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Editorial
Abstract :US & Israel: Strategic Alliance us Tactical Disputes
The
US-Israeli relations enjoy a strategic alliance privilege.
Israel, yet, enjoys the American support at various levels. The
US considers Israel an American vital interest and its security
as part of the security of the American interests in the Middle
East. The Israeli-American disputes usually would find their way
to be resolved. The chances for the escalation of such disputes
to form a crisis are minimal. This is due to the absence of
crisis environment. The main reasons that limit such a
possibility might include:
·
the great influence and power of the Jewish Lobby in shaping the
external and internal policies of the United States
·
the US administrations considering of Israel as a giant
air craft carrier for the American Army
·
the American position that considers the Arab world as
the main source of threat to its interests especially in the
Middle East.
The
possibility for any US-Israeli dispute mighty escalate is also
minimized because of the absence of the Arab international
influential role. The Arabs also don’t form a real threat to the
American interests in the Middle East, although they have the
power to create an energy crisis as it happened in 1973 and they
can stop the intelligence cooperation with the US mainly with
regard to the so called "terrorist" threats.
The last
dispute concerning the Israeli settlement policy that impedes
the peace negations, it didn’t escalate to a real crisis. It was
only a tactical dispute that was contained from within the frame
of the continuous strategic alliance.
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Research & Studies
Abstract :
The Arab Interests and Iran
A number of reasons have led to the Arabs' failure to
establish balanced relations with Iran that serve what are
supposed to be the higher pan-Arab interests. One of these
reasons is the long absence of a shared Arab vision of the
common interests and the following of national policies based on
axes or submission to the Western, especially American, approach
of addressing the region's issues and countries.
While the Arabs lack a pan-Arab civilizaational project
founded on strategic relations with the countries of the region,
Iran has set its own project that imposes its vision and builds
the basis for its regional influence on the region. Thus, this
led to the loss of the required balance of relations in terms of
vision, will and, even, capability. It became unrealistic to
refer to a relation combining the Arabs on the one hand and Iran
on the other. On the contrary, such a relation became a new
reason for inter-Arab disputes and deeper axis policies.
However, there are proofs that the Arab-Iranian relations
improved in the 90's of the 20th century – the stage in which
the Iranian policy followed a moderate, inoffensive path during
the reformists' rule. This directly indicates that it is the
Iranian policy towards the Arab region that has a greater role
in setting the relations with the Arabs than the Arab's
initiatives.
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Abstract :
The Arab Higher Interests and Turkey
Before
addressing Turkey and its relation to the pan-Arab interests, it
is necessary to go back to the period of the fall of the Ottoman
empire and its consequences to the Arab entity. It is important
to look at the period of the World War I which was one of the
causes of the collapse of the empire, when it joined the axis
states whereas the Arabs joined the alliance states, leading to
the collapse of the Arab-Turkish relations. Furthermore, the
Arab Revolt against the Turks in 1916 was considered as a
rebellion from a Turkish point of view. In addition, the acts of
Jamal Pasha – one of the Ottoman army's leaders – increased
hatred between the two parties, when he executed a number of
Arab leaders and killed thousands of Arab revolutionists.
Nevertheless, the Turkish-Arab relations went through ups and
downs depending on political matters, coming now to a stage of
friendship and may be alliance.
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File No.51
Abstract :
Israeli Strategies in 2010 Through Hertzelia Forum
Since 2000, Israel has been organizing "Hertzelia
Conference" as a platform to thoroughly revise what the Israelis
call the sources of "threat" to their existence, as well as
their open choices in the international and regional
circumstances. The event represents a think-aloud opportunity of
the Israeli strategic mind in all positions and a platform of
propaganda that may pass any thought by the Israeli
decision-makers' centres to the region and the world. The
significance of the conference springs from the important
declarations usually made by high Israeli officials during their
participations. It also comes from the effect of its papers and
output on the Israeli decision-making in major issues.
The conference receives a great deal of attention from those
interested in the Israeli affairs whether in or outside Israel.
This is due to the serious topics and talks, in addition to the
way the addressed issues are revised and their scholarly level.
It is interesting to study the participants and the methodology
of preparation of papers in the various political, security,
economic, social and academic fields.
This report is intended to present a number of the
significant ideas discussed by the participants in the Hertzelia
Conference 2010 within three major areas, namely: the peace
process, ending the occupation and the Palestinian state; the
security and military aspects; and the foreign regional and
international relations.
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Reports And Articles
Abstract :
Political Activity in the Arab World: Forms, Determinants and Scenarios
The report addresses the state of the political activity
being witnessed by the Arab World, starting with Iraq,
Palestine, Egypt, Algeria and Yemen. The forms of such activity
can be listed as follows:
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the deterioration of the leader's image
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the deterioration of the state's military power,
especially in the advancement of resistance movements such as
Hamas and Hezbollah who have made honorable field achievements
in confronting the Zionist project
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the decline of the state's control over economy
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the growth of the protest and opposition movements
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the growth of the youth's participation on social
websites and blogs
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the decline of the state's control over the mass media
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and the decrease of the age of leaders in both sides of
the government and opposition.
As for the determiners of the political activity in the Arab
World, they are thought to be as follows:
-
the success or failure of the economic reform polices
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the extent of the government's success in overcoming the
social side effects of the above policies
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the extent of democracy on the part of the opposition
parties
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the impact of the poverty-unemployment-literacy triangle
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and the interests the influential states on the regional
and international levels.
It is emphasized in the report that the Arab World is
witnessing a state of split and deterioration, as well as an
absent relation between the peoples and their governments.
Therefore, the battle of change is a long and hard one, whose
initial steps have already started, but whose accomplishment is
dependent on efforts in the heart of the society. What raises
optimism is the light at the end of the tunnel, taking the form
of a new courageous generation of political activists who
believe in societal work without waiting for immediate results
or momentary interests. Thus, the future of the political
activity in the Arab World is contingent upon the wisdom and
patience of the leaders of political movements, especially the
Islamists who have been obviously heading the political activity
for a couple of decades.
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Abstract :
Armed Conflict Possibilities between Iran and the US
For years, Washington has not stopped referring to a
military option with Iran. First, the Bush's administration was
clearer and listed Iran on the Axis of Evil. Then, the current
administration comes back to what is called 'open options', as
president Obama started his term by calling for direct and
unconditional dialogue with Tehran. However, the progress
expected by both parties has not materialized. Nor has Iran
stopped enriching the uranium which is seen by the US and the
other Western countries as a first step for an Iranian nuclear
bomb that can never be tolerated.
In response to the US's all options "on the table of the
president", Iran arranges successive shows of its military power
by carrying out maneuvers and announcing its possession of new
types of weapons and missiles. On the other hand, the Israeli
stance cannot be ignored in the US-Iranian escalation, for
Israel does not only encourage the US to impose hard sanctions
on Iran, but also threatens to launch a military strike if the
dialogue with, or sanctions against, Tehran proves inefficient.
In their statements from Tel Aviv and various capitals, the
Israeli leaders do not make it a secret that they have become
completely prepared to deal militarily with Iran. Does this
tense atmosphere indicate that the war with Iran is eminent? Is
it possible in the current regional and international
circumstances? Could Israel resort to this strike in case the US
does not?
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Abstract :
Israel: A Military Arm Infiltrating into the Region
The crime of assassinating one of the leaders of `Ezzeddeen
Al-Qassam Brigades – the military wing of the Islamic Resistance
Movement (Hamas) – Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai by the Israeli
intelligence sheds light again on the terrorist arm of the
Hebrew state. It plays a role of infiltration into the region
and is capable of carrying out complicated security missions
outside Palestine.
Political assassination is one of the forms of organized
terror by the Hebrew state, indicating the moral bankruptcy of
the Israeli political elite. Upon looking at the long list of
assassinations against the Palestinian leaders, the Israeli
model of terror proves unprecedented in history.
In the 70's, Israel used booby-trapped parcels in its war of
assassinations of a large number of leaders and members of the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in several capitals
throughout the world. This kind of terror was then 'legalized'
in March 1978 when the Israeli Knesset endorsed a law which
allows the Israeli intelligence to assassinate the Palestinian
leaders anywhere around the globe.
Such planned systematic assassinations on the soils of other
countries have been an integral part of the terror strategy,
ignoring the principles of the international law and the logic
of diplomatic and international relations. A violation of
sovereignty has been carried out by committing murder on other
countrys' soils. For the decades of its history, the Israeli
political leadership has given these actions a particular title
of its own: "terror combat strategy."
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Abstract :Israel Devours Holy Sites in Jerusalem and Hebron
The announcement by Netanyahu's government to place Al-Ibrahimi
Mosque in Hebron and Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in Bethlehem on the
list of the Jewish antique sites – or the "Jewish Heritage – is
part of the "Jewish State" project. This slogan has been raised
by Netanyahu since the first moment of forming his cabinet.
In its first stage, the ill-omened project shall encompass
150 sites of mosques, churches, arches in addition to a lot
other Arab and Islamic antique, historical locations. The
history of the Arab and Islamic sites will be forged and
replaced by a Hebrew-Torah tradition. The government and its
various institutions here attempt to achieve a number of goals,
most important of which is to consolidate the Jewish sense of
belonging to this land as well as Judaize the Arab and Muslim
holy sites and eradicate its Arab and Islamic identity.
This "Jewish Heritage Revival" project, supposed to include
several Muslim sites such as Al-Aqsa Mosque, is due to be
completed by the Israeli government within 5 years. The cost is
estimated at $100 million, to be spent on a specialized team,
the restoration of these places and the building of museums,
information centres and monuments.
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Abstract :
Islamist Opposition in the Arab Word Government Policies us Islamist Approach
(Egypt, Sudan, Yemen,
Jordan, Palestine)
The relation between the Islamic movements and the Arab
governments still takes place in a framework of crises and
deadlocks of understanding. It has been suffering form a
dominating problem of trust, even at its best times of
understanding and dialogue. That relation between the Egyptian
government and the Muslim Brotherhood – the largest Islamic
movement in the entire Arab, Muslim world – has always been the
focus of interest of analysts and scholars in watching the
tensions or understandings, starting from the royal period
through the assassination of its founder Hassan Al-Benna and
then the group's agreements and clashes with president Jamal
Abdul-Nasser's rule. What is interesting is the official
persistence in banning the group in spite of its integration
with civil activity, its adaptation to new ways of change and
its exercise of democracy. This supports the hypothesis of "the
Ruling Party's fear" of the Brotherhood's competition in the
general elections.
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Abstract :
Alternative Homeland for Palestinians Scenarios of Implementaion and Ways of Confrontation
On Saturday 20 March 2010, The Middle East Studies Centre held a seminar in its headquarters in Amman, entitled "Alternative Homeland: Scenarios of Implementation and Ways of Confrontation".
The significance of the seminar springs from the Israeli extreme right taking over power in Israel as well as the Israeli's re-proposing the Alternative Homeland project to get out of the political crisis of both Israel and the peace process. The seminar aims at demonstrating the danger of going back to the Alternative Homeland project and its consequences to Jordan and the Palestinian issue; discussing the scenarios of its implantation along with the mechanisms of confrontation; and presenting the determiners of a joint strategic vision in this regard.
The project is referred to by the seminar to represent one of the strategic foundations of the Zionist project based on the possession of "land without a people for a people without land". The possible mechanisms and attempts of implementing the Israeli vision are addressed, some of which may be carried out by Israel and some Arab, regional and international parties to realize the Israeli vision. Such parties may help in compensation instead of return or hold peace agreements with Israel in a bid to both support its existence and maintain its security. The seminar also discussed the possible confrontation to the Alternative Homeland until clear attitudes are taken. The seminar has called for the setting of a straightforward strategy of confrontation that maintains Jordan with its coherent society, guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and issue – on top of which is supporting the resistance in face of the Zionist project – and emphasizes the importance of the Jordanian society unity. Finally, it has to be emphasized that the Israeli threat to Palestine and Jordan should be a factor of unifying, rather than a cause for raising disputes or creating suffering for the Palestinians.
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Abstract :
The Middle East Studies Centre in 19 year
On 27 March 2010, The Middle East Studies Centre celebrated
its 19 anniversary. The event was attended by a large number of
Jordanian elite political and academic figures as well as
several Arab diplomats. Some of the guests, centre friends and
Jordanian and Arab sponsoring and media institutions were
honoured in the ceremony for their distinguished efforts in
supporting the academic, research and intellectual activity in
Jordan. The celebration concluded with an honorary dinner. The
anniversary date coincided with the Arab conference summit
convening in Sert, Libya.
At the beginning of the event, an exhibition was inaugurated
for the centre's activities and publications over the 19 years.
Opening talks were then delivered, focusing on the importance of
research and its support as it constitutes a basis for the great
global civilizational structure of the Arab nation and its
achievements in all fields and disciplines. The support for
serious, active research centres and care for creative youth in
this regard should be a priority for the Arab governments. The
main talk addressed the political activity in the Arab World and
its future scenarios.
A PowerPoint presentation was also made on the progress of
the centre in the last 19 years, which were alive with grand
achievements in the scholarly and cultural fields in the form of
seminars, conferences, and publications.
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