Elizabeth Rghebi

The political winds are continuing to shift in Egypt. On Dec. 18, Egypt's ousted President Mohamed Morsi was accused of collaborating with "foreign organizations to commit terrorist acts inside of Egypt." And a day later, former President Hosni…

As my cousin in Libya recently put it, "Under Gaddafi, we had one tyrant ... Now, we have many." Last Thursday, heavy fighting broke out between rival militias in Tripoli's Suq al-Juma'a neighborhood, where much of my family lives. Our…

Today marked the launch of the latest campaign to end Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving. Despite the Saudi Arabian government’s warning that it would punish those who violate the law, more than 60 Saudi women reportedly got behind the wheel in…

Israel is likely to become a natural gas exporter, as the legal decision determining the amount of exports from the Leviathan basin will be handed down this week. These developments will have an impact on Israel’s energy dependency and alter the…

One of the most infamous and well known examples of the Saudi Arabian government's misogyny and religious fundamentalism is the countrywide ban on female drivers. Support for the ban remains strong among more hardline aspects of Saudi society. In…

Yemen’s child bride problem is back in the spotlight following the reported death of Rawan, an eight-year-old girl, as a result of injuries sustained on her wedding night. In response, Yemen’s Human Rights Minister Huriyah Mashour called for action:…

Over the last two weeks, Syria has become a hot topic of conversation as a possible U.S. military intervention looms. Here are some tips to manage some of the more challenging social scenarios you may find yourself in. 1. Keep a map handy. After…

Rumblings of civil unrest began in Syria during the height of the Arab Spring. One such protest occurred on February 17, 2011 following an incident of police brutality. However, it was the events in Dera’a, a small Syrian village on the border with…

Reports of a chemical attack in the suburbs of Damascus last week intensified the debate over military intervention in Syria. Following a preliminary investigation, the United Nations' special envoy confirmed that a “chemical substance” was used in…

There is one historically consistent factor that dictates U.S. policy on Egypt, and the rest of the Middle East for that matter. It’s not concern for human rights or democracy, and it’s not even concern for U.S. interests. The U.S.-Israel…

Recently, some members of Congress reintroduced a bill, the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act (FATA), that if passed will attempt to make U.S. poverty and economic assistance to foreign countries more efficient and effective. In the…

On June 30, millions of Egyptians took to the streets to voice their grievances against President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood’s attempts to consolidate power. As a result, Egypt’s political transition was reset by the military last…

As the protests continue across Turkey, so does the government’s crackdown. The unrest enters into its fourth week with no sign of abating, further destabilizing an already fragile region. The U.S. finds itself in a familiar position having been an…