MaxedOutMama
Thursday, February 24, 2005
The Ice Dam Is Breaking Up
An article in Arab News(AFP) reports that a group of Syrian dissidents? (progressives?, liberals?) is calling for their government to leave Lebanon:
In a gesture of defiance, more than 200 Syrian writers, artists and rights activists issued an open letter to President Bashar Assad yesterday calling on his regime to withdraw from Lebanon.and:
The activists said it was “time for Syria to adopt a new policy which takes account of latest events, notably the aftermath of the killing of Rafik Hariri, and establishes a new healthy relationship with Lebanon based on equality”.One would have to say that there is a pent-up desire to reform their own government finding its outlet here. I found it interesting that this article appeared in Arab News at all. Another current article discusses a reform movement in the United Arab Emirates:
Meanwhile, more than100 journalists staged a rally yesterday to denounce Hariri’s murder which the Lebanese opposition has blamed on the government in Beirut and its Syrian backers, a charge strongly denied by Damascus. The rally “reflects the sadness of the man in the street in Syria after the misfortune which has struck our two brotherly countries,” said Saber Falhout, head of the Syrian General Union of Journalists.
Reformists are calling for an elected Parliament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an unprecedented public demand for a greater say in the government.The struggle over seating a cabinet in Palestine may be coming to an end:
Although there is no political dissent or extremist violence in the UAE, it is now the only state without elected bodies in the Gulf region after Saudi Arabia held municipal elections earlier this month.
“It has become embarrassing for the UAE to lag behind others politically in the region. It is high time for us to have a fully elected house — enough of an appointed council without legislative powers,” Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, a professor at UAE University told Gulf News daily in remarks published yesterday.
Wielding unexpected political clout, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas stepped in yesterday to quell a legislative rebellion that has held up the appointment of a new Cabinet and threatened to bring down his prime minister.and:
Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has been trying all week to install a new Cabinet. Lawmakers objected to his first list because it was stacked with political cronies of the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.
The turmoil underscored the increasingly freewheeling nature of Palestinian politics following last year’s death of Yasser Arafat, with politicians more willing to break party discipline.Another controversy has erupted over Abbar's offer to buy the Israeli settler's homes in Gaza after they leave them:
“When Abbar dared to lead a foreign policy of his own ... this became totally unacceptable,” said an editorial Monday in Al-Ittihad newspaper, the official daily of the government of Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital.I wonder if a pro-government paper isn't trying to suppress a possible bid for leadership status by Abbar. He probably stands to make money off of the deal, but there's more to it, I think. The Israelis might demolish the homes otherwise.
“He wanted to embarrass the State of the Emirates by private contacts (with) the Israelis, which is irresponsible and unacceptable,” it said.
“It’s the first time in the history of our country, with its spotless record, that an individual dares, by such contact with Israel, to overrun the publicly announced policy of our country,” it added, hinting that Abbar should be punished.
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What Foreign Policy initiative?
He wants to buy real estate. He needs to deal with the owners. No different tnam if he were to buy real estate anywhere else.
The real deal here is that they don;t want to be seen as profiting from the Palestinians. The want the Israelis to transfer the real estate outright to the PA, gratis- which of course, is what the PA wants- so they can sell the apartments- that cost them nothing.
Unfortunately, that isn't the way it works.
He wants to buy real estate. He needs to deal with the owners. No different tnam if he were to buy real estate anywhere else.
The real deal here is that they don;t want to be seen as profiting from the Palestinians. The want the Israelis to transfer the real estate outright to the PA, gratis- which of course, is what the PA wants- so they can sell the apartments- that cost them nothing.
Unfortunately, that isn't the way it works.
Gindy - What a fantastic link! Thank you.
Esther - I don't know. I read somewhere that people were afraid of political repercussions if they did, but I think it's ridiculous to block payment for them. Everything in the ME gets sort of twisted though - it's like trying to live in a house full of distorted mirrors.
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Esther - I don't know. I read somewhere that people were afraid of political repercussions if they did, but I think it's ridiculous to block payment for them. Everything in the ME gets sort of twisted though - it's like trying to live in a house full of distorted mirrors.
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