Middle East | Israel | Ethics

Israeli Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, going after left-wing human rights organizations

Israeli Minister of Jusice Ayelet Shaked is known to be a supporter of orthodox, right-wing policies. At the beginning of her tenure as Minister in May, she ordered investigations into Israeli left-wing and human-rights organizations, alleging that they do not report all of their donations properly. She did not make the same demands of any right-wing or Orthodox groups. Shaked’s activity is being criticized due to the fact that she herself received donations to her political campaign in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars from foreign sources, in addition to receiving donat

Middle East | Palestine | Corruption

Family members deny Gaza women their inheritances

Source: AlMonitor

Many Palestinian women are being deprived of their inheritances in the Gaza Strip, and the problem is widespread and growing, especially among families who own land. Amina Hassan (a pseudonym) and her three sisters say they became the victims of their brother, who seized most of their real estate inheritance. Amina, who lives in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, told Al-Monitor she and her sisters have been suffering from social and financial problems ever since their brother stole their inheritance in 2007 and they initiated legal procedures to claim it in 2008. She said, �

Middle East | Israel | Ethics

Israel’s culture minister threatens left-wing artists

Source: Pangea Today

In the few weeks that have passed since she became the minister of culture and sports, Miri Regev, who is a member of the ruling Likud party, has been attacking specific artists and shows. “We won the election and you lost so I can decide that none of your institutions will get any funds,” Regev said recently at a meeting with a few of the leading directors of Israeli theaters. She also added that it is “under my authority to decide where the money goes and I can forward all available funds to the settlements or only certain towns if I wish to.” If artists rebel against her pri

Middle East | Israel | Culture

Protest against Arab-Israeli TV host lighting Independence Day beacon

Source: Pangea Today

Lucy Aharish, an Arab-Israeli journalist and TV host, was chosen among 13 other people to light a beacon on Israel’s 67th Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem on April 22. Aharish is known as well-versed in both Jewish and Muslim cultures and many see her as a symbol of true coexistence between Arabs and Israelis, of tolerance and equality, as well as the face of Arab-Israeli women’s issues. The extremist right-wing Lahava organization — working for the prevention of assimilation in the holy land — started an online campaign calling to cancel Aharish’s participation in the cerem

Middle East | Syria | Culture

Syrian army turns to women on Damascus front lines

Source: Your Middle East

Sergeant Rim, 20, and Chief Sergeant Samar, 21, belong to the First Women's Commando Brigade of the Republican Guard, an elite unit stationed on some of the most dangerous battlegrounds on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. The women commandos are new to the Syrian army. There are roughly 800 soldiers in these all-female commando brigades, who face determined and entrenched rebels to the east and southeast of Damascus. Her male commanding officer Captain Ziad says, "There's no difference between men and women. Some have a strong heart and deep courage, and others don't. It's not a qu

Middle East | Lebanon | Culture

Lebanese TV host Rima Karaki: I don’t feel like a hero, it was self-respect

Source: theguardian

When Rima Karaki cut off the mic after her guest, Hani Sibai, an Islamist sheikh, ordered her to “be silent”, little did she expect it would become a viral video sensation in Lebanon and around the world. Supporters online have hailed her for standing up for women’s rights against a patriarchal religious establishment that sought to subjugate them. But for Karaki herself, it was a simple question of self-respect. “Had I not answered, I would have hated myself, and I don’t want to hate myself,” she told the Guardian in an interview. “When he said shut up, it was no longer