MERIP Media Resource List, May 18, 2006

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS on the following topics:
- US and Libya normalize relations
- Turkish judge killed over headscarf ruling
- Hamas under pressure
- Ehud Olmert visits Bush next week

ALI ABDULLATIF AHMIDA
Ali Abdullatif Ahmida is professor of political science at the University of New England. He is author of Forgotten Voices: Power and Agency in Colonial and Postcolonial Libya (Routledge, 2005) and The Making of Modern Libya: State Formation, Colonialization and Resistance (State of New York University Press, 1994) and editor of Beyond Colonialism and Nationalism in the Maghrib: History, Culture and Politics (Palgrave Press, 2000). He commented today: "Normalization of relations between the US and Libya is an important and positive first step for beginning a peaceful engagement of the two societies. Certainly, there remains unfinished business, such as the lingering legacies of a cold war mentality, the demonization of Libya and more than a quarter century of isolation. Social and political institutions are battered, which will make it challenging for the US to engage with those contending for change, the rule of law and human rights. But I am cautiously optimistic that this first step will benefit the Libyan people."

HILAL ELVER
Hilal Elver is Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of California-Santa Barbara Global and International Studies Program. She earned her Ph.D. in law from the University of Ankara, Turkey. In the 1990s, she was legal adviser and general director of women's status under the auspices of the Prime Ministry. She has published articles on environmental law and women's issues in Turkey and Peaceful Uses of International Rivers: The Case of Euphrates and Tigris Rivers (Transnational Publishers, 2002). She is also an editor of Middle East Report. She commented today: "The headscarf controversy is one of the most vital symbolic issues in current Turkish politics. Since there is no specific law about dress codes, governments since the 1980s have interpreted the regulations according to their political interests. Turkey is very volatile right now, partially due to the upcoming presidential election. Recently, the ruling party decided to discuss changing the concept of secularism in Turkey, a very delicate issue for secularists and the military. The high courts in Turkey generally interpret cases in favor of secularism, rather than freedom of religion. Adding to the tensions, last week the former president of Turkey and long time politician Suleyman Demirel commented that 'anyone who would like to wear a headscarf in school should go to Saudi Arabia.'"

KHALED HROUB
Khaled Hroub is director of the Cambridge Arab Media Project and author of Hamas: Political Thought and Practice (Institute for Palestine Studies, 2000) and Hamas: A Beginner's Guide (Pluto Press, forthcoming). He commented today: "It's highly unlikely that the concerted pressure from the US, EU and Israel on Hamas will bear fruit on either front: recognizing Israel or denouncing violence. More pressure is actually resulting in a more popular Hamas, against the expectations of the West. Anecdotes indicate that some who voted for Fatah would now vote for Hamas. The pressure, however, could create a gap between the internal and external leaderships of Hamas. The former is more flexible in the face of realities on the ground, whereas the latter, away from the daily suffering of ordinary Palestinians, has the luxury to continue in its rhetoric."

CHARLES D. SMITH
Charles D. Smith is the author of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, now in its fifth edition, and of numerous articles and book chapters. He is professor of Middle East history at the University of Arizona. He commented today: "Preliminary indications are that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's upcoming visit to Washington will lack the fanfare and bonhomie that surrounded the visits of his predecessor, Ariel Sharon. Olmert has already backed off from reports that he sought US backing for his proposed convergence plan, whereby he hopes to have unilaterally established Israel's permanent borders by 2010 at the latest. For its part, the administration declared before the visit that it will not consider requests for US funding for such a plan, whose cost will be in the range of $10 billion. These developments, coupled with administration hedging on its refusal to assist Palestinians because of the Hamas election, suggest an element of uncertainty and disarray in Washington not seen in recent years."

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