#culture_&_society

Conflict Over #al-Tal_Square: Is #Tripoli Poised to Become Another #Beirut?
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/23866

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There is debate underway in Tripoli today as to what should happen to the city’s al-Tal Square. The debate is not concerned with possible ways to conserve the square as part of the city’s memory and heritage, or to preserve the historical character of the place — “the heart of the city,” as the people of Tripoli call it. The “developmental” discussions focus, rather, on choosing what project will be constructed in the square. On Tuesday, the municipality of Tripoli rejected a proposed parking lot, intended to start construction early next month, and instead accepted a Turkish donation of $50 million to construct a cultural and conference (...)

#Aignan_Oozheldez #Articles #Lebanon #Ramzi_Nohra #Tammam_Salam #Tripoli_Foundation #turkey #Culture_&_Society

Too Far or Not Enough?: Lebanese React to Political Propaganda Removal Campaign
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/too-far-or-not-enough-lebanese-react-political-propaganda-removal

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Beirut Governor Ziad Chebib (L) watches as his body guard tears down an #amal Movement poster in #Beirut on the first day of the implementation of taking down all political posters in #Lebanon's major cities. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah Beirut Governor Ziad Chebib (L) watches as his body guard tears down an Amal Movement poster in Beirut on the first day of the implementation of taking down all political posters in Lebanon’s major cities. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah

Last week, an otherwise fruitless dialogue between rival political parties #Hezbollah and the #Future_Movement culminated in a decision to remove all political posters and party flags from the walls of Lebanon’s major cities. The decision, aimed at defusing sectarian (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Ashraf_Rifi #Saida #Tripoli

Examining #Lebanon’s Demographic Realities
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/23729

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In the past years, new demographic groups have been introduced to Lebanon, creating a population pyramid that has been described as a “miracle,” a constellation that only happens during wartime and can only continue “by chance.” It is the same chance that has so far prevented the country from collapsing. However, it is clear that the country is moving toward an inevitable conflict between the various heterogenous groups living in it.

#Articles #Lebanese_population #palestinians #Syrians #UNHCR #World_Bank #Culture_&_Society

#Civil_marriage Struggle in #Lebanon Back to Square One
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/23598

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Under the pretext of “fighting extremism” by “eliminating excuses,” Minister of Interior and Municipalities #Nouhad_al-Machnouk is determined to return the issue of civil marriage to square one, reversing all the progress made by non-sectarian forces. Former interior ministers #Ziad_Baroud and #Marwan_Charbel confirm that the procedures they followed to cross out confessional identities on civil registry records, and allow the registration of civil marriage contracts in Lebanon, were entirely legal, and that the reluctance to implement (or desire to annul) them is tantamount to stripping a segment of Lebanese citizens of their civil (...)

#Articles #Culture_&_Society

On this land, there’s what’s worth crying over
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/land-theres-whats-worth-crying-over

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Lebanon’s Ain al-Hilweh #Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the southern city of #Saida. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Bou Haidar #Lebanon's Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the southern city of Saida. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Bou Haidar

As you return home, to your home, think of others Do not forget those who live in tents As you sleep and count the stars, think of others Those who have nowhere to sleep Think of Others – Mahmoud Darwish

May Khatib

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#Culture_&_Society #Ain_al-Hilweh_camp #Articles #Civis_Mundy #European_Union #Fatah #Palestine #UNRWA #Yasser_Arafat

Families of Lebanese civil war missing to celebrate first major victory against the state
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/22901

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/tahtah-%281%29%20%283%29.jpg

On Tuesday, the Lebanese people will celebrate an important achievement attained by a civil movement in a long time. The Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Missing has proved that there is no room for despair if there is a quest for change. The struggle that started in 1982 resulted this year in an achievement that challenges the system.

#Articles #Beirut_Bar_Association #Families_of_the_Kidnapped_and_Forced_Disappeared #Lebanon #State_Shura_Council #Culture_&_Society

#Tripoli's poor are denied even a grave
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/22986

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/391377.jpg

Tripoli, #Lebanon's second largest city, continues to suffer from state neglect, an unstable security situation, and corruption. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah Tripoli, Lebanon’s second largest city, continues to suffer from state neglect, an unstable security situation, and corruption. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah

A destitute citizen from #Bab_al-Raml in Tripoli died on Tuesday after spending the past year sick in bed. As his family prepared for his burial in the neighborhood cemetery, they were confronted with the city’s graveyards committee requesting a burial fee.

Abdel Kafi al-Samad

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#Culture_&_Society #Articles #burial_rights #Dar_al-Fatwa #Department_of_al-Awqaf #Malik_al-Shaar #Sheikh_Hussam_Sbat

‘Falastiniyat’: on a mission to shatter stereotypes of #Palestinian_women
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/%E2%80%98falastiniyat%E2%80%99-mission-shatter-stereotypes-palest

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(Illustration: Alaa Rustom) (Illustration: Alaa Rustom)

Palestinian media has always been rife with stereotypical cliches about women. It does not hesitate to impose preconceived ideas on Palestinian reality, without attempting to explain it.

Orouba Othman

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#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Falastiniyat #Gaza #Israel #Palestine #west_bank

#Gaza’s doctors: The other face of the Resistance
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/21012

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For 29 days, doctors in Gaza have been working amid blood and body parts. As hundreds of people suffering serious injuries continue to stream in, they are unfortunately forced to give priority only to those they can save. In the meantime, janitors working by their side have not stopped rinsing the blood away.

#Articles #Ashraf_al-Qudra #Israel #Kamal_Adwan_Hospital #Mohammed_Abu_Arab #Nidal_Ahmed #Shifa_Hospital #Culture_&_Society

#Gaza: Only four doctors for 13 thousand #Cancer patients
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/19552

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Palestinians in Gaza cope with the bitterness of the occupation and do what they can to confront their difficult living conditions. But thanks to the siege and the ongoing conflict between the #Ramallah and Gaza governments, there remains no place for hope for cancer patients in Gaza. They suffer from the pain of health complications and face a number of obstacles that prevent them from traveling for treatment.

#Articles #Israel #Culture_&_Society

#Aleppo’s countryside: From neglect to revolution to destruction
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aleppo%E2%80%99s-countryside-neglect-revolution-destruction

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A Syrian drives his vehicle past buildings which were damaged during fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces on July 19, 2014 in the northern city of Aleppo. (Photo: AFP-Ahmed Deeb) A Syrian drives his vehicle past buildings which were damaged during fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces on July 19, 2014 in the northern city of Aleppo. (Photo: AFP-Ahmed Deeb)

Although the city of Aleppo has never stopped complaining about the government’s neglect of its demands and aspirations, the critical situation in #syria’s northern district came from the poverty stricken countryside. Nevertheless, the situation continued to worsen under the watch of successive governments, and (...)

#Culture_&_Society #al-Raqqa #Articles #Idlib #Mohammed_Anbar #Mohammed_Jamal_Barout #turkey

#Gaza: ‘War merchants’ attempt to profit at the sake of the displaced
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-%E2%80%98war-merchants%E2%80%99-attempt-profit-sake-displace

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A Palestinian man walks amidst debris in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip during the first hours of a failed truce, on August 1, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Marco Longari) A Palestinian man walks amidst debris in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip during the first hours of a failed truce, on August 1, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Marco Longari)

Despite the beautiful images of social and religious solidarity in Gaza, some in the Strip insist on deviating from the norm and on looking out for their own interests by exploiting the basic needs of the people, in the absence of government [institutions], due to the severity of the war.

Orouba Othman

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#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Gaza_City #Israel #Khan_Youness #Palestine

#UNRWA breaks its silence: Abu Hussein school massacre exposes #Israel
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/unrwa-breaks-its-silence-abu-hussein-school-massacre-exposes-isra

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United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl inspects the damage at an UNRWA school following an Israeli strike. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed) United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl inspects the damage at an UNRWA school following an Israeli strike. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for #Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says it had sent 17 communiqués that included the coordinates of the Abu Hussein UN-run school in the #Jabalia_refugee_camp to the Israelis to avoid bombing it. The last of these warnings was communicated a few hours before the massacre, according to UNRWA. The deadly Israeli air strike on the (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Abu-Hussein_school #Articles #Gaza #Pierre_Krähenbühl

#Gaza: #Israel puts paramedics in its crosshairs
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-israel-puts-paramedics-its-crosshairs

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A destroyed Civil Defence ambulance is seen on a street following an Israeli military offensive on the Shujayeh neighborhood between Gaza City and the Israeli border, which has left more than 50 people dead in a blistering bombardment which began overnight, medics said on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed) A destroyed Civil Defence ambulance is seen on a street following an Israeli military offensive on the Shujayeh neighborhood between Gaza City and the Israeli border, which has left more than 50 people dead in a blistering bombardment which began overnight, medics said on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed)

Reham is used to not seeing her husband Ayed for several days on end. During war times, she rarely (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Ayed_al-Buraey #Beit_Hanoun #International_Committee_of_the_Red_Cross #Khan_Younes #Palestine #Palestinian_Red_Crescent_Society

#Gaza: One man relives the horrors of the 2009 war
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-one-man-relives-horrors-2009-war

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A Palestinian family walks past the debris from a building in the center of Gaza City hit by an earlier Israeli airstrike, on July 25, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Marco Longari) A Palestinian family walks past the debris from a building in the center of Gaza City hit by an earlier Israeli airstrike, on July 25, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Marco Longari)

Palestinian citizen, #Mohammed_al-Dayeh, had barely got over the Israeli massacre that wiped out his entire family back in 2009, when the Israeli war machine forced him to relive those memories, as military jets pounded his house during the current war on Gaza.

Ibtisam Mahdi

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#Culture_&_Society #al-Zaytoun #Articles #Israel #Palestine

#Gaza: The story of a Palestinian father who lost his children in the darkness
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-story-palestinian-father-who-lost-his-children-darkness

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The bodies of children and adults lie on the ground of the morgue of the al-Shifa hospital in #Gaza_City, on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed) The bodies of children and adults lie on the ground of the morgue of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed)

Around the flickering, dim light of a candle nearly gone, the family of Abu Mohammed Shabet gathered in their house in #Hayy_al-Touffah, north-east of Gaza City, to break their fast. In the background, they could hear explosions caused by bombs fired by Israeli tanks positioned on the eastern borders of the Strip, aimed at the houses of unarmed civilians.

Sanaa Kamal

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#Culture_&_Society #Abu_Mohammed_Shabat #Articles #Israel #Palestine

#Gaza: The story of a Palestinian father who lost his children in the darkness
http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/20827

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/365969-01-08.jpg

The bodies of children and adults lie on the ground of the morgue of the al-Shifa hospital in #Gaza_City, on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed) The bodies of children and adults lie on the ground of the morgue of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, on July 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Abed)

Around the flickering, dim light of a candle nearly gone, the family of Abu Mohammed Shabet gathered in their house in #Hayy_al-Touffah, north-east of Gaza City, to break their fast. In the background, they could hear explosions caused by bombs fired by Israeli tanks positioned on the eastern borders of the Strip, aimed at the houses of unarmed civilians.

Sanaa Kamal

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#Culture_&_Society #Abu_Mohammed_Shabat #Articles #Israel #Palestine

#Gaza: A personal account of trying to survive #Israel’s bombs
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-personal-account-trying-survive-israel%E2%80%99s-bombs

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Palestinians walk past a building that was destroyed nearby their house following an Israeli air strike on July 19, 2014, in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Hams) Palestinians walk past a building that was destroyed nearby their house following an Israeli air strike on July 19, 2014, in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Hams)

Gaza – Every night I seem to think it’s the worst night, until I go through the next one. I got so used to the house shaking and moving from the consecutive blasts that it now feels weird when everything is still. Flashing lights, the ground shaking all around, that’s my house during the current Israeli war on Gaza.

Omar Ghraieb

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#Culture_&_Society #Articles #ceasefire #F16_fighter_jets #ground_invasion #Operation_Cast_Lead #Operation_Protective_Edge #Palestinian #UNRWA

#Egypt adds insult to injury by sending #Gaza expired aid packages
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/egypt-adds-insult-injury-sending-gaza-expired-aid-packages

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Egyptian security forces stand guard as an ambulance, carrying a Palestinian who was wounded in an Israeli air strike, crosses the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip on July 12, 2014 in Rafah. (Photo: AFP-Said Khatib) Egyptian security forces stand guard as an ambulance, carrying a Palestinian who was wounded in an Israeli air strike, crosses the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip on July 12, 2014 in Rafah. (Photo: AFP-Said Khatib)

“Grudges subside in times of adversity.” However, this old Arab saying does not seem to apply to the relationship between Gaza and Cairo. It is true that Egypt already made its position clear about the war in Gaza by the kind of truce it proposed and (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Euro-Mediterranean_Human_Rights_Center #Hamas #Israel #Muslim_Brotherhood #Ramallah #UN

#Lebanon’s street remains muted over Israeli attacks on #Gaza
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon%E2%80%99s-street-remains-muted-over-israeli-attacks-gaza

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A women’s organization holds a #Protest in front of the #ESCWA headquarters in #Beirut in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza on July 18, 2014. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) A women’s organization holds a protest in front of the ESCWA headquarters in Beirut in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza on July 18, 2014. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

As Israel begins its ground invasion of Gaza following 10 days of brutal airstrikes that have killed over 260 Palestinians, the Lebanese public has remained fairly silent.

Azza el-Masri

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#Culture_&_Society #amal #Articles #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Palestine

Wounded Palestinians scorned in #Egypt’s #al-Arish General Hospital
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/wounded-palestinians-scorned-egypt%E2%80%99s-al-arish-general-hos

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A Palestinian young boy, who was wounded in an Israeli air strike, lays on a stretcher in an ambulance before being given the permission to cross into Egypt at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern #Gaza Strip on July 12, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Said Khatib) A Palestinian young boy, who was wounded in an Israeli air strike, lays on a stretcher in an ambulance before being given the permission to cross into Egypt at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip on July 12, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Said Khatib)

Another episode of Palestinian suffering plays out again and political differences cast their bitter shadow over people’s lives. This is what is happening between Palestinians and Egyptians after Cairo (...)

#Culture_&_Society #al-Arish_General_Hospital #al-Quds_University #Articles #Israel #Sinai

When #Israel targets the homes of civilians
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/when-israel-targets-homes-civilians

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Palestinian firefighters survey the scene of a house destroyed during an Israeli strike, on July 16, 2014, in #Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Hams) Palestinian firefighters survey the scene of a house destroyed during an Israeli strike, on July 16, 2014, in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Hams)

The “toil of 20 years” was gone in a flash. #Omm_Mohammed_al-Beik taught in several schools at once so she could buy a piece of land and build her home, brick by brick, on the tunnel road northeast of Gaza City. Israeli warplanes destroyed the dreams of her family of 40. They are now displaced, without a shelter, or a source of income to rebuild their home.

Sanaa Kamal

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#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Hajj_Youssef_al-Beik

#Gaza’s #al-Batsh massacre survivor: ’I saw bodies torn to pieces’
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza%E2%80%99s-al-batsh-massacre-survivor-i-saw-bodies-torn-piece

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Palestinian children stand next to graves ahead of the funeral of 18 members of al-Batsh family who were killed the previous night in Israeli strikes that hit their house as they were targeting Hamas police chief Tayseer al-Batsh on July 13, 2014 in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Thomas Coex) Palestinian children stand next to graves ahead of the funeral of 18 members of al-Batsh family who were killed the previous night in Israeli strikes that hit their house as they were targeting Hamas police chief Tayseer al-Batsh on July 13, 2014 in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Thomas Coex)

Om Mohammed was expecting her two sons Mohammed, 17, and Qusay, 12, to come back from Tarawih prayers (additional prayers performed during Ramadan) so that (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Israel #Khan_Younis #Tayseer_al_Batsh #World_Cup

#Gaza’s students receive death instead of their diplomas
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza%E2%80%99s-students-receive-death-instead-their-diplomas

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Palestinian firefighters and residents try to extinguish fire at a house destroyed by an overnight Israeli air strike, on July 16, 2014, in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Hams) Palestinian firefighters and residents try to extinguish fire at a house destroyed by an overnight Israeli air strike, on July 16, 2014, in Gaza City. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed Hams)

This year, some of Gaza’s graduating students will not have a chance to celebrate because, very simply, they are no longer with us, leaving behind nothing but their family’s sorrow and grief. What these students did not know is that the Israeli occupation will not only cut short the waiting period for the results of their high school exams, but that it was going to hand out (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #education_ministry #General_Secondary_Certificate #Ibrahim_Majed_al-Batsh #jerusalem

#Gaza: Families destroyed by Israel’s bombs
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-families-destroyed-israel%E2%80%99s-bombs

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A Palestinian family leaves their home after an Israeli strike warning in Gaza City on July 15, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Thomas Coex) A Palestinian family leaves their home after an Israeli strike warning in Gaza City on July 15, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Thomas Coex)

His whole life passed before his eyes like a film uncut by memory. He dived into the rubble of his home, hoping to find something to defeat the idea of his family’s death. But death is always stronger and here, the smell of blood fills the air.

Orouba Othman

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#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Khan_Younis #Palestine #Rafah #Yibna_refugee_camp