Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Abdul Sattar Qassem
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Does Iran control four Arab capitals?
An Iranian cleric once uttered in a reckless statement that Iran controls four Arab capitals, namely: Beirut, Damascus, Sanaa and Baghdad. Many anti-Iran parties held debates on this statement, considering it a reality, and began to warn the world about Iran’s emerging power and future hegemony over the Arab...
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We stopped security coordination. We will stop security coordination
Abbas announced that he sent two messages to Netanyahu and Trump, stating that he would stop implementing the agreements and halt security coordination with the Israelis, as part of his protest of Trump’s deal. However, it seems that this statement was not translated on the ground, and did not...
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Despite the hype, Palestinian elections are unlikely to be held
Finally, it appears that the two major factions, Fatah and Hamas — or rather the Palestinian Authority and Hamas — are preparing for elections. What’s more, both sides reaffirm their willingness to hold elections that are 10 years overdue. Presidential elections were supposed to take place in 2009 according to...
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Israel’s military escalation against Gaza
As soon as the Israeli guns are pointed at Gaza, Egypt begins its diplomatic activity to achieve a ceasefire. It is as if the Egyptian government is constantly waiting for this moment to prove its existence as a guardian of the Palestinian cause. There have been many Arabs who...
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Thank you for cutting US financial aid
Those examining the world looking for the effects of US financial aid would find that its results were not in the best interest of those receiving it. They would actually observe the following results. Financial aid from the US and other countries encourages dependence on others and adversely affects the...
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The repercussions of killing Khashoggi
The death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi will not pass without repercussions on both the regional and international level. Such repercussions may be in the best interest of Arab citizens and at the expense of Arab rulers. These repercussions can be summarised as follows: Weakening the Saudi royal family First, killing Khashoggi...
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The implications of Saudi Arabia’s failure to recognise the Jordanian temporary passport
No official Saudi decision has been issued regarding its failure to recognise the Jordanian temporary passport, typically issued by the Jordanian government to Palestinians residing in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jordan. Saudi Arabia has, for some time, left statements on normalisation, general relations with the Israelis, and...
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Will Russia swallow Israel’s insult?
Russia is one of the most protective countries of Israel and its security. This was strongly confirmed during the on going Syrian war. While Russia does not agree with some Israeli actions sometimes, the lack of approval does not develop into anger, and Russia continues to search for ways...
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The Israelis do not abide by agreements, understandings or charters
The Israelis do not abide by truces or understandings, and this has always been the case with the Arabs since 1948. How many times did the Israelis cross the lines set by the armistice agreements they agreed upon with the Arabs? How many times have they attacked facilities and...
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Failed negotiations are destructive to the Palestinians
A new Palestinian-Palestinian dialogue is under way in Cairo to seek Palestinian reconciliation that could lead to Palestinian national unity. The Palestinians, and in particular the Fatah and Hamas representatives, have made several reconciliation agreements so far, but the two factions have failed to implement them and the agreements have...
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Why is the West Bank silent?
I received a phone call from a highly educated and cultured woman who asked me about the secret behind the West Bank’s silence regarding the Right of Return and the marches taking place in the Gaza Strip. She said that Gaza is suffering from difficult living conditions imposed by...
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The failure of local Palestinian elections
Local Palestinian elections were held on 13 May 2017 to elect municipal and village council members. These elections were held quietly, which is rare, and an atmosphere of reassurance and integrity was prevalent. Hamas was absent from the scene, which takes much away from the elections being described as democratic. Hamas...
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The Assassination of the engineer Mohammad Al-Zuwari
The late martyr Mohammad Al-Zawari was one of the greatest Arab innovators. He also decided to use his skills for innovation in the Arab resistance against Zionism. In Tunisia, Zuwari quickly emerged as an excellent student. He studied in Sfax and he moved around from one Arab country to...
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Syria is the victim of foreign forces
Both the Syrian regime and the Syrian opposition committed crimes against the country and its people when they resorted to foreign parties to help them in their battle against each other. Syrians used external forces to fight each other until they reached the point that the external forces were...
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Trading weaknesses
Weakness is an important tool used to generate the sympathy of others and get their help. This is not only used by individuals but countries as well. There are those who do not have the will to work and make a living through their own hard work and others...
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Understanding the Birzeit elections
The elections held at the Palestinian universities, Birzeit and Al-Najah, are considered a good indicator of the popularity of Palestinian factions. The media outlets usually refer to the student union to sense the popular Palestinian feelings towards the Palestinian factions and organisations. In recent years, the media outlets focused on...
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The delay of the Palestinian Legislative Council
The media affiliated with the inept Palestinian Authority have denied interfering with the electoral process and law on the day that the foundations of Fatah’s so-called revolutionary law came under review. A news reporter on Palestine TV, who is a member of the Ayyad family in Bethlehem denied the allegations...
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They’ve arrested me
I am a writer. I also happen to be a writer who has been exposed to repressive actions by Arab and Israeli authorities more than most in the modern era. I have been shot repeatedly; on one occasion, by four bullets at once. I lost my job in Jordan...
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Kerry and the legitimacy of the desecration of Al-Aqsa
It is difficult for anyone to argue the United States is not a party within the Arab-Israeli conflict especially in light of its indisputable bias in favour of the occupation against Palestinian national rights and for its direct role in providing Israel with various types of advanced weapons. At...
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Russian political supremacy in Syria
Russian support for the Syrian regime has not stopped since the start of the events in Syria. Russia has not stopped providing political and diplomatic support for the regime. Russia even used its vetoing power in the UN Security Council to defend the regime. It is difficult to image...
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Hamas follows in the PLO’s footsteps, Part Two
On 27April 2008, I wrote an article titled “Hamas follows in the PLO’s footsteps”. This is a continuation of the same article, in which I said that Hamas’s actions and steps towards Israel are not radically different to the steps taken by the PLO, which ended up selling the...
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The oppression of the Kurds and possible solutions
If we were to list the nations currently living under great injustice during the 21st century, we could not disregard the Kurds, who are suffering from severe oppression, persecution, murder and destruction across the Kurdish territories. If we claim to support human rights, justice and the right of nations...
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Who burnt Ali Dawabsheh to death?
Hardly a day goes by without a Palestinian being killed by Israelis. Sometimes, they are killed by the occupation army and on other occasions they are killed by extremist Jewish settlers. Palestinians are being killed outside the context of confrontations, throwing stones and shooting bullets. It is fairly obvious from...
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The Palestinian government reshuffle
For days, Palestinian media outlets have been busy with the issue of the government reshuffle, which was hastily dubbed the “national consensus” government. There have been many predictions regarding this change, and many Palestinian sources which have said that it would be minimal and superficial. I accept that there are...