MENASource

First Impressions of the Constitutional Declaration

By Yussef Auf

Amid the furor and amidst much blood spilled on Egyptian soil, the anticipated constitutional declaration has arrived, five days after Egypt’s ‘great transformation’ at a historic time. Without a doubt, it is more than justified to have awaited the declaration with great anxiety. Many look forward to erasing the traces of the past two and […]

Top News: NSF Submits Proposal to Amend the Constitutional Declaration

The National Salvation Front (NSF) submitted a proposal to amend the constitutional declaration issued by interim President Adly Mansour. The proposal suggests articles to be added and others to be amended.   GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION Egypt’s interim cabinet to be formed next week: PM Interim prime minister Hesham el-Beblawi, an economist and former finance minister, told […]

Top News: Syria Opposition Denies Russian Chemical Attack Allegation

The opposition Syrian National Coalition on Wednesday denied Russian allegations that rebel fighters fired a projectile laden with the nerve agent sarin at a suburb of Aleppo in March, saying United Nations inspectors should be allowed to investigate the attack.

Michele Dunne: Is Egypt Headed Towards a Civil State or Civil War?

Writing for the New Republic about the current situation in Egypt, Michele Dunne, Director of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, sets aside the question, was former president Mohamed Morsi’s ouster a coup. Instead, she asks, are things in Egypt going to get better or worse? Two potential scenarios are on the horizon. […]

What Will the Gulf’s $12 Billion Buy in Egypt?

By Mohsin Khan and Richard LeBaron

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait rushed to congratulate the Egyptian military and offer fresh pledges of economic support to Egypt as soon as the generals threw out the Muslim Brotherhood and started massive arrests of its leadership over the last several days. Clearly happy with the change in Egypt’s government, the […]

Syria: Blackberry Diplomacy

By Frederic C. Hof

A friendly discussion about Syria with a former US State Department colleague gave rise to a point I will not soon forget. “Fred, there’s no time for policy deliberations about Syria or anyplace else. We live in the era of Blackberry diplomacy. We react and we improvise as best we can.”

Profile: Hazem el-Beblawi, Egypt’s Interim Prime Minister

By Amira Mikhail

Since Mohamed Morsi’s ouster on July 3, the Egyptian political debate has centered on the appointment of the interim prime minister. Many names were floated over the last few days including, National Salvation Front leader Mohamed ElBaradei, founding member of the Social Democratic Party, Ziad Bahaa-Eldin, and former finance minister Samir Radwan. The Salafi Nour […]

Top News: United States ‘Cautiously Encouraged’ by Timeline for Egypt Vote

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the United States said it was "cautiously encouraged" by a timeline proposed by Egypt’s interim rulers for elections to replace ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Washington also again walked a fine line on the issue of whether it would brand the military takeover as a "coup"—a move that under US law […]

Top News: Syrian Naval Base Explosion Points to Israeli Raid

Foreign forces destroyed advanced Russian anti-ship missiles in Syria last week, rebels said Tuesday—a disclosure that appeared to point to an Israeli raid.

A Holistic Approach to Security in Libya

By Karim Mezran

With the arrival of Ambassador Deborah Jones last month in Tripoli to assume the months-vacant ambassadorial post, there is a newfound opportunity to reinvigorate the relationship between Libya and the United States. Reports indicate that she received a warm welcome from the Libyan government and people who are eager to elevate their country’s engagement with […]