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Stories about West Asia & North Africa from August, 2009
Israel: Church Photos of Jerusalem
Poet and professor Karen Alkalay-Gut of Tel Aviv Diary features a photographic look at the churches of Jerusalem.
Israel: Advocating Breastfeeding in Public
A Mother in Israel weighs in on breastfeeding in public. “The idea that public breastfeeding should be prohibited because it makes people uncomfortable is as absurd as keeping pregnant women...
Israel: Influence of Hippies on Israeli Culture
“Israel's always had a little more than its share of hippie tendencies,” writes My Urban Kvetch's Esther Kustanowitz, “From communal living arrangements (kibbutzim, moshavim, the army) to sandals and other...
Israel: Celebrating 25 Years of Immigration
Consummate blogger Jacob Richman celebrates 25 years in Israel with a reflective timeline.
Israel: For the Love of Food
With the Jewish High Holidays approaching, food seems to be on everyone's minds. The Jewish blogosphere is ripe with sumptuous tidbits and contemplations about the cultural implications of food, food and identity, and the history and culture of our favorite culinary delights.
Iran: Protest in Second Life
Max Burns wrote an article on the Iranian opposition's presence in Second Life.
Iran: “United for Baha'i Human Rights”
The Muslim Network for Bahai's Rights share with us a short animation video about Bahais’ problems in Iran since 1979.
Israel: Social Media Advances Jewish Identity
How can social media enhance identity? eJewishPhilanthropy reports: “For a people who have fretted over a loss of identity for generation after generation… innovations like Twitter and Facebook are nothing...
Israel: When Translations Go Wrong
Literal translations aren't always your best bet when moving between Hebrew and English, explains How to Be Israeli. She writes that the movie title “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” which...
Israel: Hollywood in the Holy Land
September is a major month for Hollywood in the Holy Land. Israel will welcome Madonna, Leonard Cohen, Faith No More, Julio Iglesias, MGMT, and Dinosaur Jr. Both Madonna and Cohen's...
Bahrain: One Ramadan and One Eid
The beginning of the holy month of Ramadan depends on the actual sighting of the new moon, resulting in different dates for its start among the various Muslim sects. This year Sunnis and Shi'ites in Bahrain kicked off the month on the same day - and one blogger celebrates this rare unity.
Arab World: Welcoming Ramadan
Ramadan is an important month in the Muslim calendar. Bloggers writing in Arabic celebrate the month, already in its first week, in this post, where we share some of the artistic creations used to greet their readers on the month.
Palestine: Waiting for the Iftar Cannon in Gaza
The war on Gaza has made many traditions a distant memory. Palestinian blogger Hazem [ar] laments the end of a Ramadan ritual, which his grandfather remembers and which is no more.
Arab World: Young People Gather to Learn Social Media Tools
Young people from eight Arab countries and Sweden met last May to learn certain leadership and organizational skills, and how to use the tools of social media to advance social change. Now, they are preparing to meet again in November.
Blogging About Poverty And Development In The Arab World
In some Arab countries, more than half of the population lives in hunger and want. In this post we hear from bloggers writing about poverty and development around the Arab world.
Jordan: Who supports the wife beaters?
Do 85 per cent of Jordanians support the beating of wives by their husbands? Qwaider tackles this issue in this post.
Morocco: Death on a Plane
The View from Fez reports on a mystery death on board a flight from Morocco.
Jordan: Congrats Maktoob
Jordanian Qwaider addresses Arab blogging portal Maktoob, which has just signed a deal with Yahoo! saying: “Well done my friends. Not only because someone like Yahoo recognized you. But because...
Jordan: Yahoo! Maktoob in New Deal
Jordanian blogger Naseem Tarawnah comments on the recent Maktoob-Yahoo! deal.
Qatar reflects on spirit, practice of Ramadan
Residents of Doha, Qatar acclimate to Ramadan and the special perks and restrictions that come with it.
Iraq: Death Of Shi'ite Leader Abdul Aziz Al Hakim
Sayyed Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (the largest political party in the Iraqi Council of Representatives), died of lung cancer on August 26 in Tehran, Iran. His death is expected to have repercussions for politics in Iraq. Bloggers around the region have responded to the news.
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