Land Day

Palestinians and Israeli Arabs flooded the streets today in the West Bank and Gaza strip in observance of Land Day. The festivities included demonstrations, rallies, and speeches from Palestinian Leaders.

The Israeli Defense Force was also in attendance, dressed in full riot gear. The violence was minimal, consisting largely of bouts of stone throwing and generally ending in less than an hour. Two Israeli soldiers were treated for minor stone throwing related wounds. The IDF employed nonlethal deterrents, such as tear gas, and a handful of Palestinians were treated for minor injuries related to the aforementioned deterrents. It is worth noting that live rounds were fired to disperse demonstrators near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. No one was injured.

Today's activities marked the thirty-seventh annual Land Day. The tradition dates back to the killing of six Arab-Israelis citizens by Israeli security forces during a 1976 protest. The protest were in response to Government land confiscations in Northern Israel, leading to the event's title of Land Day. Land is still a hot-button issue in Israel; Arab parties have refused to return to the negotiating table until settlement building in the West Bank is halted. During this year's Land Day, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad planted an olive tree in a West Bank area know as E1. This site is said to be earmarked for future Israeli settlement.

The tradition of Land Day demonstrates two issues discussed in class. The first, the subject of our first essay, is the amount of weight that historical events still hold in the Middle East. In the case of Land Day, the deaths of six Arab protesters – dating back to before the First Intifada – spark an ongoing tradition of demonstration and disdain for Israeli land practices. The second is the lack of progress made over the past thirty-five plus years. As mentioned in class, the issues between Israel and Palestine are largely the same issues of the '70s. The protests in 1976 were over land confiscation and, today, the Land Day protests are again over land confiscation – in the form of “settlement”.

Linkto Associated Press Article.

Matt Leap

Can niqabs and bikinis live side-by-side? (BBC)

The above image, seen in a BBC article, is both humorous and mildly disturbing. It depicts a swimming European tourist juxtaposed to a Tunisian local. Clearly there is quite a difference between the two. It serves a blatant reminder of the stark cultural contrasts of the world as well as certain human and religious rights issues that are currently being deliberated. It is also responsible for signifying one side of a debate that many might not expect to be supported.

In Tunisia, after a long-standing secular administration recently gave way to a more religiously accepting one, many men and women have seen this as a great victory rather than a step backwards. It is common now across many regions of the globe, specifically in the West, to do just the opposite in terms of government. While others are moving away from religion, it is evident that some wish to return to it. They wish for more freedom of faith. Even more surprisingly, many women enjoy wearing traditional garbs like the hijab and niqab. "I feel like a princess when I walk down the street wearing this" one young woman claimed. From this side of society's point of view they see this change as one concerning religious freedom. Yet, others are looking at it from a completely different angle-- a human rights one. There is fear of reverting back even further which has subsequently led women to the streets in preemptive protest. There is now a line split right down the middle between individuals of the same culture and of all ages regarding their stance.

Who Really Killed bin Laden

Who Really Killed bin Laden

In February of this year, Esquire magazine published a lengthy profile of "The mad who killed Osama bin Laden." The story did not identify the shooter by name, however there has been another member of the SEAL team 6 that spoke out saying that the story was "complete BS". All of the ember of the SEAL team 6 are on a serious lockdown when it comes to talking to anyone about what happened they night that the al Qaeda leader was killed. This inaccurate story in Esquire magazine has created frustration among the team. 

This reminded me of the movie "Zero dark Thirty" that publicized the events that lead up to May 2, 2011, the day that bin Laden was killed. The movie to me, proved that there are many disconnects when it comes to concrete and true information provided from the government in regard to what really happened  on that history changing night of May 2, 2011. This article outlines the disconnect from the SEAL team 6. The information given in the article apparently seemed far more heroic then what the "real" story is. I think that it must be hard for the members of the SEAL team to not talk about what has happened because I think that they must want praise for the their dirty work and it seemed the only one that got any credit was the President. The movie "Zero Dark Thirty" does outline all the little people that make stuff like this happen, however that is hollywoods interpretation and I don't think that we will ever know the true story of what happened  inside the house of the al Qaeda leader the night of May 2, 2011.

Qatar Proposes for a $1billion fund for Palestinians in East Jerusalem

Qatar recently made a proposal for the creation of a billion dollar fund that would would help support the Palestinian Authority. This article touches base on the importance of promoting peace in Israel and the requirement of funds to do so.

The fund would help aid Arabs living in Jerusalem whose support agencies are increasingly becoming bankrupt. With the proposal of this fund Qatar also claimed willing to contribute 250 million dollars stating with Qatar's emir stating, "(Jerusalem) is in serious danger, which requires of us serious action. Palestinian, Arab and Islamic rights in Jerusalem cannot be compromised. Israel must realize this."

This directly correlates with the one state vs. two state solutions that we discussed in class and exemplifies the vast amounts of capital required in order to achieve a peaceful solution within Israel. 

article: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Qatar-proposes-fund-for-Palestinians-in-e-Jlem-307746

Arrest of 5 activist leaders in Egypt ordered

*~link to article~*

Kyle Tansley

                After some of the worst violence Egypt has seen thus far in 2013, 5 warrants have been issued for the arrests of lead anti-Islamic activists.  They’ve been charged with “inciting aggression” towards the Muslim Brotherhood through the use of social media.  On Friday the 22^nd, several hundred activists attacked the headquarters of The Brotherhood, intending to destroy the building.  However, they were met with a strong resistance force, including bus-loads of Brotherhood from other areas.  The violent incident resulted in a possible 100+ injuries on both sides, products of the guns, knives, and sticks that were used.  The fighting only ceased when a substantial force of riot police were brought in and fired teargas at the crowds. 

                The new president of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi, has strong ties to the Muslim Brotherhood group.  In response to this violence, his party’s prosecutor ordered the arrests of activist leaders; an action which has sparked some fear in Morsi’s opposition.  There has been worry that the new president is moving towards using his government’s law enforcement for the benefit of his own party, and for the detriment of his opposition.  Calling for the incarceration of anti-Islam activists by an Islamic president is a rather strong indication of this.  This occurrence has made it clear that the activists are coming from a place of oppression, and violence may be the only way they can make themselves heard.    

Michael Eaton - US to help syria?

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/26/17467220-syrian-rebels-ask-us-to-shoot-down-assads-warplanes-with-patriot-missiles?lite



More Western Intervention?


Regardless of anyones personal position on western intervention in middle eastern conflicts, it has been a hot topic in the media, and in this class, and understandably so.

This article is an update on an evolving issue in Syria. Some in Syria, including militants, civilians, and a preacher, quoted in the article, want the United States to help the situation in the area by defending the rebels with "Patriot Missiles".

As the article explains, NATO has no intentions fo helping either side, the Assad regiem or the rebels.

I dont excuse what Assad's regiem has done, lots of atrocities are cited in the article, he is clearly not meant to be in power. Clearly corrupt, clearly without the health of his people in the forefront of his mind. But I think before the US sends more money or suplies to another part of the world, especially an area as volatile as the middle east, we should think about our past experiences in "trying to help" another country throw off a corrupt ruler.

Not to mention we have lots of other issues at home to be dealing with. Before we start another system of suport for another country, lets think twice about what that's gotten us in the past, and do we have the money to start yet another military adventure in the area?

Maybe the UN should be the one to intervene in these humanitarian crisis (thats what it's turned into) in Syria.

What is the best way to deal with rouge regiems like Assad's?

"Palestinians, Israelis Come Together To Mock Obama's Hopelessly Naive Speech"

 I actually wrote my last essay on the Palestinian and Israelis conflict and I address the ways in which both side can come to to peaceful reconciliation by using a poetry as evidence. From what I gather, it lead me to the conclusion that the creation of two individual states would be the only possibly that both parties can peacefully work together.  During president Obama visit, he give a speech addressing peaceful negotiation between the Arab and the Jew. In his speech, Obama states that " Two States for two people" but this article however entails that both the Palestinian and Israelis would in fact like a one state instead of two-separate states.

This article mention that after Obama's speech, both Arabs and Jewish gather near the West Bank and started to mock him.

This is just a quote from the article....

"“I think President Abbas and I can agree that the speech was one of the silliest things we have ever heard,” said Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who was flanked by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. “We have come together to announce that there is very little chance of a two-state solution and violence will probably persist, but we both strongly believe that the president was just absolutely adorable up there today.” 

Link to Article

Prompt 2_ Paradise Now

Becca Chapman

Prompt 2

Film Review

Movie: Paradise Now

            This movie was about suicide bombings in Israel. Said and Khaled are Palestinians trying to cope with the conflicts between Palestine and Israel. The two have been chosen to carry out a suicide-bombing mission in Tel Aviv. Said is mechanic and has a crush on the daughter of a famous martyr. This movie portrays two people, two normal people doing normal things and how they suddenly become involved in this lifestyle.

This movie definitely changed my perspective a little on this issue. There is so much preparation that goes into carrying out one of these missions than I ever knew. There is so much planning and logistical efforts to figure out before any of these bombs go off.

Paradise Now showed the personal struggles that Said and Khaled went though during this week long process. It was interesting to see how they dealt with this kind of pressure and it almost humanized suicide bombings. I liked being exposed to the emotional trauma that the Palestinian and Israeli conflict left on Palestinians. Obviously they are angered and hurt and depressed living the way they do. In the discussion we talked about if suicide bombings could be justified and seeing the struggles of Said and Khaled, I can totally see why they would want to go through with it but I don’t think their hardships justify a mass murder.

This movie also showed suicide bombings with barely any religious ties. There were few references to religion at all. I thought this was interesting because I always put the two together. My thoughts and views on suicide bombers were that they are radical terrorists that were brainwashed into blowing up markets and buses and innocent people. This movie showed me that they are just normal people. 

What do Iran and Finland have in common?

            With the appointing of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s current Prime Minister, as the country’s new defense minister on March 17^th, President Obama was prompted to visit Israel last week. An interesting article I found in the Wall Street Journal, published prior to Obama’s visit, outlined the likely topics of discuss and the possible new power dynamic soon to come in the Middle East.

The article is titled Risking the ‘Finlandization’ of the Persian Gulf, with a primary thesis stating, “A nuclear-armed Iran may bring Soviet-style intimidation to the Middle East.” The main topic for discussion during Obama’s visit will be weather time remains to prevent or delay an Iranian bomb and what the consequences would be in failing to do so. This is based on the assumption that Iran has yet to create a nuclear bomb, however this assumption may be flawed.

            Iran’s intentions have been made clear, “to wipe Israel off the map”. Many find this to implausible, but these intentions do not end with Israel. The article continues to discuss the Tehran’s aspiration for domination of the Middle East by tilting the balance of power by converting the Arab and Sunni perspective to the Iranian Persian and Shiite views.

            Finally, the article discusses how Iran has been using the disorder of the Arab revolution to advance this influence in majority Shiite populated areas under Sunni rule. Concluding by drawing the analogy that Iran with nuclear bombs would strongly influence weaker energy-rich neighboring countries, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, in the same way that Germany influenced Finland during the Cold War.

            As our recent class discussions regarding a one-state vs. two-state solution depicted Palestinians as being completely on their own with no support from surrounding Arab nations, this type of power dynamic could eliminate any progress Palestinians have made toward establishing an independent nation state.

            On a side note, I am sure everyone has heard of the financial crisis currently unfolding in Cyprus, which is geographically extremely close to Israel and the rest of the Middle East. One recent piece of news you may not be aware of is where the Russian money currently held in Cyprus banks will be going once the banks reopen. There is rumor that a large portion of this Russian capital could be heading for Israeli banks. If this proves to be true, it will be very interesting to see how the United States will react in both their support of Israel and/or direct involvement in Israeli banking.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323495104578312642205201714.html

"The Circle" Overview

"The Circle", though banned in Iran, shown a different view into the lives of Iranian women. The viewpoints of six different women, three of which have escaped from jail. Each of the women face a different challenge though each of them are hindered by the same reason; oppression. Women throughout Iran have very little rights and can barely live without the approval of a male guardian's help.
Starting at the beginning with a Solmax Gholami, who has just given birth to a baby girl. The movie seemlessly moves from woman to woman focusing on their dilemma at the time being. We focus on three women who can't move freely around the country due to escaping from jail, and not having a mail companion. One is pregnant and can't get an abortion due to needing permission from either her deceased husband or both grandfathers.
After focusing on a mother who has to give up her daughter and a woman who is being arrested as a prostitute; we are led to a jail cell. The camera pans around the room and we see each of the previous women within that jail cell. Being led in different direction with each person throughout the story the ending pulls it all together and we begin to realize the true story behind the scenes. Jafar Panahi was able to show a different perspective of a greater issue throughout Iran.

Blog Post

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/21/jordan-obama-should-press-king-asylum-seeker-pushbacks


Jordan: Obama Should Press King on Asylum Seeker Pushbacks


According to this article time and time again Jordan has refused to allow Palestinians seeking asylum into their country. Yes Jordan has given refuge to many Syrians but, that does not void the fact that they are sending Palestinians and other Syrians back to Syria to a lions den.

"Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour has publicly announced Jordan’s policy to reject Palestinian refugees from Syria. In October, he told Al-Hayat, “Jordan has made a clear and explicit sovereign decision not to allow the crossing to Jordan by our Palestinian brothers who hold Syrian documents.”

Human Rights Watch and the Harvard Clinic also found that some Palestinian asylum seekers who have managed to enter Jordan are at risk of refoulement to Syria. Human Rights Watch and the Harvard Clinic documented cases in which at least eight Palestinians have been forcibly returned to Syria from inside Jordan since September."

This article also gives some testimonials of Palestinians who have encountered this awful treatment that breathe life into the rumors. 

Will anything come from Obama's visit to Jordan? Will King Abdullah hear our plea? 

Josh Bing #4 - Israel vows 'immediate' answer to Syria fire

As of recently, Syria has been firing upon Israel, specifically the Golan heights, which Israel took in 1967 and annexed in 1981.. Yesterday, Israel shot back, firing an anti-tank missile at an outpost in Syria. Additionally, the new Israeli Defense Minister, Moshe Yaalon, has vowed that Israel will retalliate against any fire that Israel comes under from Syria. Israel also has fears that the UN may start to pull out of the Golan Heights, because 21 members of the UN's peacekeepers were kidnapped by Syrian rebels in the ceasefire zone. This could potentially lead to much violence in the coming months if Syria continues firing on Israel. It seems that part of the Six Days War seems to be repeating itself, except Syria wants to take back the land that was taken from them. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/2013324103946710666.html

Dozens of web activists pardoned and released in Oman

Heartening news arrives from Oman this morning. The sultan of the Gulf country of Oman, Qaboos bin Said, has pardoned and released dozens of formerly incarcerated online activists. Amnesty International, the human rights campaign group, called the Sultan's decision a "very welcome step".

Oman, an ocean bordered country to the East of Saudi Arabia, Yeman, and the United Arab Emirates, had cases of people being incarcerated due to "offensive writing" in the media or online in mid 2012. Offensive writing included insulting the sultan and inciting others to action "under the pretext of freedom of expression". To say that the release of these people is a sign of hope for the future in the farther corners of the Middle East would be an understatement.

Urged by members of Amnesty International, many hope that Sultan Qaboos bin Said will begin to lift restrictions on freedom of expression. While it would not be a fast transition, a change in policy would not be to surprising given these events. One can only hope that Sultan Qaboos can see the errors of the past in repression of expression by neighboring countries.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21927062

Blog Post #4 "Israel Fires Missile Into Syria In Response To Golan Heights Border Fire"

In Golan Heights on early Sunday, Israel forces were fired upon by Syrian troops when they were on a  patrol run. In response to this, a few hours later, Israel fired a missile on the base that the Syrian troops shot from. This seems to be a pretty serious incident.

Even though the Israelis weren't sure if the gunfire upon them was intentional, they fired the missile anyway. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said in response to this "The Syrian regime is responsible for every breach of sovereignty. We will not allow the Syrian army or any other groups to violate Israel's sovereignty in any way,"

Golan Heights is an area that Israel captured in the 1967 war, and their annexation of the territory is not internationally recognized, so this relates to our discussion of Israel quite a bit, and the United Nations plea for them to just give back the land. Hopefully, nothing escalates further than the missile, but it doesn't seem like things will be getting better anytime soon.

-Mitchel Hamilton

Response to "The Circle"

“The Circle” struck me by how real the stories of each character appeared to be. The interloping and lack of details really makes the audience question exactly what is going on. One minute you’re following a girl who is trying to get home and the next you’re following a pregnant woman who is trying to get an abortion. Personally, I liked how Jafar Panahi intertwined the stories because it shows how people interact and connect with one another. Panahi’s quote in the New York Times review of his article seems to highlight the idea of inter-connectivity and the reality of the connections between people: ''All beings on this earth are living within circles…The only thing that distinguishes one from the other is the circumference” (Ramsey). This is an important idea to note and can especially be seen in the story of Pari because she calls on two of her connections from jail to try to help her.  The women she asks for help are in very different stages of their lives. The first woman works at a movie theatre and sells tickets while the second assists her husband in a hospital. At first glance it may seem as though they are very different, but they share a common fear of their past. The connections the women have between one another are determined not only by their shared history, but also by the distance they have accumulated between one another since their time in jail. The distance is important to note because some believe more in their own reputations than breaking the cycle.

Ramsey, Nancy. "FILM; Circles Within Circles Within Iran." Rev. of The Circle. New York           Times 15 Apr. 2001: n.pag. NewYorkTimes.com. Web. 24 Mar. 2013.

-Emma Daitz

Rockets fired from Gaza hit southern Israel

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201332154848685422.html

   Earlier today, two rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.  Both landed in the town of Sderot, with one touching down in an open field, and the other exploding in a citizen's back yard.  They caused minor damages, but no injuries have been reported.
   As of yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which coincides with President Obama's visit to the country.  This is only the second attack since the confrontation between Israel and Hamas last November (and subsequent ceasefire).
   The other attack occurred on February 26th, when a single rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip to protest the death of a Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody.  The rocket landed outside the coastal town of Ashkelon, causing no injuries.

Matt Upshall Post 3

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=296013

This article from the Jerusalem post talks about a new rising Palestinian group that has declared on film, what is to be the third intifada. They declare that they will not give up one inch of the land of Palestine from river to sea. The men said “We will strike at you with an iron fist with full force if you don’t stop your aggression against the Palestinian people”

This brings into question in light of our last class discussion on a one or two state solution. It seems as if this new group made of of Palestinian factions will take no solution unless all the land is granted to the Palestinians. The demands are that Israel move out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and withdraw fully from Palestinian territories. 

Teenager shot by Taliban returns to school

Five months ago, a young Pakistani teenager was on her way home from school. The girl was known for her belief that women should be allowed an education, and was rather vocal about that, even having written a blog for the Guardian newspaper at the age of 11. She was very afraid that the Taliban would take away her right to an education. On October 9, group of masked men, later known to be Taliban, stopped her van and asked the children to identify her; when they did, the young girl was shot in both the head and neck. Miraculously, she survived. And earlier today was her first day back at school, in England where she had gone for treatment. Although this is a class about film, I definitely see a connection about being able to speak your mind. This young girl for the past few years has spoken her mind about what she feels she has a right to, she is trying to move past the censorship and oppression that many of the filmmakers whose films we are seeing are trying to do as well. She has fought multiple times, after the threatening of the closing of her school to create a movement for women's education in Pakistan. She has written a blog, interviewed with CNN, and has been far from afraid of speaking her mind. She even opposed the Talibans call to close girls schools, claiming that nowhere in the Q'uran does it say that girls are not allowed to go to school. I believe that it is with the help of the Arab Spring, the movement that is liberating, or trying to, many countries under oppressive rule that she found hope. She saw that voices were beginning to be heard, and that people could speak their opinions, even though there was danger involved. Just as many of these filmmakers are using their films as a way to express their thoughts and ideas, although subject to censorship. She is using a non-violent form to spread her words, making an impact, not war.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/19/world/asia/pakistan-malala-school/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

Obama Visit Sparks Wariness on Both Sides

There are two perspectives on Obama's upcoming visit to the Israel/Palestine region, and neither of them seem to be overly positive.

Most striking to me were the statements made in this article, by Palestinians.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/world/middleeast/some-palestinians-wary-of-obama-visit.html?ref=world

Many Palestinians expressed the opinion that Obama is coming only for the sake of saving public face, and will not actually accomplish anything. He is not touring any destitute Palestinian villages. Palestinians believe that if Obama does not take clear steps to make progress in the peace and reclamation talks for Palestine, then his visit will be in every way counterproductive. Some even went as far as to call him an Israeli tool. I seems as if all of the Palestinians interviewed felt as if Obama knows about Palestine's plot, and shouldn't be acting as a listener--he has listened enough. Instead, he should be active. I am inclined to agree.

The second article I found frustrating.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/world/middleeast/as-obama-prepares-to-visit-many-israelis-are-wary.html?ref=world

It details the Israeli sentiment towards Obama, and how many Israelis do not feel an emotional connection with Obama as they did with previous Presidents. I found this article to be infantile in comparison to the one before it, not because of the reporter's writing, but rather because of the subject matter. I think it is absurd to worry about whether or not the Israeli people feel emotional support from Obama when Palestinians are suffering heavily right next door. Who cares? It just reeked of absurdity. Let the ties crumble--perhaps Obama needs to take a stronger stance on morally tenable ground, and actually make demands of the Israeli government.


John Wolfe

Reflection on COR 330

This semester I am also taking a class on Istanbul. We recently started discussing the Ottoman Empire and they're conquer of Constantinople. We discusses how after they seized Constantinople, Greeks were allowed to stay, and were not forced to convert. They were allowed to maintain their religion despite the Ottomans being Islamic. This coincides with what we have learned in class that most Islamic people are tolerant of other religions, even if they don't support or condone them.

This is interesting to me because it contradicts the portrayal of Islam in pop culture and the media. They are often characterized as being radical, extremists who do not tolerate anyone who is different from them. While this may be true for some Islamic groups, that can be said for many groups of people religious or otherwise.

Israel gets a new government

Israel is always a hot topic when it comes to the Middle East, which is why this article about Israel's new government is important, especially with President Obama travelling to the Middle East next week.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/2013318185640353757.html

What is interesting is how the article says that the newly sworn in government could "hamper any efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks." Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insists that Israel is interested in conducting peace talks with a Palestinian partner.

In regards to this issue I believe that both parties must put aside egos to reach a peaceful agreement, or to even be able to conduct the peace talks. This isn't always the easiest thing to do, but maybe we are getting closer to both parties being able to reach an understanding and mutual agreement that will end in successful peace talks.

The House Is Black

The House is Black is an Iranian film that was written and directed by Forugh Farrokhzād.  This film was created in 1962 and has been called the best Iranian film ever, it was also the very first Iranian film to have been created by a woman.

This film is a short one, lasting around twenty five minutes.  Coming into the film, I had no idea what it was about, just that it was the fist film in Iran created by a woman.  It starts out with only a black screen showing, with english subtitles warning the viewer about what they are about to see is very graphic.  As I continued watching things quickly got a little weird.  The entire short film was about a Leper (Leprosy) colony in northern Iran.  This was not at all what I had expected to see but I continued to watch until the film was finished.  Farrokhzad went and stayed in this colony for thirteen days while her and her crew filmed them.  She created this film to draw awareness to the still relevant (1962) Leper colonies.  Throughout the film she emphasized that Leprosy is curable!

Overall I thought this film was very strange but I understand why she made it.  Before this film I had never even realized that Leprosy was relevant in our world, perhaps its not today in 2013.    




Tia Martin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21814734

I chose this BBC article, "Iraqi Kurds Mark 25 Years Since Halabja Gas Attack," because it ties into Turtles Can Fly, the film I watched for my current essay that tells the story of Kurdish refugee orphans on the eve of the war in Iraq. The article calls the attack on Halabja in 1988 "the most notorious act of chemical warfare in modern times," but it's an event we rarely hear mentioned.
The article says that, "The attack on Halabja was part of a wider campaign known as "Anfal" in which tens of thousands of Iraqis were killed by their own government." This is reminiscent of what's been going on in Syria.
The attack killed mostly women and children and that seems to be the horror of the violence that goes on in Israel/Palestine or Syria or other Middle Eastern places--that the innocent are so often not just "in the way," but actually targeted. Turtles Can Fly really touches on the effects this has on the people in the Middle East just trying to live their lives in the midst of uncertainty and brutality.

Egypt's wealthiest man now on no-fly list, stock drops 2.3%

Nassef and Onsi Sawiris are now on Egypt's no-fly list, a decision made by Egypt’s general prosecutor which led the main stock index to fall by 2.4%. Osni said earlier in the month that he was being "deliberately targeted" by the government and the Islamic Brotherhood because of liberal opposition. This conservative move is worrisome for western civilizations for fear of Egypt ending up like Afghanistan in the Afghanistan Islamic revolution. This poses particularly high risk for the United States as the relationships between the US and other Islamic nations, particularly Iran, are in high tensions. 


http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/03/business-egypt?fsrc=scn%2Ftw%2Fte%2Fbl%2FFeelingthesqueeze

Ariele's #3 Blog Post: Image or Video

In my other COR class; Exploring the "Arab Spring" the professor put up a link that was focused on Syrian violence leading into the Lebanon area.  This article and image was found on www.vice.com and was then later put up on to my other class blog.  The image that goes along with the article that is titled, "On the Lam in Lebanon; Syria's Violence Bleeds Over the Border. features men in cars with guns going over the bordering and certainly posing as a threat.  I feel as if the image from the article is relevant to our class because we just finished watching a movie about men who were present in the Lebanon war and how dangerous it truly was.  Also, the image raises questions about how Lebanon is going to handle Syrian violence coming into their territory.


http://www.vice.com/read/on-the-lam-in-lebanon-0000345-v19n11

Iraq war ten years later

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/world/iraq-anniversary/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

This CNN article is very interesting because it looks at the war from the viewpoint of military personal and their families, iraqis, newsmakers, CNN & the media, as well as readers voices who shared their thoughts. The war is Iraq lasted much longer than anyone anticipated and the reason why we went to war has been controversial as no weapons of mass destruction were found. The wars official end came December 31, 2001 but thousands of lives have been changed since then.

I found it interesting how one soldier talked about how he was deployed to Balad in Iraq back in 2011 when Obama announced the troops were leaving Iraq early. He talked about how every day he had less supplies like food, water, equipment, and even communication. Everything was getting shipped off, and he was on the second to last flight out of Balad, Iraq.

An Iraqi women in the Kurdish controlled northern area also brought up interesting points. She talked about how Saddam oppressed her people for so long, and how thankful she was that America took him out of power. She thanked America for ending his dictatorship, and allowing her to live a new life without fear.

Qatar's Workers and the World Cup

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/criticism-drives-qatar-to-draft-workers-code.aspx?pageID=238&nID=41313&NewsCatID=364

This article talks about changes Qatar is making to their treatment of foreign workers. At present, Qatar is a nation that does not treat its working class with any sort of dignity or respect. They are paid low wages, are subjected to numerous human rights violations, and are generally treated as disposable company property. The system is very cruel for these workers, but very profitable for native Qataris, who make an average $690,000 annually. The workers are only allowed into Qatar for 5-year intervals, preventing a worker's uprising, and native Qataris are also the beneficiaries of lavish government social spending to keep them happy.

But as effective as this system is for the people in power, it looks like it might be changing. Qatar also wants to be an international player, and has secured the rights to host the World Cup in 2022. But with this international attention comes great scrutiny for Qatar's mistreatment of its foreign workers, on whom the nation will be reliant to produce all the extra infrastructure needed for the tournament. It will be interesting to look at how Qatar complies with calls for it to stop its human rights violations, and how it balances its own self-interest with the demands of new potential allies.

Iran nuclear weapon over a year away, says Obama

So what's scarier then a neighbor that doesn't like you that is developing nuclear weapons? One that you know will be done soon. Recently, United States President Barack Obama has told an Israeli television channel it would take Iran "over a year or so" to develop a nuclear weapon. In an interview, he said he did not want to "cut it too close" and declined to rule out the possibility of military action.
While Tehran insists it is refining uranium only for peaceful energy purposes, it's rather clear what their inteded goal is. So Iran's nuclear program is expected to be high on the agenda when President Obama when he visits Israel later this month.

"... our goal here is to make sure that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel or could trigger an arms race in the region. That would be extraordinarily dangerous at a time when obviously there are already a lot of things going on" stated President Obama when asked about the situation.

For all the trouble the Middle East has seen in the past, none is more serious then a potential nuclear arms race. Tension between the various factions and issue within the region have been the cause much strife, but this is on another level. Not only could it decimate the region, but could lead to outside military intervention on the same scale (nuclear). This could cause a chain reaction of unthinkable repercussions.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21791105

Propaganda

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3g4HcJnlje5HP5KjPlOxxXIYjauJX1-y7QcW_eWFU7EvwkJg8BA

I found this image online while doing research for the next paper. I have been very interested in different forms of propaganda in the Middle East, and a lot of what i’ve found depicts the abuse of Palestine. In the picture that I have linked it’s the United States and Israel calling the man from Palestine an anti-Semite. This piece is pretty powerful, because it shows the U.S. taking the side of Israel when the states are saying they want a two state system. Every image i’ve seen about this issue has been extremely anti Palestinian. I don’t see why. You can even say this image is anti Israel and U.S. in the sense that they are the abusers in this situation, and the Palestinian man is being abused. You could make the argument that the U.S. doesn’t know what to do about the situation, and isn’t really helping by getting involved. It’s just like the analogy that was used in class; this is a conflict between two grandparents and the grandson is trying to break it up and has no idea how to do it. In an ideal world it would be nice to see this conflict get resolved especially with the recent World Bank restraints on Palestine. With the sheer might of Israel over Palestine I don’t see this conflict getting resolved any time soon. 

Syria Deploys All-Female Units

The title of the news article that I found is called, Syria, pressed by war, deploys all-female units. This article was written by Liz Sly and published on March 11, 2013.

They Syrian government is now training and arming women to fight for President Bashar al-Assad and sending them out on the front lines. The women are being trained to use grenades and Kalashnikovs which are heavy machine guns. The all-female force is named "Lionesses for National Defense", and was put into place to supplement the army with a National Defense Force militia made up of civilian volunteers. The duties of the women are confined to checkpoint control, but rebel attacks on the posts are a frequent occurrence. This is not the first time that women have served in Syria's military. There is a video dating back to the 1980's showing female soldiers at a military parade in front of Assad's father and predecessor, President Hafez al-Assad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syria-pressed-by-war-deploys-all-female-unit/2013/01/25/303d1d76-6722-11e2-93e1-475791032daf_story.html

Syrian Refugee Crisis

Video Link - The Economist - Syrian Refugee Crisis

I found this video on the Syrian refugee crisis from the Economist, a trusted online and published source for news all over the world. It is essentially detailing how many refugees are within and outside of Syria as a result of the Syrian civil war that is currently taking place. They are living in camps in the surrounding countries of: Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq. The video mentions the particular trouble for Lebanon because of the type of government they have (which we discussed in class) and because their country's forces are spread particularly thin right now. Each country is the home to many new refugees, all of them are currently housing over 10,000. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan are currently housing over 100,000. There are also a large amount of citizen's still within Syria who have been displaced and are moving from town to town to avoid the fighting. This evokes a lot of questions relevant to our course: How is Lebanon's government going to handle another refugee population very similar to the Palestinian one many years ago? What position will the United States take and as a superpower will they intervene in the fighting? How long will the government of Turkey, the United Nations and UNHCR be able to provide for these displaced people? Was the Arab Spring really a turning point or did it just make things worse for the vast majority of Syrians?

Convicted Terrorist Plotting Murders from Prison

I read this article off of CNN and it is about a man name Hysen Sherifi, who was convicted in 2011, trying to set up a hit on a key witness that sent him to prison in the first place. I found this interesting because it is crazy to think that we need to be on the look out from terrorism at all times. This terrorist still almost pulled off a terrorist act even though he was in jail...in AMERICA!
It brings the sense of realism to America. There are people out there that will kill for no reason and we always need to be prepared. It makes me safe knowing that there are new security measures being taken  since 2001 that will ultimately help to find these types of people.
I think that this also gives a good example that terrorism is anywhere you go and it can happen at anytime. The world is not what it use to be like and even though its a tough reality to face -- we need to come to terms with it before something like this will happen.

Here is the link:

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/08/convicted-terrorist-guilty-of-plotting-murder-for-hire-from-behind-bars/

This relates to our class because currently we are learning about war, identity and how handling a situation can make a simple event turn drastic. This man is fighting for something that he believes in, just like Palestine is fighting to become a recognized state with boarders. Just like Palistine, this terrorist will never fully achieve his goal because he will be spending the rest of his life behind bars.

-Mike McDonough

Iran plans 'to sue Hollywood' over film

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in our class or blog yet but I found this article both interesting and relevant to our class. The article states "Iran is planning to sue Hollywood over the Oscar-winning film "Argo" because of the movie's alleged "unrealistic portrayal" of the country, Iranian media have reported."

The decision on the lawsuit came after a group of Iranian cultural officials and movie critics screened the film in a closed audience in a Tehran theatre late on Monday. We will be able to block distributors of the movie, force them to apologize and challenge them to confess that the movie is nothing but a sheer lie," the lawyer told semi-official Mehr news agency.

This comes a few months after Iran announced that they are boycotting the 2013 Oscars over the Innocence of Muslims film released in the US. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/sep/25/iran-boycott-oscars-2013)

Article:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/2013312225936196889.html
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/13/iran-to-sue-hollywood-over-argo-and-other-oscar-films/

VICE: The Israeli-Palestinian Arms Race

VICE: The Israeli-Palestinian Arms Race


part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFsQJrWwrK8

part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4z9leyXEPA

This two part documentary by VICE delves deeper into the arms race between the evicted Palestinians and the armed-to-the-teeth Israelis. They focus a majority of the documentary to demonstrating the imbalance in weaponry between the two states. Each side is in a constant state of flux between missile attacks and other acts of aggression and momentary cease-fires that usually don't last more than a few days. Each side tends to blame the other for initiating the attack, but when you see the difference in casualties it becomes hard to believe why the Palestinians would want to try to tackle such a powerful juggernaut. A good example of the imbalance between the two nations is Israel's newly implemented Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. This system covers a majority of Israel and can automatically detect and neutralize missiles in a matter of seconds. The most disturbing part of this story is how the Israelis are so comfortable and confident in their nations abilities that they often ignore sirens and other warnings as well as watch in awe while missiles sent by the Palestinians are being obliterated in mid-air.

Tunisia Khedri: Young man dies after self-immolation

Adel Khedhri, age 27, set himself alight on Tuesday on a street in central Tunis, the focus of protests which toppled long-time leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali two years ago. He died "as a result of severe burns" a doctor said. His death came hours before parliament approved the new government make-up.

Witnesses say Mr Khedhri shouted: "This is a young man who sells cigarettes because of unemployment," before setting himself on fire on the steps of the municipal theatre on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, on Tuesday. Since Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in December 2010, there has been a spate of such protests in Tunisia but most of those involved are thought to have survived their injuries. This is one of the few recorded events where the victim died.

While one can focus on the various events within the more known sections of the Middle East, areas like Tunis are still experiencing revolts and uprisings from it's people. While Tunisia may not be as well known as Palestine or Egypt, the same acts are being preformed there.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21767594

Ex-Marine Detained in Iran

The family of a former U.S. Marine detained in Iran for 19 months is pleading for his release. Amir Hekmati, 29, was arrested in August of 2011 while visiting his grandmother in Tehran. He was convicted of spying for the CIA, even though his family and the United States deny such claims. Hekmati was first sentenced to death, but a higher court nullified the penalty in March 2012 and sent the case to another court. At this time, he remains in solitary confinement with little access to a lawyer or family visits.

His family hopes to have him freed before the Iranian New Year later this month; an occasion where the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khanmenei, often pardons non-violent prisoners.  His brother-in-law, Ramy Kurdi stated, "We understand there is no mercy shown to prisoners and they're often released. That's our plea as well... we're worried about his mental, physical and emotional well-being."

This is certainly not the only case where U.S. citizens were taken hostage and detained in Iran.  After the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian students took 52 U.S. diplomats hostage, and more recently in 2009, three U.S. citizens were arrested during a hike, and accused of spying for the U.S. government. I can only imagine how Hekmati's family must be feeling right now, and I hope that their plea to the Iranian government is answered sooner than later.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-iran-usa-hekmati-idUSBRE92C09420130313

Argo Under Legal Attack in Iran

The recently released movie Argo has caught some flak in Iran. The movie is currently banned in Iran because it depicts Iran in a negative limelight and is considered “anti-Iran propaganda.” While this type of reaction is certainly expected to come from Iran, what is unexpected though is that they are now attempting to “sue Hollywood”. The only action they have taken so far is hiring a famous french attorney. What they plan on doing is looking for some kind of legal action that they could take and who to take it on.

What makes this interesting is that they are looking towards legal action rather than looking towards other routes. Also if they are somehow able to succeed in any of this, then what kind of impact would this have on future films? What Iran does within its own borders when it comes to censorship is up to them, but as the article suggests they want more. What they are asking is for people to stop distribution of the film and a formal apology from creators. In a sense what they are asking for is a type of global censorship of the movie.

I personally do not think this has any chance of succeeding. I believe it is even doubtful that they will get a response from the film creators. What it potentially shows is that Iran wishes to extend their censorship beyond its own borders and more on a global scale.

source: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/2013312225936196889.html

At the present the World Bank seems to have stepped up in the Israel/ Palestine conflict. Reports given by the World Bank state that Israeli forces are holding up transactions by the Palestinians which is causing lasting damage. Obviously the Israelis know they are doing something but who knows if it is just another thing to plague the people to get them to leave; or perhaps this is part of a broader plan to show that the Palestinian state will not be able to thrive no matter what. There is no easy way to tell for sure but if it can be noticed by the World Bank that definitely means Israel should know about it.

Potentially forcing a tough economy can destroy the country. We have seen what happens when there is economic collapse in countries, and in this case the state of Palestine isn't in good shape regardless. We will have to keep watching to see if the World Bank or the U.N. can do anything further or if Israel themselves just stop.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201331214612693225.html

Syrian Civil War:Increasingly Dismal

The Syrian Civil War has clearly been a prominent event in the world recently. Throughout this conflict horrendous and questionable actions have been taken by both sides. However, I was led to believe that the rebels were thoroughly justified in their opposition to their government. For decades the Syrian government has tightly controlled what Syrian citizens could do as well as information/media etc. they could access.  This lack of freedom is a reoccurring recipe for uprising in the world.  Despite the injustices inflicted upon the citizens by the government, both sides have allegedly crossed the invisible moral and civil line. An article currently on the CNN website has shared information about a report made by U.N. investigators in Syria. According to this source both side are using children to assist their efforts in this violent situation. Apparently, children have been used by both sides as informants as well as exposed to the threat of death if caught. The death toll of this recent conflict is around 70,000 and increasing with no solution to the conflict in sight. Despite being a lifelong American, I have always thought that civil wars are usually not the business of outside parties. This clearly makes the ongoing conflict in Syria an example of an event that needs outside intervention. With the preceding passage in mind: What steps can/should be taken to attempt to diffuse the violence? Is an end to violence in Syria possible in the next year? 5 years?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/12/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Long Lasting and Complicated Situation in Mali

Since early 2012, Mali has been an extremely interesting, complicated, and unpredictable country in the Middle East that many are having a hard time wrapping their heads around. From Islamic radicals rebelling against their own government and Al Queda moving in seeking a new region to HQ their operations, to French military moving in to aid and recover what they once controlled, conflict has been non-stop for months on end. While the story is abstract and complex right now, it will only continue on this path as the conflict becomes resolved and Malians try to recover what little is left of their government, or rebuild it from the bottom up.

Food security and a large amount of displaced citizens are at the top of the "To-Do" list for most Malians, but they are not making much headway without a strong government to back them up. While the United Nations are intervening and trying to help out, they do not believe that the groups in Mali who are taking charge and trying to rebuild are not allowing them to truly help. Director for West Africa of the International Crisis Group stated that "Malian elites do not seem ready to confront collectively. They should be able to agree on a minimum [criteria to restore governance] and right now the conditions for such a debate are not met." This notion that even factions of the UN thing that the situation is still a little too hairy is a clear signal that a true end to the conflict is far out of sight.

This article is great at explaining what some of the overhanging problems are present in re-establishing a government in Mali. For one, Mali has never had an election for any sort of democratic government, which will surely be internationally enforced. Mali was rushed into setting up a government outside of French control and has had little time, in respect to other nations, to develop that government. Another huge issue that needs to be dealt with is the reformation of Mali's military. The Malian army was taken over by Islamist Rebels and Al Queda linked groups, who still hold a significant amount of power in the area. All parties considered, this isn't going away any time soon.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97633/How-to-tackle-Mali-s-crisis-in-the-long-term

Dispute over Gaza Strike

The article I chose to read and write about is about the dispute involving a strike on a mans house in Gava. In November there was some hostilities between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. During  these a number of Palestinian civilians were killed. Among these, a mans house was hit killing his 11 month old son. The initial finding was that it was an Israeli airstrike that hit his house and killed his son. This naturally caused evenmore tension between the Israelis and the Palestinians. However, after carrying out an investigation of the incident, the UN recently disputed this idea stating that they believe that it was a misfired Palestinian missile that hit the mans house. An Israeli Military Spokesperson commented how, when the fighting first began, no one knew everything that was happening and it would have been impossible to keep track of all the fighting. Palestinians have commented that if it was indeed their missile they would openly take the blame and acknowledge it.

I chose this article because I feel it does a good job of showing why conflict is not the right answer for these two groups. It has gotten to the point where neither group is sure of what happened and if they are responsible or not. In addition it continues to claim the lives of innocent civilians (such as the 11 month old son) which just creates more strife and hard feelings. When it comes to the point when both sides can't account for their actions, it shows that violence is not the answer and will never get anything done. This article does a good job of showing this in a very personal fashion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21749527

New Jerusalem highway threatens Arabs' homes

 A new Israeli highway project now underway in Jerusalem which may add to tensions as it is cutting through the middle class Arab neighborhood of of Beit Safafa, linking a large bloc of illegal Jewish settlements to the city. City officials state that the highway is for everyone, but not everyone is in favor of this new construction.


Aviv Tatarski of Ir Amim, an organization that lobbies for equitable treatment of Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem, states that "[the highway] changes the geography and demography in ways that will make a two-state solution very, very difficult.” The highway project is four kilometers long and will complete a north-south route across the city.

This new construction is not unusual in Jerusalem as Israelis have been nonstop building in occupied east Jerusalem, the section of the city lived in by Palestinians. This new highway, while it is not favored by the Palestinians, will "link two of Israel's most contentious roads, allowing Israeli Jews living in the southern West Bank to zip into Jerusalem and to the coastal city of Tel Aviv with barely a stop."

This article is a great example of the oppression that the Palestinians face whilst living under Israeli governance. Even though there are residents lobbying against the new construction to municipal officials, and organizing protests, and even petitioning Israel's Supreme Court with alternatives (Ex: move the highway underground), officials stated that "they could not hold up infrastructure development while waiting for a resolution to the decades-old Mideast conflict." While this argument does hold ground due to the fact that there is no resolution in the foreseeable future, this argument does not allow the opposition a fair hearing.

If Aviv Tatarski is correct in his statement that "[the highway] ... will make a two-state solution very, very difficult", these construction efforts may be Israels attempt to squash the two state solution permanently.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/2013311183038506211.html

US threatens sanctions against Pakistan if deal with Iran goes forward

Michael Eaton

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/445011/20130312/iran-pakistan-oil-gas-pipeline-washington-tehran.htm


The possibility of a multi billion dollar deal between Iran and Pakistan over natural gas has prompted the white house to threaten sanctions against Pakistan. The Iran Sanctions Act, as it is called, could be put into effect, if the deal goes through.

The Act allows the US to impose a ban on any non-American company that invests more than $20 million in Iranian oil recourses.

Iran clames that the pipelines being completed will aid the peace process in the region and help foster a better relationship between the two countries. It will also help Pakistan, a country in desperate need of energy, to help out its neighbor in need, (due to other sanctions)

However, Washington thinks that this is taking Pakistan, "in the wrong direction" away from the US. Even with the added peace and cooperation between the two countries with this pipeline, it is not a good enough reason for most in Washington trying to keep Iran under control.

Personally I think both sides have an argument, but at the end of the day, if it will help keep peace in the region, then we should just let the project go through. It might help Iran, but there are bigger issues to be adressed, not only in that region, but elsewhere in the world.

First rocket fired from Gaza into Israel since November cease-fire

The cease fire between Palestine and Israel is over. Palestine fired a rocket into southern Israel on February 26^th as a response to the death of a Palestinian prisoner. For some time, Palestine has been requesting a review of the conditions of the Israeli prisons.  These requests have been ignored.  To raise awareness about this issue, Palestine warned that if a Palestinian died while imprisoned, the cease fire will be over. While it is unclear (from the article) exactly how the 30-year old Arafat Jaradat died, what is clear is that Palestine fired a rocket into southern Israel on Tuesday, March 5, ending a three-month cease fire between the Israel and Palestine.

On the preceding Sunday, the Palestinians informed U.S. President Obama of their intentions.  The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades took responsibility for the attack. To reduce the possibility of retaliation and an escalation, President Obama will speak to the Israelis and hopefully to encourage them to release the Palestinian prisoners. Tension between Palestine and Israel had subsided thanks to the efforts of the U.S. and Egypt who brokered a cease fire in November.  This article connects to our course as it further illustrates the fragile nature of peace in the Middle East and how the conflict between erupt at any time.  This article provides an understanding of life in Gaza and how conflict is part of a way of life between Israel and Palestine.

-Katie Juhl

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/world/meast/israel-gaza-rocket/index.html?hpt=wo_bn8