A new strategy for Palestine (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

The hardships and humiliations suffered by Palestinians are well known. Social media is swamped with videos of Palestinian women and children being roughed-up or killed by Israel’s so-called Defense Forces. Watching the homes of traumatized families being bulldozed makes for difficult viewing but no longer have shock value when such incidents are more the norm than the exception.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915601

KSA: Key to regional peace (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

Not so long ago, the idea of predominately Sunni Arab states unifying was greeted with unflattering jokes. The Arab League was written off as nothing more than a debating society. The Gulf countries looked to the United States as their staunchest western ally that would come to their defense in the event they were aggressed. Still reeling from the Bush administration’s wars, President Obama was initially seen as a breath of fresh air.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/912571

Refugees are not criminals (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

The refugee problem in Europe has been bundled-up and dumped like an unwanted baby left on a doorstep. Humanitarian considerations have been binned. The media has conveniently placed this never-ending crisis on the backburner.

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Best of a bad bunch (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

US President Obama saw his historic visit to Havana as an opportunity to lecture Cuba’s President Raul Castro on his country’s human rights and civil liberties — hardly the best way to make new friends and influence potential allies.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/902446

A case of double standard (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

In February, the EU Parliament voted to ban weapons sales to Saudi Arabia citing the Kingdom’s military operation in Yemen without taking into account that Iranian-backed Houthi rebels not only overthrew the elected-government but also launched cross-border raids into Saudi territory.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/895316

Dubai’s pursuit of happiness (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

Dubai has built its reputation on innovation and creativity as some of the most spectacular high-rises in the world gracing its skyline attest. It was the first in the region to have an ice-rink, ski-slopes, a gargantuan mall, “a world” of manmade islands to name but a few and it boasts the highest building. In the pipeline are the region’s first rainforest and a 48-million sq. ft. climate controlled pedestrian city.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/888421

Lebanon sleepwalks into Iran’s arms (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/885376

Propaganda against KSA (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

There was a time when the prime role of television news was to report hard facts leaving viewers to form their own opinions. Today, every reporter, anchor, professor, activist and member of an obscure think tank are political, geopolitical and strategic pundits. Moreover, almost every network has its own agenda when it comes to certain issues. News is cherry-picked or exaggerated or glossed over to suit its core editorial policies.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/881346

Syria continues to bleed (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

Like a neglected cancer that could have been cured had it been caught in its early stages, Syria has been abandoned to destruction; an entire traumatized generation is bereft of mothers, fathers, siblings and proper education.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/877591

Can Libya survive yet more US assistance? (Linda S. Heard, Arab News)

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/874081