Ed Husain

The Arab Street

Husain examines politics, society, and radicalism in the greater Middle East.

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Showing posts for "Arab-Israeli conflict"

Jews, Muslims, the Holocaust, and Israel

by Ed Husain
A visitor to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum walks past a mural of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp (Jim Young/Courtesy Reuters). A visitor to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum walks past a mural of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp (Jim Young/Courtesy Reuters).

Today, Secretary Clinton speaks at an event at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, held in collaboration with CFR and CNN, on the subject of genocide prevention. I wish that a major Arab country was the host for this event.

Last week I visited the West Bank and Israel, where I met people from varied walks of life. In conversations with young Arabs, I was saddened to hear that Holocaust denial continues to be part of the normative mindset among so many in such an important part of the world. Their grievances with the modern State of Israel are real, but this does not give them the mandate to rewrite history. Read more »

Jews and Muslims: Lessons from the Bronx

by Ed Husain
A man reads the Quran in a prayer hall at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (Lucas Jackson/Courtesy Reuters). A man reads the Quran in a prayer hall at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York (Lucas Jackson/Courtesy Reuters).

I am a Muslim, yet I sometimes visit Shabbat services in London and New York. Why? Because there is something deeply instructive about being among descendants of Abraham while they worship and recall lives of their ancestors, the ancient prophets of the Old Testament. Muslims also venerate Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Solomon, Moses, Aaron, and others. Yet the abiding Arab-Israeli conflict continues to consume the children of Abraham: Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Read more »

Whitewashing Hamas Is a Mistake

by Ed Husain
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal talks to the media as he welcomes Palestinian prisoners freed in a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel in Cairo on October 18, 2011 (Handout/Courtesy Reuters). Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal talks to the media as he welcomes Palestinian prisoners freed in a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel in Cairo on October 18, 2011 (Handout/Courtesy Reuters).

Last night, I attended an Intelligence Squared Debate in New York. As expected, the debate was spirited and lively. How could it not be? The motion was “The UN Should Admit Palestine as a Full Member State.”

As is the norm with almost all debates on the Arab-Israeli conflict, emotions were high and sparks flew. Daniel Levy, an Israeli citizen with a British background, abandoned proverbial British reserve and stiff-upper-lip culture. Levy was impressive, his arguments coherent, and his presentation was passionate, to put it mildly. You can view the full video here. Read more »