Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Feras Abu-Helal
-
Palestine conspiracy, impasse and way out
It is clear that a new international and regional conspiracy is being prepared to liquidate the Palestinian cause, and bring an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict in favour of the occupying power, without achieving even a minimum of objectives for the Palestinian people. This conspiracy is no longer a...
-
What will Saudi Arabia lose after the Gulf earthquake calms down?
Although it may be difficult to judge the repercussions of the Gulf crisis on the future of Qatar’s policies, media and role in the region, it is not as hard to judge the strategic losses Saudi Arabia will suffer after the crisis is over. Doha’s losses or gains are dependent...
-
Explaining the Egyptian-Iranian 'rapprochement'
Indicators of the Egyptian-Iranian rapprochement have escalated after decades of estrangement that dictated the relationship between the two countries, especially in the final years of Mubarak’s rule. It is interesting that this relative “rapprochement” came after a period of almost complete agreement between Cairo and the Gulf countries in general,...
-
How can Saudi respond to the decline of its position in US policy?
It has become clear from the developments over the past three years that Saudi Arabia’s position in the US strategy for the Middle East has greatly declined and that Washington no longer considers its relationship with Riyadh a key pillar of its policy in the region. The passing the Justice...
-
The controversy surrounding Ennahda’s recent developments
Once Ennahda announced that it intends to abandon advocacy and preach work and transition into a “democratic party” during the preparations for its tenth conference, it provoked a storm of reactions and controversy amid its supporters and friends in the camp known academically as “political Islam”. It even provoked...
-
What does Moscow’s decision to withdraw from Syria mean?
Just as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send his troops into a direct confrontation in Syria last summer was a surprise to many, his decision to withdraw most of his troops from Syria was also a surprise. Therefore, the incident has dominated the media coverage and discussions in...
-
The upcoming civil war in Egypt: a chronicle of a death foretold
What we are witnessing in Egypt at the moment is similar to the events written by the late, great writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in his book Chronicle of a Death Foretold. This story tells of a village whose residents knew that two brothers were plotting to kill another person...
-
What can the Arabs learn from Iran?
The current historical moment we are witnessing is a rare moment of Arab interaction with Iran. The Islamic Republic is currently present in almost every heated arena in the region, either directly by means of its military and intelligence forces or its local agents, or indirectly by means of...
-
Thoughts on the "alliance" between America and political Islam
There has been a growing controversy over the past two years regarding the creation of an alliance between political Islam and the American project in the region, especially after the increased polarisation surrounding the Syrian Revolution, on one hand, and the course of democratic transformation in the Arab Spring...
-
An appraisal of the Cairo Palestinian Reconciliation Agreement
Following a series of meetings held under Egyptian patronage and aimed at reviving the issue of reconciliation between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, Cairo has issued an official statement defining the terms of the new reconciliation agreement. The meetings were held at this juncture in an...
-
The Arab-Israeli conflict needs to retake centre stage
There is an ongoing discussion in the media and social media about the Arab-Israeli conflict going back to centre stage in the Arab world. What’s new is that the belief is being voiced louder following national revolutions in Arab countries since December 2010 even though Arab individuals are more...
-
The conflict over Palestinian legitimacy
The large controversy caused by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi’s visit to Gaza as the chairman of the International Union for Muslim Scholars’ delegation is not a new phenomenon in the Palestinian arena. The PA, the PLO and left-wing factions have treated all political visits to the Gaza Strip with coldness...
-
Sectarianism and the Syrian revolution
Hezbollah’s involvement in the Syrian revolution on the side of the regime demonstrates the conflicts shift from sectarian theory to sectarian reality. It reflects a shift across the Middle East which has witnessed sectarianism in the guise of political parties for many years. Who is responsible for this? What scenarios...
-
The reality and future possibilities for the Nour Party
The Salafist Nour Party has represented an interesting phenomenon in the Egyptian political arena since its inception. This is especially true considering that it finished second in the elections, winning more than 25 per cent of the seats in parliament despite its rather brief political history and inclination towards...
