While the Arab world has been subverting the system and making some noise, Palestinians have by and large remained quiet as the spotlight left them. Bar a few attempts to wage peaceful protests on Israel's surrounding borders mid May, Palestine has been somewhat sidelined by the 'Arab cause'. Or looking at it another way, Fateh and Hamas made a unity agreement before the disgruntled Palestinians had a chance to pipe up. The Raffah crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was reopened successfully again after teething problems the first ...

As Mubarak’s trial date for August 3rd is announced, we consider whether he has ‘anything’ on his side to make a positive case for Hosni Mubarak. On 24 May, Mubarak was ordered to stand trial on charges of premeditated murder of peaceful protestors during the 2011 Egyptian revolution and, if convicted, could face the death penalty. What Mubarak acheived for Egypt? We’ve slated many Arab Leaders recently, so maybe it’s time to at least consider the flip-side of the coin and review any good deeds that may have been done ...

Shakira seeks to celebrate her 'Lebo-Syrian' roots - recently feeling inspired while performing in Morocco after her tour through the Emirates and Lebanon, Shakira expressed her keen desire to fast-track her Arabic learning in order to sing some Arabic singles, if not albums. Half Lebanese by her mixed parentage, she has always claimed a Middle East as well as Latin influence to her music. Shakira often speaks of her Arabic ancestry with pride, revealing that she grew up listening to the Arab world’s classic divas of the 20th century, Egyptian ...

Given a tradition of tight relations between the military and the state (for now, the people), Egypt could be forgiven for expecting a promising and blossoming bond to prevail after Mubarak's ouster February 11, 2001. The first encounters between the armed forces and civilians were quite warm: and people celebrated together with an army they claimed was of and from them after all. Protesters jumped on tanks in joy and paused to take pictures with military forces in khaki uniforms. Since Mubarak fell and handed over power to the Supreme ...

In the Middle East, courtesy of MBC, Oprah's much hyped show finale was aired yesterday, Saturday 28 May 2011, capping 25 years of the most popular talk show in America. Twenty-five years dedication to the job, and she has 'not called in a sick day', she reminds us since the show's first airing, September 8, 1986. Yesterday, 4,561 episodes later, the Middle East tuned in to a lady they'd mostly, with typical Arab hospitality, welcomed into their living rooms since the show aired on MBC 6 years ago. Many of ...

Syrian household soap and film favorite heroes, who tackle social problems on the big screen, are letting the people down in the real world. They are rallying around the Assad regime instead of standing up for their people and fans in revolution. With enough disappointment for the Syrian people at this time, given their President’s broken promise to them for reform, and his treacherous attack on them in the streets, this is another slap in the face for Syria. It is said that Assad asked the Syrian actors and actresses ...

The life journey of Egypt's First Lady, who once caught the public attention for her promising poise and ambition, by now more infamous for corruption and narrowly avoiding jail. Today she admits that certain assets that appeared to belong to her were public property, including charitable funds in her bank accounts, as she side-steps jail by giving back to Egypt what's rightfully Egypt's. From modest roots in Wales, to more advantaged connections in Egypt, this woman rose to the High Life where she outstayed her welcome, only to aggravate her ...

Word on the Arab street, when not debating the latest on the Arab revolutions, and the state of catastrophe in Yemen or Libya or Syria, has turned to the new bid to expand the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Scrutiny lies with the two potential new candidates for entry into this Gulf state league, namely Jordan and Morocco. The twitter-sphere is buzzing (or tweeting) with humorous remarks, as well as more grave concerns around the implications of such a shift, for both sides of the equation: the new members and the ...

Surrounded by Six Sides: From North, South, East and West, Israel is being assaulted by peaceful Palestinian-supporting protestors who believe their time for triumph may have arrived earlier than expected on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the 1948 creation of Israel, known to Palestinians as the "Nakba" that marks the forced fleeing of Palestinians from their homeland. An attempted rescue operation May 15, 2011 saw Palestinians from all neighbouring borders attempting to 'liberate Palestine' through the weapon of peaceful protest. The Nakba day incidents on Israel's borders showed ...

Derrivative TV : It seems that the Middle East is a bit low on ideas when it comes to TV shows. An otherwise bubbling hot-tub abuzz with innovation, (take Dubai) that is the rapidly developing Arab World, seems to rely on borrowing TV from all over the globe. If it’s not soap operas from Turkey, it’s talent shows, reality TV shows, and game shows- from Europe and the West. From The Apprentice Dubai (el Idara Jadara) or El-Wadi- the Arabic version of The Farm - another Swedish creation that has ...

Self-defeating strategies and stunts by Arab nations that cost the Arab world more in damages not to mention negative PR than the so-called causes undertaken, that in themselves probably do not serve the interests of the people. Nor do these side-causes for that matter promote any arguably wider Arab Cause, such as Palestine. The following Arab countries share a habit of getting embroiled in either domestic or satellite external conflicts that do not necessarily succeed nor advance the cause intended, much less the country's own pressing issues. Yet it's not ...