You are in the 222th Witness Revolution diary, bearing witness to pro-democracy movements in North Africa, the Middle East and beyond. We aim here to simply report, from as many reliable worldwide resources as possible, on the successes, challenges or failures of the brave people striving against oppression for representative democracy with civil and human rights. One small bit of assurance that they do not strive in obscurity. Please see the 200th edition where participants shared what this series means to them.
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
EGYPT
Attacks on Tahrir on August first by the Army and Police. This is from the Kasr-El Nil entrance to the Square
ISRAEL
What started out as a protest and boycott of cottage cheese because of its high price, has now led to mass demonstrations across the country of Israel, against the lack of affordable housing, high price of mortgages, education; lack of work for university graduates. Doctors and nurses on strike. Israel has joined the Arab, Middle east revolution.
SYRIA
Saying farewell to a husband who was killed by the forces of the fascist alawite baath party military dictatorship of Bashar Assad.
The human cost and the pain experienced by the Syrian population from the countless crimes against humanity commited by Bashar Assad is simply staggering .
These people are being shot down in the streets like animals for the crime of demanding Freedom and Democracy .
Large anti-Assad protests in Rastan neighborhood (Homs)
country by country news updates below
ABOUT OUR GROUP
Eyes on Egypt and the Region produces a different series of diaries which provide background and analysis on the region in general and on individual countries. We hope those provide context for you as you read about current events. The published diaries in that series are:
Eyes on Egypt and the Region Background Resources
See the group stream for even more diaries.
DO YOU KNOW OF GOOD READING MATERIAL?
We collect suggested readings for background reference materials in support of the Eyes on Egypt and the Region group. These may be non-fiction or fiction, general to the region or specific to a country or issue. If there are resources which you believe could aid our understanding of the events and processes we are witnessing, please either a) post a comment in the Liveblog with the title "Suggested reading:" and a brief description of the reading in the body of the comment, or b) send your suggestions via the dKos internal message to angry marmot.
Libyan Doctors for Hospitals in Libya is an impressive new aide organization launched by one of our own: StepLeftStepForward.
NEWS UPDATES
(country names in bold are updated from the previous diary.)
GENERAL ANALYSIS
(h/t Dibsa 8/2)-Dueling Protests: Israel and Syria
In the midst of the U.S. debt crisis came an important, but under-reported, pair of developments in the Middle East, which saw two radically different popular protests in two neighboring but radically different countries
ALGERIA
(h/t Dibsa 7/29) - Algerian Exceptionalism and the Arab Spring
With all the turmoil prevailing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) this year, news of turmoil from Algeria has been strangely infrequent. In the context of what is now looking to be a 'perpetual' Arab Spring, the headline 'Fresh Wave of Violence Kills Six in Algeria' conjures up images of clashes between Algerian armed forces and protestors
BAHRAIN
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Bahrain/Dublin: Professor Eoin O'Brien writes in todays Irish Examiner on the findings of the recent humanitarian mission to Bahrain
Professor Eoin O'Brien writes in todays Irish Examiner on the findings of the recent humanitarian mission to Bahrain to offer support to imprisoned Bahraini doctors and their families.Three of the imprisoned doctors, Dr Ali Al Ekri, Dr Basim Daif and Dr Ghassan Daif studied in the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Bahraini politician's wife tells of fear
Amal Matar tells Al Jazeera that arbitrary arrests have made people scared of testifying before investigating panels.
The government of Bahrain insists human rights experts are being given unrestricted access to investigate allegations of abuse duringprotests earlier this year
COTE D'IVOIRE
(h/t Dibsa 8/1 ) - Ivory Coast President Vows to Enforce Human Rights
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara says he will make sure human rights are respected across his country.
(h/t Dibsa 8/1 ) -
AP Exclusive: Ouattara: no knowledge of massacre
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ivory Coast's president said he knows nothing about brutal killings committed by his forces the day after his inauguration and defended a senior officer accused of separate atrocities as one of the country's best soldiers
DJIBOUTI
(h/t Dibsa 6/22 ) - Djibouti Will Intensify Fight Against Poverty, Prime Minister Dileita Says
Djibouti’s government will intensify its fight against poverty, improve governance and implement renewable-energy projects to help spur economic growth, Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita said
EGYPT
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Slide Show: Witness to the Egyptian Revolution
The first images of Egyptians flooding Cairo’s Tahrir Square this January captivated people around the world, long before anyone knew the protesters would actually topple their government. Scenes from the Arab Spring have become icons of a rare achievement—peaceful, successful revolution—so it is no surprise they are also being heralded as contemporary art. Nadav Neuhaus, a 39-year-old photographer who had traveled extensively in Egypt before the revolution, was able to return and capture the scenes leading up to President Mubarak's resignation. Neuhaus's photography focuses on newsworthy events, yet he also highlights the human scale, capturing images that might be missed in the daily news cycle
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Egypt army breaks up protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's army moved into Cairo's Tahrir Square Monday to break up a protest that had lasted more than three weeks after the main groups involved had said they would leave but a few hundred demonstrators had stayed put, state television reported
IRAN
(h/t Dibsa 7/29) - Amnesty urges Iran to free US hikers
Amnesty on Friday renewed calls for Iran to release two young US hikers held on spying charges since July 2009, two days ahead of a fresh hearing in their case
IRAQ
(h/t Dibsa 7/29) - Iraq PM due before MPs as US troop talks cancelled
BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is due to make a rare appearance before Iraq's parliament on Saturday to push a plan for downsizing a bloated government that critics accuse of inaction
(h/t Dibsa 7/29) - Athletes rally in Baghdad, demand release of Iraqi football player detained in Bahrain
BAGHDAD (AP) — Dozens of athletes rallied in Baghdad on Wednesday, demanding the release of a 16-year-old Iraqi football player detained in Bahrain earlier this year when the country was swept by anti-government protests
ISRAEL
(h/t Dibsa 8/1 ) - The tent protest: neither social justice, nor revolution
The popular, mass protests here that began as a cry of rage against housing prices have evolved admirably into a public outcry against a slew of deep-rooted problems in Israeli social and economic life. Visiting the tent camps early every day, we’ve watched the protest grow from a motley band of wishful Woodstockers at the tip of Rothschild Boulevard two weeks ago, to a sort of mini-metropolis spreading close to the end of the road. There’s a first aid tent courtesy of Physicians for Human Rights, “Settle the Negev and the Galil” tents, ideological discussions, guitar and drum sing-alongs, Kabalat Shabbat, Friday night dinner, outdoor films about revolutionary themes, families with babies, and endlessly creative slogans
JORDAN
(h/t Dibsa 7/29) - Jordan's Islamist opposition vows more protests
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Members of Jordan's powerful Islamist opposition have taken an oath to continue peaceful protests until their demands for political reform in the kingdom are met
KUWAIT
(h/t Dibsa 6/27) - Kuwait arrests duo over Twitter comments
Kuwait will put two citizens on trial for criticising Gulf Arab ruling families on social media site Twitter, a security official said
LEBANON
(h/t JustJennifer 7/7)-Lebanon parliament backs cabinet as opposition boycotts
Lebanon's new government has won a parliamentary vote of confidence, after a heated debate over an international tribunal investigating the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
LIBYA
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Slain Libya rebel chief's son seeks speedy trials
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — Family members of the Libyan rebel commander assassinated last week have demanded an open investigation and speedy trials for the perpetrators of his slaying.
The rebel leadership has insisted Abdel-Fattah Younis' killing was the work of Moammar Gadhafi's regime
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Libya rebels say forces enter Kadhafi-held Zliten
Libya's rebels said on Tuesday they launched a post-dawn attack on the western town of Zliten, punching through to the centre and sparking fierce clashes with forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Weekend Violence Increases Fears Of Libya's Opposition Splitting Apart
It didn't take the prescient gifts of Nostradamus to foresee that Thursday's killing of Abdel Fattah Younes --commander of Libya's anti-Gaddafi rebel forces--would exacerbate the tensions and divisions already rife within the opposition's leadership. But it is a little surprising just how swiftly the suspicions of treason and double-dealing unleashed by the Younes assassination have spurred the Benghazi-based rebel government into action threatening to split the opposition into warring rival factions focused more on battling one another than Gaddafi
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Libyan rebels round up Khadafy militiamen but lose village
BENGHAZI, Libya -- Rebels said they arrested dozens of militiamen loyal to Moammar Khadafy in their eastern bastion but suffered a blow Monday in Libya's west, losing a village at the foot of a key mountain range
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Libya rebels hunt 'pro-Gaddafi infiltrators'
Opposition leaders say they arrested dozens of armed men loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in their eastern bastion, but have suffered a blow in Libya's west, losing a village at the foot of a key mountain range
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Is Libya's Opposition Committing Suicide?
Jackson Diehl, the Washington Post’s resident foreign policy hawk, warns today that the Libyan rebellion is in deep trouble as the result of infighting among the rebels in Benghazi. “Until last Thursday, Libya was beginning to look like the relative good news in the troubled summer that has followed the Arab Spring,” writes Diehl. But Diehl notes that the assassination of the rebels’ top military commander, Abdul Fattah Younis, by his colleagues –in still unexplained circumstances – is a sign of serious trouble. “The murder plunged the new government and its capital into turmoil, and raised urgent questions in NATO capitals about whether the TNC or its ragtag army were in danger of crumbling,” writes Diehl
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - With rebels in charge, life returns to Libyan town
NALUT, Libya (AP) — For months, this front-line community in range of Moammar Gadhafi's rockets was a town of men — rebel fighters, doctors, drivers and others needed for the war. Women and children were sent to safety in nearby Tunisia
RESOURCES:
A vision of a democratic Libya an 8-point plan from the National Transitional Council
The full text of UN Resolution 1970 on Libya.
The full text of UN Resolution 1973 on Libya.
President Obama's letter to Congress regarding commencement of operations in Libya. (h/t greenbird)
Al Jazeera Libyan live blog. (h/t jnhobbs)
UK Telegraph Libyan live blog. (h/t bee tzu)
BBC Libyan live blog found here. (h/t greenbird)
The New Yorker Dispatches from Libya. (h/t suejazz)
BBC's Libyan crisis mapped. (h/t phil S 33)
revolutionology is a blog from an American in Benghazi
MAURITANIA
(h/t Dibsa 6/16) - Mauritania opposition says October vote not possible
NOUAKCHOTT — A Mauritanian opposition leader said Wednesday elections due in October could not go ahead without reforms, accusing President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's government of abuse of power
MOROCCO
(h/t Dibsa 8/1 ) - Thousands protest on Morocco king's allegiance day
(Reuters) - Thousands of Moroccans marched on Sunday to press the Arab world's longest-ruling dynasty to relinquish more of its sweeping powers and stamp out corruption
OMAN
(h/t Dibsa 7/6) - Oman jails 12 more protesters, bringing total to 80
MUSCAT (Reuters) - An Omani court jailed 12 protesters from the coastal city of Sohar for up to three and a half years, a local paper said Wednesday, bringing the total number of people sentenced for taking part in the unrest to 80
PALESTINE
(h/t JustJennifer 7/16) - Palestine: the flags are already waving but will a declaration of statehood help?
The Chinese-made parking meter on a street in the West Bank city of Ramallah instructed motorists in Arabic and English to "pay here", warning that surveillance cameras were watching their cars around the clock to catch those flouting the order.
(h/t JustJennifer 7/16) - Where are the Palestinians?
Over the last few weeks, media in this region was filled with images of people from all over the Western world holding up Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine.” We’ve heard from the likes of Americans, like prize-winning author Alice Walker and former CIA official Ray McGovern (both passengers on the US boat to Gaza) about the importance of standing up for Palestinians in Gaza; we’ve heard about hunger strikes by Spanish and American citizens stuck in Greece after their boats were not allowed to sail; and we’ve seen videos of activists landing in Ben Gurion airport, declaring their intention to visit the occupied West Bank, being accosted by an Israeli mob and then detained and deported, all while chanting “Free Palestine.”
SAUDI ARABIA
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Rights group urges Saudi monarch to scrap terror law
Human Rights Watch urged the Saudi monarch on Tuesday to rescind a counterterrorism bill which it says will infringe on basic rights and lump peaceful opposition together with violence
SYRIA
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Syria lobbies India to prevent UN condemnation
Syria has called on India as chair of the United Nations Security Council not to give into "Western propaganda" about its crackdown on protests and to help prevent a resolution condemning the country
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Syria forces in Hama push as crackdown continues
Syrian forces are pushing towards the centre of the town of Hama as they continue an offensive in which scores of people have died
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - EU slaps more sanctions on Syria
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union expanded its sanctions against Syria on Monday, imposing asset freezes and travel bans against five more military and government officials.
The EU decision brings the number of individuals targeted by the EU to 35, including President Bashar Assad. Four government entities are also on the list
(h/t Dibsa 8/1 ) - Syria teeters on the brink
In Hama, Syrians no longer know where to bury their dead. Following the assault on Syria's fourth largest city by tanks and bulldozers at 5am on Sunday morning, movement is nigh impossible. The cemeteries are cut off. Families with backyards or gardens can at least bury their loved ones
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Syria assault on Hama signals hardened resolve on both sides
The Syrian regime and opposition protesters are bracing for what could be a defining moment of the nearly five-month uprising
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Arabs angry over Syria crackdown but governments silent
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Arabs reacted strongly on Monday to the deaths of dozens of Syrians in Hama at the hands of the Syrian army but most Arab governments kept silent, apparently fearing the power of protest movements that have spread throughout the region this year
TUNISIA
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Trial of Ben Ali relatives and allies resumes
The trial of 23 relatives and allies of ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, including sisters and nephews of Ben Ali’s wife, resumed Tuesday. The charges include trying to flee Tunisia in illegal possession of foreign currency and jewellery
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Challenges to Tunisia's fast-track democracy
A faded poster greets Tunisians living in France who have come to register to vote in what they hope will be their country's first free and fair election later this year
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(h/t Dibsa 7/18) - U.A.E. court hears testimony against 5 reform activists
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates questioned two witnesses Monday in the trial of five political activists who campaigned for democratic reforms in the Gulf nation and are accused of anti-state crimes, a court official said
WESTERN SAHARA
(h/t Dibsa 7/26) - Western Sahara talks end in impasse
The latest round of unofficial, UN-brokered Western Sahara negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario ended without agreement last week
(h/t Dibsa 7/25) - Western Sahara: Women Refugees Denounce Dictatorship, Corruption at Camps
MADRID / Association for the development of Saharawi Women, led by Salma Buha Mint Bubacar Lecuara, president of the association and Fatma Ahmed Essbiti, its secretary, held a conference on july 21, 2011 at The Emperor hotel in Madrid. Ana Camacho a senior journalist with El País intervened in support of the two speakers. Also attended the ceremony Mohamed Salem jaddou a member of the association
YEMEN
(h/t Dibsa 8/2) - Yemen's defectors
A number of Yemeni soldiers have defected to join sides with anti-regime protesters seeking to end president Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Fierce clashes between Yemen army, tribesmen
Fierce fighting broke out Monday between Yemen's army and tribesmen who back anti-regime protesters in the strife-torn country's second city of Taez, witnesses said
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - UN envoy warns of deterioration of Yemen's security
SANAA, July 29 (Xinhua) -- UN envoy Jamal bin Omar who is in Yemen to mediate conciliation dialogue between the ruling party and opposition warned on Friday that Yemen's security may collapse if the two sides failed to reach a compromise soon
(h/t Dibsa 8/1) - Yemen parties demands international community to condemn crimes of Yemen regime
Sahwa Net- Coalition of Yemen opposition parties, the Joint Meeting Parties, has demanded the international community to shoulder its responsibility toward crimes committed by the Yemeni regime against civilians and peaceful protests
(h/t Dibsa 7/29 ) - Anti-Government Protesters Rally Again in Yemen
Massive rallies are unfolding across Yemen on Friday as anti-government activists renew calls for change. Demonstrators are seeking an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule
It bears repeating - Please Rec this diary.
Our Egyptian brethren articulated what people around the region are fighting for, though variations to the theme may exist from country to country. banner held by protesters and translated to English:
1 The departure of Mubarak
2 An end to the current Parliament
3 An end of the state of emergency
4 The creation of a national united government
5 A parliament elected by the people to modify the constitution and run the presidential elections
6 Put those responsible for the killings on trial
7 Put those responsible for stealing the country's money and other acts of corruption on trial
Will you help us gather updates?
Many hands make light work and we rely on teamwork for timely posting.
Here's how it works:
1. we invite you to join our wiki. (we'll need an email address from you)
2. you choose 1 or more countries you wish to gather citations for
3. go to the page of that country, click EDIT,
4. copy the mini template and fill in what the red text prompts
5. click SAVE
We're working on a publication schedule: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday. Ideally we would see fresh citations in the wiki by late evening the day before. That is, posts from late Monday evening would be published in Tuesday morning's diary. (If you'd like produce a diary on a different day of the week, we'd love to show you how to update the template and paste it into your diary!)
It's really that simple! Please join us.
Resources:
Note: The old Mothership Diary has good list of resources.
Al Jazeera English - Watch Live (the Youtube link below should work for Mac users unable to load this.)
Al Jazeera live also available on: Dish Network channel 9410 OR DirecTV Channel 375 Link
Al Jazeera on Facebook: - http: www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Al Jazeera Live on YouTube
English Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
Arabic Stream http://www.youtube.com/...
BBC Middle East reporting
BBC Middle East and Arab Unrest
WorldWideTahrir{NEW} : Worldwide protests being organized to coincide with the upcoming ones in Egypt.
bicycle Hussein paladin - Why Iran 1979 Went to the Islamists and This One Won't
People to follow on twitter: - please suggest people for specific countries. Thank you!
@ArabRevolution - Region
@Dima_Khatib - Region
@March15Syria - Syria
@JNovak_Yemen - Yemen
@WomanfromYemen - Yemen
@Gheblawi - Libya
@ShababLibya - Libya
@feb17voices - Libya
@DrsForLibya - Libya
@libyanexpat - Libya
@lissnp - Iran
@prsianbanoo - Iran
@sandmonkey - Egypt
@JRamyRaoof - Egypt
@Elazul - Egypt
@Ssirgany - Egypt
@sharifkouddous
@monasosh
@ioerror
@ElBaradei
@SultanAlQassemi
@evanchill
@glcarlstrom
@nolanjazeera
@3arabawy
@shadihamid
@bencnn
@arabist
@speaktotweet: Egyptian Voice Tweets on Twitter
Previous Child Diaries:
Egypt and the Region Liveblog Archive by unaspenser
NOTE: We renamed the original "Egypt Liveblog" to "Witnessing Revolution". From Egypt the pro-democracy fire spread rapidly. It's not clear that it will be limited by geography or ethnicity. So, we wanted a name which states what is happening yet allows us to grow with the movement, wherever that will be. The number sequence will be continuous. The group name will remain the same. Only this particular diary series within the group changed names.
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