- ObamaPalestine
- December 9, 2009
- 8 minutes read
US must spell out its attitude

A senior Middle East specialist has called on decision-makers in
“The Arab governments who had hoped for a tangible policy shift after President Obama took over office, now feel disappointed after waiting for 10 months,” Qatar’s Al Arab daily has quoted him as saying.
Hameed says: “The
Hameed, an expert on Islamic political parties and democratic reforms, adds: “There has always been a wide gap between American perceptions and actual practices on strengthening democracy in the
Hameed believes that it may not be in the long-term interests of the
“It may lead to the emergence of more Islamic radicalism based on the Salafiya school of thought,” he says. “The main thing that holds the
(Al Arab daily, November 30)
Call to abolish sectarian system
There was much furore in
It was the summit that brought to an end the Lebanese civil war which lasted for nearly 15 years. But his call has been met with resistance.
Abolishing the sectarian system will lead to three major transformations in the country: the political structure will change totally. And secondly political values and norms will also change because the interests of the state will supersede all other interests; and lastly there will be a new mould in economic and social relations.
One of the rare things that most Lebanese religious leaders will agree on is to avoid a new general census, out of fear that it could trigger a new round of sectarian conflict. The last official census was performed in 1932.
It is thus obvious that the vested interests among the political class in