Tahrir Forum

In With the Old in Tunisia

October 5, 2017

Tunisia’s cabinet reshuffle, Administrative Reconciliation Law, and election postponement are prompting fears of a return of the Ben Ali regime.

Political Space for Israel’s Palestinians?

By Anwar Mhajne

September 18, 2017

As the Israeli state ramps up exclusionary policies against its Palestinian citizens, the Palestinian community is increasingly resorting to protests and grassroots activism to produce results.

The Next Middle Eastern War

By Rami G. Khouri

September 14, 2017

Regional powers must avoid another war with Israel. Armed conflict will never achieve peace.

Six Reasons Why You Are Confused about Syria

By Rami G. Khouri

September 8, 2017

The historical changes behind the country’s complicated civil war.

Is Reconstruction Syria’s Next Battleground?

By Benedetta Berti

September 7, 2017

The Syrian regime is turning to reconstruction to boost legitimacy and consolidate control, a process that also benefits its external allies.

Two Young Arab Leaders to Keep an Eye On

By Rami G. Khouri

August 28, 2017

An unlikely meeting between Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and one of Iraq’s leading Shiite cleric.

Trends in Qatar Stand-Off

By Rami G. Khouri

August 5, 2017

Is Qatari diplomacy and policy outperforming the Saudi Arabian-UAE-led camp in the Gulf’s ongoing confrontation?

Lessons from Jerusalem Confrontation

By Rami G. Khouri

July 31, 2017

The power of sustained, mass, non-violent protest by Palestinian civilians, with a precise focus and specific demands, caused Israel to drop all the new “security” measures it said were needed at the Al-Aqsa compound.

After Raqqa’s Fall

By Nabeel Khoury

July 31, 2017

The Syrian Al-Assad regime’s survival owes a lot to its foreign patrons, as well as U.S. incompetence.

The Real Debate That Islamism Should Spark

By Rami G. Khouri

July 20, 2017

Is Islamism a dangerous trend of the future in Muslim-majority societies, or a natural passing phase only?

One Step Forward for Lebanon’s Elections

By Anthony Elghossain

July 13, 2017

While the new Lebanese electoral law introduces a few reforms, it entrenches sectarianism and favors big parties and established politicians.

U.S. Role in Resolving Qatar Crisis Grows

By Rami G. Khouri

July 13, 2017

All parties in the Qatar crisis are learning important lessons about the business of statecraft, which will benefit them all in the long run.

Understanding Sectarianism in the Middle East

By Ussama Makdisi

July 12, 2017

Sectarian violence in the Arab and Muslim worlds is exacerbated by the role foreign powers play in the region, as well as local power rivalries.

Changing Criminal Policies

By Rami G. Khouri

June 21, 2017

The current group of global leaders seem only able to perpetuate destructive, often criminal, public and private policies that generate the fear, hate, and violence they seem unable to understand or counter.

Michel Aoun’s Double Game

By Bachir El Khoury

June 21, 2017

Lebanon’s president navigates the treacherous waters of the cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

1967 War’s Real Legacy in Egypt

By Tarek Osman

June 18, 2017

The defeat in the 1967 war with Israel deeply altered Egypt’s position in the Arab World.

Arab World’s Sorry State

By Nabeel Khoury

June 15, 2017

The Qatar crisis reflects a deeper rot.

Final Battle for the Arab World

By Rami G. Khouri

June 14, 2017

It might be useful to step back from examining any one conflict and instead simply try to identify larger historical and political patterns that help us understand the players and the issues at stake.

What Is Qatar’s Real Threat to Saudi Arabia?

By Rami G. Khouri

June 7, 2017

Citizens’ freedom, rights, justice, and dignity seem to be the threats that frighten Saudi Arabian and other Arab autocrats, and these must be minimized at any cost, it seems.

The Battle over Al-Azhar

By Mariam Ghanem and Nathan Brown

June 6, 2017

The effort to curb the Islamic institution’s autonomy has stalled, for now.

Tahrir Forum

A Blog on Middle East Transformation