This Blog is intended for use by students in the Islamic Middle East course at Northfield Mount Hermon School and guest students and teachers from other participating schools.
Joshua Hammer writes about Lebanon’s predicament today as it stands at a critical crossroad. He notes the “alluring, sensual Lebanon” of wine, jet setters, and beaches, and, he describes the other side of Lebanon: the Lebanon “riven by rivalries” among its leading religio-political sects: Maronites, Shiites, Sunnis, and Druze, each a part of what he [...]
Three articles in today’s (May 22, 2008) New York Times merit attention:
Ethan Bronner, “Israel holds Peace Talks With Syria”
Helene Cooper, “Advice From White House is Not Always Followed”
Robert F. Worth and Nada Bakhri, “Deal for Lebanese Factions Leaves Hezbullah Stronger”
IME Course Study Guide on the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Delegates from the contending political factions in Lebanon have reached a deal. While it pulls Lebanon back from the brink (at least temporarily), the agreement advances the interests of the opposition alliance, including those of the heavily armed Hizbullah militia.
Story at the BBC
A friend in Beirut called my attention to the article linked below by Anthony Shadid on the grim mood in Lebanon these days as its citizens wonder whether they have moved a step closer to renewed civil war.
Anthony Shadid, “Hezbollah Emerges in the Forefront of Power in Lebanon, The Washington Post, May 18, 2008
Thomas Friedman, in his Op-Ed piece, “The New Cold War,” in today’s New York Times (p. A23) writes that America is losing out to Iran in the competition to steer events in the Middle East. Iran’s influence has risen to the point where Israeli Middle East expert Ehud Yaari has begun referring to the era Middle Easterners are living [...]
The violence between the government and the Hizbullah-led opposition is growing outrageously in Lebanon. “The sectarian violence is the worst since the end of the civil war fifteen years ago.” Bush, pointing that Iran is behind Hizbullah and generating instablity in the Middle East, would help strengthen Lebanon’s army to fight Hizbullah.
(See the article.)
Lebanon’s political and social crisis took a sharp turn for the worse yesterday.
Story at BBC
Background on Lebanon’s current crisis
Lebanon, which has been without a president for the last five months and has been in deep political crisis for several years now, saw a one day national strike for higher wages.
Story at BBC
The Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) is a superb online journal edited by Professor Barry Rubin. In the most recent issue you’ll find an article by Jonathan Spyer on how the recent (2006) war in Lebanon failed to resolve that country’s political problems.
More on Lebanon’s current political crisis
This week’s issue of The Economist (Feb. 2-8, 2008) speculates that Lebanon may be heading back into civil war: Article.
Background on Lebanon’s current political crisis.
BBC Middle East