September 22nd

News:
Fatah and Hamas will meet in Egypt before indirect talks with Israel. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)

The UN reportedly wants international monitors to oversee the reconstruction work in Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

FM Lieberman says the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “not at the heart” of the Middle East’s problems. (Jerusalem Post)

Local police in Gaza deactivate three tons of unexploded ordnance from Israel's recent military offensive. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces detain 16 Palestinians in the West Bank. (Ma’an/PNN)

Palestinian youth throw rocks at a school bus in occupied East Jerusalem. (JTA)

The Jerusalem district prosecutor’s office is hardening its stance on Palestinian minors. (Ha’aretz)

Israel closes the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron to Muslims for two days. (Ma’an)

UNRWA calls on the international community to step up its opposition to an Israeli plan to forcibly relocate thousands of Bedouins. (Ha’aretz)

The UN General Assembly will focus on the war against ISIS. (AP)

US Amb. to the UN Power says other nations are pledging support for the fight against ISIS extremists. (AP)

Quartet Envoy Blair says airstrikes are not enough to beat ISIS. (AP)

Iran says it is ready to work with the US on ISIS, but wants more flexibility on its uranium enrichment program in exchange. (Reuters)

ISIS urges Sinai urgents to attack and behead Egyptian security forces. (Reuters)

The number of Syrian refugees in Turkey now totals 130,000. (AP/Reuters)

Syrian Kurdish fighters have reportedly halted an advance by ISIS fighters. (Reuters)

Pres. Erdogan says Turkey will not reveal details of the release of 49 hostages held by ISIS. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

Turkey is reportedly accused of colluding with ISIS. (Independent)

The US and Hezbollah are working separately on a common goal: to stop ISIS from moving into Lebanon. (New York Times)

The Jordanian army thwarts an “infiltration attempt” from Iraq. (Jordan Times)

Israel is worried that al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra is gaining control of Syrian side of the Golan frontier. (Washington Post)

FM Zarif hails “new chapter” in Iranian-Saudi relations. (Reuters)

Pope Francis calls on Muslims and all religious leaders to condemn Islamic extremists. (AP)

A FIFA official says the 2022 World Cup will not held in Qatar. (The Guardian)

Commentary:

Rami Khouri says Hamas and Fatah have behaved shamefully. (Daily Star)

Elhanan Miller explains why PM Netanyahu is “shunning” Palestinian society and media. (Times of Israel)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says although support in Gaza is growing for a boycott of Israeli goods, it is hard to envision such a campaign working. (Al-Monitor)

Nathan Thrall critiques US diplomacy on Israeli-Palestinian peace. (New York Times)

Hussein Ibish says, implausible though it sounds, ISIS is replicating some of  Mao Zedong’s key strategies. (The National)

Amer Al Sabaileh says “unclear” American strategy against ISIS could increase risks for the region. (Jordan Times)

Dexter Filkins says Iraq’s Kurds are more interested in breaking away than helping save Iraq from ISIS. (New Yorker)

Henri Barkey looks at how ISIS captured the 49 Turkish hostages in Iraq. (Foreign Policy)

Miriam Awadallah says Pres. Assad’s plan to portray himself to the world as the only alternative to ISIS was vain. (Annahar)

AP interviews Pres. Sisi. (AP)

Jamal Khashoggi says the Muslim Brotherhood keeps repeating the same mistakes. (Al Arabiya)

Tariq Alhomayed looks at noted Muslim cleric Qaradawi’s double standards on the fight against ISIS. (Asharq al-Awsat)

September 19th

News:

Pres. Abbas says the coming weeks will be crucial for the Palestinian cause. (Ma’an)

Reuters looks at possible successors to Abbas. (Reuters)

PM Hamdallah says no mechanisms are in place to implement the Palestinian reconciliation agreement. (Ma’an)

Despite a UN agreement, hurdles remain for Gaza reconstruction. (The National)
 

The Israeli government is expected to go forward with construction of the West Bank separation barrier in the vicinity of the historic village of Batir. (Ha’aretz/Ynet/Jerusalem Post)

Israeli jails are filled with Palestinian minors after this summer’s riots. (Ha’aretz)

Israel is preparing a draft law that would allow it to impose a special fee on goods passing through crossing points between Israel and the West Bank and Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Gaza farmers want guarantees that Israel will not destroy their lands. (Al-Monitor)

A poll indicates that Israelis are more concerned about the peace process and the EU than they are Iran. (Times of Israel)

Israeli bulldozers level land in southern Gaza. (Ma’an)

Ramallah is selected to be among the world’s most “resilient” cities. (Ma’an)

France conducts its first airstrikes against ISIS. (Reuters/AP/New York Times/Washington Post)

Gen. Dempsey says the US appreciates France's airstrike against ISIS extremists. (AP)

Congress gives the final approval to aid Syrian rebels in the fight against ISIS. (New York Times)

Pres. Obama says the Senate vote to authorize arming and training Syrian rebels shows the world that Americans are united in combating ISIS. (AP)

Thousands of Syrian Kurds have begun crossing into Turkey, fleeing ISIS fighters. (Reuters)

Ayatollah Sistani says Iraq needs outside help to fight ISIS. (Daily Star)

ISIS creates a police force in north west Iraq to “implement the orders of the religious judiciary.” (Reuters)

ISIS releases a new video showing a British journalist who says he is a prisoner of the extremists. (AP/Reuters/New York Times)

The US is reportedly tracking threats against the West by Al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria. (Wall Street Journal)

A bomb kills two Lebanese soldiers near the Syrian border. (AP)

An American official says Obama is not scheduled to meet Pres. Rouhani in New York, but he is open to such a meeting. (Reuters)

Commentary:

Alan Philps says the Gaza crisis obscures the long quest for Palestinian statehood. (The National)

AP interviews Hamas leader Abu Marzouk. (AP)

Abdullah Erakat asks if Abbas is Israel’s last chance for peace. (The Media Line)

Shlomi Eldar says Israel must help Palestinians in Gaza, regardless of Hamas. (Al-Monitor)

Benjy Cannon outlines five things Jewish-American leaders must know about college students. (Ha’aretz)

David Ignatius looks at James Clapper’s revelations on ISIS. (Washington Post)

Alexander Christie-Miller explains why he thinks Turkey will not fight with the US against ISIS. (Christian Science Monitor)

Ahmad Majdoubeh says the US should stick to diplomacy not militarism in the Middle East. (Jordan Times)

The Daily Star says Obama has proven that he is no strategist. (Daily Star)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed looks at Pres. Sisi’s foreign policy. (Al Arabiya)

H.A. Hellyer says Libya is not too big to fail, but must be saved anyway.  (The National)

September 18th

News:

Clashes continue in Jerusalem between Palestinians and Israeli occupation forces. (New York Times)

Saudi Arabia pledges $500 million for Gaza reconstruction. (Reuters)

Quartet Envoy Blair says delay in Gaza rebuilding could threaten the truce. (AFP)

Hamas says indirect ceasefire negotiations between Palestinians and Israel will restart within the next week in Cairo. (Ma’an/PNN/Times of Israel)

Israeli opposition leader Herzog urges Pres. Abbas to return to talks with Israel. (Times of Israel)

Israeli naval forces shoot and injure a Palestinian fisherman off the coast of Gaza. (Ma’an)

Gaza’s Ministry of Health postpones surgeries due to a strike by cleaning staff. (Ma’an)

Israeli occupation forces issue demolition orders for the homes of three Hebron families. (Ma’an)

The National looks at architects’ hopes of rebuilding Gaza. (The National)

FM Lieberman tells Sec. Kerry Israel is ready to the help the US-led coalition against ISIS. (Ha’aretz/Times of Israel)

The House of Representatives approves Pres. Obama’s plan to train and arm moderate Syrianrebels. (Reuters/AP/New York Times)

VP Biden leaves the door open to US ground troops helping Iraqi security forces.(AP)

Gen. Ray Odierno says grounds troops will be needed against ISIS. (New York Times)

Conflict in Iraq is undermining the Kurdish success story. (Washington Post)

ISIS extremists capture 16 villages and besiege a Kurdish city in northern Syria near the border with Turkey. (Reuters/AP)

Pres. Rouhani says ISIS beheadings are a symbolic murder of all mankind. (Reuters)

A Saudi ISIS fighter calls on his fellow Saudis to “wage jihad” and threatens Saudi Arabia. (Reuters)

The French government says it will now refer to ISIS as “Daesh.” (Washington Post)

A series of anti-terrorism raids were sparked by intelligence reports that ISIS supporters were planning a public execution in Australia. (The Australian)

Syria’s conflict keeps 2.8 million children out of school. (Reuters)

Tainted vaccines kill at least 50 children inside Syria. (New York Times/The National)

The Wall Street Journal profiles Bassam Barandi, a conscientious Syrian diplomat in Washington who aided the opposition. (Wall Street Journal)

Egypt is moving to tighten restrictions on Muslim Brotherhood activities at Al Azhar University. (Reuters)

The New York Times looks at Jordan’s energy deal with Israel. (New York Times)

Islamist fighters launch a new attack on pr-Haftar forces at Benghazi’s airport. (AFP)

Commentary:

Terrestrial Jerusalem says there is a looming crisis in occupied East Jerusalem because of highly dangerous new Israeli settlement activities. (Terrestrial Jerusalem)

Chris Gunness says depriving the next generation in Gaza of a future is against Israel's own interests. (Ha’aretz)

Gideon Levy says the world has quickly forgotten about Gaza. (Ha’aretz)

Peter Beinart say boycotting Israel is a “serious mistake.” (Ha’aretz)

Ahmad Melhem says the planned West Bank city of Rawabi is still controversial among Palestinians. (Al-Monitor)

Michael Young says Obama’s vow of “no troops on the ground” is unrealistic. (Daily Star)

Joyce Karam says the US is determined to hit ISIS in Syria in order to deal a severe blow to the group. (Al Arabiya)

Michael Young says regional unity threatens Iran’s divisive agenda. (The National)

The New York Times asks if the US can still count on the new government in Baghdad. (New York Times)

The CSM says Obama should welcome the backing of lawmakers for his war on ISIS.  (Christian Science Monitor)

Aaron David Miller questions the commitment of US partners in the war against ISIS. (Foreign Policy)

Nicholas Kristof says Obama’s military campaign against ISIS in Syria keeps on “getting messier.” (New York Times)

Rym Ghazal says more western Muslim women are running away to become “jihadists.” (The National)

September 16th

The Solution to Middle East Chaos
Media Mention of Tala Haikal In The Huffington Post - July 28, 2014 - 12:00am

The Solution to Middle East Chaos

»

News:

The World Bank says the Palestinian economy is expected to contract for the first time in seven years. (AP)

Gaza’s rent prices skyrocket after Israel’s offensive. (Washington Post)

The UN says the Palestinian unity government is crucial for Gaza’s recovery. (Jerusalem Post)

Tensions between the different Palestinian factions cast shadow over peace talks with Israel and threaten unity government. (The National)

PM Hamdallah says the challenges faced by Gaza will be the main focus of an upcoming donor conference in New York. (Ma’an)

Hamas says Meshaal will remain headquartered in Qatar. (Times of Israel)

Israeli occupation forces detain 22 Palestinians in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/Ynet)

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights says Gaza detainees underwent torture in Israeli custody. (Ma’an)

The Israeli government plans to forcibly relocate 12,500 Bedouins. (Ha’aretz)

Former Pres. Clinton says PM Netanyahu is “not the guy” for a peace deal with the Palestinians. (Politico/Ha’aretz)

Iraqi lawmakers have rejected PM al-Abadi’s nominees to fill the critical posts of defense and interior ministers. (AP)

The US is reportedly looking for Sunni allies on the ground in Iraq. (Reuters)

Congress is scrutinizing Obama’s military strategy against ISIS. (AP)

Sec. Kerry will chair the UNSC meeting on Iraq. (AP)

An ISIS supporter has warned of attacks on the US and its allies if they continue to carry out military action against the group. (Reuters)

Kurds in Europe are taking up arms and joining the fight against ISIS. (AP)

US airstrikes hit targets near Baghdad held by ISIS. (New York Times)

US lawmakers are considering arming Syrian rebels, but with conditions. (Reuters/New York Times)

ISIS is drawing a steady source of recruits from Turkey. (New York Times)

ISIS shoots down a Syrian government war plane. (Reuters)

A UN Human Rights Commission emphasizes that Pres. Assad’s government has committed the bulk of atrocities in the Syrian war. (AP/New York Times) 

Middle East Christian leaders urge Arab states to lead the fight against ISIS. (Reuters)

An Egyptian official says the justice ministry is drafting amendments to the country's disputed protest law. (AP)

Qatar denies accusations it sent weapons to Libya. (Reuters)

Pres. Erdogan says exiled leaders of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood could find refuge in Turkey. (New York Times/The National)

Commentary:

Sharif Nashashibi says Palestinians should join the ICC. (The National)

Nahum Barnea says former Israeli spies are telling the truth about the wiretaps against Palestinians. (Ynet)

Amos Harel says Israel wants to join the coalition against ISIS. (Foreign Policy)

Linda Gradstein asks if Israel is heading toward new elections. (The Media Line)

Abdul Rahman Al Rashed says Iran is launching a “propaganda campaign” to discredit the anti-ISIS coalition. (Asharq al-Awsat)

Jamal Khashoggi says the Jeddah alliance against ISIS is everyone’s opportunity for a new beginning. (Al Arabiya)

Nabeelah Jaffer says the execution of David Haines could push Britain to become a stronger ally in the fight against ISIS. (Foreign Policy)

The National says Assad is the problem not the solution. (The National)

The New York Times says Congress should not hide the Syrian aid vote. (New York Times)

Tim Kaine says Pres. Obama must get Congressional backing for the fight against ISIS. (New York Times)

H.A. Hellyer says the release of activist Alaa Abdel Fattah is bittersweet for Egypt’s “politics of freedom.” (Al Arabiya)

September 15th

Empathy Is Essential to Humanity
Media Mention of Tala Haikal In The Huffington Post - July 10, 2014 - 12:00am

Empathy Is Essential to Humanity Nelson Mandela once said "you will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution." If only Mandela were still alive and could guide and inspire Israelis and Palestinians to eschew revenge and violence, especially when it comes to children.

»

Youth Factor: The Missing Element in the Middle East Peace Process
Media Mention of Tala Haikal In The Huffington Post - March 31, 2014 - 12:00am

Youth Factor: The Missing Element in the Middle East Peace Process When my parents were my age, most people considered peace between Israel and Palestine unthinkable. But for me, a 21-year-old Palestinian/Lebanese-American woman, peace is not a bizarre idea at all. Instead it is a cliché, a commonplace; indeed, so much that it almost seems passé. But it can't be.

»

Iraq’s Kurds reach a fork in the road
Media Mention of Tala Haikal In The Daily Star - September 5, 2014 - 12:00am

Iraq’s Kurds reach a fork in the road

»

News:
 
Pres. Abbas will ask Pres. Hollande for official recognition of Palestine in an upcoming meeting this week. (Ma’an/Times of Israel)
 
Palestinian children in Gaza return to school. (AP/Reuters/AFP)
 
Israeli authorities deny Palestinian Minister of Education al-Shakhshir entry to Gaza. (Ma’an/PNN)
 
15 Palestinian migrants from Gaza die after a boat they were riding in capsized in the Mediterranean sea. (Ma’an)
 
A high ranking Kuwaiti official visits Ramallah for the first time since 1967. (Ma’an/PNN/Ha’aretz)
 
Israeli occupation forces detain 4 Palestinian teenagers in East Jerusalem. (Ma’an/Ha’aretz)
 
The New York Times profiles some Palestinians who lived in the high-rise apartment building in Gaza that was destroyed by Israel. (New York Times)
 
An Israeli official warns that Hezbollah could advance into Israel in a future war. (Times of Israel)
 
Arab nations reportedly offer to conduct airstrikes against ISIS. (New York Times/The National)
 
ISIS releases a video purportedly showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines. (AP/New York Times/Washington Post)
 
Hollande calls for united international action against ISIS. (Reuters)
 
Syrian government forces destroy an ISIS controlled-bridge. (Reuters)
 
Syria’s moderate rebels say they need weapons, not training. (Reuters)
 
Pres. Masoum asks the international community to pursue ISIS in Syria. (New York Times)
 
Turkey is seeking a behind-the-scenes role in the NATO coalition against ISIS. (AP/Washington Post)
 
Iran rejects the global strategy against ISIS extremists. (AP/Reuters/The National)
 
Austria plans to introduce a law banning symbols of ISIS and other extremist groups. (AP)
 
Egypt will hunt down exiled Muslim Brotherhood leaders and seek their arrest after Qatar ordered them to leave its territory. (AP/New York Times)
 
One of Egypt’s most prominent dissident activists, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, will be released. (AP/Reuters)
 
Egypt says it will boost security at tourist locations. (AP)
 
Commentary:
 
Hussein Ibish says Arab states can’t afford to be tepid in their response to ISIS. (The National)
 
Ron Kampeas explains why Qatar supports Hamas. (JTA)
 
Amir Hass asks 18 questions to Hamas. (Ha’aretz)
 
Lorenzo Kamel looks at the facts and fiction of Israel’s settlement enterprise. (The National)
 
Daniel Ben Simon looks at how much money goes to Israel’s settlements every year. (Al Monitor)
 
Uri Savir says Europe is dismayed by Israel’s West Bank policies. (Al-Monitor)
 
Tariq Alhomayed says there is nothing wrong with negotiating with Israel. (Asharq al-Awsat)
 
Amer Al Sabaileh says the anti-ISIS coalition needs the cooperation and coordination of old and new allies in the region. (Jordan Times)
 
Rami Khouri says the US-led anti-ISIS coalition leaves “lingering doubts.” (Daily Star)
 
Thomas Friedman says Obama’s strategy for fighting ISIS depends on Arab reform. (New York Times)
 
Raghida Dergham says the anti-ISIS coalition is Obama’s last chance to regain his credibility. (Al Arabiya)
 
The New York Times says Obama’s plan to arm Syrian rebels is “full of hope and fraught with obstacles.” (New York Times)
 
The National says the announcement by leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood that they intend to leave Qatar is an encouraging development. (The National)
 
The National says Libya has to be helped to avoid becoming a failed state. (The National)

September 9th

News:

Arab FMs say they will back Pres. Abbas efforts to lobby the UN to set a deadline for Israel to end its occupation. (Ha’aretz/The National)

A Palestinian official says Abbas wants the UN to replace the US as the leading peace broker between Israel and the Palestinians. (Jerusalem Post)

Fatah and Hamas are trading accusations after the Gaza war. (AFP)

Israeli sources say Hamas leader Meshaal may not have agreed to an August ceasefire that Hamas supposedly broke. (Times of Israel)

The Israeli navy arrests four Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Gaza. (AP/Ma’an)

Norway’s FM Brende says a conference for Gaza reconstruction will be held in Cairo on Oct. 12. (Ma’an)

Palestinian-Belgians have begun consulting lawyers and human rights groups about filing war-crime complaints against Israeli officials and officers. (Ma’an)

A report from the Adva Center finds that settlements get significantly more government money than other Israeli communities. (Ynet)

A Palestinian prisoner dies in an Israeli hospital. (Ma’an)

Saudi Arabia will host a meeting on Thursday to discuss terrorism with the US and other Middle Eastern countries. (AP/Reuters)

Iraq’s parliament officially names al-Abadi as the country’s new prime minister. (AP/Reuters/New York Times/Washington Post/The National)

Iraqi lawmakers urge PM al-Abadi to quickly fill the critical posts of defense and interior minister. (AP)

Sec. Kerry says the new Iraqi government is key to ISIS’ defeat. (AP)

Pres. Obama phones al-Abadi to discuss Washington's commitment to fight ISIS extremists. (Reuters)

Iraqi Kurdish and Shi’ite militias may be using US airstrikes on ISIS to further their own agendas. (Reuters)

The US wants Turkey to help in the fight against ISIS. (New York Times)

An article on the Al Jazeera arabic website mocks and doubts ISIS’ murder of two American journalists. (Al Arabiya)

The UN Envoy in Libya Leon urges militias to cease fire and work on a political settlement. (AP)

Commentary:

Hussein Ibish joins Feisal Istrabadi and Frederic Wehrey on the PBS NewsHour to discuss the international coalition against ISIS. (Video and Transcript: PBS)

Hussein Ibish reviews the first comprehensive history of Gaza in any language. (Book Forum)

The Daily Star says Palestinian politicians are unable to put aside differences for the greater national good. (Daily Star)

Jack Khoury says, despite the Arab League backing, Palestinians understand the war on ISIS comes first. (Ha’aretz)

Asmaa al-Ghoul says relief aid in Gaza is failing to reach the most desperate. (Al-Monitor)

Efraim Halevy asks who really won the Gaza war. (Ynet)

Akiva Eldar says Israel’s expropriation of West Bank land reveals PM Netanyahu’s strategy. (Al-Monitor)

Miriam Awadallah says Obama's “strategy of no strategy” on ISIS is intentional, and is part of a more responsible policy. (Annahar)

The New York Times says Obama will have to explain clearly his ISIS strategy. (New York Times)

David Ignatius says the US priority is to help Arabs fight ISIS. (Daily Star)

The CSM says Arabs need a hopeful model of progress if they are to rally behind the US in “destroying” ISIS. (Christian Science Monitor)

Jamal Khashoggi says Saudi Arabia is facing tough choices when it comes to defeating ISIS. (Al Arabiya)

The National says the UK needs to follow the Danish example in dealing with extremists. (The National)


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