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The Only Democracy? » Entries tagged with "Egypt"

Top 10 Reasons why Rafah opening doesn’t cut it

From Gisha’s Gaza Gateway, more on the inadequacy of the new Rafah Crossing rules on the Egypt-Gaza border. The top 10 reasons why the opening of Rafah Crossing just doesn’t cut it In no particular order of importance, we thought we’d list some of the reasons why the opening of Rafah, while significant and helpful, doesn’t meet all of Gaza’s needs for access and why, as some voices in Israel have recently suggested, it can’t serve as Gaza’s only access point. Despite four unanticipated days of closure last week, the crossing has been operating for the passage of travelers on a more regular but still semi-limited basis. Passage through the crossing remains limited: Egypt has indicated that it will operate the crossing six days per week during regular working hours, but it … Read entire article »

Filed under: Discrimination

New Egyptian government stops helping starve people of Gaza

New Egyptian government stops helping starve people of Gaza

Connecting their revolution to the Palestinian struggle in a positive way, Egypt’s new government refused to continue participation in the Siege of Gaza. Liberation will not stop at the Rafah Crossing.  Hopefully this will help Israel to recognize the inevitable and cease its futile policy. Here’s Gisha’s response to the announcment that the government would ease passage via Rafah. Gisha expresses hope that Egypt will expand the ability of Gaza residents to travel abroad via Rafah Crossing, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Victories for Democracy

Videos of women protestors and other recommended Egypt sources.

Videos of women protestors and other recommended Egypt sources.

One of my sources sends the following recommendation for on-the-ground reports from Egypt. Here are three of the many women of the Egyptian Revolution – that will counter some of those images of passive Muslim women. Change in the Middle East is being pushed forward by women like Mona, Asma, Sarah, etc., too, and they are not few. There are many more women who are actively shaping the revolution,  who are blogging, twittering, writing, vlogging … Read entire article »

Filed under: On The Ground Reports

Interview with Hamas spokesman about Egypt revolution

By Jesse Bacon Ashley Bates continues her excellent reporting by interviewing Hamas spokesman Ahmed Youssef. The story is an interesting variant of the “Is it good for Israel?” that we have been subjected to such a barrage of. While obviously I don’t support Hamas’s views or their actions, I think that too often they are ignored and that leads to US policy based on ignorance. It is interesting to read them during revolution in Egypt, one where the American reaction has been so dominated by fears of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Hamas is in some ways a descendant. (Though unlike Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood does not have an armed wing.) Youssef believes that the Egyptian revolution will help Hamas. Shut out of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Hamas … Read entire article »

Filed under: Victories for Democracy

Meanwhile in Israel..

Meanwhile in Israel..

By Jesse Bacon While their neighbors in Egypt struggled to defend their amazing movement from attack by pro-government goons, Israel used it’s remaining democracy to..further the investigation of NGO’s. The House Committee approved a motion for the first panel to be chaired by MK Fania Kirshenbaum (Yisrael Beiteinu ), who proposed its establishment. Her proposal calls for the panel to examine financial support by foreign governments and organizations for “Israeli organizations taking part in the campaign of delegitimization … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

What will you do?

What will you do?

By Jesse Bacon My friend asked me, only half-jokingly “What if you have to change your name for your blog?” I wish a swift and durable success to the people’s movements in Cairo. I was just coming of age when the Berlin Wall fell (my “camp” was actually a nerdy kids Current Events class in June of 1989.) I was starting to wonder if I would ever see another wave of revolutions like that, sweeping aside … Read entire article »

Filed under: Victories for Democracy