Few thought Tunisia's December 2010 uprising would so quickly spark revolts in the surrounding region. What will the Arab Spring mean for Syria, Egypt and Gaza?
Gaza: Beating the Blockade
Published October 25, 2011
There's been so much media coverage over the years about the Palestinian territory of Gaza--bombs, terrorism, war and peace talks--but you rarely hear about what life's like for ordinary Gazans who are just trying to make a living and buy a better house or toys for their kids.
Six years ago, when Hamas won elections in Gaza, Israel imposed an economic blockade which shut down business, transport and lots of aspects of daily life. But the people of Gaza have found ingenious ways to get around the blockade, like smuggling goods through tunnels under the border with Egypt. The economy has improved so much there's even a real estate boom going on - with houses selling for up to a million dollars.
There's improvement on the political front too. Influenced by the Arab Spring uprisings, the two parties--Hamas and Fatah--have been co-operating. And President Mahmoud Abbas is continuing his push for full United Nations membership for Palestine.
Reese Erlich discusses his reporting on the current turmoil in Syria. His work offers insight into the crisis from the perspective of anti-government protesters as well as regime supporters.
Protests in Syria, and the government's response, have resulted in the death of thousands. Business people, religious and political leaders, and ordinary Syrians share their views on the unrest.
Gateways
Grantee
Reese Erlich's history in journalism goes back 43 years. He first worked as a staff writer and research editor for Ramparts, an investigative reporting magazine published in San Francisco...
