mideastmessenger.com

 PHOTO: Satellites in Jerusalem, Jordan Chark, flickr
Al Jazeera has reported that most Arab states have endorsed a charter that would allow states to have more control over satellite broadcasting. That would include Al Jazeera’s channels.
All 22 members of the Arab League were in favor of the charter except Lebanon, which has a rich history in […]

PHOTO: Al Azhar mosque, Eric Olson, flickr. 
The upper house of Egypt’s parliament, the Shura Council, just approved a law that would ban demonstrations in and around places of worship. This has been interpreted as a move against demonstrations that have taken place inside the Al Azhar mosque, a highly respected center for religious teachings and a historic landmark.
The legislation […]

PHOTO: Dubai streets, Patrick Boury, flickr. 
The Middle East is renowned for for its oil. Rich, black oil that powers our cars with gasoline and has added to the deterioration of the earth’s ozone layer.
Dubai is trying to change that image with its latest project: a zero-carbon city.
This comes from the United Arab Emirates, a world leader in oil exports.
Maybe […]

PHOTO: Supporters of Michel Aoun upon his return to Lebanon in 2005, FlickrJunkie, flickr.
Lebanon continues to postpone its presidential election. Lebanon has not had a president since November when Emile Lahoud left office. There is a precarious gridlock in Lebanon’s government caused by the anti-Syrian block and the Hezbollah-led opposition. The secretary-general of the Arab League has […]

 PHOTO: Christiaan Briggs, flickr creative commons.
Ahmad is an Iraqi kid whose leg got blown off in a car bomb. He has stunning green eyes contrasted by jet black hair and olive skin. He’s featured in Richard Engel’s video on Iraqi children paying the price of war on Engel’s MSNBC.com Iraq blog.
Why Engel’s reports are not more […]

PHOTO: Palestinian security forces clear rubble in Gaza City after a bombing in 2002.
Egypt is patching up the wall that Hamas officials brought down to allow Gazans access to Egypt after Israel imposed a blockade following an exchange of fire between Palestinian guerrillas and the IDF.
 When the wall was pushed down, Palestinians flooded the border town […]

A recent AP story detailed the plans of Omar bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s 26-year-old son, to seek an understanding between Muslims and western nations.
The bin Laden clan hasn’t exactly been known for its efforts in promoting peace.
Omar bin Laden appears to be a far cry from his father’s extremist tendencies. Unlike the turban and beard […]