah, led by Hadi al-Amiri and asso- an inaccurate count. break testing ability. many in society are not showing There is also a huge part of the popu- ciated with the Iran-backed Popular Global health authorities called on Even more adequately equipped signs of full awareness or mobilisa- lation that is either self-employed or Mobilisation Forces (PMF), rejected MENA countries to be more forth- Arab countries were blinded by Iran’s tion. Shia religious processions in living off the informal sector may not Zurfi outright, describing his nomi- coming about epidemiological sta- attempts at denial and under-report- Iraq and Iran have continued to draw be able to economically survive the nation as unconstitutional. tistics. ing as to the extent of the contamina- large crowds in recent days. disruptive measures. Shia parties have begun a media “Unfortunately, even today, as tion in its borders that delayed pre- “Frankly we are seeing uneven ap- “We need to take it to the next campaign against Zurfi, accusing the situation is becoming critical, cautionary decisions, especially in proaches across the region. While we level to ensure support reaches those him of corruption while he was gov- information on cases is insufficient- terms of travel restrictions. have observed impressive progress entirely dependent on the informal ernor, as well as being too close to ly communicated by countries to Tehran refrained from stamp- in several countries, not all are yet economy and countries less able to the United States. WHO,” said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, ing passports of Shia visitors from applying the whole of government respond,” cautioned UN Secretary- Zurfi has not commented about World Health Organisation regional Gulf Cooperation Council coun- and whole of society approach,” said General Antonio Guterres. calls for the United States to with- director for the Eastern Mediterra- tries, triggering vehement protests Mandhari. draw troops from Iraq, demands that nean. He complained of “under-re- from Riyadh. By refusing to impose There are concerns that some Samir Wahbi is an Arab writer based gained traction following the killing porting on the part of some countries quarantines and confinement meas- drastic decisions taken to curtail the in Paris. of Iranian Major-General Qassem with regard to positive cases.” ures, Iranian authorities could make spread of the disease, such as travel P2-9, 11, 16-17 Soleimani in a US drone strike. The clout of Shia groups seems however to have atrophied in recent months. It was not clear to what extent Iran sends message of belligerence vowing new that Iraq’s protest movement could support Zurfi but many demonstra- tors view him as part of Iraq’s cor- retaliation against US even as coronavirus crisis deepens rupt political class. Thomas Seibert our great commander. We have re- The exchanges are signs of a war President Donald Trump under a sponded to that terrorist act and by proxy between Iran and the “maximum pressure” campaign af- will respond to it,” Rohani said in a United States in the Middle East as ter he took the United States out of Istanbul televised speech. Tehran’s tries to expand its regional the nuclear agreement with Tehran Soleimani, leader of the IRGC’s influence. two years ago. ran is hardening its stance in its al-Quds Force, was instrumental Washington argues that its cam- confrontation with the United in implementing Iran’s aggressive paign to curb Iran’s nuclear, mis- States, seeking further revenge strategy in the Middle East through Iranian President Hassan sile and regional activities does Rohani said Iran would I for the killing of one of its top proxies in countries of the region not stop the flow of humanitarian commanders even as the coronavi- such as Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. continue to respond to the goods but Iran says the sanctions rus threat in the sanctions-hit coun- The United States launched air United States’ assassination must be lifted to allow the import try developed into a crisis that kills strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed of Major-General Qassem of medical goods needed to fight about 150 people every day and in- Shia militia members believed re- Soleimani. coronavirus. fects 50 each hour. sponsible for the rocket attack that Iran’s neighbours are concerned Iranian President Hassan Rohani killed and wounded US and British Rohani’s belligerent statement that the Islamic Republic could said Iran would continue to re- troops at a base north of Baghdad. indicated that Iran is determined worsen the coronavirus situation spond to the United States’ assas- In a speech marking Nowruz, the to keep pouring resources into for- for the region. Approximately 90% sination of Major-General Qassem Persian New Year, Rohani highlight- eign policy adventures at a time of all cases in the Middle East can Soleimani, an Islamic Revolution- ed what he viewed as the achieve- its health system is under severe be traced to Iran, news reports said. ary Guard Corps (IRGC) command- ments of the past year, including strain because of the coronavirus Looking for acceptance. er killed in a US drone strike in Iraq the missile strikes on US troops in pandemic. Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly File photo of Adnan al-Zurfi, in January. Iraq and the downing of a sophisti- Iran’s economy has been severely correspondent. then-governor of Najaf. (AFP) “The Americans assassinated cated US drone. hit by sanctions introduced by US P2, 17 P7, 10 2 March 22, 2020 Top news Gulf countries announce tougher measures to contain virus outbreak Mohammed Alkhereiji Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz signed to promote Saudi tourism Al Saud delivered a rare public ad- that have been postponed or can- dress urging Saudis to work together celled, including the Red Sea Inter- ith infection levels ris- to confront the pandemic.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Left and the Algerian Catastrophe
    THE LEFT AND THE ALGERIAN CATASTROPHE H UGH R OBERTS n explaining their sharply opposed positions following the attacks on the IWorld Trade Center and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001, two promi- nent writers on the American Left, Christopher Hitchens and Noam Chomsky, both found it convenient to refer to the Algerian case. Since, for Hitchens, the attacks had been the work of an Islamic fundamentalism that was a kind of fascism, he naturally saw the Algerian drama in similar terms: Civil society in Algeria is barely breathing after the fundamentalist assault …We let the Algerians fight the Islamic-fascist wave without saying a word or lending a hand.1 This comment was probably music to the ears of the Algerian government, which had moved promptly to get on board the US-led ‘coalition’ against terror, as Chomsky noted in articulating his very different view of things: Algeria, which is one of the most murderous states in the world, would love to have US support for its torture and massacres of people in Algeria.2 This reading of the current situation was later supplemented by an account of its genesis: The Algerian government is in office because it blocked the democratic election in which it would have lost to mainly Islamic-based groups. That set off the current fighting.3 The significance of these remarks is that they testify to the fact that the Western Left has not addressed the Algerian drama properly, so that Hitchens and Chomsky, neither of whom pretend to specialist knowledge of the country, have THE LEFT AND THE ALGERIAN CATASTROPHE 153 not had available to them a fund of reliable analysis on which they might draw.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and the Middle East News Update
    Israel and the Middle East News Update Wednesday, April 17 Headlines: • PA Prime Minister: Trump’s Peace Deal Will Be ‘Born Dead’ • Amb. Dermer: Trump Peace Plan Should Give Jews Confidence • Final Election Results: Likud 35, Blue White 35 • Netanyahu Celebrates Victory: I Am Not Afraid of the Media • Nagel: “Currently, there is No Solution to Gaza” • In First, US Publishes Official Map with Golan Heights as Part of Israel • Israel Interrogates US Jewish Activist at Airport Commentary: • Channel 13: “The Main Hurdle: Lieberman Versus the Haredim” − By Raviv Drucker, Israeli journalist and political commentator for Channel 13 News • Ha’aretz: “How the Israeli Left Can Regain Power - Stop Hating the Haredim” − By Benjamin Goldschmidt, a rabbi in New York City. He studied in the Ponevezh (Bnei Brak), Hebron (Jerusalem) and Lakewood (New Jersey) Yeshivas S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President ● Yoni Komorov, Editor ● Aaron Zucker, Associate Editor News Excerpts April 17, 2019 Jerusalem Post PA Prime Minister: Trump’s Peace Deal Will Be ‘Born Dead’ Newly sworn in Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Tuesday night that US President Donald Trump’s peace plan will be “born dead." Shtayyeh said the American “Deal of the Century,” was declaring a “financial war” on the Palestinian people, during an interview with The Associated Press. "There are no partners in Palestine for Trump. There are no Arab partners for Trump and there are no European partners for Trump," Shtayyeh said in the interview. See also, “PALESTINIANS TURN TO RUSSIA TO BYPASS US PEACE PLAN” (Jerusalem Post) Jerusalem Post Amb.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnicity in Algeria
    Algeria Ethnicity in Algeria Group selection The Arabs (72%) and Berbers (or: Amazigh) (28%) are politically relevant ethnic groups in Algeria. Power relations Algeria gained independence from France in 1962 following a war that lasted for nearly a decade. The anti-colonial nationalism which fueled the struggle for Algerian independence had developed in tan- dem with the rise of Arab nationalism. Thus, similar to other newly independent North African states, Algerian identity was “generally defined by nationalist orthodoxy as Arabo-Muslim” (37). The Na- 37 [International Crisis Group, 2003] tional Liberation Front (FLN), the country’s primary political party, was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since largely dominated politics. The FLN has legitimized their power by propagating the vision of a unified Arab-Muslim nation. In 1962 Ait Ahmed founded the Socialist Forces Front (Front des forces socialistes, FFS) in an effort to challenge the hegemony of the FLN in the country’s one party system. Although Ait Ahmed was Berber, his primary goal was a power sharing structure for the new state, not to advance his ethnic group’s rights. Many members of the 1962 constituent assembly (one-party, FLN) were Berber and over half opposed Ait Ahmed and the FFS, highlighting that politics were not primarily defined by ethnic divides. Algeria does not have a ‘Berber party’ which appeals to Algeria’s Berbers per definition. However, it can be said that the Berber vision of the nation was excluded from post-independence nation- building, leading to a greater consciousness of Berber identity and resentment against the lack of its recognition in national politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the List of Participants
    46 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Socialfst International BULGARIA CZECH AND SLOVAK FED. FRANCE Pierre Maurey Bulgarian Social Democratic REPUBLIC Socialist Party, PS Luis Ayala Party, BSDP Social Democratic Party of Laurent Fabius Petar Dertliev Slovakia Gerard Fuchs Office of Willy Brandt Petar Kornaiev Jan Sekaj Jean-Marc Ayrault Klaus Lindenberg Dimit rin Vic ev Pavol Dubcek Gerard Collomb Dian Dimitrov Pierre Joxe Valkana Todorova DENMARK Yvette Roudy Georgi Kabov Social Democratic Party Pervenche Beres Tchavdar Nikolov Poul Nyrup Rasmussen Bertrand Druon FULL MEMBER PARTIES Stefan Radoslavov Lasse Budtz Renee Fregosi Ralf Pittelkow Brigitte Bloch ARUBA BURKINA FASO Henrik Larsen Alain Chenal People's Electoral Progressive Front of Upper Bj0rn Westh Movement, MEP Volta, FPV Mogens Lykketoft GERMANY Hyacinthe Rudolfo Croes Joseph Ki-Zerbo Social Democratic Party of DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Germany, SPD ARGENTINA CANADA Dominican Revolutionary Bjorn Entolm Popular Socialist Party, PSP New Democratic Party, Party, PRD Hans-Joe en Vogel Guillermo Estevez Boero NDP/NPD Jose Francisco Pena Hans-Ulrich Klose Ernesto Jaimovich Audrey McLaughlin Gomez Rosemarie Bechthum Eduardo Garcia Tessa Hebb Hatuey de Camps Karlheinz Blessing Maria del Carmen Vinas Steve Lee Milagros Ortiz Bosch Hans-Eberhard Dingels Julie Davis Leonor Sanchez Baret Freimut Duve AUSTRIA Lynn Jones Tirso Mejia Ricart Norbert Gansel Social Democratic Party of Rejean Bercier Peg%:'. Cabral Peter Glotz Austria, SPOe Diane O'Reggio Luz el Alba Thevenin Ingamar Hauchler Franz Vranitzky Keith
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix I: Acronyms
    Appendix I: Acronyms AAF-SAP African Alternative Framework to Structural Adjustment Programmes AAPC All-African Peoples Conference AAPSO Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization ACP Group African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group ADB African Development Bank ADP agricultural development program AEF Afrique Equatoriale Fran~aise (French Equatorial Africa) AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ANC African National Congress AOF Afrique Occidentale Fran~aise (French West Africa) APEC Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation AZAPO Azanian Peoples' Organization AZASO Azanian Students' Organization BCM Black Consciousness Movement BOSS Bureau of State Security CC Chama Cha Mapinduzi CEAO Economic Community of West Africa CFA African Financial Community CIA Central Intelligence Agency CIAS Conference of Independent African States CIEC Conference on International Economic Cooperation CODES A Convention for a Democratic South Africa COMECON Council for Mutual Economic Assistance COSAG Concerned South Africans Group 499 500 Acronyms COSAS Congress of South African Students COSATU Congress of South African Trade Unions CPP Convention People's party CUSA Council of Unions of South Africa DAC Development Assistance Committee DFI direct foreign investment DROC Democratic Republic of Congo, typically referred to as Congo, or Congo-Kinshasa EAC East African Community ECA Economic Commission for Africa ECCAS Economic Community of Central African States ECOMOG ECOWAS Cease-Fire Monitoring Group ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EDF European Development
    [Show full text]
  • 'A Global Call for a Sustainable World Society – Before It's Too Late'
    Socialist International ‘A global call for a sustainable world society – before it’s too late’ Despite the efforts of the United Nations and many governments, international organizations and civil society movements against climate change, recent data prove that if we don’t intensify our action it will be too late. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), at its most recent meeting, stated that there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. Urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to reach the target, which is affordable and feasible. On the eve of the forthcoming COP24, which opens at the beginning of December, we, leaders of the largest global progressive political family, the Socialist International, are launching an appeal to increase multilateral cooperation on this crucial challenge for humankind, and to deploy more intensive action at all levels. The Socialist International has for years been active in identifying the multi-faceted dimension of the fight against climate change. Through the work of its 'Commission for a Sustainable World Society' the SI has also outlined needed policies, such as a global tax on CO2 (and other greenhouse gases). We are committed and active in bringing about a revolution in thinking, policies and lifestyles, to address these new challenges. Creating a new paradigm in how we act, how we produce, and how we consume. This mind-shift requires the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to become part of our basic education curriculum, professional training and R&D, as well as our policy decisions.
    [Show full text]
  • ALGERIA COUNTRY of ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service
    ALGERIA COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) REPORT COI Service 17 January 2013 ALGERIA 17 JANUARY 2013 Contents Preface Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 1.01 Map ........................................................................................................................ 1.08 2. ECONOMY ................................................................................................................ 2.01 CURRENCY ............................................................................................................... 2.07 3. HISTORY .................................................................................................................. 3.01 Early history to 1989 ............................................................................................ 3.01 Events between 1988 - 1998: elections, military takeover and civil conflict ... 3.02 Events between 1999 - 2010 ............................................................................... 3.07 The charter for peace and national reconciliation .......................................... 3.14 The ‘Arab Spring’ 2011 ......................................................................................... 3.17 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS .......................................................................................... 4.01 Political developments ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Israel and the Middle East News Update
    Israel and the Middle East News Update Monday, May 18 Headlines: ● After 508-Days, Israel’s New Gov't Finally Sworn in ● EU Members May Impose Bilateral Sanctions on Israel ● PM: Time has Come for the Annexation of WB Settlements ● Airstrikes in East Syria Kill Iran-Backed Fighters ● U.S. Lawmakers Warn Against Pulling Troops out of Sinai ● Spat Exposes Tensions Between Israel, Evangelicals ● Israeli Convicted of Murders in Duma Terror Attack ● Chinese Ambassador Death Due to Cardiac Arrest - Police Commentary: ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “Give Women the Power” − By Merav Betito ● Yedioth Ahronoth: “Breach of Trust” − By Sima Kadmon S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace 633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20004 The Hon. Robert Wexler, President News Excerpts May 18, 2020 Times of Israel After 508-Days, Israel’s New Gov't Finally Sworn in Israel’s 35th government was sworn in at the Knesset on Sunday, bringing an end to a 508-day political deadlock during which lawmakers were unable to cobble together a coalition. The Knesset voted 73-46 in favor of the new government. Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as prime minister and will head the government for the fifth term of his political career. Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz was sworn in as “alternate prime minister and future prime minister” as well as minister of defense. Netanyahu promised from the podium to hand over the premiership to Gantz on November 17, 2021. In addition to Netanyahu and Gantz, 32 ministers were sworn in, including the first female ultra-Orthodox minister, Omer Yankelevich (Diaspora affairs), and the first Ethiopia-born minister, Pnina Tamano-Shata (immigration and absorption), in Israel’s history.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel Und Deutschland Im US-Wahljahr: Nationale Narrative, Identitäten Und Außenpolitik“ – So Lautete Die Überschrift Der Ausschreibung Für Diesen Jahrgang
    Editorial Lob der Komplexität Von Martin Bialecki, Chefredakteur Zum ersten Mal versammelt die IP die Texte der Sylke-Tempel-Fellows in einer Sonderausgabe. Es gibt dafür viele gute Gründe, von denen der Name der heraus- ragenden früheren Chefredakteurin dieser Zeitschrift gewiss der nächstliegende ist. „Israel und Deutschland im US-Wahljahr: Nationale Narrative, Identitäten und Außenpolitik“ – so lautete die Überschrift der Ausschreibung für diesen Jahrgang. Der Trias dieser Länder war Sylke Tempel auf besondere Weise verbun- den, und zu jedem einzelnen der genannten Begriffe hätte sie 100 kluge Fragen stellen können, Hinweise geben, Debatten anstoßen, sie humorvoll ergänzen oder gelassen zerlegen. Der zweite Grund ist die Komplexität der Aufgabenstellung. Diese Zeitschrift bemüht sich um Klarheit und Prägnanz; sie bleibt aber auch dann das richtige Medium für Darstellung und Analyse, wenn sich manche Komplexität schlicht nicht reduzieren lässt. Das deutsch-israelische Verhältnis gehört gewiss dazu, Israels Geschichte, das Verhältnis Israels zu Muslimen, die Rolle der USA sowie angelsächsischer Denkschulen und vieles mehr. Wir laden Sie herzlich ein, sich mit den folgenden Texten im inneren Gepäck auf die Reise durch dieses weite Feld zu begeben. Dritter Grund: die Autorinnen und Autoren. Sechs junge Menschen – drei Frauen, drei Männer; aus Israel und aus Deutschland – sind eingetaucht in Traditionen, Geschichte, in Knäuel von Fragen. Ihre Texte legen immer wieder Zeugnis ab davon, dass solche Auseinandersetzungen nichts Altes an sich haben müssen und nichts Fades. Der gemeinsame Spirit der Fellows war begeisternd. Gerne hätten wir – und sie selbst – davon mehr persönlich erlebt, aber auch die Arbeiten in diesem Heft entstanden schließlich unter Corona-Bedingungen. Viertens schließlich: Sie, unsere Leserinnen und Leser.
    [Show full text]
  • Ynet-News, May 15, 2020 – Friday
    Ynet-News, May 15, 2020 – Friday 05.15.20 – Fr - - - 28 states ban business contracts that follow Palestine-led boycott against Israel 05.15.20– Fr - - - News Placed in May 15 spot – Friday Jordan lobbies the EU conflict to reject Trump’s Mideast plan of annexation 05.14.20 – Th - - - News Placed in May 17 spot – Sunday American Israel Committee AIPAC stands with Democrats, opposing Trump plans 05.14.20 – Th - - - 30 Israeli tourists stuck 52 days on beach; Morocco not allowing Israel flights 05.14.20 – Th - - - Schools require masks outside classrooms, rotating attendance, social distancing 05.14.20 – Th - - - News Placed in May 14 spot – Thursday Netanyahu postpones inauguration to allocate significant portion of cabinet posts 05.14.20 – Th - - - Israel cooperation with US banned China Huawei phones, violate privacy of users 05.14.20 – Th - - - US accuses Iran of defying UN nuclear resolution deal that expires in October 05.15.20 – Fr - - - News Placed in May 16 spot – Saturday Pelosi demands over $3T liberal stimulus bill completely unrelated to COVID-19 05.15.20 – Fr - - - 28 states ban business contracts that follow Palestine-led boycott against Israel 05.15.20 Missouri lawmakers pass bill against boycotting Israel The bill would require companies to sign a contract pledging not to boycott Israel in order to do business with Missouri but some members said awarding business contracts based on political opinions is dangerous dangerous Associated Press| Published: 05.15.20 , 20:58 Missouri lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to ban the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • The Multiple Meanings of Elections in Non-Democratic Regimes: Breakdown, Response and Outcome in the Arab Uprisings
    The Multiple Meanings of Elections in Non-Democratic Regimes: Breakdown, Response and Outcome in the Arab Uprisings Ellen Lust1 Yale University 1 The author gratefully acknowledges the excellent research assistance of Tabitha Decker. 1 The difference couldn’t seem starker. Egypt’s parliamentary election in November 2010 was a dour affair. Widespread repression marked the months leading up to the election; few voters came out on polling day, as military trucks lined-up near voting stations; and the Egyptian opposition heavily contested the results. The election may have been aimed, in part, to prepare the ground for Gamal Mubarak to succeed his father, but many would argue this election– like others before it and elsewhere in the Arab world – was meaningless. Only one year later, following dramatic uprisings across Egypt and Mubarak’s downfall, elections were held once again. Arguably, the air was equally tense, but this time filled with energy. Campaigning was boisterous; voters streamed to the polls –most for the first time ever, and results, although contested, were unprecedented and largely seen as legitimate. The elections left open many questions about Egypt’s future, but one thing that seemed certain: these elections mattered. This dichotomous portrayal of elections before and after the Arab uprisings – viewed, respectively, as irrelevant and significant – is widespread, but hardly accurate. As scholars of elections under authoritarian regimes have spent much time and ink explaining, elections play an important role in the maintenance and breakdown of authoritarian regimes, and this was as true in the Arab world as anywhere else.2 Elections did not “cause” uprisings or wholly determine regimes’ ability to withstand the pressures of 2011, but they did affect the maintenance and breakdown of authoritarian regimes, the regimes’ responses to region-wide crises that erupted in January 2011, and ultimately, will affect the outcomes of these crises as well.
    [Show full text]
  • George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany): May 3, 2005
    George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany): May 3, 2005. “The Maghreb, the Middle East and Mediterranean Cooperation: A View from the South” Paper Presented at the Seminar on “Challenges to Nato’s Transformation: A Look across the Mediterranean” By: Dr. Hassan RAHMOUNI Hassan II University – Mohammedia (Morocco) http://www.hassanrahmouni.com [email protected] North Africa represents a human and geographical entity located on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Initially thought of as a potential union of three former French colonies (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), it has finally grasped two other neighboring countries (Libya and Mauritania) and formed, in 1989, the UMA (Union of the Arab Maghreb). It thus covers a territory of 6,045,591 square kilometers (a little larger than Australia, twice the size of India and almost the size of Canada). Most recent censuses estimate its total population however at about 82 million inhabitants. As part of the MENA region, it aspires to multiple communalities with its neighboring Arab Middle eastern countries. The five members of the UMA are active partners in the Arab League. Actually, Algeria is its president. Morocco is the acting president of the “Al Qods” [Jerusalem] Committee (let’s not forget that not long ago, Moroccan military contingents fought both in Sinai and in the Golan on the side of Egyptian and Syrian troops!). And Tunisia has hosted for a long period of time both of the headquarters of the Arab League [1979 to 1990] (before they returned to Cairo) and the political leadership of the PLO [1982 to 1994] (before they finally settled in Ram Allah).
    [Show full text]