This Week in the Middle East: Recent Episodes
William
William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, discusses the new political issues of the week, with a particular focus on developments in the Middle East.
Florence Morris who is running 7k to raise funds for the NCF talks about what the NCF actually is
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
The Next Century Foundation has put together a report on action needed regarding the Gaza War from the new British government.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
The Gaza war continues and Premier Netanyahu retains power and there is little prospect of change. But what if there were a new tomorrow? What then?
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
Prayer is one of the common aspects of all religions. The form and verbal content of prayer may be different in some cases.
Sufi Definition of prayer:
Prayer is one of the ways of spiritual interaction with God.
Prayer is an expression of love to return to God.
"Prayer" is the essence of worship.
Prayer means God, I love you.
Prayer means that human is not alone.
Prayer means God's door is open to everybody.
Prayer, God hears his voice.
Prayer means that God has given permission to human to talk to Him.
Prayer means that when all doors are closed to human, God's door is open to him.
Prayer means the spiritual connection of human to God.
God hears the voice of the supplicant.
True prayer is based on knowledge, love, purity, supplication, supplication, and desire to be close to God.
"Prayer" in the mystical view; It is beautiful, but not result oriented. "prayer"; It has intrinsic value.
The beauty of "prayer" is manifested when it does not revolve around results. The success of prayer is the result of loving care and attention. Rumi said in the Mathnawi:
This demand in us is also from your creation, to be freed from greed, O Lord, it is your gift.
¬ (Rumi, Mathnawi, book1, verse 1241)
این طلب در ما هـــم از ایجــــاد توست رستن از بیـــــــداد یا رب، داد تــوست
“All prayers from you, all answers from you”,(Rumi, M.B2, v694)
هـــــــم دعا از تو اجابت هـــــــم ز تو
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
This week Paul Gutteridge, Senior Fellow of the Next Century Foundation; Honorary Fellow, The Edward Cadbury Centre, Birmingham University; and a leading member of Initiatives of Change, UK gives us an Easter message in which he remembers the ideology of Frank Buchman, founder of the Moral Rearmament movement that subsequently evolved into Initiatives of Change
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
The Ramadan fast is concurrent with Lent this year. This is the second in a series of Ramadan reflections: William Morris LL.D. discusses the implications of forgiveness, sin, trespass and debt in this reflection for the Muslim month of Ramadan and the Christian fast of Lent.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
For Moslems it is Ramadan, for Christians it is Lent, and for Jews it is a time of reflection as we approach Passover. This comes from William Morris LL.D., Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, and is rather longer than the usual podcast. In it he addresses the question of the nature of God, and the consequences of a belief in God. We hope you find it helpful, or at least interesting.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
On the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and the Red Sea and the confused international response with discussions on the political situation, international support, and potential future scenarios. The podcast emphasises the importance of peace negotiations and the need for continuous efforts toward peace. It also discusses the potential roles of China and Russia in mediating conflict.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
On the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with discussions on the political situation, international support, and potential future scenarios getting nowhere. The podcast emphasises the importance of peace negotiations and the need for continuous efforts toward peace. It also discusses the potential role of the international community in mediating the conflict, mired as it is in confusion.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
On the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with discussions on the political situation, international support, and potential future scenarios. The podcast emphasises the importance of peace negotiations and the need for continuous efforts toward peace. It also discusses the potential role of China in mediating the conflict.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
The international force is being put in place to protect Israel as a consequence of the stalemate that is the Gaza War. And then what for Gaza?
William discussed the difficulties of establishing an international force to protect Israel from Gaza, emphasizing Israel’s reluctance and the potential challenges. He suggested Canada’s potential involvement and the United Arab Emirates’ potential funding, while mentioning Saudi Arabia’s potential role in building a port. William also touched upon Egypt’s refusal of control over Gaza, the Houthis’ role in the conflict, and the missed opportunities for full-scale diplomatic negotiations. He criticized Britain’s handling of the situation and questioned the United States’ actions regarding international shipping.
William also discussed the political complexities in Palestine, focusing on the role of Hamas and the State of Qatar, the challenges of establishing a strong government in Gaza, and Israel’s willingness to support a strong leader there. He also mentioned a potential prisoner exchange and the ongoing peace process, with recognition of Israel being dangled as a carrot. The possibility of a two-state solution was debated, with recognition of a Palestinian state seen as a key need.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
William Morris LL.D. reflects on our duty during the coming year
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
William Morris LL.D., Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, shares a Christmas message and suggests that "We are Noah's Ark"
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
In this episode, we are discussing the ongoing situation in Gaza that demands urgent attention from the international community. The recent killing of three Israeli boys, who were held hostage, by the Israel Defense Forces has deeply saddened and shocked us. The manner in which these killings were carried out is not only disturbing but also inhumane. However, we firmly believe that forced depopulation of Gaza is not the solution.
To move forward, we emphasize the need to reform the corrupt Palestinian Authority and establish a new administration for Palestine. We have identified two credible candidates for this pivotal role – Mohammed Dahlan and Marwan Barghouti. While the international community may lean towards Dahlan due to his lack of charisma, we believe that Barghouti, who enjoys the support of the Palestinians, would be a more suitable choice.
Securing Barghouti's release from jail would require cooperation from both Israel and Hamas. It is essential for them to recognize the benefits that come with his involvement. While the possibility of Israel expanding the war and advancing into southern Lebanon seems unlikely, the threat of diseases and further destruction in Gaza is very real. The lack of access to clean drinking water and the destruction of critical infrastructure have exacerbated an already disastrous situation for the two and a half million people residing in Gaza. The reported death toll, which includes casualties from direct bombings and diseases, is likely underestimated.
To improve the situation, we urgently call upon Israel and the global community to take action. It is high time for the establishment of a new Palestinian administration, the initiation of a peace process, and Israel's recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. Any further delays will only prolong the suffering and misery endured by the people of Gaza.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
William Morris LL.D., Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, examines the ongoing civil war in Sudan and prospects for peace between the RSF and the SAF.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
So you are not going to have an international force. And Israel won't stay. Nor can you get rid of the Gazans. So what then?
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
Next Century Foundation Secretary General William Morris LL.D. reflects on the current Gaza War and suggests an imposed solution may be the only answer.
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Reflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
The delivery of the massive Storm Shadow cruise missile to Ukraine by Britain marks a seminal moment in the history of this grinding war
Support the showReflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
The Sudan war is bloody and brutal. Two great warlords slug it out for dominion. Chances that one or other can win outright are slim. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, popularly known as Hemedti, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), compete with one another to exert control over Sudan. The NCF has a detailed blog on the subject. However, Next Century Foundation Secretary General gives his more personal take on the reasons for this latest in the long series of Sudan wars.
Support the showReflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
Ramadan is over and this is a time of celebration and of feasting or "Eid". However much is not right with the world and we need to set aside our troubles to truly celebrate this brave new dawn.
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This year Ramadan, Passover and Easter all fall together. And we need above all else to find reasons to hope in this broken world. NCF Secretary General, William Morris shares a few thoughts in this message.
Support the showReflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
Where is the aid for Aleppo, Latakia, Homs and Homa? Where are the big aid organisations like International Rescue or the Disasters Emergency Committee? Where are the Western Governments. Turning their backs on a country in ruins. That's where.
Support the showReflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
We live in tough times, and they may continue to be tough times. What is required of us as we walk forward together into 2023, is Strength. We need to lift our eyes from the furrow and see the stars. If only because so many others depend on us, and they may not be as strong as we are, and what they need, and we can offer, is unconditional love. But if we are weak and broken ourselves and have not yet found a way to carry hope in our hearts, it becomes difficult to generate hope in the hearts of others who need us.
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An assessment of the Russian position on Ukraine and the dangers that position represents
Support the showReflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
We have just had the Jewish New Year, swiftly followed by the iconic and emotionally important "Day of Atonement". The Next Century Foundation's Secretary General offers a few reflections on the occasion.
Support the showReflections and observations from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation
Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, is in Baghdad, where the streets are in turmoil once again. What hope for Iraq? William reflects on the current situation.
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William Morris, NCF Secretary General, argues that even for Russia, the Ukraine issue is an existential issue
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The denial of the opportunity to Muktadr Sadr's victorious candidates to take a lead in the formation of a government, indeed the action of the courts in stalling and inhibiting the appointment of a new president, has led Iraq to the brink of a Shiite-Shiite civil war, as militia leaders who did badly in the elections seek to retain their power.
The prospect of a new election is slim and even then, would a rerun of the parliamentary elections actually provide a way forward.
Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, gives his take on the crisis.
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Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, reflects on the death of Regnant Queen Elizabeth the Second and the accession of King Charles the Third.
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There's not much to inspire in the contenders for the crown:
Rishi Sunak
Sunak was behind the UK Government’s abandonment of its commitment to spending 0.7% of its GDP on developmental aid. Cutting this budget will have a detrimental effect on countries that receive British foreign aid, such as Yemen and Afghanistan. As already mentioned, these countries are likely to struggle even more this year, and it is unlikely as a candidate he will commit to repealing these reforms as lowering foreign aid is a popular policy within the Conservative Party.
Penny Mordaunt
Mordaunt has voted for military action in both Iraq and Syria, as well as for the continued deployment of British troops in Afghanistan. She has a military background as a Royal Navy Reservist and has a month-long stint as Defence Secretary. Mordaunt has vowed to increase defence spending, and it is likely she would favour a Hawkish foreign policy.
Mourdant was appointed Secretary for International Development on 9th November 2017, leaving in April 2018. She has made concerning statements since leaving the position, such as suggesting in June 2020 that some foreign aid should instead be spent on a replacement for the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Liz Truss
Liz Truss received the support of 64 MPs in the second round. Liz Truss is perhaps even more Hawkish than Mourdant, and has been backed by some of the prominent figures on the right of the Conservative Party, such as Jacob Rees Mogg and Nadine Dorries. Since becoming Foreign Secretary in September 2021, she has tried to style herself after Thatcher and has been aggressive in opposing Russia when it comes to the situation in Ukraine.
However, this has led to her pushing Middle Eastern issues to the periphery. Questioned by a committee of MPs, she highlighted the important status of the Gulf States as allies but declined to say whether she had questioned their governments on their arguably weak human rights records.
Kemi Badenoch
In fourth place in the second round with 49 MPs backing her was Kemi Badenoch. Badenoch is a rising star in the party, positioning herself as an ‘anti-woke’ candidate. When it comes to foreign affairs, she has said she ‘doesn’t care’ about colonialism. These attitudes could lead to worse relations with Middle Eastern countries, as many of them suffered from colonialism. Badenoch doesn’t believe ‘institutional racism’ exists in the UK, which might affect the way refugees are treated in the UK, many of whom coming from countries like Syria and Afghanistan.
Tom Tugendhat
Tom Tugendhat came fifth in the second round with 32 MPs backing him. He has experience in the Middle East, having served as a soldier in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Tugendhat did a Master’s degree in Islamic studies and is fluent in Arabic, which would both be useful in working with Middle Eastern countries. Tugendhat came to national attention for his strong criticism of the Western withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it the “biggest foreign policy disaster since Suez.” He is also a strong supporter of Israel, condemning the United Nations for its official criticism of Israeli settlements. He has suggested that other disputed territories should also receive attention, such as Western Sahara, Kashmir and Tibet.
Tugendhat has accused Iran of funding terrorists, which could make work on a Nuclear Deal difficult. He has also praised Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in 2018 for having a positive impact on his country and the world. Tugendhat also vocally opposed the cut in the foreign aid budget. Tugendhat is seen by some to be on the left of the Conservative Party, yet some of his statements on Israel and Saudi Arabia show an interesting approach to the Middle East.
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It is Eid in a year in which hatred has reached new levels. And there is so much pain in the world. Now a mere word can lift us and a mere word can destroy us. William's Eid message is about coping, in a world in which there is far too much despair.
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The grain harvest from last year is in the silos in Ukraine. Unless it is shifted this year's harvest will have to be burnt in the fields and children in Africa will starve. Surely now is the time for action for peace? But what deal will Russia accept and can Ukraine endure?
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I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.
That was what the Queen said on her 21st birthday in 1947. But what is duty?
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NCF Secretary General, William Morris, gives insights into the war in Ukraine based on information gleaned from unusual sources
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The killing of Shireen Abu Akleh has, understandably, generated a lot of hatred. But she was a Christian. And would she have wanted this response? I am by no means certain. James the brother of Jesus in what is arguably the earliest of the gospel passages wrote, "Mercy triumphs over Justice". God deals out judgement and punishment. But then he offers mercy. So too with us. We should forgive those that trespass against us. Or at the very least attempt to do so. And the man that killed Shireen has trespassed against us all. The prophet Mohamed said "Kill one person and its as if you killed the world". So breaking the cycle of hatred starts with you - and me.
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If Russia succeeds in Ukraine the consequence is a New World Order with an emergent Russo-China power bloc. Or so argues William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation. The West has a lot riding on the outcome of this war.
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The Next Century Foundation's Secretary General, William Morris, shares a few thoughts on the importance of hope in these troubled times, and expresses the belief that the world is indeed turning a corner in regard to some of its most acute crises, Ukraine, the Middle East Peace Process, Covid, and Climate Change.
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A high western and China military presence in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea has fuelled the tension between Taiwan and China. In early October of last year, over 150 Chinese aircraft were sent into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, which aroused worldwide attention. Similarly, the US has increased their presence by sending more navy ships to the Taiwan Strait, including a nuclear submarine. Regarding the US’s presence, China condemned the US’s recent activity which it said was jeopardizing the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.
In the G-20 summit last year, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also discussed the Taiwan issue. During the summit, US Secretary of State Blinken specifically expressed the US’s concern over the Taiwan issue, and clearly stated Washington’s opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo in Taiwan carried out by China. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also called for a clearer position from the US to follow the one-China policy.
China’s concern over the US’s commitment to one-China policy is furthered strengthened by the latest statements from the Biden Administration. In August of last year, it was the second time that President Biden publicly gave his commitment to support Taiwan if Taiwan is ever under attack by China. Likewise, Secretary of State Blinken encourages all UN member states to jointly support Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations. Even the White House declared that the US’s policy remains unchanged, it raised China’s concerns and China claimed that Taiwan has no right to join the United Nations. In the meantime, Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-Wen welcomed the US’s support for Taiwan.
But will China ever copy Russia and actually take Taiwan?
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Why is Mariupol, the sea port for Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine’s Donbas region so important for Putin?
Putin’s formal recognition of the Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic signaled the start of a new war. But how do we get it to end.
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Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, examines the degree to which the West is responsible for the Middle East's misery
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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s avid interests in Ukraine right now include two points. First, Putin wants Kyiv to accept the autonomous status of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics in Donbas. Second, he wants a guarantee that Ukraine will not join both NATO and the EU.
Even though Putin explicitly expressed that Russia would not annex the Donbas region, recent actions of Russia raised grave concern. On the 21st of February, Russia recognized the independence of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), which worried Ukraine about a full-scale military offensive. Three days later, on the 24th, following the recognition, Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine, announcing that the forces will protect the people of Donbas and “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine. The two republics have been seized by Russia-backed separatists after the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych in 2014.
Seizing the two southeastern oblasts is not the only concern of Putin now. NATO’s expansion is an existential threat to Putin and therefore, he described Ukraine’s aspiration to join the alliance as a “hostile act”. In December 2021, among Putin’s security demands presented to the US and NATO was Ukraine would never enter NATO and that the alliance would roll back its military footprint in Eastern and Central Europe. Additionally, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s ambition is also to let Ukraine join the European Union. On the last day of February, he signed an official application for EU membership. This affects Putin’s red line in Ukraine.
BUT HOW DO WE GO ABOUT GETTING PEACE INSTEAD OF WAR
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The Kingdom of Bahrain is negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Human Rights Council as it faces the process of Universal Periodic Review. But more importantly, there will be elections in Bahrain at the end of this year. Now has to be the moment for the Kingdom of Bahrain to make further progress on the road to democracy. And perhaps all that is needed for a more stable Bahrain is for the new US ambassador to take a genuine interest - so great - potentially - is the influence of America.
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As President Putin takes Ukraine, what makes him tick?
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As the clouds of war darken on the horizon, the NCF Secretary General, himself riven with Covid, complains about everyone engaged in promoting the Ukraine fiasco.
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William Morris, the Next Century Foundation's Secretary General, gave this New Year's message for 2022. His podcast focuses on:
- Though there are troubles in the Middle East, in Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Afghanistan, there's hope
- Though the great powers are predatory, there's hope
- Though the environment is under threat, there's hope
- Though the pandemic is killing millions, there's hope
- Though we may be depressed, there's hope
- That mercy is more important than justice and compassion more important than lov
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SUFISM: a meeting on Rumi's concept of and approach to spiritual health and wellbeing. Note that this subject will be addressed by Ayatollah Safavi, the Head of the Safavid Sufi movement.
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William Morris, Secretary General of the Next century Foundation, was asked to give a message to Iran for the Tehran conference titled "Future of Human Rights in West Asia" under the auspices of the Tehran based Foundation for Dialogue and Solidarity with the United Nations.
William particularly emphasised Iran's initiatives in Iraq.
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The core principles which could be embodied in a secure and final peace settlement between Israel and Palestine.
LAND SWAP
Since the 1990s, land swap has become part of the negotiations between Israel and Palestine. However, the disagreement on the principles from both sides undermines the formation of a consensus on the land swap issue.
In order to fulfill Palestine’s requirements on the completion of its sovereignty and Israel’s security concerns, the Next Century Foundation proposes that the 6% annexation of the West Bank take place, including the West Bank’s city Ari’el as well as the settlements of Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, Ma’ale Adumin, Giv’at Ze’ev and East Talpiot together with some contiguous smaller settlements in the incursion at Qalquilya. However, very little else should be included and the controversial settlement at Hebron would be excluded.
The land swap should be based on the following principles:
1.Israel should be able to defend itself – by itself – against any threat.
2.The exchange should be on an acre-for-acre ratio.
3.The ethnicities involved in the targeted areas should be taken into consideration.
THE ISSUE OF JERUSALEM
After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel took control of East Jerusalem and claimed all Jerusalem as its capital with the extension of its jurisdiction and governance. Some Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. Others look to all Jerusalem as their capital. The lack of regional and international consensus on this issue has left tens of thousands of residents in Jerusalem live in constant uncertainty.
In understanding the religious, historical, and cultural complexity in Jerusalem, the Next Century Foundation proposes that:
1.Israel and Palestine should share the de jure sovereignty of Jerusalem.
2.The international community should symbolically recognise Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine.
3.In practical terms specific de facto arrangements could be negotiated to deal with each secondary issue. For example these would include joint patrols in East Jerusalem, the use of Orient House as the Palestinian President’s Jerusalem residence, and a Palestinian Parliament in Abu Dis.
THE RIGHT OF RETURN
Millions of Palestinians were displaced following the 1948-1949 Israel’s War of Independence and subsequent 1967 war. While international law guarantees the right of return as part of refugees’ rights, disagreements over history and insecurity on both sides have prevented meaningful progress on the right of return issue.
The Next Century Foundation endorses the proposal from Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that:
1.Palestinians will be allowed to enter Israel only on an individual humanitarian basis.
2.Entry will not be under the names of “rights of return” or “family reunification”.
3.1,000 Palestinians are allowed to enter Israel in each year, for five years. The situation will then be reviewed.
Additionally:
4.Palestinians living outside Palestine will have a right of return to the State of Palestine.
5.Palestinians displaced in difficult circumstances (as is the case for example in regard to many Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon) will have a right to choose to emigrate to the West or to accept compensation in lieu.
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Germany's Abrahamfests had an environmental edge this year. And Germany certainly talks the talk, but does it actually walk the walk?
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William Morris reflects on his conversations with Lieutenant General Abd-al-Ameer Yarallah, Chief of Staff of the Iraq Army; Mr Adnan al-Fayhan MP; Mr Ahmad al-Asadi MP; General Jabbar Yawar, Secretary General of KRG's Ministry of Peshmerga; Hadi al Amri, the overall commander of the Hashid; NSA boss Kasem Alaraji; and ISCI Head Sheikh Homan Hamoudi.
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William Morris talks with Lieutenant General Abd-al-Ameer Yarallah, Chief of Staff of the Iraq Army; Mr Adnan al-Fayhan MP; Mr Ahmad al-Asadi MP; and General Jabbar Yawar, Secretary General of KRG's Ministry of Peshmerga.
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William Morris at the Rafidain Forum in Baghdad listening to and questioning Ammar al Hakeem, Head of the National State Powers Alliance, in regard to the controversial forthcoming elections in Iraq - themselves a response to the street protests against corruption.
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William Morris offers a few reflections from Baghdad, sharing thoughts garnered at the Rafidain conference from President Barham Saleh of Iraq, Mohamed al-Halbousi the Speaker of Iraq, Turkey's Ambassador Ali Riza Guney and Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Sa'idi of the Iraq Counter-Terrorism Service on issues including relationships with Syria, the forthcoming elections in Iraq, the PKK and terrorism.
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The Next Century Foundation has been in discussion with Taliban representatives through the good auspices of Prince Nadir Naim's Kabul Institute for Peace. Prince Nadir remains in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. So too many of the Next Century Foundation's Afghan friends. These reflections follow on from discussions in recent days with friends left behind in Kabul.
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The Next Century Foundation's Secretary General, William Morris, gives an Eid Message, in the aftermath of the Feast of the Sacrifice and in the run up to Islam's New Year for 1443.
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Afghanistan has been lost to the Taliban and we are complicit in that loss. NCF Secretary General, William Morris LL.D., expresses his concerns and suggests one or two measures that could be taken to improve the current dire situation.
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Gaza holds two of Israel's citizens that wandered in through a hole in the fence. Arguably they were not of sound mind at the time. Hamas also hold the bodies of two soldiers. There is talk of an exchange of prisoners. Is this relevant? Perhaps. We have a new government in Israel now. There are all sorts of little opportunities to nudge things in a better direction - perhaps. Anyone for a peace process? Or is that a dream too far?
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Are Syria's Presidential elections more a rubber stamp than a victory? That said, perhaps there is indeed the first hint of a new dawn
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The Gaza War is over - for now. And the plus side is that Mid East Peace is back on the agenda. However, the “postponed” Palestinian elections look like they could be postponed forever; with the flimsy excuse that Israel won’t allow the elections in East Jerusalem.
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On Saturday the Gaza Press Centre was bombed into the ground by the State of Israel in retribution for the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, even though it bore no culpability for those attacks. The NCF Secretary General makes some observations in this regard.
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As Ramadan comes to an end William Morris shares a message for Eid and addresses issues in regard to Afghanistan, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Yemen.
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Israel’s fourth elections in two years held on 23rd March 2021 were yet again inconclusive. At stake was whether the electorate would give Benjamin Netanyahu the necessary 61 seats to form a government. A government that, consequently, would provide immunity from his corruption trial. This wasn’t granted, with the pro-Netanyahu bloc gaining 59 seats whilst the anti-Netanyahu bloc won 57 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. This left an unlikely kingmaker: the head of the Islamist faction, Mansour Abbas.
This leaves the Arab voter as, arguably, the biggest winner of the ensuing uncertainty. The four seats garnered by Abbas have become highly coveted by both the anti-Netanyahu and pro-Netanyahu blocs. Before the elections, he broke away from the Joint Arab List with the Ra’am faction and campaigned on a platform to join the coalition to bargain for budgets and influence policies that affect the Arab voter. Whilst his joining the coalition was ruled out by many parties during the election, realpolitik now calls.
This has led to an overnight ‘kosherising’ (hachshara), as Israel’s media pundits say, of Arab participation in coalitions; a taboo whose only precedent remains Yitzhak Rabin’s second government when two Arab parties provided parliamentary support from outside the coalition. Traditionally, the Arab parties have been marginalised in the coalition building process, being viewed as illegitimate coalition partners by Jewish Zionist parties of almost all stripes. That said, for their part they have in any case hitherto been reluctant to join a government that they view as occupying the West Bank and besieging Gaza.
The Rubicon has now been crossed with both camps’ courting of Ra’am, and Ra’am loosening its ideological objection to participation in Israel’s governments. The Arab voter stands to gain a government that funds its municipalities, deals with the rife crime impacting the Bedouin villages of the Negev, and reverses the harm done by the Nation State bill.
Netanyahu can’t be declared the loser as he may yet cobble together a coalition, should he succeed in courting Ra’am and gaining approval from his natural coalition partner to his right, the Jewish supremacist party Religious Zionism. The chances are slim, and meanwhile the witness stage of his trial has begun . . .
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As of 2021 the Republic of Yemen has entered its seventh year of conflict - conflict which has led to a disappearing of the socio-political fabric of Yemen’s tentative democratic tradition. Plagued by decades of political instability and rampant sectarianism, Yemen’s conflict can only be remedied through strong governance.
A country divided between two governments: an internationally recognized government led by President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and a de facto government run by Ansar Allah from the country’s capital, Sana’a, both competing authorities have failed to provide basic services to citizens, thus opening Yemen to rapid disintegration.
President Hadi’s government currently lacks the political clout required to operate inside Yemen in a cohesive and meaningful way.
Yemen’s regional and international stakeholders are also to blame for Yemen’s catastrophe. The blocked airports and seaports have fueled humanitarian atrocities. National solutions cannot go forward whilst the proxy war waged on Yemen’s soil is not stopped.
Following months of negotiations, a new cabinet was appointed under President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed in December 2020.
The two-party settlement is unlikely to translate into long-lasting peace. Most of the northern governorates are under Houthi control, making the agreement logistically impractical. Northern ministers will lack decision-making authority in the region, a direct challenge to the overall authority of the state and the Republic as it stands today.
TIHAMA’S EXCLUSION
The new government has so far successfully included 24 ministers - the representatives of major political forces in Yemen, with equal numbers of members from Northern and Southern regions, including the Southern Transitional Council (STC). However, such a power-share failed to adequately include the Tihama region, despite it being home to 23% of Yemen’s population.
In addition to the exclusion of the Tihama region, tribal leaders, and civil society actors, the new government has failed to include women – a failure that discredits the new government, especially since under the previous government women were offered an ever-increasing voice and role.
FUTURE GOVERNANCE
The federalization of the Republic of Yemen was the final outcome of the National Dialogue Conference, which agreed that Yemen would be transformed into a six-region federal system. The regions would be:
•Azal, Saba, Janad and Tihama in the North,
•Aden and the Hadramawt in the South.
We endorse this way forward in combination with national elections for a central government and local elections for regional assemblies. One credible approach would be for the central government to deal with national and international issues such as defence and internal security; the local governments to have devolved budgets to deal with all local issues such as infrastructure, healthcare and education. Members of regional assemblies to be empowered to vote by a two thirds majority to combine regions should they so wish.
We strongly advocate that autonomy and authority be restored to the people of Yemen. All parties should urgently work together on paving a way forward for Yemen; a way forward is only possible when international and national stakeholders take responsibility for their role in Yemen’s humanitarian atrocities. Strong governance is integral to building long-lasting peace, and even more so to avoid Yemen remaining a failed state. An entire generation having only been exposed to war, Yemen’s man-made humanitarian catastrophe may lead to the country’s permanent downfall.
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Freedom of Speech matters. But does the new Twitter ban on Trump and a whole raft of others that Twitter has added to the list amount to a gross infringement of our democratic rights?
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The Kashmir Valley for decades has thrived of the scores of tourists that travel there every year. However, the past one year due to Coronavirus has severely impact travel to the valley, largely due to travel restrictions and lockdowns but also because of the turmoil in Indian administered Kashmir since Kashmir special status was revoked by the Indian government. Kashmir’s economy is nearing collapse, and it has never been worse. In previous years despite the extra military presence or lockdowns for security measures, tourists still continued travelling to the valley for vacations and contributed to the economy through their spending in local shops and accommodations. However, this year that little saving grace has also vanished through travel bans and the lack of tourism and the consequent revenue for locals.
To make matters worse, the past few weeks have seen very heavy snowfall in the region. This had to led to closure of many roads and highways as well as air traffic, leading to about 4,500 trucks mainly carrying essential items for the items stuck along the closed highways. Authorities in some parts of Kashmir are already rationing items such as LPG and Petrol, essentials for daily life, and adding to the pressures on Kashmiris coupled with the lockdowns, lack of steady income and security concerns.
Finally, Jammu and Kashmir held its first elections this past December wherein voters from all over stood in lines to vote despite the harsh winter and the COVID-19 pandemic. This election has been the first since the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s special status under article 370 of the Indian constitution giving its autonomous status and prohibiting citizens from other Indian states from buying property in Kashmir. Many voters were hopeful that this election will the beginning of better systems in Kashmir such as access to better roads, water, elecricity and general development but did not support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP). The two main contenders of this election were the BJP and the Gupkar Alliance, which is a grouping of regional parties that all held the aim of re-instating article 370. The problem however is, that even is the Gupkar group wins a majority of seats in parliament, they as elected representatives hold no legislative authority, only the task of promoting local development and improve daily life for those in Jammu and Kashmir.
The elections as per the Indian Prime Minister “have further strengthened the roots of democracy” as people both young and old in Jammu and Kashmir waited for hours to cast their vote. Of a total of 280 seats across Jammu(a hindu majority) and Kashmir(a muslim majority), the BJP won over 70 seats mainly in Jammu and 3 seats(for the first time ever) in Kashmir. Whereas the Gupkar alliance, won more than 110 seats, 70 of those being in Kashmir. However although the BJP claimed this voting process was a victory for democracy, there were opponents who claimed that the BJP had illegally detained them and barred them from canvassing- charged the BJP denied.
An additional fear of militants and violence has often also kept voters at home. This year, the overall turn out was 51%, and in Kashmir alone, 34% of those eligible to vote did so, which is double the amount seen last year in the parliamentary elections.
Unfortunately, despite the hopes of many Kashmiris, the chances of the Indian government re-instating article 370 are slim. However what they can hope for from these elections is that their elected representatives will work hard to bring development and progress to Jammu and Kashmir.
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Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, gives his thoughts on the need for a new political ideology in the wake of the Covid plague and all its consequences - and backs Kwame Anthony Appiah's cosmopolitanism
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With Christmas wishes, a message recorded for release after Christmas from William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the NCF Board.
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NCF Member and member of the Syrian opposition, Mohamed Al Ghabra forwards this message from his friends infuriated by the fourth round of Constitutional discussions in Geneva this week:
- The fourth round failed because it missed a new opportunity granted by the United Nations, which naturally means prolonging the suffering of the Syrian people, and a terrible deterioration for the worse.
- 45 Syrians met in Geneva (the small-constitutional committee), and they were unable to help their people and their homeland to stop the inhumane degradation and fall into the abyss, while some of them thought that they grasp the embers of national principles and values. And accuse others of being paid in dollars, riyals and dirhams.
- Others think they are defending freedom, and democracy, accusing the first team of war crimes, crimes against humanity, barrel bombs and chemical attack, while the third party adheres to the issues of accountability, punishment, prisons, detention centers and the forcibly disappeared.
- Most of these 45 do not belong to the overwhelming majority of the Syrian society, and they enjoy comfortable living conditions that enable them to have food, drink, treatment and warmth on winter nights. So, time means nothing for them.
-90 percent of the time was wasted delving into topics, discussions and accusations that had nothing to do with the mission for which the negotiating delegation met. - The formulation of the supreme law starts from the basic rules for the form of the state, the system of government, and the form of government, and it organizes public authorities in terms of composition, jurisdiction, relations between authorities, the limits of each of them, duties and basic rights of individuals and groups, and establishes guarantees for them vis-à-vis authority.
- What is the reason for returning to the atmosphere of accusations and counter accusations, and the relentless pursuit of what divides and does not combine, and what widens the gap and does not try to bridge it?
- The civil society delegation should play the primary role in mediating between the government and opposition delegations, inspiring the spirit of national reconciliation, and assisting the UN mission in reaching a consensus between the two delegations.
- There are one or more parties who are delusional think that they can solve the problems apart from Security Council Resolution 2254.
- The Russian position is clear and principled and is based on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254, which clearly states the importance of preserving the Syrian state and its territorial integrity.
- There is no validity to the media skepticism and misinformation campaigns by multiple parties that have reached the point of spreading what they called a Russian desire to exploit the difficult Syrian situation to play the role of mediator in favor of Israel, to force Damascus to sign a normalization agreement with it.
- The process of shuffling the cards is taking place - with great regret - in full swing, with the participation of forces in Damascus and opposition parties, which are concerned only with preserving their interests, and have nothing to do with the supreme national interest or the interests of the great majority of the Syrian people.
- It seems that the coming days indicate that differences will be exacerbated in the ranks of the Syrian opposition, which will bear its consequences for sure of the status of the Constitutional Committee and the tasks entrusted to it.
- The leadership in Damascus, who is the main responsible for everything related to Syria and its people, should take the initiative to assume its responsibilities before its people, and strive to end the tragedy they are experiencing.
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Iraq and Saudi Arabia have opened the Arar border crossing for trade for the first time in 30 years. Officials from both countries- including the Saudi ambassador to Iraq and the Iraqi interior minister, travelled to Baghdad to open the border. Both goods and people will be able to pass through Arar which had remained closed since Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Relations between the two countries started to take a positive turn in 2017 when representatives from each country had made a visit to one another, consequently leading to the initiation of commercial flights between the two neighbours. The current prime minister of Iraq, Mustafa al-Kadhimi is said to be on good terms with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. One group known as the Ashab al-Kahf published a statement however expressing a rejection of “the Saudi project in Iraq”. The Iraqi prime minister welcomes the development, in hope that it may provide employment opportunities to 1/3 of the youth who are unemployed.
Approximately 4,000 prisoners are meant to be on death row, after being charged with terrorism offences in unfair trials, claims United Nation human rights experts. The UN has asked the Iraqi government to halt plans of executions, after 21 men were executed last Friday.
Six Iraqi demonstrators have been killed from bullet wounds in the capital of Nasiriya after clashes have erupted between anti-government protestors and thousands of Muqtada al-Sadr supporters in Tahir Square. The Sadrist movement called for protests to back the reform of what he views a corrupt state. By Saturday morning, at least 60 people were wounded. Sadr on Wednesday called for relations between Shiite factions and parties to be repaired and to sign a political honour code from internal and external challenges facing the country. The leader of Al-Fatah Alliance, MP Karim Aliwi welcomed this proposal, stating that it will have popular support because it’s in the interests of the country and its citizens.
Kurdish journalist Sherwan Amin Sherwani has been imprisoned for almost two months by Iraqi Kurdish authorities for political reasons fuelled by his involvement as editor-in-chief of Bashur, a magazine that has been openly critical of the Kurdish political elite. Notably, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the powerful Barzani family who are based in Erbil and Duhok provinces. Whilst Sherwani’s lawyer is adamant that there is no legal basis for his confinement, representatives from the Kurdistan Regional Government have reiterated the reason for his arrest as being his threat to the security of the region.
The responsibility of a rocket attack at an oil refinery in Northern Iraq has been claimed by ISIS. The attack occurred on the 29th of November, which yielded no casualties, the oil ministry says. There was another attack executed by them 8 days prior in the Salahuddin province where a bomb hit a civilian car. Members of ISIS then killed six Iraqi security officers that had arrived on the scene along with four civilians.
On the 27th of November, a massage parlour was raided in Baghdad, where inside facilitates were destroyed with batons and men and women were violently pushed onto the street. Rab’Allah initially took responsibility for the raid on social media, stating it is their duty to ‘stand against societal corruption’ which has been inspired by ‘ideas of America and Israel’. A day later however, they denied their involvement in the incident. Other attacks followed on Christian and Yazidi-owned liquor stores across the capital. One shop owner said that he had been bribing armed groups to protect his business from being raided.
The US is set to reduce its troops in Iraq to 2,500 by January 12th next month.
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Israel has just assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. There are those who would like to see this lead to war. Let's hope cooler heads prevail
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A few reflections on how the fall of Kabul might be avoided
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China's atrocious treatment of the Uighurs and its behaviour over Hong Kong demands a response. Governments do nothing but we can take action. We could start by boycotting Chinese goods. Not easy. Amazon fails to put countries of origin on the goods it markets. A little campaign to force Amazon to do so would do no harm - and for those environmentally inclined would enable us to buy goods without so many air miles (should Amazon comply). One way to twist Amazon's arm would be to buy our books elsewhere. Here are a few alternative platforms:
Alternatives to Amazon
BooksU.K.
Bookshop – supporting local bookshops
https://uk.bookshop.org/
Hive – books, eBooks
https://www.hive.co.uk/
Biblio: rare, special, and used books
https://biblio.co.uk/
Alibris – books, textbooks, movies, music
https://www.alibris.co.uk/
Big Green Bookshop
http://www.biggreenbookshop.com/
Eurospan Bookstore
https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/
AbeBooks.co.uk
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/
U.S.
Bookshop – supporting local bookshops
https://bookshop.org/
Biblio: rare, special, and used books
https://www.biblio.com/
Alibris – books, textbooks, movies, music
https://www.alibris.com/
Indie Bound – independent bookshops in U.S.
https://www.indiebound.org/
Thrift Books – second hand books
https://www.thriftbooks.com/
Book Outlet
https://bookoutlet.com/
Audiobooks through local bookstores:
https://libro.fm/
Overdrive – audiobooks through your local library
https://www.overdrive.com/
Hoopla – borrow movies, eBooks, music with your library card
https://www.hoopladigital.com/
Anglo-American
World of Books
https://www.worldofbooks.com/
European
Eurospan Bookstore
https://www.eurospanbookstore.com/
Fnac – books, CDs, DVDs, films, electronics, homeware
https://www.fnac.com/
French
*Fnac – books, CDs, DVDs, films, electronics, homeware
https://www.fnac.com/
Recyclivre – secondhand books
https://www.recyclivre.com/shop/
Label Emmaus – secondhand books and other items
https://www.label-emmaus.co/fr/
La Librarie – books from local bookshops
https://www.lalibrairie.com/
Place des Libraries – books from local bookshops
https://www.placedeslibraires.fr/
Libraries Independentes – books from local bookshops
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The Killing of dissident Hanan al Barrassi marks a new point of misery for Benghazi - and is perhaps one of the most disgraceful acts yet committed in this unpleasant ongoing war
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President elect Joe Biden Jnr is a very different kettle of fish to President Trump. But what will his Foreign Policy be like?
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How will things be for the State of Palestine now that Biden is US President?
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The recording - slightly edited - of the Next Century Foundation's "Balck Lives Matter" discussion.
Participants include:
- Mr Paul Gutteridge, National Director, Initiatives of Change United Kingdom and Honorary Fellow, Edward Cadbury Centre, University of Birmingham; and
- The Reverend Larry Wright, Board Member of the Next Century Foundation
- Mr Kenneth Munson, currently heading Community Care, Wisconsin; formerly director of the Fire and Police Commission, assistant city attorney and assistant district attorney in the city of Milwaukee.
- Mr Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor of Philosophy and Law, New York University (NYU), USA.
- Ms Dhouha Djerbi and she will talk about BLM within the French context, from “l’affaire Adama” (France’s George Floyd) to French police behaviour in economically disadvantaged areas.
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Lebanon has a new premier - but it is the old premier - what comes around goes around in Lebanon today. Meanwhile France, The United States and Iran are all doing there level best, by default, to reinforce the existing corrupt and politically decadent, clientalist system. Nobody seems to want to endorse any real reform.
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A discussion with Ayatollah Safavi, the Head of the Safavid Order of Sufi Islam, on the Sufi attitude to Death. A timely issue in this time of world crisis. The recitation thirty minutes in is a repetition of the word "Life", This discussion was informally hosted by the Religious Affairs Advisory Council
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Sir Keir Starmer's recent betrayal of Kashmir is, in emotional terms at least, as seminal an event as Donald Trump's betrayal of the Kurds. And yet the British Mirpuri diaspora are so complacent that they don't seem to even care https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/5/6/starmer-changes-corbyns-kashmir-stand-as-he-woos-british-indians
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This is the first episode I have put up in a while. And it is on an edgy subject so skip it if you like. There will be others that may be much better. This is just to get a few issues off my chest following my mother's recent death.
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The Next Century Foundation suggests that if foreign aid and investment were allowed by the removal of Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, the Sudanese could boost their economy and with their increased revenue be able to pay those large settlements demanded by the United States of America over time if a period of grace were allowed. Until Sudan is free to receive foreign investment, it is unlikely Sudan will be able to repay what they owe.
In order for Sudan to continue making progressive reforms, the economy needs to revive. Foreign investment and aid is a necessary vehicle for Sudan’s better future. Consequently, the removal of Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list is vital. With their removal, foreign investment and funding will spur the economy in Sudan. To ensure the correct use of funding, i.e. not landing in the hands of terrorist groups, the Next Century Foundation suggests a system of monitoring this international financial aid. A review of the progress of implementing democratic values, human rights, and fair elections should be conducted on an annual basis.
The Next Century Foundation meanwhile encourages the government of Sudan to offer all assistance of the full establishment and opening of the UN High Commissioner's Offices. These offices will help to effectively monitor the state of human rights on the ground.
Should the results of any report be troubling to the international community, foreign investment could be suspended until the Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights decides otherwise.
The Next Century Foundation, in making the request that Sudan be removed from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, is solely concerned to alleviate the intensified human suffering of the Sudanese people, and to facilitate a process by which peace and greater economic stability can be encouraged.
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Patricia Morris a.k.a. Patricia Holton, the world's first female television producer, founder of South Wales Magazine, Wonderland children's magazine, and Azure cultural magazine, author of the cult book on life in the Gulf, "Mother without a Mask", died today, 23 August 2020. This is something of her story.
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The Taliban say that "with the exception of the Presidency or high ranking positions in the judiciary, there will be no restrictions on a woman's career prospects" in the new Afghanistan. But when asked to differentiate between themselves and ISIS, the Taliban say that the main difference is that they are Afghan and ISIS are not. Can this really be the way to go? To surrender control of Afghanistan to one of the most feared and dangerous groups on the planet? After years of losses in blood and treasure is there no better outcome for much mauled over Afghanistan?
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The Historic issue is one thing. But what can redress the balance? You pull down a statue and that does it? They are doing that in Oxford University. The University with the WORST record in Britain for the inclusion of black students pulls down a statue and pats its prideful self on its prideful pretentious back. Shame on Oxford and Cambridge. They are a disgrace. Hang your head in shame if you attend those universities. You think pulling down a statue lets you off the hook? Forget it. And America. The whole criminal justice system in America is racist. Three strikes and you are out! Unbelievable.
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Will the opposition wish to stand in the 2022 elections in Bahrain? And will the government wish to allow them to stand? As I see it these are key issues. Issues which Bahrain must resolve now. The government has made a gesture with the release of Nabil Rajab. Now it is the opposition's turn to be constructive. Perhaps.
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There is no easy way to end fear of the other. Racism is invariably based on that fear. Dealing with racism demands that we utilize love as a weapon
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Iran has made a decision on who the candidates are likely to be for next year's Presidential election. And there is not an extremist among them - but then nor is there a liberal. They are all pragmatists belonging to what Iran calls the "Principalist" party.
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We all have something to answer for - from God in his Heaven to you as you sit there in lockdown. What do you care when it comes down to it?
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Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, examines the Libyan issue in the context of the attitudes and inclinations of the wider Middle East
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Reflections on the plague. Is it God's fault? Or our fault? A warning? Or a punishment? What do you think?
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I was not so happy with that last podcast on Israel and Palestine. It was not respectful enough of the Palestine issue - and though it covers all the bases in detail - it misses the point when it comes to the heart of the matter. This is perhaps more honest to the actual situation these two great nations living cheek by jowl now find themselves in.
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The Next Century Foundation's Secretary General looks at the status of the Middle East Peace Process whilst Israel's new government takes the reins at a time when many Palestinians feel profoundly threatened with the oncoming July 1st 2020 annexation of much of the West Bank to Israel
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My wife, Veronica Morris, went to church - virtual church that is (using zoom) - last Sunday. Now normally about this time I would send out a message for Eid - and that's what this is. However I am inspired in this by my wife Veronica. That's because at church somebody preached a fairly straightforward sermon about how Christ suffered so we can suffer alongside him. Which is one way of looking at things I guess. Though not particularly helpful perhaps. But afterwards when the congregation were having coffee (virtual coffee that is) my wife shouted out, "Did God do this to us? Was it a punishment?" Which certainly got everyone's attention. This Eid message is my response.
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Next Century Foundation Secretary General, William Morris, explains the complex dimensions of the crisis in Yemen.
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Thoughts on how to cope with work in a coronavirus world - new opportunities amidst the chaos and confusion
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Iraq has a new Prime Minister after endless infighting and prevarication - and we wish him good luck. He will need it. Iraq's oil sales have dried up and things are less than rosy. But he has broad shoulders and hopefully he will do well despite the unbelievable challenge he now faces.
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We live in an atmosphere of fear and dread with the dark silent assassin, the virus that is no respecter of persons, lurking around the corner. But what exactly is it that we are afraid of?
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5.6m refugees have fled Syria; 3.8m of these are in Turkey. Some of the Syrian refugees are moving on to Europe and according to the charity Syria Relief, the Turkish-Greek border is ‘Hell on Earth’. The collapse in the oil price and inflation in Syria ensure living standards will continue to plummet which will drive more toward militancy.
But what is going on behind the scenes?
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In this era of Covid-19, Ramadan has a new and special poignancy for all.
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A lament for Michael Gottlieb, another of the best of us gone to Coronavirus. For many months he was the quiet facilitator of a series of critical meetings on the Status of Jerusalem that engaged variously the legendary journalist Chaim Bermant, PLO man Afif Safieh, peacenick David Solomon, Gazan Maie Sarraf, the irascible Saul Zadka and many others, not least Mike's wife Mili who hosted the meetings. Both Mili and Mike were felled by coronavirus. Mili is on the mend but Michael is gone. And the world is a poorer place for his loss.
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William Morris expresses concern that international sanctions are preventing Iranian access to medical supplies in a post coronavirus world. And points out a major strategic change in Iran's defense policy.
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To Avoid Covid-19
• good hand washing
• personal hygiene
• social distancing
If you get Covid-19
You basically just want to prepare as though you know you’re going to get a nasty respiratory bug, like bronchitis or pneumonia. You just have the foresight to know it might come your way!
Things you should actually buy ahead of time (not sure what the obsession with toilet paper is?):
• Kleenex
• Paracetamol
• whatever your generic, mucus thinning cough medicine of choice is (check the label and make sure you're not doubling up on Paracetamol)
• “Honey and lemon” can work just as well!
• Vicks vaporub for your chest is also a great suggestion
• a humidifier would be a good thing to buy and use in your room when you go to bed overnight. (You can also just turn the shower on hot and sit in the bathroom breathing in the steam).
• If you have a history of asthma and you have a prescription inhaler, make sure the one you have isn’t expired and refill it/get a new one if necessary.
And then you should:
• Regarding Meals: This is also a good time to meal prep: make a big batch of your favorite soup to freeze and have on hand.
• Hydrate (drink!) hydrate, hydrate! Stock up on whatever your favorite clear fluids are to drink - though tap water is fine you may appreciate some variety!
• For symptom management and a fever over 38°c, take Paracetamol rather than Ibuprofen.
• Rest lots: You should not be leaving your house! Even if you are feeling better you may well still be infectious for fourteen days and older people and those with existing health conditions should be avoided!
• If you do get it Wear gloves and a mask to avoid contaminating others in your house
• Isolate in your bedroom if not living alone, ask friends and family to leave supplies outside to avoid contact.
• Sanitize your bed linen and clothes frequently by washing and clean your bathroom with recommended sanitizers.
And Then please note:
You DO NOT NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL unless you are having trouble breathing or your fever is very high (over 39°C) and unmanaged with meds.
90% of healthy adult cases thus far have been managed at home with basic rest/hydration/over-the-counter meds.
If you are worried or in distress or feel your symptoms are getting worse
Pre-existing risk: If you have a pre-existing lung condition (COPD, emphysema, lung cancer) or are on immunosuppressants, now is a great time to talk to your Doctor or specialist about what they would like you to do if you get sick.
• Children - One major relief to you parents is that kids do VERY well with coronavirus— they usually bounce back in a few days (but they will still be infectious), Just use paediatric dosing .
• Be calm and prepare rationally and everything will be fine.
And also by the way: How do you know you have coronavirus?
-
Itching in the throat
-
Dry throat
-
Dry cough
-
High temperature
-
Shortness of breath
So where you notice these things quickly take warm water with lemon and drink.
God bless you.
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Iraq President Barham Salih has called on Mustafa al-Kazemi to form the new Iraq government as Prime Minister after the failure of Adnan al-Zurfi to do so. But is this Iraq's last chance?
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An Easter Message from William and Veronica Morris and all at the Next Century Foundation in these most challenging times.
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Some personal reflections from William Morris on what God is, and what God can and cannot do, in view of the acute crisis that coronavirus-covid 19 has created for each and every one of us.
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Hind Bensari - hind@hibeeproductions.com - is embarking on an experiment that she hopes will lead to a documentary. She is collecting VOICE NOTES from all around her, in order to keep track of what we are experiencing at this unusual moment in time / history.
If you wish to contribute do send her a voice note (no text, no videos) which answers or tries to answer some or all of these four little questions:
- What does your daily routine consist of under. full/semi confinement?
- What / who crosses your mind most often? Are you encountering new thoughts or challenges?
- How do you feel?
- And how does COVID19 affect / change /strengthen your vision of yourself / your government and the rest of the World?
No need to reveal who you are, this VOICE NOTE can even be sent to Hind from an anonymous account if you wish. Also, feel free to express yourself in the language you are most comfortable with. It does not have to be serious - It does not even have to be real...
Sh would be extremely grateful to you for sharing this email with whoever you think could have something to say, specifying that they send her the voice note on her email address.
This voice note may be used in her next documentary: Life at the time of Corona.
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Such extraordinary news from Israel: In an astonishing betrayal of everything he once stood for, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz is set to partner Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a unity government, serving initially as Foreign Minister but then taking over from Netanyahu as prime minister in September 2021. Gantz’s unexpected decision to join forces with Netanyahu obviously and immediately led to the collapse of Blue and White, with the party’s second in command Yair Lapid rejecting the move and at heading into opposition with others from his Yesh Atid component of Blue and White.
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Dealing with what is for many an existential issue. As we move forward in this ever deepening world crisis, what could we be doing, indeed what should we be doing, to cope? And who is to blame? God? Or you and me?
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Since the failure of Mohamed Tawfiq Allawi to form a government things in Iraq have been going nowhere. Technically the President has a 15 day window, a breathing space in which to find a new premier. There is a name being touted - but is anyone willing to take on this poisoned chalice.
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As the Coronavirus pandemic reaches epic proportions, and this great leveler takes its toll on the elderly and the weak, William Morris, the Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, reflects on the implications of this catastrophe.
https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-pm-1c95b804-99e9-40fc-b2e6-0c66f40594b2.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&stream=top
How to beat back the coronavirusThe coronavirus is here and will complicate life for millions of Americans — but there are signs from Asia that it can get better if we're willing to take that pain now.The big picture: Coronavirus is stifled by early and aggressive action — and no matter how well-intentioned, half-measures only seem to make things worse.
The magic formula from South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore:1. Social distancing on a massive scale, quarantining infected areas, canceling big events and closing schools and offices to slow down the spread. 2. Intensive testing for all who want it, and surveillance and monitoring of the infected to try to limit outbreaks. 3. Emergency efforts to ensure people don't avoid care over cost concerns, because everyone is at greater risk of infection if the uninsured and underinsured avoid treatment.
Between the lines: The U.S. response thus far has been a series of half-measures, with predicable results.1. Schools and companies have closed after cases pop up, rather than ahead of them. But the closings are beginning to accelerate. 2. The entire country faces a massive testing shortage, lagging dramatically behind its peers. 3. Governments have begun to use their muscle, with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo dispatching the National Guard to help shut down facilities in the area of the state's main outbreak. Multiple states are beginning to declare states of emergencies.
The bottom line: The U.S. is not doing enough to prevent this thing from getting worse, and every day it delays will make it that much harder.* President Trump seems focused on preventing a coronavirus recession, but no amount of monetary policy or stimulus will compensate for a public health response that's equal to this virus.
Go deeper:* Latest coronavirus updates * The unknowns of the coronavirus nearing a pandemic
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President Erdogan of Turkey is facing down Putin of Russia - and this time at least, Bashar al Assad is not the big factor. But the the consequence is, as ever, that the ordinary people suffer. This overview is based on feedback from Syrians on the spot.
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Mr Mohamed Tawfiq Allawi, Prime Minister designate, is trying manfully to form a cabinet that is at least quasi independent. But the Kurds want the same old system that everyone else wants to see the back of. And Mohamed Tawfiq Allawi has become obstreperous. And now everyone seems to be against him - and Iraq is in its worst political crisis since 2003.
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It's that time of year when Christians get heavy in the pre Easter quasi-fast they call Lent. But what about if you have lost hope? What then? What matters when the chips are down and you walk through the valley of the shadow of death. William shares a few very personal thoughts.
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The Bishop of Cornwall (a.k.a. Philip, Bishop of Truro) was commissioned by the UK government to write a report on the persecution of Christians and he opens by quoting a Times Newspaper editorial that says "Across the globe, in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Christians are being bullied, arrested, jailed, expelled and executed. Christianity is by most calculations the most persecuted religion of modern times. Yet Western politicians until now have been reluctant to speak out in support of Christians in peril."
Which is right. Is it?
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Shamima Begum has lost the first stage of her appeal against the removal of her citizenship. The judge decided she was not "stateless". According to information we have received, Shamima returned to the UK in secret on Christmas Eve and is being kept in an undisclosed location. According to the world at large, Shamima remains in Camp Roj, a refugee camp in the Hasakeh region of northern Syria along with hundreds of other ISIS brides and their children. Regardless of the truth of the foregoing, what would you do with her and with the many others in her situation? Make them stateless? Is the removal of citizenship an honourable solution to this troubling issue? Surely not?
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The new Sultan of Oman, HRH Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq, has offered to facilitate negotiations between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Prime Minister of Israel declined to accept the offer.
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William Morris, the Next Century Foundation's Secretary General, addressed lecturers at Takrit University in Northern Iraq as a precursor to discussions the subject of which was, at Takrit University's behest, the role of Iran and America respectively in Iraq. This podcast was made in the aftermath of that meeting and reflects salient points from that discussion.
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Antisemitism and Islamophobia seem to be everywhere, along with a new Spirit of Parochialism. But why, and whose fault is it? (the picture used with this podcast shows the Dachau Memorial)
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Cancer is a killer. But even when people get through it, they are rarely actually "cured". They have to make every day count. And your worldview is never the same.
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Forty Syrian soldiers and fifty rebel troops have been killed in fighting in Idlib province.
Car bombs and heavy fire were used in an attempt by the National Liberation Front rebel alliance to retake positions in the Maarat al-Numan area. The rebels were supplied and supported by Turkey. All this because Bashar al Assad won't agree to Erdogan taking a lead role in peace negotiations. Can there be a way forward that brings an end to chaos?
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We are moving into a new era of British politics exemplified by moves to remove the British Second Chamber, the House of Lords, to the provincial town of York. Aspects of this new regionalism are encouraging. But is the motivation a move towards a smaller and more parochial and less inclusive world? And is this a symptom of a wider worldwide malaise?
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The United Kingdom has a new government under the leadership of Boris Johnson. Will he go on with the same aggressive foreign policy Britain has been noted for in the Middle East? Or will he stay his hand and become a little more cautious?
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So who will it be:
- Profile: Sir Keir Starmer
- Profile: Rebecca Long Bailey
- Profile: Lisa Nandy
- Profile: Jess Phillips
- Profile: Emily Thornberry
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The Sultan is dead. Long live the Sultan. In a world in which leadership is usually characterised by hubris, Sultan Qaboos was one of the best. God rest his soul.
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The assassination of Qassim Soleimani changes everything in the Middle East. Even were there no Iranian retribution - the consequences would be legion.
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William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, shares a few thoughts as we move into the new decade
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William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, shares some thoughts in the aftermath of a year that included every conceivable divisive issue from Brexit and Trump to the death of Jamal Kashoggi.
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About keeping hope in your heart - a few reflections on a post Brexit Britain
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As the dust settles, a few reflections about the new reality in Britain
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William talks about this coming Thursday's general election in the UK
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Solutions are not so hard to come by - if Iraq's political elite are willing to permit them
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William on the deep need for a less paternalistic approach to governance in today's world
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The West knows Rumi well enough - but other philosophers from the World of Islam are long forgotten Men such as Mulla Sadra, the great Medieval Islamic philosopher.
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The whole perspective is changing fast with a new situation in so much as the USA is in retreat - what are the implications?
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Here we go again - but how honest is Boris
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With the crisis in Lebanon ongoing, is there a way to end rife corruption at senior political level?
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With the racism issue raising its ugly head everywhere from football to the Labour Party, William discusses the problem on Hala London radio
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Some inside information which hints at how Boris might deliver no deal on 31st October
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Lebanon's economic crisis deepens, as corruption and incompetence continues
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William talks on Hala London radio on the consequences of Turkey's invasion of Syria
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The world is broken. So what should we do about it. William Morris talks on Hala London radio
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And then there was Boris. Britain continues to muddle on. What next in this saga?
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As Turkey invades Northern Syria with a green light from the USA, where is honour and loyalty in the international arena
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The problem of the Daesh women and children held in camps may yet be resolvable
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President Bashar al Assad has seized the assets of 150 families in an attempt to deal with Syria's international debt
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The demonstrations in Iraq and throughout Iraq are ongoing. Why and what should be done?
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William Morris on Hala London Radio talking on his return from his recent trip to Baghdad
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Discussion in Arabic with Wathab Hala Al Dulaimi in Iraq on the problems facing Iraq for Hala London Radio. A prominent Sunni Tribal Sheikh, originally from Anbar Province he now lives in Baghdad. His name is Sheikh Wathab Hala Al Dulaimi, though some in more political circles may know him as Wathab Shaker. This is the last of the current batch of broadcasts from Baghdad. It is 17 minutes long.
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Discussion in Arabic with Mr Hassan Al Asadi from Kufa in Iraq on the problems facing Iraq for Hala London Radio
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Discussion in Arabic with Mr Karar Nouri Hamid from Takrit in Iraq on the problems facing Iraq for Hala London Radio
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Discussion in Arabic with Mr Mustafa Sharif of Najaf in Iraq on the aspirations of the young for Hala London Radio
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Discussion in Arabic with Mr Saifaldin al Daraji, Head of the Al Mada Institute in Iraq on democracy and on the aspirations of the young for Hala London Radio
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Family abuse levels are up worldwide. In the USA gun crime levels are up. In the UK knife crime levels are up. Whether in Saudi Arabia or Surbiton, violence including the abusive treatment of children is on the increase. Why and what should we do?
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What next for Israel? Can Bibi form a government?
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Trump and Saudi Arabia and Iran and the war or no war issue - it's no war we think
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Big demonstrations in Egypt triggered by broadcasts on corruption from an exile in Spain. What next?
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Recorded before the High Court verdict this episode deals with the issues of impeachment and / or a vote of no confidence
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A discussion on Hala London Radio of the acceptability of the use of drones
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William Morris, on Hala London radio, on the question of who was culpable for the strike on Saudi Arabia
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Who could have done it. The Houthis, Iran, Iraq, or whom?
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William Morris talks about the recent drone sighting in the skies above Kuwait
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William Morris talks on Hala London radio about Iran's image in Syria
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William on Hala London radio on the military build up on the Lebanon - Israel border
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Another broadcast for Hala London radio and this is on Brexit yet again. All of the UK waits and hopes that this fiasco will soon draw to an end
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William Morris on Hala London radio, reflecting on the way forward for Kashmir, following the latest moves to curtail the autonomy of the region
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William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, talks on Hala London radio about Lebanon's corruption issue
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William Morris, Secretary General of the Next Century Foundation, talks on Hala London radio about the forthcoming Israeli elections and Netanyahu's threatened seizure of the Jordan valley
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William Morris of Hala London radio talks about the new situation in Yemen and its potential partition in to three distinct countries
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Veronica Morris, environmental rights campaigner, talks to her husband William Morris about the palm oil issue on Hala London
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William Morris talks about Brexit again on Hala London radio
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William Morris talks about the latest developments in Yemen on Hala London radio
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Elections are coming fast in Tunisia. William Morris makes a few observations on Hala London Radio
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William Morris talks on Hala London about the Libya situation
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William Morris talks about God and the freedom of choice in a broadcast for Hala London radio
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A Sunday Times survey states that most Britons do not trust Boris Johnson. And yet most Britons seem to have decided to vote for him
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Tunisia's elections continue to fascinate. They remain wide open - and two of the candidates are female
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Iran continues to arrest dual nationals on the presumption that they may be spies. But is every dual national a spy - really - surely that's becoming a little less than credible?
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The crisis deepens in the aftermath of Israel's recent attacks on Lebanon, as well as in Iraq and Syria
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We have been talking about Racism in America on these Hala London episodes. But it would be wrong to suggest that racism is in any way unique to the USA. It is a problem in much of the World today.
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William Morris talks on the Brexit issue for Hala London. The view he expresses are not those of the Next Century Foundation
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Talking to Miskin, a Yezidi refugee, about the plight of the Yezidis, about her own troubles and the troubles of her people
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The Yezidi journey to asylum, a discussion with Mizgîn Êzîdî on his story, his flight from Iraq through France to the UK and his treatment along the way and since he has arrived here
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William Morris talks on Hala London radio with Mizgîn Êzîdî on Yezidi religious beliefs
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William Morris and Maariyah Rashid for Hala London discuss Amnesty International warning to not travel to the US.
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William Morris and Maariyah Rashid for Hala London discusses the elections in Tunisia. Can they continue to be the sole success of the Arabs springs movement?.
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William Morris and Maariyah Rashid for Hala London look at the events of Kashmir.
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William Morris for Hala London speaks about Sudan's new agreement. Sudanese mothers for peace an activist group have their say.
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William Morris and Maariyah Rashid for Hala London discuss what could be possible sticking points for a UK/US trade deal.
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