From the Editors
Jadaliyya Revamps Arabic Section . . . click here
Jadaliyya Launches Arabian Peninsula Page . . . Click here!
الآن . . . القسم العربي بحلة جديدة
The Culture Page Returns . . . . click here
Jadaliyya launches its new Syria page . . . Click here.
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The Jadaliyya Egypt Elections Watch page archives! Click here for comprehensive coverage.
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New BDS Strategy: Sucky Bands Encouraged to Not Boycott Israel
Heeb Magazine recently asked the question: “Is Israel’s Air Supply Boast Proof of Cultural Boycott’s Strength?” As YNET reports, “Veteran Australian soft rock duo Air Supply will arrive in Israel in September for a series of concerts, following the success of its previous visit to the Holy Land three years ago.” Heeb’s Bernard Mendelbaum suggests that the fact that Israeli officials have been “reduced to bragging that the 80s shlock band is coming to visit” represents “one of the sadder examples of how the cultural boycott against Israel is having success.” But Air Supply’s visit is also part of a new strategy for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions ...
Keep Reading »NPR: Israeli Chef Invents Baba Ghannouj
In news that stunned millions of listeners, NPR confirmed that the dish once known as "Baba ghannouj" (or "Spoiled Papa") is actually the recent creation of the inventive Israeli chef Yoram Ottolenghi who, in his new book, prefers to call it "Burnt Eggplant with Tahini." In an exclusive interview with NPR's Senior Levantine Food Correspondent Susan Stamberg, Ottolenghi also admitted to using pomegranate and even cilantro in his unique culinary creations, a choice that he says puts him at odds with Italians who, in contrast to the other swarthy peoples of the region, do not like to use the herb. But doubtless, it is Ottolenghi's comments on ...
Keep Reading »What Really Bothered Qaddafi (Speech Excerpt with Translation)
On February 22nd, Qaddafi delivered a televised speech in which he appeared troubled and angry. Most observers assumed he was such because of his imminent dethroning. But that was not what was bothering him. Taking a break from superficial analysis at Jadaliyya, we put our minds to the task and excavated the phonetic meaning of his angry speech, captured by its finale.
Keep Reading »New word added to Oxford Dictionary: Mubarak (v.): To stick something, or to glue something
[Circulating in the Egyptian Public Space] New word added to Oxford Dictionary: Mubarak (v.): To stick something, or to glue something. Example: “I will punch you and mubarak you to the wall”; or “You can mubarak the pieces to hold them together”. لوحات طريفة يحملها المعتصمون في ميدان التحرير إمشي بقى إيدي وجعتني! إمشي بقى مراتي وحشتني! إمشي بقى عايز أروح أحلق! إمشي بقى عايز أدخل الحمام! أحد المعتصمين وقف وقد خلع قميصه وكتب على ظهره: "يسقط حسني مبارك"، وعلى صدره "معلهش مش لاقي ورقة أشتمك فيها." نكت من وحي ثورة شباب مصر
Boutros Harb For President
In my capacity as a founding editor of Jadaliyya, I hereby endorse Boutros Harb, current Lebanese Minister of Labor, for the office of President of the republic. If Lebanon were a country where presidential candidates actually stood for elections and citizens actually voted to choose who would occupy the office of the President[1], I would certainly vote for him. I would even campaign for him. Throughout a long career of public service to his country, Mr. Harb has demonstrated an uncanny understanding of and dedication to the whole of Lebanon, and not only to the community that his detractors say his only concern is; the Christians of Lebanon. While his detractors see ...
Keep Reading »Things To Do On Lebanese Independance Day + Arabic Translation
Drive from Saifi Village to Hayy al Sullum or Naba`a, marvel at the miracles of capitalism and Lebanon’s constitutionally protected free market economy. Watch a few pilots from the Lebanese Air Force put on a show in the sky, feel safer knowing that if the IDF is also watching, they are sure to be too afraid to continue violating Lebanese airspace on an almost daily basis. Take a walk in casual clothes through what used to be a bustling souk but is now luxurious downtown Beirut. Count how many times you are “checked” by security guards and how many times you hear a Lebanese accent. Use your three to six hour daily power cut to light candles and ponder the meaning ...
Keep Reading »On Being Addicts in Amman
We don’t recall how our day started, but we do remember being out of the house with none of our usual spots in sight. Everything was different that day: the number of people in the street, the look in their eyes, and the closed-up stores. Amman isn’t the place to take big risks. The consequences, especially for those of us without wasta, would have been severe should we have been caught. Even without wasta, there was sure to be family drama as well. They always suspected, but never knew for sure. That day, we were in withdrawal and badly in need of a fix. There was nothing to do but get in the car and go get one. She was driving and the place was close. ...
Keep Reading »Whither Content?
Did you like this photo? [watch the video here . . . ] Facebook it, tweet this link, i like, get slatest, comment, 14 invitations, i like this comment, photo, i like, link, send, save, bookmark, open in tabs, my delicious, tag this, digg, change style, select profile image, Donna and 18 others like this, kiss my ass, 1 hour and 9 minutes ago, share this link, add photo, Salon me, Gingrich this, Counterpunch, Stewart that, search tags, there's even a freakin' App for the App Store, i like it, Stumbleupon, redit, RSS this blog, add to favorites, remove, print it, never read it, most read, least consequential, Become a Fan, become numb, Sara changed her freakin' profile ...
Keep Reading »Animals React
The Global Council of Concerned Pets: "Time for Animals to Act" The struggle for animal rights has made significant strides in the last few centuries and while many of our fellow animals still suffer cruelty and slaughter at the hands of humans, many of us are also gravely concerned about human rights and believe that, as conscientious animals, we must defend the rights of humans as well. Our efforts to expose human cruelty and the various genocides perpetrated against our kind must not blind us to global and greater good. Otherwise, we are bound to repeat the tragic mistakes of humans.
Keep Reading »Top Ten List: What To Expect In Lebanon Now That The STL Indictment is Out
1-Sa`ad al-Hariri will release a videotaped statement from Paris saying that everyone in Lebanon must be brave and steadfast in pursuing justice for assassinated Prime Minister Rafik al Hariri. He will then go out for a five course meal, in Paris. 2-Hassan Nasrallah will release a videotaped statement from an unknown location where he announces that there will be peace and stability in Lebanon. He will sweat profusely, smile, and point his finger at the camera.He will then dispatch armed forces around ...
Keep Reading »1000 American Luminaries Support the Arab Spring
Moved by the immense courage of Arab men and women who have toppled vicious dictators in Tunisia and Egypt, and those who are still at it in Yemen, Syria and Bahrain, some of the brightest stars of American culture and arts have initiated a campaign to show their solidarity with Arabs and to call on the US government to stop supporting dictators. The campaign began in January at the height of the Egyptian revolt. It initially boasted some major household names. One of the original organizers, who asked ...
Keep Reading »Two Mundasseen Bidoun Banadoura
After several botched attempts at jumpstarting a revolt against their respective regimes, would-be protesters in Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman put out a call to hire mundasseen (مندسّين infiltrators) to help saw strife and ignite protests. Currently, there are 173 such calls/ads roaming the web and social media. After witnessing the success of the mundasseen in wreaking havoc in Libya and Syria, protesters started forming a special task force in their respective country to import, enlist, and ...
Keep Reading »Another Take on Suleiman's Mubarak's Resignation Speech (Jadaliyya Video)
On February 11th, Vice President Omar Suleiman gave Mubarak's resignation speech, a speech that we had to see over and over, and over, again. Here it is, with a more accurate translation. (This video is dedicated to all the brave protesters who faced Suleiman and Mubarak's thugs with their bodies, and died for the freedom of others)
Keep Reading »My Mother and My Neighbor's Dog on the Tunisian Revolution and Its Aftermath
[Take a look at this crap first] When Mohamed Bouazizi immolated himself in protest and set off a wave of much bigger protests in Tunis, and then elsewhere, speculation arose as to the extent to which the revolution will spread. Or, is it indeed a revolution? Maybe it was a mini-revolution, kind of like Sa`d, or baby Jesus. Alternatively, some opined, it might be just a coup. But Tunisia is old news. Protests spread quickly like, literally, a flame, to Algeria, Yemen, a teeny weeny bit in Morocco, ...
Keep Reading »Bibi Loves *Me* Best
The pundits have had a lot to say about the recent comments made by Republican Representative Eric Cantor, the incoming House Majority Leader, in a private meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week. Cantor, according to a statement released by his office, “stressed that the new Republican majority will serve as a check on the Administration and . . . made clear that the Republican majority understands the special relationship between Israel and the United States and that ...
Keep Reading »Breaking News: "Black Gold" Actually (Dark) Blue Ink
“What we always thought was oil is actually the same stuff you find in a Bic pen,” shocked analysts say. An emergency G7 meeting was called last night in response to the earth shattering news that what has been thought for over a century to be oil – petroleum – is in fact nothing more than the viscous ink used in certain ballpoint pens.
Keep Reading »Top Ten List: What to Expect From Ahmadinejad’s Visit to Lebanon (+ Arabic Translation)
[Update: See Arabic translation below . . . by popular demand!] 10- Upon hearing Ahmadinejad’s footsteps in Lebanon, Ariel “Arik” Sharon rises from his coma long enough to learn that Iran is still on the road to becoming the second country in the Middle East to have a nuclear weapon after Israel. He has another stroke. Round two for Ahmadinejad. 9-Upon meeting Ahmadinejad at a fundraiser for Hezbollah, Lebanese-American Miss USA 2010 Rima Faqih assassinates him, flies back to Iran and stages a coup ...
Keep Reading »When Fareed Zakaria Made Me Cry
When Fareed Zakaria, the Newsweek writer and CNN host, God bless his merciful soul, gave back “the award he received in 2005 from the Anti-Defamation League over the Jewish group's opposition towards the Ground Zero mosque,” he made me cry.
Keep Reading »Octavia Nasr Crucifies Herself, Switches to T-Mobile
On the morning of July 14, France’s independence day (the irony of it all), Octavia Nasr was found dead in her home after her self-inflicted crucifixion.* After twenty years of service to CNN, Nasr had been fired in July 2010 after tweeting that she had respect for the late Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah (who was a really, really bad man. bad, bad, bad Fadlallah, very bad, very very bad. Bad. So bad. Billy Jean bad). Shortly after the tweet, Nasr apologized and said she was misunderstood, that she did not ...
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"We Didn't Know It Was Impossible, So We Did It": The Quebec Student Strike Celebrates Its 100th Day
[I]t still seems acceptable to represent the Arab Gulf, in ways no longer so acceptable in the case of other postcolonies, ahistorically and apolitically, as a region ... exempt from the structural constraints of empire and capital.click me | أنقرني email quote to a friend
From Jadaliyya Reports
Jadalicious / جدلشس
- هشام صفي الدين: الإستبداد والثورة عودة الكواكبي
- The Idiot's Guide to Fighting Dictatorship in Syria While Opposing Military Intervention
- "We Will Not Recognize Criminal Israel," Says Brotherhood Leader
- الأزمة المعيشية الفلسطينية بين الإستهلاك والمديونية الأسرية والأمولة
- Revolutionary Contagion: Morocco and a Plea for Specificity
Twitter Updates
Latest Entries
View All Entries »- New Texts Out Now: Hilal Elver, The Headscarf Controversy: Secularism and Freedom of Religion
- The Presidential Race: A Game of Egyptian Roulette
- "We Didn't Know It Was Impossible, So We Did It": The Quebec Student Strike Celebrates Its 100th Day
- Post-January 25 Iranian-Egyptian Relations: A New Dawn?
- Egypt's Working Class and the Question of Organization
- لماذا سأقاطع الانتخابات الرئاسية؟
- Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (May 22)
- سنان أنطون: العراق تعمق فيه تشويه التاريخ
- Ali from Bahrain: How I Became a Refugee (In both Arabic and English)
- Interview with Egyptian Presidential Candidate Abdel Moneim Abul Fettouh
- About Last Night
- Last Week on Jadaliyya (May 14-20)
- O.I.L. Media Roundup (21 May)
- Egypt Media Roundup (May 21)
- "We are All Palestinian Prisoners": Exclusive Interview with Artist Hafez Omar (VIDEO)
- Al-Jazeera's (R)Evolution?
- Without Principle, There is Nothing: On the Undignified Politics of the American Task Force on Palestine
- The Melancholia of a Generation
- Egypt's Presidential Election: Meet the Contenders
- . . . مرايا تبحث عن محررين












