The IDF's fantasy world, one Tweet at a time
If you want to catch a glimpse of the parallel universe in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) live, I recommend you follow their official Twitter account @IDFSpokesperson.
It offers a treasure trove of hasbara, the Hebrew word for “a form of propaganda aimed at an international audience [meant] to influence the conversation in a way that positively portrays Israeli political moves and policies, [while often including] a negative portrayal of the Arabs and especially of Palestinians,” as aptly described by Noam Sheizaf at +972 magazine.
Continue reading on Muftah
Baseera poll shows what Egyptians think about disputed Red Sea islands
According to a new opinion poll conducted by the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera), 30 percent of Egyptians believe the two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir belong to Egypt, while 23 percent think they are Saudi Arabian.
The poll, which was released on Tuesday, showed that 31 percent of the population could not determine whether the two islands were Egyptian or Saudi, whereas 16 percent had never heard of the issue.
Continue reading on Egyptian Streets
Mea Culpa
Walking into a gallery space punctuated with works subject to viewers’ experiences and possessing the ability to be read through those experiences: an exhilarating sensation. ‘Global contemporary’ is a moniker that commonly encompasses a tradition of obscurity for obscurity’s sake, a fearful label that connotes unapproachability for the masses. It speaks to the elitism of a world of characters that effortlessly transmigrate, hopping from one biennial to another, with other art fairs scheduled in-between. Ghazel’s work, however, is explicit in democratising thematic enterprise, and it is this plain-spoken and sensitive treatment of diaspora and exile that has made her latest solo exhibition, Mea Culpa (Latin for ‘my fault’) so successful.
Continue reading on Reorient
