I finished reading a number of books about Arab history since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and my readings have confirmed the depressing all-too-obvious conclusion, that the sorry state of Arab affairs since then has been largely of our own making.We have no one to blame

In today’s world, as in past eras, an important distinction needs to be made between people who believe in and practise a certain faith peacefully and civilly, and those who manipulate faith and use it for violent or perverse means.Such distinction is crucial to make, as the line

The government’s plan for a new Amman has generated a lot of debate about the pros and cons of the project.Overall, the opinions expressed are positive and constructive.The cynical and paranoid comments made by some should be utterly ignored.

The Israeli government has been flagrantly disregarding Palestinian peace overtures and violating Palestinians’ rights.

Inter-Arab differences are, alas, on the rise.The Arab League is supposed to be playing a key role in mediating and attempting to resolve these differences, but it is not.At the same time, we do not see any serious initiatives by key players in the Arab world to fill the vacuum c

Until the 1990s, when most media in the Arab world were almost exclusively governmental or official, we Arabs yearned for private and “free” media.

Society's progress is measured, in part, by the quality of people's public conduct. Judging from this  angle, our society's performance leaves much to be desired.Over the years, of course, much has improved.

At its core, democracy presupposes difference.

There are those who never tire from reminding us that there are forces external to the Arab region, from the neighbourhood itself and beyond, who want to keep the Arabs in a state of conflict or war. These forces, the argument goes, are said to benefit from creating, promoti