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An Arab World in Ruins or a New Regional Beginning?

(Jerusalem Post) Zvi Mazel - After decades of oppression, Arab masses are on the move. They have discovered that they can change their fate. Not all regimes will crumble, but they all will have to implement substantial reforms and allow a measure of freedom of expression as well as greater respect for human rights. It is clear that the Middle East will go through years of instability before the new regimes can find the right balance between the demands of the emerging political forces and those of traditional Arab societies. It does seem as if the issues which dominated both the Arab world and the West in recent years - the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and radical Islam - no longer occupy center stage. Arab masses above all want better economic and social conditions. Iran appears to be the main beneficiary of the turmoil, since its strongest opponents are busy with internal problems - which some say Iran has actively promoted. The writer is a former ambassador to Egypt and a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
2011-03-09 00:00:00
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