Solidarity With Egypt

The Palestine Papers

Something ain't clean in the water. Al Jazeera today released over 1,500 classifeed documents covering both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The papers are full of revelations on closed door meetings and demonstrate the many deals that have been brought to the drawing board by both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.

I'm wary about something. I can't really put my finger on it. Something in the way Al Jazeera refers to them and continuously releases new information by the hour seems bizarre. I can't explain it. It's more than them simply tooting their own horn.

One thing is for certain, however. My support of opposition leader Tzipi Livni has taken a hit. I'll let all of you look over the papers yourselves. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Something Worth Reading from Al Jazeera

This excellent report on Israel's rising xenophobia is very interesting and informative. Please take a look. Despite being a supporter of the Israeli state, I think it's time the US government actually took into account what everyday life is like for non-Ashkenazi Israelis, and realize that unconditional support is no longer viable.

Tunisian Democracy

Earlier today it was revealed that a popular uprising in the North African nation of Tunisia had led to the ousting of a despotic President that had been serving his fifth term before fleeing the country. With high unemployment rates not being addressed and food prices rising, the citizens of Tunisia did the only thing they could in such closed society: take their message to the streets. Morocco and Algeria are now experiencing similar movement that could potentially change the region as a whole.

The people of Tunisia have risen to the occasion as a united, organized people and have created real and hopefully lasting change for their country. They did so without the intervention of a foreign power, without civil war, and without years of attrition. Let their struggle be an example of how real change can only come from within. Intervention only creates divides.

I hope that the rulers of the other nations in North Africa take heed, because the people living their are finally not going to take everything sitting down. Especially let this be a wake up call for Egypt, which has been under "emergency rule" for over two decades. Reforms will need to be made to keep the governments from falling like dominoes.