By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Egyptian Parliament re-opened this week with the Muslim Brotherhood in charge and the Salafists in second place. Googling liberals were far behind. It is not surprising as the vast majority of Egyptians are rural, poor, and religious, but since majority rule should never be confused with democracy, the [...]
Posted January 12, 2012 By Samara Greenberg WASHINGTON, D.C. –Here are some news stories from around the world attracting attention in the nation’s capital. Egypt U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns on Wednesday met with the head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political party, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), in the highest-level talks that [...]
WASHINGTON, D.C. (JINSA)–As secular authoritarian regimes topple across the Middle East, there is the danger that governments with a pronounced Islamist bent will replace them. In the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, this phenomena bears close watching. In Tunisia this week, the Islamist Ennahdha (Renaissance) party has become the [...]
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — In 2003, I and the publication I edit, the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal, became the world’s biggest story for two or three days. Last week I became a “story” without knowing it until later. First, the 2003 experience. An Iraqi-American author submitted a good article [...]
WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)– U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Florida) Monday criticized the Obama Administration’s plan to provide Egypt with $1 billion in debt relief at a time when the United States is facing its own debt crisis. The U.S. has already given Egypt $150 million in emergency aid since the uprisings that forced out President Mubarak [...]
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — In the wake of bloody Muslim attacks on Egyptian Christians the New York Times informs us: “By lifting the heavy hand of the Mubarak police state, the revolution unleashed long-suppressed sectarian animosities that have burst out with increasing ferocity….” No kidding! Did you think a single Egyptian Christian didn’t know this in [...]
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Remember when we were told that the Muslim Brotherhood was moderate and weak? Why it was so benign that the Brotherhood had even promised only to contest one-third of the seats. And a revolutionary Islamist, antisemitic and genocide-oriented, anti-American, anti-Western, and anti-Christian organization would never lie to us, right? [...]
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday condemned violence in Syria and said the Syrian government must stop the arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of prisoners.” There’s a problem with that word “must.” See, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot help overthrow or move away from allies, [...]
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — Ali Gomaa, grand mufti of Egypt, writes in the New York Times: “Egypt’s religious tradition is anchored in a moderate, tolerant view of Islam. We believe that Islamic law guarantees freedom of conscience and expression (within the bounds of common decency) and equal rights for women. And as [...]
By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel –As of today, one can say that the revolution in Syria must be taken seriously. Not only were the demonstrations large but also they had spread to additional parts of the country and involved different religious and ethnic communities. Of course, there is a big difference between Egypt and Syria. [...]
