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Qatar’s Shifting Regional Role

- November 26, 2012 - Qatar must be regarded as an established regional and international actor. It played a key role in supporting the Arab Spring movements and it is now hosting the UN climate summit COP18. Salman Shaikh gives an overview of Qatars ambitions and priorities. Salman Shaikh more»
Man riding a bike in the city of Jedda during a flood in 2011

Urban Areas in the Arab Region: Time for Adaption to Climate Change

- November 21, 2012 - The interactions between natural risks in the Arab region, climate change effects, water scarcity, and lack of food self-sufficiency represent a serious challenge to policies and plans in Arab countries and cities. Over the last three years, climate-related disasters have cast their shadow on around 50 million people in the Arab region. Amal Dababseh more»

Interview

"Immediate cease fire and new policy options to include Gaza in regional negotiations are needed"

- November 21, 2012 - In an interview with Sandra Schulz from German radio station Deutschland funk René Wildangel, head of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s office in Ramallah, warns of an Israeli ground invasion in Gaza and a repetition of the "absolutely disastrous war" of 2008. Instead, an immediate cease fire and new policy options to include Gaza in regional negotiations are needed.  René Wildangel/Sandra Schulz more»

Dossier

Seasons of Change: Climate, Energy and Resource Politics in the MENA Region

- In the midst of turbulent times in the Middle East and North Africa, Qatar is hosting the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Doha from November 26 to December 7, 2012. This trilingual webdossier presents analysis and perspectives on how climate change, resource and energy politics relate to political and social change.  more»

Will Qatar Push for a Climate Spring?

- November 1, 2012 - Qatar, that faces many problems of climate change that many small island states do, has a golden opportunity to continue demonstrating leadership in the region beyond supporting the different revolutions. As the host of COP 18, Qatar should not only play the host but should also put climate change as the top political priority – now and in the future.

Wael Hmaidan more»
Israel's first solar field in the Arava Valley

Climate Change Policy in Israel Must Become a National Priority

- November 1, 2012 - The “startup nation” Israel that exports solar technology abroad and is famous for the early implementation of solar water heaters is failing to implement renewable energy sources at home. Public awareness is low and the government lacks a coherent strategy even though impacts already affect the country: African climate refugees seeking water, food and shelter. Maya Milrad-Givon more»

The Power of Youth for Environmental Justice

- October 31, 2012 - The Arab world has witnessed uprisings from its youth, who are demanding more democratic governance systems, and particularly social justice, which implies both economic and environmental justice. But those regimes remain unaware of the power of the youth, who can deliver solutions for climate change. Waleed Mahmoud Mansour more»
Wind Farm in Egypt

After spring comes? Recent development investments into the MENA region

- October 31, 2012 - In the wake of the Arab Spring, G8 countries and other nations have pledged major sums to stabilize the region. These financial and economic support packages could also fail to stabilize the region. Successfully managing the wide range of risks involved in the region requires addressing vulnerabilities directly in order to turn what will be a low-carbon and resource-constrained future from a risk into an opportunity.  Sabrina Schulz more»
Women carrying water barrels in Egypt 2008

The Middle East and North Africa’s Water Resources in a Changing Climate

- October 31, 2012 - The Middle East and North Africa region is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its already scarce water resources, the high levels of aridity, and the long coastal stretch. Adaptation to the impacts of climate change must start from now to build up the resilience of the affected countries and communities within. Nadim Farajallah more»

Video

The Whole Jewish History in One Hour

- August 31, 2012 - The aspect of learning is central to the Jewish culture. David Solomon, scholar, publicist, translator and kabbalist, gives an insight into Jewish history. Internationally known for his innovative, inspiring and dynamic way of teaching, he presents within just one hour the whole history of the Jewish people - from its origins until today and beyond.
  more»

Israel has a refugee problem – similar to Europe’s

- June 4, 2012 - After brutal attacks against African refugees in conjuncion with a demonstration at Tel Aviv's HaTikva, high-ranking politicans of the Israeli governement are demanding a tougher action against illegal immigrants. But there are also more and more voices that support more agreeable solutions. Marianne Zepp more»
Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Photo: Christian Sterzing)

Conference and Dossier

The Transformation of Palestine

- The geographic and social fragmentation of the Palestinian people is essentially a result of the conflict in the Middle East. This topic represents the main focus of our two-day conference with international experts in March 2010. Our dossier provides further information about the conference and the invited experts. more»

Executive Summary

Towards a New Transatlantic Strategy on Iran and its Nuclear Program

- February 10, 2010 - In June 2009 the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the American Jewish Committee and the Aspen Institute Germany jointly organized and hosted a one-day, closed door conference for senior policy makers, practitioners, experts and select members of the media at Aspen. It marked the final event of a series of discussions on the Iranian nuclear challenge carried out by the Heinrich Böll Foundation over the last two years. more»

US - Israeli Relations: No More Have One’s Cake and Eat it

- May 22, 2009 - Last week's meeting between Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu showed a fundamental disagreement between the U.S. and Israel. Obama made it clear that he is committed to a two-state solution, yet Netanyahu vacillated. Israel and its most important ally may face a deep ideological and strategic rift. By Akiva Eldar more»

Crisis Prevention

Policy Paper

International Security Guarantees on the Way to a Permanent Agreement on a Two-State-Solution Israel / Palestine

March 20, 2012 - This paper outlines the tasks and character of an international mission aimed at supporting Israel and Palestine in the implementation of a peace agreement. It is the result of intensive consultation among a group of high-level experts - amongst them security experts from Israel, Palestine, Europe and Canada. The consultation process was organized by the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The Core Group more»
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The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria

Mixed Messages and Open Friction: The Arab League Summit in Damascus, 2008

- April 24, 2008 - The latest Arab Summit, held in the Syrian capital Damascus on March 29 and 30, 2008, was preceded and accompanied by intense diplomatic wrangling and threats of a boycott, all geared to pressure the Syrian hosts to change their position towards the political crisis in Lebanon. The Syrian analyst Sami Moubayed provides a political appraisal of this summit. By Sami Moubayed more»

Iraqi Refugees between Precarious Safety and Precipitous Return

- April 7, 2008 - Large numbers of Iraqi live in neighbouring countries, especially Syria and Jordan. This report attempts to give an overview of the origin and magnitude of the crisis, probes the likelihood of substantial numbers of refugees returning in the near future, and assesses the responsibility of international actors towards the refugees. By Layla Al-Zubaidi and Heiko Wimmen more»

Democracy

Israel has a refugee problem – similar to Europe’s

June 4, 2012 - After brutal attacks against African refugees in conjuncion with a demonstration at Tel Aviv's HaTikva, high-ranking politicans of the Israeli governement are demanding a tougher action against illegal immigrants. But there are also more and more voices that support more agreeable solutions. Marianne Zepp more»

Syria: "There Must Be a Freedom Square, And We Have Set the Date"

- November 21, 2011 - As the Syrian popular uprising continues, so does the brutal response by the regime. A recount of daily confrontations with arrest, torture and disappearance of family members, friends and fellow activists. Through the cracks of repression, though, shimmers an undaunted dream of freedom. Razan Zaitouneh more»

Speech

Israel 1948 – 2008, Accomplishments, Challenges, Implications

- November 4, 2008 - No doubt, there are reasons to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary. The very fact that Israel has made it up to now is all but self-evident, considering its widely hostile neighbours and its extremely contradictory internal condition. By Ralf Fücks more»

Democracy in the Arab World

- July 4, 2008 - George Giacaman from Birzeit University in Palestine explains how partial democratisation in the Middle East serves to stabilise the rule of oligarchies - and at the same time is in the interest of Western powers who are afraid that complete democratisation will undermine their influence in the region. more»

Gender

Cover

Publication series democracy, Volume 21

Diversity and Female Political Participation: Views on and from the Arab World

October 25, 2010 - Equality, respect for human rights, and protection of citizens’ rights by the government are mutually enhancing features of good governance. They are meant to refer to men and women alike. But what does the political participation of women look like within the immense diversity of the Arabic world? This edition of the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s series on Democracy analyzes the historical and current developments of gender relationships, and the role of women in the politics of Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. more»
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Introduction Gender

- Promoting women's equality and gender democracy is a central theme of the Heinrich Böll Foundation's work in the Middle East. Through its feminist programmes, the Foundation supports women's organisations with organisational and content-related development and strategy, and also fosters the networking of social and political initiatives. more»

Ecology

Man riding a bike in the city of Jedda during a flood in 2011

Urban Areas in the Arab Region: Time for Adaption to Climate Change

November 21, 2012 - The interactions between natural risks in the Arab region, climate change effects, water scarcity, and lack of food self-sufficiency represent a serious challenge to policies and plans in Arab countries and cities. Over the last three years, climate-related disasters have cast their shadow on around 50 million people in the Arab region. Amal Dababseh more»

Will Qatar Push for a Climate Spring?

- November 1, 2012 - Qatar, that faces many problems of climate change that many small island states do, has a golden opportunity to continue demonstrating leadership in the region beyond supporting the different revolutions. As the host of COP 18, Qatar should not only play the host but should also put climate change as the top political priority – now and in the future.

Wael Hmaidan more»
Israel's first solar field in the Arava Valley

Climate Change Policy in Israel Must Become a National Priority

- November 1, 2012 - The “startup nation” Israel that exports solar technology abroad and is famous for the early implementation of solar water heaters is failing to implement renewable energy sources at home. Public awareness is low and the government lacks a coherent strategy even though impacts already affect the country: African climate refugees seeking water, food and shelter. Maya Milrad-Givon more»

The Power of Youth for Environmental Justice

- October 31, 2012 - The Arab world has witnessed uprisings from its youth, who are demanding more democratic governance systems, and particularly social justice, which implies both economic and environmental justice. But those regimes remain unaware of the power of the youth, who can deliver solutions for climate change. Waleed Mahmoud Mansour more»
Garbage in front of a restaurant

Climate Change and Tourism in Lebanon

- June 1, 2011 - Lebanon is back on the world tourist map, and Beirut is currently traded as the "hottest city on the Mediterranean." The tourism industry is now one of the driving sectors of the country. But the growing tourism also has strong environmental impacts.
Manja Riebe more»

Perspectives Middle East No.1: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World

- April 5, 2011 - In the first edition of Perspectives Middle East, activists and decision-makers from the Arab world and Europe critically discuss the transfer and use of civilian nuclear energy in the region. With contributions from Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Hamed Beheshti, Ali Darwish, Leila Ghanem, Dennis Kumentat und Nikolaus Supersberger, Najib Saab, Larbi Sadiki, und Jürgen Trittin. more»
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Publications

Perspectives Middle East

Syria's Revolution: Society, Power, Ideology

February 8, 2012 - It is almost a year ago that Syrian citizens, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, courageously took to the streets in protest against the decades-long denial of their basic rights by the Assad regime. But Syria as a topic for research has long been marginalized in cultural, social, and political studies. This publication written by authors from the region wants to give new perspectives on Syria. more»
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Four Years after the World Food Price Crisis: The Governance of World Food Security

- October 14, 2011 - The 2007–2008 world food price crisis caused political and economical instability and social unrest in both poor and developed nations. This was only the latest example for a functioning food system being an indispensable pillar of a stable economy and a society capable of reproducing itself. A new study outlines steps how the intergovernmental Committee on World Food Security could be expanded towards a politically relevant international steering committee. Nora McKeon more»
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Cover: Protesting Woman with sign

Perspectives #2 Mai 2011

People's Power: The Arab World in Revolt

- May 6, 2011 - The 2010–2011 Middle East and North Africa protests seemed unexpected, but were they really that unexpected? This publication addresses many questions, among them: First, what has happened? And second, what has invested these regimes with such long-lasting resilience? Layla Al-Zubaidi, Doreen Khoury, Anbara Abu-Ayyash, Joachim Paul more»
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Cover

Publication series democracy, Volume 21

Diversity and Female Political Participation: Views on and from the Arab World

- October 25, 2010 - Equality, respect for human rights, and protection of citizens’ rights by the government are mutually enhancing features of good governance. They are meant to refer to men and women alike. But what does the political participation of women look like within the immense diversity of the Arabic world? This edition of the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s series on Democracy analyzes the historical and current developments of gender relationships, and the role of women in the politics of Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. more»
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Cover

Publication Series Democracy, Volume 11

What Can Europe Do in Iraq?

- February 12, 2009 - This publication describes a new start of cooperation between Europe, the United States, and regional partners in the Middle East to tackle the challenges in Iraq and to help bring peace, stability, and sustainable development to the wider region. more»
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Global Issue Paper

Water as a human right

- 25. Juni 2008 - The paper summarizes the main challenges facing strategic and coordinated action towards the UN concept of water as a human right, identifies what types of processes and institutions needs to be developed to meet the challenges of the concept and provides best practise examples from countries that have shown innovation. By Karen Assaf, Bayoumi Attia, Ali Darwish, Batir Wardam and Simone Klawitter mehr»

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