'Positive moderation' is new Hamas idea
"In an interview on Monday, Khaled Meshaal, the political bureau chief of the Hamas movement, outlined his new take on 'rejectionism' and 'moderation', the two buzz notions of the past five years in the region, which have been used to defame persons and states alike," noted Tariq al Homayed, the editor of the pan-Arab Asharq al Awsat newspaper.
In the interview, Mr Meshaal said he is looking forward to the end of the polarisation of Arab countries into "rejectionist states" and "moderate states" - that is, states that refuse any form of normalisation with Israel and the US, and those who have a more flexible foreign policy.
"What I want is for all Arab nations to take the side of positive moderation and openness to the world, without leaving behind the forces of the resistance," said Mr Meshaal.
"What I mean is simple: that we lay out a new political map in the region in which everyone stands united, making joint decisions that reflect Arab efficiency in domestic and foreign politics."
According to the editor, this new "moderate" stance on the part of the senior Hamas official comes after unrest in Syria and the split in Iran between the president and the spiritual leadership. As such, it is not easy to buy this "positive moderation" pitch, but time will tell.
The challenge to keep UAE's national identity
"Are we going to be able to hand down our identity and cultural values to our grandchildren as our grandparents did with us?" asked Ahmed al Mansouri, an Emirati writer, in the comment pages of the Abu Dhabi-based Al Ittihad newspaper. "And how is that heritage going to be transferred? Will it stay authentic or become disfigured? Or are we basically the last generation to have received that heritage?"
Globalisation is gaining ground by the day; it has seeped into the daily lives of our younger generation.
"It is in everything this generation eats, wears and speaks; it characterises how youngsters carry themselves and like to live.
"As to our own culture and identity, they are rarely practised at home, at the workplace, on campus or even on the street. At best, they represent a mere legacy taught to children in national education classes."
This is not to say that to preserve their identity, Emiratis must isolate themselves or revive the era of pearl diving. Far from it. Emirati society is always eager to develop itself through interacting with all components of the world and on all political, economic, scientific and cultural levels.
"The challenge is to ensure this interaction is positive - one in which we are not passive recipients of what others have to offer."
Spring changed the Arab media landscape
Some Arab media outlets have actively contributed to stoking the pro-democracy uprisings in parts of the Arab world, while others have benefited from the margins of freedom that opened up when dictatorships began to totter, noted the London-based Al Quds al Arabi newspaper.
The Egyptian media, in particular, has amply benefited from the triumph of the Tahrir Square revolution. Under Mubarak's regime, the Egyptian media was insipid.
"Now, things have changed. Once pure officialdom newspapers, Al Ahram, Al Akhbar, and Al Goumhoriya are gradually getting back into shape, after their editorial boards and management have been replaced by younger, independent journalists."
Conversely, some news channels that have been in the vanguard of the Arab media scene, like Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, have lost some credibility, due to their selective coverage, inciting more protests in one country and downplaying their impact in another, based on pure political interest.
Also, official coverage of protests in Syria, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen has largely been done by local media outlets, which have always been wanting in professionalism. But they foundered into plain propaganda when popular protests struck, ignoring the fact that "news content that does not respect the intelligence of the viewers has proven totally counterproductive in light of the alternative media revolution".
Lifting emergency law benefits Bahrain
Besides the obvious political and social considerations that motivated the royal decree announcing the end of the state of emergency law in Bahrain, come June 1, there is an important economic consideration that is just as essential, observed Abeedli al Abeedli, the editor-in-chief of the Bahraini newspaper Al Wasat.
Politically, the lifting of the emergency law will help soothe the tensions and uncertainty among the key political players. Socially, community life will gradually get back to what it once was before the law was decreed in March. Economically, Bahrain will be making its first steps on the way to recovery. In sum, Manama is making the clear statement that it is intent to reclaim its regional status within the Gulf and its economic position in the international investment market.
"The lifting of the emergency law indeed carries an invitation addressed to multinational companies that are seeking investment opportunities. This invitation may seem premature. Yet, the crisis has rendered international matters just as pressing as domestic issues."
In fact, Bahrainis hope that the lifting of the emergency law will be accompanied by a promotional campaign for the country's investment assets and potential for recovery.
* Digest compiled by Achraf A El Bahi