Global Voices Online

“It is true right now that Baghdad is a hell on earth and if you only know Baghdad from reading news reports then unfortunately you probably don’t know how bad it is. However there are plenty of areas outside of Baghdad which are better than they have ever been, with more prosperity and freedom than they could have under Saddam. So whether you long for the stability under Saddam I guess it depends where you are (and were) living in Iraq or how much you or your family did demand freedom under Saddam,” writes Iraqi blogger Shaqawa.

Recent Links also in Middle East & North Africa

Jerusalemite offers tips for how to stay cool in the summer heat. They include: “If your skin is any lighter than the fuul on your hummus (not a scientific gauge), and you're going to be outside for awhile, put on some sunscreen. If your skin turns to bacon, you may run into trouble with some locals who have issues with that particular meat.”

Israeli human rights activist Joseph Dana reports on a visit to the southern Hebron Hills, accompanying local Palestinian sheep herders to their lands near the illegal settlement of Maon - where they are frequently attacked by the Israeli settlers.

Some days ago it was reported that a group of Emirati visitors were attacked in Bahrain; they were later visited by the Prime Minister. However Hussain Ghuloom believes the story of what happened is different to that printed in the media.