Al Thawrat

Ahlan! My name is Najwa. I am the sole person who runs this blog. This blog was created to comment on the various political issues pervading the Middle East, with a focus the countries of Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, which is my country of origin. Feel free to ask, submit, and even dispute (respectfully, if I may add). The commentary I provide is mostly reflective of my view point, though I try to remain as objective as possible. Please free to send me tips in terms of how I should maintain this blog in terms of content I provide and otherwise. Small summaries of main issues documented on this blog are all included in the pages below. Again, this summaries are brief, and not at all all-encompassing of the various other social issues and history that comprise. That's where you should ask me to fill in the gaps. :) Shukraan!

[bint-al-layl]

Two summers ago, me playing Chopin’s Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 17, No. 4

[bint-al-layl]

I... really just need to sleep.

Going to sleep is probably the best advice I’ve ever been given.

[fajrarmy-blog]

Hundreds of anti-AIPAC billboards have been posted across central subway stations in downtown Washington D.C. proclaiming that “AIPAC does not speak for me”.

Sponsored by the left-wing Jewish Voice for Peace and the Avaaz global advocacy group, the posters were highly visible to many of the 13,000 delegates attending the pro-Israel lobby’s annual conference.

 “AIPAC does not speak for me. Most Jewish Americans are pro­peace. AIPAC is not,” the billboards say.

Rebecca Vilkomerson, Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said: “AIPAC is the NRA of foreign policy lobbies, pushing a right­wing agenda that does not represent the majority of Jewish Americans: Its support for military build­up and endless settlement expansion makes peace impossible. It cannot claim to speak for all American Jews.”

The posters are part of a concerted effort by left-wing groups outside the Jewish establishment to get their voices heard during the three-day AIPAC conference. Protesters from various radical Jewish and Palestinian groups have held vigils outside the entrances to the Washington Convention Center, where the conference is being held, leading to some scuffles with police and AIPAC delegates.

Haaretz

[al-thawrat]

Followers,

Hi, all! I know it's been a while since i have posted. I have been tremendously busy with school and other projects. One of these projects includes running the blog for the non-profit I work for. The non-profit specializes in finding sustainable solutions for internal displacement, and if the issue of displacement in post-conflict and post-diaster nations interests, I urge you to click on the link and follow my blog, if not read and reblog a few posts.

Please, this issue is pervasive around the world and I could use all the support possible in getting the word out there. So reblog, reblog, reblog!

[al-thawrat]

This article focuses on Barack Obama's somewhat controversial decision to nominate Chuck Hagel as his next secretary of defense. This decision is controversial not only because of the article's description of Hagel as 'a maverick Republican with enough experience of war to loathe it', but also because of Hagel's ambivalent stance towards the state of Israel and its policies.

If Hagel does become secretary of state, the move may finally catalyze a well-needed debate on what a friendship with Israel should look like in the upcoming years:

That debate, which will unfold during Senate confirmation hearings, is much needed because Jewish leadership in the United States is often unrepresentative of the many American Jews who have moved on from the view that the only legitimate support of Israel is unquestioning support of Israel, and the only mark of friendship is uncritical embrace of a friend. [Source]

For the first time since Operation Cast Lead, Obama has finally attested that "[he] think[s] there is a strain within the pro-Israel community that says unless you adopt an unwavering pro-Likud approach to Israel that you’re anti-Israel and that can’t be the measure of our friendship with Israel. If [the United States and Israel] cannot have an honest dialogue about how do we achieve these goals, then we’re not going to make progress."

While in recent years, the conversation on the question of Palestinian statehood has not significantly, the reformist leadership in the West Bank of Mahmoud Abbas and Salem Fayyed, plus the successful appeal for non-observer status, plus potential new leadership in foreign affairs may advance the conversation further for a contiguous Palestinian state not marred by settlements, occupation, and other violations of human rights.

As mentioned in the article, the movement against Hagel by the right-way pro-Israel community is significant in a way that can be summarized by New York Time's columnist Roger Cohen in this final statement:

I think there is a strain within the pro-Israel community that says unless you adopt an unwavering pro-Likud approach to Israel that you’re anti-Israel and that can’t be the measure of our friendship with Israel. If we cannot have an honest dialogue about how do we achieve these goals, then we’re not going to make progress.

[al-thawrat]

That is power over someone else--that is not the power you seek... There is a big difference between selfishness and self-interestedness.

Vinnie Ferraro, my World Politics teacher, on European Imperialism.

[yallair7al]

Obama to Assad: “Rockets are allowed, Barrels of Explosives are allowed, Mortars are allowed, Artillery is allowed, Air-force is allowed… but chemical weapons are not allowed!” - By cartoonist Jihad ‘Oratani.

Assad has killed almost 48,000 Syrians since March 15, 2011 as the world watches … 

Thanks @EyesOnSyria 

[bint-al-layl]

What I hear many people saying in criticism about U.S. involvement, or rather, coverage of the Syrian Revolution is that we are more concerned with the kinds of weapons Assad is using against the opposition and against civilians instead of the actual causalities themselves. Interesting how the only time we begin to fret about this is when the topic of chemical weapon usage comes into play.

British Foriegn Secretary and Secretary of State William Hague suspects the usage of sarin and mustard gas in Syria. Apparently, American satellites and other observational tools have spotted increased activity in chemical weapons depots.

The Syrian regime has denied this allegation. Hague, however, has contested to this allegation:

“We have seen evident of that,” he said. “We and the U.S., as I said in parliament this week, have seen some evidence of that and that is why we have issued strong warnings about it. We have done so directly to the Syrian regime.” [Guardian]

Hillary Clinton and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta have administered warnings to the regime if they do, in fact, decide to “cross the line” into chemical weapon usage.

“The president of the United States has made very clear there will be consequences, there will be consequences if the Assad regime makes a terrible mistake by using these chemical weapons on their own people,” Panetta added.

There is some speculation that the accusations of chemical weapon usage may exist for the sake of underpinning military threats against the regime by the U.S. A New York Times official has been quoted saying that Syrian is moving into chemical weapon usage for its own purposes. A senior Israeli official was saying the movement into chemical weapons could, in fact, be a bluff. A myriad of theories circulate as to the regimes next actions and intentions. One is certain, though, and that is that most of the Western powers agree that would change the face of crisis if such a degree of human rights violations were to occur. This may include military intervention and the like, but nothing is certain.

[al-thawrat]

Visit Original Link

So I had an anon ask me about the Egyptian Revolution, and I've recently updated myself on it. It appears Mohammed Morsi recently legislated the degree that would give him some sort of absolute power. He recently abolished it, but he is still pushing a referendum for a new constitution. 

 According to NPR, the new decree would address "some of the opposition's demands, but not all". The "sweeping powers" of the president would now see a limit, and he would be subject to judicial review. But the referendum would still protect the upper house of parliament and the constitution body. Despite the opposition's call to postpone drafting a new constitution, the insured presence of the upper house of parliament and constitutional body would insure that this event would ensue.

As for the perspective of Egyptian citizens, it appears there is frustration due to the fact that the United States is more concerned with Egypt's relationship with their ally Israel than its own people. Could this be another Mubarak-esque reign in Egypt manifesting right under our noses? Only time will tell.

[al-thawrat]

texasshaped replied to your post: To my dear Followers...

<3 best of luck

Thanks, June :) I would appreciate being kept in people's thoughts, as this time of year will be difficult for me. :-/ Best of luck to anyone taking finals this week!

[al-thawrat]

Capturing: Lebanon

George Azar is a Lebanese-American who was born in the United States and a descendent of Lebanese grandparents. Growing up during the 60's, there was not much media coverage of the Middle East, and according to Azar in his documentary, pictures of the Middle East weren't necessarily present in magazines and other popular forms of media distribution. It wasn't until the 1967 Arab-Israeli War broke-out that there would be some media coverage, but the picture that was being painted was a very dark one. Arabs were almost always being portrayed as fanatic, bloody fighters and terrorists.

In 1981, George Azar crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border in order document the scene during Israel's invasion of Lebanon. During what is considered to be one of Lebanon's "bloodiest summers" in history, Azar documented some of the most provocative and fascinating subjects of that time having never taken a professional picture in his life, including shots of the Palestinian Liberation Organization guerrilla fighters, teenaged snipers, and terrified civilians. 

Through documenting this war in Lebanon, George Azar put himself in some of the most terrifying situations, becoming a victim of war himself. He was abducted a total of six times, held captive in a house formerly owned by former late Lebanese president Camille Chamoun, and even held up to a wall to be executed. This is a work that not only explores the Lebanese ethos during this war, but his own as well.

Al Jazeera

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Elderly Palestinian men retrieve Qur’ans and other holy books from the rubble of their mosque after it was destroyed by Israeli army tractors, in the village of Yatta near Hebron, on early December 4, 2012.

Despite being built on Palestinian land — the West Bank — the Israeli Army claim that the place of worship was built “without permission”. The mosque was located in the so-called Area C, a closed military zone where Israel exercises full control in what the international community see as a land grab.

Area C is under complete Israeli administrative and military control, and comprises all Israeli settlements - including roads, buffer zones, and other infrastructure - and Israeli military training areas. Less than five per cent of the Palestinian population of the West Bank lives in Area C - yet it covers more than 60 per cent of the Palestinian territory.

Read more on Area C

(Photographs: EPA)

[fajrarmy-blog]

For more information on Israel’s illegal demolition of Palestinian homes visit ICAHD -The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions

[yallair7al]

****MASSACRE*** THIS IS AS HORRIBLE AS IT COMES. ASSAD’S FORCES SHELL A BUSY STREET. Aleppo (Bustan Al Qasr): Dec 3, 2012 - The scene is horrific by any measure, even when comparing it to other massacres in Syria, which is now not only a daily occurrence, but one that happens several times a day across the entire country.

As the cameraman approaches the scene we see body after body of people on the ground. Some are dead, some are dying and some are injured. Chaos ensues as locals try to help the injured. There are no ambulances, fire trucks, police, paramedics or rescue crews coming. Assad forbids them.

As we see more blood and more body and more limbs we come across a man who is still alive, he rolls from his back to his stomach on top of broken glass, he raises his hands in the air and almost attempt to get up, he is probably deep in shock and does not realize that both of his legs have been blown off. With the lack of proper medical facilities in Aleppo, he will most likely die from his injuries as there are not enough doctors and not nearly enough medicine or equipment to treat the injured.

As long as the world watches silently … As long as Russia is allowed to feed the massacre machine known as Assad’s army … As long as ‘humanity’ allows this to happen … then innocent Syrians will die a painful, miserable and agonizing death every single day. 

This is a video of the aftermath as an activist explains what happens (video here)

This video was taken this past Friday (Nov 30th) when they came out to protest despite the shelling (video here)

Thanks @tweets4peace

[al-thawrat]

To my dear Followers...

I just wanted to say how sorry I am for not being to comment on a lot of the things I've been posting and reblogging. It's the end-of-the-semester rush, so I've been very busy. I promise that starting this week I'll be posting more often and providing my insight into the issues I choose to post about. Ironic how at this time news about Palestine and the Syrian Revolution is inundating the news and I don't have the time to comment on it. Anyway, I'll catch you all on the flip side~

~Naji

[al-thawrat]

Palestine approved for non-member status in the UN General Assembly

Jewish Voices for Peace (a non-profit in support of Palestine): The "no" votes: US, Israel, Panama, Palau, Canada, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Czech Republic, Micronesia.

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[al-thawrat]

Interesting gif showing the land Israel has claimed from Palestine since 1947.

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Israel is to stop all aggression against the Gaza Strip from land, sea and air, including cross-border incursions and targeted killings.

Palestinian factions are to stop all aggression from Gaza towards Israel, including rocket fire and attacks on the border.

All border crossings are to be...