Ramzy Baroud

On April 26, 2011, a meeting that can only be described as sinister took place between the then Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. The most pressing issue discussed at the meeting in Rome was how to deal with African immigrants. Sarkozy, who was under pressure from his right-wing and far-right … Continue reading “War Begets War Refugees: The Moral Bankruptcy of Italy and NATO”

Strange how  intellectual discussion concerning the so-called "Arab Spring" has almost entirely shifted in recent years – from one concerning freedom, justice, democracy and rights in general, into a political wrangle between various antagonist camps. The people, who revolted across various Arab countries are now marginalized in this discussion, and are only used as fodders … Continue reading “Shifting Priorities: The Rise and Fall of Arab Revolutionary Discourse”

One-and-a-half year old Ali Saad Dawabsha became the latest victim of Israeli violence on July 31. He was burnt to death. Other members of his family were also severely burnt in a Jewish settlers’ attack on their home in the village of Duma, near Nablus, in the West Bank. A spokesman for Rabbis for Human … Continue reading “The Palestinian Bubble and the Burning of Toddler, Ali Dawabsha”

As much of the Middle East sinks deeper into division between competing political camps, the so-called "Islamic State" ("IS") continues its unhindered march towards a twisted version of a Muslim caliphate. Many thousands have lost their lives, some in the most torturous ways, so that "IS" may realize its nightmarish dream. Of course, violence meted … Continue reading “Darker Horizons Ahead: Rethinking the War on ‘IS’”

“The Americans have taken the Shia Muslim side in the Middle East’s sectarian war,” declared Robert Fisk in the Independent newspaper on July 15, a day after the US and five major world powers reached a landmark agreement with Iran about its nuclear programs. Fisk’s proclamation is quite cursory. Aside from the fact that he … Continue reading “A Chance for Arab-Iranian Reconciliation: An Opportunity in the Iran Nuclear Deal”

It would be fair to assume that Gershon Baskin’s recent article in the Jerusalem Post – Encountering Peace: Obviously no peace now, so what then? (June 24) – is not a mere intellectual exercise aimed at finding "creative" solutions to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Baskin is a regular contributor to the Jerusalem Post, a … Continue reading “Baskin’s Generous Offer: Making Peace With Israeli Occupation”

When the United States government declared its war on Afghanistan in October 2001, thus taking the first step in its so-called "war on terror," following the devastating attacks of September 11 earlier that year, Iran jumped on board. Then Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, dubbed a reformist, provided substantial assistance in the US effort aimed at … Continue reading “Just Politics: Iran, Like the Rest, Is Not Blameless”

No matter what Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas does, his popularity is declining. In some ways, Abbas’ threshold for popularity was really never impressive to begin with, a trend that is unlikely to change in the near future. But now that a power struggle in his Fatah party is looming, and his two-decade investment in … Continue reading “The Good, Bad, and Uncertain About Recognizing ‘Palestine’”

"What is the Palestinian strategy?" is a question that I have been asked all too often, including on 15 May, the day that millions of Palestinians around the world commemorated the 67th anniversary of the Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians by Zionist militias in 1947-48. The question itself doesn’t require much elaboration, as … Continue reading “Nakba and the Question of ‘Palestinian Strategy’”

In a western capital far away from Gaza and Cairo, I recently shared a pot of tea with an “Egyptian refugee”. The term is familiar to me, but never have I encountered an Egyptian who refers to himself as such. He stated it as a matter of fact by saying: “As an Egyptian refugee ..” … Continue reading “The Arab Boat: It’s an Arab-Palestinian Nakba, and We Are All Refugees”