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Six years after the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and four years after UN Security Council resolution 1757 established the special tribunal for Lebanon, the first indictments of the tribunal have been issued, naming four individuals from Hizbullah.
Although many of the ingredients are in place for an upsurge of political activism in Palestine and a confrontation with Israel, internal obstacles and divisions could undermine any attempt at popular mobilization.
Until Yemen is able to address its confluence of crises, including poor governance, rampant corruption, major security concerns, unemployment, and a lack of desperately needed resources, terrorists operating in the country will continue to pose a threat to the international community.
If the United States wants to counter the influence of Iran and other rejectionist forces in the Arab world, it should take the opportunity to support forces of moderation and more accountable governments in the region.
A United Nations-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri handed down indictments to prosecutors in Lebanon, naming four men with ties to Hezbollah. There are fears that the tribunal’s findings could further divide the country.
The international community can take a stand against Syria’s use of violence against its citizens by directing the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate whether Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is guilty of crimes against humanity.
The empowerment of the Arab public, coupled with the realization that change is possible through peaceful means, is a combination powerful enough to fundamentally change the whole region’s dynamic, even if that change does not happen quickly or smoothly.
The deepening divide in Egyptian political life can actually help forge a sound national constitution, if it forces Islamists and non-Islamists to sit down at the table and hash out a deal.
Tensions between the United States and Saudi Arabia are seemingly on the rise as protests continue to roil the Arab world. Some fear that an unfriendly relationship with Riyadh will damage Washington’s interests in the region.
Political forces in Egypt today face a dilemma: either proceed ahead expeditiously to elections in order to end the post-revolutionary rule of the military or slow down the electoral timetable and prioritize the writing of a new constitution.