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Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Libya

Content

MENASource

May 20, 2015

Q&A: Everything You Need to Know About the Morsi Verdict

By EgyptSource

On May 16, Judge Shaaban al-Shami sentenced 122 defendants, including former president Mohamed Morsi, to death in two cases. Morsi was sentenced to death on prison break charges, and will be sentenced on espionage charges on June 2.

North Africa

MENASource

May 20, 2015

Libya: Is there Really an Alternative to Dialogue?

By Mohamed Eljarh

Libya continues to suffer the consequences from the ongoing political and armed struggle between various Libyan factions. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) has further complicated matters—as has the reluctance of the international community to act assertively against other spoilers of the democratic process, contributing to Libya’s downward spiral into civil war […]

Libya
French Mistral warship, Nov. 25, 2006

NATOSource

May 19, 2015

France’s Orphaned Mistrals Can Solve a Sea of Troubles

By Blake Franko and Nicholas Varangis

As the European Union struggles to remain a unified and influential force for the 21st century, geopolitical developments have only made this goal more elusive.

European Union France

In the News

May 18, 2015

Mezran and Talverdian: Why America Needs to Support Tunisia Now

By Mezran and Talverdian

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Karim Mezran and Rafik Hariri Center Associate Director for Research Lara Talverdian write for The National Interest on why US-Tunisian cooperation should extend beyond the security realm:

North Africa

MENASource

May 14, 2015

A New Sinai Battle? Bedouin Tribes and Egypt’s ISIS Affiliate

By Mokhtar Awad and Mostafa Abdou

Recent developments in Sinai have once again raised the specter of a “tribal awakening” to rid the region of jihadists. Talk in recent years of armed tribal action against jihadists is not new and has generally gone nowhere, but a number of dynamics may make this moment different. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, (ABM), an Islamic State […]

North Africa
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, May. 11, 2015

NATOSource

May 11, 2015

Foreign Ministers to Address Growing Turmoil Along NATO’s Borders

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

We will keep NATO strong and we will help keep our neighborhood stable. Because if our neighborhood is stable we will be more secure.

NATO NATO Partnerships

MENASource

May 11, 2015

Egyptian Journalist Sues Al Jazeera for $83 Million in Punitive Damages

By EgyptSource

In a Monday press conference, Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy announced he has filed a lawsuit against his employer, Al Jazeera. The journalist is suing the Qatar news network for 100 million Canadian dollars ($83 million) for negligence.  

North Africa

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2015

Is this the Solution to Europe’s Migrant Problem?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

EU plan to bomb traffickers’ ships in Libyan waters ‘counterproductive,’ says Atlantic Council’s Mezran The European Union wants the United Nations to support its plan to destroy human traffickers’ ships in Libyan territorial waters before smugglers use them to ferry migrants across the Mediterranean Sea. Can it work? No, said Karim Mezran, Resident Senior Fellow […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

MENASource

May 8, 2015

The Army’s Nation

By Maged Atiya

Some of the least recognized voices in Egypt today belong to men and women trying to build and grow small and medium size businesses. While the hope for broad prosperity rests within their ranks, their concerns are often overlooked. Their voices today paint an unhappy picture. Among the plethora of comments, most offered privately, they […]

North Africa

MENASource

May 7, 2015

Court Ruling Threatens Egypt’s Labor Movement

By Khaled Dawoud

A recent ruling issued by the Supreme Administrative Court, outlawing labor strikes, has called into question the ability of Egyptian workers to defend their interests peacefully. The ruling, which forcibly retires striking employees, was criticized by labor and human rights activists for several reasons. First, it ignores article 15 in the Constitution, which states that […]

North Africa

Experts