National and regional implications of Beirut blast
Lebanon is an artificial nation created by French imperialists in the 19th century. The politics of the country is constitutionally divided between different religions and sects. There are no official records of Lebanon's population at the time of its founding. It was originally designed to be a Maronite Christian country. Since then, however, it is evident that the number of Muslims has increased much more than the Christians, most of whom migrated to the West and Latin America. In addition, about 2 million people left the country between 1975 and 2005 during its civil war. Furthermore, the birth rate of Muslims is higher than that of the Christian groups.
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Beirut blast and the fate of the Middle East
All eyes turned to Lebanon after Tuesday’s horrible explosion in Beirut. According to the Lebanese health minister, at least 154 people died in the accident and over 5,000 others survived with injuries. An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 citizens have been left homeless. Lebanon, where protests broke out in October over economic hardships, suffered a financial loss of between $10 billion and $15 billion from the explosion.
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Most analysts call the explosion at the Port of Beirut Lebanon’s Chernobyl. It is the moment of truth that put the last nail in the coffin of the nation’s rotten and dysfunctional political system.
Riyadh has a long history of abductions and enforced disappearances when it comes to dissidents.
A new way of Arab nationalism based on more radical sectarian discourses is currently being promoted by Mohammed bin Salman and his partners with the help of the U.S. to further fuel in the Middle East
The growing rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which recently caused Lebanese PM Hariri to resign, will soon impact others in the region, too
Glocal' Terror Targeting Capitals
The Bamako hotel attack claimed to be carried out by Al-Mourabitoun in cooperation with al-Qaida shows that terror unfortunately continues in the name of Islam, but regardless of the religion's peace doctrine.
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This tragic incident in Paris once again reminded the world that the threat of terrorism is real and present and we need an international effort to deal with this growing threat.
After the death of King Abdullah, the Saudi royal family could face several challenges in the future and a power struggle as palace intrigue could emerge.
If anyone actually thought that the Arab revolts, the most recent wave of change in the Middle East, would allow Iran and Israel to put pressure on the region, though, time has proved them wrong.
SETA PANEL Oturum Başkanı: Talip Küçükcan, SETA Konuşmacılar: Walid Saffour, Suriye İnsan Hakları Komitesi (SHRC) Başkanı Nadim Houry, İHİÖ Başkan Yrdc. ve Ortadoğu ve Kuzey Afrika Sorumlusu Cengiz Çandar, Radikal Gazetesi Yazarı Tarih: 26 Nisan 2012 Perşembe Saat: 11.00-13.00 Yer: SETA, Ankara Salonu
Lebanon is a microcosm of Middle Eastern conflicts, and it has often turned into a battlefield of conflicting regional and international actors.
