Nèdeem Elmahjoub's blog

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) "The U.S. views Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Yet, to the great surprise of many, Hamas swept to victory in the 2006 Palestinian Authority elections. Hamas is now a democractically elected political party." Khaled Hroub is a Palestinian, born into a refugee camp in Bethlehem, and now part of the diaspora of educated intellectuals. Joins Middle East Panorama to give A Beginner's Guide to Hamas . Hroub is currently director of the Arab Media Project at Cambridge University, hosts a weekly book review programme for Al-Jazeera TV, and has written three previous books. The show was featured in the Independent newspaper (UK), 25 August 2006 ("Another of Nadim Mahjoub's takes on life in the Middle East. Here, he interviews Khaled Hrub about his new book, 'Hamas - A Beginner's Guide'.) >> Listen here Lebanon : Omar Na

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Mai Ghoussoub on "music as a healing element, as a universal language in time of war." Mai is from Freemuse - the World Forum on Music and Censorship . Mai is a Lebanese artist living in the UK and she is the founder of London's Alsaqi Books . >> Listen here Bahrain: This small island in the Persian Gulf in unknown to many people. Rauf, a Bahraini, from Bahrain Freedom Movement joins MIddle East Panorama to reveal a hidden side of the Kingdom. The officla spokesman for the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture and the General Secretary of the Movement of Liberties and Democracy in Bahrain join Middle East Panorama to reveal a hidden side Bahrain. >> Listen here From the heart of the Arab world four young writers on tour. Through performance-readings and live discussions, poets Joumana Haddad from Lebanon and Abed

" Whether the Western world wishes to acknowledge them or not, Hezbollah and Hamas are resistance movements, no different to that of the French resistance, " says Ishmahil Blagrove . While the American historian Howard Zinn argues that "Terrorism' is used the way 'communism' was used all through the Cold War," Ishmahil Blagrove argues that " The so-called 'Red Scare', or threat of Communism, has conveniently been replaced by the irrational fear of Islam. Muslims have now become enemy No.1." >> Listen

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Interview with Zeina Abou Al-Hosn , a Lebanese living in London. Zeina works at a production company called Out There News and trying to make some radio/video stories from Lebanon and the area to make up for the lack of coverage in the news. Interview with Roni Ben Efrat from the Organisation for Democratic Action, Tel Aviv, Israel. Ben Efrat argues that "When Israel seeks to effect political changes, it relies on military might. The logic of force has always been the central factor in determining its policy." Ben Efrat speaks of two hidden strategic goals of two Israeli withdrawals: south Lebanon in May 2000 and Gaza in August 2005. >> Listen Sounds from the 22 July demo in London. Interview with two evacuees who arrived in the UK from Beirut, via Cyprus, on 20 July 2006. Middle East Panorama met them in a Lebanese restaurant in Lond

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Starry Night by Mazen Kerbaj, a musican, a comic and blogger from Beirut. Israel-Gaza- Lebanon and beyond: The ReaL Aim . Interview with Yossi Schwartz from Haifa. Listen here Eurabian Nightmare by Matt Carr, journalist and author of the forthcoming Unknown Soldiers: How Terrorism Transformed the Modern World . Matt Carr is one of the first thinkers to explore and explode the myths underpinning the dangerous concept of Eurabia - being popularised by a range of authors including Melanie Phillips (in Britain) and Oriana Fallaci (in Italy). The speech derives from an article on Eurabia in the current issue of Race & Class (vol. 48, issue 1, July 2006). To order click here >> Listen to the speech

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) "Endless War? Hidden Functions of the 'War on Terror'" (Pluto Books 2006) by David Keen. A Live interview. David Keen explores how winning war is rarely an end in itself; rather, war tends to be part of a wider political and economic game that is consistent with strengthening the enemy. Keen devises a radical framework for analysing an unending war project, where the "war on terror" is an extension of the Cold War. >> Listen “There is a different and progressive voice and a promising alternative to both the US occupation and political Islam in Iraq” says Samir Adil a co-founder and the president of The Iraq Freedom Congress - IFC. >> Listen Iraqi Tradional Music Revisited in a War Era .

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Interview with Greg Palast "He is the best journalist in North America", according to Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela. Invistigative reporter for the BBC, Media Channel advisor, journalist for the British newspaper the Observer. He went undercover for the British newspaper and worked his way inside the Prime Minister's inner circle and busted open Toni Blair's biggest scandal 'Lobbygate' . He is also known for his New York Times bestseller "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" published in 2003. The book deals with corporate corruption, finance, globalization, political corruption, and the 'stolen' United States presidential election of 2000. His recent articles include: "Unreported: the Zarqawi Invitation", "The Assassniation of Hugo Chavez", "Was the Invasion of Iraq a Jewish Consp

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) In The West Bank Wall , Dolphin explores the Palestinian experience of the Wall and places the debate in its international context. Dolphin's writing is informed by his work for the UN, where for three years he monitored and compiled reports on the Wall's impact on the humanitarian conditions in refugee camps, towns and villages. What are the real intentions behind the Israeli security argument? Is it a means of securing territory permanently through an illegal annexation of East Jerusalem? Ray Dolphin provides some answers, offering a unique critical account of the impact of the wall and how it affects plans for a Palestinian state and for future peace in the Middle East. >> Listen World Cup 2006: "German hotel removes alcohol, porn for Saudi team", "Islamists denounce 'evil' world cup" and "Iranian film directo

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104 or www.resonancefm.com Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) On June 02, 2006, two events took place. They were very similar. The first was in Forest Gate, East London, in Engalnd. The second was in Canada. In both cases the police raided Muslim places claimimg attacks by terrorists were in preparation. In both cases no evidence of chemical weapons or illegal or suspicious activity of any kind has been found.Marjaleena Repo: "A galloping police state is emerging, in a fashion, familiar to those who know their history, of 1930’s Germany." The Observer newspaper 11 June 2006: "Better a bungled raid than aother terrorist outrage." Alex Grant: "It is vitally important for the imperialists to create an enemy to justify their wars against the poor of the world and they do this by creating racism and fear at home." Mike Marqusee: "That democratic vision is profoundly at odds with the ideology being

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Campaign for Peace and Democracy: "Neither US Aggression not Theocratic Repression." Campaign against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran: "Opposing Theocratic Repression in Iran or Playing into Hands of US Warmongers?" >> Listen to the debate. Blood and Religion - The Unmasking of the Jewish and Democratic State (Pluto Press 2006). Interview with Jonathan Cook, a former staff journalist of the Guardian and Observer newspapers, from Nazareth, Israel. >> Listen to Jonathan Cook . Direct from a picket in front of the BBC, London, in support of the Iranian women .

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) ' Le Cirque du Paradis ' is a parody. The play is set in a circus after a new circus master (the CM) has taken over. The whole play was broadcast as Clear Spot show on Resonance FM on 26 April 2006.It is written and produced by Noel Macken.This part is selected by Middle East Panorama show on Resonance FM, London 09 June 2006. >> Listen Part from 02 June 2006 meeting at Friends Meeting House, London. A speech by Shirin Ebadi , an Iranian activist who was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in October 2003. Listen >> In Persian >> In English >> Some attendants and protesters' views .

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Interview with Michael Schwartz , Professor of Sociology and Faculty Director of the Undergraduate College of Global Studies at Stony Brook University, has written extensively on popular protest and insurgency, and on American business and government dynamics. His work on Iraq has appeared at numerous internet sites, including Tomdispatch, Asia Times, MotherJones.com, and ZNet; and in print in Contexts, Against the Current, and Z Magazine. His books include Radical Protest and Social Structure, and Social Policy and the Conservative Agenda (edited, with Clarence Lo). >> Listen Interview with Alon Lessel from Israel . Boycotting the Israeli academe, what is behind Fatah-Hamas clash, 'are the US and Israel provoking a civil war?', 'true peace under certain conditions', 'a nuclear armed Iran is an intolerable threat' A. Lesel, a rev

Interview with Dahr Jamail, an independent US reporter and photographer. US media to accurately report on the realities of the war in Iraq for the Iraqi people and US soldiers, Dahr Jamail went to Iraq to report on the war himself. His dispatches were quickly recognized as an important media resource and he is now writing for the Inter Press Service , The Asia Times and many other outlets. His reports have also been published with The Nation , The Sunday Herald , Islam Online , the Guardian and the Independent to name just a few. On radio as well as television, Dahr reports for Democracy Now!, the BBC, and numerous other stations around the globe. Dahr is also special correspondent for Flashpoints. Dahr has spent a total of 8 months in occupied Iraq as one of only a few independent US journalists in the country. Dahr uses the DahrJamailIraq.com website and his popular mailing list to disseminate his dispatches. >> Listen David Shayler and Annie Machon, former MI5 officers, joi

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) He defends 'Zionism', but he is anti-neo-zionist, he 'asserts the moral right of the Palestinians to their terrorism'. The charitable organization Oxfam refused to accept a donation of £5,000 accrued in royalties from sales of his book, 'After the Terror'. The director of the Holocaust museum in Frankfort, Micha Brumlik, called him an anti-Semite. When the Palestine Society at SOAS realized that he was a Zionist, an invitation to a meeting of the Palestine Society at the School of Oriental and African Studies, a college of the University of London, was dropped from the list of speakers. His last book, 'Humanity, Terrorism, Terrorist War: Palestine, 9-11, Iraq, 7-7' is to be released in September 2006. 'In the context of the Middle East violence is usually referred to as "terrorism", but the actions of the American an

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Music 1: The Art of the Santoor , Hossein Ferjami, traditional folk music from Iran. 'Hossein Farjami is one of the big names amongst Iranians around the world, known as a virtuoso player of the santoor, one of the oldest oriental instruments. Apart from the santoor this CD ( The Art of the Santoor , August 2000) presents other traditional Iranian instruments such as the tar, setar (string instruments), ney (reed flute), zarb, and daf (drums).' Music 2: The Bridge (2002), Marcel Khalife, Lebanon. Any bridge, in Arabic communication, most often signifies "the bridge back to the Palestinian homeland."

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Interview with Munthir al-Kawther, lecturer of philosophy, TV presenter, human rights activist and chairman of Shuhud - the International Organisation to Confront Extremism, and Ibtisam al-Yusuf, an Iraqi political writer and activist living in London. >> Listen

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) 'The Case for Action against Iran'. In this public forum, the invited speakers will address some of the key issues that are related to the current U.S.-Iran dispute, as well as the possible implications for the international non-proliferation regime and stability in the region. Speakers for the event are: Dr Frank Barnaby, Nuclear Issues Consultant to the Oxford Research Group, Professor Abbas Edalat, Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics, Imperial College London, and founding member of the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, Sajjad Khan, Editor of New Civilisation Magazine and Ms Carol Naughton, coordinator of the WMD Awareness Programme. >> Listen to Abbass Edalat >> Listen to Sajjad Khan

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Film Review: 'Dunia, Kiss me not on the Eyes' (2005) by the Lebanese film-maker Jocelyne Saab. 'Kiss me not on the Eyes' opened the Arab Cinema Weekend (17 and 18 March 2006) in London, UK. The event was hosted by The British Academy of Film and Television Arts and organised by Zenith Foundation. A speech by Hani Lazim from the Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation. Hani spoke at Hammersmith and Fulham Town Hall, London, 16 March 2006. >> Listen to Hani Lazim

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) The Anti-war Demonstration, London, 18 March 2006. A new Dawn, anybody? A look into the Israeli election campaign. Jo Glanville in conversation with Daphna Baram. Jo Glanville is a BBC producer with a particular interest in the Middle East. She has made a number of documentaries in the region and has just finished editing an anthology of short stories by women Palestinian writers, to be published by Saqi Books in September. Daphna Baram is an Israeli freelance journalist and commentator (The Guardian, The New Statesman, Haaretz, Yediot) and a writer (Disenchantment: The Guardian and Israel, 2004). Tuesday 21st March, organised by SOAS Palestine Society, London, UK.

Middle East Panorama radio show on Resonance FM 104.4 http://www.resonancefm.com/ Every Friday 14.00 - 15.00 London time (GMT) Will Iran be invaded? Interview with Mark Fitzpatrick from The International Institute of Strategic Studies . Interview with Abbas Edalat, prof. of mathematics and computer science at Imperial College London and co-founder of Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, CASMII "If necessary, however, under long-standing principles of self defense, we do not rule out the use of force before attacks occur — even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy's attack," George Bush wrote in his national security report, March 16, 2006. I am a Believer ceremony by Reza Aramesh involves 32 mostly second generation immigrant men in a piece choreographed by Tom Dale and the artist and accompanied by a brass band. Arab Cinema Weekend 17-19 March 2006.