Schwarzenberg’s Mission to the Middle East Published: 2 February 2009 The Czech EU Presidency was thrown right into the middle of the war in Gaza. And Czech politicians stumbled. Unlike the majority of their colleagues from Western Europe, who condemned Israel’s actions as disproportionate, the Czech prime and foreign ministers initially blamed Hamas for the conflict. By Jan Fingerland and Irena Kalousová
Iraqi Refugees: Navigating the Space Between Home and Exile Published: 27 January 2009 A publication by offline:events in collaboration with independent Iraqi artists, filmmakers, and authors documenting the lives of Iraqis navigating the space between home and exile and lending Iraqi refugees and those living in exile a voice to express their realities and reflections inter alia on notions such as Homeland and Exile, East and West, and Identity.
"The "Israel Has Gone Mad" Routine Cannot Be Repeated" Published: 23 January 2009 The crucial question is whether Israel under the given circumstances had a choice? Could anything be achieved otherwise? Where the objectives justified? Are we any closer now to a better future? The tragic paradox four weeks ago was that any course of action Israel would have chosen had the potential of being self-defeating. By Dan Jacobson
The Fighting in Gaza: Where is it Going? Published: 8 January 2009 Shlomo Brom analyses the objectives of the Israeli campaign in Gaza and suggests possible ways for Israel to maximise a sound exit strategy in light of these objectives. By Shlomo Brom
What Next after the Invasion of Gaza? Published: 8 January 2009 It is clear that Operation Cast Lead will end with a new ceasefire. Still, it remains to be seen what the new US Administrations policies for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are. By George Giacaman
Syria Says No to Bombs Published: 16 December 2008 Far from achieving the intended blow against al-Qaeda and Sunni insurgents in Iraq, the recent American incursion into Syrian territory undermines voices of moderation in Syria, and facilitates the recruitment efforts of extremist Islamist groups in a country that has every reason to be wary of the terrorist threat. By Sami Moubayed
A New Islamophobia Published: 16 December 2008 The particular danger of islamophobia is its potential to forge a broad alliance of otherwise opposed political forces: Muslims serve as the embodiment of the ultimate enemy for conservatives striving for Western hegemony – and for progressives standing up for freedom of expression, rationality, human rights, and the rights of women. By Ilan Halevi
Israel 1948 – 2008, Accomplishments, Challenges, Implications Published: 4 November 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
Environment Between Conflict and Co-operation in the Middle East and North Africa Published: 22 October 2008 A report on a conference in Beirut with the goal to highlight regional environmental problems and search for and discuss sustainable solutions.
Virtual Agreement, Virtual Negotiations Published: 8 August 2008 Annapolis bedeutet den Beginn virtueller Verhandlungen. Diese werden wenig dazu betragen, die unterschiedlichen Visionen und Ziele der Beteiligten einzulösen. By Haim Malka