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More than a year after that the street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself alight,  Abdelaziz Barrouhi assessed (French) the Tunisian situation, insisting the economic and social issues are the “real problems.” Barrouhi expressed concerns that the economic situation has worsened in one year because of the constant strikes and demonstrations. Food prices have risen, notably because of the speculation made by ‘mafias’ who have taken advantage of the social instability.  Barrouhi blamed the EU for not committing to their promise of providing funds to sustain the democratic process, whereas the U.S. has helped Tunisia extensively. The journalist called for an end of demonstrations and of “civil disobedience” so that the government could focus on drafting the constitution and prepares the elections in 2013.

Yesterday, Prime Minster Hamadi Jebali announced (French) a program to calm the social environment by proposing a complementary financial law, a measure later adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The law focused on investments that would create additional employment. Today, the Tunisian government submitted 102 projects of development to International donors attending to the “Financial Development Project of New Tunisia” that will require $12  billion dollars financed by the state and foreign entities. The economic program is associated with political reforms engaging with good governance, social equity and democracy. However, observers expressed concerns on the sustainability of the projects.

In an editorial for Tunisia Live, Peter Laufer depicted the contradictions regarding freedom of press in post-Ben Ali Tunisia. Laufer pointed out that in the same day the owner of Nessma TV, Nabil Karoui, was  found guilty of “violating sacred values” and “disturbing public order” for bradcasting the movie Persepolis, Tunis was hosting UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day. During the UNESCO event, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman took a stand against the verdict against Karoui and said “No laws will put us down even if it takes us ten more revolutions.”

On Tuesday, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) held a luncheon discussion exploring the linkages between political and economic reform in the Arab world. Steve Clemons, Editor at Large of The Atlantic, moderated a panel featuring Larry Diamond, director of Stanford University Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law; Michelle Dunne, director of the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East; and John D. Sullivan, the executive director of CIPE.

For the full text of the notes, continue reading below or click here for the PDF. Read more…

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On Tuesday, a convoy of U.N. monitors found themselves caught in a violent clash between protesters and Syrian government forces. Arriving in Idlib province to observe the checkpoints of Syrian forces, the monitors came across residents mourning a man who had been killed by government forces in Hama. Emboldened by the observers presence, the protesters came closer than normal to the checkpoints, leading government forces to open fire. The U.N. monitor’s vehicles were reportedly struck by a roadside bomb.

Additionally, efforts paid for by Persian Gulf nations and coordinated in part by the U.S. have led to opposition forces receiving high quantities of quality weaponry in recent weeks, including antitank ammunition. “We are increasing our nonlethal assistance to the Syrian opposition, and we continue to coordinate our efforts with friends and allies in the region and beyond in order to have the biggest impact on what we are collectively doing,” said an anonymous senior State Department official. Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal called into question the effectiveness of Kofi Annan’s peace plan. “Confidence in the efforts of the envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League has started to decrease quickly,” said al-Faisal. U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky also referenced Kofi Annan as strongly urging “the [Syrian] government to accept the conditions for a scaling up of humanitarian assistance without further delay.”

In similar news, Doctors Without Borders released a press statement accusing government forces of targeting their medical personnel.  ”Being caught with patients is like being caught with a weapon,” said an orthopedic surgeon. “The atmosphere in most medical facilities is extremely tense; health care workers send wounded patients home and provide only first aid so that facilities can be evacuated quickly in the event of a military operation.”

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Nabeel Rajab, who was in court today, told the judge that his detention is a political act aimed at weakening the uprising against the ruling family, and said authorities seek to muzzle free expression as part of crackdowns against opposition groups. His lawyer, Mohamed al-Jishi, posted a picture on Twitter, showing “More than 50 lawyers attending court in solidarity with HRD Nabeel Rajab.” Additionally, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) reported mass arrests this morning of pro-democracy activists whose houses were stormed. Al Jazeera obtained an exclusive report that included an independent autopsy of 23-year-old Yousef Mowali, who had been in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department. The autopsy revealed Mowali had been electronically tortured and was unconscious when he drowned.

Meanwhile, following the announcement regarding a potential Saudi-Bahrain union, the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council of Iran called for demonstrations protesting the decision. Also, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani was quoted by the official Iran news agency as saying: “If Bahrain is supposed to be integrated into another country, it must be Iran and not Saudi Arabia.” Iran’s actions caused anger in Bahrain, whose foreign ministry described Larijani’s statement as, “blatant interference in Bahrain’s domestic affairs and a gross violation of its independence and sovereignty.”

Adam Curtis gives an historical account of Britain’s involvement with Bahrain, and says, “British advisers to the Bahraini royal family, backed up by British military might, were central figures in the creation of a ruthless system that imprisoned and sometimes tortured any Bahraini citizen who even dared to suggest the idea of democracy.” Robert Mackey adds that the U.S. hypocrisy of resuming arms sales to Bahrain parallels the support maintained by Britain that Curtis details.

Photo credit: Christian Science Monitor

President Barack Obama plans to issue an executive order today that would give the Treasury Department authority to freeze the U.S.-based assets of anyone who “obstructs” implementation of the political transition in Yemen. According to one authority, the order is a proactive “deterrent” to “make clear to those who are even thinking of spoiling the transition” to think again. The order comes at a time when there are multiple ongoing threats to Yemen’s transitional stability and security. The leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Ayman al-Zawahri, labeled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi an agent of the U.S. in an attempt to sway public opinion. Additionally, AQAP released a guide titled “Expectations Full,” that is geared toward Western recruits, which urges them to “consider attacking America in its own backyard,” instead of traveling to Yemen. These targeted strategies are some of the reasons Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens and Peter Neumann argue that al Qaeda’s Yemen affiliate is the most “dangerous franchise.” Furthermore, Yemen faces a dire humanitarian crisis that has left 22 million people without adequate food. U.N. representative in Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said the result of the political turmoil left “a much more profound and much more deep humanitarian crisis than what we have been describing.”

In other news, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called upon Yemen’s Press and Publications court to drop all charges against Al Jazeera correspondents Ahmed al-Shalafi and Hamdi al-Bukari, who were arrested while covering last year’s protests. ”The court’s revival of a politicized case from the [Ali Abdullah Saleh] era sends a clear message to all journalists in Yemen that nothing has changed for the press,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.

On Tuesday, the new America Foundation hosted a conference titled “The Civil Insurgents: The Arab Uprisings and Civil Society.” The discussion was focused on the role of civil society in the Arab Spring and in the future of the Arab states. The conference was moderated by Leila Hilal, co-director of the New America Foundation Middle East Task Force. The panelists were Abulnabi Hasan Alkery, President of the Bahrain Transparency Society, Allam Jarrar, steering committee member of the Palestinian NGO Network, Kinda Mohamadieh, programs director at the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) and Salah al-Jourchi a Tunisian journalist, writer and human rights activist.

For the full text of the notes, continue reading below or click here for the PDF.

Read more…

The ongoing uprising in Syria entered into its 15 month, and the fight between the anti-government rebels and the President Bashar al Assad’s regime, has  killed more than 12,000 people, according to the UN. Today, an additional 15 civilians and one rebel fighter were murdered as the regime cracked down on the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and in Damascus

An article in the New York Times explores the ‘strategy’ developed by the Syrians to resist the “government’s effort to divide and conquer, whether on sectarian, ethnic, class or geographical lines.” The government has targeted health professional or continuously warned of the threat of Islamist militants hijacking the uprising in order to quell the upheaval.  However,  hundreds have joined secret networks in order to provide supplies and money to victims of violence.  Meanwhile, the UN continues the attempt to negociate with the Syrian government in order to gain entrance into areas in desperate need of humanitarian aid.

In an interview with CNN journalist Anderson Cooper, Sen John McCain (R-Ar) expressed discontent with the current US administration for not handling the Syrian crisis, ‘Where is the President of the United States?” said McCain calling for providing weapons to the opposition “to defend themselves in their freedom.” McCain added that it was “shameful not to act.”

In a communique, the Islamist group al-Nusra front denied involvement in last Thursday’s  suicide bombing that killed 55 civilians in Damascus, saying that the video showing the group claiming responsibility was fraud.  BBC observed that “the authenticity was extremely difficult to verify.”

However, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said “Al Qaeda stands behind the terror attacks in Syria.”

The Syrian regime targets medical workers and injured  civilians, reported the NGO Doctors Without Borders (DWB). Dounia Dekhili, an official from DWB said, “We are in a very particular situation in Syria: no impartial humanitarian aid can be brought in, and the harassment of the wounded and doctors is part of the regime’s police strategy.” DWB, which is not authorized to work in Syria, sent teams into the country secretly. They reached the restive areas of Homs and Idlib and have reported that medical workers were missing whereas the NGO discovered that the regime does provide medical care to its supporters.

Meanwhile, Syrian election committee chairman Khalaf al-Izzaoui said  that 51 percent of the eligible voters voted in the May 7 parliament elections. The opposition contested the credibility of these elections. There was no independent monitor of the electoral process.

Photo Credit: Egypt Independent

According to the State Information Services (SIS), 923 foreign journalists have requested to register in order to cover the presidential election. Of the correspondents, 402 are visiting and 521 live in Cairo. The head of the SIS, Ismail Khairat, said the agency handed over the registration requests to the Supreme Presidential Electoral Council (SPEC) as a preliminary step before issuing cards to journalists allowing them to cover the elections. The Carter Center sent a press release on Monday stating that it had received accreditation to monitor the presidential elections and will send a team of 80 to monitor the election. State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland welcomed an announcement that Egypt will allow international monitoring.

In further election news, the Egyptian Ambassador to the United States, Sameh Shoukry, said that there was a large turnout in voting on Monday for Egyptians in the U.S. The embassy noted there were three attempted forgeries, when residents that had voted by mail also tried to vote in person, but the Egyptian Foreign Ministry denied all reports of fraud.

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Today, thousands gathered in parts of the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and parts of Israel to commemorate al-Nakba, or the catastrophe, the day where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled their homes during Israel’s war for independence.

Protests were concentrated in the Ramallah area of the West bank. 5,000 people gathered at the former Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat’s tomb before marching to Ofer Prison in Beituniya.  The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, a group representing Palestinian communities in Israel, called for a general strike and urged Arab citizens to visit the sites of former Palestinian villages. Thousands more gathered in Nablus calling for the right of return.

In Lebanon, Palestinian coalition forces marched to the Shatila, a refugee camp home to thousands, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad organized “The Return Festival” in the al-Rashidiyah refugee camp in Tyre. The Palestinian Institution for Human Rights rallied in front of the ESCWA building in central Beirut condemning the international silence towards the right of return of the Palestinian people.

Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a group of 400 protesters that left at least 15 people hospitalized. Last year, Israeli troops opened fire on demonstrators from Lebanon and Syria as they marched toward the border. At the Kalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, some 300 Palestinians held a protest resulting in the harm of at least 20.

The events were as a whole peaceful and hailed the hunger strike  of some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners, which reportedly came to an end yesterday after Israel brokered a deal with the Palestinian authorities. However, some prisoners, notably Thaer Halahla and Bilal Diyab, have vowed to continue their hunger strike in protest of their arbitrary detention. Halahla and Diyab have entered into their 77^th day of deprivation and are in critical condition. U.N Spcial Rapporteur on Palestinian Human Rights writes that al-Nakba day should be important “for all persons of good will.”

Writing for the New York Times, Mustafa Akyol addresses the the capacity of Islamist political parties to cope with liberalism. Akyol articulates that the debate used to focus on the if  Islam was compatible with a democratic regime, but he argues that democracy as a regime could be distinguished from liberalism. Experiences shown that Islamist parties could participate in the electoral process, as was observed last year in Tunisia and Egypt.  However according to the writer the issue is more about about if “Islam is compatible with liberalism.” Akyol uses Turkey’s transition from secular authoritarianism with liberal democracy as an example, concluding that  ”If Turkey succeeds in that liberal experiment, and drafts its new constitution-in-the-making accordingly, it can set a promising example for Islamist-led governments in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere.”

In the Acton Institute Blog, Kishore Jayabalan also tackles the compability of liberal democracy and Islam by discussing a lecture given by David F. Forte, professor of Law at Cleveland State University. Forte explained the evolution of the Christian Church regarding liberalism, suggesting the church has become “the greatest defender of liberal democracy” after initial reticence. Forte also contends that Islam has a “legal tradition that can be recalled to support some form of similar accommodation between a liberal society that places the highest premium on individual freedom.” However, Jayabalan expresses pessimism about the “liberalization of the Islamic world.”

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Nearly 3,000 Moroccan magistrates began a week-long general strike to protest against judicial corruption and interference by the executive branch that they claim undermines their independence from the state. According to Bloomberg news, the judges will wear an armband for a week in hopes that the government will begin negotiations, and the 3,700-member Club of Moroccan Judges is ready to intensify the protest in the coming weeks if the demands are not met. The protest comes a week after 1,800 judges signed a petition calling for a reform in the justice sector.

Additionally, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement condemning the “ failure of Moroccan authorities to follow through on investigating the beating by police of a Human Rights Watch research assistant,” calling it “ a case study of impunity for police violence.” The incident occurred in November 2010 when Moroccan police in the city of El-Ayoun, Western Sahara, “pulled aside Brahim Elansari and beat him in plain sight of an American journalist.” Since the incident, Moroccan police have not provided any information into the beating, despite numerous requests from HRW. Meanwhile, a new report from the World Bank entitled “Promoting Youth Opportunities and Participation in Morocco” finds that almost half of all Moroccan youth between the ages of 15 and 29 are neither working, nor in school.  It examines the causes for this widespread inactivity, and offers a series of proposals for supporting greater inclusion of young people into the social and economic life of the country.

Photo credit: Reuters

Offensive tactics from both the U.S. and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are increasing. Yemen’s military carried out a four-front assault in the south that was directly guided by American troops at a nearby airbase. President Barack Obama‘s counterterrorism advisor John Brennan paid a visit to Yemen recently and met with President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. White House spokesman Jay Carney did not give specifics in his briefing, but said, ”We obviously have a keen interest in working with the Yemeni government in the fight against extremism there, and that was certainly part of the discussion. But the relationship is broader than that.” Hadi was pleased with the increased U.S. cooperation against AQAP, affirming, “The move toward the pursuit of terrorists is irreversible.” On the other hand, U.S. intelligence reported that AQAP has ”a whole outfit designated to target the U.S. homeland,” including ”several types of bombs” that could get past airport x-ray screening machines.

The intensified campaign against AQAP, however, is fostering increased anti-western sentiment that worries experts. Salem al-A’wash, a tribal leader in Shabwa province, said Yemen’s fractured security and political instability are only worsened by U.S. drone attacks. A senior Defense Ministry official in Yemen urged ”tough limitations” to ensure that the U.S.-Yemen war on AQAP remains under the authority of the Yemeni government, worried about increasing hostility toward his own government that risks being seen as a tool of Washington. James Traub asks, “How long until the blowback comes?” and gives an overview of Obama’s counterterrorism strategy thus far. Former head of the CIA counterterrorism center, Robert Grenier, worries that the drone strikes are only pushing more Yemenis to extremism.

The retrial of twenty Bahraini medics, which was already delayed once in March, has been delayed yet again until June, drawing criticism from human rights groups such as Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). PHR called for the charges to be dropped against all medics, in addition to an investigation into their allegations of torture while being detained. Nabeel Hameed, one of the doctors facing trial, said he was arrested and brutalized after treating protesters. ”We became automatic witnesses,” Hameed said, “That’s a problem. When we saw protesters, straightaway we became automatic witnesses. And to take our credibility away, accuse us of a crime.” Richard Sollom of PHR says the prosecution of the doctors “epitomizes a disturbing sectarian chasm that must be addressed and breached,” and adds, “President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron could lend their support in this regard with more outspoken criticism of their ally’s human rights record.” The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland also spoke out for the medics, writing, “We believe the future for Bahrain has to be one of dialogue and reconciliation. We will continue to contribute through education and continue to advocate for just outcomes.”

In other news, the Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ) released a statement condemning the Bahraini government’s decision to revoke permission to visit the Gulf kingdom, and signed a joint letter to Bahrain’s director of human rights organizations.

Hussein Malla/AP

Syrian troops attacked a rebel stronghold and dozens were reportedly killed across the country.  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 23 soldiers killed in the area of Rastan. Deaths were also reported in the village of Qusayr and Deir Ezzor. Meanwhile, the SNC said it would not join opposition groups in Cairo for meetings, and instead would meet to solve its divisions. Hassan Hassansays that the opposition must be more inclusive of Syria’s eastern Kudish and Arab tribes, who share disdain for the Assad regime, but feel as if they would even less of a say in post-Assad Syria.

Syrian violence also spilled over into the Northern Lebanese city of Tripoli for the last several days, as sectarian tensions produced gun battles pitting anti-Assad versus pro-Assad factions. Tripoli, a predominantly Sunni city, is largely hostile to the Assad regime. The arrest of Shadi al-Mawlawi, a Sunni Cleric and outspoken critic of Assad, reportedly ignited rage among his followers, sparking unrest.

Overall, more than 900 people have been reported killed since the Annan-brokered ceasefire came into effect on April 12.  EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the “continuing violence is appalling” and said the EU would support Mr. Annan “as long as he wishes,” as the EU introduced its 15^th round of sanctions on the regime. Russia’s foreign minister Gennady Gatilov defended Russia’s continued weapons sales to Syria saying that they were only defensive weapons, and urged the West to do more to persuade the opposition into talks. He cited the spillover into neighboring Tripoli and last weeks suicide bombing as concrete evidence of Al-Qaeda activity.

The results of last week’s parliamentary election will be made public tomorrow as well. Ellen Lust writes that by holding elections, the regime signaled that its departure “is unthinkable,” and it remains in complete control. By holding elections while shelling continues, Assad can use elections to promote a sense of ‘normalcy,’ reassuring Syrian people that his fall is anything but inevitable. Tim Lister warns of a growing regional conflict, and says only Russia and Iran have the influence necessary to persuade Assad to stop the crackdown. Aaron David Miller says that the proposal to create safe zones in Syria is a “dangerous step toward war.”

Photo Credit: Al Masry Al Youm

Last Friday marked the first day of voting for Egyptian expatriates. According to Egyptian media, 57,000 Egyptians have already voted (Arabic).  Turnout has been particularly high in Saudi Arabia, home of nearly half of the 587,000 registered voters abroad. Qatar state media also reported a high turnout, while Kuwait detained five Egyptians briefly for passing out leaflets in support of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi, in violation of Kuwait’s zero tolerance policy of campaigning. In contrast to the Gulf states, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Sameh Shoukry said voting has been low in that country, with only 6% of eligible expats casting their ballots. Egyptian authorities also reiterated (Arabic) they will allow the 99 expats registered in Israel to vote, despite calls by some Egyptians not to allow any Egyptian living in Israel to vote. Voting abroad will end on May 17. Diplomatic sources said that the results of voting in Saudi Arabia will be released on May 24, the second day of voting in Egypt.

Several Egyptian papers conducted polls among expats that show former foreign minister Amr Moussa with the lead, and former prime-minister Ahmed Shafiq edging out Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh for second place.

The coalition of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika emerged victorious in last week’s parliament elections.  The elections resulted (French) in the nomination of 145 women to Parliament that hosts 462 representative, increasing their representation from 7% to 31%.

The U.S. and the European Union praised Algeria for holding elections and observed them as an important step toward reform.  U.S. Secretary of  State, Hillary Clinton ”congratulated” Algerians and stated ”The Government of Algeria invited international and non-governmental organizations to send observation missions and conducted elections that provided the Algerian people with the opportunity to express their will.” Hanafi Wajih, the head of the Arab League’s observer mission, said ”The election was free and transparent and the Algerian people have expressed their choice without coercion.”

It has been suggested (French) that Algeria may be a possible exception in North Africa where many of its neighbors witnessed revolution. Al Jazeera’s Inside story, asked if “Algeria is immune to the Arab Spring?”  Fatigue from more than a decade of violent civil war, close relations with Europe, and the understanding that stability is necssary to improve economic partnership with EU may have prevented Algeria from massive unrest.  However, Mohamed Libra Zito, former Algerian diplomat, asserts that there was a potential for youth-led revolt. Youssef Bouandel, Professor of International Affairs, believes that changes in Algeria will follow a top bottom process and will not result from popular protest.

Photo credit: La Vie Eco

Prominent Moroccan rapper Mouad Belghouat, whose stage name is al-Haqed, was sentenced to one year in prison for attacking the image of the security services and “showing contempt” in a song about police corruption. At the sentencing, Belghouat’s defense team wasn’t present and the rapper remained in jail during the proceedings. Al-Haqed has been in custody since March 29 when he was arrested for his song entitled “Kilab Al Dawla” or “Dogs of the State.” The charge against Belghouat stemmed from a YouTube video of the song, which includes images of Moroccan police officers and a depiction of police office with a donkey’s head. Al-Haqed’s website and Facebook page have posted responses critical of the ruling, and Human Rights Watch condemned the decision as well, suggesting that it “shows the gap between the strong free-expression language in Morocco’s 2011 constitution and the continuing intolerance for those who criticize state institutions.” Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said ”Morocco hosts one famous international music festival after another each spring, but meanwhile it imprisons one of its own singers solely because of lyrics and images that displease the authorities.”

Meanwhile, a young woman wearing a short modern dress in a Rabat market was allegedly assaulted by people described as Salafists who beat the woman and stripped her of her clothing. Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane responded by defending personal liberties: “I believe in freedom, God created us free. Who is Benkirane to tell Moroccans to shave your beards or to impose the hijab? Individual liberties are sacred and are not to be touched.” Human rights group Beit Al-Hikma expressed fears that the attack “would block the move towards democracy, freedoms and the rule of law”.

Prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, who was recently arrested for “inciteful” tweets, had his detention extended by another week. His lawyer, Mohamed al-Jishi, said Rajab is facing two trials: one on May 16th for his tweets, and one on May 22nd, for having participated in a protest in January.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are expected to push toward a broad security and economic union today, an agreement that regional power Saudi Arabia hopes will spur a similar tightening of ties with other Gulf countries. Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman has welcomed the deal, saying the GCC must “concentrate during this period on achieving and ensuring security and increasing co-ordination in the fields of security, military and defence by adopting a unified Gulf security structure to protect the council’s states.” The Gulf Forum for Civil Societies, however, opposed the idea and asked for a postponement, adding, “We urge the Saudi and Bahraini leaderships to review such a step and calculate the reactions of the two peoples.” Mohammed al-Qahtani, a board member at the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, sees beyond the military and economic interests and said, “The real issue is the survival of these family-based regimes. That’s all it is – they will do whatever it takes to maintain the status quo but I think their time is running out.”

Patrick Cockburn describes the union as a “blow to the Shia protest movement,” and Michael Stephen agrees. “Any merger between the nations will be likely to inflame the delicate sectarian balance in the tiny Kingdom yet further,” Stephen says, ”a situation which requires genuine political reform, and not military and economic mergers.” David Roberts writes that there is still significant U.S. security involvement in the Gulf, and argues, “Only when America … finally leave[s] the Gulf will the Gulf States be truly forced to come to terms with their own security situation and will potentially countenance subsuming their national proclivities for a collective alliance.”

Photo: Al-Ghad/Muhammad Abu Oush

After the resignation of former prime minister Awn Al-Khasawneh, Tamer al-Samadi writes in al-Hayat that the Jordanian people continue (Arabic) to ponder the reasons behind his abrupt retirement. Al-Khasawneh claims to have resigned in protest of continuous intervention into the decision making process of the government by the Monarchy. His replacement, Fayez al-Tarawneh, is described as “a right-wing governor” and hostile towards reform advocates, which Tarawneh has denied. Samadi says sources close to the royal palace told al-Hayat that the appointment of Tarawneh confirms a decline of U.S. pressure on the monarchy to implement reforms, assumptions that reinforce decision maker’s convictions that the Arab spring is drawing to a close. Opposition leader Labib Kambawi says that the appointment of Tarawneh has “set the stage for an anti-reform movement within the decision-making bodies.”

Protesters continue (Arabic) to take to the streets in order to display their discontent over the current status quo. In the Al-Tafilah neighborhood of Amman, young activists gathered and created banners calling on Jordanian King Abdullah II to implement real reforms that would empower the people and that “the mechanism of the royal appointment of governments is no longer feasible.”  Jordan is currently facing an economic crisis, with as much as 15% of the population living under the poverty line.  An estimated 40% of the population works in the public sector. Protesters are demand an end to corruption, lower prices for commodities, the release of family members held in Israeli prisons, greater representation, a real reform process, and an end to the peace treaty with Israel. Friday protesters took to the streets under the banner, “What don’t you understand?”

Earlier this week, twin suicide bombings tore through the center of Damascus resulting in the deaths of an estimated 55 people. Even as the U.N. mission expands, violence has continued and reamins persistent throughout all areas of Syria. The Associated Press reported the deaths of eight despite the increased U.N. which stands at around half its expected size with 145 members currently on the ground.

The al-Nusra Front to Protect the Levant released a video today claiming responsibility for the events, and warned that Alawites will answer for “massacres against the Sunni people” promising that “what is coming will be more calamitous.” Syria expert at the Monterey Institute of International Studies Bilal Y. Saab, says “Syria is slowly but surely turning into another Iraq.” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he didn’t know what group was responsible for the bombings in Damascus, but affirmed that al-Qaeda’s presence in Syria has increased. Meanwhile, Secretary General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah addressed supporters in Beirut reminding them that the “Friends of Syria” are the same countries that declared the liberation of Iraq.

Ryan Spencer writes in The Telegraph that the chances of international intervention in Syria are getting more and more remote. Yochi Dreazen writes in the National Journal that the Obama administration will have to deecide soon on whether to stick to the current diplomatic route despite no sign that Bashar al-Assad will be persuaded to step down, or consider arming the rebels despite the risks that further militarization risks destabilizing the country. David Ignatius writes that Obama’s believes that part of the opposition “could be worse than Assad”  and worries that “a protracted struggle is empowering precisely these people.”