The Layalina Review: Volume VI No. 17 | Layalina Productions, Inc.

The Layalina Review

	The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media. Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors. Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats. The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.
Statistic of the Week The UAE is the 'most connected' Arab country, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in a new study. PDF RSS Twitter Facebook Recent Issues Vol. VI No. 16: 7/30-8/12, 2010 Vol. VI No. 15: 7/16-7/29, 2010 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Leon Shahabian Senior Editor Anne Hagood Managing Editor Elodie Liobard Contributor Lorraine Jablonsky Contributor The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.	VOL. VI NO. 17, August 13- August 26, 2010 A Divisive Dialogue over the Cordoba House The Islamic community center planned near Ground Zero continues to create a divide between Americans and Muslims, while conservative parties are using the debate for political advantage. Al-Arabiya Director Rejects Ground Zero Mosque Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, General Manager of Al-Arabiya, stated his opposition to the misnomer “Ground Zero Mosque,” as he believes that it only contributes to promote a negative image of Muslims. An Abu Ghraib Deja-Vu for Israeli Soldier on Facebook Israeli and Palestinian officials expressed their outrage after Eden Abergil, a former Israeli soldier, posted pictures of herself with blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinian prisoners on Facebook, reminiscent of the US army’s pictures of Abu Ghraib. Public Diplomacy Begins with Charity The Obama Administration recently added an aid package for flood-struck Pakistan, as part of the US efforts to win the hearts and minds of its people. Drawdown from Iraq Affecting US Image As the last US combat troops pull out of Iraq and cross into Kuwait, Iraqis and its regional partners perceive the move as a unilateral decision by Washington, affecting America’s image and standing in the region. Sectarian Series Pulled from the Airwaves Lebanese television channels Al-Manar and NBN recently pulled a religious series from their Ramadan programs. The series, which tells the story of Jesus through an Islamic lens, has fueled tensions between religious and political groups in Lebanon. Misconceptions of Islam Fueling Recent Controversies The fiery debate about the Ground Zero mosque and community center coincides with new poll numbers, which indicate that more Americans believe that President Obama is a Muslim. While some commentators defend their position on the issues, others question whether “Islamophobia” fuels these responses. Al-Jazeera Collects Awards For the third consecutive year, the Qatar-based channel Al-Jazeera English was nominated for an Emmy award in the “News and Current Affairs” categories for its reporting on the Israeli onslaught on Gaza in 2009.

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media.

Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors.

Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats.

The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.

Statistic of the Week
The UAE is the 'most connected' Arab country, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in a new study.

Recent Issues

Vol. VI No. 16: 7/30-8/12, 2010

Vol. VI No. 15: 7/16-7/29, 2010

Archives

Layalina Review Staff

Leon Shahabian
Senior Editor

Anne Hagood
Managing Editor

Elodie Liobard
Contributor

Lorraine Jablonsky
Contributor

The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.

VOL. VI NO. 17, August 13- August 26, 2010

A Divisive Dialogue over the Cordoba House
The Islamic community center planned near Ground Zero continues to create a divide between Americans and Muslims, while conservative parties are using the debate for political advantage.

Al-Arabiya Director Rejects Ground Zero Mosque
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, General Manager of Al-Arabiya, stated his opposition to the misnomer “Ground Zero Mosque,” as he believes that it only contributes to promote a negative image of Muslims.

An Abu Ghraib Deja-Vu for Israeli Soldier on Facebook
Israeli and Palestinian officials expressed their outrage after Eden Abergil, a former Israeli soldier, posted pictures of herself with blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinian prisoners on Facebook, reminiscent of the US army’s pictures of Abu Ghraib.

Public Diplomacy Begins with Charity
The Obama Administration recently added an aid package for flood-struck Pakistan, as part of the US efforts to win the hearts and minds of its people.

Drawdown from Iraq Affecting US Image
As the last US combat troops pull out of Iraq and cross into Kuwait, Iraqis and its regional partners perceive the move as a unilateral decision by Washington, affecting America’s image and standing in the region.

Sectarian Series Pulled from the Airwaves
Lebanese television channels Al-Manar and NBN recently pulled a religious series from their Ramadan programs. The series, which tells the story of Jesus through an Islamic lens, has fueled tensions between religious and political groups in Lebanon.

Misconceptions of Islam Fueling Recent Controversies
The fiery debate about the Ground Zero mosque and community center coincides with new poll numbers, which indicate that more Americans believe that President Obama is a Muslim. While some commentators defend their position on the issues, others question whether “Islamophobia” fuels these responses.

Al-Jazeera Collects Awards
For the third consecutive year, the Qatar-based channel Al-Jazeera English was nominated for an Emmy award in the “News and Current Affairs” categories for its reporting on the Israeli onslaught on Gaza in 2009.