April 22, 2008

Middle East News: World Press Roundup

Rami Khoury reports on Arab perceptions of the United States’ policies for the International Herald Tribune (2). The Middle East Times’ Claude Salhani discusses potential consequences of Jimmy Carter’s visit(4). Al-Ahram probes the divide between HAMAS and Egypt (5). The Daily Star examines Israel’s economic consequences from continued fighting (6). Haaretz examines how regional politics are affecting the U.S. Presidential race (9).

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America Through Arab Eyes

One of the paradoxes of the complex relationship between the Arab world and the United States relates to the rhetoric and reality of democratic values.

The Bush administration has made democracy promotion a central pillar of its foreign policy in the Middle East at the level of rhetoric, but in practice it pays little heed to behaving democratically in its interaction with the Arab people.

If democracy means the rule of the people, ideally a country's domestic and foreign policies should reflect the majority sentiments of its citizens.

Carter Causes Controversy

The visit of the 39th President of the United States to the region has not surprisingly attracted a lot of heated and opinionated discussion as to what his somewhat unconventional itinerary, especially when compared to visits from other international figures of similar repute, plans to achieve during his trip which will take the 2002 Nobel Peace laureate to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Analysis: Oops, Jimmy Carter Did It Again!

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter started out his latest Middle East trip with dark clouds hanging over him. Both the U.S. administration of George W. Bush and the Israeli government opposed his plans to include a meeting with the Damascus-based leadership of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, otherwise known as Hamas.

Although one needs to remain extra cautious until any deal is finalized and the ink on the paper is dry - and even then, there is always the risk of something going wrong - Carter's talks in the Syrian capital seem to have gotten off to a good start.

Borderlines And Frontlines

Quiet prevails on the border between Egypt and Gaza, for now. Below the surface, however, tension between Egypt and Hamas is seething. Statements made by Hamas spokesmen last week about a potential replay of January's mass breakout of ordinary Palestinians over the border "inevitably" led to a firm Egyptian response, threatening "a harsh reaction" while beefing up visible security on the border.

Actually, Israel's Economy Can't Do Well Without Peace

Does the Israeli economy really need peace? The prime minister's office routinely boasts that growth in Israel has outpaced that of other "developed" countries for the past five years, even during 2006, when the country went to war against Lebanon. Business journals report on the more than 80 Israeli and global venture capital funds financing hundreds of start-ups.

Israel Allows Entry Of Aid Into Gaza

Several days after it was sealed off following the Palestinian attacks on Gaza's border fence Saturday, the Sufa border crossing in the southern Strip has reopened Tuesday morning.

More than 86 trucks carrying food and medical supplies are expected to enter Gaza until noon.

Hamas: We'll Give Final Response To Truce Proposal On Thursday

Hamas plans to give its final response on Thursday to a proposed Egyptian-mediated truce, a senior official from the Islamist group said on Tuesday. Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil also said that Hamas is considering whether to accept a truce with Israel which would take effect just in the Gaza Strip.

The move would mark a significant concession by Hamas in dropping a demand that the truce immediately include the West Bank as well, as Egyptian mediators try to halt the fighting between Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza and southern Israel.

Hamas For Mccain

The battle for Gaza wil not be won at Kerem Shalom, but in Washington. Hamas' attack on IDF forces a few hours before the start of the Pesach holiday contributed to putting the Democrats on the defensive, as well as reminding us of the futility of American attempts to promote a peace agreement between two powerless leaders: Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas, whose real influence is not much greater than that of retiree volunteer Jimmy Carter.

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