Category Archives: Middle East

08May/08

Saudi Promises

Islam and Democracy, Middle East, Saudi Arabia,

4/21/2004

By Nir Boms and Erick StakelbecK

Under the auspices of the United Nations and the Washington-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, representatives from 14 Muslim countries gathered in Istanbul on April 12-14 to discuss implementing democratic reforms in the Middle East. 

While it came as no shock that Syria and Iran boycotted the event, Saudi Arabia – cited often by the Bush administration as one of America’s closest allies in the region and serious about reform – was conspicuous by its absence. 

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08May/08

Rights and Refugees

Middle East, Palestinian Authority, ,

A Muslim Edict Recognizes Israel and Rejects the Palestinian Right of Return

A resurrected 50-year-old Fatwa offers a chance of a religious modus vivendi. It recognizes Israel as a fait accompli similar to other lands where Moslems formerly ruled.

Nir Boms (10/23/2007)

A Fatwa, a Muslim religious ruling, generally crops up in the Western media primarily in the context of extremist religious arbiters such as Youssouf al Qadarawi or Ayman al Zawahiri (bin Laden’s lieutenant), who occasionally provide religious imprimaturs to holy war (jihad) or suicide bombings. Unfortunately it is precisely these voices that are considered representative of the Muslim religious world, which may not be justified.

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08May/08

Hamas’ Weakness: Its Wallet

Middle East, Palestinian Authority, ,

By Elliot Chodoff and Nir Boms
FrontPageMagazine.com | March 3, 2006

Hamas’ ascent to power in the Palestinian Authority has thrown Western policy into a quandary.  Having touted the great advantages of democracy and the having spent millions on democratization, Western leaders are faced with Islamist victories at the polls.  The recent “elections” in Iran, for instance, brought to power an Islamic tyrant who now threatens to detonate an atomic bomb over the “enemies of Islam,” and the “open” elections in Egypt brought an impressive victory to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Hamas victory in the recent Palestinian elections exemplifies the issue: the Palestinian people have chosen a terrorist organization to lead them.

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