Israeli army 'blockaded' from Facebooking or Tweeting home

Israel's formidable armed forces, IDF, are barred from using Facebook and Twitter: Absurd or fair enough when an army has strict discipline to abide by not to mention 'security' needs; Syria is not finding solutions to its problems, not least its economic issues; 3rd Culture Kids have it hard; What kind of Lebanese man should a woman avoid; and why ask America to approve Arab leaders?

Arab Crunch [2]

“Israel’s” army bans its soldiers from using facebook, Twitter and other social media sites

IDF soldiers are banned from FB, and all Social Media sites- where's the fun in that for a soldier away from home, and with some down-time- to- kill (rather than other human targets). Once upon a time, a soldier's only recourse to communication with the outside world was (if lucky) letter, telegrams, pigeon post. Now they have (or don't have) Facebook and Twitter. "The “Israeli” army is banning its soldiers from using social media and networking sites such as Twitter and facebook for what it calls fears on national security leaks."

Syria Comment [3]

“Syria’s Leadership and Opposition Need an Economic Policy.”

"We are nearly four months into the crisis in Syria and neither the opposition nor the Syrian leadership has articulated anything that resembles an economic policy to address the country’s challenges. And this, despite the central importance of economic factors in igniting the Arab revolts.."

A Tale of Three Beans [4]

Fitting In… Finding Your Way Across Cultures

"3rd culture kids" must be even more confused than regular second-culture types! So a Lebanese kid moved from the UK to live in Tanzania? "So, a friend loaned me a back issue of JO magazine and I came across a very interesting article. It talks about Third Culture Kids. These are kids who grow up outside of Mom and Dad’s culture, but not exactly within the culture where they are living either. Imagine Mom and Dad move from the US to Africa for work."

Annie's New Letters [5]

Knesset of Fools - By Hussein Ibish | Foreign Policy

"...When the Knesset itself says it does not recognize the difference between any effort to boycott Israel and those that target the settlements, it invites the rest of the world to see things in the same light."

Guy meets world [6]

Bad men to avoid: the man from abroad

"So there’s this Lebanese guy who doesn’t live in Lebanon. He comes to Lebanon for the summer and for the holidays. You agree to go out on a date with him “as friends” cause you don’t wanna get attached and have the long distance dilemma. Well, what do you know? You do like him! But you don’t kiss. You don’t have sex. And… he travels."

The Angry Arab [7]

Arab legitimacy: ask the Americans

Whose line, or question to answer, is it anyway? "Don't you find it hilarious that Western media (and Saudi and Qatari Arab media) basically ask US officials whether Bashshar has lost his legitimacy. "