Robert M. Danin

Middle East Matters

Danin analyzes critical developments and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

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Showing posts for "Kuwait"

Middle East Matters This Week: Palestine’s Political Shake-up, Syria’s Opposition Gains, and Mubarak’s Re-Trial

by Robert M. Danin
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas stands beside Salam Fayyad (L) during a swearing-in ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah May 19,2009 (Arouri/Courtesy Reuters). Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas stands beside Salam Fayyad (L) during a swearing-in ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah May 19,2009 (Arouri/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Developments

Palestine. Palestinian Authority prime minister Salam Fayyad’s resignation was accepted over the weekend by President Mahmoud Abbas. Fayyad will reportedly remain in the post until Abbas names a replacement. Political tensions rose between the two Palestinian leaders in early March when Finance Minister Nabil Qassis announced he was quitting. Fayyad accepted the resignation, but was overruled by Abbas, in contravention of the Palestinian Basic Law–in effect challenging the prime minister’s authority to hire and fire cabinet ministers and sparking a constitutional crisis. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Israel, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, and Iraq

by Robert M. Danin
Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid party stands behind Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Shimon Peres at a reception following the swearing-in ceremony of the 19th Knesset, the new Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem February 5, 2013 (Zvulun/Courtesy Reuters).. Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid party stands behind Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Shimon Peres at a reception following the swearing-in ceremony of the 19th Knesset, the new Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem February 5, 2013 (Zvulun/Courtesy Reuters)..

Significant Developments

Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared poised to form a new government today with Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, and Naftali Bennett, leader of the Habayit Hayehudi party. The coalition agreement is expected to be signed tomorrow. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Iranian Negotiations, Syrian Deterioration, and Palestinian Violence

by Robert M. Danin
Participants sit at a table during talks on Iran's nuclear program in Almaty on February 26, 2013 (Filippov/Courtesy Reuters).. Participants sit at a table during talks on Iran's nuclear program in Almaty on February 26, 2013 (Filippov/Courtesy Reuters)..

Significant Developments

Iran. Negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 countries, meeting for the first time since June, agreed yesterday in Kazakhstan to hold further meetings on Iran’s nuclear program in March and April. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Syria, and More

by Robert M. Danin
A man cries next to a poster with an image of Chokri Belaid, a prominent Tunisian opposition politician who was shot dead, in Tunis February 7, 2013 (Souissi/Courtesy Reuters). A man cries next to a poster with an image of Chokri Belaid, a prominent Tunisian opposition politician who was shot dead, in Tunis February 7, 2013 (Souissi/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Developments

Tunisia. Tunisia’s ruling Islamist party Ennahda rejected its own prime minister’s proposal today to form a new government of technocrats following the assassination yesterday of Chokri Belaid, a prominent opposition politician. Belaid was gunned down outside his Tunis home immediately sparking massive nationwide protests. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Egypt Boils, Palestine Upgrades, and Syria’s Opposition Gains

by Robert M. Danin
Anti-Morsi protester chains his hands during a protest in Tahrir Square in Cairo on November 30, 2012 (Waguih/Courtesy Reuters). Anti-Morsi protester chains his hands during a protest in Tahrir Square in Cairo on November 30, 2012 (Waguih/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Egypt. Tens of thousands of protesters poured into Cairo’s Tahrir Square today to demonstrate against Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and the draft constitution that was approved late last night by the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly. The proposed document is slated to go to Morsi tomorrow for his approval and an announcement of a date for a popular referendum. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Syria’s Opposition Dumped While Tunisians, Egyptians, and Kuwaitis Protest

by Robert M. Danin
U.S. secretary of state Clinton meets with a small group of expatriate Syrian opposition members at a hotel in Geneva on December 6, 2011 (Applewhite/Courtesy Reuters). U.S. secretary of state Clinton meets with a small group of expatriate Syrian opposition members at a hotel in Geneva on December 6, 2011 (Applewhite/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Syria. The Syrian National Council (SNC) lashed out at the United States today, accusing Washington of trying to “undermine the Syrian revolution.” The SNC was reacting to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s announcement on Wednesday that the United States would work to reshape the Syrian opposition. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: The UN Debates Amidst Regional Turbulence

by Robert M. Danin
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu draws red line on graphic of bomb as he addresses 67th United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 28, 2012 (Jackson/Courtesy Reuters). Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu draws red line on graphic of bomb as he addresses 67th United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 28, 2012 (Jackson/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Israel and Palestine. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday within minutes of one another, with each focusing on divergent issues. Abbas lashed out strongly at Israel and called for the creation of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu, in turn, attempted to convince world leaders, the United States in particular, that a red line must be drawn on Iran’s nuclear program to avoid a military confrontation. I wrote a “First Take” analyzing both leaders’ speeches yesterday, which can be read here. Read more »

Middle East Matters This Week: Syria, Egypt, Algeria, and More

by Robert M. Danin
U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton confers with British foreign minister William Hague before a UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations in New York on January 31, 2012 (Mike Segar/Courtesy Reuters). U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton confers with British foreign minister William Hague before a UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations in New York on January 31, 2012 (Mike Segar/Courtesy Reuters).

Significant Middle East Developments

Syria. Diplomatic activity shifted to New York with foreign ministers, including Secretary of State Clinton, convening on Tuesday at the UN Security Council in attempts to forge a consensus over next steps to address the Syrian crisis. Russia declared its intent to veto any resolution that explicitly calls for regime change, sanctions, or an arms embargo. Read more »