Mike Pouraryan
"Outsiders" Middle East Watch (8/2/2011): Wow!!!
The Middle East is changing rapidly before our eyes. The pace of change and the awarness is simply beyond words.
I begin with Israel. Israel has been gripped with nationwide protests over the past 30 days. Over 150,000 people have been protesting the wide gap between the rich and the poor. This has been a campaign largely coordinated over the net. It is a campaign that has not gained much traction in the mainstream press in the United States or Europe. Unless one actually reads Haaretz or tracks organizations like Peace Now or J Street, the extent of the movement is really not known. What I find so gratifying is it shows the total impotence of the Government in responding to the movement.
I have been monitoring the official Israeli Government reaction to the protests. The only reaction I have to it is: tepid. They have announced the creation of a commision. The reaction of the people on the street has been this: whatever!!! What is clear is that Israel needs to truly begin to understand the challenges it faces internally as it continues to defy international law with the building of the wall and continued expansion of settlements.
Moving up to Syria, I can't help but be horrified. The Syrian Regime has sent tanks to Hamma. I understand that the City of Hamma is a City that has some 400,000 residents. Hundreds have been killed and there is a clear attempt by the Syrian Regime to crush the uprising. The more brutal the Syrian Regime has apparently acted, the more determined the opposition has become. I have seen condementations from around the World. Assad is clearly fighting for his survival. He has seen what has happened to Mubarak, Ben Ali and the other President-Kings and has realized that that there is no choice. It has seen what has happened to Gaddafi and how he has basically initiated a scortched earth policy to survive in Office. Assad has clearly decided that his survival and the survival of his family's rule is more important than the welfare of Syrians.
Beyond Syria, there is the continued unrest in Bahrain. The King of Bahrain has been propped up by Saudi Arabia. I was amused when I saw a report on Iranian State Media that a daughter of Saudi King Abdullah was married to the Son of the King of Bahrain. Supposedly the King of Bahrain had hosted a reception for them. This is as the Government of Bahrain assures the World that it is allowing human rights activists to investigate the arbirtary arrests. Al Jazeera, right now, is interviewing the wife of one of the detainees.
Moving on to Iran, the political moves against the President is gathering steam with the recent appointment of Shahrodi, the former Chief Justice, to head a new Mediation Body to mediate disputes between the three branches. How much more complicated the Government becomes is anyone's guess. As the key internal opposition leaders, Mousavi and Karroubi languish under detention, they should have a sense of vindication as the opposition to A-Jad Grows ever more.
It is just fascinating to be a witness to history.
.
I begin with Israel. Israel has been gripped with nationwide protests over the past 30 days. Over 150,000 people have been protesting the wide gap between the rich and the poor. This has been a campaign largely coordinated over the net. It is a campaign that has not gained much traction in the mainstream press in the United States or Europe. Unless one actually reads Haaretz or tracks organizations like Peace Now or J Street, the extent of the movement is really not known. What I find so gratifying is it shows the total impotence of the Government in responding to the movement.
I have been monitoring the official Israeli Government reaction to the protests. The only reaction I have to it is: tepid. They have announced the creation of a commision. The reaction of the people on the street has been this: whatever!!! What is clear is that Israel needs to truly begin to understand the challenges it faces internally as it continues to defy international law with the building of the wall and continued expansion of settlements.
Moving up to Syria, I can't help but be horrified. The Syrian Regime has sent tanks to Hamma. I understand that the City of Hamma is a City that has some 400,000 residents. Hundreds have been killed and there is a clear attempt by the Syrian Regime to crush the uprising. The more brutal the Syrian Regime has apparently acted, the more determined the opposition has become. I have seen condementations from around the World. Assad is clearly fighting for his survival. He has seen what has happened to Mubarak, Ben Ali and the other President-Kings and has realized that that there is no choice. It has seen what has happened to Gaddafi and how he has basically initiated a scortched earth policy to survive in Office. Assad has clearly decided that his survival and the survival of his family's rule is more important than the welfare of Syrians.
Beyond Syria, there is the continued unrest in Bahrain. The King of Bahrain has been propped up by Saudi Arabia. I was amused when I saw a report on Iranian State Media that a daughter of Saudi King Abdullah was married to the Son of the King of Bahrain. Supposedly the King of Bahrain had hosted a reception for them. This is as the Government of Bahrain assures the World that it is allowing human rights activists to investigate the arbirtary arrests. Al Jazeera, right now, is interviewing the wife of one of the detainees.
Moving on to Iran, the political moves against the President is gathering steam with the recent appointment of Shahrodi, the former Chief Justice, to head a new Mediation Body to mediate disputes between the three branches. How much more complicated the Government becomes is anyone's guess. As the key internal opposition leaders, Mousavi and Karroubi languish under detention, they should have a sense of vindication as the opposition to A-Jad Grows ever more.
It is just fascinating to be a witness to history.
.
