Bibi’s psychiatrist committed suicide because of Bibi

When Moshe Yatom, Benjamin Netanyahu’s psychiatrist, killed himself, the story did not get enough attention. The recent Israeli incursion into Gaza, however, has it resurfacing. People are now citing the words of the psychiatrist because…

The Gay Anal Egg Test

VICE News and I created a potential news show about the Middle East and one of our first topics was covering homosexuality in the region. We learned through research that men conscripted into the army could get out of service by being anally tested to prove they were homosexual in Iran…

On Taxis and (Some) Omanis

I would daresay that many in the United States have never heard of the Sultanate of Oman. Located at the furthest edge of what most would consider the Near East, the country is at the easternmost part of the Arabian Peninsula. It is not a country in the media spotlight here —…

Lebanon and Codeine Cough Syrup

Cemo, a Syrian cough syrup that contains high amounts of the opiate codeine, is on the rise in Lebanon. Sipping the syrup is becoming a larger trend in Beirut. Cemo apparently became popular at the Lebanese American University, a school with students who have rich parents…

Fighting Islamic Radicalism through comics in Pakistan

Crown Prince Marrying a “Commoner”

Twenty-eight year old Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai, just announced his engagement to Kalila Said. Said is a Palestinian refugee who grew up in the streets of a ghetto near Dubai. The second son of ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met…

Interview with Mashrou’ Leila lead singer Hamed Sinno

“For Arab artists, for us to have any legitimacy, or for us to deserve that people care about what we do, we have to justify our ‘people.’ Which is ridiculous.”

Vogue says Palestinian is the new Israeli

When Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, was preparing her first cover in 1988, she chose the Israeli model, Michaela Bercu, to head the cover of the magazine. Now, Wintour prepared the relaunch of the magazine’s website and she chose Gigi Hadid, a…

Israelis and 9/11?

When the towers went down on that fateful day on September 11, 2001 everyone was horrified. Watching the destruction from her New Jersey home, a woman named Maria was horrified — much like everyone else around the area and around the country. However, what Maria saw that day lead to a prompt…