Month: May 2008

The 60th anniversary of Israel has Palestinians like Akram al-Shamali bitter over he and his parents being forced out of their home by the violent birth of the Zionist state: Turning 60, Israelis Feel Pride, Palestinians Pain (Reuters/Wiredispatch) Gitmo defense lawyers make the “most specific [assertions] to date” about the government eavesdropping on their conversations…

Politically tainted Gitmo military commissions are unlikely to begin their so-called trials until after Bush leaves office: Justice System For Detainees Is Moving At a Crawl (Washington Post) Turkey uses its “historical Ottoman ties” to the Middle East to facilitate peace talks between Israel and Syria: Turkey Aims for Clout as Regional Mediator (Christian Science…

Analysts say Kuwait’s mixture of non-party democracy and persistent monarchical power have led to political and economic stagnation: Critics Blame Kuwait’s ‘Half Democracy’ for Political Deadlocks (AFP/Daily Star Lebanon) ABA gives award for Abdurrahman al-Lahem for his legal defense of human rights in Saudi Arabia: American Bar Association Honors Saudi Dissident (AFP/Daily Star Lebanon) Baghdad’s…

In a sign of further political and cultural glasnost, Saudi Arabia allows its first public performance of classical music before a mixed-gender audience … A First for Saudis: Mozart Performed for Both Genders (Associated Press/Washington Post) … while Malaysia contemplates a step backwards: Malaysia Angers Women with Travel-restriction Idea (Washington Post) Turkish Muslim schools teach…

After being detained for six years at Gitmo, Al-Jazeera reporter Sami Al-Hajj is freed and speaks out harshly against his detention: Sami al-Hajj Hits Out at US Captors (Al-Jazeera International) Freelance Mideast reporter Ben White reflects on the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, finding Palestinians’ persistence deserves praise, not just mourning, amid their struggle: In…

Civil libertarians and security experts criticize plans for a massive surveillance ring in DC as expensive, invasive and ineffective: D.C. Forging Surveillance Network (Washington Post) Sponsored by the Danish government, a team of former Israeli and Palestinian officials jump start an economically driven peace plan to remove the largest 2% of all checkpoints in the…