Archive for August 12, 2009

Pita?

My mother yesterday told me that Arabic bread sold in Lebanon is now called “Pita” on the bags. She seemed quite displeased with that.

Posted by As'ad at 10:03 AM 08/12/09

Protecting Palestinian refugees

“Aside from the lack of national protection for Palestinians, most host states where the majority of Palestinian refugees reside do not recognize or do not apply the full panoply of basic rights afforded to them as refugees under relevant internatio…

Posted by As'ad at 9:51 AM 08/12/09

Medical kooks

“Avoiding masturbation and homosexual activities are among preventive measures one could take against Influenza A (H1N1), according to an eminent practitioner of complimentary therapy.” (thanks Molly)

Posted by As'ad at 9:46 AM 08/12/09

Decoding Walid Jumblat

Comrade Fawwaz decodes Walid Jumblat

Posted by As'ad at 9:45 AM 08/12/09

This is a classic line: “Conflicted over refugees from elsewhere”

“Israel is proud of its heritage as a refuge that took in hundreds of thousands of Jews who survived the Nazi genocide. But it’s conflicted over refugees from elsewhere.” (thanks Sarah)

Posted by As'ad at 9:43 AM 08/12/09

Have you seen Dahlan in a Burqini?

“A Paris swimming pool has refused to allow a young Muslim woman to swim after she tried to enter while wearing a burqini, a full body covering that resembles a wet-suit with built-in hood, AFP reports. The burqini is made for Muslim women who want …

Posted by As'ad at 9:36 AM 08/12/09

Saudi Arabia versus LBC

“Asaad AbuKhalil is a political science professor at California State University. He published this comment…” (thanks Tatiana)

Posted by As'ad at 9:06 AM 08/12/09

Zionism IS racism

“The Education Ministry’s budget for special assistance to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds severely discriminates against Arabs, a new study shows. The average per-student allocation in Arab junior high schools amounts to only 20 percent…

Posted by As'ad at 9:03 AM 08/12/09

Liberating Palestine with…seatbelts

“This week’s conference was chaired by Abbas, a suit-wearing moderate who is in many ways Arafat’s opposite. Addressing the conference, Abbas touted seatbelt use as an example of Palestinian progress – a notable departure from Arafat’s fiery rhetori…

Posted by As'ad at 8:59 AM 08/12/09

How Israeli papers cover up racism: the real Israel

“A 23-year-old woman of Ethiopian descent claimed that the driver of an Egged No. 5 bus in Rishon Lezion refused to allow her to board his bus because of the color of her skin. Speaking to Ynet, Yedno Verka recounted last Wednesday’s incident: “As I…

Posted by As'ad at 8:54 AM 08/12/09

The Fath Circus and Women

“”We formed a coalition with the men, but they betrayed us; they were voted in due to our support, but they failed to reciprocate,” Intissar al-Wasir said Tuesday after all the female candidates failed to gain a seat on Fatah’s 21-member Central Comm…

Posted by As'ad at 8:46 AM 08/12/09

The Economist’s special supplement on the Arab world

I have not written on the special supplement of the Economist (the best magazine there is) on the Arab world (from three weeks ago). What do I think? Well, it is the Economist so it is still better than any other media coverage you read. But I did no…

Posted by As'ad at 8:40 AM 08/12/09

The cruelty of the Dubai government

“Jaubert said he heard whispers about Dubai’s darker side — the abuse of desperate laborers from impoverished Asian lands, the jailing of the occasional Westerner who crossed a sheik — but “I brushed it all off. I saw glamour. I saw marble columns, m…

Posted by As'ad at 8:34 AM 08/12/09