20150212 annualsummary

1middleeastmonitor.com

Annual HighlightsJanuary 2014 - December 2014

2 Annual Report | January 2014 - December 2014

The Middle East Monitor is a not-for-profit policy research institute that provides research,information and analyses of primarily the Palestine-Israel conflict. It also provides briengs on other Middle East issues. Its outputs are made available for use by journalists, academics and politicians with an interest in the Middle East and North Africa region.

MEMO aims to influence policy and the public agenda from the perspective of social justice, human rights and international law. This is essential to obtain equality, security and social justice across the region, especially in Palestine.

MEMO wants to see a Middle East framed by principles of equality and justice. It promotes the restoration of Palestinian rights, including the Right of Return, a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and democratic rights upheld. It also advocates a nuclear-free Middle East.

MEMO is working to develop its reputation and credibility in the UK and the US over the next 10-15 years. By ensuring that policy-makers are better informed, MEMO seeks to have a greater impact on international players taking key decisions affecting the Middle East. MEMO wants fair and accurate media coverage of Palestine and of other Middle Eastern countries.


Noble Interviews

Noble Conributers

Regular Contributers

Our Team

Most Read Stories

Stories We Broke

Media Mentions

Our Events

Publications

Cartoons

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Contents


Notable Interviews


Notable Interviews

Mustafa BarghoutiGeneral Secretary of the Palestinian InitiativeSeptember 14

Tariq Al-HashimiFormer Vice-President of IraqAugust 2014

Hina JilaniFormer member of the Goldstone Report, and senior lawyer at the Supreme Court in PakistanAugust 2014

Aziz PahadSouth African President Jacob Zuma’s special envoy to GazaSeptember 14

Rich WilesPhotographerAugust 2014

Sami Abu ZuhriHamas spokespersonAugust 2014

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Chris GunnessUNRWA spokespersonAugust 2014

Nabeel RajabBahraini activist July 2014

Annemarie JacirFilmmaker on PalestineJune 2014

Mohammed El HamdaouiPresident of the Islamic Unification and Reform Movement (URM) in MoroccoJuly 2014

Mustapha El-KhalfiMoroccan government spokesperson July 2014

His Beatitude Gregorios IIIPatriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Syria May 2014


Robert KingWar photojournalist in SyriaMay 2014

Dr Thabet Abu RassMember of Adalah’s Board of DirectorsJanuary 2014

Receq RahramanTurkish NGO Kimse Yok MuMay 2014

Mogens LykketoftDanish Speaker of the ParliamentMarch 2014

Nick DenesCo-Director of ‘The World is With Us, Global Film and Poster Art from the Palestinian Revolution, 1968 - 1980’ May 14

Saad ChedidPublisherApril 2014

Grahame Morris MP March 2014


Noble Contributers


Notable Contributors 02

Andrew HammondMiddle East policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Islamic Utopia: The Illusion of Reform in Saudi Arabia

Susan Abulhawa Palestinian-American writer and human

rights activist. She is the author of a bestselling novel, Mornings in Jenin,

and the founder of a non-governmental organisation, Playgrounds for Palestine.

Dr Saleh Al-Naami Lecturer in the Economics and Political

Science Department at the Islamic University in Gaza, an affiliated researcher

with the al-Jazeera Research Center in Doha, the al-Mesbar Studies and

Research Center in Dubai, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Amman and the

Researchers’ Center in Beirut

Hani Al-Masri General Manager of Badael, the Palestinian Media, Research and Studies Center. Hani al-Masri is also a former a columnist for al-Ayyam and al-Hayat.


Prof. Ian S. Lustick A notable member of the American

Political Science Association, the Association for Israel Studies, the Middle

East Studies Association, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ninette Kelley UNHCR Representative

in Lebanon

Hugh Lanning Former Deputy Chairman of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), one of Britain’s largest trade unions; Former Chairman of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).

Dr Bashir M. Nafi A notable historian and an expert on Middle Eastern affairs.

Chris Gunness UNRWA Director of Strategic Communications


Regular Contributers


Regular Contributors 03

Sophie Cousins

Galip Dalay

Abdulrahman al-Masri

Catherine Shakdam

Ramona Wadi

Jamal Kanj

Samira Shackle


OurTeam


Our Team 04

Asa WinstanleyStaff Writer

Alastair SloanStaff Writer

Ibrahim HewittSenior Editor

Dr Daud AbdullahDirector

Henriette Johansen

Staff Writer

Dr Sarah MarusekEditor

Shatha KhalilEditor

Christine PetreStaff Writer

Jessica Purkiss

Staff Writer

Maha SalahResearcher & Translator

Noor AhmadTranslator & Digital Team

Yasmina AlloucheOffice Manager

Nasim Ahmed Staff Writer

Amelia SmithStaff Writer

Syed ChoudhuryDigital Team

Ben WhiteStaff Writer


#1Letter from Gaza by a

Norwegian doctor

Dr Mads GilbertJuly 2014

Most Read Stories


Our most read stories 05

#1Letter from Gaza by a

Norwegian doctor

Dr Mads GilbertJuly 2014

#2Iranian man goes 60 years without a bath January 2014

#3Sweden refuses Israeli president’s plane entry into its airspace May 2014

#4Snowden to reveal secrets of Arab dictators April 2014

#5Turkey to send another Freedom Flotilla to Gaza July 2014

#6Israel loses eight billion dollars and Arab parties join the boycott March 2014

#7The truth about Israel’s new war on Gaza – the energy rushJuly 2014

#8Turkey warns Israel over Gaza offensive July 2014

#9Saudi, Egypt and Israel work together in Gaza attack July 2014

#10Saudi king grants Sisi medal of honour August 2014

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Stories we Broke


The stories we broke 06The following are stories we were the first to report on in English.

Sweden refuses Israeli president’s

plane entry into its airspaceWednesday, 14 May 2014

Iranian man goes 60 years

without a bathThursday, 09 January 2014

Letter from Gaza by a

Norwegian doctorSunday, 20 July 2014

‘Cruel and unusual’ - Leaked prison letter from hunger striker Mohamed SoltanSunday, 16 November 2014

Letter from deposed President Morsi

to the Egyptian peopleSaturday, 25 October 2014

Revealed: Egypt negotiates purchasing

Israeli gas through Cyprus27 November 2013

Khaled Meshaal speaks to MEMO about the EU’s decision to remove Hamas from

terror list17 December 2014


Media Mentions


Media Mentions 07

Al Jazeera Arabic Al Jazeera

Mubashir Misr


Swedish Israeli Society


Prominent activist Ben White wrote of the new course in the Middle East Monitor. He said Israeli universities were “already deeply complicit in the crimes and human rights violations of the state [of Israel] and the military”.Haifa University Opens Course to Promote Jewish State; Published 15th April 2014; UK

“Security services arrested the deputy comptroller general of the Muslim Brotherhood following statements he made against the United Arab Emirates and its regulation of terrorist organizations, which include the Muslim Brotherhood,” a security source told the Middle East MonitorMuslim Brotherhood Arrest: Zaki Bani Irsheid Detained In Jordan For Criticizing UAE’s Terrorist Designation; Published 21st November 2014; Global

According to the Middle East Monitor, huge marches are to kick off in the West Bank and the occupied territories of 1948, heading towards Jerusalem or to the nearest point to it, in addition to the rallies taking place in the surrounding countries, in several Arab countries, as well as in Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, 10 European countries, Latin America and in countries where there are Israeli embassies.Quds marks anniversary of occupation with protests; Published 8th June 2014; Turkey

An Israeli court has ruled that Palestinian citizens who are to have their houses demolished in Haifa must also cover the costs of the demolition, according to Middle East Monitor.Israel: Haifa Palestinians Ordered to Pay For Demolition of Own Homes; Published 19th March 2014

Minister of Tourism Hisham Zazou, who told the story of the deep crisis that Egypt’s tourism industries find

themselves. “It is,” he said according to Middle East Monitor, “worse than the president Morsi’s time.”Egypten: Mat kommer före kalifat; Published 11th September 2013; Sweden (translated)

...there is great uncertainty about how many people are killed around the Egypt. Both Al Jazeera and The Middle East Monitor reported at least 25 people were killed in Ramses Square“Vredens dag” har bredt sig til hele Egypten; Published 16th August 2013; Denmark (translated)

He [Israeli military analyst Reuven Pedatzur] has found a report, by the Israeli Ministry of Finance, which showed over 3,000 injury reports during the conflict in 2012, and at the same time, he found police reports say that over 100 rockets fired from Gaza hit urban areas, which is double the official figure, writes Middle East Monitor.Eksperter: Israelerne overdriver Iron Domes træfsikkerhed; Published 7th August 2014; Denmark (translated)

Mads Fredrik Gilbert is a Norwegian doctor. He is a specialist in anesthesiology and head of emergency at the University Hospital North Norway medicine, he is also Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Tromso. Dr. Gilbert also worked for the Norwegian Palestine Committee. Below is his letter from Shifa Hospital as published by the Middle East MonitorGaza : le Docteur Mads Gilbert, ce héros trop peu connu; Published 21st July 2014; France (translated)


“Given the exceptional conditions and imminent danger to the sacred city of Samarra from the legions of terrorists, our leader (Muqtada) al-Sadr has ordered the Peace Brigades to prepare within 24 hours for jihad,” Sumaria news agency reported a top brigade leader stating, according to the Middle East Monitor.Iraqi Shiites Declare War on Islamic State Group; Published 12th December 2014; Venezuela

In a column she [Haifa Zangana] wrote recently for Middle East Monitor, she discusses why Mosul residents welcomed the IS when they took the city of millions, and why the regime of loyal soldiers laid down their arms before the terrorists.Inte entydigt vem som är terrorist i Irak; Published 3rd December 2014; Sweden (translated)

Ain al-Hilweh is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon hosting some 70,000 refugees, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. However, the Middle East Monitor said Syrians fleeing the country’s ongoing civil war have also taken refuge in the camp, upping the total estimate to over 120,000 refugees.Palestinian Leaders Should Hand Over Islamists Hiding in Refugee Camp; Published 27th November 2014; Global

However speaking in Egypt on Monday, Elaraby said the Arab League was presently working on the regulations for a customs union in coordination with members, the Middle East Monitor reported.Arab common market for trade, residence ‘ready in 6 years’; Published 25th November 2014; Gulf

Not long ago, Matar spoke with the Middle East Monitor about the project, and she features a number of the photographs on her website.Book News: George R.R. Martin Rails Against Sony’s ‘Corporate Cowardice’; Published 22 December 2014; USA

Middle East Monitor said that day that Flinterman presented the fourth stage of a report monitoring activity of Israel’s practices in Palestinian territory.Israeli settlements double in four years; Published 9th November 2014; Australia

Middle East Monitor (MEMO)...also noted in 2012 that “unions at UNRWA” forced their employer to reinstate a sacked Hamas activist.Hamas supporters praise UNRWA’s Chris Gunness; Published 28th October 2014; Israel

Hamas offered its condolences over Abu Ein’s death, according to Middle East Monitor. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, called for “uniting all Palestinian forces to confront violations committee by the Israeli occupation.”Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest; Published 10th December 2014; Israel

“We fear a humanitarian catastrophe, and the reservoir flooding which will lead to dangers and disasters risks to the residents of the surrounding area,” Gaza mayor Nizar Hijazi said, the Middle East Monitor reported.Heavy Rains Disrupt Life in Gaza; Published 28th November 2014; OnIslam.net


RT: Breaking The Set; Broadcast 2nd July 2014

Al Jazeera Arabic; Broadcast 18th May 2014


Our Events


Our Events 0827th March 2014Censorship by satellite jamming during times of conflict: Egypt’s coup and the struggle facing agencies and journalists

This full day seminar sought to address satellite jamming across the Middle East with the help of media and legal experts, satellite technicians, academics and representatives from satellite and TV channels. The seminar brought together a range of experts with an interest free and fair media coverage in the Middle East.

Amongst the 35 invited guests, there were represtatives from the BBC, al Jazeera Network, the National Union of Journalists as well as human rights experts and freelance journalists.

Proceedings were broadcast live by Al Jazeera’s Mubasher, and were also covered by Al Jazeera, Islam Channel, Al-Hiwar, and Majan television network.

23rd - 24th April 2014International Palestinian Conference for Media and Communications

Organised in Istanbul, by the Palestine Media Club, Middle East Monitor and SETA, delegates came from countries such as Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Malaysia, Russia, the US and the UK, for two full days of panel sessions, workshops, training, and an exhibition space for media outlets and companies.

The conference provided an opportunity for media professionals working on Palestine to plan new ways of co-operation, and speakers stressed the importance of learning how to engage with a variety of institutions and forums, in order to reach new audiences.

Speakers included Britain’s Victoria Brittain, formerly of The Guardian; Daud Abdullah, director of Middle East Monitor; Alain Gresh, editor of Le Monde Diplomatique; Clayton Swisher, manager of Investigative Journalism for the Al-Jazeera Media Network; Mohammad Misfer, professor of Political Science at the University of Qatar; and Fahmi Huwaidi, Egyptian writer and analyst. Also appearing over the two days was AKP Deputy Leader and Chair of External Relations, Yasin Aktay.


19th May 2014The New Despotisms of the 21st Century by Prof John KeaneThe inaugural lecture of the Abdelwahab Elmessiri Memorial Lecture series

Attended by over a hundred readers, the lecture by Prof John Keane examined the growth of a new 21st-century type politics he calls the new despotism. He sketched a future world in which governments, backed by democratic rhetoric and election victories, massively expand their executive powers by means of economic nepotism, media controls, strangled judiciaries, dragnet surveillance and armed crackdowns on their opponents. Best developed in China but found in contexts otherwise as different as Egypt, Vietnam and Russia, the trend is having global effects and represents a serious long-term alternative to power-sharing democracy as we have known it in recent decades.

John Keane is Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney and at the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin (WZB). The panel also included Dr Azzam Tamimi, chairman and editor in chief of Al-Hiwar TV Channel; and Professor Nur Masalha, Programme Director of the MA in Religion, Politics and Conflict Resolution at St Mary’s University, Twickenham.

16 June 2014The United Arab Emirates in the changing Middle East

At this seminar in Westminster, London hosted by the Middle East Monitor (MEMO), journalists and human rights experts gathered to hear discussion around one of the lesser known traits of the United Arab Emirates, its human rights record and treatment of political activists in the wake of the Arab Spring. Dr Azzam Tamimi, a leading media personality, opened the session noting that when most people think of the UAE, Dubai being a prime example, they think of a growing metropolis, shopping malls, horse racing, tourism and the huge levels of expatriate employment. Yet the reality after the Arab Spring has been in stark contrast to this and the UAE’s role as a key player in events in the MENA region began to emerge.

Guests included Nicholas McGeehan of Human Rights Watch, as well as representatives from Amnesty International, other human rights organisations, media organisations and freelance journalists.


Palestine Book Awards 2014

The 2014 Middle East Monitor Palestine Book Awards were held in the London Paddington Hotel to honour the best books on Palestine published this year. A number of entries were shortlisted down to contenders, of which 3 were awarded prizes. The winners for the academic and general prizes joined MEMO from America and took part in a series of special events prior to the awards. The awards were in their third year and were the most popular so far, with numbers of guests exceeding 100.

The awards welcomed Scottish poetry Liz Lochhead and there were a number of notable figures in the audience including the Palestinian ambassador Professor Hassassian, diplomats, and notable academics such as Professor Avi Schlaim, writers and authors and the descendants of three different memoirs. The event was covered by a variety of media outlets including BBC Arabic and was live-streamed on the MEMO website (which attracted over 360 viewers). This year’s winners were Ali Abunimah, Diana Allan and Salim Tamari and Issam Nassar.


Publications


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A humanitarian tragedy for Syrian refugees - January 2014Britain’s hypocrisy over Gulf links - January 2014Syrian refugee children - A Lost Generation - January 2014Syrias war cultivates a state policy to torture women and children - January 2014The Palestinian community - divided and ruled - January 2014Syrias Art in Exile - February 2014The body as the battlefield - evidence of torture in Syria - February 2014Ethiopia Renaissance Dam is making waves in Egypt - March 2014Narrow scope for Palestinian rights in Lebanon - March 2014Palestinian cries fall on deaf ears - March 2014Pipeline from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea - March 2014ExtremeDonorAndMediaFatigue - March 2014Finally, international steps to bring Syrian war criminals to justice - April 2014International communities’ response to the world’s largest refugee crisis - April 2014Media coverage of the Arab Spring - April 2014UN Palestine should Trust the International Community - April 2014North Lebanon on the verge of war - May 2014The forced expulsion of Palestinians - May 2014The Girl Refugee - May 2014Forced Evictions in Israel-Palestine - July 2014Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organisation - September 2014The European asylum system has collapsed - September 2014Wahhabism, the Brotherhood and ISIS- Has history repeated itself - September 2014In an unjust prison system hunger strikes are a last resort - December 2014Israel & Gaza Behind the Media Veil - December 2014


Cartoons


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