Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Hana Hussain
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In bombing Idlib, the US is trying to pull together its Syria policy
August was yet another bloody month for Syrians in the opposition-controlled province of Idlib, with some 200 people estimated to have been killed in heavy bombardments by the Syrian regime and its Russian allies. Yet, on 31 August, news broke that a further 40 Syrian anti-government fighters had been...
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Jaffa activist: A Jewish and democratic state is an oxymoron
Palestinians in Israel amount to around 1.8 million people but face rampant discrimination...
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Netanyahu’s son mocked after claiming Palestine never existed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son Yair has been criticised after publishing several tweets denying the existence of Palestine because there is no “P” in the Arabic language. Yair, who is known to be active on Twitter, initiated the discussion after sharing pictures from a Palestinian village that was ethnically...
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After Bouteflika, Algeria’s economy needs revival
Protests that gripped Algeria for nearly two months finally came to fruition this month, after long-ruling, ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he would be stepping down. His resignation was hailed as the end of an era in a country where 70 per cent of people have known no...
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‘We can and must push back against the tide of fascism,’ says Arab-Israeli MK Tibi
As Israel’s General Election approaches on 9 April, MEMO interviews candidates, current and former, about their hopes for the future of Israeli politics....
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Syria’s challenges in the post-Daesh era
After four and a half years, the physical existence of the so-called Islamic State, also known by its Arabic acronym of Daesh, came to an end last month. The US-led international coalition claimed victory after a six month campaign on the last Daesh stronghold east of the Euphrates, ending...
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Remembering the Egypt-Israel peace treaty
Egypt was the first Arab country to normalise relations with Israel...
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Jewish MK: Israel’s left has failed to provide an alternative on the Palestinian conflict
As the Israeli elections on 9 April approach, MEMO interviews MKs, current and former, as to their experiences of working within the Israeli political system and their hopes for the future....
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Remembering the start of the Syrian Revolution
Three days into the demonstrations, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad ordered the military to attack the protesters. ...
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‘I don’t care about your ID’: US student assaulted by Israel soldiers at Al-Aqsa
Tensions have been rising in Jerusalem in recent weeks, after Palestinians re-entered the Al-Rahma Gate area of Al-Aqsa Mosque and performed prayers there for the first time in over 15 years....
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Jabareen: Arab representation in Israel politics is crucial for the Palestinian struggle
As the Israeli elections on 9 April approach, MEMO interviews Arab MKs, current and former, as to their experiences of working within the Israeli political system, and their hopes for the future. ...
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Family of Egypt prisoner plead for imminent execution to be halted
The family of Abdelrahman Attia have appealed for his death sentence to be suspended after the court issued a final verdict ordering his execution alongside five other Egyptian men, allegedly responsible for killing a policeman in 2014. “Our loved ones are waiting their turn to be executed anytime, for a...
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Algeria protesters share hope and humour on Twitter
Tens of thousands of Algerians have taken to the streets over the past week, protesting Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s plan to extend his 20-year rule by seeking a fifth term. As well as the rallies held across the country, Algerians have also taken to social media to amass support against...
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The effects of Syria’s war on health could last for generations
As the Syrian war approaches its eighth anniversary next month, the reality of the nation’s revolution-gone-wrong could not be starker. Millions have been displaced inside and outside the country, and upwards of 560,000 have been killed. With President Bashar Al-Assad increasingly seen as the victor of the war, the...
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UK band boycotts Eurovision to be held in Israel
An upcoming British band has refused to enter the Eurovision Song Contest due to it being hosted in Israel this year. Confirming their decision on Twitter, the three-girl band The Tuts, prompted a backlash from supporters of Israel. So, we got asked to enter EUROVISION 2019 to represent the UK but...
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Will the US actually withdraw from Syria?
President Donald Trump added another entry to his record of surprise foreign policy moves last month when he announced that the US would be withdrawing its forces from Syria. Claiming that Daesh had been defeated, the proposed exit sent shockwaves among fellow members of the international coalition and stunned...
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Towards a Westphalia for the Middle East
At first glance, “Towards a Westphalia for the Middle East” seems to the reader to mirror countless other books on the region’s history. By comparing current conflicts to wars of a bygone era, it risks falling into the traps of eurocentrism and orientalism, damning the region as trapped in...
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Remembering Mohamed Bouazizi and the start of the Arab Spring
On 17 December 2010, Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire outside the governor’s office, despondent at being unable to earn money and provide for his family. His cries echoed around the Arab world, sparking protests against poor economic management and political autocracy. In Tunisia, popular demonstrations...
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Layla Shweikani and the Syrian women the world ignores
A Syrian family gathered in a mosque in the Illinois suburb of Willowbrook two weeks ago today. Supported by their friends and community members they mourned the loss of their daughter, Layla Shweikani, two years after her death. Days before, the Syrian government had confirmed that Layla, a Syrian-American...
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‘Untold stories’: London gallery showcases contemporary Syria art
“The stories behind the paintings are all stories of resilience, of life loving individuals"...
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Right of return? The fate of Syrians returning to regime-held territory
The wave of Syrian regime “victories” this year has prompted a narrative change among many politicians and media outlets over the past few months. The government of President Bashar Al-Assad is largely considered to have won the seven-year civil war, with many believing his victory to be the lesser...
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Enclosure: Palestinian Landscapes in a Historical Mirror
Gary Fields’ Enclosure: Palestinian Landscapes in a Historical Mirror is a unique exploration of the development of the Israeli culture of land grabs and the historical legal framework and precedents that have allowed Zionist policies to continue unimpeded. Inspired by the author’s own trip to the occupied West Bank 15...
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Remembering Algeria’s Black October
Over 30 years ago: 5 October 1988 is considered Algeria's Arab Spring...
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Hamas Contained: The Rise and Pacification of Palestinian Resistance
As the Gaza Strip hurtles towards becoming one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with the image of ruling party Hamas wholly demonised in the West, Tareq Baconi’s book, Hamas Contained: The Rise and Pacification of Palestinian Resistance, is a timely read that takes a refreshingly objective look at...